Fruits

Fruits

Fruits

China says bloggers should use real names

BEIJING (AP) -- Blog service providers in China are "encouraged" to register users with their real names and contact information, according to a new government document that tones down an earlier proposal banning anonymous online blogging.

At least 10 major Chinese blog service providers have agreed to sign the "self-discipline pledge" issued by the Internet Society of China, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday.

Online bulletin boards and blogs are the only forum for most Chinese to express opinions before a large audience in a society where all media are state-controlled.

China has the world's second-biggest population of Internet users after the United States, with 137 million people online. It also has 30 million registered bloggers, and more than 100 million Chinese Internet users visit blogs regularly, according to the ISC. The group is under the Ministry of Information Industry.

The guidelines, issued Tuesday and effective immediately, "encouraged" real-name registration of users, according to a copy posted on the Internet group's Web site.

The information - to be filed with the companies, not posted online - should include the user's name, address, contact numbers and e-mail address, it said.

Measures listed in the document were guidelines only and blog service providers were not required to comply, said an official at the Internet group, surnamed Zhu.

It was not clear whether the guideline calling for real-name registration covered bloggers only or whether it extended to people who post comments. Zhu refused to provide details.

The Chinese government had wanted to require real-name registration, but the proposal was met by "fierce opposition," Xinhua said.

"Conditions are not yet mature for implementing real-name registration as we lack reliable technology for privacy protection and identity verification," Huang Chengqing, secretary general of the ISC, was quoted as saying.

But he said service providers were still responsible for the content of the blogs. Chinese leaders often try to block online material deemed pornographic or a threat to communist rule.

"Blog service providers who allow the use of pseudonyms may be more attractive to bloggers, but they will be punished by the government if they fail to screen illegal information," Huang was quoted as saying.

The Xinhua report did not provide additional details of banned information, but other measures called for in the pledge include not spreading pornography and not speaking ill of other nationalities, races, religions and cultural customs. Bloggers also should not spread rumors or libelous information, it said.

"Blog providers should monitor and manage comments ... and delete illegal and bad information in a timely manner," the document said.

Blog service providers such as People's Daily online, Sohu.com, Sina.com.cn and cn.msn.com have said they would abide by the pledge, Xinhua reported.

Eating Healthier Food Alternatives

Your eating investment strategy in modern times

The changing demographics and lifestyle has affected the way we eat and many eat away from home as more women are working away from home. Fewer meals are prepared at home and therefore fewer people know how to cook. Consumers want fast, healthy foods that taste good. How do you get your nutrition’s worth in the present modern living?

• Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods. You need more than 40 different nutrients for optimal health and well-being. Remember no single food supplies them all.

• Realise that your favourite food can fit into a healthy lifestyle. There are no “good” or “bad” foods. Just balance the variety of foods.

• Moderation in food intake is the key to successful healthy eating. Eat high-calories foods in moderate amounts and balance them with nutrient-wise choices for the rest of the day. Learn to control your portion size. Even calories in low-fat foods can tip your energy balance when serving are bigger than you need.

• Aim for five servings of vegetables and fruits daily in your diet. Having a variety by choosing dark green leafy vegetables, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, sprouts and many more. Cook your favourite vegetables lightly with little oil and when possible, eat them raw.

• Consume sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables while staying within energy needs. Two cups of fruit and 21/2 cups of vegetables per day are recommended for a reference 2,000-calorie intake, with higher or lower amounts depending on the calorie level.

• Consume at least 2 cups per day of fat-free or low-fat milk or equivalent milk products such as cheese or yogurt.

• Eat wholegrain foods such as whole meal bread, wholemeal biscuits or crackers, fruits and vegetables that add fiber and valuable nutrients to our daily diet. Rice, pasta, tubers, bread, noodles and other cereal products are low in fat and offer valuable nutrients and fiber. Remember to cook them with little or no fat or no oil.

• Recent studies show that consuming adequate amounts of various fruits and vegetables, including blueberries and spinach, can reduce age-related losses in motor function and cognition. Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables each day. In particular, select from all five vegetable subgroups (dark green, orange, legumes, starchy vegetables, and other vegetables) several times a week.

