Cumi - Cumi Dapat Menjinakkan Tumor

Selain lezat, cumi-cumi juga kaya gizi. Ada protein, mineral, dan macam-macam vitamin. Tinta cair yang dimilikinya, berguna untuk memerangi tumor. Cumi-cumi merupakan salah satu hewan laut dari keluarga Loliginidae, kelas Cephalopoda. Dalam bahasa Latin, cumi-cumi dikenal dengan sebutan Loligo spp, sedangkan dalam bahasa Inggris dikenal dengan sebutan squid.

Di Indonesia, cumi-cumi dikenal dengan beberapa istilah, seperti enus, nus, sotong, atau sontong bunga. Hewan ini biasanya ditangkap pada malam hari, dengan menggunakan lampu petromaks sebagai alat penarik. Mereka umumnya menyukai cahaya di malam hari. Kerumunan cumi-cumi dapat ditangkap dengan menggunakan alat bubu, jaring angkat, jaring insang, pukat cincin, pukat udang, rawai tuna, atau sero.

Tinggi Protein

Ditinjau dari nilai gizi, cumi-cumi memiliki kandungan gizi yang luar biasa. Kandungan proteinnya cukup tinggi, yaitu 17,9 g/100 g cumi segar. Daging cumi-cumi memiliki kelebihan dibanding dengan hasil laut lain, yaitu tidak ada tulang belakang, mudah dicerna, memiliki rasa dan aroma yang khas, serta mengandung semua jenis asam amino esensial yang diperlukan oleh tubuh. Asam amino esensial yang dominan adalah leusin, lisin, dan fenilalanin. Sementara kadar asam amino nonesensial yang dominan adalah asam glutamat dan asam aspartat.

Kedua asam amino tersebut berkontribusi besar terhadap timbulnya rasa sedap dan gurih. Itu sebabnya, secara alami cumi telah memiliki cita-rasa gurih, sehingga dalam pengolahannya tak perlu ditambahkan penyedap rasa (seperti monosodium glutamat = MSG).

Cumi-cumi juga mengandung beberapa jenis mineral mikro dan makro dalam jumlah yang sangat tinggi. Kadar mineral yang terkandung pada cumi-cumi sangat bervariasi walaupun dalam satu spesies yang sama. Variasi ini tergantung pada keadaan lingkungan tempat hidup, ukuran, dan umur.

Mineral penting pada cumi-cumi adalah natrium, kalium, fosfor, kalsium, magnesium, dan selenium. Fosfor dan kalsium berguna untuk pertumbuhan kerangka tulang, sehingga penting untuk pertumbuhan anak-anak dan mencegah osteoporosis di masa tua. Selain kaya akan protein, cumi-cumi juga merupakan sumber vitamin yang baik, seperti vitamin B1 (tiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B12, niasin, asam folat, serta vitamin larut lemak (A, D, E, K).

Cumi–cumi juga mengandung TMAO (Trimetil Amin Oksida) yang cukup tinggi. TMAO yang tinggi ini memberikan rasa yang khas terhadap daging cumi-cumi. Daging cumi-cumi juga banyak mengandung monoamino nitrogen yang menyebabkan cumi-cumi mempunyai rasa manis. Kandungan sulfur yang cukup tinggi pada cumi–cumi juga menyebabkan cumi-cumi berbau amis ketika mengalami perlakuan pemasakan seperti direbus.

Waspada Kolesterol

Kadar lemak pada daging cumi relatif rendah, yaitu 7,5 g/100 g bahan, masing-masing terdiri 1,9 g asam lemak jenuh; 2,7 g asam lemak tidak jenuh tunggal; serta 2,1 g asam lemak tidak jenuh ganda. Termasuk ke dalam asam lemak tidak jenuh ganda adalah omega 3 yang dapat menurunkan kandungan kolesterol dalam darah.

Walaupun demikian, konsumsi cumi-cumi berlebih harus dihindari karena kadar kolesterolnya lumayan tinggi, yaitu mencapai 260 mg/100 g bahan. Di dalam kelompok ikan laut, kadar kolesterol pada cumi, udang, lobster, dan kepiting, memang tergolong tinggi. Namun, kadar kolesterol pada produk perikanan tersebut masih relatif lebih rendah dibandingkan dengan kuning telur, hati, jeroan, serta otak ternak.

Hal yang perlu diingat tentang kolesterol adalah kita harus mencegah sifat fobia. Bagaimanapun kolesterol dalam jumlah wajar sangat dibutuhkan oleh tubuh kita, baik untuk pertumbuhan sel (termasuk sel-sel otak) serta sintesis hormon seks dan vitamin D.

Pada manusia, kolesterol dapat disintesis sendiri di dalam tubuh, yaitu di bagian hati, korteks, adrenal, kulit, usus, testis, lambung, otot, jaringan adiposa, dan otak. Sekitar 17 persen dari berat kering otak terdiri atas kolesterol. Tanpa kolesterol, struktur otak tidak mungkin terbentuk dengan sempurna.

Menurut panduan yang dikeluarkan oleh National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), kadar kolesterol total yang baik bagi tubuh manusia berada di bawah 200 mg/dl, HDL lebih dari 35 mg/dl, LDL kurang dari 130 mg/dl, dan trigliserida kurang dari 250 mg/dl. Kadar kolesterol di atas 200 mg/dl dapat menimbulkan ancaman berbagai penyakit, seperti aterosklerosis (penyumbatan pembuluh darah), stroke, dan penyakit jantung koroner.

Meskipun dianggap berbahaya, kolesterol tetap dibutuhkan oleh tubuh. Manusia rata-rata membutuhkan 1.100 miligram kolesterol per hari untuk memelihara dinding sel dan fungsi fisiologis lain. Dari jumlah tersebut 25-40 persen (200-300 mg) secara normal berasal dari makanan dan selebihnya disintesis oleh tubuh.

Karena itu, konsumsi kolesterol dalam batas wajar, yaitu tidak lebih dari 300 mg per hari sangat perlu dilakukan. Jadi, Anda tidak perlu khawatir dengan kadar kolesterol pada cumi. Sebab jika Anda menghindari cumi-cumi, berarti akan kehilangan zat gizi lain yang khasiatnya sangat besar bagi kesehatan tubuh.

Aktifkan Darah Putih

Seekor cumi-cumi dapat menghindar dari pemangsanya dengan gesit melalui pengerutan otot yang cepat. Jika gerakan cepat saja tidak cukup, awan tinta pekat dan gelap akan dikeluarkan dari dalam tubuhnya, sehingga musuh terkejut untuk beberapa saat. Kepanikan musuh tersebut memberikan waktu yang cukup bagi cumi-cumi untuk segera meloloskan diri.

Cairan tinta cumi-cumi bersifat alkaloid, sehingga tidak disukai oleh predator, terutama ikan. Cairan berwarna gelap ini mengandung butir-butir melanin atau pigmen hitam. Melanin alami adalah melanoprotein yang mengandung 10-15 persen protein. Melanin ini mengikat protein melalui asam amino yang mengandung sulfur, yaitu sistein.

