China Watch Blog

China Watch Blog reports that someone sent this article for our readers to warn us that toxins are everywhere, so “detoxification” is a very important defense mechanism in terms of healthcare. A medical professional should be consulted prior to use of drugs or undertaking of dietary programs, and by taking such steps will lead to Happiness too.

People nowadays face lots of pressures in balancing their life and they are easily attracted by to various types of unhealthy food that are high-fat, high cholesterol, high-sodium, low-fiber, low-carbohydrate, etc. Consequently, they will weaken the immune system opening the door for various chronic diseases. With the advancement of medicine, many rely heavily on drugs and are less conscious about the fundamentals of diet.

Detoxification is to make use of the healthy food to remove the toxins from the body. Pesticides on food are common and when they enter and aggregate in our body, it is not hard to imagine how harmful they are.

To maintain a healthy body, we need to eliminate toxins from inside. Many kinds of food have detoxifying effects in general. There are many ways in detoxification. The high fiber, low fat, low sugar, low salt approach is most popular. Sweet potato, brown rice, fresh fruits and vegetables are good candidates as they are effective in toxin removal, highly acceptable, safe, economical, and easy to find.

The following are the top 10 food selected for detoxification purposes.

1. Seaweed: – Seaweed is rich in polysaccharides and highly alkaline. It can neutralize gastric acid, promote detoxification, prevent fat accumulation and help metabolism. Kelp is rich in alginate, mannitol, protein, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, carotene, vitamins B1, B2, C, iodine, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, iron and other elements. Especially with iodine, it is very useful in treating goiter and other diseases caused by iodine deficiency. It contains protein and eight amino acids. Iodine when absorbed can accelerate detoxification. In addition, it can lower blood pressure and prevent arteriosclerosis.

2. Onion: – Onions can promote gastrointestinal movement and strengthen digestion. Its sulfur combined with protein benefits the liver most, thus contributing to detoxification. The “warm” property of onion enables easy sweating and rowing edema. Sulfur compounds can rid the pesticides and other undesirable substances.

Recommendation: Add raw onions in a sandwich; add diced onions to soup with broccoli, carrots, celery and other high-fiber vegetables in order to break down toxins accumulated in the body and to help bowel movement.

3. Green bean: – Green bean is used in a variety of drugs by Chinese medicine professionals. Regular consumption of green bean can help getting rid of toxins from the body. It regulates metabolism. Green bean soup is best for detoxification and maintenance of healthy skin. With honey together, its detoxification effect is even better. Many people often eat bean sprouts (from green beans), because it is affordable. But very few know that green bean sprouts also has high medicinal value.

Recommendation: barley and green bean soup, blend green beans with boiled soy milk (or milk).

4. Sweet potato: – Due to the recent trend with concerns in health, the demand for sweet potatoes is up year after year with supply of sweet potatoes in different color and flavor. Sweet potato contains digestible fiber which can facilitate bowel movement. In addition, it can also neutralize acid accumulated in the body. Furthermore, sweet potato’s collagen and mucus polysaccharides can prevent arterial sclerosis. It also plays an important role in keeping vessels elastic and in excreting excess cholesterol.

Recommendation: baked sweet potato with skins. For health purposes, timing is important. The rule of thumb is to eat it early in the morning (e.g., 6:30 a.m.) before normal bowel movement time. This is to maximize intestinal absorption of sweet potatoes. This is particularly necessary for patients with serious illness wanting to use sweet potatoes for cure. Eating sweet potatoes after 12:00 is not desirable because the metabolism will slow down in the afternoon. On the contrary, sugar from sweet potatoes will remain unprocessed.

5. Cauliflower Cauliflowers (white) and broccolis (green) are cruciferous. Their antioxidant properties could have been proven with medical evidence that they can help to fight cancer. They also helps to prevent edema, increase the discharge of urine and to enhance the immune system. Cauliflower and broccolis are rich in β-carotene, vitamins B1 and C. They are also rich in calcium, potassium and small amounts of selenium (Se), a substance effective with anticancer, anti-heart disease and arthritis and other symptoms.

