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Breast cancer is thenumber one cancer among women in the US, afflicting about 276,000 women a year, or 1 in every 8 women over their lifetime, which is why so many of us are searching for ways to reduce the risk of a diagnosis. On a positive note, whendetected in the earliest stages breast cancer is 99 percent treatable to a five-year cure.Even betternews: Eating to lower your lifetime risk of breast canceris as simple as choosing a whole food, plant-based approach.To be clear, nothing you eat directly causes or prevents cancer, but new research shows that you can lower your risk by thelifestyle choices you make.

"Preventative dietary measures includereducingthe intake of alcohol, red meat, and fat while increasing intake of fiber and vitamin D as well as phytoestrogens from various food sources," according to one study that looked at the role of diet and breast cancer risk. All in all, nutrition impacts 35 percent of all breast cancer cases, the study found.

Thisstudy specifically links meat and dairy to an elevated risk of breast cancer:Women who ate just one-quarter of a cup of full-fat milk or dairy a day had an increased risk of breast cancer. Doctors encourage patients to adopt a healthy lifestyle of daily exercise and a minimally processed, low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans. Whole foods, high in fiber and rich in antioxidants are crucial to reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Adding more fiber and antioxidants to your diet is the best way to reduce your risk of breast cancer. The best part is you may be eating these foods on a daily basis already. Here are the best antioxidant-rich and fiber-packed foods to reduce your risk of breast cancer, according to the latest studies.

Decreasing the number of fatty foods in your diet and replacing them with whole foods will reduceyourrisk and have been shown to improve the survival rate of breast cancer patients. Onestudyshowed that a low-fat diet reduces the risk of death from breast cancer by 21 percent. Adding fiber and antioxidantsfound in fruit and vegetablesto a diet low in animal fat is optimal for breast health. Women on a high-fiber diet were 8 percent less likely to develop breast cancer, compared to those who ate less fiber. An increase in dietary fiber lowers blood sugar and estrogen levels in the body, which is key to slowing or halting tumor growth.

Fiber-rich foods typically are also high in antioxidants, which are notonly important for preventing breast cancer butin treating it as well. Antioxidants contain nutrients that boost your immune system and protect againstfree radicals, which are molecules thatdamage tissue and can lead to cancer growth. Antioxidants also block the cancer-causing effects ofcarcinogensand can help women in remission lower their risk of reoccurrence.

So whether you're genetically predisposed by having one of the genetic markers, or recently diagnosed for the first time, or are recovering from breast cancer treatment, a plant-based dietis known to improvebreast health, according to a growing number of recentstudies.

Dark leafy greens, such as broccoli and kale contain a chemical calledsulforaphane that has anti-cancer properties, according to studies. Onestudy found that sulforaphane in broccoli not only possesses anti-cancer properties but also restricts tumors from growing in the lab and can prevent cancer from spreading. Kale is packed with antioxidants since it is high in vitamin C with 80 mg in one cup, which preventscancerfrom forming in the lab.Researchshowed the carotenoids in kale canboost the body's immunity against diseases andstop free radicals from damaging cells that can lead to cancer growth. Women who ate the most carotenoids had the lowest levels of cancer in that study. Carotenoids are found in vegetables such as carrots, corn, and tomatoes

This may come as a shocker to most people, but soy foods don'tincrease the risk of cancer, new studies have found, but may even help to prevent it. Incorporating soy foods like tofu, miso, edamame, and soy milk once a day forover a lifetimereduces the risk of breast cancer because the phytoestrogens that mimic estrogen actually suppress the amount of actual estrogen in the body. Isoflavones are the soy protein often linked to breast cancer but whole food sources, such as tofu don't have high enough levels of it to trigger cancer growth. Soy supplements are known to have high levels of Isoflavones, so if breast cancer runs in your family, you may want to stay away from concentrated levels or supplements. A small amount of plant-based phytoestrogens appear to be protective, so your best bet may be to just eat a regular serving of edamame or tofu a day.

Berries are rich in antioxidants and contain anti-inflammatory properties, but the most powerful berry against. breast cancer is blueberries. Blueberries improve brain and heart health as well as reducing cancer risk and are high in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and flavanols, which are helpful compounds that work to detox the body from pollutants and cellular damage from free radicals. Studies show thatphytochemicals and nutrients increase antioxidant activity in the blood and help your body repair cell damage that can lead to cancer growth as well as prevent DNA damage on a cellular level. Eating berries and deep-hued fruits and vegetables every day help your body stay on top of the cellular damage caused by the stress of oxidization that comes from toxins in the environment or the food we eat.

Researchers discovered that women in Asia are about 5 times less likely to develop breast cancer than those who live in North America. Possible explanations include the fact that green tea consumption is higher in Asia and has been found to decrease risk by about 30%,

In one study researchersdiscovered that those who drink one green tea daily, have a lower overall risk of cancer. Doctors stress that patients shouldn't substitute green tea for any cancer treatments or medications but should opt to drink one glass daily along with your regular course of treatment.The antioxidant, EGCG in green tea is what makes this hot beverage so powerful: A study showed that an EGCG supplement can decrease breast density in young women, which in turn reduced the risk of cancer.

"Walnuts contain multiple ingredients that, individually, have been shown to slow cancer growth, including omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and phytosterols," says one leading study. "In previous research, consumption of walnuts has slowed the growth of implanted breast cancers."

Omega-3 fatty acidshave been shown to help fight inflammation which in itself is beneficial in avoiding heart disease and a host of other chronic conditions, but it is also linked to cancer. Onestudy showed that adding walnuts to your meals daily may slow the growth of breast tumors. Walnuts are the most studied nuts and researchers believe that even7 whole walnuts a day are enough topack major health benefits. Specifically, nutrients such as ellagitannins, melatonin, and gamma-tocopherol in walnuts are believed to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which can ultimately lead to cancer growth.

In the lab, "white mushrooms have been shown to block estrogen synthase enzymes which fuel tumor growth,and researchers found that when comparing 1,000 breast cancer patients to the same number of healthy controls, those who ate more than just one half of a mushroom per day experienced a 64 percent risk reduction over women who ate no mushrooms," a study found This powerful effect from such a tiny amount makes us want to eat mushrooms every day of our lives. Sneak them into your smoothie or salads!

