WHY COAT APPLE FRUITS..

Above: Google pic

We're told that an apple a day keeps the doctor away and am sure the saying does not come without any basis.  Apple is one of my favourite fruits. I've always been fascinated by the various types and also colours of these beautiful fruit.  I love the crunchy and sweet taste especially when they are fresh. I also love that this fruit is versatile and I would normally use it in the preparation of fruit jam, fruit salad or juice.

Reading about the numerous health benefits of apples, it might be good to be aware of how there are stored,  packed and delivered from the farm. It is common knowledge that apples are coated with wax.   There are several reasons for coating apples. The main reasons are either for preservation, aesthetic (appearance) or the obvious one of replacing the natural wax.

Yours Truly and friends going wild over wild apples, New Zealand :)

 Pic above: Apple tree from a country up north courtesy of a friend.

 Apple farm, NSW, Australia

Apple Farm in Bilpin, NSW, Australia

The farmer assured me that eating the apples direct from the tree was safe ... no pesticides..  :)

The apples, naturally have a natural wax coating on their surface. This natural wax coating helps to protect the apple fruit from shriveling and weight loss. However, prior to packaging of the apple fruits, they are washed by scrubbing the surface to remove dirt and chemical residues (if they are not organic). This scrubbing removes approximately 50% of the natural wax coating.

To replace the natural wax coating, processors apply other recommended waxes on the surface of apples. The waxes applied on apples can either be animal wax, vegetable wax or mineral and synthetic wax. After applying wax, the fruits assumes glossy and firm appearance which is considered as an important quality in apples.

The distributors and sellers of apples can apply wax to improve appearance and increase visual freshness. This is very common practice especially in supermarkets.

The most common wax used on apples is a vegetable wax called canauba wax or shellac.


Ways of Cleaning Waxed Apples

Obviously, it is a good practice to clean apples before eating.   I would normally clean with lukewarm water. Just clean them thoroughly to remove any surface wax. This would also help remove any dirt and chemical residues on the surface.

It is not advisable to use detergents even food grade types on porous fruits like apples. Vinegar (acetic acid) can also do. Use a paper towel with a bit of vinegar to wipe the fruit before washing. Using vinegar wipes away the wax.

The other obvious way to ensure you do not consume the wax on the surface of apples is to remove the entire peel . This can be done by using either a fruit peeler or a knife. This comes at a cost since many people like the tartness and crispiness of the peel and also it will remove most of the goodness of the apple.

HAVE A BANANA A DAY...

Apart from seasonal fruits, I would normally buy papaya and more often than not at least 2 types of bananas.  Why do I like bananas so much?   No, not because of that, just that they are cheap and versatile. One can just eat them, make smoothies or even make a banana cake or fritters.  Not only delicious, it is also packed with goodness essential to good health.

I wish to share some info on its health benefits here.

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.

PRE MENSTRUAL SYNDROM (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:

I read that 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England) 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 work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

ULCERS:

The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without 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.

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!'

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time.  :D

Source: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Guiding-Light

AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT WATER

Lunch was good. But of course it was. After all it was a treat from my lovely friend Agnes. Yes, food tastes better when you have good company and especially if you do not have to pay for it thank you..haha.  She took me to this little corner shop in Lido, Penampang.  I’ve passed this place for maybe few thousand times but never had any inkling that the food was great.  Granted, the place is always packed, but so is everywhere.   We had seafood noodle soup, and it was good especially for the price.  Will definitely go there again and try their other foods which were listed gaily on their menu.  

Much later, we went to town for a little window shopping and decided to go for a drink. This time I insisted on paying. I was contemplating on having my favourite soda when we chanced upon young fresh coconut fruits and decided to have them instead knowing that it is a much healthier choice. One thing about coconut fruit is, you either get those with a sweet sharp taste or bland and tasteless ones. And there’s no way one can tell by just looking at the fruit.

Anyway, we were both lucky as the seller managed to get us two sweet ones with just about the right amount of soft white flesh.  Having said that, I wish to share here some info I read from an article on the health benefits of coconut water.

