PEANUT BUTTER - WARDS OF HEART DISEASE

I always have a craving for peanut butter since I was young. I love those crunchy ones....just imagine spreading it thickly on your bread and uummph!! its sooo good.
But for some time I try not to buy when I go shopping for groceries thinking that it's not good for my health.
But today while surfing the net I came across an article that says "Peanut Butter - Wards of heart disease". It caught my attention cos I always thought that it bad for health.
So I want to share with friends the goodness of peanut butter. I am sure you all love peanut butter too.

This is what I found:
*Peanut butter sandwiches could be the secret to beating heart disease, says a study.

*Snacking on peanuts or peanut butter at least five days a week can nearly halve the risk of a heart attack.

*The nuts are thought to lower bad cholesterol, help reduce inflammation in the body and boost the health of blood vessels around the heart.

*Consumption of at least five servings a week of one ounce of nuts or one tablespoon of peanut butter was significantly associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

Ellen Mason of the British Heart Foundation said: 'It is beneficial to include nuts in our diets as they are low in the saturated fats that raise our cholesterol.

So I am back to eating my favourite crunchy Peanut butter with my bread for breadfast.

Peanut Butter anyone????

GOOD FATS AND BAD FATS

Learn about the different types of fats. Not all fats are bad.
Avoid the bad fats and enjoy the good fats.
What are good fats and what are bad fats?
Here is what I found out:

Fats are another vital part to a healthy diet. Good fats are needed to nourish your brain, heart, nerves, hormones and all your cells, as well as your hair, skin, and nails. Fat also satisfies us and makes us feel full. It’s the type of fat that matters in addition to how much you consume.
The different types of fats are:

Saturated fats, primarily found in animal sources including red meat and whole milk dairy products, raise the low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol that increases your risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Substitute lean meats, skinless poultry, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products, fish and nuts. Other saturated fat sources include vegetable oils such as coconut oil, palm oil and foods made with these oils.

Trans fat raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol that increases your risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), as well as lowering HDL, or good cholesterol. Trans fats are created by heating liquid vegetable oils in the presence of hydrogen gas, a process called hydrogenation. Primary sources of trans fat are vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, candies, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, baked goods, and other processed foods made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Monounsaturated fats - People following traditional Mediterranean diets, which are very high in foods containing monounsaturated fats like olive oil, tend to have lower risk of cardiovascular disease, Primary sources are plant oils like canola oil, peanut oil, and olive oil. Other good sources are avocados; nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans; and seeds such as pumpkin and sesame seeds.

Polyunsaturated fats – These includes the Omega-3 and Omega-6 groups of fatty acids which your body can’t make. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in very few foods – primarily cold water fatty fish and fish oils. Foods rich in certain omega-3 fats called EPA and DHA can reduce cardiovascular disease, improve your mood and help prevent dementia. Other sources of polyunsaturated fats are sunflower, corn, soybean, and flaxseed oils, and walnuts. It is important to know that these oils become unhealthy when heated due to the formation of free radicals, which can lead to disease.

How much fat is too much? It depends on your lifestyle, your weight, your age and most importantly the state of your health. Focus on including Monounsaturated fats and Polyunsaturated fats in your diet, decreasing Saturated fats, and avoiding Trans fats as much as possible.

So now that you know your fats....you can lead a healthy lifestyle with the right type of fats.

EAT SMART = HEALTHY EATING

Healthy eating begins with learning how to “eat smart”. It's not just what you eat, but how you eat. Paying attention to what you eat and choosing foods that are both nourishing and enjoyable helps support an overall healthy diet.
Here are some tips which I find helpfull:

Take time to chew your food: Because we are always rushing for time we tend to finish our meal as fast as we can, which is very bad. Chew your food slowly, savoring every bite. Taste the flavors and feel the textures of what is in our mouths. Reconnect with the joy of eating. According to ancient chinese, meal time is very important. We should not be disturb during meal time.

Avoid stress while eating: When we are stressed, our digestion can be compromised, causing problems like colitis and heartburn. Avoid eating while working, driving, arguing, or watching TV (especially disturbing programs or the news). I tend to eat in front of the TV to save time, (killing two birds at one time)Try taking some deep breaths prior to beginning your meal, or light candles and play soothing music to create a relaxing atmosphere.