Eating garlic and onions in large quantities may protect against breast cancer, according to a new studyout of Puerto Rico. The authors looked at women 30 to 79 and found that those who ate "moderate to large" amounts of garlic and onions had the lowest rates of breast cancer. Other cancer risks were also found to be lower, including lung, stomach, and prostate, possibly due to the flavonols andorganosulfur in garlic and onions which have been shown to prevent cancer cell growth. Sofrito, a popular base in Latin American cuisines, uses tons of garlic and onion along with a variety of peppers. The study found those who consumed sofrito once per day had a 67 percent reduced risk, compared to those who never consumed it. Researchers found that Puerto Rico, where garlic and onion is a staple of the cuisine, has the lowest breast cancer rate among womenin the U.S.

Curcumin, the main active ingredient in turmeric, is known for relieving inflammation and pain but also for having an effect on lowering the risk of breast cancer. A study found "curcumin has chemopreventive and antitumoral activities against some aggressive and recurrent cancers," the study said.Another study found curcumin not only stops tumor growth but also prevents malignantcancers fromspreading: The "anticancer effect" of curcuminrelates to the fact that it appears to half "cell cycle and proliferation," as well as"cancer spread and angiogenesis," the study says, which is how the body supplies new blood vessels to a tumor.

Studies say that along with avoiding meat and full-fat dairy, you should stay away from all fried foods, pre-packaged baked goods and junk food to cut down on saturated fats and trans fats in your diet as well as lowering your alcohol intake. Alcohol consumption has been known to increase estrogen levels in women andjustthree drinks a week is enough to increaseyour risk of breast cancer by 15 percent.

Meat is not only high in fat but when it gets cooked at high temperatures it releases toxins that are known to cause cancer. Processed meats and cold cuts are high in fat, salt, and preservatives, meaning you should limit or avoid intake to lower your cancer risk. The samestudythat found drinking 1/4 of a cup of milk led to a 30 percent increase in the risk of breast canceralso discovered that drinking one full cup of milk per day,drives up your risk from 30 percent to 50 percent. So the more milk you drink, the higher your breast cancer risk.

An overall healthy, balanced diet filled with whole plant-based foods is proven to be the most beneficial for overall breast health and reduces your lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. We'll see you in the produce aisle, buynig mushrooms.

See the original post:
The 8 Foods to Eat to Reduce Your Lifetime Risk of Breast Cancer - The Beet

Are you thinking of making the switch to a more plant-based, conscious diet? Well, youre not alone. Plenty of people across the world are now understanding the benefits of consuming more plant-based food on a regular basis. As the name suggests, a plant-based diet essentially involves eating more food thats been derived from plants and cutting back on animal products, including dairy and meat. Of course, it doesnt mean cutting back on meat entirely. There are several ways to make some little swaps and tweaks each day as you work towards a more sustainable way of life. Here are a few.Snack on nutsMake sure to incorporate nuts such as California walnuts into your daily routine. Walnuts provide plant-based protein (4g/28g), fiber (2g/28g) and are the only tree nut with a significant amount of omega-3 ALA (2.5g/28g). Not only do they keep you full, but they also work as a wonderful plant-based snack. Need we say more?Use meat as a sideIf youre finding it difficult to stop consuming meat, you can try preparing it as a side dish instead of the main feature. While a curry or a hearty casserole can be the main, you can toss some meat into a salad on the side and top it with crushed walnuts for a nutritious boost.

Find meat substitutesTo keep yourself away from eating meat as much as possible, you can use meat substitutes. A blend of chopped walnuts and mushrooms is an excellent meat substitute because of their texture and unique taste, so experiment away!

View original post here:
Your guide to eating plant-based food - Times of India

If your life these days is anything like mine, a pre-pandemic routine that included regular exercise and disciplined eating has probably given way to sedentary evenings on a big chair, binge-watching reruns of your favorite TV series while guzzling chocolate ice cream or mac 'n' cheese.

But let's not beat ourselves up about it. Several doctors I spoke with recently said most of their patients and many of their colleagues are struggling to maintain healthy habits amid the anxiety of the pandemic. "The Quarantine 15" (pounds, that is) is a real phenomenon.

The double challenge of protecting our health, including our immune systems, while battling unhealthy temptations "is a struggle everyone is dealing with," says Dr. David Kilgore, director of the integrative medicine program at the University of California-Irvine.

Well before COVID-19, more than 40% of U.S. adults were obese, which puts them at risk for COVID-19's worst outcomes. But even people accustomed to physical fitness and good nutrition are having trouble breaking the bad habits they've developed over the past five months.

Karen Clark, a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, discovered competitive rowing later in life, and her multiple weekly workouts burned off any excess calories she consumed. But the pandemic changed everything: She could no longer meet up with her teammates to row and stopped working out at the YMCA.

Suddenly, she was cooped up at home. And, as for many people, that led to a more sedentary lifestyle, chained to the desk, with no meetings outside the house or walks to lunch with colleagues.

"I reverted to comfort food and comfortable routines and watching an awful lot of Netflix and Amazon Prime, just like everybody else," Clark says. "When I gained 10 pounds and I was 25, I just cut out the beer and ice cream for a week. When you gain 12 pounds at 62, it's a long road back."

She started along that road in July, when she stopped buying chips, ice cream and other treats. And in August, she rediscovered the rowing machine in her basement.

But don't worry if you lack Clark's discipline, or a rowing machine. You can still regain some control over your life.

A good way to start is to establish some basic daily routines, since in many cases that's exactly what the pandemic has taken away, says Dr. W. Scott Butsch, director of obesity medicine at the Cleveland Clinic's Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. He recommends you "bookend" your day with physical activity, which can be as simple as a short walk in the morning and a longer one after work.

And, especially if you have kids at home who will be studying remotely this fall, prepare your meals at the beginning of the day, or even the beginning of the week, he says.

If you haven't exercised in a while, "start slow and gradually get yourself up to where you can tolerate an elevated heart rate," says Dr. Leticia Polanco, a family medicine doctor with the South Bay Primary Medical Group, just south of San Diego. If your gym is closed or you can't get together with your regular exercise buddies, there are plenty of ways to get your body moving at home and in your neighborhood, she says.

