channelnewsasia.com - Party pooper After the fun, pain

channelnewsasia.com - Party pooper After the fun, pain

Had a Christmas dinner with my family. It was the first time we had a cook-out session and dressing of the Christmas tree.

Dinner was superb and we had sangria ( a Spanish cocktail) which had turned a few of us salmon-faced.

Hope you find the article above useful. I also would recommend liver tonics such as Milk thistle (herb) which is easily available at all major pharmacies.

This herbal supplement helps protect the liver, detox and may be beneficial for people who drinks........even if you don't, you can also try the herb if you are currently on medications as this taxes the liver as well.

Happy Holidays!

Below sourced from Singapore Straits Times

Nursing a hangover

Are you suffering from a festive hangover? A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physician, a bartender and a nutritionist give some tips on how to get rid of that morning-after feeling.

TCM physician

Grind 30g of dried orange skin, add a pinch of salt and mix with 250ml of drinking water.

Alternatively, break 250g of water chestnut (including the skin) into pieces.

Add 60g of sugar and boil both ingredients in 300ml of water. Filter the juice and consume accordingly.

'These recipes work by clearing the heat in our bodies. Heat arises when too much alcohol is consumed,' said senior TCM physician Yu Zhe Kai, who practises at Eu Yan Sang TCM Clinic.

Bartender

'Prevention is better than cure. Stick to just one spirit a night. As the alcohol content in spirits vary, you tend to get a hangover a lot faster if you mix your alcoholic drinks than if you were to stick with just one type,' said Mr Jeffrey Yap, a bartender at Home Club.

Nutritionist

'Mix a few teaspoons of lemon juice in water the day after the party. This helps stimulate the liver for it to detox the alcohol faster,' said Ms Sigrid Grobys, a nutritionist at An apple a day.

Fraser's Hill revisited

OK......this time i am going to blog away from the my usual theme as I am going to take all of you to Fraser's Hill. Since bird-watching is indeed a healthy and academic outdoor sport, I have no qualms blogging about my experience here (in Raub, not neccesarily has to be in KL).... i guess i am not too far off from my theme.

I am sure most of you have visited Fraser's Hill (FH) at least once in your life. I vaguely remember going up there with my family when I was only about 6-7 years old.....I could not remember much all that have happened and could only recall that my mom had to visit a clinic after stepping on a nail. Ouch!

So after 26 years.....here I am at Fraser's Hill again.

Two hours away from Kuala Lumpur and about an hour drive from the town of Kuala Kubu Baru, I finally reached the hill tops. It is quieter and less popular than the other 2 mountain destinations (Genting, as it is nearer to the city and Camerons for its many family-oriented activities and vegetations). There is basically nothing much to do in Fraser's hill except if you are into bird-watching (FH boasts over 250 species of birds, including some migratory birds from as far as Siberia) and jungle trekking (Fraser's Hill has about 10 trails).

If you attempt to visit this place, do take note of two important facts.

1) There's no petrol stations in Fraser's Hill. Thus, you would need to pump up at Kuala Kubu Baru before heading upwards.
2) Be mindful of the 'Gap' schedule as the journey up and down Fraser's Hill is only ONE WAY at any one time. So, you will need to find out what time you should be at the Gap if you want to head up or down the hill. Odd hours - Up, Even hours - down

Map of Fraser's Hill

Popular landmarks:
1) The clock tower at the center of the town
2) Post office
3) Fraser's Hill Golf Club (FHGC)

There are only two eateries (the rest are in the hotels) called Hill View Restaurant and Piccadilly Cafe (newly open) which are centrally located.....next to the clock tower. Since I cannot stomach spending RM 10 on a roti canai/prata for breakfast, my husband and I ate at the other alternative restaurant most of the time. Price is reasonable (KL price).

We stayed at Shahzan Inn for its location and also availability......most of the resorts and hotels are fully booked as it is the holiday season. It is a pity that many of the colonial-styled bungalows look as they have seen better days. The best time to visit FH would be in June, when the weather is good and the birds come out to play! A 3D2N trip is more than sufficient to see the whole of Fraser's Hill.

'Must' visit in FH:
1) Jeriau waterfall (see map attached)
Good picnic spot for the entire family. Spotted many birds along the trail


2) Bishop trail
I did not manage this as i've heard it is full of blood-sucking leeches during this time of the year, but highly recommended by the residents of Fraser's Hill (2 hours trek one-way)
3) Allan's water
A small lake next to the Abu Suradi trail (did this trail, got bitten by a leech)
4) The clock tower

In the month of June, international as well as local bird watchers gather at the hill resort to participate in the Fraser's Hill International Bird Race, a non-competitive event that requires bird watchers to race against time to spot as many bird species as possible within the routes in Fraser's Hill. The next race would be held on the 20-21 June 2010. Some of the common birds found in FH are barn swallows, minivets, drongo, Mountain fulvettas and Grey wagtails.

