29 Healthiest Foods On The Planet

The 29 Healthiest Foods on the Planet
The following is a "healthy food hot list" consisting of the 29 food that will give you the biggest nutritional bang for you caloric buck, as well as decrease your risk for deadly illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Along with each description is a suggestion as to how to incorporate these power-foods into your diet.

01. Apricots
The Power: Beta-carotene, which helps prevent free-radical damage
and protect the eyes. The body also turns beta-carotene into vitamin
A, which may help ward off some cancers, especially of the skin.
One apricot has 17 calories, 0 fat, 1 gram of fiber. Snacks on them
dried, or if you prefer fresh, buy when still firm; once they soften,
they lose nutrients.

02. Avocados
The Power: Oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that helps lower overall
cholesterol and raise levels of HDL, plus a good dose of fiber. One
slice has 81 calories, 8 grams of fat and 3 grams of fiber. Try a few
slices instead of mayonnaise to dress up your next burger.

03. Raspberries
The Power: Ellagic acid, which helps stall cancer-cell growth. These
berries are also packed with vitamin C and are high in fiber, which
helps prevent high cholesterol and heart disease. A cup has only 60
calories, 1 gram of fat and 8 grams of fiber. Top plain low-fat
yogurt or oatmeal (another high fiber food)with fresh berries.

04. Mango
The Power: A medium mango packs 57mg of vitamin C, almost your
whole recommended daily dose. This antioxidant helps prevent
arthritis and boosts wound healing and your immune system.
Mangoes also boast more than 8,000 IU of vitamin A (as
beta-carotene). One mango has 135 calories, 1 gram of fat
and 4 grams of fiber. Cut on up and serve it over leafy greens.
Bonus: Your salad will taste like dessert!

05. Cantaloupe
The Power: Vitamin C (117mg in half a melon, almost twice the
recommended daily dose) and beta-carotene - both powerful
antioxidants that help protect cells from free-radical damage.
Plus, half a melon has 853mg of potassium - almost twice as
much as a banana, which helps lower blood pressure. Half a
melon has 97 calories, 1 gram of fat and 2 grams of fiber.
Cut into cubes and freeze, then blend into an icy smoothie.

06. Cranberry Juice
The Power: Helps fight bladder infections by preventing harmful
bacteria from growing. A cup has 144 calories, 0 grams of fat
and 0 fiber. Buy 100 percent juice concentrates and uses it to
spice up your daily H20 without adding sugar.



07. Tomato
The Power: Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as
an antioxidant. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk
of bladder, stomach and colon cancers in half if eaten daily.
A tomato has 26 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Drizzle
fresh slices with olive oil, because lycopene is best absorbed
when eaten with a little fat.

08. Raisins
The Power: These little gems are a great source of iron, which
helps the blood transport oxygen and which many women are short
on. A half-cup has 218 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber.
Sprinkle raisins on your morning oatmeal or bran cereal- women,
consider this especially during your period.

09. Figs
The Power: A good source of potassium and fiber, figs also contain
vitamin B6, which is responsible for producing mood-boosting
serotonin, lowering cholesterol and preventing water retention.
The Pill depletes B6, so if you use this method of birth control,
make sure to get extra B6 in your diet. One fig has 37 to 48
calories, 0 fat and 2 grams of fiber. (Cookie lovers - fig bars
have around 56 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of fiber per
cookie). Fresh figs are delicious simmered alongside a pork
tenderloin and the dried variety make a great portable gym snack.

10. Lemons/Limes
The Power: Limonene, furocoumarins and vitamin C, all of which
help prevent cancer. A wedge has 2 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber.
Buy a few of each and squeeze over salads, fish, beans and
vegetables for fat free flavor.

VEGETABLES

11. Onions
The Power: Quercetin is one of the most powerful flavonoids
(natural plant antioxidants). Studies show it helps protect
against cancer. A cup (chopped) has 61 calories, 0 fat and
3 grams of fiber. Chop onions for the maximum phytonutrient boost,
or if you hate to cry, roast them with a little olive oil and
serve with rice or other vegetables.

12. Artichokes
The Power: These odd-looking vegetables contain silymarin, an
antioxidant that helps prevent skin cancer, plus fiber to help
control cholesterol. One medium artichoke has 60 calories, 0 fat and
7 grams of fiber. Steam over boiling water for 30 to 40 minutes.
Squeeze lemon juice on top, and then pluck the leaves off with your
fingers and use your teeth to scrape off the rich-tasting skin. When
you get to the heart, you have found the best part!



13. Ginger
The Power: Gingerols may help reduce queasiness; other
compounds may help ward off migraines and arthritis pain by
blocking inflammation-causing prostaglandins. A teaspoon of
fresh gingerroot has only 1 calorie, 0 fat and 0 fiber.
Peel the tough brown skin and slice or grate into a stir-fry.

