Joe: “I’m currently dating a twin.”
Pete: “How do you tell them apart?”
Joe: “Nicole has a small mole on her neck. Jack has a beard.”
Month: November 2022
Today’s Health Tip ~ What are the Health Benefits of Pomegranates?
Pomegranates – A Healthy Super Food
They’re high in antioxidants – Antioxidants are substances that help protect cells from environmental toxins such as pollution and cigarette smoke. Antioxidants are known to help prevent and repair DNA damage that can lead to cancer. Pomegranate juice alone won’t keep cancer at bay, but studies suggest it may be a nutritious addition to a healthy, plant-based diet such as the Mediterranean diet.
They may benefit prostate health – Some research found that components in pomegranate juice helped inhibit the movement of cancer cells by weakening their attraction to a chemical signal that promotes the spread of cancer. Researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles found that pomegranate juice appeared to suppress the growth of cancer cells and decrease cancer cell death in men and those assigned male at birth who’ve had preliminary treatment for prostate cancer.
“There are some studies with pomegranate that suggest a role in slowing the growth of prostate cancer,” Zumpano says. “But it should be noted that the studies suggest pomegranate juice and pomegranate fruits should be part of a healthy plant-based diet.”
They promote heart health – Pomegranates have been used for thousands of years as an Ayurvedic medicinal food because of its antioxidant properties. Oxidative stress is related to many chronic diseases including diabetes and heart diseases. Because of its antioxidant properties, some studies have discovered pomegranates can improve oxidative stress factors and, therefore, positively impact these conditions. In a 2022 comprehensive review of 10 of the most commonly available fruits and their effects on cardiovascular diseases, researchers noted pomegranates and pomegranate juice can have significant benefits for improving a number of heart conditions like high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis. Another 2021 study conducted on rats showed that pomegranate juice reduced the concentration of LDL, the “bad” cholesterol that forms plaque, by 39%, and indicated that it increased the concentration of HDL, the “good” cholesterol, by 27%. “There are some studies that show pomegranates may help to prevent plaque buildup in your arteries,” Zumpano says. “If heart disease runs in your family, it might make sense to add pomegranate to your diet.”
Today’s Power Thought ~ It Takes Continuous Effort
I like going to the gym. I like the feel of sweat and tired muscles after a workout. I know if I stop exercising my muscles will begin to atrophy. It’s the same way with our minds. If we stop using them, our minds lose their capacity to problem solve, engage in meaningful dialogues, or seek creative outlets. Everything worthwhile takes continuous effort. It all starts with a first step and followed by another step.
Think About It
I can’t complain about how things are working out if I continue to act in the same way. I canexpect but the same results if I continue to operate with similar patterns. If I want different results I have to change how I’m am acting. Waiting for things to change without personal change is akin to waiting for a warm summer’s day in the middle of January in the northern hemisphere, it’s not going to happen. If you change and you’re still not getting the results you want, what to do? Change again and again, you’ll get it right. Don’t quit.
Today’s Poem ~ Song of the Soul
Song of the Soul
Kahlil Gibran
In the depth of my soul there is
A wordless song – a song that lives
In the seed of my heart.
It refuses to melt with ink on
Parchment; it engulfs my affection
In a transparent cloak and flows,
But not upon my lips.
How can I sigh it? I fear it may
Mingle with earthly ether;
To whom shall I sing it? It dwells
In the house of my soul, in fear of
Harsh ears.
When I look into my inner eyes
I see the shadow of its shadow;
When I touch my fingertips
I feel its vibrations.
The deeds of my hands heed its
Presence as a lake must reflect
The glittering stars; my tears
Reveal it, as bright drops of dew
Reveal the secret of a withering rose.
It is a song composed by contemplation,
And published by silence,
And shunned by clamor,
And folded by truth,
And repeated by dreams,
And understood by love,
And hidden by awakening,
And sung by the soul.
It is the song of love;
What Cain or Esau could sing it?
It is more fragrant than jasmine;
What voice could enslave it?
It is heartbound, as a virgin’s secret;
What string could quiver it?
Who dares unite the roar of the sea
And the singing of the nightingale?
Who dares compare the shrieking tempest
To the sigh of an infant?
Who dares speak aloud the words
Intended for the heart to speak?
What human dares sing in voice
The song of God?
Today’s Smile
Joe: “I broke up with my girlfriend because she collects magazines.”
Pete: “How was it a problem.”
Joe: “She had too many issues.”
Today’s Inspiration ~ Work Hard and Never Quit
“I’ve got a theory that if you give 100% all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.”
What If . . .
What if I never had a broken heart? If I never had a broken heart, I’d never have experienced the love I’ve had in my life. It comes with the territory. If one is fearful of having one’s heart broken, one will never experience great love. Those who’ve experienced a great love and lost it know the cost to love greatly was worth it
A Better Life ~ Finding Diamonds in the Rough
Can you find diamonds in the rough? They surround us each day. If we want to find them, we have slow down, quiet our minds, and become aware of our surroundings. If we do, we can find diamonds in the drops of rain, while others just get wet.
Today’s Heath Tip ~ Want to Delay Aging? Exercise!
Exercise and Anti-Aging
A Brigham Young University study found that people who ran 30 to 40 minutes at high intensity five days a week were consistently biologically younger than those who followed more moderate exercise programs, or who led sedentary lifestyles. “High intensity” exercise means you work up a sweat and have difficulty holding a conversation.
Not a runner? That’s OK – you can substitute another aerobic exercise, such as:
-
- Swimming
- Bicycling
- Using elliptical or stair-climbing gym machines
- Taking classes that get your heart rate up (think: kickboxing and step aerobics)
Whatever you choose, it’s important to do it consistently. To stay motivated, choose an activity you enjoy or that you can do with a friend. And make exercise a priority by setting aside time for it in your daily calendar.
“Even modest aerobic exercise at least three times a week helps prevent issues with strokes, heart attacks, elevated blood pressure and diabetes prevention or management,” said Paul Cheng, MD, a Franciscan Physician Network cardiologist at Franciscan Health Michigan City, noting that such activity also helps with bone density.
