Thursday, August 28, 2008

Little Secrets To Great Skin

* Stress, be gone!

Stress is everywhere! From work to relationships, it can cause premature ageing, fine lines and wrinkles among others. Learn to manage your stress, even daily - just take about 15 to 20 minutes to sit quietly by yourself and breathe deeply.

* The magic number 8

We all know it but we may not practise it. You need to drink eight to ten glasses of water a day to flush toxins out and keep skin hydrated. However, try not to gulp down too much right before bed time. Water retention may occur, which causes puffy eyes.

* Watch what goes in

A diet with fresh fruits and vegetables contribute to great skin, but there's another vital intake. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are building blocks of cell membranes which improve moisture, elasticity and firmness of the skin. EFAs such omega-6 are found in plant oils such as evening primrose oil.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Egg Yolks Are Good for You

The truth about egg yolks

Many people throw away the egg yolk because they think that's where all the nasty fat and cholesterol is". This is a perfect example of how confused most people are about nutrition.

In a world full of misinformation, somehow most people now mistakenly think that the egg yolk is the worst part of the egg, when in fact, the YOLK IS THE HEALTHIEST PART OF THE EGG!

By throwing out the yolk and only eating egg whites, you're essentially throwing out the most nutrient dense, antioxidant-rich, vitamin and mineral loaded portion of the egg. The yolks contain so many B-vitamins, trace minerals, vitamin A, folate, choline, lutein, and other powerful nutrients... it's not even worth trying to list them all.

In fact, the egg whites are almost devoid of nutrition compared to the yolk. Even the protein in egg whites isn't as powerful without the yolks to balance out the amino acid profile and make the protein more bio-available. Not to even mention that the egg yolks from free range chickens are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. Yolks contain more than 90% of the calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, thiamin, B6, folate, and B12, and panthothenic acid of the egg. In addition, the yolks contain all of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K in the egg, as well as all of the essential fatty acids.

And now the common objection I get all the time when I say that the yolks are the most nutritious part of the egg..."But I heard that whole eggs will skyrocket my cholesterol through the roof ." No, this is FALSE!

First of all, when you eat a food that contains a high amount of dietary cholesterol such as eggs, your body down-regulates it's internal production of cholesterol to balance things out. On the other hand, if you don't eat enough cholesterol, your body simply produces more since cholesterol has tons of important functions in the body.

And here's where it gets even more interesting...There are indications that eating whole eggs actually raises your good HDL cholesterol to a higher degree than LDL cholesterol, thereby improving your overall cholesterol ratio and blood
chemistry.

And 3rd... high cholesterol is NOT a disease! Heart disease is a disease...but high cholesterol is NOT.

You can read the following article about why trying to attack cholesterol is a mistake, and what the REAL deadly risk factors actually are...

Cholesterol Myths

So I hope we've established that whole eggs are not some evil food that will wreck your body... instead whole eggs are FAR superior to egg whites.

Also, your normal supermarket eggs coming from mass factory farming just don't compare nutritionally with organic free range eggs from healthy chickens that are allowed to roam freely and eat a more natural diet.

I recently compared eggs I bought at the grocery store with a batch of eggs I got at a farm stand where the chickens were free roaming and healthy. Most people don't realize that there's a major difference because they've never bought real eggs from healthy chickens... The eggs from the grocery store had pale yellow yolks. On the other hand, the healthier free range eggs had deep orange colored yolks indicating much higher nutrition levels and carotenoids.

So next time a health or fitness professional tells you that egg whites are superior, you can quietly ignore their advice knowing that you understand the REAL deal about egg yolks.

One more thing about eggs... I read a study recently that compared groups of people that ate egg breakfasts vs groups of people that ate cereal or bagel based breakfasts. The results of the study showed that the egg eaters lost or maintained a healthier bodyweight, while the cereal/bagel eaters gained weight.

It was hypothesized that the egg eaters actually ate less calories during the remainder of the day because their appetite was more satisfied compared to the cereal/bagel eaters who would have been more prone to wild blood sugar swings and food cravings.

Beware: New Credit Card Scam!

If you have a Visa or Mastercard you might want to read the following.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.

This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation.

My husband was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was called on Thursday from 'MasterCard'.

