Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Petua ISLAM Untuk Wajah Berseri

Petua 1: Amalkan membaca ‘Ya Qawiyyu’ (maksudnya wahai Yang Maha Kuat) setiap kali selepas memberi salam kedua, selepas solat.

Petua 2: Jangan cuci muka (dengan cleanser) pada waktu pagi kerana amalan ini akan menghilangkan seri wajah. Cuci muka sebelum tidur.

Petua 3: Gunakan 3 jari tengah untuk menggosok muka sewaktu mencuci muka atau menempek moisturizer.

Petua 4: Berselawat 3 kali dan tiup ke atas bedak muka setiap kali sebelum berbedak dan berdoa "Ya Allah serikanlah wajahku agar yang memandang berasa senang denganku.”

Petua 5: Membaca Doa Bercermin "Ya Allah, sebagaimana kau cantikkan wajahku, maka perelokkanlah pekertiku".
Jom cuba...


Amazing Blueberries

No doubt you have heard this cliché many times in your life, and chances are, you have probably associated it with a child, a good deed, or a gift, but have you ever considered the “good things” that come in the “small” indigo packages that are blueberries? The size of a cultured pearl, this delicious fruit is packed with antioxidants so powerful that they are able to prevent a myriad of sicknesses and diseases, which will be explored in this article.


Purple Power


While the word antioxidant is often tossed around when speaking about blueberries, few people actually know what an antioxidant is, and how it can prevent multiple diseases, as well as protect the body’s immune system.
 Proanthocyanidan is a bioflavonoid that is present in a number of fruits and vegetables. It has been reported that proanthocyanidan contains both anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, and has even shown promising results as a potential inhibitor of hepatitis C. 


People have used blueberries for hundreds of years in an effort to improve a number of health-related conditions. Blueberries are an effective natural alternative to often expensive medications that often have a number of side effects and in some cases can even worsen the condition.

Epicatechin

Epicatechin is another powerful antioxidant that can also help to improve liver function. Also found in food and drink such as grapes and green tea, blueberries contain other components that work synergistically to improve various other bodily systems and functions. 


Pterostilbene

Pterostilbene is another major component found in blueberries that can actually protect the body against colorectal cancer, a disease that takes the lives of approximately 50,000 people each year. More than one million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and at least half of that number will die. Blueberry extract has been proven to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells, and was also found to decrease particular enzymes associated with the spread of cancer. With all the evidence available to us today, there is no doubt that blueberries are one of the most effective tools we can use to protect our bodies from developing various types of cancer. Who knew that good things could be found in such small packages?

 Are All Blueberries Created Equal? 

Unfortunately, all blueberries have not been created equal. Blueberries grown in organic conditions will contain higher antioxidant levels than those blueberries that have been sprayed repeatedly with harmful pesticides. In fact, blueberries sprayed with these chemicals actually cancel out the benefits of the blueberry.

Furthermore, recent studies have linked such conditions as ADHD with the ingestion of insecticides. The best way to avoid pesticides is to purchase locally-grown organic products. You may even opt to grow certain fruits and vegetables yourself. If so, be sure that the seeds you use have not been genetically altered, and the soil has been treated properly.
Blueberry supplementation

Blueberry supplementation is another good way to make sure you receive the benefits of the antioxidants. When choosing a supplement, however, be sure that it contains standardized pterostilbene, as not all blueberry supplements have been created equal, and it defeats the purpose of taking the supplement if it does not contain the right ingredients. Keep in mind that you will not receive the same antioxidant benefits from supplements as you will from the actual berry.



Juice

Juicing is another good way to get all the health benefits you can from this fruit. In fact, this is true for whatever fruits and vegetables you may be juicing. Important to remember when juicing; however, is to be sure to drink the juice once you have made it because leaving it to sit will reduce the power of the nutrients.

Improve Your Health

Eating raw fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to improve your health. As mentioned, blueberries are one of the best raw fruits you can eat to protect yourself from various sicknesses and diseases, while simultaneously strengthening the body’s immune system.

