My Black is NOT Cracking.

I'm not Aging. I'm appreciating in value!

The Big FAT Lie! – The Skinny on Fats.

KAVON

no comments

January 10, 2022

cooked meat with vegetables
Photo by Dana Tentis

The Skinny on Fats – The Big Fat Lie

Confused about fat? Well, join the club!  It’s difficult not to be. For decades fat was vilified. We were told that eating dietary fat would make us fat. I’m guessing you’ve heard that saying, “Fat goes from your lips to your hips!” I like to call that the Big Fat Lie!

We were told fats were the underlying cause of heart disease and strokes.  We were also told that the fat in arteries resulting in heart attacks came from dietary fat and cholesterol. Eating fat doesn’t make you fat.  Body fat and dietary fat are not the same.

Fatty food does not become fat in our bodies. “A Harvard study in 2012 found that a very high fat diet compared to a low-fat diet sped up metabolism by 300 calories a day. The medical community came to believe that eating saturated fat and its first cousin cholesterol creates roadblocks in the arteries and death by heart attack. About 40 years later health authorities and nutrition experts are finally confessing that what they told us was false. “

From the Book “What The Heck Should I Eat?” ~Dr. Mark Hyman

In 2015, a study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health was published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology.  The study followed close to 85,000 women and half as many men.  It revealed that refined carbs, not fat, contributed to an increased risk of heart disease.  Many subsequent studies have supported those findings. And while we all know there is always research to be done, what we do know is that all fat is not created equal and all fat is not bad fat.  And, that a bunch of studies fail to connect the dots between fats and heart disease.  Now I’m not suggested you go chomp on a stick of butter or down a whole pork belly.  Although.  Yum!  (Especially Gordon Ramsey’s recipe! Little white wine, bay leaf, cardamom, fennel, garlic.  So good!) As always, excess of most things are a bad idea.

Perhaps you are not old enough to remember when low fat became the craze.  (Wait!  Of course, you are old enough!) Everything was “low fat!” Obviously, this was the result of our being told that fat was killing us.  We ditched our butter for margarine (Should have called it “margin” based on profits made while they tried to kill us all!)  and other hydrogenated vegetable oils.  A/K/A Trans fats! We swapped our lard for canola.  So, where exactly does canola oil come from?  The Canola plant?  Uh, no.  There is no such plant.  It comes from a plant alright!  (Industrially produced. FACTORIES!) Canola oil is so nasty it has to be bleached and deodorized in order to make it edible! The chair of the Harvard nutrition department, Walter Willett estimated that the nationwide shift to trans fats resulted in over 200,000 heart attacks, ANNUALLY in the US. In this case, the stick of butter might have been a better idea! SMH!  That,  “I can’t believe it’s not butter,” slogan should have been “I can’t believe these idiots are eating this crap!”  It wasn’t butter.  It was poison. 

So, here’s what you need to know about trans fats!  Processed foods replaced butter with them.  They were cheap to produce and increased the shelf life, which means they made a killing! (While killing us all.)  Those trans fats increased those unhealthy small dense LDL particles that actually end up causing blockages in your arteries. They contribute to diabetes, obesity, dementia, and can even increase your risk for cancer.  As a result, in 2015, the FDA FINALLY recognized them as unsafe and made the food manufacturers remove them from their products.  That said, read the labels.  If you see the word, hydrogenated, put it back!  They’re still hiding in places!  READ!

READ LABELS

The bottom line is that what we also missed was that when they took out the fat, they replaced it with sugar! Our consumption of sugar and carbs increased dramatically.  And guess what else increased dramatically?  Waistlines! Obesity!  Diabetes! What a damn coincidence!  NOT.

“The nationwide rise in obesity began at exactly the same time we started weaning ourselves off of fat. Childhood obesity rates also tripled during the same period. It’s easy to see how the spike in obesity coincided with the federal government release of the first dietary guidelines for Americans in 1980 which told us to restrict fat and eat carbs and starches.”

AND here is the other issue with ditching fats. Fat happens to be essential for our health! Our body needs fats to survive.  Every cell in your body is made from fat.  Your cells need fat in order to have healthy membranes. 

Looks like a walnut! Both contain healthy fat!

Your brain’s dry weight is 60% FAT!  It needs fat to function properly.  I don’t know and I haven’t done that research, but I can’t help thinking has a little something to do with the increase in the rates of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other neurological issues.  (That and statins being overprescribed for cholesterol! Safe levels of cholesterol keep dropping, coincidently as big pharma makes a s#*t ton of $ on statin prescriptions.  Greed is truly killing us all!) Fat is what makes up the protective coating of your nerves called the myelin.  (Hmmmm.  You mean the issue related to MS? Also on the rise.) 

Our bodies need fat to make hormones, like our sex hormones.  You know, like testosterone and estrogen.  (Hmmm.  I wonder when ED rates increased.  Just saying.) Immune cells need fat to regulate inflammation.  Chronic inflammation is what leads to a whole host of issues.  Eating fats ALONG WITH plant foods is how our bodies absorb fat-soluble nutrients.  (Fat-Soluble.  Get it?)

Our bodies primarily run on two kinds of fuel for energy.   Carbs and fats.  Protein if necessary. Fats however, unlike carbs, don’t contain glucose.  Therefore, they don’t cause our blood sugar levels to spike which triggers the release of insulin. In a study published in the journal of the AMA, (American Medical Association) researchers compared the effects of high fat/low carb diet to a high carb/low fat diet.  Participants on the high fat/low carb diet burned 300 more calories per day. They also saw the most improvement on blood sugar, insulin, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol and other cardiovascular markers.  And not sure if you know this, but Alzheimer’s had been referred to as Type 3 Diabetes.  Again.  Just saying.  To quote Arsenio Hall, “Things that make you go hmmmmm.”

Not only can eating the right types of fats protect against weight gain, eating the right fats improves your HDL lowers and your triglycerides, reducing your risk of heart disease and obesity. The opposite of what we were told for years.  The Big Fat Lie!

Okay.  So, the key info there is “the right types of fats.” So, what are the right types of fat?

Types of Fats – Not all fats are created equal

Saturated fats found primarily in animal foods like dairy and meat, as well as coconut oil were once widely considered to be the reason for heart disease. (The number one killer ESPECIALLY IN PEOPLE OF COLOR!  Total black crackage! Also, one of the leading underlying conditions for Covid deaths among my folks!)  And again, while more research is needed, study after study has failed to link them to heart disease.  And the fact is, that all saturated fats are not created equal.  Saturated fat from coconut oil and from butter isn’t the same.  Breast milk is straight up saturated fat. (Not that we are running around here drinking breast milk as adults or need to.  No judgment! Hopefully our brains have developed! But it does make me again go “hmmmm.”  Again, I haven’t done the research, or read any thus far, but could there be a link to children’s issues and baby formula vs. breast milk?” I need to research those statistics.  Will have to save this for another day!)

That said, it appears that carbs, not saturated fats, may indeed be the culprit. Your body converts a lot of carbs to fat in your liver.  Saturated fat can actually offer some benefits like vitamins and contributing to proper immune function.  And finally, just like all fats are not created equal, it is the same with carbs!  Choose wisely.

There is lots more to learn.  For the purposes of this post, rather than focus on what we should avoid, I will focus on what we need and what we know to be beneficial!

Monounsaturated fatty acids which come from plant and animal foods contain important nutrients as well as antioxidants.   They help protect our hearts against disease, and have been shown to help lower blood pressure, improve insulin sensitivity, and lower LDL cholesterol.

MSF’s have been shown to reduce small dense LDL particles that attack the walls of your arteries, resulting in arteriosclerosis. (Which is the hardening of the arteries.)

You can find MSFs in foods like olive oil, nuts, nut oils, and avocados.  They’re also found in some animal food like butter, lard, beef tallow, chicken, and duck fat. (Which can be used for cooking.)

