Born entrepreneur? Studies suggest strong likelihood
By Amy Reinink
Sara Blersch got her hazel eyes from her mom and her sense of humor from her dad. Research suggests she may also have inherited their entrepreneurial tendencies — her parents founded Chainsaws Unlimited, a power-tool retail store, in 1978, and Blersch followed in their footsteps by founding her own floral design and greenhouse retail business, Daffodil Hill Growers, six years ago.
It's no secret that children of entrepreneurs are especially likely to go into business for themselves. But Scott Shane, a professor of entrepreneurship at Case Western Reserve University and author of the new book "Born Entrepreneurs, Born Leaders: How Your Genes Affect Your Work Life," says entrepreneurial prowess may have as much to do with nature as nurture.
"If you ask people whether they think there's such a thing as a 'born entrepreneur,' most people say yes," Shane says. "There's a widespread belief that there is some underlying, innate component to entrepreneurship, and we wanted to see if there was some literal truth to it."
Shane and other researchers studied rates of entrepreneurship in hundreds of pairs of identical twins, who share 100 percent of their genes, and fraternal twins, who share 50 percent of their genes. They discovered higher rates of shared entrepreneurial tendencies among the identical twins and determined that roughly 30 to 40 percent of the tendency to be an entrepreneur is innate, not taught.
"We expected there would be a genetic component to entrepreneurship," Shane says. "We were surprised to find that the magnitude of that genetic component was pretty sizable."
Nature vs. nurture
That came as no surprise to Dave Brautigan, chief operations officer of Atlanta Refrigeration Service, who describes himself as a "serial entrepreneur." Brautigan remembers helping his grandmother bind books for the small publishing company she owned with his grandfather, and spent weekends and summer vacations making service calls with his dad, who co-founded Atlanta Refrigeration Service in 1969.
So it was no surprise that when he got to college, Brautigan launched a business of his own, Crescent Marketing Service, a marketing company that netted exclusive rights to distribute door-hanger bags to dorm rooms on 13 college campuses. He sold the company after graduation and shifted his focus to his dad's company, expanding it to the U.S. Virgin Islands and taking it from eight employees in 2002 to 109 today.
Brautigan says it's easy to identify the shared traits that make him and his dad successful in business — both are determined, independent extroverts who relish hard work. What's tough is pinpointing whether those characteristics are inherited or learned.
"I want to say it's genetic, because I can remember sitting at a barstool when I was really little and just chatting with whoever was there while my dad made a repair at a restaurant," Brautigan says. "I've never had a problem with public speaking or engaging people in conversation. But I wonder if I was left alone, playing video games, if I would have developed the same trait."
If it's clear that there's some genetic component to the tendency to be an entrepreneur, what's less clear, Shane says, is the exact mix of factors that lead to that tendency. "We're saying that there's a genetic component here, but there are many paths to get the same genetic effect," Shane says.
Inherited genes may lead to certain physiological effects, which could account for personality traits common among entrepreneurs, such as extroversion and openness to new experiences, Shane says. For example, people with low levels of the "feel good" chemical dopamine in their brains are more likely to seek new or novel activities, such as starting a business.
But genetic tendencies are influenced by a variety of environmental factors, and Shane says it's nearly impossible to completely separate nature from nurture.
For example, it's not clear whether a child born with perfect pitch ends up being a professional singer because of his innate musical talent, or because that talent led to voice lessons, artistic scholarships and other opportunities that made the career more likely.
"Even if a person has this innate makeup that makes him or her more likely to be an entrepreneur, genes interact with environmental stimuli," Shane says.
‘A people person’
Blersch says this is where it gets tricky for her family, too. She knows she shares her dad's willingness to take calculated risks and his gift of gab, both of which have served them well in business. But she doesn't know whether she was born with these traits or if she learned by watching him.
"My dad is such a people person, and I think that's really important when you're in business for yourself," Blersch says. "We can both see someone's face once and remember their name, and we can talk to them about what they bought last week and how they liked it. But I don't know whether that's a nature thing, a nurture thing or a little bit of both."
