Just thoughts

I wonder what would going  back to school after such a long time be like..... most likely abit awkward.... Tomorrow would be the first day I start schooling........ Ermm.... Hopefully it will go well......  Definately would feel tired but it would take time to get use to it also...... Working life would be the same thing.......  Wish me luck...... nites

Are you well-prepared for your course interview?

You would be suprise that nowadays before they approve of the course that you applied for in the ITE, you would have to go through an interview.  My advice is for those that intend to pursue the course in ITE is to study the course subject.  You need to know what you are applying for.  They will ask you if you know what this course is about and whether you have screen through their website.  Also they will explain to you that you need to go for a medical check-up and so forth.  It would be good if a day or two before the interview you can google out some information from the net.  You would then be well prepared and your interview can actually proceed smoothly.

Horse/zebra Hybrid known as Zorse

No, this is not about insufficient white paint. Because this is not an incompletely painted zebra. There is no artificial coloring on the animal you see. This a female zorse: her father is a zebra, while her mother is a mare, this being the classical example of how a child receives a mix of genes from both 

progenitors.

What is more unusual in this case is that while most zebra-horse crossbreeds "wear" stripes, even if across their entire body, this specimen displays just two such patches, on its face and rear. 

Baptized Eclyse, one-year-old zorse is an accident, after her mother, Eclipse, spent a short period of time, while traveling from her German safari home park to an Italian ranch, where other horses and a number of zebras, including a male named Ulysses, were roaming freely. Eclipse's keepers were taken by surprise by the result of the pregnancy, whose mixed markings left no doubt about who the father was. 

The foal has turned into a major attraction at a safari park at Schloss Holte Stukenbrock, near the German border with Holland, where it even has its own yard. "You can tell she is a mix just by looking at her. But in temperament she can also exhibit characteristics from each parent. She is usually relatively tame like a horse but occasionally shows the fiery temperament of a zebra, leaping around like one." said Udo Richter, spokesman for the park. 

Horses and zebras are often crossbred in Africa and the hybrids are employed as trekking animals on Mount Kenya. 

Horses, donkeys, onagers (Asian wild donkeys) and zebras are closely related, belonging to the same genus, Equus, even in distinct evolutionary lineages. Horses and donkeys are crossbred for a long time: the mule is the result of a cross between a donkey and a mare, while the hybrid between a stallion and a jenny (female donkey) is called hinny. Still, donkeys and zebras are more related with each other than they are with the horses.

Ever wondered why one start creating their own blog?

Wow. Alot to absorb for nursing courses and interviews.  I hope everyone's weekend was a good one.  Ever wondered what is creating a blog is about?  To me, its like writing a diary.  You find articles in the newspaper interesting or even when you meet up with friends or relatives that share with you some stuff that you might find interesting and etc.....  One thing I like about it is one day I can look back and well reminisce the past.......  

I'm so proud of my husband this week.  This is the first time on his off day that he didn't say he wanted to go to the pub.  Normally even if he's broke, he would still want to go very badly.  A new year, a new achievement.  I hope this will last.  I applied directly to ITE for the nursing course and well I manage to get shorlisted.  I still haven't got any reply from the other two hospitals yet.  The kid I used to look after, the parents invited me for lunch today so will be leaving in awhile.  Will just continue writing the blog later then.

I feel pretty tired today cause I slept late.  Found my dad wondering around the house at 1.30am and just went out to ask him if anything was wrong.  He told me that he felt he was useless as he had to depend on others like my mom, my sis or my hubby for money.  He's suffering from senial dementia but it will become worse one day. The only thing that's preventing it from getting worse is the medication that the doctor has prescribe.  He started climbing onto a chair prop on top of another chair which was really dangerous.  He's quite weak in the legs already.  My sis from Canada ask them to go over this year for a holiday but my parents are really not sure about it cause of the last incident that took place there.  He suffered a slight stroke and came back to Singapore with a leg injury.  Although he's recovered from the injuries and almost back to normal, he's still pretty weak.  I hope he will always be in good health and stay strong.  Another problem would be my mom, she suffering from eye problem, her eyesight is abit blur now.  Still arranging for her to go for a second opinion.  As for Desiree, she's started school again and guess doing well.  I manage to apply direct and well I'm shortlisted for an interview.  It's next Tuesday......

