9 Reasons to Eat More Strawberries

1. They’re antioxidant powerhouses. Actually, as fruits go, strawberries have the fourth highest level of antioxidants of foods recently tested. Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals linked to aging and disease.

2. They’re excellent sources of vitamin C which boosts the strength of arteries, prevents bruising, and strengthens your body’s stress glands—the adrenals—which require the highest levels of vitamin C of all organs or glands in your body.  Eight strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange.

3. Strawberries have been shown in studies to regulate blood sugar levels.  Eating one cup of fresh strawberries caused a significant reduction in blood sugar spikes.  Blood sugar spikes are linked with weight gain, mood swings, diabetes, and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).  That’s because the spikes are followed by plummeting blood sugar levels soon afterward.

4. Strawberries have anti-inflammatory and anti-pain properties.  Studies show that they lower levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP).  One study showed that they need to been consumed at least 3 times per week to capitalize on their anti-inflammatory nature.  

5. They’ve been proven helpful in the management of heart disease and arthritis.

6. Strawberries contain anthocyanins which stimulate the burning of stored fat in the body to use as fuel.  Research published in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed reduces weight gain in animals fed a high fat diet.  Research also shows anthocyanins boost short-term memory by 100 percent in eight weeks.

7. They have anti-cancer properties.  Their flavonoid content causes the body to interfere with the stages of development of cancer cells, preventing their ability to multiply.

8. Strawberries’ phenolic acids demonstrate anti-allergenic properties, meaning they help reduce the biochemical processes that are linked to allergic reactions.  Of course, as with any food, some people are allergic to strawberries, so if you suspect an allergy you should avoid them.

9. They’re delicious and versatile. Add fresh or frozen strawberries to smoothies, shakes, or blender “juices.”  Top whole grain waffles or pancakes with fresh strawberries, blend them with avocado to create a delicious pudding, or just enjoy them on their own.

Read more here:

Life Beyond Breast Cancer - An International Symposium

Come join hands for an International Symposium on Breast Cancer
and at the same time enjoy and experience the beauty of Malaysia

Please browse through the brochure attached below for more information, benefits, contacts and to register as a participant.

Life Beyond Breast Cancer Symposium -

Five Healthy Fruits & Veggies We Take For Granted

Five Surprisingly Healthy Fruits and Veggies You Aren't Eating


Read more here

All-Natural Depression Cures

By Loren Chidoni, Women’s Health

Early spring grays giving you the blues? It’s no surprise. Lack of sunlight can cause a serious drop in your level of serotonin, a feel-good chemical that’s found in the brain. And without enough serotonin, our mood descends into darkness or, at the very least, an unpleasant crabbiness (you know, the bad temper we typically blame on the rain). Fortunately, you can outsmart wicked weather patterns with these mood-boosting tips as you await the arrival of sunnier days.

Light Up Your Life

If a Miami mini-break isn’t an option, seek out a light box. A strong one that emits at least 10,000 lux can have the same effect as basking in the early-morning sun—minus the cancer-causing UV rays. Place the light box on a table near you—you need only 30 minutes of exposure to increase your serotonin levels and leave you “more alert and energized, two factors that contribute to a good mood,” says Michael Terman, Ph.D., director of the Center for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms at New York City’s Columbia University Medical Center. For more info—such as where to buy a light box—visit cet.org.

Feeling sad, sluggish, or just plain stressed? The easiest way to fight depression.

The Mighty Berries

by Joanna Evans

Berries have been a major part of our diet for centuries, but only recently have scientists taken an interest in their constituents and potential health benefits. Now, they’re finding that berries of all varieties–from strawberries and raspberries to goji and açaí berries–may hold the key to combating cancer, dementia and other diseases.

Scientists recently reported the first human evidence that blueberries can boost memory and may even help ward off dementia. Tests taken before and after revealed that those who drank the blueberry juice showed improvement in learning and memory, leading researchers to conclude that blueberries may offer neurocognitive benefits.

Numerous studies have suggested that berries are potent cancer-fighters. In one test-tube study, extracts of six different kinds of berries–blueberry, blackberry, black raspberry, red raspberry, cranberry and strawberry–inhibited the growth of human mouth, breast, colon and prostate cancer cells. In addition, two of the extracts–black raspberry and strawberry—were able to stimulate apoptosis (cell death) in colon cancer cells. Açaí berries appear to be effective against leukemia cells, while the polysaccharides found in goji berries kill prostate cancer cells.

Berries may also have a role to play in the prevention of heart disease. A group of 72 middle-aged men and women were asked to consume either two portions of berries daily (100 grams of berries plus a small glass of a berry drink) or control products for two months. The berry group–whose members’ diets included bilberries, lingonberries, blackcurrants, strawberries, chokeberries and raspberries–ate an assortment of the berries whole, pureed or in juice form. At the end of the study, the berry-eaters saw systolic blood pressure reductions of up to 7.3mmHg, while levels of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL (“good” cholesterol), rose more than 5 percent.

