G is For Goji Berries

My theme for the
 A-Z Challenge is
"Aging into Longevity"

 Here is a nutrient-rich
food that is also a
delight to the palate.
In fact, some consider
goji berries the most
nutritious fruit on the
planet. It adds
natural human growth
hormones, makes
us younger and  gives
us back some traits of youth. (Now if I can only remember
what they were). LOL

Recient research indicates that the little red berries also
help protect the eyesight of the elderly.  This perk for
longevity would make the berries a popular staple food.
They are always named in nutrition lectures as taking
the first step toward longevity.

Maybe it's true and maybe it's not but I also like
the taste and I've planted goji plants because they
winter well in cold climates. I cross my fingers
that they grow.

F is for Fermented Food

;y

My theme for the
A-Z Challenge is
Aging into Longevity

During the past 2 years,
I've really become serious
about fermented food.

My gut feels peaceful after
a meal of mostly fermented
food.  I began to experiment
fermenting different vegetables,
thus nourishing my organs
by adding the good guys to fight the bad.  I also took pleasure in
all the fermented drinks, such as kefir and kombucha.
My favorite is a kvass.  Beet kvass is a "toofer" (like at my dry
cleaners, 2 items for the price of one) because the benefits
include healing the liver with the powerful beet juice, while
adding good bacteria to a depleted gut.

Here's a drink you'll love........fermented lemonade. This one
you'll have to try.  And it's sooo simple to make.
2 C fresh lemon juice (or limes or a mix of both)
1/2 to 3/4 C sugar
1/2 C whey
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 qt. water
Mix and put in a 1-gal glass jar with cover. Use a wooden
spoon to stir......not metal.
Leave on counter for 2 days as the sugar gets eaten up,
 then refrigerate and begin drinking after a week. If it's
too tart for your taste, add up to 5 drops of stevia as
you drink it.

How to make whey from plain commercial yogurt
Put the yogurt in layers of cheese cloth or a dish towel.
Let drip (maybe overnight) into a bowl
You can hang it like a bag from a cupboard door knob (or)
Tie the bag around a wooden spoon handle and place
across a tall pitcher.

The more good bacteria you put in the gut, the better you
are able to fight off the bad bacteria, virus and fungi.  Killing
the pathogens may cause symptoms of die-off, such as headaches
and a flu feeling. That is when many people blame the
fermentation and quit. Wrong.
At that time just buck up because it will end in a couple days
and you'll feel a sudden rush of good health.

I truly cannot recommend a greater boon to good health and
 longevity than eating fermented foods.

E is For Exercise

My theme for
the A to Z
Challenge is
Aging into Longevity


The more years I
acquired, the more
aware I became of
the need for exercise.
Daily walking, I
found, gave me a
steady feeling of well-being.  If the weather prevented
my daily walk, I felt sluggish with brain fog.

During walks, I begin to vary my pace and often I felt
this urge to break into a run that lasts perhaps, a half a block.
This sounds wimpy to most, but I also haven't run
in years.

I had always done more than a fair amount of
dancing but I never felt that was adequate exercise,
unless of course, I was doing the polka for hours.

Owning a herding dog was also a good motivation to
get outside and walk. I might as well put on my wallking
shoes and leave the house or this dog will drive me
crazy with her restless pacing and whining.  Even
the necessary bending and picking up dog poop is
a great catalyst to get the aging out in the yard.  LOL

D is For Digestive Enzymes

My thene for the
A-Z Challenge is
Aging into Longevity

Living things 
would not be able
to sustain life with-
out enzymes.  The
name "enzyme" is
a generic term for
a protein catalyst 
that is made within
the cells.

When I was younger, I never knew,  or gave a 
fiddle dee dee about enzymes and why there are
so many different kinds.  For instance, the digestive
enzyme, Amylase is found in saliva and reacts only
to carbs. Enzymes are now being recognized as a key 
element controlling health.

Chewing is to the 1st stage of digestion, as enzyme is
to  saliva when it begins to break down the food.  
When I reached 80 trips around the Sun, I began to
realize the importance of good digestion and 
it's direct relationship to food and the preparation. 
The simple thing to remember is to CHEW, CHEW
CHEW.  Let the food turn to liquid in your mouth
before you swallow. The gulpers of big food will
certainly be in trouble as they age.
Now here's a subject I wish I had started on long 
before the realization  hit me that I was growing old. 

C is For Chaga Mushroom

My theme for the
A-Z Challlenge is
Aging into Longevity

As I am getting older
I have become aware
of the immense power
of medicinal mushrooms.

Chaga mushroom is
one of my favorites and
I try to keep a pitcher of Chaga tea in my fridge. The
taste is deliciously refreshing and gives a natural
high so why would anyone prefer a surgary beverage?

You could walk right by a birch tree when out in the
woods and never suspect the black gnarly patch growing
on the side of the tree is Chaga, as it has no resemblance
to other mushrooms.

There are many, many health benefits to assist the
super prize of longevity. If this king of mushrooms arouses
your interest, there's a lot of information available online.
Check out Chaga's amazing attributes. That is one food
I wish I had connected with sooner.

B is For Bones

My theme for the
A-Z Challenge is
Aging into Longevity

Bones, oh bones
Oh dem dry bones.

As one advances in
age, strong bones
will support the
body during the
bumps and falls. One way to maintain strong bones
is with Bone Marrow broth that can be used in
soups, stews or in a delicious drink.

I buy marrow bones at the health food store because
there, you'll find bones of grass-fed animals. To
extract the powerful juices of the marrow bone, it
will take at least 18 hours of slow cooking.
Obviously this does not fit into busy lives, so bring
out the old slow cooker (also known as crock pot).

I cook marrow bones in a pressure cooker for 1 1/2
hours. Whatever method you choose, always add a
couple tb. of apple cider vinegar, perhaps a half
an onion and some carrots for flavor. Then put
the broth in the fridge and skim off the white fat
that forms on top.  What's left is a purely nutritious
jelly-like food that will keep in the fridge for
a month.

My body can't seem to get enough of that
yummy broth and it's a perfect companion
to my breakfast.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's  P.S. to this as people seem confused.
Simmer the bones for 18 to 30 + hours
Toss bones or give them to the pup
Strain liquid and put in fridge
A white fatty top will form when it's cold.
I skim this off and don't use it.
The stuff underneath may be jelly-like or
liquidey. I take a couple of tb. of that and
heat it ....add more liquid if you want or
drink as it. I always add more salt.
It is soooo yummy in the morning.
You can use the broth in soups too,
or whatever. Lots of vids on YT.
Look it up.

A is For Aging

f

My theme for the 
A-Z Challenge is
Aging into Longevity

Aging was something
that never entered my
mind until that
morning of March 15,
2010. I recall my
exact thoughts,
"Today is my birthday
and I am 80. Holy
Cow, that's for old
people." And then I went a little crazy.  I wasn't prepared for
this interloping number that had silently crept into my life. I
had ignored the nagging little signs of saggy skin, stiff fingers
and indigestion. Dummy, why didn't I pay attention?

Now, 5 years later, I've done my homework into this thing
called aging and I realize it's not so bad, after all, if I follow
a few new golden rules.  I am going to alphabetically share
with you, some of my mistakes and learning, and what I
wish I had been doing sooner.  Then it becomes a fun
project because only I can reap the rewards or suffer
from my own stupid mistakes.

I love projects. My kids say, " to keep Mother happy, give
her a project.  I became my new project. 

So here goes.