Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Bananas
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again. Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.
It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so
helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief. Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at wor k leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. Seasonal
Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.
It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so
helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief. Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at wor k leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. Seasonal
Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
Monday, August 28, 2006
Interesting
What is all the fuss with placenta injections?
Dr.Paul Niehan, who discovered the benefits of live cell therapy quite by accident, propagated modern day live cell therapy. In 1931, Niehans was consulted by a medical colleague who had accidentally removed a patient’s parathyroid glands during the course of thyroid surgery. So vital are the parathyroid glands to life that the woman was unlikely to survive the day without them. A successful transplant was the only chance the surgeon had of saving her. So Niehans, who had a reputation for therapeutically transplanting organs and glands, was called in.
On his way to the hospital, Niehans stopped off at the abattoir, where animals he used in his revitalization experiments was slaughtered. He obtained fresh parathyroid glands from a steer and proceeded to the hospital, fully intending to perform a parathyroid transplant.
However, when Niehans arrived, one look at the patients – who was violently convulsing – told him that there was simply not enough time to perform the operation. The woman would not survive long enough.
But Niehan had an idea. He sliced up the parathyroid glands and suspended it in a saline solution and injected it into the fatally ill woman. Immediately, her convulsions ceased. Her condition improved and recovered to live another 30 years, well into her 90’s.
Many years later Niehan wrote, “I thought the effect would be short-lived, just like the effect of an injection of hormones, and that I should have to repeat the injection. But to my great surprise, the injection of fresh cells not only failed to provoke a reaction but the effect lasted, and longer than any synthetic hormone, any implant or any surgical graft.”
Thus cell therapy was born and thousands have received live cell injections at his Clinic La Prairie in Montreaux, Switzerland.
Dr.Paul Niehan, who discovered the benefits of live cell therapy quite by accident, propagated modern day live cell therapy. In 1931, Niehans was consulted by a medical colleague who had accidentally removed a patient’s parathyroid glands during the course of thyroid surgery. So vital are the parathyroid glands to life that the woman was unlikely to survive the day without them. A successful transplant was the only chance the surgeon had of saving her. So Niehans, who had a reputation for therapeutically transplanting organs and glands, was called in.
On his way to the hospital, Niehans stopped off at the abattoir, where animals he used in his revitalization experiments was slaughtered. He obtained fresh parathyroid glands from a steer and proceeded to the hospital, fully intending to perform a parathyroid transplant.
However, when Niehans arrived, one look at the patients – who was violently convulsing – told him that there was simply not enough time to perform the operation. The woman would not survive long enough.
But Niehan had an idea. He sliced up the parathyroid glands and suspended it in a saline solution and injected it into the fatally ill woman. Immediately, her convulsions ceased. Her condition improved and recovered to live another 30 years, well into her 90’s.
Many years later Niehan wrote, “I thought the effect would be short-lived, just like the effect of an injection of hormones, and that I should have to repeat the injection. But to my great surprise, the injection of fresh cells not only failed to provoke a reaction but the effect lasted, and longer than any synthetic hormone, any implant or any surgical graft.”
Thus cell therapy was born and thousands have received live cell injections at his Clinic La Prairie in Montreaux, Switzerland.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Eating yellow vegetables 'protects eye sight'
Yellow and green vegetables rich in certain compounds could be beneficial in preventing blindness in later life, new research suggests.
In a study published in the Journal of Ophthalmology, researchers report that women who ate diets rich in vegetables containing the yellow plant pigments lutein and zeaxanthin had a reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness.
The compounds are found in various vegetables, including peas, sweetcorn and broccoli, and are thought to offer protection to retina from the damage that causes AMD.
A consistently high intake over a 15-year period was found to be necessary to significantly reduce the risk.
"This exploratory observation is consistent with a broad body of evidence from observational and experimental studies that suggests that these carotenoids may protect against AMD," the researchers, lead by Dr Suzen Moeller wrote.
"More conclusive evidence from long-term prospective studies and clinical trials is needed to determine whether the intake of macular carotenoids themselves, or as markers of broader dietary patterns, can protect against intermediate AMD or delay progression in individuals who have early stages of the disease."
In a study published in the Journal of Ophthalmology, researchers report that women who ate diets rich in vegetables containing the yellow plant pigments lutein and zeaxanthin had a reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness.
The compounds are found in various vegetables, including peas, sweetcorn and broccoli, and are thought to offer protection to retina from the damage that causes AMD.
A consistently high intake over a 15-year period was found to be necessary to significantly reduce the risk.
"This exploratory observation is consistent with a broad body of evidence from observational and experimental studies that suggests that these carotenoids may protect against AMD," the researchers, lead by Dr Suzen Moeller wrote.
"More conclusive evidence from long-term prospective studies and clinical trials is needed to determine whether the intake of macular carotenoids themselves, or as markers of broader dietary patterns, can protect against intermediate AMD or delay progression in individuals who have early stages of the disease."
