WISHING ALL OUR CHINESE FRIENDS, ESPECIALLY THE CHINESE CHRISTIANS (BROTHERS & SISTERS IN CHRIST), A BLESSED CHINESE NEW YEAR. WITH JESUS' BLESSINGS, MAY THIS YEAR OF OX BRING LOVE, PEACE, PROSPERITY, HEALTH, JOY AND HAPPINESS TO ALL OF US. AMIN.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Let Us Be Like "Bob Hope"
For those of you too young to remember Bob Hope, ask your Grandparents!!! And thanks for the memories...
ON TURNING 70: Bob Hope said,” You still chase women, but only downhill".
ON TURNING 80: Bob Hope said,” That’s the time of your life when even your birthday suit needs pressing."
ON TURNING 90: Bob Hope said,” You know you're getting old when the candles cost more than the cake."
ON TURNING 100: Bob Hope said," I don't feel old. In fact I don't feel anything until noon . Then it's time for my nap."
Something2Share:
During one morning walk in Segamat Country Club together with Tan TP and Liew PY, I asked them whether they knew at what age Bob Hope passed away and they seemed not to remember. I told them Bob Hope went to heaven at the age of 100.
On hearing that, both of them immediately said they wanted to be like "Bob Hope." I told them, “No problem as long as we keep on walking every morning and having cheerful hearts and also bringing laughter to others.” From that morning onward, we started to greet each other as “Bob Hope”. How amazing it is of the hope from Bob Hope for us, the senior citizens, who wish to live longer!
Well, Bob Hope was an English-born American comedian and actor. He was born on May 29, 1903 and was best known as “The comedian who entertained GIs.” Throughout his career, he was honored for his humanitarian work. The Guinness Book of World Records called Bob Hope the most honored entertainer in the world.
Bob Hope passed away on July 7, 2003 at the remarkable age of 100. Conquering stage, movies, radio, and television, Bob Hope was -- and remains -- an American comedy institution.
Here are some of Bob Hope’s quotes that I wish to share with you :
“Middle age is when you still believe you'll feel better in the morning.”
"Middle age is when your age starts to show around your middle."
“I'll tell 'ya’ how to stay young: Hang around with older people.”
“I’m so old, they’ve canceled my blood type”
“A sense of humor is good for you. Have you ever heard of a laughing hyena with heart burn?”
“I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.”
ON TURNING 70: Bob Hope said,” You still chase women, but only downhill".
ON TURNING 80: Bob Hope said,” That’s the time of your life when even your birthday suit needs pressing."
ON TURNING 90: Bob Hope said,” You know you're getting old when the candles cost more than the cake."
ON TURNING 100: Bob Hope said," I don't feel old. In fact I don't feel anything until noon . Then it's time for my nap."
Something2Share:
During one morning walk in Segamat Country Club together with Tan TP and Liew PY, I asked them whether they knew at what age Bob Hope passed away and they seemed not to remember. I told them Bob Hope went to heaven at the age of 100.
On hearing that, both of them immediately said they wanted to be like "Bob Hope." I told them, “No problem as long as we keep on walking every morning and having cheerful hearts and also bringing laughter to others.” From that morning onward, we started to greet each other as “Bob Hope”. How amazing it is of the hope from Bob Hope for us, the senior citizens, who wish to live longer!
Well, Bob Hope was an English-born American comedian and actor. He was born on May 29, 1903 and was best known as “The comedian who entertained GIs.” Throughout his career, he was honored for his humanitarian work. The Guinness Book of World Records called Bob Hope the most honored entertainer in the world.
Bob Hope passed away on July 7, 2003 at the remarkable age of 100. Conquering stage, movies, radio, and television, Bob Hope was -- and remains -- an American comedy institution.
Here are some of Bob Hope’s quotes that I wish to share with you :
“Middle age is when you still believe you'll feel better in the morning.”
"Middle age is when your age starts to show around your middle."
“I'll tell 'ya’ how to stay young: Hang around with older people.”
“I’m so old, they’ve canceled my blood type”
“A sense of humor is good for you. Have you ever heard of a laughing hyena with heart burn?”
“I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.”
“He (Vincent Price) always loved a good joke. Moreover, he was kind enough to laugh at jokes that weren’t so good.”
“A lot of people think that Bing (Crosby) was a loner, but Bing was a very loyal friend.”
“I've always been in the right place and time. Of course, I steered myself there.”
“A lot of people think that Bing (Crosby) was a loner, but Bing was a very loyal friend.”
“I've always been in the right place and time. Of course, I steered myself there.”
“I don't know if the presidential candidates are running for the White House or Animal House.”
“No one party can fool all of the people all of the time; that's why we have two parties.”
GOD BLESS EVERYONE
Give me a sense of humor. Lord,
Give me the grace to see a joke,
To get some humor out of life,
And pass it on to other folks.
