June's Smidgen From Life In The Second Half

Chocolate, Tea, apples, Mad Men, and Camera Obscura.

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Photo by Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash

Hello Friends,

This week’s newsletter is a short one. It will be the first of a monthly series of short sharings from the science of healthy ageing and the arts. The dictionary definition of ‘smidgen’ is a small amount of something, so it’s appropriate for these short monthly offerings.

This month, I’m sharing with you two studies I read about in a magazine called Food & Wine, and 2 music videos. If you drink tea and love chocolate, you’ll like the results of the research studies. As for the music videos, I have a wide taste in music and found it difficult to choose one you might like, too. So, in the end I chose two, hoping one of them will appeal to you. In future there will be only one.

The first one many of you will enjoy because it includes the theme tune to a very popular television series. Countless people loved this series, including me. I was a teenager in the sixties, the decade in which the series was set. I found it totally evocative. The second one is a song from 2009, by a Scottish band that’s a favourite of mine.

Tea And Chocolate

A recent meta-analysis of 145 studies found that regular consumption of small amounts of chocolate and tea lowers blood pressure to a degree similar to some medications. It’s because they contain flavan-3-ols, a type of flavonoid found in other foods, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, wine, apples, and grapes.

A professor involved in the study said in a statement:

“Incorporating small amounts of commonly consumed foods like tea, apples, dark chocolate, or cocoa powder into a daily balanced diet could provide beneficial amounts of flavan-3-ols." He noted: "….not a replacement for prescribed medications or medical advice," only that incorporating more flavan-3-ol-rich foods into a daily routine "could be a valuable addition to a healthy lifestyle, especially for those with higher blood pressure."

Another study revealed how flavonoids may help older adults age more gracefully. A professor involved in this study and senior author of the study, stated:

"Our research shows that people who consume more flavonoids tend to age better." He explained that "Flavonoids are well known for reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, supporting blood vessel health, and even helping to maintain skeletal muscle mass — all of which are important for preventing frailty and maintaining physical function and mental health as we age.”

So, a daily square of dark chocolate, at least one cup of tea and an apple included in your diet, would all help you age healthily. I’ve eaten an apple every day for as long as I can remember, and drink tea and love dark chocolate, so it’s good to know these are doing me good while giving my taste buds a treat. You can click on the link in the second paragraph from the top to read more about it.

2 Music Videos

The first video is self-explanatory. The second is a song from a Scottish indie pop band from Glasgow. They first formed in 1996. I had a problem trying to settle on which song from them to add here as I like most of their music. This one is a favourite. Is anyone else a Camera Obscura fan?

Discussion

I’m interested to know what you think about the music I’ve chosen?

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Disclaimer: The content of my posts is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, physical, psychological, health, or wellness advice. Do not make decisions based on this content alone. Always consult a qualified health professional. What I share here is meant to provide information to help you explore what’s right for you.