The scam works like this: Person calling says, 'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge Number is 12460, your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in Arizona?'

When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?'

You say 'yes'. The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.

You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works:

The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card '. He'll ask you to turn your card over and look for some numbers. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the Security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him.

After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?' After you say 'No', the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do', and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. We are glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.

Long story made short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation.

The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a 'Jason Richardson of MasterCard' with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a Police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily!

This is a genuine scam operating in Australia and is likely to come here. So, don't give your Security Number at all cost...

News: New Toll Payment Gadget

Malaysians may have to fork out more money for a new toll system in Malayisa. The success of the current system for the Smart Tag has spurred the Works Ministry to come out with better ideas to produce a much improved gadget.

I wonder whether the owners of the current Smart Tag (I'm one of them) will get to exchange and/or top up with additional money to obtain the latest gadget (which is under trial run at the moment).

I got my Smart Tag at RM100 during a promotion previously. Initially it was being retailed at RM200. The current gadget are being used by many many many road users (ain't this a waste of money for common citizens). Not only that for users would be wasting money but the government will have to install additional electronic stuff at all toll plazas to accommodate another new toll system. Not replacing, mind you!

They mentioned that road users could also purchase this new unit and the current Smart Tag could still be used. This new unit's plus point - could record payment at high speed. What high speed? It won't miss recording a motor vehicle's new gadget even if the car was travelling at 100km per hour. That is total madness.

Imagine driving towards the toll plaza at 100km per hour and squeeze into the tight toll lane. Lorries and buses would be crashing through all the toll plazas in Malaysia with that speed.

Licking Envelopes

A woman was working in a post office in California .

One day she licked the envelopes and postage stamps instead of using a sponge. That very day the lady found a cut on her tongue. A week later, she noticed an abnormal swelling of her tongue. She went to the doctor, and they found nothing wrong. Her tongue was not sore or anything. A couple of days later, her tongue started to swell more, and it began to get really sore, so sore, that she could not eat. She went back to the hospital, and demanded something be done. The doctor took an x-ray of her tongue and noticed a lump. He prepared her for minor surgery. When the doctor cut her tongue open, a live cockroach crawled out!!!!

There were cockroach eggs on the seal of the envelope. The egg was able to hatch inside of her tongue, because of her saliva. It was warm and moist...

This is a true story reported on CNN.

Andy Hume wrote: Hey, I used to work in an envelope factory. You wouldn't believe the....things that float around in those gum applicator trays. I haven't licked an envelope for years!' I used to work for a print shop (32 years ago) and we were told NEVER to lick the envelopes. I never understood why until I had to go into storage and pull out 2500 envelopes that were already printed and saw several squads of cockroaches roaming around inside a couple of boxes with eggs everywhere. They eat the glue on the envelopes.

After reading this you will never lick another envelope or stamp again!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Homeopathic Medicine

Homeopathy is a safe, natural form of medicine, based on the practice of treating like with like. Homeopathy is derived from the Greek words homios, meaning like or similar, and italios, meaning suffering.

Homeopathy is concerned with treating the whole person rather than the illness alone. The homeopath will consider the patient as a whole, both physically and psychologically, taking into account the patient's physical appearance, their likes, dislikes and their temperament. It is therefore a highly personalized form of treatment, so patients who apparently suffer from the same illness may be given advice for different medicines.

Homeopathy is a well established form of healing. Today many of the leading pharmaceutical companies are researching and mass-producing homeopathic medicines.

Homeopathic medicines, commonly referred to as remedies, may come from the plant, mineral, or animal kingdom. Some common remedies include: arnica montana, from the Leopard's bane plant; belladonna, from the deadly nightshade plant; calcarea, calcium carbonate from oyster shells; sepia, from cuttlefish ink; and the element, sulphur.

Homeopathic remedies today are produced using the same dilution principles as in Hahnemann's day. In a common dilution of 1:100, one drop of the homeopathic substance is added to 99 drops of water and/or alcohol. The mixture is then potentized by a process called "succussion" - repeated tapping on a hard surface for a specific length of time. Remedies may be diluted up to 1000 times, leaving only an infinitesimal trace of the substance. Remedies are typically diluted 10, 100, or 1,000 times, which translate into potencies that are marked with the Roman numerals X, C, and M. Homeopathic remedies range from 6X as the lowest potency to 1M or more as the highest potency.

