Friday, January 29, 2016

Live Better with a Friend's Life Advice

"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced."

Personally, I think this is the most wonderful way to define life. What a beautiful thing it is to be able to say it is true. As tough as it may be, life is as gripping as a good book, and as captivating as a magical picture. No one ever said their life was perfect, but it can improve greatly with little things, which however futile they may sound, they make an incredible difference in one's life. Here's some advice from friend, to friend.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Fight Fat & Obesity with These 6 Kinds of Tea

6 Teas that Will Keep You Slim Healthy

A good cup of tea can help calm your nerves, warm you up or cool you down, and even give you a boost of energy, but there is so much more to tea than you think. Tea appears in Chinese writings dating back to the 10th century BCE, when it was mainly used as a form of medication. Nowadays we know that drinking tea can also help stop fat from attaching to cells inside your body, and thus prevent obesity. Here are 6 types of teas and infusions that will help you keep that belly at bay.
White Tea

One of the most popular teas in Europe, white tea, is picked and dried in direct sunlight to prevent oxidation, which gives it the distinct color and delicate flavor.

It contains proteins, polyphenols, amino acids, minerals, lignins, polysaccharides, and methylxanthines.
How it helps with weight loss:

By stimulating the hepatic lipid metabolism, it speeds up the process that breaks down fatty acids and turns them into energy.

It inhibits lipases, which is the process that causes the body to absorb fat and instead encourages the body to excrete it.

It helps the body maintain its core temperature and thus helps you control your appetite.

Green Tea

Green tea is often promoted as the healthiest kind of tea, and it probably is. It is packed with antioxidants and nutrients, which help reduce the risk of cancer, improve brain functions, and of course – helps with weight loss.

It contains Catechol-O-methyltransferase, which helps the body break down fats and other lipids.
How it helps with weight loss:

It inhibits an enzyme called phosphodiesterase, which helps the body maintain its core temperature, and also oxidizes fat.

If you have recently lost a lot of weight, it can also prevent you from regaining it.

Black Tea

This is the most common type of tea, and first became popular in Britain during the 17th century. This helped spread consumption of black tea around the world via the colonies of the British Empire. It is so successful that despite the huge range of tea varieties, it still makes up 90% of all the tea sold in the world. One of the reasons why it is preferred to green tea comes from its ability to retain flavor for a few years, whereas green tea tend to lose its taste within 6 months of being packed.

It contains polysaccharides – a type of carbohydrate that slows down your blood sugar absorption, and, as a result, reduces your appetite. It is also rich in antioxidants, which makes it beneficial for your cardiovascular and immune systems.
How it helps with weight loss:

Black tea helps your body normalize cortisol (stress hormone) levels, which calms you down. When you feel stressed or anxious, the body produces adrenaline that in turn releases fat cells into your bloodstream. Cortisol then forces the body to store them, depositing surplus fat in areas where you don't want it.
  
Barberry Tea

This infusion is made from barberries, which the Chinese have used for millennia as a medicine for intestinal infections and diarrhea.

It contains berberine – a substance that prevents obesity and insulin resistance. It will also aid in reducing your appetite levels. 

How it helps with weight loss:

According to a study from the University of Pavia, Italy, the berberine inhibits fasting plasma glucose, postprandial blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

Red Tea – Rooibos

The rooibos plant is indigenous to South Africa, contains no caffeine, but has a unique aroma and flavor that, when combined with its health benefits, makes it a delicious cup of goodness.

Rooibos is rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, soluble solids, and aspalanthin.
How it helps with weight loss:

The many beneficial substances found in rooibos inhibits the formation of fatty tissue, increases the metabolization of existing fat, and helps regulate your body temperature.

Pu-erh Tea

A type of dark tea from Yunnan province in China, Pu-erh is one of the healthiest teas you can drink. It is rich in antioxidants, helps fight obesity, reduces cholesterol levels, prevents atherosclerosis, and helps with many other issues.
How it helps with weight loss:

Consumption of pu-erh tea lowers the concentration of a dangerous type of fat in your blood called triglyceride, which forms the blubber in your belly when you eat fatty foods.

