07 August 2009

06 August 2009

Recipe for Reducing Cholesterol

Got this recipe from my father's friend Hj Suhaini Hj Hassan. Thank you very much. Hope this recipe will be useful to anybody.

Ingredients
80g Black fungus
80g old ginger
10 red dates

Method:
1. Soak fungus in water until soft and then wash it clean
2. Cut the ginger (without removing the skin) into 8 slices
3. Remove the seeds from the red dates
4. Put all the ingredients in a slow cooker
5. Add in 8 cups of water in the cooker
6. Cook the mixture in 6 hours in slow heat

Note:
It is best to preare this in the evening and startcooking before you go to bed. If you start cooking at 9 pm, the soup should be ready for drinking by 6 am.

05 June 2009

Tasek Merimbun

Photo shots from my hubby..








30 May 2009

Benefits of Bitter Melon (Peria)

The tips was given by my parents long time friend Hj Suhaini Hassan and wife. Thank you very much...
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Benefits of Bitter Melon - Proven Herbal Treatment for Diabetes
Bitter melon is a valuable herb gifted to us by Mother Nature. It isalso commonly known as bitter gourd, bitter cucumber, karolla andkarela. It is rich in iron, beta-carotene and potassium. It also contains Vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C, phosphorous and fiber.

Benefits of Bitter Melon
Bitter melon is worldwide known for its effectiveness in treating diabetes. Bitter melon chemically contains a compound that is very much similar to insulin and sometimes also referred as p-insulin.

Researches have shown that when it is taken continuously for someperiod has the ability to substitute the insulin in the body. It alsocontains steroidal saponins called charantin, peptides similar to that of peptides and certain alkaloids that effectively control sugar level in blood.

Bitter melon is also good digestive agent and helps in stimulating the secretion of gastric juices. It is very helpful in stimulating liver for secretion of bile juices that are very essential for metabolism of fats. It helps in improving the peristaltic movements hence it isvery helpful in avoiding gastric disturbances.

Taking bitter melon juice also helps in the treatment of constipation. Constipation is mainly caused due to faulty eating habits and unhealthy dietary practices. Bitter melon not only relives from theindigestive condition but also helps in combating the constipation. It improves eristaltic movements of gastro intestinal tract and alsoimproves the absorption in the intestines.

Bitter Melon Recipes for Treating Diabetes
Bitter Melon Juice:
* Wash the bitter melon leaves and chop them
* Add 6 tablespoon of the chopped leaves in 2 glass of water
* Boil it for approximately 15 minutes in a uncovered pot
* Allow it to cool and then strain
* Drink 1/3 cup of it thrice a day

Above recipe is found to be very effective in the treatment of diabetes type 2. If taken regularly will make your sugar level under control. It is the most effective natural way to cure diabetes.

Bitter Melon with Egg:
* Cut a bitter melon in lengthwise, scoop and scrap the inner white pulp leaving only the outer green parts.
* Now finely cut the bitter melon. Pour a lot of salt to them and leave them for a while to get rid of its bitterness.
* Rinse thoroughly to remove the salt. Fry it with garlic, anchovies and knock two eggs to make a dish.

Above dish is very beneficial, especially for those with diabetes. Bitter melon is an herb with lot more health benefits other than treating just diabetes.

Bitter melon is used in solving menstruation problems in girls. It is also used in the treatment of sores, eczema, leprosy and large wounds. It is also used to cure hypertension, malaria, fevers and headaches. It also has good results in expelling worms and parasites in adults and children if taken internally. It is also effective against numerous viruses, herpes and HIV viruses.

21 April 2009

Healing Food

I receive this email from a friend.
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Could hot cocoa be the next "wonder drug" For high blood pressure?

Harvard researchers praise stunningly simple discovery! According to recent estimates, nearly 1-in-3 American adults has high blood pressure. But for the Kuna Indians living on a group of islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama , hypertension doesn't even exist. In fact, after age 60, the average blood pressure for Kuna Indian islanders is a perfect 110/70.

Is it because they eat less salt? No.
Kuna Indians eat as much, if not more salt, than people in the U.S.

Is it due to their genes? No.
Kuna Indians who move away from the islands are just as likely to suffer from high blood pressure as anyone else!

So what makes these folks practically "immune" to hypertension -- and lets them enjoy much lower death rates from heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and cancer?

Harvard researchers were stunned to discover it's because they drink about 5 cups of cocoa each day. That's right, cocoa!
Studies show the flavonols in cocoa stimulate your body's production of nitric oxide -- boosting blood flow to your heart, brain, and other organs. In fact, one study found cocoa thins your blood just as well as low-dose aspirin! But that's not all.
A Harvard Medical School professor claims cocoa can also treat blocked arteries, congestive heart failure, stroke, dementia, even impotence!

Painless cholesterol cure works in just 7 days -- and drives the "food police" crazy!

Want to lower your cholesterol so fast it'll make your head spin? It's a breeze, just eat guacamole -- or any dish containing avocados!