‘Oily men’ strike fear in Malaysian village

Residents of a village in Selangor, Malaysia are on the lookout for what they say are two supernatural beings that have been terrorising their homes and families.

Known as orang minyak or “oily men”, the creatures are said to be human-shaped and sized, but are dressed only in their underwear and appear to be covered from head to toe in shiny black oil. 

The beings were first brought to light by P. Ramlee’s 1956 film entitled Sumpah Orang Minyak (The Curse of the Oily Man), and were featured again in a 2007 local production going by their namesake, but the villagers of Kampung Laksamana in Gombak, Selangor, are convinced there is truth to this phenomenon.

Malaysian newspaper The Star reported that since just before the Christmas period, villagers have told of numerous sightings of the creatures. Over the Christmas period, the paper reported that some 200 people patrolled the village streets, many of whom brandished parangs (machetes) and axes.

Residents, it reported, have also vowed to continue their nightly patrols until the two creatures are caught.

One resident who spoke to the paper, 33-year-old Aslam Khan, who claimed to have seen both theorang minyak, described one to be tall, stocky and bald, and the other to be thin and curly-haired.

“It was breathing really loudly, like a cow,” Aslam said, relating one occasion where he spotted the bald orang minyak hiding behind the water tank of a house in the wee hours of the morning. 

“It was black and shiny,” he continued. “When I shone my light on it, the thing stuck out its head to look back at me. Before I could do anything, it climbed up the roof and disappeared.”

Legend has it that orang minyak are humans who practice dark arts, either because they made deals with the devil in exchange for personal wishes or were forced into doing so after botched black magic rituals. They are supposedly required to rape anywhere between 40 and 99 virgins, whom the orang minyak are said to be able to recognise, before being liberated from their circumstances, or in order to hold up their end of the deals, depending on which story you read or movie you watch.

Another Malaysian daily, the Sinar Harian, reported that encounters with an orang minyakcompelled a family to move out of their house after being tormented by it over five days.

36-year-old Kamal Bahari Satar told the Sinar Harian that his sister-in-law saw the “apparition” inside and outside their house, adding that only female members of the family were able to see it. 

It apparently locked some of his family inside the house on Christmas eve, and he said that they saw a “black heap” beneath their kitchen table.

“When other residents poked it with a bamboo stick, we could see blood stains,” he told the daily, adding that police also found black footprints outside their house that evening.

Islamic faith healers who spoke to The Star said that orang minyak douse their bodies in oil in order to assist with camouflage and evade capture, and cannot use violence to do so, only magic.

“It also keeps on coming back to the same place to taunt the people and show off its abilities,” said Darussalam healer Ustaz Ismail Kamus, who also told the paper that they tend to take a few months to learn the magic that is involved, but an orang minyak that has mastered the black magic will be able to walk through walls and vanish into thin air.

Previous sightings of orang minyak in Malaysia, however, have turned out to have less to do with the supernatural than with human foibles. A Yahoo! Malaysia report relates how in September last year, residents in the Taman Pinggiran Batu Caves, located just two kilometres away from Kampung Laksamana, captured a man who was disguised as an orang minyak. Police later arrested the imposter, whom the report said was believed to be a black magic practitioner.

The villagers have since filed a police report and sought help from alternative healers, including abomoh, reported The Star. They also organise nightly prayer sessions seeking protection from the evil “spirits”.

They say this episode might be a blessing in disguise, however, as residents have rallied together against the creatures despite differing political differences.

