My second Philips Blender HR2094 (750 watts) bought on 2011-02-10, Thursday at S$129.00.

I bought my first Philips Blender HR2094 (750 watts) on 2008-09-13 at S$142.00 (Usual price S$150.00) in my attempt to eat more raw fruits and vegetables. 2 years guarantee.

Since then I used it almost everyday for about 900 days (blender using cost about S$0.16 per day) to make smoothie until the motor emitted smoke persistently on 2011-02-08. The 2-year warranty had expired. I stopped using it for safety reason.
I must say that I have been a very satisfied user of Philips Blender HR2094.
This blender had helped me consume easily about 500 grams of raw fruits and vegetable daily in the form of smoothie, thus providing me with about 12 grams of dietary fibre daily.

So I bought my second Philips Blender HR2094 (750 watts) on 2011-02-10, Thursday at S$129.00. (Usual Price = S$150.00). Warranty is again 2 years.

To me, making smoothie with the blender may be the most convenient way to eat raw fruits and vegetables.

Cheap Electronic Glass Bathroom Scale TH510 bought on 2007-10-12

Source of image: http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/thleaguer/product-detailjevxgMrKntVh/China-Bathroom-Scale-TH510-.html

Important Note: I normally add 500g to the reading of bathroom scale model TH510 for my weight.

On 2011-02-21, Monday, at about 5.10 pm I started to re-use my old simple and cheap electronic glass bathroom scale model TH510 (which I bought on 2007-10-12 at S$29.90 from Watson Century Square), until I solve the problem with Tanita BC-532 Body Composition Monitor bought at S$200.00 on 2009-09-23 .


Bathroom scale Model Th510 Features:
1) Maximum capacity: 150kg (330lbs)
2) Minimum capacity: 3kg (6. 6lbs)
3) Graduation: 100g (0. 2lb)
4) Platform: Tempered glass ( 6mm)
5) LCD: 75 x 36mm
6) Battery: 1 CR2032

Health Benefits of Peanuts:

Info Source: http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Health-Benefits-of-Peanuts
(Please visit this site for more info. Thanks)

Whole peanuts contains high amount of protein, which makes it a preferred diet of those people engaged in body-building and those people who are weak and underweight. The raw peanut butter with crushed skin contains much higher amounts of nutrient than refined "nut-only" butter.

Peanut is a good source of Coenzyme Q10 which protects the heart during the period of lack of oxygen example high altitudes and clogged arteries.

Peanuts contain high concentrations of antioxidant polyphenols, primarily a compound called p-coumaric acid. Roasting peanuts increases its p-coumaric acid levels, boosting it overall antioxidant content by as much as 22%.

Roasted peanuts rival the antioxidant content of blackberries and strawberries, and are far richer in antioxidants than apples, carrots or beets.

Unsalted peanuts are good for your arteries. One quarter cup of peanuts contains as much monunsaturated fat as a tablespoon of olive oil. Monounsaturated fats have been shown to lower blood cholesterol.

Peanuts' high niacin content helps in the recovery of cell damage provides protection against Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive problem.

Peanut contain vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that is shown to significantly reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Peanut contain iron which is essential for the correct functioning of red blood cells.

Peanut is rich in calcium which helps promotes healthy bones.

Peanut has higher bioflavonoid resveratrol content than grapes. This bioflavonoid is believed to improve blood flow in the brain by as much as 30%, thus greatly reducing the risk of stroke. Study showed that by adding even small amounts of peanut products to the diet can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol by 14%.

Peanuts' fiber content helps lower the risk of colon cancer, an ounce of peanuts contains 2 grams of fiber.

Peanut helps to accelerate the growth of male and female hormones.

My Tanita BC-532 Body Composition Monitor became faulty on 2011-02-18 -- Saw 'Error' message I stepped on the monitor

On 2009-09-23 (Wednesday, afternoon) I bought a Tanita BC-532 Body Composition Monitor at S$200.00 from TANGS ORCHARD as another useful tool to monitor and improve the health of my family and myself and even relative and friends.

On 2011-02-18, I saw ‘error’ after seeing my height on the monitor while trying to use BC-532.

On 2011-02-21, Monday, at about 5.10 pm I changed the four AA batteries. But the same problem occurred.

So from 2011-02-21 I started to re- use my old simple and cheap electronic glass bathroom scale model Th510 (which I bought on 2007-10-12 at S$29.90 from Watson Century square), until I solve the problem with Tanita BC-532!

I found the following Q&A relevant to my problem at this site:

http://www.tanita.com/en/faq/#Q:_What_conditions_might_cause_skewed_results_or_an__Error__reading_in_the_display_

Q: What conditions might cause skewed results or an "Error" reading in the display?
A: Hydration fluctuations which may result from alcohol or food consumption, sleep, intense exercise, medication or pre-menstruation.
--- A very full bladder.
--- Severe calluses on heels or soles of feet (about 1/400 people tested).
--- Unclean foot pads may interfere with conductivity.
--- Nylons interfere with conductivity. If it is absolutely necessary to measure in nylons, use a drop of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol on the foot pads to act as a conductor.

Q: How will I know if my Tanita Monitor needs recalibrating?
A: An "Error" or "Sub" code might appear on the readout; the digital display might not "zero out" after your last measurement; or the results might be erratic and non-repeatable. Call customer service at 1-847-640-9241

Eat less red meat, UK Government scientists warn

Info Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8335986/Eat-less-red-meat-Government-scientists-warn.html#

2011-02-20

Eat less red meat, Government scientists warn

Britons will be warned that they must cut their consumption of red meat to reduce the risk of cancer, following official advice from the Government scientists.

Consumers will be told to eat no more than 500g (1.1lb) of red or processed meat each week, or 70g (2.5oz) a day, under recommendations to be issued by the Coalition this week.

The daily total is the equivalent of three rashers of bacon – while the weekly amount would be reached by eating one large steak, a pork chop, two sausages and a small portion of beef bolognese sauce.

A Coalition source said: "It is important that people are not put off eating red meat entirely – but it would be irresponsible to ignore the potential health risks. The advice is very clear."

The recommendations will follow the publication of a full report by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, which is due within days. The findings are expected to echo the committee's draft report, which found that lower consumption of both red and processed meat would probably reduce the risk of bowel cancer, the second most common cause of cancer death in Britain.

The experts will say the full study has confirmed the link between higher meat consumption and cancer, but is not able to quantify this fully, partly because of the complexity of the data examined, which stretches back to 1998.

Nevertheless, the experts will advise that consumers should reduce their daily red meat intake to 70g.

This is the current average across the whole population, but among those who eat red meat, consumption is likely to be considerably higher because an estimated six million people eat none, including 3.6 million vegetarians.

The experts will warn of particular risks to the third of the adult population consuming more than 100g (3.5oz) a day. Current advice, which dates from 1998, suggested 90g (3.2oz) a day was a healthy amount, and that people only needed to cut back on red meat if they were eating more than 140g (5oz) every day.

Links between red meat and cancer, which have been suggested by a series of scientific studies, have provoked long-running controversy.

In 2005, a European study found those who regularly ate 160g (5.6oz) of red meat a day increased their risk of bowel cancer by one third.

High consumption of red and processed meat has also been linked to many other cancers, including that of the breast, bladder, stomach and digestive organs, but the evidence is weaker.
In 2007, the World Cancer Research Fund recommended a limit of 500g (1.1lb) a week.

Controversially, it said people should eat no more than 70g (2.5oz) of processed meat a week and that children should never have the products, which include ham, sausages and bacon.

The advice this week is not expected to put a specific limit on the amount of processed meats people can safely eat within the overall red meat limit. Last year, Sir Liam Donaldson, the then Chief Medical Officer for England, said cutting consumption of all meat by 30 per cent would prevent 18,000 premature deaths a year.

