Durian kura-kura berbuah di pangkal pokok..

KUCHING: Lazimnya durian berbunga, seterusnya berbuah di dahan pokok.
Bagaimanapun, pokok durian milik Siti Mawang dari Kampung Selanyau, Bekenu, Miri berbuah di pangkal pokok (seperti dalam gambar).

Cucu kepada Siti Mawang, Nasita Dollah, 28, berkata neneknya, Siti Mawang yang berasal dari Brunei Darussalam membawa benih pokok durian aneh itu dan menanamnya di kawasan rumah dan kebun mereka di apabila berpindah ke Kampung Selanyau lebih 80 tahun lalu.
Durian kura-kura berbuah di pangkal pokok

Nasita yang bertugas di Hospital Umum Sarawak berkata datuknya Yahya Ahim pokok yang dikenali durian kura-kura itu mengeluarkan buah setiap tahun dan sentiasa dikunjungi penduduk untuk melihat sambil mengambil gambar buah aneh itu.

“Sejak kecil, saya telah melihat pokok durian itu mengeluarkan buah dan ia sering dikunjungi orang ramai yang datang untuk melihat sambil mengambil gambar buah durian aneh itu,” ujarnya sambil menunjukkan gambar pokok durian itu kepada penulis sewaktu ditemui baru-baru ini.

Mengenai ciri-ciri fizikal buah durian itu, katanya saiz buah itu adalah kira-kira sejengkal.
“Isinya pula berair dan manis… warnanya juga sama seperti buah durian biasa.
“Tetapi buah durian itu mengeluarkan bau yang agak berbeza dan pelik iaitu seperti bau kencing kura-kura,” tambahnya.

Nasita berkata ketika balik ke kampung untuk meraikan Hari Raya Aidilfitri bersama keluarga baru-baru ini, dia sempat merakam gambar pokok durian aneh itu.
Menurutnya, ketika gambar itu diambil buah durian itu berjumlah kira-kira 80 biji tetapi masih belum masak lagi.

Menurutnya, ramai orang datang untuk membeli buah itu tetapi neneknya hanya memberi sahaja kepada mereka.

Nasita berkata bagi keluarganya pokok durian itu sudah tidak aneh lagi kerana ia sentiasa berbuah setiap tahun walaupun berbeza daripada pokok durian lain.

SUMBER: The Borneo Post Online

Tidak syak lagi mereka akan pilih calon yang seiras dengan pimpinan yang ada sekarang. Pokoknya mereka ini sehati sejiwa. Yang paling mudah mereka ini semuanya 'klon'. Kenapa 'klon'...??? Kerana politik UMNO la ni..... ibarat politik 'Dikir barat' atau Orkestra....!!!

Mereka akan ikut saja arahan dan perintah ketua mereka walaupun salah...! Bunyi lagu akan sumbang dan tak sedap telinga untuk didengari sekiranya mereka tak dengar arahan ketua...!!!

Itu baru wajah yang seiras.....!!! Cuba tengok mereka perut mereka semua....!!!!

Satu Coretan.............

Keningau dulunya merupakan sebuah bandar penempatan awal British di bahagian pendalaman Sabah. Mendapat nama dari Pokok Koningau (kayu manis) sekarang pembangunan menjadi bertambah pesat. Orang kata dulu tak pernah jam, tapi sekarang boleh tahan..... kalau tak kena masa maka alamat terperangkaplah dalam kesesakan lalulintas. Bangsa utamanya ialah Dusun, hampir 80 % dari penduduknya.

Dari segi kemudahan, tidaklah teruk sangat jika dibandingkan dengan Tambunan atau Tenom bandar yang berhampiran dengannya. Perumahan di Keningau dalam proses pembangunan yang amat rancak. Sekolah menengah yang terbaik dan agak moden terletak bersebelahan dengan Hospital Besar Daerah Keningau. Maktab Perguruan Keningau pun ada walaupun terletak agak jauh sikit dari bandar Keningau. Sekolah rendah pun banyak juga.... aku tengah - tengah risik juga nih, sekolah mana agaknya anak lelakiku akan dapat.

Masjid utama ada dua satu di bandar dan satu lagi Masjid Taqwa. Dari segi perhubungan ia dihubungi oleh Jalan Kimanis yang agak berbukit dan menggerunkan ( paling dekat menuju ke bandar KK - orang kata boleh sampai KK dalam masa1 1/2 jam, tapi aku tak pernah drive ikut jalan ini - ia menggerunkan. Lagi satu jalan ialah ikut Tambunan ( paling sedap) makan masa 2 1/2 jam untuk sampai ke KK.

Pasaraya boleh tahan juga di Keningau tapi takdelah Tesco, Jaya Jusco, Giant atau Carefour, mungkin tak ramai sanggup tanggung rsiko nak buka pasaraya besar di sini. Tapi dengar cite, Giant dah mula berani nak menapak di sini....tunggu sajelah.

Penduduk semenanjung di Keningau kebanyakannya guru..... hinggakan aku yang baru pindah ke sini sering digelar Cikgu walaupun bukan Cikgu...ha ha takpelah itu hak diaorang nak panggil.. Tapi yang pasti kehidupan di sini tidak banyak membuang wang ke kantung tol......boleh safe lah sikit berbanding tempat aku dulu di Puchong Selangor.

Yang pasti anak aku yang 2 orang dalam gambar tu berpeluang juga membesar di sabah ( kawasan pendalaman pulak tu).... paling lama aku target 5 tahun.... tapi kalau ada rezeki ke mana pulak lepas ni..... KITA TUNGGU walaupun orang kata PENANTIAN ITU SATU PENYIKSAAN....................................

kOMUNITI HOSPITAL - SESUATU YANG UNIK

Pernahkah kita mengunjungi hospital. Kita mungkin terbayang di sana masyarakatnya dikelilingi oleh individu berpakaian putih, dipenuhi dengan ubat dan bau ubat, dibayangi oleh jarum penyuntik dan dihiasi dengan bunyi siren ambulan. Jika itulah yang diketahui anda, anda sebenarnya silap.

Komuniti hospital ada pelbagai latar akademik dan pelanggannya tidak seperti setting jabatan/badan yang lain. Pelanggan utamanya ialah pesakit dan keluarga pesakit. Ia tidak sama seperti Jabatan Kastam, Jabatan Imigresen, Institusi Pendidikan baik dari segi corak kerja, misi atau visi. Dengan mempunyai pelanggan utamanya yang merupakan pesakit, anggota hospital perlu mempunyai personaliti penyayang, mindanya anggota perlu serasi dengan kehendak pesakit, jiwanya juga perlu menyelami masalah yang dialami pesakit dan lengok bahasanya juga perlu seiring dengan kehendak pelanggannya yang utama iaitu seorang pesakit. Jika pesakit itu puas dengan layanan dan khidmat yang diperolehinya dari anggota hospital, secara terus pesakit tersebut akan meletakkan sepenuh kepercayaan kepada anggota hospital yang memberi rawatan kepadanya.

Ramai orang mungkin mengenali doktor/pakar, tetapi tidak semua pelanggan iaitu pesakit mengenali bidang tugas jururawat dan lain - lain anggota sokongan dari lain - lain jabatan. Tugas doktor dalam melayani pesakit tidak akan sempurna tanpa dokongan dan sokongan dari petugas di makmal. Ia tidak terhenti setakat itu. Layanan kepada pesakit tidak sempurna jika petugas lain seperti Ahli Farmasi, Pegawai Dietetik, anggota dari Unit Kejuruteraan dan anggota pentadbiran masing - masing memainkan peranan utama. Mereka saling bekerjasama walaupun dari kategori gred yang berbeza. Ada dari gred UD dan U (Perubatan & Kesihatan), C (Sains), M (Tadbir dan Diplomatik), W (Akauntan), N (Pentadbiran) dan lain - lain jenis gred. Kesmeua mereka berkerjasama dalam satu pasukan demi memuaskan kehendak pesakit yang tinggi itu.

