Red wine -anti aging for the heart :study

A natural compound found in red wine may protect the heart against the effects of the aging process. In a study, mice were given a diet supplemented with the compound known as resveratrol starting at their equivalent of middle age until old age.

These mice experienced changes in their gene activity related to aging in a way very similar to mice that were placed on a so-called calorie restriction diet that slows the aging process by greatly cutting dietary energy intake.

Most striking was how the resveratrol, like calorie restriction, blocked the decline in heart function typically associated with aging.

Researchers now are seeking ways to extend the quality and length of human life. In some studies, animals given a diet with greatly reduced caloric intake have lived longer than animals with normal diets. But perpetual hunger is a steep price to pay for greater longevity, some researchers say.

 

The researchers began giving the resveratrol diet to the mice when they were 14 months old - their middle age-and followed the animals until they were about 30 months old. The researchers then conducted tests on cardiac function and on gene activity related to aging.

 Resveratrol at low doses can retard some aspects of the aging process, including heart aging, and it may do so by mimicking some of the effects of caloric restriction, which is known to retard aging in several tissues and extend life span..

Using a method that permits simultaneous analysis of thousands of genes at the same time, the researchers found a huge overlap in the genes whose activity were changed by resveratrol and caloric restriction. They looked at the heart, brain and muscles, and said that the effect of resveratrol was strongest in the heart but d id prevent some aging-related changes in the other tissues.

Big breakfast diet more effective - study

A big breakfast packed with protein and carbohydrates followed by a low carb, low -calorie diet the rest of the day is the way to lose weight and keep it off.

The "big breakfast" diet works because it controls appetite and satisfies cravings for sweets and starches.

It's also healthier than popular low-carb diets because it allows people to eat more fiber-and vitamin-rich fruit.

Most weight loss studies have determined that a very low carbohydrate diet is not a good method to reduce weight. It exacerbates the craving for carbohydrates and slows metabolism. As a result, after a short period of weight loss, there is a quick return to obesity. Compared their high-carb and protein "big breakfast" diet with a strict low-carb diet in 95 obese, sedentary women.  

Both diets were low in fat and total calories but differed markedly in their carbohydrate content.

The 45 women on the very-low-carb diet consumed 1,086 calories a day, consisting of 18 grams of carbohydrates, 50 grams of protein and 77 grams of fat. The smallest meal was breakfast, at 291 calories. For breakfast, the low-carb dieters were allowed only 8 grams of carbohydrates, such as bread, fruit, cereal and milk, and they could eat just 11 grams of protein, such as meat and eggs, in the morning.

In contrast, the 48 women on the "big breakfast diet" consumed 1,241 calories a day. Although lower in total fat (45 grams) than the other diet, the big breakfast diet had higher daily allotments of carbs (98 grams) and protein (92 grams). Dieters ate a 611-calorie breakfast, consisting of 59 grams of carbs, 48 grams of protein and 23 fat grams.

For lunch, they got 396 calories, made up of 35 grams of carbs, 29 grams of protein and 12 grams of fat. Dinner - the smallest meal of the day – was made up of 236 calories (5, 18 and 26 grams of carbs, protein, and fat, respectively).

At four months, there was no significant weight-loss difference between the two diet groups. Women on the strict low-carb diet shed an average of about 29 pounds, while women on the big breakfast diet lost nearly 24 pounds, on average. But at eight months, the low-carb dieters regained an average of 18 pounds, while the big breakfast dieters continued to lose weight, shedding another 7 pounds.

Those on the big breakfast diet lost more than 22 percent of their body weight, compared with just 4.6 percent for the low-carb group. Women who ate a big breakfast reported feeling less hungry, especially before lunch, and having fewer cravings for carbs than women on the low-carb diet. 

Lunch at " Eighth Street" In Bandar Baharu, Penang

I have been to this restaurant for two times and I really loved the food there.  It is about 45 minutes from the Penang Bridge toll and it is on the mainland and also the North South highway to the South.

I have told my wife that it is very famous for river fish and she has been longing to eat the restaurant.  So, last night , I mooted the idea of inviting her younger brother,ES  to join us for the lunch.  I was not quite sure of the place but luckily, ES could remember the place.

He came to my house at 11 am this monring and we set off for the restaurant at 11.30am. His son and girlfriend, N joined us for the lunch.

There are about six or seven river fish restaurant in Bandar Bahru and we choose the restaurant located in the 8th street in the Kampung town. Most the houses were wooden and we noticed a few concrete bungalows in the sleepy town.

At the restaurant, ES and my wife did the ordering and they choose two plate of fish , two plates of prawns and two plates of vegetable. The " Namkor" fish was 1.4 kilo while the mud fish was much smaller.  The namkor fish was about RM70  per kilo and in Penang Island , it is about RM160 per kilo.  The fish was very delicious and there was so much flesh . The mud fish was okay only while the prawns, one plate was fried with curry and another was steam with eggs.The prawns were also very sweet and delicious while the vegetables' taste was good.  The total billfor 5 of us including five coconut drinks was about RM271.  If we

Our life is lead by our choice

I could have shut up during a meeting in KL and let the process run by itself. But, I choose to add my comments to the process and based on my thinking at that time , it was a logical action but after coming out of the meeting, I decided to change my decision and withdraw my support for the process.  Immediately, I sent out an email to inform the Chairman of the meeting about my retraction of my comments and support.

After I have sent out the email, the next moment, there were many email comments directing at my retraction. Some members said that I am bond to my comments while others said that I am not ethical or unprofessional and I should check before I  comment on the process.

I was a bit puzzled at the response I received and the matter was not in the agenda of the meeting and it was brought out as an impromptu agenda and it was like a discussion and no votes were taken. How can it be binding?  Some member even take over the power of the Chair and disregard my withdrawal of support.

This incident really open up my eyes and let me see how people who have been very passive can be provoked into an anger and aggressive manner if they interest is in jeapordy or their rice bowl is under threat.  It was like driving on the road and when a car or a bike nearly hit your car  or block your path, the re-action is anger and provoke you in a rage.   This is because your safety is been threaten.

There are many people with a different agenda and most important is to safeguard their interest above all. So, their choice is to protect themselves and dispel any aggression towards their interest. It is a natural animal instinct in any person unless you have enough knowledge and wisdom to handle the situation to give way or accept the provision of other people's interest.  This is again your choice of action.

We are disturbed by ourself interest and our ego and pride.  Most of our choice of words and action is driven by these factors.  So, who is going to give you money if they have worked hard for it or struggle for it ?  To be right minded , we want other people to work as hard as us to earn the money we will get. Any lesser effort will make us angry or less easier to give us our money.

The exercise of our choices in our  will set our destiny and sometimes, the wrong choice could lead us to the right path because we are able to gap the chances which arisen on our journy through life. But, many things are pre-destined and fate.

Namaste.

Good colors for CNY 2013 snake year - news

Let's instead talk about auspicious colours for the Chinese New Year first.

If your favourite colours are blue, green and purple, then you are in sync with the colours for next year, the Year of the Snake. 

Even though red is the default colour for Chinese New Year and all other celebrations, feng shui experts indicated that the lucky colours for the upcoming Year of the Snake are blue, green and purple. 

Blue has been cited as the most favourable colour, as it represents the “water” element, while red and yellow, representing fire and earth respectively, would be less favourable options for the year ahead. 

It is not just for clothes. It also applies to buying a new car to choosing accessories for your handphone. Blue, green and purple are good colours to choose. 

“You could even paint a small portion of your home in one of these colours,” said Malaysian Institute of Geomancy Sciences (Mings) president Prof Joe Choo, adding that the colours would attract good luck. 

The Year of Snake begins on Feb 10, which is the first day of Chinese New Year. 

For businesses resuming after the new year, Sunday, Feb 17 is the best date to start work. This is the 8th day of the new lunar year. 

It is still favourable to start work the following day, which is Feb 18. However, you can go into the office for a while on Sunday evening and make your wishes for the year 

Do older man get enough sleep - Ext

Researchers at the University of Chicago found what appears to be a link between middle-age spread and men's sleep patterns as they get older. They found that the quality of men's sleep decreases with age along with the body's production of growth hormone. The drop in growth hormone, in turn, is thought to lead to flab. The study, published in a recent issue of the journal of the American Medical Association, found that increasing deep sleep can increase growth hormone production. Researchers also found that by the time men reach age 45, they have nearly lost the ability to fall into deep sleep. Men produce growth hormone primarily during deep sleep. In studies of the elderly, growth hormone deficiency has been connected to obesity and the loss of muscle mass. The study of beauty sleep was limited to healthy men, and it is not clear whether the findings apply to women. The research could be used to examine whether growth hormone injections could slow signs of aging in men during early mid-life. Currently, such therapy is used mostly for men 65 or older.

