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Most people see cinnamon as a common stick of spice with a nice sweet aroma. Surprisingly, there's more to it than meets the eye.

According to various studies from Copenhagen University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Kansas State University: Cinnamon is not only a mere ingredient used in baking, but also a spice that could possibly keep you alive for a very long time.

Here's why:

1) Ingesting half a teaspoon of cinnamon each day lowers your bad cholesterol.

2) Cinnamon possesses a possible regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it a big help to those with Type 2 Diabetes.

3) Some studies show that cinnamon has an ability to cure medication-resistant yeast infections.

4) Patients given a solution that consisted of half a teaspoon of cinnamon and a tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast had noticeable relief in arthritis pain after one week, and could walk without pain within one month.

5) Cinnamon inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.

6) Cinnamon fights the E.coli bacteria found in unpasteurized juices.

7) Smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory. (Start sniffing.)

8) Cinnamon decreases the rate in which leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells produce.

9) It bears an anti-clotting effect on blood.

10) Cinnamon is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.

Perhaps the next time you see a stick of cinnamon in your local store, you wouldn't think twice before picking it up from the shelf.

5 foods that boost your mood

Each person has his/her own version of comfort food, whether that be ice cream drenched in chocolate syrup or a bowl of mixed chips and dips. Although it gives you a temporary mood boost, these types of foods are not necessarily any good for your mind or your body. However, comfort food need not only equate to your typical feel-good-now, regret-it-later junk food. The next time you feel the urge to reach for a pack of marshmallows, consider these 5 healthy choices instead.

1. Cold Cereal

Ingesting as little as a handful of multi-grain cereal gives the body folic acid. Folic acid is a type of B vitamin which, aside for being known to fight off Alzheimer's and osteoporosis, helps keep depression at bay (WebMD). Plus, the presence of Iron and different Vitamins in whole-grain cereals "gets your metabolism humming" (Danziger, 2010), preventing you from experiencing bodily problems throughout the day. According to a study from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, people who skipped breakfast even as less as once every three months were 34% more likely to be obese than those who didn't. Just imagine what happens to people who don't eat breakfast at all. So instead of skipping breakfast, make time to discover your favorite brand of whole-grain cereal and eat up.

2. Fish

It is a well-known fact how some types of fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Researchers for the University of Pittsburgh conducted an experiment which further supported the Omega-3 Fatty Acids enhance areas of the brain that affects a person's disposition. Omega-3's also lower the risk of heart disease. Certain fish also contain the mood-booster Vitamin B12, which also wards off depression by stimulating the brain's production of serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone found in brain that helps you relax. Danziger advices to "Aim to eat 2 servings of low-mercury fish, like catfish, cod, crab, flounder and halibut, weekly for more smiles!". She also offers good news to the weight-conscious and body-builder, "Wild salmon, trout herring and other cold-water fish are filled with Vitamin D, which helps curb appetite. Research also shows that eating fish regularly improves insulin insensitivity, which helps build muscle and decrease body fat."

3. Egg Yolks

Make your day literally sunnier by adding egg yolks into your diet. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline, a nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system and cardiovascular system (HealthDiaries). A deficiency in choline causes one to feel anxious. Contrary to popular belief about its unhealthiness, yolks carry a slew of multivitamins, including Vitamins A and D, as well as folate/folic acid (see "1. Cold Cereal" above) and calcium.

Watch out for a feature article on eggs in the days to come!

4. Chocolate

More good news for chocolate lover like us! A weekly consumption of a few ounces of dark chocolate lowers risks of heart diseases by 26% for men and 33% for women, reports The Journal of Nutrition. Plus, disease-fighting antioxidants present in cocoa, the main ingredient found in dark chocolate, is nearly twice that of in red wine and thrice the amount found in green tea, says Blaine Friedlander Jr. of Cornell University in his article. Also, according to the results of a survey by the British Journal of Psychiatry, depressed people who reported chocolate cravings (about 50% of respondents) felt soothed after indulging on the treat. However, munching on too much chocolate at once will send you into a sugar coma, so Danziger suggests having "just 1 ounce, and savor every bite!"

5. Fruits & Veggies

Of course what list would be complete without your daily dose of Fruits & Vegetables? The recommended daily intake of 2 cups of fruits and 2.5 cups of veggies a day helps reduce calorie intake by at least 20% aside from strengthening immunity. Shades in fruits and vegetables have a bearing to their nutritional value- the darker and more colorful, the better. For instance, lutein in greens protects the eyes while lycopene in red tomatoes protects the heart. People who ate more fruits and vegetables had a general sense of well-being and were less inclined to feel depression, reports the University College of London.

Based on the article written by Lucy Danziger for Yahoo!