Office worker K Paramisavam told The Star that he never really spoke to his neighbours before this, saying, “At the most, I would just acknowledge them (in the past). Now I actually talk and get to know them. The ‘neighbourly’ spirit has been enhanced by these happenings.”

World-first hybrid shark found off Australia

Scientists said on Tuesday that they had discovered the world's first hybrid sharks in Australian waters, a potential sign the predators were adapting to cope with climate change.

The mating of the local Australian black-tip shark with its global counterpart, the common black-tip, was an unprecedented discovery with implications for the entire shark world, said lead researcher Jess Morgan.

"It's very surprising because no one's ever seen shark hybrids before, this is not a common occurrence by any stretch of the imagination," Morgan, from the University of Queensland, told AFP.

"This is evolution in action."

Colin Simpfendorfer, a partner in Morgan's research from James Cook University, said initial studies suggested the hybrid species was relatively robust, with a number of generations discovered across 57 specimens.

The find was made during cataloguing work off Australia's east coast when Morgan said genetic testing showed certain sharks to be one species when physically they looked to be another.

The Australian black-tip is slightly smaller than its common cousin and can only live in tropical waters, but its hybrid offspring have been found 2,000 kilometres down the coast, in cooler seas.

It means the Australian black-tip could be adapting to ensure its survival as sea temperatures change because of global warming.

"If it hybridises with the common species it can effectively shift its range further south into cooler waters, so the effect of this hybridising is a range expansion," Morgan said.

"It's enabled a species restricted to the tropics to move into temperate waters."

Climate change and human fishing are some of the potential triggers being investigated by the team, with further genetic mapping also planned to examine whether it was an ancient process just discovered or a more recent phenomenon.

If the hybrid was found to be stronger than its parent species -- a literal survival of the fittest -- Simpfendorfer said it may eventually outlast its so-called pure-bred predecessors.

"We don't know whether that's the case here, but certainly we know that they are viable, they reproduce and that there are multiple generations of hybrids now that we can see from the genetic roadmap that we've generated from these animals," he said.

"Certainly it appears that they are fairly fit individuals."

The hybrids were extraorindarily abundant, accounting for up to 20 percent of black-tip populations in some areas, but Morgan said that didn't appear to be at the expense of their single-breed parents, adding to the mystery.

Simpfendorfer said the study, published late last month in Conservation Genetics, could challenge traditional ideas of how sharks had and were continuing to evolve.

"We thought we understood how species of sharks have separated, but what this is telling us is that in reality we probably don't fully understand the mechanisms that keep species of shark separate," he said.

"And in fact, this may be happening in more species than these two."

Education, Stress....... What would the phychological impact on our future genration be