Shane says molecular testing is underway to identify genes that may contribute to entrepreneurial prowess. But in the meantime, he says budding entrepreneurs born to a long line of librarians can still find business success. "Environment matters in this equation," Shane says. "Odds are higher that you'll be an entrepreneur if you are genetically predisposed, but that’s just odds."
Plus, Brautigan and Blersch both say the lessons they learned from their entrepreneur parents, like work ethic and the ability to think independently, are more important than any innate personality trait.
Still, Brautigan says, his two sons' distinct personalities suggest that there's something to the idea that someone can be a "born entrepreneur." His 2-year-old son is a thinker who's into sports. His 5-year-old son is a natural chatterbox comfortable striking up conversations with anyone who will listen, just like his dad, and a "master negotiator."
"He's the one who will say, 'Hey, the dog got into the garbage. If you give me $3, I'll take it out,'" Brautigan says. "We're like, 'Where did he learn that?'"
To Get Rich is Glorious
The Daily Reckoning Presents : To Get Rich is Glorious
by Bill Bonner
Bill Bonner: Imagine the looks on their faces, when Deng Xiaoping sold them out.
The old commies in China had tried to make steel in backyard barbecues. They'd carried the fat Mao on a litter, on a long march to nowhere. They'd pretended his Little Red Book was more than drivel. They'd endured one absurdity after another...purges, starvation, and misery...all for the cause.
And now this... "To get rich is glorious..." Xiaoping is alleged to have said.
Whether he said it or not, millions of Chinese took it to heart. They got richer, faster than any people ever had. The economy is now 10 times larger than it was then; it grew 300% just in the last 10 years. Incomes rose every year. There are now more millionaires in China than in France. Three times as many as in Britain. And more people are becoming millionaires there than anywhere else on earth.
Three decades ago, the world's hinge creaked. Deng Xioaping opened a door in 1979. He announced a new oddity, a "socialist market economy."
We can imagine the looks on faces in Washington and London too. And why shouldn't they gloat? They had won the Cold War; they had no idea that their victory would be fatal.
China took the capitalist road in 1979. Russia was not far behind. By the mid-'80s, it was already spending half its entire output on its military. And then the Americans started talking about neutron bombs and a "star wars" program. Leonid Brezhnev had a stroke. His successors faced the challenge, first with perestroika and finally with capitulation.
Meanwhile doors opened and shut in England, France and America, too. Maggie Thatcher moved into #10 Downing St. in 1979. Ronald Reagan brought 'Morning in America' to the White House in 1980. Like Thatcher and Xioaping, Reagan was determined to reduce the government's role in the economy. And in 1981, Francois Mitterand entered the Elysee Palace in France. His stated goal was the opposite - to increase state involvement in the economy.
No matter what direction they claimed to be going, all the western economies ended up in more or less the same place - on the road to debt serfdom. While China got rich by encouraging (or perhaps merely allowing) capital formation, western nations got poorer, relatively, by consuming capital.
In France, and much of the rest of Europe, government led the consumption boom. While households continued saving at relatively high levels, Mitterand raised the cost of the welfare state. Minimum wages went up 10% immediately. Then, he cut the workweek and added so many benefits for the workingman that the system barely worked at all. French government debt rose from 20% of GDP in 1980 to 80% now; in a couple more years, the government will have spent an entire year's output that France had not yet put out.
In Britain and America, government spending rose too. But household spending went up even faster. The resulting boom was almost magical; the effects were diabolical. Britain went from a debt/GP ratio of 43% in 1980, to over 65% today. Its deficits rose up too and now are projected to be the highest in the European Union - as much as 13% of GDP. But the big expansion in both Britain and America was in private household debt. Combined with government borrowing, it pushed total debt from about 150% of GDP in the mid-'80s to as high as 400% today.
