Are you getting enough fruits and vegetables in your diet?

--
If you're like most Americans, the answer is: no. In fact, roughly 70%
of Americans aren't meeting the daily recommendations. 100% fruit
juices are a convenient way for adults and children to help meet the
recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Just one 4-ounce
glass of 100% juice equals a serving of fruit! According to MyPlate:
"Any fruit or 100% fruit juice counts as part of the fruit group.
Fruits may be fresh, canned, frozen, or dried, and may be whole,
cut-up, or pureed."
Some Facts About 100% Fruit Juice
*. There are no added sugars in 100% juice - just the natural sugars
found in whole fruit.
*. 100% juices are nutritious naturally, or when fortified with
nutrients like vitamin C, calcium and vitamin D.
*. While the calorie contentcan vary slightly from juice to juice,
most 100%fruit juices have only 60-80 calories per 4-ounce portion.
*. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend consumption of
several cups of fruits and vegetables per day, and acknowledge the
role that 100% juice can play as part of the fruit allowance.
*. 100% juice is considered a "nutrient dense" beverage - per calorie,
it packs more nutritional value than other beverage choices.
*. 100% juices contain naturally-occurring phytonutrients - compounds
found in fruits, vegetables and other plants that researchers believe
have disease-preventative anddisease fighting properties.
*. According to the latest consumption data collected by the US
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). the majority of
America's children and teens are drinking 100% fruit juices in amounts
recommended by health professionals.
Looking Beyond Calories
Because nutrition is more than just calories, it's important to look
at the whole picture when assessing the value of a food or beverage.
100% fruit juices are a source of key nutrients like folate, vitamin C
and potassium. In fact, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
noted that levels of these essential nutrients are often higher in
certain 100% fruit juicesthan in their whole fruit counterparts.
While many of juices' nutritional benefits are readily displayed on
the Nutrition Facts Panel, all juices provide value beyond what is
visible on the label. 100% juice is an ample source of phytonutrients
- compounds in fruits, vegetables and other plants that have
disease-preventative and disease-fighting potential. Although this
benefit is not listed on the label, there is strong support for the
role fruits and vegetables play in reducing disease risk.
Calcium-fortified juices canprovide an excellent source of calcium in
the diet, particularly for those who are lactose-intolerant.Some
juices are now fortified with vitamin D as well, another key nutrient
for bone health thanks to its role in helping the bodyabsorb calcium.
In addition, research shows that drinking 100% fruit juice is
associated with a more nutritious dietoverall. Studies suggest that
appropriate consumption of 100% juice is linked to an overallhealthier
eating pattern, including reduced intake of total dietary fat,
saturated fat and added sugars. In addition, drinking 100% juice is
associated with increased consumption of whole fruit and is not linked
to decreased milk consumption in children.
More about phytochemicals
Called PHYTOCHEMICALS or PHYTONUTRIENTS, these natural active
compounds are found in plant foods, including fruits and vegetables
and their juices.Phytochemicals are naturalbioactive compounds that
work with other plant nutrients and dietary fiber to help protect
against disease and promote goodhealth.
Pronounced "fight-o-chemicals" (or "fight-o-nutrients"), scientists
have identified thousands of different types of compounds, which
protect the body in a myriad of ways. Most consumers are familiar with
the role that many phtochemicals play as antioxidants, protectingthe
body's cells and DNA from damage.
Names such as lycopene, resveratrol, lutein, and quercetin are
starting to become more and more familiar to consumers as research
continues to identify the beneficial properties of these
phytochemicals. Although these compounds are not listed on the
Nutrition Facts panel of any fruit, vegetable or juice, Mother Nature
has put them therefor good reason.
::-::

- - - - -
m-najimudeen-bsc-india-

Drinking 100 Percent Fruit Juice is Associated with Improved Nutrient Intakein Children and Adolescents New research shows those who drink 100 percent juice have higher intakes of key nutrients compared to non-consumers

