Late night eating habits

The effects of eating late at night are significantly negative and could take a toll on your health and well-being. It is crucial to break this habit if you wish to maintain a lifetime of good health. Think of all the possible alternatives you could adopt into your lifestyle - strategies that could help you in the right direction.

Let us consider what specific effects eating late at night could cause:


Causes heartburn

Acid reflux is a condition that causes heartburn which damages esophagus. It can cause many health problems like asthma, chronic hoarseness, and in worst cases, even chest pain while increasing the risk of esophagus cancer. In extreme cases, it could even cause ulcers if the heart burns are regular.


Causes sleep deprivation

One of the primary functions of sleep is to help you recuperate from the day, so you can wake up energized. Sleep is important for your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Sleep deprivation can cause lethargy, mental and physical tiredness, difficulty in concentration and communication, poor memory or in extreme cases even loss of memory.
Most people have experienced how eating late at night can affect sleep adversely. A heavy meal taken late at night may mean lying awake as the body works hard trying to digest too much food.


Hampers digestion

Late-night eating forces your body to use its energy on digestion resulting in improper digestion of food. Also eating late hinders the toxin elimination process-which can cause morning gas and stomach cramps. When you sleep, the digestive system slows down whereby the nutrients in food cannot be absorbed fully.
This triggers the conversion of food into fat and leads to putting on weight. Those who complain about bloating never realize that it's from the gas and food particles left over from improper digestion.



Late Night Eating - 9 Tips to Stop

1. Be sure to eat 3 good meals during the day with 1 or 2 between meal snacks. Most people try to eat too few calories during the day only to binge late at night. A good insurance policy is to eat most of your calories before 6 PM.

2. When you feel the urge to eat late at night, try drinking 2 or more cups of water. You can also make a cup of herbal tea sweeten with honey or artificial sugar. Hot liquids have a soothing effect on emotions and appetite.

3. Remind yourself that it's normal to feel hungry late at night due to habitually eating late. Breaking this habit is like learning to quit smoking. Remind yourself of your goal to lose 20 or 30 pounds and the key to losing this weight is to STOP late night eating.

4. Much of late night eating after dinner can be avoided by hiding the junk food. Put foods that you're prone to eat late at night out of sight. Better yet, don't buy junk food at all, though this may not be possible if you have kids.

5. Suck on hard candy. Most hard candy has only a few calories and they give you the satisfaction of snacking.

6. Keep a written copy of your diet plan in view, which will keep your goal of losing weight firmly fixed in your mind. The temptation to snack late at night will not be as great if you don't give into the urge for several weeks.

7. Some people have great success by simply brushing their teeth late at night. This method has been known to curb late night eating for many people.

8. The most vulnerable time for eating late is 1 hour after dinner right up to bedtime. Keep your life interesting by working on a favorite hobby and NOT watching TV. The ads on TV can subconsciously trigger the impulse to eat. Boredom is your biggest danger to late night eating.

Psyche yourself for the battle. You know that you will feel tempted to snack late at night. It's an artificial feeling that will go away when you go to bed. The next morning, you probably won't be hungry .... eat breakfast anyway .... it's the most important meal of the day.

Your health is in your hands. So, start tonight!

Eat your way sexy... :)

Get glowing skin, glossy hair and a toned slim body by eating yourself sexy

Having a sexy body isn’t just about a certain body look or size, but it also means having glossy hair, radiant skin and a healthy body that is in shape. Many fad diets that people follow barely contain the right amounts of vitamins and nutrients that people need to achieve this and end up with a dull complexion, lifeless hair and little energy to exercise and therefore tone the body. Just as certain foods can affect how we feel, what we eat can also influence how we look.


For hair, skin and nails

The hair, skin and nails reflect many biochemical imbalances in the body. It is therefore very important to maintain a healthy balance of nutrients to ensure well-nourished, beautiful hair, skin and nails which will boost any girl’s body confidence.

Omega 3

These help make up the skin's structure and are needed to maintain skin surfaces. Omega 3 is a type of polyunsaturated fat which is termed essential because the body cannot make it so it must be derived from the diet. Foods high in Omega 3 fats are salmon, flax-seed and walnuts. Taking an omega 3 supplement is an easy way to get your intake up.

Selenium

Selenium is necessary for the production of glutathione, which neutralizes free radicals in the body that can lead to the deterioration of collagen and elasticity in the skin. In addition to skin benefits, selenium improves the hair and nails. Brazil nuts are an excellent source of selenium as is salmon.

Silica

Silica, or more properly silicon, strengthens the connective tissue in hair and nails. It is also vital for healthy skin and deficiency can reduce skins elasticity and impair the body’s ability to heal wounds. Sources of it are found in wheat bran, soybeans, beets, leafy vegetables, brown rice, beans and mango. Supplements can also be taken to enhance the benefits.

Vitamin A, C and E

These vitamins are important for healthy skin and act as anti-oxidants that fight free radicals which damage skin cells. A deficiency disturbs the delicate balance of the skin and results in the loss of the cells that produce lubricants to keep the skin soft and supple. Good sources of Vitamin A include liver, fish liver oils, kidneys, dairy foods and eggs, carrots and dark or yellow vegetables. Oranges, blackcurrants, broccoli and red peppers have lots of Vitamin C and E is found in avocado, almonds, spinach and sunflower seeds and oils.


