Lifestyles Ideas Management - Prevention of Goitre

Goitre is defined as the enlargement of the thyroid gland which is located in the lower part of the neck. The gland as a left and right lobe connected by a bridge called the isthmus. The condition may appear in the form of a diffuse enlargement where the whole gland, including both lobes, is enlarged. Occasionally, however, only a single nodule is affected. Diffuse enlargement may be due to many reason, one being puberty. For some patients, it can be due to certain factors stimulating the whole gland to be more active and enlarged. The result is an over-production of the thyroid hormone, causing symptoms such as palpitations, anxiety, loss of weight and increased appetite.
A lack of iodine in the patient’s diet may be a factor too but this extremely uncommon nowadays because of the amount of iodine required daily by each person is very small and can be obtained from the salt used by cooking.
If the goiter is due to a single nodule, there may be a small possibility of caner.
The chances of cancer are higher if the nodule is large and increasing in size or is associated with symptoms such as a change in one’s voice or difficulty in swallowing.
You should visit a specialist to ascertain if you have goiter so that treatment can be given accordingly.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Wash your Greens

It is good practice to wash fresh fruits and vegetables before eating them. Washing fruits removes dirt, as well as some pesticides on the surface and stem.
There is not need to soak the fruit; just rinse it before preparing it and eating it.

As for vegetables, a combination of soaking and rinsing will remove both dirt and pesticides. The websites of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), www.ava.gov.sg has a section on food safety education which gives details on the proper way to clean foods.. You should give vegetables a quick rinse first followed by a 15 minutes soak and a final rinse to remove dirt and pesticides residue effectively.
Most fruits and vegetables sold in Singapore are imported and measures in place to ensure that imported and locally produced vegetables and fruits meet the pesticide safety standards.
If you are still worried about the amount of pesticides on fresh fruits and vegetables, consider buying those grown organically. Vitamins, like vitamin C can be lost when the cut fruits and vegetables are exposed to air or light.
Water-soluble vitamins are lost when the greens are cut into smaller pieces and soaked in water. It is best to eat the fruits as soon as it is cut. For vegetables, do not soak them too long and cut them only after they are soaked.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Let the peace of Christ.....

An old story which comes from the Salvation Army in the last century tells of a strong-willed woman who has been named “Warrior Brown” because of her fiery temper. She was often belligerent and became enraged whenever she got drunk.
Then one day she was converted.
Her entire life was wonderfully changed by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. At an open air meeting a week later, she told everyone what Jesus had done for her. Suddenly a scoffer threw a potato at her, causing a stinging bruise.
Had she not been converted, she would have lashed out at the man furiously. God’s grace, however, had made such a profound change in her conduct that she quickly picked up the potato and put it in her pocket without saying a word.
No more was heard of the incident until the time of the “harvest festival” months later. Then the dear lady who had been known as “Warrior Brown” brought as her offering a sack of potatoes. She explained that after the open-air meeting she had cup up and planted the “insulting potato” and what she was now presenting to the Lord was “the incense”. Warrior Brown has allowed “the peace of Christ” to govern her life.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had this to say about those who pursue peace: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matt 5:9) Colossians reminds us that “as members of one body we are called to peace.” Helping people find peace whether by bringing people into a relationship with God or by bringing people together marks us out as a “son of God” or a “daughter of God”. We can do nothing more God-like than to bring peace to those separated from God and from each other. May the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi inspire us as we seek to live out our divine calling and splendor:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where
There is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
From Bethany EFC Focus 27 July 2008

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Scented Leaves

The southern Indians must have their curry leaves, the Chinese spring their onions, but it is in Malay, Indonesian and Thai cooking that we experience the pleasures of a wide spectrum of scented leaves. The use of the right herbs is imperative if you want authentic tastes. Trouble is you need only a little each time which means you end up with left-overs and herbs do not keep well. Addressing myself to these problems, I spent a good while finding out how to preserve herbs. One of the best ways to prolong the life of herbs is to wrap them up in paper towels and store the bundles in air-tight plastic containers at the bottom of the refrigerator. The herbs keep well this way for up to three weeks. You can also use those wonder bags newly developed by the Japanese. Made of green plastic with very fine ground stone embedded in their sides, these bags allow ethylene gas to escape. This is the gas that vegetable matter naturally exudes which accelerates ripening and then rotting. Herbs stored in these special bags can keep almost garden fresh for a fortnight or more. You can buy these bags at many supermarkets.
A neat way to store curry leaves is to pluck the leaves from the stalks and set these in a bowl of melted ghee. You just use the herb ghee to fry your curry spices as usual. By Margaret Chan

