Freshly crushed garlic serves heart better than processed

Freshly crushed garlic has more potent heart-healthy effects than dried garlic, scientists have claimed.

In the study, which will be published in the Aug. 12 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, boffins also challenged the widespread belief that most of garlic's benefits are due to its rich array of antioxidants.

Instead, garlic's heart-healthy effects seem to result mainly from hydrogen sulfide, a chemical signaling substance that forms after garlic is cut or crushed and relaxes blood vessels when eaten.

In the study, Dipak K Das and colleagues point out that raw, crushed garlic generates hydrogen sulfide through a chemical reaction. Although best known as the stuff that gives rotten eggs their distinctive odor, hydrogen sulfide also acts as a chemical messenger in the body, relaxing blood vessels and allowing more blood to pass through.

Processed and cooked garlic, however, loses its ability to generate hydrogen sulfide.

To reach the conclusion, scientists gave freshly crushed garlic and processed garlic to two groups of lab rats, and then studied how well the animals' hearts recovered from simulated heart attacks.

"Both crushed and processed garlic reduced damage from lack of oxygen, but the fresh garlic group had a significantly greater effect on restoring good blood flow in the aorta and increased pressure in the left ventricle of the heart," Das said.

Lay claim to greatness

Blame or claim -- that's the choice each of us has to make each day. Blame what's not working or claim the gift in the seemingly negative situation. The world needs more heroes. And heroes spend their days hunting for the best. They see the best amidst adversity. They see the best in others. They dig for the best in themselves. They claim their greatness. And in doing so, they get their best lives.

An extraordinary life is not something only available for the chosen few--people with perfect teeth and royal pedigrees. You and I are destined for greatness. We are meant to live spectacular lives. That's hardwired into our DNA. But we need to do our part to make it all happen. Choice by choice. Step by step.

Small gains eventually yield giant results. Life truly does want us to win. We only need to do our part. So lay claim to your greatness. Drive a stake into the ground to mark your place under the sun. Stop being a prisoner of your past and become the architect of your future. And remember, it's never too late to become the person you have always dreamed of being.

Learn or decay

There's a cure for ageing that no one talks about. It's called learning. In my mind, as long as you learn something new each day, stretch your personal frontiers and improve the way you think, you cannot grow old. Ageing only happens to people who lose their lust for getting better and disconnect from their natural base of curiosity.

"Every three or four years I pick up a new subject. It might be Japanese art; it may be economics. Three years of study are by no means enough to master a subject but they are enough to understand it. So for more than 60 years I have kept studying one subject at a time," said Peter Drucker, the father of modern management who lived until he was 95.

Last year, I had the joy of spending a couple of hours in conversation with Shimon Peres, the former Israeli prime minister and Nobel Prize winner. He was nearly 82 at the time, and I couldn't help but notice that his eyes actually sparkled as he spoke of his love of books, big ideas and learning. "Mr Peres, when do you read?" I asked. His reply: "Robin, when don't I read? I read when I get up in the morning, when I can during the day and every single evening. Most of my weekends are spent reading great books. Books are my constant companions."

He then added with a smile: "If you eat three times a day you'll be fed. But if you read three times a day you'll be wise."

Too many people never pick up a book after they've finished school. Unbelievable. Too many people spend more time watching TV than getting deep inside the minds of the greatest people who have walked the planet. Too many people have closed their minds to new insights and powerful thoughts.

One idea discovered in a one book can change the way you see the world. One idea read in one book can transform the way you communicate with people. One idea found in one book could help you live longer or be happier or drive your business to remarkable success. Never leave home without a book in your hand.

Shah Rukh Khan to boost Malaysian tourism

Malaysians are hopeful that a visit by Bollywwod superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is to be conferred the title of Datuk, will boost the country's tourism industry that has been badly hit by the current global economic crisis.

Shah Rukh, who is immensely popular among the 28 million Malaysians, especially the large Indian diaspora, will be awarded the title that is akin to the British knighthood at a special ceremony in Malacca Saturday.

The royal chief of Malacca Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaacob, who is also the state's constitutional head, will confer the award at the Dewan Seri Negri, the venue for special ceremonies, at 10 am.

The ceremony will be attended by 1,000 specially invited guests, The Star newspaper said Friday.

Although wife Gauri will not be accompanying Shah Rukh, she will be entitled to be called Datin, spouse of a Datuk.

