Ladies beware if you love eating chicken wings

Avoid eating chicken wings frequently - ladies especially; a true story...!

A friend of mine recently had a growth in her womb and she underwent an operation to remove it. The cyst removed was filled with a dark colored blood. She thought that she would be recovered after the surgery but! she was terribly wrong.

A relapse occurred just a few months later. Distressed , she rushed down to her gynecologist for a consultation.

During her consultation, her doctor asked her a question that puzzled her. He ask if she was a frequent consumer of chicken wings and she replied yes wondering as to how, he knew of her eating habits.
You see, the truth is in this modern day and age; chickens are injected with steroids to accelerate their growth so that the needs of this society can be met. This need is none other than the need for food.

Chickens that are injected with steroids are usually given the shot at the neck or the wings. Therefore, it is in these places that the highest concentration of steroids exists.

These steroids have terrifying effects on the body as it accelerates growth..
It has an even more dangerous effect in the presence of female hormones, this leads to women being more prone to the growth of a cyst in the womb. Therefore, I advise the people out there to watch their diets and to lower their frequency of consuming chicken wings!

What You Don't Know About Baby Carrots

The small cocktail (baby) carrots you buy in small plastic bags are made using the larger crooked or deformed carrots which are put through a machine which cuts and shapes them into cocktail carrots. Most people probably know this already.

What you may not know and should know is the following: once the carrots are cut and shaped into cocktail carrots they are dipped in a solution of water and chlorine in order to preserve them (this is the same chlorine used in your pool) since they do not have their skin or natural protective covering, they give them a higher dose of chlorine.

You will notice that once you keep these carrots in your refrigerator for few days, a white layer will form on the carrots, this is the chlorine which resurfaces. At what cost do we put our health at risk to have esthetically pleasing vegetables which are practically plastic?

We do hope that this information can be passed on to as many people as possible in the hopes of informing them where these carrots come from and how they are processed. Chlorine is a very well known carcinogen. Pass this information on...

Watch What You Eat - You Are What You Eat

Today beauty is associated with a beautiful body. From TV commercials to fashion magazines, thin women are in and those who are overweight are out. However, more than half of the population is overweight. This problem is affecting not only women but men of all ages.

A healthy lifestyle not only increases a person’s energy but it can also enhance their appearance. Most people who are overweight do not watch their diet, and that leads to unwanted obesity.

Here are some tips to follow to achieve a beautiful body through proper dieting:

1. Eat high-fiber, low fat foods such as salads, vegetables, and pasta.

2. Eat small amounts of food every two hours instead of having a big breakfast, lunch, or dinner. By doing this, the metabolism will increase and burn calories faster. Do not skip a single meal as there is less temptation to eat junk food when the stomach is full.

3. Instead of cornflakes, try oatmeal for breakfast to lower your cholesterol level. Eating oatmeal for breakfast keeps a person from wanting snacks before lunch because it is rich in fiber.

4. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. It helps cut the appetite and improves the appearance of the skin.

5. Avoid alcoholic beverages especially beer; instead, try fruit juices or iced tea.

6. Avoid sweets. Chocolate specifically can ruin the diet. Avoiding it does not mean total abstinence from it though - have some once a week!

7. Instead of eating meat, try fish. Eating a large amount of fish does not make you fat.

8. Abstain from eating after 6 PM. This has worked for many people. The idea behind it is to keep food away from the body when its metabolism is at its slowest state. For people who cannot totally eliminate food during this time eat yogurt, cabbage, fish, or green salad.

9. Lose weight sensibly. Do not keep the stomach hungry. It is a common belief that skipping meals is a sure way to lose weight; but that is just plain wrong! Instead, try eating fruit like watermelon, papaya, etc.

10. Avoid frying with oil: try to use non-stick cookware to cut down the oil or use paper towels to remove excess oil.

11. Instead of whole milk, put skim milk in your coffee or tea. There is no difference in the taste, just the number of calories.