Unfortunately, when you expose monounsaturated fatty acids to high temperatures, they become oxidized and can turn rancid.  At that point, they become harmful to us.  Same for polyunsaturated fats.

Omega 3 & 6 Fats

Polyunsaturated fats, some of which are referred to by scientists as PUFA’s (Fatty Acids) are considered essential.  Essential means we require them, but our bodies can’t make them! This means we need to include them in our diet.     

The two most important PUFA’s are Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.

Ya need both! While Omega 6 can be inflammatory, Omega 3 is the opposite.  But they work together. They balance each other in different ways.  Always about balance!  Omega 3’s reduce inflammation and promote cardiovascular health.  They protect your brain.  A huge percentage of Americans are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids.  That means a huge percentage of Americans have increased risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s, dementia, ADD, depression, and the list goes on. Too much Omega 6, and not enough Omega 3, and we see an increase in chronic inflammation. (Which can lead to a bunch of other health issues and diseases.)

The Lyon Heart Study, a randomized controlled trial, found that decreasing the amount of Omega 6 fats consumed and increasing omega 3 intake resulted in a 70% decrease in heart attacks.  It also offered prevention against cancer.   

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.cir.103.13.1823

Some of the best sources of Omega 3’s are fatty fish, eggs, grass fed meats, walnuts and flax seeds, while Omega 6’s are mostly found in nuts, seeds, grains, beans.  The problem is 6’s are hiding in processed and packaged food and in highly refined vegetable oils!  So, avoid those vegetable oils to keep things in balance!  Most of us are consuming way too many 6’s, especially if consuming processed and fried foods. 

It’s also important to consume your fats and veggies together.  (You know.  Like a little drizzle of extra virgin olive oil on veggies, or a light lemon vinaigrette perhaps.)  Nutrients like Vitamin A, D, E and K are fat-soluble.  That means our body needs fats to absorb them.  Consuming the fat with the veggie stimulates bile production.  Bile is needed in order to properly absorb fat-soluble vitamins.    

bowl being poured with yellow liquid
Photo by Pixabay

Good Fats

EVOO – a/k/a Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Organic even better!)

While it’s 20% saturated fat, it’s the 80% which is monounsaturated fat a/k/a oleic acid that we should focus on.  Studies have shown oleic acid can help reduce inflammation.  EVOO is high in antioxidants, (Health promoting and anti-aging compounds!) polyphenols, and anti-inflammatory compounds.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6160559/

EVOO is best used in marinades, dressing, or drizzled on veggies.  Keep in mind that you don’t really want to fry with it.  (Or fry at all!) It’s not suitable for high heat cooking like frying because high heat changes it and not for the better!  When heated to the point of smoking, the fat molecules breakdown and release free radicals and other toxic substances. That smoke point is relatively low, so it’s best used for cooking over lower heat.  If you are cooking with high heat, ghee (clarified butter) or coconut oil is best. Even avocado oil has a higher smoke point.  It’s also rich in oleic acid. 

Another thing to note is that olive oil can also oxidize when exposed to light.  Look for oils in dark colored glass bottles and store in a cool, dark spot.

Please read the labels.  There are a lot of oils out there marketed as EVOO that has been adulterated with lesser oils! 

And finally, another oil to consider is walnut oil.  It’s high in antioxidants and Omega 3’s.  It’s best used in dressings.  The smoke point is even lower than olive oil, but it adds a nice nutty flavor to your dishes!

All fat is not bad fat!  It’s just a big FAT lie.

Be sure to check out Dr. Hyman’s book. “What the Heck Should I Eat” You can find it on Amazon. I recommended his podcast, among others in last week’s post!

22 Healthy Habits to Adopt for 2022!

KAVON

no comments

January 3, 2022

  1. Reduce Sugar – Less sugar consumption will reduce inflammation, cholesterol, improve heart health, result in weight loss, lower blood pressure, improve skin, improve sleep, increased energy…..shall I continue?  Or do you get the point?    
  2. Get to Stepping (And yes, my Midwest friends, that stepping counts too!)
  3. Meditation – Helps to reduce stress, boost immune function, improve emotional wellbeing, and increase happiness. 
  4. Yoga – Increases strength, flexibility, balance, and energy. It can also improve circulatory health and alleviate stress.
  5. Nature – Spending time in nature can reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, improve mood, and reduce feelings of isolation. 
  6. Get Creative – Engaging in creative activities can improve brain function, mental and physical health. Creative activities can increase overall happiness!  
  7. Slow Down – 24/7/365 hustle is played! Slowing down offers us better clarity. Leads to better decisions.  Be present and enjoy experiences more.  Stop and smell the roses!
  8. Move More – Take the stairs.  Take a walk.  Add strength training. You know why!
  9. Get Social/Anti-social – Spend more time with family and friends.  BUT, it’s also important and necessary to unplug for a while each day!  Step away from the device.
  10. Eat Better – Read labels.  If you see ingredients you can’t pronounce or that are not real food, put it back! Eat more greens. Eat more raw veggies and drink green juices. 
  11. East Less – Try Intermittent fasting and/or smaller portions.  Buy smaller plates!
  12. Teatime – Green Tea is full of antioxidants and may lower one’s cancer risk. It is also believed to lower cholesterol which lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease. Try chamomile at bedtime instead of another glass of wine.
  13. Laugh More – Much better than meds. 
  14. Drink More Water – Stay hydrated for better skin, more energy, and a healthier body.
  15. New Experiences – Step outside of your comfort zone.  Experience LIFE!
  16. Deep Breathing Exercises – Lowers blood pressure.  Helps you to relax, decrease stress, tensions in the body, and increase calm.  Helps detox the body and improve sleep.
  17. Learn Something – Challenge yourself to learn something new.  Another language perhaps! There are thousands of online courses, seminars, and some of them free! Check out Coursera.  You can audit courses for free!
  18. Volunteer – Helping others also makes you feel better.
  19. Be Kind not just to others, but to yourself! You deserve it.
  20. Sleep More – Just as important, if not more than diet for health and longevity.
  21. Floss Daily – I bet most of us suck at this! I do.
  22. Be grateful!  YOU’RE STILL HERE!  YOU WOKE UP. Wake up with gratitude.

Time to Do Better. Get Better. Be Better.

KAVON

7 comments

December 27, 2021

Wake up! Self Care is Not Selfish. Self Care is Love!

That includes me!  I own a mirror. And yes, I talk to myself. I definitely need to do better. I will never stop trying to do better. If not for myself, for those that love and need me.  And, for those that I love.

For example, I’ve said this many times, but I know I need to manage stress better and work on being more present and positive. These things have a tremendous effect on my physical and mental health. Stress not only ages you, (Again, I own a mirror!) it slowly kills you!  I need to Drink more water and less of anything that’s not water. I will leave it at that.

We should all do better.  At least make the effort. There is too much info readily available and easy to find (Although at times conflicting and confusing, so please look for reputable and hopefully reliable resources.) to NOT do better. If you believe there is a deep-seeded reason you don’t, or can’t seem to do better, get some help. If you can’t afford therapy, (Which should be covered under basic medical along with dental, but don’t get me started on that!) there are some great books out there. Recognizing and owning that there IS an issue alone is huge. I recently realized one of my life-long habits is really an anxiety disorder. Who knew?) But I also recognize why I might have it.  But I will save that for a mental health post!  I mention it because anxiety and stress go hand in hand. 

So, why do better for others if we can’t seem to do it for ourselves? Because the things you do now, the choices you make, eventually affect EVERYONE you love! If you are in pain, the folks that love you are in pain.  If you suffer, they suffer! People care about you, so of course they will worry about you if you aren’t okay. Let me tell you something I can speak to from recent experience!  Running someone you care about to the ER is stressful for both parties!  I was no less stressed when I drove myself to ER.

