A Cool Dude

Chill, man

A Cool Dude

Chill, man

Taste the World's Greatest Coffee

Wanna taste the greatest coffee in the world? Try Kopi Luwak from Indonesia. This coffee have a rather strange way of preparation. The ripe coffee cherries are eaten by the native civet cats. As it makes it way through the animal’s intestinal tract, the fleshy covering is digested leaving behind the coffee beans which are excreted in the animal poo. These beans are collected and roasted, and whallah…kopi luwak also known as cat poo coffee.

Aside from being the strangest and best tasting coffee, it is also the world's rarest and most expensive coffee… and I have a bottle of it. Who wanna share it with me?

Aussies go crazy for cat poo coffee (Reuters)

’Good to the last dropping’ (Taipei Times)

Life after coffee

.

Taste the World's Greatest Coffee

Wanna taste the greatest coffee in the world? Try Kopi Luwak from Indonesia. This coffee have a rather strange way of preparation. The ripe coffee cherries are eaten by the native civet cats. As it makes it way through the animal’s intestinal tract, the fleshy covering is digested leaving behind the coffee beans which are excreted in the animal poo. These beans are collected and roasted, and whallah…kopi luwak also known as cat poo coffee.

Aside from being the strangest and best tasting coffee, it is also the world's rarest and most expensive coffee… and I have a bottle of it. Who wanna share it with me?

Aussies go crazy for cat poo coffee (Reuters)

’Good to the last dropping’ (Taipei Times)

Life after coffee

.

Treat Your Child's Blocked Nose with Saline Wash

Children with acute rhinitis treated with saline nasal wash plus medications had fewer symptoms of nasal secretion and obstruction during the acute phase of the illness (up to 3 weeks) vs children treated with medication alone.

During the following weeks (up to 12 weeks), the saline-plus-medication group had significantly fewer illness days (31% vs 75%), school absences (17% vs 35%), and complications (8% vs 32%) and used fewer medications vs the group treated with medication alone

Read more here

.

Treat Your Child's Blocked Nose with Saline Wash

Children with acute rhinitis treated with saline nasal wash plus medications had fewer symptoms of nasal secretion and obstruction during the acute phase of the illness (up to 3 weeks) vs children treated with medication alone.

During the following weeks (up to 12 weeks), the saline-plus-medication group had significantly fewer illness days (31% vs 75%), school absences (17% vs 35%), and complications (8% vs 32%) and used fewer medications vs the group treated with medication alone

Read more here

.

Please Don't Jail Our Doctors in Malaysia

Calling all doctor and student bloggers and anyone who can help. The Government has begun to arrest and jail doctors on a technicality - not registering their clinic with the PHFSA. This act treats doctors like common criminals. These are community doctors who have not committed a serious crime but instead face an incredibly harsh sentence for their technical lapse.

Dr Basmullah Yusom, a family practitioner, is the first victim of this legislation. He was sentenced despite not having legal counsel representing him, despite pleading for leniency (he had wanted to sell the clinic anyway and is in financial trouble) and as he could not pay the hefty RM 120,000 fine, he is now in Kajang prison.

You can read more about it in Malaysian Medical Resources http://medicine.com.my/wp/


The 1st clinic doctor convicted under the PHFSA

and

The 1st clinic doctor convicted under the PHFSA (II)


The ex-Health Minister had promised that the Act would be used only against Bogus doctors and Bogus clinics. Yet, we see that legitimate licensed APC holding medical practitioners are now being targeted.

In support of Dr. Basmullah, we urge all of you to put up this logo in your Blogs and Websites until this travesty of justice is reversed.

Please Don't Jail Our Doctors in Malaysia

Calling all doctor and student bloggers and anyone who can help. The Government has begun to arrest and jail doctors on a technicality - not registering their clinic with the PHFSA. This act treats doctors like common criminals. These are community doctors who have not committed a serious crime but instead face an incredibly harsh sentence for their technical lapse.

Dr Basmullah Yusom, a family practitioner, is the first victim of this legislation. He was sentenced despite not having legal counsel representing him, despite pleading for leniency (he had wanted to sell the clinic anyway and is in financial trouble) and as he could not pay the hefty RM 120,000 fine, he is now in Kajang prison.

