Smoothie: Orange + Mango + Cai Xin (Choi Sum, Choy Sum)) + Cold Warer

For the second time since I stopped taking smoothie on 2011-06-04 because of the numbness on the left side of my left foot, at about 1710 Hr on 2011-06-29 (Wednesday) I made a smoothie with the following:

(a) Orange without skin 130 grams
(b) Mango without skin 90 grams
(c) Organic Cai Xin (Choi Sum or Choy Sum) 100 grams
(d) Cold water 150 ml

Method: Use Smoothie Function of Philips Blender HR 2094 for one minute.

Smoothie produced with Philips Blender HR 2094 = About 450 ml

No. of Serves = 1
Tasters: Myself

Verdict: Taste was OK.

Note: Orange = cooling, mango = heaty, Cai Xin = cooling (?)

Smoothie with apple, ginger, orange and cold water

For the fisrt time since I stopped taking smoothie on 2011-06-04 because of the numbness on the left side of my left foot, at about 1620 Hr on 2011-06-28 (Tuesday) I made a smoothie with the following:

(a) Orange without skin 120 grams
(b) Apple without skin 90 grams
(c) Ginger without 10 grams
(d) Cold water 150 ml

Method: Use Smoothie Function of Philips Blender HR 2094 for one minute.

Smoothie produced with Philips Blender HR 2094 = About 400 ml

No. of Serves = 1
Tasters: Myself

Verdict: Taste was OK.

Note: Apple and orange are considered cooling and ginger is heaty.

Smoothie and numbness in my left foot

In an effort to heal the numbness in the left side of my left foot, from 2011-06-04 (Saturday) to 2011-06-27 (Monday), I did not take any smoothie or raw fruits to avoid the cooling effect of apples, oranges and bananas and carrots. I took some vegetables and dried resins and prunes.

In the mean while I have been taking 4 capsules of 大活络丹 COLLATERALS ACTIVATING CAPSULES (Dahuoluo pills)

My left foot is now better but not healed yet.

The muscle ache in my left leg has not improved. I should see TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioner!

My Weight (Loss) Management from 2007-05-28 to 2011-06-28 (weight loss by Calories Restriction With Optimal Nutrition - CRON)

My Weight (Loss) Management from 2007-05-28 to 2011-06-28 (weight loss by Calories Restriction With Optimal Nutrition - CRON)

2007-05-28 morning, my weight = 65.0 kg, BMI = 23.588

2007-06-28 morning, my weight = 61.0 kg, BMI = 22.136

2007-07-28 morning, my weight = 59.0 kg, BMI = 21.410

2007-08-28 morning, my weight = 58.7 kg, BMI = 21.302

2007-09-28 morning, my weight = 57.5 kg, BMI = 20.866

2007-10-28 morning, my weight = 57.5 kg, BMI = 20.866

2007-11-28 morning, my weight = 56.2 kg, BMI = 20.394

2007-12-28 morning, my weight = 55.5 kg, BMI = 20.140

2008-01-28 morning, my weight = 54.8 kg, BMI = 19.886

2008-02-28 morning, my weight = 54.8 kg, BMI = 19.886

2008-03-28 morning, my weight = 54.5 kg, BMI = 19.777

2008-04-28 morning, my weight = 54.4 kg, BMI = 19.741

2008-05-28 morning, my weight = 54.1 kg, BMI = 19.632

2008-06-28 morning, my weight = 54.6 kg, BMI = 19.814

2008-07-28 morning, my weight = 54.5 kg, BMI = 19.777

2008-08-28 morning, my weight = 54.3 kg, BMI = 19.705

2008-09-28 morning, my weight = 54.9 kg, BMI = 19.923

2008-10-28 morning, my weight = 55.3 kg, BMI = 20.068

2008-11-28 morning, my weight = 54.5 kg, BMI = 19.777

2008-12-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177

2009-01-28 morning, my weight = 54.8 kg, BMI = 19.886

2009-02-28 morning, my weight = 55.9 kg, BMI = 20.285

2009-03-28 morning, my weight = 54.8 kg, BMI = 19.886

2009-04-28 morning, my weight = 55.3 kg, BMI = 20.068

2009-05-28 morning, my weight = 55.4 kg, BMI = 20.104.

