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Sunscreen in the Winter?

  Summer is ending and fall is upon us. Where I live, we are having a wet fall, complete with mud and overcast days.  Its the time of year when many of us put away the sunscreen.  The sun is too weak for us to burn so we won't really need need it for another year. Or will we?

I just recently discovered we should be wearing sunscreen year round rather than just during summer months when the sun is at its strongest.

Yes, you read that right! year round. The reason being is that when you are exposed to the sun daily on your commute, when out for a daily walk, etc, has a cumulative effect.

There are two types of UV rays.  The obvious one is the UVB which is responsible for our skin burning but it is the UVA rays we need to be aware of.

It doesn't matter the temperatures have dropped because you are being exposed to UVA rays, responsible for aging skin. UVA rays reaches deep into the skin  and they make up 95% of the UV rays we are exposed to.

It is suggested since snow reflects such a high amount of UVA rays (almost 80%), it is necessiry to use sun screen to protect one's skin when out snowboarding or skiing. UV radiation increases 4 to 5 percent for an increase of 1000 feet in elevation. Remember, just because its cloudy, does not mean you are protected.  Clouds are only able to block out about 20% of UV rays, this means 80% of the rays get through.  

Many dermatologists recommend the continued use of sunscreen to protect your skin.  Just because you've applied the sunscreen for the day, you'll be fine.  You still sweat so the sunscreen has to be reapplied at regular intervals.

One other place we are exposed to possible damage is at the office.  There is current research indicating pigment cells are stimulated by the light from computer screens and overhead lights, in addition to the sun.  This discovery has lead to the recommendation that people wear sunscreen even in an office.

I admit, before reading this, I shared the belief I didn't need sunscreen once fall hit.  Living in Alaska, the amount of daylight drops significantly.  But having learned more about UVA, I am going to keep using my sunscreen year round.

Let me know what you think.  Have a great day.

Manhatten? $24 Really?

  Have you ever wondered if the Europeans actually purchased Manhattan, NY for $24.00 worth of beads and trinkets or was that one of those myths that sprung forth due back in the mists of time? 

I remember hearing about it when I grew up and accepted it as truth but somewhere in the last couple of years, I heard something about it being a myth.

There is a primary source in the Dutch Archives where a reference is found to purchasing the land for 60 guilders in 1626. Although there is a deed in regard to this, the deed was not written for several decades and by that time, it was inhabited by the Dutch.

The $24.00 came about in the 19th century, when historians converted the 60 guilders into American dollars.  Since then, that figure has been quoted as the purchase price. There is no evidence what the exchange rate would have been in 1626 since the dollar did not exist.

There are still mysteries surrounding the whole even.  Even though there is a letter written by a merchant in regard to the purchase of the land, he neither mentions which tribe sold it, nor who actually bought it.  There is some speculation that the tribe who sold the land didn't, actually own it but were just traveling through.  Apparently, the Dutch claim was contested later on and they had to pay the true owners but it is not known how much was paid as compensation, so they ended up paying twice.

In addition, the author does not actually mention what was used to purchase the land.  He only states they traded "for the value of 60 guilders".  Based on what the Dutch paid for Staten Island, years later, it is possible usable items such as shirts, cloth, powder, socks, muskets, adzes, kettles, axes, knives, and lead made up the value.  Items considered quite usable at the time.


I hope you enjoyed reading this. Let me know what you think.  Have a good day.

Blood Oranges.

  The first time I had a blood orange I didn't know what to expect because of its name.  I had never heard of them but saw one in the store so I decided to try one.

Since then I've had several and enjoyed each and every one.  If you look at the picture to the left, you see what one type looks like. 

Yes blood oranges are red inside and some  have red splotches on the outside.  Even the juice is reddish. The amount of red depends on the variety and its growing conditions.

The red is caused by anthocynan, a pigment found as red in cherries or red cabbage, or blue in blueberries or purple in eggplant. 

These oranges provide large amounts of vitamin C, potassium, vitamin A, calcium, and fiber.  In addition they carry a powerful antioxident.

The earliest written record appeared in 1646 when a Jesuit priest wrote about a purple flesh colored orange that tasted like a grape.   As far as anyone can tell, this is the result of a natural mutation and no one is sure where they originated although it is thought they originated in China and was brought to Sicily and Spain in the 11th and 12 century.

