Drink Coffee to lower levels of Cholesterol

Coffee May Pack Dietary Fiber Courtesy: www.medicinenet.com Coffee May Be Higher in Soluble Fiber Than Wine or Orange Juice, Experts Say By Miranda HittiWebMD Medical News Reviewed By Louise Chang, MDon Friday, February 23, 2007 Feb. 23, 2007 -- Your coffee may come with a little something extra -- and not just cream and sugar. Some of the dietary fiber in coffee beans may make it into your mug, Spanish researchers report. They say coffee has more soluble dietary fiber (the type of fiber that dissolves in water and helps prevent cholesterol from being absorbed by the intestines) than wine or orange juice. Fulgencio Saura-Calixto, PhD, and colleagues at the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid brewed instant coffee, espresso, and filtered coffee. They measured how much soluble dietary fiber was in each drink. Instant coffee contained the most -- about 1.8 grams of soluble dietary fiber per cup. Espresso had 1.5 grams of soluble dietary fiber per cup, and filtered coffee contained 1.1 grams, the study shows. The report is scheduled for publication in the March 21 edition of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Fiber Recommendations You would have to drink a lot of coffee -- about 17 cups of instant -- to reach the recommended daily intake of 31 grams of dietary fiber per day, based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet. That fiber recommendation comes from dietary guidelines published in 2005 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In their study, the Spanish scientists simply measured dietary fiber in coffee. They didn't study coffee's health effects; and they don't make any recommendations about drinking coffee. Past studies on coffee and health have had mixed results, note Saura-Calixto and colleagues. Fiber Sources Looking for other sources of dietary fiber? Beans, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are leading sources. Those foods also contain insoluble fiber, which doesn't dissolve in water, rather than the soluble dietary fiber found in coffee. Insoluble fiber (roughage) may help keep bowel movements regular and reduce the risk of colon problems. It also makes you feel full. Let's say you start your day with half a cup of 100% bran cereal (8.8 grams of dietary fiber) and a cup of instant coffee (1.8 grams of dietary fiber). Then you lunch on chili containing half a cup of cooked Navy beans (9.5 grams of dietary fiber). In the afternoon, you snack on an ounce of almonds (3.3 grams of dietary fiber) and a small, raw pear (4.3 grams of dietary fiber). For dinner, you have chicken (sorry, no fiber there) and half a medium-sized baked sweet potato (4.8 grams of dietary fiber). Add it all up, and you've reached 32 grams of dietary fiber. That's a smidgen more than the recommended amount. That menu is just an example to give you an idea of foods' fiber content. Your doctor or a nutritionist have more pointers for creating a healthy diet with plenty of fiber.

Dharsan of All 12 JyothirLingams. Click here:

மஉறா சிவராத்திரி வருகிற 15ம் தேதி உலகில் வாழும் எல்லா இந்து்ககளாலும் கொண்டாடப்படுகிறது, நமசிவாய என்னும் 5 எழுத்துக்களைக்கொண்ட மஉறா மந்திரத்தை உச்சரித்து நாம் உய்ய வழி காணுவோமாக. SAURASHTRA SOMNATHAM CHA SHRISHAILE MALLIKARJUNAM UJJAINYAM MAHAKALOMKARE MAMMALESHWARAM PARLYAM VAIJNATHAM CHA DAKINYAM BHEEM SHANKARAM SETU BANDHE TU RAMESHAM NAGESHAM DARUKA VANE VARANASYA TU VISHWESHAM TRIBAKAM GAUTAMITATE HIMALAYE TU KEDARAM GHURMESHAM CHA SHIVALAYE AETANI JYOTIRLINGANI SAYAM PRATAHA PATHENNARAHA SAPTA JANMA KRITAM PAPAM SMARANEN VINASHYATI One who recites these 12 names regularly in the morning and evening he washes all the sins committed in the previous 7 births and attains all the powers and Siddhis. நமசிவாய வாழ்க நாதன் தாள் வாழ்க, இமைப்பொழுதும் என் நெஞ்சி்ன் நீ்ஙகாதான் தாள் வாழ்க,

Pongalo Pongal.

