Why Sanskrit?

Why does my child do Sanskrit? by Rutger Kortenhorst Rutger Kortenhorst, a Sanskrit teacher in John Scottus School in Dublin, speaks on the value of teaching Sanskrit to children, based on his own experience with the language. Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, we are going to spend an hour together looking at the topic ‘Why does my child do Sanskrit in John Scottus?’ My bet is that at the end of the hour you will all have come to the conclusion that your children are indeed fortunate that this extraordinary subject is part of their curriculum. Firstly, let us look at Why Sanskrit for my child? We are the only school in Ireland doing this language, so this will need some explaining. There are another 8 JSS-type schools around the world that have made the same decision to include Sanskrit in their curriculum (they are all off-shoots from the School of Philosophy). Secondly, how is Sanskrit taught? You may have noticed your son or daughter singing Sanskrit grammar songs in the back of the car just for the fun of it on the way home from school. I’ll spend some time telling you HOW we approach teaching Sanskrit now since my year in India. Why Sanskrit? But first of all: why Sanskrit? To answer that we need to look at the qualities of Sanskrit. Sanskrit stands out above all other languages for its beauty of sound, precision in pronunciation and reliability as well as thoroughness in every aspect of its structure. This is why it has never fundamentally changed unlike all other languages. It has had no need to change being the most perfect language of Mankind. If we consider Shakespeare’s English, we realize how different and therefore difficult for us his English language was although it is just English from less than 500 years ago. We struggle with the meaning of Shakespeare’s English or that of the King James Bible. Go back a bit further and we don’t have a clue about the English from the time of Chaucer’s ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ from around 700 AD. We cannot even call this English anymore and now rightly call it Anglo-Saxon. So English hadn’t even been born! All languages keep changing beyond recognition. They change because they are defective. The changes are in fact corruptions. They are born and die after seven or eight hundred years –about the lifetime of a Giant Redwood Tree- because after so much corruption they have no life left in them. Surprisingly there is one language in the world that does not have this short lifespan. Sanskrit is the only exception. It is a never-dying constant. The reason for the constancy in Sanskrit is that it is completely structured and thought out. There is not a word that has been left out in its grammar or etymology, which means every word can be traced back to where it came from originally. This does not mean there is no room for new words either. Just as in English we use older concepts from Greek and Latin to express modern inventions like a television: ‘tele [far] – vision [seeing]’ or ‘compute –er’. Sanskrit in fact specializes in making up compound words from smaller words and parts. The word ‘Sams – krita’ itself means ‘completely – made’. So what advantages are there to a fundamentally unchanging language? What is advantageous about an unchanging friend, say? Are they reliable? What happens if you look at a text in Sanskrit from thousands of years ago? The exceptional features of Sanskrit have been recognised for a few centuries all over the world, so you will find universities from many countries having a Sanskrit faculty. Whether you go to Hawai, Cambridge or Harvard and even Trinity College Dublin has a seat for Sanskrit –although it is vacant at present. May be one of your children will in time fill this position again? Although India has been its custodian, Sanskrit has had universal appeal for centuries. The wisdom carried by this language appeals to the West as we can see from Yoga and Ayurvedic Medicine as well as meditation techniques, and practical philosophies like Buddhism and most of what we use in the School of Philosophy. It supports, expands and enlightens rather than conflicts withlocal traditions and religions. The precision of Sanskrit stems from the unparalleled detail on how the actual sounds of the alphabet are structured and defined. The sounds have a particular place in the mouth, nose and throat that can be defined and will never change. This is why in Sanskrit the letters are called the ‘Indestructibles’ [aksharáni]. Sanskrit is the only language that has consciously laid out its sounds from first principles. So the five mouth-positions for all Indestructibles [letters] are defined and with a few clearly described mental and physical efforts all are systematically planned: [point out chart] After this description, what structure can we find in a, b, c, d, e, f , g…? There isn’t any, except perhaps that it starts with ‘a’, and goes downhill from there. Then there is the sheer beauty of the Sanskrit script as we learn it today. [Some examples on the board] You may well say: ‘Fine, but so why should my son or daughter have yet another subject and another script to learn in their already busy school-day?’ In what way will he or she benefit from the study of Sanskrit in 2010 in the Western world? The qualities of Sanskrit will become the qualities of your child- that is the mind and heart of your child will become beautiful, precise and reliable. Sanskrit automatically teaches your child and anybody else studying it to pay FINE attention due to its uncanny precision. When the precision is there the experience is, that it feels uplifting. It makes you happy. It is not difficult even for a beginner to experience this. All you have to do is fine-tune your attention and like music you are drawn in and uplifted. This precision of attention serves all subjects, areas and activities of life both while in school and for the rest of life. This will give your child a competitive advantage over any other children. They will be able to attend more fully, easily and naturally. Thus in terms of relationships, work, sport– in fact all aspects of life, they will perform better and gain more satisfaction. Whatever you attend to fully, you excel in and you enjoy more. By studying Sanskrit, other languages can be learnt more easily; this being the language all others borrow from fractionally. The Sanskrit grammar is reflected in part in Irish or Greek, Latin or English. They all have a part of the complete Sanskrit grammar. Some being more developed than others, but always only a part of the Sanskrit grammar, which is complete in itself. What Sanskrit teaches us that there is a language that is ordered, following laws unfailingly and as they are applied your child gets uplifted, not only when they grow up, but as they are saying it! This means they get an unusual but precise, definite and clear insight into language while they are enjoying themselves. They learn to speak well, starting from Sanskrit, the mother language of all languages. Those who speak well run the world. Barack Obama makes a difference because he can speak well. Mahatma Gandhi could move huge crowds with well-balanced words. Mother Theresa could express herself with simple words which uplift us even now. The language of the great Master Teachers of mankind from times past is all we have got after centuries and millennia, but they make all the difference. We can enter the remarkable mind of Plato through his words. If your daughter or son can express themselves well through conscious language they will be the leaders of the next generation. Sanskrit has the most comprehensive writings in the world expressed through the Vedas and the Gítá. The Upanishads –translated by William Butler Yeats have given people from all over the world an insight into universal religious feelings for more than one century now. To know these well expressed simple words of wisdom in the original is better than dealing with copies or translations as copies are always inferior to originals. We really need clear knowledge on universal religion in an age faced with remarkable levels of religious bigotry and terrorism arising from poorly understood and half-baked religious ideas. Culture Vivekananda, a great spiritual leader from India revered by all in the World Religious Conference of 1880 said: You can put a mass of knowledge into the world, but that will not do it much good. There must come some culture into the blood. We all know in modern times of nations which have masses of knowledge, but what of them? They are like tigers; they are like savages, because culture is not there. Knowledge is only skin-deep, as civilization is, and a little scratch brings out the old savage. Such things happen; this is the danger. Teach the masses in the vernaculars, give them ideas; they will get information, but something more is necessary; give them culture. Sanskrit can help your child to express universal, harmonious and simple truths better. As a result you will really have done your duty as a parent and the world will reap the benefits in a more humane, harmonious and united society. Sanskrit can do this as it is the only language that is based in knowledge all the way. Nothing is left to chance. Just think for the moment how confusing it is for a child to learn to say ‘rough’, but ‘dough’. And why does the ‘o’ in ‘woman’ sound like an ‘e’ in ‘women’? How come the ‘ci’ in ‘special’ is different from the ‘ci’ in ‘cinema’? Teachers may well say ‘Just learn it’ as there is no logical explanation, but it only demonstrates to a child that it is all a bit of a hit-and-miss affair. What else does this randomness in the fundamental building-blocks of language teach a child about the world? That it’s just a confusing, random chance-event? How can this give anyone any confidence? Now go to a language where everything is following rules. Where nothing is left to chance from the humble origin of a letter to the most sophisticated philosophical idea. How will that child meet the world? Surely with confidence, clarity and the ability to express itself? I have seen myself and others growing in such qualities, because of our contact with Sanskrit. I have just spent a year in India. Though it felt a bit like camping in a tent for a year, it was well worth it. For many years, we taught Sanskrit like zealots i.e. with high levels of enthusiasm and low levels of understanding, to both adults in the School of Philosophy and children in John Scottus School. We did not perhaps inspire a lot of our students and may have put a number of them off the study of Sanskrit. It felt to me like we needed to go to the source. Sanskrit teachers worth their salt need to live with people whose daily means of communication is in Sanskrit. I had already spent three summers near Bangalore doing just that and becoming less of an amateur, but it really needed a more thorough study. So I moved into a traditional gurukulam for the year. This meant living on campus, eating lots of rice and putting up with a few power-cuts and water shortages, but by December 2009, I made up my mind that I would step down as vice-principal of the Senior School and dedicate myself to Sanskrit for the rest of my teaching life. It felt like a promotion to me as quite a few could be vice-principal but right now which other teacher could forge ahead in Sanskrit in Ireland? [Hopefully this will change before I pop off to the next world.] With Sanskrit I’m expecting my mind to improve with age even if my body slows down a little. Sanskrit is often compared to the full-time teacher, who is there for you 24/7 whereas the other languages are more like part-timers. The effects of studying Sanskrit on me have been first and foremost a realistic confidence. Secondly, it meant I had to become more precise and speak weighing my words more carefully. It also taught me to express myself with less waffle and therefore speak more briefly. My power of attention and retention has undoubtedly increased. Teaching method Now, let me explain for a few minutes, HOW Sanskrit is taught. To my surprise it is not taught well in most places in India. Pupils have to learn it from when they are around age 9 to 