Shirley Futch Plaza ~ Computer Training Center: August 2016

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Annual Watermelon Social and Seed Spitting Contest

We all got to enjoy a nice afternoon of delicious watermelon! Geez, the watermelon is goooood this year!

After our watermelon we went outside to SPIT. Every year we have difficulties finding a watermelon that has seeds, our old stand by has been to use cherries instead. Well, this year cherries were already out of season so we had to improvise - we spit pumpkin seeds instead. They worked fine and were tasty too :)

And the winner of the Annual Seed Spitting Contest: ALMA BRANDS!!!

Until next year.....

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Travel Day -> Blue Zones

Blue Zones is a concept used to identify a demographic and/or geographic area of the world where people live measurably longer lives.

The people inhabiting Blue Zones share common lifestyle characteristics that contribute to their longevity. The Venn diagramat the right highlights the following six shared characteristics among the people of Okinawa, Sardinia, and Loma Linda Blue Zones:^[8]

· Family – put ahead of other concerns

· Less smoking

· Semi-vegetarianism – except for the Sardinian diet, the majority of food consumed is derived from plants

· Constant moderate physical activity – an inseparable part of life

· Social engagement – people of all ages are socially active and integrated into their communities

· Legumes – commonly consumed

Buettner in his book provide a list of nine lessons, covering the lifestyle of blue zones people:^[9]

1. Moderate, regular physical activity.

2. Life purpose.

3. Stress reduction.

4. Moderate calories intake.

5. Plant-based diet.

6. Moderate alcohol intake, especially wine.

7. Engagement in spirituality or religion.

8. Engagement in family life.

9. Engagement in social life.

CLICK HERE FOR 7 WHOLE GRAINS YOU SHOULD INCORPORATE INTO YOUR DIET

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT FAVA BEANS

Sardinia, Italy

Sardinia, a large island in the Mediterranean Sea, has nearly 2,000km of coastline, sandy beaches and a mountainous interior popular for hiking. Its rugged landscape is dotted with thousands of “nuraghi” – ruins of mysterious Bronze-age stone structures shaped like beehives. The southern capital, Cagliari, has a medieval quarter called Castello, with narrow streets, 14th-century palaces and a 13th-century cathedral.

10 Foods that may lengthen your life

Living to 100

The islands of Okinawa, Japan: another team examined a group that is among the longest-lived on Earth.

Okinawa has been a critical strategic location for the United States Armed Forces since the end of World War II. The island hosts around 26,000 US military personnel, about half of the total complement of the United States Forces Japan, spread among 32 bases and 48 training sites. US bases in Okinawa played critical roles in the Korean War,Vietnam War, War in Afghanistan and Iraq War. The presence of the US military in Okinawa has caused political controversy both on the island and elsewhere in Japan.^[3]

The island's population is known as one of the longest living people in the world,^[4]^[5] in fact, there are 34 centenarians per 100,000 people, which is more than three times the rate of mainland Japan.

Okinawa - Secret to longevity

Loma Linda, California: researchers studied a group of Seventh-day Adventists who rank among North America's longevity all-stars.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW THE PEOPLE OF LOMA LINDA LIVE AND EAT

Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: the peninsula was the subject of research on a Quest Network expedition which began on January 29, 2007

CLICK HERE TO READ 'DOES THIS BEACH PARADISE HOLD THE SECRET TO LONG LIFE?'

Icaria, Greece: an April 2009 study on the island of Ikaria uncovered the location with the highest percentage of 90-year-olds on the planet – nearly 1 out of 3 people make it to their 90s. Furthermore, Ikarians "have about 20 percent lower rates of cancer, 50 percent lower rates of heart disease and almost no dementia.