the book that started my love for reading...

- Wednesday, July 20, 2011

My friends know that I love reading. But it wasn't like I was born loving reading. I wasn't into thick novels when I was young, I just find it so boring to be reading such a thick book with no pictures at all, so i was like any other kid then, no one in the family would I see carrying a book or would I have known who loves reading. I would see my brother reading school books but not novels. I wasn't influenced by anyone, it's not an excuse I know, we don't have enough money to buy books when I was younger, well that wasn't an excuse either. I remember reading only goosebumps and sweet valley books borrowed thru classmates, but that was it. So there I was, until i was in 3rd year college when I read a book that totally changed the way I see books. 

I still remember clearly, it was the summer before my 4th year in college, I was killing time as I was waiting for the start of my OJT program in Manila. I was in the house of one of my closest friend Deo, I think we were just hanging out and cooking some food when I happen to see his Harry Potter book, since it is the hard bound copy, i remember telling him why he's reading such a big and thick book. Well he loves book and he's also the one who has a Goosebumps collection. he told me that it is a good read and I will not be bored. I shrug and told him how the hell I'm going to read such a thick book. Well I think during that time Harry Potter has slowly becoming a fad and movie was already out. So out of boredom and thinking it was fad, I borrowed it thinking I'm not doing anything just yet so might as well see what's inside the book. i can just return it in case I would not really liked it. So that's the start of my utmost love for reading novels. I read the entire book and loved it. I know at first because of the cover it might come off as a book for kids, but upon reading even an adult can totally loved everything about it. It is also good way to harness your vocabulary because of the words that Rowling used to describe the turn of events.

I put my hands off to Rowling for the characters that made up the book The characters, though fictional has been grown to love by many including me. I have finished all seven books by just borrowing it to my friend, and each book never failed to entertained me, each book gave me the chance to enter the world of Harry Potter. So it was also by the time that I was reading it that the movie adaptations went out. I think the first two movies I only had the chance to watch through dvd and the following movies up until the last I was able to watch at the cinema. My friend and I would rave about when's the next showing and got us really excited. We would watched at the first day of showing, falling in line just so we can be the first ones to watch among our friends. Most of the time my friend doesn't like the movie adaptations, he would whisper to me while watching why some scenes in the book we're never included in the movie, or how some scenes in the book were changed after it's movie adaptation. Why some scenes were never included, why they added something? It was the usual stuff that we would talked about.  Well for me, as much as I would like all the action-packed and amazing scenes in the book to be included in the film, that's not for me to decide really?! and that's why a book writer is different from a screen writer, because not all scenes in the book can be made it into the film, and not all scenes can make it to the final cut. So there, hands off to the great directors of all seven films, thank you for bringing Harry Potter to life, it is not an easy task as it came with a lot of expectations from Harry Potter fans like me. But you all did a great job.

In all seven films there were good and bad adaptations, but none of this would take from me the inspiration that I got from reading Harry Potter Series, not only for it's good story but most of all because this is the book that opened my mind and my heart to the joys of reading, and for that this books will always have a sweet spot in my life. And when the times comes when I have my own children, I will also share to them how this book changed my life.

I will not missed the characters at all because I can always go back to reading all seven books, as much as I like, and I know...it will always bring me joy.

eating fruits before meals is even better

- Tuesday, July 19, 2011

I received an email way back in 2010 how we can better take advantage of the fruits that we eat. And in big bold letters it says that eating fruits before a meal is even better rather than taking it after. Well, we usually take it after right? sort of a desert. But here's the explanation according to the article.

Let's say you eat 2 slices of toast and then some fruit. The fruit is ready to go into the intestine but the toast in the stomach is preventing it. In the meantime, the toast is getting digested using acids and the fruit comes into contact with this acidic mass and begins to spoil. If it had been eaten first, as fruits digests faster, it would've gone into the intestines without it getting spoiled with the rest of the food. This creates gas and a tendency to burp. As a result, the stomach bloats and causes a sensation of heaviness. You may have heard people complain that they want to burp after eating watermelon or that banana makes them want to empty their bladder often. This is all a result of eating fruit after a meal.

The Right Way to eat Fruit

Fruit is a great detoxifying food as well as good supply of natural sugars. Eaten the right way, fruit is extremely beneficial to the human body. A 3-day fruit fast can do a world of good by cleansing the body of toxins and helping the digestive system to slow down. Here are some tips on how to eat fruit the right way and get the most benefit out it.
  • Eat fruit on an empty stomach. It can be at any time of day as long as you eat it on an empty stomach.
  • After eating fruit, leave a time gap of 30 minutes before you eat any other food.
  • If you've already eaten a meal, then wait for about 3 hours before you eat fruit, so as to ensure that all of the previous meal is digested before the fruit goes in.
  • Try to eat fruit mostly before noon. This helps to raise blood sugar in a slow and unhurried manner. Since the digestive system has been at rest through the night, eating fruit is a gentle way of restarting it in the morning.
  • Never eat fruit with other foods, only on its own.
  • Do no eat fruit as dessert after a meal. Always eat it before for best nutritional results.
  • Bananas and avocados are heavy fruit and you may want to avoid them first thing in the morning. Try eating these as afternoon or a midday meal as the digestive system will be more prepared for them.
  • Try your best to eat only organic fruit whenever possible. It is a healthier option.
  • Avoid canned, frozen and processed fruit. It contains large amounts of sugar, preservatives and other undesirable chemical additives.
This article which I read back in 2009 truly enlightened me in the proper way to eat fruits. And I'm proud to say it did worked for me. A few days back I was delighted to finally be eating avocado again after quite some time now. Well the fruit is in season and wouldn't miss it. I remember my mom would always make mashed avocado with sugar and milk and she'll put it in a freezer and it will hardened like that of an ice cream. It's the most wonderful taste and I would jump for joy  with just the sight of it. It's just heavenly. Not a kid anymore but the memories as a child which I so remember clearly gave me joy. And as I ate my yummy avocado that night, I am relishing the moment, I let the avocado slide into my mouth and taste every bit of it. I'm happy while eating it and I felt wonderful. Simple joys of eating avocado. I think if everyone would have the same enthusiasm towards food, eating healthy wouldn't be so hard. Foods are there for us to enjoy, that's why eating in a hurry is really bad for us. While writing this I just finished my apple and a yakult. Lovely! Till next time!

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