Additionally, there is a substance called lndol-3 carbonal, which can increase the secretion of female hormone estrogen to prevent breast cancer.

Recommendation: cook with seafood or cook in boiling water with a sprinkle of salt. They are nutritious, healthy and delicious.

6. Pumpkin: – Chinese medicine considers the pumpkin an excellent food for the heart, the spleen, the lungs as well as inner energy (qi). Pumpkin is indeed a very nutritious healthy food to be highly valued. It is rich in vitamins A and E to benefit human immunity especially during autumn. Pectin contained in pumpkin can “absorb” bacteria and toxic substances, including heavy metals such as lead. Besides the detoxification effect, pectin can also protect the stomach and reduce the chance for ulcer.

Recommendation: pumpkin porridge, pumpkin soup.

7. Mushrooms Mushrooms are rich in mucopolysaccharide, protein, fiber, minerals, etc. Not only nutritious, they are effective in anti-cancer and detoxification. Their high-fiber, low calorie properties make them ideal for weight watchers because mushrooms can fill you up without gaining weight. Mushrooms have many other health benefits because they contain nucleotides. They are delicious and so convenient to cook.

Recommendation: mushroom chicken soup, mushrooms over rice, boiled mushrooms with other vegetables.

8. Sprouts: – With protein than higher meat bean sprouts are highly nutritious. Protein in 1 gram of bean sprouts is equivalent to about 4 grams of meat. Sprouts contain ammonium acid, vitamins, calcium, potassium, iron and other minerals. The properties of high vitamin C and low fat, low starch and low sugar can produce good results for the prevention of constipation, weight loss, etc. Eating bean sprouts can help bowel movement. It is the ideal natural health food with good detoxification effects.

Recommendation: a mix of a variety of bean sprouts (e.g., alfalfa sprouts) topped with sugar-free yogurt and organic plum sauce or honey, add sprouts in salad, or eat sprout with an empty stomach for weight loss and detoxification.

9. Coriander: – Nutrient-rich coriander (or parsley) contains vitamin C, β-carotene, vitamins B1 and B2, etc., and rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium. It also contains essential oil, and apple potassium. Vitamin C in coriander is much higher than ordinary vegetables. For most people, 7-10 grams of coriander will meet the demand of daily vitamin C. Its carotene content is 10 times higher than that in cucumber, tomato and soy bean.
Recommendation: three meals a day with plenty of coriander (or parsley).
Breakfast: coriander with apples, raisins, and nuts blended into juice;
Lunch: eat with other food;
Dinner: coriander with scrambled eggs , with pumpkin, or just bibimbap (mix with rice) for dinner.

10. Apple: – Apple is rich in vitamins B1, C, B5, β-carotene, fats, carbohydrates, protein, pectin, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, fiber, malic acid and tannin. Zinc is the essential element in nucleic acid and protein which is closely related to memory functioning. Deficiency in zinc affects memory. Apple has been regarded to as the food for intelligence. New research shows that apple peels are rich in phytonutrients that have potent anti-cancer properties against breast, colon and liver cancer cells. The apple peel is also known to have a substance (天車菊素) that can stop vomiting. Unfortunately, many apple peels come with paraffin wax and pesticide residues that are not suitable for eating.

Recommendation: eat apple daily to clear up the stool. In meals toward the weekend, eat apple with yogurt and sweet potato to prepare for a thorough clean-up when it’s most convenient.

China Watch Blog has learnt that the mega-blockbuster Power of Focus (HCI) has been updated with new strategies for maintaining focus in the most turbulent of times and released in a special 10th Anniversary Edition, but yours truly has not read it, but if you are interested, read it by all means.

A press release put out by the company says that over 600,000 people around the world have been captivated by the simple, practical, and profound strategies contained in the original bestseller; now a decade later, authors Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Les Hewitt have created a new edition of this enduring classic. Now more than ever, the ability to focus is vital.

