Sugar in blood can shrink your brain

medical research
Doctors ought to think again about what is a normal blood-sugar level.
Researchers in Australia have found that even those now considered
normal are at greater risk of the brain shrinkage thatcomes with
type-2 diabetes and is evident in dementia patients.
"We found that even within the normal range, and in people without
diabetes, higher sugar levels were associated with greater shrinking
of the hippocampus," said Nicolas Cherbuin, head of the brain lab at
the Australian National University in Canberra.
"If these findings are replicated in other cohorts,norms for blood
sugar levels and diabetes may need to be re-examined." Over four years
Cherbuin studied 249 people aged 60-64 whose blood sugar was in the
normal range of 4-6.1 millimoles per litre.
He found that those in the top of the range were more likely to have
loss of brain volume in the hippocampus and the amygdala than those in
the lower blood-glucose range. The hippocampus and the amygdala are
important to memory and cognitive skills.
Type-2 diabetes is often put down to poor lifestyle choices and the
same goesfor high blood sugar. To ward off brain shrinkage, eat well
and get fit — and try and avoid the stressful things in life.
"Lack of exercise and chronic stress also affect blood sugar levels
and a healthy lifestyle should include regular exercise and avoiding
chronic stress," Cherbuin said.

THINGS TO KEEP YOU FIT

You are what you eat -andwhat you don't eat. Similarly, life depends
on what you keep and what you don't keep. There are many things in
life that people may keep, but onlya few are truly worth keeping. Here
is a list of what to keep (and how) for a brighter, happier and more
fulfilling life.
1) Keep calm. Life can be unnerving and if you don'tmake an effort to
keep collected and focused, you could easily lose your cool.Take
regular, conscious deep breaths to calm and center yourself.
2) Keep your chin up. Not only is it good for your posture and
diminishes your double chin, it also helps you maintain an "I can
handle it" attitude. By keeping your chin up, you can keep your head
above water.
3) Keep your spirits high. Always maintain a positiveand joyful
attitude. Remember that no one can perk you up like yourself. Keep
your spirits high when the going gets rough by focusing on your dreams
and counting your blessings.
4) Keep your word. The true measure of a man is ifhe keeps his word.
Honorable and trustworthy is the man who stands by what he says and
promises. It is important to think well before speaking because once a
word is uttered andreleased into the universe, its vibrations could no
longer be erased.
5) Keep in time with your inner drummer. Don't be swayed by others
into following the confusing beat of their drums. Although it is
sometimes necessary to adjust to the pace of others, it is best to
keep in step with your personal rhythm and to dance to your own music.
6) Keep in touch with the child in you. The source of creativity in
your life is that little child within you. He questions, he marvels,
he imagines and invents. Stay in touch with him, and be young and
creativefor life!
7) Keep abreast of the times. The world is movingso fast. Know what's
happening, what's in style,what's au courant, what's relevant, what's
important.Learn the hottest trends and the latest in technology. Don't
be caught in a time warp or you'll be left behind.
8) Keep in shape. Your shape shows your state of health. Your body is
the vessel that you journey through life in. Keep it healthy and
strong. Don't be one of those people who say, "I'm in shape; round is
a shape!"
9) Keep your mouth shut. People talk too much. We language ourselves
to our own destruction and defeat. Know when to talk and when to shut
up. Avoid being too verbose. Oftentimes, silence speaks more
eloquently than words.
10) Keep good friends. Good friends are hard to find. Nurture
friendships that make your plight through life easier, more wonderful
and meaningful. Truly poor is the man who has no good friends.
11) Keep great memories, not heavy objects. In the very end, good
memories of life are what we will be left with, not jewels and riches
that we can't bring when we finally go. Live each moment beautifully.
Linked together, these magical moments create a magnificent life.
12) Keep a diary. Writing a journal is therapeutic. Record the
important events in your life, your dreams and aspirations, even your
failures and disappointments . When you trace back events in your
life, you are bound tolearn lessons from them aswell as find great
inspiration and strength.
13) Keep saying grace and thanks. Blessed is he who says grace before
he eats and gives thanks for all thegifts he receives daily. Maintain
a thankful attitude and focus on your blessings instead of
disappointments .
14) Keep on moving forward. The universe moves forward in time. Don't
get stuck in yesterday; make an effort to move ahead to a better life.
Drop those unnecessary pieces of material and emotional baggage that
weigh you down and keep you from flying to your loftiest dreams.
15) Keep out of danger. Hewho exposes himself to danger finds it.
Don't courtdanger; avoid it. As they say, an ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure. Look out for number one (that's you!), and
always stay safeand sound.
16) Keep up the good work. Success is built uponsuccess. The more you
do, the more you achieve; the more you achieve, the better you get at
doing it. Make success a habit by keeping up the good work.
17) Keep young. Do everything in your power to stay strong, supple and
youthful. Think young; feelyoung. A wise man once said "It is never
too late to be what you might have been." Remember that ageis a number
and that youth is an attitude.
18) Keep on dancing. Life isa dance through space andtime. Embellish
whatever music life plays for you with your own fresh orchestration
and creative choreography. Be excited in your heart and keep your feet
light with happiness.

