Tuition to train the brain

The following article by Natasha Ann Zachariah is from the Sunday Times dated 30 January 2011.
=========================================

Maths tuition. Chinese tuition. And now, brain tuition. Not content with getting their kids to be high- fliers in just core school subjects, some gung-ho parents are signing their children up for brain-training classes.

Various centres have sprung up claiming they can build up brain power to help kids better concentrate, focus and memorise things over time.

A quick check by LifeStyle found several such centres. They include the Singapore Brain Development Centre, which uses specially developed card and board games and toys to make the brain learn faster and more easily.

Then there is BrainFit Studio, which uses computer programmes and physical activities to improve children's attention spans, motor coordination, sound, image processing and emotional skills.

Prices can range from $1,000 to $10,000 for a customised programme lasting between two months and two years.

The newest player on the brain training market is seven-month-old Genius Mind Academy (GMA). The company, which has its office in Mountbatten Road, is the master licensee of what is termed a 'midbrain activation' programme that uses loud sounds. There are other franchises in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia and Taiwan.

It offers courses costing $1,480 a child for a two-day workshop of a minimum of 25 and maximum of 45 children each session. A total of 633 children have attended the workshops since they started.

GMA claims that midbrain activation will improve children's memories and concentration and even improve their hormonal balance with its 'revolutionary brain development programme'.
It also says the workshops help kids with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia to focus and become calmer. As an added bonus, they will be able to 'see' blindfolded as well.

The midbrain is said to act like a relay system carrying sound and visual information to the right and left brain.

However, the centre's methods are not without controversy.

Associate Professor Ong Hian Tat, a senior consultant at the division of paediatric neurology and developmental paediatrics at National University Hospital, says that the benefits of the programme are not medically proven and what they claim to do - activate the midbrain with soundwaves - occurs naturally.

'The midbrain is stimulated all the time,' he said. 'As long as soundwaves are registered, the midbrain is activated. It is like a pathway for these sound waves to reach the brain. If there is no sound, the midbrain is not activated.'

He adds, of the loud sounds: 'No one knows if there are any harmful side effects unless tests are done, so they could potentially be harmful.'

GMA chief operating officer Yao Shih Lien, 46, declined to elaborate on the programme software used to create the sounds. He says that while it is difficult to reproduce, if stolen, then it would be easy to run a similar programme.

He would only say that a trainer leads the children in playing games, singing songs and watching funny videos. This is meant to create a happy environment so the children can be relaxed and receptive to these sounds that are played to them.

Mr Yao also said he is unable to explain why children react that way to the stimulation: 'I can't explain it scientifically, it's a mystery. What we are doing is a structured and consistent way to activate the brain.'

GMA takes in only children between five and 12 years old, as Mr Yao says that is the optimal age when they are 'receptive, cheerful and open'. Older children, up to 15 years old, have to go through an interview to see if they are suitable for the programme.

Mrs Jayasree Pillai, 46, signed her eight-year-old son, Girish, up for the programme last week.
In the days after, the referral marketing consultant says that aside from being able to read paragraphs in books blindfolded, she has seen a change in his personality.

'He is more direct in the way he speaks, rather than in a childish manner. He is also completing his homework faster.'

The method was created by Malaysian David Ting, who has a Doctor Of Business Administration degree from the United Business Institutes in Brussels. Dr Ting, who runs the head company, Genius Mind Consultancy, has also been operating childcare centres for about 20 years.

Another parent, Mrs Carine Khong, says that the excitement of her children Gabriel, nine, and Cheyne, five, over the other kids' blindfold reading ability was what made her sign up.

The 39-year-old training coordinator says that they have no problem with their school work but wanted to see if this would help them improve their academic results.

While she has yet to see any academic improvement as school has just started, she says her son's confidence in doing his homework has improved.

Mrs Khong was so impressed with the programme that she signed on to be an ambassador for the company. The company has 150 ambassadors who get 12 per cent commission of one child's fees if they make a successful referral.

But Dr Catherine Cox, senior neuropsychologist from the KK Women's and Children's Hospital, points out that children can improve with practice and quality family time.

'Children will practise things they need to learn such as walking and talking,' she says.

'Having a stimulating environment is best for learning, but it can be quite simple such as talking to children, reading them books and encouraging their interests and friendships. If they are really struggling at school, and teachers are concerned, then it is recommended that they talk to a doctor or psychologist.'



