Miracle in the Dirt

Demonstrating the adage that any team can win on any given day, the SAE softball team turned the tables on undefeated league favorite American Eagle last Thursday at Knob Field and claimed its first victory of the season, 12-10.

After showing improvement in each of its first two games, SAE finally jelled in all phases, collecting a season-high 21 hits and playing a near-perfect game in the field.

For the second game in a row, SAE jumped out to an early lead, posting four runs in the top of the first inning. George Hoffman set the tone with a leadoff triple and later scored the first of his three runs for the game.

Trailing 5-2 after the first two innings, AE shifted momentum in its favor, evening the score in the third before pulling ahead 7-5.

After a bit of lively debate over some close calls in the fourth inning and what was perhaps a game-saving catch in right field by Theresa Anzaldi, SAE reclaimed momentum and jumped ahead for good with a four-run sixth inning.

SAE was led offensively by Jeff Worsinger—4 for 4, three RBI, two runs scored—and Hoffman, who went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Tim Davison, Jim Lewis, and Doug Shymoniak each contributed two hits.

Rhonda Buzard and Frank Bokulich shared pitching duties and helped frustrate AE batters throughout the game.

SAE (1-2) looks to even its record Friday June 23rd at Knob Field against North Pittsburgh Systems.

Get off the Diabetes Fast Track

Nearly 21 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, and the number continues to climb. What's the fast track to joining the ranks? Weight gain, particularly around the middle. An expanding waistline -- 35 inches or greater for women, 40 and over for men -- is a red flag. What can you do? Get active for at least 30 minutes a day, and shun foods high in saturated fat, white flour, and sugar.

About a third of those who have type 2 diabetes don't know they have the disease. Getting diagnosed is essential; treatment can help delay damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and brain.

Risk factors include high blood pressure; a poor diet -- one high in fat and sugar but low in nutrients; a family history of the disease; long hours spent on the couch; smoking; and a high body mass index (BMI), which is the gold standard for height/weight ratios. A BMI of 30 can up your risk of type 2 diabetes by 10 times; a BMI over 35 makes it 80 times more likely that you'll develop diabetes than someone with a BMI of 22 or less.

Although the type 2 diabetes rate continues to climb, you don't have to become a statistic. If you suspect that you are vulnerable to developing the disease, even modest lifestyle changes -- taking daily walks and cutting back on fat -- can significantly reduce your risk.

Reference

Type 2 diabetes & obesity: A heavy burden. A report from Diabetes UK, March 2005.

In the Blink of an Eye

You've been staring at your computer screen for hours. Now your eyes are as dry as sandpaper. Coincidence?

Not remotely. The muscles you use to squint are the same ones used to blink. And most of us frequently squint at computer screens, consciously or not. When you're squinting, you're not blinking normally, so your eyes aren't getting the lubrication they need. This won't cause any long-lasting damage, but it's uncomfortable.

Even slightly squinting at a computer can cause problems. According to a recent study, just a tiny narrowing of the eye cut the number of blinks in half, from 15 down to 7.5 times a minute. Full squints (eyes halfway closed) cut blinking to only 4 times a minute. When blinks are that few and far between, it's no wonder eyes wind up irritated and achy.

You may be able to solve the problem with a few easy steps. First, reduce the glare on your computer screen -- change the lighting, reposition your computer to avoid window reflections, or use an antiglare screen filter. Next, adjust the brightness and contrast levels on your computer monitor to sharpen readability. Finally, take a break -- it's good for your spine and wrists as well as your eyes.

Reference
Blink rate decreases with eyelid squint. Sheedy, J. E., Gowrisankaran, S., Hayes, J. R., Optometry and Vision Science 2005 Oct;82(10):905-911.

Sun Shines on Poker Walk

After being held indoors last year and rained out last week, the sun finally shined on the SAE 2006 SWELL Poker Walk. On Friday, sunny skies and cool breezes greeted walkers out to get some exercise and gain familiarity with the SAE trail. At different stations along the way, walkers obtained a card to form a potentially winning poker hand. Bev Herzberg won the morning walk with a full house (9's full of 6's) while Jeff Worsinger won the afternoon walk with three of a kind (5's, high card ace). Each winner received a $25 gift certificate to either Bravo's or Max and Irma's.


