Refreshing mini-sandwich

All the goodies

Papaya dressing!

Here comes my bite :D

Here comes my bite :D

送给父母的礼物:洋蔥比骨質酥鬆症的藥有效

愛喝咖啡的人要多吃洋蔥作者 /鄭慧文(美國加州大學藥學博士)
洋蔥比骨質酥鬆症的藥有效】
從不知道洋蔥那麼偉大, 送您好吃涼拌洋蔥作法:
1/. 洋蔥洗淨切絲.
2/. 容器內裝冰水, 將洋蔥絲浸於冰水中, 置冰箱泠藏.
3/. 隔天撈起洋蔥拌蠔油 & 無辛味的生菜.

家庭主婦不愛用洋蔥做菜, 處理時會讓人流眼淚, 很多人也怕洋蔥味. 除非是手藝高超的洋蔥料理, 否則真的很難找到洋蔥的熱愛者。
想要讓自己骨骼結實, 身體長得高, 預防骨質疏鬆症的人, 還是 乖地捏著鼻子吃洋蔥吧。因為權威期刊「自然」的最新研究報告指出, 洋蔥是最能夠防止骨質流失的一種蔬菜。洋蔥預防骨質流失的效果, 甚至比骨質疏鬆症治療藥品 “calcitonin” 還要好.

研究人員讓雄性大白鼠每天吃一公克乾洋蔥,連續四週後,公白鼠的骨質平均增加了13.5-18%。另一組實驗則發現,讓大白鼠食用含有洋蔥的混合蔬菜,也能夠減少骨質流失問題。第三組實驗則是讓摘除卵巢的雌性大白鼠每天吃1.5公克的洋蔥,結果骨質流失的速率減少了 25%。更值得注意的是,洋蔥的保健功效在短短12小時內就看得到了。

研究人員認為,洋蔥的效果可能來自於「預防骨質流失」,因此想要利用洋蔥保健的人,每天可能要吃上200-300公克(10盎司)的洋蔥,才能夠預防骨質疏鬆症。醫食同源,在我們日常食物中,有很多蔬菜水果都具有藥物般的療效;像西餐裡少不了的配菜洋蔥,它對身體的好處簡直超乎想像。洋蔥炒蛋,或洋蔥炒牛肉,都是美味無比的健康菜;而洋蔥還可以用來生吃或榨汁喝,根據醫學實驗,它更能發揮多種神奇療效。

【洋蔥可以預防膽固醇過高】
據哈佛醫學院心臟科教授克多格爾威治博士指出,每天生吃半個洋蔥,或喝等量的洋蔥汁,平均可增加心臟病人約30%的HDL含量 (HDL為高密度脂蛋白膽固醇,一種被認為有助於預防動脈粥狀硬化的膽固醇,也是一種的好的膽固醇)每天生吃半個洋蔥,或喝等量的洋蔥汁,以保護心臟,這原是個民間偏方,克多博士在自己的診所裡對病人進行實驗,證明洋蔥確有提升好膽固醇的療效,不過洋蔥煮得越熟,越不具效果。

【洋蔥可以分解脂肪】
克多博士讓診所裡的心臟病人每天吃洋蔥,結果發現洋蔥裡所含的化合物也能阻止血小板凝結,並加速血液凝塊溶解。所以,當你享用高脂肪食物時,最好能搭配些許洋蔥,將有助於抵銷高脂肪食物引起的血液凝塊;所以說牛排通常搭配洋蔥一起吃,是很有道理?

【洋蔥可以預防胃癌】
洋蔥和大蒜、大蔥、韭菜這些蔥屬蔬菜,因含 有抗癌的化學物質,據研究人員在中國山東省一個胃癌罹患率很高的地方所做研究發現,當洋蔥吃得越多,得胃癌的機率就越低。

【洋蔥可以對抗哮喘】
洋蔥含有至少三種抗發炎的天然化學物質,可以治療哮喘。由於洋蔥可以抑制組織胺的動,而組織胺正是一種會引起哮喘過敏症狀的化學物質;據德國的研究,洋蔥可以使哮喘的發作機率降低一半左右。

【洋蔥可以治療糖尿病】
很久以前,洋蔥就被用來治療糖尿病,到現代,醫學也證明洋蔥確實能夠降血糖而且不論生食或熟食,都同樣有效果。原來洋蔥裡有一種抗糖尿病的化合物,類似常用的口服降血糖劑甲磺丁胺,具有刺激胰島素合成及釋放的作用。

