Genetically Engineered Foods

I am more than a little nervous about possible negative affects of genetically engineered food. I try to eat organically with as little processed food as possible, but I am lazy at times and I have some favourite comfort foods. In today's Vancouver Sun, I just learned that I will have to eliminate two of my fast and easy comfort foods - Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix and canned Heinz Brown Sugar and Bacon Beans. The beans of course are high in calories but the pancakes were one of my 4 point weight watcher breakfasts. I will be sorry to see that one go.

Green Peace has a shopper guide to GMO foods (Click on the "click here" in the middle of a white fairly blank page):

http://gmoguide.greenpeace.ca

The guide is colour coded:

green - Good

yellow - Working to Remove GMO's

red - Genetically Modified

At least now I have a reference point and can start to shop a little smarter.

Working Out in a Green Gym

Today, I had my first circuit training session. The concept is very similar to Curves. This is a way to get and stay fit with a minimum of time and effort. There are about 15 stations and the object is to do two or three circuits spending about 30 seconds at each station. With a warm up, quick stretch and cool down, it should take less than an hour.

The best part, besides being free, is that you can work out in a park setting in the fresh air with birds singing and today, at least, the smell of new mown grass.

Green Gyms are a Canadian creation found mostly in parks back east. The town received funding through the GVRD and Participaction to install this equipment in our park. You can learn more about this company at http://www.greengym.ca/Aboutus.html

Minnekhada

My daughter calls me Mary Poppins because I take my umbrella on our Sunday afternoon walk/hikes. This week we decided to explore Minnekhada Regional Park in Coquitlam. The walks are along a marsh area and through some rock bluffs and cliffs. I need to find an umbrella that also works as a walking stick so that I can make my way up and down slippery rocks.

After about an hour of walking, when the intermittent rain seemed to be more on than off, we decided to explore the hunting lodge which gives this area its name. Acquired by the GVRD in 1981, this lodge was built in 1934 by Eric Hamber and later owned by Colonel Wallace both former Lieutenant-Governors of BC and was used for entertaining the wealthy and famous, including royalty. Today it is used mainly for weddings and conferences.

The period furniture is a little sparse but the architecture is very interesting - from the same era and in the same quality as Hycroft in Shaunessy, yet in a rustic Scottish Hunting Lodge theme. This would be a great place to have a Sunday, summer picnic. The lodge is only open to the public between 1 and 4 p.m. on Sundays.

http://www.greatervancouverparks.com/Minnekhada01.html

Another Interesting Read

It has the tone of a Malcolm Gladwell book and lots of good advice, particularly about flying. Many interesting anecdotes describe how people survived often bizarre accidents. Best of all though, when you finish this book, you are left with a sense of confidence that when you are in a life threatening situation, there are things that you can do to survive. Preparation and knowledge are key.


Even though Sherwood stresses that flying is one of the safest modes of transportation, take off and landing are the times when most accidents occur. He tells you how to be best prepared for these events.

He has a very interesting take on accidents in general.

He also points out that concentration camp survivors often go on to lead exceptionally successful lives. It may be more than just another 'whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger'.

All in all, this book gives you something to think about.

Dogwood in Bloom

The dogwood trees are in bloom - both the pink and the white. Like everything else this year, they are early. I usually start watching for dogwood flowers at the end of April. This year everything was early and often out of sinc - crocus before snowdrops and most hellebores were even later.

















Now the tulips are just beginning to fade and with dogwood trees in bloom, summer is just around the corner.

Playground for Adults

A Playground for adults? It's not what you think! The park at the end of my street has created this.

It is an outdoor fitness center for adults. I think it is part of a Participaction Program. There are even free circuit training classes.

The equipment is very large and durable and offers to tone up and strengthen all body parts.

This is ideal for anyone who does not like working out at a gym and the price is certainly right.

Change Your Brain Change Your Body

I borrowed this book from the library after watching a PBS Special with Dr. Daniel Amen, a Psychiatrist, who purports to show you how to lose weight and keep it off for life.

This is a very readable book and it may in fact have the answers to weight loss over time. But it is actually a book on brain health. Dr. Amen believes that a healthy brain can create a healthy (i.e. thin/slim) body.

There are a few things that destroy your brain such as excessive alcohol, sugar, smoking and drugs. Some diseases like dementia and depression destroy brain cells as well. He doesn't make it clear though which comes first, the disease or the deterioration of brain cells. He does say that alcohol/sugar/smoking/drugs can accelerate dementia and mental illness.

He makes a very good point that I had not considered prior to this. It is basically if your body is unhealthy, then your brain is also unhealthy. The two work in tandem. With an unhealthy brain you cannot make good decisions. You may not do what is best for you because you may unable to find and examine alternatives and use logic and wisdom and knowledge together to assess situations. Some parts of your brain may be working at a sub-prime level.

The good news is that if you eat a low calorie fruit and vegetable rich diet, exercise aerobically for half an hour a day and keep a positive attitude, your brain can become healthier. This book is motivating.