Eat in Colour.
Colour is the key to food nutrition. The natural pigments that make fruits and vegetables so colorful can also help protect your body from common diseases and illnesses as you age. Here’s just a sampling of the health benefits of eating colorful fruits and vegetables.
When you add deep reds or bright pinks to your daily diet, you are also adding a powerful antioxidant is found in tomatoes, red and pink grapefruit, watermelon, papaya and guava. The red in tomatoes helps reduce the risk of heart disease, prostate cancer, and other types of cancers.
Bright yellows have many of the same perks as the orange groups: high in essential vitamins. Pineapple, is rich with Vitamin C and manganese. The yellow in corn protects against macular degeneration, the number-one cause of blindness in the elderly. Yellow fruits and vegetables belong to many different families, but they all share the common bond of being health enhancing with great taste.
Orange, the color of a blazing sun, is a must have in your daily diet. Orange vegetables and fruits like sweet potatoes, mangos, carrots, and apricots, contain beta-carotene. In addition to being touted as a powerful health-protector, the orange group is rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin B. The orange in carrots and sweet potatoes helps prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol and helps reduce the risk of stroke.
Green vegetables look great and taste wonderful, leafy greens helps prevent cancer and keep you healthy. And protect your eyes by keeping your retina strong. Also, research is being done on cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, and turnips to see if they may reduce the risk of cancerous tumors! Greens are also loaded with essential vitamins minerals, and fiber.
The blue in blueberries helps protect memory and motor function as you age, and helps fight cancer and heart disease. Blues and purples not only add beautiful shades of your plate, they help prevent heart disease. Blueberries, in particular, are rich in Vitamin C and folic acid and high in fiber and potassium.
These 15 tips helps to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables in your diet
• Keep cleaned fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator — ready to eat.
• Have vegetables with low-fat dip for a snack.
• Try commercial prepackaged salads and stir-fry mixes to save prep time.
• Add vegetables to casseroles, stews and soups.
• Drink 100% fruit juice instead of fruit-flavored drinks or soda pop.
• Have fruit for dessert.
• Keep a bowl of apples, bananas and/or oranges on the table.
• Choose a side salad made with a variety of leafy greens.
• Bake with raisin, date or prune puree to reduce fat and increase fiber.
• Add lettuce, onions, peppers and/or tomatoes to sandwiches.
• Order veggie toppings on your pizza.
• Enjoy fruit smoothies for breakfast or snacks.
• Pack fresh or dried fruits for quick snacks.
• Limit peeling to preserve fiber content.
• Steam, broil, microwave or cook in small amount of water, avoid boiling.
So when you’re adding color to your plate may add years to your life, think color!
Eiffel turns 120 !!
May 29, 2009 by wilsy
Filed under Art and Culture
Eiffel tower is the global icon of France. Alexandre Gustave Eiffel is the architect of this wonderful monument. It’s the most visited monument in the world. The Eiffel Tower has welcomed 243 million visitors up to December 31, 2008. In 2002 Eiffel received its 200,000,000th guest of all-time. Eiffel Tower has 3 levels and its height is 324 meter. Eiffel’s total weight is 10,100 tons and it has 1665 steps. Eiffel Tower was built between1887 to 1889 (2 years, 2 months and 5 days), as the entrance arch for the celebration of the French revolution.
Eiffel Tower was actually built to stand for 20 years. At the time the tower was built many people were shocked by its daring shape. Eiffel was criticized for the design and accused of trying to create something artistic, or inartistic according to the viewer, without regard to engineering. But the tower proved valuable for communication purposes as military used it during the First battle of the Marne, and therefore it became a victory statue of that battle, and was allowed to remain.
Upon the Nazi occupation of Paris in 1940, the lift cables were cut by the French so that Adolph Hitler would have to climb the steps of the tower. The parts to repair them were impossible to obtain because of the war. In 1940 German soldiers had to climb to the top to hoist the swastika, but the flag was too large, it blew away just a few hours later, and it was replaced by a smaller one. When visiting Paris, Hitler chose to stay on the ground. It was said that Hitler conquered France, but did not conquer the Eiffel Tower.
