يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ

“ Hai orang-orang yang beriman, makanlah di antara rezki yang baik-baik yang Kami berikan kepadamu dan bersyukurlah kepada Allah, jika benar-benar hanya kepada Allah kamu menyembah”. (QS. 2:172)

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Awas Terhadap Campuran Plasma Darah Dalam Makanan Harian Anda


KAJIAN Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim) ke atas 12 sampel isi daging ikan (surimi) digunakan dalam bebola ikan yang diambil daripada beberapa pasar raya di sekitar Putrajaya dan Nilai, Negeri Sembilan didapati mengandungi bahan tidak halal dalam produk berkenaan.


Kajian awal yang dilakukan itu mendapati bebola ikan berkenaan mengandungi plasma darah haiwan yang dicampurkan di dalam ramuan bebola ikan bagi menambahkan kualiti bebola ikan, selain mencantikkan produk itu supaya nampak lebih kenyal dan gebu.

Pensyarah Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi Usim, Prof Dr Salmah Yusof, ketika mendedahkan hasil kajian itu menyatakan plasma darah kaya dengan protein yang boleh membantu memberi ciri-ciri yang lebih baik serta kualiti kepada sesuatu produk makanan seperti kekenyalan, mudah dihiris dan berwarna putih Lazimnya, beliau berkata, semua bahan itu boleh diperoleh daripada plasma darah ternakan seperti ayam, lembu dan babi. Katanya, penggunaan plasma darah ternyata tidak dibenarkan di dalam Islam kerana ia adalah haram.

“Kajian yang dilakukan bulan lalu, mendapati bebola ikan itu positif daripada bahan tidak halal iaitu mengandungi plasma darah haiwan. Kita juga akan melakukan kajian secara menyeluruh sedikit masa lagi bagi mendapatkan maklumat lengkap mengenainya.



“Kita menggunakan `teknik enzime linked immuno sorbent assay` (Elisa), iaitu teknik yang lebih cepat dari segi dapatan kajian dan lebih menjimatkan masa,” katanya ketika ditemui pada seminar Minggu Pelancongan Islam dan Halal Antarabangsa, baru-baru ini.

Surimi dijadikan bahan kandungan asas bagi produk seperti sosej, bebola ikan, udang, ketam, mee, isi ketam tiruan produk makanan lain.

Justeru, tidak mustahil, hasil kajian menunjukkan untuk meningkatkan dan mengekalkan kestabilan kualiti surimi, protein plasma darah haiwan dicampur ke dalam surimi. Plasma adalah bahagian cecair yang tidak berwarna sebahagian daripada darah. Secara sederhana, ia diasingkan daripada darah melalui kaedah pengemparan. Selepas diasingkan, plasma ini dikeringkan dengan alat pengering sembur sehingga berbentuk serbuk.

Salmah berkata, ketika ini, pihaknya belum melaporkan hasil kajian berkenaan kepada Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) dan Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia mengenai produk itu daripada pasar raya di Putrajaya dan Nilai berkenaan didapati tidak halal atas alasan tertentu.

Bagaimanapun, bagi memenuhi tanggungjawab sebagai umat Islam, beliau melalui pembentangan kertas kerja atau ceramah yang dihadiri akan menyebarkan maklumat mengenai isu halal haram ke atas produk makanan.

Katanya, berdasarkan pemerhatiannya dan maklumat dan pengetahuan, seseorang boleh tahu dan mencurigai sesuatu makanan atau minuman yang dibeli itu halal atau sebaliknya.

Sebagai contoh, bentuk fizikal bebola ikan yang dilihat cantik, sempurna dan berkualiti pembuatannya seperti kenyal lazimnya mengandungi plasma darah haiwan.

“Oleh itu, orang ramai seharusnya prihatin apabila ingin membeli produk berasaskan produk isi daging seperti bebola ikan, ketam atau sosej kerana ia mungkin mengandungi bahan yang tidak halal. Kita perlu ada sifat ingin tahu dan sensitif mengenai perkara ini supaya tidak termakan bahan halal.

