OPAL's Listening Ear

Green Diet

2005-09-30T01:19:00.000-07:00

A Special Diet For Her

Mrs Lisa Ng, 41, had lymphoma in 1997. She was given just six months to live. But she beat the odds. Last July, she was declared cancer-free. She believes this is because she changed her diet. "I had regular chemotherapy, but the cancer had spread to my spine. My body couldn't take (stronger doses of chemo) - my heart and lungs were swollen and I was semi-conscious. My husband was told I would die or slip into a coma. "I stopped the chemo...I had no alternative but to try the Gerson diet, which is raw organic fruits and vegetables." No salt, no meat, no oil. Each day, she drank nine coffee cups of fresh juices, ate steamed potatoes and a blended soup of vegetables. She said: "As my cancer markers kept going down, my doctor told me to continue what I was doing." Mrs Ng still eats this diet for its protective effects. She also believes in having the right altitude. "I have two young children. I wanted to live. So I never gave up," she said.

From: The New Paper 25th Aug 99

Veggie diet 'protects heart'

Thursday, 28 June, 2001, 15:04 GMT 16:04 UK - Fruit and vegetables contain the key chemical The presence of a key chemical in fruits and vegetables may explain why vegetarians are protected against heart disease. The foods contain called salicylic acid which is a key ingredient in aspirin. Aspirin is prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attacks. It is also thought to help prevent bowel, breast and lung cancers, and perhaps Alzheimer's disease. Vegetarians are already known to have less heart disease and bowel cancer than meat-eaters. But this study, carried out by scientists at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, in Dumfries, looked at whether salicylic acid was the key.

Comparisons

The researchers looked at blood samples from 37 vegetarians and 39 meat and fish-eaters, all in their early 40s, from a Buddhist monastery and the community who were not taking aspirin. They also examined samples taken from 14 diabetic patients in their late 50s who were taking 75mg of aspirin every day. They found levels of salicylic acid were up to 12 times higher in vegetarians than in non-vegetarians. But the average level for vegetarians was still significantly lower than that of the diabetic patients. However, the scientists did find an overlap between the two groups, with eight vegetarians having higher concentrations of salicylic acid than the lowest found in the aspirin-taking group. Six of the diabetics had concentrations lower than the highest level amongst the vegetarians.

But the researchers point out in their study, published in the Journal of Clinical Pathology, that there were wide variations within the two groups, with much higher concentrations of the acid within the group taking aspirin.

Medical implications

The Dumfries scientists admit diet will not provide the same anti-inflammatory protection as aspirin. But they say even low levels of salicylic acid may help protect against heart disease and other conditions. They write that if the anti-inflammatory properties of salicylic acid at the concentrations found in food can be confirmed: "It is possible that dietary salicylates will prove to be one of the reasons why diets rich in fruit and vegetables protect against colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease."

Scientific Evidences

2005-09-30T01:01:00.000-07:00

Why GO GREEN?

Physiology

Physiologically, people are more akin to plant-eaters, foragers and grazers, such as monkeys, elephants and cows, than to carnivore such as dogs, tigers and leopards. For example, carnivores do not sweat through their skin; body heat is controlled by rapid breathing and extrusion of the tongue. Vegetarian animals, on the other hand, have sweat pores for heat control and the elimination of impurities. Carnivores must lap liquids but vegetarian animals take liquids in by suction through the teeth.

Dental features

Carnivores have long teeth and claws for holding and killing prey; vegetarian animals have short teeth and no claws. The jaws of carnivores only open in an up and down motion; those of vegetarian animals also move sideways for additional kinds of chewing.

Alimentary canal

The alimentary canal of vegetarian animals are 10 to twelve times the length of the body. This permit foods that are less prone to decomposition, a longer time to pass through. Carnivores in contrast, lave a short digestive tract, compare to herbivorous. The digestive tract of carnivorous animals is only three times the size of their body. This enable the carnivorous to eliminate easily decay flesh swiftly because poisonous substances formed from decaying flesh will cause toxification. The saliva of carnivores contains no ptyalin and cannot predigest starches; that of vegetarian animals contains ptyalin for the pre-digestion of starches. Carnivores secrete large quantities of hydrochloric acid (10 times more) to help dissolve bones; vegetarian animals secrete little hydrochloric acid.

Hence, without doubt, the early inhabitant of earth (our early ancestors) were vegetarian. Therefore, whether physiologically, naturally or instinctively, fruits, vegetables, grains, roots, nuts and seeds are most suitable to the human body. You may ask, "How is it that now human consume meat and flesh?"

This is a difficult question to answer. An hypothesis is that consumption of meat started with the discovery of fire by man. After a natural caused forest fire, man tasted the burnt (roasted) animals and find them to seems taste better then compared with plant foods. Hence, from that day onwards, man discovered fire and start to hunt animals for food.

Information extracted from http://vegetarianism.danielck.net/why_scientific.htm

Beginning Today

2005-09-29T02:33:00.000-07:00

Beginning Today I will no Longer worry about yesterday.

It is in the past and the past will never change.

Only I can change by choosing to do so.

Beginning Today I will no longer worry about tomorrow.

Tomorrow will always be there, waiting for me to make the most of it.

But I cannot make the most of tomorrow with first making the most of today.

Beginning Today I will look in the mirror and I will see a person worthy of my respect and admiration.