Give me the grace to see a joke,
To get some humor out of life,
And pass it on to other folks.
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Goodness of Dragon Fruit (火龍果/龍珠果)
Since coming back for retirement from Indonesia, I used to follow my wife to “Pasar Malam” in Taman Bukit Baru, not far from Taman Indah where we stay, on Thursday evenings. Both the two “taman” are in Bukit Siput, Segamat, Johor.
My wife goes there mainly for buying vegetables, whereas I just look around while walking and stopping from one stall to another. Then on one evening I found these Dragon Fruit in one fruit stall and I was told that the fruit was grown organically. The selling price is at RM6.00 per kilo.
The Dragon Fruit appears bright pink in colour and has an ovoid shape, but I prefer to choose the fairly round shape, and with very prominent ‘scales’ around it.
Accordingly, dragon fruit is of cactus family, a beautiful fruit grown in Southeast Asia, Mexico, Central and South America, and Israel.
There are 3 different varieties of dragon fruit:
1. Hylocereus undatus – pink skin and white flesh
2. Hylocereus polyrhizus – pink skin and red flesh
3. Selenicereus megalanthus – yellow skin and white flesh
Dragon fruit tastes sweet but not thick, with light fragrance and crunchy, and with a flavor that's like a cross between kiwi and pear. Thus, it is also known as the ‘strawberry pear’, ‘pitaya’ or ‘pitahaya’. In Chinese, dragon fruit is called huǒ lóng guǒ 火龍果 "fire dragon fruit" and lóng zhū guǒ 龍珠果"dragon pearl fruit".
The dragon fruit I bought is of pink skin and red flash which I prefer and is popular in Malaysia. We don’t eat the skin of dragon fruit, just the flash is edible. Using a sharp knife, I cut the fruit straight down the middle into 2 halves. Inside the flesh there are tiny black edible seeds, just like the kiwi fruit. Then I use a spoon to scoope out the flesh. The taste is just wonderful, especially we have kept the dragon fruit overnight in air refrigerator.
Other recommended ways of eating dragon fruit are within ice cream, or turn it into a drink by putting the flesh through a juicer. It is a good material of beverage, may be processed to be all kind of drinks or it can be fermented into a wine.
Dragon fruit is a great healthy fruit to eat, and its nutritional benefits are numerous. It is low in calories, rich in fibre and having high nutrients and minerals, including Vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium, and also rich in phytoalbumins which have antioxidant properties. It has been reported that antioxidants prevent the formation of cancer-causing free radicals. Dragon Fruit can be used as cosmetic and health material, with functions of improving eyesight and preventing hypertension.
Other benefits:
1. The dragon fruit helps the digestive process.
2. The dragon fruit helps prevent colon cancer and diabetes.
3. The dragon fruit helps to neutralize toxic substances such as heavy metal, reduce cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.
4. Consumed regularly the dragon fruit can help against asthma and cough.
5. In Taiwan, diabetics use the fruit as a food substitute for rice and as a fiber rich part of the diet.
6. Dragon fruit absorbs CO2 at night and releases oxygen to purify the air.
I am sure you are just like me, once you have tasted it you will fall in love with eating Dragon Fruit everyday!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Prostate Enlargement
I wish to share the above illustrations which I have downloaded from internet search so that we are able to visualize the impact of enlarged prostate putting pressure on the urethra thus causing urination and bladder problems. When Dr. C.S. Loh, the Urologist, told me that my prostate enlargement was 3 times its original size, I could imagine that it had grown from the size of a walnut to more than the size of a golf ball. Accordingly, as the prostate enlarges, the layer of tissue surrounding it stops it from expanding, causing the sex gland to press against the urethra like a clamp on a garden hose. The bladder wall becomes thicker and irritable. The bladder begins to contract even when it contains small amounts of urine, causing more frequent urination. Eventually, the bladder weakens and loses the ability to empty itself, so some of the urine remains in the bladder. The narrowing of the urethra and partial emptying of the bladder cause many of the problems associated with enlarged prostate, often called BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia).
Studies done on animals have suggested that BPH may occur because the higher amount of estrogen within the gland increases the activity of substances that promote cell growth. Some research has indicated that older men continue to produce and accumulate high levels of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) in the prostate. This accumulation of DHT, a substance derived from testosterone in the prostate, may encourage the growth of cells. Scientists have also noted that men who do not produce DHT do not develop BPH.
I am now on the recovery stage after green light laser surgery at Gleneagles Intan Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, on 15 December 2008. I used to have 5 – 6 times urination at night before the surgery. Now it has been reduced to 1 – 2 times and I can sleep quite well without frequent interruption.
My next appointment with the Urologist will be on 23 February 2009. I was told by Dr. C.S. Loh that a test will be carried out to detect PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) and also to repeat a uroflow test to measure my urine flow and volume.
