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Thursday, September 30, 2010

柿子 - 六項提醒 (必看)
Persimmon - Six must-see Reminders

(We received this article via an e-mail.)

I love over ripe Persimmons.Didn't know that Diabetics like me are not supposed to eat them due to it's high glycemic loading. It tastes good anyway. My wife used to insist that I eat it with the skin. Thank God the reports says the skin is full of tannin! Now I can enjoy the fruit without the skin - sparingly of course!!

吃柿子雖然有很多好處,但有幾點需要提醒:

1. 空腹不能吃柿子
因柿子含有較多的鞣酸及果膠,在空腹情況下它們會在胃酸的作用下形成大小不等的硬塊,如 果這些硬塊不能通過幽門到達小腸,就會滯留在胃中形成胃柿石小的胃柿石最初如杏 子核,但會愈積愈大。如果胃柿石無法自然被排出,那麼就會造成消化道梗阻,出現上腹部劇烈疼痛、嘔吐、甚至嘔血等症狀,曾 在手術中發現大如拳頭的胃柿石。如果胃“有底”的話,就可避免胃柿石的形成。

2. 柿子皮不能吃
有的人感到吃柿子的同時咀嚼柿子皮比單吃柿子更有味道,其實這種吃法是不科學的。因為 柿子中的鞣酸絕大多數集中在皮中,在柿子脫澀時,不可能將其中的鞣酸全部脫盡,如果連皮一起吃更容易形成胃柿石,尤其是脫澀工藝不完善時,其皮中含的鞣酸更多。

3. 不要與含高蛋白的蟹、魚、蝦等食品一起吃
中醫學中,螃蟹與柿子都屬寒性食物, 故而不能同食。從現代醫學的角度來看,含高蛋白的蟹、魚、蝦在鞣酸的作用下,很易凝固成塊,即胃柿石

4. 糖尿病人勿食
柿子中因含 10.8% 的糖類,且大多是簡單的雙糖和單糖 (蔗糖、果糖、葡萄糖即屬此類),因此吃後很易被吸收,使血糖升高。對于糖尿病人而言,尤其是血糖控制不佳者更是有害的。

5. 適可而止
柿子中的鞣酸能與食物中的鈣、鋅、鎂、鐵等礦物質形成不能被人體吸收的化合物,使這些營養素不能被利用,故而多吃柿 子容易導致這些礦物質缺乏。又因為柿子中含糖較多,所以人們吃柿子比吃同樣數量的蘋果、生梨更有飽腹感,從而會影響食欲,並減少正餐 的攝入。一般認為,不在空腹的情況下,每次吃柿子不超過 200克為宜。

6. 吃後漱口
柿子含糖高,且含果膠,吃柿子後總有一部分留在口腔裏,特別是在牙縫中,加上弱酸性的 鞣酸,很易對牙齒造成侵蝕,形成齲齒,故而在吃柿子後宜喝幾口水,或及時漱口。

Although there are many benefits of eating persimmon, but there are a few points that we must be aware of:

1. Persimmons Cannot Be Eaten On An Empty Stomach.
Contains more tannin and pectin, in an empty stomach under the effect of gastric acid, lumps of various sizes will formed, if these lumps can not reach the pyloric intestine, it will remain in the stomach to form gastric persimmon stone. The stone original is as small as apricots and persimmon seeds nu, but will tend to get larger if naturally expelled from the stomach, it will cause diospyrobezoar the digestive tract obstruction, resulting in upper abdominal pain, vomiting, and even vomiting blood and other symptoms. During surgery, persimmon stone as big as a fist was found in the stomach. If the's food in the stomach then the persimmon stone formation in the stomach can be avoided .

2. Persimmon Skin Should Not Be Eaten
Some people feel that eating persimmon fruit together with the skin taste betten than just eating the flesh by itself. Scientifically this is not advisable because the vast majority of persimmon tannin in concentrated in the skin. If eaten toegether with its skin the formation of gastric persimmon stone is easier, especially when the astringent process is incomplete, as its skin contains more tannic acid.

3... Do not eat pesimmon together with high-protein crabs, fish, shrimp and other foods In Chinese medicine, crab and persimmon are considered "cold foods", therefore they cannot be eaten together. From the perspective of modern medicine, crab, fish and shrimp contains high level of protein and thus under the effect of the tannic acid, it is easy to solidified into blocks, namely, stomach persimmon stone.

4. Diabetics Should Not Eat Pesimmon
Persimmon has 10.8% sugars content, and most are simple pairs of sugar and simple sugars (sucrose, fructose, glucose is such), which can easily be absorbed by our body after eating which may result in hyperglycemia. For diabetic people, especially those with poor glycemic control, it is even more harmful.