Makara Sankaranthi.

Pongal..is a great and pleasant Festival .In Tamil Nadu, Pongal is a social festival dedicated to the peasants who form the back bone of this great nation.Tamil Nadu celebrates this festival in an unique way.The first day, that is, a day before the Pongal Day, is called Bhogi. This is a day when we cleanse ourselves of the past, decide to live in the present, with bright hopes of the Future.To symbolise the concept, Tamils burn all dusted and rusted things in front of their houses. (However, in view of strict instructions from Pollution Control Board, burning of tyres etc, is prohibited, to keep our atmosphere free from gases like carbon monoxide etc.)The day Pongal is the day, when the planet Sun enters the Makara Rasi from Dhanush ie., the first day of Thy, in the Tamil Calendar.Tamils all over greet the Sun God, pray to Him for Happiness and Prosperity. This is a day when the peasants thank God Sun and God Varuna for timely sunshine and rain during the days of harvest.A Sweet Dish Pongal is prepared every home on this auspicious occasion. Most of the families in villages congregate before village temples to prepare Pongal on an open fire pan on a new earthern mud pots tied with auspicious manjal (turmeric) and inji (ginger) leaves kothu.A mix of wet rice, and dhal is put inside the mud pots and with water, boiled. In fact, pongal literally means boiling over.When the rice and dhal are finally cooked, jaggery is added with thick milk which gives a flavour all around. The milk boils over as to spill over the pot, and all around greet the same with cries of Pongalo Pongal. Along with Sweet Pongal, a plain Pongal called ven pongal is also prepared. The pongal is then added with ghee and cashewnuts to give boost to cholesterol. ( obese men and women of urban India who spend millions of rupees in atorvastin drugs to lower their cholesterol levels, make it a point, to take as much pongal containing ghee and cashewnuts to bring back cholesterol to the same old levels of more than 400.)In some houses, aval or paal payaasam, dal payaasum, vadai, appalam, murukku, pachidi are also prepared and a wholesome lunch is prepared.For newly married couples, the first Pongal day after their day of marriage is called Thalai Pongal.In short, Pongalo pongal is a Great Day for all Tamils.Tamils greet one another with messages ofPONGALO PONGAL. HAPPY PONGAL.

In The New Year 2007 What are your Resolutions?

THE NEW YEAR 2007 IS DAWN... AND LIKE THE PREVIOUS YEARS... YOU WOULD HAVE MADE ANOTHER SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS THAT YOU WOULD SWEAR TO IMPLEMENT DURING THE YEAR...ONLY TO FORGET LATER. BUT LET ME WARN YOU... WHEN YOU FAIL TO IMPLEMENT WHAT YOU YOURSELF WANTED TO IMPLEMENT, YOU DISREGARD YOUR OWN SELF. YOUR OWN HEALTH. SO BE STEADFAST AND HONEST AND DECIDE EQUALLY ON THE RIGHT TYPE OF RESOLUTIONS. NO SET OF RESOLUTIONS COULD BE COMMON FOR EVERYONE. I AM JUST QUOTING WHAT COULD BE A MODEL, TO PROTECT YOUR OWN HEALTH AND FRAME OF MIND. THESE ARE JUST EIGHT IN NUMBER. YOUR EIGHT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS ARE REALLY THE EIGHTS WAYS FOR A HAPPIER LIFE. 1. I will monitor my Weight commensurate with my body mass index. 2. I will eat, but only healthily, and in time. 3. I will decide on what kind of exercise is suited to me and will do it .My goal will be to get fit. 4. I will sleep but will not sleep over the things that I should be doing in time. I shall learn how to get quality sleep. 5. I will understand what is Stress and the Warning Signals. I shall learn to manage it. 6. I shall quit smoking. 7. I shall learn to manage my time. I shall be more organized. 8. And lastly, I shall be successful in making my new year's resolutions last. WE STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO CLICK ON THE ABOVE LINK AND LEARN MORE FROM EXPERTS.