【洋蔥可以防治失眠】
洋蔥的妙用還不止上述這些,在日常生活中,洋蔥還 可用來防治失眠:將切碎的洋蔥放置於枕邊,洋蔥特有的刺激成分,會發揮鎮靜神經、誘人入眠的神奇功效。

【洋蔥可以防治鼻塞】
感冒的時候,喝加了洋蔥的熱味
噌湯,很快就可發汗退燒。
如果鼻塞,以一小片洋蔥抵住鼻孔,洋蔥的刺激氣味,會促使鼻子瞬間暢通起來。

女性健康最忌讳的八件事

一忌超负荷工作。随着竞争愈来愈激烈,现代职业女性的工作节奏日趋紧张,精神上容易产生巨大压力,精神上和身体上的超负荷状态对健康是非常不利的。如果不注意休息和调节,中枢神经系统持续处于紧张状态会引起心理过激反应,久而久之可导致交感神经兴奋增强,内分泌功能紊乱,产生各种身心疾病。因此,职业女性要注意缓解心理上的紧张状态,做到劳逸结合,张弛有度,合理安排工作、学习和生活,坚持体育锻炼。
二忌忧愁抑郁。生活中的烦恼在所难免,将忧愁烦恼压在心中显然是不妥,心情不好应学会心理调节,尽量想办法宣泄或转移,如找好友聊天,一吐为快,或纵情山水,饱览大好河山,使心胸开阔,热爱生活。
三忌盲目减肥。爱美之心,人皆有之,职业女性尤其如此,许多人千方百计想减掉自己体内多余的脂肪,减肥茶、减肥餐等各种各样的减肥措施令人眼花缭乱。减肥者想速见成效,拼命节食,结果是体重减轻了,身体却垮了。
四忌浓妆艳抹。职业女性由于工作需要,对自己进行适当的化妆是必要的,但切忌浓妆艳抹,因为目前市场上出售的化妆品无论多高档,还是化学成分居多,含汞、铅及大量的防腐剂,虽然能暂时遮住色斑,但却治标不治本,不少女性把美容希望寄托于层出不穷的化妆品上,忽略了自身的健康。化学品会严重刺激皮肤,粉状颗粒物容易阻塞毛孔,阻滞皮肤的呼吸功能。
五忌饮茶过浓。多数职业女性有饮茶的习惯,茶可消除疲劳、醒脑提神,提高工作效率。饮茶好处固然不少,但茶碱太多也有坏处,茶是一种有效的胃酸分泌刺激剂,而长期胃酸分泌过多,是胃溃疡的一个重要致病因素,所以,应在茶中加入少量牛奶、糖,以保持胃粘膜免受或减轻胃酸的刺激。
六忌抽烟解闷。目前,很多女性以抽烟为时髦,其实抽烟百害而无一利,烟草对女性健康的危害尤为严重。据统计:吸烟女性心脏病发病率比正常人高出10倍,使绝经期提前1至3年,孕妇吸烟所产生畸形儿是不吸烟者的2.5倍,青年女性吸烟会抑制面部血液循环,加速容颜衰老。
七忌借酒消愁。职业女性在工作中总会遇到一些挫折和打击,有些人往往借酒消愁,或者把喝酒当成现代生活方式中的一种时髦行为。其时,借酒消愁愁更愁。只顾闷头苦饮的结果使大量酒精进入人体,首先是神经系统受损,这是很危险的。
八忌见异思迁。职业女性由于接触面广,会遇到各种各样的男性,其中不乏优秀者,如果没有较好的道德修养,婚外恋由此产生,结果往往轻则家庭失和,重则离婚。一位职业女性因婚外恋闹了一年多,离婚终于如愿以偿,但事后她说:“无论选择哪种离异方式,都像被人剥了一层皮。”日本社会学家做过一项调查:离婚女性与家庭幸福者相比,前者的寿命缩短5年左右。而对朝夕相处的夫妻来说,如果经常争吵、不和、斗气、互不相让,则会导致内分泌系统功能紊乱,内脏器官功能失调,患上各种身心疾病,以致未老先衰,缩短寿命。记住:忠诚美满的婚姻是健康美容的最佳良方。

Handmade Pasta from Venice

Loved the handmade pasta when I saw them in Venice and couldn’t help but buying a bag of boat-shape pasta as souvenir of my trip in Italy….Not mention how much I enjoyed cooking it at home with all the sweet memories =)

Handmade Pasta shop in Venice

Handmade Pasta shop in Venice

Pasta in the shape of Venice boat

Pasta in the shape of Venice boat

My Pasta

My Pasta

A close-up

A close-up

Ingredients: Durum wheat flour, if black with black squid 2%, if green with spinach 2%, if red with tomato – bee troot 3%, if yellow with turmeric 2%, without artificial colouring or additives.