Blogs and Websites HL123 is following as at 2011-01-31, Monday

Blogs HL123 is following as at 2011-01-31, Monday:

119 Blogs and Websites

Creative kitchen of two meatless owner http://www.awakemp3.com/
. . . Cya Girl! - 37 followershttp://cyagirl.blogspot.com/
18 steps to happiness - 49 followershttp://18stepstohappiness.blogspot.com/
24 steps to go...My diary to a healthy lifestyle! - 122 followershttp://24stepstogo.blogspot.com/
A Tanone dot Nethttp://www.atanone.net/
A Veggie Venture - 144 followershttp://kitchen-parade-veggieventure.blogspot.com/
About.com Alternative Medicinehttp://altmedicine.about.com/
Ageless Yogini - 1 followerhttp://agelessyogini.blogspot.com/
Alive and Well Colon Care http://aliveandwellcoloncare.com/index.html
allergies, my kids and me! - 11 followershttp://allergiesmykidsandme.blogspot.com/
Bare It All - 61 followershttp://www.bareitallfitness.com/
beautiful vegan - 317 followershttp://www.beautiful-vegan.com/
BeBikiniReady2011 - 1 followerhttp://bebikiniready.blogspot.com/
Beccas weight loss struggles - 129 followershttp://beccas-randomness.blogspot.com/
Best Vegan Blogs Vegan Food Vegan Recipes ... - 467 followershttp://www.veganblogs.com/
Bitter Sweet Flavours - 113 followershttp://bittersweetflavours.blogspot.com/
Brain Games & Brain Training - Fit Brainshttp://www.fitbrains.com/
Charlotte Orr - 74 followershttp://charlottesfigure.blogspot.com/
Choose to Be Happy 选择快乐 - 29 followershttp://ch00se2bhappy.blogspot.com/
Count Calories lose weight, get healthy, maint... - 53 followershttp://count-calories.blogspot.com/
CR 4 Life - 11 followershttp://cr4life.blogspot.com/
CRON Diary - 20 followershttp://crdiary.blogspot.com/
CRON yogitect - 23 followershttp://cronyogitect.blogspot.com/
CRON-I-licious - 4 followershttp://cron-i-licious.blogspot.com/
CRON-IC - 5 followershttp://cron-ic.blogspot.com/
CRON-ological - 12 followershttp://dawnscrblog.blogspot.com/
Diary of a Yo-Yo Dieter - 51 followershttp://credences.blogspot.com/
Digital Inspirationhttp://www.labnol.org/
Diva On A Diet - 132 followershttp://adivaonadiet.blogspot.com/
DJHinVA - 5 followershttp://djhinva.blogspot.com/
Dr. Sam Lamhttp://lfp-blog.com/
Dragonfly Hearth - 36 followershttp://dragonflyhearth.blogspot.com/
Easy Veggie - 70 followershttp://easyveggie.blogspot.com/
Eczema natural healing � discover how I healed ...http://www.eczema-natural-healing.com/
Escape from Obesity - 2126 followershttp://escapefromobesity.blogspot.com/
exercise compassion - 22 followershttp://exercisecompassion.blogspot.com/
Extraordinary Health & Fitness - 2 followershttp://extraordinaryhealthfitness.blogspot.com/
Fat[Free]Me - 311 followershttp://fat-free-me.blogspot.com/
Geriatric Care - Care of the Aged - 1 followerhttp://geriatriccare-careoftheaged.blogspot.com/
GET OFF GLUTEN! - 8 followershttp://getoffgluten.blogspot.com/
Hair Loss Treatments - 2 followershttp://hair-loss-treatment4men.blogspot.com/
Happy Healthy Long Lifehttp://www.happyhealthylonglife.com/happy_healt...
HEALING JOURNEY - 5 followershttp://marylaredo.blogspot.com/
Healing through Detoxification, Cleansing, Chel...http://healingdaily.com/
Health Food Fanatic - 2 followershttp://healthfoodfanatic.blogspot.com/
Healthy Being Wellness Center & Natural... - 7 followershttp://healthybeings.blogspot.com/
Healthy Living Reviews - 7 followershttp://healthyliving-reviews.blogspot.com/
Healthy Mind, Healthy Body - 18 followershttp://mindandbodyhealth.blogspot.com/
High Blood Pressure Be Gonehttp://highbloodpressurebegone.com/
Homeopathy, Nature's Cure - 79 followershttp://likecure.blogspot.com/
Into Raw - 4 followershttp://intoraw.blogspot.com/
Jack Sh*t, Gettin' Fit - 1846 followershttp://jackfit.blogspot.com/
Kristen's Raw - 1418 followershttp://kristensraw.blogspot.com/
LINS Smoodees™http://linssmoodees.wordpress.com/
LIVESTRONG.COM - Health, Fitness, Lifestylehttp://www.livestrong.com/
Living Consciously - 3 followershttp://andrewsontan.blogspot.com/
Living Healthy in the Real Worldhttp://www.livingintherealworld.net/healthy
Living Holistically - 21 followershttp://alifeholistic.blogspot.com/
