Tocotrienol Protects Against Stroke

PALM Tocotrienol Protects Against Stroke Injury Of Brain
Bernama - Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

The first evidence that palm tocotrienol, an extract from palm oil may protect against stroke injury of brain, was revealed at the International Palm Oil Congress (PIPOC) by Vitamin E researcher, Professor Chandan K Sen.

He said that neuroprotective (brain health) benefits of palm tocotrienol dietary supplement is a new discovery and links the supplement to more and diverse uses.

Findings from Sen's latest research studies showed that even short term dietary intake of palm tocotrienol is readily absorbed by major organs - the brain, the heart, the lungs and the skin.

Source: BERNAMA

Crossing over to the Dark Side

Nobody needs an excuse to eat chocolate. But if ever you're looking for something to ease the guilt, this is it:

Researchers found eating 100g of dark chocolate each day for 15 days lowered blood pressure in the 15 person-study. The University of L'Aquila team also found the body's ability to metabolise sugar - a problem for people with diabetes - was improved. But eating the same quantities of white chocolate did not have an effect, the researchers said. The team said an antioxidant called flavanol was responsible for the effect because it neutralised potentially cell-damaging substances known as oxygen free radicals, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported.

But, to state the obvious:

Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, but also a lot of fat and calories. People who want to add some chocolate to their diet need to subtract an equivalents amount of calories by cutting back on other foods to avoid weight gain.

And coronary heart disease, I might add.

Source: Pakistan Tribune

Other links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3185363.stm
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/88/99702.htm
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/73/81921.htm

Getting back in shape

I've been eating without thinking and neglecting exercise for a couple of months now. Chomping my way steadily up 3kgs since I dared look at the scales. So, today, I decided I will start counting again and logging my exercise and intake.

Input today: 2240cals! (from a kong-fu chau for dinner, and McD's double cheeseburger for lunch) Bad, bad, bad. I'm going to try to get back to a sub 1500cal day in order to lose 1kg a week.

Just to remind us how much a Double Cheese-burger McValue meal can set you back, these are the figures:


Double Cheeseburger = 480cals


Coke = 210cals


French Fries = 453 cals

Eat that all... 1143cals! Doesn't leave much space for anything else does it?

Anyone who needs an Excel worksheet to calculate his input vs. output plus a chart to boot, contact me and I'll send you one! Join me on the crusade against obesity.