Goals of Today (Version 01)

-- Do not tackle all my problems at once.

-- Have sufficient sleep and sleep well.

-- Eat well and eat right.

-- Have a 24-hour programme.

-- Achieve my goals for the day.

-- Not be irritated by anything, especially those beyond my control.

-- Be happy and enjoy every moment of my life.

-- Be caring, helpful, courteous and be tactful in dealing with people.

-- Strengthen my mind by learning something useful.

-- Read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

-- Have a quiet half hour all by myself, and relax.

-- Spend 15 minutes alone to get a better perspective of my life.

(Version 01 Ref: G07G28)

Can I stand next to a microwave?

THE CLAIM: People shouldn't stand too close to a microwave

THE FACTS: Considering how long microwave ovens have been around, one would think that any concerns about their safety would have been resolved long ago. But many people continue to wonder whether standing next to a microwave while it's on can expose them to radiation - and if so, how much.

Although microwave ovens can in fact leak radiation, the levels that might be released are fairly minute.

According to the Centre for Devices and Radiological Health, a unit of the Food and Drug Administration, that regulates microwave oven safety, every microwave that reaches the market must meet a requirement limiting the amount of radiation it can leak in its lifetime to five milliwatts per square centimetre at roughly two inches away from the oven.

According to the centre, that is far below the levels of radiation that have been shown to harm humans.(By comparison, the most common cellphones operate at a peak power of about 1.6 watts or less, and most studies have found no evidence linking the phones to health problems.)

Manufacturers of microwave ovens are also required to line the doors of the machines with metal mesh that prevents microwaves from escaping, and to use a type of door latch that stops the production of microwaves whenever the latch is released.

Those features greatly limit exposure to levels of radiation that are already low. And since the radiation levels drop sharply with increasing distance, the levels two feet away are about one-hundredth the amount at two inches.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Proximity to a microwave oven is not dangerous.

Source: NEW YORK TIMES

One-stop organic store in Singapore heartland

By Constance Chee

I would like to share the discovery of a wonderful organic store in the heartland and my opinion on going organic.

Contrary to what people think, going organic does not mean being vegetarian or vegan. Organic produce is natural produce grown without the use of chemical pesticides, genetically modified organisms, and usually, in an eco-friendly way.

Going organic simply means consuming vegetables and fruit that have been grown organically. Rice, cereals, grains and nuts or sauces, jams or even processed food can be organic too when they contain organic ingredients.

But it is also possible to go organic and be unhealthy if you eat organic processed food, for example, organic biscuits, ice-cream and chocolate all the time and leave out the greens and fruit.

My family started including organic produce in our diets at the beginning of the year. My kids are three and five years old, so I would not risk giving them a vegetarian diet to ensure they are not missing out anything.

We first tried out Naturally Marketplace at VivoCity, but found it difficult to find everything we need for Asian cooking. Also, the organic produce was shelved together with the non-organic stuff, which made shopping there a game of hide-and-seek.

It was difficult to find a store that had everything until I discovered Taste Original at West Coast (Block 721 Clementi West Street 2, #01-122. Tel: 6872-5854), facing the West Coast Community Centre basketball court.

It is an amazing shop...I often wonder how the proprietor is able to cram everything in that space. And 95 per cent of the organic produce - both fresh and processed - from places like Australia, the United States, Egypt, Europe and Taiwan are suitable for all types of cuisine as opposed to other organic supermarkets here that often cater to the Western cuisines.
Here is a list (or rather a fraction) of what you can find there:

>>Organic red rice, brown rice, five grain rice, Basmati, beans, nuts, noodles, pasta and baking needs.
>>Plum sauce, mushroom sauce, organic vegetable seasonings and oils (olive, sesame, sunflower).
>>Herbs such as rosemary, thyme and oregano.
>>Curry powder, cumin, fennel and other spices.
>>Fruit like oranges, apples, kiwi, bananas, papayas, grapes, strawberries, persimmons and aloe vera (they also bring in seasonal fruit from Australia).
>>Vegetables like spinach, watercress, kai lan, xiao bai cai, potatoes, yams and bittergourd.
>>Mushrooms (up to four or five varieties).
>>Chinese herbs for soup such as gou qi zi and red dates.
>>Processed food like muesli, cereal, yoghurt, jam, chocolate spread, cocoa and tea.
>>Cruelty-free bacon and sausages.

