Friday, December 26, 2008

Health Tip

Broccoli Beats Diabetic Damage

Diabetics should go green! Eating broccoli can reverse the cardiovascular damage frequently caused by diabetes, according to a British study. Dr. Paul Thornally tested the effects of a compound from broccoli on blood vessels damaged by the high glucose levels associated with diabetes. Remarkably, sulforaphane led to a whopping 76 percent reduction in damaging substances while increasing the production of protective antioxidants. Concluded Dr. Thornally: "Our study suggests that compounds like sulforaphane from broccoli help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease from diabetes."

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Happy Holidays.....

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year....
It's the season of love and laughter...
Wish your heart and hearth are full of joy and cheer!
It is the season of joy...
When all is calm and all is bright....
May fill of your soul with peace....
I make your spirit light!



All my heart this night rejoices,
As I hear, far, and near,
Sweetest angel voices;
"Christ is born,"
Their choirs are singing.
Fill the air, everywhere, now their joy is ringing.
May you revel in the magic of the celebration!

May this joyous season sill your heart and home with peace, prosperity and happiness!
This holiday season, wishing you happiness, joy and good cheer!
May the blessing of our Lord be with you on Christmas and always!

Happy Holidays.......

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

More Heath Tip

We all know that when the holiday’s come, we forget to watch or pay attention to what we eat and sometimes don’t care what we put in our mouth especially if foods are good!!!! Some people love to eat when they have their favorite wines. Some people are on denial that they don’t have any problem on alcohol. I have some reminders for those who like to drink, heavy smokers and high cholesterol. In middle Ages, they increase the likelihood you’ll get early Alzheimer’s. For those who habitually drank more that 2 drinks a day developed Alzheimer’s about 5 years earlier that others. For people who smoked at least a pack a day got Alzheimer’s more than 2 years earlier. And combining drinking and smoking led to an even earlier onset. “We found that the combination of heavy drinking and heavy smoking reduced the age of onset of Alzheimer’s disease by 6-7 years, making these 2 factors among the most important preventable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease,” said study head Dr. Ranjan Duara of Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. A second combined study from Finland and California found those with high cholesterol in their early 40s were nearly twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s later in life.
However, I have some good news how alcoholism will breakthrough. The widely available anti-seizure drug topiramate is incredibly effective for treating alcoholism, according to new study at the University of Virginia. “Topiramate offers alcoholic-dependent individuals a future of improved health and quality of life,” said Dr. Bankole Johnson, chairman of the University of Virginia’s Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science. “It provides real hope that millions of alcoholics can beat their addiction.” The 371-patient study found that the drug not only cuts the risk of heavy drinking, but also reduces liver damage, lower blood pressure, cuts cholesterol levels and reduces obsessive thoughts about drinking. It also cuts the risk of cirrhosis and reduces sleep problems. “Some alcoholics receive anti-hypertensive medication,” pointed out Dr. Johnson. “Because topiramate can decrease blood pressure significantly, this allows one medication to be given instead of several.”forget

Monday, December 22, 2008

Another Word of God

Encouragement When Sick or Suffering

O Lord my God. I cried out to you for help, and you helped me.
Psalm 30:2

If you sick, call for the church leaders. Have them pray for you and anoint you with olive oil in the name of the Lord. (Prayers offered in faith will save those who are sick, and the Lord will cure them.) If you have sinned, you will be forgiven. So admit your sin to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed.
Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective.
James 5:14-16

The Lord will support him on his sickbed. You will restore this person to heath when he is ill.
Psalm 41:3

Now that we have God’s approval because of faith, we have peace with God because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. Through Christ we can approach God and stand in his favor. So we brag because of our confidence that we will receive glory from God. But that’s not all. We also brag when we are suffering. We know that suffering creates endurance, endurance creates character, and character creates confidence. We’re not ashamed to have this confidence, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:1-5
Praise the Lord, my soul! Praise his holy name, all that is within me. Praise the Lord, my soul, and never forget all the good he has done: He is the one who forgives all your sins, the one who rescues your life from the pit, the one who crowns you with mercy and compassion, the one who fills your life with blessings so that you become young again like an eagle.
Psalm 103:1-5