“Malah, dalam hadis riwayat At-Tabarani juga menjelaskan setiap daging yang tumbuh daripada yang haram, maka api neraka lebih layak baginya,” katanya.

Salmah berkata, keraguan terhadap penggunaan plasma darah haiwan dalam makanan juga sudah banyak disebarkan di dalam jurnal oleh pakar saintis yang sering memberi penekanan mengenai kewujudan plasma darah haiwan ke dalam beberapa produk makanan.

Beliau menegaskan, tidak mustahil bahan sama digunakan dalam produk berkaitan di negara ini.

Justeru, Usim juga akan memperluaskan kajian ke atas produk berasaskan sosej, tahun depan.

Mengulas lanjut, Salmah berkata, kerjasama menyeluruh membabitkan pelbagai pihak bermula dari peringkat industri, pakar, pengkaji dan Jakim serta agensi berkaitan perlu dipergiatkan bagi menangani kesedaran mengenai isu halal termasuk produk makanan, kosmetik, minuman dan farmaseutikal.

Sumber asal, klik di sini

Thursday, December 17, 2009

How Sleep Affects Your Weight-Loss Efforts!

What is the Difference between a
Fast and Slow Metaboliser?

Sleep is a delicious and precious thing. But when you lay your head down on the pillow, do you get a fitful, peaceful rest? Or do you toss and turn? Or wake up intermittently? Even worse, are you tormented with nightmares?

Of course, these problems assume you can fall asleep in the first place. How many sheep do you have to count before you doze off?

Sleep problems generally are the result of a calcium/magnesium and/or a zinc/copper imbalance. These two ratios, of course, also determine your basal body metabolic rate (translate: how much fat you'll burn every day.) If you get these two ratios into a healthy balance, you'll have better ZZZZZs and lose Lbs. (as in pounds!)

Not Enough Magnesium

People with a magnesium deficiency suffer from "Type II insomnia." They fall asleep easily but only experience a relatively short period of deep, restful sleep, that delicious time when your body is able to rebuild muscles, skin and bones. Most of the night they are trapped in light, useless sleep. They toss and they turn. Then, they wake up exhausted.

Ironically, people with too little magnesium in relation to calcium develop this trouble because they don't have enough energy to sleep fitfully. Restful sleep requires a certain amount of energy to reach the stage of rejuvenating rest, which is characterized by rapid eye movement (REM). When you can't maintain REM sleep for a prolonged period, fatigue eventually becomes chronic during your waking hours. (Your energy is zapped because you have too much calcium in relation to magnesium.)

People under stress are prone to this kind of insomnia because stress sops up all the magnesium it can find, creating a shortage.

Not Enough Calcium

Insomnia (the Type I kind) has been associated with calcium for centuries. Did your Momma serve you a warm glass of milk and cookies before bedtime?

People who don't have enough calcium have two sleep-related problems. First, they have great difficulty falling asleep. In most cases this occurs because low tissue calcium produces irritability. They're just too upset to be able to fall asleep.

Second, people with low calcium levels are plagued with muscle cramps at night. These painful cramps occur even without any real exertion during the day. A calcium to magnesium imbalance causes these muscles to remain in a constant state of contraction. Ouch!

Warm milk (without the cookies, of course) before bedtime can help people lacking calcium fall asleep faster. But more dietary changes are needed to deal with the muscle cramps.

Too much calcium:

Frequent urination at night is one symptom of too much calcium. When excess calcium settles in the muscles surrounding the bladder, it reduces the bladder's holding capacity. Frequency and urgency are increased. It's hard to have a good night's sleep when you constantly have to get up and go.

Too much copper:

High copper levels affect the neurological system. They also stimulate the right side or creative hemisphere of the brain. (Artists typically have higher copper levels than electrical engineers.) Unfortunately, too much copper causes nightmares. Don't eat chocolate, peanut butter or grapes before bedtime if you want to have sweet dreams.

