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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Children's Health

When Fever Strikes

Symptoms to Watch For

 Fever, Age 4 and Older

Fever is the body's normal and healthy reaction to infection and other illnesses, both minor and serious. It helps the body fight infection. Fever is a symptom, not a disease. In most cases, having a fever means you have a minor illness. When you have a fever, your other symptoms will help you determine how serious your illness is.

Temperatures in this topic are oral temperatures. Oral temperatures are usually taken in older children and adults.

Normal body temperature

Most people have an average body temperature of about 98.6°F (37°C), measured orally (a thermometer is placed under the tongue). Your temperature may be as low as 97.4°F (36.3°C) in the morning or as high as 99.6°F (37.6°C) in the late afternoon. Your temperature may go up when you exercise, wear too many clothes, take a hot bath, or are exposed to hot weather.

Fever temperatures

A fever is a high body temperature. A temperature of up to 102°F (38.9°C) can be helpful because it helps the body fight infection. Most healthy children and adults can tolerate a fever as high as 103°F (39.4°C) to 104°F (40°C) for short periods of time without problems. Children tend to have higher fevers than adults.

The degree of fever may not indicate how serious the illness is. With a minor illness, such as a cold, you may have a temperature, while a very serious infection may cause little or no fever. It is important to look for and evaluate other symptoms along with the fever.

If you are not able to measure your temperature with a thermometer, it is important to look for other symptoms of illness. A fever without other symptoms that lasts 3 to 4 days, comes and goes, and gradually reduces over time is usually not a cause for concern. When you have a fever, you may feel tired, lack energy, and may not eat as much as usual. High fevers are not comfortable, but they rarely cause serious problems.

Oral temperature taken after smoking or drinking a hot fluid may give you a false high temperature reading. After drinking or eating cold foods or fluids, an oral temperature may be falsely low.

Causes of fever

Viral infections, such as colds and flu, and bacterial infections, such as a urinary tract infection or pneumonia, often cause a fever.

Travel outside your native country can expose you to other diseases. Fevers that begin after traveling in other countries need to be evaluated by your health professional.

Fever and respiratory symptoms are difficult to evaluate during the flu season. A fever of 102°F (38.9°C) or higher for 3 to 4 days is common with the flu. For more information, see the topic Respiratory Problems, Age 12 and Older.

Recurrent fevers are those that occur 3 or more times within 6 months and are at least 7 days apart. Each new viral infection may cause a fever. It may seem that a fever is ongoing, but if 48 hours pass between fevers, then the fever is recurring. If you have frequent or recurrent fevers, it may be a symptom of a more serious problem. Talk to your doctor about your fevers.

Treating a fever
In most cases, the illness that caused the fever will clear up in a few days. You usually can treat the fever at home if you are in good health and do not have any medical problems or significant symptoms with the fever. Make sure that you are taking enough foods and fluids and urinating in normal amounts.

Review the Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to determine if and when you need to see a health professional

Emergencies

Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call your doctor or other emergency services immediately.

* Seizure. Note: If a fever seizure has occurred, see the topic Fever Seizures for immediate first aid treatment.

* Changed level of consciousness

* Sweating with any symptoms of a heart attack

* Signs of severe dehydration

* Signs of shock

* Signs of heatstroke

* Signs of moderate to severe difficulty breathing

* Drooling with trouble breathing occurs, or a child is not able to cry or make sounds. This can be caused by epiglottitis.


Home Treatment

 to become dehydrated when you have a fever. Watch for early signs of dehydration and drink extra fluids, especially water. Adults should drink at least 10 glasses of liquid a day to replenish lost fluids. Children between the ages of 4 and 10 should drink at least 6 to 10 glasses. You may feel better if you eat light, easily digested foods, such as soup.

Many people find that taking a lukewarm [80°F (27°C) to 90°F (32°C)] shower or bath makes them feel better when they have a fever. Do not try to take a shower if you are dizzy or unsteady on your feet. Increase the water temperature if you start to shiver. Shivering is a sign that your body is trying to raise its temperature. Do not use rubbing alcohol, ice, or cold water to cool your body.

Dress lightly when you have a fever. This will help your body cool down. Wear light pajamas or a light undershirt. Do not wear very warm clothing or use heavy bed covers. Keep room temperature at 70°F (21°C) or lower.

If you are unable to measure your temperature, you need to look for other symptoms of illness every hour while you have a fever and follow home treatment measures.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Sore Throat


Sore throats can be painful and annoying. Fortunately, most sore throats are caused by a minor illness and go away without medical treatment.

Several conditions can cause a sore throat.

Viral infections


Many sore throats are caused by a viral illness, such as:
The common cold, the most common type of viral infection.

* Infection of the voice box (laryngitis)

* Mononucleosis (mono, "the kissing disease"), a viral infection that tends to cause a persistent sore throat.

* Other viral infections, such as mumps, herpangina, or influenza.

Bacterial infections


A bacterial infection may also cause a sore throat. This can occur from:

* Strep throat, which usually does not occur with congestion or a cough.

* An inflammation or infection of the tonsils (tonsillitis) and sometimes the adenoids (adenoiditis).

* Inflammation of the epiglottis (epiglottitis).

* Inflammation of the uvula (uvulitis).

In rare cases, a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. If you have engaged in high-risk sexual behavior, consider whether gonorrhea or chlamydia may be present. For more information, see the topic Exposure to Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Irritants and injuries


A sore throat that lasts longer than a week is often caused by irritants or an injuries, such as:

* Throat irritation from low humidity, smoking, air pollution, yelling, or nasal drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drip).

* Breathing through the mouth when you have allergies or a stuffy nose.

* Stomach acid that backs up into the throat, which may be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Although this often occurs with heartburn, an acid taste in the mouth, or a cough, sometimes a sore throat is the only symptom.

* An injury to the back of the throat, such as a cut or puncture from falling with a pointed object in the mouth.

* Chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition that causes extreme tiredness.

Treatment for a sore throat depends on the cause. You may be able to use home treatment to obtain relief.


Because viral illnesses are the most common cause of a sore throat, it is important not to use antibiotics to treat them. Antibiotics do not alter the course of viral infections. Unnecessary use of an antibiotic exposes you to the risks of an allergic reaction and antibiotic side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and yeast infections. Antibiotics also may kill beneficial bacteria and encourage the development of dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Review the Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to determine if and when you need to see a doctor.

Emergencies


Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call your doctor or other emergency services immediately.