Pesakit sebagai pelanggan utama, selalunya mahukan 100% kesempurnaan dari anggota hospital yang memberi khidmat kepadanya. Ini kerana anggota hospital berdepan dengan nyawa manusia. Memang ajal maut di tangan Tuhan, tetapi sebelum maut / nyawa manusia diragut , rawatan ke atas pesakit perlulah diberi dengan tahap kepuasan yang maksima. Peralatan di hospital perlulah tip top, tahap kepakaran dan kemahiran anggotanya juga perlu tip top serta layanan dari segi komunikasi juga perlu cemerlang. Oleh itu, memang tepatlah sekali moto yang digunakan oleh anggota hospital iaitu 'PENYAYANG, BEKERJA BERPASUKAN DAN PROFESONALISME'

Apa yang ingin disampaikan dalam tulisan ini ialah anggota hospital memang bekerja dalam tekanan dan tahap tekanan ini berbeza-beza antara kategori jawatan. Walaupun berbeza tekanan bidang tugas mereka tetap berdepan dengan nyawa pesakit, nyawa pesakit dan nyawa pesakit. Tertekan tetapi sangat murni sebab melayani karenah pesakit.

Kepada semua anggota hospital, jasa bakti anda semua tiada tolok bandingnya. Kerelaan dan ketinggian komitmen anda dalam memberi khidmat kepada pesakit amat dihargai. Semua anggota mempunyai peranan masing - masing. Apa yang perlu diingati ialah tanpa pesakit siapalah kita....... kita mungkin bergaji tetapi statusnya buta. Tetapi jika tiada pesakit, anggota hospital tetap menunggu kehadiran pesakit yang akan datang secara tiba - tiba malam atau siang, baik yang masih ada atau telah meninggal dunia. Walau di mana anda berada, anggota hospital tetap boleh berbangga kerana keunikan pelanggannya iaitu seorang pesakit di mana persoalan menyelamatkan nyawa adalah agenda paling utama.

Oleh itu anggota atau komuniti hospital tetap merupakan petugas paling penting dalam mencorakkan agenda sesebuah negara. Perlu diingat, kemajuan negara tidak akan ke mana, jika komuniti di dalamnya sakit dan tidak berupaya bertindak dengan baik kerana fikiran, jiwa dan fizikalnya sakit. Dengan kudrat anggota hospital dalam memberi rawatan kepada pesakit yang datang dari pelbagai ragam dan latar itu, maka akan terbentuklah masyarakat yang sihat. RAKYAT SIHAT, NEGARA TERBILANG

Health, politics & economic come together

Health care often accounts for one of the largest areas of spending for both governments and individuals all over the world, and as such it is surrounded by controversy. Though there are many topics involved in health care politics, most can be categorized as either philosophical or economic. Philosophical debates center around questions about individual rights and government authority while economic topics include how to maximize the quality of health care and minimize costs.

Background

The modern concept of health care involves access to medical professionals from various fields as well as medical technologies such as medication and surgical techniques. One way that a person gains access to these goods and services is by paying for them. Now, many governments around the world have established universal health care, which essentially puts every person in a country on the same level of access.

The United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) asserts that medical care is a right of all people. Many religions also impose an obligation on their followers to care for those in less favourable circumstances, including the sick. Humanists too would assert the same obligation and the right has been enshrined in many other ways too.

An opposing school of thought rejects this notion. They (laissez-faire capitalists for example) assert that providing health care funded by taxes is immoral because it is a form of legalized robbery, denying the right to dispose of one's own income at one's own will. They assert that doctors should not be servants of their patients but rather they should be regarded as traders, like everyone else in a free society."

Government Regulation

A second question concerns the effect government involvement would have. One concern is that the right to privacy between doctors and patients could be eroded if governments demand power to oversee health of citizens.

Another concern is that governments use legislation to control personal freedoms. For example, some Canadian provinces have outlawed private medical insurance from competing with the national social insurance systems for basic health care to ensure fair allocation of national resources irrespective of personal wealth. Laissez-faire supporters argue that this blocks a fundamental freedom to use one's own purchasing power at will.

Controlling the Industry

When a government controls the health care industry, they essentially mandate what health care everyone will get and use wealth redistribution to finance it, as with any tax. Critics would argue that HMOs and medical insurance companies (which are not under the democratic control of health care users) also determine what health care a person might get. Universal health care requires government involvement and oversight.

Economics

Impact on quality of health care

One question that is often brought up is whether publicly-funded health care provides better or worse quality health care than market driven medicine. There are many arguments on both sides of the issue. Arguments which see publicly-funded health care as improving the quality of health care:

For those people who would otherwise go without care, any quality care is an improvement. Since people perceive universal health care as free, they are more likely to seek preventative care which makes them better off in the long run. A study of hospitals in Canada found that death rates are lower in private not-for-profit hospitals than in private for-profit hospitals.

Arguments which see publicly-funded health care as worsening the quality of health care:

It slows down innovation and inhibits new technologies from being developed and utilized. This simply means that medical technologies are less likely to be researched and manufactured, and technologies that are available are less likely to be used. Free health care can lead to overuse of medical services, and hence raise overall cost. Publicly-funded medicine leads to greater inefficiencies and inequalities. It is alleged that uninsured citizens can simply pay for their health care. Even indigent citizens can still receive emergency care from alternative sources such as non-profit organizations. Some providers may be required to provide some emergency services regardless of insured status or ability to pay, as with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in the United States.

Impact on medical professionals

Proponents of universal health care contend that universal health care reduces the amount of paperwork that medical professionals have to deal with, allowing them to concentrate on treating patients. Opponents argue that government-mandated procedures reduce doctor flexibility. This, along with the loss of private practice options and possible reduced pay dissuades many would-be doctors from pursuing the profession.

Impact on Medical Research

Those in favor of universal health care posit that removing profit as a motive will increase the rate of medical innovation. Those opposed argue that it will do the opposite, for the same reason.

Economic Impact

Universal health care affects economies differently than private health care. Those in favor of universal health care contend that it reduces wastefulness in the delivery of health care by removing the middle man, the insurance companies, and thus reducing the amount of bureaucracy. Those opposed to universal health care argue that socialized medicine suffers from the same financial problems as any other government planned economy. They argue that it requires governments to greatly increase taxes as costs rise year over year. Their claim is that universal health care essentially tries to do the economically impossible. Opponents of universal health care argue that government agencies are less efficient due to bureaucracy. However, supporters note that modern industrial countries with socialized medicine tend to spend much less on health care than similar countries lacking such systems, and their health outcomes are often significantly better.

In the United States, opponents of universal health care also claim that, before heavy regulation of the health care and insurance industries, doctor visits to the elderly, and free care or low cost care to impoverished patients were common, and that governments effectively regulated this form of charity out of existence. They suggest that universal health care plans will add more inefficiency to the medical system through additional bureaucratic oversight and paperwork, which will lead to fewer doctor patient visits. However, in the UK for example, which has universal health care under a socialized medicine arrangement, free home visits are common for the elderly and infirm that cannot visit a doctor's office and such visits are part of the service and are not offered as charity.

Healthy people who take care of themselves have to pay for the burden of those who smoke, are obese, etc. However, several countries tax alcohol and tobacco highly in order to recoup the costs that excessive use of these products has on national health expenditures. Some have even considered taxing more heavily foodstuffs that are considered less healthy. Opponents of single payer insurance programs claim that empirical evidence demonstrates that the cost exceeds the expectations of advocates.

Means

Many forms of universal health care have been proposed. These include mandatory health insurance requirements, complete capitalization of health care, and single payer systems among others.

Can it be done without supplement ?

