Oh how I loooove DURIAN!!!

I'm so glad to know that it is not actually harmful to my health! In fact Durian is full so much nutrients and bad cholesterol? Naaah. It's a myth!

A Prickly Sensation Like No Other

By admin | Makansutra – Mon, Aug 26, 2013 9:00 PM SGT

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Text and images by Tris Marlis @ Makansutra

The man behind the prickly king of fruit.

Our Makanguru, KF Seetoh, calls him the “hottest (or coolest) thing to durian knowledge for foodies online since Peter Fonda wore Ray Ban shades while riding his Harley.” Yet, this humble man only calls himself a “durian enthusiast.” He is Tommy Lim, the writer behind Prickly Sensations, a blog where he talks about planting durian like Al Gore talks about global warming in awakening, interesting and inspiring ways.

For 30 minutes, his description and story-telling about the different types of durian enticed us more than the aroma of these prickly fruits. What’s best is after all that long talk, that seed of durian tasted like it’s never been before. It is like falling in love with your spouse all over again after 30 years of marriage. It is like we are in a wine appreciation class, except this is with a durian connoisseur. Now Lim organises a durian feast regularly, which he calls the Durian Connections, “it’s all about connecting people of all walks of life through durian,” he says.

“My first encounter with durians precedes my arrival to this world,” describes Tommy in his blog. Both his parents were durian aficionados, his mother was stuffing herself with durian during pregnancy (she believed it is beneficial), and the smell of durian was almost always present in the house and even in the car. It was a smell that calls for excitement, “I can smell durian even from a mile away,” he laughs. It was in the early 2000 when Lim had his first appreciation ‘class’ by a durian seller in Geylang. Ever since then, Lim had never stopped learning about durian and continuously shares his knowledge with people around him – how to plant a durian, how to choose and how to best enjoy. “When I first met my wife, she thought durian is all the same mah! But now she can explain the differences,” he says.

Tommy at one of the durian stalls he frequent (Ah Loon, 227 East Coast Rd)

For all the durian lovers out there, there are two reasons why you need to be durian-literate. First, by knowing how to differentiate types of durian, you are also avoiding the chances of being conned and paying sky high prices for lousy variants. But more importantly, when you have the knowledge, durian sellers will tend to reserve the best durian for you. “It’s etiquette. Durian sellers will not want to waste good durians, they only sell it to people who know how to appreciate them,” explains Tommy.

Now a full-time banker, husband, father and a dreamer, Tommy hopes to own his own durian plantation one day. “So that I can cultivate a cultivar that is suited for my friends, according to their durian preferences. Then name each tree after them,” and he continues “For generations that come after to have something they can relate to, they can say proudly that their grandpa and grandma gave their family heirloom, a heritage, something symbolic and meaningful.” Durian trees that used to take a generation to grow, has been enabled by new agriculture technology and can be grown in a decade. If you start planting your durian tree now, you will have a chance to taste your own cultivar. That is if Lim’s dream comes true soon.

“This year’s durian season can easily lasts until October,” says Ah Loon, a durian seller at 227 East Coast Rd. Although durian is available all year long, these few months would be the best time to try out all these different types of durian.

Durian 101

The most beloved Mao Shan Wang

Mao Shan Wang: Sometimes called the “butter durian,” Mao Shan Wang has a creamier, firmer and heavier texture compared to other durians. Its smell is pungent and strong. [Here’s a post on how to identify fake Mao Shan Wang, shared by Tony Johor Kaki in his blog who calls Lim his durian teacher: http://bit.ly/16hDBNT]

Red Prawn: A sought after cultivar from Penang which is hard to find in Singapore. It has an orange reddish flesh and is very aromatic. The closest one to this is probably the D13.

D13: The flesh of this cultivar is slightly reddish. It has a subtler and softer texture, like custard, with a bittersweet aftertaste.

D13 comes with slightly reddish flesh.

D101: It is often mistaken as D13 for its similar taste and look, but it’s creamier and sweeter. This durian is easy on palate, good for beginners.

XO: Very pale yellow in colour, and comes with a more watery consistency. It has a bitter and almost alcoholic aftertaste.

XO has more watery consistency with bitter after taste

Golden Phoenix: Popular among women for its smaller seed and creamier texture. This cultivar has greyish outer husk and carries a sweet and bitter aftertaste.

To enjoy: Lim likes to go on a roller-coaster with all these different cultivars. It is recommended to start with a milder durian, like D101, and gradually moves to stronger and more bitter durian. But in between, Lim would add in the XO, the most bitter among all and ends on a high note with Mao Shan Wang. In between, drink a lot of water to clean your palate.

For more on durian, check out Tommy’s blog at http://pricklysensations.blogspot.sg/ or better yet, go to one of his durian connections. Don’t call him a durian expert, he insists, “I am just a guy who is passionate about durian and loves to eat durian,” he says, crediting his wife (Ms Song), food buddies (David, Mark, Jason and Andrew) and his durian expert (Trevor) for all the prickly sensations he has created.

