Catfish Gumbo

I suscribe to Dr.Gabe Mirkin's newsletter and find it very informative.

His wife Diana Mirkin publishes a free cookbook full of healthy and
delicious recipes. I couldn't resist sharing this one!

Catfish Gumbo

1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 green pepper, chopped
2 stalks celery, sliced
6 cups bouillon
1 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes, undrained, broken up
2 teaspoons oregano
pinch cayenne, or to taste
3 cups okra or green beans, cut in bite-size pieces
(or use both -- fresh or frozen)
1 pound catfish fillets, cut in 1" pieces
1 cup frozen corn
1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley (for garnish)
Cooked whole grains of your choice
Hot pepper sauce (optional)

Bring 1/2 cup of the bouillon to a boil and cook the onion, garlic, pepper and celery for 5 minutes to soften. Add the remaining bouillon, tomatoes and spices, bring to a boil and cook 5-10 minutes. Stir in the okra or green beans and simmer 5 minutes. Return the soup to boiling and stir in the catfish. Reduce the heat and simmer 5 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and the vegetables are tender. Stir in the corn. Serve the gumbo over a mound of whole grains and garnish with the parsley. Pass the hot pepper sauce.

4-6 servings... Bon Appetit!

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The Boomer's Century: 1946 - 2046

Blogroll Me!
A documentary shown on PBS Seattle local schedule Wed. March 28

Ten Facts about Baby Boomers

The number of baby boomers in America is estimated at 78.2 million.

Approximately 7,918 Americans turn 60 each day. That's about 330 every hour or more than four million a year in 2006.

Within 20 years, the age profile of America will match that of Florida - about one in five Americans will be older than 65.

Boomers who reach age 65 in 2011 can expect to live, on average, at least another 18 years.

Four out of 10 boomers have less than $10,000 in retirement savings.

One-third of boomer households today have at least $100,00 in investable assets.

About one-third of baby boomers think they will have enough money to live comfortably once they retire.

Four out of five boomers intend to keep working and earning in retirement. Half of boomers plan to launch into an entirely new job or career in retirement.

Only one in seven baby boomers say they plan to collect Social Security benefits at age 62.

The unpredictable cost of illness and healthcare is by far boomers' biggest fear. They are three times more worried about a major illness (48%), their ability to pay for healthcare (53%) or winding up in a nursing home (48%), than about dying (17%).

Brain Function Boosted by Chocolate?

Reuters - 02/18/07
By Julie Steenhuysen

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - As if people needed another excuse to like chocolate, new studies suggest a specially formulated type of cocoa may boost brain function and delay decline as people age, researchers said on Sunday.

Scientists, speaking at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco, presented results from early studies testing the effects on the brain of flavanols, an ingredient found in cocoa.

Funded by candy maker Mars Inc., which provided a specially formulated liquid cocoa concoction for the research, the studies suggest that flavanols increase blood flow to the brain and may hold promise for treating some vascular impairments.

Mars, a private company, has made a study of the health benefits of cocoa. Its CocoaVia line of chocolates, made with a process that retains flavanols, have been shown in clinical trials to have benefits for the heart.

The latest research also suggests benefits for the brain.

Ian Macdonald of Britain's University of Nottingham Medical School, conducted a small brain imaging study on young, healthy women to see whether flavanol-rich cocoa helped boost cognitive function during challenging mental tasks.

Although the beverage did not improve their performance on the tests, it did increase blood flow to their brains for a two to three-hour period, Macdonald said.

He believes more research might show that increased blood flow could benefit older adults and those who have cognitive impairments, such as fatigue or even mini-strokes.

A U.S. study of healthy adults over 50 also found a marked rise in blood flow. It was conducted by Harvard Medical School researcher Dr. Norman Hollenberg, who has studied the effects of cocoa and flavanols on Panama's Kuna Indian population.

Hollenberg believes that, while promising, the brain benefit needs to be verified.

"The only way we can prove something is working is a large clinical trial," he said.

Meanwhile, the researchers cautioned against rushing out to binge on the special Mars line of chocolates.

"It is a modest calorie load but it is a calorie load," Macdonald said. "As long as you are doing something to earn that 100 calories, then that's fine."