Pic above: Streaked spiderhunter

Pic above: Black-throated Sunbird

Pic above: Long-tailed Sibia

Pic above: Silver-eared Mesia (centre) and Spectacled Laughingthrush

If you love the tranquility of the nature, the cold and misty weather and birds.......this place comes highly recommended.

Eating to de-stress

I bet everyone is guilty of the above more than once in their life time or in my case........definitely more than I could remember....have a good read..

"When the going gets tough, the stressed-out eat. That about sums up what some people call "stress eating".

Put another way, it is the consumption of food in response to feelings of stress rather than hunger"

http://health.asiaone.com/Health/Eat%2BRight/Story/A1Story20091217-186548.html

Money does grow on trees- A visit to Carey Island

I had a rare opportunity to visit Carey Island last Tuesday, which is a short distance away from Teluk Panglima Garang. Carey Island is about 80 km from KL and is actually a restricted area. It is owned by Sime Darby and if I am not mistaken the natives of the island, the Orang Asli (I was told that there is an Orang Asli settlement in Carey Island). Carey island is 1/5 the size of Singapore and 1/2 the size of Penang Island. The visit was necessary as we needed to understand more about palm oil and the extraction of tocotrienol (vitamin E family) from the fruit.

The island is named after the founder, a British named Mr. Edward Valentine Carey. Many crops had been introduced to Carey Island since then, namely coffee, tea, tea tree, basically commodity plants, till the introduction of the oil palms from West Africa, which later transformed the whole island (well about 80%) into an oil palm plantation.

Mr. Carey also built more than 10 colonial houses (still standing) in the island which are currently maintained by the staff of Sime Darby. We visited one of those houses called the 'Hatter's Castle'. The person-in-charge told us that the reason it is called 'Hatter' is because the house was originally built with a hat-shaped roof till they renovated it sometime back. The rooms in 'Hatter's Castle' are huge with secret passage ways that double up as a closet......hehehh i guess that's where they hid the mistresses back in those days......

Since the island is rather far from civilization, the management has built a small but sustainable community facilities and religious houses such as a temple, a small church and a mosque. There's also a small petrol kiosk, hospital or rather clinic and a school for people living in the island.

The plantation manager took us on a walkabout and demonstrated the different stages of the palm fruits. The 'male' and 'female' part of the plant that eventually meet via wind and insect pollination will form bunches of fruits (unriped being the dark-coloured fruits to the ripe ones being bright red). It is also interesting to note that 70% of the entire plantation is made up of 'female' trees and the rest 'male' trees.

"When is the best time to harvest the fruit? and how can one tell whether the fruits are ripe?" one of my curious colleagues enquired.

"Oh, simple, just look at the ground......if you see loose fruits on the ground (1-2 loose fruits), that means that the particular bunch of fruits are ready for harvest" replied the plantation manager. "And after the worker has harvested the bunch, he needs to carve his staff ID onto it, so we could trace back if the fruits were harvested too early, just nice or waited too long until they are over-riped. Then there goes the KPIs. The supervisor will also be held responsible if any bunches of fruits were left out and turned rotten".


What fascinated us was the fact that the management does not use any chemicals to rid the plantation of pests and insects. Instead, they planted many types of shrubs that are beneficial to the survival of certain insects and these insects, in turn, are the ones that keep the the population of pests such as bagworms and catterpillars in check (biological population control). This is because, the pests devour the fronds and this may affect the yield of the fruits by up to 30%.

Not only that, the number one pest in any oil palm plantations is the mouse/rat and this, the management has cleverly welcome the barn owls by building small houses for the owls to live and rest during the day (99% of the diet of the barn owls are rodents). These methods are effective in keeping pests at bay, ensuring high quality yield and does not damage the environment. How clever is that!


We also visited a mill and was given a short briefing on the extraction of crude palm oil (CPO) from the yellow-orange flesh (mesocarp) of the fruit. All parts of the fruit are used; to produce cooking oils, supplements in the form of vit E (beneficial for the skin, heart and certain types of cancer), in food ingredients and as biodiesel. The endocarp (the white centre) can be used to make soaps and cosmetics and the kernel (the black ring surrounding the endocarp) can be used as fuel for machineries.

I guess we Malaysians are truly blessed for having oils from both the ground (petroleum) and trees (oil palm) and we should never take these commodities for granted. We are indeed one of the top two CPO producing countries in the world.....thanks to the British people who brought the trees into Malaysia. They originally had the intention of using the trees as ornamental plants! who would have guessed?



As for me, the oil palm holds much potential in the future. Think about it......oil can finally be grown to run vehicles, machineries and even generate power someday.......Malaysia will stand to gain alot! No wonder Sime Darby is treating these trees like babies......money does grow on trees......literally-speaking....

Birding & the City - It is an eye-opener for my husband and I when we visited Lake Gardens recently.

I am a city gal....born and bred in KL. Even though i love the rustic life of the "kampung", I do get bored easily and can't wait to get back to the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan city.

But then, I have long passed the joy of clubbing, partying and shopping. Not that i totally shun these activities, but I guess when you reached the age of 32, you start to wonder whether there's anything more to life than just spending your hard-earn money on superficial stuffs such as partying and shopping........