5. Enough is enough
The tannic acid in persimmon together with dietary calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron and other minerals form compounds that cannot be absorbed by the body so that these nutrients can not be used and therefore eating persimmons can easily lead to a lack of these minerals. And because there is more sugar in persimmon, eating the same amount of pesimmon compared to apples or pears will make one fill full faster hence will affect one's appetite, and reduce the intake of meals. Generally, with an empty stomach, it is advisable that not more than 200 grams of persimmon should be taken.

6. Mouthwash after eating
Persimmon has is high in sugar and contains pectin. After eating persimmon there will be some of the fruits remaining in the mouth, especially in between the teeth. With the acidic properties of the high tannic acid it is easy to cause tooth decay, the formation of dental caries. Therefore after eating persimmons it is advisable to drink some water or to rinse our mouths.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

精、气、神练好的标准是什么?


气功锻炼到一定程度,可达到精满、气足、神旺,出现“精圆不思欲;气圆不思饮;神圆不思寐”的“三圆”境界,这是练功的高级境界。
(Grandmaster Zhao Jin Xiang.)

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

一些中秋晚会的照片 (23-09-2010)
Some Photos taken at the Mid-Autumn Tea Party

Photographer: Catherine Wong





To view more photos, click here.

REMOVING GALLSTONES NATURALLY

by Dr Lai Chiu-Nan

It has worked for many. If it works for you please pass on the good news.

Chiu Nan is not charging for it, so we should make it free for everyone. Your reward is when someone, through your word of mouth, benefits from the regime.

Gallstones may not be everyone's concern. But they should be because we all have them. Moreover, gallstones may lead to cancer.

"Cancer is never the first illness", Chiu Nan points out. "Usually, there are a lot of other problems leading to cancer in my research in China , I came across some material which say that people with cancer usually have stones. We all have gallstones. It's a matter of big or small, many or few. One of the symptoms of gallstones is a feeling of bloatedness after a heavy meal. You feel like you can't digest the food. If it gets more serious, you feel pain in the liver area".

So if you think you have gallstones, Chiu Nan offers the following method to remove them naturally. The treatment is also good for those with a weak liver, because the liver and gallbladder are closely linked.

Regimen:

1. For the first five days, take four glasses of apple juice every day. Or eat four or five apples, whichever you prefer. Apple juice softens the gallstones. During the five days, eat normally.

2. On the sixth day, take no dinner.

3. At 6 pm, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water.

4. At 8 pm, repeat the same. Magnesium sulphate opens the gallbladder ducts.

5. At 10 pm, take half cup olive oil (or sesame oil) with half cup fresh lemon juice. Mix it well and drink it. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage.

The next morning, you will find green stones in your stools. "Usually they float", Chiu Nan notes. "You might want to count them. I have had people who passes 40, 50 or up to 100 stones . Very many". Even if you don't have any symptoms of gallstones, you still might have some. It's always good to give your gall bladder clean up now and then.


PS. 1cup=250ml, ½ Cup lemon juice=3 lemons (approx.)

(Source: e-mail & Internet.)

Monday, September 27, 2010

什么叫“胎息法”?

胎息法”是练功到一定程度后,丹田里自然产生的自动开阖,叫“真息法”。“真息法”是自然形成的,不宜追求。

(赵金香宗师)

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Law of the Garbage Truck

A couple of years ago, I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here’s what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!” And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck.”

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You’ll be happy you did.

So this was it: The “Law of the Garbage Truck.” I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people a work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, “I’m not going to do anymore.”

Well, now “I see Garbage Trucks.” I see the load they’re carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don’t make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.

The mark of a successful person is how quickly she can get back her focus on what’s important.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.

What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here’s my bet. You’ll be happier. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so.. Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don’t.


(Source: e-mail & Internet.)