There are several theories about why high consumption of red meat increases the chance of developing cancer.

Scientists believe a pigment found in red meat damages the DNA of cells lining the digestive system – and DNA damage is one of the first signs of cancer. Burning meat is also thought to increase the risks. In addition, some studies suggest that preservatives used in processed meat could increase risks.

Studies have also suggested links between red meat and heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Obesity increases the risks of many diseases, and some research has suggested that those who avoid red meat tend to weigh less.

The report, drawn up by 17 scientists, doctors and nutritionists, is also expected to say doctors and health visitors should make sure that groups at risk of iron deficiency – including toddlers, girls, women of reproductive age and the elderly – have enough of the element, and that some should be given supplements.

The meat industry is likely to fiercely defend the role of red meat in a balanced diet.

Last week, a report by the British Nutrition Foundation, partly funded by the British Pig Executive and the English Beef and Lamb Executive, said there was no evidence of any link between average red meat consumption levels and cancer, and that research connecting meat-eating with cardiovascular disease was inconclusive.

A Department of Health spokesman said: “The department will be publishing the committee of independent experts’ report on iron and health shortly.

Meat can be eaten in moderation as part of a healthy diet.”

Acupuncture is a genuine treatment

The Straits Times
Feb 19, 2011
Saturday

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Acupuncture is a genuine treatment

DR ANDY Ho cited a clinical study which concluded that acupuncture is a placebo ('Pinning down acupuncture: It's a placebo'; Feb 12).

We think it is inappropriate to compare acupuncture with other forms of treatment.

Any two patients, even with the same diagnosis, may receive different treatments and each treatment may vary from the previous one.

Due to the complexity of treatment, clinical trials cannot conclusively determine the validity of the results. Singapore hospitals have acupuncture clinics to help patients because they know acupuncture's benefits.

Scientific studies prove that acupuncture can ease pain and treat ailments ranging from migraine to gastrointestinal disorders.

A research paper on scientific bases of acupuncture analgesia by the Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University proved its effectiveness and benefits to patients.

The World Health Organisation has listed diseases which acupuncture could treat, based on clinical experiences, and not necessarily on controlled clinical research. They are not meant to indicate the extent of acupuncture's efficacy in treating them.

Any medical care system, including evidence- based medicine, cannot guarantee that all diseases can be treated effectively.

Like all sciences too, acupuncture requires further research and, like all therapies, it requires knowledge, training, experience and practice.

Today, a student of acupuncture must enrol in approved institutions for the full course of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which includes the learning of anatomy, microbiology, pathology and modern internal medicine.

There is no astrology in TCM. Students must sit the registration examination after their graduation before they can qualify as physicians.

The philosophy of yin and yang and qi in TCM is a biological condition, rather than a religious affiliation. To equate acupuncture, as Dr Ho's article did, with shamanism and blood-letting reflects ignorance.

In TCM, a differentiation of syndromes is applied because every individual has a different physical condition, thus requiring individual treatment.

Finally, Dr Ho may be pleased to know that TCM practitioners do not use horoscopes to diagnose patients.

Chew Say Yeow
President
Singapore Acupuncture Association

Pinning down acupuncture: It's a placebo (by Andy Ho）

The Straits Times
12 Feb 2011
Saturday

By Andy Ho

THE Singapore Medical Association (SMA) desires that doctors here be permitted to refer patients to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners.If this suggestion is accepted by the Singapore Medical Council, I believe the practice of evidence-based medicine - and patient interests - will suffer a blow.

Of late, some doctors seem to have embraced even disproven remedies. Take, for instance, a review of acupuncture research that appeared last July in the New England Journal of Medicine. This highly respected journal is one of the most widely read by doctors across specialities.

In Acupuncture For Chronic Low Back Pain, the authors reviewed clinical trials done to assess if acupuncture actually helps in chronic low back pain. The most important meta-analysis available was a 2008 study involving 6,359 patients, which 'showed that real acupuncture treatments were no more effective than sham acupuncture treatments'.

The authors then editorialised: 'There was nevertheless evidence that both real acupuncture and sham acupuncture were more effective than no treatment and that acupuncture can be a useful supplement to other forms of conventional therapy for low back pain.

'First, they admit that pooled clinical trials of the best sort show that real acupuncture does no better than sham acupuncture. This should mean that acupuncture does not work - full stop. But then they say that both sham and real acupuncture work as well as the other and thus is useful.

Translation: Please use acupuncture as a placebo on your patients; just don't let them know it is a placebo.The authors trotted out the same conclusion after they reviewed an important German trial which also showed acupuncture to be merely a placebo.

In any randomised and blinded clinical trial of any mode of treatment for any condition, the finding that the treatment is no better than a placebo always leads to one conclusion only: It is therapeutically useless.

Acupuncture, it would seem, is excepted from this rule.A final study chosen for review was a 'pragmatic' trial that was bereft of any use because, as the authors said, 'neither providers nor patients were blinded to treatment. Therefore, a bias due to unblinding cannot be ruled out'.

In fact, such a 'trial' is inherently biased.Then, as spinmeisters, the authors concluded with a flourish: 'Acupuncture... has not been established to be superior to sham acupuncture...

However, (it) may be more effective than usual care, (so) it is not unreasonable to... incorporate acupuncture into... the management of chronic low back pain.'Balderdash!I should add that I am not criticising TCM per se. Only acupuncture, a facet of TCM, albeit its most dramatic, is being scrutinised here. Chinese herbology must be analysed on its own merits.Interestingly, although acupuncture may be TCM's poster boy today, the Chinese physician in days of yore would have looked askance at it.

Instead, his practice and prestige were based upon his grasp of the Chinese pharmacopoeia.Acupuncture was left to the shamans and blood letters. After all, it was grounded, not in the knowledge of which herbs were best for what conditions, but astrology.In Giovanni Maciocia's 2005 book, The Foundations Of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text

For Acupuncturists And Herbalists, there is a chart showing the astrological provenance of acupuncture. The chart shows how the 12 main acupuncture meridians and the 12 main body segments correspond to the 12 Houses of the Chinese zodiac.

In Chinese cosmology, all life is animated by a numinous force called qi, the flow of which mirrors the sun's apparent 'movement' during the year through the ecliptic. (The ecliptic is the imaginary plane of the earth's orbit around the sun).Moreover, everything in the Chinese zodiac is mirrored on Earth and in Man.

This was taught even in the earliest systematised TCM text, the Yellow Emperor's Canon Of Medicine, thus: 'Heaven is covered with constellations, Earth with waterways, and man with channels.'This 'as above, so below' doctrine means that if there is qi flowing around in the imaginary closed loop of the zodiac, there is qi flowing correspondingly in the body's closed loop of imaginary meridians as well.

These meridians run from head to toe to form a network interlinking 361 points on the skin. But why are there 361 points? Since the earth takes three minutes under 24 hours to rotate 360 degrees on its axis, the sun appears to revolve through 361 degrees on the ecliptic every 24 hours. Hence 361 points.

This factoid alone is sufficient to nail down the acupuncture-astrology linkage.Since qi flows around in a closed loop, needles can be inserted at one of these points far removed from your site of pain to rechannel qi.

If done well, this supposedly can cure your spot of trouble.Note that not only is acupuncture astrological in origin but also the astrology is based on a model of the universe which has the earth at its centre.
This geocentric model was an erroneous idea widely accepted before the Copernican revolution.

Today, no one believes the earth is at the centre of the universe. [Not true! ST Feb 10, 2011: Third of Russians think sun revolves around earth: Poll*] But the ancient Chinese saw this geocentric principle organising all of nature as well. From its accompanying astrological system, acupuncture was birthed.