2009-06-28 morning, my weight = 55.2 kg, BMI = 20.031

2009-07-28 morning, my weight = 55.1 kg, BMI = 19.995

2009-08-28 morning, my weight = 55.2 kg, BMI = 20.031

2009-09-28 morning, my weight = 56.3 kg, BMI = 20.431

2009-10-28 morning, my weight = 55.8 kg, BMI = 20.249

2009-11-28 morning, my weight = 56.2 kg, BMI = 20.394

2009-12-28 morning, my weight = 56.1 kg, BMI = 20.358

2010-01-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177

2010-02-28 morning, my weight = 56.5 kg, BMI = 20.503

2010-03-28 morning, my weight = 56.4 kg, BMI = 20.467

2010-04-28 morning, my weight = 55.7 kg, BMI = 20.213

2010-05-28 morning, my weight = 55.1 kg, BMI = 19.995

2010-06-28 morning, my weight = 56.4 kg, BMI = 20.467

2010-07-28 morning, my weight = 55.5 kg, BMI = 20.140

2010-08-28 morning, my weight = 55.8 kg, BMI = 20.249

2010-09-28 morning, my weight = 55.8 kg, BMI = 20.249

2010-10-28 morning, my weight = 55.4 kg, BMI = 20.104

2010-11-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177

2010-12-28 morning, my weight = 55.5 kg, BMI = 20.140

2011-01-28 morning, my weight = 55.4 kg, BMI = 20.104

2011-02-28 morning, my weight = 56.5 kg, BMI = 20.503

2011-03-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177

2011-04-28 morning, my weight = 55.7 kg, BMI = 20.213

2011-05-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177

2011-06-28 morning, my weight = 56.3 kg, BMI = 20.431

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

Note 2:

At 0530 hour of 2011-05-28. Watson Scale = 55.1kg + 500g = 55.6 kg

(Tanita BC 532 Scale is out of order)

At 0530 hour of 2011-04-28. Watson Scale = 55.2kg + 500g = 55.7 kg

(Tanita BC 532 Scale is out of order)

At 0730 hour of 2011-03-28. Watson Scale = 55.1kg + 500g = 55.6 kg

(Tanita BC 532 Scale is out of order)

At 0530 hour of 2011-02-28. Watson Scale = 56.0 kg + 500g = 56.5 kg

(Tanita BC 532 Scale is out of order)

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

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

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

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

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

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

At 0530 hour of 2010-07-28. Watson Scale = 55.0 kg + 500g = 55.5kg

But Tanita Scale = not used

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

But Tanita Scale = 56.2 kg .

At 0650 hour of 2010-04-28. Watson Scale = 55.2 kg and

Tanita Scale = 55.7 kg which is the same as Watson reading (in kg) + 500g.

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

At 0530 hour of 2010-06-28. Watson Scale = 55.8kg + 500g = 56.3 kg

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

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

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

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

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

To be healthy, I must have a healthy weight.

Be as lean as possible without being underweight, as recommended by World Cancer Prevention Foundation, United Kingdom.

How to prepare flaxseeds or almonds for blending

Picture Source: www.healingdaily.com/.../flaxseed.htm

Picture Source: http://stay-healthy-and-energetic.blogspot.com/2011/04/benefits-of-almonds.html

On the evening of 2011-06-19, Sunday, I attended a fee-paying workshop on smoothie. The following is one of the useful things I learned.

To get flaxseeds or almonds ready for blending, just soak it in water and leave it the fridge for 10 to 12 hours. Then throw away the water, put it back in the fridge and use it in one or two hours. That's all!

What Is Anemia? (by webmd.com)

Info source: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-anemia-basics

What Is Anemia?

Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. These cells are the main transporters of oxygen to organs. If red blood cells are also deficient in hemoglobin, then your body isn't getting enough oxygen. Symptoms of anemia -- like fatigue -- occur because organs aren't getting what they need to function properly.
Anemia is the most common blood condition in the U.S. It affects about 3.5 million Americans. Women and people with chronic diseases are at increased risk of anemia. Important factors to remember are:

· Certain forms of anemia are hereditary and infants may be affected from the time of birth.

· Women in the childbearing years are particularly susceptible to a form of anemia called iron-deficiency anemia because of the blood loss from menstruation and the increased blood supply demands during pregnancy.

· Seniors also may have a greater risk of developing anemia because of poor diet and other medical conditions.


For more info, please visit http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-anemia-basics

My very good Total PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test results on 2011-06-08

My Total PSA (prostate-specific antigen ) test results from my health screening on 2011-06-08, Wednesday is as follows.