Several animal studies suggest some berries may have antidiabetic effects. Indeed, a recent study in mice concluded that bilberries can improve hyperglycemia and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. Although human trials are scarce, one found that a dietary supplement containing blueberry and sea buckthorn (seaberry; genus Hippophae) concentrates was beneficial in treating children with type 1 diabetes.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-endless-benefits-of-berries.html#ixzz1Vi5GiTBN

Or read more detail here.

The Habit of Happiness

The Habit of Happiness

by Annie B. Bond

The author of this helpful book has distilled the essence of many ancient Buddhist practices to give us these simple, inspiring instructions to feel happier, every day.

1. Choose attractive, pleasant, undisturbed surroundings. In order to deactivate habitual daily concerns, begin with 2 or 3 minutes of becoming mindful of your breathing.

2. Check to see that you are actually sitting comfortably and free from disturbances.

3. Recall a situation in which you were content, free from hostility and stress, calm and happy.

4. Imagine this situation visually. You can also bring to mind any other sense perceptions that were connected with this situation. Stay with this memory for about 1 minute.

5. Note the feeling that you feel in your body in connection with this recalled situation.

6. Tag this pleasant feeling with a word like “happy,” “relieved,” or “content”—perhaps you will find a better word to label the mood you felt.

7. Now let the details of the imagined situation fade out and just stay with this mood.

8. Permit yourself the wish “May I be happy!” (as in the recalled situation), which after all expresses a healthy desire for well-being.

9. Mentally repeat a few times the words “May I be happy!” Repeat this exercise as often as needed to begin forming the habit of happiness.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-habit-of-happiness.html#ixzz1UQdfLUZv

Want to Feel Happy?

Want to Feel Happy? Try This
by Annie B. Bond

When we read this quick tip for feeling happier, it made us smile. We tried it–and it really works. It is such a simple mind-tweak, but it is so effective. See for yourself!

If I am unhappy, I can restore my happiness by silently saying to whomever is before me: “I seek your peace. What am I not giving you? What can I give you now?” But if I am happy and want to be unhappy, I can think instead: “I seek my personal pleasure. What am I not getting from you? What do I need from you now?”

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/want-to-feel-happy-try-this.html#ixzz1UQbco24E

Cancer Update

Cancer Update from John Hopkins
約翰霍普金斯最新之癌症研究報導

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.
每一個人身上都帶有癌細胞，除非癌細胞擴增至幾十億個數量時癌細胞是無法在一般檢查時被檢查出來的。所以每當病患治療到一個階段後醫生會告訴病患其體內已無癌細胞時，醫生所指的是其體內癌細胞數量已縮小到儀器無法偵測出來的數量。

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.
在每個人的生命期裡，癌細胞都會出現6至10次。

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.
當人體免疫系統強時，癌細胞是會被摧滅的，同時免疫系統強是能抑制腫瘤形成及擴增。

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.
當人被發現有癌症時，它意謂這個病患是有大量營養缺乏；這可能是由於基因、環境、食物及生活方式等因素造成的。

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
如何克服營養缺乏，那就是要改變飲食及多進用增強免疫系統之食物

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.
化療不祇能毒殺快速增長之癌細胞，亦會一併消滅骨髓及胃腸道內之健康細胞，同時造成器官衰竭；如肝臟、腎臟、心臟及肺臟等等。

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
放射治療在摧毀癌細胞時，亦會灼傷健康細胞、組織及器官

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
初期化療及放射線治療是很容易將腫瘤面積縮小到某一程度，然再延長上述療法並不能造成腫瘤完全消除。

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.
化療及放射線治療會讓體內存有大量毒素而危及或摧毀免疫系統，因而導致病患易於感染及病發症

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.
化療及放射線治療會造成病患癌細胞突變及產生抗體而變得難以摧毀，而手術則易使癌細胞擴散至其它部位

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.
一個有效的擊潰癌細胞之方式是不供給癌細胞繁殖所需之食物，即是餓死癌細胞

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:
癌細胞以何為食物：

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.
糖是癌的食物，若不食糖即刪除癌細胞很重要的一項食物供給。代糖如Nutra sweet, Equal spoonful等均是由Aspartame 組合而成的，是有害的。較好之天然代糖是 Manuka糖漿或Molasses糖蜜，但祇能取用少許。食鹽為使顏色變白而掺有化學添加物，較妥之選擇是海鹽。

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.
牛奶會使人體產生黏液，尤其是在胃腸道內，而黏液正是癌症之食物。因而阻絕牛奶及採用不甜之豆漿作替代，癌症就會在無食物情況下萎縮的。