I am anxious to find out whether my prostate has shrunken over a period of 9 weeks after the laser surgery thus allowing the urine to flow more freely. More important to me is that my bladder will be able to empty the urine completely.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The Longevity Diet (By Matt McMillen)
The fountain of youth has yet to be found, bottled, and sold for $3.99 at Whole Foods. But that doesn't mean the secret to living a long, healthy life can't be bought at the supermarket.
"By eating right, you maximize the probability that you won't develop conditions like diabetes or Alzheimer's," says James Joseph, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.
Beyond choosing the best foods, new and intriguing evidence shows that eating less — less than you probably think — can reduce the toll time takes on your body.
Follow the following 7 no-fail food rules and you'll have the best possible chance of blowing out 100 candles on your birthday cake.
RULE 1: Go For Color
The biggest anti-aging breakthrough in recent history comes from new discoveries about the power of antioxidants. As the cells in our bodies metabolize oxygen, unstable molecules called free radicals form. These cause cell damage that has been linked to age-related illnesses like Alzheimer's and heart disease. Many scientists think that all symptoms of aging are the direct result of free radicals attacking our cells.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, preventing them from doing any damage — and thereby slowing the aging process.
"Antioxidants can even reverse damage to our cells," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. While there's ongoing debate about how many of the large variety of food-derived antioxidants our bodies can actually use and how efficiently we can use them, a convincing pile of research points to a strong connection between foods loaded with antioxidants and a longer, healthier life.
Berries have tons of antioxidants, and according to Dr. Joseph's research, they help maintain cognitive and motor functioning as we age. Pomegranates have been found to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
And results recently published in the British Journal of Cancer show that broccoli and brussels sprouts contain compounds that help prevent breast cancer.
RULE 2: Rely On Real Food, Not Supplements
Case in point: the massive Iowa Women's Health Study. Researchers found that among the 34,492 women participating in the study, those who ate foods rich in vitamin E, such as nuts, lessened their chances of suffering a stroke. Vitamin E supplements, on the other hand, provided no protection.
Natural foods contain "thousands of compounds that interact in complex ways, and if you take one out, there's no predicting how it will function on its own," said Frank Hu, Ph.D., associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. He pointed out that large-scale trials of individual antioxidant supplements have been largely disappointing.
RULE 3: Avoid Processed Foods
Processed foods — those full of preservatives, chemicals, and added colors — simply aren't as nutritious. And every time you eat a highly processed food, you're bypassing another food that actually can help delay the effects of aging.
The classic example is whole-wheat bread versus white bread. Whole wheat is proven to fight heart disease, thanks to its abundance of fiber and other nutrients. White bread isn't. "Many nutrients are taken out during processing, and few are put back," says Lisa Hark, Ph.D., R.D., director of nutrition education at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Your body also typically digests whole food more slowly than processed food, which keeps blood sugar and insulin levels from fluctuating rapidly. "In the long term, this may help you avoid diabetes," Dr. Hu said. And because whole foods pack fewer calories per gram, they ward off weight-related illnesses like heart disease and stroke.
RULE 4: Don't Be Afraid Of (Good) Fats
Fat is not a four-letter word. "Unsaturated fats from vegetable oils, nuts, avocados, and fish improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood lipids," Dr. Hu says. That translates into lower risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
Healthy fats help make the Mediterranean-style diet — consisting mostly of vegetables, nuts, beans, olive oil, and fish — so superior. The Harvard School of Public Health and University of Athens Medical School found that this type of diet reduces the risk of death from heart disease and cancer by 25 percent. And a recent Columbia University Medical Center study reported that it can lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease by 40 percent.
Treating yourself to salmon and other fish that deliver omega-3 fatty acids two to four times a week, along with a small handful of nuts a day, may reduce your risk of heart disease by 30 percent and lower your cholesterol as well, according to research from Harvard.
Your looks will benefit too: Early evidence suggests that omega-3s will have your grandkids crooning, "Grandma, what soft, wrinkle-free skin you have!"
RULE 5: Sip Red Wine
Another revelation of the Harvard/Athens study was the benefits of red wine. Drinking one glass a day, four to five times a week (preferably with a meal), has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses. Part of the credit goes to the alcohol, which helps soothe inflamed arteries. But specific to red wine — especially pinot noir — are antioxidants called flavonoids which are particularly good free-radical fighters.
Consuming wine conservatively (pace yourselves, people) will help you reap all the heart-healthy benefits, but you should go easier on the bottle as you age: Alcohol consumption has been linked to increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
RULE 6: Guzzle Green Tea
Packed with powerful antioxidants — this time called catechins — green tea may be the single most life-prolonging substance you can put in your cup. A mug a day will decrease your chance of developing high blood pressure by 46 percent. (A good thing, since 35 million women are currently hypertensive.) Drink more and reduce your risk by 65 percent.
Enough studies have shown green tea's ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells that the National Cancer Institute is conducting trials on both a tea-based pill and a topical ointment to treat cancerous skin growths.
