Secrets of the World’s Oldest People, and other Weekend Reads

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Here are this week’s reading diversions for your personal enlightenment. Have an Excellent, and Merry, Christmas Weekend!

Spoiling With Presents: Are Kids Getting Too Much For Christmas?

How many gifts do your kids get under the tree each year? Two? Five? Ten? A dozen or more?

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EatingWell: 9 Winter Foods for Healthy, Beautiful Skin

Even though you’re likely baring less skin during the winter months, it’s still important to pay attention to your skin. As a registered dietitian and associate nutrition editor of EatingWell magazine I know that what you eat can provide a powerful line of defense against dryness and UV damage, minimize wrinkles and promote smooth skin. Even better, many of these foods are ripe and in-season now. Here are nine of the best winter foods for your skin.

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Mediterranean Diet Could Help You Live Longer: Study

“This means in practice that older people who eat a Mediterranean diet live an estimated 2-3 years longer than those who don’t,” Gianluca Tognon, scientist at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, said in a statement.

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7 Signs Santa Has Alzheimer’s | Caring.com

Only a doctor, of course, can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. But Mrs. Claus would do well to take a closer look at the following warning signs, which warrant a cognitive evaluation and medical exam in order to rule out other possible causes of dementia or — though it seems impossible to imagine in someone known for his ho, ho, ho — depression.

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Secrets of the world’s oldest people

Plant based foods, like fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts and seed are packed with nutrients that promote good health. They contain essential anti-oxidant nutrients, good oils and lots of fibre. While not all of the cultures with long lifespans were vegetarian, all ate diets with a high proportion of plant foods.

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27 Foods That Can trigger Migraines – Migraine

All kinds of beans are potential food triggers – string beans, navy beans, kidney beans, lima beans, all of them. The tannin in beans may be the culprit.

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Best iPad and iPhone Games for Little Kids – Educational iPhone Apps – Parenting.com

Stuck waiting in line or plodding through a long-haul car trip? App developer Peter Evan Ginsberg rounds up the best iPhone and iPad apps to entertain (and maybe even educate) toddlers and preschoolers. Plus: Check out more great iphone apps for kids of all ages.

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Spectacular Christmas Trees, From Warsaw to the White House (Photos) – The Daily Beast

The Christmas tree tradition seems to get stronger each year, with even some countries like Thailand, which is overwhelmingly Buddhist, getting into the spirit. From Singapore to South Carolina and the White House, see some of the most elaborate—and enormous—Christmas trees from around the world

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Christmas Toy Fads From Cabbage Patch Kids to Rubik’s Cube – The Daily Beast

In the spirit of holiday nostalgia, The Daily Beast combed the records of Christmases past for a look at the top-selling toy crazes over the last three decades, including the ones on this year’s wish lists.

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Tags: Beautiful Skin, Causes Of Dementia, Christmas Weekend, Diversions, Fruits Vegetables, Lifespans, Medical Exam, Mediterranean Diet, Merry Christmas, Mrs Claus, Nutrition Editor, Oxidant Nutrients, Personal Enlightenment, Registered Dietitian, Sahlgrenska, Smooth Skin, String Beans, University Of Gothenburg, Uv Damage, Warning Signs, Winter Foods
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How to Spot That Toxic Friend
and Other Stories for the Holiday Weekend

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Here are this weekend’s reading diversions. Happy Holiday Weekend and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Dr. Andrew Weil: Healthy Gift Ideas

Giving gifts to others is a fundamental activity, as old as humanity itself. Yet in the modern, complex world, the particulars of gift-giving can be extraordinarily challenging. In my view, the best gift is one that benefits both the receiver and the planet. So let me propose three categories of gifts for this holiday season that I believe meet this standard.

Skate yourself skinny this holiday season

Tis the season when the days grow short, the wind blows fierce, and sleet-covered streets discourage that early morning jog.

Best Dog Breeds: Good with Children

All dogs can interact well with children, especially if they’re introduced as puppies to a home where children are already underfoot, says pet expert Marc Morrone. Still, many breeds have proven over the years to be particularly gentle and accepting of children in the household. To create this list, we turned to the World Atlas of Dog Breeds, 6th Edition, which rates breeds for their compatibility with children. Remember, however, that no matter the breed, be sure to monitor the first interactions between your children and any new pet.

Christmas Carol Sing-Along Quiz

Do you know every word to every verse of your favorite Christmas carols, or only the popular choruses? Take our quiz and find out how well you know your carols.

Andrew Shapter: The Tao Of Mister Rogers

When I was just six years old, I came home from school alone while my parents were away working long hours. Every afternoon, like so many children still do, I turned on the TV and got lost for three hours a day. It was my virtual babysitter. I watched re-runs of sitcom classics like Good Times and Three’s Company, although hardly shows that a 6 year-old kid could relate to.

10 Ways To Deal With Difficult People

Whether it’s family, work, relationships, or friends, we all deal with difficult people in different ways. Holidays often extract the most trying characteristics out of everyone. I recently became “adopted” by my new “yoga/God parents” Ed and Deb Shapiro. (Don’t worry paternal family, I still love you guys. . . there is room for it all in this life!) Anyway, Ed and Deb help me put things in perspective, and realize when I’m wasting my energy fixating on certain things. Plus, they gush about how proud they are of me. It’s adorable and sweet, and if I can be in the moment and absorb what is happening, it’s powerful jet fuel for my life and soul.

Global Business Etiquette: 11 Tips On Asian Culture

With India now having a strong global business presence, which is expanding continuously, it is crucial that as UK business professionals, we are aware of how to behave and interact appropriately with fellow business professionals from this continent.

Give The Gift Of Sleep, Part I

‘Tis the season for gift-giving and spreading holiday cheer. But how many times have you -

1) received a gift you just don’t need, or
2) given a gift that’s destined to never be used or appreciated?

Brigitte Mars: Herbal Holiday Traditions

Winter holidays bring traditions from at least half a dozen world cultures, blended over the centuries. Here are a few reasons some herbal allies have a place in our homes this time of year.

How To Spot That Toxic Friend

The contradictory messages and assumptions for women, of every age, clearly affect female friendships, perhaps today more than ever before. In our slick, speedy society, women aren’t always certain of where these friendships fit into their lives, while at the same time, the desire for successful bonds and close connections is at an all time high.

Tags: Andrew Shapter, Andrew Weil, Babysitter, Choruses, Christmas Carol, Christmas Carols, Diversions, Dog Breeds, Dr Andrew Weil, Emerging Markets, Family Work Relationships, Frie, Fundamental Activity, Giving Gifts, Happy Holiday, Holiday Weekend, India, Merry Christmas, Mister Rogers, New Pet, Pet Expert, Sleet, Work Relation, World Atlas
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Healthy Diversion Brings Smiles

Thursday, December 18th, 2008

First Round Capital, a VC firm has created something really special here that proves that life’s simple pleasures are the best cure. Dancing, Laughter and Busting Loose are contagious. Check it out, click play to see for yourself. Its brilliant.

Merry Christmas!

Tags: Christmas, Diversion, First Round Capital, Laughter, Merry Christmas, Simple Pleasures, Smiles, Vc Firm
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