The reality of life - news

South Koreans face lonely deaths as Confucian traditions fade, SEOUL (Reuters) - When South Korean widow Yoon Sook-hee, 62, died after a bout of pneumonia in mid-January, she joined a growing number of old people in this Asian country who die alone and was cremated only thanks to the charity of people who never knew her. Once a country where filial duty and a strong Confucian tradition saw parents revered, modern day South Korea, with a population of 50 million, has grown economically richer, but family ties have fragmented. Nowadays 1.2 million elderly South Koreans, just over 20 percent of the elderly population, live - and increasingly die - alone. Yoon's former husband, whom she divorced 40 years ago, relinquished responsibility after being contacted by the hospital and told of her death. Her only son was unreachable as he had long broken off all contact with his parents. "There are many elderly people who are incredibly depressed because they don't have a place to put their bodies after they die," said Kang Bong-hee, representative of a federation of funeral directors that manages funerals free of charge for those who are unable to afford their own. "They collect what little money they have and they come and ask us what to do (with their bodies) after they die." Kang was one of the volunteers who put together a makeshift funeral for Yoon, with most of the funds coming out of his own pocket. South Korea is ageing at the fastest pace of all industrial nations, with the proportion of elderly rising to 11.8 percent of the population in 2012, up from 7.2 percent in 2002 and just 3.8 percent in 1980. A report from the Welfare Ministry published in May last year predicted the ratio would grow to 15.7 percent in 2020 and to 24.3 percent in 2030, thanks to a declining birthrate that has dropped from six per woman of childbearing age to just one. POVERTY ADJACENT TO "GANGNAM STYLE" While South Korea and Seoul were catapulted onto the global map by rapper Psy's "Gangnam Style" hit featuring the affluent suburb south of the Han River, the reality for older people is far less glamorous. A toilet is the first thing you see when you step into 73-year-old Kong Kyung-soon's tiny apartment. It has barely two square meters of living space despite being adjacent to Gangnam. Kong, who boils water in a rice cooker to save money, divorced more than 30 years ago after her husband was caught having a string of affairs. A love child, she says, was the final straw. "If I get sick, it will just be the end for me," she said, adding she pays 360,000 won ($340) a month for rent and living costs out of the roughly 500,000 won she gets from government welfare checks and public transportation subsidies. She is one of 234,000 elderly South Koreans, or 19.7 percent of all those over 65 years old, living alone as of last year, who were living on government welfare. No data is available on what percent of those are female. When asked why she didn't ask for help from her children, Kong said times have changed and she should care for herself. "Whenever I tell my sister I want to die, she tells me I can after I make 500,000 won for my funeral expenses," said Kong, wiping tears from her eyes. Her sister, two years her senior, lives with her husband in another neighborhood. "I have prayed to the Lord that I will do good if he can spare me just 10,000 won." The South Korean government tries to help, but in a nation where welfare spending came at second lowest among OECD countries in 2009, resources are limited. It passed its first wide-ranging law on welfare for the elderly in 1981, focusing on the early detection and treatment of illnesses as well as the well-being of the elderly. Services that send a caretaker to visit the home of elderly people living alone at least once a week started in 2007. These caretakers usually keep in contact with an average of 30 elderly citizens and are instructed to call them frequently. Local governments in some areas take a more subtle approach by leaving small bottles of popular yogurt drinks at front doors every day. If unopened bottles start piling up, it's usually a bad sign. Still, that doesn't address the main problem of the old, Kang said. "From where I see it, the elderly just want someone to talk to. What's most important about elderly welfare is to prevent them from feeling lonely." ($1 = 1058.7500 Korean won)

Change, for better or worse - my personal opinion

Change, for better or worse .- that is my opinion

There are so much deliberating on which devil we should choose in the coming GE13 but for me, the choice have been make long time ago.  Change , for better or worse .

What is there to lose even if we have chosen  a worse devil ?  Already, there is so much mess and corruptions , how can it be more worse than now.  Like as pitch dark room, it is already slimy and dark, lets switch on the light for a change to see what is there lurking in the dark.  Maybe, there are many  ghost hiding there or there are diamonds and gold hiding in the dark. What is wrong shining the light on to the darkness  to see the real truth , and nothing but the truth ?

Okay, if we have chosen another worse devil than before, we can always throw them out again and vote back the lesser devil. But , at least we know for a fact which is a better devil instead of harping on this issue for so long.  Fifty years is a long time  and  if it is rotting, it could have rot to the core.

I have a story to share and I think it is appropriate  for this article.

I have a colleague who is the factory manager and he was told by many of his staff that there are ghost in his factory. So , each time, he heard of a ghost appearing at each spot, he will take his touch light and go straight to the spot and shine the light to see whether there is ghost or not.  Each time, it turns out that there is no ghost.  He told me that if he don’t take this action, there will be many ghost stories to tell and the fear of his staff will get increase by the day.

For the first, he was also fearful himself and he was very reluctant to check it out . Finally, he make up his mind and put on his “ balls”  and check it out. After the first shine, he gets more and more courageous as his fears turn into confidence.

Yeah, like changing the devil, there is so much fear but actually, it is the current devil who is putting up this fear culture and telling everyone  that a worse ghost will coming out and there is no turning back.  So, I would say  “ have courage and turn on your light to take a look at your own fear “ and you will realized that it is your ownself who is making yourself scare.  

Namaste.

Do you have enough fibers? - extract

Find out why your body needs it and how to get it.

We try to drink two litres of water a day, exercise five times a week and have our daily five servings of fruit and veggies. But sometimes life gets in the way- you're r11shing around and forget to drink enough water. Or you're so hectic at work, the gym has to take a back seat. It's the same when it comes to getting your daily dose of fibre.

Feeling healthy inside-out

Being conscientious about eating fruits and vegetables each day, plus pulses and whole grains, and trying to squeeze healthy eating into our busy routines can sometimes be a difficult task. But now there's a new and convenient way to boost your intake.

Benefits of fibre

Sufficient fibre helps our bodies run like clockwork. It is important for both adults and children. The five-a-day message for fruit and vegetables is now well know. Health experts stress that eating five portions is a great source of fibre.

However, not all fruits are fibre-equal. Bananas are quite low, while pears are high in fibre. Green vegetables contain the most fibre. Pulses offer heaps of fibre too. 

Tho Yuen restaurant , campbell street , Penang

I had a breakfast with my wife at Tho Yuen restaurant this morning. This restaurant have been in existnece for more than  50 years or more . Like the Goh Huat Seng restaurant, Tho Yuen was famous for their moon cakes in the earlier years but now, they are only maintaining their business.

For breakfast , they provide tim sum , noodles , Hor fun, fish head bee hoon, Chicken and many types of cakes. The restaurant is still packed on Saturdays and Sundays especially in the morning where the older folks will sit there to enjoy their tea and talk about the world affairs. This culture have been going on for years.

My wife ordered a fish head noodle, some tim sums and one plate of chicken. The taste is average except for the fish head noodles which taste reasonably good. It cost us RM35 for both of us.

In Penang, there are many better places serving more delicious tim sum or fried chickens and I wonder why there are still so many people going to this restaurant. I could not understand where is the attractions except this is an old brand name. If people come back here for memories , then I can understand but the crowd is a mixture of old and the young.

For me, I would prefer to eat at another place where it is cleaner and tastier.

After the breakfast, my wife went over to shop for our Chinese New Year goodies and that was the reason we choose the restaurant because we could do the shopping after the breakfast.

Things were quite quiet at the retail shops and I remember at this time of the year, the shops selling the new year goodies would be pretty busy and there would be many people in these shops but today, it was quite cosy for us to shop and the shop keepers were quite free to handle our needs or request.

I hope business could pick up in the next two or three weeks. Chinese New Year festival or CNY is only three weeks to go.  The year of the snake will slip in soon.

Namaste.

