What is Pneumonia? Personal methods to avoid pneumonia (By ehealthmd.com)

Pneumonia is an inflammation or infection of the lungs most commonly caused by a bacteria or virus. Pneumonia can also be caused by inhaling vomit or other foreign substances.

Prevent pneumonia by taking measures to avoid the organisms that cause respiratory infections, including colds and flu.

(1) Always wash hands before eating and after going outside. Ordinary soap is okay. Expensive antibacterial soaps add little protection, particularly against viruses.

(2) Eat a daily diet that includes foods rich in antioxidants, such as fresh, dark-colored fruits and vegetables and other nutrients.

(3) Increase lung capacity through brisk walking and other aerobic exercises. Breathing exercises, which train us to take slow, deep, relaxed breaths and exhale through pursed lips, may also be helpful. Do not smoke.

For more information, please visit http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/pneumonia/PNM_prevention.html

American Health Assistance Foundation (for Alzheimer’s Disease, Macular Degeneration , Glaucoma)

The American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that funds research seeking cures for Alzheimer’s disease, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma, and provides the public with information about risk factors, preventative lifestyles, available treatments and coping strategies.

AHAF’s three programs are:

Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Macular Degeneration Research
National Glaucoma Research

For more info, please visit: http://www.ahaf.org/

B12, brain shrinkage and Alzheimer's disease

Vitamin B12, may protect against brain shrinkage in older people, according to a new study published on 9th September in the journal Neurology.

University of Oxford scientists examined 107 people between the ages of 61 and 87 and found that people with lower vitamin B12 levels were six times more likely to experience brain shrinkage, which can cause memory loss, compared with those with higher levels of the vitamin in the blood.

(The above info is extracted from:
http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=335)

In Alzheimer's disease, there is an overall shrinkage of brain tissue.

(The above info is extracted from:
http://www.ahaf.org/alzheimers/about/understanding/brain-with-alzheimers.html)

B12 supplement and vegetarian diet

Foods of animal origin, such as meat, fish, offal and eggs, are good sources of vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 is needed for a healthy nervous system and the formation of red blood cells.

Some people who avoid all animal foods - meat, fish, eggs and dairy foods - will probably need a vitamin B12 supplement. Check with your GP or dietitian.

The above information was extracted

from:http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=200208&documentID=364

B12 and vegetarianism (by whfoods.com)

The ability of a strict vegetarian diet to supply adequate amounts of B12 remains controversial, despite increasing evidence in support of vegetarianism and its nutritional adequacy. The controversy is fueled by two somewhat divergent schools of thought. One school emphasizes the fact that most animals, including humans, are capable of storing long-term supplies of B12.
In humans, these stores may last for twenty years or longer. Given this potential for storage, a daily requirement for B12 is regarded as highly unlikely.

A second school of thought, however, points to the unreliability of plants as sources of B12. For strict vegetarians who eat no animal products whatsoever, this unreliability may pose a problem. Since no plant is capable of making B-12, the amount of B12 in plant food depends upon the relationship of the plant to soil and root-level microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, molds, and fungi) which make the vitamin. Cultured and fermented bean products like tofu, tempeh, miso, tamari and shoyu may or may not contain significant amounts of B12, depending upon the bacteria, molds, and fungi used to produce them. The B12 content of sea vegetables also varies according to the distribution of microorganisms in the surrounding sea environment.

Unfortunately, reliable nutrient analyses are often unavailable for consumers of these products, and labeling for B12 content is not required. In general, tofus, tempehs, and sea vegetables tend to be more consistent sources of B12 than misos, tamaris, and shoyus. Depending upon the medium in which they are grown, brewer's and nutritional yeast can also be significant sources of B12 in a strict vegetarian diet.