RULE 7: Eat Less
Want proof that staying slim is linked to a longer, more enjoyable life? Just look around: The 90-somethings running after their grandkids on the beach or dancing at weddings aren't the overweight ones.
Science backs this up. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that women who stayed closest to their weight at 18 — yes, 18 — throughout their lives had a 66 percent lower risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and gallstones compared with women who put on 11 to 22 pounds by middle age. Another study found that women who gained 60 pounds after age 18 were up to three times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Of course, as we age, extra pounds seem to materialize out of nowhere. "If you keep the physical activity the same and food the same, you will put on a pound or two a year," says Walter Willett, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health and one of the lead researchers of the study. Thanks to a natural decrease in hormones that help maintain muscle mass, "those muscles shrink, you burn less energy, and you accumulate fat," he says. There's a two-part solution. First, start weight training, if you don't already, and keep it up through the years to retain calorie-burning muscles.
And, more important, start cutting calories — while keeping nutrients. In 2004, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reported that people who consistently ate 10 to 25 percent fewer calories than the average American, while still keeping a balanced diet, had remarkably low blood pressure and low levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides — too much of which can spell "heart attack." Reduced calorie intake has also been linked to lower risk of cancer and Alzheimer's.
The National Academy of Science has several theories about why eating less makes such a difference. While we often strive to boost our metabolism to stay slim, some researchers believe we need to do the opposite to live longer: A low-cal diet slows your metabolism, and a slow metabolism produces fewer free radicals. When you eat less, you also produce less glucose, which has been linked to cell damage. And low-calorie diets reduce your body's core temperature and its response to insulin, both of which may increase longevity in humans.
Okay. If you start skipping snacks, how many years will you add to your life? Doctors aren't sure — but studies have shown that calorie-restricted rats live 30 percent longer than rats that eat normally.
This rule is the toughest one of all to follow. But if it makes you feel better, Sergei Romashkan, M.D., Ph.D., chief of clinical trials at the National Institute of Aging, says that eating 25 percent less than usual caused very little crankiness in his study subjects. "Our participants were quite happy and full," he says.
Something2Share:
Since coming back to Segamat, I have missed my steamed salmon with sliced ginger, garlic and onion. plus a little olive oil and fish sauce because there is no fresh salmon to be found in the local supermarkets. I used to buy fresh salmon from Carrefour, Medan, before coming back for retirement since end of November 2008.
I am now taking 1 - 2 slices of whole wheat bread for my breakfast and I prefer steamed than toasted. I take it with a small piece of cheese and a half-boiled "ayam kampung" egg. My drink is now organic rolled oats added with a teaspoon of honey but without sugar. Occassionally I drink black coffee without sugar with friends when we meet at local kopitiam.
I like banana and papaya. Orange is also my favourite. My fruit juice is a mixed concoction of green apple, green pepper, celery, bitter gourd and English gourd. For a change, then I will juice carrot mixed with tomato.
I am not a regular green tea drinker. I may have to start soon and also begin to sip red wine with meals.
It's good to eat less. As Chinese, we have been told to eat up to 70% full only in order to stay healthy. Well, it's easy said than followed the rule. Anyway, if we choose to eat less meat and less rice but consume more fruits and vegetables, then the chances of over-eating is less.
Health is wealth and wellness is happiness. So my friends, do eat right and eat less.
"By eating right, you maximize the probability that you won't develop conditions like diabetes or Alzheimer's," says James Joseph, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.
Beyond choosing the best foods, new and intriguing evidence shows that eating less — less than you probably think — can reduce the toll time takes on your body.
Follow the following 7 no-fail food rules and you'll have the best possible chance of blowing out 100 candles on your birthday cake.
RULE 1: Go For Color
The biggest anti-aging breakthrough in recent history comes from new discoveries about the power of antioxidants. As the cells in our bodies metabolize oxygen, unstable molecules called free radicals form. These cause cell damage that has been linked to age-related illnesses like Alzheimer's and heart disease. Many scientists think that all symptoms of aging are the direct result of free radicals attacking our cells.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, preventing them from doing any damage — and thereby slowing the aging process.
"Antioxidants can even reverse damage to our cells," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. While there's ongoing debate about how many of the large variety of food-derived antioxidants our bodies can actually use and how efficiently we can use them, a convincing pile of research points to a strong connection between foods loaded with antioxidants and a longer, healthier life.
Berries have tons of antioxidants, and according to Dr. Joseph's research, they help maintain cognitive and motor functioning as we age. Pomegranates have been found to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
And results recently published in the British Journal of Cancer show that broccoli and brussels sprouts contain compounds that help prevent breast cancer.
RULE 2: Rely On Real Food, Not Supplements
Case in point: the massive Iowa Women's Health Study. Researchers found that among the 34,492 women participating in the study, those who ate foods rich in vitamin E, such as nuts, lessened their chances of suffering a stroke. Vitamin E supplements, on the other hand, provided no protection.
