Ajijic-Chapala,Mexico-Retirement Paradise

We at lake Chapala are priveldged to enjoy raspberries, strawberries and blackberries almost year round. Cost? about $2-3 USD for 1 litre. So this article caught my attention and I thought I would share it with you.

Deeply-coloured fruits might just stave off dementia

August 24, 2010 07:29 by Dr. Marla Shapiro    WATCH my segment on Canada AM: Berries and Brain Power

Whole foods are particularly important in protecting our brain function. While supplements can be useful, it is the vast array of compounds in whole foods that act together to help with healthy aging and even reverse or prevent impairments in our cognitive function.

Factors involved in aging include inflammation and oxidative stress. With both impacting the brain and our body, there can be an increase in not only neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, but also other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and even cancer.

In fruits and vegetables are chemical compounds called polyphenolics. Polyphenolics include both flavonoids and anthocyanins. Flavonoids are known to act as anti-inflammatory agents and anthocyanins are known antioxidants. Anthocyanins have been found in specific sites in the brain. Anthocyanins also have insulin like properties that improve metabolic function by lowering sugar.

In animal studies, it has been shown that a diet high in antioxidant-rich blueberries, strawberries and blueberry extracts showed reversals of age-related deficits in function of the neurons and cognitive behavior.

Now, a third mechanism in neuron aging has been identified. Microglia cells act as the natural housekeepers of the brain and clean up and recycle damaged toxic proteins and other structures in the brain cells.

As we get older, the microglia don’t recycle and clean up as well. This process of housekeeping is called autophagy. Autophagy declines with aging and as a result, debris can build up in the brain. Research reported in the Journal of Agriculture Food Chemistry shows that the polyphenols on blueberries shut down the action of a protein that shuts down the autophagy process.

In this new study, a research group was given an extract of wild blueberry juice, versus a control group who was given a placebo. In the study group with the extract, at 12 weeks, there was an improvement in paired associate learning and word recall. There was also a trend to reduced depressive symptoms. Interestingly enough, there also were reduced fasting glucose levels. It may also be that through the trend of lower sugar and improved fasting isulin levels, that this might also be responsible for the improved brain function.

Other research has shown that blueberries inhibit enzymes involved in promoting cancer. As well, blueberries lower arterial constriction and narrowing by relaxing blood vessels, which can have an impact on blood pressure regulation and heart disease.

The phrase "you are what you eat" has new meaning! Berries and fruits are rich in polyphenolics but any fruit or vegetable with deep red, orange or blue colours also are rich in anthocyanins as well. So make sure to have plenty of these in your diet.

WATCH: My segment on Canada AM: Berries and brain power

This blog is provided by the The Wright Team Mexico to provide visitors and members with information about events that will help them learn more about events in Mexico, particularly in the Lake Chapala area. The Wright Team Mexico disclaims responsibility for any of the content or opinions expressed on this blog, including, but not limited to content or opinions regarding any products or service mentioned on the blog. The Wright Team disclaims liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in the blog.

Received the following e-mail last week. What a great idea - so I thought that I would pass it on.

Lois Schroff if one of our very talented artists in Ajijic.

"From Enaj....

For those of you interested in taking Lois Schroff's class in making handbags from recycled shopping bags, please put Thursday, August 26th on your calendar.

The class will start at 11:00 and we'll have a potluck lunch afterwards.

Supplies:  Shopping bags and a J or K crochet hook (Lois has some for 30 pesos if you don't have one.) 

Class is limited to 12...

and the location is yet to be determined. 

If you are interested, please notify Enaj at LUZYPAZ22@GMAIL.COM"

 

NOTE:Our groceries were packed in 100% biodegradable,compostable plastic bags at "Superlake" yesterday. The company supplying them is "Green World".

Check their website at http://www.greenworld.com.mx

I received the following e-mail this week and thought it was worth passing on. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Click on the address below to see the webalbum pictures of the market held every Tuesday.

"The organic farm, ACA and its brand name Great Greens, have been a fixture in the Lakeside area for many years. Marie Pruden has been in charge of the farming part of the operation, while her partner handled the business end. Through it's years the Great Greens reputation has grown, as has demand. Being able to produce a great product and being able to manage operations are not necessarily compatible. That's why things are changing at ACA. Marie has welcomed the input of a group, "Friends of ACA", to help reorganize the operation of the farm in order to put it on a sustainable financial footing, grow the business end and provide resources to support the non-profit part of the business. Some very knowledgeable and far-sighted people are involved in this effort. You are encouraged to attend a meeting to learn about these exciting changes and to offer input to help maintain this community asset.