* Moderate to severe difficulty breathing:

* In a child

* In an adult and older child

* Rapid swelling of the throat or tongue

* Drooling develops with difficulty breathing or the inability to cry or make sounds. This can be caused by epiglottitis.

Severe dehydration:

* In a child

* In an adult and older child

Home Treatment


Home treatment is usually all that is needed for a sore throat caused by a virus. These tips may help you feel better.

* Gargle with warm salt water to help reduce swelling and relieve discomfort:

* Gargle at least once each hour with 1 tsp (5 g) of salt dissolved in 8 fl oz (237 mL) of warm water.

* If you have postnasal drip, gargle often to prevent more throat irritation.

* Prevent dehydration. Fluids may help thin secretions and soothe an irritated throat. Hot fluids, such as tea or soup, may help decrease throat irritation.

* Use a vaporizer or humidifier in your bedroom.

* Warm or cool mist may help you feel more comfortable by soothing the swollen air passages. It may also relieve hoarseness. However, don't let your room become uncomfortably cold or very damp.

* Use a shallow pan of water to provide moisture in the air through evaporation if you don't have a humidifier. Place the pan in a safe location where no one will trip on it or fall into it.

* Do not smoke or use other tobacco products and avoid secondhand smoke. For more information, see the topic Quitting Tobacco Use.

* If you suspect that problems with stomach acid may be causing your sore throat, see the topic Heartburn.

* Consider taking nonprescription medicine for your symptoms.

* Use nonprescription throat lozenges.

* Some nonprescription throat lozenges, such as Sucrets Maximum Strength or Spec-T, are safe and effective and have medicine (local anesthetic) that numbs the throat to soothe pain.

* Regular cough drops may also help.

* Use a decongestant.

* Decongestants make breathing easier by shrinking swollen mucous membranes in the nose, allowing air to pass through. They also help relieve a runny nose and postnasal drip, which can cause a sore throat.

* Decongestants can be taken orally or used as decongestant nasal sprays. Oral decongestants (pills) are probably more effective and provide longer relief but may cause more side effects.

* Don't give decongestants to a child younger than 2 unless you've checked with the doctor first. If your child’s doctor tells you to give a medicine, be sure to follow what he or she tells you to do.






Back Pain

Low-Back Pain


Give your low back pain a day or two to work itself out before you call your doctor, unless you have signs of a severe illness, injury, or heart attack, as described below.


Call your doctor or other emergency services immediately if:

* You have back pain with chest pain. Always call 911 anytime you think you might have symptoms of a heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack can include:

* Pain in the upper back with chest pain or discomfort that is crushing or squeezing or feels like a heavy weight on the chest.

Chest discomfort or pain that occurs with:

* Sweating.

* Shortness of breath.

* Nausea or vomiting.

* Pain that spreads from the chest to the back, neck, or jaw, upper belly, or one or both shoulders or arms. The left shoulder and arm are more commonly affected. See a picture of areas that may be affected by chest pain.

* Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling like you are going to faint.

* A fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat.

* You had a severe injury to your back. Signs of spinal injury include:

* New loss of bowel or bladder control.

* New weakness in the legs.

* New numbness or tingling in the buttocks, genital area, or legs.

* Moderate to severe pain following an injury to the back.

Note: If you suspect that someone has a spinal injury, don't move the person except to avoid an immediate threat, such as a fire. If there is immediate danger, keep the head, neck, and back supported and aligned while you move the person to safety.


Watchful Waiting


Most low back pain does not require a visit to a doctor. In general, pain should start to improve after 1 or 2 days of home treatment.

If you have pain that has not improved after 1 or 2 days and you are unable to do your normal daily activities, call your doctor.

If your mild to moderate low back pain has continued through at least 2 weeks of home treatment, talk with your doctor. He or she may want to check for problems that may be causing your back pain.

The following health professionals can diagnose the cause of back pain, evaluate back injuries, and start treatment:


Primary care provider such as:

Family medicine doctor

Internist

Nurse practitioner

Physician assistant

Orthopedic surgeon

Osteopathic doctor (osteopath)

Emergency medicine specialist

Chiropractor



Thursday, February 18, 2010

Allergies

Allergies: Avoiding Indoor Triggers

Introduction

Allergic rhinitis results in symptoms of sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose. However, you can control these symptoms with medicine and by avoiding the things that cause them (allergens). If you are allergic to indoor allergens, such as dust mites, animal dander, and mold, you can take some simple steps to get them out of your house.

By taking these precautions, you may have fewer symptoms or less severe symptoms.

To avoid allergens in your home, you need to try to identify what you are allergic to. Work with your doctor to find this out. With this knowledge, you can cut back on the allergens in your home. For example, you may be allergic to your pet. You can then decide what steps to take, such as keeping your pet outside or limiting your pet to certain areas of your home.

Many of these steps are simple and are easy to do. Others may mean changes to your home and furnishings—such as removing carpeting or adding an air-conditioning system—that can be costly or difficult to do. If you live in a rented apartment or house, you may not be able to make some changes. You will need to decide which ones you can do. Try to use as many of them as you can.

By avoiding or reducing your contact with indoor allergens, you may be able to:

* Reduce your allergy symptoms and feel much better.

* Manage your allergy symptoms without medicine or with fewer medicines.

* Reduce your risk of developing complications of long-term (chronic) allergic rhinitis, such as sinusitis.

To reduce allergens inside your home, you can:

* Remove items where allergens build up, such as stuffed animals or rugs.

* Use regular cleaning and housekeeping to prevent allergens from building up.

Measures to control allergens throughout your home include:

* Controlling dust and dust mites, such as dusting regularly and washing bed linens in hot water. Dust contains most of the allergens in your home.

* Controlling animal dander and other pet allergens, which includes keeping pets only in certain areas of your home.

* Controlling molds, which includes cleaning bathtubs and showers monthly.

Because adults spend one-third of their time and children spend half of their time in their bedrooms, it is important that you take steps to prevent allergens in this room.

Other things you can do

Polluted air does not cause allergies, but it can irritate the nose and lungs. This may make it more likely that you will have symptoms.

* Avoid tobacco smoke, smoke from wood-burning stoves, and fumes from kerosene heaters.

* If you have a wood-burning stove, try to use one that is airtight and does not leak smoke into your home.

Talk with your doctor

If you have questions about this information, take a printout with you when you visit your doctor. You may want to mark areas or make notes where you have questions. Your doctor may have more ideas on how you can control allergens in your home.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Difference Between Boys and Girls




Boys and girls are different. Give a toddler girl a G.I. Joe and she'll probably try to mother it. Give a toddler boy a Barbie, and he'll pull off its head or pretend it's a gun. Boys and girls are psychologically different, physically different and also mentally different.

