Weight Loss at a Price

减肥不容易。面对肥胖的烦恼，大多数超重者都盼望能够找到一个快速的解决方法。市面上近年来流行着一种被称极为有效的减肥方法，那就是通过低碳水化合物，高蛋白质和脂肪的饮食，来改善体重。这种方法虽然有效，但是其副作用甚多。其中包括对肾脏的损害，尿酸过多且在关节累积进而导致痛风，胆固醇上升。长期副作用更包括了身体肌肉流失，动脉粥样硬化，提高中风以及高血压的风险，心脏病，骨骼软化，甚至肾脏结晶！在未采取此方法之前，请三思！

Weight management is extremely difficult. Almost everyone with overweight problems wants a quick solution. Recently, one of my friends has asked me regarding the effectiveness of low carbohydrate diets for losing weight and how does it works. I could not answer him at that time as I have totally no idea about it. Not long ago, I have come across an article discussing low carbohydrate diets written by Dr Margaret Ann Bock from New Maxico State University. It was a good article discussing in detail how does low carbohydrate diets work in helping people reducing weight and what are the important consideration that we should know before starting a diet plan like that. The following were their detrimental effects on health summarize from that article:

Following a dietary regimen which is high in protein, moderate to high in fat and low in carbohydrates may result in a variety of physiological responses:

1. Our kidneys have to work harder to excrete nitrogen from protein, converting nitrogen to urea and eliminating it through urinary.

2. Some of the nitrogen removed from amino acids result in formation of uric acid, a compound that certain people do not properly metabolize. As a result, uric acid may be deposited in the joints as crystals that can stimulate the inflammatory condition known as gout.

3. Excessive acetyl CoA was formed from the breakdown of fat or protein for energy use. One of the alternative paths for utilization of acetyl CoA is in the synthesis of cholesterol.

4. Ketosis or acidosis caused by breakdown of high levels of fat and protein require urinary elimination of those byproducts, further stressing the kidneys.

5. In serious case, skeletal muscle and other body protein may be broken down to meet glucose need, resulting in loss of lean body mass.

6. Ketosis may damage LDL cholesterol, making it more likely to adhere to artery walls and thus, increase the risk of atherosclerosis.

7. Over time, atherosclerosis increases the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), which in turn, increases the potential for stroke and negatively affects the work of the heart.

8. Narrowing of the blood vessels cause by atherosclerosis increases the possibility of blood clot formation, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.

9. Chronic acidosis may have a detrimental effect on bone health in that it may lead to osteomalacia (softening of the bones) or rickets.

10. Chronic acidosis may also cause growth failure in children and nephrocalcinosis (calcium deposits in the kidney) or nephrolithiasis (kidney stones).


So what do you think after reading this? I don’t mean to scare you but perhaps, we should think twice before adopting a ‘low carbohydrate, high protein, and moderate fat’ diet for losing weight. Good luck for your slimming program my friend!

Happy Chinese New Year 2007! 2007 新年进步！

BEAUTIFUL SUNSET 美丽的夕阳

回家过年了，最担心的莫过于太塞车。塞车怠慢了行程，但却让我看到了美丽的夕阳。
While driving back to hometown via the North South Highway, I happened to see beautiful sunset on the car. When we feel happy, beautiful sceneries were seen almost everywhere...




Famous Penang Laksa stall 槟城驰名Laksa档

位于阿依淡的Laksa档，成为了上极乐寺的旅客常光顾的档口。来一碗Laksa和一杯甘蔗水，先补充精力再走上极乐寺。
This is one of the famous Laksa stall in Penang. Tourists who visited Kek Kok Si temple normally dropped by for a bowl of Laksa and a cup of bamboo juice before heading up to the temple.






Kek Lok Si Temple (Penang) during Chinese New Year 农历新年期间的极乐寺

极乐寺每逢农历新年都会成为旅游的焦点。虽然要大排长龙上山，旅客人数每年仍有增无减。
Kek Lok Si temple is the central of attraction for Penang especially during Chinese New Year. Tourists continue oozing to the temple despite the congested traffic each year.




