Natural foods contain "thousands of compounds that interact in complex ways, and if you take one out, there's no predicting how it will function on its own," said Frank Hu, Ph.D., associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. He pointed out that large-scale trials of individual antioxidant supplements have been largely disappointing.
RULE 3: Avoid Processed Foods
Processed foods — those full of preservatives, chemicals, and added colors — simply aren't as nutritious. And every time you eat a highly processed food, you're bypassing another food that actually can help delay the effects of aging.
The classic example is whole-wheat bread versus white bread. Whole wheat is proven to fight heart disease, thanks to its abundance of fiber and other nutrients. White bread isn't. "Many nutrients are taken out during processing, and few are put back," says Lisa Hark, Ph.D., R.D., director of nutrition education at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Your body also typically digests whole food more slowly than processed food, which keeps blood sugar and insulin levels from fluctuating rapidly. "In the long term, this may help you avoid diabetes," Dr. Hu said. And because whole foods pack fewer calories per gram, they ward off weight-related illnesses like heart disease and stroke.
RULE 4: Don't Be Afraid Of (Good) Fats
Fat is not a four-letter word. "Unsaturated fats from vegetable oils, nuts, avocados, and fish improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood lipids," Dr. Hu says. That translates into lower risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
Healthy fats help make the Mediterranean-style diet — consisting mostly of vegetables, nuts, beans, olive oil, and fish — so superior. The Harvard School of Public Health and University of Athens Medical School found that this type of diet reduces the risk of death from heart disease and cancer by 25 percent. And a recent Columbia University Medical Center study reported that it can lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease by 40 percent.
Treating yourself to salmon and other fish that deliver omega-3 fatty acids two to four times a week, along with a small handful of nuts a day, may reduce your risk of heart disease by 30 percent and lower your cholesterol as well, according to research from Harvard.
Your looks will benefit too: Early evidence suggests that omega-3s will have your grandkids crooning, "Grandma, what soft, wrinkle-free skin you have!"
RULE 5: Sip Red Wine
Another revelation of the Harvard/Athens study was the benefits of red wine. Drinking one glass a day, four to five times a week (preferably with a meal), has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses. Part of the credit goes to the alcohol, which helps soothe inflamed arteries. But specific to red wine — especially pinot noir — are antioxidants called flavonoids which are particularly good free-radical fighters.
Consuming wine conservatively (pace yourselves, people) will help you reap all the heart-healthy benefits, but you should go easier on the bottle as you age: Alcohol consumption has been linked to increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
RULE 6: Guzzle Green Tea
Packed with powerful antioxidants — this time called catechins — green tea may be the single most life-prolonging substance you can put in your cup. A mug a day will decrease your chance of developing high blood pressure by 46 percent. (A good thing, since 35 million women are currently hypertensive.) Drink more and reduce your risk by 65 percent.
Enough studies have shown green tea's ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells that the National Cancer Institute is conducting trials on both a tea-based pill and a topical ointment to treat cancerous skin growths.
RULE 7: Eat Less
Want proof that staying slim is linked to a longer, more enjoyable life? Just look around: The 90-somethings running after their grandkids on the beach or dancing at weddings aren't the overweight ones.
Science backs this up. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that women who stayed closest to their weight at 18 — yes, 18 — throughout their lives had a 66 percent lower risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and gallstones compared with women who put on 11 to 22 pounds by middle age. Another study found that women who gained 60 pounds after age 18 were up to three times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Of course, as we age, extra pounds seem to materialize out of nowhere. "If you keep the physical activity the same and food the same, you will put on a pound or two a year," says Walter Willett, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health and one of the lead researchers of the study. Thanks to a natural decrease in hormones that help maintain muscle mass, "those muscles shrink, you burn less energy, and you accumulate fat," he says. There's a two-part solution. First, start weight training, if you don't already, and keep it up through the years to retain calorie-burning muscles.
And, more important, start cutting calories — while keeping nutrients. In 2004, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reported that people who consistently ate 10 to 25 percent fewer calories than the average American, while still keeping a balanced diet, had remarkably low blood pressure and low levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides — too much of which can spell "heart attack." Reduced calorie intake has also been linked to lower risk of cancer and Alzheimer's.
The National Academy of Science has several theories about why eating less makes such a difference. While we often strive to boost our metabolism to stay slim, some researchers believe we need to do the opposite to live longer: A low-cal diet slows your metabolism, and a slow metabolism produces fewer free radicals. When you eat less, you also produce less glucose, which has been linked to cell damage. And low-calorie diets reduce your body's core temperature and its response to insulin, both of which may increase longevity in humans.
Okay. If you start skipping snacks, how many years will you add to your life? Doctors aren't sure — but studies have shown that calorie-restricted rats live 30 percent longer than rats that eat normally.
