Ronni Bennett of Timegoesby.com suggested today that we concentrate on one issue of the upcoming presidential election and post about it on our blogs. I chose healthcare. One aspect in particular of healthcare needs careful attention by our next president and the next congress.
The Medicare prescription drug plan needs overhauling. The donut hole is reached too soon and is too costly for many elders who must take multiple prescription drugs.
Congress caved in to the big drug and insurance companies when the Prescription Drug Plan was created. Barack Obama has good information on his web site on plans to remedy this error. John McCain gives only a passing nod to the subject.
Barack Obama:
"Lower prescription drug costs. The second-fastest growing type of health expenses is prescription drugs. Pharmaceutical companies are selling the exact same drugs in Europe and Canada but charging Americans more than double the price. Obama will allow Americans to buy their medicines from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and prices are lower outside the U.S. Obama will also repeal the ban that prevents the government from negotiating with drug companies, which could result in savings as high as $30 billion. Finally, Obama will work to increase the use of generic drugs in Medicare, Medicaid, and FEHBP and prohibit big name drug companies from keeping generics out of markets."
John McCain
"CHEAPER DRUGS: Lowering Drug Prices. John McCain will look to bring greater competition to our drug markets through safe re-importation of drugs and faster introduction of generic drugs."
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Cat Dog
The adventures of Bella and Lila
Or how to coexist with a grand cat and a grand dog for 10 days.
Bella is a small off white and grey Havanese dog and Lila the cat is of unknown pedigree. Grey and black with stripes.
My daughter and her family are out of town on vacation. My hubby and I are keeping her dog and cat, cat sitting and dog sitting.
The first day went along ok. We made a cat motel in our unfinished basement storage room complete with her litter box from home, her "tent" her food and water bowls, a small rectangular basket for claw sharpening, food and water bowls, cat food and hair ball pills and some cat toys.
The dog already has a crate bed and doggie toys here at our house so all she brought was her doggie bowls,leashes, dry food, and a small package of treats.
I had already cat proofed my house. Anything Lila could reach by jumping up that was fragile went into hiding. The dog,Bella, is easier to control so no prep was needed for her.
These two are used to each other and enjoy playing together a few times a day. But Bella is the most playful of the two and has a routine during which she brings one of her stuffed toys and stares at me until I throw it down the hall so she can "fetch." The cat carefully watched this game and thought it looked like fun. After about about 10 minutes the cat ran down the hall with Bella and tried to beat her to to the stuffed hedgehog toy. But Bella was the winner and retrieved it..
I cut a piece of white nylon rope about 42 inches and dangled it in front of the cat and she immediately started the "catch and bat the string " game that all cats seem to relish playing. Cats are a "cheap date" and will play with anything that excites them. Even a piece of rope. The dog, on the other hand likes stuffed toys that she can fetch when I throw them for her. I paid $8.95 for the stuffed hedgehog dog toy.
The first night we got ready for bed and started searching for the cat. We looked high and low. Bella helped by running around ahead of us and peering under chairs and sofas.We finally found the cat under the bed in the master bedroom. Calling "here kitty, kitty, did no good. She would not budge from under the bed. Hubby got down on his hands and knees and even took a broom to try and poke her out. Nothing worked. After about 30 minutes we were getting hot and frustrated and ready to give up when I thought "Ah Ha" I bet she is afraid of the vacuum cleaner and the loud noise it makes.
I plugged the vacuum in and positioned it as close to the bed as possible and Lila shot out from under the bed like a bat out of hell.
I had put most everything up that I thought the cat might jump up on. I left out one extra large, heavy antique bowl on the dining room side board. Guess where I found the cat? In the bowl on the sideboard with her head resting on the rim with a look of contentment on her face that suggested she was thinking "Aren't I clever and oh so cute" We turned the bowl upside down after dislodging the cat.
Bella, the dog, seems to feel responsible for Lila the cat and follows her around and reports back to me if Lila misbehaves. Bella comes to me and quietly stares and stares at me until I say" Ok What is it?" and follow her to see Lila up to some mischief. Nothing major but something Bella doesn't think is proper.
In the unfinished storage room where Lila sleeps the wall had a gap of about 10 inches all around at the ceiling which I had not noticed before.
Hubby went in to check on Lila and at first he didn't see her. Then he looked up and there, about 12 feet up on the attic side of the room sat Lila looking out at him her greenish eyes shining. She had jumped up on a shelf and then evidently took a flying leap so she could explore. He got on a step stool and pulled her out and down. We removed the shelves to thwart any future attempts by the cat playing "the flying Wallendas" of Ringling Circus Brothers fame". (The act performed without a net and the crowd gave them a standing ovation.)