Makansutra, since 1997 celebrates Asian food culture through food guides, online content, food courts, events and consultancy services. articles and reviews provided by Makansutra are fully independent and are never solicited. We review independently, arrive unannounced and pay for all our reviewed meals. We share it with you as it is, warts, glory and all. For more details on Makansutra’s operations and review policies, click here.

source: http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/prickly-sensation-no-other-130036059.html

5 Must-Haves that Are Missing from Your Diet

Potassium
Potassium is a vital mineral for the function of all cells, tissues and organs in the human body--i.e., life as we know it. "We also know that potassium is important for controlling blood pressure, and there's a lot of evidence that it reduces your risk of stroke," says Walter C. Willett, MD, chair of the nutrition department at the Harvard School for Public Health. And, as many athletes are aware, it can help prevent muscle cramps and post-workout soreness.

You need: 4,700 mg a day

RELATED: 3 Ways to Make Smarter Food Choices

You get: National survey data shows over 90 percent of Americans don't get the recommended daily allowance, says Willett, who is also the author of Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating.

Good sources: Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables that have higher levels, like broccoli, cantaloupe, winter squash, sweet potatoes and, yes, bananas (these foods should be eaten raw, steamed or baked but not boiled, since boiling depletes potassium.)

Iodine 

This trace mineral, required for proper development and growth, is crucial for thyroid function and keeping your metabolism on track. Iodine isn't produced by the body, so it should be an essential part of your diet. 

You need: 150 mcg a day; 250 mcg if pregnant (new research reveals that even a mild deficiency can have a long-term effect on brain development); 290 mcg if nursing. 

You get: While iodine deficiencies are much less common than they were before the mineral was added to table salt in the 1920s, Willett says that a growing number of Americans are not getting enough. This is due, in part, to more people setting aside regular table salt in favor of non-iodized kosher or sea salt, or avoiding dairy products (iodine is often present in cow or goat feed, which is passed to us via their milk). 

Good sources: If you tend to use non-iodized table salt, make sure you're eating enough seafood (seaweed, cod, shrimp, canned tuna), dairy foods, enriched grains and eggs. You could also consider taking a supplement. 

Vitamin D 

Long underestimated, vitamin D is much more than just a bone fortifier; there's strong evidence that adequate levels can reduce our risk for many cancers, says Willett, and can protect against heart disease and type 2 diabetes. One study found that people with very low levels of vitamin D in their blood are 26 percent more likely to die from any cause (heart disease, cancer, infection, etc.) than those with recommended amounts. The challenge is that very few foods in nature contain vitamin D. 

You need: 600 IU a day; 800 IU if over 80. 

You get: Willett says that about half of Americans, and 80 percent of those with darker skin, don't get enough (higher amounts of melanin in the skin interfere with vitamin D absorption). 

Good sources: The easiest way to get vitamin D used to be from the sun, but now our risk of skin cancer is high enough that all dermatologists (and most nutritionists, including Willett) advise instead to rely on food or supplements. Your best bet is the flesh of fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna and mackerel). A tablespoon of cod liver oil has 340 times the RDA (though many folks cannot stomach it). Smaller amounts are naturally found in beef liver, cheese and egg yolks. You can also find vitamin D in fortified milk, yogurt and orange juice . (Talk to your doctor about supplements). 

Vitamin B12 

Vitamin B12 is an energy booster that also strengthens the immune system. It's necessary for the growth of red blood cells, too, says Willett. But nature's upper is only found naturally in animal products. 

You need: 2.4 mcg (2.6 mcg if you're pregnant, 2.8 mcg if you're nursing). 

You get: If you're a vegan or vegetarian, or you go for days without meat, fish or eggs, it's likely you're not getting enough vitamin B12. Adults over 50 also tend to have a harder time absorbing this vitamin, says Willett (a problem, especially since a deficiency accelerates cognitive decline, as do those with some intestinal and gastric conditions. 

Good sources: Pescatarians, you're in luck: Clams are off the charts in B12, and rainbow trout and salmon are pretty high, too. If you don't eat any animal products at all, look for fortified cereals, nutritional yeast and supplements with 100 percent of the recommended daily value. 

Magnesium 

Magnesium is involved in hundreds of bodily functions, from keeping your muscles, nerves and heart functioning to regulating your immune system. Boosting your intake could help keep your mood steady, as research has found an association between low levels and depression and anxiety (not to mention migraines). A magnesium deficiency may also contribute to heart attacks and hypertension. 

You need: 320 mg for women; 420 mg for men. 

You get: Although we hear a lot about the importance of magnesium, studies show that more than half of us don't get enough--we're 100 mg short, on average, of the recommended amount. Good sources: Nuts are magnesium powerhouses (almonds have the highest amount, at 80 mg per ounce, but cashews are a close second). Also look for green vegetables like spinach and okra, as well as soybeans, legumes, seeds and unrefined whole grains. 

source: http://ph.she.yahoo.com/blogs/healthy-living/5-must-haves-missing-diet-202400675.html

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE MAGIC!

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HYDROGEN PEROXIDE MAGIC!

Ever since I started using Hydrogen Peroxide to get rid of armpit stains, to clean cookie sheets, as a miracle cleaner in my kitchen and bathroom, and to make my own “oxi clean”…I ALWAYS have at least one bottle of the stuff under my kitchen sink, under my bathroom sink, AND in the laundry room. This stuff is amazingly versatile!

But it wasn’t until recently, after doing some IN DEPTH research on the subject, that I came to realize what a “miracle substance” hydrogen peroxide really is! It’s safe, it’s readily available, it’s cheap, and best of all, it WORKS! It works for a LOT of stuff!