Total PSA = 0.417 (Ref. Range: < 4.000 ug/L)

My PSA result is very good! This is probably due to my mainly simple plant-based diet.

If you have any comments or advice, please let me know.

.==========================================

The following info is from:

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/providers/pub/cancer/psa/psa_guide/qa.html

What is PSA?

An abnormal PSA result has often been defined as > 4.0 ug/L and is frequently used as a cut-point in the prostate cancer literature.

Generally, experts do not recommend biopsying men younger than 60 years of age whose PSA levels are <4.0 ug/L, unless there is a concomitant abnormal DRE.

However, more than 20% of men with diagnosed prostate cancer have PSA levels lower than this.

Research has shown that prostate cancer can be detected within 3-5 years in 13%-20% of men whose PSA levels are between 2.6 and 4.0 ug/L.

Importantly, about 30% of men with PSA levels between 4.0-10.0 ug/L have cancers that have extruded beyond the prostatic capsule at the time of diagnosis with concomitant poorer prognosis.

A strategy for reducing unnecessary biopsies may be to measure free-to-total PSA levels, enhancing specificity.

In one study, Catalona and colleagues looked at the prevalence and clinicopathological features of prostate cancer in men with PSA levels of 2.6-4.0 ug/L and benign DRE to see if measuring the percentage of free PSA could reduce the number of additional biopsies needed.

Of 14,193 men who had PSA and DRE, 914 volunteers aged 50 and over had PSA levels of 2.6-4.0 ug/L with BPH and no prior suspicious screening tests.

Of these, 332 (36%) underwent ultrasound-guided-sextant needle biopsy. Cancer was detected in 73 (22%). Fifty-two of these cases were surgically staged; of these, 42 (81%) were organ-confined.
Ten per cent had clinically low-volume or low-grade tumours; and 17% were low-volume or low-moderate grade (possibly harmless).

Using a free PSA cut-off of <= 27% as the criterion for doing biopsy would have detected 90% of cancers, avoided 18% of benign biopsies (false positives), and produced a positive predictive value of 24% in men who had a biopsy performed.

By reducing the lower PSA cut-off, it may be possible to reduce the number of additional biopsies required.

Medical Treatment for Anemia (by emedicinehealth.com)

info Source: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anemia/page7_em.htm

Medical treatment of anemia varies widely and depends on the cause and the severity of anemia.

If anemia is mild and associated with no symptoms or minimal symptoms, a thorough investigation by a doctor will be done in the outpatient setting (doctor's office). If any cause is found, then appropriate treatment will be started. For example, if anemia is mild and is found to be related to low iron levels, then iron supplements may be given while further investigation to determine the cause of the iron deficiency is carried out.

On the other hand, if anemia is related to sudden blood loss from an injury or a rapidly bleeding stomach ulcer, then hospitalization and transfusion of red blood cells may be required to relieve the symptoms and replace the lost blood. Further measures to control the bleeding may occur at the same time to stop further blood loss.

Blood transfusion may be required in other less critical circumstances as well. For example, an individual who is receiving chemotherapy for a cancer may be expected by the treating physician to have bone marrow problems related to the chemotherapy. Therefore, the doctor may check blood counts routinely, and if the levels get to a low enough level, he or she may order a red blood cell transfusion to help with the symptoms of anemia.

How to Eat for Anemia as a Vegetarian (by Christe Bruderlin-Nelson, eHow Contributor )

Ref: Health Anemia How to Eat for Anemia as a Vegetarian.doc

Please visit http://www.ehow.com/how_2301625_eat-anemia-as-vegetarian.html

Guardian Iron 30 mg

On 2011-06-09, Thursay, I bought a bottle of Guardian Iron 30 mg from a Guardina shop near my home at S$6.95 after 30% discount.

Description:

Guardian Iron is essential for the formation of haemoglobin present in red blood cells.

Haemoglobin transports oxygen around the body that helps to support energy level and maintain healthy skin, nails, teeth and body tissues.

• Help support energy level

• Maintain healthy skin, nails, teeth and body tissues

• Suitable for use during pregnancy

Pack size : 60 Tablets

Made in Singapore

大活络丹 COLLATERALS ACTIVATING CAPSULES (50 capsules) manufactured by TONG JUM CHEW Pte Ltd

On 2011-06-08, I bought 大活络丹 COLLATERALS ACTIVATING CAPSULES (Dahuoluo pills) manufactured by TONG JUM CHEW Pte Ltd from a Chinese Medical Hall near my home at S$17.00 a bottle with 50 capsules in an attemp to heal the numbness in my letft foot and aching of my right legs.