Listen to your body: Ask yourself if you are really hungry. You may really be thirsty, so try drinking a glass of water first. During a meal, stop eating before you feel full. It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly. Eating just enough to satisfy your hunger will help you remain alert, relaxed and feeling your best, rather than stuffing yourself 100% or 101% full.

Eat early, eat often: Starting your day with a healthy breakfast can jumpstart your metabolism, and eating the majority of your daily calorie allotment early in the day gives your body time to work those calories off. Also, eating small, healthy meals throughout the day, rather than the standard three large meals, can help keep your metabolism going and ward off snack attacks.

Follow the above tips to a healthy body.....EAT SMART.

CRAZY OVER MACADAMIA NUTS

Lately I am crazy over macadamia nuts. I just love the nuts and cannot stop eating once I start to eat them. The taste is so good. I buy it from the Chinese medical shop and looks like the pic. above with the shell slighty open. At first I was unaware that there is a small thin metal opener inside the pack. So I preyed it open with a butter knife. Once the opening was so small that the knife slipped and the knife cut my finger. Later I found 2 small openers inside the pack and it was easier to open with it.
Macadamias are full of goodness.
Macadamias are considered the world’s finest nut, a delicious snack food that garners high marks for flavor and crunchy texture.
Macadamia nuts contain beneficial nutrients that support human health. Eating macadamias also reduces cholesterol.
Benefits of Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts provide a wide range of beneficial compounds. They are a high energy food, full of protein and fiber and loaded with other important nutrients that, in concert, impact favorably on human health.

Macadamia Nut Nutrition Information
Antioxidants
Fiber
Phytochemicals
Protein
Minerals
Monounsaturated fats
Vitamins

Macadamia Nut Oil Benefits
Macadamias contain natural oils. They are high in heart-friendly monounsaturated fat, which contains oleic fatty acid as well as paimitoleic fatty acid (also present in fish oils). Macadamias come in tops for containing the highest amount of monounsatarated fatty acids in a natural food.

Macadamia nuts offer a winning combination: delicious nutty flavor and significant nutritional benefits. Truly, eating macadamias for health has never been easier.

Anyone for macadamia???....

GOODNESS OF DURIANS

It’s durian season here in Penang, Malaysia and there are durian stalls selling this thorny fruit every corner you turn.
While a lot of people consider the smell of durian as “stinky” and “repulsive”–so much so that they are banned in hotel rooms in Malaysia!–I love this king of fruits. (For those who enjoy durian, we think of the smell as “aromatic.”) Some of the best durians in Malaysia come from the durian orchards in Balik Pulau, Penang, which is on the less-developed side of the island of Penang.
I have been taking durians everyday since last week. My sis have an orchard in Sungai Ara and I have been going over to her place every other day to take some back. I place them in plastic containers and keep it in the freezer cos I cannot finish it in one go. After taking the durians I will take lots of tea to cool my body down cos durian are very heaty.

How? Feel like eating? Don't think durian is just a smelly fruit, you will be amazed by how much nutrients durian contains. Check out its nutrients facts below :

Nutritional Value of Durian (per 100 grams of the edible parts)
Water 64.990 gram
Energy 147 kcal
Protein 1.47 gram
Total lipid (fat) 5.33 gram
Carbohydrate, by difference : 27.09 gram
Fiber, total dietary 3.8 gram
Calcium, Ca 6 mg
Iron, Fe 0.430 mg
Magnesium, Mg 30 mg
Phosporus, P 38 mg
Potassium, K 436 mg
Sodium, Na 1 mg
Zinc, Zn 0.28 mg
Copper, Cu 0.207 mg
Manganese, Mn 0.324 mg
Vitamin C 19.7 mg
Thiamin 0.374 mg
Riboflavin 0.2 mg
Niacin 1.074 mg
Pantothenic acid 0.23 mg
Vitamin B-6 0.316 mg
Vitamin A, IU 45.000 IU

Do you know that durian is a new superfood for skins?. Durians contains hydrating oils and natural antioxidants that are beneficial to the body and skin. The beauty industry is already jumping on this!
Murad took advantage of durian’s beneficial properties and created…

Murad Intensive Wrinkle Reducer with Durian Cell Reform

Durian Cell Reform™ helps prolong your skin’s youthful-looking state by (direct from website):
- Enhancing the penetration of anti-aging ingredients
- Reversing the visible signs of aging both on the surface and at the - cellular level
- Providing hydration, antioxidant protection and anti-inflammatory benefits

Now that’s some food for thought!