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.
癌細胞是在酸性環境中繁衍的，以肉為基本飲食的體質是酸性的，因而食用魚類及少量雞肉是較食用牛、豬為妥的。且肉品均含有家畜抗生素、生長賀爾蒙及寄生蟲等，而這些均是對人體的有害物質，尤其是對癌症病患。

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains,seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment.. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts)and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).
以80%新鮮蔬菜及青菜汁之飲食；含全穀類、種子、堅果及少量的水果是有益於體質轉變為鹼性的，剩餘20%可進食煮熟的豆類。新鮮蔬菜汁可提供活性酵素，活性酵素極易在15分鐘內被細胞組織吸收進而滋養增強健康細胞，為取得活性酵素強壯健康細胞應多飲用新鮮果菜汁（多樣蔬菜含豆芽），同時每天進食生青菜（未煮過之）兩至三次，按活性酵素在40度C時會被摧毀。

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine.Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.
飲料必須避免飲用咖啡、茶、巧克力因上述飲料含咖啡因，綠茶是較佳之選擇因為其有抗癌特性。而平常應飲用淨化水或過濾水，然應避免飲用有毒的或重金屬的水。

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.
肉類的蛋白質是不易消化的，因為肉類的蛋白質需要大量消化酵素消化，未消化的肉質會留殘在腸內淨化，而引發有毒物質形成。

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.
癌細胞壁有很硬之蛋白質包裹，因而節制食用肉類可讓多出之酵素去攻擊癌細胞之蛋白質，而體內殺手細胞則有空間摧毀癌細胞

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence,Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.
部份營養品是能增強免疫系統（如抗氧化劑、維他命、礦物質等等）去驅使自體殺手細胞去摧毀癌細胞，其他營養品如維他命E會使細胞萎縮，或漸使細胞死亡，而非原體內一般處置損壞、無用及不需要細胞之模式。

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
癌症是一種心態、肉體和心靈上之疾病，因而能有前衛及積極的心靈是可造就癌症戰士變為勝利天使，怨尤和苦痛會讓體質變為緊張及酸性，所以必須學習愛與寬恕，同時學習放鬆及愛習惜生命

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
癌細胞是無法在充滿氧氣的環境中繁衍，所以每日必須運動，同時多作深呼吸以利氧進入細胞層，按氧氣療法是另一種擊潰癌細胞之工具。

PLEASE READ
1. No plastic containers in micro.
不要將塑膠盒放入微波爐加熱

2. No water bottles in freezer.
不要將塑膠水瓶放入冷藏室

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.
不要將塑膠袋放入微波爐加熱

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well.
約翰霍普金斯已將這篇研究報告用新聞稿方式發佈，同時Walter Reed 陸軍醫學中心亦將這篇報告傳播

Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.
Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.
戴奧辛之化學物質會導致癌症，尤其是乳癌。按戴奧辛對體內細胞具很高之毒性，因而千萬別將裝有水之塑膠罐放入冰箱，因為它亦會將戴奧辛釋出。

Recently, Dr.. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers.
前不久Dr. Edward Fujimoto在電視節目中談到健康之風險，他就強調戴奧辛對健康是多麼有害，因而請千萬不要用塑膠容器放入微波爐加熱食物。

This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.
這尤其是指含有脂肪之食物，當脂肪與高溫與塑膠結合時，塑膠即會釋放出戴奧辛並進入食物中，最終就進入體內之細胞。因而他建議使用玻璃器皿作為加熱食物用，因為它一樣可使食物變熱，然卻少了戴奧辛。

Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.
紙是不錯的容器，然你無法瞭解紙裡到底含有什麼物質，因而較安全之容器是冶煉過的玻璃器皿，如康寧器皿等等。他提醒為何前不久速食店將泡沫塑料容器改為紙容器，其中戴奧辛就是問題之一

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.
同時他亦指出塑膠袋；如Saran耐熱塑膠袋用於包裝食物，在微波爐加熱時亦是非常危險的，因為當食物用微波爐加熱時，高溫會讓毒素由塑膠袋溶解出來進入食物內，所以應用紙包裹食物作替代。

This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life.

Source: An email from Mr. David Ng.

Beware, Unseen Hazard Near Your Ear!

Is Your Cell Phone a Health Hazard?

1. Try to avoid direct contact with your cell phone during calls.
Use the speaker-phone setting or wired hands-free device. Although wireless Bluetooth devices do reduce radiation, they don’t eliminate it.

2. Follow the bars.
Radiation exposure increases when a cell phone’s signal is weak or when you’re traveling in a fast-moving car or train. That’s because the phone needs to constantly reconnect to new towers. Wait till you have three or more bars showing before you make your call.

3. Tell your kids to text.
Because their skulls are thinner than adults’, children absorb radiation at a higher rate when they hold a phone to their ear.

