Boost Your Memory with these 6 Brain Foods

What did I need from this room?  Where did I put my keys? What is her name?

On any given day, we ask ourselves countless questions like these--all centered on mental lapses.
Forgetting things is often a part of our lives and as humans age, we remember tasks less and less. Luckily, we have a solution, and no, it does not involve cluttering your desk with multi-colored sticky notes. It's easy, simple, and delicious.

Joy Bauer, author of Food Cures, informs us that,  "A sharp memory depends on your total number of brain cells, the smooth flow of communication between the cells and the health of cells." So in order to have a sharp memory, you must spark brain cells!

To increase your memory and reduce forgetfulness, Bauer suggest snacking on these six, brain-enhancing foods below!

1. Beets regulate heartbeat.

It makes perfect sense that a vegetable, with the shape and color of a beet, would be beneficial to your heart. "Every cell in the body needs a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients to stay alive and work properly," says Bauer. Keep blood pressure levels in check (less than 120/80), exercise regularly, and stock up on foods such as beets that improve blood flow, ensuring a steady supply of nutrients to the brain. Beets help your heart which in turn allows your brain to function better. "A brain filled with well-nourished neurons enables you to think and remember more clearly," says Bauer.

Enjoy beets on a daily basis by growing your own delicious certified organic and heirloom beets by starting seeds from Sustainable Seed Company.

2. Fish maintains brain cell health.

"When it comes to food and memory, fish should be the star of the show," says Bauer. Fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel contain generous amounts of omega-3 fatty acids which are important for maintaining the health of brain cells. Bauer recommends eating a four-ounce portion (slightly larger than the palm of your hand) of a fatty fish at least three times a week.

3. Lean protein improves cognitive skills.

Chicken, turkey breast, eggs and low-fat milk are excellent sources of vitamin B12 which is an important protein to maintain cognitive skills. A 2012 Tufts University study showed older adults who were mildly B12 deficient were at higher risk for cognitive decline. Lean meats also keep you feeling fuller longer and reduce the amount snack breaks, leaving more time for the task at hand.

4. Berries prevent brain cell breakdown.

Berries are busting with antioxidants called anthocyanins which help prevent the breakdown of brain cells. A 2012 Harvard study found women who eat at least one cup of blueberries and strawberries per week experienced a 2.5 year delay in mental decline compared to women who rarely ate berries. "Blueberries in particular have received a lot of attention because they can enhance spatial memory and learning," says Bauer. She recommends eating four cups of berries per week.

Try growing your own berries at home. BrazelBerries^® offers different berry shrubs that can easily grow in a garden or pot that you can pick fresh for yourself. Add some berries to your morning smoothie or bake them into your pancakes.

5. Walnuts improve memory.

Another connection can be made for food and a body part with this connection relating a walnut and the brain. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease found that walnut consumption was associated with better memory scores and cognitive function. Walnuts are also a great source of alpha-linolenic acid -- a plant-based form of omega-3 fatty acids. Sprinkle some walnuts on your salad or yogurt or enjoy a handful of them for a healthy snack.

6. Coffee provides focus.

Caffeine can sharpen your focus and memory in the short term. While Bauer says a couple cups of coffee are OK to drink during the day, she recommends avoiding caffeine at least eight hours before bedtime so it doesn't interfere with your sleep. "Quality sleep is a critical component to a sharp mind," she says. So don’t go overboard on the coffee, but drink it for an uplift in brain functionality.

Looking for more interesting facts such as these? Download our 2013 Garden trends Report today!

 

BrazelBerries™ Amelie Aust on The Wall Street Journal's 'Lunch Break Live'

Amelie Aust Brazelton, owner of Fall Creek Farm & Nursery and the BrazelBerries™ Collection, stopped by the Wall Street Journal yesterday to discuss trends in blueberry gardening on WSJ's 'Lunch Break Live'. See her discuss the growing trend of blueberries, tips to help you grow berries in your home garden and the many health benefits that blueberries provide.

Watch the interview

Fall Creek Farm & Nursery® is the world’s leading wholesale blueberry nursery stock producer. From their state-of-the art growing facilities in Oregon, Fall Creek specializes in the propagation, production and global distribution of blueberry nursery stock. They work with the leading nursery stock growers and retailers to bring consumers the very best that blueberries offer.
 
For more information visit: www.fallcreeknursery.com

Garden Media Group

Foraging for pawpaws and easy pickins'

Every summer, I remember my grandmother singing a folk song to my sister and me as she baked homemade cornbread and cooked grits, as we gathered around her homespun apron in her Carolina farmhouse.

It goes something like.. "Picking up paw paws puttin in your pocket... way down yonder in the paw paw patch..."  We sang with gusto but never actually tasted a paw paw!

Today, this indigenous fruit (and a favorite of Thomas Jefferson) is making a slow but steady comeback. It's rich in antioxidants and other nutrients and can be used in multiple recipes.

The pawpaw (Asiminia triloba) fruit has a tropical flavor that resembles a mix of banana, mango and pineapple (depending on your discriminating palette) with a creamy, custard-like texture similar to an avocado and a thickish skin. 

For those intrepid foragers, wild paw paws are smaller than the new cultivated varieties. You probably won't find them at grocery stores (yet) and may have to wait for these seasonal fruit to appear at select farmers markets, generally in September.

Thanks to Kentucky State University, pawpaw research is under way for developing orchard management, conducting regional trials, and improving propagation methods.

For those who prefer to forage in their own backyard, berries and small fruit trees are the ticket. From blueberries and raspberries to small citrus trees in containers, new cultivars are making it easier for all of us to enjoy fruit and berries (and pawpaws) too!

Just wish I knew all the words to that paw paw song...