Loosing weight has been one of American’s problems that’s affecting more than half of the population. To decrease that percentage, follow the simple 11 steps above.

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! )

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.

Special Opening Promotion: Thai Thai @ Sunway Pyramid

Venue: Thai Thai at Oasis Booulevard North, Level G, Sunway Pyramid
Valid from: 08.08.08 to 14.08.08

* Discount only applicable to food & beverage only
* This discount is not applicable with other promotions
* Promotions valid while stocks last

(Click to enlarge)

RM10 Value Meal Madness Continues...

If you missed the Secret Recipe RM10 Set Meal Madness, don't worry!
Now, even more irresistable at ZEN Cafe, from 7 Aug onwards...

RM9.90 All Day

Tea Set is also running at the same time !

So, you can indulge in main meal + drink @ RM10
(then add-on Dessert + Coffee/Tea @ RM9.90)

Real Value For Money !! Go and try it!

(Click to enlarge)

Promotion: KFC Breakfast Vouchers

* Valid until 10 July 2008
* Only printed colour & B/W voucher is accepted for redemption
* Valid at all KFC breakfast outlets except Genting Highlands, First World & KLIA
* Not exchangeable for cash
* Price subject to 5% government tax where applicable
* Not valid with other on-going promotions.

Click to enlarge the image and print.

Promotion: Eat For RM10 @ Secret Recipe

Fight the inflation blues!

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* Valid from selected main meals + ice lemon tea
* Valid for dine-in only, whilst quantity lasts
* Valid now till 6 August 2008
* Not valid with other discounts and promotions
* Valid at all Secret Recipe nationwide except Sabah/Sarawak
* Subject to 10% service charge and 5% government tax

Breakfast & Heart Attack

For those who always skip breakfast, drink at least a glass of orange juice. Stay healthy!

You've heard many times that "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Now, recent research confirms that one of the worst practices you can develop may be avoiding breakfast. Why?

Because the frequency of heart attack, sudden death, and stroke peaks between 6:00 a.m. and noon, with the highest incidence being between 8:00 a.m.and 10:00 a.m.

What mechanism within the body could account for this significant jump in sudden death in the early morning hours? We may have an answer. Platelets, tiny elements in the blood that keep us from bleeding to death if we get a cut, can clump together inside our arteries due to cholesterol or plaque build up in the artery lining. It is in the morning hours that platelets become the most activated and tend to form these internal blood clots at the greatest frequency.

However, eating even a very light breakfast prevents the morning platelet activation that is associated with heart attacks and strokes.

Studies performed at Memorial Universityin St.Johns, Newfoundland found that eating a light, very low-fat breakfast was critical in modifying the morning platelet activation. Subjects in the study consumed either low-fat or fat-free yogurt, orange juice, fruit, and a source of protein coming from yogurt or fat-free milk.

So if you skip breakfast, it's important that you change this practice immediately in light of this research. Develop a simple plan to eat cereal, such as oatmeal or Bran Flakes, along with six ounces of grape juice or six ounces of orange juice, and perhaps a piece of fruit.

This simple plan will keep your platelets from ticking together, keep blood clots from forming, and perhaps head off a potential heart attack or stroke.

Cereals – Perfect Start For Any Day

Because usually in the morning you are in a rush, maybe breakfast is the last on the list of your priorities. Or maybe it isn’t there at all. Breakfast is a very important meal that your body needs. In order to make breakfast give you power and strengths it has to be rich in sugar and low on fats. A proper diet must be firstly equilibrated. This is why you need a tasty and nutritional breakfast but mostly a healthy one. The breakfast aliment that is key for mornings and has all these qualities is cereal.

Why do cereals make the perfect breakfast?
Breakfast cereals are made from corn and rice most times and they are the optimal solution for every morning. Cereals have a rich content of vitamins like vitamin A, C, the whole complex of B vitamins, minerals like iron, magnesium, copper ,phosphor and zinc and anti-oxidants as well. Also cereals are an important source of calcium. They provide an adequate quantity of calcium for any age, and vitamin D that has a very important role in helping the calcium be absorbed by the organism. Cereals have a low quantity of saturated fats, but a high quantity or unsaturated fats, substances good for the organism.

