Khasiat Kurma

MENURUT Anas bin Malik r.a., Rasulullah SAW berbuka puasa dengan beberapa biji kurma yang segar sebelum menunaikan solat (Maghrib). Sekiranya tidak ada kurma yang segar, baginda akan berbuka dengan kurma kering. Jika tidak ada juga kurma kering, Baginda mengambil beberapa cedok air. (Riwayat Abu Daud dan Tirmizi).
Abu Daud dan Tirmizi meriwayatkan daripada Sulaiman bin Amir bahawa Rasulullah SAW bersabda: Apabila seorang di antara kamu berbuka, hendaklah ia berbuka dengan kurma. Sekiranya tidak ada kurma, hendaklah ia berbuka dengan air kerana air itu bersih lagi membersihkan.

Diriwayatkan dari Anas bin Malik yang berkata: “Adalah Nabi (SAW), tidak berangkat menuju musolla kecuali baginda memakan beberapa biji kurma, dan baginda memakannya dalam jumlah bilangan ganjil.” (Riwayat: Al-Bukhari dan Muslim).
Amalan berbuka Rasulullah SAW menggambarkan kurma itu banyak khasiatnya, terutama untuk badan yang keletihan selepas sehari berpuasa.

Kajian sains terkini turut memperakui kelebihan buah kurma yang mengandungi kebanyakan nutrien penting yang diperlukan badan. Sesetengah pihak turut mendakwa buah kurma mampu mencegah dan merawat beberapa jenis penyakit.
Pada asasnya, kurma mengandungi gula yang mudah diserap badan, memberikan tenaga segera dan berpanjangan untuk menjalankan aktiviti harian atau sembahyang tarawih pada malam hari sepanjang Ramadan. Kandungan serat yang tinggi di dalamnya pula melambatkan rasa lapar ketika berpuasa, dan mempercepatkan rasa kenyang ketika berbuka supaya kita tidak makan secara berlebihan. Kelebihan ini menjadikannya buah yang amat sesuai dimakan ketika bersahur atau berpuasa.

Kajian saintifik seluruh dunia mendapati kurma bukan sahaja mengandungi jumlah karbohidrat (gula) yang tinggi malahan turut mengandungi pelbagai vitamin penting seperti vitamin A, tiamin, riboflavin, niasin, zat besi, vitamin B, asam nikotinat (yang baik untuk usus) dan bermacam-macam lagi. Kurma juga didapati mengandungi banyak garam galian lain seperti magnesium, potasium dan kalsium. Buah ini turut mengandungi kalium yang khusus untuk kebaikan jantung dan pembuluh darah.

Setiap 100 gram kurma kering mengandungi 50 IU vitamin A, 0.09 miligram (mg) tiamin, 0.10 mg riboflavin, 2.20 mg niasin, serta 666 mg kalium. Kesemua nutrien penting ini berfungsi membantu membebaskan tenaga yang cukup, menjaga kesihatan kulit dan saraf serta membantu fungsi jantung. Diet yang ditambah buah kurma dikatakan dapat membakar kalori berlebihan badan dengan setiap biji kurma mampu mengurangkan sebanyak 3,470 kalori.

Mencegah
Kurma dan produk berasaskan kurma sering dikaitkan dengan pencegahan, malahan rawatan sesetengah penyakit kronik badan. Ini berikutan jenis dan jumlah nutrien di dalam setiap buah kurma memainkan peranan di dalam membantu fungsi badan berjalan lancar.
Sebagai contoh, serat di dalam kurma bukan sahaja melambatkan rasa lapar dan mempercepatkan rasa kenyang. Kandungan serat yang tinggi turut membantu melancar dan mengaktifkan fungsi usus, seterusnya membantu proses perkumuhan dan penyingkiran toksin dari badan.
Kurma juga dikaitkan dengan peranan membantu meningkatkan fungsi sistem badan, sekaligus mencegah penyakit melalui:
-Pengurangan tekanan darah tinggi, seterusnya mengurangkan risiko angin ahmar dan risiko sakit jantung.
- Kalium di dalam kurma dapat membantu membetulkan denyutan jantung, mengaktifkan pengecutan otot-otot dan mengatur tekanan darah.
- Kandungan kalium yang tinggi juga mampu merendahkan risiko serangan angin ahmar.
- Mengelakkan sembelit, radang usus, anemia dan sebagainya.
-Mencegah pelbagai penyakit kronik seperti kencing manis di samping menyihatkan sel darah merah.
- Mencegah lemah otot, lesu, barah usus besar dan sengal-sengal badan.