Lynne
Garden Media Group
Photo credit: Dr. Kirk Pomper, Kentucky State University
Tigersandstrawberries.com

A town wraps its arms around edibles

Once upon a time, not so long ago, a small Victorian mill town in England united over gardening, and hasn't looked back.

Todmorden, in West Yorkshire, has experienced a food renaissance of sorts. Um, not the kind that attracts foodies and gourmands, but the type that is a quiet revolution of trust, sharing, and uniting around a common goal... food sharing.

Over coffee, Mary Clear, a grandmother of ten and co-founder of Incredible Edible, and Pam Warhurst, the former owner of the town's Bear Cafe decided to help educate the residents (and the world) about growing food - with a twist - and stimulating the economy.

The goal? To make Todmorden the first town in the country that is self-sufficient in food.

Town residents grow edibles in raised beds on the canal towpath, on their lawns, and throughout the 70 large beds around town. And get this... the bounty of veggies, berries and fruit is FREE for the taking.

Locals are encouraged to linger over a sprig of your neighbor's thyme, or appreciate the size of beans and peas, experience the mouth-watering juiciness of an heirloom tomato, and pause to chat with neighbors over recipes for currants, as they commune over the pleasurable satisfaction of growing food and sharing slices of life.

Thievery? Nonsense, say the founders. Everyone shares with glee. "We trust people. We truly believe -- we are witness to it -- that people are decent," says Mary. What a concept.

The "gentle revolution" as she coins it seems to be working. Today, hundreds in the town are growing and sharing communally, even planting sweeps of herbs at railroad stations. Young and old are side-by-side, passing secrets about pickling, canning and preserving - even bread making.

And local business is "growing" as well. The Bear now sources all of it's ingredients from farmers within 30 miles. And their local school is setting up a fish farm to teach the young new skills and offer locals access to fresh food.

Brigadoon? Perhaps. But 21 other towns throughout the U.K. are onboard and interest from Canada to Hong Kong have perhaps sparked a "quiet revolution." 

'Once upon a time'  may indeed be here and now.

Share what you think of this novel concept. We'd love to learn if your town is considering this concept, or wants to stamp it with its own unique brand of sharing the love.

~Lynne
 Garden Media Group
photos: Mary's garden and Debbie's garden (Incredible Edible)

Stamp out ugly, nasty stink bugs!

Stink Bugs. Those ugly, nasty, prehistoric-looking, shield shape insects that look like they should have a starring role in a SciFi movie of Stink Bug Zombies are creating havoc on crops and home landscapes and gardens.

They first appeared in Allentown, PA in 1998 (from Asia) and are reported in 33 states and spreading from coast-to-coast. Those of you in the "Red Zone" states: PA, DE, NJ, MD, VA and W.VA can look for the RESCUE! Stink Bug Traps in independent garden centers and major retail stores. To find a retailer near you, just click on RESCUE'S store finder:

To make matters worse, stink bugs are professional hitchhikers. So, it's only a matter of time before they come to an area near you. Eek!

Now, many of you may be saying to yourself: "Hey, I don't see any of these garden wreckers in my home - so where are they?"

They're in fields, yards and gardens, eating your plants and mating. The adult female lays eggs in masses generally on the underside of leaves, that hatch into nymphs. These baby eating machines don't have wings yet- and have only one focus: Eat plants.

And get this: Depending on the climate, warm spring and summer conditions can allow for up to two-three generations or more. The population can explode exponentially.

What is the food du jour these disgusting insects prefer? Um... everything from edible shrubs and trees to veggies and fruit. Got tomatoes? Stink Bugs love 'em. Peppers, apples, peaches, pears, plums, berries, corn.. you get the picture.

Don't have a veggie garden or fruit trees and berry bushes? 'Stinky' is opportunistic and will go for your foliage -and even your beloved roses.

So, how do we stop these disgusting invaders? Homemade traps are iffy and pesticides can be toxic to the environment, pets and kids!

This may sound corny... but I have to say it... finally, there's a new all-natural trap in town that's been been tested and trialed at the USDA's Beltsville, MD facility - and it works. Yay! It's called the RESCUE! Stink Bug Trap from Sterling International that's the first and only serious solution for this wretched infestation.

Gardeners will love it because it works and controls stink bugs in the most environmentally responsible, effective and low-maintenance way possible.

The trap works outdoors to catch the adult and ravenous young stink bugs, naturally. It uses a patent-pending technology that slowly releases a pheromone that's odorless to humans but powerful enough to lure stink bugs from up to 30 feet.

Tomorrow's blog will be on proper RESCUE! Stink Bug Trap placement for success and much more. Meanwhile, send us photos of your stink bug "invasion" and your gardens. Good luck!

~Lynne GMG

Stink bug photo credit: Wikipedia
photo of RESCUE! Stink Bug Trap: Sterling International

Edibles Are Still Hot for 2011

Go ahead and mix it up! Berries next to tomatoes and azaleas under grapevines may sound odd but are a growing trend according to the professional landscape designers of APLD.

Fresh berries like raspberries and blueberries you can pick right from home are spiking in popularity. Blueberries offer four seasons of color and juicy berries rich in antioxidants.

Try the first-ever pink blueberry “Pink Lemonade” (pictured here) from Briggs Nursery. This pink blueberry bush provides delicious fruit rich in anti-oxidants plus four seasons of color -- white flowers in spring, bright pink fruit in summer, great fall color and finally dusky auburn stems in winter

And according to a recent survey by the Garden Writers Association, about 16 percent more American households planned to add a veggie garden and an additional 12 percent planned on adding an herb garden. Why? More than three-fourths of respondents felt veggies are less expensive with better taste, quality and nutrition.

So go ahead and plant more berries and veggies for a tasty and healthy spring! To see a complete list of 2011 Gardening Trends, visit GMG.

-Stacey

GMG