'Sorry, your child is not bright enough' Some parents and observers are questioning the motivation for entry tests for enrichment centres by Tan Weizhen 04:46 AM Jan 03, 2012 SINGAPORE - As the tuition landscape here evolves - with a burgeoning market for helping children who are strong academically to become even better - the practice of some enrichment centres of holding entry tests for children as young as six has raised hackles among some parents. But centres which hold such tests defend it as a way to screen prospective students and understand their abilities better. Even so, observers Today spoke to said that these tests could add more pressure on parents and affect a child's confidence at an early stage. Finance manager V Ang's six-year-old son recently failed an entry test at a popular enrichment centre and is preparing to take another test at a different centre. The 33-year-old said: "The screening is quite ridiculous ... when I sent my son to enrol, they even required information such as which primary school he will be going to. It is quite stressful, as it is not only difficult to get in but expensive too." Another parent, Ms Serene Tan, said her son, who is in Kindergarten 2, was unable to get a place at the Learning Point after he could not pass the entry test in November. The investment consultant, who is her mid-30s, questioned the motivation of enrichment centres that are solely focused on helping students who are already strong academically to do better. She added: "I find it very odd that they have such comprehensive entry tests even for children at that age. The centre said that my son didn't do well in his spelling and grammar, but he is only in K2." Enrichment centres here conduct entry tests for children in kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools. The duration of these tests are usually between 30 minutes and one-and-a-half hours. An English test for a K2 pupil, for instance, can include grammar, composition, spelling and reading segments. When contacted, several enrichment centres, which hold entry tests, reiterated the need for the entry tests and pointed to the results they have achieved in helping children who have the aptitude for accelerated learning. The Learning Lab, for instance, said that each year, 70 per cent of its students see their grades improve by 10 percentage points. It added that 297 of its students scored 260 and above in last year's Primary School Leaving Examination. Enrolment requirements vary across the enrichment centres: The Learning Point, for example, will not accept students who fail its entry test, although it allows them to take a re-test six months later. For Just Education, it conducts these tests for students whose results in school are below its criteria. The Learning Lab said its entry tests are used to assess the ability of the students, so that they can be grouped together with others of similar calibre. Apart from entry tests, the centre also conducts pre-enrolment interviews "to appraise the student's drive and desire to improve, and fit with our school's learning ethos". Its spokesperson Ling Cheah told Today: "We want to ensure that when we admit a student, we can indeed add value, we can indeed help him improve on his personal best." Creative Horizons, which offers English as well as creative writing courses, pointed out that its students should have a minimum standard of English before attempting creative writing, for instance. The centre's director Faeza Sirajudin stressed that "no child is at the place where they don't need any more help". Nevertheless, she said parents should not "hothouse" their children to try to push them beyond what they can achieve. She said that it was unhealthy for parents to send their children to enrichment centres at an increasingly young age, when they should be given time to play. Mountbatten Member of Parliament Lim Biow Chuan, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education, dismissed the practice of having entry tests as '"marketing gimmicks". Said Mr Lim: "Some centres obviously just want bragging rights. If top students come in, they obviously would be good to begin with. Such practices drive up the pressure unnecessarily." Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Intan Mokhtar, who also lectures at the National Institute of Education (NIE), added that these enrichment centres play on parents' fears that their children would lose out if they are not stretched from a young age. She said: "I guess with the current state where there's a lot of competition to enter university, parents take extra precaution - if the child is good, he can be even better." Noting the psychological impact on children who fail the entry tests, she added: "It would instil in the child a sense of belief that everything boils down to (getting) the 'A's, when learning really isn't just about that." enlarge this photo Students have to take entry tests at some enrichment centres. TODAY FILE PHOTO