Japan - the other major 'western' economy - has total government debt of nearly 200% of GDP. Its deficit is now so large that it must borrow an amount equal to the total it collects in income taxes. It is said, of course, that Japan has much debt but also much savings. The trouble is, the savings and the debt are largely the same money. Households saved. Government borrowed the money. The savings that are supposed to offset the debt have already been spent.
All together, Europe, America and Japan have total government debt of about $32 trillion, compared to total output of $34 trillion. Add $50 trillion or so of private debt, and you begin to see the bottom of the hole. In other words, the developed economies have borrowed nearly 3 years' worth of future output. At 5% interest, (investors recently wanted Greece to pay 16%!) this means the western world must give up all the output from January 1st to the end of February just to stay in the same place.
Meanwhile, back in China, last week's visit to Beijing revealed a glorious transformation. In the early '80s, a visit to China was a hardship. The streets were drab. The people were drabber, in their grey clothes and grey towns. They stared at tourists as they had never before seen a capitalist. Minders still accompanied tourists. Most of the country was off-limits. There were few private automobiles and few roads deserving of them.
In just 3 decades Beijing has become one of the world's most dynamic, forward-leaning cities, with new Audis and Mercedes bumper to bumper...as far as the eye can see. There are sparkling office towers with millions of earnest workers...and gleaming hotels with sleek prostitutes in the lobbies. Chinese entrepreneurs hustle deals at every table.
China is still an emerging economy. Europe, Japan and the USA, on the other hand, are submerging - sinking in a sea of debt. Getting rich is glorious. Getting poor is a damned shame.
by Bill Bonner
Bill Bonner: Imagine the looks on their faces, when Deng Xiaoping sold them out.
The old commies in China had tried to make steel in backyard barbecues. They'd carried the fat Mao on a litter, on a long march to nowhere. They'd pretended his Little Red Book was more than drivel. They'd endured one absurdity after another...purges, starvation, and misery...all for the cause.
And now this... "To get rich is glorious..." Xiaoping is alleged to have said.
Whether he said it or not, millions of Chinese took it to heart. They got richer, faster than any people ever had. The economy is now 10 times larger than it was then; it grew 300% just in the last 10 years. Incomes rose every year. There are now more millionaires in China than in France. Three times as many as in Britain. And more people are becoming millionaires there than anywhere else on earth.
Three decades ago, the world's hinge creaked. Deng Xioaping opened a door in 1979. He announced a new oddity, a "socialist market economy."
We can imagine the looks on faces in Washington and London too. And why shouldn't they gloat? They had won the Cold War; they had no idea that their victory would be fatal.
China took the capitalist road in 1979. Russia was not far behind. By the mid-'80s, it was already spending half its entire output on its military. And then the Americans started talking about neutron bombs and a "star wars" program. Leonid Brezhnev had a stroke. His successors faced the challenge, first with perestroika and finally with capitulation.
Meanwhile doors opened and shut in England, France and America, too. Maggie Thatcher moved into #10 Downing St. in 1979. Ronald Reagan brought 'Morning in America' to the White House in 1980. Like Thatcher and Xioaping, Reagan was determined to reduce the government's role in the economy. And in 1981, Francois Mitterand entered the Elysee Palace in France. His stated goal was the opposite - to increase state involvement in the economy.
No matter what direction they claimed to be going, all the western economies ended up in more or less the same place - on the road to debt serfdom. While China got rich by encouraging (or perhaps merely allowing) capital formation, western nations got poorer, relatively, by consuming capital.
In France, and much of the rest of Europe, government led the consumption boom. While households continued saving at relatively high levels, Mitterand raised the cost of the welfare state. Minimum wages went up 10% immediately. Then, he cut the workweek and added so many benefits for the workingman that the system barely worked at all. French government debt rose from 20% of GDP in 1980 to 80% now; in a couple more years, the government will have spent an entire year's output that France had not yet put out.