4th Stanza From Thiruppavai.

ஆழி மழைக்கண்ணா! ஒன்று நீ கை கரவேல்; ஆழியுள் புக்கு முகந்துகொடு ஆர்த்து ஏறி ஊழி முதல்வன் உருவம்போல் மெய் கறுத்துப் பாழியந் தோள் உடைப் பத்மநாபன் கையில் ஆழிபோல் மின்னி, வலம்புரிபோல் நின்று அதிர்ந்து, தாழாதே சார்ங்கம் உதைத்த சரமழைபோல் வாழ உலகினில் பெய்திடாய்; நாங்களும் மார்கழி நீர் ஆட மகிழ்ந்து ஏலோர் எம்பாவாய்

Thiruppavai..The Third Stanza

Paasuram 3 - Oangi Ulagalandha This 3rd Paasuram of Thiruppavai depicts about the Vamanavathar taken by Sriman Narayanan. "Hey Paavais! During this Margazhi month, we all should praise about the greatness of Thiruvadi of Sriman Naraynan, who incarnated as Sri Vamanan who showed his Thiru Vikrama roopams. By chanting and taking up this Thiruppavai Viradham, the word will be blessed with good amount of rain. And as a result of this, there will be proper vegetation, which makes the country progress better. In the water, the fish's starts jumping and lots of flower will show their beauty. As a result of the rain, all the grass and leaves will be fresh and the cows will eat them, which symbolizes the love and affection as it gives milk to everyone without expecting anything in return. This vegetation and wealth never diminishes and protects the entire world." In this Paasuram, Sri Andal explains about the greatness of the Noanbhu and what the entire world will get out of that. So, this Paasuram is for Logakshemam (Settlement of the world).

Manathukkan Maasilan Aadhal.Anaithu Aran Ahula Neera Pira. ....Thiruvalluvar.

THIRUPPAVAI...

The Month of Marghazhi according to Tamil Calendar is unique in the senses that Tamils all over the world devote their entire attention to the worship of the Lord to the exclusion of any other functions, such as marriage, starting building or entering a new house, etc. Mythology has it that during this month everyone shuns all other activities and concentrate only on worship of the Lord.

We bring before you the Divine Andal Paasuram known as Thiruppavai, which is said contain the essence of Divya Prabhandam, one stanza per day, with its meaning. We ardently hope and pray that all believers would recite and stand blessed by the Almighty. You see the first stanza on your right side. The second stanza is what is depicted above. The stanza as well as the meaning are as portrayed by the website: www.divyadesamonline.com One may get into the website for getting a fuller and exhaustive knowledge of THIRUPPAVAI.

Our Temple at mandhurai,Trichy, Tamil Nadu.

Mandhurai village is situate some 18 kms north of Trichy district. The family deity of thousands of people, who owe their origin to the 18 villages of Lalgudi Taluk, Angarai, mandhurai, Valadi, Sirudhur, Mayilrangam, etc., and who are now settled throughout the world is what we worshipfully call Mandhuraiyan. Mandhuraiyan is also known as Karuppu or karuppan. The family deity Mandhuraiyan is usually visited by all the faithfuls during the thamizh months of Adi and Thy, particularly on Fridays, when they simultaneously do archanas to Lord Shiva and Godess Parvathy. Lord Shiva is known as Ambravaneswaran, apart from worshipping Mandhuraiyan. Usually devotees have their heads tonsured on fulfilling a vow . Usually devotees prostrate before mandhuraiyan deity and do what is proverbially known as Angapradakshnina. They then take the sand and put it on their foreheads and also keep a portion of it at their homes. There is a stream nearby wherein all of us bathe before entering the temple sanctum sancturm. It is incredible but true that in our families a century-old custom is to offer as Nyvedyam, offerings such as pori, bananas, coconuts, and also a bunch of beedi (cigar) and also a little naatu saarayam. The priest in charge of the temple arranges for all the offerings. Normally, we also take five coconuts, to be offered one each to all the Sannadhis. The last coconut is broken before the Vinayaka Sannadhi at the entrance, when we leave the temple. Mandhuraiyan is always believed to be protecting the devotees wherever they go. Usually the parents tell their children, that when with Mandhuraiyan protecting them, they need fear nothing. For a fuller view of all the temples of Tiruchy District, kindly click on the title,to get linked to the site provided by our Tamil Nadu Government