Since 2004 The Eiffel Tower has hosted an ice skating rink on the first floor during the winter period. The Eiffel Tower lights up every evening from sunset. In 2004 – January 24 the Eiffel Tower Celebrated the Chinese New Year in Red! And the Tower Turns Blue for the 20th Anniversary of Europe Day on 9 May 2006.
Big Blue!!!
The largest living animal? The biggest creature that has ever lived? It is far bigger than the biggest dinosaurs huge that it would take about 30 African elephants to counterbalance a single adult-Even its tongue weight four tones and its cavernous throat can hold the equivalent of eight small cars. Guess what is it? Ha-ha no doubt it is BLUE WHALE.
Blue whales are the largest animal known either living or extinct. The blue whale is found mostly in cold and temperate waters. It prefers deeper ocean waters to coastal waters. About six meters long at birth, they grow rapidly-at peak rates they can gain up to three kilos in an hour and consume up to 90 kilos a day of fat rich breast milk to reach up to 30 meters on maturity. Their social groupings are usually small, involving only pairs or a few individuals. They have no vocal cords, so their repetitive moaning, rumbling calls are made by vibrating nasal air sacs- a bit like the sound made when humans snore or blow their noses. Their calls are of such low frequency that they’re mostly inaudible to human ears, but they can reach 188 decibels and can be detected up to 400 kilometers away. So the blue whale is the loudest animal on earth!! Blue whales can live up to 70 years.
Blue whales are only eating very tiny things, no bigger than your pinky finger. Their favorite food is krill, (a type of shrimp-like marine invertebrate animal). An adult Blue Whale can eat up to 40 million krill in a day. The whales always feed in the areas with the highest concentration of krill, sometimes eating up to 3,600 kg (8,000 lb) of krill in a single day. Large scale commercial krill harvesting would deplete their sole food supply. Most krill is processed to produce fish food for use in aquariums; other uses include livestock or pet foods.
The Blue Whales is the largest animal ever to have existed. Blue Whales are difficult to weigh because of their size. Most Blue Whales killed by whalers were not weighed whole, but cut up into manageable pieces first. This caused an underestimate of the total weight of the whale, due to the loss of blood and other fluids.
Blue whales are still highly vulnerable. For centuries whales have been hunted for meat and as a source of valuable raw materials. A single blue whale could yield up to 120 barrels of whale oil, which was used in lamps and for making candles, among other uses. Blue whales are also threatened by pollution and global warming, the degradation of their habitat. They are exposed to contaminants, such as pesticides and industrial chemicals that end up in the ocean. Scientists are trying to find out how climate change might affect blue whales.
Pre-whaling, it’s estimated that there were more than 250,000 blue whales around the world. But between the 1860s and the 1960s, 90 percent were killed. The slaughter peaked in the 1930-31 season, when nearly 30,000 whales were killed. In the 1960s, the International Whaling Commission banned all hunting of blue whales. But blue whale meat still occasionally appears in some fish markets internationally. Today, it’s believed that there are around 10,000 to 25,000 blue whales on the planet.
A cup of Green Tea
Green tea is a wonderful beverage with potential health benefits. Green tea is a type of tea made solely with the leaves and leaf buds, which has undergone minimal Oxidation during processing. Green tea leaves steamed and dried without fermenting. Green tea leaves are picked and then immediately fired, a tea processing term which means the leaves are either steamed or heated. The tea leaves are then dried and prepared for either sale or further processing. High quality green tea is pale yellowish-green in color and has a delicate taste.
Green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years. Green tea is naturally rich in antioxidants. These antioxidant properties and help our body to fight various disease conditions. The antioxidants acts as free radical scavengers and keeps our system free of damaging free radicals. Green tea is good for your teeth, hair, and now an effective preventive thing against cancer! Drinking green tea reduced the risk of cancer by nearly sixty percent.
Clinical studies suggest that green tea extract may boost metabolism and help burn fat. One study confirmed that the combination of green tea and caffeine improved weight loss and maintenance in overweight and moderately obese individuals. Green tea may also be useful in inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis. Green tea may also be effective in treating genital warts and preventing symptoms of colds and influenza.
