Three Reasons Coconut Oil can Help You Lose Weight

Sorting through fact and fiction when it comes to weight loss is a tough order, especially when fad diets spring to life and wither away all in the same season.

Many claims have been made about coconut oil and weight loss, but a number of whole food enthusiasts know this one is the real deal.

And that's because coconut oil is more than a weight loss aid: it's a well-documented health food. Take it from experts like Dr. Bruce Fife and Dr. Mary Enig, both of whom speak volumes about the merits of coconut oil, when they vouch for its credibility. Coconut oil really can help you lost weight, and here's three reasons why:

#1 Get a Metabolism Boost

Coconut oil is one of the most abundant sources of medium-chain fatty acids, and these nifty little triglycerides can work wonders for a sluggish metabolism. In a study that looked at the effect of medium-chain fatty acids on metabolism, it was found that these fats could increase the metabolic rate by up to 48 percent and for up to 24 hours. If your metabolism has been damaged by dieting or stress, a daily dose of coconut oil can do wonders for getting it back on the right track.

#2 Balance Your Blood Sugar

The profound effect coconut oil seems to have on the metabolism extends to insulin function as well. This may be because coconut oil can supply the body with energy similar to blood glucose, but without having a negative impact on blood sugar and insulin levels. Including coconut oil before or during a meal also lowers the glycemic impact of what you're eating, which prevents those dreaded blood sugar highs and lows.

#3 Cure Candida and Yeast Overgrowth

The beneficial fatty acids in coconut oil do more than speed up a lagging metabolism. Lauric acid and caprylic acid in coconut oil also protect against one of the hidden causes behind weight gain: candida and yeast. When an overgrowth of candida is present, weight loss can be almost impossible. Candida causes symptoms like fatigue, poor concentration, recurring infections related to yeast, excessive sinus infections, and much more. But the side effect that really hinders weight loss is cravings for sugar and carbohydrates. This is because yeast feeds off sugar (carbohydrates break down into sugar once in the body), so it causes cravings in order to support its own life.

Taking coconut oil to counteract yeast overgrowth is highly effective, but it should be done with care. Coconut oil is such a powerful remedy for candida that it can cause strong symptoms of headaches, chills, and foggy thinking as the yeast dies off. This can be reduced by slowly incorporating coconut oil into your diet, starting with as little as one teaspoon daily.

More Than Just a Fad

Coconut oil didn't spring to life in the last few years, although it may seem that way. The truth is that coconut has been a healing superfood for centuries in tropical cultures. These people value coconut and its derivatives for their tremendous medicinal power - and they are remarkably healthy as a result. Even in Western society, coconut oil found widely popular uses until the middle of the 20th century, when coconut oil's reputation took a bashing from researchers who examined the health impact of hydrogenated coconut oil - basically the evil twin of the real thing. But thanks to experts who are willing to give a genuine look into coconut oil's benefits, we now can be assured that this oil is a bonafide health food.

Tips for Taking Coconut Oil:

- Don't settle for the cheap brands found next to shortening on grocery store shelves. Much of this coconut oil is hydrogenated, which negates all of its benefits. In addition, this is commercially-processed coconut oil that has been stripped of its natural properties. The best type of coconut oil is the extra-virgin unrefined variety, which will retain its light aroma and taste in addition to its amazing health benefits.

- Even if you don't suspect candida, it's still wise to introduce coconut oil into your diet slowly. The body can react strangely when it's unfamiliar with such a nutritious food. Start with about one teaspoon once per day, and gradually increase to at least three tablespoons daily. This amount will help you reap the maximum benefits from this incredible tropical superfood.