14. Broccoli
The Power: Indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane, which help protect
against breast cancer. Broccoli also has lots of vitamin C and
beta-carotene. One cup (chopped) has 25 calories, 0 fat and 3
grams of fiber. Don't overcook broccoli - instead, microwave or
steam lightly to preserve phytonutrients. Squeeze fresh lemon on
top for a zesty and taste, added nutrients and some vitamin C.

15. Spinach
The Power: Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that help fend off
macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness in older people.
Plus, studies show this green fountain of youth may help reverse
some signs of aging. One cup has 7 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of
fiber. Add raw leaves to a salad or sauté with a little olive oil
and garlic.

16. Bok Choy (Chinese cabbage)
The Power: Brassinin, which some research suggests may help
prevent breast tumors, plus indoles and isothiocyanates, which
lower levels of estrogen, make this vegetable a double-barreled
weapon against breast cancer. A cup will also give you 158mg
of calcium (16 percent of your daily recommended requirement)
to help beat osteoporosis. A cup (cooked) has 20 calories,
0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Find it in your grocer's produce
section or an Asian market. Slice the greens and juicy white
stalks, then sauté like spinach or toss into a stir-fry just
before serving.

17. Squash (Butternut, Pumpkin, Acorn)
The Power: Winter squash has huge amounts of vitamin C and
beta-carotene, which may help protect against endometrial cancer.
One cup (cooked) has 80 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of
fiber. Cut on in half, scoop out the seeds and bake or microwave
until soft, then dust with cinnamon.

18. Watercress and Arugula
The Power: Phenethyl isothiocyanate, which, along with betacarotene
and vitamins C and E may help keep cancer cells at bay. One cup has
around 4 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Do not cook these
leafy greens; instead, use them to garnish a sandwich or add a
pungent, peppery taste to salad.



19. Garlic
The Power: The sulfur compounds that give garlic its pungent flavor
can also lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol, lower blood pressure and
even reduce your risk of stomach and colon cancer. A clove has
4 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Bake a whole head for 15-20 minutes,
until soft and sweet and spread on bread instead of butter.

GRAINS/BEANS/NUTS

20. Quinoa
The Power: A half cup of cooked quinoa has 5 grams of protein,
more than any other grain, plus iron, riboflavin and magnesium.
A half-cup has 318 calories, 5 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber.
Add to soup for a protein boost. Rinse first, or it will taste
bitter.

21. Wheat Germ
The Power: A tablespoon gives you about 7 percent of your daily
magnesium, which helps prevent muscle cramps; it is also a good
source of vitamin E. One tablespoon has 27 calories, 1 gram of
fat & 1gm of fiber. Sprinkle some over yogurt, fruit or cereal.

22. Lentils
The Power: Isoflavones, which may inhibit estrogen-promoted breast
cancers, plus fiber for heart health and an impressive 9 grams of
protein per half cup. A half-cup (cooked) has 115 calories, 0 fat
and 8 grams of fiber. Isoflavones hold up through processing, so
buy lentils canned, dried or already in soup. Take them to work
and you will have a protein packed lunch.

23. Peanuts
The Power: Studies show that peanuts or other nuts (which contain
mostly unsaturated "good" fat) can lower your heart-disease risk
by over 20%. One ounce has 166 calories, 14 grams of fat & 2
grams of fiber. Keep a packet in your briefcase, gym bag or purse
for a protein-packed post-workout nosh or an afternoon pick me up
that will satisfy you until supper, or chop a few into a stir-fry for
a Thai accent.




24. Pinto Beans
The Power: A half cup has more than 25 percent of your daily
requirement of folate, which helps protect against heart disease
and reduces the risk of birth defects. A half-cup (canned) has
103 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber. Drain a can,
rinse and toss into a pot of vegetarian chili.

25. Low fat Yogurt
The Power: Bacteria in active-culture yogurt helps prevent yeast
infections; calcium strengthens bones. A cup has 155 calories, 4
grams of fat, 0 grams of fiber. Get the plain kind and mix in
your own fruit to keep calories and sugar down. If you are
lactose intolerant, never fear - yogurt should not bother your tummy.

26. Skim Milk
The Power: Riboflavin (a.k.a. vitamin B2) is important for good vision
and along with vitamin A might help improve eczema and allergies.
Plus, you get calcium and vitamin D, too. One cup has 86 calories,
0 fat and 0 fiber. If you are used to high fat milk, don't go cold
turkey; instead, mix the two together at first. Trust this fact:
In a week or two you won't miss it!

SEAFOOD

27. Shellfish (Clams, Mussels)
The Power: Vitamin B12 to support nerve and brain function, plus
iron and hard to-get minerals like magnesium and potassium. Three
ounces has 126 to 146 calories, 2 to 4 grams of fat and 0 fiber.
Try a bowl of tomato-based (and low fat) Manhattan clam chowder.

