All About Family and Health Blog

12 Tips to Get Your Kids Eating Healthy

2011-11-27T16:51:00.001+08:00

With childhood obesity in North America tripling over the past 20 years, what kids are eating has become a major concern. Learn the Do's and Don'ts to get your kids eating healthy.

Adapted from: Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal, Reader's Digest Canada
Establishing patterns for a healthy lifestyle begins with eating well. Ease into a healthy diet with these easy to follow tips:

Do set a good example for your child to copy. Share mealtimes and eat the same healthy foods.
Do discourage snacking on sweets and fatty foods. Keep plenty of healthy foods, such as fruits, raw vegetables, low-fat crackers and yogurt, around for children to eat between meals.
Do allow children to follow their natural appetites when deciding how much to eat.
Do encourage children to enjoy fruits and vegetables by giving them a variety from an early age.
Don't give skim or 1-percent-fat milk to children under the age of five, unless your doctor prescribes it; at this stage, children need the extra calories in whole milk.
Do ask children to help prepare meals. If parents rely mostly on convenience foods, children may not learn to enjoy cooking.
Don't add unnecessary sugar to drinks and foods.
Don't accustom children to extra salt by adding it to food or placing the shaker on the table.
Don't give whole nuts to children under the age of five. They may choke on them. Peanut butter and chopped nuts are fine as long as the child is not allergic to them.
Don't force children to eat more than they want.
Don't use food as a bribe.
Don't make children feel guilty about eating any type of food.

Healthful Snacks

Stock up on healthful snacks that children and teenagers can nibble on throughout the day:

Breads and crackers with spreads such as peanut butter, low-fat cheese, canned tuna or sardines and lean cold cuts.
Rice cakes and whole-grain crackers or breadsticks.
Fresh and dried fruits.
Yogourt.
Carrot and celery sticks, cherry tomatoes or other raw vegetables with nutritious dips.
Plain popcorn.
Breakfast cereals.
Water, milk or fruit juice.

8 Ways to Stay Close to Your Child

2011-11-12T00:13:00.001+08:00

You remember when they took naps. You recall their first words. You cherish the days when they were innocent, loving and eager for your hugs. The tips that follow can help you continue to bond with your children if they are no longer children. Nothing can make your heart soar as much as watching their lives prosper – and them wanting you to be part of it.

From: 5-Minute Health Boosters / Reader's Digest

1 . Set Dinner Time
There’s something comforting about the family gathered around the dinner table, perhaps because that tradition is disappearing. Yet the evening meal is often the one time of day when the family can get together in one place. So make dinner a family affair. Use the time to share news of your day, make weekend plans and enjoy one another’s company. Research shows that adolescents who dine with their family at least several times a week are less likely to smoke and use drugs and they tend to get better exam results.

2. Back Off, But Stay Close
It’s normal for teens to want to spend more time with friends than parents. But don’t take this to mean your job as a parent id diminished. Find ways to remain involved in your child’s life. For example, while tea parties may be a thing of the past, you can still get to know your children’s friends by making them welcome after school. Staying involved may be more challenging, but it’s an important way of enhancing your relationship with your child.

3. Share Your Feelings

Of course, spare the intimate details of very personal subjects, but confiding that you, too, occasionally feel angry, insecure or awkward shows your teenager that you’re not just a parent — you’re human. Not only will your child feel closer to you, but he or she may feel safe enough to disclose uncomfortable issues when they arise.

4. Ask for Their Opinions
Teenagers have opinions about, well, everything, and they aren’t shy about sharing them. So allow them to make more independent decisions. For instance, let them decide when and where to study, what to wear, what after-school activity to pursue. However, keep in mind that some decisions are non-negotiable. Parents need to set limits that protect their child’s health, safety and well-being – at every age. These might include curfews, decisions about drinking and sexual activity, issues around study and university.

5. Trust Your Children to Make Smart Choices
Of course, they’ll make the wrong ones occasionally. But especially if they’re over 18, give them the chance to work out solutions to problems on their own. Didn’t you want the same from your parents at that age?

6. Call Before Going Over
If you have an adult child, always call before you go to his or her home, unless it is absolutely necessary. If you’re the parent of a teen, knock before you enter his or her room.

7. Respect Their Privacy

Don’t read his or her diary, eavesdrop on phone conversations or badger him or her with questions. If any behaviour is troubling you, address it directly, using five little words: ‘Can we talk about it?’ Here’s an example: ‘You seem to be very quiet lately, and I’m worried about you. Can we talk about it?’

8. Be Honest
Many parents offer praise when they shouldn’t, as well as when they should. That just undermines trust. If both your praise and criticism are heartfelt and valid, your children will learn to trust you.

Diet For a Longer Life

2011-11-09T00:57:00.000+08:00

by Janis Graham From: Reader's Digest USA, July 2009

The advice to dial back on burgers, steaks, and cold cuts just took on a bit more oomph: A ten-year study of 545,000 Americans found that people who eat about four ounces of beef or pork a day (the amount in an average-sized burger) are at least 30 percent more likely to die early, compared with those who consume an ounce or less daily. Though previous research has linked a diet heavy in red meat to a greater risk of heart disease and colon cancer, this is the first big study to look at how it affects your life expectancy.

The results don’t mean you have to completely eliminate beef and pork, says Paula Quatromoni, DSc, an assistant professor of nutrition at Boston University, who wasn’t involved in the study. “You just need to eat much less.” Read on to find out how.

Don’t Quit — Switch

People who ate more fish, chicken, and turkey had a slightly lower risk of dying during this study, so use turkey for your meat loaf and shrimp when you make a stir-fry. Skewer chicken for shish kebabs—or, if you prefer, use a few chunks of beef along with plenty of veggies.

Keep Rules Simple

If you eat lots of red meat, start by banning it from two meals. Skip bacon at breakfast; substitute turkey for ham in your deli sandwich. Then declare one day of the week “red-meat-less.”

Indulge, But Not Every Day

When you hanker for a big burger, a sizzling T-bone, or a rack of barbecued ribs, go for it! Then build the rest of your week’s meals around fish, beans, and other healthier sources of protein.

Simple Switch, Big Results

Instead of: Ranch salad dressing
Use: Oil and vinegar

To get: Protection against cancer and, for diabetes, help in managing blood sugar. Vinaigrette has long been recognized as better for you than creamy dressings. But in a recent test-tube study from Spain, compounds in extra-virgin olive oil blocked the growth of human breast cancer cells.
In other new research, people who regularly consumed vinegar had healthier blood sugar levels. “Any type of vinegar—red wine, balsamic, cider—appears to be beneficial, as long as it’s 5 percent acid,” says researcher Carol S. Johnston, PhD, of Arizona State University.
To make a first-rate vinaigrette, use three times as much oil as vinegar. Add a pinch of salt and pepper; for variety, throw in shallots, garlic, Dijon mustard, or fresh herbs.

The 7 Stages of Marriage

2011-11-09T00:38:00.000+08:00

Stage One: Passion

This is the honeymoon stage, when romance and intense attraction bond a couple together and lead to commitment. In retrospect, it often seems as short-lived as springtime – by two years, most couples have usually lost that initial magic, though this can vary by couple. But when it is happening, the passion stage is very strong and significant. It is a wave of feel-good brain chemicals orchestrated by Mother Nature to make the two of you forsake all others and take action to ensure the survival of the species.

Even if you’re marrying later in life, or for the second time, nature supplies these delicious bursts of neurotransmitters to make you bond. Couples not only frolic and fall madly in love in the passion stage – they begin to establish the trust, respect and emotional intimacy that will support their relationship forever.

Stage Two: Realization

In this stage, the honeymoon ends, and a more real vision of the rest of your life begins. In this stage, you discover your spouse is not only human, he also doesn’t load the dishwasher or lower the toilet seat. Disappointment and early conflicts are the hallmarks of this difficult, unavoidable period, as the two of you make the first steps toward accepting each other for who you really are.

The mission and challenge? No less than laying the groundwork for a long future together based on acceptance, respect and openness to change. You’ll need to assertively discuss and emphatically listen as you both introduce your deepest personal needs and wants. This creates a foundation for being truly known, understood and supported in the years ahead.

Stage Three: Rebellion

She misses her friends; he misses his cool toys. She wants to travel; he wants to play weekly softball. She wants to build her career; he wants to build his career. Even for couples who successfully navigate the realization stage of marriage and lay the foundation for a happy, respectful coexistence together, a time inevitably emerges when self-interest often overtakes the interests of the marriage. And when this happens, be ready for the battles.

Love amid the power struggles of the rebellion stage is tricky business. You both believe you’re right, so of course your partner’s wrong. That means you’re simultaneously offended at being called wrong and claiming the moral high ground. Is this any way to run a marriage?

Experts say the drama of the rebellion stage are unavoidable. Learning the art of the good fight is the mission now – often it is the nature of the battles, rather than the substance of the discussion, that leads to trouble. Why? Rebellious thoughts, when met with anger and frustration, often lead to rebellious actions, such as infidelity, outlandish spending, or saying yes to the sudden offer from work to transfer to a new city. Any of these can spell disaster for a marriage.

Stage Four: Cooperation

As marriages progress over time, they inevitably become more complicated. Careers grow, houses get bigger, personal commitments grow deeper, and children arrive. In the cooperation stage, marriage takes on a business-like personality. Set aside all that love and emotion and personal-realization stuff: There are mortgages to be paid, investments to be handled, careers to be directed, health to be managed, and – first and foremost – children to be raised.

Step Five: Reunion

If you have children, the cooperation stage often lasts 10 to 20 years – then suddenly it is gone. Your parenting commitments are lessened, your finances established, your career set, your mortgage paid. What then? For happy couples, it is a time to appreciate each other again, not as parents and providers but as lovers and friends, thinkers and seekers. Achieve this and there’s peace, happiness and reconciliation.

That all sounds wonderful but this ideal is often hard to achieve. The embers of passion need stoking; the disillusionment and distance of middle age need to be managed; the roles and expectations of the marriage need recalibrating.

Step Six: Explosion

Job loss, major health problems, a move to a new city, financial troubles, the illness or death of a parent – as you pass through midlife and into the golden years, major life developments seem to come one upon the other. In the explosion phase, either you, your spouse, or both of you are dealing with major, life-shaking events that could affect your relationship for a day, a year, or the rest of your lives. While the other six stages tend to occur in order, the Explosion stage can happen at any time in a marriage though it happens most as we pass through our 40s and 50s.

Confronted by a personal crisis, your marriage can be a source of solace or be sorely tried by the unexpected pressure of new roles, new limitations and new fears. The mission of the explosion stage: Deal the best you can with life’s challenges and changes, but at the same time, keep yourself happy and healthy. Letting your marriage see you through can be as simple as sharing daily joys, provided you sometimes practice the Zen-like art of putting aside fear and stress.

Step Seven: Completion

It’s no coincidence: Lots of surveys find that marital happiness soars after several decades of a shared life. Experts say simply that it’s because the kids are grown, and couples know each other very, very well. But there’s more to it than that. Knowing each other isn’t merely about tolerating each other’s habits, quirks and needs. In the completion stage, “knowing” each other has a far deeper meaning – and a bigger payoff as well.

Part of being a happy man is to never lose the boy within; the same goes for women – there is the spirit of a young girl inside, no matter how many wrinkles edge the eyes. Maintaining a childlike love of life, laughter, nature, and each other is the real secret to a perpetually blessed relationship. It is also living in the present, not the past. In the completion stage of marriage, there is never a belief that the best times are over – they should always be today and tomorrow.

Building a successful marriage is a lifelong challenge. Understanding the different phases a marriage goes through may help you build a stronger and better relationship. Read on to learn more about the seven stages of marriage.

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Article from : Reader's Digest
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Strawberries Shown To Protect Stomach Against Ulcers

2011-11-09T00:20:00.000+08:00

Yahoo News .....

People who suffer from stomach ulcers should consider tucking into a pint of fresh strawberries, particularly if the inflammation is related to excessive alcohol consumption, suggests a new study.

The new research, published in the journal PLoS One (Public Library of Science) and announced Tuesday, found that the powerful antioxidant properties of strawberries can act as a protective barrier to stomach ulcers.

In their study, a team of scientists from Italy, Serbia and Spain put a group of rats on a diet that included strawberry extracts for 10 days, before inducing gastric damage by giving the animals ethanol.

Rats that ate strawberry extract were found to have less ulcerations by about 40 mg/day per kilo of weight, compared to those that didn't.

Not only did the strawberries' antioxidant capacity help strengthen the stomach lining, but they were also found to activate the body's own defenses and enzymes, researchers said. Eating strawberries can also help alleviate damage either before or after the onset of inflammation.

The new findings could pave the way for new protective ulcer treatments.

Ulcers can be caused by alcohol consumption, viral infections or medications like aspirin.

Researchers pointed out, however, that their study was not conceived to mitigate the effects of getting drunk, but to discover new ways of protecting the stomach against damage.

Previous studies have also shown that strawberries can strengthen red blood cells' response to oxidative stress, which is often a precursor to cancer and other chronic diseases.

13 Surprising Causes of Constipation

2011-11-07T18:30:00.000+08:00

By Amanda Gardner

What causes constipation? Well, the obvious culprits include a low fiber diet, repeatedly ignoring the urge to go, not drinking enough water, or a lack of exercise.But constipation also has other, less-well-known causes, including certain medications and supplements, as well as potentially serious medical conditions.What’s causing your gut trouble?

Here are 13 possible causes of constipation you may not have considered.

Possible Cause No. 01 : HypothyroidismHypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland, slows the body’s metabolic processes—even the gut.Not everyone with an underactive thyroid has constipation, nor do all cases of constipation mean that the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck is underperforming.Still, "when I see a young person who’s constipated more than normal and really complaining, I do tend to get a thyroid level," says Carla H. Ginsburg, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Possible Cause No. 02 : Painkillers

Painkillers, specifically narcotics, can cause constipation."A lot of receptors for the narcotic class of drugs are in the digestive tract, so it tends to bring everything to a halt," says Thomas Park, MD, a gastroenterologist with the University of Rochester Medical Center Park in New York. "In general, it?s a good idea for everyone who?s placed on one of these drugs to also place them on a gentle laxative like a stool softener."Some studies (but not all) have suggested that there might be a higher risk of constipation for people who are chronic users of pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen.

Possible Cause No. 03 : Chocolate

There’s some evidence that chocolate can cause constipation, though other studies show chocolate may actually help some people, Dr. Park says.In one 2005 study, people with chronic constipation or irritable bowel syndrome were more likely than people without those problems to say that chocolate caused constipation (as did bananas and black tea).Eliminate or cut back on chocolate if you think it could be causing your constipation.

Possible Cause No. 04 : Vitamins

Vitamins in general won’t cause constipation, but certain components, such as calcium and iron, can be a problem."I would tell a patient to stop taking the iron [or calcium] unless they really need it and, if they do need it, I would put them on a stool softener to counteract that," says Dr. Ginsburg, who is a spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association.

Possible Cause No. 05 : Laxative Overuse

Some laxatives work by stimulating bowel activity. Such stimulant laxatives should be taken only as directed.If used for long periods of time, stimulant laxatives can lead to dependence, meaning your body simply won’t function properly without them.Stimulant laxatives include Dulcolax, Ex-Lax, Senna, and others.Don’t take any medication—including laxatives—for longer than instructed by either the product’s label or your doctor.

Possible Cause No. 06 : Too Much Dairy

A diet high in cheese and other low-fiber/high-fat foods such as eggs and meat can slow down your digestion. The obvious solution? Cut down on your intake of such foods, and increase fiber intake to 20 to 35 grams a day."If you?re going to have cheeses and red meat and eggs, mix in some salads or other foods that have fiber," Dr. Park advises. And avoid fast foods and processed foods, which are generally low in fiber.

Possible Cause No. 07 : Antidepressants

Constipation can be associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants such as Prozac (fluoxetine).However, constipation is more of a problem with older tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil (amitriptyline), says Dr. Park. Why any of these drugs have this effect isn’t clear, though.If you’re taking an antidepressant and have this side effect, think about using a gentle stool softener.

Possible Cause No. 08 : Depression

Ironically, the very condition that antidepressants are meant to treat—depression—can also cause constipation.Like hypothyroidism, depression causes a general slowdown of the body’s normal processes, which can also affect the bowel.People with irritable bowel syndrome, which can be closely linked to depression, are also prone to constipation, Dr. Park says.

Possible Cause No. 09 : Antacids

Antacids are great for fighting heartburn, but some can cause constipation, particularly those containing calcium or aluminum, Dr. Park says.Fortunately, the drugstore aisles are crammed with options, so if one medication is a problem you can try something else.You can also cut down on your risk of heartburn by not overstuffing at meals. And consuming fewer fatty foods and more fiber will help prevent both problems.

Possible Cause No. 10 : Blood Pressure and Allergy Medicines

Constipation can be a side effect of some common drugs used to treat high blood pressure, such as calcium channel blockers and diuretics.Diuretics, for instance, lower blood pressure by increasing urine output, which flushes water from your system. However, water is needed to keep stools soft and get them out of the body.Antihistamines used to treat allergy symptoms can be a problem too.

Possible Cause No. 11 : Inflammatory Bowel Disease(IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes two chronic conditions—Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Both can cause cramping, weight loss, bloody stools, and other health problems.Chronic diarrhea is a common symptom of both. However constipation can be a problem too.In ulcerative colitis, constipation can be a sign of inflammation in the rectum and in Crohn's disease it can be a sign of an obstruction in the small intestine. However if you have constipation alone, without other symptoms, it's unlikely to be due to IBD.

Possible Cause No. 12 : Childbirth

Constipation is common during pregnancy, but childbirth itself can be a problem, possibly due to sluggish abdominal muscles or perhaps the use of pain relievers or an anesthetic during the delivery.Also, "there may be some perineal soreness right after the delivery, so the fear of causing more discomfort may be an important factor in the constipation," says Dr. Park.Although stretch injuries during childbirth can sometimes cause nerve damage that leads to constipation, this is less common.

Possible Cause No. 13 : Diabetes and Neurological Conditions

Diabetes can cause nerve damage that can affect a person’s ability to digest food, says Dr. Park.Most people with advanced diabetes know they have it. Still, it’s reasonable to do a blood sugar test on someone who is regularly constipated, says Dr. Ginsburg.Neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease can cause constipation. Usually, though, "this goes with another symptom such as trouble urinating, double vision, or a gait problem," Dr. Ginsburg says.

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More Evidence Obesity Tied To Colon Cancer : Study

2011-11-07T17:14:00.003+08:00

(Reuters) - Older adults who are heavy, especially around the middle, seem to have a higher risk of developing colon cancer than their thinner peers -- and exercise may lower the incidence of the disease, especially for women, a European study said.

More than 120,000 adults in the Netherlands aged 55 to 69 were followed for 16 years by the study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

During that time, about two percent developed colorectal cancer, tumors of the colon and/or rectum, though most were diagnosed with colon cancer.

The risk was 25 percent higher for men who were significantly overweight or obese at the outset, versus normal-weight men.

"The study provides further evidence that excess body fat may contribute to a higher risk of colorectal cancer," said lead researcher Laura Hughes, at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, in an email.

For men, waist size seemed to matter most. Men with the biggest bellies, gauged by their self-reported trouser size, had a 63 percent greater risk of colorectal cancer than men who were trimmest around the middle.

Among women, though, a large waistline was only linked to a higher cancer risk in women who also got little exercise, defined as less than 30 minutes a day.

Women who topped a "44" in pants size -- about a size 16 in the United States -- and got little exercise were 83 percent more likely to develop colon cancer than women who had smaller waistlines and exercised more than 90 minutes a day.

Studies have tied abdominal obesity to other health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, and belly fat seems to be particularly linked to chronic, low-level inflammation in the body, Hughes added.

"One of our most intriguing observations was that abdominal fat was associated with colorectal cancer in women only when combined with low exercise levels," she said.

It's not clear why that might be, or why the pattern was seen only in women, Hughes added. Calorie balance, or how much you take in through food versus how much you burn through exercise, may be important.

"Women should focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle rather than simply paying attention to what the scale says," Hughes added.

Risk factors for colorectal disease include older age, a history of colitis or Crohn's disease, a family history of the cancer, and smoking. Some studies have also linked diets high in animal fat, and low in fruits, vegetables and fibre to an increased risk. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/rTElMb

(Reporting from New York by Amy Norton at Reuters Health; editing by Elaine Lies and Sanjeev Miglani)

The 50 Fattiest Foods in the States (Part 2/5)

2011-06-21T22:50:00.013+08:00

By Sarah Klein

Traditional American fare—just like the American waistline—is looking more than a little pudgy these days.

Even though some states enjoy healthier reputations than others (Yes, Colorado, we mean you), no state is completely guilt-free when it comes to dishes with huge portion sizes, super-high calorie counts, or sky-high fat content.

So if you want to sample some of these regional favorites on your next road trip, your best bet may be to minimize your portion size.

11) Hawaii: Loco Moco

Legend says the islands’ comfort food dates back to 1949, when a group of hungry teens wanted the owner of Hilo’s Lincoln Grill to whip up something cheap but filling. He reportedly threw together some white rice, a beef patty, and gravy, which came to be known as the Loco Moco.

Ingredients: Today, variations abound. The Large at Island Cuisine Maui, a Maui restaurant, has two hamburger patties, two eggs, three scoops of jasmine rice, plus onions, fish, and mushroom gravy.

Fat content: Two hamburger patties clock in at 32 grams fat, two eggs have 10 more grams of fat, and a serving of mushroom gravy has about a gram of fat, all of which edge this dish close to the daily recommended limit.

12) Idaho: Bacon Bleu Cheese Dressing

In a state known for its potatoes, residents tend to get creative with their spuds, often by adding fatty toppings. The Gem State houses the headquarters of Litehouse Foods, a dressings, sauces, and marinades company. A dollop of sour cream on top of a baked potato looks like a good choice compared to the Bacon Bleu Cheese dressing.

Ingredients: Chunky blue cheese dressing, hickory smoked bacon

Fat content: 2 tablespoons contain 16 grams of fat, about the same as an entire Burger King cheeseburger.

13) Illinois: Deep-dish Pizza

Deep-dish pizza, native to Chicago, was born in 1943 at the original Pizzeria Uno’s. Now a nationwide chain, the restaurant continues to serve deep-dish pies, piled high. Guilty of one of the oldest tricks in the book, the restaurant markets pizzas as an “individual” size, but the pie should really serve three. It’s a surefire way to up your fat and calorie intake.

Fat content: One serving of the Cheese & Tomato deep dish has 40 grams of fat, 5 more than your recommended daily limit. Add toppings, like sausage or pepperoni, and that can jump as high as 55 grams of fat per serving!

14) Indiana: Fried-brain Sandwich

The Hoosier State is known for its pork products and festival fare. But Evansville, Ind.’s Hilltop Inn, until recently, was more famous for serving up a fried-brain sandwich that dates back to the days of waste-not German and Dutch settlers. After recent USDA regulations concerning the spread of mad cow disease, the restaurant created a version made from pork brains instead.

Ingredients: Oil for frying, brain on a bun with pickles and onions

Fat content: A 6-ounce scoop of beef brain batter fried up at the Hilltop Inn packed about 24 grams of fat. The pork version is estimated to be closer to around 18 grams.

15) Iowa: Hot beef Sundae

In 2006, the hot beef sundae made its debut at the Iowa State Fair. An artery-clogging play on the classic hot fudge sundae, this horror was marketed as “a new twist to an old favorite.”

Ingredients: Mashed potatoes, roast beef, beef gravy, cheddar cheese, tomato

Fat content: Following the Iowa State Fair recipe at home will dish out a “sundae” with about 28 grams of fat. Commercially prepared recipes may vary.

16) Kansas: Charred Ends

Burnt ends don’t necessarily sound like a delicacy, but in the Kansas barbecue world, the charred ends of a brisket are held in the highest esteem.

Ingredients: These crunchy cubes are the fatty ends of a barbecued brisket.

Fat content: Recipes vary between about 10 to 12 grams of fat per serving.

17) Kentucky: KFC's Double Down

Everyone’s buzzing about the Double Down, the new bunless sandwich from KFC. Surprisingly, it’s not the fattiest item on this Kentucky-based chain’s menu—the chicken pot pie takes the cake—but it is definitely still among the worst.

Ingredients: Two fried chicken fillets, bacon, pepper jack and Monterey jack cheese, special sauce

Fat content: 32 grams in one sandwich

18) Louisiana: Beignet

A staple at southern cafés is the beignet, a fried dough pastry particularly linked with New Orleans. One of the most popular places to enjoy a beignet is Café Du Monde, a French market–style coffee shop in the Big Easy. There, the fried puffs come covered in powdered sugar in orders of three.

Ingredients: Fried dough, powdered sugar

Fat content: Recipes estimate that Café du Monde–style beignets clock in at about 11 grams of fat, the same number as in a McDonald’s cheeseburger.

19) Maine: Lobster Roll

New England is a bastion of fresh—and healthy—seafood. But seafood restaurants are guilty of transforming these powerhouses of heart-healthy fats into saturated-fat-delivery machines. The lobster roll, a classic in Maine, piles on the mayo and butter.

Ingredients: Lobster meat, cucumber, mayonnaise, tarragon, scallions, salt, pepper, hot dug bun, butter

Fat content: Recipes vary. The lobster roll at New England sandwich shop D’Angelo clocks in at 22 grams of fat, while a small one at New England pizza chain Papa Gino’s averages about 34 grams.

20) Maryland: Smith Island Cake

In 2008, the Old Line State adopted the Smith Island Cake as its official state dessert. The cake gets its name from a remote island in the Chesapeake Bay, home to fewer than 100 year-round residents, and yet the decadent treat became so popular the governor signed the cake into law.

Ingredients: At least 10 layers of cake, which can be made from scratch or from a packaged mix, with layers of chocolate icing in between

Fat content: Most recipes have around 26 grams of fat per serving.

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From health.com
To be continued
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The 50 Fattiest Foods in the States (Part 1/5)

2011-06-20T23:52:00.014+08:00

By Sarah Klein

Traditional American fare—just like the American waistline—is looking more than a little pudgy these days.

Even though some states enjoy healthier reputations than others (Yes, Colorado, we mean you), no state is completely guilt-free when it comes to dishes with huge portion sizes, super-high calorie counts, or sky-high fat content.

So if you want to sample some of these regional favorites on your next road trip, your best bet may be to minimize your portion size.

1) Alabama: Bacon-wrapped meatloaf

With the second-highest obesity rate in the country—behind only neighboring Mississippi—you’d expect to find some fattening culprits in the deep-fried-bacon-loving south. And Chef Kevin Layton of Greer’s Market, in Mobile, does not disappoint with his bacon-wrapped meatloaf recipe. “People ask for it on a weekly basis,” he told WKRG News in 2008.

Ingredients: Meatloaf made with ground beef, onion, bell pepper, celery, eggs, breadcrumbs, and seasonings, then wrapped in bacon.

Fat content: One 3-ounce serving of 80% lean meatloaf has roughly 14 grams of fat. Each slice of bacon will cost you an additional 3 grams of fat.