Knowledge of Osteoporosis for prevention -ext

Knowledge is one of the best weapons against osteoporosis. Knowing who's at risk, the treatment options available and how to prevent the condition are key.

Those at risk:

1. Postmenopausal women are at greatest risk, also women with premature menopause.

2. Genetics play an important role. Persons with a family history of osteoporosis are at risk.

3. People with a slight body build are more susceptible.

4. People With eating disorders, such as anorexia, are more susceptible.

5. Smokers have a higher lifetime risk of hip fracture than nonsmokers.

6. Caucasians and Asians are most susceptible; Africans are less affected.

Treatment options

While there is currently no cure for osteoporosis, treatments can stop further bone loss and fractures. Treatments include bisphosphonates, calcitonin, calcium, fluorides, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), ipriflavone, selective estrogen receptor modulators, steroids (anabolic), tibolone, vitamin D and vitamin D metabolites. However, evidence for the effectiveness of these medications in reducing fracture risk varies considerably. Talk to your doctor about the treatment option that's best for you.

Fortunately, there are other options. Rehabilitation to regain mobility and reduce pain provides a lot of emotional boost. Peer support through patient societies helps tremendously to restore social contact, confidence and to prevent falls.

Best prevention

Build strong bones, especially before the age of 35. Adopt a healthy lifestyle: eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, exercise regularly, don't smoke, limit your alcohol intake and consult with your doctor if you have a family history osteoporosis. 

Goh Huat Seng Restaurant , Penang

I was searching for a simple dinner last night in town at the request of my wife. So, together we went hunting for food. I took the route from Jelutong to Georgetown and the traffic was quite okay until the weld Quay area. It was a bottleneck leading from Weld Quay to Magazine road but it was only a short held up. I went to Tak Kee Restaurant but it was full and some people were waiting ouside for their seats. So, we decided to move on and I suggested Goh Huat Seng Restaurant since we are already near there.

 As we passed by the restaurant, there was a lot of people eating but there was tables available. I dropped my wife to get a table while I went off to park my car. It was a surprise to me that I could get a parking space so easy. I remembered the place used to be congested with cars and it was a messy lot. Anyway, I was thankful for the easy parking.

As I walk into the restaurant, memories rise up to my mind. I used to bring my mother to this restaurant for lunch or dinner. The specialty for this place is steamboat.My mother likes their oyster noodle very much and their crab meat and fish balls. Yeah, my both in-laws also loved the steam boat and also the crab meat balls. It was just like walking into the past.

The restaurant have change quite abit and it was brightly litted up. Most of the tables are serving steam boats and their steam boats are served on traditional style. The steam boat bowls are fired up by charcoal and nowadays, they are replaced by gas cylinders or electric operated wok or pots. I think the serving style make them special as the food taste maybe better.

My wife ordered a steam fish, a tofu veggie, their crab meat balls and a seaweed fishball soup. It was a simple dinner and it turns out the portion was right for two person and the taste was excellent good. Simple menu and very tasty. I was very surprise as I haven't been to this place for a long time. Maybe, it was because of the messy parking in the area. It cost only RM51 for the whole meal. A pretty good deal for a wonderful dinner.

 After the dinner, we walk around to check on the stalls lining the Kimberly street. The stalls have been getting lesser and I realized that is why there are easy avialable parking spaces. There is a reason for everything that happens.

The drive back home through Dato Kramat road was a bit jam especially in Gama supermarket area. There was a slight accident which otherwise, could be a smooth drive home. I would highly recommend my readers to try the food. It is reasonable price and good.

Happy hunting.

 Namaste.

Diet for working out - extract

It is important that you keep your body fit and well nourished if you are a fitness freak. Many stores offer organic products, fresh fruits and veggies, and salad bars. If you are working out for an extended amount of time, you should be eating a good amount of carbohydrates (9-12 servings), protein (3-4 servings), dairy (2-3 servings), fruits and veggies (7-1 0 servings) per day. However, besides serving size and fat to carbohydrate ratios there are several rules t o a fitness and exercise diet that will lead to a great workout and a lifetime of healthy diet.

The beautiful Langkawi Island.

I have written some articles on Langkawi Island and I want to update my readers on the latest beauty of the Island.  It is actually an island in the Sun and its morning Sun rise and evening's Sun set is actually very beautiful.  For the morning sun rise, you will need to watch from the Kuah town while the evening sun set, you can see the beautiful twilight of the day at the Chenang Beach.

There are many activities on the island apart from the sea sports. You have a mini race car pit , a helicopter drive, a Sunset boat ride,  a cable car ride to the hill top , a walk around at the hill top with fantastic scenic views of the shore line, a river boat ride to watch the small fishes and insects , a mangrove swamp and lake ride to watch the eagles flying and feeding on the chicken skins on the river or snatching these pieces of chicken skin from your hands for the bold hearted people ,etc. 

To enjoy the beaches, you have to talk evening walks along the Chenang Beach and there are a lot of chalets, hotels and motels to cater for your living needs and there are so many souvenir shops and eateries for food.  There are also fast food outlets like KFC,  Old Town Cafe, Starbucks, Coffee bean, bread story, Big Mac, etc. You will not be hungry as there are also local food like Ikan Bakar, Tomato rice, Mee goreng ,etc. However, for the taste , it is actually very individual . Some people say it is good and some say it is only average. 

For better food, you will need to go to the Kuah town where there are so many seafood restaurants and they are only open for business in the evening.  In the morning , it is almost deserted. A sleepy town in the morning.

For better beaches, you should go to Tanjung Rhu area where they have huge mangrove swamps and extremely beautiful beaches and hotels including villas standing in the middle of the sea. Wonderful settings and you can relax your tired body and souls.  This area is for the free spirits where you can wonder freely and effortlessly along the sea shores and enjoy the  breeze and the sunshine. It is so quiet here that you can hear a pin drop. However, the Hotel charges are a bit pricey as it is  mostly 5 star hotels in this area.

In Langkawi, the traffic is light and the air is very clean and fresh.  You can have a tour around the island and visit the tombs and wells of the princess Mahsuri , the black rice beach,  Mahatir's museum , batik factory,  the lime stone factory, etc. These sites are very simple and don't not expect any thing exceptional and spectacular.

A three days , two night stay will be find and there are very beautiful beach hotels like Berjaya , Westin, Langkawi santuary , lagoon resort,  Pelanggi beach resort, the delima hotel, the sheraton hotel, the holiday Inn and many more beach restaurant with variety of designs and setting.  You can roam  around to see the wonders of Langkawi.

Anyway, the word " Lang" is Eagle and some of the hotels is like what was sung in the song" Hotel California"  by the Eagles... there are a lot of spirit for the free spirit people as the beer and liquour is very cheap as the Island is a free port . You have to stay 48 hours to buy duty free products but you can drink and eat as much as possible when you are there.

So, to all the free spirit people..... the place is waiting for you.

Namaste.

Balancing life is like a yoga pose

In yoga,  we have been taught that it is very much about balancing, Like balancing our pose with holding on to a pose  or letting it go.  When you decide to hold on, your stretching could be testing your endurance or your limit until pain sets in.

My young Guru teach always try to tell us to hold and test our limits but our fear hold us back. We are fearful of injury or pain and that is what pull us back. Then, how shall we know our limits our push ourselves to the limit ? To do that we have to face our fear and conquer our fear .

If we choose to hold on, the pain will intensify and if we  persist , it could reach a breaking point  or if we push it pass the breaking point, we will suffer an injury.  This is a judgement and decision we have to make.  Where is our breaking point ?  When we so engrossed in an exercise, we tend to lose track of our limits and we convince ourself the longer we can hold to a pose means it will be better for us.

Generally, it maybe right.  If only you have the power or the strength, you will be able to hold a pose well and in a correct manner. But, if our decision to hold on despite the pain gets uncomfortable then we will be in trouble. It is better to learn our treasure our body's re-action and message.  If your fellow yogi's can hold a 20 count , it does not mean that you have to hold the pose to a 20 count.  For you, a 10 count will be sufficient as this is your limit .  If you choose to follow a more advance yogi to a 20 counter , then you have surpass your limit and will give you undue pain and discomfort. So, how you determine which is your limit between 10 and 20 counts.  The only way to know is to gradually increase your holding counts to 11  and then 12  until 20 and your body will know which is your optimum level.

If you have receive your body message ,then you have to let go.