Living Life on the Vegan Edge - 20 followershttp://lifeontheveganedge.blogspot.com/
Living the Fruity Life - 120 followershttp://livingfruity.blogspot.com/
Living Vegan - 65 followershttp://living-vegan.blogspot.com/
Losing Waist! - 308 followershttp://losingwaist.blogspot.com/
Martine's Path To Happiness - 58 followershttp://martinespathtohappiness.blogspot.com/
Matthews Anti Aging Calorie Restriction Lifestyle - 40 followershttp://matts-cr.blogspot.com/
Meetups near Calgaryhttp://www.meetup.com/cities/http:/www.meetup.c...
ming wei's - 132 followershttp://judithdmw.blogspot.com/
Multivitaminhttp://www.multivitamin.co.uk/
My Fatty Journey - 19 followershttp://www.myfattyjourney.com/
My Herbalife Diet - 50 followershttp://myh3rbalif3.blogspot.com/
My Journey to Live Forever - 2 followershttp://journeytoliveforever.blogspot.com/
My Journey With Candida Blog - 753 followershttp://myjourneywithcandida.blogspot.com/
My.Skinny.Mission - 72 followershttp://www.myskinnymission.com/
Native Remedies Herbal Newshttp://nativeremedies.com/rss/nativeremedies.rs...
Natural Healing Remedies - 27 followershttp://naturalhealth101-sandy.blogspot.com/
Natural Raw Living - 103 followershttp://eves-journey.blogspot.com/
NutGourmet Bloghttp://nutgourmet.wordpress.com/
Nutrition A to Z - 4 followershttp://nutritiona2z.blogspot.com/
October Sol - 37 followershttp://octracia.blogspot.com/
Official Google Blog - 9460 followershttp://googleblog.blogspot.com/
On the tip of my fingers... - 584 followershttp://chele76.blogspot.com/
One persons weight loss doing Calorie Restricti...http://comarell.net/
Our Swim Training Log - 8 followershttp://sapphireswimmers.blogspot.com/
pass the tofu - 24 followershttp://passthetofu.blogspot.com/
PING SHUAI GONG - 1 followerhttp://pingshuaigong.blogspot.com/
Prasada - Food is Divine - 10 followershttp://prasada-eatingisdivine.blogspot.com/
Pseudogout - 125 followershttp://sizewhatagain.blogspot.com/
Quest for Life: Adventures in Calorie Restriction - 7 followershttp://adventuresincr.blogspot.com/
RAIsoft - All about Today's Internethttp://raibusiness.byethost10.com/
Raw And Living Foodshttp://rawfoodlifestyles.com/
Raw Energy Eating - 55 followershttp://rawenergyeating.blogspot.com/
Raw Food Crafting - 286 followershttp://rawfoodcrafting.blogspot.com/
Raw Food for Long Life with Kristen's Rawhttp://www.kristensraw.com/
Safe EMF - 1 followerhttp://safe-emf.blogspot.com/
Sagojyou's Veg*n Pagehttp://sagojyousvegnpage.wordpress.com/
Scientific Psychic Bloghttp://scientificpsychic.com/blog
Sense & Serendipity - 58 followershttp://www.sense-serendipity.com/
Soul 2 Soul - 5 followershttp://soul2soul-sandy.blogspot.com/
Tara Burner http://www.taraburner.com/blog
Tara Burner ~ Affordable Mineral Makeup, Holist...http://www.taraburner.com/
Tempewytch's Healthy Living!! - 5 followershttp://tempewytchdiet.blogspot.com/
The Plant Based Nutrition Sharing Group (Singap...http://www.meetup.com/The-Plant-Based-Nutrition...
The Plant-Based Dietitian - 70 followershttp://toyourhealthnutrition.blogspot.com/
The quest to find myself mentally, physically a... - 1 followerhttp://xdominic89x.blogspot.com/
The Raw Food Solutionhttp://rawfoodsolution.com/
The RevitaLive Planhttp://www.revitaliveplan.com/index-main.html
The World's Healthiest Foodshttp://whfoods.org/?utm_source=rss_reader&u...
Theresa's Gastric Band Blog - 40 followershttp://gastricbandblog-theresa.blogspot.com/
Tim Tyler's personal pagehttp://www.timtyler.org/personal/
Tony's Diet Log - 214 followershttp://www.tonysdietlog.com/
Violets Journey To a Healthy Life! - 14 followershttp://healthyvi.blogspot.com/
Watch Me Lower My Cholesterol in 30 Days! - 1 followerhttp://briansackswellness.blogspot.com/
What a Healthy Family Eats - 28 followershttp://www.whatahealthyfamilyeats.com/
What I Think - 2 followershttp://iwonder-deborah.blogspot.com/
Work-Site Health Promotion & Personal W...http://www.healthylivingco.com/
XS Health and Wellness - 3 followershttp://xswellnness.blogspot.com/
Yoga Living ~ Body*Mind*Spirit (In English and Chinese) - 4 followershttp://ywng-yogaliving.blogspot.com/
Yummy Health Food - 3 followershttp://yummyhealthfood.blogspot.com/

