Trapped In Lift - do this...

What to do when you are trapped in a lift ???

We never know when and where accidents will happen to us OR people around us. Read on and hope this piece of information may help any of us when things do happen to yourself, our friends and our loved ones.
One day, while in a lift, it suddenly broke down and it was falling from level 13 at a fast speed. Fortunately, I remembered watching a TV program that taught you must quickly press all the buttons for all the levels.
Finally, the lift stopped at the 5th level.
When you are facing life and death situations, whatever decisions or actions you make decides your survival.
If you are caught in a lift breakdown, first thought in mind may be 'waiting to die'...
But after reading below, things will definitely be different the next time you are caught in a lift...
First - Quickly press all the different levels of buttons in the lift.
When the emergency electricity supply is being activated, it will stop the lift from falling further.
Second - Hold on tight to the handle (if there is any).. It is to support your position and prevent you from falling or getting hurt when you lost your balance.
Third - Lean your back and head against the wall forming a straight line.
Leaning against the wall is to use it as a support for your back/spine as protection.
Fourth - Bend your knees
Ligament is a flexible, connective tissue. Thus, the impact of fractured bones will be minimised during fall.

7 don'ts after a meal

Don't smoke-Experiment from experts proves that smoking a cigarette after meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarettes (chances of cancer is higher).

* Don't eat fruits immediately - Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause stomach to be bloated with air. Therefore take fruit 1-2 hr after meal or 1 hr before meal.

* Don't drink tea - Because tea leaves contain a high content of acid. This substance will cause the Protein content in the food we consume to be hardened thus difficult to digest.

* Don't loosen your belt - Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted &blocked.

* Don't bathe - Bathing will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs & body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease. This will weaken the digestive system in our stomach.

* Don't walk about - People always say that after a meal walk a hundred steps and you will live till 99. In actual fact this is not true. Walking will cause the digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we intake.

* Don't sleep immediately - The food we intake will not be able to digest properly. Thus will lead to gastric & infection in our intestine.

info sharing:- Envelopes and Stamps

Envelopes and Stamps

A woman was working in a post Office in California .
One day she licked the envelopes and postage stamps instead of using a sponge.
That very day the lady found a cut on her tongue. A week later, she noticed an abnormal swelling of her tongue.

She went to the doctor, and they found nothing wrong..
Her tongue was not sore or anything... A couple
of days later, her tongue started to swell more, and it began
to get really sore, so sore, that she could not eat. She
went back to the hospital, and demanded something be done.

The doctor took an x-ray of her tongue and noticed a
lump... He prepared her for minor surgery. When
The doctor cut her tongue open, a live cockroach crawled out!!!!

There were cockroach eggs on the seal of the
Envelope. The egg was able to hatch inside of
her tongue, because of her saliva, which was warm and moist.....
This is a truestory reported on CNN!



Andy Hume wrote: Hey, I used to work in an envelope
factory. You wouldn't believe the....things that float around in
those gum applicator trays. I haven't licked
an envelope for years!'

I used to work for a print shop(32 years ago), and we
were told NEVERto lick the envelopes. I never understood
why until I had to go into storage and pull out 2500
envelopes that were already printed and saw several squads
of cockroaches roaming around inside a couple of
boxes with eggs everywhere. They eat the glue
on the envelopes..

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS!

After reading this you will never lick
Another envelope or stamp again.

5 DON'T when you're sleeping.

1 - DON'T SLEEP WITH WATCH
Watches can emit a certain level of radioactivity. Though small, but if you wear your watch to bed for a long time, it might have adverse effects on your health.

2 - DON'T SLEEP WITH BRA
Scientists in America have discovered those that wear bras for more than 12 hours have a higher risk of getting breast cancer. So go to bed without it.

3 - DON'T SLEEP WITH PHONE
Putting the phone beside your bed or anywhere near you is not encouraged. Though some of us will use phones as alarm clocks, but please put the phone as far as possible. Scientists have proved that electrical items including mobile phone and television sets emit magnetic waves when used. These waves can cause disruptions to our nervous system.. Therefore if you need to put your mo! bile phone near you, switch it off first.

4 - DON'T SLEEP WITH MAKE UP
People who sleep with make up might have skin problems in the long run. Sleeping with make up will cause the skin to have difficulty in breathing and problem in perspiring. You will also need a much longer time to go into deep sleep.



Lastly.....

