Healthy Notes

CRY YOUR HEART OUT

2009-06-01T12:19:00.000+08:00

There was a study done where a control group of 100 people were divided into two :

50 people watched a very funny, tears-of laughter type movie; and another 50 watched a very sad and tears of compassion type movie.

At the end of the sessions researchers collected the 'happy tears' and the 'sad tears' with eye droppers.

They found that 'happy tears' are made up of brine...salt water and not a great deal else.
However the 'sad tears' were found to contain the very same chemicals and enzymes that are found in tumors, ulcers and other such lumps and bumps and sicknesses through out the body.

This test concluded that the body, when crying in sadness etc is literally flushing out all of the toxic-chemicals that accumulate and are a part of the sadness /heartache experience.
Therefore if one holds back those tears, those toxic-waters will find somewhere else to deposit themselves... .and prolonged lack-of-crying-release will guarantee that the body will accumulate a huge amount of internal pollution and toxicity that should have been released through the tears........is it any wonder that the eyes sting so much when we hold back our tears?

LESSON FROM THE STUDY : CRY YOUR HEART OUT WHEN YOU ARE SAD, LONELY,
ALONE, DEPRESSED, ETC.....

IT IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH!

The Proven Healing Power of Touch

2007-07-28T01:19:00.000+08:00

Did you know that YOU have healing power, literally at your fingertips? The simple act of touching - not necessarily in a romantic manner - is so powerful that it can slow your heart rate, decrease your blood pressure, and strengthen your immune system!

Our culture is not very affectionate, and we are losing out on the benefits of regular physical interaction with others. The healing power of touch is so necessary for life that babies not touched regularly don't grow and develop normally, and children who are not lovingly touched enough are more likely to be violent as adults.

How Touching Helps

It's very common these days to live most of our lives in our heads. Are you experiencing the constant chatter of to-do lists, errands, worries, decisions and criticisms? You are not alone.

This mental chatter disconnects you from your body and depletes your energy. In fact, it is just another form of stress that over time pulls the energy from your body and keeps it stuck in your head.

When the time comes for rest and relaxation, you may find that your mind cannot stop. Even sleep can become more difficult, further depleting your energy.

Regular touch establishes your mind-body connection and has been proven to:

- Decrease anxiety

- Increase the number of white blood cells

- Lower blood pressure

- Increase endorphin levels (your feel-good hormones)

- Help you sleep better

Reach Out and Touch Someone!

Here are some easy ways to incorporate healing touch into your daily routine:

- Offer to give a friend a back rub - then switch.

- Borrow a custom from Europe and kiss people hello. If that is too intimate, give hugs instead.

- Pat people on the back or arm as gentle reassurance.

- Schedule regular therapeutic full-body massage. Something is better than nothing, so even 15 or 30 minutes makes a difference.

- Get foot massages or foot reflexology - these forms of healing touch allow your energy to move from your head into your abdomen, which is your "energy powerhouse."

- Don't be afraid to ask for a hug - your body and your mind both need it!

Solar Touch

You probably know that the sun's rays are therapeutic. Why else would we vacation in warm, sunny climates? You may also know that decreased sunlight is linked to seasonal depression, especially in the winter months.

While we've recently become more and more fearful of the sun's rays, safe exposure to sunlight is actually very beneficial. It provides a healing touch that affects the chemistry of your brain and the functioning of your body. Especially in winter, make sure you expose at least 80% of your bare body to 30 minutes of sunlight regularly so that you benefit from the sun's healing power. If your immune system is compromised this may mean that you schedule a vacation in the sun each winter. Sunlight is an important healing tool and it is free. Of course, the vacation might not be.

A Commitment to Physical Touch

This year, make a commitment (to yourself and those around you) to touch more. From a kiss on the cheek to a quick massage, small changes can yield big health dividends. So take your health into your own hands and feel the power of healing touch.

You may find your relationships and your health flourishing!

Holding hands can be beneficial for your body AND your relationships.

Source: BodyEcology.com

7 Key Healthy Eating Principles

2007-07-25T00:28:00.000+08:00

Energy, vitality and longevity can be achieved at any age, and with the 7 Healing Principles which restore our body health and change our life!. We know that the stress of modern living, the Standard American Diet (SAD) of processed foods and too much sugar, and an over-dependence on drugs and antibiotics can weaken our immunity, pave the road for early aging and cause diseases like cancer because health begins in the digestive system.

Beneficial bacteria (also known as microflora) digest the foods we are eating. A lifestyle that includes stress and poor eating habits kills the beneficial microscopic "good guys" that keep us healthy, setting the stage for disease. Very often the stress and the junk foods cause digestive upset, and resulted with digestive pain, bloating and/or fatigue after eating the heavy meals. Therefore, fermented foods and drinks are required to re-populate our digestive system with the beneficial bacteria needed to digest food, assimilate nutrients, and enhance immunity.

The 7 Healing Principles

1. The Principle of Balance

The Principle of Balance is based on the concept of yin and yang, the opposing energy forces from ancient Chinese and Japanese traditions. Everything in the world has some properties of yin and yang, but in varying proportions.

Yin energy is light, expansive, wet, soft, cold and more vegetal. Yang energy is heavy, contracting, dry, hard, hot and more animal. Body Ecology uses the terms expansion and contraction to explain the yin and yang energy of the food we eat.

Some foods, like sugar and alcohol, are examples of food that is way too expansive for our body. Our blood stream quickly absorbs sugar and produces energy, making us feel temporarily open and relaxed yet these foods are damaging because they are not balanced.

Other foods, like excessive and poor-quality salt and animal products, are more contracting and cause our cells to contract and lose fluids, making us feel tight and constricted.

Our body is always seeking balance. If we eat too much salt, our body becomes too contractive and we will quickly find ourself craving something sweet. Notice this the next time we go to see a movie. While they may not fully understand this concept, the movie theaters are well aware that both soda pop (sweet and expansive) and popcorn (salty and contracting) are ever-popular combinations for concession sales.

Without understanding this principle, we may unknowingly create imbalance in a vicious cycle of cravings.

2. The Principle of Acid and Alkaline

To maintain health, our blood must be slightly alkaline. The foods we eat and the lifestyle choices we make impact our body's ability to maintain that alkaline state.

Foods can be alkaline, acidic or neutral in our body. Our goal would be to have a balance of alkaline and acidic foods so that you can maintain the alkaline state of our blood. If we get out of balance and your blood becomes too acidic, you become more susceptible to illness and disease.

At the same time, lifestyle choices like stress, taking prescription drugs and not getting enough sleep can create acidic blood. Paying attention to a balanced lifestyle is also key to our health and longevity.

3. The Principle of Uniqueness

As humans, we share so many similarities with one another, but our body is unique. Each of us is an experiment of one and for that reason, we may need to modify certain elements of any diet or lifestyle to suit our own individuality.

While restoring balance in our body, any time we try a new way of eating, it's vital to observe our body's reactions and assess whether this new path is bringing us back toward balance.

4. The Principle of Cleansing

Did you know that our body cleanses every day? Through elimination, urine, tears, and sweat, our body rids itself of toxins that would otherwise build up and could lead to sickness and disease. Fevers, colds and skin eruptions are actually a natural part of the cleansing process and shouldn't be suppressed. Cleansing allows our body to restore balance and occurs when imbalance is too great and threatens life.

As we start on certain fiber cleansing diet, we will experience the symptoms of cleansing, and might feel worse than we usually feel. It's our body's way of getting rid of the bad and making room for the good. After all, we cannot heal our current condition without cleansing.

5. The Principle of Food Combining

By combining certain foods when we eat can either help or hinder our digestion. If we combine the wrong foods, our body will actually secrete enzymes that cancel each other out!

This leads to slowed or impaired digestion, causing food to ferment in our stomach or toxins to be released in our intestines. These conditions make our body more attractive to pathogens. This is a highly useful principle to improve our health and weight, and often one of the most misunderstood.

6. The Principle of 80/20

This principle has two concepts that aid our digestion:

- Quantity: Overeating severely weakens our digestive system. Give our stomach room to digest our food by only filling our stomach to 80% of capacity and leaving 20% empty to help our body digest.

- Balance of Nutrients: 80% of every meal should be land and ocean vegetables. The other 20% should be either a protein OR a grain.

7. The Principle of Step-by-Step

Just as it takes time to get out of balance, it also takes time to rebuild our health progressively. We cannot expect instant healing, but making small, consistent changes gives our body the foundation it needs to support optimal, long-term health.

Starting any new lifestyle is about creating new habits. It takes time and effort, which can sometimes feel hard.

The key is to take everything step-by-step. Incorporate one healing principle (or even one element of a healing principle) at a time so that you don't feel overwhelmed. Take care of yourself by going at the pace that feels right to you.

Source: BodyEcology.com

Inflammation: The Real Cause of All Disease and How to Reduce and Prevent It

2007-07-07T07:07:00.000+08:00

Did you know that inflammation is the common link between such debilitating conditions as Alzheimers, heart disease, cancer, and arthritis?

Did you know inflammation is thought to be the culprit behind the visible signs of aging?

Inflammation is a wellness buzz-word these days, and for good reason. If you reduce inflammation in your body, you'll not only look and feel younger, but you'll significantly lower your risk for chronic disease!

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is your body's response to stress - whether from your diet, lifestyle or environment. Think of what happens when you catch a cold. You may experience inflammation in the form of a fever as your body heats up to eradicate the effects of the invading virus.

This kind of inflammation is good, but the modern epidemic of chronic, low-grade inflammation destroys the balance in your body. When your body's systems experience a constant inflammatory response, you become more susceptible to aging and disease.

What Causes Inflammation?

Body Ecology believes that one of the main causes of inflammation is low-grade bacterial, viral, and fungal infections in the bloodstream and organs like the stomach and gastro-intestinal tract.

For example, H pylori is a bacteria in the stomach that contributes to inflammation and the development of ulcers. H pylori is present in 50% of adults over 60 years old and in 20% of adults under the age of 40!

As you can see, inflammation is quite common and caused by more than just pathogenic organisms.

Other causes of inflammation include:

- Chronic low-grade food allergies or food sensitivities that may cause few symptoms.

- An imbalance of bacteria and fungi in your gastrointestinal tract, also known as dysbiosis. This causes your immune system to overreact to bacteria in your gut and can be without notable symptoms.

- Stress! Constant psychological, emotional or physical stress raises the level of cortisol, creating inflammation. [For more on the effects of stress on your body, read "How Stress Creates A Double-Whammy Threat to Your Health"]

- Environmental toxicity from our air, water, food pollutants and toxic metals like mercury and lead all contribute to inflammation and have been linked to diseases as varied as endometriosis and cancer.

- Diet and lifestyle: too much fat, sugar, and protein in your diet, constant dehydration, consumption of too many sodas or caffeine, inactivity, and lack of sleep can all increase inflammation in your body

The Lasting Effects of Inflammation

Symptoms of inflammation include:

- Visible signs of aging like wrinkles.

- Susceptibility to bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.

- Acid reflux

- Cancer

- Skin conditions like psoriasis and acne.

- Arthritis

- Bronchitis

- Chronic pain

- Diabetes

- High blood pressure

- Osteoporosis

- Heart disease

- Candidiasis

- Urinary tract infections

How to Reduce Inflammation

- To restore our body's balance, just going "back to basics" with both diet and lifestyle, which eliminating viral and fungal infections, increasing our mineral intake, eliminating sugar and balancing all of our nutrients in a way that supports health and vitality.

- Following the 7 Key Healthy Eating Principles to heal our body of inflammation, reduce the damaging effects of aging and giving you plenty of energy.

- Reduce stress - which is easier said than done. [Read this article on "The Healing Power of Touch"]

- Get adequate quality sleep. [For more information read "Trouble Sleeping? Why Winter is the Ideal Time to Learn How to Sleep Right!"]

- Soak up the Sun - Vitamin D, available from sunlight, is an easy way to effectively stop inflammation.

Source: BodyEcology.com

You can't be a meat eating environmentalist

2007-06-28T10:16:00.000+08:00

UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said "Liverstock are one of the most significant contributors to today's most serious environmental problems," "Urgent action is required to remedy the situation."

In the FAO report, "Cattle-rearing is also a major source of land and water degradation"

"With increased prosperity people are consuming more meat and dairy products every year"

The global livestock sector is growing faster than any other agricultural sub-sector.

Livestock now use 30% of the Earth's land surface.

33 per cent of the global arable land is used to producing feed for livestock

As forests are cleared to create new pastures, it is a major driver of deforeststion, especially in Latin America where, for example, some 70 per cent of former forests in the Amazon have been turned over to grazing.

"Herds cause wide-scale land degradation with about 20% of pastures considered degraded through overgrazing, compaction and erosion." the report said.

This figure is even higher in the drylands.

The livestock business is among the most damaging sectors to the earth's increasingly scarce water resources, contributing among other things to water pollution from animal wastes, antibiotics and hormones, chemicals from tanneries, fertilizers and the pesticides used to spray feed crops.

The Union of Concerned Scientists and many leading environmental organisations have recognized that raising animals for food demages the environment more than just about anything else that we do.

In 2004-2005, all the wild animals and trees in more than 2.9 million acres of rainforest were destroyed in order to grow crops that are used to feed chickens and other animals in factory farms.

In a 2006 UN report, the livestock sector caused more greenhouse gases worldwide than the entire transportation sector. Nitrous oxide is about 300 times more potent as a global warming gas than carbon dioxide.

UN report cont'd "The meat, dairy and egg industries account for a staggering 65 percent of worldwide nitrous oxide emissions.

The Environmental Protection Agency says the run-off from factory farms pollutes our waterways more than all other industrial sources combined.

According to the UN report Chicken, hog, and cattle excrement have polluted 35,000 of rivers in 22 US states and contaiminated groundwater in 17 states.

It takes 16 pounds of grain and 2,500 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat. One average meat eater could consume that pound of meat during a meal, while 16 people could have been fed on the grain it takes to produce the pound of meat.

Animals raised for food produce 130 times more excrement than the entire human population - 86,000 lbs per second. Hence the meat industry causes more water polution than all other industries combined.

90% of all corn and 80% of all grains and beans grown in the US are used to feed livestock animals. 75 percent of U.S. topsoil has been lost to date. 85 percent of that is due to livestock rearing.

The livestock population of the US consumes enough grain and soybeans to feed more that 5 times its human population.

Every 2 seconds, a child starves to death somewhere in the world. Countries such as Ethiopia and some Central American countries use their garmland to supply the US with cheap burgers instead of growing healthful grain foods for their own starving people.

Fortunately there is something we can do - switch to a plant-based diet.

Excerpts from 2006 United Nations Report & WoodstockFAS.org

FAO Newsroom: Livestock a major threat to environment - Remedies urgently needed

FAO Spotlight / 2006 - Livestock impacts on the environment

UN News Center Report: Rearing cattle produces more greenhouse gases than driving cars

UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report

Livestock - One of Major Contributors to Environmental Problems

Meat is murder on the environment

European Vegetarian and Animal News Agency (EVANA)

LobsA

You can't be a meat eating environmentalist - YouTube Video

Drink Water Empty Stomach

2007-06-26T13:28:00.000+08:00

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers.

For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses, the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a hundred percent cure for the following diseases:

Headache
Body-ache
Heart system
Arthritis
Fast heartbeat
Epilepsy
Excess
Fatness
Bronchitis
Asthma
TB
Meningitis
Kidney and Urine diseases
Vomiting gastritis
Diarrhoea
Piles
Diabetes
Constipation
All eye diseases
Womb cancer
Menstrual disorders
Ear nose
Throat diseases

Method of Treatment:
1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink four glasses of water each of 160ml.

2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes.

3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.

4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for two hours.

5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink four glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to four glasses per day.

6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure main diseases:
1. High Blood Pressure: 30 days
2. Gastric: 10 days
3. Diabetes: 30 days
4. Constipation: 10 days
5. Cancer: 180 days
6. TB: 90 days

Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment for only 3 days in the first week to be followed by daily treatment.

This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.

Good Health to you...

Healing effect of Okra (Lady's Finger)

2007-06-24T15:39:00.000+08:00

Okra, also known as lady's finger, fruit of a vegetable plant. Its scientific name is Abelmoschus esculentus.

Someone has been suffering from constipation for the past 20 years and recently from acid reflux. He didn't realize that the treatment could be so simple -- OKRA! (or Lady's Finger).

He started eating okra within the last 2 months and since then have never taken medication again. All he did was consume 6 pieces of OKRA everyday.

He's now regular and his blood sugar has dropped from 135 to 98, with his cholesterol and acid reflux also under control.

Here are some facts on okra (from the research of Ms. Sylvia Zook, Ph.D in nutrition, University of Illinois).

"Okra is a powerhouse of valuable nutrients, nearly half of which is soluble fiber in the form of gums and pectins. Soluble fiber helps to lower serum cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease. The other half is insoluble fiber which helps to keep the intestinal tract healthy,decreasing the risk of some forms of cancer, especially colo-rectal cancer.

Nearly 10% of the recommended levels of vitamin B6 and folic acid is also present in a half cup of cooked okra. Okra is a rich source of many nutrients, including fiber, vitamin B6 and folic acid. He got the following numbers from the University of Illinois Extension Okra Page.

Please check there for more details.

Okra Nutrition (half-cup cooked okra)

* Calories = 25
* Dietary Fiber = 2 grams
* Protein = 1.5 grams
* Carbohydrates = 5.8 grams
* Vitamin A = 460 IU
* Vitamin C = 13 mg
* Folic acid = 36.5 micrograms
* Calcium = 50 mg
* Iron = 0.4 mg
* Potassium = 256 mg
* Magnesium = 46 mg

These numbers should be used as a guideline only, and if you are on a medically-restricted diet please consult your physician and/or dietician. Ms Sylvia W. Zook, Ph.D. (nutritionist) has very kindly provided the following thought-provoking comments on the many benefits of this versatile vegetable They are well worth reading

1. The superior fiber found in okra helps to stabilize blood sugar as it curbs the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract.

2. Okra's mucilage not only binds cholesterol but bile acid carrying toxins dumped into it by the filtering liver. But it doesn't stop there...

3. Many alternative health practitioners believe all diseases begin in the colon.

The okra fiber, absorbing water and ensuring bulk in stools, helps prevent constipation.

Fiber in general is helpful for this but okra is one of the best, along with ground flax seed and psyllium.

Unlike harsh wheat bran, which can irritate or injure the intestinal tract, okra's mucilage soothes, and okra facilitates elimination more comfortably by its slippery characteristic many people abhor. In other words,this incredibly valuable vegetable not only binds excess cholesterol and toxins (in bile acids) which cause numerous health problems, if not evacuated, but also assures their easy passage from
the the body.

The veggie is completely non-toxic, non-habit forming (except for the many who greatly enjoy eating it), has no adverse side effects, is full of nutrients, and is economically within reach of most.

4. Further contributing to the health of the intestinal tract, okra fiber(as well as flax and psyllium) has no equal among fibers for feeding the good bacteria (probiotics).

5. To retain most of okra's nutrients and self-digesting enzymes, it should be cooked as little as possible, e.g. with low heat or lightly steamed. Some eat it raw.

A Secret of Anti-Aging (Part 2)

2007-05-31T13:02:00.000+08:00

... continued from Part 1

Foods which can help regeneration and anti-aging include

- RAW nuts, seeds, soaked and sprouted grains
- Almonds, especially if they have been soaked in water for 24 hours ('sprouted')
- Fruit and vegetables especially sprouts
- Green leafy vegetables
- Lentils - learn Indian cooking to make them interesting
- Beans that have been soaked for 8 hours. (That is, 'sprouted'. This makes them alkaline)
- Brown rice that has been soaked for 22 hours. This makes it alkaline
- Organic Cottage cheese and yogurt. They are alkalline. The bacteria has changed the original milk.
- GOJI JUICE - Possibly the best anti-aging substance in the world.
- Super Food
- Seeds
- Bee Pollen (not for everyone-some are allergic to pollen from some areas)
- Kambucha
- Celtic sea salt
- Spirulina
- Seaweed
- Wheatgrass juice
- Barley greens
- Aloe vera
- Antioxidants (eg vitamin C, vitamin E, pycnogenols, coenzyme Q10)
- Olive oil
- Evening primrose oil
- MSM (organic sulphur)
- Foods with omega 3 fatty acids (eg flaxseed oil) and
- Foods with omega 4 & 5 fatty acids (eg evening primrose and fish oil).
- Gentle sunlight (vitamin D)
- Gentle exercise.
- A good night's sleep every night, average at least eight hours every day. Lack of sleep is CUMULATIVE.
- And most importantly of all: Fulvic Liquid Minerals!!!!

In addition, frequent drinks of good water is crucial. We believe the best water is water that has been filtered by reverse osmosis. Next best would be spring water. Tap water is not as good because of the chlorine and the fluoride (although it is better than nothing). Distilled water is not as good for you - its energy has been altered. In Europe distilled water is labelled "not for human consumption". Mineral water is not as good because the minerals are not in a form your body likes. Water that comes from the top of mountains is no good because, according to genius Victor Schauberger, it is lacking in oxygen. Many people's health problems and anti-aging would improve if they would just drink more good water!

Nutritionists like to divide food into a number of different groups. I suggest that you think about dividing food up into two food groups. One group produces acids when it is digested. The other group produces alkalies when it is digested. Our bodies are constantly producing waste products, much the same as the exhaust coming from the back of your car. Waste products are acidic. They are called toxins. Toxins cause tiredness, pain and aging. Therefore, if you want more energy and less pain and anti-aging, you need to eat less acid-producing food.

Foods that produce acids are carbohydrates and proteins. 'Foods' such as tea, coffee, softdrinks, sugar, flavourings, artificial sweetener and preserved meats are even more acidic i.e. toxic. And pollutants (such as heavy metals) and pesticides are even worse.

To neutralise an acid you need an alkali. The main foods that produce alkalis are fruit and vegetables, particularly leafy, green vegetables, such as sprouts, parsley and cabbage. That is why people should eat LOTS of fruit and especially vegetables, for anti-aging. Raw is best. And steamed is much, much better than boiled (as it retains the vitamins and minerals). Also organic cottage cheese and yogurt.

Once you begin to understand this, it is easy to see why so many people are suffering from health problems. Have a look at what people put into their shopping carts next time you are at the supermarket. (Lots of white bread, soft drinks and preserved meats). And have a look at what people have on their plate next time you are in a restaurant. Lots of carbohydrate and protein, and very few vegetables, except maybe for some lettuce.

This is not to say that we don't need protein and complex carbohydrates. We do. The key is BALANCE. We need to balance the acid-producing foods we eat with much more alkali-producing foods, especially if we suffer from symptoms such as tiredness, pain, illness, gas and skin problems.

The other thing to bear in mind is that the body has hundreds of different chemical reactions going on, for which it needs at least NINETY different things, including vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. Therefore, people need more variety in their diet, to ensure that they get everything their body needs, for effective anti-aging.

Excellent article on the dangers of meat and soy

See "The Worlds' Best Health Books"

See Vital Nutrition Plus - "Super Food"

By Stephanie Relfe B.Sc. (Syd.), Kinesiologist

A Secret of Anti-Aging (Part 1)

2007-05-23T12:49:00.000+08:00

By Stephanie Relfe B.Sc. (Syd.), Kinesiologist

Anti aging is possible. The body is designed to heal and repair itself with the aid of proper nutrition. The body requires two vital materials to complete this - energy and raw material. These two requirements are needed to maintain the cell's proper functions. The body is made up of cells and all cells are living. All living things need food. Each cell needs the proper food to keep it strong. Cells die and replace themselves at various intervals. To understand antin-aging, understand that when a cell replaces itself it has three options that it can replace itself with:

1. A cell may replace itself with a weaker cell each time. A cell will do this if it hasn't had the right nutritional foods available to it. This process is called degeneration.

2. A cell can replace itself with the same strength cell. This means the body doesn't improve. That is, you have a chronic condition.

3. The cell is capable of replacing itself with a stronger and better cell. This will happen only if the cell has an abundance of energy and the right raw materials. This process is called regeneration. It is anti-aging.

Many of the foods that we have been told are good for us in actual fact may cause degeneration. This can be shown by muscle testing. Your kinesiologist can supply you with information on which foods to avoid to stop degeneration, and which foods to buy to aid regeneration and anti-aging.

Foods which usually cause degeneration and aging are:

- High levels of carbohydrate
- Sugar
- Milk (especially homogenized milk) and cheese
- Caffeine - Including Tea, Coffee, chocolate , cola, chuppa chups
- Chocolate (it contains dangerous levels of lead!)
- Cigarettes
- White flour
- Microwaved food
- Chemicals such as flouride (which is a rat poison)
- Artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame / nutrasweet)
- Alcohol
- Processed foods
- Artificial Colorings (as in Gatorade)
- Additives
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Preserved meat
- Moderate to high levels of meat
- Meat from animals on unnatural diets (eg pork)
- Margarine
- Vegetable oil
- Canola oil
- Cotton seed oil
- Olestra
- Hydrogenated oils
- Oil that is not cold pressed / expeller pressed (use olive oil, butter or ghee)
- Deep fried foods
- Chips / French fries
- Puffed grains
- Soy products other than soy sauce, miso and tofu (eg soy milk & soy oil)
- Meat and eggs raised by 'normal' methods which have many toxins and hormones.
- Seafood which are garbage eaters (eg oysters)
- Foods with high levels of mercury. This includes most fish, such as tuna.
- Genetically Modified Food (GMOs). At present this is about 50% of all soy and corn. Even organic soy and corn can have GMOs in it unless otherwise stated.

A MAJOR cause of aging is heavy metals. Virtually all of us suffer from heavy metal toxicity. Click here to find out more, and how chelation can help.

to be continued...

12 Points on Enzymes

2007-05-22T12:43:00.000+08:00

Compiled by Dr. John Whitman Ray, N.D., Ph.D.

1) Enzymes rule over all other nutrients. Enzymes are responsible for nearly every facet of life and health and far outweigh the importance of every other nutrient.

2) Enzymes are needed to help control all mental and physical functions. Each body cell has in excess of 100,000 enzyme particles necessary for metabolic processes.

3) Enzymes cannot function properly without the presence of other substances which are known as coenzymes. Coenzymes are minerals, vitamins and proteins.

4) Once enzymes have completed their appointed task, they are destroyed. For life to continue, you must have a constant enzyme supply which requires continued replacement of enzymes.

5) Enzymes are found in all living cells including raw foods or those that are cooked at a temperature lower than 116 de/grees Fahrenheit. Enzymes begin to perish when the temperature increases beyond 116 degrees. The degree of enzyme destruction is a function of time and temperature.

6) Enzymes are primarily proteins, yet enzymes need amino acids for normal function. Hormones are primarily proteins which require interaction with enzymes to regulate bodily processes.

7) Enzymes aid in transforming proteins into amino acids. Protein does not perform its function unless broken down into amino acids. Amino Acids can be considered as an enzyme carrier whose function is to transport enzymes to various functions in the body.

8) Enzymes help extract minerals from food. Enzymes transform minerals into an alkaline detoxifying agent which combines with acid cellular wastes and toxic settlements within the body, thus neutralizing them and preparing them for elimination.

9) Enzymes use minerals to create an even balance of dissolved solids both inside and outside the cells, thus equalizing both internal and external pressures which we call osmotic equilibrium.

10) Vitamins are required as coenzymes to work with enzymes in every chemical reaction in every cell of the body. Without minerals extracted from food by enzymes, vitamins would be unable to perform their function.

11) An Enzyme deficiency must be carefully considered as a possible precursor of bodily imbalance and consequent disease symptoms.

12) Enzymes are, therefore, justified as a supplemental dietary substance which need is parallel with mineral, vitamin and all other supportive therapies.

From "Body Electronics Fundamentals" by Douglas Morrison .