Hydrogen peroxide should really be called oxygen water, since it is basically the same chemical make up as water but with an extra oxygen atom (H2O2). Because of this it breaks down quickly and harmlessly into oxygen and water.

Some other interesting facts about hydrogen peroxide:

It is found in all living material.
Your white blood cells naturally produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to fight bacteria and infections.
Fruit and vegetables naturally produce hydrogen peroxide. This is one of the reasons why it is so healthy to eat fresh fruit and vegetables.
It is found in massive dosages in the mother’s first milk, called colostrum, and is transferred to the baby to boost their immune system.
It is found in rain water because some of the H20 in the atmosphere receives an additional oxygen atom from the ozone (O3) and this H2O2 makes plants grow faster.
Next to Apple Cider Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide ranks up there as one of the best household remedies.

Besides the obvious (cleansing wounds), did you know that it is probably the best remedy to dissolve ear wax? Brighten dingy floors? Add natural highlights to your hair? Improve your plants root systems? The list goes on and on!

There are SO many uses for this stuff that I’ve started replacing the cap on the hydrogen peroxide bottle with a sprayer because it’s easier and faster to use that way.

I have compiled a rather impressive list of uses for 3% hydrogen peroxide that I hope will have you as thrilled and bewildered as I was!

Wash vegetables and fruits with hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and pesticides. Add 1/4 cup of H2O2 to a sink of cold water. After washing, rinse thoroughly with cool water.

In the dishwasher, add 2 oz. to your regular detergent for a sanitizing boost. Also, beef up your regular dish soap by adding roughly 2 ounces of 3% H2O2 to the bottle.

Use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash to freshen breath. It kills the bacteria that causes halitosis. Use a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.

Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste for brushing teeth. Helps with early stages of gingivitis as it kills bacteria. Mixed with salt and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide works as a whitening toothpaste.

Soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between uses to keep it clean and prevent the transfer of germs. This is particularly helpful when you or someone in your family has a cold or the flu.

Clean your cutting board and countertop. Let everything bubble for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse clean. (I’ve been using it for this a LOT lately!)

Wipe out your refrigerator and dishwasher. Because it’s non-toxic, it’s great for cleaning places that store food and dishes.

Clean your sponges. Soak them for 10 minutes in a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a shallow dish. Rinse the sponges thoroughly afterward.

Remove baked-on crud from pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste, then rub onto the dirty pan and let it sit for a while. Come back later with a scrubby sponge and some warm water, and the baked-on stains will lift right off.

Whiten bathtub grout. First dry the tub thoroughly, then spray it liberally with hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit — it may bubble slightly — for a little while, then come back and scrub the grout with an old toothbrush. You may have to repeat the process a few times.

Clean the toilet bowl. Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, let stand for 20 minutes, then scrub clean.

Remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treater for stains — just soak the stain for a little while in 3% hydrogen peroxide before tossing into the laundry. You can also add a cup of peroxide to a regular load of whites to boost brightness. It’s a green alternative to bleach, and works just as well.

Brighten dingy floors. Combine half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of hot water, then go to town on your flooring. Because it’s so mild, it’s safe for any floor type, and there’s no need to rinse.

Clean kids’ toys and play areas. Hydrogen peroxide is a safe cleaner to use around kids, or anyone with respiratory problems, because it’s not a lung irritant. Spray toys, toy boxes, doorknobs, and anything else your kids touch on a regular basis.

Help out your plants. To ward off fungus, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your spray bottle the next time you’re spritzing plants.

Add natural highlights to your hair. Dilute the hydrogen peroxide so the solution is 50% peroxide and 50% water. Spray the solution on wet hair to create subtle, natural highlights.

According to alternative therapy practitioners, adding half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to a warm bath can help detoxify the body. Some are skeptical of this claim, but a bath is always a nice way to relax and the addition of hydrogen peroxide will leave you – and the tub – squeaky clean!

Spray a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide on leftover salad, drain, cover and refrigerate. This will prevent wilting and better preserve your salad.

Sanitize your kids’ lunch boxes/bags.

Dab hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne to help clear skin.

Hydrogen peroxide helps to sprout seeds for new plantings. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution once a day and spritz the seed every time you re-moisten. You can also use a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 32 parts water to improve your plants’ root system.

Remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths. Fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry.

Use it to remove ear wax. Use a solution of 3% with olive or almond oil. Add a couple drops of oil first then H2O2. After a few minutes, tilt head to remove solution and wax.

Helps with foot fungus. Spray a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry. Or try soaking your feet in a peroxide solution to help soften calluses and corns, and disinfect minor cuts.

Spray down the shower with hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and viruses.

Use 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water to clean humidifiers and steamers.

Wash shower curtains with hydrogen peroxide to remove mildew and soap scum. Place curtains in machine with a bath towel and your regular detergent. Add 1 cup full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle.

Use for towels that have become musty smelling. 1/2 cup Peroxide and 1/2 cup vinegar let stand for 15 minutes wash as normal. Gets rid of the smell.

Use hydrogen peroxide to control fungi present in aquariums. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your fish. Use sparingly for this purpose.

De-skunking solution. Combine 1 quart 3% H2O2, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon Dawn dish detergent, 2 quarts warm water.

source: Daily Health & Beauty Tips

Will this work at all?

This is just so so so soooooooooooo touching.

Kim Cattrall Says 'Fizzy Yoga' Saved Her Life. So What Is It?