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Go Bananas

Banana Cake is easy to make and delicious.
Bananas are rich in B group, vitamins, a good source of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium. They also contain plenty of carbohydrates, the body’s main source of energy and are easy to digest. But for a cook, there are many more possibilities.
They are good in cakes, breads, muffins, or whipped up in a smoothie. For dessert, chop them into a fruit salad or you can have them grilled.
But it’s handy fact that when bananas lose their appeal raw, they are just right for a cake.
What you need for this are over-ripe bananas. That’s when their skin turns a duller yellow and becomes covered with brown spots. Such bananas, when mashed, do best in cakes and breads. Often when I buy bananas, a couple turn brown before they are eaten or cooked. If there’s no time to turn them into a cake, I slip them into a plastic bag and place them in the freezer until I need them for baking. They will keep frozen for about six months. For an indulgent dessert, try baking bananas in the oven after sprinkling with grated palm sugar or honey. Add a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg or coat with toasted shredded coconut. Serve with a dollop of yogurt, cream or ice cream.

Banana Cake

130g butter
200g caster sugar
2 eggs
1 cup ripe mashed bananas (about two large bananas)
250g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of sode
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp ground cinnamon
120ml buttermilk
120g chopped walnuts (optional)

Method
Preheat oven to 180 degree C
Grease 1 20cm baking tin and line with baking paper
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and creamy.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the mashed bananas (add a little flour
if the little flour if the mixture starts to curdle)
Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon together into a bowl.
Then fold in the mixture along with the buttermilk and walnuts if you are using them
Turn the mixture into the baking pan and bake for around 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the cake comes out clean.
Turn out onto a rack and allow to cool
Either dust the top with icing sugar or top with lemon icing

Lemon Icing (optional)
1 cup icing sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp butter
Boiling water

Put icing sugar, lemon juice and butter into a small bowl
Add a tiny amount of boiling water – just enough to soften the butter
Mix ingredients till smooth and of a even consistency for spreading.
Add a little more water if mixture is too thick and more icing sugar if too runny
Spread even over the top of the cake.
By cynlow@sph.com.sg

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Andrew Murray's Four Truths

South Africa pastor Andrew Murray once faced a terrible crisis.
Gathering himself into his study, he sat along while, quietly, prayerfully, thoughtfully. His mind flew at last to his Lord Jesus and picking up his pen, he wrote these words in his journal:

First, He brought me here;
It is by His well that I am in this strait place;
In that fact I will rest.
Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child.
Then, He will make the trail a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn and working in me the grace He means to bestow.
Last, in His good time He can bring me out again – how and when he knows.

Let me say I am here:
By God’s appointment
In His keeping
Under His training
For His time

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Wasabi

Powdered wasabi in a tin or wasabi paste in a tube aren’t the real thing. They are made with Western horseradish plus food coloring.
True wasabi toot is finicky to grow and process, requiring very clean water.
This means that growers make much ado about their precious crop, which is generally available at local Japanese supermarkets only as seasonal and expensive fresh whole root. It also means that only the most expensive sushi bars will serve you real, grate-it-yourself wasabi. All other establishments here and in Japan rely on the car more economical but far more sledgehammer to the sinuses colored horseradish.
Mustard, wasabi and horseradish are all members of the Brassica plant family. They all get their pungency from compounds called isothiocyanates that are formed when the relevant parts of the plants are bruised, heated or hydrated. Flavor-wise, they are not truly interchangeable. Wasabi has the most subtle character, combining sweet, floral nuances of aroma with a clean, biting heat. It is unquestionably best eaten raw and freshly grated because it loses vibrancy quickly as it stands. Serve it with compatible ingredients such as seafood and young vegetables. Mustard seeds have many different faces. They can be “popped” in hot cooking oil for a nutty warmth, pressed to release their own sharply pungent, heady oil or ground with vinegar, wine, water or other liquids to yield condiments of widely varying intensity.
For marinades, choose a strong mustard condiment, like English mustard or Japanese Karashi mustard, or make your own with mustard powder and cold water.
Horseradish root, like wasabi should be grated and eaten right away. It gets bitter and loses heat and complexity as it stands through mixing it with an acidic ingredient like vinegar slows this down somewhat.
It has a fierce, throat tickling heat that best partners other assertive flavors such as red meat and oily fish. Ask The Foodie Chris Tan.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Good potatoes