For the body

What we eat not only influences how we feel but it also influences the way we look. A diet that is high in sugar will slow your metabolism and weaken your immune system, therefore affecting your weight and health. Meanwhile, essential fatty acids stimulate weight loss, boost your mood and improve you health and appearance. Overall it is about eating well, exercising and having body confidence.

• The diet should be based around vegetables, fruit, wholegrain carbohydrates and lean protein.
• Limit intake of high sugar, high fat foods and avoid processed foods.
• Make sure you keep your diet varied, as this will ensure you get a good balance of nutrients for good health.
• Aim to eat about six times a day, with three meals and three snacks. It goes without saying that breakfast is a must.
• Drink plenty of water which is an appetite suppressant and it helps your liver to work properly. If your liver runs more efficiently, it will break down fat more effectively.


Exercise

Exercise is an essential part of any weight loss program and needed to tone the body.

• To burn calories and lose weight, you must exercise most days of the week. It's simple to begin an exercise program.
• Resistance exercise boosts your metabolism, helps maintain strong bones and tones your body.
• Sit-ups, squats and press-ups are all toning exercises that work well without any equipment.
• Cardio exercise also tones the body and helps keep the body in good shape; whether it’s running, dancing or cycling. Get moving for at least 30 minutes each day.

11 Featured Nutrients: Why You Need Them...

Beta Carotene

What it does: In the body, beta carotene is converted to vitamin A, a nutrient essential for healthy vision, immune function and cell growth. It also acts as an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals.

How much you need: There's no RDA for beta carotene.

Food Sources of Beta Carotene: Eat plenty of dark green vegetables and orange vegetables and fruits (papaya, mango) weekly to meet your vitamin A needs and reap beta carotene's potential antioxidant benefits.



B12

What it does: Vitamin B12 is used in making DNA, the building block of genes, and in maintaining healthy nerve and red blood cells.

How much you need: 2.4 micrograms a day for people 14 and older provides all the body needs—although some researchers have argued that a daily intake of 6 micrograms would ensure absorption.

Food sources of B12: B12 is bound to protein, so foods like meat, fish, eggs and dairy products like yogurt and milk are the principal sources.



Chromium

What it does: Chromium is required by the body for the process that turns food into usable energy, helping insulin prime cells to take up glucose.

How much you need: Despite disappointing findings on chromium supplements and weight loss, the body still needs it. The daily recommended intake for adults is 50 to 200 mcg.

Food sources of chromium: Best sources of chromium are whole-grain breads and cereals, meat, nuts, prunes, raisins, beer and wine.



Vitamin K

What it does: Vitamin K is used by the body to produce an array of different proteins. Some of them are used to create factors that allow blood to coagulate—critical in stemming bleeding and allowing cuts and wounds to heal.

How much you need: The current recommended daily intake of vitamin K is 90 micrograms for women and 120 for men. Luckily, vitamin K deficiency is extremely uncommon.

Food Sources of Vitamin K: Kale, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, arugula, green leaf lettuce, soybean oil, canola oil, olive oil and tomatoes.



Potassium

What it does: Potassium is involved in almost every vital body process: maintaining blood pressure, heart and kidney function, muscle contraction, even digestion.

How much you need: Surveys show that most Americans get less than half the recommended amounts of potassium, which is 4,700 milligrams (mg) daily for adults and teens.

Food sources of potassium: Foods that are closest to their original states are best, so be sure to choose whole, unprocessed foods as often as possible, especially fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fish and lean meats.



Magnesium

What it does: Necessary for some of the body's most basic processes, magnesium triggers more than 300 biochemical reactions—most importantly the production of energy from the food we eat.

How much you need: Around 300 mg/day (women) and 350 mg/day (men), with the upper limit for supplemental magnesium at 350 mg.

Food sources of magnesium: The mineral is abundant in avocados, nuts and leafy greens including acorn squash, kiwi and almonds.



Vitamin C

What it does: Researchers have long known that vitamin C is an essential building block of collagen, the structural material for bone, skin, blood vessels and other tissue.

How much you need: The current recommended daily intake for men is 90 mg and for women it is 75 mg. The body can only absorb a maximum of about 400 milligrams a day.

Food Sources of Vitamin C: Virtually everything in the produce section including oranges, green bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, cantaloupe and tomatoes, turnip greens, sweet potatoes and okra.



Vitamin D

What it does: Early on, most of the concern focused on bones, since vitamin D, working along with calcium, helps build and maintain them.

How much you need: Official recommendations now call for 200 IU for children and 600 IU for people over 71, with other groups falling somewhere between.

Food sources of vitamin D: We rely on fortified milk and breakfast cereals to get most of our dietary vitamin D. Apart from a few kinds of fish, including herring and sardines, there aren't many natural food sources, which leaves supplements and direct sunlight.



Folate/Folic Acid

What it does: Folate is necessary for the production of new cells, including red blood cells. Folate deficiency remains a major cause of spinal-cord defects in newborns.

How much you need: Many dietitians recommend taking a multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid; 1,000 mcg per day is the safe upper limit for folic acid.

Food sources of folate: Rich sources of folate include liver, dried beans and peas, spinach and leafy greens, asparagus and fortified cereals.



Zinc

What it does: Zinc is integral to almost every cell of the human body, from keeping the immune system healthy to regulating testosterone.