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Scientists link testosterone shortage to early death
Thought this was interesting as just bought a bottle of testosterone for dad - it is topical - nanotechnology so it can be absorbed via the skin supposedly. First pass metabolism (liver) is high with hormones so oral testosterone is virtually useless.
US scientists believe they have identified a connection between low levels of testosterone with cases of premature death in men.
Research published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine performed jointly by the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and the University of Washington shows that men with low testosterone levels could be up to 88 per cent more likely to die in their middle-age compared to counterparts with normal amounts of the sex hormone.
In a study involving 858 men aged over 40-years-old between 1994 and 1999, scientists found that 19 per cent of males had low levels of testosterone, 28 displayed equivocal levels (both low and normal signs), while 53 per cent showed normal amounts of the sex hormone.
During the test period, which culminated in 2002, the research team discovered that one-fifth of the men who displayed normal levels of the hormone had died, compared to 24.6 per cent of males with equivocal amounts and 34.9 per cent of those with low levels of testosterone.
The scientists explained that the results were consistent even when other factors such as age, other illnesses and body mass index (BMI) were taken into consideration.
"The persistence of elevated mortality risk after excluding early deaths suggests that the association between low testosterone and mortality is not simply due to acute illness. Large prospective studies are needed to clarify the association between low testosterone levels and mortality," they write.
Testosterone levels decrease by about 1.5 per cent annually once a man reaches 30, with lower concentrations of the hormone indicated by decreased muscle and bone density, a faltering sex drive and higher levels of depression and irritability.
US scientists believe they have identified a connection between low levels of testosterone with cases of premature death in men.
Research published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine performed jointly by the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and the University of Washington shows that men with low testosterone levels could be up to 88 per cent more likely to die in their middle-age compared to counterparts with normal amounts of the sex hormone.
In a study involving 858 men aged over 40-years-old between 1994 and 1999, scientists found that 19 per cent of males had low levels of testosterone, 28 displayed equivocal levels (both low and normal signs), while 53 per cent showed normal amounts of the sex hormone.
During the test period, which culminated in 2002, the research team discovered that one-fifth of the men who displayed normal levels of the hormone had died, compared to 24.6 per cent of males with equivocal amounts and 34.9 per cent of those with low levels of testosterone.
The scientists explained that the results were consistent even when other factors such as age, other illnesses and body mass index (BMI) were taken into consideration.
"The persistence of elevated mortality risk after excluding early deaths suggests that the association between low testosterone and mortality is not simply due to acute illness. Large prospective studies are needed to clarify the association between low testosterone levels and mortality," they write.
Testosterone levels decrease by about 1.5 per cent annually once a man reaches 30, with lower concentrations of the hormone indicated by decreased muscle and bone density, a faltering sex drive and higher levels of depression and irritability.
Qi Gong
Qi Gong balances the body’s Qi with an inner force via mental and breathing exercises. Qi Gong is claimed to be beneficial in a wide variety of disease such as allergy, asthma, cancer, circulatory problems, deafness, headache, hypertension, injuries, kidney, liver disease, lung problems and stroke.
There are two ways qigong is practised. The patient can try to balance his own Qi through deep breathing and relaxation. Alternatively, a qigong master does it for them by transferring his or her Qi to the patient after having developed it within his own system.
THE BREATH OF LIFE
“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being1. ” There is a very close connection between breath and spirit. Both breath and spirit comes from one word in the Greek as well as Hebrew. When our breath is gone from our bodies, so is our spirit. “Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath2. ” So let’s be careful to breathe in the breath of God, rather than the contaminated spirit of the world. God is the Great Physician as it was He who created all the bones, tissues and organs in your body.
1. Genesis 2:7
2. Psalms 62:9
There are two ways qigong is practised. The patient can try to balance his own Qi through deep breathing and relaxation. Alternatively, a qigong master does it for them by transferring his or her Qi to the patient after having developed it within his own system.
THE BREATH OF LIFE
“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being1. ” There is a very close connection between breath and spirit. Both breath and spirit comes from one word in the Greek as well as Hebrew. When our breath is gone from our bodies, so is our spirit. “Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath2. ” So let’s be careful to breathe in the breath of God, rather than the contaminated spirit of the world. God is the Great Physician as it was He who created all the bones, tissues and organs in your body.
1. Genesis 2:7
2. Psalms 62:9
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The Tao in Taoism
Lao Zi
According to Taoism, the Tao is the “way of the universe “and is the first cause or cosmic force behind nature’s order. It implies an impersonal force rather than a personal Creator.
A careful look at the “Tao Te Jing” or “Book of the Way” in English, believed to be written by Lao Zi, has this confession: “I do not know His name. Name Him ‘ Tao’ possibly. For the lack of a better word, I call Him the Almighty”1. Lao Zi clearly refers the Tao as a person. Although Lao Zi is regarded as the founder of Taoism, he really had nothing to do with many of its religious doctrines and practices. He has even been misrepresented as being the Tao himself. But clearly he acted only as the messenger of the Tao1.