4. Save the long chats for a noncordless landline or an Internet phone system, like Skype.
And when you’re on the go, let your fingers do the talking and send a text instead.

Read more here.

Friends Help Each Other To Lose Weight

Weight-Loss Transformations
By Abigail Cuffey

Losing weight is hard, no matter what diet or program you follow. But there is one thing that can make it easier: doing it with a partner. Brown University researchers found that people who had a diet buddy dropped significantly more weight after a year of effort compared with those who went it alone. If you’re looking to lose, get inspired by these 12 women who paired up to slim down...and then call your friend and get started!

Tia, 42, and Grace, 50

Total pounds lost: 90 (45 and 45)

These attached-at-the-hip friends decided it was time to shift their priorities and get healthy after a big reality check: Tia was told by a work client that she was hardly recognizable from her weight gain and Grace saw unflattering pictures of herself from a beach vacation. “We do everything together: work, go to church, socialize and eat out at restaurants,” says Tia. “So it made sense that we would lose weight together when we both decided we were ready for a change.”

Method: They started tracking their food intake, which helped them understand portion size and realize how much they were actually eating. The two also connected with other health-minded people on SparkPeople.com. Tia took up running (short distances at first) and Grace joined a local gym, working with a personal trainer to learn how to exercise and use the machines.

Buddy Bonus: Victory is much sweeter. “Goal-setting is more fun, even if they’re not the same goals,” says Tia. “We cheer each other on, no matter what the result is.” Tia is currently training for her second marathon (and hopes to qualify for the Boston Marathon); Grace is prepping for her first half-marathon.

Mindy, 27, and Nicole, 41

Total pounds lost: 105 (75 and 30)
Not only are these two friends, they’re also sisters, and getting healthy was a way for them to bridge their 14-year age difference. “Doing this together has changed our relationship and given us a common bond,” says Mindy. “Now when I visit her, we'll make an effort to get to the gym or take a walk around the neighborhood.”

Method: They started Weight Watchers together, which helped them lose the majority of the weight by learning to control portions and structure their eating habits. Exercise came later, with Mindy taking up running and Zumba classes. Meanwhile, Nicole walked the 2-mile loop around her subdivision to lose most of her weight and then joined the local YMCA to add in elliptical training.

Buddy Bonus: It’s a lot harder to quit. “The weight doesn't add up overnight, so it's certainly not going to come off overnight,” says Mindy, who now blogs at JustAOneGirlRevolution.com. “When you plateau or even start gaining, it’s extremely helpful to have someone to say that it's OK, don't give up.”

Madge, 50, and Karen, 44

Total pounds lost: 245 (185 and 60)
After being acquaintances for 10 years, the two started chatting at a mutual friend’s New Year’s Eve party and realized that they both wanted to shed pounds. They became fast friends and weight-loss buddies. “We developed a close friendship based on our common interest in losing weight,” says Madge. “We now keep in touch almost daily, through phone, text and IM, and in person.”

Method: Madge lost the first 100 pounds through a local doctor-supervised weight management program before connecting with Karen at the party. After the pair teamed up, they decided to join a TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) group because it offered the benefit of support and weekly weigh-ins but the freedom to choose their own diet. They both exercised: Karen hit the gym a few times per week and Madge started walking daily (at first just around her block), then joined Planet Fitness to add strength-training weekly.

Buddy Bonus: Free therapy! “Karen and I have discussed emotional things such as fear of social eating events, not being able to keep certain foods in the house and what we used to do to hide our binges,” says Madge. “It’s much easier to open up and chat with someone who has also been in my position.” .

Michele, 46, and Marie, 43

Total pounds lost: 83 (27 and 56)
Commercials for Jenny Craig featuring Valerie Bertinelli spurred Marie to make changes in her own life. “As cheesy as it sounds, seeing Valerie’s results on TV made me determined to make the program work for myself,” she says. Her initial success inspired her longtime best friend, Michele, to also sign up, and together they slimmed down for good.

Method: Both used the Jenny Craig At-Home Program. “The best thing about this program is that there is no guesswork,” says Marie. “The foods are preplanned and prepared so that I couldn’t veer off course while juggling a full-time job, part-time school and raising a family.” Marie joined a local gym, started attending Zumba classes and took long walks with her dog, Buddy. Michele also walked daily with her 7-year-old daughter, joined a karate studio and took up kick-boxing classes.

Buddy Bonus: Bikini-wearing is more fun. “Last summer was the first time in about 10 years that Michele and I wore bikinis at the local pool,” says Marie. “We weren’t afraid to strut our stuff because we worked so hard to get where we are.” .

Vicki, 40, and Beth, 47

Total pounds lost: 125 (70 and 55)
Virtual friendship via the Nutrisystem discussion boards brought these two moms together. Vicki and Beth crossed paths online at the beginning of the program and have been connected ever since. “She’s my best friend and I feel like I’ve known her forever, even though we’ve only met in person once!” says Vicki.