So should doctors check the daily horoscopes of their patients?

andyho@sph.com.sg

Vegans and the Vitamin B12 Deficiency Myth: I have a question --- Must a vegan take Vitamin B12 health supplement?

Based what I read in the internet and some health books, the general advice for a vegan is to take Vitamin B12 supplement.

A female relative of mine was a vegan for more than 60 years and was generally healthy before she passed away a few years ago at the age of 92 . She never took any health supplements including B12 all her life.

So my question is: Must a vegan take Vitamin B12 health supplement?

My Chronological (actual) age vs. My Metabolic Age as at 0525 am on 2011-02-16 (Wednesday)

My Chronological (actual) age is 60.

At 0525 am on 2011-02-16 (Wednesday) my Metabolic Age according to Tanita BC-532 Body Composition Monitor was 30.

If the measurement results is reliable and a good indicator of the actual age of my body, it must be due to My mainly plant-based diet with High Fibre, Low Protein, Low Fat, Low Salt and Low Sugar intake.

Philips Blender HR2094: Tips for using the blender

Philips Blender HR2094: Tips for using the blender

-- Cut meat or solid ingredients into smaller pieces before putting themin the blender jar.

-- Do not process a large quantity of solid ingredients at the same time. Process these ingredients in a series of small batches instead.

-- To make tomato juice, cut the tomatoes in four and drop the pieces through the opening in the lid onto the rotating blades.

Info Source: http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?tmplt=ePlatform%20-%20Philips&scy=GB&slg=ENG&sct=BJ_BLENDERS_SU&cat=JUICERS_AND_BLENDERS_CA&session=20110212071055_161.88.245.134&grp=HOUSEHOLD_PRODUCTS_GR&ctn=HR2094/00&mid=Link_UserManuals&hlt=Link_UserManuals

Philips Blender HR2094: How long can I use the blender at one time?

Philips Blender HR2094: How long can I use the blender at one time?

(Note: See also How long is the processing time for blending?, later)

Question: How long can I use the blender at one time?

Answer: Do not let the appliance run for more than 3 minutes at a time. If you have not finished processing after 3 minutes, switch off the appliance and let it cool down to room temperature before you let it run again.

Infor Source: Printed Philips Blender HR2094 User Manual (Page 10 English, date published: 2010-10-29), provided with the Philips Blender HR2094 I bought on 2011-02-10, Thursday.

Philips Blender HR2094: What should I do when the blade unit or the motor gets blocked during processing?

Philips Blender HR2094: What should I do when the blade unit or the motor gets blocked during processing?

Question:
What should I do when the blade unit or the motor gets blocked during processing?

Answer:
· Switch off the appliance and use a spatula to dislodge the ingredients that block the blade unit.
· We also recommend processing reduced amounts, cut very hard ingredients into smaller pieces.

Philips Blender HR2094: Why does the motor produce an unpleasant smell during processing?

Philips Blender HR2094:

Question:
Why does the motor produce an unpleasant smell during processing?

Answer:
· It is common for a new appliance to produce an unpleasant smell or emit a little smoke when first used.
· The phenomenon will stop after you used the appliance a number of times.
· The appliance may also produce an unpleasant smell or emit a little smoke if it has been used too long.
· In this case you should switch the appliance off and let it cool down for 60 minutes.
· If the problem persists please contact the nearest Philips Customer Care Centre.

Info Source: http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?scy=GB&mid=Link_FAQs&view=aa12_view_partial.html&session=20110212220411_161.88.245.134&list=aa12_list_partial.html&slg=ENG&ctn=HR2094/00&dct=FAQ&refnr=0060471&faqview=1

Philips Blender HR2094: How long is the processing time for blending?

Philips Blender HR2094: How long is the processing time for blending?

(Note: See also How long can I use the blender at one time?, later)

Question: How long is the processing time for blending?

Answer: It depends on the quantity and the ingredients, however, on average the time for blending is about 30 – 60 seconds.

Info Souce: http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?scy=GB&mid=Link_FAQs&view=aa12_view_partial.html&session=20110212220411_161.88.245.134&list=aa12_list_partial.html&slg=ENG&ctn=HR2094/00&dct=FAQ&refnr=0063321&faqview=1

Frequently asked questions for Philips blender HR2094

Info Source: http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?tmplt=ePlatform%20-%20Philips&scy=GB&slg=ENG&sct=BJ_BLENDERS_SU&cat=JUICERS_AND_BLENDERS_CA&grp=HOUSEHOLD_PRODUCTS_GR&ctn=HR2094/00&mid=Link_FAQs&session=20110212220411_161.88.245.134&hlt=Link_FAQs


Frequently asked questions for Philips blender HR2094

Appliance
+
What does “SMOOTHIE” mean?
+
What does “ICE” mean?


Before you buy
+
Can I clean all removable parts in the dishwasher?


Power/charging
+
How can I store the cord?


Troubleshooting
+
Why does the motor produce an unpleasant smell during processing?
+
What should I do when the blade unit or the motor gets blocked during processing?


Use and Learn
+
Can I pour boiling hot liquids into the blender jar?


Using the appliance
+
How can I use the filter?
+
What should I do if the blender leaks?
+
What should I do if the fruit juice or soya milk contains a lot of pulp and skins?
+
Which speed should I use for which applications?
+
What does “pulse” mean?
+
How long is the processing time for blending?
+
What can I do with the filter?
+
I assembled the Blender Jar properly, but after switching on the Blender, the motor is not working. What could I do?

Philips Blender HR2094 User Manual (Date published: 2010-10-29)

Philips Blender HR2094 User Manual (Date published: 2010-10-29)

Info
Source: http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?tmplt=ePlatform%20-%20Philips&scy=GB&slg=ENG&sct=BJ_BLENDERS_SU&cat=JUICERS_AND_BLENDERS_CA&session=20110212071055_161.88.245.134&grp=HOUSEHOLD_PRODUCTS_GR&ctn=HR2094/00&mid=Link_UserManuals&hlt=Link_UserManuals
For Models HR2094, HR2090

Important Note: This posting is mainly for the blogger’s use. No figures or diagrams are attached. Please visit Philips’ website for the original manual.

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to Philips! To fully
benefit

from the support that Philips offers, register your product at www.philips.com/welcome

General description
(Fig. 1)

A Motor unit

B Control knob

C Blade unit interface

D Blade unit

E Sealing ring

F Blander jar with level indication

G Lid

H Graduated measuring cup

I Filter (Type HR2094 only)

Important

Read this user manual carefully before you use the appliance and save
it for

future reference.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

General

Danger

-- Never immerse the motor unit in water or any other liquid, nor rinse
it

under the tap. Use only a moist cloth to clean the motor unit.

Warning

-- Check if the voltage indicated on the appliance corresponds to the

local mains voltage before you connect the appliance.

-- If the mains cord is damaged, you must have it replaced by Philips, a

service centre authorised by Philips or similarly qualified persons in

order to avoid a hazard.

-- Do not use the appliance if the plug, the mains cord or other parts are

damaged.

-- Do not lift the appliance by the handle of the blender jar, when the

blender jar is fixed to the motor unit. The motor unit may fall to the

floor and get damaged.

-- Never use the blender jar to switch the appliance on and off.

-- Never let the appliance run unattended.

-- This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children)

with reduced physical, sensory or metal capabilities, or lack of

experience and knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or

instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for

their safety.

-- Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the

appliance.

-- Do not touch the blades, especially when the appliance is plugged in.

The blades are very sharp.

Caution

-- Always unplug the appliance before you assemble, disassemble or
make

adjustments to any of the parts.