Going to sis place again this evening for durians

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BROWN RICE

Lately for health reasons I have changed from eating white rice to brown rice.
Normally when we eat out at restaurants or buy from the economy stalls they served only white rice. So nowadays I cooked my own brown rice, put it in a tupperware lunch box and buy some dishes to go with it.
Whole grain brown rice is nutritionally superior to white rice. This is because whole grain brown rice contains all three layers of the kernel - the bran, germ and endosperm. It is rich in lignans (antioxidant and phytoestrogens found in a variety of plants, especially flax seeds), phytoestogens and phenolic compounds that are all high in antioxidant activity. It also contains important nutrients such as thiamine, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, iron, riboflavin and five times the fiber of white rice. The germ of the rice provides natural Vitamin E. The bran of the rice contains phytochemicals that may reduce cholesterol.

Health benefits of eating whole grain brown rice include:

Cancer: brown rice contains plant lignins, especially enterolactone, that help establish healthy flora in the intestines, and may protect against breast and other hormone-dependant cancers, as well as heart disease. One study found that women who ate more whole grains, including brown rice, had significantly higher blood levels of enterolactone.

Alzheimer's: researchers found that eating brown rice reduced learning and memory deficits in animals, brought about by beta-amyloid protein, considered to be one of the leading contributors in Alzheimers dementia.

Tips on Using Brown Rice:

*Long grain rice produces light, dry grains that separate easily.

*Short grain rice produces almost-round grains with a higher starch content than long or medium grains, and that stick together when cooked.

*Brown rice has a shelf life of three to six months but this can be extended by refrigerating the uncooked rice.

*Cooked rice can be refrigerated for up to one week in a tightly covered container.

*Brown rice takes a lot longer to cook than white rice; it can take up to fifty minutes to soften.

So make a change today and live a healthy life....

WHAT SHAPE ARE YOU?

Have you ever noticed that your body shape is quite different from that of your best friend, sister, or coworker? Have you been wondering why some people have that hourglass figure, while others are more pear-like in appearance? Well, this is because every man and woman is born with a specific body type and body shape. Depending upon your genetics, as well as your exercise routine and diet, your body shape may be quite different from those around you. Not everyone likes the body type or shape that they are born with, but there are ways to make the most of what you have. Here are some tips on how to identify your body type and shape as well as how to sculpt it with the best possible exercises.

What is Body Type?
Everybody is born with a different body type. This is why every man and woman has a different body shape, and develops different levels of body fat and muscle mass. Your body type is completely determined by genetics. You will probably share the same body type as one of your parents, or your sister or brother. Because body type is a genetic trait, it is usually very difficult or impossible to change body types.

The Three Body Types
There are three different body type classifications:

Endomorphs: Endomorphs tend to have bigger bones that the other body types. These men and women usually have round faces with larger thighs and hips. Endomorphs have arms and legs that tend to be short and tapering, giving them a stocky appearance. Most endomorphs have comparatively small hands and feet and a high waist. Additionally, endomorphs have higher levels of body fat than the other body types, but they can also build muscle and lean mass easily. Weight loss is most difficult for the endomorph body type.

Mesomorphs: Mesomorphs are usually described as having an athletic build. They often have an hourglass or ruler shape, and gain muscle mass easily. The majority of mesomorphs have broad shoulders and a narrow waist. They have a fast metabolism and can lose weight more easily than endomorphs.

Ectomorphs: Ectomorphs have a thin, linear appearance. Most ectomorphs look like rulers, with narrow waists, hips, and shoulders. Ectomorphs can lose weight easily and tend to have low levels of body fat. However, they also have a harder time gaining lean muscle mass.
Few people actually fall distinctly into one category. Instead, it is much more likely that you will be a combination of the body types. Common combinations include ecto-mesomorph and endo-mesomorph.

What is Body Shape?
In addition to your body type, you will also find that you have a distinct body shape. Your body shape is based upon the size of your physical features and the overall balance of your body. Men and women tend to have different body shapes. Men are often described as having a rectangular shape or a cone shape. Women are typically described as having hourglass, pear, apple, or ruler body shapes.