This rule is the toughest one of all to follow. But if it makes you feel better, Sergei Romashkan, M.D., Ph.D., chief of clinical trials at the National Institute of Aging, says that eating 25 percent less than usual caused very little crankiness in his study subjects. "Our participants were quite happy and full," he says.
Something2Share:
Since coming back to Segamat, I have missed my steamed salmon with sliced ginger, garlic and onion. plus a little olive oil and fish sauce because there is no fresh salmon to be found in the local supermarkets. I used to buy fresh salmon from Carrefour, Medan, before coming back for retirement since end of November 2008.
I am now taking 1 - 2 slices of whole wheat bread for my breakfast and I prefer steamed than toasted. I take it with a small piece of cheese and a half-boiled "ayam kampung" egg. My drink is now organic rolled oats added with a teaspoon of honey but without sugar. Occassionally I drink black coffee without sugar with friends when we meet at local kopitiam.
I like banana and papaya. Orange is also my favourite. My fruit juice is a mixed concoction of green apple, green pepper, celery, bitter gourd and English gourd. For a change, then I will juice carrot mixed with tomato.
I am not a regular green tea drinker. I may have to start soon and also begin to sip red wine with meals.
It's good to eat less. As Chinese, we have been told to eat up to 70% full only in order to stay healthy. Well, it's easy said than followed the rule. Anyway, if we choose to eat less meat and less rice but consume more fruits and vegetables, then the chances of over-eating is less.
Health is wealth and wellness is happiness. So my friends, do eat right and eat less.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Driving Tips
Open the car doors and wind down the car windows before driving.
Bukalah pintu mobil dan turunkan kaca jendelanya sebelum Anda mengemudi.
開車前請先開窗和門
Bukalah pintu mobil dan turunkan kaca jendelanya sebelum Anda mengemudi.
開車前請先開窗和門
All car users beware: According to research done by a University of California, USA, the car dashboard, sofa, and air freshener will emit Benzene, a cancer causing toxin.
Semua pengguna mobil harus hati-hati : Menurut penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Universitas California, USA, dasbord mobil, sofa, dan penyegar atau pengharum akan mengeluarkan bensin, racun penyebab penyakit kanker.
開車的民眾要注意，根據美國加州大學的研究發現，汽車的儀表板、沙發、內裝和芳香劑，會揮發致癌物質「苯」。
Semua pengguna mobil harus hati-hati : Menurut penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Universitas California, USA, dasbord mobil, sofa, dan penyegar atau pengharum akan mengeluarkan bensin, racun penyebab penyakit kanker.
開車的民眾要注意，根據美國加州大學的研究發現，汽車的儀表板、沙發、內裝和芳香劑，會揮發致癌物質「苯」。
In addition to causing cancer, Benzene also poisons your bones, causes anemia, and reduces white blood cells. Prolonged exposure will cause Leukemia, thus increasing the risk of cancer. It may also cause miscarriage.
Disamping penyebab penyakit kanker, bensin juga meracuni tulang Anda, menyebabkan kurang darah atau anemia dan mengurangi sel-sel darah putih. Penyerapan yang lebih lama akan mengakibatkan penyakit leukimia, dan akhirnya meningkatkan resiko penyakit kanker. Dan juga dapat mengakibatkan keguguran.
苯類化合物是很強的致癌物質，也是很強的骨髓毒性物質，它會造成一般人的貧血或者是白血球稀少，長期暴露的話，得到白血病，就是血癌的風險大為增加，有些孕婦還會因此流產。
Disamping penyebab penyakit kanker, bensin juga meracuni tulang Anda, menyebabkan kurang darah atau anemia dan mengurangi sel-sel darah putih. Penyerapan yang lebih lama akan mengakibatkan penyakit leukimia, dan akhirnya meningkatkan resiko penyakit kanker. Dan juga dapat mengakibatkan keguguran.
苯類化合物是很強的致癌物質，也是很強的骨髓毒性物質，它會造成一般人的貧血或者是白血球稀少，長期暴露的話，得到白血病，就是血癌的風險大為增加，有些孕婦還會因此流產。
Acceptable Benzene level indoors is 50 mg per sq. ft. A car parked indoors with the windows closed will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene. If parked outdoors under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F for an hour or so, the Benzene level will go up to 2000-4000 mg, about 40 times above the acceptable level. The people inside the car will inevitably inhale an excess amount of Benzene.
Ambang batas bensin yang dapat diterima didalam ruangan adalah 50 mg per sq.ft. Sebuah mobil diparkir di dalam ruangan dengan pintu tertutup akan mengandung 400-800 mg bensin.Jika diparkir diluar ruangan dibawah sinar matahari diatas temperatur 60 derajat Farenheit selama lebih kurang 1 jam maka bensin akan meningkat hingga 2000-4000 mg , atau 40 kali dari ambang batas yang dapat diterima. Orang dalam mobil pasti menghirup banyak kelebihan bensin.
