Stay Home Stay Safe

I have not left home since Thursday 9th March 2020 night.

From sitting room to bedroom to kitchen to dinning rooms. From sofa to my big bean bag to bed. My prayer room and prayer beads. My prayer beads is my constant companion at home.

The fridge filled with meat, veggies, fruits, snacks, ice cream and eggs. I locked myself in. Purpose not to give others problems and to put myself in danger. Let the Doctors and nurses save those that need them and I don't want to add on.

My iPad and Handphone are my contact with loved ones and to get updates of news. My heart is with All sufferings in hospitals and at home. I watched my feelings and I knew it is not easy when it's so habitual to move around.  Fortunately for me, I am used to stay home.

Covid-19 is not going to let us off easily. I am blessed to be living in Singapore.  I thank PM Lee HL and the Government for doing what they thought best. YES, when people are deprived of income and food, it will be chaotic on top of Covid-19. A rise in crime is not helpful at this moment.

All compounded things will end. Stay calm.

Huaishan Greenbean Soup

I have been staying at home. There is no lockdown in Singapore but we have Stay Home notice. To curbed Covid-19, going out without a mask is against the law and so is gatherings. All food need to be packaged and to consume at home. No one is allowed to eat in hawker centers, restaurants and outlets in the open. Shopping malls are closed. Except for essential services, all are closed.

I did not stepped out since yesterday. With so much time in hand, I tried making a dessert to pamper myself. It is the Huaishan Greenbean Soup.

Green bean contain Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, C, E, K and minerals like iron, magnesium and potassium. It can be taken warm or chilled.

Huaishan or Shan Yao or Chinese Yam. It improves digestive system, reduce blood sugar, nourishes lungs and kidney.  Being an antioxidant it also boost immunity. It is also beneficial for both male  and female reproductive system. Huaishan can be eaten fresh or put into soup or stir-fry with other vegetables.

You may take it and improve your health.

Covid - 19 and my thoughts

As Covid-19 rages on around the World, uncertainty is in the air. From taking it lightly like a Flu to it telling you ‘I take lives’. My big brothers are pointing fingers at each other losing sights of the big picture (showing off muscles) while the younger ones exhausted trying to stop infection spreading and killing more people. The people who made the movie ‘Independent Day’ can make a new one now....this Covid-19 can clear us out. It travels on lands, up the mountain, nook and corners, young and old, poor or rich, weak or powerful....you name it and there is nothing it cannot infect unless you are not alive. The difficult times are here but total impact not yet. Politicians are nothing in its eyes! Buddha taught Cause and Effect and Interdependent, reminded us about Impermanence and to keep a good and compassionate heart. We always find a reason to justify ourselves not for this one. 

I am watching while made to take leave and work at home. So busy and no time to seriously reflect. Putting rice on the table and clear about Yours and Mine, running around to fulfil a fake existence. Practicing the Dharma with a heart? No, I am trying but not there yet. I don’t need to pretend, I fake myself and others but cannot fake Lord Karma. Many are fearless thinking Cause and Effect is nothing...didn’t this Covid-19 comes from excessive killing of animals over years, Yes? No? We caused pain and now we are suffering the lost of jobs, depleting our accumulated wealth, lost loved ones, curbed freedom of moving around (some cannot even stay still for themselves and put others in danger) and feed our mouth ( clear out supermarkets, must eat and eat the best, not eating what is needed but overeat or throw food). This selfishness prevails, craved into our CPU life after life. Our kindness is selected, our compassion too. The rushing for food too, I am rich enough to clear out shelves, others don’t matter whether they have food,,,,first come first served. How about first come first die? I think hunger is good, clear our system and at the same time help us to build empathy.

The Healthcare and Frontlines are doing their best. We can only try to keep ourselves safe so as not to add on to more count of infected and death. 

For Eggs lovers...

Some good  news for eggs lovers like me. Eggs any type, any time of the day are always yummy!!

The seemingly simple eggs have a rich nutritional profile that can boost your overall health. Eating whole eggs is vital for your health – the yolk contains over 90% of the egg’s iron and calcium content, while the white contains half of the egg’s protein. Here are 10 reasons why you should eat eggs every day:

Eggs improve performance Eggs are a highly satiating food – a single egg contains about 6 gr. of protein and a variety of vitamins and minerals although without vitamin C, which is why it’s recommended to drink fresh fruit juice along eggs and whole grain bread for breakfast.

Eggs can resolve your iron deficiency People suffering from mild iron deficiency have reported symptoms of fatigue, headaches and irritability, but eggs can help you in this case due to their high heme iron content found in their yolk. Heme iron is the most absorbable and usable type of iron in food – it’s even more absorbable than iron supplements.

They improve the nutrient adequacy of the diet Eggs are a valuable contributor to nutritious diets thanks to their nutrient density. According to a study, people who don’t consume eggs havea shortage of vitamins A, B12 and E. On the other hand, eggs have supplied 10-20% of folate and 20-30% of vitamins A, B12 and E in the diet of egg consumers. This study clearly shows the important role of eggs in your diet.