Google pictures

AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT WATER

1    Coconut water can help lose fat.

For weight conscious people, this one is one of the most important health benefits of coconut water. Because it is very low in fat, you can drink as much as you can without worrying about ingesting a lot of fattening agents such as milk and the like.  It can also help you feel full thus, decreasing your cravings for excessive foods.

            Coconut water can help prevent diabetes

As mentioned before, it is also very low in sugar so you’re actually preventing the onset of diabetes if you drink it.

        Coconut water can aid digestion

It has more hydrating properties than the average tap water so drinking it can certainly help your digestion well. Thus you will be able to absorb food nutrients better and have easier bowel time when you drink it.

       Coconut can help fight viruses

Flu and herpes are some of the sicknesses caused by different kinds of viruses that attack the body. Coconut water has anti-viral and anti-fungal properties that can help you steer clear from these diseases and more!

      Coconut Water can help revitalize your cells and boost your metabolism

It contains less sodium and more potassium than the average energy or sports drink. That’s why it is a highly recommendable substitute for these expensive and artificial products.


Enjoy!!

YOGURT FOR EVEN SKIN TONE

I read this lovely tip from Krishna http://diybeautytutorials.blogspot.com. I felt that this is a useful tip.  

I make yogurt lots of time but it usually goes into my mouth, which is good too, but never thought about applying it on the face.  Now, I know and won't have to spend so much on facial mask from a beauty salon.  Mind you, just a simple or normal facial can cost up to hundreds of  Ringgits. 

Krishna says (excerpt):

"Apply the yoghurt on your face and neck if you want an even skin tone. 

Personal Experience:

I couldn't find any other ingredient better than yogurt that you can use as a 3 in 1 facial mask. It is the BEST one I have tried so far. It has lots of vitamins and minerals that are skin-friendly. Applying on skin will also minimize those huge pores. I use this mask everyday and I see A LOT of difference. So I really recommend it. Its suitable for All skin types.

Research shows, even eating yoghurt helps acne. So stuff your snacks with yoghurt and give your skin a beautiful glow. "

So folks, isn't this a useful tip?  For more, do visit Krishna's amazing blog. 

 Thanks Krishna, you are an angel.  :)

More info on Yogurt,  visit this site  http://yogurt-milk.com/milk-yogurt-health-benefits/.    Enjoy..

"In present West Europe, yogurt became famous thanks to the French King Francois I. The King was suffering of severe and incurable diarrhoea.  None of his doctors was able to help him. So he asked for advice about a cure his ally, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman The Magnificent. He sent him a doctor who managed to cure the King by using a yogurt diet. In gratitude, the French King spread in Europe the information about the miraculous food that succeeded in curing him.

At the beginning of XX century, at themost famous institute at that time ‘Pasteur’ in Paris, it was found out that the harmful effect of microorganisms because of which changes in elderly people occur, changes that lead to excessive premature death, could be decreased through appropriate lactobacilli, containing in yogurt. They also established, by collecting information from 36 counties, that the biggest number of people, living over 100 years, is in Bulgaria – four people in every 1000. This was considered to be because of the regular consumption of yogurt. So they set a strict scientific basis for the nutritional, dietary and healing properties ofyogurt and turned the world` s community attention towards the product yogurt.

The microflora of yogurt was studied for the first time by Stamen Grigorov (1878-1945), a student of medicine in Geneva. In 1905, he described it as consisting of one rod-shaped and one spherical lactic acid bacteria.  In 1907, the rod-shaped bacteria was called Lactobacillus bulgaricus. In 1917, Orla Jensen proved that in producing yogurt except Lactobacillus bulgaricus, there are also cocci (spherical microorganisms) participating in it, which were called Streptococcus thermophilus.

During yogurt fermentation, deep changed into the yogurt composition occur. The resulting processes have a beneficial impact and a number of good health effects on the body.

Yogurt composition is similar to milk composition, which it is a result of, but in many aspects it is different from it. The chemical composition of the different types of yogurt are defined by the type of the milk, by the animal breed, from which it is milked, the feeding of the animals, the technologies which are applied in its production.

 Nutritional value of yogurt.

