6 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Alzheimer's and Dementia!

1. Physical activity
Research from the University of Illinois has suggested that regular aerobic activity—like running, walking, or bicycling, which require oxygen to produce energy—may do a better job of protecting brain function than nonaerobic activity, which does not recruit oxygen and uses short bursts of motion (golf, tennis, and lifting weights). Reaping the cognitive benefits of pumping oxygen- and sugar-rich blood to the brain won't require high intensity exercise, says William Thies, chief medical and scientific officer of the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association advises picking activities you like and doing them regularly for at least 30 minutes a day.

2. Weight control
The heavier a person is, the more likely he or she may be to develop Alzheimer's. Thompson published research that found that the brains of older individuals who were obese (with a body mass index over 30) had approximately 8 percent less brain volume than subjects of normal weight (BMI between 18.5 and 25). When brain-volume loss reaches about 10 percent, Thompson says, symptoms like memory trouble or confusion appear. Earlier studies have suggested that people who are obese in midlife have a threefold increased risk of developing Alzheimer's, and those who are overweight (considered a BMI between 25 and 30) have a twofold increased risk. This is due, at least in part, to the fact that with added pounds, fat gets deposited in the brain and narrows blood vessels that deliver fuel, Thompson theorizes. Over the long term, brain cells die and vital connections and volume are lost.

3. Mental challenges
No, it's not just about doing sudoku—though puzzles do fall into the category. The brain's ability to reorganize neural pathways with new information or experiences means it's regularly changing; we can even generate new brain cells. But you need to work it. The general guideline, says Neil Buckholtz, chief of the dementias of aging branch at the National Institute on Aging, is regularly engaging in "some kind of new learning that challenges you." No one knows exactly what works, though population research has shown that having more years of formal education seems to be protective. Folks with lots of schooling can still get Alzheimer's, but the disease may appear later. From that, some extrapolate that lifelong curiosity and learning may have benefits.

4. Social connections
Research has found that people with larger social networks, while they had similar amounts of the plaques and tangles of Alzheimer's as did more isolated people, were less affected cognitively. And separate research suggests that psychological distress over the long term significantly raises a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's. Thies predicts that science will eventually reveal that "this kind of interaction stimulates the brain to make new connections" that perhaps help compensate for decline. To get a threefer, try learning the intricate steps of the tango in a dance class with your friends.

5. Healthy diet
"What we have pretty good evidence for is that a diet higher in vegetables and lower in fat is [protective,]" explains Thies. While the evidence doesn't offer up any recipes for success, the general recommendation is to get plenty of veggies and fruits with dark skins, like spinach, beets, red bell peppers, onions, eggplants, prunes, blackberries, strawberries, red grapes, oranges, and cherries, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Some evidence suggests green, leafy cruciferous vegetables, in particular, are helpful. Eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial. So may some nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans, that have high levels of vitamin E, an antioxidant. Research published in the Archives of Neurology suggested that the Mediterranean diet appears to be protective against Alzheimer's. Some animal research has shown that curcumin, which is in the curry spice turmeric, suppresses the buildup of beta-amyloid, a main component in the harmful plaques in the Alzheimer's-afflicted brain.

6. Chronic disease control
Buckholtz notes that "high blood pressure in old age is a very strong risk factor for developing Alzheimer's later on, but if you can keep the blood pressure down, that decreases your risk." And a study published in the journal Dementia & Geriatric Cognitive Disorders found that people in their 40s who had mildly elevated cholesterol were at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's later in life. A sizable body of evidence suggests that type 2 diabetes and heart disease affect the brain and perhaps the development or severity of Alzheimer's.


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PANTRY HAIR PRODUCTS-Mother Nature At Her Best!

Need a quick fix for a hair problem? Start in your own kitchen! Check out these home hair remedies for strong, healthy hair.

Honey
Want extra shine and softness? Try adding a tablespoon of honey to your conditioner. Let penetrate for 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly for silky, smooth hair.