Maybe not. One reason that certain foods (such as milk, bread, table salt, and cereal) are fortified with extra vitamins is that the government is concerned that without fortification, most people wouldn't get enough of certain vitamins, especially vitamin D, E, folic acid, iron, and iodine. Vitamins C and E are often added to processed foods as preservatives, but in quantities that are not nutritionally meaningful.

If you want to avoid processed foods, including things like cereal and bread, then you may find it a bit challenging to hit the mark on certain nutrients. Just for fun, I tried to build a one-day meal plan that would hit 100% all recommended nutrients, using only whole foods.

My sample meal plan included oatmeal with apples; a smoothie with yogurt, berries, flaxseed and honey; a spinach salad with carrots, peppers, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, oil, vinegar, and pumpkin seeds; a chicken breast; some Brazil nuts; a piece of tuna, a sweet potato, and brussels sprouts.

Sounds pretty healthy, right? Yet, when I analyzed my total consumption, I found that my healthy meals were still falling slightly short on iron and zinc, provided only about half of the recommended vitamin B12 and vitamin E, and (here's the real shocker) contained no vitamin D whatsoever. (See also this recent post and comments on Vitamin D deficiency.)

I'm not saying it's not possible to build a diet containing only whole foods that meets 100% of all the recommended nutrients, but I think it would be challenging to do so on a consistent basis without resorting to a multi-vitamin or judicious use of fortified foods.

THE TRUTH ABOUT DIET SODA

We talk a lot about ''watching what we eat,'' but if you never gave a thought to what you ate and instead watched only what you drank, you could probably cut 450 calories a day out of your life. (Yes, nearly a pound of fat loss a week!) That's what a study from the University of North Carolina found. Americans today drink about 192 gallons of liquid a year—or about 2 liters a day. To put it into perspective, this is nearly twice as many calories as we did 30 years ago.

When confronted with the growing tide of calories from sweetened beverages, the first response is, “Why not just drink diet soda?” Well, for a few reasons: Just because diet soda is low in calories doesn't mean it can't lead to weight gain.

It may have only 5 or fewer calories per serving, but emerging research suggests that consuming sugary-tasting beverages--even if they're artificially sweetened--may lead to a high preference for sweetness overall. That means sweeter (and more caloric) cereal, bread, dessert--everything.

Guzzling these drinks all day long forces out the healthy beverages you need. Diet soda is 100 percent nutrition-free, and again, it's just as important to actively drink the good stuff as it is to avoid that bad stuff. So one diet soda a day is fine, but if you're downing five or six cans, that means you're limiting your intake of healthful beverages, particularly water and tea.There remain some concerns over aspartame, the low-calorie chemical used to give diet sodas their flavor.

Aspartame is 180 times sweeter than sugar, and some animal research has linked consumption of high amounts of the sweetener to brain tumors and lymphoma in rodents. The FDA maintains that the sweetener is safe, but reported side effects include dizziness, headaches, diarrhea, memory loss, and mood changes. Bottom line: Diet soda does you no good, and it might just be doing you wrong.

Keutamaan Pemberian Makanan Berkhasiat di Kantin Sekolah

BEBERAPA kejadian kes keracunan makanan membabitkan pelajar di beberapa sekolah di negara ini, mendapat pelbagai reaksi daripada pelbagai peringkat masyarakat.

Kes terbaru membabitkan keracunan makanan pelajar di dua sekolah berasingan di Terengganu yang menyebabkan mereka terpaksa dirawat kerana pening dan muntah selepas memakan makanan yang dibeli di kantin sekolah. Kes sebegini sepatutnya dianggap serius oleh semua pihak dan perlu ditangani segera kerana ia membabitkan kesihatan, malah nyawa pelajar.

Jika diteliti, faktor kecuaian manusia di samping proses penyediaan yang tidak mengikut spesifikasi yang ditetapkan adalah punca kejadian.Berdasarkan banyak kes keracunan yang disiar di media, ada sesetengah pengusaha kantin gagal menyediakan makanan bersih dan berkhasiat kerana terlalu mementingkan keuntungan. Malah, ada sesetengah pekerja di kantin bersikap sambil lewa apabila berhadapan dengan aspek kebersihan makanan.Pada masa sama, ada juga peniaga mengambil kesempatan menjual makanan dan minuman ringan yang sepatutnya tidak dijual kepada pelajar.

Kandungan makanan ringan yang tidak berkhasiat dan mempunyai kesan sampingan terhadap kesihatan wajar dielakkan daripada menjadi makanan pelajar dikantin.

Saya ingin mengesyorkan supaya ibu bapa, guru dan pihak berkuasa supaya turut bersama-sama memastikan pelajar mendapat makanan berkhasiat.
Pemantauan terhadap kebersihan dan makanan yang dijual wajar dilaksanakan secara berkala.

Hal ini penting bagi mengelakkan berlaku kecuaian dalam proses penyediaan makanan, perbincangan mengenai menu yang bersesuaian, juga wajar dilaksanakan di kalangan pengusaha dan pihak sekolah.

Pengusaha pula perlu menyediakan satu piawaian bagi penyediaan makanan.Elakkan daripada menjual makanan dan minuman ringan di kantin, sebaliknya tingkatkan jumlah makanan yang berkhasiat yang boleh membantu tumbesaran pelajar seperti buah-buahan dan sayuran.

Sekiranya memerlukan khidmat nasihat, terutama dalam penyediaan makanan berkhasiat, pengusaha boleh mendapatkannya melalui Pegawai Kesihatan atau Pegawai Dietetik/Pakar Pemakanan yang terdapat hospital atau Pejabat Kesihatan di seluruh Malaysia. Sekiranya amalan pemakanan sihat dan berkhasiat ini dapat dilaksanakan di sekolah, ia dapat mengelak berulang lagi masalah keracunan makanan. Malah, ia satu pendidikan kepada pelajar untuk memilih makanan berkualiti untuk kesihatan mereka.

HACCP plans and operating procedures are adaptable to any food production, processing, or distribution activity. The food industry began realizing a number of years ago that the lack of proper food-handling procedures could lead to very drastic situations concerning food-borne microorganisms, toxic chemicals, and physical contaminants. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that we in the United States experience between 4 to 7 million cases of food-borne illness resulting in 5,000 deaths and $3 billion to $6 billion in costs annually. The U.S. food distribution and marketing system is a potential source for these causative agents.

Federal, state, and local food regulatory agencies, along with other food educational and organizational groups, are working to implement the HACCP Food Safety Program in the entire food chain ? from producers and growers to processors, and on to the marketing and distribution channels.

The operating principles of HACCP systems are applicable to any of the food chain activities and to any size of business. The critical areas within supermarkets and other food sales and marketing areas that have a potential to cause consumer harm are essentially the same whether the operation is a large, multifunctional store or a small mom-and-pop grocery and/or deli.

The entire concept of the HACCP program is to provide the consumer with a safe consumable product. The responsibility for producing and marketing these safe products rests with the food industry. Workers in retail food establishments must understand the hazards that are present and the effects these hazards might have on anyone consuming your products.
People in the United States do not go to the supermarket with any fear concerning the safety of the food that they purchase and take home. The majority of food-borne illnesses related to retail food operations are not created in the food store. They are created at home or in a restaurant.

Nevertheless, because of the large complex distribution system that we use to deliver our food from the supplier to the consumer, any situation that arises concerning the safety of the food product can result in literally hundreds of people becoming ill. The Critical Control Points (CCP) can range from the bacteria spread on the knife or slicer in the meat department to an improper chemical sanitizer used in the deli to a light bulb that inadvertently falls into the mixer in the bakery.

The HACCP program is designed so that we are aware of the Critical Control Points that we have within our establishment, and that we ensure that these critical factors are monitored in such a way as to produce a safe food supply.

HACCP.........

Americans have become increasingly concerned about food safety. Incidences of food-borne illness are receiving more attention as consumers have become more aware of new pathogens that threaten all of us.

The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system (HACCP) was developed to focus specifically on food safety. A major focus of the new HACCP system is ?from farm to table.? In short, everyone is responsible for safe food products.