Melihatkan kandungan nutrien dalam setiap biji buah kurma dan khasiatnya untuk kesihatan, diet yang ditambah buah kurma amat disarankan, bukan hanya pada bulan Ramadan, malahan bila-bila masa sahaja. Kelebihan buah ini juga bukan hanya untuk dinikmati umat Islam tetapi semua bangsa di Malaysia, tidak mengira agama atau usia patut mencubanya.
Beberapa pihak juga dilihat telah mula mengambil langkah mempelbagaikan cara hidangan kurma sama ada dalam masakan atau sebagai jus buah. Ini diharapkan dapat meningkatkan diet buah kurma di negara ini supaya khasiat dan kelebihannya dapat dinikmati ramai dan bukan hanya dinikmati pada masa tertentu sahaja. Kurma banyak kelebihannya dan bukan hanya untuk Ramadan semata-mata.

Sumber: Bicara Agama, Utusan Malaysia.

Pandemic H1N1/09 virus

The 2009 flu pandemic is a global outbreak of a new strain of a influenza A virus subtype H1N1, officially named the "new H1N1", first identified in April 2009, and commonly called "Swine flu." It is thought to be a reassortment of four known strains of influenza A virus, one endemic in (normally infecting) humans, one endemic in birds, and two endemic in pigs (swine). Transmission of the new strain is human-to-human, with cooked pork products safe to eat as the virus cannot be transmitted by eating foods.
The outbreak began in Mexico, with evidence that Mexico was already in the midst of an epidemic for months before the outbreak was recognized. Soon after, its government closed down most of Mexico City's public and private offices and facilities to help contain the spread. In early June, as the virus spread globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak to be a pandemic, but also noted that most illnesses were of "moderate severity."
The virus typically spreads from coughs and sneezes or by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the nose or mouth. Symptoms, which can last up to a week, are similar to those of seasonal flu, and may include fever, sneezes, sore throat, coughs, headache, and muscle or joint pains. In an attempt to slow the spread of the illness, a number of countries, especially in Asia, have quarantined airline passengers with flu symptoms, while some are also pre-screening passengers. WHO does not expect to have a full vaccine before the end of 2009, and vaccines available sooner may be limited and given first to healthcare workers, pregnant women, and other higher risk groups. Two or three injections will be required for maximum immunity from both the swine flu and seasonal flu. There is also concern if the new virus mutates further, it could become more virulent and less susceptible to any new vaccine.


Symptoms and expected severity

The signs of infection with swine flu are similar to other forms of influenza, and include a fever, coughing, headaches, pain in the muscles or joints, sore throat, chills, fatigue and runny nose.

Diarrhea, vomiting and neurological problems have also been reported in some case. People at higher risk of serious complications included people age 65 years and older, children younger than 5 years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, or a weakened immune system (e.g., taking immunosuppressive medications or infected with HIV).

Symptoms that may require medical attention
Certain symptoms may require emergency medical attention. In children signs of respiratory distress, for instance, those might include blue lips and skin, dehydration, rapid breathing, excessive sleeping, seizures and significant irritability that includes a lack of desire to be held. In adults, shortness of breath, pain in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness or confusion may indicate the need for emergency care. In both children and adults, persistent vomiting or the return of flu-like symptoms that include a fever and cough may require medical attention.

Pneumonia
Influenza infection can cause pneumonia leading to death. This is typically described as either viral pneumonia, which has a rapid onset, often within one day after infection, or bacterial pneumonia, which often begins a week after infection after symptoms have begun to subside.
Viral pneumonia has sometimes been attributed to "cytokine storm", in which an overly active immune response damages the lungs.
Bacterial pneumonia is a secondary infection resulting from a weakened ability to clear common bacteria from the lower lungs, combined with reduced alveolar macrophage activity which makes it more difficult for the body to fight infection. Bacteria that cause pneumonia include Pneumococcus, Staphylococcus, and Hemophilus influenzae.

Prevention
Personal hygiene
1. Vaccination when available
2. Thorough and frequent hand-washing
3. A balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
4. Sufficient sleep, regular exercise, and avoiding crowds.


Airborne virus prevention
Masks may be of benefit in "crowded settings" or for people who are in "close contact" with infected persons, defined as 1 meter or less by the World Health Organization (WHO) and 6 feet or less by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In these cases the CDC recommended respirators classified as N95, but it is unknown whether they would prevent swine flu infection. According to mask manufacturer 3M , there are no "established exposure limits for biological agents" such as swine flu virus.

(reference:wikipedia)