Method: Nutrisystem, which fit into both of their busy schedules. “I’m a stay-at-home mom with two special-needs children and a husband who travels frequently for work,” says Vicki. “I needed something easy and convenient for my unpredictable home life.” Besides switching to the prepared food, each woman got moving. They did Jillian Michaels’s 30 Day Shred at the same time on the same days, even though they lived miles apart. Vicki also followed the Couch-to-5K Running Plan to help her train for her first race. Beth opted for DVDs, including Jillian Michaels’s No More Trouble Zones and Jackie Warner’s Xtreme Timesaver Training.

Buddy Bonus: Around-the-clock support. “I was on this journey with someone who knew what it was like to be unhealthy,” says Beth. “I could call or text Vicki while grocery shopping when I was tempted to buy unhealthy foods or when I wanted to quit.”.

Jennifer, 27, and Jessica, 26

Total pounds lost: 81 (22 and 59)
Friends since middle school band class, these two tended to use food as a focus for their time together. As they reached their 20s, they knew it was time to take control. “The weight loss was a life-changing experience for us as individuals, as well as together,” says Jessica. Now they’re preparing for Jennifer’s wedding in late 2011, where Jessica will serve as her maid of honor.

Method: Jessica joined Weight Watchers first and began losing some weight. Jennifer was so inspired that she joined soon after. “Weight Watchers worked because it taught us how to eat, not just what to eat,” says Jessica. “Many people know they should eat fruits and vegetables. However, they aren't thinking about portion control or special ordering when dining out.” They both walked daily as a main source of exercise and completed a 5K Weight Watchers Walk-It Challenge last year with other members. Jessica recently started jogging as well and is preparing for her first 15K.

Buddy Bonus: Confidence. “It can be a little scary starting a weight-loss program on your own and it’s easy to feel self-conscious,” says Jennifer. “Having someone else along for the ride gave me a boost that enabled me to push through my insecurities.”

Verify here.

A Cancer Killer in Your Kitchen

Received this email from Mr. Lim Chin Hong, Taiping for mutual mental consumption.

Ginger Tea - A Cancer Killer in Your Kitchen
By John Susan Saradon.

The powerful healing effects of ginger have been well documented. It's a proven remedy fo r upset stomach. Reams of studies show that it inhibitsinflamation. And there is substantial evidence that it fights cancer, too.
For instannce, a recent University of Michigan study showed that when ginger was added to ovarian cancer cells in the laboratory, it caused the cancer cells to self-destruct (a process known as "apoptosis"). In a separate study at the University of Minnesota , researchers injected colon cancer cells into mice that were bred to have no immune system.

Half of these mice were routinely fed gingerol, the main active component in ginger. The researchers found that the mice that were fed gingerol lived longer, their tumors were smaller, and the cancer did not spread as widely as in the control group.

With all these health benefits, you should be using ginger as often as you can. The best way I've found to get a healthy serving of ginger is to juice it. (The brand of juicer I use is an Omega.) Two or three days a week, I juice an apple or two, some carrots, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, and a big piece of ginger root. The ginger gives the drink a great flavor and a powerful anti-cancer kick.

Cancer Falls In Love With Inactive Guys/Gals!

Beware those lazy bums who never do exercise (physically and mentally), cancer will come to seduce you to be his/her beau. And get to look old faster too! Study reveals!

Moderate exercise, eating a fruit and vegetable-based diet not only lowers risk of cancer but slows down the aging process, says research.

Find out more here.

Reduce Colon Cancer Risk

6 Ways to Slash Colon Cancer Risk

by Michelle Schoffro Cook

Colon cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancers. Making some simple dietary and lifestyle changes can cut your risk in half. Here’s how:

1. Eat more vegetables. We know we should eat more veggies. Research shows that eating more vegetables can cut a person’s risk of colon cancer in half. Eat a daily salad, a homemade vegetable soup, or add steamed or sauteed veggies to your main dish. Better yet, make vegetables the main course and meat the side dish.

2. Avoid foods high in saturated fats and nitrates. That includes processed luncheon meats, bacon, cold cuts, hot dogs, and sausage. The saturated fat is linked to inflammation while the nitrates they contain are known carcinogens.

3. Choose chicken (or turkey or Brazil nuts). According to a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, eating lean chicken several times a week decreases a person’s chances of developing precancerous polyps in the colon by 21% and the risk of malignant tumors by 39%. Researchers believe the mineral selenium may be to thank. Looking for vegetarian sources of selenium, choose Brazil nuts, which are one of the best sources of this mineral. Brown rice and walnuts are also good sources of selenium.