The primary factor in the implementation of HACCP is a shift toward reliance on systems rather than individual defect. Taking a systems approach involves looking at all parts of the food handling and preparation process, step by logical step. It is a preventive maintenance plan rather than a fix-it-when-it-breaks attitude.

HACCP is a concept as well as a method of operation. When it comes to pathogens, ?sight, smell, and taste? just do not get it done. We must have control over the process, the raw materials, the environment, and the people, beginning as early in the food production system as possible. A very important component of the HACCP system is the change between past and future regulatory oversight. Having a HACCP plan will:

1) Improve your operation from the regulatory standpoint and provide for the safety of your food products.

2) Reduce the chance for food-borne illness.

3) Identify and document where corrections need to be made.

4) Have you thoroughly review your operation specifically for food safety and place controls on those areas of concern.

Food Poisoning Symptoms

Symptoms of food poisoning depend on the type of contaminant and the amount eaten. The symptoms can develop rapidly, within 30 minutes, or slowly, worsening over days to weeks. Most of the common contaminants cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping. Usually food poisoning is not serious, and the illness runs its course in 24-48 hours. Viruses account for most food poisoning cases where a specific contaminant is found.

Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause a mild illness (often termed "stomach flu") with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, and low-grade fever. These symptoms usually resolve in two to three days. It is the most common viral cause of adult food poisoning and is transmitted from water, shellfish, and vegetables contaminated by feces, as well as from person to person. Outbreaks are more common in densely populated areas such as nursing homes, schools and cruise ships (hence why the virus is also known as the "Cruise Ship Illness"). The term norovirus has been approved as the official name for this group of viruses. Several other names have been used for noroviruses, including Norwalk-like viruses, caliciviruses (because they belong to the virus family Caliciviridae), and small round structured viruses.

Rotavirus: Causes moderate to severe illness with vomiting followed by watery diarrhea and fever. It is the most common cause of food poisoning in infants and children and is transmitted from person to person by fecal contamination of food and shared play areas.

Hepatitis A: Causes mild illness with sudden onset of fever, loss of appetite, and feeling of tiredness followed by jaundice, which is a yellowing of the eyes and skin. It is transmitted from person to person by fecal contamination of food.

Bacteria can cause food poisoning in two different ways. Some bacteria infect the intestines, causing inflammation and difficulty absorbing nutrients and water, leading to diarrhea. Other bacteria produce chemicals in foods (known as toxins) that are poisonous to the human digestive system. When eaten, these chemicals can lead to nausea and vomiting, kidney failure, and even death.

Salmonellae: Salmonellae are bacteria that may cause food poisoning; the illness itself is often referred to as Salmonella or Salmonella infection. Salmonellae cause a moderate illness with nausea, vomiting, crampy diarrhea, and headache, which may come back a few weeks later as arthritis (joint pains). In people with impaired immune systems (such as people with kidney disease or HIV/AIDS or those receiving chemotherapy for cancer), Salmonellae can cause a life-threatening illness. The illness is transmitted by undercooked foods such as eggs, poultry, dairy products, and seafood.

Campylobacter: Causes mild illness with fever, watery diarrhea, headache, and muscle aches. Campylobacter is the most commonly identified food-borne bacterial infection encountered in the world. It is transmitted by raw poultry, raw milk, and water contaminated by animal feces.

Staphylococcus aureus: Causes moderate to severe illness with rapid onset of nausea, severe vomiting, dizziness, and abdominal cramping. These bacteria produce a toxin in foods such as cream-filled cakes and pies, salads (most at risk are potato, macaroni, egg, and tuna salads, for example) and dairy products. Contaminated salads at picnics are common if the food is not chilled properly.

Bacillus cereus: Causes mild illness with rapid onset of vomiting, with or without diarrhea and abdominal cramping. It is associated with rice (mainly fried rice) and other starchy foods such as pasta or potatoes. It has been speculated that this bacteria may also be used as a potential terrorist weapon.

Escherichia coli (E coli): Causes moderate to severe illness that begins as large amounts of watery diarrhea, which then turns into bloody diarrhea. There are many different types of this bacteria. The worst strain can cause kidney failure and death (about 3%-5% of all cases). It is transmitted by eating raw or undercooked hamburger, unpasteurized milk or juices, or contaminated well water. Outbreaks of food poisoning due to E. coli have also occurred following ingestion of contaminated produce.

Shigella (traveler’s diarrhea): Causes moderate to severe illness with fever, diarrhea containing blood or mucus or both, and the constant urge to have bowel movements. It is transmitted in water polluted with human wastes.

Clostridium botulinum (botulism): Causes severe illness affecting the nervous system. Symptoms start as blurred vision. The person then develops problems talking and overall weakness. Symptoms then progress to breathing difficulty and the inability to move arms or legs. Infants and young children are particularly at risk. It is transmitted in foods such as home-packed canned goods, honey, sausages, and seafood. Because botulism can be released in the air, it is considered a potential biological weapon for terrorists.

Vibrio cholerae: Causes mild to moderate illness with crampy diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, and fever with chills. It strikes mostly in the warmer months of the year and is transmitted by infected, undercooked, or raw seafood.
Parasites rarely cause food poisoning. When they do, they are usually swallowed in contaminated or untreated water and cause long-lasting but mild symptoms.

Giardia (beaver fever): Causes mild illness with watery diarrhea often lasting one to two weeks. It is transmitted by drinking contaminated water, often from lakes or streams in cooler mountainous climates. The infection can also be spread from person to person by food or other items contaminated with feces from an infected person.

Cryptosporidium: Causes moderate illness with large amounts of watery diarrhea lasting two to four days. May become a long-lasting problem in people with poor immune systems (such as people with kidney disease or HIV/AIDS or those on chemotherapy for cancer). It is transmitted by contaminated drinking water.

Toxic agents are the least common cause of food poisoning. Illness is often an isolated episode caused by poor food preparation or selection (such as picking wild mushrooms).

Mushroom toxins: Illness can range from mild to deadly depending on the type of mushroom eaten. Often there is nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some types of mushrooms produce a nerve toxin, which causes sweating, shaking, hallucinations, and coma.

Ciguatera poisoning: Caused by eating fish that contains toxins produced by a marine algae called Gambierdiscus toxicus. It can cause moderate to severe illness with numbness of the area around the mouth and lips that can spread to the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain and weakness, headache, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat. The toxin may cause sensory problems in which hot things feel cold and cold things feel hot. It is transmitted by eating certain large game fish from tropical waters-most specifically barracuda, grouper, snapper, and jacks. According to the CDC, ciguatera has no cure. Symptoms may disappear in days or weeks, but may persist for years.

Scombroid: Causes mild to moderate illness with facial flushing, burning around the mouth and lips, peppery-taste sensations, a red rash on the upper body, dizziness, headache, and itchy skin. Severe symptoms may include blurry vision, respiratory distress, and swelling of the tongue and mouth. Symptoms typically last from four to six hours, and rarely more than one or two days. It is transmitted in seafood, mostly mahi-mahi and tuna, but can also be in Swiss cheese.

Pesticides: Cause mild to severe illness with weakness, blurred vision, headache, cramps, diarrhea, increased production of saliva, and shaking of the arms and legs. Toxins are transmitted by eating unwashed fruits or vegetables contaminated with pesticides.

Food Poisoning Causes

More than 250 known diseases can be transmitted through food. The CDC estimates unknown or undiscovered agents cause 81% of all food-borne illnesses and related hospitalizations. Many cases of food poisoning are not reported because people suffer mild symptoms and recover quickly. Also, doctors do not test for a cause in every suspected case because it does not change the treatment or the outcome.

The known causes of food poisoning can be divided into two categories: infectious agents and toxic agents. Infectious agents include viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Toxic agents include poisonous mushrooms, improperly prepared exotic foods (such as barracuda), or pesticides on fruits and vegetables.

