Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Grand Opening of Naturally Plus Singapore


















In regards to the Grand Opening of Naturally Plus Singapore on 23rd November 2008 (Sunday),“Membership Application Package” will start to go on sale from 28th October 2008 (Tuesday) at our Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong Customer Service Centres.

Contents of the package include:

● Business Operation Guide (Singapore Edition) – 10 booklets

● Membership Application Form – 10 formsPlease check with the respective customer service centres for theselling price of the package.

Membership Application Package within Taiwan is NT$300
Membership Application Package within Hong Kong is HK$80

Visit Now ----- >>

http://www.naturally-plus.com.sg/


or Contact :

Mr. Matthew Lok
+ 6 012 679 1884

Saturday, October 25, 2008










Lutein and Age related Macular Degeneration (AMD)



Research has suggested a minimum of 6-10 mg per day of lutein is necessary to realize lutein’s health benefits. One such benefit is lutein’s role in eye health, specifically its role in reducing the risk of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).**




AMD occurs when the fragile center of the retina–the macula–deteriorates from a lifetime of slow but steady damage. The macula is a small area of the retina responsible for central vision, and high visual acuity.
Poor macular health can cause oxidative stress within the retina, leading to a loss of central vision.
According to AMD Alliance International dry AMD, the more common and milder form of AMD, accounts for 85% to 90% of all cases. It develops gradually over time and usually causes only mild loss of vision. One key identifier for AMD is the collection of small, round, white-yellow, fatty deposits called drusen in the central part of the retina. Drusen accumulate in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) tissue beneath the macula and the macula thins and dries out. The amount of vision loss is related to the location and amount of macular thinning caused by the drusen. Sometimes abnormal new blood vessels form (wet AMD). It is therefore important for individuals with dry AMD to have their eyes examined regularly, because it may eventually develop into the wet form.






Although the wet form of AMD accounts for only 10 – 15% of all AMD, the chance for severe sight loss is much greater. It is responsible for 90% of severe vision loss associated with AMD. Wet AMD is caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels, or choroidal neovascularization (CNV), under the central part of the retina, the macula. These abnormal vessels leak fluid and blood into the tissue at the back of the eye, causing a blister to form in the retina. This progression leads to scar tissue, distortion and a loss of central vision. Wet AMD can rapidly damage the macula and result in a very quick loss of central vision.
Lutein and its related compound zeaxanthin are highly concentrated in the macula, providing a yellow color known as the macular pigment (MP).The macular pigment protects the macula from the damaging photo-oxidative effects of blue light.




Of the 600 or so carotenoids present in nature, only a handful are present in human serum. Of those, nature has chosen only lutein and zeaxanthin to be present in the macula. These facts alone suggest that lutein plays a critical role in eye health.



There is a wealth of data available supporting a role for lutein in reducing the risk of AMD.** There are a number of observational studies showing the association between lutein intake, serum levels, macular pigment density (MPD),
and AMD risk in humans.



Controlled intervention studies in humans are needed to establish causality. In terms of eye health, more and more studies investigating the direct effect of dietary lutein and lutein supplementation on macular pigment density are now being published.



Researchers agree that it is the body of evidence that must be evaluated collectively in order to determine the merits of a given nutrient, and any conclusions based on a single study are premature. The body of evidence appears to support a beneficial role for lutein in eye health.**









Lutein and Women's Health

Lutein and Women's Health

Research has suggested a minimum of 6-10 mg per day of lutein is necessary to realize lutein’s health benefits. One such benefit is lutein’s role in eye health, specifically its role in reducing the risk of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).** In particular to women’s health, research has implicated gender as a risk factor for AMD with women at a higher risk than men.
It is documented that women have approximately 20% lower macular pigment in the eye compared to men.


Women’s health research suggests lutein may also have a role during pregnancy and lactation. Researchers have found lutein and zeaxanthin in breast milk and umbilical cord plasma, suggesting that these carotenoids may be transferred from mothers to babies.


In addition, studies indicate that foods rich in carotenoids - lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene - may have protective benefits against breast cancer risk.**



** These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.


Lutein and Cardiovascular Health

Lutein and Cardiovascular Health

Research suggests lutein plays a significant role in human health. For cardiovascular health, lutein present in blood serum may favorably impact arterial wall thickening, a component of atherosclerosis.**

At least one published study produced findings that suggested higher levels of lutein in the serum may be linked with less thickening of arterials walls.† **

Lutein and Skin Health

Lutein and Skin Health

Similar to our eyes, lutein is deposited throughout our skin through the lutein we consume.
Research suggests 10 mg of lutein from food or dietary supplements, may play a role in maintaining healthy skin.

A recent human clinical study showed 10 mg of lutein daily increased skin hydration, elasticity and skin lipid content. This is the first research to show improvement in skin health through lutein supplementation alone.

Skin is the largest organ of the human body. Along with our eyes, it is the only organ of the body constantly exposed to the environment. Skin is "assaulted" by:

~Light (especially ultraviolet and visible wavelengths)
~Environmental pollutants

Such exposure can create reactive oxygen species, leading to cell-damaging free radicals within skin. The skin provides numerous functions. It acts as a barrier of protection for the internal organs. It regulates body temperature. It plays an important role in immunological response. Therefore, it is important to protect the skin.


Lutein Benefits

Lutein



Lutein (pronounced LOO-teen) is a carotenoid, meaning a natural colorant or pigment, found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, plus various fruits and corn. Egg yolks are also sources of lutein.