Les Hewitt and his co-authors have taken their bestseller and expanded upon it, including a personal look at the last ten years through their experienced eyes. Inspirational stories from ordinary people who have implemented The Power of Focus have been added to make an engaging read. Readers will also find insights on where to sharpen their focus, how to capitalize on the new currency in business, and a Reality Check questionnaire.

“True success in life is based on results, not theories,” co-author Les Hewitt says. “Specific focused action is a lot more important than words.” To make following through with focused action even easier, a free comprehensive workbook is included, containing simple Action Steps to maximize The Power of Focus in business and personal life.

The three authors have national name recognition, appearing on Oprah, CNN and Eye to Eye and featured in national magazines and newspapers including Entrepreneur, Success, Time and U.S. News & World Report. They are highly sought-after trainers and speakers who lead frequent keynotes and consult for multinational clients including AT&T, Campbell’s Soup, Johnson & Johnson, and Re/Max.

As an entrepreneur for more than 30 years, Les Hewitt understands the real world of business and the struggle and challenges associated with staying focused. His passion is helping business people achieve exceptional profits and productivity while enjoying an excellent balance between work and family. Les is in demand as a dynamic speaker and workshop leader at conventions, sales conferences and management retreats.

Originally from Northern Ireland, he now resides in Calgary with his wife and family.

China Watch Blog has learnt that the National Association of Broadcasters has announced that film and television star Betty White will be inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame during a special breakfast at the 2012 NAB Show, on Tuesday, April 17 in Las Vegas.

With a career that has spanned more than 60 years, the seven-time Emmy Award winner has created unforgettable roles in television and film, authored seven books and won numerous awards. Yes, she is a personality to be remembered.

Renowned actress Betty White

“Betty White is admired by generations of audiences,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “She has remarkable energy and an incredible ability to connect with viewers. Betty’s contributions to television and entertainment as a whole are extraordinary. Our Hall of Fame would be incomplete without her.”

White’s first comedy series, “Life with Elizabeth,” brought her first Emmy Award in 1952, followed by a daily NBC talk/variety show called “The Betty White Show.” She brought happiness to so many, many people who came to love her show.

She was a recurring regular with over 70 appearances on “The Tonight Show with Jack Paar,” and appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show” and “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” She also subbed as host on all three talk shows. White was a regular with Vicki Lawrence on “Mama’s Family,” as sister Ellen, a role she created with the rest of the company on “The Carol Burnett Show.”

China Watch Blog reports that forty-hour work weeks, two-hour commutes, carpools, school conferences, commitments: who has time to eat healthy foods and exercise? And who can afford pricey organic, fresh foods anyway?

You can, according to Randy Wright, MD and his co-author David Tabatsky. They spell it out in practical terms in The Wright Choice: Your Family’s Prescription for Healthy Eating, Modern Fitness and Saving Money (Intouch Media Health Network).

“We all know we should make healthier choices,” Dr. Wright explains. “But we don’t necessarily make it a priority. Sometimes it feels like we can’t make it our first choice. Staying fit and eating well seems to fall through the cracks.”

Moms and dads with hectic schedules are the norm right now; this pragmatic guide to good health is written especially for them. “We want to help them achieve their goal of staying fit without sacrificing work and personal goals.”

The secret is locked inside our brains, Dr. Wright says. “I wanted to explore the psychology of why we think about being healthier but don’t actually do it. To succeed, we have to completely change the way we think about food and the role exercise plays in our lives. Then you’re open for an ‘ah-ha’ moment: just as you shouldn’t start planning for retirement a mere five years before you stop working, you shouldn’t start living healthy only when something goes wrong.”

Dr. Wright’s long medical career is the background for the guide’s comprehensive overview on healthy living. From an explanation of fats and how they affect our bodies to a fascinating account of why Americans just can’t seem to put down the Twinkies, the truth about food is revealed and medical myths debunked. The financial advantages of physical fitness are outlined, and an affordable easy-to-follow fitness routine to use at home is included. “The rules we’ve developed work as personal mantras,” Dr. Wright continues. “Protecting your family and your own health are goals that should be taken to heart.”

