Nancy Ajram Hekayat El Denia english subtitles حكايات الدنى 2010

Beautiful Boat

The Big Three in Weight Loss

Many fad diets have come and gone over the years. Most are forgotten by all but those who might have lost weight, gained weight or been damaged by them. Some of these fad diets were so unhealthy that medical America issued warnings about just how dangerous they actually were.
Weight loss is a national obsession. If you ever watch television, listen to the radio, surf the internet, shop, or do just about anything then you already know this. The obsession with weight loss is characterized by the number of claims that, "this is the only diet you'll ever need!". In fact, as early as the seventies, there were diets claiming just that by recommending eliminating ALL carbohydrates from your diet and consuming only meat and proteins - or the reverse, eliminating all proteins entirely.
Today, the most popular fad diets include: the Atkins Diet, the South Beach diet, and the Zone diet. And, just like in the past, all three "fad diets" have come under fire for their contention that one can eat a healthy diet and lose weight without restricting the intake of protein and fat-rich foods like meats and cheese. This flies in the face of conventional medical advice to restrict fatty foods in the diet.
So do these "fad diets" really work? Can these "fad diets" be harmful to your health? Are they just short-term diets that will simply lead to putting the weight back on? Or, can these "fad diets" actually become the basis for lifelong weight loss plan?
The answers to these questions may surprise you....On the surface, each of the diets makes the claim that carbohydrates are bad, proteins are good, and you can eat all the protein you want and still lose weight.
How does that compare with USDA recommendations that contend a healthy diet is low in proteins and saturated fats, derives 50-60% of its calories from carbohydrates, and emphasizes whole grains and fresh vegetables as the main source of nutrition?
Let's take a closer look at a typical menu recommended on each of the above diets and see.
Typical Meal Using USDA Recommendations: 3 oz lean fish (brushed with olive oil and garlic and broiled) 2 cups of spinach salad with grapefruit 1 tablespoon olive oil vinaigrette dressing 1 oz slice whole grain/whole wheat bread Contains: approx 350 calories 20 g. carbs 15 g. protein 14 g. fat
Atkins Diet Menu: Spring Salad Green Goddess Dressing Maple-Mustard Glazed Baked Ham Baked Artichoke-Parsley Cheese Squares Roasted Asparagus Atkins Coconut Layer Cake Contains approx: 400 calories 18 g. protein 17 g. carbs 8 g. fat 
South Beach Diet Menu: Poached salmon with Greek salad. Sugar-free jelly with low-fat topping  Contains: approx: 300 calories 17 g. protein 3 g. carbs 14 g. fat (olive oil in Greek dressing)
The Zone Diet Menu: Baked salmon with Fruit salsa (kiwi, blackberries, apple) Contains approx: 435 calories 17 g. Protein 10 g. carbs 5 g. fat
Did you notice anything similar about all of these diets?
No matter how the ingredients are counted, the bottom line is the same. A healthy diet, and weight loss plan, includes a balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fats with an emphasis on complex carbohydrates and lean meats.
So pick the diet that seems to make the most sense to you - and make it part of your overall weight loss plan. 

Foods to increase your brain power

You could say this article is quite literally ‘food for thought’. The food you eat directly affects the performance of your brain, so, by choosing the right foodstuffs to consume, you can boost your brain power, sharpen your memory and keep your mind young.

A balanced diet is probably the most sound advice when it comes down to prescribing healthy eating tips, but there are some types of food — or ‘brain food’ — which are considered especially good for brain health. Here are a few of the best to chew over:

Chocolate — Believe it or not chocolate, or its source, cocoa beans, is a great boost to brain power. Research has found that chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is rich in ‘flavanols’ which boost blood flow to key areas of the brain around 2 to 3 hours after consumption. So eating chocolate gives the brain a powerful short-term boost, which could be good for anyone aiming to get through exams or any other testing time.

Fruits — Fruits too are rich in antioxidants and they taste a great deal better than many vegetables, so will be especially good for kids! Some of the best options for brain-boosting fruit are blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, plums, avocados, red grapes, cherries and kiwi fruit. Time to get fruity!

Fish — It’s no fishy tale, fish really is good for the brain since it contains lots of omega-3 fatty acids and fish oils. Fish is considered the ultimate brain food, so it’s not one to let slip through the net if you’re wanting to boost your brain. The best type of fish to eat are oily fish like salmon, sardines, trout, tuna, herring, mackerel and anchovies.

Vegetables — That vegetables are good for boosting the brain should come as no surprise. Vegetables are a great source of antioxidants, which are needed to help the body functioning at optimum levels. The best brain-boosting vegetables are considered to be dark, leafy vegetables like spinach, sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Water — Seeing as around 80 per cent of the brain is made up of water, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to see that drinking plenty will keep the brain hydrated so that it can function at optimum levels. Not surprisingly, many schools are heeding this advice and providing their pupils with water bottles to keep them topped up throughout the day so that they remain alert. Try to drink at least 2 litres (67.6oz) of fluid a day.

So, all that should provide you with plenty of food for thought and help you get your brain working to optimum levels. Even if you’re not the brightest spark, you shouldn’t find this advice too hard to swallow, unless you’re one of those adverse to eating your greens or struggling to fit in your five-a-day!

The adage ‘You are what you eat’ never rings truer when it comes to boosting your brainpower. Eat well, and you’ll think well!

Footprint in the Sand

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the beach with the LORD.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very
lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he
questioned the LORD about it:

"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied:

"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."