The meeting is Saturday, August 14th from 2:00-3:30 at LCS.

We need as much organic produce as our community can produce. Marie is committed to that goal.

Please take time to join us on Saturday. Bring your ideas!

Greg Ochs."

http://picasaweb.google.com/wrightteammexico/AjijicOrganicGardening#

 

Many Canadians, Europeans and Americans have chosen the Ajijic area on Lake Chapala as their preferred retirement destination for a number of reasons. One reason is that we have a very large expat community.

Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest inland lake is dotted with small towns and three major areas – the city of Chapala, the village of Ajijic and the city of Jocotepec. We chose to live in Ajijic.

Why?

• National Geographic wrote that Ajijic has the 2nd best climate in the world (Kenya, Africa was 1st). We believe it as we enjoy low humidity, sunny skies and low if any, pollution. The reason?Lake Chapala is Mexico’s largest inland lake surrounded by the beautiful Sierra Madre mountains at 5200 feet elevation, resulting in moderate temperatures year round.

   

• The modern and ever expanding Guadalajara International Airport is a short drive away on a divided 4 lane highway.
• Guadalajara, the beautiful colonial city close by offers cultural and gastronomical delights. It is Mexico’s 2nd largest city and offers all the comforts of home and more.
• Gorgeous shopping malls with the very latest in fashion and home furnishings are in every corner of the city.
• Property taxes are very low.
• We have low cost access to state of the art medical, diagnostic and dental services. You should see the facilities!!
• People are happy and friendly, living together in harmony without borders.

I could go on and on; however, we invite you to visit our little piece of paradise and experience for yourself the lifestyle that we enjoy.

View our web album. http://picasaweb.google.com/wrightteammexico/WhyRetireToAjijic.

We also invite you to check our website with blogs, visual tours and videos showing casing the Lake area and homes.

Understanding Your Septic System Learn about your septic system so you can prolong its life and avoid costly breakdowns. Read Do You Need to Replace Your Plumbing? What to look for and consider to determine if you should replace plumbing and deteriorating pipes. Read Caring for Your Plumbing System Care for your pipes so they’ll last longer—and prevent a costly plumbing disaster later. Read Low-Flow Toilets: How to Choose Replacing an old water-guzzler with a new low-flow toilet can shave as much as $90 off your annual utility bill and send thousands fewer gallons of water down the drain. Read Low-Flow Showerheads: How to Choose Thanks to innovative new technology, today’s super-efficient low-flow showerheads save water, reduce your energy bills, and still feel good to use. Read Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

 

The Wright Team mission is to be the leaders of real estate in the Lake Chapala region of Jalisco, Mexico, by providing excellent service to our clients and associates. Lori Fjelsted has joined the Wright Team as a sales associate to be help us attain that position. Lori's personal traits: strong work ethic, attention to detail and commitment to meeting client's needs, fit in well with the Wright Team - we are delighted to welcome her as a member of our team.

Just look at that smile!!

As a team, we have respect for people and their individuality. Through honesty, responsibility, cooperation and courtesy we endeavour to be the best in our chosen field. We love to promote Mexico and all that it has to offer.

Our blogs are an opportunity for you to give us your views. We want to open a dialogue with you, the clients and prospective clients, to find out what concerns you. We ask for your recommendations, ideas and your preferences of topics.

Clients are a part of our team, as it takes all of us working together to find the home that suits the individual; both sellers and buyers benefit.

Why not drop into our office and meet Lori? You may also meet her at our open houses.

lori.fjelsted@gmail.com Cell: 331 365 0558

Welcome aboard Lori!!

GREENS GROWN IN MEXICO

Foreigners considering real estate in Mexico often ask if they can eat the salads in restaurants and do they have to soak all their vegetables. Yes and yes, although what makes them any different than in Canada and the USA? Read on...

 

Continuing along the vein of good food grown and provided us to in Mexico, I thought you may find this of interest.

Well, this week I wanted celery for a recipe and did not find a head of it in the store. What I did find was packaged celery in snack packs with a dip. More and more we are finding that Mexico is ahead of the game in so many things and this is one of them. The brand is Mr. Lucky, a product of Mexico. These products are grown in the state of Guanajuato.