This is a simple philosophy in life. If you come to face with a situation, you could choose to hold your re-action and let it go timely.  If you suprress your feelings and hold on to your re-action as your choice then it could hurt your happiness and your health. So, we should know when to let go before we hurt ourselves.

For example, holding up a stick.  The longer we hold it , our arms will get more uncomfortable and until a point, the pain is unbearable  then we are forced to let go  of the stick.  If we choose to injure our arm by not letting go, it will be damaging to our arms and we will eventually hurt ourselves.

Finally, holding on or letting go is our choice in life and we should be responsible for our decision.

Namaste.

Holding the balls with our two hands

For a lady, she may not understand but for a man, it should strike hard. If the man start to hold their balls with their two hands , then what happen ?

If the man put that words into action, you will notice that they cannot do anything else except holding their balls. They will not be able to walk properly nor they can eat because his two hands are fully occupied. They will be holding their balls the whole day through and do nothing else.

There are many such people irrespective whether they are male or female. Nobody love changes or work per se or to take risk. This is a figure of speech to denote that these are non risk takers or they are fence sitters, only choose to sit and watch as time goes by. I wonder whether that makes a difference or not. If we walk out in the open, there is also alot of risk. Yes, we can protect our balls but something like a coca cola bottle could fell from the sky and hit our head and we could die like that. The Coca cola bottle need not fell from a plant and it could be nasty fella choose to throw away their waste bottle and it just accidentally hit our head.

We could be hit by a bullet like in the movie , Ghost when a stray bullet from a robbery could be fired accidentally and hit us on our balls and we could die from that. SO, many incidents could be possible and the risk are plentiful. Yes, it could happen when we are resting on our bed, when the roof could fell on us or the whole building just collapse and kill us.

 So, let not think of all these possibilities whether it is slim or real. If we are bothered with these fictions, then we will not be able to live a meaningful life and we could be holding our balls and hiding in a hole. What is happen is going to happen irrespective what we do.

If we can avoid it , it means that the time is not here yet or it mend not to happen. So, let it be. If the God of hell want to take us, there is nothing we can do. If we can fight it and if we win, it means that it mend not to happen. Don't use the deep water mentality to judge these incidents and just do it and let it all to our creator.

Namaste.

Belum Forest Resort , Perak

I saw this beautiful place when I was staying in Malacca Inn , next to the Langkawi Lagoon resort  and I want to spread the words to nature lovers who loved floating on a river boat through this big monsoon forest reserves.  Find out more yourself by " clicking" in  " Belum Forest Resort " and you will find this gateway to nature. 

A hectic monday - feelings

As usual after a hectic weekend , it is usual that the follow Monday is also hectic as well.  This is much so if it was raining on a Monday.

The traffic out of Farlim was packed jam and I have to take illegal turns to get out of the area in order to arrive at my office on time.  I was abit tired and upset upon seeing the traffic and I have a bit of entanglement with my wife over the route to work as well as some small hic-ups. 

Through the years, she has been talking in less words while I start to mis-interprete her intention. I remembered an article written by my boss , H on why people talk by shouting even if they are very near to each other.  He said that it is  because their hearts are getting wider apart.  If you see a couple in love, they whisper and they make sure that their words and feeling is clear enough for both to understand and they don't mind talking for a long time.  I saw this happening when my daugther M talk to her BF and how he responded to her.

For me and my wife, it is not only the words are getting less but the voice and tone is getting louder.  To talk loud is to suppress my re-action or to win a conversation.  Many a times, I asked her why she needs to shout when she is talking to me in the car ? I am so near and yet so far.  I think what my boss said is correct.  Although physically, we are near , our heart is far apart, so we have to shout. 

What happen to the loving feelings of the past ?  Now , it is more like getting our way through matters more than the good relationship we have once enjoy. Does winning mean so much now ? Does it get boring to speak more clearly and softly and speak more time expressing our intention to our once " loved" one ? It is so ironical. We talk more softly and politely to strangers than to our loved ones . Why are we so foolish in our actions and words ? We should look good infront of our family members rather than in front of strangers but we acted differently and in madness. 

All these thoughts keep troubling me while I am working and I feel very foolish , not to control my feelings and frustration.  We have to slow down and look inwards before we kill ourself or regret the actions we would take ie taking a confrontation stand.  If there is love, only a whisper or a twinkle in the eye will make a very difficult problem looks like a mole hill.  There is no need to stress up either parties or make them upset.  Talk nicely and patiently and try to put on the shoes of your better half and you will see his or her point in certain suggestion or actions.

Work is a joy but bad thoughts make my Monday hectic and tired. Share my experience and you could realize that you are also caught in this trap. Shake it off and break free and do not let the anger and feeling control you.. Like I always say, it is your choice how to respond to lead a joyful life.

Namaste.

My journey to Lagoon Resort, Langkawi

On last saturday, I took off for langkawi Laggon resort with my wife from 12.00 noon after our early morning Yoga session. I was abit tired, so she drove to Kuala Kedah Ferry Terminal while I took a rest. The drive was about one and half hour. On reaching the terminal, we parked our car at one of the private parking area and it cost about RM15 for each day of parking. Since we are coming back only on Sunday , it cost us RM30 for two days parking. The ferry to Langkawi is departing hourly and the ride will be 1 hour 45 mins and it cost about RM45 per person.

There was quite a lot of people visiting Langkawi on that day and it was almost full. The air condition was very cold and it was a hot day so, it was quiet comfortable and they have a DVD movie during the trip. But, most people will prefer to sleep or rest and for me, it was partially sleeping and partially watching the movie. Otherwise, it will be abit boring. I noted that the access to my Iphone was slow and the updates were sometimes not available. The ride was smooth and we reach about 4.45 pm as we have took the 3.00pm ferry.

We started off from my home at 12 noon, drove for one and a half hour and waited waited for 45 mines to board the 3.00pm ferry. It took us 5 hours to reach Langkawi. Alternately, we could have taken a boat ride from Penang and it ony take 2 hours 30 minutes but there is only one daily trip and it starts off from 8am. The cost is about RM60 Ringgit. Air travel would be only 30 minutes but it cost about RM350 per one way. Langkawi brought back many memories to me and I have not back to the Island for about 5 years already.

There was a new ferry terminal and many new buildings especially along the tourist belt of Chenang. I reached my budget hotel at 5.30 pm and we took a rest before moving on to see my daughter M's apartment. M have booked a car to pick us up and it cost RM80 for one day to rent a car. M drove us to her apartment and we were quite disgusted with the condition in the apartment and after that, we proceed to find a restaurant for our dinner. We walked along the Chanang tourist belt and visited some of the shops for windown shoppiing and finally, my wife decided to eat at Bant Thai Restaurant. We ordered a fish, a vegetable dish , a green Chicken curry and Tong Yam Kun. The service was very bad and the fish took an hour to deliver. I was very tired by then and we almost go off without waiting for the fish. But, evenutally, it came and the taste was okay. It cost us RM145 for a dinner for 4 person.

After the dinner, we go back to the budget hotel. It cost about RM111 for one room for one night and we add an additional bed and it cost us RM30. It was quite a small room but it was clean and tidy. The Hotel staff was quite friendly and responsive. Generally, the people of Langkawi is friendly and accomodating and good natured. We slept at 10.30am and woke up at 8am , the next day. The breakfast was very simple. Just Nasi Lemak, toasted bread and coffee. They served fruit juice but I did not take any as I am afraid of stomach ache especially when travelling. My daughter M and her BF did not eat the breakfast while my wife only took a piece of break and coffee. We hope to have a good brechun ( breakfast and lunch in one og)after visiting the Hotel Lagoon resort.

 In the Hotel, there was a lot guest especially foreigners. The 4 star Hotel was quite nice and the Villas standing on the sea was cooling and relaxing. From the look outside, it should be a good stay to rest our stressed up body and soul. The price of the Villas ranges from RM600 to RM1,000. For a family, it would be reasonably cheap.

After visiting the lagoon resort, we start to go to Kuah town for our bracheon. It was quite frustrating to search for a decent seafood restaurant as most of the shops only open for the night. There was practically no seafood restaurant except Chicken rice shops or fast food outlets. Since, we are taking the 1pm trip back to Penang, it was no choice for us except to have noodles in one of the coffee shop nearby the Jetty.

