The Aunt Ruthie Project

BY DONNA HOKE

About fifteen years ago, my mother was taking turmeric at bedtime because her sister, my aunt Ruthie, had recommended it for leg cramps; she said it helped. My own sister, Lynn Meslinsky, recalled Aunt Ruthie having homeopathic suggestions for fever and cough, and one day asked her if she was writing all this down to pass on to her family. In response, Aunt Ruthie handed my sister a box, what my sister calls “an accumulation of over sixty years of notes, articles, and newspaper clippings, a summary of what one woman learned about nontraditional medicine in her lifetime.”

Lynn sorted through the box, categorized, organized, typed, and compiled to create the end result, a seventy-six-page labor of love, Aunt Ruthie’s Home Remedies. She made a bunch of copies of the book, and distributed them to the family for reference on everything from digestive tract health to skin care. I came upon my copy recently and thought it might be fun to pull a few of Aunt Ruthie’s remedies, and couple them with some “why it works” information or, conversely, why it’s myth (we’ve learned a lot in the past sixty years). And because it’s summer, and we’re all trying to shed that excess winter weight, I’m highlighting a few tidbits from her section on Weight Loss & Metabolism (there is actually a table of contents!).

Item #1: The “hot” in chili peppers, capsaicin, is an effective weight-loss tool. Studies have shown that it acts as an appetite suppressant and people will consume fewer calories at meals that include chili, cayenne, or other types of “hot” peppers. Capsaicin temporarily stimulates your body to release more stress hormones, such as adrenaline, which speeds up your metabolism and increases your ability to burn calories.

True or False: True. A host of studies confirm that capsaicin boosts thermogenesis, which is the rate at which you burn calories. And, as recently as February 2015, researchers at the University of Wyoming determined that it may do this because it turns white fat to thermogenic brown fat. Other studies show that capsaicin can reduce cholesterol, act as a topical pain reliever, slow the spread of some cancers, and clear congestion. And, good news for non-spicy eaters, there is evidence that shows the compound dihydrocapsiate (DCT), capsaicin’s non-spicy cousin, may be equally effective. I do, however, take issue with the idea that it’s an “effective weight loss tool”; one study I read said that eating a half teaspoon of cayenne can help you burn ten more calories per four hours than if you hadn’t eaten it. Ten—that’s maybe a mini rice cake. But since cayenne has other benefits, including suppressing appetite, it’s still a good addition to a healthful diet.

Item #5: Carnitine helps deliver specific types of fat to the mitochondria of the cell, where they can be converted into energy and help to metabolize fat.

True or False: True, but the National Institute of Health advises that we do not need to add carnitine— which comes primarily from animal products—to our diets because our liver and kidney make enough of it to meet our daily needs. Thus, carnitine is not an essential nutrient, except in specific genetic and medical cases. Ingesting extra won’t serve to burn more fat, and will be excreted with your urine.

Item #12: Having a drink before a meal causes people to eat around 200 extra calories. The body burns off alcohol first, which means that the calories in the rest of your meal are more likely to be stored as fat.

True or False: Mostly true, but a little jumbled. It’s true that alcohol can temporarily turn off your body’s ability to burn calories, so whatever energy it was using to burn stored fat, it begins to use to get rid of that alcohol. And alcohol does reduce inhibition when it comes to eating, but less so when the drink itself isn’t sugar-laden: stick to wine, beer, and liquors without mixers. Also, eat while you drink; this causes alcohol to hit the bloodstream more slowly, and also fends off the ravenous binges that occur when you drink first, then decide to eat.

Item #13: Weight training is the best way to crank up your resting metabolic rate.

True or False: False, kind of. Mostly, I’m taking issue with “best” way. While having increased muscle does burn more calories per day—and certainly more than fat—it’s not a monumental amount (unless you’re a body builder), certainly not enough to create the “torching” effect that many weight training programs boast. And, in recent years, interval training has shown to have longer lasting effects on the metabolism. But, weight training, like all exercise, does burn calories, keep your bones healthier as you age, help with balance, and give your body a nicer shape, even when you’re carrying excess pounds.

Item #16: Drink six to eight glasses of water a day.

True or False: This doesn’t actually make any claims about water and weight loss, so I’ll just say that while water doesn’t actually have a weight loss effect, choosing it over other beverages will save you calories and not set up the sugar cravings that diet drinks do. In addition, it’ll make you feel fuller, make your skin look better, keep elimination regular, promote good kidney function, and hydrate your muscles so they can operate at peak efficiency. But you knew all that, right? FY

Donna Hoke is Managing Editor of Forever Young.

Big Weck At The Fair

August in Western New York means the Erie County Fair! While many think of the Fair as the “unofficial end of summer,” there is still plenty of summer left.

This year, BIG WECK returns to its gazebo at the Fair, giving you the chance to meet broadcast legends Roger Christian, JP, Joe Chille, Tom Donahue, Dan Rinelli, Junior Rosati, Ronnie D, and more while you spin to win great prizes. A portion of proceeds benefits Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Plus, visit bigweck.com to see the Grandstand shows we’re welcoming, like Chubby Checker and the Spinners.

Find the coolest oldies by listening to the BIG WECK at 1230AM 100.1FM, 102.9FM, and 100.5FM, on voice-activated devices, at bigweck.com, and with our free BIG WECK app. Download it on your tablet or phone and connect via Bluetooth—the sound quality can’t be beaten!

The BIG WECK looks forward to seeing you at the Erie County Fair!

All the best,

Buddy Shula Owner /CEO

August 9-20

Erie County Fair

The beloved Fair includes all the usual exhibits, the Midway, and the grandstand events. Visit the website to buy tickets and download a free Fairgrounds app.

(5600 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg; ecfair.org, 649-3900)

August 21

Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival

This annual fundraiser for Griffis Sculpture Park features live music from local and visiting musicians, a vendor village, a kids’ craft area, food stands, beer, wine, and more.

1-6 p.m., Griffis Sculpture Park

(6902 Mill Valley Road, East Otto; griffissculpturepark.org, 667-2808)

25-26

Through August

August 12

Charity Bowling Fundraiser

Rapids Bowling Center donates all thirty-two lanes to raise money for Help and Hope for Homeless, Inc. A $10 fee includes three games and bowling shoes. This is a “no-tap” event, so if you knock down nine pins on your first ball, it’s a strike!

8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Rapids Bowling Center

(9524 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Niagara Falls)

August 25-26

Northwest Jazz Festival lewistonjazz.com, 754-9500

The Northwest Jazz Festival in historic Lewiston returns to highlight local, international, and North American jazz artists. The festival mainstage opens with the United States Air Force Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble and closes with supergroup Something Else! In addition to live music, the event hosts food and beverage vendors including local wineries, distilleries, and breweries. Visit the website for details and full lineup of artists.

Through August FREE

Free Family Saturdays

Join Artpark each Saturday for arts and crafts, stories, workshops, and live performances.

11 a.m.-4 p.m., Artpark

(450 S. 4th Street, Lewiston; artpark.net, 754-4375)