Power of the Sweet Potato (or 'The Supreme Yam')

Sweet potatoes...not just for the holidays anymore. Seriously, we all need a reminder on the power of this colorful potato! One of Dr. Mao's must-eat foods, the sweet potato, and cousin yam, both provide more beta-carotene and vitamin C than carrots, more protein than wheat and rice, and more fiber than oat bran and as much potassium as a banana! A single skin-on sweet potato only contains 120 calories, and has over 1000 mcg of vitamin A (more than our daily requirement), plus good amounts of B6 and folate. Most importantly, both are a rich source of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), the mother lode of all hormones.

DHEA is what we call a "precursor hormone", one that remains latent in the body until it converts to a hormone that our body needs. It can become estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone, all so essential for our body's anti-aging defenses to work. DHEA doesn't stop there, it is a potent immunity booster, helps to control auto-immune disorders, and has been shown to possess significant anticancer properties. As the most abundant steroid in our body, DHEA also helps ward off arteriosclerosis, lowers blood pressure, reduces inflammation to the brain, prevents fat accumulation, and improves heart function. Need I say more??

My favorite way to eat sweet potatoes is simple...puncture a few times with a fork, bake in a hot (400˚ oven) until you see caramelized potato seeping out of your fork holes, slice open, add a little butter and S&P to taste. Depending on my mood, I might add cinnamon and brown sugar (sweet mood) or chili powder (hot mood). Both are delicious! Sweet potato fries are another quick favorite - I simply slice into strips, add a little olive oil and salt, and bake until done. Of course, make sure to keep the yummy skin on, lots of potent vitamins are in the skin!

When buying sweet potatoes (actually slightly healthier and definitely tastier than cousin yam), avoid ones with blemishes, cracks, soft spots and cuts. Store, uncovered, in a cool, dark spot (always hard for me to find!).

Sweet Potato Fries with rosemary

Add chili powder, paprika, thyme or cinnamon!

So, I'm thinking one a day will keep aging away!

Laugh your way to Longevity

Too funny...

My nine-year-old daughter walked in while I was getting ready for work. "What are you doing?" she asked. "Putting on my wrinkle cream, " I answered. "Oh, " she said, walking away.
"I thought they were natural. " (Deb Fillman, Reader's Digest)

My friend is a Botox junkie - she can't stop getting the injections. But surprisingly, when I reminded her to get her flu shot, she shuddered. "I hate needles."
I had a solution: "Just pretend it will make your arm look younger." (Linda Lange, Reader's Digest)

One of my favorite Dr. Mao's tip is to embrace the gift of laughter. There is no doubt that joyful people live longer, healthier lives. The late Norman Cousins pioneered "laugh therapy" and discovered that laughter and joy boosted immune functions, particularly the production of the natural killer cells that defend the body against infections and cancer. A good belly laugh can also increase endorphin release in the brain.
So make laughter a big part of your day. Read the comics, watch that favorite show, or call that friend that is sure to make you laugh so hard that you cry...you'll be laughing all the way to the longevity bank!

Heard any good jokes lately?

The Big Brush Off

Another Dr. Mao tip and something that I would never have guessed is a popular practice among the world's centenarians - body brushing. Using a dry brush with natural (avoid synthetic) bristles to sweep the surface of the entire body. It makes good sense though, as the skin is the largest and most important eliminative organ in the body and is responsible for 25% of the bodies detoxification on a daily basis. The skin receives 1/3rd of all blood circulated in the body and eliminates over 1 lb. of waste acid each day in the average person, mostly via the sweat glands. Seems incredulous, doesn't it? The skin is also last to receive nutrients, but the first to show imbalance or deficiency in nutrients. So, if someone tells you that your skin looks good, you are doing something very right!

The Russians, Turks and Scandanavians have been performing body brushing for centuries (hmmm...that could be why my Swedish friend has ZERO cellulite on her body...). It's very popular in most European spas and many cancer treatment centers throughout the world, as it's a detox program for the skin and other organs. The list of benefits reads like a miracle cure. Decreases cellulite, cleans lymphatic system, removes dead skin layers, strengthens immune system, tightens, tones, stimulates hormone and oil producing glands, increases circulation, increases nervous system function and aids in digestion! Check, check, check - I need everyone one of these!

So, how to brush? Invest in a soft, natural fiber brush with a long handle to reach the hard to get places. Brush before your daily shower (the water will wash away the impurities) from bottom of feet to legs, hands, arms, abdomen, shoulders, back and neck. Take long upward (towards the heart) strokes and form a counter-clockwise motion on the stomach. Breasts get a light sweep and the neck gets a downward motion. Rinse with cold water for the last minute of your shower to further stimulate your circulation system. And lastly, massage your, now softer, skin with lotion and you are good to go.

Of course, I've heard this before, but never knew the full benefits - I assumed my bath puff in the shower was doing the same job.  I've been faithfully brushing for over a week and I have to admit, it feels great and my skin feels baby soft...still waiting for my cellulite to disappear, but isn't soft, dimpled skin better than dry, scaly, dimpled skin?  I think so!

The Perfect Body Brush

Available here at Ulta

Isn't your only body worth the extra 5 minutes per day?

My own "Julie and Julia"

If you haven't seen this movie with Meryl Streep, add it to your list. A story of a girl from Texas (I happen to know a friend of hers, and I promise she is just like any one of us!) who decided to make all of Julia Child's recipes in a year's time. Quite a daunting task for even the best of chefs! Julie completed her goal and learned a lot about herself along the way.  It started out as a hobby to pass time and turned into her passion/obsession. It motivated me to start cooking, and to create this blog!

A couple of years ago I purchased the book "Secrets of Longevity" by Dr. Maoshing Ni, a 38th-generation doctor of Chinese medicine and an authority in the field of Taoist anti-aging medicine. At 46, I randomly flipped through it, patted myself on the back for the things I clearly had under control, and only half-heartedly read the other items. Now, at 48.5, I'm ready to go back and  incorporate all of his recommendations into my daily life. I'd love someone to do this with me - any takers?

This book received terrific reviews and I like the fact that Dr. Mao (as his clients call him) "marries wisdom from the East with the latest scientific advances from the West". I've always had an open mind about Eastern medicine (acupuncture, chinese herbs, yoga, tai chi) so I really like this approach. I'll be sharing my thoughts, likes and dislikes as I become my own guinea pig.  Again, any takers??