We gave Lila a good dressing down.
GROSS ALERT!!!
now here comes the gross part.
Stop reading if you are squeamish.
Bella, the dog is a very finicky eater. She will totally ignore her dry food but she ADORES the cat's dry food if she can get to it. I put the cat's food up out of reach of Bella. I was in the storage room preparing to clean out the litter box when I noticed Bella chomping on something. I thought,"Oh no. I bet Bella got some of the food that the cat had dropped on the floor. Upon closer examination I discovered that the dog was
EATING CAT POOP
from inside the litter box.
BELLA. STOP IT. YOU POTTY MOUTH!!!
GROSS
I moved the litter box up onto a shelf out of the dogs reach.
(to be continued if I live until Friday when the family returns) :)
PS: We are actually enjoying the "little darlings." they are good cheap entertainment.
Or how to coexist with a grand cat and a grand dog for 10 days.
Bella is a small off white and grey Havanese dog and Lila the cat is of unknown pedigree. Grey and black with stripes.
My daughter and her family are out of town on vacation. My hubby and I are keeping her dog and cat, cat sitting and dog sitting.
The first day went along ok. We made a cat motel in our unfinished basement storage room complete with her litter box from home, her "tent" her food and water bowls, a small rectangular basket for claw sharpening, food and water bowls, cat food and hair ball pills and some cat toys.
The dog already has a crate bed and doggie toys here at our house so all she brought was her doggie bowls,leashes, dry food, and a small package of treats.
I had already cat proofed my house. Anything Lila could reach by jumping up that was fragile went into hiding. The dog,Bella, is easier to control so no prep was needed for her.
These two are used to each other and enjoy playing together a few times a day. But Bella is the most playful of the two and has a routine during which she brings one of her stuffed toys and stares at me until I throw it down the hall so she can "fetch." The cat carefully watched this game and thought it looked like fun. After about about 10 minutes the cat ran down the hall with Bella and tried to beat her to to the stuffed hedgehog toy. But Bella was the winner and retrieved it..
I cut a piece of white nylon rope about 42 inches and dangled it in front of the cat and she immediately started the "catch and bat the string " game that all cats seem to relish playing. Cats are a "cheap date" and will play with anything that excites them. Even a piece of rope. The dog, on the other hand likes stuffed toys that she can fetch when I throw them for her. I paid $8.95 for the stuffed hedgehog dog toy.
The first night we got ready for bed and started searching for the cat. We looked high and low. Bella helped by running around ahead of us and peering under chairs and sofas.We finally found the cat under the bed in the master bedroom. Calling "here kitty, kitty, did no good. She would not budge from under the bed. Hubby got down on his hands and knees and even took a broom to try and poke her out. Nothing worked. After about 30 minutes we were getting hot and frustrated and ready to give up when I thought "Ah Ha" I bet she is afraid of the vacuum cleaner and the loud noise it makes.
I plugged the vacuum in and positioned it as close to the bed as possible and Lila shot out from under the bed like a bat out of hell.
I had put most everything up that I thought the cat might jump up on. I left out one extra large, heavy antique bowl on the dining room side board. Guess where I found the cat? In the bowl on the sideboard with her head resting on the rim with a look of contentment on her face that suggested she was thinking "Aren't I clever and oh so cute" We turned the bowl upside down after dislodging the cat.
Bella, the dog, seems to feel responsible for Lila the cat and follows her around and reports back to me if Lila misbehaves. Bella comes to me and quietly stares and stares at me until I say" Ok What is it?" and follow her to see Lila up to some mischief. Nothing major but something Bella doesn't think is proper.
In the unfinished storage room where Lila sleeps the wall had a gap of about 10 inches all around at the ceiling which I had not noticed before.
Hubby went in to check on Lila and at first he didn't see her. Then he looked up and there, about 12 feet up on the attic side of the room sat Lila looking out at him her greenish eyes shining. She had jumped up on a shelf and then evidently took a flying leap so she could explore. He got on a step stool and pulled her out and down. We removed the shelves to thwart any future attempts by the cat playing "the flying Wallendas" of Ringling Circus Brothers fame". (The act performed without a net and the crowd gave them a standing ovation.)
We gave Lila a good dressing down.
GROSS ALERT!!!
now here comes the gross part.
Stop reading if you are squeamish.
Bella, the dog is a very finicky eater. She will totally ignore her dry food but she ADORES the cat's dry food if she can get to it. I put the cat's food up out of reach of Bella. I was in the storage room preparing to clean out the litter box when I noticed Bella chomping on something. I thought,"Oh no. I bet Bella got some of the food that the cat had dropped on the floor. Upon closer examination I discovered that the dog was
EATING CAT POOP
from inside the litter box.
