GRAIN BRAIN: THE SURPRISING TRUTH ABOUT WHEAT, CARBS AND SUGAR–YOUR BRAIN’S SILENT KILLERS
A variety of books have been published recently touting the benefits of a low carbohydrate diet. The research on this, however, is not new. Scientists have known for years that carbohydrates, even supposedly “good” ones like whole wheat, can cause serious health problems. The fact that humans are not genetically wired to tolerate a high amount of carbohydrates in the form of sugar and gluten, especially when they come in the form of genetically modified and highly processed items, has led to an epidemic of heart disease, obesity and diabetes. These books contain an array of scientific jargon and statistical data, but the main thrust is that these bad carbs spike our blood sugar and send us on a vicious cycle of hunger, craving even more of that which is bad for us, as we pack on the pounds. We don’t get the nutrients we need and we gain weight, suffering the health risks associated with obesity. In essence, fats don’t make people fat, carbs do.
One of the newest additions to the conversation is Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar–Your Brain’s Silent Killers by renowned neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter. While many previous books have concentrated on weight loss and other potentially devastating consequences of gluten intolerance, Perlmutter’s research hones in on the effects of all these bad carbs on our brains. He is convinced the research shows that the current emphasis on low-fat and low cholesterol diets to achieve weight loss, combined with a push for “healthy grains,” in addition to the detrimental results of eating processed foods full of sugar and bad carbs, is robbing our brains. He maintains we need fats and cholesterol to support healthy brain function. Permutter establishes carbs as the culprit in causing such afflictions as dementia, ADHD, anxiety, chronic headaches and depression among other ailments. In one particularly disconcerting chapter he presents at length the evidence he proposes exists between diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease.
This work is very timely as scientists continue to grapple with offering correct advice to the public in a field which notoriously produces conflicting information on a weekly basis from a variety of authorities from the government to the American Heart Association. The June 23, 2014 cover of Time Magazine ran the story “Eat Butter: Scientists labeled fat the enemy. Why they were wrong.” So the conversation continues! Whether you agree with the author or not, Grain Brainis a highly informative, thought-provoking and rather frightening presentation of the price we pay for our modern American diet of highly processed and genetically modified food, chock full of carbohydrates, while experts continue to insist that low-fat diets are the answer. Perlmutter does sometimes get a little overly technical for the average reader, but not so much that if you are really interested you can’t get through it. He presents his “Revolutionary 4 Week Plan” to heal the damage through better dietary and lifestyle choices, which includes a small collection of recipes, as a guide to “reprogram our genetic destiny for the better.”
Other recent books on the carbohydrate debate are worth checking out as well: Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health by William Davis, MD and The Calorie Myth: How to Eat More, Exercise Less, Lose Weight and Live Better by Jonathan Bailor
The Library is celebrating the caped crusader in honor of his 75th anniversary! Stop in for activities, giveaways, and fun for kids, teens, and adults! A few lucky people will win prizes donated by the Friends of the Grafton Public Library.
Help Grafton Middle School Students get ready for school! The Grafton Food Bank is having a school supply drive from July 27th through August 16th and the Library is one of the selected drop-off locations. Suggested items for donations are: index cards, #2 pencils, highlighters, 2 pocket folders, one subject notebooks, glue sticks, graph paper, and scientific calculators. When you bring in your donation, the Library will waive any late-fines equal to the amount of the donation. It’s a win-win situation! This does not apply, however, to any fines related to a lost or damaged item.
The Library is also continuing their Food for Fines program through the end of August. Similarly, when you bring in any non-perishable food items for the Grafton Food Bank, the Library will waive any late-fines equal to the amount of the food donation.
Thank you so much for supporting Grafton students and the Grafton Food Bank with your donations!
We use it every day…for drinking, cooking, bathing, swimming…have you guessed it? Yes,
we are talking about water!
Susan Thomas, Project Coordinator with the Blackstone River Watershed
Association (www.thebrwa.org), will lead a water workshop for kids on Thursday, July 24th at
2:00 p.m. Kids, ages 6-12, will have a blast learning about the Blackstone River Watershed
through the use of an interactive model. During this hands-on program, participants will help
build a watershed containing various land-uses; witness different types of water pollution from
each of these sources; and be part of a brain-storming team that cleans up the watershed.
You’ll learn what can be done in your back yard, your neighborhood, and beyond to help
protect plants and animals by keeping our waterways healthy. For more details about the
program, please call 508-839-4649 or email graftonlibrary.ma@gmail.com.
This one-night event for birders, bird photographers and nature lovers will provide participants with photographic techniques for capturing birds. The program will be illustrated by Peter Christoph’s masterful photography and seasoned with lively anecdotes, this narrated slideshow will bring you both instruction and inspiration.Peter will have available the companion book Birds, which he published to accompany his presentation. There will be a book signing immediately after his talk.
Peter Christoph is one of New England’s best known wildlife photographers, having presented for Mass Audubon, the national wildlife refuge system, and numerous libraries, camera clubs and schools. His passion for capturing birds in their natural habitat, his technical excellence, and his environmental responsibility are revealed in his compelling images. He is set apart as one of the very few photographers willing to share both his photographic knowledge and his favorite locations with other photographers. His images have appeared in many books and magazines and he has authored two bird books, which are available at Mass Audubon’s Wachusett Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary and online at www.peterchristoph.com
Lauren signed 2 illustrations for us, and we’ll raffle one off at the end of the summer.
The Grafton Public Library hosted a visit with author, illustrator and blogger Lauren Scheuer in the Library’s Main Reading Room at 35 Grafton Common on Thursday July 10 at 7:00 p.m. Lauren shared spellbinding tales of her soulful flock of chickens and describe her journey from blog to published book.