How much you need: The recommended dietary intake for men is 11 mg/day, for women 8 mg/day.

Food Sources of zinc: Oysters, cooked beef tenderloin, turkey, chickpeas, roast chicken leg, pumpkin seeds, cooked pork tenderloin, plain low-fat yogurt, wheat germ, tofu, dry roasted cashews and Swiss cheese.



Vitamin E

What it does: Scientists have not yet elucidated all of vitamin E's roles, but they hypothesize that it has a role in immune function, DNA repair, the formation of red blood cells and vitamin K absorption.

How much you need: The RDA in men and women is 23 IU, or 15 milligrams, and because many E-rich foods come from nuts and oils, some low-fat diets may be inadequate in vitamin E.

Food Sources of Vitamin E: Wheat germ oil. Sunflower seeds, cooked spinach, almonds, safflower oil and hazelnuts.

Ancient Mystery : Frail boy-king Tut died from malaria, broken leg

CAIRO — Egypt's most famous pharaoh, King Tutankhamun, was a frail boy who suffered from a cleft palate and club foot. He died of complications from a broken leg exacerbated by malaria and his parents were most likely brother and sister.

Two years of DNA testing and CT scans on Tut's 3,300-year-old mummy and 15 others are helping end many of the myths surrounding the boy king. While a comparatively minor ruler, he has captivated the public since the 1922 discovery of his tomb, which was filled with a stunning array of jewels and artifacts, including a golden funeral mask.

The study, which will be published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, provides the firmest family tree yet for Tut. The tests pointed to Pharaoh Akhenaten, who tried to revolutionize ancient Egyptian religion to worship one god, as Tut's father. His mother was one of Akhenaten's sisters, it said.

Tut, who became pharaoh at age 10 in 1333 B.C., ruled for just nine years at a pivotal time in Egypt's history. Speculation has long swirled over his death at 19. A hole in his skull fueled speculation he was murdered, until a 2005 CT scan ruled that out, finding the hole was likely from the mummification process. The scan also uncovered the broken leg.

The newest tests paint a picture of a pharaoh whose immune system was likely weakened by congenital diseases. His death came from complications from the broken leg — along with a new discovery: severe malaria.

The team said it found DNA of the malaria parasite in several of the mummies, some of the oldest ever isolated.

"A sudden leg fracture possibly introduced by a fall might have resulted in a life threatening condition when a malaria infection occurred," the JAMA article said.

"Tutankhamun had multiple disorders... He might be envisioned as a young but frail king who needed canes to walk," it said.

The revelations are in stark contrast to the popular image of a graceful boy-king as portrayed by the dazzling funerary artifacts in his tomb that later introduced much of the world to the glory of ancient Egypt.

They also highlighted the role genetics play in some diseases. The members of the 18th dynasty were closely inbred and the DNA studies found several genetic disorders in the mummies tested such as scoliosis, curvature of the spine, and club feet.

Dr. Howard Markel, a medical historian at the University of Michigan, said some of King Tut's ailments including his bone disease likely were the result of his parents' incestuous marriage. Children born to parents who are so closely related to each other would be prone to genetic problems, he said.

Like his father, Tutankhamun had a cleft palate. Like his grandfather, he had a club foot and suffered from Kohler's disease which inhibits the supply of blood to the bones of the foot.

In Tut's case it was slowly destroying the bones in his left foot — an often painful condition, the study said. It noted that 130 walking sticks and canes were discovered in Tut's tomb, some of them appeared to have been used.

Egypt's top archaeologist, Zahi Hawass, who co-authored the study, noted that more than 80 years after Tutankhamun's discovery, technology was revealing secrets about the pharaoh.

The study is part of a wider program to test the DNA of hundreds of mummies to determine their identities and their family relations. To conduct the tests, Egypt built two DNA labs to follow international protocols for genetic testing.

Hawass, who had long opposed DNA testing on Egypt's mummies because it would have been performed outside the country, acknowledged his original skepticism. "I never thought that we would really reach a great important discovery," he said in an interview with The Associated Press.

The new study answered long-standing questions about Tutankhamun's family, tracing his grandfather to Pharaoh Amenhotep III. While some archaeologists have speculated that Tut's father was a little-known figure, Smenkhkare, it now appears that it was Akhenaten, who attempted to change millennia of religious tradition by forcing the country to worship the sun god Aten, instead of a multiplicity of deities.

DNA tests pinpointed the mummy of Tut's mother — and confirmed she was a sister of his father — but the mummy has not yet been firmly identified. Brother-sister marriages were common among Egypt's pharaohs.



"There is a lot fuzziness about the succession and that's why knowing Tutankhamun was the son or direct blood descendant would make a difference," said Salima Ikram, an Egyptologist at the American University in Cairo and an expert on mummies.

The tests also disproved speculation that Tutankhamun and members of his family suffered from rare disorders that gave them feminine attributes and misshapen bones, including Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that can result in elongated limbs.

The theories arose from the artistic style and statues of the period, which showed the royal men with prominent breasts, elongated heads and flared hips.

"It is unlikely that either Tutankhamun or Akhenaten actually displayed a significantly bizarre or feminine physique," the article said.

Hawass' first high profile discovery involving DNA tests, the identification of the mummy of Queen Hatshepsut, came under criticism because it didn't follow accepted scientific protocols and was not published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The tests were also not confirmed by a second, independent DNA lab.