The nutritional value of yogurt is determined by the content of nutrient substances, and by the possibility that these nutrients are used by our bodies.  In general, yogurt has higher nutritional value than milk. This is due to the changes which occur under the influence of two bacteria – Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermphilus. The content of milk sugar into yogurt is decreased by 20-30% in comparison with milk. The remaining amount of milk sugar serves as a source of energy 4.1 kkal.

Yogurt for a healthy heart and bones

  

Yogurt is a rich source of calcium for satisfying the needs of human body. Calcium maintains the heart excitability. Calcium is really extremely important for the proper and normal functioning of  the nervous system. It stimulates the effect of endocrine glands and accelerates the blood coagulation.

Yogurt is an indispensable source of calcium for people, who suffer from lactose intolerance, as well as for middle-aged women, who often suffer from bone deformation due to calcium deficiency.To have strong bones, every person in adulthood should consume at least one pot of yogurt or 100 g cheese per day. In older people, the dose should be doubled.

  

Yogurt for eliminating fatigue and stress – for tone. A cure against food poisoning.

The bacterias Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus not only increase the nutritional and biological value of yogurt – they also give healing properties to this food. Yogurt contains substances, which suppress the development of numerous microorganisms.  It is established that yogurt microflora synthesized antibiotic and antimicrobial substances, which have suppressing effect over the microorganisms of intestinal tract, especially putrefactive microorganisms. Yogurt is also powerful biological means against some types of food poisoning. Yogurt also has an effect against tiredness, as well as body toning effect. It also helps in the fight against stomach and intestinal cancer, and the regular intake of yogurt decreases the risk of appearing of such disease.

Yogurt for lowering the cholesterol

There is an increasing interest in relation to the connection between the food, the cholesterol level in the blood and cardiovascular diseases.  Foods which decrease the high cholesterol level into the blood serum, are highly desirable. The regular intake of yogurt significantly reduces the cholesterol level into the blood serum. Usually the content of the cholesterol level is decreased in the period of seven days after starting eating yogurt. Yogurt is a valuable supplement in the diet of diabetics, which has to be with lower content of fats in order to ensure better bearing of carbohydrates.  This requires the yogurt for diabetics to be made of fat-free milk.

Yogurt for the immune system and slower aging of the organism.

When antibiotics are taken orally, the biological balance in the guts is upset. As a result, some severe diseases of the digestive system can appear. Systematic eating of yogurt is reflecting extremely favorable on the restoration of the biological balance of the intestinal microflora. The regular consumption helps for creating and maintaining non-specific immunological reactions into the human body. This is particularly important when taking sterile foods, which is connected to the occurrence of some viral diseases, in particular hepatitis. In general, yogurt has immune-stimulating effect. It is an effective remedy for diarrhoea, constipation and other gastrointestinal diseases. It helps for headache and it is particularly known as a remedy for removing hangover. And thanks to all these healing properties, Bulgarian yogurt contributes to slow body aging.

Yogurt as food for infants

The beneficial influence of yogurt over the development of the child organism is due to the easier digesting of yogurt and the easier bearing, better usage of protein, calcium and iron, and because of its healing and tonic properties.

Using of yogurt in livestock

Bulgarian yogurt is really effective remedy in treating the organisms from gastrointestinal diseases and disorders that animals can suffer from. Adding yogurt into the food of animals, significantly improves their immune system, their health and this improves respectively the quality of the meat and the product made from them, and also increases their growth.

The areas for yogurt application are so many,

but one thing is for sure

- yogurt is extremely beneficial for the body.

Yogurt is Extremely Beneficial for the Body

You have probably noticed that yogurt is a food included in all diet plans taking care of your health. It is high time you found out why it is so.

Yogurt for a healthy heart and bones

The first reason that most of the people know is that it is one of the best sources of calcium. This is the nutrient, which helps best to strengthen your bones. If you have brittle bones you need to consume at least one cup of yogurt every day. The dose for older people should be doubled.

Scientific researches proved that it also lowers the risk of heart diseases. Yogurt contains a probiotic bacteria, which protects the heart and prevents the walls of carotid arteries from thickening.

