Fruit enzymes for better health

I finally found the article I am longing for..... FRUIT ENZYMES @ thestar

How to make

• 1 (one) ratio of honey and
  
• 3 (three) ratios of fresh fruits
  
• 10 (ten) ratios of water depending on the size of the container.

Mix honey with water first before adding in the sliced fruits. It should then be kept for a minimum of six months for the fermentation process to complete.

Why using honey instead of sugar?
Sugar will would produce high alcohol content and is not healthy for the liver.

My First Creations

Ear wires, jump ring, connectors are all self-made from silver-plated wire.

Tall : 2cm excluding ear wires

Width : 1.3 cm

Tall : 2.4cm excluding ear wires
Width : 1.2 cm

Tall : 3.4cm excluding ear wires

Width : 9 mm

Brain Works

I took this quiz some years ago and this morning I saw the paper again about my brain. LOL. Nevertheless, I totally forgot about this test. When I saw it again and read it again – it surprised me again.

Try it out @ Brain Works

Art Class.... Am I crazy or what?

I have enrolled for an art class. First class starting tomorrow and it is 1 month course. Since I was a child, art for me is a total big NO-NO. o_O. I am not born with it I guess. No talent at all and what am I doing by enroll to this art class. I am not so sure myself but one thing for sure, if I never try it out I will never know. Hehehehe… crazy me huh!!! LOL

Wish me luck.

Itchy skin during pregnancy? Normal or something else?

Honestly I really do not know got such a thing until my sister told me about her itchiness become unbearable and the gynae said it is normal. I did a research and what I found really shock me. I rather be safe than feel sorry.

It is just normal itch or it may possibly be Obstetric Cholestasis, whereby liver releasing bile salts into blood stream. This was what was causing the itching, but worse than that was that the salts would cross the placenta and could be poisoning the baby. Apparently, most women develop OC by 26 weeks and are then monitored and given drugs until they can be induced at 36 weeks - the earliest normally considered as safe.

What are the symptoms of obstetric cholestasis?
Typically, symptoms occur in the last third of pregnancy when the hormone levels are at their highest. However, it sometimes develops earlier in pregnancy.

Itch
This is the most common and typical symptom. The itch can be 'all over', but it is often worst on the hands and feet. Commonly, itch is the only symptom. It tends to get worse until you have the baby. The itch can become severe and affect sleep, concentration, mood, and can become distressing.

Note: mild itching from time to time is normal in pregnancy. However, if you develop a constant itch that gets worse, tell your doctor. A blood test can confirm if you have obstetric cholestasis.

Other less common symptoms include:

• Tiredness.
• Poor appetite and feeling sick.
• Mild jaundice. You may go 'yellow' and have dark urine and pale faeces (stools). This is uncommon and due to an increased level of bilirubin (a constituent of bile) leaking from the bile ducts into the bloodstream.

Read more

• Real life case 1 @ Minti
• Real life case 2 @ Minti
• What is Obstetric Cholestasis?

Cough & UMF Manuka Honey.... Does it work??

My little precious having his cough again and this time really bad. It been 3 weeks and he still coughing. I want to opt for natural home remedy and I found this one on eHow.

Step 1 : Grandmom was right, honey is helpful in treating a cough. Recent studies reveal that honey, in addition to having antibacterial and antioxidant properties, is also a mucus thinning agent. If your child is age 1 or older, consider using honey as an alternative to cough syrup to treat your child's cough.

Step 2 : Manuka honey, a honey from New Zealand is gaining recognition for its healing properties. A bottle of Manuka honey that has the UMF logo is considered to be of superior quality. UMF stands for 'unique manuka factor', and the UMF logo is only given to Manuka honey products that contain potent antibacterial properties. Consider buying a bottle of UMF Manuka honey, and use a teaspoon of it to treat your child's cough.

Step 3 : If your kids don't like the taste of Manuka honey, a warm mixture of lemon juice, water, and Manuka honey works just as well. Another alternative is use an Ayurvedic remedy of holy basil tea sweetened with honey. This remedy works like a charm to soothe your child's cough.

Want to know more, visit Amazing Benefits of Honey!

Can taking cough syrup help me conceive?

I received this newsletter today and it really does catch my attention to read further.

The snippets of the article from Baby Center

"How does it work? Guaifenesin, a common ingredient in cough syrups, is an "expectorant." That is, it relieves congestion by helping liquefy mucus in your lungs, allowing you to cough it up. And because it works systemically on all mucous membranes in your body, it can make your cervical fluid wetter, too.