This time the work by the Supreme Council of Antiquities DNA lab was replicated by a second DNA lab set up at Cairo University and the results were then published in the American medical journal.

Angelique Corthals, an assistant professor of forensic science at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York helped set up the first Egyptian lab and said the work is being conducted according to international standards.

Hawass predicted that many more discoveries were in the works for King Tutankhamun and the mummy project.

"It will never be revealed completely, still we need more research," he said. "We finished the first great part of the mystery and the second one is coming soon in one year."

Mushroom

Often grouped with vegetables, mushrooms provide many of the nutritional attributes of produce, as well as attributes more commonly found in meat, beans or grains. Mushrooms are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free and very low in sodium, yet they provide several nutrients, including selenium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin D and more.





Mushrooms are a good source of B vitamins, including riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid, which help to provide energy by breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates. B vitamins also play an important role in the nervous system.

* Pantothenic acid helps with the production of hormones and also plays an important role in the nervous system.

* Riboflavin helps maintain healthy red blood cells.

* Niacin promotes healthy skin and makes sure the digestive and nervous systems function properly.





Mushrooms are also a source of important minerals:

* Selenium is a mineral that works as an antioxidant to protect body cells from damage that might lead to heart disease, some cancers and other diseases of aging. It also has been found to be important for the immune system and fertility in men. Many foods of animal origin and grains are good sources of selenium, but mushrooms are among the richest sources of selenium in the produce aisle and provide 8-22 mcg per serving. This is good news for vegetarians, whose sources of selenium are limited.

* Ergothioneine is a naturally occurring antioxidant that also may help protect the body’s cells. Mushrooms provide 2.8-4.9 mg of ergothioneine per serving of white, portabella or crimini mushrooms.

* Copper helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. Copper also helps keep bones and nerves healthy.

* Potassium is an important mineral many people do not get enough of. It aids in the maintenance of normal fluid and mineral balance, which helps control blood pressure. It also plays a role in making sure nerves and muscles, including the heart, function properly. Mushrooms have 98-376 mg of potassium per 84 gram serving, which is 3-11 percent of the Daily Value.





Beta-glucans, found in numerous mushroom species, have shown marked immunity-stimulating effects, contribute to resistance against allergies and may also participate in physiological processes related to the metabolism of fats and sugars in the human body. The beta-glucans contained in oyster, shiitake and split gill mushrooms are considered to be the most effective6.




Mushrooms are the only fresh vegetable or fruit with vitamin D. Similar to the way that humans absorb sunlight and convert it to vitamin D, mushrooms contain a plant sterol—ergosterol—that converts to vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. The top three selling mushroom varieties (button, crimini and portabella) have vitamin D ranging from 1 to 97 percent of the Daily Value (400 IU) per raw 84 gram serving..



Umami is the fifth basic taste after sweet, salty, bitter and sour. Derived from the Japanese word umai, meaning “delicious” umami (pronounced oo-MAH-mee) is described as a savory, brothy, rich or meaty taste sensation. It’s a satisfying sense of deep, complete flavor, balancing savory flavors and full-bodied taste with distinctive qualities of aroma and mouthfeel. The more umami present in food, the more flavorful it will be. All mushrooms are a rich source of umami and the darker the mushroom the more umami it contains. Therefore, mushrooms are a perfect way to add great taste to everyday foods. Umami also counterbalances saltiness and allows up to a 50 percent salt reduction without compromising flavor.




Mushrooms are hearty and filling. Preliminary research suggests increasing intake of low-energy-density foods (meaning few calories given the volume of food), specifically mushrooms, in place of high-energy-density foods, like lean ground beef, can be an effective method for reducing daily energy and fat intake while still feeling full and satiated after the meal.




Mushrooms are the leading source of the essential antioxidant selenium in the produce aisle. Antioxidants, like selenium, protect body cells from damage that might lead to chronic diseases. They help to strengthen the immune system, as well. In addition, mushrooms provide ergothioneine, a naturally occurring antioxidant that may help protect the body’s cells.




Mushrooms provide a powerhouse of nutrients that may help protect against some cancers. Scientists at City of Hope were some of the first to find a potential link between mushrooms and a decreased likelihood of tumor growth and development in cells and animals. City of Hope researchers now plan to apply this research to human clinical trials to establish whether mushrooms act as aromatase inhibitors in women. It is far too early to conclusively say whether humans will experience decreased tumor growth as a result of eating mushrooms. However, City of Hope and the Mushroom Council one day hope to be able to share credible science-based information that ties mushroom intake with decreased cancer risk, along with other important health benefits.

Lost city believed found in Johor

I came across this article and i think it's kinda interesting.. don't know how far it's true... enjoy reading the article ppl... :)

The Star Online > News
Thursday February 3, 2005

A 1,000-year-old lost city, possibly older than Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Borobudur in Indonesia, is believed to have been located in the dense jungles of Johor.

The discovery of what is thought to be the site of Kota Gelanggi or Perbendaharaan Permata (Treasury of Jewels) by an independent Malaysian researcher has prompted museum officials to plan an expedition to confirm the finding.

If indeed the site is that of the lost city , it is set to transform the historical landscape of the region, said Raimy Che-Ross, who spent 12 years researching Malay manuscripts all over the world and conducting aerial searches of the area before locating the site.