Go for a walk, a run or a bike ride, if one of those activities appeals to you. Though many jurisdictions across the United States require residents to wear masks when out in public, it may not be necessary and may even be harmful to some people with respiratory conditions while doing strenuous exercise.

"It's clearly hard to exercise with a mask on," says Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases at Stanford University's School of Medicine. "We go hiking up in the foothills and we take our masks with us and we don't wear them unless somebody starts coming the other way. Then we will put the mask on, and then we take it off and we keep going."

If you prefer to avoid the mask question altogether, think of your house as a cleverly disguised gym. Put on music and dance, or hula-hoop, Polanco suggests. You can also pump iron if you have dumbbells, or find a cable TV station with yoga or other workout programs.

If you search on the internet for "exercise videos," you will find countless workouts for beginners and experienced fitness buffs alike. Try one of the seven-minute workout apps so popular these days. You can download them from Google Play or the Apple Store.

If you miss the camaraderie of exercising with others, virtual fitness groups might seem like a pale substitute, but they can provide motivation and accountability, as well as livestreamed video workouts with like-minded exercisers. One way to find such groups is to search for "virtual fitness community."

Many gyms are also offering live digital fitness classes and physical training sessions, often advertised on their websites.

If group sports is your thing, you may or may not have options, depending on where you live.

In Los Angeles, indoor and outdoor group sports in municipal parks are shut down until further notice. The only sports allowed are tennis and golf.

In Montgomery County, Maryland, the Ron Schell Draft League, a softball league for men 50 and older, will resume play early this month after sitting out the spring season due to COVID-19, says Dave Hyder, the league's commissioner.

But he says it has been difficult to get enough players because of worries about COVID.

"In the senior group, you have quite a lot of people who are in a high-risk category or may have a spouse in a high-risk category, and they don't want to chance playing," says Hyder, 67, who does plan to play.

Players will have to stay at least 6 feet apart and wear masks while off the field. On the field, the catcher is the only player required to wear a mask. That's because masks can steam up glasses or slip, causing impaired vision that could be dangerous to base runners or fielders, Hyder explains.

Whatever form of exercise you choose, remember it won't keep you healthy unless you also reduce consumption of fatty and sugary foods that can raise your risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension all COVID-19 risk factors.

Kim Guess, a dietitian at UC-Berkeley, recommends that people lay in a healthy supply of beans and lentils, whole grains, nuts and seeds, as well as frozen vegetables, tofu, tempeh and canned fish, such as tuna and salmon.

"Start with something really simple," she said. "It could even be a vegetable side dish to go with what they're used to preparing."

Whatever first steps you decide to take, now is a good time to start eating better and moving your body more.

Staying healthy is "so important these days, more than at any other time, because we are fighting this virus which doesn't have a treatment," says the Cleveland Clinic's Butsch. "The treatment is our immune system."

This KHN story first published onCalifornia Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation.

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

Originally posted here:
Exercise and diet are more important than ever with COVID at large - Salon

For years, F-Factor which promises customers that they can "eat carbs, dine out, drink alcohol, work out less" and stay slim on founder Tanya Zuckerbrot's fiber-heavy regime has been the in-the-know diet for well-heeled Upper East Siders and celebrities, including Megyn Kelly, Olivia Culpo, and Katie Couric.

Zuckerbrot charges some clients up to$15,000 for a startup packageand serves up diet tips and scenes from her jet-setting lifestyle to her 119,000 Instagram followers. She seemed to have it all: books, a line of powders and fiber bars, a $22 million Park Avenue apartment, and a handsome second husband, the corporate real-estate investor Anthony Westreich.

Now former F-Factor employees are coming forward to Insider with allegations about the company's work environment, including claims that employees' eating habits were policed by Zuckerbrot in a manner that was diametrically opposed to the carefree image F-Factor projects to its users. Some employees also said Zuckerbrot engaged in office behavior they found inappropriate and told sexually explicit jokes that made them uncomfortable.

"These allegations [are] all either false or misleading,"Zuckerbrot said in a statement to Insider.

Read the rest here:
Past employees at F-Factor say the office culture was toxic and eating was policed - Business Insider - Business Insider

Leaders of North Texas arts nonprofits met Wednesday to talk budgets.

As the nation emerges, Punxsutawney Phil-like, from pandemic shutdown, performing and visual arts groups want to continue hosting exhibits, staging plays and celebrating festivals.

But with an economic downturn shuttering businesses and thrusting workers into unemployment, nonprofit groups might be doing all of that on a smaller budget. On Wednesday, the Dallas-based Business Council for the Arts hosted an online forum to talk fundraising and budgeting in the time of COVID-19.

Panelists for the virtual gathering included Betsy Lewis, the development director for Cedars Union, a cooperative that serves artists with studios and a maker space; Holly Hull Miori, the development and alumni relations director for the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies & School of Arts and Humanities; and Kaitlin Guthrow, director of sponsorships and nonprofit relations for North Texas Giving Day Communities Foundation of Texas.

The panelists said arts groups are funded by big donors often corporate sponsors who donate thousands of dollars to programs and events as well as individuals who give less than $100.

I would say that theyre both equally important, Guthrow said. Those big donors can help propel your mission further, and help you reach your goals faster. But you dont want to become too dependent on a small number of large donors. If I had to pick between one $1,000 donor or 10 $100 donors, I would choose the latter every time. Because if that one drops off, particularly in a challenging year like this year, then youve got to start completely over.

Miori said shed take a hybrid, of big and small donors. The big donations generate publicity and dollars, she said.

But these small gifts bring a lot of momentum with it, and they tend to be with you for a longer time, Miori said. These gifts tend to be with you 10, 20 years and they can also be better planned giving prospects.

In other words, individuals who give smaller amounts over a decade or longer plan to give cash, equity or property more often than companies do.

I would add that a sponsorship is not necessarily big and the individual donation is not necessarily small, Lewis said. The healthiest way to approach it if youre in an organization that has the staff and volunteers for it is to diversify just like a stock portfolio, so that your fundraising efforts are not completely dependent... on one avenue of fundraising.

Denton nonprofits have been weathering the COVID-19 storm. Founder and director of local documentary film, music and photography festival Thin Line Joshua Butler said his team canceled in-person screenings and all live music showcases last March. Instead, Butlers new business, Falcon Events, screened films online, at the festival website.

