If you want to look and feel young, it is essential to have an anti-aging strategy. I'm not talking about harsh facelifts or exotic drug cocktails. Exciting research has revealed natural and effective ways to stay physically active, mentally sharp and younger looking well into your golden years. Here, I will review my top strategies to fight aging in every aspect of your life, from the food you eat to the ingredients that may help keep you young.1
Superstar Supplements
If you already take a multi-vitamin, it may be time to upgrade your supplement to better target your anti-aging concerns. One new ingredient receiving much attention lately is ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate (OKG).2 Made from the amino acids, ornithine and glutamine, OKG can stimulate tissue and muscle growth in the body. In times of trauma or stress, the body may not make enough of these amino acids on its own. Taking OKG as a supplement may help preserve muscle and regenerate aging tissue.
Another star ingredient is Mucuna pruriens. This plant has several bioactive compounds as well as L-dopa, which is essential for the production of dopamine in the body. Dopamine works with the nervous system and is vital for optimal brain function. It also prevents muscle tremors. In addition to helping your body make dopamine, L-dopa may also support the body's ability to release growth hormone. As a tool for healthy aging, the brain, muscle and growth support from Mucuna pruriens is highly promising.3
Eat to Reach 100
Believe it or not, there is such a thing as an anti-aging diet.4 Plus, you don't have to spend a fortune on exotic foods to get big benefits. Many diseases that strike as you age are caused by oxidative stress, or the accumulation of too many free radicals in the body. Free radicals are oxygen particles that can damage tissues and cause inflammation on the cellular level. To prevent oxidative stress, research points to the power of antioxidants.
One class of antioxidants called phytonutrients scrubs free radicals from your body so cells stay healthy and disease free. To get an ample supply of antioxidants, eat a diet loaded with colorful fruits and vegetables. Dark leafy greens, bright orange veggies and fresh or frozen berries are just a few choices that studies prove are particularly high in antioxidants. Virtually all types of fruit and vegetables have benefits. Other antioxidant-rich foods include nuts, legumes and whole grains.
Saving Face
We all want to stay fit and active as we age, but for most of us, looking young is important too. Just as antioxidants can fight aging from the inside, they can also smooth lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone on the outside. The skincare industry has identified the most powerful antioxidants for topical use, and you can find them in creams and serums designed to target every individual need. Look for products with pomegranate, coffeeberry, idebenone (an analog of CoQ10), and green tea.
Age-Proof Your Brain
Along with a healthy body and younger-looking appearance, you'll need to keep your brain sharp and agile as you age. Research shows one of the best ways to do this is by playing games. Almost anything goes. Crosswords and Sudoku have been touted as mental boosters, but scrabble, card games and computer games may also exercise your brain. When new neural pathways and connections are formed on a regular basis, your brain stays quick and flexible.5
Certain foods can help your brain too. Studies have shown that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids can reduce the risk of dementia in aging people. The ability of these nutrients to fight inflammation is thought to be the reason for this benefit. To get plenty of these nutrients, eat fatty fish like wild salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines at least two times a week and add walnuts and flax seeds to your diet. Following a Mediterranean-style diet, which includes less red meat and more plant foods, has also been shown to lower risk of dementia.
Now that you've read up on the latest anti-aging news, it's time to put your own plan into action. Talk to your doctor about your personal goals and concerns and use my strategies as a starting point. It is possible to look, feel and think like a young person as you age if you take these positive steps today!
References
1. http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/tc/alzheimers-disease-prevention.
2. http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21829.
3. http://herbal-powers.com/macunapruriens1.html.
4. http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/guide/anti-aging-diet?page=2.
5. http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/06/alzheimers-cognitive-brain-personal-finance-
retirementmentalexercise.html?loomia_ow=
t0:s0:a41:g26:r18:c0.001408:b23776664&partner=loomia.
[Ed. Note: Mark Rosenberg, M.D. is director of the "Institute for Anti-Aging" in South Florida. He is a highly sought-after speaker for lectures on topics such as integrative cancer therapy and anti-aging medicine. Dr. Rosenberg is avidly involved in supplement research and is nutritional consultant for Vitalmax Vitamins.]
"This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise's Total Health Breakthroughs, offering alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription,
visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com”
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Stimulating Imagination.
Watch a child play and you see his/her imagination at work. All a child needs is a small toy or some other replacement for a toy.
Give a child a toy car and his car will be roaring down the floor of the living room with the imitated sound emiting from his/her mouth. A toy aeroplane or horse-cart would do just as well.
The other day, a friend's grandson who was slightly past a year in age was carrying some packages of coffee in a small plastic container, stopping at various parts of the house where the adults were, to see if they wanted get any from him.
The world's a stage, and for children it really is, as they act out what adults do. This child i saw even tried on his grandma's shoes; much too big but certainly worth a try, certainly a good experience, to know the texture, the feel and the fun, for one so young.
So it is that a child at this young age would imitate the actions of adults. The adults, especially the parents, must humour them and play along, taking roles such as customers or patients, depending upon the role the child has taken, salesman or doctor and whatever comes to his imagination. By playing along with him, the parents can stimulate and encourage the child's imagination.
Though it is usually difficult, parent can and do kill the growth and development of imagination by stopping the play-acting or refusing to be a part of his 'childish nonsence'.
Children who have great imagination can see such things as fairies. Well, once upon a time, even adults have seen unidentified flying objects in the sky (UFOs). Whether such things exist or not is immaterial. What is important here is the part of the brain that creates stories and adventures.
Some children go on great adventures mentally to overcome the boredom of inactivity and loneliness. Do not scoff at such activity for it could be through such activities that award-winning stories are written. Writers, besides possessing sufficient language capabilities, certainly need either experience or imagination to stalk a hero into the unknown, stopping now and then to write on what the hero has encountered and overcomed in so many dangerous, heart-stopping episodes.
Of course, there are so many other ways to stimulate imagination. Have you thought of them?It's such an important and interesting topic, one posting like this can never do. So, till another time, think about it.
Give a child a toy car and his car will be roaring down the floor of the living room with the imitated sound emiting from his/her mouth. A toy aeroplane or horse-cart would do just as well.
The other day, a friend's grandson who was slightly past a year in age was carrying some packages of coffee in a small plastic container, stopping at various parts of the house where the adults were, to see if they wanted get any from him.
The world's a stage, and for children it really is, as they act out what adults do. This child i saw even tried on his grandma's shoes; much too big but certainly worth a try, certainly a good experience, to know the texture, the feel and the fun, for one so young.
So it is that a child at this young age would imitate the actions of adults. The adults, especially the parents, must humour them and play along, taking roles such as customers or patients, depending upon the role the child has taken, salesman or doctor and whatever comes to his imagination. By playing along with him, the parents can stimulate and encourage the child's imagination.
Though it is usually difficult, parent can and do kill the growth and development of imagination by stopping the play-acting or refusing to be a part of his 'childish nonsence'.
Children who have great imagination can see such things as fairies. Well, once upon a time, even adults have seen unidentified flying objects in the sky (UFOs). Whether such things exist or not is immaterial. What is important here is the part of the brain that creates stories and adventures.
Some children go on great adventures mentally to overcome the boredom of inactivity and loneliness. Do not scoff at such activity for it could be through such activities that award-winning stories are written. Writers, besides possessing sufficient language capabilities, certainly need either experience or imagination to stalk a hero into the unknown, stopping now and then to write on what the hero has encountered and overcomed in so many dangerous, heart-stopping episodes.
Of course, there are so many other ways to stimulate imagination. Have you thought of them?It's such an important and interesting topic, one posting like this can never do. So, till another time, think about it.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Imagination leads to creativity.
Someone did say: A picture is worth a thousand words. And there is so much truth in that.
Have you ever ask for directions and found the description of the route so difficult and confusing? Who is not good at words? Is it him? Or is it you? Who could not picture the route clearly? Again, is it him or is it you?
How can a person who cannot picture a route clearly in his mind, describe it well to you? It could be the other way around. Without a good imagination, how can anyone imagine the junctions or roundabouts with their turning into another street. How does anyone picture the landmarks that are described along the route?
Well, nothing good or great can be done without some imagination. A town-planner needs imagination. So does every man or woman, some more, some less.
Even a simple job of painting the floor needs imagination, otherwise, just as in the cartoon I saw sometime ago, a painter started work at the door and painted himself into a corner, trapped by his own wet paint.
Only when a person sees through his/her imagination, can he picture what he hopes to achieve. Only when he/she sees a solution to a problem can he solve it. How can anyone see a solution without some imagination? How can anyone draw a good design without visualising it in his mind? Without imagination, how can there be creation? How can there be success for your child without first imagining how it can be done?
As you can see, imagination and creativity are very necessary factors in the success of any individual, be it at school or in a job.
And creativity certainly needs imagination. To create something we need an idea. You need to picture the thing you wish to create. With that picture, you can imagine how it could be used. What practical purposes does it have. Only when you are able to picture that which is in your mind, can you think of the materials and tools you need to construct what is pictured.
So it is important that we stimulate imagination in our children as well as in ourselves.
The question that arises is: How do we do that?
So my next posting will be stimulating imagination and creativity.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tips for the City Gardener by Barbara Peterson.
By eating healthy foods and building up a strong immune system, we can live healthier, more robust lives. Sprouting is a way to give your body a shot in the arm of high-density nutrition that both city dwellers and homesteaders alike can do with minimal space and equipment.
The first step on your sprouting journey is to choose the seeds you want to start with. Just about any seeds can be sprouted, except for seeds taken from plants grown from Terminator (GURT) genetically modified seeds. These seeds are engineered to be sterile. So, when looking for seeds to sprout, experiment with some popular favorites such as alfalfa, beans, broccoli, clover, arugula, fenugreek, wheat, or peanuts.
The second step to successful sprouting is seed storage. Seeds must be stored in a cool, dry, dark area. A temperature between 55-70 degrees, with humidity of less than 70% is best. You can extend your seed life by freezing or refrigerating as long as you avoid condensation.
When you have selected which seeds you are going to sprout, cull and prep them. Look through the dry seeds for foreign matter and remove it. Rinse them thoroughly, and then soak for between 8-12 hours to end the seeds’ dormancy. You will need 2-3 times as much water as seeds for soaking. When you are done soaking them, remove any seeds that float, drain, and rinse thoroughly in cool water.
Now the sprouting process begins. Choose a sprouter that works best for you, and depending on the size of the sprouter, place a spoonful or so of seeds in it. Some people use a canning jar with a piece of non-aluminum screening or porous nylon netting in place of the lid, with the ring fastening it down. Small bags made out of burlap or hemp that can be hung are also very handy. The main thing to remember when choosing a sprouter is that the seeds need to breathe or they will rot.
After you’ve placed your seeds in the container, make sure to rinse them 2-3 times per day with cool water. Use lots of water, and turn your faucet on as high as you can without damaging the seeds. This will clean your seeds, as well as oxygenate and keep them loose. Drain thoroughly after each rinse, removing as much water as possible by shaking and bouncing the sprouter.
Keep your sprouter in an area with good air circulation. They can have indirect light at this point, so don’t worry about room lighting. When you see your sprouts starting to emerge and shed the hulls, it is time to give them plenty of light.
When your sprouts are as big as you would like them to be, give them a final rinse, drain thoroughly and let them sit for 8-12 hours. Make sure they are cool and dry, and then place them in a sealed container in your refrigerator.
Last but not least, make sure that you thoroughly clean your sprouter using food-grade hydrogen peroxide or grapefruit seed extract and you will be ready for the next round of sprouts.
So, even if you don’t have room outside to plant a garden, plant a mini-garden of sprouts right in your kitchen and reap the harvest of these nutritional powerhouses. Easy to store, easy to grow, and healthy to boot!
[Ed. Note: Barbara lives on a small ranch in Oregon with her husband, where they raise geese, chickens, horses, Oggie Dog, a variety of cats, and an opinionated Macaw named Rita. Barbara believes that self-sufficiency and localization of food sources is necessary to survive the coming depression. To this end, she hopes that sharing information with others of like mind will lead to a brighter future where people reach out to each other and form small communities in which food is grown locally, and trade is established between neighbors. For more of Barbara’s tips on sustainable living, click here now.]
"This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise's Total Health Breakthroughs, offering alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription,
visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com”
The first step on your sprouting journey is to choose the seeds you want to start with. Just about any seeds can be sprouted, except for seeds taken from plants grown from Terminator (GURT) genetically modified seeds. These seeds are engineered to be sterile. So, when looking for seeds to sprout, experiment with some popular favorites such as alfalfa, beans, broccoli, clover, arugula, fenugreek, wheat, or peanuts.
The second step to successful sprouting is seed storage. Seeds must be stored in a cool, dry, dark area. A temperature between 55-70 degrees, with humidity of less than 70% is best. You can extend your seed life by freezing or refrigerating as long as you avoid condensation.
When you have selected which seeds you are going to sprout, cull and prep them. Look through the dry seeds for foreign matter and remove it. Rinse them thoroughly, and then soak for between 8-12 hours to end the seeds’ dormancy. You will need 2-3 times as much water as seeds for soaking. When you are done soaking them, remove any seeds that float, drain, and rinse thoroughly in cool water.
Now the sprouting process begins. Choose a sprouter that works best for you, and depending on the size of the sprouter, place a spoonful or so of seeds in it. Some people use a canning jar with a piece of non-aluminum screening or porous nylon netting in place of the lid, with the ring fastening it down. Small bags made out of burlap or hemp that can be hung are also very handy. The main thing to remember when choosing a sprouter is that the seeds need to breathe or they will rot.
After you’ve placed your seeds in the container, make sure to rinse them 2-3 times per day with cool water. Use lots of water, and turn your faucet on as high as you can without damaging the seeds. This will clean your seeds, as well as oxygenate and keep them loose. Drain thoroughly after each rinse, removing as much water as possible by shaking and bouncing the sprouter.
Keep your sprouter in an area with good air circulation. They can have indirect light at this point, so don’t worry about room lighting. When you see your sprouts starting to emerge and shed the hulls, it is time to give them plenty of light.