Bird-watchingPic above: blue-tailed bee-eater

I have rediscovered that there are plenty of 'healthy, educational and fun' activities one could participate in the city. Yes, you do not need to go out of the city to indulge in these activities. Rather than taking your children to the hypermarkets and shopping malls (I know many young parents do), why not take them out to the Lake Gardens for bird-watching? Not only is it free, but everyone gets to sweat a little, which hey, is always good for physical and mental health.

Pic above: Common Flameback (wood pecker)

Instead of letting them have a go at the playground, you can take the opportunity to teach them about the resident birds that make Lake Gardens their home. Before this, all we know about birds that strive in the city of KL are the notorious crow (gagak), burung pipit, pigeon and the common myna.

Pic above: Black-naped oriole

Birding is a great side-hobby for photographers. They can take this a step further by identifying the birds that they captured on films and studying these birds (about their habitats).

Pic above: Hadida Ibis from South Africa

Being with nature is a humbling experience as it helps us (and the younger generation) understand that all living creatures should live in harmony and to be thankful for all the wonderful flora and fauna that god almighty has created.

Pic above: Green-billed Malkoha

The time is definitely now, that everyone of us should make a conscious effort in preserving what we have and what better way to do so.......... by educating ourselves, our children and youths. This is what this blog is intended to be........to be read and shared to those interested in making a difference in their lives (be it your health or preserving mother earth and all her inhabitants).

Pic above: White-breasted waterhen

Pic : White-throated Kingfisher

Some of the wild birds captured (on digital cam) and identified at Lake Gardens, KL (These bird pics are not taken in bird park, but free-flying ones around Tasik Perdana).

Pic above: Asian Glossy Starling

Pic above: Pink-necked Green pigeon (far left) and its female counterpart (right)

Photos courtesy of David Chan (photographer and an avid bird-watcher)

Can soya milk cause men to grow breasts?

Extracted from Asiaone news.

"No, there is little evidence to support this belief.

A dietitian with the HPB says soya products such as beancurd and soya milk are low in saturated fat and a good source of protein and can be consumed as part of a healthy balanced diet.

But soya beans do contain isoflavones, a naturally occurring antioxidant with weak properties of female hormones, which has been thought to increase the risk of gynecomastia (development of abnormally large mammary glands in males) and decrease a man's libido.

But the amount of isoflavones is insignificant, so it is safe for men to drink soya milk.

However, some studies have linked excessive soya consumption to certain health problems such as dementia, so it is best to drink soya milk in moderation.

'For people with hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer, consumption of soya products is discouraged due to concerns about the female hormone-like properties of isoflavones, which may aggravate their condition.'

Other common myths on food shared on this link........

Pet therapy cats vs dogs

I used to rear dogs as pets when I was little. Now that I am not so little anymore, my family adopted a cat. I have to say, taking care of dogs and taking care of cats.....well, a very different matter altogether.....

After years of caring for dogs and cats, I have concluded that:

If they could talk, they would probably say....
A dog - "You are my master"
A cat - "I am your master"

A dog would always seek attention from the owners (wags tail, barks, licks the owner)
A cat would only seek the owners' attention when 1) hungry 2)......hungry 3) mmmm.....hungry

A dog can be too clingy at times as it depends on you for its livelihood
A cat can't be bothered and will most probably not think twice about changing owners if ill-treated (i may be wrong as some cats are very loyal)

A dog is generally high-maintenance as they consume more food, need more space and more of your attention
A cat, on the other hand, just needs very little feeding (i think it depends on the breed), sleeps 16 hours a day and spends another 4 hours grooming and staring into the sky.........hence, a cat does not have much time for you.

My feline friend (btw, her name is Juli NG, as in Juling) is my bundle of joy. My mother-in-law found her abandoned at the TTDI morning market one day. "She squints, that is possibly the reason why she was left behind" My husband and I took her in and presented her to my dad (whom had just lost our family cat not too long ago) a few days later and the rest is history.

Nowadays, they are a tight pair. Juling never once leaves my dad when he is alone and loves to sit by the toilet door whenever one of us is in it. hahahha....just to make sure we do not fall into the toilet bowl........Juling never does her big business in the house......she actually walks down 7 flight of stairs and poops god knows where........good kitty!

Even though your sofa will not look the same again and the occasional soiling of the floor and door mat may drive you nuts, cats offer plenty of health benefits to its owners.

Health benefits of owning pets (in this case both cats and dogs):

Companionship
1. Dogs and cats are wonderful companions....especially for the elderly and children.
Pet therapy can help relieve stress (personal experience) and may be beneficial for people with depression, anxiety and also in disease management.

2. Personal development
You or your children can also learn alot from these gentle creatures such as humanity, love and responsibilities.