You can read more about it in Malaysian Medical Resources http://medicine.com.my/wp/


The 1st clinic doctor convicted under the PHFSA

and

The 1st clinic doctor convicted under the PHFSA (II)


The ex-Health Minister had promised that the Act would be used only against Bogus doctors and Bogus clinics. Yet, we see that legitimate licensed APC holding medical practitioners are now being targeted.

In support of Dr. Basmullah, we urge all of you to put up this logo in your Blogs and Websites until this travesty of justice is reversed.

My Batman Piggie Bank

My Batman Piggie Bank

Freed By The Cross

Freed By The Cross

What is Your Church's Focus?

OUT OF FOCUS? click on table to see clearly


.

What is Your Church's Focus?

OUT OF FOCUS? click on table to see clearly


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Leadership Qualities of Star Fleet Captains

Kevin Dilmore and Dayton Ward wrote an interesting article, Following the Leaders in Jan/Feb issue of Star Trek. In the article they explored the leadership qualities of the various captains featured in the Star Trek universe. Here are the eight qualities listed.

(1) Initiative

"Well, a little late, but I'm glad they're seeing it our way"
-Captain James Kirk, Amok Time (Star Trek)

(2) Judgment and Decisiveness

"A hundred decisions a day, hundred of lives staked on you making everyone of them right."

-Commodore Stone, Court Martial (Star Trek)

(3) Integrity

"The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth...whether it's scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth. It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based."

-Captain Jean-Luc Picard, The First Duty (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

(4) Courage

"I don't care if the odds are against us. If we're going to lose, then we're going to go down fighting - so that when our descendants someday rise up against the Dominion, they'll know what they are made of."

- Captain Benjamin Sisko, Statistical Probabilities (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

(5) Bearing and Tack

"If you respect our customs and we see that respect, we will be friends..."

-Lutan to Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Code of Honor (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

(6) Loyalty

"Because the needs of the one outweighted the needs of the many."

-Admiral James Kirk, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

(7) Endurance

"...I'm going to ask all of you to think back to the day when this ship was first launched. We were explorers then. When all this is over and earth is safe, I want you to get back to that job. There are 400 billions stars in our galaxy. We've only explored a tiny fraction. You have a lot of work to do. Of all the captains who will sit on this chair, I can't imagine any of them being more proud than I am right now."

-Captain Jonathan Archer, Azati Prime (Star Trek: Enterprise)

(8) Justice

"In a part of space where there are few rules, it's more important than ever that we hold fast to our own."

-Captain Kathryn Janeway, Alliances (Star Trek: Voyager)

The Star Trek Universe is one imaginary universe from which I have learnt many important life lessons. From naming a space shuttle "Enterprise" to Motorola flip-phones, its influence on our own universe is undeniable. I have been a Trekkee, Trekker and now, Trekster. I am still recovering from the horror of 2005, when the television Star Trek: Enterprise was cancelled after 4 seasons. However there is hope in the Star Trek universe as there is hope for ours. This year will see another Star Trek movie and the launching of a new computer game, Star Trek: Conquest.

Make it so

.

Leadership Qualities of Star Fleet Captains

Kevin Dilmore and Dayton Ward wrote an interesting article, Following the Leaders in Jan/Feb issue of Star Trek. In the article they explored the leadership qualities of the various captains featured in the Star Trek universe. Here are the eight qualities listed.

(1) Initiative

"Well, a little late, but I'm glad they're seeing it our way"
-Captain James Kirk, Amok Time (Star Trek)

(2) Judgment and Decisiveness

"A hundred decisions a day, hundred of lives staked on you making everyone of them right."

-Commodore Stone, Court Martial (Star Trek)

(3) Integrity

"The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth...whether it's scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth. It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based."

-Captain Jean-Luc Picard, The First Duty (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

(4) Courage

"I don't care if the odds are against us. If we're going to lose, then we're going to go down fighting - so that when our descendants someday rise up against the Dominion, they'll know what they are made of."