Info Source: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=107#foodsources

Website: "That's fit" (Get healthy, be strong, get well)

I just (2010-01-30, 1940 hr) came across a good website called "That's fit" (Get healthy, be strong, get well) on

(1) Fitness
(2) Happiness
(3) Healthy eating
(4) Love & realtionship
(5) Sex

Please visit http://www.thatsfit.ca/

Are partially hydrogenated oils and trans fat the same thing? (by George Mateljan)

Partially hydrogenated oil is not the same as trans fat. The term "partially hydrogenated" means that hydrogen gas has been bubbled up into an oil to increase its degree of saturation and shelf life.

The process of hydrogenation causes several chemical changes to occur in the oil. One of these changes (only one, but an important one) is the creation of trans fat.

There is some naturally occurring trans fat in many foods-but not nearly as much as we get from partially hydrogenated oils.

Some of us get about 20 grams of trans fat per day solely from consumption of these oils. From natural foods, we would only get a few grams.

A food label can claim "Zero grams of trans fat" even when there is partially hydrogenated oil in the product, because a product is legally considered "trans fat free" as long as there is less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving size.

Trans fats are definitely harmful to our health in large amounts, and processed products containing hydrogenated oils are not ones that I recommend consuming.

If you have any questions about today's Healthy Food Tip Ask George Your Question

George Mateljan is the founder of the George Meteljan Foundation and author of The World's Healthiest Foods book. His website is http://whfoods.org/

Healthy Eating Club (HEC)

I came across the following website today and you may find it useful and informative:

Healthy Eating Club (HEC) http://www.healthyeatingclub.org/

HEC is headed by a medical nutritionist, Professor M Wahlqvist, and nutrition scientist/dietitian, Dr A Kouris-Blazos.

It provides a short on-line course in healthy eating, an on-line 6 week wellness program, internet TV channel "Healthy Moments", downloadable dietary assessment tools, authoritative fact sheets, latest in nutrition research (monthly newsletter), PhDs in nutrition, books, CDs, exercise videos, recipes and more.

HEC is also concerned with eco-nutrition i.e ways in which we can help the environment/universe through our eating habits.


For more information about HEC, see below.

hThis site is different from most other nutrition web-sites in that it has at its helm Australia's most respected medical nutritionist, Professor Mark Wahlqvist. His role as editor-in-chief, not only ensures that the content is accurate and up-to-date, but also provides the opportunity to canvas some of his visionary and cutting edge ideas.

The healthy eating club or HEC is also different from other sites because it is not JUST a web-site. It is a club, because a club environment lends itself to facilitating changes to one's food habits through interaction with other members both virtually and through organised functions. T

The HEC uses novel methods to help members achieve their goals.

The club is a group of individuals who subscribe to and encourage a universally safe, nutritious and sustainable food supply.

Its members respect food cultural difference and enjoy its celebration.

The club welcomes food cultural advancement and fusion and wishes to network this vision.

The club provides up-to-date reliable food and health information with resources and feedback to develop healthy eating patterns amongst its members and throughout society.

Its approach is not one of diet dogma and self denial, but of health improvement through the small steps, of great consequence, which "lifestyle synergy" allows. The club's endpoints are well-being, health and longevity.

Info Source: http://www.healthyeatingclub.org/who-are-we/index.htm#top

Origins brand unprocessed bran (未加工麸皮) (500g pack) (Austalian Product)

Update on 2012-03-21 (Wed):

On 21 March 2012 morning, I bought a 500-gram pack of Origins brand unprocessed bran (未加工麸皮) (Australian product) at S$2.20 from NTUC Fairprice at AMK hub again. This Origins brand unprocessed bran was classified as organic food wrongly on 21 January 2010.

This Origins brand unprocessed bran is not organic.
=========================================



(As at 2012-03-21, new packaging has replaced the above.)

On 21 January 2010, I bought a 500-gram pack of Origins brand unprocessed bran (organic food) at S$2.20 from NTUC Fairprice at AMK hub to add more variety to my multigrain diet.