Selain itu, cumi-cumi juga memiliki sistem perlindungan dengan cara mengubah-ubah warna kulit tubuh dengan cepat, kadang-kadang kebiruan, putih, merah, atau cokelat. Perubahan warna ini terjadi karena adanya kromatofor yang merupakan kantong elastis berisi pigmen merah atau kuning.

Sel-sel pigmen yang elastis ini dikelilingi oleh ikatan sel-sel otot yang dapat berkontraksi dengan cepat, sehingga sel-sel pigmen menjadi besar dan mengakibatkan warnanya lebih jelas. Mekanisme ini mengakibatkan cumi-cumi dapat berubah warna dengan cepat bila mendapat rangsangan dari luar. Sistem perubahan warna ini juga digunakan cumi-cumi sebagai sarana komunikasi.

Berdasarkan penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Hiroki University Jepang, tinta cumi-cumi dan sotong mempunyai banyak kegunaan, yaitu dapat mengaktifkan sel darah putih untuk memerangi tumor. Hal tersebut telah diujicobakan pada 15 ekor tikus yang mengidap penyakit tumor ganas. Tikus itu diberikan suntikan tiga dosis cairan tinta sotong, dan hasilnya, hanya tiga tikus yang mati, sisanya tetap hidup.

Sementara itu, sebagai kontrol, 15 tikus lainnya yang juga mengidap penyakit tumor ganas, tidak diberikan suntikan serupa, dan semuanya mati dalam jangka waktu tiga minggu. Belum ada kepastian secara medis tinta cumi-cumi dan sotong dapat mengobati kanker atau tumor, tetapi tinta cumi-cumi diduga mengandung banyak vitamin, yaitu vitamin A.

Selama ini tinta cumi-cumi belum banyak dikenal, terutama dalam industri jasa boga. Tinta cumi-cumi sering tidak dibuang dan dibiarkan di dalam daging cumi. Namun, beberapa negara, seperti Italia, telah menggunakan tinta cumi sebagai salah satu bumbu masakan pasta. Di Jepang, kantong tinta cumi-cumi (sepio melanin) yang berwarna hitam dipakai sebagai pengawet dan meningkatkan flavor pada cumi asin.

Bila Anda menyukainya, tinta tersebut tidak perlu dibuang dari cumi, tetapi dapat dimakan. Tidak ada yang perlu dikhawatirkan tentang zat tinta yang pekat itu. Beberapa orang justru menganggap zat tinta tersebut penting untuk peningkat cita rasa.

Cara Menyembuhkan Sinusitis Anda

Sinusitis

Influensa yang berkepanjangan memicu peradangan atau sinusitis. Perubahan suhu dan kelembapan yang mencolok memang dapat mengakibatkan peradangan hidung. Infeksi itu kemudian merambat ke dalam sinus dan sering ditandai dengan gejala bersin-bersin tanpa henti. Menurut dr Dody Widodo SpTHT sinusitis (sinus=rongga, itis=peradangan) merupakan infeksi dalam rongga tulang tengkorak di sekitar hidung.

Peradangan itu akibat bakteri patogen atau alergi berkepanjangan. Akibatnya sel-sel selaput lendir melebar dan menghambat sekresi sehingga ingus terkumpul di sinus. Orang yang mengalami salesma berkepanjangan menyebabkan cairan ingus masuk ke rongga di kanan dan kiri hidung. Sebab, posisi dasar rongga lebih rendah daripada saluran yang menghubungkannya degan hidung. Dampaknya ingus yang terjebak tak dapat keluar dan menjadi sarang bagi berkumpulnya bakteri.

Akibatnya mudah ditebak, memperparah peradangan. Jika dibiarkan, lendir bercampur dengan nanah. Menurut alumnus Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Kristen Indonesia itu, penderita sinusitis merasakan nyeri di dahi akibat infeksi di bagian sinus frontalis. Sementara gejala sinus maksilaris berupa nyeri di bagian gigi rahang atas. Nyeri di antara kedua mata merupakan pertanda infeksi sinus etmoid. Jika tak segera diobati, infeksi di daerah itu akan menyebar ke bagian mata dan memicu kebutaan.

Menurut Dody penderita alergi lebih mudah terserang sinusitis. Musababnya, kondisi selaput lendir pen-derita alergi sangat sensitif. Alergen atau pemicu alergi yang terhirup seperti debu, spora jamur, bulu binatang, serbuk sari bunga, dan asap rokok memicu pembengkakan selaput lendir. Udara dingin pun bisa memicu timbulnya sinus. Lendir yang berkumpul dan tertahan itu kemudian menjadi sarang yang nyaman bagi patogen seperti virus, bakteri, dan cendawan. Bersin merupakan salah satu gejala sinus akibat alergen.

Ektrak Tripang

Jika anda mengalami Sinusitis mulai kini cobalah ekstrak teripang berdosis 1 sendok makan 3 kali sehari.

Dalam beberapa hari anda Niscaya akan merasakan plong dan kesegaran menjalar ke sekujur tubuh. Sepekan berselang, bersin-bersin akan berkurang, dan sinusitispun tidak akan datang kembali.

Ekstrak teripang ampuh mengatasi sinu-sitis karena bersifat antibakteri. Penelitian Prof Ridzwan Hashim dari Universitas Kebangsaan Malaysia membuktikan ekstrak teripang menghambat pertumbuhan bakteri Streptococcus pneumoniae, penyebab radang sinusitis. Makhluk liliput itu terhambat pertumbuhannya berkat kandungan phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Selan itu ekstrak teripang mengandung 9 jenis karbohidrat, 59 jenis lemak, 19 jenis asam amino, 25 komponen vitamin, 10 jenis mineral, dan 5 jenis sterol. Artinya, kandungan gizi teripang amat lengkap dan bersatu-padu membangun kekebalan tubuh serta memberantas bakteri.

Obat alami tdak banyak mengandung resiko dan hasilnya dari obat - obat alami akan sama seperti obat dari resep dokter, namun bedanya obat atau ramuan alami tidak ada mengandung unsur kimia sehingga bila digunakan dalam waktu yang cukup lama tidak akan berdampak negatif bagi tubuh anda. bila memang ini sudah terbukti baik bagi kesehatan tubuh anda mengapa anda tidak segera mencobanya.

Archives : January 2009

January 29Daring Bakers Challenge :Strawberry Tuiles Hearts with Strawberry Cream Cheese

January 28Sweet Potatoes Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

January 26Sweet Potatoes Blueberry Pancakes,a probe in to another Super Food

January 22Chickpeas Corn Vada - to fry or bake? Olive oil to the rescue

January 19Vegan Banana Walnut Quick Bread

January 16Stuffed Tomatoes - Juicy Red!

January 14Crunchy Oats Dates Bars and Oat's Beauty Secret

January 12Hot Chocolate Vs Hot Cocoa

January 9Lavash and Baba Ganoush :Another Healthy Chip-n-Dip

January 7Curried Black Lentil Soup(Kaali Mash Ki Dal)

January 5Whole Wheat Ginger Spice Cookies

January 4Vegetable Stuffed Mushrooms

Fast Workouts That Really Work!

