Laughter is the best medicine

That expression is one that we have heard again and again. Hippo was stressing to the rest of the coffee group that laughter and having fun was extremely important  to body and brain health. Seahorse said that his stress level decreases dramatically after one of our parties. Hippo mentioned that parts of our brains that use the "feel good" chemical called dopamine  are stimulated by humour . Aurora was mentioning that socializing  may have a protective effect on our brains because it is a form of mental exercise. Not only does interacting with people stimulate our brain but it can also keep each of us sharp.  Unshelved stated that dealing with people can be challenging but he feels that his blood pressure is lower after his volunteering at the library. Alveus piped up with a tidbits of information she had read about socializing with another person at least 10 minutes a day would be just as effective as a traditional kinds  of mental exercises in boosting memory and performance intellectually and also people that chum in groups are less likely to experience cognitive decline. So that is certainly a relief for the coffee group but Hippo reminded us that it is a continuous combination of many different facets of healthy living that must be pursued daily.

Halloween

Halloween is not celebrated in all countries and regions of the world. In some countries of the world Christian attitudes are quite diverse towards Halloween. However in many countries around the world it is celebrated in many traditional ways.
Halloween parties, games such as apple bobbing, trick or treating, or haunted attractions and telling of ghost stories are done at this time of the month of October. In Ireland the baking of a barmbrack (light fruitcake) into which coins or other charms were placed in it before baking and if you found a ring then you would find your true love in the ensuing year. Trick or treating resembles the late medieval practice of souling, when the poor folk went door to door begging for food.
I have gathered a list of halloween treats that are relatively common.
Barbrack(Ireland) and bonfire toffee (Great Britain), candy apples (United Kingdom and Ireland) ,caramel corn, colcannon (Ireland) , Novelty candy, Pumpkin pie and breads, Roasted pumpkin seeds, candy corn,
roasted sweet corn and soul cakes.
Happy Halloween !

Laughter tips

For a week or so , keep track of how many times a day that you laugh. Seek out some humour in somewhat serious situations. Try and do a lighthearted thing for someone each day. Do you consciously smile at people? Try and surround yourself with a flower or plants -as Emerson wrote"The earth laughs in flowers." Wear a funny hat to express your change of attitude. Find playful ways to lighten up conflict with your friends. Go for a walk with someone. Practice hanging out over a cup of coffee. When others laugh, laugh also. Be creative with fun. Wear a smile , it will draw you closer to laughter. Give yourself permission to laugh at anything you need to. Maybe try something a little non conforming now and again.

Above all, make sure you have a fun filled time.

If you think that you have a sleep deprivation disorder.........

Types of disorders that people experience-
1. Insomnia
2. Narcolepsy
3. Night tremors
4. REM sleep  disorder
5. Restless limbs syndrome
6. Sleep apnea
7. Sleep walking
8. Snoring
9. Teeth grinding-bruxism
Most provinces and large cities will have sleep clinics -they will be able to do a clinical consultation,either inhome or in a overnight sleep lab, whichever is appropriate for the client and or condition.In AB. there are two major cities where there are sleep clinics.
In our coffee group alone we have 3 of the above conditions amongst all of us: so if you have a disorder you are not alone.

What signs do you experience on a sleepless night?

Maybe you are having to tolerate some of these signs:
1  feeeling somewhat irritable
2. difficult to stay awake during day
3. looking tired
4. lack of concentration
5. finding that you have drink several caffeinated beverages each day
6. reactions are very slow

If you answered "yes" to one of these signs -you just may have a sleep deprivation problem.

So try and figure out why some of these things are occurring most days-after a poor night's sleep-ask yourself "Is it due to stress", or some other issue?

Can't get to sleep at night?

Hints to help you fall asleep.

1. Lights off
2. Picture a scene
3. Breathing-be conscious of your breathing by counting breaths
4. Self dialog
5. Body awareness-start flexing toes, etc.
6. Daily review of your accomplishments
7. Plan ahead
8. Visualize a goal
9. Count sheep

Enjoy your sleep!

Sleep-do you get enough sleep?

Crucial to proper brain function is adequate sleep. Deprivation of sleep will reduce your mental performance. Lack of one night's sleep is just like having a legally intoxicating  blood alcohol level.
If you do not get sufficient sleep it can increase your risk of high blood pressure and diabetes which are threats to the brain. The onset of other health conditions can be hastened such as obesity and memory loss.
The amount of plasticity( nerve cell connections) in the brain depends on the amount of deep sleep that a person has experienced. They can detect this by indications of  large slow brain waves. Tomorrow, we will talk about what to do if you experience problems to do with sleep deprivation.

I love Saturdays and Sundays too !