The Dietary fiber of this unprocessed bran is 44.7 garms per 100 grams and the energy is 660 kcal per 100 grams.

Xiang Wei Brand 100% pure Black Seasme powder from Taiwan

Xiang Wei Brand 100% pure Black Seasme powder from Taiwan is another brand of Black Seasme powder I use for my multigrain. The main difference is that it is much cheaper!

The Exporter is BAEYUEA ENTERPRISES CO., LTD. NO.50, JIA-PU RD., TSU-SHI VILLAGE, SHUEI-SHANG SHIANG, CHIA-YI COUNTY, TAIWAN.

A spoonful of my nutritious daily multigrain rice (porridge)

Everyday I take at least a meal of multigarin porridge which consists of about 140 grams of multigrains and 400 grams of plian water.

Energy = about 360 to 400 Kcal

Dietary fiber = about 6 to 8 grams.

Water = about 400 ml ( an adult needs to drinks 1500 ml to 2000 ml of water a day)

How to fight brain ageing (by Mind your body of the Straits Times dated 21 Jan 2010)

Physical exercise can prevent mild thinking problems and improve the mental agility of those with some impairments, researchers find

Regular exercise may not just improve thinking and memory in the elderly. It may help turn back the clock on brain ageing.

Two new studies provide more evidence that regular aerobic exercise can be effective in this regard.

In one study, researchers found evidence that engaging in moderate physical activity such as brisk walking, swimming or yoga in mid-life or later may cut the risk of developing mild thinking problems.

In the other study, a group of elderly individuals who already had mild problems had improvements in their mental agility after six months of high-intensity aerobic activity.

People with mild mental impairments - known as mild cognitive impairment - typically have some memory difficulties such as forgetting people's names or misplacing items. Each year, 10 to 15 per cent of people with mild cognitive impairment will develop dementia, as compared with 1 to 2 per cent of the general population.

Seattle-based researchers studied 33 adults with mild cognitive impairment. Twenty-three spent 45 to 60 minutes on a treadmill or stationary bicycle four days a week for six months, while the other 10 control subjects did stretching exercises but kept their heart rate low.

Six months of intense aerobic exercise improved the subjects' cognitive abilities, including attention and concentration, organisation, planning and multi-tasking, lead researcher Laura Baker noted in an e-mail message to Reuters Health. In contrast, the cognitive function test scores continued to decline in the group that did not have vigorous exercise.

In the other study by Dr Yonas Geda and colleagues at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, 1,324 elderly adults free of dementia were monitored from 2006 to 2008. Experts determined that 198 had mild cognitive impairment and 1,126 had normal cognitive function.

Those who said they had engaged in moderate exercise such as brisk walking, aerobics, yoga, strength training or swimming in their 40s, 50s and beyond were less apt to have mild cognitive impairment, the researchers found.

Both studies, published in the Archives Of Neurology, contribute to a growing body of literature supporting the benefits of a physically active lifestyle on the brain.

Liquid gold - All about oils (by Geraldine Ling in Mind your body of the Straits Times dated 21 Jan 2010)

Oils are essential for our health and beauty. But this liquid goodness has to be used and consumed with care for too much of it can wreak havoc on the bodyBy Geraldine Ling

A dash of aromatic sesame oil can do wonders for a hasty stirfry dish. Likewise, a slice of warm toast dipped in herb-infused olive oil has that extra zing.

Food, when spiced up with cooking oils, magically smells, looks and tastes better.
There is a wide variety available today and you might wonder about the properties of the different types of oil.

In the kitchen, most of the oils we use are vegetable-based.

"To make these oils, there is a process of crushing, refining, bleaching and deodorising the plants," said Ms Sulina Tsai, senior marketing manager of oil producer Lam Soon Singapore.
But edible oils are not limited to vegetable sources alone.

Fish oil is commonly taken as a supplement, said Ms Jaclyn Reutens, a dietitian from Aptima Nutrition and Sports Consultants.