He said the discovery of “unusual formations” from the air had led him to believe that the site could be the first capital of the Sri Vijaya Malay empire dating back to 650AD. “If the city is what we suspect it to be, then the Malacca Sultanate can no longer be considered as the start of modern Malay history.
“Once verified, the honour will go to Johor, as one thousand years ago Malacca had not even been established,” he said.

Raimy had tried to enter the site in early 2003 but failed, managing to get only as far as to the formations which are believed to be trenches and embankments of the outer city. Department of Museum and Antiquities director-general Datuk Adi Taha said an archaeological expedition would be mounted this year to verify the location of the lost city, with Raimy’s assistance.

Funds for the expedition would be sought under the 9th Malaysia Plan. Adi said he and the department were very enthusiastic about Raimy’s research findings and would work with him to verify the location of the lost city, which could be spread out over a few hundred square kilometers.

Do u know facts....

I would like to thank my colleague Mr.Rahman for asking me about the “DO YOU KNOW FACTS”... This is pretty interesting. I learn lots of stuffs from the “DO YOU KNOW FACTS”... now, I would like to share some of the facts with you all… :p

• The name of all the continents ends with the same letter that they start with (Asia, Africa, America, Europe, Australia)
• Women blink nearly twice as much as men
• It is impossible to lick your elbow
• People say "Bless you" when you sneeze because when you sneeze, your heart stops for a millisecond.
• It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.
• Each king in a deck of playing cards represents great king from history. Spades - King David Clubs - Alexander the Great, Hearts - Charlemagne Diamonds - Julius Caesar.
• If a statue of a person in the park on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle.
• If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle.
• If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
• What do bullet proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers all have in common? They are all invented by women.
• This is the only food that doesn’t spoil. What is this? It is Honey.
• A snail can sleep for three years.
• All polar bears are left handed.
• Butterflies taste with their feet.
• On average, people fear spiders more than they do death.
• Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.
• Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different
• Almonds are a member of the peach family.
• There are only four words in the English language which end in "-dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.
• An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain
• It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. (DON'T try this at home!)
• Mosquitoes have 47 teeth
• The most common time for a wake up call is 7am.
• The opposite sides of a dice cube always add up to seven.
• Giraffes can clean their ears with their tongue.
• And finally 99% of people who read this would try to lick their elbow now.

HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL ...

What is High Cholesterol?

In some people, cholesterol levels in blood become too high. This is called high cholesterol or hyperlipidemia.

High levels of LDL cholesterol (so-called "bad" cholesterol) are considered a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. LDL cholesterol is thought to irritate the lining of blood vessels, stimulating atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries.

Although lowering LDL cholesterol and raising levels of HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) has traditionally been the focus, factors related to free radical damage are drawing increased attention:

• Lipoprotein A is a relative of LDL cholesterol. It's thought to be formed when there is free radical damage. Lipoprotein A may adhere to damaged blood vessels, eventually forming atherosclerotic plaques.
• Oxidized cholesterol is found in large amounts in fried and processed foods. Studies have found that oxidized cholesterol may increase the amount of atherosclerotic deposits on blood vessel walls.




Herbs and Supplements for High Cholesterol

A few tips on using natural products to lower cholesterol. Talk with your doctor before starting any natural method to lower cholesterol. Don't discontinue any medication to lower cholesterol. Speak with your doctor if you have questions about your medication.

• Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Vitamin B3, also called niacin, is used to lower cholesterol. Specifically, it appears to lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol.

Well-designed studies have found that niacin lowers LDL cholesterol by approximately 10%, lowers triglycerides by 25%, and raises "good" HDL cholesterol by 15% to 30%. Niacin also appears to significantly lower levels for another risk factor for atherosclerosis, lipoprotein A.

Niacin is available in prescription form and as a dietary supplement. The American Heart Association cautions patients to only use the prescription form of niacin.
Because of side effects, niacin should not be used to lower cholesterol unless under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner. Niacin can increase the effect of high blood pressure medication or cause nausea, indigestion, gas, diarrhea, gout, and worsen peptic ulcers, or trigger gout, liver inflammation, and high blood sugar.

The most common side effect of high-dose niacin is skin flushing or hot flashes, which is caused by widening of blood vessels. Most people only notice this when they initially start taking niacin. The flushing may be lessened by taking niacin with meals.

Although high doses of niacin showed promise in combination with drugs to lower cholesterol (called "statins"), there are concerns that combining them could result in a potentially fatal condition called rhabdomyolysis. They shouldn't be combined unless under the close supervision of a physician.

• Artichoke Leaf

There is some research suggesting that artichoke leaf extract (Cynara scolymnus) may help to lower cholesterol. Artichoke leaf extract may work by limiting the synthesis of cholesterol in the body.

Artichokes also contain a compound called cynarin, believed to increase bile production in the liver and speed the flow of bile from the gallbladder, both of which may increase cholesterol excretion.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled German study found that 1,800 mg of artichoke extract per day for six weeks significantly lowered total cholesterol by 18.5% compared to 8.6% in the placebo group and lowered LDL cholesterol by 22.9% compared with 6% in the placebo group. The ratio of LDL to HDL decreased by 20% in the artichoke group compared with 7% in the placebo group. There were no adverse effects associated with artichoke use.

