Bananas for a healthy lifestyle

Bananas Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:
Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:
High i n fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without d istress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:
Potassium is a vital mi neral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:
According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

How to Read Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure, typically abbreviated as bp, is the amount of pressure in the blood vessels. It is two numbers, XX over XX, showing the pressure during a heartbeat and at rest between beats. These two numbers will give a showing of how much “work” the heart is doing.

Blood Pressure Readings

Blood Pressure readings are done by pumping up a cuff on the arm with a device called a sphygmomanometer. Mercury rises in the air pressure column and the results are read as mm/Hg. The top number is the systolic number, or the amount of pressure that is in the vessels at the time of work or heart beats blood through the vessel. The bottom number is the diastolic number, or the amount of pressure that is in the vessels at the time that the blood is not being pushed through the vessels.

Blood pressure readings are in specific ranges and are good for most adults. It is not meant to be a decisive test for those that are not over 18 years of age, those that have a serious illness that can alter results, people who are diabetic or sufferers of kidney disease, or those that are on HBP (high blood pressure) medication.

How to Read Blood Pressure Results

There are four ranges for bp monitoring. There is a healthy bp range, prehypertension, and stage one and two of hypertension.

• Normal/Healthy Bp – This is shown as anything under 119 systolic and under 79 diastolic.

• Prehypertension Bp – This is a reading of 120-130 systolic and 80-89 diastolic.

• Hypertension, Stage 1 Bp – This is shown as a reading of 140-159 systolic and 90-99 diastolic.

• Hypertension, Stage 2 Bp – This is a reading of levels above 160 systolic and over 100 diastolic.

In the cases that one number is normal and the other is high, the highest reading is what is considered in terms of treatment.

Lowering BP

There are different methods to lower the readings if the bp numbers are too high or close to hypertension. A modified diet and exercise plan can do wonders for the patient, as well as salt reduction as it retains fluid. Smoking and drinking can raise bp readings, so those should be moderated. When diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices aren’t enough to keep the blood pressure regulated then medication can be prescribed to help.

From Internet

Earth Hour 2009- Turn off lights on March 28 2009

Earth Hour in i-City MSC - Bring Your Family

Host:	Events & Activities @ i-City
Type:	Party - Reunion
Network:	Global

Date:	Saturday, March 28, 2009
Time:	6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location:	i-City MSC
Street:	Section 7
City/Town:	Shah Alam, Malaysia
	View Map Google Microsoft Yahoo

Phone:	0355218800
Email:	osc@i-city.my

Free Passes for Students for Earth Hour event in i-City has RUN OUT. Students WITHOUT Free Passes will be charged RM30 where net proceeds will go to WWF.

FREE Passes for families of Entrepreneurs / CEOs / CTOs / COOs / CIOs / Managers / Employees of - MSC / IT / Creative / Public Listed / Government Linked / Multi-Nationals / Knowledge Based Companies Are STILL Available.

Please register for your free passes at http://www.i- city2015. com. Non-Registrants who walk in on event day will be charged RM30 where net proceeds will go to WWF.

------------ --------- -----

i-City will be holding an Earth Hour event and we like to invite you and your family to join us in this annual event co-organised with WWF.

There will be activities prior to the actual hour of switching off lights @ 8:30PM for 1 Full Hour.

Join us and share the message we tell the world that Earth matters.

Confirm your attendance at http://www.i- city2015. com but Walk-Ins without registration will be charged RM30. Net Proceeds will go to WWF.

Buy Earth Hour T-Shirt from i-City, Vista Bangsar or Vista The Curve while stocks last.

p/s: Bring your laptop to experience blazing fast Wireless 20Mbps Super Wifi in i-City. Ample power points.

Email earthhour@i- city2015. com to get your Earth Hour T-Shirt @ RM30. Net Proceeds will go to WWF.

------------ -------
Events:

5:00PM : Fiesta Starts

Award Winning Lion Dance
Delicious food and drinks including Nasi Lemak USJ, Kajang Satay Hj Samuri (The Best Satay in Malaysia), The Famous Hoagies, Nandos Chicken

for family - Tree Planting, Beverage Carton Games and more.

for kids - Cup Stacking Competition, Magic Show, Clown, Balloons, Colouring Contest, Mascots and lots of fun activities


8:00PM Earth Hour : Switch Off, Take Action! Ceremony

9:30PM End

------------ -

Organised by: i-City MSC, In Collaboration with: WWF and Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Event Managed by X2 Participating Organizations: Ah Fook Noodles, Alcon, 2C, Dalkia, Guinness Anchor, i-office2, KSG Glass, Logic Factory, MDEC, Nandos, Orange Café, Servcorp, Secure Parking, Taska Sri Bestari, TetraPak, Tweedlewink, VISTA Vision Specialist.