Eggs don’t increase the cholesterol levels 20 years ago, eggs were scrutinized due to their high cholesterol content, but, numerous recent studies have found no connection between consumption of eggs and coronary artery disease. Foods high in saturated fats and trans fats can raise your cholesterol levels and harm your health, but eggs are not in the same group – they are an excellent source of protein, which is not harmful to your body.

Eggs promote weight loss Eating eggs and toast for breakfast have a 50% higher satiety index than a bowl of cereal. Many studies have shown that an egg for breakfast increases the satiety in overweight people and can stimulate weight loss.

Eggs promote brain health Choline is an important nutrient that ensures proper brain development in fetuses and newborns. It can be found in high amounts in eggs – 1 egg a day can provide about 28% of a pregnant woman’s choline requirements. This nutrient is very important during pregnancy and lactation, as its reserves in the body are depleted at that time. Animal studies have shown that the memory function of aged rats was determined by what their mothers ate during pregnancy, which shows how important eggs are during the 9-month period.

Eggs prevent cataract and protect your eyesight Regular consumption of eggs, spinach and broccoli is related to cataract and age-related lens and retinal degeneration decrease, which is the main cause of blindness in older people. Eggs are an excellent source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants which protect your eyes from many diseases. Getting proper supply of them is crucial for proper eyesight.

Eggs are the best source of protein Protein is one of the central elements in our diet, and it can be found in high amounts in eggs. Protein consists of certain amino acids which cannot be produced by the body and must be derived from our diet. A complete protein food contains all of the 9 essential amino acids which are used to build and repair tissues. Although milk and meat are complete proteins, eggsare considered the best protein source. Compared to eggs, which have a 100 protein rating, milk is rated at 83 while meat is rated at 75. A single egg has the same protein content as 30 gr. of meat, fish or poultry, and it’s also the cheapest protein source among them.

Eggs protect our bones Eggs are rich in vitamin D, one of the most important vitamins our body needs. We obtain some of our daily allowance of vitamin D from the sun, and the rest from our food. This vitamin is vital for calcium absorption and maintaining proper bone health, so eating eggs and dairy products regularly is crucial for protecting our bones from osteoporosis and similar bone diseases.

Eggs improve the quality of our hair and nails Biochemical imbalances and shortages in the body are reflected in the hair, but eating eggs regularly can promote healthy hair due to their high content of Sulphur-containing amino acids. Many people have reported faster hair growth after incorporating eggs in their diet, especially if their previous diet didn’t include foods rich in zinc, Sulphur and vitamins A and B12.

Still Hazzzzy

Singapore...is smoking again?

Well, this year smoking is driving us nuts. No amount of education to the Indonesian can make them understand that burning the forest or the plantations is not the only solution to clearing lands for agriculture.

The PSI is soaring. It caused health problems to themselves and neighboring countries. We are in this party together. As air knows no space, it pervades every nooks and corners. No matter where you are you "smoke". For us who avoid outdoor but staying indoor is worst and no government or countries can do anything. We have to suffered it out until the "Rain Gods" decide to take pity on us and give Indonesia a wash down.

In actual fact this is a standing issue. It happens yearly like a ritual. Their Government cannot solved the problem neither can ours. All lips services are lips services only. The people who burnt are only staff, they are just doing their jobs. The companies who permit these clearings are not bother, all they need to is pay fine.

I am actually sadden by these burnings. The weather is hot and it catches fire easily. The "Fire Gods" once ignited is not easy to appease unless you do it immediately and it is a small fire. The fire raged on. Animals and insects, reptiles, birds and all these died in fire. There are also people living in these places and they may be in danger too.

I pray..that it rain heavily on these "hot spots" or we continue to suffer. I am already having a patched throat and a headache.

Ohm Mani Padme Hung

Healthy and Yet Dangerous Food

I am not a health fanatic but I do try to eat healthy. The above food are things that we are drilled that they are good for us but wait till you see what they will do to you.

1) Celery Celery is a vegetable that we all love to eat it raw or cooked. Many of us usually have left over food which we eat the next day. Here is the problem...reheating celery will cause it to release a harmful nitrites which is poisonous to our body.

2) Virgin Olive Oil You may heat you frying pan with this and frying eggs, steak, bacon etc. However do you know that when the oil is heated to a point where smokes arise, that is when it becomes carcinogenic.

3) Hard-boiled Eggs These are cooked egg and therefore should be eaten if possible they day it is made. Many of us love Stewed Pork and Hardboiled egg and the eggs are reheated again and again. This is a no no because reheated eggs are toxic!

4) Mushrooms Fried it with oyster sauce of simply stir-fried and it is yummy. Well like the above, reheating these are also poisonous. If you have left overs, eat it cold.

5) Tomatoes We all love a tomato and they are not poisonous. However if you pluck it from your garden, make sure to do not eat the leaf and the stalk. It contains a toxic called tomatine.

6) Kidney Beans Some buy and some make it themselves. Well here is the bad news - It contain a poison named Phytohaemagglutin. Kidney beans need to be boil properly so suggestion is you buy the canned ones and don't take it lightly.