世卫组织评选的最健康与最垃圾食品

2007-04-13T10:03:00.000+08:00

不久前，世界卫生组织公布了一份经过约3年时间研究得出的最佳食品榜，揭开谜底。

最佳蔬菜：由于红薯既含丰富的维生素，又是抗癌能手，所以被选为所有蔬菜之首。其次分别是芦笋、卷心菜、花椰菜、芹菜、茄子、甜菜、胡萝卜、荠菜、苤兰菜、金针菇、雪里红、大白菜。

最佳水果：10份最佳水果的排名依次是，木瓜、草莓、橘子、柑子、猕猴桃、芒果、杏、柿子与西瓜。

最佳肉食：鹅鸭肉化学结构接近橄榄油，有益于心脏。鸡肉则被称为“蛋白质的最佳来源”。

最佳食油：玉米油、米糠油、芝麻油等尤佳，植物油与动物油按1比0.5至1的比例调配食用更好。

最佳汤食：鸡汤最优，特别是母鸡汤还有防治感冒、支气管炎的作用，尤其适于冬春季饮用。

最佳护脑食物：菠菜、韭菜、南瓜、葱、花椰菜、菜椒、豌豆、番茄、胡萝卜、小青菜、蒜苗、芹菜等蔬菜，核桃、花生、开心果、腰果、松子、杏仁、大豆等壳类食物以及糙米饭、猪肝等。

全球十大垃圾食物

一、油炸类食品
1、导致心血管疾病元凶( 油炸淀粉)
2、含致癌物质
3、破坏维生素，使蛋白质变性

二、腌制类食品
1、导致高血压，肾负担过重，导致鼻咽癌
2、影响粘膜系统（对肠胃有害）
3、易得溃疡和发炎

三、加工类肉食品（肉干、肉松、香肠等）
1、含三大致癌物质之一：亚硝酸盐（防腐和显色作用）
2、含大量防腐剂（加重肝脏负担）

四、饼干类食品（不含低温烘烤和全麦饼干）
1、食用香精和色素过多（对肝脏功能造成负担）
2、严重破坏维生素
3、热量过多、营养成分低

五、汽水可乐类食品
1，含磷酸、碳酸，会带走体内大量的钙
2、含糖量过高，喝后有饱胀感，影响正餐

六、方便类食品（主要指方便面和膨化食品）
1、盐分过高，含防腐剂、香精（损肝）
2、只有热量，没有营养

七、罐头类食品（包括鱼肉类和水果类）
1、破坏维生素，使蛋白质变性
2、热量过多，营养成分低

八、话梅蜜饯类食品（果脯）
1、含三大致癌物质之一：亚硝酸盐（防腐和显色作用）
2、盐分过高，含防腐剂、香精（损肝）

九、冷冻甜品类食品（冰淇淋、冰棒和各种雪糕）
1、含奶油极易引起肥胖
2、含糖量过高影响正餐

十、烧烤类食品
1、含大量“三苯四丙吡”（三大致癌物质之首）
2、1只烤鸡腿＝60支烟毒性
3、导致蛋白质炭化变性（加重肾脏、肝脏负担）

http://article.pchome.net/30871.html

25 Reasons To Drink Green Tea

2007-04-10T13:34:00.000+08:00

Green tea has increasingly become a very popular drink worldwide because of its immensely powerful health benefits. It is extraordinarily amazing what green tea can do for your health. And if you're not drinking 3 to 4 cups of green tea today, you're definitely NOT doing your health a big favor.

Here Are The 25 Reasons Why You Should Start Drinking Green Tea Right Now:

1. Green Tea and Cancer
Green tea helps reduce the risk of cancer. The antioxidant in green tea is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times better than vitamin E. This helps your body at protecting cells from damage believed to be linked to cancer.

2. Green Tea and Heart Disease
Green tea helps prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering the level of cholesterol. Even after the heart attack, it prevents cell deaths and speeds up the recovery of heart cells.

3. Green Tea and Anti-Aging
Green tea contains antioxidant known as polyphenols which fight against free radicals. What this means it helps you fight against aging and promotes longevity.

4. Green Tea and Weight Loss
Green tea helps with your body weight loss. Green tea burns fat and boosts your metabolism rate naturally. It can help you burn up to 70 calories in just one day. That translates to 7 pounds in one year.

5. Green Tea and Skin
Antioxidant in green tea protects the skin from the harmful effects of free radicals, which cause wrinkling and skin aging. Green tea also helps fight against skin cancer.

6. Green Tea and Arthritis
Green tea can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Green tea has benefit for your health as it protects the cartilage by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage.

7. Green Tea and Bones
The very key to this is high fluoride content found in green tea. It helps keep your bones strong. If you drink green tea every day, this will help you preserve your bone density.

8. Green Tea and Cholesterol
Green tea can help lower cholesterol level. It also improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, by reducing bad cholesterol level.

9. Green Tea and Obesity
Green tea prevents obesity by stopping the movement of glucose in fat cells. If you are on a healthy diet, exercise regularly and drink green tea, it is unlikely you'll be obese.

10. Green Tea and Diabetes
Green tea improves lipid and glucose metabolisms, prevents sharp increases in blood sugar level, and balances your metabolism rate.

11. Green Tea and Alzheimer's
Green tea helps boost your memory. And although there's no cure for Alzheimer's, it helps slow the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer's.

12. Green Tea and Parkinson's
Antioxidants in green tea helps prevent against cell damage in the brain, which could cause Parkinson's. People drinking green tea also are less likely to progress with Parkinson's.

13. Green Tea and Liver Disease
Green tea helps prevent transplant failure in people with liver failure. Researches showed that green tea destroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.

14. Green Tea and High Blood Pressure
Green tea helps prevent high blood pressure. Drinking green tea helps keep your blood pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.

15. Green Tea and Food Poisoning
Catechin found in green tea can kill bacteria which causes food poisoning and kills the toxins produced by those bacteria.

16. Green Tea and Blood Sugar
Blood sugar tends to increase with age, but polyphenols and polysaccharides in green tea help lower your blood sugar level.

17. Green Tea and Immunity
Polyphenols and flavenoids found in green tea help boost your immune system, making your health stronger in fighting against infections.

18. Green Tea and Cold and Flu
Green tea prevents you from getting a cold or flu. Vitamin C in green tea helps you treat the flu and the common cold.

19. Green Tea and Asthma
Theophylline in green tea relaxes the muscles which support the bronchial tubes, reducing the severity of asthma.

20. Green Tea and Ear Infection
Green tea helps with ear infection problem. For natural ear cleaning, soak a cutton ball in green tea and clean the infected ear.

21. Green Tea and Herpes
Green tea increases the effectiveness of topical interferon treatment of herpes. First green tea compress is applied, and then let the skin dry before the interferon treatment.

22. Green Tea and Tooth Decay
Green tea destroys bacteria and viruses that cause many dental diseases. It also slows the growth of bacteria which leads to bad breath.

23. Green Tea and Stress
L-theanine, which is a kind of amino acids in green tea, can help relieve stress and anxiety

24. Green Tea and Allergies
EGCG found in green tea relieves allergies. So, if you have allergies, you should really consider drinking green tea.

25. Green Tea and HIV
Scientists inJapanhave found that EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) in green tea can stop HIV from binding to healthy immune cells. What this means is that green tea can help stop the HIV virus from spreading.

Now, your health is in your hands. You know you're smart. So, start drinking three to four cups of green tea every day for a drug-free and healthier YOU!

情绪与五脏六腑及能量系统的关系

2007-04-04T15:30:00.000+08:00

出处胡因梦的BLOG 《心理月刊》2007年第二期所作

正念的确是最根本、最究竟的解脱途径，但也是最难以掌握、最需要以生理健康作基础的自疗手段，因为觉知的清明度与持续性完全取决于五脏六腑的健康。

根据量子力学 (Quantum Mechanics) 的理论及观察，物质是由百分之99.999的空间 (space) 和百分之0.0001的原子 (atom) 所组成的，因此我们肉眼见到的一切物质现象都是由原子的振动创造出来的幻象，而这非常类似于佛学所说的“空”与“有”的关系。事实上，印度著名的精神导师葛印卡在全世界推广的内观法门，就是要帮助禅修者体证到肉身精微次元的能量振动 (energy vibration)，以便突破惯有的自我实存感和牢不可破的情绪反应。因此我们的意识大约可以分成两个层次，一是由眼、耳、鼻、舌、触所组成的五感次元，另一个则属于直觉或直观次元，若是能够在日常生活里保持身心的静定，第二层次的意识就会示现出来，而开始觉知到我们四周的信息场。
这个信息场里的各种能量对我们身心造成的影响，绝大部分的人是感知不到的，生物能医学将其命名为“基因形态发生场” (morphogenetic field) 。人与人在互动时投射出来的情绪能量毫无例外地全都释放到这个电磁场里了，而那些已经发展出清明直觉力的人往往能捕捉到这些精微的信息能量。近年来心理学第四势力──“超个人心理学” (transpersonal psychology) ── 经常探讨到的问题，就是如何辨认我们所感知到的信息究竟是自己的，还是属于别人的。或者可以说一旦探测到信息场，自他的界分就不再那么明显，而自然能体认到生命的一体性。
我的某些学员与网友常怀疑自己是否有心理或精神问题，因为她们和周遭重要关系人在生活中互动时，经常会产生不明究理的排斥、郁闷或疲惫感，但两人的关系并没有实质上的问题。如果碰到这样的情况，就必须了解我们很可能已经和别人的情绪产生了共振。换句话说，如果你体内的能量波和他人能量波的振动频率相同，你的感觉便可能因此而改变，但只有当自己的系统里存在着类似的情绪毒素时，外在的诱因才会产生作用，这也就是流行心理学经常会强调“到最后你会发现问题全在自己身上”的理由之一。
被誉为第二个爱因斯坦的威廉·提勒博士 (Dr William Tiller)，是全世界研究物质结构的先知型科学家，他从爱因斯坦终止的地方继续进行研究，而发现了信息可以穿越空间的范畴，甚至比光速更快一些。这个革命性的发现，将科学带入了崭新的层次。提勒博士的研究后来逐渐从纯物质科学转换到另类的领域，包括能量医学、自然疗法、瑜伽及禅修等等，他的主要观点之一是：信息能影响物质，而情绪就是信息的一种。
其实情绪即是能量，情绪处理不当会造成能量结晶化之后的气滞，继而形成身心的疾病。依我二十年来的觉察，心中只要有一股萦绕不去的情绪，随即就会演变成种种念头，敏感度高的人会意识到带着情绪的念头在本质上乃是一种乱流，这些乱流会在瞬间影响到人体中脉上的七个主要能量中枢──瑜伽系统里的脉轮 (chakras) 。其中的担忧或焦虑之类的情绪，通常会影响到太阳神经丛(与脾胃有关的能量中枢)，恐惧或不信任的情绪会影响到脐轮(与肾脏、膀胱相关的能量中枢)，刻薄或自我批判的情绪则跟海底轮(掌管直肠、结肠、双腿及免疫系统)攸关，而过度自保利己、害怕孤独、不愿付出等情绪，往往会影响到心轮(与心肺功能有关)，过度注重细节、不愿彻底沟通、隐藏私密感受、无法保持客观态度等等的惯性，则会使喉轮(与甲状腺、肩颈、口腔、喉咙相关)阻塞，如果无法保持静默、不信任直觉或直观智慧，那么眉心轮(与脑下垂体，鼻窦及眼睛相关)就会遭到压制，而敌意、过度的野心与掌控性、自我压抑或傲慢自大的情绪，则通常会阻碍顶轮(与松果腺体或神圣意识相关)的开发。

更多见胡因梦的BLOG
http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/4a2119e10100075d

Eat Good Live Long

2007-03-21T16:23:00.000+08:00

Eating the wrong foods create toxins in the body which hinder it working efficiently. These toxins obstruct your thinking processes and so your spirituality, it also causes a lot of problems for children at school who are labeled with "disruptive syndromes", etc.

Most illnesses, (spiritual and physical), can be directly associated with unhealthy eating. So it naturally follows that almost any illness can be cured by simply knowing what to eat. For example many instances of general tiredness, especially in pregnancies is often caused by lack of Iron in their diet, so that in this instance spinach would be an ideal remedy. Another good food for exhaustion is oats which contain typically 60% carbohydrates, about 10% protein, 10% fibre, oats also have vitamin E, Thiamin B1, vitamin B6, Folacin, Pantothenic acid B5, Phosporus, Iron, Magnesium, and Zinc.

Brown sugar is better than white sugar which has had it's nutrients removed and has chemicals that contribute to hyper- activeness in children. This goes for all mainstream selling sweets, candy, chocolate and cakes. Sugary foods are bad for teeth and the digestive system. You can make your own 'sweet' things using brown sugar, honey and dried fruit. You can find some brands of good quality chocolate, oat, and fruit snack bars at some health food shops.

Sea Salt instead of commercial salt. Sea-salt contains nutrients that we need, whereas the usual rock salt you can easily find- is well known to harden arteries which carry blood.

Spring/bottle water is a better source of water especially to drink as public water contains chemicals such as chlorine and fluoride which are detrimental to health. This, again costs, an alternative measure is to add sea salt to tap water which replaces nutrients removed.

Whole-meal bread that has not been bleached contains more of it's original nutrients and vitamins. This varies from brand to brands you have to check the ingredients to find the best ones for you. Be wary of the different names, whole wheat, whole grain, brown, etc. Alternatively you can make your own, again, finding the whole-flour that hasn't had all it's nutrients removed or chemicals added such as bleaching.

Fresh fruit and vegetables - eat as much of these as you like. Best to grow your own but if shopping at markets and supermarkets try to be conscious of the journey the food has made. Most fruits and vegetables that don't grow in your locality has had to travel, so was probably picked young and force ripened, chemicals are usually added for appearance on the shop shelf. Some times when these same foods do grow in your locality, the ones that are available for you to buy don't. Ask shop staff about Genetically Modified Food (food grown using cloning and other chemical processes) and pesticides used, so you can avoid them. Be aware that foods marked 'natural', 'fresh', pure, are not necessarily so. Vegetables are best eaten as raw as possible retaining all their nutrients. Potatoes are best eaten with their skins as this is where the vitamins are.

Beans, peas, lentils and pulses can be made into burgers, soups, stews with rice/pasta and other variations. Soya beans are extremely versatile, you can get it in mince or chunks to use as substitute meat. Soya also makes milk and oil.

Soya and goats milk are better than cow's milk as it has lactose which is good for calves not us.

Dried fruits are especially good as their vitamins are concentrated by the sun during the drying process.

Olive oil is best to cook with, also peanut and soya oil. sunflower, vegetable oils are fairly good, make sure animal fats are avoided.

Cereals are a good source of carbohydrates such as rye, barley, millet and cornmeal. These are also good sweetened with fruit.

try to avoid all packet/preserved foods as these even though labeled fresh and natural, etc are very likely to have some unnatural additives.

Real butter is the best of the butters and margarine spreads, again, staying away from animal additives though these should generally be avoided.

Don't eat too much fried foods, as these are generally covered in fat that the stomach is not really equipped for. (when frying, use healthier-option oils, like olive, peanut, etc).

Herbs and spices are very good to add to dishes, as garnishes/side salads or cooked with food (herbs added last to retains nutrients), they all have different healthy properties. herbs and spices can be used medicinally in larger quantities.

Nuts

Almonds: have a large calcium content, and also contains zinc, potassium, and magnesium (calcium is essential for strong teeth and bones).

Brazils: the highest-known natural source of selenium (a mineral, believed to reduce the risk of cancer and heart- disease).

Cashews: high iron content, helps to reduce the risk of anemia.

Hazelnuts: high vitamin E content, also good for the heart.

Peanuts: rich in protein and fiber, unroasted contains potassium which is believed to reduce risk of strokes (especially in cases of high-blood pressure).

Pistachios: good source of zinc, calcium, iron and fiber.

Walnuts: can lower blood cholesterol.

(some people may be allergic to nuts, so may need alternative sources of vitamins and minerals listed)

FOOD PYRAMID

(showing the proportions in which the main food groups should be eaten in order to gain a balanced diet)

sweets sugary foods

chocolate oils cakes pastries

Proteins: Bean nuts pulses milk

Fibre & vitamins: fruit vegetables

Carbohydrates: Bread pasta cereals rice

It is difficult to eat properly no matter what country you are in. Consider your diet in a serious way and you will realize that the ideal is to grow your own food on land that you know has not been contaminated with chemicals - these can even come from rain. Your financial situation will also have a bearing as the things that we eat are generally more expensive than what 'most' people buy. The so-called 'organic movement' seems to be a middle-class led consciousness of chemicals in food which is positive but has been infiltrated by business agendas so food labeled organic are not necessarily so, and what is organic anyway?. Transport can be a problem as you may need to shop at a number of shops, some of which are small and out of the way to get what you want.

Hot Tea / Warm Water

2007-03-21T16:20:00.000+08:00

It's always good to know these things.....

This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water during and after your meal, but about ladies and their heart attacks. This makes sense.... the Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals..... not cold water..... maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!!

Nothing to lose, everything to gain.....they have a much, much lower heart attack rate than we do. For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.

It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oil in the food that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fat and could lead to
cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water (tea or coffee) during and after a meal.

A serious note about HEART ATTACKS:
Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware.

The more we know, the better chance we could survive...... A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this info sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this....... It could save your life!!

How Toxic Is Your Shampoo?

2007-03-19T15:00:00.000+08:00

By Doris Rapp, M.D.

Announcer: This lecture is going to open up your eyes to the most shocking and incredible information you have ever heard about - the chemical invasion occurring in our society right now. Like most people, you probably do not realize that you and your family are dousing yourselves every day with the same toxic chemicals that are found in anti-freeze, engine de-greasers and brake fluid. According to scientists, these ingredients are absorbed through our skin into the body and the brain 3 times faster than water. The side effects these chemicals are causing can include chest pain, memory loss, severe skin rashes, asthma, chronic fatigue, acne and even cancer.

What is so shocking about this is that the companies that make these products know very well what these chemicals can do, but they ignore it. Does this sound familiar to you? An entire industry that knows that it is selling products that contain harmful substances, but does nothing about it. If you are thinking that this sounds like the tobacco scandal all over again, you may very well be right. Remember, the victims of the tobacco scandal were not the companies, but the American people and their health. It is entirely possible that the same exact scenario will play itself out with the personal care companies sometime in the next few decades. You owe it to yourself and your family to know the truth now because the companies are certainly not going to come forward with this vital information anytime soon.

Here to share this consumer alert message is Dr. Doris Rapp, a board certified medical doctor, founder of the Practical Allergy Foundation, former President of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, author of eight books on healthcare and a frequent guest on talk shows such as the Oprah Winfrey show. She holds a tremendous amount of credibility in the medical community and she is speaking out today because she is sick and tired of people being taken advantage of. Remember, this could be the next tobacco scandal. So, if you want to reverse the aging process, save your skin and especially save your money, pay attention to this life-altering lecture.

The following was transcribed from a live lecture by Dr. Doris Rapp:

What I am going to tell you is not a little important, but vitally important to the future of everyone that you know and love. Let me give you a little bit of my background first. I came from a very poor family. No one had a college education. By the time I was 4 years of age, I knew I was going to be a physician. Don't ask me why. I just knew I would be a doctor. I worked very hard. I picked crops in the fields in the summer and I worked two and three jobs while I was going through college and even worked when I was in medical school. I got through and then I practiced traditional allergy. I studied first as a pediatrician, an allergist and I practiced traditional allergy for about 20 years.

Then I went to a meeting that changed my life. Maybe the way this one might change your life. At that time, I found that I was missing food sensitivities and chemical sensitivities. I didn't believe it. I thought I was practicing the best pediatric allergy in the world when I went to this meeting in 1975. At that time, I realized that I wasn't and I started to learn environmental medicine. I learned that foods and chemicals can make us very, very sick and that I had been missing it for 20 years. My whole life changed.

As time passed, I realized how much chemicals really are hurting us. I tell you that it is going to affect everyone that is listening to this. You are going to be affected by chemicals and it isn't going to help you, they are going to hurt you. I want to urge you to become an informed consumer. You simply have to start to pay attention to what you are putting on your body. Read the labels! I want all of you to go home today and pull out all the things that you use on your body every day and read the labels.

You are going to find the kinds of words that I am going to talk about later and it means caution. Beware! Do you really want to use those things on your skin? If they are found in anti-freeze, if they are known to cause cancer? It's your decision, not mine. No one is going to force you. What we are putting on our skin, what we are putting on our body, goes squish right into the inside. When you put something on your skin, it does not stay on your skin. It goes inside and if it is toxic, your body does no t know what to do with it, so it starts to try and take it to the liver to try to clean it out. Then it tries to get rid of it in your breath, in your perspiration, through your urine and through your bowel movements.

If you have too many chemicals, then you get cancer of the bladder, cancer of the bowel, cancer of the lung.

Are you beginning to see the picture? These chemicals go all over. They can affect your brain and your muscles and every area of your body can be affected. You have to understand that what you put on your body can actually be making you sick.

I am very, very concerned about certain chemicals and we are going to be talking about some of the types of chemicals that are found in ordinary body products that you may be using every single day and have never given it a thought. There are natural alternatives available. What I want to do is explain to you not only how bad it is, but what you can do about it in order to protect yourself and those you love.

The cosmetic industry and the personal care product industry is absolutely a mess. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, there are 30 billion dollars a year spent on shampoos, creams, lotions and personal care products.

The Food and Drug Administration did two studies that show that 27 out of 29 cosmetics, and that's a lot, contain high concentrations of a substance called Nitrous Diethanolamine which causes cancer. Now this means what you put on your skin can actually contain a substance that causes cancer. Should you be concerned about it? I think so.

A study by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health said that there are 884 toxic chemicals in personal care products. Seven hundred and seventy eight cause acute toxic affect. What does that mean in English? That means that it could cause a headache, it could cause a rash, it makes you sick in some way right away.

One hundred and forty six of the chemicals can cause tumors. Now some of these tumors are like cancer. Some are not cancers, but some of them are.

Three hundred and fourteen can cause developmental abnormalities. What does that mean? It means that if you put it on yourself when you are pregnant, that your baby might not be normal. When a child's nervous system and brain is developing, some of these chemicals could adversely affect that. Some of these chemicals, if you just breath the vapors, they can make a baby sick.

They can cause reproductiveproblems in two hundred and eighteen of these chemicals.

Three hundred and seventy six can cause skin or eye damage. Now that ought to be a little bit upsetting to you. If you look at the organs of the body, like your heart and your liver, and your kidney and your spleen, you will find that the biggest organ of your body is your skin. This is why it is so important to pay attention to what we put on our skin because, as I said, it goes squish right inside.

Think about the things that you put on your body as a nicotine patch. If you have a little nicotine patch and you put it on your body to stop the craving for nicotine, some people can taste the nicotine just like that. It goes squish right into their body. Imagine that you are wrapping your whole body in a patch that is not nicotine, but substances that might cause cancer or hurt you in some other way. This is what you are doing.

These things can go right inside your body. So, you have got to be concerned about it. Creams are absorbed more quickly than other substances through the skin. This was written by Dr. Olinsku, Dr. Smith and Dr. Hertog in The Body's Battle Against Pollution. Which means when you put cream on, it goes into the body.

Is there a lot of money to be made on personal care products? Well, you have got to be kidding. There's a 6,000 percent profit. 6,000 percent! Sometimes the fancy cap on the bottle costs more than the ingredients in the bottle. Actually, I do not care about the cost myself.

What I am concerned about is the medical problems - that something can cause it, it is not safe for you to use on your body or in your body. All I know is I do have an answer. That there are products that appear to be very safe, that do not contain toxic chemicals, that we know do not cause damage. So why are we using the ones that might be dangerous when we can be using the safe ones?

Many of you ladies who are here know about wrinkle creams. None of us want to be wrinkled, to put it mildly. Do you know that some wrinkle creams can make you look older, rather than younger?

Sometimes this is due to a chemical called Propylene Glycol, which is found in shampoos, styling gels, body lotions and body creams. But what disturbs me is that it is also found in anti-freeze. Would you put anti-freeze on your body? On the labels it may not say Propylene Glycol, it certainly won't say anti-freeze, unless you are in an automobile shop, but it might say PG or PEG.

In the journal called Human Reproduction, it says that this chemical can damage or alter cell membranes. In the Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, it says that it can inhibit cell growth which means the cells can not reproduce normally. If you can't make new cells, the cells can get old and they can get wrinkled. In Pharmacology Research, it says that this chemical can damage the skin and muscle tissue. This means that it can cause more wrinkles. Workers who handle this Propylene Glycol are told that they should wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles.

I don't know what more I have to say about it. In other words, I personally do not want to use something that contains Propylene Glycol on my skin.

Many of these skin preparations contains what's called Alpha Hydroxy Acids. Sometimes on the label it might say Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid. These chemicals sometimes cause blistering, bleeding, severe redness and skin discoloration. And some of them can cause you to have an increased sensitivity to the sun, so you take a risk of getting more sunburned than usual or developing skin cancer, according to the FDA.

Have any of you experienced any hair loss? Well, I used to think hair loss was a domain of men, but I am very distressed to find that women are getting male pattern baldness. Their hair is getting thin. Why is this happening? I am sure that there are multiple reasons. Nothing in medicine is simple. There are many reasons why this is happening, but maybe it is related to the Sodium Lauryl Sulfate that is found in many personal care products. This chemical is known to damage hair follicles and it actually causes the hair to fall out due to a toxic overload, according to the Journal of the American College of Toxicology.

This chemical has been linked to eye damage, intestinal damage, breathing problems, skin spots and cysts. In fact, it has even caused a mouse's skin to sag and become wrinkled.

Should we be using it on our skin? It's also used as a de-greasing agent. Dr. Joseph Sigland, at the Medical College of Ohio, said chronic exposure to de-greasing agents can cause low energy, irritability, mood changes, chronic headaches and memory loss.

The Journal of Pharmacological Science says that this chemical, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, can stay in the body as long as 7 days after the exposure. So you put it on our skin and it stays in your body for at least 7 days and if your body cannot get rid of it and has too much, your body will tend to store it in fat places such as in your breast fat and places of that sort. That is where the body stores chemicals and that is why women that have cancer of the breast. Some women have four times more pesticides in their breast fat, then women who do not have breast cancer.

Think about it. We store these things in our body and that is what I mean when I said that we are toxic dump sites. We have to clean out our bodies and get rid of these chemicals that are already there, but more importantly, we do not want to put any more into our little bodies because we are precious. Our little temples are precious and they have got to last a lifetime and, if we take good care of our bodies, I think we can live much longer and have a much better quality of life. If you don't care and you put on something that is toxic all the time, don't be surprised if you start having problems.

Now what about people that work in beauty salons? How does it make you feel? Or even go into beauty salons, I might add. Have you ever noticed the smells when you go into the beauty salons? How does it make you feel? Think about it. Well, there is no doubt that hairstylists have a higher rate of certain types of cancer than the rest of the population, according to the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. Just like pesticide applicators have more cancer and farmers have more cancer.

Why? Because they are handling toxic chemicals all the time and breathing it, especially the people that do nails, I might add. Hairstylists, in addition, have an increased risk of miscarriages and birth defects in their newborn babies because of all the chemicals that they are being exposed to all the time.

The majority of baby shampoos, for example, contain a potent chemical derived from an ingredient called Ethylene Oxide which is known to cause cancer. This is in baby shampoo. So you have got to think about everything you put on your body and in your body.

Does it make sense to wash your hair and your body with anti-freeze? There is Isopropyl Alcohol in anti-freeze, but it is also in many body lotions, hair dyes, in massage preparations, shampoos, aftershave and other body care products. Skin contact with this substance is especially dangerous for children, according to the Journal of Applied Toxicology. In addition, they say if you breath it, it can cause dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, coughing, wheezing, breathing problems and dry skin. It has been linked to skin cancer.

So I am saying if you use a preparation on your skin that contains Isopropyl Alcohol pay attention to how you feel in the next 10 or 15 minutes. When you go into the bathroom and put all of these things on your little body, how do you feel 10 minutes later? I have had children go into the bathroom after their mother has used her cosmetics and her perfumes, and the child cannot think or they have an activity or behavioral problem directly related to the smell of something that was in the bathroom that was used by their parent. I have told mothers to go out in the garage and put on your body products out there because it causes their child to get hyperactive and bit them, and I am not exaggerating.

What is the connection between cancer and Mineral Oil? Well, Mineral Oil has been linked to the following types of cancer: cancer of the skin, cancer of the rectum, cancer of the voice box, cancer of the larynx, cancer of the food tube, cancer of the esophagus, cancer of the stomach, cancer of the pancreas.

This information comes from the Rowlands School of Public Health and Emery University. Now remember, most baby oils are 100% Mineral Oil. The fact that it smells good, does not mean that it is safe. It can smell fine and feel nice, that does not mean that it is good for your skin. It does not mean that it is good for the inside of your body.

Another common name for Mineral Oil is Petroleum. It is a petroleum product. It is a coal tar derivative. That is what we call it.

Now, there are some other dangerous chemicals found in body products. One of these is Cocoamid DEA or MEA. Again, this is commonly found in shampoos, body and face creams, aftershave lotions, bubble bath.

Dr. Epstein, of the National Toxicology Program, said that repeated skin applications could result in a definite increase in liver and kidney cancer.

What are other ingredients in these body products that might harm us?

One is called Paraben and there are different types of Parabens. In bio-chemical pharmacology, they found that this chemical is toxic to the liver cells. Now remember that I told you that the liver is where substances go and it clears out all the bad stuff and gets rid of it. And so it can damage the liver if the liver isn't functioning well, if it does not have the right amount of nutrients and things of that sort.