Good for health

Edible oils, if used correctly, can have tremendous health benefits. Most vegetable and fish oils are rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs), which are vital to life.

Commonly known as omega-3 and omega-6, these EFAs are not produced by the body and are commonly found in certain foods.

Said Dr Alvin Ng, a consultant cardiologist at Raffles Hospital: "Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to improve heart health, reduce cholesterol and triglycerides and are present in fish and olive oil."

Omega-6 is reportedly important for brain function and is found in many vegetable oils, including sunflower and peanut.

Dr Ng said having a good balance in the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 acids consumed makes a significant difference in improving heart health.

"It should ideally be no more than 4:1 (omega-6 to omega-3). In fact, consuming more omega-3 acids would be better," he added.

However, most people tend to consume far more omega-6 than omega-3, noted Mrs Sheeba Majmudar, a nutritionist in private practice.

An unbalanced ratio skewed towards too high a proportion of omega-6 may lead to health problems, like prostate and breast cancers, said Dr Ng. However, such findings are quite ambiguous as there are varying outcomes from different studies, he added.

Good vs bad fats

Unlike saturated fats like butter and lard, oils are liquid at room temperature. This is because they are high in mono- unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, or the good fats, said Ms Reutens.
Monounsaturated fats help to increase high-density lipoproteins, or good cholesterol.

Polyunsaturated fats help to increase HDL and decrease low-density lipoproteins, or bad cholesterol.

However, Ms Reutens cautioned that not all oils are made equal.

Some oils, despite containing good fats, have a high percentage of the bad fat, or saturated fat.
"Palm and coconut oil are sources of saturated fat. Consuming too much of such oils increases our bad cholesterol," she said.

Palm oil - a common ingredient in blended vegetable oils - is made up of 51 per cent saturated fat while coconut oil, also common, contains 87 per cent of saturated fat.

Dr Ng said: "When bad cholesterol accumulates in the walls of the arteries, atherosclerosis, or the formation of plaque, results.

"When plaque builds up, blood vessels are narrowed, leading to angina pectoris (chest pains) or heart attacks."

For a healthier alternative, Ms Reutens recommends using oils low in saturated fat, like sunflower and olive oils. The latter is also high in monounsaturated fat.

Not too much

While oils have health benefits, they can wreak havoc on the body if they are consumed too often.

Ms Reutens said: "Oil is a concentrated source of calories. Containing 9 calories per gram, it has twice the amount of energy compared to carbohydrates and proteins. It is easy to over-consume oil as foods cooked in oil taste better.

"Sometimes we may be eating oils without realising it," she added, citing the example of a sugary cake. Although its sweet appearance creates the impression that sugar is the main ingredient, it is actually made with a lot of fat.
Eating too much fat may cause weight gain, which in turn, can cause heart problems, cancers and diabetes.

Ms Reutens recommends consuming no more than 50-60g of fat a day based on a 1,500 to 1,800 calorie diet. Of this, no more than 10 per cent should come from saturated fat.

Trans fats trouble

Another concern is the presence of trans fats, commonly found in commercially baked and deep-fried foods.

Trans fats are a man-made product that results from high temperature treatment, pressure and hydrogenation, said Mrs Majmudar.

Hydrogenation is a process of adding hydrogen to oils to solidify them at room temperature.
Trans fats, also known as hydrogenated fats, spell double trouble for your heart health because they increase bad cholesterol and decrease good cholesterol.

While oil may sometimes be given a bad name, we all need fat to live.

Said Ms Reutens: 'Oil helps us to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K. We definitely need oil, but we need to control the amount we consume.'

Leisure time keeps people happy (from Mind Your Body of the Straits Times dated 21 January 2010)

According to new research, people are happier and feel better on weekends, said a report in the Los Angeles Times.

So why state the obvious, you might think. Well, the study does make some interesting observations about everyone's favourite time of the week.

For example, everyone is happier on the weekend even for people who love their jobs, no matter what their profession and how much they are paid.

