Tips for Peanut Allergies

A little overview of peanut allergy, it is one of the leading causes of food-related death due to complicated anaphylactic shock or hypersensitivity allergic reaction. It is important to do as soon as your child can understand the concept of allergies and not eating certain foods. As early as 6 months parents should introduce food one at a time to determine which of it is the infant's allergy. Bear in mind that there should be a 4-day trial period for the newly introduced food. According to experts, he best time to reinforce the teaching occurs at the preschool level. You may need to talk to your child more than once, but it is important to let them know what could happen if they carelessly share food with friends or classmates. Teen should be taught how to check the food labels.

Inform

Inform everyone around the child about the allergy like their teachers in school, seatmates, friends and friends' parents. You may be surprised to know that many food allergies, happen when parents are not around. That is why it is extremely important that all adults know about your child’s allergic reactions to peanuts. When your child leaves your home to visit friends or family, pack safe snacks for them to eat.

Ask Questions

If you and your child are known for eating out, it is important that you ask as many questions as possible. You should do so at all eating establishments, but it is particularly important to do at a bakery. Are all baked goods made in the same spot, like on the same table? Even if not, are gloves changed? What are the chances that a peanut or peanut butter can make its ways into other foods? You should know before feeding your child anything that you did not prepare yourself.

Read the Labels

Speaking of the foods that you do prepare yourself, be sure to read all food labels. When doing so, you may be surprised just how many products have warnings that claim that peanuts may be present. Even if they only “may,” be, you are still advised to proceed with caution and skip. Also, make sure that you always read labels, as food manufacturers are known for updating or changing their ingredients.

Be Alert

It is also important to know how to handle a reaction. There is a good chance that your child’s doctor will teach you the proper steps that you should take, which will likely include administering medicine to help your child breathe. It is also important to educate those around you too. Make sure that all relatives, parents of friends, and school teachers know what to do in the event of an allergic reaction to peanuts. If medication is provided by your doctor, which it should be, make sure the school has some and always carry the medication with you, like in your car or in your purse.

Assess For Allergic Reaction

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Urticaria (hives)
• Angioedema (swelling of the lips, face, throat and skin)
• Acute abdominal pain
• Exacerbation of atopic eczema
• Asthma
• Anaphylactic shock

Healthy Fat Intake

This posting is aimed to help you to reduce not eliminate. your fat intake. The average individual eats too much fat, a factor that's linked to a variety of health problems, and cancer. Diets that are high in fat are associated with breast and colon cancer, with some studies linking high fat to prostate cancer as well. But hereditary also predisposes the likelihood of having such disease.
A majority of people can bring their fat intakes down to a healthy range by making a few adjustments in the way they shop, cook, and prepare the foods they eat. Now days, it's getting easier and easier to control the amount of fat you consume. The fat content of foods are now available through the nutrition label and through brochures distributed by food companies and even fast food restaurants.
You can use this information on nutrition to choose lower fat foods by comparing products and food brands. Once you have a rough idea of what a healthy intake of fat is, you'll know what you can and what you can't have. From day to day, the amount of fat you eat will vary. Some meals and some days will be higher in fat than others. Even high fat meals can be kept in line with healthy eating as long as you balance those days accordingly. The average fat intake over the course of weeks and months is important, not the fat intake of every meal and food you consume.
Younger adults and high active adults who have higher calorie needs can probably eat a little more fat. Older adults and those that aren't very active should aim for a lower fat intake. This way, you can control your fat intake and avoid the many problems that fat is associated with. There are a few postings in my blog that might help you with having a health meal by clicking here.

Eating Healthy For A Healthy Heart

It's impossible to eat healthy our whole lives, even though we may try hard to do it. Eating healthy for your heart is something everyone should try to do, especially when it comes to restoring health and reducing heart attacks.

Your heart and food
We know these things for sure - a diet high in saturated fats will help raise your cholesterol, which is a risk factor for heart disease and worst fatal heart attacks. People that are obese are more prone to heart disease. A diet high in sodium may elevate your blood pressure, leading to constriction of the blood vessels.

To help prevent heart disease and improve your health, put the tips below to good use.

Eat plenty of fish
Herring, sardines, mackerel, tuna and salmon are all excellent sources of Omega 3 essential fatty acids. Other fish are great to, although Omega 3 may help to get your cholesterol down to a healthier level.