Good potatoes should be dry, firm and devoid of sprouts and bruises.
Avoid potatoes that are damp, feel soft or have discolored patches. Store them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from light. Put them in a box or basket with air holes and store the box in a pantry, for examples.
Never keep them in the fridge as chilling them alters their texture and increases their sugar content, which makes them denser and darker after cooking. Only wash potatoes immediately before use. Spuds that are exposed to light develop green areas. These are tinted by harmless chlorophyll, but may also contain increased amounts of a bitter-tasting glycoal-kaloid compound called solanine, which is toxic in quantity. So if a potato has only small shoots and slightly green bits, and is otherwise still firm, just carve out the shoots and green flesh, wash the rest of the potatoes well and cook it as you wish.
If the potato feels flabby and shriveled, is blatantly green and as large shoots, throw it away. As for mash: The flesh of a potato is composed of tiny cells filled with starch molecules. A fluffy-textured potato’s cells separate easily when cooked, while those of a waxy potato stick together.
So the first rule of marsh is to choose a fluffy potato, such as a russet or s Yukon gold.
Next, you want to cook the spud until its cells swell up evenly and separate, without absorbing excess water.
The best way to do this is to steam the peeled, cut-up potatoes slowly until they are soft. Then, when you mash them, do so gently and tenderly by hand.
If you use a food processor, or attack them overzealously with a masher, you break too many cells open, releasing too much starch, resulting in a bowl of glue.
The best tool for mashing spuds is a potato ricer. This looks like a giant garlic press and is named because of the holes through which it presses the cooked potatoes are about the size of rice grains.
A ricer breaks up the potato flesh without traumatizing it.
The last step before you pig out is to gently whisk ample quantities of hot cream or milk and butter into the riced potato. Ask The Foodie Chris Tan.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - "Since then........

Colossians 3:1 is a significant qualifier which the chapter begins before it goes on to show us how, having been set free we can now live a new life in Christ. God’s purpose for us has always been in that sequence: redemption, righteousness, worship.
We cannot be righteous until we are first redeemed. We cannot worship until we are redeemed and righteous. God followed that sequence in Israel’s history. God delivered them out of slavery in Egypt. Then he gave them the Law at Mt. Sinai to point them to righteousness. After which he gave them the instructions for the building of the Tabernacle. If we have righteousness without redemption, our worship would become drudgery. If we have redemption without righteousness, we would make a mockery out of our worship. Anytime worship has lost its worth weariness will set in and a sense of futility of life will take over. A collapsed worship will bring about greater barrenness leading to greater weariness. Perhaps that’s the reason why we seek after novelty after novelty in our worship today. But somewhere in the midst of that ceremony and ritual, the purpose of God communing with us becomes lost.
Archbishop William Temple has given what I consider the most beautiful definition of the intent of worship: “Worship is the submission of all our nature holiness, nourishing of mind by His truth, purifying of imagination by His beauty, and opening of the heart to His love and submission of will to His purpose. All this gathered up in adoration is the greatest expressions of which we are capable.”
“In short, worship is,” as Ravi Zacharias puts it, “what binds all of life together and gives it a single focus. Conscience, Mind, Imagination, Heart, Will. All knit together in worship, for here love, reverence, sacrifice, motive, truth and obedience are harnessed before the one who made us, who alone can bring unity in the diversity with which he has fashioned us.”