The study found that people love the freedom associated with weekends and even feel better physically.

The most surprising find? People say they feel more competent during the weekend than they do while at their day-to-day jobs.

Researchers based their findings on responses from 74 volunteers aged 18 to 62, whose experiences were monitored three times daily for 21 consecutive days.

The study reinforces what is known as the 'self-determination theory', which means that well-being is based on one's personal needs for autonomy, competence and social relationships.
People can tap into those needs more readily on the weekend. Conversely, they may experience time pressures, work demands and unpleasant relationships at work.

'The relatively unfettered time on weekends provides critical opportunities for bonding with others, exploring interests and relaxing - basic psychological needs that people should be careful not to crowd out with overwork," head researcher Richard Ryan from the University of Rochester said.

The study was published in this month's issue of Journal Of Social And Clinical Psychology.
The research reaffirms how important leisure time is to a person's well-being.

Banana (and raisins, potatoes and dates, etc.) helps reduce blood pressure

The American Heart Association recommends that people with high blood pressure should eat a diet, which is high in minerals and low in fat, in addition to cutting back on salt.

Its Nutrition Committee says research shows a diet high in potassium, calcium and magnesium and low in fat and salt can reduce systolic (top number) blood pressure by an average of 5.5mm of mercury and diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure by 3mm of mercury.

Research shows that reducing diastolic pressure by as little as 2mm can lower a person's risk of stroke by 15% and their risk of heart disease by 6%.

Fruit and vegetables with a high level of naturally occurring minerals called electrolytes - magnesium, potassium and calcium - include bananas, raisins, potatoes and dates.

The above information was adapted from:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/148719.stm

What is the maximum intake of salt for a person with high blood pressure

The Committee of the American Heart Association recommends that people with high blood pressure limit their salt intake to no more than six grams a day.

Info Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/148719.stm

What is Physical activity and what are its benefits?

Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure.

Physical inactivity, (a lack of physical activity) is an independent risk factor for chronic diseases, and overall is estimated to cause 1.9 million deaths globally.

Regular physical activity – such as walking, cycling, or dancing – has significant benefits for health.

For instance, it can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis, help control weight, and promote psychological well-being.

Everyone should engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. More activity may be required for weight control.

Info Source: http://www.who.int/topics/physical_activity/en/

What is a healthy pulse rate (heart beats)?

A healthy heart beats about 60 to 70 times a minute, with some normal variation on either side.

Info Source: Heart rate link to heart attacks (by Mind Your Body of the Straits Time dated 14 Jan 2010)

Heart rate link to heart attacks (by Mind Your Body of the Straits Time dated 14 Jan 2010)

A rapid heartbeat could increase your chances of suffering a fatal heart attack and this is more so for women, according to a new study. So regular workouts could be beneficial for them.

Researchers from Norway, who were involved in a study on more than 50,000 healthy adults over 20 years, found that with each increase of 10 beats per minute in resting heart rate, a woman's risk of dying from a heart attack climbed by 18 per cent up to the age of 70 years. For men, the risk rose by 10 per cent.

A healthy heart beats about 60 to 70 times a minute, with some normal variation on either side.

If the rate exceeds 80 for an extended period, doctors start to worry - that is, if they notice, because an elevated pulse may go undetected in otherwise healthy people, said one of the researchers, Javaid Nauman of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and diabetes are well-known risk factors for heart disease but, so far, heart rate has been overlooked, experts said.

'It's important to draw attention to heart rate as a cause of heart attack," Dr Malcolm Arnold, a University of Western Ontario cardiologist, told Reuters Health. He was not involved in the new study but said its large number of participants made it stand out.

According to Mr Nauman and his colleagues, their study, published in the Journal Of Epidemiology And Community Health, is the first to examine the combined effect of pulse and exercise on fatal heart attacks. For the analysis, they selected only people who did not have known heart disease.