The cancer protection alone is reason enough to take advantage of the many health benefits that can be obtained by eating this fruit on a regular basis. For this reason, it is true, good things do come in small packages, and in this case, these small packages can protect the body from illness, and even prevent more serious diseases.

Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/Healthy-Living/Amazing-Blueberries.aspx?p=9#ixzz1sqgJbCne

Monday, April 23, 2012

A Sweetener That Keeps Hair From Going Gray

Can it be true?? Read on to find out!

BY: Susan Brown

A sweetener that keeps your hair from turning gray? That’s just one of the interesting claims I encountered when researching blackstrap molasses — another in our series of sugar alternatives. Another thing I didn’t know — molasses is the “waste product” of refining sugar cane. You’ve heard a million times that sugar provides lots of empty calories with no nutritional benefit at all. Yet, sugar cane is a nutritious food. The sugar cane plant has deep roots that go far underneath the depleted top soil and get nutrients from below. It’s the processing into white sugar that gets rid of the nutrients. What happens to them?

They are left in the “waste” byproduct — molasses. Ironically, this healthy source of vitamins and minerals is mostly used in animal feed.

It wasn’t always so. Until after World War I, molasses was the sweetener of choice. Then a more efficient way of refining sugarcane was invented and white sugar took over. The amount of white sugar in the American diet has been increasing ever since.

That’s a pity, since molasses is rich in many of the vitamins and minerals we most need. For example, it has more calcium than dairy products, and it is paired with naturally occurring magnesium, which helps your body assimilate the calcium for making healthier bones. Magnesium is also good for your nervous system and heart health. One Web site explained in detail how a deficiency in magnesium can lead to migraines.

Molasses has iron in abundance, too — more than in red meat. It also has B vitamins, potassium, manganese and copper.

Wow — no wonder molasses has been used as a tonic for years. There are claims for it helping everything from constipation to heart murmurs. It’s also touted as a help for arthritis pain. Many Web sites recommended using it as a baby food sweetener.

But what will it do for your weight loss? Well, it has about as many calories as sugar. It does have a lower glycemic index though — 55, which just puts it over in the moderate yellow zone. It won’t help you to down a whole jar in a day or two. In fact, since it is a natural laxative, it won’t be pleasant! If you are going to use sweetener, though, you might as well as be getting some nutritional benefit.

There are many different kinds of molasses on the shelves at the grocery and health food stores. It’s important to get unsulphered blackstrap molasses, which is the kind with the most health benefits. Organic is best, because the cane syrup is boiled down three times to get to the blackstrap phase. If the syrup contains pesticides or other toxins, they will be concentrated in the finished product.

The downside of this healthy sugar? The taste. It is distinctive and many people don’t like it. Try working up to the taste by gradually substituting it for some of the sugar in recipes. Also, using it in herbal teas which have a strong or complementary flavor might help.

If you want the health benefits — or just want to see if it stops your hair from going gray, you can try a tonic. Here is a recipe I found for one:

1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses

hot water

3/4 cup milk

ice

Put the molasses in a glass or cup and add just enough hot water to cover it. Stir until it dissolves and add milk and ice.

You can also just down a tablespoon of it, if you like the taste and/ or are sufficiently tough. At any rate, the health benefits are great enough that I’m going to try it and see how I can work it into recipes.

Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/A-Sweetener-That-Keeps-Hair-From-Going-Gray.aspx?p=2#ixzz1soogm6Hp

Friday, April 20, 2012

Olive Oil: Your Health and Beauty

Olive oil has been revered since antiquity for its culinary uses and health benefits. It is even mentioned in the texts of Judaism, Christianity and Islam for healing, strength, and consecration. Modern evidence further validates our belief that the oil of the olive is valuable both in our kitchens and as a health and beauty product. President Thomas Jefferson once wrote, "The olive tree is surely the richest gift of heaven."