Now this may sound mean and selfish, but I personally have no desire to take care of folks who make a conscious DECISION NOT to take care of themselves. If you think about it, not taking care of yourself is actually a selfish act. When you choose not to take care of yourself you are creating a future burden for people you claim to love. So, if you won’t take care of yourself for yourself, then perhaps do it for those that you love. No one wants to become a burden, but by ignoring your health and well-being that’s exactly what you are doing.

Disease is not inevitable. It does not happen to everyone. Some folks die from old age. Particularly in certain geographic areas. And we should be able to enjoy our lives as we age. It’s not just about quantity, but quality of life.  It’s not just about life span, it’s about health span. Who wants to live a long unhealthy life?  Or live a long healthy life, ALONE because your partner, spouse or friends didn’t take care of themselves.  What good is it if you cook healthy meals for thirty years if they’re hiding cases of Oreos in the closet?

There is nothing enjoyable about sitting in hospitals taking care of people, who well, to a certain degree put themselves there. Granted that is not always the case. People get sick despite their best efforts. People have defects. Genetics can play a role. Unexpected and unpredictable shit happens.  My kid didn’t do anything that I’m aware of to cause her MS, but it can become a debilitating illness.  She has it.  You can make decisions and choices that allow you to live with it, or you can choose to just let it take you out! Myself, I’m a firm believer that many diseases can be cured or reversed.  Worst case scenario, is to at least not have it progress.  Totally possible! And I know she gets tired of hearing my mouth and sacrificing things she enjoys to stay well, but I remind her all the time.  “When you are tempted, think of your kids and do it for them. Do better for them.”

Accidents also happen. That’s different. that’s not what I’m talking about.  I’m talking about folks that make themselves sick, whether due to a lack of discipline, bad habits, or just basic overall not giving a shit. (Which I’m sure is often a result of childhood, trauma, and sometimes undiagnosed mental illnesses. I get that.  I’m not being insensitive to that fact.  People go through shit. No one escapes childhood without scars, including me.) That said, we have to find a way to do better.  Don’t bury your head in the sand.  Work on getting better.  Find a mirror.  Look at yourself.  And ask yourself why you don’t, and go from there.

But here’s what I have for my peeps. Pushing wheelchairs is a job for a hospital employee. Taking care of folks is the job or nurses and doctors.  They go to school to do this. They sign up for that.  So sure, do whatever you want. Eat whatever you want. Sit there. Don’t get off the sofa.  Just don’t look for me to push you around later.  Oh no. I’m going to push your ass now!  I’d rather push you, now than push you later. And I don’t care if you get mad at me.  It’s called tough love.  But it’s always about LOVE.  You will know I don’t care when I shut up. (As if.)

And real talk, I also have no desire to be the last man standing. (Which I won’t have to worry about if I don’t do better my damn self!) Ain’t nobody got time to be sitting in a nursing home alone in a rec room, in a chair with a blanket in my lap eating Jello, watching jeopardy, hoping someone visits! 

So, make time now! Take care of yourself. We want to take care of those we love and of course will be there if we are needed, (That is what family and friends do!) but can we all do our part to delay (or avoid) that situation? We have more control than most believe.

Of course, I will take care of my peeps if they need me to do so.  I know they will take care of me.  They’ll push me.  (Hopefully, not into traffic.) But my goal is to avoid them having to do so for as long as I possibly can.  I expect the same of them.

Auntie J and Mrs. Butterworth are not your firends!

There is no reason I need to argue with you about Log Cabin and Aunt Jemima NOT being MAPLE SYRUP over brunch. Mrs. Butterworth is NOT your friend. There’s no reason that I need to tell you why high fructose corn syrup is bad for you. It’s just too late in the day to be ignorant. Read. You don’t even have to drive to the library anymore! Learn. Listen. Talk to your doctor.  If he or she is just a pill peddler, find one that’s not.

If you don’t feel you have the time to do the research, listen to those that have! There are some amazing podcasts. Check multiple sources. Don’t have time? Sure, you do! Spend less time on IG, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Use the phone to do better. You hold unlimited information in your hands! Listen to educational and motivational podcasts. Your wasting time liking posts.  How about you like yourself and do better! If not for you, for the folks that love you!

One last thought to consider.  I recently had blood work done.  It was long overdue.  Upon review of my report, it appears that all of my numbers are in the “acceptable” range.  But acceptable to who?  Being “acceptable” simply suggests that I might be disease free. Of course, there are many more tests to determine this than just blood work. That said, just because there’s nothing obviously wrong, doesn’t mean that it’s right. 

We need to strive for optimal, not just acceptable.  I mean, it’s a good start!  And just starting is great! I know I can do better, and it’s probably safe to say, most of you can do better as well.  One way to do better is to arm ourselves with the knowledge and tools to do better.  Below are my top five podcasts I listen to regularly to do just that:

  • The Doctor’s Farmacy with Mark Hyman, MD
  • The Model Health Show with Shawn Stevenson
  • Feel Better, Live More with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee
  • The Mind Body Green Podcast with Jason Wachob
  • The Mindvalley Podcast with Vishen

Happy Holidays! – Sharing The Gift of Time

KAVON

no comments

December 20, 2021

While the past week was extremely stressful, it was also a much-needed reminder. Tomorrow is not promised, and TODAY IS A GIFT! Time is our most valuable and limited resource.

The time I would typically spend researching and writing a post was spent taking care of, and spending time with family and close friends!  

So, I share this reminder with you. Our time is a gift.  This weekend, rather than spend time with my laptop, I chose to share that gift with a few of the folks I love the most.  I gave them my time, and they gave me theirs.  There simply is no better gift to give or receive.  

Your time is a gift that doesn’t require shiny paper, bows or tape.  (It does on occasion require a credit card and a Nike store!)

My girls.

Drs. Do Little / Part Two – Live!

KAVON

2 comments

December 13, 2021

Photo by Usman Yousaf

This one is going to be short, but not sweet!

I spent the weekend in the hospital!  No as a patient.  As a family member.  As an observer. A very worried and very unhappy observer. 

Multiple doctors popped in and said nothing.  And don’t dare ask them questions.  They don’t seem to have any answers three days in.  The neurologist says the scans are clean.  No narrowing of arteries.  No damage.  No stroke.  They attribute the symptoms to elevated blood pressure.  The cardiologist says it could be neurological.  There is constant conflicting information.  It’s western medicine, so they don’t work together.  But I will get to that.

In the ER three different doctors checked in to ask about pain levels.  Except pain wasn’t a symptom.  NO one said S*&T about any pain.  Did any of them actually take the time to read the chart?  Why are you asking someone what brought them in, when you’ve already been told when they arrived and several times after, why they are there? 

Nurses keep showing up and taking blood and poking, prodding, and drugging.  Seven in total!   Seven different drugs. He’s still having one symptom.  Dizziness.  Well, that would be of extreme concern except in reviewing the side effects of most of these drugs, guess what is listed?  Dizziness!  So, are you solving the problem, or creating a new problem?

But NOOOOO! Stay longer! (You have great insurance!) We will keep popping in, not doing jack squat, and billing you every time we say hi and have no new info.  Your cholesterol is high.  Take this pill.  Your blood pressure is high!  Here’s two more pills.  If there wasn’t good insurance, he would have been evicted already.  It’s a total racket!  A straight up gangster operation!

Don’t get me started on the unhealthy dietary options! Which is tragic because food can be used to prevent and treat disease.  Improving nutrition can make the biggest impact on our health.  Most chronic diseases are related to diet and lifestyle. The food we eat is compromising our health.  Why is this not on billboards when over a half million deaths in the US each year are attributed to poor diet?

And often it’s not just diet, (although it’s a HUGE factor) but a combination of diet, lifestyle, and genetics. Look, I’ve said it before, and I’m going to say it again!  Our genes might load the gun; our lifestyle choices, habits, and diet are often what pulls the trigger. 