In Britain and America, government spending rose too. But household spending went up even faster. The resulting boom was almost magical; the effects were diabolical. Britain went from a debt/GP ratio of 43% in 1980, to over 65% today. Its deficits rose up too and now are projected to be the highest in the European Union - as much as 13% of GDP. But the big expansion in both Britain and America was in private household debt. Combined with government borrowing, it pushed total debt from about 150% of GDP in the mid-'80s to as high as 400% today.
Japan - the other major 'western' economy - has total government debt of nearly 200% of GDP. Its deficit is now so large that it must borrow an amount equal to the total it collects in income taxes. It is said, of course, that Japan has much debt but also much savings. The trouble is, the savings and the debt are largely the same money. Households saved. Government borrowed the money. The savings that are supposed to offset the debt have already been spent.
All together, Europe, America and Japan have total government debt of about $32 trillion, compared to total output of $34 trillion. Add $50 trillion or so of private debt, and you begin to see the bottom of the hole. In other words, the developed economies have borrowed nearly 3 years' worth of future output. At 5% interest, (investors recently wanted Greece to pay 16%!) this means the western world must give up all the output from January 1st to the end of February just to stay in the same place.
Meanwhile, back in China, last week's visit to Beijing revealed a glorious transformation. In the early '80s, a visit to China was a hardship. The streets were drab. The people were drabber, in their grey clothes and grey towns. They stared at tourists as they had never before seen a capitalist. Minders still accompanied tourists. Most of the country was off-limits. There were few private automobiles and few roads deserving of them.
In just 3 decades Beijing has become one of the world's most dynamic, forward-leaning cities, with new Audis and Mercedes bumper to bumper...as far as the eye can see. There are sparkling office towers with millions of earnest workers...and gleaming hotels with sleek prostitutes in the lobbies. Chinese entrepreneurs hustle deals at every table.
China is still an emerging economy. Europe, Japan and the USA, on the other hand, are submerging - sinking in a sea of debt. Getting rich is glorious. Getting poor is a damned shame.
Barrack Obama's Family (Meet the soetoros)
Lolo Soetoro, Stanley Ann Dunham Soetoro,baby Maya Soetoro, and 9 year old Barry Soetoro?
This registration document, made available on Jan. 24, 2007, by the Fransiskus Assisi school in Jakarta , Indonesia ,
shows the registration of Barack Obama under the name Barry Soetoro made by his step-father, Lolo Soetoro..
Name: Barry Soetoro
Religion: Islam
Nationality: Indonesian
How did this little INDONESIAN Muslim child - Barry Soetoro, (A.K.A. Barack Obama) get around the issue of nationality to become President of the United States of America ?
PART 2:
In a move certain to fuel the debate over Obama's qualifications for the presidency, the group
"Americans for Freedom of Information" has released copies of President Obama's college transcripts
from Occidental College .
The transcript indicates that Obama, under the name Barry Soetoro,
received financial aid as a foreign student from Indonesia while an undergraduate at the school.
The transcript was released by Occidental College in compliance with a court order in a suit brought
by the group in the Superior Court of California.
The transcript shows that Obama (Soetoro) applied for financial aid and was awarded a
fellowship for foreign students from the Fulbright Foundation Scholarship program.
To qualify for this scholarship, a student must claim foreign citizenship.
This document provides the smoking gun that many of Obama's detractors have been seeking - that he is NOT a natural-born citizen of the United States - necessary to be President of these United States .
Along with the evidence that he was first born in Kenya , here we see that there is no record of him ever applying for US citizenship.
Gary Kreep of the United States Justice Foundation has released the results of their investigation of Obama's campaign spending.
This study estimates that Obama has spent upwards of $950,000 in campaign funds in the past year with eleven law firms in 12 states for legal resources to block disclosure of any of his personal records.
Mr. Kreep indicated that the investigation is still on-going but that the final report will be provided to the
U.S. attorney general, Eric Holder.
Mr. Holder has refused comment on this matter.
