The Benefits of Apples

In the history of food, apples go right back to the Garden of Eden. The Bible is unclear as to what fruit Eve picked way back when, but it has been suggested it was an apple for good reason. Apples have been with us throughout history and have long been praised for their health benefits. The average apple is portable, tasty, has about 65 calories and 3 grams of fiber, and offers lots of vitamin C and some other antioxidants. Apples contain pectin, a water-soluble fiber that is known to help lower cholesterol and balance blood sugar. When our grandmothers said that an apple a day kept the doctor away, they might have been on to something.

Apples offer some specific health benefits.
· Diabetics—eat your apples! Apples contain flavonoids and phytonutrients (plant stuff) that regulate blood sugar. Not only that, apples contain galacturonic acid, a substance that lowers the body’s need for insulin.
· Apples contain quercetin and naringin, two cancer-fighting substances.
· Apples fill you up but don’t add a lot of calories, making them perfect for dieters or for anyone trying to maintain a normal weight. Eating an apple before a meal can help reduce what you eat in the meal.
· Apples are a heart-healthy food and may lower the risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular heart disease. It is not clear how this happens—whether it’s something in the apples or whether it’s because people who eat a lot of apples tend to have more normal weights.
· Apples contain something called phloridzin, a flavonoid or plant nutrient, which supports bone health and promotes greater bone density. Apples are the only substance known to contain this. So if you’re worried about osteoporosis, supplement your calcium tablets with a daily apple or two (You can eat two … they’re that low in calories.).
· Quercetin, an antioxidant found in apples, can help increase lung function and endurance.

Adding apples to your diet is easy—apples are available all over the country in just about every grocery store. But don’t be fooled. The best way to add apples to a healthful diet is to eat them the way they come from the tree—fresh. The more you process the apple, the less perfect it becomes. Applesauce is fine, but it’s not as good for you as a real apple. Apple juice is good, too, but it’s not nearly as good as a real apple. Stay close to the tree and you’ll maximize health benefits.

There are more than 2500 varieties of apples grown across the United States and 7500 types around the world! Depending on whether you like your apple crisp or tender, sweet or tart, for cooking, baking, pie or eating out-of-hand there are sure to be at least a few varieties that will suit your taste. Here are just a few we can recommend:

If you like your apples sweet, look for:
· Gala
· Fuji
· Honeycrisp
· Jongold

· Pink lady If you prefer a more tart apple, sample: · Granny Smith · Winesap · Mutsu · Braeburn In general, if you like apples, you can’t find a “bad” variety.

To find more kinds of apples visit apple orchards and farm stands. Apples keep well in the refrigerator for about six weeks.

Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/Healthy-Living/The-Benefits-of-Apples.aspx?p=4#ixzz1xjM2WUtX

Dieting with a Practicing Mind

BY: Thomas M. Sterner 

Your mind is your strongest tool in the journey to weight loss.

Based on the book The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life , (c) 2012 by Thomas M. Sterner. Printed with permission from New World Library.

What’s the first thing we do when we set a dieting goal? We aim at the final destination: “I want to lose 25 pounds.” This immediately sets up a perspective that breeds struggle and beckons failure before we have made that first step onto the treadmill or passed up that first donut. Why?

Most of us have a habit of setting our goals too far out in front of where we are at that moment and immediately become attached to the point in time when that goal will be reached. This is both counterproductive and a misuse of the goal. Instead of our goal serving as a rudder to guide our effort, it creates a feeling within us that every moment along the way to reaching that goal is something we have to overcome, something we must endure. We experience impatience and struggle, and if we fail to sustain our extended effort, we can lose confidence in our ability to reach any particular goal we set. We also usually attach a time frame for reaching our goals that is totally unrealistic and not based on any factual information, but instead is driven by the thought that reaching a particular goal will make us feel more complete than we already are.

The key is to break our final goal into more manageable parts. Losing 25 pounds is the end of the journey, but to keep us inspired, it is much more helpful to set a goal of first losing only 5 pounds. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, or even fearful, that we will not be able to overcome our cravings for certain foods on any given day or, worse, for an entire week, we should focus on just breakfast and then just the midmorning snack. We know the rest of the day is out there, but we accept that we are here now and that there is just this one meal, this one temptation to deal with. We see only the physical exercise we need to do today, not the cumulative effort it will take to integrate exercise into our schedule for the rest of our lives.

We focus only on one small, simple task as we move through each hour of each day. Doing this requires the same awareness and control of eating and exercise that we need to reach the final goal of losing 25 pounds, but it sets us up with a much shorter “cycle of dieting” that we must adhere to before experiencing success. That experience of success then breeds the motivation and stamina necessary to keep moving forward.