Guaifenesin may even work for women who've had abnormal cervical cells frozen off or who've had a cone biopsy — the removal of a cone-shaped wedge of the cervix to treat lesions that may be precancerous. This procedure destroys some of the cervical crypts that produce fluid. If this is what's behind your low production of cervical fluid, taking guaifenesin might help you produce enough wet, slippery fluid through the remaining cervical crypts to help you get pregnant."

Love ME too much!!!?

My hubby told me something very interesting which we been trying to figure out why, then today my hubby filled up the puzzle.

My son always pushes his daddy away when daddy sitting nears us. I always told my son “No manner. Cannot do like that to daddy”. He will ignore me.

Then today, my hubby told me he knew why our son does like that to him. The logic goes like this. “Every time daddy joins us, mommy will go away. So, if I manage to push daddy away and mommy will stay with me.”

It makes me wonder. Why a child has such a complicate mind, he is only 2? or it is ME??? Then I asked myself, will the situation get better if I told him what I am going to do and that is why daddy is with you. Well, one thing for sure… I am going to find out.

What do you think?

Baby Talk Milestones

This article caught my attention when I was browsing through; from WebMD

• Baby talk at 3 months. At three months, your baby listens to your voice, watches your face as you talk, and turns toward other voices, sounds, and music that can be heard around the home. Many infants prefer a woman's voice over a man's. Many also prefer voices and music they heard while they were still in the womb. By the end of three months, babies begin "cooing" -- a happy, gentle, repetitive, sing-song vocalization.

• Baby talk at 6 months. At six months, your baby begins babbling with different sounds. For example, your baby may say "ba-ba" or "da-da." By the end of the sixth or seventh month, babies respond to their own names, recognize their native language, and use their tone of voice to tell you they're happy or upset. Some eager parents interpret a string of "da-da" babbles as their baby's first words -- "daddy!" But babbling at this age is usually still made up of random syllables without real meaning or comprehension.

• Baby talk at 9 months. After nine months, babies can understand a few basic words like "no" and "bye-bye." They also may begin to use a wider range of consonant sounds and tones of voice.

• Baby talk at 12 months. Most babies say a few simple words like "mama" and "dadda" by the end of 12 months -- and now know what they're saying. They respond to -- or at least understand, if not obey -- your short, one-step requests such as, "Please put that down."

• Baby talk at 18 months. Babies at this age say up to 10 simple words and can point to people, objects, and body parts you name for them. They repeat words or sounds they hear you say, like the last word in a sentence. But they often leave off endings or beginnings of words. For example, they may say "daw" for "dog" or "noo-noo's" for "noodles."

• Baby talk at 2 years. By the age of two, babies string together a few words in short phrases of two to four words, such as "Mommy bye-bye" or "me milk." They're learning that words mean more than objects like "cup" -- they also mean abstract ideas like "mine."

• Baby talk at 3 years. By the time your baby is 3, his or her vocabulary expands rapidly, and "make-believe" play spurs an understanding of symbolic and abstract language like "now," feelings like "sad," and spatial concepts like "in."

Mastitis While Breast-Feeding

Article taken from WebMD

What is mastitis?
Mastitis is a breast inflammation usually caused by infection. It can happen to any woman, although mastitis is most common during the first 6 months of breast-feeding. It can leave a new mother feeling very tired and run-down. Add the illness to the demands of taking care of a newborn, and many women quit breast-feeding altogether. But you can continue to nurse your baby. In fact, breast-feeding usually helps to clear up infection, and nursing will not harm your baby.

Although mastitis can be discouraging and painful, it is usually easily cleared up with medicine.

What causes mastitis?
Mastitis most often happens when bacteria enter the breast through the nipple. This can happen when a nursing mother has a cracked or sore nipple.

Going for long stretches between nursing or failing to empty the breast completely may also contribute to mastitis. Using different breast-feeding techniques and making sure your baby is latched on properly when nursing will help with emptying the breast and avoiding cracked nipples.

What are the symptoms?
Mastitis usually starts as a painful area in one breast. It may be red or warm to the touch, or both. You may also have fever, chills, and body aches.

Signs that mastitis is getting worse include swollen, painful lymph nodes in the armpit next to the infected breast, a fast heart rate, and flu-like symptoms that get worse. Mastitis can lead to a breast abscess, which feels like a hard, painful lump.

What increases your risk of getting mastitis?

You are more likely to get mastitis while breast-feeding if:

• You have had mastitis before.
• You delay or skip breast-feeding or pumping sessions. When you don't empty the breast regularly or completely, your breasts become engorged or too full, which can lead to mastitis.
• You have cracked or irritated nipples, which can be caused by poor positioning or poor latching on.
• You have anemia. Anemia makes you tire more easily and lowers your resistance to infections like mastitis.
• Your nursing bra is too tight.
• You wear breast binders, which are used to suppress milk production.