Choosing healthy fats and oils
Saturated fat will increase the risk of heart disease. It's found in meat, butter, and even coconut oil. You should avoid them until your cholesterol levels are down and you are at a healthy weight. Even those that love red meats can enjoy seafood and nuts for their main sources of protein. Monounsaturated fats such as olive oils will help you to protect your heart. Olive oil is an ideal choice for cooking, dressing, or even as a dipping sauce.

Plenty of Roughage
Fiber can help you control your cholesterol. You can find fiber in whole grain products to help control sugar absorption as well, which will help you keep your digestive system healthy.

Choosing the right carbohydrates
Eating for your heart involves staying away from sugary foods such as candy, cookies, cakes, and pastries. Eating a lot of sugar isn't good for your heart disease at all. Healthy carbohydrates involve whole grain breads, whole grain pasta, brown rice, and a lot of vegetables. You should make fruits and vegetables the main aspect of your diet.

Healthy cooking methods
Stir frying and sauteing with olive oil or canola oil are both great methods, as you shouldn't dip your food in batter and fry it anymore. If you cook chicken, remove the skin and bake it in the oven in foil. Instead of frying your fish you should always bake it. Steaming your vegetables can help maintain the most nutrients. You should use cream sauces or lots of butter anymore either. When you eat vegetables, try squeezing lemon juice on them or using your favorite seasonings.

As you make the proper changes to your diet, keep in mind that it takes time for them to become habits. Eating healthy is always great for your body and your lifestyle, especially when it comes to your heart and the prevention of heart disease.

The Benefits of Lemon Grass

Last Sunday, I enjoyed browsing my cousin's newly installed cable TV. The first show that caught my attention was Lifestyle Network's cooking show (unfortunately I forgot the title) that featured Asian cuisine particular South East Asian cuisine. I've noticed lemon grass is always an ingredient in most of the dishes prepared so today I'm gonna talk about the benefits we get from these herb. But before anything else, lemon grass belongs in the genus Cymbopogon and is widely found in tropical countries. The one found mainly in Southeast Asia is Cymbopogon citratus which gives off a more citrus flavor to teas, soup and curries. This type of lemon grass is abundant in the Philippines and little of it was known to have medicinal properties.

Active Ingredients:

• Myrcene has antibacterial and analgesic effect
• Citronella or citronella oil is an all natural unadulterated insect-repellent
• Geraniol and citronellol is responsible for the flavor that it gives off

Chicken Inasal

Preparation & marinating: 6 hours to overnight
Estimated cooking time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

Preparation & marinating: 6 hours to overnight
Estimated cooking time: 40 minutes

• 2 Chickens (free range if available)
• 3/4 cup Filipino vinegar
• 1/4 cup Garlic finely minced
• 2 stalks Lemon grass
• Salt
• Annatto oil
• Wooden skewers
• Spiced vinegar
• Additional Ingredients Instructions:
• 2 free-range chickens, approx. 3 pounds each, or if you can find smaller chickens, use 3 of them
• 3/4 cup Filipino vinegar, palm if you can find it, or cane; or if you must, the equivalent in kalamansi juice (available in the frozen aisle of your Asian market if you don’t have access to fresh)
• 1/4 cup garlic, minced very finely, or better yet, mashed into a paste with 2 teaspoons sea salt
• Achuete or annatto oil, made by steeping 1/4 cup annatto seeds in 1/2 cup hot oil for half an hour (If not available, you may mix a small amount of paprika and tumeric to achieve the same color.)
• Thick wooden skewers, soaked for 1 hour in water prior to cooking
• Bottled spiced vinegar for serving, or make your own by mixing Filipino vinegar, lots of crushed garlic, a bit of salt, and a handful of Thai peppers or other tiny red hot peppers
  

Procedure:

• Quarter the chickens, or if using the small ones, halve them. Marinate in the vinegar, garlic and salt, several hours or overnight, turning several times.
• Preheat grill to 350 degrees. Make sure your grill is cleaned and oiled well. Cook over indirect heat for 20 minutes, basting with the achuete oil.
• Turn and cook for 10-15 minutes more, or until thickest parts of chicken exude clear juices when pierced. Can also be made in a grill pan on the stove if no outside barbecue is available.
• Serve immediately with the spiced vinegar. Other welcome additions to the vinegar: some soy sauce or fish sauce if you like, or even some minced ginger.
  