2) Alaska: Eskimo Ice Cream

Also known as Eskimo Ice Cream, akutaq, (pronounced agoodik or agooduk) is a classic native dish that is still popular today. Traditionally, women made a batch of the frosty treat when the men returned with a freshly killed polar bear or seal. Today, modern versions are usually prepared with Crisco, but traditional recipes called for meat and fat from caribou, moose, bears, seals, and fish.

Ingredients: Reindeer fat, seal oil, salmonberries, blackberries

Fat content: It’s hard to estimate without a known serving size of this native treat. But consider this: An average serving of reindeer fat packs a whopping 91 grams of fat. A different version made with fish, berries, and seal oil contains 9 grams of fat.

3) Arizona: Quadruple Bypass Burger

The Grand Canyon State takes celebrating fatty foods to a whole new level at the Heart Attack Grill. Patrons weighing over 350 pounds eat for free. The Quadruple Bypass Burger—estimated by some to be worth 8,000 calories—is at least refreshingly honest about its potential impact on your health.

Ingredients: Four beef patties, eight slices of cheese, tomato, onions, sauce, on a bun

Fat content: Four patties alone clock in at around 60 grams of fat, which is just about the upper limit of 65 grams that the USDA recommends for the average woman eating 2,000 calories a day.

4) Arkansas: Catfish

The south is notorious for frying just about anything. For a traditional southern fish fry, Arkansas catfish is an old standby. When you consider that this dish is often served with hush puppies, another southern fried favorite, you can bet you’re reeling in quite a bit of fat along with your fish.

Ingredients: Catfish, cornmeal, flour, eggs, seasonings

Fat content: This dish is faux fried in the oven and still packs a whopping 25 grams of fat per serving.

5) California: In-N-Out Burger Double Double

Golden State residents are known for their fit bodies, gym-sculpted abs, and love for In-N-Out Burger. This West Coast drive-thru chain uses fresh ingredients, but its Double Double should also be known for its fat content, nearly double the fat in a McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger.

Ingredients: Two beef patties, lettuce, tomato, two slices of American cheese, and spread

Fat content: 41 grams. A McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger contains a comparably reasonable 23 grams of fat.

6) Colorado: Jack-N-Grill’s 7-pound breakfast burritos

While this mountainous state is well known for its healthy reputation—it is the state with the lowest obesity rate in the country—it is home to one of the most giant burritos of all time. Finishing one of Jack-N-Grill’s 7-pound breakfast burritos is such a feat it was featured on an episode of the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food.

Ingredients: 7 potatoes, 12 eggs, a pound of ham, a whole onion, cheese, and chili.

Fat content: A pound of ham and 12 eggs alone have nearly 100 grams of fat, almost twice a woman's upper daily limit for fat, and that’s not counting the fat in the cheese and chili.

7) Connecticut: 2-foot-long hot dog

Man v. Food also made an appearance at Doogie’s, a hot dog joint outside Hartford. Being a local favorite in Connecticut, the hot dog is available in over 24 places in Hartford alone. Doogie’s has taken the diet-buster to a new level with its 2-foot-long hot dog smothered in half a pound of additional toppings.

Ingredients: 2-foot-long pork and beef hot dog, three rolls, onions, peppers, chili, cheddar cheese sauce, and bacon

Fat content: The average foot-long hot dog will set you back about 24 grams of fat, 10 grams of it saturated. But this is double that, plus it has bacon, chili, and cheddar cheese.

8) Delaware: Deep-fried pastry

The First State is known for a deep-fried pastry appetizer stuffed with crabmeat and cheese, similar to the Chinese appetizer crab Rangoon.

Ingredients: Recipes vary, but most include cooked crab or imitation crabmeat, cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, seasonings, and oil for frying.

Fat content: Crab is relatively low-fat fare, but many recipes are heavy on butter and mayonnaise. One small puff can have anywhere from 3 grams of fat to 8 grams of fat, and richer recipes can pack as many as 20 grams of fat per serving.

9) Florida: Empanadas

The South American influence on Floridian cuisine is impossible to miss. Empanadas are folded meat pies served across the country, but they are particularly popular in the southern part of the Sunshine State.

Ingredients: The dough is made with lard. The filling is up to the chef, but can range from cheese to veggies to assorted meats.

Fat content: Various recipes for empanadas place them at around 10 to 22 grams of fat each. Depending on what you choose to put inside, an empanada can slide around on the nutritional value scale. Still, as the dough is usually made with lard, it’s never a low-fat choice.

10) Georgia: Luther Burger

The story behind the Luther Burger is murky. But the general consensus is that this monstrosity was invented at a suburban bar in Decatur, Ga., and named after R&B legend (and diabetic) Luther Vandross. In 2008 Paula Deen of the Food Network took it one step further by topping it off with a fried egg.

Ingredients: Ground-beef patty, topped with cheese and bacon between two donuts instead of a bun

Fat content: The two Krispy Kreme glazed donuts are worth 24 grams of fat and the patty is another 16.

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From health.com

Read Part 2/5
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Reading With Mom Can Boost Kindergarten Readiness

2011-06-20T23:37:00.003+08:00

Home learning experiences such as reading books with parents can improve low-income preschool children’s readiness to start school, researchers say.

The new study included more than 1,850 U.S. children and their mothers in families with household incomes at or below the federal poverty line. During home visits when the children were ages 1, 2, 3 and 5 years, the New York University researchers looked at how often the children took part in literary activities (such as shared book reading), the quality of the mothers’ interactions with their children (such as exposing children to frequent and varied adult speech), and the availability of learning materials, including children’s books.

The researchers also assessed the number of words the children understood and their knowledge of letters and words at age 5.

Differences in the children’s home learning environment predicted their readiness to start school, according to the study in the current issue of the journal Child Development. For example, children whose home learning environment scores were consistently low were much more likely to have delays in language and literacy skills at pre-kindergarten than children who had high home learning scores.

“Our findings indicate that enriched learning experiences as early as the first year of life are important to children’s vocabulary growth, which in turn provides a foundation for children’s later school success,” study leader Eileen T. Rodriguez said in a news release from the Society for Research in Child Development.

She and her colleagues also found that the course of a child’s early learning experiences were predicted by: children’s cognitive abilities as infants; mothers’ race and ethnicity, education and employment; and a family’s household income.

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http://health.com
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Everything You Need To Know About High Blood Pressure !!

2010-12-27T23:49:00.005+08:00

Understanding High Blood Pressure (HBP #1)

Consequences of High Blood Pressure (HBP #2)

Medicating for High Blood Pressure (HBP #3)

Preventing High Blood Pressure (HBP #5)

Health Tip To Lower High Blood Pressure :

What To Eat To Lower High Blood Pressure

How To Lower Your High Blood Pressure

How to Lower Blood Pressure with Garlic

7 Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure

Everything You Need To Know About Cholesterol !!!

2010-12-27T23:38:00.004+08:00

Understanding Cholesterol (Cholesterol #1)

Consequences of Cholesterol (Cholesterol #2)

Cholesterol-Lowering Substances (Cholesterol #3)

Lowering Cholesterol (Cholesterol #4)

Cholesterol-Lowering Medication (Cholesterol #5)

The Cholesterol Lie: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know

2010-12-27T23:24:00.002+08:00

Cholesterol does not cause heart disease, according to 15 years of research.

- LDL ("bad cholesterol") and HDL ("good cholesterol") are actually proteins, not cholesterol.

- According to research, heart disease is caused by the food additives glucose and fructose.

Cholesterol is necessary for life, is made by the liver, and occurs in almost all living organisms.

Many heart attack victims have normal cholesterol levels.

High fructose corn syrup, added to many processed foods and colas, is the number one source of calories in the US. This explains why so many people have heart disease and diabetes.

Diabetes is reversible in at least 95% of all cases.

Good nutrition causes LDL particles to be larger, which is important because this keeps them from getting stuck during transport and causing damage.

Cholesterol drugs do not affect particle size, have serious side effects, and kill thousands of people each year.

For more info and sources, visit my blog:

Red Pill Reich
http://redpillreich.blogspot.com/
The Cholesterol Lie: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know, April 2008.)

I am a nurse who is exposing the Illuminati's use of modern medicine to drug, poison and control millions in their pursuit of a New World Order.

This is an interview featuring Dr. Ron Rosedale by Dr. Joseph Mercola.

If you're not familiar with Dr. Mercola, he's an osteopathic medical doctor with the most popular health website on the Internet.

He is board certified in family medicine and licensed as a physician and surgeon in Iliinois, after training in both traditional and natural medicine.

I highly recommend his free newsletter on natural health, which is the most subscribed to:

http://mercola.com/

He also has a YouTube account:

http://youtube.com/mercola

Empower yourself by learning about your health.

Please share this ....

Exposing the Cholesterol Myth

2010-12-27T23:17:00.001+08:00

Dr. Ron Rosedale talks about the common cholesterol myth .....

Oh Holy Night - Sang By Individual Artist

2010-12-25T13:09:00.006+08:00

Oh Holy Night - as sang by Avril Lavigne, Billy Gilman, Rhema Marvanne (7 years old), Josh Groban, Charlotte Church, Regine Velasquez, Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera, Destiny's Child, Jackie Evancho (9 years old Opera Singer), David Phelps, Alicia Keys, Charice Pempengco and Celtic Woman

Merry Christmas, hope you'll enjoy individual videos.

Oh Holy Night by Celtic Woman

Oh Holy Night by Avril Lavigne

Oh Holy Night by Billy Gilman

Oh Holy Night by Rhema Marvanne (7 years old)

Oh Holy Night by Josh Groban

Oh Holy Night by Charlotte Church

Oh Holy Night by Regine Velasquez

Oh Holy Night by Kelly Clarkson

Oh Holy Night by Mariah Carey

Oh Holy Night by Whitney Houston

Oh Holy Night by Charice Pempengco

Oh Holy Night by Carrie Underwood

Oh Holy Night by Christina Aguillera

Oh Holy Night by Alicia Keys

Oh Holy Night by David Phelps

Oh Holy Night by Jackie Evancho (9 years old)

Oh Holy Night by Destiny's Child

Help Me Get Pregnant - Pregnancy Solution

2010-12-12T14:20:00.003+08:00

A Guide To Your Pregnancy

The first step of your pregnancy, after seeing the little positive stick should to have it confirmed. Call immediately to have a pregnancy test done with your local doctor, you may be in luck and get in that same day or have to wait about a week or two. Patience will become your best friend during this time or your worst enemy, waiting can become a very hard thing when you want to know for sure whether you are or aren't pregnant. More than likely you'll get a phone call a few days later to confirm it.

Set up an appointment to see your OB/GYN or midwife as soon as possible, chances are you'll be meeting his/her staff before you ever meet them. This is the first appointment where your doctor/midwife will want to know all your medical history. If you’ve been pregnant, what types of sicknesses run in your family, etc. If you can, try making sure you know all of this ahead of time, maybe even have it all down on paper so when he/she asks you are prepared. During the days or weeks leading up to this meeting you may have concerns, write them down and ask them. Believe it or not doctors are there to help you, and they’ve been asked every question you can possibly think of. Before leaving your doctor may even give you a bag full of goodies all about being pregnant. Read these, they may prove beneficial and not to mention they’ve got coupons. Your doctor will either give you another appointment or have you set one up before leaving. There are some great books out there if you are really worried about what will happen next or how birth is going to be, check them out at your local library.

Make sure that you get your prenatal vitamins, they are very important during pregnancy. If for some reason you can’t take them, talk with your doctor he/she may be able to prescribe a lower dosage or something else. You’ll get your first ultrasound, also known as US around week 20, this is normally when you find out what sex the baby is. However some doctors like to call it safe and give you an ultrasound around 10-12 weeks just to make sure the baby is in the proper location and all is going well. You will also be asked to take an orange drink that you must drink in five minutes. You’ll wait around for an hour to three hours, at which point your blood gets drawn and you can go home. The test determines if you have or have a chance of getting gestational diabetes.

At first your appointments will be about 4 weeks apart until you hit the 36 week and at that point it’ll be two weeks later and a week later after that until the baby is born. By now you should be preparing to have the baby. Yes, I’m sure you’ll have some anxiety towards the end of your pregnancy. You’ve went this far, it’s time you see your reward.

--------------------------------------------------------
Need Help Getting Pregnant?
This video to the rescue :

Inspirational Video For Parents

2010-12-05T02:39:00.000+08:00

Ten Important Steps to Increase Your Child’s Self Esteem and Confidence

2010-12-05T02:28:00.004+08:00

All parents have the hope that their children will grow up to be fully-functioning, competent, and self-confident adults. These are a few starting points that will facilitate that goal:

1. Give your child a sense of security by providing a stable home environment. Children who are confident that their parents love each other and extend that same love to their children have a basis for support that they need to grow and develop normally. They need role models of parents who are mature in their behavior. Boys especially need the example of a father who loves his wife and is willing to sacrifice for the family.

2. Give your children opportunities to develop competency in a variety of different areas. It is not so important that children devote their entire time to learning in one narrow field, but that they have exposure to many experiences in music, sports, work, the arts, and academics. Children benefit in many ways from activities such as karate, Kids MMA, gymnastics, and team sports. First, they recognize that their parents care for them enough to facilitate their involvement in those activities. They learn to respect the authority of the teacher, to learn from his or her example, to accept discipline, to keep trying in the face of difficulty, to honor the commitment of attending practices and competitions. They also have opportunity to socialize with other children with similar goals and aspirations.The positive benefits of these experiences will transfer to other pursuits later in their lives such as in academics and employment.

3. Be aware of the peer culture in your neighborhood and schools. Particularly as children reach the pre-teen and teenage years, they will be heavily influenced by the other children in their environment.This peer influence will often be as important to their development as their home and family influence.By all means avoid living in a neighborhood where there is obvious neglect and lack of supervision for children. Screen local schools carefully to avoid those that have a poor record of competency.Your children will be spending a large part of their lives in their schools. Find those that will reinforce your values of hard work and fairness.

4. Teach your child to have concern and empathy for other people. This may be accomplished by modeling, but it also needs to be emphasized in one-on-one teaching moments.Active involvement in religious groups or Boy or Girl Scouts or other organizations that promote honor and decency will reinforce teaching of ethics in the home. Encourage association with other children who are learning similar values.Eventually children will take on the values of their peers.

5. Provide opportunities for children to make decisions and live with the consequences of those decisions. Do not encourage perfectionism.Children who think they have to be perfect are usually afraid to try new experiences. They lack the ability to deal with the stress and anxiety that are an inevitable part of life.If they learn early on that they may not win every grappling contest or that they may fall off the bike as they learn that skill, they will have the personal courage to leave failure behind and try again.Praise your child for making the attempt, not for just the victory of success.

6. Never do for the child that which he can do for himself. Some children and adults develop the habit of depending on someone else to solve their problems. This stifles their ability to think and act for themselves. Self-confidence grows out of competence, not dependence.Start teaching a child to contribute to the goals of the family by having him put away his own clothes and toys. Praise his sincere efforts to take care of his own needs.

7. Provide reasonable structure, family standards, and if necessary, discipline in the family. Children thrive on consistency, but parents must make a concerted effort to overcome lazy parenting and provide that predictable environment. Set reachable rules and follow through with the consequences if those rules are ignored.If children experience similar structure in their school classrooms and in their enrichment activities, they will more likely develop the self-control necessary to function successfully in those settings. If children “goof-off” in their MMA or other sports practices, they should know that they will be expected to “drop down and do ten push ups.”

8. As a parent, provide positive and encouraging feed back to your child. Be honest. Praising a child for his inadequate effort only teaches him that he can slide by with less than he is capable of. In many sports programs, children receive medals and trophies for mere participation. That practice dilutes the honor of winning hard-earned recognition.Your child will know immediately if he actually deserves the praise, but he will stop trying hard if he is praised lavishly when he has not earned it. Instead, find some specific part of his performance that he did well, even though he may not have won the match or the game or whatever. Praise him for “hanging in there” despite his inadequacy over all.

9. As a parent, avoid labeling your children. Do not ever refer to them as “stupid” or “awkward” or “ugly” or use any other derogatory words. Children actually believe what their parents tell them and negative labels will take a toll on their self-image.Never compare siblings by saying, “She is the pretty one, the athletic one, the smart one, etc.” Children need to feel that they are free to develop and change their minds, and exercise their agency without the pressure of being expected to always live up to the labels that their parents have given them.

10. As a parent, pay attention to problems that may be interfering with your child’s social adjustment. Within your means, provide clothing so that they will fit in with other children. Take measures to correct crooked teeth, acne, prominent ears or other features, which may lead to ridicule from other children. Teach them to keep themselves and their clothing clean. Practice good manners in the home so that they are second nature to your children outside the home.If your child has irrational fears, help him to learn to face them rather that to succumb to them. The best friend your child has in learning self-confidence is you, his loving and encouraging parents.

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Article from http://richgrad.com
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No Hands, No Feet, No Worries - The Nick Vujicic Story

2010-12-05T01:50:00.004+08:00

Nick is a Giant Extraordinaire.....

he plays golf,
he plays soccer,
he swims,
he drive motor boat,
he inspires.....

watch the video below, and see how lucky you are.....

================================================
Underground Free Money Making Online Resources Finally Revealed!
http://995Wealth.info
================================================

30 Tricks and Tips to Cancer-proof Your Life

2010-09-21T23:10:00.004+08:00

We're all grown-ups here -- nightmares aren't a big problem anymore. We're calm, we're cool, we're mostly collected...until it comes to the C-word. For adults, cancer is the thing that goes bump in the night; that bump gets louder when family or friends are diagnosed. Whether your risk is monumental or blessedly average, we know you want to protect yourself. So we've combed through research, interrogated experts, and found cutting-edge strategies to help keep you safe.

Worship a wee bit of sun. People who get the most vitamin D, which lies dormant in skin until ultraviolet rays activate it, may protect themselves from a variety of cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast, and colon. Ironically, it even improves survival rates of melanoma, the most serious skin cancer. But 10 to 15 minutes a few days a week is all it takes to benefit. (Or you could try a supplement--aim for 400 IU a day.) If you're out any longer than that, slather on the sunscreen.

Eat an orange every day. It just may zap a strain of the H. pylori bacteria that causes peptic ulcers and can lead to stomach cancer. Researchers in San Francisco found that infected people with high levels of vitamin C in their blood were less likely to test positive for the cancer-causing strain.

Listen to Katie Couric. Though colonoscopies are about as popular as root canals, if you're 50 or older, get one. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Don't think you're off the hook because you got a digital fecal occult blood test at your last checkup: Research by the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study found that the test missed 95% of the cases. (Schedule your first colonoscopy before your 50th if you have a family history of colon cancer.)

Steam a little green. Piles of studies have shown that piles of broccoli help stave off ovarian, stomach, lung, bladder, and colorectal cancers. And steaming it for 3 to 4 minutes enhances the power of the cancer-fighting compound sulforaphane, which has been shown to halt the growth of breast cancer cells. (Sorry, microwaving doesn't do the trick; it strips out most antioxidants.) Get more protection by sprinkling a handful of selenium-rich sunflower seeds, nuts, or mushrooms on your greens. Researchers are discovering that sulforaphane is about 13 times more potent when combined with the mineral selenium.

Pick a doc with a past. Experience--lots of it--is critical when it comes to accurately reading mammograms. A study from the University of California, San Francisco, found that doctors with at least 25 years' experience were more accurate at interpreting images and less likely to give false positives. Ask about your radiologist's track record. If she is freshly minted or doesn't check a high volume of mammograms, get a second read from someone with more mileage.

Drink jolt-less java. Downing 2 or more cups of decaf a day may lower the incidence of rectal cancer by 52%, finds a study from two large and long-term research projects--the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study from Harvard University. One theory is that coffee increases bowel movements, which helps to reduce the risk. Why decaf reigns supreme, however, remains a mystery.

Drop 10 pounds. Being overweight or obese accounts for 20% of all cancer deaths among women and 14% among men, notes the American Cancer Society. (You're overweight if your body mass index is between 25 and 29.9; you're obese if it's 30 or more. Click here to gauge your BMI.) Plus, losing excess pounds reduces the body's production of female hormones, which may protect against breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Even if you're not technically overweight, gaining just 10 pounds after the age of 30 increases your risk of developing breast, pancreatic, and cervical, among other cancers.

Make like a monkey. Or a bunny. Women who ate four to six antioxidant-laden bananas a week cut their risk of kidney cancer by 54%, compared with those who didn't eat them at all, found an analysis of 61,000 women at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Gnawing on root vegetables such as carrots did the same.

Get naked with a friend. You'll need help examining every inch of your body--including your back, scalp, and other hard-to-see places--for possible changes in the size or color of moles, blemishes, and freckles. These marks could spell skin cancer. Women, take special note of your legs: Melanoma mainly occurs there. For the guys, the trunk, head, and neck are the most diagnosed spots. While you're at it, check your fingernails and toenails, too. Gray-black discoloration or a distorted or elevated nail may indicate the disease. And whether you see changes or not, after age 40, everyone should see a dermatologist yearly.

See into the future. Go to Your Disease Risk to assess your chance of developing 12 types of cancer, including ovarian, breast, and colon. After the interactive tool estimates your risk, you'll get personalized tips for prevention.

Pay attention to pain. If you're experiencing a bloated belly, pelvic pain, and an urgent need to urinate, see your doc. These symptoms may signal ovarian cancer, particularly if they're severe and frequent. Women and physicians often ignore these symptoms, and that's the very reason that this disease can be deadly. When caught early, before cancer has spread outside the ovary, the relative 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is a jaw-dropping 90 to 95%.

Get calcium daily. Milk's main claim to fame may also help protect your colon. Those who took calcium faithfully for 4 years had a 36% reduction in the development of new pre-cancerous colon polyps 5 years after the study had ended, revealed Dartmouth Medical School researchers. (They tracked 822 people who took either 1,200 mg of calcium every day or a placebo.) Though the study was not on milk itself, you can get the same amount of calcium in three 8-ounce glasses of fat-free milk, along with an 8-ounce serving of yogurt or a 2- to 3-ounce serving of low-fat cheese daily.

Sweat 30 minutes a day. One of the best anticancer potions is a half hour of motion at least 5 days a week. Any kind of physical activity modulates levels of androgens and estrogen, two things that can protect women against estrogen-driven cancers such as ovarian and endometrial, as well as some types of breast cancer. The latest proof comes by way of a Canadian study that found that women who get regular, moderate exercise may lower their risk of ovarian cancer by as much as 30%. Bonus: All that moving might speed everything through your colon, which may help stave off colon cancer.

Stamp out smoking--all around you. Lung cancer is well known as one of the main hazards of smoking. But everything the smoke passes on its way to the lungs can also turn cancerous: mouth, larynx, and esophagus. The fun doesn't stop there. Smokers are encouraging stomach, liver, prostate, colorectal, cervical, and breast cancers as well. The good news: If you give up the cigs today, within 15 years, your lung cancer risk will drop to almost pre-smoking lows. Share that news with the people who puff around you, because exposure to someone else's smoke can cause lung cancer, and it may boost your chances of cervical cancer by 40%.

Step away from the white bread. If you eat a lot of things with a high glycemic load--a measurement of how quickly food raises your blood sugar--you may run a higher risk of colorectal cancer than women who eat low-glycemic-load foods, finds a Harvard Medical School study involving 38,000 women. The problem eats are mostly white: white bread, pasta, potatoes, and sugary pastries. The low-glycemic-load stuff comes with fiber. To find out how your diet fares, go to "Your Guide to the Glycemic Index."

Have your genes screened. Do you have a strong family history of any kind of cancer or multiple cancers? Talk with your doctor about genetic counseling. For instance, nearly everyone born with familial adenomatous polyposis (the genetic predisposition to colon cancer) develops the disease by age 40 if preventive surgery isn't done. Knowing this early can aid in prevention and early detection.

Request a better breast scan. If you're at high risk of breast cancer--you have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, for example--ask your doctor to pair your routine mammogram with an MRI. One study found that together, the two picked up 94% of tumors; mammography
alone detected just 40% and MRI, 77%.

Grill smarter. Cooking your food over an open flame is a great way to cut calories. Unfortunately, it can also raise your cancer risk: The grill's high temps can trigger substances in muscle proteins to form cancer-causing compounds called hetero-cyclic amines, or HCAs. But avoiding this potential hazard is easy; simply keep gas jets low or wait until the charcoal turns into glowing embers before you start cooking. Protect yourself even more by lacing your burgers with rosemary (and perhaps other antioxidant-rich herbs such as basil, oregano, or thyme). This helps reduce the amount of some HCAs in meat, a Kansas State University study found. Also helpful: Microwaving meat ahead of time helps disable HCA formation and cuts down on grilling time.

Keep your house clean. Yet another reason to love your Swiffer: Active postmenopausal women who got most of their exercise from housework cut their risk of breast cancer by 30%, Canadian researchers say.

Let garlic lie. Thanks to this bulbed wonder, you can ward off vampires and stave off cancer. To preserve the potential cancer-fighting power of garlic, chop it up and let it sit a bit. Research suggests that heating garlic can block 90% of the activity of alliinase, the enzyme that helps to form a cancer-fighting compound. Alliinase is activated when the cloves are crushed or cut, but if cut garlic cools its heels for 5 to 10 minutes before heating, enough compounds are formed to survive cooking.

Check for radon. Exposure to this odorless, radioactive gas that's produced by the natural decay of uranium is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, according to the EPA. Test your home to see if you're safe. The National Safety Council's National Radon Hotline (800-767-7236) offers low-cost test kits; they're also available at hardware stores.

Play hot tomato. Red fruits (watermelon, tomato, pink grapefruit) are loaded with lycopene, a substance that has been proven time and time again to be a potent cancer fighter. It seems that heating said fruits makes the lycopene easier for the body to use, which explains why men who eat a lot of ketchup, pizza (it's in the sauce), and spaghetti (ditto) are far less likely to get prostate cancer.

Ditch the wieners. You can smother 'em in all the ketchup you want, but you can't negate a hot dog's, well, negatives. One study of 190,545 people found that eating a wiener daily may boost your risk of pancreatic cancer, which is nearly always fatal, by 67%. Same goes for sausage and other processed meats.

The Perfect Cancer- fighting Salad
Can you spot the cancer fighters at the salad bar? Build yourself some powerful protection with these ingredients.

Start with leafy greens. They contain a hefty amount of the B vitamin folate, which has been shown to reduce one's chances of getting colorectal, ovarian, and breast cancers. In one study, researchers at Vanderbilt University found that women who ate the mostly dark greens were among the least likely to get breast cancer. Apparently, folate can halt changes in DNA that trigger runaway cell growth, the main characteristic of cancer.

Add shredded carrot. In a study from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, women who ate just five servings of four raw carrot sticks a week had a 54% decrease in their risk of getting ovarian cancer, compared with women who ate them less than once a month. Carrots may also reduce your risk of kidney cancer.

