Thursday, January 31, 2008

An Interesting Article on BANANAS




A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain.

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!

This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again. Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana 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, amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas 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: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

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 banana 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 ( England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas 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 bananas 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 banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana 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: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in thebody, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating abanana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas 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 a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded 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: The banana 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 bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

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

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas 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, there by reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas 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 banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!


So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. when you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, 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 banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth.

Amazing fruit !!!

Friday, January 25, 2008

TAGGED!!!!

I have been tagged by Shalini to list out five of my favourite links.I thought it would be cool to have a meme where we post links. We can post up to five. Then we tell five more people to share their links. If we all share who tagged us, our links are sure to be seen! ) They can be business links, favorite sites, affiliate links, whatever you want…There are Five Rules:

1. MUST be clean. No R rated sites.
2. Only FIVE links.
3. MUST tell 5 people.
4. A link back to the person who tagged you ;)
5. Lara's Place is the meme originator. ;) (an active link is appreciated)

Now here are my favourite links

1. NST - A daily dosage of the happenings in my country and abroad.

2. MSN - It has everything that I need.

3. WOF - I love to get new updates on Feng Shui.

4. Rose4You - Download the latest MP3

5. Indiaglitz - What's latest on Tamil & Hindi movies


I would like to tag Mohan, Noushy, Murali, Reena & Raaja. All those of you who would like to play along can also take up the meme and drop me a comment, so that I can drop by your blogs .Thanks for playing along :)

Sri Perumal



This marvellous masterpiece of Sri Perumal belongs to Vimala akka, who is a very good friend of mine (a very cheerful person I've known so far). I took a few shots when I visited her last month. This holistic piece costs RM4500.00.

She placed an order in May after seeing it at one of her relatives house. Without a second thought, she paid the full amount to her uncle who is living in India. Months passed by and there were no news of it at all. She was quite worried and dare not let her family know of the unknown delay instead she consoled herself, "if it is meant for me, it will definitely come to me" and forgot about it totally.

One fine day, she received a call from her mum-in-law:-

MIL ~ Mala, unnakku oru parcel vantheruku.

Vimala ~ Yenna atta solleringa. Enna parcel, yaar anapana?

MIL ~ Romba perisa irukku. India address.

Vimala ~ Theriyalae atta, naan approma vandhe pakiren.

MIL ~ Seyri, nee vandhe para.

That was the telephone conversation between the two.

It didn't get into her mind that it was the Sri Perumal that she ordered in May. She came home with anxiety and opened the big parcel and she was jumping with joy after taking a glance of it. The best part of the story is, it was Vaikonda Egadasi that day, which is Sri Perumal's auspicious day. After knowing it, she was then lost for words. The joy in her face could not be described.

She felt as if the Tirupathi Vengadachalapadi has come to her house. How lucky she is, rite? The stone-studded Sri Perumal with special lighting and music effects was so perfectly done and hats off to the person who crafted it this well.

And ever since that day, everyone who visits her, keeps giving fruits and laddos as offerings to Sri Perumal. The God gets his favourite offerings majestically from any corners of the world. Lolz....... Arogara, arogara, arogara........

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Happenings

Oh wow! Looks like I’ve been away from my lovely blog since New Year. Shame on me…. Actually, I was quite busy at work and by the time I reach home in the evening, I would probably want to rest and watch T.V. Kind of lazy to on my PC and blog at night but today is an exception. My apologies folks :p

The New Year began and I have been receiving positive energies since then. Everything seems to be like what I want it to be. So it feels very exciting and of course the big grin on my face :)

Hopefully 2008 is a better and successful year for me coz last year was very hectic.

And to start off, today is Princess, my little doggie’s birthday. She is 3 years old now and she is expecting. Eagerly waiting for the puppies soon. My mum would kill me if I keep all the puppies so probably I will just keep one and sell away the rest. Anyone interested to buy Maltese puppy? Feel free to message me.

Happy Birthday Princess

Secondly, I’m very happy that I have fulfilled one of my resolutions. After much considerations, finally I have bought the ideal water fountain for my house. Here are some of the shots taken after fixing it.



Tuesday, January 1, 2008

~ 2008 ~

As God waters his creation,
May he always sprinkle his wonderous blessings
over you and your loved ones.
Have a blesssed and bountiful 2008.


Happy New Year to all of you!