3. Healthy heart and blood pressure
Whenever we are stressed out at work, we can alway carry and hug our cat......i can practically feel my tension easing and my blood pressure dropping....serious. Juling is my stress ball...so to speak. My husband always say that she is a 'village bicycle' as we normally take turns to carry and hug her........without any resistance whatsoever......i guess Juling must be thinking "resistance is futile......"

4. Self-esteem
A local study conducted in UKM (collaboration with Sunway medical center) has demonstrated that there was a tendency for people with pets to generally have slightly higher self-esteem and self-efficacy as compared to people without pets.

5. Plus points as boyfriend material
Guys who rear pets are deemed to be more caring, responsible and selfless.........see how he treats animal and you can gauge how well he treats others.

6. Assist the handicapped

Countdown to the year-end break

Seven more working days and I am off .........clearing my leave for the year. Not to say that i did not plan my leave any better but i normally like to clear them in December. Hence, I planned this since March ok.......

Somehow, work always seem to creep up at the very last moment. "We are launching this product next month, can you work on it now?", "I know you will be away, but i need your team to handle this", "We have this last minute roadshow request from a doctor" .......and the requests go on and on..............argh.....

Year end is awfully stressful for many of us as we are not just anticipating bonus and increments but also planning where to go on our long break. I remember vividly my last two trips that caused me visits to the doctor and MCs. I am not sure whether is it due to the ageing process or simply dehydration, but on both occasions, I ended up with a bad case of stomach flu and had to stay home for the rest of the holiday season.

I am abit phobic right now if you ask me to sit on a plane for hours, for fear i will get another case of the flu again. I guess it is true that when you are traveling and seems to be on an amazing race of your own, your adrenaline level signals your immune system not to break down and only to fall apart after you have reached home.

I hope that the tips below offer some help for the avid travelers out there:

1. Always rehydrate your body. Dehydration can cause fatigue, mood swings and dry flaky skin (esp true if you are sitting in an aircraft cabin for hours). Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
2. Have sufficient rest/sleep. This will ensure that the body repairs itself from the day's onslaught.
3. Plan your trip to avoid unnecessary stress. Stress can be a trigger for poor immune system and not to mention, unhappy spouse/partner/friend.
4. Do bring along some vitamins and the most general would be vitamin C or just any antioxidants that may give your body a boost in energy and ward off sickness.
5. Go slow. Since Malaysians are practically a kiasu bunch of people, we ended up being so hyped up about seeing everything and neglecting (1) and (2) and thus like me, endured the consequences.
6. Eat at reputable and clean eateries. My family and I have had a few chronic cases of food poisoning that I do not wish to share (just too painful).
7. If you are prone to stomach upset, you can try probiotics (friendly bacteria) available in capsule form.
8. Pack healthy snacks such as fruits and salads as these will provide you the essential vitamins and minerals. Good options if you intend to go for picnics in the parks.
9. Ext to item (7) - Carry a mini first aid kit which consists of the following items; paracetamol, carbon pills, 'minyak angin', plasters of various sizes and counterpain cream.
10. When things don't go as planned, just go with the flow............

Happy holidays to everybody!

Dearly departed

I was up in Genting for an off-site meeting when i heard about the news......"What! how? when?"

The festive and happy mood changed abruptly to a solemn one. My ex-director has passed on at a tender age of 52.

We weren't really that close but interacting with and working for him was really a privilege as most of us looked up to him as a mentor and father figure.

"Heard that it was due to a heart attack" replied my colleague.

Heart problem (CVD) is the number one killer in Malaysia. Genetics, ageing and certain diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure are common risk factors.

Modifiable risk factors (factors that you can control and change) such as stress, food intake and lifestyle changes could help reduce the risk. Many people have suffered from heart attack or stroke and survived it, only to face complications such as paralysis and lost of quality of life. Others, are not so lucky ..........they passed on.

Health tips on managing CVD:

1. Maintain ideal body weight (check your BMI from my last few posts)
2. Do not smoke
3. Limit alcohol consumption (as not to go overboard)
4. Exercise (helps lose weight, relieves stress and keeps the heart healthy)
5. Diet (go for more grains, vege and fruits...reduce intake of red meat, animal products and saturated fats)
6. Go for regular check-ups
7. If you noticed that you are having unexplained chest pains that radiate to the neck, shoulders and back, see a doctor immediately
8. Supplement your diet with Omega-3 fish oil (Omega-3 exerts anti-inflammatory actions and helps keep the circulatory system healthy by reducing blood pressure and blood lipids)
9. Manage stress wisely. Indulge in your favourite hobby such as listening to the music, yoga, reading, going for movies ...........(i am starting to enjoy more quiet activities such as fishing and my husband is into birding nowadays)
10. Be extra careful if you are suffering from high blood sugar, hypertension, obesity (esp around the waist), high cholesterol and TG levels which are collectively known as Syndrome X. Practising steps 1 to 9 may reduce your risks for CVD

Kopi Luwak

Civet Coffee from Bali

My colleague recently bought a packet of Kopi Luwak from Bali. "It is expensive, about RM 40 for 2 servings. Disappointingly, it is not aromatic and tastes bland". I looked at her and ask "Could it be that you guys are not brewing it right?" "No, we brewed it using a proper coffee brewing machine" defended my friend.

