Many more ways to use salt other than Seasoning food

If you think salt is only for seasoning food, think again. There are literally hundreds of ways to use salt in your home! We picked 10 tips and tricks that are applicable in your kitchen.

Put out grease fire Grease fire happens when a pot of oil is left on the stove for too long. The number one mistake is putting it out with water, as it will cause oil to splash, and the vaporised water will carry oil particles, causing the fire to spread. Throw salt onto it to absorb the grease, and this will help extinguish the fire.

Remove pinfeathers Rub chicken with salt to remove pinfeathers.

Clean kitchen sponges Mix half a cup of salt with one litre of hot water. Place the sponge into the salt water and leave it to soak overnight. Drain the salt water the next day and the sponge will be pristine again.

Brighten cutting board Dip a damp cloth in salt and then rub it on a cutting board. It will turn brighter and lighter in colour.

Remove stains from enamel pans Scrubbing burnt surface on enamel pans may damage the enamel coating. Skip the elbow grease and instead, soak the pan overnight in salt water and then boil salt water in it the next day. The stains should come right off.

Test an egg’s freshness Eggs look the same on the outside so how do you tell which is new and which are the leftovers from two weeks ago? Add two teaspoons of salt into a cup of water and gently place the egg into the cup. A fresh egg sinks while the old one floats.

Deodorise oven Sprinkle salt on spills in oven when it’s still hot. When dry, remove with a cloth. Salt also neutralises burn food odour in the oven.

Keep ants away You can sprinkle salt on their paths to discourage them from moving forward or sprinkle some on shelves as a repellant.

Enhance coffee Add a pinch of salt into your morning coffee to enhance the flavour or remove the bitterness of overcooked coffee.

Keeps containers smelling fresh Closed plastic containers smell musty if left on the shelf for too long. Add salt into these containers to absorb moisture and neutralise the stink.

Source of image and content taken from:http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/identify-old-eggs-salt-trick-102021803.html

Your Amazing Liver

Food that KILL Belly Fat

15 FOODS THAT KILL BELLY FAT - There are certain foods that KILL belly fat and others that CAUSE belly fat and belly bulge. Here are 15 that will flatten that bulge: >1. Avocados: These little suckers are loaded with two nutrients that are KEY to killing belly fat: hunger-crushing fiber 11 to 17 grams per avocado!, and monounsaturated fats, which studies have shown to actually “spot reduce” belly fat. Zowie!

2. Peanut Butter: Okay, not just peanut butter, but mostly any seeds and nuts and these are the best: pistachios, walnuts, almonds (or almond butter, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds. Why? They keep you full and satisfied for long periods of time, and they’re stuffed with healthy, belly-burning fats and minerals.

3. Crisco: KIDDING! Just seeing if you were paying attention. That stuff is deadly. Healthy oils like olive oil, coconut oil and brand names like Udo’s Oil and Barlean’s Oil (I like the swirl flavors) actually help you burn fat by supplying healthy oils your body needs to burn body blubber.

4. These Veggies: I’ve got to thank my buddy Mike Geary for this one. Turns out certain vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, and cabbage contain special phytonutrients, such as indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which help to fight against environmental estrogens that can add belly fat. Mom was right…eat your veggies!

5. Omelets: Eggs aren’t bad, they’re nutrient-dense and loaded with belly-burning protein, vitamins B6, B12, A, D, E, and K, folate, choline, lutein, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. Plus, they keep you full for long periods of time. Choose eggs that come from free-range chickens. You’ll get more healthy nutrients.

6. Dark Chocolate: That is not a typo. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants with nearly eight times the number found in strawberries and it contains stimulants that can have a positive effect on fat burning, including theobromine and caffeine. It also contains a nice dose of oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat. Make sure to choose the 78% or higher cocoa levels for best results.

7. Oatmeal: Packed with fiber and whole-grain goodness, you can’t go wrong. Just be sure to avoid the processed, high-sugar junk out there and stick to slow-cook oats. Add a dash of cinnamon, some walnuts, berries, and a natural sweetener to taste. BAM! Good stuff.

8. Green Tea: Not only does it contain a potent antioxidant, many scientific studies have linked green tea to increased fat burning, including a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that found green tea extract boosted the daytime metabolism of test subjects by 35- 43%.

9. Beans: Black beans, navy beans, refried beans, and lima beans all have 6 or more grams of fiber per ½ cup. Fiber can clean your system of pounds of “toxic waste” and reduce your belly bulge in a big way. See #5 for details.

10. Berries: Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are loaded with fiber, which slows sugar absorption, and they’re packed with vitamins that can fight cravings. Note: cravings can come from vitamin deficiencies.

