Acorns crash to my deck hourly these days and that’s almost the only sign I have of the season’s changing. We’ve had the same hot sunny days this month as we did in August. I’m not complaining mind you.

The weather, something we cannot change, can have an impact on us.

Sunny, rainy, hot, humid—each one affects us differently. What about your weather, how do you make a difference in the atmosphere you move in? Read this month’s article for my thoughts on this question.

The recipe this month, Baba Ganoush, will be delicious at any time of year and it only takes minutes to prepare.

Questions about the safety of eating fish even as we are encouraged to eat more or take fish oil abound. Check out the Q & A for some answers.

A Younger You is our book this month. It was given to me by my new doc. He’s a GP practicing complimentary and functional medicine. I’m so happy I found him. I’ll keep you posted on what we are doing and how it is improving my life over on the blog.

Happy Halloween, or as they say in Scotland, Samhain.

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“Power can manipulate, coerce, and destroy. And as long as we are convinced we have none, power will always look negative. In fact, power means simply our capacity to act. From this lens, we each have power—and often, much more power than we think. If we accept ecology’s insights that we exist in densely woven networks, then we must also accept that every choice we make sends out ripples, even if we’re not consciously choosing. So the choice we have is not whether, but only how, we can change the world.”
--Frances Moore Lappe

Well said, and a perfect quote to help me begin tying together the ideas for this month’s article.

Let’s begin by considering the concept of making a difference. I think we’d all agree that “making a difference” sounds positive, like something we choose to do. We may want to leave a legacy of wealth, of words, of philanthropy for future generations or we may be more present focused in a pay-it-forward kind of way. Bringing a bunch of sunflowers or box of sweets to a co-worker would make a very nice difference in their day no? The intention is to brighten someone’s day.

Then there are times you might do something that ends up having a big impact you didn’t expect. My friend Chris and I got together last week in NYC and thought it would be nice to grab a glass of wine at a restaurant co-owned by a long time friend of mine, new-ish friend of hers. The restaurant is an elegant, east side, landmark with a small bar and brilliant flower displays the size of my refrigerator.  My friend ("A"), is the ultimate host.

“A” runs the scene warmly and gives equal attention to newcomers and regulars alike. We hadn’t seen each other in a while. We got there early and “A” was elated when he saw us at the doorway. Hugs and kisses all around, we gladly accepted his offer of rose champagne, and planted on elegant bar stools. We knew we would be treated well and enjoy this visit but Chris and I were not prepared when “A” told us we had made his day by stopping by. Wow, really? We made your day?  But we were the ones being treated like royalty. “You did,” "A" said, “I so enjoy when you come in not only because you came in to see me but because it’s just so good to see you two.” Again, wow, bigger payback than I imagined.
 
The flip side of intentionally doing something positive is unintentionally doing something with a negative impact. There are days, you may have had them, where my stuff is just screaming out for attention and there is not much room left for small talk.

Say I’ve got to go out into the swirl of humanity for a doctor’s appointment or the like. The first person I see when I enter the office is happy and cheerily says “good morning, how’s it going?” The first words that come to mind are not publishable here but I usually manage a sullen, “Fine” and grab a seat. Did I do anything wrong? No, but I also didn’t go out of my way to be polite because I wasn’t thinking of the impact I could have in that state. The person I grumped at might think I was a bitch, or mad at them, or having a bad day—none of which will create good will. It matters not, what does matter is that I have made a difference in their life but it certainly wasn’t a very good one.

(Of course the flip side of the grumper is the receiver who got bent out of shape. If I were coaching said person I’d advise them not to personalize something that isn’t personal but that’s another topic for another newsletter.)

Had I chosen to check in with myself before I sallied forth into the world that day the end result could have been different. It might have helped me get out of the negative state I was in just long enough to respond in kind to a warm greeting. That then might have been enough of an energy state change to shift me slightly towards the light. All it takes is one thing, one idea, to change everything.

The extremely negative differences are made by those who are either oblivious to how they come across or they convince themselves that the negativity is caused by the very people they lash out at and therefore, somehow, okay. They choose venom, childlike rants, and fighting words to make themselves heard and get what they want. It’s clear that these people make a difference and one that keeps on making a difference long after the initial energy dissipates. Days, hours, and years can be poisoned by people who refuse to see how they affect others.

None of us go looking for this kind of interaction—at least not intentionally—but sometimes it shows up. What to do? Grab your power by the love handles and wield it consciously. Choose what kind of impact you want to have in that very tense fragile moment knowing that you can make a huge difference in how long this interaction lasts, how it goes down and how it ends up. Ripples out, ripples in. Give back what you’ve just been given and it’s an endless circle of hell. B R E A T H E and be open. You can curse the person once out of earshot. Plus if you do this successfully it may prove to be the one thing you do for yourself that makes this kind of encounter rare.

