Saturday, February 25, 2012

Reasons to Sleep More

Reasons to Sleep More
We all know how a good night’s sleep makes us feel energetic, inducing a typically refreshed feeling.

However, there is a lot more to a good sleep beyond these very palpable advantages. Unless you are someone who sleeps throughout the day, it is recommended that you try to catch a few hours of extra sleep whenever possible. The following will help you understand why sleeping more is so beneficial for you:

1. Helps to Regulate Weight

Sleep deprivation is major reason of weight gain across people of all ages. Lack of sleep impairs our metabolic functions. It reduces the rate at which we burn calories. It also makes us feel hungrier. This creates a mechanism where our body is more likely to store carbohydrates and fats. Lack of sleep is known to induce hunger pangs. People who feel un-rested are more likely to feel irritated. They often seek solace in beverages with high-sugar content. The sugar spike makes them feel better for a short while and they often become addicted to this pattern.

Insufficient sleep also affects the hormonal functions. It triggers the release of cortisol—this is our basic stress hormone. When stress hormone levels are raised, we tend to suffer from hunger pangs and levels of Leptin hormone tend to decline. This is a natural appetite suppressant. Without sufficient Leptin, the level of Ghrelin hormone rises. This hormone has an appetite-stimulating effect. People suffering from a combination of these factors are prone to snacking throughout the day, drinking more caffeine or tea and binging upon sugary foods. Thus, their propensity to gain weight is a lot more.

2. Raises Your Mental Performance

Our mind needs to process information it has received in the form of visual, auditory and other stimuli. This is done during sleep. This is when the brain recuperates. This ensures that we are able to remember, recall and understand things. Even dreaming patterns are related to the thoughts buried in our sub-conscious. Thus, getting sufficient sleep is vital for our mind to function properly. It is widely acknowledged that people are at their creative best when they have a good sleep. Proper sleep ensures that we are more insightful and can understand things a lot faster.

3. Ensures Better Cardiovascular Health

Apart from the bulging waistline caused by lack of sleep, people suffering from sleep deprivation are known to suffer from hypertension—an established cause of cardiovascular diseases. Greater concentration of stress hormones are the underlying cause of many cardio problems. This includes arrhythmias or irregular heartbeat patterns. Sleep apnea or lack of sufficient oxygen during sleep has been linked with Type 2 Diabetes which is a major cause for heart diseases.

4. Raises Immunity

Quality of sleep and our overall immunity are directly related. This includes our ability to fight-off common infections like flu or common cold. Poor sleeping patterns tend to lower the synthesis of antibodies. Medical research has linked this with the increased risk of developing colon and breast cancer.

5. Improves Our Overall Quality of Life

Healthy sleeping patterns ensure that we are less prone to getting anxious or stressed. It helps us take upon day-to-day activities with more vigor. These are direct contributors towards feeling good throughout the day. With a calmer mind, more physical energy, mental clarity and less chances of falling ill, we feel much better. This helps to raise the libido levels too and impairs the progression of aging-related health issues. (Health, MensXP.com)

Ref:  http://sg.news.yahoo.com/reasons-sleep-121056984.html

The health benefits of antioxidants

The process in which oxygen combines with another material is called oxidation. For instance, unprotected iron will turn to rust when oxidized, fruits will turn brown, and butter will become rancid. A similar process occurs in the body causing it to degenerate and age, and as we get older more oxidation occurs in the body.
When our cells are exposed to free radicals, this process of oxidisation occurs. Therefore, our aging process depends on our ability to protect our cells from oxidation. However, this is no easy task; we are exposed to free radicals every day, introduced to the body from toxic chemicals that are either breathed in or absorbed through the skin.
The body’s oxidative reaction occurs due to the exposure to environmental toxins that are present in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the household products we use. And it is these ‘free radicals’ that contribute to the oxidative reactions in the body and cause tissues to damage and can also affect memory and mood, wrinkling of the skin, hardening of the arteries, stiffening joints — the list goes on.
Exposure to environmental toxins dramatically increases the level of free radicals in the body, sometimes beyond what our body can fight on its own. The human body is capable of handling and neutralising a certain amount, but when the system is overloaded the body’s normal ability to cope with them is compromised and become susceptible to premature aging and disease.