Food usually becomes contaminated from poor sanitation or preparation. Food handlers who do not wash their hands after using the bathroom or have infections themselves often cause contamination. Improperly packaged food stored at the wrong temperature also promotes contamination

CHOLESTEROL DIET

A low cholesterol diet plan is the key to keeping high LDL, counts in the blood, under control and reducing the risks of heart disease and potential strokes. Choosing the right foods to eat can truly make a difference in protecting against these debilitating and even fatal conditions. Those with high cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia, will want to first begin researching what foods can cause the LDL counts to rise and what foods should be avoided.

Then, a healthy diet plan may be implemented to keep these counts stable and in a healthy zone. A sample diet to lower cholesterol is included with this article to help readers in choosing the right foods and to make life changes. Staying motivated to live a healthy lifestyle is key to successful diet programs for hypercholesterolemia and patients with this condition are encouraged to get involved in a support group or to find a partner who will share accountability in eating habits. But, the very first step onto the road of better health is making the decision that a healthy body is what is desired and can be obtained.

Eating healthy can be beneficial in several areas of life, and of course, eating healthy is beneficial to the condition of hypercholesterolemia. A low cholesterol diet plan can not only reduce high cholesterol numbers, but can also lead to an all-round improvement in health. A fit body can mean improved mobility, improved emotions, improved mental alertness, weight loss, and the over-all sense of well being. And, a fit body is achieved by a nutritious diet and exercise, giving the physical human body what it needs to operate at maximum capacity. It is good to know that the discipline it takes to follow a sample diet to lower cholesterol will also lead to life changes that will then lead to a happier, healthier existence.

Considering the enormous positive outcome, those with hypercholesterolemia should now be highly motivated to get started eating the foods that will help lower cholesterol A healthy eating program should begin with an understanding about what foods contain ingredients that can present possible danger to the body. Foods that are high in saturated fat should be avoided, when on a low cholesterol diet plan, because foods high in saturated fats can cause hypercholesterolemia more than any other food groups. These dangerous fats are predominately found in various meats and dairy products, including cheese.

Some bakery items are also high in these fats. While the protein found in meats is an important dietary component, portion control of certain meats and protein substitutes can be considered. The sample diet to lower cholesterol will always contain foods that are not high in saturated fats such as skinless poultry, egg whites, egg substitutes, meat alternatives, and fresh fruits and vegetables.No one is going to enjoy eating the same thing, day in and day out, so it is important that before a dietary program is implemented, there be a research conducted of the many foods that are nutritious and helpful in lowering the LDL counts found in the blood of those with hypercholesterolemia.

Here is a sample diet to lower cholesterol that can give the diet seeker a good idea of what foods can be eaten. For breakfast, cold cereal with low-fat or skim milk accompanied with a banana and dry toast would be a typical option. Lunch could be a skinless chicken breast sandwich on whole wheat bread with an assortment of veggies. Dinner meals could consist of a small portion of steak with rice and sauteed peppers. The evening could be topped off with a cup of low fat, hot cocoa.The main idea is to increase grain intake and decrease fat intake to get the body in healthy and fit condition.

Vegetables, even those high in fat contents, are always a good choice and can be prepared in a variety of ways. And, the number one rule to remember when on a low cholesterol diet plan is to avoid, at all costs, fried foods. It's really nice to know that now fast-foods establishments even offer low-fat or non-fried food options, helping those on the road to fitness stick to their plans.When looking for a sample diet to lower cholesterol, don't forget to seek out an exercise program as well!

Research proves that exercising can actually increase the level of good, or HDL, cholesterol. Exercise and eating healthy foods is the key to long healthy life with out worry and fear of being within the high risk groups for hypercholesterolemia.
For more information: http://www.christianet.com/cholesterol

Weight Loss Motivation : 7 Steps To Success

INTRODUCTION

Hi and Welcome to your first Weight Loss Motivation Module.This course is designed to kick start your motivation to finally lose weight. If you're currently on a weight loss program, that's great, this course will help keep you on track. If you haven't managed to get going yet, this course will help you put your plans into action.

Please get all you can from the course - it does work - and have some fun with it too! Print out the lessons and keep them together in a binder together with your notes. I expect that you'll have some surprises along the way as you discover more about your selft than you ever knew to ask. The modules are delivered every 2 days.

This will give you time toread the modules and work on them before getting distracted by thenext one arriving. If you get behind, don't worry, there's no harmin letting the next module wait in your inbox until you're ready for it. There's no need to rush - everything you need you'll get toin good time.Today is all about the power of Decisions. Your weight loss success begins here. All the very best for your new slim future, Janice Elizabeth Your personal weight loss coach

MODULE 1: DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Today I want you to appreciate the power of a true decision. Often,the only difference between those who are successful on their diet and those who are not is that the successful ones DECIDED to lose weight for once and for all. They decided that this time they would follow their decision through with action. They decided that this time would be different and they did it.

Decisions can have a dramatic impact on your life. Just think of the ones you have made in the past which changed the course of your life. Maybe you decided to get married, to have a baby, to take a course or a particular job. Maybe you took a risk in quitting school early or in leaving a job you loathed and found one you loved. Wherever you are in life is the result of all the decisions you have ever made. But your life is not just made up of big decisions, the hundreds ofsmall decisions you take every day also have a big impact in the long run.

Your body is the result of all the decisions you have made about food and exercise every day of your life. All those moment to moment decisions (to eat that chocolate cake, to not bother going for a walk, to choose fried over boiled) accumulated together over and over to give you what you have today. But this also means that it's fully in your power to change al lthat. You decide!Today, decide to do things differently. Take a decision to have a different future, a future where you are happy with your body.

Make a declaration of your decision to lose weight. Make it in whatever way feels right to you. For example"I have decided to be slim, healthy and fit""I commit to eating healthily and taking exercise""I am doing this and I am not giving up""I will do whatever it takes to feel great about my body"A decision is a conscious choice - it's not just a vague wish or a desire. You need to be clear about where you're going otherwise you'll never get there.

Your decision should be something you truly want for yourself and are prepared to commit to.Spend a little time making notes, thinking about your decision and putting it in your own words. What have you decided? If you'd like to tell someone about your decision, why not write and let me know. I'm there to help.

Obesity May Raise Kids' Allergy Risk

FRIDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Obese children and teens are at increased risk for allergies, especially food allergies, say U.S. researchers.

The study authors analyzed data from 4,111 participants, aged 2 to 19, who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and found that obese children and teens were 26 percent more likely to have any kind of allergy, and 59 percent more likely to have a food allergy, than their normal-weight peers.

"We found a positive association between obesity and allergies," senior author Dr. Darryl Zeldin, acting clinical director at the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), said in an institute news release. "While the results from this study are interesting, they do not prove that obesity causes allergies. More research is needed to further investigate this potential link."The study is in the May issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

"Given that the prevalence of both obesity and allergic disease has increased among children over the last several decades, it is important to understand and, if possible, prevent these epidemics," lead author Cynthia M. Visness, a scientist at Rho Federal Systems Division Inc., in Chapel Hill, N.C., said in the news release.

"Seeing a possible link between obesity and allergies provides additional motivation for undertaking the challenge of reducing childhood obesity," added Linda Birnbaum, NIEHS director.

APA ITU BIOTIN ?

Biotin adalah salah satu daripada vitamin B kompleks yang larut dalam air. Sifat biologinya, biotin terlibat dalam penetapan karbon dioksida dan dalam sintesis asid lemak dan purina.

