Things got a little hectic around the holidays, so I left out two items that I think are important.

First, I purchased a used book a few weeks ago from Housing Works Bookstore Cafe and it came with a postcard that said:

The Housing Works Used Bookstore Cafe is a true New York City destination…..And by shopping, sipping, or even donating books, you are helping Housing Works, NYC’s largest HIV/AIDS organization.

Since Dec. 1st was World Aids Day I thought you might want to check out their used books online: www.housingworks.org/social-enterprise/bookstore

Jay, my son-by-marriage, took this photo of ornamental kale on the Sunday before Thanksgiving in New York. This flower survives in New York City!

Second, since December was National Diabetes Month, I thought this article from the August 2006 issue of Prevention Magazine might be of interest:

“Women who splurged on french fries just once a week were 21% more likely to get diabetes than those who ate none, in a 20-year Harvard School of Public Health study of 84,500 women.”

The article claims the high glycemic index* (GI) of white potatoes is the culprit, since potatoes break down quickly in the stomach leading to a fast and steep blood sugar rise. This spiking of blood sugar repeatedly over time damages the system that regulates insulin, which can lead to diabetes. And, the article also notes that overweight women are more susceptible because they are the group more likely to have insulin resistance, which is considered “a precursor to diabetes that high-GI foods may exacerbate (p. 80).” *See Glossary.

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