5 - DON'T SLEEP WITH OTHERS' WIFE / HUSBAND
You may never wake up again

6 simple tips to lose weight

Tips from Reader’s Digest :

Chew Gum
Volunteers who chewed gum for 15 minutes each hour between lunch and a snack consumed 60 fewer calories from sweets than when they went gum-free.

Vegetable Juice
Here's a surprising way to supercharge any diet--and your health: Chug a glass of low-sodium vegetable juice every day. In a study of 81 overweight adults at risk for heart disease and diabetes, those who drank at least a cup of low-sodium V8 daily lost four pounds over 12 weeks, while those on the same reduced-fat diet who drank no juice lost one pound.

Drop Sugary Drinks
Calories from solid foods and liquids both add up, of course. But in a recent multicenter study, the only menu change that had a significant payoff for dieters was cutting back on sugary beverages, says lead author Benjamin Caballero, MD. Reducing intake by just one serving a day took a pound off after six months, enough to add up for people with a soda or fruit-drink habit.

Green Tea
Overweight or obese exercisers burned off three more pounds and 7 percent more belly fat when they drank green tea instead of another beverage with the same calories, according to a new multicenter study.

More Sleep
A study of 32 summer students at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas over three weeks showed that those who slept an extra two hours ate nearly 300 calories less.

Mushrooms
When ground beef was swapped out for mushrooms in lasagna, sloppy joes, and chili, adults consumed 400 fewer calories per day, according to a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health study. Researchers estimate that if you sub mushrooms for ground meat in one meal every week, you can lose five pounds in a year.

Straws - Just how unhealthy they can get

> Read the accompanying horrid story and you'll think
> twice before using a straw to drink !!
> ...................................................................
> Horrible story!
>
> I ordered a Club Sandwich and a Sprite in a restaurant
> somewhere in
> Malaysia .. When I finished half of the
> sandwich I sipped a sprite. But it didnt taste like
> an ordinary
> sprite I used to drink. So I sipped once more, but
> it still tasted the same. It tasted like a sprite
> mixed with some
> kind of oil.
> I
>called the clerk and asked him if the sprite was
> expired. He said it
> was just delivered today. So I asked him to
> taste it. Then he also found that something was
> wrong with it.
>
> Both of us were
> wondering for a while. Then I got to look inside the
> straw. There were a lot of tiny black round
> things that looked like eggs. So I cut the middle of
> the straw
> lengthwise to have a better look.. Yuck. There were
> a lot of tiny black round things in it.. I suppose
> they were eggs of
> cockroach. About 1000 eggs were there. Then I
> began to check all the other straws in the straws
> case one by one.
> Almost all of them contained black eggs that
> seemed to be either the cockroach eggs or
> excretions..
>
> After the incident I began to check all the straws in the
> restaurants and fast food chains that I had gone to..
> Almost of all the straws contained the same black
> eggs. Especially
> the darker the colors of straws, the more black
> eggs were found.. In black straws, extreme amount of
> black eggs were
> found. It was found out that it's because the
> cockroaches live
> (hatch eggs and excrete) in the dark places.
>
> * 80% or more restaurants in the malls use red or
> black colored
> straws.
>
> SO NEXT TIME.... BE CAUTIOUS... CHECK THE
> STRAW BEFORE
> YOU PLACE IT INSIDE THE DRINKS. BETTER STILL....DO USE
> STRAW

INFLUENZA A(H1N1) ADVISORY

Remember these recommendations;

1. Wear mask if you have the infection or when looking after infected person.

2. Regular washing of hands with soap and water or alcohol based sanitizing lotion.

3. Avoid crowded places

4. Seek medical advice/ treatment when having flu like illness signs and symptoms.

The virus is spread by oral droplets that are sneezed or coughed out by infected person. If another person breathes in these droplets, they will get the virus and may end up getting the flu. Due to gravity, these droplets are limited in the distance of spread and the reason why one will not be infected if one stays beyond 3 feet from the sufferer. This is also the reason why infected person needs to wear face mask or to cover their nose/mouth when sneezing/ coughing; to prevent their oral droplets from reaching others.

Apart from the above, the oral droplets may also contaminate items such as furniture, door-knobs, stationery, etc. This is the rationale for the recommendation to regularly wash our hands with water and soap or where available, the alcohol based sanitizing lotion. We are also recommended not to touch our mouth, nose and eyes with unwashed hands as they may transfer the virus to these unprotected parts of the body.

The virus does not get airborne and spread by the wind or air-condition. As such there is no requirement for healthy person to wear mask except when they need to be close to infected person for long duration such as while taking care of or visiting them.