Free radicals can be found in the following:

  • Junk food
  • Refined foods, such as sugar and white flour
  • Processed foods (canned, frozen and ready made meals)
  • Colourings, preservatives and food additives
  • Chemotherapy or radiation exposure (X-rays, TV and computer monitors)
  • Drugs and medications
  • Coffee and tea
  • Hydrogenated and saturated fat (margarine and oils)
  • Fizzy drinks
  • Exposure to heat or cold
  • Household chemicals
  • Tap water
  • Cigarette smoke and alcohol

Natural antioxidants

Fortunately there are nutritional approaches to protect the body from free radical damage. Antioxidants are powerful nutrients that have shown to be efficient in minimizing the effects of free radicals. Antioxidants are nature’s free radical fighters and occur naturally in plant foods. Therefore, if we are not getting enough variety and quantity of antioxidants, these toxic chemicals will destroy cells leaving the body vulnerable to disease.
The body needs plenty of antioxidants to help destroy free radicals, to promote the growth of healthy cells and protect these cells against premature aging. Much of the damage can be repaired in a short amount of time by simply providing the brain and body with repeated doses of antioxidants. Eating fruits and vegetables at optimal ripeness and consuming them in less processed forms without removing their skins, provides quality antioxidants.
Organic produce is high in antioxidants as well as being rich in flavor and full in nutrients. It is worth remembering that no matter how healthy your lifestyle is, you will be exposed to free radicals. Therefore antioxidant-rich foods are a must to your everyday diet. To help protect your body, nature has provided us with a wide range of different antioxidants. They are found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and seeds, beans and many other natural foods. The more antioxidants the body gets, the better it is able to adapt to stress.
Antioxidants can be found in the following foods:
  • Whole and unrefined foods
  • Natural plants (fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, whole grains, beans, raw nuts and seeds)
  • Raw foods
  • Cold-pressed oils (olive, canola and flax)
  • Seaweeds
  • Sprouts
  • Free-range meat and eggs

Nutrients that reduce free radical damage

The best sources of antioxidants to fight free radicals are rich in vitamins C, E and vitamins B, flavonoid and beta-carotene. Below is a quick guide to foods that are high in these nutrients, and therefore packed with antioxidants:
  • Berries (cranberries, blackberries, blueberries) and citrus fruits are potent antioxidants that promote collagen and reduce wrinkles keeping the skin looking young.
  • Carrots and apricots protect the skin against sun’s ray damage.
  • Green leaves, vegetables, apples, oranges, cherries, beets, carrots, artichokes and strawberries are rich in the minerals copper, magnesium, and selenium; all needed for healthy hair, nails and bones.
  • Bee pollen, royal jelly and bee propolis are complete foods. These powerful antioxidants contain 22 amino acids and vitamins D, K and E, carbohydrates and proteins. A human body can survive on bee pollen alone. This is an energy booster and can help alleviate allergy symptoms.
  • Lycium fruits and liquorice flavonoids are high antioxidants which help counteract effect of chemotherapy and radiography (radiation).
  • Aloe Vera raw gel (cold-pressed only) contains an abundance of 75 minerals and vitamins including the rare B12 and 12 amino acids which help with digestive and skin disorders. Aloe Vera is a miracle plant and a natural healer.
  • Raw nuts and seeds, dark fish, seaweed and avocado are rich in EFA, omega-3, alpha- linoleic acid and selenium. These foods can influence against premature aging and enhance your memory.
  • Chestnuts, papayas, sprouts, squash, sweet potatoes, kiwi, broccoli, cabbage, spinach can help detoxify the liver.
European studies have found that high intake of flavonoid from vegetables and fruits are related to low heart disease and cancer.
Many of these foods improve the functioning of the immune system. When the body is healthy it can cope with free radicals as it has a mechanism into place to ensure their destruction. To achieve a healthy complexion eat plenty of raw food and drink lots of water. What goes into your body reflects your overall appearance!

Ref:  http://sg.news.yahoo.com/health-benefits-antioxidants-085852663.html

Healthy Diets: Must-eats for Men


While there are some foods that we must all eat, men and women have different dietary requirements — met by different foods. Here’s a list of foods that men must include in their diet. An mDhil story. 


Tomatoes

Tomatoes: This popular fruit has many benefits for men. Lycopene (a phytochemical) is known to lower cholesterol, cut risk of colorectal cancer and heart disease. Studies show that men who regularly eat food rich in lycopene have lesser chances of developing prostate cancer.

Brazil Nut

Brazil Nut: Snacking on nuts in general is good for the heart and skin. Brazil nuts, however, are particularly good for men as they have a high selenium content, which is known to enhance sperm health and motility. Selenium also helps reduce LDL or bad cholesterol and acts as mood enhancer.

