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latest posts
Too Much Sugar Makes You ... Dumb?
While we know the heath hazards of consuming too much sugar -- risk of obesity, cavities, etc. -- who'd have thought that too much sweetness can lead to decreased brain function? Yesterday, researchers at UCLA published a study in which they determined that too much sugar could indeed make you stupid. The scientists gave two groups of rats water with added high-fructose corn syrup but only one group's solution contained a supplement of brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids. These omega-3 fatty acids protect agains brain cell damage and came the form of flaxseed oil and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). THe group of rats without the brain cell protection were much slower on a running maze and forget the route they had previously learned. "The DHA-deprived animals were slower, and their brains showed a decline in synaptic activity," said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "Their brain cells had trouble signaling each other, disrupting the rats' ability to think clearly and recall the route they'd learned six weeks earlier. Because insulin can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, the hormone may signal neurons to trigger reactions that disrupt learning and cause memory loss," he added. In short, the study revealed overconsumption of fructose can potentially interfere with the regulation of insulin (the hormone that controls blood sugar), or a resistance to it, which could interfere with thought processes and brain function. Therefore, not only is too much sugar bad for our bodies, it's now shown to be bad for our brains. Read more here >>
Let the Music Play
Two radio hosts, Beryl Renwick and Betty Smith, were named Britain’s best radio entertainment hosts at the Sony Radio Academy Award last night. Not so newsworthy, right? But in a world where youth seems to rule the airwaves, this is quite an accomplishment for the duo who are 86 and 90, respectively. The judges declared them “a joyous, entertaining double act. They give a voice to a sector of society unrepresented on radio, and do it with a joy that puts many of their fellow broadcasters to shame." High praise for ladies who could've retired years ago. Read more about this entertaining duo here.
College Sweethearts Marry ... 60 Years Later!
60 years after their first meeting, college sweethearts Peggy Marie Pence Schuster and the Rev. Henry O. Freund finally tied the knot yesterday. "It took 60 years, but Cupid's arrow will finally find its mark on May 13," Freund said. The two octogenarians first met at Rhodes College in Memphis and dated here and there during their time in school. But life took them in other directions… until they reconnected over the past few years. The spark reignited the estranged couple and the rest, as they say, is history.
(More) Record Setting Seniors
Another record setting senior has made the news. No, this isn't the Staten Island grandmother with a record number of Twitter followers or the Australian grandfather who received a masters degree at 97. Today's record-breaker is Tao Porchon-Lynch, who at 93, was named the world's oldest yoga instructor by Guinness World Records. She began practicing at age eight and today, Porchon-Lynch currently teaches four days a week (in New York), and has taught hundreds of students all over the world over the past 45 years. “I believe that we can always reach just a little bit further," she said. "I’m inspired to bring yoga into others’ lives along with helping people unearth new talents.” Equally inspiring is the story of great-grandmother Edith Wilma Connor who decided (in her sixties!) to take up fitness. She entered her first bodybuilding competition on her 65th birthday and never looked back. Now at 77, Connor is a personal trainer and has inspired her family (grandchildren and all) to live a healthier life.
Grandma Tweets Her Way to Mass Popularity
Dispelling the myth that senior citizens aren't online or hip to technology, one Staten Island grandmother has broken through the Twitter barrier to garner close to a million followers. Yes, that's right. This 80-year-old has over 80,000 social media addicts — and more than a few celebrities — following her every word. Josephine Lamberti (twitter handle: @J_Dimps) was turned onto the micro-blogging platform by her grandson and sent out nearly 25,000 tweets, gaining a major following along the way. Her humorous words of wisdom have garnered her press from local outlets and national publications alike, including People magazine, who wrote about her goal of aquiring more followers (which she did). "I'm so excited that I achieved my goal, and this proves no matter who you are, anything is possible if you believe," said Mrs. Lamberti, before adding, "I'm not going to stop now ... it's time to go for a million!" Read more about this internet superstar here and be sure to follow us on Twitter too!
Golden Girls
As someone who's still holding on to their homemade crocheted afghan, made just for me, years ago, by my late grandmother, I was beyond excited to read about Golden Hook. Because not everyone has a grandmother that can knit or crochet, they have provided the grannies for us. A boutique in Paris, Golden Hook employs nearly 40 grandmothers, who are, as they say, to knitting what Michael Jordan is to basketball. These talented ladies, aged 60-83, are the makers of custom handmade hats and scarves. Shoppers can choose their style of choice (beanie, longer hat, scarf), pick a color, select the type of wool (merino, angora, alpaca), and further customize it — right down to a hand-picked pom-pom shade. Even better, you get to choose the grannie who will be knitting your chosen homemade treat. (Will it be Simone, Martine, or Francine?) Personally, I love the idea of knowing that a real person — and a grandmother at that! — is making something special to give or recieve. Read more about Golden Hook here and here and be sure to check out the photos of these special grandmothers.
Mother, Grandmother, Cheerleader?
Like many grandparents, Sharon Simmons has a few hopes and dreams still unfulfilled. But we bet she's the only grandmother who's has professional cheerleading on her left-to-do list. That's right, the 55-year-old grandmother of two from Carrollton, Texas took her talents to Dallas and auditioned for the Cowboys cheerleaders. “I thought, that’s something I never tried,” Simmons told CBS DFW. “I always wanted to try out. I got real close in my early 20s, but got busy raising my daughter. And I thought, why not now?” While she's still waiting to hear if she made the cut, you can read more of Sharon's inspiring story here.
Farewell to Maurice Sendak
Author Maurice Sendak inspired all of us—children and grown ups alike—with his fantastical stories and quirky illustrations. His books told stories in a way no one ever had, tapping into all the emotions of childhood, taking us on wild adventures where we loved every minute. Sendak wrote more than 50 children’s books in his career, including Where the Wild Things Are, one of the ten best selling children’s books of all time, as well as In the Night Kitchen, and Chicken Soup With Rice. His last book, Bumble-Ardy, was published last September and was his first in 30 years for which he wrote both the text and drew the illustrations. "I like interesting people and kids are really interesting people," he told The Associated Press last year. Sendak died Tuesday at the age of 83 after complications from a stroke. He will be missed.
Catch this Flick: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
As summer approaches, so does the wave of new movies. While The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel may not have the makings of a blockbuster (no special effects here!), it's certainly heart-warming and well-acted. Based on the 2004 novel, These Foolish Things, by Deborah Moggach, many familiar faces grace the screen in this ensemble cast, including Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, and Tom Wilkinson (among others). The talented veterans portray a group of British retirees staying in an ancient retirement hotel in India. With gorgeous scenery and a talented cast, we found the story uplifting — if slightly predictable. The movie will expand to 24 markets by next weekend and will play in about 150 theaters. Searchlight Pictures, the distribution company, hopes The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel will be in around 800 locations by Memorial Day weekend.
Meet the World's Oldest Living Grad
An Australian man received a master degree last Friday and it made news across the world. Why? He's 97. Allan Stewart already set the Guinness World record for the world's oldest graduate when he completed a law degree at age 91. He came back to break it again after earning another degree in clinical science from Southern Cross University. Read more of his inspiring story here. |
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