Yes, we managed to board the 1pm ride back and it took us another 1 hour 30 minutes ride back to Penang and after that, I drove another one hour 15 minutes and we reached Penang at 4pm. In conclusion, we spend about 9 hours of travelling for 30 hours period ie leaving my home and back. So, if we minus 9hours of sleep, we actually spend only 12 hours on the Island. But, it was a worthwhile trip but abit expensive if compared to the time, we actually have on the island.

So, folks,... I think Langkawi is still an attractive island to retire or rest. Enjoy it while you can.

Namaste.

Hotel Lagoon resort , Langkawi

I look up this resort in the internet and found that this hotel have sea or hill facing villas and ery isforei very popular among foreigners. I have been to langkawi many times and have sweet memories. This is a very queit island with beautiful hotels scattered all over the island. Yet, I have not been to Hotel LagoonL Why suddenly I am interested in this hotel? It is because of my daughter M. She is having her practical training in this Hotel.

It is supposed to be a 4 star hotel and resort and the room rate ranges from RM500 to RM1000 inclusive of breakfast for two person. For me , I think it is quiet pricey. I will be travelling to this hotel soon and will check it out.  From the appearance on the internet , it looks quite nice and pleasing. 


    A brief write up:

An ideal place to relax and rejuvenate, the 4 star Langkawi Lagoon Resort is located on the west coast of Langkawi Island, the largest of an archipelago of ninety nine beautiful and exotic islands. The resort, directly on a pristine sandy beach, offers picture-perfect views of the ocean and nearby rolling hills. A wide range of leisure and recreational facilities, including a beachfront swimming pool, gym, sauna and steam rooms, and many water sports, are available, while the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre is only a five minute drive away. For a true Malay experience, reserve a suite on stilts in the unique Sea Village. To make your reservation at Langkawi Lagoon Resort please proceed to our secure online booking form.

Think green, drink tea - article

"Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one.”- a Chinese proverb

The Chinese are known for their longevity and the alternative medicines that make this possible. While the pill-popping trend of the Western world is only resorting to Oriental medicine now, the Chinese seem to have unlocked the gateways to immortality more than 4,000 years ago.

East meets West in praise of green tea. In 1994, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published a study on epidemiological cancer suggesting that green tea lowers risk of esophageal cancer by 60 percent in Chinese men and women. Until recently, researchers at the University of Purdue concluded that green tea actually inhibits the growth of certain cancer cells, while keeping the balance of good and bad cholesterol.

 

The secret is in green tea's richness in catechin polyphenols, specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). A potent antioxidant, it destroys cancer cells without harming healthy tissue because it prevents abnormal blood clotting. Blood clots, or thromboses, are the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Apart from preventing cancer and high cholesterol, green tea is also good for rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, infection, impaired immune function and even tooth decay. 

The only known negative effect of tea is insomnia, because it also has caffeine. But:

6 ounces to 8 ounces of tea = 30 milligrams to 60 milligrams of caffeine

8 ounces of coffee = 100 milligrams of caffeine.

So the next time you think of coffee, drink green tea instead.

Bitchy Man and ball-less

This afternoon, my boss H told us not to hold our balls with our both hands, otherwise, we cannot do anything except to hold our balls.  His speech have driven home a point to me and I realized there are so much bitchy and ball-less man around.  When I said ball-less,  I mean no " guts".  Those who can talk alot but yet no "guts" to do things.  They can be  fast talking and yet no-action fellas.

I wondered why they are so useless and  " they only know how to fan the horse fags".  Then, I realised that they are scare or have some fear that they will be knock iin their face or get scolded. They do not tell their honest feelings but just to move around looking good. It is important that we have to look around and be weary about the existence of these people.

They are not honest to themselves , so how can they be honest to others.  Their apparent support is flimsy and lacks weights.  If we rely on them, we will not know when they will let us down or kill us. It is better to stay away from these people.

When you are in power, you often attract many of such people who thinks that their support and rapport with you can bring them benefits and if you step down from the corridor of power, they will fly or run away from you on the first instances.  Normally, power will attract many of such low lying bastards.

Some people say that they are " street wise"  or are survivals but there should be some self esteems and honor. It is also not ethically right to say " something " and doing " something" else.  We called these guys are two timer or brainless idiots.

Lets hope and pray that we do not attract such people around us and give us the false sense of our worthiness , support and goodwill.  This is strictly an illusion and like birds, they will fly off differently if there are troubles  and you will be left speechless and die holding your balls.

Namaste.

For skin wellness - study

Our skin is able to protect us from the harmful sunlight with a substance called melanin. As more melanin is produced, the skin gets darker and the more protection we get against the sun. Melanin is produced by pigment producing cells called melanocytes. The amount produced is determined by heredity and exposure to the sun. Asians tend to produce more melanin when exposed to the sun, hence they tan quickly and are as at risk for severe burns as most Caucasians are.

However, melanin can be over-produced due to factors such as sun exposure, hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause), ageing or certain medications. Excessive melanin causes pigmentation problems that show up as abnormal dark blotches on the skin, causing unevenness in the overall appearance of the skin.

 Pigmentation can be lightened and controlled through the use of hydroquinone, which works by stopping the production of melanin without destroying them.

It is advised that any persons using a hydroquinone cream on their skin to avoid exposure to the sun, which can stimulate the production of more melanin and pigmentation on the skin. Hydroquinone should also only be used in low concentrations (2% or 4%), and only as directed by your doctor. 

     

 

Scary feelings

Everyday , we hear so many news about death or read such news in the papers or our online news portals. It is a taboo to talk about death and we want to avoid this subject as much as possible. But, this subject continued to haunt us in our dreams or in moments of our thoughts. We see people growing old or ourself going old and we could feel that year by year, our health condition is not the same.

Yes, we are fearful of death. Why ?  I think only those people who have make enough wealth or own enough wealth is worry about death. If we are still struggling to make ends meet or struggle to put food on the table , there is no time to be worried.  We will not be aware of the risk if we need to make our stomach full.  If we have suffered a lot , there is a point that death is more welcome than living. Then, death is not fearful anymore.

If we are fearful of death, then we cannot let go of our possesion or our family. I have seen my BIL, J struggles to stay alive by selling off his love possesions and his property to stay alive.  He has the will to live and had yet to accept that he is dying.  During this struggle to stay alive , he spent about RM1.5 million to keep him alive for one and half years. He was welling to pay greatly for an addtional day of living but he had to go anyway.

When we are old, we should feel blessed for each day of living.  Life is unpredictable and uncertain and death is the only way to go. But , this should not stop us from living although we woke up each day with a scary feeling that the day could be our last. We should not worry over something that we cannot control and this is a futile attempt.  What we can do is to live and we should live instead of worrying over death which  cannot be determined by us except when we choose to commit suicide. At times, even if we choose death, death will not come when the time is not right.

If death is something which we cannot control, why should we think about it or discuss it ?  Yes and no. By talking or discussing it , it reminds us that we are immortal and this will be the eventual end, so that we can live better. Hiding from it and let the day drift by without a purpose, it is a waste. It is better to die early if there is no meaning or a purpose in living.

Namaste.

Extract on Death and Dying  ( internet) :

There is some truth to the old saying, “There are only two things you can count on in life: death and taxes.” Everyone experiences death. Death and dying are an inevitable part of human life.

Some people know ahead of time when their death will occur. Terminal illnesses, when diagnosed ahead of time, allow a person to set his or her affairs in order, make relationships right, and say goodbye to loved ones. In these cases, every person involved has a chance to gradually adjust and make peace with death, as much as possible. However, not everyone has this chance. Many deaths occur suddenly. Death can, and often does, strike without warning.

No one is promised tomorrow. The only thing we can count on is today.

Many people around the world turn to religion to answer questions about death and the afterlife, especially when someone is facing his or her own mortality. Strangely, even a brief glance at many of the world’s religions reveals that many theologies glamorize death, promising rewards in the afterlife, including increased understanding of God and the universe and even, in some cases, supernatural powers that were unavailable during the mortal life. Death often seems more attractive than being alive.

But the reality of death is that it should be avoided at all costs. Death is the worst thing to ever happen in all of existence.

Life is a precious gift we are unable to recreate once it’s gone. The truth about death lays plain the harshness of the grave … but also the true beauty of the life we already have. We invite you to learn more about this topic, and hope you better appreciate your life as a result.