• Limit the fat you eat by cutting back on high-fat salad dressing, fried foods, processed meats, saturated fats such as butter, ghee and full cream cheese and high-fat foods containing trans such as cakes, pastries and pies. Request less oil in your fried noodles or roti canai.

• To enjoy a variety of lean protein, choose lean meat and chicken without skin: Include lentils, peas, beans and tofu that are good sources of protein, fibre and contain no cholesterol.

• The nutrition information panel on food labels of some foods in the supermarket gives you specific information about the calories and nutrients such as fat, cholesterol, sodium, fibre and certain vitamins and minerals in particular product. Use the nutrition labels as your guide to healthy food choices while shopping for packaged foods.

• When the snack attack strikes, choose a variety of low fat snacks. Try sandwiches, popiah basah, steamed yam cakes, fruits, wholemeal biscuits, low-fat yoghurt or unsweetened popcorn. Sugar used as a part of healthy eating in small amounts makes many foods tasty and enjoyable

• Ask for smaller portion when eating out. Ask how the particular dish is prepared. Mix and match your food. If you had a plate of fried noodles and teh tarik in the morning, compliment lunch and dinner with less fatty or fried foods in small amounts. Fast food should be eaten sensibly making appropriate choices.

• Be innovative in your cooking methods. Try grilling, steaming, baking and roasting. Use natural flavours such as tamarind, soy sauces, garlic, ginger, onions vinegar, curry powder, lemon grass to spice up your meals. Marinate you foods with natural spices.

• Sugar can be part of a healthy diet. Used as part of a healthy diet, sugar makes many foods tasty and enjoyable. But remember to use it sparingly. Choose and prepare foods and beverages with little added sugars or caloric sweeteners. This further can help you to reduce the incidence of dental caries by practicing good oral hygiene and consuming sugar and starch-containing foods and beverages less frequently.

• Your goals must be realistic and practical. Change does not mean eliminating any one food. It means focusing on moderation, balance and changing a negative food habit. Break up your goals into simple action steps that you can follow each day. For example, if your goal is to eat less fat, you can reduce fried foods to twice a week, use less or small amounts of coconut oil in the cooking, lean meat and skinless chicken.

• Lastly, remember that a healthy diet is only part of a healthy lifestyle. Another vital component is exercise. Have fun with exercise. Enjoy walking with your family. Climb up the steps. Walk to the shops. Wash the car yourself - you exercise and save money. Do some gardening, plant some vegetables. Plan active family vacations or weekends.

Finally, consult a qualified dietician for reliable food and nutrition information. A dietitian is a qualified in nutrition and dietetics and will be able to help plan an individualized diet suited to your needs.

Wheat Nutrition

The Food Pyramid recommends that we should eat at least 8-12 servings of rice, noodles, bread and other cereal products (depending on age, gender and activity level). Grain products are also an excellent source of fiber, B vitamins (thiamine, niacin, riboflavin and folic acid) and iron.

Wheat as a Source Of Carbohydrates
There are two types of carbohydrates: simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are found in sugars such as table sugar, honey, gula Melaka, lactose (in milk) and fructose (in fruits). They break down quickly during digestion and provide an immediate source of energy to the bloodstream.

Complex carbohydrates are starches such as those found in grain products and some vegetables (potatoes, ubi kayu, keledek and corn). Complex carbohydrates break down slowly during digestion, giving the body a time-released source of energy.

Rice is the major form of grains eaten and the staple diet for Asians. In fact, it is so inherent in our culture that many of us may not consider having eaten a proper meal unless it is a rice-based meal! Nevertheless, wheat would be the second major form of grains. We consume wheat in many forms i.e. as noodles, bread and flour in making kuehs, biscuits, cakes, cookies and such.

Wheat therefore is a good source of complex carbohydrates and provides an efficient source of energy to our body. We are encouraged to obtain 50 to 60 percent of our total energy intake as complex carbohydrates so we can store adequate energy in our body for our daily activities. The brain also uses carbohydrates to function. Whole wheat adds fibre and B complex to your diet.