--
Consumption of 100 percent fruit juice isclosely linked to improved
nutrient adequacy among 2-18 year olds, according to new research
published in the current online issue of Public Health Nutrition, the
Juice Products Association reports today.
The new study from researchers at the Louisiana State University
Agricultural Center and Baylor College of Medicine highlights the
effect that consumption of fruit juice had on select nutrients (ones
that have been identified as "nutrients of concern" and are most
frequently under-consumed in children's diets), namely: dietary fiber;
vitamins A, C, and E; magnesium; folate; phosphorus; calcium; and
potassium.
According to the findings, with the exception of vitamin E and fiber,
consumption of 100 percent juice was associated with higher usual
intakes of all of the aforementioned nutrients. (Of note, although
juice drinkers did not exhibit higher intakes of dietary fiber, their
fiber intake wasnot lower than nonconsumers, as experts have
previously speculatedmay occur). These results underscore the role of
100 percent juice as a nutrient-dense beverage – a classification also
noted in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
"One hundred percent fruitjuice plays an important role in the diets
of childrenand teens, supplying important nutrients duringcrucial
years for growth and development," notes lead researcher Dr. Carol
O'Neil. "Drinking 100 percent juice should be encouraged as part of an
overall balanced diet."
Additionally, this study is the first to show that fruit juice
consumers were more likely to exceed the Adequate Intake for calcium
than those not consuming juice. It is unclear if this is due to
intake of calcium-fortified juices or if fruit juice was more likely
to be consumed alongside calcium-rich foods and beverages.
In this study, the researchers used data fromthe 2003-2006 National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine the diets
of a nationally representative sample of children and adolescents ages
2-18 years.
::-::

- - - - -
m-najimudeen-bsc-india-

The Pyramid Of King Khafre

--
Pyramid of King Khafre
Builder: King Khafre.
Constructed: 2520-2494 BC.
Height: 143.5 meters.
Location: Giza city.
King Khafre (Son of King Khufu – 4th dynasty) built his pyramid on a
higher ground than this of Khufu's Pyramid (10 meters higher); When
youtake a look at the Giza plateau for the first time you will think
that khafre'spyramid Is the greatest among the Giza pyramids.
Khafre's pyramid can easily be identified due to the smooth outer
white limestone casing around the peak which is still there. Unlike
Khufu's pyramid, this pyramid is very simple in design; the entire
chambers are located below ground level (unless there are more
chambers that we don't know of yet).
The entrance to Khafre's pyramid
At the north face of the pyramid two entrances are available, one at
ground level and the other is a little bit higher in the north wall;
the ground level entrance is the one currently used by visitors who
wish to see the interior of Khafre's pyramid. Once you enter the
pyramid, you go through a short descending corridor until it levels
off; then you can either descend to a subsidiary chamber to theright
or ascend to the main burial chamber.
The coffer of King Khafre
It is not yet clear why kingKhafre chose to have two entrances to his
pyramid; some historians think that the pyramid was built this way
because it was intended to be larger than Khufu's pyramid.
Although this pyramid wasintended to be greater than King Khufu's
pyramid; King Khafre constructed another master piece, the incredible
man-lion, and the guard of Khafre's pyramid; the sphinx. The
sphinx is one of world's largest and earlieststatues; it was carved
out of a lump of rock the size of a jumbo jet; it was buried up to
its neck by drifting desert sands; which helped preserve thestatue
until it was fully uncovered in 1925.
The Sphinx
The Sphinx has a body of alion, and the head was carved to resemble
King Khafre himself; both the sphinx and Khafre's statue wear a
striped head cloth,which is a symbol of royalty.
One of the interesting stories associated with thesphinx is about a
tablet between the sphinx's frontpaws that tells a story of king
Thutmosis the fourthwho, in around 1400 BC fell asleep beneath the
sphinx and dreamt that he would be made king if he clears away the
sand that was burying the Sphinx. Thutmosis did this,and he became
King. The sand later returned.
::-::

