ABigSlice Journal

In the News : Wine and Alzheimer's Disease

words to know:
amyloid peptide - proteins that bind together in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and causes the brain cells to die
proteasome - a naturally-occurring "protein eating" complex
resveratrol - an antioxidant found in grapes, berries and peanuts

The effects of red wine on Alzheimer's disease has been in the news a lot recently. And while it is true that the moderate consumption(*) of red wine is a beneficial part of your overall diet, drinking red wine will NOT keep you from getting Alzheimer's. Here are the facts.

Alzheimer's disease occurs when proteins known as amyloid peptides begin to bind together in the brain. These "clumps" of amyloid peptides and called plaques and they lodge themselves between brain cells and cause them to die. It is difficult to get the amyloid peptides to form plaques in the lab, so researchers treated the peptides, themselves, to a series of antioxidants to determine their relative effectiveness. Resveratrol was the only antioxidant that was very active in reducing the number of amyloid peptides in the cells.

The mechanism by which resveratrol works involves the bodies natural production of proteasomes. In a way not completely understood, resveratrol stimulates proteasome production and it is these molecules which effectively eliminate the amyloid peptides.

But it seems that the benefits of resveratrol may be two-fold. In a separate study, mice with an Alzheimer's like disease were divided into three groups. One group was given a water and cabernet sauvignon mixture, one group was given a water and ethanol (the "inebriation" alcohol) mixture, and the control group was simply given water for seven months. After the animals had been alcohol-free for three days, the mice were put through a series of memory testing mazes. The wine consuming group performed significantly better than the other two.

So it appears that resveratrol may not only rid the brain of the toxic amyloid peptides but may also reduce the memory loss effects of the disease itself. So if resveratrol is so good and if it is found in wine, why won't drinking wine keep you from getting Alzheimer's? The reason is you simply cannot drink enough wine to get the levels of resveratrol high enough to be effective.

But the good news is that researchers have already discovered more potent versions of resveratrol that might potentially be developed into an Alheimer's treatment and preventative. Professor Peter Davies of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine says, "This is potentially a protective compound. A compound that we could give you at age 40 or 50, whatever age you'd like to start, to protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease."

Alzheimer's research is not the only beneficiary of this amazing compound, resveratrol. A recent study by the Harvard Medical School and the National Institute of Aging has shown that heavy doses of this red wine extract lowers the rates of several obesity-related diseases in mice, including diabetes and liver problems. It seems that resveratrol can give mice, at least, the good effects of counting calories without actually doing it.

Can drinking red wine keep you from getting Alheimer's or diabetes? Not unless you are prepared to consume about 100 gallons a day! S0 even though that glass of wine may not be a magic bullet, wine drinkers take heart. That beverage you love so much, may help cure some of the most dreaded diseases facing millions of Americans.

(*)a single five ounce glass of wine for women, and two five ounce glasses for men

History of the Christmas Tree

When you really stop to think about it, the idea of bringing a live tree indoors, festooning it with delicate glass ornaments, and tiny colorful lights, seems a little ridiculous. A tradition that odd must have its roots in the ancient past. And now we do it because, well, we've always done it. I, for one, won't settle for that explanation. So I did a little digging. Here is a brief glimpse into the evolution of the Christmas Tree.

Midway Atoll. Tourism Soon?

IMAGE: Ikonos via CNN.com
(click for a larger image)

A story this week on CNN.com says Midway Atoll may soon be open for tourist. You've been able to visit the Atoll now but, it wasn't your typical "phone call to your travel agent".

"The public can currently only get to the island by boarding a cruise from Asia, hitching a ride with resident government workers or volunteering for three months of environmental duty." [CNN.com]

As most of you know, the Battle of Midway was a major turning point in WWII and this battle is what most people relate Midway to.

However, Midway Atoll is part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument and as such, is an important refuse and research area.

Midway Atoll may be open as early as mid-2007 but, plans have not been finalized. What an amazing and informative trip this would be!

More information on Midway Atoll

NOAA's Hawaii Reef Site
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Wikipedia Page

The Vinicode™

A Big Slice is proud to unveil our new tool for wine appreciation, the ViniCode™. This taste scale will allow you to slow down and explore all dimensions of a wine's character. When you are finished, you have a visual record of the tasting experience as well as a six digit ViniCode™.

Carry the code of your favorite wine in your wallet or purse. The next time you are in your favorite wine shop, show it to the wine expert. They will be able to provide you with a similar taste experience, but in a different wine. Now you can expand your wine repertoire without going out on a limb. For a complete description of the ViniCode™, click here.