Saturday, September 25, 2010

什么是气功的三要素


气功的流派很多,各流派又有许多不同的练功方法,其练法虽各有所异,但就功法的基本内容而言,不外乎调身、调息、调心三个方面,简称“三调”,也称作气功的三要素。每一种功法都是三者的具体结合和运用。下面分别进行介绍:

  1、调身:调身就是根据一定的目的和要求,放松身体,摆成一定的姿势,即调练体势。体势的锻炼主要是对形体体力的锻炼。所谓“外练筋骨皮”主要是指这种锻炼说的。不同的体势对机体具有不同的影响,具有特定的健身作用。同时,适当的体势也是顺利进行调息调心的必备条件。

  气功的体势也分为行式、站式、坐式、卧式四类。行式、站式使很多肌肉群,尤其是身体下半部处于相对紧张状态,对强壮筋骨,增强体力有很大的好处。坐式、卧式可使全身放松,有利于入静养神,培育真气,多用于静功。

  2、调息:调息,也称吐呐,是指练功时对呼吸的调整和锻炼。一般认为调息不仅直接起着调畅气机,按摩内脏的特殊功效,而且有助于身体的放松和入静。

  正常成人的呼吸为12—18次/ 分钟。练功入静后,呼吸变得柔和、细缓、均匀、深长,呼吸频率明显减慢,有时甚至每分钟仅呼吸 1— 2次。各流派功法对呼吸锻炼的要求也不同,有的要求顺呼吸,有的要求逆呼吸,有的要求自然呼吸等。实践证明,呼吸锻炼方法掌握不当,极易出现偏差,可以表现为胸闷、气短、腹胀,甚或不能自主呼吸等。故初学者对呼吸锻炼要特别小心。我们认为,没有特殊病情,还是以自然呼吸为好。

  3、调心:调心,也称调神,是对意识的锻炼和调整。它要求练功中精神放松,情绪安宁,杂念逐渐消除,以达到气功入静状态,并在意识的主导下进行机体内部功能的自我调整和锻炼,通过特殊的心理过程来改变自身的生理状态。这是气功具有祛病强身、改善心理、消除不良情绪作用的最根本原因。因此,调心在练功三要素中起着决定性的主导作用。古人所说“全凭心意练功夫”就概括地表达了这一思想。

  在练功三要素中,调身是顺利进行调心、调息的重要条件,调息则有助于体势的放松和精神的宁静,同时,调心也有利于调息,即所谓“心静则息自调”。可见,三者相互联系,相辅相成,共同发挥整体的调节作用。


(此文转载自养生主。谢谢。)

Friday, September 24, 2010

A fast non-drug remedy for flu

This is really fascinating. Coffee as a fast non-drug remedy for flu? You bet!There is no a homily that coffee can indeed cure flu. This is what they have to advise.

Just before the onset of flu, while experiencing pre-flu symptoms like headache,running nose & sneezing, immediately drink 2 to 3 cups of hot water. Then, wait for 3 to 5 minutes. After this, then drink a cup of nice,hot coffee. You may want to want to urinate in 2 to 3 minutes. It's normal. Then walla! Surprisingly all flu symptoms will disappear after that.

We all know coffee is a diuretic. It removes water from the body, and in the process, flushes out all the virus trapped inside the body. So, what have you to lose? Try if when you sense a flu coming.


下次感冒初期,不妨試試! 無害。

可以很快使感冒或頭痛不再繼續惡化!

如果你感覺到已經開始流鼻水、連續打噴嚏、有點頭痛,就快要感冒了!

趕緊先喝兩、三杯熱開水(不可以喝冰的 ) 。等三、五分鐘,再沖一杯咖啡,一定要熱的喝才有效( 不可冰)。二、三十分鐘以後,咖啡和先前喝的開水會讓你要尿尿。而且,很神奇的,流鼻水、打噴嚏、頭痛都慢慢不見了!

想知道為什麼這麼好用?

一、咖啡可以讓你加速排尿。加上先喝的開水,可以把已經侵入繁殖的病毒,從身體裡「洗」掉大部分。

二、咖啡有提神、興奮的作用,會讓你低迷不振的免疫功能提振起來。

病毒從尿尿排掉了一部分,免疫功能又加強了,感冒繼續惡化的可能當然降低不少。


(Source: e-mail & internet.)

Thursday, September 23, 2010

什么叫“逆呼吸”?

练功到一定程度,会感到一股力量从腰部往后抽,也就是由顺呼吸阶段转变成逆呼吸阶段。在逆呼吸阶段,当吸气时,后天气下降,先天气就从督脉上升,当呼气时,后天气上升,先天气就从任脉下降,也就是古人说:“吸升呼降”的含意,当吸气时,腹部收缩,这会有助于元气从督脉上升。因此“吸升呼降法”的逆呼吸,正是练气功小周天所需要的呼吸法。必须注意,这是练功到一定程度自然出现的。

(By Grandmaster Zhao Jin Xiang.)

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

中秋晚会
Mid-Autumn Tea Party


日期 Date: 23-09-2010 (星期四 Thursday)

集体练功之后,将如往常般来一个简单的中秋晚会,功友们将可品尝到美味的月饼。请大家踊跃出席。

It will be held after the group practice as usual. There will be delicious mooncake. All Kepong practitioners are welcome.