In addition, Parabens can have anestrogenic or feminizing affect on the body. It can make males more feminine. You don don't want to fiddle around with our hormones too much. We have got lots of problems now with the estrogenic affect. We are having massive problems in society because of the feminizing affect of the chemicals that we are being exposed to on a routine basis.

Now let us talk about different ways that aromas and fragrances can make you sick. Manufacturers are not even required to even tell you what the chemicals are that are in the fragrance. This was written in Healthy Living in a Toxic World, by Cynthia Fincher.

Methyl Chloride is one of the most common fragrance ingredients and there is no doubt that it causes cancer. No doubt at all. Now Deborah Lindad has written a beautiful book called Home Safe Home and in her book she said that the side effects of aromas, nice smelling things, can lead to headaches, dizziness, fatigue, hyperactivity, nervous system problems.

That means that the brain doesn't function right, I might add, or that children cannot write normally. Depression. Some children and adults get suicidal when the smell certain aromas. Rashes, skin discoloration and brown spots on the hands. Now I thought brown spots on the hands were due to getting older and they call them senile spots which I resent. Again, they can be due to other things and we should be sure to be checking into it.

Even if something says that it is natural, it means that if only 10% of something is natural, they can put on the label that it is natural. Read the labels! I want all of you to go home today and pull out all of the things that you use in your body every day and read the label.

We are just overloading our bodies. Cancer, asthma, learning problems, Alzheimer's, muscular diseases, lie Parkinson's Disease, all kinds of diseases are almost epidemic now. They are worse than they have ever been. Forty percent increase in brain cancer in children in the past 25 years. Thirty percent increase in testicular cancer in the past 5 years.

It is just horrendous what is going on and no one seems to be getting excited about it except me. I am absolutely out on a crusade saying we have got to change it. We have got to educate the public. You have to know what the dangers are and where there are safe products.

Remember, the most important thing for you to do is read the label. Some of the words that you have heard today will ring a bell and you ought to say to yourself, hey, that is anti-freeze. Hey, I better watch out for this one. Start looking for all natural everything. In absolutely everything that comes in contact with you and those you love. Keep your nest as pure as you can.

I think that we all have to join together and urge everyone we know to start to read labels. Read labels of food that you are buying. Read labels of the products that you are using on your skin. Anything you are putting on your body, start to read all of the labels.

There is a reason why there is an epidemic of illnesses that we have never had before. We never had hyperactivity like we have it now, where up to 45-60% of children in some schools are on activity modifying drugs. Do not tell me that we are not doing something different and something wrong. These children are not different than you were or I was and we did not have these problems years ago.

You did not have 40 year olds that could not find their way to the bathroom because they have Alzheimer's. You had 95 year olds who could not find their way to the bathroom.

There are illnesses now that we have never had before. Autism, Tourets and Asthma are way, way up. Birth defects, developmental disorders. We have got to change it and I think one way we step in this direction is to change what you are putting on your body to make sure it is safe and natural. I am a physician and my interest is your health and the health of the next generation and the way we are going, we are not going to last to the end of the next century unless we clean up our act.

Let me end by saying we have polluted everything in sight. We have polluted our air, our food, our water, our soil, our homes and we cannot continue to do it.

www.discoverhealthandwealth.com/articles/toxins-in-shampoos.html

Toxic Ingredients In Personal Care Products

2007-03-18T14:12:00.000+08:00

Are you aware that most of the shampoos and personal care products used today have cancer causing agents? The following identifies many of the ingredients commonly found in shampoos and skin care products and their possible side effects.

ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL: This is a solvent and denaturant (poisonous substance that changes another substance's natural qualities). Isopropyl alcohol is found in hair color rinses, body rubs, hand lotions, after shave lotions, fragrances and many other cosmetics. This petroleum derived substance is also used in antifreeze and as a solvent in shellac. According to a Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, inhalation or ingestion of the vapor may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis and coma.

MINERAL OIL: Baby oil is 100% mineral oil. This commonly used petroleum ingredient coats the skin just like plastic wrap. The skin's natural immune barrier is disrupted as this plastic coating inhibits its ability to breathe and absorb the natural Moisture Factor (moisture and nutrition). The skin's ability to release toxins is impeded by this "plastic wrap", which can promote acne and other disorders. This process slows down skin function and normal cell development causing the skin to prematurely age.

PEG: This is an abbreviation for polyethylene glycol that is used in making cleansers to dissolve oil and grease as well as thicken products. Because of their effectiveness, PEG's are often used in caustic spray-on oven cleaners and yet are found in many personal care products. PEG's contribute to stripping the natural Moisture Factor, leaving the immune system vulnerable. They are also potentially carcinogenic.

PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG): As a "surfactant" or wetting agent and solvent, this ingredient is actually the active component in antifreeze. There is no difference between the PG used in industry and the PG used in personal care products. It is used in industry to break down protein and cellular structure (what the skin is made of) yet is found in most forms of make-up, hair products, lotions, after shave- deodorants, mouthwashes and toothpaste. It is also used in food processing. Because of its ability to quickly penetrate the skin, the EPA requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles when working with this toxic substance. The Material Safety Data Sheets warn against skin contact, as PG has systemic consequences such as brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. Consumers are not protected not is there a warning label on products such as stick deodorants, where the concentration is greater than that in most industrial applications.

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) & SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES):
Used as detergents and surfactants, these closely related compounds are found in car wash soaps, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. Yet both SLS and SLES are used more widely as one of the major ingredients in cosmetics, toothpaste, hair conditioner and about 90% of all shampoos and products that foam. Mark Fearer in an article, Dangerous Beauty, says "...in tests, animals that were exposed to SLS experienced eye damage, along with depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation and corrosion and death". According to the American College of Toxicology states both SLS and SLES can cause malformation in children's eyes. Other research has indicated SLS may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties. It is possibly the most dangerous of all ingredients in personal care products. Research has shown that SLS when combined with other chemicals can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens, which causes the body to absorb nitrates at higher levels that eating nitrate-contaminated food." According to the American College of Toxicity report, "SLS stays in the body for up to five days..." Other studies have indicated that SLS easily penetrates through the skin and enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, the liver, the lungs and the brain. This poses serious questions regarding its potential health threat through its use in shampoos, cleansers and toothpaste. Animals that were exposed to SLS experienced eye damage, along with depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation and corrosion and death.

CHLORINE: According to Doris J. Rapp, M.D., author of Is This Your Child's World?, exposure to chlorine in tap water, showers, pool, laundry products, cleaning agents, food processing, sewage systems and many others, can effect health by contributing to asthma, hay fever, anemia, bronchitis, circulatory collapse, confusion, delirium, diabetes, dizziness, irritation of the eye, mouth, nose, throat, lung, skin and stomach, heart disease, high blood pressure and nausea. It is also a possible cause of cancer. Even though you will not see Chlorine on personal care product labels, it is important for you to be aware of the need to protect your skin when bathing and washing your hair.

DEA (diethanolamine) MEA (momoethanolamine) TEA (triethanolamine):
DEA and MEA are usually listed on the ingredient label in conjunction with the compound being neutralized. Thus look for names like Cocamide DEA or MEA, Lauramide DEA, etc. These are hormone disrupting chemicals and are known to form cancer causing nitrates and nitrosamines. These are commonly found in most personal care products that foam, including bubble baths, body washes, shampoos, soaps and facial cleansers. On the show CBS This Morning, Roberta Baskin revealed that a recent government report shows DEA and MEA are readily absorbed in the skin. Dr. Samuel Epstein, Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois said, "repeated skin applications of DEA-based detergents resulted in a major increase in the incidence of two cancers - liver and kidney cancers". John Bailey, who oversees the cosmetic division for the FDA said the new study is especially important since "the risk equation changes significantly for children."

FD & C COLOR PIGMENTS: Many color pigments cause skin sensitivity and irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and even death according to a Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Debra Lynn Dadd says in Home Safe Home: "Colors that can be used in foods, drugs and cosmetics are made from coal tar. There is a great deal of controversy about their use, because animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic."

FRAGRANCE: Fragrance is present in most deodorants, shampoos, sunscreens, skin care, body care, and baby products. Many of the compounds in fragrance are carcinogenic or otherwise toxic. "Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients. Most of all of them are synthetic. symptoms reported to the FDA have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and allergic skin irritation. Clinical observation by medical doctors have shown that exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes." Home Safe Home.

IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA and DMDM HYDANTOIN: These are just two of the many preservatives that release formaldehyde (formaldehyde-donors). According to the Mayo Clinic, formaldehyde can irritate the respiratory system, cause skin reactions and trigger heart palpitations. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep. It can also aggravate coughs and colds and trigger asthma. Serious side effects include weakening of the immune system and cancer. Nearly all brands of skin, body and hair care, antiperspirants and nail polish found in stores contain formaldehyde releasing ingredients.

www.discoverhealthandwealth.com/articles/toxic-ingredients.html

Detoxification - Cleansing the Body

2007-02-18T12:25:00.000+08:00

The best way for anyone to regain their health and stay healthy is to periodically cleanse and detoxify the body of any accumulated waste. A sluggish, constipated, swollen bowel, retaining pounds of old fecal matter can either compress a nearby area causing disease, or emit infection and toxins which can affect and infect any area of the body.

What Is Detoxification?

Detoxification is the process of clearing toxins from the body or neutralizing or transforming them, and clearing excess mucus and congestion. Many of these toxins come from our diet, drug use, and environmental exposure, both acute and chronic. Internally, fats, especially oxidized fats and cholesterol, free radicals, and other irritating molecules act as toxins. Poor digestion, colon sluggishness and dysfunction, reduced liver function, and poor elimination through the kidneys, respiratory tract, and skin all add to increased toxicity.

Detoxification involves dietary and lifestyle changes which reduce intake of toxins and improve elimination. Avoidance of chemicals, from food or other sources, refined food, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and many drugs helps minimize the toxin load. Those lifestyle changes are a direct result of choices you make in your life.

Intestinal Detoxification Program

A sluggish, constipated, swollen bowel, retaining pounds of old fecal matter can either compress a nearby area causing disease, or emit infection and toxins which can affect and infect any area of the body.

The list of of health problems that could be healed by cleaning out the colon before ever applying any specialized treatment is almost endless: heart problems, blood pressure problems, breathing problems, blood sugar problems, hormone imbalance problems, fertility problems, liver problems, cholesterol problems, immune problems, urinary problems, adrenal and lack of energy problems, prostate problems, digestive problems, lower back problems, leg circulation and nerve problems.

No matter how far removed the problem seems from the colon, no matter how ridiculous it may seem to do a bowel cleansing program instead of brain surgery, cleanse the bowel first and see what happens. If you’re like his patients, you will be thrilled with the results.

Why Colon Cleansing should be your first step

The best way for anyone to regain their health and stay healthy is to periodically cleanse and detoxify the body of any accumulated waste.
Seasonal detoxification program done on a regular basis greatly reduces risk of getting sick. Everyone wants to do a Detox. Everyone wants to repent their faulty lifestyle sins. But before anyone can do any type of Detoxification or Cleansing program, no matter whose detox program it is, they must make sure that ALL of the elimination channels are open and the bowel is the first place to begin. There is a simple reason for this. When you do any detox program, the whole idea is to start programs, juice fasting, saunas, exercise, whatever, that will dissolve and purge accumulated waste, poisons and toxins out of your skin, fat, muscles, every cell of the body. All this waste that is removed, ALL OF IT, is deposited into your colon for final removal. If your colon is sluggish, constipated or blocked, then all of this dumped toxic waste will just sit there, IT CAN EVEN BE RE-ABSORBED BACK INTO YOUR BODY, YUCK! This can make you feel worse, not better, and this is the reason so many people feel horrible when doing a detoxification program and quit it after a few days. If you clean your colon first, any detoxification program should be fun and you should feel great during it and vibrant when you are finished.

Source: American Botanical Pharmacy

The Difference Between Natural Healing and Medical Intervention

2007-02-17T12:02:00.000+08:00

Symptoms

Natural Healing:
We Listen when our body "talks" and use this communication to guide us in our healing process Stop, Look and Listen

Medical Intervention:
Dull, Suppress or completely Remove the Symptoms, most often assessing that the symptom is the Disease itself and never getting to the cause of why our body is "communicating"

Focus

Natural Healing:
To Create a Healthy Person

Medical Intervention:
To Destroy, Kill or Cure a Disease

Method of Treatment

Natural Healing:
Setting up a proper living environment so our body can heal itself. This is done through changes in our Food Program, Elimination, Movement, Emotions and Lifestyle. Assistance

Medical Intervention:
Attacking, Killing and Removing disease using drugs and surgery. Altering or removing malfunctioning parts or organs (ex. coronary bypass surgery, appendectomy, mastectomy,) Intervention

Therapeutic Products

Natural Healing:
Products of Nature - WholesomeFruits, Vegetables, Grains, Seeds, Sprouts, Legumes, Nuts, Herbs, Concentrated whole food supplements such as sea vegetables. NO Side Effects

Medical Intervention:
Man Made Products - IsolatedDrugs made from petro-chemicals, animal waste and toxic elements. Man made vitamin and mineral pills. MANY Side Effects including latrogenic DEATH

Therapeutic Modalities

Natural Healing:
Vegetarian (Vegan) Food Programs, Cleansing and Detoxification Routines, Exercise and Movement, Bodywork, Hydrotherapy, Emotional Healing, and Changes in the way we Live, Work, Play, Relate

Medical Intervention:
Surgery, Radiation, Toxic Chemotherapy, Stimulant, Sedative and Suppressive drugs, Carnivore DIEtetics, Dialysis, Colostomies, Changes in ones Lifestyle and Habits are rarely discussed.

Emotions

Natural Healing:
Positive Attitude, Excitement, Strength, Trust in Nature/God, Love, Laughter, Empowerment.

Medical Intervention:
Negative Attitude, Coping, Anxiety, Fear, Weakness, Depression, Being out of Control, Our life is in someone else's hands.

Responsibility

Natural Healing:
We have created our current health level and therefore we can change it and heal our self. Being in control.

Medical Intervention:
I "caught" this disease. I am an unlucky victim. Doctor/God, please heal me.

http://www.world-mysteries.com/sci_15.htm

What Determines Your Current Level of Health?

2007-02-16T06:38:00.000+08:00

http://www.world-mysteries.com/sci_15.htm

Your current level of health is perfect reflection of how your Body, Mind and Spirit is responding to the environment and lifestyle you have created for yourself.

Intake
the quality of air we breathe, the liquid we drink, and the food we eat

+ Elimination
the function and efficiency of our organs designed to remove and expel waste

+ Movement/Circulation
the ways we move our body to keep it toned, flexible with good circulation

+ Lifestyle
how we live, work and play

+ Emotions/Spirit
do we have positive/healing or negative/destructive emotional and spiritual habits

+ Inherited Constitution
your physical, emotional and spiritual constitution inherited from you parents, your genetics and what you choose to do about it

= Equals your Level of Health

壞食物大翻身

2007-02-15T00:20:00.001+08:00

愛吃冰淇淋、披薩、花生醬、巧克力……？
不必再有罪惡感，最新研究發現，你可以吃得理直氣壯！

文／黃惠如

披薩

這是美國心臟協會（American Heart Association）第一次將披薩視為「好速食」。

義大利的科學家發現，披薩可以降低59％食道癌發展的機率，而且愛吃披薩的人也可以降低34％得口腔癌和26％得結腸癌的機率。

秘密都在番茄中的茄紅素和其他抗氧化物。「我們知道番茄醬可以對某些癌症提供保護力，但我們沒有料到作為一個完整食物的披薩，也提供相同的保護效果，」義大利米蘭馬立歐．尼格里藥學研究所喀魯斯（Silvano Gallus）博士說。

的確，披薩的好處除了番茄和番茄醬提供的茄紅素之外，披薩上撒的起司也能強健骨骼，降血壓和抑制結腸癌。

不過如果你懂得挑選，就能吃得更好。12吋的辣味香腸大披薩熱量就超過2000卡、飽和脂肪60克；但如果你點兩片脆皮蔬菜披薩熱量只有300卡、飽和脂肪只有2.5克。所以點一個小披薩，多要一點番茄醬，還要搭配沙拉和蔬菜湯。

冰淇淋

歐洲83％的營養師同意，令人感興趣的食物如冰淇淋，才能真正幫助人們維持長期的健康飲食。那不僅是因為冰淇淋是很好的蛋白質來源，它也有重要的礦物質如鈣與鉀可以維持骨骼和牙齒的健康。

美國《預防雜誌》（Prevention Magazine）甚至曾推廣冰淇淋減肥。雜誌中建議，選擇一杯半約125卡的低卡冰淇淋在減肥餐中，並搭配低卡起司、沙拉、低脂牛奶和低卡貝果（Bagel）。
美國營養學會同意，夏天冰淇淋的確是一個新鮮的鈣質來源，但請注意份量。平常一球冰淇淋雖然提供120毫克的鈣和150毫克的鉀，但不可忽視也有195卡的熱量和10克的脂肪。

因此營養師們建議，多加一點水果在低卡冰淇淋裡。

香蕉

坊間流傳「香蕉傷筋骨」，以致年紀稍長、有退化性關節問題的人對香蕉退避三舍，台北市立聯合醫院中醫院區醫療部主任程惠政卻說「我都叫我病人吃」。

從中醫典籍來看，老祖宗從未曾提及香蕉傷筋骨。《本草綱目》記載香蕉「甘、大寒、無毒」；《本草求原》則記載香蕉「清脾滑腸，脾火盛者食之，反能止瀉止痢」。

香蕉的確「性寒」。不過程惠政說，即使食物有其性味也要和體質相配。如因為香蕉性寒，寒性體質的人的確少吃為佳，但即使寒性體質的人若吃的份量不多，也不會有大礙。

程惠政也強調，性味是古代人的主觀感受，仍不能盡信，常會發現幾本古籍中對相同食物的性味分類並不相同。

若從西方營養學來看，香蕉則好處多多，是不折不扣的好食物。

一根香蕉約是半碗飯的熱量，是很好的熱量來源。運動選手上場時，如果吃太多食物會想嘔吐，這時香蕉就是補充體力最佳食物。曾經來台馬拉松環台的日本打擊樂團體鬼太鼓座，每天早上跑馬拉松前，不吃任何食物，只吃香蕉。

香蕉也可以預防中風，因為有高量的鉀，是繼黃豆之後，被美國食品藥物管理局（FDA）許可，可以在香蕉產品上標示：「具高鉀與低鈉，可以降低中風、高血壓的發生」。

更令人雀躍的是，香蕉還是「快樂食物（pleasure food）」。香蕉中所含的血清素、正腎上腺素、多巴胺都是腦中的神經傳導物質，可以抗憂鬱，振奮精神。

巧克力

愈來愈多美國人流行吃黑巧克力，台灣也愈來愈多巧克力標示著可可純度，都和人們想吃美味的健康食物有關。

眾多的科學研究都發現，巧克力裡有多種抗氧化物質，如可可多酚和類黃酮可以降低壞的膽固醇（低密度膽固醇，LDL），提高好的膽固醇（高密度膽固醇，HDL）。類黃酮也可以舒緩發炎，打開血流，增進血液流通。

美國加州大學戴維斯分校於2006年發表在美國《營養學會期刊》的最新研究發現，每天吃富含巧克力多酚的可可棒，持續6週後可以降低低密度膽固醇。

義大利科學家的研究也發現黑巧克力可以降血壓。這份研究同時也顯示，黑巧克力可以預防第二型糖尿病，因為類黃酮可以鼓勵荷爾蒙轉化醣類成為細胞的燃料。

除此之外，巧克力之所以令人著迷，被稱為愛情靈藥，是因為巧克力中的色胺酸有助於合成血清素，這是一種帶來喜悅的神經傳導物質。但這項成分不僅可以增加浪漫情趣，近來也被發現可以對抗慢性疲勞症候群（chronic fatigue syndrome）。

遺憾的是，並非所有的巧克力產品都有這些功效，這關乎於可可的純度。最近美國農業部研究發現，可可粉是所有的巧克力產品中，含有最多的類黃酮和抗氧化物。烘焙用巧克力（baking chocolate）次之。黑巧克力和烘焙碎巧克力（baking chips）因為製造過程會去掉部份抗氧化物更次之。而大家最常吃的牛奶巧克力（milk chocolate）含有最少的有用物質，約只是可可粉的十分之一而已。

咖啡

科學家現在會告訴你，一天一杯咖啡，醫生遠離你。

美國斯克藍頓大學（University of Scranton）選出咖啡是美國食物中最高的抗氧化物來源。第二名是紅茶、第三名是香蕉。

抗氧化的好處是可以幫你抵禦各種癌症、心臟病、糖尿病和中風，「我認為一天一杯咖啡對心臟是正面的，」斯克藍頓大學化學教授文森（Joe Vinson）說。

如果你擔心喝太多咖啡讓你心悸，好消息是可以選擇低咖啡因咖啡，科學家發現兩者的抗氧化物數量差不多。

但是要提防「咖啡的伴侶」──糖漿和奶精。一杯大杯美式咖啡熱量只不過15卡、無脂肪，但如果加上奶精和糖漿的大杯摩卡星冰樂可要420卡、脂肪16克。

花生醬

花生醬的確有很多油，但並非所有的油都對身體不好。

花生醬裡的單元不飽和脂肪酸和維生素E可以降低壞的膽固醇，保護心臟。這是美國喬治亞大學與韓國國立忠州大學聯合發表在《食物科學期刊》（Journal of Food Science）的研究。

花生醬還可以預防糖尿病。美國哈佛大學公衛學院的研究指出，一週吃5次、每次1匙花生醬，可以降低21％第二型糖尿病的機會。

當你下午肚子餓，土司塗花生醬當點心是很好的選擇，花生醬裡的油脂可以馬上有飽足感。但不適合在已經熱量很高的食物如餅乾、蛋糕，再塗上花生醬。

雞蛋

很多人一看到蛋，就想到膽固醇，害怕心臟病的人碎碎念「要遠離它」。但現在科學家已經知道，真正危險的敵人是飽和脂肪。喬治華盛頓大學心臟學家約翰．拉羅沙博士表示：「飽和脂肪增加膽固醇的威力，比食物含有膽固醇本身，要高出4倍。」

飽和性脂肪都在動物性油脂裡，如肉類、乳製品。所以要遠離奶油、豬油、雞皮、全脂牛奶等。雞蛋的脂肪極少，一顆蛋只有5克脂肪而已。

況且雞蛋的營養濃度極高，一顆蛋裡就有維生素A、B6、B12、E、K、葉酸、鐵等，可以防止脂肪沈澱在肝臟，蛋裡的黃體素也可以保護眼睛健康。

但烹調方式會影響雞蛋健康與否。水煮蛋或多加點蔬菜在蛋裡，可以讓你每一口都可以吃到營養。

牛肉

不用再吃乾巴巴的雞胸肉了，牛肉（與各種紅肉）和膽固醇、心臟病的關連已經沒有那麼深。美國約翰霍普金斯大學刊登在《內科學文獻》（Archives of Internal Medicine）的研究指出，瘦牛肉和雞肉、魚一樣，不會增加膽固醇。因為畜牧技術的進步，現今的牛肉已經沒有那麼「油」，所以沒有那麼多的飽和脂肪。

況且牛肉裡含有很多女性補充不足的營養，如鐵、鋅、和維生素B12。

不過還是要選擇瘦牛肉，不能選肋排或丁骨牛排，這種牛排的油脂和熱量還是瘦牛肉的兩倍。

鴨肉

很多人說，鴨肉有「毒」，所以皮膚病、手術開刀的人不能吃，甚至還擴大到所有人都不宜多吃鴨肉。

中醫師程惠政說，「食物沒有毒不毒的問題，」雖然本草綱目上記載鴨肉「甘、冷、微毒」，但古人所謂的「毒」，指對身體明顯的反應，如立即引起腹瀉或過敏等，並不是現代科學觀念中的「毒」。

之所以會引起腹瀉，可能是因為體質虛寒或已經受涼的人吃太多鴨肉所致。因為鴨肉雖然無毒，卻是性寒，因此可以薑母、當歸等熱性食物一起烹煮，以平衡食物的性味，便是很好的補虛勞食物。現在你知道為何薑母鴨、當歸鴨那麼有名了吧。

起司

下次早餐的土司不要塗奶油，改夾起司。因為起司竟然可以抗癌，美國華盛頓州立大學的研究發現。

關鍵在於起司中的共軛亞麻油酸（Conjugated Linolenic Acid）。這種「好的」脂肪酸不僅發現可以阻止皮膚癌、肺癌、乳癌的成長，也可以降低心臟病、糖尿病的機率。共軛亞麻油酸也被發現可以降低飯後脂肪的儲存，因此可以控制體重。

不僅如此，起司一直都是良好的鈣質來源。鈣不僅可以預防骨質疏鬆，也可強健骨骼和牙齒。對於喝牛奶肚子會不舒服的人，起司更是身體可以快速吸收的鈣質來源。

美國《動起來的人生》（Active Wellness）作者營養師雷啟勒（Gayle Reichler）建議吃有強烈氣味的藍起司（blue cheese）或新鮮的羊奶起司（goat cheese），這些起司人工香料較少，而且羊奶起司一盎司（31.1克）熱量只有23卡，而一般的巧達起司（Cheddar Cheese）可有114卡。

本文出自　康健雜誌100期　封面故事：壞食物大翻身

BANANAS

2007-02-14T14:14:00.000+08:00

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 proved 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.

A banana can help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must for our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND among 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 the 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 work 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: 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 re-balanced 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!

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.

Soooooo.......... "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Remember: If you have a latex allergy, check with your doctor before eating banana

PS Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

Indoor air pollution and health

2007-02-13T17:40:00.000+08:00

More than three billion people worldwide continue to depend on solid fuels, including biomass fuels (wood, dung, agricultural residues) and coal, for their energy needs.

Cooking and heating with solid fuels on open fires or traditional stoves results in high levels of indoor air pollution. Indoor smoke contains a range of health-damaging pollutants, such as small particles and carbon monoxide, and particulate pollution levels may be 20 times higher than accepted guideline values.

According to The world health report 2002 indoor air pollution is responsible for 2.7% of the global burden of disease.

Scope of the problem

More than half of the world’s population rely on dung, wood, crop waste or coal to meet their most basic energy needs. Cooking and heating with such solid fuels on open fires or stoves without chimneys leads to indoor air pollution. This indoor smoke contains a range of health-damaging pollutants including small soot or dust particles that are able to penetrate deep into the lungs. In poorly ventilated dwellings, indoor smoke can exceed acceptable levels for small particles in outdoor air 100-fold. Exposure is particularly high among women and children, who spend the most time near the domestic hearth. Every year, indoor air pollution is responsible for the death of 1.6 million people - that's one death every 20 seconds.

The use of polluting fuels thus poses a major burden on the health of poor families in developing countries. The dependence on such fuels is both a cause and a result of poverty as poor households often do not have the resources to obtain cleaner, more efficient fuels and appliances. Reliance on simple household fuels and appliances can compromise health and thus hold back economic development, creating a vicious cycle of poverty.

According to the 2004 assessment of the International Energy Agency, the number of people relying on biomass fuels such as wood, dung and agricultural residues, for cooking and heating will continue to rise. In sub-Saharan Africa, the reliance on biomass fuels appears to be growing as a result of population growth and the unavailability of, or increases in the price of, alternatives such as kerosene and liquid petroleum gas. Despite the magnitude of this growing problem, the health impacts of exposure to indoor air pollution have yet to become a central focus of research, development aid and policy-making.

The health impact: A major killer

The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the contribution of a range of risk factors to the burden of disease and revealed indoor air pollution as the 8th most important risk factor and responsible for 2.7% of the global burden of disease . Globally, indoor air pollution from solid fuel use is responsible for 1.6 million deaths due to pneumonia, chronic respiratory disease and lung cancer, with the overall disease burden (in Disability-Adjusted Life Years or DALYs, a measure combining years of life lost due to disability and death) exceeding the burden from outdoor air pollution five fold. In high-mortality developing countries, indoor smoke is responsible for an estimated 3.7% of the overall disease burden, making it the most lethal killer after malnutrition, unsafe sex and lack of safe water and sanitation.

Indoor air pollution has been associated with a wide range of health outcomes, and the evidence for these associations has been classified as strong, moderate or tentative in a recent systematic review. Included in the above assessment were only those health outcomes for which the evidence for indoor air pollution as a cause was classified as strong. There is consistent evidence that exposure to indoor air pollution increases the risk of pneumonia among children under five years, and chronic respiratory disease and lung cancer (in relation to coal use) among adults over 30 years old. The evidence for a link with lung cancer from exposure to biomass smoke, and for a link with asthma, cataracts and tuberculosis was considered moderate. On the basis of the limited available studies, there is tentative evidence for an association between indoor air pollution and adverse pregnancy outcomes, in particular low birth weight, or ischaemic heart disease and nasopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers.