Breast-feeding mothers can get mastitis at any time, but especially during the baby’s first 2 months. After 2 months, the baby’s feeding patterns become more regular, which helps prevent mastitis.

How is mastitis diagnosed?
Your doctor can tell whether you have mastitis by talking with you about your symptoms and examining you. Testing is usually not needed.

How is it treated?
Antibiotics can usually cure mastitis. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of pills. The antibiotics will not harm the baby. If treatment doesn't work at first, your doctor may send a sample of your breast milk to a lab to help identify the type of bacteria causing the infection.

You can help yourself feel better by getting more rest, drinking more fluids, and using warm or cold packs on your painful breast.

Before breast-feeding your baby, place a warm, wet washcloth over the affected breast for about 15 minutes. Try this at least 3 times a day. This increases milk flow in the breast. Massaging the affected breast may also increase milk flow.

You can safely take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) for pain. You can take ibuprofen (such as Advil) along with acetaminophen to reduce inflammation.

Breast-feeding from your affected breast is safe for your baby and helps to treat your mastitis.3 If starting with the affected breast is too painful, start feeding on the other side, then switch sides after your milk lets down and starts flowing easily. If your nipples are too cracked and painful to breast-feed from that breast, use a breast pump to empty the breast of milk. Use it each time that you cannot breast-feed.

This is a good time to consider getting help from a lactation consultant. This person-usually a nurse-specializes in helping women with breast-feeding. You can breast-feed more effectively with less pain and help prevent future mastitis if you remember to change positions and make sure that your baby is latching on properly.

It’s important to get treatment for mastitis. Delaying treatment can lead to a breast abscess, which can be harder to treat.

Children Songs

I was super excited yesterday, while driving home; my son surprised me with ABC Phonics when he sang along with CD player. Well, he did not get all the 26 alphabets but at least 16 of them. I am so happy! LOL. Silly me, huh!

He will be in the car for about an hour to an hour half everyday when I send him to and pick him up from the nursery since he was 3 months. I did brought a number of CDs in the market but I want something more educating.

When I nearly gave up, I found him… Matt R. He offers free mp3 for parents to download. You can download it from Free ABC Songs and Dream English. I loved them very much and I believe my son loves them as well.

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks on the skin are more common in women than men, and vary in size and shape.

Symptoms

• Wavy marks on the abdomen, breasts, buttocks and thighs
• Purplish-red in colour to start, gradually fading to white and becoming less noticeable over a period of 6-12 months

Causes
Stretch marks are caused by rapid weight gain, with pregnancy and puberty being the most common times for them to occur.

When the body goes through a spurt of growing faster on the inside than the skin on the outside can keep up with, the fibrous and elastic layers deep in the skin stretch and tear. The stretch marks which form in the area are actually scar tissue which forms to heal the tears.

Stretch marks may also appear as a result of certain diseases of hormonal imbalance, such as Cushing's syndrome, and as a side-effect of certain steroid medications, such as prednisone.

Deficiency of zinc has also been associated with the development of stretch marks.

Natural therapies

• If you develop stretch marks easily, you may be deficient in the mineral zinc which is essential for skin repair; HINT: for best results choose a supplement with added magnesium and vitamin B6 for optimum absorption
• Vitamin C is important as it helps maintain the skin's elasticity via its role in collagen production.

Lifestyle factors
Once a stretch mark has developed, it is permanent - no amount of massage will make it disappear.

Remedy
Avoid putting on weight quickly by maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle. Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds and avoid fatty foods. Drinking around two litres of water per day is also an important part of keeping within your healthy weight range. If you are pregnant consider taking a special multi-vitamin and mineral formula containing zinc to ensure you are getting adequate nutrition for you and your baby.

Regular exercise is also essential. Don't forget to consult your healthcare professional before commencing a new exercise program - particularly if you are pregnant.

Be sure to wear a well-fitted and comfortable bra to support your breasts during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Mommies Worries

I received Blackmores Newsletter and found it very interesting.

FACT ATTACK:
January 2009 Newspoll research found that:

• 33 per cent of mothers of 1-12 year olds find it difficult to get their child to eat some types of healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables.

• 6 in 10 mothers worry about their child catching colds, flu or tummy bugs from other kids.

• 1 in 3 mothers worries about their child’s health suffering as a result of their diet.

• 1 in 2 mothers is concerned about their children’s ability to concentrate.

• Over half of mothers admitted to being unsure about the level of magnesium, iodine or zinc in their children’s diet

In response to these concerns, Blackmores has developed a brand new kids’ range. Check it out at a supermarket, pharmacy or health food store near you. Blackmores donates a percentage from each sale of Blackmores Mineral Minds™ to the MINDD Foundation.