Cooking Variations:

• Another technique we’ve found to work well, is to heat the oil in which the annatto is to be steeped, and to steep the garlic (and lemon grass if using) together with the seeds. This ensures a more even distribution of flavors. Just remember to discard this mixture when you’re done with the cooking, as you risk botulism from the garlic. Or, if you want to make it ahead of time, be sure to refrigerate the oil to retard any toxins from developing.

• If your chicken is particularly fatty, you could render the fat slowly in a skillet, and use that instead of cooking oil to steep the annatto seeds. In which case, you’ll want to have enough not only for basting but also for serving later, as there’s nothing more appetizing than chicken inasal drizzled with this orange concoction.

Basic Home Remedies for Allergies

Suffer from allergies? If yes, you may be looking for measures for relief. Although many individuals turn to over-the-counter allergy medications that are prescribed by doctors, others venture out to more affordable and natural ways of allergy relief. Before focusing on a few home remedies that are a nice and affordable way to seek relief, it is important to note that sometimes medical advise is essential. For example, if you suffer from food allergies, you may be unable to rely on a large number of natural, home remedies, as many involve the use of certain foods. Also, if you have severe symptoms, such as difficultly breathing, it is important that you do not mess around and seek medical attention immediately.

• Vitamin B5 is recommended. It is known for providing relief to allergic people. Vitamin B5 supplements can be taken daily for around a month or two. There are others who recommend taking it on a daily basis for an amount of time, like until allergy symptoms are no longer an issue.

• Lime is another natural and easy way to treat allergies from home. When using this natural remedy, squeeze the juice of one lime or a half of a lime into a lukewarm glass of water. If needed, you can sweeten this mixture with about a teaspoon of honey. You will want to drink this lime mixture daily for a few months. Many recommend doing so in the morning. What is nice about this natural remedy for allergies is that it can also help detoxify the body.

• Bananas! One or two bananas should be eaten for at least one month on a daily basis. However, those who suffer from food allergies are advised to proceed with caution. In fact, bananas are not only the food that those suffering from food allergies should be cautious with. Those who have food allergies will want to avoid any natural remedies that contain foods that they may be allergic to. Bananas tend to help those who develop skin reactions from their allergies at the most.

• Avoid caffeine drinks, such as coffee and soda, as well as alcohol. These items contain many additives. Additives make the body unnatural and impure. This is not what you want if you want to seek relief from your allergies.

Cooking with Oils

Cooking oil mushroomed nowadays in the grocery shelves claiming health benefits with lesser effects on cholesterol and fat build up. These are but a few that are recommended to moms and chefs who are health-conscious.

• Canola oil is a popular oil, physicians claim that it has the ability to lower the risk of heart disease. It is low in saturated fat, high in monounsaturated fat, and offers the best fatty acid composition when compared to other oils. You can use canola oil in sauteéing, as a marinade and even in low temperature stir frying. It is the best oil for foods that contain a lot of spices. Unlike other oils, this one won't affect the taste of your meal since it is bland.
• Olive oil offers a very distinct flavor with plenty of heart-healthy ingredients. The oil is rich in monounsaturated fat that helps lower cholesterol levels and reduce risk of cancer. It's also rich in antioxidants. Even though it can be used in cooking, it's the healthiest when uncooked, in salad dressings or sauce. When you use it with cooking, you should heat it on low to medium temperatures, making sure to avoid high heat. Aside from that, it has a very long storage life.
  
• Butter is one food that has been around for many, many years. It tastes good, and provides sources of Vitamin A and other fat soluble vitamins such as E, K, and even D. Butter is also made from natural ingredients and not artificially and chemically processed. Other than cooking and baking, you can use it as a spread in bread.
• Margarine was first introduced as an alternative to high fat butter. However, the early forms were loaded with trans fat, a substance raises bad cholesterol in the body. As a cooking oil, the new line of margarine tastes good, it's lower in fat than most oils and butter, and it's quite easy to spread. It's a good source of vitamin E.
  

There are more than what is mentioned above, which are among the most popular. Eating healthy involves cooking healthy food - which is where your cooking oil really takes do the biggest part of the act.