28. Salmon
The Power: Cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna are the
best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce the risk of
cardiac disease. A 3-ounce portion (cooked) has 127 calories,
4 grams of fat, 0 fiber. Brush fillets with ginger-soy marinade and
grill or broil until fish flakes easily with a fork.

29. Crab
The Power: A great source of vitamin B12 and immunity-boosting
zinc. A 3-ounce portion has 84 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 fiber.
The "crab" in sushi is usually made from fish; buy it canned
instead and make your own crab cakes.

Something to share….

God is great. When God created human beings, He said,” I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat, but for all the wild animals and for all the birds I have provided grass and leafy plants for food.” (Genesis 1:29-30)

For a healthy living, we need to eat smart in balance, moderation and variety. I remember a Chinese saying on healthy eating, “Eat till 70% full”. In other words, do not overeat.

We must have a better choice of food on grains & cereals, beans and nuts, vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins & minerals. However, we are advised to eat right amount (neither too much nor too little) Complex Carbohydrate food at each meal. Try to avoid food of high fat & high cholesterol. Limit egg yolk to 3 – 4 per week but egg whites are allowed. Kampong chicken eggs are preferred. No salty food. No salted snacks food such as prawn crackers, potato crips, salted peanuts & groundnuts. Restrict to a cup of coffee & tea a day but not more than 2 cups. Instead, drink more water & Chinese tea (preferably green tea). For those who believe red wine is good for health, limit to one small grass (@125ml) a day.

Nevertheless, we need not be a vegetarian. I have come across guidelines for consumption of meat & seafood which are good protein source for a healthy eating:

Read lean meat (beef, mutton, pork): once a week
Seafood : once in 2 weeks
Chicken (remove skin & fat) : 2 – 3 times a week
Fish (high in omega-3 fatty acids) : > 3 times a week

Remember, we “EAT TO LIVE” and not “LIVE TO EAT”!

Fruit Juices Good For You

Something to share….

Besides acquiring the correct way of eating fresh fruits, I have also enjoyed drinking fresh fruit juices. All we need to do is to buy a citrus juice press, a blender and a juicer. We can mix all types of fruit to suit our taste and our health purpose as illustrated. In fact, with such a huge variety of fruits available, there are hundreds and even thousands of combinations possible!

I use a citrus juice press to squeeze citrus fruit such as a glass of fresh orange, or lemon, or grapefruit juice for my breakfast. Of course we can also mix oranges lemon or lime with red grapefruit for our breakfast and this mixture of citrus juice helps to supply energy quickly in the mornings.

With a blender, I have been enjoying drinking freshly blended papaya juice mixed with low fat milk, juice of avocado + honey, and mango juice.

To get the taste of fresh apple juice, pineapple juice, watermelon juice, carrot juice, or a mixed fruit juice (my favourite is a mix of green apple, green pepper, English gourd, bitter gourd and celery), a centrifuge juicer is normally used. It takes me only about 10 minutes to clean up after juicing.

With one fruit drink a day, we are actually eating about 3 to 5 fruits to fulfill our daily nutritious requirement. It is, therefore, advisable to acquire the good habit of drinking fresh fruit juice instead of taking soft drinks and sweetened drinks.

Correct Way Of Eating Fruits

Something to share….
I am sure we have been advised to eat more fruits but the question is there are still many of us do not eat fruits at the right time. May be we are still being ignorance because of our habitual way of eating fruits immediately after meals. In actual fact, we are supposed to eat fruits in between meals, at least minimum one hour before or one hour after a meal, meaning fresh fruits are to be eaten empty stomach. Ideally we should eat fruits as snack between meals.

I have changed to the correct way of eating fruits. How about you?

How To Stay Young

I came across this in a Japanese restaurant in Jambi, located on 1st floor of Well Top Center (WTC) overlooking Batanghari River. Well, if we discipline ourselves and stick to “Positive Eating” & “Positive Living”, there is no doubt that we are able to stay young and live on with God’s blessings.

How To Stay Young

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids?

If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm 4 and a half!"
(You're never 36 and a half.)

You're 4 and a half, going on 5!
(That's the key.)

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back.

You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm going to be 16!"
(You could be 13, but hey, you're going to be 16!)

And then the greatest day of your life . . . . You become 21.
(Even the words sound like a ceremony . . . You BECOME 21.
YESSSS!!!)

But then you turn 30.
Oooohh, what happened there?

Makes you sound like bad milk.
He TURNED; we had to throw him out.

There's no fun now, you're just a sour-dumpling.
What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21. You TURN 30, Then you're PUSHING 40.
(Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away.)