- Captain Benjamin Sisko, Statistical Probabilities (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

(5) Bearing and Tack

"If you respect our customs and we see that respect, we will be friends..."

-Lutan to Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Code of Honor (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

(6) Loyalty

"Because the needs of the one outweighted the needs of the many."

-Admiral James Kirk, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

(7) Endurance

"...I'm going to ask all of you to think back to the day when this ship was first launched. We were explorers then. When all this is over and earth is safe, I want you to get back to that job. There are 400 billions stars in our galaxy. We've only explored a tiny fraction. You have a lot of work to do. Of all the captains who will sit on this chair, I can't imagine any of them being more proud than I am right now."

-Captain Jonathan Archer, Azati Prime (Star Trek: Enterprise)

(8) Justice

"In a part of space where there are few rules, it's more important than ever that we hold fast to our own."

-Captain Kathryn Janeway, Alliances (Star Trek: Voyager)

The Star Trek Universe is one imaginary universe from which I have learnt many important life lessons. From naming a space shuttle "Enterprise" to Motorola flip-phones, its influence on our own universe is undeniable. I have been a Trekkee, Trekker and now, Trekster. I am still recovering from the horror of 2005, when the television Star Trek: Enterprise was cancelled after 4 seasons. However there is hope in the Star Trek universe as there is hope for ours. This year will see another Star Trek movie and the launching of a new computer game, Star Trek: Conquest.

Make it so

.

John Rambo: To Hell and Back

Rambo 4

[Warning: This review contain spoilers]

The situation of Rambo 4 is just not something you want to be in while you are on a mission trip. Seriously! Since Christians are in the resurrection business, we shall examine whether it is possible to resurrect a 20 years old trilogy with a 61 years old actor. John Rambo is a cult figure; on par there with G.I. Joe. Both have wonderful action figures.

Twenty years ago, John Rambo hit the big screen and was an instant hit. Starred by a young and slimmer Sylvester Stallone, it portrayed the homecoming of a Special Forces Vietnam veteran. The first movie was named Rambo: First Blood, based loosely on a novel of the same name by David Morrell. In the movie, John was rough handled by a small town sheriff who mistaken him for a drifter and in retaliation, a small town in the United States was almost blown up and burnt down.

The second movie was Rambo: First Blood Part 2, where a more muscular John was enlisted to find American P.O.W.s in Vietnam and ended in a successful rescue operation.

The third movie was just named Rambo 3 where John blows up a Soviet mountain fortress in Afghanistan. All these movies were violent with gory scenes of killing, maiming, explosion and destruction. However, all three movies highlighted certain groups of oppressed communities. In the first, were the unappreciated Vietnam veterans who fought in a highly unpopular war; in the second, the left behind prisoners of war in Vietnam, and in the third, the oppressed in Afghanistan under the Soviet Union. It is highly ironic that the Americans armed forces have replaced the Soviet forces today.

This movie is about another group of oppressed people, the Karens of Myanmar. The Karens are Christian tribal people and have been at war with the Myanmar military Junta for 60 years, making it the longest civil war in history. There have been reports of atrocities committed by the military that was graphically shown in the movie. It was 20 years after John Rambo left Afghanistan and went to live in Thailand. He was living a quiet retiring life when he was approached by some American missionaries to bring them up river into Myanmar. He reluctantly agreed. The group was captured by the local warlord. John was approached by the church pastor to lead a group of mercenaries to rescue them. This he did with a great deal of noise, explosions and flying body parts. The movie does raise some interesting questions.

First, what is the nature of Christian mission? Does God want his people to travel into volatile and hostile political situations to minister comfort and his word? The American missionaries wanted to bring medicine and food to the Karens. It is interesting to watch in the movie, scenes of them feeding the tribal people, treating their medical conditions and preaching from the Bible. In a way, moving into these unstable situations is asking for trouble. Reports of missionaries killed and recently of the Korean missionaries’ hostage situation highlight these. What is the Christian response? Do we still go, knowing that we will be tortured and killed? And when our missionaries were captured, what should the sending agency’s response? Negotiate, pay the ransom, or send in mercenaries?

