8 of the World’s Healthiest Spices & Herbs:

1. Chile Peppers - May help: Boost metabolism. 
2. Ginger 姜 - May help: Soothe an upset stomach, fight arthritis pain. 
3. Cinnamon 肉桂 - May help: Stabilize blood sugar. 
4. Turmeric 姜黄 - May help: Quell inflammation, inhibit tumors. 
5. Saffron 番红花, 藏红花- May help: Lift your mood. 
6. Parsley 香菜, 荷兰芹- May help: Inhibit breast cancer-cell growth. 
7. Sage 石见穿 - May help: Preserve memory, soothe sore throats. 
8. Rosemary 迷迭香 - May help: Enhance mental focus, fight food-borne bacteria. 

By The Editors of EatingWell Magazine | Vitality

Strawberries shown to protect stomach against ulcers

• Enlarge Photo
  Strawberries can help protect against ulcers, scientists say

People who suffer from stomach ulcers should consider tucking into a pint of fresh strawberries, particularly if the inflammation is related to excessive alcohol consumption, suggests a new study.

The new research, published in the journal PLoS One (Public Library of Science) and announced Tuesday, found that the powerful antioxidant properties of strawberries can act as a protective barrier to stomach ulcers.

In their study, a team of scientists from Italy, Serbia and Spain put a group of rats on a diet that included strawberry extracts for 10 days, before inducing gastric damage by giving the animals ethanol. Rats that ate strawberry extract were found to have less ulcerations by about 40 mg/day per kilo of weight, compared to those that didn't. Not only did the strawberries' antioxidant capacity help strengthen the stomach lining, but they were also found to activate the body's own defenses and enzymes, researchers said. Eating strawberries can also help alleviate damage either before or after the onset of inflammation. The new findings could pave the way for new protective ulcer treatments. Ulcers can be caused by alcohol consumption, viral infections or medications like aspirin. Researchers pointed out, however, that their study was not conceived to mitigate the effects of getting drunk, but to discover new ways of protecting the stomach against damage. Previous studies have also shown that strawberries can strengthen red blood cells' response to oxidative stress, which is often a precursor to cancer and other chronic diseases.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/strawberries-shown-protect-stomach-against-ulcers-102725382.html

华韵群芳《春江花月夜》

Music for Your Ears

春江花月夜　春江潮水连海平，海上明月共潮生。　滟滟(1)随波千万里，何处春江无月明。　江流宛转绕芳甸，月照花林皆似霰。　空里流霜不觉飞，汀上白沙看不见。　江天一色无纤尘， 皎皎空中孤月轮。　江畔何人初见月？江月何年初照人？　人生代代无穷已，江月年年望相似。　不知江月待何人，但见长江送流水。　白云一片去悠悠，青枫浦上不胜愁。　谁家今夜扁舟子？何处相思明月楼？　可怜楼上月徘徊，应照离人妆镜台。　玉户帘中卷不去，捣衣砧上拂还来。　此时相望不相闻，愿逐月华流照君。　鸿雁长飞光不度，鱼龙潜跃水成文。　昨夜闲潭梦落花，可怜春半不还家。　江水流春去欲尽，江潭落月复西斜。斜月沉沉藏海雾，碣石潇湘无限路。　不知乘月几人归，落月摇情满江树。


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lykgg5phVJE