But he [Christ] told me, “My kingdom is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I will brag even more about my weakness in order that Christ’s power will live in me. Therefore, I accept weakness, mistreatment, hardship, persecution, and difficulties suffered for Christ. It’s clear that when I’m weak, I’m strong
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

He [the Lord] is the healer of the brokenhearted. He is the one who bandages their wounds.
Psalm 147:3

In the evening the people brought him[Jesus] many who were possessed by demons. He forced the evil spirits out of people with a command and cured everyone who has sick. So what the prophet Isaiah had said came true: "He took away our weaknesses and removed our diseases."
Matthew 8:16-17

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Health Tip

Insomnia

Many people having trouble fall asleep at night or we call it “insomnia.” Some people have to see their doctor to have them prescribe for medicine or sleeping pills. There is a solution without using or having any medication according to the researchers at the Federal University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. Moderate exercise a few hours before bedtime helps insomnia patients sleep far better. The study found that those who did moderate aerobic exercise in the evenings fell asleep more quickly, woke less often and increased their total sleep time. On the other hand, intense aerobic exercise and moderate strength training had no effect. “The results show that there is a way to diminish the symptoms of insomnia without using medication,” said researcher Giselle Passos.
There is another option to fall sleep fast without using medication or moderate exercise, drink warm milk!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

"Simbang Gabi" or "Misa de Gallo"

Back in the Philippines, every year before the Christmas day, Filipinos have customs and traditions to go to the church early in the morning at 4:00 am for misa de gallo or we call it “simbang gabi.” “Simbang gabi” starts December 16th (today) through the 24th. I remember when I was in high school, I have to wake up at 3 am to get ready and make sure that I leave at home around 3:45am because the church was always packed or full or crowded. I saw some people sleep at the church (those are not committed to God), and some are talking to friends so that they won’t fall asleep and don't listen to the word fo God but the most I’ll never forget is that people were happy or wide awake or more alert when they know that the mass is almost over. I also remembered that after mass, outside the church, they are some vendors selling “puto,” “kutsinta,” “bibingka” and my favorite “puto bong-bong.” They are all made in sweet rice but different flavor. I loved eating “puto bong-bong” with hot chocolate or my favorite drink (before) coffee. Sometimes, if we are not eating the bibingka or other sweet rice, we go back to bed since we woke up early, tired and nothing to do after the mass. That’s what I remember back in the Philippines and hopefully next year when we go home for holidays, I will try to do the customs and traditions of Filipinos.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Word of God

Encouragement When Lonely

The Lord is my shepard, I am never in nedd. He make me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters. He renews my souls. He guides me along the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the dark valley of death, because you are with me, I fear no harm. Your rod and your staff give me courage.
You prepare a banguet for me while my enemies watch. You anont my head with oil. My cup overflows.
Certainly, goodness and mercy will stay close to me all the days of my life, and I will remain in the Lord's house for days without end.
Psalm 23

The you will call, and the Lord will answer. You will cry for help, and he will say, "Here I am!"
Isaiah 58:9

"And remember that I [Jesus] am always with you until the end of time."
Mathhew 28:20

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Health Tip

Precaution to Grapefruit juice lovers!

Beware of "juicing" your medicines! New research shows that grapefruit juice isn't the only juice that interferes with the way your body uses drugs. Orange and apple juice can also limit the body's absorption of drugs and compromise their effectiveness. "The original finding is that grapefruit juice markedly boosts the amount of drug that gets into the bloodstream," says Dr. David Bailey of Canada's University of Western Ontario. But now, Dr. Bailey's research shows that grapefruit juice can lower the body’s absorption of some prescription drugs-including many antibiotics. The best way to avoid problems: Always take your pills with full glass of water.

On the other hand, there is good news about drinking grape juice. Drinking Concord grape juice may help fight age-related memory problems. A University of Cincinnati study tracked adults with early memory decline who consumed 15 to 21 ounces of grape juice or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. Those drinking the grape juice showed significant improvement in their ability to learn lists and experienced other short-term memory benefits. Investigators believe the benefits are due to natural antioxidants in the Concord grape juice.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

12 more days before Christmas and counting.....