Determining Your Body Shape
Before you can perform the right exercises for your body, you need to determine which type of body shape you have.

Hourglass: Women with an hourglass shape are often envied by all of their friends. This is because hourglasses have well-proportioned upper and lower bodies, with a distinctively narrow waist. However, if you are an hourglass, you may find that you tend to gain weight all over your body, particularly in your hips and chest area. Hourglasses tend to be endomorphs or mesomorphs.

Pear: Pear-shaped women tend to have larger lower bodies and smaller upper bodies. If you are a pear, you will find that your hips are slightly wider than your shoulders and that you tend to gain weight below your waist. Pears usually have small chests and flat stomachs. Most pears are mesomorphs.

Apple: Apples are generally bigger on the top half of their bodies than on the bottom half. They commonly have slim hips and a large chest and stomach. Apples tend to gain weight above the waist or along the backside. The majority of apples are mesomorphs or endomorphs.

Ruler: Women with a ruler shape tend to be waif-like and slim. Rulers have no large differences between the size of their hips, waists, and shoulders. Rulers tend to put on weight in their stomach and backside, while maintaining slender arms and legs. Most rulers are ectomorphs.

Making the Most of Your Shape
Though you may not be 100% satisfied with your body type or shape, there are ways that you can help to make the most of your body's characteristics. Here are some exercises that you can perform to will aid in toning your body, whatever your shape.

If you are an Hourglass'
If you are have an hourglass figure, then you should be focusing on both cardio and resistance exercises. Cardio will assist in keeping your weight in check, while resistance exercises will help to maintain balance between your upper and lower body. Vary your repetitions and keep your resistance weights light so as not to build too much muscle mass. Here are some great exercises that you may want to try:

slow jogging
stationary biking (with light resistance)
jumping jacks
swimming
bicep curls, shoulder presses, and squats

If you are a Pear'
If you are a pear you will want to focus on exercises that will balance out the top half of your body with the bottom half of your body. You will also want to try to thin down your lower half. To achieve this, focus on aerobic activities that work out your lower body, and resistance exercises that will build your upper body. Use light weights and perform high repetitions of exercises. Some great activities include:

walking
cycling (with low resistance)
elliptical training
jumping rope
leg lifts and dips
push ups, chin ups, and shoulder presses

If you are an Apple'
If you are an apple, you will want to focus on aerobic training in order to slim down and lose body fat. By working on the lower half of your body, you can help balance out your chest and shoulders. Look to perform exercises that are low-resistance and involve low repetitions, such as:

stairclimbing
walking on an incline
running
leg squats, leg presses, and deadlifts

If you are a Ruler'
If you are a ruler, you will be able to perform pretty much any activity you want to. Perform cardio activities to help you lose weight in problem areas, such as the buttocks and stomach. You will especially want to build muscle mass through resistance exercise. To ensure that you build a symmetrical body shape, all of the muscle groups should be emphasized and routinely given a workout. Focus on:

stretching
sit-ups
step classes
spinning
walking or jogging on an incline
squats
bench presses and shoulder presses

So find out which shape you are and make the most out of it..by following the excercise.

GOODNESS OF BLACK PEPPER.

Today I am going to share the goodness of black pepper.
My daughter just came back from Kuching, Sarawak...and guess what she bought for me?
A tall "meow meow" with an extra long neck and a bottle of black pepper.
I seldom cook so what am I going to do with this bottle of black pepper.
I went online and find some recipes that uses black pepper and realised that black pepper has in fact a lot of goodness in terms of health benefit. It is not just a condiment.
This is what I found:

Black pepper is the most commonly used, but underrated spice. It does more that just add flavor to food; black pepper has been found to act as a powerful antioxidant, reducing inflammation and pain, combating arthritis and fighting off colon cancer. It has also been shown to substantially increase the bioavailability of nutrients from food, and has a dual action in speeding toxins out of the body through sweat and urine.
lack pepper is an excellent source of manganese, a very good source of iron and vitamin K, and a good source of dietary fiber.