For more info on kids’ nutrition and the MINDD Foundation, visit http://www.mindd.org/

The O+12 Method to Conceive a Girl

O+12 (pronounced "oh plus twelve") is a method for conceiving a girl. The method advises intercourse about 12 hours after ovulation to conceive a girl. Thus the name O (for ovulation) plus 12 hours. O+12 is contrary to the Shettles method, which predicts a boy will be conceived on the day ovulation. (Note to boy-seekers: O+12 is a method for attempting to conceive a girl only.)

O+12 BackgroundThe O+12 method wasn't developed by a doctor, or published in a book. It was proposed by an Australian mother, a Shettles devotee who had six sons before stumbling on the idea that a girl might be conceived by timing intercourse just after ovulation, contrary to Shettles' advice. After giving birth at last to a daughter, she shared her method with other mothers, many of whom were successful in conceiving a daughter as well. Then the method reached the Internet, and here we are. Click here to read Kynzi's story.

Here is the snippet of the story:

Son #1: No method, just whoopee!

Son #2: On the advice of a neighbor with daughters, Kynzi had frequent intercourse until 3 days before ovulation.

Son #3: Kynzi learned about Shettles, and feeling that timing was the most important factor, timed intercourse 3 days before ovulation.

Son #4: This time, she actually took the Shettles book to her doctor, who thought it was all really nonsense, but agreed to help her since it was all she had. For over a year, she charted her BBT (basal body temperature, to determine ovulation). She followed the girl diet, took calcium supplements, and used a vinegar douche with intercourse FOUR days before ovulation. Although she was told "girl" at the ultrasound, the result was son #4!

Son #5: Determined to master the Shettles method, Kynzi continued the girl diet, and conceived nearly FIVE days before ovulation. Wow, does her husband have Olympian-class sperm, or what?! Although she was yet again told at her ultrasound that she was carrying a long-awaited daughter, baby boy #5 was born.

Son #6: After a friend's daughter was conceived with a 2-day cutoff, Kynzi thought that maybe they were trying too early, and timed intercourse 2 days before ovulation. We can only hope that this time the ultrasound tech didn't hazard a guess -- because Kynzi and her husband took home their SIXTH son!

The Shettles Method : To Have a Girl

• You should have sex 2-3 days before ovulation to allow the Y-bearing sperm to die off before the egg becomes available during ovulation.

• Women should avoid orgasms because it makes the vagina less favorable for the X-bearing sperm that prefer the acidic environment.

• Sexual position : missionary position. Avoid sexual positions that involve deep penetration.

More details, visit InGender

The Shettles Method : To Have a Boy

• Use sexual positions with deep penetration (doggy-style), this gives preference to the supposedly faster, but less hearty Y-bearing sperm.

• Have sex as close to ovulation as possible, to take advantage of the speed of the Y-bearing sperm.

• Women should have orgasms when trying to conceive a boy, and preferably at the same time as their partner.

More details, visit InGender

Earth Hour

Do you heard of this earth hour before? If I am not mistaken this meaningful event organized by WWF, by turning off your lights for an hour on 28th March 2009 @ 8.30pm to fight global warming. Come and join this meaningful event by register yourself @ Earth Hour.

6 Sex Mistakes Men Make

I came across this interesting article while gathering information to post here. This article taken from WebMed.

Sex Mistake No.1: You Know What She Wants
Men often make assumptions about what a woman wants based upon what they've done with other women. But women aren't all the same.

"You develop a repertoire as you mature sexually, but you should never assume that what worked for the last person is going to work for this person," Taormino says.

That applies not only to sexual predilections, but also to relationships, she says. "There are women who can have no-strings-attached sex, and women who can get attached very easily, and then everyone in between."

Sex Mistake No. 2: You Have All She Needs
Some women can't have an orgasm with less than 3,000 rpm. No human tongue or fingers can generate that kind of vibration. But men typically think something is wrong if a woman needs a vibrator.

"If the only way that a woman can achieve orgasm is with a vibrator, she's not broken," Taormino says.

Think of a vibrator as your assistant, not your substitute. Many couples use vibrators together. "While you're doing one thing, or two things, the vibrator can be doing something else," Taormino says.

Sex Mistake No. 3: Sex Feels the Same for Men and Women
Paget says there tends to be a "huge disconnect" between men and women in the ways that sex feels good.

"When a man has intercourse with a woman, and his penis goes into her body, that sensation is so off the charts for most men, they cannot imagine that it isn't feeling the same way for her," Paget says. "It couldn't be further from the truth."

