Kidney health

How I Can Lengthen My Life? By Mr. Koon Yew Yin

Mr. Koon Yew Yin needs no introduction among investors/speculators in BursaMalaysia. 

He is well known for making a big fortune in equity investment and speculation.

Not only is he rich but also a philanthropist. He came from a very humble background. Today he shares his thoughts not on making money but on how to live a long life. 

I just reproduce his piece below for the benefits of mankind.

Mr. Koon Yew Yin writes:-

Everyone is afraid to die and wants to live longer. Everyone should be interested to learn how to lengthen his life. 

As I have a good track record which I wish to share with you. I am nearly 85 years old. As far as I can remember, I have no experience of headache or any sickness. In the last 30 years, I might have a couple of flu or fever. That means that I have been doing all the right things which you should follow to lengthen your lives.

I have an inherited blood condition characterised by higher than normal levels of LDL cholesterol. My mother died at the age of 36 when I was 10 years old. My elder brother died at 42 years.

In 1983 when I was 50 years old, my younger sister and I had a heart bypass surgery done in London because at that time there were only 2 hospitals in the world that could perform heart bypass surgery, one was Harley Street Clinic, London and the other was Mayo Clinic USA which had just invented the heart/lung machine. Unfortunately, my sister died about 3 years after her heart operation.

Many people including Cardiologist Dr Lee Boon Chye and heart surgent Dr Koh Chung Sen of Ipoh Specialist Hospital wanted to know how I can live so long after my heart bypass surgery in 1983 especially with the inherited blood problem.

When I wake up in the morning, I drink 2 glasses of water and eat half a pineapple on an empty stomach. I drink a cup of coffee and I do not eat anything until lunch time. I always drink more water than I really require.

I always remember to eat to live and not live to eat. I do not over eat. I avoid sugar and I eat very little rice. I prefer to eat fish and vegetables.

This is what I do for my physical health:

1. Every day I walk for around 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening. When there is rain, I walk about in my house. 
2. Physical movement will reduce stress which can shorten my life. As I spend most of my time on the computer, reading, writing or watching the stock market or TV, I must not sit down for more than one hour at a time. I must stand up and walk a few steps.  
3. I have developed a habit of taking a few deep breaths whenever I remember. I can do it at any time, while sitting, driving or waiting for something. I always take a few deep breaths before I go to sleep.
4. When I wake up I usually drink 2 glasses of water. I eat only fruits and drink a cup of coffee for breakfast. Pineapple is my favourite fruit. I do not eat anything until lunch. In between I may drink some water so that I can keep my weight down.   
5. After my lunch, I have a nap for about an hour. I drink a glass of wine or any alcohol before I sleep every night. Alcohol will improve blood circulation and reduce stress. 
6. At my age, I cannot do much physical exercise. I have a masseur who comes to my house to give a full body massage 3 times a week.  

This is what I do for my mental health:

Always keep your mind occupied by reading, writing, playing computer, managing my share investment or watching TV. This will slow down the loss of memory. 

1. Although I have completely retired from executive work as a company director for which I was paid, I am now working harder and longer hours than before. I find working is the most wonderful entertainment and I enjoy doing what I am doing. 
2. After having lived for so long, I accept human weaknesses and forgive those who irritate me. Why should I feel angry just because someone misbehaves? I have only a few close friends and they do not judge me.  
3. Take a short holiday frequently. Occasionally go for a longer vacation for a change of environment. 
4. I must mention my wife’s important contribution. She takes care of my daily needs without which I would not have lived so long. 
5. I love my wife, I love myself and people in general. I enjoy all the good things in life. 
6. I also love music because it keeps me calm and smoothen my life. I think it also keeps my blood pressure down. 
7. Blood pressure is very important. I frequently see my doctor to check and control my blood pressure to prevent stroke and heart attack. 

 

Attitude: How to be happy

My wife and all the people close to me can vouch that I am always happy. I always try to create happiness. I must always remember that when I die I cannot take anything with me. I will spend almost all my wealth to help poor and needy people. I concentrate my charity in helping poor students to complete their tertiary education. I believe education is the best way to help poor families. 

Those students whose family income is less than Rm 3,000 per month can write to my wife who is in charge of my charity. Her email address is: kitpheng@gmail.com. I have given scholarships to more than 300 poor students. 

All my scholarship recipients do not need to repay the money I spent on them. Instead, they have to promise me that when they are in a good financial position, they must remember that I helped them when they needed, they must help other poor students. 