Not one person asked about his diet and exercise regimen.  No one asked about his sodium overload for the week prior.  How often he moves. They would rather pump you with drugs.  Why? Because there’s no money in telling you how to avoid ending up in the hospital.  They’re just glad it’s not Covid because they can’t catch it!

We don’t have a healthcare system!  We have a money-driven sick-care system!  I recently listened to a podcast episode on Shawn Stevenson’s Model Health Show where he states, “It’s a revolving door of profit because we have a system that focuses on repeated pharmacological treatment of symptoms, instead of helping citizens to remove the underlying causes of their diseases.” Preach Shawn! Preach!

We have crooked government agencies that give subsidies for crops we know cause disease!

He further states, “40% of physicians on the FDA review board for drug approval receive payments from pharmaceutical companies!”  In another post he shares that in 2020, over 2/3rds of our member of the US Congress, received campaign dollars from pharmaceutical companies!

Total FN racket! Corruption at the highest levels. And we all pay for it!  With our dollars and our lives.

Meanwhile hundreds of thousands die annually from drug interactions. Unsafe drugs are prescribed millions of times before they are determined to be unsafe and get recalled! The EJS Center for Ethics at Harvard stated that FDA approved drugs cause almost 3 million hospitalizations every year!  And it gets worse.  How is this for a conflict of interest?  The FDA gets over half of its operating budget from drug companies!

Pfizer had to give up a boatload of money (I’m talking billions) to settle lawsuits as a result of purposely ignoring safety data about a drug that caused breast cancer in women!  And that’s just one lawsuit.  There were numerous against them. Don’t worry, they made it all back on the Vax!

Photo by freestocks

RAC-KET!

So, what can we do? 

Start by practicing health care at home!  Do everything in your power to stay out of the doctor’s office and hospitals!  I’m not hating on all doctors. (Okay. I am a little bit.)  I’m sure there are some good ones out there.  I had a good one.  Where drugs are a last resort.  There is just a lot they do not know.  Some don’t take the time to learn.  Some of it is not required.  (And it should be!) Some are just straight up drug dealers with a license to do so.  Not all doctors are good doctors.

And, I’m not saying all meds are bad and that they are never necessary.  You might have to take them to help get things under control, (ALONG WITH DIETARY AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES) but the goal should be to change your habits so that you can reduce, and eventually eliminate the need to take them. 

Look, drugs typically treat a body part and not a system.  Your body is not just a bunch of parts!  It’s a very precise system! Everything in there serves a purpose!  Drugs to help one part, often damage another, therefore damaging the entire system!

So, how do we practice healthcare at home? Start by making smarter food choices.  Get off your ass! Don’t polish off giant bags of fritos! (The guilty know who they are!)

If I sound angry, it’s because I am.  For a number of reasons.  And while it’s not a positive emotion, sometimes it necessary. It can be a motivating force for change.

Greed is destroying us all in every way possible.   I mean, just think about it! Greed can be associated with everything that is going wrong in the world! From power and politics to global warming to our sick-care system and the pharmaceutical industry.

It’s time to fight for ourselves.  To fight for our rights.  To fight for our health.  To fight for our future. Things need to change.  Allowing folks to profit from keeping us sick needs to end!

Shawn ended an IG post with this statement.  (Which I love!)

“It’s not within your power to wake everyone up. But it is within your power to share your voice to empower those who are ready.”

He’s ready.

Hopefully, I won’t end up in the ER when I see the bill!

Boost the Booster – How our lifestyle choices can affect vaccine effectiveness

KAVON

no comments

December 6, 2021

Everyone I’ve spoken to recently, is getting their vaccine booster shots.  Many got their shots earlier than I did, so according to recommendations, they’re due for theirs.  I’m sure I will do the same when necessary. Obviously, you need to do whatever you need to do to avoid the “Vid.”  

But I have to ask.  Are folks really doing all that they can to avoid the other Big C?  If I had to guess, I would have to respond with a resounding NO.  Many of us are NOT.  (Doc Hollywood movie quote I love, “I don’t mean me. But folks!”  You have to watch the movie.  The nurse is hilarious.)

We are all rushing to CVS to get that shot. But, what else are we doing to shield ourselves from contracting the virus?  There are a few ways that you can boost your immune system without the shot.  I’m by no means saying don’t get it!  I’m merely suggesting there are things we can do to boost our immune function, as well as the EFFECTIVENESS of the shot!  I know folks afraid to go anyplace or do anything because they are scared. Rightfully so. It’s a scary thing.  But are they doing everything in their power to reduce those fears?

There is proven, scientific data, that links our lifestyle choices to our immune function.   Those choices include what we EAT. How we manage STRESS. How well we SLEEP, and whether or not we MOVE! (PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.  You know. EXERCISE!)

A healthy immune system is your FIRST line of defense against infections and viruses.  Sadly, as we age, our immune response can slow down.  It is highly likely this is one of the reasons that the elderly are more likely to contract, and potentially die from Covid.  But there are things we can do help to maintain and balance immune function; especially as we age.

For one, unless you’ve been living under a rock, it is not new information that our gut plays a major role in our immune system.  “Seventy percent of the immune system is located in the gut,” says David Heber, MD, PhD, and professor emeritus of medicine at UCLA Health. “The foods we eat affect the diversity and composition of bacteria in the gut, which in turn affect immune cells.”

“The typical Western diet, which is high in animal proteins, sugar, processed foods and saturated fat, results in less-diverse gut bacteria and promotes inflammation and chronic disorders,” says Jonathan Jacobs, MD, PhD, a professor of digestive diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 

And speaking of the Western diet! I stood behind two young ladies in Shoprite yesterday. (In this case, it should have been called Shopwrong!) It is not where I typically shop, but I needed one thing and it was the closest store!  These young women had an overflowing cart, and unfortunately beat me to the register. As I stood there with my one item while they unloaded onto the belt, I couldn’t help but notice that both of these young ladies were borderline obese, if not actually obese.  And NO, (before you come for me or get your panties in a bunch!) I’m not hating on the obese, but I’m not about to suggest that obesity isn’t a problem in this country, or that there are not obvious health consequences as a result. Being obese puts you more at risk for serious chronic disease and more severe illness from Covid.  I didn’t make that up. It’s just a fact.  Don’t shoot the messenger.

Study after study suggested that risks for hospitalization, ICU admission, ventilation and death were higher in those with increased body mass.  And sadly, if affects folks of color at even greater numbers.  Whether it be lack of access to medical care, lack of access to quality food, (which is a major issue!) vitamin D deficiency (which is common in my folks) or just poor dietary and lifestyle habits, the fact remains.  I thought about this as I stood there waiting to check out.

I also couldn’t help but notice that there was only one thing missing from their cart.  REAL FOOD.  The belt was loaded with boxes, cans and bags of processed food and sugary snacks.  Not one vegetable.  Wait.  I think they had a bag of grapes!  $220 worth of processed food.  Not one vegetable to be found.  Never has a statement been truer.  We are what we eat.  I slip.  You might find me in line with a bag of Tates chocolate chip cookies or find too many empty cabernet bottles in my recycling. I can admit that. I have a French fry habit.  (It’s under control!  I’m working on it.)  I’m far from perfect.  But you will also find me in the gym 3-4 times a week and I try to at least get a good walk in daily, if nothing else.  I’ve been known to do squats and jumping jacks during zoom calls, for those that say, “I don’t have time!”   Look at your time spent on social media and then make that statement.  Yeah, that cat video was funny, but you know what is not funny? Illness. Death.

