STOP! DON’T EAT SO MUCH SUGAR

Do you ever check the content of other people’s shopping carts? As a retired dietitian, I have to admit that old habits die hard. As I stand in line at the supermarket, I sometimes see warning signs of sugar addiction. Today, when I observed what a man bought, I felt like saying: ” Stop! Don’t eat so much sugar.”

Eating too much sugar and candy is bad for your health — Too much candy may be hazardous to your health

Here’s what this sugar lover had in his cart. One apple pie. Five pounds sugar. One package doughnuts. Ten packages of assorted candies. A carton of regular cola. One pound of bacon. One loaf of bread. Did I see a single piece of fresh fruit? Nope, not even a bag of grapes, which might have satisfied his sweet tooth. Salad makings? Again, nothing. No fresh tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers or celery.

My checkout went fast, so I ended up following the sugar lover to the parking lot. Health professionals say it’s mostly low income folks–living in a food desert– who have such an unhealthy diet. Not true, in this case. The well dressed man with a sweet tooth drove a late model, upscale vehicle. His face was flushed. Small purplish bruises on his arms indicated some type of disease or medical procedure. If I had to guess, I’d say he might be a diabetic, or has some type of circulatory problem. Could be anything.. I tried to envision his next meal. A bacon sandwich, maybe? Along with a big glass of cola? Dessert, perhaps, a piece of apple pie. Later in the day, snacks: candy, candy, candy. How nutritious is that?

I guess you can get addicted to sugar. Apparently, it can give you a “sugar high,” followed by a drop in blood sugar that leaves you tired and maybe even depressed. There are at least 10 bad side effects that come from consuming too much sugar.

If your sweet tooth affects your health, it’s time to change your eating habits, and head for the grocery store produce department. .

September 9, 2019September 9, 2019

10 GREAT THINGS ABOUT FALL

Have you ever taken one of those online weather-personality tests? They’re designed to reveal which season best fits your personality. No surprise for me—I always knew which season I liked best. Here are 10 great things about fall:

fALL FOLIAGE IN COLORS OF ORANGE, GOLD AND CRIMSON IS SPECTACULAR — FALL FOLIAGE IN COLORS OF GOLD, ORANGE & CRIMSON GIVES US A SPECTACULAR SHOW

1. No air conditioning. Does anyone really enjoy air conditioning? Yes, we like escaping from hot, humid weather. But the feel of air conditioning does not compare to a fresh, fragrant autumn breeze.

2. Less laundry. Most summer days, I’m apt to change my sweaty clothes at least once a day, if I’ve taken a walk or done errands. Summer clothes usually can’t be worn twice. Wash loads are typically twice as large as in the cooler seasons.

3. Fall is the sweet spot for arthritis. Summer make my joints swell, , and winter makes them creaky. For some reason, arthritics get some pain relief and improved joint flexibility in the cool fall weather.

4. Better sleep. Well, of course you’re going to sleep better when you’re not tossing, turning and sweating it out on a hot night.

5. Hope is in the air. Fall is the time for new beginnings. Kids return to school, go off to college with high hopes for the future. Their optimism is catching. For seniors, there are new shows and concerts to see, and adult education classes to take.

6. Fall festivals are held nearly every weekend in your own or surrounding cities. Here in Indiana, the famous Parke County Covered Bridge festival in the middle of October draws thousands of visitors from all over the USA.

Who doesn't love the flavor of juicy, homegrown tomatoes that ripen in the fall — HOMEGROWN TOMATOES IN THE FALL ARE A DELICIOUS TREAT

7. Homegrown tomatoes. Now is the time to enjoy the taste of red, ripe, homegrown tomatoes, which put the bland flavor hot house tomatoes to shame.

8.. Curling up with a hot beverage. What could be better than savoring a cup of hot tea, hot chocolate, or hot apple cider on a cold day.

9. You look better— summer’s heat and humidity frizzes your hair and opens your pores, giving your skin an oily shine. . Come fall, your skin looks smoother and hair is more manageable.

10. Fall foliage. Nothing compares to the spectacular show of autumn leaves.. Trees with every shade of orange, gold, and crimson create a dazzling display, especially against a clear blue sky.

Here’s hoping that you will enjoy an awesome fall!

September 6, 2019September 6, 2019

WHY MUST WE WAIT FOR HELP?

The media has been full of warnings about a possible recession. I’m not sure how they come up with those predictions. I’d think one of the first signs would be the unemployment rate. And yet, everywhere I’ve gone this week, businesses are understaffed. Why must we wait in line for help?

If we're headed for a recession, why is there a labor shortage — IF WE’RE HEADED FOR A RECESSION, WHY IS EVERY PLACE SHORT STAFFED?

It started last weekend. I tried to deposit a check in my bank’s ATM machine over Labor Day. Alas, it was broken. On Tuesday, it was still broken, and long lines formed inside. There were only three open slots with clerks—the other five were empty. Several of us turned around and left, rather than wait 15 or 20 minutes with arthritic knees or a bad back. When I got home, my phone rang. The bank was calling to say I’d left my bank card in the ATM machine. Bummer! I took this opportunity to complain about the short staff after a long holiday. Not to mention a broken ATM system. They informed me that several people were on vacation, and there were several vacancies to fill. They didn’t apologize.

