The Dinstuhl Family has been making quality candies in Memphis for five generations beginning with Charles Martin Dinstuhl, Sr. in 1902. In the early 20’s, Charles Martin Dinstuhl, Jr. joined his father as they worked together to provide Memphians with the Finest Candies. One of the signature recipes which have been passed from generation to generation is the famous Chocolate Pecan Fudge. When Charles Martin, Sr. retired, his grandson, Edward Eugene Dinstuhl, then a young teen began learning the recipes. He joined his father to help continue the business during WWII.
Several years later, Gene received personal instruction from two prominent New York Candy Makers. It was at this time he added new and exciting recipes to his grandfather’s collection including Cashew Crunch and Chocolate Covered Strawberries. These two recipes created a new era of tradition for the company. In 1970, the young fourth-generation Gary Eugene joined his father and grandfather in perfecting the art of Candy Making. During the late 1970’s, Charles Martin, Jr. retired leaving Gene and Gary to lead the company into a tremendous time of growth.
Dinstuhl’s has moved from its meager beginning in a 400 square foot shop to the existing 11,000 square foot candy kitchen. With this expanded manufacturing facility, Dinstuhl’s has been able to meet the higher demand for their candies while still maintaining the traditional high quality.
In 2003, the Moss family of Memphis bought the historic company to assure that the quality and traditions will be enjoyed for many generations to come. Today, Rebecca Dinstuhl is at the helm and is focused on maintaining the quality that has made them successful for over 100 years, and also plans to expand the market place beyond Memphis with selected items on regional and national levels. Andrew Dinstuhl, a 5th generation candy maker, is in the kitchen creating their delicious recipes, while Marissa Moss manages their Operations making Dinstuhl’s truly a family business.
Dinstuhl’s prides itself on using fresh ingredients such as butter, cream, brown sugar, and rich chocolate. Each unique formula is blended in small batches by hand just as it was in 1902. Their commitment to quality is further demonstrated in the kosher certification by the Vaad Hakehilloth of Memphis.
Dinstuhl’s has been called upon for many years to make custom products for special events and celebrities such as Elvis, Super Bowl XL, the Kentucky Derby, the NBA Finals and the Breeder’s Cup as well as Graceland and QVC. The ranking of “Best Candy Store in the South” as well as the “#1 Fudge in America” reflects that this “sweet taste of the South” is appreciated by many.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the single most significant risk factor for heart disease. It’s sometimes called “the silent killer” because it has no symptoms. One in three American adults has high blood pressure, yet about 21% don’t even know they have it. Of those with high blood pressure, 69% are receiving treatment, but only 45% have their blood pressure controlled.
The evidence is clear: people who exercise have better health than those who do not. A recent American Heart Association survey shows that fewer than two out of every ten Americans get the recommended 150 minutes or more of moderate physical activity each week.
Eating for good health means choosing lots of fruits and vegetables, whole-grain carbohydrates, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. You might have to train yourself to avoid foods and drinks with high sodium or added sugar. Another perhaps surprising part of healthy eating is to regularly include fish rich in Omega-3’s. It’s great for your heart and your brain.
Everyone has cholesterol. It’s the waxy substance in your bloodstream and cells. Some cholesterol is important for good health, but too much cholesterol in your blood puts you at major risk for heart disease and stroke. When too much LDL (or bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up inside the walls of your arteries that feed your heart and brain. Cholesterol particles combine with other substances in your blood to form plaque. This can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible, putting you at major risk for heart disease and stroke.
Your digestion turns all carbohydrates into sugar or glucose which is then carried throughout your bloodstream to give you energy. Complex carbohydrates like whole-wheat breads and grains, and fruits and vegetables take longer to digest, helping to keep your energy supply steady. But simple sugars, like sweets, donuts, and white bread are very quickly converted into glucose, which can cause your body to call for extra surges of a hormone, insulin, to help regulate the energy supply. If your blood sugar is high, as often happens when you maintain a diet with too many simple carbohydrates, there will be a growth of plaque in your arteries. Diabetes is treatable but very dangerous and can often lead to heart disease and stroke. Even if you don’t have diabetes, you need to know your blood sugar level. Be sure to get a blood sugar level test after fasting at least every three years, because controlling glucose is an important part of stopping heart disease before it starts.
Even if you’ve smoked for years, your body can start the repair process as soon as you stop. If you’re ready to start your plan for smoke-free health, it’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider. Medication can be helpful for some people during the kick-the-habit phase and research shows combining medical and behavioral therapies can increase success rates.
Serious eye conditions that are seen with aging are glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Glaucoma refers to diseases that cause optic nerve damage, some of which are related to an increase in intraocular pressure, which cause progressive vision loss. Symptoms are very few until diminished vision is noticed. Conventional treatments can be pretty drastic but research is showing that vigorous exercise may reduce the intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness among Americans over the age of 65. Dry macular degeneration causes gradual central vision loss and results from aging and thinning of tissues in the macula or deposit of pigment. Wet macular degeneration arises from the body’s attempt to make up for lack of nutrients by building extra blood vessels beneath the retina, but the new blood vessels leak fluid which causes permanent damage to the retinal cells. Studies are showing that AMD is a nutritional and lifestyle responsive eye disease. Diabetic retinopathy is vision-threatening damage to the retina caused by diabetes. Blindness is largely preventable if the patient and doctor work together for proper use of medications, blood sugar testing, and proper diet and lifestyle.
Keep your New Year’s resolution and sign up for the Walk across America Program that The Oasis is offering. Registration begins January 2, 2019. The program will run from January 14 through March 11 lasting 8 weeks. We will keep track of how many miles each participant walks or completes on the Nu-Step or treadmill. You may want to use a pedometer, your Fitbit or your smartphone Pedometer App to record your steps. Turn in your mileage/steps each Monday. Everyone’s mileage will be kept up individually and as a group total to see how far we can walk; pointing out interesting landmarks along the way. Last year, 45 participants walked Route 66 and accumulated over 2694 miles. This year we will follow The Great River Road along the mighty Mississippi River from Itasca, Minnesota, through Memphis, to New Orleans, Louisiana. We’ll have photos along the hike and follow our progress on a map. If we have enough participants, we could make it all the way- almost 3000 miles. We’ll have helpful tips each week, awards and surprises for everyone, as well as the reward of beginning and continuing a great exercise habit of walking for strength and endurance. We will have weekly door prizes and a Grand Prize of Dinner for Two at the Exquisite Cuisine for the most miles recorded. Sign up in The Oasis or the Life Enhancement Office. I can’t wait to get our hiking shoes on again.
If you feel ill and weak this winter season, therapy can help. Therapy can assist in developing a wellness plan that will help prevent loss of strength, range of motion, and falls so you can continue living an independent and active lifestyle. Let’s be preventative this winter season and not wait until something happens for us to take action.
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