The fibers in cereals have a huge role in everyone’s health.

Heath in a bowl
Because they are an aliment so rich in fibers, minerals and nutritive substances, cereals for breakfast are ideal mornings. You will start your day in a tasty way and they will provide you with the necessary energy and power to get through the day. Their benefic effect is immediate, but there is also one that is seen on a long term. Getting used to eating cereals for breakfast helps you watch over your weigh and helps you maintain your health.

Some dangerous diseases that cereals protect you from are: heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, intestinal affections, even cancer. So, if you make a habit out of eating cereals is as if you were making a long term investment for your health.

For those of you that want to start the day with a smile on their face, cereals are definitely the best option.

Read the Numbers on Your Fruit

I just found this out about a month ago. I learned that sticker labels on the fruits actually tell you how the fruits have been grown? Whether they were organically grown or conventionally grown with pesticides and herbicides; Oh, and let's not forget about the genetically engineered fruits.



Conventional Fruit Labels
Four digits and does not start with 9.
** mostly starting with the digit 4.

Organic Fruit Labels
Five digits and starts with number 9.

Genetically Modified Fruits
Start with the digit 8.

So next time you go shopping, remember these critical numbers and know how to avoid purchasing inorganic and GMO fruits.

This is good to know because stores aren't obligated to tell you if a fruit has been genetically modified.

Okay, so if you come across an apple in the store and it's label is 4922, it's an conventional apple grown with herbicides and harmful fertilizers. If it has a sticker 99222, it's organic and safe to eat. If it says 89222, then RUN!!!! It has been genetically modified (GMO).

Recipe: Marmite Chicken / Spare-rib

This morning, one of my colleagues, a male, was asking the recipe for marmite chicken / spare-rib. I was feeling guilty as being a wife and a mother to 2, not being able to cook proper meals for my family. But this male colleague, being young and single, was asking around for recipes. He told me that he will cook for himself off and on. He kinda loves cooking. He and other male colleague also share their simple recipe in cooking spaghetti. I was totally ashame.

So, I google for marmite chicken recipe and here I found a good one to share to with my fellow readers. I guess I might try it out some times later.

Recipe for Marmite Chicken / Spare-rib
(credit to www.asian-recipes.com)

Ingredients:
250 ml oil for deep-frying
2 chicken thighs, about 500 g cut into pieces

Marinade:
1 tsp light soy sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp corn flour

Sauce:
2 tbsp Marmite yeast extract
1 tbsp maltose
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp light soy sauce
dash of pepper and chicken stock granules
100 ml water


Directions:

1. Mix chicken with marinade and marinate for 1 hour. Deep-fry in hot oil for 2 minutes or until cooked. Dish and drain.
2. Leave 1 tbsp oil in wok, pour in sauce and cook at medium heat until thick. Put in fried chicken and mix well. Dish up and serve.

(photo credit to www.thefoodpornographer.com)

List of Negative Calorie Foods

Negative calorie foods are group of vegetables and fruits, that have "negative calorie effect". The idea is that when we consume these negative calorie foods, our body use more energy to digest these foods than the foods provide to the body, so we burn off some calories just by eating.

We know that our bodies do use up energy in digesting food. In fact, it is believed that about ten percent of the calories from a meal are burned up while your body digests and processes the foods. That still leaves you with ninety percent of the calories. The second part of the secret is that those calories are very low and very healthy compared to the calories in fat, sugar, meat and refined junk foods. You can eat all of the green veggies you want and still lose weight.

When you eat raw vegetarian foods instead of processed fatty foods, you certainly do ingest fewer calories, and your body also burns up more calories in digestion. You feel way more full and satisfied. Your body gets the vitamins and minerals it wants so you may not feel so many cravings.