Lutein provides nutritional support to our eyes and skin – the only organs of the body directly exposed to the outside environment. Lutein has been linked to promoting healthy eyes through reducing the risk of macular degeneration.** Other studies suggest that a mixture of nutrients, including lutein, may provide supplemental antioxidant capacity to the skin, helping counteract free radical damage.





Why is lutein important in our diet? Simply put, lutein is an antioxidant that appears to quench or reduce harmful free radicals in various parts of the body.** Free radicals can play a role in a variety of chronic diseases.




Lutein also filters the high-energy, blue wavelengths of light from the visible-light spectrum by as much as 90%.
Blue light, in both indoor lighting and sunlight, is believed to induce oxidative stress and possible free-radical damage in human organs exposed to light, such as the eyes and skin. Blue light is not the same as the commonly known ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B wavelengths of the invisible spectrum.


How much lutein do we need?


Research suggests a minimum of 6-10 mg per day of lutein from dark green leafy vegetables and other sources is necessary to realize lutein’s health benefits.



Even if you eat a balanced diet, you’d need a large bowl of fresh spinach to get about 6 mg of lutein. Most Americans just don’t consume enough foods rich in lutein. Lutein is widely available in a variety of nutritional supplements and fortified foods and beverages for people wanting to supplement their dietary intake of lutein, making their diet even better for their eyes and skin.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

「暫且」是人生失敗的最大藉口

「暫且」是人生失敗的最大藉口

遲 遲 不 做 決 定 , 轉 眼 間 就 六 十 歲 了 。對 二 十 多 歲 的 人 來 講 , 時 間 稍 縱 即 逝 。 如 果 做 事 拖 拖 拉 拉 , 恍 然 大 悟 時 , 不 知 不 覺 間 就 已 年 屆 六 十 。


二 十 多 歲 有 著 美 麗 的 未 來 。可 是 和 六 十 歲 最 鄰 近 的 也 是 二 十 多 歲 之 時 。


剛 剛 和 你 進 咖 啡 廳 點 飲 料 時 , 記 得 你 如 何 說 的 嗎 ?你 說 : 「 暫 且 先 來 杯 咖 啡 。 」這 個 「 暫 且 先」 是 什 麼 意 思 呢 ? 你 說 話 時 , 這 個 「 暫 且 先 」 經 常 出 現 :

「 暫 且 在 這 家 公 司 工 作。」
「 我 想 暫 且 去 留 學 也 不 錯 。」
「 暫 且 該 先 具 備 資 格 吧。」
「 暫 且 先 來 杯 咖 啡 」 的 說 法 , 對 咖 啡 很 失 禮 。」


如 果 對 自 己 喜 歡 的 人 說 「 暫 且 , 我 喜 歡 你 」 , 勢 必 會 遭 人 拋 棄 。 如 果 你 對 現 在 的 工 作 有 著 「 暫 且 先 做 做 看 」 的 心 態 , 絕 不 可 能 做 好 這 份 工 作 。


你 的 整 個 人 生 都 變 成 「 暫 且 」:學 校 畢 業 後 , 「 暫 且 」 進 不 錯 的 公 司 上 班 ;進 了 公 司 上 班 後 ,找 個 能 「 暫 且 」 結 婚 的 對 象 ;有 了 孩 子 之 後 , 就 努 力 為 他 們 找 個 「 暫 且 」 還 算 不 錯 的 學 校 。 當 你 說 著 「 暫 且 」 時 , 你 已 經 六 十 歲 了 。


嘴 裡 老 掛 著 「 暫 且 」 的 人 , 就 是 喜 歡 將 結 論 向 後 延 緩 的 人 。
若 有 人 問 道 : 「 這 就 是 你 現 在 最 喜 歡 的 地 方 嗎 ? 」


「 哎 呀 , 雖 然 不 是 最 喜 歡 的 , 但 也 還 可 以 啦 , 暫 且 在 這 裡 待 一 陣 子 , 作 為 日 後 的 跳 板 。 」


這 就 是 「 暫 且 如 此 」 的 心 態 。


「A 和B 喜 歡 哪 一 個 ? 」 當 他 人 如 此 詢 問 時 , 我 們 不 能 回 答 :

「 暫 且 選A 吧 ? 」

「 你 喜 歡A 嗎 ? 」

「 不 , 所 以 我 才 說 暫 且 嘛 。 」

就 是 這 麼 軟 弱 , 無 法 肯 定 地 說 :「 我 喜 歡A 。 」

能 肯 定 說 出 「 我 喜 歡A 」 的 人 是 強 者 。


當 別 人 問 道 「 咦 ? 你 喜 歡A 啊 ? 」 一 般 人 往 往 會 回 答 「 沒 有 啦 , 反 正 這 兩 個 照 現 在 的 情 形 來 看 都 還 不 錯 。 」 以 模 稜 兩 可 的 說 法 , 設 法 逃 避 責 任 。


不 能 如 此 蹉 跎 人 生 。


當 你 說 著 「 暫 且 如 何」 , 而 遲 遲 不 做 出 決 定 , 恍 然 大 悟 時 你 已 經 年 屆 六 十 歲 了 。


出 錯 也 無 所 謂 , 現 在 馬 上 做 出 決 定 吧 !


“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.”


“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.”

YES ! We can Achieve it.