11. Cinnamon: Researchers have found that cinnamon contains a type of antioxidant that increases insulin sensitivity and effectively helps to stabilize blood sugar. Bottom line…you’ll store less belly fat.

12. Chili Peppers: Studies have shown that the active ingredient in chili peppers and powder, something called capsaicin, increases calorie-burning, stabilizes blood sugar levels which decreases fat storage, and is a potent antioxidant. Add some of this “spice” to your life.

13. Yogurt: Most regular yogurt is bad for your belly. It’s loaded with belly-bulging sugar that you want to avoid. However, Greek yogurts like Stoneyfield Farms Oikos Greek Yogurt -plain- are loaded with probiotics that fight belly bulge. See #6.

14. Wild Salmon: Hands-down one of the best belly-blasting foods because of its protein and high omega-3 fatty acid content. This is like a “double shotgun approach” to killing belly fat. Many people are deficient in omega-3s and when they add them to their diet the fat can really start coming off.

15. Giant Turkey Legs: You got me. I’m pulling your leg. (Get it?) I’m not just talking about turkey meat (white preferred), but any lean protein source is a good belly-blasting food. This includes wild salmon, free-range chicken, whey protein powders, and most especially grass-fed beef because it contains natural CLA—a fat that studies have actually shown to burn fat. The interesting thing about protein is your body will burn off as much as 30% of its calories after you eat it.

(Seen on FB, Learning Petal)

Naturally Combat Mosquitos

Thai Lemon Grass - Planting it around you make mosquitos hard to find you

Turn on a Fan
Mosquitoes are lightweights. A fan blowing at a speed of two miles per hour simply is overpowering to a mosquito. So another option is to strategically place fans around your deck or patio to get a good bug-free breeze going.

Pagination

Plant Lemon Grass 
Thai lemon grass contains citronella oil, which has a strong scent that makes it hard for mosquitos to find you. At the same time, lemon grass is a beautiful mounding perennial. Plant some on your property wherever your family and friends like to congregate.

Dress Appropriately
Certain species of mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors like black, blue, and red. And they are all attracted to heat. So stay cool by wearing lighter colors. While you're at it, try to avoid wearing scented perfumes or lotions.

Change Your Lightbulbs
Mosquitoes aren’t attracted to all kinds of light—just some. Instead of standard bulbs, opt for LEDs, yellow "bug lights", or sodium lamps. That should reduce the number of mosquitoes swarming as you go in and out of the house during evening hours.

Try Out Catnip Oil
Believe it or not, the essential oil in catnip, nepetalactone, repels mosquitos more effectively than DEET. Though you may have to dodge your neighbor's cat as a result, catnip oil-based insect repellant does a good job of protecting exposed skin.

Build a Bat House
In only one hour, a bat can eat hundreds of insects, mosquitoes included. Build or buy a bat house, hang it in a well-ventilated area, and let those web-winged creatures do their thing. 

Spray On Garlic
Yes, really. Garlic makes an effective natural mosquito repellant. Mix one part garlic juice with five parts water. Put the solution in a spray bottle and spritz yourself as needed. As a side benefit, you will also repel vampires!

Remove Standing Water
Standing water is where mosquitoes make more mosquitoes. Limit the insects' ability to breed by clearing your gutters of clogs, filling in sunken parts of your lawn, and regularly changing the water in your bird bath or kiddie pool.

Use Natural Insect Spray
Use Natural Insect Spray m0ade with natural essential oil

(Seen on Yahoo Singapore)
http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/10-ways-to-combat-mosquitoes-naturally-160831018.html?page=1


WTH NOTES: 
WIth dengue now looming around and a few deaths recorded, I think it's time to take action to fight and prevent dengue. There are useful information on this blog which I hope you will share with as many people as possible.

Other than this post on Naturally Combating Mosquitos, here are other previous posts which maybe helpful for you in your fight against dengue.

Mosquito Trap (Dengue Prevention)

Dengue Fever Remedy

Drink Green Tea

Green tea has increasingly become a verypopular drink worldwide because of its immensely powerful health benefits.

It is extraordinarily amazing what green tea can do for your health.

And if you're not drinking 3 to 4 cups of green tea today, you're definitely NOT doing your health a big favor.

Here Are The 25 Reasons Why You Should Start Drinking Green Tea
1. Green Tea and Cancer
Green tea helps reduce the risk of cancer.The antioxidant in green tea is 100times more effective thanvitamin C and 25 times better thanvitamin E.This helps your body at protectingcells from damage believed to belinked to cancer.

2. Green Tea and Heart Disease
Green tea helps prevent heartdisease and stroke by lowering thelevel of cholesterol.Even after the heart attack, itprevents cell deaths and speedsup the recovery of heart cells.