What is this Tao? The book states that the Tao is the “very progenitor of all things in the world”2. In the opening chapter, Lao Zi wrote that the “Tao can be told but is not the ordinary Tao. The name [of the Tao] can also be given, but that is not the ordinary name as well1.” Thus the Tao is not an ordinary Tao way or wisdom.
Does the Tao foreshadow Christ? In chapter 4, verse 4 Lao Zi writes that the Tao looks like Someone’s Son. He said, “I do not know whose son He is, He was before any king [born into the world] 1. ” “I am the Way (Tao), the truth and the life”3 is similarly found in another classical book.
The Tao has two faces, yin and yang, which oppose each other, but yet are one. The book On I-Ching reads, “In the I-Ching, there is Grand Terminus, which produced the two elementary Forms. One is Yin, and one is Yang. ” In I-Ching, Yin means the Earth, dark; and Yang means the Heaven, bright. Genesis 1:2 reads, “And God saw the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. ”
1. Wang, S & Nelson, E. God and the Ancient Chinese. Published by Sinim Bible Institute 1998; page 61-65
2. Laozi. Revised and Annotated by Fu Huisheng. Translated into English by Arthur Wesley. Hunan People’s Publishing House 1999; Chapter 4 verse 4: page 9.
3. John 14:6
According to Taoism, the Tao is the “way of the universe “and is the first cause or cosmic force behind nature’s order. It implies an impersonal force rather than a personal Creator.
A careful look at the “Tao Te Jing” or “Book of the Way” in English, believed to be written by Lao Zi, has this confession: “I do not know His name. Name Him ‘ Tao’ possibly. For the lack of a better word, I call Him the Almighty”1. Lao Zi clearly refers the Tao as a person. Although Lao Zi is regarded as the founder of Taoism, he really had nothing to do with many of its religious doctrines and practices. He has even been misrepresented as being the Tao himself. But clearly he acted only as the messenger of the Tao1.
What is this Tao? The book states that the Tao is the “very progenitor of all things in the world”2. In the opening chapter, Lao Zi wrote that the “Tao can be told but is not the ordinary Tao. The name [of the Tao] can also be given, but that is not the ordinary name as well1.” Thus the Tao is not an ordinary Tao way or wisdom.
Does the Tao foreshadow Christ? In chapter 4, verse 4 Lao Zi writes that the Tao looks like Someone’s Son. He said, “I do not know whose son He is, He was before any king [born into the world] 1. ” “I am the Way (Tao), the truth and the life”3 is similarly found in another classical book.
The Tao has two faces, yin and yang, which oppose each other, but yet are one. The book On I-Ching reads, “In the I-Ching, there is Grand Terminus, which produced the two elementary Forms. One is Yin, and one is Yang. ” In I-Ching, Yin means the Earth, dark; and Yang means the Heaven, bright. Genesis 1:2 reads, “And God saw the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. ”
1. Wang, S & Nelson, E. God and the Ancient Chinese. Published by Sinim Bible Institute 1998; page 61-65
2. Laozi. Revised and Annotated by Fu Huisheng. Translated into English by Arthur Wesley. Hunan People’s Publishing House 1999; Chapter 4 verse 4: page 9.
3. John 14:6
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
TCM- accupuncture
There are many forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) available these days such as acupuncture and acupressure. The principles that underlie TCM take their roots from Taoism which originated around 300 B.C.
ACUPUNCTURE is just one treatment in the broader system of TCM and is based on the concept of an energy flow called Qi through the body. According to Taoism, the Qi flows between man and the universe. The Qi is believed to be the life force that pervades the body and regulates most physiological functions to maintain health and vitality. It circulates around the body along pathways known as meridians.
It is believed that if the flow of Qi is blocked, imbalances occur leading to health problems. Acupuncturists then use needles to unblock the flow at specific points along the meridians. These points correspond to the various organs in the body. When needles are applied to the points, organ function is stimulated.
CONDITIONS TREATED BY ACUPUNCTURISTS
Headaches, migraine and dizziness
Anxiety and depression
Addictions such as smoking
Insomnia
High/low blood pressure, poor circulation
Digestive problems
Kidney and bladder problems
Liver and gallbladder problems
Hormonal problems
Respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis
Skin conditions such as acne and eczema
Arthritis
Types of Acupuncture
Other than using needles, treatment techniques can include moxibustion, cupping, electro-acupuncture and laser acupuncture which are beyond the scope of this book.
ACUPRESSURE is based on the same concepts as acupuncture but instead of needles, pressure is applied to meridian points with fingertips, knuckles or even the elbows and feet. The process begins as apply pressure-then release, apply pressure-then release and develops to a deep and constant pressure. In other cases only one kind of pressure is used.