11 and then they give it up, because it is taught so badly! Only a few die-hards stick with it, in time teaching the same old endings endlessly to the next generation. This is partly due to India having adopted a craving to copy the West and their tradition having been systematically rooted out by colonialism. For learning grammar and the wisdom of the East, I was well-placed in a traditional gurukulam, but for spoken Sanskrit I felt a modern approach was missing. Then I found a teacher from the International School belonging to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry. His name is Narendra. He has developed a novel, inspiring and light method to teach grammar, which doesn’t feel like you do any grammar at all. At the same time it isn’t diluted for beginners so you don’t end up with partial knowledge. I also followed a few Sanskrit Conversation camps, which all brought about more familiarity. Narendra says he owes his method to Sri Aurobindo and his companion The Mother who inspired him to come up with the course we now follow in Dublin. This is one of the many things The Mother said to inspire him:“Teach logically. Your method should be most natural, efficient and stimulating to the mind. It should carry one forward at a great pace. You need not cling there to any past or present manner of teaching.” This is how I would summarize the principles for teaching Sanskrit as we carry it out at present: 1. Language learning is not for academics as everyone learns to speak a language from an early age before they can read and write and know what an academic is. So why insist in teaching Sanskrit academically? 2. The writing script is not the most fundamental thing to be taught. A language is firstly made of its sounds, words and spoken sentences. [The script we use -though very beautiful- is only a few hundred years old.] 3. Always go from what is known to what is new. 4. Understanding works better than memorisation in this Age. Learning by heart should only take up 10 percent of the mental work, rather than the 90 percent rote learning in Sanskrit up to the recent present. 5. Don’t teach words and endings in isolation; teach them in the context of a sentence as the sentence is the smallest meaningful unit in language. 6. Any tedious memory work which cannot be avoided should be taught in a song. 7. Do not teach grammatical terms. Just as we don’t need to know about the carburetor, when we learn to drive a car. 8. The course should be finished in two years by an average student according to Narendra. This may be a little optimistic given that we are a little out of the loop not living in India, which is still Sanskrit’s custodian. At present I would say it is going to be a three-year course. 9. Language learning must be playful. Use drama, song, computer games and other tricks to make learning enjoyable. We have started on this course since September and it has certainly put a smile on our pupils’ faces, which makes a pleasant change. I now feel totally confident that we are providing your children with a thorough, structured and enjoyable course. Our students should be well prepared for the International Sanskrit Cambridge exam by the time they finish –age 14/15- at the end of second year. We will also teach them some of the timeless wisdom enshrined in various verses. At present we are teaching them: “All that lives is full of the Lord. Claim nothing; enjoy! Do not covet His property”- in the original of course. The future Let us look at the 500 – year cycle of a Renaissance. The last European Renaissance developed three subjects: Art, Music and Science to shape the world we live in today. It had its beginning in Florence. The great Humanist Marsilio Ficino made Plato available to the masses by translating it from Greek to Latin. We live in exciting times and may well be at the beginning of a new Renaissance. It also will be based on three new subjects: Some say that these will be Economics, Law and Language. Language has to become more universal now as we can connect with each other globally within seconds. NASA America’s Space Program is actively looking at Sanskrit in relation to I.T. and artificial intelligence. Sri Aurobindo said “…at once majestic and sweet and flexible, strong and clearly-formed and full and vibrant and subtle…”. What John Scottus pupils have said: It makes your mind bright, sharp and clear. It makes you feel peaceful and happy. It makes you feel BIG. It cleans and loosens your tongue so you can pronounce any language easily. What Sanskrit enthusiasts have said: It gives you access to a vast and liberating literature. It can describe all aspects of human life from the most abstract philosophical to the latest scientific discoveries, hinting at further developments. Sanskrit and computers are a perfect fit. The precision play of Sanskrit with computer tools will awaken the capacity in human beings to utilize their innate higher mental faculty with a momentum that would inevitably transform the mind. In fact, the mere learning of Sanskrit by large numbers of people in itself represents a quantum leap in consciousness, not to mention the rich endowment it will provide in the arena of future communication. NASA, California After many thousands of years, Sanskrit still lives with a vitality that can breathe life, restore unity and inspire peace on our tired and troubled planet. It is a sacred gift, an opportunity. The future could be very bright. Rick Briggs [NASA] You may well have a few questions at this stage after which I would like to introduce you to a plant in the audience. A parent turned into a blazing ball of enthusiasm over Sanskrit grammar: John Doran. I would like him to wrap up. I’ll give NASA’s Rick Briggs the last word from me: One thing is certain; Sanskrit will only become the planetary language when it is taught in a way which is exiting and enjoyable. Furthermore it must address individual learning inhibitions with clarity and compassion in a setting which encourages everyone to step forth, take risks, make mistakes and learn. Rick Briggs [NASA] http://sanskrityoga.wordpress.com/453