8 reasons you spend too much
Paying with plastic, buying in bulk can wreck your budget
By Jodi Helmer
It happens all the time: You go to the supermarket for a gallon of milk and come home with four bags of groceries, or you plan to order a single book from Amazon.com and end up with a $78 bill at checkout. You're not alone.
Read on to discover the top eight reasons you overspend.
1. Paying with plastic
Takeout or dine in? Paper or plastic? Cash or credit? Of all the choices you make at the checkout counter, the decision to pay with a credit card has the biggest impact on your bottom line.
Multiple studies, including this 2008 study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, have found consumers are willing to spend more when they pay with a credit card instead of cash.
"Credit cards allow consumers to focus more on what they're getting, or buying, than what they're losing, or spending," explains Kit Yarrow, a professor of psychology and marketing at Golden Gate University. Credit cards "buffer the reality of spending because they leave more cash in our pockets and purses and provide a delay before payment is required."
2. Listening to music
Listening to music is perfect for increasing motivation during a workout. It also increases the motivation to spend. You're more apt to give in to impulse purchases in shops where instrumental or classical music is playing, according to one study.
Experts believe that loud music also impacts spending.
"Louder music in restaurants pushes people to eat faster, order more and consume more food because they can't talk to each other over the noise," explains Paula C. Peter, assistant professor of marketing and consumer behavior at San Diego State University. "Being overwhelmed by music also interferes with our ability to think clearly, which can lead to spending more money."
3. Buying in bulk
Before you stock up on a 280-ounce bag of chocolate chips, consider this: You're more likely to overspend when you buy in bulk.
A case of paper towels might cost less per unit than a single roll, but it'll add a bigger lump sum to the total bill, which could lead to blowing the weekly grocery budget. There is another reason that buying in bulk adds up at the checkout counter.
"Having large quantities on hand actually increases consumption," Yarrow says.
The more you consume, the more you'll spend.
4. Dieting
If you're watching your weight, you should be watching your wallet, too.
Dieting depletes what Kathleen Vohs, associate professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota, refers to as regulatory resources, which are a more sophisticated form of willpower.
"When regulatory resources are low, people feel stronger urges to buy impulsively, are willing to spend more money for a product, buy more items and spend more total money," notes Vohs. "Being on a diet is a big depletion endeavor." When those urges are present, "people are less able to restrain their impulses, so whatever they are tempted to do — like spend on needless trinkets — will emerge."
5. Tracking exact costs
Keeping track of purchases right down to the last dollar will keep spending in check, right? Wrong. New research found that consumers who try the hardest to budget are the ones who end up overspending. In fact, shoppers who attempt to calculate the exact total price of their purchases spend an average of 19 percent more than consumers who estimate an approximate total price. According to the study, "shoppers consistently underestimate the total price of shopping baskets, which puts them at risk for spending more than they budgeted."
If calculating the exact total is important, consider shopping with a calculator.
6. Buying clearance merchandise
There is nothing wrong with getting an item on sale. The problem with the clearance rack is the items are limited.
"It leads to the idea that if I don't get it now, it won't be there later," says Yarrow. "The fear of missing out tends to make us much less rational about evaluating our purchases, so we end up spending money on things we didn't want or need."
To avoid overspending on unnecessary sale items, Yarrow suggests applying the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared.
"Tell yourself that you're going in to buy a specific item and you won't get caught up in the frenzy of the crowd," she says.
7. Shopping without a list
It's one of the most oft-repeated mantras of maintaining a budget: Make a list and stick to it. You're more likely to buy only the things you need if they're written down in black and white.
"If you struggle with self-control, bring cash instead of a credit card," Peter advises.
You can't overspend if you're limited to the cash in your pocket.
8. Falling for clever pricing tactics
In his book, "Priceless: The Myth of Fair Value and How to Take Advantage of It," author William Poundstone points out that marketers have a clever approach to making shoppers think they're getting a good deal.
"There are places where there's a $150 hamburger," he writes. "The first thing everyone does is shake their head. But then you go down the menu, suddenly the $50 steak doesn't seem so outrageous."
