HopeCenter
M E M O R Y
C A R E
1200 Winder Hwy • Dacula, GA 30019
Dear Diary
February 2014
A recent study published in Neurology
magazine reports that reading and writing on a
regular basis stimulates the brain and slows
mental decline. Start a journal where you can
write down stories from your life, new things
you’ve learned, and other thoughts. You’ll be
preserving memories and helping your brain at
the same time!
Time for a Chuckle
Have you laughed today? Laughter decreases
stress hormones and increases immune cells and
antibodies, improving your resistance to disease.
Nutrient of the Month: Folate
Folate, also called folic acid or folacin, is a
B-complex vitamin. One of folate’s key
functions is to support red blood cell
production and maintain healthy circulation of
the blood throughout the body. Proper levels of
folate have also been shown to help prevent
osteoporosis-related bone fractures and
dementias including Alzheimer’s disease.
Excellent sources of folate include romaine
lettuce, spinach, asparagus, beef liver, parsley,
broccoli, cauliflower, beets and lentils. Summer
squash, strawberries, cabbage, bell peppers,
Brussels sprouts, tomatoes and a variety of
beans are also good sources.
Say What?
swivet \SWIV-it\ noun
A state of extreme agitation or anxiety.
Example sentence: The bride is all in a swivet
over the wedding plans.
Hail to the Chief
Presidents’ Day is celebrated on the third Monday in
February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition
of George Washington’s birthday, and later recognizing
Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, the day is now viewed by
many as an opportunity to celebrate all U.S. presidents.
Who is your favorite president?
A Friendly Walk
At AARP.org, psychiatrist Gary Small says walking
with a friend is a triple threat against Alzheimer’s
disease: It gives you a cardiovascular workout,
stress-relieving social interaction and mentally
stimulating conversation.
Subtract a Few Years
This advice from actress and comedienne Lucille Ball
will put a smile on your face: “The secret to staying
young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about
your age.”
The Charm of Chocolate
Be a Better Grandparent
Among the highlights of
this month is Valentine’s Day,
when loved ones shower each
other with cards, flowers and,
perhaps best of all, chocolate. To
get you in the spirit, here is
some trivia about the
much-craved confection:
• The average American
consumes about 12 pounds
of chocolate per year.
• Eating a small portion of
dark chocolate every day
can reduce the risk of heart
disease by more than
30 percent.
• The melting point of cocoa
butter is slightly below the
human body’s normal
temperature, which is why
chocolate literally melts in
your mouth.
• Every American and
Russian space voyage has
had chocolate on board.
• Napoleon insisted
chocolate be available
during his military
campaigns, although it was
limited to himself and his
senior officers.
• The smell of chocolate can
increase theta brain waves,
resulting in relaxation.
• While dark chocolate has
been enjoyed for centuries,
the more popular milk
chocolate wasn’t produced
until 1875.
• About 400 cacao beans are
needed to produce one
pound of chocolate.
With your parenting days
behind you, another important
stage of life awaits:
grandparenting! The job of a
grandparent is usually full of
joy, but that doesn’t mean it is
without some responsibilities.
Here are a few guidelines:
Bend the rules ... but not too
much. Grandparents are known
for spoiling their grandchildren,
and it’s OK to follow this pattern
in small ways—such as allowing
an extra dessert or a later
bedtime. But be sure you’re on
the same page as their parents
when it comes to safety and
behavior expectations.
Keep their secrets. Your
grandchildren may tell you
things they want to keep from
their parents. Unless staying
silent would put someone in
danger, keep quiet. This will
build trust between you and
ensure that you remain a trusted
confidant in the future.
Tell stories. Children love to
hear new things about people
they already know. Share tales
about things you did when you
were their age, what their
parents were like as kids, jobs
you used to have, and other
family stories. They will most
likely be fascinated to hear
about life from a different time.
Stay in touch. If you can’t visit
with your grandchildren in
person very often, be sure to call
or send letters on a regular basis
to establish a continual presence
in their lives.
Sing for Super Health
What activity provides a wide
range of physical benefits,
relieves stress, and even helps
you sleep better? If you guessed
singing, you are correct!
Believe it or not, singing can
be a form of aerobic exercise. As
you breathe in and out, you
increase your lung capacity and
strengthen your diaphragm and
abdominal muscles. Singing also
improves posture and
coordination, which can lower
the risk of falls.
When you sing, your body
releases endorphins, which not
only reduce stress, but also
relieve physical pain. Singing
also stimulates circulation and
increases antibodies that boost
the immune system. And even
though you may not feel like
singing when you have a cold,
the act can actually clear your
sinuses. Regular singing protects
your vocal cords, too.
Music has additional
significant benefits for seniors.
Singing stimulates the brain,
enhancing memory function,
concentration, alertness and
speech. Music is commonly used
to encourage reminiscing; a
familiar song can bring back
memories and spark
conversations about the past.