Remedies can be taken orally in pill, powder, or drop form, rubbed topically, or injected. There are usually no side effects from homeopathic treatments, but a patient can experience what is called a "healing aggravation," a temporary accentuation of symptoms. This is seen as a positive sign that the remedy is working. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, a homeopath may choose an antidote, which produces the opposite effect of the remedy. The antidote may be another homeopathic remedy, or a strong substance, such as perfume, camphor, or coffee, which are known to block the effects of a remedy.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized homeopathic medicines as drugs since 1938, working with the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention to produce and update their reference book of homeopathic medicines. Over the years, the FDA has classified homeopathic medicines as either prescription or more commonly as non-prescription (over-the-counter), depending on their strength. In the United Kingdom, homeopathic medicine has been part of the National Health Service (NHS) since it began in 1948. There are currently 5 homeopathic hospitals in the NHS. Homeopathic medicines are available over-the-counter or by prescription.

Because of the very, very small doses used in homeopathic treatment, the medicines are completely safe, non-addictive and have no unwanted side effects. The curative properties of the remedies are released even in extremely high dilution‹and render the medicine completely safe for the treatment of both children and babies.

Always consult a practitioner before buying homeopathic remedies, and make sure that they are kept safe and out of the reach of all children.

Where dosing instructions have been followed, no case of toxic action has ever been reported in association with homeopathic medicines.

Homeopathic treatment is practiced by fully qualified Health Practitioners who understand the philosophy of homeopathic medicine's well as patients' emotional and daily situations.

While some homeopathic medicines are readily available in both regular pharmacies and health stores, you MUST consult your homeopathic practitioner before attempting treatment for any serious ailment or illness.

If you are currently on medication for a serious medical or psychological condition, you should NOT stop taking your medication in order to start homeopathic treatment. Your practitioner will advise you on the best course of treatment, often working with your internist or therapist.

Government Allowance for Senior Citizen Aged 60 And Above

There is an email circulating that says Selangor state government will be giving a one-time cash allowance of RM3500 to senior citizens who are 60 years old and above.
I guess there is some misinterpretation. What it actually is referring to is a Free Takaful Programme.

It is an insurance scheme. This Takaful protection programme worths RM3500 is provided for senior citizens aged 60 and above who have been residents of Selangor for a minimum of 1 year.

RM3500 is payable upon dealth by the insurance company of which RM500 is payable in 24 hours after death.

Find out more details here:

Caruman Takaful & Perubatan Percuma Kepada Warga Emas

Here is the Basic Information Request Form:

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

More Self Massage

More massage points to relax yourself. Each massage point brings you different benefit. Do experience to tell for yourself!

(Click to have larger view)

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Contaminated Dory Fish aka Pangas Fish

Do you eat this frozen fish called Pangas ? ( Pangasius, Vietnamese River Cobbler, White Catfish, Gray Sole )

Industrially farmed in Vietnam along the Mekong River, Pangas or whatever they're calling it, has only been recently introduced tothe French market. However, in a very short amount of time, it has grown in popularity in France. The French are slurping up Pangas like it's their last meal of soup noodles. They are very, very affordable (cheap), are sold in filets with no bones and they have a neutral (bland) flavor and texture; many would compare it to cod and sole, only much cheaper.

But as tasty as some people may find it, there's, in fact, something hugely unsavory about it. I hope the information provided here will serve as very important information for you and your future choices. Here's why I think it is better left in the shops (and not on your dinner plates):

1. Pangas are teeming with high levels of poisons and bacteria.
( industrial effluents, arsenic, and toxic and hazardous by-products of the growing industrial sector, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT and its metabolites (DDTs), metal contaminants, chlordane-related compounds (CHLs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers(HCHs), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) ).

The reasons are that the Mekong River is one of the most polluted rivers on the planet and this is where pangas are farmed and industries along the river dump chemicals and industrial waste directly into it. To Note: a friend lab tests these fish and tells us to avoid eating them due to high amounts of contamination. Regardless of the reports and recommendations against selling them, the supermarkets still sell them to the general public knowing they are contaminated.