At the outset of the study, the participants filled out questionnaires about their lifestyle and general health and scientists measured their heart rates and a few other physiological parameters.

When the study ended, more than 10,000 of the participants had died, some 40 per cent due to heart disease. Overall, men who had a resting heart rate above 100 beats per minute were 73 per cent more likely to die from a heart attack than men whose heart rate lay within the healthy range.

For women whose resting heart rate was above 100 beats per minute, the risk of a fatal heart attack increased by 42 per cent, and in those younger than 70 years, it more than doubled.

People who exercised, however, had a considerably lower resting heart rate than those who were more sedentary.

In women, those who reported higher levels of physical activity had a lower risk of dying from heart disease, irrespective of their resting heart rate. Among the most active, even a heart rate above 87 beats per minute did not lead to a significant increase in heart attacks.

'The most promising thing that we find is that you can keep a check on your resting heart rate by engaging in physical activity," Mr Nauman, an exercise physiologist, told Reuters Health, noting that this would reduce the risk of a heart attack.

He said the lower heart rate in active people was likely due to exercise's balancing effects on the autonomic nervous system, which can crank our heart rate up and down.

Laughter Yoga --- What is ???

Laughter Yoga is a revolutionary idea – simple and profound. An exercise routine, it is sweeping the world and is a complete wellbeing workout.

The brainchild of Dr. Madan Kataria, a Physician from Mumbai, India, launched the first Laughter Club at a Park on March 13, 1995, with merely a handful of persons. Today, it has become a worldwide phenomenon with more than 6000 Social Laughter Clubs in about 60 countries.

Laughter Yoga combines Unconditional Laughter with Yogic Breathing (Pranayama). Anyone can Laugh for No Reason, without relying on humor, jokes or comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group; with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real and contagious laughter. The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter. One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits.

Please visit http://www.laughteryoga.org/

Source of Info: http://www.laughteryoga.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=15&Itemid=265

Laughter is good for your health (From helpguide.org)

Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Info Source: http://helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm

Information on Natural Cure for Eczema by eczema-naturalcures.com

The following website contains useful information on Natural Cure for Eczema.

http://www.eczema-naturalcures.com/.

I am also a firm believer in curing many diseases including eczema naturally by eating the right foods and not eating the wrong foods because we are what we eat.

The "Lose It!" phase of The Mayo Clinic Diet

The Mayo Clinic Diet kicks off with Lose It, a two-week phase in which dieters follow the guidelines outlined below to safely lose as much as 2.7 to 4.5kg.

Add five habits
· Eat a healthy breakfast, but do not eat too much.
· Eat at least three to four servings of vegetables and fruits a day.
· Eat whole grains, such as wholegrain bread.
· Eat healthy fats, such as olive oil and nuts.
· Walk or exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

Break five habits
· Do not watch TV while eating, and spend no more time watching TV than you do exercising.
· Eat no sugar except what is naturally found in fruit.
· Eat no snacks except vegetables and fruits.
· Limit the amount of meat and low-fat dairy that you eat.
· Eat no restaurant food unless it fits in the diet programme.

Add five bonus habits
· Keep records of what you eat.
· Keep records of your physical activity.
· Walk or exercise at least 60 minutes a day.
· Eat mostly fresh foods and healthy frozen or canned foods.
· Write down your daily goals.

Info Source: The Sunday Times (The Straits Times) dated 10 Jan 2010.

Book "The Mayo Clinic Diet"

I had bought this book on 2010-02-21 (Sunday) from Kinokuniya Book Sotre at Ngee Ann City. Price = S$43.94.

Product Details
Hardcover: 254 pages
Publisher: Good Books; 1 edition (January 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1561486760
ISBN-13: 978-1561486762
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.6 x 1 inches

Product Description

From Mayo Clinic, a leading authority on health and nutrition, comes The Mayo Clinic Diet, the last diet you'll ever need.