So what's weight loss have to do with this?

All four minerals are also crucial to the weight loss process. Calcium and copper can sedate or overstimulate the adrenal and thyroid glands, basically snuffing out your weight loss efforts with an ineffective metabolic rate. Fix the cal/mag and zinc/copper ratios and you can burn off those pounds, even while you sleep!

So, how do you know what your calcium or copper level is and how do you fix it if it's broke? You order a special lab test, never before available to consumers, which will chart your calcium, copper, magnesium and zinc levels along with 31 other trace elements and heavy metals. This test, called a Tissue Mineral Analysis, includes a specific eating plan geared to your body.

For example, if you have too much copper and not enough zinc, the report will tell you to eat more eggs and fish but give up nuts and mushrooms. The test will even tell you what aspirin to take (typically no ibuprofen but plenty of acetaminophen) to speed up your metabolism so you can lose and snooze!


Reference link:

http://www.cybernation.com/livingston/meltdown/

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Diet Of College Students…

When students first enter college, their diets often deteriorate and they often gain weight. There are many factors responsible for these changes. However, there are also several actions that can be taken to avoid the weight gain and decline in diet quality that may occur during the college years.

The term "freshman 15" refers to the number of pounds many students gain during their first year in college. This weight gain is related to stress , a sedentary lifestyle, and changes in food intake and diet patterns, and it is not unique to local college students—international students attending Malaysian universities become heavier, too.

Meal and Snack Patterns and Serving Sizes

Meals are often skipped by college students, and management of weight and food intake is often nonexistent or disordered. Class and work schedules change daily, as well as every semester. However, structured eating patterns help students' academic performance. A study by Mickey Trockel, Michael Barnes, and Dennis Eggett, for example, found a positive relationship between eating breakfast and first-year college students' grade-point averages.

Lifestyle changes, peer pressure, limited finances, and access to food also contribute to erratic eating patterns. College students have little variety in their diet and often turn to high-fat snacks. A common error is underestimating serving sizes, meaning they often eat more than they think they are eating.

Food and Nutrient Intakes of College Students

Of the three nutrients that provide calories ( carbohydrates , proteins , and fats), carbohydrate (particularly sugar) and fat intake often exceeds recommended levels. College students also tend to have a low intake of dietary fiber ,

Irregular class schedules, part-time jobs, and variable homework loads can disrupt normal eating patterns among college students, leading to unhealthy habits that may be hard to break. Despite these difficulties, it is important for students to find time for nutritious and varied foods, which is important for intestinal health. In terms of vitamins , a low vitamin C status has been associated with college students' low intake of fruits and vegetables (with levels of vitamin C being even lower among smokers). In terms of minerals , calcium , iron , and zinc intake are low, while sodium intake is generally higher than recommended.


Male college students are more likely to meet dietary intake recommendations for the meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, and nuts group; from the bread, cereal, rice, and pasta group; and from the vegetable food group than are females. Males seem to consume more food overall, and thus have a higher energy (calorie) intake. Female college students tend to eat too few breads, grains, and dairy products. In addition, it is estimated that about 10 percent of college students drink more than fifteen alcoholic beverages per week, further impairing the quality of their diet.

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are more prevalent among college females than among the general population. This is related to body image dissatisfaction—females that are underweight, as measured by their body mass index (BMI), sometimes consider themselves to be overweight . The incidence of anorexia and bulimia may increase when there is excessive preoccupation with weight, academic achievement, body image, and eating, as well as during stressful periods, such as final exams.