Second, the issue of pacifism and ‘just’ war arises in the story. Initially the leader of the missionaries was a pacifist but became a killer after his imprisonment. The violence in the movie is consuming. At the beginning, when the soldiers were committing atrocities on the civilians, we watch with horror. At the second part when the ‘good’ guys started killing the soldiers, we feel satisfied and even gratified. Our sense of justice seems to be fulfilled. In a sense, we even begin to enjoy the violence.

Third, this movie brings to a close the spiritual journey of John Rambo. During the trilogy, John tried to justify his action by blaming the military for making him a ‘killing machine.’ In this movie, he came to realise that he was already a psychopath before the army trained him. This self-realisation brought peace to John Rambo and this movie ended with him reaching his home in the States, a journey he started 3 movies and 20 years ago. It is a journey of self-discovery and sometimes we need to come to terms as to who we are before we can move on.


Finally, the movie asks an important question; is violence ever justifiable? This is a violent movie but it never glorified violence. Violence was used to portray the evil that is in our hearts and our deeds. It was used to show how one community oppresses another.Violence was also used as a means of redemption. Unlike the earlier three movies, I walked away from this one shaken and stirred.

Parental guidance is needed and some scenes were too graphic even for me. You have been warned.


.

John Rambo: To Hell and Back

Rambo 4

[Warning: This review contain spoilers]

The situation of Rambo 4 is just not something you want to be in while you are on a mission trip. Seriously! Since Christians are in the resurrection business, we shall examine whether it is possible to resurrect a 20 years old trilogy with a 61 years old actor. John Rambo is a cult figure; on par there with G.I. Joe. Both have wonderful action figures.

Twenty years ago, John Rambo hit the big screen and was an instant hit. Starred by a young and slimmer Sylvester Stallone, it portrayed the homecoming of a Special Forces Vietnam veteran. The first movie was named Rambo: First Blood, based loosely on a novel of the same name by David Morrell. In the movie, John was rough handled by a small town sheriff who mistaken him for a drifter and in retaliation, a small town in the United States was almost blown up and burnt down.

The second movie was Rambo: First Blood Part 2, where a more muscular John was enlisted to find American P.O.W.s in Vietnam and ended in a successful rescue operation.

The third movie was just named Rambo 3 where John blows up a Soviet mountain fortress in Afghanistan. All these movies were violent with gory scenes of killing, maiming, explosion and destruction. However, all three movies highlighted certain groups of oppressed communities. In the first, were the unappreciated Vietnam veterans who fought in a highly unpopular war; in the second, the left behind prisoners of war in Vietnam, and in the third, the oppressed in Afghanistan under the Soviet Union. It is highly ironic that the Americans armed forces have replaced the Soviet forces today.

This movie is about another group of oppressed people, the Karens of Myanmar. The Karens are Christian tribal people and have been at war with the Myanmar military Junta for 60 years, making it the longest civil war in history. There have been reports of atrocities committed by the military that was graphically shown in the movie. It was 20 years after John Rambo left Afghanistan and went to live in Thailand. He was living a quiet retiring life when he was approached by some American missionaries to bring them up river into Myanmar. He reluctantly agreed. The group was captured by the local warlord. John was approached by the church pastor to lead a group of mercenaries to rescue them. This he did with a great deal of noise, explosions and flying body parts. The movie does raise some interesting questions.

First, what is the nature of Christian mission? Does God want his people to travel into volatile and hostile political situations to minister comfort and his word? The American missionaries wanted to bring medicine and food to the Karens. It is interesting to watch in the movie, scenes of them feeding the tribal people, treating their medical conditions and preaching from the Bible. In a way, moving into these unstable situations is asking for trouble. Reports of missionaries killed and recently of the Korean missionaries’ hostage situation highlight these. What is the Christian response? Do we still go, knowing that we will be tortured and killed? And when our missionaries were captured, what should the sending agency’s response? Negotiate, pay the ransom, or send in mercenaries?