Blood oranges are grown around the world including places like Texas and California.  There are several varieties include Tarocco, Moro (or Morro), and Sanguinello (or Sanguigno).  Sanguinello oranges have a deep reddish purple flesh while the Tarocco flesh has a light red tint. The Moro has a medium red flesh and is the most common blood orange found in the United States.

Since blood oranges are a winter crop, they tend to be available between December and April.  In Italy, they are as common as Navel oranges while in the United States they are a specialty item so they command a higher price.  You can find them in many stores including Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, and some of the store chains.

The flavor is less sweet and less acidic than regular oranges.  Since it is a only a winter crop, it is possible to purchase the juice year round which can be used in cooking, making syrups, or adding as flavoring goods.   I tend to only go for the fruit and enjoy it when I can get my hands on a few.  They don't last long in my fridge.

Let me know what you think. 

Brain Breaks

  Although this is a hot topic in education at the moment, it is also applicable to anyone who works at a job requiring a lot of time seated.  This applies to me when I'm getting my blog updated and ready to go for the next week.

A brain break is a short break of physical activity designed to clear the brain of stress and overload so it functions better.  It is important to take brain breaks ever 30 to 60 minutes so you don't get fuzzy.

Basically the brain has two sides, one which deals with focus and efforts while the other side likes to wander.   The first side often gets too cluttered with information overload and the second part of the brain does not get a chance to wander so the brain basically stalls.

Some ways to take a brain break at the office.

1.  Get up and move around.  When I worked in an office, I would wander off to the bathroom, check on things, and take the long way around so I'd get a three or four minute break of just moving around.  Even three to four minutes is enough to reset the brain.  A short walk also has been shown to relieve stress, reduce fatigue, and boost energy.

2. If possible, take a short 25 to 30 minute nap to to increase energy, improve learning and memory, boost mental alertness, and increase and productivity.  I realize this is easiest done when you work at home.

3. Take a short break to calm the mind through deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to obtain maximum renewal in a minimum amount of time.  It can lower cortisol levels over time.

4. Volunteer to make a coffee run for the office so you can get out of the building and take a brain break.

5.  At lunch, walk around the building a couple of times while listening to music. 

6.  Use you cell phone, take it to a quiet place so you can pace while you make your calls.

Notice, most of these get you up and moving around so you can get a bit of exercise to get your brain unblocked. 

Let me know what you think.  I love to hear from people.

Short or Long Exercise Sessions

  I am not one of those people who goes to a gym to exercise one to two hours before or after work. 

There are two reasons I don't do it. First, I don't have a gym within a two hour air flight and second, I don't have the time right now.

 What I do have the time for is a couple or three shorter sessions.  I wanted to know if several short sessions is as good as one long session?

So I took a look.  If I don't have time for one longer session, three shorter ones are considered as good or better.  Research indicates that three shorter ones can actually have some definite advantages over one long one.

In one research project, they discovered the benefits of shorter bursts of exercise lasted longer than fewer longer sessions.  Another study showed blood pressure readings improved well for both types of sessions but there were fewer spikes with shorter sessions.

According to the CDC it doesn't matter which way you go because the overall number of minutes done per week is important.  People need to accumulate 150 to 300 minutes per week of moderate exercise to receive benefits.

Benefits include weight loss, stronger bones and muscle, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, lower risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and a boost to both your emotional and energy levels.

To receive the most benefits from exercise, long or short, make sure it is challenging but not so challenging that you can't finish the whole session.  If you do a longer session, take sure you take as few breaks as possible and if you do have to take a break, keep it as short as possible.  Try to include some interval training for best results.

It has been suggested that people get up 15 minutes earlier, squeeze a 10 minute session at lunch, a quick walk in the park in the evening.  I hate being outside when its cold and rainy or snowy and blizzarding.  I rely on exercise DVD's.  I have a huge collection of 10 minute ones which fit my needs when I need short ones.

I am glad to hear my sneaking those 10 and 15 minute ones into my schedule is ok.  I used to feel guilty not doing 45  to 90 minute sessions because I could only use 10 to 15 min sessions at once.  I am glad I am doing something right.

Have a great day.  Let me know what you think.

Swimming away.

Note:  Carved out of ice and lit with color.