沒有人能屈辱、打敗你,除了你自己。

標題:


有一位青年畫家,在還沒成名前,住在一間狹隘的小房子裡,靠畫人像維生。

一天,一個富人經過,看他的畫工細緻,很喜歡,便請他幫忙畫一幅人像。

雙方約好酬勞是10,000元。

一個星期後,人像完成了,富人依約前來拿畫。這時富人心裡起了歹念,欺他年輕又未成名,不肯按照原先的約定付給酬勞金。

富人心中想著:「畫中的人像是我,這幅畫如果我不買,那麼,絕沒有人會買」。

「我又何必花那麼多錢來買呢?」於是富人賴賬,他說只願花3000元買這幅畫。青年畫家傻住了,他從來沒碰過這種事,心裡有點慌,花了許多唇舌,向富人據理爭,希望富人能遵守約定,做個有信用的人。

「我只能花3000元買這幅畫,你別再囉唆了。」富人認為他居上風。

「最後,我問你一句,3000元,賣不賣?」

青年畫家知道富人故意賴賬,心中憤憤不平,他以堅定的語氣說:
「不賣。我寧可不賣這幅畫,也不願受你的屈辱。今天你失信毀約,將來一定要你付出20倍的代價。」

「笑話,20倍,是60萬耶!我才不會笨得花60萬買這幅畫。」

「那麼,我們等著瞧好了。」青年畫家對悻悻然離去的富人說。

經過這一個事件的刺激後,畫家搬離了這個傷心地,重新拜師學藝,日夜苦練。

皇天不負苦心人,10幾年後,他終於闖出了一片天地,在藝術界上,成為一位知名的人物。

那個富人呢?自從離開畫室後,第2天就把畫家的畫和話淡忘了。

直到那一天,富人的好幾位朋友不約而同的來告訴他:「好友!有一件事好奇怪喔!這些天我們去參觀一位成名藝術家的畫展,其中有一幅畫不二價,畫中的人物跟你長得一模一樣,標示價格60萬。好笑的是,這幅畫的標題竟然是--賊。」

富人好像被人當頭打了一棍,富人想起了10多年前畫家的事。

這件事對自己的傷害太大了,他立刻連夜趕去找青年畫家向他道歉,並且花了60萬買回那幅人像畫。

青年憑著一股不服輸的志氣,讓富人低了頭。

這個年輕人名叫畢卡索。

沒有人能屈辱、打敗你,除了你自己。


(Source" e-mail & Internet.)

Sunday, September 19, 2010

什么叫“顺呼吸”?

“顺呼吸”为一般腹式自然呼吸,也就是吸气时腹部自然鼓起,呼气时腹部自然收缩。

(By Grandmaster Zhao Jin Xiang)

Saturday, September 18, 2010

What to Eat to Beat Knee Pain

Simple diet changes can help chase away knee pain. Learn which foods can help — and hurt — knee health.

Looking for a natural way to relieve knee pain? You may want to tweak your diet. A growing body of research suggests that small dietary changes can add up to big benefits for knee health. “A number of foods have powerful anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties that may be as effective as some prescription medicines for arthritis and other types of knee pain,” says Beth Reardon, RD, MS, an integrative nutritionist and medicinal foods expert at Duke Integrative Medicine Center in Durham, N.C. Read on to learn how mealtime may be affecting the health of your knees.

Diet and Knee Pain: Go Fish

The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are natural anti-inflammatories. Calming joint inflammation can often help ease knee soreness, according to Steven Stuchin, MD, director of orthopedic surgery at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City. In randomized clinical studies, omega-3 fatty acids were found to ease pain and reduce the duration of morning stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis. The best sources of omega-3s are salmon, tuna, sardines, herring, cod, and mackerel, as well as fish oil supplements. Another benefit of adding fish to your diet: “Fish is safer than anti-inflammatory medication, which may have side effects,” says Reardon.

Diet and Knee Pain: Eat Fruit

Orange juice is a top-notch source of vitamin C, a nutrient that may guard against knee osteoarthritis. A 10-year Australian study of almost 300 middle-aged adults found that those getting high amounts of vitaminstrawberry C were less likely to suffer the kind of bone degeneration associated with knee osteoarthritis. Good sources of vitamin C to prevent knee pain are green peppers, grapefruit, and strawberries.

Diet and Knee Pain: Eat Spinach and Onions

Follow Popeye’s lead and add spinach to your regime. Australian researchers found that getting high amounts of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin (found in green veggies like spinach) can help relieve knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Several studies have found an additional benefit of lutein and zeaxanthin, as they can help prevent vision-related diseases.

