Health Series #16. Okra

It is natural to become physically weaker as one ages. However, it is possible to stay younger and healthier than your physical age by what you eat at your table every day. More and more medical research and studies have shown the medicinal properties and benefits of herbs and healthy diet.

As of this new year of 2024, let us stay healthy by looking into a variety of herbs one by one, their nutrition facts, and healthy diet so that we are able to lead a life with more confidence and constantly get ourselves back on track with aplomb even if we happen to deviate from the optimal state of health.

 

#16. Okra

Okra is considered a superfood. It is a high-fiber food rich in vitamins and minerals. Dietitians consider it as a 1.__________________-lowering food as well. Okra contains a component called 2.mu___________, which is a thick, gel-like polysaccharide that can be extracted from the pods of okra plants. It becomes a natural thickener when it's heated. Okra is a great source of several important antioxidants, such as 3. que______________ and kaempferol, which may also be found in okra water. These compounds may reduce inflammation and neutralize harmful compounds called 4. free ________________. Okra water is a drink made by soaking okra pods in water for up to 24 hours.

Its proponents claim that it boosts weight loss and improves blood sugar management, among other health benefits. Thus, okra could keep several chronic health conditions at bay, including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

*Caveats: Stomach problems: Fructans are a type of carbohydrate found in okra, which may increase bowel problems in people with irritable bowel syndrome. Okra contains a toxic chemical called

5. sol______________ that may exacerbate symptoms such as pain and inflammation in people with joint disorders such as arthritis.

 

Answer Keys 

    1.  cholesterol

    2.  mucilage

    3.  quercetin

    4.  free radicals

    5.  solanine

**source from healthline.com

 

Acrostic poem using Okra by Jean J. Lee

 

Overnight, Okra water is being created

Keen eyes are expected with this special water

Rise and shine with a fresh cup of lady’s finger water

Appreciate your morning with a bunch of green seed pods!

 

If you’re interested in consulting your health

with professional pharmacists, check this out!

Santa Ana Tustin Compounting Pharmacy

Time to play the latest NPR Sunday Puzzle!

I'm going to give you clues for two six-letter words. Reverse the order of the middle four letters of the first word to get the second.

 

Example: President Ford / Gave an angry look --> GERALD/GLARED

 

1. Basement / Person using a telephone

 

2. Middle number in a series of ordered numbers / Damsel

 

3. Talked on and on / Hoist on one's own

 

4. Like fruits such as oranges and tangerines / Actor Tony of "Some Like It Hot"

 

5. a framework of light wooden or metal bars, chiefly used as a support for fruit trees or climbing plants/ people who work on farm; farmers

 

Answer Keys 

    1.  cellar/ caller

    2.  median/ maiden 

    3.     prated / petard

    4.  citrus/ Curtis

    5.  trellis/ tillers

April is the National Poetry Month in the States.

April is the national poetry month in the U.S. Do you like to read poems or sometimes try to express yourselves with a poetic touch? Why don't you give it a shot by writing a short HAIKU or a fun limerick to begin with? Here's a few of mine. As you long as you are true to yourself with words, anyone of you could become a poet. 

In the Woods

Jean J. Lee

Streams flow into the waterfall

Breezy forest full of weeping wild flowers so tall

Echo the voice lost for good, I'd say

Resembles the hopeless eyes of yesterday

I just stop to mimic the sound “ready-setty-to-go-y’all”

What's on My Mind When I Run

by Jean J. Lee

They ask me why I run

                How should I feel when my morning runs were done?

What could be that something I get when I run for fun?

Smile on the road is what I won

A voice inside of me shouting “pit-a-pat-ilicious” under the sun

           On the Day Dad's New Life in Heaven Began

by Jean J. Lee                    

Dad was with me but he wasn't.

I looked into his eyes but he didn't.

Doc said he was delirious but he was dreaming elsewhere.

Dad wanted me to feel other wordly connections between his place and mine right there.

Health Series #15. CHICKPEAS

It is natural to become physically weaker as one ages. However, it is possible to stay younger and healthier than your physical age by what you eat at your table every day. More and more medical research and studies have shown the medicinal properties and benefits of herbs and healthy diet.

