grafted in and on the journey

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today is August 25 in my corner of blog land. I am soooo glad to tell you our humid weather has broken like a fever! Weekend temps will be in the mid 20s C during the day, around 10 degrees C overnight. Love it! Today, we'll talk about our stomachs, bellies, guts. The Mayo Clinic newsletter, HouseCall and Science Magazine newsletter are our resources for this post. HouseCall talks about something called "Nervous Stomach." It usually is a term used when tests fail to show the presence of an ulcer or gallstone for example. You might have to suggest or ask about more testing. Anyhow the symptoms of "nervous stomach" are said to be: anxiety, bloating, changes in bowel habits, e.g. times you poop, and frequent indigestion. I was listening to the daily radio news program, All Things Considered, on Thursday, and they referenced this piece from "Science" online about a study concerning stomach bacteria and diet. I am posting ...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today is August 17 in my corner of blog land. I am hoping we have thunder-showers today, cooler temperatures prevail, and the near 28 degree C temperature in our house drops to perhaps 22 C or thereabouts in the near future. I must still have thick blood, though they say as we age, we prefer warmer temps. Hmm. I want to share a health tip and a book review with you this post since Monday begins the Jewish calendar month of Elul. It is the period just before the High Holidays, and in brief, is the period where G-d invites us back to Himself from where we are or have been in those areas of life that have separated us from G-d. The health tip is from the Mayo Clinic newsletter, HouseCall. Flat Stomach When it comes to a flat stomach, diet and exercise, not undergarments, are what count. Core exercises can strengthen and tone the underlying muscles. Core exercise examples include abdominal crunches, leg-lifts, fitness ball, Pilates, and bridge poses. Bo...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today is Thursday, August 3 in my corner of blog land. I titled this post "Those Memories of You" for a couple different reasons: -The Sabbath this week follows a special date in Jewish History known as Tisha B'Av on which the Jewish people may observe a fast to mourn the destruction of the two Jewish temples in history. The theme for the upcoming Sabbath, (August 5) is "Shabbat Nachamu" which means Shabbat of Comfort. Isaiah chapter 40 is the Haftarah portion for this date. It starts, "Comfort you, comfort you my people." -Another reason for the title, I have two close friends who recently lost loved ones, and another friend lost a job suddenly only after being hired. Loss is a part of everyone's life! Comfort is the most appropriate to give someone in times of loss be it simply listening or just acknowledgement and presence. Turning our attention to general health, The Mayo Clinic Housecall newsletter this week ha...