Lifestyles Ideas Management - No stomach

What is the fifth and seventh most common cancer in men and women respectively?
Stomach cancer as reported from 2001 to 2005 from Singapore Cancer Registry).
It is the abnormal cells in the internal lining of the stomach that caused this disease.
There is no single known cause but the cancer is triggered by a cocktail of environmental and genetic factors. The bacteria called Helicobacter pylori is an important co-factor in chronic infection of the stomach.
The risk group will be a history of chronic stomach ulcers, a family history of cancer of the gut or excessive smoking and drinking.

Symptoms of stomach cancer include dyspepsia (discomfort and pain in the upper abdomen), indigestion, bloating, vomiting and heartburn.
The stomach is mainly for grinding food and for minor initial digestion. Main digestion and absorption take place in the small intestine. Digestion and absorption are still possible with cautious intake of food.

A gastroscopy is the current best method to detect stomach cancer. The five minute procedure costs between $200 and $700. The procedure involves inserting a fiber optic tube through the nose or mouth into the stomach to allow the doctor to observe the digestive tract’s inner lining.

Treatment includes surgery and chemotherapy. If the tumor is large, parts or whole stomach may be removed. Can a person survive without a stomach?
Late symptoms may include the vomiting of blood, passing of black stools and weight loss. If you are experiencing any such gut symptoms for more than a month should consult a doctor immediately.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Keep focus

I just realised that I could wear some of my skirts but just couldn't zip up, very anxious of my waist getting thicker and my size of clothing need to be up size to 14 of which can only be found in those European departmental stores. So I have decided to stick to an daily exercise program. This may help me firm my some of my thigh, waist and arm. I am putting a dateline of three months to see myself wear those skirts and zipping up in styles.

My appetite have been very good all the times. The only time I do not eat well is when I am sick or having a flu. It been quite a while that I did not have a flu not that I am a healthy person. I love fried stuffs, anything that is crispy on the outside and juicy inside. Kentucky fried chicken is one of my favorite meal, most of the fast foods. After eating these fast foods, I will felt guilty and started to exercise just to rid of the guiltiness. It is difficult to keep mind over matters when I tried so hard to eat healthy and keep to the routine of healthy lifestyles. It is sheer determination and will power.

My daily exercise routine after dinner is to walk briskly for 15 minutes and 20 minutes on some exercising machine. After that have a shower and brush my teeth and then eat fruits before going to bed. But the trouble start, when in the course of eating fruits I start to snack on nuts and crackers.

It is practically impossible to resist snacking which I have been doing since young and to give up snack is to give up favorite things in life.
It is a sweet and crispy struggle which I need to make a good choice.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Common Labels

Antioxidants and free radicals
Antioxidants are molecules that fight free radicals, cell damaging chemicals that are produced during normal human functions such as digestion and breathing. Experts believe the damage from free radicals is a factor in the development of conditions such as cancer and blood vessel disease.
It is reported that cancer prevention is based on several factors, and is not just about eating more fruits that contain antioxidants.

Phytochemicals
The term “phyto” is a Greek word meaning plant.
Phytochemicals are chemical compounds derived from plants and fruits
The most recognizable phytochemicals are carotenoids – the red, orange and yellow pigments found in fruits and vegetables such as carrots. It is recommended that you try to include as many colorful fruits and vegetables in your diet as you can. These natural color pigments supply different phtyochemicals to benefit your health.

Xanthones
It is found in plant food, xanthones are chemical compounds that contain antioxidants. They are said to help maintain intestinal health, prevent inflammation and strengthen the immune system. In mangosteens, the hull, bark and root are reported to have xanthone compounds – you will not eat as much xanthones by eating just the white meat of the fruit.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Overly processed fruits

Fruit bars
It contain large amounts of added sugar
Water-soluble vitamins can be destroyed during processing

Juices
They do not have most of the fibre that is available in real fruit.
Unless the juice is freshly squeezed and drunk immediately, a good percentage of the vitamins can oxidize and will not be able to serve their purpose