-ナチュラルライフの森- (In Japanese language)
http://www.geocities.jp/natural_life_nomori/index.html




Sunday, January 30, 2011

My Weight (Loss) Management from 2007-05-28 to 2011-01-28 (weight loss by Calories Restriction With Optimal Nutrition - CRON)

2007-05-28 morning, my weight = 65.0 kg, BMI = 23.588
2007-06-28 morning, my weight = 61.0 kg, BMI = 22.136
2007-07-28 morning, my weight = 59.0 kg, BMI = 21.410
2007-08-28 morning, my weight = 58.7 kg, BMI = 21.302
2007-09-28 morning, my weight = 57.5 kg, BMI = 20.866
2007-10-28 morning, my weight = 57.5 kg, BMI = 20.866
2007-11-28 morning, my weight = 56.2 kg, BMI = 20.394
2007-12-28 morning, my weight = 55.5 kg, BMI = 20.140
2008-01-28 morning, my weight = 54.8 kg, BMI = 19.886
2008-02-28 morning, my weight = 54.8 kg, BMI = 19.886
2008-03-28 morning, my weight = 54.5 kg, BMI = 19.777
2008-04-28 morning, my weight = 54.4 kg, BMI = 19.741
2008-05-28 morning, my weight = 54.1 kg, BMI = 19.632
2008-06-28 morning, my weight = 54.6 kg, BMI = 19.814
2008-07-28 morning, my weight = 54.5 kg, BMI = 19.777
2008-08-28 morning, my weight = 54.3 kg, BMI = 19.705
2008-09-28 morning, my weight = 54.9 kg, BMI = 19.923
2008-10-28 morning, my weight = 55.3 kg, BMI = 20.068
2008-11-28 morning, my weight = 54.5 kg, BMI = 19.777
2008-12-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177
2009-01-28 morning, my weight = 54.8 kg, BMI = 19.886
2009-02-28 morning, my weight = 55.9 kg, BMI = 20.285
2009-03-28 morning, my weight = 54.8 kg, BMI = 19.886
2009-04-28 morning, my weight = 55.3 kg, BMI = 20.068
2009-05-28 morning, my weight = 55.4 kg, BMI = 20.104.
2009-06-28 morning, my weight = 55.2 kg, BMI = 20.031
2009-07-28 morning, my weight = 55.1 kg, BMI = 19.995
2009-08-28 morning, my weight = 55.2 kg, BMI = 20.031
2009-09-28 morning, my weight = 56.3 kg, BMI = 20.431
2009-10-28 morning, my weight = 55.8 kg, BMI = 20.249
2009-11-28 morning, my weight = 56.2 kg, BMI = 20.394
2009-12-28 morning, my weight = 56.1 kg, BMI = 20.358
2010-01-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177
2010-02-28 morning, my weight = 56.5 kg, BMI = 20.503
2010-03-28 morning, my weight = 56.4 kg, BMI = 20.467
2010-04-28 morning, my weight = 55.7 kg, BMI = 20.213
2010-05-28 morning, my weight = 55.1 kg, BMI = 19.995
2010-06-28 morning, my weight = 56.4 kg, BMI = 20.467
2010-07-28 morning, my weight = 55.5 kg, BMI = 20.140
2010-08-28 morning, my weight = 55.8 kg, BMI = 20.249
2010-09-28 morning, my weight = 55.8 kg, BMI = 20.249
2010-10-28 morning, my weight = 55.4 kg, BMI = 20.104
2010-11-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177
2010-12-28 morning, my weight = 55.5 kg, BMI = 20.140
2011-01-28 morning, my weight = 55.4 kg, BMI = 20.104


Note 1: On 2010-10-30, Tanita BC532 replaced watson Scale because the battery low too fast.