A meta-analysis looked at randomized controlled trials for artichoke extract for high cholesterol. Two trials involving a total of 167 people met the quality criteria. One trial found artichoke significantly reduced total cholesterol after 42 days of treatment. The other study found artichoke significantly reduced total cholesterol in a subgroup of patients with total cholesterol levels of more than 230 mg/dl.

• Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber appears to reduce LDL cholesterol by reducing cholesterol absorption in the intestines. Soluble fiber binds with cholesterol so that it is excreted.

Soluble fiber can be found as a dietary supplement, such as psyllium powder, or in foods such as:
• Oats, barley, rye
• Legumes (peas, beans)
• Some fruits such as apples, prunes, and berries
• Some vegetables, such as carrots, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, yams

Five to 10 grams a day of soluble fiber has been found to decrease LDL cholesterol by approximately 5%. The FDA allows soluble fiber products to indicate on the label that they are "heart-healthy".

• Plant Sterols and Stanols

Plant stanols and sterols (such as beta-sitosterol and sitostanol) are naturally-occuring substances found in certain plants. Stanols are also found as dietary supplements or are added to margarine, orange juice, and dressings.

Research suggests that plant stanols and sterols may help to lower cholesterol. They are similar in structure to cholesterol and may help block the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines.

Studies have found that stanols significantly reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, but had no significant effect on HDL cholesterol or triglycerides.
Stanols and sterols appear to enhance the effects of other methods to lower cholesterol.

In studies, people taking the statin drugs to lower cholesterol had an additional improvement in their cholesterol levels with stanols/sterols.





Home remedy for High Cholesterol

Home remedies have become increasingly popular as the expense and hassle of conventional medicine continues to rise. Beyond the convenience, home remedies have found favor with a public that wants to take a more holistic approach to its ailments.

The home remedies that we have collected aren't risky alternative therapies practiced against your doctor's objections. Rather they are safe, practical actions that you can utilize to help treat more than 100 common health problems, ranging from the minor ailments like ingrown hairs and athlete's foot to serious diseases like asthma and diabetes.

Just remember that these home remedies don't provide miracle cures and aren't meant to take the place of the advice and treatments prescribed by your health-care professional. You should continue to work and consult with your doctor about your health problems.

• The best home remedy to cure a person with high cholesterol is to have at least 8-10 glasses of water per day.
• Immerse 2 tablespoons of coriander seeds in a glass of water. Boil the concoction and allow it to cool. Strain the water and have it three times a day.
• Take 10 pieces of cinnamon sticks and put them in a pot containing 5 teacups of water. Boil the water and then add a tablespoon of honey to it. Drink this concoction when it’s warm.
• In a glassful of milk, add a piece of garlic and boil it. Allow it to cool before drinking. Consume this for a few days. Not only would it reduce cholesterol, but also take care of the cardiac pains.
• Alternatively, a person who has problems of high cholesterol can also have 2-3 cloves of garlic per day.
• Mix 10-12 tablespoons of apple juice and 5-6 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Intake this mixture once a day.
• Consuming raw onions or onion juice is also beneficial in reducing the high cholesterol.
• Regular exercising is very necessary to keep the cholesterol levels under control.
• In green leafy salads, mix a small amount of olive oil. It proves beneficial lessening the high cholesterol levels as well as for the proper functioning of the heart and the body.
• Persons suffering from high cholesterol should have foods rich in fiber such as raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, broccoli, green beans, etc.
• Consume lots of almonds and walnuts. These are helpful in reducing the cholesterol levels.
• Chewing sweet neem is also beneficial in lowering the high cholesterol levels.
• Having fenugreek seeds and sprouts helps to reduce the high cholesterol levels.
• Persons suffering from high cholesterol levels should have a small bowl of curd everyday. Curd acts favorably in reducing the cholesterol levels.
• Another effective natural remedy to treat high cholesterol levels would be to have foods rich in lecithin such as egg yolk, vegetable oils, whole grain cereals, soybeans and un-pasteurized milk.
• It is advisable to have food prepared from sunflower seeds instead of butter and saturated oil. This is highly beneficial in regulating the cholesterol levels.

While some people may dismiss herbal remedies as quackery, the use of botanical is well rooted in medical practice. Ancient doctors methodically collected information about herbs and developed well-defined pharmacopoeias to treat a variety of ailments. More than a quarter of all drugs used today contain active ingredients derived from those same ancient plants.

It's estimated that nearly 80 percent of the world's population use herbs for some aspect of primary health care. In the United States, more than 1,500 botanicals are sold as dietary supplements; top-selling herbs include Echinacea, garlic, goldenseal, ginseng, ginkgo, saw palmetto, aloe, ephedra, Siberian ginseng, and cranberry.

It's time to take your health care into your own hands.

TUMMY!! TUMMY!! TUMMY!!!!

Tummy fat will be a problem for most women at some stage of their life. What you need to concentrate on is cardiovascular fitness. If you can consistently exercise for 30 minutes per day you will notice a difference in no time. Of course, you will see much faster results if you modify your eating habits as well!

Causes of Fat Belly

You may get concentration of fat around your abs due to stress, food allergies, bacteria, bloating and inflammation. As we get older, a type of fat, visceral fat collects around our organs. This fat can cause high cholesterol and high blood pressure. You cannot convert fat into muscle and muscle into fat. But, you can gain fat to make you fat! So to transform your stomach into a flat one or in other words to lose belly fat, you need to eliminate the layers of fat that are on top of your abs.