The fact is that the typical western diet, also known as the S.A.D. diet, (Standard American Diet) is loaded with sugar, chemicals, and saturated fat. Consuming this crap and all these processed foods results in less-diverse gut bacteria.  It also promotes inflammation and chronic diseases.  (You know those underlying conditions that made Covid so deadly for many.) Obesity directly affects your immune system because the low-grade inflammation stimulates an immune response.  And what happens when you overwork something?  It either doesn’t work as efficiently or stops working altogether!   It’s like having too many windows open on your computer.  What happens?  It starts running slower. Studies have shown a decrease in effectiveness when in a state of obesity. Absent of obesity, chronic low-grade inflammation as a result of lifestyle and dietary choices, renders our immune systems less responsive.

So, if you really want a booster shot, look no further than your shopping cart!  Your diet has a direct impact on your immune system.  What we are striving for like in most things, is balance!  Too much immune response isn’t good either.  (Autoimmune disorders are an example.)

Consume a healthy balanced diet and by now, I’m sure I do not have to tell you what that consists of!  I can tell you it’s not in the middle aisles of the grocery stores unless you are in Sprouts, Wholefoods or Trader Joes.  Do they carry junk disguised as healthy?  Absolutely.  But I think it’s safe to say, far fewer than Shopwrong. Where ever you shop, read labels.  The fewer ingredients there are, the better. If you can’t pronounce some of them, put it back!

What else can you do?  Get some sun! I know it’s cold out for many of us, but go outside when the sun is shining. If that isn’t possible or you are vitamin D deficient, you may need to supplement.

GTHU!  When you move your ass, you feel better, sleep better, and reduce stress.  Movement and exercise help you to maintain a healthy weight.  That varies, of course depending on a few factors.  We all need to figure out what that is for ourselves.  (Perhaps with the help of a professional.) Everyone isn’t supposed to be a stick figure.  Not having enough body fat can be an issue as well.  Again, balance is key. 

Only you know how you feel and what you need to do about it.  But healthy habits and lifestyle choices can definitely boost the booster!  I’m just saying. Don’t just rely on Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J.  Your first line of defense is YOU.  The responsiveness for these vaccines improves with a healthy lifestyle. The most effective defense is to live a healthier lifestyle. Your choices can be more powerful than any drug or vaccine they manufacture.

D! M*%ther&fu@#er D! Putting the D on Blast! (Vitamin D that is)

NY Times Article about Corona Virus attacking fat cells

https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/features/enhance-immunity/index.html

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system

https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/obesity-and-covid-19.html

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7010e4.htm

CHILD’S PLAY – (No Chuckie Required) The Anti-Aging & Health Benefits of FUN!

KAVON

no comments

November 29, 2021

Recently, I found myself on the phone with a friend reminiscing about the fun times we used to have.  Whether it was out watching a good football game at a sports bar, chomping on wings, and talking smack, or at one of the parties he and his partner used to throw, it was fun.  Laughing, Music. Dancing.  After we hung up, I thought to myself, “Lady! You are not having enough fun!”

And I’m not saying there’s no joy.  I love writing, but I wouldn’t call it fun.  Well, sometimes it’s fun.  When I’m working on a comedy script, I do find myself laughing while I’m writing, but it’s still work.  It just happens to be work that I enjoy.  It’s challenging.  I’m sitting there attempting to write something others will connect with and find funny.  I enjoy the challenge, but I still wouldn’t call it fun!

Fun is obviously different for everyone.  For some skiing is fun.  I just see cold and potentially broken bones. For others it could be a game of spades, or chess accompanied by a tremendous amount of shit talking.  Whatever fun is for you, it offers both great physical and psychological benefits. Fun is not just for kids!  (And Trix shouldn’t be for anyone!  Remember that commercial? And the sugary cereal that dyed the milk?)

And speaking of kids!  That’s what wrong with them!  Remember these words?  “Go outside and play!” That wasn’t a suggestion.  That was an order.  Take yo ass outside and have fun!  And we did.  Jax.  Hopscotch.  Jump rope.  Tag.  Taking off on our bikes and riding for hours until the street lights came on! (Can you say childhood obesity epidemic? Just saying!) For us, the ultimate water balloon fights (East meets West.  Which was like a six-block radius!)  until we got fussed at for wasting all that water.  Having fun is part of having a balanced life. 

Yes, I know that as adults we all have jobs and personal responsibilities.  There will always be a never-ending to-do list. Unfortunately, that is the downside of being that adult we couldn’t wait to become! That said, while you have that list out, you need to add “having fun” to the list.

Having fun is a vital part of our well-being.  And laughter truly is the best medicine.  I have a rule.  No matter what I am watching on TV at night, I ALWAYS end the night watching something funny.  Especially if it was a stressful day, which more often than not, it was!

Okay, so, what happens?  Why do we look up and all the sudden, we are not having fun? Do we feel guilty about not being productive?  Do we start to believe that we are too old to have fun?  You know, it has been said, “You don’t quit having fun because you get old. You get old when you quit having fun!”  I believe this to be true!   (Of course, I forgot who said it, but I know it was a quote I’m too lazy to look up.)

I mean, what goes wrong? Do we become self-conscious?  Worried about how silly we might look? Remember being a kid and not giving AF?  When you were walking Barbie and Ken around faking their conversations, arguments as well as their ability to walk!  You could care less how crazy you looked! Now I’m not saying dig out Barbie or your green army men collection (although if you do still have them, you might want to dig them out since they’re worth a shit-ton of money!) I mean unless you think playing with Barbie would bring you joy!  No judgement!  But there are some serious benefits to getting in touch with and reclaiming a bit of that inner child.  Designating some “play” time.

STRESS RELIEF

Growing evidence suggests there are numerous health benefits to fun.  Number one!  Stress relief!  (Unless, the Barbie police show up to repossess the Barbiemobile because Ken forgot to make the payment!)

Not only is fun stress relieving; fun helps to relieve boredom, loneliness, and pain.

When you are having fun, the feel-good neurotransmitters are released.  (Dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin.)  Not only does this relax you, it lowers your heart rate and your blood pressure. And since there are a whole host of issues related to high blood pressure, having more fun can help you to avoid them!

IMAGINATION

When you’re having fun, you aren’t worrying about your problems!  Play stimulates your imagination and can help with solving problems.

BRAIN FUNCTION AND MEMORY

Playing games like chess, or even puzzles, help improve brain function by challenging your brain.  If you are playing games with others, you have the added benefit of social interaction, which is helpful with warding off depression. 

ENERGY

Fun and games can improve vitality and increase energy. 

LEARNING

Think about the way children learn.  Songs.  Games.  You can learn new things more easily when you are in a playful and more relaxed mood.  Want to learn something new? Make it fun!  Want to learn Spanish.  Find a group of girlfriends that want to learn too and make it a party!  Mix up a batch of margaritas or mojitos while you butcher the Spanish language!

INTIMACY

Keep your relationship fresh and exciting with play!  Families (or however you label it) that play together, stay together. Having fun and playing together fosters resilience and intimacy.  Humor and fun can help to improve not only your love relationships, but friendships and work relationships as well.

Look! Allowing your inner child to show up and show out on the regular, can keep you happy, healthy, and youthful!

So, are you like me?  Do you need to have more fun?  Here are some ideas to get you started.

You don’t need a group or a partner to just do something fun, silly or spontaneous.  It could be something as simple as wearing something fun.  I happen to like graphic t-shirts with hilarious, but sarcastic messages. Like this one…“YOU SEE MY FACE AND YET YOU’RE STILL TALKING!”

Get one of those talking birds and teach it to say “shit.” That’s pretty much all it would learn hanging around me.

Interested in a group thing? (Not that kind!)

Try hosting a game night? (masks, vax, whatever you need to feel safe!)

A night out.  Bowling?  Dare I say go embarrass yourself with Karaoke. (Or get a home machine!)

My friend Barb took an improv class and loved it! (You can even find this online!)

Plan a regular group physical activity.  Beach walk.  City walk. 

Go to a comedy club. (You don’t need a group for this!)