A new year lunch with my retiree friend

This afteroon, I had a lunch with my friend, S. He has just officially retired a few days ago but he has actually slowed down about a year ago to prepare for this day.  He told my boss, H and me that he is comfortable with his retirement.  He has asked us to slow down and retire with him.

He told us about a Doctor who is a Vet and he died after attempting to climb a hill for the first time in his life.  He has been a vivid jogger and was alrigth before the jogging.  He also told us that his friend died of cancer after building up his business empire .  Luckily, he disposed off his business before he died.  During his sickness, my friend S could see the deterioration of his health in his friend.  From a healthy person, he could not eat and gradually could not walk and he lost his will to live after been told by his Doctor that he will die soon.

My friend S have took up qigong and doing the exercise three times a week and he felt good after each session.  But , during one of the session, he had a qi re-action and he vomitted continously through the night and could not sleep at all. During his sickness, he realized that fragility of his health. He thought he was going to die but later, he gets better and better.  But, he realized money is not important to him anymore.

After that experience, he start to give away his possessions and prized trophies.  He clearered his clothings and all this possesion, he has gathered during his career including his rolex watch.  He wants to sell off his golf membership and reduced his investments to make life simple for him. He is trying to tell us to follow him to give up his possesions and live lightly  with a simple life style.

Yes, maybe he is right but each person have their own planning and own way of life.  Even if we live simply , it does not mean that we could live longer or live more meaningfully. I believe that we should contribute to society as long as we can and we don't know when we will die.   All of us should live a purposeful life and bring happiness to the world and the people around you. 

In actual fact, when we step down from the corridor of power, we will be neglected by the people we have been taking care all the while .  My friend , S have noticed that and he had prepared himself mentally to live with this cruel fact.  Every one of us will need to be aware of this cruel fact and prepare ourself mentally to avoid disappointment and regrets. There is no time for regrets or to look backwards. There is a lot of realities that will start to bite us after our retirement.  Let it go and look forward and do the things you like to do or yet to do.

Namaste.

Coldest Winter in China

I read a news on China which states that the Country is experiencing the coldest winter in their past 28 years and it frozes the lake and the sea fronts and prevent ships from leaving their harbours. In shenyang airport, the deep fog paralyzed airports and stranded more than 10,000 people due to cancelled airflights.What is going to happen to Asia including Malaysia?

When I was young, I was told by my mum that during the winter months in China, the north wind will be cold and dry and we will get sick if we are not careful.Yes, the north wind is from China. So, the extremely cold weather in the North will destroy alot of vegetables and vegetabions and it will push up the prices of vegetables and fruits from China during the coming Chinese New Year.

 In addition to the price of the vegetables, the weather will be going through drastic changes.Normally, the weather is very hot during the day and very cold during the night. Recently, there was a news that the temperature hit 40 deg C in some part of Penang. If you are not aware how hot is 40 deg c, it is enough to cook a dried egg on top of a manhole cover if the cover is make of metal. Just imagine putting your hand on a heat hot plate, it will burn us. So, with these extreme changes in the weather, many people will fall sick if they do not wear proper clothings.

 If the weather is continously cold , then we know what to do. But, if it varies between extreme hot and cold, it is very easy to catch a cold or a flu. So, it is better to take precautions and be prepared all the time. To strength our resistence, we should take more vitamin C and anti-oxidants and drink a lot of water to flush out the heat in our body. Take more fruits to ensure regular clearing our systems incluidng sweat and our shit.

It is better to avoid long exposure in the Sun and moonlighting naked in the extreme cold in the night. don't take chances as it could be damaging to our health.

Namaste

News from Bloomberg:

No End to Coldest China Winter in 28 Years, Forecaster Says

By Bloomberg News - Jan 7, 2013 12:00 AM GMT+0800

Southern China will be hit by a new cold front this week, extending the country’s chilliest winter in 28 years, the country’s weather agency said.

Temperatures in Southern provinces including Guangdong will dip to as low as minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit) on Jan. 11 and 12, the China Meteorological Administration said in a statement yesterday. Provinces including Guizhou and Hunan may experience snowstorms, it said.

No End to Coldest China Winter in 28 Years, Forecaster Says

The cold weather will prove challenging as the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday approaches, with icy rain and snow disrupting transportation, power supplies and electricity networks, the agency said.
Snow, ice and fog have caused havoc on the nation’s roads and at train stations and airports, according to reports from the Xinhua News Agency and China Daily.
Two people died and 770,000 people have been affected by record-low temperatures and snow in Inner Mongolia in northern China, Xinhua said yesterday, citing the local government. More than 260,000 people are in need of emergency aid and about 180,000 head of livestock have died, according to the report.
More than 10,000 people were stranded at Chengdu airport in southwest Sichuan province yesterday after heavy fog caused authorities to close the airport and ground more than 100 flights, Xinhua said in a separate report.
Fog also reduced visibility to as little as 300 meters (328 yards) at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in southwest Yunnan province, leading to “massive flight delays” since Jan. 3, according to the China Daily newspaper.

Heavy Losses

Four people died and 64 others were injured in three separate road accidents in eastern China yesterday, Xinhua said, citing information from local authorities. Slippery road conditions from persistent rain and snow over the past few days may have caused the accidents, traffic police were cited as saying.
Freezing weather created a layer of thick sea ice on Laizhou Bay in eastern Shandong province, leaving about 1,000 vessels stranded, according to a separate Xinhua report. Aquatic producers in the region may face heavy losses as they can’t penetrate the ice to provide ventilation for sea cucumbers and other fish in their farms, the agency said.

Bak Eu Pok - myth (ext)

>>More reasons to eat Chee Yau Char/ Bak Eu Pok (pig's lard)now because it contains natural fats and not trans fats as in processed food made by Man.

>>*This is a very useful 'must read' article. It makes sense to me. Even if you have received this before it is worth reading it again.

* >>*Low Cholesterol Levels Increases Cancer Risk* - American College of Cardiology >>For years, I've been telling my patients that the medical establishment's obsession with lowering cholesterol per se to prevent heart disease is causing more harm than good.

 >>If your doctor continues to get you worried about your high cholesterol levels, here's *a bit of good news* for you... >>In fact, your high cholesterol may be protecting you from cancer. >>Today, I'll explain the truth behind the myth of cholesterol, and show you how to achieve heart health naturally !

>>A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology revealed that driving down cholesterol levels actually increases the risk of cancer. >>Researchers at the Tufts University School of Medicine found that among people taking "*statin drugs - like Lipitor and Zocor* - there was a higher *rate of cancer*. Although the link between the drugs and cancer wasn't clear, there was no doubt that *drastically low cholesterol levels* correlated to cancer risk".

 >>The big drug makers continue to sell the notion that the best way to fight heart disease is to lower LDL levels, the so-called "bad" cholesterol. >>Yet 75 percent of people who suffer heart attacks have *normal cholesterol levels* ! >>It makes sense that low cholesterol levels are linked to cancer because cholesterol is one of your body's basic building blocks. You need it to produce testosterone, to build and repair cell membranes, and to preserve your nerve cells through the formation of the protective "sheaths" that cover them.

>>Starving your body of this critical substance will lead to other health problems. We already know that extremely low cholesterol levels result in muscle weakness, fatigue, depression, decreased sex drive, and "brain fog." This new research shows that there may be even more *deadly consequences*. >>What really matters is not low "*bad cholesterol, but high levels of HDL*, the so-called "good" cholesterol*"

. As long as you have a high HDL count - 75 to 80, for example - it doesn't matter whether your total cholesterol is 150 or 350. A high HDL will always keep your risk of heart disease extremely *low*. >>So why haven't you heard this already? It may be because there's *no drug that effectively raises good cholesterol levels*. You can only effectively do it naturally. >>Consume natural fats. Avoid processed or fast foods containing * "trans" fats * - these man-made substances *were never meant for consumption*, and your body doesn't know what to do with them !!!. They wind up clogging your arteries and putting you on the fast track to heart disease.

* >>Instead, get your fat from free-range or grass-fed animals, eggs, nuts, and *unprocessed vegetable oils*. These are some of the healthiest foods you can eat. (As with all foods, look for organic or minimally processed options whenever possible.) >>The health benefit of these natural fats comes from their balance of *Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids*. Your body needs both but, as with cholesterol, they have to be in balance.

