Monthly Archives: February 2010

Psyllium Husk To Relieve Baby C’s Constipation

Baby has been facing constipation for the past 2 weeks.  In the past, she hardly had constipation, well perhaps once in a blue moon.  Lately the constipation is quite bad.  She would only poo poo once in every 2 days. Baby’s surgeon had warned us before that constipation will trigger a urinary tract infection (UTI).

I’ve tried all sorts of bowel movement inducing food and drinks on Baby lately from prune juice to lime juice (with honey), papaya, yoghurt, a few teaspoons of green tea diluted with water and red dragon fruits but nothing really worked effectively.  Then I remembered psyllium husk, something that I eat every morning without fail.   I down the psyllium husk with a glass of water, apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey every morning.  It is really effective in moving the bowels and I hardly ever have constipation.

For the past several days, I have been adding 1/2 a teaspoon of psyllium husk into Baby’s food. By right psyllium husk should be taken on an empty stomach but I am 100% sure Baby would reject the psyllium husk if I mix it with water or milk and feed her on an empty stomach. Psyllium husk tastes awful and even I have a hard time gulping it down my throat.

The psyllium husk has been pretty effective on Baby. Together with drinking lots of fluids, eating fruits and making Baby exercise (I try to bring her down for a walk everyday), Baby can now poo poo without the need of enema. I used enema on her about 2 weeks ago when she could not poo poo for 2.5 days. Baby’s poop is still hard and I think I will increase the amount of psyllium husk to twice a day, until she poops easily everyday and poops nice, soft stools!

This is NOT intended to be a medical advice. Please consult your doctor if you or your children are suffering from constipation. The above article was written based on my own experience with my child.

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The Connection Between Honey And Weight Loss

Many people ask: Isn’t honey a type of sugar? Will consuming honey cause weight gain? Won’t the calories in honey negate your weight loss efforts? Well, here’s a very interesting article for weight watchers who are also honey lovers.

Honey and weight loss are often associated. Why is honey a smarter choice than table sugar if you are watching your weight and what you eat?

Refined dietary sugars lack minerals and vitamins and are often called empty calories. They draw upon the body’s nutrients to be metabolized into the system, and when these nutrients are depleted, metabolizing of cholesterol and fatty acid is impeded, contributing to higher cholesterol and promoting obesity due to higher fatty acid on the organs and tissues. The good news is that honey, a natural sweetener, on the other hand, contains 22 amino acids and a variety of minerals essential for its metabolism and hence is helpful in preventing obesity.

It is believed that drinking lemon juice with a little honey the first thing in the morning is an effective anti cellulite treatment as it helps to increase body metabolism. If you are determined to shed weight and speed up your sluggish metabolism, try this honey and lemon diet tip.

If you like, another very popular recipe associated with honey and weight loss is a drink that uses honey and cinnamon as ingredients. Many people have found this home remedy very effective in losing pounds. The steps are easy: Dissolve half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder (or ground cinnamon) in a cup of boiling water. Stir the mixture and cover for half an hour. Filter away any big particles and add a teaspoon of honey. Take it in the morning with an empty stomach about half an hour before breakfast.

For people who tend to overeat or feel discomfort in the stomach after meals, honey can be taken for better digestion. Honey is a simple carbohydrate that one safely take during fasting because it contains easily digested sugars. Foods that are rich in sugars or complexes of sugars are carbohydrates. How the sugars are arranged will determine whether we call a food a source of simple or complex carbohydrates. When sugars are bound into rows, as they are in starches such as whole grains and legumes, they are called complex carbohydrates. It takes the body much longer to digest the sugar from a complex carbohydrate.

Source of above article – :www.benefits-of-honey.com/honey-and-weight-loss.html

Honey and warm water: Normally fat remains as an un-used resource in your body adding bulk and weight. It is believed that honey mobilizes this stored fat. When this fat is burnt to provide energy for your daily activities, you see a gradual decrease in your weight and obesity levels. It is suggested that you drink this honey (about one tablespoon daily), with equal amount of warm water.

Source of above article extracted from www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/animal-product/benefits-of-honey-in-weight-loss.html

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Drink Lime Juice To Beat Constipation

The ample of acids present in lime helps clear the excretory system by washing and cleaning off the tracts, just like some acids are used to clean floor and toilets. Then the roughage in it is also helpful in easing constipation. But it is mainly due to high acids. An overdose of lime juice with salt also acts as an excellent purgative without any side effects, thereby giving relief in constipation.

So the next time you suffer from constipation, try juicing several limes into a glass of warm water. It may help move the sludge out from your body.