7) Rhubarb - Vegetable Fortunately this is not common in Singapore. The part that can be eaten in the stem and the part that kill is the leave. The leave looks like yam leaf .

8) Wild Almond Not common in Singapore. Anyway we travel a lot and please remember that wild almond contain cyanide when eaten in large quantity.

9) Cherry Well it is cherry season now. Plenty of them are sold everywhere BUT remember do not bite the pit/ seed. Don't break it because it contain hydrogen-cyanide which kills.

10) Green Potatoes No easily found here in Singapore. Like I said we travel a lot so be careful. It is not your mashed potatoes or your green French fries, it kills. These green potatoes contain a toxin named solanine and it will cause vomiting. I may also cause cardiac arrest if taken in large quantities.

11) Apple An apple a day keeps the doctor away. This healthy fruit also has it poison. It is in the apple seeds. The small seed contain a small amount of amygdalin when combined with our stomach enzyme will produce hydrogen cyanide. It takes 100-200mg of this to kill an adult with minutes. Be wary.

There are many more but I hope this will served as a reminder. All these food look harmless but they are not if eaten carelessly. Wishing all those reading this have a healthy life.

Meatless Cause...

I joined Jangchub Shing (TV Show in UK) in their Cause of promoting Meatless Monday. I hope all who stumbled on my blog support this Cause. It is only once a week on Monday and you can increase the days if you wish to do so. There is also a group called "Meatless Monday" which you may choose. You can choose either and support them on Facebook.

Recently my instinct is to go off meat for a month. The reasons for doing so (putting compassion aside) is the smell of these poultry and seafood. I was wondering why all these years I never smell these stench and they stink, why now? It is the smell of death. The stench of dead poultry and seafood frozen for our consumption puts me off. Many like eating fresh fishes, lobsters, crabs, octopus and because they are not human so its is OK to kill them? Others goes for exotic food like life monkey brain, life snake bile, life crocs' heads, life deers antlers and the blood and leave the deer bleeding to death. They think it is aphrodisiac, how can it be when it is so cruelly taken.

A report said that there was this Chef who is getting ready snake soup for clients. He chopped off the head of a cobra but unfortuantely the snake head, I don't know how, bit him. The Chef died of poison. He killed the snake and immediately the snake killed him. I called this Karma.

All animals, plants, trees, rocks, minerals, river, sea, stream, marine lives, the air and all in this World system is a blessing from Mother Earth. It is a gift but we have been taking selfishly, shamelessly and harming the environment. We contaminate everything we touch, even the air.

All these are because we craved for comfort, we craved for our mouth, we craved for our feel, we craved for our eyes and we craved for our body etc. Even if we do not need it, we still want to take. We forget that there is one thing we cannot own...AGE!

So Mother Earth is reacting to this. There are sickness and now ELBOLA, let alone Cancer, Aids and many funny sicknesses. The animals are reacting, from mad cow to mad chicken, to pigeon and more to come. We all have a part in these.

There are groups of people trying their best to protect the Environment however their effort is not enough. You can play your part to be a little more aware of your surroundings. Learn to appreciate what Mother Earth is giving us and after all we live here. Don't take everything, only the needed. I am not asking you to be totally off meat, or off the things that you like but take only what you need. Chinese has a proverb that say "All sicknesses starts from the Mouth".

We worked so hard to accumulate our Wealth but we lost it all by paying for all the medical fees, or to war or to Nature. The Law of Karma of what goes around comes around is never wrong. I invite you to join Us/ Me on this worthy Cause.

May you be blessed with all your Undertakings by spreading a little kindness and compassion along the Way. _(())_

Pee.....

Yes, as in urinating. Here is something that you need to know about your 'pee'. I do not know how many of you look at your 'pee' and 'poo' but I do. I do not know much but I do know that 'pee' or 'poo' tell us something about our body so do not be ignorant. I received the below and hope to share it here with you.

One more thing, if you did not eat anything that will stain your "poo" black that the black poo could be an indication that you have internal bleeding, see a doctor. Normally it is only in test that we know there are blood in "pee" but if your pee is light red, please see a doctor too. It is better to confirm that it is not something serious and get it cleared. Do not wait until you are sorry...it may be too late! Take care of yourself.

"African Leaves"...非洲叶

I do not know the botanic name of this plant that produces these wonder leaves. If you walk around housing estates, you will probably find them growing but you have to know them to identify the correct tree. (See picture)

“African leaves” or the Chinese named it “Fei Zhou Ye” is a medicinal plant. The attributes and wonder of leaves from this plant is circulated by words of mouths from people who have tried it and benefited from it. Once again because of health, I chanced upon this plant and think I should share it here.

So what so good about these leaves? You can try consuming this leave. I took it because of blood sugar and of course cholesterol and it did showed results when I went for my check-up. It lowers…

- Blood sugar and good for diabetic patients 

- Cholesterol 

- Blood pressure

- Detoxification

- prevents cancer, etc 

How to go about eating these leaves? 