Health Benefits

A Powerful Antioxidant
Researchers from India examined the antioxidant activity and phenolic content of plant foods commonly consumed in India, such as cereals, legumes, oil seeds, oils, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, and spices. They found that of all the foods tested, black pepper had the highest level of antioxidant activity and also the highest phenolic content.

Digestion and Intestinal Health
Many digestive difficulties are the result of a lack of hydrochloric acid, which is needed for digesting proteins and other food components. Black pepper stimulates the taste buds and alerts the stomach to increase hydrochloric acid secretion, improving digestion. Without adequate amounts, undigested food can sit in the stomach for prolonged periods, leading to heartburn and indigestion. Undigested food may also pass into the intestines where it can become a food source for unfriendly bacteria, producing gas, irritation, diarrhea or constipation.
Black pepper's action promotes complete digestion. It acts as a diuretic, reducing bloating in the intestinal tract, and as a carmitive, preventing the formation of intestinal gas. Peppery foods also increase the production of urine, in which toxins filtered by the kidneys are removed from the body. Furthermore, pepper's warming effects increase sweating, another route for elimination.

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Arthritic
Piperine, the active phenolic compound in black pepper extract, was found to significantly reduce the perception of pain and arthritis symptoms in rats. Detailed examination showed that piperine significantly reduced the inflammation in their joints.

Colon cancer
A study to determine if black pepper, resveratrol from grapes, and cinnamaldehyde from cinnamon have anti-prolific effects on colon cancer, found that black pepper had significant anti-proliferative activity on colon cancer cells.

Increases Absorption and Bioavailability of Nutrients
A study found that the active compound in black pepper, piperine, increased the bioavailability and absorption of curcumin by a huge 2000%, both in humans and rats. Curcumin is a compound from the herb turmeric, known for fighting cancer, pain, inflammation and infections.

Tips on Using Black Pepper

Black pepper is available whole, crushed or ground into a powder. To ensure maximum flavor and nutrients, buy whole peppercorns and grind them in a mill just before they are needed.

Black pepper should not be added to food while it is cooking, as it loses its flavor, aroma and Vitamin C when heated or cooked for too long. Adding it near the end will help to preserve its flavor.

Freshly crushed black pepper, salt, olive oil, and lemon juice pepper make a delicious salad dressing.

See, I didn't know that black pepper is so good....so better start using the bottle for my chicken and steak.

INSOMNIA - TIPS ON SELF TREATMENT

Insomnia is a word we hear very often....but those who suffer from it will know how bad it is. It will turn your life upside down....and if not treated depression will set in. It will affect your daily life and your work too. So early treatment is encouraged. I have been suffering from this illness for umpteen years...off and on. So these are the tips I find to be good for those who are suffering from it.

Self- Treatment Tips

No matter what age you are when insomnia hits, there's always a way to treat and cope with this sleeping disorder. The key to successful self-treatment lies in making a few changes in your daily routine, with emphasize placed on when you go to bed. These self-treatment tips include:

Keep to a schedule.
Make sure you sleep and wake up at the same time.

Reduce the time spent in bed.
Too much time spent idling on your bed reading, or using your laptop, or tossing and turning under your covers trying to sleep promotes sleepless nights. So, try not idling on your bed, and if you can't sleep when you get to bed try moving your bedtime an hour a head.

Don't force yourself to sleep.
The more you will yourself to stop thinking and turning and just to go to sleep, the more awake you'll become. Try reading (not on your bed) or watching TV until you feel sleepily. I find watching TV work best for me. I will just just sit in front of the TV until I feel very sleepy, then just crawl into bed. But get up in the morning at the same time as usual.

Remove the clocks in your room.
The less you know about the time at night, the more you'll sleep, without panicking about how much time you have left until the morning. Just set your alarm, and then hide your bedroom alarm clock so it's not visible from your bed.

Exercise and stay active.
Work off the nerves and restless energy. Try to get at least 20 to 30 minutes of vigorously exercise a day. But, at least 5 or 6 hours before you sleep.

Reduce or avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.
Consuming caffeine after lunchtime, and nicotine can keep you awake during the nights. It goes for alcohol, which initially makes you sleepily, but causes you to become more awake during the night.

Check your medications.
If you're on medication, check with your doctor if the medications can be causing your insomnia. If you're using over the counter drugs, check the labels to see if they contain caffeine or other stimulants, such as pseudoephedrine.