BELLA. STOP IT. YOU POTTY MOUTH!!!
GROSS
I moved the litter box up onto a shelf out of the dogs reach.
(to be continued if I live until Friday when the family returns) :)
PS: We are actually enjoying the "little darlings." they are good cheap entertainment.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Something about me
I have always been an avid reader. I read two newspapers a day, sometimes three if I get around to the Wall Street Journal. After so many years my partiality to the print editions seems to be an ingrained preference
I read several news/politics blogs online, Daily Kos being one of them. Of course I read many Elder Blogs on line also.
I have at least one novel going at a time. I just finished "The House At Riverton" by Kate Morton.
From Barnes and Noble: A Synopsis:
"In 1999, when Grace is ninety-eight years old and living out her last days in a nursing home, she is visited by a young director who is making a film about the events of that summer. She takes Grace back to Riverton House and reawakens her memories. Told in flashback, this is the story of Grace's youth during the last days of Edwardian aristocratic privilege shattered by war, of the vibrant twenties, and the changes she witnessed as an entire way of life vanished forever."
Libraries are my passion. Just being surrounded by all those books; browsing and accidently happening upon just the right book, is a treat. Also our neighborhood branch library has a monthly book sale. People donate books and on Saturday's the sale features a $6 bag books. All the books you can stuff in a plastic grocery bag for $6. Usually I end up with about 10 books to bring home and read. When I am finished I re-donate so the books can be sold again.
I have written stories and poems as far back as I can remember. In college I was a Journalism/English major. Words have always been my friend and numbers and math my antagonist. I don't even attempt to balance my checkbook so it is fortunate I am married to a CPA who is good with numbers.
It seems natural that I find deep relaxation in writing, reading and blogging. My writing does not flow as freely as it did when I was younger but I keep at it with the realization, at age 78, I am not aiming for perfection.
WHAT ARE YOU READING?
I read several news/politics blogs online, Daily Kos being one of them. Of course I read many Elder Blogs on line also.
I have at least one novel going at a time. I just finished "The House At Riverton" by Kate Morton.
From Barnes and Noble: A Synopsis:
"In 1999, when Grace is ninety-eight years old and living out her last days in a nursing home, she is visited by a young director who is making a film about the events of that summer. She takes Grace back to Riverton House and reawakens her memories. Told in flashback, this is the story of Grace's youth during the last days of Edwardian aristocratic privilege shattered by war, of the vibrant twenties, and the changes she witnessed as an entire way of life vanished forever."
Libraries are my passion. Just being surrounded by all those books; browsing and accidently happening upon just the right book, is a treat. Also our neighborhood branch library has a monthly book sale. People donate books and on Saturday's the sale features a $6 bag books. All the books you can stuff in a plastic grocery bag for $6. Usually I end up with about 10 books to bring home and read. When I am finished I re-donate so the books can be sold again.
I have written stories and poems as far back as I can remember. In college I was a Journalism/English major. Words have always been my friend and numbers and math my antagonist. I don't even attempt to balance my checkbook so it is fortunate I am married to a CPA who is good with numbers.
It seems natural that I find deep relaxation in writing, reading and blogging. My writing does not flow as freely as it did when I was younger but I keep at it with the realization, at age 78, I am not aiming for perfection.
WHAT ARE YOU READING?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
When I am old
Jenny Joseph's 'Famous Poem'
"When I am Old
I will wear Purple!
When I am an old woman,
I shall wear purple - -
With a red hat which doesn't go,
and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension
on brandy and summer gloves and satin sandles,
And say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
and gobble up samples in shops
and press alarm bells
and run with my stick along public railings,
and make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
and pick flowers in other people's gardens
and learn to spit!
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
and eat three pounds of sausages at ago,
or only bread and pickles for a week,
and hoard pens and pencils
and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry,
and pay our rent
and not swear in the street,
and set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner
and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me
are not too shocked and surprised
when suddenly I am old,
And start to wear purple!"
--Jenny Joseph
I need to start practicing this attitude now; for I am already "old" :)
"When I am Old
I will wear Purple!
When I am an old woman,
I shall wear purple - -
With a red hat which doesn't go,
and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension
on brandy and summer gloves and satin sandles,
And say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
and gobble up samples in shops
and press alarm bells
and run with my stick along public railings,
and make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
and pick flowers in other people's gardens
and learn to spit!
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
and eat three pounds of sausages at ago,
or only bread and pickles for a week,
and hoard pens and pencils
and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry,
and pay our rent
and not swear in the street,
and set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner
and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me
are not too shocked and surprised
when suddenly I am old,
And start to wear purple!"