English Page 6

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

-- To prevent failure of the appliance, make sure that no food or liquid

enters the connection point of the blender jar on the motor unit.

-- Never use any accessories or parts from other manufacturers or that

Philips does not specifically recommend. If you use such accessories or

parts, your guarantee becomes invalid.

-- Do not exceed the maximum level indicated on the accessories.

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

Blender

Warning

-- Never reach into the blender jar with your fingers or an object
while

the appliance is running.

-- Make sure the blade unit is securely fastened to the blender jar before

you assemble the blender jar onto the motor unit.

-- Do not touch the cutting edges of the blender blade unit when you

clean it. They are very sharp and you could easily cut your fingers on

them.

-- If the blades get stuck, unplug the appliance before you remove the

ingredients that block the blades.

Caution

-- Never fill the blender jar with ingredients hotter than 80oC.

-- To prevent spillage, do not put more than 1.5 litres of liquid in the

blender jar, especially when you process at a high speed. Do not put

more than 1.25 litres in the blender jar when you process hot liquids

or ingredients that tend to foam.

-- If food sticks to the wall of the blender jar, switch off the appliance and

unplug it. Then use a spatula to remove the food from the wall.

-- Never forget to place the sealing ring on the blade unit before you

assemble the blender jar, otherwise leakage will occur.

-- Always make sure the lid is properly closed/assembled on the jar and

the measuring cup is inserted properly in the lid before you switch on

the appliance.

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

Filter
Caution

-- Never use the filter to process ingredients hotter than 80?‹C.

-- Never overload the filter. Do not put more than 135g of dried soy

beans or 150g of fruit in the filter at the same time.

-- Always make sure the lid is closed/assembled properly and the

measuring cup is inserted properly in the lid before you switch on the

appliance.

-- Cut fruit into smaller pieces before you put it in the filter.

-- Soak dried ingredients, such as soy beans, before you put them in the

filter.

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

Electromagnetic
fields (EMF)

This Philips appliance complies with all standards regarding electromagnetic

fields (EMF). If handled properly and according to the instructions in this

user manual, the appliance is safe to use based on scientific evidence

available today.

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

English Page 7

Built-in safety lock

This feature ensures that you can only switch on the appliance if you
have

properly assembled the blender jar on the motor unit. If the blender jar is

correctly assembled, the built-in safety lock will be unlocked.

Before first use

----- Thoroughly clean the parts that will come in contact with food

before you use the appliance for the first time (see chapter”Cleaning”).

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

Using the appliance
Control knob
Your blender is equipped with a special control knob with an
illuminated

ring that lights up when the appliance is running.

You can set the control knob to any speed between MIN and MAX or,

even easier, use one of the three quick-select buttons: Smoothie, Ice and

Pulse.

--- If you want to use a speed between MIN and MAX, turn the control

knob to the desired position.

If you have doubts about the correct speed, always select the highest speed

(MAX).

--- If you want to use one of the quick-select buttons, first turn the

control knob to position ON. Then press the desired quick-select button.

When you turn the control knob to position ON, the lights in the buttons start to flash.

Smoothie function
Use this function to prepare delicious smoothies. When you press the

SMOOTHIE button, the appliance starts mixing the smoothie according to

the appropriate speed profile. To stop the process, press Smoothie button

again.

Smoothies are thick drinks made of frozen or fresh fruit and fruit juices

mixed together, sometimes with ice, ice cream, milk or yoghurt. See chapter

?”Recipes” for a few examples. Add more liquid to make a thinner smoothie

and add more frozen or fresh fruit to make a thicker smoothie.

Ice button

The blender is equipped with a special speed profile for crushing ice.

When you press the Ice button, the appliance starts crushing the ice

according to the appropriate speed profile.To stop the ice-crushing

process, press the Ice button again.

The ice will be crushed within a few seconds and the result is tiny, regular

pieces of ice. For instance, if you want to get crushed ice out of 5 ice cubes,

press the Ice button, let the appliance complete 5 crushing cycles and then

switch off the appliance. If you want the ice to be crushed into snow, turn

the control knob to maximum speed or press the Pulse button for a few

seconds. If the result is still too coarse, press the Pulse button again.

page 8 English
Pulse button
Press the Pulse button if you want to process ingredients very
briefly. As

soon as you press the Pulse button the appliance starts running at the

highest speed.When you release the button, the appliance stops running

immediately.The Pulse button can also be used while the appliance is

running at a speed between MIN and MAX.

Blender

--- The blender is intended for fine pureeing, chopping and blending.

With the blender you can prepare soups, sauces, milk shakes and

batters. You can also use the blender to process vegetables, fruit and

meat.

Preparing the blender for use
1 Place the sealing ring on the blade unit.

2 Assemble the blade unit onto the blade unit interface.

3 Screw the blade unit interface onto the bottom of the blender jar

until it is fixed properly.

4 Place the blender jar with the blade unit interface attached on the

motor unit (1) and turn the jar until you hear a “click” (2).

You can place the blender jar on the motor unit in two positions: with the

handle pointing to the right or to the left.

5 Put the plug in the wall socket.



English Page 9

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

Using the blender

1 Put the ingredients in the blender jar.

2 Place the lid on the blender jar.

Close the lid by pushing it down firmly.

3 Insert the measuring cup into the opening in the lid.

4 Select a speed by turning the control knob or push one of the quick select

buttons (see section “Control knob” ).

Do not let the appliance run for more than 3 minutes at a time. If you have not finished processing after 3 minutes, switch off the appliance and let it cool down to room temperature before you let it run again.

5 Always switch off the appliance by setting the control knob to OFF

before you open the lid.

After using the blender

1 Unplug the appliance.

2 Remove the lid with the measuring cup from the blender jar.

3 Remove the blender jar with the unit interface attached from the

motor unit.

4 Unscrew the blade unit interface from the bottom of the blander jar.

5 Always clean the removable parts immediately after use.

Tips

-- Cut meat or solid ingredients into smaller pieces before putting them

in the blender jar.

-- Do not process a large quantity of solid ingredients at the same time.

Process these ingredients in a series of small batches instead.

-- To make tomato juice, cut the tomatoes in four and drop the pieces

through the opening in the lid onto the rotating blades.

Measuring cup
You can use the measuring cup to measure ingredients or to prepare

mayonnaise.

, , To prepare mayonnaise, you can punch a hole in the middle of

the bottom of the measuring cup with a knife or another sharp

implement to use the measuring cup as a funnel for adding oil when

preparing mayonnaise. The oil should be added very slowly to obtain

the right consistency. Let the blender operate at a low speed when

preparing mayonnaise.

Note: Once you have punched a hole in the measuring cup, it cannot be used as a measuring cup anymore.

Page 10 English

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

Filter (Type HR2094 only)

With this filter you can make delicious fresh fruit juices, cocktails
or soy

milk (see also “Recipes”). The filter prevents pips and skins from ending up
in

your drink.

Never overload the filter. Do not put more than 135g of dried soy beans

or 150g of fruit in the filter at the same time.

Preparing the filter for use

1 Place the blender jar with the blade unit interface attached on the

motor unit (1) and turn the jar until you hear a “click” (2).

The blender can be placed on the motor unit in two positions.

2 Put the filter in the blender jar.

Make sure that the grooves of the filter fit exactly onto the ribs inside the

blender jar.

3 Make sure the appliance is plugged in.

Using the filter

1 Put the lid on the blender jar.

Make sure you place the lid on the blender jar in such a way that the drink

can be poured out through the strainer in the lid.

2 Put the ingredients in the filter.

Cut fruits into smaller pieces and soak dried pulses, such as soy beans,

before putting them in the filter.