Olive oil is a central ingredient in the Mediterranean diet, which has long been suggested as an optimal and healthful way of eating. Though it is high in fat, olive oil contains the “healthy” kind of fat; monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Medical science is currently researching these potential health benefits of olive oil:

Reduced risk of coronary heart disease, High antioxidant content, Cancer-protective properties, Balanced cholesterol, Anti-inflammatory properties, Antithrombotic effects (helps block the formation of blood clots), Blood pressure reduction and Positive effects on blood sugar.



Other health benefits:

*   A spoonful of olive oil taken at bedtime may lubricate the palate and throat and help prevent snoring.

*   Treat an earache with a few drops of olive oil in the ear.

*   Use as a natural treatment for head lice.

*   Tickle in your throat? Try a sip of olive oil to lubricate and sooth it away.

As a health and beauty product, olive oil is hard to beat. Consider the following uses:

Exfoliate: Mix oil with salt and scrub face to remove dead skin cells.

Bathing: Add a splash of olive oil to bathwater for softer skin. Moisturizer: Apply olive oil directly to the skin, especially after bathing. It’s very good for rough areas such as hands, elbows and feet.

Shaving lubricant: Apply before and after shaving.

Remove sticky stuff: Ever get paint in your hair? How about gum? Rub on the olive oil and give it a few minutes to remove either one. It’s even useful in removing stickers and labels from things around the house.

Hairballs: If you have a cat you probably know about hairballs. A quarter-teaspoon of olive oil a day can help prevent them.


Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Foods Your Heart Will Love

BY: Elizabeth Rogers of 50Plus.com


Tired of being told what you can't have? Your heart -- and your taste buds -- will thank you for eating these delicious and healthy foods. 


Cut back, don’t eat, avoid, limit, eat less of, stay away from, forbidden… There are plenty of negative words to keep our cravings in check. We lecture ourselves because heart disease is a top killer, so why wouldn’t we do whatever we could to prevent it? However, a dinner out or even a trip to the grocery store can be a frustrating experience as we mentally cross off foods that are on our diet’s black list. It’s time to turn that thinking around and stop focussing on the negatives. While there isn’t one particular food that can protect the heart on its own, here’s a quick overview of foods you can’t get enough of:

Vegetables

We’re always told to eat more vegetables, and with good reason. The nutrients and dietary fibre — not to mention low calorie count and little (if any) fat — make them a smart choice. There is a lot of research about the many health benefits of various kinds of vegetables, but it all boils down to this: Eat a variety of colours (especially orange, red and dark green vegetables like tomatoes and leafy greens) and eat a lot of them. Many of us have a good helping at dinner time, but we need to incorporate more veggies into our routines — like mushrooms and peppers in a breakfast omelette, a sandwich heaped with vegetable toppings at lunch and vegetable sticks (perhaps with a healthy dip) for a snack. Stir fries, grilled vegetables and salads are an easy way to get some variety — and they make great leftovers for lunch the next day.

Fruits

You probably know much of the conventional wisdom about fruit: Citrus provides a vitamin C punch, whole fruit is better than juice, and dried fruit makes a sweet alternative to candy. Berries are a rich source of vitamin C, fibre and anti-oxidants, and cranberries prevent urinary tract infections. Purple grapes are also top the list of tasty and beneficial foods. But do you know how to sneak more of them into your diet? Dieticians such as Leslie Beck, author of Heart Healthy Foods for Life, recommend making fruit part of your routine — like regularly having a serving or two at breakfast or as a snack. Try slicing up some fruit for a salad with those dark leafy greens and top with a healthy oil and vinegar dressing. Toss some fruit — dried or fresh — into your baking or onto your morning cereal, and opt for marinated or grilled fruit for dessert. If you’re serving a crowd, fruit platters with a low-fat dip are sure to be a hit (especially when the temperatures climb). Admittedly, fruits and vegetables can get a little monotonous, so branch out and try something new. Try exotic fruits and vegetables for more variety. (They can be more expensive, so use them as an accent in mixed dishes).

