Are you addicted to sugar? If so, you aren’t alone. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the average American consumes a whopping 89 teaspoons of sugar per day – about 3-4 times more than the recommended daily allowance.
Sugar adversely affects the body in a number of different ways. It increases a person’s chance of developing diabetes, promotes tooth decay, contributes to fat accumulation and subsequently obesity, and weakens the immune system. continue reading
The workplace is one of the top sources of stress in the average person’s life. According to a 2009 study conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), a staggering 69% of employees in the U.S. say work is a “significant source of stress,” and 41% say they are tense throughout the workday. If you constantly feel stressed at work, try some of the following tips to create a more tranquil and relaxing work environment. continue reading
Halloween is a holiday that is primarily celebrated in the West. Halloween has its origin in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, which is pronounced sah-win. But while Halloween is a much bigger celebration in Western cultures, it is also celebrated in Eastern cultures.
In China, Halloween is known as the Ghost Festival or Hungry Ghost Festival. The Ghost Festival is a celebration of the departed souls and it is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month (July). Chinese Halloween lasts several days, beginning on July 1 and ending on July 14. The Chinese believe that during this two week period, the gates of the underworld are open and the spirits are looking for a way to re-enter the human world.
The Chinese days of the dead are also celebrated at other times throughout the year, but the month of July is particularly important. July is known as the Ghost Month or Gui Yue. During this month, ghosts of the deceased are thought to be searching the country for entertainment. Because of these traveling ghosts, most citizens refrain from partaking in anything they consider “dangerous”, such as swimming or being outside alone at night.
As mentioned, there are other times of year when the dead are celebrated including the Qing Ming Festival which takes place in early April, the Double Nine Festival which takes place in autumn and Chinese Spring Festival. These days are an integral part of the folk religion known as Daoism. These festivals / celebrations are hundreds of years old and they are days where people either protect themselves from the pranks of the deceased or they honor their dead.
Halloween, as it is celebrated here in the West, has entered the Eastern culture though, via foreign teachers and Western expatriates. In cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, Halloween is more commonly acknowledged and celebrated due to the influx of foreigners. Hong Kong is another area where traditional Halloween decorations may be found around October 31st and this is because of places like Disneyland. So while Halloween is celebrated differently and at different times of year, it is still a tradition that is celebrated worldwide.
Happy Halloween! 万圣节快乐！Wansheng Jie Kuaile!
In case you didn’t get the memo, 29-year-old Vincenzo Nibali of Sicily, Italy won the 2014 Tour de France last month. Rightfully known as the “Shark of Messina,” he was able to outperform 218 other cyclists to finish first in the world’s largest bike race. Nabili finished the race with a lead of more than seven minutes, which is the biggest winning margin since 1997.
But here’s something that you probably didn’t know about Nabili and his team: they were the only team at the 2014 Tour de France to bring their own licensed acupuncturist. Throughout the course of the physically enduring race, an acupuncturist treated Nabili and his team, usually twice a day. Nabili and his team would receive a treatment in the morning before they raced and another at night while they were relaxing and resting in the hotel. continue reading
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who suffer from high LDL cholesterol are twice as likely to develop heart disease – the number one cause of death in both men and women (source). High levels of LDL cholesterol is a serious health condition that affects approximately 71 million adults in the U.S. (1 out 3). But an ancient Chinese herb is turning heads in the medical community due to its surprisingly powerful effects on cholesterol levels.