3 Pour water or another liquid (milk, juice, etc.) into the blender jar.

4 Insert the measuring cup into the hole in the lid.

5 Select a speed or push one of the buttons (see section “Control

knob”

Let the appliance run for approx. 60 seconds.

Note:
When you are processing a large quantity, we advise you not to put all

the ingredients in the filter at the same time. Start processing a small
quantity

and let the appliance run for a few seconds. Then switch off the appliance

and add another small quantity, but do not exceed the top of the sieve mesh.

Repeat this procedure until you have processed all the ingredients. Always keep

the lid on the blender jar during processing.

After using the filter

1 Switch off the appliance and remove the blender jar from the motorunit.

2 Pour out the drink via the pouring lip of the blender jar. Make sure

the lid is placed on the blender jar in such a way that the drink can

be poured out through the strainer in the lid.

Do not remove the lid, the measuring cup and the filter.

, , Make sure that you have assembled the lid in the right position so

that the drink is poured out through the filter in the lid.

For optimal results, put the jar with the remaining ingredients back onto the

appliance and let it run for a few more seconds.

3 Always clean the filter immediately after use.

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

English page 11

Recipe

--- Soy milk
For this recipe you need the filter.

Do not process more than 1 batch without interruption. Let the appliance cool down to room temperature before you continue processing.

Ingredients:

-- 135g dried soy beans

-- 1000ml water

----- Soak the soy beans for 4 hours before processing them.

----- Put the soaked soy beans in the filter. Pour 1000ml of water into the

blender jar and blend for 30 seconds at the highest speed (MAX). If

necessary, e.g. to get a finer result, you can switch off and unplug the

appliance and give the beans as stir. Then continue to blend at the

highest speed (MAX) again.

----- Pour the soy milk into a pan.

-----Bring the soy milk to the boil, then add sugar to taste and leave to

simmer until all sugar has melted.

----- Serve hot or cold.

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

Cleaning

We advise you to clean the removable parts immediately after use.

Avoid touching the blades. The blades are very sharp.

1 Unplug the appliance.

2 Disassemble all removable parts before cleaning them. Do not forget

to remove the sealing ring from the blade unit.

3 Clean all removable parts in the dishwasher or in warm water with

some washing-up liquid.

All parts except the motor unit are dishwasher proof!

4 Clean the motor unit with a moist cloth.

Do not rinse the motor unit under the tap. Do not use abrasive cleaning

agents, scourers, alcohol etc. to clean the motor unit.

Storage
----- Store the mains cord by winding it round the reel in the bottom of the appliance

Environment

-- Do not throw away the appliance with the normal household waste at the end of its life, but hand it in at an official collection point for recycling. By doing this, you help to preserve the environment.

Page 12 English
Guarantee & service
If you need service or information or if you have a problem, please
visit the Philips website at www.philips.com or contact the Philips Consumer Care Centre in your country (you find its phone number in the worldwideguarantee leaflet). If there is no Consumer Care Centre in your country, go to your local Philips dealer.

Recipes
Kiwi-strawberry smoothie
Ingredients:

-- 200g peeled kiwi, cut in pieces of 3x3x3 cm

-- 100g banana, cut into 1-cm slices, frozen

-- 150ml pineapple juice

-- 100g frozen strawberries

, , The banana and strawberries should be used straight from the

freezer. Put the ingredients in the blender jar in the order mentioned

above and blend until smooth.

Fruit mix

-- 2 nectarines, stoned and cut into pieces

-- 125g frozen raspberries

-- 125g frozen strawberries

-- 125ml orange juice

-- 125ml apple juice

-- 7 ice cubes

, , Put the nectarine pieces and all the juice in the blender jar, then add

the frozen fruit. Press the Smoothie button and let the appliance run

for 40 seconds.

Ice-blended vanilla coffee

Ingredients:

-- 150ml warm water

-- 1.5 tbsp sugar

-- 2 tbsp instant coffee

-- 200g vanilla ice cream

-- 10 ice cubes

, , Dissolve the coffee and sugar in water. Pour all ingredients (except

the ice cubes) into the blender. Blend until smooth. Drop the ice

cubes through the opening in the lid while the motor is running.

Pina Colada cocktail

-- 40ml dark Jamaica rum

-- 30ml coconut syrup

-- 10ml whipping cream

-- 80ml pineapple juice

, , Put all ingredients in the blender jar and add 4 big ice cubes. Blend

for about 30 seconds.

English Page 13

Troubleshooting

If the appliance does not work or does not work properly, first check

the list below. If the problem is not mentioned in this list, the appliance

probably has a defect. In that case we advise you to take the appliance to

your dealer or to an authorised Philips service centre.

Question and Answer
(Q & A)

Question: Can I clean allremovable parts in thedishwasher?
Answer:
Yes, except the motor unit.

Question: The appliance does notwork. What should I do?

Answer:
Please check if you have plugged in the appliance. Also check if the
blender jar has been assembled properly.

Question: What does “pulse” mean?

Answer:
When you press the Pulse button, the appliance will run at its highest

speed as long as you keep pressing the button. Using the Pulse button is

recommended if you want to have more control over the processing job, for

instance when you are chopping.

Question: Can I pour boiling hot liquids into the blender jar?

Answer:
No, let the liquids or ingredients cool down to 80 degree C/175 degree F
to avoid damaging the accessories.

Question: Why does the motor produce an unpleasant smell during processing?

Answer: It is very common for a new appliance to give off an unpleasant smell or emit some smoke the first few times it is used. This phenomenon will stop after you have used the appliance a number of times. The appliance may also give off an unpleasant smell or emit some smoke if it has been used too long. In this case you have to switch the appliance off and let it cool down for 60 minutes.

Question: The appliance stopped running because the blade unit is blocked.What should I do?
Answer:
Switch the appliance off and use a spatula to dislodge the ingredients
that are blocking the blade unit. We also recommend processing a smaller quantity.

Question: The blender jar leaks. What should I do?

Answer: Switch the appliance off and pour out the ingredients. Then remove the
blade unit interface. Check if the sealing ring has been assembled correctly.

Question: Why does the fruit juice or soy milk contain a lot of pulp or skins?

Answer: Pour the drink through a sieve. To prevent pulp and skins from ending up in your drink, leave the measuring cup in the lid, make sure the lid and the filter
are in place and the lid is assembled in the correct position (i.e. with the strainer directly in front of the pouring lip).

Page 14 English

-------- The end of User Manual in English --------

Enjoy your coffee, it won't harm your health (By Salma Khalik, Health Correspondent, The Straits Times)

The Straits Times
Feb 11, 2011 (Friday)

Enjoy your coffee, it won't harm your health

It can lower risk of diabetes: Study
By Salma Khalik, Health Correspondent

COFFEE can actually be good for you, says a new study of coffee drinkers here, the latest to challenge the belief that its benefits are murky.

The study of 3,000 people in Singapore discovered 'no detrimental factor' to coffee drinking. And this was the case for all the races here.

The soon-to-be published findings follow studies elsewhere which have found that coffee drinking can be good for one's health as it can lower the risk of diabetes.

Associate Professor Rob van Dam of the National University of Singapore (NUS), who led the study, said there are sometimes different effects across ethnicities. 'Ethnicity is of interest because there are marked differences in insulin resistance between different ethnic groups, even within Asia,' he said.

According to earlier studies, Chinese and Japanese who drank several cups of coffee a day are known to face significantly lower risks of getting diabetes, compared to non-drinkers.

His study, part of the large Singapore Consortium of Cohort Studies funded by the Biomedical Research Council, found that coffee had the same effect on Chinese and non-Chinese drinkers here.

The finding, however, runs smack against one piece of prevailing wisdom - that coffee can be bad for one's heart.