2. They freeze Pangas in contaminated river water.

3. Pangas are not environmentally sustainable, a most unsustainable food you could possibly eat - 'Buy local' means creating the least amount of environmental harm as possible.

This is the very opposite end of the spectrum of sustainable consumerism. Pangas are raised in Vietnam .. Pangas are fed food that comes from Peru (more on that below), their hormones ( which are injected into the female Pangas ) come from China .. ( More about that below ) and finally, they are transported from Vietnam to France. That's not just a giant carbon foot print, that's a carbon continent of a foot print.

4. There's nothing natural about Pangas - They're fed dead fish remnants and bones, dried and ground into a flour, from South America, manioc (cassava ) and residue from soy and grains. This kind of nourishment doesn't even remotely resemble what they eat in nature. But what it does resemble is the method of feeding mad cows ( cows were fed cows, remember? ). What they feed pangas is completely unregulated so there are most likely other dangerous substances and hormones thrown into the mix. The pangas grow at a speed light (practically! ) : 4 times faster than in nature. so it makes you wonder what exactly is in their food? Your guess is as good as mine.

5. Pangas are Injected with Hormones Derived from Urine - I don't know how someone came up with this one out but they've discovered that if they inject female Pangas with hormones made from the dehydrated urine of pregnant women, the female Pangas grow much quicker and produce eggs faster (one Panga can lay approximately 500,000 eggs at one time ). Essentially, they're injecting fish with hormones ( they come all of the way from a pharmaceutical company in China ) to speed up the process of growth and reproduction. That isn't good. Some of you might not mind eating fish injected with dehydrated pee, so if you don't, good for you, but just consider the rest of the reasons to NOT eat it..

6. You get what you pay for - and then some.

Don't be lured in by insanely cheap price of Pangas. Is it worth risking your health and the health of your family?

7. Buying Pangas supports unscrupulous, greedy evil corporations and food conglomerates that don't care about the health and well-being of human beings. They only are concerned about selling as many pangas as possible to unsuspecting consumers. These corporations only care about selling and making more money at whatever cost to the public.

8. Pangas will make you sick - If ( for reasons in #1 above ) you don't get immediately ill with vomiting, diarrhea and effects from severe food poisoning, congratulations, you have an iron stomach! But you're still ingesting POISON not poisson.

Final important note: Because of the prodigious amount of availability of Pangas, be warned that they will certainly find their way into other foods: surimi ( those pressed fish things, imitation crab sticks ), fish sticks, fish terrines, and probably in some pet foods. ( Warn your dogs and cats and hamsters and gerbils and even your pet fish! )



Joke: Indon, Bangla & Malaysian

An Indonesian, a Bangladeshi and a Malaysian are in a bar one night having a beer.

The Indonesian finishes his beer and suddenly throws his glass in the air, pulls out a gun and shoots the glass to pieces.

He brags, 'In Jakarta our glasses are so cheap that we don't need to drink from the same one twice.'

The Bangladeshi obviously impressed by this drinks his beer, throws his glass into the air, pulls out his gun pulls and shoots the glass to pieces.

He says, 'In Dhaka we have so much sand to make the glasses that we don't need to drink out of the same glass twice either.'

The Malaysian, cool as a cucumber, finishes his drink, throws his glass into the air, pulls out his gun and shoots the Indonesian & the Bangladeshi.

He says 'In KL we have so many Indons and Banglas that we don't need to drink with the same ones twice.'

Monday, August 18, 2008

Good Visual Guide for Self Massage

I found this diagram to be rather useful as we work hard for the day, and it's always a luxury to get ourselves a good massage. I can now give my hubby a good massage at the comfort of our home without spending a dime! Research found that massage can improve the intimate bond between the couples :)


(Click to have large view)

Healthy Juices For Healthy You

Usually I will make myself a glass of healthy juice whenever I feel tired or stressed-out.

These are the juices that I usually have to give myself an energy boost. These healthy juices are also good for weekly body cleansing to flush out all the toxins that have been accumulated for a week.

Give it a try and you gonna love it...