1) These leaves can be eaten raw after you plucked it from the tree. One leave a day, keep chewing and I have to warn you that it is super bitter. It is bitter than bitter gourd and the bitterness lingers in your mouth for a long long time. However there are people who reported that their blood sugar went down to normal…. OR 

2) Plucked the leaves and wash it clean. You lay newspapers on the floor and wind dry the leaves (you cannot sun it). You know when it dries because it curled up. Store them in a box neatly and every night before you go to bed, take 5 leaves, pour boiling water and soak it over night. Next morning when you wake up, drink a cup empty stomach. You can still taste the bitterness but not so much as you chew it fresh. 

Other than those mentioned, looks like it will also help to wash down fats and help in weight loosing. People who have joints pain due to urea acids said it helps to reduce the pain too. These leaves are good for prevention of stroke or people who have recovered from stroke. There are many more effective results for various illnesses i.e headache etc. So much for these magic leaves. 

I have not seen people selling these leaves in Singapore. In actual fact you need not buy because you can take a stalk and plant it. It grows readily and anyone who grows it will be willing to let you have some leaves. I have a picture of the plant above. The tree itself won’t die after you plucked the leaves. I plucked about 200 – 300 leaves and until I went back for more, the leaves are all grown (there are other people plucking from this tree too so you can see the leaves grow very fast). 

Add this to your medicinal plant knowledge. If so many people eat it and did not die from it, me too so it is consumable. Do the portion as mentioned and don’t overdo it. If you are already sick, it will gradually heal. If you are well, take it for prevention purposes. Nothing is magical overnight, it needs time…so let African leaves get you back to health. 

Veggie....Parsley

I have shared the goodness of Mulberry Leaves and this time I am sharing that of Parsley.

Here is a health care tip to protect and clean our kidneys. I believe this is important. I normally share things that are easy to buy from market, cheap and good and will not cause harm to the body.

Today...it is the vegetable named PARSLEY !

Parsley, to many is not a main vegetable, it is a garnishing vegetable. It makes your food look fantastic with this green on it. To the Chinese, this is certainly a much needed garnish. It gives a nice smell in your mouth, it adds fragrance to your food and not many know that it actually clean your kidneys.

We have been feeding our stomach with everything we think is delicious or exotic. Many of us are oblivious that we are constantly poisoning ourselves. Our organs are carrying added baggage and due to overweight, some organs breakdown. Kidney is one of the most important organs we have on us. 

With all the rich food and drinks consumed over time, our kidneys faithfully filter our blood by removing excessive salt, poison and unwanted minerals from our body. However hard the kidneys work, we will still accumulate all these rubbish. So here is how you Clean Your Kidneys and add a thumb-up for your health. I call this a S$1.00 treatment.

 Here it goes...

1) Go to the market/ supermarket/ neighbourhood stall and buy a bunch of Parsley (Chinese parsley)

2) Wash and clean it thoroughly 

3) Slice the parsley into small pieces 

4) Put these slices pieces into a pot of water and boil it for 10 minutes

5) Let the beverage cool off 

6) Filter the pieces and keep the beverage in a bottle or container. Put it in the fridge

7) Consume one glass daily, better in the morning when you stomach is empty

The magical things will happen - you will notice accumulated salts and other unwanted minerals/ poison coming our from your urination. You will realize a change in your body and you will feel good. Try it and let me know.

There are many benefits which you can find from the internet, so go and check out for yourself.

Wonder Vege - Brococoli

This is a well known vegetable. People without teeth will find it hard to chew, but cooking it till it is too soft will lose all the nutrient.

I love this vegetable but I don't always eat it. I knew it has many many benefits and again I have friends who undergo Chemo has been consuming this. It helps to regenerate the blood cell because every chemo killed the blood cells.

But I am sure there is one thing not many will know - this wonder vege is an effective sunblock. Yes! It is better than any sunblocks because it protects the skin against cancer.

Whether this vege is consumed or rubbed on the body, it helps to guard against Cancer because of a compound called Sulforaphane. Researchers said that this is an inhabiting agent to Cancer and "it triggers chemoprotective gene".

I have known someone who is going to chemo. She takes this vege practically everyday. The miracle happened. Her cancer cells did not grow or spread. She is still living today.

Therefore how to eat this"? If eating this vege day in and day out, you would probably phuit. So to help oneself this friend learned ways and means to make this vege likable. So she

1) She boils it over hot water for 5 min., add a little salt and a drop of oil, scoup it up and eat it just as it is.

2) She puree the vege and drink it like a beverage

3) She stirr-fried it and add a little egg white, add a little water with starch and she had a dish ready to eat.

4) She puree the vege, add flour and dough it until it blends in nicely. She ran it over a machine that make noodle and she had broccoli noodles

5) She also make broccoli bread with her little bread making machine. She add raisins and we have a green looking hulk bread.

6) She chopped some broccoli with lean meat, stuff it into broccoli dough that she made and we have broccoli dumplings. These dumpling can be steamed and it also can be a bowl of dumpling soup.