Do things that put you at ease.
Find ways to relax yourself. It may involve soaking in a warm bath, eating a light treat, or even getting your partner to give you nice slow back massage before bed to soothe your worries.

Avoid or limit naps.
Naps can make falling a sleep more difficult. But, if you can't absolutely go without naps, limit yourself to one nap a day for an hour during the afternoon.

Reduce sleep interruptions.
Limit noise distractions. Close your bedroom door or turn on a fan to drown out noise. Make sure you're at a comfortable temperature; avoid drinking a lot before bed to reduce early morning trips to the bathroom.

Give it a try and don't suffer in silent.

CLOVES PROVIDE NATURAL PAIN RELIEF

This fresh-tasting spice is naturally antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, and is therefore not only useful in the kitchen but also as a herbal medicine.

Cloves are beneficial for pain relief, especially for the teeth and gums, and help to reduce inflammation, which is associated with many chronic diseases.

Cloves are the dried flower buds that come from the Evergreen clove tree.

Cloves and clove oil are used in cooking, perfumes and flavorings, and have a sweet, warm flavor and smell.
Cloves contain manganese, vitamins C and K, magnesium, calcium and fiber.

Cloves also contain significant amounts of an active component called eugenol, a substance helpful for relieving pain, killing bacteria and reducing inflammation.

Eugenol and other components of clove combine to make clove a mild anesthetic as well as an anti-bacterial agent, which have been used in conjunction with oral pain relief.

Health Benefits

Pain Relief
A study found that clove oil is helpful in dentistry before a needle is injected into the gums. The subjects reported feeling less pain.
For a natural headache remedy or other pain relief, make a paste from one-quarter teaspoon clove powder and one teaspoon cinnamon oil.

Apply this to the forehead for headaches or to any other painful area.

For toothache, chew on a clove or apply clove oil to the painful area. This will help to numb the pain and combat the bacterial infection and inflammation that can lead to gum disease and to the risk of further damage to teeth.

Heart Health
A few grams of cloves per day boosted insulin function.

One study found that all participants who ingested cloves, regardless of the amount, showed a drop in glucose and triglycerides levels.

Clove oil was also found to inhibit lipid peroxidation, which can lead to heart disease.

Inflammation Eugenol, a component in cloves, has been found to inhibit enzymes and pathways that lead to inflammatory conditions in human cell studies

Yeast Infections

An animal study found a reduction in yeast infections when clove oil was applied to the infected area.

Lung cancer

One study found that when mice with induced lung cancer were given an IV clove infusion, cancer growth was reduced.

Tips on Using Cloves

Choose whole, fresh cloves whenever possible as the powder form loses its flavor quickly.

If a clove is fresh, it will float vertically in water.

Fresh, good quality cloves also release an oil when squeezed.
Use cloves in combination with other herbs and spices to flavor meats, or add ground cloves to homemade cakes, cookies etc.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CORN

I love corns....its sooo good. Does these corns look delicious. Learn the goodness of corns.

Corn is a highly nutritious food that is particularly rich in immune-boosting vitamins and minerals that benefit heart health, and reduce the risk of diseases like various cancers and diabetes.
Corn is a cereal grain and is also eaten as a vegetable.

Sweet corn is the most popular corn consumed, Other types of corn include dent corn (or field corn), pop corn and flour corn, which is ground corn. However, the most nutritious form is sweet corn, which are the kernels that grow on the cob.
Corn is high in folate, a vitamin not only beneficial for reproductive health, but is known to reduce homocysteine, an inflammatory marker attributed to heart disease.

Corn is very high in phenolic compounds that are associated with helping to prevent colon cancer and other digestive cancers.

Corn is also high in resistant starch that helps promote butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid found in the colon that may be beneficial in fighting colon cancer.

Cornstarch, a component of corn, was shown to improve glucose metabolism in normal and overweight women.

Improved memory Function
Corn is a good source of thiamin, or vitamin B1, an important nutrient for enzymatic reactions involved in energy production, and is also critical for brain cell/cognitive function.

Tips on Using Corn
The sugar content in corn rapidly turns to starch as soon as the corn is picked, so to enjoy it at its optimal sweetness and nutritional peak, corn should be eaten as fresh as possible.

