Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, October 12, 2019

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Mountain View News Saturday, October 12, 2019 

CAT OF THE WEEK


TWINKLING “TWYLA”

Twyla is a total lap cat and 
loves people. At just under 
age 1, she is super friendly and 
affectionate. She likes to sleep 
with you and cuddle. She’s 
vocal too and talks to you 
with her sweet little meows. 
Twyla would be great with 
small children who would play with her and give her lots of 
attention. She likes having her foster mommy all to herself 
and chases the resident boy kitties away. Although she’s 
still young, she may prefer to be the only kitty in the house. 
Contact her foster mom at 626-808-8557. See more pictures 
of Twyla and her video at www.lifelineforpets.org & go to our 
More Cats page.


Pet of the Week

 Do you think your dog is lonely during 
the day and might need a dog companion 
to cheer him up? Meet Savy! He loves 
other dogs. So much so that he participates 
in our Large Dog Play Group with other 
shelter dogs. He also was very well-behaved 
at our 21st Annual Wiggle Waggle Walk 
last weekend where he was surrounded by 
thousands of people and dogs. He’s a mellow 
fellow so when a dog would pass by he’d 
just look up in confirmation and go back to 
napping or having his belly rubbed. He also 
impressed his handler and showed he knows 
the words, “sit,” and “down.” He even knows 
“shake!” So come meet Savy today and give 
him a proper paw shake when you do.

 The adoption fee for dogs is $140. All dogs 
are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and 
vaccinated before going to their new home. 

 New adopters will receive a complimentary 
health-and-wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag 
filled with information about how to care 
for your pet.

 View photos of adoptable pets at 
pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 
p.m. Saturday.

 Pets may not be available for adoption and 
cannot be held for potential adopters by 
phone calls or email.

LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?


CHUVASCO is a very handsome 6-year-old 
American Staffordshire Terrier mix with a stunning 
white and brindle coat. Weighing about 
73-pounds this strong pup is actually all about 
nice strolls in the park, rolling over on the grass, 
squeaking toys, and soaking up all the sun and 
love he can get from people. This special dog 
can be a great companion for chillin’ at home 
or jogging at the park. Not much is known from 
his past but what is known is that he is a very 
smart (learns commands quickly). See him in 
action here https://youtu.be/7uJpwyYM88I . 
Chuvasco is very cuddly and loving pooch who 
deserves a forever loving family of his own. 
If you’re that special family that can give this 
handsome pooch all he love and care he’s looking 
for, please come meet Chuvasco! His adoption 
fee is $145, which includes spay surgery, a microchip, first vaccinations and a free wellness 
check-up at a participating veterinarian.

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges


PLANTS OF THE WEEK: 

THE GARLIC AND ONION FAMILY

[Nyerges is the author of “Guide to Wild Foods and Useful Plants.” He has been leading 
outdoor plant walks since 1974. For more information, go to www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.
com.]

 

If you already enjoy garlic, onions, and other members of this family, you should 
also know that garlic is good for your health too.

 

The consumption of garlic and onions is believed to be a contributory factor in helping hypertension. 
In a variety of tests, garlics and onions (and members of that family) have been shown to 
reduce cholesterol, reduce high blood pressure, and reduce the incidence of flu.

 

For example, Dr. Alan Tsai, PhD with the Michigan School of Health, has tested rats and humans for 
the effects of garlic on cholesterol levels. He fed test groups high cholesterol diets, with one group 
receiving garlic. Those who included garlic had cholesterol levels that rose about four percent, as opposed 
to those without garlic whose cholesterol levels rose 23%. Dr. Tsai noted that the incidence of 
cardiovascular and other diseases is lower in countries whose populations consume large amounts 
of garlic, though he was reluctant to attribute this effect solely to garlic.

 

Various studies reported in the Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics concluded that both onions 
and garlic in the diet lowered blood cholesterol levels. Studies in Germany and in the U.S. have 
produced similar results.

 Cholesterol builds up in fatty plaques on the artery walls, and so it is believed to be a major factor 
in the onset of heart disease. Anything that reduces high cholesterol levels helps to keep the heart 
healthy.

 

Dr. Truswell, professor at the Queen Elizabeth College of London University conducted research by 
feeding human subjects high fat meals with and without onions. He found that blood platelets stuck 
together faster after the high fat, no onion meal, whereas the effect was neutralized when onions 
were included. Platelets are a compound in the blood which are an important aid in coagulation, 
but when they “malfunction,” they form clots which can lead to thromboses in the arteries to the 
heart and brain, which can result in strokes and heart attacks. Dr. Truswell believes that by simply 
including onions in the diet, the chances of having a stroke or heart attack are reduced.

 

Though there are countless studies pertaining to the effects of garlic and onions on the human body, 
it may still be sometime before doctors make conclusive statements such as eating garlic will prevent 
high blood pressure. Again, this is due to the complexity of “high blood pressure,” its various causes, 
and the fact that no two people are alike. 

 

Still, we eat garlic just about every day, and we also put it in our pets’ food. Russian folk healers and 
herbalists the world over have been suggesting that garlic be used to reduce high blood pressure, and 
a host of ailments, for centuries. 

 

We do know that garlic contains small amounts of selenium and germanium. Selenium is believed 
to prevent abnormal blood clotting, to normalize blood pressure, and to prevent infections. Germanium 
is being investigated for its reputed ability to retard or prevent the growth of some cancers. 
Garlic also contains a number of biochemical compounds, such as allicin (considered to have antifungal 
and antibiotic properties), alliinase, allyls, allithiamine (this makes vitamin B1 more effective), 
and alliin (this makes proteins easier to digest). Allicin, left alone, turns into a substance that 
some researchers have called “ajoene,” believed to be responsible for garlic’s ability to inhibit blood 
clotting effectively as aspirin.

 

Enough books and research papers have been written about garlic, onions, shallots, leeks, and that 
entire Allium genus to fill a small library. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 
Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com