Virtual, for one, is cheaper, Butler said. So you automatically have a reduced budget across the board. Thin Line is in a good position where we can pivot quickly. We dont have employees or staff. The virtual festival is pretty inexpensive. I dont have to worry about hotel rooms and hospitality and car services.

Screening the festival online brought in an audience that tripled 2019 attendance. More than 7,000 people signed on to the Thin Line virtual fest.

Thin Line is free and is funded mostly by corporate sponsors.

Every single one of those sponsors got a lot more eyeballs than they would have in the screening spaces, so they got a lot more value.

Butler said the 2021 festival will be virtual, too.

Were going to be virtual next year and then see what the next year brings, he said. We know other nonprofits arent in a position to pivot like we did. I started Falcon Events to do virtual conferences and Thin Line was its first event. For us, our costs for next year are reduced. Basically, all we have to pay for is the content.

Panelists said that while COVID-19 was a sucker punch for nonprofit arts groups, the pandemic reminded leaders and volunteers of analog methods for staying in touch with donors and North Texans who come to their exhibits, performances and programs. Donors told nonprofit board members and directors they enjoyed handwritten notes, and leaders said they found ways to use promotional merchandise that didnt work before the pandemic. Bumper stickers that arrived with too-small text turned into swag to stuff bags and envelopes with. Reluctant board members dropped the word fundraising from their vocabulary and instead made thank-you calls to donors that often yielded more giving.

Guthrow said small donations will likely still make up the bulk of charitable giving and support for arts groups. In about one week, Guthrow and her team will preside over a sprawling, daylong fundraiser that will generate millions of dollars for thousands of nonprofits.

North Texas Giving Day is all about inspiring individual giving, she said. You look at what the largest component of philanthropy in this country is, its individual giving every single year. To the tune of about 70%. Foundation grants make up about 16[%], corporate giving [is] about 5[%]. So individual giving really is the bulk of it. Never underestimate the power of small donor because if you look at last year, what the community of North Texas donors raised was $50 million for over 3,000 nonprofits. Sixty percent of those gifts were under $100.

Miori said nonprofits have to evaluate their successes and their failures. The Ackerman Center is part of the University of Texas at Dallas, and Mirori said the center has enjoyed support from the community, but not as much from university alumni. The center has elected to put more resources into promoting the center among graduates.

Weve staffed up to do better, and were getting there, she said. Weve had to continue to do things to make alumni want to come back [and give] ... We celebrate a $2 gift and we celebrate a $1,000 gift.

Miori said shes getting a lot of questions about raising money during a pandemic. Her answer: Its time for creative people to use that creativity to keep fulfilling their missions.

Were making it up as we go, she said. Were writing it all down, and hopefully well never have to do this again.

LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached at 940-566-6877 and via Twitter at @LBreedingDRC.

See the article here:
The pandemic diet: Next year's fun and events rely on today's choices for area arts groups - Denton Record Chronicle

Leaders of North Texas arts nonprofits met Wednesday to talk budgets.

As the nation emerges, Punxsutawney Phil-like, from pandemic shutdown, performing and visual arts groups want to continue hosting exhibits, staging plays and celebrating festivals.

But with an economic downturn shuttering businesses and thrusting workers into unemployment, nonprofit groups might be doing all of that on a smaller budget. On Wednesday, the Dallas-based Business Council for the Arts hosted an online forum to talk fundraising and budgeting in the time of COVID-19.

Panelists for the virtual gathering included Betsy Lewis, the development director for Cedars Union, a cooperative that serves artists with studios and a maker space; Holly Hull Miori, the development and alumni relations director for the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies & School of Arts and Humanities; and Kaitlin Guthrow, director of sponsorships and nonprofit relations for North Texas Giving Day Communities Foundation of Texas.

The panelists said arts groups are funded by big donors often corporate sponsors who donate thousands of dollars to programs and events as well as individuals who give less than $100.

I would say that theyre both equally important, Guthrow said. Those big donors can help propel your mission further, and help you reach your goals faster. But you dont want to become too dependent on a small number of large donors. If I had to pick between one $1,000 donor or 10 $100 donors, I would choose the latter every time. Because if that one drops off, particularly in a challenging year like this year, then youve got to start completely over.

Miori said shed take a hybrid, of big and small donors. The big donations generate publicity and dollars, she said.

But these small gifts bring a lot of momentum with it, and they tend to be with you for a longer time, Miori said. These gifts tend to be with you 10, 20 years and they can also be better planned giving prospects.

In other words, individuals who give smaller amounts over a decade or longer plan to give cash, equity or property more often than companies do.

I would add that a sponsorship is not necessarily big and the individual donation is not necessarily small, Lewis said. The healthiest way to approach it if youre in an organization that has the staff and volunteers for it is to diversify just like a stock portfolio, so that your fundraising efforts are not completely dependent... on one avenue of fundraising.

Denton nonprofits have been weathering the COVID-19 storm. Founder and director of local documentary film, music and photography festival Thin Line Joshua Butler said his team canceled in-person screenings and all live music showcases last March. Instead, Butlers new business, Falcon Events, screened films online, at the festival website.

Virtual, for one, is cheaper, Butler said. So you automatically have a reduced budget across the board. Thin Line is in a good position where we can pivot quickly. We dont have employees or staff. The virtual festival is pretty inexpensive. I dont have to worry about hotel rooms and hospitality and car services.

Screening the festival online brought in an audience that tripled 2019 attendance. More than 7,000 people signed on to the Thin Line virtual fest.

Thin Line is free and is funded mostly by corporate sponsors.

Every single one of those sponsors got a lot more eyeballs than they would have in the screening spaces, so they got a lot more value.

Butler said the 2021 festival will be virtual, too.

Were going to be virtual next year and then see what the next year brings, he said. We know other nonprofits arent in a position to pivot like we did. I started Falcon Events to do virtual conferences and Thin Line was its first event. For us, our costs for next year are reduced. Basically, all we have to pay for is the content.

Panelists said that while COVID-19 was a sucker punch for nonprofit arts groups, the pandemic reminded leaders and volunteers of analog methods for staying in touch with donors and North Texans who come to their exhibits, performances and programs. Donors told nonprofit board members and directors they enjoyed handwritten notes, and leaders said they found ways to use promotional merchandise that didnt work before the pandemic. Bumper stickers that arrived with too-small text turned into swag to stuff bags and envelopes with. Reluctant board members dropped the word fundraising from their vocabulary and instead made thank-you calls to donors that often yielded more giving.