About the author:
Elizabeth Walling is a freelance writer specializing in health and family nutrition. She is a strong believer in natural living as a way to improve health and prevent modern disease. To learn more about nourishing foods, stop by Elizabeth's blog, which explores topics like healing with traditional nutrient-dense foods, lacto-fermentation, raw milk, natural living and much, much more. www.livingthenourishedlife.com

Article Source: naturalnews.com

The Door to Hell

This place in Uzbekistan is called by locals "The Door to Hell". It is situated near the small town of Darvaz. The story of this place lasts already for 35 years. Once the geologists were drilling for gas. Then suddenly during the drilling they have found an underground cavern, it was so big that all the drilling site with all the equipment and camps got deep deep under the ground.None dared to go down there because the cavern was filled with gas. So they ignited it so that no poisonous gas could come out of the hole, and since then, it's burning, already for 35 years without any pause. Nobody knows how many tons of excellent gas has been burned for all those years but it just seems to be infinite there.

The Amazing Cucumber

This information was in The New York Times as part of their "Spotlight on the Home"
series that highlighted creative and
fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finished a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside o f the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

'Home remedies' for A (H1N1)

abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA - Instead of buying Vitamin C pills and other "anti-swine flu" potions, why not eat "camote" instead?

To protect oneself amid the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak, herbalist Dr. Galvez Tan said there is no need to spend on costly medicines or face masks when there are equally potent - but cheaper - alternative medicines available right in your own backyard or kitchen.

"In truth, there are many ingredients that we use every day in our kitchens that can already provide a lot of protection for our bodies. It's just that, there's a lack of awareness about these things," he said in Filipino.

Tan explained that ingredients commonly used for sautéed dishes like ginger, garlic, and onions have excellent phytochemicals that can kill microbes and bacteria. These ingredients can be fried along with vegetables or chopped raw for "ensalada."
"In fact, our ancestors used to recommend onion soup or traditional "salabat" (ginger brew) as colds medicine," he said.

Yellow ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that are good for sore throat or itchy nasal cavities. Meanwhile, green leafy vegetables like camote tops, chili leaves, "saluyot", "kangkong" (water spinach), meanwhile, are "powerful" because they contain lots of antioxidants (Vitamins A, C, and E) and Zinc, Selenium, Folic acid. These should be served uncooked or unheated, lest they lose 70% of their nutrients.

Fruits like bananas, pineapple, papaya, and mango are rich sources of vitamins. Coconut and extra virgin coconut oil has lauric acid, which is a good anti-viral property. Other good immune system boosters are sweet potato, boiled corn, "ube" and muscovado. These strengthen resistance and are fiber-rich to boot.

"The beauty of it all is that these are non-toxic, non-fatal, and you won't get overdosed because thousands of years of usage around the world have proven this," Tan said.
The self-confessed alternative medicine expert believes that most Filipinos already have an innate capacity to ward off "swine flu" because their diet is rich in these ingredients. "I think what we have is a wild case of swine flu because of the things we eat. We shouldn't panic, but we should stick to a healthy lifestyle every day," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lyndon Leesuy, program director of the Department of Health (DOH) National Dengue and Emerging Infectious Diseases, said the general public should employ all means to protect themselves by keeping their hands clean and bodies healthy.

He also clarified that there is no need to buy surgical masks at the moment, unless you are an A(H1N1) victim or if you are taking care of an infected patient. He said the "swine flu" virus only remains outside the body for 6 to 8 hours and it is unlikely that it will spread if the infected person was immediately isolated or quarantined.

Report from Sol Aragones, ABS-CBN News.

What Do We Expect?

What Do We Expect?
Copyright © 2004 Andrea Simanson
All Rights Reserved


Expectations...

What you expect of your children is what they will do. If you constantly remind them to do their chores, you are training them that they need to be reminded to do them. If you expect them to do their chores without being reminded, they will do them without being reminded.

"Now that's easier said than done" you say. "Nagging" is a term that most mothers (and fathers) know and consider a part of life. It's true, isn't it? You fall into the trap of nagging your children to do their chores. And then you get tired of nagging, so eventually just give up and say "Why try?"