和室內每立方公尺苯的正常標準值50微克相比，室溫下的密閉汽車裡含有400到800微克的苯，如果在太陽下曝曬1小時，溫度超過攝氏60度，苯含量更高達2千到4千微克，是正常標準的40倍以上，開車族不能倖免吸入過量的苯。
Ambang batas bensin yang dapat diterima didalam ruangan adalah 50 mg per sq.ft. Sebuah mobil diparkir di dalam ruangan dengan pintu tertutup akan mengandung 400-800 mg bensin.Jika diparkir diluar ruangan dibawah sinar matahari diatas temperatur 60 derajat Farenheit selama lebih kurang 1 jam maka bensin akan meningkat hingga 2000-4000 mg , atau 40 kali dari ambang batas yang dapat diterima. Orang dalam mobil pasti menghirup banyak kelebihan bensin.
和室內每立方公尺苯的正常標準值50微克相比，室溫下的密閉汽車裡含有400到800微克的苯，如果在太陽下曝曬1小時，溫度超過攝氏60度，苯含量更高達2千到4千微克，是正常標準的40倍以上，開車族不能倖免吸入過量的苯。
It is recommended that if you have parked your car under the sun for more or less an hour, you should open the car windows and doors to have sufficient time allowing the toxic air to come out before you get into the car. Benzene is a toxin that affects the kidney and liver very badly. It is very difficult for the body to expel it.
Disarankan jika Anda telah memarkirkan mobil Anda dibawah sinar matahari selama lebih kurang 1 jam , bukalah kaca jendela dan pintu mobil selama beberapa waktu agar udara yang mengandung racun terbuang sebelum Anda masuk ke dalam mobil. Bensin adalah racun yang mengakibatkan ginjal dan liver teracuni. Sangat sulit tubuh kita untuk membuang racun tersebut.
林口長庚毒物科主任林杰樑：你的愛車停在太陽底下超過１個鐘頭，甚至不需要１個鐘頭的時候，你要去開車的時候，你要切記，一定要把窗戶搖開把門打開，讓這些有毒氣體揮散掉以後，你才能夠開車。」醫師指出，「苯」屬於肝腎代謝的有毒化學物質，人體很難自然排出。
Disarankan jika Anda telah memarkirkan mobil Anda dibawah sinar matahari selama lebih kurang 1 jam , bukalah kaca jendela dan pintu mobil selama beberapa waktu agar udara yang mengandung racun terbuang sebelum Anda masuk ke dalam mobil. Bensin adalah racun yang mengakibatkan ginjal dan liver teracuni. Sangat sulit tubuh kita untuk membuang racun tersebut.
林口長庚毒物科主任林杰樑：你的愛車停在太陽底下超過１個鐘頭，甚至不需要１個鐘頭的時候，你要去開車的時候，你要切記，一定要把窗戶搖開把門打開，讓這些有毒氣體揮散掉以後，你才能夠開車。」醫師指出，「苯」屬於肝腎代謝的有毒化學物質，人體很難自然排出。
You are hereby cautiously reminded to open your car windows and doors as well before driving.
Anda dengan ini diingatkan agar berhati-hati supaya membuka pintu mobil dan turunkan kaca jendelanya sebelum Anda mengemudi.
只能提醒民眾在開車前請先開窗。
只能提醒民眾在開車前請先開窗。
Monday, January 5, 2009
Elusive Mangosteen
The above photo of "Shady Mangosteen" by Uthala Malar was downloaded from thestar online. It appeared that only the "Queen of fruit" deserved the shading protection of a tiny umbrella!
My friends, do you know how much is the cost of a mangosteen fruit in New York?
In an article written by Patrick Temple-West on March 05, 2008, entitled "Tropical sweetness: harnessing the elusive mangosteen", it was sold for US$ 3.99 each at Kings Supermarkets Inc., New York. For that price, people in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are able to buy a bagful of mangosteen fruit. But before 2007, the USDA banned the import of mangosteen fruit because of risks associated with Asian fruit flies that could infect U.S. citrus crops. Accordingly, the ban was lifted in October 2007 and the first fruits were shipped in April 2008.
Mangosteen is also not cheap in Japan and other places in the world where they can't grow mangosteen trees. Nevertheless, for those people living outside Southeast Asia who have once eaten mangosteen fruit, they know that the "Queen of fruit" has long been prized for its medicinal properties as well as its delicious taste.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Before You're Too Old
Another year has passedAnd we're all a little older.
Last summer felt hotter
And winter seems much colder.
I rack my brain for happy thoughts,
To put down on my pad,
But lots of things, That come to mind
Just make me kind of sad.
There was a time not long ago
When life was quite a blast.
Now I fully understand
About 'Living in the Past'.
We used to go to friends homes,
Baseball games and lunches.