You've overspent while thinking you're getting a bargain.
By Jodi Helmer
It happens all the time: You go to the supermarket for a gallon of milk and come home with four bags of groceries, or you plan to order a single book from Amazon.com and end up with a $78 bill at checkout. You're not alone.
Read on to discover the top eight reasons you overspend.
1. Paying with plastic
Takeout or dine in? Paper or plastic? Cash or credit? Of all the choices you make at the checkout counter, the decision to pay with a credit card has the biggest impact on your bottom line.
Multiple studies, including this 2008 study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, have found consumers are willing to spend more when they pay with a credit card instead of cash.
"Credit cards allow consumers to focus more on what they're getting, or buying, than what they're losing, or spending," explains Kit Yarrow, a professor of psychology and marketing at Golden Gate University. Credit cards "buffer the reality of spending because they leave more cash in our pockets and purses and provide a delay before payment is required."
2. Listening to music
Listening to music is perfect for increasing motivation during a workout. It also increases the motivation to spend. You're more apt to give in to impulse purchases in shops where instrumental or classical music is playing, according to one study.
Experts believe that loud music also impacts spending.
"Louder music in restaurants pushes people to eat faster, order more and consume more food because they can't talk to each other over the noise," explains Paula C. Peter, assistant professor of marketing and consumer behavior at San Diego State University. "Being overwhelmed by music also interferes with our ability to think clearly, which can lead to spending more money."
3. Buying in bulk
Before you stock up on a 280-ounce bag of chocolate chips, consider this: You're more likely to overspend when you buy in bulk.
A case of paper towels might cost less per unit than a single roll, but it'll add a bigger lump sum to the total bill, which could lead to blowing the weekly grocery budget. There is another reason that buying in bulk adds up at the checkout counter.
"Having large quantities on hand actually increases consumption," Yarrow says.
The more you consume, the more you'll spend.
4. Dieting
If you're watching your weight, you should be watching your wallet, too.
Dieting depletes what Kathleen Vohs, associate professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota, refers to as regulatory resources, which are a more sophisticated form of willpower.
"When regulatory resources are low, people feel stronger urges to buy impulsively, are willing to spend more money for a product, buy more items and spend more total money," notes Vohs. "Being on a diet is a big depletion endeavor." When those urges are present, "people are less able to restrain their impulses, so whatever they are tempted to do — like spend on needless trinkets — will emerge."
5. Tracking exact costs
Keeping track of purchases right down to the last dollar will keep spending in check, right? Wrong. New research found that consumers who try the hardest to budget are the ones who end up overspending. In fact, shoppers who attempt to calculate the exact total price of their purchases spend an average of 19 percent more than consumers who estimate an approximate total price. According to the study, "shoppers consistently underestimate the total price of shopping baskets, which puts them at risk for spending more than they budgeted."
If calculating the exact total is important, consider shopping with a calculator.
6. Buying clearance merchandise
There is nothing wrong with getting an item on sale. The problem with the clearance rack is the items are limited.
"It leads to the idea that if I don't get it now, it won't be there later," says Yarrow. "The fear of missing out tends to make us much less rational about evaluating our purchases, so we end up spending money on things we didn't want or need."
To avoid overspending on unnecessary sale items, Yarrow suggests applying the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared.
"Tell yourself that you're going in to buy a specific item and you won't get caught up in the frenzy of the crowd," she says.
7. Shopping without a list
It's one of the most oft-repeated mantras of maintaining a budget: Make a list and stick to it. You're more likely to buy only the things you need if they're written down in black and white.
"If you struggle with self-control, bring cash instead of a credit card," Peter advises.
You can't overspend if you're limited to the cash in your pocket.
8. Falling for clever pricing tactics
In his book, "Priceless: The Myth of Fair Value and How to Take Advantage of It," author William Poundstone points out that marketers have a clever approach to making shoppers think they're getting a good deal.