Boy brains are drastically different than girl brains. Girls, even young students, tend toward multitasking-an ability that serves them well later in life, juggling work, family, and a social life. Boys work on one, maybe two, tasks at a time-something that annoys women everywhere when the boys become men and cannot grow out of that.

Boys learn by doing. Boy brains are kinetic and tactile. They are stimulated by taste, touch, and smell. Girls use their eyes and ears to learn.



Ask any boy in elementary school and "Lunch," "Recess" and maybe "P.E." will be in their top five subjects in school. Ask girls, and you'll probably also find lunch and recess on the list, but not as high. For both girls and boys, lunch and recess are social times. But while boys are playing tag, Dodge Ball, or "Bumper Bodies" on the slide, girls are over near the bars talking and playing "10 tricks."




In the classroom-especially in the lower grades-boys can create havoc for their teachers and classmates. Boys are more likely to fidget, get up, lean back in chairs, and be a disruption.

But does this mean that boys are just bad? Of course not! Boys are just being boys. It's how their brains work. Boys are more active, and more apt to get frustrated when they don't live up to the expectations of their teachers and parents.



Where did these expectations come from? Before any of us attended school, the big push in public academia was to get girls' test scores up. Thirty to forty years ago, girls were on the "losing end" of the academic stick. The government and school officials decided that something needed to be done. The school format changed to the one we know now-sit down, be quiet, and do your work-which works wonderfully for the girl brain.

Since then, and especially in the last 10 years, expectations for boys have changed dramatically. As early as kindergarten, kinetic, impulsive boys are told to sit down, be quiet, and do their work. Parents and administrators demand teachers to have a calm, controlled classroom, rather than teach the students in the way they learn best. As Ms. Tyre write for Newsweek, "Instead of allowing teachers to instruct kids in the manner and pace that suit each class, some states now tell teachers what, when and how to teach."





Because of the gap between girls and boys, some schools have experimented with separating girls and boys and creating more interactive lessons. The results are more disorganized boys-only classes, more rowdy interactive lessons, but better participation and better test scores all around.

While not all teachers and school administrators will change school policy because of a few anecdotal positive results, there are still things that parents can do to make school more fun for boys. Make homework more fun and interactive for younger students. Give plenty of time for running around between homework assignments.



Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Tips Kesihatan Dan Kecantikan




Tips Hidup Bahagia


Beberapa tips untuk menjadikan diri lebih bahagia lagi..

1. Berfikiran positif

Cara lain untuk memancing umpan balik emosional adalah dengan senantiasa memikirkan hal-hal yang positif. Dengan berfikir positif, orang akan berlaku positif juga. Dan hal ini akan mempengaruhi pada aliran kimiwi tubuh, yang akan membuat serotonim atau hormon pemicu rasa gembira meningkat.

2. Kembangkan daya keterampilan

Orang yang bahagia sering berada dalam alur yang mengalir, menikmati apapun yang mengelilingi dirinya dan menghadapi apapun tantangan yang menghadang dengan reaksi dan sikap tepat.

3. Mengembangkan sisi spritual

Seseorang yang suka membaca buku kerohanian dan ilmiah dalam erti kata lain menimba ilmu yang baik, sebanyak yang mungkin menunjukkan bahwa mereka lebih berbahagia dan boleh mengatasi krisis secara lebih baik. Masyarakat yang bijak dan berpendidikan dapat mengatasi segala emosional, dan landasan iman membuat hidup lebih berarti dan lebih fokus.




KETERAMPILAN MENARIK MENAMBAH KEYAKINAN

5 Langkah mendapatkan kulit indah

1.Bersihkanlah wajah Anda secara hati-hati dengan pembersih di pagi dan malam. Kulit yang bersih lebih tahan terhadap jerawat dan bintik-bintik.
2. Bersihkan sisa tata rias dan pembersih dengan toner, yang menjadikan kulit terasa segar kembali.
3. Ikuti dengan pemakaian pelembab yang melembutkan dan melindungi kulit, serta mencegah dehidrasi.
4. Krim malam menutrisi dan memperbaiki kulit Anda ketika Anda tidur.
5. Sebagai perawatan khusus, gunakan scrub dan masker sekali atau dua kali seminggu, dimana hal tersebut akan meningkatkan efisiensi dari rutinitas harian Anda.


Tips Memilih Bedak

Hampir setiap wanita akrab dengan bedak. Kenali lebih dalam agar makin mempercantik Anda. Semua bedak wajah, rata-rata fungsinya sama. Meski fungsinya sama, tetapi keperluan dan keserasian setiap orang berbeza2.

Berdasarkan jenis kulit
Untuk kulit berminyak, gunakan bahan bedak yang mengandung bahan penyerap minyak agar wajah tampil segar tanpa kilap. Sedangkan untuk kulit normal atau kering, gunakan bahan bedak yang mengandung pelembab agar tidak menggumpal pada kulit wajah hingga wajah tampak halus.

Tips:
Untuk kulit berminyak. Jika kulit nampak berkilat ditengah hari, jangan terus disapu bedak, Serap dulu miyak tersebut dengan tisu.



Merawat Kulit

Merawat Kulit Anda

Bersihkan kulit Anda setiap pagi untuk menghilangkan minyak dan sel kulit mati yang terbentuk di malam hari.

Gunakan air suam-suam kuku pada wajah Anda. Air yang terlalu panas boleh menyebabkan kulit wajah yang sensitif menjadi kering.
Sabun biasa jangan digunakan untuk muka karana dapat merosakan keseimbangan pelembab semulajadi pada wajah dan memerlukan beberapa hari bagi kulit untuk pulih kembali.

Olahraga , meskipun hanya berjalan biasa, akan membuat kulit tampak sehat dan berseri.

Ya, Anda mungkin tahu bahwa betapa perlu dan baiknya minum air dalam jumlah yang cukup. Bubuhkan sedikit lemon, melon atau timun – gunakan imajinasi untuk memperbanyakkan meminum air dan hapus rasa dahaga Anda!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Valentine's Day






The history of Valentine's Day is shrouded in mystery. Some legends speaking of a Roman priest who married lovers in secret against the dictate of Emperor Claudius II, while others draw from the Roman pagan festival of Lupercalia.

Every 14th February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance.