Apple Cider Vinegar
After shampooing, rinse hair with a container full of 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup of Apple Cider Vinegar to help remove product residue and add shine. Rinse thoroughly. The smell should fade within 20-30 minutes.

Avocado
A wonderful moisturizing treatment for dry hair. Peel one firm yet ripe avocado and remove the pit. Mash thoroughly and apply to washed or unwashed hair for a moisturizing deep treatment. Rinse thoroughly.

Beer
After shampooing, take warm flat beer and pour through the hair. Rinse thoroughly. The protein from the malt and hops help repair damaged hair and add body and shine.

Coconut Oil
This oil is highly recommend for dry, itchy scalp and dull hair. Warm 1/4 cup of oil and apply directly to the scalp and hair. Let sit for 30 minutes and shampoo out.

Cornstarch
No time to wash your hair? Apply 1/4 cup of cornstarch to roots and brush through. Cornstarch absorbs excess oil and odor.

Baking Soda
Hair looking a little dull? Try adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your shampoo. It will help remove product residue and add shine.

Egg
Add strength to your hair with an all natural protein conditioner. Mix one egg with 2 cups of conditioner.
Apply to dry unwashed hair and let sit for 30 minutes. Shampoo and condition as usual.

Mayonnaise
Another strengthening treatment for weak hair. Apply 1/2 cup of mayonnaise to dry unwashed hair. Make sure to use all natural mayonnaise and rinse thoroughly.

Molasses
For shine and strength, try applying 1/4 cup of molasses to wet unwashed hair and shampoo out. Hair will feel strong, healthy and moisturized.

Olive Oil
This oil can help increase hair elasticity over time. Apply as a pre-shampoo treatment or add to conditioners for a moisture boost to dry hair.

Safflower Oil
Before washing, apply safflower oil to hair to counteract the harsh detergents in your shampoo.

Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is an excellent oil for daily maintenance or hot oil treatments. Apply directly to the scalp once a week to keep it healthy and flake-free. Or, after applying a moisturizer, add one drop and smooth through hair to lock in moisture and add a nice sheen.

* Remedies such as these can help you maintain a healthy head of hair. These tried and true products/remedies will always be around in your kitchen.*

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DIVA'S NATION LOVES FOOTZYROLLS!

They are comfortable, cute, and will save your feet in those moments when you desperately need to get out of those Jimmy Choos.  Yes, ladies we are talking about "footzyrolls!"

Footzyrolls is a rollable and foldable shoe that you can fold up and take with you where ever you go.  They come in fabulous trendy colors like (candy striper-black or navy, snakeskins-black, silver, beige/gold, red and others like sparkle!).

This comfortable, clever and interestingly fabulous shoe, is a favorite among celebrities and women looking to take off their heels after a long day at work or to just have a pair of comfortable shoes.

Diva's Nation recommends Footzyrolls for any "Diva" who need to rest her feet and still look fabulous.

Visit "Footzyrolls"@ http://www.footzyrolls.com/

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Diva's Nation Book Spotlight! "The Secret Life Of Girls And Their Sugar Daddies!" By Author Sahara Hill

Parents, teens and members of society, read this book! It's a story that spotlights young girls and how they get caught up in material things and will do anything to get them.  It also let's you inside the mind of one of the characters who falls in love and kills to keep to it.  It's heartbreaking, pyschotic and a story all parents should read. 

Diva's Nation book spotlight is "The Secret Life of Girls and Their Sugar Daddies" by Sahara Hill

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Literary Diva Presents: Diva's Nation! Financial Literacy,Getting Organized,No Stress No Mess!

Join us as we continue our series Diva's Nation. On this episode we will discuss facing the music and getting your finaces in order. Often times finaces can keep you down and break up relationship. Also Organizing your life. It's important to understand that organization is a big part of who you are and says alot about you. Finally, we will discuss "no stress, no mess." When you alleviate those things that can absolutely cause stress in your life, the drama and the mess will not be present. It's important to note that you can control most things that enter into your live. Striving to be more efficient, and clear about what you do in your life is very important! That's the test that can determine the rest of your life. At the end of the day, you want "your happy!" Get It-Get It-Seize Life! Tune in as talk making-over your life to be happy and healthy. Plus, the Presidents State of The Union, and our favorite item of the week. Stay tuned and keep it locked.