Most health experts and nutritionists will tell you this rich, delicious Mexican dish is BANNED from any cholesterol- watcher's menu. But not Dr. Steven Pratt. That's because new research shows eating avocados can lower your cholesterol even faster than drugs... without the side effects! One study found after just 7 days on a diet including avocados, LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglyceride levels dropped by 22 percent. Meanwhile, HDL ("good") cholesterol shot up 11 percent -- something most cholesterol- lowering drugs won't do!

The cinnamon cure for high blood sugar

Sprinkle a little cinnamon on your toast, cereal, oatmeal, or sliced apples. It not only tastes good, it lowers your blood sugar! In a recent study, people reduced their blood sugar levels by as much as 29 percent in just 40 days. That's with NO drugs, NO diet changes -- just plain old cinnamon!


The fat that blasts away cancer

You've been told cancer runs in families. You've been told what to eat and what NOT to eat -- including LESS fat.

Yet Dr. Steven Pratt says there's one fat you should eat MORE of. It's the monounsaturated fat called oleic acid, found in olive oil! It should come as no surprise.. After all, olive oil is a staple of the Mediterranean diet. And people in Spain and Greece are far less likely to develop cancer than in the U.S. But what's really interesting is how olive oil not only preven ts c ancer, it blasts away cancer cells that already exist! So if you're even the slightest bit worried about cancer, this is one SuperFood you don't want to be without!

NEW prostate-protecting champ trumps tomatoes!

Unless you've been asleep under a rock for the past decade, you've heard the news about tomatoes. They contain a potent antioxidant called lycopene that's been proven to reduce the risk of certain cancers -- in particular, prostate cancer.

A famous Harvard study back in 1995 found that out of 48,000 men surveyed, those who ate 10 or more servings of tomatoes a week reduced their risk of prostate cancer by more than one-third.
What's more, they lowered their risk of aggressive prostate tumors (the kind that are really tough to treat) by HALF! But before you reach for that slice of pizza or bottle of ketchup, listen up.
What if I told you about a sweet, refreshing food Dr. Steven Pratt recommends that's even better for your prostate than tomatoes?
This NEW prostate protecting champ is watermelon! Ounce for ounce, watermelon is even richer in lycopene than tomatoes. And since you probably eat more watermelon in one sitting than you do tomatoes, you don't have to gorge on it 10 times a week in order to slash your cancer risk! Just a few times a week should do it.

Knock out an ulcer with broccoli?!

About 25 million Americans will suffer from a peptic ulcer at some point in their lives. To get rid of their ulcers, most will take an antibiotic like amoxicillin. Pretty tame stuff , right? Wrong!

Amoxicillin can bring with it unwanted side effects like fever, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, headache, even a yucky condition called "hairy tongue"! And if you think that's bad, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the cost of treating an ulcer with antibiotics over an average 17-day period can run upward of $1,000!

Fortunately, there's one unconventional treatment with NO side effects Dr. Pratt swears by. "Eat broccoli!" he says.
Why?
Broccoli contains a remarkably potent compound called sulforaphane, that kills off the H. pylori bacteria that cause most ulcers. Not only can it knock out an ulcer, eating one serving a day for a month might run you 20 bucks... a fraction of the cost of drugs!

Food Poisoning Home Remedies or Treatment

I receive this email from a friend.
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If you observe some safety rules related to foods, kitchen and kitchen appliances, food poisoning will never occur.

Most food poisioning effects on body clears up in a few days on its own as their duration is not for very long period. In the case of continued illness seek medical advice. Children, elders, pregnant women and the persons who use antacids heavily are at more risk of getting food poisioning.

The following food poisoniong treatment or remedies are simple to follow and you can get quick relief.

1. Mix a tablespoon of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in a cup of hot water before a meal to prevent acid indigestion.

2. Add three drops of garlic oil to half a cup of soya oil and rub onto the stomach after food.

3. Drink a herbal tea of mint, raspberry, camomile and blackberry.

4. Drink ¼ cup of charcoal powder mixed with a glass of water.

5. Drink one cup of ginger tea after meals to promote a good digestion and for hearetburn, nausea, etc.

6. Eat some bread, says Julian Whitaker, M.D., president of the Whitaker Wellness Center in Newport Beach, California. Bread has a tendency to soak up the poison and can give you a quick relief.

7. Drink 2 tablespoons of undiluted apple cider vinegar (pasteurized).

8. Time is generally the best remedy. If you feel indigestion, or get sour burp, and/or loose motions, or for general stomach upsets, you can do the following:

Drink mint essense (available as Pudin Hara or Amritdhara in India. These are mint or peppermint essense.), 3-4 drops in water, every one hour. Also drink Jaljeera (a mixture of cumin, salt, asafetida and other herbs) 2-3 times. Let the poison get out of your body through vomitting or motions.

First you will throw poisonous foods and then water (Drink lots of water with sugar and salt). You should be alright in less than 24 hours. Start this treatment as soon as you start getting sour burps.

You may drink mint essense (3-4 drops in water) after you eat in a restaurant or party or you have overeaten.

The authors of this web site have used this treatment for this type of food poisoning many times with 100% success rate.

9. In most cases, the effective treatment is to lie down and drink plenty of bland fluids such as water, diluted fruit juice or light tea.