This is so encouraging for me, having started yoga a few weeks now. This articles makes me want to go on with what I'm doing. What I am doing though is not fizzy yoga but yoga with a little bit of cardio exercise. Fifteen minutes of yoga and another 15 minutes of jogging in place. It really works wonders for my physical agility and energy.




What does Kim Cattrall, of "Sex and the City" fame, credit with "saving [her] life"? Something you've probably never heard of: "fizzy yoga."

Properly known as physio-yoga or physiyoga, the regime combines yoga with physiotherapy in a one-on-one session that includes massage, yoga poses, physiotherapy adjustments, and meditative breathing. The 56-year-old actress told The Times of London that she was suffering from a sore right knee and "bruises bigger than a professional snowboarder" until the new yoga hybrid helped her to heal during her three-month stint performing in Tennessee Williams's "Sweet Bird of Youth" on the London stage.

"As I get older, I find that cardio is less important to me," Cattrall said in the interview. "What I want to do more of is intense stretching."

More on Yahoo! Shine: Strike a Pose! 7 Yoga Styles to Fit Every Body and Mood

With a background in physical therapy yoga instruction, Diana Zotos is one of Cattrall's physiyoga instructors based in New York City. She told Yahoo! Shine that "fizzy yoga" is about teaching someone yoga, one-on-one, with a knowledge base of physical therapy. Zotos evaluates clients and then creates a personalized plan to help them strengthen and align their bodies, whether or not they have an injury, by retraining and rebuilding muscles.

Although Zotos estimates you could burn anywhere from 300 to 600 calories an hour (at least double the rate of an average yoga class, though different classes vary) practicing the physiyoga, this workout isn't about burning calories. Instead, she said, it's about strengthening, alignment, and healing.

"It helps to awaken certain muscle groups," said Zotos of the more holistic approach to healing and strengthening the body, which runs about $200 for an hourlong session. Her clients have included everyone from avid runners to yoga novices to people seeking relief from neck pain. "If someone pulls something or feels sore, I have a full tool box," said Zotos.  

She also helps correct clients' posture and alignment using physiyoga, which strengthens deep core muscles. She described helping a writer who was unaware of how sitting all day at a desk was injuring his neck and shoulders. "Through stretching and strengthening, we changed his posture," added Zotos.

Because you're working one-on-one with someone, Zotos explained, it's also safe. "It's the safest form of yoga," she said, reiterating the fact that instructors are trained in both physical therapy and yoga. "You’re not going to get hurt." The customized yoga routine is hands-on and completely guided, she said. 

So, it makes sense that combining physio-therapy and yoga could positively affect the body. Stephanie Creaturo, co-owner of Mala Yoga in Brooklyn, New York, and a yoga instructor, said these kinds of hybrids of yoga and corrective exercise have benefits in private sessions with clients. "Everyone's body is so different," she told Yahoo! Shine, "and yoga can really work for any body. It's prehab instead of rehab."

More on Yahoo!: Some Like It Hot, But Does It Matter in Yoga?

Shelly Prosko, a licensed physical therapist and yoga therapist, agrees. "It empowers my client to take an active approach to their health, instead of the passive 'fix it' approach."

Both Prosko and Zotos said they've seen an uptick in the number of clients looking to try physiyoga recently, but in the case of someone with a hectic, stressful schedule, like Cattrall, any type of yoga could be beneficial. "Yoga incorporates a strong mental and meditative component, making it a great way to manage high-pressure lifestyle situations," said Kimberly Dawn Neumann, a certified fitness instructor in New York City. "It’s very difficult to heal if you have excess cortisol coursing through your body, which happens in times of high stress. It's truly a mind-body workout and can positively impact exercisers on levels that transcend just physical fitness."

source: http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/kim-cattrall-says--fizzy-yoga--saved-her-life--so-what-is-it---194756119.html

Old-fashioned Cheerios still a healthy cereal pick

Not everyone has the time to stir steel-cut oats for 25 minutes before work. But as your mother insisted before she shoved you off to school every morning, you have to eat breakfast. And that doesn't mean pouring a heaping bowl of your favorite neon-colored marshmallow cereal. Have you ever looked at the nutrition facts on a cereal box?

Lucky Charms has 10 grams of sugar. Frosted Mini-Wheats has 11. Post Raisin Bran contains a staggering 20 grams! Even Bear Naked fruit and nut granola—a seemingly healthy choice—clocks in at six, the same as Honey Bunches of Oats. Most cereal, even granola, is a shockingly not-so-great way to start the day. But it's also super-fast and convenient when you're rushing out the door. So we at the GQ Institute For Not Getting Fatter Than We Have To sought professional expertise to ask: What's the least bad cereal out there?

The answer: Old-fashioned Cheerios. With a heaping scoop of fresh fruit.

"A cup of Cheerios is 100 calories and the first ingredient is whole-grain oats," says registered dietitian Kim Kirchherr. A serving from that big yellow box  (which debuted in 1941 as Cheerioats) has only one gram of sugar. It's low in calories—less than half the caloric load of a bowl of Grape Nuts, which weigh in at 210 calories per serving—and, as the original name suggests, the primary ingredient is whole-grain oats, which help reduce the risk of type-two diabetes and heart disease. Men need 38 grams of fiber daily, and Kirchherr recommends looking for a cereal with at least three grams per serving, which is exactly what Cheerios offer. You can add even more with fresh fruit.