Dried fruit
The fibre is still present but water soluble vitamins can be destroyed during processing

Water fortified with fruit essence
They may have a little vitamin C, potassium and sodium but can contain added sugar and flavorings

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Super Fruits

Ten fruits classified under "super" labels:

Pomegranate
Another name for Pomegranate is Granada.
It has around 600 seeds that can range from white to deep red
This fruit is native to the Mediterranean Middle East
Some studies suggest that the juice may contain almost three times the total antioxidants
in green tea and red wine

Kiwi
Another name for Kiwi is Chinese gooseberry
Its flesh can be bright green or golden
It can be grown in most temperate climates with adequate summer heat
A single kiwi is said to supply more than the normal daily adult requirement of vitamin C

Mangosteen
Another name for Mangosteen is Manggis
It has a sweet sour white flesh
Mangosteen is found primarily in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia
Its rind contains xanthones which are said to neutralize free radicals

Goji
Another name is Wolfberry
Red berries that are usually found dried
The fruit is grown in China, Mongolia and the Himalayas in Tibet
It contains carotenoids that act as antioxidants to protect the retina of the eye

Cranberry
Another name for Cranberry is Mossberry and fenberry
Berries is about 6 to 8mm in size, turn deep red when ripe
A major commercial crop in United States and Canada
It is used to prevent or treat urinary tract infections

Noni
Another name is cheese fruit, ach, mengkudu
The fruit is oval shaped and prickly
The fruit is native to South East Asia but now grows in India and Pacific islands
The juice is used to be able to reduce high blood pressure and relieve arthritic pain as it contains a high level of antioxidants

Avocado
Another name is Palta, abacate
The fruit is egg shaped, green brown on the outside and green yellow on the inside
It has a long history of being cultivated in Central and South America
It contains healthy monounsaturated fat which has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Seabuckthorn
Another name is Sandthorn, seaberry
The fruit is soft and juicy orange berries, 6 to 9 mm in diameter
The fruit is natuve to Europe and Asia
The fruit is said to boost the immune system as it is rich in vitamin C

Blueberry
Another name is Bleuet
The fruit Indigo berries 5 to 16mm in diameter
The fruit is native to North America but also grown in Australia, New Zealand and South American countries
It is supposed to be an anti-ageing superstar that is loaded with antioxidants to improve
Vision and brain function

Acai
Another name is cabbage palm berry
A dark blue berry that is similar in size to a grape
It is grown in South American rainforests
It claims to have twice the antioxidants found in blueberries, as well as omega fatty acids, protein and fibre.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Eat these

Beets
Beets is red spinach and they are rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
Eat it fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power

Cabbage
Load with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
Eat it as coleslaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.

Cinnamon
May help to control blood sugar and cholesterol.
Eat it as sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.

Pomegranate juice
Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants

Dried plums
They are really prunes but they are packed with antioxidants
Eat it wrapped in prosciutto and backed

Pumpkin seeds
The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium: high levels of the mineral and associated with lower risk of early death.
Eat as roasted snack or sprinkled on salad.

Sardines
They are high in omega-3s contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They contain iron,magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins
Eat plain mixed with salad on toast or mashed with onions as a spread.

Turmeric
The superstars of spices may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties
Eat with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - First Aid Kit

The kit should have:
A glass or electronic thermometer
A small flashlight
Cotton swabs and a bottle of antiseptic solution
Antibiotic or antiseptic ointment for wounds
Gauze
Bandage scissors
Instant hot and cold compresses
Saline Solution for rinsing eyes and wounds
Tweezers
Simple medication such as paracetamol, charcoal pills, antacids and cough mixtures
Emergency telephone numbers
Latex or vinyl gloves
An insulating blanket for an emergency when a victim develops hypothermia (low body temperature)
Paper and pencil
Drinking cup
Safety pins
Information on first aid

To personalize the first-aid for your family, suggests putting these items as well
For asthmatics, keep an extra salbutamol inhaler such as ventolin
For history of ischaemic heart problem, Glyceryl Trinitrate tables should be included
For families that include diabetics, keep glucose tablets in case of hypoglycemia which is a state of low blood sugar level.
For those with type 1 diabetes, ensure that the first-aid kit has insulin injections for cases of hyperglycemia crisis which is a state of dangerously high blood sugar level.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Ice

Some claim that ice is good for a skin burn
A batch of ice is perfect remedy for a sunburn but home remedies that seem like helpful and common sense but it can only help soothe some initial pain but it will slow the healing process.