(Courtesy of Elm Belle via amdavadis4ever)

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

IEM 2015/16 INFOPUB STANDCOM MEMBERS’ GROUP PHOTO

Before adjournment of the 444th meeting of the Standing Committee on Information and Publication (Session 2015/2016) of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) this evening of January 12, 2016, a member Ir. Dr. Oh suggested for all of us who attended to pose for a group photo in conjunction with the first meeting of this Standing Committee in the new year of 2016.

I have been attached to this Standing Committee since 2005 (as an ordinary member from 2005 and the secretary since 2007 till now) and no such group photo of members of this Committee has ever been taken all these years.  It takes a newly-joined member like Ir. Dr. Oh to initiate such a sentimental move.
Seated from left: Ir. CMM Aboobucker (Chairman, Sub-committee on Library), Ir. Mohd Khir Muhammad (Vice Chairman cum Bulletin Editor), Ir. Prof. Dr. Ruslan Hassan (Chairman cum Chief Editor), the blogger (Secretary).
Standing from left: Engr. Dr. Wang Hong Kok, Ir. Terjinder Singh, Ir. Yee Thien Seng, Ir. Chin Mee Poon, Ir. Dr. Oh Seong Por

Another shot by courtesy of Ir. Dr. Oh

Sunday, January 10, 2016

The Health Benefits of Eating Avocados

Smooth, creamy and flavorsome, avocados provide a unique and versatile addition to numerous dishes and snacks around the world. They can liven up a salad or soup, are the main ingredient in much-loved guacamole, and provide a fantastic dressing for any sandwich. But the avocado's unique taste and interesting texture are not the only features that ensure they stand out from other fruits. They also have an unusual nutritional make up which provide some incredible health benefits that will make you want to add them to your regular diet.
  
What Are Avocados

Although they are typically employed for savory uses in the kitchen, an avocado displays all the biological properties of a berry, and is classified as a fruit. Typically grown in the hot climates of Central America and the Mediterranean, they differ from other fruits not only in taste, but also due to their biological qualities. Avocados consist primarily of healthy fatty acids, rather than the carbohydrates and sugars contained within most fruits - an unusual characteristic that gives them a number of health benefits not found elsewhere.

Health Benefits of an Avocado

Numerous studies have shown that the diverse range of nutrients offered by avocados offer a wide ranging series of powerful health benefits. Here are 10 reasons to add avocados to your weekly diet, all of which have been supported by scientific research.

1. They Contains Loads of Goodness

Avocados are extremely nutritious and contain abundant levels of a whole range of nutrients, including over 20 vitamins and minerals. A single, 100 gram (3.5 oz) serving of avocado will provide you with:

26% of your recommended daily levels of Vitamin K, which is important for strong bones and heart health.
20% of your recommended daily levels of folate, which is important for the formation of blood cells in your bone marrow.
17% of your recommended daily levels of Vitamin C, which is important for supporting the immune system, heart, eyes and skin.
14% of your recommended daily levels of Vitamin B5, which is important for allergy avoidance amongst other benefits.
13% of your recommended daily levels of Vitamin B6, which helps various systems in the body, including the circulatory, digestive, immune, nervous and muscular systems.
10% of your recommended daily levels of Vitamin E, which encourages healthy skin and eyes.

In addition to these, it also contains smaller amounts of a Magnesium, Manganese, Iron, Zinc, Vitamin A and Phosphorous. Avocados really are a hotbed of essential nutrients!

2. They Provide Friendly Fats

Avocados are one of the fattiest plants on the planet, but while the word 'fat' has negative connotations, not all fat is bad for you. In fact, the body needs a certain amount of 'friendly' fat to function properly. Avocados are high in polyunsaturated fats, which have been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease. Avocados are also rich in Oleic Acid, a fatty acid that is credited with providing many of the health benefits of olive oil.

3. They Help Maintain Your Vision

Avocados are high in anti-oxidants including two nutrients called Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which are essential for good eye health. Studies have shown that these ingredients significantly reduce the risk of cataracts. They have also been shown to help protect you from macular degeneration, the most common cause of vision reduction or loss among people over the age of 65. 