7) She also made broccoli cake, add walnut and raisins.

Actually it is endless to how you want to consume this vege or as a matter of fact, everything edible. It is experiments, trail and errors and most of all "imagination". I am an ad hoc chef. I have no recipe but I will find anything in the fridge and cook things I like to eat.

Therefore for people fighting cancer, this is your wonder vege. I supposed all green vegetable carried Sulforaphane but broccoli is the Winner. 

Next time when you want to go to the beach, blend some broccoli puree and rub in on your body. This is good for people who love to swim in the sun. Asian are not so keen on sun tanning but in the West, I suppose skin cancer is common and this is natural, cheap and no added chemicals.

Three cheers to this wonder vege - BROCCOLI !!

Chrysanthemum & Wolfberries Tea

See the floating flower petals and red wolf berries, aren't they beautiful? This golden color tea is much loved by the Chinese for decades. 

It is an easy to make beverage. You just have to pinch some dried Chrysanthemum  flowers, add in a tablespoonful of  Wolf berries, pour in hot water (and if you like you can boil it over heat for a few minutes) and cover it for 15 minutes. To those who prefer it sweet can add sugar.  I love to drink it original without sugar.  The taste of flowers fragrance lingers in my mouth and nose and it is so refreshing.

Given so many flower teas, this one is definitely Chinese. Mum used to make it and it is believe to take away heatiness. The word 'heatiness' is associated with imbalance of  fire element in our body. This 'heat' will cause sore throats, hot body, sticky eyes etc. When you eat too much BBQ, spicy food and lack of sleep, this tea detox and keep you well.

So what good is Chrysanthemum? Here it says that Chrysanthemum tea contain Vit C and is anti spirochetal in nature. It helps to ease heaviness in the head which maybe caused by viral infection. The flower is free from caffeine and thus from all the side effects like anxiety, tension, irritation, nervousness and confusion. As a natural coolant it helps to lower temperature if you have a fever. For those who are all time worrying about pimples and acne, this drink helps to cool down your liver and lungs (皮和肾） and detox so that you can look beautiful again. There are many goodness in drinking this golden beverage but it gives additional benefits coupled with wolf berries.

Do you know that Wolf berries has a Chinese name called Gouji?  Gouji is around for thousands of years. This item boost the immune systems and is high in vitamins, minerals. It is a known antioxidant. Chinese cooking loves to sprinkle a few of Gouji for medicinal purpose. Wolf berries is very high in ORAC and it simply mean Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. This mean its properties has many goodness like age-defying and protect against free radicals that is detrimental to good health. You may like to know that these include heart disease and cancer. Gouji is rich in Vit B1 and C. It contains minerals like calcium, chromium, magnesium, potassium, copper, manganese and zinc. These minerals in the body balance electrolytes, act in muscle and joint health and immunity. It is high in Carotenoids which is anti-cancer. It also support eye health. There are many more goodness and to list them will be endless.

Therefore the combination of  Chrysanthemum & Wolf berries Tea have many benefits and it is a wonder drink and can be consumed Hot or Cold all based on one's preference.

I suggest you try and I am sure you will love this golden fragrance drink. It is cheap and effective.

Bird flu...H7N9

Many of us are travelling either for leisure or for business but how many of us vaccinate our self before we travel or are we ignorant? Recently there are also reported death in China on the H7N9 flu. It is reported but how bad is it no one knows. So to take care of yourself, no matter what country you are traveling to, protect yourself.

 

What is H7N9?

Flu or Influenza is a viral infection. There are 3 types of Flu A, B and C. H7N9 is Avian Flu and belongs to the A category which comes from birds. This Flu H7N9 is currently notorious in parts of China. The mostly affected areas are places we all love to go like Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui.

 

Authorities are trying to establish how did this bird flu spread to human and it is so deadly. There are virus spread by animals and people are not able to understand why, even dogs. I have friends who just touch any cute looking dogs along the walkway, not knowing the dogs background. There are people who keep pets and they sleep with their pets. I will not say too much here or people who love their pets will throw stones at me.

 

So what are the signs of H7N9?

These are indicators but when we have persistent fever, cough and you cannot breath properly, it is better to see a doctor than pass it off as normal flu. Bird flu will lead to serious breathing problem, pneumonia and eventually death.

 

So is there a cure?

My doctor say 'No'. There is no indication that it is communicable between human but better to be save than sorry. So if you are travelling, vaccinate against flu.

 

So what to further prep yourself?

1) Personal hygiene - wash your hands

2) Watch what you eat and make sure they are steaming hot and cooked

3) When you touch any animals, especially birds i.e chicken, pigeons etc. do wash your hands.

4) I know there are people who love to consume animals' blood, do avoid.

5) We all love animals but please avoid touching any animals dead or alive if you do not know what is the caused of death.

 

There are many ways in daily hygiene that one should note and practice and ways to ensure one immune system remains strong.

Contagious sickness...TB

Tuberculosis (TB) is on the rise. I brought up this subject because someone in my office is diagnosed and quarantined. How many of us really takes TB seriously?