So how do we inspire our kids to want to do their chores? Let me share with you three key principles that we've learned in training our children to take responsibility. I say this very humbly because our children are not perfect and haven't mastered the responsibility issue. But we are all a work-in-process, and we have had some success at tapping into motivating our children, so here goes!

1. Expect them to complete their chore list every day.

2. Reward them for completing their chore list.

3. Have consequences or removed privileges for not completing their chore list.

If you're like me, you struggle with number 1. There are days where I don't expect my children to complete their chore lists because I don't want to follow through to make it happen. I'm too tired, or I'd rather not work so hard, or I'd rather do something fun. Face it, we all have those days.

If, on the other hand, we want to instill responsibility in our children, we need to be consistent with these three points. If you have a day now and then when you're tired or you want to do something else, that's fine, but you get right back on track and keep moving forward after that. Try to keep these days to a minimum.

If they complete their chore list, there should be a reward for completing it. Even adults take a break, relax after a hard day's work, and celebrate accomplishments from time to time. Children need rewards/fun too!

If children don't complete their chore list, there should be consequences for not completing it. As you are consistent with what's expected, they will rise to that level of expectancy. If you clearly train them on the chores they are to do, and the chores are age-appropriate and doable, there's no reason why they can't accomplish those goals. Of course, there are life circumstances that may interfere and you will need to work through those, but a much of the problem with kids not doing their chores lies within the parent and their approach to chores. I believe that the number one problem with children not doing their chores is that parents fail to expect from their children. Why? Because we want to be their friend, we want life to be easy for them, we don't want to take the time to train, and the list goes on. We need to reevaluate our motives in training our children (or the lack thereof), and get in there to help them succeed in life!

Who owns the chores?

Here's a scenario:

"Johnny, I want you to go hang up your coat and put away your lunch box." Johny goes and hangs up his coat and puts away his lunch box. The next day Mom says "Johnny, please go hang up your coat and put away your lunch box." "Okay," and he goes and does these two things. The parent is effectively training Johnny to rely on the parent to tell him to do these things. The child is doing his chore, but he doesn't value the accomplishment of doing it himself. He is simply doing what he's been told to do.

Okay, here's a different scenario:

"Johnny, each day when you come home from school, I want you to hang up your coat and put away your lunch box. If you do that on your own and I don't have to tell you each day to do it, then you get the privilege of . . . If you forget, then you don't get the privilege."

Guess what, Johnny will probably remember to hang up his coat and put away his lunch box because he wants to get the privilege.

That same scenario will work with a consequence added for not completing the chore on his own. For example, "If I have to remind you to hang up your coat and put away your lunch box, then you will get a chore added to your list for that day." What often happens is that Mom gets busy and forgets that she even told Johnny something, and then she gets mad later when she sees the coat and lunchbox on the floor. Can anyone relate? Let's be honest. As we begin to be honest about how life is really going, then we can step back and realize that we need to expand our thinking when it comes to training. Take time to evaluate, to brainstorm, to think about what makes your child tick. Write it down. It takes work. It takes effort. It is not easy being a parent. BUT, oh it is worth the investment in our children!

Take time to think about what you are imparting to your children. Most of us want them to be responsible, to follow through, to work hard without being nagged to do so. You don't have to be harsh with them. In a matter-of-fact way, you can train your child to own his/her own chores. Think about your approach for a moment and write down a few goals for change.

Sometimes we need to step back and evaluate our parenting in order to identify what's holding us and our children back from growth in these areas. Instead of seeing your child as the problem, consider what changes you can make to help him succeed. The best place to start is with yourself. Successful Family Chores begin with you.

What do we think everyday

We Think GREEN® Every Day

G – Great operations

•Be safe.
•Do it right the first time.
Great operations are important to make sure we are delivering the best service to our customers and to run our operations safely. Doing things right the first time helps from cost efficiency, safety and customer service, to missed pickups and reliable trucks.

R – Respected brand.