Making The Wright Choice even more compelling are the testimonials included by Dr. Wright and his co-author. Ordinary people have found success in their health, diets and pocketbooks by following Dr. Wright’s simple regimen, including tasty, easy recipes. The Wright Choice: Your Family’s Prescription for Healthy Eating, Modern Fitness and Saving Money is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

Dr. Randy Wright is Director of the Neurovascular Institute at Conroe Regional Medical Center as well as Medical Director for the Health South Rehabilitation Hospital’s stroke unit in the Woodlands, TX. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Xavier University and electrical engineering from Georgia Tech before going on to obtain his medical degree at Emory University. He completed his neurology training at Baylor College of Medicine, then went on to complete a two-year Fellowship in sleep medicine and neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Wright is a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as well as a Diplomat of the American Board of Sleep Medicine. He currently serves as chairman of the stroke committee for the American Heart Association’s SouthWest affiliate and as a liaison member to the South Central affiliate of the American Heart Association.

David Tabatsky is co-author of Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support & Love.

China Watch Blog has learnt that international artists and creatives are set to descend on Sydney to ‘wow’ the fourth annual Vivid Sydney Festival program to be held between May 25 – June 11 that will transform the city into a canvas of blinding lights, rapturing music and ‘innovative’ ideas.

Screaming Rapture for Vivid Sydney festival 2012

The largest creative industries festival in the southern hemisphere, featuring live music performances at Sydney Opera House, creative industry events and large scale light installations around the harbour foreshore, Vivid Sydney was recently ranked as one of the world’s top ten ideas festivals by The Guardian newspaper in the UK.

Developed by Destination NSW on behalf of the New South Wales Government, Vivid showcases Sydney as the creative industries hub of the Asia Pacific, with over 500,000 visitors and Sydneysiders expected to attend the free and ticketed events this year.

In 2012 award-winning German light collective, URBANSCEEN will design the centrepiece of Vivid Sydney, the lighting of the Sydney Opera House sails.

Vivid Sydney 2012 includes 50 interactive and immersive light art sculptures, illuminated skyscrapers and large scale 3D mapping projections around the iconic Sydney Harbour foreshore. From huge 3D projections to giant glowing dandelions, fibre optic sea grass and animatronic dancing lamps, Vivid features light art works from Germany, France, Poland, Hong Kong, Scotland, USA, Brazil, Singapore and New Zealand to display with Australian works.

Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House features an astounding line-up of local and international artists including opening night act – the critically acclaimed English artist Florence + The Machine who will perform with the Ceremonial Orchestra, taking over the Concert Hall.

Vivid Ideas will explore new innovations and foster business connections with more than 100 industry and business events. Key note speakers include Chad Dickerson, CEO of Etsy and UK fashion talent, Henry Holland, from House of Holland.

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said visitors and creative industry practitioners from across the world are invited to come to Sydney to experience Vivid.

“Vivid Sydney is an opportunity to see Australia’s harbour city transformed in a new and exciting way through light, music and ideas,” she said

China Watch Blog has learnt that Xiamen in Fujian Province has the largest number of single women of marriageable age, followed by Shenzhen in second place and Guangzhou in Guangdong province ranked third in the country.

According to a Shenzhen Daily report, an online study of single women of marriageable age in China shows that a total of 39.3 percent of the 41,616 women surveyed, most born in the 1970s and 1980s, thought they were “overaged” singles and would struggle to find a husband, according to the study, conducted by online matchmaking service provider Shijijiayuan, one of the country’s leading matchmaking Web sites.

Among the single women in Shenzhen, more than 36 percent thought the word “shengnu” in pinyin, which literally translates as “leftover women,” was a humiliating word. Many of the single women in Shenzhen are highly educated and career-driven.

The main reason they are unmarried is the lack of social interactions and ways of meeting single men.

Some said they were “too passive to chase men they like.” Some chose to stay single because they preferred a single life to the prospect of an “unhappy marriage.”

On the other hand, more than 62 percent of male interviewees thought the women’s problem was that their requirements were too high.