Obesity 'due to processed food'
The ever increasing rate of obesity among children in developed nations is due to a hormone imbalance caused by processed food, a health expert has claimed.
According to Dr Robert Lustig, a paediatrician at the University of California, processed food now commonly contains added sugar and has fibre removed from it, which can result in an imbalance in the hormones insulin and leptin. This is important for weight management as the hormones involved play a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels and food intake, causing people to eat more but take less exercise.
"Our current western food environment has become highly insulinogenic, as demonstrated by its increased energy density, high-fat content, high glycaemic index, increased fructose composition, decreased fibre, and decreased dairy content," stated Dr Lustig, writing in the journal Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology and Metabolism.
It is now widely accepted that children are getting fatter, with around a quarter of children in the UK now classified as clinically obese, making them more likely to suffer from heart problems and diabetes in later life.
According to Dr Robert Lustig, a paediatrician at the University of California, processed food now commonly contains added sugar and has fibre removed from it, which can result in an imbalance in the hormones insulin and leptin. This is important for weight management as the hormones involved play a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels and food intake, causing people to eat more but take less exercise.
"Our current western food environment has become highly insulinogenic, as demonstrated by its increased energy density, high-fat content, high glycaemic index, increased fructose composition, decreased fibre, and decreased dairy content," stated Dr Lustig, writing in the journal Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology and Metabolism.
It is now widely accepted that children are getting fatter, with around a quarter of children in the UK now classified as clinically obese, making them more likely to suffer from heart problems and diabetes in later life.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Third-hand smoke
Parents who choose to protect their baby's health by only smoking outdoors are still causing them harm through 'third-hand smoke', a new study has found.
According researchers from San Diego State University, harmful chemicals contained in cigarette smoke are capable of sticking to carpets, soft furnishings and walls, where they can be absorbed through the skin of children.
These chemicals can have the same harmful effects as passive smoking, although lack of awareness about third-hand smoke means that this could pose a greater risk, particularly to children forced to live with smoker parents.
The research found unusually high traces of cotinine, a nicotine by-product, in the urine and hair cells of children living with smoker parents, despite their efforts to smoke away from the child.
The study looked at a total of 49 babies under 13 months old, comparing the children of smokers with those of non-smokers.
Children's charities have expressed concern over the findings, saying that they represent yet another reason for parents to kick the habit.
According researchers from San Diego State University, harmful chemicals contained in cigarette smoke are capable of sticking to carpets, soft furnishings and walls, where they can be absorbed through the skin of children.
These chemicals can have the same harmful effects as passive smoking, although lack of awareness about third-hand smoke means that this could pose a greater risk, particularly to children forced to live with smoker parents.
The research found unusually high traces of cotinine, a nicotine by-product, in the urine and hair cells of children living with smoker parents, despite their efforts to smoke away from the child.
The study looked at a total of 49 babies under 13 months old, comparing the children of smokers with those of non-smokers.
Children's charities have expressed concern over the findings, saying that they represent yet another reason for parents to kick the habit.
Meats ( excerpts from Staying Healthy, Staying Vital)
From Staying Healthy, Staying Vital (available in MPH & Popular)
Our ancestors ate meat from wild animals which contained 4% fat. Today, commercial meats like beef and pork contain around 30% fat as they are fed grains to beef them up. Worse still these days they are treated with antibiotics, growth hormones, or growth enhancers.
The main problem is not the fat in the meat but the fat which we can skin off or cut out, such as the pork belly. This we should cut out from our diet.
Humans were designed to eat more plant than animal foods6. For instance, we have 20 molar teeth for grinding plant foods, 8 frontal incisors for biting fruits and vegetables and only 4 canine teeth for eating meat. A true carnivore like the tiger has predominantly canine teeth and its jaws only move vertically unlike the human jaw which also moves horizontally. The tiger’s intestinal tract is 3 times shorter than the humans for a rapid transit of rancid meat and a much bigger kidney to flush out the uric acid.
No doubt meats provide a good source of protein, but many beans and plant produce are also a good source of protein. Bear in mind, two of the strongest animals in the world are herbivores (plant eaters) – the elephant and the gorilla.
Unclean meats
Seafood Restaurants are very popular throughout the country. Essentially there are two types of seafood: those with fins and scales, and those without.
If you ever watch National Geographic on Astro, you realize that fishes swim across all levels of the sea as they have fins and scales. Imagine the ceiling of your house as the sea-level while the floor is the sea-bed. Rubbish will settle at the sea-bed as the specific gravity is higher than water. Those without fins and scales such as shellfish, crabs, lobster, prawns, oysters, clams and mussels are usually on the sea-bed and become nature’ s vacuum cleaners to keep the sea-bed clean. In the ecology of the sea, they are designed to clean up all the rubbish, toxins, bacteria, viruses and parasites on the floor of the sea. Crabs are even known to eat dead things. These meats should be avoided for healthy living. Little wonder these foods are associated with gout, high cholesterol and allergies (contain many toxins). If you simply can’t resist these foods, then limit them to once a week and in small quantities.