Many people think that TB only happened to those who smoke. Do you know there is no cure for TB? It can only be controlled. TB can be transmitted through contacts and breathing the same air.

I just want to share with my readers, if you do not already know :

TB is an air-borne disease transmitted through respiratory droplets from a TB person.

So who will get it or high in possibilities?

- Person(s) with prolonged close contacts with someone who have TB

- Person(s) with medical problems i.e HIV, diabetes

- Person(s) with weak immune system e.g. always fall sick

- Person(s) who are under nourished

- Drug addicts

Again what are the signs to watch out?

- Coughing non-stop for 3 weeks or more

- Coughing blood

- Tired all the time

- Fever and night sweats

- Loss of weight

"Chest pain Complications Infection with TB can cause permanent lung damage if not treated early. It can also spread to other parts of the body such as the bone, intestine, brain and central nervous system where it can lead to life-threatening complications. The most serious complication, however, is when TB infection recurs and the strains causing the disease are resistant to multiple anti-TB medications. "

How to protect yourself ?

- Lead a healthy lifestyle

- adopting healthy eating habits, exercising regularly and having enough sleep

If you have TB

- You must be responsible and must avoid close contact with families or friends.

- Do not eat or use the same eating utensils or use handkerchief. Do not wash your clothing with those who are healthy.

- When you cough or sneeze, please cover your mouth. If you use tissue papers, please dispose it in a plastic bag and than throw it into the bins. Please wash your hands thoroughly.

For those who are confirmed TB, please take responsibilities to keep strangers, friends and families safe.

Sang Ye..or Mulberry Leave

Sharing again a medicinal leave which I consumed recently "Sang Ye " or "桑叶" in Chinese. This leave has another name called "Mulberry Leave aka Folium Mori".  Yes, you are right, the leave that silkworms feed on. What good is this leave?

I stumbled on this plant because I got lazy eyes or Chinese calls it "眼针". The eyes are hot and one side of my eye had a slight swell which is painful and very uncomfortable. My brother bought these leaves and put it in a slow cooker with water and let it boiled. He gave me the drink and after drinking a few cups, my eye swelling when down. This fresh brewed has no taste, just like tea however the smell to me is not so pleasant.

He also took some of the leaves from the boiled drink and pounded them and than applied on both my eyes. The boil on my eye broke and pus started oozing. The swell subsided. I decided to google and read about this leave and realized that it not only heals the eyes and at the same time there are many goodness about the plant. Sharing with you some of the medicianl  benefits and you can read further from the internet.

Sang Ye's benefits - to list a few

1) It is a powerful sugar blocking agent and act as a sugar balancer

2) Good for controlling blood pressure

3) Lower Cholesterol

4) It a Liver cleanser and prevent Liver Cancer

5) It is a powerful Anti-oxident

6) Good for Eyes as it contains Vit A

7) It contains various Vitamins and Minerals that are good for the Immune Systems

As I read on, I realized that various races around the world is using this leaves as remedies for various illness. It is surely a cleanser because after drinking the tea, I have been going to the restroom. My intestine is also cleaning up and I can feel some changes to my body.

A disclaimer - I am not the authority to gaurantee this leaves works for everyone but it works for me and many of our friends who tried it. Everything has to be taken moderately with right dosage. Over dosage of Mulberry Leaves carry some poison so be aware.

Below are some extracts from my readings :

"Mulberry tea is used to treat a variety of health issues including colds, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, mulberry tea can be used to treat conditions associated with the liver and lung meridians. It helps clear fever, headache, sore throat, cough, and red or painful eyes. Mulberry tea can also inhibit the development of bacterial strains, including streptococcus, the cause of strep throat. Drink mulberry tea to prevent and recover from common cold symptoms.

Mulberry tea naturally inhibits carbohydrate absorption. This is a result of the compound moranoline 1-deoxynojirimycin). Moranoline inhibits an enzyme in the intestinal tract (alpha-glucosidase) involved in the digestion of carbohydrates. This means the starchy, carbohydrate-rich foods you eat, like bread, rice, pasta and potatoes, do not turn to glucose in your body and are simply flushed out. The lack of glucose in your system also lowers your blood sugar levels, making you less hungry. Used as part of a sensible diet, mulberry tea helps you achieve your weight loss goals.

Mulberry tea reduces the oxidization of cholesterol in the blood vessels, resulting in reduced risk of atherosclerosis (blocked blood vessels). This is due to quercetin and additional flavonoids contained in mulberry leaves. These antioxidants inhibit oxidative stress reactions that produce atherosclerosis. For healthy blood vessels, drink mulberry tea as a regular supplement to a healthy lifestyle.

Good Sugar Balance Mulberry leaf tea can balance blood sugar and aids in carbohydrate absorption according to a 2008 study. According to Medical News Today, the herb lowers post-meal blood sugar spikes and stabilizes blood sugar levels. As a result, drinking mulberry tea results in more sustained energy levels throughout the day.

