iHerb.com discount coupon code SKP520

Good news! I had just bought some stuffs from iHerb.com and found this :

There is this January Special where every customer is a VIP customer! Also, if you order $200.00 or more during this month, (instead of the required cumulative $2,000.00) your account will be elevated to VIP account, ongoing! This special VIP offer will expire at 12 midnight, Pacific Time, January 31st.
Apart from that, there is also January 2013 - DHL Challenge where DHL has offered a new set of discounts for some countries. For purchase above $60.00, there is up to 95% off DHL published rates!


So you had guessed right, of course I had bought lots of things in order to meet the VIP life-long account requirement ;)

So for those who are interested, there is a iHerb.com Discount Coupon Code SKP520. Just enter the code during Check Out or you can directly click here.

There will be $10 off for any first-time purchase of $40 or more. And for orders less than $40, you will receive a $5 discount. Orders of $60.00 or more a minimum 5% discount will be applied toward order total.

There is also free shipping for U.S. orders over $40.00.

Hoorays for iHerb !!!

'Alarming' levels of arsenic and toxic metals found in baby food

The following article is taken from TODAYonline from here.

04:47 AM Apr 11, 2011

LONDON - Baby foods used to wean infants off milk have been found to contain "alarming" levels of toxic contaminants including arsenic, lead and cadmium, in tests conducted in Sweden.

The products tested by researchers were made by major baby food manufacturers including Organix, Hipp, Nestle and Holle.

Researchers found feeding infants twice a day on the shop-bought baby foods such as rice porridge can increase their exposure to arsenic by up to fifty times when compared to breast feeding alone.

Exposure to other toxic metals such as cadmium, which is known to cause neurological and kidney damage, increased by up to 150 times in some of the foods tested, while lead increased by up to eight times.

Although none of the levels of the toxic elements found in the foods exceeded official safety limits, scientists believe they are still of concern if fed to very young children and have demanded new guidelines to restrict their presence in food.

Young infants are thought to be particularly vulnerable to these substances because they are going through rapid development.

Writing in the journal of Food Chemistry, the scientists from the Unit of Metals and Health at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm said: "Alarmingly, these complementary foods may also introduce high amounts of toxic elements such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and uranium, mainly from their raw materials.

"These elements have to be kept at an absolute minimum in food products intended for infant consumption. In infant foods, the high concentrations of arsenic in the rice-based foods are of particular concern."

Experts now believe there are no safe limits for arsenic and manufacturers should be making more efforts to remove it from their food.

Professor Andrew Meharg, a biogeochemist at Aberdeen University who has studied the presence of arsenic in rice, said the latest research highlighted the urgent need for new restrictions on arsenic and other toxic elements in food. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

How to Pan Fry Salmon Steak with Peppers : 7 Easy Steps Recipe

Yesterday I pan fried a salmon steak and the result is the best up till now in my salmon cooking experience. The fish ended up crispy on the outside but tender and juicy in the inside. Even my hubby gave good review! (this is the first time he give good comment on my cooking so I am very very happy *dancing around in the room*) :D


I like this dish a lot as it is so delicious yet simply too easy to prepare. And I'll share how I did it here with you all.

1. First, smear some coarsely grounded black peppers onto both sides of salmon steak (flesh side and skin side).
2. Then rub some olive oil all over the salmon.
3. Heat up the frying pan (without adding any oil).
4. When the pan is hot enough, fry the salmon with skin side down.
5. Cover the pan till the salmon is turning pale about 1/3 thick.
6. Turn the salmon to the other face and repeat step 5.
7. Pan fry left and right side of salmon too in order to trap in the fresh salmon juice inside the salmon.

Voila! And here you are. A healthy, tantalizing delicious and easy to cook Pan Fry Salmon Steak with Peppers, a successful creation of CECiL ;D

My Reproductive Health Diet Plan for This Week

Following will be my plan for my reproductive Health Diet for this week

1. CARBOHYDRATES
Choose : low glycaemic carbohydrates - whole (not refined) grains
Avoid : Sugar and white/refined grain

2. PROTEIN
Need : an average sized serving (equivalent to the palm of your hand) of protein-providing food at least 2x a day before conception

Fish : Salmon
Dairy : Natural Cultured non-flavored yoghurt / Goat's milk
Legumes/Pulses : Tofu
Eggs : Organic
Nuts/Seeds : Juices

