RENUNGAN

Allah Azza wa Jalla membentangkan tanganNya malam hari untuk menerima taubat orang-orang yang bersalah siang hari, dan membentangkan tanganNya siang hari untuk menerima taubat orang-orang yang bersalah malam hari, sehingga matahari terbit di Barat.
(Riwayat Muslim)

LARANGAN MEMPERSENDA AGAMA

Jauhilah diri daripada orang yang menjadikan agama sebagai permainan dan hiburan. Mereka pula telah terpedaya dengan kehidupan dunia dan peringatkanlah mereka dengan al-Quran supaya mereka tidak terjerumus ke neraka di akhirat disebabkan perbuatan mereka yang buruk dan keji. Tidak ada pelindung dan pemberi syafaat kecuali Allah. Sekiranya mereka hendak membebaskan dirinya dengan segala jenis penebusan semuanya tidak diterima lagi. Mereka ini adalah golongan yang dijerumuskan ke dalam neraka dengan sebab usaha mereka. Mereka diberi minuman daripada air panas yang menggelegak dan ditimpakan azab disebabkan mereka kufur.

(Surah al- An'am : ayat 70)

LACK OF SLEEP LINKED TO EARLY DEATH: STUDY

LONDON (AFP) – People who get less than six hours sleep per night have an increased risk of dying prematurely, researchers said on Wednesday.
Those who slumbered for less than that amount of time were 12 percent more likely to die early, though researchers also found a link between sleeping more than nine hours and premature death.
"If you sleep little, you can develop diabetes, obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol," Francesco Cappuccio, who led research on the subject at Britain's University of Warwick, told AFP.
The study, conducted with the Federico II University in Naples, Italy, aggregated decade-long studies from around the world involving more than 1.3 million people and found "unequivocal evidence of the direct link" between lack of sleep and premature death.
"We think that the relation between little sleep and illness is due to a series of hormonal and metabolical mechanisms," Cappuccio said.
The findings of the study were published in the Sleep journal.
Cappuccio believes the duration of sleep is a public health issue and should be considered as a behavioural risk factor by doctors.
"Society pushes us to sleep less and less," Cappuccio said, adding that about 20 percent of the population in the United States and Britain sleeps less than five hours.
Sleeping less than six hours is "more common amongst full-time workers, suggesting that it may be due to societal pressures for longer working hours and more shift work"
The study also found a link between sleeping more than nine hours per night and premature death, but Cappuccio said oversleeping is more likely to be an effect of illness, rather than a cause.
"Doctors never ask how much one sleeps, but that could be an indicator that something is wrong," said Cappuccio, who heads the Sleep, Health and Society Programme at the University of Warwick.
Research showed no adverse effects for those sleeping between six and eight hours per day.

GET ON YOUR BIKE...

Enjoy and make use of the seven benefits of cycling:

You might ride to save the planet but you’re also saving your brain cells, improving family relations while expanding lung capacity, and increasing your ‘happy hormones’ as you pile on the miles. It is also a great way to get in shape. We look at some of the benefits of cycling and why it is a good exercise that will make you fit and feel great.


It strengthens the heart

Cycling requires sustained energy and lower-body muscular power so is great for strengthening the heart. Your blood will flow more freely and oxygen will be delivered to your muscles more quickly, improving both stamina and fitness.


Increases your brain power

Cycling helps build new brain cells in the hippocampus, the region responsible for memory, which deteriorates from the age of 30. It boosts blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which fires and regenerates receptors, explaining how exercise helps ward off Alzheimer’s.

So if you want your grey matter to sparkle, then get peddling!


Cycle away from the big C

There’s plenty of evidence that any exercise is useful in warding off cancer, but some studies have shown that cycling is especially good for keeping your cells in working order.

One long-term study carried out by Finnish researchers found that men who exercised at a moderate level (of which they cited cycling) for at least 30 minutes a day were half as likely to develop cancer as those who didn’t. Other studies have found that women who cycle frequently reduce their risk of breast cancer by 34 percent.