While the precise mechanism of how exposure causes disease is still unclear, it is known that small particles and several of the other pollutants contained in indoor smoke cause inflammation of the airways and lungs and impair the immune response. Carbon monoxide also results in systemic effects by reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Pneumonia and other acute lower respiratory infections

Globally, pneumonia and other acute lower respiratory infections represent the single most important cause of death in children under five years. Exposure to indoor air pollution more than doubles the risk of pneumonia and is thus responsible for more than 900 000 of the 2 million annual deaths from pneumonia.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Women exposed to indoor smoke are three times as likely to suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as chronic bronchitis, than women who cook and heat with electricity, gas and other cleaner fuels. Among men, exposure to this neglected risk factor nearly doubles the risk of chronic respiratory disease. Consequently, indoor air pollution is responsible for approximately 700 000 out of the 2.7 million global deaths due to COPD.

Lung cancer

Coal use is widespread in China and cooking on open fires or simple stoves can cause lung cancer in women. Exposure to smoke from coal fires doubles the risk of lung cancer, in particular among women who tend to smoke less than men in most developing countries. Every year, more than one million people die from lung cancer globally, and indoor air pollution is responsible for approximately 1.5% of these deaths.

Disproportionate impacts on children and women

Household energy practices vary widely around the world, as does the resultant death toll due to indoor air pollution. While more than two-thirds of indoor smoke deaths from acute lower respiratory infections in children occur in WHO's African and South East Asian Regions, over 50% of the COPD deaths due to indoor air pollution occur in the Western Pacific region.

In most societies, women are in charge of cooking and - depending on the demands of the local cuisine - they spend between three and seven hours per day near the stove, preparing food. 59% of all indoor air pollution-attributable deaths thus fall on females. Young children are often carried on their mother's back or kept close to the warm hearth. Consequently, infants spend many hours breathing indoor smoke during their first year of life when their developing airways make them particularly vulnerable to hazardous pollutants. As a result, 56% of all indoor air pollution-attributable deaths occur in children under five years of age.

In addition to the health burden, fuel collection can impose a serious time burden on women and children. Alleviating this work will free women's time for productive endeavours and child care, and can boost children's school attendance and time for homework.

Millennium Development Goals are guiding international action

Tackling indoor air pollution in the context of household energy is linked to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, in particular to reducing child mortality (Goal 4), to promoting gender equality and empowering women (Goal 3), to opening up opportunities for income generation and eradicating extreme poverty (Goal 1), and to ensuring environmental sustainability (Goal 7). WHO reports the "proportion of the population using solid fuels for cooking" as an indicator for assessing progress towards the integration of the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes. Yet, the central role of household energy is not currently reflected in the political responses to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Measures to reduce indoor air pollution and associated health effects range from switching to cleaner alternatives, such as gas, electricity or solar energy, to improved stoves or hoods that vent health-damaging pollutants to the outside, to behavioural changes. There is an urgent need to investigate which interventions work and how they can be implemented in a successful, sustainable and financially viable way.

What WHO is doing

WHO, as the global public health agency, is advocating for the integration of health in international and national energy policies and programmes. WHO collects and evaluates the evidence for the impact of household energy on health and for the effectiveness of interventions in reducing the health burden on children, women and other vulnerable groups. WHO's programme on household energy and health rests on four pillars:

- Documenting the health burden of indoor air pollution and household energy: WHO will provide a regular update of the links between household energy and health and, where feasible, offer support to key research undertakings.

- Evaluating the effectiveness of technical solutions and their implementation: Developing simple tools for monitoring the effectiveness of interventions in improving health and building the capacity to conduct such evaluations will help generate much needed information from ongoing small- and large-scale projects. This information will provide the basis for the development of a catalogue of options that review both the effectiveness of interventions, and lessons learnt in relation to their implementation.

- Acting as the global advocate for health as a central component of international and national energy policies: Ultimately, policy-makers will want to know whether it pays off to invest in large-scale operations to reduce indoor air pollution. In terms of health, a recent cost-effectiveness analysis of different interventions suggests that improved stoves and switching to kerosene and gas represent cost-effective solutions. In addition, WHO is working on a cost-benefit analysis of interventions that - beyond health - will take into account all the benefits associated with improved household energy practices.

- Monitoring changes in household energy habits over time: Information about the energy habits of poor, mostly rural households is scarce and WHO has the responsibility to work towards progress in this area and to report, on a yearly basis, the Millennium Development Goal Indicator 29 "percentage of population using solid fuels".

Key partners include the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank as well as many research institutions and non-governmental agencies around the world. WHO is already actively taking part in projects in several developing countries, including the most sophisticated scientific indoor air pollution study to date undertaken in Guatemala, and work in China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Kenya and Sudan. In the future, work will focus even more on those countries and populations most in need.

RELATED LINKS
- Indoor air pollution

Antibiotic Resistance

2007-02-12T16:53:00.000+08:00

Superbugs - bacteria that resist the effects of the most powerful antibiotics - are being reported more and more frequently. Some doctors see their rise as heralding the end of the age of antibiotics. BBC News Online's health team presents an overview of the past, present and future of the 20th century's greatest medical breakthrough.

The emerging superbug
Visa is resistant to just about every antibiotic known to medicine and has been discovered in hospitals from Japan to Scotland - find out where it comes from and why it has got doctors worried.

Staphylococcus aureus - the root of the problem (picture: Pfizer)

The emergence of a superbug - a bacteria resistant to all antibiotics - could herald the end of the era of antibiotics, the biggest medical advance of the twentieth century.

That at least was the view of public health scientists in New York earlier this year when they reported a growing incidence of VISA - vancomycin intermediate-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

These bacteria have been proving resistant to vancomycin, the most powerful antibiotic in doctors' armoury, although combinations of other antibiotics have been able to halt it.

Vancomycin is seen as the last line of defence against MRSA - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - which is unaffected by most antibiotics and is becoming more common.

All around the world

The emergence of VISA shows that, in doctors' race to keep antibiotics advanced enough to defeat bacteria, the bugs are taking the lead.

VISA has been found in hospitals in Japan, America, France and, more recently, in Scotland.

Although only one person is thought to have died directly from infection with the bug, the fear is that more dangerous bacteria such as those that cause tuberculosis could develop the same characteristics that allow VISA to resist even the most powerful antibiotics.

Were this to happen, doctors would be back where they started before the introduction of penicillin - confronted by a host of diseases caused by bacteria and unable to cure them.

In February, a report in the New England Journal of Medicine recorded three cases of bacteria resisting vancomycin.

In two of them, cocktails of other antibiotics cleared up the infection. In the third, a combination of antibiotics failed and the 79-year-old patient died.

Larger problem

Dr Alexander Tomasz, professor of microbiology at New York's Rockefeller University, said in the journal: "This is the tip of the iceberg. At the moment such strains are very, very rare.

"But they are not as susceptible as they used to be. They have moved up the threshold of resistance. It is a warning."

The reports suggested that it would only take one small mutation for the bacteria to develop full resistance to even the most powerful drugs.

Dr Theresa Smith, of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported two of the cases in the journal, and said the appearance of such bacteria "threatens to return us to the era before the development of antibiotics".

Optimism in Glasgow

However, when it appeared at the Royal Glasgow Infirmary Dr John Hood, consultant bacteriologist at the hospital's Infection Control Unit, was less alarmed.

He said that while the strain showed increased resistance to traditional antibiotics, it was not yet immune to them and newer drugs were also available to combat it.

But Professor Hugh Pennington, who conducted the inquiry into the 1996 Lanarkshire E. coli infection, described the development as "worrying".

"If it turns out to be the case that this strain proves resistant to Vancomycin, that really is quite bad news and would confirm our fears that these bugs are developing a full house of resistance," he said.

Links to more Antibiotics stories
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic Resistant "Superbug" on the Rise
New antibiotic-resistant superbug found
Super-Resistant Superbugs
Attack of the Superbug
Essential oils have been found to kill the deadly MRSA bacteria

The importance of inflammation & Asthma triggers

2007-02-11T13:57:00.000+08:00

The importance of inflammation

Inflammation, or swelling, is a normal response of the body to injury or infection. The bloodflow increases to the affected site and cells rush in and ward off the offending problem. The healing process has begun. Usually, when the healing is complete, the inflammation subsides. Sometimes, the healing process causes scarring. The central issue in asthma, however, is that the inflammation does not resolve completely on its own. In the short term, this results in recurrent "attacks" of asthma. In the long term, it may lead to permanent thickening of the bronchial walls, called airway "remodeling." If this occurs, the narrowing of the bronchial tubes may become irreversible and poorly responsive to medications. Therefore, the goals of asthma treatment are: (1) in the short term, to control airway inflammation in order to reduce the reactivity of the airways; and (2) in the long term, to prevent airway remodeling.

Allergy Assist

The hallmark of managing asthma is the prevention and treatment of airway inflammation. It is also likely that control of the inflammation will prevent airway remodeling and thereby prevent permanent loss of lung function.

Figure I illustrates how important events in the asthma cycle are linked. Various triggers in susceptible individuals result in airway inflammation. Prolonged inflammation induces a state of airway hyper-reactivity, which might progress to airway remodeling unless treated effectively.

Asthma triggers

Asthma symptoms may be activated or aggravated by many agents. Not all asthmatics react to the same triggers. Additionally, the effect that each trigger has on the lungs varies from one individual to another. In general, the severity of your asthma depends on how many agents activate your symptoms and how sensitive your lungs are to them. Most of these triggers can also worsen nasal or eye symptoms.

Triggers fall into two categories:

- Allergens ("specific")
- Non-allergens - mostly irritants (non-"specific")

Once your bronchial tubes (nose and eyes) become inflamed from an allergic exposure, a re-exposure to the offending allergens will often activate symptoms. These "reactive" bronchial tubes might also respond to other triggers, such as exercise, infections, and other irritants. The following is a simple checklist.

Common Asthma Triggers:

Allergens

- "Seasonal" pollens.
- Year-round dust mites, molds, pets, and insect parts.
- Foods, such as fish, egg, peanuts, nuts, cow's milk, and soy.
- Additives, such as sulfites.
- Work-related agents, such as latex.

Allergy Fact

About 80% of children and 50% of adults with asthma also have allergies.

Irritants

- Respiratory infections, such as those caused by viral "colds," bronchitis, and sinusitis.
- Drugs, such as aspirin, other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and Beta Blockers (used to treat blood pressure and other heart conditions).
- Tobacco smoke.
- Outdoor factors, such as smog, weather changes, and diesel fumes.
- Indoor factors, such as paint, detergents, deodorants, chemicals, and perfumes.
- Nighttime.
- GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disorder).
- Exercise, especially under cold dry conditions.
- Work-related factors, such as chemicals, dusts, gases, and metals.
- Emotional factors, such as laughing, crying, yelling, and distress.
- Hormonal factors, such as in premenstrual syndrome.

http://www.medicinenet.com/asthma

Good Health and How to Achieve It

2007-02-10T10:31:00.000+08:00

By Debbie Piltin

The importance of good health cannot be ignored. Without good health we leave ourselves susceptible to dangerous diseases and a shortened life span. Good health is fairly easy to achieve, but you must make certain changes in your life style that may seem difficult at first. The main thing to remember is to start off slowly and don't try to change everything at once.

The most important facet of good health is adequate exercise. Exercises help us achieve good health by strengthening our cardio-vascular system, strengthening our muscle mass and reducing the affect of stress on the body. To ensure that exercises do not appear to be chores, it is best to find exercises that you enjoy doing rather than those that you dread. For those who prefer to be outdoors, trekking, hiking, jogging or running may be the appropriate exercise to take up. On the other hand, for those who enjoy swimming, membership to a local pool may be the answer.

Alternate methods of exercises are slowly becoming very popular. Amongst those that are really catching on is yoga. This is a very popular form of exercise that helps to strengthen your body, helps you lose weight, and is great as a stress reliever. Another alternate exercise is Pilates that addresses the core strength of your abdominals. The main point is that whatever your interest may be, you are sure to find an alternate form of exercise that would ensure good health.

Poor eating habits are a precursor to poor health. Healthy eating is very important in achieving and maintaining good health. Those who have poor eating habits should slowly change by taking steps such as adding a small salad to your dinner, or a piece of fruit for dessert rather than ice cream. The aim is to slowly change the eating habits by making sure that the bulk of what you consume is nutritious and full of vitamins and minerals. Moderation in whatever you do is the key to success.

A primary type of food to avoid when you want to 'eat right' is processed food. We all find it most convenient to open a packet of pre-packaged frozen food and pop it in the microwave to have a complete meal. Such a meal however is far from complete and does nothing for good health.

As a healthier choice, try making several nutritious meals on Sunday night and freezing portions of them to eat next week. This way you have the convenience of fast meals but you also know what's gone into them. Just by making small changes such as this you can be eating healthier in no time.

The two big-time killers of good health are smoking and drinking. A few drinks now and again are fine, and small amounts of red wine are actually good for you, but there is no such exception for smoking. You need to reduce your drinking and you have to quit smoking. Smoking is dangerous not only to your health but also to the health of those around you. The good news is that as you quit smoking, the body commences the task of repairing all the damage that has occurred over the years.

It is easy to achieve good health. All it takes is making some changes to your diet and lifestyle. Start by taking the stairs at work instead of getting in the elevator. Or switch that favorite lunchtime meal of hamburger and fries for a wrap and a salad. Small, easy changes are the best way to start. By making these changes now you can enjoy good health well into your golden years.

About the author: Debbie Piltin is the your host at FF Health, a good resource when you're looking for up to date advice and reviews to do with Health.

Why You Should Care about Your Blood Sugar?

2007-02-09T10:11:00.000+08:00

By Dov Oshri
Unless you're diabetic, chances are you haven't given a moment's thought to your blood sugar before now. So why should you care about it?

- You should care if you find yourself getting sluggish or tired at 3:00 pm every afternoon.
- You should care if you reach for biscuits, sweets, or coal top give you a shot of energy.
- You should care if you've ever found yourself hungry late at night and making a refrigerator raid.
- You should care if your earnest attempts to lose weight have met with little or no success.
- You should care if you've notices your vision or your memory slipping in recent years.

What exactly is blood sugar? And why is it so important to your health? Well, blood sugar is to your body what petrol is to your car. It's the fuel that makes it go. If your car ran out of petrol, it would sputter, cough, and come to a stop. If you ran out of blood sugar, you would soon go into a coma and die. Every cell in your body depends on blood sugar for the energy to stay alive and perform its function. Without a steady supply of blood sugar, your brain couldn't think, your heart couldn't b eat, your feet couldn't walk.

So, like petrol, blood sugar is a good thing. But you can have too much of a good thing. You wouldn't pour petrol all over your car, would you? But when your blood sugar gets high - and stays high - that's exactly what you are doing. You're pouring petrol over your body and all the vital organs inside. Then when you add a small additional problem as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you're striking a match.

Your goal is to keep your "petrol tank" of blood sugar full, but not too full. And one of the key tools in this process is a hormone called insulin. Insulin is manufactured in your pancreas and it's job is to "inject" the blood sugar into your cells. Consider it your own personal fuel-injection system!

Whenever you eat - especially when you eat carbohydrate - the food is converted to blood sugar (glucose), and your pancreas cranks up its production of insulin. The insulin sends the blood sugar into your cells, and your cells use it for energy. When your blood sugar is high, your body hates to waste all that fuel. So whatever it can't use right away for energy, it stores as fat to be used later.

Have you wondered why you can still gain weight even when you hardly eat? You're late for work and the kids are late for school, so you don't have time for breakfast. Work is really busy, so the only lunch you have time for is a bagel and a diet soft drink. Your body is in starvation mode, and your blood sugar is very low.

But when dinnertime comes, it's a different story. Now you're ready for a feast of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet corn and bread rolls with butter. Your blood sugar soars, your insulin spikes, and here's what your body is thinking: "We've been starving all day, and finally we got a decent meal. But who knows when we'll eat again? We should store all this food as fat. That way, we'll have a source of energy if we go back to starvation tomorrow."

So on the next morning, you step on the scales and you've gained weight! You say to yourself, "But how could that happen? I only ate one meal yesterday!" How could it happen? It's your blood sugar, that's how! Are you starting to understand why balancing your blood sugar is so important?

Doctors are beginning to realize that keeping a close eye on your blood sugar isn't just for diabetics anymore. It's for everyone - man, woman who wants to be fit, healthy, and live to ripe old age.

Controlling your blood sugar is one of the most exciting new discoveries to hit the world of weight loss in at least 25 years. It's the only weight loss method ever invented that works not by depriving you of foods, but by urging you to eat those foods that naturally keep your blood sugar on an even keel.

As a result, your insulin rarely spikes... and your meals are less likely to get stored as fat. If your body needs more energy that it can get from your last meal, it borrows form your existing reserves of fat in your belly, butt, and thighs. You're rarely hungry. Your cravings for sweets and carb crunchies will disappear. You will lose weight. Gain more energy. Sharpen your memory. And protect yourself against life-threatening illnesses like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

10 secrets of longevity

2007-02-08T02:08:00.000+08:00

Eat the right foods and you could live to be 100.
By Dr. Maoshing Ni

1. Weekday vegetarian, weekend carnivore
Vegetarians generally suffer fewer degenerative diseases and cancers than their carnivore cousins. It's been estimated that a third of all cancer patients developed their disease as a result of insufficient whole plant fibre in their diets. However, you don't have to give up meat entirely to enjoy longevity -- limiting your intake or eating meat only on weekends is a perfectly balanced and healthy approach.

2. Stay alive: Stop eating dead foods
Ever wonder what Wonder Bread is really made of, or how many miles that head of limp lettuce has traveled? There's nothing like fresh, whole, organic foods to maintain your health and well-being. Farm-fresh produce and meats go directly from the source to your table, leaving little time in between for nutrients to be lost. Many foods at your supermarket have been picked or slaughtered weeks or even months before they make it onto the shelf. These items are preserved by nitrogen or other artificial means, making them appear fresh. Moreover, foods treated with pesticides and artificial fertilizers have lower nutritional value than foods grown organically.

3. Ginger gives you snap
Best known in the West for its antinausea properties, ginger has probably been in the longest continuous use of any botanical remedy in the world. The Chinese use it for both medicinal and culinary purposes, frequently in cooking seafood, since it acts as a detoxifier to prevent seafood poisoning. Besides its popular application for digestive distress, ginger has been found to contain geraniol, which may be a potent cancer fighter. It also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve pain, prevent blood clots, and inhibit the onset of migraine headaches. Since ancient times, Chinese physicians have regularly consumed ginger tea to keep their vitality fired up.

4. Brown rice for long life
White rice begins as brown rice. Once the outer coating of rice bran is hulled off, however, not a lot of nutrients remain. A thousand years ago, Chinese physicians discovered that eating only refined white rice, devoid of the B vitamins in the bran, led to beriberi, a deficiency in thiamine (B1). Modern research has identified a wealth of nutrients in the bran coating of brown rice. It is remarkably effective in lowering high blood sugar and therefore serves as an excellent food for diabetics. Rice bran contains more than 70 antioxidants, including the well-known age fighters vitamin E, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10), proanthocyanidins, and inositol hexaphosphate (IP6). It is no wonder that rural farmers in Asia, who eat brown rice because white rice is too expensive, live longer and develop fewer health problems than their city-dwelling counterparts, who eat mostly white rice.

5. Eat your sea vegetables
Seaweed and marine algae are vegetables from the sea that have long been considered to possess powers to prolong life, prevent disease, and impart beauty and health. Common types of seaweed include nori (sushi wrap), kombu, kelp, dulce, and Irish moss. Containing more calcium than milk, more iron than beef, and more protein than eggs, seaweed is also a rich source of micronutrients. Traditionally, its healing properties are said to include shrinking goiters, dissolving tumors and cysts, detoxifying heavy metals, reducing water retention, and aiding in weight loss. So eat your sea vegetables! They have more concentrated nutrition than vegetables grown on land.

6. Password to a treasure of health: Open sesame!
The most common oil consumed by Chinese centenarians, sesame oil is enjoyed for its refined, nutty flavour but possesses therapeutic properties as well. Chinese medicine lists sesame as a kidney and liver tonic, a blood builder, and a bowel protector and regulator. Sesame is rich in phytic acid, an antioxidant that may prevent cancer. The oil of one variety, lignan sesamin, was found to drastically reduce cholesterol levels in the liver and bloodstream of rats. To enhance flavours and improve health, sprinkle sesame seeds and oil in your food regularly.

7. The ultimate longevity food
In Asia, mushrooms are favoured for both their taste and their therapeutic value. Chinese legend is filled with stories of those who discovered the 1,000-year-old mushroom and became immortal. An underground stalactite cave museum outside of Kungming, China, displays a reishi or ganoderma mushroom that measures 4 feet in diameter and is estimated to be about 800 years old! There are more than 100,000 varieties of mushrooms, about 700 of them edible. Many mushrooms, particularly shiitake, maitake, reishi, and wood ear, have superb anti-aging properties. Depending on the type, they may contain polysaccharides, sterols, coumarin, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that boost immune function, lower bad cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and protect the body from virus and cancer. And you don't have to dig for them in the mountains any longer -- they're readily available in your local health or specialty food store.

8. Sea salt for essential minerals
Before we were born, we spent nine months in a bath of amniotic fluid resembling the primordial saltwater from which life arose. No wonder the human body contains fluids closely resembling the composition of the ocean. Sea salt contains nearly 60 trace minerals essential for the formation of vitamins, enzymes, and proteins that keep our bodies going. Salt aids in general detoxification, and its alkaline quality helps balance the overly acidic pH environments that breed degenerative and cancerous conditions.

Common table salt, however, is refined to nothing but sodium chloride and is devoid of all other essential minerals. I suggest using only unrefined sea salt such as that found in the salt beds of Brittany, which has a slightly grey hue. Of course, salt is to be used only in moderation, especially for those with hypertension. It is also important to balance salt intake with potassium to ensure proper nerve and muscle function; potassium-rich foods include leafy vegetables, soy, whole grains, potatoes, bananas, and most fruits.

9. You eat naturally -- does your food?
Conventional meat, poultry and dairy products contain high amounts of pesticides, hormones and antibiotic drugs that are harmful to your health. Add the risk that your meat comes from diseased animals raised in stressful, inhumane conditions, and you have a good case for converting to vegetarianism. Commercial feed for animals is full of growth-stimulating hormones, colouring agents, pesticides and drugs. And that's not all -- of the 140,000 tons of poultry condemned annually as unfit to eat, mainly due to cancer, a considerable amount is processed into animal feed! More than 40 per cent of antibiotics produced in the United States is used as animal-feed additives. The ecological result, after we urinate and defecate the antibiotics, is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains that can sicken or kill us. Whenever possible, buy only organic and free-range animals for your health, peace of mind and well-being.

10. Sugar's side effects aren't so sweet
The average American consumes nearly 240 pounds of sugar per year. Most of the excess sugar is stored as fat in your body, which elevates cancer risk and can suppress your immune function. When study subjects were given sugar, their white blood cell count decreased significantly for several hours afterward. This held true for a variety of types of sugar, including fructose, glucose, honey and orange juice. In another study, rats fed a high-sugar diet had a substantially elevated rate of breast cancer compared to rats on a normal diet. To live long, draw sweetness from other aspects of your life.

Excerpted from Secrets of Longevity by Dr. Maoshing Ni.

Vegetables as medicine

2007-02-07T14:17:00.001+08:00

by Chang Chao-liang, Cao Qing-rong, and Li Bao-zhen

RADISH

- The root contains glucose, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, vitamins B1, B2, C and radish glucoside. It is a good source of calcium.

- The root can diminish sluggish feelings, clear feelings of heat and fever, disperse phlegm, keeps the qi from becoming over-active, warms the interior organs and helps neutralize poison.

CARROT

- Contains protein, calcium, phosphorus, carotene, Vitamins B1, B2, anthocyanidin, fat, oil, volatile oil and a substance that can reduce blood sugar.

- The root can strengthen the spleen, diminish sluggishness, help neutralize poison and assist in clearing a rash.

POTATO

- Contain copious starch, Vitamin C and protein. Also contain a small amount of phosphorus, calcium, iron and fat and are highly nutritious.

- Potatoes strengthen the spleen, acts as a tonic on the qi (vital energy) and help neutralize poison.

BAMBOO SHOOT

- Contains auxin, docosanoic alcohol and unsaturated fatty acids.

- Can control phlegm and ease some respiratory problems.

CUCUMBER

- Contains protein, fat, sugar, calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, vitamins B1, B2, C, niacin, coffee acid, a variety of amino acids, volatile oils, etc.

- Can cool fever and benefit the urine.

CABBAGE

- It contains protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamins B1, B2, C, amino acids, etc. also contains a substance that affects the thyroid gland.

- It can nourish the bone marrow, nourish the heart and strengthen bones and sinews.

WATERCRESS

- Contains Vitamins A,C and D.

- It can moisten the lungs, clear up phlegm, stop coughing, and aid the flow of urine.

TOMATO

- Tomatoes contain malic acid, citric acid, as well as a small amount of tomato alkali, protein, fat, sugar, calcium, phosphorous, iron, carotene, vitamins B1, B2 and C, niacin etc.

- Helps promote the secretion of saliva, quenches thirst, helps promote a healthy stomach and aids digestion.

GINGER

- Contains volatile oils, ginger alcohol, zingiberene fenchylene, borneol, cajeputol, etc. It also contains a small amount of ginerol as well as protein, fat, calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamin C and a small measure of vitamins B1 and B2.

- It can induce sweating, disperse cold, warm the stomach and neutralize poison.

SPINACH

- It contains protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorous, iron, carotene, vitamin C, niacin, as well as a small amount of vitamins B1 and B2. Etc.

- It can be used to treat a deficiency of yin, nourish the blood, and act upon intestines.

10 Foods for Longevity

2007-02-06T13:52:00.000+08:00

Science says these 10 can help you live longer, better.

Tomatoes
A major source of the antioxidant lycopene that reduces the risk of cancer by 40% -- notably prostate, lung and stomach cancers -- and increases cancer survival. Tomato eaters function better mentally in old age and suffer half as much heart disease. Concentrated tomato sauces have 5 times more lycopene than fresh tomatoes, and canned tomatoes have three times more than fresh.

Olive Oil
Shown to help reduce death from heart disease and cancer. Recent research shows that heart-attack survivors on a Mediterranean diet had half the death rates of those on an ordinary low-fat diet. Olive oil is also high in antioxidant activity.

Red Grapes,
including red grape juice and red wine. Red grapes have moderate antioxidant power, while purple grape juice has four times more antioxidant activity than orange or tomato juice. Red wine (not white) has about the same antioxidant capacity as purple grape juice or tea. French research show that drinking red wine in moderation increases longevity, but excessive drinking has the opposite effect, so limit to two glasses per day. Drink grape juice.

Garlic
German researchers have found that garlic is packed with antioxidants know to help fend off cancer, heart disease and all-over aging, and prolong cancer survival time. Let crushed garlic "rest" about 10 minutes before cooking to preserve disease-fighting agents.

Spinach
Second among vegetables only to garlic in antioxidant capacity and is also rich in folic acid, which helps fight cancer, heart disease and mental disorders. New University of Kentucky research shows folic acid may help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Eat both raw and steamed for best benefit.

Whole grains
A University of Minnesota study suggests the more whole grains you eat, the lower your odds of death by 15%. Whole grains contain anticancer agents and help stabilize blood sugar and insulin, which may promote longevity. Whole-grain "dark" breads, cereals such as All Bran, and "old fashioned" oatmeal are an excellent source.

Salmon, and other fatty fish
Contains high amounts of omega-3 fat that performs miracles throughout the body, fighting virtually every chronic disease known. Without it, your brain can't think, your heart can't beat, your arteries clog, and joints become inflamed. You need one ounce a day, or two servings of salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring or tuna per week.

Nuts
Eating more than 5 ounces a week can cut heart-attack deaths in women by 40% and help prevent deadly irregular heart beats in men a Harvard University study found. Almonds and walnuts lower blood cholesterol. Most of the fat in nuts is the good-type monounsaturated and/or omega-3. Unsalted nuts are best.

Blueberries
High in antioxidants, Tufts University researchers say a half-cup of blueberries a day can retard aging and can block brain changes leading to decline and even reverse failing memory.

Tea
Green or black tea has equal antioxidant benefit. One cup a day can cut heart disease risk in half Harvard researchers found. Make from loose tea or tea bags, instant and bottled tea has little effect Tufts University shows.

