Unplug your grinder before cleaning to avoid accidentally turning it on while your fingers or cleaning implements are inside. Bits of coffee ground will build up around the working parts of any type of grinder, slowing them down and potentially adding off-flavors to your espresso grounds. If you notice these effects or see pockets of encrusted coffee ground, use a vacuum's wand attachment or a can of compressed air to remove them. Dislodge larger pockets with a spoon if they are not moving.

Summary: Unplug the grinder before cleaning to avoid injury. Use a vacuum or compressed air to get rid of coffee grit when it builds up.


Regular exercise improves blood flow to the brain and can keep thinking and memory skills intact. Being active also helps to decrease cholesterol and blood pressure - two health issues that increase your risk for Alzheimer's. An ideal goal is to do a combination of cardiovascular exercise (i.e. getting sweaty and getting your heart rate up) and strength training to build muscle. Walking and swimming are great for those new to exercise.  Aim for 30 minutes of cardio five times per week. This is the President’s Recommendation for physical fitness. Swim, run, do an at-home exercise tape – whatever gets your blood pumping.  For those less in shape, even 40 minutes of brisk walking three times per week can be of benefit.  Talk to your healthcare provider about any medical conditions before starting a new exercise plan. There is a diet that may be designed to promote a healthy brain: the MIND Diet. The MIND Diet combines a Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet (for lowering cholesterol). The ten best brain foods in the MIND Diet are green leafy vegetables, any other vegetables, nuts (walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts are the best choices), berries (especially blueberries), beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, olive oil, and red wine. This is a great diet for your body, too, since it can also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.  The top five foods to avoid are: Red meats, butter and margarine, cheese, pastries and sweets (sugar), and fried or fast food.  Fish contains omega-3s, which are great for brain health. Eating fish one or more times per week may reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s by up to 60%. Vegetarian options high in omega-3s are chia and flax seeds.  Red grapes contain a compound, resveratrol, that may help protect the brain. Limited consumption of red wine may be beneficial. As with any alcohol, drink only in moderation (e.g. one glass daily maximum). Red grape juice is a good alternative. Your goal Total Cholesterol should be under 200 mg/dL, and LDLs (or “bad” cholesterol) below 100 mg/dL. However, there’s no “lower limit” to what your cholesterol should be – in other words, the lower the better. Indeed, studies have shown that levels of LDL, especially in middle life, impact the risk for Alzheimer Disease. Since hypertension has been consistently associated with risk of dementia, the average ideal blood pressure is 120/80, though that varies somewhat with age and medical conditions. Talk to your doctor about your ideal blood pressure, and strive for that goal.  Cut as much salt out of your diet as you can to help your blood pressure. Snack on fresh fruits and vegetables instead of potato chips, and season your food with herbs and spices rather than table salt.  Mg per deciliter means there’s a milligram of cholesterol in every liter of your blood. People with type 2 Diabetes may be more at risk for Alzheimer’s, because when the body has a problem with insulin it can cause injury to the neurons in the brain. Keep your blood sugar within a healthy range to avoid negatively affecting your brain health. Diet, exercise, oral medications, and insulin injections can help.  Speak to your doctor about your diabetes. You should always attempt to control your blood sugar for health reasons. They can tell you what your blood sugar goal should be for your age and other medical conditions. Exercise and diet are extremely important for controlling blood sugar, so talk to your doctor about a good diet and exercise plan for you to follow. These conditions can increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, so it is important to find ways to reduce your risk. Talk to your doctor about how you can reduce your risk for these conditions, and thereby reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s. . Smoking is probably the risk factor for Alzheimer’s that you have the most control over. Smoking is linked to heightened odds of developing the disease, with smokers older than 65 having maybe up to 80% higher risk than non-smokers. There are numerous health benefits of drinking tea, especially green tea. Green, white, and oolong tea may be especially helpful in lowering Alzheimer’s risk. Coffee can also benefit your brain, although not as powerfully as tea. Try to drink 2-3 cups of tea a day.

Summary: Exercise 3-5 times per week. Eat a brain-healthy diet. Visit your doctor yearly for cholesterol and blood pressure checks. Control your blood sugar. Reduce your risk for Cardiovascular Disease and Atherosclerosis. Stop smoking Drink more tea.


One way to remember the information you learn is to communicate it to others. Gather a few classmates and form a study group. You can quiz each other before exams and practice applying theories to case studies.  Try to form a group of students with similar academic abilities. This will optimize your study time and ability to assist one another. Aim for no more than six people in your group. Larger groups tend to lose focus more easily. The great thing about studying economics is that it is relevant to your everyday life. For example, you can apply the concept of scarcity to your budget. Resources are not unlimited and you need to plan for their use. Look for moments while shopping or planning your money when you can apply economic theories.  You could use the theory of marginal utility, or buying goods that give you the highest pleasure for the cost. For example, you could spend $10 on an economics handbook or $10 on a movie ticket. While you might enjoy the movie for two hours, the handbook could help you receive an A in economics, which could lead to graduate school, and a promising career. The lasting returns of the handbook are higher.  Diminishing returns works when considering whether to get a second latte, for example. The first latte might have tasted wonderful. It cost $3.50 and was worth every cent to you. You would like a little more but probably would only drink ⅓ of the second drink, which also will cost $3.50. The utility (satisfaction) of the second latte is considerably lower so it is not a wise decision to purchase one. When studying economics, one way to solidify your knowledge of the basics is to review previous material by tutoring younger students. If you are a junior, for example, consider tutoring a first year college student. This will also be economically beneficial in the sense that you will earn money.

Summary: Start a study group. Apply your economic knowledge to everyday situations. Tutor a younger student.


The saucepan should be large enough to hold 2.5–3 US qt (2.4–2.8 L) of liquid. Though you won’t be adding nearly that amount of water, this size of saucepan will be plenty large enough for 1 lb (450 g) of chopped broccoli.  3  fl oz (89 ml) also equals 6 Tbsp. Adding more water than this small amount will only cause the broccoli to boil. You need just enough water to create steam. Choose a saucepan with a lid that fits snugly. If necessary, you can use a heat-resistant dinner plate as a lid. Do not remove the lid to check the broccoli—you need to keep the steam trapped inside. This trapped steam  will continue to cook the broccoli without overcooking it.
Summary: Add 3  fl oz (89 ml) of water to a medium saucepan. Reduce the heat to low and steam the broccoli for 3 more minutes.