Here is a list of negative calorie foods that help you to lose weight without feeling hungry:

Vegetables:
- Asparagus
- Beets
-Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Chicory
- Chili Peppers
- Cucumbers
- Endive
- Garlic
- Lettuce
- Onions
- Spinach
- Turnip
- Zucchini


Fruits:
- Apples
- Cantaloupe
- Cranberries
- Grapefruit
- Lemons
- Mangoes
- Oranges
- Papayas
- Pineapple
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Tangerines
- Watermelon


What is the secret to losing weight by eating negative calorie foods?
The secret is to fill up on negative-calorie foods during the day and eat a healthy well-balanced regular meal at dinner time.

There are different ways to incorporate negative calorie foods into the early part of your daily diet. You can make a variety of fruit smoothies of fruit salads for breakfast. For lunch, enjoy a large crispy vegetable salad and include a 4-oz portion of lean meat / white meat.


How about some negative calorie recipes?
You can start out by simply adding negative calorie foods to other foods in any recipe, to make the meal more balanced. If you usually make spagetti with meatballs, for example, use chunks of zucchini instead of the fattening meatballs.

Add a mixed salad to every meal. Toss in half of the items on the negative calorie list into your salads. Just leave off the creamy high-fat dressing. Use a raspberry vinaigrette or something light like that.

Substitute these foods in place of others. Make a stir fry with several vegetables. Have a smoothie shake with your favorite fruits and some berries.

This is not a strict vegetarian diet. We can enjoy chicken or other white meats once in a while. But only a small amount. It is a personal choice. But on this diet you simply eat the foods listed above and you lose weight. It is that simple.

No matter what your eating plan may be, negative calorie foods or not, take a balanced daily multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.

Understand The REAL Deal About Egg Yolks

The truth about egg yolks...

I was on a weekend trip with some friends recently and one of my friends was cooking breakfast for the whole group. I went over to see what he was cooking and saw he was getting ready to make a big batch of eggs.

Well, to my shock and horror, I noticed that he was cracking the eggs open and screening the egg whites into a bowl and throwing out the egg yolks. I asked him why the heck he was throwing out the egg yolks, and he replied...

'because I thought the egg yolks were terrible for you...that's where all the nasty fat and cholesterol is'.

And I replied, 'you mean that's where all the nutrition 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.

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.

A Little More About Grapefuit

Do you like grapefruit?

The interaction between grapefruit juice and some medications can cause negative effects, especially on kidney level, and sometimes it can be fatal. A woman that uses birth control pills and then suddenly drinks too much grapefruit juice can get pregnant because this juice makes the effects of the pills disappear.

Grapefruit juice is not indicated to drink while taking anti-depressing medication, antibiotics and medicine for cardio-vascular diseases. A person that takes anti-depressives and adds to that grapefruit in huge quantities can feel that he has all of a sudden too much or too little energy, depending on the pills taken. Combining it with antibiotic can cause stomach sickness or can extend the illness you are taking medication for because the antibiotics will diminuate their effect. Heart drugs don’t work anymore, the blood pressure stays up and the heart beat irregularly. For those that love grapefruit juice, witch is more concentrated than the fruit itself, a recommendation would be to restrain from drinking it while they are taking medication.

Doctors try to raise attention upon avoiding and combating the combination of grapefruit with medicine especially because in some diets grapefruit juice is recommended in huge quantities.

Grapefruit is benefic to organism if used properly. It belongs to that class of aliments that burn calories, because it takes more calories to digest them than they have. Eating the fruit is not a problem, nor is drinking a glass of juice once in a while. The problem appears where human reasoning disappears. Wanting to loose more weight faster, people weaken their bodies and eat only grapefruits. It is efficient for a diet, but it also loosens the imunitary system. They become more vulnerable, more tired and nervous and if taking any medications they are risking their health in this combination.

So use this aliment wisely, go ask a specialist of its precise effects in your case and don’t abuse drinking grapefruit juice. Abusing something has never brought anything good, and it won’t in this case either. If you want to go on with your diet and keep your health find an alternative solution or make sure this does not affect your organism.