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Follow The Arrows

The Top Ten Vegetables (and Fruits) for 2006

Make sure the vegetables you eat the most are the most nutritious veggies you can eat.

If you're a broccoli lover, you've picked a winner. From a list of 10 of the most commonly consumed vegetables in the country, broccoli holds the top spot for having the most phytochemicals -- compounds everyone's urged to consume because they protect against chronic diseases. At the bottom of the list? Cucumbers, described by some people as "water you can eat."

The 9 runners-up to broccoli were spinach, yellow onions, red peppers, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, lettuce, celery, and cucumbers. Red peppers actually beat out broccoli in terms of having the highest levels of antioxidants. The same researchers also have rated 10 of the most popular fruits. Cranberries -- with the most phytochemicals and the most antioxidants -- topped that list, followed by apples, red grapes, strawberries, peaches, lemons, pears, bananas, oranges, grapefruit, and pineapple.

Food scientists aren't ranking veggies just to satisfy their curiosity, by the way. They're contemplating a bioactivity index (BI) for dietary cancer prevention to help grocery shoppers quickly spot the fruits and veggies that have the biggest health benefits.

Reference
Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of common vegetables. Chu, Y. F., Sun, J., Wu, X., Liu, R. H., Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2002 Nov 6;50(23):6910-6916.

Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of common fruits. Sun, J., Chu, Y. F., Wu, X., Liu, R. H., Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2002 Dec 4;50(25):7449-7454.

SAE Softball Team Shows Improvement in Latest Outing

The SAE softball team took several steps in the right direction but couldn’t quite break through for its first win of the season, dropping a 9-7 decision to Marshall Township last Tuesday at Knob Field.

After struggling to find offensive production in its first game, SAE came out swinging against Marshall Township, posting four runs in the top of the first inning. Marshall Township answered quickly, evening the score in the bottom of the first.

The lead changed hands several times over the course of the game, and SAE had victory in its sights with a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. After a quiet couple of innings, Marshall jumped ahead with three runs in the sixth. SAE couldn’t answer in its final at-bats and dropped to 0-2 for the season.

SAE more than doubled its offensive production from the previous game, posting 13 hits. George Hoffman led the way, going 3 for 4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Coach Chris Joseph contributed two hits, two RBI, and a run scored.

Sam Barill pitched a complete game and struck out one.

SAE faces a team from American Eagle in its next game, June 15.

Remaining Schedule

June 15
June 23
June 29
July 5
July 12
July 17
July 27

All games are at Knob Field.

Take Time to Exhale

Is your job getting to you? Cut yourself some slack.

Finding ways to cut down on stress at work will not only make you a happier camper, it will make you a healthier one, too. Yes, it's easier said than done -- tell us about it -- but the stakes are going up. Researchers have found a strong link between chronic work stress and a nasty cluster of factors known as syndrome X (or metabolic syndrome). They increase your blood pressure, your belt size, and your odds of developing diabetes.

It's hardly shocking that constant tension at work can strain your nervous system or throw your hormonal balance out of whack; both contribute to syndrome X. Yet some of the antidotes to unceasing stress are close at hand and don't involve quitting your job or heading for Tahiti. Instead, focus on a few healthy basics. Try to eat simply but nutritiously: whole-grain breads, fresh fruits, grilled chicken -- you know, the good-for-you stuff that doesn't leave your insides squirming. Take a mini walk at lunch. Set a regular sleeping schedule -- there's nothing more stressful than having to deliver 110 percent when you're exhausted. Tune out the office gossip mill. Find a peaceful window and take 10 slow, deep breaths. There, that's better.

Reference
Chronic stress at work and the metabolic syndrome: prospective study. Chandola, T., Brunner, E., Marmot, M., BMJ 2006 Mar 4;332(7540):521-525.

Healthy Waistline, Healthy Brain

There's already pretty much nothing good to say about obesity. Now factor in Alzheimer's.

It turns out that being seriously overweight not only translates into a greater risk of heart attack, stroke, and a host of other life-threatening conditions, but recent findings indicate that it's bad for the brain as well. Especially if the weight is concentrated around the middle, because it's associated with the brain changes linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Although the waist is one of the riskiest places to gain weight -- abdominal fat has long been associated with heart disease -- the Alzheimer's connection makes an ever-expanding middle a dire double whammy. Fortunately, the news isn't all bad. One of the things that's been shown to reduce the risk of dementia also pares off pounds: your old friend, exercise. Becoming more active, step by step, is one of the simplest, surest ways to keep your gray matter in good working order -- and get your waist back, too.