Why do I love Saturdays and Sundays?  Socialization,of course... You must have experience in the process of socialization from the time that you are young. It is very difficult for an elderly person who has lived a quiet perhaps a little isolated life, to know many socializing skills and suddenly want to be attending a senior center. It will take time for a transition from being comfortable in an more isolated environment to be ready to socialize. It is a life time of learning to socialize with many others either working or volunteering or  playing cards. Our circle of friends gets smaller and the aging folk begin depending on their children or other family members for any socializing. So if you are able to socialize, make an effort to continue to do so. Try participating at senior centers or fitness centers and also learn some new skills-It will make you more interesting as a person. Find a volunteer position if you are able to find one that you enjoy. Get using social media buttons-that's a very good way to keep up sharing information with family and friends.
Try and do some reaching out to prevent isolating yourself or allow others reach out to you..
Have a great day... Happy Socializing !

Bring on the new..

New memories and experiences will give us positive changes in our brain to make new connections. The stronger these experiences are we will build new neural pathways. We tend to do the same hum drum routine everyday without changing our habits, so as Seahorse and Alveus discovered, our super highways in our brains turn into country lanes. These actions  do not improve the brain in any way and we would continue to run around in circles. Our brain craves new and novel ideas. I encourage mental stimulation so as to avoid boredom and we will then improve our chances for keeping ourselves  young and vibrant. The more that we are involved in stimulating activities, the more we will perhaps avoid some dementias. It does not matter your age, our brain needs mental stimulation and new experiences. Aurora, Alveus and Unshelved and the rest of the group have found that with many new experiences and new ideas that it has boosted everyone's self esteem and confidence. You will even find yourself smiling more often.

Try to go green !

Spinach, kiwi, green peppers, kale, green beans, asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts, avocados, green apples, okra, cabbage and many other vegetables and fruits make up the green family. Prevention of macular degeneration can be attained if a moderate amount of the green family are consumed. Cucumbers, lettuces, zucchini and bok- choy and several other fruits and vegetables are a source of a wide variety  of nutrients. Kale, broccoli and spinach are the top three of the green family for many nutrients. Cucumber, lettuce and and zucchini are very rich in calcium. In all of the above the antioxidants vary slightly as with Vitamins A and C.

Blue-Purple family

Pomegranates. purple cabbage, plums,prunes, grapes,raisins, black currants, blackberries, raspberries, eggplants, and blueberries are all strong anti-oxidants foods that are great for the brain.

FOOD  COLOURS - RAINBOW  QUALITY

Foods with anti-oxidant qualities protect tissues from cancer, enhance our immune functions and keep our cells youthful. If you eat many colours of foods including fruits and vegetables, the body and the brain will receive sufficient nutrients to function at their best. Eat a variety of colours, and  the brain and body will reap the benefits and so in turn will you. Tomorrow we will talk about green brain fitness foods.

Brighten up your brain and your plate..

Some examples of the orange family include oranges, sweet potatoes, tangerines, peaches, nectarines, mangoes, pumpkin, apricots, papaya, cantaloupe, persimmon, orange bell peppers, carrots. Probably some of the squashes would be included in this family. These fruits and vegetables are some of the fruits and vegetables that are high in phytonutrients. They protect the skin from wrinkles and any damage from the sun. How great is that? Most vegetables and fruits from the yellow and orange family contain beta and alpha-carotene which our body converts to vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for healthy hair , nails and skin. All of these fruits and veggies contain calcium, rich in potassium, magnesium and have an additional benefit of lowering blood pressure which is excellent for the brain. Fiber plays a big part in lowering cholesterol. Plant foods such as the above and many more are so important for brain health.
We will talk about some of the other terrific families tomorrow, also we must never forget about fish.. it is the best for our brain.

Benefits of eating pumpkin..

Pumpkins are a fruit of a plant and are related to gourds. The pumpkin is loaded with nutrients....
Pumpkin  is very rich in carotenoids , which are known to keep the immune system strong and healthy. It can be a powerful antioxidant, and beta carotene is also found in pumpkin and an anti- inflammatory agent. It helps to prevent build up of cholesterol on arterial walls, thus reducing chances of strokes. Rich in alpha- carotene, it is believed to slow down process of aging and some eye problems due to age. Good bowel health can be maintained with pumpkin due to amount of fiber. Loaded with potassium it will also help decrease hypertension. It can improve bone density.
There are many recipes available online or books.

10,000 steps today

Did you? That's a great start. I have a social commitment tonight so I will talk to you tomorrow evening.

One day at a time..

Dear Hippo,
I was pleasantly surprised to receive your letter re : our relationship for the future as we age together. The number one task that I would like you to do, is to keep track and record how much time of your day did you attribute to physical exercises. Do you spend a period of time during the day either meditating or at least time just for you? Please record. Also write down what you eat each day and total of approximate number of calories consumed. Is your diet balanced and nutritious? Do you take medication and or supplements each day. Keep track on paper regularly. Do you take time to socialize and also be kind to other folks? I hope that you learned a new skill or gain some new information each day. Did you take time to laugh a little? I will report to you about how I am doing on a regular basis and I hope for you to do the same..
This will be our diary and will tell our life story as we progress along the way.
Yours truly,
Your Brain

Accept the fact that you and your brain aren't perfect..

