Children Who Are Active in Sports or Physical Education
May Do Better in School, Research Suggests

Jan. 3, 2012 — Physical activity may help children exercise their brains as well as their bodies.

A new review suggests that children who are active in sports or physical activity perform better at school.

Researchers say physical activity may enhance children’s brain function and thinking skills by increasing blood and oxygen flow to the brain, as well as triggering the release of feel-good hormones like endorphins.

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Eating a diet rich in certain vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids and low in trans fats may be best for brain health, new research suggests.

Older people who ate this way had less of the brain shrinkage linked with Alzheimer’s  disease and scored better on mental and thinking tests than those with poorer diets.

Although previous studies have suggested that a heart-healthy diet is also good for the brain, the new study took a different approach by using blood tests to determine the participant’s diet and nutrient levels.

“The combination of the B vitamins, the antioxidants C and E, plus vitamin D was the most favorable combination of nutrients in the blood for healthy brain aging in our population,” says study author Gene L. Bowman, ND, MPH, assistant professor of neurology at the Layton Aging & Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland.

Most unfavorable, he found, was a diet high in trans fats. Trans fats are more often found in packaged baked goods and fast foods, including cookies, crackers, and potato chips.

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History of Kale

Kale has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years. Popular in Europe during Roman times and the Middle Ages, it arrived in the United States in the 17th century.

Kale Chips

Kale chips are a nutritious, easy-to-make snack: Remove kale leaves from stems, tear into bite-sized pieces, drizzle with olive oil and a dash of salt, and bake 10 to 15 minutes in a 400°F oven.

Kale’s Antioxidants

Kale is packed with antioxidants, which help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body. Some research suggests kale helps reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Vitamins in Kale

One cup of chopped raw kale provides more than 100% of the daily value of vitamins A, C, and K.

The Kale Family

Kale belongs to the same family as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and collards.

Kale’s Late Harvest

For the best flavor, kale must be harvested after the first frost. This ensures some of the starches are turned into sugars.

Colors of Kale

Types of kale are differentiated by color (green, white, purple, or bluish green) and leaf shape.

Kale and Lutein

Kale contains lutein, a type of carotenoid (an organic pigment) responsible for the plant’s color and nutrients. Lutein helps keep eyes and vision healthy.

Have you given up on exercise? A lot of older people do — just one out of four people between the ages of 65 and 74 exercises regularly. Many people assume that they’re too out-of-shape, or sick, or tired, or just plain old to exercise. They’re wrong.

“Exercise is almost always good for people of any age,” says Chhanda Dutta, PhD, chief of the Clinical Gerontology Branch at the National Institute on Aging. Exercise can help make you stronger, prevent bone loss, improve balance and coordination, lift your mood, boost your memory, and ease the symptoms of many chronic conditions.

Here are some common myths that stop older people from exercising — along with some expert advice to get you started working out.

Exercise Myth: Trying to exercise and get healthy is pointless — decline in old age is inevitable.

“There’s a powerful myth that getting older means getting decrepit,” says Dutta. “It’s not true. Some people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s are out there running marathons and becoming body-builders.” A lot of the symptoms that we associate with old age — such as weakness and loss of balance — are actually symptoms of inactivity, not age, says Alicia I. Arbaje, MD, MPH, assistant professor of Geriatrics and Gerontology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Exercise improves more than your physical health. It can also boost memory and help prevent dementia. And it can help you maintain your independence and your way of life. If you stay strong and agile as you age, you’ll be more able to keep doing the things you enjoy and less likely to need help.

Exercise Myth: I’m sick, so I shouldn’t exercise.

On the contrary, if you have a chronic health problem — such as arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease — exercise is almost certainly a good idea. Check with a doctor first, but exercise will probably help.

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What an amazing message. This is an excerpt from my book. Apple Cider Vinegar Miracle Health System. Enjoy!

Your energy comes from the spark of life, which is maintained by the atomic energy contained within every single cell of the human body. It embodies electrons, protons and neutrons. They are constantly discharging their ionic compounds as energy is expended in work or play, whether mental or physical, in accordance with natural laws. This energy loss must be replaced. Every cell in your body is like a battery that, when run down, must be recharged. Primarily, this is done through the intake of food, proper breathing, rest and exercise which helps recharge your billions of cells.