I will die happily knowing that this chain effect will create more and more charity workers and the world will be a better place. 

The key to my happiness is kindness and compassion: 

You are in full control of your life. Every day you can choose either to be happy or sad. One very easy way to be happy is to appreciate what you already have and that you do not need any more. Always count your blessings.

Remember our ultimate objective in life is happiness. Studies have shown that happy people can live longer. 

End

15 Natural Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure By Kerri-Ann Jennings, MS, RD

High blood pressure is a dangerous condition that can damage your heart. It affects one in three people in the US and 1 billion people worldwide.

If left uncontrolled, it raises your risk of heart disease and stroke.

But there’s good news. There are a number of things you can do to lower your blood pressure naturally, even without medication.

Here are 15 natural ways to combat high blood pressure.

1. Walk and Exercise Regularly

Exercise is one of the best things you can do to lower high blood pressure.

Regular exercise helps make your heart stronger and more efficient at pumping blood, which lowers the pressure in your arteries.

In fact, 150 minutes of moderate exercise, such as walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, such as running, per week can help lower blood pressure and improve your heart health.

What’s more, doing even more exercise reduces your blood pressure even further, according to the National Walkers’ Health Study .

2. Reduce Your Sodium Intake

Salt intake is high around the world. In large part, this is due to processed and prepared foods.

For this reason, many public health efforts are aimed at lowering salt in the food industry.

In many studies, salt has been linked to high blood pressure and heart events, like stroke.

However, more recent research has shown that the relationship between sodium and high blood pressure may be less clear.

One reason for this may be genetic differences between how people process sodium. About half of people with high blood pressure and a quarter of people with normal levels seem to have a sensitivity to salt.

If you already have high blood pressure, it’s worth cutting back your sodium intake to see if it makes a difference. Swap out processed foods with fresh ones and try seasoning with herbs and spices, rather than salt.

3. Drink Less Alcohol

Drinking alcohol can raise blood pressure. In fact, alcohol is linked to 16% of high blood pressure cases around the world.

While some research has suggested that low-to-moderate amounts of alcohol may protect the heart, those benefits may be offset by negative effects.

In the US, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as no more than one drink a day for women and two for men. If you drink more than that, cut back.

4. Eat More Potassium-Rich Foods

Potassium is an important mineral.

It helps your body get rid of sodium and ease pressure on your blood vessels.

Modern diets have increased most people’s sodium intake while decreasing potassium intake (13).

To get a better balance of potassium to sodium in your diet, focus on eating fewer processed foods and more fresh, whole foods.

Foods that are particularly high in potassium include:

• Vegetables, especially leafy greens, tomatoes, potatoes and sweet potatoes
• Fruit, including melons, bananas, avocados, oranges and apricots
• Dairy, such as milk and yogurt
• Tuna and salmon
• Nuts and seeds
• Beans
• 
  

5. Cut Back on Caffeine

f you’ve ever downed a cup of coffee before you’ve had your blood pressure taken, you’ll know that caffeine causes an instant boost.

However, there’s not a lot of evidence to suggest that drinking caffeine regularly can cause a lasting increase.

In fact, people who drink caffeinated coffee and tea tend to have a lower risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure, than those who don’t.

Caffeine may have a stronger effect on people who don’t consume it regularly.

If you suspect you’re caffeine-sensitive, cut back to see if it lowers your blood pressure.

6. Learn to Manage Stress

Stress is a key driver of high blood pressure.

When you’re chronically stressed, your body is in a constant fight-or-flight mode. On a physical level, that means a faster heart rate and constricted blood vessels.

When you experience stress, you might also be more likely to engage in other behaviors, such as drinking alcohol or eating unhealthy food, that can negatively affect blood pressure.

Several studies have explored how reducing stress can help lower blood pressure. Here are two evidence-based tips to try:

• Listen to soothing music: Calming music can help relax your nervous system. Research has shown it’s an effective complement to other blood pressure therapies.
• Work less: Working a lot, and stressful work situations in general, are linked to high blood pressure.

• 7. Eat Dark Chocolate or Cocoa

Here’s a piece of advice you can really get behind.

While eating massive amounts of chocolate probably won’t help your heart, small amounts may.

That’s because dark chocolate and cocoa powder are rich in flavonoids, plant compounds that cause blood vessels to dilate.

A review of studies found that flavonoid-rich cocoa improved several markers of heart health over the short term, including lowering blood pressure.