Before you know it, you REACH 50 . . . and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70!
After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle.
You HIT lunch. You TURN 4:30. You REACH bedtime.

And it doesn't end there.

Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens.

If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

Something to share….

In the Bible, the LORD said, “I will not allow people to live forever; they are mortal. From now on they will live no longer than 120 years.” (Genesis 6:3) So my friends, all of us can make it to a healthy 100 and a half if we change our bad eating habits. God had warned us, “No fat of animals shall be eaten,” and “Never use the blood of birds or animals for food.” (Leviticus 7:23 & 26) Why? Our doctors used to tell us that the excess fats we eat can influence the level of cholesterol in our blood and can increase the level of triglycerides. Saturated fats raise blood cholesterol. Blood of birds or animals is no good for consumption as it contains bacteria, virus, and other toxins. Remember, the next time you order steak, make sure it’s “well done”! Always eat right (cereals, beans and nuts; less meat but more on white meat), eat green (fruits & vegetables) and drink more plain water (also Chinese tea & honey) that make you look good and to slow down aging.

Sleep well and exercise enough. Staying up late till midnight or early morning and having too little or never exercise are bad health habits. Quit smoking if you want to live long. Studies have shown that smoking increases heart rate, narrows blood vessels, raises blood pressure, scars our lungs, and can cause spasms of the coronary arteries.

Don’t worry too much. Be happy most of the time. Always be joyful and often have good laughter, long and loud, with cheerful friends. Keep smiling to make more friends. In Proverbs 17:22a, it was written, “Being cheerful keeps you healthy.”

Love your beighbour and always be kind and forgive others. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. GOD said, “Be kind and honest and you will live a long life; others will respect you and treat you fairly.” (Proverbs 21:21)

Keep learning. I remember one Chinese saying stated,” The longer you live, the more you learn.” Learn more about the computer, gardening, fishing, traveling and whatever. “Never let the brain idle. An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

Jimmy Tan is my childhood friend in our hometown, Kuala Lipis, Pahang. He used to tell me how he enjoys “armchair travelling” at home watching his favourite Astro’s programme. For a pensioner like him after retirement, his house is his refuge. He told me he travelled quite a bit lately, visiting his children in Ipoh and just returned from Kuantan with his wife.

A doctor, in his study on the care of the elderly, found that people who lived above 100 years of age all had one thing in common. These centenarians had a positive outlook on purpose in life. To them the future looked bright. They had a reason to be alive even at old age.

When comedian Bob Hope left the world’s stage few years ago, he died at age of 100 years. He looked younger than many others and had lived a long life all because he gave laughter to his audiences and shared his happiness with many other people around the world.

Two thousand years ago, JESUS said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) Sharing is a form of giving. I believe that the more we share and give, the more we are blessed. Everyday is a gift from GOD. Thank GOD for today. Each day when we wake up, we thank GOD for keeping us vitally alive and filling us with boundless energy and excellent health. Thank GOD that we are able to stay young as we age gracefully. GBU & PTL

7 Principles Of Eagle

Something to share…
An ecologist was astonished to see an eagle in a poultry farm but its behaviour was no difference from other chickens. The farm owner told him that he found an angle egg and put it together with other chicken eggs for the hen to hatch. It’s no more an eagle as it grew up with the chicks.

The ecologist believed that once an angle was born, it should remain as an eagle. He asked for permission to pick up that eagle and threw it up into the sky, anticipating that it would stretch out its wings and started to fly. However, the eagle dropped to the ground and mingled with the chicks and followed them eating the chicken feed.

Asking for a 2nd chance, the ecologist took the eagle and climbed up the water tower. He hoped that this time it was high enough for the eagle to stretch its wings to fly. The eagle could still see its chicken friends down below. It dropped back to the ground and joined them happily eating the chicken feed.

Without giving up, the ecologist asked for the last chance to prove that an eagle was an eagle. He brought the eagle up to the hill top far away from the poultry farm. “Eagle, this is where you are belonged,” the ecologist threw the eagle into the sky. This time the eagle could not see its chicken friends, naturally it stretched out its wings and soared away into the sky.

Morale of the story…
Don’t be a chicken if you were born to be an eagle!

Are you just like the eagle bred and grown up in a chicken farm? Acquired the same behaviours of chicken in scratching the soil on the ground to look for worms and insects to feed on? So well adapted to the living environment of the chicken farm that simply refused to stretch out its wings and soared like a real eagle? Believing that you are just one of them but knowing that your odd appearance is so much difference from them?

Surely you will agree with me that we cannot become what were born to be if we choose to remain where we are and what we are. Just like an eagle grown up in the chicken farm not knowing how to fly would have died as a chicken if not being discovered by the ecologist. God wants us to discover our wings (potential) to experience the thrill of flying. He will lift us up and throw us into the sky to find our wings and stretch them fully out in order to soar into high sky. He wants us to maximize our potential and move on into our purpose in life that He has given us. Remember, if we were born to be eagles, God wants us to be born winners, not “born losers”.

