DOAN NGO FESTIVAL: LEDENDS & CUSTOMS

DOAN NGO FESTIVAL: LEDENDS & CUSTOMS

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The Vietnamese celebrate the Doan Ngo festival on the 5th of the fifth lunar month. This is an important festive occasion in the year, second only to the Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) festival. Traditionally, the festival is held to protect health of people and the crops with fresh fruit.

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9 kinds of vegetable juices help to lose weight

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Not only enhancing the immune system, easy to digest, a glass of vegetable juice at least twice a day will help the body burn fat, lose weight and beautiful skin effectively.

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Fruit smoothies and juices, which one do you choose?

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One of the most controversial topics on diet and health forums is what kind of drink is better for the body, fruit juice or vitamins?

You may have been wondering, once or twice, between choosing between these two drinks.

Juice and fruit juices have their own strengths and weaknesses, but the most important thing you need to keep in mind is your needs and your goals.

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Electrolytes in Coconut Water

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Coconut watter

 

Drinking water from a fresh coconut does more than just quench your thirst; it replaces electrolytes essential to maintaining your overall health. You'll often see fresh coconuts for sale on the beach in tropical vacation destinations, but coconut water is also available in cans or tetra packs in most grocery stores. Drinking refreshing, slightly sweet coconut water after a workout, on a hot day, or when you're ill can help replenish the electrolytes your body needs.

Electrolytes

Electrolytes are minerals found naturally in your body fluids, such as plasma. They're free ions that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes maintain proper muscle and nerve function as well as fluid balance in your body. You lose electrolytes when you sweat or lose fluid from your body such as when you have diarrhea or vomit. If you're lacking electrolytes you might feel dizzy, weak, fatigued, confused, or experience muscle spasms, numbness, twitching or blood pressure changes. It's important to replace the fluid and electrolytes you lose to prevent side effects.

Electrolytes in Coconut Water

Coconut water contains the electrolytes calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium. These minerals, suspended in water, occur naturally in the fluid of the coconuts. Each of the minerals plays a different role in your body in addition to functioning as an electrolyte. Calcium, which is the most abundant mineral in the body, and magnesium both help keep your bones and teeth strong. In addition to being electrolytes, phosphorus and potassium aid in energy metabolism and maintaining body proteins.

In Place of Sports Drinks

Drinking coconut water is an excellent way to replace electrolytes in your body. Often people consume sports drinks to achieve this. However, a study published in the June 2002 issue of the "Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science" indicates that consuming coconut water after exercise may be a more effective way to rehydrate than drinking plain water or a sports beverage. Among the study participants, the coconut water caused less stomach upset and had a flavor they preferred over water and a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage; it also effectively restored water and electrolyte levels. Furthermore, coconut water is all natural, free from added sugar and doesn't contain artificial ingredients or food colorings.

Restoring Electrolyte Balance

If you're very sick or hospitalized in an emergency, you may require intravenous fluids to rehydrate and replace electrolytes quickly. Typically, lab-prepared sterile saline solutions are used in IVs. However, according to an article published in the "American Journal of Emergency Medicine" in January 2000, coconut water can replace IV fluid in remote parts of the world or in emergency situations. The article reports of a case in which electrolyte balance was successfully restored in a patient by treating him with an IV of coconut water, which flowed directly from the coconut.

Top 5 non-alcoholic drinks

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Passing on the booze? We have some suggestions for soft drinks that will more than make up for it.

While some of you choose to decline alcohol all year round, the notion of giving up the sauce for a stint is ever popular, and “Dry January” has truly manacled itself to our national psyche. It seems the lure of saving money, trimming the waist and skipping hangovers is a potent one. 

It can be a challenge to inject soft drinks with the same amount of sparkle as their alcoholic equivalents, but we have some tips for ensuring teetotallers don’t miss out.

Blood orange punch

Drivers punch
If you’re abstaining at the beginning of the year there is a whole host of seasonal citrus fruit available to turn into juice. Grapefruit, pomelo and clementines are in season during the winter months, but we particularly like blood oranges. They have a very short season towards the end of winter, but make the most of their deep red flesh while you can. 

Elderflower

Homemade cordial

Making a batch of homemade fruit cordial should see you through a few weeks of a dryathlon. Try to use whatever is seasonal and for a basic mix combine with just sugar and water. Elderflowers work well and can often be foraged – just make sure you shake off the bugs – or try seasonal berries. Provided they’re stored in sterilized jars, cordials can last several months in the fridge.

Pomegranate mojitoPomegranate mojito mocktail

Alcohol is inextricably associated with celebrating and nothing says party like a delicious cocktail. Ditch the rum and try this pomegranate-based mocktail. Make sure to bash the mint under a rolling pin or with your hands to release the oils, thus plenty of flavour.

Berry smoothieSmoothies

Up your vitamin take and whizz up a fruit-based smoothie. Follow our guide to achieving the perfect blend using your favourite ingredients, then get creative with flavourings like peanut butter and spices. If you want to be really virtuous try adding vegetables – a green detox smoothie made with coconut water, apple, kiwi and spinach is one seriously heady beverage.

Mulled apple juiceMulled apple juice

Often the reserve of festive revelry, the process of mulling works with a wide range of base drinks. Try using apple or pear juice and spice to taste – a touch of citrus, cinnamon and a sweetener such honey or agave should do the trick.

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