Contributing Editor Jean Carper, author of the best seller Miracle Cures, writes monthly on the medical effects of food.

How Coke and Pepsi are HELPFUL

2007-02-05T13:41:00.000+08:00

the awareness of these soft drinks...

To clean a toilet:
Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl.after 1 hour flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers:
Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola

To clean corrosion from car battery terminals :
Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion

To loosen a rusted bolt :
Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for sometime

To remove grease from clothes :
Pour a can of Coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola/Pepsi will help loosen grease stains

It will also clean road haze from car windshield

WE DRINK THIS STUFF!
OFF COURSE TO CLEAN OUR SYSTEM TOO. AFTER ALL WE ARE PAYING FOR IT.

ISN'I IT?

For your information
The average pH of soft drinks, e.g. Coke & Pepsi is 3.4. This acidity is strong enough to dissolve teeth and bones! Our human body stops building bones at around the age of 30. After that it shall be dissolving the bones every year through the urine depending on the acidity of the food intake. All the dissolved calcium compounds get accumulated in the arteries, veins, skin, tissue and organs, which affects the functioning of the kidney assisting in formation of kidney stones.

Soft drinks do not have any nutritional value (in terms of vitamins and minerals). They have higher sugar content, higher acidity, and more additives such as preservatives and colorings. Some people like to take cold soft drinks after each meal, guess what's the impact?

The Impact?
Our body has an optimum temperature of 370 for the functioning of digestive enzymes. The temperature of cold soft drinks is much less than 37, sometimes quite close to 0. This lowers the effectiveness of the enzymes and puts stress on our digestive system, digesting less food. In fact the food gets fermented. The fermented food produces bad smelling, gases, decays and forms toxins, which are absorbed in the intestines, get circulated in the blood and is delivered to the whole body. This spread of toxins can lead to the development of various diseases.

Few Examples
Sometime ago, there was a competition in Delhi University "Who can drink the most Coke?” The winner drank 8 bottles and died on the spot because of too much carbon dioxide in the blood and not enough oxygen. From then on, the principal banned all soft drinks from the university canteen.

Someone put a broken tooth in a bottle of Pepsi and in 10 days it got dissolved! Teeth and bones are the only human organ that stays intact for years after death.

Imagine
what the drink must be doing to your soft intestines and stomach lining!

10 Biggest Brain Damaging Habits

2007-02-04T13:35:00.000+08:00

1. No Breakfast

People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating

It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking

It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption

Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution

The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency

6. Sleep Deprivation

Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping

Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effect

8. Working your brain during illness

Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts

Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely

Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

增加免疫力，簡單嗎？

2007-02-03T06:57:00.000+08:00

似乎也不難，就是一句「平衡的身心靈」...........ＳＡＲＳ的流行也許不是個人能力所能控制，但是鍛鍊我們的免疫力，用心就可以做到..............

比口罩更有用的自救法寶

　　非典型肺炎病例人數一直增加，許多人走在路上都疑神疑鬼，不知道周邊哪一位路人可能就是潛伏帶菌的患者。台灣的口罩銷售量遽增三倍，忙碌的上班族，匆匆擠進電梯，聽到裡頭有人咳嗽一聲，所有人都暫時停止呼吸，回到座位上開始焦慮：我會是倒楣的下一個嗎？

　　美國疾病防疫管制兼預防中心（ＣＤＣ）在日前表示，目前並沒有任何有效藥物可以治療ＳＡＲＳ。像這樣「無藥可醫」的傳染疾病，在未來很可能越來越多。諾貝爾醫學獎得主李德博格就指出，因為病原體的變異，加上人類旅行頻繁，會使得許多傳染病呈現的形態超乎過去研究的理解，也使得原先發展出的疫苗失去作用。因此，這一波ＳＡＲＳ恐慌，很難不讓人緊張。

　　然而在小心之餘，你若發現自己因此而十分焦慮、常常擔心自己或家人感染，那麼該設法放鬆一下心情了，因為，根據研究，緊張焦慮會讓人唾液裡面的抗體比率大幅下降。而唾液正是抵擋呼吸道傳染病進入人體的第一道防線！

　　比口罩更有用的自救法寶抗病兵團常駐體內
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　　也就是說，你正在破壞自己身上比口罩更有用的防護罩－你的免疫力。面對「無藥可醫」的困窘，這波肺炎流行中，免疫力是個人最重要的自救法寶。例如，香港牛頭角淘大花園社區，這次出現嚇人的集體感染，Ｅ座住戶被強迫隔離。在這當中，卻有一位婦女，家中雖然有四人染上ＳＡＲＳ，在她身上經過測試卻找不到任何感染跡象。對於這樣的現象，醫生的解釋也就是：「可能她的免疫力就是比較。」免疫力可能是二十一世紀最好的醫藥，而且是上天賜給我們常駐在身體裡面的保護天使。用最簡單的概念來說，免疫力像是一組抗病兵團，在每一次病毒入侵時，以精密無比的方式聯合作戰。兵團的組織成員包括哨兵「干擾素」，發出警戒訊號；特遣部隊「殺手細胞」，最早抵達前線進行殺敵任務；作戰指揮官「Ｔ細胞」，帶動特異性免疫反應，啟動免疫細胞群組總動員；其他包括巨噬細胞、Ｂ細胞、補體等，像是主力部隊，各負吞吃病菌、產生抗體等等任務。

　　壓力、不快樂、混亂作息折損免疫力
　　 ==========================
　　除了少數基因異常的人，每個人的體內都有這些細胞和機制，免疫力是大部分人與生俱來的力量。可是為何有人連ＳＡＲＳ都不怕，有的人健保卡一年也用不到一格，有些人卻無「疫」不與？這個謎團，醫療界也一直不斷尋求解答。美國霍普金斯大學教授魯斯克於一九九六年和九七年，曾經連續兩年在冬末春初流行感冒盛行的時節，對於美國紐約曼哈頓區三棟辦公大樓的上班族進行免疫力研究。研究顯示，生活形態具體影響了上班族對感冒的免疫能力。魯斯克發現，那些兩年都沒有感冒的人，共同的特徵是：

　　一、他們與配偶的關係都十分良好；
　　二、他們都有固定運動或個人相當喜歡且常常進行的興趣活動；
　　三、他們都有信仰。

　　從這份研究顯示了一件重要的訊息：免疫力與人類身、心、靈的健康有著密切關係。「許多人常說要『增強』自己的免疫力，其實，更正確的說法應該是『恢復』我們原有的免疫力。」這是美國哥倫比亞醫學院網站上，關於免疫功能解釋的第一句話。我們的免疫兵團之所以戰力微弱，常常是因為我們的身、心、靈的平衡出問題，削弱了它們的力量。而其中最嚴重的，就是壓力、不快樂和混亂的作息。

　　多年前，美國發現了第一宗與感冒症狀相似的病例，後來，它正式命名為「慢性疲勞症候群」。這些人永遠都睡不飽（或睡不好），強烈的疲勞感持續半年或更長一段時間之後，則是出現輕微發燒、咽喉、淋巴結腫大、集中力降低、全身無力等等症狀。同時患者體內荷爾蒙代謝失調、神經系統調節功能異常，呈現整體免疫力減低的現象，這又使他們更容易染上流行性感冒或其他濾過性病毒引起的疾病，最後往往連醫生都不容易搞清楚真正的病因。過去十年陸續有更多的單位針對這個問題進行研究，發現背後真正因素，則是患者工作壓力過，或者個性過度要求完美，身、心無法放鬆所導致。美國學者巴托普就發現，人格傾向具有「高度權力慾望」或者「受到壓抑」的人，他們作為呼吸道的第一道防線ｇＡ抗體明顯下降，所以較容易罹患呼吸道感染。尤其是常常需要世界各地跑來跑去的白領菁英，現在不僅因著他們的移動能力，面臨了比非移動族更高的全球性傳染病風險，而且他們又是工作最忙碌、壓力係數最高的工作族群，免疫功能下降、容易生病，已經是群體而非個體的問題。

　　增進身、心、靈正向循環??重建體內自然防線
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　　根據卡內基美隆大學教授科恩，對包括匹茲堡、費城、波士頓、華盛頓在內的美國東岸八個城市的五百名企業中、高階主管的健康研究發現，這群人三個月內曾經罹患感冒的比率約四七％，幾乎是美國人的整體平均約二七％的兩倍。另外，這群人罹患過敏、氣喘的比率（與免疫力也有關係），也比平均指數要高。日本東京大學醫學系則曾經做過一項有趣的非正式研究，發現一些業績長期不佳或老是被上司責罵的日本上班族，無論是流行性感冒、皰疹或病毒型腸胃炎的染患比率都比較高。其實，若是從生理的角度來解釋，這些發現也都不令人訝異。人類的腦子當意識到外來壓力訊號（包括緊張、焦慮、恐慌、氣憤等等），腦下丘就會傳遞信號給腦垂體分泌激素，引導腎上腺素分泌來對抗；如果壓力是長期出現，腦子還會命令身體製造一種由膽固醇轉化而來的皮質固醇，這是一種壓力蛋白（stress proteins），如果在身體內累積過高的量，就會阻撓免疫細胞兵團的運作。此外，根據許多醫學研究，上班族若是因工作造成生活作息混亂，令身體無法充分休息，或造成失眠的問題，體內的Ｔ細胞與巨噬細胞的數目都會下降，免疫力也會水降船低。反之，身、心、靈正向的循環，則能恢復甚至增進自體正常的免疫能力。

　　少發脾氣、多大笑、不要憂慮用「心」就能抗病
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　　全球最大的健康組織凱色永久醫療計畫（Kaiser Permanent Medical Care Program）主持人大衛索柏，在他的「身心健康通訊」當中，提出了幾點用「心」增加免疫力的秘訣：

　　一、少發脾氣、多信任人：
　　因為根據研究，「敵意」低的人，血液的帶氧腺體數目也會增加，帶氧腺體就像高速公路的開道車，可以讓人的免疫細胞快速抵達病菌入侵現場。

　　二、多開懷大笑：
　　大笑可以減少壓力荷爾蒙。而且，哥倫比亞大學一項對民眾觀賞歡笑錄影帶的研究也發現，開心一下會增加口水分泌，並且增加唾液中的抗體。

　　三、多幫助人：
　　一項針對兩千七百名美國社區志工的調查顯示，這群人罹患心臟病、憂鬱症及傳染病的比率，比沒有擔任志工的人少二‧五倍。做善事之後，腦啡釋放的q會提高，從而增加快樂、減少因憂愁造成的壓力蛋白。

　　四、增加親密接觸，例如，按摩或擁抱：
　　邁阿密大學研究發現，每天接受四十五分鐘的按摩，一個月後免疫細胞數目明顯增加。
　　而許多醫師的經驗也發現，無論幼兒或成人，若是常常有人充滿關懷的撫摸、擁抱他們，對於疾病的抵抗力都會增強。

　　五、回歸信仰：
　　據杜克大學醫學中心的研究，固定參加宗教聚會，或有禱告靈修生活的人，體內的 interleukin-6蛋白（會削弱免疫力），比沒有宗教信仰的人要低。而教友的支持網，也是減少壓力的重要因素。

　　六、建立適合自己的生活節奏：
　　時間的壓力是有毒的，因為會快速累積皮質固醇。但在同一時間要做多少事，卻要看個人；動作快的人被要求慢慢來，反而會增加壓力。

　　七、不要憂慮太多：
　　聖經有一段經文「喜樂的心乃是良藥，憂傷的靈使骨枯乾」，經過醫學證明是正確的，因為憂鬱症患者也有更高的骨質疏鬆比率，而且體內Ｔ細胞與殺手細胞的比率都比一般人要低三成以上。

　　固定運動與好好睡覺簡單增強免疫力
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　　此外，最常被提到的增加免疫力的方法，其實都不新鮮，卻是許多人忽略的固定運動與好好睡覺。
　　誘發睡眠的化學物質，與刺激免疫系統細胞的化學物質是相同的，所以睡不好與不好好睡覺的人，體內的Ｔ細胞數目也比較睡眠足夠的人要少。耶魯大學的研究發現，每晚熟睡（睡眠中段最深沈的時間）少於兩小時的人，罹患癌症與免疫系統疾病的可能性比熟睡時間超過四小時的人，要高出30％。而美國疾病管制局則鄭重指出，每個成人最能夠增加免疫力的運動量，是每週三天，每次三十分鐘到四十五分鐘，做令心跳可以輕微加速的運動。持續超過三個月之後，免疫力就會增加。而太少或者過激，都反而會減少或抑制免疫力。

　　增加免疫力，簡單嗎？似乎也不難，就是一句「平衡的身心靈」。然而，我們體內的保護天使，是否因為我們的疏忽而奄奄一息呢？ＳＡＲＳ的流行也許不是個人能力所能控制，但是鍛鍊我們的免疫力，用心就可以做到。

Aromatherapy

2007-02-02T10:56:00.000+08:00

- Natural Healing For The Body

Aromatherapy originated in Ancient Egypt. About a hundred years ago, a pharmacist from France used an innovative method which led to a breakthrough in aromatherapy techniques.

For centuries, people have experienced and have come to recognise that essential oils have many benefits. Essential oils can help to combat bacteria and other diseases, repel mosquitoes, prevent tooth decay, fight oxidisation, inflammation and even enhance the immune system, calm nerves, etc.

Back-to-Nature Aromatherapy

Back-to-nature is a new health initiative by people living in modern society. Aromatherapy, which stems from natural plants, has also became a favourite in modern day living. Ancient medical healers use essential oils to heal people’s bodies and aroma to soothe their spirits. As whiffs of fragrance drift through the ages of time, people living in modern society have even made use of the latest scientific research to develop the unlimited potential and precious deposits of essential oils, so as to improve the environment, enhance health and beautify the spirit.

Aromatherapy comes from the essence of natural flora and enters the human body though the air and the olfactory nerves. From there, it goes though the central nerves into our brains and, tapping on the characteristics of plant hormones, it is able to deliver beneficial effects to the body, such as the lungs, blood, emotional nerves, immune system and even aid in psychological aspects such as the alleviation or pacification of problems like depression.

Aromatherapy uses a simple natural method to kill bacteria and increase nutrients in the air that we breathe. At the same time, aromatherapy is able to allow the surrounding environment to create anions which are extremely good for the human body. Different plant fragrances will create different feelings and responses in our body. Aromatherapy uses the characteristics of plant essential oils to improve the health and balance between complexion, body, cognition and spirit, so as to achieve a state where the body, mind and spirit become one.

The Genie of Aroma – Plant Essential Oils

All plants will go though photosynthesis where the cells will secrete aromatic molecules. These molecules will assemble into aromatic pouches dispersed on the petals, leaves or branches. After extracting these aromatic pouches, we will get plant essential oils.

The essential oils used in aromatherapy can be said to be the hormones of plants. They have the same building components and life energy as human beings. Essential oils are made from the amalgamation of different kind of molecules. These molecules exist together, in a beautiful proportion. As molecules are very fine and have a high penetration ability, they can effectively enter the body and not leave behind any toxins. According to research, pure plant essential oils will not be like chemical pharmaceuticals that remain in the body. They will utilise the body’s excretory system such as urine, perspiration and respiration to purge themselves out of the body. If the usage is correct, natural essential oils will have no side effects.

The natural aroma of plant essential oils, after entering into the brain via the olfactory nerves, is able to stimulate the frontal brain to secrete certain hormones, so as to engender a most comfortable state of mind. This is the best way to beautify the spirit. One is also able to group different essential oils together to blend an aroma to one’s liking. This will not damage the characteristics of essential oils and will even empower their functions.

The basic characteristics of essential oils can prevent contagious diseases and fight bacteria, pathogens and moulds. They can also prevent inflammation and convulsion as well as enhance cellular metabolism and regenerating abilities, making life even better. These essential oils can also regulate the inner secretion organs, enhancing the secretion of hormones and enabling the physiological and psychological activities of the body to develop well. Essential oils can even relax the nerves, enhance blood circulation, reduce depression, uplifts one's mood and enable cognition and psychology to reach a harmonious state.

Enjoy a “Forest Bath” at Home with Phytoncidere

The word phyton comes from a Latin word which means a kind of plant, while the word cidere means “to kill”. Russian biologist, Professor Dunkinn, discovered that certain plants emit a substance known as "phytoncidere” when damaged. Phytoncidere, present in all plants, kill other living things in their surroundings. If living organisms such as amoeba of flu, cholera or diphtheria germs are placed near to freshly chopped leaves, the germs will be killed after a few minutes. Hence, it is apparent that plants have a self-immunity function which eliminate bacteria and fungi.

The Functions of Phytoncidere:

1. Eliminates bacteria.
2. Purifies air of pollutants to ensure smoother breathing for greater vitality.
3. Enters the body via the nasal passage to fight diseases and maintain physical and mental balance.

Scientific Research of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a method that premises on the absorption of active materials to heal, alleviate and prevent various diseases and contagion. It can activate vigorous elements in the body to fight all pathogen elements, achieving the effect of healing and boosting of the immune system.

Aroma psychology that arises out of “Aroma Healing Studies” is a branch of science that specifically examines the psychological state and inner responses that occur when one inhales perfume. It uses experiments and the results of various measuring instruments to prove the effects of aromatherapy. It is able to present the research results in a quantitative manner and enable aromatherapy to go the way of science.

Vitamin in The Air – Anion

Dr. Jacob, a biological science lecturer at the Public Health School at Harvard University, describes anion as “vitamin in the air”. Cation can cause headache, discomfort and increased blood pressure, whereas anion can decease blood pressure. Experiment also shows that if a patient with high blood pressure inhales anion, his/her blood pressure will decrease and so will his/her pulse rate.

Effects of Anion:

1. Respiratory system: anions can enhance the fine hair activities in the nasal sticky membrane, windpipe and bronchus sticky membrane; elevate the expansion of smooth muscles; help in the elimination of phlegmatic liquids; soothe the sensitive reactions of the respiratory system and is especially helpful to nose sensitivity.

2. Blood circulation system: lowers blood pressure, slows the heart rate, reduces the precipitation speed of red blood cells, lengthens the time for blood to coagulate and aids in the smooth circulation of blood.

3. Immune System: activates the function of the dermis system, elevates protein contents in the blood cells, hence increasing the ability to fight diseases.

4. Controls bacteria in the air and reduces diseases related to the respiratory organs.

5. Adjusts and regulates the active response functions of the nervous system, hence soothing feelings of anxiety and unease.

How Essential Oils Are Absorbed by the Human Body

Essential oils are absorbed by the body through two channels, the skin and the lungs. The skin is originally endowed with the functions of absorption and excretion. Essential oil molecules are very tiny and are able to penetrate into the skin and in between the lymph and cells, then spread to the blood in other parts of the body. The absorption method takes place via the pulmonary alveoli in the lungs, enters the surrounding capillary bloodstream and is able to release refined plant hormones into the air through aromatherapy, allowing quick asborption by the body and achieving therapeutic benefits.

When the lungs absorb phytoncidere nutrients, it is not only healthy for the lungs, it will also forge a healthy connection between the lungs and the heart, as well as the heart and the blood vessels. So, after the lungs absorb this large amount of nutrients, it will send these nutrients to the heart, and the heart will then send these nutrients to the blood vessels, which will then send the nutrients to every cell in the human body!

Traditional aromatherapy uses the method of heating to allow essential oils to diffuse beneficial nutrients into the human body. To explore possibilities in healthcare and health science, the first step is to be acquainted with the functions of healthcare. This involves the complementation of “bio-tech aroma-vapourisation” products by research and development efforts. Usage of aroma-vapourisation is the first step for aromatherapy to enter the domain of health science. Via this method, you do not need to place essential oil into alcohol but can directly drip a few drops onto the aroma-vapourisation base for the essential oil to diffuse. The effects will be even better. This world-patented product (such as the one owned by Bel’Air) holds great significance for the medical world.

Functions of Aromatherapy - Health and Longevity

1. Clean and Fresh Air

Bacterial allergens and other pollutants constantly lurking in the air would mean that we are subjected to a long-term disease-causing environment, without any protection. Aromatherapy can help eliminate the harm from such floating debris, effectively preventing onsets of airborne ailments such as allergies, rhinitis, asthma and cold, thus giving you air that is at once clean and fresh.

2. A Nutrients-Filled Atmosphere

Aromatherapy can produce plant essences and anions. These essences have anti-bacterial properties, purifying the air and reducing the pollution. They work to engender smooth and easy breathing and a heightened sense of alertness, vitality and freshness. With each inhalation of air into the body, comes the aid that would at once enable you to dispel the common ailments of modern times and to achieve a balance between body and mind. A Professor of the Physiology Department at the Harvard University School of Public Health described anions that are found in the air as “air vitamins”. The more the anions there are, the greater the health benefits to a person's mind and body. With aromatherapy, more nutrients are added into the air around you, enabling you to enjoy the refreshing benefits of a “bath in the forest” every day.

3. “Back to Nature” Therapy

All lives have the innate ability to maintain their intrinsic balance. When this balance has at any time been upset, it would seek to be restored on its own. Aromatherapy stimulates the human body by harnessing respective plant energies in the form of their essences to help the body maintain the state of energy balance. This may be described as a “Back to Nature” therapy.

4. Management of Physical Circulatory Functions

Plant essential oils can act on the brain’s sympathetic nerves (main nerve) and have direct effect on the lymphatic system, increasing the energy in the lymphatic system, helping in the body’s management of toxins and enhancing regulation of blood flow. At the same time, it can the increase the vitality level of the lungs, leading to substantial increase of oxygen in the blood, enlivening and causing cell regeneration and strengthening immunity functions.

5. Management of Home Environment

Essential oils can be used to get rid of mosquitoes, cockroaches, ants, fleas, spiders, insects and so on, prevent onset of diseases by contagion and remove odor and second-hand smoke, thus giving you a clean, comfortable and healthy air environment.

6. EQ Management

The arch enemy of our EQ management is stress. When emotions run riot, the health of our body and mind would be affected. The natural fragrance from plant essential oils can calm nerves and help you to relieve stress. You can then be completely relaxed, with a well-managed EQ, and the feedback to the inner physique can help to prevent the development of mental ailments with emotional causes. The soothing fragrance can also help to relax and induce sleep.

7. Preventive Healthcare

With continuously develops new products that carry more healthcare benefits. In this way, aromatherapy products are not only endowed with the functions of air purification, germs elimination and mood management, they also deliver great benefits in terms of elevating the body immunity system and can improve various bodily ailments, thus achieving the medical function of preventive healthcare.

8. Cultivating the Lifestyle of Enjoyment

Aromatherapy fills your life with a romantic ambience. The incomparable appeal and elegance of artistically crafted aromatherapy diffuser lamps are the result of a perfect integration that combines modern technology and timeless artistry. This serves to render your life at once healthier and more enjoyable.

Uses and Applications of Aromatherapy At A Glance

1. Improvement of environmental hygiene, neutralisation of odor, dissipation of second-hand smoke and air purification.
2. Enhancement of Immunity.
3. Enhancement of lung vitality.
4. Improvement of respiratory functions, reduction of nasal allergic conditions and alleviation of breathing problems.
5. Insect repellent and anti-bacterial action.
6. An aid for stabilisation of hormonal levels, enhancement of cellular vitality and anti-aging.
7. Invigoration of state of health and alertness, improvement of memory.
8. Induction of calmness, a state of relaxation, sleep, relief of headaches and sense of well-being.

Stress Relaxation Techniques

2007-02-01T09:48:00.000+08:00

Deep Breathing

- Stand with your feet apart and your arms hanging loosely by your sides.

- Close your eyes and let your head fall forward.

- Breathe in slowly through your nose. Draw in the air deeply, allowing first your abdomen, then your lungs to expand.

- Hold your breath gently for a while.

- Breathe out slowly through your nose. Take your time.

- Repeat the deep breaths until you feel relaxed.

- Then slowly open your eyes.

Muscle Relaxation

- Sit on a comfortable chair.

- Close your eyes.

- Clench one fist tightly. Hold the tension for a few seconds and concentrate on it.

- Then release the tension very slowly. Feel the tension draining out of your hand.

- Repeat this exercise with any part of your body - face, scalp, eyes, shoulders, abdomen, buttocks, arms and legs.

Mental Relaxation

- Switch on some soft music.

- Sit on a comfortable chair or lie down.

- Close your eyes.

- Relax all your muscles and let your body go limp.

- Think of a pleasant, soothing image such as a blue mountain lake gentle lapping waves "leaves rustling in a soft wind".

- Do some deep breathing if you like or listen to a taped relaxation message.

- Continue until you feel very relaxed.

Shoulder and Neck Massage
Learn to do this with another person and you can massage each other. These steps are for the person who is doing the massaging:

- Let your partner sit comfortably.

- Stand behind your partner.

- Suggest that your partner removes his/her glasses, closes his/her eyes and thinks of something pleasant.

- Place your hands gently on your partner's shoulders as a "greeting".

- Apply gentle but firm, even pressure with your thumbs across the top of the shoulders. Start at the neck. Work your way towards the ends of the shoulders and then back across to the neck.

- Using both hands, massage across the top of the shoulders with a kneading motion, from the neck to the tips of the shoulders and back.

- Locate the spine (backbone) at the base of the neck. Place your thumbs on either side of the spine and apply gentle but firm pressure away from the bone. Continue down the back and then up again. Do not press on the spine itself.

- Locate the base of the skull at the back of the head. Apply rotating pressure on either side of the spine with your thumbs.

- Place one hand on your partner's chin and one hand behind the neck for support. Slowly and carefully rotate the head first in one direction and then the other.

- Ask your partner to clench his/her teeth. Locate the tense jaw muscles. Ask him/her to relax.

- Use three fingers to massage the jaw muscles.

- Use your fingers to massage the temples. Work across the forehead and back to the temples.

- Place your hands gently back on the shoulders as a "goodbye".

有關癌症

2007-01-31T10:32:00.001+08:00

請耐心看完這篇文章，對自身健康很有幫助。

人類醫治癌症到目前為止只有兩條路，第一條路是消滅病源，第二條路是增加抵抗力。但很奇怪的是，癌症無論用鈷60或其他藥物去消滅癌細胞，可是癌細胞還沒被消滅，好的細胞卻先被殺死。

另外,無論用什麼營養、補藥，好的細胞還未吸收，癌細胞卻先吸收、讓癌長得更快；因此,可說上述兩條路都行不通、所以叫絕症。

人類的聰明連登陸月球也都已經成功，但為什麼沒有人去懷疑上述兩種治癌的路是在鑽牛角尖呢? 為何不另外找第三條路呢？

癌症病人血液檢查的結果百分之百都是酸性反應。長期素食、且生活接近自然的佛寺僧尼，由於體質都偏屬優質弱鹼性，所以尚沒有發現罹患癌症的病例。

因此,大膽的斷定在弱鹼性體質的狀態下，癌細胞是無法生長、甚至是無法生存的。建議你從現在起少吃酸性的葷食類，多吃鹼性食物，另外可吃綠藻和帶殼菱角湯，改變你的體質，並勵行接近自然的良好生活規律願上帝祝福你。

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關心自己也要關心別人，85﹪癌症病患屬於酸性體質:

＊健康人的血液是成弱鹼性的，約是PH7.35～7.45左右;
＊嬰兒也是屬於弱鹼性的體質;
＊成長期的成人有體質酸化的現象; 根據一項六百位癌症病人體液分佈的研究，顯示85﹪癌症病患屬於酸性體質。因此，如何使體質維持在弱鹼性就是遠離疾病的第一步。

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酸性體質的生理表徵:

1.皮膚無光澤。
2.香港腳。
3.稍做運動即感疲勞，一上公車便想睡覺。
4.上下樓梯容易氣喘。
5.肥胖、下腹突出。
6.步伐緩慢、動作遲緩。

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為什麼會形成酸性體質？

1.過度攝取乳酸性食品

a）肉類、乳酪製品與蛋、牛肉、火腿等皆屬於酸性食品。
b）攝取過量的酸性食品血液會傾向酸性而變黏稠，不易流到細血管的末稍，而易造成手腳或膝蓋的冷寒症，以及肩膀僵硬和失眠等。
c）年輕力壯時吃適量的肉類是對的，但老年人則以蔬菜或小魚為宜。??