How much protein should one eat?

Since I'm still on my low-carb diet, it also means that I'm on a high-protein diet. I wonder how much protein does one need? Am I taking too much of the protein? Will it harm my body if I were to prolong the low-carb, high-protein diet?

Lets find out the fact as how much protein should one eat.

The perfect diet, which can provide the right kind of nutrition, is composed of a diet with right combination of carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Among all these components protein has a different and very essential role to play to keep the body in shape and make it strong. The main function of protein is reviving the dead tissues and enabling the growth of cells.

Another essential function performed by proteins in body is making of hormones in the body and other serums required by the body. Proteins from plants are as nutritious as animal proteins. The total calorie intake should comprise of 20 percent of it. Proteins are made of essential and non-essential amino acids.

A normal diet should contain 15-20% of protein. The intake of protein shouldn’t be more than 20% as suggested by the new researches. Protein contributes 4 calories of every gram consumed by the body. The right combination of essential amino acids as per the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) 1989 is: Isoleucine (10 mg), Lysine (12mg), Leucine (14 mg), Phenylalanine (14 mg), Methionine (13 mg), Threonine (7mg), Valine (10 mg) and Tryptophan (3.5 mg). These are those amino acids, which the body needs but cannot make them and are thus only made available to the body from food intakes comprising of these amino acids. And the protein needed by an infant is Histidine (28 mg). These amounts of proteins are taken in accordance with the body weight, per kilogram of it per day, by the body.

Requirement of protein depends on different factors like weight of the body, sex, age and the physical condition of the body. A normal human need for protein varies from that of the needs of an athlete or a body builder, or a person who is sick and lacks essentials required for a fit body. The body intakes essential amino acids that further help in making other non-essential amino acids required by the body to replenish the complete protein requirement of the body. The protein requirement of a body-builder is different from that of a normal workingman; the protein required by them is whey protein. Proteins from plants and from animals are the only outer sources of protein; milk has all the 8 different amino acids that the body requires for building muscles, hardening of bones and repairing cells. Eggs also provide complete protein, especially the white part of the egg.

An individual should take proper amount of protein, because any lesser than that or more than that can affect the body functioning adversely, which may result in body discrepancies. The amount of proteins suggested by physicians all over the world and by Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) has been agreed universally as the right intake of proteins for individuals with normal physical needs. The right combination of protein should be the proper combination of proteins from vegetarian food and non-vegetarian food. Vegetarian people are advised to take some dairy foods along with vegetables to keep the protein level in body at par. Dairy foods have high and good quality of proteins in them.

So, from the information above, I guess I have taken too much protein recently to compensate my low intake of carbohydrate. Hence, it is high time for me to reduce my protein intake back to normal and increase the fiber intake. Fiber can give us the full feeling, and above all, it helps to flush out body toxin. This will definitely improve my overall complexion as well. The major sources for fiber come mostly from leafy vegetables, fruits, wheat and oatmeal. It seems that my choice of breakfast - oatmeal, is my best source of fiber and energy for a day!

Improve Skin ------ Kick The Caffein Habit

I started to get addicted to coffee recently, ever since I started my low-carb diet about a month ago. I usually have a cup of 2 in 1 coffee non-sweetened in the evening around 4pm. I found coffee has given me the strength to stay awake longer especially during late evening. I thought it would be okay to have 2-in-1 coffee as it is not sweetened with the simple carb. So, I am very much contented with the routine to have a cup of 2-in-1 coffee everyday in the evening. This does not go long before I discovered that my eczema flares up.

I am not sure whether coffee or caffeine rather has anything to do with my eczema. So, I google "coffee and eczema", to my surprise, coffee / caffeine actually has very much to do with eczema. Some studies show that eczema sufferers seem to get improvement after they have cut down or exclude the intake of coffee. So, I guess I have to stop drinking coffee for at least a month to see if coffee / caffeine is the culprit of my eczema.