There are three different stories about the possible identity of the man the Valentine holiday was named for. One story speaks of a Roman Catholic priest who went against the edict of Emperor Claudius II, who believed that unmarried men made better soldiers. Claudius made it illegal for his soldiers to marry, but Valentine secretly married couples. When his betrayal was discovered, Claudius had him imprisoned. It is said that Valentine fell in love with his jailer's daughter, and just as he was to be executed, he slipped her a love letter that he signed, "Your Valentine.




Very little is known about the third St. Valentine, a martyred minister who spread Christianity throughout the province of Africa. Few scholars actually believe that this particular Valentine has any association with the Valentine's Day holiday.

When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.





According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.



While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 14, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Atkins Diet :Kuruskan Badan Secara Natural Tanpa Ubatan






Atkins Diet

Atkins Diet ialah sejenis corak pemakanan yang diperkenalkan oleh Dr. Robert C. Atkins bagi membantu seseorang individu untuk mengurangkan berat badan melalui konsep pembakaran karbohidrat (carbohydrate) dan lemak di dalam badan.
Dengan mengurangkan dan menghadkan makanan berkarbohidrat seperti nasi, mi, kentang dan gula, badan akan mula membakar lemak sebagai bahanapi. Ini bereti berat badan anda akan mula menyusut.

Atkins Nutritional Approach (ANA) dibahagikan kepada 4 peringkat utama yang perlu diikuti dengan penuh berdisiplin dan dedikasi jika anda ingin mencapai tubuh langsing impian anda. 4 peringkatnya ialah:

1. Induction (permulaan dan pengenalan) ? 2 minggu atau lebih, mengikut keadaan dan berat badan.
2. Ongoing Weight Loss (penyusutan berat berterusan)
3. Pre-maintenance
4. Lifetime Maintenance



1. Bagaimana nak lakukan Induction?

Pada peringkat Induction, anda dihadkan mengambil hanya 20 gram makanan berkarbohidrat SEHARI. Ini akan berlangsung selama 2 minggu di mana anda hanya boleh makan:

1. makanan berprotein tinggi seperti ayam, telur, daging (lembu, kambing, rusa), ikan dan makanan laut (udang, ketam) yang lain. Elak memakan tiram (oyster), kerang dan sotong kerana berkarbohidrat tinggi).
2. Sayuran hijau seperti sawi, kailan, timun, salad, asalkan berwarna hijau (terhad kepada 2 atau 3 cawan sehari).
3. Sayuran seperti tomato, labu, terung, kacang panjang, dihadkan kepada 1 cawan sehari kerana ia mengandungi banyak karbohidrat (melalui gula sayuran).
4. Mentega (butter bukan margerine sebab margerine ada trans-fat yang bahaya untuk kesihatan).
5. Keju (Cheddar, Mozzarella, Swiss, Gouda, Goat) tapi tak lebih dari 3 gram. Jenis lai tak boleh.
6. Salad dressing seperti Mayonnaise (yang biasa, bukan low-fat sebab selalu yang tulis low-fat bukan bererti low-carbohydrate).
7. Olive oil, canola oil, dan kebanyakkan minyak masak boleh dimakan. Tapi pastikan minyak tidak dihydrogenated atau semi-hydrogenated, sebab ia mengandungi trans-fat yang boleh menyebabkan sakit stroke dan sakit jantung.
8. Air ? sebaiknya air biasa sahaja, sama ada air sejuk, suam, mineral. Jus buah-buahan tidak dibenarkan pada peringkat Induction kerana ia mengandungi tahap gula buah-buahan yang tinggi. Susu dan yoghurt juga tidak dibenarkan pada peringkat ini sebab kandungan karbohidratnya tinggi.

Lakukan Induction sekurang-kurangnya selama 2 minggu dan melalui ?puasa sekejap? ni, anda akan dapat melihat perubahan pada berat badan, bentuk badan dan kecergasan fizikal.


2. Makanan Yang ?Diharamkan? Selama 2 Minggu Induction

1. Minuman bergula seperti jus buah-buahan, air bergas (coke, sprite, pepsi), minuman berkafein seperti kopi, cappuchino, moccha, milo, barli, horlick, dll.
2. Sayuran berkarbohidrat timggi seperti kentang, segala jenis ubi, lobak.
3. Buah-buahan, tak kira apa-apa jenis terutama sekali pisang (23.7 gram karbohidrat sebiji).
4. Semua jenis roti, tak kira putih atau berfiber, berinti atau tidak.
5. Produk tenusu seperti susu, yoghurt, dadih, tak kira rendah lemak atau tidak.
6. Kek, biskut dan semua produk bergandum.
7. Makanan ringan seperti gula-gula, potato crisps, chocolate, pop-corn, aiskrim.
8. Kekacang, sama ada peanuts, pistachio, dll.
9. Mihun, mi biasa, pasta, spagetti, macaroni.
10. Pizza, nachos, tortilla chips, doughnuts dan any other Fast Food.
11. Gula (tak kira gula putih, merah, gula melaka, artificial sweetener, madu lebah).
12. Nasi putih, pulut, brown rice. Setengah pinggan nasi putih ada 22 gram karbohidrat! Kalau 3 pinggan?

Ingat! Had 20 gram karbohidrat selama Induction ini bukan bertujuan untuk menyusahkan anda tetapi untuk memastikan badan anda membakar lemak, bukan glukosa. Dari segi sainsnya, badan akan menggunakan glukosa sebagai bahanapi terlebih dahulu sebelum lemak. Jika anda menghadkan karbohidrat kepada hanya 20 gram atau kurang sehari, store glukosa badan anda akan ?habis? dalam masa 48 jam (2 hari). Selepas tu, apa yang dibakar oleh badan anda sebagai tenaga adalah lemak semata-mata dan dengan cara inilah anda akan menghilangkan lemak.
Itulah sebabnya mereka yang mengamalkan diet rendah lemak (low-fat diet) sering tidak berjaya. Bukan apa, walaupun mereka makan makanan rendah lemak seperti low-fat yoghurt, minum jus buah-buahan, makan hanya roti sahaja tapi tak makan daging atau telur, makan makanan low-fat dalam paket, yang pastinya makanan tersebut mengandungi karbohidrat dari gula, tak kira gula buah-buahan atau karbohidrat biasa.
Tengoklah pada label makanan diet, terutamanya yang berbentuk paket. Banyak yang ada 0 gram fat and 0 calorie tapi carbohydrate sampai mencecah 30 gram sepeket! 30 gram karbohidrat tu kalau dimakan akan bertukar menjadi glukosa. Bila anda exercise, glukosa itu yang dibakar sebagai tenaga dan hilang, lemak hilang sedikit sahaja sebab tiap-tiap kali makan, anda minum sepeket. Kalau 3 kali sehari, dah 90 gram karbohidrat. Sedangkan kalau nak kurus betul-betul, anda hanya patut makan 20 gram karbohidrat sehari sahaja! Buat apa membazir duit membeli makanan diet dalam peket sedangkan anda boleh kuruskan badan dengan hanya menjaga karbohidrat dalam pemakanan.
Induction hanya berlangsung selama 2 minggu. Kalau berat badan berlebihan sangat atau lambat menyusut, anda boleh kekal pada tahap Induction selama 6 bulan keatas dengan selamat. Tahap seterusnya, Ongoing Weight Loss, akan memperkenalkan makanan berkarbohidrat secara berperingkat, daripada hanya memakan 20 gram sehari, ditambah 5 gram setiap minggu (kepada 25 gram, 30 gram, 35 gram, etc) supaya anda tahu had toleransi karbohidrat anda.
Had toleransi kabohidrat anda ialah jumlah karbohidrat tertinggi sehari (dalam gram) badan anda boleh proses tanpa menyebabkan penambahan atau kekurangan berat badan (equilibrium state). Untuk atlit atau yang bersukan, boleh mencecah tahap 100 gram karbohidrat sehari tapi orang biasanya 40-70 gram sehari. Ada yang bermetabolisma rendah hanya pada tahap 24 gram sehari. Kaum lelaki, terutamanya yang muda akan lebih mudah membakar karbohidrat dan lemak daripada kaum wanita.