"mmm, in that case, you may have been duped without knowing it! Supplies are limited and the fact that you can get it easily implies that the 'source' may be questionable"

"Yea, that thought did cross my mind" she agreed.

I am more of a tea person rathen than a coffee lover. I suspect that I am sensitive to caffeine and a cup of coffee does contain 3X amount of caffeine compared to a cup of tea. My lack of experience in coffee-drinking explains why i wouldn't know whether a cup of the infamous luwak coffee is supposed to taste like a cup of ordinanry coffee, better or otherwise (acquired taste).

Well, two things i've found out about the Luwak coffee are the enzymes from the digestion of the red coffee beans actually break down the protein that give coffee its bitter taste (hence, you may be surprise to know that it is not as bitter as you think it should be) and standards may differ from regions to regions depending on the type of beans these animal consume. So, the luwak coffee from Bali may taste different from a cuppa from say, Vietnam.

Perhaps those who have the 'privilege' to try the most expensive coffee in the world could share more info with me. If given a chance, would I want to try it?............maybe

Source - Wikipedia

Civets consume the red coffee cherries containing the fruit and seed. The inner bean of the berry is not digested, but a unique combination of enzymes in the stomach of the civet add to the coffee's flavour by breaking down the proteins that give coffee its bitter taste. The beans are defecated, still covered in some inner layers of the berry. The beans are washed, and given only a light roast so as to not destroy the complex flavours that develop through the process. Light roasting is considered particularly desirable in coffees that do not exhibit bitterness, and the most pronounced characteristic of Kopi Luwak is a marked reduction in bitterness.

All Kopi Luwak does not taste identical, because civet cats may dine on any variety of Arabica, Robusta (but they usually choose the ripest and sweetest beans) or other species of beans in the environment, and the bean variety greatly affects the underlying taste of the result. However, Kopi Luwak coffees share a similar aroma profile, lack of bitterness, and some flavour characteristics that gourmets of the coffee genre recognise among the many varieties.

Clean up your act, Uncle.......

I used to love hanging out at this particular Malay stall selling all sorts of local fare. The owners are good cooks and normally do catering for big shots such as the "menteri-menteri" during the Majlis berbuka puasa, Hari Raya Haji and other Muslim celebrations linked to the Government.

They started a humble stall selling Nasi lemak and 'kueh-mueh' by the roadside till opening their own restaurants (1 in Bandar Menjalara and I think another branch at Sri Hartamas). I've also been to their functions for a wedding ceremony where my husband likes to saviour their Ayam masak merak and Sayur londeh...

Hey, I have nothing against them but i think at the rate they are going now, they may need to close shop very soon. The recent visit to their joint in Menjalara was disastrous. The whole place was teeming with not customers, but cockroaches! I was disgusted to see baby roaches running hilter-skilter across a dish of fried eggs (pity those who are eating that later). Yuck!

Not only that, they also have the flying variety (those which tend to fly clumsily and always seem to be aiming for you!) all around the restaurant. The lady boss did not even show any sign of concern and blatantly placed an insect aerosol on top of the cash register! Wa lau.........

I lost my appetite there and then and vouch not to go back ever again or at least till they tidy up the place! The owner even came to us and told us his staff are busy preparing for a function at a local TV station for the upcoming event where some menteris will be coming to officiate the whole thingy.......good luck to those attending the event. As for me, i am heading straight home to 'fortify' my gut with some friendly bacteria. Boy, I am going to need a billion dose and hopefully i am spared from the runs.............

Food poisoning is on the rise and though many people treated it lightly, it can be detrimental to children, the elderly and the pregnant ladies. Visits to the doctors for food poisoning is on the rise and unless we boycott or take actions against these dirty eateries by highlighting to higher authority, i am afraid, we would just have to embrace this irresponsible act as part and parcel of life.........'sigh'

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/GH12Ak01.html

Yes boss Sorry boss = die faster

According to a study conducted by the Stress Research Institute of Stockholm University, employed men who bottled up their anger for being unfairly treated at work, are 5X more likely to suffer from heart attack (and die from it).

"Thou shall not 'eat dead cat' (sek sei mau in chinese)" but instead should stand up for justice....and for the sake of your health. The researchers recommended that being confrontational may actually be better than "letting things pass without saying anything".

Mmmm...i wonder whether the same applies to women?

Common cold vs flu?

The other day one of my colleagues, A was suffering from a common cold. " No lah, this is flu. I am going to see a doctor ...scared H1N1 leh"

My other colleague, B and I were rather amused with her reaction. "You are over-reacting" i said...."Trying to 'siam' from attending meeting later right?"

B and I could see through A's intentions. B whispered into my ear "Yep, i am sure she is faking it......knowing that the meeting would be a draggy one, as always"

Many people actually mistaken a common cold for flu and vice versa. Though both are of viral origin, they are not the same (different strains of virus).

