Motivational Graffiti

Found here in Portland

Green Tea

Recently there have been studies that show that drinking green tea may be good for your brain. How? Green tea contains catechin, a bioflavonoid. This is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent damage from free radicals to the brain. This damage can lead to problems such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Green tea is also one of a handful of substances that can reduce levels of nitric oxide (NO) in the brain. NO is an important neurotransmitter that contributes to memory formation, but too much nitric oxide can cause certain neurodegenerative disorders. Some research even indicates that green tea may protect against Parkinson’s disease by cleaning up excess iron in the nervous system. Other studies have suggested that the antioxidant characteristics of green tea may also help to prevent against certain types of cancers, heart problems, high cholesterol and hypertension.

Black teas have most of the beneficial elements of green tea, but to a lesser extent depending on how the tea is processed. For people sensitive to caffeine, there are many decaffeinated brands on the market that preserve the positive properties of the tea.

LEP Up Date

The Board meeting (March 30th 7pm) was amzing. There where 100’s of people there in support of LEP.

To get the full story see this Oregonian Article http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/03/portland_school_board_closes_p.html

Support LEP Charter High

Here is a story about a charter school in Portland that is going to remain with us. Currently they are rallying for PPS to renew their charter. They need the communities support. (Healthy communities)

Come to the renewel hearing March 30th 2009 7pm at: 501 North Dixon Street, Portland, Oregon 97227

Scroll down for links to see LEP in the news!

LEP we love you!

lep-fact-sheet (PDF version)

LÊP Charter High School
2044 E Burnside St.
Portland, Or. 97214
503.254.2537

Fact Sheet on LEP and PPS

The Leadership and Entrepreneurial High School (LEP) is a successful charter school in SE Portland. Their charter is up for renewal March 30^th, 2009 7pm. This school is unquestionably exceptional. It is innovative, has well developed curriculum and solid community support.

PPS superintendent Carole Smith is making the recommendation that the schools charter not be renewed because of financial problems. It is important to mention that LEP used a auditor recommended by PPS and this auditor did not get done in a timely matter.

The reason that LEP has these problems is PPS. PPS has received money from the state based on the students at LEP and has not passed it on. PPS has kept LEP’s money. And now they are threatening to close a successful and loved charter school by recommending its charter not be renewed.

• PPS has withheld monies they have received for students in poverty. 65% of LEP students fit the criteria. PPS provides money for 17%. $411,858 (in the past three years)

• PPS has withheld School improvement fund money. PPS receives this money based one the # of students at LEP, yet they do not pass it on to them. $47,000 total

• PPS has withheld foster care funding. The state provides money for each student in the foster care system. PPS receives the money based on the qualifying numbers at LEP, it does not pass it on. $68,000

• PPS dropped the free lunch program at LEP, with a two week notice and no reason why. (Cost to LEP so far, $14,000)

• LEP receives $6,000/ student vs the $10,000+/ students that district schools receive. With that LEP must pay all their operating expenses. The largest of these is rent.

What is amazing is that LEP is able to provide an exceptional education and environment to their students for significantly less money. This is a sustainable exceptional model of education. We need the community to know what PPS has done. We need PPS to support LEP, not to reduce their resources and then close them down. We need everyone to know about this. We need LEP.

What LEP is doing:

• Raising money (the goal is $100,000) we are working on 1000 $100 donations

• Getting the word out about LEP and about PPS’s lack of financial integrity

• Maintaining a fabulous school through this challenging time.

• Getting everyone we can to the board hearing on March 30^th when the board votes for LEP’s charter renewal.

Here are some links:

http://www.lephigh.org/ (the schools website)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/03/letters_to_the_editor_earmarks.html (Channel 2)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/03/letters_to_the_editor_earmarks.html (Letter to editor in Oregonian)

http://open.salon.com/blog/moniquec/2009/03/18/lep_high_faces_possible_closure (Another Blog)

http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/shows/rethinking-schools/

http://www.examiner.com/x-4383-Portland-Progressive-Examiner~y2009m3d16-Tragedy–PPS-betrays-parents-students-common-sense

http://blog.oregonlive.com/myoregon/
(letter in an oregonianblog)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/03/portland_charter_school_faces.html(oregonianarticle)

http://www.kptv.com/money/18944763/detail.html#-
(on channel 12)

Mindfullness is…

…the awareness that emerges by paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” according to Kabat-Zinn

Mindfullness meditation

1. Posture: Sit tall and at ease. Be present in your body. Lift your ribs off of your waist so you can breathe
2. Observe your breath, feel your breath, feel your heart beat
3. Observe your thoughts as they float by. They need not stick (a flypaper mind) let them flow, observe the movie screen of your mind in action.
4. Bring your mind into your breath, breath through your nose. Breath into you longs, use your lungs completely‘ Be present with your breath. Slow your breath down by lengthening your exhalation and your inhalation.
5. Simply Be

Meditation can be for 3 minutes or 20 minutes time does not matter, as long as you take a moment to renew and refresh your mind and body.