Surround yourself with kids. (Post covid on this one!) They can be truly hilarious.

Lastly, I leave you with this.  These are the lyrics (And I’m sure copyright infringement) to the song a young Michael Jackson sings the hell out of.  (Tell Alexa to find it!)  Not only are they lyrics; they’re pretty good advice!

With a child’s heart
Go face the worries of the day
With a child’s heart
Turn each problem into play
No need to worry no need to fear
Just being alive makes it all so very clear

With a child’s heart
Nothing can ever get you down
With a child’s heart
You’ve got no reason to frown
Love is as welcome
As a sunny sunny day
No grown-up thoughts
To lead our hearts astray

Take life easy, so easy nice and easy
Like a child so peaceful and so carefree
The whole world smiles with you
As you go your merry way
Oh with a child’s heart
Nothing’s gonna get me down

The Gratitude Attitude – The Health Benefits of Being Grateful

KAVON

3 comments

November 23, 2021

GRATITUDE Definition:

The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. (Also, the title of a double live album set by Earth, Wind & Fire, circa 1975. Just saying!)

This post is about Gratitude.  And no, contrary to what you might have immediately assumed, I’m not referring to Earth, Wind and Fire’s recording!  I’m talking about gratitude.  Derived from the Latin word, gratia (which sounds like a sexual activity! Yes, I went there!) that means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness; depending on the context. “In some ways, gratitude encompasses all of these meanings.  Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible.”

So, rumor has it, also known as history – Wait. Don’t get me started on that subject!  My mom had to purchase a set of Black History Encyclopedias (And I bet if you said the word encyclopedia to anyone under the age of fifty they would look at you as if you had two heads!) so that we would know OUR history!  She knew we were all but excluded from the books at the school, and she wanted us to know.  I still have those books!

Of course, there was always the African American History class at Palmyra High which I’m sure most girls took just to look at Mr. Z’s corvette driving ass! 

But I digress.  Back to the history lesson. So, the story goes that after the Pilgrims and the Native Americans (You know the Native Americans that apparently saved their pilgrim asses from malnutrition and illness by teaching the pilgrims how to grow corn, extract maple from trees, catch fish, and steer clear of poisonous plants) harvested their first corn crop, the so-called holiday was established to celebrate. (The Pilgrims graduated from corn school!)  The celebratory feast somehow now centers on Turkey, which I highly doubt was on the menu back in 1621.  (Nor were side dishes that could send you into a diabetic coma.) I assure you marshmallows and mac and cheese were not served!

I assure you I was not at the party!

And let’s be real.  We all know that the way this story is presented is probably not how things actually went down.  It presents a beautiful image, but paints what I’m sure is a deceptively happy portrait of the relations between the NATIVE Americans and the, well, you know, immigrants!

While I’m not a fan of turkey, or pretty much most Hallmark holidays, I do like the idea of giving thanks.  Whether it be for the first corn harvest, or the job you get to return to Monday, or the family that is eating all the stuffing which is the only reason you showed up, and drinking too much, or just that you woke the hell up, there’s something to be grateful for. Gratitude is an expression of appreciation for what one has. (And a really great album) Being grateful shouldn’t just be a tradition.  It should become a habit and here’s why……

Research has shown that gratitude is consistently associated with happiness.  Gratitude is a positive emotion which helps to improve psychological health. You benefit by replacing negative emotions like envy and resentment with thoughts of gratitude. Psychologists have discovered that feelings of gratitude also help to improve physical health.  Research has also shown that being grateful can help to reduce stress, improve immune function as well as foster healthier relationships. One study demonstrated how feelings of gratitude reduced cortisol (the stress hormone) better equipping you to handle stress when it rears its ugly head. Grateful people are less likely to have issues with depression. Overall, being grateful can be a boost to your mental and physical health!

Gratitude is about learning to appreciate what you have rather than always seeking something you don’t have expecting it to make you happier.  It’s about focusing on what you have, rather than what you lack.  It takes practice.  Believe me!  I know.  I have to remind myself constantly when I’m feeling frustrated about unmet goals and dreams.  But it does work.  When I’m able to shift my thoughts back to what I do have, and what I have accomplished, against tremendous odds, I immediately feel better.  Do I need to get better at it?  For sure!  Habits take time and practice. 

Where do you start?  Baby steps!

Here is something to try. Every single day, sit for just a few moments and reflect on what you are grateful for.  Or as religious folks call it, “count your blessings.”  And it helps to write them down.

Try to notice something new every day you are grateful for, no matter how small! A sunset. A crazy cool cloud formation. Your local coffee shop now has cinnamon!

DON’T FORGET TO SAY THANK YOU!  People just expect things anymore.  Saying thank you seems like a lost art form sometimes.  Burns my britches when I hold a door for someone, and they just walk right by as if it was my job.  Last I checked, I wasn’t a doorman!  (No disrespect to doormen!) But if you happen to have a doorman, please thank him or her.  Yup.  Each and every time!

Does anyone still write thank you notes?  No?  Well start.  Taking the time to actually write a thank you note shows just how appreciative you are.  They sell them in the store, (if you’re creative, make one!) and the post office sells stamps if you need one of those.  I have no idea how much they are, but I’m pretty sure they cost a penny more than the last time you purchased any.  It’s super easy to shoot a text or email and I’m sure, it is still appreciated, but an old-school thank you note, is next level!

In closing, I want to shout out some folks I’m grateful for and say thank you.

“Wanna thank you yeah. Wanna thank you. Wanna thank you yeah. Wanna thank you!!!!” Yup. Lyrics from the title track of EWF’s Gratitude.

My kids. The Daughter, the boy and the girl for being the reason I get out of bed on shitty days. For love, smiles and laughs. Thanks in advance for not putting me in a nursing home or putting me in a corner and using me as a coat rack. (Which has been suggested.)

My OLDER sister The Gooch. (Remember the show Different Strokes.  In retrospect, very weird title!)  Long list which in addition to love, support, and encouragement also includes, back up Mom Mom, “Dubers,” cakes, and security detail.

My bestie of 45 years.  Gina.  For being the best friend ever.  For never judging.  For listening.  For being there, always. (Once you get her to answer her phone or get her to check email!) For footsteps in the carpet lines, (refer below) laughs, an extended family, and a lot of wine.

My strange (artist, what do you expect?) spouse (as opposed to E-stranged) for creative support, artistic inspiration, encouragement, and just a shit-ton of material.  Not strange. Just kidding.

The rest of my crew.  The Phyl’s, Diane for many years of friendship, support, and fun!  Lot of laughs. And for being there with a tissue and a shoulder (or a cocktail) when there were tears.  My boys in LA and now one in Florida.  I know.  WTF?  For fun times and bad advice, but tremendous insight into the male mind! And again, loads of material!!!

My employer, Nancy Glass for keeping my old ass around!

And lastly, assholes from my past. I’m grateful to you as well. Again, tons of material! 

Of course, I could keep naming folks, but I do have a day job!  I will start thanking you when I see you. Besides, I doubt some of you even read this! Insert angry face emoji here.  I don’t take it personally.  Some folks just don’t like reading.  I guess, that’s why I need to get that podcast going.

Last, but certainly not least, thank you to my subscribers, readers, and supporters of this blog and all of the other crazy shit I write.

And what the hell. I’ll say it. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The Anti-Aging Power of MUSIC! – The benefits of music! (REAL Music!)

KAVON

1 comment

November 15, 2021

While our music preferences may vary by artist or genre, most people love music.  No matter what type of music you enjoy, there are numerous benefits.

While you may not have given much thought to the health benefits from singing along with, or listening to some of your favorite tunes, there are a few! Music can actually impact not only your brain, but your body, and in powerful ways. 