Serve yourself some tomatoes. If you don't feel like turning up the heat on your tomatoes, you can still get some of their cancer-shielding benefits. German research on 165 colonoscopy patients found that those who had the lowest blood level of lycopene, one of the chemicals that give tomatoes their color, had the highest rate of colorectal adenomas, a precursor to colorectal cancer. Toss a few into your guy's salad: They also reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Heap on beans. Women who ate beans at least twice a week were 24% less likely to develop breast cancer than those who ate them less often, report Harvard School of Public Health researchers, who analyzed data from 90,630 people. Legumes may lessen risk of breast cancer, thanks to their ability to suppress the production of enzymes that encourage tumor growth.

Add a little fish. Want to add something hardy to your lunchtime salad? Go wild with salmon. When B6-rich foods (like salmon) are eaten with folate-filled foods (dark leafy greens), they can help reduce the recurrence of colorectal adenomas, a precursor to colorectal cancer, by 39%, a University of Arizona study found. Salmon may also help shield regular eaters from skin cancer, British research found.

Splash on some vinaigrette. Mixing your favorite vinegar with olive oil can also help prevent breast cancer. Scientists from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine found that oleic acid in olive oil dramatically cuts the levels of the cancer gene Her-2/neu, associated with highly aggressive breast tumors with poor prognosis.

Garnish with citrus peel. They're like eating sunscreen--but they taste better. Limonene - a compound that gives oranges, lemons, and limes their scent--is linked to a 34% reduction in skin cancer, finds a University of Arizona study of 400 people.

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By Denise Foley , Denise Foley is Prevention's editor-at-large.
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Obesity Treatment

2010-09-21T22:57:00.002+08:00

Treatments

1) DIET

A combination of dieting and exercise (when you stick to it) appears to work better than either one alone. Sticking to a weight reduction program is difficult and requires a lot of support from family and friends.

When dieting, your main goal should be to learn new, healthy ways of eating and make them a part of your everyday routine. Work with your doctor and nutritionist to set realistic, safe daily calorie counts that assure both weight loss and good nutrition. Remember that if you drop pounds slowly and steadily, you are more likely to keep them off. Your nutritionist can teach you about healthy food choices, appropriate portion sizes, and new ways to prepare food.

Even modest weight loss can improve your health. Most people can lose weight by eating a healthier diet, exercising more, and adopting new behaviors such as keeping a food diary, avoiding food triggers, and thinking positively.

The decision to keep fit requires a lifelong commitment of time and effort. Patience is essential.

See also: Sweeteners

Several simple behavioral changes can have an impact on your weight loss success:

•Eat only at the table. No snacking in front of the TV, in bed, while driving, or while standing in front of the open refrigerator.

•Learn about appropriate portion sizes.

•Choose low-calorie snacks, such as raw vegetables.

•Consider learning meditation or yoga as a way of managing stress, rather than snacking.

•Find ways to socialize and enjoy your friends and family that don't involve a meal or dessert.

•Consider keeping a diet and exercise journal. This may help you identify overeating triggers in your life.

•Find a support group or consider psychotherapy to help support you in the difficult but worthy goal of weight loss.

2)EXERCISE

Exercise is a major mood lifter, a great way to burn energy, and a way to strengthen your bones. Exercise can also help you manage high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes.

Avoid a sedentary lifestyle by increasing your activity level.

•Perform aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week.

•Increase your physical activity by walking, rather than driving.

•Climb stairs instead of using an elevator or escalator.

•Always talk to your health care provider before starting an exercise program.

3)MEDICATIONS AND HERBAL REMEDIES

There are many over-the-counter diet products. Most do not work and some can be dangerous. Before using one of these products, talk to your health care provider.

Several prescription weight loss drugs are available. Such medicines include subutramine (Meridia) and orlistat (Xenical). Ask your health care provider if these are right for you.

Usually, you can lose between 5 and 10 pounds by taking these drugs. People usually regain the weight when they stop taking the medication, unless they have made lasting lifestyle changes.

4)SURGERY

Weight-loss surgery may be an option if you are very obese and have not been able to lose weight through diet and exercise. However, these surgeries are not a "quick fix" for obesity. You must still be committed to diet and exercise after the surgery.Talk to your doctor to learn if this is a good option for you.

The two most common weight-loss surgeries are:

•Laparoscopic gastric banding -- the surgeon places a band around the upper part of your stomach, creating a small pouch to hold food. The band limits the amount of food you can eat by making you feel full after eating small amounts of food.

•Gastric bypass surgery -- helps you lose weight by changing how your stomach and small intestine handle the food you eat. After the surgery, you will not be able to eat as much as before, and your body will not absorb all the calories and other nutrients from the food you eat.

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Article taken from : http://health.yahoo.net
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Food to Consume To Lower Cholesterol

2010-08-19T22:01:00.000+08:00

There is a saying that goes. "We are what we eat." This is so true as the food being consumed may affect the cholesterol levels inside the person’s system. This makes this makes the person prone to high blood pressure or heart disease through age, which could leave the patient, paralyzed or dead.

The only thing to do before it is too late is to make some changes in the individual's diet. While many of the good stuff that people love to eat have high concentrations of LDL better known as bad cholesterol, this can all change by consuming those that have HDL or good cholesterol. Here are a few examples.

A good way to start a healthy diet is to have a breakfast. Instead of eating bread, the individual can consume oatmeal instead. Studies have shown this can lower the cholesterol in the body by more than 20% after just two weeks of use. This figure can go down some more if this becomes a habit before going to work.

It is tough to just have oatmeal in the morning. Sometimes, the individual can have a fruit. An example could be an apple.

Studies have shown that people who eat at least 2 full apples a day or drink 12 ounces of apple juice are able to reduce the chances of heart diseases by 50%. This can be purchased at the supermarket and eaten during anytime of the day such as dessert after a light meal or as a snack.

During lunch or dinner, the person must have some vegetables in the meal. Those who order can have fish or poultry instead of eating red meat. Such dishes are not high in saturated fats, which are healthier.

Those who love to cook at home can try mixing some healthy things ingredients in the meal. One example is garlic that has natural properties that can declog the arteries and again lower the odds of succumbing to heart disease.

Having a can of pork and beans is also good for the diet. This is because it contains soluble fibers that can combat the bad cholesterol in the person's body. There are not that many people who will do this but those who are able to eat even a half an onion daily will be able to increase the HDL and lower the LDL.

People are often told that fats are not good for the diet. This isn’t entirely true because this comes in many forms. There are fats that are healthy such as unsaturated ones and omega 3 fatty acids.

Monosaturated and Polysaturated ones are also effective since these are usually found in cooking oils. This means food preparation also plays a big factor in reducing lowering one’s cholesterol levels.

The individual should read the label at the supermarket and read the ingredients to find out if this is healthy for cooking.

Being a bit overweight or noticing a lot of bulges in the body is one way of knowing that the person is potentially at risk for succumbing to disease to high levels of cholesterol in the system.

If the individual is unable to make a proper dietary plan, a specialist can help make one so all the person has to do is follow it.

Preventable Death and the pH Miracle Diet

2010-08-19T21:56:00.001+08:00

The Center of Disease Control and Prevention evaluates several health factors when it compiles its list of preventable causes of death. Among the expected conditions on the list were death from tobacco, death from alcohol consumption and death from drugs. However, surprisingly, poor diet and lack of physical activity is actually the number 2 cause of preventable death in the U.S. It is poised to take over the number 1 spot from tobacco in the coming years.

Poor diet and lack of exercise currently count for 16.6% of total deaths, or 400,000 deaths in the United States each year. Yet the last twenty to thirty years have been marked with an increased interest in dieting and exercise. Most adults, especially women, claim they are on diets at least once a year. Despite this commitment, the nation is continuing to get fatter. Obesity rates are at an all time high, and childhood obesity is on the rise for the first time ever.

If many people are on diets, but the vast majority of the population is still overweight and unhealthy, the problem lies with the diets that people are trying. The pH miracle diet addresses the missing ingredient in today’s diet that is causing people to gain weight even when they think they are eating healthfully. Conventional diets disregard the body’s natural pH. They encourage eating a variety of foods that are acidic to the body.

Low-fat diets fail because they often substitute sugar for fat. They also allow processed grain products, dairy products and acidifying vegetables. Low-carbohydrate diets fail because they emphasize meat and other dairy proteins, which knock the body’s natural pH off balance.

Dr. Robert Young, the creator of the pH miracle diet, explains that the best diet will address the pH factor. The body has a pH of 7.4, which is slightly alkaline. Eating alkaline foods and taking steps to reduce stress will help bring the body back into balance. Many of the conditions that people suffer from are a result from too much acidic waste in the body. This acidic waste builds up when you eat acid-producing foods, experience a lot of stress and ignore your body’s need for exercise.

Alkalizing the body with the pH miracle diet will bring your bodily pH back to normal and will give you relief from a variety of symptoms. However, you cannot alkalize your body if you continue to drink or eat high sugar drinks and fruits. Drinking alcohol will also disrupt the pH of your system, as will drinking coffee, soda and teas. The best beverage to drink for alkalizing is ionized water. Starchy foods like potatoes, pasta and breads all break down to sugar, and then produce acid waste that collects in the body. Eating any of the animal proteins (chicken, beef, pork, lamb etc) will create excess acid waste in your body as well. Dairy products have concentrated sugars that break down into lactic acid, which creates acidic waste.

Non-food related behaviors also increase the level of acidity in the body. If you don’t exercise regularly you are allow acids to build up in your tissues. These acids increase your fat production and cause lethargy.

The solution for the acidic waste and the cure for the second most prevalent preventable disease both lay in some simple steps. Eat whole, natural unprocessed foods as the basis for your diet. You should emphasize alkalizing green foods, which have the vitamins, minerals and nutrients your body needs to restore balance. Drinking pH alkaline water will help, as will daily exercise. You need to get out there and get moving in order to release the excess acid from your body.

Green Drinks and the pH Miracle Diet

2010-08-19T21:45:00.003+08:00

If you’ve been learning about the benefits of the pH miracle diet you’ve probably run across the phrase “green drinks” before. In fact, a quick search of reviews on Robert Young’s book “The pH Miracle Diet” shows that many people who use the program also use green drinks to boost the level of alkaline in their diets. What are green drinks and how are they beneficial to those following the pH diet?

Green drinks are a simple and easy way for people to get more nutrition and alkalinity into their diet. The pH miracle diet approach offers people a simple and basic understanding of why their bodies are out of balance. The key problem in health and excess weight is the presence of too much acid in the diet. That acid builds up and causes problems in the functioning of your cells. Over time, the acidity builds up in your body and makes a negative environment for your cells, organs and tissues. The solution is to eat an alkalizing diet that has a calming effect on the system. This will get your body pH back into balance and allow your cells to function as they were meant to.

You can simply and easily infuse your body with alkaline foods by using green drinks one to three times per day. Green drinks are made from grasses, sprouted grains and other green vegetables. These will help your body become more alkaline and they have the vitamins, minerals and amino acids that your body needs to repair itself.

There are many different green drinks available on the market. Most come in powder form and each day you mix a few spoonfuls with water. They are available at local health foods stores or on the Internet. Since there are so many brands to choose from the choice might be overwhelming. The main thing to look for in a green drink is the presence of alkaline vegetable ingredients. Make sure to read the label of ingredients carefully. Although all green drinks are different, most contain a few common ingredients.

Kamut grass can decrease cholesterol levels, help with weight loss and add protein to the diet. Broccoli is a strong anti-cancer food and it also helps boost the immune system and improve digestion. Dandelion greens help with weight loss and cholesterol levels. They are also a good source of iron and calcium. Kale contains vitamin C, A, Iron, Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium. Alfalfa sprouts can help redistribute your body weight after you lose weight. These are just a few of the powerful ingredients contained in green drinks. Some have lists of dozens of ingredients.

Another thing to look for in your green drink is notification that the ingredients are organically grown. Make sure the green drink contains no algae, mushroom or probiotics as these are acidifying ingredients. Finally, check the label carefully for non-nutrient ingredients and fillers.

The directions for taking green drinks depend on the manufacturer. Most green drinks are taken mixed with water up to four times daily. Some are available in capsules and should be taken with plenty of water. When you first begin taking green drinks, it is recommended that you take half a dose for one week in order to get your body used to the effects.

Green drinks help with instantly alkalizing your body. They neutralize the excess acids that are in your system. Many people report feeling instant increases in energy and a reduction in cravings for sugar and caffeine. If you are the type of person who cannot get moving without your morning cup of coffee, give green drinks a try for a week and feel the difference. Green drinks also help the immune system and can reduce the amounts of yeasts and toxins in the body.

You can feel the effects of the pH miracle diet instantly when you use green drinks. Research your options and then select a green drink brand that looks good to you and fits the alkalizing criteria. Green drinks are an instant way to alkalize your body and improve your health.

Aging and the pH Miracle Diet

2010-08-19T21:38:00.003+08:00

When many people hear the word “diet” they immediately think of weight loss. The focus on thinness in our society has equated this word with shedding a few pounds. However, diet really means any food or drinks you put into your body. The diet that you consume has a profound impact on your overall health. The pH miracle diet is not just a diet for weight loss. In fact, the first volume of this popular series was dedicated to health in general. The original pH miracle diet book focuses on many issues, including aging.

What does aging have to do with pH and acid/alkaline foods? Some experts contend that the reason we age has to do entirely with the amount of acidic foods that we eat. The theory is that we get older because we do not effectively get rid of the wastes and toxins that accumulated through our bodies.

We burn nutrients within our cells to get energy, maintain our body temperatures and get our bodies to function correctly. No matter what type of food you eat, vegetable or meat, acid or alkaline, gourmet food or junk food, they are composed of the same elements: carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen.

In order to function correctly, the cells use these nutrients. They “oxidize” them or burn them up into natural acids: carbonic acids, uric acids, lactic acids and fatty acids. The cells expel these acids as waste into urine and sweat. When the body is functioning properly and in a balanced manner, these waste acids are no problem. The body can get rid of them quickly and easily, and you can maintain a normal pH of around 7.4.

However, the modern way of living has resulted in our bodies not being able to rid themselves of the acids correctly. Lack of sleep, lack of exercise, overwork, stress, smoking, pollution and high acid diets (heavy in meat and dairy products) all prevent our bodies from properly expelling these acids. There is too much acidic production from these lifestyle and diet factors, and the body simply cannot get rid of it.

Even worse, modern farming and food production practices are making foods more acidic than they used to be. Inorganic acid minerals like chlorine, phosphor and sulfur seep into meats, grains and root crops through soil, air quality and farming practices. We are consuming more inorganic acid minerals than ever before. All of this contributes to our bodies’ inability to rid themselves of acid.

The pH miracle diet is a perfect balance to our over-acidified lives that cause premature aging. Aging occurs because of the build up of acidic elements in the body. Healthy cells naturally have a slightly alkaline pH level, and since acid and alkaline are chemical opposites, high acid levels destroy cells.

In order to stop aging and reverse the affects of acidic damage on the cells, you must start alkalizing your diet according to the principles set out in the pH miracle diet. You must help you body develop a better system to rid itself of the acid wastes. Then you must facilitate it in pulling old wastes out of your body.

The first step requires that you drink plenty of water, especially acid free alkaline water. Just 4 glasses of alkaline water is more effective than 8 glasses of regular water. Water ionizers are available to help you create alkaline water in the comfort of your home. This water will help flush out your system and get rid of the build up acidity within it.

The pH miracle diet also encourages people to eat a higher percentage of alkaline foods in their diet. The alkalizing foods will help restore balance to the body and push the remaining acid waste build up out of the body. According to pH miracle diet fans, the results are a more youthful glow, more energy and a relief from some of the symptoms of aging, like arthritis.

The World's Healthiest Foods

2010-08-18T23:17:00.005+08:00

130 foods that can serve as the basis of your Healthiest Way of Eating.

Of course, there are many other nutritious foods other than those that we have included on our list that we feel are wonderful, health-promoting foods; if there are other whole foods - such as fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, whole grains, etc - that you like, by all means enjoy them. Just because a food is not on our list doesn't mean that we don't think that it can be included in a diet geared towards the Healthiest Way of Eating as long as it is a whole, natural, nutrient-rich food.

1) VEGETABLES -
Asparagus
Avocados
Beets
Bell peppers
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Collard greens
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Fennel
Garlic
Green beans
Green peas
Kale
Leeks
Mushrooms, crimini
Mushrooms, shiitake
Mustard greens
Olives
Onions
Potatoes
Romaine lettuce
Sea vegetables
Spinach
Squash, summer
Squash, winter
Sweet potatoes
Swiss chard
Tomatoes
Turnip greens
Yams

2) SEAFOODS -
Cod
Halibut
Salmon
Sardines
Scallops
Shrimp
Tuna

3) FRUITS -
Apples
Apricots
Bananas
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Cranberries
Figs
Grapefruit
Grapes
Kiwifruit
Lemon/Limes
Oranges
Papaya
Pears
Pineapple
Plums
Prunes
Raisins
Raspberries
Strawberries
Watermelon

4) EGGS AND LOW-FAT DAIRY -
Cheese, low-fat
Eggs
Milk, 2%, cow's
Milk, goat
Yogurt

5) BEANS AND LEGUMES -
Black beans
Dried peas
Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
Kidney beans
Lentils
Lima beans
Miso
Navy beans
Pinto beans
Soybeans
Tempeh
Tofu
Poultry & Lean Meats
Beef, lean organic
Calf's liver
Chicken
Lamb
Turkey
Venison

6) NUTS AND SEEDS -
Almonds
Cashews
Flaxseeds
Olive oil, extra virgin
Peanuts
Pumpkin seeds
Sesame seeds
Sunflower seeds
Walnuts

7) GRAINS -
Barley
Brown rice
Buckwheat
Corn
Millet
Oats
Quinoa
Rye
Spelt
Whole wheat

8) HERBS ABD SPICES -
Basil
Black pepper
Cayenne pepper
Chili pepper, dried
Cilantro/Coriander seeds
Cinnamon, ground
Cloves
Cumin seeds
Dill
Ginger
Mustard seeds
Oregano
Parsley
Peppermint
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Turmeric

9) NATURAL SWEETENERS -
Blackstrap molasses
Cane juice
Honey
Maple syrup

10) OTHERS -

Green tea
Soy sauce (tamari)
Water

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Source : http://whfoods.com
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Herbal Treatment for High Blood Cholesterol

2010-06-28T22:22:00.003+08:00

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Article contributed by Carolus Wong
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I want to share a secret for treating high cholesterol.

Three weeks ago l went for a cholesterol check. To my surprise, it was above the normal range which should be less than 5.2 mmol/L. My reading obtained was 6.6. I had been consuming alot of red meat and lamb recently.

After consuming Mok Yee for two weeks, l had my cholesterol checked again and found that my cholesterol level fell to 4.70 mmol/ L

My pharmacist said that even cholesterol medication will need 1- 3 months to take effect. She was very surprised and said it is a miracle.

I immediately followed an advice of a friend who told me about Black fungus (Mok Yee).

He had four blocked heart arteries, over 90 percent blocked. His cardiologist advised him to go for bypass surgery, failing which he would suffer an imminent heart attack. His sinseh (chinese physician) friend advised him against surgery as the procedure would be messy,painful and expensive..

He followed the advise of his sinseh friend by consuming Mok Yee daily. After consumin g boiled Mok Yee juice for 40 days, he went for an angiogram. His heart specialist was surprised and shocked that his arteries were all cleared of any blockage and it would not be necessary to see him for another 10 years+ ACE -&! nbsp;

My observation is that Mok Yee juice is not only effective in treating high blood cholestrol but also helps to bring relief to joint paints, arthritis and poor blood circulation.

The internet info. claims : that Mok yee reduces blood clot, preventing thrombosis, atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, and cancer. Black Fungus contains abundant proteins, ferric iron, calcium, vitamins, rough fibre, the content of protein is equal to meat.

Preparation :

1) Pick a handful of Mok Yee and soak in water for 1-2 h! ours
2) Wash Mok Yee and cut to pieces with scissors.
3) Pour five bowls of plain water into slow cooker (crock pot)
4) Put 2-3 slices of ginger, 8-10 red dates, 20 kay chee(wolf berry) into crock pot.
5) Bring to boil for 8 hours. One and a half bowls of Mok Yee juice will remain after boiling overnight.

Consumption :

You may consume for 10 to 14 days according to the severity of the problem.
For those with low blood pressure consume less or only for alternate days.

Drink Mok Yee first thing in the morning with an 'empty stomach'.
Consume at least one large bowl. Take breakfast 2 hours later.

Side effects - you may feel a little tired after 3- 4 days.
Consume multivitamins and fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
Do not eat oily or fried foods during this period.

Observation :

Dark and oily stool during the first two days.

Remarks :

Cholesterol medication is man-made and may harm the liver. Mok Yee is a plant and does not seem to contain chemicals that harm the body.

How Much Sleep Do We Need?

2010-06-22T21:05:00.001+08:00

While there is variability between each of us in how much sleep we need, the National Sleep Foundation has noted that the need for sleep changes as we age. The National Sleep Foundation has recommended the following sleep guidelines for selected age groups (*including naps):

INFANTS
(0–2 months) 10.5–18 hours*
(2–12 months) 14–15 hours*

TODDLERS/CHILDREN
(12–18 months) 13–15 hours*
(18 months–3 years) 12–14 hours*
(3–5 years) 11–13 hours*
(5–12 years) 9–11 hours

ADOLESCENTS
8.5–9.5 hours

ADULTS
7–9 hour

(Taken from the National Sleep Foundation Web site.)

For further information—and a more comprehensive listing of recommended hours of sleep for different age groups—please see the National Sleep Foundation Web site.

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Info taken from http://cdc.org
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Insomia - When Trouble Falling or Staying Asleep is a Disorder

2010-06-22T20:56:00.002+08:00

What is Insomnia?

Though it is one of the most common of sleep disorders, one may wonder: What is insomnia? It is important to understand what insomnia is, how often it occurs, and its classic clinical features.
Defining Insomnia

Insomnia is an inability to obtain a sufficient amount of sleep to feel rested. It can be characterized either by difficulty falling or staying asleep. In addition, the sleep itself may be chronically of poor quality. In order for insomnia to be present, the above difficulties must occur despite adequate opportunity for sleep. In addition, the impairment must lead to problems with daytime functioning.

The degree of sleep disturbance may vary, but insomnia typically involves taking 30 or more minutes to fall asleep or a total sleep time that is less than six hours, three or more nights per week.

How Common Is Insomnia?

Insomnia is perhaps the most common sleep disorder. Just how frequently it occurs depends on the study, the definition used, and whether one is assessing chronic versus intermittent or acute insomnia. In one study, 35% of adults reported insomnia of any type during the previous year. Approximately 10% of people have chronic insomnia that affects their daytime functioning, according to a review of 50 studies.

In addition, insomnia more commonly occurs as we get older. Women in particular are more likely to report insomnia symptoms. Insomnia also seems to be more common among those who are unemployed, single (from any cause), or of low socioeconomic status.

Symptoms of Insomnia

Patients with insomnia may experience numerous symptoms, including:

* Fatigue or daytime sleepiness
* Poor attention or concentration
* Reduced energy or motivation
* Problems with work or social life
* Mood problems, including anxiety
* Headache

Causes of Insomnia

Factors that may potentially contribute to developing insomnia include travel, noise, family responsibilities (including caring for infants), pain, stress, or nocturia (getting up during the night to urinate).

As with any medical condition, it is important to rule out other potential causes of insomnia. In individuals with symptoms suggestive of insomnia, it is necessary to assess whether other medical or psychiatric problems, medications, or substance use may be contributing to the condition. For anyone who simply is not getting enough sleep by choice, insomnia would not be the correct diagnosis.

Insomnia is a common condition that should be properly identified so that efforts can be made to provide adequate treatment and relief from a disorder that can lead to significant impairment of one’s life.

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Sources:

“International classification of sleep disorders: Diagnostic and coding manual.” 2nd ed. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Westchester, IL 2005.

Mellinger, GD et al. “Insomnia and its treatment: Prevalence and correlates.” Arch Gen Psychiatry 1985; 42:225.

Ohayon, MM. “Epidemiology of insomnia: what we know and what we still need to learn.” Sleep Med Rev 2002; 6:97.

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What is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) ?

2010-06-21T00:54:00.002+08:00

Definition

Hypertension is the term used to describe high blood pressure.

Blood pressure readings are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and usually given as two numbers. For example, 120 over 80 (written as 120/80 mmHg).

* The top number is your systolic pressure, the pressure created when your heart beats. It is considered high if it is consistently over 140.

* The bottom number is your diastolic pressure, the pressure inside blood vessels when the heart is at rest. It is considered high if it is consistently over 90.

Either or both of these numbers may be too high.

Pre-hypertension is when your systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 or your diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and 89 on multiple readings. If you have pre-hypertension, you are more likely to develop high blood pressure.

Symptoms

Most of the time, there are no symptoms. Symptoms that may occur include:

* Chest pain
* Confusion
* Ear noise or buzzing
* Irregular heartbeat
* Nosebleed
* Tiredness
* Vision changes

If you have a severe headache or any of the symptoms above, see your doctor right away. These may be signs of a complication or dangerously high blood pressure called malignant hypertension.

Causes & Risks

Blood pressure measurements are the result of the force of the blood produced by the heart and the size and condition of the arteries.

Many factors can affect blood pressure, including:

* How much water and salt you have in your body
* The condition of your kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels
* The levels of different body hormones

High blood pressure can affect all types of people. You have a higher risk of high blood pressure if you have a family history of the disease. High blood pressure is more common in African Americans than Caucasians. Smoking, obesity, and diabetes are all risk factors for hypertension.

Most of the time, no cause is identified. This is called essential hypertension.

High blood pressure that results from a specific condition, habit, or medication is called secondary hypertension. Too much salt in your diet can lead to high blood pressure. Secondary hypertension may also be due to:

* Adrenal gland tumor
* Alcohol abuse
* Anxiety and stress
* Arteriosclerosis
* Birth control pills
* Coarctation of the aorta
* Cocaine use
* Cushing syndrome
* Diabetes
* Kidney disease, including:
o Glomerulonephritis (inflammation of kidneys)
o Kidney failure
o Renal artery stenosis
o Renal vascular obstruction or narrowing
* Medications
o Appetite suppressants
o Certain cold medications
o Corticosteroids
o Migraine medications
* Hemolytic-uremic syndrome
* Henoch-Schonlein purpura
* Obesity
* Pain
* Periarteritis nodosa
* Pheochromocytoma
* Pregnancy (called gestational hypertension)
* Primary hyperaldosteronism
* Renal artery stenosis
* Retroperitoneal fibrosis
* Wilms' tumor

Tests & Diagnostics

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and check your blood pressure. If the measurement is high, your doctor may think you have high blood pressure. The measurements need to be repeated over time, so that the diagnosis can be confirmed.

If you monitor your blood pressure at home, you may be asked the following questions:

* What was your most recent blood pressure reading?
* What was the previous blood pressure reading?
* What is the average systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) reading?
* Has your blood pressure increased recently?

Other tests may be done to look for blood in the urine or heart failure. Your doctor will look for signs of complications to your heart, kidneys, eyes, and other organs in your body.

Tests & Diagnostics

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and check your blood pressure. If the measurement is high, your doctor may think you have high blood pressure. The measurements need to be repeated over time, so that the diagnosis can be confirmed.

