Health Series #11. Tofu

Herbs, Food Ingredients, and Health

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.

 

# 11. TOFU

Tofu is one of the most versatile and staple ingredients in not only in Asian cuisine but in many parts of the world as well today. You can cook and enjoy tofu in a variety of different ways to change its texture from smooth and soft, to crisp and crunchy. Tofu makes a lot of flavorful dishes and promotes your health as well. Let’s go over health benefits provided by tofu now!

Tofu, which is soy product, contains natural plant compounds called 1.

iso_________________ ; these are protective and as such help minimize the damage known as oxidative stress. It’s this damage that's involved in both 2. ___________________ and the onset of a number of chronic diseases.

Also, tofu alleviates peri-menopausal symptoms, such as poor mood and hot flushs, because of 3. iso____________ (that are often described as being pyto-oestrogens) that mimic a weak form of the hormone Oestrogen in the body. Furthermore, studies suggest soy may help reduce 4. _________ loss and improve mineral 5. ____t__________ in post-menopausal women.

 

Some have argued that soy’s anti-nutrients, including trypsin inhibitors and phytates, may inhibit our absorption of some of the bean’s valuable nutrients. Soaking or fermenting the soybeans before cooking can minimize these compounds, and this is why choosing traditional soya products like

6. ______________ and miso can provide superior nutritional value.

·       

***Source from www.bbcgoodfood.com

 

Answer Keys

    1.  Isoflavones

    2.  ageing

    3.  Isoflavones

    4.  bone

    5.  density

    6.  Tempeh

 

Acrostic poem using Tofu by Jean Lee

 

Tasteful treat

Obliging quality

Feel-good texture

Ultimate source of protein

 

 

 

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

Santa Ana Tustin Compounding Pharmacy

 

Let's play with VOCAB!

Let’s play with VOCAB! Try to fill in the blanks with proper words to complete each given sentence that makes sense.

    1.   Her grandpa is so ch________y (a slang adjective mocking someone or something as “basic”, “uncool”, “normie” —they are out of touch with current trends or trying too hard to be trendy): He participates in TikTok trends when they are already weeks old.)

 

    2.   Elenor’s favorite city is ________-town, the nickname of the windy City of IL.

 

    3.   Jack and Jill finally became more than good friends. They have been living next door to each other for the past 3 years, and the sense of pro________________ (noun meaning “strong bond” or “closeness” in relationship) has made them a good couple.

 

    4.   Tom lost his eighteen-year-old doggie Leslie a week ago. He was so sad that he could not normally function both at work and home. His colleagues’ kind words did not assu_____________(meaning “to alleviate…” or “to soothe…) his sorrow.

 

    5.   Studying the enemies’ modus __________________ (meaning “a particular way or method of doing something, especially one that is characteristic or well-established) is crucial in developing effective counterstrategies.

6. “Doug’s political joke seemed kind of off-key to most of his coworkers and higher-ups at the staff meeting, because he was the only Republican supporter there. When he got the battery of eyes from everybody, he was like “I said __________________________. (meaning 'I stand by what I said, and I'm not going to change my statement or take it back. ' This expression shows your confidence in your statement, and that you are unwilling to retract it.)

 

    7.   The automobile designer’s ______nickety (meaning “meticulous”, “nitpicky”, “fussy”, “placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details”) attitude has made him a worldly famous figure in the field.

 

    8.   What is the # symbol called? You might call it a number sign, a pound, a sharp (in music), or a hashtag. The Octo___________ (meaning “a versatile symbol” with many names) is the official name for the # symbol which was invented in the laboratories where the telephone came from.

 

    9.   Hilary does not want to buy an electric car, because she has some kind of “ ______________ anxiety” (meaning “the fear that an electric vehicle’s battery will run out of power before reaching one’s intended destination or a charging station”)

 

    10. Ted is such a res________________ (meaning “unswerving” and “admirably purposeful”) leader who is unwavering and determined.

 11. Sharon: How do I look? Do I look presentable tonight?

       Paul: You look on ______________ !!! (meaning "perfect", "snatched")

 

Answer Keys 

    1.  cheugy

    2.  Chi-town

    3.  propinquity

    4.  assuage

    5.  operandi

    6.  I said what I said!

    7.  persnickety

    8.  Octothorpe

    9. range anxiety

    10.  resolute  

    11. on fleek

About St. Patrick's Day

Do you celebrate or enjoy St. Patrick’s Day in March?

