Laughter Yoga

Laughter yoga is a unique exercise routine which is fast sweeping the world. It is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides the same physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. Laughter yoga is practised in groups, with eye contact and playfulness between participants. 

This unique form of yoga uses a combination of laughter exercises and yoga breathing to train the diaphragm and abdominal muscles to breathe deeply. This increases the supply of oxygen to body cells and can play a significant role in preventing cancer. Besides, laughter yoga's ability to strengthen the immune system is also believed to help keep cancer at bay.

In Malaysia, laughter yoga was started by a group who called themselves JB Laughters in September 2008. The group is led by Lee-Jean Fung, a practising pharmacist for over 30 years trained by Dr Madan Kataria as a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher in August 2008. Free lessons were conducted in various places around Muar and Johor Bahru. To date, there are more than 120 Certified Laughter Yoga Leaders around Malaysia.

To fully reap the health benefits of laughter, it has to be loud. deep and coming from the diaphragm. Joining a laughter yoga group provides a safe environment where one can laugh loudly and heartily without any social implications.

(www.laughteryoga.com.my)

Senyum Sokmo readers! Happy Monday!

Extracted from Urbanhealth

Shouting At Teenagers As Bad As Hitting Them

A published American Study finds that verbally punishing 13-14 year old teenagers increases bad behaviour, similar to what would happen if the teenagers are physically punished. The research led by the team at University of Pittsburgh, Pensylvannia said harsh discipline, such as shouting, cursing or insulting, would also aggravate bad behaviour. 

"Teenagers who were disciplined in a harsh verbal manner suffered from increased levels of depressive symptoms, and were more likely to engage in vandalism, or behave in antisocial or aggressive ways" 

In addition to this, the authors of this study found that the effects of harsh verbal discipline is bi-directional; when children were punished because of problems behaviours, the punishment itself caused a repeat of the problem. 

Subjects of the study group: Teenagers from the 'middle class' demographics. Families of subjects were of an 'okay' relationship between parents and kids. Parents whom cared about their kids and did not want them to engage in problem behaviours. 

The Nutritional Benefits of Jicama

Happy New Year 2014 readers!

         

Jicama might sound a little foreign, not until you have seen what this is (see pictures above).

Better known as 'sengkwang' or 'bengkoang' in Malaysia, in other parts of the world, this tuber is also known as yam bean, Mexican water chestnut or Mexican turnip.

This is a perennial (a plant that lives longer than 2 years) vine plant that grows vigorously under semitropical and tropical climates. Unlike other starch roots like potatoes or sweet potatoes where the peel (skin) may be eaten, Jicama features a thick, brown inedible skin which reveals a white, starchy flesh that has a crisp texture and fruit-like succulent, sweet-starchy taste.

The many nutritional values of Jicama makes it a perfect tuber to be included in your everyday meal. 

1. Rich source of Prebiotics
An excellent source of oligofructose inulin, a prebiotic that can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Prebiotics are the 'food' that the probiotics (beneficial bacteria) thrive on. Other rich food sources of prebiotics include onions, Jerusalem artichokes, bananas, asparagus and garlic. Probiotics on the other hand, have been show clinically to help with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, Crohn's dieases, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and urogenital health in women.

2. Rich in Vitamin C
One cup of raw Jicama slices provides more than 24mg of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful water-soluble anti-oxidant that helps body scavenge harmful body radicals, offering protection against viral cough and colds, inflammation and cancer. Eating vitamin C-rich foods can increase collagen production, which can help improve skin texture, speed wound healing, and give a healthy glowing skin. 

*SAFETY CONCERNS*
Jicama contains a water-soluble organic toxin known as rotenone, highly concentrated especially in the leaf tops, stems and seed pods, and at much lower levels in the roots. Several studies found that this is linked to the development of Parkinson's disease. However, peeled roots are safe for human consumption, including in children.