Best Flat Tummy Exercises for Great Female Abs
by Olinda Rola

Are there flat tummy exercises that are the best for great female abs? Absolutely! To make this list, the female abs exercises must be safe, effective and can be done nearly anywhere. Your abs can be worked out every day.

Here are great flat tummy exercises:

1. Tummy Isometric Crunch — exhale, then suck in your stomach as far as you can, hold for about 15 seconds. Relax and breathe. Visualize moving your bellybutton straight toward your back. Holding in your tummy muscles and tensing your abs is a good way of firming and strengthening them. You will also become more aware of how to control your tummy muscles. Repeat several times. This exercise can be done anywhere, anytime.
Note: if you have high blood pressure, do not hold your breath for extended periods of time.

2. Rectus Abdominis Tummy Exercises :
1. Lie on your back on the floor with bent knees and your feet flat on the floor, knees and feet spread apart the width of your hips.
2. Place your hands gently on the sides of your head for support, spreading your elbows so you cannot see them.
3. With your chin tucked toward your chest, gently curl upward and forward so that your head, neck and shoulder blades lift off the floor and your lower back presses against the floor (if you want, start with your head resting on a pillow which has your head and neck in the correct position to begin).
4. Pause just a moment, and then gently return to the starting position.
5. Repeat several times.
6. Note: do not use your arms to complete the curl. If you can see your elbows, you're cheating. Do not put your feet under anything since this lessens the effectiveness of these types of flat tummy exercises. If this female abs exercise is too difficult for you, do the next one below.

3. Sit-Back Flat Tummy Exercises — if your female abs muscles are weak and you have trouble lifting yourself off the floor in #2 above, here is an alternate flat tummy exercise for you:
1. Start in a sitting position on the floor with your knees bent; feet flat on the floor (secure your feet under a piece of furniture).
2. Cross your arms over your chest and roll your head and shoulders forward toward your chest.
3. Gently and slowly lean back, keeping your head and shoulders tucked. Continue until you begin to feel your stomach muscles contracting.
4. Then try to lean back just a bit more if you can and hold that position until your muscles start shaking. Try to hold this position with your muscles shaking for five seconds, then ease back to the upright sitting position.
5. Repeat in a few seconds.

4. Reduce Chewing Exercises — yes, as in jaw muscles used for excessive chewing as in overeating. Reducing overeating or exercising those jaw muscles less may be necessary to have great female abs. No one can see great female abs if they are covered with body fat! Having great female abs may require losing some body fat. Losing body fat means:
1. Cardio exercise on a regular basis — getting the heartbeat up with fun whole-body workouts several times a week.
2. Healthy eating habits — eating healthy foods, eliminating sodas/junk food and taking in fewer calories than you burn each day.
3. Besides flat tummy exercises, strength training for the whole body — any muscle tissue you add will burn extra calories 24/7.


ON THE OTHER HAND…..

• Eat more 'fat burning' foods and eat less refined (processed) carbohydrate.
• Start eating more meals a day 4-6 but with smaller portions, drink more water, substitute products with their healthier alternative.
• Try to reduce stress and get plenty of sleep. Both of these factors are related to emotional eating and weight gain.
• You need to do cardio such as brisk walking or running.
• Work your legs. Doing exercises that require your legs to come level or above your lower waistline causes your lower abdominal muscles to work to help keep your balance as your doing your leg exercises.
• Dancing is a great way to lose weight! It also tones your legs and helps you lose belly fat. Try belly dancing, it works!
• Mixed Martial Arts are an alternative for who do not wish to get into such things as dancing. Although dancing is safer, women also may wish to venture into MMA for the health benefits if done with care and protective benefits.
• It is also important to drink enough water to get rid of the toxins and harmful materials in your body and to be hydrated. You need to drink 8-10 glasses (8 oz) a day for average people.
• Cardio and a diet low in refined carbohydrates. Low/no sugar, stick to complex carbs. No artificial sweeteners. Drink your coffee black. Weight training to increase muscle mass.
• Get adequate protein to repair your muscles. Protein also makes you feel full, as does plenty of fiber. Cardio can range from something like walking, which is sustainable long term and you can do for the rest of your life to reap the benefits, or jogging, biking or running, depending on your level of physical fitness.
• On days with a lot of exercise, eat more. On average, keep calorie deficits going. There are SO many healthy choices and you'll feel so much better. It’s worth spending a little extra on better food, real foods/organic, and any vitamins/supplements you need to round out the diet.
• As a very active female who enjoys inline skating, swimming, rock climbing, weight lifting, kickboxing, and kayaking, I recommend kickboxing and kayaking for fast, noticeable waist fat reduction.


LET'S DO IT TOGETHER... :) ALL THE BEST... TAKE CARE...