1. Carrot + Ginger + Green Apple
-> boost and cleanse body system

2. Green Apple + Cucumber + Celery
-> prevent cancer, reduce cholesterol, improve stomach upset and headache


3. Tomato + Carrot + Green Apple
-> improve skin complexion and bad breath

4. Bitter gourd + Milk + Green Apple
-> reduce internal body heat and improve bad breath

5. Orange + Ginger + Cucumber
-> improve skin moisture and texture, reduce internal body heat

6. Pineapple + Watermelon + Green Apple
-> dispel excess salts, nourish bladder and kidney

7. Green Apple + Kiwi + Cucumber
-> improve skin complexion

8. Banana + Pear
-> regulates blood sugar content

9. Carrot + Pear + Mango + Green Apple
-> reduce internal body heat, counteract toxicity, reduce blood pressure and
fight oxidization

10. Grapes + Watermelon + Honeydew + Milk
-> increase cell activity, strengthen body immunity

11. Milk + Papaya + Pineapple
-> increase metabolism, improve skin complexion

12. Milk + Banana + Pineapple
-> prevent constipation

Friday, August 15, 2008

Do You Know the CORRECT Way to Cook Instant Noodles?

Normally the way we cook instant noddles is by putting the noodles into a pot with water, then throw in the powder and let it cook for about 3 minutes and it's ready to serve.

This is the WRONG way of cooking instant noodles.

By doing this, when we actually boil the ingredients in the powder, normally with MSG, it will change the molecular structures of the MSG causing it to be toxic. The other thing that you may or may not realized is that, the noodles are coated with wax and it will take around 4 to 5 days for the body to excrete the wax after you have taken the noodles.

So, the CORRECT way to cook the noodles is ....

1. boil the noodles in a pot with water

2. once the noodles is cooked, take out the noodles, and throw away the water which contains wax.

3. boil another pot of water till boiling and put the noodles into the hot boiling water and then turn off the fire.

4. only at this stage when the fire is off, and while the water is still hot, put the ingredient with the powder into the water, to make noodle soup.

5. however, if you need dry noodles, take out the noodles and add the ingredient with the powder and toss it to get dry noodles.

7 Foods to Avoid

1. Doughnuts

It’s hard to resist the smell of a Krispy Kreme doughnut, which is why I never step foot in the store. Doughnuts are fried chock-full of sugar and white flour and loads of trans fat.

According to the Krispy Kreme website, an average 3.5 ounce sugar doughnut weighs in with about 400 calories and contains few other nutrients besides fat. These sugary treats may satisfy your craving but it won’t satisfy your hunger as most of the calories come from fat.

"Eating a lot of refined sugar contributes to blood sugar ‘swings’ or extreme fluctuations,” eDiets Chief Nutritionist Susan Burke said.

2. Cheeseburger with fries

The age-old classic may be delicious but think twice before sinking your teeth into that Big Mac. The saturated fat found in cheeseburgers has been linked to heart attacks, strokes and some types of cancer.

"In fact, fast-food portions are gargantuan, almost double the calories per meal compared to 20 years ago," Susan says. "Twenty years ago the average fast-food cheeseburger had about 300 calories. Today’s BK Whopper with cheese has 720. To burn the excess 420 calories, you’d have to run for 40 minutes. For example, in 1985 a medium French fry had 240 calories, 2.4 ounces. Today’s ‘medium’ is 6.9 ounces and 610 calories.

"This fast-food meal of cheeseburger and fries has way too many calories and fat grams, not to mention grams of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol and sodium.”

Let’s break down this meal. First, take the white-flour bun (refined carbohydrates), then add some processed cheese (saturated fat and trans fat, plus lots of additives and preservatives) and then top off with fried red meat (cholesterol and saturated fats). And let’s not forget about the condiments such as the always-fattening mayonnaise.

Not sounding so appetizing anymore, huh? Oh, and let’s not forget about the infamous side dish. You cheeseburger will most likely come with a side of French fries, which is sadly the most popular vegetable dish in the U.S. Don’t kid yourself, French fries are not vegetables, they are extremely high in fat and contain a tiny amount of nutrients.

3. Fried Chicken and Chicken Nuggets

With the recent class-action lawsuit between The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and KFC, the health risks posed by fried foods are becoming more public. The CSPI is suing the food chain for their use of cooking oil containing unhealthy trans fats. The lawsuit seeks to order KFC to use other types of cooking oils and to inform customers how much trans fats KFC’s food contains.