Beautiful Lanterns Everywhere 大红灯笼高高挂

以上万灯笼装饰的极乐寺，其壮观程度不言而谕。
Thousands of lanterns were lighted up in Kek Lok Si during this festive season.







Make a Wish 许个愿吧

点燃一个黄梨蜡烛，再诚心的许个愿吧！原世界太平。。。离开前，别忘了献捐给该寺，因为它的经费，都是靠大众支持的。
Light up a pineapple-shaped vase with candle and make a wish here. Don't forget to donate to the temple before going home as the temple is self-survived.

从南北大

What are they?

I like to take pictures of things that i have never seen in my normal life. I have seen this flowers with single petal on the tree. It was planted at many places but I do not know their name. Anyone know about this?

What about a thorny tree?

I saw this "fruit" hanging out from a tree near my grandmother's house at the hill side. It's about the size of my head! Anybody know what it is?

All of Durian

欢迎来到榴莲的世界。 也许你觉得我的味道恶臭无比，但是很抱歉，我就是情不自竟的发出这种味道。。。

嗨，欢迎来到我的小小部落格。 其实我并不特别喜爱吃榴莲，但是身边的朋友们都对它爱不释手。对与讨厌榴莲的人，很抱歉 我要在这里为榴莲做点宣传了。希望不会开罪你啦！放心，那味道是绝对不会从这个部落格传出来的:P

Hi, welcome to my little blog. I don't really love to eat durian, but all my surrounding friends did. For those who hates durian, I am so sorry that I will have to promote the fruit over here. I hope this will not offend you, I know many of you hates its smell but come on... after all the smells isn't going to released from this blog anyway! :P

DURIAN TREE 榴莲树

你看过真的榴莲树了吗？在马来西亚，多数的榴莲树都很高，一般的干榜（Kampung)榴莲树在达到结果的年龄时会高达35-45公尺呢！

For those who have eaten durian but have not seen a durian tree, it looks like this. How I wish all durian trees are as short as this one, but most of the durian trees in Malaysia especially durian kampung were up to 35-45 metres at optimal fruiting age!!

DURIAN BUDS 榴莲花蕾

These are durian buds. They will soon open into pale yellow flowers.





DURIAN PULP 榴莲果肉 （cultivar D24 品种)

这便是令人垂涎三尺的榴莲了。单肉的我叫它作“老鼠仔”，它的味道特别美味哩！

This is the durian pulp, the edible portion of the fruit. Aren't they mouth watering? Durian fruit normally contain 5 locular units containing between 1 to 5 pulps per unit. I personnally found the single pulp taste better than the one with a few pulps per locule.



picture from the web
picture from the web
NO DURIAN ALLOWED 榴莲止步

若榴莲会发言，它们大概会问：“这是在歧视我们吗？”
If durian were to speak one day, they will probably ask: "Is this a kind of discrimination?"

DURIAN TREE DISEASE 榴莲树生病了

近来我家的许多榴莲树都陆续长了像图中显示的霉。我上网查看，好像是患上了一种叫 Phythophthora gummosis 的病，叶子都好像生锈了一般。在马来西亚，许多农民都没有受过高等教育，遇到农作物患病时，实在束手无策。虽然政府每年都拨了巨款做研究，但是给予农民的教育和缓助却微不足道。耕种得靠自己啰！

Are these the signs of Phythophthora gummosis? I suspected these trees to be suffering from this disease based on the information available online. I have found many durian trees with these signs in my uncle' s orchard recently. None of us (in my family) know what is this caused by, nor how should we save the affected trees. It was a sad thing that despite the Malaysia goverment had granted a huge sum of money for agricultural research each year, money granted for farmers education and assisstant was very limited. Oh God please save these durian trees, they are dying.... please save the farmers, they are feeling really helpless...