"There are places where there's a $150 hamburger," he writes. "The first thing everyone does is shake their head. But then you go down the menu, suddenly the $50 steak doesn't seem so outrageous."
You've overspent while thinking you're getting a bargain.
Do You Eat Petai?
Little did you know ...... after reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at petai in the same way again!
Petai contains three natural sugars -sucrose, fructose and glucose. Combined with fiber, petai gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proved that just two servings of petai provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute wor kout. No wonder petai is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way petai can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND among people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating petai. This is because petai contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS(premenstrual syndrome):
Forget the pills - eat petai. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anaemia:
High in iron, petai can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.
Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the petai industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power :
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating petai at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert. Understand that bananas contain lot of potassium too so eat more banana. Just look at those monkeys, they are really active, alert, smart and cunny too!!
Constipation
High in fiber, including petai in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a petai milkshake, sweetened with honey. The petai calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Petai has a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating petai for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness : Snacking on petai between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites : Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of the petai skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Petai is high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight: Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report
concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: Petai is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control : Many other cultures see petai as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Holland, for example, pregnant women eat petai to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affecti ve Disorder (SAD) : Petai can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.
Smoking: Petai can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium petai snack.
Strokes: According to research in 'The New Engla nd Journal of Medicine, ' eating petai as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%'.
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of petai and place it on the wart. Carefully hold the petai in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, as you can see, petai really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A Petai a day keeps the doctor away'.
Aphorism
Aphorism: A short, pointed sentence expressing a wise or clever observation or a general truth
The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow.
Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail.
If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense.
Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.
A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water.
How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?
Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.
Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else looks?
No one has more driving ambition than the boy who wants to buy a car.
There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity.
There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 AM. It could be a right number.
No one ever says 'It's only a game" when their team is winning.
I've reached the age where the happy hour is a nap.
Be careful reading the fine print. There's no way you're going to like it.
The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.
Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos. (OMG)
Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than in a Smart Car.
After 60, if you don't wake up aching in every joint, you are probably dead!!
Always be yourself because the people that matter don't mind, and the ones who mind, don't matter.
"Occasionally let your mind wander; it knows how to get home."
The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow.
Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail.
If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense.
Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.
A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water.
How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?
Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.
Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else looks?
No one has more driving ambition than the boy who wants to buy a car.
There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity.
There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 AM. It could be a right number.
No one ever says 'It's only a game" when their team is winning.
I've reached the age where the happy hour is a nap.
Be careful reading the fine print. There's no way you're going to like it.
The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.
Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos. (OMG)
Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than in a Smart Car.
After 60, if you don't wake up aching in every joint, you are probably dead!!
Always be yourself because the people that matter don't mind, and the ones who mind, don't matter.
"Occasionally let your mind wander; it knows how to get home."
Activated charcoal lowers cholesterol
Charcoal lowers the concentration of total lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides in the blood serum, liver, heart and brain. In one study on patients with high cholesterol, reported in August, 1986 in the British journal, The Lancet, two tablespoons (8 gms) of activated charcoal taken three times a day for four weeks, lowered total cholesterol 25%, lowered LDL cholesterol 41%, and doubled their HDL/LDL (high-density lipoprotein/ low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol ratio. Kidney International Supplement (June 1978) demonstrated that activated charcoal is able to significantly reduce serum triglycerides (up to 76%) in severely hyperlipidemic patients, and suggested that "charcoal may find applicability in the management of azotemic diabetic and nephrotic hyperlipidemia."
These findings were again confirmed in a Finnish study reported in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in 1989. Seven patients were fed 4,8,16, or 32g of activated charcoal per day. "Serum total and LDL-cholesterol were decreased (maximum 29% and 41%, respectively) and the ratio of HDL/LDL- cholesterol was increased (maximum 121%) by charcoal in a dose dependent manner." In another study of ten patients with severe hypercholesterolaem ia the effectiveness of activated charcoal was compared to cholestyramine (Questran®). Activated charcoal was found to lower total serum cholesterol, and raise the HDL/LDL ratio on a par with cholestyramine and also reduced serum triglycerides, whereas cholestyramine raised serum triglycerides!
