Ka‘ū News Briefs Sunday, January 21, 2018

volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/multimedia_uploads/multimediaFile-1846.mp4.

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Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park boardwalks stand empty, with no income from visitors who pay entrance fees and frequent local businesses. NPS Photo

IN DEFENSE OF NATIONAL PARKS, Sen. Mazie Hirono - the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources National Parks Subcommittee - and other Senate Democrats slammed Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke regarding continued attacks on National Park Service employees. In a letter to Zinke, released on Friday, Hirono and colleagues outlined detrimental actions the Department of Interior has taken, such as cutting the NPS budget by 13 percent; increasing fees at 17 of the most popular national parks; and welcoming the resignation of nine of 12 members of the National Park System Advisory Board.
     "We are alarmed by recent reports regarding activities that are clearly undermining the mission of the National Park Service and the morale of Department of the Interior's workforce which has declined since you took office," the Senators wrote. "Since the start of this administration, staff within the National Park Service have been silenced and ignored. Many of these dedicated public servants have devoted their careers to protecting our nation's greatest treasures for the enjoyment of all Americans."

     The 2017 report on financial contribution to the community surrounding Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park stated that in 2016, the number of visitors to the park reach 1,887,580. Visitors to the park spent $159,195,500 in communities near the park. "That spending supported 1,917 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $199,923,400," the National Park Service reported. The visitor spending was for lodging (31.2 percent), followed by food and beverages (27.2 percent), gas and oil (11.7 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent), souvenirs and other expenses (9.7 percent), local transportation (7.4 percent), and camping fees (2.5%).

CRYSTAL METH ADDICTION IN COMMUNITIES  is the free presentation for the public this Friday at Ka‘ū District Gym's Multipurpose Room from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
     The session, sponsored by Ka‘ū Rural Health Community Association, is part of the organization's Call to Action Prevention Campaign. Certified Prevention Specialist Gary Shimabukuro will lead the educational and informational event. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call Ka‘ū Resource & Distance Learning Center at 928-0101.

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THE BLUE ZONES PROJECT, which hosts healthy eating events in Ka‘ū, is promoting a food that seems to help people live longer. "Beans, peas and lentils, all members of the legume family, are loaded with fiber and protein and may even add years to your life. One seven-year study found that for every additional 1/3 cup of beans seniors ate each day, their risk of dying fell seven to eight percent. According to Blue Zones’ Power 9 principles, a typical centenarian - a person who lives to be at least 100 years old - living in a Blue Zone, eats meat, typically pork, only five times each month. The cornerstone of these people's diet? You guessed it - legumes," says a statement from Blue Zones released this week.

Blue Zones says eating legumes, like roasted chickpeas, daily, could increase longevity. Photo from bluezones.com

     "A diet free of legumes may have adverse effects on health. A bean-free diet may increase risk of metabolic syndrome, a collection of risk factors, like high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Additionally, one study suggests women who don’t consume beans have a higher mortality rate than those who do. Eating legumes is beneficial in the short-term, too. Consuming beans and other legumes each day lowers your risk of certain conditions, halts the development of some disease and promotes overall health."
     Blue Zones reports four reasons to load up on legumes:
     Reduce cholesterol levels: Beans are loaded with fiber - about 60 percent of the daily recommended value in one cup of black beans. Black beans also contain soluble fiber, which reduces your body's absorption of cholesterol and can decrease high cholesterol levels, a risk factor for heart disease. Consuming between five and 10 grams of soluble fiber per day can lower cholesterol - a cup of black bean contains more than seven grams. Opt for dried beans or rinse canned beans to remove excess salt. Too much sodium in your diet can increase blood pressure, another heart disease risk factor.
     Lower diabetes risk: Legumes have a low glycemic load, which is beneficial for many reasons, including regulating blood sugar levels. A glycemic load determines how much a food will affect blood sugar levels. Aim to consume a total daily glycemic load of less than 100; a half a cup of kidney beans has a load of six. Legumes also prevent blood sugar spikes, so they provide your body with steady energy.
     Fight diseases like cancer: Legumes are loaded with fiber, which may prevent some digestive cancers. Beans, especially black beans, contain nutrients, like antioxidants and flavonoids, that help fight disease.
     Help control weight: Legumes are low in calories. When consumed in excess, any food can contribute a few extra inches to your waistline. A half-cup of garbanzo beans contains only 135 calories and no saturated fat, plus fiber and protein, which keep you fuller for longer. Fiber also promotes regularity.
     Sneak legumes into every meal: The weekly recommended intake of beans for adult men and women is between two and three cups, but Americans seldom reach these goals. Incorporating legumes into your diet can be simple and tasty, too. Some suggestions: Hide black beans in brownies by swapping flour for pureed black beans; blend garbanzo beans, also called chickpeas, into a hummus spread and add to a sandwich or use as a dip for veggies; swap half a cup of cooked lentils for your typical protein in a lunchtime salad. Half a cup contains only 115 calories, but has 9 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. Cook up some soup for a hearty meal or puree a cup of peas in the next bowl of pesto. Start the morning with a boost of energy and a punch of fiber, protein, and iron by folding plump kidney beans into an omelet, instead of bacon or ham.