What is Brain Plasticity? - Part 2 – Brain Plasticity 1

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- What is Brain Plasticity? - Part 1 – Brain Plasticity 1

Image 1- Just for illustration

Our brain has many parts in which each part has its own functions or authorities. There is a part to control movement of right-hand motions (maneuvers) as a simple example.

If there is disturbance to control movement due to gene, thus we can understand why people use their left hand skillfully.

In current understanding that interrelation between sense, cognition and memory is so close.

 Image 2- A green field, illustration only

Let’s say if we have weakness in a sense that will affect to cognition and memory, and then, even if one got deterioration will affect other senses as well.

Image 3- Yard decoration, illustration only

They are so interdependence. We can see older people who easy to forget a little thing.

It is fact that their senses (feeling, hearing, seeing) not well function anymore, thus they are less able to store their experience images, then get trouble to recall those images after a while.

# Previous posting:

- Take Care of Winter Storm in Early 2022 – Part 1 – Nature 16

Reference

Banks, D. (2016, April 4). “What is brain plasticity and why is it so important?” Retrieved from “theconversation.”

Cooper Hawks Love to Come to Bird Feeders – Nature 44

A Cooper hawk is one of hawks found in our state, Louisiana. They live in the edges of woods or forests.

Image 1- Cooper hawk sitting on the fence

We may see Cooper hawks fly around our neighborhood recently. This hawk is common, not include as a rare critter.

From several sources, the raptors active to hunt their prey during dawn and sunset as their favorite hunting times.

However, these hunting times don’t apply at our neighborhood. We usually see Cooper hawks chasing their prey around 9 AM in the morning until afternoon. It seems daylight hunter.

Image 2- Cooper hawk perching over the bird feeder

Image 3- Hawk starting to fly away

Interestingly, we always see Cooper hawk visit our bird feeders. We then wonder: why?

After a while we find the answers:

1) Cooper hawk knows that small birds come to feeders.

- so, these small birds are good and easy preys to catch
- prey of Cooper hawks may include doves, woodpeckers and quails

2) My guess that bird feeders as their source of food as well.

Have you ever seen Cooper hawks? Where?

# Previous posting:

- “The Madness of Crowds” and Omicron – Reading 7

Do You Know Cashew Milk? – Part 3 - Food 27

We talked about cashew trees which grow in tropical areas and some benefits of cashew trees products at previous posts.

Image 1- Cashew fruit

You may read previous posts (part 1 and 2) at following:

- Do You Know Cashew Milk? – Part 1 - Food 27
- Do You Know Cashew Milk? – Part 2 - Food 27

The cashew tree does not grow in our neighborhood (around here at my house).

Luckily, we can enjoy the seeds, either, raw, roast, or any kind of cooked cashew seeds.

We are still able to get the benefits of seeds from the cashew tree.

Image 2- Just for illustration

Image 3- Cashew peanuts

Beside seeds, the cashew milk is also available here. I got cashew milk from Silk. I was looking for Soy milk, but I had met Cashew milk. This milk is new for me, so I took it for a try.

This cashew milk has luxurious creaminess. From the box I learn that this milk has no cholesterol and no saturated fat. The cashew milk has 50% more Calcium than dairy milk.

This milk is a quite thicker than dairy whole milk and soy milk. The richer creamy looks good for my smoothies. Now, I have a plan to make smoothies this weekend.

Do you like smoothies, and what milk do you prefer?

# Previous postings:

- Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to You and Yours

May Tomato Increase Our Brainpower? - Science 27

I always eat tomatoes, not daily, but at least one a week. I love its taste, and know that tomato is good for health.

Image 1- Tomatoes, one of healthy foods

By reading articles, one of them is written by Jerajani, D (2022: 5 Everyday Foods That Are Good for Brain Health!). it is said that tomatoes could improve our brainpower.

Other excellent foods for brain health are:

- spinach
- dark chocolate
- whole grain
- avocado

Image 2- Slices of tomato on Omelet

Just to let you know, we have talked about Avocado as “super food” at previous posts:

- Could Avocado Reduce Metabolic Syndrome? - Part 1 – Healthy Life 21
- Could Avocado Reduce Metabolic Syndrome? - Part 2 - Healthy Life 21

Image 3- Tomatoes in the bowl

Then, I myself wonder that: What is brainpower? And why is tomato good for brain health?