By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief

I love my long training runs, but most days carving out more than an hour to work out just isn't in the cards. And when my schedule is really crammed, shoehorning a sweat session seems next to impossible.

Luckily, the fantastic fitness team at SELF let me in on a little secret: You can get an hour's worth of fitness and calorie burning in 20 short minutes. Yes, I was skeptical at first, but this fat-blasting routine is as ultraeffective as it is speedy, and the secret lies in high-intensity spurts of energy. Here's how to do it:

• Pick any cardio you like (running, swimming, the elliptical trainer). Warm up for 2 minutes at a moderate pace, then sprint for 30 seconds at the highest intensity you can muster. Slow down and do 90 seconds at a catch-your-breath recovery pace. Repeat eight times. You'll torch more calories in less time, while you burn fat faster. Follow this cardio session with a few of the following fast firmers for a total-body workout in less than 30 minutes.

• Tighten your tummy: Do two sets of 10 to 12 crunches on a stability ball. Research from the University of Auckland, Tamaki Campus, in New Zealand, revealed that using the ball makes crunches 20 percent more effective compared to hitting the floor.

• Firm up legs: Stand on left foot, hands on hips, and bring right knee to hip level in front. Trace a horizontal figure eight in front of you with knee. Then bend left knee and hop to right, landing on right foot. Repeat figure eight with left knee, then hop back to left to complete one rep. Do 10 reps, then hop back and forth 10 times to complete one set.

• Boost your bottom: Stand with feet hip-width apart, hands on waist. Shift weight to left foot and lift heel of right foot so you're resting on toes. Bend left knee and sink hips back, keeping weight off right foot (toes stay on ground). Rise up. Do 12 reps on left leg, then switch legs and repeat.

• Bare amazing arms: Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with feet hip-width apart. Raise arms, palms down, out and slightly forward to shoulder height. Slowly lower them behind you so weights almost touch. Do 12 reps.

• Slim all over: Stand with feet hip-width apart. Keeping legs as straight as possible, bend forward and walk hands out until they're under shoulders. Do two push-ups, then walk hands back and stand. Repeat twice, doing four push-ups, then six.

Kick-Start Your Workout

By Denise Austin, Prevention

One you'll do! When I want quick results, I do interval training. Research shows that vigorous bouts of aerobic exercise followed by easier ones, or mixing cardio intervals with strength training (as I do here), burns tons more calories in less time than if you were to work out at a steady intensity.

Intervals supercharge your metabolism, so you burn calories all day long. And constantly switching from one move to the next keeps things interesting.

The following program combines kicks, jumps, and squats. It really works your hips, thighs, and buns, so you tone and trim inches at the same time.

Your Toning Program
Beginner: Do 30 seconds of each of the five exercises; repeat the entire sequence four times for a total of 10 minutes.

Advanced: Do 1 minute of each exercise; repeat the entire sequence four times for a 20-minute fat-blasting routine.

Do three to five times a week.

1. Front Kicks
Stand with your feet apart, left foot in front, and hands in loose fists in front of your chin, palms facing each other.

Keeping your abs tight, lean your weight into your left leg. Lift your right knee to waist height, and kick your lower leg straight out in front of you as high as is comfortable. (It's a quick but controlled movement.) Keep your left (standing) leg slightly bent. Immediately bring your right leg back down. Do 5 to 10 kicks, then switch to your left leg.

2. Travel Squats
Stand with your feet together, arms at your sides. Step your left foot out to the side. As you land, sit back, bending at your knees and hips. Don't let your knees move forward over your toes. Raise your arms in front of you as you sit back.

Squeeze your butt, and press through your heels to stand back up. As you do, step your right foot in to meet your left foot. Then step your left foot out to the side as you squat once again. Do 3 or 4 squats to the left, then go to the right.

3. Do jumping jacks

4. March in place, or jog

5. Side Kicks
Stand with your feet wider than shoulder-width and your left foot turned out about 45 degrees. Hold your hands in loose fists in front of your chin, or rest your left hand on a chair for balance. Lean to the left, and cock your right hip up. For a printer-friendly version of all steps click below.

Lift your right knee. Then, without lowering it, kick your lower leg out to the side. Keep your abdominals tight, your left (standing) leg slightly bent, and your right foot flexed. Concentrate on kicking through your heel. Bend the knee back in, and bring your leg down. Do 5 to 10 kicks with your right leg, then switch to your left. Start low, gradually working up to higher, faster kicks.

Eat Your Way Slim

By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief

Grab your fork: Filling up on healthy foods is the best way to say sayonara to those stubborn 5, 10 or 15 pounds. A few years ago, when I complained about the extra luggage I was carrying, a trainer told me, "That's between you and the bread basket." And she was right.

I went on to lose about 25 pounds without counting calories or cutting meals, but rather by reducing refined carbs such as pasta and bagels and increasing the amount of fruit, veggies and lean protein on my plate. Science helps me understand why: Studies suggest that we absorb 6 percent fewer calories when we follow a diet with at least 34 grams a day of fiber (which is chockablock in produce). We also know our bodies expend more energy digesting protein than fat or carbs, and eating at least 50 grams of protein a day can delay hunger pains and boost energy.

Try these other tips from our Jump Start Diet to whittle your middle and achieve the healthiest weight for you.

Ruin your appetite: If you only eat three squares a day, you might be getting too hungry between meals, causing you to overeat when you finally sit down to dine. Treat yourself to two 150-calorie snacks a day to keep your blood sugar stable and rein in hunger. Try a string cheese with an apple or lowfat yogurt and fruit.

Supersize your eats: Sometimes bigger really is better. Selecting a high-volume version of the food you want can help you eat less. People who had cheese puffs for a snack ate 21 percent fewer calories than those given denser bites, researchers at Penn State University at University Park found. Because the food looks bigger, you’re happy and satisfied with fewer calories. Try rice cakes, popcorn or puffed cereal instead of chips when you want a snack. SELF has more ways to trade up to healthier treats.

Don't fear frozen meals: Eating an entree out of your freezer isn't something you want to make a daily habit, but once in a while it can be a smart way to refresh your memory on sensible serving sizes. Choose ones with about 350 calories, at least 3 grams of protein, 1.5 grams of fiber and no more than 1.5 grams of saturated fat per 100 calories. Put it on a plate and snap a mental picture of it before digging in. This will help sidestep portion distortion in the future.

Plot your path: When you map out your meals for the day, you’re less likely to stumble on diet setbacks such as unhealthy takeout or king-size treats from the vending machine. Take a moment to jot down what you plan to nosh for the next few days, and check back to see how you did. This will help you pinpoint trouble spots (such as a few unplanned scoops of ice cream in front of the tube) and allow you to celebrate when you help yourself to healthier fare.

Seafood and Vitamin K2

In his travels around the globe, Dr. Weston Price found that the most robust groups were often those who had access to marine and freshwater foods. For example, Polynesian groups had a tooth decay prevalence as low as 0.6% of teeth. That's roughly one in 5 people with even a single cavity, in a population that doesn't brush its teeth, drink fluoridated water or go to the dentist. These individuals had broad dental arches, straight teeth, and fully erupted wisdom teeth as well.