3. VEGETABLES
Need : minimum 40% of total food intake
Choose : organic whenever possible. A wide variety, especially dark green leafy, red and orange.
Avoid : Pre-prepared salads

4. FRUITS
Need : 2 - 3 pieces daily as a maximum because of the high sugar content
Choose : organic and low glycaemic whenever possible
Avoid : Dried fruits

5. FATS
Choose : lots of cold-pressed oils on salads (extra virgin olive or flaxseed). These oils are high in beneficial essential fatty acids if never heated. They can be poured over food after cooking, and used on bread as a butter substitute. They should be kept out of light (in dark containers) & in the fridge (except olive). Add lemon/pepper/garlic/herbs to dressing.
Avoid : saturated and trans fats

6. BEVERAGES
Choose : Purified water – drink 8 to 12 glasses daily
Avoid : Alcohol, coffee, tea

7. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Exercise - Yoga (minimum 30 minutes 3-4 times every week)

Top Five Cancer Causing Food

Well I received this via an email. And at the bottom of the email stated that "Pass this to all whom you love and care for". So I think posting it here 100% in its original form also counts :)


The top five cancer-causing foods are :

1. Hot dogs
Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.


2. Processed meats and bacon
Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.




3. Doughnuts
Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.



4. French fries
Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies
All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS


1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level.
This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.
7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain



------------ --------- --------- ------------ --------- --------- ------------ --------- --------- -

The main causes of liver damage are:

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.
2. Not urinating in the morning.
3. Too much eating.
4. Skipping breakfast.
5. Consuming too much medication.
6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.
7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.
8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.
Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'

DO TAKE CARE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH...... ......... ..

AND PASS THIS TO ALL WHOM YOU LOVE & CARE FOR. ............ .........

Basic Chinese Cooking 101 : Tips #2 Fresh Ginger

So now comes the second tips on Basic Chinese Cooking 101 series. This time, I will talk about Ginger. Why Ginger? Because I also found ginger in my food nearly everyday ;)


So what are the things you will need to know about fresh ginger?


1. Choose fresh ginger that is hard and firm, smooth and avoid those with skin that has molds on the cracked surfaces.

2. Choose chunkier pieces if you are thinking of peeling the skin (so that it is easier to cut.

3. If you want your fresh ginger to last longer, keep it unpeeled in root form. It will last up to 3 weeks in the salad compartment of your fridge and up to 6 months in freezer.

4. When first cutting the ginger, cut off the knobs first.

5. Instead of peeling off the ginger skin with a knife as per normal, you may try scraping the skin off with a spoon or back of the knife.

6. It is better to mince ginger finely with a knife rather than using a food processor.

7. The taste that ginger imparts to a dish depends upon when it is added during the cooking process. Added at the beginning, it will lend a subtler flavor while added near the end, it will deliver a more pungent taste.

8. Ginger helps relieve indigestion, gas pains, diarrhea and stomach cramping; relieve pain and reduce inflammation associated with arthritis, rheumatism and muscle spasms;can curb motion sickness and morning sickness. Most importantly, it also has aphrodisiac powers!


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Related posts :

Basic Chinese Cooking 101 : Beginners Guide

Basic Chinese Cooking 101 : Tips #1 Garlic

All about Food and Recipe

Danshen Drink : The Recipe

Here's another recipe for healthy drink.

This drink is good for building up energy and health.


INGREDIENTS
Danshen - around 3 pieces (for 2 pax per serving)


Honey Date - around 5 pieces



METHODS

1. Put everything together for boiling (low heat) for about 1.5-2 hours.

2. Ready for consumption.

More info on Danshen found here.

Lingzhi Soup : The Recipe

So how do we prepare Lingzhi for consumption?

Here's some advise from a neighbourhood Chinese Medicine shop owner.


INGREDIENTS
(servings for 2 persons)

Lingzhi - around 5 thinly sliced pieces


Danshen - 3 long piece cut to smaller pieces (can also be substituted by Pao Shen)


Guo Ji (Wolfberry Extract) - a handful


Hong Zhau (Red Date) - around 5 pieces or a handful


Meat/Chicken (Optional)


METHODS

1. Put everything together for boiling for about 1-1.5 hours.

2. Ready for consumption.

Lingzhi : Superhero of Healthy Body

Bought some Lingzhi some time ago. After being kept in storage for quite some time, finally I am going to make good use of it ;)

What is Lingzhi?