China Watch Blog has picked up these 20 points to observe the 101st Women’s International Day which fell on March 8, 2012, published in The Independent. Happiness is for women in countries which gives them equality with men. One of the Baha’i religion’s main principles is THE EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN.

1. Best place to be a woman: Iceland
Iceland has the greatest equality between men and women, taking into account politics, education, employment and health indicators. The UK comes in at 16th place, down one since 2010. The worst is Yemen, and the most dangerous is Afghanistan.

2. Best place to be a politician: Rwanda
Rwanda is the only nation in which females make up the majority of parliamentarians. Women hold 45 out of 80 seats. The UK comes in at 45th place, behind Pakistan and United Arab Emirates. The worst countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Qatar, Oman and Belize, have no women in parliament.

3. Best place to be a mother: Norway
Norway is the world’s best place to be a mother, with low risks of maternal mortality – one in 7,600 – and skilled help at nearly all births. The UK is ranked 13th. The worst is Afghanistan, where a woman is at least 200 times more likely to die during childbirth than from bombs or bullets.

4. Best place to read and write: Lesotho
Literacy rates among women in Lesotho exceed those of men, with 95 per cent of women able to read and write, compared with 83 per cent of men. The UK is ranked 21st. The worst country is Ethiopia, where only 18 per cent of women can read and write, compared with 42 per cent of men.

5. Best place to be head of state: Sri Lanka
Women have run Sri Lanka for 23 years. The UK comes in at seventh place, while dozens of countries, including Spain and Sweden, have never had a female head of government.

6. Best place to be a woman in the arts: Sweden
The Swedish Arts Council has launched initiatives to improve gender equality in the arts. The Swedish Film Institute mandates that film grants be distributed evenly between men and women and there are quotas for women in film production. In the UK, only 6 per cent of film directors and 12 per cent of screenwriters are women.

7. Best place to be a top dog: Thailand
Thailand has the greatest percentage of women in senior management (45 per cent). The UK did not rank in the top 20 countries, with 23 per cent of senior management made up of women. The lowest is Japan, where 8 per cent of senior management positions are held by women.

8. Best place to give birth: Greece
Greece is the world’s safest place to give birth, with a one in 31,800 risk of dying in childbirth. The UK is in 13th position, but the worst place to have a baby is thought to be the world’s newest country, South Sudan. There are fewer than 20 midwives in the whole country.

9. Best place for economic participation: Bahamas
The Bahamas holds the top spot globally for economic participation and opportunity for women. The UK ranks 33rd. The Bahamas has closed its gender gap by 91 per cent in the past six years, while the lowest-ranking country, Yemen, has closed only 32 per cent of its economic gender gap in the same period.

10. Best place to be a journalist: Caribbean
The Caribbean is the region with the highest proportion of TV, print and radio news stories reported by women (45 per cent). The worst region is Africa, with 30 per cent of stories reported by women. Europe comes in at 35 per cent. In the UK, about 9 per cent of national newspaper editors are women.

11. Best place for the right to choose: Sweden
Sweden permits women to have abortions without restrictions for the first 18 weeks of pregnancy and there are no mandatory consent requirements. El Salvador, the Philippines and Nicaragua are among the worst because of a ban on all abortions. British women can have an abortion up to 24 weeks; two doctors have to give consent.

12. Best place for labour force participation: Burundi
Burundi in sub-Saharan Africa ranks first for labour force participation and is the only country where the female labour force participation rate (92 per cent) is higher than that of men (88 per cent). The UK is ranked 47th. The worst country is Pakistan, where the labour force is made up of four times as many men as women.

13. Best place to earn money: Luxembourg
Luxembourg shares the top spot (with Norway) for estimated earned income. When income is capped at $40,000, women and men are as likely to earn the same amount. The UK is ranked 23rd, while the lowest female earners are in Saudi Arabia, where women earn $7,157 to men’s $36,727.

14. Best place to go to university: Qatar
In Qatar six women are enrolled in tertiary education for every man. Questions remain as to whether their investment in education has led to the integration of women into the economy. The UK is ranked 38th. The worst country is Chad, where three times as many men are enrolled as women.