When your sprouts are as big as you would like them to be, give them a final rinse, drain thoroughly and let them sit for 8-12 hours. Make sure they are cool and dry, and then place them in a sealed container in your refrigerator.
Last but not least, make sure that you thoroughly clean your sprouter using food-grade hydrogen peroxide or grapefruit seed extract and you will be ready for the next round of sprouts.
So, even if you don’t have room outside to plant a garden, plant a mini-garden of sprouts right in your kitchen and reap the harvest of these nutritional powerhouses. Easy to store, easy to grow, and healthy to boot!
[Ed. Note: Barbara lives on a small ranch in Oregon with her husband, where they raise geese, chickens, horses, Oggie Dog, a variety of cats, and an opinionated Macaw named Rita. Barbara believes that self-sufficiency and localization of food sources is necessary to survive the coming depression. To this end, she hopes that sharing information with others of like mind will lead to a brighter future where people reach out to each other and form small communities in which food is grown locally, and trade is established between neighbors. For more of Barbara’s tips on sustainable living, click here now.]
"This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise's Total Health Breakthroughs, offering alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription,
visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com”
Our ego can lead us into trouble.
It was in December, the exact date I had forgotten. During that end of the year period, The Great World Park in Penang during those years, was the place to be. There was the usual trade expo and live shows with well-known artistes rendering their latest songs.
It was in one of those halls that this young teenager found himself with a close friend pushing their way to a more vantage position. As they moved forward the teenager stepped on the foot of one big-sized youth who had refused to make way for him and his friend. The teenager appologised to the big-sized youth. Thinking nothing of the matter, the teenager moved on. Then, he felt a hand grab his shoulder. He turned round just in time to see a hand lifted to hit him. he blocked that and, just to show the big-sized youth what he thought of that action, he stepped on the youth's foot again. Of course, the youth was angry. That in no way cowed the teenager as he was already flabbergasted and looked fiercely and tauntingly into the eyes of the big-sized youth. His friend told him to forget the matter and to move on. Unfortunately, the teenager's ego refused to back down. His face strained forward, he demanded what the big-sized youth wanted, glaring at him and waiting for his next move.
The youth hesitated upon finding himself face-to-face with someone who obviously would not buckle under threat. The youth, clearly angered by the situation, turned round and rushed off to the door.
Upon seeing the angry youth's action, the friend knew that that youth had gone to gather man-power to avenge the slight suffered. He told his teenaged friend his apprehension. Realising that his friend's anxiety and fear were not unfounded as that area was known to be the home-ground for a group of well-known gangsters, they decided to leave the place.
They were out of that hall, at another corner of the fair, when they noticed the big-sized guy leading a group of people into the hall. At the sight of those gangsters, they knew that those people would search high and low for them.
Understanding the danger they have put themselves into, the teenager and his friend bolted out of the trade expo and into another street and then into another street again so as to move out of the gang's territory.
In the darkness, with their strength and stamina, they managed to evade the gang's search by moving into shadows and stopping to mingle amongst the crowds, going towards places where their presence would not be too obvious. Eventually, they boarded a bus to take them far away from the area before moving back towards their homes.
What was the teenager's problem? It was ego! It was stupidity! In that stupid moment, he had allowed his ego to put him into a dangerous situation which could have caused death to him and his friend. If not for the escape, it could have resulted in a beating, at the least!
Our ego is important. It is ego that makes us want to improve ourselves every step of the way. It is ego which causes us to strive to be the best.
But, just like fire, ego uncontrolled can lead us astray in more ways than one.
Ego also have us say that such stupidity can only happen to others. Is that true?
Looking back, what a relief it is, to have escaped the consequences of a moment's uncontrolled ego. And as I have said before, no one is infallible. I know for I was that stupid, fearless, egoistic teenager.
It was in one of those halls that this young teenager found himself with a close friend pushing their way to a more vantage position. As they moved forward the teenager stepped on the foot of one big-sized youth who had refused to make way for him and his friend. The teenager appologised to the big-sized youth. Thinking nothing of the matter, the teenager moved on. Then, he felt a hand grab his shoulder. He turned round just in time to see a hand lifted to hit him. he blocked that and, just to show the big-sized youth what he thought of that action, he stepped on the youth's foot again. Of course, the youth was angry. That in no way cowed the teenager as he was already flabbergasted and looked fiercely and tauntingly into the eyes of the big-sized youth. His friend told him to forget the matter and to move on. Unfortunately, the teenager's ego refused to back down. His face strained forward, he demanded what the big-sized youth wanted, glaring at him and waiting for his next move.
The youth hesitated upon finding himself face-to-face with someone who obviously would not buckle under threat. The youth, clearly angered by the situation, turned round and rushed off to the door.
Upon seeing the angry youth's action, the friend knew that that youth had gone to gather man-power to avenge the slight suffered. He told his teenaged friend his apprehension. Realising that his friend's anxiety and fear were not unfounded as that area was known to be the home-ground for a group of well-known gangsters, they decided to leave the place.
They were out of that hall, at another corner of the fair, when they noticed the big-sized guy leading a group of people into the hall. At the sight of those gangsters, they knew that those people would search high and low for them.
Understanding the danger they have put themselves into, the teenager and his friend bolted out of the trade expo and into another street and then into another street again so as to move out of the gang's territory.
In the darkness, with their strength and stamina, they managed to evade the gang's search by moving into shadows and stopping to mingle amongst the crowds, going towards places where their presence would not be too obvious. Eventually, they boarded a bus to take them far away from the area before moving back towards their homes.
What was the teenager's problem? It was ego! It was stupidity! In that stupid moment, he had allowed his ego to put him into a dangerous situation which could have caused death to him and his friend. If not for the escape, it could have resulted in a beating, at the least!
Our ego is important. It is ego that makes us want to improve ourselves every step of the way. It is ego which causes us to strive to be the best.
But, just like fire, ego uncontrolled can lead us astray in more ways than one.
Ego also have us say that such stupidity can only happen to others. Is that true?
Looking back, what a relief it is, to have escaped the consequences of a moment's uncontrolled ego. And as I have said before, no one is infallible. I know for I was that stupid, fearless, egoistic teenager.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Food can make you sick while exercise can remove it.
One early morning, at about five o'clock, I woke up with a sickly feeling. I struggled to get off my bed, the body unwilling to follow suit.
Nevertheless,I was determined to be up for my daily morning run before heading for school. The Penang esplanade was just behind my house as my family rented a place in Bishop Street then.
My father who was just as early as I was, took a look at me and realised that I was not in the best of health then. He asked me whether I still wanted to go for the run at the esplanade. I was positive about that.
I wanted very much to continue and fight the lousy feeling. So, with my running shoes on, I took a walk to the field. As i reached it I felt invigorated by the strong cool wind that struck my face and my whole body. The darkness was still good enough to hide my weakness from the others who had gathered there earlier than me.
Once I stepped into the field I began my run, jogging slowly during the first round, quickening my pace for the second round and running against the breeze at my usual fast sprint until the panting forced me to slow to a jog again. As i jogged i would regain my breath to prepare myself for another sprint.
However, I had only gone about three and a half rounds before I felt a need to vomit. I ran to the side, under one of the big trees and vomitted a soggy mess of the previous day's food from my stomach.
After that I decided to run home. As i jogged along the pavements, a freshness swept over my body. Gone was the lethargic feeling i had awakened with. There was more spring and lightness in my steps.
In fact, upon reaching home. my father could see the difference.
"How's that?" he asked. "What happened?" He wanted to know.
I told him about the vomitting after the run. He agreed with me that it could be indigestion. It must have been the food I took the previous day. It was the cause of my 'morning sickness' (Please don't have other ideas.)
The exercise did me good as it had somehow stimulated the body to throw out the undesirable food in my stomach. So the exercise had cured the sickness.
After my bath, I felt as good as new and was ready for a full day at school, full of energy and mentally alert. It is one reason I exercise almost every day, even at my present age. And although i have seen doctors for bee-stings and medical check-up for particular reasons for the last thirty years, I have never really been sick.
That is the wonderful thing about the use of knowledge on food and exercise, especially exercise.
Nevertheless,I was determined to be up for my daily morning run before heading for school. The Penang esplanade was just behind my house as my family rented a place in Bishop Street then.
My father who was just as early as I was, took a look at me and realised that I was not in the best of health then. He asked me whether I still wanted to go for the run at the esplanade. I was positive about that.
I wanted very much to continue and fight the lousy feeling. So, with my running shoes on, I took a walk to the field. As i reached it I felt invigorated by the strong cool wind that struck my face and my whole body. The darkness was still good enough to hide my weakness from the others who had gathered there earlier than me.
Once I stepped into the field I began my run, jogging slowly during the first round, quickening my pace for the second round and running against the breeze at my usual fast sprint until the panting forced me to slow to a jog again. As i jogged i would regain my breath to prepare myself for another sprint.
However, I had only gone about three and a half rounds before I felt a need to vomit. I ran to the side, under one of the big trees and vomitted a soggy mess of the previous day's food from my stomach.
After that I decided to run home. As i jogged along the pavements, a freshness swept over my body. Gone was the lethargic feeling i had awakened with. There was more spring and lightness in my steps.
In fact, upon reaching home. my father could see the difference.
"How's that?" he asked. "What happened?" He wanted to know.
I told him about the vomitting after the run. He agreed with me that it could be indigestion. It must have been the food I took the previous day. It was the cause of my 'morning sickness' (Please don't have other ideas.)
The exercise did me good as it had somehow stimulated the body to throw out the undesirable food in my stomach. So the exercise had cured the sickness.
After my bath, I felt as good as new and was ready for a full day at school, full of energy and mentally alert. It is one reason I exercise almost every day, even at my present age. And although i have seen doctors for bee-stings and medical check-up for particular reasons for the last thirty years, I have never really been sick.
That is the wonderful thing about the use of knowledge on food and exercise, especially exercise.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The Living Link Missing From Our Diets by Al Sears, MD
For millions of years, our ancestors hunted for meat and gathered fruits, nuts and other plant foods. They followed the food supply, so there was no kitchen sink to wash it in. Instead, they brushed the dirt off the foods they gathered. Or rinsed it in a nearby stream.
Today, factory farms add thousands of tons of pesticides and herbicides to our food. Even if we wash our fruits and vegetables thoroughly, we run the risk of slowly poisoning ourselves.
This modern dilemma means that our ancestors received a benefit from their food that we don’t. I think of that benefit as “living foods” — the good bacteria that inhabit our guts.
Living foods aid digestion. They hold dangerous bacteria in check. And recent research has revealed an amazing variety of other benefits. Here are just a few of the health benefits connected to these living foods:
• They support normal growth in infants1
• They help protect against early childhood infections2
• They improve your body’s defenses against food-borne toxins3
• They may be useful in the treatment of ulcers4
• They can reduce the discomfort of diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome5
• They can reduce the damaging effects of alcoholism6
We have these healthy bacteria growing in our guts, too. But many of us have far fewer than we need.
I’ll show you why you need living foods. How an entire industry has misled consumers about them. And how you can enjoy the healthy benefits living foods offer.
Protection from Disease-Causing Bacteria
There wasn’t much interest in the good bacteria in our guts until the early 20th century. Then a Russian scientist named Metchnikoff had an idea. He believed that replacing the “bad” bacteria in our systems with “good” bacteria could slow aging.
Mechnikoff’s early theories were a little off. But his work led to many discoveries about the bacteria living in our digestive systems. In the 1970s, these living foods were named “probiotics.”
I like that term. It directly counters modern medicine’s dependency on “anti” biotics, which focuses on killing biological organisms rather than on supplying them.
The word “bacteria” makes most people think of germs and infection. But trillions of good bacteria live in our digestive systems. These good bacteria promote better health in several ways.
Your intestinal wall is like a parking lot with billions and billions of individual “parking spaces.” Many disease-causing bacteria can only make you sick if they find an open space on the intestinal lining.
If good bacteria have taken up all the available parking spots, the bad bacteria can’t adhere to the intestinal lining. Instead they pass through the gut. And you don’t get sick.
If bad bacteria take over, the bacteria can migrate throughout your body and cause a host of diseases that you would never associate with your gut.
There’s a good reason bacteria thrive in our intestines. There’s plenty of food. Probiotic bacteria compete against bad bacteria for this food supply.
Your digestion works a lot like natural decomposition. And that’s a perfect environment for bacteria. Bacteria don’t have complex digestive systems. So they take advantage of the free meals available in our intestines.
But probiotics give us plenty in return. Because they’re more efficient feeders than many harmful bacteria, they can crowd bad bacteria out.7 And a UK study found that probiotics lower the toxin levels of a bacteria that causes a form of colitis.8
Add these to the benefits I mentioned earlier, and you can see how probiotics promote good health.
But don’t run out and fill your fridge with cultured yogurt products. That’s because most of the so-called probiotic foods on your grocer’s shelf aren’t that useful. In fact, neither are most of the probiotic supplements I’ve seen.
And a pair of product tests help explain why.
Make Sure Your Probiotic Gets Past These Two Obstacles to be Effective
In 2003, ConsumerLab.com tested 25 probiotic products. Some were supplements. Others were foods with bacteria added. Nine products failed their tests. Almost a third contained “too few live bacteria to be effective.”
ConsumerLab.com’s second round of tests didn’t do much better. In their 2006 study, five of the 13 products they tested flunked.
But there’s still a problem. Even if a product contains “enough” bacteria, those bacteria still have to survive two attacks in your body.
First, they have to survive your stomach acid. Then, they have to face the bile salts in your upper intestine. Up until now, survival rates have been less than exciting.
The food industry has spent a fortune on special coatings to protect probiotics from stomach acid. But a research paper presented at the Israel Institute of Technology found they’re not having great success.
They tested three of the most common coating processes and found the coating process itself killed up to 60% of the bacteria.9 So, even if the bacteria make it through your stomach, most of them could already be dead.
Getting through your stomach is a challenge. But even the latest double-coating process is no match for bile salts. The new process worked well with stomach acid. But researchers found the double-coated capsules didn’t provide any extra protection against bile salts.10
What this all boils down to is that most probiotic products simply don’t deliver on their promises. And even those promises are being called into question.