The inside of the vagina is probably less sensitive than the outer parts for most women. Also, deep thrusting may not feel so nice on the receiving end. If the penis is too long, "it feels like you're getting punched in the stomach," Paget says. "It makes you feel nauseous."

Sex Mistake No. 4: You Know Your Way Around a Woman's Anatomy
Most guys know generally what a clitoris is and where to find it. That's not to say that they really understand it.

More than 30 years ago, at the start of the "sexual revolution," a best-selling book called the Joy of Sex got Americans hip to the orgasmic importance of the clitoris. But the belief that women must be able to orgasm from vaginal penetration stubbornly persists.

"I still get letters from people who say things like, my wife can't [orgasm] from intercourse unless she has clitoral stimulation -- please help," Taormino says. "I want to write back and say, 'OK, what's the problem?'"

"For the majority of women, it's not going to happen that way," Paget says.

Men also lack information about how to touch it and how sensitive it is, Taormino says.

A touch that's bliss for one woman may feel like nothing special, or may even be painful for someone else. Some prefer indirect stimulation.

How can you find out how she likes to be touched? Try asking her.

Sex Mistake No. 5: Wet = Turned On
Guys sometimes get hung up if a woman doesn't get slippery enough for easy penetration. Don't worry about it.

"I think there's a myth that if you're turned on, you're wet," Taormino says. Not necessarily.

Some women tend to get wetter than others, and how much natural lubrication a woman has can change from day to day. It varies by the phase of her menstrual cycle, and it's subject to influences like stress and medications.

Sex Mistake No. 6: Silence Is Golden
A lot of guys think they should be silent during sex, but unless you speak up, your partner has to guess what's doing it for you and what isn't.

If you're respectful about it, a woman who wants to please you will probably appreciate some directions.

"I'm not saying push her head in your lap," Taormino says. "I think that, 'this is how I like it,' is a very useful conversation to have."

Finally.....

I finally get hold of an empty bottle. My very first garbage enzyme after the explosion.

Facts About Infertility

• It's a myth that infertility is always a "woman's problem." Half of all cases of infertility result from problems with the man's reproductive system.

• The best protection against infertility is using a condom while you are not attempting to conceive a child. Condoms protect against sexually transmitted diseases, a major cause of infertility.

• Of couples that seek medical treatment for infertility, 20 percent conceive before the treatment actually begins. One reason may be that anxiety about infertility may have contributed to the fertility problem, and contacting a doctor provides emotional relief.

• Fifty percent of infertile couples conceive within two years of starting treatment.

• A woman's temperature rises about 1 degree Fahrenheit during the days she is ovulating (producing eggs). By taking her temperature every morning with a special thermometer, a woman and her partner can chart the rises and falls in her morning temperature. They can then plan intercourse for the days she is ovulating--her most fertile time.

This article taken from eHealthMed.

What Is Infertility?

If a couple is infertile, this means that they have been unable to conceive a child after 12 months of regular sexual intercourse without birth control.

• Primary infertility means they have never had a child.

• Secondary infertility means that the infertile person has had one or more children in the past, but a medical problem is impairing fertility.

Many people may be infertile during their reproductive years. They may be unaware of this because they are not seeking to create a pregnancy. On any one occasion, the chance of pregnancy is just one percent.

This article taken from eHealthMed.

The secret life of sperm

Article from Blackmores

Sperm friendly foods:

• oats, rye, wheat, buckwheat,
• egg yolks
• fish, oysters, sardines, shrimp, anchovies, haddock, tuna
• bananas, bilberry
• ginger, parsley
• butter beans, green peas, black beans
• liver, chicken
• brazil nuts, coconuts, almonds, cashew nuts, chestnuts, hazel nuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachio nuts, walnuts, almonds
• pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
• fennel, garlic, turnip, potato, carrot

Foods to avoid

• white flour or sugar
• green potatoes
• fried foods
• excess salt, use iodised salt in small amounts
• more than one cup of coffee a day
• known allergen foods
• foods which contain artificial additives
• foods which has been reheated or left standing

Tips to improve sperm count
Sometimes just few simple lifestyle changes can tip the balance between sub fertility and fertility.