 

*This episode of "Diva's Nation" aired today on "Diva's House of BTR." To listen to today's episode visit: www.blogtalkradio.com/diva29 and tune in.*

 

*Diva's Nation favorite item of the week*

Face Oasis™ Dual-Action Exfoliating Cleanser-

Deeply cleanse and revitalize skin with this gently refining, oil-free formula with natural fruit enzymes, jojoba beads, and moisturizing marine botanicals
Get yours today@ http://www.h2oplus.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tune in every Wed@ 12pm est to catch "Diva's Nation." We are striving for a sound mind and body!

 

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President's State Of The Union-Diva's Nation Thoughts and Assessment!

Good Morning to all Bloggers and America!

Hopefully you watched the state of the union address last night with President Obama. It wasn't the normal state of the union with a long laundry list of this and that. What the President delivered last night was an energetic, electrifying and a "we need to keep it moving" state of the union address.

It's fitting to say that the two parties kept their peace as President Obama did his thing.  Also, let's not forget that the mood was a calm one giving what took place in Arizona. 

I believe that the President meant every word of his speech, but of course that will be up for debate. However, he did seem more energetic, enthusiastic, and amped up than usual. Setting it off is just an understatement. He took it the political head and gave a speech that most would be proud of this morning. It's one of those things you had to watch in order to understand.

As we go forth with wide eyes and futuristic thoughts, remember, that President Obama is a human being-an American who we elected as the leader of our nation. He's an individual who wants nothing more than to see great things for this country so that we all can prosper and feed our families. It's important to understand that, this country wasn't built in one day so therefore nothing will be solved in one day.  The issues that this country face will be addressed at the right time and at the right place. Giving credit where credit is due is only right and we all have to acknowledge that our President is doing his best.

Again, let's keep it moving and help our gov't help us in amazing ways.  Remember we all eat, sleep, get in trouble, are educated, and blog in this great nation. So let's cut the bull and stop the craziness.  It's time to move forward and so we can all do "big things" together.


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Obama's 'Union': 'Move together or not at all!'

Pleading for unity in a newly divided government, President Barack Obama implored Democratic and Republican lawmakers to rally behind his vision of economic revival for an anxious nation, declaring in his State of the Union address Tuesday night: "We will move forward together or not at all."

To a television audience in the millions, Obama addressed a Congress sobered by the assassination attempt against one if its own members, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Her seat sat empty, and many lawmakers of competing parties sat together in a show of support and civility. Yet differences were still evident, as when Democrats stood to applaud his comments on health care and tax cuts while Republicans next to them sat mute.

In his best chance of the year to connect with the country, Obama devoted most of his hour-long prime-time address to the economy, the issue that dominates concern in a nation still reeling from a monster recession — and the one that will shape his own political fortunes in the 2012 election.

The president unveiled an agenda of carefully balanced political goals: a burst of spending on education, research, technology and transportation to make the nation more competitive, alongside pledges, in the strongest terms of his presidency, to cut the deficit and smack down spending deemed wasteful to America.
Yet he never explained how he'd pull that off or what specifically would be cut.

Obama did pledge to veto any bill with earmarks, the term used for lawmakers' pet projects. Boehner and other Republicans applauded.

But Obama's promise drew a rebuke from his own party even before he spoke, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the president had "enough power already" and that plans to ban earmarks were "a lot of pretty talk."

Obama's proposals Tuesday night included cutting the corporate tax, providing wireless services for almost the whole nation, consolidating government agencies and freezing most discretionary federal spending for the next five years. In the overarching theme of his speech, the president told the lawmakers: "The future is ours to win."

Yet, Republicans have dismissed his "investment" proposals as merely new spending.

Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, giving the GOP's response, said the nation was at a tipping point leading to a dire future if federal deficits aren't trimmed. Ryan was to promote budget cuts as essential to responsible governing, speaking from the hearing room of the House Budget Committee, which he now chairs.