Body Weight and Food. 10 Diet Rules to be Broken !

LIGHT EATING AND LONG LIVING (Please click on the above title, if you need to really know about myths associated with reducing weight. Otherwise, read the masala-mix below) Don't eat before bedtime or you'll gain weight. Skipping meals will help you take off the pounds. If you want to stay on a diet, eat at the same time every day.Some are half-truths, some are complete myths, and some are clearly more harmful than others, but most of them won't help you lose weight or make dieting any easier," says Elizabeth Somer, MA, RD, author of 10 Habits That Mess Up a Woman's Die to learn more about an expert dietician's views on THE MOST DIETARY MISTAKES THAT WE DO http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14802078/PLEASE CLICK ON: I am trying to recollect, a song from ancient Tamil Literature, stanza from Vennpah. Loosely translated it goes like this: 'Oh Stomach! You won't listen if I order you to be to quiet for a day. Nor would you listen, if i fill you up for two full days, at a stretch. So difficult for me to be staying with you, Is it you have come along only to ail ?. '

Do not make a mistake.

It is not your HEAD, not your HEART, but it really your STOMACH that matters.

It sounds funny, but is true, for, your stomach decides how long will you be vertical..

Your doctor tells you to reduce your weight, when BMI goes above 25. He painstakingly lists your agenda till such time the next patient, impatiently peeps in. You are pretty unnerved at the doctor's command. Which sounds something like Ten Commandments.

(For an online help with regard to weight loss consistent with dietary supplements, please click :)

http://www.vitacost.com/science/hn/Concern/Weight_Loss.htm

http://www.vitacost.com/science/hn/Supp/Fiber.htm Discipline in food habits. Discipline in Regular Exercises. Discipline in Emotions. Discipline in Work behaviour Discipline in sleep.

All the above in one form or another have a say in your weight. Of course.the hereditary quotient is also there, but you can't do much about it.. From what the doctor said, you realize that none could have been more indisciplined than yourself.. Back home, you find a lunch you can hardly skip. Coconut rice, tamarind rice, jaggery rice, curd rice with pickles, curd fried cakes (vadai) fried potatoes with onions, sweets payasams, laddus. Before you let your wife know what your doctor advised you, you hear that today is your mother-in-law's birthday. You cannot not eat like a gourmet.

So you postpone your decision to cut your intake to the next day. With your tummy fully loaded, as you fall asleep, you nevertheless ponder over: First comes "thoughts on food". Is it that you will have to cut down your intake to reduce your weight? If that be so, what will you cut? The quantity or the variety ? or the frequency ? or All? For once, your good friend doctor appears a villain. If i should not be eating now, when at all shall i eat? After all, we live only to eat.

But prudence looks the other way. You resort to thinking, whether you need consult another doctor? Or resort to Yoga? In your dreams, your wife joins your doctor in advising you. You probably felt that it must be your wife to whom the doctor advised. Possibly you slept and next morning, started browsing to know more, on internet.

Legion are the websites that give you information on this. I am afraid if you go thro' them one by one, most of these advices contradict one another.You can hardly decide what you should be doing. Before you decide, the dinner plate arrives. You are tempted to continue what you do and postpone taking a decision on your food habits, to the next day. Unluckily, for most of us, the next day never turns up. When I searched as to how many websites talk on topics, related to food and weight, google gives as much as 2,79,383 catches. That is for this moment. When you click on, you will get a number, which could be even more, since this will also get added.