"Cereal is a vessel for a lot of other good stuff," adds Jim White, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Fruit is a great way to increase fiber. It'll keep you full longer. It can really get men jump-started for the day." And if you're wondering what to pour on top of it, White likes organic skim milk. "It has protein to build muscles, calcium to help support strong bones, electrolytes to help replace after a hard workout, and water to help hydrate the body. It's one of the perfect foods for men."

One thing you'll notice once you start poring over the nutrition labels in the cereal aisle is the miniscule serving size. It's generally one cup, which feels like half of what you feed your dog for breakfast. "Most guys grab a bowl and put as much as they can. They don't realize it could be three to five times the serving," White says. "You have to watch that portion size."

This is where the fruit comes into play. It makes a small bowl of Cheerios—that one measly cup—seem a hell of a lot bigger. Throw in a half-cup of sliced strawberries or bananas, and you won't even think about pouring a second bowl.

source: http://shopping.yahoo.com/news/old-fashioned-cheerios-still-a-healthy-cereal-pick-232818855.html

Heart surgeon speaks out on what really causes heart disease

This is very enlightening. It really makes sense. I think he is basically talking about how it's always better to go organic. 

Dr. Dwight Lundell
PreventDisease
Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:58 CST

© n/a

We physicians with all our training, knowledge and authority often acquire a rather large ego that tends to make it difficult to admit we are wrong. So, here it is. I freely admit to being wrong. As a heart surgeon with 25 years experience, having performed over 5,000 open-heart surgeries, today is my day to right the wrong with medical and scientific fact.

I trained for many years with other prominent physicians labelled "opinion makers." Bombarded with scientific literature, continually attending education seminars, we opinion makers insisted heart disease resulted from the simple fact of elevated blood cholesterol.

The only accepted therapy was prescribing medications to lower cholesterol and a diet that severely restricted fat intake. The latter of course we insisted would lower cholesterol and heart disease. Deviations from these recommendations were considered heresy and could quite possibly result in malpractice.

It Is Not Working!

These recommendations are no longer scientifically or morally defensible. The discovery a few years ago that inflammation in the artery wall is the real cause of heart disease is slowly leading to a paradigm shift in how heart disease and other chronic ailments will be treated.

The long-established dietary recommendations have created epidemics of obesity and diabetes, the consequences of which dwarf any historical plague in terms of mortality, human suffering and dire economic consequences.

Despite the fact that 25% of the population takes expensive statin medications and despite the fact we have reduced the fat content of our diets, more Americans will die this year of heart disease than ever before.

Statistics from the American Heart Association show that 75 million Americans currently suffer from heart disease, 20 million have diabetes and 57 million have pre-diabetes. These disorders are affecting younger and younger people in greater numbers every year.

Simply stated, without inflammation being present in the body, there is no way that cholesterol would accumulate in the wall of the blood vessel and cause heart disease and strokes. Without inflammation, cholesterol would move freely throughout the body as nature intended. It is inflammation that causes cholesterol to become trapped.

Inflammation is not complicated -- it is quite simply your body's natural defence to a foreign invader such as a bacteria, toxin or virus. The cycle of inflammation is perfect in how it protects your body from these bacterial and viral invaders. However, if we chronically expose the body to injury by toxins or foods the human body was never designed to process,a condition occurs called chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is just as harmful as acute inflammation is beneficial.

What thoughtful person would willfully expose himself repeatedly to foods or other substances that are known to cause injury to the body? Well, smokers perhaps, but at least they made that choice willfully.

The rest of us have simply followed the recommended mainstream diet that is low in fat and high in polyunsaturated fats and carbohydrates, not knowing we were causing repeated injury to our blood vessels. This repeated injury creates chronic inflammation leading to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity.

Let me repeat that: The injury and inflammation in our blood vessels is caused by the low fat diet recommended for years by mainstream medicine.

What are the biggest culprits of chronic inflammation? Quite simply, they are the overload of simple, highly processed carbohydrates (sugar, flour and all the products made from them) and the excess consumption of omega-6 vegetable oils like soybean, corn and sunflower that are found in many processed foods.

Take a moment to visualize rubbing a stiff brush repeatedly over soft skin until it becomes quite red and nearly bleeding. you kept this up several times a day, every day for five years. If you could tolerate this painful brushing, you would have a bleeding, swollen infected area that became worse with each repeated injury. This is a good way to visualize the inflammatory process that could be going on in your body right now.

Regardless of where the inflammatory process occurs, externally or internally, it is the same. I have peered inside thousands upon thousands of arteries. A diseased artery looks as if someone took a brush and scrubbed repeatedly against its wall. Several times a day, every day, the foods we eat create small injuries compounding into more injuries, causing the body to respond continuously and appropriately with inflammation.

While we savor the tantalizing taste of a sweet roll, our bodies respond alarmingly as if a foreign invader arrived declaring war. Foods loaded with sugars and simple carbohydrates, or processed with omega-6 oils for long shelf life have been the mainstay of the American diet for six decades. These foods have been slowly poisoning everyone.

How does eating a simple sweet roll create a cascade of inflammation to make you sick?