But Prof van Dam said this view has not been scientifically proven. He said only studies in Scandinavia have found links between coffee and a higher risk of heart disease. The reason appears to be in the way the coffee is prepared. Unlike coffee drinkers in the rest of Europe and the US, Scandinavians leave the coffee dregs in their pot, stewing at the bottom.

As a result, their coffee has a high dose of cafestol, a substance that increases cholesterol levels, and heart disease risk.

He was concerned that coffee sold at the kopitiam might have similar levels of cafestol, as it is made by pouring boiling water over ground coffee. But laboratory tests of samples from various coffee shops found very low levels of cafestol.

This is likely due to the thick 'sock' or cloth strainer that the ground coffee is left in when hot water is poured into the kopitiam kettle.

Cardiologist Tan Huay Cheem of the National University Hospital agreed that recent studies have shown that 'coffee itself is neutral to the heart'.

Many studies over the past decade have found strong links between drinking several cups of coffee a day and significantly lower risks of diabetes - one of the more serious chronic ailments here.

And it does not matter what type of coffee is drunk: fresh brewed, instant or decaffeinated. The only exception is when coffee dregs are present.

US studies have found that decaf coffee gives the same protection against diabetes. Prof van Dam said this shows the benefits are not due to caffeine but to other compounds like chlorogenic acid, an antioxidant found mainly in coffee.

He said a seven-year study of 17,000 Dutch people found that those who drank seven cups or more of coffee a day were half as likely to get diabetes as those who drank two cups or less.
Another study in the US of 90,000 women found the incidence of diabetes among those who drank four cups of coffee daily was half that of non-drinkers.

Prof van Dam, who was involved in that study before he joined NUS a year ago, noted that cups in the US are larger than those in Europe.

While coffee might be good for the health, taking it with lashings of cream and sugar could negate any benefit. But small helpings of these are fine, he added, as studies have found no difference between such coffee and taking it black.

Similarly, for those who get heart palpitations from drinking too much coffee, the answer is decaf, said Prof van Dam.

Pregnant women should also go easy, drinking at most a cup a day, as caffeine is bad for the foetus.

Dr Stanley Liew, an endocrinologist at Raffles Hospital who treats diabetics, said that such studies are merely observational studies. Scientists need to discover the mechanism involved first. Until then, he said, it would be premature to ask people to drink more coffee to prevent diabetes.

Prof van Dam agreed that there are better ways to avoid diabetes, such as exercising. But he said with these studies: 'We can tell people who like coffee to just enjoy their coffee. They don't have to be concerned about it.'

salma@sph.com.sg

www.facebook.com/ST.Salma

Junk food diet linked to lower IQ: Study (The Straits Times, Feb 8, 2011, Tuesday)

The Straits Times
Feb 8, 2011, Tuesday

Junk food diet linked to lower IQ: Study

PARIS - TODDLERS who have a diet high in processed foods may have a slightly lower IQ in later life, according to a British study described as the biggest research of its kind.

The conclusion, published on Monday, comes from a long-term investigation into 14,000 people born in western England in 1991 and 1992 whose health and well-being were monitored at the ages of three, four, seven and eight and a half. Parents of the children were asked to fill out questionnaires that, among other things, detailed the kind of food and drink their children consumed.

Three dietary patterns emerged: one was high in processed fats and sugar; then there was a 'traditional' diet high in meat and vegetables; and finally a 'health-conscious' diet with lots of salad, fruit and vegetables, pasta and rice.

When the children were eight and a half, their IQ was measured using a standard tool called the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. Of the 4,000 children for which there were complete data, there was a significant difference in IQ among those who had had the 'processed' as opposed to the 'health-conscious' diets in early childhood.

The 20 per cent of children who ate the most processed food had an average IQ of 101 points, compared with 106 for the 20 per cent of children who ate the most 'health-conscious' food.

'It's a very small difference, it's not a vast difference,' said one of the authors, Pauline Emmett of the School of Social and Community Medicine at the University of Bristol. 'But it does make them less able to cope with education, less able to cope with some of the things in life.' -- AFP

No ifs or butts about this health alert (By Salma Khalik) --- Sitting down for long periods can lead to medical problems

The Straits Times
Feb 8, 2011, Tuesday

No ifs or butts about this health alert

Sitting down for long periods can lead to medical problems: Study
By Salma Khalik , HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

GETTING up and moving about for a minute or two, rather than just sitting for long periods, could give you a smaller waist and reduce your risk of suffering a heart attack.

A large-scale study of 4,757 adults in the United States has determined that sitting down for too long is bad - regardless of whether the person exercises regularly and has a healthy diet.

It lowers good cholesterol, increases triglycerides - a fat that hardens arteries - and produces an inflammatory agent in the blood called the C-reactive protein that is also bad for the heart.

However, getting up for a short break every now and then is enough to counter the ill effects of a sedentary lifestyle.

Over a three-year period until 2006, participants in the study who took the most movement breaks had, on average, waists that were 4.1cm smaller than those who sat for long periods.
A break was defined as any interruption of sedentary time.

The study was published in the European Heart Journal last month.

The 4,757 people studied were chosen from more than 20,000 participants in the US Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Only participants with proper supporting data were used.

Several doctors in Singapore have called the study 'credible', saying it underscores the importance of not leading too sedentary a lifestyle.

Dr Stanley Liew, a hormone specialist at Raffles Hospital, said the report was the first large-scale study to objectively look at sedentary time and its effect on heart attacks and strokes.

'While people should exercise regularly, this study highlighted that we should also avoid prolonged resting or sitting time,' he said.

Dr Tey Beng Hea, a senior diabetes consultant at Alexandra Hospital, said it is a well-known fact that activity increases the body's ability to use up sugar in the blood and improves cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Associate Professor Tai E Shyong of the National University Hospital (NUH) remarked: 'What we can say, with some conviction, is that people should limit the amount of time that they spend doing activities which involve a great deal of sitting still, such as watching television.'

Watching television increases the risk of obesity and heart disease, said Prof Tai, referring to another study published last year that found that every hour spent watching television a day increases a person's risk of dying from heart disease by almost a fifth.

That study discovered that the risk is the same for office workers who sit at their desks for long periods.

Dr Goh Su Yen of Singapore General Hospital added that children who watch a lot of television before the age of six tend to be fatter, even if they do run around a lot.

Spending too much time sitting down can offset the benefits, no matter how much time a person spends exercising, he said.

So the take-home message from the recent study, said Dr Goh, is: 'Don't just sit on your butt. Get up, get moving'.

salma@sph.com.sg

www.facebook.com/ST.Salma

A healthy 40-year-old male heavy smoker’s red blood cells -- Live Blood Analysis/Microscopic Blood Analysis

A healthy 40-year-old male heavy smoker’s red blood cells -- Live Blood Analysis/Microscopic Blood Analysis.

A healthy 40-year-old male heavy smoker’s red blood cells

Info Source in Chinese language: http://photos.renhe.cn/21188/204260_1623120#anchor

A healthy 45-year-old Man's red blood cells -- Live Blood Analysis/Microscopic Blood Analysis

A healthy 45-year-old Man's red blood cells -- Live Blood Analysis/Microscopic Blood Analysis

Info Source: http://photos.renhe.cn/21188/204248_1623120#anchor in Chinese language.

BRITAIN --- Bigger ambulances for bigger patients (Obesity)

The Straits Times
Feb 5, 2011 (Saturday)

BRITAIN
Bigger ambulances for bigger patients

A total of 24.5 per cent of adults in Britain are classed as obese.

LONDON: Britain is having to buy new ambulances and upgrade others to cope with a growing number of fat patients as an obesity crisis grips the country, a report said on Thursday.