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Regularly practicing mindfulness/meditation has been shown to decrease stress levels, decrease the recurrence of depression, decrease anxiety, decrease chronic pain/fibromyalgia difficulties, decrease symptoms of psoriasis and also increase immune functioning.

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Patch Adams

Now we’re talking!!!!……. Dr. Adam’s was recently here in Portland this February and I had the wonderful opportunity to hear him talk. This is a amazing person. [patchadams.org] He is an example of someone who is true to themself and walks the talk. He talks about intention and creating yourself every moment. A truly lovely human being.

The Meatrix

Watch The Meatrix

Learn about factory farms

Learn about local family farms at www.friendsoffamilyfarmers.org

Check out the Eat Well Guide to find Local Famiy Farms

Slower heart rate = Longer life

Your resting heart rate is a reflection of your fitness/ wellness. The greater your fitness the slower your heart beats on average.

When you first start working out it usually does not take much for your heart rate to increase significantly. As your exercise program consistently progresses you will find your heart rate will actually be slower than it was when you began. Because it is healthier.

It seems contrary. The connection with exercising so that your heart rate increases so that your heart will actually beat slower. But it is just the facts!

According to the Harvard Newsletter “Resting heart rate seems to be a common denominator for various types of heart disease. A tantalizing possibility is that lowering your heart rate could help protect you from heart disease and may even let your heart beat for longer.” (Harvard Newsletter)

Another way to slow your heart rate is learn to meditate and some breathing exercise. Stress in general increases heart rate.

[resting heart rate]

Doctors cite link between food and fatigue

Watch kgw report

What we eat does effect how we feel!!!!!!!!

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Tired all the time, even though you’re getting plenty of rest? It may have more to do with what’s on your plate than how many plates you’re juggling.

Doctors say there is a link between food and fatigue.

“I was sluggish, didn’t want to get out of bed, but you have to – you have to go to work.” Sandi Cauley felt horrible. After surviving a stroke she continued working long hours at a Portland hospital, but made sure she had plenty of rest and ate what seemed to be a healthy diet. Still, she had no energy. And she was gaining weight. She was frustrated.

So she sought help from a Portland area doctor known for promoting healthy eating to treat illnesses.

During Cauley’s first visit to Dr. Miles Hassell, she learned she was consuming a lot of hidden sugars in her favorite foods.

“You think you’re eating healthy, but, in reality, you’re not!”

Those sugars were draining her energy and causing weight gain.

Dr. Hassell, the Medical Director of Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center’s Integrative Medicine Program, helped her cut 500 calories a day immediately.

He simply identified the hidden sugar in her so-called “healthy” snacks. For example, the yogurt she loved contained a whopping seven teaspoons of sugar.

She beams, we cut “500 calories!”

“When we have someone with a fatigue problem the first thing we do is get rid of refined carbohydrates, sugars and white flour.”

Dr. Hassell says the next step is to limit or avoid hydrogenated oils. He also says avoid processed fat-free foods, meal-replacement bars, energy drinks and high fat, preserved meats.

Dr. Hassell explains “the only way to do that is by reading the labels of your foods carefully.” He advises you get your daily allowance of vitamin-D, vitamin B-12 and iron as deficiencies can leave you feeling sluggish.

In his book “Good Food, Good Medicine” Dr. Hassell not only lists energy-zapping foods, but also those that energize you.

He identifies such fatigue-fighting fuels as lean meats, nuts, dairy foods and eggs. He also points people toward unprocessed grains and so-called “good fats” found in avocados and extra-virgin olive oil.

Bottom line, he says “get your sleep, get your exercise especially in the morning, avoid refined carbohydrates… and make sure you’re getting good protein and good fat at every meal.”

A few months after changing her diet, Cauley noticed a dramatic change.

“My whole attitude about life is just different!” No more chronic fatigue and energy to spare. It’s tremendous now!” She works out daily and she’s lost more than 20 pounds.

She says it was simple, “check out what you’re eating!” By AMY TROY