The oral droplet transmission also explains the need for everyone to avoid crowded places. The exposure will surely be more when one is in a crowd as there could be infected persons among them. It is more important for infected persons to avoid crowds as they can be the source of the virus for others. They should, as recommended impose self quarantine at home until they recover.

What about health declaration and temperature screening?

These measures are only useful during the containment period. Carriers of the virus coming into a country or premise are checked and where appropriate be referred to hospitals. However, the effectiveness of these measures is limited due to false declaration and the ability of the virus to be spread well before one gets the signs and symptoms. As has been seen, the initial measures of health declaration and temperature screening carried out by the authorities did not keep the virus out.

At present, we are well into the mitigation phase. That means we treat and isolate cases rather than trying to stop them from coming into the country/ premise. The virus is already circulating in the country with several `hot-spots'. Potential sources could be any person in the city/ town or kampong we live in. The fact that most cases were mild did not help as they went undetected while spreading the virus.

One may be infected from any of the sources, anytime. As such, it is now more effective to identify and treat infected person as quickly as possible and isolate them so as to minimize exposure to others.

What we need to do to help control the virus spread?


REMEMBER, the most important control measures are listed above. They depend on full understanding and cooperation from everyone. If all of us make conscious effort to protect ourselves and others from the virus, the transmission of the virus can be reduced. These could complement efforts by others such as the healthcare services, media, etc. in the country in controlling the pandemic.

So remember:

1. Always maintain good personal hygiene. Wash our hands regularly.
2. Avoid going to crowded places unless necessary, especially when you have the illness.
3. When you have the illness, seek medical help. Do not self medicate. If required, impose self quarantine at home. Do not come to work even if you feel you are fit to work.
4. When you have the flu or taking care of/ visit infected persons, wear the mask.

Lastly, always seek advice from professionals who know the subject and the related issues. Your nearest advisers should be the Group's or your own OPUs' Health Advisers.

SOYA BEAN

All of us know that soyabean drink provides good protein to our body...
but many of us don't know that there are certain days we should avoid
drinking it.

Soya bean drinks are best consumed on hot sunny days when the sun is
strong. The soya milk will give lots of nutrients to the body as the
body is able to absorb the protein well.

However, avoid the drink when the weather is cloudy or raining. Taking
the drink in those weather, the body will not be able to take in the
protein and will result in a disease called 'GOUT' or 'high acidic
urine' due to the high protein residue in the body, after a long run.

This disease will cause pain to your knee joints and it will only be in
control when you control your food intake of proteins and medication.
The pain is unbearable and usually you will have no idea what you have
taken to cause the pain. Food like soya beans, anchovies, broccoli,
spinach, peanuts, & n esp animal organs will have to be
avoided to prevent the pain from attacking.

So my friend, pass this to your family, relatives and friends to keep an
alert on the pros and cons of soya bean milk and when it is to be taken
and to be avoided.

Are you drinking the right tea?

1. People who use their 'brain' to work or students who study hard day
and night.
--- Should drink more Chrysanthemum Tea.

2. People who need a lot of body energy to work or those people who
exercise a lot everyday.
--- Should drink Wu Loong Tea.

3. People who travel on a bike or work in dirty and polluted places.
--- Should drink Green Tea.

4. For people who like to sit down all day long and not do anything,
even exercising
--- Must drink Green Tea and Flower Tea.

5. People who smoke and drink a lot of alcoholic drinks.
--- Should drink more Green Tea.

6. Carnivore ( i.e. people who must eat meat at least once a day, or
feel sickly)
--- Try to drink some Wu Loong Tea.

7. People who go to the washroom too often or not often enough.
--- Should drink more Honey Tea

8. People with high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
--- Wu Loong Tea, Green Tea.
9. Those who work with computers everyday.
--- Need to drink a Lot of Tea (any tea will do).

Whenever you are working with the computer, you should make some tea,
drink it when you are free.

Drinking Tea is healthy, it can protect and prevent the harmful
Ultraviolet light from harming us (when using computer).

Furthermore, it can also relief us when we are tired and help make our
body feel fresh again.

JUST KEEP IT MIND

THOSE PERSON WHO ARE HAVING CAR AND WHO ARE PLANNIG TO BUY CAR JUST KEEP IT MIND .

Please note and circulate...

Do not turn on A/C immediately as soon as you enter the car!