Guthrow said small donations will likely still make up the bulk of charitable giving and support for arts groups. In about one week, Guthrow and her team will preside over a sprawling, daylong fundraiser that will generate millions of dollars for thousands of nonprofits.

North Texas Giving Day is all about inspiring individual giving, she said. You look at what the largest component of philanthropy in this country is, its individual giving every single year. To the tune of about 70%. Foundation grants make up about 16[%], corporate giving [is] about 5[%]. So individual giving really is the bulk of it. Never underestimate the power of small donor because if you look at last year, what the community of North Texas donors raised was $50 million for over 3,000 nonprofits. Sixty percent of those gifts were under $100.

Miori said nonprofits have to evaluate their successes and their failures. The Ackerman Center is part of the University of Texas at Dallas, and Mirori said the center has enjoyed support from the community, but not as much from university alumni. The center has elected to put more resources into promoting the center among graduates.

Weve staffed up to do better, and were getting there, she said. Weve had to continue to do things to make alumni want to come back [and give] ... We celebrate a $2 gift and we celebrate a $1,000 gift.

Miori said shes getting a lot of questions about raising money during a pandemic. Her answer: Its time for creative people to use that creativity to keep fulfilling their missions.

Were making it up as we go, she said. Were writing it all down, and hopefully well never have to do this again.

LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached at 940-566-6877 and via Twitter at @LBreedingDRC.

Read this article:
The pandemic diet: Next year's fun and events relies on today's choices for area arts groups - Denton Record Chronicle

Dr. Hinohara was still treating patients and clocking 18-hour workdays up to a few months before he passed away. He clearly loved what he did, and he was fortunate to have a sense of purpose saving lives.

Possibly my favorite piece of wisdom he shared was the concept that when you have a long life expectancy, you can spend the first 60 years working for you and your family, then the next 40 years working for the greater good and contributing to make the world a better place giving you a sense of greater purpose.

Remember the Gallup Work Engagement Study?

Lets be realistic about the world we live in today. Only 1 in 5 people truly love their work like Dr. Hinohara did. Most big companies call you family, but in the end, they serve their shareholders. Surplussing is one of the new and more despicable terms for sugarcoating when a company needs to lay people off theres a surplus of humans here, so lets reduce the surplus. Not to mention, from ages 55 to 65, you may not have the choice to keep working at your primary job.

The result? One in 5 people in the U.S. downright hate their jobs, another 3 in 5 could take it or leave it. So, 4 out of 5 workers dont share Dr. Hinoharas love of work and a sentiment to never retire.

Keep in mind I wrote You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think, so Im a little biased toward Americans being able to stop working at their current job long before age 105. However, one of the main components thats paramount to an early and happy retirement is having multiple activities/projects/endeavors that youre passionate about working on. I call these, core pursuits. Its something that Dr. Hinohara clearly had down pat.

Put core pursuits at the center of your retirement planning.

First of all, losing the dignity of work isnt easy for most people. Remember the study from Harrys that said the No. 1 predictor of a mans happiness is his job satisfaction and his feeling of impact at his company and career? Americans, both men and women, love to work and love to earn if their productivity is channeled in the right direction.

It isnt easy to replicate the energy, challenge and accomplishment you get from work its almost like rigorous exercise. The workout or run may hurt, but it makes you stronger, and healthier. In some respects, continuing to work, particularly at something you enjoy doing, offers similar benefits.

Just look at Jimmy Buffett. He made a living of singing about wastin' away again in Margaritaville, but when you look at the empire that hes built with his music, beverages, real estate, restaurants and other merchandise, its easy to see that this guy works his tail off to sell the idea of a relaxing life to others. And based on his success and his reported half-a-billion dollar net worth, its clear that hes not just in it for the money these days.

The end result of working similar to a long run or workout at the gym is very difficult to replace. So, the HROBs Happiest Retirees on the Block of the world re-create their work stimulation by deploying a long series of core pursuits.

Maybe yoga, gardening, fishing, hiking, biking, running, walking, golfing, going to church, crafting or art ends up not being enough. Thats OK. Maybe you can transition your skills into a very involved volunteer role or lower-paying nonprofit job. Maybe its starting your own small business. Consider a teaching, coaching or mentoring role. Write a book. Start a website. Join a band. Become a tour guide or historian in your town. Put your cooking skills to use to feed your community. Your core pursuits can lead you to a more fulfilling future while adding life to your years.

Get going and get growing.

I get what Dr. Hinohara was saying, but beyond following a sparse diet and taking the stairs, his advice to work forever just wont work for most Americans. We have to work and save so we can have the economic freedom to follow our passions. Its something thats typically unrealistic if you have a new mortgage and are trying to raise a family. Happy retirees find themselves in the opposite position. They can take on a job or career thats focused on feeding their soul rather than financing their family.

Remember Dr. Hinoharas reflection that once youve raised your family, the next phase of your life (60-plus) can be focused on you and the greater good around you.

Curiosity killed the cat, but a lack of curiosity is what kills the happy retiree.

Wes Moss has been the host of Money Matters on News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB in Atlanta for more than 10 years now, and he does a live show from 9-11 a.m. Sundays. He is the chief investment strategist for Atlanta-based Capital Investment Advisors. For more information, go to wesmoss.com.

DISCLOSURE

This information is provided to you as a resource for informational purposes only and is not to be viewed as investment advice or recommendations. This information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. This information is not intended to, and should not, form a primary basis for any investment decision that you may make. Always consult your own legal, tax, or investment adviser before making any investment/tax/estate/financial planning considerations or decisions.

Original post:
Wes Moss: You dont have to work forever, but you can use your talents - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Golf may be the official sport of douchebags everywhere (not mini golf, that's awesome), but it's hard to deny that there are several people who've transcended the overall lame nature of the glorified drinking game and managed to become legends in their own way. You have to have a tremendous personality to make people interested in golf, and John Daly, with his Diet Coke obsession, is definitely one of those characters.