Learn More During
American Heart Month
Heart disease isn’t just the
No. 1 cause of death in America;
it’s also more deadly than all
forms of cancer combined. With
such harsh statistics, it’s
important to educate yourself
about the choices you can make
to protect your heart health.
The most common type of
heart disease in the U.S. is
coronary heart disease, caused
by a buildup of plaque in the
arteries. Coronary heart disease
can cause a heart attack, heart
failure, and different types
of arrhythmia.
Getting enough exercise and
maintaining a healthy weight are
crucial to preventing heart
Dime Store Days
For nearly a hundred years,
shoppers in small towns and big
cities could peruse the wide
variety of items available at
dime stores.
The concept was created by
F.W. Woolworth, who opened
his first five-and-dime store in
1879 in Pennsylvania. As the
name implied, all items cost five
or 10 cents, which appealed to
cost-conscious shoppers.
The store was a hit, leading to
disease, but that’s not enough—
even very fit people can get heart
disease. Limiting alcohol use,
not smoking, managing blood
pressure and maintaining low
cholesterol levels are all
important for heart health.
Although heart disease affects
people of all ages, the risk
increases as you grow older.
Seniors should be aware of the
signs of a heart attack and
carefully follow instructions
regarding any medications
they take.
Diet also plays a large role
in heart disease prevention.
Fresh fruits and vegetables, fish,
and whole grains can help
maintain low blood pressure
and cholesterol.
Woolworth stores across the
country, as well as competitors
such as Newberry’s, Kresge’s and
Ben Franklin.
Although prices eventually
rose, the name five-and-dime, or
dime store, stuck.
The typical dime store carried
an array of items, from candy
and cosmetics to toys, gifts, and
even small pets such as goldfish
or parakeets. Many of the stores
also featured lunch counters
where customers could refresh
themselves with a sandwich,
soda or cup of coffee.
The advent of larger
discount stores led to the demise
of most dime stores, although
some remain.
Wit & Wisdom
“Love planted a rose, and the
world turned sweet.”
—Katharine Lee Bates
“The best blush to use is
laughter: It puts roses in your
cheeks and in your soul.”
—Linda Knight
“We can complain because rose
bushes have thorns,
or rejoice because thorn bushes
have roses.”
—Abraham Lincoln
“An idealist is one who, on
noticing that a rose smells better
than a cabbage, concludes that it
will also make better soup.”
—H. L. Mencken
“One of the most tragic things I
know about human nature is
that all of us tend to put off
living. We are all dreaming of
some magical rose garden over
the horizon instead of enjoying
the roses that are blooming
outside our windows today.”
—Dale Carnegie
“I’d rather have roses on
my table than diamonds
on my neck.”
—Emma Goldman
“The first man to compare the
cheeks of a young woman to a
rose was obviously a poet;
the first to repeat it was
possibly an idiot.”
—Salvador Dali
What’s in a Name?
Some presidents claim their nicknames on the campaign trail, while others get
their monikers while in office or even as a former president. Here are some of
the nicknames given to our nation’s leaders.
President
George Washington
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
Andrew Jackson
William Henry Harrison
James K. Polk
James Buchanan
Abraham Lincoln
Chester A. Arthur
Theodore Roosevelt
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
George W. Bush
FEBRUARY
1807: In Alabama, former Vice
President Aaron Burr is arrested for
plans to annex land for a new
independent republic.
1884: The first edition of the Oxford
English Dictionary, considered by
many to be the definitive dictionary,
is published.
1912: A staple of American snacks,
Cracker Jack first puts prizes in
their packages.
1930: Clyde Tombaugh discovers
Pluto, the ninth planet from the sun.
More than 75 years later, Pluto is
demoted to dwarf planet status.
1942: President Franklin Roosevelt
institutes year-round daylight saving
time, called “War Time,” that remains
in effect until 1945.
1964: Marking the start of the British
invasion, The Beatles perform on
“The Ed Sullivan Show.”
1981: Dolly Parton’s song “9 to 5”
reaches No. 1 on both the Billboard
Hot 100 and the Adult Contemporary
charts, solidifying her status as a
crossover star.
Nickname:
“The Father of His Country”
“The Colossus of Independence”
“The Sage of Monticello”
“Old Hickory”
“Old Tippecanoe”
“Napoleon of the Stump”
“Old Public Functionary”
“Honest Abe”
“The Dude President”
“The Lion”
“The Peanut Farmer”
“The Great Communicator”
“43”
1996: In a three-hour game, world
chess champ Garry Kasparov loses to
a computer, Deep Blue. However,
Kasparov would go on to win their
six-game set.
2004: “The Lord of the Rings: The
Return of the King” wins 11 Academy
Awards, tying it with “Ben-Hur” and
“Titanic” for the most Oscars
awarded to a single film.
2011: About 111 million people in the
U.S. tune in to watch the Green Bay
Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers
31-25 in Super Bowl XLV.