As soon as they adopted white flour and sugar as dietary staples, the tooth decay prevalence of Polynesian groups went as high as 33.4% of teeth, or about 11 cavities per person. This represents a 5,600% increase in the prevalence of tooth decay. The next generation to be born also suffered from characteristic facial and skeletal abnormalities that are common in modern societies to varying degrees.

This leads me to ask the question, what is unique about seafood that allows it to support excellent development and maintenance of the human body? Seafood has a lot of advantages. It tends to be very rich in minerals, particularly iodine which can be lacking in land foods. It's also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and low but adequate in linoleic acid (omega-6). This impacts development and maintenance in a number of ways, from fat mass to dental health.

As I wrote in the last post and others, I believe that one of the major determinants of proper development and continued health is the diet's content of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D and K2. K2 in particular is rare in the modern diet. We're also deficient in vitamin D because of our indoor lifestyles and use of sunscreen. Polynesians didn't have to worry about vitamin D because they spent much of the day outside half naked.

How about K2? Is seafood a good source? At first glance, it doesn't appear to be. Mackerel is the best source I came across on NutritionData, with one serving delivering 5.6 micrograms of vitamin K. It wasn't specified, but only a portion of that will be vitamin K2 MK-4, with the majority probably coming from K1. Most other types of fish have very low levels of vitamin K.

But we have to probe deeper. Nutrition information for fish refers to muscle tissue. Muscle is a poor source of K2 in mammals, could that be the case in fish as well? It turns out, the organs are the best source of K2 MK-4 in fish, just as they are in mammals. It's most concentrated in the liver, kidneys, heart and gonads. This loosely resembles the situation in mammals, which also retain MK-4 in their kidneys and gonads (along with pancreas, salivary glands, and brain).

I don't know how frequently traditional non-industrial cultures ate fish organs. My guess is they discarded most of them as do modern cultures, because they smell funny and putrefy rapidly. There are some exceptions, however. Certain traditional cultures ate fish livers, cod for example. Price described a dish eaten by a healthy, isolated Gaelic group in Nutrition and Physical Degeneration:

An important and highly relished article of diet has been baked cod's head stuffed with chopped cod's liver and oatmeal.

Gonads are one of the richest sources of K2 MK-4 in fish, containing 5-10 micrograms of MK-4 per kilogram of tissue in a few different species (according to this paper). Even that is not really an impressive concentration.

One thing that is universally relished by traditional groups is fish eggs, which of course develop from the gonads. A number of cultures dried fish eggs, sometimes trading them far into the interior. Although they haven't been analyzed for MK-4 content in modern times, Price found fish eggs to be a rich source of K2. Speaking of vitamin K2, he said: "its presence is demonstrated readily in the butterfat of milk of mammals, the eggs of fishes and the organs and fats of animals". Unfortunately, Price's assay was not quantitative so we don't have numbers.

As mainstream medicine slowly catches up to the importance of vitamin K2 MK-4 that Price described in the 1940s, more foods are being tested. I think we'll see values for fish eggs in the near future. This will allow us to discriminate between two possibilities: 1) seafood is a good source of K2, or 2) the human requirement for K2 is not particularly high in the context of an otherwise healthy diet.

Seafood and Vitamin K2

In his travels around the globe, Dr. Weston Price found that the most robust groups were often those who had access to marine and freshwater foods. For example, Polynesian groups had a tooth decay prevalence as low as 0.6% of teeth. That's roughly one in 5 people with even a single cavity, in a population that doesn't brush its teeth, drink fluoridated water or go to the dentist. These individuals had broad dental arches, straight teeth, and fully erupted wisdom teeth as well.

As soon as they adopted white flour and sugar as dietary staples, the tooth decay prevalence of Polynesian groups went as high as 33.4% of teeth, or about 11 cavities per person. This represents a 5,600% increase in the prevalence of tooth decay. The next generation to be born also suffered from characteristic facial and skeletal abnormalities that are common in modern societies to varying degrees.

This leads me to ask the question, what is unique about seafood that allows it to support excellent development and maintenance of the human body? Seafood has a lot of advantages. It tends to be very rich in minerals, particularly iodine which can be lacking in land foods. It's also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and low but adequate in linoleic acid (omega-6). This impacts development and maintenance in a number of ways, from fat mass to dental health.

As I wrote in the last post and others, I believe that one of the major determinants of proper development and continued health is the diet's content of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D and K2. K2 in particular is rare in the modern diet. We're also deficient in vitamin D because of our indoor lifestyles and use of sunscreen. Polynesians didn't have to worry about vitamin D because they spent much of the day outside half naked.

How about K2? Is seafood a good source? At first glance, it doesn't appear to be. Mackerel is the best source I came across on NutritionData, with one serving delivering 5.6 micrograms of vitamin K. It wasn't specified, but only a portion of that will be vitamin K2 MK-4, with the majority probably coming from K1. Most other types of fish have very low levels of vitamin K.

But we have to probe deeper. Nutrition information for fish refers to muscle tissue. Muscle is a poor source of K2 in mammals, could that be the case in fish as well? It turns out, the organs are the best source of K2 MK-4 in fish, just as they are in mammals. It's most concentrated in the liver, kidneys, heart and gonads. This loosely resembles the situation in mammals, which also retain MK-4 in their kidneys and gonads (along with pancreas, salivary glands, and brain).

I don't know how frequently traditional non-industrial cultures ate fish organs. My guess is they discarded most of them as do modern cultures, because they smell funny and putrefy rapidly. There are some exceptions, however. Certain traditional cultures ate fish livers, cod for example. Price described a dish eaten by a healthy, isolated Gaelic group in Nutrition and Physical Degeneration:

An important and highly relished article of diet has been baked cod's head stuffed with chopped cod's liver and oatmeal.

Gonads are one of the richest sources of K2 MK-4 in fish, containing 5-10 micrograms of MK-4 per kilogram of tissue in a few different species (according to this paper). Even that is not really an impressive concentration.

One thing that is universally relished by traditional groups is fish eggs, which of course develop from the gonads. A number of cultures dried fish eggs, sometimes trading them far into the interior. Although they haven't been analyzed for MK-4 content in modern times, Price found fish eggs to be a rich source of K2. Speaking of vitamin K2, he said: "its presence is demonstrated readily in the butterfat of milk of mammals, the eggs of fishes and the organs and fats of animals". Unfortunately, Price's assay was not quantitative so we don't have numbers.

As mainstream medicine slowly catches up to the importance of vitamin K2 MK-4 that Price described in the 1940s, more foods are being tested. I think we'll see values for fish eggs in the near future. This will allow us to discriminate between two possibilities: 1) seafood is a good source of K2, or 2) the human requirement for K2 is not particularly high in the context of an otherwise healthy diet.

Seafood and Vitamin K2

In his travels around the globe, Dr. Weston Price found that the most robust groups were often those who had access to marine and freshwater foods. For example, Polynesian groups had a tooth decay prevalence as low as 0.6% of teeth. That's roughly one in 5 people with even a single cavity, in a population that doesn't brush its teeth, drink fluoridated water or go to the dentist. These individuals had broad dental arches, straight teeth, and fully erupted wisdom teeth as well.