The diet of Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara (日野原 重明), the most famous 100 year-old man in Japan as at 14 February 2011)

The diet of Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara(日野原 重明), the most famous 100 year-old man in Japan as at 14 February 2011) is as follows:

"For breakfast I drink coffee, a glass of milk and some orange juice with a tablespoon of olive oil in it. Olive oil is great for the arteries and keeps my skin healthy. Lunch is milk and a few cookies, or nothing when I am too busy to eat. I never get hungry because I focus on my work. Dinner is veggies, a bit of fish and rice, and, twice a week, 100 grams of lean meat." (See http://hl123.blogspot.com/2011/06/dr-shigeaki-hinohara-some-info-of-dr.html)

Note : According to (http://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/eng/current/Lesson_of_Life_at_Meisei_Gakuen.html,

Dr Shigeaki Hinohara is the most famous 100 year-old man in Japan. Hinohara is a medical doctor who lives life to the fullest. He gives talks throughout Japan, encouraging people of all age groups to live healthy, productive lives.Hinohara is the president of St. Luke's International Hospital, a recipient of Japan’s Order of Culture, and chairman of the Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation. Recently, he visited the Meisei Gakuen School for the Deaf, and spoke to the students there on a theme entitled “Lesson of Life.”

Dr. SHIGEAKI HINOHARA (日野原 重明) (Some info of Dr. SHIGEAKI HINOHARA)

Info source: http://www.t-i-forum.co.jp/english/magazine/ffe/vol29fp.html (Created 2002?)


Dr. SHIGEAKI HINOHARA (日野原 重明)
President and Honorary Director of St. Luke's International Hospital

Shigeaki HinoharaBorn in Yamagata Prefecture in 1911.

His father was a pastor. Graduated from the Medical School of Kyoto Imperial University, gaining a doctorate in internal medicine from the Graduate School of the same university. In 1941, he joined the staff of St. Luke's International Hospital.

For 1 year from 1951, he studied at Emory University in Georgia, USA. After returning to Japan, he was promoted to Director of Internal Medicine and Deputy Director of the Hospital before being appointed President of St. Luke's College of Nursing from 1974 to 1998.

Currently serves as President of St. Luke's Institute of Nursing, Honorary Rector of St. Luke's College of Nursing, and President and Honorary Director of St. Luke's International Hospital.Dr. Hinohara is a specialist in heart disease. After touring hospices in Europe and America, he formed the "Clinical Research Group on Mortality".

Known as a pioneer of the "human dock", his pet theory is "patient-participation medicine", in which medicine is not merely left to the doctors.

In 1973, he set up the "Life Planning Center" under the motto of "lifelong health", and was appointed its President.

In 2000 he adapted the best-selling picture book "Happa no Freddy" (Freddy the Leaf) as a stage musical, and is active in a wide variety of other fields. His many publications include "Ikikata Jozu" (Good At Living) and "Ongaku no Iyashi no Chikara" (The Healing Power of Music).

WORDS TO LIVE BY (Note: Japan's 97-year-old physician educator offers advice for seniors )

Photo by JUDIT KAWAGUCHI

Information source: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090129jk.html

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Author/physician Shigeaki Hinohara

Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009 By JUDIT KAWAGUCHI

At the age of 97 years and 4 months, Shigeaki Hinohara is one of the world's longest-serving physicians and educators. Hinohara's magic touch is legendary: Since 1941 he has been healing patients at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo and teaching at St. Luke's College of Nursing.

After World War II, he envisioned a world-class hospital and college springing from the ruins of Tokyo; thanks to his pioneering spirit and business savvy, the doctor turned these institutions into the nation's top medical facility and nursing school.

Today he serves as chairman of the board of trustees at both organizations. Always willing to try new things, he has published around 150 books since his 75th birthday, including one "Living Long, Living Good" that has sold more than 1.2 million copies.

As the founder of the New Elderly Movement, Hinohara encourages others to live a long and happy life, a quest in which no role model is better than the doctor himself.