Get a quick and gratifying start with Lose It!, the phase of the diet designed to help you lose up to six to ten pounds in just two weeks. Eat the foods you love - in moderation - in the Live It! phase, which is designed to help you continue to lose one to two pounds a week (and keep them off!).

Finally, here's the diet that helps you accomplish real and lasting weight-loss. This diet is no fad, but a solid, common sense approach brought to you by an organization that is an award-winning health information resource. Nor does The Mayo Clinic Diet require expensive ingredients (which can make a diet difficult to maintain in the long run.)

Through simple, healthy adjustments to your lifestyle, The Mayo Clinic Diet gives you the tools you need to achieve the success you want.

In two easy phases, The Mayo Clinic Diet helps you lose weight and keep it off for life.

In two simple phases, you'll be on the road to a healthy weight for the rest of your life. Packed with lots of extra encouragement - meal planners, recipes, tips for overcoming challenges, starting an exercise plan, and much more - The Mayo Clinic Diet gives you everything you need in one book.

Toss out the scales and calculators and pick up the foods you love. This is the diet you've been waiting for!

Info Source: http://www.amazon.com/Mayo-Clinic-Diet-Enjoy-Weight/dp/1561486760

The European Food Information Council (EUFIC)

EUFIC is your guide to food safety & quality and health & nutrition for a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

Please visit http://www.eufic.org/index/en/

Origins brand organic hulled millet

Today (6 January 2010, Wednesday morning), I bought a packet of Origins brand organic hulled millet (product of U.S., 1 kg at S$5.90) from NTUC Fairprice at AMK Hub because the non-organic millet is not always available at NTUC Fairprice.

Millet is an ingredient of my daily multi-grain diet.

Origins brand organic raw buckwheat (500 grams pack)

Today (6 January 2010, Wednesday morning), I bought a packet of Origins brand organic raw buckwheat (Product of U.S., 500 grams at S$4.82) from NTUC Fairprice at AMK Hub because the non-organic raw buckwheat is not always available at NTUC Fairprice.

Buckwheat is an ingredient of my daily multi-grain diet.

BMI linked strongly to heart disease (Reported in Mind Your Bosy of The Straits Times dated 31 December 2009)

Cardiovascular disease linked to obesity may be worse than thought while health problems associated with being underweight may have been overstated, according to a study published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) last week.

The paper, written by doctors in Britain and Sweden, seeks to finetune a well-known tool - the body mass index (BMI) - which is used to measure obesity and ill-health.

BMI entails taking one's weight in kilograms and dividing it by the square of one's height, in metres. A BMI of 25-30 is generally considered overweight while a figure of above 30 indicates obesity.

Previous studies have already found a big link between BMI and higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers.

In contrast, a low BMI - in other words, someone who is very skinny - is associated with increased mortality from respiratory disease and lung cancer.

However, many experts have questioned the findings about low BMI, arguing that the figures could be skewed by something called reverse causality.

For instance, diseases such as lung cancer in themselves cause weight loss, they argued. Smoking and poor socioeconomic circumstances may also cause bias.

Seeking to find out more, specialists from Britain's University of Bristol and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden set out to get a wider view of the BMI benchmark.

They measured BMI and mortality among more than a million pairs of Swedes, comprising mother-and-son pairs and father-and-son pairs, over 50 years.

They found strong patterns of mortality and BMI.

The link was especially noticeable for cardiovascular disease - for which prevailing estimates may be 'substantially underestimated' - as well as for diabetes and kidney cancer.

However, there was no evidence of an association between low BMI and an increased risk of respiratory disease and lung cancer mortality.

The findings are important, because they imply that obesity programmes can yield major health benefits, said the study.

AFP

Healthy Living: 8 Steps to Take Today (by webmd.com)

Please visit http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/healthy-living-8-steps-to-take-today

Laser Hair Rejunvenation (by SKN MediAesthetics, Singapore)

The following information is for your reference only.