For the strongest effects, use non-alkalized cocoa powder, which is especially high in flavonoids and has no added sugars.

8. Lose Weight

If you’re overweight, losing weight can make a big difference for your heart health.

According to a 2016 study, losing 5% of your body mass could significantly lower high blood pressure .

In previous studies, losing 17 pounds (7.7 kg) was linked to lowering systolic blood pressure by 8.5 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 6.5 mm Hg .

To put that in perspective, a healthy reading should be less than 120/80 mm Hg.

The effect is even greater when weight loss is paired with exercise.

Losing weight can help your blood vessels do a better job of expanding and contracting, making it easier for the left ventricle of the heart to pump blood.

9. Quit Smoking

Among the many reasons to quit smoking is that the habit is a strong risk factor for heart disease.

Every puff of cigarette smoke causes a slight, temporary increase in blood pressure. The chemicals in tobacco are also known to damage blood vessels.

Surprisingly, studies haven’t found a conclusive link between smoking and high blood pressure. Perhaps this is because smokers develop a tolerance over time (29).

Still, since both smoking and high blood pressure raise the risk of heart disease, quitting smoking can help reverse that risk.

10. Cut Added Sugar and Refined Carbs

There’s a growing body of research showing a link between added sugar and high blood pressure.

In the Framingham Women’s Health Study, women who drank even one soda per day had higher levels than those who drank less than one soda per day.

Another study found that having one less sugar-sweetened beverage per day was linked to lower blood pressure.

And it’s not just sugar — all refined carbs, such as the kind found in white flour, convert rapidly to sugar in your bloodstream and may cause problems.

Some studies have shown that low-carb diets may also help reduce blood pressure.

One study on people undergoing statin therapy found that those who went on a six-week, carb-restricted diet saw a greater improvement in blood pressure and other heart disease markers than people not on a diet.

11. Eat Berries

Berries are full of more than just juicy flavor.

They’re also packed with polyphenols, natural plant compounds that are good for your heart.

One small study had middle-aged people eat berries for eight weeks.

Participants experienced improvements in different markers of heart health, including blood pressure.

Another study assigned people with high blood pressure to a low-polyphenol diet or a high-polyphenol diet containing berries, chocolate, fruits and vegetables.

Those consuming berries and polyphenol-rich foods experienced improved markers of heart disease risk.

12. Try Meditation or Deep Breathing

While these two behaviors could also fall under “stress reduction techniques,” meditation and deep breathing deserve specific mention.

Both meditation and deep breathing are thought to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This system is engaged when the body relaxes, slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure.

There’s quite a bit of research in this area, with studies showing that different styles of meditation appear to have benefits for lowering blood pressure.

Deep breathing techniques can also be quite effective.

In one study, participants were asked to either take six deep breaths over the course of 30 seconds or to simply sit still for 30 seconds. Those who took breaths lowered their blood pressure more than those who just sat.

Try guided meditation or deep breathing. Here’s a video to get you started.

13. Eat Calcium-Rich Foods

People with low calcium intake often have high blood pressure.

While calcium supplements haven’t been conclusively shown to lower blood pressure, calcium-rich diets do seem linked to healthy levels .

For most adults, the calcium recommendation is 1,000 mg per day. For women over 50 and men over 70, it’s 1,200 mg per day .

In addition to dairy, you can get calcium from collard greens and other leafy greens, beans, sardines and tofu. 

14. Take Natural Supplements

Some natural supplements may also help lower blood pressure. Here are some of the main supplements that have evidence behind them:

• Aged garlic extract: Aged garlic extract has been used successfully as a stand-alone treatment and along with conventional therapies for lowering blood pressure.
• Berberine: Traditionally used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, berberine may increase nitric oxide production, which helps decrease blood pressure.
• Whey protein: A 2016 study found that whey protein improved blood pressure and blood vessel function in 38 participants .
• Fish oil: Long credited with improving heart health, fish oil may benefit people with high blood pressure the most .
• Hibiscus: Hibiscus flowers make a tasty tea. They’re rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols that are good for your heart and may lower blood pressure.

• 15. Eat Foods Rich in Magnesium

• Magnesium is an important mineral that helps blood vessels relax.

  While magnesium deficiency is pretty rare, many people don’t get enough.

  Some studies have suggested that getting too little magnesium is linked with high blood pressure, but evidence from clinical studies has been less clear .

  Still, eating a magnesium-rich diet is a recommended way to ward off high blood pressure .

