What Pakcik Received ( Pt 3) – Lady’s fingers

I mentioned before that this series (What Pakcik Received) will carry what I find it interesting/amusing among my incoming emails from friends. Here is one that came in very recently.

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You can try for yourself to see whether it works..

Benefit of eating Okra, Bhindi, Lady’s fingers.

*A guy has been suffering from constipation for the past 20 years and recently from acid reflux. He did not realise that the treatment could be so simple -= OKRA! ( or Lady’s Fingers). He started eating okra within the last 2 months and since then has not taken any more medicine. All he did was to consume 6 pieces of OKRA every day.

He is normal now and his blood sugar has dropped from 135 to 98, with his cholesterol and acid reflux also under control. Here are some facts on okra ( from the research of Ms. Sylvia Zook, PhD nutrition). University of Illinois.*

*”Okra is a powerhouse of valuable nutrients, nearly half of which is soluble fiber in the form of gums and pectin. Soluble fiber helps to lower serum cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart diseases.

The other half is insoluble fiber which helps to keep the intestinal tract healthy, decreasing the risk of some forms of cancer, especially colo-rectal cancer.*

*Nearly 10% of the recommended level of vitamin B6 and Folic acid is also present in a half cup of cooked okra. Okra is a rich source of many nutrients, including fiber, vitamin B6 and folic acid.

He got the following numbers from the University of Illinois Extra. Please check there for more details.

*Okra Nutrition (half –cup cooked okra)
• Calories = 25
• Dietary Fiber = 2 grams
• Protein = 1.5 grams
• Carbohydrates = 5.8 grams
• Vitamin A = 460 IU
• Vitamin C = 13 mg
• Folic acid = 36.5 micrograms
• Calcium = 50 mg
• Iron = 0.4 mg
• Potassium = 256 mg
• Magnesium = 46 mg*

*These numbers should be used as a guideline only, and if you are on a medically-restricted diet please consult your physician and/or dietician.

Ms Sylvia W Zook, PhD (nutritionist) had very kindly provided the following thought-provoking comments on the many benefits of this versatile vegetable.

They are well worth reading.

1. The superior fiber found in okra helps to stabilise blood sugar as it curbs the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract.

2. Okra’s mucilage not only binds cholesterol but bile acid carrying toxins dumped into it by the filtering liver. But it doesn’t stop there .. *

3. Many alternative health practitioners believe all diseases begin in the colon. The okra fiber, absorbing water and ensuring bulk in stools, helps prevent constipation. Fiber in general is helpful for this but okra is one of the best, along with ground flax seed and psyllium. Unlike harsh wheat bran, which can irritate or injure the intestinal tract, okra’s mucilage soothes, and okra facilitates elimination more comfortably by its slippery characteristic many people abhor.

In other words, this incredibly valuable vegetable not only binds excess cholesterol and toxins (in bile acids) which cause numerous health problems, if not evacuated, but also assures their easy passage from the body. The veggie is completely non-toxic, non-habit forming (except for the many who greatly enjoy eating it), has no adverse side effects, is full of nutrients, and is economically within reach of most.

4. Further contributing to the health of the intestinal tract, okra fiber ( as well as flax and psyllium) has no equal among fibers for feeding the good bacteria (probiotics).

5. To retain most of okra’s nutrients and self-digesting enzymes, it should be cooked as little as possible, e.g. with low heat or lightly steamed. Some eat it raw.

Some important benefits of consuming okra:

*Stabilises blood sugar level.
Lowers serum cholesterol level.
Prevents constipation.

Keeps intestinal tract healthy.
Feeds good bacteria residing in us all. *


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I made no pretense whatsoever that I know those gms and mms mentioned. But lady’s finger is common and I like it and see no reason to dispute anyone who says it is good. Now Makcik is thinking of growing this easy-to-grow plant in a big way, on commercial scale, perhaps! Then we will invite everyone to Almanar to be treated of ..... whatever. (I wonder if anyone knows such plant known as gentleman’s finger to keep the effect of lady's finger imbalance.)

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What Pakcik received (Pt 1) – Birds’ sayings

I think most of us, from time to time, do receive from friends interesting items, slides, pictures etc which are meant to be shared without infringement of any copyright. I do not see any reasons why I should not share what I have received; and for this reason I am starting a new series – ‘What Pakcik received’. We will see how it goes with this first one.

The following is one Pakcik received from an old friend overseas. Titled ‘various birds and sayings’ is a set of 31 slides, 29 of which are sayings. I enjoy watching these slides against the enchanting old favourite tune ‘unchained melody’.