Info source: http://www.skn.com.sg/hair_01.html


Hair loss is a distressing but common medical condition which affects not only men but also women.

Treatments in the marketplace have so far revolved around topical lotions, massages and light based therapy.

Many of these treatments also make claims that are not backed by clinical data or use the wrong laser wavelengths. Laser Hair Rejuvenation at SKN MediAesthetics utilises the FDA approved NuHair Laser which draws from 15 years of clinical trials to significantly slow the progression of hair loss in 85% of people.

Unlike other ‘open’ laser machines, a patented hood encloses around the head and rotating lasers of the 650nm wavelength precisely stimulate dormant follicles into the growth stage while increasing nourishing blood flow to scalp cells by 54%.

Within 16 weeks, there is an average increase by 38% of thicker, healthier hair with no pain or side effects. (Apira Science Data; P Pontinen, P.h.D., M.D. F.I.C.A.E., INT Journal Vol 21 1996; GM Charles, DO, Medical Insight Mar/Apr 2006.)It is necessary for all clients to undergo an obligation-free microscope hair analysis first to get to the root of their problems before a treatment protocol is recommended for maximum effectiveness.

THREE Differences Compared to Common Marketplace Treatments

(1) This treatment is clinically proven and draws from 15 years of research and trials for efficacy in stopping hair loss and promoting regrowth; as opposed to unproven marketplace treatments often coupled with baseless/unsubstantiated claims

(2) This treatment is only offered by medical doctors and utilizes Lasers operating on a 670nm wavelength which has been shown in studies to be the optimal strength for proper penetration. This differs from other common marketplace treatments using lasers that are too weak (under penetrating) or overtly strong (over penetrating).

(3) A rotating hood which encloses the head and enables:

(a) An additional pulsating stimulation of hair follicles,

(b) A Laser treatment which because of constant rotation, covers the entire scalp during treatment,

(c) A minimization of the distance of the scalp to the lasers; as opposed to other treatments which have fixed lasers in non-rotating 'open construction' devices that do not have pulsating stimulation and have larger laser-to-scalp distances.


Dr. Alvin Wong
Company name: SKN MediAesthetics
Address#03-21/22 Centrepoint Shopping Centre 176 Orchard Road Singapore 238843
Opening hoursDaily 10.30am-8.30pm
Tel : +65 6732 7658
Fax : +65 6732 7659
SMS : +65 9271 0360
Enquiries (Same as Form below): adrianwong@skn.com.sg

Singapore Hair Loss Support Group

Singapore Hair Loss Support Group is Singapore's Hair Loss support group for all hair loss sufferers. This is a website where you can share your hair loss experiences, email me your experiences to share or enquiries: singaporeshortstories@gmail.com NOW!

http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/singapore-hair-loss-support-group

The Top 10 Reasons Why Laughter is Good for You, and the Side Effects of Laughter Therapy.

1.Rapid breathing increases oxygen levels in your body.

2. Laughter relieves stress rapidly by reducing stress chemicals from the system.

3. Laughter is FREE!

4. Laughing changes your body chemistry.

5. The brain releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine into the body affecting our sense of well-being and increasing pain tolerance.

6. Research shows laughing reduces stress related conditions, like high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, social phobia, heart disease and headaches. There is also research to show the beneficial effects laughter has on things like cancer, and other very serious diseases.

7. You are likely to sleep better and feel healthier.

8. Laughing gives a boost to the immune system, lifts our spirits and leads to a greater sense of well-being.

9. Regular laughing is good exercise as it encourages deep breathing which is known to improve lymphatic drainage, the removal of toxins from the body, and to relax muscles.

10. Anyone can do it, regardless of age or physical ability.

Info Source: http://www.distanthealer.co.uk/laughter-CD.htm

My New Year wishes for 2010

I wish everybody be healthy and happy in the year 2010.

Everything else is meaningless if you are not healthy and happy.