If you monitor your blood pressure at home, you may be asked the following questions:

* What was your most recent blood pressure reading?
* What was the previous blood pressure reading?
* What is the average systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) reading?
* Has your blood pressure increased recently?

Other tests may be done to look for blood in the urine or heart failure. Your doctor will look for signs of complications to your heart, kidneys, eyes, and other organs in your body.

These tests may include:

* Chem-20
* Echocardiogram
* Urinalysis
* Ultrasound of the kidneys

Treatments

The goal of treatment is to reduce blood pressure so that you have a lower risk of complications.

There are many different medicines that can be used to treat high blood pressure, including:

* Alpha blockers
* Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
* Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
* Beta-blockers
* Calcium channel blockers
* Central alpha agonists
* Diuretics
* Renin inhibitors, including aliskiren (Tekturna)
* Vasodilators

Your doctor may also tell you to exercise, lose weight, and follow a healthier diet. If you have pre-hypertension, your doctor will recommend the same lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down to a normal range.

Often, a single blood pressure drug may not be enough to control your blood pressure, and you may need to take two or more drugs. It is very important that you take the medications prescribed to you. If you have side effects, your health care provider can substitute a different medication.

Complications

* Aortic dissection
* Blood vessel damage (arteriosclerosis)
* Brain damage
* Congestive heart failure
* Kidney damage
* Kidney failure
* Heart attack
* Hypertensive heart disease
* Stroke
* Vision loss

Prevention

Adults over 18 should have their blood pressure checked routinely.

Lifestyle changes may help control your blood pressure:

* Lose weight if you are overweight. Excess weight adds to strain on the heart. In some cases, weight loss may be the only treatment needed.

* Exercise regularly. If possible, exercise for 30 minutes on most days.

* Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products while reducing total and saturated fat intake (the DASH diet is one way of achieving this kind of dietary plan). (See: Heart disease and diet)

* Avoid smoking. (See: Nicotine withdrawal)

* If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control.

* Do not consume more than 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks per day.

* Try to manage your stress.

Follow your health care provider's recommendations to modify, treat, or control possible causes of secondary hypertension.

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Article info taken from http://health.yahoo.net
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The Five Best Gifts to Give Your Family

2010-06-07T00:19:00.002+08:00

Written By:
Margaret Paul, Ph.D.

When we think of giving gifts, we usually think of things to buy for people. Yet if you think back on gifts you’ve been given, it might not be the material gifts you received that are foremost in your mind – it might be the kind of gifts that deeply touched your heart and soul. It might be various ways, other than material things, that people expressed their love to you.

There are five gifts of love that we can give to our families that can make a huge difference in their lives.

THE GIFT OF CARING AND COMPASSION

We all yearn to feel cared for, yet many of us withhold caring and compassion for others. A profound gift we can give to our loved ones is to listen with our heart, to understand and accept rather than to judge, and to stay open to learning rather than to protect against being hurt.

Think about the last time someone actually listened to you and gave you understanding and acceptance. The feeling of being understood and accepted with caring and compassion is one of the best feelings in the world. Instead of focusing on getting this from others, why not focus on giving it to others? You might be surprised at how wonderful you feel in giving this gift to your family.

THE GIFT OF COURAGE

One of the best gifts we can give our loved ones is our own courage. This means being having the courage to stand in our truth, to be honest about what we want and don’t want, what we will do and won’t do, what is and what is not acceptable to us. It means having the courage to take good care of ourselves, even if others don’t like it. It means not succumbing to our controlling behaviors that come from fear: anger, withdrawal, compliance, resistance, but instead being honest and above-board about ourselves. It means being willing to face conflict rather than give ourselves up to avoid it.

When we have the courage to face conflict and tell the truth, we not only provide our family with a role model for courage, but we provide opportunities for our loved ones to step up to the plate in the face of our truth and learn to be courageous too.

THE GIFT OF SERVICE

We are on this planet to learn to love ourselves and each other, and to help each other. One of the best gifts we can give our family is to role model this by doing service. Helping others fills the heart and soul in ways that nothing else can. If children do not see their parents doing service and helping others, they may never learn the great joy and fulfillment that comes from giving. One of the best gifts we can give to our family is to provide ways of doing service.

THE GIFT OF CREATIVITY

All of us are born with various ways of expressing our creativity. Expressing creativity is a profound way of connecting with Spirit, since expressed creativity is a direct expression of Spirit. Providing your family with many ways of expressing their creativity is a great gift. Creativity can be expressed in so many ways – cooking, crafts, building things, music, art, movement, telling stories, writing, humor, photography and video – the possibilities are endless! Creative family projects are especially wonderful in creating family closeness.

THE GIFT OF LIGHTNESS OF BEING

Lightness of being – fun, joy, laughter, playfulness – is a great gift to give to others. Lightness of being is infectious – our laughter and playfulness can help others take life less seriously and “lighten up.”

Lightness of being is one the results of all the other gifts – of caring, courage, service and creativity. When we give these gifts, we feel a wonderful lightness within, the lightness that is the result of fully giving from the heart. Our own lightness of being can bring lightness into our whole family. Children love it when their parents are playful, funloving and joyful. Laughing together as a family is one of the most precious experiences in life.

We need to focus of giving these gifts each day, not just during a holiday season or special occasions. These gifts are far more important than any material thing we can buy for someone. In fact, we might not be so focused on material gifts if we frequently give the gift of love – of caring, compassion, courage, service, creativity, and lightness of being.

Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?" She is the co-creator of a powerful healing process called Inner Bonding. Learn Inner Bonding now! Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or mailto:margaret@innerbonding.com.
Phone sessions available.

Article from http://FamilyArticles.net

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Global Freedom Family Membership Site

Global Freedom Family Is A Private, Subscription Membership, World Wide Newsletter Community Resource Site Containing In Depth Online Investing Information And Dedicated To Coaching Members To Achieve Their Financial Dreams.
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What are the Characteristics of Good Parenting?

2010-06-06T19:49:00.002+08:00

One of the hardest things for any parent (adult) to understand is that the way a child thinks is often not the way they think. A child is not an adult. So when putting your parenting technique into practice, remember that a child's mind is not functioning like yours.

For instance if you make a rule and your child breaks that rule, that for you may be the end of the matter. But how does the child see their behavior? It's possible they may believe their failure to obey is a weakness of their character. In short the child may think that they are bad.

It's vital that your child sees breaking the rule as part of their behavior. What it doesn't mean is that your child is intrinsically bad. High self-esteem is important for all ages and particularly so for young people.

Being aware of your child's thinking is an excellent characteristic. Twelve is probably a good age for children to begin to understand that life has many shades of grey and is not always a black and white situation. Know this fact. Know that children do see things as right or wrong in their developing years and variations of good and evil are not something they consider until almost their teenage years.

Know too that time has a different meaning for a child. A short time to you can seem like an eternity to a child. Be aware of how they think and thus this will make you a better parent.

Teamwork is a no-brainer with parents being effective in raising their children. Having one parent operating one technique and another parent something else is likely to result in all sorts of problems not the least of which is a totally confused child.

Being practical is an excellent characteristic. Let's say you announce a rule, your child disobeys and should therefore be punished. What do you do? Some suggest isolation. The child goes to a quiet room where they sit and contemplate their deed. But do you have such a place? Be practical.

Kindness can be weakness with some parents. Your skills will not allow this failing. Giving a warning to a child may seem fair and reasonable. But giving warning after warning is not good parenting and the rule itself is of little or no consequence if it is broken and the child suffers no punishment.

A good parent is a good listener. Nothing excites a child more than their parent taking a deep and genuine interest in the life of the child. It might be their schoolwork, their hobby, their friend or even their football team. Be seriously interested and by giving unconditional love to your child, you are using the best foundation for parenting which is available.

It's a good idea to go with the flow. If your child is interested in something in particular, by showing an interest in that subject and your child, you are developing a seriously strong relationship. The strength of that relationship will make your parenting technique a joint effort with your child. Good parenting means listening and sharing.

Article from http://parenting411.com

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Clean Your Kidneys with Less Than $1

2010-05-26T01:39:00.004+08:00

CLEAN YOUR KIDNEYS WITH LESS THAN $1.00

> Years pass by and our kidneys are filtering the blood by removing salt, poison and any unwanted entering our body.

> With time, the salt accumulates and this needs to undergo cleaning treatments. How are we going to do this?

> It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley and wash it clean Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and

> pour clean water and boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and pour in a clean bottle and

> keep it inside refrigerator to cool.

> Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated poison coming out of your kidney by urination. Also you will be able to notice the difference which you never felt before.

> Parsley is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural!

Parsley is our local Chinese Celery (khan choy) which is used in beef kuay teow soup.

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Special thanks to Carolus Wong
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Five Important Things To Know About Vitamins

2010-05-26T01:13:00.004+08:00

(from Black Health Magazine)

There’s an abundance of vitamins to choose from when you’re deciding which kind of is good for you. Making the choice of which multivitamin or which ever vitamin will help aid or strength is a task within itself. Its important to know and understand the benefits, cons and value. Below are five interesting items that will hopefully help you understand more about vitamins.

1. They Matter

Vitamins and minerals are substances your body sometimes needs for normal growth and functioning. Some facilitate crucial chemical reactions, while others act as building blocks for the body.

Nutritionists call vitamins and minerals “micronutrients” to distinguish them from the macronutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that make up the bulk of our food. While micronutrients are vital for the proper processing of macronutrients, they’re needed in smaller quantities. Think of it this way: If macronutrients are the gas in your engine, then micronutrients are like the motor oil, coolant, and battery fluid.

Micronutrient deficiency can lead to acute diseases with exotic names like scurvy, pellagra, and beriberi. Deficiency diseases were common in the U.S. until the 1940s, when the FDA-mandated fortification of common foods like bread and milk. These diseases are still common in many poorer countries.

2. Maintaining a Healthy Diet

It’s easy to get enough micronutrients from your food if you maintain a healthy diet, Audrey Cross, PhD, associate clinical professor of nutrition at Columbia’s School of Public Health, tells WebMD. But most people fail that test; they’ll eat two or three servings of fruits and veggies per day rather than the recommended five. That’s why Cross (and many other nutritionists) suggest a multivitamin as a sort of nutritional safety net for many of their patients.

But it’s just a safety net. So-called “whole foods” like veggies and whole grains contain fiber and a host of other important nutrients that can’t be adequately delivered through pills. In fact, scientists are still finding new “trace elements” in whole foods that may someday be labeled essential to health — but aren’t found in any pill.

“There are literally thousands of these compounds, and we’re just scratching the surface on knowing what their role is,” says David Grotto, a registered dietitian and spokesman for the American Dietetic Association. “We’re sending the wrong message if people believe they’ve got everything under control and if they’re taking vitamins while eating a horrible diet.”

3. Choosing a Supplement

It’s easy to become overwhelmed when looking at the dietary supplement shelves of a health food store or even your local supermarket. While many of the health claims are unproven or downright bogus, some supplements may be useful for some groups.

Major multivitamin makers typically produce different varieties for men, women, children and older folks. Picking a pill that fits your group makes sense, says dietitian Grotto, as the optimal level of various nutrients varies by age and sex. For example, premenopausal women need more iron than children or the elderly, he says.

But the elderly have a harder time obtaining adequate amounts of vitamin B-12 from natural sources, so the need for supplementation may increase with age, says Lynn Bailey, a University of Florida nutritionist who teaches courses on vitamins.

Folate, or folic acid, is key to preventing birth defects (such as spina bifida), Bailey says. Bailey says all women of childbearing age should ensure they get 100% of the RDA of folic acid through fortified food or a multivitamin.

4. Calcium and Vitamin D

Calcium supplements are also important for certain age groups, Bailey says. The Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, recommends that adolescents get 1,300 milligrams of calcium a day. One cup of milk or calcium-fortified orange juice contains about 300 milligrams of calcium.

Other sources of calcium include cheese, tofu, yogurt, vegetables, and beans. A typical calcium supplement may contain 500 milligrams or 600 milligrams of calcium. Bailey gives her 15-year-old son a daily calcium supplement at dinnertime. People over 50 should get 1,200 milligrams a day of calcium to ward off osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), Bailey says.

Federal dietary guidelines recommend that the elderly, the homebound, and people with dark skin boost their vitamin D intake with both fortified foods and supplements to reduce the risk of bone loss. Vitamin D helps with absorption of calcium; often calcium supplements will also contain vitamin D. (The full federal guidelines, updated in 2005, are available at www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines.)

Special groups such as smokers, pregnant women, or people recovering from traumatic injury may need additional supplements, Cross says. Decisions to take supplements beyond a multivitamin are best made with your doctor or registered dietitian, she says.

The evidence is strong that a healthy diet can ward off chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. What’s less clear is if big intakes of particular micronutrients can boost that preventive effect further.

There is promising evidence that the mineral selenium could prevent a variety of cancers, says Alan Kristal, DrPh, associate chief of cancer prevention at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. But beyond selenium, the data aren’t promising, Kristal says. For example, there’s no solid evidence that taking large doses of antioxidants like vitamins B or C have any beneficial effect.

5.Controversial Health Claims

As you seek the proper multivitamin or dietary supplement, it’s best to keep your guard up. The supplement industry is relatively unregulated, and you can injure or even kill yourself with “natural” products bought at your neighborhood supplement store.

Many health claims attached to multivitamin formulations are doubtful, but harmless. Some men’s multivitamins contain extra lycopene, a substance once thought to prevent prostate cancer. But Kristal, the cancer specialist, says support for that claim is waning. “If indeed lycopene did anything, [supplements] don’t have enough to make a difference,” he says. Multivitamins aimed at women are often spiked with green tea or ginseng extract; the effect of these on weight control is yet unproven.

More dangerous are recommendations of vitamin megadoses to treat obesity, depression, carpal tunnel syndrome or other problems. At best, megadoses are a distraction from real treatments for these problems, experts say. At worst, they can cause injury or death.

So-called fat-soluble vitamins — that is, vitamins A, D, E, and K — accumulate in the body, making overdosing a real threat. Vitamin overdoses have been associated with liver problems, weakened bones, cancers, and premature mortality.

Until recently, water-soluble vitamins such as B and C were considered nontoxic, even at high doses. But now evidence is emerging that B-6 megadoses can cause serious nerve damage, Bailey tells WebMD.

Despite the warnings, the quest for a magic pill plunges ahead. Cross chuckles when patients show her weight loss supplements that claim wondrous effects “when taken in combination with a sensible diet and exercise.” Her response: Wouldn’t a sensible diet and exercise do the trick even without the supplement?

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Article from - http://elev8.com
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9 Popular Foods To Help Manage Diabetes

2010-05-26T00:54:00.013+08:00

By Kelly L. Jackson

Over 24 millions people are living with Diabetes. Keeping it in control is a lifelong challenge that require support from your family, friends and healthcare professionals. Having a healthy diet, exercise and medication management is vital for a long life. Making the commitment to do the things to better your life such as cutting back and eliminating certain foods is important once you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes. Thankfully, there are foods that can help with managing diabetes and provide dosages of nutrients and assist with maintaining acceptable blood sugar levels. Some experts and dietitians call these foods “Diabetes superfoods.” They are foods that are low-fat and high in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Adding these foods into your diet can make a real difference in managing diabetes. As you’re making your grocery list for shopping, make sure you add these into your cart.

Here’s the Nine Foods That Can make a difference in managing your Diabetes:

1.Beans

Incredibly high in fiber and protein, just a half-cup of any type of beans will provide about a third of your daily requirement of fiber and as much protein as an ounce of meat. Because of this, beans are wonderful for managing blood glucose levels, giving the body nutrients to slowly digest and process. Beans also are great sources of magnesium and potassium.

2. Fish

Salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel, halibut, and herring are high in omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to be heart-healthy, as long as these [fish] are not breaded and deep-fried. One study also suggests that eating fish at least twice a week may protect people with diabetes against kidney problems.

3. Nuts

Nuts are very filling and contain high levels of unsaturated fats, the kind that contributes to “good”cholesterol. Some nuts and seeds like walnuts and flaxseeds contain omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts also deliver healthy doses of fiber and magnesium.

4. Berries

All berries contain good levels of antioxidants. They are heart-healthy, cancer-preventing, and fat-free. Compared with other fruits, they provide a comparatively low amount of calories and carbohydrates considering their serving size. Berries also contain vitamins and fiber.

5. Broccoli

High in vitamins A and C, broccoli is another low-carbohydrate, low-calorie, high-fiber food that has antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Broccoli also is very filling, a plus for people who need to lose weight.

6. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a great alternative for white potatoes. They are high in fiber and vitamins A and C.

7. Dark, Leafy Green Vegetables

Spinach, collard greens, and kale pack high levels of nutrients like vitamins A and C and calcium, as well as being low in calories and carbohydrates. Other great choices in this group include bok choy and mustard greens.

8. Whole Grains

Any time you want bread, pasta, or cereal, you need to make sure it’s made with whole grains. The germ and bran contained in whole grains have large amounts of nutrients like magnesium, chromium, omega-3 fatty acids, and folate; these are stripped out of wheat when it’s processed into white flour products. Whole-grain foods also contain lots of fiber.

9. Tomatoes

Here’s another colorful vegetable that contains large amounts of nutrients like iron and vitamins C and E. Tomatoes are very versatile and can be used in many different recipes. Cooked tomato products like stewed tomatoes and ketchup also deliver the important nutrient lycopene.

Happy Shopping and Eating for a Healthy You!

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Article from - http://elev8.com
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Stress, the best explanation I have ever come across....

2010-05-24T00:58:00.003+08:00

Stress, the best explanation I have ever come across....

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience,
Raised a glass of water and asked

'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.

If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued,

'And that's the way it is with stress management.

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,

As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,

We won't be able to carry on. '

'As with the glass of water,

You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.

When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'

'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down.!

Don't carry it home.

You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now,

Let them down for a moment if you can.'

So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now.

Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

* The second mouse gets the cheese.

* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull.

Some have weird names, and all are different colours, but they all have to live in the same box.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour. Have an awesome day and know that a friend has thought about you today...

I did.

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Special thanks to Carolus Wong for his contribution
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Denzel Washington Interview : Devoted to Family and Faith

2010-05-22T13:00:00.005+08:00

For Denzel Washington, it’s not about fame and fortune. It’s about keeping the faith.

By David Hochman

Washington’s devotion to his family and deep sense of faith make him something of an anomaly in Hollywood. A member of the Church of God in Christ, the actor has been married to wife Pauletta for almost 25 years. And to hear him gush about their four children—John David, 23, Katia, 20, and twins Malcolm and Olivia, 16, you’d think he was a stay-at-home dad.

On the contrary, Washington works all the time. He’s made 37 movies in the last 29 years, including Academy Award winners Philadelphia, Training Day and Glory.

Although he often plays good-guy roles, this month he appears in American Gangster as a really bad guy. Then, as if to reaffirm his versatility, Washington directs and stars in The Great Debaters, opening Christmas Day, a feel-good movie about a 1930s African American debate team and the inspiring coach (played by who else) who helps them take on Harvard.

Between edits on the film, Washington sat down with Reader’s Digest to talk about fame, fortune and why his personal happiness has little to do with any of that.

RD: What do you think your strengths are as an actor?
Washington: I don’t analyze myself. I put it out there, and it’s up to the people to interpret it. I keep it simple, try to continue my spiritual quest.

RD: Do you think of yourself as a spiritual person?
Washington: Definitely.

RD: In what way?
Washington: I read the Bible every day. I’m in my second pass-through now, in the Book of John. My pastor told me to start with the New Testament, so I did, maybe two years ago. Worked my way through it, then through the Old Testament. Now I’m back in the New Testament. It’s better the second time around.

Godless Hollywood?

RD: Do you ever see a conflict in Hollywood, Godless Hollywood, as a spiritual person?
Washington: Well, wait a minute. Stop. That’s broad. Godless Hollywood? What is that? First of all, Hollywood is a part of Los Angeles, not a way of thinking. When you say Godless Hollywood, are you including me? Are you saying everybody in Hollywood is Godless? That’s like saying Godless Reader’s Digest. No such thing, right?

RD: Right. Right.
Washington: I think it’s easy to generalize. Let’s be specific. We say Godless Hollywood, then we make an assumption that that’s true. It’s not true.

RD: Well, people talk about the violence, the sex—if you watch HBO—in Hollywood.
Washington: Those things happen everywhere. In politics, in war, at the post office. Not just in Hollywood.

RD: Do your spiritual philosophies influence the roles you play?
Washington: I think I’m going to instill it in everything I do, like this conversation. It’s who I am. It goes with me wherever I go. Understand that it’s something bigger than making a film, even American Gangster. When I met Frank Lucas [the drug kingpin the movie is based on], he said, “Do this and win an Oscar.” I’m like, “Frank, I’m not in it for that.” I found it interesting that he paid for his crimes with jail time, and now he’s paying with his body, which has sort of betrayed him. It’s important for me to tell that part of the story. There are consequences.

RD: Who were your childhood heroes?
Washington: I didn’t have a lot of them, but I met one, Gale Sayers. He came to see a play I was in. Oh, man, I was like nine years old again. I wore his number. I wanted to be Gale Sayers. Somebody said, “Gale Sayers heard you talk about him on TV and wanted to say hello.” I said, “Okay. Wait a minute, I got to get myself together.”

RD: What was the meeting like?
Washington: I was like, Oh, he’s smaller than I am! It was very cordial. Early on in the business I also met Jimmy Stewart. That was a treat.

RD: Did you consider them your role models?
Washington: I think a role model is a mentor—someone you see on a daily basis, and you learn from them. I’ve talked a lot about Billy Thomas, [a staffer] at the Boys Club. And Bob Stone, who was my English and acting teacher when I was in college. Those are the two who stand out.

RD: What did you learn from them?
Washington: They gave me confidence. Also, Charles White, who was also at the club. I remember him saying, “With your smarts, you can do anything you want.” Things like that stick with you. I was ten years old, but I never forgot it. You never know the power of words when you speak to young people, which is why I enjoy being involved with them.

RD: Is there one project in you that you feel is your ultimate dream?
Washington: No. There are some stories I want to tell, but I got a great life, period. My ultimate life dream project is my kids. My family.

RD: What’s your parenting style?
Washington: If you have kids, you know there is no style! It’s a hybrid. It’s what my wife and I learned from our parents, and applying religious instruction, discipline, athletic activity and academic excellence whenever possible. My wife’s done a great job. She’s been the consistent one, just trying to give them a normal life.

RD: Do you think it’s hard to live up to a dad like Denzel Washington?
Washington: Well, they don’t know anything different. When my oldest boy was about 14, I started to talk to him about some of the mistakes I made in life, just to put a few dents in that shiny armor.

RD: It’s your son’s second year playing for the Rams. What’s it like for you to see him growing up?
Washington: It’s great helping them navigate this minefield. The job’s not done, but to see him, a man now, responsible, paying bills and finding out what life’s all about. My daughter’s a sophomore in an Ivy League school; that’s unbelievable. And my twins are driving now, so that’s crazy.

RD: So is it different now for you and your wife?
Washington: There are still two [kids] in the house, which is more than most people have. And they bring home more people. In summer it was like a hotel. That they still enjoy coming home, I guess we’re doing a good job.

RD: Why did you want to make The Great Debaters?
Washington: The little train that could, the little guy up against the big guys.

RD: It’s your second time directing. What’s the appeal?
Washington: I like seeing other people do well. I enjoy finding young kids and sharing what I know with them. I like the collaboration. Also, I’m looking down the line. Clint Eastwood is my hero. This guy just seamlessly segued from one career to another.

RD: Your father was a minister. What kind of man was he?
Washington: A gentleman. A real gentle man. A devout Christian. A spirit-filled man, hardworking, low-key, consistent.

RD: Did he play catch with you? Was he a fun dad?
Washington: No, he wasn’t that guy. But I got all that out of my system in the Boys & Girls Club.

RD: Who were you closer with? Your mother or your father?
Washington: I think most boys are closer with their mothers. And like myself nowadays, he was working all day. We didn’t see him. He had one job, I think, from 6 to 12. He’d have a couple hours off, come home, then he’d work his night job. He probably put in 18, 20 hours a day.

Faith and Discipline

RD: That’s a good thing. So you’ve been married for 25 years?
Washington: Coming up on 25 in June. Yeah. I better come up with a plan. So I’ll ask the readers: What should I do for my 25th?

RD: What is the secret to a 24-year marriage?
Washington: Do whatever your wife tells you. Yes, dear. And breathe.

RD: What happens to a relationship after 15, 20 years? Does it change?
Washington: Everything changes. It happens after 15 or 20 days.

RD: How has the onion opened for you two?
Washington: I think it hopefully ends where it starts, which is friendship. And obviously, respect. Understanding our—for lack of a better word—roles. And just getting on with it. Commitment.

RD: How do you get through the hard times?
Washington: You have faith. And discipline as well. You have to work at it. I was just reading today: One day you’re going to have to walk with God when you can’t understand where he’s taking you. [Laughs] Your techniques, skill set and connections won’t get you through. So don’t try this on your own.

RD: What does that say to you?
Washington: It says, He’s got you covered. My faith helps me understand that circumstances don’t dictate my happiness, my inner peace.

RD: If you could change one thing about America what would it be?
Washington: I’d ask to change more than one thing! There are consequences for everything. What’s the domino effect? Start with slavery.

RD: Have you experienced prejudice?
Washington: Sure, absolutely. But I’m a positive person, so I don’t get bogged down with it. If you’re expecting that, if you wallow in that, if you practice that, then you’ll attract what you fear.

RD: People look at you and say you have everything. Do you struggle?
Washington: Struggle? I’m a believer in positive words. You can create your reality. I’d just as soon say I’m doing great. And getting better. I’m looking upward. It’s just my nature.

RD: Do you feel like a success?
Washington: I don’t know what that word means. I’m happy. But success, that goes back to what in somebody’s eyes success means. For me, success is inner peace. That’s a good day for me.

RD: How do you deal with fame?
Washington: It ain’t about me. The one thing for me, understanding how I understand God, is that it keeps me humble, keeps the pronouns out of the picture. I’ve been given certain abilities, and I look at it this way: What are you going to do with what you have? Who are you going to lift up?

RD: You’re a national spokesman for the Boys & Girls Club, and you and your wife work with a number of charities. Why have you gotten so involved?
Washington: It’s what the Bible teaches. It’s the right thing to do. And it’s selfish. There’s a lot of gratification in knowing that you help people. We realize how blessed we are and feel a responsibility to share.

RD: What’s one thing you’d change about yourself?
Washington: My weight! Mind, body and spirit. It’s a discipline, and the body has been lagging. Mind’s really good right now. Spirit is strong, but body’s been lagging. And the body helps the mind. I feel better today having worked out.

RD: Does mortality give you pause?
Washington: No. No. No. Nope. As the old folks used to say, You’re born to dead. It’s a part of life. So you might as well get used to it.

RD: What are you most proud of?
Washington: God, family, work. When our children were born, I was like, My work used to be my life. Now my work is making a living. They’re life. My children are. So what I am proudest of is all of the above. In that order.

RD: How would you like to be remembered?
Washington: I don’t think in those terms. I’m too busy living life.