Reference
Central obesity and the aging brain. Jagust, W., Harvey, D., Mungas, D., Haan, M., Archives of Neurology 2005 Oct;62(10):1545-1548.

20/20 Summer Salad

Long, sunny days are blissful for the soul but so-so for your sight.

The problem isn't just the squinting and headaches caused by sun glare; it's the deeper-down damage ultraviolet light can do to the retina and lens. The remedy: wearing sunglasses more often than a rock star, and making crunchy green salads a staple. Why? Bushels of green veggies -- zucchini, spinach, broccoli, kale, romaine, and collard greens -- are loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin, the nutrient combo that's become famous for being a vision saver.

Almost any sunglasses today -- even bargain brands -- are designed to filter out both UVA and UVB light, the sun's most eye-damaging rays. Supplement their vision protection with salads like this one, which, thanks to the zucchini, has a whopping 3,431 micrograms of lutein/zeaxanthin per serving. Not to mention nice amounts of calcium, protein, potassium, fiber, and other nutritious goodies -- and it tastes terrific!

Sight-Saving Zucchini Salad
Zucchini is at its best from mid-April through July. Look for squash that's firm, bright green, and blemish free.

• 1.5 lbs of zucchini, cut in quarters
• 1/2 cup feta cheese
• 1 small bunch of fresh mint, chopped
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• Black pepper, freshly ground

Preparation:
Cook the zucchini in boiling salted water until just tender, about 7-8 minutes; it's better to undercook than overcook it.

Drain in a colander and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let the zucchini cool a little, then transfer it to a shallow serving dish.

Crumble the feta over the top, sprinkle with the mint, and drizzle with the olive oil and vinegar. Add freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. Makes 4 servings. Prep time: 10-15 minutes.

Per Serving: calories: 108 kcal; fat total: 7 g (saturated fat: 3.1 g; polyunsaturated fat: 3.4 g; monounsaturated fat: 0.5 g); carbohydrates: 8 g; fiber: 2.5 g; protein: 4 g; vitamin C: 8.3 mg; calcium: 117 mg; magnesium: 32.5 mg; potassium: 76 mg.

References
Associations of mortality with ocular disorders and an intervention of high-dose antioxidants and zinc in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study: AREDS Report No. 13. Clemons, T. E., Kurinij, N., Sperduto, R. D.; AREDS Research Group, Archives of Ophthalmology 2004 May;122(5):716-726.

Nutritional factors in the development of age-related eye disease. Mitchell, P., Smith, W., Cumming, R. G., Flood, V., Rochtchina, E., Wang, J. J., Asian Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003;12 Suppl:S5.

The Buzz on Mixing Alcohol and Energy Drinks

Have you heard the one about mixing vodka with a caffeine-fueled energy drink -- so you get the kick of a cocktail but stay sober enough to drive?

Don't buy it. Using Red Bull and other energy drinks as cocktail mixers has been the cool thing for a while now. But researchers recently put the combo to the test and found nothing but frat-house folklore. The idea that high-caffeine energy drinks tame the effects of alcohol is a chemical illusion. The heady mixture just makes people think the alcohol has no effect. Scary.

It's not that energy drinks have no effect when mixed with alcohol. People actually may feel less tired and more energetic after a Red Bull and vodka than a regular cocktail. Apparently that's because, like many of its clones, Red Bull not only is packed with caffeine and an invigorating amino acid called taurine, but also with gluconolactone -- a substance thought to speed up metabolism. But that's the problem. You may feel wired, not tired, but alcohol's debilitating effects are still there. In test subjects, both motor skills and visual reaction time were as impaired by energy-enhanced cocktails as by unfortified alcoholic beverages.

The whole thing can be compared to the myth that drinking a lot of coffee right after overindulging will sober you up. Nothing can undo the effect of alcohol except time. Don't be fooled by the manufactured energy of a Red Bull, especially if you're mixing it with hard liquor. And of course, don't drink and drive.

Reference
Effects of energy drink ingestion on alcohol intoxication. Ferreira, S. E., de Mello, M. T., Pompéia, S., Souza-Formigoni, M. L., Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research April 2006;309(4):598.