In various study easing burns with ice cubes for 10 minutes with other remedies and found that ice caused “the most severe damage”. Using an ice cube immediately after injury is harmful in some instances.
According to the Mayo Clinic, putting ice on a burn can cause frostbite and damage the skin. For better results, run cool water over the area and take a pain reliever. Then cover the area with gauze but no ointment. No further treatment is needed.
Never use ice to soothe a burn.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Is your home safe for your child?

Your home may not be safe for your child and it can be dangerous place for your kids.
There are many accidents at home involving children including falls from chairs or tables and falls related to use of baby walkers and sarong cradles. Child-proofing your homes are the best ways to prevent injuries and teaching children about safety and responsible behavior is also necessary.

Kitchen
Keep floor free of grease, water and soap
Use back stove burners or stove guards when cooling and keep handles of pots and pans containing hot liquids facing inwards.
Household cleaners like bleach and sharp objects like knives should be kept in locked cupboard or away within reach from children.

Bathroom
Toilet-seat covers should be set down to prevent toddlers from falling in head first and drowning.
Standing water in bathtubs and buckets even if only 2cm deep is dangerous for unattended children.

Bedroom
Do not give babies soft pillows, toys or bolsters as they may bury their heads in them and suffocate. Avoid sarong cradles as they can head injuries to babies when the sarong is violently shaken.
Improperly secured or when the baby falls out
Poorly secured cot sides or mattresses that are too high may lead to babies falling out of the cot.

Pool
Children below five should be constantly under adult’s supervision that should accompany the child into the water and remain within arm’s reach at all times.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - World of Darkness

Sometimes, I wonder how I am going to cope with light if I suddenly lose my eyesight. How will I cope with the daily chores of moving around and live in the world of darkness. I often forget one important part of my body – my eyes. At times I take for granted on my pair of eyes which have allowed me to see the beautiful glory of the creation.
All my family members are myopic except my parents with perfect vision. We do not know why but it is a consolation that we are not born with weak eyes, but somewhere along the way, we lose our sights reading in dim light and laying down reading which our favorite posture in reading was.

The fact that age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly in the developed world. Cataract surgery on the other hand can help those with poor vision regain their vision. Cataract operations are one of the common operations performed every year. Melanoma a type of skin cancer that can develop around eyelids and the sensitive skin around the eye.
The best way to protect our eyes against the sun is to wear the correct type of sunglasses when you are outside. The harshest sunlight between 10 am and 4pm. Do you bit to help yourself safe and protect against the sun.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Harsh Rays

Protection from ultraviolet (UV) light is essential for healthy eyes. We should choose sunglasses that offer over 90 percent UV protection.
Recently I visit an eye-care professional who test my shades using a UV transmission meter. UV coatings are usually colorless. Treated clear lenses with no color-tint, can still be UV light blockers. Different tints work better in different environments and the color choose are a matter of personal taste. The eye care professional preferred me to use brown lens for normal everyday use. These colors reduce glare without distorting colors too much.

Price
Even sunglasses from designer brands may not offer 100 per cent V protection. Sunglasses of reputable brands that are manufactured in Europe, US and Australia as these counties have strict safety standards. And don’t believe everything you read: Just because glasses have a sticker claiming UV protection does not meant it is true at times.