Protein

Proteins consist of amino acids. These amino acids are the building blocks in proteins which are essentials for tissue maintenance and growth. There are 8 essential amino acids must be obtained from food because the body cannot make them or convert them from nutrients.

Animal proteins are called complete protein sources, such as egg, milk, fish, poultry and meat products because they contain all eight essential amino acids in the necessary proportion. Plant foods such as tofu, legumes, wheat and other grains contain incomplete proteins i.e these foods may contain all eight essential amino acids, but not at adequate levels.

Animal proteins are called complete protein sources, such as egg, milk, fish, poultry and meat products because they contain all eight essential amino acids in the necessary proportion. Plant foods such as tofu, legumes, wheat and other grains contain incomplete proteins i.e these foods may contain all eight essential amino acids, but not at adequate levels.

However, combining a variety of plant proteins will supply adequate complete proteins. This is important particularly for vegetarians in order to meet their essential amino acid requirements. Vegetarians who take a variety of wheat products such as noodles and flour will obtain all the amino acids needed if their diet also consists of legumes and tofu.

Fat

Despite the widespread news that fats are bad for you, an adequate amount of fat in the diet is essential to provide warmth, energy to move and fatty acids to keep your body healthy. Indeed, fat is an important nutrient, but should be no more than 20 to 30 percent of your total daily calories. One should choose polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Keep saturated fats, dietary cholesterol and trans fat low.

Wheat foods provide minimal amounts of fat unless prepared with plenty of oil/butter/margarine such as fried noodles, fried kuehs and pastries.

Other Vitamins and Minerals

Thiamine (B1) is needed daily for good appetite, digestion and healthy nerves. It also helps the body make better use of fat and carbohydrate. Wheat foods are a good source of thiamine to provide for our daily requirements.

Riboflavin (B2) is found in many plant and animal foods. It is essential for the use of protein by the body. Wheat foods contain small amounts of riboflavin.

Niacin is a B-vitamin essential for the efficient use of protein by the body. Wheat foods are a good source of niacin.

Folic Acid has been shown to prevent neural tube defects in fetus and may help reduce the risk of heart disease. In some Western countries, wheat products are fortified with folic acid

Iron
Iron combines with protein to form hemoglobin, a compound in red blood cells that transports oxygen to each cell in the body and carries carbon dioxide away to be exhaled. Teenagers and women of childbearing age may be prone to iron-deficiency anemia. Wheat foods are considered a source of iron for normal dietary needs, although the bioavailability of iron is plant foods is generally low. Some whole wheat cereals and biscuits are fortified with iron.

Zinc
Zinc is important in the diet particularly for skin healing and growth properties. Some wheat based products such as breakfast cereals are a good source of zinc.

Magnesium
Magnesium is necessary for the formation of bone and teeth and for normal nerve and muscle function. Many enzymes in the body depend on magnesium to function normally. Magnesium is ubiquitous in the diet and wheat foods are good sources.

The Goodness of Whole Grain Wheat
A whole grain consists of the entire grain seed of a plant. This seed, also known as the kernel, is made up of three key parts: the bran, the germ, and the endosperm.

Milling and processing of grains i.e. removal of the bran and germ, resulting in refined flour that consists only of the endosperm. This can lead to losses of fiber, B vitamins, trace minerals and other nutrients.

Bran:

The multi-layered outer skin contains important antioxidants, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, B vitamins, fiber, and phytonutrients.

Germ:

The embryo contains B vitamins, vitamin E, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and unsaturated fats.

Endosperm :

The endosperm contains starchy carbohydrates, proteins, and small amounts of vitamins and minerals.

It is encouraged to include whole grain cereals in the diet. So, when choosing wheat foods, read food labels and go for choices such as whole grain biscuits, bread and atta flour (whole wheat flour for making chapattis). These whole grain varieties will contain higher amounts of dietary fiber, iron, zinc, magnesium, B vitamins and also contain some beneficial non-nutrients called phytochemicals. Diets rich in whole-grain foods and other plant foods and low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol has been shown to help reduce risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE?