Cabbage

Cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprout are some important veggies that every man must include in his diet. These veggies are known to contain cancer-fighting chemicals, which are known to cut risk of prostate and colorectal cancer in men. So add them in plenty in your daily diet.

Eggs

Eggs: If you’re prone to hair loss, then look no further. Eggs, an excellent source of protein and biotin (vitamin B7) boosts hair growth. Additionally, egg yolks are a good source of iron, which research suggests helps alleviate hair loss caused by anaemia.

Blueberries

Blueberries: Blueberries have been linked to reduced risk of prostate cancer, owing to high levels of proanthocyanidins (a subtype of flavonoids). The benefits of blueberries does not end there, research also suggests that this fruit can reduce risk of heart disease, age-related memory loss and type-2 diabetes — all of which – typically effect more men than women.

Pomegranate

Pomegranate: Packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and studies show that eating pomegranate regularly can help lower cholesterol, a problem common to many men. Many studies also suggest that drinking a glass of pomegranate juice daily ca slow down the progress of prostate cancer.

Garlic

Garlic: Garlic’s heart health boosting properties are well known, it helps lower cholesterol, reducing chances of blockage. Further, research findings published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute suggests that regularly eating garlic and onions cuts risk of prostate cancer. So include them in your diet today.

Salmon

Salmon: Salmon, a sea fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help treat the cause of many common health ailments in men. It not only helps reduce LDL or bad cholesterol, it also helps alleviate depression and cuts risk of prostate and colorectal cancer.

Whole wheat

Whole grains: Whole grains pack in a host of vitamins, minerals and fibre – good for both men and women. However, it’s the B vitamins that particularly benefit men. Vitamin B9 (folate) helps keep sperm healthy, vitamin B7 (biotin) helps reduce hair loss. Silica, also found in whole grains aids healthy hair growth.

Ref:  http://sg.news.yahoo.com/photos/healthy-diets-must-eats-for-men-slideshow/tomatoes-photo-1329729864.html

Friday, February 24, 2012

Symptoms Of Prediabetes


Your Weight
Being overweight is the most well known risk for developing diabetes. The more excess weight you carry increases the insulin resistance of cells, and that raises levels of blood glucose. What may be surprising is that unexplained weight loss can be just as big an indicator for diabetes. This can occur due to lack of glucose energy supplied to the body’s cells, and loss of calories related to glucose due to excessive urination.
Dehydration
Excess blood glucose draws water from the tissues of the body. This can cause dry and itchy skin that is prone to flaking or cracking, especially in the legs, feet and elbows. Fluids can also be drawn from the lenses of the eyes, blurring vision and making it more difficult to focus. Typically, people will feel thirsty a large amount of the time when they’re affected like this. This thirst is rarely ever quenched, which causes the person to drink more, and thusly urinate more.
Slowed Immune Response
A high level of blood glucose interferes with the body’s ability to heal itself and fight off infection. This can result in slow healing cuts, sores, or bruises and frequent infections. Because this healing ability is compromised, people who suffer from diabetes or pre-diabetes are more prone to poor oral health conditions as well. Symptoms such as gum inflammation with red, swollen, tender, and even bleeding gums can and often does occur.
Sleepiness After Eating
Within an hour of eating, your body converts food into glucose. In cases of diabetes or pre-diabetes the process is greatly exacerbated. Levels of blood glucose spike, and the body releases a large amount of insulin to attempt to regulate it. This surge is usually ineffective, and can cause drowsiness.