 *Omega-3s are great for your heart. They've been shown to prevent irregular heartbeat, reduce clogging of the arteries, lower blood pressure, and decrease inflammation in body tissues*. >> >>If you stick to eating *natural fats*, you'll automatically get theright ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3, which is about 2:1. As an added bonus, you'll automatically raise your "good" cholesterol levels and you'll reduce your risk of cancer.

Natural energy - study

The body's most important system is the energy system. We need energy to do our daily activities and to keep our organs running smoothly. Energy is also needed for maintenance and repair of cells when they get injured or make new cells when cells die. Energy is produced in every one of the trillions of cells in our bodies and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is essential for production of energy. When we are young, our cells are loaded with CoQ10 and our body produces an abundance of energy to run the body efficiently. But as we age, our body produces less and less CoQ10 which result in the decline in energy production. The lack of energy may affect aspects of life and health.  COENZYME Q10 IS ALSO AN ANTIOXIDANT CoQ10 is also an important antioxidant which protects the cell membrane and cell DNA against damage by free radicals. If the membrane or DNA is damaged, you lose the cell. 

Moments of silence

Just woke up and done with the daily morning chorus, sitting on my bed with piano music softly playing in the background. The morning was cool and with a gloomy sky. My sleep in the night was good but not excellent. Many thoughts went through my head while I was resting on my bed before getting up.

When our mind is empty, many thoughts will surface and grap  your attention. This is the working of the mind. It has to be occupied all the time.Thoughts rushes in and changed very freuuently.  Matters of work, love, health, family. Thousands and one thing. We are forever busy if we allow our mind to flow freely. Try to keep the mind discipline and quiet.There is a subtle uprising from your mind and it trys to open the mind for the thoughts to come in. Just get yourself to beware of this feeling.

When mind is empty, your energy will grow within you as you are preserving the source of energy in you. Every flickering thoughts will burn your energy and caused you to be tired and fatigue will sets in. If your mind is quiet, there is a deepening sense of silence that will grip you. You feel scare and at the same time feel escalated. Enjoy this escalation and your body will start to relax.  The tenseness in your body will gradually go away. You must help it to relax and let go of your muscles.  Let your body find its own level of total relaxation.

This is what we call the mind and body combination. The mind is quiet and the body in total relaxation. This moment of total ease will refresh you , give time for your body to repair itself and your mind will enjoy an enormous peaceful feeling. The piano music will be come clear to your ears and you will become more aware of intensity of each notes. The piano player playing the music have put his or her feelings in each note and he or she is trying to convey that feeling to you. If you are in deep meditation, you will be able to  feel the feelings carry by each musical notes. You will immerse yourself into the music. Your mind will be focus and your body will be totally in relaxation.

You will feel that you are not in physical existence but will merged yourself with the music and the surroundings. You will have a feeling that "you are here but yet not here". Don't be scare, just enjoy these silence and peaceful moments. You will find that these simple moments are more enjoyable and enlightening.

There is a tendency for you to prolong these feeling of suspension and weightlessness but do come back to face the real life and do not slide into passiveness. Face life with a new vision and with vigor. Engaged in life chorus and do the things we need to do and be responsible.

Namaste.

Depression and fatigue - partners? - study

Depression and fatigue reinforce each other in a vicious cycle, according to European researchers.

In a yearlong study of 3,200 patients, chances of experiencing fatigue for depressed patients went up four times, while the chances of depression more than doubled for fatigued patients, says physician and public health expert.

The study appears in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

Although doctors have long been aware of the link between depression and unexplainable fatigue, no one is certain which comes first.

To find the answer, expert looked at patient data from 14 countries as part of a World Health Organization study on psychological problems in general health care.

Fatigue and psychiatric disorder are not the same. It is evident from the literature that fatigue and depression have different risk factors. These two conditions could overlap. Fatigued persons might feel psychologically distressed, while decreased energy is a symptom of depression.  

 

Levels of physical activity could determine the correlation of fatigue and depression. Physical activity is known to have a protective effect on depression. It has also been suggested that physical deconditioning might be an important factor in the development of unexplained fatigue.

Since treatment for both chronic fatigue and depression includes exercise, future research might look as to whether physical activity could explain the dynamics of the two conditions. 

Walking is good for women - study

Walking linked to fewer strokes in women

Thu Jan 3, 2013 3:40PM EST

By Kathleen Raven

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who walk at least three hours every week are less likely to suffer a stroke than women who walk less or not at all, according to new research from Spain.

"The message for the general population remains similar: regularly engaging in moderate recreational activity is good for your health," lead author José María Huerta of the Murcia Regional Health Authority in Spain told Reuters Health.

Past studies have also linked physical activity to fewer strokes, which can be caused by built-up plaque in arteries or ruptured blood vessels in the brain.

While the current study cannot prove that regular walking caused fewer strokes to occur in the women who participated, it contributes to a small body of evidence for potential relationships between specific kinds of exercise and risk for specific diseases.

Women who walked briskly for 210 minutes or more per week had a lower stroke risk than inactive women but also lower than those who cycled and did other higher-intensity workouts for a shorter amount of time.

In all, nearly 33,000 men and women answered a physical activity questionnaire given once in the mid-1990s as part of a larger European cancer project. For their study, Huerta and his team divided participants by gender, exercise type and total time spent exercising each week.

The authors, who published their findings in the journal Stroke, checked in with participants periodically to record any strokes. During the 12-year follow-up period, a total of 442 strokes occurred among the men and women.

The results for women who were regular walkers translated to a 43 percent reduction in stroke risk compared to the inactive group, Huerta said.

There was no reduction seen for men based on exercise type or frequency, however.

"We have no clear explanation for this," Huerta wrote in an email. He hypothesized that the men may have entered the study in better physical condition than the women, but there was no evidence to support that guess.

Huerta also declined to compare the study participants' risk levels to those of the general population, citing the subjects' unusual characteristics: a majority of men and women in the study were blood donors, who tend to be in good health in order to give blood.

"I wouldn't make much of the results because they are for a very specific population," Dr. Wilson Cueva of the University of Chicago in Illinois said.

Cueva, who was not involved with the research, pointed out that the study relied too heavily on subjective measurements, like the participants' memory of exercise routines.

"There is no objective way to measure how much exercise they actually did," he said.

Each year in the U.S., about 795,000 people suffer a stroke, according to the American Heart Association. Put another way, one American has a stroke every 40 seconds and dies from one every four minutes.

Despite a recent dip in strokes attributed to better blood pressure control and anti-smoking campaigns, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that stroke cases will increase as the global population continues to grow older.

Guidelines set by the WHO and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend at least 150 minutes - or two-and-a-half hours - of moderate exercise such as brisk walking each week.

Cueva urged health consumers to heed those guidelines for now. The way the Spanish study was designed, it's difficult to draw any conclusions he told Reuters Health. But, "We know that exercise is related to reduced risk of stroke and other diseases."

Ghost in the Chamber

This morning, I visited my banker friend , J in her office which was located in a very old colonial style building. It was raining in the morning and after I reached her office, I need to use her rest room.  She offered to take me there and I just followed her.

We took a few winding turns and twist between the desk of her colleagues and  a few wooden file racks and through some small doors before we reach their rest room.  She also need to the ladies and I went into the men's room.  Before we reach the rest rooms, she told me that it could be pretty dark and lonely in the passage ways especially at night.

After coming out from the rest room, I jokingly told her that I met a few friends inside the rest room and she looks surprised and I told her that I was joking with her.  She told me not to say such things easily and we proceed to take the winding turns and twist back to her office.

After sitting down, she told me that the bank have recorded something very strange on their CCTV camera and she proceed to describe it.  The recording shows the switching on and  off of lights in the passage way and a sudden PC was switch on and there are white smokes moving towards the camera.  She said that the recordings was very clear and real. I apologize for the jokes that I saw some friends and I hope it will not offend the spirit living in the chambers.

Another of her colleage,  P also say that some staff heard knocks on their office doors and when they open , it was empty and in one occasion , one of the female staff saw a girl in the early morning and she saw the same girl later wearing a different dress.  When she asked her , the girl told her that she has just came in.  There are few more incidents that they told us and we decide to change the topic since it is the start of a new year in 2013. 

I have heard of such incidents in hotels or in strange places and until you actually experienced it , it will be quite unbelievable.  True or not, lets both world not collide and everyone stay in the places to preserve the harmony between the two worlds.