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

Energy comes from feeling good, not from eating well or sleeping a lot. We all remember how as children, when we were having fun, we often forgot to eat or sleep. I believe that we can keep that attitude as adults, too. It's best not to tire the body with too many rules such as lunchtime and bedtime.

All people who live long — regardless of nationality, race or gender — share one thing in common: None are overweight. For breakfast I drink coffee, a glass of milk and some orange juice with a tablespoon of olive oil in it. Olive oil is great for the arteries and keeps my skin healthy. Lunch is milk and a few cookies, or nothing when I am too busy to eat. I never get hungry because I focus on my work. Dinner is veggies, a bit of fish and rice, and, twice a week, 100 grams of lean meat.

Always plan ahead. My schedule book is already full until 2014, with lecturesand my usual hospital work. In 2016 I'll have some fun, though: I plan to attend the Tokyo Olympics!

There is no need to ever retire, but if one must, it should be a lot later than 65. The current retirement age was set at 65 half a century ago, when the average life-expectancy in Japan was 68 years and only 125 Japanese were over 100 years old. Today, Japanese women live to be around 86 and men 80, and we have 36,000 centenarians in our country. In 20 years we will have about 50,000 people over the age of 100.

Share what you know. I give 150 lectures a year, some for 100 elementary-school children, others for 4,500 business people. I usually speak for 60 to 90 minutes, standing, to stay strong.

When a doctor recommends you take a test or have some surgery, ask whether the doctor would suggest that his or her spouse or children go through such a procedure. Contrary to popular belief, doctors can't cure everyone. So why cause unnecessary pain with surgery? I think music and animal therapy can help more than most doctors imagine.

To stay healthy, always take the stairs and carry your own stuff. I take two stairs at a time, to get my muscles moving.

My inspiration is Robert Browning's poem "Abt Vogler." My father used to read it to me. It encourages us to make big art, not small scribbles. It says to try to draw a circle so huge that there is no way we can finish it while we are alive. All we see is an arch; the rest is beyond our vision but it is there in the distance.

Pain is mysterious, and having fun is the best way to forget it. If a child has a toothache, and you start playing a game together, he or she immediately forgets the pain. Hospitals must cater to the basic need of patients: We all want to have fun. At St. Luke's we have music and animal therapies, and art classes.

Don't be crazy about amassing material things. Remember: You don't know when your number is up, and you can't take it with you to the next place.

Hospitals must be designed and prepared for major disasters, and they must accept every patient who appears at their doors. We designed St. Luke's so we can operate anywhere: in the basement, in the corridors, in the chapel. Most people thought I was crazy to prepare for a catastrophe, but on March 20, 1995, I was unfortunately proven right when members of the Aum Shinrikyu religious cult launched a terrorist attack in the Tokyo subway. We accepted 740 victims and in two hours figured out that it was sarin gas that had hit them. Sadly we lost one person, but we saved 739 lives.

Science alone can't cure or help people. Science lumps us all together, but illness is individual. Each person is unique, and diseases are connected to their hearts. To know the illness and help people, we need liberal and visual arts, not just medical ones.

Life is filled with incidents. On March 31, 1970, when I was 59 years old, I boarded the Yodogo, a flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and as Mount Fuji came into sight, the plane was hijacked by the Japanese Communist League-Red Army Faction. I spent the next four days handcuffed to my seat in 40-degree heat. As a doctor, I looked at it all as an experiment and was amazed at how the body slowed down in a crisis.

Find a role model and aim to achieve even more than they could ever do. My father went to the United States in 1900 to study at Duke University in North Carolina. He was a pioneer and one of my heroes. Later I found a few more life guides, and when I am stuck, I ask myself how they would deal with the problem.

It's wonderful to live long. Until one is 60 years old, it is easy to work for one's family and to achieve one's goals. But in our later years, we should strive to contribute to society. Since the age of 65, I have worked as a volunteer. I still put in 18 hours seven days a week and love every minute of it.

Judit Kawaguchi loves to listen. She is a volunteer counselor and a TV reporter on NHK's "Out & About." Learn more at: http://juditfan.blog58.fc2.com/

Information related to senior services and aging for Senior citizens in West Virginia and other old people in the world

On 2011-06-05, Sunday, 1100 am, I found a useful website for old people: http://www.wvseniors.org/

The following info is from:
http://www.wvseniors.org/about.asp

Senior citizens in West Virginia now have one place they can turn to for information on anything related to senior services and aging.

