We get asked where to go for recipes all the time. The Spunky Coconut has great recipes that are gluten-free, casein free, sugar free, and sometimes raw. The site has photos too, so you know what the final product will look like. And they are on FB and Twitter too. I’m gonna try the Almond Milk first - here’s the link:

The Spunky Coconut

The news magazine program “Here and Now” just did an interview with Ethan Watters who wrote a book titled “Crazy Like Us”. The link to the program is here:

Here and Now News Magazine

This is an excerpt from the beginning of the interview:

“Are American ideas of mental health and treating mental illness being exported along with Starbucks and McDonalds? Author Ethan Watters looks at post-tsunami work in Sri Lanka, anorexia in China and the marketing of anti-depressants in Japan and says yes. We speak to Ethan about his new book, “Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche.”

Here’s a link to Jon Stewart’s interview with Watters where he discusses the cultural aspects of mental illness. Definitely worth watching!

Jon Stewart interview with Ethan Watters

This is a link to a 1979 Harvard Study that looked at the power of thought and how it plays into the physiological aging process. The results are astounding!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8498233.stm

Last January, I sent out a newsletter with links to dispel common myths about the aging process. Here’s the link to that as well:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs058/1101014417558/archive/1102405228518.html

So, next time you start thinking that your aches and pains are due to “aging” - ask yourself what that means. Our genetics only determine about 1/3 of our destiny one we reach adulthood. The other 2/3’s of our destiny - baring accidents - is completely determined by our lifestyle, choices and attitudes.

If you want to read more about this topic, Bruce Lipton’s book “The Biology of Belief” is a good place to start. Bruce lectures about epigenetics - which is the science of determining which genes are turned on and why. Read more about him at his website:

http://www.brucelipton.com/

Here are two books that I’ve found to be immensely helpful in dealing with the questions we all need to ask if we have aging parents or family members recently diagnosed with any kind of dementia and/or Alzheimer’s.

1. “The Parent Care Conversation: Six Strategies for Dealing with the Emotional and Financial Challenges of Aging Parents”

http://www.amazon.com/Parent-Care-Conversation-Strategies-AgingParents/dp/0143037641/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265418270&sr=8-1

2. “The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life”

http://www.amazon.com/36-Hour-Day-Alzheimer-Disease-Dementias/dp/0801885094/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265418317&sr=1-1

If you would like to read some personal accounts about dealing with an aging parent with Alzheimer’s Disease, my sister, Gillian Wilk, has been writing articles for Associated Content about her experiences dealing with our mom.   Here are some links to her recent articles:

Coping with a Parent Who Has Been Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1273223/coping_with_a_parent_who_has_alzheimers.html?cat=12

Continuing Care for the Alzheimer’s Patient - Moving to a Memory Care Unit:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1744126/continuing_care_for_the_alzheimers.html?cat=5

The Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease - The 7 Stages of Alzheimer’s:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1762376/the_progression_of_alzheimers_disease.html?cat=5

This is Not my Life - Dealing with a parent with Alzheimer’s Disease:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1925672/this_is_not_my_life_dealing_with_a.html?cat=5

Ways to help a family member Suffering with Alzheimer’s Disease:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2022328/ways_to_help_a_family_member_suffering.html?cat=5

How to Choose the Best Caregiver for an Alzheimer’s Patient:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2085067/how_to_choose_a_caregiver_for_an_alzheimers.html?cat=5

Tips for Dealing with the Alzheimer’s Diagnosis of a Loved One:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2135363/tips_for_dealing_with_the_alzheimers.html?cat=5

Personal Story of Dealing with a Loved One’s Dementia:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2335266/personal_story_of_dealing_with_a_loved.html?cat=5

Hospital Stays and the Alzheimer’s Patient:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2666543/hospital_stays_and_the_alzheimers_patient.html?cat=5