10 Important Words In Life

Something to share….

No great work was ever accomplished by just one person alone. There is always a supporting team behind him. So start putting “I” in “Team”.

No one person can claim credit on a job well done. The credit must goes to the people on the ground. How nice to say,” We did it together”. That’s teamwork!

Seorang pemberani adalah dia yang mampu mengalahkan egonya dan bukan musuhnya, karena kemenangan sejati adalah kemenangan atas diri sendiri. (A bold person is able to defeat his own ego and not his enemies because the real victory is a victory over oneself)

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is nit self-seeking, it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. Love never fails.” – 1 Corinthians 12:6,7 & 8a

When you smile at someone, you can even make friends with strangers. So keep on smiling, you will make many friends.

Rumour is just a make up story. There is no truth in it. Don’t listen to rumour and don’t spread rumour.

Someone said, ”Coming together is the beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success!”

Do not waste time on jealousy. Be busy stirring up God’s gift (talent) that there is no time for jealousy on other people’s achievement, success and wealth.

Knowledge is the foundation for success. That’s why “wise men store up knowledge” – Proverbs 10:14a

“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded” –Hebrews 10:35

Apple Juice & Removal Of Gallstones

Something to share…..
Dr Lai Chiu Nan’s 6 Days apple juice treatment works wonderfully to remove gallstones in a natural way. I came to know this more than 10 years ago and many of my friends have benefited from this treatment without going for operation.

Ah Thien of Sabah almost had his gallbladder operated in the hospital in 1996. When we met up in Sandakan just few days before his operation appointment, he gave it a try when I told him about this apple juice treatment. To convince him, I called Loke YF (exIOI manager) in JB to tell him personally over the phone the beneficial experience of this apple juice treatment. The doctor was surprised of the disappearance of gallstones when Ah Thien went to the hospital for re-examination. He passed on this good news to his friends and relatives so much so that whenever a person wanted to buy Epsom salt from the pharmacy, straight away they knew that it’s for removal of gallstones treatment.

Lee MK (JCC manager) also drank the apple juice and passed out the gallstones. One day Alan Yap of Lahad Datu called me and asked for the apple juice treatment for his Indonesian mandore who refused to go for operation. According to Alan, his worker suffered great pain and could hardly walk. One week later, Alan called again saying that his worker still suffered the pain. I told Allan to bring his worker to see Lee MK who could witness to him so that he would repeat the 6 Days treatment one more time. Later I received good news from Allan that his worker was able to walk without pain after passing out the gallstones. No operation was required. Lee also told me that the worker thanked him many times whenever they met each other in Lahad Datu town for the encouragement and confidence given to him.

On 4/10/2005 when I and my family visited David Vun, my old friend, in Sydney, Australia I told him and his wife about this apple juice treatment. After my return to Malaysia, he asked me to email him the write up of the treatment. Later he told me that it worked and he had passed on to his friends and relatives.

To be more effective, drink green apple juice. You can buy 100% pure apple juice from supermarket in 2 liters packing. The treatment needs 6 liters only (4 x 250ml = 1 liter per day). Nevertheless, do include apple juice as one of your daily drinks. It’s good for you.

REMOVING GALLSTONES NATURALLY by Dr Lai Chiu-Nan

Gallstones may not be everyone's concern but may lead to cancer. We all have them (big or small, many or few). "Cancer is never the 1st illness. There are a lot of other problems leading to cancer. I came across some materials stating that people with cancer usually had stones,” said Dr Lee of China.

One symptom of gallstones is a feeling of bloatedness after a heavy meal as if you can't digest the food. If it gets more serious, you feel pain in the liver area." Dr Lee offers the apple juice treatment which is good for those with a weak liver. Liver and gallbladder are closely linked.

1) Drink 1 glass (250ml) 100% apple juice 4 times a day for 5 days. 1 glass at breakfast, 1 glass at unch, 1 glass at dinner & 1 glass before going to bed. It softens the gallstones. Eat normally.

2) On the 6th day, skip dinner. At 6pm, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water. At 8 PM, repeat the same for purging purpose. It helps to flush out all solid stuff. It also opens the gallbladder ducts. At 10 PM, drink half a glass of olive oil mixed with half a glass of lemon juice. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage. Lemon juice helps to extract the stones out from gallbladder ducts.

Soon you will purge again. This time you can find greenish stuff floating in your toilet bowl, if you have gallstones. "You may want to count them. I have had people who passed out 40, 50 or up to 100 stones.” as told by Br Lee. "Even if you don’t have any symptoms of gallstones, you still might have some. It's always good to give your gall bladder a clean-up every now and then.”