Malabar Nightshade

The Malabar Nightshade (Cebuano: Alugbati, Tagalog: Libato) is a soft-stemmed vine found in the tropics. It has a semi-succulent, heart-shaped green or purple leaves that has a mild flavor and thick texture. The flowers are pink that later on turns purple when matured. The stem can be either purplish or greenish. The plant is a rich source of chlorophyll for food coloring. Typical of green leafy vegetables, it is high in vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and calcium. It is low in calories by volume, and high in protein per calorie. The succulent mucilage, found in the leaves and stem is a rich source of fiber thus it is also a mild laxative for pregnant women and children. Roots are employed as rubefacient (external application that causes vasodilation) while the poultice and sap of the leaves is used to reduce local swelling like acne eruptions. Pulped leaves applied to boils and ulcers hastens suppuration. Sugared juice of leaves is useful for catarrhal afflictions.

Visayan Chop Suey:

• 1 Chicken Broth Cube dissolved in
• 1 cup coconut milk (second extraction)
• 2 cups squash cut into cubes
• 2 cups patola (sponge gourd) sliced
• 1 small bundle kangkong pluck leaves & slice upper tender stems
• 4 pcs. okra sliced 1 in. long
• 1 small bundle alugbati leaves
• 4 medium tomatoes
• 1/4 cup coconut cream (kakang gata)
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Bring to boil first 2 ingredients; add squash, patola and kangkong stalks; simmer about 5 min.
  
• Add in the rest of the vegetables. Simmer about 3 min. before adding coconut cream. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Eating Healthy For College Students

For students, eating at college is an entire new ball game, with late night pizza delivery and food from buggies (food carts). Even though some of these quick and simple options taste great, they are probably not healthy for a student's body. The food choices students make can affect whether or not they are able to remain awake during class and whether or not they will come down with mononucleosis when it hits campus. The problem is not only about eating junk food, it's more about not getting the proper proteins, carbs, vitamins, and minerals that people need. A well balance diet is still essential among students.
When it comes to defending against illnesses, vitamins and minerals are very important for the immune system to fight pathogens from the environment. Aside from that nutrients build and repair cells. Just because they are important, isn't a reason for students to run out and stock up on vitamins and supplements. It's best for students to get their nutrition from food. Natural sources of these vitamins are readily available for the body compared to the ones that were synthesized. You can find vitamin C in citric fruits like oranges and pineapples, Vitamin A in milk and diary products, and vitamin E in nuts, whole wheat products, and even green leafy vegetables. This is the ideal way to get nutrition, as your body relies on these vitamins for many reasons. When you eat on campus, skip on the soda's and go right to the juice machines. Soda is potentially dangerous among students for they drink a lot of diet soda which has adverse affects to its weight loss claims. Eat fresh vegetables in the form of green leafy salad. You can also try putting some broccoli and cauliflower in the microwave for steamed vegetables. Always remember that eating healthy isn't just about avoiding greasy foods. Eating healthy involves getting a balanced diet and getting the right nutrients and vitamins to keep your body in peak performance - or at least awake during your classes.

Healthy Eating Tips for the -ber Holidays

ASEAN countries have numerous holidays in the months ending with -ber like September especially in the Philippines. Last Aug. 27, we celebrated Fiesta de San Agustin and just like fiestas in Christian countries food is always part of the celebration. People are eating voraciously during these times and often forget about their restricted diet. Weight gains of 7 -10 pounds are common between Halloween and Christmas according to an article I've read from the internet. How much more in fiestas where the lechon is never absent in the banquet. To control the growing flabs, these tips will help you with healthy eating through the season and not gaining weight.

• Most traditional foods can be made low fat. Chicken (lechon manok) and turkey is very lean without the skin, and gravy can be made without any fat. The beloved pies are nutritious, although it can be made into a fatty dessert with the adding of whipped cream. Eat less cakes or anything with fatty dairy. A scoop of ice cream will do.

• Never forget to move an inch by doing some exercise or activity. Keeping weight off during the holiday season is burning off the extra calories. Plan a walk after meals, park farther from stores when you shop, and take a few walks around the mall before you begin shopping.

• During holiday parties and at family dinners, feel free to sample foods although you shouldn't advance, then stick to your plan. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, low fat dressings, and slices of lean meats. Before you go to a party, eat a small snack before the actual banquet attack to help curb your appetite.

• If at all possible, avoid alcohol. Having too many drinks can cripple your discerning power, and also add excess calories to your diet. Aside from that, it overloads your kidney and liver function.Instead, drink water with lemon or iced tea. Water can help limit your appetite and keep you from binging. Just don't drown yourself with it.