4. They Can Reduce the Risk of Heart Problems

Heart disease is the most common cause of death in the western world, and there are a number of triggers that can cause it to develop. Increased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are high on the list of common causes, and the consumption of avocados has been shown to help control levels of both. One study tested two groups of people, one group that had been instructed to eat avocados, and one group that were not. Results showed that those who ate avocados reduced blood triglycerides by up to 20% and lowered harmful cholesterol by as much as 22%.

5. They Are Great Anti-Inflammatories

The Omega-9 fatty acids found in avocados are anti-inflammatories, which can help balance out the negative, inflammatory effects of the unsaturated fats found in various processed foods and dairy products. They also contain high levels of nutrients called phytosterols, which also have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, and are highly recommended for people who suffer from arthritis and osteoporosis. If that wasn't enough, the phytosterols combine with oleic acid to provide proven protection against UV damage and inflammation of the skin cells. Avocados can therefore be considered something of an anti-inflammatory super-food!

6. They Can Help Digestion

Another nutrient avocados contain in abundance is fiber, which is associated with weight loss, blood sugar regulation and better digestion. Avocados contain an unusually high amount of fiber, with each 100 gram (3.5 oz) serving containing around 7 grams of fiber, which is 27% of the recommended daily amount.  A high fiber diet can helps food pass through the digestive system more easily, maintaining the health of your colon, while reducing feelings of bloatedness.

7. They Are A Great Source of Potassium

Potassium takes an essential role in the generation of the electrical pulses that keep your heart beating, and also helps keep your muscles moving and your nerves working. Studies have shown that potasssium deficiences can be linked to heart problems, kidney disease and increase the risk of a stroke. Bananas are often held up as one of the best sources of potassium but guess what? Avocados contain more potassium per 100 gram (3.5 oz) - providing 14% of your recommended daily amount, compared to the 10% offered by bananas.

8. They Help You Absorb Nutrients from other Foods

When you eat healthy foods, it is important to ensure that your body absorbs as much of the goodness as possible, and this absorption process sometimes needs some help. Many key nutrients actually need to combine with fat to be utilized successfully, including vitamins A, D, E and K, and the hugely beneficial antioxidant Carotenoid. Carotenoids are found in leafy greens, carrots and sweet potatoes, all vegetables which contain very little fat. Studies have shown that if you add an avocado when you eat these foods, carotenoid uptake can increase up to 15 times over.

9. They May Help Prevent Cancer

Although research is in its infancy, there is some evidence that avocado consumption can be beneficial in preventing certain types of cancer. A 2007 study published in the journal Seminars in Cancer Biology found that phytochemicals contained with avocados could encourage cancer cells to stop growing. Other research has suggested a link between avocados and reduced risk of mouth, skin and prostate cancer. The potentially powerful benefits of avocados in this regard are linked to their unique mix of antioxidant and ant-inflammatory properties.
  
10. They Can Help Regulate Blood Sugar Levels

Because they are low in carbohydrates and sugars when compared to other fruits, avocados can help maintain blood sugar levels. Their high fiber content is also important in this regard. A large portion of any fiber-rich food eaten will pass through the the digestive system intact, and this means they are less likely to cause a spike in blood sugar levels. People who have type 2 diabetes are often told to include plenty of fiber in the diet, and avocados are a great source.


(Courtesy of Elm Belle vide amdavadis4ever)

Saturday, January 09, 2016

A Collection of Promises We Should Say to Ourselves

We are always striving to improve as a person. Whether it's in the way we act, the way we control our emotions, or what we choose to say; there is always room for positive change. We improve by identifying our mistakes and wrong turns, and making promises to ourselves accordingly so that these are not repeated. Without doing this, we can't mature, grow and move on in life. In order to avoid self-disappointment, make it a habit to remind yourself of some promises we all need to make to ourselves to ensure we are living the best life we can.
(Courtesy of Vue DeDiue vide amdavadis4ever)

Sunday, January 03, 2016

British English Vs American English

Given that there are 65 countries in the world that have made English their official language, between them there are bound to be some differences that crop up, take the UK and USA for example. Despite them being incredibly similar there are still a lot of noticeable differences between the two versions of English that they choose to use which can lead to some confusion at times.

Luckily however the US State Department has created a series of illustrated infographics that help make things a little clearer.























(Courtesy of Chander Menghani via amdavadis4ever)

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