Foods cooked in highly heated oils (most notably partially hydrogenated oil) have been known to cause cancer, weight gain and other serious health risks if ingested regularly. A 10-piece chicken McNugget from McDonald’s has 420 calories, 24 grams of fat and 1120 milligrams of sodium. One Extra Crispy Chicken Breast from KFC has around 420 calories and eight grams of saturated fat. So unless you want to super size yourself, it’s best to make a clean break with fried foods.

4. Oscar Mayer's Lunchables

Sure they are convenient and easy, but boy are they unhealthy! These kid-marketed lunches are loaded with saturated fat and sodium. They usually contain highly processed meats and cheeses, white flour crackers and sugary treats. Lunchables get two-thirds of their calories from fat and sugar. And they provide lopsided nutrition since they contain no fruits or vegetables.

"They insidiously promote obesity by making kids think that lunch normally comes in a cellophane-wrapped box," Susan says. "Parents are promoting their children’s obesity by buying these items. They’re expensive, too. Pack a sandwich and save dollars and health.”

5. Sugary Cereal

Not all cereals are created equally. And while your kids might beg for the latest cookie or marshmallow chocolate surprise cereals, it is a safe bet they are about as healthy as a dessert. Keywords to look out for are puffed, dyed and sweetened.

Most kids’ cereals are so highly processed they no longer look like the grains they were originally made from. A healthy alternative is oatmeal. Although, if you are buying pre-packaged oatmeal make sure to check the label and see how much sugar it contains, you might be surprised.

"A little sugar isn’t a problem but when the first ingredient on the box is sugar, then watch out," she said. "There is no fruit in Froot Loops. But the unsweetened original Cheerios or Rice Krispies are fine, and you can sweeten them naturally with blueberries and strawberries.”

6. Processed Meats

What falls under the category of processed meats? Hot dogs, sausage, jerky, bacon, certain lunch meats and meats used in canned soup products. Almost all processed meats have sodium nitrite added as a preservative.

A recent study conducted at the University of Hawaii found that sodium nitrite can act as “a precursor to highly carcinogenic nitrosamines -- potent cancer-causing chemicals that accelerate the formation and growth of cancer cells throughout the body.” So eliminate these meats from your diet before they eliminate you!

7. Canned Soup

Sometimes regarded as a healthy food, soups can be very deceiving. You must stay on your guard because many canned soups have high levels of trans fats, sodium and artificial preservatives such as MSG. Just one serving (which is roughly one cup) can have almost 1,000 milligrams of salt. Also, steer clear of soups that are cream-based, they can be high in calories and fat.

It is important to read labels from back to front. Ignore the health claims, and instead focus on the ingredients and serving size. Watch out for hydrogenated fat (trans fat) and sodium. If you’re buying bread to go with you soup, the first ingredient should be whole grain -- either whole wheat, rye or other grain. If it just says ‘wheat bread,’ that doesn’t mean whole wheat.

We all want our family to be healthy and happy, so steer clear of these foods.

Beware: Do Not Reply to SMS from 012-4928392

Below was the content taken out from a forwarded email, so every one of us be careful when receive any SMS from stranger. Simply ignore the SMS, don't ever bother to reply ya.

---------- * * * * * ----------

Today morning, while I still sleeping, I heard my hand phone SMS tone ringing. Then I open my eye and c, got a SMS from number 012-4928392 send me a SMS with content :'Long time no see already, how are you now?'.First when I saw this SMS I thought it maybe from my old friend... then i reply:'Fine how are u'

Then at 10:30 i receive a message from the same number and the content shocked me:'Anda telah memilih untuk mengaktifkan perkidmatan kami, cas sebanyak Rm10/mingguan akan dikenakan sebagai yuran perkidmatan. Untuk membatalkan perkhidmatan, sila SMS FINE OFF kepada number 333431 and sebanyak RM20 dikenakan untuk setiap sesi pembatalan.'

I quickly check my balance and c... my account had already being subtracted RM15

Just now I email Maxis to report the case and asked maxis to trace this number, and Maxis said will give me the report by tomorrow.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Beware: Mobile Phone Could Explode Under Extreme Hot Environment!

An incident of a mobile phone explosion inside a vehicle cabin was reported in Saudi Arabia lately.