15. Best place to live long: Japan
Women in Japan can expect to live longest (87), beating men by seven years. Female life expectancy is shortest in Lesotho (48), but only two years less than men. Life expectancy in the UK has reached its highest recorded level for men (78) and women (82). It has the smallest gender gap, four years, of any country in the EU.

16. Best place to be a lady of leisure: Denmark
Women in Denmark have more time for leisure, spending only 57 more minutes each day on unpaid work than men, the lowest in the OECD. British women spend two hours more per day doing unpaid work than men. Mexican women have it hardest, spending four hours 21 minutes more on unpaid work than men.

17. Best place to be an athlete: US
Five of the top 10 highest-paid female sporting athletes in 2011 were from the US. The worst country, Saudi Arabia, has never sent a female athlete to the Olympics and bans girls from sports in state schools. Sponsorship of British women’s sport came to 0.5 per cent of the market between January 2010 and August 2011.

18. Best place to leave your husband: Guam
The Micronesian island of Guam has the highest divorce rate in the world, and Guatemala has the lowest. The number of divorces in England and Wales in 2010 increased by 4.9 per cent since 2009.

19. Best place to drive a car: India
New Delhi is the best place for women wanting to break into the male-dominated world of taxi drivers. An NGO in the country’s capital launched an initiative to train women in the first radio-taxi service run only by women. The worst country is Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world to ban women from driving.

20. Best place for high-skilled jobs: Jamaica
Jamaica has the highest ratio of women in high-skilled jobs, such as legislators, senior officials and managers. Almost 60 per cent of these roles are filled by women. The UK is ranked 35th in the global survey, with Yemen coming last. Women there take up only 2 per cent of high-skilled jobs.

China Watch Blog wishes to share with readers this email which we received in the post on lesson in life.

Do not jump to conclusions too quickly in life

The following photos are photographs of the same location in different seasons. . . . .

Winter

Spring

Autumn

Lessons on Life生命的功课
There was a man who had four sons.
He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly.
So he sent them each on a quest, in turn,
to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.
有一个人，他有四个儿子。
他希望他的儿子能够学会不要太快对事情下结论，
所以，他依次给他四个孩子一个问题，
要他们分别出去远方看一颗梨树。

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring,
the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.
大儿子在冬天前往，二儿子在春天，
三儿子在夏天，小儿子则是在秋天前往。

When they had all gone and come back,
he called them together to describe what they had seen.
The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.
当他们都前去也都返家之后，
他把他们一起叫到跟前形容他们所看到的情景，
大儿子说那棵树很丑、枯槁、扭曲。

The second son said no it was covered with green buds
and full of promise.
二儿子则说，不是这样子，
这棵树被青青的嫩芽所覆盖，充满了盼望。

The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms
that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful,
it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.
三儿子不同意，他说树上花朵绽放、充满香气，
看起来十分美丽，这美景事他从来不曾见到过的。

The last son disagreed with all of them;
he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit,
full of life and fulfillment.
小儿子不同意他们三人的说法。
他说树上结满了果子、累累下垂。
充满了生命果子与丰收。

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right,
because they had each seen but only one season in the tree’s life.
这个人就对他四个儿子说：你们都是正确的。
因为你们四个人是在这棵树的四个不同季节前往，
并且只看到其中一个季节的风景。

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person,
by only one season, and that the essence of who
they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from
that life can only be measured at the end,
when all the seasons are up.
他告诉儿子们不可用一个季节的风景来评断一棵树或是一个人，
关于构成一个人是怎样的一个人的要件，还有一个人生命的
欢愉、喜乐、爱，只能在他生命的尽头时候来做衡量。

If you give up when it’s winter,
you will miss the promise of your spring,
the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.
当你在冬天时候就放弃，
你就会错过你生命春天的盼望、夏天的美丽、秋天的收成。

Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
不要让一个季节的痛苦毁掉其他季节的喜乐。

Don’t judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches and better times
are sure to come some time or later.
不要因为一个痛苦的季节就对人生下结论，
持守忍耐度过这段艰难，美好的日子将在不久之后来到

无论这世界如何改变，对你认同的美德要有信心。

重要的不是别人如何看待你，而是你如何看待自己。

朝花夕拾，一切都是当下。

朝花夕拾，人生不过如此。

China Watch Blog reports that in the life of an ordinary person, he or she has 40-hour work weeks, two-hour commutes, carpools, school conferences, commitments: who has time to eat healthy foods and exercise?