- - - - -
m-najimudeen-bsc-india-

Divine Justice @ Opinions Concerning God's Justice

--
The problem of justice as one of God's attributes has had its own
distinct history. Various schools of thought in Islam have held
different views on the subject, interpreting it in accordance
withtheir own distinctive principles.
Some Sunnis who follow the views of the theologian Abu'l Hasan Ash'ari
do not believe in God's justice as a matter of faith, and they deny
that justice is accomplished by the divine acts.
In their view, however, God treats a certain person, and whatever
punishment or reward He gives him, irrespective of what he might
appear to deserve, will represent justice and absolute good, even
though it might appear unjust when measured by human standards.
These Ash'aris, thus, distinguish God's attribute of justice from
Hisacts and they, therefore, regard as just whatever can be attributed
to God. If He rewards the virtuous and punishes the sinful, this is
justice, but so wouldbe the reverse; it would still be inthe broad
sphere of His justice.
Their claim that the very terms"justice" and "injustice" are
meaningless when applied to God is no doubt intended to elevate God's
most sacred essence to the position of the highest transcendence. But
no thoughtful person will regard these superficial and inadequate
notions as having anything to dowith God's transcendence. In fact,
they involve a denial of order in the world, of the principle of
causality both in the general order of the world and inthe conduct and
deeds of individual men.
The followers of al-Ash'ari believe, moreover, that the brightlamp of
the intellect is extinguished whenever it is confronted with the
perceptions and problems of religion, that it is unable to benefit man
or light up his path.
This claim conforms neither to the teachings of the Quran nor tothe
content of the sunnah. The Quran considers disregard for the intellect
to be a form of misguidance and repeatedly summons men to reflection
and meditation in order to learn divine knowledge and religious
beliefs. Those who fail to benefit from this bright lamp within them
are compared to the animals. The Quran says: "The worst of creatures
in the sight ofGod are those persons who are deaf and dumb and do not
reflect." (8:22)
The Prophet of Islam says: "God has assigned two guides to man: one
external to him, the messengers of God, and the other internal, his
own power of thought.
* * * * *
The Mutazilites and Shi'ast and in opposition to al-Ash'ari and his
school. Out of all the attributes ofGod, they have selected justice
tobe a principle of their creed. Relying on both transmitted and
rational proofs, they have also refuted and rejected as incompatible
with the principle of justice, the doctrines of the unmediated effect
of divine destiny and the predetermination of man's acts.
They believe that justice is the basis of God's acts, both in the
ordering of the universe and in the establishing of laws. Just as
human acts can be weighed according to the criteria of good and bad,
the acts of the Creator are also subject to the same criteria. Since
the logic of reason determines that justice is inherently praiseworthy
and injustice inherently reprehensible, an object of worship whose
characteristics include infinite intelligence and spirit, will never
undertake an actthat reason regards as impermissible.
When we say that God is just, it means that His all-knowing and
creative essence does nothing that is contrary to wisdom and benefit.
The concept of wisdom, when applied to the Creator, doesnot mean that
He chooses the best means for attaining His goals or remedying His
deficiencies, for it is only man who is called on to move from
deficiency toward perfection. God's concern is to make beings emerge
from deficiency and impel them toward perfection and the aims inherent
in their own essences. God's wisdom consists of this, that He first
implants a form of His favor within each phenomenon, and then, after
bestowing existence upon it, impels it toward the perfection of its
capacities through a further exercise of His generosity.
Justice has, then, an extensive meaning, which naturally includes the
avoidance of oppression and all foolish acts. Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq,
peace be upon him, says in explanation of God's justice:
"Justice in the case of God meansthat you should not ascribe anything
to God that if you were to do it would cause you to be blamed and
reproached."[ 1 ]
With man, oppression and all the forms of corrupt activity in which he
engages, derive, without doubt, from ignorance and lack of awareness
and need coupled with innate lowliness; sometimes, too, they are the
reflection of hatred and enmity, which leap forth from man's inner
being like a spark.
::-::

- - - - -
m-najimudeen-bsc-india-