Syarat-syarat Induction

1. Pastikan anda makan 3 kali sehari (saiz makanan biasa) atau 4-5 kali sehari (tapi portions kecil). Jangan sekali-kali malas makan sebab anda akan terasa sangat lapar nanti dan sukar nak kawal emosi dan nafsu makan. Makan malam biarlah sebelum jam 9.00pm.
2. Makan 20 gram karbohidrat sehari sahaja. Baca label pada produk di pasaraya. Sebaik-baiknya makan makanan dari pasar seperti ayam, daging, ikan sebab kandungan karbohidratnya 0 gram.
3. Makanan diproses dikilang selalu ditambah gula dan berkabohidrat tinggi. Baca label tin, botol, kotak atau packet yang dibeli untuk tahu kandungan karbohidrat. Berhati-hati memilih sos dan kicap dalam botol.
4. Jangan makan apa-apa pun yang disenaraikan dalam list makanan yang diharamkan diatas. Walau sepinggan nasi pun boleh menaikkan glukosa dalam badan dan menyebabkan anda ketagihan nasi dan benda-benda manis. Bersabar dan berdisiplinlah kalau nak kuruskan badan.
5. Minum banyak air. Kalau sembelit, anda boleh mengambil psyllium husk / serat bercampur secawan air. Psyllium Husk / serat ada dijual dimana-mana farmasi dan kedai Cosway.
6. Makanan boleh digoreng, dipanggang, direbus, disalai asalkan tidak ditambah gula dan madu.
7. Rempah-ratus boleh digunakan asalkan asli, tak ditambah gula atau perasa tiruan.
8. Jangan sangka makanan tertentu itu berkarbohidrat rendah. Sebiji buah pear bersaiz sederhana ada 25 gram karbohidrat, sebiji telur ayam bersaiz besar cuma ada 0.6 gram karbohidrat! Check dulu!
9. Ambil supplement seperti spirullina dan vitamins untuk lebih menyihatkan badan lagi. Pastikan product tidak mengandungi gula atau artificial sweteener.


Tips diet kuruskan badan seperti dibawah ini

* Amalkan Makan Malam Sebelum Jam Tujuh Malam. Elakkan Mengambil Makanan Yang Berat Kerana Kadar Metabolisme Yang Rendah Pada Waktu Malam Akan Menyebabkan Makanan Disimpan Sebagai Lemak.

* Jangan Mudah Terpedaya Iklan-iklan Merampingkan Badan Atau Produk-produk Pil Kurus. Kebanyakkannya Indah Khabar Dari Rupa. Duit Habis, Badan Tetap Juga Naik.

* Dapatkan Nasihat Doktor Sebelum Membuat Keputusan Membeli Produk Diet Yang Banyak Terdapat Di Pasaran Dan Farmasi. Pandangan Doktor Adalah Lebih Selamat.

* Turun 1 Kg Sebulan Secara Tetap Adalah Lebih Baik Daripada Turun Berat Badan Secara Drastik Dan Mendadak. Ini Boleh Mengganggu Kesihatan Dan Kemungkinan Berat Badan Anda Akan Naik Secara Mendadak Pula.

* Rajinkan Diri Melakukan Senaman Seperti Sit-up. Jika Mampu, Berkunjunglah Ke Jim Berdekatan. Senaman Membentuk Otot Yang Sihat Dapat Membakar Lemak.

* Positifkan Diri. Buatlah Target Badan Yang Realistik Dan Perancangan Yang Sesuai. Jangan Memaksa Diri Mencapai Perkara Yang Tidak Logik Dalam Masa Yang Singkat.

* Jangan Asyik Menimbang Berat Badan. Anda Akan Kecewa Jika Masih Tiada Perubahan. Cara Paling Fleksibel Ialah Menimbang Berat Badan Tidak Lebih Sekali Dalam Seminggu.

* Beri Penghargaan Untuk Diri Sendiri. Beri Ganjaran Pada Diri Sendiri Jika Matlamat Tercapai. Contohnya, Makan Satu Bar Coklat Yang Sedap. Jangan Risau… Sesekali Tidak Mengapa.


Sekian, semoga kita same mempraktikkannya…

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Maulidul Rasul





Mawlid (Eid Milad an-Nabi) (Qur'anic Arabic: ِّmawlidu n-nabiyyi, “Birth of the Prophet” Standard Arabic: maulid an-nabī, sometimes simply called in colloquial Arabi , mawlid, múlid, mulud, milad among other vernacular pronunciations) is a term used to refer to the observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad which occurs in Rabi' al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.

The term Mawlid is also used in some parts of the world, such as Egypt, as a generic term for the birthday celebrations of other historical religious figures such as Sufi saints.



Renungan
Dan janganlah kamu makan (atau mengambil) harta (orang-orang lain) di antara kamu dengan jalan yang salah dan jangan pula kamu menghulurkan harta kamu (memberi rasuah) kepada hakim-hakim kerana hendak memakan (atau mengambil) sebahagian dari harta manusia dengan (berbuat) dosa, padahal kamu mengetahui (salahnya).