It’s also wise to limit your number of trips to the scale. Stepping on the scale more than once or twice a week can be counterproductive because it can strengthen your attachment to reaching your overall weight goal as opposed to the process of achieving the weight loss. In systems such as Weight Watchers you only have one weigh-in a week. It is normal for your weight to fluctuate a little day-to-day, and stepping on the scale every day when you are trying to lose weight is like constantly looking at your hair in the mirror after a bad haircut to see if it has grown out. What you are really doing is measuring the distance from where you are to where you feel you want to end up. At some level you are saying, “I am not where I want to be, and until I get there, I am incomplete and so can’t feel good about where I am right now.”

The hidden joy in losing weight is a basic truth that is present in any cycle of creating a goal, working toward it, and then eventually reaching it. That joy is revealed in the awareness that the “moment” of achieving your goal is happening in every moment of your effort. In that awareness, you are open to accept those positive emotions in real time because you become aware that you are “living your success” right now.

Thomas M. Sterner is the author of The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life. Visit him online at www.thepracticingmind.com.

Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/Weight-Loss/Dieting-with-a-Practicing-Mind.aspx#ixzz1tr9tRcFA

Reducing the Signs of Aging with Estrogen

By: Marina Johnson, M.D., F.A.C.E

As women age, they start noticing the telltale signs: fine wrinkles and dry, sagging skin.

Risks of Not Having Enough Estrogen

Women are denied estrogen because of an increased risk of breast cancer. Yet, they’re not informed there are more risks from NOT taking estrogen! Heart disease and strokes kill more women each year (400,000) than the next sixteen causes of death including diabetes, all forms of cancer, aids and accidents!

Estrogen decreases Alzheimer’s and dementia by 50% and osteoporosis by 40%. I wrote my book, “Outliving Your Ovaries: An Endocrinologist Reviews the Risks and Rewards of Treating Menopause with Hormone Replacement Therapy,” to give women a guidebook for evaluating and selecting the safest forms of estrogen. Estrogen has over 400 actions on tissues throughout the body and when it’s deficient, adverse consequences occur. While hot flashes can be bothersome, the most serious problems occur when vital tissues literally start falling apart!


Changes in Skin

Let’s start with the most obvious changes: skin, hair and weight gain! I can look at a menopausal woman in her 50s or 60s and tell you if she’s taking estrogen. Many menopausal women resort to cosmetic surgery, Botox and fillers to look younger. It makes more sense to first restore normal estrogen balance. By increasing collagen, estrogen enhances the results of any procedures you choose to do. Healthy skin is also supported by having regular monthly facials, avoiding excessive sun & tanning booths and taking at least 1000 iu of Vitamin D3. Higher doses should be monitored by your physician.

Changes in Hair

Without estrogen, women develop thinning hair even in women who used to have a lot of hair. In menopause, a woman’s ovaries often continue to product testosterone. Even small amounts of testosterone without estrogen leads to loss of scalp hair and growth of facial hair. That’s why you often see older women with whiskers!

Estrogen Delays Middle Age

Estrogen delays the middle age spread by combating insulin resistance. Avoid ORAL estrogen that can worsen weight gain in many women! Instead, choose natural, bioidentical pharmaceutical topical estrogen that can be found in any drug store in the form of patches, gels, creams or mists. Compounded bioidentical hormones do NOT meet the same strict manufacturing standards for quality control and effectiveness.

Within Six Months of Losing Estrogen

Within six months of losing estrogen, many women notice vaginal dryness and painful sex leading to a decreased sex drive. No matter how much you love your partner, when your brain receives pain signals with sex, it turns off libido! Incontinence of urine, urgency and frequent bladder infections occur more often in postmenopausal women who don’t take estrogen.

That’s why it’s common to see older women on no HRT who have to use Depends! The good news is that both problems often resolve with a course of vaginal estrogen. Don’t cheat yourself by waiting too long. The most protection comes from starting estrogen within 10 years of menopause.


Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/Physical-Health/Reducing-the-Signs-of-Aging-with-Estrogen.aspx?p=6#ixzz1tlCt5Vcx

Marina Johnson, M.D., F.A.C.E., a UCLA-USC trained physician has no ties to any pharmaceutical company. She is the author of “Outliving Your Ovaries: An Endocrinologist Reviews the Risks and Rewards of Treating Menopause With Hormone Replacement Therapy.” She’s the medical director of the Institute of Endocrinology and Preventive Medicine in Dallas, Texas. In 2011, she spoke at the Cleveland HeartLab symposium at the Cleveland Clinic. She’s appeared on Joni’s Table Talk on Daystar Television Network, The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television, Daybreak USA radio show and written articles for numerous magazines.

 www.DrMarinaJohnson.com

 www.facebook.com/DrMarinaJohnson

 twitter.com/#!/drmarinajohnson

 www.youtube.com/user/DrMarinaJohnsonTV?feature=watch

 www.drmarinajohnsonstore.com

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...

by: ENSAIKLOPEDIA PETUA MELAYU LAMA

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

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

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.

Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/Healthy-Living/Olive-Oil-Your-Health-and-Beauty.aspx?p=4#ixzz1sXtUUx6A