Língzhī
traditional Chinese: 靈芝
simplified Chinese: 灵芝
Japanese: reishi
Korean: yeongji, hangul: 영지

is the name for one form of the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum, and its close relative Ganoderma tsugae

The word lingzhi, in Chinese, means "herb of spiritual potency" and has also been described as "mushroom of immortality".^[1] Because of its presumed health benefits and apparent absence of side-effects, it has attained a reputation in the East as the ultimate herbal substance. Lingzhi has now been added to the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Therapeutic Compendium.

According to The Chinese Herbal Materia Medica (本草綱目), lingzhi may be classified into six categories according to their shapes and colors, each of which is believed to nourish a different part of the body.

1. Red - heart
2. Purple - joints
3. Green - liver
4. White - lungs and skin
5. Yellow - spleen
6. Black - kidneys and brain

Preparation

Lingzhi is traditionally prepared by simmering in water. Thinly sliced or pulverized lingzhi (either fresh or dried) is added to a pot of boiling water, the water is then brought to a simmer, and the pot is covered; the lingzhi is then simmered for two hours. The resulting liquid should be fairly bitter in taste, with the more active red lingzhi more bitter than the black. The process may be repeated. Alternatively, it can be used as an ingredient in a formula decoction or used to make an extract (in liquid, capsule, or powder form). The more active red forms of lingzhi are far too bitter to be consumed in a soup, as long cooked shiitake mushrooms might be.

BENEFITS

anti-tumor

immunomodulatory activities

immunotherapeutic activities

adaptogenic

anti-allergenic

anti-hypertensive

anti-inflammatory

antiviral

anti-parasitic

anti-fungal

antidiabetic

anti-hypotensive

protective of the liver

inhibit platelet aggregation

lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar

blood pressure stabilizer

antioxidant

analgesic

a kidney and nerve tonic

bronchitis prevention

in cardiovascular treatment

And in the treatment of:

high blood pressure

hepatitis

allergies

chemotherapy support

HIV support

fatigue

altitude sickness.

Side effects

It has been shown in some studies that long term use of lingzhi (usually four months or so) can result in some mild side effects, including dryness of the nasal passages, mouth and throat, as well as stomach upset and nosebleed^{[citation needed]}. However, these effects were avoided by discontinuing use of the mushroom for one month after taking it for four months, and taking it again for four months, and so on.

Source : Wikipedia

How to Make Apple Juice Smoothies with Blender

How to Make Apple Juice Smoothies with Blender

1. Apple should be juiced raw, preferably green apple.

2. Apple seeds may be juiced together.

3. Peel all apple that are not organically grown because the peel is where most of the chemical residues can be found, while skins of organically grown apples may be left on.

4. Choose fresh ripe apple Bruised, over or under-ripe apple will produce juices that are neither tasty nor healthful.

5. Turn the blender on and push the pieces through the mouth of blender. Make sure that the pieces are smaller than a golf ball so they will blend completely.

6. Add the liquid ingredients next.

7. Fasten the lid and press the start button. Use high speed for about 20 - 30 seconds.

8. Stop the blender and check to see if the ingredients are well blended. Sometimes the frozen apple will jam under the blade. If there is jammed apple, use a spatula to unjam and blend again.

9. Once the mixture is evenly blended, slowly add two ice cubes through the opening of the blender lid. Keep adding one or two ice cubes at a time until the blender sounds smooth. If your blender is not strong enough to blend ice cubes, omit the ice and substitute just enough ice cold water or apple juice so that the shake will have a milkshake consistency.

10. If the shake / smoothie is too thin, add more fruit or ice. If it’s too thick, add more liquid.

11. As you juice, pulp will collect in a large receptacle. If you don't clean the pulp out right away, it will develop a sour odor and tiny gnats and fruit flies may appear after 8 to 10 hours.

12. It is best to drink freshly made juices within one day.

Note : To prevent the apple from turning to yellow (due to oxidization) during the process, add in a little bit of salt.


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Other Recipes :

Ayam Buah Keluak
Lingzhi Soup
Danshen Drink
Pseudo BBQ Chicken