 

This year (2024), St. Patrick’s Day will be observed on Sunday, March 17. The holiday originally started as a Christian feast day for celebrating the life of St. Patrick and the spreading of Christianity to Ireland. Today, it is a day of revelry and a celebration of all things Irish. Don’t forget to wear the color 1(                )!!

 

The significance of March 17 is that it’s said to be the date of St. Patrick’s death in the late 5^th century. The man who would eventually become St. Patrick was born in Britain (part of the 2.  ______________ Empire at the time) as Maewyn Succat in the late 4^th century. His family was Christian, but it’s said that Maewyn himself was an 3. _____________________ (=meaning the one who denies the existence of God) throughout his childhood.

 

That would change at age 16 (around A.D. 400), when Maewyn was kidnapped from his home on the west coast of Britain by Irish pirates, who proceeded to carry him off to Ireland and force him to work as a 4._________________ herding sheep. After six years, he escaped his captors, walking nearly 200 miles through the Irish landscape and convincing a ship to carry him with them back to Britain. This harrowing experience certainly had an effect on Maewyn, who was convinced it was the Lord who protected him and delivered him safely home.

 

Upon returning home, Maewyn received his call (in a dream) to preach

5. ____________ in Ireland, of all places. He spent the next 15 or so years in a monastery in Britain, preparing for his missionary work. When he became a priest, his name was changed to Patricius, and he returned to the land of his captors to begin his teachings. Patricius traveled from village to village to share the teachings of the Lord and was successful enough to eventually found many churches there.

 

People wear a 6. sh______________ (= a type of clover, used as a symbol of Ireland) on St. Patrick’s Day because, legend says, St. Patrick used its three leaves to explain the Holy 7. ______________ in his teachings, which is the Father, the Son, and the Spirit as three divine persons who are one divine being God.

 

*Fun Facts:

- Before green is the color of St. Patrick’s Day, the color 8.______________ was associated with St. Patrick.

- The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in the American colonies was held in

9. ______________________ City on March 17, 1762.

- St. Patrick’s Day is the traditional day for planting 10. ______________, even in the snow! Cabbage seeds are often planted on St. Patrick’s Day, too, and old-time farmers believed that to make them grow well, you needed to plant them while wearing your nightclothes.

 

 

Answer Keys

1.  Green

2.  Roman

3.  Atheist

4.  Shepherd

5.  Gospel

6.  Shamrock

7.  Trinity

8.  Blue

9.  New York City

10.      peas

Health Series #10. GREEN TEA

Herbs, Food Ingredients, and Health

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.

 

# 10. GREEN TEA

 

Green tea contains 1. poly____________, such as flavanols, flavandiols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids; these compounds may account for up to 30% of the dry weight. Most of the green tea polyphenols (GTPs) are flavonols, commonly known as ‘catechins’ that is an antioxidant that helps break down fat. Catechins may increase your 2. __________________ rate, which helps you burn more calories, such as while you are exercising.

Studies also have revealed that catechins provide some protection against degenerative diseases. In addition, green tea consumption has also been linked to the prevention of many types of

3. _________________, including lung, colon, esophagus, mouth, stomach, small intestine, kidney, pancreas, and mammary glands.

 

Some evidence suggests that drinking green tea helps protect against certain neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's and 4. ___________'s. Green tea has a high concentration of antioxidants, which may protect against cell damage that raises the risk of chronic illnesses.

5. ________________ decline is one of the first noticeable symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and related forms of dementia, which involves frequent, worsening instances of confusion and memory loss. Research has found that the L-theanine content in green tea may improve working memory that is necessary for 6. _________________ (same answer to that of Q#5) functions like comprehension, planning, problem-solving, and reasoning.

Last but not least, green tea may be one of the healthiest drinks for mid-aged people (especially women in the phase of menopause), because it lowers the risk of osteoporosis, which is a 7. ___________ disease that increases the risk of hip, spine, and wrist fractures. Postmenopausal people have the highest risk of osteoporosis. Some evidence suggests that the high concentration of antioxidants in green tea may enhance bone formation and protection against 8. ___________ (=same answer to that of Q#7) mass loss.

 

Answer Keys

    1.  Polyphenols

    2.  metabolic rate

    3.  cancers

    4.  Parkinson’s

    5.  cognitive

    6.  cognitive

    7.  bone

    8.  bone

 

**Source from health.com and NIH (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2855614/)

 

Acrostic poem using GREEN TEA

 

Galvanizing your days in doldrums

Raise your hot cup of green tea

Energized from the earthy, leafy taste

Early birds’ happy chirps begin your tune for the day

Nourish your hopeful days by brewing fresh green tea

Tired of being

Enervated?