When storing corn, keep it in the refrigerator and do not remove its outer husk since this will protect its flavor.

To tests the juiciness of the corn, press your fingernail into a kernel. Corn that is fresh will exude a white milky substance.

PROPER WAY TO EAT FRUITS

Most people think that eating fruit along with their main meals is a good way to stay healthy. Without properly understanding the body's digestive cycle over a 24 hour period, many people consume fruit in a manner that will not bring them any nutritional benefit.
Having lots of fruit with your main meals or eating it as a desert after meals is not the way fruit should be eaten.
In order for your body to get the maximum benefit of eating fruit you should follow the guidelines given below.

• Always eat fruit on an empty stomach. You can do this at any time during the day, as long as it is on an empty stomach.
• After eating fruit, you should leave around 30 minutes before consuming any foods besides fruit.
• After you have had a proper meal, leave at least three hours before you eat any fruit. This will ensure that the previous meal has left the stomach and putrefaction and fermentation of that meal in the stomach can be avoided.
• 
  Try your best to consume mainly fruit before noon.
• 
  Never eat fruit along with other foods. Fruit should only be eaten on its own.
• 
  Never eat fruit as a desert, after a meal. This is a complete waste of the fruit's benefits.
• 
  Avoid fruits like bananas and avocados in the morning because they are heavy foods and tax the digestive system in the morning. These can be eaten after noon when the body is in the appropriate digestive cycle for such foods to be eaten.
• 
  If you feel hunger during the morning, eat fruit and you can keep eating portions of fruit until your blood sugar level goes back to normal, resulting in your hunger disappearing.
• 
  Eat only organic fruit to the best of your ability.
• 
  Avoid processed, cooked, or canned fruit. These contain large amounts of sugars, additives and other undesirables.

Fruit is digested in the intestine and not in the stomach. It is also rapidly digested and goes through the digestive system in around half an hour. The brain runs on glucose and fruit is the most efficient source of blood sugar. With sufficient fruit consumption your blood sugar levels normalize, allowing your body's hunger mechanism to be properly regulated and thus avoid over-eating and obesity.

So change your ways of eating fruits....like we always do after our meals.

CAUSES OF LIVER DAMAGE

Here are some guidelines on taking care of your liver.

The main causes of liver damage are:

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.

2. Not urinating in the morning. So remember to go to the toilet the first thing when you wake up.

3. Too much eating. Always eat to 70% or 80% full. Try not to go for buffet...too tempting to control.

4. Skipping breakfast.

5. Consuming too much medication.

6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.

7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.

8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver. Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more.We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'

DO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH..................HEALTH IS WEALTH!!!!

BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS

Here are some bad habits to avoid to live a healthy life.

BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS

1. Not taking 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 protein 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 effects.

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. The best is playing mahjong.

10. Talking Rarely

Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain but dont gossip ;-)

CANCER CAUSING FOOD

I received this in my mail today and want to share with all friends.

The top five cancer-causing foods are:

1. Hot dogs

Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

2. Processed meats and bacon

Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3. Doughnuts

Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4. French f ries

Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contaiN cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process.. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies

All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

So if possible try to avoid these foods and eat healthily.

BREAST LUMPS AND TENDERNESS

Here is a sharing on treatment of breast lumps and tenderness by drinking fruits and vegetable juice.

Breast tenderness and breast lumps are common and worrying problems. All women with breast symptoms are worried that it may signal cancer.

The causes of breast tenderness or lumps are:

Hormonal imbalances during menstrual cycle,

Poor diet lacking antioxidant.Side effects of oral contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy.

Poor fitting bras.

Here is the Juice for breast tenderness

1 orange or 1 mandarin

1 grapefruit

2 sticks celery

2 dandelion or cabbage leaves

1 spring onion or 1 clove garlic

1 medium carrot

3 or 4 drops pf phytolacca tinture can be added to the juice and is available in health food stores. Phytolacca is a herb that cleanses the lymphatic system,

The diet should be high in raw fruits and vegetables and dairy products should be completely avoided.

Useful supplements:-

Selenium 100mg daily

Vitamin B complec or Brewer's yeast

Vitamin E

Cold pressed faxseed oil and evening primrose oil

Natural progesterone cream or lozengess can help reduce the oestrogen dominance, and may reduce hormonal cases of breast tenderness.