As soon as they adopted white flour and sugar as dietary staples, the tooth decay prevalence of Polynesian groups went as high as 33.4% of teeth, or about 11 cavities per person. This represents a 5,600% increase in the prevalence of tooth decay. The next generation to be born also suffered from characteristic facial and skeletal abnormalities that are common in modern societies to varying degrees.

This leads me to ask the question, what is unique about seafood that allows it to support excellent development and maintenance of the human body? Seafood has a lot of advantages. It tends to be very rich in minerals, particularly iodine which can be lacking in land foods. It's also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and low but adequate in linoleic acid (omega-6). This impacts development and maintenance in a number of ways, from fat mass to dental health.

As I wrote in the last post and others, I believe that one of the major determinants of proper development and continued health is the diet's content of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D and K2. K2 in particular is rare in the modern diet. We're also deficient in vitamin D because of our indoor lifestyles and use of sunscreen. Polynesians didn't have to worry about vitamin D because they spent much of the day outside half naked.

How about K2? Is seafood a good source? At first glance, it doesn't appear to be. Mackerel is the best source I came across on NutritionData, with one serving delivering 5.6 micrograms of vitamin K. It wasn't specified, but only a portion of that will be vitamin K2 MK-4, with the majority probably coming from K1. Most other types of fish have very low levels of vitamin K.

But we have to probe deeper. Nutrition information for fish refers to muscle tissue. Muscle is a poor source of K2 in mammals, could that be the case in fish as well? It turns out, the organs are the best source of K2 MK-4 in fish, just as they are in mammals. It's most concentrated in the liver, kidneys, heart and gonads. This loosely resembles the situation in mammals, which also retain MK-4 in their kidneys and gonads (along with pancreas, salivary glands, and brain).

I don't know how frequently traditional non-industrial cultures ate fish organs. My guess is they discarded most of them as do modern cultures, because they smell funny and putrefy rapidly. There are some exceptions, however. Certain traditional cultures ate fish livers, cod for example. Price described a dish eaten by a healthy, isolated Gaelic group in Nutrition and Physical Degeneration:

An important and highly relished article of diet has been baked cod's head stuffed with chopped cod's liver and oatmeal.

Gonads are one of the richest sources of K2 MK-4 in fish, containing 5-10 micrograms of MK-4 per kilogram of tissue in a few different species (according to this paper). Even that is not really an impressive concentration.

One thing that is universally relished by traditional groups is fish eggs, which of course develop from the gonads. A number of cultures dried fish eggs, sometimes trading them far into the interior. Although they haven't been analyzed for MK-4 content in modern times, Price found fish eggs to be a rich source of K2. Speaking of vitamin K2, he said: "its presence is demonstrated readily in the butterfat of milk of mammals, the eggs of fishes and the organs and fats of animals". Unfortunately, Price's assay was not quantitative so we don't have numbers.

As mainstream medicine slowly catches up to the importance of vitamin K2 MK-4 that Price described in the 1940s, more foods are being tested. I think we'll see values for fish eggs in the near future. This will allow us to discriminate between two possibilities: 1) seafood is a good source of K2, or 2) the human requirement for K2 is not particularly high in the context of an otherwise healthy diet.

Seafood and Vitamin K2

In his travels around the globe, Dr. Weston Price found that the most robust groups were often those who had access to marine and freshwater foods. For example, Polynesian groups had a tooth decay prevalence as low as 0.6% of teeth. That's roughly one in 5 people with even a single cavity, in a population that doesn't brush its teeth, drink fluoridated water or go to the dentist. These individuals had broad dental arches, straight teeth, and fully erupted wisdom teeth as well.

As soon as they adopted white flour and sugar as dietary staples, the tooth decay prevalence of Polynesian groups went as high as 33.4% of teeth, or about 11 cavities per person. This represents a 5,600% increase in the prevalence of tooth decay. The next generation to be born also suffered from characteristic facial and skeletal abnormalities that are common in modern societies to varying degrees.

This leads me to ask the question, what is unique about seafood that allows it to support excellent development and maintenance of the human body? Seafood has a lot of advantages. It tends to be very rich in minerals, particularly iodine which can be lacking in land foods. It's also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and low but adequate in linoleic acid (omega-6). This impacts development and maintenance in a number of ways, from fat mass to dental health.

As I wrote in the last post and others, I believe that one of the major determinants of proper development and continued health is the diet's content of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D and K2. K2 in particular is rare in the modern diet. We're also deficient in vitamin D because of our indoor lifestyles and use of sunscreen. Polynesians didn't have to worry about vitamin D because they spent much of the day outside half naked.

How about K2? Is seafood a good source? At first glance, it doesn't appear to be. Mackerel is the best source I came across on NutritionData, with one serving delivering 5.6 micrograms of vitamin K. It wasn't specified, but only a portion of that will be vitamin K2 MK-4, with the majority probably coming from K1. Most other types of fish have very low levels of vitamin K.

But we have to probe deeper. Nutrition information for fish refers to muscle tissue. Muscle is a poor source of K2 in mammals, could that be the case in fish as well? It turns out, the organs are the best source of K2 MK-4 in fish, just as they are in mammals. It's most concentrated in the liver, kidneys, heart and gonads. This loosely resembles the situation in mammals, which also retain MK-4 in their kidneys and gonads (along with pancreas, salivary glands, and brain).

I don't know how frequently traditional non-industrial cultures ate fish organs. My guess is they discarded most of them as do modern cultures, because they smell funny and putrefy rapidly. There are some exceptions, however. Certain traditional cultures ate fish livers, cod for example. Price described a dish eaten by a healthy, isolated Gaelic group in Nutrition and Physical Degeneration:

An important and highly relished article of diet has been baked cod's head stuffed with chopped cod's liver and oatmeal.

Gonads are one of the richest sources of K2 MK-4 in fish, containing 5-10 micrograms of MK-4 per kilogram of tissue in a few different species (according to this paper). Even that is not really an impressive concentration.

One thing that is universally relished by traditional groups is fish eggs, which of course develop from the gonads. A number of cultures dried fish eggs, sometimes trading them far into the interior. Although they haven't been analyzed for MK-4 content in modern times, Price found fish eggs to be a rich source of K2. Speaking of vitamin K2, he said: "its presence is demonstrated readily in the butterfat of milk of mammals, the eggs of fishes and the organs and fats of animals". Unfortunately, Price's assay was not quantitative so we don't have numbers.

As mainstream medicine slowly catches up to the importance of vitamin K2 MK-4 that Price described in the 1940s, more foods are being tested. I think we'll see values for fish eggs in the near future. This will allow us to discriminate between two possibilities: 1) seafood is a good source of K2, or 2) the human requirement for K2 is not particularly high in the context of an otherwise healthy diet.

Daring Bakers Challenge January- Tuiles Hearts with Strawberry Cream Cheese

After a very Challenging French Yule Log,this month's Crisp french cookies called Tuiles sounded like a snap to make.Not so soon daring baker, the quick molding as soon as baked was the tricky part for me ,without the tuile mold.As feared, tuiles didn't seem malleable enough to shape,I did manage to roll a few.The heart shape tuiles were simple enough without any molding required. Topped\stuffed with fresh whipped low fat strawberry cream cheese ,the tuiles made a fine dessert.