Thoughts about dying and putting an early end to life are not as uncommon and occur to many. You may have had morbid thoughts about dying and ending your own life, or perhaps you know someone who does.

Depression could be the cause
Clinical depression - a serious medical illness linked to changes in the biochemistry of the brain - is believed to contribute to at least half of all suicides. It affects the way a person feels about himself and how he thinks about things. Characterised by overwhelming feelings of sadness lasting for more than two weeks, clinical depression is very different from a temporary case of “the blues” triggered by an unhappy event.

Depression is often accompanied by a loss of interest in life, hopelessness and helplessness, and can be triggered in somebody who is going through stressful or traumatic life events, or who is terminally ill. Such distressing feelings generally require the attention of a healthcare professional and the treatment of medications.

Death doesn’t end the suffering
People who contemplate of committing suicide may think that suicide is the only way that can take away all the pain and end their suffering. But in Buddhism, death is only the beginning of another cycle of pain and suffering for others and yourself. According to the Buddhist teaching of the Four Noble Truths – life is full of dissatisfactions. All the stages of life - birth, ageing, sickness, death - all the ways of being, wanting and striving are conditions of suffering. However, the Buddha also taught that the end to a dissatisfactory life is possible with the Noble Eightfold Path.

The Buddha also taught us to realise the impermanence and insubstantiality of both life and death. Everything changes constantly. Nothing stays the same. Rain might come after sunshine, but so does sunshine comes after rain. In the realisation that people (their personalities, interests and attitudes) and life situations are unfixed and constantly changing, it becomes possible to approach each moment with an open mind. One is then able to react and adapt to new situations without clinging to outdated and inconsequential conceptions.

We can live more in the present without hanging on to the past or worrying about the future since each phenomenon arises depending on causes and conditions that are coming into being. In Buddhism, the mind is also seen as the root of all good and all evil, the cause of both suffering and True Happiness. It regards the mind as the primary factor that determines the well-being of each person. Through meditation and counselling, the perception of reality for those with persistent negative-thinking can be adjusted. This will enable them to better cope with the unexpected changes of life.

Buddhism’s perspective to suicide
“If one knows how to treasure oneself, one should protect oneself well.”
-The Buddha (Dhammapada)

“According to the Buddhist teaching of cause and effect, since one does not realise the truth of all phenomena, or does not practise to be liberated from life and death, suicide is pointless. When one's karmic retribution is not exhausted, death by suicide only leads to another cycle of rebirth. This is why Buddhists do not support suicide; and instead, encourage constructive living, using this life to diligently practise good, thus changing the present and the future for the better.”
-Chan Master Sheng Yen

“Some people commit suicide; they seem to think that there is suffering simply because there is the human life, and that by cutting off the life there will be nothing... But, according to the Buddhist viewpoint, that's not the case; your consciousness will continue. Even if you take your own life, this life, you will have to take another body that again will be the basis of suffering. If you really want to get rid of all your suffering, all the difficulties you experience in your life, you have to get rid of the fundamental cause (greed, hatred and delusion) that gives rise to the aggregates that are the basis of all suffering. Killing yourself isn't going to solve your problems.”
-His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

“Taking one's own life under any circumstances is morally and spiritually wrong. Taking one's own life owing to frustration or disappointment only causes greater suffering. Suicide is a cowardly way to end one's problems of life. A person cannot commit suicide if his mind is pure and tranquil. If one leaves this world with a confused and frustrated mind, it is most unlikely that he would be born again in a better condition. Suicide is an unwholesome or unskilful act since it is encouraged by a mind filled with greed, hatred and delusion. Those who commit suicide have not learnt how to face their problems, how to face the facts of life, and how to use their mind in a proper manner. Such people have not been able to understand the nature of life and worldly conditions.”
-Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda

“This human body and life is difficult to attain but is now attained. The Buddha's teachings are difficult to encounter but are now encountered. If we do not use this precious body to help ourselves, till when shall we wait to save ourselves?”
- Buddhist Saying