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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? Topics Fitness Food Health Natural Pamper Special Style Events Medical Directory Reader's Picks RSS Info About OHL Advertise Archive Photos Return to Mail Tribune NEWS NOW Emergency Services, Oct. 1 Read Emergency» Our View: School district facility fees should be reasonable Read Our View:» Jordan Cove LNG opponents vow to take fight to governor's office By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Read Jordan Cove» Emergency Services, Oct. 1 Read Emergency» Our View: School district facility fees should be reasonable Read Our View:» Jordan Cove LNG opponents vow to take fight to governor's office By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Read Jordan Cove» Mindful eating Upcoming classes teach how to feed your brain In Sharon Johnson's mind, eating to improve mental function is a no-brainer. Comment By Story by Sarah Lemon MailTribune.com By Story by Sarah Lemon Posted Feb. 20, 2012 at 2:00 AM By Story by Sarah Lemon Posted Feb. 20, 2012 at 2:00 AM » RELATED CONTENT If you go --> What: "Feed Your Brain," a class with Oregon State University associate professor Sharon Johnson; cost is $15. When and Where: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at the Southern Oregon Research an... » Read more X If you go What: "Feed Your Brain," a class with Oregon State University associate professor Sharon Johnson; cost is $15. When and Where: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point; and Thursday April 5, at the Josephine County Extension, 215 Ringuette St., Grants Pass. For more information and to register: Call 541-776-7371 or 541-476-6613. Baked Salmon in a Nori Wrapper Ingredients: 1 (3- to 6-ounce) salmon fillet Sea salt, to taste Thinly sliced lemon Sheets of nori seaweed (used to make sushi; sold in grocers' Asian-foods sections) Oil, for greasing baking dish Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F. Rinse the fish and pat dry. Rub it with a pinch of sea salt. Place fish skin-side down on the nori sheet. Place a few slices of the lemon on top of fish. Wrap nori around fish to completely encase it. This may require more than 1 sheet depending on fish fillet's size. Nori sticks to itself, and fish, although you may need to slightly moisten it in places to fold it. Place wrapped fish in a baking dish that has been lightly oiled. Bake in preheated oven for about 10 to 15 minutes for each inch of thickness. Nori will lightly flavor fish and seal in juices so it is moist and flaky. Serve fish in nori package. Makes 1 serving but easily can be multiplied. Red Lentil Hummus on Crostini 1 cup cooked lentils 1 tablespoon peeled and chopped garlic 3/4 cup canned and drained, chopped tomatoes 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, chopped 2 tablespoons capers 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon sea salt Freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1/4 cup finely chopped Italian parsley Sliced baguette, for serving Feta cheese crumbles, for garnish Place the lentils, garlic and tomatoes in bowl of a food processor. Process for about 30 seconds. Add the olives, capers, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Pulse to create a coarse texture. Remove to a bowl and fold in the parsley. Serve on lightly toasted baguette slices with a sprinkle of the feta cheese. Makes about 2 cups hummus. — Recipes courtesy of Mary Shaw, Ashland Food Co-op • Jog your memory » Social News In Sharon Johnson's mind, eating to improve mental function is a no-brainer. "It's eating foods that make you feel better, and then you think better." Much like diet plans to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses, the consumption of natural, unprocessed foods is shown to prevent memory loss. Whole grains, legumes, nuts, seafood, lean meats, eggs, dark-green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits all support a healthy brain and noticeably affected cognition in a study of older adults by Oregon State University, says Johnson, an associate professor. "What's good for your heart is good for your head." Along with medications, physical activity and depression, memory difficulties and diet are significant issues for many aging adults, says Johnson. She plans to bring both memory and diet to the table for two April classes, titled "Feed Your Brain," at OSU Extension in Jackson and Josephine counties. While memory difficulties can start as early as age 30, half of people over age 50 experience lapses, and all adults over age 65 report episodes of forgetfulness, says Johnson. The problem is pronounced for anyone taking prescription drugs or eating and sleeping poorly, she adds. Not surprisingly, anxiety mounts in anyone with a family history of Alzheimer's disease. "Some of this is reversible," says Johnson. "Everything counts." Even small amounts of foods high in the right nutrients can have a big impact. So Johnson's class doesn't focus just on healthful meals but also on wholesome snacks. Participants likely will sample a smoothie with spinach, the chickpea spread known as hummus, as well as kale chips, says Johnson. "They are largely plant-based foods or seafood." Salmon is the main dish in a brain-foods menu that Mary Shaw, culinary educator for Ashland Food Co-op, developed for Johnson. Working in tandem at a Co-op class more than a year ago, Johnson and Shaw scheduled a February repeat of "Feed Your Brain," which included a full Co-op dinner and sold out more than a month in advance. "It's a really, really big topic right now because we know more about the brain," says Shaw. Some dietary wisdom, however, is centuries old. Shaw cites traditional Chinese medicine's "doctrine of signatures," which advocates eating foods to support organs that they most resemble. For example, shelled, crinkly walnuts mimic the various bulges and creases of the human brain. Bulbous, bumpy cauliflower also evokes gray matter. "It's so cool how much it looks like a brain," says Shaw. Although modern-day medicine hasn't validated the ancient "doctrine of signatures," there is plenty of scientific evidence that the aforementioned foods are good for the brain, says Shaw. Cauliflower is high in folate and vitamin C, both critical nutrients, along with vitamins D and E. High in vitamin E, walnuts exceed their counterparts in omega-3 fatty acids, the primary compound touted in many fish for enhancing mental function and preventing neurological diseases. Ten nuts supply the body's daily requirement for omega-3, says Shaw. "It keeps the brain elastic," she says, explaining that both adults' aging brains and children's growing brains need good-quality fats. Preserving the nutrients in foods is as important as making healthful choices, says Shaw. Slower cooking with gentler heat keeps more beneficial properties intact, she says. Shaw bakes salmon in a medium-temperature oven after encasing each fish fillet in a packet of seaweed, which infuses subtle flavor and an extra dose of minerals. "All of the juices are sealed inside of the nori," says Shaw. The dish also is ideal for a single serving. Many who attend her lectures, says Johnson, are women who live alone and resort to eating tea and toast. The process of planning a menu, following recipes and practicing cooking techniques are yet more ways to engage the aging mind, says Johnson. And she suggests reading Michael Pollen's "Food Rules: An Eater's Manual," a short, commonsense guide to a healthful diet. When the context is brainpower, says Johnson, the concept of "mindful eating" gains new meaning. By Story by Sarah Lemon MailTribune.com By Story by Sarah Lemon Posted Feb. 20, 2012 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction Archive Terms of Use Privacy Policy Contact Us Advertise Careers Copyright © . Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Southern Oregon Media Group: Mail Tribune.com | Ashland Daily Tidings | Medford Nickel