This month's challenge is brought to us by Karen of Bake My Day and Zorra of 1x umruehren bitte aka Kochtopf. They chose Tuiles from The Chocolate Book by Angélique Schmeink and Nougatine and Chocolate Tuiles from Michel Rou
Following is a recipe taken from a book called “The Chocolate Book”, written by female Dutch Master chef Angélique Schmeinck.

(For shaping I made the circle and heart stencils using a card board,I topped the circular shaped tuiles with some chopped pistachios)

Recipe:
Yields: 20 small Heart\Circles.
Preparation time batter 10 minutes, waiting time 30 minutes, baking time: 5-10 minutes per batch

65 grams / ¼ cup / 2.3 ounces softened butter (not melted but soft)
60 grams / ½ cup / 2.1 ounces sifted confectioner’s sugar
2 large Organic egg whites (slightly whisked with a fork)
65 grams / 1/2 cup / 2.3 ounces sifted all purpose flour
1 table spoon cocoa powder/or food coloring of choice
Butter/spray to grease baking sheet

Oven: 180C / 350F

Using a hand whisk or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle (low speed) and cream butter, sugar and vanilla to a paste. Keep stirring while you gradually add the egg whites. Continue to add the flour in small batches and stir to achieve a homogeneous and smooth batter/paste. Be careful to not overmix.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up. (This batter will keep in the fridge for up to a week, take it out 30 minutes before you plan to use it).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease with either butter/spray and chill in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. This will help spread the batter more easily if using a stencil/cardboard template such as the butterfly\Heart\Circle. Press the stencil on the bakingsheet and use an off sided spatula to spread batter. Leave some room in between your shapes. Mix a small part of the batter with the cocoa and a few drops of warm water until evenly colored. Use this colored batter in a paper piping bag and proceed to pipe decorations on the wings and body of the butterfly.

Bake in a preheated oven (180C/350F) for about 5-10 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown. Immediately release from bakingsheet and proceed to shape/bend the cookies in the desired shape. These cookies have to be shaped when still warm, you might want to bake a small amount at a time or maybe put them in the oven to warm them up again. (Haven’t tried that). Or: place a bakingsheet toward the front of the warm oven, leaving the door half open. The warmth will keep the cookies malleable.

If you don’t want to do stencil shapes, you might want to transfer the batter into a piping bag fitted with a small plain tip. Pipe the desired shapes and bake. Shape immediately after baking using for instance a rolling pin, a broom handle, cups, cones….




Thank you Karen and Zorra for the simple sweet challenge.Check out almost a thousand other creative Tuiles.

Obati Sakit Perutmu Dengan Sagu

Semua penyakit perut disebabkan oleh
berkurangnya lapisan pelindung usus dan lambung.
Sehingga asam yg di produksi oleh tubuh kita langsung mengenai usus dan
lambung kita, akibatnya perut kita sakit atau kita merasa kembung. Pada
beberapa kasus, bahkan terjadi pendarahan hebat pada usus dan lambung.
Sehingga banyak orang bilang ususnya luka atau ususnya bolong. Padalah usus
memiliki kemampuan recovery yg sangat hebat. (Inilah kekuasaan Allah).

Obatnya gampang saja:
1. Ambil segelas air putih biasa (tidak dingin dan tidak juga panas)
2. Masukkan 3 sendok makan Tepung Sagu.
3. (Optional / boleh tidak, boleh juga iya) Masukkan gula jawa (Sesuai
Selera)
4. (Optional / boleh tidak, boleh juga iya) Masukkan garam sesuai selera,
untuk penyedap saja.
5. Minum deh. (Mudahhhkannn)

Jangan di campur apa2 dulu, karena saya kawatir campuran lainnya bisa
menyebabkan iritasi pada lambung dan usus.

Setelah meminum resep ini di jamin semua gangguan perut yg ada didunia ini
hilang. Perut terasa lega dan bisa buang angin dengan tenang, tanpa was-was
akan keluar kotorannya juga. Hal ini disebabkan karena SAGU yg kita minum
mampu melindungi usus dan lambung kita dari asam lambung yg berasal dari
tubuh kita sendiri.

Penyakit yg mungkin bisa disembuhkan:
1. Perut Kembung (orang bilang kena angin duduk)
2. Mencret
3. Buang Air Besar dengan darah.
4. Muntah2
5. Semua gangguan perut.

Semoga kalian berhasil ya.....

__________________

Cystic Acne Home Remedies - Is Home Remedy the Answer For Cystic Acne?

The vast options available for the cure of acne make it difficult to choose the correct method of treatment. Whatever be the method, people generally prefer the one that gives the least possible side effects. This can be provided only by natural home remedies which leave little or virtually no adverse side effects. Hence the need for cystic acne home remedies arises, as most other treatment options of cystic acne always comes with some adverse side effects.

Cystic acne is the formation of more than one pus filled pustules. These are infected acne which are very painful and need to be treated immediately. The cystic acne is very unsightly to look at and home remedies can provide ample relief. Cystic acne remedies include the following options which have been used so far with appreciable results;

Applying garlic paste on the affected area is found to reduce the severity of cystic acne.

A mixture of lemon juice and rosewater applied and left for half an hour will help to get rid of cystic acne.

A paste of cinnamon mixed with honey is another home remedy that can be effective.

Natural yogurt and cooked oatmeal mixed to form a paste can be applied on the affected area. This is left to dry and then washed off. This also removes the blemishes and is an effective acne home remedy.

Aloe Vera extract applied on the area of cystic acne also helps to reduce the scarred tissues. Aloe Vera is an effective anti inflammatory agent and also has immunity increasing properties. This makes it an ideal remedy for the treatment of cystic acne.

Other options include using mud masks, cucumber, tomatoes, mint leaves on the affected area.

With these simple and easy to use applications that are free from side effects, the cystic acne home remedies scores over the other treatment options.

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House stimulus package would give CT $474 million for Medicaid; COBRA subsidies for unemployed

Yesterday the US House passed an $819 billion stimulus package meant to reverse the declining economy. A great deal of the package is devoted to health, including $228.6 million in increased Medicaid funds to CT in 2009 and another $245.8 million in 2010. Those funds are from raising the federal Medicaid matching rate to states by 4.9%, according to Federal Funds Information for States (FFIS). Across all areas – health, education, highways, energy, fiscal stabilization, and dislocated workers – CT would receive an extra $2.3 billion over two years. The legislation also includes relief for newly laid off workers including a 65% subsidy of COBRA premiums for a year and extending COBRA benefits for workers over age 55 and workers who have been at their jobs for at least ten years until they are eligible for Medicare or employer sponsored coverage. The bill also subsidizes states to cover unemployed workers under Medicaid. The package includes $20 billion for health information technology nationally; this funding should bring electronic medical records to 90% of US physicians and 70% of hospitals within ten years. The bill also includes $3 billion for prevention and wellness programs, $1.5 billion for community health centers, $600 million for health care workforce training and $1.1 billion for research in treatment effectiveness. The Senate is expected to vote on their version of the stimulus package next week.
Ellen Andrews

How to get pregnant

Wondering how to get pregnant? Maximize your fertility — and know when to seek help.
From MayoClinic.com

Some couples seem to get pregnant simply by talking about it. For others, it takes plenty of patience and a bit of luck. If you're wondering how to get pregnant, start the old-fashioned way. Here's what you need to know — and when to seek help.