And who can afford pricey organic, fresh foods anyway? You can, according to Randy Wright, MD and his co-author David Tabatsky. They spell it out in practical terms in The Wright Choice: Your Family’s Prescription for Healthy Eating, Modern Fitness and Saving Money (Intouch Media Health Network).

“We all know we should make healthier choices,” Dr. Wright explains. “But we don’t necessarily make it a priority. Sometimes it feels like we can’t make it our first choice. Staying fit and eating well seems to fall through the cracks.”

Moms and dads with hectic schedules are the norm right now; this pragmatic guide to good health is written especially for them. “We want to help them achieve their goal of staying fit without sacrificing work and personal goals.”

The secret is locked inside our brains, Dr. Wright says. “I wanted to explore the psychology of why we think about being healthier but don’t actually do it. To succeed, we have to completely change the way we think about food and the role exercise plays in our lives.

Then you’re open for an ‘ah-ha’ moment: just as you shouldn’t start planning for retirement a mere five years before you stop working, you shouldn’t start living healthy only when something goes wrong.”

Dr. Wright’s long medical career is the background for the guide’s comprehensive overview on healthy living. From an explanation of fats and how they affect our bodies to a fascinating account of why Americans just can’t seem to put down the Twinkies, the truth about food is revealed and medical myths debunked.

The financial advantages of physical fitness are outlined, and an affordable easy-to-follow fitness routine to use at home is included. “The rules we’ve developed work as personal mantras,” Dr. Wright continues. “Protecting your family and your own health are goals that should be taken to heart.”

Making The Wright Choice even more compelling are the testimonials included by Dr. Wright and his co-author. Ordinary people have found success in their health, diets and pocketbooks by following Dr. Wright’s simple regimen, including tasty, easy recipes.

The Wright Choice: Your Family’s Prescription for Healthy Eating, Modern Fitness and Saving Money is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

Dr. Randy Wright is Director of the Neurovascular Institute at Conroe Regional Medical Center as well as Medical Director for the Health South Rehabilitation Hospital’s stroke unit in the Woodlands, TX.

David Tabatsky is co-author of Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support & Love.

China Watch Blog has picked up an article regarding happy marriage, which points out that finding a husband is one thing, but keeping him is another.

According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, 4.5 million couples divorced in 2010, an 11-percent increase from 2009. The situation has prompted some people to suggest it is now harder than ever for couples to stick together.

For women looking to work things out with their men, help is at hand, according to a China Daily report. The Good Wife Happy School and the Beijing Moral Education Center for Women are just two of the many schools that have popped up to offer marriage guidance: some of it free, some of it extremely expensive.

“There are too many unmarried women now, and most don’t have the necessary skills to manage marriage,” said Jia, a human resources worker at Good Wife Happy School in the capital’s Dongcheng district. She declined to give her full name.

“We have a range of marriage management courses online and offline that advise women on how to prevent or fix a broken marriage,” she said. For 100,000 yuan ($16,000), women can listen to four lectures, including one that is about getting rid of a mistress. Jia refused to give more details about the curriculum, saying it is a trade secret.

However, she did reveal that most students are in their 20s, and must go through a strict examination and interview process before they can enroll. “Those who meet our qualifications are usually from good family backgrounds,” she added, without elaborating on the qualifications.

At the Moral Education Center in Chaoyang district, which opened in July, staff promise to better equip singles and wives for marriage by nurturing their internal qualities.

Among its services, the center offers a 30-hour course for 20,000 yuan on how to snare a millionaire, which features modules on makeup, conversational skills, personality development and traditional tea-pouring techniques.