Pork consumption is high among the Chinese. It is one of the fattiest meats, rich in saturated fats. The organs of any animals are high in cholesterol, but the Chinese seems to spare no part of a pig, not even the intestines. A swine if left on its own will eat itself to death. Firstly, pigs eat a lot of rubbish. Secondly, even commercial pigs are full of toxins as by eating a lot, the hydrochloric acid in the pig’s stomach is diluted and bacteria and parasites can thrive. If you don’t believe this, just visit a farm where they are bred. It is best to minimize or avoid this unclean meat.
Our ancestors ate meat from wild animals which contained 4% fat. Today, commercial meats like beef and pork contain around 30% fat as they are fed grains to beef them up. Worse still these days they are treated with antibiotics, growth hormones, or growth enhancers.
The main problem is not the fat in the meat but the fat which we can skin off or cut out, such as the pork belly. This we should cut out from our diet.
Humans were designed to eat more plant than animal foods6. For instance, we have 20 molar teeth for grinding plant foods, 8 frontal incisors for biting fruits and vegetables and only 4 canine teeth for eating meat. A true carnivore like the tiger has predominantly canine teeth and its jaws only move vertically unlike the human jaw which also moves horizontally. The tiger’s intestinal tract is 3 times shorter than the humans for a rapid transit of rancid meat and a much bigger kidney to flush out the uric acid.
No doubt meats provide a good source of protein, but many beans and plant produce are also a good source of protein. Bear in mind, two of the strongest animals in the world are herbivores (plant eaters) – the elephant and the gorilla.
Unclean meats
Seafood Restaurants are very popular throughout the country. Essentially there are two types of seafood: those with fins and scales, and those without.
If you ever watch National Geographic on Astro, you realize that fishes swim across all levels of the sea as they have fins and scales. Imagine the ceiling of your house as the sea-level while the floor is the sea-bed. Rubbish will settle at the sea-bed as the specific gravity is higher than water. Those without fins and scales such as shellfish, crabs, lobster, prawns, oysters, clams and mussels are usually on the sea-bed and become nature’ s vacuum cleaners to keep the sea-bed clean. In the ecology of the sea, they are designed to clean up all the rubbish, toxins, bacteria, viruses and parasites on the floor of the sea. Crabs are even known to eat dead things. These meats should be avoided for healthy living. Little wonder these foods are associated with gout, high cholesterol and allergies (contain many toxins). If you simply can’t resist these foods, then limit them to once a week and in small quantities.
Pork consumption is high among the Chinese. It is one of the fattiest meats, rich in saturated fats. The organs of any animals are high in cholesterol, but the Chinese seems to spare no part of a pig, not even the intestines. A swine if left on its own will eat itself to death. Firstly, pigs eat a lot of rubbish. Secondly, even commercial pigs are full of toxins as by eating a lot, the hydrochloric acid in the pig’s stomach is diluted and bacteria and parasites can thrive. If you don’t believe this, just visit a farm where they are bred. It is best to minimize or avoid this unclean meat.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Pork
Email from a friend:
No more 'zhu zha tang' or yummy 'bak kut teh'...
The following is from Dr. Lee Say Fatt, I believe you should read this.
Pork Awareness (read this carefully)!
IT'S WORTH SPENDING 3 MINUTES READING THIS
Try this and see whether the pork you bought has worms. There goes with your "Bak Kut Teh" for those who love it. Most men love to eat this so watch out before it's too late. If you pour Coke (yes, the soda) on a slab of pork, wait a little while, you will SEE WORMS crawl out of it.
A message from the Health Corporation of Singapore about the bad effects of pork consumption. Pig's bodies contains MANY TOXINS, WORMS and LATENT DISEASES.
Although some of these infestation are harboured in other animals, modern veterinarians say that pigs are far MORE PREDISPOSED to these illnesses than other animals. This could be because PIGS like to SCAVENGE and will eat ANY kind of food, INCLUDING dead insects, worms, rotting carcasses, excreta including their own, garbage, and other pigs.
INFLUENZA (flu) is one of the MOST famous illnesses which pigs share with humans. This illness is haboured in the LUNGS of pigs during the summer months and tends to affect pigs and human in the cooler months. Sausage contains bits of pigs' lungs, so those who EAT pork sausage tend to SUFFER MORE during EPIDEMICS of INFLUENZA.
Pig meat contains EXCESSIVE quantities of HISTAMINE and IMIDAZOLE compounds, which can lead to ITCHING and INFLAMMATION; GROWTH HORMONE which PROMOTES INFLAMMATION and growth; sulphur containing mesenchymal mucus which leads to SWELLING and deposits of MUCUS in tendons and cartilage, resulting in ATHRITIS, RHEUMATISM, etc. Sulphur helps cause FIRM human tendons and ligaments to be replaced by the pig's soft mesenchymal tissues, and degeneration of human cartiliage. Eating pork can also lead to GALLSTONES and OBESITY, probably due to its HIGH CHOLESTEROL and SATURATED FAT content.