Yogurt for eliminating fatigue and stress – for tone.

If we want a normally functioning nervous system, we need to include this food in our daily menu. A recent study showed that the probiotics that yogurt contains may influence your mood and feelings as they cause a decrease in depressions and stress levels. This study reported that yogurt in fact acts as an anti-depressant because the patients who previously suffered chronic fatigue now showed noticeable improvements.

A cure against food poisoning.

Yogurt contains probiotics, which are in fact live microorganisms and may help fighting the harmful bacteria causing the food poisoning. They will strengthen your immune systems and prevent you from subsequent infections. It will probably not help you immediately. You have to be patient and in some days, you will feel as if this had never happened to you.

Yogurt for lowering the cholesterol.

Usually women suffer problems with their cholesterol. The everyday usage of yogurt shows increase in the levels of the so-called good cholesterol and decrease in the levels of the bad one. This is probably because live cultures assimilate bad cholesterol. This is an easy and pleasant way for you to take care after your health. It is neither an expensive nor a rarely found product, so you should definitely try it out.

Yogurt for the immune system and slower aging of the organism.

Another proven benefit of yogurt is its effect on our immune systems. If we eat yogurt often we will sooner or later feel its results as it influences the intestinal tract. Its intense usage will make our bodies resistant to such diseases as cancer and different infections, which are in fact immune-related diseases.

When you have no problems with your digesting, skin and illnesses then you will look young for a longer period. You may achieve all this by eating yogurt. Usually sick people look old. This is why you need to protect your immune system well and improve your way of eating. You have to be sure friendly bacteria will help you look prefect.

These are the main benefits you need to know about yogurt. They should be more than enough to convince you that this product needs to be in your refrigerator and on your table every day."

FASHION ACCESSORIES - MandyNikko

My other favourite pastime is making fashion accessories.  I am lucky that my daughter Mandy shares this passion.  I treasure the quiet moments we have and share our triumph whenever we complete every set.  I prefer making bracelets as I feel one can make more designs out of it. 

Here are a few of our latest creations.

For ease of reference, I decided to use my daughter's name MandyNikko. 

MandyNikko (mna0001)

 MandyNikko (mna0002)

  MandyNikko (mna0003)

 MandyNikko (mna0004)

MandyNikko (mna005) 

('the Rosary) for my own personal .

As of now, this pastime will still remain as a hobby, but yes, we plan to open them for sale sometime in the near future or perhaps to be used as gifts for friends once we have refined our workmanship and increase our collections. 

EATING YOUR WAY TO A HEALTHY LIFE

I found these lovely pictures from The Guiding Light FB website and thought I'd share it here.   Enjoy :)

Link:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Guiding-Light/321454251217141

EGG WHITES... WHO KNEW?

I received this forward from a friend through email and thought it worth sharing

BURNS

A young man sprinkling his lawn and bushes with pesticides wanted to check the contents of the barrel to see how much pesticide remained in it.  He raised the cover and lit his lighter; the vapors inflamed and engulfed him.  He jumped from his truck, screaming.   

His neighbor came out of her house with a dozen eggs, yelling: "bring me some eggs!"  She broke them, separating the whites from the yolks.  The neighbor woman helped her to apply the whites on the young man's face.  When the ambulance arrived and when the EMTs saw the young man, they asked who had done this.   Everyone pointed to the lady in charge.  They congratulated her and said: "You have saved his face."  By the end of the summer, the young man brought the lady a bouquet of roses to thank her. His face was like a baby's skin. HEALING MIRACLE FOR BURNS: Keep in mind this treatment of burns which is included in teaching beginner fireman this method.  First aid consists to spraying cold water on the affected area until the heat is reduced and stops burning the layers of skin.  Then, spread egg whites on the affected are. One woman burned a large part of her hand with boiling water.  In spite of the pain, she ran cold faucet water on her hand, separated 2 egg white from the yolk, beat them slightly and dipped her hand in the solution.  The whites then dried and formed a protective layer. She later learned that the egg white is a natural collagen and continued during at least one hour to apply layer upon layer of beaten egg white.     By afternoon she no longer felt any pain and the next day there was hardly a trace of the burn.  10 days later, no trace was left at all and her skin had regained its normal color.  The burned area was totally regenerated thanks to the collagen in the egg whites, a placenta full of vitamins.  tee..heee

WHAT IS COLLAGEN?