Every ambulance service in Britain has had to buy extra-strength wheelchairs and wider stretchers while reinforcing existing vehicles at a cost of millions of pounds, the BBC said, citing official figures.

Several fleets have also had to buy specialist ambulances costing up to £90,000 (S$184,000) each, according to the figures obtained by the broadcaster.

'The fact is, patients are getting larger and larger and ambulances need to be able to respond immediately to what could be life-threatening situations,' Ms Jo Webber, director of Britain's Ambulance Service Network, told the BBC.

One service, the South Central ambulance trust, has spent more than £1million in the last three years to upgrade nearly two thirds of its 180-strong fleet, it was reported.

The modifications allow ambulances to carry patients weighing up to 144kg.

Britain has the highest obesity level in Europe, with 24.5per cent of adults classed as obese, according to a study released in December by the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The EU average is 14per cent.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Worldwide tsunami of obesity

The Straits Times
Feb 5, 2011 (Saturday)

Worldwide tsunami of obesity

Rates double since 1980; one in three overweight, one in nine obese
PARIS: A 'tsunami of obesity' is unfurling across the world, resulting in a near-doubling of the numbers of dangerously overweight adults since 1980, doctors warned yesterday.

More than half a billion men and women - nearly one in nine of all adults - are clinically obese, according to research by a team from Imperial College London, Harvard University and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In 2008, the latest year for which statistics were available, nearly one woman in seven and one man in 10 were obese, it found.

Being too fat causes three million premature deaths each year from heart disease, diabetes, cancers and other disorders, according to the WHO.

The researchers described the tableau as 'a population emergency'. '(It) will cost tens of millions of preventable deaths unless rapid and widespread actions are taken by governments and health-care systems worldwide,' said the report, published by medical journal The Lancet.

The problem has been most prevalent in rich nations, rising most in the United States, followed by New Zealand and Australia for women, and Britain and Australia for men.

But many developing countries, especially in the Middle East and in rapidly urbanising areas, are catching up.

'These results suggest that (being) overweight affects one in three adults and obesity affects one in nine adults - a tsunami of obesity that will eventually affect all regions of the world,' Dr Sonia Anand and Dr Salim Yusuf of Canada's McMaster University wrote in a commentary accompanying the study.

Global obesity rates more than doubled for men, from 4.8 per cent of male adults in 1980 to 9.8 per cent in 2008. For women, the corresponding jump was from 7.9 per cent to 13.8 per cent.

The standard for assessing weight is the body mass index (BMI), in which one's weight in kilos is divided by the square of one's height in metres.

A BMI of 25 to 30 corresponds to being overweight, while above 30 is obese.
Pacific Islanders weighed in with the highest BMI levels, between 34 and 35, and notched up among the sharpest increases over the last three decades as well.

In Europe, women in Russia and Moldova were at the upper end of the scale with BMIs of 27.2 and 27.1, while the heftiest men on the continent resided in the Czech Republic and Ireland.

At the other end of the spectrum, Swiss women were the most svelte, with their French and Italian counterparts vying for second place.

Italy holds the distinction of being the only country in Europe where women's average BMI declined, dropping from 25.2 to 24.8.

The study found western European countries - especially Iceland, Andorra and Germany - have among the highest cholesterol levels in the world, while African nations have the lowest.

On a positive note, high-income countries have seen a drop in cardiovascular diseases since 1980, despite high levels of obesity.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

SINGAPORE --- 1 in 10 obese, men more so than women

The Straits Times
Feb 5, 2011
SINGAPORE

1 in 10 obese, men more so than women

ONE in 10 people in Singapore is obese, with men having overtaken women as the fatter sex.

The latest National Health Survey results released last November showed that 10 per cent are obese, up from the 6.9 per cent of a sample population surveyed six years earlier.

Obesity rates for both men and women have bulged in that time, but it is the men who have surged past the women.

In 2004, 6.4 per cent of all men were obese - defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more - compared with 7.3 per cent of all women. But now, the number of obese men is 12.1 per cent, compared to 9.5 per cent for women.

Young adults aged 30 to 39 are the most obese group (12.2 per cent), followed by seniors aged 60 to 69 (7.2 per cent).

Malays are the most prone to obesity, with one in four considered obese, double the national average. This is followed by Indians, with the Chinese considered fittest.

The obese are at greater risk of ailments such as diabetes and heart disease.

The Health Promotion Board (HPB), citing a lack of exercise and a growing penchant for eating out as major factors in expanding waistlines here, has over the years targeted educational campaigns in schools to nip unhealthy eating habits in the bud.

Among the new initiatives is engaging food companies on responsible public advertising.

Odds of surviving cancer (Author: Professor Soo Khee Chee)

The following article by Professor Soo Khee Chee is from Mind Your Body of the Straits Times dated 3 Feb 2011, Thu.

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

Odds of surviving cancer

By Professor Soo Khee Chee

One of the most common problems for doctors is to reassure patients diagnosed with cancer and their relatives that cancer is not a death sentence.

And one of the pleasures of working as a surgical oncologist is to see patients who had a seemingly incurable disease turning up at my outpatient clinic 10 to 15 years after treatment.
At the point of diagnosis, patients are often overwhelmed with thoughts of dying and pain.
The danger with such thoughts is that they cause pessimism and desperation, which sometimes lead to irrational decision making.

In truth, with so many advances in surgical techniques, radiation facilities, imaging technology and cancer drugs, the chances for survival have improved dramatically.

With World Cancer Day being marked tomorrow, we look at the many factors that determine the probability of survival. Perhaps one of the most significant is the stage of the cancer when the patient is diagnosed.

We generally divide the development of cancer into stages 1 to 4. Those with stage 1 cancer almost invariably survive while the chances of survival for those with stage 4 cancer are significantly less, though not hopeless.

Take, for example, Ms N, who was referred to me seven years ago when she was 20 years old. To my horror and sadness, she had stage 4 cancer in her head and neck.

Her treatment required mutilating surgery involving the removal of her eye and several lymph nodes from her neck, followed by radiation and chemotherapy.

Three years ago, she was diagnosed with another cancer in her pancreas and had to undergo surgery again.

This brave soul just returned for a review two weeks ago. She graduated from university some years ago and was voted the best worker in her department for her outstanding capabilities and cheerful disposition.

Each time I see her, I am inspired by her fighting spirit.

A second factor in determining one's probability of survival is the location of the tumour, though again, there is sometimes great variance.

For example, in thyroid cancer, the most common variety (papillary cancer) has a 20-year survival rate of 90 per cent, while for the most aggressive variety (anaplastic cancer), 90 per cent of patients are dead within six months. I tell my medical students that if one were to have a choice, I would wish a papillary cancer for myself and for my enemy, an anaplastic cancer.
Similarly, most common skin tumours do very well but others have a relentless growth rate leading to rapid demise.

One such skin tumour is a cancer arising from the blood vessels on the skin - angiosarcoma. In our experience, this tumour is nearly always fatal as it is resistant to chemotherapy and recurs after being excised or given radiation.

Fortunately for Mr M, who had this disease on six sites on his forehead, at the back of his neck and either side of his arms, an experimental therapy being used in a clinical trial at National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) worked. This involved administering a light-sensitive drug and shining a laser light over the tumours some hours later.

Mr M has been disease-free for five years now.

A third factor is individual biological variation. For some inexplicable reasons, some people have cancer that develop aggressively despite being treated at an early stage, while others with late-stage cancer survive much longer than expected.

Ms J, a 26-year-old woman, noticed an ulcer on her tongue during the late stage of her pregnancy. It was diagnosed as a stage 1 cancer and she was treated in another country.
In our experience, those with such cancer have a five-year survival rate of 85 per cent. Unfortunately, the cancer recurred within four months.