Note 2:

At 0530 hour of 2011-01-28. Tanita BC 532 Scale = 55.5 kg

At 0700 hour of 2010-12-28. Tanita BC 532 Scale = 55.5 kg

At 0800 hour of 2010-11-28. Tanita BC 532 Scale = 55.6 kg

At 0530 hour of 2010-10-28. Watson Scale = 54.9 kg + 500g = 55.4 kg. Tanita Scale = not used

At 0530 hour of 2010-09-28. Watson Scale = 55.3 kg + 500g = 55.8kg. Tanita Scale = not used

At 0730 hour of 2010-08-28. Watson Scale = 55.3 kg + 500g = 55.8kg. Tanita Scale = not used

At 0530 hour of 2010-07-28. Watson Scale = 55.0 kg + 500g = 55.5kg
But Tanita Scale = not used

At 0530 hour of 2010-06-28. Watson Scale = 55.9 kg + 500g = 56.4 kg
But Tanita Scale = 56.2 kg .

At 0650 hour of 2010-04-28. Watson Scale = 55.2 kg and
Tanita Scale = 55.7 kg which is the same as Watson reading (in kg) + 500g.


At 0630 hour of 2010-05-28. Watson Scale = 54.6 kg + 500g = 55.1 kg

At 0650 hour of 2010-04-28. Watson Scale = 55.2 kg and
Tanita Scale = 55.7 kg which is the same as Watson reading (in kg) + 500g.

Note 3: From 2010-02-01, Watson weighing scale had replaced Camry, which became faulty. In the past reading of Camry was about 500g more than that of Watson. To maintain consistency, so my weight =Watson reading (in kg) + 500g.

On 2010-03-28, at about 7.40 am, my weight by Camry = 55.9 kg + 500g = 56.4 kg. I also used Tanita BC-532 Body Composition Monitor to confirm that my weight was 56.4 kg.

My current BMI is within the healthy range of 18.5 to 22.9.


For me, the range of healthy weight is 50.9786 kg (BMI = 18.5) to 63.10324 kg (BMI = 22.9).

People with BMI values of 23 kg/m2 (or 25 kg/m2 according to some sources) and above have been found to be at risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.

To be healthy, I must have a healthy weight. Be as lean as possible without being underweight, as recommended by World Cancer Prevention Foundation, United Kingdom.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Bowel cleansing by bowel movements 2 to 3 times a day

Dr Gemiliano Aligui, MD, MPH, PhD says, “Bowel cleansing can also be achieved if you try to move your bowels 2 or 3 times a day. This does not mean diarrhea but just a regular habit that most health conscious people would appreciate.”

Info source: http://gonatural.com.ph/herbalblog/removing-gallstones-naturally-excerpt-from-total-natural-health-approach-towards-recovery-and-no-more-cancer-by-dr-lai-chiu-nans-talk-in-singapore/

About Gemiliano Aligui, MD, MPH, PhD
(http://gonatural.com.ph/herbalblog/about-dr-aligui/)

Dr. Aligui is a research epidemiologist who had served as researcher in parasitology & infectious/tropical diseases (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine – Assistant Director); a research manager at the national level (Executive Director, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, Dept. of Science & Technology and Officer-in-Charge of the Food & Nutrition Research Institute – DOST). He took interest in medicinal plants and nutraceuticals during his term of office at the PCHRD-DOST. Aside from being a medical doctor and master in public health, he has a PhD epidemiology and gerontology (Graduate School Batch ‘97, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA). He is affiliated with several government and non-government institutions as a consultant on research, preventive health and nutrition, integrative medicine, and medicinal plants/nutraceuticals.

He is currently seen in Salamat Dok, ABS CBN Ch2Â in his own segment Halamang Gamot.

Removing gallstones naturally by Dr. Lai Chiu-Nan's method

Infor source: http://www.43things.com/entries/view/830135


May 19, 2006, 12:53AM

#15 Removing gallstones naturally by Dr. Lai Chiu-Nan 4 years ago

It has worked for many. If it works for you please pass on the good news. Chiu Nan is not charging for it, so we should make it free for everyone.

Your reward is when someone, through your word of mouth, benefits from the regime. Gallstones may not be everyone’s concern. But they should be because we all have them. Moreover, gallstones may lead to cancer.