Baby-making basics

Conception is based on an intricate series of events.

Every month, hormones from your pituitary gland stimulate your ovaries to release an egg, or ovulate. This often happens around day 14 of the menstrual cycle, although the exact timing may vary among women or even from month to month.

Once the egg is released, it travels to the fallopian tube. If you want to conceive, now's the time. The egg has about 24 hours to unite with a sperm. Since sperm cells can survive in your reproductive tract for two to three days, it's best to have regular sex during the days leading up to ovulation.

If the egg is fertilized, it'll travel to the uterus two to four days later. There it'll attach to the uterine lining. You're pregnant! Your periods will stop as your body begins to support the embryo.

If the egg isn't fertilized, it'll break down and you'll have your next period as usual.

Understanding when you're most fertile

Learning how ovulation works is one thing. Determining when it's actually happening is something else. For many women, it's like hitting a moving target.

Keep an eye on the calendar
Use your day planner or another simple calendar to mark the day your period begins each month. Also track the number of days each period lasts. If you have a consistent 28-day cycle, ovulation is likely to begin about 14 days after the day your last period began.

If your cycles are somewhat long, subtract 18 from the number of days in your shortest cycle. When your next period begins, count ahead this many days. The next week is a reasonable guess for your most fertile days.

• Pros. Calendar calculations can be done simply on paper. And they're free!
• Cons. Many factors may affect the exact timing of ovulation, including illness, stress and exercise. Counting days is often inaccurate, especially for women who have irregular cycles.

Watch for changes in cervical mucus
Just before ovulation, you might notice an increase in clear, slippery vaginal secretions — if you look for it. These secretions typically resemble raw egg whites. After ovulation, when the odds of becoming pregnant are slim, the discharge will become cloudy and sticky or disappear entirely.

• Pros. Changes in vaginal secretions are often an accurate sign of impending fertility. Simple observation is all that's needed, particularly inside the vagina.
• Cons. You have to check your vagina for the secretions. And judging the texture or appearance of vaginal secretions can be somewhat subjective.

Track your basal body temperature
This is your body's temperature when you're fully at rest. Ovulation may cause a gradual rise in temperature or even a sudden jump — typically between 0.5 and 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit. You'll be most fertile during the two to three days before your temperature rises. You can assume ovulation has occurred when the slightly higher temperature remains steady for three days or more.

Use an oral thermometer to monitor your basal body temperature. Try the digital variety or one specifically designed to measure basal body temperature. Simply take your temperature every morning before you get out of bed. Plot the readings on graph paper and look for a pattern to emerge.

• Pros. It's simple. The only cost is the thermometer. It's often most helpful to determine when you've ovulated and judge if the timing is consistent from month to month.
• Cons. The temperature change may be subtle, and the increase comes too late — after ovulation has already happened. It can be inconvenient to take your temperature at the same time every day, especially if you have irregular sleeping hours.

Try an ovulation monitoring kit
Over-the-counter ovulation kits test your urine for the surge in hormones that takes place before ovulation. For the most accurate results, follow the instructions on the label to the letter.

• Pros. Ovulation kits can identify the most likely time of ovulation. They can even provide a signal before ovulation actually happens. They're available without a prescription in most pharmacies.
• Cons. Ovulation kits often lead to excessively targeted sex — and timing sex so precisely can invite being too late. The tests can also be expensive, often ranging from $20 to $50 each.

Maximizing fertility

When you're trying to conceive, consider these simple do's and don'ts.

Do:

• Have sex regularly. If you consistently have sex two or three times a week, you're almost certain to hit a fertile period at some point. For healthy couples who want to conceive, there's no such thing as too much sex. For many couples, this may be all it takes.
• Have sex once a day near the time of ovulation. Daily intercourse during the days leading up to ovulation may increase the odds of conception. Although your partner's sperm concentration will drop slightly each time you have sex, the reduction isn't usually an issue for healthy men.
• Make healthy lifestyle choices. Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat healthy foods and keep stress under control. The same good habits will serve you and your baby well during pregnancy.
• Consider preconception planning. Your doctor can assess your overall health and help you identify lifestyle changes that may improve your chances for a healthy pregnancy. Preconception planning is especially helpful if you or your partner have any health issues.
• Take your vitamins. Folic acid (vitamin B-9) plays an essential role in a baby's development. Taking a prenatal vitamin or folic acid supplement beginning at least one month before conception through the first trimester of pregnancy can reduce the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects by up to 70 percent.

Don't:

• Smoke. Tobacco changes the cervical mucus, which may keep sperm from reaching the egg. Smoking may also increase the risk of miscarriage and deprive your developing baby of oxygen and nutrients. If you smoke, ask your doctor to help you quit before conception. For your family's sake, vow to quit for good.
• Drink alcohol. Alcohol is off-limits if you're pregnant — or hope to be.
• Take medication without your doctor's OK. Certain medications — even those available without a prescription — can make it difficult to conceive. Others may not be safe once you're pregnant.

When to see your doctor

With frequent unprotected sex, most healthy couples conceive within one year. Others need a bit of help.

If you're in your early 30s or younger and you and your partner are in good health, try it on your own for one year before consulting a doctor. You may want to seek help sooner if you're age 35 or older, your periods are more than 35 days apart, or you or your partner has known or suspected fertility issues.

Infertility affects men and women equally — and treatment is available. Depending on the source of the problem, your gynecologist, your partner's urologist or your family doctor may be able to help. In some cases, a fertility specialist may offer the best hope.

Preconception planning: Is your body ready for pregnancy?

For the health of your baby, make sure your body is ready for its demands.
From MayoClinic.com

If you've decided you're ready to get pregnant, you may already be emotionally committed to parenthood. But is your body prepared for the task ahead?

Ideally, preconception planning begins up to a year before conception. To help ensure a healthy pregnancy, schedule a preconception appointment with your health care provider as soon as you begin thinking about pregnancy. Be ready to answer the following questions.

What type of birth control have you been using?

If you've been taking birth control pills, your health care provider may recommend a pill-free break before trying to conceive. This will allow your reproductive system to go through several normal cycles before you conceive, which will make it easier to determine when ovulation occurred and establish an expected due date.

During the pill-free break, you may want to use condoms or another barrier method of contraception.

Are your vaccines current?

Infections such as chickenpox (varicella), German measles (rubella) and hepatitis B can be dangerous for an unborn baby. If your immunizations aren't complete or your immunity to certain infections is unknown, your preconception care may include one or more vaccines—preferably one month or perhaps even longer before you try to conceive. [Editor's note: You can also have a blood test to determine whether you're immune to such diseases.]

Do you have any chronic medical conditions?