A Trip To Kuala Tungkal

Photo 1 : Actually there are 2 "pokok sialang". There are plentiful of beehives on both trees. Try counting?

Photo 2: Tan Seng Theong & me

Photo 3: Tan ST & my driver, Pak Marshudi

Happiness is when an old friend made a special trip to Indonesia to meet up in Jambi.

I came to know Tan Seng Theong when he was Assistant Manager in Hwa Li Estate in the early 1980s. At that time I was Manager of Pukin Estate. We were both proud to be Keratong planters of Pahang.

After so many years, we met again in Lahad Datu , Sabah, in the 21st century when he joined a fertilizers company. That was during one of my visiting trips as Plantation Controller of JCC Group. Our last encounter was during the farewell dinner for me held in one restaurant, Lahad Datu, in December 2003 after I had decided to join Sawit Mas Group in Indonesia and commenced work in January 2004.

We made a trip to Kuala Tungkal from Jambi on 29th January 2007. Tan wanted to see the suitability of its port to ship in fertilizers for his newly joined company in West Malaysia. He also visited our kebun of PT BBIP on our way back, He asked my driver to stop when he saw the “pokok sialang” (a tree full of beehives) along the roadside near Desa Abadi. This reminded him of the cover picture of THE PLANTER (published in May 2006). By the way, a bottle of 1 litre pure honey was sold for Rp 50,000.00 (@RM 20.00) at the roadside stall.

Tan is a jolly good fellow. His laughter is as loud as mine. God says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” (Proverbs 17:22a) and “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and a good news gives health to the bones.” (Proverbs 15:30) How true it is that laughter is the best medicine which helps us to take away our worries! Praise the Lord for the friendship that we have valued for such a long along time.

Aging Beautifully & Gracefully

Talking of aging beautifully and gracefully, I would like to share an article (written by Lydia K Kristanto) which was emailed to me by Albert Teh, a true brother in Christ. The message is clear, “old age without God can produce bitterness, loneliness, and hopelessness.” God provides us joy, strength, hope, and comfort.

In Psalms 92: 12a, 13a & 14, it was written,” The righteous will flourish like palm trees. They are like trees planted in the house of the LORD, that still bear fruit in old age, and are always green and strong.” In Proverbs 16:31, it was written,” Long life is the reward of the righteous; grey hair is a glorious crown.”

How true it is that “aging is a basis for hope (not a reason for despair), a gradual maturing (not a slow decaying), and a chance to be embraced (not a fate to be undergone).”

AGING BEAUTIFULLY: A Homemaker’s Reflection

These days I keep on wondering whether my body parts are breaking down. When I walk, I could hear my knee joints creaking. My right hand loses the strength to carry a pail of water. The fingers do not seem to obey instructions anymore. They get locked at their pleasure, any time and any place. It throws me into panic especially while I am driving. Suddenly I can’t move the steering wheel without much pain. But the most frightening part is losing the power to remember. It translates to leaving the front door unlocked the whole night, forgetting to switch off the gas stove, the table fan, and taking medicines on time. Names and words come to mind as trickles of water during rationing. Recently I can’t even remember my own cell phone number. Slowly but steadily, I have to admit that aging at last has set in. That brings to mind the slogan which is used to comfort the middle-aged: The best is yet to come. What a mockery!

The Reality of Aging

The process of aging begins when one is born. But different terms are used to describe the manners of growth. A baby is developing into a child, a child is growing into a teenager, and a teenager is maturing into an adult. But when one hits mid-life, the evolution is called aging.

The Preacher painted a chilling picture in Ecclesiastes 12 of what it means to grow old.

The light of the sun and moon and stars is dim to your old eyes, and there is no silver lining left among the clouds. Your limbs will tremble with age, and your strong legs will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to do their work, and you will be blind, too. And when your teeth are gone, keep your lips tightly closed when you eat! Even the chirping of birds will wake you up. But you yourself will be deaf and tuneless, with a quavering voice. You will be afraid of heights and of falling, white-haired, and withered, dragging along without any sexual desire. You will be standing at death’s door. (NLT)

Then I stumbled into a more frightening picture as I read Henri J.M. Nouwen and Walter J. Gaffney’s book on ‘Aging: The Fulfilment of Life’. I was struck at their usage of Isaiah 53. 2-4 to describe the plight of marginalised aged people.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
He was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Now and then, our newspapers display the pictures of centenarians celebrating their birthdays accompanied by institutional care givers. Most often, they are females. I must admit that the scenes do not give me an incentive to live so long. Staring at my eyes are faces of loneliness, life-weary gazes and end results of rejection. I commented to my husband, “If I have to be that old, I want to be mobile and look as good as I am today.” I realise it is everybody’s impossible dream.