John is probably one of the sport's most colorful characters. From the often ridiculous but awesome outfits he rocks on the green, to his constant struggles with addiction: whether it be food, alcohol, cigarettes, or Diet Coke, the outspoken and inconsistent golfer has become a subject of fascination for those who follow the sport.

Then there's also the matter of his four divorces.

Daly still persists, indulgent excesses, gripes with life, all of it. It seems that he's swapped out one set of addictions for another, however. After undergoing lap band surgery in order to curb his weight gain, John still slammed back tons of Diet Coke, however his intake needed to be reduced due to the nature of the procedure.

As John said in an interview with The Big Lead, "The band won't allow me to drink as many. If I don't have ice, I can drink it. I can't have it straight because of the carbonation. I used to have 26-28 cans a day. Now I have 10-12 at the most."

In addition to his penchant for sugar-free caramel colored carbonated beverages, Daly also is a longtime smoker, and attributes his lack of a fitness regimen to his cancer stick habit.

"Some guys want to do a little more cardio training; I can't see me being allowed to smoke a cigarette on a treadmill. I don't think they will let me into the gym if I do that. Will they?"

I mean, he could always just briskly jog outdoors with a pack of smokes rolled up into his sleeves if he really wanted to run and puff.

The 54-year-old, two-time major winner has opened up about his bladder cancer diagnosis and underwent a procedure to have it removed. However, he has said that there's a high chance the disease will return.

"[My doctor] said there's an 85 percent chance it comes back. I've got to go back and see him in three months. They will probably have to cut it out again. It's probably going to come back, and then another three months that you don't know," he told The Golf Channel.

John stated that despite the chance of the cancer returning, he was fortunate in some respects, "Luckily for me they caught it early, but bladder cancer is something that I don't know all the details. But it doesn't look like it may go away. We will just see what happens. Maybe there's a miracle."

John's back pains and kidney stones ultimately forced him to withdraw from the Charles Schwab series and see a specialist.

"[My urologist told me] it doesn't look like any stones are in there. But unfortunately, you have bladder cancer. After I did the CT I was fixing to sip on my Diet Coke and he said, 'Don't drink anything. We have to get you back in here and get this cancer out of you.'"

John's career has spanned an impressive 33 years where he's won a five PGA tour titles. He was approved to use a cart last year after getting his American with Disabilities Act application approved. In the past few years, John has mentioned a persistent knee injury that's impeded his ability to play effectively.

Despite his years of bad health habits, he's vowed to make a more concentrated effort to take better care of himself.

"I'm cutting way, way back on the Diet Coke and counting minutes before I can have a cigarette. I'm trying to quit smoking. The doctors aren't saying it's too late. Unfortunately, it's a cancer that keeps coming back. But I'm going to listen to them, and I'm going to try and quit smoking.If it comes back, it comes back. Six months to a year, if it doesn't go away, I'm going to live my life. I'm gonna have some fun. I always tell people I've lived one hell of a life. No matter what happens, I'm not scared to die or anything."

He continued, "It would have been nice to play the last seven or eight or 13 years of my career a little more healthy. But hey, I'm still working, I'm still living life, I'm still doing the things I need to do ... I can accept the challenge. I'm not scared of that. I just want my kids to be OK and everyone else in my family."

See original here:
John Daly Loves Diet Coke, and I'd Rather Watch Him Slam It Than Golf - Distractify

Maintaining a healthy weight plays an important role in managing psoriatic arthritis. Obesity causes low-grade inflammation, as fat tissue churns out inflammatory proteins, including cytokines, chemokines, and adipokines. Being overweight or obese has been linked to an increased risk of developing psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory condition, and making it more difficult to manage.

Excess weight puts more pressure on your joints, which can lead to injury and inflammation. Whats more, excess weight can interfere with medications that treat psoriatic arthritis, so they dont work as well. A review published in May 2018 in the journal PLoS ONE found that obesity was linked to a 60 percent greater chance that a class of biologic drugs commonly used to treat psoriatic arthritis, called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, wouldnt work.

The link between obesity and psoriatic arthritis is very complex and not adequately understood, says John Davis, III, MD, a clinical rheumatologist who specializes in psoriatic arthritis at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. We believe that [obesity] drives inflammation, providing the link to the joint disease.

Psoriatic arthritis is also linked to other health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. For all of these, Losing weight and maintaining weight in a healthy range is important, says Melissa Ann Prest, DCN, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The good news: Weight loss has been linked to an improvement in psoriatic arthritis symptoms, including painful, swollen joints and fatigue. Its probably reducing the inflammatory burden, says Dr. Davis.

American College of Rheumatology and National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) guidelines, published in November 2018 in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology, recommend weight loss for all obese people who have psoriatic arthritis to help improve their response to medication. Losing weight helps psoriatic arthritis symptoms in other ways, as well, explains Rajat Bhatt, MD, a rheumatologist with Memorial Hermann Health System in Texas. It decreases inflammation and stress on the joints and lowers uric acid levels linked to gout another joint condition common in people who have psoriatic arthritis.

And weight loss doesnt have to be major. Research has found that overweight and obese people with psoriatic arthritis who lost just 5 percent of their body weight were more likely to have minimal disease activity.

Although psoriatic arthritis symptoms such as fatigue and stiff, achy joints can make it more challenging to move, its possible to drop extra pounds with the right strategies and support. Here are a some tips to help you lose weight and improve your symptoms.

Daviss number one tip for weight loss in people who have psoriatic arthritis is to eliminate added sugars. They provide extra calories that dont benefit your body and can increase chronic inflammation, upping your risk of related conditions, such as obesity and diabetes.

Another reason to cut back on sugar: A review published in April 2020 in the journal Rheumatology and Therapy found that people who have psoriatic arthritis are significantly more likely to have type 2 diabetes than the population at large, possibly because inflammation of the skin and joints may affect glucose metabolism. Davis recommends limiting simple sugars and carbohydrates in your diet. Sugar hides in processed foods, cereal, yogurts, and juices, he says.

The NPF also recommends cutting out the following:

Foods from these sources are typically going to be higher in calories and trans fat, which can contribute to weight gain and inflammation, says Dr. Prest.Because cutting out these foods helps reduce inflammation, which worsens psoriatic arthritis, it may also help reduce psoriatic arthritis symptoms, explains Dr. Bhatt.