Downtime with Denzel
RD: Last DVD you saw?
Washington: One I liked: The Lives of Others. And Munich. But I’m really not a movie buff.

RD: What are you reading?
Washington: Books? I don’t have time. Except for the Bible, the No. 1 bestseller.

RD: What’s on your iPod?
Washington: A buddy—not to name-drop—is Lenny Kravitz. I have all his stuff. All of James Brown, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, everything from blues to gospel to jazz. More than 5,000 songs.

RD: Last great vacation you took?
Washington: The Mediterranean. I love to spend time on the water. We’re at sea probably a month each year. In Italy you sit out in a boat in the bay and look back at these beautiful ancient cities.

RD: Favorite motto?
Washington: Do what you got to do so that you can do what you want to do. And fail big.

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From Reader's Digest - December 2007
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Best Parenting Advice

2010-05-22T12:44:00.004+08:00

Here is a compilation of all the great parenting advice that we received from readers over the years.

Parenting Advice #1: Lock your bedroom door.
Some people put a cowbell on their kids' door. Just don't count on hearing a knock before you hear the worst words, "daddy, what are you doing to mommy." A lock is very cheap insurance.

Parenting Advice #2: Take thousands and thousands of photos.
With digital that's easy to do. The trick is to edit them so that your computer isn't storing thousands and thousands of pictures. Garry Winogrand, the great 20th century black and white photographer died with 2500 rolls of undeveloped film. He shot and shot and his skill was in finding the diamonds in the rough. With kids, this is doubly important since they rarely sit still for perfect images. The more you shoot, the better chance you'll capture the real them.

Leave a loaded camera on the kitchen counter and be ready for every photo opportunity. The worst camera to have is the one you don't have with you when the perfect shot happens. Rather than buying a super-duper camera, the best dad photographers have a fairly cheap point and shoot camera that's small enough to keep in a pocket and always at the ready.

Parenting Advice #3: Learn how to juggle.
Juggling amazes small and even big children. It's something you can teach them later and it's a basic dad skill.

Parenting Advice #4: Kiss your wife goodbye and hello in front of the kids.
No can overestimate the value of showing the kids every day that they live in a loving and secure home. Do this especially if you're mad or having a fight. It might just have some side benefits to your marriage as well.

Parenting Advice #5: Avoid passing bad habits on to your kids.
If you swear or smoke, think about how your kids are likely to imitate you. It's a big responsibility.

Parenting Advice #6: Don't set your sights to high on what kind of dad you should be.
Every dad wants to be a "great dad," but we all lose our temper, need a break from the kids, and sometimes wonder what we might have done without the responsibilities of parenthood. We're all human, so give yourself a break from worrying that you could be better. Just try to be the best dad you can be at your next shot, whether that is story-reading time tonight or a day at a ballgame this weekend.

Parenting Advice #7: Buy a minivan.
Though not really a "tough" vehicle, a minivan is the perfect family vehicle for its sheer practicality and the comfort it offers.

Parenting Advice #8: Watch cartoons with your kids. Learn the lyrics to the songs. Get MP3s and play them in the car.
The kids will be impressed that you want to join their club.

Parenting Advice #9: Start planning for college fund NOW.

Parenting Advice #10: Be consistent.
Kids like structure and the more you repeat and model consistent behavior, the better chance your kids will act accordingly.

Parenting Advice #11: Learn a few magic tricks.
The granddaddy of them all is the French Drop, where you seemingly grab a coin from one hand and make it disappear. This trick is extremely portable, requires only a coin, and will mystify small children and some dimwitted adults. Search "French Drop" on YouTube for many good tutorials.

Parenting Advice #12: Take a break.
If you work hard and also spend a lot of time with your kids, you need a break every once in a while. Couples who find time to spend alone without kids are better able to maintain close relationships. Time away can be just a date night, or a planned weekend away.

Organizing childcare is not easy, but most couples find that time away gives a reassuring jolt to their relationship and reminds them why they found each other in the first place. This is very valuable especially if you're wondering what you have in common besides the kids.

Parenting Advice #13: Don't drink and drive.
Reality bites, but having kids teaches you a few things. First, you don't ever ever want to have something happen to your family. Second, you don't want to get hurt and not be able to care for your family. Third, you don't want to lose your license and have to make up a lame excuse to your school carpool buddies. Fourth, think of how mad you'd be if you realized how many other people are drinking and driving on the same streets where your kids play.

Parenting Advice #14: Carry your toddlers.
Put them on your shoulders or on your back every day, if your back can take it. The time that you can do that with them is very very short, and it's one of the best memories kids have of their dads from their toddler years.

Parenting Advice #15: Use your watch.
The best way to occupy a bored kid is to hand him your second hand-equipped watch and start peppering him or her with challenges. How long can you stand on one leg? Hold your breath? Keep your eyes open without blinking? Sing the National Anthem/? The list is endless. It keeps them occupied and calms them down.

Parenting Advice #16: NEVER hit your child. Period.

Parenting Advice #17: Quit smoking dope.
Arlo Guthrie said he quit smoking pot when he had kids and realized that he didn't want to be high if something ever happened to a child and he had to figure out how to get help. It sounds uncool to say, but drugs and kids don't mix.

And LASTLY

Parenting Advice #18: Kiss your child every day and say "I love you."
Say these 2 things every day to your child: "I love you" and "I'm proud of you." It's a short list with an endless payoff. (Thanks to David George and "Good Bad/Bad Dad.")

Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements : Benefits, Side Effects, and Best Brand.

2010-05-20T01:27:00.006+08:00

Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements : Benefits, Side Effects, and Best Brand

For the last few years, I've been recommending omega 3 fish oil supplements to practically everyone I know. Do you know why that means something? It's because I am FAR from a supplement-person. I barely use anything. Not only do I hate wasting money on junk I don't need or could get from actual foods, I'm also WAY over cautious about side effects and the things I put into my body in general. At the same time, I'm also usually the first one laughing at the supposed "magical" health benefits of all of the weird nutritional products, vitamins, herbs and minerals on the market. Really, I'm the last person to take or recommend any kind of nutritional supplement.

With all of that being said... I've personally been taking and recommending an omega 3 fish oil supplement to practically everyone I know. And that, my friends, should tell you just how useful and important I think it is.

In this article, I'm going to explain exactly why fish oil has become my personal favorite supplement and the only one that I recommend to every single person reading this no matter who you are. I'll explain all of its proven health benefits (yes, scientifically proven) and whether or not there are any side effects (there aren't). I'll explain omega 3 fatty acids in general, talk about how much you should take, and give you my recommendation for the highest quality fish oil supplement brand on the market. Basically, by the end of this article you're going to want to start recommending it to everyone you know, too.

What is it?

The only real reason fish and fish oil are considered so healthy is that they contain the omega 3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). You know how there are good types of fat and bad types of fat? Well, this is the really good one. Fish just happens to be the best and most abundant source of it.

Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid, which means is cannot be manufactured by our own body and therefore must be obtained through our diet alone. The thing is, most people's diet's contain an insufficient amount of omega 3. Not to mention, they also contain a very high amount of the omega 6 fatty acid. The ideal ratio of the two is something near 2:1. In reality for the average person, it's more like 20:1 or even more. Most people just lack omega 3, which is why a fish oil supplement could be beneficial to pretty much everyone. Speaking of benefits...

What are the benefits of taking an omega 3 fish oil supplement?

It's magical! Ok... that's obviously an exaggeration, but from all of the scientific studies done and all of the medical research known, an omega 3 fish oil supplement is my pick for the closest thing to a real life miracle pill.

Let's take a look at some of its benefits taken directly from MedlinePlus, which is a service of the US National Library of Medicine:

- lowers blood triglyceride levels
- reduces the risk of heart attack
- reduces the risk of dangerous abnormal heart rhythms
- reduces the risk of strokes
- slows the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques
- lowers blood pressure
- reduces stiffness and joint tenderness associated with Rheumatoid arthritis

An omega 3 fish oil supplement may also help improve or prevent the following:

- Alzheimer's disease and dementia
- depression
- heart disease
- cancer
- arthritis
- diabetes
- hyperactivity
- ADHD

has also been shown to improve a person's ability to concentrate and just think clearer in general. And, as if all of this isn't enough, fish oil is also highly recommended by nearly every well respected strength and conditioning coach, trainer, and diet/fitness/nutrition expert of any kind as one of the few supplements that should be taken by anyone with the goal of building muscle, losing fat, or improving their fitness level or athletic ability in any capacity.

Everything mentioned above has at least some amount actual scientific proof behind it. Researching some other sources showed me that some people experienced other benefits not mentioned above. For example, I've heard of people claiming to have improved vision, improved memory, improved mood, and less back pain.

Long story short, a fish oil supplement appears to improve our body's ability to do damn near everything.

For me personally, I feel I experienced some of the mental and physical benefits. I noticed a definite improvement in mental clarity and really just the way I feel in general. Now, I didn't develop any kind of super powers or anything, but after a couple of weeks, I felt like I noticed a difference. I remember reading the phrase "an enhanced well being" when doing my fish oil research. That's a really good way of describing it. And physically, I feel I noticed an improved calorie partitioning effect, meaning when consuming an excess of calories, more calories went towards the building of new muscle rather than the storing of new fat. I also felt a similar effect when in a caloric deficit, meaning my body did a better job of using stored body fat for energy rather than muscle. Basically, I felt I did indeed experience an overall improvement both physically and mentally.

But really, even if I felt exactly 100% the same, I'd still be taking an omega 3 fish oil supplement anyway. Why? Because even if I didn't notice any of its benefits, the fact that there is actual scientific proof that it may help improve or prevent even 1 (let alone all) of the diseases and disorders listed above is MORE than enough convincing for me.

Can't I just eat fish?

Technically, yes. Fatty fish contains omega 3 just the same as a fish oil supplement would. The only problem is that in order to consume a good amount of omega 3 on a regular basis, you would have to consume a good amount of fish on a regular basis. And, in case you haven't heard, due to all of the toxic contaminants found in fish these days (mercury, chlordane, dioxin, PCBs, and more) it is pretty hard to recommend anyone eat fish on daily basis. Fortunately, supplement companies can greatly improve its purity by removing these contaminants. Of course, some brands do this better than others. More on that later.

Are there any side effects?

No, for the most part, there are no side effects. You have to realize here, it's oil from fish. It's not like a dangerous fat burner/muscle builder type product. I mean, do you ask what the side effects are before eating some salmon? I didn't think so. Taking a fish oil supplement is no different than just eating fish (minus the contaminants, of course).

So, for the average healthy person, it's completely safe. Of course, if you are pregnant, allergic to fish, or already have any kind of known health issues, you should check with your doctor first just to be safe.

The only other thing I've heard of that even slightly resembles side effects is "a fishy after taste." And, while this is far from a serious side effect, this appears to only happen if you are taking a low quality fish oil supplement. For example, I've never tasted a hint of fish even for a second in all of the time I've been taking it. (More on which brand I use below.)

How much should I take?

The real question here is how much shouldn't you take. For safety purposes, the FDA recommends no more than 3 grams of combined EPA and DHA per day. For the brand I'm going to recommend below, 1 serving (2 capsules) contains 650mg of EPA and 450mg of DHA. Combined that is 1.1 grams of EPA/DHA. If you took two servings per day (4 capsules), that would be a 2.2 grams of combined EPA/DHA. Even though you're still .8 below the maximum 3 grams per day, I personally wouldn't recommend any more than that.

So, for the specific brand I recommend below, 1 serving (2 capsules) would be perfectly fine, with 2 servings (4 capsules) being a good maximum amount. That would mean staying between 1 and 2 servings per day, which is between 2-4 capsules per day of this specific brand. I personally take 3 capsules of this brand per day. Speaking of brands...

What brand should I use? Is one really better than the others?

This is something I did a lot of research about. Like I mentioned at the very beginning, I'm extremely careful about what I put into my body, which is why I spent a lot of time researching fish oil brands to find out if some were indeed better than others. And, the brand I can definitively say is the highest quality omega 3 fish oil supplement available is Nordic Naturals.

Besides seeing this brand specifically recommended by a handful of doctors, I also read two different consumer reports that performed a variety of tests on a variety of brand name fish oil supplements. And, while most of them passed, Nordic Naturals scored the best. So, yeah, a lot of brands are probably perfectly fine. But for me, when it comes to something like an omega 3 fish oil supplement, I want the best. I've done enough research to be more than confident in the fact that Nordic Naturals is one of, if not THE best. I've been using their brand for quite a while now, and they get my full recommendation.

As for the specifics, I use Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega, which contains significantly more EPA and DHA per capsule than most other brands. This not only means more bang for your buck, but it also means you won't have to take a million capsules per day. There are 120 capsules per bottle, so if you take the recommended 2 capsules per day, you'll only have to order another bottle just 6 times per year. Not bad, not bad at all.

As for where to get it, I order it from here for pretty much the best price I've seen it sold for: Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega

So, there you have it... everything you need to know about my personal favorite supplement, fish oil.

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Article taken from : http://www.intense-workout.com
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Fish Oil Secrets for Stress

2010-05-20T01:18:00.003+08:00

Many doctors and natural health experts recommend taking omega-3 fish oil for stress, depression and anxiety. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for human health and they must be present in your diet. Otherwise, you could suffer from a host of physical and psychological disorders.

Omega-6s are also essential, but they are found in numerous foods. So, deficiencies are rare, only occurring in developing nations and in anorexic individuals.

Some omega-3s, including ALA, are found in a variety of foods, as well. But, the omega-3s that are known to be most important to human health (EPA and DHA) are found in abundant quantities in only one food. That is oily or fatty fish.

The EPA and DHA content varies from one species to the next and is even seasonal. DHA contents are higher during the winter months in coldwater species. EPA is found year-round, in varying quantities.

The reason we suggest taking fish oil for stress, depression and anxiety is simple. The brain needs it.

There are outside influences, such as jobs, family and money, that contribute to emotional disorders. But, if our bodies are well-nourished, we can more easily handle those issues.

There are some foods and beverages that contribute to poor mental health. Mostly, they are the same ones that contribute to poor physical health. Calorie dense, nutrient poor foods, in other words junk foods, are the main culprits. Caffeinated beverages may be responsible for many of the diagnosed cases of anxiety in this country.

There are other foods and beverages that contribute to good mental and physical health. The list of foods that we should be eating on a regular basis is too long to include here. But, fish, fruits and vegetables are at the top of the list.

If you are interested in taking fish oil for stress, depression or anxiety, be sure to choose a brand that contains both DHA and EPA. Some manufacturers list the total omega-3s, but fail to break down the content of the individual fatty acids.

DHA is most important to the brain, because it is a major component of neurons and brains cells. Without DHA, an infant’s brain will not develop normally. Attention deficit disorders, depressive behavior and bi-polar disorders have been linked to low blood levels of DHA.

If you try taking fish oil for stress or other emotional disorders and it seems to be ineffective, it probably contains more EPA than DHA. That is the case with most of the major brands on the market.

My recommendation is a brand that contains a minimum of 280mg of DHA per 1000mg capsule. You can start by taking two capsules per day, but research has proven that three per day is safe.

Higher doses are not recommended because of the supplement’s anticoagulant activity. Anticoagulants prevent the formation of blood clots, which is good for preventing heart disease and stroke, but could be a problem for people with existing health problems.

Once you start taking good omega-3 fish oil for stress, you will feel like a new person. I’ve seen it myself.

And now please visit the XtendFishOil website listed below for updated information on fish oil for stress.

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Larry L. Taylor is a 'crazyhealthnut' but also researches health, nutrition and nutritional supplements. Larry has over 200 articles on the Internet about health. Visit his site at" http://www.HealthyBodySupplements.com
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Successful Parents Are ......

2010-05-20T01:06:00.005+08:00

Successful Parents are ...

Not perfect ...They make mistakes, but observe and learn from both their own, and the mistakes of others.

Personally involved ... with teaching and training their children. They know God holds only the parents solely responsible for overseeing their child's moral and spiritual development.

Praying and studying ...for the job of parenting! They form their ideas about child discipline from a disciplined and prayerful consideration of Bible principles -- not from popular but unproven humanistic ideas!

Refusing to delegate ... their God-given responsibilities for their own children to the state, the church, or others.

Taking personal charge ... of their children's spiritual education to make sure they receive proper Biblical instruction.

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Article from the Christian Parents.net
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1) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS DON'T EXPECT PERFECTION

Either from themselves or their children. Parenting is an art, not a science. Parent's DO; their children BECOME. Between the "doing" and "becoming" there is room for a lot of mistakes. Successful parents understand that, like themselves, their children aren't perfect, either. These parents expect the best from their children, but not perfection. This frees them to love their children unreservedly.

2) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS DON'T FEAR OCCASIONAL FAILURES

They understand that mistakes are a normal, even healthy part of parenting.They make the best decisions they can and when they're wrong, they learn from their mistakes and try to do better the next time. For successful parents, mistakes (by parents or children) aren't failures but opportunities to learn and grow. And learning isn't possible without mistakes.

3) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS DON'T EXPECT TO ALWAYS HAVE "SMOOTH SAILING"

Children have their own opinions, personalities and preferences. Inevitably, they cause us to say "Where did THAT come from?" or "What WERE you thinking?" Our responsibility to provide them with limits and guidance will sometimes clash with their growing desire for independence. These clashes are inevitable. Succesful parents aren't surprised by them; they expect them. But successful parents understand that their responsibility to their chidlren is not to always please them or make them happy. It's to make the hard decisions that will be for their best in the long run.

4) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS DON'T "GO IT ALONE"

Successful parenting means trusting yourself but not being a "lone ranger". No one has the experience or answers to every parenting challenge. But each of us has some of the answers and, together, we've got them all. So successful parents aren't reluctant to seek out the wisdom of others, whether a trusted older friend or relative or a member of a "Mom's" group. They know that, at the end of the day, the decision is theirs, but before they get there, there is plenty of wisdom aong the way waiting to help them.

Successful parents don't get that way by accident.There are some reliable guidelines they follow.

1) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS TRY HARDER

They face the same prressures we all do: demanding jobs, spouses and children who need us, financial challenges, etc. But they live by this rule: "You get back what you put in". They have a clear sense of priorities for their family and are willing to put in the time to achievce those priorities. they give more than the "average parent" so their children will be more than just "average children". These parents work at nurturing and developing themselves to be the best parents they can become. They try harder!

2) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS ENJOY BEING PARENTS!

They enjoy parenting not because it's easy or instantly rewarding but because of the sheer joy and privilege of cooperating with God in shaping another unique and precious life. Any parent of grown children will tell you "they grow up so quickly". Successful parents remind themselves of that and try to savor every day with their children. They immerse themselves in their children as much as possible and just enjoy them--even the days of dirty diapers, illness and disappointments. They don't just LOVE their children, they LIKE them and look forward to spending time with them. They enjoy being parents.

3) SUCCESFUL PARENTS TRUST GOD AND THEMSELVES

Over time and by learning from sucesses and mistakes, successful parents learn to trust themselves, their instincts, their judgement. After all, they're the "right" parents for their children! And when they don't know the answer, they know that God does, so they pray regularly for wisdom to be the best parents they can be. They use their "sanctified comon sense" to make the many decisions of parenting with calmness and confidence. These wise parents trust God --and trust themselves, too!

4) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS STRIVE TO BE THE PERSON THEY WANT THEIR CHILD TO BECOME

There are no formulas for parents. You can't just "program" children like a computer and be guaranteed of the result. But children are great observers and imitators. They watch, listen and absorb values and habits from the people who have the greatest influence on them: their parents.So successful parents resolve that they will set the best example they can for their children. The determine that they will "Be the person I want my child to become". They work every day at being and becoming a better person as they live before their children. That's the best, time tested way to see your children become the person you hope and pray for.

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Articles taken from: Confident Parenting Today
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Skin Care Guide - Cleansing, Toning, Moisturizing and Exfoliating

2010-05-20T01:00:00.002+08:00

Cleansing, Toning, Moisturizing and Exfoliating

Providing the right skin care (including cleansing skin care, facial toning, moisturizing, exfoliation and body cleansing) help keeps your skin looking healthy. Healthy skin looks better, gives you greater confidence and protects the body. This article tells you more on:

Why skin care is important?

Why toning is said to be very beneficial for pores?
What are the natural ways to cleanse tone and moisturize the Skin?
Providing the right skin care (including cleansing skin care, facial toning, moisturizing, exfoliation and body cleansing) help keeps your skin looking healthy. Healthy skin looks better, gives you greater confidence and protects the body.

It is important that people choose the right type of skin care for their skin, as this will reduce problem areas and prevent further skin damage from occurring. The right skin care can also help people treat any skin disorders they may have and limit or prevent skin reactions.

Different Methods of Skin Care

Cleansing, toning, moisturizing and exfoliation all serve different purposes and all of them are necessary to keep your skin looking its very best.

CLEANSING

Cleansing removes dirt, bacteria and dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Cleansing skin care is perhaps one of the most important things we can do to help keep our skin looking healthy and beautiful. Without cleansing, our faces would develop a build-up of materials that would make our faces dirty, shiny and dull. The bacteria and dirt on our face would also increase the risk of bacterial infections, leading to skin problems like acne. Cleansing is particularly important for people with oily skin, who have excess oil on their face which attracts dirt and debris.

Cleansing should not just stop with the face. Body cleansing is also important. However, a different type of cleansing may be needed for the body, than the cleansing which is needed for the face.

TONING

Facial toning does a number of things to keep your skin looking healthy. Firstly, it removes traces of dirt and debris that are left after cleansing. It also restores the skin's natural pH balance.

Toning is very beneficial for the pores. It helps tighten them up so that there is less chance of infection and acne. A good toner can tone up the skin and make it appear smoother

MOISTURIZING

Moisturizing helps hydrate the skin and prevent it from further moisture loss. It can also provide a protective barrier to stop moisture from escaping from the skin. Water and many skin care products can strip the skin of moisture. Moisturizing lotion helps replace that loss moisture. It is very important for people with dry skin, who have less sebum (the skin's natural oil) on their skin.

Face masks can also have a moisturizing effect. Moisturizing face masks are very good for people with dry skin who may need some extra moisture and attention.

EXFOLIATING

Exfoliating removes the surface layer of skin, along with any dirt, debris and dead skin cells. It provides a more thorough clean than cleansing. Removing the top layer of skin helps the new healthy skin to appear.

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Article from : http://www.skinway.com
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How A Child Learns

2010-05-20T00:53:00.004+08:00

If a child lives with criticism,
he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,
he learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule,
he learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame,
he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance,
he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement,
he learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise,
he learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness,
he learns justice.

If a child lives with security,
he learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval,
he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
he learns to find love in the world.

Author: Dorothy Law Nolte

Parenting Skills - An Overview

2010-05-20T00:44:00.001+08:00

Parenting Skills - An Overview

Back when our parents were born, parenting skills were learned from the extended family. If parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles didn't live in the same house, they usually lived within a few miles. They were always available to impart their considerable wisdom to the younger generation on the subjects of pregnancy, childbirth, and raising children. Now, we have become such a transient society; it is rare that the extended family is even in the same state!

Since the late 20th and early 21st centuries, parents have had to learn creative ways to raise their children. We surf the Internet, read books, take classes, talk to our parents on the telephone, and make friends with parents who have "been there and done that." We then filter these things through our own morality, sensibilities, and personalities to make them work for our own families. Wouldn't it be easier if each baby arrived with an owner's manual attached?

Parenting Skills - Discipline

Probably the most important and controversial parenting skill is discipline. We parents are conflicted over what type of discipline to apply at what time. Appropriate discipline for a two year-old might not be appropriate or effective for a 10 year-old or a teenager. The most important piece of the discipline puzzle is determining who is in charge: the parents or the child. This may sound simple, but in this day and age, the answer isn't always clear.

The fear of hurting a child's feelings or crushing his spirit coerces many parents into allowing their children to rule the roost. Children need firm boundaries that come from clear and consistent parental discipline. Whether the method is redirection, time-outs, loss of privileges, grounding, extra chores, or spanking, it is crucial that we embrace our role to train our children to become moral, respectable adults.

Parenting Skills - Education

The ability to recognize what we teach our children is one parenting skill from which we can all benefit. From the moment our children are born, they are learning from us. They learn that if they cry, we respond. If they pull our hair, we say, "ouch." If they throw their cup on the floor, we pick it up. As time goes on, we also teach them to walk, talk, get dressed, and say their A-B-C's.

As parents, we also have the responsibility to teach our children morals and values. We cannot depend solely on the schools to fulfill this important duty. At some point during early childhood, parents must make a decision on how to handle a child's formal education. Will the child be home-schooled or will they attend public or private school?

A variety of factors come into play when we consider the education of our children:

Family financial situations,
Quality of local public and private schools,
Level of parental education,
Personalities of parents and children,
Home-schooling support and resources,
And many other issues.

A child's educational success is not always dependent upon where he attends school, but how involved his parents are in his education.

Parenting Skills - Finances

Effectively dealing with financial issues is a parenting skill that will follow us through our children's adulthood. It begins with the heart-stopping thought: "We are having a baby! How on earth will we pay for this?" Many couples choose to delay starting their family until they have saved a comfortable amount of money.

Some families want to save enough to enable Mom to quit work and stay home for a set period of time. Others want enough saved for Mom to stay home indefinitely. Then there are those brave souls who leap in and take things as they come.

But, financial issues do not stop there. If Mom stays home, life insurance becomes even more important to protect the family if Dad passes away. And don't forget saving for college! In 2004, the average public university tuition was over $20,000 for four years. The average private university tuition was four times that amount. That's over $80,000, and these figures don't even consider room and board!

Parents today face diapers, clothing, food, entertainment, education, childcare, allowance, and countless other expenses. Wise parents will look at where they want the family finances to be in one, five, or even ten years, and then write down their goals. These goals can be as simple as putting $50 per month into a college savings account or towards the credit card balance.

Children bring us much joy and much responsibility. Taking the time to plan ahead can take some of the stress and worry out of raising them.

Superfoods for a Super Pregnancy

2010-05-20T00:39:00.003+08:00

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in your life. It can also be very taxing and exhausting for your body, mind and spirit at times. But by nourishing your body with these great superfoods, you’ll be energized, strong, and sharp, and ready to welcome your pending bundle of joy healthy and happy.

Beans and legumes are good sources of protein, fiber, calcium, iron, thiamine, and niacin. Make a big batch of beans when you have time and freeze them in small containers. Be careful with canned varieties, as they’re usually higher in sodium and their nutritional value is a bit lower since they’re processed using high temperatures. Soybeans provide more protein than any other bean or legume, making them a staple either the vegan or non-vegan. Soybeans are rich in many nutrients, including calcium and iron.

Include plenty of whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, millet, and oats as they’re a great source of fiber, minerals, protein and B complex vitamins. Buy the least processed grain types you can find, since many of the commercially prepared grains have had the nutritional and beneficial germ and bran removed.

Dark green leafy vegetables like kale, collard greens, watercress, and spinach are especially important while pregnant or lactating because they supply so many vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron. Dark leafy green vegetables also are rich in phytochemicals like beta carotene and lutein which protect against many forms of cancer. Vegetables from the cabbage family such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage are wonderful sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium. They are also rich in phytochemicals that have anticancer properties. Dark green leafy vegetables and cabbage family vegetables provide important nutrients that help to promote a plentiful milk supply for your baby.