Behind the toothless smile, the deep-set eyes framed by the hollowed cheeks speak volumes of sad events. The faraway haunting look mourns the loss of loved ones, the loss of one’s faculties, and the loss of dreams and everything familiar. At the same time, the dim eyes see the impending perils and uncertainties which will descend on the present generation. But they would not hear of it.

Age-defying Culture

Two years ago, I went for a photo-shot with my eighteen-year old daughter. “Seventeen,” a magazine for teenagers wanted our picture together besides the short word of appreciation which my daughter wrote for Mother’s Day. After the photo session was over, the young lady in-charge asked me some data about myself. When I told her that I was 61, she almost fell off her chair. As she looked at me in disbelief, I offered to show my IC. That incident made my day.

Why did I feel so good? Was it the fact that for one moment in time I won the age-defying game? The quest for eternal youth has been as old as human civilisation. The pursuit of physical perfection is relentless. Almost daily, we are bombarded with new health and beauty products which feed our vanity. The surgeon’s scalpels will be able to give us our dream face and body. Pharmaceutical companies compete to deliver better and safer Viagra-type of products for both men and women.

On September 21, 2005, the Malay Mail printed an article on “The Ugly Side of Beauty” by Paul Bracchi. He mentioned the usage of skin from executed Chinese criminal being used in ‘lip and anti-wrinkle’ products. If you covet thick and luxuriant hair, it is available in fashionable London for RM4, 000.00 This ‘Virgin Russian hair’ is obtained from children in Siberia for RM9.50, as they need money for food. Women who seek abortion and are willing to wait until the foetus is five-month old will receive payment. The nutrient-rich umbilical cords and placentas of aborted foetuses become vital ingredients to promote regeneration and repair.

How far does our present age-defying culture go? The latest mention in the news is the vocal cords-lift. What’s the use of having the looks of a person half your age, when your voice is croaking and quavering?

Aging with Enthusiasm

At present Malaysia has about 1.1 million people aged 60 years and above. The reality of aging can be very painful when one’s resources are very limited. Only a fraction can afford the luxury of age-defying offerings. But the Bible provides the best remedies to age beautifully.

The Preacher in Ecclesiastes has a word for caution for younger people. “Do not let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honour him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living.” (12.1) His words contain the truth that old age without God can produce bitterness, loneliness, and hopelessness.

Simeon was an old man who lived in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. It means God was his joy, his strength, his hope and his comfort. As his body weakened, his spirit grew stronger. He believed he would not die until his eyes saw the Saviour of the world. God had made that promise to him. With enthusiasm, he looked forward to the day when God’s words became a reality. Faithfully he lived year by year honouring and worshipping God. On the very day when Mary and Joseph presented baby Jesus in the Temple, Simeon was there. He took the baby in his arms and sang his song of thanksgiving and praise.

Going through old age with zest is hard unless God helps us. One of the fears in my life is to be cynical in old age. It will lead to suspicions and withdrawal from the community. Let the world sink if need be, I could not care less. But then God calls his children, young and old, to be his salt and light. I have no option to be anything less. If the Lord is my everlasting light, I have to radiate his light with my life. Each new day becomes like a gift parcel. With eager fingers I unwrap it and wonder, “What is inside?”

Aging with Grace

On the day when baby Jesus was presented in the Temple, Anna, a prophetess was also there to witness the wonderful grace of God. She was eighty-four years old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshipping God with fasting and prayer. When she saw the baby, she began to praise God. After that, she spoke about Jesus to all who had been waiting for the arrival of the promised King.

Anna is a picture of a person receiving and giving grace. At a relatively young age, she became a widow. Living without the head of the family is a harsh reality. The Old Testament records that God has special care for widows. He makes special provision for them in the Book of the Law. No one is to oppress them or take advantage of their helplessness. He is their defender and protector.

Being a recipient of God’s grace, Anna dispensed grace to those who came to the Temple. We could almost imagine her, moving among the worshippers comforting and strengthening them with God’s word and her gentle touch.

Instead of being sad and bitter, Anna becomes God’s tool of blessing. Our younger generation needs to value the older people in their community. They are the bridge linking the past and the future. Their rich experiences and wisdom will be forever lost if there is no willing listeners.

Aging with Dignity

The last chapter of Deuteronomy recorded that “Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.” For the past two weeks before that, he was addressing the second generation of Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. This was the group of people who had never seen the display of God’s glory in Mt. Sinai nor heard his voice. To make it easier to remember the laws and regulations on how to live as God’s people among idolatrous nations, Moses compressed them into a song.

What makes Moses alert to the end? Being a shepherd for forty years? A forty-year walk in the wilderness? Listening to God for instructions? Teaching and minding the wayward and stubborn people?

It’s all of them. The physical hardship shaped his strength and stamina. The time spent with God strengthened and enabled Him to lead His difficult people. Moses began his ministry by asking the Lord to send someone else to do the job. He ended as the prophet whom the Lord knew face to face.