“Cancer is never the first illness,” Chiu Nan points out. “Usually, there are a lot of other problems leading to cancer. In my research in China, I came across some materials which say that people with cancer usually have stones. We all have gallstones. It’s a matter of big or small, many or few. One of the symptoms of gallstones is a feeling of bloatedness after a heavy meal. You feel like you can’t digest the food. If it gets more serious, you feel pain in the liver area.”
So if you think you have gallstones, Chiu Nan offers the following method to remove them naturally.

The treatment is also good for those with a weak liver, because the liver and gallbladder are closely linked.

Regimen:

(1) For the first five days, take four glasses of apple juice every day. Or eat four or five apples, whichever you prefer.Apple juice softens the gallstones. During the five days, eat normally.
(2) On the sixth day, take no dinner.
(3) At 6 PM, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water.
(4) At 8 PM, repeat the same. Magnesium sulphate opens the gallbladder ducts.
(5) At 10 PM, take half cup olive oil (or sesame oil) with half cup fresh lemon juice. Mix it well and drink it. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage.
(6) The next morning, you will find green stones in your stools.

“Usually they float,” Chiu Nan notes. “You might want to count them. I have had people who passes 40, 50 or up to 100 stones. Very many.” (the standard of English…tsk…tsk..tsk. But hey, remember, he/she is Chinese from China)

“Even if you don’t have any symptoms of gallstones, you still might have some. It’s always good to give your gall bladder a clean-up now and then.

PASS THIS AND YOU MAY HELP OTHERS!

It’s always good to give your gall bladder a clean-up now and then.

PASS THIS AND YOU MAY HELP OTHERS!

May 19, 2006, 12:53AM PDT 1 cheer

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

Introduction of Dr. Chiu-Nan Lai who is the founder of Lapis Lazuli Light
( www.lapislazulilight.com )

Dr. Chiu-Nan Lai, Ph.D., graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (U.S.A) with a doctorate degree in Chemistry. Then she did cancer research at the University of Texas, Cancer Center for ten years. In 1981, under the auspices of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, she went to China to collaborate on a research project with the Cancer Institute for three months.

Dr. Lai promotes total health at the physical, mental and spiritual levels. She emphasizes that a person's overall good health stems from the good health of the entire planet. Combining the essence of Chinese and Western medical knowledge with natural principles of the universe, Dr. Lai teaches people how to deal with sickness and work towards a healthy, loving & blissful life.

The above info is from http://www.fireflies.sg/

==========================================
--- The end ---

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Green Smoothie: Orange + Carrot + Banana + Ice cubes + Organic Cai Xin, Chai Sim, Choy Sum, Choi Sum ( Botanical name: Brassica parachinensis)

Green Smoothie: Orange + Carrot + Banana + Ice cubes + Organic Cai Xin, Chai Sim, Choy Sum, Choi Sum ( Botanical name: Brassica parachinensis)


At about 5.30 pm on 2011-01-27 (Thursday) I made a green smoothie with the following:

(a) 110 grams of Orange without
(b) 80 grams of organic cai xin, Chai Sim, Choy Sum, Choi Sum ( Botanical name: Brassica parachinensis)
(c) 130 grams of Carrot without skin
(d) 120 grams of Banana without skin
(e) 200 grams of Ice cubes 100 grams


Key Nutrition Information of the smoothie:

Total Energy = About 229.6 Kcal
Total Dietary Fibre = About 11.56 grams

Method: Use Ice Function of Philips Blender HR 2094 to crush the ice first and use the Smoothie Function 4 times for about 30 seconds each time with a 5-second break in between.

Smoothie produced with Philips Blender HR 2094 = About 700 ml

No. of Serves = 2

Tasters: Myself

Verdict: Not bad because I am now used to green vegetable taste in the smoothie. I should have used about 150 grams of ice cube so that the smoothie is more concentrated.

Note:

(1) Cai Xin adds a ‘green’ element to the smoothie. Any smoothie with a green leaf vegetable as an ingredient will taste “green veg”!
(2) Botanical name of cai xin is Brassica parachinensis).
(3) The price of the organic cai xin was S$2.00 (about 300 grams) bought in a market nearby. The organic cai xin is a produce from
Fire Flies Health Farm
(4) An adult needs about 20 to 30 grams of dietary fibre for a smooth and good passing of motion (stools)

Nutritious, delicious meals for babies and children by Petit Bowl (Singapore)

Petit Bowl is specialised in nutritious, delicious meals for babies and children.