That afternoon, we had an appointment to have a new TV installed. When the service man came, he discovered our TV Stand was too small. We would have to buy another stand, and make a new appointment, which would take at least a week. The reason? Short of staff. He is the only technician the company has available, and he’s working ten hour days, going all over Indiana & Illinois.

At the VA last month, veterans waited several hours to see their physicians. Why? Same answer. Sudden shortage of staff.

Drove to the supermarket yesterday. Same problem. Long lines, only 2 checkout stands open. Signs all over the place that they are taking employment applications.

Something doesn’t add up. I’m not an economist or a politician—just a seasoned observer who’s weathered many recessions. If that’s where we are headed, why is there a labor shortage? Why must we wait in long lines for help?

September 4, 2019September 4, 2019

SMOKIN’ MAMA’S NOT HOT

The lovely park near me has no sign that bans smoking. And yet, you seldom see people smoking there. Perhaps that’s because walkers and nature lovers also tend to be health conscious individuals. But as I walked home on Labor Day, a car exiting the park caught my eye. First, I saw a young child in the front seat. As the car stopped to wait for traffic, the female driver lit up a cigarette and puffed away. , I guess she didn’t know that smokin’ mamas are not hot.

What is wrong with that scenario? Let’s give the mom some credit. She made the effort to take her child to the park. Maybe they spent some time on the playground, or even had a little picnic in a quiet place under a tree. It was a good day. She was a good mother. Let’a assume she didn’t smoke publicly in the park for whatever reason. Why, then, couldn’t she control the urge once she and her daughter were confined in that small space?

Actually, it would have been better for the child if she had smoked while outside, on the playground. At least the smoke would have dissipated before reaching the child’s lungs. By waiting to smoke in the car, she was exposing her child to far more secondhand smoke.

Is smoking with children considered child abuse? Some physicians believe that it is. A few states ban smoking in a private car with a minor. They are: . They are Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Maine, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Virginia Also,. Puerto Rico. What’s the matter with my state of Indiana, which has one of the highest smoking rates in the nation?

It is considered child abuse to smoke in a car with a young child — SOME STATES HAVE LEGISLATION BANNING SMOKING IN A CAR WITH A CHILD

Scientific research over the last decade has shown that second hand smoke may cause several diseases in children, include asthma and pneumonia. Exposure to secondhand smoke is not simply a nuisance; it is deadly. .Second hand smoke is a major cause of sudden infant death syndrome and may cause lung cancer and heart attacks with repeated exposure. No safe level of exposure exists.

In cases where a child suffers from asthma and other second hand smoke induced diseases the legal system has begun to initiate court-ordered termination of parental rights, changes in custody status, and other actions.

Most of us are hesitant to intervene when we see a stranger smoking while with a child . After all, they know it’s wrong, but are doing it anyway. Okay, I won’t say anything, but I can certainly frown and show my disgust. Smokin’ mamas are definitely not hot.

September 2, 2019September 2, 2019

INDIANA POLITICIANS EXEMPLIFY CIVILITY

Our weekend winds up at 8:00 o’clock on Friday night, when we turn to the Public Broadcasting channel on TV. First, we listen to Washington Week in Review– a panel of left leaning reporters who seldom disagree. (Ho Hum) But then, at 8:30, Indiana Week In Review comes on like a breath of fresh air. We are treated to lively, but courteous discussions, with both political parties given equal time. The show exemplifys the civility of Hoosier politics, much needed at the national level..

That’s not to say that Indiana Week in Review– moderated by Brandon Smith– is dull. In fact, it’s much more lively and entertaining than Washington Week in Review. That’s because they have a balance between Republican and Democrat panelists. Rounding out the discussion are Fort Wayne journalist Mickey Kelley, and Indiana Law Makers Host Jon Schwantes.

Democrat Anne Delaney is full of passion. She knows what she’s talking about, and doesn’t mince words. Sometimes, she gets pretty mad. Her Republican opponent, Mike O’Brian, gets worked up, too. But just before they reach the boiling point, they back off, and agree to disagree. The moderator maintains objectivity, and quickly changes the subject if it looks like someone is going off the deep end.

The Indianapolis race for mayor is another example of Hoosier civility. During.their first public debate, Incumbent Joe Hogsett and his Republican challenger, Jim Merritt focused mainly on the issues. . While the debate sometimes got heated, there was no name calling or profanity. Indiana politicians tend to take a more measured approach. .

It appears that the politicians who live in middle America behave more respectfully with one another. I’m sure some high falutin political analyst can come up with a reason why this is true. , It may reflect the Midwestern culture, where more people come from small towns. As opposed to big cities, they interact with each other on a daily basis through their churches, families, volunteer work and various other activities. If you’ve ever ridden a subway, you know that rudeness is an acceptable survival tactic among strangers in large metropolitan areas.

While profanity, name calling and rudeness are now the norm in our nation’s political arena, It doesn’t fly here in flyover country.