Active lifestyle drenched with GREEN TEA will save you!

 

 

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

Santa Ana Tustin Compounding Pharmacy  

Jean's Running Meditation

 What Running Means to Me

by Jean J. Lee

 

Running is my time to be grateful for another day I wake up to

Running is my time to look back on my own self

Running is my time to reminisce the good old days in the past

Running is my time to fall apart in times of sorrow

Running is my time to grieve thinking of my loved ones in Heaven

Running is my time to pull myself together in the midst of hardships

Running is my time to list up groceries to put in my basket

Running is my time to say I love you to my tired body and soul

Running is my time to shake off all the bad energy from the world

Running is my time to be all ears to my inner voice

Running is my time miss my family and friends living in a distance

Running is my time to pray for those in difficult time of their lives

Running is my time to visualize my future self in another pair of running shoes on different turfs

Running is my time to promise myself a better tomorrow

Running is my time to empty out my mind and become refreshed

Running is my time to pat on my own back and keep chanting the mantra: ”You are fine.”

Running is my time to whisper “One step at a time”

Running is my time to be reminded of the beauty of sweaty miles

Running is my time to reset some broken system inside of me

Running is my time to learn how to let go of things I can’t change

Running is facing your most unbridled self and welcome you just the way you are

Time to play the NPR Sunday Pizzle! Find a compound word/ 2-word phrase using "Mo- Ho-"!!!

Over the last weekend, the Puzzle Master Will Shortz was attending Mystery Weekend at Mohonk Mountain House, a beautiful resort near New Paltz, New York. In honor of the mountain house, every answer today is a compound word or two-word phrase where the first word starts with MO and the second word starts with HO. So if I gave you the clue "What you might enjoy during a long weekend," you'd give me the answer MONDAY HOLIDAY.

 

 

1.   A prefab structure that you live in and which can be easily relocated.

    2.   The bank that has the lien on your house.

    3.   Historically Black college in Atlanta, Georgia.

    4.   An opening in the wall where a rodent might get in

    5.   A poisonous plant named for its resemblance to a religious person's headwear (also known as wolfsbane)

    6.   A dish of meat and vegetables, cooked in broth, named for the Asian country from which it comes

 

Answer Keys 

    1.  Mobile Home

    2.  Mortgage Holder

    3.  Morehouse

    4.  Mouse Hole

    5.  Monk’s Hood

    6.  Mongolian Hot pot

Health Series #9. Oat

Herbs, Food Ingredients, and Health

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.

 

# 9. OAT

What comes to your mind when you think of healthy breakfast menu? It might not be a bowl of highly processed cereal or bagels made from bleached wheat flower with thick cream cheese. Instead of these easy and unhealthy choices of breakfast, let us turn to some golden ingredients in your pantry: Oats!

 

Oats are rich in 1. ________________ (which is both soluble and insoluble) that helps keep you full between meals and regulates blood sugar levels. In addition, oats contain vitamins and essential minerals, including manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, and folate.

 

Oats also have a low  2.__________________index and load, meaning that they do not cause spikes in blood sugar levels when consumed. They have been shown to help with lowering 3. ________________ cholesterol,

4. tri__________________, and glucose while raising 5. _______________ cholesterol levels.

 

You can enjoy oats in various ways: 6. ___________________ oats are also known as old-fashioned or whole oats. They are oat groats that have been dehusked, steamed, and made into flat flakes to shorten their cooking time. You can cook this type of oats into porridge and are often used in muesli, granola, flapjacks, and oatcakes.

 

7. _____________-cut oats are also called Irish or Scottish oats whose groats are cut into smaller pieces using a steel blade. This type of oats is the least processed with a slightly higher amount of fiber compared to the other types. Since this type of oats are very low on the Glycemic index compared to the other categories, they are the best choice for blood sugar control.

 

**Caveat on using instant oats: Beware of the additives that are often included in certain types. For instance, instant oats often contain sugar, salt, and preservatives, making them the worst kind of oats to eat.

 

Answer Keys

    1.  fiber

    2.  glycemic

    3.  LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein)

    4.  glycerides

    5.  HDL (High Density Lipoprotein)

    6.  Rolled

    7.  Steel-cut

 

**Source from Healthier Steps

 

Acrostic poem using OAT by Jean J. Lee

 

Opulent dish is not necessary

As long as you got a healthy bowl of oatmeal

Time to make a change with your breakfast!

 

 

 

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

Santa Ana Tustin Compounding Pharmacy