Lauren is the author of Once Upon a Flock: Life with my soulful chickens (Atria Books, 2013), which chronicles her journey of raising chickens in charming anecdotes and illustrations. It’s a tale with drama, humor and heart, and if you are an animal lover, a backyard homesteader, or simply curious about these social birds, you’ll love with session with Lauren!
This program is appropriate for families. No registration is required. The session is part of Amazing Animals week as part of the Grafton Public Library’s science-themed summer reading program for kids, teens and adults, sponsored by the Grafton Public Library, Friends of the Grafton Public Library, Massachusetts Library System, MA Board of Library Commissioners and Boston Bruins. Registration in the summer reading program continues through August 1.
For more details or to register for the program, please contact Beth Gallaway, Library Director, at 508-839-4649 x1105 or by email at graftonlibrary.ma@gmail.com
The Library is pleased to offer “Literary Elements,” a Summer Reading Program for Adults ages 18 and up this summer!
Celebrate Literary Elements by participating in a reading program for adults June 28-August 17, 2014. Read a paper book, download an eBook or eAudiobook from our digital catalog (http://digitalcatalog.cwmars.org), or listen to an audiobook. Read a magazine. Read a subtitled movie. Read videogame instructions, a recipe, or a poem, or the newspaper. Read to your children! All reading is good reading, and it all counts toward your opportunity to win prizes.
Beginning Saturday June 28, log your reading. The more you read, the greater your chances are of winning in the weekly drawings for Down Under Book Store gift certificates, fine waivers, and free books.
Additionally, adults may write a book review or complete an Ideal Bookshelf entry form during a library visit or at a program for a weekly prize drawing. Recommended titles will be added to the Library’s Awesome Box. At the end of the summer, random adult readers who log their reading online will win gift certificates to local businesses.
Featured programs in July include:
Visit from Lauren Scheuer, author of OnceUpon a Flock: Life with My Soulful Chickens Thursday July 10 at 7pm
Book Discussion: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kambwamba &Bryan Mealer Tuesday July 16 at 1:30pm
How to Download an eBook class July 28 at 7pm and July 29 at 2pm
Clock-making Workshop at the Willard House and Clock MuseumThursday July 31 at 7pm (RSVP to graftonlibrary.ma@gmail.com)
The Epic Adventures of a Massachusetts Bird Photographer Date TBA
weekly lunchtime App Chat Fridays at 11:15am
weekly family movie night Tuesdays at 7pm
weekly teen movie night Wednesdays at 6pm
August programs include a Dr. Who Party, the return of the Green Cleaning Lady, and a Perseids Party and campout to watch the meteor shower at the LIONS Clubhouse and Field off Brigham Hill Road.
Follow us on Twitter(@GraftonPubLib) for 50 days of science, featuring science books, films, magazines, podcasts and websites, starting June 28. #50daysofscience
The Library is pleased to support the Grafton Food Bank by offering fine amnesty through Food for Fines through August 31. We will also accept school supplies in lieu of fines from July 28-Aug 17.
Literary Elements is open to adults ages 18 and up, and is sponsored by the Grafton Public Library, Town of Grafton, the Friends of the Grafton Public Library, Massachusetts Library System, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and the Boston Bruins.
For more details or to register for the program, please contact Beth Gallaway, Library Director, at 508-839-4649 x1105 or by email at graftonlibrary.ma@gmail.com
Please join the Early Learning Center, Recreation Department, and Grafton Public Library on Saturday June 21 at the Commons in Grafton High School, 24 Providence Road for a Preschool Fair and Swap Meet from 11am-2pm, with a special performance at 1:00 pm by award-winning musician Stacey Peasley!
At the fair, you can plan to:
Talk with representatives of local organizations and businesses that serve ages 0-5
Meet the new Children’s Librarian, Miss Sarah, and register for the Summer Reading program.
Drop off infant and toddler toys, clothing, and equipment – swap for the next size up!
All items must be clean, sanitized and in resalable condition, no dirty, damaged, or recalled items. Items remaining at the end of the day will be Freecycled or donated.
There is no admission fee, instead attendees are invited to bring a non-perishable item for the Grafton Food Bank or a LEGO or DUPLO donation for the Library.
Stacey Peasley’s performance is graciously sponsored in part by the YMCA/Beginning Years Family Network.
High school junior, Holly has just inherited her beloved grandfather’s Las Vegas wedding chapel. She’s also inherited the business loan that needs to be paid off too. Holly has gone from employee to boss of the cash-strapped family business and it’s her goal to save the chapel. Her life is further complicated by having to deliver a sealed letter from her deceased grandfather to a mysterious Dax. Dax turns out to be the cute grandson of the owner of the rival chapel next door. Holly struggles to balance her budding Romeo and Juliet-esque relationship with Dex and trying to earn enough money to save her chapel.
In short, I loved this book. The characters are fun and realistic. The story is engaging and keeps you interested and entertained throughout. I loved getting a peek inside the Vegas wedding chapel industry and the love story is an added bonus.
I highly recommend this new (May 2014) contemporary young adult novel to teens and adults who are looking for a book with a sweet romance, great characters, and an awesome setting (Viva Las Vegas!).
Because of this book I’ll be adding Leavitt’s other novels: Going Vintage and Sean Griswold’s Head to my ever growing to-be-read list.
What do the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College, a young fugitive from Stalin’s rule, and the daughter of Jacob, from the book of Genesis have in common? They are all characters in books nestled together on this month’s “spotlight shelf”: Historical Fiction.
Check one out and time travel from your own livingroom couch!