Second, the issue of pacifism and ‘just’ war arises in the story. Initially the leader of the missionaries was a pacifist but became a killer after his imprisonment. The violence in the movie is consuming. At the beginning, when the soldiers were committing atrocities on the civilians, we watch with horror. At the second part when the ‘good’ guys started killing the soldiers, we feel satisfied and even gratified. Our sense of justice seems to be fulfilled. In a sense, we even begin to enjoy the violence.

Third, this movie brings to a close the spiritual journey of John Rambo. During the trilogy, John tried to justify his action by blaming the military for making him a ‘killing machine.’ In this movie, he came to realise that he was already a psychopath before the army trained him. This self-realisation brought peace to John Rambo and this movie ended with him reaching his home in the States, a journey he started 3 movies and 20 years ago. It is a journey of self-discovery and sometimes we need to come to terms as to who we are before we can move on.


Finally, the movie asks an important question; is violence ever justifiable? This is a violent movie but it never glorified violence. Violence was used to portray the evil that is in our hearts and our deeds. It was used to show how one community oppresses another.Violence was also used as a means of redemption. Unlike the earlier three movies, I walked away from this one shaken and stirred.

Parental guidance is needed and some scenes were too graphic even for me. You have been warned.


.

Peanut's Philosophy

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. I have shared how much I like the Peanuts here and here before. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read straight through, and you'll get the point.


1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.



How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners .


Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with .



Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care .


"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia " (Charles Schultz)

HT: Punna

Peanut's Philosophy

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. I have shared how much I like the Peanuts here and here before. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read straight through, and you'll get the point.


1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.



How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners .


Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with .



Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care .


"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia " (Charles Schultz)

HT: Punna

He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother

wonderful song by the Hollies

"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"

The road is long, with many a winding turn

That leads us to who knows where,

who knows where

But I'm strong, strong enough to carry him

He ain't heavy - he's my brother

So on we go, his welfare is my concern

No burden is he to bare, we'll get there

For I know he would not encumber me

He ain't heavy - he's my brother

If I'm laden at all, I'm laden with sadness

That everyone's heart isn't filled with gladness of love for one another

It's a long long road from which there is no return

While we're on our way to there, why not share

And the load, it doesn't weigh me down at all

He ain't heavy - he's my brother

He ain't heavy - he's my brother, he's my brother, he's my brother

Now sung by Neil Diamond

He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother

wonderful song by the Hollies

"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"

The road is long, with many a winding turn

That leads us to who knows where,

who knows where

But I'm strong, strong enough to carry him

He ain't heavy - he's my brother

So on we go, his welfare is my concern

No burden is he to bare, we'll get there

For I know he would not encumber me

He ain't heavy - he's my brother

If I'm laden at all, I'm laden with sadness

That everyone's heart isn't filled with gladness of love for one another

It's a long long road from which there is no return

While we're on our way to there, why not share

And the load, it doesn't weigh me down at all

He ain't heavy - he's my brother

He ain't heavy - he's my brother, he's my brother, he's my brother

Now sung by Neil Diamond

The Good News is Much Bigger than We Think

picture credit: Christianity Today January 2008

The Good News is Much Bigger than We Think

picture credit: Christianity Today January 2008

The Slow Work of God

The need to keep in step with the Spirit is beautifully expressed by the French writer Teilhard de Chardin in this letter to his cousin, Marguerite:

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are, quite naturally,
impatient in everything to reach the end without delay,
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way
to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made
by passing through some stages of instability......
and that it may take a very long time.
And so I think it is with you.
Your ideas mature gradually;
let them grow, let them shape themselves,
without undue haste.
Don't try to force them on, as though you could today
what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own goodwill)
will make tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of your believing
that His hand is leading you, and of your accepting
the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense
and incomplete.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, The Making of a Mind: Letters from a Soldier-Priest 1914-1919 (New York: Harper & Row, 1961), 57.

more on Teilhard de Chardin here

The Slow Work of God

The need to keep in step with the Spirit is beautifully expressed by the French writer Teilhard de Chardin in this letter to his cousin, Marguerite:

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are, quite naturally,
impatient in everything to reach the end without delay,
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way
to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made
by passing through some stages of instability......
and that it may take a very long time.
And so I think it is with you.
Your ideas mature gradually;
let them grow, let them shape themselves,
without undue haste.
Don't try to force them on, as though you could today
what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own goodwill)
will make tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of your believing
that His hand is leading you, and of your accepting
the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense
and incomplete.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, The Making of a Mind: Letters from a Soldier-Priest 1914-1919 (New York: Harper & Row, 1961), 57.

more on Teilhard de Chardin here

Is Cod Liver Oil Good for Your Child?

