careforchildren.com

Care For Children is a registered charity with tax free status in China. This organization works with the local and national government in China and have placed 200,000 orphans and underprivileged children into families.

Children living in institutions can never receive love, nurturing and care like they would in homes where there are parents as well as uncles, aunts and grandparents to support. Such love can never be found in orphanages. Care for Children works with the government agencies to place these children into homes.

Its office is in the outskirts of Beijing and was initially funded by the British government for 3 years and since it has been funded by donations. The staff here are dedicated and have a passion to make a difference to enrich the lives of orphans and underprivileged children.

Many aid donations never reach the needy but this team is at the ground level and I intend to support such a worthy organization. Though my contribution may be small at the moment, but it is not the magnitude but the desire to help out of love that counts. Go to their website and see their work (photos) during the recent earthquake in Chengdu.


Below pic: David Liu, Kay Zhang (PR & Communications Manager), Charlie Humphries and myself.
In Malaysia there are tens of thousands of Vietnamese/Burmese kids born in refugee camps that are stateless (not a citizen of any country) and uneducated. These children were born in these camps and are now 18/19 years of age and roaming the streets.

___________________________________________________________
Mission Statement

Care for Children exists to relieve hardship, distress and sickness in abandoned and orphaned children in China by the introduction of strategic initiatives in child care practice, at the request of, and in cooperation with, the Chinese national and local authorities.

Vision

Care for Children has a vision to see 1 million children in families.

Partners

China Social Work Association (CSWA) - approved and monitored by the Minitsry of Civil Affairs (MoCA).

Track record

Care for Children began work on it's first Foster Care pilot project with the Shanghai Civil Affairs in 1998.

Following the initial success in Shanghai, 3 other projects were started in Kunming, Yinchuan and Chengdu. In 2003 Robert Glover received the White Magnolia award from the Shanghai government in recognition for his service to the city. By this date, a total of 1400 children had been placed into families.

Recognising the value of Care for Children's project work, in 2003 the Ministry of Civil Affairs invited Care for Children to partner with CSWA on a nationwide project in the 14 poorest provinces of China.

In 2007 the project was further expanded to include 30 provinces. To date (May 2008), Care for Children has directly trained staff from over 200 orphanages. It is estimated that there are now over 200,000 children in families!

Beijing Vista Clinic

This clinic is opened by a Hong Kong businessman. It is located at B1 of Kerry center, Beijing. It has a General Practice section and a Pediatric section.

The doctors are from overseas and the clientele are mainly foreigners and rich locals. 

Dinner in China World Hotel, Beijing

Below is Dr. Bi Dongjie, Director of Beijing Red Cross Foundation.

Below is James Chau, news anchor CCTV-9. He apologized that he is camera shy (but of course he is not TV camera shy).

  

Swimming in Guangzhou

Below is a picture from my hotel room in Shangri-La Guangzhou. It is 700 room hotel and it cost me >RMB1,200 per nite. I actually had a swim at the indoor 25meter pool which was simply beautiful, rather than this outdoor pool.

The hotel is located next to the Pearl River.
My room- pamper myself once in a while lah!

Breakfast at the cafeteria.

Dochen Swiss (nano ray energized) Nanocollagen (4)

What is Far-Infrared Rays?

Sun rays can be divided into visible and invisible lights. Generally, visible light is composed of seven colors, which are the rainbow colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and purple.

An infrared ray is a type invisible light with wavelengths ranging from 0.75 to 1000 millimeters. Depending on the wavelength, the infrared ray can be roughly divided into near- infrared ray, mid-infrared ray, and far infrared ray.

Far-infrared ray with wavelengths ranging from 4 to 14 millimeters are beneficial to humans. Its energy and resonances resemblance to that of living tissues, and therefore, is called “reproductive light”. This reproductive light can activate and stimulate natural growth of cells in both animals and plants.

My latest book in Chinese

Dochen Swiss (nano ray energized) Nanocollagen (3)

What is Nano-Far-Infrared Implanted Collagen?

Nano Far-Infrared Implanted Collagen using the Nano-Rays Implantation Technology, implanting the beneficial far-infra-red rays (with wavelengths between 4-14mm) into the collagen. This is one of the latest scientific developments in the world.

