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Weight Wobbling

JOY — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:33:39 +0000

During the honeymoon stages of love, you find yourself teetering between craving sweets and ditching the itch to binge. More often than not, you don’t have the appetite to eat, and so you end up taking a few inches off you waistline. You would be happy to fit into your size 2 jeans without taking weight loss pill especially if you’re on a diet right?
Loss of appetite and sleeplessness are directly related to another one of love’s overwhelming sensations: tremendous energy.
When we’re in love or in extreme like, our brain produces huge amounts of dopamine, a chemical associated with exhilaration (adrenalin is one of its products). With the increases energy and hyperactivity, a high level of dopamine causes, your body burns more calories-and so you go on major food binges, but keep the weight off. For some, a significant production of dopamine leads to a decrease in appetite, among others.
So if you want to lose weight, feel in love like seventeen . But if you want to make things simple, even if you don’t feel like eating, munch on an apple or some crackers to make sure that your energy level is up. Avoid caffeine and cigarettes-these can drain you of energy, even if they’ll give you a quick adrenalin boost.

Carbonated mineral water

JOY — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:29:16 +0000

The first time I tasted carbonated mineral water, I felt horrible. I’m not used to drink bubbly water in the first place. It’s like drinking tasteless soft-drinks! My friends keep buying it because they like it because of the mineral contain. You can’t get mineral in drinking water from the taps? We drink water from the taps! Well, not directly from the taps because we used water filters and change filters quarterly. Some people said, drinking water directly from the tap is not safe because of the pressure plus the chlorine. Not sure if it’s true because I have bo basis. Just recently, I stared to like drinking carbonated mineral water. I don’t know why but now I get used to the taste. One liter of carbonated mineral water cost 70cents in ALDI. It’s a good price of a good water according to my friend.

Help reduce climate change by eating organic food

JOY — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:15:55 +0000

A 30 year scientific trial shows that organic practices can counteract up to 40 percent of global greenhouse gas output. A scientific trial of organic and conventional farming practices has proved that organic practices can be the single biggest way to mitigate climate change.

Scientist at the Rodale Institue in the USA have proved that organic farming practices can remove about 7,000 kilos of carbon dioxide from the air each year and sequester it in a hectare of farmland.

The scientist estimated that if all of America’s 434 million acres of cropland were converted to organic practices, it would be the equivalent of taking 217 million cars off the road. This is nearly 88 percent of all cars in the USA and more than a third of all the cars in the world. Paul Hepperly, Ph., Research Director at the Rodale Institute and Fullbright Scholar stated that they’ve shown that organic practices can do better than any one thought at sequestering carbon, and could counteract up to 40 percent of global greenhouse gas output. The important point about this ground breaking research is that the amount of CO2. Sequestered is based on what has been achieved through current organic farming practices. This is not said to be theoretical estimate as in some of the tree plantation models or unproven like the millions being spent on clean coal or mechanical geo sequestration trials.

This has been achieved now by organic farmers in the USA, Australia and around the world. Adopting organic practices on our farmland is a proven way to remove huge quantities of greenhouse gases and help in the fight against climate change.

There is no other method that is as effective as organic farming in removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and sequestering them into the soil.

I’m very interested with organic things. I’m eating organic foods and I’m glad to know that by doing it, I’m helping the earth.

Risotto

JOY — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:45:39 +0000

When I tasted first Risotto, it made my stomach upset and even give me hearburn. So I said to myself, I won’t eat risotto anymore. Two weeks ago hubby and I had lunch together at La Camera bar at Southbank, Melbourne City. He ordered Risotto and I ordered Pasta Linguine with shrimp and tomatoes. Hubby had me tasted the Risotto and it was really yummy. My first bad impression about Risotto is gone. Now I know, it depends on how chef prepares it. Something in the way you prepare certain food affected the taste of it. Do you believe in it? I do. So if you’re in bad mood, don’t cook.

Mood Food

JOY — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:57:59 +0000

According to the experts, chocolate is good for your love-life. So next time you want to steam things up in the bedroom, forget the sext lingerie and rip into some choocies instead. But if chocolate simply doesn’t do it for you, give these fellow food aphrodisiacs a go.

Oyster: Rich in amino acids and high in protien, which help release sex hormones to give you a sensous boost. A favorite aphrodisiac food since the time of Aphrodite during the Greek age.

A sensual fruit to hand feed your loved one, it also contains high levels of zinc, the substance that makes the male hormone testosterone.

Avocado: This passion maker is packed with potassium and vitamin B6, which helps increase libido and male hormone production. It also contains folic acid for energy.

Banana: Aside from its phallic shape, this fruit is also full of potassium and vitamin B6 for sex-hormone production.

Fennel:

It might not be the sexiest vegetable, but this green is a source of natural plant oestrogen, with an aphrodisiac history dating back to Egyptian times when it was used as a libido enhancer.

Figs:

Aside from their symbolic appearance, these babies also give you energy to burn. And they are high in amino acids to help amplify your arousal.