“ 8 bolsitas individuales con aderezo” (8 individual packets with dressing) were in the bag. Here is the information provided on the recyclable bilingual package:

16 calories, +2g Fiber per bag.

Each bag has 10 sticks.

Good source of Vitamin C

Washed and ready to eat

Serving size: 100g (does not include dressing)

26.4 calories

Total fat: 1.2g

Sodium: 108.4mg

Total carbohydrates: 2.5g

Proteins: 1.4g

Keep under refrigeration 34˚F to 36˚F or 1.1˚C to 2.2˚C

Recommendation: To avoid dehydration place celery in cold water just before consumption.

Product is dated July 10, 2010

As an added note, since I am very aware of listed package ingredients, the dressing has no hydrogenated ingredients listed. The full list is supplied. Sugar and salt are not near the beginning of the list.

Note on package: “Thank you for choosing MR.LUCKY Celery Sticks! Our commitment to you is to offer the freshest and safest vegetables, so you can include in your healthy lifestyle ingredients that provide nutritional value to your diet. We are distinguished by the care and effort we put to get out products. MR. LUCKY celery sticks are washed and cooled promptly after harvest, keeping their freshness, flavor and nutrients.”

MR. LUCKY is the first Latin American country to obtain the SQF certificate.

SQF means Safe Quality Food. Certification provides retail stores and supply chains the warranty that foods certified by SQF have been provided according to the Recognized International Food Quality Standard. SQF is a company worldly recognized by GFSI (Global Food Safety Institute) GFSI represents 70% of the amount of food acquired by retail stores world wide and is managed by the FMI (Food Marketing Institute) http:www.fmi.org.

Learn more about the certificate on their website.http://www.mrlucky.com.mx/intro.html

Are we in a 3rd world country? I think not!!

8 packages of 10 sticks each with a dressing. Nutritional information on package. Biligual package is recyclable.	Nutricional information, refigeration instructions and recipe on back of package.

 

 

We believe what this item says also. When things are slower, we find it a good time to study and learn.

Daily Real Estate News | July 20, 2010 |

Mixing Businesses May Send a Mixed Message

With the economic landscape still unstable, real estate practitioners may be tempted to supplement their income with a side business.

Agents who decide to pursue this approach, however, must be warned that cross-marketing products and services that do not complement each other likely will prove to be an unsuccessful venture. For example, a realty professional who decides to also sell beauty products to the same client base could end up losing credibility with both sets of customers.

While the optimal strategy may be for a real estate practitioner to simply devote 100 percent of his or her time and energy to the primary business of real estate, those who do dabble in other areas should at the very least choose to cross-sell products and services that are compatible.

If that is not possible, another person should be brought in to spearhead the secondary business.

In cases where neither of those options will work, agents should refrain from promoting the two businesses simultaneously, meaning that they should keep marketing for the two income streams completely separate -- whether in written marketing materials or in person, such as by wearing a REALTOR® pin while hosting a Pampered Chef event.

Source: Realty Times, Jennifer Allan (07/19/10)

© Copyright 2010 Information Inc.

COOLING YOUR HOME NATURALLY ( excerpts from a former Website newsletter)

Keeping cool indoors when it is hot outdoors can be a problem. In Ajijic, Mexico, we have no need for air conditioners as the weather is temperate most of the year. Those with a conditioner can save on the initial cost of installation and the high electricity costs to run it.

There are alternatives and some low cost retrofit options to help you “keep your cool”.

Natural or (Passive) Cooling using non-mechanical methods.

First of all, keep heat from building up in your home.

The primary source of heat build-up is sunlight absorbed through the roof, walls and windows. Dull, dark, colored home exteriors absorb 70% to 90% of the radiant energy from the sun that strikes the home’s surface. Some of this heat is conducted into the home. Light coloured surfaces effectively reflect most of the heat away from your home. Wall colour is not as important as roof colour.  There are reflective coatings for an existing roof. A reflective and waterproof coating is a wise investment. Ask your local contractor.

      Windows allow roughly 40% of unwanted heat into your home. We recommend buying homes in Mexico with good covered terraces, preferably facing south. Many Mexican homes have high ceilings which reduce heat gain.