  You can incorporate magnesium into your diet with vegetables, dairy products, legumes, chicken, meat and whole grains.

• Take Home Message

  High blood pressure affects a large proportion of the world’s population.
  While drugs are one way to treat the condition, there are many other natural techniques that can help.
  Controlling your blood pressure through the methods in this article may, ultimately, help you lower your risk of heart disease.
• Besides medication to treat or tame high blood pressure has many adverse side effects .
• So managing HBP as suggested above has many advantages.

Banana

Bananas are common and very normal fruits but they have extraordinary properties that make them a great super-food which provide us with energy, make us feel full and provide our bodies with the needed essential nutrients due to the high amount of fibers, vitamins and natural sugars, such as fructose and sucrose.

This fruit is consumed all over the world and the price is very affordable in most countries. Additionally, it is the top consumed fruit in the USA.

The unripe fruits normally are green but may have other colour like purple. Upon purchasing, bananas last approximately a week but after some time there are black spots that appear on them and grow bigger and bigger , until the banana turns black. 

We think that they are rotten and thus just throw them away. These dark spots are not a sign of rotting but something very unique.

This is the sign which shows that the bananas actually ripen and the more spots appear the better for you.

The dark spots represent the tumour necrosis factor  (TNF) and the higher this factor the better. 

This is a cancer fighting substances that assists in fighting against abnormal cells in the body. TNF helps the communication between the cells in our immune system, guiding the movements of the cells towards the areas in our bodies that are inflamed or infected.

A recent research showed that TNF from bananas can stop tumour cell growth and and spread, causing apoptosis or cell death.

Bananas are packed with high levels of antioxidants which strength the immune system and increase the white cells count. Through this way the body fights off infections and evn cancer.

Aside from these properties, bananas have great benefits, thus you need to include them into your daily diet. 

Bananas are good for:-

Blood Presure

They are high in potassium, but do not contain sodium, thus they are excellent for the heart. They lower the blood pressure and prevent heart attachs and strokes.

Heartburn

This condition can be relieved in a minute due to the fruit's natural anti-acid properties, thus if in case you start feeling the symptoms, munch one banana and you will momentarily feel better.

Anemia

Anemic people can benefit from introducing bananas into their diets as they will be provided with iron.It stimulates the production of hemoglobin and strengthen the blood supply.

Energy

They give energy and are great pre-workout snack as they contain minerals, vitamins and low glycemic carbs that increase your endurance while the high level of potassium prevents muscle cramps.

Depression

Due to bananas being high in tryptophan  which is converted into serotonin upon digestion, they can fight depression. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that makes us feel happy, relaxed and in better mood. In case you feel down, take one banana and you will feel much better.

Ulcers

Bananas are perfect for this condition as they are soft, muchy and protect the stomach lining from irritation and acid.

Temperature control

This fruit lowers the body temperature and cools you off. This goes for when you feel hot or when you have a fever.

Nerves or  PMS

In case you feel stressed out or down , take a banana as it regulates the blood sugar levels and is rich in vitamin B which naturally calm the nervous system, making people feel relaxed and improving their mood.

Constipation

The fibers they contain are beneficial for those who suffer from constipation and they stimulate bowel movement and relieve the symptoms.

Benefits of bitter gourd or Karela

Bitter gourd or Karela (see picture above) The Plant That Kills Cancer Cells, Stop Diabetes And Lower High Blood  Pressure!

Among all plants available on the market and coming directly from our nature, goya is the one to pay attention to.

Otherwise known as karela, this cucumber-shaped plant does wonders for the human health. It grows in South America and Asia, and requires warm and humid climate to grow.

Among the many things it cures, you will be happy to learn that it is excellent for treating cancer, too.

The man behind this discovery is Dr. Frank Shallenberger, a doctor specialized in anti-aging treatments and alternative medicine. As he states, karela can suppress the development of cancer cells, so he regularly recommends it to patients who are dealing with this disease.

As numbers show, karela kills off about 90-98% of all cancers cells formed in the human body, which is astonishing information.

The University of Colorado conducted a study which analyzed the goya effects on the human body, especially with cancer. The findings uncovered that a 5% goya solution reduces pancreatic cancer and almost 64% of pancreatic tumors.

