Alzheimer’s Disease

Every once in a while, our minds dip into the past, sifting through the vast files of our temporal lobes for the memories and moments that shaped our early days. When I think of my grandmother, I think of a hot summer afternoon, the air so thick the kitchen walls seemed to melt onto the linoleum floor. I remember the crackling noise eggs make in a frying pan, the red of ripe tomatoes perspiring against fresh basil. She stared emptily at the vacant wall before her, glancing at her plate and eating reflexively, her tight white curls matted to her head. Midday came and went. Rimmed red, her glistening green eyes pleaded for help. A flurry of words escaped her mouth, her arms flailed about. She had not eaten, she said, she was left to starve. I didn’t know then not to feel a ripple of burning hurt freezing my insides. I didn’t know then that the woman who stood before me was dying while living, her brain being ravaged by synaptic failure. All I knew was that a strong woman who had borne Read more

The Health Benefits of Wine

Despite the assumption that alcohol is bad for you, our very own wine expert Edward Finstein has done some research to tell us that a little bit of red or white wine may actually be beneficial.

Scientific research has proven that moderate consumption of wine, especially red, is now considered part of a healthy lifestyle. Polyphenols in the skins of red grapes, similar to the types found in fresh fruits, vegetables, teas, grains and seeds act as antioxidants, increasing the “good cholesterol” in our systems that clean up the arteries and aid in blood circulation. In essence, they reduce the speed and level at which our bodies are affected by oxidative stress. Read more