SBS Transit to extend train & bus operating hours for CNY

SBS Transit to extend train & bus operating hours for CNY 06:17 PM Jan 03, 2012 SINGAPORE - SBS Transit will be extending the operating hours of its train services as well as its Chinatown Direct bus services in the weeks leading up to the Chinese New Year, starting from this Friday. For the next two Fridays and Saturdays, the last train in the direction of HarbourFront will depart Punggol Station at 12.02 am and Chinatown Station at 12.29 am while the one headed for Punggol will depart HarbourFront Station at 12.29 am and Chinatown Station at 12.34 am. This is about half an hour later than usual. On Friday, Jan 20, the last train in the direction of HarbourFront will depart Punggol Station at 12.32 am and Chinatown Station at 1.00 am. The last train towards Punggol will depart HarbourFront Station at 12.54 am and Chinatown Station at 1.00 am. On Saturday, Jan 21, the last train in the direction of HarbourFront will depart Punggol Station at 1.47 am and Chinatown Station at 2.15 am. The last train towards Punggol will depart HarbourFront Station at 2.09 am and Chinatown Station at 2.15 am. Operator SBS Transit said besides extending train operating hours, commuters will also enjoy a shorter wait as more train trips will be added to the schedule. A total of 419 more trips will be operated which will enhance frequency to between four and five minutes at selected times on the days when train hours are extended. In line with the NEL service extension, the operating times for the Punggol and Sengkang LRTs will similarly be extended with the last LRT train departing five minutes after the last NEL train pulls in at their respective stations. For the two Fridays and Saturdays, the last train on the Sengkang LRT will depart from the Town Centre Station at 1.05 am while that for the Punggol LRT will do so at 1.07 am. On Friday, Jan 20, the last Sengkang LRT train will depart the Town Centre at 1.30 am, while the last train for Punggol LRT will depart the Town Centre at 1.32 am. On Saturday, Jan 21, the last Sengkang LRT train is scheduled to depart the Town Centre at 2.45 am while the last train on the Punggol LRT will depart the Town Centre at 2.47 am. Separately, the Chinatown Direct Service 28 (CT28), which serves Chinatown and Clementi, will be in operation from Jan 1 to 22. The two Chinatown Direct services - CT8 which serves Ang Mo Kio and CT18 which serves Bedok - that operate daily, will be extending their operating hours in the weeks leading up to the Lunar New Year. For the next two Fridays and Saturdays, starting from Jan 6 and 7, the last bus of CT8, CT18 and CT28 heading to Chinatown will depart from their respective interchanges at 9.00 pm instead of at their usual times at 5.00 pm. The last bus back from Chinatown will depart at 12.30 am from the bus stop opposite the Outram Park Station. On Friday, Jan 20, the last bus to Chinatown will similarly depart from the three towns at 9.00 pm while the last bus will leave Chinatown at 12.55 am. On Saturday, Jan 21, the last bus will again head for Chinatown at 9.00 pm, while the last bus back from Chinatown will depart at 2.10 am. On all other weekdays, from Jan 1 to 21, the three services to Chinatown will operate from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm while the return journey will be from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm. On Sundays, they will operate from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm towards Chinatown while the return trip will be from 11.00 am to 10.00 pm. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

DNA profiling mistake prompts re-test of criminal cases

DNA profiling mistake prompts re-test of criminal cases by Sara Grosse 08:17 PM Jan 03, 2012 SINGAPORE - A mistake made in a DNA profiling laboratory has resulted in some criminal cases having to be re-tested. The Health Sciences Authority is re-testing DNA samples of 87 criminal cases, as a precautionary measure. This comes after HSA's DNA Profiling Laboratory discovered in August last year, that a reagent of higher than usual concentration, had been used in the tests. HSA said the incident arose from a new method of preparation being used. The laboratory manager had misread the label and used a stronger concentrate for dilution, resulting in the mistake. The reagent of higher than usual concentration was used as part of the DNA testing process between October 2010 and August 2011. HSA said however the scientific impact of the reagent is minimal. That's because the use of the reagent would not have resulted in false positives, leading to the wrongful identification of a person. Separately, the Attorney-General's Chambers has reviewed the 412 criminal cases, both concluded and ongoing, that were affected by this incident. It has requested the re-testing of only 87 ongoing cases. The AGC said in these cases, the DNA test results may be relied upon by the Prosecution, the Defence or the courts. It added the DNA test results of the 278 criminal cases that were concluded in court, did not materially impact the resolution of the cases. Since the incident, HSA now purchases pre-prepared reagents. A committee has been set up to review HSA's processes, systems and follow-ups, related to the incident. The committee is expected to submit a report after the re-testing of the 87 cases, which is expected to be completed by March.