Research suggests that eating lots of fruits and vegetables can help you lose weight by keeping you full and satisfied on fewer calories, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People should definitely eat more fruits and veggies, adds Davis.

A plant-based diet can also help decrease inflammation levels, which may reduce psoriatic arthritis symptoms, adds Bhatt. He specifically recommends the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids.

Dietary guidelines from the medical board of the NPF published in August 2018 in JAMA Dermatology, also recommend a Mediterranean diet, consisting of at least:

Make vegetables the star of your meal by filling half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables, and go with a serving of fruit or a serving of a vegetable for snacks, says Prest.

Its easy to confuse thirst for hunger, according to the NPF. So be sure to drink enough water to help with your weight loss efforts. About eight 8-ounce glasses per day is a good goal, according to the Mayo Clinic. Youll know youre hydrated if your urine is clear to light yellow.

Physical activity helps reduce inflammation and pain. Weight loss guidelines from the CDC recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. Exercise is great for your overall health and to break through those weight loss plateaus, says Prest.

Staying physically active is especially important for people who have psoriatic arthritis, as metabolic syndrome has been linked to psoriatic arthritis disease activity and medication effectiveness, says Bhatt. Exercise can help you tackle metabolic syndrome by reducing inflammation and improving muscular metabolism. And thats not all. Exercise can increase range of motion in the joints and maintain joint flexibility and muscle strength, says Bhatt. Physical activity also increases pain tolerance, helping psoriatic arthritis symptoms feel less debilitating, and decreases uric acid, which reduces joint pain in people who also have gout, he adds.

If youre experiencing a lot of joint pain in your lower extremities, Bhatt recommends swimming a few laps. Swimming is a good low-impact activity for those who have access to a pool and enjoy it, says Davis.

Walking is a great exercise for people with psoriatic arthritis to lose weight, says Davis. Maintaining daily activity and step counts [helps] to increase metabolism, he says. When combined with dietary changes, walking supports weight loss, according to the Mayo Clinic, and is especially important for weight loss maintenance.

A study published in December 2018 in the journal BioMed Research International suggests that weight-bearing aerobic exercises, such as walking, may help reduce the risk of bone loss. Thats important, as another study, published in July 2020 in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, suggests that psoriatic arthritis treatments may increase the risk of osteoporosis.

If you need extra motivation, use a fitness tracker to track your steps. Set small, manageable goals that slightly challenge you. And listen to your body: Its natural to feel a bit sore or tired the next day, but take it easy if you feel pain.

Once your routine is no longer challenging, consider increasing the intensity. The body always has to be challenged. Choose something you like, so you can stick to a long-term plan, says Bhatt.

Resistance training, which includes weight lifting and body weight exercises, such as squats, can help with both weight loss and overall fitness. One small study published in February 2018 in the journal Clinical Rheumatology found that people with psoriatic arthritis who did resistance training twice a week for 12 weeks reduced their disease activity and pain and improved their quality of life.

Whats more, building muscle helps with weight loss. Thats because muscle burns more calories than fat does, even at rest, according to the Mayo Clinic. Lifting weights may be even more important when youre cutting back on calories, because your body sheds some muscle mass along with fat when you lose weight. The CDCs weight loss guidelines recommend incorporating strength-training activities that use all the major muscle groups two days a week.

If joint pain makes this kind of exercise challenging, ask your doctor for tips on how to get started safely.

The dietary guidelines from the NPF recommend a reduced-calorie diet for people with psoriatic arthritis who are obese. Talk to your doctor to determine the right goal for you. Tracking your calorie intake can be especially helpful. Studies show that just keeping a simple food journal reduces intake, because it makes you more aware of what youre eating and helps you figure out a better choice, says Prest.A study published in February 2019 in the journal Obesity followed 142 people on their weight loss journey for 24 weeks and found that those who more often used an online food journal reported more weight loss after six months.

I have used the photo journal technique with many clients, and they have had great success in reaching their weight loss goals, says Prest. Free apps and online tracking tools also give you a great estimate of your overall diet, but keep in mind theyre not 100 percent accurate, she adds.

A lack of sleep is linked to impairments in glucose metabolism and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic changes, and inflammation, according to a review published in March 2015 in the journal Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome. This can affect not only your weight loss efforts but also your overall health, including psoriatic arthritis symptoms.

A good nights sleep helps with pain sensitization and improves pain tolerance, and therefore, psoriatic arthritis symptoms might be better, says Bhatt. When the body rests, it rids itself of toxins, which helps improve inflammation. And good sleep helps with weight loss. Davis suggests people with psoriatic arthritis aim for at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

A study published in October 2018 in the journal Reumatologia suggests that many people who have psoriatic arthritis have trouble sleeping. A few of Bhatts top sleep hygiene tips:

If [youre] struggling, seeing a dietitian is a good idea, says Davis. A dietitian can help you develop a customized meal plan, which can be especially helpful for people who have psoriatic arthritis. People with psoriatic arthritis may find that they have other food sensitivity issues that may contribute to problems with weight loss. Working with a registered dietitian nutritionist is a great way to ensure youre eating the right amount for weight loss, says Prest. You can search for a registered dietitian nutritionist near you at eatright.org.

If youre struggling with exercise, a physical therapist or personal trainer can develop a fitness routine suited to your needs.

Finally, keep at it, because even small changes can be powerful. We often overemphasize pharmaceutical therapies and underemphasize lifestyle changes, says Bhatt, but lifestyle changes are equally important for all arthritis patients.

Original post:
Psoriatic Arthritis-Friendly Weight Loss Tips - Everyday Health

ESPANOLA, N.M. (AP) New Mexicos most iconic crop is heading to outer space.

In the coming months, NASA scientists plan to fly the NuMex Espaola Improved chile to the International Space Station, where it will be part of an ongoing experiment to grow crops without gravity and perhaps eventually on Mars.

Espaola native Jacob Torres, a contracted technical and horticultural scientist at NASA, has spent the last two years working on the mission, known as PH04, and similar plant growth projects.

The mission is part of NASAs long-term goal to land on Mars by 2034 and eventually colonize the red planet. For Torres, being part of such a revolutionary mission is a small step for man, but a giant leap for his community back home.

If I can get to this point that Im at now, anybody can do it, Torres told the Santa Fe New Mexican.