-------

Map to i-City MSC: http://www.i- city.my/malaysia /location/ index.html

------------ --------
A little write-up on Earth Hour
------------ --------- -----

From melting glaciers to increasingly intense weather patterns, we know that climate change is already impacting life on our planet. On Saturday, March 28, 2009, at 8:30 pm, i-City will take part in Earth Hour—the world’s largest global climate change event.

By simply turning out all non-essential lighting for one hour at our company buildings and in our own homes, we will join tens of millions of concerned citizens throughout the world in calling for action to save our planet for future generations. We’d like to invite you, our valued business partner, to join us in the important effort.

Earth Hour is an event led by the World Wildlife Fund. In 2008, more than 50 million people in 370 cities around the world took part, as the lights dimmed at Sydney’s Opera House, Rome’s Coliseum, the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge. Even the Google homepage went dark for the day.

To get a better sense of the magnitude and inspiring nature of the event, take a moment to watch WWF’s video on Earth Hour 2009 by visiting www.youtube. com/watch? v=BjWD8pbK5t8.

Energy efficiency isn’t just good for business. Each one of us has a stake in the future of our planet and must do whatever we can to operate in ways that don’t deplete our world’s limited natural resources.

In the weeks leading up to Earth Hour, we plan to take a close look at ways our company can operate more efficiently, waste less and reduce our environmental footprint—not only in our own operations, but throughout our supply chain. Joining Earth Hour is a great way to demonstrate that we care about the planet and want to operate in a responsible way.

We hope you’ll join us in this important and inspiring effort and encourage your employees, customers and suppliers to take part.

Participating in Earth Hour is easy, fun and costs nothing. To get more information and to sign to have your business listed as among those participating, visit http://www.earthhou r.org/malaysia and agree to turn out all nonessential lights from 8:30-9:30 pm on March 28, 2009.

Since WWF endorsed i-City as one of the few official Earth Hour venue for Malaysia, we received many enquiries from our partners, customers and friends who express their interest to also participate in our i-City Earth Hour Fiesta 2009.

Don’t forget—on March 28th at 8:30 pm, switch off. One simple hour that will help make the world a better place.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shah-Alam-Malaysia/Events-Activities-i-City/59475675973?aid=6002296728733#/event.php?eid=68752351881

Gerhana Matahari

Turutan foto menunjukkan bulan melintasi antara Bumi dan matahari sebelum, semasa dan selepas gerhana , pada Januari 26, 2009, Gambar di ambil dari Bandar Lampung di Indonesia.

—Foto oleh Beawiharta/Reuters





Foto Atas:

Gambar yang diambil dari Pantai Anyer Indonesia di Kepulauan Jawa, salah satu dari beberapa tempat di mana gerhana matahari itu dapat disaksikan sepenuhnya.

—Foto oleh Achmad Ibrahim/AP Photo
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/01/photogalleries/eclipse/photo4.html



Foto Bawah:

Gambar diambil di LebuhRaya Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur menghala ke Shah Alam pada jam 5 10 ptg. Cuaca mendung dan hujan renyai-renyai.

Pada saat ini kita diperlihatkan dengan kuasa Allah yang Maha Agung iaitu kejadian gerhana matahari. Matahari yang bercahaya di siang hari penuh purnama secara tiba-tiba hilang cahayanya sedikit demi sedikit sehinggalah tiada lagi cahaya yang kelihatan. Begitulah kehebatan kekuasaan Allah yang mampu mengubah segalanya di langit dan bumi pada bila-bila masa yang tidak ada satu kuasa lain yang dapat menyekat qadha dan qadar-Nya.

Firman Allah SWT dalam surah az-Zumar ayat 5:

Maksudnya: “Ia menciptakan langit dan bumi dengan ada tujuan yang benar; Ia menjadikan malam melengkari siang, dan menjadikan siang melengkari malam; dan Ia menjadikan matahari dan bulan beredar menurut perintah-Nya, setiap satu dari keduanya beredar untuk suatu masa yang telah ditetapkan. Ingatlah! Dialah Yang Maha Kuasa, lagi Yang sentiasa Mengampuni.”

EFFECTS OF COLD WATER

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.

You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. 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.