Incident Background
Mobile phone units were left inside the car compartment while the vehicle was parked in an open area. One of the phones had its power “on”. It was close to midday. Reportedly after an hour in the park, one of the mobile phones exploded.

What Went Wrong?
Obviously the mobile phone’s battery is the only component as the legitimate source of stored energy. The solar heat obviously pressurized the car’s closed cabin. What triggers the explosion could be the overheated battery caused by extremely high temperature magnified by the windshield (glass) and the sealed (unventilated) vehicle cabin.

Lessons Learned
Better not to leave mobile phones in car compartment especially when the vehicle is exposed to direct sunlight for a prolonged period.


Figure 1&2: Shattered car windshield as a result of the explosion


Figure 3: Effects of the explosion


Figure 4: Remains of phone gadget


Figure 5: Evidence of rupture and heavy melting due to intense temperature as a consequence of the explosion



Figure 6: Car compartment damages and mobile phone units were destroyed beyond repair

Breaktime: Education by Pua Chu Kang

Chu Kang ( PCK ) explaining sex to Chu Beng's son, Aloysius

Aloy : Why is making love so enjoyable ?
PCK : Aiyah, ah boy, enjolable becaws, same like when you dig your nose with your finger mah !

Aloy : Do you think women enjoy sex more than men ?

PCK : Of course woman lah ! When you dig dig your nose, your nose feel better than your finger, right ?

Aloy : Why do women hate it when they get raped ?

PCK : Ai-yah ! Say, you walk along the load, den someone come over and dig your nose, you like or not ? Ehhh ? Don't pray pray ah !

Aloy : Why is it a woman cannot have sex when she is having her menses?

PCK : Oy !! If your nose bleeding, you still go and dig meh?? Siow ah ! Use your blain, use your blainnn ............

Aloy : Why is it most men don't like wearing condoms when they are making love ?

PCK : Ehhhh, when you dig your nose ah, you like to dig with a glove on your finger or not ? Not the same shiok feeling mah. Corlight or not?

Aloy : Why is making love carried out in private ?

PCK : Ah boyyyyy, use your blain, use your blainnnnn .............................. you go and dig your nose in flont of your whole class izit ?? Stupid lah!!

Aloy : Wah ...... Uncle Chu Kang, you are very good.

PCK : Aiyah ...... ," Best in Singapore , JB, some say Batam, and now, the whole world!" also ah!!!

Something to Boost You Up When You Feel Down

If you think you are unhappy, look at them


If you think your salary is low, how about her?


If you think you don't have many friends...


If you think study is a burden, how about her?


When you feel like giving up, think of this man


If you think you suffer in life, do you suffer as much as he does?


If you complain about your transport system, how about them?


If your society is unfair to you, how about her?



Enjoy life how it is and as it comes

Things are worse for others and is a lot better for us...

There are many things in your life that will catch your eye but only a few will catch your heart....pursue those...

乳癌新種: 乳房外柏哲氏病

一種罕見的新種乳癌於十一月被發現。一名女士的乳房如同哺乳中的婦人般起了濕疹。她的乳房X光攝影片並沒有顯示出任何代表硬塊的陰影,因此醫師只開了一般的抗生素以避免進一步的細菌感染。上了兩次醫院後病情卻持續惡化,醫師於是再度請她去照乳房X光攝影。這回陰影出現了。

切片檢查後,發現了急速複製中的惡性腫瘤細胞。為了減緩細胞複製,先是化療,接下來乳房切除,然後又是一整個療程的化療以及放射線治療。九個月的密集治療之後,醫師們保證她恢復健康了!

之後整整一年的時間,她過著最充實的生活,然而這批頑強的癌細胞竟轉移到肝臟!四個療程之後她決定捨棄有著續多副作用的化療,找回生活品質。她詳細的計畫最後五個月所有的生活細節,最後的幾天在嗎啡的麻醉效果下,安祥的走了。她在臨死前留下了這封 訊息,希望轉達給所有的女性朋友們!

女士們!請隨時注意身體細微的變化,並且,有任何不正常的情形時,請儘早尋求醫療協助!

