Senior and Nursing Home Solutions and Successes- PaleoJay Podcast #34

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As people get older, and are living longer and longer, they often end up in a nursing home.  I have been involved, as I spoke of last week on the podcast, in that whole scenario with a 90 year old relation.

He had been living on his own, and his nutrition was not ideal, as is the case of most elderly.  He had an open sore on his chest that had remained open for over 2 years, could barely walk, and could no longer lift himself up from a chair.  He almost never walked at all, except when absolutely necessary, and pretty much spent his days reading and watching television... not a good prescription for anybody who wants to remain at all healthy or happy!

Now that he lives nearby, I have begun bringing him a nutritious concoction that is really beginning to turn him around- he loves chocolate milkshakes, and I have a Senior Smoothie, or Easy Paleo Smoothie that really is crammed with actual, life-enhancing nutrition!  It would also be great for anyone of any age, like children- any person that refuses to eat things like veggies, healthy fats and oils, seafood, and prefers the S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) garbage!

The base of the smoothie is: 

Amasi or Kefir  -Both are cultured milk beverages, loaded with probiotics for gut health, since poor gut health and digestion is probably the #1 health problem in the Western world!  This is the base of the drink, and Amasi in particular tastes wonderful all by itself, and the version from Beyond Organic is the only place I know that you can get it-

Here’s the link-

 http://janebowers.mybeyondorganic.com/Products_BeveragesAmasai.aspx

In addition, this drink comes in numerous natural flavors, and is great by itself for travel or lunches!

But, we can make it even better!

So, to sum up:

1/2 bottle (8 oz. ) of Amasi, any flavor

1 banana, (frozen is best- take off the 

peel before freezing the night before!)

1 T of Xylitol or Stevia for sweetness

1F Dynamic Greens chocolate flavor OR

assorted frozen strawberries, raspberries, broccoli, cauliflower, blueberries- keep it changing!  About 1/4 cup of each

Vitamin D liquid supplement

 1/2 cup organic cocoa powder

Magnesium powder, Vitamin C powder

You can sprinkle in some kelp and spirulina like I did- just use what you have on hand- anything loaded with nutrition is great for anybody, seniors and kids especially!

That’s is- run it through the Vitamix on high for a minute or two, and your fussy 9 year old and your fussy 90 year old will both love it!  Just don’t mention what’s in this chocolate shake... 

And trust me, you will like it as much as they do!  Dynamic Greens are sold at many chiropractor’s offices, particularly those in the Maximized Living network, and are also available online, like here:

http://www.amazon.com/Dynamic-CHOCOLATE-Certified-Mangosteen-Pomegranate/dp/B00409T1X4/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1370546038&sr=1-1&keywords=dynamic+greens+chocolate

So, to get back to our recovering senior, the open sore on his chest disappeared!

His swollen, bumpy and dry legs responded to a regimen of coconut oil, rubbed directly onto the legs regularly.  That improvement was almost instantaneous- startling really.  Then, we got him the Loud Ear, since he is quite deaf, so he could hear again (under $30 on Amazon!), and this little hearing amplifier made it possible for him to communicate for the first time in years!  

So, these are some ideas for you to use with your elderly relatives and friends!  Basically, we are using Paleolithic, Real foods to ensure them nutrient dense nutrition- and, I do NOT mean using Ensure that branded drink that they will be given at the nursing home- this stuff if pure crap, and the antithesis of real, God made food: here is the ingredient label for the original version- they’re all just variations on a theme though:

Original

The original Ensure supplement drink contains water, sugar, corn syrup, corn maltdextrin, milk protein concentrate, soy oil, soy protein concentrate, short-chain fructooligosaccarides, cocoa powder, canola oil and less than 0.5 percent of corn oil, potassium citrate, magnesium phosphate, calcium phosphate, magnesium chloride, soy lecithin, sodium citrate, salt, carrageenan, choline chloride, ascorbic acid, natural and artificial flavor, dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, ferric orthophosphate, zinc sulfate, potassium chloride, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, cupric sulfate, vitamin A pamitate, thiamine chloride hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, chromium chloride, biotin, sodium mybdate, sodium selenate, potassium iodide, cyanocobalamin, phylloquinone and vitamin D3.

You do NOT want to feed this witch’s brew from a lab to anyone!  And, it costs MORE than Amasi, which is the very best of the best nutritionally!!!

So, there you have it!  Make your own smoothie to ENSURE the health of your loved one!  And, for an even easier smoothie for hurried mornings or on-the-go, get some Amasi, and drink it as it is- easy peasy!!

I’ll see you all next week, speaking into the azure glow of the lighted microphone in the studio of Paleo Jay’s Smoothie Cafe!

J       

Do things for the good of the Tribe!

Altruism is important.  For the good of the "tribe"; we are all hard-wired for that.

In our history, to care for other members of the tribe was considered essential, and so it is that we all are wired up to want to help others.

This is a good thing!!

Go with your natural inclinations here:

Try to help others- do what you can!  Share your talents and abilities; if you can cook well, offer up some "Paleo Friendly" treats to those in need.

Daughter Holly and I, in the photo above, appeared at a local nursing home in our guise as the Coulee Cats.  It is really hard to say just who benefited more from this performance-

The residents, or US!!

The next day, really all I've been thinking of is the connections we made with these elderly "tribesmembers" of our community...

One old guy was blind, but sang along with every single song he knew. (He had been a member of his church choir for 50 years!)  

 Another lady, I was told later was 96, came up to the piano and played amazingly well, and we all sang along.  ( I was told later that she never plays in the home, and it was so surprising to the staff as well that she was so accomplished!)

I learned a lot from these elderly tribespeople:

1. I need to learn the old songs that they like more!  ( I like songs from the 50's through the 60's- they thought these were too "modern"!

2. The other thing is this: they mainly just want to "tell their own stories"...  The very best thing you can do for your fellow tribespeople is to just listen!  They have lots to say, and no one ever listens to them!!

So, if you have a chance to connect with folks at a nursing home, think of it as a Paleo Experience!  YOU will benefit as much as they will, and be sure to look each one in the eye, take their hand, and LISTEN!  You'll be ever so glad that you did.

Also, if you sing for them, think I Love You Truly, or 5 Foot Two, Eyes of Blue; and skip Good Rockin' Tonight and most 1950's songs... they like things even more.... Paleolithic!!

PJ

"We toast ALL of our tribe with WATER!"