Don’t forget to add some onions to your spinach salad as well. Adding onions to salads, sandwiches, stews, and casseroles may help put the brakes on knee pain. Onions are a rich source of quercetin, a flavonoid with strong anti-inflammatory properties, says Reardon. In studies of arthritic mice, quercetin resulted in significant decreases in arthritis symptoms. Apples, red grapes, and tea are also good sources of quercetin.

Diet and Knee Pain: Order Indian Food

A helping of curry could do wonders for your knee pain. That’s because turmeric, a spice used in curry and other Indian dishes, contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory. “Curcumin works similarly to COX-2 inhibitors — drugs that reduce the COX-2 enzyme that causes the pain and swelling of arthritis,” says Reardon. A 2006 Canadian study of the effects of both curcumin and quercetin found that curcumin reduced the inflammation of arthritis in animals. Quercetin (the flavonoid in onions) worked too, but not to the extent of the curcumin.

Diet and Knee Pain: Use Ginger Generously

The herb ginger traditionally has been used to relieve upset stomach, but researchers recently discovered that it also reduces knee pain by decreasing inflammation. In a study of 261 patients with moderate to severe knee pain due to osteoarthritis, ginger extract significantly reduced knee pain during standing and walking. Cooking with this spice can increase the flavor of meals while decreasing knee pain.

Diet and Knee Pain: Avoid Refined Carbohydrates

Some research suggests that diets high in refined carbohydrates can increase inflammation, says Reardon. She recommends steering clear of white bread, pasta, and baked goods — taking these foods out of your diet can have an added bonus of helping you drop excess pounds.

Because changing your diet is a relatively easy step, it makes sense to try some — or all — of the foods listed above. You may find some relief from knee pain and get some added health benefits to boot.

(Source: e-mail & Internet.)

Friday, September 17, 2010

七種不需本錢的布施

即使沒有財富也能做的七種布施。

有一人向釋佛訴苦:「我不管做什麼事都會失敗,這是為什麼?」

佛說:「因你從不佈施!」

那人答說:「可是我是一無所有的窮人!」

釋佛開示:「不對!即使你沒有財富,也可以給人七種佈施!」

Read more »

Thursday, September 16, 2010

什么叫“性功”和“命功”?

气功的静功分为性功与命功两种。由于它们各自的修炼目的不同,方法也有所区别。

“性功”主要是修性的,也就是练:“意”的一种特殊方。这个“意”,即“真意”,也叫“神意”,即大脑的意识、精神活动。明李时珍在《本草纲目》中记载:“脑为元神之府”。也就是修“性”练“意”要用脑,强调意念、意守入静,达到开发智慧的目的。


“命功”主要是修命的,即健身阶段练气、运气的一种锻炼形式,强调对真气的培育、储存和运行。促使人体内的精气(真气)循经运行,畅通无阻,增强人体健康。


“性功”与“命功”是密切相关的。


练气功要练气、练意。要意、气相随,练气是气功锻炼的基础,练意(神)是起主导作用的。所以鹤功是主张意、气同用,.意带形动,气随意行,意、气、形统一,即性命双修”,达到治病健身,开发智慧之目的。


(By Grandmaster Zhao Jin Xiang)

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Drinking tea increases risk of arthritis, experts claim

By JANE KIRBY

DRINKING a lot of tea increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, researchers have warned.

A study on more than 76,000 women found consuming tea raised the risk while drinking coffee had no impact.

Tea-lovers who enjoyed more than four cups a day had the highest risk – being 78 per cent more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those who drank none. But drinking any amount of tea increased the chance by 40 per cent, compared with people who never drank tea.

The findings were presented at the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome.

Professor Christopher Collins, from Georgetown University Medical Centre in the US, said he was surprised by the differences between coffee and tea. He said: "We set out to determine whether tea or coffee consumption, or the method of preparation of the drinks was associated with an increased risk of (rheumatoid arthritis].

"It is surprising that we saw such differences in results between tea and coffee drinkers. This does make us wonder what it is in tea, or in the method of preparation of tea, that causes the significant increase in risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis."

The researchers also examined whether filtered coffee versus unfiltered coffee affected the results, and also looked at the impact of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. However, they found no significant associations with rheumatoid arthritis in these drinks. The women in the study were aged 50 to 79 and filled in questionnaires on their daily intake of coffee and tea.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, progressive and disabling auto-immune disease which affects around 350,000 people in the UK. Three times more women get it than men and it usually starts between the ages of 40 and 60.