SOME SIMPLE STEPS TO PREVENT ALZHEIMERS

25 Simple Steps to Prevent Alzheimer's

Alzheimer’s strikes fear in all of us. The thought of losing your mind as you grow older is

terrifying and made worse by the fact that, before now, there appeared to be little we

could do to slow down or avoid Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia.

How ever research has found a lot of factors that raise or diminish the risk of

Alzheimer's disease. Following these tips, you could slash your

chances of developing the disease:

1. Check out your ankle

Low blood flow in your foot is a clue to trouble in your brain and a simple test can

reveal its cognitive state and your likelihood of stroke and dementia. The theory is blood

vessel health is similar throughout the body. The degree of clogged arteries and blood flow in

the feet can suggest atherosclerosis in cerebral blood vessels. Ask your doctor for an

ankle-brachial index (ABI) test which involves an ultrasound device and a blood pressure

cuff that compares blood pressure in your ankle with that in your arm. To remedy any impairment of

blood flow your GP may advise stepped-up exercise or a change in diet/medication.

2. Anti-oxidant-rich foods

Certain foods infuse your brain with antioxidants that can slow memory decline

and help prevent Alzheimer’s. All fruit and vegetables are good but top of

the list are black raspberries, elderberries, raisins and blueberries.

3. Beware of bad fats

The type of fat you eat changes your brain’s functioning for better or worse. Stay away

from saturated fats which strangle brain cells causing them to become inefficient.

