I would love to hear your comments re this video and how you can pay it forward in 2012!!

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves
If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy
If children live with jealousy, they learn what envy is
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty

If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient
If children live with encouragement, they learn to be confident
If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves
If children live with acceptance, they learn to find love in the world
If children live with recognition, they learn to have a goal
If children live with sharing, they learn to be generous
If children live with honesty and fairness, they learn what truth and justice are
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those around them
If children live with friendliness, they learn that the world is a nice place in which to live
If children live with serenity, they learn to have peace of mind.

What are your children living with?

Focus on the Positive:

GET A HANDLE ON YOURSELF:

Once Handel, the great music composer, found himself in desperate straits: his right side paralyzed, his memory gone and his creditors threatening to have him sent to prison.
But in spite of his worries he spurred himself to the mightiest effort of his life.
Writing feverishly, almost without stopping, he composed THE MESSIAH, with its immortal “Hallelujah” chorus, in twenty four days.
He focused on what he wanted to do, instead of letting negative thoughts get him down.

So tell me below what you want and how bad to you want it!

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota selected six randomized clinical trials that included a total of 740 men with an average age of 55.4 years for their analysis.  The trials evaluated the effects of exercise and lifestyle change, a Mediterranean diet, an interval exercise program, weight loss and treatment with the drug atorvastatin on cardiovascular risk factors.  Erectile dysfunction was evaluated via questionnaire responses. 

The analysis affirmed that improvements in cardiovascular risk factors were associated with a reduction in erectile dysfunction.  Separate analyses of lifestyle and drug treatment were also both associated with a significant benefit.   

“Therapies currently used for the treatment of ED include oral therapy with phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, which are highly effective in the treatment of ED,” the authors write.  “However, we demonstrate that cardiovascular risk factor reduction improves ED even in men who are not responsive to PDE-5 inhibitors.”

“Our findings suggest that cardiovascular risk factor reduction provides incremental benefits in ED well beyond that achieved with the use of PDE-5 inhibitors,” they add.  “Adoption of lifestyle modifications and cardiovascular risk factor reduction will provide incremental benefit regardless of PDE-5 inhibitor use.”

The researchers genotyped four variants in the 9p21 chromosome region of 8,114 participants in the INTERHEART study, a case-control study of men and women of varying ethnic backgrounds that compared those who had had an acute non-fatal heart attack to similar subjects without heart disease. Additionally, 9p 21 variants were analyzed in 19,129 participants in the FINRISK study, of whom 1,014 had cardiovascular disease. Dietary questionnaires ascertained the frequency of intake of vegetables, fruits and other foods.

Subjects whose intake of vegetables and fruit was low had the greatest risk of cardiovascular disease in association with a 9p21 variant compared to those whose intake was high. Among INTERHEART participants who consumed a diet rich in fruit and raw vegetables, the risk of heart attack was similar between carriers and non-carriers of a specific single nucleotide polymorphism in the 9p21 region. In the FINRISK study, having a high risk genotype was associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease among those with low or average intake of fruit, vegetables and berries, yet among those whose intake of these foods was high, the variant appeared to have no effect.

“We observed that the effect of a high-risk genotype can be mitigated by consuming a diet high in fruits and vegetables,” commented coauthor Sonia Anand, who is a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University. “Our results support the public health recommendation to consume more than five servings of fruits or vegetables as a way to promote good health.”

“Our research suggests there may be an important interplay between genes and diet in cardiovascular disease,” stated lead author Dr Ron Do, who is currently affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. “Future research is necessary to understand the mechanism of this interaction, which will shed light on the underlying metabolic processes that the 9p 21 gene is involved in.”

Pancakes made from most mixes aren’t what you’d call nutritional all stars. They are usually low in fiber and quite high in sodium. Topped with additional butter and maple syrup, the fat and calories climb even higher. This pancake makeover employs quick-cooking oats to increase the nutritional value without compromising on convenience. In addition, the oats provide added dietary fiber, which experts note may play a role in reducing risk of colorectal cancer.

Oatmeal Pancakes with Cranberries

• 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 1 cup low-fat milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 Tbsp. canola oil
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• Cooking spray
• Powdered sugar (optional)
• Juice of 1 lemon (optional)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 cup quick-cooking (not instant) oats
• 2 egg whites, lightly beaten

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

In a medium bowl, sift together all-purpose and whole-wheat flours. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix well.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites, yogurt, milk, vanilla and oil. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, making sure not to over-mix. Stir in the cranberries. For the very best results, allow the batter to rest, covered in the refrigerator, for 30 minutes.

Spray a griddle or large, flat pan with cooking spray. Heat to medium-high. Pour 1/4 cup batter for each pancake and cook for approximately 2 to 3 minutes. When bubbles appear on the upper surface, flip the pancakes. Continue cooking until the second side is golden brown, about 2 minutes.

As you make more pancakes, keep the finished pancakes in the warmed oven on a cookie sheet, separated with parchment paper.

When ready to serve, lightly dust pancakes with powdered sugar and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Makes 5 servings.

Per serving: 260 calories, 8 g total fat (1 g saturated fat), 39 g carbohydrate, 9 g protein, 3 g dietary fiber, 440 mg sodium.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882)
American poet