Licorice:

Used by the Chinese for centuries for medicinal purposes, chewing on this sexy treat is thought to provoke all sorts of lusty urges, particularly for women.

Pineapple: This fruit is packed full of vitamin C, which is used in the homeopathic treatment for impotence.

Vanilla: Its scent and flavor is believed to increase lust.

Wetter the better for fruit and vegetables

JOY — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:32:07 +0000

Had a heavy night? Then reach for the fruit and veggies because they can hydrate the body twice as effective as a glass of water.
Containing hydrating salts, minerals and sugars, certain water-rich fruit and vegetables work like isotonic drinks.
The research found the combination can hydrate people more effectively than water or even sports drinks.
A study discovered plant chemicals lutein and zeaxanthin which are found in fruit such as watermelon and papaya – help boost hydration even further.
Topping the hydration list are watermelons, which are 92 per cent water and 8 per cent sugar.
Cucumber, with its 96 per cent water content and mineral balance, can produce similar hydration levels to twice the volume of water.
To be properly hydrated, you need to place fluid lost from the body with one that’s similar to the body’s natural composition.
Watery fruit and veg often contain levels of minerals and sugar that mirror this, so can hydrate you more effectively.

Chocolate magically erases frown lines

JOY — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:48:58 +0000

Maybe you tried a diet once. No chocolates, no cakes, no biscuits, no lollies, no ice cream, no fun.
The standard you-won’t eat-junk-food diet that lasted less than a week. By then, the cravings had affected your brain and you could no longer trick it into accepting a mandarin as a post 3-pm sugar fix.
So you gave up. Returned to your regular stuff-everything-in-your-mouth-you possibly-can-diet. There’s no need to turn down dinner invitations or have to think too hard what to pack in the old lunchbox when you’re not wasting precious hours figuring out what you can eat.
And let’s face it, a little bit of chocolate magically erases anyone’s especially woman’s frown lines.

Temptation comes in many guises. For Eve, it was an apple; for many, it’s chocolate.
Yes, on the health front, it has been attributed to migraines, acne and obesity.
But more importantly, it’s long been considered an aphrodisiac. Chocolates has been viewed as an aphrodisiac for centuries. The Aztecs associated chocolate with Xochiquetzal, goddess of fertility. It’s also been associated with a Mayan god of fertility. It was even banned from some monasteries centuries ago because it was thought to prompt promiscuous shenanigans.
Chocolate contains two mood-flirting substances called phenylethylamine and serotonin, which are also found naturally in your brain.
These stimulants kick in when you are feeling happy. Not only do they improve your mood, they also boost your blood pressure and increase your heart rate. They give you a sense of well-being and excitement, similar to the natural high experienced when you’re in love.
The melt-in-your-mouth feeling isn’t the only sensual pleasure. Chocolate is also great for you sex drive.
The extra energy kick from the sugar increases your stamina, and that can only be good when it comes to love.

Carrot Salad

JOY — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:15:19 +0000

My latest favorite side salad dish. Very easy to prepare. Just add garlic and mayonnaise to grated carrots and you got yummy carrot salad. So yum and healthy. If you don’t have any veges on your meals, this is the easiest alternative. I’m sure you’ll love it. I got the idea from my Russian friend and actually, with their daily meals, she always make sure they don’t run out of it. Since they don’t usually eat rice like us Asians, one kilo of carrots is good only for two days. In our house, we love rice and one kilo takes less than a week or exactly one week.

Carving up hearty meals

JOY — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:31:21 +0000

It’s comfort cooking time of year. Winter season is the season for hearty stews and roasts, and wholesome dishes that warm you up.
But buying meat for a family can add a substantial amount to your weekly grocery bill.
Now is the time to take advantage of the cheaper cuts of meat according to Meat and Livestock Australia spokesman. Meats are just as good and just as wholesome, and fit perfectly in those winter dishes.
People should learn which cuts to buy and how to cook them to get the best value-with beef, mince and chuck steak are value for money options.
Any of your forequarter cuts are great. Chuck steak, mine steak and bolar blade make a beautiful stew, and bolar blade as a whole muscle can be used in a pot roast.
Beef mince has all those properties for good well-being and it’s not as expensive as a steak.
When it comes to seriously cheap meals, you can’t go past chicken drumsticks or thighs.
Drumstick are about $7 a kg and they can be baked. You can put an egg wash on them and roll them is parmesan, a bit of garlic, parsley and oregano.

Whole grains and your waistline

JOY — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:58:00 +0000

To lose weight you need to cut kJs, it’s a given. New research indicates that if you want to lose weight around your middle, not just diet pills is the answer but whole grains will also do it.
Researchers at Penn State University divided 50 obese adults with metabolic syndrome (risk factors for diabetes and heart disease) into two groups.
Group 1 – went on a low kJ diet of wholegrain products.
Group 2 – had no whole grains in their diet. Twelve weeks later, both groups showed similar weight loss, but group 1 had lost more body fat from the abdominal region. Researchers suggests dieters try foods like oatmeal and wholegrain cereals.