--Jenny Joseph
I need to start practicing this attitude now; for I am already "old" :)
Saturday, July 12, 2008
My Friend
My friend died Thursday afternoon.
Not in a sterile, beige hospital room
Surrounded with monitors and smells of disinfectant.
She died in her own bed
In her own room.
A room painted the warmest shade of coral
Which welcomed in the sunshine of a summer afternoon,
Surrounded by her bookcases filled with favorites.
"What are you reading"
She would often ask when we met.
"You really must read "Lamb In His Bosom" by Caroline Miller.
A true Southern classic"
She had told me.
And I did.
And now tomorrow her family will carry her urn of ashes
Up to the beloved, small mountain house by the lake.
She will finally be free
From the oxygen tubes,medicines,
And wheelchair.
She will glide gently across the still water
As her loved ones whisper,
Goodbye.
Not in a sterile, beige hospital room
Surrounded with monitors and smells of disinfectant.
She died in her own bed
In her own room.
A room painted the warmest shade of coral
Which welcomed in the sunshine of a summer afternoon,
Surrounded by her bookcases filled with favorites.
"What are you reading"
She would often ask when we met.
"You really must read "Lamb In His Bosom" by Caroline Miller.
A true Southern classic"
She had told me.
And I did.
And now tomorrow her family will carry her urn of ashes
Up to the beloved, small mountain house by the lake.
She will finally be free
From the oxygen tubes,medicines,
And wheelchair.
She will glide gently across the still water
As her loved ones whisper,
Goodbye.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Pets
"A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?"
Adam said, "Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked with me every day. Now I do not see you anymore. I am lonesome here and it is difficult for me to remember how much you love me." And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me.
Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourself." And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and he wagged his tail. And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal." And God said, "No problem! Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."
And Dog lived with Adam and was a companion to him and loved him. And Adam was comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass that Adam's guardian angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam has become filled with pride. He struts and preens like a peacock and he believes he is worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught him that he is loved, but perhaps too well." And the Lord said, "No problem! I will create for him a companion who will be with him forever and who will see him as he is. The companion will remind him of his limitations, so he will know that he is not always worthy of adoration."
And God created Cat to be a companion to Adam. And Cat would not obey Adam. And when Adam gazed into Cat's eyes, he was reminded that he was not the supreme being. And Adam learned humility.
And God was pleased.
And Adam was greatly improved.
And Dog was happy.
And Cat didn't give a hoot one way or the other."
(author unknown)
Adam said, "Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked with me every day. Now I do not see you anymore. I am lonesome here and it is difficult for me to remember how much you love me." And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me.
Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourself." And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and he wagged his tail. And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal." And God said, "No problem! Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."
And Dog lived with Adam and was a companion to him and loved him. And Adam was comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass that Adam's guardian angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam has become filled with pride. He struts and preens like a peacock and he believes he is worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught him that he is loved, but perhaps too well." And the Lord said, "No problem! I will create for him a companion who will be with him forever and who will see him as he is. The companion will remind him of his limitations, so he will know that he is not always worthy of adoration."
And God created Cat to be a companion to Adam. And Cat would not obey Adam. And when Adam gazed into Cat's eyes, he was reminded that he was not the supreme being. And Adam learned humility.
And God was pleased.
And Adam was greatly improved.
And Dog was happy.
And Cat didn't give a hoot one way or the other."
(author unknown)
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Food for thought
And God Created ...
A newly discovered
chapter in the Book of Genesis has
provided the
answer to, "Where do pets come from?"
Adam
said, "Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked
with
me everyday. Now I don't see you anymore. I'm
lonesome here
and it's difficult for me to remember
how much you love me."
And God said, "No
problem! I will create a companion for you
that will
be with you forever and who will be a reflection
of
my love for you, so that you will love me even
when you
cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish
or childish or
unlovable you may be, this new
companion will accept you as
you are and will love you
as I do, in spite of yourself."
And God
created a new animal to be a companion for Adam. And
it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the
new animal
was pleased to be with Adam and he
wagged his tail. And Adam
said, "Lord, I have
already named all the animals in the
Kingdom and I
cannot think of a name for this new animal."
And God said, "No problem, because I have created
this new
animal to be a reflection of my love for
you. His name will
be a reflection of my own name,
and you will call him
'Dog.'"
And Dog
lived with Adam and was a companion to him and
loved
him.
And Adam was comforted.
And God was pleased.
And Dog was content and
wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass
that Adam's guardian angel
came to the Lord and
said, "Lord, Adam has become filled with
pride. He
struts and preens like a peacock and he believes he
is worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught him
that he is
loved, but perhaps too well."