Symptoms of common colds:
1. Runny nose/stuffed nose
2. Scratchy throat/sneezing
3. No fever
4. No joint pains/body aches
5. No diarrhoea/vomiting

You do not need to see a doctor, just up your intake of immune-boosting vitamin C and drink lots of water will do. Generally mild in nature.

Symptoms of flu (short for influenza):
1. Fever
2. Coughs
3. Joint pains/aches
4. A small percentage may suffer from diarrhoea/vomiting
5. Fatigue/malaise

Best to see a doctor to help get rid of the infection and also in this case to rule out H1N1. More serious in nature as flu can kill and cause a pandemic. Influenza is a viral infection and you will not be cured by taking antibiotics. Anti-virals or vaccines may help but generally we rely alot on the body's immune system to fight the virus.

OK to go for that extra burger?

http://health.asiaone.com/Health/Eat%2BRight/Story/A1Story20091117-180427.html

According to this article, the British government recommends that adults' daily calorie intake - currently 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men - could be increased by up to 16 per cent. That's the equivalent of a cheeseburger or two packets of crisps.

Warning! Only if you exercise. You would need to jog at a moderate pace for about an hour to burn the extra burger that you've consumed. It is reported that a third of the British population are overweight. Go figure.......

A person with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 and above is considered overweight. However, I would like to stress that for Asians, the cut-off index is at 23.

Calculate your BMI here
http://www.nutriweb.org.my/bmical.php

When do you know that your pillow is dead?

DIY 1: When do we know it is time to throw that old pillow into the bin?

1. Fold your pillow into half and place a handbag on it. If it springs back, your pillow is doing fine......if it just stays put, it is time to trash it and get a new one.
2. Another way is to stretch out your left arm and lay the pillow across your arm. If it looks like a pair of saddlebag, then it is probably time to replace it.

Caring for your pillow......
3. Doctor says placing the pillow in the freezer for 12 hours will kill dust mites. mmmmm......raising any eyebrows yet? I say airing your pillow under the hot sun for several hours will also do the trick, not to mention that it won't end up smelling like frozen chicken!
4. House dust mite is the number one allergen in Malaysia (allergy-causing bugs), so make sure you change your bed sheet often , say once in two weeks..

Snack Size Science: Vitamin E and the quest for thick hair

Snack Size Science: Vitamin E and the quest for thick hair

Many men and women are losing their hair these days.....is it in the food we eat, the air we breathe or simply we are a generation of stressed out individuals?

Hormones which are essential for all body functions are now causing havoc in the body due to imbalances which again may be caused by culprits such as improper food intake (energy-dense but of no nutrient value), pollution and stress. 4 out of 7 Americans are suffering from hair loss and the same goes for countries such as Hongkong (by the number of mushrooming ads targeting at this group of people).

However, please do not fret if you are losing 200 strands of hair each day as this is normal. And contrary to popular beliefs, combing your hair more than 100 times a day will not prevent hair loss, though i believe it does promote better circulation of the scalp and thus results in hair growth.

The audio podcast above highlights the benefits of vitamin E (from palm oil) in arresting hair loss.

Rising sugar intake causing more deaths

Rising sugar intake causing more deaths

Statistics in Malaysia stand at 6.8% but we know it can be as high as 12% as many of the cases can go unreported. Another fact is this is a rising trend.

There are indeed many who may have diabetes without realising it. Many of them do not have proper access to healthcare facilities or simply ignorant about their health. I personally see a lot of these old folks who just refuse to see a doctor as they would normally say "the more you know, the doomer it gets"

A person with uncontrolled blood sugar increases his/her risks to heart problems, strokes, kidney failure, eye disorders (cataract and glaucoma) and nerve damage which can lead to impotence, amputation and poor quality of life (there is no cure for diabetes and thus the patients would have to rely on drugs for the rest of his/her life).

I was doing a short training at HKL earlier this year and witnessed a couple of nurses tending to this particular patient. He obviously has diabetic neuropathy and the nurses were cleaning and dressing his foot with medication and gauze. There was a gaping hole in his foot the size of a golf ball!! And the thing is he has got no sensation or experience no pain whatsoever. The nerve damage is so severe until he can't feel the pain this gaping hole exerts. He must have stepped on a nail and with no sensation, infections set in. It was too much for me and my colleagues to take in at that time so we left. The impending feeling that the poor guy would one day succumb to losing his foot/leg is heart-wrenching.

Recommended daily intake for sugar is 10 tsp. But many consumers do not know about hidden sugars found in highly processed foods such as your bowl of cereals, desserts, ice cream and etc. According to The Star, teh tarik can easily chalk up 6-7 teaspoons of sugar. Carbonated beverages, fizzy drinks and the likes may double that amount. The more affluence a society gets, the more sugar they indulge. This has been observed in countries such as America and it looks like we are heading that way.......

Recently, we saw in the news about this huge baby from Indonesia, apparently borne by a diabetic mom. Most are fascinated with this "miracle' baby but not me. The baby would grow up with a very good chance of being overweight most of his adult life, higher risks of developing diabetes, arthritis, heart problems....