The following is from the “About Petit Bowl” from http://www.petitbowl.com on 2011-01-27

About Petit Bowl

Petit Bowl provides nutritious, delicious meals for babies and children. Our fresh and chemical-free ingredients are specially selected and blended to form purées that kids will love.

At Petit Bowl, you can order exciting meal combinations such as butternut squash with pear, zucchini and potato, or down-to-earth flavours such as apple or sweet potato.

You can also request for our meals to be fortified with DHA, which is essential for brain and eye development. All your meals are frozen once they are cool and delivered within two working days to ensure freshness.

Check our website again later to buy Petit Bowl’s tasty home-made products!

In the meantime, visit us in our food tasting room in United Square.

101 Thomson Road 01-77/78 United Square S307591 (Republic of Singapore)

Nutrition (Definition of nutrition)

Info Source: http://www.cancer.gov/common/popUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000044698&version=Patient&language=English

Definition of nutrition:

The taking in and use of food and other nourishing material by the body.

Nutrition is a 3-part process.

First, food or drink is consumed.

Second, the body breaks down the food or drink into nutrients.

Third, the nutrients travel through the bloodstream to different parts of the body where they are used as "fuel" and for many other purposes.

To give the body proper nutrition, a person has to eat and drink enough of the foods that contain key nutrients.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Your thoughts and you

Info source:
http://medschool.ucsf.edu/latino/pdf/CBTDEN/instructor/thoughts1.pdf

• By “thoughts” we mean “sentences we tell ourselves.” (“Self talk”)

• At any point in time, we may have several thoughts, some of which we are aware of and many of which we are probably not aware of.

• Thoughts can have positive or negative effects on you.

• Thoughts can affect your body.

For example, when you have upsetting thoughts, your body may tense up.

• Thoughts can affect your actions (the way you behave or react to situations).

For example, if you go into a situation where you think “they won’t like me” you are
likely to behave in an uncomfortable and awkward way.

• Thoughts can affect your mood. (You will talk more about this later.)

Youtube: Scientific results of the Gerson Therapy in healing cancer [ Dr. Takaho Watayo, 済陽高穂(わたようたかほ)医師 and Dr. Yoshihiko Hoshino 星野仁彦(ほしのよしひこ)医師]

Scientific results of the Gerson Therapy in healing cancer [ Dr. Takaho Watayo, 済陽高穂(わたようたかほ)医師 and Dr. Yoshihiko Hoshino 星野仁彦(ほしのよしひこ)医師]

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

A report on 'Healing Blogs' by Cheryl Tan

The floowing article by Cheryl Tan is from the Sunday Times dated 23 Jan 2011.

Healing Blogs

When Madam Joanne Poon started a blog three years ago to celebrate the birth of her first child, she did not expect it to turn into an online journal chronicling her daughter's fight against cancer.
Last June, doctors at National University Hospital diagnosed 31/2-year-old toddler Maeve as suffering from Burkitt's lymphoma, a rare and aggressive - albeit, curable - form of cancer of the lymph nodes.

Madam Poon, a 36-year-old housewife married to teacher Bernard Low, 38, recalls: 'I couldn't show Maeve that I was scared and nervous and I couldn't cry about it in front of her, either.'

Updating her blog Maevie Baby! (www.maeviebaby.blogspot.com) became a way for the mum to unleash the pent-up fears and frustration about her daughter's condition.

'Writing really helped me get everything out of the system,' says Madam Poon, who also has a younger daughter Paige, who is 10 months old.

Keeping a blog has become a high-tech way of coping with illness or trauma, with hundreds of people around the world sharing details of their medical conditions or a loved one's online every day.

For instance, The Knock On Effect, the blog of 18-year-old Rosie Kilburn from Birmingham who has cancer, has received 121,197 hits so far and even spawned a shop selling T-shirts to help raise funds for cancer research.

Admittedly, such blogs by Singaporeans are relatively uncommon, compared to the proliferation of websites such as CaringBridge.org in the United States.

The Minnesota-based website is a non-profit organisation that allows people suffering from a chronic illness to set up blogs for free on their website. It is open to anyone worldwide and helps patients keep their friends and family overseas updated about their condition.

According to CaringBridge's online profile, half a million people connect through the site each day, with more than one billion visits to its users' personal websites so far.

While blogging offers a sense of control over one's life - something some patients may sorely miss - as well as give rise to encouragement from fellow sufferers from other corners of the globe, public sharing on the Internet is not actively encouraged as part of a patient's psychiatric treatment.