Please open the windows after you enter your car and do not turn ON the

air-conditioning immediately. According to a research done, the car dashboard,

sofa, air freshener emits Benzene, a Cancer causing toxin (carcinogen- take note

of the heated plastic smell in your car). In addition to causing cancer, it poisons

your bones, causes anemia, and reduces white blood cells. Prolonged exposure

will cause Leukemia, increasing the risk of cancer may also cause miscarriage.

Acceptable Benzene level indoors is 50 mg per sq. ft. A car parked indoors with

the windows closed will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene. If parked outdoors

under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benzene level goes up

to 2000-4000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level... & the people inside the car will

inevitably inhale an excess amount of the toxins.

It is recommended that you open the windows and door to give time for

the interior to air out before you enter. Benzene is a toxin that affects your

kidney and liver, and is very difficult for your body to expel this toxic stuff.


"When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it,

you have a moral obligation to share it with others"

Keep Walking.....

Just check this out......
The Organs of your body have their sensory touches at the bottom of your foot, if you massage these points,

you will find relief from aches and pains as you can see the heart is on the left foot.

Typically they are shown as points and arrows to show which organ it connects to.

It is indeed correct since the nerves connected to these organs terminate here.

This is covered in great details in Acupressure studies or textbooks.

God created our body so well that he thought of even this. He made us walk so that we will always be pressing these pressure points
and thus keeping these organs activated at all times.

Foods to Eat

Olive Oil

Four decades ago, researchers from the Seven Countries Study concluded that the monounsaturated fats in olive oil were largely responsible for the low rates of heart disease and cancer on the Greek island of Crete. Now we know that olive oil also contains polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that may help prevent age-related diseases.

Yogurt

In the 1970s, Soviet Georgia was rumored to have more centenarians per capita than any other country. Reports at the time claimed that the secret of their long lives was yogurt, a food ubiquitous in their diets. While the age-defying powers of yogurt never have been proved directly, yogurt is rich in calcium, which helps stave off osteoporosis and contains 'good bacteria' that help maintain gut health and diminish the incidence of age-related intestinal illness.

Fish

Thirty years ago, researchers began to study why the native Inuits of Alaska were remarkably free of heart disease. The reason, scientists now think, is the extraordinary amount of fish they consume. Fish is an abundant source of omega-3 fats, which help prevent cholesterol buildup in arteries and protect against abnormal heart rhythms.

Chocolate
The Kuna people of the San Blas islands, off the coast of Panama, have a rate of heart disease that is nine times less than that of mainland Panamanians. The reason? The Kuna drink plenty of a beverage made with generous proportions of cocoa, which is unusually rich in flavanols that help preserve the healthy function of blood vessels. Maintaining youthful blood vessels lowers risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and dementia.


Nuts

Studies of Seventh-Day Adventists (a religious denomination that emphasizes healthy living and a vegetarian diet) show that those who eat nuts gain, on average, an extra two and a half years. Nuts are rich sources of unsaturated fats, so they offer benefits similar to those associated with olive oil. They're also concentrated sources of vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals, including antioxidants.

Blueberries
In a landmark study published in 1999, researchers at Tufts University's Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging fed rats blueberry extract for a period of time that in 'rat lives' is equivalent to 10 human years. These rats outperformed rats fed regular chow on tests of balance and coordination when they reached old age. Compounds in blueberries (and other berries) mitigate inflammation and oxidative damage, which are associated with age-related deficits in memory and motor function.

6 Super foods for women

Super Food # 4: Tomatoes (or watermelon, red grapefruit, red navel oranges)

Goal: 3 to 5 servings each week

What it does: The powerhouse nutrient in all these fruits is lycopene. And, according to Miller, while the headlines touted its protective effects against prostate cancer, more quiet research has shown it has tremendous health benefits for women as well.

“Research is starting to show that lycopene may protect against breast cancer,” Miller says. "And it’s also a powerful antioxidant that can help a woman fight heart disease.”

The very latest research shows it may also help keep you looking younger longer by protecting against UV damage from the sun.

6 Super foods for women

Super Food # 2: Fatty fish -- like salmon, sardines, and mackerel

Goal: 2 to 3 servings every week

What it does: The healthy factor in fish is omega-3 fatty acids, and specifically two types known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).

“Fatty fish not only plays a vital role in the health of the membrane of every cell in our body, it also helps protect us from a number of key health threats,” says Laurie Tansman, MS, RD, CDN, a nutritionist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

Some of those threats include heart disease, stroke, hypertension, depression, joint pain, and a number of illnesses linked to inflammation, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Somer says fish may even offer some protection against Alzheimer’s disease.