Centuries ago, northern Europeans used cod liver oil to protect them from the cold. It was made from the livers of Gadus morhua and other species of cod. Cod liver oil was said to relieve such complaints as rheumatism, aching joints, and stiff muscles.

At the beginning of the 20th century, scientists established that cod liver oil was antirachitic, and it became commonplace for mothers to give it to their children.

It turns out cod liver oil contains large amounts of vitamins A, D, and omega-3 fatty acids, and the health benefits may go beyond rheumatism and rickets.

Vitamin A is essential for the immune system, bone growth, night vision, cellular growth, testicular and ovarian function. Pharmaceutical preparations are used to treat acne vulgaris and keratosis pilaris and to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Vitamin D not only prevents rickets but is also important for muscle function and may prevent type 1 diabetes, hypertension, and many common cancers.

Fish oils include the omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA), eicosopentanoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA and DHA). Recent evidence supports the cardiac benefits of O3FA, beginning in 1999 with publication of the GISSI study, which showed reduction of mortality and sudden death. Further data emerged from analysis of the Physicians Health Study, which showed a stepwise reduction in risk of sudden cardiac death based on blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Most recently, the Japanese EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS) showed a reduction in coronary events. Sudden death was not affected, however, suggesting that the high fish intake in Japan may lower the baseline risk for this finding.

The mechanism for fish oil protection has been speculated to be an improvement in lipids with a reduction in triglycerides and an increase in HDL and a direct membrane stabilizing effect of omega-3 fatty acids.

The data are strong enough that European and American cardiac societies have incorporated EPA and DHA into their recent treatment guidelines for cardiac diseases.

Cod liver oil is not for everyone, however. Cod liver oil is probably best avoided by pregnant women, asthmatics, and people taking anticoagulants such as warfarin.

read more and watch a video here

.

Is Cod Liver Oil Good for Your Child?

Centuries ago, northern Europeans used cod liver oil to protect them from the cold. It was made from the livers of Gadus morhua and other species of cod. Cod liver oil was said to relieve such complaints as rheumatism, aching joints, and stiff muscles.

At the beginning of the 20th century, scientists established that cod liver oil was antirachitic, and it became commonplace for mothers to give it to their children.

It turns out cod liver oil contains large amounts of vitamins A, D, and omega-3 fatty acids, and the health benefits may go beyond rheumatism and rickets.

Vitamin A is essential for the immune system, bone growth, night vision, cellular growth, testicular and ovarian function. Pharmaceutical preparations are used to treat acne vulgaris and keratosis pilaris and to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Vitamin D not only prevents rickets but is also important for muscle function and may prevent type 1 diabetes, hypertension, and many common cancers.

Fish oils include the omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA), eicosopentanoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA and DHA). Recent evidence supports the cardiac benefits of O3FA, beginning in 1999 with publication of the GISSI study, which showed reduction of mortality and sudden death. Further data emerged from analysis of the Physicians Health Study, which showed a stepwise reduction in risk of sudden cardiac death based on blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Most recently, the Japanese EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS) showed a reduction in coronary events. Sudden death was not affected, however, suggesting that the high fish intake in Japan may lower the baseline risk for this finding.

The mechanism for fish oil protection has been speculated to be an improvement in lipids with a reduction in triglycerides and an increase in HDL and a direct membrane stabilizing effect of omega-3 fatty acids.

The data are strong enough that European and American cardiac societies have incorporated EPA and DHA into their recent treatment guidelines for cardiac diseases.

Cod liver oil is not for everyone, however. Cod liver oil is probably best avoided by pregnant women, asthmatics, and people taking anticoagulants such as warfarin.

read more and watch a video here

.