Yogurt giant, Dannon Corp., recently agreed to settle a $300 million class-action lawsuit out of court. The reason for the suit? Evidence that health claims for Dannon’s probiotic yogurt products may not be true.
Dannon says it stands behind its claims. But the fact they’re settling the suit seems to say something else. And this isn’t the first time they’ve been called out on probiotic claims.
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) asked Danone, Dannon’s parent company, to pull “misleading” ads in both 2006 and 2008. Danone also ran afoul of the ASA in 2003. Then it was for ads for its “Shape” yogurt product.
Danone isn’t alone. The U.S. National Advertising Division claimed General Mills was running misleading ads for its Yoplait “Yo-Plus” product. General Mills pulled the ads in December 2008.
So you’re faced with a dilemma. Probiotics are good for you. But getting enough of them can be a challenge. And you may not be getting what you think you are anyway.
What do you do?
Getting Probiotics’ Benefits
There are several ways to get more of these healthy living foods into your diet.
The first is to grow your own organic fruits and vegetables. Fresh, organic produce from your own garden doesn’t require the scrubbing that factory-farmed veggies do. And you’ll have the bonus of tastier meals.
I’ve been growing my own organic garden for years, and I rarely get sick. In fact, I’ve been known to just pluck a tomato off the vine, dust if off, slice it up and eat it. No washing required.
If you don’t have room or time for your own organic garden, buy organic when you shop. Your local farmer’s market is a great place to find organic fruits and veggies. You should still wash this produce. But, like homegrown, it doesn’t need the kind of thorough cleaning commercial produce does.
Plus you can give the healthy bacteria in your gut a better chance of surviving. Simply cut out the foods that bad bacteria thrive on.
Sugar and refined carbohydrates are bad bacteria’s favorite meal. These “foods” aren’t natural to your body anyway. So giving them up — or even cutting down — offers a whole range of health benefits, including weight loss.
Finally, stay tuned… Because my staff and I here at the Wellness Research Foundation have uncovered a promising new twist in probiotics.
A lab in Europe has been quietly breeding new strains of good bacteria. These bacteria are highly resistant to both stomach acid and bile salts. But they’re not genetically engineered, and there’s no coating involved.
So far, the research has been very promising. But I’m not going to jump on board until I know that these living foods live up to their promise. If they do, you can be sure I’ll let you know.
To Your Good Health,
[Ed. Note: Dr. Sears is Chairman of the Board of Total Health Breakthroughs. He has written over 500 articles and 7 books in the fields of alternative medicine, anti-aging, and nutritional supplementation.]
References
1. Scalabrin DM, et. al. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2009 Mar 4.
2. Rautava S, et. al. Br J Nutr. 2008 Nov 6:1-5. [Epub ahead of print].
3. Gratz S, et. al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2007 Jun;73(12):3958-64.
4. Lam EK, et. al. Probiotic Eur J Pharmacol. 2007 Jun 22;565(1-3):171-9.
5. Gawronska A, et. al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2007 Jan 15;25(2):177-84.
6. Forsyth CB, et. al. Alcohol. 2009 Mar;43(2):163-72.
7. Wilson KH, Perini F. Infect Immun. 1988 Oct;56(10):2610-4.
8. Plummer S, et. al. Int Microbiol. 2004 Mar;7(1):59-62.
9. Semyonov D. Dry Microencapsulation and Enteric Coating of Probiotic Bacteria. M.Sc Thesis, Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Israel Institute of Technology.
10. Ding WK, Shah NP. J Food Sci. 2009 Mar;74(2):M53-61.
"This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise's Total Health Breakthroughs, offering alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription,
visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com”
Today, factory farms add thousands of tons of pesticides and herbicides to our food. Even if we wash our fruits and vegetables thoroughly, we run the risk of slowly poisoning ourselves.
This modern dilemma means that our ancestors received a benefit from their food that we don’t. I think of that benefit as “living foods” — the good bacteria that inhabit our guts.
Living foods aid digestion. They hold dangerous bacteria in check. And recent research has revealed an amazing variety of other benefits. Here are just a few of the health benefits connected to these living foods:
• They support normal growth in infants1
• They help protect against early childhood infections2
• They improve your body’s defenses against food-borne toxins3
• They may be useful in the treatment of ulcers4
• They can reduce the discomfort of diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome5
• They can reduce the damaging effects of alcoholism6
We have these healthy bacteria growing in our guts, too. But many of us have far fewer than we need.
I’ll show you why you need living foods. How an entire industry has misled consumers about them. And how you can enjoy the healthy benefits living foods offer.
Protection from Disease-Causing Bacteria
There wasn’t much interest in the good bacteria in our guts until the early 20th century. Then a Russian scientist named Metchnikoff had an idea. He believed that replacing the “bad” bacteria in our systems with “good” bacteria could slow aging.
Mechnikoff’s early theories were a little off. But his work led to many discoveries about the bacteria living in our digestive systems. In the 1970s, these living foods were named “probiotics.”
I like that term. It directly counters modern medicine’s dependency on “anti” biotics, which focuses on killing biological organisms rather than on supplying them.
The word “bacteria” makes most people think of germs and infection. But trillions of good bacteria live in our digestive systems. These good bacteria promote better health in several ways.
Your intestinal wall is like a parking lot with billions and billions of individual “parking spaces.” Many disease-causing bacteria can only make you sick if they find an open space on the intestinal lining.
If good bacteria have taken up all the available parking spots, the bad bacteria can’t adhere to the intestinal lining. Instead they pass through the gut. And you don’t get sick.
If bad bacteria take over, the bacteria can migrate throughout your body and cause a host of diseases that you would never associate with your gut.
There’s a good reason bacteria thrive in our intestines. There’s plenty of food. Probiotic bacteria compete against bad bacteria for this food supply.
Your digestion works a lot like natural decomposition. And that’s a perfect environment for bacteria. Bacteria don’t have complex digestive systems. So they take advantage of the free meals available in our intestines.
But probiotics give us plenty in return. Because they’re more efficient feeders than many harmful bacteria, they can crowd bad bacteria out.7 And a UK study found that probiotics lower the toxin levels of a bacteria that causes a form of colitis.8
Add these to the benefits I mentioned earlier, and you can see how probiotics promote good health.
But don’t run out and fill your fridge with cultured yogurt products. That’s because most of the so-called probiotic foods on your grocer’s shelf aren’t that useful. In fact, neither are most of the probiotic supplements I’ve seen.
And a pair of product tests help explain why.
Make Sure Your Probiotic Gets Past These Two Obstacles to be Effective
In 2003, ConsumerLab.com tested 25 probiotic products. Some were supplements. Others were foods with bacteria added. Nine products failed their tests. Almost a third contained “too few live bacteria to be effective.”
ConsumerLab.com’s second round of tests didn’t do much better. In their 2006 study, five of the 13 products they tested flunked.
But there’s still a problem. Even if a product contains “enough” bacteria, those bacteria still have to survive two attacks in your body.
First, they have to survive your stomach acid. Then, they have to face the bile salts in your upper intestine. Up until now, survival rates have been less than exciting.
The food industry has spent a fortune on special coatings to protect probiotics from stomach acid. But a research paper presented at the Israel Institute of Technology found they’re not having great success.
They tested three of the most common coating processes and found the coating process itself killed up to 60% of the bacteria.9 So, even if the bacteria make it through your stomach, most of them could already be dead.
Getting through your stomach is a challenge. But even the latest double-coating process is no match for bile salts. The new process worked well with stomach acid. But researchers found the double-coated capsules didn’t provide any extra protection against bile salts.10
What this all boils down to is that most probiotic products simply don’t deliver on their promises. And even those promises are being called into question.
Yogurt giant, Dannon Corp., recently agreed to settle a $300 million class-action lawsuit out of court. The reason for the suit? Evidence that health claims for Dannon’s probiotic yogurt products may not be true.
Dannon says it stands behind its claims. But the fact they’re settling the suit seems to say something else. And this isn’t the first time they’ve been called out on probiotic claims.
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) asked Danone, Dannon’s parent company, to pull “misleading” ads in both 2006 and 2008. Danone also ran afoul of the ASA in 2003. Then it was for ads for its “Shape” yogurt product.
Danone isn’t alone. The U.S. National Advertising Division claimed General Mills was running misleading ads for its Yoplait “Yo-Plus” product. General Mills pulled the ads in December 2008.
So you’re faced with a dilemma. Probiotics are good for you. But getting enough of them can be a challenge. And you may not be getting what you think you are anyway.
What do you do?
Getting Probiotics’ Benefits
There are several ways to get more of these healthy living foods into your diet.
The first is to grow your own organic fruits and vegetables. Fresh, organic produce from your own garden doesn’t require the scrubbing that factory-farmed veggies do. And you’ll have the bonus of tastier meals.
I’ve been growing my own organic garden for years, and I rarely get sick. In fact, I’ve been known to just pluck a tomato off the vine, dust if off, slice it up and eat it. No washing required.
If you don’t have room or time for your own organic garden, buy organic when you shop. Your local farmer’s market is a great place to find organic fruits and veggies. You should still wash this produce. But, like homegrown, it doesn’t need the kind of thorough cleaning commercial produce does.
Plus you can give the healthy bacteria in your gut a better chance of surviving. Simply cut out the foods that bad bacteria thrive on.
Sugar and refined carbohydrates are bad bacteria’s favorite meal. These “foods” aren’t natural to your body anyway. So giving them up — or even cutting down — offers a whole range of health benefits, including weight loss.
Finally, stay tuned… Because my staff and I here at the Wellness Research Foundation have uncovered a promising new twist in probiotics.
A lab in Europe has been quietly breeding new strains of good bacteria. These bacteria are highly resistant to both stomach acid and bile salts. But they’re not genetically engineered, and there’s no coating involved.
So far, the research has been very promising. But I’m not going to jump on board until I know that these living foods live up to their promise. If they do, you can be sure I’ll let you know.
To Your Good Health,
[Ed. Note: Dr. Sears is Chairman of the Board of Total Health Breakthroughs. He has written over 500 articles and 7 books in the fields of alternative medicine, anti-aging, and nutritional supplementation.]
References
1. Scalabrin DM, et. al. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2009 Mar 4.
2. Rautava S, et. al. Br J Nutr. 2008 Nov 6:1-5. [Epub ahead of print].
3. Gratz S, et. al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2007 Jun;73(12):3958-64.
4. Lam EK, et. al. Probiotic Eur J Pharmacol. 2007 Jun 22;565(1-3):171-9.
5. Gawronska A, et. al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2007 Jan 15;25(2):177-84.
6. Forsyth CB, et. al. Alcohol. 2009 Mar;43(2):163-72.
7. Wilson KH, Perini F. Infect Immun. 1988 Oct;56(10):2610-4.
8. Plummer S, et. al. Int Microbiol. 2004 Mar;7(1):59-62.
9. Semyonov D. Dry Microencapsulation and Enteric Coating of Probiotic Bacteria. M.Sc Thesis, Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Israel Institute of Technology.
10. Ding WK, Shah NP. J Food Sci. 2009 Mar;74(2):M53-61.
"This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise's Total Health Breakthroughs, offering alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription,
visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com”
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Good prenatal care and parent's health can prevent brain abnormalities
A week ago, a friend complained about her maid and the agency which provided her with such a maid.
According to her, the maid just could not learn to do the simple house work that is required of her. Although taught for two months the use of the washing machine, the drying of the clothes and other daily necessary maintenance work, she just could not perform without supervision.
According to the lady, the maid has no brain for learning even the simplest things.
I understood very well her frustration at having to supervise every move of the maid but I also could not help but feel sorry for the maid who could be suffering from some kind of problem due to an abnormality in her brain.
The proper development of the brain determines the future of the child. The child who has abnormalities in his/her brain will have to go through life suffering the scolding and disgust of disgruntled parents, teachers, spouse and employers.
A pregnant mother may discover from her gynecologist that abnormality in the brain may occur at prenatal stage due to poor prenatal care or the health of the pregnant mother.
Other than this, too much shaking of the head or a fall with the head striking the floor hard can cause damage.
Cerebral palsy, dyslexia and dyscalculia are the possible problems that may arise due to some abnormality of the development of the brain.
According to medical science, cerebral palsy which impairs the flow of messages from the brain to the muscles is an injury to a foetus' brain during late pregnancy or the first two years of a child's life.
Dyslexia is a learning disorder due to difficulties in recognising and understanding written language. This is not due to low intelligence or brain damage. It is believed to be due to an abnormality in the brain. According to medical science research, reading therapy has been able to stimulate as well as correct the brain.
Similar to dyslexia, is a mental disability known as dyscalculia which has to do with a poor ability at figures in arithmetic.
We are fortunate that medical science has been able to pinpoint the problems and their origins. It is up to the parents to prevent them. When faced with such problems, immediate action to consult the relevant specialists must be taken to overcome them to help the child get a better chance at success.
According to her, the maid just could not learn to do the simple house work that is required of her. Although taught for two months the use of the washing machine, the drying of the clothes and other daily necessary maintenance work, she just could not perform without supervision.
According to the lady, the maid has no brain for learning even the simplest things.
I understood very well her frustration at having to supervise every move of the maid but I also could not help but feel sorry for the maid who could be suffering from some kind of problem due to an abnormality in her brain.
The proper development of the brain determines the future of the child. The child who has abnormalities in his/her brain will have to go through life suffering the scolding and disgust of disgruntled parents, teachers, spouse and employers.
A pregnant mother may discover from her gynecologist that abnormality in the brain may occur at prenatal stage due to poor prenatal care or the health of the pregnant mother.
Other than this, too much shaking of the head or a fall with the head striking the floor hard can cause damage.
Cerebral palsy, dyslexia and dyscalculia are the possible problems that may arise due to some abnormality of the development of the brain.
According to medical science, cerebral palsy which impairs the flow of messages from the brain to the muscles is an injury to a foetus' brain during late pregnancy or the first two years of a child's life.
Dyslexia is a learning disorder due to difficulties in recognising and understanding written language. This is not due to low intelligence or brain damage. It is believed to be due to an abnormality in the brain. According to medical science research, reading therapy has been able to stimulate as well as correct the brain.