Nuts and seeds are good sources of fiber, protein, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Be sure to eat flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds and walnuts to get omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for baby’s brain and nervous system development as well as your own health. Nuts and seeds can be eaten raw or toasted, and work great in a salad made of dark leafy green vegetables.

Lastly, it’s important to drink plenty of water, and make sure you’re getting plenty of rest during this time. A well-hydrated, well-rested body recovers more quickly, and ready to take on the challenges that life with a newborn baby brings with it.

Superfoods - Organic Foods Equal Improved Health

2010-05-20T00:35:00.003+08:00

Organic food is food that is free from all genetically modified organisms, produced without artificial pesticides and fertilizers and derived from an animal reared without the routine use of antibiotics, growth promoters or other drugs. Once only available in small stores or farmers' markets, organic foods are becoming much more widely available.

Organic foods have been shown to improve your immune system, help you sleep better, shed the excess weight more easily, and improve your blood work just to name a few. Organic food can boast intense, realistic flavors, and a higher vitamin and mineral content.
And though logically it makes sense to consume a diet based on organic foods, some worry about the cost. But with careful planning and preparation, going organic is actually quite affordable. And, the peace of mind knowing you and your family are consuming foods that haven’t been treated with pesticides or genetically altered is worth the extra money spent.

The pesticides used by conventional farmers can have many negative influences on your health, including neurotoxicity, disruption of your endocrine system, carcinogenicity and immune system suppression. Pesticide exposure may also affect male reproductive function and has been linked to miscarriages in women. Additionally, conventional produce tends to have fewer nutrients than organic produce. On average, conventional produce has only 83 percent of the nutrients of organic produce. Studies have found significantly higher levels of nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus, and significantly less nitrates (a toxin) in organic crops.

So it’s a smart idea to buy and eat organic produce and free-range organic foods as much as possible for maximum health benefits. In addition, the knowledge that you’re supporting the organic foods industry that is dedicated to protecting the environment by steering clear of harmful pesticides and chemicals that can result in the loss of topsoil, toxic runoff and resulting water pollution, soil contamination and poisoning and the death of insects, birds, critters and beneficial soil organisms should help you feel even better.

Concerns During Pregnancy

2010-05-20T00:31:00.002+08:00

There is nothing more stressful than to have something go wrong during pregnancy. It doesn’t matter if it is your first time being pregnant or your fourth. There are many things to be concerned about during your pregnancy and it is easier when you know what they are.

Vaginal bleeding- This may also known as spotting, but make sure that is what is going on. There is a difference between actively bleeding and spotting. Spotting is lightly bleeding kind of like your period, the blood can be red, pink or even brown. If you are bleeding actively with any pain call your doctor, if you can’t get a hold of him go immediately to the emergency room. Bleeding can be a number of things from implantation, ectopic pregnancy, labor, infection or even miscarriage. Always let your doctor know, so everything can be ruled out, you’ll feel better too.

Stomach pain or cramping- During the pregnancy it may be hard to decipher the difference between a growing pain and an actual stomach pain/cramping. However, if you do get a pain of any sort rest. After a few minutes if it doesn’t subside, call your doctor and describe the pain to him. Don’t worry about it if you find out you only had gas or were having Braxton hicks contractions, at least you know everything is okay with pregnancy.

Gush of liquid- This could mean you are in labor and that your water broke, however if it isn’t close to the time of birth it can be something else. Call your doctor immediately and head for the emergency room.

Dehydration- While you are pregnant it is easy to become dehydrated, especially if you have morning sickness or just don’t drink those 8 glasses of water. If you find yourself pale, dry mouth or dizzy, you could be dehydrated and should be seen by a doctor. Dehydration can cause premature labor and/or distress on the pregnancy.

Painful urination - Could be a urinary tract infection, also known as UTI. This can be easily treated with medication or by drinking lots of fluids and cranberry juice. A urinary tract infection isn’t something to be embarrassed about, it is very common amongst pregnant women. The growing belly pushes against your ureters and makes it harder for it to flow through. Which of course can cause infection. Another way to find out if you have it is if you have a foul odor when you pee.

Pregnancies can be scary enough, there’s no reason to add to it. If you are ever in doubt or have a concern talk with your doctor. It is common that first time moms are worried about many pains that they feel. Never fear calling because you are afraid of waking the doctor up or because you feel silly. Being silly might just save the baby. While you are worrying, you are only causing stress on you and the baby, find out what’s wrong and relieve your anxiety.

Parenting : Make Quality Time with Your Child Count

2010-05-20T00:27:00.002+08:00

In today's busy world, work, household chores and social activities all put a strain on your time with your child. But as you well know, it's imperative that you spend quality time together. It helps strengthen the bond between parent and child, and lets your child know you can be trusted and counted on. Children who spend quality time with their parents often do better in school, and excel in extracurricular activities, hobbies or sports. And though it can be 'scheduled' to a degree, it's something that happens when you least expect it. Therefore it's important that you do spend as much time as possible with your child in a relaxed atmosphere and do things together that you both enjoy.

But you're asking yourself, "Where am I going to find the time? My schedule's crazy enough as it is!" Well, for something as important as your child, you need to start digging around in that crazy schedule and find the time. Prioritizing is the key.

Here's some helpful suggestions on how to make the most of your time and find quality time where you least expect it.

Look at your household chore list and decide which ones can be left undone or be done imperfectly in order to make more family time. You might also want to consider leaving certain things until after your child has gone to bed to make the most of your time together.

Turn some of your everyday routines together count. Sing some favorite silly songs on the way to daycare, or make that drive to and from school a great opportunity to discuss what's happening in your child's life.

If you have more than one child, realize that each of them needs your individual attention. You may really have to juggle things around to make this happen, but try to be flexible and creative when spending time with each of your kids. And no matter what, don't skip those individual times with each child. By doing so you show them they're lower down on the priority list than the dry cleaning or the grocery shopping.

Children thrive on stability and routines, so plan your quality times so that they can take place regularly. Maybe you can walk the dog together on weekend morning, take a shopping excursion together, have a scheduled night each week for a sit-down dinner together, or make a trip to the park.

Parenting : Positive Praise for Your Child's Pride

2010-05-20T00:25:00.001+08:00

Praising a child correctly is important to the development of positive behaviors. It's a great way to encourage constructive future behavior. When you give praise you are giving your child a feeling of positive feedback, which increases their sense of confidence, self esteem and abilities. When you praise your child, you are pointing out the way they've acted, an action they've taken, or simply who they are. When your child looks good, tell him so. When your child does anything that pleases you, let him know. You should also praise a child's effort to do well, even if it doesn't come out so good in the end. You should find something each day about your child to praise.

Be on the lookout constantly for behaviors or actions deserving of praise, but don't be over the top about it. Be sincere and honest in your praise. Wait for unexpected or previously unnoticed good behavior and praise your child for it. And when you see such action or behaviors, praise immediately so the child will know exactly what behavior or action was deemed praiseworthy. It's also very important to look your child square in the eye when you praise him, and reinforce the positive behavior, action or trait being praised with a gesture such as a warm smile, a hug, scruff of the hair, or caress his face while you tell him.

Be exact, and state precisely what action, behavior or trait you find praiseworthy. And most importantly, never directly follow praise with criticism or negative comments. Let your child know what they did right and reward them for it before you let them know what they did wrong and punish for misbehaving or a misdeed.
So be sure to admire and congratulate your child and celebrate the good person they are growing into by praising their positive actions, behaviors and traits daily. You'll be building a strong sense of self in your child and you'll grow closer as a result.

Breast Feeding Toddlers

2010-05-20T00:20:00.003+08:00

Because more and more women are choosing to breast feed their babies, more
and more are also finding that they enjoy it enough to continue longer than
the first few months they planned on. Breast feeding to 3 - 4 years of age is
common in much of the world recently, and is still common in many societies
for toddlers to be breast fed.

Because mothers and babies often enjoy to breast feed, you shouldn't stop it. After six months, many think that breast milk loses it's value - which isn't true. Even after six months, it still contains protein, fat, and other important nutrients which babies and children need.

The fact is, immune factors in breast milk will protect the baby against infections. Breast milk also contains factors that will help the immune system mature, and other organs to develop and mature as well.

It's been shown and proven in the past that children in daycare who are still breast feeding have far less severe infections than the children that aren't breast feeding. The mother will lose less work time if she chooses to continue nursing her baby once she is back to work.

If you have thought about breast feeding your baby once he gets passed 6 months of age, you have made a wise decision. Although many feel that it isn't necessary, breast milk will always help babies and toddlers. Breast milk is the best milk you can give to your baby.

No matter what others may tell you, breast feeding only needs to be stopped when you and the baby agree on it. You don't have to stop when someone else wants you to - you should only stop when you feel that it's the right time.

Child Care : Suitable Clothing for Children

2010-05-20T00:18:00.001+08:00

During infancy.
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Infants are very susceptible of the impressions of cold; a proper regard, therefore, to a suitable clothing of the body, is imperative to their enjoyment of health. Unfortunately, an opinion is prevalent in society, that the tender child has naturally a great power of generating heat and resisting cold; and from this popular error has arisen the most fatal results. This opinion has been much strengthened by the insidious manner in which cold operates on the frame, the injurious effects not being always manifest during or immediately after its application, so that but too frequently the fatal result is traced to a wrong source, or the infant sinks under the action of an unknown cause.

The power of generating heat in warm-blooded animals is at its minimum at birth, and increases successively to adult age; young animals, instead of being warmer than adults, are generally a degree or two colder, and part with their heat more readily; facts which cannot be too generally known. They show how absurd must be the folly of that system of "hardening" the constitution (to which reference has been before made), which induces the parent to plunge the tender and delicate child into the cold bath at all seasons of the year, and freely expose it to the cold, cutting currents of an easterly wind, with the lightest clothing.

The principles which ought to guide a parent in clothing her infant are as follows:

The material and quantity of the clothes should be such as to preserve a sufficient proportion of warmth to the body, regulated therefore by the season of the year, and the delicacy or strength of the infant's constitution. In effecting this, however, the parent must guard against the too common practice of enveloping the child in innumerable folds of warm clothing, and keeping it constantly confined to very hot and close rooms; thus running into the opposite extreme to that to which I have just alluded: for nothing tends so much to enfeeble the constitution, to induce disease, and render the skin highly susceptible to the impression of cold; and thus to produce those very ailments which it is the chief intention to guard against.

In their make they should be so arranged as to put no restrictions to the free movements of all parts of the child's body; and so loose and easy as to permit the insensible perspiration to have a free exit, instead of being confined to and absorbed by the clothes, and held in contact with the skin, till it gives rise to irritation.

In their quality they should be such as not to irritate the delicate skin of the child. In infancy, therefore, flannel is rather too rough, but is desirable as the child grows older, as it gives a gentle stimulus to the skin, and maintains health.

In its construction the dress should be so simple as to admit of being quickly put on, since dressing is irksome to the infant, causing it to cry, and exciting as much mental irritation as it is capable of feeling. Pins should be wholly dispensed with, their use being hazardous through the carelessness of nurses, and even through the ordinary movements of the infant itself.

The clothing must be changed daily. It is eminently conducive to good health that a complete change of dress should be made every day. If this is not done, washing will, in a great measure, fail in its object, especially in insuring freedom from skin diseases.

During childhood.
----------------

The clothing of the child should possess the same properties as that of infancy. It should afford due warmth, be of such materials as do not irritate the skin, and so made as to occasion no unnatural constriction.

In reference to due warmth, it may be well again to repeat, that too little clothing is frequently productive of the most sudden attacks of active disease; and that children who are thus exposed with thin clothing in a climate so variable as ours are the frequent subjects of croup, and other dangerous affections of the air- passages and lungs. On the other hand, it must not be forgotten, that too warm clothing is a source of disease, sometimes even of the same diseases which originate in exposure to cold, and often renders the frame more susceptible of the impressions of cold, especially of cold air taken into the lungs. Regulate the clothing, then, according to the season; resume the winter dress early; lay it aside late; for it is in spring and autumn that the vicissitudes in our climate are greatest, and congestive and inflammatory complaints most common.

With regard to material (as was before observed), the skin will at this age bear flannel next to it; and it is now not only proper, but necessary. It may be put off with advantage during the night, and cotton maybe substituted during the summer, the flannel being resumed early in the autumn. If from very great delicacy of constitution it proves too irritating to the skin, fine fleecy hosiery will in general be easily endured, and will greatly conduce to the preservation of health.

It is highly important that the clothes of the boy should be so made that no restraints shall be put on the movements of the body or limbs, nor injurious pressure made on his waist or chest. All his muscles ought to have full liberty to act, as their free exercise promotes both their growth and activity, and thus insures the regularity and efficiency of the several functions to which these muscles are subservient.

The same remarks apply with equal force to the dress of the girl; and happily, during childhood, at least, no distinction is made in this matter between the sexes. Not so, however, when the girl is about to emerge from this period of life; a system of dress is then adopted which has the most pernicious effects upon her health, and the development of the body, the employment of tight stays, which impede the free and full action of the respiratory organs, being only one of the many restrictions and injurious practices from which in latter years they are thus doomed to suffer so severely.

Parenting : How to Teach Your Children to Clean House -- And Enjoy It

2010-05-18T13:04:00.004+08:00

It's never to early to teach your child the responsibility of cleaning their living spaces. Read on to learn how even toddlers can help with the housework and share in the responsibility of a clean and healthy home!

Step 1 - START 'EM YOUNG. - As I mentioned, even toddlers can help with household chores. In fact, you'll help them improve hand-to-eye coordination, dexterity, and develop a sense of accomplishment when you let them assist you with simple chores. Little ones can sort the silverware into appropriate compartments in the flatware drawer. They can snap lids on plastic containers as you unload the dishwasher. They can sort items you've folded from the dryer into stacks for mommy, for daddy, for the kitchen, or the bath. Let your preschooler feed the kitty or puppy (dry food only, please), put away her stuffed animals, or put her crayons back in the box. He can help with dusting too and will love zooming around your house with a feather duster or Swiffer. (Don't let small children use aerosol furniture polish, as they may inhale it or spray it in their eyes).

Step 2 - ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. - Children of this age can learn to make their beds (overlook the "snakes" under the covers, unless you're expecting guests), wipe down the bathroom sink after brushing, hang their towels on the rack after bathing, and sort their clothes for laundry. Children in the upper grades of elementary school can fold towels and match socks (again, remember not to be too picky and to praise their efforts--we all started somewhere)! Kids of this age should always be responsible for putting away their own toys in the appropriate places (books on the shelf, board game pieces in the correct boxes, etc.).

Step 3 - MIDDLE SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN. - Children of this age can do all the things mentioned above, plus chores that require more attention to detail and dexterity, such as wiping down the shower (they'll love to use a hand-held squeegie), sweeping the kitchen or patio, and vacuuming carpets. (Remind them to pick up items from the floor, first, unless you want to de-sock your vacuum cleaner). Children this age can walk the dog on their own (provided you live in a safe area), empty the kitty box (teach the importance of handwashing afterward), and brush their pets. They can also carry out the garbage and replace the garbage bag in the pails or cans, help weed your flower beds or garden, and assist in the kitchen (watch those knives)!

Step 4 - THE TEENAGE YEARS. - These are the "can do, but will they do" years. If you've instilled a sense of responsibility in your children, by now they can do all the above chores, plus a few which demand more pre-adult responsibilities. Now your children can wash the car (a good requirement before using it on the weekends), help with household repair chores and painting, learn minor auto maintenance (such as changing oil), and prepare and serve a full meal (break them in a little at a time with easy-to-prepare recipes). Now is also a great time to teach financial responsibility. Consider setting up a checking account for your child and teach them to balance their checkbook each month. Help them set a budget for trendy clothing, savings for college or a car, and fun money to use at the movies, eating out with friends, etc.

Step 5 - DON'T FORGET THE PATIENCE! - You may have to relax your housekeeping standards a bit as your children (particularly the young ones) learn to help with household chores. The key is to assign regular responsibilities for each age group, to teach them how to do the chore a few times, and then turn them loose to do it on their own. Sure, they'll mess up now and again, but don't be critical! Praise them when the chores are done and reward them each week for a job well done with a special treat, such as a small gift or a trip to the park, or even a chore-based allowance. (This will help with financial responsibility, as well).

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Contributed by Rhonda Browning White,
http://eHow.com Member
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How To Be A Good Parent

2010-05-18T12:58:00.002+08:00

A big part of good parenting is establishing respect between parents and children. Your child needs to know what you expect of her, and you in turn must learn to listen and wait.

Step 1 - Slow down. Babies and children live in a different time frame from adults' -usually a much slower one. Keep this in mind as you talk to your child, care for her and go about your day together.

Step 2 - Observe your child. You'll be amazed at how well you'll get to know your child by sitting back and watching. This focused awareness will help you better understand moods, abilities and temperament. Listening is important, too.

Step 3 - Stay optimistic. Optimism is contagious; so is negativity. Show your child through your behavior how to overcome minor setbacks. Children emulate their parents' attitudes and habits, so it will help if you have a positive outlook.

Step 4 - Accept and acknowledge your child's feelings and desires. Let her know it's OK if she feels sad, scared or angry. You can say, 'It looks like you're sad because your friend went home' or 'It seems that you're mad because I put the ball away.'

Step 5 - Tell your child your expectations. Children won't always comply right away, but they need to understand clearly what a parent expects: 'I want you to put on your sweater. We're going outside,' or 'I want your feet to stay off the couch.'

Step 6 - Set appropriate limits. Even when you acknowledge a feeling or desire, you must make a child aware of appropriate behavior and rules: 'I can see you're mad at your friend because he took the toy from you, but I won't let you hit him. Hitting is not something we do in our family. What else can you do?'

Step 7 - Wait. Let your child do as much as she can on her own - learn to walk, put on her socks, resolve conflicts with her friends. Anxiety or the desire to help often tempts parents to rush in and solve the problem for the child. A better response would be to wait and see what your child can manage on her own. She might surprise you.

Step 8 - Behave genuinely. Just as you accept your child's moods, though not always his behavior, it's OK to have a sad or angry thought yourself and express it appropriately: 'I'm really tired right now but I'm listening to you.' A parent's genuineness prepares a child for life.

Step 9 - Nurture yourself and your marriage. Make arrangements to have some guilt-free time to take care of your own needs. Plan a date with your partner and forget the kids for a while. You'll be a happier person and a better parent.

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Article taken from http://eHow.com
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Parenting : How to Teach Children To Be Good Sports

2010-05-18T12:53:00.003+08:00

You want your children to be good sports, but a lot of young children struggle with good sportsmanship. It can be tough for little ones to lose. Here are some tips for helping your children learn how to be good sports.

Step 1 - To teach your kids to be good sports, practice with them (and practice... and then practice some more.) The more you play sports and games with your children, the better they will get at losing from time to time. I'm not saying they will love to lose. But they will start to see that over time, "You win some and you lose some." And it's perfectly fine.

Step 2 - Remember that you are a role model for your kids. They watch everything you do and try to emulate you. If you make it a habit of practicing good sportsmanship in front of them, they will gradually start to pick up on your cues and become better sports.

Step 3 - With very young kids, it's truly okay to "let them win" from time to time. They enjoy winning, and of course you want them to continue enjoying their participation in games and sports.

Step 4 - Remember there will be setbacks when trying to teach kids to be good sports. Young children have their good days and their bad days when it comes to being good sports. If your child suddenly throws a tantrum related to bad sportsmanship, remember that he is still learning. (Also, he might just be tired or grumpy or more emotionally fragile than usual on a given day.) It's not the end of the world and it does not mean that he is not making progress with his overall sportsmanship.

Step 5 - Put yourself in their shoes. Remember back to your own childhood. Chances are you were not a huge fan of losing either. Being able to empathize with their feelings will help you, particularly during those moments when you feel yourself losing patience with their unsportsmanlike behavior.

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Article contributed by RachelB,
from http://eHow.com
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Benefit of Using Liquid Vitamins

2010-05-18T12:45:00.002+08:00

Should you take Liquid vitamin supplements?

Nowadays, it is hard to escape hearing about so called liquid vitamins, as they are advertised everywhere on the internet it seems.

Liquid vitamin supplements have an almost total absorption rate, often quoted as high as 98%.

Accompanying this claim is another one: 90% of the nutrients taken in a tablet or pill form are going straight down your toilet.

But are these claims true? Are there any real benefits to liquid vitamins? Are there drawbacks?

At Liquid-Vitamins.org we will present the facts, and let each of you make up your own minds.

The facts on Liquid Vitamins: Liquid Vitamin Supplements

First, let's begin with the claim that supplements taken in tablet or pill form are 90% excreted and wasted.

This is a very (intentionally!) misleading statement.

Here's why: there is a huge variation in supplement quality.

On one end of the spectrum, you have cheap vitamins mass produced and sold in supermarket chains. These supplements are made using the cheapest ingredients possible, as well as the cheapest excipients (excipients are what bind the ingredients together).

Because of the excipients used, the nutrients are mostly released in the stomach, and, therefore, destroyed by the stomach acids.

In the case of these supplements, 90% of the vitamins can indeed end up wasted in the toilet.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Absorption of Liquid Vitamins

"Liquids, aside from offering the obvious benefit of being easy to swallow, have another very important trait. According to the Physicians Desk Reference,

Liquid is absorbed at a 98% rate, versus

Only 10 – 20% in hard capsules or tablet forms.

This very important distinction is extraordinarily important. It is not uncommon to have [hard] capsules pass right through the body in a way that the product name is still visible after the pill has left the body completely. This does not happen with liquids, as they are absorbed completely and are not wasted."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

On the other end of the spectrum, though, there are companies that manufacture highly sophisticated supplements, often referred to as nutraceuticals. These companies can use extremely expensive all natural, potent ingredients and excipients.

Some of these supplements, due to these differences, have highly sophisticated delivery systems. For example, the best of them have excipients that ensure the nutrients are absorbed via the lining of the walls of the upper intestine, allowing them to enter the bloodstream where they go to work.

In short, it is dishonest for these purveyors of liquid vitamins to try and claim all tablet or pill form supplements have poor absorption. Comparing supermarket variety vitamins to sophisticated nutraceuticals is like comparing apples to oranges.

Absorption of Liquid Vitamins

Now, let's discuss the alleged 98% (or greater) absorption claimed by some of these liquid vitamin supplements.

Sadly, this is also misleading.

There are only a few different ways in which nutrients can get into your bloodstream:

1) By injection...must be performed by a clinic or physician. For example, vitamin B12 or Human Growth Hormones can be introduced into the body using this route.

2) Through the mucous membranes of the mouth via a sublingual tablet or liquid. This can be highly effective for certain nutrients, but does not work for many others simply because many nutrients possess molecules that are too large to be absorbed via the mucous membranes.

3) Via the lining of the walls of the upper intestines. (Discussed above, this is how many of the best nutraceuticals work).

4) Via the lining of the colon walls using suppositories (which are prescription items and are not applicable to supplements).

5) No specific delivery system.

It is the last category that cheap vitamins you buy in the supermarket fall into, as well as so called liquid multi vitamins.

In short, these cheap supplemements and liquid vitamin supplements are simply drank as is, or mixed with water or juice before imbibing. They then enter the stomach where the vast majority of the active nutrients are destroyed.

The bottomline is that these companies that market liquid vitamin supplements are taking advantage of the fact that most people are not equipped with an understanding of the principles behind absorption and bio-availability, and can present their liquid vitamins as having greater efficacy than they truly do, while at the same time "knocking down" supplements that come in tablet or pill form.

Other facts that manufacturers of Liquid Vitamins don't want you to know

If you follow the latest breaking health trends as we do, you may be aware of the many benefits of enzymes, which have been revealed to possibly help disorders ranging from the caridovascular to the circulatory to the health of the lungs, kidneys, liver, and even brain. A good amount of this research is being conducted by Medical Scientists at the prestigious Harvard Medical School.

Many sellers of liquid vitamins will often extol the virtues of enzymes and claim their products harbor all of the beneficial enzymes that you need.

Don't buy the hype.

The fact of the matter is that the enzyme component in these products are negligible because the enzymes are not added, and therefore only contain trace amounts, which were present in the food matrix.

What's worse, enzymes cannot be added to liquid vitamins because enzymes are highly sensitive and can only survive in a liquid form for approxiately 2 to 3 hours.

Enzymes, however, can be a viable component in complex tablet form nutraceuticals and not suffer destruction like they do in liquid vitamin supplements.

Liquid-Vitamins.org's Verdict on Liquid Vitamins

In our opinion, liquid vitamins are on a par with respect to efficacy as cheap supplements you can buy in any supermarket. Unfortunately, most of these liquid vitamin supplements are not cheap (especially for what you are getting) at all.

Indeed, many of them command prices of 40 dollars and upwards -- this is primarily due to the way these liquid vitamins are marketed, which is MLM (Multi-level-marketing). Multi-level-marketing schemes have a strong tendency to inflate the retail prices of the products because there are many levels of payment made to those marketing them.

In the final analysis, the only real benefit we can ascertain of taking liquid vitamin supplements is that some people have difficulty swallowing any tablets.

If you are one of these people, then taking a liquid multi vitamin will probably be better than taking nothing at all.

However, liquid vitamin supplements cannot compare to sophisticated nutraceuticals for the reasons cited above -- and many more.

Those interested may read up on the line of nutraceuticals we here at Liquid-Vitamins.org personally take ourselves. We hope you have found our liquid vitamins review helpful.

We believe, in the end, people should be allowed to make up their own minds what they want to take or not.

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The National Advisory Board states that:

'100 mg consumed in tablet form translates to a minute stabilized 8.3 mg or 8.3% concentrated in the blood.'

This is simply not the case with liquids!"

"Pills and capsules may cost less, but in reality you get far less absorption for your money. No wonder they cost less!

Liquids are fast--you do not even have to wait for them to dissolve. They start working as soon as you swallow and

Many have very pleasant flavors."

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Article taken from : http://www.liquid-vitamins.org

What is Vitamin B1?

2010-05-18T12:41:00.001+08:00

Vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, helps fuel your body by converting blood sugar into energy. It keeps your mucous membranes healthy and is essential for nervous system, cardiovascular and muscular function.
Nutritionists categorize vitamins by the materials that a vitamin will dissolve in. There are two categories: water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins, which include the B-complex group and vitamin C, travel through the bloodstream. Whatever water-soluble vitamins are not used by the body are eliminated in urine, which means you need a continuous supply of them in your food. Vitamin B1 is a water-soluble vitamin.

How Much Vitamin B1 Is Enough?

Women should have 1.1 milligrams every day, and men should have 1.5 milligrams every day.

Sources of Vitamin B1
The best sources of Vitamin B1 are yeasts and liver. The following foods are good sources of Vitamin B1:

Pork
Whole-grain cereals
Rye and whole-wheat flour
Wheat germ
Navy beans and kidney beans
Can You Have Too Much or Too Little?
It's pretty rare in the United States for a person to be deficient in this vitamin. A lack of it can cause beriberi, a condition that involves confusion, muscle wasting, nerve problems and a rapid heartbeat. It's usually only seen in the United States in babies who are fed formula that isn't supplemented with Vitamin B1 or in people who drink large amounts of alcohol. People who drink heavily should talk to their doctors about how to quit drinking and whether they need vitamin B1 supplements.