•Have pride
•Be clean. Be professional.
Our brand is everything a customer can experience about Waste Management: our people, uniforms, trucks, commercials, landfills, containers, service, driving – everything. A Respected brand helps us provide value to our shareholders, bring in new customers, and attract and retain committed employees. When we all take pride in what we do and show it through our everyday actions -- such as being friendly, clean and professional -- we contribute to a positive image of our brand.

E – Empowered employees.

•Fix it. Fix it now
•Have fun.
Having Empowered employees is important if we are going to be a best place to work. That means employees who care about our customers and have the tools they need to take personal responsibility for fixing any problem they encounter.

E – Engaged customers.

•Prefer us
•Recommend us.
We want to be the waste solutions provider of choice for our customers. To do that we need to have engaged customers. This means that our customers aren’t just satisfied, but are loyal. As a part of the WM team, we have to work together to make our customers prefer us, and even better, recommend us to others.

N – Neighbors of each other and our environment.

•Treat everyone with dignity and respect
•Protect the environment.
At WM we want to be good neighbors of each other and our environment. We all do this by treating our fellow employees and the communities where we live and work with dignity and respect, and by protecting the environment on and off the job.

Hukum Perniagaan Internet

Dipetik dari Blog: Laman Ilmudanulamak

Soalan:

Ustaz, soalan saya adalah: apakah hukumnya menjalankan perniagaan internet dan menerima upah dari perniagaan itu seperti menjual e-book yang sedang hangat diperkatakan sekarang?

Jawapan:

1. Secara umum semua urusan perniagaan atau jual beli wajib memenuhi syarat-syarat jual-beli yang ditetapkan Syarak (al-Quran dan as-Sunnah) dan bebas dari unsur-unsur yang diharamkan oleh Syarak (seperti gharar, riba, penipuan, menjual barangan/produk haram dan sebagainya).

2. Khusus kepada jual-beli melalui internet, ia membabitkan jual-beli barang/produk yang tidak nampak semasa akad iaitu yang dinamakan denganbai’ al-ghaib. Menurut ulamak; keharusannya terikat dengan dua syarat;

a) Dinyatakan dengan jelas barang/produk yang hendak dijual, ciri-cirinya, harganya, cara penghantarannya dan sebagainya kepada pembeli.

b) Diberi hak khiyar kepada pembeli apabila menerima barang, iaitu hak untuk membatalkan jual-beli dan mengambil kembali wangnya jika barang yang sampai tidak sama seperti yang diiklankan.

3. Komisyen dari hasil jualan atau dengan menjadi orang tengah -antara penjual dan pembeli- adalah harus dan halal jika produk yang dijual adalah halal dan bermanfaat dan urus-niaga yang dijalankan juga halal. Khusus bagi yang terlibat menjadi orang tengah, ada tiga syarat yang perlu diberi perhatian;

a) Hendaklah ia memberi syor (kepada penjual atau pembeli) berdasarkan pengalaman, pengetahuan atau kajiannya, bukan hanya memandai-mandai atau mereka-reka (yakni berlagak pandai) hingga merugikan penjual/pembeli yang berurusan dengannya.

b) Hendaklah ia jujur dan amanah; tidak menipu penjual atau pembeli yang menaruh kepercayaan kepadanya. Ia hendaklah memberi maklumat tentang barangan/produk yang dijual dengan benar, tanpa menipu dan tanpa melebih-lebih.

c) Ia tidak menjadi orang tengah dalam perkara/benda yang tidak halal dijual, dimiliki dan dimanfaatkan mengikut hukum Syarak. Wallahu a’lam.

Rujukan;

1. al-Fiqh ‘Ala al-Mazahib al-Arba’ah, Syeikh ‘Abdurrahman al-Jazairi, kitab al-Buyu’.

2. al-Baina as-Sail Wa al-Faqih, Dr. Muhammad Bakr Ismail, hlm. 22.