These findings were again confirmed in a Finnish study reported in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in 1989. Seven patients were fed 4,8,16, or 32g of activated charcoal per day. "Serum total and LDL-cholesterol were decreased (maximum 29% and 41%, respectively) and the ratio of HDL/LDL- cholesterol was increased (maximum 121%) by charcoal in a dose dependent manner." In another study of ten patients with severe hypercholesterolaem ia the effectiveness of activated charcoal was compared to cholestyramine (Questran®). Activated charcoal was found to lower total serum cholesterol, and raise the HDL/LDL ratio on a par with cholestyramine and also reduced serum triglycerides, whereas cholestyramine raised serum triglycerides!
Activated Charcoal
What is Activated Charcoal?
Activated charcoal is type of carbon made from wood, vegetables and other materials. It looks like a fine black powder. Activated charcoal is believed to have a large adsorptive capacity, making it able to bind with unwanted substances and toxins in the gut.
Activated charcoal may help to lower cholesterol by interfering with enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. It has been found to lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
Why Do People Use Activated Charcoal?
Detoxification
Bloating and gas
Malodorous gas
High cholesterol
Poisoning / overdose – under medical supervision. If poisoning or overdose is suspected, go immediately to the emergency department of a hospital.
Activated charcoal is also used in air and water filters.
Dosage Information
Activated charcoal is available in liquid or powder form. It is a popular ingredient in colon cleanse products.
Activated charcoal should be taken with plenty of water to avoid intestinal obstruction or constipation.
Side Effects and Safety
Pregnant or nursing women and the elderly should avoid activated charcoal.
Activated charcoal should not used concomitantly with medication or nutritional supplements.
Activated charcoal can cause stools to appear black. Other side effects of activated charcoal include nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, or constipation.
Although there haven't been adverse effects in amounts used in nutritional supplements, there are no studies on the long-term safety of activated charcoal in humans.
Activated charcoal is type of carbon made from wood, vegetables and other materials. It looks like a fine black powder. Activated charcoal is believed to have a large adsorptive capacity, making it able to bind with unwanted substances and toxins in the gut.
Activated charcoal may help to lower cholesterol by interfering with enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. It has been found to lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
Why Do People Use Activated Charcoal?
Detoxification
Bloating and gas
Malodorous gas
High cholesterol
Poisoning / overdose – under medical supervision. If poisoning or overdose is suspected, go immediately to the emergency department of a hospital.
Activated charcoal is also used in air and water filters.
Dosage Information
Activated charcoal is available in liquid or powder form. It is a popular ingredient in colon cleanse products.
Activated charcoal should be taken with plenty of water to avoid intestinal obstruction or constipation.
Side Effects and Safety
Pregnant or nursing women and the elderly should avoid activated charcoal.
Activated charcoal should not used concomitantly with medication or nutritional supplements.
Activated charcoal can cause stools to appear black. Other side effects of activated charcoal include nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, or constipation.
Although there haven't been adverse effects in amounts used in nutritional supplements, there are no studies on the long-term safety of activated charcoal in humans.
Australian Prime Minister does it again!!
This man should be appointed King of the World. Truer words have never been spoken.
It took a lot of courage for this man to speak what he had to say for the world to hear. The retribution could be phenomenal, but at least he was willing to take a stand on his and Austrilia's beliefs.
Whole world Needs A Leader Like This!
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks..
Separately, Rudd angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:
'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. '
'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'
'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!'
'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'
'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'
'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'
'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'
It took a lot of courage for this man to speak what he had to say for the world to hear. The retribution could be phenomenal, but at least he was willing to take a stand on his and Austrilia's beliefs.
Whole world Needs A Leader Like This!
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks..
Separately, Rudd angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:
'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. '
'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'
'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!'
'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'
'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'
'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'
'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'