10 Easy Food Swaps Cut Cholesterol, Not Taste


10 Easy Food Swaps Cut Cholesterol, Not Taste
Want to cut cholesterol without cutting taste? Most people are afraid that “good for my cholesterol” means meals that are joyless (and tasteless). However, a low-cholesterol diet doesn’t have to be all oat bran and tofu.
Here are some simple substitutions that you can make to the food you already eat to help fight cholesterol painlessly.
Sprinkle walnuts, skip croutons
Carbohydrates can cause high levels of a type of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as bad cholesterol. For a healthier salad, replace your carbo-laden croutons with walnuts, which are high in polyunsaturated fat—a good fat that can lower LDL while boosting HDL (aka good cholesterol).
Try Cooking Light’s Pike Place Market Salad with walnuts.
Sip red wine, not cocktails
Research suggests that moderate alcohol intake can produce a slight rise in HDL cholesterol (a so-called good cholesterol). But that won’t do you much good if you’re tossing back margaritas or mixed drinks with fruit juice, which contain carbohydrates. Switch to red wine; it has about a tenth of the carbohydrates of a margarita, and you’ll also get antioxidants such as flavonoids that are believed to lower LDL and boost HDL. Given the risks of alcohol, however, the American Heart Association recommends that you limit your daily intake to two glasses (for men) or one glass (for women).
Yes to edamame and nuts, no to cheese and crackers
For a predinner snack, skip the crackers and cheese, which are sky-high in saturated fat—one of the prime culprits behind high cholesterol. Instead, put out some almonds, which have been shown to lower LDL, and edamame, the boiled baby soybeans that are a common appetite whetter in Japanese restaurants. Edamame is low in saturated fat and one cup contains about 25 grams of soy protein, which is thought to actively lower LDL (although the evidence is conflicting). Buy them frozen, dump them into boiling water, and drain after 5 minutes: That’s all there is to it.
Vinegar and lemon juice beats salad dressing
As everyone knows by now, drenching a salad in high-fat salad dressing is like smoking cigarettes while jogging: It totally defeats the purpose. A low-fat alternative—such as our shallot and grapefruit dressing—is a step in the right direction, but the best option for lower cholesterol is drizzling your salad with balsamic vinegar or lemon juice.
Ditch the butter for margarine spread
One tablespoon of butter contains more than 7 grams of saturated fat—that’s more than a third of the recommended daily value. It also contains 10% of your daily value for dietary cholesterol, which, though it isn’t as harmful as was once thought, is one of the main sources of high cholesterol (and atherosclerosis). Switch the butter with a vegetable-oil-based spread such as Smart Balance or Olivio (which also contains olive oil); you’ll be replacing a bad fat with a good fat. And instead of using butter to grease the pan while cooking, try olive oil or white wine vinegar.
Use ground turkey, not ground beef
Red meat is a source of both saturated fat and dietary cholesterol—two of the main sources of blood cholesterol. Ground turkey contains half the saturated fat of 85% lean ground beef, and it can be substituted easily for beef in most recipes.
For healthier versions of classic beef dishes, try our Turkey Bolognese or Turkey Meatloaf.
Chicken is OK, scallops are better
While they have less saturated fat than red meat, turkey and chicken aren’t entirely without cholesterol. One of the best strategies for reducing cholesterol through diet is eating more fish, which is very low in fat and contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Swap a chicken dish for a salmon dish (such as our Citrus Glazed Salmon), or try Pan Roasted Scallops With Sesame Sauce.
Quinoa is a tasty alternative to rice
“I’m keen, you’re keen, we’re all keen on quinoa!” People with high cholesterol will be singing this tune once they realize the benefits of quinoa (pronounced “KEEN-wah”), a South American seed that serves as a tasty and healthful stand-in for rice or couscous. One cup of cooked quinoa has 15% fewer carbohydrates and 60% more protein than a comparable amount of brown rice; it also has 25% more fiber, which can help lower blood cholesterol.
For a great substitute for a rice side-dish, try Toasted Quinoa With Chiles and Corn.
Munch on popcorn, not tortilla chips
Tortilla chips are often considered a healthy alternative to potato chips. They are certainly healthier, but an even better snack is homemade air-popped popcorn, which has 80% less saturated fat than tortilla chips and more than twice the fiber.
Skip the fatty sour cream, choose fat-free Greek yogurt
Whether it’s used as a garnish or in a sauce, sour cream adds a shot of saturated fat to otherwise heart-healthy meals. To cut out that excess fat without sacrificing taste or texture, swap the sour cream with no-fat Greek yogurt—one of the world’s healthiest foods. Just about any recipe that calls for sour cream can be made with Greek yogurt instead. Try our Tuna With Jalapeno Sour Cream.

HEALTHY JUICES


Here are some healthy tip for your smartness & physical fitness.
Prevention is better than cure.
Carrot + Ginger + Apple - Boost and cleanse our system. 

Apple + Cucumber + Celery – Prevent cancer, reduce cholesterol, and eliminate stomach upset and headache. 

Tomato + Carrot + Apple - Improve skin complexion and eliminate bad breath. 
Bitter gou rd + Apple + Milk – Avoid bad breath and reduce internal body heat. 
Orange + Ginger + Cucumber – Improve Skin texture and moisture and reduce body heat. 