The disease can cause swelling and damage to the cartilage and bone around the joints, most commonly the hands, feet and wrists. About 12,000 children under the age of 16 have the juvenile form of the disease.

Prof Collins added: "This is one more piece in the puzzle of why people develop rheumatoid arthritis. This was an unusual and complex finding, but, from the data we have, there is a relationship between tea and the disease.

"There have been other studies which have either stated that tea has no effect on risk of arthritis, and one study which found tea had a protective effect."

He said the team had looked for supporting information that could explain their own findings: "We found a study which said that an increased intake of flavonoids – which are in tea – from various sources resulted in an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis."

The team had analysed data on caffeine separately and had found no link, suggesting it was something specific to tea, he added. "It's definitely an association, but the risk is very small. Nevertheless, when you look at enough people, a very small relationship can still be meaningful."

Prof Collins said women were only asked about their consumption of tea, and so no detail was available on whether they had drunk black tea, tea with milk or herbal teas.

(Source: e-mail & Internet.)

Monday, September 13, 2010

西餐造成糖尿病患激增


(悉尼法新电)澳洲科研人员警告,西式快餐在东南亚广受欢迎,这正危害当地人民的健康,患上第二类型糖尿病的人数已大幅度增加。

  研究显示,越南胡志明市约11%的男性以及12%的女性患有第二类型糖尿病,但他们却不知道自己患病,确诊的病患则有4%。

  悉尼伽尔文医学研究所的研究员端阮说:“近几年来,越南人的饮食习惯出现了戏剧性的转变。尤其是居住在城市里的人们,他们所吃的食物越来越西式,而且到处都是快餐店。”

  据了解,共有721名越南男性和1421名女性接受调查者。科研人员也在泰国做了相同的调查,其结果大同小异。

据了解,共有721名越南男性和1421名女性接受调查者。科研人员也在泰国做了相同的调查,其结果大同小异。

  因此,他们相当有把握地推断,这项调查若在其他东南亚国家,包括马来西亚、新加坡、柬埔寨和寮国进行,也会得到类似的结果。

  第二类型糖尿病是这类疾病最普遍的类型,患病的原因包括饮食含有过高的脂肪和糖分,以及缺乏运动。

  患有这类糖尿病的病患可能还会失明,或患上心脏疾病和肾衰竭。


七成网民表示不相信“洋鸡块”对人体无害

调查称,七成网民表示不相信“麦乐鸡中的化学成分对人体无害”

谁也不知道“被科普”的忧虑何时才能终结——— 正如眼下“麦乐鸡”又在“科普”:什么叫聚二甲基硅氧烷,什么又叫特丁基对苯二酚。

  美国日前爆出,麦当劳出售的麦乐鸡含有“聚二甲基硅氧烷”和“特丁基对苯二酚”。麦当劳中国公司发函回应称,这两种物质含量均符合现行国家食品添加剂使用卫生标准。

  根据我们的学习,这两种拗口的化学成分,从橡胶和石油中提炼而来,却不是被普遍应用的新成果。据报道,英国麦当劳声称因为禁用,当地麦乐鸡并不含有上述两种成分,而美国方面也尚未给出正式结论。但在中国,无论麦当劳还是相关部门,却异口同声表明——— 添加合法;连一向爱帮腔的专家也义正辞严“别对食品添加剂太敏感!”

  这种安慰倒也不是无的放矢。有调查称,七成网民表示不相信“麦乐鸡中的化学成分对人体无害”。果真大家敏感过头了么?恐怕未必。


(资料来源:电邮及互联网。)

Sunday, September 12, 2010

什么叫内视?
What is “looking inward”?

内视是古人练功的一种方法。内视也称“返观内照”,做法是双目垂帘内窥,意观体内的某一部位,或者一经络、穴位。李时珍在《本草纲目》中指出:“内景 隧道(经络),惟返观能照察之。”孙真人《备急千金要方。养生。道林养性》中说:“常当习黄帝内视法存想思念,令见五脏如悬磐,五色了了分明,勿辍也。” 并要求摒除外缘,“不得浮思外念”,否则“心想欲事,恶邪大起”,练功失效。练功入静不能有杂念,心有外念就不能入静。入静较好,有利明师指导者,可以练出此功。

Looking inward is an exercise practiced by our forefathers. It is also called “inward reflection”. It is done by lowering of the eyelids and look inward, keeping the mind on one part of the body or one particular channel or acupoint. In Compendium of Materia Medica, Li Shizhen, the famous ancient doctor, pointed out “only those who are able to reflect inward can visualize the inner channels”. Sun Zhen Ren wrote in his works: A Thousand Recipes in Urgent Cases, Cultivate One’s Nature, etc., one should get into the habit of inward inspection, the vision of your organs of the body will come to your visual consciousness together with five colors. You are required to get rid of all the worldly troubles and your mind not frequented by wild thoughts. If you are always occupied with heavy desires and unable to free yourself from evil ideas, your effort in qigong practice will not profit you. One should not let his mind frequently run wild with ideas; otherwise, it will be hard to find serenity.