WVSeniors.org is a website that features information, community and news - all at one easy-to-remember address.

At WVSeniors.org, you can:

Search for senior services throughout the state.
Ask experts questions about geriatric medicine, pharmacy, social services, and more.
Check a calendar of senior events statewide.
Access a library of information on aging.
Read and post discussions about topics that interest you.
Read senior-related news, articles and columns.
Visit the growing list of links to online resources for seniors.
Send and read e-mail.
Join groups and talk with others that have interests in similar areas.
Chat in real time with others.

Sudden food allergy

Mind Your Body of The Straits Times dated 2 June 2011, Thursday

Sudden food allergy

Food which you have been eating for years may suddenly produce an allergic reaction. Lea Wee reports
======================================
Ms Ong Wei Ling carries an Epipen, which releases adrenaline, with her after developing an allergy to buckwheat six years ago.


Food-lover Ong Wei Ling, 30, was game when a friend asked her to sample soba (Japanese buckwheat noodles) in a restaurant six years ago.

But five minutes into the dish, the 30-year-old manager said her throat became dry and painful.
She said: 'My stomach started churning and I quickly went to the toilet and vomited.'

In the hospital, more than an hour later, her body started to itch and break out in hives.
She became breathless and the doctor gave her a shot of adrenaline, which improves breathing and brings up blood pressure.

She was found to be allergic to the buckwheat grain in soba.

Though food allergies are less common in adults than children, they can strike for the first time in adulthood.

Figures from the West show food allergies occur in one to two out of every 100 adults, compared to six to eight in every 100 infants, said Dr Cheng Yew Kuang, a consultant allergist and immunologist from Gleneagles Medical Centre.

People can carry on a food allergy from childhood or acquire one in their adult years. Unlike children, once adults have a food allergy, it tends to persist, said doctors here.

Most children outgrow their food allergies, with the exception of those who are allergic to peanuts, tree nuts or shellfish.

Dr Cheng cited a 2007 study here which showed that crustaceans, like shrimps and crabs, and molluscs, like the cone-shaped limpets, are the most common foods implicated in adult food allergies.

Adults tend to be allergic to a wider variety of food compared to children, said Dr Justina Tan, an associate consultant in rheumatology, allergy and immunology from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).

This may simply be because they are exposed to more food, she said.

It also means a lot of detective work is needed to find out which food is causing the reaction.
Dr Tan said: 'Many ingredients can go into preparing a particular meal. If a person develops an allergic reaction after attending a 10-course wedding dinner, we may have to liaise with the hotel regarding each course that was served and find out what was put into each dish.'

She has patients who are allergic to dragonfruit and food baked or fried in dust mite-contaminated flour. One patient, who thought he was allergic to ang ku kueh (steamed glutinous rice flour cake), turned out to be reacting to the mung beans inside.

These types of food may not be included in the commercial extracts of the skin prick test, when a few drops of the purified allergen is introduced through a pin prick in the skin's surface to test for a reaction.

Said Dr Tan: 'Sometimes, we have to get our nurses to buy the problem food outside so that we can send it to the laboratory to make our own extract for a skin prick test.'

Adults can react to a food they are eating for the first time or they could react to a food they were previously tolerant of.

Polytechnic student Low Si Pei, 19, developed itching, swelling around her mouth and breathing difficulties after she ate fish during a Chinese New Year dinner with her relatives in Malaysia in February.

She said: 'As far as I can recall, I have been eating fish every day for years without any problem.'
She did not believe she was allergic to fish.

A few days later, she decided to sample some home-cooked tilapia. Again, she felt itching and swelling around her mouth and an 'uncomfortable feeling' in her throat.

It was only then that she decided to see a specialist, who confirmed she was indeed allergic to fish.

In food allergy, the immune system mistakes a particular food protein as harmful.
The first time the person eats the food, his immune system responds by creating immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies against it. The person is said to be sensitised but not yet allergic to the food protein.

He becomes allergic when subsequent encounters invoke the same reaction from his immune system, triggering the release of IgE antibodies and chemicals such as histamines.

This produces the classical symptoms of an allergy, such as hives, itching, nausea, diarrhoea or vomiting.

In a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, the throat tightens and the blood pressure drops. The person can collapse or even die.