For centuries, mulberry tea has been used as a treatment for diabetes mellitus in Asia. One of the most unique qualities of the mulberry leaf tea is its ability to prevent sugars from entering your bloodstream. Researchers in Japan found that mulberry leaves contain compounds that inhibit intestinal enzymes from passing sugars into the bloodstream. This inhibitor compound known as 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), can only be extracted from the mulberry leaf. By preventing large amounts of monosaccharide from entering into circulation, mulberry tea helps prevent and fight diabetes.

Prior to using mulberry leaf tea to treat any condition, please consult a licensed health care provider. "

Walking back to health...

 

My recent medical checkup was a disaster. My doctor blah...blah...blah...at me for not taking care of my health. Actually all sinful food are so yummy and anything that is blend tasting is ''yucks''!. However I have taken all he said seriously. I realized that it is not whether you are overweight or you are slim, it is the stamina and health which matter most.

 

I count my blessings as just behind my block is a canal and a path with benches where people jog and cycle. Not far away and just around the corner is Tampines Eco Green.

 

This is the first time I visited this place by National Parks Board. I am happy that there is no place for car parking and therefore the place is peaceful and not swarmed with people. The people who jog and walk here are residence of Tampines and Pasir Ris and it keeps the Park in good condition and clean.

 

In the middle of concretes and highway, it is a hidden haven away from the hustle and bustle of a hectic day.  This Park not only provide sanctuary to the animal and reptile, it is also a sanctuary for all those who wander into the Park.  This place allows one to be near nature and be at peace with the environment.

 

The open grasslands around its vicinity allow people to walk and jog with shoes as well as bare footed. One can also sit down on the grass and smell its fragrance and to mediate or listen to the chirping of the birds and insects around. The flora and fauna around is green and healthy. This park is also a haven for biodiversity which is so crucial to our well being.

 

WOMAN'S HEART ATTACK

Heart Attack is sudden and it happened without warning. Someone sent me an article and we realized that heart attack happened to men and women are different. This is for ladies as well as men's knowledge and action. Please read on.........

NURSE'S HEART ATTACK EXPERIENCE I am an ER nurse and this is the best description of this event that I have ever heard. Please read, pay attention, and send it on! FEMALE HEART ATTACKS I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I've ever read. Women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have ... you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest & dropping to the floor that we see in movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack. I had a heart attack at about 10:30 PM with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might have brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, 'A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up. A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation--the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m. After it seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasms), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR). This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws. 'AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening -- we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack! I lowered the foot rest dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself, If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else... but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in a moment. I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to un-bolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in. I unlocked the door and then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the radiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like 'Have you taken any medications?') but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stints to hold open my right coronary artery. I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stents. Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand. 1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body, not the usual men's symptoms but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up... which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a 'false alarm' visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be! 2. Note that I said 'Call the Paramedics.' And if you can take an aspirin. Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER - you are a hazard to others on the road. Do NOT have your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road. Do NOT call your doctor -- he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later. 3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high and/or accompanied by high blood pressure). MIs are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive. A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. *Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends (male & female) who you care about!*

A Cyst

I had a growth on my back and it has been causing discomfort and pain for a few months now. Initially when the pain got unbearable, I went to my regular GP hoping that he will cut it out. However I was naive.

My GP was very up front and told me if I want to get it out I should go to the hospital. He was not prepared to do the excise because the growth was big and it was near the backbone. The cut will be long and deep and it needs to be scraped to get the hardened fats out. I was reluctant as I do not want any part of my body cut if I can avoid it. He gave me antibiotic and told me to wait for it to ripen. Again he mentioned that it may or may not ripen and I can still go through surgery.

The growth is actually a Sebaceous cyst. It is actually fatty glands that went abnormal and thus causing this swelling. He also mentioned that when it burst, it will be very smelly.

I carried this extra swelling with me for a few months and suddenly last Monday 30 Jul 2012, it burst without any warning. After I showered and got ready for work, I realized my back was wet. I than saw that my blouse was soiled with blood. My brother checked out and was shocked to see the unsightly oozing out black blood, white/yellowish cheesy looking flow which was smelly. My brother said "the volcano at your back erupted"...ha..a.a.a. so funny and I am in pain.

We went to my GP and he made me lied down. After making all the preparation, he started to squeezed the infected area. The pain was excruciating. I cannot control but screamed and yet embarrassed that I am not able to contain pain. I clenched my fist and my body tensed. My brother was with us the whole session and he told me so much flow and blood was squeezed out. The Doctor keep squeezing until the blood turned red.

There was a big hole and the Doctor inserted gauze into it and than dragging it out. He did it a few times. The pain was so bad that I have no words to describe it. I was amazed that Doctors are brave to see such and realized that they must have seen worst than this tiny wound.

"Lian, I had to insert gauze into the hole and you have to live with it as I need to clean the wound properly.  The wound underneath the hole is as big as a fishball. No bathing your back today. No pain killer but you have one day MC."

Goodness, no pain killer. I was exhausted with pain. I wonder how come I had this thing growing and not know until it became painful. I am also glad it burst. I just hope that it heals properly and I can have my beautiful smooth skin back.