Buy low fat or fat-free dairy products including milk, cheese and ice cream. Cut down on deep-fried foods.

4. Grow a bigger brain

Your brain starts to shrink when you reach 30 or 40 so it takes longer to learn. However

scientists now believe you can increase the size of your brain through the act of learning.

Try studying, learning new things or broadening your circle of friends for stimulation.

5. Chocolate Treat

Cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate, has sky-high concentrations of

antioxidants called flavanols, which possess strong heart and brain-protecting

properties. Drinking cocoa increases blood flow to the brain. Cocoa powder has

twice as many flavanols as dark chocolate which has twice a many as milk chocolate.

White chocolate has zero.

6. The oestrogen evidence

Sixty eight per cent of Alzheimer’s patients are women, possibly as midway through life

they lose the protection of the hormone oestrogen which boosts memory. Unless your

GP says otherwise, start taking oestrogen immediately at the time of menopause –

starting any later risks dementia and strokes.

7. Raise good cholesterol

It’s well known that having high good-type HDL blood cholesterol protects you from

heart disease. But it can also save your brain. Researchers claim it blocks sticky stuff

that destroys brain cells and acts as an anti-inflammatory to lessen brain damage.

Ways to ramp up good cholesterol include exercise, drinking moderate amounts of

alcohol and losing weight.

8. Google something

Doing an internet search can stimulate ageing brains even more than reading a book.

And MRI scans show that savvy surfers have twice as many sparks of brain activity as

novices. Go online to search for information, things to buy or games to play. Although

it’s not known how much it will benefit your brain, it’s better than passive pursuits.

9. The ApoE4 gene

One in four of you reading this has a specific genetic time bomb

that makes you three to 10 times more susceptible to developing

late-onset Alzheimer’s. The gene is called apolipoprotein E4.

If you inherit a single variant of ApoE4 from one parent, your

Alzheimer’s risk triples. If you inherit a double dose from both parents,

your risk rises by 10 times. Ask your doctor about a DNA test to reveal your ApoE4 genotype.

10. Say yes to coffee

Coffee is emerging as a tonic for the ageing brain. It is anti-inflammatory, helps block the

ill effects of cholesterol in the brain and cuts the risks of stroke, depression and diabetes,

all promoters of dementia. It is also high in antioxidants and caffeine which stop neuronal

death and lessen diabetes, high blood pressure and strokes that bring on dementia.

For most people, a moderate daily intake of coffee, two to four cups, won’t hurt and may help.

11. Dangers of underweight

Unexplained weight loss after age 60 or so may be a sign of Alzheimer’s. A study showed

that women with the disease started losing weight at least 10 years before dementia was

diagnosed. Among women of equal weight, those who went on to develop dementia slowly

became thinner over three decades and, when diagnosed, weighed an average 12lb less that

women who were free of Alzheimer’s. Talk to your doctor about unexplained weight loss after 60.

12. Drink wine

A daily glass of wine may help delay dementia. Research says that alcohol is an anti-inflammatory

and raises good cholesterol which helps ward off dementia. High antioxidants in red wine give

it additional anti-dementia clout. Such antioxidants act as artery relaxants, dilating blood

vessels and increasing blood flow which encourages cognitive functioning.

13. Know the early signs

Memory problems are not the first clue. You may notice a decline in depth perception,

for example you reach to pick up a glass of water and miss it. Or you misjudge the

distance in walking across a street.

Doing a jigsaw puzzle or reading a map may also be confusing. Losing your sense of

smell can also be an early clue, as well as asking the same question repeatedly or

misplacing belongings in odd places (like putting keys in the fridge). Be aware of memory

problems as the earlier the signs are spotted, the more successful lifestyle changes and

medications are likely to be.

14. Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet, no matter where you live, can help save your brain from

memory deterioration and dementia. Studies consistently find that what the Greeks and

Italians eat is truly brain food. Following this diet – rich in green leafy vegetables, fish,

fruits, nuts, legumes, olive oil and a little vino – can cut your chances of Alzheimer’s by

nearly half. Rather than depending on just one food or a few nutrients, it is a rich menu of

many complex brain benefactors, including an array of antioxidants, which shield brain cells from

oxidative damage.

15. Middle Age Obesity

Your brain cares if you are fat. A study showed obese people had 8%

less brain tissue and overweight people had 4% less brain tissue than

normal weight people, which according to one scientist hugely increases

the risk of Alzheimer’s. Moreover, brain shrinkage

occurred in areas of the brain targeted by Alzheimer’s, and which are

critical for planning, long term memory, attention and executive functions,

and control of movement.

Tackle signs of rising weight early, when you are young or middle aged. Oddly, being obese

after the age of 70 does not raise the risk of Alzheimer’s but that doesn't mean you should

neglect exercise as it is the best way of stimulating cognitive functioning and may delay the

onset of Alzheimer’s at any age.

16. Get a good night’s sleep

A lack of sleep is toxic to brain cells. Sleep has surprising powers to protect your brain against

memory loss and Alzheimer’s. It is a wonder drug that helps manipulate levels of the dreaded brain

toxin peptide beta-amyloid, a prime instigator of Alzheimer’s, which according to one scientist puts

you at accelerated risk. Research has also found that sleeping an average of five hours or less a

night is linked to large increases in dangerous visceral abdominal fat, which can cause diabetes and

obesity that can lead to Alzheimer’s. Take naps and seek treatment for sleep disorders.

17. Have a big social circle

Studying the brain of a highly sociable 90-year-old woman who died from Alzheimer’s, researchers in

Chicago found that having a large social network provided her with strong “cognitive reserve”

that enabled her brain to not realise she had Alzheimer’s. Why this happens is a mystery but

interacting with friends and family seems to make the brain more efficient. It finds alternative routes

of communication to bypass broken connections left by Alzheimer’s. So see friends and family

often and expand your social network. The stronger the brain reserve you build through life,

the more likely you are to stave off Alzheimer’s symptoms.

18. Deal with stress

When you are under stress, your body pours out hormones called corticosteroids, which can

save you in a crisis. But persistent stress reactions triggered by everyday events like work frustration,

traffic and financial worries can be dangerous. Over time, it can destroy brain cells and suppress

the growth of new ones, actually shrinking your brain. Sudden traumatic events like the death of

a loved one or a life-changing event like retirement can leave a hangover of severe psychological

stress that precedes dementia. Be aware that chronic stress can increase older people’s vulnerability

to memory decline and dementia. Seek professional advice. Antidepressants, counselling,

relaxation techniques and other forms of therapy may head off stress-related memory loss if treated early.

19. Take care of your teeth

Bad gums may poison your brain. People with tooth and gum disease tend to

score lower in memory and cognition tests, according to US dental researchers

who found that infection responsible for gum disease gives off inflammatory byproducts

that travel to areas of the brain involved in memory loss.

Consequently, brushing, flossing and preventing gum disease may help keep your gums and

teeth healthy but also your memory sharper. In another study, older people with the most

severe gingivitis – inflamed gums – were two to three times more likely to show signs of impaired

memory and cognition than those with the least.

20. Get enough Vitamin B12

As you age, blood levels of vitamin B12 go down and the chance of Alzheimer’s goes up.

Your ability to absorb it from foods diminishes in middle age, setting the stage for brain

degeneration years later. Researchers at Oxford University found that a brain running low on

B12 actually shrinks and a shortage can lead to brain atrophy by ripping away, myelin, a fatty

protective sheath around neurons. It can also trigger inflammation, another destroyer of brain cells.

Take 500 to 1000mcg of vitamin B12 daily after the age of 40. If you or an older family member has

unexplained memory loss, fatigue or signs of dementia, be sure to get tested for

vitamin B12 deficiency by your GP.

21. Vinegar in everything

There is plenty of evidence that vinegar sinks risk factors that may lead to memory decline,

namely high blood sugar, insulin resistance, diabetes and pre-diabetes and weight gain.