Malacca Chief Minister Mohammed Ali Rustam said that with declining tourist arrivals, the Malacca state will promote itself as an international film location and the Bollywood superstar's visit may be a boost.

"This will certainly help promote both Malaysia and Malacca," he said when contacted in Paris by Star Online.

"What better time to launch it than in conjunction with the actor's visit?"

Datukship for Shah Rukh has created some controversy as local artistes have said it is being done at their cost.

However, Malaysian and Malaccan state authorities have defended their decision, saying it earned them more publicity and tourists than sponsored advertising on any international TV channel could.

Shah Rukh has shot a film "One 2 ka 4" and a song for blockbuster "Don" in Malaysia and has promised to shoot more extensively.

Shah Rukh will be given the honour of being the first Datukship recipient from Malacca to don the official state samping during a special investiture ceremony tomorrow.

The 3,000 ringgit ($900) specially made black samping is adorned with kesidang flower motif and tied in the style of the late P. Ramlee, Malaysia's biggest theatre personality, to complete the baju melayu to be worn by Shah Rukh.

Baju melayu is a traditional Malay outfit for men and consists of two main parts. The first being the baju (long sleeved shirt) that has a raised stiff collar known as the cekak musang collar. The second part is the trousers.

The two parts are made out of the same type of fabric which is usually silk, cotton, or a mixture of polyester and cotton. A skirt-type adornment is also commonly worn with the baju melayu.

"This is the first time that we are using this particular songket for a Datukship recipient and Shah Rukh Khan will be first to wear the official samping," Minister for Human Resource, Health and Consumer Affairs Abdul Karim Sulaiman told reporters.

The samping is sponsored by Institut Seni Malaysia Melaka, whose representatives will help the actor put on the samping.

Ileana D'Cruz becomes the Yoga girl

In the days of Size zero mania, actress Ileana posed the most sought after figure ever since her first stint in movies. ‘Devadasu’ debuted Ileana which was a box office hit and she soared high with her very next film ‘Pokiri’ opposite Mahesh Babu. She became the heartthrob of many youngsters within a short span of time.

Presently, she is the busiest actress in Tollywood sharing screen space with Ravi Teja, Nithin, Vishnu and NTR. Ileana has now started preaching Yoga whenever she finds an opportunity. The story behind a naïve girl becoming the yoga girl is that she had started practicing Yoga from 29th November.

The slim and sleek actress has now gained a few pounds which makes her no way less appealing.

Why celeb workout DVDs may be dangerous

Experts say that beneath their glamorous veneer, such unsupervised videos can trigger off several physical ailments
Cindy Crawford did it, and so did the sensual Carmen Electra. And how could Bollywood be far behind? Following in the footsteps of scores of actresses and supermodels around the world, Shilpa Shetty too has a fitness video to her credit.
But Daily Mail, UK, reported last week that almost 14,000 exercisers are treated at hospitals each year due to injuries arising out of working out at home.
Health and exercise experts believe that celebrities become catalysts in driving women into becoming obsessed with exercising and overlook personalised needs to suit respective fitness levels.
Celebrity fitness expert, Leena Mogra says, “Women are psychologically tuned to copying sexy bodies, and naturally inclined towards following in the footsteps of popular actresses. These are generic exercises that definitely do not meet personal requirements.”
Prameet Kotak, certified body guru who trains actors like Kunal Kapoor and Purab Kohli, says that though it is important for them to promote fitness, actors often “lie” on their exercise videos. He explains, “Unsolicited advice from actors must stop. There are Bollywood actors who say they swear by power yoga to maintain their size zero frame. They are lying outright.” Is Kareena listening?
Sophie Choudry says it is better to hire a personal trainer than buying a celebrity workout DVD. “A trainer makes sure that your personal needs are met. Celebrity workout videos are generic and can backfire on your health.”
Kotak explains, “People are desperate to look good. But they do not realise that the actresses who are promoting their yoga videos have had cosmetic surgery to get into the body shape they are endorsing.”
Actor Shruti Seth, an avid yoga follower, says that yoga may not be the best exercise to be performed on tape. “If done incorrectly it can trigger negative effects.”
Fitness experts warn that viewers risked injury including pulling muscles, dizzy spells. Kotak says, “Blindly copying workout videos can take a toll on your shoulder joints; lead to spondilytis and imbalance of core muscles.”