The effectiveness of Nano Far-Infrared implanted collagen products are many times higher compared to the ordinary collagen preparations.

Dochen Swiss (nano ray energized) Nanocollagen (2)

The Many Benefits of Collagen:

1. Skin Care:
Oral: As we age, the amount and functionality collagen in our body will reduce, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen supplementation helps to replenish the worn out collagen, stimulating the metabolism and renewal process, delaying the signs of natural aging, enhances skin elasticity and hydration. At the same time it activates the fibroblast cells in the dermis for self repair and regeneration.

Topical: Generally, when apply locally; ordinary collagen only has about 5% absorption rate. However, after treated with far-infrared rays, skin can absorb 5-10 times better than the untreated collagen. More over, far-infra-red implanted collagen can help to improve blood circulation, enhances penetration of collagen to the deeper skin layer to nourish and restore skin youthfulness.

2. Bone & Joint Health:
Collagen serves as cement in bone structures; helps lock and stabilize bone materials, prevents it from leaking and wasting. Scientific reports show that supplementation of collagen inhibits the degradation of collagen in bones and cartilages, increases bone density, reverses osteoporosis and speed up the recovery of fractures.

As for joint health, collagen improves elasticity and flexibility, promotes repair and regeneration of cartilages, helps to protects and slow down the degeneration of joint tissues.

3. Protects & Strengthens the Functions of Internal Organs:
Far-Infrared implanted collagen helps to stimulate and activate the functionality of individual cells and tissues.。

4. Enhances Natural Defense System:
Collagen improves the functions of phagocytes (a type of white blood cells), helps to enhance our body’s natural ability to defense itself.

The benefits of collagen are beyond words. However, in order to obtain its maximum benefits, our body must be able to absorb and utilize the collagen for protection and regeneration.

Dochen Swiss (nano ray energized) Nanocollagen (1)

What is Collagen?

Collagen is one of the long, fibrous structural proteins. It made up approximately 6% of our total body weight, and is a very important protein. Tough bundles of collagen called collagen fibers are a major component of the extra cellular matrix that supports most tissues and gives cells structure from the outside, but collagen is also found inside certain cells.

Collagen has great tensile strength, and is the main component of fascia, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone and teeth. Along with soft keratin, it is responsible for skin strength and elasticity, and its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging. It strengthens blood vessels and plays a role in tissue development. It is present in the cornea and lens of the eye in crystalline form.

The main function of collagen is to support skin and organ structures. It’s an essential raw material for repair and regeneration of skin cells in our body. Apart from water, 70% of the dermis is made up of collagen. It’s not only responsible for cells metabolism and renewal, but also has the ability to retain moisture, enhances skin hydration, leaves skin soft and supple.

Bone structures are another part of our body that consist large amount of collagen. About 80% of proteins containing materials in bones are collagen, representing 20% of total bone weight. Collagen in bones helps to retain calcium, reduces calcium loss, and enhances the elasticity of bone structures.

Currently, collagen is one of the most popular elements in plastic surgery, health supplements and skin care. It comes in the form of injection, oral preparation and topical application.

Persimmons

Last week I bought a box of persimmons as I love to eat them.
The last few had started to go soft.

My sister put the "about-to-rot" persimmons in the freezer as she noticed in Korea they have frozen persimmons for dessert. What turned out to be was very nice persimmon ice-cream frost-ball. It was very nice!





Persimmons contain significant concentrations of dietary fiber, minerals and phenolic compounds - all instrumental in fighting atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart disease, heart attacks and stroke.

Persimmons are also rich in sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and manganese.

According to Shela Gorinstein, Ph.D., a research associate with the department of medicinal chemistry in the School of Pharmacy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, eating one medium-sized persimmon (about 100 grams) a day is enough to help fight atherosclerosis.

Aloe Vera

Earlier I had a picture of my leg all cut up by thorns from doing a Hash run. Fortunately we have a lot of Aloe vera at home and I just apply aloe vera directly to the wound. IT HAS HEALED BEAUTIFULLY WITHOUT SCARS.

Aloe vera application can help in promoting tissue repair, decreased inflammation of the wound bed, self debridement, and minimizes any infection occurance.