Pineapple + Apple + Watermelon To dispel excess salts, nourishes the bladder and kidney.

Apple + Cucumber + Kiwi To improve skin complexion.

Pear & Banana – regulates sugar content. 
Carrot + Apple + Pear + Mango Clear body heat, counteracts toxicity, decreased blood pressure and fight oxidization ..

Honeydew + Grape + Watermelon + Milk – Rich in vitamin C + Vitamin B2 that increase cell activity and str engthen body immunity. 

Papaya + Pineapple + Milk - Rich in vitamin C, E, Iron. Improve skin complexion and metabolism. 

Banana + Pineapple + Milk - Rich in vitamin with nutritious and prevent constipation

Daily Health Tips

Health – Very Very Important Tips

Answer the phone by LEFT
 ear.
Do not drink coffee
 TWICE
 a day.
Do not take pills with 
COOL
 water.
Do not have
 
HUGE
 meals after 5pm.
Reduce the amount of 
OILY
 food you consume.
Drink more 
WATER
 in the morning, less at night.
Keep your distance from handphone
 
CHARGERS
.
Do not use headphones/earphone for LONG
 period of time.
Best sleeping time is from 
10pm at night to 6am
 in the morning.
Do not lie down immediately after taking 
medicine
 before sleeping.
When battery is down to the 
LAST grid/bar, do not answer the phone as the radiation is 1000 times.

Forward this to those whom you CARE about!

Cancer Update from John Hopkins


This was sent to me in an email recently.  Personally, I saw how my mother's health deteriorate after she was diagnosed with lung cancer and received professional treatment from the hospital in 1995.  She passed away in 1996 after 18 months of torturous radiotherapy treatment which did nothing good but every bad for her health.  Could she have lived a few more years longer if she had not taken the treatment?  Wish I had a better idea of what cancer was all about.

Subject : About Cancer AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY (TRY THE KEY WORD) AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHN HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY .
Cancer Update from John Hopkins :
1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.
2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime.
3. When the person’s immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.
4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.
5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
9 When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.
10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.
11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:
a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg’s aminos or sea salt.
b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk cancer cells are being starved.
c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.
d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains,seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment.. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts)and eat so! me raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).
12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestiv e enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.
13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body’s killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence,Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body’s own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.
15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells
CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHN HOPKINS HOSPITAL , U S – PLEASE READ
1. No plastic containers in micro.
2. No water bottles in freezer.
3. No plastic wrap in microwave.
Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well.
Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.
Don’t freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.
Recently, Dr.. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers.
This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.
Paper isn’t bad but you don’t know what is in the paper. It’s just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.
Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

Health Benefits of Drinking Coconut Water


My wife drinks one coconut a week during her pregnancy from the 7th month onward.  All our babies were born "clean".
Drinking coconut water has many benefits. Coconut Water is naturally
  • Low in Carbs
  • 99% Fat Free
  • Low in sugars
Coconut water contains organic compounds possessing healthy growth promoting properties that have been known to help
  1. Keep the body cool and at the proper temperature.
  2. Orally re-hydrate your body, it is an all natural isotonic beverage.
  3. Carry nutrients and oxygen to cells.
  4. Naturally replenish your body’s fluids after exercising.
  5. Raise your metabolism.
  6. Promote weight loss.
  7. Boost your immune system.
  8. Detoxify and fight viruses.
  9. Cleanse your digestive tract.
  10. Control diabetes.
  11. Aid your body in fighting viruses that cause the flu, herpes, and AIDS.
  12. Balance your PH and reduce risk of cancer.
  13. Treat kidney and urethral stones.
  14. Boost poor circulation.