• Avoid hot baths and saunas
• Wear loose, cotton boxer shorts
• Regularly splash the testicles with cold water
• Reduce alcohol intake – preferably to zilch. 40 per cent of male sub-fertility is linked
• ith drinking four units of alcohol per day.
• Reduce caffeine intake to no more than two drinks of coffee/tea/cola a day
• Stop smoking to reduce the amount of free radicals generated
• Lose any excess weight which tends to cause testosterone/oestrogen imbalances
• Reduce stress levels by learning relaxation techniques

Nutrients known to improve male fertility

• Vit C with bioflavins
• Vit E (mixed tocopherolds
• Betacarotene (mixed carotenoids)
• Selenium
• Coenzyme Q10 (liquid capsule)
• Zinc
• B12
• Arginine, histidine, carnitine

How to Thaw & Warm Breastmilk

Thawing Frozen Breast Milk

• Thaw frozen milk in a cup of warm water. This takes 5 to 10 minutes.
• You can also thaw frozen milk 8 to 12 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
• Thawed milk can remain refrigerated but should be used within 24 hours.
• Do not thaw breast milk by sitting it on the counter at room temperature.
• Do not warm breast milk in a microwave oven. It can change the breast milk and reduce the quality of the milk. Microwave ovens heat the milk unevenly to cause a chance of burning your baby’s mouth.
• Do not refreeze thawed milk.

Warming Breast Milk

• Remove the milk from the refrigerator just before using.
• Warm the milk by holding the container under warm running tap water or sit it in a bowl of warm water for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Rotate the bottle gently and test the warmth of the milk by placing a drop on the inside of your wrist before feeding your baby.
• Milk left over in the container after a feeding may be offered at the next feeding before discarding. Do not reheat milk that has been heated. Breast milk can safely stand at room temperature for 4 to 8 hours.
• Do not warm breast milk by sitting it on the counter at room temperature.
• Do not warm breast milk in a microwave oven. It can change the breast milk and reduce the quality of the milk. Microwave ovens heat the milk unevenly to cause a chance of burning your baby’s mouth.

Article taken from Health Info Translation

Baby Signs @ Malaysia

I am very excited to received an email from Jamie, mine Baby Sign Instructor. They are blogging. Visit them @ The Baby Signs(R) Program in Malaysia

Baby signs reduce the tension I had with my son and it increases the bonding between us. I hope it does the same to you all as well.

Happy signing everyone!!!

NEVER EVER Microwave Breastmilk

Do not warm breast milk in a microwave oven. It can change the breast milk and reduce the quality of the milk. Microwave ovens heat the milk unevenly to cause a chance of burning your baby’s mouth.

Further elaboration will be as below and this article taken from Associated Content.

The number one reason not to microwave breastmilk is that, according to kidsgrowth.com, "Microwaving breastmilk can change the milk's composition."

Studies have shown that "there is a substantial loss of the anti-infective properties of breast milk when it is microwaved to a temperature between 72 [degree] -98 [degree] C, a temperature easily reached in most microwave ovens. Even at lower temperatures (20 [degree] -53 [degree] C) the anti-infective action is a significantly lessened."It has been found that, "Microwaving breastmilk, or heating it on the stove, can cause a loss of Vitamin C content, along with loss of some of the milk's special anti-infective properties. The higher the temperature, the more pronounced the effect."

It is important to note that the above statement included heating milk on the stove as another no-no. We often think that microwaving is the only thing you can't do with breastmilk. However, heating breastmilk on the stove has the potential to spike the tempature to a point where vitamin and mineral loss is likely to happen.

Danger of plastic bottle

Restucture my files today and I found out this article.

From wikipedia "Bisphenol A, commonly abbreviated as BPA, is an organic compound with two phenol functional groups. It is a difunctional building block of several important plastics and plastic additives. With an annual production of 2–3 million metric tonnes, it is an important monomer in the production of polycarbonate.

Suspected of being hazardous to humans since the 1930s, concerns about the use of bisphenol A in consumer products grabbed headlines in 2008 when several governments issued reports questioning its safety, and some retailers pulled products made from it off their shelves."

Taken from Wikipedia as well:

Selected studies on low dose bisphenol A exposure in animals

0.025 µg/kg/day : Effect : "Permanent changes to genital tract"

0.025 µg/kg/day : Effect : "Changes in breast tissue that predispose cells to hormones and carcinogens"

2 µg/kg/day : Effect : "increased prostate weight 30%"

2 µg/kg/day : Effect : "lower bodyweight, increase of anogenital distance in both genders, signs of early puberty and longer estrus."

Read more at wikipedia

Weaning the child from a pacifier

While visiting MAM website, I came across this beautiful story that I would love to share. This story taken from www.mymam.com.my

Parents Information
As parents, you will certainly know that children about three years old can’t really understand theoretical sentences such as "Pacifiers may harm your teeth, later you will have to go to the dentist"........Ridiculing a child can harm the child’s psychological development and even negatively affect the future grown-up (disturbed or reduced self-esteem).Therefore, remarks such as “You are too big for a pacifier, everyone will laugh at you"… are not suitable. Thus the author – Marina Priglinger – appeals to emotions in her story, particularly to mercy.As every child knows the feeling of being alone, of mom or dad not being there right when they are needed, the “test children" at nursery school easily understood little Mampi.Normally the imagination of parents is very good, when teaching their children something or to stop them from doing something. But at some stage every mom or dad loses their imagination. That’s when we would like you to use this story. Of course, you may change it or adapt it to your child. It does not have an immediate effect, but – prepared with patience and love – it may bring about the desired success.