4. Eat more magnesium. Research shows that magnesium can cut the risk of colon cancer by 41% yet experts estimate that 80% of North Americans are deficient in this critical mineral. Some excellent sources include: raw almonds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, figs, alfalfa sprouts, and dark leafy greens.

5. Eat more fiber. Beans and whole grains are among the best sources of fiber. Fiber helps keep your bowels moving and that means toxins too. Fiber helps bind toxic matter in the colon and escorts it out of your body. Add a handful of beans to soup, stew, salad, or add tomato sauce to beans and enjoy. Strive for at least one-half cup of beans daily.

6. Spice up your life with curries. One of the key ingredients in many curries—turmeric—contains a compound called curcumin which has been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 25%. What’s more: scientists at the University of Chicago found that curcumin destroys H. pylori, a harmful bacteria that is linked to ulcers and colon cancer. Sprinkle turmeric on your veggies or meat dishes, or add to soups and stews. There are also many delicious curry recipes you can try. Be sure they contain turmeric.

Read more here.

10 Foods That Can Help You Sleep

By Sarah Jio
Source: Here

Trying to get more shut-eye? Take a look at your diet. Eating the right foods in the hours before you hit the hay may help you fall asleep faster, say experts, and even improve the quality of your sleep. Keep reading for your get-sleepy grocery list, and remember to stop noshing two hours before bedtime to give your body enough time to properly digest.

Almonds

“Almonds are a winner,” says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, and author of the bestselling book From Fatigued to Fantastic! “They contain magnesium which promotes both sleep and muscle relaxation,” he says. “And they have the added benefit of supplying proteins that can help maintain a stable blood sugar level while sleeping, and help promote sleep by switching you from your alert adrenaline cycle to your rest-and-digest cycle.” Try this bedtime snack: Have a tablespoon of almond butter or a 1-ounce portion of almonds to help your body relax. Photo: Shutterstock

Tea

Yes, avoiding all caffeine in the evening hours is key, but some decaf varieties can help get you into sleep mode, says Dr. Teitelbaum. “Chamomile tea is a very helpful and safe sleep aid,” he says, adding that green tea is another good choice. “Green tea contains theanine, which helps promote sleep. Just be sure you get a decaf green tea if drinking it at bedtime.” Experts recommend trying a 1-cup serving of the hot stuff. Photo: Thinkstock

Miso Soup

You love to order this comforting, broth-based soup in Japanese restaurants, but keeping a few 8-ounce packs of instant miso soup at home may be key when you’re having trouble falling asleep, says Stella Metsovas, CN, a nutritionist in Laguna Beach, California. Here’s why: Miso contains amino acids that may boost the production of melatonin, a natural hormone that can help induce the yawns. Bonus: Research shows that warm liquids like soup and tea may also relieve cold symptoms, helping you sleep better when you're feeling under the weather. Photo: Shutterstock

Find out 9 surprising facts about your dreams and what they mean.

Banana

Worried about falling asleep tonight? Have a banana before bed, says Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, an internist and the author of Set Free to Live Free: Breaking Through the 7 Lies Women Tell Themselves. “Bananas are an excellent source of magnesium and potassium, which help to relax overstressed muscles. They also contain tryptophan, which convert to serotonin and melatonin, the brain’s key calming hormones." Try this tasty and incredibly simple bedtime smoothie: Blend one banana with one cup of milk or soy milk (and ice, if desired). Pour and enjoy! Photo: Shutterstock

Dairy

Yogurt, milk and cheese do contain tryptophan, notes Dr. Dalton-Smith, but also have a surprising sleep-inducing nutrient: “Calcium is effective in stress reduction and stabilization of nerve fibers, including those in the brain." That means a serving of your favorite Greek yogurt before bed can not only help you sleep, but also help you stop worrying about the weird thing your boss said earlier at work. Photo: Thinkstock

Oatmeal

You eat it for breakfast, but could a bowl of warm oatmeal help you get more rest? Yes, says Stephan Dorlandt, a clinical nutritionist based in Southern California. “Think about it,” he says. “Oatmeal is warm,soft, soothing, easy to prepare, inexpensive and nourishing. It’s rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon and potassium—the who's who of nutrients known to support sleep.” But go easy on the sweeteners; too much sugar before bed can have an anti-calming effect. Instead, consider topping your bowl with fruit, like bananas (see above). Photo: Shutterstock

Hard-Cooked Egg

If you have trouble staying asleep at night, it may be because you didn’t eat a pre-bedtime snack high in protein, or perhaps your snack was too high in simple, high-sugar carbohydrates, like cake and candy. “The problem with simple carbs is that they can put you on a ‘sugar roller coaster’ and drop your blood sugar while you're sleeping, causing you to wake at 2 or 3 in the morning,” says Dr. Teitelbaum. A better bet? “Eat an egg, cheese, nuts or other protein-rich snack instead,” he says, “so you can not only fall asleep, but stay asleep.” Photo: Shutterstock