'Healthy meals can reinvent your life'

For Deanne Pandey, food must be a melange of the right nutrients and stylish presentation
She’s a svelte socialite, fitness instructor and health freak, and Deanne Pandey, wife of actor Chunky Pandey’s brother Chikki (Alok), tells you of the three she’d rather be health conscious than anything else.
“The other aspects of life fall into place after that,” she explains. A mother of two, Deanne opines that looking one’s best is not that hard a task. “Well, I’m lucky to be married into a family of health-conscious people with my mother-in-law being a nutritionist and my father-in-law, a heart surgeon,” she explains.
Fascinated by their way of living, Deanne also decided to pursue an education in fitness and training. “During my first pregnancy I remember I put on about nine kilos. I used to start my day with a cup of milk with haldi and honey as well as almonds.”
That practice has continued with her having included whole wheat toast and a ‘one teaspoon oil cooking’ regime into her day.
Her food philosophy has spilled over into her lifestyle too. That would explain why Deanne insisted that her recently renovated Bandra home had a kitchen the way she liked it. “You won’t find any rich stuff here,” she smiles.
“There’s always wholewheat bread and my cook makes amazing rotis - with a mix of nachni, ragi, wheat and bajra, but no chocolates or aerated drinks. “My kids,” she says, referring to daughter Alannah (13 ½) and son Ahaan (10), “are used to snacking on prunes, nuts and fresh juice.”
With the discipline having come from Deanne’s own exercise regime, she finds the task of eating healthy that much easier she says. “But I have to say it was hard to get Chikki to change his rich butter chicken and biryani diet. Finally when he did, he worked hard enough to lose 28 kilos in nine months, so I can’t say anything more to him,” she laughs.
The other times Deanne turns a blind eye is when they entertain guests at their home and Chikki takes up the ladles. “He’s a really good cook and makes great kheema curry with aloo,” she reveals.
“I guess eating heavy food once in a while is alright, especially when it’s made as well he makes it.” She also swears by two of her signature drinks that she says can keep you well-hydrated. “It’s a cold tobasco tomato juice with a pinch of salt and fresh pudina leaves. I’m a nimbu-paani fan too,” she smiles.

Delia Smith's recipes from Frugal Food

We may be tightening our belts financially, but there's no reason to go without. With the reissue of her book Frugal Food, first published in the 1970s when Britain had its last harsh lesson in home economics, Delia Smith has the recipes that have stood the test of time. Photographs by Michael Paul
This week one of my oldest books, Frugal Food, published 32 years ago, is republished, and rereading it has been for me a revelation. Although it has remained in print throughout that time, and now and then I come across people who still sing its praises, it was, I have to confess, largely forgotten by me.

Poached eggs with souffléed Welsh rarebit
Sausages braised in cider
Old-fashioned honeycomb mould
I suppose that's because the nature of cookery writing means always searching out new and different ways of cooking and devising recipes. That said, I have been fascinated by having a peek at another era, and while the book is rather quaint and nostalgic it has (as I wrote in the intro to the new edition) an eerily familiar ring to it.
Recession, the gathering clouds of financial doom, the prospect of impending food shortages, and the effects of climate change and global warming are all contributing to, if not a complete turn-about, then a serious rethink about what we cook, what we eat, and more alarmingly what we throw away. Of course, the problems were precisely the same then, and I recall being asked by the Government at the time to do some TV ads along with the actor John Alderton on how to save energy.
How strange it is that since those frugal days we have all been swept along on a tide of affluence, when T-shirts can be worn in overheated homes and shops in the depths of winter, when five-year-olds have mobile phones and TV in the bedroom, and we want to eat only the leanest meat and poultry in the shape of fillets or breasts - and the rest of the poor animal is unwanted. Yet despite our obsession with health and diet, as a nation we are more obese than we ever were. Maybe global recession is a timely reminder that we have lost direction and need to get back on track. Eating more frugally is a challenge, but can often be more fun. Using cheaper cuts of meat, cooking meals with no meat or simply enjoying good square meals instead of junk food is actually more satisfying. And just think - to sit round a table and eat a substantial, beautifully cooked meal can cost less per head than a sandwich in a pub. Here are three recipes from the book that I hope will prove the point.