Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/22090
6A – Daily News – Monday, December 27, 2010 Vitality & health How to … Exercise your brain and body By ALISON JOHNSON Daily Press (MCT) Physical exercise isn't just good for your heart and muscles. "Any kind of exercise will keep blood flowing to your brain, and there is evidence it may help new brain cells grow," says Gino Colom- bara, Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Asso- ciation Southeastern Vir- ginia Chapter. Here are some workouts that may be particularly helpful to brain health: Take a dance class. You'll be increasing your heart rate and also chal- lenging your brain as you learn various steps. Tai chi, karate or step aero- bics -- or any class that's new to you -- will have the same benefits. Do some circuit train- ing. The quick alternation between resistance and cardio will force you to work on both memory and coordination. Go to a group class. Keeping up social connec- tions also boosts brain health, according to the Alzheimer's Association. So after a workout, invite a fellow exerciser out for some coffee. Sign up for yoga. The deep breathing will deliv- er a good dose of oxygen to your brain, and the learning curve for new moves is a mental chal- lenge. Lift weights. Strength training requires concen- tration and focus. It also builds muscle, which improves the heart's abili- ty to pump oxygen-filled blood all over the body – including the brain. Take a walk ... Walking will increase blood circu- lation and send more oxy- gen and glucose to feed your brain cells (especial- ly since your leg muscles won't take up too much of either substance during a less strenuous workout). ... or a run. Studies in mice have indicated regu- lar running can boost brain cell survival rates. Use your less dominant hand. Say you're right- handed: try playing tennis or catching a ball with your left hand for a while. See if your brain can adjust. Oh Snap! The Daily News wants your pho- tos: Cute kids, Adorable pets, Any shot you think readers would enjoy Send pictures to edi- tor@redbluffdai- lynews.com or drop off at 545 Diamond Ave. in Red Bluff. Include a caption. (MCT) — Somebody slipped us some Cacao Sweet Nibs in place of our usual chocolate fix; now we'll never go back. Sure, we know chocolate is derived (some would say diluted) from cacao, but this sweet snack has fewer calories and higher levels of antioxidants. What's not to like? Take our quiz on this old-school dessert treat. 1. Cacao often is mis- taken for coca, which comes from a small shrub found in the Andes Moun- tains. Where do we get cacao? a) From vines and ten- drils in the Amazon rain forest b) From 40-foot South American evergreen trees c) From wild bushes along the coast of Chile 2. The name "cacao" fitness Nutrition Quiz: Cacao comes from the Aztec name "cuauhuitl." But what catchphrase did the marketing-savvy Mayans have for the sweet treat? a) "Food of the Gods" b) "The Tenochtitlan Treat" queror" c) "Cacao the Con- 3. Cacao contains high levels of epicatechins, which help the body in what way? a) Aid digestion b) Spur adrenal-gland functioning c) Reduce inflammation 4. True or false: Cacao's ORAC Score (a measure of antioxidant amounts) rates higher than acai berries. 5. Why, according to the magazine Optimum Well- ness, do bites of cacao often "promote feelings of joy"? a) It is derived from the same plant as cocaine. b) It produces the amino acid tryptophan, which leads to the production of the neurotransmitter sero- tonin. c) It satisfies a sweet tooth without the guilt of ingesting as many calories as chocolate. 6. Navitas Naturals, which sells Cacao Sweet Nibs, also produces what product using the wonder bean? Cleanser Balm grance Sources: Optimum Wellness magazine; Focus of Geography magazine; Runner's World magazine. a) Cacao Power Facial b) Cacao Power Lip c) Cacao Power Fra- Transition Retirement Sale Now thru Dec. 31st 10% - 40% off on all HF Inventory Socks-Yarn-Wheels Looms-Accessories Patagonia clothing 623 Main St. ANSWERS: 1: b; 2: a; 3: c; 4: true; 5: b; 6: b.