As of this new year of 2024, let us stay healthy by looking into a variety of herbs one by one, their nutrition facts, and healthy diet so that we are able to lead a life with more confidence and constantly get ourselves back on track with aplomb even if we happen to deviate from the optimal state of health.

 

#15. Chickpeas

Chickpeas, also called 1. ___________________ beans, which are an excellent source of protein, which may aid 2. _______________ management and boost  3.____________ health that is critical especially for women in the menopausal phase. This legume is a great choice for people who don’t eat animal products. Chickpeas have a low 4. _________  that supports healthy blood sugar management.

Chickpeas may help prevent some chronic illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, these legumes are rich in several nutrients that may support 5. _____________ health, including choline, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. In this respect, eating chickpeas may help prevent dementia in the long run.

If you’re not getting enough of 6. _______________, your body’s ability to produce healthy red blood cells may be impaired. In turn, this may lead to a condition characterized by symptoms like weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Chickpeas are a good source of 7. ___________ and may help safeguard against the above symptoms.

 

Answer Keys

    1.   Garbanzo  

    2.   weight

    3.   bone

    4.   GI

    5.   brain

    6.   Iron

    7.   Iron

 

**source from healthline.com

 

 

Acrostic poem using CHICKPEA by Jean J. Lee

 

Candescent game-changer in your bowl

Hearty meal starts with these legumes in your salad

Ideal as your daily energy fix

Celebrate your health with these protein-packed beans

Keen mind and eyes with these gemstone beans in your plate

Playful cooking is possible

Easy-going life style filled with healthy snack

All you need is a bunch of tiny, yellow peas with cute birdie beak

 

 

If you’re interested in consulting your health with professional pharmacists, check this out!

Santa Ana Tustin Compounding Pharmacy 

The latest NPR Puzzle!

A few weeks ago, Greg Pliska did a tribute puzzle to Will Shortz (while he was away) in which every answer was a familiar two-word phrase or name with the initials W.S. So this past Sunday, the puzzle master Will Shorts returned the favor. Every answer today is a familiar two-word phrase or name with the initials G.P.

 

Example: "Quarry that's the source of road material." You would say GRAVEL PIT.

 

    1.   What you step on to make a car go faster

    2.   An annual auto race with a French name

    3.   A family doctor

    4.   Someone who provides instructions on the links

    5.   Writing material that you might draw a chart on

    6.   A noted political opinion survey

    7.   An actor who co-starred with Ingrid Bergman in Alfred Hitchcock's "Spellbound"

    8.   Tiny bumps on the skin when you're cold or afraid

 

Answer Keys

1.  Gas Pedal

2.  Grand Prix

3.  General Practitioner

4.  Golf Pro

5.  Graph Paper

6.  Gallup Poll

7.  Gregory Peck

8.  Goose Pimples

Health Series #14: FARRO

It is natural to become physically weaker as one ages. However, it is possible to stay younger and healthier than your physical age by what you eat at your table every day. More and more medical research and studies have shown the medicinal properties and benefits of herbs and healthy diet.

As of this new year of 2024, let us stay healthy by looking into a variety of herbs one by one, their nutrition facts, and healthy diet so that we are able to lead a life with more confidence and constantly get ourselves back on track with aplomb even if we happen to deviate from the optimal state of health.

 

#14. Farro 

 Are you a grain lover? You might be familiar with rice, quinoa and barley, but what about farro? Farro is an ancient grain that has been around for thousands of years and popular in the Mediterranean type of cuisine. It contains lots of 1. fib______, 2. _________tein, 3. Mag___________, zinc, vitamin B3, minerals, and antioxidants. It’s a great alternative to refined grains and can easily be added to your diet. Using this versatile ingredient in your kitchen, you can enjoy Farro’s nutty flavor and chewy texture as risotto or hot cereal or in the form of soups or stews.

Since farro is an excellent source of fiber, frequent use of farro in your daily meal plans would lower risk of heart disease and 4. type-2 ______________. Also, farro would increase the levels of 5. __________-friendly bacteria.