2.生活步調失常會造成酸性體質

a）生活步調失常會造成精神與肉體的壓力。
b）據統計，晚睡者罹患癌症的機率比正常人高出五倍。
c）人類本來就活在節奏的世界裡，無法事先儲備睡眠或飲食，也不能夜顛倒。
d）人體內臟受自律神經控制，白天主要是交感神經活動，晚上則由副交感神經工作，若使其錯亂及倒置，就亦百病滋生。

3.情緒過於緊張

a）文明社會會造成的壓力。
b）工作上或精神上的壓力。
c）當一個人承受精神壓力後，一旦緊張鬆弛，時會造成猝死，稱為潛在性副腎皮質機能不全症。

4.肉體的緊張

a）動手術之前應先檢查腎上腺皮質機能是否正常。如果副腎皮質機能較差，或手術壓力遠超過副腎調整功能，則可能造成病人死亡或其他不良影響。
b）若發現病患臉部浮腫，需詳加詢問病史及服藥狀況，為長期服用腎上腺皮質賀爾蒙者，施以針灸要特別注意反應。
c）勞動或運動過度，通宵打牌、開車等壓力都應盡量避免。

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附錄：常見食物的酸鹼性

1.強酸性食品：蛋黃、乳酪、白糖做的西點或柿子、烏魚子、柴魚等。
2.中酸性食品：火腿、培根、雞肉、鮪魚、豬肉、鰻魚、牛肉、麵包、小麥、奶油、馬肉等。
3.弱酸性食品：白米、落花生、啤酒、酒、油炸豆腐、海苔、文蛤、章魚,泥鰍。
4.弱鹼性食品：紅豆、蘿蔔、蘋果、甘藍菜、洋蔥、豆腐等。
5.中鹼性食品：蘿蔔乾、大豆、紅蘿蔔、蕃茄、香蕉、橘子、南瓜、草莓、蛋白、梅乾、檸檬、菠菜等。
6.強鹼性食品：葡萄、茶葉、葡萄酒、海帶芽、海帶等。

尤其是天然綠藻富含葉綠素，是不錯的鹼性健康食品，而茶類不宜過量，最佳飲用時間為早上。

Control Stress in 12 Easy Steps

2007-01-30T17:28:00.000+08:00

Stress is part of life for most people. If not managed properly, it can cause adverse effects for your health. Symptoms such as migraine, sleeplessness and eating disorders may take place. Find out how you can take control of your stress.

1. Plan your time well
Be more organised. Make a list of all the things you need to do and arrange them in order of importance. Decide how much time you need for each job and then stick to your plan.

2. Spread out the changes in your life
Give yourself time to adjust from one change to another. For example, avoid getting married, buying a house and changing jobs all at the same time.

3. Be realistic about what you can do.
Choose your work according to your own ability and interest. Do not hope for the impossible. Set goals for yourself that are achievable so that you don't become frustrated or discouraged.

4. Make decisions wisely
Get all the relevant information first - don't make major decisions blindly. Consider the good and bad points of each choice. Involve the people who will be affected by the decision in the process.

5. Learn to like yourself
Don't worry too much about your looks, height, pimples and other faults. Make the best of what you have and learn to accept what you cannot change.

6. Think positive
Prevent negative feeling from building up. Learn to identify the cause of these feelings and deal constructively with them. Don't blow things out of proportion.

7. Share your problems
Do not keep all your problems and worries to yourself. Remember you are not alone. Talk to your spouse, friend, supervisor or religious leader. They may have had experience with similar situations and they may be able to suggest a solution to your problem.

8. Build a happy family
Be kind, loving and polite to your family. Treat them the same way you should treat your friends. They will provide you with love and support in times of need. Set aside some time each day to talk, play or relax together. Make your home a happy place to come back to after a hard day's work.

9. Make friends
Just as you need a happy family, you also need friends to talk to and laugh with, to visit you and go out with you and to help you in times of need. Treat others the way you would like them to treat you. Respect their views and be patient with their faults. Try giving in to others sometimes - even when you are right.

10. Keep Healthy
Keep your body healthy by exercising regularly, eating wisely and getting enough sleep. Do not turn to cigarettes or alcohol to relieve your stress. Smoking and drinking do not solve anything and will cause more problems for your health.

11. Make some time for yourself.
Do something that you really enjoy. It could be a hobby like collecting coins or an exercise activity like jogging. Take a short break when you feel tense or tired. You deserve to have a little fun sometimes.

12. Learn some Relaxation Techniques
Deep breathing Exercise, meditation, massage and muscle relaxation techniques can be helpful in relieving stress.

The Crisis of Human Survival

2007-01-29T17:52:00.000+08:00

The following issues constitute factors that threaten the survival of humanity, cause deterioration of health and increase mental stress, leading to unhealthy and unhappy lives.

Environmental Pollution

1. Damage to The Ozone Layer Causes Radiation Pollution

The hole in the ozone layer above the North Pole is becoming larger, allowing large volumes of ultraviolet radiation to fall directly on the Earth’s surface, causing destruction and harm to humanity, and resulting in skin cancer and other bodily ailments. At the same time, it reduces the rate at which green plants photosynthesise, thereby reducing oxygen content in the atmosphere.

This has extreme negative effects on the Earth. Health organisations all over the world are continuously researching on ways of reducing such harmful effects on humanity. In a direct attempt to address the issue, many are actively looking into the effects of radiation, and taking measures to rectify the situation, such as modifying the coolant compartments in automobiles and refrigerators, and setting up new guidelines for certain products.

2. Acid Rain

The emission of pollutants and toxic gases into the atmosphere has resulted in chemical reactions, which cause acid rain. Acid rain damages the environment by, for example, corroding the metals we use in car doors and buildings. It also harms human health; the first sign of prolonged exposure to acid rain is the onset of skin ailments.

3. Agro-Chemicals

Many of the agricultural products, which we consume regularly, are sprayed with chemical pesticides that are harmful to humans. Some of these products may reach the consumer before an interval of time that is necessary for them to be safe and fit for human consumption. Consumers may unwittingly purchase these quick-to-the-market agricultural products, still tainted with chemicals, and expose their family to the harmful effects of these pesticides. Prolonged accumulation of these chemicals can cause irreversible damage to our health.

4. The Contamination of Western Medicine

Frequently, we see a new phenomenon. Be it in the family or office, as soon as someone catches a cold or cough, it will inevitably spread quickly to someone else. Besides the highly contagious nature of the virus, the body’s low resistance to viruses also plays a part. The abusive use of antibiotics has resulted in viruses' resistance to medicines as well as deterioration of the human body’s immunity system. The rates of contagious diseases are thus on the rise.

Air Pollution

Rapid worldwide industrialisation has increased the daily emission of toxic waste and gases. Vehicle exhaust fumes and dust are increasingly trapped in our environment and this is exacerbated in densely populated cities where smog blankets and traps polluted air.

Tobacoo Smoke（Public Places）

The harmful effects of nicotine found in tobacco smoke are well documented. Passive smokers who are exposed to tobacco smoke in public places can also suffer from the same ill effects as smokers themselves – lung diseases, damages to our brain cells, heart problems, strokes, poor blood circulation and high blood pressure are some of the more well known illnesses associated with tobacco smoke.

Indoor Air Pollution

On average, we spend 80% of our time indoors. The high cost of living and pressure for space have resulted in smaller living areas, with a higher tendency of congestion and poorer ventilation. Coupled with an enclosed indoor environment, these living conditions often come with pollutants such as cigarette smoke, dust, fungi and spores, droppings from dust mites, chemicals from photocopying machines and construction materials (glue, paint) and smoke from cooking. Sustained exposure to these elements can cause cancer, respiratory ailments such as asthma, hypersensitive rhinitis, hypersensitive dermatitis, and deterioration of the immune system.

1. Cooking Smoke (Kitchen and Restaurant)

Research reveals that cooking a meal is equivalent to smoking six cigarettes. Although the proportion of women in China who smoke is small, the mortality rate of these women who suffer from pulmonary diseases is high. Epidemiologists suggest that there is a strong correlationship between this and the inhalation of smoke and oily fumes while cooking.

2. Recycling of Accumulated Carbon Dioxide (Office and Bedroom)

Prolonged inhalation of carbon dioxide in an enclosed or badly ventilated office can result in fatigue and lack of concentration among office workers. Fatigue felt after a long journey in the car is also similarly caused by poor circulation of air where there is insufficient oxygen to replace the carbon dioxide.

3. Bacteria and Fungus Found Living In Air Conditioners (Office Buildings, Hospitals, Homes, etc)

It is essential to clean the filters of all air-conditioning systems regularly, be it centralised or single units. Filth in the units will lead to the growth of micro-organisms which will flow into the room through the inlet duct when the air-conditioner is switched on. Many cases of asthma today are closely related to allergy to these micro-organisms.

4. Air Pollution by Chenical Substances (Home, Office)

The scents and odor of household products like insecticides, detergents, deodorisers, mosquito coils, hair gels, hair sprays, glue, correction fluid, calcium carbonate, etc, are sometimes unhealthy. They may even be carcinogenic.

The Change in Lifestyle

1. Changes In Diet

In the modern diet, chemical additives occupy nearly 65% of all daily food content. In addition, fashionable trends in fast food resulted in people taking in excessive animal fats and food with high cholesterol contents. Such changes in eating habits resulted in people consuming too much unhealthy products and thus health is affected.

2. Lack of Exercise

Oxygen is important to the body. With exercise, oxygen will help to strengthen cardiac and lung functions. Exercise will also help to burn excess fats and reduces intravascular LDL (low density lipoprotein cholesterol) to prevent arteriosclerosis. Exercising will benefit the health but when done excessively, it will result in hypoxia and overproduction of free radicals causing physiological imbalance.

3. Mental Stress

Changes in the present living environment: reductions in natural greens making way for the metropolis jungle, inter-personal relationships becoming increasingly superficial. As life’s pressures build up, so does stress in the workplace. The world of feelings and EQ succumb to imbalance. Many urban dwellers suffer from the ills of depression and this constitutes another concern for modern society living.

The Origin of Virus and Allergy

Mankind’s endless devastation to Mother Nature has resulted in severe environmental pollutions, and nature is reacting. The constant mutation of bacteria and virus variations, coupled with the bustle of world trade, has lent favor to virus propagation. With developments in aviation and frequent travel, viruses are being disseminated at lightning speed across the globe. Strange illness abound and the pace of medical research cannot keep up with the unexpected speed of viral mutation. Plagues continue to endanger lives of humans and livestock. Life on earth is seriously threatened.

In addition, while most allergies do not endanger life, they can cause a person to live unhealthily or become unhappy. An example is dust allergy. Asia has the world’s highest incidences of asthma, 90% of such cases arises due to dust allergy. The common symptoms of dust allergy include habitual early morning sneezes, running nose, blocked nose, cough, rhinitis, asthma, allergic conjunctivitis and uncommon dermatitis.

Stress

2007-01-28T16:51:00.000+08:00

Stress is a part of life. Stress happens to everyone every day as we cope with ordinary events, interact with people, and meet all kinds of demands. Everyday things such as rules, work, responsibilities, decisions, changes, relationships, illness and money can cause stress.

A little stress is good. It makes you think and try harder. It stimulates and provides excitement. The stress of competitive sports, for example, is enjoyable for most people. But too much stress or stress that goes on for a long time can become harmful.

How does stress affect health?

Stress affects everyone differently. Some people become anxious or defensive, others become depressed or withdrawn. Yet others become aggressive or excited. Stress can also give rise to:

Fast Heartbeats
Tense muscles
Headaches, stomachaches and diarrhoea
Being anxious and bad-tempered all the time
Acting in a defensive or aggressive manner
Feeling tired and having trouble concentrating
Eating disorders, loss of appetite or overeating
Sleeplessness (insomnia)
Migraine
Stomach ulcers
Skin rashes

If stress continues, it may lead to diseases like:

High blood pressure, heart attack
Depression, nervous breakdown or mental illness
Worsening of asthma attacks

To control stress effectively, we must first know what is causing the stress. Then we must consider whether we can do anything about it. Some causes of stress can be changed or adjusted while others have simply to be accepted. In both cases however, we can change the way we react and learn how to cope more effectively.

Avian Flu

2007-01-27T00:02:00.000+08:00

Nature’s Wake-Up Call for Humanity

The potential spread of avian influenza (also known as avian flu or bird flu) is one of the most serious public health threats humankind has ever faced. The disease is contracted by humans through the butchering or eating of infected animals such as chickens or ducks.

How meat-eating is causing a potential bird flu pandemic

Archaeologists studying animal bones have traced many diseases back to the confinement of animals, which began about 10,000 years ago. The foot bones of livestock from that period are deformed like those of confined animals, while the humans who kept them died of animal-borne diseases such as tuberculosis, smallpox and flu. Non-human illnesses such as foot-and-mouth disease appeared at the same time, wiping out livestock on which people had become dependent for food, thereby causing human malnutrition, starvation and susceptibility to sickness. Thus, directly or indirectly, humankind’s attachment to meat over the centuries has brought about catastrophes worse than any war or natural disaster could ever wreak.

To this day, one in three people will die from infectious diseases, most of which are derived from animals, and three fourths of all emerging human illnesses are animal-derived. By contrast, Native Americans, who traditionally did not confine animals as did other races, were virtually free of infectious diseases before the arrival of Europeans. Subsequently, a series of European animal-derived illnesses quickly wiped out ninety percent of the native population of both American continents.

Overall, among the top ten causes of death in developing countries are diseases arising from animals, the foremost of these being AIDS. The HIV virus that causes AIDS first appeared in traders of monkey and chimpanzee meat, and HIV has now infected 65 million people and killed 25 million. Scientists have determined that a monkey virus called SIV jumped species between hunters and primates a minimum of seven times before becoming HIV, demonstrating that a large amount of virus transfer occurs due to hunting.

The cycle of violence

A common method of preventing avian flu is to kill chickens carrying the disease; thus, approximately 150 million fowl have been destroyed during the recent epidemic. A survey prepared for the UN found that typical means of slaughtering the birds included beating them with sticks and iron pipes, and stuffing them in plastic bags and then burying them alive in pits. In some cases, gasoline was poured into the pits and the animals burned alive before being buried. Carbon dioxide gas, which causes piercing, stabbing pain and slow death, has also been employed.

The deadly game

Besides chicken farming, another way that bird flu can spread to humans is through duck hunting. Ducks are the main carriers of bird flu in the wild and when hunters shoot ducks, carriers spread the virus to anything that makes contact with the carcass. Throughout history, humans have spread animal-borne diseases to livestock and other humans through hunting.

While bird hunting has been banned in many countries this year due to the potential for an avian flu epidemic, hunters are largely ignoring the bans. As a Lebanese hunting official explained, “Hunters may not believe the government and so don’t take the ban seriously. They don’t realize avian influenza has made hunting national health concern, and is no longer merely a social or economic activity.”

Bird flu is also spreading through the trade in exotic birds, some of which have been seized by officials as far away from their native lands as England. Also, officials have found infected fighting cocks being smuggled out of China, and according to David Morgan, head scientist for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), “You only need one specimen to get through the net to spread the disease.”

A brighter future is possible

As health administrators struggle to control outbreaks of avian flu, an effort that is costing the global economy billions of dollars and the lives of hundreds of millions of birds, one cannot help but wonder whether a more suitable solution can be found besides mass slaughter; namely, the vegetarian diet. As people buy meat in shops and supermarkets, perhaps they should ask themselves, “Is it worth risking a global epidemic for this piece of flesh?” And lest people conclude that a key law of nature is “kill or be killed,” they need only remember the dog, that model of domestication. Simply by sharing food and shelter with dogs, humans have turned a former enemy into a guide, protector and “best friend.” How much easier it would be to make friends with such placid animals as cows, pigs and chickens! Killing these animals for food is a primitive, uncivilized practice that endangers the health of all people on Earth. So let us hope that these more humane approaches to dealing with the avian influenza problem will be adopted soon.

References:
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11516376&dopt=Citation
2. http://www.fas.org/irp/threat/nie99-17d.htm
3. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/353/13/1374
4. http://www.unaids.org/epi2005/index.html
5. http://bioanthropology.huji.ac.il/pdf/2.pdf

最佳時間

2007-01-26T13:28:00.000+08:00

1. 唸書的最佳時間
早上醒來頭腦一定會昏昏的，但去洗把臉後，就會清醒多了，這時也是頭腦最清醒的時候，而在此時唸書或是記東西都會比較容易喔！

2. 運動的最佳時間
在早晨的時候出去散散步是不錯的，因為早晨的空氣是最新鮮的，在散步時多呼吸些清新的空氣，不僅可以提神，對身體又很有幫助，但切記不要做劇烈運動喔！

3. 吃水果的最佳時間
飯前一小時吃水果最有益，因為水果是生食，吃生食再吃熟食，體內就不會有白細胞增高的反應，有利於保護人體免疫系統，增強防病抗癌的能力。

4. 鍛煉的最佳時間
傍晚時鍛鍊身體是最好的，因為人的各種活動都受〝生物鐘〞的影響，無論是身體的適應或體力的發揮都在下午近傍晚時分最佳，早上則反之，運動時的血壓和心率都較傍晚時高，對人體有害。

5. 洗澡的最佳時間
晚上臨睡前，洗一次溫水澡能讓全身的肌肉和關節放鬆，有助於安然入睡。

6. 減肥的最佳時間
飯後45分鐘。在二十分鐘內散步行程1600米，最有利於減肥。如過二小時後再散步二十分鐘，則減肥效果更佳。

7. 睡眠的最佳時間
午睡最好從午後一小時開始，這時身體感覺較遲鈍，很容易入睡。晚上則以十時至十一時上床最佳，因為人的深睡時間一般在夜裏十二時至淩晨三時，而人在睡後一個半小時進入深睡狀態。

8. 刷牙的最佳時間
應在每次進食後三分鐘內，因為飯後三分口腔內的細菌開始分解食物殘渣中的酸性物質，腐蝕溶解牙釉質。

9. 護膚的最佳時間
人體皮膚的新陳代謝夜間十二時至凌晨六時最為旺盛，因此睡前護膚有促進和保護皮膚新陳代謝及保護皮膚健美的作用。

10. 飲茶的最佳時間
飯後立即喝茶不科學，因為飯後立即喝茶，茶葉中的鞣酸可與食物中的鐵結合成不溶的鐵鹽，降低鐵的吸收，時間長了容易誘發貧血，等飯後一小時，食物中的鐵質已基本吸收完畢，這時喝茶就不會影響鐵的吸收了。

取自中國保健

Ten Reasons To Eat More Like A Vegetarian

2007-01-25T07:32:00.000+08:00

Adapted from Nutrition Action Healthletter

Ten Reasons To Eat More Like A Vegetarian
Text: Bonnie Liebman
(Originally in English)

Evidence is mounting that the healthiest diets are loaded with plant foods (vegetables, fruits and beans) and short on animal foods (meat, fish, poultry and dairy products), especially those with a high fat content.

"A diet rich in fruits and vegetables plays a role in reducing the risk of all the major causes of illness and death," says Walter Willet, Head of the Nutrition Department at the Harvard School of Public Health.

To many people, vegetarian is a loaded word. It typically refers to people who never eat meat, fish or poultry for ethical, religious or health reasons. Vegans also avoid all dairy products and eggs. But scientists are more interested in how often - not whether - people eat animal foods. And much of their research points to the same conclusion: people should eat fewer animal foods and more plant foods, especially fruits and vegetables. Why? Here are 10 reasons - some related to health, some not.

1. Cancer

"The scientific base is very strong suggesting that fruits and vegetables are protective elements for all gastrointestinal cancers and all smoking-related cancers," says Tim Byers, professor of Preventive Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. That includes cancers of the lung, colon, stomach, mouth, larynx, esophagus and bladder. And a recent study found that lycopene - a carotenoid in tomatoes and tomato sauce - may protect against prostate cancer.

It's not clear how fruits and vegetables may reduce cancer risk. It could be their phytochemicals - things like carotenoids, vitamins C and E, selenium, indoles, flavonoids, phenols and limonene.

There is also evidence that high-fibre grains like wheat bran can reduce cancer risk. "Fibre has a beneficial effect in preventing colon cancer," says David Jenkins, a fibre expert at the University of Toronto. And pasta, rice and other grains can replace the animal foods - red meat, in particular - that may increase the risks of some cancers.

"Men who eat red meat as a main dish five or more times a week have four times the risk of colon cancer of men who eat red meats less than once a month," says Edward Giovannucci of Harvard Medical School. Heavy red-meat eaters were also twice as likely to get prostate cancer in his study of 50,000 male health professionals.

That's just one study. Looking at others, says Lawrence Kushi of the University of Minnesota, "the evidence is quite consistent that red meat is associated with a higher risk of colon - possibly prostate - cancer".

But even lean red meat seems to increase the risk of colon cancer. "It could be the carcinogens created when meat is cooked or meat's highly available iron, or something else in meat," speculates Willett.

2. Heart disease

A plant-based diet with lots of fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of heart disease. For the last 20 years, heart experts have emphasised cutting saturated fat and cholesterol intake, but plants may protect the heart in other ways. Among them:

* Soluble Fibre: "To reduce your risk of heart disease, you may want to eat more beans, peas, oats, and barley," says Jenkins, because their "sticky" soluble fibre seems to help lower blood cholesterol.

* Folic Acid: "The evidence that folic acid reduces the risk of heart disease is pretty strong," says Willet. Folic acid, a B-vitamin, lowers blood levels of a harmful amino acid called homocysteine. "And fruits and vegetables are a major source of folic acid," he adds.

* Antioxidants: a growing body of evidence suggests that LDL ("bad") cholesterol damages arteries only when it has been oxidised (combined with oxygen). That's why researchers believe that antioxidants like vitamin E may protect the heart. And many of the phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables are antioxidants.

* Squeezing Out Saturates: if you eat lots of plant foods, there's simply less room for the saturated animal fats that clog arteries.

3. Stroke

There's a lot of evidence showing that fruits and vegetables are beneficial for reducing the risk of stroke," says Willet. For example, in a 20-year study of 832 middle-aged men, the risk of stroke was 22 per cent lower for every three servings of fruits and vegetables the men ate each day. Again, no one's sure if it's the potassium, magnesium, fibre or other components of fruits and vegetables that prevent arteries from clogging in the brain.

4. Diverticulosis & Constipation

High-fibre grains - especially wheat bran - can help prevent constipation. That's not trivial in a country like the US that spends millions a year on laxatives.

Diverticulosis is also common. About 30 to 40 per cent of people over 50 have it, though most have no symptoms. Others experience bleeding, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, pain, or diverticulitis (that's when the pouches - or diverticula - that form in the walls of the colon get inflamed).

"In our studies, it's clear that fibre both from bran and from fruits and vegetables is protective," says Willet. Men who ate the least fibre (13 grams or less a day) were almost twice as likely to get diverticulosis as men who ate the most fibre (at least 32 grams of fibre a day).

5. Other diseases

Plant-rich diets may prevent other illnesses:

* Macular Degeneration: a carotenoid called lutein - which is found mostly in leafy greens - may help prevent the deterioration of the retina that causes blindness in older people. "In our study, people who ate spinach or collard greens two to four times a week had half the estimated risk of macular degeneration compared with those who ate them less than once a month," says Johanna Seddon of Harvard Medical School.

* Neural Tube Defects: folic acid supplements can reduce the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube birth defects. Folic acid from foods (mostly fruits and vegetables) may also cut the risk.

* Diabetes: "We found a lower risk of adult-onset diabetes in people who ate more whole grains," says Willet.

6. Safer food

Some of the deadliest food-borne illnesses enter the body via animal foods. "Ground beef is the most likely source of E. Coli 0157:H7. Poultry carry Salmonella and Campylobacter, and the consumption of raw shellfish has caused infection with Vibrio vulnificus," says David Swerdlow of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.

Any raw food - including fruits or vegetables - can carry harmful bacteria. "For example, recent outbreaks of Salmonella have been associated with cantaloupe, tomatoes and alfalfa sprouts," says Swerdlow. But meat, seafood and poultry are the most likely culprits in food-borne illness.

7. The environment

"Our eating habits have a tremendous effect on the planet," says Jenkins. "Eating animals wouldn't harm the environment if it were done on a much smaller scale," explains Alan Durning, Director of North-west Environment Watch in Seattle.

"Modern meat production involves intensive use - and often misuse - of grain, water, energy and grazing areas," says Durning. He cites the following examples:

* Water pollution: the manure and sewage from stockyards, chicken factories, and other feeding facilities can pollute water supplies.

* Air pollution: thirty million tons of methane - a gas that contributes to global warning - comes from manure in sewage ponds or heaps.

* Soil erosion: nearly 40 per cent of the world's - and more than 70 per cent of US - grain production is fed to livestock. For each pound of meat, poultry, eggs and milk we produce, farm fields lose about five pounds of topsoil.

* Water depletion: an estimated half of the grain and hay that's fed to beef cattle is grown on irrigated land. It takes about 390 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef.

* Energy Use: it takes almost ten times more energy to produce and transport livestock than vegetables.

* Overgrazing: about 10 per cent of the arid West of the US has been turned into a desert by livestock. But some of that land couldn't be used for much else. "That's why my argument isn't for vegetarianism, but for people to reduce the consumption of animal products," maintains Durning.

8. Cost

Sure, you can spend $7.99 a pound on mesclun or other gourmet foods. But from squash to sweet potatoes, most plants are a downright bargain. And the lower price of plants shows up when you eat out. On Chinese, Indian, and most other restaurant menus, the vegetarian selections are usually cheaper than the meat, seafood and poultry.

9. Animal welfare

It's unpleasant to think about, but before we slaughter them, the animals we eat are often raised and transported under inhumane conditions.

10. Taste

The number-one reason for eating a plant-rich diet is that it tastes good. The five vegetables that Americans eat most are French fries, tomatoes (mostly as sauce or ketchup), onions, iceberg lettuce, and other potatoes.

But if most Americans shrink the meat, seafood and poultry on their dinner plates, they - or many of their favourite restaurants - wouldn't know what to replace them with. You have to go to ethnic restaurants to get interesting plant-based dishes. It's no coincidence that ethnic restaurants know how to make vegetable dishes taste good. "Fortunately, there's a wealth of experience around the world because almost all traditional diets are plant-based," says Willet.

Yet many Italian, Mexican and other ethnic restaurants have become so Americanised that their vegetables have been largely replaced by meat and cheese. And that's a shame. In Asian and Mediterranean cuisines, cooking fruits and vegetables is an art form. The Italians don't put tremendous amounts of meat and cheese on pizza, for example. I had a thin-crust pizza at a traditional restaurant recently with no cheese - just fresh basil, tomatoes and garlic. It was totally wonderful.

excerpted from :
http://www.godsdirectcontact.org/eng/article/veg10.html

愛飲可樂必看

2007-01-24T07:18:00.000+08:00

read if Coca Cola is your favorite !!!

有人車禍過世，火化之後骨頭是黃色的，
撿骨的人說這種人生前一定很愛喝可樂這類的東西，而他的確是如此！

你知道麥當勞已經開始停止販售 Diet Coca了!

你可能讀過以下所述，但為了萬一你沒讀過，請讀一讀吧。

一位因腎衰竭而過逝的年輕母親，她曾在伯特米那醫院住過一個月，而且每天只能喝一杯水，醫生為她進行了藥物治療，但似乎是太遲了。

根據她所說，她以前每天午餐都喝「非酒精性的飲料」或稱做「軟性飲料」 (譯註：就是那種有很多種美美的各種顏色，各種口味，甜甜的，多半有氣泡的，冰的飲料，像是可口可樂，百事可樂，汽水，沙士，甚至標榜有什麼奧利多活菌，bifidus 益菌。。。。等等）。

雖然只是每天一杯，但足以摧毀這個維持生命所必須的器官，
她終於在去年十月去世，留下一個一歲大的兒子！
請繼續往下讀！

=============================================

危險的非酒精性飲料！

這篇文章無關政治，但與可口可樂、百事可樂有關，非常耐人尋味。
給這些愛喝而且自以為很清楚可口可樂/ 百事可樂的人

清潔廁所：
倒一罐可口可樂在馬桶，讓這個活生生的可樂待個一小時，然後沖掉。
可樂的檸檬酸會將玻璃質似陶瓷器（譯註：指馬桶）上的污點消除。

將車子保險桿上的污鏽除去：
將皺成一團的鋁箔片
（譯註：即一般廚房刷洗鍋底的鋁質刷子）浸在可口可樂後，拿來搓洗保險桿。

清潔汽車電池的電極：
將整罐的可口可樂倒在電極，以可樂的泡沫清除鏽蝕。

鬆開鏽蝕的螺栓：
將一塊布浸在可口可樂後，搓洗鏽蝕的螺栓，搓個幾分鐘。

除去衣物的油脂：
將整罐可樂倒在一堆油膩的衣物，加入清潔劑，再進行清洗工作。
可口可樂可以幫忙油垢的附離。
它也可以清除擋風玻璃的污霧。
而我們喝這種東西！

可口可樂 & 百事可樂提供參考：
軟性飲料的酸鹼平均值，像可口可樂，百事可樂，是3.4。
這種酸度酸到可以溶解牙齒和骨頭。

我們人體到了30歲左右就停止製造骨質。
之後，骨頭透過排尿，每年會有百分之8到18會溶體外，
而這端看所攝取食物的酸度。
(酸度並不是指食物的味道，而是指鉀、鈣、鎂對鏻的比例）
所有被溶的鈣成份都會在血管的動脈、靜脈、皮膚，組織和器官累積。
這會影響腎功能（如腎結石）。

就維他命和礦物質而言，軟性飲料並無營養價值。
他們只有比較多的糖、酸度，和像是糖精和色素的添加物。
有些人喜歡在餐後喝冰冷的軟性飲料，想想看會有什麼影響 ?