We are told Espaola is the worst, so we believe it, he said. There needs to be somebody on the opposite spectrum, saying No, we arent.

Growing up, Torres said, he lacked motivation and wasnt a good student at all. In junior high, after a run-in with local gang members, he was kicked out of Espaola Public Schools and enrolled at McCurdy Charter School for his freshman year of high school.

After barely graduating in 1997, Torres decided to postpone college and move to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he bussed tables at Hard Rock Cafe and later became the restaurants manager at age 20. Because much of his family worked in restaurants his grandfather, Juan Valencia, owned Espaolas iconic Johnnys Bar it seemed likely he was headed down that same path.

He went on to manage actor Bill Murrays chain restaurant, Murray Bros. Caddyshack, in South Carolina and Florida for five years. But when a hurricane destroyed one of Murrays newer restaurants just five months after opening, Torres said that was the catalyst that was like, OK, time to move on, man.

At 27, Torres decided to go back to school first for an associate degree at Northern New Mexico College to study renewable energy and automotive technology, and then on a full-ride scholarship to New Mexico State University for a bachelors in mechanical engineering.

After working at a diesel manufacturer in Indiana, he applied to graduate school at Purdue University, where he earned a masters in mechanical engineering technology.

During his second year of grad school, Torres decided to apply for an internship at NASA, although the possibility of being accepted felt like a long shot.

Everyone said I had no chance. I had a professor who literally said, I dont know why youre wasting your time, Torres said. It broke my heart, but it made me work harder.

Much to his surprise, Torres caught NASAs eye, largely because his grad school thesis was focused entirely on a technology called BioWall an automated light and irrigation system that uses plants to filter air.

NASA was basically doing the same thing, but for growing crops for astronauts, Torres said. So, when my application came in, they said, Oh, this is awesome, an engineer who grows crops.

After finishing the 10-week internship, Torres was invited to stay an additional four weeks. At the end of 2018, he was hired as a full-time contracted scientist at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida several months before he finished his thesis and graduated from Purdue.

Looking back now, it seems like there was a plan for me the whole time. I just didnt know what it was, Torres said. Its almost like Im living a script.

___

Growing plants for Mars

Torres, 40, is part of a team of about 20 NASA scientists dedicated to growing plants sans gravity a critical step toward eventually colonizing Mars.

We anticipate sending humans to the fourth planet as early as the 2030s, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement. What seems like science fiction getting a crew to Mars, landing them on the surface to explore and conduct experiments, and bringing them safely home is on the horizon.

Before NASAs first astronaut lands on the red planet, crews must do research to ensure astronaut diets are supplemented during a two-year round trip. Traveling to Mars is expected to take a minimum of six months, depending on planet alignment, and astronauts would spend about a year on Mars before returning home, Torres said.

Growing plants in space is not a new concept. Scientists started experimenting with partial grow-outs in the 1960s and 70s. Whats new is the hardware what were growing them in, Torres said.

Before, astronauts had about three days to germinate seeds, he said, but now we have the capability to do full grow-outs, which allows astronauts to consume fully matured, more nutrient-rich produce.

Torres said prepackaged meals would not last long enough to feed astronauts for two years because nutrients degrade over time. Plus, there are only so many packaged foods available, which causes meal fatigue.

Can you imagine eating the same thing over and over again? We wanted to give them something fresh, he said.

Another perk of growing plants in space is the psychological benefit, said Matthew Romeyn, a space crop production project scientist at NASA. Being on a spacecraft far from home for long periods of time can take a toll on astronauts mental health, and projects like these can be a positive outlet for meaningful work, he said.

On these missions, a plant can be a really good way for them to have something to do, Romeyn said.

David Hanson, a biology professor at the University of New Mexico and an expert on plant physiology, worked on the initial PH01 mission at NASA. He said astronauts, including Serena Auon-Chancellor, would light up and get all happy while working with the PH01 sprouts.

We connect to Earth through plants a lot more than we realize, Hanson said, adding these interactions can alleviate homesickness. Its clear the psychological value of growing plants up there. People argue whether (the act of growing a plant) is more important than the actual nutritional value.

___

Choosing crops for space

Still, without pollinators like bees, there are biological limitations on what plants can grow and which variations will perform best.

Until now, NASA had focused on growing things like lettuce, leafy greens and mizuno mustard, but it is working to diversify that list. If youre an astronaut on Mars, you cant live on lettuce alone, Torres said.

Although peppers are not self-pollinating, a grower can tap the flower or shake it to assist with fertilization. Given that peppers also provide high levels of Vitamin C higher than many citrus fruits they seemed like a great option to grow in outer space, said Romeyn, who has worked on the project for five years.

The question is: Which one do you grow? What pepper do you pick? Thats where we scratch our heads, Torres said.

Amid its pepper research, NASA came across New Mexicos Hatch chiles. In meetings about the crop, Torres, still an intern at the time, suggested they try other New Mexico strands from up north, since chiles at higher elevation have evolved to grow faster than the typical 140-day growth period of a Hatch chile. The goal then became to find a Hatch-like pepper that matures faster, he said.

In August 2019, after running a number of tests on Hatch, Espaola, Chimay and other strands from New Mexico State Universitys Chile Pepper Institute, we officially said Espaola Improved is our one, Torres said. Of more than 40 pepper variations the team tested, this Hatch-Espaola hybrid is the one that will grow in a next phase of research.

Its the ambassador chile that represents all of the peppers, Torres said. Its not that this is the best pepper in the world. It means that its the best pepper we can grow in this environment in space that we know of.

Romeyn said the chile has been fantastic, because even before its fully mature, it can be consumed when the red peppers are still green.

For Torres, the whole process is hard to believe but not just for personal reasons. He hopes the success of this experiment will make all of New Mexico proud, especially people from Espaola.

Well aware of the negative stereotypes of Rio Arriba County, including alcoholism and opioid abuse, Torres said its critical to set a positive example for youth in the area. He hopes his story teaches others that they can overcome hardship and choose a better path.

I have to change the future for these kids who are coming up next, and that means making some noise, he said. Its showing them, Look, Im from Espaola, and look what Im doing. If I can do it, you can do it, too.

See the original post:
Espaola native working to put New Mexico chile in space - The Pioneer

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