Biotin mudah didapati dalam alam semesta. Daripada binatang ia boleh didapati dalam kuning telur, hati, ikan, daging otot dan susu. Dari tumbuh - tumbuhan pula ia didapati dalam kebanyakan buah - buahan, biji - bijian, bijirin, kekacang dan sayur - sayuran

Putih telur mentah mengandungi enzim avidin yang bertindakbalas dengan biotin apabila terdedah kepada oksigen di udara.Maka itu tidak digalakkan memakan telur mentah dan telur scrambled, kerana anda mungkin akan menghadapi tanda kekurangan biotin. Tanda kekurangan biotin ialah seperti dermatosis kering dan pecah - pecah, loya, letih lesu, sugul dan mengalami sakit otot atau saraf yang tidak menentu.

Telur yang direbus kulitnya dibuang atau yang separuh masak adalah cara yang baik untuk mengekalkan nilai kekhasiatan telur

SEBENARNYA PETAI BANYAK KHASIATNYA...!!!

Petai contains three natural sugars -sucrose, fructose and glucose.

Combined with fiber, petai gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proved that just two servings of petai provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.

No wonder petai is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way petai can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND among people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating petai. This is because petai contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS(premenstrual syndrome): Forget the pills - eat petai. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anaemia: High in iron, petai can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the petai industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power : 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating petai at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including petai in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a petai milkshake, sweetened with honey. The petai calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Petai has a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating petai for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness : Snacking on petai between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites : Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of the petai skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Petai is high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight: Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report c oncluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: Petai is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control : Many other cultures see petai as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Hol land, for example, pregnant women eat petai to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) : Petai can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.

Smoking: Petai can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium petai snack.

Strokes: According to research in 'The New England Journal of Medicine, ' eating petai as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%'.

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of petai and place it on the wart. Carefully hold the petai in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, as you can see, petai really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A Petai a day keeps the doctor away'.

SELAMAT HARI IBU

Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan Selamat Hari Ibu terutama ibuku yang berada di Ulu Tamu, Batang Kali, Selangor Darul Ehsan.

Kepada insan- insan yang di luar di sana, ucaplah selamat kepada ibu - ibu anda, kerana tanpa ibu siapalah kita di dunia ini. Doakanlah agar mereka sentiasa sihat sejahtera dan selalu dimurahkan rezeki. Jangan lupa untuk memberitahu kepada ibu anda agar sentiasa mendoakan kita agar selalu hidup dalam kebaikan dan kesejahteraan

SELAMAT HARI IBU !!

Benefit of Going to a Registered Dietician

A registered dietician is a nutritional expert who has extensive training in matters dealing with food and nutrition. You can become a nutritional counselor by taking a certification program but registered dieticians have university degrees that give them the qualifications to give sound advice to their clients in regards to living a healthy lifestyle.

If your eating habits are out of control and you are gaining weight unnecessarily then it might be time to seek out the services of a registered dietician. If you have recently been diagnosed with a disease or have found out that you have high cholesterol your doctor might well encourage you to visit a registered dietician for nutritional advice when it comes to healthy lifestyle changes.

A registered dietician will take a personalized approach to diet, food and nutrition as opposed to a textbook or academic approach and can help to fashion a diet that is geared specifically for a particular individual as opposed to a group of people. The dietician will examine your current lifestyle choices and can identify where your problem areas are and then can get to work to help you make modifications to your diet. Perhaps you eat too much fat in your diet or consume too much sodium? Do you eat plenty of lean meat but not enough fish? Do you eat enough fruits and vegetables on a daily basis or could you use some help in that area?

A registered dietician can help formulate a diet that will improve your health while meeting your nutritional needs but she can also help you to set short term goals in regards to losing weight. Crash dieting or fad dieting never works and any dietician will tell you so. It is not healthy to cut out any particular food groups because your body requires a certain amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients on a day-to-day basis and skipping meals is not advisable nor will it work anyway. If you go without eating lunch for example when it is time for supper you will end up eating more (think double the helping) because of the fact that you deprived your body at the last meal.

Who needs a registered dietician the most?

The American Dietetic Association has compiled a list of people who most need the services of a registered dietician and have deemed these individuals "nutritionally challenged." The list of nutritionally challenged individuals includes:

-Those who need to lose some weight.
-Those who have recently undergone gastric bypass surgery.
-Those who want to eat healthier and smarter and want to learn how to properly read labels on food and to dispel many commonly held health and food myths.
-Pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding.
-Those who suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure or heart problems.
-Those who play sports and want to improve their performance and endurance.If it is a nutritional plan you need then you should make an appointment with a registered dietician

How to be registered dietician ?

Step 1

Obtain at least a bachelor's degree in an area such as dietetics, foods and nutrition, or food service management. Students with these majors have classes in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physiology, microbiology, nutrition, foods, and institution management, as well as courses in business, social sciences, and computer science. High school students, who are considering a career as a registered dietitian ,should take courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, health, and communications.

Step 2

Determine the dietitian licensing requirements for the state in which you want to work. There are 35 states requiring licensing, 12 requiring statutory certification, and one requiring registration. Each state will have different policies regarding the licensing, certification or registration for dietitians.

Step 3

Complete the Registered Dietitian status of the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association. The Registered Dietitian credential is given to those individuals who pass a special examination after completing academic coursework and a supervised internship. This certification is different from the licensing required by statesinternship can be completed through one of the 53 programs accredited by the Commission on Dietetic Registration or with 900 hours of supervised practice experience in any of the 265 accredited internships.

Step 4

Maintain a Registered Dietitian status by completing at least 75 credit hours in approved continuing education classes every five years.

Strategi Alternatif Bagi Meningkatkan Taraf Kesihatan

Terdapat 2 kategori bagi membincangkan bab ini iaitu :

1. Pengawasan

Perkara dalam kategori ini adalah yang berkemungkinan haram, makruh, syubhah, mempunyai nilai khasiat yang rendah atau yang memudaratkan kesihatan

2. Pilihan

Perkara dalam kategori ini disusun mengikut sepertimana ajaran Islam, sains pemakanan dan dari kesihatan individu

Pengawasan

Pengguna diharpkan berhati - hati dan dicadangkan berhenti daripada menggunakan bahan - bahan berikut :

1. Daging babi, minyak babi dan segala bentuk terbitan daripadanya (pork, lard, bacon dan ham)
2. Lemak masak ( shortening) secara umumnya dan khususnya lemak masak dari binatang
3. Pemanis tiruan seperti sakarin dan seumpamanya
4. Minuman berlkohol
5. Minuman tidak beralkohol ( Coca - cola dan minuman ringan berkarbonat dan semua jenis soda, sider dan seumpamanya)
6. Pengawetkimia termasuk nitrit dan nitrat
7. Bahan perwarna tiruan
8. Ekstrak ( pati - pati) perisa tiruan
9. Semua jenis bahan peransang
10. Kapsul bergelatin dan bahan penyalutan bagi ubat - ubatan dan vitamin ( daripada binatang yang tidak zabihah)
11. Air lembut atau agen pelembut air
12. Barang makan yang diperhaluskan (refined)
13. Sebarang makanan dari binatang, melainkan pengguna mengetahui sumber asalnya
14. Semua jenis hormon termasuk hormon seks kewanitaan dan insulin dari babi
15. Gliserida sama ada mono atau digliserida ( kecuali dari sayur - sayuran)
16. Enzim termasuk renin (renet) dan pepsin yang berasal daripada babi
17. Yis 'brewer' - sebab sumbernya berasal daripada terbitan dalam pembuatan bir (kecuali jika diproses)

Dalam catatan ini, saya hanya akan menyentuh dari segi PENGAWASAN sahaja. Bagi kategori PILIHAN ia akan dibincangkan di catatan lain

PETUA ORANG TUA : Petua Mengurangkan Batuk...Sekurang-kurangnya jimatkan kos perubatan dan kecemasan...!

PETUA MENGURANGKAN BATUK.

Kita akan kurang selesa apabila kita batuk. Sekiranya dibiarkan.... ianya boleh membawa mudarat lebih teruk lagi.Oleh itu dengan mengamal petua orang tua, kita boleh mengubati dengan segera di rumah. Sekurang-kurangnya kita dapat mengurangkan batuk itu dari berterusan.Antara petua yang boleh mengurangkan batuk;Rendamkan sedikit kerak nasi dalam air suam. Apabila telah kembang, minum airnya pada setiap pagi.