Continued letter to my brain:

I will make the following commitments to you in order to keep us healthy and be able to maintain a long and happy relationship.

1. I will endeavor to keep you healthy and permit me to take good care of myself.
2. To maintain a well balanced diet and eat nutritiously.
3. I will get plenty of physical activity.
4. I will socialize and keep emotionally balanced towards others.
5. I will make sure that we both are able to get enough sleep on a regular basis.
6. I will seek assistance when needed.
7. I will take vitamins and minerals so that we both continue to function well.
8. Last but not least, I will strive to meet and do everything I can to prevent the declines and illnesses,
    that we encounter with aging.

Yours forever,
Hippo

Have you ever written a love letter to your brain?

Image-Inventorspot.com

I have written a letter to my brain:

To my beloved brain,
You are a part of everything I do. When you are correct, I am correct. When you are upset and troubled, I also have a difficult time with life. You are the most complicated organ in the universe and many times you are hard to understand. You are very soft having to be protected by a hard skull. Since you are composed of a lot of water , I know that you require fresh water each day. You are proficient in several ways, as many parts of you do different chores for me. I would say that you are an expert at multi tasking. We do need to know each other a little better so that you know if assistance is required by you then you can ask for help. We can both change with some help from the (emotion) of the limbic system and effort from the  prefrontal cortex we can change and it would be a happier relationship.
Beginning today I will not expect you to be perfect because we both can do with a tune-up.

Sincerely,
Hippo

Hearing what we want to hear..

Listening skills...

1. Listening is not a passive activity..
2. Listen for fears,concerns,moods and impending troubles..
3. Good listening requires great wisdom..
4. Listen to others with respect and validation..
5. Listen without thinking how you will respond..
6. Listen with positive regard for peoples strengths and abilities..

Keep these listening skills in mind...

Friendships..

I have just returned from a vacation where I purposely spent it with a few of my long distant  friends. There is a certain chemistry between friends. Friends take some time to be best friends. In a friendship, both friends talk and both friends listen. It will take time to learn of their points of view and conflicts can be avoided. Listening is very important, sometimes taken for granted, never realizing what it truly means to a friend. Affirmation is a very important tool for growing a friend and praise is very important to give a friend. Good friends never break a confidence and are loyal forever. In a healthy friendship, friend are equal. Warmth and caring are the main ingredients to growing and maintaining a friendship.
It is very important to grow  a best friend before you need one...

Reunion

I am attending a mini reunion. I am visiting with my nursing classmates from the Ottawa Civic Hospital. .Great for socialization. Very good for brainfitness...More in a day or two..
This message is from Ottawa...
Hippo

Believe it or not-Coffee.....

Coffee,believe it or not- is a brain fitness food but we are talking about the real coffee(caffeinated).There was a memory test done a few years ago that showed that older adults who drank a cup of coffee per day performed better that those that drank 1 cup of decaffeinated a day. Another test suggested that the short term memory was improved, especially in women following consumption of caffeinated coffee.Keep in mind that coffee can disrupt your sleep.

Pumpkin Festival-Smoky Lake AB.

Smoky Lake Pumpkin Festival
A group of us went to Smoky Lake for the day.So many things to see and do. The biggest pumpkin rolled at approximately 1084 pounds. Some pumpkins were disqualified because of a hole in the skin usually from traveling  -they are very difficult to transport to site to weigh in.Baking and cooking must begin very early in season so as to be prepared to serve about 5-6 times the population that day only. (Smoky Lake approx. pop. 1050 normally)Most of the food consumed was enjoyed by all, especially the pumpkin pie with fresh whip cream. One could buy whole pies to bring home and many purchased more than one. Museum open and a Threshing display, Outdoor and Indoor market,craft tables,Homemade food everywhere, antique car display, children's rides. and many more activities. A fantastic time was had by all.The healthy benifits of pumpkin flesh and or seeds are: Rich in antioxidants, high in magnesium and potassium, Vitamin B5-controls hormones -manages stress, high in fiber,low fat, lowers blood pressure,reduces cholesterol. Also high in omegas, low in calories, high in Vitamin C and E. The seeds are very beneficial to men  re: managing prostate health.

Boost your Brain

A super way to challenge your brain is to take up a new passion. Learn a new skill. Example being if you are a whiz at crossword puzzles or suduko,try a new skill such as knitting or carpentry, with a group.(socialization plus mental stimulation). These will affect other areas in your life. Skills such as those are also practical as well as mind enhancing. They expand your intellectual and artistic area of the mind. On a skill such as that you can take it to limitless heights as you choose, whereas with puzzles you most often remain at a comfortable level and also they usually can be socially isolating.