• Be flexible with your healthy eating, as one bad meal won't ruin your diet. Try to balance your one meal or day.

FYI: The Philippines is known to have the longest Christmas celebration in the world starting from the month of September to January or until the celebration of the traditional Feast of the Three Kings. Aside from Christmas fiestas are celebrated whole year round.

Moringa oleifera

We call that 'Kamunggay' for the Cebuanoes and 'Malunggay' by the Tagalogs. There is a misnomer here it is not horse raddish but it is moringa. One of the most nutritious 'vegetable tree' in the tropics. We usually take this tree for granted, little did we know about the nutritional benefits we get from this tree. The Bureau of Plant Industry, in its report, stated that, weight per weight, moringa leaves have the calcium equivalent of 4 glasses of milk, the vitamin C content of 7 oranges, potassium of 3 bananas, 3 times the iron of spinach, 4 times the amount of vitamin A in carrots, and 2 times the protein in milk. Other than its nutritional value it is also used as an antiseptic for minor wounds. Moringa seeds contain a cationic polyelectrolyte that has proved efficient in water treatment, as a substitute to aluminum sulphate and other flocculent. There is a dual advantage to this property. It will serve as a source of income for potential consumers of its water treatment properties and it is biodegradable which does not result to potential risk to the environment. Oil from the seeds is an excellent edible vegetable oil and as a component for making cosmetics. It was believed that moringa can reduce malnutrition in Africa headed by U.S. National Council of Churches. Moringa is considered as a basic ingredient in making Tinola.

Fish Tinola:

• 1 lb. fresh fish, cut into small pieces
• 5 cups water
• crushed ginger (as desired)
• 2 tomatoes sliced wedge
  
• 3 green peppers
• 3 green onions
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 1-2 cups of moringa leaves (picked from the stalks)

Instructions:

• Boil water, then add fish
• Add tomatoes and ginger. Boil for 10 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients. Add moringa leaves last then cook for 5 minutes.

Sweeteners & Diet Soda Kills

My mom received this e-mail from a relative in the U.S. and we were amazed by a story of a woman who suffered idiopathic (unknown cause) Multiple Sclerosis-like symptoms. This information will surely change your beverage choice this time and shift to a more natural healthy way to quench your thirst.

In October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick. She had stomach spasms and she was having a hard time getting around. Walking was a major chore. It took everything she had just to get out of bed; she was in so much pain.

By March 2002, she had undergone several tissue and muscle biopsies and was on 24 various prescription medications. The doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. She was in so much pain, and so sick. She just knew she was dying. She put her house, bank account s, life insurance, etc., in her oldest daughter's name, and made sure that her younger children were to be taken care of. She also wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to Florida (basically in a wheelchair) for March 22nd.

On March 19 I called her to ask how her most recent tests went, and she said they didn't find anything on the test, but they believed she had MS.

I recalled an article a friend of mine e-mailed to me and I asked my sister if she drank diet soda? She told me that she did. As a matter of fact, she was getting ready to crack one open that moment.

I told her not to open it, and to stop drinking the diet soda! I e-mailed her the article my friend, a lawyer, had sent.

My sister called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she had stopped drinking the diet soda AND she could walk! The muscle spasms went away. She said she didn't feel 100% but she sure felt a lot better. She told me she was going to her doctor with this article and would call me when she got home.

Well, she called me, and said her doctor was amazed! He is going to call all of his MS patients to find out if they consumed artificial sweeteners of any kind.

In a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the Aspartame in t he diet soda...and literally dying a slow and miserable death.

When she got to Florida March 22, all she had to take was one pill, and that was a pill for the Aspartame poisoning! She is well on her way to a complete recovery.

And she is walking! No wheelchair! This article saved her life.

If it says 'SUGAR FREE' on the label; DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE on "ASPARTAME ," marketed as 'NutraSweet,' 'Equal,' and 'Spoonful.'

In the keynote address by the EPA, it was announced that in the United States in 2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. It was difficult to determine exactly what toxin was causing this to be rampant.

I stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject.

I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. Many people were being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, Methanol toxicity is!

Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers. The victim usually does not know that the Aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues its use; irritating the lupus to such a d egree that it may become a life-threatening condition.

We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptotic, once taken off diet sodas.

In cases of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, most of the symptoms disappear. We've seen many cases where vision loss returned and hearing loss improved markedly. This also applies to cases of tinnitus and fibromyalgia.