The pig is the MAIN CARRIER of the TAENIE SOLIUM WORM, which is found in it flesh.
These tapeworms are found in human intestines with greater frequency in nations where pigs are eaten. This type of tapeworm can pass through the intestines and affect many other organs, and is incurable once it reaches beyond a certain stage. One in six people in the US and Canada has RICHINOSIS from eating trichina worms, which are found in pork. Many people have NO SYMPTOMS after having pork. When they do have any sickness in long term, they resemble symptoms of many other illnesses. These worms are NOT noticed during meat inspections.
No more 'zhu zha tang' or yummy 'bak kut teh'...
The following is from Dr. Lee Say Fatt, I believe you should read this.
Pork Awareness (read this carefully)!
IT'S WORTH SPENDING 3 MINUTES READING THIS
Try this and see whether the pork you bought has worms. There goes with your "Bak Kut Teh" for those who love it. Most men love to eat this so watch out before it's too late. If you pour Coke (yes, the soda) on a slab of pork, wait a little while, you will SEE WORMS crawl out of it.
A message from the Health Corporation of Singapore about the bad effects of pork consumption. Pig's bodies contains MANY TOXINS, WORMS and LATENT DISEASES.
Although some of these infestation are harboured in other animals, modern veterinarians say that pigs are far MORE PREDISPOSED to these illnesses than other animals. This could be because PIGS like to SCAVENGE and will eat ANY kind of food, INCLUDING dead insects, worms, rotting carcasses, excreta including their own, garbage, and other pigs.
INFLUENZA (flu) is one of the MOST famous illnesses which pigs share with humans. This illness is haboured in the LUNGS of pigs during the summer months and tends to affect pigs and human in the cooler months. Sausage contains bits of pigs' lungs, so those who EAT pork sausage tend to SUFFER MORE during EPIDEMICS of INFLUENZA.
Pig meat contains EXCESSIVE quantities of HISTAMINE and IMIDAZOLE compounds, which can lead to ITCHING and INFLAMMATION; GROWTH HORMONE which PROMOTES INFLAMMATION and growth; sulphur containing mesenchymal mucus which leads to SWELLING and deposits of MUCUS in tendons and cartilage, resulting in ATHRITIS, RHEUMATISM, etc. Sulphur helps cause FIRM human tendons and ligaments to be replaced by the pig's soft mesenchymal tissues, and degeneration of human cartiliage. Eating pork can also lead to GALLSTONES and OBESITY, probably due to its HIGH CHOLESTEROL and SATURATED FAT content.
The pig is the MAIN CARRIER of the TAENIE SOLIUM WORM, which is found in it flesh.
These tapeworms are found in human intestines with greater frequency in nations where pigs are eaten. This type of tapeworm can pass through the intestines and affect many other organs, and is incurable once it reaches beyond a certain stage. One in six people in the US and Canada has RICHINOSIS from eating trichina worms, which are found in pork. Many people have NO SYMPTOMS after having pork. When they do have any sickness in long term, they resemble symptoms of many other illnesses. These worms are NOT noticed during meat inspections.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Vegetables & Cancer
BROCCOLI
How it combats cancer: Research has revealed that a chemical component called indole-3-carbinol can combat breast cancer by converting a cancer-promoting estrogen into a more protective riety. The phytochemical sulforaphane raises the levels of certain cancer-fighting enzymes that defend the body from cigarette smoke, fumes, pesticides & other known carcinogens.
Diet tips: Broccoli leaves actually contain more beta-carotene (i.e. pre-Vitamin A) than the florets - use leaves in purees, soups, stir-fries. To preserve broccoli’s valuable nutrients, steam or microwave, being careful not to overcook. Avoid garnishing broccoli with fatty cheeses and creams instead,squeeze on some lemon juice or sprinkle with toasted bread crumbs.
PAPAYA
How it combats cancer: Its plentiful store of vitamin C works as an antioxidant and may also reduce absorption of cancer-causing nitrosamines from the soil or processed foods. Papaya contains folacin (also known as folic acid), which has been shown to minimize cervical ysplasia and certain cancers.
Diet tips: Choose papayas that are at least half yellow in the store - fully green ones were probably picked too soon and won’t ripen properly. You can serve papaya in fruit salad, add it to a garlic-and-spinach pasta mixture, or just eat it on its own, letting the juice dribble down your arm.
GARLIC
How it combats cancer: Garlic’s immune-enhancing allium compounds block carcinogens from entering cells and slow tumor development. Diallyl sulfide, a component of garlic oil, has also been shown to render carcinogens in the liver inactive. Studies have linked garlic - as well as onions, leeks, and chives - to lower risk of stomach and colon cancer.