(Author: Grandmaster Zhao Jin Xiang)

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Can prunes reverse bone loss?

by Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD

My friend and fellow osteoporosis researcher Dr. Bahram Arjmandi says yes, the humble prune can reverse bone loss, and his research data is looking strong. For more than a decade Dr. Arjmandi of Florida State University in Tallahassee has tested a wide variety of "functional foods" for their potential impact on bone health. He has studied soy, blueberries, strawberries, raisins, dates, and finally prunes. No other natural substance, he reports, comes near to having the bone-building effect of prunes. Further, when I saw him at the ASBMR international bone meeting last fall, he reported he had never seen any natural substance produce such consistent beneficial bone-building results.

Dr. Arjmandi's several successful animal and human studies document that special phenolic compounds in dried plums up-regulate growth factors linked to bone formation (such as IGF-1) and counter the activity of factors that inhibit bone formation (such as TNF-alpha). It probably also helps that prunes are one of the foods highest in antioxidants and also contain generous amounts of various key bone nutrients including potassium, boron, and copper. While Dr. Arjmandi has found other natural substances capable of halting bone loss, prunes were the only food found to actually restore lost bone.

This summer Dr. Arjmandi and colleagues will complete a landmark, controlled human clinical trial on prunes and bone health. For this study, 120 post-menopausal women have been taking either 100 grams of prunes (9-10 a day) or an equivalent portion of dried apples for one year. While it will be a few more months before all the research data is in, thus far 30 women in the prune group have had at least a 6% increase in hip bone, and one woman had an exceptional 11% increase consuming prunes over the year. Preliminary data from a segment of research subjects found that all prune-eaters showed at least some improvement in bone mass by six months into the study.

For several years I have heard Dr. Arjmandi speak of his prune research and read many of his research articles. It makes sense: if you could limit factors that hinder bone formation, such as inflammation and oxidative stress, and at the same time up-regulate new bone formation growth factors, and provide key bone nutrients, you could well accomplish the unthinkable and stimulate new bone formation with a simple, wholesome food substance.

At the Center for Better Bones, a group of us (including myself) are doing their own "prune experiment." If you are inclined to join us, take Dr. Arjmandi's advice and start slowly with a few prunes a day, working up to the full 9-10 over time. I have found soaked or stewed prunes are easier to digest, and Dr. Arjmandi has found that prunes do not lead to either weight gain or increased blood sugar levels. Also they should help build new bone in men as well as women.


References:
Arjmandi, BH et al. 2002. Dried plums improve indices of bone formation in postmenopausal women.
Journal of Women's Health & Gender-Based Medicine, 11:61-68.
Hooshmand, S and Arjmandi, BH. 2009. Viewpoint: Dried plum, an emerging functional food that may effectively improve bone health.
Ageing Res Rev, Apr 8:122-7. Yours in good health,

Thursday, September 09, 2010

萬物靜觀皆自得

你抵抗什麼,什麼就會擴大,
你靜觀什麼,什麼就會消失。

不管正面的問題是:與人衝突、
爭吵,或是受人批評、攻擊、侮辱,
如果你去對抗,問題就會擴大
且持續下去。

我們都可以了解,只要有對抗,
就會有衝突,就會有對立,
而衝突和對立,又會引發憤怒、
怨懟、攻擊,然後就沒完沒了。

反之,只要讓自己沉靜下來,
那麼不論你靜觀什麼,
什麼就會消失。

你不需費心去找任何理由為自己
辨護,只要沉靜下來,你的舉止
本身就會顯示最好的理由。

你不需費力去爭執,
只要沉靜下來,
你連想都不用想,
正確的言語自然就會產生。
.
你不需刻意去控制情緒,
只要沉靜下來,什麼都不說,
什麼都不做,什麼都不計較,
心境自然平靜。

所謂萬物靜觀皆自得,
我們只要把心沉靜下來,
直到心田的淤泥沉澱,
湖水自然澄清。
你的困擾自然也就消失不見了。

阿含經中提到,
佛陀在為信徒開示時,
總要先「令其心調柔」
才為其說「法」
(善言正語)。

所以祝福你保有一顆容易感動的心、
柔軟的心、慈悲的心,
來接納這世間的種種不完美,
而能看出這世間種種的好。


(来源:电邮及互联网。)

Monday, September 06, 2010

Are Whole Eggs or Egg Whites Better for You?

by Mike Geary, Certified Nutrition Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer

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 something like this...
"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 yolks.