Vitamin Storage
If you want to get the most vitamins possible from your food, refrigerate fresh produce and keep milk and grains away from strong light. Vitamins are easily destroyed and washed out during food preparation and storage. If you take vitamin supplements, store them at room temperature in a dry place that's free of moisture.

Benefits of Vitamin A

2010-05-18T12:34:00.004+08:00

Vitamin A, also called retinol, helps your eyes adjust to light changes when you come in from outside and also helps keep your eyes, skin and mucous membranes moist. Vitamin A mostly comes from animal foods, but some plant-based foods supply beta-carotene, which your body then converts into Vitamin A. It also has antioxidant properties that neutralize free radicals in the body that cause tissue and cellular damage.
Early information from scientific studies suggests that beta-carotene might help people who already have Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The American Heart Association doesn't recommend taking supplements of beta-carotene until more is known, however.

Nutritionists categorize vitamins by the materials that a vitamin will dissolve in. There are two categories: water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins ”vitamins A, D, E and K”are stored in the fat tissues of the body for a few days to up to six months. If you get too much of a fat-soluble vitamin, it can be stored in your liver and may sometimes cause health problems. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.

Some people take mega-doses of fat-soluble vitamins, which can lead to toxicity. Eating a normal diet of foods rich in these vitamins won't cause a problem. Remember, you only need small amounts of any vitamin. In the case of vitamin A, overconsumption has been linked with an increased risk of fractures in postmenopausal women.

Some health problems can make it hard for a person's body to absorb these vitamins. If you have a chronic health condition, ask your doctor about whether your vitamin absorption will be affected.

How Much Vitamin A Is Enough?

It's recommended that women consume 800 mcg and men consume 1000 mcg of vitamin A daily.

Sources of Vitamin A

Top sources of vitamin A include:
Beef liver
Egg yolk
Cheddar cheese
Fortified milk

Top sources of beta-carotene include:

Sweet potato
Carrots
Pumpkin
Cantaloupe
Broccoli
Apricots
Spinach and collard greens

Can You Have Too Much or Too Little?

Vitamin A deficiency is rare in the United States, but it can cause night blindness, eye inflammation, diarrhea and other problems. Overconsumption of vitamin A can cause nausea, irritability and blurred vision in its mild form. In addition, the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet can turn orange if a person has a high intake of Vitamin A. Vitamin A toxicity can cause growth retardation, hair loss and enlarged spleen and liver in its more severe form. Vitamin A overdose can also cause birth defects and has been linked to increased risk of bone fractures in some people.

Vitamin Storage

If you want to get the most vitamins possible from your food, refrigerate fresh produce, and keep milk and grains away from strong light. Vitamins are easily destroyed and washed out during food preparation and storage. If you take vitamin supplements, store them at room temperature in a dry place that's free of moisture.

Do you know that too much vitamin A is not good?

Too Much Vitamin A May Put Some Women at Risk for Hip Fractures

For women who consume large amounts of vitamin A, also known as retinol, lowered bone mass and an increased risk of hip fractures may result, say researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Previous research has shown that too much vitamin A in the diet can suppress the body's ability to make new bone and may actually reduce a person's existing bone mass, thereby increasing the risk of fractures. Researchers studied over 72,000 postmenopausal women for 18 years to assess the relationship between high vitamin A intake from foods and supplements and the risk of hip fractures. The women in the study completed regular food questionnaires and provided information about health habits, use of hormones and supplements and weight.

During the 18-year study period, over 600 women experienced hip fractures. Women who had the highest total vitamin A intake had a significantly higher risk of hip fracture when compared to women who consumed the least amount of vitamin A. The researchers maintained that the increased risk was mainly attributable to retinol, the vitamin A found in foods of animal origin, not beta carotene, which is contained in fruits and vegetables and can be converted to retinol by the body.

Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin, is an important dietary element - it is involved in the formation and maintenance of healthy skin, hair and mucous membranes. How much vitamin A is too much? The 1989 RDA for vitamin A has been set at 800 retinol equivalents (RE) per day for women 19 to 50 years of age, and 1,000 retinol equivalents for men 19 to 50 years of age, so check your multivitamin or supplements to make sure youâ€™re not exceeding that amount. Remember, too, that foods contain vitamin A - one carrot has about 2025 RE of vitamin A, which is 203% of a man's recommended daily intake.

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Article from : http://www.lifeclinic.com
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The Healing Power of Herbal Tea

2010-05-18T09:03:00.004+08:00

by Dr. Maoshing Ni - Yahoo! Health Expert for Alternative Medicine

Tea goes back to China almost 5,000 years ago. Herbal teas were specially blended from plants that exhibited medicinal properties to maintain health and prevent illness. Find out what makes tea so beneficial and how you can craft your own custom blend to stay healthy!

What is tea?

Technically speaking, tea is the dried and processed leaves of Camellia sinensis, and includes four main varieties: black, oolong, green, and white tea.

Black tea, produced when tea leaves undergo an oxidizing process that turns the leaves black, has the strongest flavor and the highest content of caffeine—about one third the caffeine you would get from the same cup of coffee. Oolong tea is slightly less oxidized and has less caffeine. Green tea is steamed, rolled and dried immediately after harvest, which halts the oxidation process, allowing the leaves to retain their green color. White tea undergoes the least processing—the young tea buds are picked and then air-dried. All of these varieties have different health benefits, with green tea and white tea leading the pack.

Green tea from Camellia sinensis

Experts believe that flavonoids are the key health-promoting ingredient in tea. These polyphenol antioxidants are present in many foods and plants, including tea leaves, and have been found to help prevent cell damage. Recent research suggests that tea may protect against heart disease and many types of cancer.

What about herbal tea?

Well, herbal tea is not really tea at all, but actually an infusion or tisane made from various leaves, flowers, fruit, or herbs. Herbal tea is sometimes enjoyed for its delicious taste and many times enjoyed for its medicinal properties.

Lemon Verbena herbal tea

While real "tea" boasts many healthy benefits, a major pro to herbal tea is that it is caffeine-free. Also, you can tailor your tea to your needs by selecting herbs and plants that address the health issue you want to target.

The list of tea recipes that follow are just a few combinations to help you heal.

1. Warming tea for cold hands and feet

For a warming tea from head to toe, make cinnamon and clove tea by putting 2 cinnamon sticks and 1 teaspoon of cloves in 3 cups of water and boil for 15 minutes. Strain and drink 3 cups each day. Drink one cup in the evenings to warm your insides, which encourages a good night's sleep.

Specially blended Winter Tea makes use of herbs that expel cold while warming and tonifying your kidneys.

2. Pore-opening tea for combating a cold

This is a traditional Chinese remedy for a "wind cold", which usually occurs during seasonal changes and is often a result of exposure to drafts. At this early stage, Chinese medicine suggests that perspiration is helpful in removing the pathogens from the skin.

Boil one chopped garlic clove, three slices of ginger, one chopped scallion, some basil, and a pinch of cinnamon in 24 ounces of water for five minutes. Drink the tea hot and go to bed. Cover up and prepare to sweat. Sweating opens the pores, releasing trapped pathogens from the skin. Drink at least 3 cups of tea daily until symptoms subside.

For "wind heat" type of cold, which is characterized by high fever, sweating, sore throat, cough, headaches, and a yellow nasal discharge, you would see a Chinese medical practitioner for an herbal blend that is individualized for your needs.

3. Alertness-Enhancing Tea

The next time you need to spice up your concentration, instead of reaching for harsh stimulants like coffee, try the potent yet gentle energizers in your spice rack. Studies have found that compounds in everyday herbs and spices can increase mental function and physical vitality. All these herbs and spices contain volatile oils that stimulate your senses and increase alertness: dill, oregano, cilantro, rosemary, sage, bay, peppermint, ginger, garlic, parsley, cinnamon, onion, chives, garlic and leek. Make a tea from any combination and drink whenever you need a pick-me-up.

4. Herbal Hearing Aid Tea

The traditional Chinese remedy for diminished hearing is to make a tea from herbs that gently restore the ear. Make a hearing aid tea by boiling together for 15 minutes: 4 cups of water, 1 heaping tablespoon each of oregano, cilantro, rosemary, and sage, combined with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and 3 slices of fresh ginger. Drink three cups a day for three weeks and hear the difference.

5. Stomach-Settling Tea

Ginger has been shown to soothe the digestive lining and balance gastric juices. Make ginger tea by slicing fresh ginger root into 2 inch long slices and boiling in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes. Strain out the ginger and sip the tea slowly. Drink ginger tea as often as you need to settle your stomach and keep nausea away.

Or steep 1 teaspoon each of mint, rosemary, oregano, cilantro, sage, and basil in a cup of hot water. Drink after each meal to soothe and prevent bloating.

Among my patients, a very popular herbal tea is Internal Cleanse Tea, which is specially combined to detoxify, calm nerves, clear the mind, balance emotions, and ease digestion.

Internal Cleanse herbal blend for detoxifying

Try the whole Tao Tea collection, specially blended to bring you balance in mind, body, and spirit.

Brewing Tips

Follow these tips for best benefits:

■ Tap water affects the taste of tea. It is best to use fresh filtered water. To learn about a high-performance filtration system that I recommend, click here.
■ To extract the most beneficial compounds from the tea leaves or bags, let them steep for three to five minutes.
■ It is best to drink tea unsweetened and without milk, which can minimize some of the health benefits. Forgo the sugar and try instead honey, stevia products, or a stick of cinnamon.
■ For maximum health benefits, I suggest you work with a licensed acupuncturist or traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to find an herbal blend tailored specifically to your needs.
I hope you reap the powerful healing benefits of tea! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you stay healthy, live long, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

This blog is meant to educate, but it should not be used as a substitute for personal medical advice. The reader should consult his or her physician or clinician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field is ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.

Memory Loss : 7 Tips To Improve Your Memory

2010-05-17T18:41:00.003+08:00

Concerned about memory loss?

Take heart. There's plenty you can do to improve your memory — from staying mentally active to including physical activity in your daily routine.
By Mayo Clinic staff

Can't find your car keys? Forget what's on your grocery list? Can't remember the name of the personal trainer you liked at the gym? You're not alone. Everyone forgets things occasionally. Still, memory loss is nothing to take lightly. You can do simple things every day to improve your memory — starting today!

No. 1: Stay Mentally Active

Just as physical activity helps keep your body in shape, mentally stimulating activities help keep your brain in shape — and memory loss at bay. Do crossword puzzles. Read a section of the newspaper that you normally skip. Take alternate routes when driving. Learn to play a musical instrument. Volunteer at a local school or community organization.

No. 2: Socialize Regularly

Social interaction helps ward off depression and stress, both of which can contribute to memory loss. Look for opportunities to get together with loved ones, friends and others — especially if you live alone. When you're invited to share a meal or attend an event, go!

No. 3: Get Organized

You're more likely to forget things if your home is cluttered and your notes are in disarray. Jot down tasks, appointments and other events in a special notebook or calendar. You might even repeat each entry out loud as you write it down to help cement it in your memory. Keep to-do lists current, and check off items you've completed. Set aside a certain place for your wallet, keys and other essentials.

No. 4: Focus

Limit distractions, and don't try to do too many things at once. If you focus on the information that you're trying to remember, you'll be more likely to recall it later. It might also help to connect what you're trying to remember to a favorite song or another familiar concept.

No. 5: Eat a Healthy Diet

A heart-healthy diet is as good for your brain as it is for your heart. Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Choose low-fat protein sources, such as lean meat, skinless poultry and fish. What you drink counts, too. Not enough water or too much alcohol can lead to confusion and memory loss.

No. 6: Include Physical Activity in your Daily Routine

Physical activity increases blood flow to your whole body, including your brain — which may help keep your memory sharp. Aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity a day. If you don't have time for a full workout, squeeze in a few 10-minute walks throughout the day.

No. 7: Manage Chronic Conditions

Follow your doctor's treatment recommendations for any chronic conditions, such as thyroid problems, high blood pressure and depression. The better you take care of yourself, the better your memory is likely to be.

When to seek help for memory loss

If you're worried about memory loss — especially if memory loss affects your ability to complete your usual daily activities — consult your doctor. He or she will likely do a physical exam, as well as check your memory and problem-solving skills. Sometimes other tests are needed as well. Treatment will depend on what's contributing to the memory loss.

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http://www.mayoclinic.com
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Aging : What To Expect As You Get Older

2010-05-17T18:31:00.004+08:00

Find out what's considered a normal part of the aging process.

Looked in the mirror lately only to find a few more wrinkles and gray hairs? Those are just a few of the changes you're likely to notice as you get older. But what exactly is going on with your body? Here's a list of the natural changes you can expect as you age.

Cardiovascular System

Over time, your heart muscle becomes less efficient, working harder to pump the same amount of blood through your body. In addition, your blood vessels lose elasticity. Hardened fatty deposits may form on the inner walls of your arteries (atherosclerosis), narrowing the vessels. The natural loss of elasticity, in combination with atherosclerosis, makes your arteries stiffer, causing your heart to work even harder to pump blood through them. This can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension).

Bones, Muscles and Joints

Your bones reach their maximum mass between ages 25 and 35. As you age, your bones shrink in size and density. One consequence is that you might become shorter. Gradual loss of density weakens your bones and makes them more susceptible to fracture. Muscles, tendons and joints generally lose some strength and flexibility as you age.

Digestive System

Swallowing and the motions that automatically move digested food through your intestines slow down as you get older. The amount of surface area within your intestines diminishes slightly. The flow of secretions from your stomach, liver, pancreas and small intestine may decrease. These changes generally don't disrupt your digestive process, so you may never notice them. But you might notice more constipation.

Kidneys, Bladder and Urinary Tract

With age, your kidneys become less efficient in removing waste from your bloodstream. Chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure and some medications can damage your kidneys further.

About one in 10 people age 65 and older has experienced a loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence). Incontinence can be caused by a number of health problems, such as obesity, frequent constipation and chronic cough.

Women are more likely than men to have incontinence. Women who've been through menopause might experience stress incontinence as the muscles around the opening of the bladder (sphincter muscles) lose strength and bladder reflexes change. As estrogen levels decline, the tissue lining the tube through which urine passes (urethra) becomes thinner. Pelvic muscles become weaker, reducing bladder support.

In older men, incontinence is sometimes caused by an enlarged prostate, which can block the urethra. This makes it difficult to empty your bladder and can cause small amounts of urine to leak.

Brain and Nervous System

The number of cells (neurons) in your brain decreases with age, and your memory becomes less efficient. However, in some areas of your brain, the number of connections between the cells increases, perhaps helping to compensate for the aging neurons and maintain brain function. Your reflexes tend to become slower. You also tend to become less coordinated and may have difficulty with balance.

Eyes

With age, your eyes are less able to produce tears, your retinas thin, and your lenses gradually turn yellow and become less clear. In your 40s, focusing on objects that are close up may become more difficult. Later, the colored portions of your eyes (irises) stiffen, making your pupils less responsive. This can make it more difficult to adapt to different levels of light. Other changes to your lenses can make you sensitive to glare, which presents a problem when driving at night. Common conditions that affect aging eyes include cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Ears

Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting adults who are middle-aged and older. About half of all people older than age 85 experience hearing loss. Over the years, noises can damage the sensory hair cells of your inner ears.

Also, the walls of your auditory canals thin, and your eardrums thicken. You may have difficulty hearing high frequencies. Some people find it difficult to follow a conversation in a crowded room. Changes in the inner ear or in the nerves attached to it, earwax buildup and various diseases can all affect your hearing.

Teeth

How your teeth and gums respond to age depends on how well you've cared for them over the years. But even if you're meticulous about brushing and flossing, you may notice that your mouth feels drier and your gums have pulled back (receded). Your teeth may darken slightly and become more brittle and easier to break.

Most adults can keep their natural teeth throughout their lives. But with less saliva to wash away bacteria, your teeth and gums become slightly more vulnerable to decay and infection. If you've lost most or all of your natural teeth, you might use dentures or dental implants as a replacement.

Some older adults experience dry mouth (xerostomia), which can lead to tooth decay and infection. Dry mouth can also make speaking, swallowing and tasting difficult. Oral cancer is more common among older adults. Your dentist checks for oral cancer when you go for regular cleanings and checkups.

Skin, Nails and Hair

With age, your skin thins and becomes less elastic and more fragile. You'll likely notice that you bruise more easily. Decreased production of natural oils may make your skin drier and more wrinkled. Age spots can occur, and small growths called skin tags are more common. Your nails grow at about half the pace they once did. Your hair may gray and thin. In addition, you likely perspire less — making it harder to stay cool in high temperatures and putting you at increased risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

How fast your skin ages depends on many factors. The most significant factor is sun exposure over the years. The more sun your skin has been exposed to, the more damaged it may be. Smoking adds to skin damage, such as wrinkles. Skin cancer also is a concern. Your risk of skin cancer increases as you age.

Sleep

Sleep needs change little throughout adulthood. If you need six hours of sleep nightly, chances are you'll always need six hours — give or take 30 minutes. However, as you age, you'll likely find that you sleep less soundly, meaning you'll need to spend more time in bed to get the same amount of sleep. By age 75, some people wake up several times each night.

Weight

As you age, maintaining a healthy weight — or losing weight if you're overweight — may be more difficult. Your metabolism generally slows, meaning that your body burns fewer calories. Calories that were once used to meet your daily energy needs instead are stored as fat. Your level of activity may decrease, resulting in unwanted weight gain.

Sexuality

With age, sexual needs, patterns and performance may change. Women's vaginas tend to shrink and narrow, and the walls become less elastic. Vaginal dryness is a problem. All of this can make sex painful.

Impotence becomes more common in men as they age. By age 65, as many as one in four men has difficulty getting or keeping an erection. In others, it may take longer to get an erection, and it may not be as firm as it used to be.

Healthy changes can improve quality of life as you age
If you think you've already done too much damage to yourself to hope for a long life, think again. Researchers say it's never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle. For example, if you quit smoking now, your risk of heart disease begins to fall almost immediately.

Living a healthy lifestyle can improve how you age. Try the following:

■ Stop smoking.
■ Eat a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
■ Exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
■ Maintain a healthy weight.
■ Get enough sleep so that you wake feeling rested.
■ Follow your doctor's guidance for checkups and health screenings.

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Staff article from http://mayoclinic.com
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The Healing Power of Chocolate

2010-05-17T03:46:00.002+08:00

What is chocolate?

Chocolate is derived from the cocoa bean. Beans are removed from their pods, fermented, dried, roasted, and then made into a cocoa mass or cocoa liquor. This is then pressed to make cocoa butter and cocoa cake, which is then ground up into powder.
Cocoa is a rain forest herb, technically known as Theobroma Cacao. Cocoa has been used by indigenous tribes in South and Central America for thousands of years. The tribes have used it to fight parasites, heal snakebites, and as a general antiseptic.

How does chocolate heal?

Research from University of California, Davis shows that eating dark chocolate boosts oxidation levels. Chocolate contains flavonoids, which are part of the group of antioxidants found in tea, red wine, and various fruits and vegetables. Increased levels of flavonoids lowers the risks of heart disease, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Eating dark chocolate also decreases LDL (bad cholesterol) oxidation and thus reduces the risks of blood clots, lowers blood pressure, and increases blood flow to the arteries.

How much chocolate should I eat and what kind is best?

1 ounce of dark chocolate a day or 7 ounces per week provides the needed antioxidants. Dark chocolate, known as “bittersweet” or “semisweet” chocolates are best. These chocolates have a higher percentage of cocoa and little or no added sugar. The dark chocolate should be made from cocoa butter rather than fats like palm or coconut oils. The darker the chocolate, the more flavonoids are in the chocolate. Milk binds to antioxidants, making them unavailable, so milk chocolate is not an antioxidant source. Milk chocolate candies are pretty much just candy and don’t have nutritional value to you. Chocolates made in Europe are generally richer in cocoa and would be good to try.

Should I replace fruits and vegetables with chocolate?

No. Fruits and vegetables also contain natural antioxidants and are lower in calories. A 100 gram serving of Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate has 531 calories, but a 100 gram raw apple has only 52 calories. Fruits and vegetables have more flavonoids than chocolate and also have vital vitamins and minerals
that chocolate lacks.

Conclusion

You can maintain a healthy diet that includes chocolate!! Add dark chocolate to a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and you’ll have a healthier heart and a smile on your face.

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Article from : http://www.chocoholicsheaven.com/
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2010-05-16T23:13:00.003+08:00

Child Abuse and Neglect

RECOGNIZING AND PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE

Child abuse is more than bruises and broken bones. While physical abuse might be the most visible sign, other types of abuse, such as emotional abuse or child neglect, also leave deep, long lasting scars. Some signs of child abuse are subtler than others. However, by learning common types of abuse and what you can do, you can make a huge difference in a child’s life. The earlier abused children get help, the greater chance they have to heal from their abuse and not perpetuate the cycle. Learn the signs and symptoms of child abuse and help break the cycle, finding out where to get help for the children and their caregivers.

Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect

Child abuse is more than bruises or broken bones. While physical abuse is shocking due to the scars it leaves, not all child abuse is as obvious. Ignoring children’s needs, putting them in unsupervised, dangerous situations, or making a child feel worthless or stupid are also child abuse. Regardless of the type of child abuse, the result is serious emotional harm

Myths and Facts About Child Abuse and Neglect

MYTH #1: It's only abuse if it's violent.

Fact: Physical abuse is just one type of child abuse. Neglect and emotional abuse can be just as damaging, and since they are more subtle, others are less likely to intervene. .

MYTH #2: Only bad people abuse their children.

Fact: While it's easy to say that only "bad people" abuse their children, it's not always so black and white. Not all abusers are intentionally harming their children. Many have been victims of abuse themselves, and don’t know any other way to parent. Others may be struggling with mental health issues or a substance abuse problem.

MYTH #3: Child abuse doesn't happen in “good” families.

Fact: Child abuse doesn't only happen in poor families or bad neighborhoods. It crosses all racial, economic, and cultural lines. Sometimes, families who seem to have it all from the outside are hiding a different story behind closed doors.

MYTH #4: Most child abusers are strangers.

Fact: While abuse by strangers does happen, most abusers are family members or others close to the family

MYTH #5: Abused children always grow up to be abusers.

Fact: It is true that abused children are more likely to repeat the cycle as adults, unconsciously repeating what they experienced as children. On the other hand, many adult survivors of child abuse have a strong motivation to protect their children against what they went through and become excellent parents.

Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect :

All types of child abuse and neglect leave lasting scars. Some of these scars might be physical, but emotional scarring has long lasting effects throughout life, damaging a child’s sense of self, ability to have healthy relationships, and ability to function at home, at work and at school. Some effects include:

Lack of trust and relationship difficulties. If you can’t trust your parents, who can you trust? Abuse by a primary caregiver damages the most fundamental relationship as a child—that you will safely, reliably get your physical and emotional needs met by the person who is responsible for your care. Without this base, it is very difficult to learn to trust people or know who is trustworthy. This can lead to difficulty maintaining relationships due to fear of being controlled or abused. It can also lead to unhealthy relationships because the adult doesn’t know what a good relationship is.

Core feelings of being “worthless” or “damaged.” If you’ve been told over and over again as a child that you are stupid or no good, it is very difficult to overcome these core feelings. You may experience them as reality. Adults may not strive for more education, or settle for a job that may not pay enough, because they don’t believe they can do it or are worth more. Sexual abuse survivors, with the stigma and shame surrounding the abuse, often especially struggle with a feeling of being damaged.

Trouble regulating emotions. Abused children cannot express emotions safely. As a result, the emotions get stuffed down, coming out in unexpected ways. Adult survivors of child abuse can struggle with unexplained anxiety, depression, or anger. They may turn to alcohol or drugs to numb out the painful feelings.

Types of Child Abuse

There are several types of child abuse, but the core element that ties them together is the emotional effect on the child. Children need predictability, structure, clear boundaries, and the knowledge that their parents are looking out for their safety. Abused children cannot predict how their parents will act. Their world is an unpredictable, frightening place with no rules. Whether the abuse is a slap, a harsh comment, stony silence, or not knowing if there will be dinner on the table tonight, the end result is a child that feel unsafe, uncared for, and alone.

Emotional Child Abuse

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me? Contrary to this old saying, emotional abuse can severely damage a child’s mental health or social development, leaving lifelong psychological scars. Examples of emotional child abuse include:

Constant belittling, shaming, and humiliating a child
Calling names and making negative comparisons to others
Telling a child he or she is “no good," "worthless," "bad," or "a mistake."
Frequent yelling, threatening, or bullying.
Ignoring or rejecting a child as punishment, giving him or her the silent treatment.
Limited physical contact with the child—no hugs, kisses, or other signs of affection.
Exposing the child to violence or the abuse of others, whether it be the abuse of a parent, a sibling, or even a pet.

Child Neglect

Child neglect—a very common type of child abuse—is a pattern of failing to provide for a child's basic needs, whether it be adequate food, clothing, hygiene, or supervision. Child neglect is not always easy to spot. Sometimes, a parent might become physically or mentally unable to care for a child, such as with a serious injury, untreated depression, or anxiety. Other times, alcohol or drug abuse may seriously impair judgment and the ability to keep a child safe.

Older children might not show outward signs of neglect, becoming used to presenting a competent face to the outside world, and even taking on the role of the parent. But at the end of the day, neglected children are not getting their physical and emotional needs met.

Physical Child Abuse

Physical abuse involves physical harm or injury to the child. It may be the result of a deliberate attempt to hurt the child, but not always. It can also result from severe discipline, such as using a belt on a child, or physical punishment that is inappropriate to the child’s age or physical condition.

Many physically abusive parents and caregivers insist that their actions are simply forms of discipline—ways to make children learn to behave. But there is a big difference between using physical punishment to discipline and physical abuse. The point of disciplining children is to teach them right from wrong, not to make them live in fear.

Facts About Alcohol and Why Do We Drink Alcohol?

2010-05-12T19:21:00.004+08:00

Getting the Facts

Just about everyone knows that the legal drinking age throughout the United States is 21. But according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, almost 80% of high school students have tried alcohol.

Deciding whether to drink is a personal decision that we each eventually have to make. This article provides some information on alcohol, including how it affects your body, so you can make an educated choice.

What Is Alcohol?

Alcohol is created when grains, fruits, or vegetables are fermented. Fermentation is a process that uses yeast or bacteria to change the sugars in the food into alcohol. Fermentation is used to produce many necessary items — everything from cheese to medications. Alcohol has different forms and can be used as a cleaner, an antiseptic, or a sedative.

So if alcohol is a natural product, why do teens need to be concerned about drinking it? When people drink alcohol, it's absorbed into their bloodstream. From there, it affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), which controls virtually all body functions. Because experts now know that the human brain is still developing during our teens, scientists are researching the effects drinking alcohol can have on the teen brain.

How Does It Affect the Body?

Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows the function of the central nervous system. Alcohol actually blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. This alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing.

