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

We may think, plasticity refers to plastic, an elastic material or things that can be bending.

Image 1- Brain plasticity (credit to “learning-mind /brain-plasticity”)

In case of brain plasticity, the meaning is “changing” of brain due to internal and external factors.

As we grow in respect to whatever, the brain is “growing” as well, this could be said as “changing.”

The brain keeps changing made us able to face new experiences in our daily life.

One day, we face difficulty with new things, it is because our brain capability has been declined.

Image 2- People saw some plants

We know that older persons get problem to adapt to new environments, and even not so interest to learn new methods.

Image 3- Just for illustration

It is important as said by Banks (2016) for brain to have ability to re-wire or modify itself. This ability makes us be human, develop from childhood to adulthood.

Another special ability is that brain could re-routing the signal pathways if one neural pathway was error. The ability significantly distinguishes between brain and computer, where computer just have parallel motor and sensory signals.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- What Autumn is Like in My Town Baton Rouge LA – Part 1 - Nature 15
- The Rainbow BeforeParents Behaviors When Caring a Baby – Part 1 - Science 11

Have you ever Tasted Boiled Peanuts? - Food 29

USA peanuts consumption increasing year by year. Per Capita consumption hit record at 7.9 pound (3.6 kg) in recent years.

Image 1- Boiled peanut, sold in the gas station

I believe that almost people have ever enjoyed consuming roasted peanuts. Its popular all over the world, I think.

However, boiled peanut is one of favorite “snacks” in our state, Louisiana. We may find this snack in many places across state.

During Summer to early Autumn seasons, we like to buy raw, because of cheaper price. The peanuts also fresh, just harvested from farms and brought to the market by farmers.

Image 2- Boiled peanuts, ready to be eaten

Image 3- Boiled peanuts sold at the gas station.

Since raw peanuts have been cleaned, free from soil, then we may boil them immediately.

Place the peanuts into cooking pot, then drain the fresh water into pot. Heat the cooking pot with high heating for about 15 minutes, then lower the heat for about 110 minutes.

In fact, the price of boiled peanuts sold in the gas station is quite expensive (in increasing nowadays):

- price of small bowl with weight of 16 oz (454 gram) for US$ 2.29
- price of big bowl with weight of 32 oz (908 gram) for US$ 3.29

# Previous postings:

- Can a Poet be a Millionaire? - Art 4
- Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 2 – Science 10

A House for “Quarantined for Life” - Part 2 – Healthy Life 25

You may read previous 1 (Part 1):

- A House for “Quarantined for Life” - Part 1 – Healthy Life 25

Image 1- Hansen diseases museum (credit to Atlas Obscura)

The Museum is located at 5445 Point Clair Rd. Carville. LA 70721. To reach this site from my city, Baton Rouge, there are some routes:

Interstate 10 (I-10 E)
US-61 South
E Hwy 30E

Interestingly, especially for me that there are verdant plantations, fields of sugar cane, and towering chemical plants along the way to the Point Clair.

Image 2- Decoration from pumpkin

This place is also called the Native (American) Indian Camp. In the past, Indian Houmas people used this area for hunting of wild animals and fishing.

Image 3- American flag fly over the roof

Beside Indian Camp, this site has different names along its history. At least three different well-known names, they are:

- Louisiana Leper Home

- The Louisiana Hansen's Disease Center
- National Hansen Disease Museum.

The museum is opened in 1999, after closing of hospital in 1998. The main purposes of museum to display live of Hansen disease patients and staff members.

Recent days, the museum provides education to who interests on Hansen’s diseases, include its prevention and treatment knowledge.

# Previous postings:

- Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 1 – Science 10
- A Memoir of Chasten Buttigieg – Part 2 – Reading 5

Some Facts about Pomegranate – Healthy Life 26

I thought Pomegranates grow in tropical countries only, and then exported to the USA markets.

Image 1- Pomegranate is source of antioxidant

In fact, this fruit grow well not only in dry states such as California and Arizona, but also in other certain states.

We may see Pomegranate as one of local fruit at local markets in several states include:

- North Carolina
- Utah
- Alabama and Florida
- and Texas

Image 2- Sweet seeds of Pomegranate

In our state, Louisiana, the fruit abundant during summer until early autumn seasons.