A friend of mine recently insisted that I buy the seaweed from her. The seaweed is a kind of sea kelp and is said to contain pure marine collagen. Some claim that it contains 10 times more collagen than shark fins and 24% more than 2 pieces of bird’s nest and some even said that it is a poor man’s bird’s nest! Bird’s nest is a prized health food well-known for its medicinal benefits. 

seaweed fresh from the sea

after it is dried

I've heard and read about the health benefits of this seaweed before but have not been tempted to buy until then.  If it does indeed contain that amount of collagen as  what has been claimed proven scientifically or otherwise, then why not.  I've yet to try it but would do so in a bit. :)

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the main component of our skin, cartilage, bone and connective tissues. Without enough production and supply of collagen, our skin will look old and wrinkled. Collagen is a naturally-occurring protein in humans and animals.

Its main functions are:-

Skin – It provides structure. Along with collagen is elastin, which provides      elasticity of the skin.

 Bones – It provides form, structure, strength and flexibility.

Muscles – It gives strength and structure.

Blood vessels – It is the main component of the blood vessel wall (vein, arteries and capillaries)

Unfortunately, the collagen supply in our body diminishes in time. This is due to age, pollutants, and lifestyle.

How to Restore Collagen in Skin Naturally

There are other factors than age that can retard collagen production: smoking and sun exposure are the worst culprits. Since collagen is too dense to be absorbed into the skin in creams unless it undergoes extensive chemical restructuring, our best bet is to eat plenty of foods that promote production of this important protein. By incorporating certain foods into our diet we can increase collagen production and bring that youthful look back to our skin. Though anti-aging creams claim to help retain a youthful look, many are made with harsh chemicals. We can, instead, attempt to restore the collagen in our skin naturally.

Several other types of food that can aid in increasing collagen production are Soy products, dark green vegetables, beans, red fruits and vegetables, vitamin C, prunes, omega acids, flaxseed, turkey, dark chocolate, rose hips and avocado oil.

Avocado fruits

Raspberries

Soya beans

Luckily, all of these foods are part of a healthy, low-fat diet (even the chocolate) and can be incorporated into every meal and snack we eat. Enjoy soy milk with breakfast, a large salad with chunks of turkey and avocado for lunch, and omega-containing fish for dinner; snack on dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 65 percent or higher and take supplements containing rose hips.

Soya bean milk

 Rosehip tea

Japanese Tofu

All of these foods contain powerful collagen-boosting substances like genistein, lutein, hyaluronic acid, lycopene, antioxidants, carnosine and plant steroids. These natural chemicals support the skin renewal process, rejuvenate skin damaged by free radicals and create a hospitable environment for collagen production.

Soy foods, such as soy milk, soy cheese and tofu, can help block the enzymes that break down and age skin. Leafy greens like spinach and kale boost skin hydration and elasticity, as does the carnosine in turkey. Beans help our body produce the powerful anti-aging agent hyaluronic acid, and the lycopenes in red fruits and vegetables are powerful antioxidants.

Purple seaweed - this type supposedly contains more collagen than the green type  

And lately, I came to know that a kind of sea kelp (seaweed) is said to contain pure marine collagen. 

Misconceptions

There are many expensive cosmetic anti-wrinkle creams on the market containing collagen. Unfortunately, there is no evidence such treatments do anything to boost collagen levels in the skin. In fact, the chemical makeup of collagen makes it too large to be absorbed into the skin when applied topically. Such products may be adequate moisturizers, but to stimulate collagen production it should work from the inside out, starting with our diet.

Prevention/Solution

The foods listed above do double-duty keeping our body healthy and our skin young-looking. To make these foods even more effective, don't smoke, always wear sunscreen, use a quality moisturizer and eat a healthy diet.

Source:  http://www.ehow.com/ 

All pictures are courtesy of the Net.