One can’t always give flowers and sweets or be happy and peppy and brimming with love. What we can do is tell ourselves, “You make a difference.” It’s a fact every minute of every day, choosing, as Moore Lappe says, consciously or not. To paraphrase her above, the choice we have is not whether, but only how, we can make our impact positive.

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Want to use this article in your newsletter or on your web site?  You are welcome to do so, as long as you give full attribution below.  I would also appreciate it if you would let me know when you publish it.  You may contact me via email or phone call.

Gregory Anne Cox is a certified life coach who has been dishing up all-you-can-eat servings of women's health and nutrition information for years. Her Lifestyle Tune-Up course is a 28 day wonder seminar for women looking for the missing mid-life manual. You can find out more at Live Better Coach, send her an email, or call her at (631) 728-2456.  This article is copyrighted and you may feel free to use it as long as you include this paragraph when publishing it.

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Phone: 631-728-2456
gregory@livebettercoach.com

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Baba Ganoush with Toasted Pita Chips

This is one of my favorite foods and it is also one of the most popular dips I make. I serve it with vegetables, pita chips, and sometimes as a side dish for grilled lamb or flank steak. Nutritionally the eggplant is a low calorie berry—yes I said berry-- has decent fiber content and while not a nutritional superstar without the skin with it, you’ll get a good whack of the powerful antioxidant called Nasunin. It is anthocyanin and eats up free radicals.

You’ll just like to eat this up ‘cause it’s so darn yummy!

Makes approximately 2 cups of Baba

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of purple eggplant
• 2 -6 garlic cloves depending on taste
• ½ Cup of Tahini-sesame paste
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• ¼ - ½ cup of olive oil—more if necessary after cooking
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

There are two schools of thought here and the first one is more classic Mediterranean from what I’ve read. It gives a smoky flavor but is a bit messy. Both get you where you need to go so pick which works for you.

Version 1

1. Turn a burner on low and place the eggplant on the burner so the flame scorches the eggplant. Turn the eggplant as it begins to char so all sides are charred but not incinerated.
2. It will start to leak juice but if you can tolerate that this is how you get the smoky flavor.
3. Once it is completely cooked place it in a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap til it’s cool enough to handle.
4. Slice or pull of the stem end, peel as much skin off as you can but don’t stress the little bits that cling.

Version 2 -this is the version which produced the photo you see

Preheat the oven to 375°

1. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise and score.
2. Place eggplants in a large bowl and pour the olive oil over them.
3. Toss them well to coat and almost soak the eggplants.
4. Place them middle up on a sheet pan lined with foil or parchment and place them in the oven.*
5. Cook them for 30-45 minutes til golden brown and soft looking.
6. Remove and cool til you can handle them.

*I like my garlic roasted for this dish rather than put in raw which is the classic way. If you want a more mellow flavor toss the garlic cloves in some oil and throw them in with the eggplant for the last 15 minutes.

1. At this point you can use either a whisk, potato masher or a food processor. I like my baba a bit chunky but I still use a processor because it’s so much faster. One just has to pulse the ingredients quickly and not over do it.
2. Add the eggplant, tahini, lemon juice, salt and pepper, garlic cloves either raw or roasted, into the processor and pulse just to mix thoroughly. Taste for seasoning and you’re done.
3. Don’t hesitate to add some olive oil or more tahini if you like a more intense sesame note. You know my motto “Think outside the Recipe.”
4. I love this warm so even if you make it ahead of time, pop it into the microwave for one minute before serving.

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Younger You:
Unlock the Hidden Power of Your Brain to Look and Feel 15 Years Younger
by Eric R. Braverman, M.D.

“You are only as young as your oldest part.” So says Dr. Braverman in this interesting take on reversing the aging process. His AgePrint test is similar in concept to the The Real Age test developed by doctors Mahmet Oz and Michael Roisen. Both are designed to give you an idea of whether you are physically older or younger than your chronological age would indicate. Braverman sets out to bring you the same awareness—with a view towards making changes to avoid the diseases and pains of aging—but his focus and starting place is the brain.

The brain is like a circuit box in your home, he says. You can’t plug a light in and turn it on and expect light if there is no central electrical source. The brain is similar. It sends an electric current throughout the body, fueling our internal systems and orchestrating our health.

Dr. Braverman is a brain-body medicine expert and the goal of his book is to teach us everything we need to know to create a younger self.

Part 1 explains how the brain and body work together to create and end illness and contains the AgePrint test. The test will give you some insight into parts that are getting old before their time or on time but before you want them to. You can determine an aging part before you become sick or symptomatic and start the younger you process there. If you are already suffering with a disease such as diabetes or depression, this test will show you exactly what parts are being affected and how to support them to reverse the process.