Counter strike

Counter-Strike (CS) is a first-person shooter in which players join either the terrorist or counter-terrorist team (or become a spectator). Each team attempts to complete their mission objective and/or eliminate the opposing team. Each round starts with the two teams spawning simultaneously, usually at opposite ends of the map from each other. Players are generally given a few seconds before the round begins (known as "freeze time") to prepare and buy equipment, during which they cannot attack or walk/move (a player can still take damage, having the player drop from a certain height during freeze time was the only way somebody could control the players starting "HP"). Once the round has ended, surviving players retain their equipment for use in the next round; players who were killed begin the next round with the basic default starting equipment. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter_strike) I started to play CS two weeks ago and for me it is an interesting game.. At first i didn't like it much but when i started kill the opposite team, I'm soo into it. I would like to thank my colleagues for making me addicted to CS.. hihihi... My colleagues are very very good in this CS game. For the first two days, i asked them to have mercy on me since I'm not good at it.. so, they gave me some chances and massive trainings. The guys taught me how to aim, shoot, run, defense, change weapons, plant and defuse C4(bomb). I installed CS game in my laptop and played with the computer (that was my tutorial). After a few days I improved my shooting skills and started to enjoy the game.. I learned how to give head shots and my colleagues noticed my performance. From that moment the guys played with no mercy.. My character was brutally killed and I learned and improved a lot on CS game.. that was really nice.. I like one part when i was in counter-terrorist team and my mission was to defuse the bomb. On the way to defuse the bomb all my other team-mates were killed and i was so scared.. I was thinking how a girl is gonna kill 3 guys now?? but with my team-mates guidance i manage to killed 3 terrorists and defused the bomb.. huh.. that was a superb game and my record basically... once i gave a head shot to Kamal where he flew like no body's business.. hehehe... Now I'm gonna write all my colleagues favorite dialogue while playing CS.. *Wayne @ T|A|Z - "what are you doing?? sit there forever and Don't cover me!!" *Keegan @ Intruder - "Macha, go to A.. no no.. B.. no no.. wait there..haiyoo" *Ivan @ Lycan - "Report in team, go go go... " *Haresh @ Resh - "Hey.. why am i alone here?? where are you all??" *Pavit @ Otai Rock - "Change the map to assault. Okay.. Come and shoot me now!!" *Vishva @ beginner - "Oh shit!! where is he shooting from?? I'm dead!!" *Kamal @ Constantine - "hahaha... i killed you AJ" *Syazwan @ WTF - "Where.. where?? OMG...." *ME @ AJ - "I'm hiding here.. where are they?" This is a wonderful experience for me and I'm enjoying CS to the max.. nice game.. It helps me to release stress and tension.. And its also has strengthen our friendship at work place.. Now we have a better understanding between us.. Thanks CS.. :)

Friends??

I was 15 at that time and he was my friend's friend.. i never spoke to or smiled at him before.. but i knew that he is a good and smart boy... Didn't know why both of us didn't take any initiative to speak to each other... hahaha... crazy and childish...

Now after 12 years, we met in Facebook(FB).. i was surprised when he sent me a message.. he thought i don't know him or don't remember him.. and i replied his message saying that i know him.. at first i felt shy to talk because never spoken to him before.. Thank God he is very friendly and and i feel comfortable with him.. we added each other on yahoo messenger and exchanged contact numbers..

Our first meet up was in Secret Recipe, Cyberjaya. i went there with my best friend..three of us had a great time there.. and I noticed that GL is a nice, friendly, smart and cute guy... he looks different now.. hehe.. Second meet up was in SK. It was a rainy day and we went to one vegetarian shop. we had some nice chats ;p... i couldn't finished my food because it tasted bad.. i didn't comment anything but he got to know that with my face and body language.. then he admitted that he disliked the food as well.. hahaha... on d way to send me home, he started to speed his car.. Gosh!! i was terrified because that was super speed until i started to scream; but he was laughing at me and slowed down the car.. :))

we are very close now... good friends?? best friends?? we care for each other..

I'm sorry i couldn't write anymore..

Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is the act of pretending to have beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that one does not actually have. Hypocrisy typically comes from a desire to mask actual motives or feelings, or from a person's inability to conform to standards they espouse. (www.wikipedia.org)

I don't know why people are so hypocrite... Grow up la.. if u wanna tell something, say it face-to-face... be brave... if not just shut up!!! what do you get from being hypocrite?? Nothing good but you are gaining every one's hatred and curse.. Do you know that you are spoiling your name by spreading non-sense info?? I don't know whether you are aware of that or not but I assume that you have a brain and the ability to think... So THINK!!!

Think before you create the story.. how you can pretend as though nothing happened?? For God sake please stop it... you are being so childish babe!! i couldn't take it.. you are not a kid but an adult.. So please act as an adult!!!

God bless....

Rubik's cube

I bought a Rubik's cube one year ago but couldn't solve it..managed to do one color per time...i was pretty upset for ma failure, so i started to search for d solution online... at first i tried to search in Youtube; d results was pretty awesome. but i couldn't learn via Youtube... dunno y... :(

Lucky me coz one of ma colleague is very very good in Rubik's cube. He is Mr.Sanjeev and he is a genius coz he can solve d Rubik's cube in less than 1 minute.. wow he is awesome...N i asked for his help in solving the Rubik's cube puzzle. He taught me and now i can solve d Rubik's cube....

At last...... I'm happy..... Thanks Sifu...

Henna art.....

Now I'm going to share one of my interest with you all..
It is the Henna Art or Mehndi.
Henna is normally applied during special occasions/celebrations like weddings, New Year and other festivals.
My henna art is mostly inspired by flora and fauna designs...
These are some of my henna pic...