A Big Slice Wine of the Month - November 2006

For November, it had to be American and it had to be Big! Keep reading to find out which wine won in Ted's Cellar.

The Bacchus Box | Wine Gifts

Looking for a really new idea for gift giving this season? Give the gift of wine exploration.

The Bacchus Box is a complete wine tasting kit that allows you and your friends to learn about the wines you enjoy. Challenge your friends to a taste off. May the best wine win! No one, even the host, knows the identities of the selections. Observe, smell, taste, rank, vote. Was yours the nectar ...or the salad dressing? A relaxed and fun way to discover new favorites. And remember, there is always a next time with the Bacchus Box - a complete wine tasting experience in a beautiful rosewood box. Includes everything you need (except the wine) and a free 12 minute instructional DVD. Great gift!

Order Early - Quantities are limited for this Holiday Season.

Friends like shopping too!

LET'S GO SHOPPING!

Are you a shopaholic who compulsively buys , never resisting bargains or sales, selfishly stocking your closets until they burst or are you a shopaphobic who has to be lassoed and dragged into a store, who procrastinates buying your wedding shoes until you are stressed?

How are these extreme attitudes towards shopping altered?

Why it's shopping with friends!

The shopaholics can use their experience to help friends with their shopping needs. The shopaphobics can borrow friends' shopping advice while exploring different boutiques and malls. And you have a glorious day in the company of your friends!

#1. Reserve a special date on your calendar to join your spouse, child, good friend, sis or bro for a shopping experience. Shopping with 2-4 persons is best. During holiday shopping, choose the earliest or latest store hours to avoid the "madding crowd".

#2. Decide on your shopping menu. Make sure that you have a list of ideas in case your first preference is not available.

#3. Shopping for others can be quite challenging. Remember their tastes and do not purchase something just because you like or want it. If someone is that difficult to buy for, a gift card is a great solution. You will add a personal touch to any gift card by placing it in an interesting box.

#4. Make shopping decisions together and help keep in everyone's budget. This will keep the shopaholic from obsessing and the shopaphobic from stressing.

#5. Try on, laugh, and share ideas. Stop for lunch, communicate, make it an occasion.

#6. And yes, you can always just shop on-line…but it's much more fun with friends!

Slow Food. An Interview with Julie Schaffer

"The founding father of the Slow Food Movement, Carlo Petrini, recognized in 1986 that the industrialization of food was standardizing taste and leading to the annihilation of thousands of food varieties and flavors. Concerned that the world was quickly reaching a point of no return, he wanted to reach out to consumers and demonstrate to them that they have choices over fast food and supermarket homogenization. He rallied his friends and began to speak out at every available opportunity and soon the movement was born and Slow Food was created. Today the organization is active in 50 countries and has a worldwide membership of over 80,000."

(Slow Food USA)

We were very interested in finding out more about Slow Food and had the opportunity to talk with Slow Food Atlanta's Julie Schaffer.

Clare Aslaksen - A Big Slice: How did you first learn about Slow Food?

Julie Schaffer of Slow Food Atlanta: I found out about it while is was in Italy in the summer of 1999. Just through a casual conversation. I thought Slow Food was a cute sort of ironic name. I thought it was just the opposite of fast food; long, slow, decadent, delicious meals. I thought it was just, more or less, a food dining club. But I came home and just on a whim typed in "Slow Food" in a search engine, just to see what would come up. I was amazed that it was a huge international organization. The more I read about it the more interested I became.

What really attracted me was that I was trying to live my life that way. Most of the time I feel like I'm swimming upstream and after I realized that Slow Food was a big international organization, I wanted to become a member. I called the newly opened Slow Food USA office and asked Patrick Martins, who was the founder of the USA group about joining a chapter here in Atlanta. He said that there was one in Chattanooga. and one in Greenville and even in New Orleans, but there was not one in Atlanta. However, as it turned out, there were some dues paying, card carrying members in the area. He asked if I would consider starting an active chapter in the city. Now I had to think about it. I was teaching full time, a single parent. But being the enthusiast that I am, I said yes.

I filled out the application to become a leader and was accepted. They then sent me information on how to get started. I initially contacted the other local members and told them that I was trying to start a chapter and asked them if they would like to come to a meeting and about 18 people showed up. They were from all walks of life. business people, farmers, and people who just care about good quality food.