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. Cholesterol is actually a VERY important substance in your body and has vitally important functions... it is DEAD WRONG to try to "lower your cholesterol" just because of pharmaceutical companies propaganda that everyone on the planet should be on statin drugs.
You can read the following article about why trying to attack cholesterol is a mistake, and what the REAL deadly risk factors actually are... Cholesterol Myths


In addition, the yolks contain the antioxidant lutein as well as other antioxidants which can help protect you from inflammation within your body (the REAL culprit in heart disease, not dietary cholesterol!), giving yet another reason why the yolks are actually GOOD for you, and not detrimental.

To help bring even more proof that whole eggs are better for you than egg whites, I recently read a University of Connecticut study that showed that a group of men in the study that ate 3 eggs per day for 12 weeks while on a reduced carb, higher fat diet increased their HDL good cholesterol by 20%, while their LDL bad cholesterol stayed the same during the study. However, the group that ate egg substitutes (egg whites) saw no change in either and did not see the improvement in good cholesterol (remember that higher HDL levels are associated with lower risk of heart disease) that the whole egg eaters did.
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. Your typical cheap grocery store eggs will have lower nutrient levels and a higher omega-6 level and lower omega-3 level. On the other hand, the cage-free organic eggs from healthier chickens allowed to eat more natural feed and roam freely will have much higher vitamin and mineral levels and a more balanced healthier omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio.


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 and thin weak shells. On the other hand, the healthier free range eggs from the local farm had strong thick shells and deep orange colored yolks indicating much higher nutrition levels and carotenoids... and just a healthier egg in general.


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.


And can we all please STOP with this sillyness about eating an omelete with 4-5 egg whites and only 1 egg yolk... If you want real taste and real health benefits, we'd all be better off eating ALL of our eggs with the yolks.


Another interesting 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.


Enjoy your eggs and get a leaner body!



(Source: e-mail & Internet.)

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

你認為好命從哪裡來?

《好命從那裡來?》

(一).從好身體來所 謂健康就是財富, 有了健康的身體才有奮鬥成功的本錢. 要有健康身體, 除了要注重飲食與運動外, 還要正常的生活習慣, 像現在有很多所謂的宅男宅女,日夜都是顛倒的,這樣那會健康的身體.另外要想有健康的身體,心理的健康是絕對扮演著重要的因素.很多臨床實驗在在的 證明 心理會影響身體健康.健康不是靠醫藥.

(二).從好心腸來也就是說存好心,能夠有拔苦給樂的慈悲心.好在別人感受到你存在的好處,適當的關心別人,適時的給予協助,並且不濫用好心腸.

(三).從好觀念來觀念影響決定,決定影響行為,行為影響結果.善護念是個準則,每個起心動念都要好好護持著,佛說:萬法唯心造,種什麼因就得什麼果報.

(四).從好脾氣來生氣將會污染生命,不但破壞人際關係,更破壞健康,台語有句話:氣心惹命.所以,要爭氣不生氣就不傷元氣.

(五).從好表情來出門看天色,入門看臉色,任何人都不喜歡看到煩惱氣憤痛苦的表情,要想有好表情,必須存有好心,心存善念與慈悲.所謂相由心生.心念絕對會直接示現在我們的臉上的.

(六).從好言語來也就是說好話,人與人之間不互相攻訐,不囉嗦`不抱怨,抱怨無法解決問題.不談是非,不惡言惡語,婆媳之間,人際關係將會因惡言惡語而破壞.能夠舌燦蓮花,有意義有建設性的多談.

(七).從好行為來也就是說做好事,檢討自己的行為,讓自己具備被愛的條件,懂得惜福與造福,平常多作佈施與善舉以廣結善緣,所謂捨得能捨才有得.每一種有意義的事,都能帶給人不同的快樂,多花一些時間去經營,將會改變你的命運.

(人生四大階段):「生老病死」
如何生的順利, 老的有尊嚴, 病的減少, 死的安詳 端視你對人生價值的認定如何, 所以身心的健康將決定你命運的好壞, 那麼好命到什麼程度,就看你能體悟多少與實踐多少了.

(资料来源:电邮及互联网。)