Imagine spilling syrup on your keyboard and you have a visual of what occurs inside the cell. When we consume simple carbohydrates such as sugar, blood sugar rises rapidly. In response, your pancreas secretes insulin whose primary purpose is to drive sugar into each cell where it is stored for energy. If the cell is full and does not need glucose, it is rejected to avoid extra sugar gumming up the works.

When your full cells reject the extra glucose, blood sugar rises producing more insulin and the glucose converts to stored fat.

What does all this have to do with inflammation? Blood sugar is controlled in a very narrow range. Extra sugar molecules attach to a variety of proteins that in turn injure the blood vessel wall. This repeated injury to the blood vessel wall sets off inflammation. When you spike your blood sugar level several times a day, every day, it is exactly like taking sandpaper to the inside of your delicate blood vessels.

While you may not be able to see it, rest assured it is there. I saw it in over 5,000 surgical patients spanning 25 years who all shared one common denominator -- inflammation in their arteries.

Let's get back to the sweet roll. That innocent looking goody not only contains sugars, it is baked in one of many omega-6 oils such as soybean. Chips and fries are soaked in soybean oil; processed foods are manufactured with omega-6 oils for longer shelf life. While omega-6's are essential -they are part of every cell membrane controlling what goes in and out of the cell -- they must be in the correct balance with omega-3's.

If the balance shifts by consuming excessive omega-6, the cell membrane produces chemicals called cytokines that directly cause inflammation.

Today's mainstream American diet has produced an extreme imbalance of these two fats. The ratio of imbalance ranges from 15:1 to as high as 30:1 in favor of omega-6. That's a tremendous amount of cytokines causing inflammation. In today's food environment, a 3:1 ratio would be optimal and healthy.

To make matters worse, the excess weight you are carrying from eating these foods creates overloaded fat cells that pour out large quantities of pro-inflammatory chemicals that add to the injury caused by having high blood sugar. The process that began with a sweet roll turns into a vicious cycle over time that creates heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and finally, Alzheimer's disease, as the inflammatory process continues unabated.

There is no escaping the fact that the more we consume prepared and processed foods, the more we trip the inflammation switch little by little each day. The human body cannot process, nor was it designed to consume, foods packed with sugars and soaked in omega-6 oils.

There is but one answer to quieting inflammation, and that is returning to foods closer to their natural state. To build muscle, eat more protein. Choose carbohydrates that are very complex such as colorful fruits and vegetables. Cut down on or eliminate inflammation- causing omega-6 fats like corn and soybean oil and the processed foods that are made from them.

One tablespoon of corn oil contains 7,280 mg of omega-6; soybean contains 6,940 mg. Instead, use olive oil or butter from grass-fed beef.

Animal fats contain less than 20% omega-6 and are much less likely to cause inflammation than the supposedly healthy oils labelled polyunsaturated. Forget the "science" that has been drummed into your head for decades. The science that saturated fat alone causes heart disease is non-existent. The science that saturated fat raises blood cholesterol is also very weak. Since we now know that cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease, the concern about saturated fat is even more absurd today.

The cholesterol theory led to the no-fat, low-fat recommendations that in turn created the very foods now causing an epidemic of inflammation. Mainstream medicine made a terrible mistake when it advised people to avoid saturated fat in favor of foods high in omega-6 fats. We now have an epidemic of arterial inflammation leading to heart disease and other silent killers.

What you can do is choose whole foods your grandmother served and not those your mom turned to as grocery store aisles filled with manufactured foods. By eliminating inflammatory foods and adding essential nutrients from fresh unprocessed food, you will reverse years of damage in your arteries and throughout your body from consuming the typical American diet.

source: http://www.sott.net/article/242516-Heart-surgeon-speaks-out-on-what-really-causes-heart-disease

a great FB find!

ALL NATURAL PANCAKE RECIPE... NO PROCESSED ANYTHING!!

- 1 ripe banana
- 2 whole eggs

That’s it. Just mix together in a bowl and make sure the banana is all mashed. Then spray your pan with some "spray & cook" or coconut oil. On a low to medium heat, scoop some of the batter into the pan & give it about 20-30 sec, flip, and done! Serve and eat!

*Some advice would be to make them small so its easier to flip

Under 250 calories, nearly 14g of protein! No processed anything! These pancakes are gluten free, low calorie.

I love the Philippines!

Got a minute, kapeng mainit? Take some time to enjoy a cup of Barako coffee, a local brew from the province of Batangas. Rich in flavor. It's quite strong, that's why Pinoys usually call a tough man "barako"! Share this with your kape (coffee) loving friends! 

Photo taken from pbase.com

source: facebook 

7 steps to stay cancer free

Based on the Central Tumor Registry of the Philippines, our country has the same incidence of cancer of all sites as the United States and Japan.

This is not surprising since we share the same cosmopolitan lifestyle as the two other economic giants.

What is alarming is the fact that majority of Filipinos are not equiped financially and medically to deal with cancer and its complications. The local healthcare system does not give 100% subsidy. A large chunk of the bill is still paid from the person's own pocket.

Since hospitalization and medicines can be very expensive, let me coin the catch phrase of then Secretary of Health, Dr. Juan Flavier, "Dahil magastos magkasakit: bawal magkasakit!"

Here is a list of 7 healthy behaviors to keep cancer away:

1. Don’t smoke.

Cigarette smoke contains almost 70 cancer-causing toxins. By not taking up the habit and by quitting, you will not be exposing yourself to the increased risk of cancer. All over the world, smoking kills five times more people than road accidents, drug overdose, murder and suicide combined.