Health Benefits Of Okra

Health Benefits of Okra

by: Junji Takano The world's most beautiful women, Cleopatra of Egypt(recent findings found she was not a beauty) and Yang Guifei( a plump woman) of China loved to eat okra according to the history record. Cleopatra of Egypt Yang Guifei of China When we visited the world's most productive land of okra in a rural area in Kami, Kochi Prefecture , Japan , the young and old all look very healthy. When we asked their secret in having good health in that area, they graciously answer “okra”. Okra has a long history, with its beginnings in Egypt where it is cultivated before the time of Cleopatra. The okra plant spread to many parts of the world during the Atlantic slave trade. During World War II, the shortage of coffee beans made them use okra seeds as a substitute for coffee. This incident made the word “okra fever”. Since then, okra's popularity never disappeared from local markets to convenience stores throughout the world and throughout the year. Nutritional Information Okra contains vitamins A and C and is a good source of iron and calcium. It also contains starch, fat, ash, thiamine and riboflavin. No wonder, Cleopatra and Yang Guifei maintained their beauties. For 1/2 cup sliced, cooked okra For 1 cup raw okra Calories – 25Dietary Fiber – 2 gramsProtein– 1.52 gramsCarbohydrates – 5.76 gramsVitamin A – 460 IUVitamin C – 13.04 mgFolic acid – 36.5 microgramsCalcium – 50.4 mgIron – 0.4 mgPotassium – 256.6 mgMagnesium – 46 mg Calories – 33Fiber – 3.2gTotal Fat – 0.1gProtein – 2.0gCarbohydrate – 7.6gVitamin A – 660 IUVitamin C – 21mgFolate – 87.8mcgMagnesium – 57mg Health Benefits of Okra 1. The superior fiber found in okra helps to stabilize the blood sugar by curbing the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract. 2. Okra's mucilage binds cholesterol and bile acid carrying toxins dumped into it by the filtering liver. 3. Okra helps lubricate the large intestines due to its bulk laxative qualities. The okra fiber absorbs water and ensures bulk in stools. This helps prevent and improve constipation. Unlike harsh wheat bran, which can irritate or injure the intestinal tract, okra's mucilage soothes, and okra facilitates elimination more comfortably by its slippery characteristic. Okra binds excess cholesterol and toxins (in bile acids). These, if not evacuated, will cause numerous health problems. Okra also assures easy passage out of waste from the body. Okra is completely non-toxic, non-habit forming, has no adverse side effects, is full of nutrients, and is economically within reach of most individuals unlike over-the-counter drugs. 4. Okra fiber is excellent for feeding the good bacteria(probiotics). This contributes to the health of the intestinal tract. 5. Okra is a supreme vegetable for those feeling weak, exhausted, and suffering from depression. 6. Okra is used for healing ulcers and to keep joints limber. It helps to neutralize acids, being very alkaline, and provides a temporary protective coating for the digestive tract. 7. Okra treats lung inflammation, sore throat, and irritable bowel syndrome. 8. Okra has been used successfully in experimental blood plasma replacements.   9. Okra is good for summer heat treatment. 10. Okra is good for constipation. 11. Okra is good in normalizing the blood sugar and cholesterol level. 12. Okra is good for asthma. Okra's vitamin C is anantioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which curtail the development of asthma symptoms. 13. Okra is good for atherosclerosis. 14. Okra is believed to protect some forms of cancerexpansion, especially colorectal cancer. 15. Eating okra helps to support the structure of capillaries. 16. Some information shows that eating okra lowers the riskof cataracts. 17. Okra is good for preventing diabetes. 18. Okra protects you from pimples and maintains smooth and beautiful skin. We understand the reason why Cleopatra and Yang Guifei loved to eat okra. There are other medicinal uses of okra, like its protection against trans fats. I myself planted about 25 stems of okra in my backyard garden throughout the year for over 20 years now. I can pick up about 20 pieces of okra pod every morning. All okra pods are consumed by my family. There are hundreds of recipes that can be done. You can either: cut it raw and mix with vinegar and pepper; cut it raw and mix with mayonnaise; steam, cut, with mayonnaise dressing; or, cook with stew or soup. Okra is easy to grow anywhere during summer season in cold countries and throughout the year in tropical areas. You can even plant it in a container garden at the terrace in condominium buildings. Inventor of PYRO-ENERGEN, the author, Mr. Takano himself