Physical training, combined with the internal meditative aspect of tai chi, are the reasons martial arts legend Jet Li has turned to the exercise in recent years, even campaigning to make it an Olympic event. In an interview, Li explained his push to make tai chi a more widely recognized and accepted exercise: “In our attempts to push ourselves, we’ve lost sight of an important part of the sporting mindset: balance.” For anyone setting out on a mission to age gracefully, tai chi can help reduce your risk of falling with its focus on posture. An ounce of preventive tai chi may be worth a pound of cure; the Center for Disease Control reports that people pay an average of $35,000 in health care costs every time they fall. Many community centers and health and wellness
A New Defense Against Alzheimer’s: BRUSHING YOUR TEETH?
Could preventing Alzheimer’s be as simple as brushing your teeth twice a day? It’s probably not quite that simple, but a team of researchers at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry did find that the DNA of a bacteria responsible for a common gum disease is present in elevated levels in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Porphyromonas gingivalis is one cause of periodontitis, a very serious gum disease. The DNA of this bacteria is found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, along with a toxin secreted by P. gingivalis , called gingipain. The mere presence of the bacteria’s DNA and toxin in the brain proves at best a tenuous connection between Alzheimer’s and gum disease, but that wasn’t all researchers found. By infecting mice with the bacteria, they found that the disease spread from the mice’s mouths to their brains, indicating that there might be a similar pathway for P. gingivalis in humans, possibly through the nervous system. The researchers administered an experimental drug to the infected mice, called COR388. The drug decreased the amount of P. gingivalis in the mice’s brains, and it is now on its way to a phase one clinical trial to see if it can prevent Alzheimer’s. Even though the research and experimental drug sound promising, the theory is a far cry from being widely accepted as true. One alternative explanation for the presence of P. gingivalis in the brain is that mental deterioration in Alzheimer’s patients makes them more susceptible to bacterial infection, instead of the other way around. That being said, the relation between various bacterial and viral infections and Alzheimer’s is a relatively new area of study that has received a lot of interest. Even if the idea is mostly speculation at this point, every experiment brings us one step closer to curing Alzheimer’s for good. And though it shouldn’t be the primary reason to keep up your dental hygiene, it’s a good reminder to brush your teeth.
facilities offer opportunities to learn tai chi, from free community classes to entire tai chi facilities. Go see for yourself why this is the martial art everyone should practice.
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter • 3 russet potatoes (about 1/2 lb.), peeled • 1 tsp Kosher salt, plus more to taste • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste • Pinch of cayenne pepper, plus more to taste NO. 1 DAD HASH BROWNS Inspired by Bon Appétit INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a small saucepan, heat butter over mediumheat until foamy. Reduce heat if needed to avoid browning. Skimoff white milk solids tomake clarified butter. Transfer to a bowl and reserve. 2. Using the large holes on a box grater, grate potatoes. Transfer to a large bowl of cold water and stir until water becomes cloudy. Rinse potatoes under cold water, then squeeze out liquid using cheesecloth or a kitchen towel, removing as muchmoisture as possible. Season potatoes. 3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat butter tomedium-high. Add potatoes and cook until a crust forms underneath, about 5 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, break up potatoes and continue to cook, addingmore butter (or ghee) if potatoes begin to stick. 4. Cook until golden brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels; season with salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste. Serve.
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