Coconut Water Benefits

Coconut water is incredibly healthy and one of the best drinks to hydrate the body. Besides helping to remove toxins from the body and aiding digestion, coconuts have amazing anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties that help to cure the diesease.
The English name coconut, first mentioned in English print in 1555, comes from Spanish and Portugese word coco, which means “monkey face.” Spanish and Portugese explorers found a resemblance to a monkey’s face in the three round indented markings or “eyes” found at the base of the coconut. On the Nicobar Islands of the Indian Ocean, whole coconuts were used as currency for the purchace of goods until the early part of the twentieth century.
Coconuts are the fruit of the coconut palm, botanically known as cocos nucifera, with nucifera meaning “nut-bearing.” The fruit-bearing palms are native to Malaysia, Polynesia and southern Asia, and are now also prolific in South America, India , the Pacific Islands , Hawaii and Florida. The light, fibrous husk allowed it to easily drift on the oceans to other areas to propagate. In Sanskrit, the coconut palm is known as kalpa vriksha, meaning “tree which gives all that is necessary for living,” since nearly all parts of the tree can be used in some m anner or another. The coconut itself has many food uses, including milk, meat, sugar and oil as well as functioning as its own dish and cup. The husk was also burned for fuel by natives, but today a seed fibre called coir is taken from the husk and used to make brushes, mats, fishnets, and rope. A very potent fermented toddy or drink is also made from the coconut palm’s sap. Coconut oil, a saturated fat made from dried coconut meat, is used for commercial frying and in candies and margarines, as well as in non-edible products such as soaps and cosmetics.
Although it takes up to a year for coconuts to mature, the trees bloom up to thirteen times a year, so fruit is constantly forming yielding a continuous harvest year-round. An average harvest from one tree runs about 60 coconuts, with some trees yielding three times that amount. The coconut’s name is a bit of a misnomer, since it is botanically classified as a drupe and not a nut. It is the largest seed known.
If you’ve ever opened a fresh coconut, you will have seen the thin, opaque almost clear coconut juice or water which has a slight almond flavor. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the coconut milk. However, the water is consumed as a drink fresh from the coconut by many, and it can also be used in recipes.

Health Benefits of Coconut Water

“It’s a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It’s the fluid of life, so to speak.” In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water siphoned directly from the nut to give emergency plasma transfusions to wounded soldiers.
Most coconut water is still consumed fresh in tropical coastal areas – once exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, and begins to ferment.
  • Coconut Water is more nutritious than whole milk – Less fat and no cholesterol.
  • Coconut Water is more healthy than orange juice – Much lower calories.
  • Coconut Water is better than processed baby milk – It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother’s milk.
  • Coconut water is naturally sterile. Water permeates though the filtering husk.
  • Coconut water is a universal donor. It is identical to human blood plasma.
  • Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage – The same level that we have in our blood.
  • Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries thru Coconut IV.
  • “Coconut water is the very stuff of Nature, biologically Pure, full of Natural Sugars, Salts, and Vitamins to ward off fatigue and is the next wave of energy drinks BUT natural”, according to Mortin Satin, Chief of the United Nation’s Food & Agriculture Organization.
    • Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.
    • Coconut water has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200 mg.
    • Coconut water has 5mg of Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars.
    • Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg, compared to sports drinks at about 39mg.
    Data is based on a 100ml drink

    Tips for getting a good night’s in Singapore


    By Coach Jon
    Sleep is critical to health, happiness and productivity. I don’t think any health professional would disagree with that! However “go and sleep more” doesn’t really work well for many people.
    From our client records, I would say that about 75 percent of our fitness bootcamp and personal training clients start out at our health center with less than optimal sleep patterns.
    What is optimal? 7-9 hours straight with no interruptions, no waking up to pee, no trouble falling asleep (out within a couple of minutes of lying down) and waking up with high morning energy ready and excited to face the day. These are signs of good and restful sleep.
    If you are not getting great sleep, you increase the risk of developing all kinds of problems, including increased speed of aging, heart disease, inflammation, and cancer.
    Many important immune system, detoxification, and hormonal functions happen when we sleep. That would be the subject of an entire book so its out of the scope of this post to describe.
    But, certainly, if you are not detoxifying, not producing the right amounts of the right hormones and weakening your immune function, things do not look good for long-term health.
    So what can you do about it?
    The good news is that many of the things you can do to improve your sleep are cheap and effective. Here are some of the tips I give my clients to improve sleep without resorting to sleeping pills and other relaxant drugs with their negative effects.
    1. Get a pair of ear plugs and eye mask. We are designed to sleep in a quiet and dark environment. But in a city like Singapore, this is extremely unlikely unless you live in a bungalow with a large garden around it, off the main road, with quiet neighbors and dark curtains in your room. So the chances of that are slim to none. Get these simple and cheap sleeping aids.
    2. Get your sleep hygiene in order. Just like you clean your teeth and your body, you need to clean up your sleep for good health. Turn off the wi-fi router in your room. No laptops, no cell-phones, no TV, no lights. We all have a different tolerance to electromagnetic stress, but it certainly affects us negatively.
    “Oh but my cell phone is my alarm…” well get a $5 battery-operated alarm clock.
    3. Support your sleep nutritionally. The first and most important supplement is magnesium. Everybody is deficient in this mineral. It used to be in our foods, but with most of our foods produced with artificial fertilizers, it is no longer found there. Take up to 2g for men, and 1.2g for women. Make sure the magnesium is a good quality brand to avoid loose stools.
    4. Add melatonin. Many people use this as the no.1 option. But I don’t reccomend it. The reason is that it is looses effectiveness over time. So use it only when you really can’t sleep, or when you are recovering from jet lag.
    There are more customised options that we give to our personal training clients, but these steps should help many of you achieve better sleep and health.

