Most of us spend more than eight hours in office during weekday. It is quite a challenge to maintain good posture for long hour. If the chair that you sit is not comfortable, it may affect our health. So a good computer chair is probably the single most important component of our working environment.

Our body needs the right support and comfort. There is a link between back pain, poor posture, and chair design. Ergonomically designed chairs are built with the needs of our body in mind. They provide us with supreme comfort because they have adjustable features, which reduce the amount of stress we place on our muscles and joints.

If you are looking to buy one or more office chairs for your home office or small business, you will want to make sure that you get it right. It is an important decision. There are some guidelines in selecting a good office chair.

First of all, you need to test it yourself, to see if you are comfortable with it. Make sure you test out different models until you find one you really like. It should provide proper back support so that your back rest feels comfortable. It should have a back support that follows the natural ‘S’ shape of the spinal column.

The correct adjustment of an ergonomic chair is a prerequisite for healthy posture. A good chair should have adjustable features to accommodate our specific needs. This includes arms, back and seat. Adjusting your chair to better fit your body and your computer will help make you felt more comfortable and productive, and also help prevent injury. Do remember to adjust the height of your chair to give the correct reading height for your screen.

Adjustable armrests are another nice feature. It allows us to work close to our computer while also providing a place to rest our arms.

It is important that when you select a computer chair, you do not choose the cheapest one you can find. We should not sacrifice our bodies’ comfort for a low price chair. Do not forget, a good computer chair can mean all the difference between a good and bad day at work.

By the way, if you hardly have any daily activities, because your job is sitting down all day, having only a good chair will not solve your health problem. Do remember you will need to exercise to keep your back in good shape. At least, stand up and do some exercises after sitting for some time.

三宝粉是许多素食者常食用的保健品，它包括小麦胚芽，大豆软磷脂和啤酒酵母。

小麦胚芽有丰富的维生素E，可抗氧化，延缓衰老。大豆卵磷脂可构成细胞膜，加强记忆力，改善代谢。啤酒酵母提供素食者缺乏的丰富的维生素B群，可以帮助消化吸收。以下是这三种营养的摘要。

小麦胚芽

小麦胚芽是高纤食品，可降低心血管疾病的发生机率。富含作为天然的抗氧化剂的维生素E，可降低细胞老化，促进新陈代谢，抗污染及抗不孕。

小麦胚芽粉萃取自小麦胚芽菁华，作为小麦籽粒的核心和生命中枢，在种植时胚芽发育成生命种子的幼根和子叶。据现代科学研究测定，它的蛋白质含量为31%以上，是一种优质蛋白质，比米、面高出6～7倍，其营养价值可与鸡蛋相媲美。小麦胚芽含也被营养学家誉为天然维生素E的仓库,具有延缓衰老、提高免疫力的作用，是为数不多的真正应用于人类抗衰老的抗氧化剂。

二十八烷醇则是小麦胚芽中的另一个重要成分，是改善体力，增加耐力，减缓运动后肌肉疼痛的秘密武器。实验证实二十八烷醇可增加运动时的氧气利用，改善肌肉中肝糖的储存与运动的反应能力。

大豆软磷脂

大豆软磷脂被誉为血管的清道夫,预防心脑血管疾病，提高人体的代谢能力，自愈能力，能延缓衰老，其健脑益智作用可提高学习和工作效率，同时保护肝脏，预防脂肪肝等病症的发生，能增强胰脏功能，可做为糖尿病人的营养品。

大豆卵磷脂富含胆碱磷脂质，肌醇磷脂质，脑磷脂与亚麻仁油酸。磷脂质对于维持细胞膜的健康，促进细胞的正常功能，使人体细胞对于营养物质的吸收，代谢废物的排泄有很大的帮助。另外，胆碱磷脂质对于脑神经传导物质「乙烯胆碱」的形成，提供了必要的原料，可预防记忆力的退化。卵磷脂本身具有生物乳化剂的功用，可使脂肪顺利运输至肝脏中代谢。根据一些临床试验结果显示，补充卵磷脂亦可预防脂肪肝的发生。

卵磷脂（Lecithin）存在于一切动物和植物的细胞和脑中﹐是细胞表面包膜的主要成份﹐影响各种物质在细胞膜的透过。各种植物油籽都含有卵磷脂﹐其中以大豆含量较多。大豆卵磷脂是精制大豆油过程中的副产品。市面上粒状的大豆卵磷脂﹐是大豆油在脱胶过程中沉淀出来的磷脂质﹐再经加工﹐干燥之后的产品。