They also have baby food, household items, beauty products and toiletries, and conduct cooking classes, health screenings and product demos.

For those who want to plant their own organic wheatgrass, Taste Original even sells organic fertiliser and a variety of seeds.

I hope the information that I have shared will help those hoping to find a one-stop organic shopping place.

--- by CONSTANCE CHEE published in Mind Your Body of the STraits Times dated 4 July 2007

Interactive Health Tutorials

The tutorials listed the website http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials.html are interactive health education resources from the Patient Education Institute of the National Institutes ofHealth. Using animated graphics each tutorial explains a procedure orcondition in easy-to-read language. You can also listen to the tutorial.

Diseases and Conditions

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Acne
AIDS
Allergies to Dust Mites
Alopecia
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Angina
Anthrax
Arrhythmias
Arthritis
Asthma
Atrial Fibrillation
Avian Influenza
Back Pain - How to Prevent
Bell's Palsy
Brain Cancer
Breast Cancer
Burns
Cataracts
Cerebral Palsy
Cold Sores (Herpes)
Colon Cancer
Congestive Heart Failure
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
Crohn's Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Depression
Diabetes - Eye Complications
Diabetes - Foot Care
Diabetes - Introduction
Diabetes - Meal Planning
Diverticulosis
Endometriosis
Epstein Barr (Mononucleosis)
Erectile Dysfunction
Fibromyalgia
Flashes and Floaters
Fractures and Sprains
Ganglion Cysts
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Glaucoma
Gout
Hearing Loss
Heart Attack
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Hypoglycemia
Incisional Hernia
Influenza
Inguinal Hernia
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Kidney Failure
Kidney Stones
Leishmaniasis
Leukemia
Low Testosterone
Lung Cancer
Lupus
Lyme Disease
Macular Degeneration
Malaria
Melanoma
Meningitis
Menopause
Migraine Headache
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple Sclerosis
Myasthenia Gravis
Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
Otitis Media
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cysts
Pancreatitis
Parkinson's Disease
Pneumonia
Prostate Cancer - What Is It?
Psoriasis
Retinal Tear and Detachment
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Sarcoidosis
Scabies
Seizures and Epilepsy
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Shingles
Skin Cancer
Sleep Disorders
Smallpox
Spinal Cord Injury
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ)
Tennis Elbow
Tinnitus
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Tuberculosis
Ulcerative Colitis
Umbilical Hernia
Uterine Fibroids
Varicose Veins
Vasculitis
Warts

Tests and Diagnostic Procedures
Amniocentesis
Barium Enema
Bone Densitometry
Breast Lumps - Biopsy
Bronchoscopy
Colonoscopy
Colposcopy
Coronary Angiogram and Angioplasty
CT Scan (CAT Scan)
Cystoscopy - Female
Cystoscopy - Male
Echocardiogram
Echocardiography Stress Test
IVP (Intra Venous Pyelogram)
Knee Arthroscopy
Laparoscopy
Mammogram
MRI
Myelogram
Newborn Screening
Pap Smear
Shoulder Arthroscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Ultrasound
Upper GI Endoscopy

Surgery and Treatment Procedures


Aorto-Bifemoral Bypass
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Carotid Endarterectomy
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chemotherapy
Cholecystectomy - Open Laparoscopic (Gallbladder Removal Surgery)
Clinical Trials
Colon Cancer Surgery
Colostomy
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
C-Section
Dilation and Curettage (D & C)
General Anesthesia
Heart Valve Replacement
Hemorrhoid Surgery
Hip Replacement
Hip Replacement - Physical Therapy
Hysterectomy
Knee Replacement
LASIK
Massage Therapy
Neurosurgery - What Is It?
Open Heart Surgery - What to Expect?
Pacemakers
Preparing for Surgery
Prostate Cancer - Radiation Therapy
Shoulder Replacement
Sinus Surgery
Stroke Rehabilitation
Thyroid Surgery
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy
TURP (Prostate Surgery)
Vaginal Birth
Vasectomy

Prevention and Wellness
Back Exercises
Coumadin - Introduction
Exercising for a Healthy Heart
Managing Cholesterol
Managing Stress
Muscles
Preventing Strokes
Smoking - The Facts

Happiness (1)

Happiness is a golden key that fits all doors.

Good website http://www.ted.com/

http://www.ted.com/

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes).

This site makes the best talks and performances from TED available to the public, for free. More than 100 talks from our archive are now available, with more added each week. These videos are released under a Creative Commons license, so they can be freely shared and reposted.