Preparing the story for your child
The story has to be prepared. Some time before actually telling the story, show your child how the moon changes. Observe together with your child how it grows until it is a full moon. Then tell your child that this is the way it has to look before Mampi can be put on the window sill. Of course, you may ask the moon or the pacifier fairy for a bit more patience if you see that your child needs more time.It is likely that your child will also make suggestions. Take them seriously, but remain decided and remind the child how Mampi suffered from the separation from his mother.The MAM team and Marina Priglinger wish you good luck and success not only with your MAM-pacifier, but also with “MAMPI".

My name is Mampi. I am a pacifier. I am your Pacifier, and I am very happy to be yours.You have a Mommy. I have a Mommy too. My Mommy is the Pacifier Fairy, and I love her very much.I have many brothers and sisters.

Most of the time we live in Pacifier Land. It is wonderful there! But when a baby is born we are allowed to go to Earth. When the child reaches three years old we would like to return to our Mommy and to all our brothers and sisters. So we do not lose our way home, our Mommy calls us on a full moon-lit night. It is so sad if we cannot follow. Our Mommy cries.If my Mommy calls me back, YOU must help me. You must put me on the window ledge before the full moon rises. I am much too small to climb up there alone. If you sleep deeply, the Moon will carry me to Pacifier Land on his silver beam. Will you help me? Please! Don’t be like little Sarah!She did not want to send her Pacifier back, although she had made a promise. She did not put her Pacifier on the window ledge. Can you believe that?Sarah’s Pacifier was my little brother. His name was Mampi. We are all called Mampi. At first everything was wonderful. Sarah and Mampi loved each other just as sweetly as we love each other. If Sarah became tired she put Mampi in her mouth and sucked until she fell happily to sleep. Just like you and me.However one night - it was a full moon - they both woke up. A voice had woken them up, calling softly:

"Mampi! Can you hear me my little Mampi? Come home, your time on Earth is finished. We are waiting for you!” “That is my Mommy," Mampi cried as he leapt up. His round Pacifier eyes glistened with delight."Mommy! Mommy I’m coming!” he called as he jumped up on the bed cover.

Suddenly, Sarah grabbed at Mampi and pressed him firmly in her hand. „No, Mampi belongs to me! I will not give him up!" she shrieked. Mampi was frightened - this was not the way it should be. "Sarah, you promised to put me on the window ledge, if my Mommy calls to me. I love her very dearly and I want to be with her again!""No," said Sarah once more, and pressed Mampi even more firmly into her hand. She fell asleep again. "Mommy, oh Mommy!" Mampi whispered, and began to weep bitterly.

Time passed. Suddenly Mampi had an idea. He wiped away his pacifier tears and thought: "I will climb onto the window ledge alone." Softly he jumped from the bed and stood in front of the window. Oh, it was so high - much too high for a little pacifier!

Then he saw the curtain. Would he be able to use it for the high climb? Mampi gathered up all of his courage and grasped the curtain: One - two - three - he swung himself.Like a small monkey he hung onto the folds of the curtain. He swung himself higher, ever more higher - but the distance was very great and Mampi soon became tired."Just a bit further, and you’ll be on the window ledge," whispered the curtain."I can’t …" groaned Mampi, "I really can’t."And in his despair he began to weep again. He sobbed so loudly that the noise woke up Sarah. Her eyes opened in fright as she saw Mampi hanging from the curtain."Hold on tight! I’ll get you down!" She called as she jumped from the bed. But Mampi was too high, and Sarah too small. Then she saw the chair. In a flash she climbed onto it. "Hold tight! I’m coming!" She reached up and held Mampi in her outstretched hand. At just this moment the chair tipped over. With a loud crash they both fell to the floor."Mommy, Mommy!" screamed Sarah."Mommy, Mommy!" chirped Mampi.Sarah’s Mother rushed into the bedroom."Child! What happened?" she asked, frightened. Sarah told her all about Mampi and Pacifier Land and the Pacifier Fairy who was Mampi’s Mommy and how Mampi wanted to be with his Mommy again.

"One must honor what one has promised, Sarah", said her Mother as she took Mampi in her warm hand."I would also like to be with my Mommy," sobbed the Pacifier. „Of course little Mampi," said Sarah’s Mother as she turned to Sarah.