During a lecture, I said, "If you are using ASPARTAME (NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting, pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint p ain, unexplainable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss you probably have ASPARTAME poisoning!"

People were jumping up during the lecture saying, "I have some of these symptoms. Is it reversible?"

Yes! Yes! Yes! STOP drinking diet sodas and be alert for Aspartame on food labels! Many products are fortified with it! This is a serious problem.

Dr. Espart (one of my speakers) remarked that so many people seem to be symptomatic for MS and during his recent visit to a hospice, a nurse stated that six of her friends, who were heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence!

Diet soda is NOT a diet product! It is a chemically altered, multiple SODIUM (salt) and ASPARTAME containing product that actually makes you crave carbohydrates. It is far more likely to make you GAIN weight!

These products also contain formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve "tissue specimens." Many products we use every day contain this chemical but we SHOULD NOT store it IN our body!

Dr. H. J. Roberts stated in his lectures that once free of the "diet products" and with no significant increase in exercise; his patients lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period.

Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics.

We found that some physicians, who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy, in fact, had symptoms caused by Aspartame.

The Aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are NEUROTOXIC when taken without the other amino acids necessary for a good balance.

Treating diabetes is all about BALANCE. Especially with diabetics, the Aspartame passes the blood/brain barrier and it then deteriorates the neurons of the brain; causing various levels of brain damage, seizures, depression, manic depression, panic attacks, uncontrollable anger and rage.

Consumption of Aspartame causes these same symptoms in non-diabetics as well.

Documentation and observation also reveal that thousands of children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have had complete turnarounds in their behavior when these chemicals have been removed from their diet. So called "behavior modification prescription drugs" ( Ritalin and others) are no longer needed. Truth be told, they were never NEEDED in the first place! Most of these children were being "poisoned" on a daily basis with the very foods that were "better for them than sugar."

It is also suspected that the Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.

Dr. Roberts warns that it can cause birth defects, i.e. mental retardation, if taken at the time of conception and during early pregnancy.

Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NEVER be given artificial sweeteners. There are many different case histories to rela te of children suffering grand mal seizures and other neurological disturbances talking about a plague of neurological diseases directly caused by the use of this deadly poison."

Herein lies the problem:
There were Congressional Hearings when Aspartame was included 100 different products and strong objection was made concerning its use. Since this initial hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, and still nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets.

Sadly, MONSANTO'S pat ent on Aspartame has EXPIRED!

There are now over 5,000 products on the market that contain this deadly chemical and there will be thousands more introduced. Everybody wants a "piece of the Aspartame pie." I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadl y it is.

And isn't it ironic that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians?

This has been recently exposed in the New York Times.

These [organizations] cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and are required to endorse their products.

Senator Howard Metzenbaum wrote and presented a bill that would require label warnings on products containing Aspartame, especially regarding pregnant women, children and infants. The bill would also institute independent studies on the known dangers and the problems existing in the general population regarding seizures, changes in brain chemistry, neurological changes and behavioral symptoms.

The bill was killed.

It is known that the powerful drug and chemical lobbies are responsible for this, letting loosee the hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting and uninformed public. Well, you're Informed now! YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!

Please print this out and/or e-mail to your family and friends.

They have a right to know too.

Diane McCallister
Plan Administrator
MidAmerica Administrative & Retirement Solutions, Inc.
211 E. Main St., Ste. 100
Lakeland, FL 33801
(800) 430 - 7999, ext. 137
(863) 688 - 4200 fax
www.midamerica.biz

Enhance Sexual Prowess With Caution

Everyday new drugs emerge in the market to treat disease and to improve health. Yet before they are even approved they will undergo a series of test to determine its effectiveness and safety for human use. Recently, a number of new drugs were recalled from their distribution. These includes herbal medicines and of course, sex enhancers that were not tested for human consumption and have been reported to have negative effects to the body. These drugs were mistakenly regarded as safe since small scale drug store sell them unchallenged and even without a prescription from an expert. With the distorting effects on sex by mass media to the young people, they are potential victims of these drugs. Harmful minute ingredients like lead may lead to harmful effects to the body that range from nausea to mental retardation and cardiac/renal affectation. These are some aphrodisiacs from plant and animal source that were believed to enhance sexual prowess: Caution: Not all natural are safe for the human body.