We further resected her tongue and neck and gave her chemo-radiotherapy. But our treatment did not succeed and she died within six months.

On the other hand, Mr S, whom I operated on 20 years ago for stage 4 stomach cancer, has remained well when the five-year life expectancy was less than 10 per cent.

Much cancer research is directed to understanding the exact biological factors which sometimes override the stage of the disease in determining survival.

We are in the genomic era and efforts are being made to further characterise cancer based on their molecules. This molecular profile will determine the need for additional treatment and targeted chemotherapy. Personalised cancer treatment based on such research is here, though there is still a lot we do not know.

The fourth factor is the medical team treating the patient with cancer. In a recent publication, it was noted that the choice of the treating physician was as important as the stage of the disease in determining the survival of the cancer patient.

Patients will get the best advice from a multi-disciplinary team that includes surgical, medical and radiation oncologists, and radiologists and pathologists to give input on X-rays and tissue diagnoses. These doctors are often sub-specialists managing a large number of cancer patients in their specific fields. As a result, they are very experienced.

Mrs T, who consulted me 10 years ago, had three operations for recurrent colon cancer. In her last operation, a month prior to seeing me, the surgeon made a cut but then closed it without removing the tumour because it looked inoperable.

We undertook this 10-hour operation and today, she remains disease-free.

The bottom line: Surviving cancer is dependent on many factors and includes making complex decisions.

====================================
Professor Soo Khee Chee is the director of National Cancer Centre Singapore. He is also the vice-dean for clinical and faculty affairs in Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School and the deputy chief executive officer for research and education in Singapore Health Services
====================================

CNY (Chinese New Year) calorie survival guide

The following is from Mind Your Body of the Straits times dated 3 Feb 2011, Thu.
=============================================

Note: The 3rd and 4th of February 2011 are the official public holidays for Singaporen Chinese to celebrate Chinese New Year.

CNY calorie survival guide

Chopsticks are poised. Appetites are at the ready for those traditional Chinese New Year delicacies everyone waits to dig into at this time of the year.

Yusheng, nian gao, kueh bangkit, shrimp rolls, love letters, pineapple tarts and bak kwa are perennial favourites.

What is the harm, you think, as you help yourself to yet another slice of bak kwa. This is the time of the year to indulge without guilt.

While there is no need to be a worrywart, consider this when you nibble on your next slice of bak kwa.

If you weigh 60kg, you would need to jog 30 minutes to burn the calories from that single slice of barbecued meat, according to figures from the Health Promotion Board.

The same goes for other traditional festive foods.

Here is a list of favourite Chinese New Year delicacies with feedback from dietitians on their nutritional value - to help you know just how much gourmandising you can do and when you should stop.

MANDARIN ORANGES
This fruit is low in calories and rich in vitamin C and fibre.
So eat your fill.
ONE ORANGE (116g)
Fat: 0.3g
Sugar: 10.6g
Calories: 51

PEANUTS
The thing about peanuts is that once you get going, you cannot stop. You usually do not realise how many you have eaten. Instead of eating fistfuls of these, dietitians recommend a mix of almonds, raw cashew nuts and groundnuts.
Peanuts are high in monounsaturated fat.
A HANDFUL (20g)
Fat: 10g
Sugar: 0.8g
Calories: 113

YUSHENG
This appetiser looks healthy as it is made up of slices of pomelo, red pickled ginger, cucumber, carrot, white radish, plum sauce, peanuts as well as Chinese spice powder, ground cinnamon, toasted sesame, crackers and fish slices.

However, the crackers and sauce contain quite a few calories. These can be replaced with unsalted peanuts. Add more fresh vegetables, less oil, less plum sauce, less pickles and less crisps to reduce the calories, sugar and fat consumed.

ONE SERVING (387g)
Fat: 42.6g
Sugar: 15.5g
Calories: 561

LOVE LETTERS
This traditional Peranakan treat is also known as kueh kapek or kuih belandah. Made of flour, coconut milk, sugar and egg, love letters are high in calories, fat, saturated fat and sugar, and can contribute to the risk of cardiovascular diseases and weight gain.

TWO PIECES (26g)
Fat: 2.1g
Sugar: 9.9g
Calories: 112

SHRIMP ROLLS
They are made of dried shrimps, dried chillies, shallots, garlic, oil, salt, sugar, spring roll skins and eggs. Commercially prepared shrimp rolls are typically deep fried in palm oil, which is high in saturated fat.

Eat them sparingly because they are high in calories, sodium and saturated fat.

ONE PACKET (45g)
Fat: 14g
Sugar: 2g
Calories: 228

KUEH BANGKIT
It contains a lot of sugar and coconut milk. The recommended daily serving is two to three pieces.

TWO PIECES (12g)
Fat: 2g
Sugar: 2g
Calories: 46

PINEAPPLE TARTS
Its ingredients include pineapple paste, eggs and sugar. This tasty pastry contains a lot of butter (fat). Consuming tarts in excess will lead to weight gain.

You can choose tarts with less sugar and which are trans fat free.

TWO PIECES (40g)
Fat: 8g
Sugar: 12g
Calories: 164

BAK KWA
It is made of minced pork marinated in fish sauce, dark and light soya sauce, rice wine, sugar and honey.

It is high in calories, sodium and sugar. Too much of it can contribute to weight gain and increase your risk of hypertension.

Bak kwa is considered a 'heaty" food in traditional Chinese medicine, so consuming too much may result in coughs, sore throats and ulcers.

ONE SLICE (57g)
Fat: 7.8g
Sugar: 24.5g
Calories: 229

NIAN GAO
This high-caloried treat contains glutinous rice flour, brown sugar and oil. Enough said.
ONE SLICE (20g)

Fat: 0.1g
Sugar: 7g
Calories: 46

====================================
MONOUNSATURATED FAT lowers the risk of heart disease by reducing the total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol levels. Found in: Olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, avocados, nuts and seeds.

SATURATED FAT increases the risk of heart disease by increasing your total and bad cholesterol. Found in: Animal products (such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy products and lard), and coconut, palm and other tropical oils.

TRANS FAT raises low-density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol levels and lowers (good) high-density lipoprotein levels. Found in: Commercially baked goods (such as crackers, cookies and cakes).
====================================

Trans fat may cause depression

The following is from Mind Your Body of the Straits Times dated 3 Feb 2011, Thu
===================================

Trans fat may cause depression

Think of eclairs bulging with custard cream, a huge juicy hamburger, fresh frosted doughnuts or succulent fried chicken and you can think only happy thoughts.

However, scientists reported last week that eating food containing trans fats and saturated fats can contribute to depression. Unfortunately, all of the above foods contain these fats.

Researchers in Spain followed 12,059 people over six years, analysing their diets, lifestyles and medical problems. The people who ate the most trans fats, which are commonly found in pastries and fast food, had a 48 per cent increased risk of depression compared to people who did not eat trans fats.

The study was reported in the journal PLoS One.

People who ate a lot of polyunsaturated fats - a healthier type of fat that is found in olive oil, for example - had a lower risk of depression.

The study was conducted on a population of people that, traditionally, does not consume a diet that is high in trans fats. Nevertheless, the connection between a higher trans-fat intake and depression was still noticeable.

Many people with heart disease also have depression, said the researchers, who were from the universities of Navarra and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It could be that trans fats contribute to both disorders through a similar mechanism.

Bad fat increases inflammation in the body. In the heart, it contributes to the build-up of plaque that can cause heart disease. In the brain, substances secreted by inflammation may interfere with neurotransmitters that affect mood.

Los Angeles Times