Hi friends....another weekend came and Christmas is getting closer and closer and I'm ready for the Holidays to come. I’m done wrapping and sending gifts for my family and friends here in Germany and back in Texas. I can’t wait and I'm so eager to see England and spend Christmas and New Year with family. Another adventure I’m going to explore to see new country with different and beautiful views and exciting experience with interesting history. But before we go to England, we are going to attend Christmas party for my husband’s work and birthday party for my husband’s niece in Wiesbaden. I’m soo busy before and after Christmas and hopefully our New Year will be prosperous, peaceful and happy. To all my friends in blogging, I apologize if I haven’t visit you because hard to find the time to see your sites but I promise next year when I come back from vacation, I will try my best to drop in at your blogs. I’ll see you next time….

England....be ready and here I come!!!(ha ha ha...)

You have a great and wonderful weekend to you all……

Friday, December 12, 2008

Done with my shopping



As you can see, my Christmas tree was different from the last I posted. I added more ornaments to make look more beautiful. You can also see more gifts and that means that I'm done with my shopping. Ialso send some packages to my family back in Texas and friend in New York. I'm getting ready for our vacation in England and it's getting closer, less than 2 weeks. We are finally spending our first holiday out of Germany (for over 5 years) with my sister in-law and niece. I'm excited to see them because it's been a long time we've seen each other back in States and also first time to go to UK. To see London or some part of England. Hopefully, it won't be our first and last. I hope that my sister in-law will invite us again even though it's not holiday and money will permit.


Have a great day to y'all......

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Julie Vega








Hello friends, how's your day today? I was watching another story of "Maalaala Mo Kaya Classics." Does any one remember Julie Vega who plays one the popular soap opera in the Philippines "Annaliza", 3 decades ago? Well, I watched her story in “Maalaala Mo Kaya” and I was shocked to find out how she died. I was not the fan of Julie Vega but I remember her when I was a kid. I used to watch “Flordeluna” so I wasn’t familiar on “Annaliza.” Julie Vega was her screen name but her real name was Darling Juliepearl. She has 5 brothers and she was the youngest and only girl. Her mother was a Dentist. Julie was discovered by Talent Coordinator and she started as a model for commercial ad. From that on, producers and directors offered her more shows and movies for her talents. She became known as a superstar on soap opera. She made a lot of movies with famous celebrities like Fernando Poe Jr., Susan Roces, Vilma Santos and many more. She loved her oldest brother Joey and she was really close to him. One night, Joey and a group of friends went to hang out or gimik, when suddenly unknown men approached Joey and stabbed him for mistaken identity. He was not the target but he got stabbed straight to the heart and that’s the caused of his death instantly. Julie couldn’t believe what happened to his brother so she became stress, fatigue and lonely and still continued to act in her soap opera until one day, she felt numb and can’t feel anything all over her body. They took her to the hospital and the doctor couldn’t find what’s wrong with her. After a week of staying in a hospital, she gained her strength and thought that every thing was back to normal so she started to act again. She made her first single hit “Somewhere in my Past” that she dedicated to her lost brother. One morning, she couldn’t get up because she can’t fell anything and felt paralyzed. She was rushed to the hospital and this time, they found some kind of disease that she won’t feel anything and the worst part was she could be paralyzed for life and there is no cure for it. It got worst when she had bronchitis pneumonia. Julie and her family hid the secrets about her disease until she stopped acting and lost her life. It’s all over the news and some speculations that she died in “Kulam or Voo Doo” or eating disorder. It was hard for Vega family losing a son for identity mistaken and here’s another tragedy losing their only talented girl, Julie.

I have some photos to share with you and I took it from my own TV screen to help you remembering Julie Vega.

You have a nice day…..

Monday, December 8, 2008

God's Word

Encouragement When Discouraged



As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my souls long for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When may I come to see God's face? My tears are my food day and night. People ask me all day long. "Where is your God?" I will remember these things as I pour out my soul: how I used to walk with the crowd and lead it in a procession of God's house. I sang songs of joy and thanksgiving while crowds of people celebrated a festival.

Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you restless? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him. He is my saviour and my God.
Psalm 42:1-5



Dear friends, even though we say these things, we are still convinced that better things are in store for you and that they will save you. God is fair. He won't forget what you've done or the love you have shown for him. You helped his holy people, and you continue to help them.
Hebrews 6:9-10



God our Father loved us and by his kindness gave us everlasting encouragement and good hope. Together with our Lord Jesus Christ, may he encourage and strengthen you to do and say everything that's good.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17



Turn your burdens over to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will let the righteous person stumble.
Psalm 55:22



What can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us? God didn't spare his own Son but handed him over to death for all of us. So he will also give us everything along with him. Who will accuse those whom God has chosen? God has approved of them. Who will condemn them? Christ has died, and more importantly, he was brought back to life. Christ has the highest position in heaven. Christ also intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or violent death separate us from his love? As Scripture says:
"We are being killed all day long because of you. We are thought of as sheep to be slaughtered."
The one who loves us gives us an overwhelming victory in all these difficulties. I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can't be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers,by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation.
Romans 8:31-39

"I've told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you'll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

Thursday, December 4, 2008

New Nikon D90

Hello friends....I'm back and I feel much better now compare for the past few days. For last 5 days, I had fever, muscle ache, headache, fatigue, cold, running nose and sore throat. Now, I’m just dealing with sore throat and no voice (minamalat). Anyway, since I feel a lot better, I can stay longer on computer. I started to browse on internet for new digital camera since my old camera is damaged and I found the one that is new and everything I need. It’s Nikon D90; it has good features and the price is ranging from $760-$1,583. I’m still debating whether I should get the portable light digital camera that it will fit in my purse and good on my budget or should I get the big one and expensive but lifetime warranty and good pictures. Can’t decide right now, but once I have the camera on my possession, I guess we know that I already decided, ha?

Here’s the Nikon D90 Camera with all the features:

Newly designed Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with 12.3 effective megapixels and Integrated Dust Reduction System
Incredibly low-noise performance throughout a wide sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 3200; can be set to ISO 6400 equivalent
Incorporates Nikon's comprehensive digital image-processing EXPEED concept
The world's first D-SLR movie function: D-Movie, selectable from 320 x 216 pixels, 640 x 424 pixels or 1,280 x 720 pixels in AVI format
Scene Recognition System, utilizing 420-pixel RGB sensor, improves autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance performance and is also integrated with the new Face Detection System
Live View enables face priority AF with the 3-in., approx. 920k-dot, high-density color LCD featuring 170° ultra-wide viewing angle
Picture Control System offers new Portrait and Landscape options for more vibrant customized colors
Active D-Lighting for smooth tone reproduction in high-contrast lighting
Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module featuring 11 AF points offers fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame
Viewfinder with approx. 96% frame coverage and an easy-to-view 19.5 mm eyepoint (at -1.0 m-1)
Advanced Scene Modes that automatically adjust exposure, image processing, Active D-Lighting and Picture Control settings for superior image quality
Extensive palette of in-camera Retouch Menus including several new retouch options such as Distortion Control, Straighten and Fisheye
4.5 fps continuous shooting and quick response of 0.15-second start-up and 65-ms shutter release time lag (CIPA standard)
Built-in flash with 18mm lens coverage and Nikon's original i-TTL flash control that commands Advanced Wireless Lighting
Highly efficient energy-saving design that allows approx. 850 images on a single charge of the Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e (CIPA standard, with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, with 50% of pictures taken with flash)
Versatile Pictmotion menu that creates slideshows combining five choices of both background music and image effects
Compatible with HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output
Optional Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80 extends shooting capability and enables use of six R6/AA-size batteries
Included Nikon ViewNX software makes browsing and organizing your images easy
Optional photo-editing software, Capture NX 2 allows users quick and easy photo editing
Lightweight compact body