Fish

While lean meats like chicken are a staple in many diets, most of us aren’t getting enough of those important omega-3 fats. Fish is a rich source of heart-protecting eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) . These fats can reduce irregular heart beats (which lead to cardiac arrest), reduce inflammation in the body, reduce “bad” cholesterol levels and lower the amount of dangerous triglycerides in the blood How much do you need? The current recommendations are two servings of fatty fish per week. Your body can store omega-3 fats, so you don’t need a daily dose. Atlantic mackerel, salmon (Atlantic and Chinook are best), Atlantic herring and rainbow trout have the highest levels of EPA and DHA, while tilapia, shrimp and haddock don’t have as much per serving. If you don’t like fish or are concerned about mercury levels, try a fish oil supplement instead. Another option is aim for plenty of alpha-linolenic acid (AHA) — another omega-3 fat that is found in flax, canola oil, salba and fortified foods.

Dark chocolate

There’s good reason to say yes (or oh yes ) to this decadent food. The catechins in dark chocolate are good for your heart. Some studies have found that they can lower blood pressure and improve your mood. The trick is to look for high quality dark chocolate that has at least 70 percent cocoa solids. Keep the portion sizes small to avoid weight gain — 6 grams is enough to see benefits (that’s about 30 calories). You can use dark chocolate in your baking, make your own hot chocolate using cocoa powder and drizzle it on fruit slices. You’ll still want to stay clear of high calorie, high fat milk chocolate. Sadly, white chocolate doesn’t offer the same benefits because it doesn’t contain cocoa.While dieticians note that you can have too much of this good thing, it’s one indulgence you don’t have to feel so guilty about (unless you want to — we often enjoy foods we think we shouldn’t have).

Legumes and soy

Do you know what to do with a bag of dried beans, lentils or peas? In her book Beck notes that most people don’t use these beneficial ingredients because they aren’t sure how to prepare them. However, there are many good reasons to learn. These meat alternatives are high in fibre and don’t have saturated fat. Some studies have found that eating legumes a few times each week lowers your risk of heart disease and diabetes. With the exception of soybeans, legumes also lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Legumes are a type of carbohydrate that digests slowly, meaning that they can improve blood sugar control. They also contain a powerful combination of vegetarian protein, folate, potassium and calcium. How can you include them in your diet? Use them instead of meat for three or four meals a week. Mixed bean salads, vegetarian chilli and soups are all popular options, but you can also toss legumes in salads or tomato sauce, and use tofu in stir fries or desserts. Beck notes that you can substitute half of the ground beef in recipes with beans in tacos and burritos. Another bonus: legumes are easy on the budget because they’re often a fraction of the cost of meat. (See Beans really are good for you for more information and recipes). Nuts If you’re familiar with the Mediterranean Diet then you already know that nuts are good for you. People who eat nuts two to four times a week have a lower risk of developing heart disease — and dying from it.

Alcohol (in moderation)

A glass of wine after a long day and a cold beer on a hot day are more than just an answer to a craving — they can be good for the heart too. A moderate amount of alcohol — one drink a day for women, and up to two drinks per day for men — can do the trick, according to research. If you’re not a fan of red wine, there’s no reason to worry. Despite what you may have heard, spirits, beer and other beverages have the some protective effects, according to Beck. Studies have shown that people who choose red wine tend to have other lifestyle factors working in their favour — like a higher income and eating more fruits and vegetables — so it’s difficult to tell where the real benefit is. But that’s not an excuse for young people to drink — the benefits only apply to middle aged and older people. There currently isn’t any evidence to suggest that drinking when you’re young will protect you later on, and binge drinking doesn’t have any health benefits.

A note of caution: Dieticians are cautious about advising people to drink on a daily basis. There are other factors to consider, such as calories, medications and certain medical conditions. Overall, there are many foods you can eat — and the possible combinations are endless. If these heart-healthy options are losing their appeal, it’s time for some new tricks (like a new cookbook) rather than abandoning what’s good for you. Look online for recipes and don’t be afraid to experiment with ingredients you haven’t tried before. Article courtesy of

50PLUS.com , where you’ll find thousands of articles on health, money, travel, lifestyle, work, relationships and more!

A word from me, as for a Muslims please don't take the alcohol in what ever reason because it is non-halal for us. Adnee