Obama entered the House chamber to prolonged applause, and to the unusual sight of Republicans and Democrats seated next to one another rather than on different sides of the center aisle. And he began with a political grace note, taking a moment to congratulate Boehner, the new Republican speaker of the House.

Calling for a new day of cooperation, Obama said: "What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight but whether we can work together tomorrow." On a night typically known for its political theater, the lawmakers sometimes seemed subdued, as if still in the shadow of the Arizona shootings.

Many in both parties wore black-and-white lapel ribbons, signifying the deaths in Tucson and the hopes of the survivors. Giffords' husband was watching the speech from her bedside, as he held her hand. At times, Obama delivered lighter comments, seeming to surprise his audience with the way he lampooned what he suggested was the government's illogical regulation of salmon.

Halfway through his term, Obama stepped into this moment on the upswing, with a series of recent legislative wins in his pocket and praise from all corners for the way he responded to the shooting rampage in Arizona. But he confronts the political reality is that he must to lead a divided government for the first time, with more than half of all Americans disapproving of the way he is handling the economy.

Over his shoulder a reminder of the shift in power on Capitol Hill: Boehner, in the seat that had been held by Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Obama conceded that everything he asked for would prompt more partisan disputes. "It will take time," he said. "And it will be harder because we will argue about everything. The cost. The details. The letter of every law."

Obama used the stories of some of the guests sitting with his wife, Michelle, to illustrate his points, including a small business owner who, in the tradition of American ingenuity, designed a drilling technology that helped rescue the Chilean miners.
 
The president cast the challenges facing the United States as bigger than either party. He said the nation was facing a new "Sputnik" moment, and he urged efforts to create a wave of innovation to create jobs and a vibrant economic future, just as the nation vigorously responded to the Soviets beating the U.S. into space a half century ago.
 
There was less of the see-saw applause typical of State of the Union speeches in years past, where Democrats stood to applaud certain lines and Republicans embraced others. Members of the two parties found plenty of lines worthy of bipartisan applause.
 
In a speech with little focus on national security, Obama appeared to close the door on keeping any significant U.S. military presence in Iraq beyond the end of the year. "This year, our civilians will forge a lasting partnership with the Iraqi people while we finish the job of bringing our troops out of Iraq," the president said.

The president reiterated his call for a comprehensive immigration bill, although there appears little appetite for it Congress. Another big Obama priority that stalled and died in the last Congress, a broad effort to address global climate change, did not get a mention in the State of the Union. Nor did gun control or the struggling effort to secure peace in the Middle East.


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Illinois high court will hear Rahm Emanuel appeal!

Illinois' highest court agreed Tuesday to take Rahm Emanuel's appeal of a decision that threw him off the ballot for Chicago mayor and ordered election officials not to print any mayoral ballots without Emanuel's name.

State Supreme Court justices agreed to expedite the case, but they gave no specific time frame. They planned to review legal briefs only and would not hold oral arguments.

Emanuel has asked the court to overturn a lower ruling that pulled his name off the ballot because he had not lived in the city for a year. His attorneys called Monday's decision "squarely inconsistent" with previous rulings on the issue.

The moves by the high court bought valuable time for Emanuel. The Chicago Board of Elections had said it would begin printing ballots without his name as early as Tuesday, with the election less than a month away. Absentee ballots were to be sent out within days.

Messages left for election officials were not immediately returned.

"I'm confident in the argument we're making about the fact that I never lost my residency," Emanuel said Tuesday at a campaign stop where he picked up an endorsement from the Teamsters Joint Council.

Emanuel said the order on the ballot printing was "an important first step in ensuring that voters are not disenfranchised and that they ultimately get to choose the next Mayor of Chicago."

In their appeal, Emanuel's attorneys called Monday's ruling "one of the most far-reaching election law rulings" ever issued in Illinois, not only because of its effect on the mayoral race but for "the unprecedented restriction" it puts on future candidates.