Similar to dyslexia, is a mental disability known as dyscalculia which has to do with a poor ability at figures in arithmetic.
We are fortunate that medical science has been able to pinpoint the problems and their origins. It is up to the parents to prevent them. When faced with such problems, immediate action to consult the relevant specialists must be taken to overcome them to help the child get a better chance at success.
Friday, July 24, 2009
When growth starts, nutrition is important.
The other day I saw a pregnant woman smoking and drinking alcoholic drinks at a wedding dinner. Ought this woman take advantage of the free drinks available to the wedding guests? Even worse, she was smoking, sending nicotine to her unborn child.
That made me think: how many parents think of their children's nutrition before their birth? How many are aware of the toxic substances sent to the foetus through the mother?
The alcoholic content can reach the foetus. Would it have any effect on the foetus' kidneys and liver. (Adults who consume too much alcoholic drinks too often could get their livers burnt. What about the poor foetus?)What effect would nicotine have on the foetus?
Today's parents ought to know that growth for their child starts from the first day of his/her life in the womb. For that growth to be good and healthy, proper nutrition must be available to the foetus.
Since the necessary nutrition is made available to the foetus through the mother, the mother must be aware that anything that goes in through her mouth into her body and the bloodstream can reach the foetus.
From the nutrients through the mother, the foetus' development of all organs and body parts progresses. Based on this knowledge alone, we ought to realise the importance of the pregnant woman's health and diet.
Thus, pregnant women should be aware of the importance of nutrition. Of course, all of us have to be conscious of our nutrition. However, when one is pregnant, one is responsible not only for her own body but also that of her developing foetus. A pregnant woman has doubled responsibility.
The husband should be sympathetic to her cause and refrain from smoking or imbibing food and drinks that are not desirable for the growth of their child. He must ensure that her happiness, health and diet are well taken care of. That is the responsibility of the husband in a marriage. Together, they make everything go smoothly. They must work at it as one single family.
When it comes to development of the various organs and body parts, protein is of utmost importance. Then comes vitamins and minerals. The right kind of fats and oils are just as important as they play a part in the development of cells and tissues as well as other parts of the body. Some carbohydrates is needed as energy is required for organs to function and movement to take place.
Health care during pregnancy is easily available throughout the world. Seek the advice of gynaecologists for the latest knowledge and advice to ensure the children will be given the best possible start in life.
Today, we have cancer patients getting younger and younger each year. Where did those young patients get their carcinogenic substances from? Is it from the toxic food they eat as a child? Could it be through the mother even as a foetus? Whatever it is, would not it be better to eat less toxic and processed food with its toxic preservatives? If possible, take as much organic vegetables and fruits as possible. When it comes to meat, meat from grass-fed animals are better than those fed with processed feed containing antibiotics and growth hormones.
Yes, somebody could be taking unfinished hormones injected into animals. What could happen to us when ingesting such hormones? Could it fatten us faster? All I know is that it cannot be good for us. After all, we are no chicken, duck, goose, cow or pig.
Unless, of course, if we could grow angel's wings to fly us off to a paradise, a land without any toxicity.
That made me think: how many parents think of their children's nutrition before their birth? How many are aware of the toxic substances sent to the foetus through the mother?
The alcoholic content can reach the foetus. Would it have any effect on the foetus' kidneys and liver. (Adults who consume too much alcoholic drinks too often could get their livers burnt. What about the poor foetus?)What effect would nicotine have on the foetus?
Today's parents ought to know that growth for their child starts from the first day of his/her life in the womb. For that growth to be good and healthy, proper nutrition must be available to the foetus.
Since the necessary nutrition is made available to the foetus through the mother, the mother must be aware that anything that goes in through her mouth into her body and the bloodstream can reach the foetus.
From the nutrients through the mother, the foetus' development of all organs and body parts progresses. Based on this knowledge alone, we ought to realise the importance of the pregnant woman's health and diet.
Thus, pregnant women should be aware of the importance of nutrition. Of course, all of us have to be conscious of our nutrition. However, when one is pregnant, one is responsible not only for her own body but also that of her developing foetus. A pregnant woman has doubled responsibility.
The husband should be sympathetic to her cause and refrain from smoking or imbibing food and drinks that are not desirable for the growth of their child. He must ensure that her happiness, health and diet are well taken care of. That is the responsibility of the husband in a marriage. Together, they make everything go smoothly. They must work at it as one single family.
When it comes to development of the various organs and body parts, protein is of utmost importance. Then comes vitamins and minerals. The right kind of fats and oils are just as important as they play a part in the development of cells and tissues as well as other parts of the body. Some carbohydrates is needed as energy is required for organs to function and movement to take place.
Health care during pregnancy is easily available throughout the world. Seek the advice of gynaecologists for the latest knowledge and advice to ensure the children will be given the best possible start in life.
Today, we have cancer patients getting younger and younger each year. Where did those young patients get their carcinogenic substances from? Is it from the toxic food they eat as a child? Could it be through the mother even as a foetus? Whatever it is, would not it be better to eat less toxic and processed food with its toxic preservatives? If possible, take as much organic vegetables and fruits as possible. When it comes to meat, meat from grass-fed animals are better than those fed with processed feed containing antibiotics and growth hormones.
Yes, somebody could be taking unfinished hormones injected into animals. What could happen to us when ingesting such hormones? Could it fatten us faster? All I know is that it cannot be good for us. After all, we are no chicken, duck, goose, cow or pig.
Unless, of course, if we could grow angel's wings to fly us off to a paradise, a land without any toxicity.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The importance of correct healthy thinking.
Recently, a political secretary to a state assembly man was found dead near the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) office. The death raised a lot of questions as this political secretary was in the MACC to assist an investigation into the country's opposition politicians when his death occured. According to evidence known to the public now, he was questioned until past three o'clock in the morning. He was too tired to even go home after the questioning although he had his car and so, according to the MACC, had slept on a couch in the MACC building. Apparently he was even too tired to request for his handphone. At the time of his death, his handphone was still with the MACC.
Before I continue, I wish to stress that this is not a political view that I wish to convey, though I realise it does, considering the circumstances involved, sound like one. There is nothing wrong with having a MACC. There is nothing wrong with investigations and getting reports from witnesses. What has happened was due to the choice of officers in an important government body, in this case an anti-corruption agency.
To have capable officers in such a body, they must be courageous in the performance of their duty, able to perform with integrity irregardless of what their boss may think. They have to be disciplined and fair to all those who need to be investigated or questioned. They must never be biased. Above all else, they must possess a healthy mind and body. Yes, these are of utmost importance when dealing with matters such as corruption.
In fact, if our children were to possess all the above qualities, then the parents have no fear that they will perform well no matter what position their capabilities have placed them.
Coming back to the political secretary, what kind of officer would subject a person who is to assist an investigation to such a torture as sleep deprivation to the extent that he could not find the energy to return to his own comfortable bed to sleep? Would it not be normal for anyone assisting an investigation be allowed to rest by midnight and return the next day to continue? Was it an order from the top? Was it an indication of a sadistic streak in the officer concerned? That would mean un unhealthy mind. Could such a person rightly be allowed to perform in such an investigative post?
Well, it looks like a lot of questions which need answers.
Perhaps, the officer concerned was not totally wrong. He could just be doing a duty obeying orders to torture the person until a tired mind would agree to anything just to find relieve in sleep.
Whatever it is, the person who chose the officers is responsible. How are these officers picked? Were the best of Malaysians elligible for the posts picked? What was the criterion for the choice?
I am sorry but I have no alternative but sound racial when I question this: With so many brilliant Malaysians from the various races, how is it that the choice-maker(s) could not have an investigating team comprising of all the races in Malaysia. Are the citizens from the other races inferior to those chosen? Was the mind of the selecting committee biased?
As we can see, a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. Wrong thinking can lead us astray, leading to problems which can never arise if leaders or bosses are courageous, disciplined, fair and unbiased in treating people.
Before I continue, I wish to stress that this is not a political view that I wish to convey, though I realise it does, considering the circumstances involved, sound like one. There is nothing wrong with having a MACC. There is nothing wrong with investigations and getting reports from witnesses. What has happened was due to the choice of officers in an important government body, in this case an anti-corruption agency.
To have capable officers in such a body, they must be courageous in the performance of their duty, able to perform with integrity irregardless of what their boss may think. They have to be disciplined and fair to all those who need to be investigated or questioned. They must never be biased. Above all else, they must possess a healthy mind and body. Yes, these are of utmost importance when dealing with matters such as corruption.
In fact, if our children were to possess all the above qualities, then the parents have no fear that they will perform well no matter what position their capabilities have placed them.
Coming back to the political secretary, what kind of officer would subject a person who is to assist an investigation to such a torture as sleep deprivation to the extent that he could not find the energy to return to his own comfortable bed to sleep? Would it not be normal for anyone assisting an investigation be allowed to rest by midnight and return the next day to continue? Was it an order from the top? Was it an indication of a sadistic streak in the officer concerned? That would mean un unhealthy mind. Could such a person rightly be allowed to perform in such an investigative post?
Well, it looks like a lot of questions which need answers.
Perhaps, the officer concerned was not totally wrong. He could just be doing a duty obeying orders to torture the person until a tired mind would agree to anything just to find relieve in sleep.
Whatever it is, the person who chose the officers is responsible. How are these officers picked? Were the best of Malaysians elligible for the posts picked? What was the criterion for the choice?
I am sorry but I have no alternative but sound racial when I question this: With so many brilliant Malaysians from the various races, how is it that the choice-maker(s) could not have an investigating team comprising of all the races in Malaysia. Are the citizens from the other races inferior to those chosen? Was the mind of the selecting committee biased?
As we can see, a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. Wrong thinking can lead us astray, leading to problems which can never arise if leaders or bosses are courageous, disciplined, fair and unbiased in treating people.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Do not pay for the wrongs of others.
The young man felt cheated. He believed he had been overcharged. He was angry. The words of the seller did not pacify him; it aggravated the situation. The young man could not contain his anger any longer. He forgot all he was taught about its control. There was a fight and the young man won. It ended with the death of the seller.
Though the seller was not faultless; for he had instigated the attack; the young man had to bear the responsibility of this death. He was sentenced to six years for manslaughter.
The young man had to pay for his anger and lost six years of freedom. The pain was not felt only by him. His parents suffered too. So did his siblings. And it all started with the wrong caused by the seller. The seller, after cheating him, had abused the power of words to put salt into the wound he had caused.
Therefore, it is important for parents to teach their children to control their thoughts and emotions, especially the destructive anger that has caused so much tragedy among humans.
How do we do it? As I have ilustrated before, the world is our audio-visual aids. Each time, anger brought misfortune to some poor souls, tell the children about it. Stress on the consequences of such acts of anger. Use the newspapers, magazines and the internet, their stories, pictures and videos to show that the people who wrong us would not suffer as much as ourselves.
In the above story, for example, the dead person stopped suffering the moment he died. The young man's suffering had to continue regretting not just during his years in prison but also forever, perhaps. He would return to his world as a convicted person. Would it be easy for him to find a living? Would it warp his mind sufficiently to have no opportunity to find peace of mind? Perhaps the pain and suffering might have to go on till his own death.
In any anger, whether it results in tragedy or not, the one who allows the anger to fester in his mind will be the one who hurts himself. The person who caused the anger would have forgotten that incident the moment the person whose heart he had pierced with hurting words had gone out of sight.
Sometimes, hurt comes from mere words. And there are people who are sadistic enough to enjoy angering others. To prevent such hurts, always remember that everyone else has the right to his own opinions. When we adopt such an attitude, others' words can never ever pierce into our hearts.
Others have the right to their opinions. That does not mean that we are any less better than what we are. Our self esteem, our value of ourselves, will stand in good steed. With a strong self-esteem, no words can reduce our own values! Our children must be taught that.
So, teach our children how to look at such barbed words and prevent anger so that they do not have to pay for the wrongs of others.
Though the seller was not faultless; for he had instigated the attack; the young man had to bear the responsibility of this death. He was sentenced to six years for manslaughter.
The young man had to pay for his anger and lost six years of freedom. The pain was not felt only by him. His parents suffered too. So did his siblings. And it all started with the wrong caused by the seller. The seller, after cheating him, had abused the power of words to put salt into the wound he had caused.
Therefore, it is important for parents to teach their children to control their thoughts and emotions, especially the destructive anger that has caused so much tragedy among humans.
How do we do it? As I have ilustrated before, the world is our audio-visual aids. Each time, anger brought misfortune to some poor souls, tell the children about it. Stress on the consequences of such acts of anger. Use the newspapers, magazines and the internet, their stories, pictures and videos to show that the people who wrong us would not suffer as much as ourselves.
In the above story, for example, the dead person stopped suffering the moment he died. The young man's suffering had to continue regretting not just during his years in prison but also forever, perhaps. He would return to his world as a convicted person. Would it be easy for him to find a living? Would it warp his mind sufficiently to have no opportunity to find peace of mind? Perhaps the pain and suffering might have to go on till his own death.
In any anger, whether it results in tragedy or not, the one who allows the anger to fester in his mind will be the one who hurts himself. The person who caused the anger would have forgotten that incident the moment the person whose heart he had pierced with hurting words had gone out of sight.
Sometimes, hurt comes from mere words. And there are people who are sadistic enough to enjoy angering others. To prevent such hurts, always remember that everyone else has the right to his own opinions. When we adopt such an attitude, others' words can never ever pierce into our hearts.
Others have the right to their opinions. That does not mean that we are any less better than what we are. Our self esteem, our value of ourselves, will stand in good steed. With a strong self-esteem, no words can reduce our own values! Our children must be taught that.
So, teach our children how to look at such barbed words and prevent anger so that they do not have to pay for the wrongs of others.
Monday, July 20, 2009
The spread of AOL to Baling: The spread of knowledge and the breath.
Mrs Wong and Teacher Tan Hwa Seng are the masters-of-ceremony.
The enthusiasm of the members is obvious.
Members enjoy themselves, dancing away.
Life is indeed a celebration for all of them.
Look at them go!
Look at the joyous celebration!