My most enjoyed green tea is Kahwah. It is a traditional and popular refreshing beverage, originates from Kashmir. Kahwa is a popular refreshing beverage. It provides instant relief from headache. And another favorite Tea is Iced Green Tea. It provides me with immense energy and how my day takes off. I prepared like this. Remove tea bag and cool in refrigerator. Add a fruit juice of your choice; sweeten with honey or sugar desired and mix well. And serve in cocktail glasses over ice and garnish with a spring of mint on the top.
The only negative side effect from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee. There are no known scientific reports on the pediatric use of green tea, so it is not recommended for children. For adults, maximum two to three cups of green tea per day is recommended. People with heart problems, kidney disorders should not take green tea. Pregnant and breast-feeding women should also avoid green tea.
ORCHIDS -King of Flowers
Orchid – a plant with unusually shaped and beautifully colored flowers. Orchid is well known for the many structural variations in their flowers. An orchid can grow in almost any climate except deserts, but most of them are native to tropical and subtropical climates. Orchid flowers have been cultivated for their commercial value and have been successfully hybridized and variegated. Many orchids are now propagated by tissue culture methods.
Orchids are among the most highly prized of ornamental plants. In Mexico the flowers are used symbolically by the natives; each one conveys a sentiment associated with different ceremonies or religious figures. Hawaii has become a major center for commercial orchid culture. There are literally thousands of different types of Orchids in existence. Different colors, species and hybrids, miniature and standard-sized. Here I describe some of the most common orchids.
Phalaenopsis lindenii is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. This orchid is a super popular indoor orchid because of its big, colorful and long-lasting flowers. Some of them are fragrant and some of them are miniature or compact.
Anguloa, commonly known as tulip orchids, is a small orchid genus. This genus is found on the forest floor at high elevations.
Cymbidium, or boat orchids, is a genus of 52 evergreen species in the orchid family Orchidaceae. Cymbidium plants are sympodial and grow to a height of 60 cm and the racemes as high as 90 cm.
Endrobium is a huge genus of tropical orchids. They are quite varied in flower size and appearance.
Vanda is a genus in the orchid family which, although not large is one of the most important florally. The export of wild-collected specimens of the Blue Orchid and other wild Vanda is prohibited worldwide.
Dendrobium is a huge genus of orchids. The genus occurs in diverse habitats throughout much of south, east and Southeast Asia. These indoor orchids grow quickly throughout summer, but take a rest during winter.
Vanilla
Vanilla is a flavoring derived from orchids. Vanilla grows as a vine, climbing up an existing tree or other support. The fruit (a seed capsule), if left on the plant. The fruit contains tiny, flavorless seeds. The seed dries; it will then release the distinctive vanilla smell. Vanilla is the second most expensive spice after saffron. Regardless of its high cost, vanilla is widely used in both commercial and domestic baking, perfume manufacture and aroma therapy.
The Singapore Botanical Garden
In my opinion without specifying about Singapore Botanical Garden, this portion of Orchid history is incomplete because the Singapore Botanical Gardens contains the world’s largest collection of orchids
My pet dogs
March 12, 2009 by wilsy
Filed under Pets and Animals
There are varieties of pet animals. But the real and most popular pet is, no doubt, dog. I wonder why people love dogs more. May be, this animal is the one which love men more. If you are interested to have a pet dog, there are many important things to notice. Especially their breed, nature and like so. In dogs there are different kinds of breeds like companion dogs, guard dogs etc. Each breed is different from other in appearance and habits. I hope this post may help you to go deep in these things.
Breeds are usually categorized by the functional type from which the breed was developed. The basic types are Companion dogs (does not work, providing only Companionship as a pet. Example Pomeranian), Guard dogs (employed to guard against, and watch for, unwanted or unexpected people or animals. Eg Bulldog, Boxer, Chow Chow, Doberman, German shepherd,Rottweile Shar Pei. Hunting dogs (assists humans in hunting. Example Retriever,Poodle), Pastoral dogs (to work livestock. Example Bearded Collie) and Sled dogs (used to pull a wheel-less vehicle on runners over snow or ices. Example Chinook).