His lawyers raise several points, including that the appeals court applied a stricter definition of "residency" than the one used for voters. They say Illinois courts have never required candidates to be physically present in the state to seek office there.

By adopting this new requirement, the court rejected state law allowing people to keep their residence in Illinois even if they are away doing work for the state or federal government, the appeal said.

Emanuel, a former congressman who represented Chicago, was gone while he served as President Barack Obama's chief of staff for nearly two years.

The new standard also sets a "significant limitation on ballot access" that denies voters the right to choose certain candidates, the appeal said.

Just hours after Monday's ruling, the campaign to replace retiring Mayor Richard M. Daley began to look like an actual race.

For months, three of the main candidates struggled for attention while Emanuel outpolled and outraised them, blanketed the airwaves with television ads and gained the endorsement of former President Bill Clinton, who came to town to campaign for Emanuel.

Former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, city Clerk Miguel del Valle and former Chicago schools chief Gery Chico suddenly found themselves in the spotlight — and trying to win over Emanuel supporters who suddenly may be up for grabs.

Even as Emanuel vowed to fight the decision, Braun urged voters to join her campaign "with your time, your effort or your money."

Reporters surrounding Chico outside a restaurant asked him if he was a front-runner — something that seemed inconceivable last week when a Chicago Tribune/WGN poll showed him with the support of just 16 percent of voters surveyed compared with a whopping 44 percent for Emanuel. The same poll showed
Braun with 21 percent support, and del Valle with 7 percent.
 
"I'm trying to get every vote I can from everybody in this city," said Chico, who released records last week showing he had just over $2 million at his disposal, about one-fourth of the money available to Emanuel.
 
In their 2-1 ruling Monday, an appeals court said Emanuel met the requirements to vote in Chicago but not to run for mayor because he had been living in Washington.
 
Challengers to Emanuel's candidacy argued the Democrat did not qualify because he rented out his Chicago home and moved his family to Washington to work for President Barack Obama for nearly two years.
 
Emanuel — who quit his job and moved back to Chicago in October after Daley announced he would not to seek a seventh term — has said he always intended to return to Chicago and was living in Washington at the president's request.
 
If he doesn't win the appeal, the race takes on a whole new dynamic. In a city with huge blocs of black, white and Hispanic voters, the Chicago Tribune/WGN poll showed Emanuel leading among all of them, even though his three top rivals are minorities.
 
Laura Washington, a local political commentator who writes a column for the Chicago Sun-Times, said if Emanuel is out, Chico, who is Hispanic, could be the big winner in terms of fundraising.
 
"Rahm has the establishment support, the civic leaders, business community, the money class. And Chico is as close to that type of candidate as anyone," Washington said. "They'd take Chico as a second choice, easily."
 
Braun would be the big winner among black voters, she said. The recent poll showed Emanuel with the support of 40 percent of black voters compared with 39 percent for Braun, even though two other prominent black candidates dropped out of the race to try to unify the black vote.
 
Del Valle, another Hispanic candidate, said Emanuel's quandary bodes well for the other candidates, regardless of what the court does.

"Now voters see there's an opportunity to look at the field and give candidates either a second look or in some cases a first look," del Valle said. "People are going to pay more attention to the other candidates."


*Rahm Emanuel is determined to be Chicago's new Mayor. He is a mover and a shaker that no one can stop.*

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Tax breaks for wealthy donors: Schools struggle, while the rich fund golf tourneys!

US generosity, and its network of charitable giving, comes with baffling inefficiencies. That’s no secret. But consider, too, that for every dollar donated and deducted by wealthy taxpayers paying taxes at a 35 percent marginal tax rate, the US loses 35 cents of potential income tax revenue. While the government struggles to provide essential health and education services, with tax breaks, wealthy Americans are funding both Planned Parenthood and the Pro-Life Action League, the American Petroleum Institute chapters and the Sierra Club, churches and mosques.