Specifications


Effective pixels
12.3 million
Image sensor
CMOS sensor, 23.6 x 15.8 mm; total pixels: 12.9 million; Nikon DX format
Image size (pixels)
4,288 x 2,848 [L], 3,216 x 2,136 [M], 2,144 x 1,424 [S]
Sensitivity
ISO 200 to 3200 in steps of 1/3 EV, can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7 or 1 EV (ISO 100 equivalent) below ISO 200, or to approx. 0.3, 0.7 or 1 EV (ISO 6400 equivalent) over ISO 3200, ISO sensitivity auto control available
Storage media
SD memory cards, SDHC compliant
Monitor
3-in., approx. 920k-dot (VGA), low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with 170° viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and brightness adjustment
Exposure metering
3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-Weighted and Spot Metering
Exposure modes
Auto modes (auto, auto [flash off]), Advanced Scene Modes (Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Close-up, Night Portrait), programmed auto with flexible program (P), shutter-priority auto (S), aperture-priority auto (A), manual (M)
Interface
Hi-Speed USB
Power sources
One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80 (optional) with one or two Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e or six R6/AA-size alkaline, Ni-MH, lithium or nickel-manganese batteries (Battery Holder MS-D200 is required when using R6/AA-size batteries)
Dimensions (W x H x D)
Approx. 132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in.)
Weight
Approx. 620 g (1 lb. 6 oz.) without battery, memory card, body cap or LCD monitor cover

Monday, December 1, 2008

Influenza or Flu

Hello fellow friends....I'm not feeling well since yesterday. I think I have flu because I feel all the symptoms of having flu. I forgot to get the flu shot so now I got the flu. I just need to get rest and drink a lot of fluids so I'll see you next time....

Here's some advise about the flu and what to do.....(from KIDSHEALTH)


Influenza is also called the flu. It's an infection that causes fever, chills, cough, body aches, headaches, and sometimes earaches or sinus problems. The flu is caused by the influenza virus A virus is a microorganism, which means it's so small that you can't see it without a strong microscope.
For most people, the flu is a drag, but it goes away in a week or two. But for some people, the flu can make them very sick. Those groups include:
babies and kids under age 5
people older than 50
adults and kids who have health problems, such as diabetes and asthma
Anyone who's at risk of getting really sick needs to get a flu shot, or vaccine. People such as doctors and nurses also need the shot because they take care of sick people, and it's good for anyone who is around older people and younger kids to get the vaccine.
And now, experts say that all kids between the ages of 6 months and 18 years should get the flu shot. This is especially important for kids who have:
heart or lung disorders, including asthma
chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, certain kinds of anemia, or immune system problems, including HIV/AIDS
Flu vaccines are usually given in the fall, before flu season starts. Flu season means the months of the year when a lot of people have the flu and it's easy to catch it. It starts in November and usually ends in April.
Getting the Flu Vaccine
If you get the flu vaccine, or shot, it will protect you from getting a bad case of the flu. You either won't get the flu at all or, if you do get it, you will have only mild symptoms and you should get better pretty quickly. Like other shots, a flu shot is given using a needle. There's also a nasal mist flu vaccine, which is a spray that's squirted up your nose.
Whichever one you get, you need to get a new vaccine every year. Why? Because the flu virus changes every year and the vaccine is specially created to fight the viruses that are going to be a problem that year.
How Does the Flu Spread?
This virus gets around in little drops that spray out of an infected person's mouth and nose when he or she sneezes, coughs, or even laughs. You can catch the flu from someone who has it if you breathe in some of those tiny flu-infected drops. You can also catch the flu if those drops get on your hands and you touch your mouth or nose. No wonder people are always saying to cover your mouth when you sneeze!
What If You Get the Flu?
But even if you get a flu shot, steer clear of sneezers, and you wash your hands regularly, you still might get the flu.
At the doctor's office, the doctor will ask you how you've been feeling and examine you. He or she might use a long cotton swab to get a sample of the gunk in your nose or throat. Testing this sample in a lab can determine, for sure, that you have the flu. But usually this isn't necessary. Based on your symptoms, your doctor can usually tell if you have the flu, especially during times when a lot of flu is going around your town.
Once your doctor says you have the flu, you can start taking these steps to feel better:
Rest in bed or on the couch.
Drink lots of liquids, like water, chicken broth, and other fluids.
Take the medicine your mom or dad gives you to ease your fever, aches, and pains.
Tell your mom or dad if you have trouble breathing, your muscles really hurt, or if you feel confused. These are signs you may need to see the doctor again.
Most of the time, you'll feel better in a week or two. Until then, you'll have to stay home from school and take it easy. We hope you're flu-free this year, but if you do get the flu, now you know what to do!