Shar Pei hunting dog known for its Distinctive features of deep wrinkles and a blue-black tongue. Schnauzer is a German dog. Basset Hound is a short-legged dog. Chihuahua is the smallest dog in the world. Boston Terrier is a breed of dog of the Terrier dog type, originating in the United States of America. Poodle is regarded as one of the most intelligent breeds of dog. Basenji is a hunting dog
German shepherd is a large-sized dog that Developed originally for herding sheep. Their strength, intelligence and obedience often see them employed in police and military roles in forces around the world. Boxer is stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog. Bulldog is a type of dog which traces its ancestry to England.
Doberman is a domestic dog. Doberman is well known as an intelligent, Alert and loyal companion dog. Labrador retriever is the most popular breed of dog in the world. St. Bernard is a working dog from the Swiss Alps, for rescue. Chow Chow -It is believed that the Chow Chow was the original model for the Chinese guardian lion. Dalmatian is noted for its white coat with either black or liver spots. Greyhound is a hunting dog, a soft and intelligent, fastest breed. That often becomes attached to its owners. Bearded Collie is a herding breed of dog, once used primarily by Scottish shepherds, but now mostly a popular family companion.
Amidst all these dogs, I like Pomeranian dogs more. In my opinion Pomeranian dogs are better than most of the dogs in many ways. The most important features of the Pomeranians are following. Pomeranian is characterized by long, thick, and often white fur, and pointed ears and muzzles. The tail is usually curled over the dog’s back. Pomeranians are typically very friendly, playful and active. The breed is very protective of their owners and loves to be around them. They are very intelligent and are easily housebroken and trained. Pomeranians socialize well with other dogs,animals and people. Although many people believe Pomeranian to be a lap dog, the breed
typically does not like to be held or sit on a person’s lap for very long periods of time.
TIPS on studying
I have a whole bunch of tips for ya! Take good notes in class…Try not to miss class….Find a study buddy in each of your classes , so just in case you miss class you can call them to find out what you missed or notes.
Study Early- Start studying early, AT LEAST a week in advance for each test.It takes a lot of unnecessary stress off of you; a professor of mine said there’s no such thing as studying too much, and i believe him.
Have a break- Study in blocks of an hour or so with 5 or 10 minute breaks in between; i find this useful because i can look forward to breaks and it gives your brain time to rest; i set my alarm on my cell phone to go off to remind me
Plan your study- Make a plan of what you want to study; write note of it in your planner; example: Math–> study one hour, English–> study 2 hours etc. etc.; I have this giant calendar spread across my desk and mark down on it what tests are coming up so i know which ones i need to study more for.
Love your teacher- Don’t be afraid to ask the teacher or a tutor for help; your teacher especially should be more than happy to help you in your studies if you are having trouble in understanding a concept.
Try some self tips- Make stuff like note cards, outlines, Cornell notes, study guides. You don’t have to make all of them for one test of course; whatever works best for you really.. everyone has different studying methods that work best for them.
Highlite the text- when your reading a book or text book.. keep a highlighter or pen in your hand. Make notes in the sides of the pages or high light important information. So as far as important tips for studying.. these are the biggest ones i can think of.
Study hard! but don’t forget to have fun too. have a good time!
Coffee and Health.
Some people awaken, the first thing they grab is a hot cup of coffee. Personally I’m a fan of coffee and prefer to spend time in coffee bars with my friends. coffee has many benefits for our health and well being.
Caffeine Protects Brain.
Coffee may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body, research suggests. Coffee may have an antioxidant effect on the bloodstream by reducing vascular risk factors for dementia. Further, people who drank regular caffeinated coffee, were reported to have 30 percent lower risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease.
Dr Jonathan Geiger (University of North Dakota) says, “Caffeine is a safe and readily available drug and its ability to stabilize the blood brain barrier means it could have an important part to play in therapies against neurological disorders”
Coffee Help You Get in Shape.
In a study recently released, researchers at the University of Georgia in Athens found that the amount of caffeine in two cups of coffee cut exercise-induced muscle pain in half. Caffeine boost short-term metabolic activity to burn an additional 100 calories a day. It helps Weight control.