Restaurant Review: Feast like an emperor

Hong Kong Emperor Seafood Restaurant

SM Mall Of Asia, 2nd Level Entertainment Mall

Food Presentation ★★★★
Food Quality ★★★★
Servings ★★★★

Service ★★★★
Ambiance ★★★★★

Price ★★★★

*The five dishes cost around Php1580, already less 10% because we paid in cash. Lots cheaper than expected given the fine dining appearance of the restaurant. Bonus for the 'free fresh fruits' after the meal.

Overall Rating ★★★★

Photo from the restaurant's Facebook page.

The family went all the way to SM Mall Of Asia for its 3-day mega sale yesterday and the large, new restaurant was practically beckoning us to enter. Managed by a whopping 6 Hong Kong chefs, the spacious restaurant had lovely interior decorations, complete with chandeliers and a bayside view. We arrived a little earlier than the usual lunch hour and was treated to all around service and quick meal delivery. The family loved the place and now our Mum is planning to celebrate her birthday there next week. Apparently a part 2 to this post is in order!

Read on to find out what we thought about the dishes we ordered.

From Top left: Yang Chow Fried Rice, Bean Curd With Lechon;

From Bottom Left: King Dao Spareribs Salad, Mixed Vegetables in Pot

Yang Chow Fried Rice
J: The best version of this dish I've ever tasted. Rice is perfectly cooked and complemented by an assortment of meat and vegetables.

C: The rice was a bit dry but chewy, the way I like it. They don't hold back on the veggies, shrimp and pork bits either. The flavor isn't overdone.

King Dao Spareribs Salad

J: The mystery of the crunchy-outside-but-soft-inside dish strikes again, and as usual, I loved it. The tender yet crunchy spareribs was skillfully coated in the sweet sauce and lightly drizzled with Japanese mayo. Definitely a dish to try.

C: The piece I got was a bit too covered with mayonnaise for my taste (I don't like mayo in most cases). It overpowered the spareribs a bit. It isn't similar to the other cruchy outside soft inside spareribs, but like the others, the meat is tender and sweet. Still a good dish to order.

Mix Vegetables In Pot (Has mixed greens, mushrooms and vermicelli noodles in thick sauce)

J: A bit on the dull side with its common nutty flavor. The clever mix of textures is what did it for me.

C: Is it just me or did the sauce taste slightly burnt? The dish looked amazing with the interesting black pot on the wooden cooking box. Being a big vegetable-lover, this was the first dish I tried. Though the vegetables were crunchy (except the brocolli which I thought was a bit overcooked), and the noodles and sauce gave a lovely texture in your mouth, I just couldn't get past the burnt flavor. I'm guessing it's one of the drawbacks on cooking on a clay pot because the cooking process continues even after you remove the pot from the stove.

Bean Curd With Lechon

J: It surprises me that this dish was a must-try entree. It tasted especially like paksiw, which is basically leftover lechon cooked in vinegar and sarza. Unimpressive compared to other dishes.

C: The sauce on this dish was not something I've never tasted before. And like Jason, I'm surprised this was a must-try entree. Average dish at best.

Thai Spicy Pork With EggplantJ: A spectacular mix of eggplant and pork. The chili seeds provided an interesting kick. The plump eggplants added to its texture, making it the best dish of the meal.

C: My favorite! Forget the pork, the eggplant is the real star of this dish. Other than the fact that I like spicy stuff, the eggplant was cooked perfectly for me- not too stringy, doesn't crumble or fall apart when you pick it up with your chopsticks. It doesn't feel mushy when you put it in your mouth and you could actually chew the thing like a real vegetable. Everything on the dish is perfectly coated with the spicy sauce. Yummy!

Strawberries 'n Cream Cupcakes

Recipe adapted from 500 Cupcakes & Muffins by Fergal Connolly

It was easy to pick this one out of the 500 because of the terrific photo on the book. This was the first time we experimented making our own self-raising flour and succeeded (Kind of?). We can't seem to find self-raising flour anywhere! Cupcakes are usually very easy to make if you have the right ingredients. And the recipe is very easy to tweak as well.

The yummy strawberries complemented the fluffiness of the whipped cream.

And the strawberry jam glaze gave it just the right kick of additional sweetness.

Jason noticed a semi-bitter aftertaste to the cupcake whenever we substitute the self-raising flour with a regular flour and baking soda mixture. Fortunately, the enticing aroma of vanilla in the cupcake, the just-right fluffy sweetness of the whipped cream icing, and the fresh fruity sourness of the strawberries gave life to this simple dessert, making it an enjoyable yet easy-to-make snack. Plus the cupcake is absolute eye candy, perfect for impressing house guests and visitors!

Just a note: if you don't like your cupcake smothered with too much icing, you can halve the amount of whipped cream indicated on the recipe. That way it'll be just right for the cupcakes produced. The book says one recipe makes a dozen and a half cupcakes, but we made kind of small-sized ones and we managed to produce 2 dozens.