One-fourth cup (47 grams) of whole grain emmer farro contains six grams of protein, which is similar to quinoa but higher than brown rice and whole grain wheat. When combined with other plant-based foods like legumes, farro offers a complete protein source. This means it provides an adequate amount of the essential 6. ami_________ __________ that are important for human health. It is good news for vegetarians, as well as anyone looking for plant-based, high-protein food sources.

 

One caveat with farro is that farro contains some 7. glu________, so it is not suitable for people with celiac disease or 8. glu___________ sensitivity.

 

Answer Keys

    1.  fiber

    2.  protein

    3.  Magnesium

    4.  diabetes

    5.  gut-friendly

    6.  amino acids

    7.  gluten

    8.  gluten

 

**source from healthline.com

 

Acrostic poem using FARRO by Jean J. Lee

Falling in love with this super grain

Another healthy addition to my daily bowls of grains

Ready-made boxes of processed foods are out

Rave reviews will be pouring on your meal plans

Optimum state of health is in store for you!

 

 

 

If you’re interested in consulting your health with professional pharmacists, check this out!

Santa Ana Tustin Compounding Pharmacy

https://www.satcrx.com/ 

NPR SUNDAY PUZZLE with the theme of TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE!!!

Tomorrow (Monday) many Americans will be traveling to view the total eclipse, which, as you know, is when the moon passes in front of the sun, casting its shadow on the Earth. Today's puzzle answers are all idiomatic phrases that include either the sun or the moon — I'll give you a clue, you tell me what the phrase is.

For example, if I gave you the definition "Try to attain something extremely difficult; set one's goals high" you'd give me the phrase "Shoot for the moon."

   

.       1. Very rarely

    2.   Everything's been done before

    3.   Take advantage of an opportunity while it is available

    4.   Extremely happy

    5.   To do something overly ambitious that can lead to one's downfall

 

Answer Keys

    1.  Once in a blue moon

    2.  There’s nothing new under the sun

    3.  Make hay while the sun shines

    4.  Over the moon

    5.  Fly too close to the sun

Are you ready to vote? Let's talk politics.

The year of 2024 means a lot of change to many countries in the world because there will be or already were huge elections in many parts of the world to select their leaders. Today, let us talk politics! Give it a try to fill in the following blanks (*using the clues) in each of the given sentences so they would make sense in terms of meaning.

 

    1.   The Congressional Black cau_______________ is a group of African-American members of Congress.

(*Closed meeting of party members to determine nominations)

 

2.   Don’t give up your right to vote as a citizen. Make sure your vote counts, order your ab________________ ballot today in case you’re going to be out of town on the election day.

(*This ballot is used in every state to refer to a ballot filled out by a voter who cannot, for various reasons, physically make it to a voting location on Election Day.)

 

 3.   Because Texas does not have gu_________________  term limits in its Constitution, incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott is eligible to run for re-election to a fourth term but has not yet stated if he will do so.

(*the selection of a governor by a state’s voters)

 

    4.   Historically, both parties have used ge_________________ to gain political advantage, by drawing districts to favor their own party.

(*to divide or arrange (a territorial unit) into election districts in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage)

 

 

    5.   In political contexts, a p____________ is often associated with campaign strategists who use polling data to shape their messaging and campaign strategies. They play a crucial role in advising political candidates on how to connect with voters and tailor their platforms to align with public opinion.

(*this refers to an individual or organization that conducts surveys or polls to collect data and gauge public opinion)

6. Throughout history, __________da has played a critical role in shaping societies, politics, and conflicts. It has been employed by governments, organizations, and individuals alike, with varying degrees of effectiveness and ethical considerations.

(*ideas or information that a group of people deliberately spread to try to influence the thinking of other people)

 

7.  The women’s ____________ge movement fought for the right of women by law to vote in national or local elections.

(*the right to vote)

 

 

8. Voters need to be fully informed about the political pl__________s of different parties before voting in elections.

(*statement of the principles or beliefs of a political group)

 

Are you all ready to vote? If you wish to make a change, do not hesitate to exercise your own political right!

 

Answer Keys

    1.  caucus

    2.  absentee

    3.  gubernatorial

    4.  gerrymandering

    5.  pollster

    6.  propaganda

    7.  suffrage

    8.  platforms