Aside from this, karela is beneficial for treating:

• — Skin infections
• — Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• — Asthma
• — Stomach problems
• — Diabetes symptoms

By incorporating goya in your everyday menu you will:

• improve your energy levels and boost the metabolism
• diminish folate-related neural tube defects in infants
• regulate your blood pressure, since goya is rich in Polypeptide-P and charantin, compounds responsible for keeping the blood pressure in check and treating type 2diabetes
• stabilize the immunity and protect you from infections
• improve the vision and repair all eye problems, as a result of its high content of beta-carotene
• cure hangover and cleanse the liver
• boost digestion
• help with gout and improve blood circulation
• treat psoriasis and fungal infections like Athlete’s foot and ringworms

Sources and References:
www.homehealthyrecipes.com
naturalherbsandmedicine.com

Benefits of beetroot

1. It improves the circulation: The beet offers an immediate generation of new red globules and a more stable blood circulation. It also helps in the fight against arterial hypertension. People who drink beet juice have an improved blood pressure.

2. It increases your energy: If you are of those with a very busy agenda, you need all the necessary energy to be able to burn it and give good results, so consuming this juice will offer you a couple of hours more energy, especially to people who practice physical exercises.

3. A healthier brain: Your brain works much better if you consume beet since it contains betaine and tryptophan.

4. It keeps the liver clean: The betaine that beet contains can help you with liver cleansing and keeps this organ always active and healthy.

5. It diminishes the constipation: Beet is a source rich in vegetable fiber, so it improves the digestive processes and the processes of excretion, in that way helping your constipated colon.

6. It supports your eyesight health: Beet is an important source of vitamin A and beta – carotene, and helps you clear out any problems with your

7. Heart at 100 %: Beet possesses a great content of potassium, so it’s ideal to help you against any sudden heart attacks or strokes.

Old Recipe - Medication for High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol.

Many today, have high cholesterol and high blood pressure. If left untreated it can lead to poor health and many health issues.  There are many drugs available but these drugs sometimes have undesirable side effects. Maybe a better alternative is to use natural remedy.Preparation of this natural remedy is extremely easy and quick, and all you need are some ingredients that you already have in your kitchen. This is how to prepare this natural remedy that will significantly decrease cholesterol and high blood pressure:

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
• 1 clove of garlic (grated)
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• Grated ginger (1 piece)

Method of preparation:

Mix all ingredients in a blender for half a minute at high speed. Next, strain, and store the remedy in the fridge for 5 days.

Use:

Take a tablespoon of this miraculous remedy in the morning, before you have your breakfast, and another tablespoon in the evening, before your dinner.

Note that you should not consume it more than three times during the day.

This remedy will strengthen and energize your body, and will successfully solve your hypertension and high cholesterol issues.

Give yourself a chance and try out this

Overcome Insomnia with a simple solution

Lucky are those who sleep well for 8 hours. For some, getting a proper sleep is actually impossible, and this usually involves late-night trips to the fridge.

Dealing with insomnia can be really frustrating, and being unable to sleep well several nights in a raw affects everyday life and performance.

Fortunately, there is an easy-to-do remedy you could use to get a descent sleep, and it works like magic. All you need is 3 simple ingredients and your cozy bed.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1/4 tsp raw honey
• 1/8 tsp sea salt

The combination of these ingredients sets your body in its ‘sleeping mode.’ It normalizes the secretion of stress hormones, keeping your cortisol spikes under control. It is actually the spikes that wake you up in 3am.

How to make your sleeping remedy?

There are two ways to use these ingredients, and make sure you take these before you go to bed.

Option 1:

Combine your coconut oil and honey in a small bowl, then stir in some salt. Stir until well combined. Take your remedy, and drink some water to push it down.

Option 2:

Take a tablespoon of coconut oil, then take a quarter teaspoon of honey. Drink some water to ease the swallowing. Dissolve your salt in water and drink it.

If you still wake up during the night, take another dose of your ‘sleeping remedy,’ and you shall fall asleep within half an hour or less.

How does this work?

Coconut oil contains healthy fats that supply your body with energy during the night. By taking it, you will not wake up starving in the morning. Coconut oil also prevents blood glucose spike, which are another major cause of insomnia.

Although it is sweet, honey does not affect your blood sugar, and it sets you in your sleeping mode. It provides a proper amount of the glycogen that your brain needs. Insufficient glycogen levels stimulate your adrenals to produce more stress hormones, or cortisol and adrenalin. High levels of stress hormones keep you awake at night.

Salt is the third part of your bedtime story. It has the ability to decrease stress hormone levels. Salt enhances the production of energy, and maintains bodily functions under control. Its sodium content decreases the secretion of adrenaline and cortisol.