(Qur'an: Al-Baqarah, 188)



Timing

Mawlid falls in the month of Rabi' al-awwal in the Islamic calendar. Shias observe the event on the 17th of the month, coinciding with the birth date of their sixth Imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq, while Sunnis observe it on the 12th of the month. As the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the corresponding date in the Gregorian calendar varies each year.


History

The earliest accounts for the observance of Mawlid can be found in eighth-century Mecca, when the house in which Muhammad was born was transformed into a place of prayer by Al-Khayzuran (mother of Harun al-Rashid, the fifth and most famous Abbasid caliph). The early celebrations included elements of Sufic influence, with animal sacrifices and torchlight processions along with public sermons and a feast. The celebrations occurred during the day, in contrast to modern day observances, with the ruler playing a key role in the ceremonies. Emphasis was given to the Ahl al-Bayt with presentation of sermons and recitations of the Qur'an. The event also featured the award of gifts to officials in order to bolster support for the ruling caliph.

The first public celebrations by Sunnis took place in twelfth-century Syria, under the rule of Nur ad-Din Zangi Though there is no firm evidence to indicate the reason for the adoption of the Shi'ite festival by the Sunnis, some theorise the celebrations took hold to counter Christian influence in places such as Spain and Morocco. Theologians denounced the celebration of Mawlid as unorthodox,and the practice was briefly halted by the Ayoubides when they came to power, becoming an event confined to family circles. It regained status as an official event again in 1207 when it was re-introduced by Muzaffar ad-din, the brother-in-law of Saladin, in Arbil, a town near Mosul, Iraq.

The practice spread throughout the Muslim world, assimilating local customs, to places such as Cairo, where folklore and Sufic practices greatly influenced the celebrations. By 1588 it had spread to the court of Murad III, Sultan of the Ottoman empire.In 1910, it was given official status as a national festival throughout the Ottoman empire. Today it is an official holiday in many parts of the world.

Muhammad in Mecca
Muhammad was born and lived in Mecca for the first 52 years of his life (570–622) which was divided into two phases, that is before and after declaring the prophecy.


Celebrated by the Muslims on the twelfth day of the month of Rabiulawal, the third month of the Muslim calendar, on Feb 26, 2010.

Also known to Muslims as Maulud Nabi . This is purely a religious festival and is marked as a public holiday in Malaysia.

Chinese New Year Eve






Chinese New Year begins on Sunday, February 14, 2010



Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-yearcycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.

The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.

The presence of the ancestors is acknowledged on New Year's Eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great community. The communal feast called "surrounding the stove" or weilu. It symbolizes family unity and honors the past and present generations.


Also called Lunar New Year, Spring Festival
Observed by Chinese communities worldwide[1]
Type Cultural, Religious
(Buddhist and Taoist)
Significance The first day of the Chinese calendar (lunar calendar)
2010 date February 14
2011 date February 3
Celebrations Dragon dances/Lion dances, fireworks, family gathering, family meal, visiting friends and relatives , giving red envelopes, decorating with duilian .
Related to Lantern Festival, which concludes the celebration of the New Year.

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is sometimes called the "Lunar New Year" by English speakers. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month (Chinese: pinyin: zhēng yuè) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as chú xī. It literally means "Year-pass Eve".

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Lunar Calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. Ancient Chinese New Year is a reflection on how the people behaved and what they believed in the most.

Celebrated in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese, Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction. These include Koreans (Seollal), Tibetans and Bhutanese (Losar), Mongolians (Tsagaan Sar), Vietnamese (Tết), and formerly the Japanese before 1873 (Oshogatsu). Outside of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, Chinese New Year is also celebrated in countries with significant Han Chinese populations, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. In countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States, although Chinese New Year is not an official holiday, many ethnic Chinese hold large celebrations and Australia Post, Canada Post, and the US Postal Service issues New Year's themed stamps.

Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese new year vary widely. People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also the tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity”. On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is a great way to reconcile forgetting all grudges, and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

Although the Chinese calendar traditionally does not use continuously numbered years, outside China its years are often numbered from the reign of Huangdi. But at least three different years numbered 1 are now used by various scholars, making the year 2009 "Chinese Year" 4707, 4706, or 4646.



Mythology

This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2009)

Hand-painted Chinese New Year's poetry pasted on the sides of doors leading to people's homes, Lijiang, Yunnan, PRC.According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nien (Chinese: pinyin: nián). Nien would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nien ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people. One time, people saw that the Nien was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nien was afraid of the colour red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nien. From then on, Nien never came to the village again. The Nien was eventually captured by hong jun lao zu, an ancient Taoist monk. The Nien became hong jun lao zu's mount.



Public holiday

Chinese New Year is observed as a public holiday in a number of countries and territories where a sizable Chinese population resides. Since Chinese New Year falls on different dates on the Gregorian calendar every year on different days of the week, some of these governments opt to shift working days in order to accommodate a longer public holiday. Also like many other countries in the world, a statutory holiday is added on the following work day when the New Year falls on a weekend.



Region Description

Mainland China New Year's Eve and the first two days. (Usually 7 days, including weekends.)

Hong Kong and Macau The first three days. If one of the first three days is on a Sunday, Chinese New Year's Eve is celebrated as a public holiday. In the year 2010, the first day (February 14) is a Sunday and Chinese New Year's Eve (February 13) is consequently a public holiday.

Taiwan The New Year's Eve and the first three days.

Malaysia and Singapore The first two days. If one of the days falls on a Sunday, the holiday is extended to three days. In 2010, the first day (February 14) is on a Sunday so celebration of the holiday is extended through Tuesday (February 16).

Brunei and Indonesia The first day. If Sunday, it will be moved to Monday.
Other A few countries around the world regularly issue postage stamps and numismatic coins to commemorate Chinese New Year. Although Chinese New Year is not institutionalized as public holiday, these countries recognize the significant number of their citizens who are of Chinese origin. The countries and territories that sometimes do so include Australia, Canada, Christmas Island, France, New Zealand, the United States, the Philippines and other countries.


Preceding days

First day
The first day is for the welcoming of the deities of the heavens and earth, officially beginning at midnight. Many people, especially Buddhists, abstain from meat consumption on the first day because it is believed that this will ensure longevity for them. Some consider lighting fires and using knives to be bad luck on New Year's Day, so all food to be consumed is cooked the day before. For Buddhists, the first day is also the birthday of Maitreya Bodhisattva (better known as the more familiar Budai Luohan), the Buddha-to-be. People also abstain from killing animals.

