Yep, I’m turning the Big 4-0 this year!  To celebrate I gathered a group of friends to spend an evening at FareStart serving the Guest Chef Dinner.  Local Chef, Wayne Johnson, of Andaluca (yummmm!) and his team wowed the guests with a divine meal. 

In the words of Carlene, the fabulous volunteer coordinator at FareStart, “Volunteers are a pillar at FareStart as they increase our ability to concentrate on the success of the homeless men and women in our program. Assisted Transitions volunteers helped raise over $1100 in tips and donations yesterday, which go directly to fund the training and services we provide to FareStart students. THANK YOU!”

Coming up in a few weeks I will be volunteering with them again for Guest Chef on the Waterfront.  Your taste buds will thank you for the rest of the year! 

Join the wonderful community and staff of Sunrise of Bellevue for their Car Show, Barbeque & Live Music on Saturday June 5th from noon ~ 3pm.  See some beautiful cars, enjoy and burger and dance to the oldies…we’ve put in a request withthe weather department for blue skies and mid-70’s.

This news article has me salivating for Mama’s Fish House on Northshore Maui.  My meal of Macadamia Encrusted Halibut may have been 15 years ago, yet YUM I can still rememeber that meal!

On “The Early Show” Tuesday, Jennifer Ashton addressed a new Columbia University study.

She said it “looked at more than 2,000 New Yorkers and their self-reported diets. They found dietary patterns that were associated with lower risks — people who had diets high in vitamin E, vitamin B 12, folate, omega-3 fatty acids and low in saturated fatty acids seemed to be protected against developing Alzheimer’s.”

Currently, Alzheimer’s affects about 5.3 million Americans, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

On the broadcast, Ashton suggested people eat a combination of nuts, broccoli, romaine lettuce, and fish, instead of a diet filled with butter, steak, brie.

How does the diet help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s?

Ashton said, “All together, a diet high in vitamin E, B12 and folate and low in saturated fats may protect the pathways to which Alzheimer’s occurs. Vitamin E might prevent it by its strong antioxidant effect. A diet low in saturated fats causes clogged arteries and may be related to the development of dementia and inflammation in the body, which can affect the brain.”

Ashton added, “The study does not promote one single source of food, but an optimal combination of nutrients.”

Other than diet, certain lifestyle factors can also help lower your risks of Alzheimer’s, Ashton said.

“The things that are good for your heart are also good for your brain and vice-versa, so you want to keep your weight down, minimize tobacco and alcohol use and exercise.”