卵磷脂对以下疾病的预防都有一定的作用。

1，动脉硬化症（高血压，心肌梗塞，脑溢血）通常，动脉硬化是从中年开始的，但是随着人们大量摄入肉食和脂肪，动脉硬化的发病有年轻化的趋势，而且男性多于女性。动脉硬化患者通常都患有高脂血症，胆固醇含量较高，同时高血压，冠心病，心肌梗塞，脑溢血的患病率也相应较高。实验表明，食用卵磷脂能显著降低高血脂，高胆固醇，从而预防动脉硬化。

2，肝脏病（肝硬化，肝炎，脂肪肝）随着现代文明病的日益增多，酒精和高胆固醇成为脂肪肝，肝硬化的两个重要因素。卵磷脂的解酒作用和它强大的乳化作用，可以充分保护肝细胞，同时还可以促进肝细胞的活化和再生，增强肝功能。

3，老年痴呆症脑部的神经传导物质（乙酰胆碱）减少是引起老年痴呆的主要原因，而”胆碱”是卵磷脂的基本成分，卵磷脂的充分供应将保证机体内有足够的胆碱合成”乙酰胆碱”，从而为大脑提供充分的资讯传导物质，有效地防止老年痴呆症的发生。

啤酒酵母

啤酒酵母是吸收麦芽精华后，把酵母加工成纯天然的营养食品。它含有绝佳的蛋白质，完整的B族维生素，多种生物态矿物质及优质膳食纤维。特点是均衡营养，其营养成分的构成特别适合人体的需求，能够平衡由于饮食结构不合理而带来的营养失衡和消除缓解由此而引发的健康问题，还可有效帮助美容瘦身。

啤酒酵母粉富含维生素B群，素食者常缺乏的B1，B2，B12，在啤酒酵母粉中皆可提供完全的满足。多种酵素与丰富的氨基酸，蛋白质，可协助消化不良的小孩与长者，获得优质的蛋白质。啤酒酵母中的「有机铬」成分，可协助糖尿病患者控制血糖，促进糖类的代谢。另外，「有机硒」的成分则具有抗氧化的功效，可协助增强免疫系统，对于癌症患者在放射线治疗以及化疗期间，是一种重要的营养补充品。啤酒酵母粉含有较丰富的「普林」成分，因此不建议痛风患者于发病期添加使用，平日则可以少量食用。

鉴于三宝粉是一种功能性的健康食品，虽然不是立即见效，但有着全面，长远，稳定的效果，医学家们也开始重视它在预防疾病发生方面的积极作用。建议吃素者，油脂摄取过多者，年长者，易疲劳者，耐力不足者，运动员，应多摄取小麦胚芽。脂肪肝患者，肥胖者，应多摄取卵磷脂。小孩，年长者，糖尿病患者，癌症患者，应多摄取啤酒酵母粉。三宝粉是小麦胚芽，大豆软磷脂和啤酒酵母的总体，应该是不错的营养食品选择。

An adequate daily intake of potassium may be an important part of preventing high blood pressure. A potassium diet holds the power to regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Potassium is a relatively common mineral and can be found in many foods, and is especially easy to obtain in fruits and vegetables.

Excellent sources of potassium include sweet potatoes, orange juice, white beans, yogurt and banana.

Sweet potatoes are actually one of the top sources of potassium available. It also contains top nutrients such as Vitamin A and Beta Carotene.

Orange juice is known for its excellent contribution to your daily intake of Vitamin C, but is also a superb source of potassium. Probably the best part about orange juice is how easy it is to fit into a potassium diet.

White beans are an excellent source of fiber, protein, and even starch. It has been labeled as a super food due to the fact that they are full of iron, and they can deliver close to 600 mg of potassium to your diet, just by consuming half a cup.

Yogurt is also a secret source of potassium.

If you follow a healthy and balanced diet, you are probably getting plenty of potassium. Given the wide variety of potassium rich foods, most people should not suffer from potassium deficiency as long as they are eating a balanced and healthy diet.

The seeds and oil of the flax plant contain substances which promote good health.

Several studies indicate that flaxseed oil, as well as ground flaxseeds, can lower cholesterol, thereby significantly reducing the risk of heart disease. In addition, flaxseed oil can also be used to lower blood pressure. It has demonstrated useful anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties in a number of animal models and human diseases.