Charitable giving is a good and admirable part of the American spirit, but charities can also serve as tax havens for the wealthiest citizens. Tax deductions for charitable giving effectively put the public good in the hands of wealthy donors and their pet causes – at the expense of government revenue for the fair and reliable provision of services.

Charity is a growth industry. More than 1.5 million tax-exempt organizations are registered in the United States. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, more than 180,000 public charities were established before 1969, and more than 350,000 were founded during the past decade. But giving is down since reaching record highs in 2008. In 2009, households with more than $200,000 in income, or $1 million in net worth, reduced their giving by 35 percent since 2007, according to a report from Bank of America and the Center on Philanthropy. Charities’ budgets are strained, as the recession and a widening wage gap reduce giving but also increase demand for charitable services.

Excesses of entertainment charityTiger Woods’ divorce scandal last year exposed the excesses and waste of the entertainment charity industry. Sports stars, celebrities, and politicians create foundations and then arrange lavish fundraisers for wealthy friends. The catch is that celebrities can shift entertainment expenses for alcohol or party hosts to these foundations, which cuts into the foundations’ program budgets. Check out Charity Navigator to see its rating for charities on fundraising efficiency.

Wealthy sports figures aren’t the only ones who raise questions about charitable funding. Politicians have used foundations to funnel corporate donations into constituent handouts or even campaign contributions. The midterm elections last fall shed plenty of light on the loopholes exploited by political action committees and corporate giving.

Hard economic times call for targeted spending rather than a patchwork of organizations with overlapping goals and gaping holes. “Look to the Stars” is an online database of more than 2,400 celebrities and a list of their favorite causes and the charities they support. The list of more than 1,600 charities spans the spectrum of causes from AIDS to animals. From the charitable whims of these celebrities, it is hard to assess what America’s urgent national priorities really are, or should be. With 138 different charities on the list devoted to AIDS work, one has to wonder if a competing, disorganized network of institutions is an efficient, dependable structure for getting vital services out to those who need them.

Ending loophole for the richIn early 2009, the Obama administration tried limiting charitable tax deductions to pay for health-care reform, reducing the deduction from 35 cents to 28 cents per dollar for couples with more than $250,000 in income. Even though the measure would have raised billions in crucial revenue over the next 10 years, both Democrats and Republicans slammed it.

Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, was among those who opposed President Obama’s proposal to reduce the deduction for wealthiest donors. “[C]omparatively small but abundant charitable institutions are providing services that some politicians feel rightfully belong to the federal government,” he wrote in 2009. “By diminishing churches and charities, the administration fulfills a self-preserving objective of consolidating federal power by creating more taxpayer-funded programs to provide the services churches and charities are currently providing.”

Yet government is still involved. Government grants are central to many charities’ funding. And about 65 percent of revenue for public charities comes from program-service revenues, which includes government fees, contracts, and earmarks. Program-service revenue in 2007 was three times the total revenue from contributions, gifts, and grants, reports the National Center for Charitable Statistics.

Let government ensure the public goodCongress dodges its duty to levy taxes in a uniform way to provide for the nation’s general welfare and make tough decisions on health and other public goods. Instead, it lets wealthy donors make the choices in how to fund the public good. So the billionaire founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, gives $100 million to Newark Public Schools, while other districts struggle. No matter how worthy a charitable cause is, the public good cannot be left to the preferences of wealthy donors whose charitable giving is encouraged by a tax deduction.

Bush tax cuts 101: Who will get what?

An open public process, prioritizing projects based on needs, would provide more efficient funding than relying on the whims of a few. Individuals passionate for a particular cause or innovation (or those thrilled to see their family names on a museum, clinic, or university hall) would still give – and should.

Two years from now, Congress will have the chance once again to decide on extending tax breaks for the wealthy. And maybe they’ll come to their senses – that the health of a democratic nation’s people is strengthened by services ensured by tax revenue, rather than the fashions of largesse. Congress must reclaim vital tax revenue by reducing the rate that the wealthy can deduct charitable giving from 35 to 28 percent.
This lets Congress prioritize our nation’s needs and fairly meet them. Until then, our society relies on a scatter-shot approach.


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