Helps you live longer

On average, cyclists live two years longer than people who don't ride a bike. In fact, it is believed by health professionals that regular cyclists in their 30's and over are as fit as people 10 years younger.


Burns calories

It kills calories. Cycling is renowned for its calorie-burning qualities. Just take a look at Tour de France finishers who are estimated to burn 118,000 a day!

Sports physiologists have found that the body’s metabolic rate (the efficiency with which it burns calories and fat) is not only raised during a ride, but for several hours afterwards.


It improves breathing

It improves breathing. Strong lungs are vital for pumping oxygen around the blood and energising leg muscles. With constant bike exercise over time, your body’s breathing apparatus will improve.


Its safe

Riding a bike is a low impact activity, meaning it is one of the safest ways to exercise without putting too much strain on your muscles and joints. For people new to exercise, riding a bike will let them get fit without undue physical strain. Cycling is a non-pharmacological method of lowering blood pressure.

(TAKEN FROM:http://lifestyle.malaysia.msn.com/Wellbeing/Fitness/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4054918&page=0)

WHAT DOES YOUR SLEEP POSITION REVEAL ABOUT YOUR PERSONALITY?

[graphic via BBC.com]

These days, the way that I sleep simply says, "I am happy to be single and spending five to seven hours sprawled out in the center of my bed alone."

At other points, my tightly squeezed eyes and curled-up body would have screamed, "I know the baby will wake up/someone will start snoring/the alarm will begin blaring as soon as I finally, finally, finally get to sleep."

Years and years ago, the corpse-looking college student still in her clothes would have mumbled something like, "Finals. Boys. Beer."

Our lives, the amount of sleep we get, and how well we actually rest during those nighttime hours may change drastically over time. However, one sleep researcher says that our body position in bed could say something about who we are, not just what else is happening in our lives.

Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, says that a study of 1,000 Brits revealed that the six most common sleeping positions are indicative of personality types.

If this sounds ridiculous (and honestly, I'd love to see information on this study and the analysis fleshed out further than any of the reports I could find), consider that Idzikowski says it comes down to body language.
"We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious posture says about us," Idzikowski said. "What's interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect."

The research also links certain sleeping positions with health risks. Some aid digestion while others spur on snoring and restlessness.

Here are the six common sleeping positions and correlated personality traits and health implications, according to this study.




Fetus position - A whopping 41% of participants sleep in this curled-up manner. Women are twice as likely to rest like this and it is listed as the most common position. These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly.
Log position - If you sleep on your side with both arms down, you are a social, easy-going person who is trusting, sometimes to the point of being gullible. The study showed 15% of people sleep like a log.
Yearner position - A close third is the side-lying position with both arms out in front of the body, with 13% of partipants sleeping like this. Yearners are noted to be open-minded and still cynical, suspicious, and stubborn about sticking to decisions once they are made.
Soldier position - These sleepers lie on their backs with arms down and kept close to the body. This 8% study is said to be reserved, quiet, without fuss, and hold themselves and others to a high standard. Soldier sleepers have a higher likelihood for snoring due to the flat-back position, which may not cause them to wake up often but may result in a less restful night's sleep.
Freefall position - Those people who lie on their bellies with arms under or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up 7% of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.
Starfish position - Sleepers who lie on their backs with arms up near their head or the pillow account for 5% of participants. These people are good listeners, helpful, and are uncomfortable being the center of attention. People who sleep in starfish position are more likely to snore and to suffer from a poor night's sleep more often.
If you think you are one of those people who move through all of these positions, that's not likely to really be the case. Idzikowski said the research reveals most people stay in the same position all night and only 5% lay differently night by night. Also interesting is that the study showed only one in ten people cover their bodies entirely with a blanket, with most people exposing an arm, leg, or both feet.


Let's see how the Shine readers are resting these days. No need to get yourself to a sleep lab or set up the video cam to run all night. We'll take your word for it on our own not-so-scientific but still fascinating research.

What position do you sleep in? Use the poll to tell us and the comments to reveal whether the personality traits linked to the way you sleep are right on or really off.

(TAKEN FROM: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/what-does-your-sleep-position-reveal-about-your-personality-1338293/)