And the Lord said, "No problem! I will create for him
a
companion who will be with him forever and who
will see him
as he is. The companion will remind
him of his limitations,
so he will know that he
is not always worthy of adoration."
And God
created CAT to be a companion to Adam. And Cat would
not obey Adam.
And when Adam gazed into
Cat's eyes, he was reminded that he
was not the
Supreme Being. And Adam learned humility.
And
God was pleased.
And Adam was pleased.
And the Dog was pleased.
And the Cat
didn't care one way or the other.
A newly discovered
chapter in the Book of Genesis has
provided the
answer to, "Where do pets come from?"
Adam
said, "Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked
with
me everyday. Now I don't see you anymore. I'm
lonesome here
and it's difficult for me to remember
how much you love me."
And God said, "No
problem! I will create a companion for you
that will
be with you forever and who will be a reflection
of
my love for you, so that you will love me even
when you
cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish
or childish or
unlovable you may be, this new
companion will accept you as
you are and will love you
as I do, in spite of yourself."
And God
created a new animal to be a companion for Adam. And
it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the
new animal
was pleased to be with Adam and he
wagged his tail. And Adam
said, "Lord, I have
already named all the animals in the
Kingdom and I
cannot think of a name for this new animal."
And God said, "No problem, because I have created
this new
animal to be a reflection of my love for
you. His name will
be a reflection of my own name,
and you will call him
'Dog.'"
And Dog
lived with Adam and was a companion to him and
loved
him.
And Adam was comforted.
And God was pleased.
And Dog was content and
wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass
that Adam's guardian angel
came to the Lord and
said, "Lord, Adam has become filled with
pride. He
struts and preens like a peacock and he believes he
is worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught him
that he is
loved, but perhaps too well."
And the Lord said, "No problem! I will create for him
a
companion who will be with him forever and who
will see him
as he is. The companion will remind
him of his limitations,
so he will know that he
is not always worthy of adoration."
And God
created CAT to be a companion to Adam. And Cat would
not obey Adam.
And when Adam gazed into
Cat's eyes, he was reminded that he
was not the
Supreme Being. And Adam learned humility.
And
God was pleased.
And Adam was pleased.
And the Dog was pleased.
And the Cat
didn't care one way or the other.
Monday, July 07, 2008
New Wonder Drug?
Did you read this article over the holiday about the health benefits of watermelon?
By BETSY BLANEY
"Associated Press Writer
LUBBOCK, Texas — A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra — but don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks going all night long.
Watermelons contain an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra, said scientists in Texas, one of the nation's top producers of the seedless variety.
Found in the flesh and rind of watermelons, citrulline reacts with the body's enzymes when consumed in large quantities and is changed into arginine, an amino acid that benefits the heart and the circulatory and immune systems.
The nitric oxide can also help with angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems, according to the study, which was paid for by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Citrulline is found in all colors of watermelon and is highest in the yellow-fleshed types, said Penelope Perkins-Veazie, a USDA researcher in Lane, Okla.
She said Patil's research is valid, but with a caveat: One would need to eat about six cups of watermelon to get enough citrulline to boost the body's arginine level.
"The problem you have when you eat a lot of watermelon is you tend to run to the bathroom more," Perkins-Veazie said."
----------------------
This reminds me of the old Tom T. Hall song,
Old Dogs and children, and watermelon wine
"Ain't but three Things in this World
That's worth a solitary Dime,
But old Dogs and Children
And Watermelon Wine."
By BETSY BLANEY
"Associated Press Writer
LUBBOCK, Texas — A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra — but don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks going all night long.
Watermelons contain an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra, said scientists in Texas, one of the nation's top producers of the seedless variety.
Found in the flesh and rind of watermelons, citrulline reacts with the body's enzymes when consumed in large quantities and is changed into arginine, an amino acid that benefits the heart and the circulatory and immune systems.
The nitric oxide can also help with angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems, according to the study, which was paid for by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Citrulline is found in all colors of watermelon and is highest in the yellow-fleshed types, said Penelope Perkins-Veazie, a USDA researcher in Lane, Okla.
She said Patil's research is valid, but with a caveat: One would need to eat about six cups of watermelon to get enough citrulline to boost the body's arginine level.
"The problem you have when you eat a lot of watermelon is you tend to run to the bathroom more," Perkins-Veazie said."
----------------------
This reminds me of the old Tom T. Hall song,
Old Dogs and children, and watermelon wine
"Ain't but three Things in this World
That's worth a solitary Dime,
But old Dogs and Children
And Watermelon Wine."
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