The prevalence of disordered eating is especially high among female athletes. College athletes may manipulate diet and fluid intake, putting their health at risk. They may also jeopardize their health by taking dangerous or excessive amounts of supplements as a result of misinformation, or of pressure from coaches or peers. Athletes may feel pressured to restrict their food intake if they are on an athletic scholarship or competing in weight-classification sports such as wrestling. Female athletes may be underweight or have an extremely low amount of body fat. The female athlete triad (disordered eating, amenorrhea , and osteoporosis ) is estimated to occur in 15 to 62 percent of female college athletes.

Recommendations for Improvement

There are many actions that college students can take to eat in a healthful way and enjoy their college years without jeopardizing their health from excessive weight gain or weight loss. Among some recommendations are:

  • Get at least eight hours of sleep a night. Lack of sleeps affects one's ability to concentrate and makes one feel tired. Sleep deprivation also seems to be connected with weight problems.
  • Avoid skipping meals. When a meal is skipped, the subsequent hunger may cause one to overeat.
  • Eat breakfast, which helps concentration and increases the likelihood of consuming calcium, folic acid, and vitamin C. These nutrients are often low in the diet of college students.
  • Manage portion sizes. If portion sizes are underestimated, one may eat more calories than are needed. Also, the availability of a wide variety and mass quantities of "dorm" food (pizza, soda, etc.) may promote overeating and a significant increase of total energy intake.
  • Drink water and eat fruit throughout the day. Water is calorie-free and fruits help manage urges to eat and contribute fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
  • Exercise regularly. Physical activity helps burn off calories, helps manage stress, and promotes mental and physical stamina.
  • Become familiar with the campus environment and the foods that are available. Most colleges and universities have a variety of eateries, each with a different format, theme, and food options.
  • Try the low-calorie, low-fat, and vegetarian options available around campus. As part of a well-planned diet, these items can help manage total energy intake and introduce one to items that can become part of a regular diet.
  • Keep low-fat and low-calorie snacks in the dorm room. This will help manage calorie intake when snacking, especially when eating late at night.

Most universities offer a variety of meal plans. Students who take the time to acquaint themselves with the various foods available around campus, and who strive for nutritional balance, may find their academic performance

improves along with their physical health.

Many universities have required or optional meal plans, which provide access to campus food for a flat rate paid either by semester or academic year. Per meal, these plans are a good value and provide access to a regular food resource. Among the things to consider are the hours the facilities are open, their proximity to student housing and classes, the quality and variety of items, and whether favorite foods are regularly available.

Universities can also take a variety of steps to promote healthful food behaviors. Campus and residence hall wellness programs can provide students with information and point-of-purchase information at dining halls can help students make on-the-spot decisions that support healthful choices. Education programs for university personnel can help them recognize and properly refer at-risk students.

College students will eat healthful foods if they are available. During the college years, students form a foundation and create eating habits that impact future health, so it is important to practice healthful eating during these years.


Reference Link:
http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Ca-De/College-Students-Diets-of.html

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Alternatif Merawat Masalah Kolesterol


BERDASARKAN pengalaman lalu, tahap kolesterol darah saya boleh meningkat dengan ketara selepas sebulan perayaan. Bagaimanakah saya boleh mengawal peningkatan ini?

Jawapan,

Peningkatan paras kolesterol akan berlaku apabila kita mengambil makanan berkolesterol tinggi.

Pengambilan lemak trans akan meningkatkan kolesterol berbahaya (LDL) dan merendahkan kolesterol baik (HDL), seterusnya meningkatkan risiko penyakit jantung.

Lemak tepu banyak dijumpai dalam makanan berasaskan haiwan seperti lembu, kambing, lemak ayam, mentega, susu, keju dan produk tenusu yang lain. Oleh yang demikian, hadkan pengambilan makanan tersebut.

Bagi mereka yang mempunyai masalah kolesterol tinggi, pengambilan red yeast rice (beras yis merah) dan minyak ikan boleh membantu.

Red yeast rice diperolehi daripada penapaian beras dengan yis merah (Monascus purpures).