我們人體維持對消化酵素最佳功能的體溫是在37度。
而冰冷的軟性飲料遠低於37度，有時甚至是接近零度。
這會降低酵素的功能，而且增加消化系統的負擔，而消化較少的食物，事實上，這些食物會發酵。
發酵的食物產生難聞的氣體，會壞掉會形成毒素，
而被我們的腸子所吸收，並且在血管中循環送全身。
毒素的傳送會導致各種疾病的形成。

在喝可口可樂或百事可樂或是其他軟性飲料前想一想。
你可曾在喝瓶氣體的飲料的當頭想過你喝的是什麼?
你吞下二氧化碳，有人會建議你喝的東西。
二個月前，在達利大學有場比賽：「看誰能喝最多的可口可樂 ?」
獲勝者喝了八瓶，並當場死亡，因為血管中含了太多的二氧化碳，而沒有足夠的氧。
從那次以後，校長就禁止任何的軟性飲料在大學的福利社販賣。

有人將掉下來的牙齒放在百事可樂中十天，它溶解了。
牙齒和骨頭是人體中唯一死亡後，仍可保存無缺的器官。
想想看這樣的飲料，會對你脆弱的腸壁和胃壁做出什麼樣的事來。

Traditional Chinese medicine

2007-01-23T11:03:00.000+08:00

Traditional Chinese medicine (also known as TCM or T.C.M., Simplified Chinese: 中医学; Traditional Chinese: 中醫學; pinyin: Zhōngyī xué) is a range of traditional medical practices used in China that developed over several thousand years. These practices include herbal medicine, acupuncture, and massage. TCM is a form of Oriental medicine, which includes other traditional East Asian medical systems such as traditional Japanese and Korean medicine. TCM says processes of the human body are interrelated and constantly interact with the environment. Therefore the theory looks for the signs of disharmony in the external and internal environment of a person in order to understand, treat and prevent illness and disease.

TCM theory is based on a number of philosophical frameworks including the Theory of Yin-yang (阴阳), the Five Elements (五行), the human body Meridian (经络) system, Zang Fu organ theory, and others. Diagnosis and treatment are conducted with reference to these concepts. TCM does not usually operate within a western scientific paradigm but some practitioners make efforts to bring practices into an evidence-based medicine framework.

Treatment techniques

Historically, eight branches comprised Chinese medicine treatment:
1. Tui na (推拿) - massage therapy
2. Acupuncture and Moxibustion (針灸)
3. Chinese herbal medicine(中药)
4. Chinese food therapy (食疗)
5. Qigong (氣功) and related breathing and meditation exercise
6. T'ai Chi Ch'uan (太極拳) and other Chinese martial arts
7. Feng shui (风水)
8. Chinese astrology

Today, all of the above except Feng shui and Chinese astrology, specific treatment methods are grouped into these branches. Cupping and Gua Sha (刮痧) are part of Tui Na. Auriculotherapy (耳燭療法) comes under the heading of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Die-da or Tieh Ta (跌打) are practitioners who specialize in healing trauma injury such as bone fractures, sprains, and bruises. Some of these specialists may also use or recommend other disciplines of Chinese medical therapies (or Western medicine in modern times) if serious injury is involved. Such practice of bone-setting is not common in the West.

Modern TCM treatments consist of herbal medicine or acupuncture as the primary method, with other methods such as massage, qi gong, or food therapy playing a secondary role. Illness in TCM is seen as a lack of harmony, and the goal of all traditional treatment is to assist the body to regain balance and achieve homeostasis.

The modern practice of traditional Chinese medicine is increasingly incorporating techniques and theories of Western medicine in its praxis.

see also:
- Wikipedia site for TCM
- Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine information
- Qi, the journal of traditional eastern health and fitness
- The Chinese Way to Health: A Self-Help Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine by Dr. Stephen Gascoigne
- TCM Basics
- TCM info page
- Acupuncture.Com
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource Center
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource Guide
- International Comprehensive Services of TCM
- Acupuncture.Edu
- UK Acupuncture and TCM

這八種東西吃多了會死人的

2007-01-22T08:49:00.000+08:00

皮蛋 : 一般製造商在製作皮蛋時，常添加定量的鉛，我們若經常食用，會引起鉛中毒。同時，還會造成身體內鈣質的流失。

臭豆腐 : 臭豆腐在發酵過程中，極易被微生物汙染，同時又會揮發大量鹽基氮，以及硫化氫等；這些都是蛋白質分解的腐敗物質，對人體有害。

味精 : 每人每日對味精的攝取量，以不超過六公克為原則，多則有害無益。

菠菜 : 菠菜營養豐富，但因含有草酸，致食物中寶貴的元素鋅與鈣之結合，而被排出體外，而引起人體鋅與鈣的缺乏。

豬肝 : 一公斤的豬肝，其含膽固醇高達四百毫克以上，而一個人若攝入過多的膽固醇，會導致動脈硬化。

烤肉 : 由於烤肉在燻烤過程中，會產生如「苯」等有害物質，是誘發癌的因子。

醃菜 : 醃菜若製作不得法，菜內隱藏致癌物，並含硝酸胺，久吃因而致病。

油條 : 油條中的明礬，是含鋁的無機物，不可經常食用。

The Underlying Causes of Cancer

2007-01-21T13:55:00.000+08:00

[excerpted from CancerFightingStrategies.com]

Cancerous cells are always being created in the body. It's an ongoing process that has gone on for eons. So parts of your immune system are designed to seek out and destroy cancer cells.

Cancer has been around as long as mankind, but only in the second half of the 20th century did the number of cancer cases explode. Contributing to this explosion are the excessive amounts of toxins and pollutants we are exposed to, high stress lifestyles that zap the immune system, poor quality junk food that's full of pesticides, irradiated and now genetically modified, pathogens, electromagnetic stress, lights, and just about everything that wasn't here 200 years ago.

All these weaken the immune system, and alter the internal environment in the body to an environment that promotes the growth of cancer.

Cancer is not a mysterious disease that suddenly attacks you out of the blue, something that you can't do anything about. It has definite causes that you can correct if your body has enough time, and if you take action to change the internal environment to one that creates health, not cancer, while at the same time attacking cancerous cells and tumors by exploiting their weaknesses.

Cancer tumors begin when more cancerous cells are being created than an overworked, depleted immune system can destroy.

Constant exposure to tens of thousands of manmade chemicals from birth onward, chlorinated and fluoridated water, electromagnetic radiation, pesticides and other toxins, leads to the creation of too many free radicals and excessive numbers of cancerous cells.

Alone this would be enough to raise cancer levels, but combined with an immune system weakened by a diet of refined and over processed food, mineral depleted soils, and too much exposure to artificial light at night, the immune system at some point no longer is able to keep cancer in check, and it starts to grow in your body.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DID YOU KNOW? Research shows that the immune system needs 9 1/2 hours of sleep in total darkness to recharge completely -- the authors of the book Lights Out explain. When was the last time you had this much sleep?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Because of this stress and the overload of toxins, you end up with a malfunctioning immune system, and a body that is not capable of destroying the excessive numbers of cancerous cells that develop. Some, sooner or later, survive and multiply. And then you have cancer. Of course, our diets loaded with sugar and refined carbohydrates don't help. Refined carbohydrates digest so fast they act like sugar, and cancer cells love sugar. They have about 15 times more receptor cells for capturing sugar than healthy cells.

Overcoming cancer is a process of reversing the conditions that allowed the cancer to develop, and going after and killing cancerous cells.

The exact causes don't have to be known, though certainly the more varied the approaches taken to correct those conditions, the more likely you are going to hit on what works best in a particular case. What you need to do is to strongly and dramatically interrupt and reverse the cancer-causing conditions in your body so that it becomes healthier, and stops breeding cancer.

The more cancer there is, the more serious the condition, meaning much more has to be done -- fast. It may be too late, or it may not. No one knows where that cutoff point is as some people given only a few days to live have pulled through and conquered cancer when they applied these strategies.

What The Medical Industry Won't Tell YouAbout Treating Cancer

There was a woman whose daughter was in the advanced stages of brain cancer. She asked her oncologist if it was ok to give her daughter a superfood called blue green algae. Her doctor told her that it was no problem, that in fact a number of his patients had used that supplement with success in fighting cancer.

Naturally she wondered why he didn't tell her about this product a year before when they came to him.

Unfortunately, he couldn't tell her about this or any "natural or alternative health therapies" and stay employed. Insurance regulations would preclude such suggestions. And he could get into administrative trouble by recommending natural, non-drug treatments for cancer.

His advice is controlled by a large medical industry that makes mega money off expensive cancer fighting drugs and treatments. An industry that doesn't look favorably on natural supplements or other cancer treatments as they cannot patent them to make high profits.

Fifty years from now, the current conventional cancer treatments used by doctors will on the whole be viewed in the same light that we view the old medical practice of using leeches to cure illnesses.

Chemotherapy and other treatments damage cells and tear down and weaken the immune system. But the problem in the first place is that your immune system is already weak, and that your cells are already damaged.

Even if tumors do go into remission, these treatments will have damaged other cells, which are more likely to turn cancerous. The immune system, unless it is supported by supplements and diet to help it recover, will be in worse shape then ever.

While it may have taken decades for cancer to develop the first time around, the second time usually takes a year or two.

Another reason why doctors ignore sensible, safe and healthy treatments for cancer, and recommend costly and illogical treatments instead -- is human nature. They advise and prescribe what they know. Just what we all do.

You go to them and you get what they know. You assume they will do the best they can for you, while in fact they only do what the system teaches them, promotes and allows them to do.

A Doctor's Shocking Closed-Door Confession ...

In a survey of 79 oncologists from McGill University Cancer Center in Canada, 64 said they would not consent to treatment with Cisplatin, a common chemotherapy drug, while 58 oncologists said they would reject all the current trials being carried out by their establishment. Why? "The ineffectiveness of chemotherapy and its unacceptable degree of toxicity." Philip Day, Cancer: Why We're Still Dying to Know the Truth

This information is shocking to say the least. But consider this ...

Doctors today are not very different than they were 150 or 200 years ago. Back then the common practice was for interns and doctors working on cadavers to walk down the hall to deliver a baby without washing their hands. Many women died from the subsequent infections.

Finally a doctor in charge of a clinic figured out what was happening, and had them wash their hands. The infections stopped. When he published his results, the medical profession was outraged. Good doctors could not be the cause of something like this. The doctor was ostracized and fired.

He went elsewhere and repeated the experiment. Again, deaths dropped. Again he announced the results, and again the medical profession rose up against him. The end of the story was, he lost everything, went insane from the tragedy of it all, and eventually killed himself.

Bottom line: Don't expect a doctor working inside the system to buck the system. The risks are too great.

It is not all gloom and doom with chemotherapy. For two decades Dr. Perez Garcia has been using a treatment he calls Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT). It consists of giving a patient a dose of insulin followed by a tiny dose of chemotherapy.

Cancer cells have 15 times more insulin receptors than normal cells. The insulin dose helps to target chemotherapy into cancer cells because they have so many more insulin receptors. So small doses of chemotherapy can be used that cause little harm to normal cells. With Stage 1 or 2 cancer, IPT is, I read, about 80% successful, mixed results for more serious cancers. So after two decades of use, how many doctors were using IPT in the USA? 29. Hard to believe isn't it.

Many oncologists make much of their income from the markup they make on chemotherapy drugs, and small doses don't make big money.

You don't have to avoid chemotherapy or radiation therapy to receive benefits from natural products and supplements. In fact, nutritional supplements are quite useful when used in conjunction with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. The best ones work to support the body so that radiation and chemo will actually work better. In addition, the immune system will be stronger, and better able to keep cancer from developing again.

It makes sense, doesn't it, to supplement your chemotherapy or radiation treatments with other options that support your body and actually help it be much more effective in fighting cancer.

Many people only do chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and do not also support their body's fight against cancer in other ways. All too often, the cancer is not destroyed, or comes back a short while later. And no wonder...

If the immune system has been wiped out by chemotherapy or radiation, cancer is bound to overrun the body even faster than before.

Seeking other options after the doctors throw in the towel and say there is nothing else they can do, is necessary. It makes more sense to correct the underlying causes of cancer early on when the odds are much better. Especially with natural supplelments that can do no harm.

Natural supplements won't hurt you. They can only help. They won't make chemotherapy or radiation therapy less effective. Instead they amplify the power of whatever cancer treatments you may be doing by attacking cancer in other ways, or supporting the health of the body and immune system. For example, research studies have shown that when you oxygenate cancer cells, radiation therapy is more effective at killing those cells. And beta glucan, when used in conjunction with some types of chemotherapy, produced marked improvement over chemotherapy alone.

Certainly some people beat cancer using chemotherapy or radiation therapy. But look at the number of deaths from cancer, and you see that to many people don't. Not using natural supplements to fight cancer is like being in a life and death struggle, and choosing to fight with one hand tied behind your back.

Hit cancer hard. This is one fight you don't want to lose.

The more support you give your body, the better you will be at handling any possible side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and the better your body will be at fighting cancer.

A natural approach to cancer is based on making your body healthier. To strengthen a depleted, worn out, under energized immune system that is not capable of killing cancer cells as fast as they are multiplying.

Use safe, natural supplements to change the body's internal environment to one that does not support the growth of cancer, and to directly kill cancer cells.

One of the ways is to get started with a strategy, about an amazing mineral that kills cancerous cells and leaves healthy cells alone. See CancerFightingStrategies.com for more details.

keys for health

2007-01-20T09:00:00.000+08:00

(1)失眠時，好多人會飲鮮奶或數羊，但結果更難入睡。其實平常人呼吸的原理是吸氣短，呼氣長，下次如想安睡，只要相反原理，吸氣長而呼氣短即可，在五分鐘內會入睡。

(2)一罐可樂有十二匙單糖，意思係飲下後會直接變成我們身體的糖分。

(3)有人減肥不吃早餐，事實所得效果相反，會更肥胖，因相隔晚餐時間太長，下次進食時會吃得更多。不吃早餐，令自己空肚，會很快生膽石，因為沒有食物在肚內，膽會排出一些分泌，久而久之，會變成石。而且不吃早餐，會減低新陳代謝，減肥的原理是加強新陳代謝，才可燃燒脂肪，所以無法減到磅。早餐是每天最重要，亦應是最豐富的。可吃粉、飯或麵包等，無須怕會熱量高，因為人體經過一天活動，自然會消耗掉，反而下午及晚餐要小心。

(4)牙醫推薦應該是吃完早餐才刷牙，因口腔是身體最不潔的地方，比肛門還差，尤其是進食後，最多細菌。

(5)如想改善胃病或腸胃病，可以生果為早餐，博士就是這樣而解決了他嚴重的十二指腸問題。每天只要進食五至七款不同顏色的生果，就不用進食維他命。

(6)最有效的進食生果時間是每天下午三時至五時，不是飯後。

(7)減肥的原理是增加肌肉，有肌肉才可以燃燒脂肪，否則只是減去水份。

(8)有肌肉的人，就算坐著看電視，也比一個無肌肉的人消耗更多卡路里，因為只要他有多你一磅肌肉，他身體會自然地燃燒五十卡路里，而無肌肉的人，反而要去做運動來燃燒這多餘的脂肪。

(9)美國及加拿大已經禁止蠔油進口，因驗出有致癌物，所以香港的蠔油近期大減價。

(10)鹽也不可吸收太多，因為鹽會幫助吸收糖份，少糖但吃鹽，也會幫助糖份的吸取。

(11)蜂蜜不要買來自國內的，盡可能選購外國產品。

(12)如想對付仇人，可叫他們去BBQ，食物經過燒烤會產生致癌物質，吃進肚內，不會排出，會長期積聚體內。

(13)無人能估計體內會積聚多少致癌物質，但當身體抵抗力較弱、年老、忙碌或壓力增加時，就會發出來。

(14)如無辦法，可用新鮮檸檬汁灑在肉上，會分解致癌物質。不好扮醒，檸檬茶是不可以的。

(15)纖維素不單有助排泄，也可以吸收脂肪再排出體外，所以如果想減肥，應該多吃。

(16)香港人要多小心肝，因我們比其他國家的人患肝癌的機會大三倍，飲酒的會更多；而且事前無特別病況，發病時通常已經是期。

(17)每天進食四至五餐，是少食多餐的原則。徐可減輕胃腸負擔外，也因每次進食後，血液會集中在胃部，令人想睡和疲倦。

(18)可吃宵夜，因為肉類要用兩小時去消化，會致肥。肉類的選擇不是在於白肉或紅肉，而是在於肉的那個部位，雞髀很肥，但雞胸肉就比較少脂肪，較健康。

(19)肥胖會導致不育。決定生育前應檢查體重，因有遺傳基因，會生一個肥胖的子女，所以減肥不是只為自己，也為下一代。

(20)減肥可樂卡路里較低，但有酸性，會令自己肚餓，故會增加食慾，令自己更肥。

(21)煲湯只煲夠一次過飲就可，不可番滾湯，會致癌，每次番滾，會令湯內的分子變質，影響健康。

(22)湯的維他命經一天後已經留失，飲下的只是脂肪、膽固醇等，所以煲湯只要足夠一次過飲晒就可以。

(23)如要加熱，可用微波瀘，原理是微波爐是加熱而不是翻滾，所以比較健康。但要時時檢查微波爐是否損壞，可在市面購買幅射測試錶，測試幅射外洩的程度。如有便要更換，否則我們便會進食了含幅射的食物，影響下一代。

(24)翻滾的水也不可，但現今社會已難控制。翻滾的油就不好了，如油炸鬼。

(25)少飲用罐頭湯，因已經翻煲，會致癌。

(26)一星期兩次重量訓練，如舉重、啞鈐；一星期四次有氧運動，心跳在 120上。要減肥就要先做重量再做有氧，效果會好些。

(27)不可放棄任何一餐正餐，因為會令新陳代謝減慢，減不到脂肪。

(28)成年人每年會減少一磅肌肉，等如增加5卡路里，這是中年發福的原因，所以要不斷緞練肌肉。

(29)增加肌肉即淢少脂肪。進食天然食品，外國人進食薯仔時會連皮吃，只要清洗好，是一個好習慣，纖維素增加，有助健康。

(30)做重量運動時要進食麵包等，否則無力去舉重。做有氧運動時則相反，因做有氧運動是為減肥，吃下麵包去做運動就失效。所減的係那個麵包而不是身體內的脂肪，故此跑步前不可進食這類食物。肚空，才會燃燒體內脂肪，否則所減的只是那個麵包的能量。

(31)早上磅重會較輕，晚上會較重。將早上的磅數和晚上的磅數比較，如相差百分比二，就可以測出新陳代謝是否好，否則就証明代謝慢。

(32)三文魚壽司有蟲，每次進食會在體內積聚，在體內一日一日地長大。日本人比我們患胃癌的機會大三倍，因為wasabi是致癌物質。

(33)焗桑拿令心臟壓力加大，好傷心臟。

(34)咖啡會令骨質疏鬆，不可飲用。

Asia on alert for bird flu

2007-01-19T00:38:00.000+08:00

see todayonline.com reported on 18 January 2007 at:
http://www.todayonline.com/pdflive/1801WNL014.pdf

see also
- Influenza Pandemic
- Flu Fears
- WHO update of confirmed human cases as at 15 January 2007

Influenza Pandemic

2007-01-18T06:28:00.000+08:00

A pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and starts spreading as easily as normal influenza – by coughing and sneezing. Because the virus is new, the human immune system will have no pre-existing immunity. This makes it likely that people who contract pandemic influenza will experience more serious disease than that caused by normal influenza.

In contrast to epidemics, pandemics are rare events that occur every 10 to 50 years. They have been documented since the 16th century, and in the last 400 years, at least 31 pandemics have been recorded. During the twentieth century, three influenza pandemics occurred. Their mortality impact ranged from devastating to moderate or mild. The 1918 pandemic was caused by a H1N1 virus of apparently avian origin, whereas the subsequent pandemic strains - H2N2 in 1957 and H3N2 in 1968 - were reassortant viruses containing genes from avian viruses.

THE STORY OF INFLUENZA: 1918 AND BEYOND

An influenza pandemic is a rare but recurrent event. Three pandemics occurred in the previous century: “Spanish influenza” in 1918, “Asian influenza” in 1957, and “Hong Kong influenza” in 1968. The 1918 pandemic killed an estimated 40–50 million people worldwide. That pandemic, which was exceptional, is considered one of the deadliest disease events in human history. Subsequent pandemics were much milder, with an estimated 2 million deaths in 1957 and 1 million deaths in 1968.

1918 Spanish influenza

The first influenza pandemic of the 20th century spread more or less simultaneously in 3 distinct waves during a 12-month period in 1918-1919, across Europe, Asia, and North America. It was the worst pandemic in history, killing more people than World War I, and it is generally assumed that at least 50 million people died. The first wave, which started during the spring of 1918, was highly contagious but not particularly deadly. Only the second wave, beginning in September, spread the deadly form of the pandemic.

The virus of 1918 (H1N1) was extremely virulent and caused many deaths through secondary bacterial pneumonia. The primary viral pneumonia could kill previously healthy young individuals within 2 days. The clinical course of severe cases was so unfamiliar that investigators doubted it was influenza. Symptoms in 1918 were so unusual that, initially, it was misdiagnosed as dengue fever, cholera, or typhoid.

The 1918 virus was not a reassortant virus (like those of the 1957 and 1968 pandemics), but more likely an entirely avian-like virus that adapted to humans.

1957 Asian influenza

The 1957 pandemic was caused by H2N2, a clinically milder virus than the one responsible for the 1918 pandemic. Outbreaks were frequently explosive, but the death toll was much lower. Mortality showed a more characteristic pattern, similar to that seen in seasonal epidemics, with most excess deaths confined to infants and the elderly. The global excess mortality of the 1957 pandemic has been estimated at 1-2 million deaths.

1968 Hong Kong influenza

The 1968 pandemic, caused by H3N2, was also a mild pandemic. The death toll has been estimated to have been around 1 million, and in the United States, nearly 50 percent of all influenza-related deaths occurred in the younger population under 65 years of age.

Current Situation

As unpredictable as influenza pandemics are, as unpredictable is the virus itself. We know nothing about the pathogenic potential of the next pandemic strain. The next pandemic may be relatively benign, as it was in 1968 and 1957, or truly malignant, as was the 1918 episode. We don't know if the next pandemic will be caused by the current avian influenza virus, H5N1, or by another influenza strain. We ignore how the next pandemic will evolve over time, how rapidly it will spread around the world, and in how many waves. We don't know which age groups are at the highest risk of severe outcomes. We have no idea whether the next pandemic will kill 2, 20, or 200 million people.

Not surprisingly, healthcare professionals are becoming sensitised to the risk of a new pandemic. The ongoing outbreak of H5N1 influenza among birds, with occasional transmission to human beings is of major concern because of intriguing parallels between the H5N1 virus and the 1918 influenza strain. Such H5N1 avian influenza also known as "bird flu".

Avian influenza

Health experts have been monitoring a new and extremely severe influenza virus – the H5N1 strain – for almost eight years. The H5N1 strain first infected humans in Hong Kong in 1997, causing 18 cases, including six deaths. Since mid-2003, this virus has caused the largest and most severe outbreaks in poultry on record. In December 2003, infections in people exposed to sick birds were identified.

Since then, over 260 human cases have been laboratory confirmed for ten countries worldwide, including the four seriously hit Asian countries (Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand, and China), and more than half of these people have died due to H5N1 avian influenza. Most cases have occurred in previously healthy children and young adults.

As there have been increasing update of avian influenza (bird flu) cases reported in more countries such as Japan and Hong Kong (see report here), cumulative number of confirmed human cases of avian influenza A/(H5N1) reported to WHO as at 15 January 2007 since 2003 showing a total of 267 cases (only laboratory-confirmed cases are reported) with 161 deaths including Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Thailand and Turkey. (see WHO report here)

See the following reports for further details and updates:
- Influenza pandemic
- Ten things you need to know about pandemic influenza
- Influenza Report 2006
- Flu Fears
- WHO's Avian Influenza Outbreak
- CDC's Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
- Flu.gov.sg

Potential new risk from mobile phones

2007-01-17T00:18:00.000+08:00

The BENEFITS of SEX

2007-01-16T09:38:00.000+08:00

did you know that we can determine if a person is sexually active or not by looking at her skin ?

1. Sex is a beauty treatment. Scientific tests have shown that a woman who has sexual relations produces big amounts of estrogen which makes hair shiny and soft.

2. To make love in soft and relaxed way reduces the possibilities of suffering from dermatitis and acne. The sweat produced cleans pores and makes the skin shine.

3. To make love allows to burn all the calories accumulate is this romantic love scene.

4. Sex is one of the safest sports. It strengthens and tonifies all body muscles. It is more enjoyabel than doing 20 lapses in the pool. And you don't need special shoes !

5. Sex is an instantaneous cure against depression. It frees endorphines in the blood flow, creating a state of euphoria and leaves us with a feeling of well-being.

6. The more we make love, the more we have the capacity to do more. A body sexually active releases a higher amount of pheromone. This subtle aroma excites the opposite sex !

7. Sex is the safest tranquiliser in the world. IT IS 10 TIMES MORE EFFICIENT THAN VALIUM.

8. To kiss everyday allows to avoid the dentist. Kisses aid saliva in cleaning teeths and lower the quantity of acids causing enamel weakening.

9. Sex relieves headaches. Each time we make love, it releases the tension in brain veins.

10. To make love a lot can heal a nasal congestion. Sex is a natural antihistaminic. It helps fight asthma and spring allergies.

Flu Fears

2007-01-15T16:08:00.000+08:00

[excerpted from www.todayonline.com published on Monday, January 15, 2007]

A recent spate of new poultry outbreaks in Asia are signs the bird flu virus could make a resurgence this winter, health experts warn.

While most Asian countries are better prepared than they were a year ago to prevent or contain the spread of avian influenza, epidemiologists say there is no room for complacency about the virus that remains widespread in the region.

Experts warn that the risk will increase when China, Vietnam and other countries celebrate the Lunar New Year in the middle of next month, when the movement of both poultry and people traditionally increases sharply. Migratory birds also pose a risk.

Infections in birds and people are increasing, particularly in Asia, where the virus was first identified a decade ago. Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and Nigeria have reported diseased birds in the past month, while China and Egypt also found new human cases.

Almost all human H5N1 cases have been linked to close contact with sick or dead birds, such as children playing with them or adults butchering them or plucking feathers.

Bird flu has killed 161 people worldwide since late 2003. Scientists fear it could mutate and trigger a deadly, global pandemic. — AFP

Vietnam

Bird flu has spread to a sixth province in southern Vietnam, officials said yesterday, after the virus killed over 800 ducks on a farm in Tra Vinh province in the Mekong Delta. Last month (December), after a one-year hiatus, bird flu struck scores of poultry farms in the southern provinces.

Japan

Japan has confirmed a fresh bird flu outbreak but officials said it was not clear if it involved the H5N1 strain.

The confirmation came after about 2,400 chickens died at a farm in the south of the country. Officials will cull the remaining 9,600 chickens at the affected farm.

Japan confirmed an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in January 2004.

China

China last week reported its first human case of bird flu in six months, but the farmer who fell ill made a full recovery.

Hong Kong

A dead wild bird found in Hong Kong has tested positive for a milder strain of the bird flu virus. Further tests are now being carried out on the carcass of the Crested Hoshawk.

Another dead wild bird, a scaly breasted munia, was found in Causeway Bay on Dec 31 and tested positive for the H5N1 strain last week.

Hong Kong was the scene of the world's first reported major bird flu outbreak among humans in 1997, when six people died of a then-unknown mutation of the avian flu virus.

Indonesia

Bird flu has killed two young women in Indonesia, taking fatalities in the past week to four in the country worst-hit by the disease. The women bought live chickens – which later died suddenly – from a market, and were admitted a few days later to hospital, where they died of acute pneumonia.

Also infected was an 18-year-old man in Indonesia whose mother, 37, died of the disease last week, creating a new cluster of infections that doctors are monitoring for signs the virus is becoming more adept at infecting humans.

Another four suspected cases are being treated in a hospital in West Java province.