Diet tips: Add raw garlic to salads, use it fresh in marinades and sauces;
rub freshly cut garlic around the insides of salad bowls and over chicken
and fish fillets. Avoid dried or powdered garlic, which is less
concentrated - and less effective
KALE
How it combats cancer: Research has shown that indoles, nitrogen compounds found in kale and other leafy greens, may help stop the conversion of certain lesions to cancerous cells in estrogen-sensitive tissues. In addition, isothiocyanates, phytochemicals found in kale, are thought to suppress tumor growth and block cancer-causing substances from reaching their targets.
Diet tips: A cruciferous vegetable, kale requires quick cooking - blanching or steaming - to preserve its nutrients. When you’re done, save the nutrient-rich cooking liquid for soups or sauces. You can also use whole large leaves to wrap fillings or to layer in lasagna.
SWEET POTATO
How it combats cancer: This nutrient-dense food contains many anticancer properties. It’s loaded with beta-carotene, which may protect DNA in the cell nucleus from cancer-causing chemicals outside the nuclear membrane.
Diet tips: Go for freshness when picking potatoes - canned varieties contain less beta-carotene and vitamins C and B. Naturally sweet and creamy, mashed sweet potatoes can be enhanced with a little apple juice. Or whip the cooked tubers with orange zest or orange juice and season with cinnamon,nutmeg, and ginger.
GRAPEFRUIT
How it combats cancer: Grapefruits, like oranges and other citrus fruits,contain monoterpenes, believed to help prevent cancer by sweeping carcinogens out of the body. Some studies show that grapefruit can inhibit the proliferation of breast-cancer cells in vitro. It also contains vitamin C, beta-carotene, and folic acid.
Diet tips: Grapefruit can be sweetened with brown sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup or honey; vanilla extract, fresh mint, and almonds also accent the fruit’s flavor. Grapefruit juice will give you the antioxidants and phytochemicals that fight cancer, but it’s missing the fiber that fresh,whole grapefruit offers.
AVOCADO
How it combats cancer: Avocados are rich in glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that attacks free radicals in the body by blocking intestinal absorption of certain fats. Ounce for ounce, avocados also supply 60 percent more potassium than bananas and are a strong source of beta-carotene.
Diet tips: Store avocados at room temperature until they soften. If you don’t eat the fruit immediately after cutting, sprinkle on some lemon or lime juice to keep it from darkening. Add chunks or slices to salads and sandwiches or spread mashed avocado on bread.
SEAWEED
How they combat cancer: Seaweed and other sea vegetables contain beta-carotene, protein, vitamin B12, fiber, and chlorophyll, as well as chlorophylones - important fatty acids that may help in the fight against breast cancer. Also, many sea vegetables have high concentrations of the minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and iodine.
Diet tips: Sea vegetables come fresh, dried, or powdered. Both the Japanese & the Irish regularly use them as flavorings for broths & soups,stir-fried over rice, or as a wrap for fish and other seafood. Varieties such as dulce, wakame, kombu, and hijiki even appear in pancakes,salads,puddings, and sandwiches.
TOFU
How it combats cancer: Soy contains several types of phytoestrogens -weak, nonsteroidal estrogens that could help prevent both breast and prostate cancer by blocking and suppressing cancerous changes. Genistein,one type of phytoestrogen, also lowers breast-cancer risk by inhibiting the growth of epithelial cells & new blood vessels that tumors require to flourish.
Diet tips: Tofu is made by coagulating the protein in soybeans - much the way cheese is produced. While bland on its own, tofu absorbs other flavors when cooked, making it perfect for stir-fries, dips, spreads,shakes, even cheesecake. It’s also a good high-protein substitute for meat, whole milk & mayonnaise.
How it combats cancer: Research has revealed that a chemical component called indole-3-carbinol can combat breast cancer by converting a cancer-promoting estrogen into a more protective riety. The phytochemical sulforaphane raises the levels of certain cancer-fighting enzymes that defend the body from cigarette smoke, fumes, pesticides & other known carcinogens.
Diet tips: Broccoli leaves actually contain more beta-carotene (i.e. pre-Vitamin A) than the florets - use leaves in purees, soups, stir-fries. To preserve broccoli’s valuable nutrients, steam or microwave, being careful not to overcook. Avoid garnishing broccoli with fatty cheeses and creams instead,squeeze on some lemon juice or sprinkle with toasted bread crumbs.
PAPAYA
How it combats cancer: Its plentiful store of vitamin C works as an antioxidant and may also reduce absorption of cancer-causing nitrosamines from the soil or processed foods. Papaya contains folacin (also known as folic acid), which has been shown to minimize cervical ysplasia and certain cancers.
Diet tips: Choose papayas that are at least half yellow in the store - fully green ones were probably picked too soon and won’t ripen properly. You can serve papaya in fruit salad, add it to a garlic-and-spinach pasta mixture, or just eat it on its own, letting the juice dribble down your arm.
