How do gods come to be? Why are dragons good for some and menacing for others? Where do the different races of men come from? Why does evil even exist? The Pearl introduces us to the fascinating world of Elearah Chronicles, a place where ancient myths are alive, where these questions find answers in their own way. Travel with Balian the bard, Elearah the Pearl bearer, and Mika their guide, as they move through Huo, the land of the fire race. Witness with them the return of the Golden Dragon, and follow them as they clash with the servants of the Snake. And who is Pearl? Ah, thats a good question, a very good question indeed...

In this vivid and very personal reflection upon his extraordinary life, Jose Martinez offers a candid and heartfelt memoir of where it all went right in his life. He recalls the incredible hard times growing up in a home barely big enough to house the family struggling to make it as his father worked the coal mines. Revealing not only the incredible physical and emotional toll, but how it changed his life for the better. He also recalls warm memories and spins childhood stories that offer tremendous belly laughs. Alongside all his wonderful memories he brings life, laughter and insight as this deeply spiritual man gives us all an opportunity to share his love of life.

Superfoods have been used for human consumption for centuries. These foods provide an important amount of essential nutrients and energy. Nowadays, the nutraceutical properties of superfoods have acquired importance due to their additional health benefits. Most superfoods are eaten in their fresh form in producing regions, but seasonality is an important limiting issue. Traditional processing technologies have been used to assure supply for the whole year, and innovative processing technologies have been developed to reach bigger markets. In this book, the authors provide information about nutritional aspects of the described foods. Additionally, the different functional properties of each food, such as antioxidant, anticancer, hypoglycemic, and cardioprotective activities are discussed. It includes information about their principal bioactive compounds, biological activities, the effects of processing these compounds, nutritional values, and sensorial properties and shelf life. The first section is focused on the properties of selected fruits, some eaten fresh, others only after a first transformation. The second section is focused on a selection of foods having been transformed before human consumption, such as cereals, pseudocereals, and legumes. Finally, the third section includes a set of products from animal and diverse origins.

Current projections indicate that by 2050 the number of people aged over 80 years old will rise to 395 million and that by this date 25-30% of people over the age of 85 will show some degree of cognitive decline. Palliative care for older people: A public health perspective provides a comprehensive account of the current state of palliative care for older people worldwide and illustrates the range of concomitant issues that, as the global population ages, will ever more acutely shape the decisions of policy-makers and care-givers. The book begins by outlining the range of policies towards palliative care for older people that are found worldwide. It follows this by examining an array of socio-cultural issues and palliative care initiatives, from the care implications of health trajectories of older people to the spiritual requirements of palliative care patients, and from the need to encourage compassion towards end-of-life care within communities to the development of care pathways for older people. Palliative care for older people: A public health perspective is a valuable resource for professionals and academics in a range of healthcare and public health fields to understand the current state of policy work from around the world. The book also highlights the social-cultural considerations that influence the difficult decisions that those involved in palliative care face, not least patients themselves, and offers examples of good practice and recommendations to inspire, support, and direct healthcare policy and decision-making at organisational, regional, national and international levels.