High blood pressure can be caused by hereditary factors, lifestyle choices and other compromising health problems. Diets with high fiber content and artery-cleaning attributes found in omega-3 fatty acids are helpful in keeping arteries flexible, thereby helping to maintain a smooth thoroughfare for the blood to pass through. Flaxseed oil may help protect against high blood pressure by inhibiting inflammatory reactions that cause artery-hardening plaque and poor circulation.

The two most common causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. As such, flaxseed may be one of your body’s best friends if you have kidney disease. Flaxseed shows promise for reversing kidney damage caused by lupus, a condition in which the immune system produces harmful substances that attack and damage healthy tissues.

山楂(Hawthorn)有重要的药用价值，对心血管系统的疾病有医疗保健作用，缓慢而持久的降压功能，能扩张外周血管，调节中枢神经系统功能，并具有显著的降低血脂及胆固醇含量的作用。适用于高血压(hypertension)，冠心病，心绞痛，高脂血症以及食积停滞，腹痛，腹泻，小儿乳食不消等。自古以来，就成为健脾开胃，消食化滞，活血化痰的良药。

山楂既食亦药，营养，药用价值均高。中医学认为，山楂性微温味酸甘，入药归脾，胃，肝经，具有开胃消食，化滞消积，活血化瘀，收敛止痢，降压去脂等功效，适用于消化不良，积食，高血压，冠心病，心绞痛，高脂血症，癌肿，月经延期，产后血瘀腹痛。国内外用山楂制成各种制剂, 治疗高血压病，冠心病，高脂血症等均获得了明显效果。

山楂营养丰富，含蛋白质，脂肪，糖，淀粉；含相当高的胡萝卜素，维生素C，维生素巨等，特别是维生素C的含量比苹果，桃子，梨子等还高；含矿物元素钙，磷，钾，钠，铁，铜，锌，硒等。

山楂所含的维生素A，维生素C，维生素E等，有很好的保护血管的作用。由于其山楂酸，柠檬酸，苹果酸等活性成分的存在，不仅可使维生素C免受破坏，而且还可促使山楂有更好的保护血管组织的作用。山楂的钙含量较高，且钙指数(钙/磷比值)大于2，不仅有利于钙的正常代谢平衡，而且有助于降低血压。山楂为高钾食品，每100克山楂可食部分钾含量达299毫克，钠含量仅为5．4毫克，其K因子为55.4，所以对高血压有较好的防治作用。

中医认为，山楂只消不补，脾胃须弱者不宜多食。健康的人食用山楂也应有所节制，山楂不宜过食，也不宜空腹食用，食后应漱口，以防损伤牙齿珐琅质。孕妇也切忌山楂，因为山楂有破血散淤的作用，能刺激子宫收缩，可能诱发流产！

Recently Gymnema Sylvestre was introduced to my mother for the treatment of diabetes (糖尿病).

A check in the Internet shows that Gymnema sylvestre (匙羹藤) is a plant used in India and parts of Asia as a natural treatment for diabetes or “sweet urine.” It is actually an Ayurvedic medicine. While it is still being studied, and the effects of the herb are not entirely known, the herb has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels when used for an extended period of time.

In healthy adults gymnema sylvestre is believed to help curb cravings for sweets. Though not a magic bullet, when taken with a high-carbohydrate meal or a meal high in sugar, it can aid the body by passing through sugars and making carbs available for burning, rather than turning these into fat stores. In this way it helps to build lean muscle mass.

Gymnema sylvestre has been deemed very safe for adults at suggested doses. If pregnant or lactating, do not take this herb due to lack of research and potential impact on the baby. Those will allergies to the milkweed family might experience allergic reactions to gymnema sylvestre.

As always, check with your doctor before beginning a new health routine, particularly if you are diabetic or prone to issues involving blood sugar. It is important that people with existing blood sugar issues talk to their doctors before adding gymnema sylvestre to their diet, as insulin or other medications may need to be reduced.

Wish you a good health!