Most importantly, the first day of Chinese New Year is a time when families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended family, usually their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents.

Some families may invite a lion dance troupe as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Lunar New Year as well as to evict bad spirits from the premises. Members of the family who are married also give red packets containing cash to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers.

While fireworks and firecrackers are traditionally very popular, some regions have banned them due to concerns over fire hazards, which have resulted in increased number of fires around New Years and challenged municipal fire departments' work capacity. For this reason, various city governments (e.g., Hong Kong, and Beijing, for a number of years) issued bans over fireworks and firecrackers in certain premises of the city. As a substitute, large-scale fireworks have been launched by governments in cities like Hong Kong to offer citizens the experience.

Second day


Incense is burned at the graves of ancestors as part of the offering and prayer ritual.The second day of the Chinese New Year is for married daughters to visit their birth parents. Traditionally, daughters who have been married may not have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently.

On the second day, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods. They are extra kind to dogs and feed them well as it is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs.

Business people of the Cantonese dialect group will hold a 'Hoi Nin' prayer to start their business on the 2nd day of Chinese New Year. The prayer is done to pray that they will be blessed with good luck and prosperity in their business for the year.

Third and fourth days

The third and fourth day of the Chinese New Year are generally accepted as inappropriate days to visit relatives and friends due to the following schools of thought. People may subscribe to one or both thoughts.

1) It is known as "chì kǒu", meaning that it is easy to get into arguments. It is suggested that the cause could be the fried food and visiting during the first two days of the New Year celebration.

2) Families who had an immediate kin deceased in the past 3 years will not go house-visiting as a form of respect to the dead, but people may visit them on this day. Some people then conclude that it is inauspicious to do any house visiting at all. The third day of the New Year is allocated to grave-visiting instead.

Fifth day

In northern China, people eat jiǎo zi (simplified Chinese:traditional Chinese: or dumplings on the morning of Po Wu . This is also the birthday of the Chinese god of wealth. In Taiwan, businesses traditionally re-open on this day, accompanied by firecrackers.

It is also common on the mainland, that on the 5th day locals will shoot off firecrackers, in the attempt to get Guan Yu's attention, thus ensuring his favor and good fortune for the new year.

Seventh day

The seventh day, traditionally known as renri , the common man's birthday, the day when everyone grows one year older. It is the day when tossed raw fish salad, yusheng, is eaten. This is a custom primarily among the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia and Singapore. People get together to toss the colourful salad and make wishes for continued wealth and prosperity.

For many Chinese Buddhists, this is another day to avoid meat, the seventh day commemorating the birth of Sakra Devanam Indra.


Chinese New Year's celebrations, on the eighth day, in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

Eighth day

Another family dinner to celebrate the eve of the birth of the Jade Emperor. However, everybody should be back to work by the 8th day. All of government agencies and business will stop celebrating by the eighth day.

Ninth day

The ninth day of the New Year is a day for Chinese to offer prayers to the Jade Emperor of Heaven in the Taoist Pantheon. The ninth day is traditionally the birthday of the Jade Emperor. This day is especially important to Hokkiens. Come midnight of the eighth day of the new year, Hokkiens will offer thanks giving prayers to the Emperor of Heaven. Offerings will include sugarcane as it was the sugarcane that had protected the Hokkiens from certain extermination generations ago. Incense, tea, fruit, vegetarian food or roast pig, and paper gold is served as a customary protocol for paying respect to an honored person.

Tenth day

The other day when the Jade Emperor's birthday is celebrated.

Thirteenth day

On the 13th day people will eat pure vegetarian food to clean out their stomach due to consuming too much food over the last two weeks.

This day is dedicated to the General Guan Yu, also known as the Chinese God of War. Guan Yu was born in the Han dynasty and is considered the greatest general in Chinese history. He represents loyalty, strength, truth, and justice. According to history, he was tricked by the enemy and was beheaded.

Almost every organization and business in China will pray to Guan Yu on this day. Before his life ended, Guan Yu had won over one hundred battles and that is a goal that all businesses in China want to accomplish. In a way, people look at him as the God of Wealth or the God of Success.

Fifteenth day

The fifteenth day of the new year is celebrated as yuán xiāo jié , otherwise known as Chap Goh Mei in Fujian dialect. Rice dumplings tangyuan (simplified Chinese:traditional Chinese:pinyin: tāngyuán), a sweet glutinous rice ball brewed in a soup, is eaten this day. Candles are lit outside houses as a way to guide wayward spirits home. This day is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, and families walk the street carrying lighted lanterns.

This day often marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities.

Cuisine

A reunion dinner is held on New Year's Eve where members of the family, near and far away, get together for the celebration. The venue will usually be in or near the home of the most senior member of the family. The New Year's Eve dinner is very sumptuous and traditionally includes chicken and fish. In some areas, fish (simplified Chinese: traditional Chinese: pinyin: yú) is included, but not eaten completely (and the remainder is stored overnight), as the Chinese phrase "may there be surpluses every year" (simplified Chinese: traditional Chinese: pinyin: nián nián yǒu yú) sounds the same as "may there be fish every year."

In mainland China, many families will banter whilst watching the CCTV New Year's Gala in the hours before midnight.

Red packets for the immediate family are sometimes distributed during the reunion dinner. These packets often contain money in certain numbers that reflect good luck and honorability. Several foods are consumed to usher in wealth, happiness, and good fortune. Several of the Chinese food names are homophones for words that also mean good things.


Symbolism

During these 15 days of the Chinese New Year one will see superstitious or traditional cultural beliefs with meanings which can be puzzling in the eyes of those who do not celebrate this occasion. There is a customary reason that explains why everything, not just limited to decorations, are centered on the colour red. At times, gold is the accompanying colour for reasons that are already obvious. One best and common example is the red diamond-shaped posters with the character 福 (pinyin: fú), or "auspiciousness" which are displayed around the house and on doors. This sign is usually seen hanging upside down, since the Chinese word (pinyin: dào), or "upside down", sounds the same as pinyin: dào), or "arrive". Therefore, it symbolizes the arrival of luck, happiness, and prosperity.