RELATED: 4 foods to help you quit smoking

2. Stay away from secondhand smoke.

If smoking a cigarette yourself exposes you to 70 toxic chemicals, think of this: second-hand smoke contains 7,000 chemicals, 250 of which are harmful like cyanide and carbon monoxide. It's pretty much like inhaling the fumes as you stand behind the exhaust pipe of a jeepney. A non-smoker who lives with a smoker has a 30% chance of developing cancer herself.

IN PHOTOS: What secondhand smoke does to your body.

3. Exercise regularly.

One hour of moderate activity or 30 minutes of vigorous activity can reduce your cancer risk. The top cancers like breast and colon cancer may be avoided simply by exercising. An active lifestyle will allow body waste to pass through the intestines reducing exposure to cancer-causing toxins. Regular exercise leads to less body fat which converts to estrogen which can stimulate hormone sensitive organs. Exercise also lowers insulin which is known to speed up tumor growth.

READ: Diet vs. exercise: which matters most?

4. Avoid alcohol.

Two glasses of wine a day may be good for your heart but it can increase the risk of cancer later in life.

MUST-READ: The hidden calories in alcohol

5. Eat healthy.

Choose foods that have gone through the least amount of processing and go for fruits and veggies with the most color like red, bright green and deep purple. They indicate the presence of antioxidants which counteract the effects of toxins in our body. Choose roasting over frying and avoid oil that has been reused several times. Prolonged high heat also produces toxins in cooking oil.

RELATED: 7 foods that can enhance the effects of exercise

6. Avoid weight gain.

By choosing the right foods and exercising regularly, you will be able to maintain your ideal body weight. There is a wealth of benefits in keeping your weight in check. It makes you look better, feel better and happier. Good self image can release endorphins which are happy hormones that have anti-cancer effects.

READ: Debunking detox diet myths

7. Get screening tests and regular check-ups.

Most cancers have no symptoms until they get to a later stage. Visiting your doctor regularly can catch the disease in their early stages. There are better survival rates if cancer is detected before it has spread. An example is breast cancer. At stage 1, there is an 80-90% survival rate. While at stage 4, only 15% will remain alive in 5 years.

Always remember...bawal magkasakit!

source: http://ph.she.yahoo.com/7-steps-to-stay-cancer-free--060628759.html

15 Worst Diet Tips, Ever!

You know you can't believe everything you read. And still, you haven't eaten an egg yolk since the 90s, and you can't touch a French fry without being saddled with guilt. Oh, and don't even get us started on the whole don't-eat-after-8-PM-or-else mentality. Let's set the record straight once and for all by calling out these 15 worst diet tips-and offering up smart food rules to follow instead.

1. Fat makes you fat.
Why that's BS: It depends on the type of fats you're eating, says Tricia Psota, RD, a nutritionist based in Washington D.C. "Fats in chips, cookies, and greasy foods can increase cholesterol and your risk for certain diseases. But good fats, like nuts, avocados, and salmon, protect your heart and support your overall health." And when paired with a healthy diet, the right fats can help keep you from being, well, fat, adds Sharon Palmer, RD, author ofThe Plant-Powered Diet.

TRY THIS: Healthy Fats That Make You Skinny

2. Stop snacking to lose weight.
Why that's BS: Eating in small, frequent amounts is a great way to curb hunger, control portion sizes, and make better nutritional choices, says Mike Clancy, CDN, a personal trainer at David Barton's Gym in New York City. "Smarter snacks like nuts, fruits, and yogurt will keep your energy levels high throughout the day."

3. A calorie is a calorie-and you should count them.
Why that's BS: "Not all calories are the same," says Clancy. "The type of calories, the timing of the calories, and the quality of the calories can significantly alter the effect of the calories on the body," he says. "Food creates reactions within our bodies and the type of food you eat is an important component in diets."

For example, 50 calories of an apple will cause a different internal reaction than 50 calories of cheesecake, says Clancy. "The quality of the calories is also important because the chemicals, hormones, and general byproducts that are found within processed food effects the absorption of real nutrients." Quality calories are nutrient dense, like spinach. Calories that don't contain any nutrients-also known as "empty" calories-are like the ones found in French fries.

Bottom line: Calories are important for understanding portion control, but they're not the only factor in good nutrition, says Clancy.

PLUS: 10 Calorie-Burning Myths, Busted

4. Load up on protein.
Why that's BS: Sorry, caveman lovers: eating lots of protein is not the key to healthy weight loss. Why? The body needs three macronutrients: Protein, carbohydrates, and fat, says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a nutritionist and author of the forthcoming The One One One Diet (published by Rodale, which also publishes Prevention), and focusing exclusively on protein for weight loss makes no sense. "You not only deprive your body of fiber and other antioxidants found in healthy carbohydrates-whole grains, fruits, and veggies-but you also run the risk of eating too much fat in your diet which can lead to high cholesterol and triglycerides."

5. You burn more calories working out on an empty stomach.
Why that's BS: Working out with or without food in your stomach doesn't affect calorie burn-but skipping meals before sweat sessions may result in muscle loss, finds a study published in theStrength and Conditioning Journal. And before you settle for a sports drink, know this: While a quick sip of sugar energizes your muscles, the drink's other artificial additives can be harmful to your health, says Sanda Moldovan, DDS, MS, CNS, a diplomat of the American Academy of Periodontology.