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Given Up Hope

We have given up hope of ever claiming reimbursement from our insurers for Baby’s surgery bills incurred last year. We feel cheated by them. They knew Baby had kidney reflux and our application for medical insurance was still approved. Some of our friends have asked us to pursue this matter, even up to the Court. I hate going through such a hassle. Maybe we should just drop this insurer and look for free insurance quotes from other insurers.

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Seeds Of Citrus Fruits Can Be Fatal

Have you ever swallowed seeds of lime and apples? If you have, please be extra cautious the next time you eat apples or make lime juice so that you don’t ingest the seeds again. The seeds of all citrus fruits (and also apples) are poisonous and if ingested in large quantity (even a small handful) can be fatal. So, avoid chewing or swallowing the seeds when you use limes.

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Lose Weight With Green Tea

Another interesting fact on green tea. Green tea has gained popularity worldwide as a tea to help in weight loss. Green tea enhances your body’s metabolism rate and quickens the consumption of fat storage of the body. Recently green tea has replaced other beverages in the western world as its helps in weight loss. Drink a cup full of green tea in the morning and you are sure to lose a few pounds of excess weight. I am one green tea fan and for years I have been drinking a cuppa green tea every morning to help me move my bowels and keep my weight in check too.

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Drink Green Tea To Look Young!

The health benefits from green tea are primarily due to its anti oxidizing properties which come from its caffeine, Catechin Polyphenols and Theonine. Everyone has free radicals in our body. The free radicals created in body are responsible for corroding the body, i.e. for ageing and the related symptoms.

The main job of anti oxidants is to neutralize the oxidants or free radicals present in the body and green tea is very rich in anti oxidants. The Catechin Polyphenols present in green tea are mainly responsible for the anti oxidizing effects. Thus, regular consumption of green tea can effectively delay symptoms of ageing. So ditch your expensive anti-wrinkle cream and botox jabs. Go stock up your kitchen cabinets with green tea!

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Baby Loves Eating Celery

Baby is one one toddler who loves eating pungent tasting veggie and fruits. She loves munching on raw celery, raw capsicum, raw cucumber, cooked leek and leek flowers, onions, mushrooms and even durians.

Here she is munching on a celery stick. She’s not the only one who loves raw celery, even Alycia and Sherilyn love munching on them.

If you intend to feed young kids with raw celery, it’s best to buy organic ones.

Celery are rich in vitamin C, they lower cholesterol, prevent cancer, reduce high blood pressure, and promote health.

Celery contains amino acids, boron, calcium, chlorine, essential fatty acids, folate, inositol, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, sulfur , zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin K. Celery is also a salad ingredient, which contains fiber.

The health benefits of celery (extracted from organicfacts.net) include the following:

Reduced blood pressure: Celery contains a chemical that can lower levels of stress hormones in your blood. This allows blood vessels to expand, giving your blood more room, thereby reducing pressure.

Reduced cholesterol: Eating celery daily may reduce artery-clogging cholesterol

Good antiseptic: Celery seeds help in uric acid elimination. So, celery is good for people with bladder disorders, kidney problems, cystitis etc. Celery seeds also assist in avoiding urinary tract infection in women.

Healthy joints: Celery is good for people suffering from arthritis, rheumatism and gout. Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce swelling and pain around the joints. Celery sticks contain a diuretic substance, which help to remove uric acid crystals that build around joints.

Prevents cancer: Celery contains phthalides and polyacetylenes. These anti cancer components detoxify carcinogens. Celery also contains coumarins that enhance the activity of certain white blood cells.

Improved immune system: Celery is rich in vitamin C; therefore it booststhe immune system.

Relief from cold: Because of the presence of vitamin C, taking celery gives you relief from cold.

Reduces severity of asthma: Vitamin C prevents free radical damage and thus reduces the severity of inflammatory conditions like asthma.

Cardiovascular health: Presence of vitamin C in the roots of celery promotes cardiovascular health. Roots

Diuretic activity: Celery is rich in both sodium and potassium. These minerals help in regulating fluid balance.

Relief from migraine: Presence of coumarins gives relief from migraines.

Treats rheumatism: Celery extracts, which contain85% 3nB, are effective for treating arthritis and muscular pains.

Good for diabetic patients: Celery leaves are also eaten for treating diabetic conditions.

Relief from ophthalmologic disease: Dripping celery tea drops on eyelids is good for ophthalmologic affectations.

Because of the high calcium content, celery calms the nerves. So, eating celery helps people to be calm.

Celery acts as an antioxidant too. All parts of celery including seed, root and leaves, can be used.