Nobody knows when a sensitised person will develop his first allergic symptoms, said Dr Tan.
Someone like Ms Low can be sensitised to fish as a child, but continue to eat fish with no problems throughout adolescence, only to suddenly develop an allergic reaction to it as an adult.
Dr Tan said people can also develop a reaction to a food they are eating for the first time if the food shares a similar protein to another food they are sensitised or allergic to.

In children, food allergies are often blamed on an immature immune system, which could explain why many subsequently outgrow their allergies as their immune system matures, said Dr Tan.
In adults, however, she said it is still unclear what causes this 'mature' immune system to change.

Some researchers blame it on genes while others say it is the environment.

One theory is that viruses in the environment could weaken the immune system, but this theory remains unproven.

Doctors do know, however, that adult food allergies share certain traits with childhood food allergies.

Both are more common in people who have another allergy, such as asthma, eczema or allergic rhinitis, said Dr Cheng.

And like childhood food allergies, adult food allergies can also cause severe anaphylactic reaction - a fact Ms Ong is well aware of.

She carries a self-injectable dose of adrenaline called an Epipen in her handbag wherever she goes.

But her allergy to buckwheat has not dampened her love for sampling different types of food, including, most recently, puffer fish.

She said: 'I will be fine so long as I avoid buckwheat.'

“Why Do Vegetarians and Vegans Weigh Less?” by Sara Novak

The following is the extract of the article “Why Do Vegetarians and Vegans Weigh Less?” by Sara Novak published in http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/why-do-vegetarians-and-vegans-weigh-less.html on Tue May 17, 2011 11:30.


“First off, this isn't true of all vegetarians and vegans. It's usually those that eat a whole foods diet full of fruits, vegetables, soy, beans, nuts, seeds and free of processed foods, that enjoy the most weight loss. This results because the meat-free whole food choices tend to be less calorie dense. Animal proteins tend to be more calorie dense than plant-based proteins.

For example, a 4 oz serving of garbanzo beans has 135 calories and 2 grams of fat while a 4 oz piece of filet has 232 calories and 10 grams of fat. A 4 oz serving of firm tofu has 88 calories and 5 grams of fat and a 4 oz serving of salmon has 237 calories and 29 grams of fat.

While there are some less caloric choices like skinless chicken breast or a lean leg of lamb, when you break down the numbers, there tend to be more calories in meat than plant-based protein sources.

Healthy vegetarians and vegans also eat a lot more, you guess it, fruits and vegetables. Eating loads of fiber-filled fruits and veggies tend to fill you up faster with less calories.

Vegans Weigh Even Less

Vegans experience more dramatic weight loss when compared to vegetarians because they don't eat any animal products like butter, cheese, and eggs.

Not having cheese on that veggie sandwich or stinky bleu cheese atop your salad means less calories in the end. There are fewer calorie dense sources of food on a vegan diet and the foods that are fatty are loaded with healthful nutrients, specifically raw nuts, seeds, and avocado. “

For more information, please visit http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/why-do-vegetarians-and-vegans-weigh-less.html

Food that can kill a child

The Straits Times, Mind Your Body , May 26, 2011

Cover story

Food that can kill a child

Yet the problem of food allergy is not being taken seriously here. The Health Ministry has come up with a set of guidelines to address the problem
By Lea Wee


Amy Tan, 11, was diagnosed with a peanut allergy when she was six months old. But it was not until she was five that her mother realised how serious this could be.

The 48-year-old housewife, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Tan, recalled: 'We were at a birthday barbecue and she suddenly came up to me, complaining of chest pain. Then she started wheezing and was breathless.'

Mrs Tan and her husband bundled Amy into a cab and headed first for a clinic, but redirected the cab to a hospital when she became drowsy 10minutes later.

There, they were told that Amy was having a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, probably triggered by peanut traces in the barbecued food, which could have killed her.

Since then, Mrs Tan said she has always carried an instant antidote called an Epipen (Picture 5), which can be used to inject a shot of epinephrine, commonly called adrenaline. Thankfully, there has not been a need to use it so far.

The Tans' initial lack of awareness of the seriousness of their child's food allergy is not unusual. Not enough people, including doctors, realise how serious a food allergy can be, said Dr Lee Bee Wah, who chaired a group of allergy experts to draft the first Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines on managing food allergy for doctors last June.

The group also came up with a patient's guide to address what it sees as 'the trivialising of true food allergy', a leading cause of anaphylaxis in Singapore.