Music and sounds have a very unique effect on brain activity. If we’re talking sounds, there’s a reason that many find the sounds of waves crashing and rain to be relaxing.  For me, it doesn’t matter how stressed I am, the sounds of the ocean immediately put me in chill mode.  That is unless someone near me is yammering on or ruining my beach time blasting music.  That’s the one time, that no matter the music, it’s annoying as hell!  There’s also a reason you hear what you hear in the spa during a massage.  It’s not just the massage that offers therapeutic benefits.

Sounds and music alike are vibrations.  They travel through the airwaves and enter your ears.  From there, they are transmitted to your brain via the auditory nerve. The brain perceives it as music. While research continues in this area, brain scans have shown that music stimulates your brain. The type of music, the tempo, whether instrumental or not seem to determine how your brain is affected.

Studies using MRI technology have shown that not only listening to, but creating music, light up certain areas of the brain. And while the style or genre seemed to have an effect, it appears that your preferred or favorite music and songs will affect you the most. I recently saw video after video on youtube of men and women suffering from dementia or in a damn near vegetative state come alive after hearing their favorite songs from their past.  People who haven’t spoken, remembering, and singing the lyrics!

Both listening to, singing along to, or even performing music can reactivate the areas of our brains associated with memory, speech and emotion. Two separate and recent studies found that music can help us to retrieve stored memories as well as create new ones. Think about it!  When you hear a song from your past, doesn’t it take you back to that time?  Doesn’t it trigger memories from the past?

Look, the benefits of music to our health and wellbeing are numerous. Music can be especially beneficial to our aging brains and bodies.  Music engages our brains and learning to play an instrument really fires up that old noggin!  In addition, research has shown that listening to music can help to reduce blood pressure, (which affects many of us as we age!) anxiety, and pain, while improving mood and memory.  Can’t remember where you left those keys, but you know all the lyrics to “That’s the way of the world” by EWF circa 1975.

I read this story about researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center showing that singing lyrics was helpful to stroke or brain injury patients. According to article, the Former US Representative Gabby Giffords who was shot in the head, learned to speak by singing her thoughts first.  Singing also helps healthy people learn words and phrases faster.  I mean think about children and nursery rhymes. 

I had never heard of music therapy until a friend stated that this was her profession many years ago.  I had no idea what it was until I started researching this piece.  I guess I could have asked!  

So, what exactly is music therapy?

Well, it’s basically the clinical use of music.  It typically includes listening to music, singing, composing, or playing an instrument.  This evidence-based treatment can help with a variety of disorders including depression, Alzheimers, substance abuse, as well as heart conditions. Music therapy has been shown to help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve coping ability.

Formal music therapy was defined and first used by the United States War Department in 1945. It helped wounded and traumatized military service members recovering in military hospitals. After World War 1 & 2, community and professional musicians would perform in veterans’ hospitals for service members suffering from both emotional and physical trauma as a result of the war. Their notable positive responses to the music resulting in the hiring of musicians by the hospitals.

That said you don’t need a music therapist to enjoy the therapeutic potential of music. Just listening to music can improve your health in so many ways.

Let’s talk about the professional benefits. In one study, participants who listened to classical music while they worked outperformed those with no music or just white noise.

Other research has shown that if you are trying to memorize something, adding music to it can help improve recall accuracy.  Think about how you learned the ABC’s! Remember how easy it was to memorize lyrics?  Yet, you couldn’t memorize something you needed to in school without reading it repeatedly. And while it might not reverse memory loss, music has been shown to reduce cognitive decline. 

This I found particularly interesting after many years of being the wife of a jazz musician and composer. Johns Hopkins researchers had jazz performers and rappers improvise music inside an fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) so they could determine which areas of their brains lit up. (lol I’m guessing sweet potato pie would have a similar affect! I’m kidding. Sorta.)

“Music is structural, mathematical and architectural. It’s based on relationships between one note and the next. Your brain has to do some computing to make sense of it.”  Jazz could be considered the equivalent of the brain Olympics! (Okay, so he’ll always know where his keys are!) Come on. He has a composition called “Equalatogram and one called Fragmatic Decoding!” Need I say more?

Experts state, and I know it’s true for me, that we often continue to listen to the same songs and genre of music that we did during our youth, and we generally avoid hearing anything that’s not from “our” era. Well, there’s a reason for that. New music challenges our brains. The unfamiliarity forces the brain to struggle to understand this new sound. (Which typically after the 70’s or maybe 80’s sucks to high hell! I’m sorry. It’s not just our brains. That programmed music is just not good!!!!) New music not only challenges my brains; it challenges my patience!

A study done at the University of Kansas, found that folks that played musical instruments as kids, had improved brain function later in life.  Why? Because performing or playing music is a challenging mental activity. Those that played as children, and continued on as adults, were better able to resist the declining cognitive aptitude that often accompanies aging.

Researchers found in the study of brain function in people aged 60-83 that those with at least 10 years of musical experience did better on tests of things like planning, organizing, nonverbal memory, adapting to new information and managing time.

Okay, so while I played a toy organ and some sort of harp thing, (I can’t recall the name of but HAD to have.) it’s too late for me on the childhood thing.  That doesn’t mean I (and all of you) cannot take advantage of the many benefits of music now!

So, what are some other benefits? I mean, other than the physical ones, like if you are playing music, you can and should dance! (Great exercise!)

Anti-Aging

“There are few things that stimulate the brain the way music does,” says one Johns Hopkins otolaryngologist. “If you want to keep your brain engaged throughout the aging process, listening to or playing music is a great tool. It provides a total brain workout.”

Increase and Improve Physical Activity

You think those athletes walk around with earbuds in for no reason?  Nope! Music can enhance your motivation and stimulate you to perform at your peak.  There was a study that found listening to music during a 5K race improved runners’ performance.

Stress Reduction & Mood Improvement

Come on.  We all know what happens when “our song” comes on! One song can just change your mood.  How does this happen? Well, for one, the chemical dopamine (the feel good stuff) is released into your brain when you listen to music.  In addition, evidence has shown that the stress hormone cortisol is reduced when we listen to “our” music.  For me, that’s definitely not all music!  Not anymore.

Reduce Anxiety and Depression

Multiple studies have demonstrated that music can temporarily reduce anxiety.  

And again, the release of dopamine can positively affect symptoms of depression.

Heart Health

Music has been found to lower blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and heart rate. Of course, it depends on what you are listening to!  While up-tempo music might increase your BP and heart rate while you’re listening to it, studies have shown that blood pressure and heart rate dropped after the music stopped.

Music may also have a role to play in healing the heart. One study found that music therapy reduced stress and lowered heart rate in patients recovering from heart attacks. Those patients in the music therapy group also had a lower incidence of complications as a result of a heart attack, than those in the control group!

Pain Relief

There is evidence that suggests that music can help decrease both acute and chronic pain lessening the need for pain medications. Patients have reported a reduction of pain with music therapy.

Better Sleep

We all know by now the importance of sleep.  If you don’t, read my post on sleep. Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality can lead to all kinds of serious health issues. 

Lullabies actually serve a purpose.  (Not than anyone is singing any lullabies to your old ass!) Studies have shown that certain types of music (not just lullabies!) can improve sleep quality at any age. One study found that 45 minutes of specific music at bedtime improved sleep quality in older adults from day one! Yet, another study found that playing music before bed helped us post-menopausal women who often suffer from insomnia to fall asleep in less than 15 minutes as compared to the usual hour plus! Music’s ability to lower our stress and calm our nervous systems down might have a little to do with that.

Reduce feelings of Isolation

Nothing connects us like music.  Music not only connects us spiritually, but physically.  It brings us together socially and intimately. Whether it be a party or a concert, it brings about shared experiences lessening feelings of isolation. 

Increased Joy!

Music can raise your mood. Increase your energy level. Excite us! Bring back fond memories. Make us laugh, sing, and dance. 

“If you sing a song a day, you will make a better way. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah” written by Maurice White & Al McKay (And yes. I’m a huge fan!)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6447697/

DOES THIS MASK MAKE ME LOOK OLD? Hiding in plain sight.