Click where it is shown to change slides and enjoy the music. At the same time give some thought to the sayings. Like what I have done you may like to pick, say, three sayings you like best.

Birds and Sayings

Contents:

Slide 1:
Various Birds and Sayings

Slide 2:
Music: Floyd Cramer - Unchained melody

Slide 3:
AN ENEMY TAKES UP MORE SPACE IN OUR HEAD THAN A FRIEND IN OUR HEART

Slide 4:

YOU FEEL HAPPINESS THROUGH WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU ARE

Slide 5:
THE SUN DRIES WITHOUT PREJUDICE THE GARMENTS OF THE RICH AND POOR

Slide 6:
THE CHEAPEST FACELIFT IS A LAUGH

Slide 7:

SHOULD YOU ENCOUNTER A PROBLEM ALONG YOUR WAY CHANGE YOUR DIRECTION, BUT NOT YOUR DESTINATION

Slide 8:
AS THE PUPIL IS READY, SO WILL THE TEACHER APPLY HIMSELF

Slide 9:

EVERYTHING THAT ANNOYS US ABOUT OTHERS CAN HELP US TO UNDERSTAND OURSELVES EVERYTHING THAT ANNOYS US ABOUT OTHERS

Slide 10:
BEGIN EACH DAY ANEW AND FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR YESTERDAY

Slide 11:
WISDOM IS THE REWARD FOR LISTENING OVER A LIFETIME

Slide 12:
I WON’T LET MYSELF BE RUSHED, I AM AT WORK AND NOT FLEEING FROM A TASK

Slide 13:

IT IS THE VERY THINGS THAT WE THINK WE KNOW, THAT KEEP US FROM LEARNING WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW

Slide 14:

IF YOU SEARCH FOR A PERFECT FRIEND WITHOUT FAULTS YOU WILL REMAIN FRIENDLESS

Slide 15:

ONE’S EGO IS LIKE A RIVER, IT MAY SWELL BUT NEVER BURST OVER THE RIVERBANKS

Slide 16:

THE VERY BEST WE CAN GIVE EACH OTHER IS OUR LOVE NOT OUR ADVICE, AND CERTAINLY NOT OUR JUDGMENT

Slide 17:

A LITTLE LOVE IS LIKE A DROP OF WATER GIVING ENOUGH STRENGTH TO A WILTED FLOWER TO RIGHTEN ITSELF

Slide 18:
FORGETTING AND LAUGHING ARE BETTER THAN REMEMBERING AND BEING SAD

Slide 19:
HASTE MAINLY SERVES TO SAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES AFTER HOURS WERE LOST

Slide 20:
IF THERE IS PEACE WITHIN YOURSELF, THERE IS ROOM FOR ANOTHER MIND

Slide 21:
THE MOST IMPORTANT HUMAN RIGHT IS THE RIGHT TO DREAM

Slide 22:
I NEVER LEARNED ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN TO BE SMARTER

Slide 23:
REACH FOR THE SUN AND, SHOULD YOU MISS, YOU WILL STILL END UP AMONGST THE STARS

Slide 24:
DON’T LIVE IN THE PAST, DON’T DREAM OF THE FUTURE, BUT CONCENTRATE ON THE PRESENT

Slide 25:

THE GREATEST CHANGE WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU STOP BELIEVING THAT YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOURSELF

Slide 26:
MUCH OF WHAT WE IMAGINE WILL BECOME REALITY

Slide 27:
WHAT WE MOST NEED IN LIFE IS SOMEBODY WHO POINTS OUT WHAT WE COULD DO AND WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF

Slide 28:
LIFE MUST BE LIVED WITH LOVE AND HUMOUR LOVE TO UNDERSTAND AND HUMOUR TO ENDURE

Slide 29:
NOT KNOWING SOMETHING IS NORMALLY A MILESTONE ON THE WAY TO KNOWLEDGE

Slide 30:
UPBRINGING IS A RESULT OF LOVE, PATIENCE AND WISDOM THE LAST TWO ALLOW LOVE TO RULE

Slide 31:
SAYING GOODBYE IS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING IN LIFE AND WE NEVER LEARN TO BE GOOD AT IT

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Those I like best of the 29 sayings are the following three:

Slide 5:
THE SUN DRIES WITHOUT PREJUDICE THE GARMENTS OF THE RICH AND POOR


Slide 11:
WISDOM IS THE REWARD FOR LISTENING OVER A LIFETIME


Slide 31:
SAYING GOODBYE IS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING IN LIFE AND WE NEVER LEARN TO BE GOOD AT IT

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