The videos and pictures above shows the celebration of AOL members at our new AOL Baling centre.
It took place at 7.30pm. on Saturday, the 18th of July, 2009. Mr. and Mrs. Wong helped the members in Baling to set up the centre.
With the spreading of energy to Baling, The Art of Living can reach farther to assist more individuals to develop the full potential of their lives. The Baling centre will enable the residents of Baling and its outskirts to avail themselves of the ancient wisdom and knowledge as well as the healing power of the breath.
While many call it the ancient wisdom and knowledge of The Art of Living, it would actually be more accurate to name it the evergreen, ageless wisdom of The Art of Living.
'Quality and success in life are determined by the state of mind. Under stress, the mind vacillates between regretting the past and worrying about the future. This results in lack of concentration, decreased efficiency and interpersonal conflicts.'The ageless wisdom and knowledge of The Art of Living enlightens us, and thus assist us to overcome such unnecessary, undesirable effects of stress so that we function more fully in the present moment.
Through the use of breathing practices and techniques, the body can be infused with energy. The natural rhythms of the body, mind and emotions are harmonised. The special breathing technique of the Art of Living, the Sudarshan Kriya, uses 'specific rhythms of the breath to re-establish balance in life as it simultaneously floods the cells of the body with oxygen and energy.' That is the power of your breath! Do it correctly and mind, body and emotions are constantly in excellent balance.
So as to reach the fullest of your potential, discover for yourself the power of the breath, wisdom and knowledge from the Art of Living. For those in Baling, the Art of Living is in town. How lucky they are!
Of course,how much benefit the people can derived from the AOL centre depends upon themselves, for God can only help those who help themselves.
When charges are exorbitant, learn from the experience.
Recently, my son who is studying mechanical engneering in one of the local universities, had a problem with his second-hand motor-cycle which he had bought nine months ago.
It was a Sunday and he had to go out to get certain things. After he had gone ten minutes on his bike, it refused to move. The engine was still on.
Since it was a Sunday and mechanics usually close for the day, he had no alternative but to search for a safe place to leave his bike. A police-station could be the best possible place to do so but there was none in sight. So, he asked around and found a newly opened mechanic shop.
The bike was 'repaired' but it could only move at sixty kilometres per hour at the fastest. Of course, he was not satisfied. The mechanic had told him everything was alright. In that case, how is it that it had no power despite the repairs, change of the plug and the engine oil?
Upon complaining to the mechanic after retrieving the bike and discovering the weakness, the mechanic told him that he would have to open up the bike again.
He complained to me about it, believing that he had been overchanged without the problem solved satisfactorily.
I explained to him there was no way I would know whether the charges were exorbitant as he was in a different state. Since the mechanic had offered to open the bike again, he ought to let him solve the problem.
As for the anger, I told him there was no point in being angry as in being so, the mechanic would not feel or suffer anything. The mechanic would have forgotten him after passing over the bike and getting his money. So the only person who felt the hurt would be the one who was angry. The anger might affect his mood and spoil the whole day for him.
He told me it was easy for me to say that. Of course, it was not easy not to feel the anger but we should never all ow anger to boil for too long. Forget it as soon as we can by involving ourselves with whatever activities may be at hand. Just let it go, I advised him.
I told him to treat the incident as a lesson in life.
As we all know, it takes all kinds to make the world. Therefore, we have to know the people around as much as possible. Knowledge of people is important to our happiness. In a previous posting, I have revealed how knowledge of the moods of some people has helped to avoid conflicts and bad feelings.
When it came to mechanics, I advised my son to find out where the local people or his friends in the university take their bike problems to. Know their experiences with mechanics in the area. Who has been proved to be reliable in their services? Are the exorbitant in their charges. However, if the charges are slightly more but the workmanship is good, then, in the long run it is alright.
If possible, if time permits, we ought to stay and watch what had to be replaced,the condition of the things replaced and the new, or is it a usable second-hand, part which had been used.
As my son complained, the bike could be started easily at the time it was taken to the mechanic, yet the plug was replaced. Upon hearing that, I knew that mechanic was doing it to earn more that he ought to. After all a good plug need not be replaced until it had malfunctioned.
But, then, that is life. We are at the mercy of such people. However, with knowledge, we understand what kind of person we are dealing with. With mechanics, I do not allow myself any anger. I merely register the knowledge that this mechanic cannot be considered reliable or thrustworthy.
Well, anger does not help things. It can never improve our lives. It can only hurt us. On the other hand, whenever we have bad experiences and we use it to improve nour understanding of human nature, our knowledge increases and that would help us to pick the ones we can rely on.
It was a Sunday and he had to go out to get certain things. After he had gone ten minutes on his bike, it refused to move. The engine was still on.
Since it was a Sunday and mechanics usually close for the day, he had no alternative but to search for a safe place to leave his bike. A police-station could be the best possible place to do so but there was none in sight. So, he asked around and found a newly opened mechanic shop.
The bike was 'repaired' but it could only move at sixty kilometres per hour at the fastest. Of course, he was not satisfied. The mechanic had told him everything was alright. In that case, how is it that it had no power despite the repairs, change of the plug and the engine oil?
Upon complaining to the mechanic after retrieving the bike and discovering the weakness, the mechanic told him that he would have to open up the bike again.
He complained to me about it, believing that he had been overchanged without the problem solved satisfactorily.
I explained to him there was no way I would know whether the charges were exorbitant as he was in a different state. Since the mechanic had offered to open the bike again, he ought to let him solve the problem.
As for the anger, I told him there was no point in being angry as in being so, the mechanic would not feel or suffer anything. The mechanic would have forgotten him after passing over the bike and getting his money. So the only person who felt the hurt would be the one who was angry. The anger might affect his mood and spoil the whole day for him.
He told me it was easy for me to say that. Of course, it was not easy not to feel the anger but we should never all ow anger to boil for too long. Forget it as soon as we can by involving ourselves with whatever activities may be at hand. Just let it go, I advised him.
I told him to treat the incident as a lesson in life.
As we all know, it takes all kinds to make the world. Therefore, we have to know the people around as much as possible. Knowledge of people is important to our happiness. In a previous posting, I have revealed how knowledge of the moods of some people has helped to avoid conflicts and bad feelings.
When it came to mechanics, I advised my son to find out where the local people or his friends in the university take their bike problems to. Know their experiences with mechanics in the area. Who has been proved to be reliable in their services? Are the exorbitant in their charges. However, if the charges are slightly more but the workmanship is good, then, in the long run it is alright.
If possible, if time permits, we ought to stay and watch what had to be replaced,the condition of the things replaced and the new, or is it a usable second-hand, part which had been used.
As my son complained, the bike could be started easily at the time it was taken to the mechanic, yet the plug was replaced. Upon hearing that, I knew that mechanic was doing it to earn more that he ought to. After all a good plug need not be replaced until it had malfunctioned.
But, then, that is life. We are at the mercy of such people. However, with knowledge, we understand what kind of person we are dealing with. With mechanics, I do not allow myself any anger. I merely register the knowledge that this mechanic cannot be considered reliable or thrustworthy.
Well, anger does not help things. It can never improve our lives. It can only hurt us. On the other hand, whenever we have bad experiences and we use it to improve nour understanding of human nature, our knowledge increases and that would help us to pick the ones we can rely on.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Building a team and building a future; what's the difference?
Look at those world-class gymnasts. Watch the ease with which they perform. That performance could not have been without the examples seen or the practices carried out so rigourously for a long period of time. It did not just happen. If they had been heaped upon with loads of criticism and disdain at the beginning of their learning, there would most probably have been no such gymnasts. The much needed confidence would have been lost.
Of course, besides the training and encouragement, there has to be discipline. Training has to be consistant. It must be often enough to have the human body develop the agility, flexibility, coordination and strength to perform those fantastic moves. Beside those three important qualities, gymnasts eventually developed a control over their bodies, imparting a lightness to their moves and landing.
Such rigorous training can only be possible if and when the human brain understands with confidence that the body is capable of achieving the trained graceful monoeuvres. And for most, that is only possible when the mind is first shown the possibility of such moves and is confident that there are steps or stages to reach the goal.
Once confidence is established, what remains for the individual is his spirit and his attitude towards all other probable new manoeuvres.
While gymnasts go towards new, more difficult or advanced manoeuvres, every other person could go to explore new ideas and create new products or inventions. That's where those who are not interested in gymnastics could possibly go into; probable new ideas and inventions. I wish to point this out as no matter which area our children may have their interests in, the road to success for our precious children and us is almost the same.
Therefore, caring parents must at all times be aware that children ought to be motivated with proper guidance, encouragement and praise. Children must be provided with, as much as possible, the proper aids to assist them to reach their full potential, irregardless of what that potential is.
Of course, besides the training and encouragement, there has to be discipline. Training has to be consistant. It must be often enough to have the human body develop the agility, flexibility, coordination and strength to perform those fantastic moves. Beside those three important qualities, gymnasts eventually developed a control over their bodies, imparting a lightness to their moves and landing.
Such rigorous training can only be possible if and when the human brain understands with confidence that the body is capable of achieving the trained graceful monoeuvres. And for most, that is only possible when the mind is first shown the possibility of such moves and is confident that there are steps or stages to reach the goal.
Once confidence is established, what remains for the individual is his spirit and his attitude towards all other probable new manoeuvres.
While gymnasts go towards new, more difficult or advanced manoeuvres, every other person could go to explore new ideas and create new products or inventions. That's where those who are not interested in gymnastics could possibly go into; probable new ideas and inventions. I wish to point this out as no matter which area our children may have their interests in, the road to success for our precious children and us is almost the same.
Therefore, caring parents must at all times be aware that children ought to be motivated with proper guidance, encouragement and praise. Children must be provided with, as much as possible, the proper aids to assist them to reach their full potential, irregardless of what that potential is.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The desire to try, part 2
Yesterday I have written about the importance of encouraging our children in whatever attempts they made to learn or experience things; that we should never undermine the strong inborn desire to imitate, to practice and to reach for the highest achievements possible.
Today, I wish to continue on how anybody, not just any child, can perform when given the chance to do so.
Do you know that I can cook. I was able to cook through watching others perform. When I was young I had to cook when my parents were busy earning a living. It was cook or go hungry. I took the more positive move. And during the process, I learned.
I liked to cook experimentally fairly often. By experimentally, I meant that I often use ingredients my mother claimed nobody uses. She would insist that people never cook things this way or that way. Fortunitely, she never had the time to obstruct my desire to try out things.
At a time when people despise bean sprouts as they were free, given free whenever we buy noodles, I enjoyed frying them with some onions, garlic and eggs. I have observed how the hawkers would heat the wok with a little oil in it. Then, they would put in the onions and the garlic,stir-fry them a little, add some chillies perhaps and then the noodles. Instead of noodles I used the beansprouts. Through experience, I discovered that beansprouts which are not too well-fried are crispy and delicious, if a little light soya sauce is added just before we scoop it up onto a plate.
At that time, people used to say I was stupid, especially when I asked for more sprouts than noodles. Well, young though I was then, I had read about nutrients for our body and knew that although it was free, it had more nutrients than the noodles made from refined flour which contained mostly carbohydrates. Do you see how important knowledge was and still is to me?
Whenever I cooked, and I needed something to sweeten a dish, I used just about anything that could make the dish sweet. Sometimes, it's just sugsr. At times when ice-cream soda, coca cola, honey, sugarcane drinks, molasses or brown sugar are available, I used them and the taste differs a little each time, giving a variety of sweetness to the dish.
The same thing goes for spices. Chillies is not the only thing hot. We can use pepper and chilli sauce. Chilli sauce is a little different from pounded chillies.
Besides chillies, there are so many other spices to try out, mixing them for soup to get some exotic taste.
Of course, every now and then, the resulting taste may not be as good as we would like it to be. But then, without trying it out, how are we ever to know.
Talking of that, if my memory does not fail me, a famous chicken recipe was the result of the founder's accidental inclusion of certain spices.
We are lucky that humans have been imbued with a curious mind and a strong desire to try out their ideas. Imagine what would have happened if inventors who dared to try out their ideas, curious to know if their ideas would work were non-existent. There would have been no bicycle, no car, no bus, no plane, no helicopter, no ship, no radio, no television, no computer and many, many other things which have made our lives so good.
So, never suppress or obstruct in any way the human spirit for its strong urge to imagine the so called impossible, the desire to experiment or development of ideas no matter how far-fetched such thoughts may appear.
It is easy for minds which are unable to concieve something to express disdain for what appears to be unfathomable ideas. Our hope is that those who are able to concieve them would transform such thoughts into concrete inventions.
There was a time when the idea that we could enjoy movies in a box coming in through the air whenever we let electricity come into it would have been preposterous. In those days, anyone talking of electric current flowing through a wire at the flick of a switch could be considered out of his mind.
Today, it is so common place that we hardly think of the fantastic minds that had made it possible. Thank God for their attempts to transform their ideas into inventions.
And thanks to their parents or someone who could have influenced or inspired them must have done a fantastic job encouraging them.
Today, I wish to continue on how anybody, not just any child, can perform when given the chance to do so.
Do you know that I can cook. I was able to cook through watching others perform. When I was young I had to cook when my parents were busy earning a living. It was cook or go hungry. I took the more positive move. And during the process, I learned.
I liked to cook experimentally fairly often. By experimentally, I meant that I often use ingredients my mother claimed nobody uses. She would insist that people never cook things this way or that way. Fortunitely, she never had the time to obstruct my desire to try out things.
At a time when people despise bean sprouts as they were free, given free whenever we buy noodles, I enjoyed frying them with some onions, garlic and eggs. I have observed how the hawkers would heat the wok with a little oil in it. Then, they would put in the onions and the garlic,stir-fry them a little, add some chillies perhaps and then the noodles. Instead of noodles I used the beansprouts. Through experience, I discovered that beansprouts which are not too well-fried are crispy and delicious, if a little light soya sauce is added just before we scoop it up onto a plate.
At that time, people used to say I was stupid, especially when I asked for more sprouts than noodles. Well, young though I was then, I had read about nutrients for our body and knew that although it was free, it had more nutrients than the noodles made from refined flour which contained mostly carbohydrates. Do you see how important knowledge was and still is to me?