Now, there are two kinds of food: The first is in a low rate of health vibration, like the fast junk foods we mentioned: the processed, chemicalized, dead foods, as in refined white flour and sugars, etc. It’s impossible to have a youthful, dynamic body when, year after year, you feed it food
and drinks with a low rate of vibration.

What can high-vitamin K foods do for you?

• Allow your blood to clot normally
• Help protect your bones from fracture
• Help prevent postmenopausal bone loss
• Help prevent calcification of your arteries
• Provide possible protection against liver and prostate cancer

What events can indicate a need for more high-vitamin K foods?

• Excessive bleeding, including heavy menstrual bleeding, gum bleeding, bleeding within the digestive tract, or nosebleeding
• Easy bruising
• Problems with calcification of the blood vessels or heart valves
• Problems with bone fracture or bone weakening

Excellent sources of vitamin K include parsley, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, green beans, asparagus, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, collard greens, thyme, romaine lettuce, sage, oregano, cabbage, celery, sea vegetables, cucumber, leeks, cauliflower, tomatoes, and blueberries.

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What can high-lycopene foods do for you?

• Protect your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals
• Help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol, thereby slowing the development of atherosclerosis

What events and lifestyle factors can indicate a need for more high-carotenoid foods?

• Smoking and regular alcohol consumption
• Low intake of fruits and vegetables

Foods highest in lycopene include tomatoes, pink grapefruit, watermelon, and guava. Other foods containing small amounts of lycopene include persimmon and apricots.

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Tomatoes are a great source of lycopene!

You’ll want to include cauliflower as one of the cruciferous vegetables you eat on a regular basis if you want to receive the fantastic health benefits provided by the cruciferous vegetable family. At a minimum, include cruciferous vegetables as part of your diet 2–3 times per week, and make the serving size at least 1–1/2 cups. Even better from a health standpoint, enjoy cauliflower and other vegetables from the cruciferous vegetable group 4–5 times per week, and increase your serving size to 2 cups.

As with all vegetables be sure not to overcook cauliflower. We suggest Healthy Sautéeing cauliflower rather than the more traditional methods of boiling or steaming, which makes them waterlogged, mushy and lose much of its flavor. Cut cauliflower florets into quarters and let sit for 5 minutes before cooking. For great tasting cauliflower add 1 tsp of turmeric when adding the cauliflower to the skillet.

The Healthiest Way of Cooking Cauliflower

From all of the cooking methods we tried when cooking cauliflower, our favorite is Healthy Sauté. We think that it provides the greatest flavor and is also a method that allows for concentrated nutrient retention. Begin by cutting cauliflower florets into quarters and let sit for at least 5 minutes to enhance its health-promoting benefits. To Healthy Sauté cauliflower, heat 5 TBS of broth (vegetable or chicken) or water in a stainless steel skillet. Once bubbles begin to form add cauliflower florets (cut into quarters) and turmeric, cover, and Healthy Sauté for 5 minutes.

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When the world’s most famous hotel magnate, Conrad Hilton, was 80 years old and laying on his hospital deathbed, we gave him a new lease on life by introducing him to The Bragg Healthy Lifestyle. He followed our instructions and discovered a whole new healthy, vibrant lifestyle! He was soon healthy, happy and fit, enjoying life! He even remarried at 88 years young! He remained active in business (half days at his Los Angeles office) to almost 100 years young! Mr. Hilton, at 88, was quoted in a People Magazine interview as saying, “I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for the Braggs and their Bragg Healthy Lifestyle!” Here is a photo of the grateful hotel founder with Patricia his healthy lifestyle teacher.

Patricia and Conrad Hilton

Bad Nutrition – #1 Cause of Sickness

“Diet-related diseases account for 68% of all deaths.” — Dr. C. Everett Koop

America’s former Surgeon General and our friend, said this in his famous 1988 landmark report on nutrition and health Dr. Koop & Patricia in America. People don’t die of infectious conditions as such, but of malnutrition that allows the germs to get a foothold in sickly bodies. Also, bad nutrition is usually the cause of non-infectious, fatal or degenerative conditions. When the body has its full nutrition quota of vitamin and minerals, including potassium, it’s almost impossible for germs to get a foothold in a healthy, powerful bloodstream and tissues!

What a person eats and drinks becomes his own body chemistry. – Paul Bragg

Good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings. – P. Syrus