以下是我所认识的几位中医师（或许有些已忘了我是谁），觉得他们都有着一颗助人的心怀。

1. 林健德医师 (Lim Kian Teck)
北京药行有限公司
Peking Medical Hall Sdn. Bhd.
525-F, Pekan Lama, 08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia
Tel: 04-4212030

林医师是我在家乡遇到的一位蛮有医德的中医师。年轻，对老人很亲切！

2. 鍾宝珠医师 (Cheng Poh Choo)
弘华中医药中心
Hong Hua TCM Medical Centre
17 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 9
Ang Mo Kio - Thye Hua Kwan Hospital Singapore 569766
Tel: 6450 6172

年轻的仁医！

提供这份名单并不是广告，只是觉得要许多人要认识中医并不容易。这只是我个人的经验，祝您健康！

In the rush to produce more and more crops to satisfy growing demand producers have had to resort to using a lethal cocktail of pesticides. These will, given time, spread to taint not just the farms they were meant for, but neighboring land. As well, these substances often find their way into the water table, contaminating a vast supply of groundwater. Also, pesticides do keep pests from eating up the food before the humans can get to it, but it also leaves residue on and sometimes in our food. Over time, these toxins can endanger our health.

As such the trend is now toward eating organic produce in this health conscious era. It is becoming easier to find organic foods without going to a health food store nowaday, however the difference in cost may cause some of us to think twice about choosing it.

The word “organic” refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy products. Organic farming is the oldest form of agriculture. It encourages soil and water conservation and reduces pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce do not use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease. The use of conventional non-organic pesticides, insecticides and herbicides is greatly restricted and avoided as a last resort. However, contrary to popular belief, certain non-organic fertilizes are still used. Organic farming strictly limits the use of artificial chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

“Organic” does not mean “natural.” Natural foods do not contain additives or preservatives, but they may contain ingredients that have been grown with pesticides or are genetically modified. Natural foods are not regulated and do not meet the same criteria that organic foods do.

There is not enough scientific evidence to claim that organic food is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food. However, it is belief that organic food contains more nutrients, minerals and vitamins than produce that has been intensively farmed. Eating organic food is one way to reduce consumption of pesticide residues and additives. It is a lot less toxins.

Organic produce costs more for several reasons. In general, organic food costs more than conventional food because of the laborious and time-intensive systems used by the typically smaller organic farms. Historically, organic farms have been relatively small family-run farms — which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers’ markets.

One reason why organic is definitely worth the extra is because we know what we are eating. After all, we want to get the best nutritional value we can from the food we put in our body. Also, organic farming is less harmful to the environment, because balance and biodiversity are encouraged. Buying organic products will help to support organic agriculture, which in turn ensures our farms and earth will be here for subsequent generations.

《黄帝内经》是中国现存最早的中医理论专著，简称之为《内经》，注重天人合一、阴阳平衡、顺应四时、饮食宜忌等，是几千年医药养生修炼的源头活水。

《黄帝内经》一书的基本素材来源于中国古人对生命现象的长期观察，体现了中国古人对人体与四时季候关系的理解以及人体各部分互为照应的整体观念，像一位老师，引导学生顺应自然的力量。学习黄帝内经就是学习如何依准我们的生命本性去做人和生活。

整本书里面只有13章，药方很少。其中非常重要的思想是 - 圣人不治已病，治未病；不治已乱，治未乱。内经中虽讲到了怎样治病，但更重要的讲的是怎样不得病，怎样使我们在不吃药的情况下就能够健康、能够长寿、能够活到一百岁。“治未病”的核心就是养生 - 养成健康的生活习惯。养生的智慧存在於世俗的日常生活中，改变坏习惯就是健康关键 。

古时候医疗条件相对落后，人们尚且通过养生来达到健康长寿的目的。在生活水平日益提高，而工作压力却逐渐增强的今天，我们又该如何做到科学养生、颐养天年呢？或许阅读《黄帝内经》是不错的选择吧。不要等有了病才去治病，而是在未得病时就进行预防，并且要找到问题的根本所在。

Also known as huai shan (淮山) and shan yao (山药), the Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita) is a root and has long been used as a Traditional Chinese Medicine and foodstuff in China, to help digestion, relieve stomach pain, promote muscle growth and repair worn-out tissue, and alleviate bodily weakness after a long-term illness.

Traditional Chinese medicine classifies Chinese yam as neutral and sweet. Chinese Yam is an important yin (moisture) tonic that is said to benefit the spirit, promote flesh development and when taken habitually, to brighten the intellect and help prolong life.

It’s cooling nature helps control and regulates excess heat accumulations in the blood, spleen and stomach and helps moisturize internal dryness of the spleen and stomach. Now modern science is revealing that yams have even greater health benefits.

Chinese yam is a common food found in Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisines. Dried Chinese yam looks like chalk. Chinese yam can also be found in its fresh form. To prepare fresh Chinese Yam for eating, simply wash and peel its skin and cut into cubes or slices for soup and cooking.

By the way, you can purchase fresh Chinese yam in most Asian supermarkets.