Drinking celery juice before meal will help you to reduce your weight.

Celery has many other nutritional benefits: Eating celery regularly helps to avoid diseases of kidney, pancreas, liver and gallbladder; neuritis, constipation, asthma, high blood pressure, catarrh, pyorrhea and dropsy, brain over work, acidosis, anemia, obesity and tuberculosis. It also helps in the improvement of teeth.

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Drinking Yomeishu To Recharge My Batteries!

After feeling sluggish, lethargic and listless for the past few days, I started drinking Yomeishu again.  During my 3rd confinement, I had received 2 bottles of Yomeishu from friends.  I only drank half a bottle and have 1.5 bottles left.  I am one who hates drinking alcohol and would get nauseous, turn red like a lobster all over and have a heavy head if I imbibe too much.

I must say that the Yomeishu has indeed helped me overcome the fatigue and I feel more energetic today. Today, I ran for almost 40 minutes and didn’t feel tired at all. I even skipped my 15-minute cat nap today and still feel on top! So to those of you who feel sluggish and tired, try drinking Yomeishu. I wish the Yomeishu managements reads this and rewards me with a few bottles of Yomeishu 😀

Yomeishu improves the following symptoms:

1) Physical fatigue
For people with the trouble of physical fatigue such as feeling tiredness, continuation of fatigue, etc. Yomeishu, as a health tonic, relieves fatigue while strengthening physical power.

2) Chilliness of tip of fingers, hands, hips and legs
For people with severe chilliness of hands, feet and hips caused by air conditioners. Active medicinal ingredients contained in Yomeishu widely circulate throughout the body with blood circulation to regulate the functions of metabolism, and as a result, chilliness is improved.

3) Continuation of gastrointestinal trouble after meal
For people with weak digestive organs, gastrointestinal disorders or susceptible to weakened stomach and intestines. Drinking Yomeishu before meals will regulate gastrointestinal activities and strengthen them.

4) Recovery of physical strength during and after illness
For people requiring physical strength during and after illness, and people with delayed recovery of physical conditions after illness. Active ingredients of Yomeishu will regulate principal activities of the body and lead to an original healthy condition.

5) Poor appetite
For people with poor appetite, or incapable of eating despite of appetite. Drinking Yomeishu before meals activates gastrointestinal workings due to the active ingredients and one is capable of recovering to normal appetite.

6) Susceptible to be tired or a weak body constitution
For people with a weak body or feeling a lack of strength. Yomeishu, as a health tonic with a moderate action, strengthens the body and steadily enhances physical power while alleviating physical fatigue.

7) Always look sick
For people with who are of little color due to the chilliness of the tips of the fingers caused by the accumulation of fatigue. The active ingredients of Yomeishu circulate throughout the body with the blood circulation, activate the whole body metabolism and improve the trouble of little color.

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Eating Turmeric To Lose Weight

My all-time favorite dish is chicken cooked with turmeric. I like the chicken cooked with lots and lots of minced turmeric and shallots. My dad cooks one of the tastiest turmeric chicken and I can eat the entire plate of dish all by myself and yet not get fed up and still eat it the next day. I ate a lot of turmeric chicken during my 3 confinements.

Turmeric is a yellow, powdered spice that gives curry its distinctive color and flavor. Scientists believe that turmeric, which is used in most Indian meals, has an active ingredient that can help fight obesity.  A meal that includes turmeric will lead to less weight gain than one without the yellow root.

Turmeric contains a plant-based chemical called curcumin, which suppresses the growth of fat tissue in mice and human cell cultures, according to a study by Tufts University in Boston, published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Curcumin is also easily absorbed by the body, the researchers said, after experiments on mice.

“Weight gain is the result of the growth and expansion of fat tissue, which cannot happen unless new blood vessels form, a process known as angiogenesis,” said senior study author Mohsen Meydani of the Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts.

“Based on our data, curcumin appears to suppress angiogenic activity in the fat tissue of mice fed high fat diets,” he said in a statement.

Turmeric is effective when added to a high-fat meal, suggesting it could help fight obesity.

Researchers gave one set of mice high-fat diets and another set the same food with 500mg of curcumin added to each meal.

After 12 weeks, the mice which were fed curcumin weighed less than those which did not eat it.

Widely acknowledged to be a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is currently under investigation in several studies to determine its use for cancer prevention and treatment.

So if you are lost for ideas on what to cook, go whip up a turmeric chicken dish.  There are several ways of cooking chicken with turmeric.  Chicken cooked with turmeric is delicious, wholesome, helps you to lose weight and may help prevent cancer too.

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