The patient's guide shows how one can recognise the symptoms of an anaphylactic attack, what to do during an attack and how to use an Epipen to revive a person in an emergency. The ministry's guidelines advise doctors on when to prescribe self-injectable epinephrine.

Anaphylaxis can be triggered in a person with a food allergy when he is exposed to the problem food. In severe cases, he can become breathless, lose consciousness or even die. An Epipen acts within seconds to improve breathing and bring up the blood pressure while the ambulance is on its way.

The MOH guidelines are timely. A recent study by the National University Hospital found that fewer than one out of every 10 Singapore children with a peanut or tree nut allergy is prescribed an Epipen. Tree nuts include cashews and walnuts but not coconuts. Nut allergies are common causes of food-induced anaphylaxis worldwide.

In contrast, more than six out of every 10 expatriate children in Singapore with the same allergies are given a prescription.

One possible reason is because peanut or tree nut allergies are more common in the expatriate population than in Singaporean children. But more worryingly, it could also be that doctors here are under-prescribing the Epipen, or that parents do not want one because they find them unnecessary or costly, said Associate Professor Lynette Shek, who authored the study. An Epipen costs around $150.

Expatriate children are either prescribed the Epipen overseas or, if diagnosed here, have parents who are more open to the prescription.

The MOH guidelines advise doctors to prescribe self-injectable epinephrine to people who have had a previous life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. They should also prescribe it to patients who have a severe peanut or tree nut allergy even if they have not had a previous life-threatening experience, especially when they also suffer from asthma.

The MOH guidelines were drafted against the backdrop of rising food allergies in the West. Some believe it is the next epidemic in allergies, after asthma between the 1960s and 1990s.
In the West, 6 to 8 per cent of a population have food allergies. The rise of peanut allergy has been the most rapid, doubling in countries like the United States, where about 150 people die every year of food-induced anaphylaxis.

It is unclear why food allergies are on the rise in the West, but some theorise it is because of previous guidelines which encouraged parents to avoid introducing allergenic foods to babies, which then had the unintended effect of sensitising the infants to these foods. It is unclear why the rise of peanut allergy has been the most rapid.

There were no such guidelines in Singapore but it was not uncommon for doctors and parents here to follow what the Western experts say. The concern is that Singapore might not be spared from the rising trend of food allergies. Physicians say they are seeing more children with food allergies but are unable to give exact figures.

A recent survey shows that the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) sees one to two cases of food-induced allergy attacks every month.

While deaths have not been reported here, consultant paediatrician at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Dr Liew Woei Kang, warns that if there is truly a rise in food allergy cases here, we can expect 'accidents to happen', especially when there is little public awareness of the condition here.
There is only one support group for Singaporean parents whose children have food allergies but the group rarely has any activities.

Some schoolteachers have told parents that in an emergency, they are not comfortable with administering an Epipen, as they are 'not medically trained'.

Restaurants and supermarkets here do not take the problem seriously and can be minefields for children with food allergies.

Expatriate lawyer, Mrs Asa Tucker, 43, whose two daughters, aged 11 and 12, are allergic to peanuts, finds it more stressful to dine out and buy food here compared to the United States, where she used to live.

Restaurants serve desserts with peanuts in them, even when she asks them not to, and food products sometimes come with no ingredient lists. In the US, it is compulsory for food manufacturers to list the ingredients in their products.

Ironically, the low awareness of food allergy here has led to the rise in falsely diagnosed allergies, largely due to a proliferation of unproven tests. This is addressed in the MOH's guidelines.
There are at least five unproven tests used by doctors, nutritionists and laboratories, which do not test for immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies that are typically associated with allergies.
The danger of such tests is that a person can end up being wrongly diagnosed with a food allergy. This could lead him to miss out on important nutrients if he avoids certain foods. Said Dr Lee: 'In children, it could prevent them from reaching their optimal growth and development.'
The MOH guidelines recommend the skin prick test or a a food-specific IgE blood test to find out if a person is allergic to a specific food.

If these tests are negative, but the child still shows signs of a food allergy, he may undergo other tests.

This could be an elimination diet, where the suspect allergenic foods are removed from the diet for a few weeks and then added back to the diet one at a time. It could also be the gold standard food challenge test, where a small amount of the problem food is introduced to the child under close medical supervision.

The over-diagnosis of food allergy is not just a problem in Singapore.

Said Dr Lee: 'People tend to blame their symptoms on the food they eat. It is a global tendency.