乳房外柏哲氏病:這是一種罕見的癌前病變,以濕疹型態發生於乳頭及乳暈上。濕疹後來會形成一片邊緣有硬皮的傷口。我不曾懷疑這可能是癌症,但癌症找到了我。 我的乳房並沒有任何異狀,我看醫師唯一的理由是因為這偶爾會發癢、疼痛,十分惱人又醜陋的濕疹。 家庭 醫師開給我的任何乳膏都無法除去它; 皮膚科 醫師先前給 我的眼周皮膚病藥 物也無法治好它。似乎讓人感到不安,但無法使我聯想到癌症的到來。

我懷疑許多的女性朋友們都不知道乳暈及乳頭上的濕疹可能象徵乳癌。 ( 我一開始的症狀僅是乳頭上冒出一個小痘子 )。 柏哲氏病之所以可怕的理由之一,就是因為:乳頭上那似乎無害的細菌感染或是發炎,卻在延誤就醫後一發不可收拾。

有哪些症狀呢?
1. 乳頭有持續的紅腫、不明分泌物以及導致搔癢及灼熱感的硬皮剝落。 ( 我一開始的時候除了一邊乳房有硬皮剝落外,沒有其他症狀)。

2. 乳頭上有無法癒合的傷口。 ( 我當初的傷口分布在乳暈,乳頭中央並且有白色濃稠分泌物 )。

3. 通常只有一邊乳房被感染。這怎? 穨P斷呢?您的醫師會在觸壓檢查以後,建議您立刻做兩個乳房的X光攝影。因為正常皮膚炎的症狀為紅腫、硬皮剝落以及不明分泌物,所以醫師只有在症狀僅產生於單一乳房時,才會懷疑癌症的可能性。屆時進行發炎部位的病理切片,就能找出病因。

請嚴肅的看待這封信,並且盡你所能的轉寄給親朋好友;它可能拯救許多人的生命。


我的乳癌在無數化療、28個療程的放射線物理治療以及持續服用抗雌激素後,依舊轉移到骨隨。如果能早點診斷出乳癌,說不定就不會發生這種事情了 …。

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Caution: Handphone and Your Health

Got this from a forwarded mail. I guess there are some truth in there, just be careful with your mobile phone, try minimizing the close contact with your mobile phone. I remembered some even advised to use your left ear when talking on mobile phone.

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This morning I heard a sad real story from my colleague. She told me one of her friend always miscarriage when the baby 2-3 months old for few times continuously in few years time. The couple went to check with many doctors and lastly one of the doctor check on the death baby and found out the baby's body cells keeping die when baby growing up until he/she cannot be survived. This is because her uterus has been affected by Hand phone radiation. The doctor told she has no chance to get baby no matter how because the radiation affected her uterus which the major portion of her uterus cells already death, cannot carry healthy baby. All this because of she has been keeping her handphone in her working jacket which the position just right to the uterus position for few years time. Please beware and take note the consequences is not worth.

Please do not overlook the handphone radiation which will affect our health or body organs. Please put away your handphone when ever you don't need it much.

For guys, please do not keep your handphone near to the kidney position and pants pocket as this will hurt and affect your 'production' if you plan to get baby.

The other doctor also advice another friend to keep away handphone to her new born baby to avoid radiation to baby's brain and cells. Do not let the baby or toddler play with the handphone for long time. This is because the small young baby or toddler still very fragile and most probably they cannot take the radiation.

Please remind yourself do not sleep together with your handphone or put next to your bed. Keep away any other electronic goods (such as TV also) which got radiation away from your bedroom to reduce risk as we have to sleep few hours a day in our bedroom at night. Do not think that you switch off the TV it will be no radiation actually it is still around in your room just not eyes visible, even the small alarm clock not to be advised to put just next to your head while sleeping.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

How are the Beijing Olympic Medals made?

Beijing Olympic medal reverse side

Beijing Olympic medal obverse side

Beijing Olympic medal - Selecting stones

Beijing Olympic medal - Jade cutting



Beijing Olympic medal - Jade polishing

Beijing Olympic medal - Checking up the jade


Beijing Olympic medal mould

Beijing Olympic medal machine tool

Beijing Olympic medal after punching

Groove making machine

Groove checking up

Putting jade into the medal

Beijing Olympic medal - Finishing




(Credit: photos from Beijing2008.cn)