So, what are you going to do about it?

You can start by being more discerning when it comes to eating. Ask for Milo/Teh tarik kurang manis (don't go for "kow"). Moderation is key. We still need sugar in our food or else what is the point of living? We all love good food and many of us do have the means and money to indulge but do so in moderation.

Reading the product labels on food packaging may also provide some answers on the sugar content of foods. You will be surprise to find some of these are loaded with sugar without much nutrient content. If you love juicing, the natural sugar found in vegetables and fruits is more than enough. You do not need to add on more sugar. Alternatively, you can get good quality honey as a sugar substitute. I use organic brown sugar these days as i cannot live without my daily doses of black tea.

The saying "You are what you eat" is very true in this context.

Robert had depression

This is sad as he was only 32. Many people may suffer from depression without others realising it and that is the danger. It is also hard to treat depression (unlike popping pills that would drastically reduce cholesterol levels) as many do not seek help in the first place.

The incidence is about 10% and does not only happen in developed countries. Genetic, environmental factors and traumatic life-changing events are contributing factors but some people may get depressed for no apparent reason. Some depression could be nutrient deficient-related such as DHA and post-natal blues suffered by mothers. People living in the city are also more likely to fall into depression compared to those living in rural areas.

If you say that you are 'depressed', chances are, technically you are just being sad. Depression normally lasts for months. The person may lose whatever interests he/she has got, eg. say he used to love photography and out of a sudden, he just lost the love for it. He or she becomes anti-social, lose weight and has unpredictable mood swings.

People who are depressed are also more suicidal, with men committing the deadly deed more 'successfully' than women (read it somewhere).

But I have to say that it is the family members who suffered the most when dealing with loved ones who are depressed. More often than not, one would feel helpless and slightly clueless of what to do. Treatment can be very expensive as it involves counseling, psychiatric therapy, medications and lots of love and attention (being with a depressed person 24/7 is advisable as we do not know what they are up to next, but quite impossible as you need to go to work and sleep).

People who recovered from depression may also have a relapse triggered by the same factors i've mentioned earlier and the whole cycle starts again. Well, I am not going to pretend that i know alot about treating depression but I do have some personal experience and have come to the conclusion that:

1. If you suspect that your loved ones or friends have depression, get them to seek medical help. This is because a depressed person does not normally take any initiative to do so.
2. Join a support group. People in the group can help give good advice, recommend good doctors (not just some doctors who do not give a hoot about the patients, except for taking his/her money).
3. Ensure that the patient take his or her medication on schedule (again, the patient will not do so).
4. Hire a nurse to tend to the patient.
5. Love and understand him/her. This is the challenging part. Many people do not understand the condition and usually shrug it off as a phase that the patient is going through. Thus, frustration and anger can easily set in and worsen the situation.
6. Be suspicious. If he/she shows any signs of positivity (you've just got to be cautiously optimistic with manic depressive people), tells you that he/she is feeling better already, would like to go out alone and etc......don't just take their word for it! They may be off to commit something stupid
7. Institiutionalise him/her if everything else fails. Nobody likes to see their family members/friends being sent off to Tanjong Rambutan but it may be the best option for all parties.

Coffee linked to breast and colon cancer

Coffee linked to breast and colon cancer

The research suggests that a component found in coffee bean may have oestrogen-like effects and thus promote certain tumour growth (breast and not colon). There are also similar hypothesis about drinking soy milk and cancer link. Soy milk does contain phyto-oestrogen and some say may cause cancer (tumours that thrive on hormone oestrogen).

My opinion is that:
1. More studies are warranted to come up with any definitive conclusion
2. Continue to drink soy milk as the benefits do outweigh the risks (good source of protein, high calcium, less allergenic compared to cow's milk etc)
3. Continue to enjoy your cup of coffee (though i do not recommend one should load up on caffeine)

A (H1N1)

Second wave of the flu expected.....find out more from this podcast i've created sometime back....

http://www.biolife.com.my/podcast.php?funcid=shw_iframe&id=84

Music heals the soul

Many of us might have heard of this song before. Yep, from the TM ad. Song sung by local band known as bunkface......enjoy!




Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your physical and mental health. In fact, there’s a growing field of health care known as Music Therapy, which uses music to heal. Those who practise music therapy are finding that music helps cancer patients, children with ADD (Attention deficit disorder), and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring.

Back to nature

It is great to know that we KL-lites can still retreat to the forest, when we wanted to be with nature, smelling the trees and spotting big black squirrels the size of a big cat.

A 10-minute drive from PJ, you will be able to see the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) on the left side of the highway (MRR2).

Now, you have to pay an entrance fee of RM6. You can opt for the Canopy walk (150m long) for RM 5 per adult and RM 10 for non-Malaysians or simply go for jungle trekking (free) as there are a few trails to choose from. Engkabang and Keruing trails are some of the popular ones around. For cyclists, you can go on the the Rover's track.