What is the best for us to do? Did I not come immediately when you called? I believe that Mampi also needs his Mommy now."Sarah did not answer right away. Secretly, she winked at her small friend who lay still in her Mother’s hand. He pressed his face into his little hands and wept even more bitterly. Sarah suddenly realized that Mampi’s Mommy was so far away that he could not see or hear her. The thought was not pleasant, and then she understood."I believe that Mampi needs his Mommy too," she finally answered. She took Mampi from her Mother’s hand and gently placed him on the window ledge. She stroked him gently."Have a good journey. I will miss you. But now I can understand. The most important thing is to be with your Mommy. Can you come and visit me some time? That would be wonderful!""Yes, yes! I will come and see you - in your dreams," promised the little Pacifier. Sarah scurried back to her bed."I love you dearly, Mommy," she whispered, putting her arms round her Mother’s neck. "Mampi loves his Mommy just as much," said her mother."I know," murmured the child, and fell asleep.The next morning the window ledge was empty. The full moon had carried the little Pacifier back to his Mommy.Mampi kept his promise. He came to see Sarah in many of her dreams. Again and again they enjoyed many jokes and laughed and reminded each other of the time when he was still on Earth. Mampi’s Pacifier Mommy appeared at the end of each dream. She took him into her arms lovingly. And if he smiled happily, then Sarah was happy because she knew that a Mommy was the most important thing - even for a little pacifier like Mampi.

Thoughts of the day

Today I drove pass by old klang road, then I saw small trees with leaves and lots of them (well previously it only left with branches).

"Strong will of living" - that was what I thought. Imagine that, they work when the sun rise till sunset. They never complaint. They breed when times come. I guess, the only time they give up on living when God decide the sun and the rain to go on super duper long holiday. They also will face problem like no / not enough water during summer and too much of water during raining season. And yet they still survive. Hey!!! Guess what – we are still alive because of them. They play a huge role in the environment because they produce oxygen.

Do you have such a strong will living it right everyday? Some people struggle through their whole life and yet still live it right. Yet some don’t. Some thought that the whole world owe to them.

Some pessimistic and some optimistic. Which kind are you?

We as human have so many problems, complaints, grumbles and etc. Well, I guess, life is not a bed of roses. It will have up and down throughout our lifetime; the thing is how do we react to the situation. Do we think positive or negative?

My mom is very optimistic and talking to her is very comforting. She always gives different type of views to anything. She never judge. I am so lucky to have her.

Life is short. Live to the fullness and treasure it.

"CATERPILLAR" Soup

(Our kids LOVE this soup! It was our daughter who came up with this name. This is because after the corn has been cooked in the soup, we take it out & cut out the kernels in a strip with a knife before putting it back into the soup bowls to serve with the rest of the soup. As a result, some of the kernels stick together in a chain and looks like a "caterpillar"! According to the friend who passed this recipes to us, this is a "cooling" soup. Great for hot days & when the family seems "heaty", especially with coughs.)

1 red carrot, cut into cubes

1 green carrot, cut into cubes (yes, believe me - you CAN find green carrots in the wet markets)

1 white carrot (or otherwise called "radish"), cut into cubes

1 whole ear of corn, together with the husks & cornsilk ("Hair").

200g Meat Bones, scalded in boiling water for 3mins.

Put all ingredients into crockpot, fill ¾ full with HOT water. Boil for 3 hours before serving. As mentioned above, we take out the corn & cut out the kernels before serving.

This recipe taken from Moms In Mind. Thanks for sharing.

Self-Mixed Rice

The picture above shows my very own self-mixed rice specially for my son. It contains organic brown rice, red rice, organic pearl barley, tri-colour organic quinoa, organic millet.

Millet is highly nutritious, non-glutinous and like buckwheat and quinoa, is not an acid forming food so is soothing and easy to digest. In fact, it is considered to be one of the least allergenic and most digestible grains available and it is a warming grain so will help to heat the body in cold or rainy seasons and climates.

Millet is tasty, with a mildly sweet, nut-like flavor and contains a myriad of beneficial nutrients. It is nearly 15% protein, contains high amounts of fiber, B-complex vitamins including niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin, the essential amino acid methionine, lecithin, and some vitamin E. It is particularly high in the minerals iron, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium.

Tri-colour Quinoa is specially mixed to combine white, red and black quinoa for the optimum nutrients. These tiny but highly nutritious grains are the excellent source of protein as they contain all the eight essential amino acids in a balanced pattern that no other grains have. Besides, they are also rich in iron, calcium and phosphorous. being a gluten free and easily digestible grain.

When come to baby food, I prefer something more just than a bowl of plain white rice porridge. For eg: I will steam carrot + spinach, blend it and mixed into porridge contains 7 grains.