Researchers in Phoenix, Arizona, have noted in studies of humans and animals that the acidic

stuff packs potent glucose-lowering effects. Studies have also found it can curb appetite and

food intake, helping prevent weight gain and obesity, which are associated with diabetes,

accelerated dementia and memory loss. Pour on the vinegar – add it to salad dressings,

eat it by the spoonful, even mix it into a glass of drinking water. Any type of vinegar works.

22. Have your eyes checked

If you preserve good or excellent vision as you age, your chances of developing dementia drop

by an astonishing 63%. And if it’s poor, just visiting an optician for an eye test and possible treatment

at least once in later life cuts your dementia odds by about the same amount. Exactly how vision

problems promote dementia is not clear but impaired vision makes it difficult to participate in

mental and physical activities such as reading and exercising, as well as social activities, all

believed to delay cognitive decline. Be aware that your eyes reflect and influence how your

brain is functioning, especially as you age. Don’t tolerate poor vision as often it can be corrected.

23. Eat curry

Curry powder contains the yellow-orange spice turmeric, packed with

curcumin, a component reported to stall memory decline. One study

showed elderly Indians who ate even modest amounts of curry did better

in cognitive tests. Curcumin works by blocking the build-up of

Alzheimer’s-inducing amyloid plaques (deposits found in the brains of sufferers)

then nibbles away at existing plaques to slow cognitive decline.

It is recommended to eat two or three curries a week, and make it a yellow curry.

Otherwise, sprinkle the spices on your food.

24. Diabetes control

Having type 2 diabetes makes you more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s. Studies show it may

double or triple your risk and the earlier diabetes takes hold, the higher the odds of dementia.

Some experts refer to Alzheimer’s as “diabetes of the brain”. The two disorders have similar causes –

obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high fat and high sugar diets, low physical activity

as well as high blood sugar. In short, diabetes can deliver a double whammy to the brain,

destroying neurons and increasing inflammation. Do everything possible to keep blood sugar

levels low and stick to a low-saturated fat diet and regular exercise.

25. Drink more tea

Evidence suggests that tea stalls the cognitive loss that precedes

Alzheimer’s and that the more tea you drink, the sharper your ageing

memory is. Tea’s secret is no mystery. The leaves are packed with

compounds able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and block neuronal damage.

One particular green tea antioxidant can block the toxicity of beta-amyloid,

which kills brain cells. Make a point of drinking black and green tea. Don’t add milk,

it can reduce tea’s antioxidant activity by 25%.

INCREIBLE!!! AMAZING!!!!....

INCREIBLE!!! AMAZING!!!!....

Impressive highway system above the rainforest in Sao Paolo, Brazil

Dinner in the sky in Brussels, Belgium

Beijing International Airport, China

Super moon rising above Sierra Nevada Sequoia National Park, California

The Amazing Stone Mirror in Istanbul, Turkey

Amazing view of Schwerin Castle, Germany

The water is so clear it looks like the boat is hovering! - Bora Pearl Beach

Heart Island in mangrove delta of the Vaza-Barris River, Brazil

Escalator of the New World Trade Center

Airplanes rolling over highway at Leipzig-Halle Airport in Germany

Amazing walk at west side of Taihang Mountain in Shanxi Province, China

Impressive swimming pool balconies at Bandra Ohm Residential Tower in Mumbai, India

Mesmerizing Niagara Falls - Rainbow Bridge, USA

Ferrari World Theme Park In Abu Dhabi

Amazing Corinthos Channel in Greece

Awesome Singapore - Dance of Light

World's Largest Ice Cave in Austria

The Streets of Monaco Yacht

World's first billion dollar house in Mumbai, India - 27 Floors Ambani's Palace

Amazing Landwasser Viaduct Switzerland

The best & most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.

They must be felt with the heart.

~Helen Keller

Why I still buy the newspaper………..

Tragedy – this is what happens when you lay off the proof-readers.

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