Please visit http://www.ted.com/ for more details.

Macrobiotic diet helped heal rare blood disorder

As part of the diet overhaul, Mr Michael Low gave up hawker food and stopped eating out altogether.

For breakfast, he ate brown rice porridge or whole wheat noodles.

Lunch was brown rice and different types of vegetables and dinner was more brown rice with miso soup and different vegetables.

He ate no snacks and drinks included water and green tea.

According to the “Mind Your Body” of the Straits Times of 20/6/2007, Mr Michael Low said the above macrobiotic diet from 2004 to mid 2005 had helped him recover from a rare blood disorder called Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) also known as pre-leukaemia he was diagnosed with about 4 years ago.

During the said period he was also under medical treatment.

He has changed his line of work and now runs an organic store in Hougang.

He also gives cooking demonstrations to people interested in learning about eating healthier.

'I'm convinced this diet helped me recover and I want to help others who may benefit from it,' he said.

As You Travel Through Life….

As you travel through life there are always those times
When decisions just have to be made
When the choices are hard, and solutions seem scarce
And the rain seems to soak your parade

There are some situations where all you can do
Is simply let go and move on
Gather your courage and choose a direction
That carries you toward a new dawn

So pack up your troubles and take a step forward
The process of change can be tough
But think about all the excitement ahead

There might be adventures you never imagined
Just waiting around the next bend
And wishes and dreams just about to come true
In ways you can't yet comprehend

Perhaps you'll find friendships that spring from new things
As you challenge your status quo
And learn there are so many options in life

Perhaps you'll go places you never expected
And see things that you've never seen
Or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds And wonderful spots in between

Perhaps you'll find warmth and affection and caring
And somebody special who's there
To help you stay cantered and listen with interest
To stories and feelings you share

Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends
Are supportive of all that you do
And believe that whatever decisions you make
They'll be the right choices for you

So keep putting one foot in front of the other
And taking your life day by day
There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road
Don't look back
You're not going that way!

---- By Author Unknown

Exercise increases good cholesterol

HDL or 'good cholesterol' can protect you from heart disease.

A new study shows that you can boost your HDL naturally by exercising for at least two hours each week.

In an analysis of 25 randomised controlled trials, researchers at Ochanomizu University in Tokyo found that people who exercise increased their HDL cholesterol by a modest but significant 2.53 mg/dL, which equates to roughly a 5 per cent drop in heart disease risk for men and a nearly 8 per cent reduction for women.

The researchers also found that it did not matter how intense the exercise was, or how frequently the people exercised.

It was more important to exercise consistently. However, the length of an exercise session did matter.

For every 10 minutes longer a workout session lasted, there was an additional 1.4 mg/dL rise in good cholesterol.

The researchers also found that exercise had the greatest effect in increasing HDL cholesterol in people with body mass indexes less than 28 and those who had total cholesterol levels of 220 mg/dL or greater.

While the effect of exercise identified in the study is likely smaller than that seen with HDL-boosting medications, including niacin and fibrates, the effect 'is potentially of substantial importance to public health,' the authors concluded.

Source: REUTERS/Straits Times Mindind your body dated 6/6/07

Universities = Country Clubs ?

In a commentary published in The Independent last year, Mr Howard Davies, director of the London School of Economics (LSE), recounted how he had asked former Harvard University president Lawrence Summers for his view on remote campuses.

Professor Summers replied with a question: 'Why is it that, in the United States, health clubs are typically franchised operations, while country clubs are not?'

He then supplied the answer: 'Customers go to health clubs for the equipment, but to country clubs for the people they hope to meet.'

Universities, he concluded, are country clubs, not health clubs.

Reflecting on this, Mr Davies decided that it would not be easy to replicate LSE's London campus because 'a community of scholars cannot be uprooted and transplanted or replicated at will'.

I wonder how many university vice-chancellors and presidents still regard their institutions as, essentially, communities of scholars?

That was after all the original meaning of the term 'university', derived from the Latin phrase 'universitas magistrorum et scholarium', roughly meaning 'community of masters and scholars'.

Here, the word 'scholars' does not mean 'experts or scholarship holders' but simply 'those who learn, from the masters or teachers'.

So the earliest sense of a university was as a community of people who teach and learn. It was this community that made a university, not the soaring towers, ivory or otherwise, which adorned some campuses.