Indonesia attracted international attention in May last year when seven members of a family from the island of Sumatra contracted the H5N1 virus, six of them fatally.

The cases represented the largest reported cluster of infections and the first laboratory-proven instance of human-to-human transmission.

see also:
- Influenza Pandemic
- WHO update of confirmed human cases as at 15 January 2007
- Ten things you need to know about pandemic influenza
- WHO's Avian Influenza Outbreak
- CDC's Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
- Flu.gov.sg
- WHO's SARS Outbreak
- CDC's Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Site
- SARS.gov.sg

Health Food

2007-01-14T08:28:00.000+08:00

HEADACHE ? - EAT FISH !
Eat plenty of fish - fish oil helps prevent headaches. So does ginger, which reduces inflammation and pain.

HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT!
Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season. Also-eat honey from your area (local region) daily.

TO PREVENT STROKE - DRINK TEA!
Prevent build-up of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of tea.

INSOMNIA (CAN'T SLEEP?) - HONEY!
Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.

ASTHMA? - EAT ONIONS!!!!
Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes.

ARTHRITIS? - EAT FISH, TOO!!
Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis.

UPSET STOMACH? - BANANAS - GINGER!!!!!
Bananas will settle an upset stomach. Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.

BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!!
High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!!!
Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple.

PRE-MENSTRUAL SYNDROME? EAT CORNFLAKES!!!!
Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help reduce depression, anxiety and fatigue.

MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS!
Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.

COLDS? EAT GARLIC!
clear up that stuffy head with garlic.

COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS!!
A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate your tummy.

BREAST CANCER?
Wheat, Bran, Cabbage, Wheat, bran and cabbage help maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN and ORANGE VEGGIES!!!
A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.

ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE ALSO!!!
Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodena ulcers.

DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES!
Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!!!
Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure. Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure, too.

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!!
The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

The Don'ts after Meals

2007-01-13T05:23:00.000+08:00

* Don't smoke
Experiment from expert prove that smoking a cigarette after meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarette (chances of cancer higher)

* Don't eat fruit immediately
Immediately eat fruit after meal will cause stomach to be bloated with air. Therefore take fruit 1-2 hr after meal or 1hr before meal.

* Don't drink tea
Because tea leaves contains a high content of acid. This substance will cause the Protein content in the food we consume to be harden thus difficult to digest.

* Don't loosen your belt
Loosen belt after meal will easily caused the intestine to be twisted and block

* Don't bath
Bathing will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs and body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease. This will weaken the digestive system in our stomach

* Don't walk about
People always say that after meal walk a hundred step will live till 99 In actual fact this is not true. Walking will cause the digestive system unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we intake

* Don't sleep immediately
The food we intake were unable to digest properly. Thus will lead to gastric and infection in our intestine

Water Therapy

2007-01-12T08:28:00.000+08:00

HEALTH IS WEALTH......

Mother nature has given us plenty and free water. Without spending on medicine, tablets, injections, diagnosis, Doctor fees, etc., just by drinking pure water, the following deseases will be cured. You can never believe before practising. Let us see the list of deseases being cured by this therapy. Diseases cured by drinking water:

01. Headache
02. Blood Pressure/Hyper Tension
03. Anemia (Blood Shortage)
04. Rheumatism (Pain in joints/muscles)
05. General Paralysis
06. Obesity
07. Artheritis
08. Sinusitis
09. Tachycardia
10. Giddiness
11. Cough
12. Asthma
13. Bronchitis
14. Pulminory Tuberculosis
15. Menengitis
16. Kidney stones
17. Urogenital diseases
18. Hyper acidity
19. Gastro-entritis
20. Dysentry
21. Rectal Piodapse
22. Constipation
23. Hostorthobics
24. Diabetes
25. Eye diseases
26. Opthalmic Haemorrhage & Opthalmia (reddisheye)
27. Irregular Menstruation
28. Leukemia
29. Uterus cancer
30. Breast cancer
31. Laryngitis

How to do this water therapy?
[Drink six glasses of water (1.5 litres) everyday]

1) Early morning, after you get up from bed, (without even brushing your teeth) drink 1.50 litres of water i.e., 5 to 6 glasses. Let us all know that ancient Indians termed this therapy as "Usha Paana Chikitsa". You may wash your face thereafter.

2) Here it is very essential to note that nothing else, neither drinks nor solid food of any sort should be taken within 1 hour before and after drinking this 1.50 litres of water.

3) It is also to be strictly observed that no alcoholic drinks should be taken the previous night.

4) If required, boiled and filtered water may be used for this purpose.

Is it possible to drink 1.50 litres of water at one time?
To begin with, one may find it difficult to drink 1.50 litres of water at one time, but one will get used to it gradually. Initially, while practicing you may drink four glasses first and the balance two glasses after a gap of two minutes. Initially you may find the necessity to urinate 2 to 3 times within an hour, but it will become normal after quite some time.

By research and experience, the following diseases are observed to be cured with this therapy within the indicated days as below:

Constipation - 1 day
Acidity - 2 days
Diabetes - 7 days
Cancer - 4 weeks
Pulminory TB - 3 months
BP & Hypertension - 4 weeks

Note:
It is advised that persons suffering from Artheritis or Rheumatism should practice this therapy thrice a day, i.e., morning, midday and night, 1 hour before meals for one week; and twice a day subsequently until the disease disappears.

How does pure water act?

Consuming ordinary drinking water by the right method purifies human body. It renders the colon more effective by forming new fresh blood, known in medical terms as Haematopaises. That the mucousal folds of the colon and intestines are activated by this method, is an undisputed fact, just as the theory that new fresh blood is produced by the mucousal fold.

If the colon is cleansed then the nutrients of the food taken several times a day will be absorbed and by the action of the mucousal folds they are turned into fresh blood. The blood is all important in curing ailments and restoring health, and for this water should be consumed in a regular pattern.

We make an earnest request that the above method should be read and practised carefully. Please spread this message to your friends, relatives and neighbors - It is a great service to the cause of humanity.

We should all lead a healthy life.

********************************

Life is short, just go for it!

********************************

Breakfast reduces strokes, heart attacks......

2007-01-11T14:26:00.000+08:00

Wake up earlier and have your breakfast!

Read this to understand the importance of taking breakfast.

Breakfast can help prevent strokes, heart attack and sudden death.

Advice on not to skip breakfast! Tips for healthy living...

For those who always skip breakfast, you should start kicking that habit now!!

You've heard many times that "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

Now, recent research confirms that one of the worst practices you can develop may be avoiding breakfast. Why?

Because the frequency of heart attack, sudden death, and stroke peaks between 6:00a.m. and noon, with the highest incidence being between 8:00a.m. and 10:00a.m.

What mechanism within the body could account for this significant jump in sudden death in the early morning hours? We may have an answer.

Platelet, tiny elements in the blood that keep us from bleeding to death if we get a cut, can clump together inside our arteries due to cholesterol or plaque buildup in the artery lining.

It is in the morning hours that platelets become the most activated and tend to form these internal blood clots at the greatest frequency.

However, eating even a very light breakfast prevents the morning platelet activation that is associated with heart attacks and strokes. Studies performed at Memorial University in St. Johns, Newfoundland found that eating a light, very low-fat breakfast was critical in modifying the morning platelet activation. Subjects in the study consumed either low-fat or fat-free yogurt, orange juice, fruit, and a source of protein coming from yogurt or fat-free milk). So if you skip breakfast, it's important that you change this practice immediately in light of this research.

Develop a simple plan to eat cereal, such as oatmeal or Bran Flakes, along with six ounces of grape juice or orange juice, and perhaps a piece of fruit. This simple plan will keep your platelets from sticking together, keep blood clots from forming, and perhaps head off a potential heart attack or stroke.

So never ever skip breakfast.

Causes of cancer

2007-01-10T11:07:00.000+08:00

Not all cancers are the same.
1/3 is curable.
1/3 is preventable.
Two factors of cancer that cannot be controlled are AGE & FAMILY HISTORY.

CAUSES OF CANCER

1. Smoking is very often the main cause of cancer. It kills us silently and drains money from us quietly. There're 4,000 harmful chemicals (though in diluted form) in one stick of cigarette. Taking one puff is 600 times worse than inhaling the exhaust fumes from vehicles.

2. Some food that cause cancer are:

2.1 Barbecued Food
2.2 Deep Fried Food
2.3 Overheating Meat
2.4 Food that is high in fat causes our bile to secrete acid that contains a chemical which is a promoter of cancer cells.
2.5 Food that contains preservatives, too much salt or nitrates e.g.Canned food, Salted egg & veggies, sausages, etc.
2.6 Overnight Rice (where Aflatoxin is accumulated)
2.7 Food that is low in fibre: Our body needs 25 gm of both soluble & insoluble fibre daily. We must drink at least 1.5 litres of plain water a day.
2.8 Contaminated Food (e.g. moulded bread causes our body to secrete toxins that may eventually lead to liver cancer in the long run. Never eat bread that is kept in room temperature for more than 2 days especially in a humid weather.

3. Types of fat and which is the best? Highly Recommended for Health
a. Olive Oil- It does not absorb in our body.
b. Fish Oil - Omega 3 (contained in NI's Circulytes) has poly-unsaturated fat. It's good for our brain cells.
c. Peanut Oil - It contains Vitamin E. A small dosage is recommended only.

4. Not Recommended for Health
a. Vegetable Fat - Palm oil is worse than coconut oil. It is high in cholesterol and highly unsaturated.
b. Coconut Oil - It has saturated fat

5. Specific Food & Beverages

5.1 Egg when eaten too much can cause High Colon Cancer. Risk Ovary Cancer, Prostate Cancer

5.2 Cabbage is highly recommended for health reason

5.3 Tomato is best eaten raw with a bit of olive oil for better absorption. Other alternative is to take tomato sauce.

5.4 Coffee is good because it contains 2 anti-oxidants. Inhaling the coffee aroma for half each day is equivalent to eating two oranges a day. However, the residue of over-burned coffee is extremely bad for health. It can cause cancer.

5.5 Tea, as long as it is in its original tea leaves and not processed into BOH or Lipton packets, it is good for health. Tea contains 30 anti-oxidants. Recommended dosage is 4 cups a day.

EXERCISE AND BE FIT

Have a balanced lifestyle. Exercise regularly.

F : Frequency: 3 to 5 times a week
I : Intensity: Exercise till we sweat and breathdeeply
T : Types of exercises: Find one that suits our age, lifestyle, HAVE REGULAR CHECK-UP once we reach the age of 45 & above, it is recommended that we go for regular comprehensive health examination. Early detection may save lives.

*Pass it on to people you care of their health.*

Have a nice day!

The correct way of eating fruits

2007-01-09T09:19:00.000+08:00

The Correct Way Of Eating Fruits - By Devagi Sanmugam

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not so easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat fruits. Do you know of anyone who hates fruits?

Most likely no. Everyone will immediately tell you about the fruits they like very much. The reason why everyone likes fruits is because our bodies crave for it instinctively. The colour, the texture, the aromas and the sweetness all make it very attractive. But I find that most of us tend to think of fruits as a treat e.g. on a hot day - water melon!

But do you know that fruit is an important food to the human being?

Remember our ancestors were not meat eaters or seed eaters - they were all fruit eaters. Fruits have the highest water content of any food. In addition, the vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, amino acids and fatty acids that a human requires can be derived from fruits. When fruit is consumed correctly, nothing can surpass it.

Even for those who want to lose a little weight, the proper consumption of fruit will help. A survey was made and it was found that those who eat fruits more at every meal tend to want to eat less in the next meal. The reason, being the sugar in the fruit. It was also found that a particular substance in some fruits could cut the risk of heart disease or heart attack. The substance protects the heart by preventing the blood from becoming too thick and plugging up the arteries. So fruit is cleansing!

Fruit requires less energy to be digested than any other food. Everything consumed by the human body eventually breaks down in the system and is transformed into glucose, fructose, amino acids etc. The brain cannot function on anything except glucose. Fruit is glucose in the body. Its digestion, absorption and assimilation requires only a short time, rather than to break down food like chicken, mutton etc. Other foods spend about 1-4 hours in the stomach! Fruits do not digest in the stomach. Most fruits are predigested except for bananas, dates and dried fruits. They pass through the stomach in twenty to thirty minutes as if going through a tunnel.

They break down and release their life giving nutrients in the intestines.

What is correct eating of fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS!
FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN IN AN EMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

Fruit is the most important food. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so. In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil. So please eat your fruits in an empty stomach or before your meals!

You have heard people complaining - every time I eat water melon I burp, when I eat durians my stomach bloats up, when I eat bananas I feel like running to the toilet etc - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit in an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat! Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, dark circles under the eyes - all these will not happen if you take fruits in an empty stomach. There is no such thing as some fruits like orange and lemon are acidic because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Sehlton who did a research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice. Not from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. So stop making 'goreng pisang' or 'durian porridge' if you want nutrients. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. But if you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly. Because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.

You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprise when your friends tell you how radiant you look! During the fruit fast you can eat fruits, prepared in salad forms and make it more interesting.

GREEN TEA

2007-01-08T08:24:00.000+08:00

Benefits of Green Tea

There's so much tea in the market, Green Tea, Black Tea & even Oolong Tea.
What's the difference anyway?
They undergo different processes!

Green Tea is first steamed before processing, hence the colour & flavour resembles that of raw tea leaves.

Black Tea's tea leaves get crushed & fermented thus resulting in the change in colour from green to brown. The tea leaves are then dried till they turn black & develop a rich flavour.

Oolong Tea follows the same process as black tea however because it is better controlled, the tea leaves' colour & flavour as you may notice is midway between green & black.

Now, what's so great about Green Tea ? Green tea contain Antioxidants.

Q: What's the function of Antioxidants ?

Antioxidants protect us from free radicals which are chemically unstable compounds that occur naturally in our bodies or are created through exposure to sunlight, cigarette smoke, radiation, traffic & atmospheric pollution. Free radicals causes damage to tissues, cells & genes resulting in the aging & development of cataract, cancer, stroke & heart diseases.

Antioxidants act like "fire extinguishers" that put out the hazards free radicals produce before they damage our cells & tissues.

Even though black tea too contain Antioxidants, the content of Antioxidants in green tea is higher! Green tea also helps to lower one's cholesterol level. The Japanese, renowned for drinking green tea, actually observe the lowest incidence of heart disease, stroke globally.

Incidentally, they also have a track record for longevity!

Established cosmetic company Elizabeth Arden did a research on green tea & realised that the antioxidants actually helped to slow down the development of wrinkles.

Where else can we find Antioxidants ?

Antioxidants can also be found in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals, minerals such as selenium, zinc, iron & copper.

Before you go, here's a toast to better health & more beautiful skin!

More Reason to drink plain water instead of soft drinks

2007-01-07T00:50:00.000+08:00

Here's a terrific and disgusting message for those coke lover.

The average pH of soft drinks, e.g. Coke, Pepsi is pH 3.4. This acidity is strong enough to dissolve teeth and bones! Our human body stops building bones at around the age of 30. After that it'll be dissolving about 8-18% of the bones each year through the urine depending on the acidity of the food intake (acidity does not depend on the taste of the food, but on the ratio of potassium/ calcium / magnesium / etc. to phosphorus). All the dissolved calcium compounds accumulate in the arteries, veins, skin tissue, organs. This affects the functioning of the kidney (kidney stones).

Soft drinks do not have any nutritional value (in terms of vitamins and minerals). They have higher sugar content, higher acidity, and more additives such as preservatives and colorings. Some people like to take cold soft drinks after each meal, guess what's the impact? Our body has an optimum temperature of 37 degrees for the functioning of digestive enzymes. The temperature of cold soft drinks is much less than 37, sometimes quite close to 0. This will lower the effectiveness of the enzymes and put stress on the digestive system, digesting less food. In fact the food gets fermented. The fermented food produces bad smelling gases, decays and forms toxins which are absorbed in the intestines, get circulated in the blood and is delivered to the whole body. This spread of toxins can lead to the development of various diseases.

Think before you drink Coke or Pepsi or any another soft drink. Have you ever thought what you drink when you drink an aerated drink? You gulp down carbon dioxide, something that nobody in the world would advise you to do.

Some years ago, there was a competition in Delhi University "Who can drink the most Coke?". The winner drank 8 bottles and died on the spot because too much carbon dioxide in the blood and not enough oxygen. From then on, the principal banned all soft drinks from the university canteen. Someone put a broken tooth in a bottle of Pepsi and in 10 days it is dissolved! Teeth and bones are the only human organ that stay intact for years after death.

Imagine what the drink must be doing to your soft intestines and stomach lining!

Request to All: Forward this message to your friends to increase the awareness of these soft drinks

***************

Please read..........

Whenever you buy a can of coke or any other canned soft drink, please make sure that you wash the top with running water and soap or, if not available, drink with a straw. A family friend died after drinking a can of soda.

Apparently, she didn't clean the top before drinking from the can. The top was encrusted with dried rat's urine which is toxic and obviously lethal. Canned drinks and other foodstuffs are stored in warehouses and containers that are usually infested with rodents and then get transported to the retail outlets without being properly cleaned.

Healthy Body

2007-01-06T01:09:00.000+08:00

This is an interesting article. You may wish to extend your life by following the ways...... then read thru

TAKE A COLD SHOWER
A study shows that cold showers make your heart and lungs work more efficiently, boost immunity and reduce risk of heart attacks. A two-minute cold blast after a warm shower is all you need.

GET A PET
Families who own a dog or cat are less stressed and visit their doctor less often than non-owners, according to reserchers at Cambridge University. Pets make you optimistic and relaxed, which lowers your blood pressure. Dogs give best results, but even a goldfish in a bowl will do the trick.

PLAY CHESS
Tony Buzan,director of the Brain Trust, says exercising your mind with hobbies such as chess and the crossword can make a huge difference to brain power in old age.

DRINK GREEN TEA
Japanese research shows that men who drink green tea live longer and suffer less lung cancer and strokes; Norwegian scientists say that tea can lower blood cholesterol and blood pressure.

GET SPIRITUAL
Research by David Weeks, a clinical psychologist at Edinburgh University, shows that believing in something spiritual - whether nature, God or New Age therapy - is life enhancing, probably because it makes you happier.

SKIP
Researchers have found that women who jump or skip on the spot 50 times a day could live longer. It strenghtens the heart, guarding against cardiovascular disease, and also increases bone density, helping to ward off osteoporosis.

STOP PLAYING THE LOTTERY
US psychologist Cecilia Hurwich found that the less materialistic you are, the more likely you are to have a long, happy life. Realising that money can't buy happiness and the super-rich are statistically more likely to die young, makes you more optimistic - a key factor in longevity.

Ten Secret Teachings for a Long Healthy Life
1) Less sugar... more fruits
2) Less eating... more chewing
3) Less meat... more vegetables
4) Less salt... more vinegar
5) Less dressing... more bathing
6) Less vehicles... more walking
7) Less worry... more sleep
8) Less anger... more smile
9) Less talking... more action
10) Less craving... more giving

Radiation From Cellular Phones

2007-01-05T13:12:00.000+08:00

The cellular phone has to emit radio frequency energy at levels high enough to reach base stations (antenna towers) tens of kilometers away. Since the energy is emitted as a microwave in the direct vicinity of theusers head there are concerns about the safety of this technology.

There are reports from cell studies as well as animal studies that is most worrying. Among other effects the double DNA breakage is among thefundamental och disturbing findings. This may indicate that there may bea significant risk of developing cancer tumours, foremost brain tumoursin the user of cellular (mobile) phones.

The design of the cellular phones casing, electronic and foremost the antenna construction gives widely different near and far fields around the phone.

It is at present time not completely clear what parameters of the field gives biological effects, however as an intermediate cautionary step one can use the simple measure of absorbed radiated energy into the tissue of the head.

This is given as a SAR - Specific Absorption Ratio and is measured in watts per kilogram. This may not be a true measure of the biological hazard from the phone but may be used as an indication of the energy recieved into the head.

See it as prudent avoidance. Niels Kuster, a radiation expert at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, has developed a new measurement technique to measurecell-phone EMR towards the user's head. He recently measured 16 popular cell phone models, and published the results in the Swiss Consumer Report magazine.

The table below is an excerpt from his study some years back:

SAR is given as Cenelec value for average EMR exposure of user's head, measured in Watt per kg of user's body weight. (A low number means less radiated energy into the users head).

CANCER - Invaluable Facts

2007-01-04T08:52:00.000+08:00

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 tumours.

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 tumour size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumour 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 need to multiply.

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.

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. Milo, Ovaltine, Horlicks are made with milk and best avoided.

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, parasites etc which are all harmful to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits helps 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. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures above 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrefied 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-Essence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements (Maitake e.g.) are known to cause cancer cells apoptosis, that is induce cancer cells to commit suicide.

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, enjoy and trust God for healing.

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.

17. Cancer can be reversed with nutrition, supplements and clinically proven complementary and alternative therapies.

18. Cancer can be healed by divine intervention of God the Healer.

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT INFO:

1. Sugar is a cancer feeder. Avoid sugar. Sugar substitutes like Equal, Spoonful, NutraSweet are made with Aspartame, a chemical that is harmful to the body. A better natural alternative is Manuka honey in small amounts.

2. Milk causes the body to produce mucus. Cancer thrives on mucus. A better calcium alternative is unsweetened soya milk. Milo, Horlicks, Ovaltine are all milk-based, so it is best to avoid.

3. Green tea has anti-cancer properties. It is a better substitute for coffee and tea, which have caffeine, bad for people with cancer.

4. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

5. Meat like pork, beef, and chicken contain livestock antibiotics, growth hormones, parasites, etc which are all harmful for people with cancer. It is better to eat fish, or eat a little free-range chicken. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.

6. 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.

7. Water - best to drink purified water, filtered or distilled, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water.

8. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

REFERENCES:
1.A Cancer Battle Plan by Anne & David Frahm
2. A Cancer Battle Plan Sourcebook by David Frahm (N.D.)
3. Beating Cancer with Nutrition by Dr Patrick Quillin
4. Immunopower by Dr Patrick Quillin, PhD, RD, CNS
5. Alive and Well by Dr Philip Binzel, Jr., M.D.
6. Stop the Medicine by Dr Cynthia Foster, M.D.
7. The Bible Cure by Dr Reginald Cherry, M.D.
8. The Doctor and The Word by Dr Reginald Cherry, M.D.
9. Prescription for Nutritional Healing by J Balch, M.D.
10. Alternatives in Cancer Therapy by R Pelton, PhD & L Overholser
11. God's Way to Ultimate Health by Rev George Malkmus
12. You Don't Have to be Sick by Rev George Malkmus
13. Why Christians Get Sick by Rev George Malkmus
14. How I Conquered Cancer Naturally by Eydie Mae
15. Healed of Cancer by Dodie Osteen
16. Fit for Life by Harvey & Marilyn Diamond
17. Fit for Life II : Living Health by Harvey & Marilyn Diamond
18. Green Leaves of Barley by Dr Mary Ruth Swope
19. Dr Jensen's Juicing Therapy by Bernard Jensen, D.C., Ph.D.
20. Nature's Cancer-Fighting Foods by Verne Verona
21. The Hippocrates Diet and Health Program by Ann Wigmore
22. An Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide to Cancer by John Diamond,M.D., Lee Cowden, M.D. with Burton Goldberg
23. The Cure for all Cancers by Hulda Clark, Ph.D., N.D.
24. The Cure for all Advanced Cancers by H. Clark, Ph.D., N.D.
25. Cancer Therapy - The Independent Consumer's Guide to Non-ToxicTreatment& Prevention by Ralph Moss, Ph.D.
26. The Cancer Industry by Ralph Moss, Ph.D.
27. Questioning Chemotherapy by Ralph Moss, Ph.D.
28. Cancer-Why We're Still Dying to know the Truth by Phillip Day
29. The Safe Shopper's Bible by D. Steinman & S. Epstein, M.D.
30. How to fight Prostate Cancer and Win by Ron Gellatley, N.D.
31. Miracle Cures by Jean Carper
32. Healthy Habits by David & Anne Frahm
33. How to Longer and Feel Better by Dr. Linus Pauling
34. The Optimum Nutrition Bible by Patrick Holford
35. Health & Wellness by Dr. Ted Morter, Jr., M.A.
36. Cleansing the Body and the Colon for a Happier and Healthier YouusingHerbal Fiberblend by Teresa Schumacher
37. The Choice is Clear by Dr. Allen Banik
38. The New SuperNutrition by Richard Passwater, Ph.D.
39. Liver Detox Plan by Xandria Williams, MSc, DIC, ARCS, ND
40. Super Power Breathing by Paul & Patricia Bragg, N.D., PhD.
41. Walking in Divine Health by Don Colbert, M.D.
42. World Without Cancer by G. Edward Griffin

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RECIPES - CANCER FIGHTING FOODS

SOUPS - It is not necessary to add sauce as there is natural sweetness and flavour from the ingredients.
Most of these involve cutting the ingredients into bite-sized portions before adding to boiling water.
Measure water (filtered or purified) to use with small soup bowls, depending on how many persons are eating.
(Pots - use glassware, stainless steel, ceramic or clay)

1. Watercress and carrot soup
2. Radish and carrot soup
3. Lotus root and red dates soup
4. Hipprocrates soup - leek, celery, big onion, potato, tomato
5. Fresh corn and soya beans soup (presoak the soya beans for 3 hours. Discard water. Boil beans in hot water. Fresh corn can be added when the beans are softer)
6. Black beans, white beans and small onions (shallots) soup Presoak black beans about an hour. Discard water. Boil the black beans first. Cut small onions into thick slices. Then add small onions and white beans.
7. Potato, carrot and onion soup
8. Winter melon, carrot and red dates soup

VEGETABLES - Vegetable dishes - most of these taste nice with just garlic and Bragg's aminos or organic miso. Avoid using non-stick pan as the chemical coating can come off into the food. Instead of heating the pan and adding oil first, we use water to fry the vegetables. This is to avoid letting the oil reach high temperatures, which can be carcinogenic.

Method:
Heat pan with a little water.
Add minced garlic and cook a while.
Add vegetables and a little oil and more water as needed.
Cover and let it steam cook.
Turn off fire and add Bragg's aminos or organic miso.

1. Bean sprouts with carrot strips. Cook the carrot first before adding the bean sprouts.
2. Bean sprouts with tau gua. Cut tau gua into small pieces. Cook in water.Remove tau gua. Add some water to pan and add minced garlic. Add bean sprouts. When almost done, add in tau gua, and Bragg's aminos. You may add spring onions or parsley for more flavour.
3. French beans with tau gau (same as for 2)
4. French beans with garlic
5. French beans with carrot
6. Bitter gourd with garlic
7. Long beans with garlic
8. Chye Sim with garlic, or with fresh fish cake cut into slices
9. Spinach with garlic (not to often as it has oxalates)
10. Spinach (puay leng) with garlic and mushrooms
11. Xiao bai chai with garlic
12. Jie Lan with garlic, or with garlic and carrot
13. Angled loofah - cooked with garlic and an egg
14. Tau gua and tau pok in black sauce and garlic
15. Tau gua, gau gee (bean curd sheet) in black sauce and garlic
16. Tau hu with garlic and seaweed
17. Many vegetables can be eaten raw without salad dressing - cabbage, cauliflower, green pepper, celery, cucumber, carrot, asparagus spears, corn on cob, etc or a little olive, and Braggs FISH (twice a week is sufficient) - steamed or cooked with water, garlic, ginger, spring onions, tomatoes, parsley and a little Bragg's aminos.

PORRIDGE - Use brown rice, unpolished rice or mixed with some white rice.
1. Sweet potato, unpolished and white rice
2. Shredded carrot with unpolished and white rice
3. White bait (fresh or dried), shredded carrot, ginger, unpolished and white rice

RICE - use brown rice or unpolished rice or mixed with some white rice.Unpolished rice takes longer to cook, so cook unpolished rice first before adding white rice.

RAW FOODS - Almonds (presoak 10 almonds in some water and keep in the fridge for 24 hours. Peel and discard skin before eating.) Walnuts, cashew nuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, nori seaweed (tear into small pieces to eat with some raw vegetables)

FRUITS - require different digestive enzymes from other foods. It is best to eat fruits either one hour before any meal or two hours after a meal. If fruits are eaten after a meal they will ferment in the stomach together with the other food and the nutrients would not be fully absorbed. It is good to eat papayas and pineapples for the enzymes papain and bromelain to digest protein. Apples and apple juice are also good. It is helpful to drink half a glass of warm water with some lemon juice first thing in the morning on waking.

BREAKFAST - rolled oats, wholemeal bread, miso vegetable soul, porridge etc.

Bread spreads - almond butter or organic fruit jam are preferred to margarine. Margarine is hydrogenated fat, which is harmful. Avoid all hydrogenated fats.