picks up Okra in his backyard garden To tell you the truth, I did not know that okra seed was used as a substitute for coffee beans during World War II. I have about 500 grams of okra seeds, so I roasted one-half of it using an iron cast pan, and pulverized it. I made okra coffee with it, and it tasted like real coffee although it was darker in color. When I offered the okra coffee to my staffs and visitors who did not know the real thing, they replied "Oh, you got a new blend of coffee, taste is good". I blended it with real coffee, too. It tastes all right. We do not know, however, what nutrients okra coffee gives. About the Author: Junji Takano is a Japanese health researcher involved in investigating the cause of many dreadful diseases. In 1968, he invented PYRO-ENERGEN, the first electrostatic therapy device for electromedicine that effectively eradicates viral diseases, cancer, and diseases of unknown cause. **Benefit of eating Okra (Lady's Finger) * *A guy has been suffering from constipation for the past 20 years and recently from acid reflux. He didn't realize that the treatmentcould be so simple -- OKRA! (or Lady's Finger). He started eating okra within the last 2 months and since then have never taken medication again. All he did was consume 6 pieces of OKRA everyday. He's now regular and his blood sugar has dropped from 135 to 98, with his cholesterol and acid reflux also under control. Here are some facts on okra (from the research of Ms. Sylvia Zook, PH.D nutrition), University of Illinois . *  *"Okra is a powerhouse of valuable nutrients, nearly half of which is soluble fiber in the form of gums and pectins. Soluble fiber helps to lower serum cholesterol,reducing the risk of heart disease. The other half is insoluble fiber which helps to keep the intestinal tract healthy, decreasing the risk of some forms of cancer, especially colo-rectal cancer. * *Nearly 10% of the recommended levels of vitamin B6 and folic acid is also present in a half cup of cooked okra. Okra is a rich source of many nutrients, including fiber, vitamin B6 and folic acid. He got the following numbers from the University of Illinois Extension Okra Page Please check there for more details.  Okra Nutrition (half-cup cooked okra) * Calories = 25  * Dietary Fiber = 2 grams  * Protein = 1.5 grams  * Carbohydrates = 5.8 grams * Vitamin A = 460 IU  * Vitamin C = 13 mg * Folic acid = 36.5 micrograms  * Calcium = 50 mg  * Iron = 0.4 mg  * Potassium = 256 mg * Magnesium = 46 mg *  *These numbers should be used as a guideline only, and if you are on a medically-restricted diet please consult your physician and/or dietician. Ms Sylvia W. Zook, Ph.D. (nutritionist) has very kindly provided the following thought-provoking comments on the many benefits of this versatile vegetable. They are well worth reading 1. The superior fiber found in okra helps to stabilize blood sugar as it curbs the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract. 2. Okra's mucilage not only binds cholesterol but bile acid carrying toxins dumped into it by the filtering liver. But it doesn't stop there... 3. Many alternative health practitioners believe all diseases begin in the colon. The okra fiber, absorbing water and ensuring bulk in stools, helps prevent constipation . Fiber in general is helpful for this but okra is one of the best, along with ground flax seed and psyllium. Unlike harsh wheat bran, which can irritate or injure the intestinal tract, okra's mucilage soothes , and okra facilitates elimination more comfortably by its slippery characteristic many people abhor. In other words, this incredibly valuable vegetable not only binds excess cholesterol and toxins (in bile acids) which cause numerous health problems, if not evacuated, but also assures their easy passage from the body. The veggie is completely non-toxic, non-habit forming (except for the many who greatly enjoy eating it), has no adverse side effects, is full of nutrients, and is economically within reach of most. 4. Further contributing to the health of the intestinal tract, okra fiber(as  well as flax and psyllium) has no equal among fibers for feeding the good bacteria (probiotics).  5. To retain most of okra's nutrients and self-digesting enzymes, it should be cooked as little as possible, e.g. with low heat or lightly steamed. Some eat it raw. ................................................................................................................................................................. Some important benefits of consuming okra: Stabilises blood sugar level.  Lowers serum cholesterol level.  Prevents constipation.  Keeps intestinal tract healthy.  Feeds good bacteria residing in us all.