• Onions
• Ginseng
• Kelp
• Ginkgo Biloba
• Strawberries
• Artichokes
• Oysters
• Mussels
• Tomatoes

Aphrodisiac Drugs:

• Testosterone
• Dopaminergic System Stimulants (e.g. MDPV)
• Phenylethylamine (present in chocolate)
• Bremelatonide

However, from a historical and scientific standpoint, the alleged results on the use of aphrodisiacs may have been mainly due to mere belief by their users that they would be effective like the placebo effect, a substance or procedure a patient accepts as medicine or therapy, but which has no specific therapeutic activity. Any therapeutic effect is thought to be based on the power of suggestion.

The Other Kiwi

Every other month, Mom visits my Dad in Davao that's in the south. Dad works in a logistics company and one of their clients is Zespri of New Zealand, an exporter of kiwi to different parts of the world. Since we've first encountered the fruit, we were skeptical what it taste like or how it is eaten. We thought it's the puny flightless bird. The first one was not good at all. The next was splendid. I've realized, out from my ignorance, that there are two types of kiwi, the golden and green variety. The first kiwi I ate was the golden variety and it has this over-ripe taste that made me promise to give them away. The green ones were great. It taste like mango and pineapple. The seeds leave an after taste that makes it even more tasty and luscious. My friends even wanted more! Some of them went to the supermarket and looked for them. They have found a few but unfortunately it costs 30-45 bucks per fruit. I just told them to wait whenever Mom's back from Davao.

Vitamin C...

It has more vitamin C than the orange.

Lutein . . .

This phytochemical is receiving a great deal of recent attention for its effectiveness in reducing the risk of cancer, heart disease, and may help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration - a leading cause of blindness. This carotenoid functions as an antioxidant, and next to yellow corn, a single serving of kiwifruit (2 medium kiwifruit) is the richest source of lutein in the vegetable world

Fiber . . .

Soluble fiber protects against heart disease and diabetes, while insoluble fiber reduces the risk of some cancers, constipation, and diverticulitis. A single serving of kiwifruit contains both types of fiber!

Copper for Kids . . .

California Kiwifruit is high in Copper, vital for infant growth, bone strength, brain development, and building immunity. Copper is a mineral involved in making red blood cells and developing a strong immune system.

More Potassium than Bananas . . .

Potassium from fruits and vegetables helps the heart work more efficiently, and is significantly in controlling blood pressure - the "silent killer". Potassium controls heart activity and maintains fluid balance. A single serving of kiwifruit outranks bananas as the top low-sodium, high-potassium fruit

Not to Mention . . .

Folate, Magnesium, and Vitamin E are all well represented in kiwifruit, offering health benefits that range from bone formation to reduced risks of heart disease. Plus kiwifruit contains no saturated fat or cholesterol.
A single serving containing Folate, helps protect against congenital defects, cancer and heart disease, and helps prevent 70% of neural tube diseases in babies each year. A perfect recommendation to women of reproductive age.

Magnesium found in a serving of kiwifruit is a vital mineral, whose intake often falls short in the American diet, but is important for bone formation, heart rhythm regulation, muscle relaxation and nerve function.

The Vitamin E found in a serving of kiwifruit may reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and exercise-induced oxidative damage. Unlike most sources of Vitamin E, kiwifruit is a low-fat food source of vitamin E (typically found in high-fat foods like oils and nuts).