The fact is that most, if not all, of us is concerned about our weight. There are several slimming centres. Assure you of 100 per cent results.Much more than trimming your hip, they trim your purse and bank balances. They assure you more. That they will return the money they received, (less service tax of course) if you are not losing your weight significantly.

As you wondered what they must be doing, you found: They prescribe such protein based drugs/foods that give you a feeling of fullness of your tummy, even as you are half fed. A good samaritan has suggested why not you cut down the size of your stomach itself, instead of cutting down food? So offers for surgeries that would stich your stomach from within have also surfaced. Having said, let me caution you that there are several myths associated with eating less or fasting to reduce weight. Most of this information is just nonsense, to use a cruel word.

Webmd in its latest bulletin has talked about these myths. Click on the above title , to know a little of those myths which you honestly felt were true. Plainspeaking, it is your mind which decides what you should eat and how much you should eat. If you cannot control your life style by having a rigid discipline on your food habits, do not be worried. For more than your obesity, it could be stress which may kill you. After all, all things said, everyone has to die some day. Why not eat merrily, enjoy life, till the day we get His call.

So we shall eat, and continue to eat, as if you will have no TOMORROW, to eat.

TO enjoy RECIPES "PARUPPU BONDA' AND 'AVAL IDLI' AND "TOMATO SYRUP WITH FRIED POTATO CHIPS' CLICK ON TO:

http://content.msn.co.in/Tamil/cookery/Default

Be happy. Be cheerful. Good Day.

Celebrate Kaarthigai Festival with a Big Heart ..

Kaarthigai Festival ( 4th December 2006 )

Tamilians all over the world begin placing oil lamps on the entrance doors of their homes right from the first day of Kaarthigai month. On the full Moon day, and on the day of Kaarthigai Star, every Tamil Home is lit of with tens and hundreds of lamps. Tens of lamps in an array are placed on the interiors and exteriors of all windows and doors. The womenfolk draw highly creative rangolis in front of their houses and place oil lamps on these Kolams (rangolis) and the entire streets present a picture of procession of lamps galore.

At Thiruvannamalai, on the day of Bharani Star, Thirukkaarthigai Deepam is celebrated in a grand manner. At the hillock, the devotees light what is historically known as BHARANI DEEPAM, around the time of confluence of Sun and Moon. Thousands of devotees congregate in front of Arunachala Hills at Thiruvannamalai, to witness and worship the Bharani Deepam. Lord Arunachaleswara with his consort comes out of the temple, to be with and bless all on this festive occasion.

This is a delight to watch and almost all TVs from Tamil Nadu relay this programme live.

Kaarthigai Festival is also noted for delicious snacks. Fried rice and aval mixed with jaggery to forms Nel Urundai and Aval Urundai, apart from other snacks like appam, adai, are unique .

We lit a lamp in all our homes, on this day.

Why not we celebrate this festival with a vow to light a lamp in the future of those unprivileged children, orphans, destitutes and old-aged people ?

Indeed, it lies in our Tamil Culture when we recall Vallalar's Call to All:

Vallalar said: Vaadiya Payirai kandapothellam Vaadinen.

I felt distressed whenever I saw a distressed plant.

Vallalar advocated Jeeva Kaarunyam not only to human beings, but to all beings.

This Kaarthigai Day, let us all Tamil people, reveal our compassion, by contributing our mite

to any organisation which serves the unprivileged ones.

Hundreds nay thousands of children, destitutes, orphans, old aged people, are being cared for, by various NGOs throughout Tamil Nadu.

A few organisations that come to my mind are:

UDHAVUM KARANGAL..http:/www.udhavumkarangal.org

Sevalaya: An organisation in Thiruniravur, which brings hope to orphaned children through education; http://www.sevalaya.org

Everyone knows the organisations : CRY and HELPAGE.

http://www.cry.org

Donate Something what you feel is possible on this Thiru Kaarthigai.

And Be proud of Our Tamil Culture.