Namaste.

Your fortune in 2013 - extract

Chinese astrology is rapidly marking its presence all over the world. The concepts of chinese astrology are based on traditional astronomy and calendars of China. People have an immense faith on the beliefs of Chinese astrology and its predictions. If you are also an ardent believer of chinese astrology and wish to know your future according to this system, then you are at the right place. We present to you a comprehensive report of predictions for each animal according to chinese astrology. In chinese astrology 2013, you will find each and everything related to you and your life. We have covered all the aspects of life, namely- love, family, finance, career and much more. So what are waiting for? Just scroll down, reach your animal sign that you represent and read about your life in the year 2013. Get started!

Rat Chinese Astrology 2013

2013 will be a great year for the rats according to Chinese astrology. You will get success from almost every aspect of life. From the career aspect you will be appreciated for the quality of work you will do. Success will flow from all the ways. Luck is at peak for you this year. You will get ample of opportunities to show your talent and skills to the world. A shortage in income is seen during the year. Love relation will be successful. Lack of time will cause some discomfort and you might not be able to give the required time to your partner. Ill health might trouble you. Try to stay more at home. This will help you to stay away from any kind of ailments. Chinese astrology says that 2013 is the year of snakes and rats go well with them. Keep your attitude positive and success will come your way.

Ox Chinese Astrology 2013

Progress and success is seen in the year 2013 for ox according to Chinese astrology 2013. Avoid aggression and rage this year. As it will only lead you to troubles. You represent hard work and find out many ways to complete the work. New opportunities will flow in and you can make the best out of them to make more money. Try to keep your expenditures under control. Your luck will stay average as per Chinese astrology 2013. The year 2013 is very good for you except the financial side. Try to manage it very well in order to avoid any bad situation. Health will stay good and this will make you more energetic and hardworking. 2013 will fetch good results for you.

Tiger Chinese Astrology 2013

Chinese astrology 2013 wishes you good luck for this year. Snake is the ruler of 2013 and this compliments your sign. You might have to face some adverse situations but you need not to get disheartened. Remember you are a tiger and tigers are really strong. Professionally, tigers will stay lucky. Seniors will appreciate for the quality of work done by you. However, some people will not leave any chance to criticize you. If you will ponder over these thoughts then it will only cause distress and lost peace of mind. Chinese astrology 2013 also predicts that the year 2013 is not going to be very good for you in terms of finance. Partners and associates might ditch you. So stay cautious. Matters related to money are needed to be dealt with care. 2013 will bring luck in terms of love. You might suffer from few health ailments.

Rabbit Chinese Astrology 2013

Chinese astrology 2013 reveals that the year 2013 is very good for you except a month. You are advised to stay brave this year. You might go for a foreign trip. From the financial aspect, you might have to face certain troubles. But if you work harder and devote your time to work, you will gain success. Do not stay in limelight as this will bring you into arguments. Do not ponder over the thought of financial shortage. With time everything and every situation will settle down. Love matters are not favorable. However, it is a good time for those who are single. They might meet someone new in life. According to Chinese astrology, this year has brought good health for the rabbits. If you work really hard, then this year will be favorable for you in all the aspects.

Dragon Chinese Astrology 2013

As per Chinese astrology 2013, this year is going to be the year of ups and downs. The year 2013 is going to stay like a roller coaster and you will constantly get into the uncertainties of life. From career point of view, you will gain success but only after devoting a lot of time and hard work. Try to take full advantage of time and make the most out of it. You will outshine because of your hard work and this will lead you to success. Finances will stay good. However, the path of earning is tough. Try to keep control over your expenses and try to stay away from lotteries. Those who are married or are into a relation will cherish good times with their partners. Major health issues are not seen in the year 2013 but stay alert as minor health related problems might affect your family. Overall, the year is good.

Snake Chinese Astrology 2013

According to Chinese astrology 2013, snakes are very much compatible with Roosters and Oxen. In the year 2013 you will be appreciated for your hidden skills. This year you will overcome all the ups and downs of life that you had to face in the last year. This year is bringing stability in your life. From the career front the year is good. A hike in salary is expected. Avoid getting into any kind of arguments as this might ruin your reputation. Finances will stay good this year but along with this you have to work harder. Your love life is not seen to be very promising this year. As per Chinese astrology, you should stay calm in order to bring understanding and balance in your love life. Your health might disturb you this year. You might feel depressed because of isolation. Psychological problems will disturb you more than physical problems. 2013 will stay lucky for you and far more promising than the last year.

Horse Chinese Astrology 2013

2013 is just like a seesaw for you. You will face many ups and downs in the coming year. The year is not entirely favorable. It will stay just like a game where the chances of winning and losing are 50-50. According to Chinese astrology predictions for 2013, you will invest a lot this year. Chinese ram and Chinese dragon are the most compatible animals for you this year. Your career might not stay stable. But due to your best efforts things might turn out good. From the financial aspect you might have to face some trouble. Stay alert as the effect of last year’s financial issues is not over yet. Now coming to love life; your love life will stay good and you might meet someone new. But the chances of marriage are lower. If you plan to get into a new relationship, it won’t last long. Any third person will ruin your relationship. Take care of your health. Over all, the year 2013 is not very good for you.

Goat/Sheep/Ram Chinese Astrology 2013

According to Chinese astrology 2013, rams are going to stay sensitive this year. This year Chinese rams are compatible with Chinese rats and Chinese horses. You might get rewarded for your good deeds. The year is very good in all the aspects but you just need to stay cautious for few months or days that are unfavorable. The year 2013 is good for art and creativity. From the professional side, this time will not be fruitful. Your boss might stop trusting you. You need to find out ways in order to keep a control over your position. Control your hand on the expenses. Try to avoid investments. Travelling uselessly will only bring loss of money and health. you might have to go through a hard time. Do not worry. Things will get better soon.

Monkey Chinese Astrology 2013

Chinese astrology 2013 predicts that the year 2013 is going to stay very busy for the monkeys. They will stay occupied throughout the year. Monkeys go well with dragons and rats. The year 2012 was full of ups and downs. You need to keep yourself shielded as 2013 will also be the year of ups and downs as the time of last year continues. You might have not to face many troubles like you had to face during the last year. You might get bad in socializing, which might put you in troubles. Your supporters and well wishers will stay around you and support you during the bad times. Huge inflow of money is seen this year but only after hard work. The marital and love life will stay good throughout the year. Health might not stay well this year. Overall, this is not a bad year and you are going to stay quite fortunate this year.

Rooster Chinese Astrology 2013

Chinese Astrology 2013 predicts that Roosters might have to face troubles in luck during the coming year. Chinese Roosters are very much compatible with Ox as well as Dragons this year. You have to put a lot of hard work in order to gain success. In 2013, Chinese Roosters will earn a lot of lessons related to life. Career path might be hindered due to some unfavorable star. Planned tasks might not shape up well. The stars of money look in your favor. You will be blessed by promotion. Money will come to you from various sources. Love stars are really good this time. If you are already engaged, a third person might become a cause of trouble between you both. Your health will be badly affected in the year 2013. Overall the year is good and seems to be in your favor.

Dog Chinese Astrology 2013

According to Chinese astrology 2013, dogs will become sharper this year. You will be able to bring a balance in the professional as well as personal life. Your nature of loyalty will rise. People will notice your kindness and in a very short span of time you will become the center of attraction. Try to concentrate on maintaining good relations with your seniors and in the family. Getting into senseless arguments will only pose stress on you. From the financial aspect the year seems good to you. Money will come from various sources. Your love life and marital life are going to stay very successful. All of your stars are on the right track and you need not to worry for anything except a few. The year 2013 as per the Chinese astrology is very good for you.

Pig Chinese Astrology 2013

According to Chinese Astrology 2013 Chinese Pigs should stay around their family as much as possible this year. Staying with your family will give you positive energy. Pig is going to be the luckiest sign this year among all. You will not face much trouble and this year will be better than the last year. The year 2013 will give you everything that you want. Share your happiness with the close friends and family. You might have to travel this year. If you want to stay away from any kind of trouble in your career then concentrate only on your work. Health will stay good this year. However, small problems related to health might cause trouble. Overall, the coming year 2013 is going to stay very good for the pigs and you will be very fortunate this year.