Fast Food and The Bug

2 weeks ago, me and Adam went out to visit our grade school classmate Dang, working as a management trainee in a famous original Filipino fast food chain. The term 'original' here means, 'not derived from something else.' I use the term original based on the fact that it was established in the Philippines by a Filipino entrepreneur not to mention the idea of fast food was taken from McDonald's which is an American restaurant. You can copy or replicate almost anything nowadays. I feel remorseful for that. It's like wearing a fashionable pin-striped trousers in a cozy coffee shop with the exact prints and fabric hanging on the windows and under your water goblets or folded into a fan on top of the platter. But it will be pity to see them on the awning of a vegetable or fruit peddler. I'm sure you won't stand beside it. You wish your companion won't point at it. Today, I won't be talking about fashionable trousers and cozy coffee shops but rather I will be sharing a horrible experience on food preparation. You see, in a developing country where high tech locomotives or MagLev (Magnetic Levitation) Trains to commute for home are not available, where not everything is accessible like your kitchen or your frige we dine with fast food. It's fast, cheap especially for the yuppies on the rush for a deadline or a spoiled hungry brat with mommy from the grocery. They love the give aways so much which were recently recalled from the market for its high lead content. The ones made in China though. Now going back, we decided to have lunch at Dang's so we can avail discounts from the manager's company privilege. We texted her to inform our visit and the privilege of having a discount will mean a relief on our meager allowance. But just like a lawyer in a court hearing or a surgeon making burr holes on the patient's skull, she was unable to respond our message. Right after we get through the door, she greeted us with a smile like the ones you see in fast food TV commercials. I knew she was reluctant you know. I bought one piece fried chicken, thigh part and a cup of rice while Adam ordered double. She swiped her access card on the register and the orders were automatically marked 10% down. We headed up to the second level and seated next to a bough of a mahogany tree right across the street. Dang was on duty so she wasn't able to join us upstairs. As I sliced into my fatty chicken, the insides were not deep fried to the bones. Bloody. I remembered the creepy crawlies that are not vissible with the naked eye. It contains lavish amounts of cholesterol approximately 60mg. Some of its components shall take form of flabs and love-handles in a matter of weeks of eating fast food but colonies of bugs, microbes can kill you in a matter of days! Here are bugs that can kill: 1. Campylobacter jejuni -> A bacterium common in poultry, leading cause of bacterial foodborne disease in the U.S. Exposure to a small number of it can cause illness. Recovery happens within a week. (Click on the image to view full size) 2. Escherichia coli O157:H7 -> Produces a powerful toxin that can cause bloody diarrhea and occasionally kidney failure. Usually from undercooked beef. 3. Salmonella enteriditis -> Any food smeared with animal feces will carry Salmonella. Poultry especially chicken and eggs are high-risk carriers. An emerging strain shows high rates of drug resistance. 4. Listeria monocytogenes -> Can thrive in refrigeration, it is found in many foods, including soft cheeses and processed meats like salami and hot dogs. Pregnant women, neonate and the immuno-compromised are highly susceptible. 5. Shigella sonnei -> Irrigation water contaminated with sewage or manure transfers Shigella to food. It is highly infectious and spread through physical contact. Children in day-care settings are most vulnerable. I told Dang about the bloody chicken and immediately she referred me to her senior manager. She offered me to take the same order but this time hot and well done but I refused. I was too full from Adam's fries, macaroni soup and rocky road sundae. The damage has been done so they better jab their fried chicken and patties with a pyrometer, to check if it reached the standard temperature that assures us from contacting food-borne diseases.

Oats Will Trim You Down

Southeast Asia is one of the most abundant food bowl in the world. One major export is rice but for people who want to trim down it doesn't matter. For as long as we get the figure we want no famine shall end our wildest ambition. A lot of Asians consume kilos of rice in a day, that makes them prone to obesity and diabetes. We know the rule of eating right, enough rest and exercise. I have been looking for ways to reduce my weight and eventually I found something that is effective for me. Oats. Honestly, I've tried weight loss supplements during my 1st year in the gym and the scale does not seem to move a notch lower. My weight fluctuated 1-2 pounds lower or higher then goes back to the baseline in a matter of days. Normally, I ate 2 meals in a day and did a lot of cardio exercise about 30 mins. everytime I go to the gym. Sometimes I spend an hour on a stationary bike on moderate to high speed. But nothing changed. That's why I decided to change my diet. I know oats does not taste so good but I tell you the effects is dramatic. I added something to improve the taste of it. This is how I prepare my oats:

For those of you who love cream soup do this:

• 4 Tbsp. of instant oats (1 serving)
  
• 2-3 Tsps. of either cream soup powder (either mushroom, corn, asparagus)
• 175 mL water

Mix cream soup powder with water, stir well then add it to your oats. Put it on the microwave for 2.5 minutes on medium to high power. That's all!

2 servings of oats a day is good for the heart. It is known to lower your bad cholesterol level and it also has soluble fiber to clean up your guts reducing the risk of colon cancer. Oats can be a rice substitute and eat it with a dish like lean meat. I would like to remind everyone that everything should be in moderation. Now I'm refering to the use of cream soup powder, it contains some amount of MSG and too much of it will do harm to the body. You can try something else to improve the taste of your oats. Fruits like berries, apples and bananas are still recommended. Anyways, I lost 3-4 lbs in a week!