Reflective window coatings will reflect heat away from your home. They can also reduce fading of furniture, draperies and carpeting.;Sun control films can reflect as much as 80% of the incoming sunlight. They may darken a room. However, combination films allow light into the room but also some heat. Investigate the different options to select the film that best suits your needs. Professionals install many films. However, for a small job there are do-it-yourself films such as these:http://do-it-yourself-window-film.com/, This is a 3M product.http://www.decorativefilm.com/installation.asp  Check the internet for other companies that may suit your needs.

The latest interior solar window shades are very attractive. The basket weave is designed for the situations where light varies, and a view is to be preserved. Openness factors of 5% and 10%, are used for less brightly lit spaces where the view is worth preserving. Check out this website for some ideas.  http://www.the-solar-shade-store.com/ecovision-solar-shades.html . Local stores have some of these products.

Exterior shades may include awnings, lovers and shutters depending on the style of your home. Awnings are very attractive because they block direct sunlight. A properly installed awning can reduce heat gain as much 65% on southern windows. A light coloured awning does double duty by also reflecting sunlight. Maintaining a gap between the top of the awning and the side of the house helps vent accumulated heat from under a solid surface awning.  Retractable awnings are available when views are important. A local company well-known for its awnings is Cortinas y Lonas de Mexico, S.A. (766 0045). 

Other shading devices block the sun’s rays and absorb or reflect the solar heat. Shading your home can reduce indoor temperatures by as much as 20˚F (11˚C). Trees and other vegetation may provide effective shading as well. When designing your landscaping, use plants native to your area that survive with minimal care. The height, growth rate, branch spread and shape are all factors to consider in choosing a tree. Vines are a quick way to provide shading and cooling. Trees and vines create a cool microclimate that dramatically  reduces the temperature by as much as 9˚F (5˚C) in the surrounding area. Dark and course leaves absorb solar radiation.  Plant trees and shrubs so that they can direct breezes.   Placing vegetation too close to your house can trap heat and make the air around your house even warmer. Vine trellises set away from the house allow air to circulate and keep the vines from attaching to your house’s façade and damaging its exterior. Do not plant trees where their roots can damage septic tanks, sewer lines, underground wires or the house foundation.

A grass covered lawn (or ground covered) is usually cooler 10˚F (6˚C) than bare ground. Consider native ground covers that require little water.

We have cool nights and warm days in Ajijic, so let the night air in to cool your home and keep it closed when it is warm outside. This can maintain a nice comfortable inside temperature. Vented cupolas provide air cooling. When cool breezes blow anytime let them in!!

Some of our best builders use skylights widely, eliminating the need to turn on lights during daylight hours. Compact fluorescent lamps use about 75% less energy than incandescent lamps, and emit 90%           

Secondary sources are heat generating appliances in the home.

Consider upgrading to new energy efficient major appliances that generate less heat and use less energy. Use household appliances in the early morning or late evening to avoid heat gain in your home. Water heaters are best sealed off from the rest of the house and vent your dryer to the outside. You will find laundry areas outside in many homes in Ajijic. Use outside BBQs and microwave ovens to generate less heat.

Fans are commonplace in Ajijic homes and helping to keep them cool and comfortable. Ceiling fans make you feel cooler as their effect is equivalent to lowering the air temperature by about 4˚F (2˚C). Evaporative coolers use about ¼ the energy of conventional air conditioners. Both options are less costly to install and maintain.

We hope this gives you some ideas. Although we mention sources, it is for information only, not  recommendations.

Do check with your contractor before starting any projects using the ideas mentioned.

 

You may have read in some of our blogs or newsletters about the many things we learn from our real estate clients.

One of our listing clients lives in a pretty community, La Huerta in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico. She happened to mention one day that an organic market was held within walking distance of their home, held every Tuesday morning. So one Tuesday, soon after, Don and I took off to visit the market. It is presently held at the home of one of the members of the Green Transition in Actions Group. The group supports local Mexican farmers who wish to develop their organic farms into viable businesses. What a great market and wonderful produce! If you live in the area you too can join the group and support the efforts of the local farmers.

The group organizes events: one which I attended was a tour of one of the organic farms high up the mountain. The farmer is creating a model for others to follow. His vision is to have a community of small organic farms or homesteads. He toured us about his farm, explaining his clean water system and the organic herbs, fruits and vegetables. He is an herbalist also. After the tour a lunch was shared by all

The group is in the development stages and seeking those interested in promoting this endeavour. We have included some pictures for your interest.

Just another reason that we love our Ajijic community.

http://picasaweb.google.com/wrightteammexico/AjijicOrganicGardening#