And those who went to universities went not for the equipment, but for the people they hoped to learn from and with.

----- The above is part of the article "When students are no longer a uni's top priority" by Lydia Lim in the Straits Times dated 1 June 2007.

12 Easy Steps to Control Stress

1. Plan your time well

Be more organised. Make a list of all the things you need to do and arrange them in order of importance. Decide how much time you need for each job and then stick to your plan.

2. Spread out the changes in your life

Give yourself time to adjust from one change to another. For example, avoid getting married, buying a house and changing jobs all at the same time.

3. Be realistic about what you can do

Choose your work according to your own ability and interest. Do not hope for the impossible. Set goals for yourself that are achievable so that you don't become frustrated or discouraged.

4. Make decisions wisely

Get all the relevant information first - don't make major decisions blindly. Consider the good and bad points of each choice. Involve the people who will be affected by the decision in the process.

5. Learn to like yourself

Don't worry too much about your looks, height, pimples and other faults. Make the best of what you have and learn to accept what you cannot change.

6. Think positive

Prevent negative feeling from building up. Learn to identify the cause of these feelings and deal constructively with them. Don't blow things out of proportion.

7. Share your problems

Do not keep all your problems and worries to yourself. Remember you are not alone. Talk to your spouse, friend, supervisor or religious leader. They may have had experience with similar situations and they may be able to suggest a solution to your problem.

8. Build a happy family

Be kind, loving and polite to your family. Treat them the same way you should treat your friends. They will provide you with love and support in times of need. Set aside some time each day to talk, play or relax together. Make your home a happy place to come back to after a hard day's work.

9. Make friends

Just as you need a happy family, you also need friends to talk to and laugh with, to visit you and go out with you and to help you in times of need. Treat others the way you would like them to treat you. Respect their views and be patient with their faults. Try giving in to others sometimes - even when you are right.

10. Keep Healthy

Keep your body healthy by exercising regularly, eating wisely and getting enough sleep. Do not turn to cigarettes or alcohol to relieve your stress. Smoking and drinking do not solve anything and will cause more problems for your health.

11. Make some time for yourself

Do something that you really enjoy. It could be a hobby like collecting coins or an exercise activity like jogging. Take a short break when you feel tense or tired. You deserve to have a little fun sometimes.

12. Learn some Relaxation

TechniquesDeep breathing Exercise, meditation, massage and muscle relaxation techniques can be helpful in relieving stress.

Source: http://www.hpb.gov.sg/

They came to eat

The doors opened wide
Here they came
They came to the Fair
They came to eat
Smiling promoters offered free samples
They rushed forward
Took and put in their mouths
“Nice, thank you” they said.
And moved to the next stall.
They had forgotten the health advice
“Less sugar, less salt, less oil”
Most foods sold at the fair are processed foods
Processed foods deep-fried, a lot of oil, salt and sugar.
They did not care
As long as the food was nice
Of course they would not leave empty handed
They bought bags of unhealthy processed foods.
They took another step toward poor health
They are now a step closer to clinic or hospital.
Eat is more important
Couldn’t care less

Eating one egg a day should be okay if ........

Common misconceptions keep many people, especially those worried about heart disease, from eating eggs. The July issue of the Harvard Heart Letter unscrambles the dietary facts and myths about the egg.

Fact: Eggs are a good source of nutrients. One egg contains 6 grams of protein and some healthful unsaturated fats. Eggs are also a good source of choline, which has been linked with preserving memory, and lutein and zeaxanthin, which may protect against vision loss.

Fact: Eggs have a lot of cholesterol. The average large egg contains 212 milligrams of cholesterol. As foods go, that’s quite a bit, rivaled only by single servings of liver, shrimp, and duck meat.

Myth: All that cholesterol goes straight to your bloodstream and then into your arteries. Not so. For most people, only a small amount of the cholesterol in food passes into the blood. Saturated and trans fats have much bigger effects on blood cholesterol levels.

Myth: Eating eggs is bad for your heart. The only large study to look at the impact of egg consumption on heart disease—not on cholesterol levels or other intermediaries—found no connection between the two. In people with diabetes, though, egg-a-day eaters were a bit more likely to have developed heart disease than those who rarely ate eggs.

If you like eggs, eating one a day should be okay, especially if you cut back on saturated and trans fats. Other ways to enjoy eggs without worrying about cholesterol include not eating the yolk, which contains all the cholesterol, or using pourable egg whites or yolk-free egg substitutes.