Whenever I cooked, and I needed something to sweeten a dish, I used just about anything that could make the dish sweet. Sometimes, it's just sugsr. At times when ice-cream soda, coca cola, honey, sugarcane drinks, molasses or brown sugar are available, I used them and the taste differs a little each time, giving a variety of sweetness to the dish.
The same thing goes for spices. Chillies is not the only thing hot. We can use pepper and chilli sauce. Chilli sauce is a little different from pounded chillies.
Besides chillies, there are so many other spices to try out, mixing them for soup to get some exotic taste.
Of course, every now and then, the resulting taste may not be as good as we would like it to be. But then, without trying it out, how are we ever to know.
Talking of that, if my memory does not fail me, a famous chicken recipe was the result of the founder's accidental inclusion of certain spices.
We are lucky that humans have been imbued with a curious mind and a strong desire to try out their ideas. Imagine what would have happened if inventors who dared to try out their ideas, curious to know if their ideas would work were non-existent. There would have been no bicycle, no car, no bus, no plane, no helicopter, no ship, no radio, no television, no computer and many, many other things which have made our lives so good.
So, never suppress or obstruct in any way the human spirit for its strong urge to imagine the so called impossible, the desire to experiment or development of ideas no matter how far-fetched such thoughts may appear.
It is easy for minds which are unable to concieve something to express disdain for what appears to be unfathomable ideas. Our hope is that those who are able to concieve them would transform such thoughts into concrete inventions.
There was a time when the idea that we could enjoy movies in a box coming in through the air whenever we let electricity come into it would have been preposterous. In those days, anyone talking of electric current flowing through a wire at the flick of a switch could be considered out of his mind.
Today, it is so common place that we hardly think of the fantastic minds that had made it possible. Thank God for their attempts to transform their ideas into inventions.
And thanks to their parents or someone who could have influenced or inspired them must have done a fantastic job encouraging them.
Friday, July 17, 2009
The desire to try. Part 1.
"Hey, that's something new."
"Sure, but it looks so black and the noodles are thick."
"Have you taken it before?" I asked.
"No, I rather not have it. I don't know the taste."
"If none of us know how it tastes, let's try it. I'll get two plates of it for us." I insisted.
After eating the 'Hokkien Char', a fried noodle dish with dark thick soya sauce, my friend smilingly admitted it was tasty and she would like to order that again another time.
"See, we must always order things we have not eaten before to get to know their taste. Ohterwise, we'll never know what we'll miss," I told her.
Yes, unless something is obviously too dangerous or wrong to do, we must try it.
Imagine what would have happened if nature had not imbued us with the desire to try things out, to imitate or to attempt the so called impossible.
Beginning with our precious children, if they had not tried to walk at the time when they could not, they would have been unable to do so. Despite the weakness in their legs, they pulled their bodies forward, then crawled and eventually waddled forward clumsily, sometimes to fall, perhaps cry, but to persist until they had strengthen their legs, improved their coordination and straighten their bodies to walk upright just like us.
If they had not tried to talk when they could not, they would have remained mute forever. Fortunately, the desire to try was a natural instinct in them. They uttered unfathomable language, babbled incoherently for a time before their tongues, jaws and mouth managed to coordinate to give out language; initially words, then phrases and clauses ending up with sentences as they gained confidence.
How did they manage to do all that? First, there was the example. You, the parents and others in the surroundings. Yes, you are the ones who showed the way. Your child imitates your walk and your talk. That is the reason children brought up in the wilds by wolves walk around on all fours just as wolves do. And they snarled just as good as any wolf too.
Then, there was the encouragement from you. During the olden days when toys were less or less affordable, children still managed to walk because parents always gave praise for their efforts. Sometimes, over enthusiatic parents tried to quicken the process by forcing the child to walk before the bones had formed properly, resulting in bow-legged children and adults.Nevertheless, the joy of learning is always there in the child and so, though forced, the child would still be happily, laughingly swaying towards the parent.
Well, from the above, we can see how important good examples of what is possible and achievable is to our children and us.
After that, it ought to be encourage and praise, irregardless of the results of their attempts in achieving anything. Never ever let our children down with criticism of their amateurish performance. Even experts and artistes were amateurish while training to be good.
Look at those world-class gymnasts. Watch the ease with which they perform. That performance could not have been without the examples seen or the practices carried out so rigourously for a long period of time. It did not just happen. If they had been heaped upon with loads of criticism and disdain at the beginning of their learning, there would most probably have been no such gymnasts. The much needed confidence would have been lost.
I remember very well one ocassion where a little cried when her piano teacher told her that she has to practise at home if she wants to be good. Upon being asked the reason for her breaking down thus, she told the teacher she just could not find the time to practise. She had to attend to her studies. Why? Her mother hit her hands twice for getting an average of 95 marks. I was aghast at such revelation. I could not contain myself any longer and told her, this uncle who was a teacher then, seldom scored such a high average in an examination.(Yet, this uncle scored enough in the standard six examination in 1958 to be given a place in the then best school in Penang, The Penang Free School. When the child was not around anymore; I did not wish to undermine her confidence in her parents; I told the music teacher how sad it was that parents make such unreasonable demands on their children, putting them to such great stress. Further more, how many of us had ever scored so high marks constantly?
Thus, parents ought to teach their children using encouragement and praise for trying to achieve anything; and when our children are not up to the mark, we should let it on that we are proud of their attempts. The children will learn something for every attempt that they make. They will come to understand their strengths and their weaknesses as well as their limits. They will know of their capabilities, the possibilities and the probabilities in their lives.
How often have adults themselves given up just because they thought they were too clumsy or not knowledgeable enough for a job, even though those jobs could be done through a little know-how?
In a recession such as the present one, we will soon hear of success stories of people who still have the desire to try new jobs. As a saying goes: Just do it! And it can be done. Adults have to tell themselves they can and will as they face each new day. In magazines such as The Readers Digest, we have read of people failing even in good times, in ordinary times and recovering from their failure, learning from it to achieve even greater success.
"Sure, but it looks so black and the noodles are thick."
"Have you taken it before?" I asked.
"No, I rather not have it. I don't know the taste."
"If none of us know how it tastes, let's try it. I'll get two plates of it for us." I insisted.
After eating the 'Hokkien Char', a fried noodle dish with dark thick soya sauce, my friend smilingly admitted it was tasty and she would like to order that again another time.
"See, we must always order things we have not eaten before to get to know their taste. Ohterwise, we'll never know what we'll miss," I told her.
Yes, unless something is obviously too dangerous or wrong to do, we must try it.
Imagine what would have happened if nature had not imbued us with the desire to try things out, to imitate or to attempt the so called impossible.
Beginning with our precious children, if they had not tried to walk at the time when they could not, they would have been unable to do so. Despite the weakness in their legs, they pulled their bodies forward, then crawled and eventually waddled forward clumsily, sometimes to fall, perhaps cry, but to persist until they had strengthen their legs, improved their coordination and straighten their bodies to walk upright just like us.
If they had not tried to talk when they could not, they would have remained mute forever. Fortunately, the desire to try was a natural instinct in them. They uttered unfathomable language, babbled incoherently for a time before their tongues, jaws and mouth managed to coordinate to give out language; initially words, then phrases and clauses ending up with sentences as they gained confidence.
How did they manage to do all that? First, there was the example. You, the parents and others in the surroundings. Yes, you are the ones who showed the way. Your child imitates your walk and your talk. That is the reason children brought up in the wilds by wolves walk around on all fours just as wolves do. And they snarled just as good as any wolf too.
Then, there was the encouragement from you. During the olden days when toys were less or less affordable, children still managed to walk because parents always gave praise for their efforts. Sometimes, over enthusiatic parents tried to quicken the process by forcing the child to walk before the bones had formed properly, resulting in bow-legged children and adults.Nevertheless, the joy of learning is always there in the child and so, though forced, the child would still be happily, laughingly swaying towards the parent.
Well, from the above, we can see how important good examples of what is possible and achievable is to our children and us.
After that, it ought to be encourage and praise, irregardless of the results of their attempts in achieving anything. Never ever let our children down with criticism of their amateurish performance. Even experts and artistes were amateurish while training to be good.
Look at those world-class gymnasts. Watch the ease with which they perform. That performance could not have been without the examples seen or the practices carried out so rigourously for a long period of time. It did not just happen. If they had been heaped upon with loads of criticism and disdain at the beginning of their learning, there would most probably have been no such gymnasts. The much needed confidence would have been lost.
I remember very well one ocassion where a little cried when her piano teacher told her that she has to practise at home if she wants to be good. Upon being asked the reason for her breaking down thus, she told the teacher she just could not find the time to practise. She had to attend to her studies. Why? Her mother hit her hands twice for getting an average of 95 marks. I was aghast at such revelation. I could not contain myself any longer and told her, this uncle who was a teacher then, seldom scored such a high average in an examination.(Yet, this uncle scored enough in the standard six examination in 1958 to be given a place in the then best school in Penang, The Penang Free School. When the child was not around anymore; I did not wish to undermine her confidence in her parents; I told the music teacher how sad it was that parents make such unreasonable demands on their children, putting them to such great stress. Further more, how many of us had ever scored so high marks constantly?
Thus, parents ought to teach their children using encouragement and praise for trying to achieve anything; and when our children are not up to the mark, we should let it on that we are proud of their attempts. The children will learn something for every attempt that they make. They will come to understand their strengths and their weaknesses as well as their limits. They will know of their capabilities, the possibilities and the probabilities in their lives.
How often have adults themselves given up just because they thought they were too clumsy or not knowledgeable enough for a job, even though those jobs could be done through a little know-how?
In a recession such as the present one, we will soon hear of success stories of people who still have the desire to try new jobs. As a saying goes: Just do it! And it can be done. Adults have to tell themselves they can and will as they face each new day. In magazines such as The Readers Digest, we have read of people failing even in good times, in ordinary times and recovering from their failure, learning from it to achieve even greater success.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
What's in a name. A rose by any name is just as sweet.
Earlier I have written about names; about problems and opportunities that names might bring as well as how and why I chose the names for my children. Names has its importance as the wrong name could bring on a lot of teasing, mischief and misery, especially among children while the right name can take a person to the right places. Read about it in ‘Names can bring misery posted on 1st March 2009, How children's names could be chosen posted on 2nd March 2009 and Names can bring opportunities published on 3rd March, 2009.
When it comes to my name, the person who does not know me would think I am a female. You see, among the Mandarin speaking group, many believe it’s a name for a woman. So, sometimes I receive letters addressed to ‘Miss Ong Ai Wei’. Fortunately, it did not turn me into a gay. I suppose I’m just too rough and manly for that.
You know, once,a friend had some wigs and she showed them to me. I did try on the friend's wigs and a look at that mug of mine with those straight or permed long hair was enough to drive out any romantic feelings any lady could have had for me. Since then, this fellow prefers all things manly, things most women would be more attracted to.
Coming back from my rambling, my name is actually good. You see, I have a fail-safe last name. In Chinese ‘Ong’ means good luck. ‘Fung shui’ masters, those who teach us how to arrange things in our houses to bring in luck, have no luck with me, for I am always ‘Ong’ (lucky) with a capital ‘O’. My house has at least one ‘Ong’ around.
And my middle name is ‘Ai’ which means love. So, love is always in the air wherever I go.
‘Wei’ just means generous and I think it just suits me fine. As one lovely girlfriend I was once close with during my youth told me, “You are just too generous. You know, Ai Wei; you are generous to a fault.” I did not mind that as it has helped made my life wonderful. Of course, I can be stingy too. It depends. Otherwise, I would not be good at managing myself, would I?
Then, there was this beautiful lady friend who wondered how she should call me. She told me calling me ‘Wei’ would sound rude as that’s how some people using Mandarin language would rudely address those whose names are not known to them. You know, someone would shout out, "Wei! Wei! What're you doing in my office. Get lost!" and that 'Wei' might reply, "Hey, you think I don't have a name, hah?" Well, in my mind, I thought it would be nice if she could call me ‘Wo de Ai’ which means ‘My beloved.’ However, sentimental dreamer, I might be but fool, I am not. So, I did not venture to voice that.
Then, at The Art of Living Centre in Sungai Petani where a good number of people spoke Mandarin, many found my first name a mouthful. So I told those beloved folks, “Just call me Highway.” They found that easy as it was part of their vocabulary, having talked about using the highway so very often. So, there, this man's Highway. The Highwayman? No, no! No way, just Highway will do. I presume they do not know the meaning of that. Oh, God!
Nevertheless, there's no need to worry. Be it ‘Ai Wei’, ‘Highway’ or ‘Highwayman’, eventually, when they know me well enough, they will know it is the person himself that counts. No matter how pretty or ugly a name is, it is just a sound that we attach to a person. We like someone because of his/her character and qualities, not because of a name.
When it comes to my name, the person who does not know me would think I am a female. You see, among the Mandarin speaking group, many believe it’s a name for a woman. So, sometimes I receive letters addressed to ‘Miss Ong Ai Wei’. Fortunately, it did not turn me into a gay. I suppose I’m just too rough and manly for that.
You know, once,a friend had some wigs and she showed them to me. I did try on the friend's wigs and a look at that mug of mine with those straight or permed long hair was enough to drive out any romantic feelings any lady could have had for me. Since then, this fellow prefers all things manly, things most women would be more attracted to.
Coming back from my rambling, my name is actually good. You see, I have a fail-safe last name. In Chinese ‘Ong’ means good luck. ‘Fung shui’ masters, those who teach us how to arrange things in our houses to bring in luck, have no luck with me, for I am always ‘Ong’ (lucky) with a capital ‘O’. My house has at least one ‘Ong’ around.
And my middle name is ‘Ai’ which means love. So, love is always in the air wherever I go.
‘Wei’ just means generous and I think it just suits me fine. As one lovely girlfriend I was once close with during my youth told me, “You are just too generous. You know, Ai Wei; you are generous to a fault.” I did not mind that as it has helped made my life wonderful. Of course, I can be stingy too. It depends. Otherwise, I would not be good at managing myself, would I?