Red yeast rice mengandungi statin semula jadi yang menghalang penghasilan kolesterol dalam hati (sekitar 80 peratus kolesterol dihasilkan oleh hati) dengan merencatkan aktiviti enzim hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase.

Minyak ikan laut pula kaya dengan asid lemak omega-3 dan bermanfaat untuk merendahkan paras trigliserida.

Selain itu, minyak ikan juga bermanfaat untuk:

1. Mengurangkan risiko aritmia yang boleh membawa kepada kematian mengejut

2. Mengurangkan risiko trombosis yang membawa kepada serangan jantung dan strok

3. Mengurangkan trigliserida dan paras kolesterol

4. Mengurangkan kadar pertumbuhan plak aterosklerotik

5. Merendahkan tekanan darah

6. Mengurangkan tindak balas keradangan

Hasil penyelidikan juga mendapati gabungan minyak ikan dan Red Yeast Rice ini berkesan untuk menangani peningkatan kolesterol dan kesannya menyamai ubat rawatan kolesterol.

Sumber asal, di sini

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Kenangan 1: Jom kenal-kenal....



Diet Untuk Pesakit Gout


Makanan mengandungi purin dan metabolismanya akan menghasilkan asid uric dalam darah. Jika terdapat gangguan ke atas proses metabolism purin, pengumpulan asid uric yang tinggi dalam air kencing akan mengakibatkan batu karang. Asid urik akan berkumpul di sendi-sendi dan menyebabkan penyakit gout. Aras asid uric yang normal di dalam darah kita adalah kurang daripada (340umol/L)

Pemakanan yang asid uric yang berlebihan akan menyebabkan penyakit gout atau penyakit 'hyperuricaemia'

Jenis Diet yang diperlukan:

· Makanan yang mempunyai kandungan purin yang tinggi perlu dielakkan

· Kuantiti dan kekerapan makanan yang tinggi nilai purin dimakan setiap kali akan menentukan jumlah kuantiti purin yang diambil


Jenis Makanan yang mempunyai kadar purin yang tinggi:

1) Protein - Hati, jantung, hempedal, otak, daging, ikan bilis, ikan sardin, ketam

2) Kekacang - Kacang soya, kacang dhal, tempeh, tauhu

3) Bijirin - Oat, bijirin sarapan pagi, roti

4) Sayur-sayuran - Bunga kobis, bayam, cendawan, asparagus, ovacado

Selain mengawal makanan yang mengandungi purin yang tinggi, pesakit juga perlu mengawal berat badan, minum air yang banyak, sekurang-kurang 8 gelas sehari untuk mengkumuhkan asid urik dan elakkan daripada mengambil alkohol. Ini kerana alkohol boleh meningkatkan asid urik dalam badan.

Healing and Cleansing with Barley

Barley, whose Latin name is hordeum vulgare, has been cultivated for more than 10,000 years.

Since ancient times, barley has been used for healing purposes and has been known to the Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Athletes in Greece and Rome in those days were known to eat barley bread to give them strength.

High in fibre, barley is also a kidney cleanser. Better yet, regular intake of it helps prevent heart disease.

Barley is good for your intestinal health. Try to eat the barley grains you find in your drink or sweet broth with fu chook (bean curd skin) and ginkgo nuts.

It's high in fibre which feeds the friendly bacteria in the colon and helps speed up the transit of fecal matter in it. In this way it helps prevent hemorrhoids and colon cancer.

The propionic acid and beta glucan from barley's insoluble fibre also help lower cholesterol and prevent the formation of gallstones.



Eating barley regularly is a preventive step against heart diseases as, besides the fibre content, it is also high in niacin, a B vitamin good for lowering cholesterol.



Diabetics should eat more barley as the fibre will prevent blood sugar levels from rising too high. It also provides relief from constipation or diarrhea for those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.



Barley is rich in selenium which prevents cancer and relieves symptoms of asthma and arthritis. It is a good source of manganese, copper and phosphorous.

Let’s enjoy your life with barley!!