While many foods -- such as walnuts, flaxseed oil, and some mayonnaise brands -- claim the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, Somer cautions that only the DHA or EPA forms of omega-3 can be directly used by the body.

“What you get in foods like walnuts and flaxseed oil is an omega-3 acid known as ALA -- alpha-linoleic acid,” says Somer. “And while it’s certainly good for you, it requires a process in the body to convert it to DHA. And that conversion process can be influenced by a variety of individual factors.”

6 Super foods for women

Super Food # 6: Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries)

Goal: 3 to 4 servings every week

What It Does: In a way similar to wine, these fruits may protect your body with powerful anti-cancer nutrients known as anthocyans, which are believed to play a role in cell repair. Krause says research shows anthocyans may decrease the risk of several cancers, including those in the breast and gastrointestinal tract.

“These berries,” says Krause, “are also high in vitamin C and folic acid, which is essential for all women in their childbearing years. And they offer powerful anti-oxidant protection, which not only protects the heart but also may protect against skin aging, from the inside out.” Moreover, she tells WebMD that cranberries may help reduce the risk of urinary tract infections in women, while the nutrient, lutein found in all the berries, can help protect vision.

6 Super foods for women

Super Food # 1: Low-fat yogurt

Goal: 3 to 5 servings a week

What it does: As a health food, yogurt is almost as old as, well, good health itself. But experts say evidence continues to accumulate that reveals its benefits in many new and exciting ways.

“There is a suggestion [that yogurt] may decrease the risk of breast cancer,” Somer says. ”And there’s very strong evidence it can reduce problems associated with irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory digestive tract disorders -- both conditions that impact women more than men.” Additionally, she says, yogurt can help reduce the risk of stomach ulcers and vaginal infections.

Enjoy a cup of yogurt at breakfast, lunch, or snack to help meet the U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommendation for three servings of low fat dairy each day. “It’s loaded with bone-healthy calcium -- something every woman needs more of at every age,” Somer says. One cup of yogurt has about 448 mg of calcium, compared to just 300 for eight ounces of skim milk.

The key, according to Somer, is to choose a low fat yogurt with live cultures -- like Lactobacillus acidophilus. And do check the label, Somer advises. Some store brands may not have the level of cultures found in more established brands.

Also important: Skip the fruit-on-the-bottom or other flavored varieties. “Too much sugar,” says Somer, who also reminds us that, no, those two blueberries on the bottom of the container do not constitute a serving of fruit!

Fast Food Rules to Follow by DrWeil.com.

Even if you are diligent about packing healthful foods when traveling, or finding restaurants with nutritious choices when eating out, there may be times when your healthy dining options are limited. While I suggest you avoid eating fast food entirely, if you must, please keep the following in mind when ordering:

1. No matter how hungry you are, you are better off ordering a small amount of food and making up for it with healthier foods later. Don't super-size or add on items.
2. Pile on the lettuce, tomato and other vegetables that come with your order, to add some fiber and antioxidants.
3. If you order a salad, choose the low-fat dressing, and add sparingly. One serving of full-fat dressing can be equal to the amount of fat in a cheeseburger!
4. Finally, ask to see a list of the nutritional content of menu items. Some restaurants have them posted- if they don't, ask for them, and ask yourself if you really want to eat there.

For more information on DrWeil.com.

How to Select the Best Children's Bed For Your Child's Bedroom By Amber Lipson Platinum Quality Author

Have you finally (perhaps reluctantly) decided that it's time to move your child out of their crib and onto the next level? Even though you lovingly selected your child's crib and nursery bedding with the utmost care, it may be time to realize that your baby is growing and her bed needs to grow with her. But, don't despair, there are beautiful youth beds and bedding available and now you get to put the same devotion into choosing her big girl bed that you did for her nursery! Here is what you need to know as you shop for your child's 'big kid' bed:

There are basically two styles of youth beds to choose from - toddler beds and twin beds.

Toddler Beds - Toddler beds are low to the floor and sized somewhere in between a twin bed and a crib. They are not only the right size for a toddler or young child, but they also come in a wide variety of designs that will almost guarantee that you'll find just what you're looking for. Toddler beds have become incredibly popular over that past couple years, which has made them incredibly easy to find and at very reasonable prices. Toddler beds can be great for a while, but will have to be replaced as the child grows. This style of youth bed can be found in sturdy wood or metal designs that will last through multiple children and many years.