Raffles Hospital specialist in psychiatry, associate professor Munidasa Winslow, says writing is a good way for patients to confront their feelings, instead of bottling them up.
However, he cautions bloggers against 'revealing too much as the Internet is not a safe place unless the blog is secured'.

National Cancer Centre's head of psychosocial oncology department, Dr Gilbert Fan, explains that such blogs may draw opportunists selling all sorts of products or cures or less constructive remarks by readers that could demoralise a person.

'Bloggers need to be open-minded and emotionally stable to handle both positive and negative remarks,' he says.

Three months ago, little cancer patient Maeve was finally given the all-clear after intense chemotherapy.

Madam Poon has stopped blogging temporarily as the family has 'been too busy playing and catching up with the things we promised her we'd do' but will eventually update the blog for the benefit of friends overseas.

As for showing Maeve the blog, she says it will have to be much later when the girl is in her teens and better able to understand mum's emotional blog entries.

Below are three other people who find comfort in blogging.

HL123's note:They will shown in another posting of HL123

Healing Blogs by Patients (Created on 2011-01-25)

Last update: 2011-01-25

The following are Healing Blogs:

1. http://krebswatch.wordpress.com/ (Added 2011-01-25)(Blog by Ms Chow Pei Sze who has stage 4 lymphoma as reported in the Sunday Times dated 23 January 2011)

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Nutrition Information of 100 grams of black Glutinous Rice (黑糯米又称血糯米, 或紫糯米, 或黑血糯米)

The following information is translated from a Chinese webpage http://www.poptool.net/health/yingyang/01/2/304.html by google.

You can read a pure English version by clicking at "Nutrition Information of Black Glutinous Rice in English only", where the black glutinous rice is translated as purple glutinous rice [blood rice].

Nutrients per 100 grams of black Glutinous Rice

Component Name

含量 Content

成分名称 Component Name

含量 Content

成分名称 Component Name

含量 Content

可食部Edible Part

100

水分(克) Water (g)

13.8

能量(千卡) Energy (kcal)

343

能量(千焦) Energy (kJ)

1435

蛋白质(克) Protein (g)

8.3

脂肪(克) Fat (g)

1.7

碳水化合物(克) Carbohydrates (g)

75.1

膳食纤维(克) Dietary Fiber (g)

1.4

胆固醇(毫克) Cholesterol (mg)

0

灰份(克) Ash (g)

1.1

维生素A(毫克) Vitamin A (mg)

0

胡萝卜素(毫克) Carotene (mg)

0

视黄醇(毫克) Retinol (mg)

0

硫胺素(微克) Thiamin (mg)

0.31

核黄素(毫克) Riboflavin (mg)

0.12

尼克酸(毫克) Niacin (mg)

4.2

维生素C(毫克) Vitamin C (mg)

0

维生素E(T)(毫克) Vitamin E (T) (mg)

1.36

aE

0.94

(β-γ)-E

0.29

δ-E

0.13

钙(毫克) Calcium (mg)

13

磷(毫克) Phosphorus (mg)

183

钾(毫克) Potassium (mg)

219

钠(毫克) Sodium (mg)

4

镁(毫克) Magnesium (mg)

16

铁(毫克) Iron (mg)

3.9

锌(毫克) Zinc (mg)

2.16

硒(微克) Selenium (mcg)

2.88

铜(毫克) Copper (mg)

0.29

锰(毫克) Manganese (mg)

2.37

碘(毫克) Iodine (mg)

3.8

成分名称 Component Name

含量(毫克) Content (mg)

成分名称 Component Name

含量(毫克) Content (mg)

成分名称 Component Name

含量(毫克) Content (mg)

异亮氨酸 Isoleucine

337

亮氨酸 Leucine

644

赖氨酸 Lysine

332

含硫氨基酸(T) Sulfur-containing amino acids (T)

312

蛋氨酸 Methionine

149

胱氨酸 Cystine

163

芳香族氨基酸(T) Aromatic amino acids (T)

458

苯丙氨酸 Phenylalanine

458

酪氨酸 Tyrosine

0

苏氨酸 Thr

301

色氨酸 Tryptophan

0

缬氨酸 Valine

472

精氨酸 Arginine

706

组氨酸 Histidine

210

丙氨酸 Alanine

463

天冬氨酸 Aspartate

755

谷氨酸 Glutamate

1336

甘氨酸 Glycine

0

脯氨酸 Proline

315

丝氨酸 Serine

398