Even though the garlic in the States was not as fresh or garlicy as in Italy, I still loved the smell on my hand after I made the pasta =)

How to Make Maria Bread

I learned to make Maria Bread from Emma – a delicious and healthy breakfast! Upon my request, my friend agreed to make this short video clip to introduce Maria Bread to the rest of the world…and Emma did a fantastic job! Enjoy!

Chindian Cafe

A friend used the term “Chindian” on his Facebook post which I thought was pretty cool [he is half Indian with a Chinese American wife]… It turns out that there is even a Chindian restaurant the in the Twin Cities – Chindian Cafe. Also vegetarian friendly – super!

Curious about Okra

Had okra for dinner today and my roommate was asking me what it was and what’s it called in Chinese, etc.

okra

Introduced by a friend a while back, I started enjoy making quick stir-fried okra slices with chopped fresh garlic – yummy in the tummy! But I always forget to check out the Chinese name for it … wanted to give a good answer … I looked it up. So it is actually called 黄秋葵…It doesn’t seem very common to see okra in supermarkets in China, but can definitely be found in the Asian supermarkets in LA.

Some people are crazy all about okra…It is for sure one of my healthy favorites :)

Pure Lotus

Pictures from a very elegantly decorated and served vegetarian restaurant in Beijing: Pure Lotus (净心莲)

Outside

Outside

sacred and exotic inside

sacred and exotic inside

Just at the huge "plate"

the first dish was "huge"

Veggie salmon and asparagus

Veggie salmon and asparagus

IMG_3648

Veggie Peking duck

Veggie Peking duck

IMG_3653

Food mismatch

from: http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=89405434087&h=jmciN&u=DnX1K&ref=nf

20 Foods Which Shouldn’t Be Eaten Together I’d like to translate these twenty food combinations for you, including their purported effects, and in turn I want you to realize that this was not meant to be a joke. These health officials are completely serious. This notice was passed around the city in hopes that people would think twice before serving, let’s say…rabbit meat and celery in the same meal. Apparently, all your guests would walk away bald. I’m doing you a favor here, so you might want to take some notes. Just in case you think I’m making this up

Health Notice

1. Pork + water chestnuts = a stomach ache 2. Beef + chestnuts = vomiting 3. Lamb meat + watermelon = a decreased vigor for life 4. Dog meat + green beans = poisonous to the body 5. Rabbit meat + celery = loss of hair 6. Chicken + celery = a decreased vigor for life 7. Goose meat + chicken eggs = a decreased vigor for life 8. Turtle meat + amaranth (a nutritional herb) = poisonous to the body 9. Carp + liquorice (not the candy) = poisonous to the body 10. Crab + persimmon fruit = diarrhea 11. Chicken eggs + saccharin = poisonous to the body, potentially fatal 12. Brown sugar + preserved eggs = poisonous to the body 13. White wine (白酒) + persimmon = chest pains 14. Onions + honey = damaged vision 15. Radish + fungus = dermatits (a skin disease) 16. Bean curd + honey = makes you deaf 17. Potatoes + bananas = (I can’t figure the translation for this one…sorry. Anyone willing to try it out and let me know its effects?) 18. Bananas + sweet potato = a bloated belly 19. Peanuts + cucumbers = harmful to the body 20. Sweet potatoes + persimmon = lithiasis (formation of stones, such as the kidney stone)

Shojin follow-up

A retreat to myself – I went back to Shojin right after my dissertation prospectus defense…

More delicious pictures to share:

shojin decoration1

Artistic decoration1

shojin decoration2

Artistic decoration2

Avocado and Tomato Soba

Avocado and Tomato Soba

A close-up shot

A close-up shot

Haven’t been able to find the mysterious egg mold in Little Tokyo, LA…

made by egg mold - super cute!

made by egg mold - super cute! Courtesy of my friend Lena

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