    Kitchen Cures


    When we’re feeling sick, we look at the medicine cabinet to see what pills we can take. We should check out the pantry instead. Many everyday ingredients can treat different ailments and unlike drugs, they are inexpensive and with less side effects.
    1. Honey - Honey is good for cuts and scrapes. It has three powerful components: sugar for absorbing moisture so bacteria can’t survive, hydrogen peroxide to disinfect and propolis to kill bacteria. Plus, the honey dries to form a natural bandage. Just spread thickly over the infected area.
    2. Olive Oil - Olive oil is actually the basis of many skin moisturizers. For eczema, rub olive oil on the skin to keep it from drying out.
    3. Spicy dish - Good for a stuffy nose or congestion, spicy dishes loosen the mucus by making the eyes and nose run.
    4. Garlic - Garlic is antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and an antioxidant so it has many uses. Take garlic when you have a cold to fight the infection and boost the immune system. Mix together minced garlic, warm water and honey for taste. Leave the garlic in the mixture for a few minutes then swallow without chewing. Another way of taking it is by chewing raw garlic cloves with honey. Repeat every two to three hours. Garlic can also be used for athlete’s foot due to its antifungal nature. Simply rub a clove of raw garlic to the affected area.
    5. Baking Soda - Baking soda is used to remove odor so it makes weird sense that you use it for body odor as well. Sprinkling baking soda on your armpits and feet will reduce the moisture you produce.
    6. Chamomile Tea - Wrapping cold, wet tea bags in paper towels can help sooth itchy eyes from colds or hay fever. The tannic acid in tea reduces the itch. Chamomile tea can also be used for calluses. Soak your feet in a diluted chamomile tea bath to soften the hard skin.
    7. Ginger - Ginger has anti-sickness properties so it can help in nausea. Pregnant women can also relieve morning sickness by taking ginger biscuits.
    8. Turmeric - Turmeric is good for treating many skin ailments. It can be used to sooth acne, scrapes and sunburn. Mix several drops of water with ½ teaspoon of powdered turmeric to make a thin paste. Apply the mixture on the blemishes or sunburn and leave for an hour. Be sure to rinse after because turmeric stains.
    9. Rice Water - Bangladeshis have been using rice water as a treatment for diarrhea forever. The proteins in the rice help stabilize the bowel and it’s tastier than any medicine.
    10. Banana - Who knew that aside from being a yummy snack, bananas can be used for bug bites? All you have to do is eat the fruit and apply the banana peel fruit side down on the bite. Hold it there until the itching subsides.

    Monday, February 20, 2012

    Heart Attack & Water

    This was sent to me in an email and I do think that they are very useful information.  Just drinking water alone can actually solve many health issues.  If you can drink purified & energized water would be even better.

    This is the content of the email:

    Something I didn't know either! I asked my Doctor why do I and other people urinate so much at night time. Answer from my Cardiac Doctor = Gravity holds water in the lower part of your body when you are upright. When you lie down and the lower body (legs and other things) seeks level with the kidneys it is then that the kidneys remove the water because it is easier. This then ties in with the last statement!
    I knew you need your minimum water to help flush the toxins out of your body, but this was news to me.
    Correct time to drink water... Very Important. From A Cardiac Specialist!
     
    Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body:
    2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal organs
    1 glass of water30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion
    1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure
    1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack
     
    I can also add to this... My Physician told me that water at bed time will also help prevent night time leg cramps. Your leg muscles are seeking hydration when they cramp and wake you up with a Charlie Horse.
    心臟病發作和水 - 我從來不知道這個!!! 有趣的...... 心臟病發作與水
    我不知道的事!我問我的醫生,為什麼 我和其他人小便這麼多在夜間。 答:從我的心臟醫生=重力保存在你的身體下部的水時,你是 正直的。當你躺下,下身(腿和 其他東西),旨在與腎臟 的水平,然後是腎臟去除水中的,因為 它很容易。這就關係在最後陳 述! 我知道你需要你的最低水來幫助你的身 體沖洗出來的毒素,但我這是新 聞。 正確的時間喝水......非常重要的。從心臟專家!
    飲用水在一定的時間,最大限度地提高 其對身體 的成效:
    醒來後的水2
    幫助激活內部器官1 water30分鐘前一餐的玻璃
    幫助消化1水洗澡前的玻璃
    有助於降低血壓睡前一杯水
    避免中風或心臟病發作
    我也可以加入到本...我的醫生告訴我,水在床上的時間也將 有助於防止夜間腿抽筋。你的腿 部肌肉正在尋求水化時抽筋,並 喚醒你與查理馬。

    Spicy, Healthy, Delicious!

    Red, yellow, green, black, brown…a colour riot that exudes aroma. A mere pinch can take away your health woes while giving your food a flavour that is unparalleled. No wonder Indian spices are “smoking hot” all across the globe! A story by mDhil.

    saffron-jpg
    Saffron (kesar): This expensive, golden, thread-like spice is an effective anti-oxidant, possesses anti-ageing properties, is rich in vitamins and minerals, acts as an anti-depressant and is heart friendly. Saffron is a potent natural aphrodisiac too.
     
    Asafoetida (heeng, hing)

    Asafoetida (heeng, hing): This pungent, sharp and very strong spice has a taste and flavour so potent that even a pinch of it is enough to make all the difference in your cooking. Its medicinal usage is largely for its digestive properties. Heeng is added to foods that are considered gas-producing in nature. It helps in easy digestion and relieves colic in infants.


    cinnamon-jpg

    Cinnamon (dalchini): These are long, dark brown and dried sticks with a flavour that leans towards the sweet, as well as the mildly hot. It aids in digestion and is also known for its blood sugar and cholesterol lowering properties. Cinnamon tea is a great way to ward off nausea, flatulence and common cold.

    cardamom-jpg

    Cardamom (elaichi): The most aromatic of all Indian spices, our very own elaichi is consumed in two forms – green (choti elaichi) and black (badi elaichi) pods. Bad breath, loss of appetite, depression, indigestion, nausea; you name it, cardamom cures it. It is a great carminative (causing expulsion of gas), diuretic (causing urination), digestive, expectorant (helps bring up phlegm from lung etc) and stimulant. Besides providing health benefits, who can do away without a hot elaichi chai?

    cloves-jpg

    Cloves: These dried flower buds of the clove tree are considered one of the “hottest” among spices. They have antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Being a natural anesthetic, it is used as a remedy for toothache since ages.


    blackpepper-jpg

    Black pepper (kali mirch): This dried fruit is a digestive, stimulant, appetizer, expectorant and a great nervine tonic (it acts upon therapeutically upon the nerves). Most of us have used it as an effective home remedy for cough and cold.

    fenugreek-jpg

    Fenugreek (methi): Bitter in taste, methi seeds are of excellent medicinal virtue. They are a great blood purifier, laxative, help in maintaining metabolism, prevent constipation and act as an antidote for several skin problems. Methi paste, applied on the scalp, helps in nourishing and regenerating hair.

    turmeric-jpg

    Turmeric (haldi): This dried root is a natural anti-septic and anti-inflammatory, hence an effective home remedy for small cuts, wounds and arthritis. Turmeric is being researched widely for its anti-cancer properties. And many a lovely lady will swear by its contribution in giving that special glow to the skin.

    redchilli-jpg

    Red chilli powder (lal mirch): This super spicy chilli powder sure knows how to pack a punch – in terms of its fieriness, as well as health benefits. The powder is known to reduce LDL or bad cholesterol, and is also rich in antioxidants like vitamin A and flavonoids like beta-carotene. Fresh chillies are also a good source of vitamin C.

    sauf-jpg

    Fennel (saunf): These small green seeds are not only the heart of several dishes and pickles but are also eaten as a post meals as a mouth freshener. Fennel is carminative (gas/flatulence releasing) by nature. These seeds are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, iron, and fibre. Fennel is a known antispasmodic and is used to relieve colic, especially in infants and children.
    H_F-jpg

    For your health and fitness.

    Ref:  http://sg.news.yahoo.com/photos/spicy-healthy-delicious--1329299856-slideshow/