Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Sweet Sweet Tequila

I’ve signed up for a couple of email alerts from different websites that recommend articles for me to read about cancer, immunology, etc. Today, I happened upon the article, “ Ingredient in Tequila Plant May Fight Osteoporosis and other Diseases,” published on the Science Daily Website. Immediately I thought that this is awesome news because now I have another excuse to drink margaritas—to fight off osteoporosis! I did a quick wikipedia search and got some more info on the magical agave plant, which is used to make tequila. Predominantly found in Mexico, Agave is apparently a popular ornamental plant and many parts of it are edible. The sap of the blue agave plant is fermented and distilled to make tequila. Studies have shown that fructans, found in agave, are responsible for the therapeutic benefits associated with the plant. As I continued reading the Science Daily article, studies suggesting fructans have therapeutic potential for the treatment of diabetes, obesity, and constipation were cited in addition to the recent findings concerning osteoporosis presented at the 239th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Furthermore, studies have indicated that fructans stimulate the immune system. I did find a few articles that support these key points, listed below. Then comes the bombshell, about three paragraphs in. “Fructans do not occur in tequila, however, because they change into alcohol when agave is used to make tequila.” Seriously? I knew it was too good to be true! Apparently a weekly happy hour featuring Patrone won’t save me from a hunchback.


Sources:
1. American Chemical Society (2010, March 23). Ingredient in tequila plant may fight osteoporosis and other diseases. ScienceDaily.

2. Lobo AR, Cocato ML, Jorgetti V, de Sá LR, Nakano EY, Colli C. Changes in bone mass, biomechanical properties, and microarchitecture of calcium- and iron-deficient rats fed diets supplemented with inulin-type fructans. Nutr Res. 2009 Dec;29(12):873-81.

3. Ryz NR, Meddings JB, Taylor CG. Long-chain inulin increases dendritic cells in the Peyer's patches and increases ex vivo cytokine secretion in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes of growing female rats, independent of zinc status. Br J Nutr. 2009 Jun;101(11):1653-63.

4. Urías-Silvas JE, Cani PD, Delmée E, Neyrinck A, López MG, Delzenne NM.Physiological effects of dietary fructans extracted from Agave tequilana Gto. and Dasylirion spp. Br J Nutr. 2008 Feb;99(2):254-61.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

The 5 W's

Who? What? Where? When? Why? Sometime, many years ago, when I was in a reading class in elementary school, I remember that I was taught to always ask these questions when I read something. Read a paragraph out of the grade 2 reading workbook? Well then you have to answer these questions. I think it was a way to get us to begin to think critically about what we were reading, now that we actually knew how to read. And I thought the hard part was over! The 5 W's re-emerged when I was in charge of making my own invitations for my birthday party. I had a pile of construction paper, a glue stick and some glitter laid out on the table in front of me. I spent all of this time making sure that the Care bear on the front was drawn and glittered up properly. Then I was absolutely stumped about what to put in it. I remember my mom telling me, "Just use the 5 W's--list them out and you'll have all the info they need." In the 20 or so years since, I have used the 5 W's in many situations, including the ads for the Prom Fashion Show, the announcements at chapter meetings about the volunteer activities I planned, and again in grad school for the email fliers about the annual bar crawl. So many times, when I am at a loss at how to start something, I use the 5 W's and it has never failed me.


So that leads me to today. I am about 5 days away from turning the big 3-0. And it's occurred to me that there are a lot of things that I want to accomplish in this next decade of my life. I also want to reflect on some of the things I've accomplished in the past 30 years. So while I was laying in bed last night, it occurred to me that instead of keeping a classic journal--with pen and paper--I'd embrace technology and record my thoughts on a blog. Now anyone who knows me will be shocked at reading this. I was one of the last people I know to get an email address. I didn't really become computer savvy until grad school, when it became a necessity. Furthermore, I still refuse to acknowledge the existence, let alone the utility of Twitter. But I'm going to embrace technology here.


About 2 seconds after this blog idea took form, I almost immediately talked myself out of doing it. "Who the hell will read it? I'll be devastated if no one ever reads it! I don't have anything interesting to say." Well, I don't care if anyone ever reads this thing. It would be nice, but, oh well if it doesn't happen. I'll use this as my journal and journals are never read by anyone unless you are under the age of 16 and have a nosy sibling. Or you do something amazing that merits people actually being interested in what you had to say. Oh, and of course, I asked myself, "How do I even start?" So here it goes.

Who? Amanda L. Boehm. I am a science nerd. I have 2 cats. (You'll hear more about them soon enough.) I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. My family and friends are the most important thing to me. That, in a few words, is who I am. But I'm so much more. And that will come in time.

What? A blog. A journal. A way to get all of my thoughts and impressions on the world down in black and white. I want to talk about me and what I do. Maybe talk about an interesting article on cancer that I read or a great recipe or maybe one of those wonderfully thought provoking philosophical questions that always annoy the hell out of me. An exercise in thinking and writing.

Where? Well, here on this blog.

When? Whenever I have something on my mind.

Why? Because it could be awesome in another 30 years to have something to show my kids or gran kids that records who I was before I became that crazy lady with the blue hair and an ornery attitude.

So if you are reading this, you have been officially invited to my blog. Hope you enjoy it!