GARLIC
How it combats cancer: Garlic’s immune-enhancing allium compounds block carcinogens from entering cells and slow tumor development. Diallyl sulfide, a component of garlic oil, has also been shown to render carcinogens in the liver inactive. Studies have linked garlic - as well as onions, leeks, and chives - to lower risk of stomach and colon cancer.
Diet tips: Add raw garlic to salads, use it fresh in marinades and sauces;
rub freshly cut garlic around the insides of salad bowls and over chicken
and fish fillets. Avoid dried or powdered garlic, which is less
concentrated - and less effective
KALE
How it combats cancer: Research has shown that indoles, nitrogen compounds found in kale and other leafy greens, may help stop the conversion of certain lesions to cancerous cells in estrogen-sensitive tissues. In addition, isothiocyanates, phytochemicals found in kale, are thought to suppress tumor growth and block cancer-causing substances from reaching their targets.
Diet tips: A cruciferous vegetable, kale requires quick cooking - blanching or steaming - to preserve its nutrients. When you’re done, save the nutrient-rich cooking liquid for soups or sauces. You can also use whole large leaves to wrap fillings or to layer in lasagna.
SWEET POTATO
How it combats cancer: This nutrient-dense food contains many anticancer properties. It’s loaded with beta-carotene, which may protect DNA in the cell nucleus from cancer-causing chemicals outside the nuclear membrane.
Diet tips: Go for freshness when picking potatoes - canned varieties contain less beta-carotene and vitamins C and B. Naturally sweet and creamy, mashed sweet potatoes can be enhanced with a little apple juice. Or whip the cooked tubers with orange zest or orange juice and season with cinnamon,nutmeg, and ginger.
GRAPEFRUIT
How it combats cancer: Grapefruits, like oranges and other citrus fruits,contain monoterpenes, believed to help prevent cancer by sweeping carcinogens out of the body. Some studies show that grapefruit can inhibit the proliferation of breast-cancer cells in vitro. It also contains vitamin C, beta-carotene, and folic acid.
Diet tips: Grapefruit can be sweetened with brown sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup or honey; vanilla extract, fresh mint, and almonds also accent the fruit’s flavor. Grapefruit juice will give you the antioxidants and phytochemicals that fight cancer, but it’s missing the fiber that fresh,whole grapefruit offers.
AVOCADO
How it combats cancer: Avocados are rich in glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that attacks free radicals in the body by blocking intestinal absorption of certain fats. Ounce for ounce, avocados also supply 60 percent more potassium than bananas and are a strong source of beta-carotene.
Diet tips: Store avocados at room temperature until they soften. If you don’t eat the fruit immediately after cutting, sprinkle on some lemon or lime juice to keep it from darkening. Add chunks or slices to salads and sandwiches or spread mashed avocado on bread.
SEAWEED
How they combat cancer: Seaweed and other sea vegetables contain beta-carotene, protein, vitamin B12, fiber, and chlorophyll, as well as chlorophylones - important fatty acids that may help in the fight against breast cancer. Also, many sea vegetables have high concentrations of the minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and iodine.
Diet tips: Sea vegetables come fresh, dried, or powdered. Both the Japanese & the Irish regularly use them as flavorings for broths & soups,stir-fried over rice, or as a wrap for fish and other seafood. Varieties such as dulce, wakame, kombu, and hijiki even appear in pancakes,salads,puddings, and sandwiches.
TOFU
How it combats cancer: Soy contains several types of phytoestrogens -weak, nonsteroidal estrogens that could help prevent both breast and prostate cancer by blocking and suppressing cancerous changes. Genistein,one type of phytoestrogen, also lowers breast-cancer risk by inhibiting the growth of epithelial cells & new blood vessels that tumors require to flourish.
Diet tips: Tofu is made by coagulating the protein in soybeans - much the way cheese is produced. While bland on its own, tofu absorbs other flavors when cooked, making it perfect for stir-fries, dips, spreads,shakes, even cheesecake. It’s also a good high-protein substitute for meat, whole milk & mayonnaise.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Fruits
Kiwi : Tiny but mighty
This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fibre. It’s Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.
Apple : An apple a day keeps the doctor away?
Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.
Strawberry : Protective Fruit
Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals.
Orange : Sweetest medicine
Taking 2 –4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.
Watermelon : Coolest Thirst Quencher
Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene – the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium.
Guava & Papaya : Top awards for Vitamin C
They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fibre which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes.
This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fibre. It’s Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.
Apple : An apple a day keeps the doctor away?
Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.
Strawberry : Protective Fruit
Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals.
Orange : Sweetest medicine
Taking 2 –4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.
Watermelon : Coolest Thirst Quencher
Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene – the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium.
Guava & Papaya : Top awards for Vitamin C
They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fibre which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes.
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