KAVON

no comments

November 8, 2021

Face Shaper & Jaw Exerciser Yes, it’s like that.

Eureka! I found the solution to hide my sagging face for when they no longer mandate masks. I should just let my beard grow in! Beards are in right now. I mean not for women. But I could be a trendsetter! Beats the hell of sleeping in the “face fixer,” (In a used car WWE announce voice.) which I’m convinced cuts off the circulation to your brain. I’m kidding.  Fortunately, there is no beard.  YET.  But there is a face fixer and unlike most, I’m really not mad about wearing the mask.

Yes, The Face Fixer is one of the millions of anti-aging products in the marketplace. No one wants to get old. Certainly, no one wants the alternative. But the truth is, that no one wants to feel or LOOK old. They might do a better job accepting it than I have to date, but no one is sitting around looking forward to that s*#t!

I find myself studying my face daily in the mirror as if there’s a damn test coming up. Looking for inevitable changes. Pulling things back into place. Playing pretend procedure.  Looking for eyelids under meat hoods. Looking at little chin dimples wondering if I eat some cookies and gain some face fat back, will they go away? Or should I just grow the beard? Hell, the mustache is there.

I missed some of this after almost two years of hiding this area under a mask all day. Now I want to wear the mask to protect myself from seeing myself.

I found myself on Amazon searching for products. What I found were a bunch of so-called magic potions and products making ridiculous claims of restoring my face to its youthful glory days.  I think I just need a chisel! That could work! But let’s see.  They have forehead tape to smooth out my “Hell no, I don’t need glasses,” squint creases. They offer combo packs so you can tape up your eyes, chin, and forehead!

I had to try the Korean-made hyaluronic acid mask claiming to smooth skin and reduce the fine lines I can’t even see without my glasses. I performed the recommended patch test on my jawline. (Since I mostly hide that under the mask!) That one-inch spot is now as soft as a newborn behind, but I was scared as hell to do my whole face. What if the reviews are fake?

I thought to myself, “Maybe I should try it on my ass first! Not like anyone is looking at that! I know I’m sure as hell not!  When a man would (or woman, depending on what you are into) would ask you “whose ass is this?” you might have thought it was sexy.  When you stand in front of the mirror and ask yourself that same question, it ain’t all that sexy?   I apparently need to squat in my sleep! Why is it that when you lose weight it goes from all the wrong places? Just plain cruel.  Gut still there. Boobs and butt gone.  And even worse is losing facial fat.  How often do you run across a plump wrinkled face? 

And another thing.  Who thought Zoom was a good idea?  Why can’t we have a good old-fashioned conference call without seeing one another?  I know what these folks look like.  Even the folks I think of as attractive manage to look crazy on zoom.

I recall the first time I actually used my camera on zoom.  It only took being horrified by how my face looked on zoom one time to learn to leave the camera off!  And apparently, I’m not the only person bothered by their appearance on zoom calls.

I mean, let’s be real.  The anti-aging market was already huge.   It’s expected to be at about a half-billion by 2030.  (At least that’s one statistic I saw.) Thanks to zoom calls, according to dermatologist Dendy Engelman, patients are distraught based on what they see on their screens.  With a selfie, people control the images we see of them.  You don’t have much control on zoom.

Speaking of selfies, I watched a young lady at a table in a restaurant tilt her head in more directions than I realized a head could tilt, snapping nonstop selfies.  Trying to get just the right shot.  Why?  I’ve got news for you sis.  When someone actually sees you, they are going to see your face from every angle.  She was probably in her early thirties and already obsessed with how she will look on a screen someplace.  Well, ‘there’s that whole, “don’t post selfies for folks to criticize angle you can always work!” If you need to take 50 photos to get one you like, you’re in worse shape than I am!

I was just away attending a conference in Mexico, and everywhere you looked, folks were posing. It was like being at a reoccurring photoshoot! I mean chicks rolling around in sand, not for the fun of it, but for a photo.  Because as an adult, rolling around in sand, just ain’t fun!  Who does that? Apparently, a lot of folks.

I observed folks letting their food get cold, so they could take selfies with their food.  When did we all become so obsessed with taking photos of ourselves?  Not to get off topic, but it actually made me sad to sit by this beautiful blue water and sky and look in both directions to see folks, not enjoying where they were, but staring at phones looking at where everyone else was.  I sat there thinking, most of the folks you are looking at online WISH THEY WERE HERE!  And yet you do not appreciate where you are! We are just obsessed with phones and worrying about what everyone else is doing.  I just don’t get it. I guess I never will. But I digress…

I have to admit that when I watched this chick in the water jumping over waves recording herself for a good twenty minutes, I was kind of waiting for the scream when she dropped it in the ocean and the waves carried it away.  I know, that’s mean, but I’m sorry, it would have been a little funny.  Who am I kidding? That shit would have been hilarious.  Oh, come on, it’s a phone!  Besides, I had to do something to take my mind of the knee curtains I was staring at as I lay there in my cut-off shorts NOT TAKING PHOTOS.

Even when I thought I was more attractive and I was younger, I was never one who enjoyed having my picture taken.  Posing for photos has never been something I enjoyed.  Trying to hold that fake smile while someone fumbled with their camera! As a matter of fact, most, if not all of the photos I have of myself were taken by others and sent to me. 

Anyway, Dr. Engelman was stating in this article that as a result of zoom, chin and jaw filler had become extremely popular in his clinic. We are apparently obsessed with the bottom half of our faces.  I have to admit, that is the part of my face that bothers me the most.  The oval-shaped chin has now started to square off with actual corners!  (I have a whole post on this coming up! Why? Because for me, it’s at the top of the list of things bothering me and I think it’s safe to assume, I’m not alone. Apparently, this happens to some degree to ALL OF US.)

Okay, so I wouldn’t exactly call it Gerascophobia, which is the fear of getting older.  (Apparently on the rise!) I’m not really afraid to get old. I’m just having an issue with the idea of “looking” old.  Okay, I’m a tad concerned about getting old in general and time running out.  And while I would love to blame the beauty industry on my obsession with my aging face and body, (which constantly sends out messages to women that aging is something we need to battle) I cannot.  I don’t pay much attention to that. I’ve always known that they put makeup on 12-year-olds and paste them on magazine covers geared toward grown-ass women suggesting we should look like that.  Most of us didn’t look like that when we were 12, much less 30, 40, or 50!

I cannot blame these negative feelings on the publishers.  I don’t buy or read fashion or beauty magazines. The only magazines I ever read that weren’t a food magazine, were Essence and More Magazine.  (A short-lived publication geared toward women over 40!)

I’m aware that this is some internal, psychological shit!  Yup.  Here we are back on the subject of thoughts.  The thoughts I’m thinking about aging are creating the feelings I have about aging.  Aging isn’t a handicap.  It is a privilege.  I still have work to do. 

On a more positive note, while I was away, I managed to finish the first draft of my new show!  It’s going to be a multi-media show and I’m super excited now. To close the show, I wanted to write about embracing aging. And then I realized that it would be difficult to write about something I’ve yet to do.  I wanted to end the show on a positive note. But, I also wanted it to be about real experiences, and with regard to embracing my age, I’m simply not there yet.

I decided to ask a friend of mine to collaborate on that one piece for the show.  She, a little older than me and seems to be well adjusted, and way more comfortable in her skin than I am.  I must say that I love what she wrote.  I should probably read it repeatedly until it sinks into my square head!

In the meantime, unlike most folks, I am not mad about wearing a mask!  I can hide my aging face and cough without covering my mouth or germing up my hands! And speaking of coughing, I would like to remind everyone there is still such a thing as a common cold! (But I totally get the fear!) But back to masks….Hands-free coughs. Saving on lipstick!  What’s not to love?