Here I would also like to share some information that I found in the internet that shows how caffeine affects our skin. Article source: GoodnessDirect.

Caffeine has both a good side and a bad side, did you know....

* Caffeine is found in black and green tea, coffee, cocoa and some soft drinks.
* Caffeine works like a mild drug, acting directly upon the central nervous system.
* Caffeine brings about an almost immediate sense of clearer thought and lessens fatigue.
* Caffeine also stimulates the release of stored sugar from the liver, which accounts for the "lift" coffee, cola, tea and chocolate give.

But these benefits may be far outweighed by side effects. These can include:-

* Release of stored sugar places heavy stress on endocrine system.
* Heavy coffee drinkers often develop nervousness or become jittery.
* Excessive intake can cause or irritate prostrate, heart and bladder problems.
* Can be related to irritability and insomnia.
* The effects of caffeine can last up to 20 hours so some people will have disturbed sleep patterns even when they had their last caffeine drink early in the morning.
* Drinking coffee can be related to eczema. In a study of eczema sufferers, on avoiding coffee, their symptoms were shown to improve.
* Total caffeine elimination has been shown to reduce the symptoms of fibro cystic breast disease.
* Drinking caffeine containing beverages increases urinary calcium loss. Long term caffeine consumers are reported to have an increased risk of osteoporosis.
* Pregnant women should limit caffeine intake to approximately 300mg per day. Research links caffeine amongst other things to low birth weight children.
* PMS can be further aggravated by caffeine.

Oatmeal that Comes with SELENIUM?

I used to have oatmeal every morning. But these two days, I have to change to MILO or NESCAFE, as my oatmeal has finished without me knowing it.

Leaving without much of choices (Milo / Nescafe), so I decided to shop for my favorite oatmeal during lunch time. I notices NATURE'S OWN (TM) now has a new packaging for its instant oatmeal. They changed the packing color from green to red. When observed closely, the red one is actually different, it's the NO SUGAR version of the green packing.

I used to buy the LOW SUGAR version which is the green packing, this time, I was thinking why not give the RED a try -- NO SUGAR, it may accelerate my diet progress! So, without much of a second thought, I grabbed the RED packet that comes with 15 sachets.

When I reached office thinking to have a cup of my favorite beverage (as I have skipped lunch), I found that this version of oatmeal comes with high SELENIUM.

SELENIUM? What is selenium? What's the use of SELENIUM in my oatmeal? How is the taste? Does it affect the aroma in my favorite oatmeal? These are the questions that first popped into my mind. There I found a little leaflet in the RED packing that explains everything I wanted to ask. Here is what it says:


Functions of SELENIUM in Our Body

Energy is captured from the food we eat through a process of relations that undergo in every cell. This series of chemical relations cannot take place with enzymes containing SELENIUM.

Sometimes in the energy producing process, molecules can 'break' causing dangerous oxidants that ruin your cell membranes. Colutathione peroxidase stops these oxidants before they can do any damage. Without SELENIUM, colutathione peroxidase cannot be produced and your cell membranes could be destroyed.

1. SELENIUM is of great help to our immune system. It aids in the protection of macrophages which are large white blood cells which consume viruses, bacteria and other foreign elements.

2. Joints benefit from an adequate intake of SELENIUM. Mucopolysaccharides need SELENIUM to be produced. These molecules lubricate joints and keep them working longer. Without lubrication, the bones in your joints would grind against each other and possibly cause rheumatoid arthritis.

3. SELENIUM has the ability to bond with heavy metals in your body. These metals can get inside you via air pollution, cigarette smoke or from the food we eat. When SELENIUM bonds with hazardous metals they can be safely excreted from your body. If they are not excreted, they may damage your organs and could cause cancer.

4. Men require more SELENUIM than women as there is a high concentration of this material in the seminal fluid. Adequate SELENIUM may lower the risk of impotence and sterility.

So, the conclusion is that one should opt for natural wholesome foods to get enough nutrients and SELENIUM of course, to prevent cancer and other health problems, while keeping you healthy.