Deep breathing, mediataion - relaxation technique can help relieve stomach cramp and calm the irritated bowel, reducing the frequency of bowel motions by lessening stress.

09 April 2009

Tai Chi


Mama shows her Tai Chi skill

Chit chat time after a morning walk


6 Natural Tips for Deep Sleep by Dr Mao


By Dr. Maoshing Ni - Posted on Tue, Apr 07, 2009, 2:36 pm PDT

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Would you like to sleep like a baby without taking drugs? Americans spend upwards of 3 billion dollars a year on sleep medications, but to avoid the side effects, there are a number of natural remedies you can try first. Read on to learn some of the ways to get a good quality night's sleep.

1. Relaxing Rituals to Rest Easy In Chinese Medicine, nighttime is yin time—or, simply, when the body takes care of itself instead of your desires. Proper sleep is required for your body to repair itself and regenerate. To reach deep, restful sleep, your spirit and heart must be calm. Excessive worry, anxiety, and depression can all disturb the spirit and activate the mind—making it near impossible to fall asleep and stay asleep. Rituals to sooth your spirit and induce a sleep response before bed include soaking your feet in Epson salts for 15 minutes, writing all of your thoughts in a journal to get them out of your head, and practicing relaxation before bed, like the Stress Release meditation below.

2. When Food Disturbs SleepWhen you eat late, you wake up tired. Your body will be busy digesting your dinner while you are trying to sleep, so you won't feel rested in the morning. Do not eat anything for at least three hours before bedtime. Also, cut back on eating bacon, cheese, chocolate, ham, potatoes, tomatoes, and sausage, especially before bed. These foods contain tyramine, which inhibits neurochemicals like norepinephrine and can cause insomnia. And, of course if you have sleep problems, caffeine should be cut out.

Eat for sleep! Try eating more grains at dinner; carbohydrates tend to make people sleepy. Another snooze snack is a warm cup of milk; because milk is rich in the amino acid tryptophan, it can sometimes aid in deep sleep. Mix in natural vanilla flavoring for a soothing snack. Or if you prefer, eat 1 cup of natural yogurt an hour before bedtime.

3. A Peaceful Place for SleepYour sleeping environment makes a huge difference to the quality of your sleep. Do everything you can to create a quiet and cozy atmosphere. Ideally, your bedroom should be located in the quietest area of your home. Keep the décor minimal. Lighting should be dim and any music that is played should be soothing. Research has found that lavender, vanilla, and green apple are among the best scents to help lower anxiety and induce sleep, making these smells a good choice for a scented candle or heated essential oil. Try to limit your pets to outside of the bedroom because their movements will keep with your body from fully relaxing into deep R. E. M. sleep. As much as possible, your bedroom should be only for sleep.

4. Exercise Enables SleepPeople with regular exercise routines often sleep better and have fewer incidents of insomnia than those don't get regular physical activity. Exercise promotes sleep and improves sleep quality by altering brain chemistry. Exercising moderately for 20 to 30 minutes three times a day, combined with meditation or tai chi in the evening, will not only help you fall and stay asleep, but will also increase the amount of time you spend in R.E.M. sleep. In fact, for some people, exercise alone is enough to overcome sleep problems. Exercise in the morning or afternoon, but do not exercise for at least two hours before bed.

5. Herbs to Sleep Tight A calming tea before bedtime can ensure a good night's sleep. Drink valerian or passionflower (or passiflora) tea before bedtime every night for one month. Simply steep 1 to 2 tablespoons of the dried herbs in one cup of hot water and drink just before bed. Or look for one with the traditional Chinese herbs zizyphus or jujube seed, bamboo shavings, and oyster shell, which soothe the mind and spirit. You might also try Calm-Fort/Sleep formula with useful herbs like lily bulbs, polygala and turmeric that help manage stress and calm the spirit while relieving restlessness and insomnia.

6. A Sleep-Friendly MeditationI had one patient with insomnia who also felt anxious and even a little depressed. In addition to acupuncture and herbal therapies, I decided to teach her a stress release meditation that she could do before bedtime to help with her anxiety. I am happy to report that she is now sleeping like a baby.

Try this Stress Release meditation, which works for the majority of my patients who have sleeping problems:

Sit comfortably or lie down on your back. Slow your respiration to deep, abdominal breathing. Utter the word "calm" in your mind with every exhalation. Focus on relaxing each area of your body in sequence, from the top of your head to your toes. Starting with the top of your head, inhale and then exhale while visualizing your scalp muscles relaxing. Say "calm" in your mind. Repeat this with each body part as you move down through all body parts, front, back, and sides, in succession: your face, throat, chest, arms, stomach, abdomen, thighs, knees, legs, ankles, until finally you reach your feet. When you've relaxed your feet, visualize all the tension in your body leaving through your toes as dark smoke. Practice this for at least 15 minutes before bedtime.

It will have you sleeping in no time. If you do better with meditative visualizations that are narrated, try my Stress Release CD.

I hope you find the ways to resting easy and waking up refreshed! May you stay healthy, live long, and live happy!-

Dr. Mao