Then, there was this beautiful lady friend who wondered how she should call me. She told me calling me ‘Wei’ would sound rude as that’s how some people using Mandarin language would rudely address those whose names are not known to them. You know, someone would shout out, "Wei! Wei! What're you doing in my office. Get lost!" and that 'Wei' might reply, "Hey, you think I don't have a name, hah?" Well, in my mind, I thought it would be nice if she could call me ‘Wo de Ai’ which means ‘My beloved.’ However, sentimental dreamer, I might be but fool, I am not. So, I did not venture to voice that.
Then, at The Art of Living Centre in Sungai Petani where a good number of people spoke Mandarin, many found my first name a mouthful. So I told those beloved folks, “Just call me Highway.” They found that easy as it was part of their vocabulary, having talked about using the highway so very often. So, there, this man's Highway. The Highwayman? No, no! No way, just Highway will do. I presume they do not know the meaning of that. Oh, God!
Nevertheless, there's no need to worry. Be it ‘Ai Wei’, ‘Highway’ or ‘Highwayman’, eventually, when they know me well enough, they will know it is the person himself that counts. No matter how pretty or ugly a name is, it is just a sound that we attach to a person. We like someone because of his/her character and qualities, not because of a name.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
What You Need to Know about Hormone Replacement Therapy By Al Sears, MD
Have you heard all the fuss over the way Oprah presented hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on her show? You may have even read about it in Newsweek.
Oprah's guest on the show, Suzanne Somers, touted the benefits of using bioidentical hormones for HRT over synthetic drugs. She said bioidenticals changed her life. They gave her a greater sex drive, a better mood, better sleep, and all the things that menopause hinders.
But Suzanne's advocacy of bioidenticals, along with Oprah's nod of approval, sparked a wave of criticism throughout the mainstream medical community.
Critics argue that Suzanne, known for her role as blonde airhead Chrissy Snow on the sitcom “Three's Company,” is not a medical expert and she doesn't know what she's talking about. But I beg to differ…
It's true that Suzanne is not a medical expert, but she's no airhead.
Somers is the author of several best-selling books on the subject, including The Sexy Years: Discover the Hormone Connection and Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones.
She's a woman who has educated herself about the options available for HRT. And she has her facts straight. I happen to agree that bioidenticals are the better option versus synthetic drugs. I recommend them to my own patients. And I've seen great results.
Suzanne is also not far off by stating that many doctors don't know much about bioidenticals, which is why they don't prescribe them. Most doctors simply rely on Big Pharma's solution.
The bottom line is that a woman has the right to know her options when it comes to HRT.
Which would you choose? Exact replicas of your own hormones that are easily identified by your body OR a synthetic drug that comes from the urine of pregnant horses?
Today, I will tell you what I know about bioidentical hormones and why I think they are the better option when it comes to HRT.
Choose Safety First
Why are bioidenticals a better option?
For one thing, they are safer. Several studies and analyses support me on this.
A recent analysis of over 200 studies found that bioidentical HRT is both more effective and has greater health benefits for menopausal women than synthetic hormones.1
The study showed that women taking them were less likely to have sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and cognitive problems -- common side effects of synthetic hormones. And these women had a reduced risk of breast cancer and superior heart protection.2
A German study found the effects of estriol, a bioidentical estrogen, successful in 92% of all cases. And 71% of women completely eliminated hot flashes and sweating.3
A Japanese study of post-menopausal women found estriol treatment to be safe and effective as well. There were no negative side effects in the uterus or breasts of these women.4
And nobody has reported adverse events from using bioidenticals.
The FDA is quick to point out that pharmacies aren't required to report adverse events from bioidenticals or compounded drugs. Surely, they argue, that's the reason why there aren't any complaints. But, they always fail to mention that consumers could reportany adverse events. And when they do, doctors and hospitals are required to report all of them.5
Think about it, do you go to your pharmacist when you have a bad reaction to a drug? Or do you call your doctor? After all, your doctor is the one who prescribed the treatment.
Know the Risks of Artificial Treatments
Synthetic HRT drugs, on the other hand, have a laundry list of reported risks.6 Just take a look at this table.
Risks of Synthetic HRT Drugs
• Sharp chest pain
• Sharp lower leg (calf) pain
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing up blood
• Vision problems
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Breast lumps
• Dizziness
• Fluid retention
• Nausea
• Severe abdominal pain and swelling
• Breast tenderness • Depression
• Irregular bleeding
• Headache
• Irritability
• Mood changes
• Increased uterine fibroids
• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Acne
• Decreased libido
• Hair loss
As you can see, alleviating the symptoms of menopause can often result in something much, much worse if you take the synthetic form of the drugs.
One study of the Women's Health Initiative looked at women who took Prempro, an estrogen-progestin combination drug. The National Institute of Health had to cut the study short because several thousand women showed an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, blood clots and stroke.7
In particular, the study found that Prempro resulted in:
• 26% increase in breast cancer
• 41% increase in strokes
• 29% increase in heart attacks
• 100% increase of blood clots in legs and lungs
• Increased risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer
No wonder droves of women quit these drugs cold turkey when this and other studies came to light.
They may provide relief for some women, but the potential dangers are not worth the risk -- especially when there are safer alternatives that are more effective, like bioidenticals.
Knowing How Your Hormones Are Made Makes a Difference
Bioidenticals are radically different from the synthetic hormones that are sold by drug companies. They are made from plants, and they have an identical molecular structure to the hormones made by your own body.
Your body doesn't see them as foreign matter.
Synthetic HRT drugs are chemically altered forms of hormones that come from animal waste. That's right, horse urine.
One of the most widely prescribed HRT drugs is Premarin, an estrogen-therapy drug made by Wyeth, which also makes Prempro (estrogen/progestin combination). Both of these drugs contain horse urine from pregnant mares.
This is big business, folks. About a hundred ranches in North Dakota and Canada raise pregnant mares to produce urine for Premarin and other HRT drugs. These horses are kept pregnant and confined to small spaces without any room to move. And their offspring/foals often end up somewhere even worse.
What's more, these horses are given limited drinking water so that their urine will produce more concentrated estrogen.8 So concentrated in fact, that these estrogens are much more potent than the ones produced by your own body.
Need I say anymore?
Get Your Hormones in Balance with Your Own Special Blend
I have used bioidenticals in my practice for years. My patients love them. Like Suzanne Somers' experience, they tell me that the treatments changed their lives.
If you are looking for a way to ease the side effects that come with menopause, you should certainly consider them as an option for your HRT. Here are some suggestions to help.
• With hormones, it's all about the right balance, so the first step to get control of your hormones is to have your doctor check your levels. Ask to have your estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone checked. You will be able to see where you have too much of one and not enough of another.
• Ask you doctor about bioidenticals. When it comes to hormones, one size does not fit all. Everyone's needs are different. With bioidenticals, your doctor can prescribe a custom blend of naturally occurring hormones that are specific to your needs. You'll need a compounding pharmacy to fill your prescription. They are usually independently owned and easy to find in your state.
• If your doctor is unwilling to prescribe bioidentical hormones, you can find other doctors who will. There are many doctors throughout the country who specialize in alternative and natural health that will help you. You can check out the directory of these doctors on my website.
• If you are in the South Florida area or want to travel here and set up a consultation with me, I would be happy to see you. Just give my office a call at 561-784-7852 and ask for my Clinical Coordinator, Tanya.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
References
1. Mainstream Medicine Stunned by New Findings of Bioidentical Hormones: New Analysis Proves They Are Safer and Superior to Standard HRT. www.MSNBC.com. 3/2/09.
2. Ibid.
3. Estrogen Therapy? Don't Worry!, Life Extension Magazine, Oct. 1999.
4. Takahaski, K, et al. Safety Hum Reprod. 2000 May; 15(5):1028-36.
5. FDA Attacks Bio-identical Hormones,Healthfreedom.net, Jan. 11, 2008
6. Hulley S, JAMA. 1998;280:605-613.
7. Writing Group for the Women's Health Initiative Investigators. JAMA. 2002;288:321-333
8. “Premarin: A prescription for Cruelty”. PETA.org Fact Sheet. Viewed 4/13/09
[Ed. Note: Dr. Sears is Chairman of the Board of Total Health Breakthroughs. He has written over 500 articles and 7 books in the fields of alternative medicine, anti-aging, and nutritional supplementation.]
"This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise's Total Health Breakthroughs, offering alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription,
visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com”
Oprah's guest on the show, Suzanne Somers, touted the benefits of using bioidentical hormones for HRT over synthetic drugs. She said bioidenticals changed her life. They gave her a greater sex drive, a better mood, better sleep, and all the things that menopause hinders.
But Suzanne's advocacy of bioidenticals, along with Oprah's nod of approval, sparked a wave of criticism throughout the mainstream medical community.
Critics argue that Suzanne, known for her role as blonde airhead Chrissy Snow on the sitcom “Three's Company,” is not a medical expert and she doesn't know what she's talking about. But I beg to differ…
It's true that Suzanne is not a medical expert, but she's no airhead.
Somers is the author of several best-selling books on the subject, including The Sexy Years: Discover the Hormone Connection and Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones.
She's a woman who has educated herself about the options available for HRT. And she has her facts straight. I happen to agree that bioidenticals are the better option versus synthetic drugs. I recommend them to my own patients. And I've seen great results.
Suzanne is also not far off by stating that many doctors don't know much about bioidenticals, which is why they don't prescribe them. Most doctors simply rely on Big Pharma's solution.
The bottom line is that a woman has the right to know her options when it comes to HRT.
Which would you choose? Exact replicas of your own hormones that are easily identified by your body OR a synthetic drug that comes from the urine of pregnant horses?
Today, I will tell you what I know about bioidentical hormones and why I think they are the better option when it comes to HRT.
Choose Safety First
Why are bioidenticals a better option?
For one thing, they are safer. Several studies and analyses support me on this.
A recent analysis of over 200 studies found that bioidentical HRT is both more effective and has greater health benefits for menopausal women than synthetic hormones.1
The study showed that women taking them were less likely to have sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and cognitive problems -- common side effects of synthetic hormones. And these women had a reduced risk of breast cancer and superior heart protection.2
A German study found the effects of estriol, a bioidentical estrogen, successful in 92% of all cases. And 71% of women completely eliminated hot flashes and sweating.3
A Japanese study of post-menopausal women found estriol treatment to be safe and effective as well. There were no negative side effects in the uterus or breasts of these women.4
And nobody has reported adverse events from using bioidenticals.
The FDA is quick to point out that pharmacies aren't required to report adverse events from bioidenticals or compounded drugs. Surely, they argue, that's the reason why there aren't any complaints. But, they always fail to mention that consumers could reportany adverse events. And when they do, doctors and hospitals are required to report all of them.5
Think about it, do you go to your pharmacist when you have a bad reaction to a drug? Or do you call your doctor? After all, your doctor is the one who prescribed the treatment.
Know the Risks of Artificial Treatments
Synthetic HRT drugs, on the other hand, have a laundry list of reported risks.6 Just take a look at this table.
Risks of Synthetic HRT Drugs
• Sharp chest pain
• Sharp lower leg (calf) pain
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing up blood
• Vision problems
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Breast lumps
• Dizziness
• Fluid retention
• Nausea
• Severe abdominal pain and swelling
• Breast tenderness • Depression
• Irregular bleeding
• Headache
• Irritability
• Mood changes
• Increased uterine fibroids
• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Acne
• Decreased libido
• Hair loss
As you can see, alleviating the symptoms of menopause can often result in something much, much worse if you take the synthetic form of the drugs.
One study of the Women's Health Initiative looked at women who took Prempro, an estrogen-progestin combination drug. The National Institute of Health had to cut the study short because several thousand women showed an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, blood clots and stroke.7
In particular, the study found that Prempro resulted in:
• 26% increase in breast cancer
• 41% increase in strokes
• 29% increase in heart attacks
• 100% increase of blood clots in legs and lungs
• Increased risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer
No wonder droves of women quit these drugs cold turkey when this and other studies came to light.
They may provide relief for some women, but the potential dangers are not worth the risk -- especially when there are safer alternatives that are more effective, like bioidenticals.
Knowing How Your Hormones Are Made Makes a Difference
Bioidenticals are radically different from the synthetic hormones that are sold by drug companies. They are made from plants, and they have an identical molecular structure to the hormones made by your own body.
Your body doesn't see them as foreign matter.
Synthetic HRT drugs are chemically altered forms of hormones that come from animal waste. That's right, horse urine.
One of the most widely prescribed HRT drugs is Premarin, an estrogen-therapy drug made by Wyeth, which also makes Prempro (estrogen/progestin combination). Both of these drugs contain horse urine from pregnant mares.
This is big business, folks. About a hundred ranches in North Dakota and Canada raise pregnant mares to produce urine for Premarin and other HRT drugs. These horses are kept pregnant and confined to small spaces without any room to move. And their offspring/foals often end up somewhere even worse.
What's more, these horses are given limited drinking water so that their urine will produce more concentrated estrogen.8 So concentrated in fact, that these estrogens are much more potent than the ones produced by your own body.
Need I say anymore?
Get Your Hormones in Balance with Your Own Special Blend
I have used bioidenticals in my practice for years. My patients love them. Like Suzanne Somers' experience, they tell me that the treatments changed their lives.
If you are looking for a way to ease the side effects that come with menopause, you should certainly consider them as an option for your HRT. Here are some suggestions to help.
• With hormones, it's all about the right balance, so the first step to get control of your hormones is to have your doctor check your levels. Ask to have your estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone checked. You will be able to see where you have too much of one and not enough of another.
• Ask you doctor about bioidenticals. When it comes to hormones, one size does not fit all. Everyone's needs are different. With bioidenticals, your doctor can prescribe a custom blend of naturally occurring hormones that are specific to your needs. You'll need a compounding pharmacy to fill your prescription. They are usually independently owned and easy to find in your state.
• If your doctor is unwilling to prescribe bioidentical hormones, you can find other doctors who will. There are many doctors throughout the country who specialize in alternative and natural health that will help you. You can check out the directory of these doctors on my website.