The styles that wrap all around the temples are best to prevent eye strain as they prevent light from entering from the sides. It is also important to choose frames that allow lens to sit comfortably in front of the eyes.
Polarizing lens can reduce the glare from reflective surfaces such as water, snows and road. They are suitable for those who enjoying fishing, skiing and sailing.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Health is wealth

The Roman poet Virgil famously said that health is the greatest wealth, We all knows that too well, but we still put top priority on our wealth and not health. Good health is something worth keeping and working for. Faced with rising costs on everything we buy and spent, it is best for us to keep away from sickness as consulting a doctor can be very expensive these days. Let strive to keep ourselves healthy starting today by getting into an exercises routine, instead of taking a bus to the subway, simply brisk walk to the subway and enjoy the walk. My colleagues and I would walk to the subway and along the way we enjoyed talking with each other and looking in front of us are rows and rows of evergreen trees that have their roots firmly planted deep under the pavement. The only thing that is not so pleasant is the presence of bird droppings from the black birds that congregate at those spreading branches. Little white and black droppings that dried up on the pavement and I have this terrible feeling that I am breathing in the dust and the virus from the droppings. Nothing can be done by the authorities as the problem is not a simple one. If we get rid of the old trees, we will lose the beautiful shade and destroy the habitat of the some birds. I can only try best not to step on the droppings as I walk, this is the only solution perhaps.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Body Odor

Some people have such strong and pungent body odor in the early morning when all of us need to rush for the one bus to take us to the nearest subway. Somehow when you brush against someone standing next to you, the strong pungent body odor can deter you from taking the same bus with this person. Sometimes, I wonder why this person did not take a good morning wake up shower and keep himself refreshingly clean and smell good. I love to stand next to a person who smells nice, the smell of after-shave lotion, sandalwood soap, the nice smell of the cinnabar soap, any smell except the strong pungent body odor. I noticed early in the morning, one of my neighbor who always took the same lift with me, shabbily dressed and smell horrible. He probably did not brushed his teeth since he thought brushing teeth takes place once a day, he did not showered as his hair looked very oily and sticky. I tried holding my breath the minute he stepped in on the eighteen floor and did not breathe until the lift opened at first floor. He probably knew it but he could not care less about what I thought of him. The odor simply stick to him and he is oblivious and he probably like the smell and live with it. Only once in awhile, he looked spick and span, probably he could not stand his own smell once in awhile or someone may have passed a terrible comment. Anyway, he is a bachelor and it is good for him otherwise his wife could have probably left him.

The weather have been very warm lately and having a terrible body odor is understandable but personal hygiene is important. It show how much you love yourself. I like to smell good all the times especially the smell of ocean, lemon and citrus fruit.
Portuguese researchers recently infuse a wool polyester blend material with limonene, a lemon scent chemical. Then they tested the fragrance’s staying power though dry cleaning and being flexed, rubbed, stretched and jostled by an abrasion machine.
The fabric lost 97 percent of limonene after five dry cleaning cycles. It also lost up to 60 percent of its scent in the abrasion machine. Lemon-scented clothes may be the way to beat the body odor reported WebMD. Good for my neighbor and me!

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Getting Children to eat greens

Here are pointers from veteran food behavior researcher Leann Birch of Pennsylvania State University.

Be persistent
Kid needs a repeated exposures to food to develop taste to them.
Set a good example – You need to let them see you eating greens and liking it.
Be matter of fact – Parents appearing shocked when kids eat the vegetables on their plate and making comments “ That’s amazing. I can’t believe you ate that.” Kid feels like they did something weird.
Do not punish kid – Chastising them for not eating greens or finishing their vegetables reinforces a negative association with vegetables.
Don’t offer rewards
Giving kids treats for finishing vegetables makes them believe that vegetables must be endured and not enjoyed.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Home remedies

Ear Candling
This is done by lighting one end of a hollow candle and placing the other end in the ear canal. The smoke that flows through the ear canal is supposed to create suction that will help remove the wax and dirt in the ear. Avoid this: Our ears are designed to be self-cleansing. Inserting buds or ear candle comes in the ear often led to complications like ear infections

Treating acne with toothpaste
Avoid this: Toothpaste not only possibly worsens the acne; it can also cause irritation or burn the surrounding area. Some toothpaste contains high amounts of hydrogen peroxide and can therefore burn the skin.

Cutting off finger warts
Avoid this: There have been many cases where people cut their finger warts and end up getting an infection because the blade or instrument used was dirty. If the cut it too deep, it could cause damage to the skin.