If you have a chronic medical condition—such as diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure—you'll want to make sure it's under control before you conceive. In some cases, your health care provider may recommend adjusting your medication or other treatments before pregnancy. Your health care provider also will explain any special care you may need during pregnancy.

Are you taking any medications or supplements?

Tell your health care provider about any medications, herbs or supplements you're taking. He or she may recommend changing doses or stopping them completely before you conceive.

This is also the time to start taking prenatal vitamins. Why so early? The baby's neural tube—which becomes the brain and spinal cord—develops during the first month of pregnancy, perhaps before you even know that you're pregnant. Taking prenatal vitamins before conception is the best way to help prevent neural tube defects.

Are you at risk of a sexually transmitted disease?

Sexually transmitted diseases can increase the risk of infertility, ectopic pregnancy—when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus—and other pregnancy complications. If you're at risk of a sexually transmitted disease, your health care provider may recommend preconception screening and treatment.

Do you have a family history of any specific medical conditions?

Sometimes family medical history—either your history or your partner's—increases the risk of having a child who has certain medical conditions or birth defects. If genetic disorders are a concern, your health care provider may refer you to a genetic counselor for a preconception assessment.

How old are you?

After age 35, the risk of fertility problems, miscarriage and certain chromosomal disorders increases. Some pregnancy-related problems, such as gestational diabetes, are more common in older mothers as well. Your health care provider can help you put these risks into perspective, as well as develop a plan to give your baby the best start.

Have you been pregnant before?

Your health care provider will ask about previous pregnancies. Be sure to mention any complications you may have had, such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, preterm labor, premature birth or birth defects. Share any concerns or fears you may have about another pregnancy. Your health care provider will help you identify the best ways to boost the chances of a healthy pregnancy.

Would your current lifestyle support a healthy pregnancy?

Healthy lifestyle choices during pregnancy are essential. Your health care provider will discuss eating healthy foods, exercising regularly and keeping stress under control. If you're overweight, your health care provider may recommend losing excess pounds before you conceive. It's also important to avoid alcohol and illicit drugs. If you smoke, ask your health care provider about resources to help you quit.

What about your partner's lifestyle?

If possible, have your partner attend the preconception visit with you. Your partner's health and lifestyle—including family medical history and risk factors for infections or birth defects—are important because they can affect you and your baby.

Kick Your Worst Health Habits

Choosing a successful strategy that will work for you and the habit you want to break.
By Dr. Mark Liponis, PARADE Magazine

All of us have some bad habits we'd like to kick. To improve your health, make up your mind that you are ready to change. Then choose a successful strategy that will work for you and the habit you want to break. Here are three techniques:

• Cold turkey: This is a good choice for people who are determined to change and don't want to mess around any longer. It's best for true physical addictions and for people who tend to have trouble moderating their behavior.
• Substitute: In many cases, you can substitute a healthy behavior for an unhealthy one.
• Set limits: For some people, putting a time or quantity limit on a behavior works.

Smoking

All three strategies can succeed. Cold turkey is the toughest but quickest route. Choose a time when stress is at a minimum and you have a support network. A nicotine substitute is another option. They come in a variety of strengths and delivery methods, including gum, patches, sprays, and lozenges. If you're not ready to quit, set limits on the times you allow yourself to smoke, or cut down on the number of cigarettes.

Sugar

Cold turkey is the ticket. You may experience cravings and withdrawal symptoms, but most people find they disappear after two weeks. One healthy substitute is 2 to 3 ounces of dark chocolate daily, which may have some antioxidant benefits when eaten in moderation.

Eating too fast

Americans eat while driving, watching TV, or standing in front of the fridge. This encourages us to eat too fast and often too much. Slowing down improves digestion, allows us to recognize when we're full, and provides more enjoyment from our food. Set limits by putting down your fork between each bite.

Snacking at night

Munching after dinner can add up to hundreds of extra calories. First, eat a good breakfast with both fiber and protein. Shifting calories to earlier in the day cuts your appetite later. Set limits on the amount of snacks in your house. And choose a time when the kitchen is "closed" every night.

Sleep deprivation

Too little sleep leads to loss of productivity and even may raise blood pressure. Set limits by picking a bedtime and sticking to it. Sleep is a learned behavior, and getting into a routine helps the process.

Courtesy of PARADE

Sweet Potatoes Peanut Butter Cup cakes with Peanut butter Cream cheese frosting.

With the goodness of both sweet potatoes and peanut butter combined,these are not your average cupcakes.Though I could eat the super healthy
warm roasted sweet potatoes as it is ,using them in a cupcake makes its incredibly moist delightful treat.Peanut butter adds the extra nutrition.And also one can go generous with the frosting,cause the creamy Mono saturated Peanut butter is healthy replacement for the Saturated fat butter.For more on nutrition of sweet potatoes see my previous post here and Peanuts to fight diabetes here.

Ingredients
2 cups sweet potatoes,mashed or pureed(about 1 medium size sweet potato),See how to cook sweet potatoes?
2 heaping tablespoon Peanut Butter,chunky or creamy,see how to make home made peanut butter?.
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder(aluminum free)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 large Organic Eggs(or replace with Ener-G egg replacer powder or 1/2 cup flax seed meal)
1 cup reduced fat Organic milk or Soy milk.
1/2 cup Extra virgin olive oil or Vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dry fruits like cherries,cranberries,raisins or blueberries
1/2 cup brown sugar or 1/4 cup of natural sweeteners like Honey,maple syrup or Agave nectar

For frosting
1/4 cup Low fat cream cheese
2 tablespoon Pure Honey or Maple syrup or Date Syrup
2 tablespoon of Peanut butter,creamy
Some roasted pistachios for garnish.

Makes about 10-12 cup cakes.

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Line the muffin tray baking cups.
Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.In another bowl whisk eggs,mix in sugar and oil,add the sweet potatoes and peanut butter ,combine. .Now combine this wet mixture slowly in the dry mixture until completely incorporated.
Fill the baking cups 3/4 th full and bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Cool completely.

Prepare the frosting by whipping the frosting ingredients until smooth and spreadable.Slather over the cooled cupcakes using a spatula ,sprinkle with finely chopped pistachios.

These peanut rich Cupcakes along with the other peanut rich recipes Mirchi Ka salan,Nutty Chutney and Peanut bites are my entry for Let Go Nuts : Peanuts event,hosted by Aquadaze of Served With Love.
Mildly sweet and simple enough to bake for beginners,I'm also sending these to One page cookbooks ,Simple dessert event,hosted by Varsha of Will-o-wisp.And to Vandana's Baking for beginners.


Peanut rich recipes Posted:

Balancing Community and Institutional Interests

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion held at the University of Texas School of Public Health. The topic was “Health Care Leadership Challenges: Balancing Community and Institutional Interests.” Although this topic was chosen probably a year in advance, its relevance has escalated because of the current economic crisis that is significantly affecting all global

Balancing Community and Institutional Interests

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion held at the University of Texas School of Public Health. The topic was “Health Care Leadership Challenges: Balancing Community and Institutional Interests.” Although this topic was chosen probably a year in advance, its relevance has escalated because of the current economic crisis that is significantly affecting all global