Subway Sandwich

After working out in the gym on a Saturday morning I had a Subway Sandwich. I felt good for the rest of the day as the sandwiches are healthy and not oily.

Subway is a franchise fast food restaurant that primarily sells sandwiches and salads. It is owned by Doctor's Associates, Inc. (DAI), and has over 29,045 franchised units in 86 countries as of March 2008 and is the fastest growing franchise in the world. Currently, Subway is the third largest fast food chain globally after Yum! Brands (34,000 locations) and McDonald's (31,000 locations).

Dinner

Since last Thursday's Body Attack I had only did a 30 laps swim on Saturday (too busy). Today after work (9pm) I rushed to Body Attack to keep in shape (part of my job description). After that at 11pm I had my dinner at a food court. None of the foods are healthy but they are quite tasty.

I had grilled fish for dinner. 

Centre For Analytical Science (Singapore)

I went all the way to Singapore to send samples for testing and just got back. They have the most comprehensive centre and equipment, and recognized widely by other health authorities.

______________________________________________________________
Tests;

Food Components/Properties:

• Antioxidant (BHA, BHT, Gallates, TBHQ)
• Ash (total/water-soluble/acid-insoluble)
• Brix
• Caffeine
• Cholesterol
• Cocoa butter fat/ Non-cocoa butter vegetable fat
• Colour
• Crude fibre
• Ethanol
• Fat content
• Free glutamate acid/Monosodium glutamate
• Free invert sugar
• Melting point
• Moisture
• Nitrogen content/Protein
• Non volatile ether extract
• Original and specific gravity
• pH
• Reducing sugar
• Salt
• Starch
• Sucrose
• Theanine (in green tea)
• Total solids
• Trans fatty acids
• Volatile acidity
  

Food Contaminants:

• 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD)
• Acetaldehyde
• Acrylamide
• Benzene
• Benzo[a]pyrene
• Biphenyl
• Cyanide
• Ethyl carbamate
• Formaldehyde
• Malachite green & Leucomalachite green dyes in fish
• Metals (Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, V, Zn)
• Microcystins (RR, LR, LA, YR)
• Mineral hydrocarbon
• Nitrosamine
• Perchlorate
• Pesticides (organo-chlorine and organo-phosphorus)
• Polychlorinated biphenyls
• Semicarbazide

Mycotoxins:

• Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, M1 and M2
• Citrinin
• Deoxynivalenol (DON)
• Fumonisin B1 and B2
• Moniliformin
• Ochratoxin A
• Patulin
• Trichothecenes
• Zearalenone

Veterinary Drugs:

• Chloramphenicol
• Nitrofuran and metabolites
• Oxytetracycline
• Streptomycin
• Thiamphenicol
  

Food Additives:

• Artificial sweeteners (Acesulfame K, Alitame, Aspartame, Cyclamate, Neohesperidine, Saccharin, Stevioside and Rebaudioside, Sucralose)
• Coumarin
• Isosafrole and safrole
• Non-permitted colours
• Para Red and Sudan I, II, III, IV
• Potassium bromate
• Preservatives (Methyl, Ethyl, Propyl, Butyl parabens, Benzoic acid, Sorbic acid, Sulphur dioxide, Salicyclic acid, Sodium nitrate and nitrite, Propionic acid, Dehydroacetic acid)
• Synthetic organic colour
  

Oil Analysis:

• Acid value
• Anisidine value
• Cloud point
• Cold test
• Colour
• Epoxidised oil
• Erucic acid
• Free fatty acid
• Halphen test
• Insoluble impurities
• Iodine value
• Kerosene and diesel
• Kirschner value
• Peroxide value
• Polar compounds
• Polenske value
• Rancidity
• Refractive index
• Reichert value
• Saponification value
• Slip point
• Titre
• Trans fatty acid
• Unsaponifiable matter

Plastics/Foodware/Packaging:

• Base Material
• Bisphenol A
• Epoxidised Soya Bean Oil (ESBO)
• Leachable metals
• Migration of styrene
• Nonyl phenol
• Overall migration
• Plasticisers (Adipates, Phthalates, Dibutyl sebacate and Acetyl tributyl citrate)
• Styrene Monomer
• Vinyl chloride monomer

Alcohol:

• Alcoholic strength
• Butanol
• Chloroform
• Diethyl phthalate
• Ethyl acetate
• Iso-butanol
• Iso-propanol
• Methanol
• Propanol
• Tert-butanol
  

Others:

• Authenticity test for black moss
• Authenticity test for royal jelly (trans-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid)
• Irradiated food screen
• Star Anise (poisonous vs. non-poisonous)
  

Quality Checks:

• Histamine in fish
• Peroxide value
• Polar compounds in oil
• Total volatile nitrogen in fish
• Trimethylamine in fish
  

Drugs/Poisons:

• Common poisons screening
• Hormones and steroids
• Naphthalene

Nike Free

I bought a pair of Nike Free 4 trainers. Feel like running on barefeet and not much cushion when running on the treadmill but very good for Body Attack as there is more grip and pivot control.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nike Free is technology developed by Nike and incorporated into some of their atheletic shoes. Nike Free simulates barefoot running while wearing a shoe.

As this shoe allows the muscles in the foot to gain strength by providing less constriction, runners are advised to gradually break into the shoe rather than immediately running long distances as to prevent muscle cramps and other discomforts. This is especially true for amateurs, as Nike Free shoes do not provide as much cushion and shock absorption as the traditional running shoes.

In 2006 Nike released a new version of the shoe, the Nike Free V2, that addressed some of the durability issues in the earlier model. Among other changes, the heel and sidewalls of the shoe were redesigned to prevent tearing.

In 2007, Nike released a 3rd edition of the shoe, Nike Free V3, which is an update to the V2.

______________________________________________________________________

About the Nike scale

The Nike shoe scale goes from 10.0 to 1.0 with a '10' being a fully supportive shoe, and '0' being completely barefoot.

Example: The 5.0 Nike Free is like running halfway barefoot, the 3.0 is even less shoe, and the 7.0 is a bit more supportive.

Versions of the Nike Free

• Nike Men/Women Free 7.0 (running)
• Nike Men/Women Free 7.0 Trainer (cross training)
• Nike Men/Women Free 5.0 (running)
• Nike Men/Women Free Trainer 5.0 (cross training)
• Nike Men/Women Free Trail 5.0 (light trail running)
• Nike Men/Women Free 5.0 v2 (running)
• Nike Men/Women Free 5.0 v3 (running)
• Nike Men/Women Free Trainer 5.0 v2 (cross training)
• Nike Men/Women Free 4.0 (running)
• Nike Men/Women Free 4.0 Trainer (cross training)
• Nike Men/Women Free 3.0 (running)

Nike's numbering system is designed with a 10 being the average shoe and a 0 being barefoot.

LesMills Body Attack

I had not done Body Attack for a month as I have been super busy, but it was good to use Body Attack sessions to get back into fitness. I find all the swimming and running fine but it does not help push the body and raise fitness levels like Body Attack.

I would like to attend once a week but due to work and traveling commitments it is a luxury to find time to go even at night.

Benefits of Body Attack

• Burn calories for a leaner body
  
• Tone and shape
  
• Raise overall fitness and stamina for high energy spots like football or tennis
  
• Improve coordination and agility
  
• Enhance bone health and density
  
• Increase heart and lung capacity through a full-body cardio worout through a full-body cardio workout.
  

Glucosyn as a soft gel launched

My new office at Solaris Mont'Kiara (night view)

Hash House Harriers

I joined the Klang Hash for a 2 hour run in a jungle estate in Puchong. I am cut all over by the thorns - body, leg and hands.




Good to exercise but the slippery terrain and the dense jungle with thorns is not my cup of tea.

Are You Eating Right For Your Joint? Rheumathoid Arthritis - Omega 6 oils

Oils containing the omega-6 fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA), such as borage oil, black currant seed oil and evening primrose oil (EPO), have also been reported to be effective in the treatment of RA. The most pronounced effects were seen with borage oil.

GLA appears to be effective because it is converted in part to prostaglandin E1, a compound known to have anti-inflammatory activity. Supplementation with GLA often allows a patient to reduce their dosage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Furthermore, animal studies show that GLA protects the stomach lining against gastric acid, reducing the side effects of prescription and over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as aspirin. GLA is therefore useful in conjunction with conventional arthritis medications.