So in life, we really don't know what we will grow next. Our body have a way to detox. Whatever it is, it will find a way to breakout from the body. It will give you pain. Whatever way of detoxing, the most worrying are those that are life threatening, isn't it?

I really hope that I do not grow any such things anymore. When the Doctor was squeezing, I prayed that I take all the pain of Beings who are going through pain and may they recover and be free of sufferings!

WONDER EGG...(2)

Here is more facts about WONDER EGG. I love eggs and I don't eat just any kind of 'eggs'. I know there are people going for exotic eggs i.e like those with unborn chicks, turtle eggs and whatever eggs as any kind of eggs won't kill. So since I have the following article, lets continue to learn more about eggs. People refrained from it not knowing the facts and follow blindly just because someone said so.

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

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

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

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

This is a perfect example of how confused most people are about nutrition. In a world full of misinformation, somehow most people now mistakenly think that the egg yolk is the worst part of the egg, when in fact, the YOLK IS THE HEALTHIEST PART OF THE EGG !

By throwing out the yolk and only eating egg whites, you're essentially throwing out the most nutrient dense, antioxidant-rich, vitamin and mineral loaded portion of the egg. The yolks contain so many B-vitamins, trace minerals, vitamin A, folate, choline, lutein, and other powerful nutrients... it's not even worth trying to list them all.

In fact, the egg whites are almost devoid of nutrition compared to the yolks.

Even the protein in egg whites isn't as powerful without the yolks to balance out the amino acid profile and make the protein more bio-available. Not to even mention that the egg yolks from free range chickens are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids.

Yolks contain more than 90% of the calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, thiamin, B6, folate, and B12, and panthothenic acid of the egg. In addition, the yolks contain ALL of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K in the egg, as well as ALL of the essential fatty acids.

And now the common objection I get all the time when I say that the yolks are the most nutritious part of the egg...
"But I heard that whole eggs will skyrocket my cholesterol through the roof"

No, this is FALSE!
First of all, when you eat a food that contains a high amount of dietary cholesterol such as eggs, your body down-regulates it's internal production of cholesterol to balance things out.

On the other hand, if you don't eat enough cholesterol, your body simply produces more since cholesterol has tons of important functions in the body.

And here's where it gets even more interesting...
There are indications that eating whole eggs actually raises your good HDL cholesterol to a higher degree than LDL cholesterol, thereby improving your overall cholesterol ratio and blood chemistry.

And 3rd... high cholesterol is NOT a disease! Heart disease is a disease...but high cholesterol is NOT. Cholesterol is actually a VERY important substance in your body and has vitally important functions... it is DEAD WRONG to try to "lower your cholesterol" just because of pharmaceutical companies propaganda that everyone on the planet should be on statin drugs.

You can read the following article about why trying to attack cholesterol is a mistake, and what the REAL deadly risk factors actually are... Cholesterol Myths

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

To help bring even more proof that whole eggs are better for you than egg whites, I recently read a University of Connecticut study that showed that a group of men in the study that ate 3 eggs per day for 12 weeks while on a reduced carb, higher fat diet increased their HDL good cholesterol by 20%, while their LDL bad cholesterol stayed the same during the study. However, the group that ate egg substitutes (egg whites) saw no change in either and did not see the improvement in good cholesterol (remember that higher HDL levels are associated with lower risk of heart disease) that the whole egg eaters did.

So I hope we've established that whole eggs are not some evil food that will wreck your body... instead whole eggs are FAR superior to egg whites.

Also, your normal supermarket eggs coming from mass factory farming just don't compare nutritionally with organic free range eggs from healthy chickens that are allowed to roam freely and eat a more natural diet. Your typical cheap grocery store eggs will have lower nutrient levels and a higher omega-6 level and lower omega-3 level. On the other hand, the cage-free organic eggs from healthier chickens allowed to eat more natural feed and roam freely will have much higher vitamin and mineral levels and a more balanced healthier omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio.

I recently compared eggs I bought at the grocery store with a batch of eggs I got at a farm stand where the chickens were free roaming and healthy.

Most people don't realize that there's a major difference because they've never bought real eggs from healthy chickens... The eggs from the grocery store had pale yellow yolks and thin weak shells. On the other hand, the healthier free range eggs from the local farm had strong thick shells and deep orange colored yolks indicating much higher nutrition levels and carotenoids... and just a healthier egg in general.

So next time a health or fitness professional tells you that egg whites are superior, you can quietly ignore their advice knowing that you understand the REAL deal about egg yolks.

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

Another interesting thing about eggs...
I read a study recently that compared groups of people that ate egg breakfasts vs groups of people that ate cereal or bagel based breakfasts. The results of the study showed that the egg eaters lost or maintained a healthier body weight, while the cereal/bagel eaters gained weight.

It was hypothesized that the egg eaters actually ate less calories during the remainder of the day because their appetite was more satisfied compared to the cereal/bagel eaters who would have been more prone to wild blood sugar swings and food cravings.

Enjoy your eggs and get a leaner body!