Brainpower could be mean as brain ability and capacity in respect to mental, learning, intelligence, comprehend and understand.

Tomato is good for brain health because tomatoes contain two important antioxidants that are beta-carotene and lycopene.

These two antioxidants are needed to prevent brain damage and protect brain cells.

Finally, do you like tomatoes?

# Previous postings:

- The signs of late stage of Alzheimer's Disease – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 1

Wild Bees are Visiting My Backyard – Part 2 - Nature 43

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Wild Bees are Visiting Our Backyard – Part 1 - Nature 43

Image 1- Pure raw honey from our neighborhood.

Naturally, the word “honeycomb” has multiple purposes:

- housing for brood, included capped larvae, larvae and eggs
- storing pollen, nectar and honey.

Moreover, I familiar with the word's honeybees, bumble bees and wild bees, but honestly, I do not know differences of these critters. I just saw many bees come to my backyard.

They were abundance in the spring, then the number reduced in the summer. But bees still appear in the early fall.

Image 2- The bee on the wildflower, it may pollinate or take pollen

Image 3- Artificial beehives at our neighborhood.

They seem visit our backyard to pollinate my flowers and fruit plants, some of them are:

- orange quash,
- tangerine orange
- figs.
- blackberry and strawberry

The bees also collect pollen and nectar from plant flowers and wild flowers.

It is said that honeybees are outnumber the other bees, hence they are most important of pollinators in nature.

Do you know differences of honeybees, bumble bees and other wild bees?

# Previous postings

- The signs of late stage of Alzheimer's Disease – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 1
- A Novel of Arian - Then The Fish Swallowed Him - Part 2 – Reading 6

Have You Planned to Exit Twitter Account?

As you might know that after Elon Musk take over, Twitter seems “chaos” with several reasons.

Image 1- Image of Mastodon and Twitter (credit to Google).

At least, in my thought there are 3 (three) crucial reasons lead to “chaos” in Twitter social media:

1- First, Elon Musk “fired” thousands of Twitter’s employees include who monitors hates, bully and other nonsense speeches which spreading through out Twitter

2- Idea of “absolute freedom of speech” makes many people disagree, include big and important advertisers.

Image 2- Giant sun-gold sunflower

3- US$ 8 monthly fee for subscribers. As far as I know, no social medias have subscribed fee. Yes, there are some social medias have provided “pay” accounts, but not compulsory, just optional.

Image 3- Azalea, illustration

These 3 main reasons drive out not only million Twitter users, but also great number of advisers.

Twitter annual revenue is US$ 5.08 billion, about 90% is coming from advertising. Many big advertisers such as General Motors, Ford, Mondelez, General Mills and many more.

Do you Twitter users? If yes, do you plan exit Twitter?

What is your main reason to stay or exit Twitter?

# Previous postings:

- A Novel of Arian - Then The Fish Swallowed Him - Part 1 – Reading 6
- The Best Tacos which I Love to Consume in Louisiana – Part 2 – Food 10

Mediterranean Diet and Alzheimer's Prevention – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 11

From the acronym SHIELD, a new hope to prevent dementia in last week's entry, the letter D in the last word is stand for diet.

Image 1- Menu for Alzheimer's diseases.

You may read the previous posts about SHIELD:

- The SHIELD is a New Hope to Protect Our Brain – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 10
- The SHIELD is a New Hope to Protect Our Brain – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 10
- The SHIELD is a New Hope to Protect Our Brain – Part 3 - Alzheimer's 10

The doctors mention that gut health tied to brain health, and have suggested Mediterranean as one of the best diets.

It will help the risk of Alzheimer's in “a half.”

Image 2- Pine’s fruit, illustration

Image 3- Wild pink lily, illustration

What is the Mediterranean diet? Is it a kind of awesome food from Mediterranean restaurants such as a plate of lamb shank or a piece of Italian pizza?

Mediterranean diet that Doctors recommend is based on the traditional fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and good fats.

The diet from the countries which border with the Mediterranean Sea. The food is rich with legumes and seeds.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous posting:

- The Best Tacos which I Love to Consume in Louisiana – Part 1 – Food 10
- Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 4 – Science 10