Now we go to therapy, to hospitals,
And after-funeral brunches.
We used to have hangovers,
From parties that were gay.
Now we suffer body aches
And sleep the night away.
We used to go out dining,
And couldn't get our fill.
Now we ask for doggie bags,
Come home and take a pill.
We used to travel often
To places near and far.
Now we get backaches
From riding in the car.
We used to go out shopping
For new clothing at the Mall
But, now we never bother...
All the sizes are too small.
That, my friend is how life is,
And now my tale is told.
So, enjoy each day and live it up...
Before you're too old!
Something2Share:
I begin to enjoy my retirement for the 1st month in December 2008. At least I am now stress-free from work related problems. Moreover, now I have time catching up with old friends and making new friends.
All these while, I had been working in places far away from Segamat, especially the the past 5 years in Indonesia. I seldom had time for my family, let alone my friends in Segamat, Johor Baru and other places in Malaysia.
I really appreciate my old friend from Sydney, David Vun Thien Ngan, who charted a taxi to visit us in Segamat on 21 December 2008 with his wife and 2 children. They put up 2 nights in Johor Baru before they continued their vacation trip to China. Now they are back in Kota Kinabalu to visit their relatives. They will be in Kuala Lumpur on 10 January 2009 for a couple of days. I intend to meet them again before they return to Australia. The last time we met up was October 2005 when we were in Sydney.
Another year (2008) had passed as we celebrated the count down of the coming of 2009, am I a little older? I wish all my friends a year wiser and in good health! I just met my ex-Chief Clerk of Segamat Estate, Pathma, last evening. He is now operating a small sundry shop in Taman Bukit Baru, Bukit Siput. He told me that "he is now 71 years old." We had a good laugh when I told him that he should feel 17 as "I am feeling 26 in heart." We had a good working relationship when I was Manager for Segamat Estate in 1992/1993.
Now I can have regular exercise, going for morning walk on the green green grass of the golf course in Segamat Country Club, and to breathe in more fresh air. One day a Mr.Tan told us that "the golfers normally have to shout Balls before they tee off so that no body will walk into the fairway and being hit by a flying golf ball." On hearing that, I suggested that "why not we also shout after taking a deep breath to blow out the air in our lungs since we are earlier than the golfers? " He agreed and from that day onward, we also have our lung exercise as well and we can feel sweat flowing down from our foreheads after shouting for 3 times.
How true it is that we should "enjoy each day and live it up!" When we realize that everyday is a blessing from GOD, then we won't have anything to worry about as we grow a little older.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009
Just want to share some of the New Year SMS and emails received from friends:
"For the world you are someone, but for someone you are the world. Life can give you hundred reasons to cry, but you can give life a thousand reasons to "SMILE". May this coming 2009 bring you and your loved ones good Health, Happiness, Peace, Joy and all things you wish for. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009."
"Health is wealth. Do take care of the heart. Go for more greens, stay healthy, be happy, stay focus and appreciate our current blessings and thank GOD. Wishing you and family a blessed and HAPPY NEW YEAR."
"A relaxed mind, a peaceful soul, a joyful spirit, a healthy body and a heart full of LOVE. All of these are my prayers and wishes for you. HAPPY NEW YEAR."
"Fresh Year. Fresh Hopes. Fresh Efforts. May 2009 delight you with Health, Happiness, Success and Joy. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!"
"HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009! May your family and your goodself be blessed with Happiness, Joy, Good Health, Prosperity and Love all year round in the year 2009."
"May Joy, Love & Peace be with you and your family! Good health and more success for 2009!"
"HAPPY NEW YEAR! FAITH makes all things possible. HOPE makes all things work, and LOVE makes all things beautiful. PRAYER makes all things happen. May you have them all. HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2009."
"2009 is at your doorstep. Remember, LIFE is short. Break the rules. FORGIVE and FORGET quickly. LAUGH uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile."
"Today is 1st day of 2009. I take time to thank the people who touched my life. Thoughtful friends who have shown concern and make life more meaningful.THANK YOU. May GOD continues to give you blessings, happiness and good health. Have a prosperous year 2009."
"To make a hundred friends is not a miracle. The miracle is to make a friend still be a friend for a hundred years. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!"
"Disregarding the pathetic crisis that you read in the news daily, we hope that this email may bring much joy to your hearts. This is Wishing you a Happy and Blessed New Year - a Year of Great Opportunity for 2009. May you achieve those that you hope to achieve, and succeed in those that you want to succeed."
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009 TO EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY TO ALL MY FRIENDS, OLD AND NEW, MALE AND FEMALE, YOUNG AND OLD, FAR AND NEAR, ALWAYS BEING THOUGHTFUL, UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTIVE. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FIRNEDS.
LET EVERYDAY IN 2009 IS A BLESSING TO ALL OF US.
PRAISE THE LORD and GOD BLESS YOU!
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