With God’s help, I echo the belief of the authors of ‘Aging: The Fulfillment of Life’ that “aging is not a reason for despair but a basis for hope, not a slow decaying but a gradual maturing, not a fate to be undergone but a chance to be embraced.”

Is the best yet to come? Yes!

About the author (Lydia K Kristato):

She is savouring her golden years pottering around the house she shares with her husband and daughter. It includes cooking up tales on her computer screen and preparing messages.

Worry About Aging?

If you already have these 5 foods in your daily diets, that’s fine. If not, do hurry to include them in your routine diets. As we are getting older in age, we do not wish to age fast. So we need to get proper advice on the right type of foods to partake to slow down aging. I believe all of us want to age beautifully and gracefully.

Recently I used to share a Chinese saying with my friends. It says,” Health is wealth. No illness is happiness.” How true it is! Eat the right foods to strengthen our immune system so that we will seldom get sick. Stay healthy and look good. That’s our wealth!

Soil Science Conference Of Malaysia 2007

Photo 1: Conference Hall for presentation of papers

Photo 2 : Pak Andre & me

Photo 3 : Partcipants from SMG, PT EMAL & PT JAW (Indonesia)

Photo 4 : The Sago "worms" eaters (Pak JF Tarigan; his colleague from Medan & his contractor's son, Hartono)

Photo 5 : Sarawak cultural dance

Pak Andre Hotlando Nevtin (GM, PT KU) and me from Sawit Mas Group attended the Soil Science Conference of Malaysia 2007 held on 17th-19th April in Kingwood Resort, Mukah, Sarawak. We were there to listen, learn and update ourselves the latest information and technique on “peat and other soil factors in crop production”.

Among the many topics presented and discussed, we noted the following important points regarding Oil Palm cultivation and management on deep peat:-

** After drainage, good compaction is very critical for oil palm development on peat. It has a direct effect on the increase of bulk density and thus allow to:
- Overcome the incidence of leaning palms
- More efficient uptake of water and nutrients

**Never compromise on compaction. Not advisable to compact on wet ground. Should use broad chain excavators for compaction.

**FFB yield of oil palm on deep peat has been found performing better in compacted area as compared to uncompacted area.

**Shanting-hole planting technique is recommended for a proper leaning direction and an early palm recovery.

**OP seedlings must be well culled in the nurseries. Ensure healthy seedlings being selected for planting and become producing palms.

**Higher density planting at 180 SPH and 200 SPH in deep peat showed significant higher yield per hectare during the 1st 4 years FFB production. However, in view of faster palm etiolation enhanced by high SPH, the ideal planting density in peat should be 160.

**For effective management of peat, the most cost- effective approach is to have strict control of water level at 50 -75cm from peat surface so as to minimize peat subsidence and maximize yield on peat.

Smoke starts chocking Jambi City (The Haze is back!)

As reported in The Jakarta Post on 30 June 2007, the smoke had started choking Kota Jambi.

Accordingly, NOAA's satellites showed 13 hotspots in forests and plantation areas in Jambi province. Secretary to the Forest Fire Monitoring Center at the Jambi Forest Agency, Frans Tandipau said that the 13 hotspots were located in a number of districts, in Tebo regency on 29.6.2007. He said that police officers and a number of officials from regental administration were heading to the locations of forest fires. With the dry season expected in July, it is anticipated that the farmers are preparing to clear their lands using the inexpensive slash-and-burn method. This will inevitably lead to forest fires and this is just the beginning. Haze situation will get worse once the fires spread to peat forests.

Jambi is among the worse province choked by haze from forest fires and peat fires in 2006. Others badly affected areas by these fires include Bengkulu province, and a number provinces in the Kalimantan Island. Eventually, the haze was blown across the Malacca Straits and spread to Singapore, Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Brunei Darussalam. It has become a transboundary problem of haze pollution within the Asean region for many years.

On 1 July The Star newspapers reported that slight haze was detected in northern areas of Malaysia. It has been confirmed by the Meteorological Services Department that the haze is back although it has not strongly affected visibility or air quality.

It was reported that the visibility at 2pm 30.6.2007 in Alor Star, Prai, Butterworth, Penang, Ipoh and Sitiawan was between 5km and 9km while it was more than 10km for the rest of the peninsula including the Klang Valley.

The Indonesian government promised that it would strengthen its effort to fight forest and peat fires in 2007. It has promised to reduce its hotspots by 50 per cent this year. Such commitment is a "big challenge" indeed. A haze masterplan that covers fire prevention and suppression, legislation and enforcement as well as regional and international collaboration is the obvious answer to the transboundary haze problem. Nevertheless, we are keeping our fingers crossed that recurrance of haze will be much under controlled and won't be as bad as last year.