Holiday Travel Issues

During the busiest travel time of the year, we thought it would be a good idea to update you on the latest FAA travel requirements. These are general guidelines. To be completely safe check with your airlines prior to departure.

1. Travelers may now carry through security checkpoints travel-size toiletries (3 ounces or less) that fit in a one quart size, clear plastic, zip-top bag.

2. After clearing security, travelers can now bring beverages and other items purchased in the secure boarding area onboard the aircraft.

3. Be aware of the clothing that you are wearing through the security checkpoint. Certain clothes can have metal accessories that will set off an alarm, slowing you down.

4. Keep your boarding pass and i.d. accessible until exiting the security checkpoint.

5. You are required to remove your shoes.

6. Remove items such as keys, loose change, mobile phones etc from your pockets. Put them in your carry on bag, or in a plastic bag.

7. All coats and jackets that you are carrying with you must go through the x-ray machine for inspection.

8. You cannot bring lighters, fueled or non-fueled.

9. You cannot bring matches.

10. The maximum size carry-on bag for most airlines is 45 linear inches (the total of the height, width, and depth of the bag). Anything larger should be checked. Plan to check more of your baggage and carry on less. But in certain situations the airline may require all baggage to be checked. Be prepared to do so.

For a complete list of all permitted and prohibited items check the TSA Website

Some Cool Thanksgiving Facts

There are a lot of misconceptions about the first thanksgiving. The image that we grew up with was a bunch of pilgrims, clad in black with hats and large buckles on their shoes. They gathered around a table laden with pumpkin pies and turkeys and joined the indians in giving thanks for the bountiful harvest. This does paint a pretty picture, but not a very factual one. Here are the facts.

1621 is but the first of many holidays
Fact : Actually the first thanksgiving feast was not repeated. It was not the beginning of a long tradition of family meals. What's more the puritans would not have called the day "Thanksgiving." That term would have been applied to a religious holiday and such a day would have been spent in the church and not at a table feasting. Journals from the time tell of dancing, singing and playing games all of which would not have been allowed in a religious celebration. So the first Thanksgiving was secular in nature and therefore, in the minds of the pilgrims, it would not have been considered a day to give thanks to God.

The first Thanksgiving was the fourth Thursday in November
Fact : Although the exact date of the first Thanksgiving is not known, it probably occurred sometime between September 21 and November 11. More than a meal, the first Thanksgiving was really a festival lasting three days. The English had a centuries old tradition of harvest festivals and the first Thanksgiving was an extension of those. It wasn't until 1817 that New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom. Slowly other states began to do the same. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln assigned the last Thursday in November as a National Day of Thanksgiving. But it was not official and was up to each subsequent president to renew the appointment. Not until FDR was the date officially set. In 1939, the fourth Thursday in November was approved by the president as the official date of Thanksgiving. Congress ratified in 1941. So in the big scheme of things, Thanksgiving is actually a very modern tradition.

Pilgrims wore big buckles on their shoes
Fact : It was not until much later into the 17th Century that buckles came into fashion. As English Puritans the pilgrims only wore black and white on Sunday and formal occasions.

The feast included pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes
Fact : Of course, no one knows exactly what was on the menu at that first feast but, it is known that pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes were not there. It is almost certain that the pilgrims had no pies and no sweets on the table. They came to america with a limited amount of flour and sugar. After their first year in America the supplies of both were probably long exhausted. There were no ovens so breads and cakes, as we know them, were impossible. What it certain from written sources is that the pilgrims did enjoy lots of venison and wild fowl. According to Puritan custom, the first feast would have been eaten in shifts. In Pilgrim households the adults ate first while the children and servants stood by.

The indians were in attendance
Fact : This one is true. According to Edward Winslow in A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth: "many of the indians came amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some 90 men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted." However the myths have grown, it is clear that life for these settlers was grim at best. Many of them perished en route to America, and more were to die during that first harsh winter. Their diet would seem to us today as very heavy and fatty, but the pilgrims needed that additional protein for their strenuous lives. You may not know that the only furniture they brought with them on this voyage were storage chests and boxes. Everything that they needed was constructed once they arrived in the New World.

We have come a long way since that first festival and Thanksgiving has taken on a whole new meaning. We are truly blessed with plenty. The tables are piled high with all sorts of dishes as we come together as families to enjoy the food and fellowship. We don't depend on a successful harvest to get us through the winter and as such modern Thanksgiving has evolved. Today we allow ourselves this one day to slow down and gather around the family table. In our opinion, that spirit, in and of itself, is worthy of a holiday.