MORE WINE AND CHEESE, PLEASE! _ If the sight of a cheese platter and some good wine at a party brings you delight, researchers from Iowa State University offer good news for you and your brain. Their study found this popular pairing may actually contribute to better cognitive health as you age. Participants answered questions about their food and alcohol consumption over an 8 to 10 year span. Participants were polled on their consumption of various foods and beverages, including fresh fruit, dried fruit, raw vegetables, salad, cooked vegetables, oily fish, lean fish, processed meat, poultry, beef, lamb, pork, cheese, bread, cereal, tea, coffee, beer, cider, red wine, white wine, champagne, and liquor each participant consumed. Researchers discovered cheese provides the most protection against age-related cognitive issues. Its impact is significantly greater than any other food in the report. The study also finds consuming alcohol daily, particularly red wine, can improve cognitive function as you age. While red meat continues to be a dietary concern, researchers say eating lamb weekly can increase mental prowess over the long haul.
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? _ Toss this one up on Facebook and discuss the topic and the comments on air. Here are a few from the internet:
• My older brother once told me this: If you have a problem in your relationship and you haven’t told your partner, it’s a YOU problem. It really forced me to work on communicating better.
• The money you save buying bad food will later be spent on hospital bills.
• Act broke to stay rich.
• On planning a wedding. You must do two things: get married and throw a great party. Everything else is details. And when something unexpected happens, save it for the stories afterwards.
DON’T PAINT YOUR OFFICE WALLS WHITE _ White walls in a room might feel crisp and clean, like a blank slate, but if they’re in your workplace, it’s time to repaint. Color not only affects a person’s mood, but it can also hinder a worker’s effectiveness. In a study (University of Texas), researchers tested the impact of color on productivity by giving three groups of people clerical tasks to complete in three different rooms, each painted a different color: red, white, and aqua. Some individuals were able to block out the color “noise” of their surroundings, while others were affected by it. Some had no difficulty working in the red room, while others tended to be distracted by the color. Both groups, however, made more errors when they worked in the white room.