3. Green Tea and Anti-Aging
Green tea contains antioxidant
known as polyphenols which fightagainst free radicals.What this means is that it helps youfight against aging and promotes
longevity.

4. Green Tea and Weight Loss
Green tea helps with your body weight loss.
Green tea burns fat and boosts your metabolism rate naturally.
It can help you burn up to 70 calories in just one day.That translates to 7 pounds in one year

5. Green Tea and Skin
Antioxidant in green tea protects theskin from the harmful effects of free radicals, which cause wrinkling and skin aging.
Green tea also helps fight against skin cancer.

6. Green Tea and Arthritis
Green tea can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
Green tea has benefit for your health as it protects the cartilage by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage.

7. Green Tea and Bones
The very key to this is high fluoride content found in green tea.It helps keep your bones strong.If you drink green tea every day, thiswill help you preserve your bone density.

8. Green Tea and Cholesterol
Green tea can help lower cholesterol level.
It also improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, by reducing bad cholesterol level.

9. Green Tea and Obesity
Green tea prevents obesity by stoppingthe movement of glucose in fat cells.If you are on a healthy diet, exerciseregularly and drink green tea, it isunlikely you'll be obese.

10. Green Tea and Diabetes
Green tea improves lipid and glucose
metabolisms, prevents sharpincreases in blood sugar level, and
balances your metabolism rate.

11. Green Tea and Alzheimer's
Green tea helps boost your memory. And although there's no cure for Alzheimer's, it helps slow the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain,which leads to Alzheimer's

12. Green Tea and Parkinson's
Antioxidants in green tea helps prevent against cell damage in the brain, which could cause Parkinson's.
People drinking green tea also are less likely to progress with Parkinson's.

13. Green Tea and Liver Disease
Green tea helps prevent transplant failure in people with liverfailure.Researches showed that green teadestroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.

14. Green Tea and High BloodPressure
Green tea helps prevent high blood pressure.
Drinking green tea helps keep your blood pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.

15. Green Tea and Food Poisoning
Catechin found in green tea can kill bacteria which causes food poisoning and kills the toxins produced by those bacteria.

16. Green Tea and Blood Sugar
Blood sugar tends to increase with age, but polyphenols andpolysaccharides in green tea help
lower your blood sugar level.

17. Green Tea and Immunity
Polyphenols and flavenoids found ingreen tea help boost your immunesystem, making your health strongerin fighting against infections.

18. Green Tea and Cold and Flu
Green tea prevents you from getting acold or flu. Vitamin C in green tea helps you treatthe flu and the common cold.

19. Green Tea and Asthma
Theophylline in green tea relaxes the muscles which support the bronchialtubes, reducing the severity of asthma.

20. Green Tea and Ear Infection
Green tea helps with ear infectionproblem.For natural ear cleaning, soak a cottonball in green tea and clean the infected
ear.

21. Green Tea and Herpes
Green tea increases the effectivenessof topical interferon treatment of herpes.
First green tea compress is applied, and then let the skin dry before the interferon treatment.

22. Green Tea and Tooth Decay
Green tea destroys bacteria and viruses that cause many dentaldiseases.It also slows the growth of bacteria which leads to bad breath.

23. Green Tea and Stress
L-theanine, which is a kind of amino acids in green tea, can help relievestress and anxiety.

24. Green Tea and Allergies
EGCG found in green tea relievesallergies.So, if you have allergies, you shouldreally consider drinking green tea.

25. Green Tea and HIV
Scientists in Japan have found that EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate)in green tea can stop HIV from binding to healthy immune cells.
What this means is that green tea can help stop the HIV virus from spreading.

Harmful Effects of Soda (Cola)

DRINKING SODA IMPACTS YOUR BODY!
1.Weight - Drinking one soda a day = 39 pounds of sugar a year. Sugar sweetened beverages are linked to 180,000+ deaths /year.

2. Brain - Too much sugar reduces production of a brain chemical that helps us learn, store memories and process insulin and the one that tells you to stop eating.

3.Kidneys - High levels of phosphoric acit in colas have been linked to kidney stones and other retnal problems. Two diet colas a day -double- your risk.

4. Digestive Tract - Carbonation in soft drinks can cause gas, bloating, cramping and and problems with Iritable Bowel Syndrome. Caffeine can worsen episodes of diarrhea or contribute to constipation.

5. Bones - Soda consumption has been linked to osteoporosis and bone density loss.

6. Heart - Chronic diet and regular soda consumption leads to an increased risk of heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.

7. Lungs - Asthma and COPD are ‘side effects’ of drinking excessive soda.

8.Teeth - The acid in soda corrodes your teeth, almost the equivalent of drinking battery acid. 

(Seen on FB, Learning Petals)