Part 2 informs us on how an aging brain affects the rest of the body and how an aging body affects the brain. Dr. Braverman believes that there is “a simple electronic brain code that, when working properly, keeps you at a normal weight, keeps you thinking clearly, helps you stay calm, and maintains the right balance for your moods and sleep cycle.”

I don’t know about you but I’m in.

The rest of the book describes proper medication, hormone therapies, nutrients, supplements, diet and lifestyle changes etc. This is an M.D. who recognizes the importance of some prescription meds and warns you of the potential side effects and how to prevent them. He has the most success with patients who practice a multi-modal approach to wellness. In addition to meds—if you need them—these are imperative: exercise, colorful anti-inflammatory foods, plenty of sleep, bio-identical hormone replacement, and vitamin and nutrient supplemtation.

None of the suggestions in this book are hard to incorporate into a busy lifestyle. It’s not about grueling workouts or eliminating your favorite snack. It does take a commitment to the suggested changes for your particular area of aging to see real results.

Knowing how to pinpoint my weak spots and strengthen them for the long haul is exciting. Anything we find we need to work on—heart, lungs, muscles, bones—will be improved with Dr. Braverman’s specific suggestions for that part. What’s even better is that every other system will benefit. That’s because we are a system of systems, interdependent and interrelated without end.

Dr. Braverman practices integrative medicine in Manhattan. He offers tests you may never have heard of like BEAM—Brain Electrical Activity Mapping—and those you may have heard of but wondered about them—like a full body scan. You can go to his website to learn more and to take the AgePrint test. You’ll find the link for this test on the lower left hand side.

Sound information and action based on the results of that test can make all the difference in how we feel today and for years to come. Braveman is brave indeed for standing up for sci-fi testing, hormone therapy, and other such modalities deemed by much of western medicine, and certainly insurance companies, to be unnecessary. If you aren’t quite sure how you feel about the new tests being offered start with this book just to get a sense of where anti-aging is heading.

It may seem like so much fluff at the moment but medicine is simply responding to the chicken and egg of improved technology and Boomers desires to feel and look younger than their parents.

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Q&A
Be sure to send your questions to Greg so she can answer them here in future issues of The You Revolution. Send her an email at gregory@livebettercoach.com to ask your question.

Q: They say I’m supposed to eat fish regularly but skip large fish which are higher in mercury than the stinky small ones like sardines. Salmon is recommended more than any other fish but most is farmed and I’ve heard that’s bad too.

Can fish oil supplements take the place of eating fish? Is there such a thing as Organic salmon?

A: Hold on grasshopper, you have asked many important questions  but space is limited here. What I can’t cover here will be posted on the blog.

Healthy fish is a heart healthy source of quality protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Farmed fish, mercury, red tide—it’s good to be concerned.

A Harvard research study from 2006 concluded that the pros of eating fish far outweigh the cons, since fish consumption reduces risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 36%. The Institute of Medicine disagrees reporting that only fatty fish like salmon are cardio protective.

The health of farmed salmon is up for debate. This is from Oceans Alive, “Salmon farms allow feces, excess feed, and any chemicals used to flow freely into surrounding waters.” They also cite concerns about PCB’s, dioxin, and other contaminants. Wild Atlantic salmon are on the endangered species list.

What’s a healthy girl to do? Check out the above website for safe piscine choices and while there take a look at their list of safe fish oil supplements.

I’ll continue this portion over at The You Rev Blog, but it is a good idea to take fish oil that’s purified and limit your fish consumption to things like halibut, shellfish, flounder, farmed catfish. And if you—like me—do like stinky fish, anchovies are another good one.

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For the past few weeks I’ve been trying on different audio and video programs to create a multi-media experience for You Revolution readers. I think I’ve picked the company to go with and so will be sending out the invitation for the audio postcards with Lifestyle Tune Up tips very soon. I hope you’ll click on the link to subscribe. I’m putting the finishing touches on my latest free report, “The Super Seven Tips for Midlife Waist Management Success.”

The reason I’m checking out online video players is to create and post cooking tips and techniques videos. So often people will be here and see me prepare something or use a shortcut in preparing and they say, “Oh my gawd, I didn’t know that was how you did that!” I realize there is a storehouse of goodies in the old gray matter and I want to share the wealth. I’ll let you know when I’ve got something you can weigh in on.

Holiday season is on its way. If you want to ensure a healthy, happy, and fit self then you’ll want to sign up for the next Lifestyle Tune Up. It starts in November and I’d love to meet you on the calls.

The blog has further information on mercury in fish and other concerns as well as good news and suggestions for your continued good health.
I hope this month’s newsletter has made a difference in your life. If so please feel free to pass it along.

Happy Fall,
Greg

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