The above information is for your reference.
Source: http://www.health.harvard.edu/

A dream dashed - UNSW Asia

It opened its door three months ago.
Hailed as Australian university education in Singapore.
Win-win situation.
Everybody had high hopes.
But the truth hurts.
It hurts everbody concerned.
Only 148 students enrolled far short of expectations.
The prospect is grim.
So came the decision to close it down.
Why? Why? Why?
Tuition fees are too high?
Only Australian university education in Australia wanted by market?
If the tuition fees are so high,
One might as well study in Australia to get the real thing?
Any other reasons?
UNSW Asia will shut its doors on June 28, 2007.
A post mortem study would be definitely useful for all parties.
A lesson needs to be learnt.
In our pursuit to make Singapore an international education hub.

Why need to eat?

Food provides us with the energy and nutrients that we need to keep the body healthy and active. Nearly every process in the body is energy-dependent – so it’s essential we have a constant supply of energy.

The four main reasons we need to eat are:

(1) Development, growth and repair

The body needs energy to grow, primarily during childhood and adolescence – but this doesn’t mean that as adults we no longer need energy for growth. Tissues are constantly being repaired (replaced) even if they are not growing, and we need energy to fuel these essential processes.

(2) Body function

Even when we are at rest we still need a lot of energy. Maintaining the body’s normal physiological processes is very energy ‘expensive’, accounting for 60–75% of the body’s total energy expenditure. We need this energy for all those processes that we don’t normally think about, such as breathing, blinking, digestion, controlling body temperature and blood circulation.

(3) Physical activities

On average, 15–30% of total energy expenditure is on physical ‘work’. We need the energy from food to be able to move around and to participate in sports and other activities. The exact amount expended will depend on how vigorous the activity is and for how long it is performed.

(4) Supply of nutrients

Nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals play a vital role in converting other food sources into energy. They are also essential in helping to keep the body healthy and in good working order, aiding the healing process by enabling damaged tissue to be repaired quickly and effectively.

If I don’t ……

If I don’t feel, I am dead.
If I don’t think, I don’t exist.
If I don’t do anything, life will be boring.
If I don’t eat, I will certainly die.

I am .........

I am what I eat.
I am what I do.
I am what I think.
I am what I feel.

Boomerangs

The game of life is the game of boomerangs.
Our thoughts, deeds
and words return to us sooner
or later with astounding accuracy.

---Florence Shinn

Pedestrian Paths – Bicycles vs. Pedestrians

Pedestrian Path is the footpath built for pedestrians.
But very often we find invading cyclists on the path.
Currently it is illegal to ride bicycles on Pedestrian Path.
Pedestrians have the right of way.
Cyclists may not know they do not have the right of way.
Most of the time pedestrians and cyclists give way to each other.
Sometimes, pedestrians have to give way to impatient cyclists.
A cyclist gives you a scare when he whizzes past you at a high speed.
Some cyclists make a fuss when you block their path.
A pedestrian cannot seek redress if a hit-and-run cyclist hits him.

As a trial, bicycles will be permitted on pedestrian paths in Tampines.
Pedestrians and cyclists will have equal rights on pedestrian paths.

Last night I had a wild dream.
I dread to think of the following possible scenarios.
Soon there may be traffic rules for pedestrian paths.
A pedestrian may need a walking license.
A cyclist may need a cycling license.
A cyclist may need a cycling insurance.
A pedestrian may need a walking insurance.
A senior citizen or a toddler may need to pay more for insurance.
A pedestrian may need an annual check-up to ensure his path-worthy.
A bicycle may need an annual check-up to make sure it is path-worthy.
There may be a minimum speed for a pedestrian.
There may be a maximum speed for a bicycle.
Traffic police may be deployed to maintain law and order.
Pedestrian path bullies may be hauled to the courts.
The “may” list can go on and on.

Let’s hope the yearlong trial project proves to be successful.
And the “may” list is just realized in my dreams.
Pedestrians and cyclist will co-exist peacefully.
We can do away with the need for strict traffic rules about the paths.
A more gracious society may emerge.
Singapore will get another No. 1.
Three Cheers to Singapore!

You protect girlfriend. Dad protects you.

When you are young.
You do whatever you can to protect your girlfriend.
To the extent of punching an old man.

When you are old.
You do whatever you can to protect your young son.
To the extent of falling to your knees and pleading for forgiveness.


