Minutes: The One with the Omega 3 Lesson (1/11/2012)

Editor’s note: Special thanks to Darren Doi for stepping in as scribe at this meeting!

Visiting Rotarians: Alexis Park of Boulder, CO

Guests: Jeff DeVine, Brady (Julie Joy Stilwell’s son)

Club Announcements:

• Dana Goba reported that 60 Rotarians took tours at the new Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital last weekend.
• David Velarde shared updates from the Group 8 presidents’ meeting. Stay tuned for more details about an upcoming zoo day. There will be a District 5240 gala on January 26.
• Bill Wilmer and Gary Jensen will host a Fireside Chat on January 27 at 7 PM at the Jensens’ home. Contact Gary for the address.

• Tim Durnin had exploratory heart surgery. We wish him good health.
•  India is polio-free.
• The District will revisit its bylaws. The gathering is in Carpinteria.
• Those interested in a district trip to Mexico in April should contact President Joe Weiland.
• The Symposium to End Poverty Sustainably is still January 28 at UCSB. See past minutes for all the details or ask Bill Boyd.
• The newest pair in the Rotary Lunch Lottery is Don Bennett and Andy Doerr.

Bill Wilmer won the raffle, but gave the prize to guest Jeff.

Program: Dr. Joel Rauch presents “Be Super Fit”

• Rotarians should be happy because when you give a gift, your serotonin (happy chemical) spikes.
• Precursors to serotonin are Omega 3 and fish oils
• The #1 cause of death in the U.S. is cardiovascular disease, primarily because of cholesterol and saturated fat
• Scientists studied eskimos because they have high cholesterol and a high-fat diet, but they have minimal cardiovascular disease. They concluded that this was due to their diet of deep sea fish with lots of omega 3.
• How to get omega 3 in your diet: eat sardines; take omega 3 capsules at 2 grams per day — choose a brand with a Nordic/Scandinavian name so you get cold water fish
• At the age of 60, 60% of our digestive juices are depleted. You can get non-prescription digestive enzymes at stores to help you.
• You need fiber. Wheat bran is a non-soluble fiber. Oat bran is a soluble fiber.