In very small amounts, alcohol can help a person feel more relaxed or less anxious. More alcohol causes greater changes in the brain, resulting in intoxication. People who have overused alcohol may stagger, lose their coordination, and slur their speech. They will probably be confused and disoriented. Depending on the person, intoxication can make someone very friendly and talkative or very aggressive and angry. Reaction times are slowed dramatically — which is why people are told not to drink and drive. People who are intoxicated may think they're moving properly when they're not. They may act totally out of character.

When large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short period of time, alcohol poisoning can result. Alcohol poisoning is exactly what it sounds like — the body has become poisoned by large amounts of alcohol. Violent vomiting is usually the first symptom of alcohol poisoning. Extreme sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, dangerously low blood sugar, seizures, and even death may result.

Why Do Teens Drink?

Experimentation with alcohol during the teen years is common. Some reasons that teens use alcohol and other drugs are:

•curiosity
•to feel good, reduce stress, and relax
•to fit in
•to feel older

From a very young age, kids see advertising messages showing beautiful people enjoying life — and alcohol. And because many parents and other adults use alcohol socially — having beer or wine with dinner, for example — alcohol seems harmless to many teens.

Why Shouldn't I Drink?

Although it's illegal to buy alcohol in the United States until the age of 21, most teens can get access to it. It's therefore up to you to make a decision about drinking. In addition to the possibility of becoming addicted, there are some downsides to drinking:

The punishment is severe. Teens who drink put themselves at risk for obvious problems with the law (it's illegal; you can get arrested). Teens who drink are also more likely to get into fights and commit crimes than those who don't.

People who drink regularly also often have problems with school. Drinking can damage a student's ability to study well and get decent grades, as well as affect sports performance (the coordination thing).

You can look really stupid. The impression is that drinking is cool, but the nervous system changes that come from drinking alcohol can make people do stupid or embarrassing things, like throwing up or peeing on themselves. Drinking also gives people bad breath, and no one enjoys a hangover.

Alcohol puts your health at risk. Teens who drink are more likely to be sexually active and to have unsafe, unprotected sex. Resulting pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases can change — or even end — lives. The risk of injuring yourself, maybe even fatally, is higher when you're under the influence, too. One half of all drowning deaths among teen guys are related to alcohol use. Use of alcohol greatly increases the chance that a teen will be involved in a car crash, homicide, or suicide.

Teen drinkers are more likely to get fat or have health problems, too. One study by the University of Washington found that people who regularly had five or more drinks in a row starting at age 13 were much more likely to be overweight or have high blood pressure by age 24 than their nondrinking peers. People who continue drinking heavily well into adulthood risk damaging their organs, such as the liver, heart, and brain.

How Can I Avoid Drinking?

If all your friends drink and you don't want to, it can be hard to say "no, thanks." No one wants to risk feeling rejected or left out. Different strategies for turning down alcohol work for different people. Some people find it helps to say no without giving an explanation, others think offering their reasons works better ("I'm not into drinking," "I have a game tomorrow," or "my uncle died from drinking," for example).

If saying no to alcohol makes you feel uncomfortable in front of people you know, blame your parents or another adult for your refusal. Saying, "My parents are coming to pick me up soon," "I already got in major trouble for drinking once, I can't do it again," or "my coach would kill me," can make saying no a bit easier for some.

If you're going to a party and you know there will be alcohol, plan your strategy in advance. You and a friend can develop a signal for when it's time to leave, for example. You can also make sure that you have plans to do something besides just hanging out in someone's basement drinking beer all night. Plan a trip to the movies, the mall, a concert, or a sports event. You might also organize your friends into a volleyball, bowling, or softball team — any activity that gets you moving.

Girls or guys who have strong self-esteem are less likely to become problem drinkers than people with low self-esteem.

Where Can I Get Help?

If you think you have a drinking problem, get help as soon as possible. The best approach is to talk to an adult you trust. If you can't approach your parents, talk to your doctor, school counselor, clergy member, aunt, or uncle. It can be hard for some people to talk to adults about these issues, but a supportive person in a position to help can refer students to a drug and alcohol counselor for evaluation and treatment.

In some states, this treatment is completely confidential. After assessing a teen's problem, a counselor may recommend a brief stay in rehab or outpatient treatment. These treatment centers help a person gradually overcome the physical and psychological dependence on alcohol.

What If I'm Concerned About Someone Else's Drinking?

Sometimes people live in homes where a parent or other family member drinks too much. This may make you angry, scared, and depressed. Many people can't control their drinking without help. This doesn't mean that they love or care about you any less. Alcoholism is an illness that needs to be treated just like other illnesses.

People with drinking problems can't stop drinking until they are ready to admit they have a problem and get help. This can leave family members and loved ones feeling helpless. The good news is there are many places to turn for help: a supportive adult, such as your guidance counselor, or a relative or older sibling will understand what you're going through. Also, professional organizations like Alateen can help.

If you have a friend whose drinking concerns you, make sure he or she stays safe. Don't let your friend drink and drive, for example. If you can, try to keep friends who have been drinking from doing anything dangerous, such as trying to walk home at night alone or starting a fight. And protect yourself, too. Don't get in a car with someone who's been drinking, even if that person is your ride home. Ask a sober adult to drive you instead or call a cab.

Everyone makes decisions about whether to drink and how much — even adults. It's possible to enjoy a party or other event just as much, if not more so, when you don't drink. And with your central nervous system working as it's supposed to, you'll remember more about the great time you had!

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: April 2009
Originally reviewed by: Eugene Shatz, MD

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http://kidshealth.org/
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127 Foods That Fight Fat

2010-05-12T18:44:00.000+08:00

By Howard M. Shapiro, DO, Prevention
Weight loss starts with shopping. Taking control of what you eat begins with taking control of what you buy.

Every time you toss a low-calorie food into the cart, you're taking responsibility for losing weight—even before you sit down to a meal.

There's a very simple formula for low-calorie eating: Stock up on low-calorie staples. These are the basic packaged, canned, and frozen ingredients that you'll reach for to create tasty, healthful, low-calorie meals anytime.

The Picture Perfect Anytime List is a menu of the lowest-calorie produce, soups, sauces, condiments, marinades, dressings, dips, candies, desserts, and beverages available. Stuff your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer with them, and reach for them anytime. Feel free to go to the foods on the Anytime List when you want a snack or are planning a meal. Eat any amount of them for any reason. When the Anytime List becomes the core of your eating—in other words, the main dish around which you build your meals—you'll have no trouble staying thin for life.

The Anytime List
Fruits and vegetables
All fruits and vegetables—raw, cooked, fresh, frozen, canned—belong on the Picture Perfect Anytime List. Avoid any packaged fruits that have added sugar. Otherwise, the more fruits and vegetables you eat, the better.

Soups
You've heard of value for your money. Soups give you very good value for the calories. They are filling; a bowl of soup can be an entire meal. They are satisfying. For many people, they are more satisfying than raw vegetables, while many give you all the benefits of veggies (if you choose the soups chock full of vegetables). They are inexpensive, convenient, easy, and quick to make. Soups don't make you feel like you're on a diet. Above all, soups are versatile. They can serve as a snack, as part of a meal, or as a cooking ingredient.

Sauces, Condiments, and Marinades
Put the following items at the very top of your shopping list. They're invaluable for adding flavor, moisture, texture, and versatility to every food and every meal.

Salad dressings: oil-free or low-calorie (light or lite)

Mayonnaise: fat-free or light

Sour cream and yogurt: fat-free, plain, or with NutraSweet (or low-fat nondairy substitutes)

Mustards: Dijon, Pommery, and others

Tomato puree, tomato paste, and tomato sauce

Clam juice, tomato juice, V8 juice, and lemon or lime juice

Butter Buds or Molly McButter

Cooking sprays (such as Pam) in butter, olive oil, garlic, or lemon flavors

Vinegars: balsamic, cider, wine, tarragon, and others

Horseradish: red and white

Sauces: salsa, cocktail sauce, tamari, soy sauce, A1, Worcestershire sauce, barbecue sauce, ketchup, duck sauce, chutney, relish, and others

Onion: fresh, juice, flakes, and powder

Garlic: fresh, juice, flakes, and powder

Herbs: any and all, including basil, oregano, tarragon, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, dill, chives, sage, and bay leaves

Spices: any and all, including cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cumin, nutmeg, coriander, curry, paprika, and allspice

Extracts: vanilla, almond, peppermint, maple, coconut, cocoa powder, and others

Dressings and Dips
I recommend fat-free or light dressings and dips. The light category—low-fat, reduced-fat, and low-calorie—is midway between totally fat-free and regular, and it's often more pleasing to the palate than fat-free.

Dressings can be used as all-purpose condiments, dips, toppings, even cooking liquids. They already contain a mixture of ingredients, so just slather them on vegetables, seafood, and pretty much anything else. Or cook with them to make up for the lack of butter or oil.

I recommend keeping several varieties of dressings and dips on hand, including at least one creamy version. Try brushing a light creamy dressing on seafood, then broiling; the dressing adds moisture and flavor.

Candy
Yup, candy. The real thing—not the dietetic variety—is best when your sweet tooth starts aching. Dietetic candies have almost as many calories as regular candies, often lack flavor, and are an incentive to eat more. Stick to the real thing.

Chewing gum or gum balls: any and all

Hard candy: any and all, including sour balls, candy canes, lollipops such as Tootsie Pops or Blow Pops, Jolly Ranchers, Werther's Original, and TasteTations

Frozen Desserts
Any fat-free frozen yogurt, frozen nondairy substitute, or sorbet is a fine addition to the freezer. Try the lower-calorie choices. Here are some examples:

Soft serve: up to 25 calories per ounce, including Skimpy Treat; TCBY, Colombo nonfat frozen yogurt, and Tofutti

Hard pack: up to 115 calories per 1/2-cup serving, including Sharon's Sorbet, Low-Fat Tofutti, all Italian ices, and Sweet Nothings

Frozen bars: Creamsicles, Fudgsicles, and Popsicles; any others containing up to 45 calories per bar, including Welch's Fruit Juice Bars, Weight Watchers Smart Ones Orange Vanilla Treats, Tofutti Chocolate Fudge Treats, Weight Watchers Smart Ones Chocolate Mousse, Dolly Madison Slender Treat Chocolate Mousse, and Yoplait

Individually packaged frozen bars: up to 110 calories each, including FrozFruit, Hagen-Dazs bars, and Starbucks Frappuccino Blended Coffee Bars

Beverages
Avoid beverages labeled "naturally sweetened" or "fruit-juice sweetened," but help yourself to these:

Unsweetened black coffees and teas

Diet teas and juices: Crystal Light, Diet Snapple, Diet Natural Lemon Nestea, Diet Mistic, and others

Noncaloric flavored waters: orange, chocolate, cream, cherry-chocolate, root beer, cola, and other flavors of bottled or filtered water

Seltzer: plain or flavored, but check the calorie count if the product is labeled "naturally sweetened," since this usually means that the product has sugar in one form or another

Hot cocoa mixes: 20 to 50 calories per serving, including Swiss Miss Diet and Fat-Free and Nestle Carnation Diet and Fat-Free; avoid cocoa mixes with 60 or more calories per serving

Let's Go Shopping
Today's supermarkets are filled with choices for the weight conscious. Here are some of the lowest-calorie choices for a variety of food categories that aren't covered in the Anytime List.

Cereals

Cheerios: a whole grain cereal with 110 calories and 3 g fiber per cup

Kellogg's All-Bran with Extra Fiber: 50 calories and 15 g fiber per 1/2 cup

Original Shredded Wheat: 80 calories and 2.5 g fiber per biscuit

Fiber One: 60 calories and 14 g fiber per 1/2 cup

Wheaties: 110 calories and 2 g fiber per cup

Whole Grain Total: 110 calories and 3 g fiber per 3/4 cup

Spreads

Peanut butter

Low-sugar or sugar-free jams and jellies with 10 to 40 calories per tablespoon

Breads

Light breads with 40 to 45 calories per slice: oatmeal, premium white, wheat, rye, multigrain, sourdough, Italian

Whole grain regular breads or rolls

Rice and Pasta

Whole wheat/whole grain pastas: Hodgson Mill, Ancient Harvest

Brown rice

Whole wheat couscous

Pearled or hulled barley

Other whole grains: quinoa, whole grain cornmeal, kasha, bulgur, millet

Frozen Meals

Low-calorie frozen breakfast foods such as those from Kellogg's, Aunt Jemima, and Pillsbury—and a special mention for the low-calorie, whole grain offerings from Van's

Low-calorie, vegetable-focused frozen meals in the 150- to 350-calories-per-package range, especially the Amy's brand

Beans

All beans, dried or canned

Health Valley canned bean/chili combinations

Low-fat or fat-free refried beans

Snacks

Make it a point to eat starchy, crunchy snacks only in conjunction with a food from the Anytime List. For example, have fruit with popcorn or soup with crackers. Fill up on the former, and go easy on the starchy snack.

Protein Foods

Legumes: beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas

Soy products: bean curd/tofu, meat-replacement products by Boca, Gardenburger, Yves, and Lightlife

Seafood: fresh (do not fry!), smoked, canned, frozen

Note: Calorie counts in this story may vary depending on the brand of products used. Remember to check the labels.

Lack Of Sleep Linked To Early Death : Study

2010-05-12T18:33:00.004+08:00

LONDON (AFP) - – People who get less than six hours sleep per night have an increased risk of dying prematurely, researchers said on Wednesday.

Those who slumbered for less than that amount of time were 12 percent more likely to die early, though researchers also found a link between sleeping more than nine hours and premature death.

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The foot of a sleeping patient at the Sainte-Anne psychiatric hospital in Paris. People who get less than six hours sleep per night have an increased risk of dying prematurely, according to British and Italian researchers.
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"If you sleep little, you can develop diabetes, obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol," Francesco Cappuccio, who led research on the subject at Britain's University of Warwick, told AFP.

The study, conducted with the Federico II University in Naples, Italy, aggregated decade-long studies from around the world involving more than 1.3 million people and found "unequivocal evidence of the direct link" between lack of sleep and premature death.

"We think that the relation between little sleep and illness is due to a series of hormonal and metabolical mechanisms," Cappuccio said.

The findings of the study were published in the Sleep journal.

Cappuccio believes the duration of sleep is a public health issue and should be considered as a behavioural risk factor by doctors.

"Society pushes us to sleep less and less," Cappuccio said, adding that about 20 percent of the population in the United States and Britain sleeps less than five hours.

Sleeping less than six hours is "more common amongst full-time workers, suggesting that it may be due to societal pressures for longer working hours and more shift work"

The study also found a link between sleeping more than nine hours per night and premature death, but Cappuccio said oversleeping is more likely to be an effect of illness, rather than a cause.

"Doctors never ask how much one sleeps, but that could be an indicator that something is wrong," said Cappuccio, who heads the Sleep, Health and Society Programme at the University of Warwick.

Research showed no adverse effects for those sleeping between six and eight hours per day.

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Taken from http://yahoo.com news
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Working Overtime = Serious Heart Problems

2010-05-12T18:22:00.002+08:00

By Ben Hirschler

LONDON - People working 10 or 11 hours a day are more likely to suffer serious heart problems, including heart attacks, than those clocking off after seven hours, researchers said on Tuesday.

The finding, from an 11-year study of 6,000 British civil servants, does not provide definitive proof that long hours cause coronary heart disease but it does show a clear link, which experts said may be due to stress.

In all, there were 369 cases of death due to heart disease, non-fatal heart attacks and angina among the London-based study group -- and the risk of having an adverse event was 60 percent higher for those who worked three to four hours overtime.

Working an extra one to two hours beyond a normal seven-hour day was not associated with increased risk.

"It seems there might a threshold, so it is not so bad if you work another hour or so more than usual," said Dr Marianna Virtanen, an epidemiologist at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and University College London.

The higher incidence of heart problems among those working overtime was independent of a range of other risk factors including smoking, being overweight or having high cholesterol.

But Virtanen said it was possible the lifestyle of people working long hours deteriorated over time, for example as a result of poor diet or increased alcohol consumption.

More fundamentally, long hours may be associated with work-related stress, which interferes with metabolic processes, as well as "sickness presenteeism," whereby employees continue working when they are ill.

Virtanen and colleagues published their findings in the European Heart Journal.

Commenting on the study, Gordon McInnes, professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of Glasgow's Western Infirmary, said the findings could have widespread implications for doctors assessing patients' heart risks.

"If the effect is truly causal, the importance is much greater than commonly recognized. Overtime-induced work stress might contribute to a substantial proportion of cardiovascular disease," he said.

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Taken from http://yahoo.com news
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Let Me Tell You A Story .......

2010-05-08T18:30:00.002+08:00

let me tell you a story ...
by Laurajean of Georgia

A little girl (11 yrs old) and her sister (13 yrs) old — their mama, who was the heartbeat of the home — died very suddenly and unexpectedly.

After her death, these girls suffered horribly at the hands of the ones who should have been caring for and protecting them. Their own father wanted to put them in an orphanage, but when he found out that he would have to pay a monthly fee for this "service" he didn't want to do it. (Now, this man had plenty of money and was very adept and skilled at making money.)

He put his two little girls in situations where they were neglected, mistreated and abused — even sexually molested. Unfortunately, he also sexually molested at least one of these girls. The older girl found him in bed with their aunt about two weeks after their mother's funeral. (This aunt "tricked" him into marrying her — said she was pregnant, but she wasn't. They did get married, but spent at least 30 years hating each other. They were miserable.)

These girls had an aunt and uncle who loved them and nurtured them and took them in every chance they got, but often the daddy would prohibit the girls from seeing them — just out of spite and meanness.

Now, according to the world's standards, these two girls had every "right" to be prostitutes, alcholics, drug users, etc. No one would have blamed them. But let me tell you about these two women. They are strong Christians — strong in their faith and walks, strong in leading others to the Lord, strong in counseling and discipling others in their faith, and very strong and firm in the hard stands that they are willing to take. They both became Christians at very young ages IN SPITE of their circumstances, married fine Christian men, and raised their children to be strong Christians as well.

All this to say, that God may not have "caused" these horrible and unspeakable things to happen, but he was never, ever surprised. He was, and is, ALWAYS and at ALL TIMES in control. Romans 8:28 in action —

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
— Romans 8:28

The youngest of the two girls is my mother. I cannot even begin to tell you the number of people on whose lives she has had a tremendous impact — mine included. She did NOT allow the horrific circumstances in her life — over which she had NO CONTROL — to control her.

She had a heart full of forgiveness and she dearly loved her father.

And now, for the good part....

One day, YEARS later (I must have been around 5 or 6 yrs old at the time), a woman called my aunt and introduced herself. She asked my aunt how she was doing, was her husband a Christian, how about her children ... Then, she began asking the same questions about Mary, my mother.

She ended by telling my aunt that she just wanted to know "HOW" her prayers had been answered. You see, she was a good friend of my grandmother. She told my aunt that she stood at the graveside service and she knew that "those two girls" were going to have a hard time of things. She promised the Lord RIGHT there to pray for those two girls EVERY DAY BY NAME. And she did. She continued to pray for my mother and my aunt BY NAME every day until she died. When I was diagnosed with cancer, who do you think that I wanted praying for me???

Do the prayers of one person make a difference?

Absolutely.

*This is a TRUE story with a happy ending!!!

:-)

There is SO much more to this story. It is so amazing. Even now — so many years later — I am still getting bits and pieces of my mother's life story. What she lived through as a child and young person is unreal. It is totally by God's grace, and God's grace alone, that she is who she is today.

An interesting note: My mother's favorite Bible character/story is Joseph and his story of difficulties and forgiveness. She has always maintained that God is in control of even the smallest of circumstances. She has never used her past as an excuse to do the wrong thing, and she never let us (my sister and I) do it either. She refused to be a "victim" of her circumstances. I would say, that through God's grace, she is quite the victor! I dearly loved my grandfather. He was saved when my mother was around 19 or 20, and spent the rest of his life repenting for his actions that caused so much pain.

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http://www.lovetolearnplace.com
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Before I Was a Mom - A Mother's Day Story

2010-05-08T18:21:00.002+08:00

Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

See Her In Person - An Inspirational Mother's Day Story

2010-05-08T18:09:00.003+08:00

A man stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived two hundred miles away.

As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing.

He asked her what was wrong and she replied, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother.

But I only have seventy-five cents, and a rose costs two dollars."

The man smiled and said, "Come on in with me. I'll buy you a rose."

He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother's flowers.

As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home.

She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother."

She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.

The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and drove the two hundred miles to his mother's house.

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Story taken from : http://www.theholidayspot.com
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The 13 Most Powerful Super Foods

2010-05-05T19:39:00.004+08:00

The 13 Most Powerful Super Foods
By Amy Paturel, M.S., M.P.H.

Why Are They So Super?

Ask five nutritionists to rate the 13 most powerful foods and you'll get five different lists, but many of the selections will overlap.

Why?

Because every food provides something different:

Some are a rich source of protein or fiber but void of many vitamins and minerals, while others contain disease-fighting phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals, but no protein. The trick, claim experts, is to get a variety of the best foods.
The following 13 power foods are a good place to start.

1) Avocados

Sure they're high in fat, but avocados contain healthful monosaturated fat, which has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

"Avocados aid in blood and tissue regeneration, stabilize blood sugar, and are excellent for heart disorders," says Ed Bauman, Ph.D., director of Bauman College.
They're loaded with fiber (11 to 17 grams per fruit) and are a good source of lutein, an antioxidant linked to eye and skin health.

2) Apples

"An apple a day really does keep the doctor away," says Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., author of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth.

Apples are loaded with the powerful antioxidants quercetin and catechin, which protect cells from damage - that means a reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, especially if you eat the skin.

Research shows that the apple peel contains five times more polyphenols than the flesh.

Apples and their skins pack a lot of fiber too (about twice that of other common fruits, including peaches, grapes, and grapefruit), which may help fight the battle of the bulge.

3) Blueberries

Antiaging superstars, blueberries are loaded with antioxidants, especially anthocyanins, which have been shown to improve vision and brain function.

Studies show that eating blueberries slows impairments in motor coordination and memory that accompany aging.

These little berries also reduce inflammation, which is inextricably linked with virtually every chronic disease from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, to diabetes and heart disease.

Other studies show that blueberries have much greater anticancer activity than other fruits.

4) Cabbage

In the vegetable world, the Brassica genus reigns supreme, and the cabbage is the most impressive of the lot. Brassica vegetables (including broccoli, bok choy) contain compounds called indoles, which have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer dramatically.

"Eating cabbage more than once a week cut men's colon cancer odds by 66 percent," says Bauman.

"Cabbage also stimulates the immune system, kills bacteria and viruses, and is a good blood purifier."

If you go for the red variety, you'll also get a healthy dose of anthocyanins (the same pigment molecules that make blueberries blue), another powerful antioxidant with an anticancer punch.

5) Fish and Fish Oil

Eating fish helps cut the risk of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis.

The fatty varieties may also help alleviate depression.

The American Heart Association recommends that adults eat at least two fish meals per week, especially wild salmon, herring, and sardines, because those varieties provide the most heart-healthy omega 3s.

Avoid mercury-containing varieties like shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, and albacore tuna, says Roberta Anding, M.S., R.D., national spokesperson for the
American Dietetic Association. (Chunk light tuna is okay.)

6) Garlic

Research shows that garlic lowers total cholesterol and triglyceride (blood fat) levels, helping prevent clogged arteries.

"Two to three cloves a day cut the odds of subsequent heart attacks in half for heart disease patients," says Bauman.
"Garlic also tops the National Cancer Institute's list of potential cancer-preventive foods."

Whole baked garlic helps detoxify the body of heavy metals like mercury (from fish) and cadmium.

Garlic also acts as an antibacterial and antiviral, boosting resistance to stress-induced colds and infections.

Can't stand garlic breath? Chew on a sprig of parsley.

7) Mushrooms

Used for centuries in Eastern medicine, mushrooms have powerful effects on the immune system - especially the maitake, shiitake, and reishi varieties.

"Mushrooms such as maitake help prevent and treat cancer, viral diseases, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure," says Bauman.

In fact, mushrooms are used as an adjunctive cancer treatment throughout Asia because of their ability to counteract the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation

while simultaneously shrinking tumors.

What's more, Japanese researchers have found that regularly eating shiitake mushrooms lowers blood cholesterol levels up to 45 percent.

8) Almonds

Almonds are loaded with fiber and monounsaturated fat, both of which have been shown to lower cholesterol.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, eating 1.5 ounces of most nuts, including almonds, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce
the risk of heart disease.

And even though almonds are relatively high in fat and calories, studies show that eating almonds can actually help with weight loss (their protein, fiber, and monounsaturated fats provide the feeling of fullness, preventing overeating).

9) Eggs

The best protein source on the planet, eggs consistently outrank milk, beef, whey, and soy in the quality of protein they provide. In addition to containing all nine essential amino acids, eggs are loaded with nutrients.

"And for God's sake, eat the yolks," says Bowden.

People avoid the yolks because they fear cholesterol, but egg yolks contain choline, which helps protect heart and brain function and prevents cholesterol and fat from accumulating in the liver.

10) Flaxseeds

Loaded with alpha-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid that helps reduce inflammation, flaxseed has been used for centuries for medicinal and health reasons.
Gandhi himself proclaimed, "Wherever flaxseed becomes a regular food item among the people, there will be better health."

Bauman adds, "The seed itself has terrific nutritional value, very usable protein, tremendous fatty acids, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, and zinc."
Additionally, they're a great source of fiber.

11) Pomegranates

Pomegranates have up to three times the antioxidants of red wine and green tea - and the juice has been shown to reduce artery-clogging plaque, which in turn prevents heart disease and stroke.
Research shows that long-term consumption of pomegranate juice may also help slow aging and protect against cancer.

12) Red Wine

A small amount of any kind of alcohol each day does your heart good by increasing HDL cholesterol and reducing the risk of blood clots.

"Red wine also contains powerful antioxidants, reservatrol and saponins, which may provide additional cardiovascular benefits," says Anding.

Resist a refill, however: More than one drink daily has been linked to high blood pressure.

13) Dark Chocolate

When it comes to chocolate, bitter is better - at least in terms of health.
The benefits of chocolate come from flavonols and antioxidants (the same disease-fighting chemicals found in cranberries, apples, strawberries, and red wine).
The caveat: Only real cacao contains flavonols, so look for chocolate that boasts a high percentage of cacao (60 percent or more).

Dark chocolate also has fewer calories than other varieties, and when eaten in moderation, it lowers unhealthy LDL cholesterol and prevents plaque from building up in your arteries.

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Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com
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Are You Smarter Than A Four Years Old?

2010-05-05T12:06:00.003+08:00

A PRE-SCHOOL TEST FOR YOU

Which way is the bus below traveling?

To the left or to the right?

Can't make up your mind?

Look carefully at the picture again.

Still don't know?

Primary school children were shown this picture and asked the same question.

90% of them gave this answer:

'The bus is traveling to the right.'

When asked, 'Why do you think the bus is traveling to the right?'

They answered:

'Because you can't see the door to get on the bus.'

How do you feel now???

I know, me too.

This answer is only applicable for countries using right-hand drive vehicles.