Red is the predominant colour used in New Year celebrations. Red is the emblem of joy, and this colour also symbolizes virtue, truth and sincerity. On the Chinese opera stage, a painted red face usually denotes a sacred or loyal personage and sometimes a great emperor. Candies, cakes, decorations and many things associated with the New Year and its ceremonies are coloured red. The sound of the Chinese word for “red” is “hong” which also means “prosperous.” Therefore, red is an auspicious colour and has an auspicious sound

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The Best Korean Drama Coffee Prince








The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince (or Coffee Prince) is a South Korean drama that began airing on July 2, 2007 in South Korea. It aired every Monday and Tuesday. It stars popular actress Yoon Eun Hye from Goong or Princess Hours, Gong Yoo from One Fine Day, Lee Sun Gyun from White Tower and Chae Jung Ahn. The drama is a love story between a tomboyish woman pretending to be a man and a young food empire mogul. It contains "pseudo-homosexual" elements as the man does not initially know of the tomboyish woman's true sex.

Due to the show's popularity, MBC had announced extension of the show by one episode. MBC also aired a special on August 28 2007. Gong Yoo watched the special with 1000 fans from all over Asia.

1 Main cast
2 Supporting Cast
3 Synopsis
4 Book Information
5 Awards and nominations
6 Production Credits
7 Episode Ratings
8 International Broadcasting
1 Philippines
2 Singapore
3 Indonesia
4 Taiwan
5 Malaysia
6 Israel
7 Thailand
8 Hong Kong
9 Zimbabwe






Main cast

Yoon Eun Hye as Go Eun Chan
Gong Yoo as Choi Han Kyul
Lee Sun Gyun as Choi Han Seong
Chae Jung Ahn as Han Yoo Joo






Supporting Cast
Coffee Shop Members


Kim Chang Wan as Mr. Hong
Kim Dong Wook as Jin Ha Rim
Kim Jae Wook as Noh Sun Ki
Lee Eon as Hwang Min Yeop
Han Kyul's Family

Kim Young Oak as Han Kyul's Grandmother
Kim Ja Ok as Han Kyul's Mother
Choi Il Hwa as Han Kyul's Father
Eun Chan's Family

Park Won Sook as Eun Chan's Mother
Han Ye In as Go Eun Sae (Eun Chan's Sister)
Lee Han Wie as Meat Shop Owner (Friend of Eun Chan)






Synopsis

Choi Han Kyul, played by Gong Yoo, is the cocky son of a very rich family who runs a damaged food corporation. He doesn't believe in love and certainly doesn't want to get married despite his family's requests. On the other hand, Go Eun Chan, played by Yoon Eun Hye, is a 24-year old tomboyish female who gets mistaken as a guy quite often. She takes up every job possible — waitress, food deliverer, etc — and has the responsibility of taking care of her mother and younger sister. Eun Chan accidentally meets Han Kyul twice, once on a delivery and once during a robbery. During the robbery, Eun Chan's delivery motorcycle ends up being damaged. Han Kyul, not knowing that Eun Chan is actually a girl, decides to hire Eun Chan as a false "lover" so that he can escape the blind dates arranged by his grandmother. Meanwhile, Han Kyul's cousin, Choi Han Seong, is an established music producer and his ex-girlfriend Han Yoo Joo, who Han Kyul secretly loved for nine years, is a famous artist who studied in New York. The two were lovers for about 8 years but their relationship ended when Yoo Joo broke up with Han Seong. Two years after they separated their paths cross again when Yoo Joo returns to Seoul.

After getting an ultimatum from his grandmother, Han Kyul takes over a run-down severely damaged old coffee shop, later renamed Coffee Prince, to prove his ability, both to his grandmother and Yoo Joo. In order to attract female customers, he only hires good looking male employees. In a struggle with money, Eun Chan, whom Han Kyul has already mistaken as a boy, hides her gender identity to get a job at Coffee Prince. Soon feelings start to spark between Eun Chan and Han Kyul. Because he's unaware that Eun Chan is a girl, Han Kyul starts to question his sexuality.








Book Information

With the death of her father, Eun Chan has to support her family, consisting of a foolish, spendthrift mother and younger sister. Due to her short hair, baggy clothing and general boyish behavior, she often gets mistaken for a boy and her sister often uses her as her 'boyfriend' to get rid of boys who follow her around. Eun Chan is also proficient at Taekwondo, and is strong for a girl.

Han Kyul is the heir of a large company. He's rich, carefree and doesn't take life seriously enough. He first meets Eun Chan when one of her sister's boyfriends attempts to steal a handbag belonging to Yoo Joo (a woman that Han Kyul secretly likes). Eun Chan, not knowing who the boy is, catches him but lets him go when she realizes who it is. This gives Han Kyul the impression that the two have been planning the incident together, and when she comes the day after to collect money to fix her scooter, he insults her by telling her that he thinks she's just a thief. All this time, he thinks that Eun Chan is male.

After being forced by his grandmother to take on a coffee shop (that is to become Coffee Prince) and improve its sales, Han Kyul goes for a 'prince' concept and tries to hire good-looking boys as servers to attract female customers. Eun Chan is employed, and as she works at Coffee Prince, she falls in love with Han Kyul. Han Kyul too feels affection for Eun Chan. Not knowing that Eun Chan is actually a girl, this leads him to confusion about his sexuality and he tries to distance himself from her.

Although the drama version is very similar, there is nothing in the book about Eun Chan being employed as a 'false lover' to get Han Kyul out of blind dates or Eun Chan going abroad to become a barista.








Awards and nominations
Won



2007 MBC Acting Awards: Top Excellence in Acting (Yoon Eun Hye)
2007 MBC Acting Awards: Excellence in Acting (Gong Yoo)
2007 MBC Acting Awards: Best PD Award (Kim Chang Wan)
Nominated

2007 MBC Acting Awards: Excellence in Acting (Chae Jung Ahn)
2007 MBC Acting Awards: Excellence in Acting (Lee Sun Gyun)
2007 MBC Acting Awards: Best New Actor (Lee Eon)
2007 MBC Acting Awards: Best Drama
2007 MBC Acting Awards: Best Couple Award (Yoon Eun Hye and Gong Yoo)
2007 MBC Acting Awards: Best Couple Award (Chae Jung Ahn and Lee Sun Gyun)
2007 MBC Acting Awards: Popularity Award (Gong Yoo)
2007 MBC Acting Awards: Popularity Award (Yoon Eun Hye)
At the 20th Korean Producers’ Award held on 28 February 2008 at the SBS Open Hall, Coffee Prince won the best TV drama award.

At the 44th Baeksang Arts Awards held on April 24 2008 in Seoul, handing out top honors to the films and television programs of the previous year, Yoon Eun Hye and Producer Lee Yoon Jung won the following awards :

BEST ACTRESS: Yoon Eun Hye (Coffee Prince)

BEST NEW PRODUCER: Lee Yoon Jung (Coffee Prince)