Note: Recently a 17-year-old JC boy attacked a bus driver after his girlfriend’s Ez-link card was retained by the driver. The boy’s father fell to his knees to beg the driver to give his son a second chance. (Source: New Paper, 13 May 2007)

Two types of diners

Some people save to dine in an expensive restaurant.
Some people go to an expensive restaurant and try to save.

Two types of car owners

Some people buy cars so that the cars serve them.
Some people buy cars so that they serve the car.

Save your unused calories for good food

Dr Leslie Tay said in his interview with Ms Teo Pau Lin, food correspondent of The Sunday Times dated 13/5/2007,

"I usually eat one main meal a day in the afternoons. I have cereal or something light in the mornings, and no dinner.

When I get home from work at 10pm, I have a fruit salad and maybe a sandwich with grilled vegetables. I try not to have any meat at night to cut down on my total cholesterol intake.

I have a theory on calorie conservation. When there's nothing spectacular to eat, I save calories by eating very little or healthily.

Then I have calories saved up for that wagyu steak on the weekend.

If a plate of char kway teow is mediocre, I'd rather not eat it, and save the calories for a shiok meal instead. "

Dr Leslie Tay is a general practitioner. He is so enamoured with Singapore's street food that he started a food blog last August to recommend the best stalls around.

His blog is at http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/

The blog's motto is " 'Never waste your calories on yucky food'.

BILL GATES' RULE BOOK ON LIFE

In Bill Gates' Book for high school and college graduates, there is a list of 11 things they did not learn in school. In his book, Bill Gates talks about how to feel good, politically-correct teachings created a full generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this education set them up for failure in the real world. You may want to share this list with some you know.

RULE 1: Life is not fair; get used to it.

RULE 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

RULE 3: You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with a car phone, until you earn both.

RULE 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.

RULE 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it opportunity.

RULE 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

RULE 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rainforest from the parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

RULE 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades; they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

RULE 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

RULE 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs. And, once you get to the job, you will be expected to work in order to "earn" your paycheck.

RULE 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one. The answer to the eternal question "Is it better to be a jock or a nerd?"

Healthy eating

Eating a healthy diet that is high in fruit and vegetables, high in fibre, and low in sugar, salt and fat (especially saturated fat) can help to:

(1) Reduce your blood pressure
(2) Reduce your risk of heart disease
(3) Reduce your risk of stroke
(4) Reduce your risk of some types of cancer
(5) And, of course, avoid the unnecessary medical bills.

Hair Loss

Malnutrition can be fatal. In more mild forms it can cause a host of symptoms that impact on every day life, from hair loss and muscle wastage to food cravings and lethargy.

Your hair is all protein. So if you have hair loss, you may be suffering from malnutrition or you need a protein rich diet.

Hair loss remedies include increasing the intake of green leafy vegetables, salads, milk and fruits. Take more proteins, milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, soybean, and vitamin A and other health supplements.

You may consult your doctor or nutritionist on your hair loss problem because there may be some other underlying causes for your hair loss.

Just For Today – Food for Health

Just for today I will eat to live.
Just for today I will take in less calories than I need.
Just for today I will drink eight cups of water.
Just for today I will drink not more than 3 cups of coffee.
Just for today I will avoid eating meat, especially red meat.
Just for today I will eat foods high in fibre, low in fat, low in salt and low in sugar.
Just for today I will eat one apple, one orange and one slice of papaya.
Just for today I will take one multivitamin tablet, 1000 mg vitamin C, 1000 mg calcium.
Just for today I will take only foods listed above.
Just for today I will welcome any good advice on food for health.

Rain

It has been raining since 4.20 a.m.
I like rain when I am not driving
I like to watch raining in the middle of the night
Just me alone
Standing in the balcony, watching the trees soaking in the rain
Listening to nothing other than the patter of the rain
Slowly sipping the steaming hot Milo
Only me and the rain
This moment is one of the best in my life.
What else can I ask for?

************************************************************

Morning Has Broken

The new sun has risen, morning has broken. Listening to the beautiful and peaceful song titled “Morning has broken"always brings serenity to me. You can find this song in MP3 and Midi formats easily on the internet.

Lyrics of Morning has broken

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day

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The Launch of New Sun

The New Sun has just risen.
Sun watchers, please come again tomorrow morning.
To watch the new sun rise.
To start a new meaningful day.
To enjoy another day!