Rebus beberapa biji pisang masak. Setelah lembik, campurkan santan secukupnya, sedikit garam dan perasa vanila. Kacau rata dan diminum airnya.

Tumbuk segenggam daun pegaga hingga lumat dan tapis untuk mendapatkan airnya yang pekat.

Campurkan dengan gula dan embunkan selama satu malam. Air itu hendaklah diminum dua kali dalam seminggu.

Campurkan dua sudu teh madu lebah asli dengan air suam. Kacau sehingga sebati dan minum air tersebut tiga kali sehari.

Ambil dua sudu nasi panas yang baru masak. Masukkan nasi itu ke dalam cawan dan campurkan sedikit air. Embunkan nasi tersebut selama semalaman dan minum airnya pada esok paginya.

Ambil sebiji limau sunkist dan buatkan lubang berbentuk pangkah di bahagian tengahnya. Masukkan gula batu di lubang tersebut. Letakkan limau tersebut di dalam periuk di tengah-tengah nasi yang telah kering dan tutup periuk tersebut. Setelah nasi itu masak, ambil buah limau tadi dan makan sambil didahului dengan selawat.

Ulang setiap kali memasak nasi sehingga sembuh. Selain melegakan batuk, nasi akan berbau harum.
Perah sebiji limau nipis dan campurkan dengan sedikit madu. Minum campuran ini setiap pagi sebelum sarapan. Amalkan sehingga batuk hilang.

PILIHAN PENENTU MASA DEPAN

BUAT kali ke-59 tahun ini, dunia akan menyambut Hari Kesihatan Sedunia dengan tema 'Menyelamatkan nyawa. Menjadikan hospital selamat ketika kecemasan'. Ini bagi menekankan kesediaan merawat dan juga mencegah penyakit dan kecederaan ketika waktu kecemasan.

Di samping itu, kita juga menyambut Bulan Nutrisi Malaysia 2009 (NMM) yang diadakan setiap tahun sejak 2002. Untuk tiga tahun berikutnya, NMM akan memberi fokus kepada pemakanan kanak-kanak dari usia awal bagi menjaga pertumbuhan, perkembangan fizikal dan mental serta kesihatan generasi muda yang bakal menjadi pelapis dan pewaris negara.

Walaupun kedua sambutan ini berada di hujung dua spektrum, tema keduanya menunjukkan kaitan jaringan yang bermula dari perkembangan bayi yang berpotensi membawa kepada situasi kecemasan apabila mereka dewasa.

Acuan

Sambutan hari kesihatan dan bulan nutrisi tahun ini menunjukkan arah kepada kanak-kanak sebagai acuan asas individu dewasa yang bakal mewarisi generasi sedia ada. Bayi dan kanak-kanak kini perlu menjadi keutamaan untuk kita, golongan yang mungkin 'sudah terlambat untuk diselamatkan lagi' dari kancah kecemasan kelak.

Bila dikatakan kecemasan, keutamaan bukan dari segi kecederaan fizikal semata-mata tetapi lebih kepada masalah kesihatan kronik yang semakin menular kini. Antara yang paling biasa didengar adalah obesiti, penyakit jantung, diabetes, tekanan darah tinggi, kolesterol tinggi mahupun asma.

Penyakit kronik sememangnya bukan penyakit yang muncul secara tiba-tiba tetapi mengambil bertahun-tahun untuk bermula. Dan tiada tempoh lebih kritikal untuk perkembangan penyakit kronik dari zaman perkembangan dan pembesaran bayi dan kanak-kanak.

Bukan hanya penyakit kronik, sebarang masalah di waktu kritikal perkembangan dan pembesaran juga boleh menjejaskan mental dan fizikal anak kelak. Selain penyakit, nutrisi atau pemakanan golongan muda ini boleh menjadi faktor penentu fizikal dan mental mereka apabila dewasa kelak.

Pengarah Pusat Penyelidikan Nutrisi Kanak-kanak, Majlis Penyelidikan Perubatan (MRC) di Institut Kesihatan Kanak-kanak, London, Profesor Dr. Alan Lucas menjelaskan masalah kurang atau terlebih nutrisi di kalangan bayi dan kanak-kanak boleh ditemui di hampir semua kelompok masyarakat dunia.

"Golongan kaya sering dikaitkan dengan terlebih nutrisi sementara yang miskin pula kurang nutrisi."Bagaimanapun, dengan pembangunan dan kemajuan dunia yang semakin berkembang, terdapat kelompok masyarakat yang mempunyai kedua-dua bahagian masalah nutrisi," katanya.Menurut beliau, penjagaan mengikut individu diperlukan bagi menyesuaikan dan menangani masalah kurang atau terlebih 'makan' ini.

Satu ciri utama bagi kanak-kanak adalah mereka akan terus membesar dan pakar pediatrik perlu tahu bagaimana penyakit atau nutrisi boleh mengubah pola pembesaran mereka. Dr. Lucas menegaskan tempoh awal pembesaran amat penting dan boleh meninggalkan kesan mendalam untuk hidup ketika dewasa kelak.

"Corak perkembangan dan pembesaran awal boleh memberi kesan kepada risiko penyakit kronik, kanser amhupun perkembangan otak."Kajian ke atas haiwan juga menunjukkan terdapat kesan terhadap jangka hayat, penuaan, pembelajaran serta tingkah laku," tegasnya.

Beliau menekankan bahawa pembesaran dan perkembangan bayi bukan hanya untuk menjadi lebih besar semata-mata.Tambahnya, bagaimana bayi membesar dan dibesarkan akan meninggalkan kesan besar terhadap kehidupan dan masa depannya.

Diprogramkan

Dr. Lucas juga merupakan individu yang memperkenalkan istilah 'pemprograman' iaitu kesan satu kejadian pada waktu kritikal pembesaran.Dalam kata lain, seseorang boleh 'diprogramkan' akibat satu kejadian di waktu kritikal pembesaran dan kesannya mungkin kekal seumur hidup.
Di luar waktu kritikal, kesan kejadian sama mungkin tidak kekal. Sebagai contoh, ubat yang diambil ketika mengandung boleh memberi kesan kepada bayi yang dikandung.

Dr. Lucas menegaskan peringkat bayi (bawah satu tahun) adalah satu tempoh yang sensitif dalam perkembangan hidup."Bagaimana bayi diberi makan (nutrisi) boleh memberi kesan besar terhadap perkembangan dan kesihatannya kelak."Ramai yang percaya bayi yang tembam dan 'bulat' adalah sihat dan sering kali anak diberi makan banyak untuk menaikkan berat badan."Namun, perlu difahami bahawa bayi yang 'sihat' itu mungkin sudah obes. Lebih malang, risiko kesihatan akibat obesiti akan kekal tinggi untuk seumur hidup bayi tadi, walaupun jika mereka tidak obes apabila dewasa kelak," jelasnya.

Menurut beliau, obesiti membawa risiko kesihatan jangka panjang yang sebelum ini lebih banyak dikaitkan dengan golongan kaya di Barat.Namun tambahnya, sebahagian kelompok masyarakat negara membangun juga makin ramai yang obes, sehingga ada yang sudah obes sebelum tahun pertama hidup.

Walaupun obesiti mempunyai banyak faktor punca lain, antara 20 hingga 30 peratus bermula semasa peringkat awal pembesaran. Untuk kumpulan ini, ia masih boleh ditangani. Dr. Lucas mendedahkan selera makan juga boleh diprogramkan melalui pembesaran yang mendadak (semasa bayi).