Edamame

Craving a salty snack before bed? Turn to lightly salted edamame, says Dr. Dalton-Smith—especially if you’re dealing with menopause-related symptoms. “The natural estrogen-like compounds found in soy-based products can be very beneficial in controlling those nighttime hot flashes that can disturb your sleep,” she says. If it’s crackers and dip you’re craving, try making this easy edamame recipe: In a food processor, blend together 2 cups of shelled, cooked edamame with 1 tsp salt, a drizzle of olive oil and 1 clove garlic (optional) until smooth. Photo: Thinkstock

Cherries

Oddly, a glass of cherry juice may be an effective way to fall asleep faster, says a team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and University of Rochester. In their study, they found that cherries, particularly tart cherries, naturally boosted the body’s supply of melatonin, which helped people with insomnia. While the jury is still out on how much juice or how many cherries are needed to make you sleepy, experts say sipping a glass of cherry juice (available at most natural foods stores) or having a serving of fresh, frozen or dried cherries before bedtime couldn’t hurt. Photo: Thinkstock

Cereal

There’s no need to feel guilty about having a small bowl of cereal before bed, especially if it’s a low-sugar, whole-grain cereal. Not only is it a healthy snack (make sure you top it with milk to give your body the protein it needs), but it may also help you snooze. “Complex carbohydrate–rich foods increase the availability of tryptophan in the bloodstream, increasing the sleep-inducing effects,” says Dr. Dalton-Smith. Bonus: Top your bowl with a sprinkling of dried cherries (see above) for extra help catching your zzz's. Photo: Thinkstock

Beware Computer Users - Right Techniques of Usage

Received this email from M/s Kok Ah Moy and would like to share the info. over here.

For everyone who works daily on a computer. The mistakes daily mouse and keyboard usage will result in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!

To avoid this syndrome, please use the mouse and keyboard correctly.

View below for the surgery of a patient suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

The following illustrations are the RIGHT TECHNIQUES of usage of your computer mouse and keyboard.

Would You Try This 'Miracle Drink'?

MIRACLE DRINK - CARROT, POTATO AND APPLE

It is like a Miracle Drink! It is simple.
You need one potato, one carrot and one apple that combine together to make the JUICE !

Wash the above, cut with the skin on into pieces and put them into the juicer and immeadiately you drink the juice.

You can add some lime or lemon for more refreshing taste.

This Miracle Drink will be effective for the following ailments:
1. Prevent cancer cells to develop. It will restrain cancer cells to grow.
2. Prevent liver, kidney, pancreas decease and it can cure ulcer as well.
3. Strengthen the lung, prevent heart attack and high blood pressure.
4. Strengthen the immune system.
5. Good for the eyesight, eliminate red and tired eyes or dry eyes.
6. Help to eliminate pain from physical training, muscle ache.
7. Detoxify, assist bowel movement, eliminate constipation. Therefore it will make skin healthy and look more radiant. It is God sent for acne problem.
8. Improve bad breath due to indigestion, throat infection,
9. Lessen menstrual pain.
10. Assist Hay Fever Sufferer from Hay Fever attack.

There is absolutely no side effect.
Highly nutritious and easily absorbs.
Very effective if you need to loose weight.
You will notice your immune system will be improved after 2 week routine.
Please make sure to drink immediately from the juicer for best effect.

WHEN TO DRINK IT;
DRINK IT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WITH THE EMPTY STOMACH! AFTER ONE HOUR YOU CAN EAT BREAKFAST.

IT DOES NOT COST YOU MUCH MONEY!

Source: An email from Mr. Simon Ng.

Becareful When Eating Bananas!

Be Cautious When Selecting Bananas.

At the rate of RM 2/- a dozen, death is being sold nowadays in our markets. My request is for everybody to be vigilant.

Friends, we all love bananas and we eat a lot of them but the bananas available in the market are forced ripe by dipping in water mixed with Carbide. The consumption of these bananas is likely to cause Cancer or some other infection in the stomach. Therefore, such types of bananas are to be avoided.

But, how does one recognize the bananas ripened with the help of Carbide?

Bananas which are ripened naturally are dark yellow and there are small black spots here and there on the bananas and the stalks are black.

While those which are forced to ripen with Carbide are lemon yellow and their stalks are green and moreover they are clear yellow without any black spots.

Now, what is Carbide and how is it harmful? Carbide is a chemical which if mixed with water, emits heat and the heat emitted by a closed tank mixed with Carbide is even more than that emitted by a LPG Cylinder so much so it can be used for Gas Cutting (which means the calorific value is so high that it can replace LPG gas).

In the same way, when the bunch of bananas are dipped in the water mixed with Carbide, the gas gets absorbed into the bananas and they get to ripen earlier.