This capable person looking back at me is someone i enjoyed spending time with and someone

I would like to get to know better.

Beginning Today I will cherish each moment of my life.

I value the gift bestowed upon me in this world and

I will unselfishly share this gift with others.

Beginning Today I will take a moment to step off the beaten path and to revel in the mysteries I encounter.

I will face challenges with courage and determination.

I will overcome what barriers there may be which hinder my quest for growth and self-improvement.

Beginning Today I will take life one day at a time,

one step at a time.

Discouragement will not be allowed to taint my positive self-image,

my desire to succeed or my capacity to love.

Beginning Today I walk with renewed faith in human kindness.

Regardless of what has gone before.

I believe there is hope for a brighter and better future.

Beginning Today I will open my mind and my heart.

I will welcome new experiences.

I will meet new people.

I will not expect perfection from myself nor anyone else:

Perfection does not exist in an imperfect world.

But i will applaud the attempt to overcome human foibles.

Beginning Today I am responsible for my own happiness and I will do things that make me happy...

admire the beautiful wonder of nature, listen to my favourite music, pet a kitten or a puppy,

soak in a bubble bath... Pleasure can be found in the most simple of gestures.

Beginning Today I will learn something new;

I will try something different

I will savour all the various flavours life has to offer

I will change what i can and the rest i will let go

i will strive to become the best me I can possibly be.

Now that you have read them, Pass them to your friends.

Five Finger Prayer

2005-09-28T01:05:00.000-07:00

Five Finger Prayer

This is beautiful - and it is surely worth making the 5 finger prayer a part of our lives.

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for
those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved
ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach,
instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers.
They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders.
Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and
administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion.
They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact
that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It
should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain
They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all which
is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others As the
Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie
should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for
the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective
and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

If you decide to send this to a friend, you might brighten someone's day!
Pass this on to someone special... I did.

PUSH for Life

2005-08-17T23:42:00.000-07:00

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin.

The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this th man did, day after day.

For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Since the man was showing discouragement, the adversary (satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: "You have been pushing against the rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved."

Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and dishearthened the man.

Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."

That's wat the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

"Lord," he said, " I have laboured long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. yet, after all this time, i have not even budged that rock by half a millimetre. What is wrong? Why am i failing?"

The Lord responded compasionately, "My friend, when i asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done."

"Never once did i mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But , is that really so?"

"Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown; your hands are callaused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have."

"True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done, Now i, my friend will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what he wants, when usually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith tat moves mountains, but noe that it is still god who moves mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong, just P.U.S.H!
When the job gets you down......, just P.U.S.H!
When ppl don't react the wat u tink they shld... just P.U.S.H!
When your money is "gone" nd the bills are due.. just P.U.S.H!
When ppl just dun understand u... just P.U.S.H!!!

PUSH = Pray Until Something Happens

I find it a nice slides, received it from my friend this morning..just tot to share..
For those out there, I believe that you have your own devil and angel... but just remember to PUSH!!

Tomato

2005-08-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

..Theory of Tomato..

Received an email from a friend this morning and it was a theory of tomato..and the theory goes abt..

Once there was a man (Jason) and he met a monk. HE find it very interesting b'cos the monk requested him to hold on to a glass of tomato juices while talking to him. The monk shared with him about cause and effect, reincarnation and heart sutra...

Jason shared with the monk his trouble and sorrow too..and the monk instead asked him to hold on to two cans of tomato juice, one on each hand while sharing his problems. Not long later, Jason hands was tired and he put both his hands down and rest but the monk insisted him to hold it up and keep talking to him. Jason has no choice but to follow the monk instructions and was thinking why the monk was so strange and do not allow him to rest his hands when he is tired.

After 15minutes, his hands was really tired and finally he heard the monk telling him "Now you can put it down"..the monk smiled and said " I'm sure you don't like to hold on to the heavy cans of tomato juices while talking to me, but why you like to talk to me with your heavy burden and sorrows and live your life wif it? when your hands are tired while holding the cans of juices, you tried to put your hands down. why can't you apply it to your burden/ troubles?"

This is really an interesting experience... we can actually applied this theory to our daily lifes.. when our hands are tired, we will rest them down.. thus we can learn to put down our burden when we are mentally tired..

Life can be simple and we can live without stress..

Introduction

2005-08-10T21:27:00.000-07:00

Why i started this blog?

I know there is people out there who needs a listening ear and din know who to start wif or how to start frm. I hope i cld help them by providing this little space for them to pour out all...
so if you are feeling stressed...? Feeling fustrated?
You have lots and lots of sorrows n troubles but you have no one to turn to?
You are welcome to drop by my ma blog...share with me and my ears are all yours...

Noone will know who you are and we will help each other along and walked pass this dark
chapter of life.. but rememeber, tomorrow will be a better day. there will always be sunshine after rain. and you may even see rainbow - a sign of hope.

** i saw this rainbow when i was feeling low and it lifted up my spirits and believe that there will be hope. hope this rainbow brings you joy n hope.. look ard you.. there maybe something or someone who can bring you smile....

All the best to all out there and do drop by my little space.. we shall encourage each other and pull through the darkest moment.

If you have anything interesting and would like to share.. please drop me a email and i will post it up..

look around and stay positive, life could be interesting and not as boring as u think..

see ya... cheers!

evontan2002@hotmail.com