"Perubahan hormon, terutamanya pada hormon leptin akibat tabiat makan semasa kecil boleh mengubah selera makan seseorang untuk seumur hidup."Mungkin juga selera makan sebahagian daripada mereka yang obes telah diprogram untuk makan berlebihan dari usia kecil lagi," ujarnya.

Bekalan nutrien

Bayi yang menyusu badan untuk enam bulan pertama hidup kebiasaannya membesar pada kadar yang stabil dan sihat. Bagaimanapun, pengenalan makanan tambahan terlalu awal terhadap susu ibu mungkin menambah bekalan nutrien bayi dengan mendadak. Ini tidak menyihatkan kerana ia melebihi jumlah nutrien yang diperlukan badan bayi.

Dr. Lucas menjelaskan kadar pertumbuhan bayi dapat ditentukan melalui carta pembesaran bagi melihat kadar perkembangan yang rendah, normal atau mendadak.

"Bayi membesar dengan mendadak jika melonjak dari berat rendah terus ke berat berlebihan, yang turut meningkatkan risiko obesiti."Tidak mengira saiz bayi, perkembangan pada kadar yang stabil dan sihat tidak memerlukan campur tangan nutrisi tambahan," tegasnya.

Jelasnya, bayi mungkin kecil akibat faktor genetik dan tidak memerlukan tambahan nutrien jika membesar dengan normal sepanjang enam bulan pertama menyusu badan.

Beliau menyatakan hanya bayi yang pramatang atau mengalami kekurangan nutrisi sahaja yang memerlukan nutrien tambahan bagi menangani risiko jangka pendek, kematian dan jangkitan (sistem imun lemah).Pengenalan makanan tambahan boleh dimulakan selepas enam bulan menyusu badan, di ketika badan bayi mula bersedia dengan perubahan seperti tumbuhnya gigi susu.Dr. Lucas bagaimanapun menekankan pemantauan nutrisi anak dimulakan lebih awal, sebelum seorang wanita mula mengandung lagi.

"Badan wanita perlu bersedia membekalkan nutrien secukupnya kepada fetus. Tempoh paling sensitif perkembangan bayi pula dari penghujung kandungan dan sepanjang tahun pertama."Selain nutrien penting lain, bekalan iodin dan besi juga penting untuk fetus dan bayi membesar yang boleh memberi kesan kepada perkembangan otak dan IQ," katanya.

Permulaan awal

Presiden Persatuan Nutrisi Malaysia, Dr. Tee E. Siong memperakui kita sebagai manusia mudah leka dan mengambil mudah diri tidak akan menghidap penyakit yang dihidapi orang lain.

"Untuk itu kami meneruskan sambutan Bulan Nutrisi Malaysia (NMM) untuk mengingatkan orang ramai tentang pentingnya nutrisi, terutama di kalangan bayi dan kanak-kanak."Fokus kini seharusnya kepada bayi dan kanak-kanak yang sebenarnya merupakan pelaburan terbesar kita untuk masa depan negara," ujarnya.

Beliau menegaskan masa tidak menunggu untuk sesiapa dan tiada masa untuk kita mengambil mudah nutirisi anak semata-mata kerana mereka masih kecil.Tambahnya, jika tidak digalakkan dan diajar dari peringkat awal, kanak-kanak mungkin akan berhenti mendengar kata seawal umur 11 tahun hasil tekanan dan pengaruh rakan sebaya.

Bermula dari ibu yang mengandung, penjagaan pemakanan dapat menjamin nutrien secukupnya kepada fetus, dan seterusnya sepanjang tempoh perkembangan bayi. Dr. Tee menyatakan menghentikan dan menghalang penjualan makanan segera juga bukan langkah terbaik.

"Tiada sesiapa yang memaksa kita makan makanan segera dan juga banyak makanan tempatan lain yang tidak menyihatkan."Apa yang penting adalah untuk mengambil semua kumpulan makanan dalam jumlah bersesuaian. Pastikan dulu apa yang dimakan itu seimbang dan menyihatkan," jelasnya.

Selain itu, beliau turut membangkitkan kekeliruan yang berlaku di pasaran tempatan dengan maklumat yang tidak sekata dan juga iklan yang mengelirukan.Tegasnya, tiada makanan yang dengan ajaib boleh menyembuhkan penyakit atau memberi keputusan semua A dalam peperiksaan. Apa yang patut dipromosikan adalah panduan pemakanan sihat dan bukan hanya produk atau jenama.

Proses berpanjangan

Pemakanan sihat tidak semestinya menjadi sesuatu yang membosankan dan makanan yang seimbang dan menyihatkan boleh dinikmati jika disediakan dengan cara bersesuaian.Dr. Tee menekankan tiada makanan yang tidak elok selagi diambil dalam jumlah bersesuaian dengan keperluan badan, bersama kumpulan makanan yang lain.

"Pengambilan semua kumpulan nutrien setiap hari amat penting. Jumlah makanan dari setiap kumpulan juga boleh disesuaikan dengan aktiviti harian."Ini paling utama bagi kanak-kanak yang sepatutnya mempunyai banyak aktiviti fizikal, dan memang kebiasaannya suka bermain serta memecahkan barang," katanya.

Beliau menegaskan ibu bapa perlu mula risau jika anak mereka tidak suka bermain atau tidak memecahkan barang.Tambahnya, berat dan ketinggian anak perlu dipantau dengan kerap bagi memastikan mereka tidak kurang atau terlebih makan. Berat dan ketinggian merupakan antara perkara utama dalam menentukan tahap kesihatan semasa anak dan juga diri sendiri.

Dengan kanak-kanak, pemakanan seringkali melibatkan pengambilan berlebihan satu kumpulan makanan (yang sedap) dan keengganan makan kumpulan makanan yang kurang perasa. Oleh itu, cara memasak dan penyampaian makanan amat penting bagi memastikan bukan hanya sebahagian hidangan yang diambil kerana ini bukan sahaja boleh menyebabkan obesiti, malahan perkembangan yang terbantut. Bahan yang digunakan dan cara menarik perhatian anak untuk makan dan juga makan dengan sihat mungkin menjadi penentu tahap kesihatan mereka kelak.Dr. Tee menggalakkan pemakanan secara sederhana, bersesuaian mengikut keperluan individu, dan semudah menggunakan logik akal apa yang sesuai untuk anak dan diri sendiri.

"Laporan Tinjauan Morbiditi dan Kesihatan Kebangsaan yang diadakan setiap 10 tahun menunjukkan peningkatan obesiti dan penyakit kronik lain."Untuk itu, mulakan seawal mungkin amalan pemakanan sihat kerana ianya satu proses berterusan dan perlahan bagi menjamin kesihatan dan masa depan anak anda," tegasnya.

Bagi generasi kini, mungkin amat sukar mengubat tabiat buruk seperti pengambilan makanan tidak seimbang, makan berlebihan, merokok mahupun kurang bersenam. Bagaimanapun, sekurang-kurangnya fikirlah untuk anak-anak anda dan tanya pada diri, adakah anda mahu mereka lebih teruk, sama atau lebih baik dari keadaan anda kini? Dalam pelajaran dan kejayaan hidup, semestinya kita mahu anak lebih berjaya. Kenapa tidak untuk kesihatan mereka?. Jangan pula negara kelak diwarisi mereka yang obes, kurus kering, dan terbantut pembesaran semata-mata akibat kegagalan kita mengajar anak-anak cara pemakanan dan nutrisi seimbang.

Oleh itu, bukan hanya sempena sambutan hari atau bulan tertentu, beranikan diri dan ambil tanggungjawab anda bagi memastikan kesihatan anak-anak terjamin melalui pemantau nutrisi sepanjang tempoh kritikal pembesaran.Ingatlah bahawa ianya sesuatu yang boleh dikawal dan diubah jika dimulakan dari peringkat awal. Nutrisi memberi kesan yang besar kepada tempoh pembesaran anak anda, jangan diambil mudah peluang untuk memastikan anak anda hidup dengan berjaya, cemerlang dan sihat.