However, the banana vendors are not that educated chemically and pharmacy-wise, and therefore they do not know the safe proportion of Carbide to be used for treating bananas.

As a result they end up using excessive quantity of Carbide which gets absorbed into the bananas and ultimately enters our stomach.

Due to this excessive use of Carbide tumours can be formed in our digestive system.

So, next time you purchase bananas, make sure you select those that are ripened naturally. Buy green bananas and allow them to ripe in a few days.

Source: An email from Mr. Simon Ng

Becareful When Eating Apples

Be Careful when eating apples.

Please don't eat the skin of the apple because it's coated with wax.

Check before you eat many of the fruits.

WAX is being used for preservation purposes and cold storage.

You might be surprised to find out some apples have been kept for more than one year old, though they look fresh. This is because wax is coated, preventing bacteria to enter. So it does not get dry.

Please eat apples after removing the wax as demonstrated below.

Source: An email from Mr. Lim Chin Hong

Myths About Eating Eggs and Mircowave Cooking Which Are Untrue!

( Excerpted from http://shine.yahoo.com - 6 biggest lies about food busted )

by The Editors of Eating Well Magazine, on Thu Sep 16, 2010 7:57am PDT

Myth: Eggs are bad for your heart.

The Truth: Eggs do contain a substantial amount of cholesterol in their yolks—about 211 mg per large egg. And yes, cholesterol is the fatty stuff in our blood that contributes to clogged arteries and heart attacks. But labeling eggs as “bad for your heart” is connecting the wrong dots, experts say. “Epidemiologic studies show that most healthy people can eat an egg a day without problems,” says Penny Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., R.D., distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State University. For most of us the cholesterol we eat doesn’t have a huge impact on raising our blood cholesterol; the body simply compensates by manufacturing less cholesterol itself. Saturated and trans fats have much greater impact on raising blood cholesterol. And a large egg contains only 2 grams of saturated fat and no trans fats. The American Heart Association recommends limiting cholesterol intake to less than 300 mg daily—less than 200 mg if you have a history of heart problems or diabetes or are over 55 (women) or 45 (men). “That works out to less than an egg a day for this population—more like two eggs over the course of the week,” notes Kris-Etherton.

Related: Two Dozen Easy, Healthy Egg Recipes

Myth: Microwaving zaps nutrients.

The Truth: This is misguided thinking, says Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Ph.D., R.D., professor of nutrition at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Whether you’re using a microwave, a charcoal grill or a solar-heated stove, “it’s the heat and the amount of time you’re cooking that affect nutrient losses, not the cooking method,” she says. “The longer and hotter you cook a food, the more you’ll lose certain heat- and water-sensitive nutrients, especially vitamin C and thiamin [a B vitamin].” Because microwave cooking often cooks foods more quickly, it can actually help to minimize nutrient losses.

Related: How to Cook 20 Vegetables

Myth: Radiation from microwaves creates dangerous compounds in your food.

The Truth: “Radiation” might connote images of nuclear plants, but it simply refers to energy that travels in waves and spreads out as it goes. Microwaves, radio waves and the energy waves that we perceive as visual light all are forms of radiation. So, too, are X-rays and gamma rays—which do pose health concerns. But the microwaves used to cook foods are many, many times weaker than X-rays and gamma rays, says Robert Brackett, Ph.D., director of the National Center for Food Safety and Technology at the Illinois Institute of Technology. And the types of changes that occur in microwaved food as it cooks are “from heat generated inside the food, not the microwaves themselves,” says Brackett. “Microwave cooking is really no different from any other cooking method that applies heat to food.” That said, microwaving in some plastics may leach compounds into your food, so take care to use only microwave-safe containers.

A Nurse's Heart Attack Experience

NURSE'S HEART ATTACK EXPERIENCE

I am an ER nurse and this is the best description of this event that I have ever heard. Please read, pay attention, and send it on!

Diane K

FEMALE HEART ATTACKS

I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I've ever read.

Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction). Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have whenexperiencing heart attack .. you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest & dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience
with a heart attack.

'I had a heart attack at about 10 :30 PM with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might have brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, 'A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up.

A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation---the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m.

After it seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasms), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR).

This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws. 'AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening -- we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack!

I lowered the foot rest dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself, If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else ... but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in a moment.

I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics ... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to un-bolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.

I unlocked the door and then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the radiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like 'Have you taken any medications?') but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stints to hold open my right coronary artery.

'I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stints. 'Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand.'

1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body not the usual men's symptoms but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up ... which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a 'false alarm' visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!

2. Note that I said 'Call the Paramedics.' And if you can take an
aspirin. Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself
to the ER - you are a hazard to others on the road. Do NOT have your
panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's
happening with you instead of the road. Do NOT call your doctor -- he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics.. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later.

3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high and/or accompanied byhigh blood pressure). MI's are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there.

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 mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.