Twin Beds - Twin beds can be a great choice, but can be a big jump right out of a crib. Most people are familiar with the basics of a twin bed, but thanks to the overwhelming demand, there have been a number of new and innovative designs put on the market in recent years. You can find everything from a traditional slat poster or sleigh style bed, to a whimsical, colorful masterpiece that your child is sure to love. Loft beds, bunk beds, and captain's beds are just a few of the other styles you can choose from. Many of them offer such things as: trundles for your overnight guests, extra storage space for your never-ending supply of clothes and toys, or guard rails to prevent children from falling off during the night.

It doesn't matter if you're looking for a something to match your already existing décor, or one that can be a jumping off point for an entire over-haul, there's something out there that's perfect for you. Keep in mind that shopping for a complete child's bedroom collection that includes a youth bed as well as matching dresser, desk or night table is a way to ensure your child's bedroom décor is coordinated and pleasing. This can save you countless hours of searching for matching pieces elsewhere. Whatever you choose, a youth bed can be a fantastic way to help your little one make a smooth transition from his or her crib to a big-kid bed of their very own.

RosenberryRooms.com is the leading online shop for childrens' furniture, kids art and bedroom décor, offering the largest selection of high-quality childrens' bedroom products. Find everything you need to create a beautiful bedroom for your child at http://www.RosenberryRooms.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amber_Lipson

All about banana(pisang…)

You'll love this fruit after reading what it does for your health!!!
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain 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 perfect 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 in 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 wor k leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. 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 distress 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 &Tobacco Use: 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 mineral, 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%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

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 carbohydrate, 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!"

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit!

How to Stay Motivated With Your Fitness and Weight Loss Goals

Tips from Oprah's trainer , Fitness Guru - Bob Greene

1. Ease Into Weight Loss

When most people decide to lose weight, they typically go cold turkey on the Chunky Monkey and chips and dive right into a Spartan menu highlighting vegetables and cottage cheese, determined to do an overnight overhaul of their diet.

Wrong approach, Greene says. Gradual is better. "Don't radically change your entire diet overnight," Greene says. Phase in healthier foods a little at a time.

"Don't give up all your comfort foods at once, and don't look at snacks as foods that get you into trouble," Greene says. Eating right can and should include snacks, he says. "Snacks are effective weight loss tools. They bridge hunger and help you not to overdo it at a meal."

2. Skip the Scale

It's a knee-jerk reaction. You've been on a diet for oh, 24 hours, and you're eager to see your progress. Of course, you'll weigh in.

Think again, Greene says. "Stay off the scale for the first month to six weeks," Greene suggests. This will be a challenge, he knows, for most people, who can't wait to see the pounds drop off quickly.

But the scale actually gives you a somewhat inaccurate idea of what is going on -- you may have lost water weight only, for instance, or you may get discouraged if the downward slide is not as great as you hoped for.

If you are dying for feedback on how your weight loss goals are shaping up, focus on how your clothes fit, Greene suggests.

3. Shift the Diet Focus

"Instead of focusing on cutting calories [only], which drops your metabolism, focus more on activity levels," Greene says. "It's the bigger of the two." Activity burns calories. Exercise such as weight training also builds lean muscle, boosting your metabolism long-term. So it offers a short-term and long-term advantage to meeting your fitness goals and your weight loss goals, Greene says.

Although many people plan to diet first, then incorporate exercise, Greene says if you have to do them one at a time, try making exercise a habit first, then focus on cutting calories.

4. Make Your Workout a Meditation

It's easily done, Greene says, just by listening to great music when you walk or jog, for instance. If you are on a treadmill, watch a show you enjoy.

Find an exercise that takes your mind off the exercise, such as being in a beautiful outdoor setting. "When Oprah and I meet in Hawaii and we are hiking, it's hard work going up the mountain but it's joyful," he says.

5. Build Exercise Into Your Life Creatively

One of Greene's business partners built a desk on his treadmill, taking phone calls and working while he works out. "He's writing, he is making his marketing calls, and he is on the treadmill," Greene says.

Greene adapted the idea himself. "I was training for a cross country ride, and had the phone by my indoor bike," he says.

Those examples are extreme, Greene says, but it can get you thinking about weaving exercise in when you have even a few spare minutes throughout the day. The more you do that, the more you can expect to meet your fitness goals.

6. Focus on the Outcome

Focus on how you know you will feel when you're done with your workout. "Everybody loves exercise when it's done," Greene says with a laugh.

"Focus on the effects," he says. He doesn't just mean tighter muscles or flatter abs. "I've never had anybody say they don't feel better, sleep better, after exercising," he says.