Instead, go for naturally sweet fruit, like bananas, peaches, and mangos before your sweat session. Or try an ounce of dark chocolate for the same caffeine fix you get from a half cup of coffee. "Chocolate also contains feel-good substances, called neurotransmitters, which are the same release during a 'runner's high,' " says Moldovan.

6. Eat every 2 hours to rev your metabolism.
Why that's BS: Going four or five (or even eight!) hours between normally-sized meals will not make your metabolism slow down, says Monica Reinagel, MS, a nutritionist based in Baltimore. "Eating more frequently may help stave off hunger, which can help you fight temptation. But if you want to do this, you have to be careful to keep your meals and snacks really small," she says. "Otherwise, eating every 2 hours can simply lead to taking in too many calories over the course of the day."

TRY THIS: You can help your body burn more calories by incorporating these Foods That Speed Up Metabolism into your daily meals.
7. Swear off forbidden foods.
Why that's BS: "We tend to be in 'all or nothing' mode when we diet and never seem to find a middle ground," says Batayneh. "You have to realize that you can't have pizza, French fries, and chocolate cake all in the same day, but-with careful planning-you can enjoy these foods when they are presented to you. Just don't go for seconds and share if you can." In fact, research shows that moderately indulging in "forbidden foods" is what keeps people from bingeing on the stuff.

8. Drink your fruits and veggies.
Why that's BS: While shoving five servings of fruits and vegetables into a juicer seems like a simple and efficient way to get the daily recommended amounts, it comes at a cost, says Batayneh. "Unfortunately, juicing fruits and vegetables removes one of their most valuable components: fiber. Found in the pulp, skin and seeds, fiber's list of benefits ranges from filling you up to maintaining stable blood sugar levels." If you're juicing more sweet stuff (fruit and carrots) than green stuff you're also going to seriously spike your sugar. (Some juicers allow you to keep in the pulp, so that's another option.)

TRY INSTEAD: 6 Drinks That Shrink Your Belly

9. Eat as few calories as possible.
Why that's BS: "Ugh, awful tip," says Chrissy Carroll, MPH, RD, founder of Inspired Wellness Solutions, LLC. "When you cut your calories too low, your body acts as if it's going into starvation mode and your metabolism slows down." But a reasonable goal, adds Carroll, is to cut approximately 500 calories each day through diet and exercise, which will lead to a healthy rate of weight loss of one pound per week.

10. Say no to nuts.
Why that's BS: Yes, nuts are calorie dense, but that doesn't mean they can't-or shouldn't-easily be incorporated into a healthy diet when eaten in proper portions, says Carroll. A 2011 study in theJournal of The American College of Nutrition backs this up, with researchers finding that nut consumers, especially tree-nut consumers (think almonds, pecans and pistachios) had a lower BMI and smaller waist circumference compared to non-consumers.

Your move: remove a less nutrient-dense food from your meal plan and incorporate heart-healthy nuts instead.

11. Schedule regular detoxes.
Why that's BS: "Your digestive system, kidneys, and liver are all actually fairly amazing at 'detoxing' your body on a regular basis," says Carroll. "There's no need for special cleanses or juices." (Plus, it's miserable! See what happens when one of our editors gave a detox a whirl.)

12. Eschew fatty egg yolks.
Why that's BS: Let's crack this case for good: A study from the University of Connecticut found that eating dietary cholesterol through egg yolks can actually boost a person's HDL, or "good," cholesterol. "Compared to egg whites, which offer nothing more than protein, the egg yolk contains 100% of the carotenoids, essential fatty acids, vitamins A, E, D, and K," says Batayneh. "They also contain choline, which boosts brain and liver health, as well as reduces inflammation."

In a way, eggs are the perfect food, says Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, manager of wellness nutrition services for the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. "Enjoying them in moderation-less than 4 to 6 per week-is a perfectly healthy option."

13. Your burn more calories eating your food raw.
Why that's BS: "Many studies show that cooking method-heating, grilling, and microwaving, etc-makes a nutritional difference," says Kirkpatrick. "So while some food may be best eaten raw, that's not the case for all foods."

Oh, and if the whole myth about "negative calories" (you know, the dubious idea that just the act of eating certain foods burns more calories then you actually take in from those foods) draws you to raw foods, think again. "Some foods do require more energy to digest than others, but to live on these so called 'negative calorie foods' results in unsustainable weight loss and can also slow your metabolism down, as well as break down muscle," says Batayneh.

14. Too much sugary fruit makes you fat.
Why that's BS: The sugar in fruit is not what makes you fat, since it's unprocessed sugar found in its most natural state, says Psota. "Also, cutting fruit out of your diet is a poor choice because of all the fiber that you would be missing. Fiber keeps you full and the nutrients in the fruit nourish your body, which far outweighs the concern of natural sugar that you are consuming when eating, say, an apple."

15. Chew mint gum to eat less.
Why that's BS: Not to burst your bubble, but the lingering taste of mint can actually reduce the palatability of healthy food, finds researchers from the University of Buffalo. That means that when you spit the gum out and go for a snack, that candy bar's likely to look-and taste-a lot more appealing than a carrot.

source: http://ph.she.yahoo.com/blogs/healthy-living/15-worst-diet-tips-ever-165800451.html