Coffee Aid Mental Health.
A team of Swedish and Danish researchers observed a group of 1,409 middle-aged men and women for a period of 21 years. Those who reported drinking three to five cups of coffee per day were 65% less likely to have developed dementia than those who reported drinking two cups or less. Other health factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol and socioeconomics were controlled in the study.
Coffee Helps Prevent Cancers.
Coffee is linked to lower rates of liver , mouth and gullet cancer. In a recent study conducted by the Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida , consuming three cups of coffee a day was found to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women under the age of 50 by 37 percent. The researchers concluded that coffee consumption was associated with a low risk of mouth and gullet cancers, even in the high-risk group.
Coffee Help Reduce Risk of Type 2 Diabetes.
Coffee drinkers have a substantially lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people who abstain from the beverage, a new study shows. Chlorogenic acid is a major component of coffee that may provide more of an explanation for coffee’s effect on risk for type 2 diabetes.
For Pregnant Women.
Drinking more than two cups of coffee or three to four cups of tea could prove to be harmful, as it increases the risk of miscarriage by 25 percent. Coffee consumption can lead to iron deficiency anemia in mothers and infants. Coffee also interferes with the absorption of supplemental iron,and coffee causes staining of the teeth.
Raja Ravi Varma : The Most Celebrated Painter of India.
February 21, 2009 by wilsy
Filed under Art and Culture
Raja ravi varma is known as “the painter amongst Princes, the prince among painters” Born in an aristocratic family of Travancore, Ravi varma was a child prodigy, his inherent talent was recoganised very eary in childhood and he received the patronage of the King Ailyam Thirunal of Travancore.
Raja Ravi varma (1848 – 1906) is famous for his paintings based on Indian mythology & epics. He was was born in Kilimanoor Palace as the son of Umamba Thampuratti and Neelakandan Bhattathiripad. Even at the young age his talent was spotted by his uncle Raja Raja Varma, (Ravi Varma used to draw on the walls) and gave him initial training in painting. Later he learnt water colour painting from the palace artist Rama Swamy Naidu. He learnt oil painting from the British artist Theodor Jenson.
Most of Ravi Varma’s paintings are based on Hindu epic stories and characters. Raja Ravi Varma came to widespread acclaim after he won an award for an exhibition of his paintings at Vienna in 1873. He travelled throughout India in search of subjects
Raja Ravi Varma was a great artist who brought Indian painting to the attention of the larger world. His magnificent paintings shine still in their undying glory. There is no doubt that they will continue to do so in the coming centuries, triumphing over the rigorous test of time. Ravi Varma added a new chapter of his own to the history of painting. He held an unparalleled place in his own age. Ravi Varma’s equal is Ravi Varma alone.
Nanotechnology
What is Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale. This covers both current work and concepts that are more advanced.
In its original sense, ‘nanotechnology’ refers to the projected ability to construct items from the bottom up, using techniques and tools being developed today to make complete, high performance products.
Applications of Nanotechnology
The biological and medical research communities have exploited the unique properties of nanomaterials for various applications. For example contrast agents for cell imaging and therapeutics for treating cancer.
The most advanced nanotechnology projects related to energy are: storage, conversion, manufacturing improvements by reducing materials and process rates, energy saving and enhanced renewable energy sources.
Nanotechnology is having an impact on several aspects of food science, from how food is grown to how it is packaged. Companies are developing nanomaterials that will make a difference not only in the taste of food, but also in food safety, and the health benefits that food delivers.
Benifits of Nanotechnology
Benefits of nanotechnology include improved manufacturing methods, water purification systems, energy systems, physical enhancement, nanomedicine, better food production methods and nutrition. Products made with nanotechnology may require little labor, land, or maintenance, and would be highly productive, low in cost, and have modest requirements for materials and energy.
Risks include environmental, health, and safety issues if negative effects of nanoparticles are overlooked before they are released; transitional effects such as displacement of traditional industries as the products of nanotechnology become dominant; military applications such as biological warfare and implants for soldiers; and surveillance through nano-sensors, which are of concern to privacy rights advocates.