• If you are in the South Florida area or want to travel here and set up a consultation with me, I would be happy to see you. Just give my office a call at 561-784-7852 and ask for my Clinical Coordinator, Tanya.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
References
1. Mainstream Medicine Stunned by New Findings of Bioidentical Hormones: New Analysis Proves They Are Safer and Superior to Standard HRT. www.MSNBC.com. 3/2/09.
2. Ibid.
3. Estrogen Therapy? Don't Worry!, Life Extension Magazine, Oct. 1999.
4. Takahaski, K, et al. Safety Hum Reprod. 2000 May; 15(5):1028-36.
5. FDA Attacks Bio-identical Hormones,Healthfreedom.net, Jan. 11, 2008
6. Hulley S, JAMA. 1998;280:605-613.
7. Writing Group for the Women's Health Initiative Investigators. JAMA. 2002;288:321-333
8. “Premarin: A prescription for Cruelty”. PETA.org Fact Sheet. Viewed 4/13/09
[Ed. Note: Dr. Sears is Chairman of the Board of Total Health Breakthroughs. He has written over 500 articles and 7 books in the fields of alternative medicine, anti-aging, and nutritional supplementation.]
"This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise's Total Health Breakthroughs, offering alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription,
visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com”
Monday, July 13, 2009
What's the formula for success in a recession?
You can afford to postpone buying a new car unless yours has been involved in a really bad accident. You can postpone a holiday to one of those exotic places no matter how long you have been thinking of it. You can forget about buying jewellery when money is tight. You can be careful with your expenditure, knowing not how the financial situation in the next few months would be like. But, you certainly cannot go without food for more than a day. Of course, you need clothes too.
People have to eat to survive; to have the energy to work at something. Food items are essential to life.
Unless you decide to move into the Himalayan Mountains to live the life of a yogi (I am told and have read of a number of them being naked in their caves in those extremely cold weather.), or move into some uninhabitated remote areas, clothes are an essential part of modern day living. And when they wear out, you have to find replacements unless you do not wish to come out of your room.
Since it is a recession and people are more careful with their money, does everyone go to a roadside stall to look for clothes and food? Look around you and see the resounding answer. It's "NO!".
So, restaurant owners and supermarket entrepreneurs do not have to scale down their business and operate as stalls. That's perfectly normal. For, no matter how the financial situation is, there will always be people who have the money to afford everything. Such people certainly will still be eating in big, pricy popular restaurants.
So, big businesses and small stalls have their roles to play. Both can be popular.
Then, why are some small stalls not as popular as others. First, it's the location. Then, it's the quality and taste of the food offered. Don't forget about the relationship factor. Business people who are friendlier are always better at attracting people to their places. Finally, it's the price and the amount of food served.
Look at the father and daughter in the picture below. Comparatively, their food is just as tasty as most stalls but with the same price, the amount of food given is more.The quality is also good. Not only that, they exchange greetings and small talk with their customers whenever they have the opportunity to do so.
When it comes to restaurants or big shops, it's also location and the price. If it is too pricy, some bosses might only go there when there are clients to entertain.
It's the same with supermarkets. There are those which are struggling along while a few are doing good business with lowered prices and equally fresh, quality food.
Some, to cut down on overheads, even reduced the air-conditioners used, making the atmosphere in such places not so conducive to comfortable shopping.
The formula could be: Earn less per item but with more items sold, the profit could be just as good. If the profit is good enough to sustain the business, that would be sufficient to beat the recession.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Careful With Your Credit Cards!
The following was recieved by me through my email. I believe the cases related here can help us to be more careful with our credit cards. No matter how careful we are, I think there's no harm having knowledge on the incidents given.
It is well worth knowing these three cases.
Be sure to read Scene 3 which is quite interesting.
SCENE 1.
This is a new one.
People sure stay busy trying to cheat us, don't they?
A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the locker. After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and thought to himself, 'Funny, I thought I locked the locker. Hmm," He dressed and just flipped open the wallet to make sure all was in order.
Everything looked okay - all cards were in place.
A few weeks later his credit card bill came - a whooping bill of $14,000!
He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying that he did not make the transactions.
Customer care personnel verified that there was no mistake in the system and asked if his card had been stolen.
"No," he said as he took out his wallet, pulled out the credit card, and yep - you guessed it - a switch had been made.
An expired similar credit car from the same bank was in the wallet.
The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched the cards.
Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the missing card earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them.
How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy?
$9,000!
Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped?
Small amounts rarely trigger a 'warning bell' with some credit card companies.
It just so happens that all the small amounts can add up to big one!
SCENE 2.
A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card.
The bill for the meal came, he signed it,and the waitress folded the receipt and passed the credit card along
Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket. Fortunately for him, though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and behold, it was the expired card of another person.
He called the waitress and she looked perplexed.
She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of the man.
All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong expired card to the counter cashier, and the counter cashier immediately looked down and took out the correct card.
No exchange of words --- nothing! She took it and came back to the man with an apology.
Verdict:
Make sure the credit cards in your wallet are yours. Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and/or the card is taken away for even a short period of time.
Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at it, assuming that it has to be theirs.
FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!
SCENE 3:
Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had called in.
I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked directly to my checking account.
The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid it on the counter as he waited for the approval which is pretty standard procedure.
While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialing.
I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then I heard a click that sounded just like how my phone would sound whenever I take a picture.
He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he was still pressing buttons.
Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of, oblivious to what was really going on.
I then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now I'm paying close attention to what he is doing.
He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open.
About five seconds later, I heard the chime that tells you that the picture has been saved.
Now I'm standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a picture of my credit card.
Yes, he played it off well, because had we not had the same kind of phone, I probably would never have known what happened.
Needless to say, I immediately canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor.
All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Whenever you are using your credit card take caution and don't be careless.
Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing when yo use your card.
Be aware of phones, because many have a camera phone these days.
FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN THINK OF.
LET'S GET THE WORD OUT!
It is well worth knowing these three cases.
Be sure to read Scene 3 which is quite interesting.
SCENE 1.
This is a new one.
People sure stay busy trying to cheat us, don't they?
A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the locker. After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and thought to himself, 'Funny, I thought I locked the locker. Hmm," He dressed and just flipped open the wallet to make sure all was in order.
Everything looked okay - all cards were in place.
A few weeks later his credit card bill came - a whooping bill of $14,000!
He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying that he did not make the transactions.
Customer care personnel verified that there was no mistake in the system and asked if his card had been stolen.
"No," he said as he took out his wallet, pulled out the credit card, and yep - you guessed it - a switch had been made.
An expired similar credit car from the same bank was in the wallet.
The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched the cards.
Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the missing card earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them.
How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy?
$9,000!
Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped?
Small amounts rarely trigger a 'warning bell' with some credit card companies.
It just so happens that all the small amounts can add up to big one!
SCENE 2.
A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card.
The bill for the meal came, he signed it,and the waitress folded the receipt and passed the credit card along
Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket. Fortunately for him, though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and behold, it was the expired card of another person.
He called the waitress and she looked perplexed.
She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of the man.
All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong expired card to the counter cashier, and the counter cashier immediately looked down and took out the correct card.
No exchange of words --- nothing! She took it and came back to the man with an apology.
Verdict:
Make sure the credit cards in your wallet are yours. Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and/or the card is taken away for even a short period of time.
Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at it, assuming that it has to be theirs.
FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!
SCENE 3:
Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had called in.
I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked directly to my checking account.
The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid it on the counter as he waited for the approval which is pretty standard procedure.
While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialing.
I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then I heard a click that sounded just like how my phone would sound whenever I take a picture.
He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he was still pressing buttons.
Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of, oblivious to what was really going on.
I then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now I'm paying close attention to what he is doing.
He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open.
About five seconds later, I heard the chime that tells you that the picture has been saved.
Now I'm standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a picture of my credit card.
Yes, he played it off well, because had we not had the same kind of phone, I probably would never have known what happened.
Needless to say, I immediately canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor.
All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Whenever you are using your credit card take caution and don't be careless.
Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing when yo use your card.
Be aware of phones, because many have a camera phone these days.
FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN THINK OF.
LET'S GET THE WORD OUT!
Yes, fun with your children is an important step to bonding.
Yesterday, you saw pictures of children having the time of their lives with parents. Fun is so necessary in a family that each day, as we look at ourselves in the mirror, smile at ourselves and remember that here's another new day to bring our children closer to us with fun.
It was sometime at the beginning of this year that the Art of Living held a celebration to welcome the new year. Look at the previous day's pictures and see how precious such moments are.
Members and their families as well as relatives and friends turned up for the event. The event was a success not so much due of the numerous delicious food served; more so because of the convivial atmosphere and the joy of participating in the events where children are given no less importance and attention than the adults.
Having fun with our children is of utmost importance as it will bring the family closer together. The love and closeness are so evident in their joy.
The fun at the gathering was doubled, even tripled when it was shared with other families. The smiles, laughter and joy were so infectious that even those who were more content to merely watch felt them seep into their being. Such is the beauty of being a part of a joyful event. The spontaneous happiness derived is immeasureable! The memory of it can never fade away. Forever will it remain in the hearts and minds of those participants. Look at the faces and we see happiness radiating with the thrill of having fun with a parent. Such was the joy of the moment.
Happiness through some activity with parents nurtures the important bond between the child and his/her parents. Life is then so much more delightful. Being close helps both parents and the child to confide in each other, exposing problems that might never surface until they become threats to harmony in the family.
For example, I believe my own child would not have confided to me the fact that a child in his kindergarten had used a vulgar word so boldly, had I not been close to him and caused him to understand that his parents are the ones to approach and relate without fear of any loss of love no matter what happens; that we are the ones he can depend upon to help him solve any difficulties he may encounter. Through such closeness, I was able to know what had happened and was enabled to take steps to prevent further damage from such undesirable influence. (I did not pull him out of the kindergarten. I explain the undesirable effects of such words and told him those were the reasons daddy and mommy do not use such words. He understood and the result is that, to this day, my two children never use such vulgar words.)
As the years roll by, such happy memories will return whenever they are needed in times of loneliness, doubt and depression to drive out the negativity and help them to appreciate that life; though never constant, forever changing, sometimes bad and other times good; has more memorable happy times than lousy ones. Those who have experienced such joy would be able to use such memories to skip over the possible bad patches in their lives.
Don’t you see, this is the reason why we keep photos of all those good times we have had. Photos and memories of joy are an essential part of our lives.
So we ought to put as much joy as possible into our lives so that we, including our children, knows the joy of playing, socialising, language learning, reading, learning, experiencing and working as a family as well as a community.
It was sometime at the beginning of this year that the Art of Living held a celebration to welcome the new year. Look at the previous day's pictures and see how precious such moments are.
Members and their families as well as relatives and friends turned up for the event. The event was a success not so much due of the numerous delicious food served; more so because of the convivial atmosphere and the joy of participating in the events where children are given no less importance and attention than the adults.
Having fun with our children is of utmost importance as it will bring the family closer together. The love and closeness are so evident in their joy.
The fun at the gathering was doubled, even tripled when it was shared with other families. The smiles, laughter and joy were so infectious that even those who were more content to merely watch felt them seep into their being. Such is the beauty of being a part of a joyful event. The spontaneous happiness derived is immeasureable! The memory of it can never fade away. Forever will it remain in the hearts and minds of those participants. Look at the faces and we see happiness radiating with the thrill of having fun with a parent. Such was the joy of the moment.
Happiness through some activity with parents nurtures the important bond between the child and his/her parents. Life is then so much more delightful. Being close helps both parents and the child to confide in each other, exposing problems that might never surface until they become threats to harmony in the family.
For example, I believe my own child would not have confided to me the fact that a child in his kindergarten had used a vulgar word so boldly, had I not been close to him and caused him to understand that his parents are the ones to approach and relate without fear of any loss of love no matter what happens; that we are the ones he can depend upon to help him solve any difficulties he may encounter. Through such closeness, I was able to know what had happened and was enabled to take steps to prevent further damage from such undesirable influence. (I did not pull him out of the kindergarten. I explain the undesirable effects of such words and told him those were the reasons daddy and mommy do not use such words. He understood and the result is that, to this day, my two children never use such vulgar words.)
As the years roll by, such happy memories will return whenever they are needed in times of loneliness, doubt and depression to drive out the negativity and help them to appreciate that life; though never constant, forever changing, sometimes bad and other times good; has more memorable happy times than lousy ones. Those who have experienced such joy would be able to use such memories to skip over the possible bad patches in their lives.
Don’t you see, this is the reason why we keep photos of all those good times we have had. Photos and memories of joy are an essential part of our lives.
So we ought to put as much joy as possible into our lives so that we, including our children, knows the joy of playing, socialising, language learning, reading, learning, experiencing and working as a family as well as a community.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Have fun with with your children.
The Art of Living (SP) Centre at No. 12, 3rd Floor (The nearest building in the picture, above Coway.) Jalan Pahlawan, Taman Lagenda Indah, 08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah, where the following events took place.
Food was not all that important although there was plenty of tasty food for all.
The company of all these people is important. The people is everything.
Just by being there was part of the fun. After all happiness and laughter are so infectious! Just watch and see.
When the games began, children were the first to venture across even those big dangerous bamboos.
Don't worry! There's always daddy's to lend a helping hand.
Careful now. That's the thrill! "Worried, yet, I want to have the fun. Let's do it!"
That was my first dance. And who was there to waltz me to paradise? My daddy with me and your mom with you, of course!
No more young ones as partners. Never mind. Let's just join in the fun.
So much happiness dancing the night away.
"Hey! Where has my partner gone to? Oh! There you're. Come on! I know you cannot dance, mom but the fun's in the action."
Wow! The young ones got a ride.
"Come on, daddy! Come on, mummy! Let's do it!"
Little children watching from the side were also caught up in the joy of the evening.
Even this little baby got a dose of the happiness.
"Oh! mommy. That's one moment I'll never forget my whole life through."
"Why do they have to stop, daddy?" "Well, girl, life's like this. Never mind,girl. Happiness is always there in our hearts. Everyday can be a celebration if we want it to be so. Together; mommy, daddy, your brothers, your sisters and you; we'll make it happen."
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