Introduction Hajj

Once a year, Muslims of every ethnic group, colour, social status, and
culture gather together inMecca and stand before the Kaaba praising
Allah together.
It is a ritual that is designed to promote the bonds of Islamic
brotherhood and sisterhood by showing that everyone is equal in the
eyes of Allah.
The Hajj makes Muslims feel real importance of lifehere on earth, and
the afterlife, by stripping away all markers of social status, wealth,
and pride. In the Hajj all are truly equal.
The Hajjis or pilgrims wear simple white clothescalled Ihram. During
the Hajj the Pilgrims perform acts of worship and they renew their
sense of purpose in the world.
Mecca is a place that is holy to all Muslims. It is soholy that no
non-Muslim is allowed to enter.
For Muslims, the Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam . It
occurs in the month of Dhul Hijjah which is the twelfth month of the
Islamic lunar calendar. It is the journey that every sane adult Muslim
must undertake at least once intheir lives if they can afford it and
are physically able.
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History
History of the Hajj
Four thousand years ago the valley of Mecca was a dry and uninhabited place.
Muslims believe the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) was instructed to bring
his wife, Hajira (Hagar) and their child Is'mail to Arabia from
Palestine to protect them from the jealousy of Ibrahim's first wife
Sarah.
Allah told the Prophet Ibrahim to leave them on their own, and he did
so, with some supplies of food and water. However the supplies quickly
ran out and within a few daysHajira and Is'mail were suffering from
hunger anddehydration.
In her desperation Hajira ran up and down two hillscalled Safa and
Marwa trying to see if she could spot any help in the distance.
Finally she collapsed beside Is'mail and prayed to Allah for
deliverance.
Is'mail struck his foot on the ground and this caused a spring of
water to gush forth from the earth. Hajira and Is'mail were saved. Now
they had a secure water supplythey were able to trade water with
passing nomads for food and supplies.
After a while the Prophet Ibrahim returned from Palestine to check on
his family and was amazed tosee them running a profitable well.
The Prophet Ibrahim was told by Allah to build a shrine dedicated to
him. Ibrahim and Is'mail constructed a small stone structure - the
Kaaba or Cube - which was to be the gathering place for all who wished
to strengthen their faith in Allah.
As the years passed Is'mail was blessed with Prophethood and he
gavethe nomads of the desert the message of surrender to Allah.
After many centuries, Mecca became a thriving city thanks to its
reliable water source, the well of Zam Zam.
Gradually, the people began to adopt polytheistic ideas, and worship
spirits and many different gods. The shrine of the Prophet Ibrahim was
used to store idols.
After many years, Allah told the Prophet Muhammed that he should
restore the Kaaba to the worship of Allah only.
In the year 628 the Prophet Muhammed set out on a journey with 1400 of
his followers. Thiswas the first pilgrimage inIslam, and would
re-establish the religious traditions of the Prophet Ibrahim.

Daughter of Namrud

Namrud was the oppressive king who threw Ibrahim (A.S.) into the fire.
His daughter, Ru'dah, was watching the scene from above. She noticed
that the fire was having no effect on Ibrahim (A.S.). She shouted and
asked him the reason for this.
Ibrahim (A.S.) replied: " Allah has saved me from this calamity
through the blessing of iman."
She replied: "If you permit me, I will also come into the fire."
He replied: "Recite Lâ ilâha illallâhu Ibrahim khalîlullâh
(translation: There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Ibrahim
is the close friend of Allah).
She recited this kalimah and immediately dived into the fire. The fire
had no effect on her as well. She then came out of the fire and went
and rebukedand censured her father. He subjected her to great
difficulties but she remained steadfast on her iman.
Lesson: Glory be to Allah! How courageous she was that she did not
abandon her iman even when in difficulty! O women! You should also be
strong-willed at the time of difficulties and do not act contrary to
the Deen even if it equals a hair's breadth.