Almost all farmer markets sell Pomegranate with reasonable, and even lower prices on those times.

Image 3- Pomegranates sold in the local farmer market.

The special about the fruit that they contain a lot of (high in):

- dietary fiber and folic acid
- vitamin (C and K)
- antioxidant compounds and punicalagins (anti inflammatory compound)

In case of antioxidant properties, as you might know, it is believed that Pomegranate may reduce bad (LDL) cholesterol, then to improve hearth, prostate, digestive and brain conditions.

However, Pomegranate is higher sugar content, 14 gram sugar of 100 gram fruit, hence, it is not recommended to consume more than 100 gram fruit for diabetes patients.

Have you eaten Pomegranate?

If yes, do you like it?

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

You may read previous post (Part 1):

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

Image 1- Cashew milk, sold by Amazon

Cashew apple (enlarge fruit ripe), seeds, wood and other parts are used for multiple purposes.

The fresh fruits or cashew “apple” can be eaten raw. Juice from fruits is consumed as:

- beverage
- fermented for wine, jam and jelly

Gum is used in pharmaceutical industry such as substitute for the expensive Arabic gum.

Image 2- The flowers, illustration

Image 3- Cashew seeds, sold by Walmart

Oil from the seed- shell for varnishes. seeds also for oil and milk. We familiar with seeds for snacks in vary presentations, such as roasted cashew or chocolate cashew.

It is said cashew timber may be used for furniture and charcoal. The properties of the cashew plants are also used as folk medicine.

Moreover, different countries use different part of cashew for preventing and healing the signs and symptoms of the certain disease process.

# To be continued to part 3

## Previous postings:

- Overdosing Epidemic Caused 100,000 Died in the USA – Science 9
- Can Texting Make You Shopping More and Fat? - Part 2 - Healthy Life 17
- Annual Christmas Parade in Our Neighborhood
- A Memoir of Chasten Buttigieg – Part 1 – Reading 5

A Colorful Car at Our City Park – Art 7

The city park is one of our favorite places for walking or jogging. We do walking almost every day.

Image 1- A colorful car.

We avoid rain and too low temperatures for our outdoor daily walking, then we do indoor activities.

Morning walking no more than 40 minutes, just about 2 miles (3.2 km), enough to make us feel “healthy.”

A lot of interesting, unique and fun things are found while we are doing our daily outdoor walking.

Recently, we saw a colorful car, parking in the corner of park.

Image 2- Illustration only

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Image 3- A left side of colorful car

What wonder us: who the owner of this colorful car?

After a while, we understand the colorful car is belong to “a mural painter” who might have a project around the city park.

Mural painters are quite popular nowadays, they are ready to be hired as:

- an independent artist
- artists who associated with companies (small, medium and big one).

Do you know or have a friend as a mural artist?

# Previous postings:

- Do You Know Ghost Orchids? - Part 2 – Nature 14
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- Old Car – Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1970s
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Fruits with flavored chia in cups – Part 3 – Food 25

You may read previous posts (Part 1 and Part 2):

- Fruits with flavored chia in cups – Part 1 – Food 25
- Fruits with flavored chia in cups – Part 2 – Food 25

Image 1- Tangerine from backyard

The ingredients may include pears, hydrated Chia seeds (water, Chia seeds), sugar, citric acid, natural flavor, ascorbic acid (to protect color), Carmine, vegetable extract for color.

I love the taste of Pears in blackberry flavored chia. The package looks very nice and appealing.

The crisp chunk pears are juicy, but the juice mixed with chia is quite thick for me, and some people.

Image 2- Wild flowers, illustration

Image 3- Chia seeds floating on the surface.

They look great and whoever like chia seeds for their benefit, great cups for snack. The only one thing, Del Monte use carmine for their natural food color which is give the red or crimson color.

Since carmine is produced from bugs or insects, I feel I do not eat 100% fruits from these cups. Just reminder for who have allergic reaction to extract insect, it could be cause to mild hives or anaphylatic shock.

Note: “Off course we should consume fresh one. In storms areas like our state, we need to store the packages of foods and drinks.”

# Previous postings:

- Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 3 – Food 9
- A Traditional Product of Louisiana – King Cake – Part 2
- Do You Know Ghost Orchids? - Part 1 – Nature 14
- Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 4 – Food 9