Indonesian Food Health Benefits

There are many beautiful aspects of Asian culture we admire and knowingly or unknowingly emulate working with them on a daily basis. There are those among the countries of Asia which are more popular than others in the west for various reasons. Sadly Indonesia is one of those that gets easily overlooked when it comes to the local culture. Most people see and think of either China, Japan, Korea and Thailand when they think of the term "Asian", however Indonesia can offer a unique and varied culture spread across over six thousand islands. Their art, martial arts such as Silat and history of piracy and naval warfare created a world where nothing is boring or mundane even to the most travel-savvy visitor. Their food is a unique and diverse combination of flavors because of the fact that the islands developed their own versions of common recipes among other things and with the abundance of seafood it also has some very nice health benefits.

The local food has many influences both from mainland Asia and the west because of its lucrative position in respect to naval trade through the centuries. A lot of the spices present in many recipes in the west have been intertwined with the local culture precisely because of that trade such as cloves and nutmeg. One of the most beautiful and healthy aspects of the local food is exactly these spices - they contain much needed protein and minerals the human body uses and on top of that they have the added bonus of tasting great.

Something else the local food uses a lot is rice and that is in abundance - the health benefits here are well-known: it stabilizes the blood sugar levels, it has plenty of vitamins B1 and D as well as many minerals, it is rich in carbohydrates, cholesterol-free and capable of helping out with many diseases by just being part of your daily diet. You can find rice in a lot of the local dishes such as nasi uduk (coconut-milk cooked rice), lontong (banana-leaf steamed rice) and of course nasi goreng which is essentially fried rice. Nasi goreng is considered the national dish of Indonesia and it combines seafood, vegetables and rice in a tasty dish.

There are a lot of fruits containing high quantities of starch in the local diet such as yams, potatoes, cassava, sweet potatoes, taro, breadfruit and jackfruit. These are truly staple foods and because of their prevalence in Indonesian cuisine the local population has a chance to eat healthy. Sadly a lot of the local population has begun emulating the western lifestyle switching from their traditional diets to fast-food restaurants and a sedentary lifestyle which we all know can lead to serious health issues.

There are some truly amazing dishes out there which also have local vegetables. Kangkung is a leaf vegetable which is known for its blood sugar lowering effects. It is used in many recipes in the local cuisine. Other examples include melinjo with its wonderful antioxidant properties. Genjer (not to be mistaken for a corruption of the word ginger) is a plant often used in combination with other plants in curry, soup and salads among other things.

Overall Indonesian food bears similarities to a lot of the mainland Asian cuisine but with its own twist. Thanks to the way the recipes are prepared this makes it healthy and good for consumption on a regular basis. As with all things however this should be taken in moderation as overeating is one of the main reasons for obesity.

This guest post has been submitted by: Vacation-Rentals

By Angela Harpert

Step away from the soda, New York's soda ban

The New York City board of health has approved Mayor Michael Bloomberg's controversial plan to limit the amount of sugary soda drinks that can be purchased at food outlets to 16 ounces (473ml).

When Bloomberg first announced his plan over three months ago, he sparked a nationwide debate about the extent of government control over an individual's healthcare choices. In June, we asked you to share your thoughts with us about the idea - is the plan a plausible solution to the obesity epidemic in the US? Or is the legislation just another example of Bloomberg's 'Nanny-stateism'?

Since then, the mayor has imposed age restrictions on tanning beds and introduced "Latch On NYC", an initiative to teach new mothers the "breast is best" principle. But while Bloomberg continues to be accused of overextending his authority, obesity rates in the US continue to rise and other cities, like London, are looking to NYC's health policies as future models.

We revisited our people's panel participants and asked them whether or not they've changed their mind about the soda ban.

By Ruth Spencer

Know Your Numbers with Omron Health Monitors!

Do you often experience dizziness due to low blood sugar or nausea due to hypertension? Are you a regular dieter who needs to keep a check on his weight fluctuations? Whatever be the reason, you cannot always manage to rush to the nearby doctor and get yourself assessed. At such times, it seems wise to invest in health monitors for self-check of different medical parameters.

With health monitors, you can do a quick self-check of your BP, blood sugar level, weight and other body values. Health monitors come handy during emergencies and also help prevent them. Regular checking gives you an idea on what measures you must take with regard to diet, medication adjustment or medical help.

Set Up a Mini Home Clinic
Thermometers are commonplace in most people's homes. With changing times, there is an increased awareness of medical science, increase in the number of disease sufferers and upsurge in the medical device innovation. All these necessitate that people invest in other medical monitoring devices as well. Such a proactive stance towards health may go a long way in improving the overall state of health.

It is important to buy medical devices of a reputed brand. Omron, J & J and GE Healthcare are some good brands to count upon. Omron sells a variety of health monitoring devices like blood pressure monitor, electronic fever thermometer, body fat monitor and respiratory therapy devices. Omron's range of health monitors is scientifically manufactured, accurate, sophisticated and user-friendly.

Dizzying Changes in Blood Sugar?
Diabetes is grasping all of the world population in its clutches. It is one of the top diseases as per the latest WHO reports. Blood sugar fluctuation is critical to the health of a diabetic. It becomes inevitable for diabetics to buy a self-check blood sugar monitor that is easy to read either by themselves or relatives.

BP Surging and Plummeting?
Blood pressure if not regulated can rise to values capable of causing a heart attack or stroke. Similarly, they can fall to dangerous levels that can induce a state of coma in an individual. Hypertensive patients on a dose of medications are at a risk of experiencing both, if they are not regular with their doses or if there is some sort of a trigger. Omron offers stylish and easy-to-use BP monitors for hypertensive patients.

Now Tummy in - Now Tummy out!
Have you been in such a dilemma where you felt unable to gauge your current weight and would worry incessantly about it? This is very common in young women and those on a weight loss regimen trying to trim down the excess weight. Moreover, obesity is becoming a nuisance in these times with every other person searching for fad diets in a bid to look the best. The Omron body composition monitor is clinically validated and analyses your body fat, BMI and visceral fat. It also provides classification of each of these parameters so that you know whether you belong to the overweight or obese class, for instance. Nowadays, a number of health clinics are springing up. Such small enterprises too need to invest in good quality digital fat analyzers.

Good Quality Nebulizers for Asthmatics
Asthmatics are dependent on nebulizers for survival. With Omron, you don't have to worry about the reliability of the nebulizers. These are developed with the help of respiratory therapists for patients suffering from asthma, chronic bronchitis and allergies. These are long-lasting, portable and put you at ease wherever you are. Omron also offers other accessories for this purpose.

Accurate Fever Measurements
A thermometer is the most basic medical equipment that any home must have. A fever is a common symptom in most diseases. Even an old, uneducated or scientifically naïve person must learn how to use a digital thermometer since very high body temperature signal an emergency and calls for immediate medical help. Omron's basic thermometer is simple and easy-to-use by the patient.

Nowadays, with uncertainty lurking in our life and sudden popping up of medical emergencies, health monitors are worth a buy. These health monitors tell us where we stand with regard to our numbers.

By Roger Jennings