The trail up to the canopy walk is suitable for all ages, but can be quite demanding as you scale up the top to reach the Canopy walk station (this is where you'll know whether you are fit or not).

Pictures taken along the Keruing trail:

The wonders of Lake Kenyir

My husband and I were pleasantly surprised by our visit to this man-made lake and hope that this article serves as a guide to those who would like to visit this place in the future.

Lake Kenyir is located in the state of Terengganu. Originally an area of hilltops and highlands which was then converted to a dam in 1985, Lake Kenyir now consists of 340 islands, 14 waterfalls and numerous rivers. It is interesting to note that the lake is slightly larger than our neighbouring country, Singapore. It is also the largest man-made lake in South East Asia. Currently, Lake Kenyir serves as a reservoir as well as a power station. The lake also serves as another gateway to Taman Negara.

From Kuala Lumpur, you may opt for public transportation such as the bus or taxi service, self-drive or fly from either LCCT (with AirAsia) or Subang airport (with FireFly). Do look out for promotions offered by these companies as it will save you both time and money. From the Sultan Mahmud airport in Kuala Terengganu, you can book a taxi which will take you directly to the lake. The journey from the airport to Lake Kenyir is about an hour’s drive (RM 90 one way).

My husband and I stayed in Lake Kenyir Resort and Spa as they were having a promotion at that time. The friendly and accommodating staff greeted us when we arrived at the lobby and immediately checked us in into our room. The view from our balcony was spectacular. We even chanced upon a hornbill perched up on a tree, feasting on berries. What a great way to welcome us!






We started to unpack and headed straight for the first itinerary on our list, the lake cruise (RM 40/person). The cruise was a very relaxing experience and before we knew it, we have arrived at the Herbal Island, situated about a 20-minute boat ride from our resort. Our tour guide showed us some of the local herbs found in this part of the island and guided us to a small hut where some of these local herbs were brewed for sampling. We tried the popular Tongkat Ali and Kacip Fatimah which are traditionally used by both men and women for general health and well-being. The guide also boasted that if one were to drink Tongkat Ali every day, it will ward off mosquitoes as the blood is too bitter for their taste! You can even buy a packet or two of these herbs as souvenirs for family members and friends back home.








After visiting the Herbal Island, we proceeded to our next destination, the Saok waterfall. The Saok waterfall is one of the many waterfalls found in Lake Kenyir. It is an ideal spot for picnics and photography sessions. The rapid current cascading from the top boulders to the bottom of the waterfall was a mesmerising sight to behold. The deafening sound of the waterfall was also therapeutic as it quickly erased all our worries and stress.

After visiting the Saok waterfall, we went back to our boat and headed back to the resort. At the resort, we took the opportunity to walk around the vast premise. There are many fruit trees planted at the resort such as the ciku tree, Starfruit tree and many more. There are also animals such as deers and various free-flying birds to keep us occupied for the rest of the day. As the resort is located far away from the town, food are only available at the restaurant in the resort itself (alternatively, you can travel out of the resort to smaller towns or to the nearest jetty for food). We retired early on the first day, sitting at our balcony while enjoying a cup of tea before calling it a day.

On the second day, after a hearty breakfast, we rented a canoe and went on a kayaking adventure (RM 15/hour). The deep waters were nerve-wrecking at first but after a few minutes, we slowly got a hang of it. The serene atmosphere and the calm waters were reassuring and before we knew it, we were back on shore again. For the more adventurous people, activities such as caving can be considered. Some of the well-known caves in this part of the region are the Taat and Bewah caves.

Lake kenyir is also famous for its big fresh water fishes such as Ikan Lampan, Ikan Toman, Ikan Baung, Ikan Kelisa and many more. With that in mind, we wanted to try our luck at fishing (RM 25/fishing rod). The guide handed us a bowl of earth worms and showed us how to make bait using these worms. After a short introductory course, we were out on our own. According to the guide, the best time to go fishing is in the late evenings (5pm to 7pm) and even showed us some of the popular fishing spots located at the resort. I managed to catch a small Ikan Patung and Ikan Baung. My husband and I decided to release the fishes back to the lake as we did not have the heart to kill them. The feeling of catching a fish was exhilarating as I have never fished in my life before.

Another great activity to do in Lake kenyir is bird-watching. Throughout our stay, we managed to catch glimpses of some of these exotic birds. There are a few species of hornbills in Lake Kenyir and we were fortunate enough to photograph the Great hornbills and the Oriental Pied hornbills in the wild. They normally hang out in pairs and feed on berries and oil palm kernels throughout the day before retiring into the night. Various species of smaller birds such as kingfishers, parrots and robins were also spotted. Bird-watching tours could also be arranged by the resort staff at a reasonable price (RM 50/person).

In a nutshell, our trip to Lake Kenyir had been a memorable experience full of little surprises, from the friendly and knowledgeable staff, to the flora and fauna found in this region of Terengganu. This not-so-commercialised tourist attraction is worth the visit and we highly recommend it for honey-mooners, holiday-makers and families with young children.