Butter to treat a burn
Avoid this: If the burn is deep, using butter will cause an infection. Butter is not sterile and the skin has already lost its protective function due to the burn. When butter is placed on a defenseless wound, it can introduce bacteria.
The alternatives: If the burn is mild, you can use cold water to reduce the thermal injury.
The use of ice water will constrict blood circulation. If a blister is present, prick it to remove the fluid but keep the skin intact. Using a wet compress afterwards can help to suck up excess fluids.

Using fingers to extricate a fish bone stuck in the throat
Avoid this: Don’t use your fingers to remove the bone as you risk pushing the fish bone even further down the throat and your fingernails may punch the tissue lining of your throat. The alternatives: Go to the doctor immediately because complications usually arise when patients take too long to get medical help. The situation may become even more severe when the bone is stuck near the oesophagus because there are many vital organs below it.

Piercing eye styes with a needle
Avoid this: Styes on the eyelids are very close to the eyeballs. You may advertently injure your eyeball with the use of a sharp needle so near the eye. The alternatives: Soak a clean towel in boiled water and use it to compress the stye. This helps to improve blood circulation and softens the stye. You can also apply antiseptic eye cream on the stye.

Alcohol on teething baby’s gums
Avoid this: Alcohol has the same effect on babies as it has on adults. It can cause a burning sensation. Also some people may put the wrong type of alcohol on the gums.
While whiskey, wine and brandy are made from ethanol and are fit for human consumption, rubbing alcohol and methylated spirits contain menthylated alcohol which can cause blindness and is not for human consumption. The alternatives: Offer the baby something to bite on such as a teething ring which can help relieve the pain.

Home colon cleansing
Avoid this: Many people do it for detoxification but it is not recommend because there are no recognizable benefits. Detoxification takes place largely in the liver and kidneys, the colon is purely a digestive track. It is more important to maintain a healthy diet consisting of a rich supply of antioxidants normally found in fresh fruits and vegetables as even with detoxification, toxins still remain in our bodies.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Go for bananas

Bananas are rich in B group vitamins, a good source of fibre, vitamin C,magnesium and potassium. They contain plenty of carbohydrates, the body’s main source of energy and are easy to digest. Bananas are good for cakes, breads, muffins, or whipped up in a smoothie. For dessert, chop them into a fruit salad or you can have them grilled. The best thing is to eat them straight which I always do, but one thing which I dislike to most is to find bananas covered with brown spots and over-ripe. Nobody will eat them so it is best to make them into delicious bananas cakes. Over-ripe bananas are good for cakes and breads, if there is not time to turn them into cakes or bread, slip them into the freeze until you need them for baking. They can be frozen for about six months.
For a good dessert, try baking the bananas in the oven after sprinkling with grated palm sugar or honey. Add a touch of shredded coconut. Serve with a dollop of yogurt, cream or ice cream.

Banana Cake
130 g butter
2002 caster sugar
2 eggs
1 cup ripe mashed bananas (about two large bananas)
250g plain flour
1 tsp basking powder
½ tsp ground cinnamon
120ml buttermilk
120g chopped walnuts (optional)

Pre-heat oven to 180 deg C
Grease 1 20 cm baking tin and line with baking paper
Cream the butter and sugar together until light and creamy
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the mashed bananas
(Add a little flour if the mixture starts to curdle)
Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon together into a bowl
Then fold in to the mixture along with the buttermilk and the walnuts if you are using them. Turn the mixture into the baking pan and bake around 45 minutes or until a skewer
Inserted in the cake comes out clean.
Turn out onto a rack and allow to cool.
Either dust the top with icing sugar or top with lemon icing.

Lemon icing (optional)
1 cup icing sugar
2 tbs lemon juice
1 tbs butter
Boiling water

Put icing sugar, lemon juice and butter into a small bowl
Add a tiny amount of boiling water – just enough to soften the butter
Mix ingredients till smooth and of a even consistency for spreading.
Add a little more water if mixture is too thick and more icing sugar if too runny.
Spread evenly over the top of the cake.