Eating Out: TGI Friday's: Restaurant Review:

2.5 out of 5 stars. 

At TGI Friday's there's more to be said about the atmosphere than the food but on a Friday night, perhaps that's just what you're looking for. Music, lights, sports, beer and uncomplicated meals that require no explanation. The formula has worked - ever since opening its first store in New York in 1965, it has expanded to 650 branches in 52 countries. It was launched as a singles' bar for the partying 20-somethings from the swinging 60s, but times have clearly changed, even if the furnshings have not.

With balloons, multicoloured fake Tiffany lamps over red-and-white striped tablecloths, walls festooned with relics (some might view them as varnished trash, others, interesting curios) and brightly attired waiters - with suspenders holding big pins - Friday's screeches "theme restaurant", a humble ode for nostalgic Americans yearning for the golden days. \

The menu is huge, but there's nothing that's not available elsewhere - usually at a fraction of the cost. Grilled steaks, seafood, burgers of all kind, fajitas, pastas... it's the place to go to when you don't want any surprises. 

For our starter, my friend and I chose to share the vegetable fajitas ($88), which turned out to be the best dish of the evening. It might sound healthy, but it really wasn't - the fried, mixed chunky veggies (carrots, zucchini, peppers, onions etc) tasted amazing once in the fresh tortillas and smothered with guacamole, sour cream, cheddar cheese, tomatoes and salsa. 

For the main course, my friend chose the Jack Daniel's salmon steak ($168). The ample steak was surprisingly sweet and seemed to have been dippd in mild sugar water rather than Tennessee bourbon. My chicken alfredo ($128), a tasty, sliced grilled-chicken breast on a bed of creamy pasta, was pretty good - definitely more chicken than pasta, although the massive portion bordered on the ridiculous. 

We bypassed their famed Oreo-cookie delight and decided to share the mocha mud pie ($78) - a decadent serving of coffee ice-ream crusted with chocolate crumbs, almond slices and hot fudge. 

Dinner for two came to $620 (10 per cent service charge included). 

4-5 Floor, Oterprise Square, 26 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui 

Tel: 2368 2800 Open: Sunday-Thursday, 11:20am-midnight; friday and Saturday, 11.30am-1am. 

$$$ 

Published in South China Morning Post's short-lived weekly magazine;24/7. This was obviously written when TGIF first opened in Hong Kong. 

All prices in HKD - not to alarm the reader!

Diaspora Diaries: Jeff Hahn: Hong Kong Photographer on the World Stage

Don't be fooled by the baby face. Photographer Jeff Hahn is building a reputation in London, writes P.Ramakrishnan.

Photographer Jeff Hahn's impressive CV belies his youth. At 21, Hahn sometimes finds it hard to be taken seriously as a photographer, especially in a city such as London, which is teeming with talent. Recently, when turning in a shoot of a chief executive for a magazine, the managing editor mistook him for the delivery boy. But Hahn's work has appeared in leading luxury and lifestyle magazines in Asia, including The Peninsula magazine, Maison Mode, Kee, Esquire and WestEast, and he's been hired for corporate photoshoots.

In the past two years he's been published in Britain and had an exhibition on London's fashionable Brick Lane. He's being profiled by cult magazines Idol and i-D, and is preparing for upcoming exhibitions in New York, London and Hong Kong.

"I got into photography when I was about 13," he says. "My brother had one of those amazing and, in retrospect, awful, two-megapixel chunky digital cameras and I used to play around with it. Shortly after that I discovered Lomography which, aside from being a company with ingenious ideas for new cameras, was also more of a concept and a way of photographing. It's all about capturing the moment and not thinking technically."

Hahn's signature look - his eye for finding the aesthetic in the mundane, often saturating images with a 1970s-style hue - was formed as much by default as by deliberation.

"I explored light leaks, blurry pictures and photographing the banal," he says. "It was probably the most liberating entry into such a massive world. I think when I took my first picture, my eyes opened for the first time and, instead of looking, I was finally seeing."

Born in Switzerland to a Swiss father and Chinese mother, Hahn was raised in Taiwan, New Zealand and Hong Kong, but he now lives and works in London. As much as he likes the challenges of working in the British capital, he still has a taste for Hong Kong.

Hahn started his career interning at magazines on the well-beaten paths of Sheung Wan. He was 16 and didn't get paid, but was glad for the opportunity.

"I found working in Hong Kong much easier than in London, probably because it's a smaller city and the media community is so tight knit," he says. "Everyone's supportive and they all love to work with new people. It's a completely different story in London.

"Life isn't always great [in London]," he says. "You don't often feel safe; sometimes it makes you want to give up but it's real and I love it for that. The amount that I've grown and the things I've learned, I probably would never have experienced had I stayed in Hong Kong."

Hahn has a multitude of cameras, ranging from "my faithful Canon 30D, to the medium-format beast that is the Mamiya RB67, to disposable cameras. I think my collection amounts to about 20 that I use.

"My first show in London was called Boy BANG Boy. Curated by artists Stuart Sandford and Sichi, it aimed to celebrate the image of the boy. I was one of eight artists and I did a series of self-portraits based along the lines of narcissism and voyeurism. The feedback was great, more than 2,000 people showed up and i-D published a piece on its website featuring my work."

His star appears to be rising: this year, his work will be displayed in some prestigious London galleries. Hahn's next body of work will involve "challenging the way society views you, with regards to how you present yourself", he says. "It's still in the early stages so no details yet but it's moving in almost a complete opposite direction to the previous show.

"I see myself staying in London for another couple of years," he says. "But I want to give something back to Hong Kong and be part of a bigger movement to push the creative scene."

Postscript:

Jeff's talent annoys me. How dare he be so young and gifted. The hard knocks of life have not hit him... yet. muahahahha.

My life: Carmit Bachar: Life After The Pussycat Dolls: Interview in Hong Kong with Singer/Dancer Carmit!

Following a bittersweet departure from The Pussycat Dolls, the "Smile ambassador" has been re-igniting her career in Hong Kong, writes P.Ramakrishnan. 

A South China Morning Post exclusive for Post magazine. 

JUMPING FOR JOY I was born and raised in Encino, California, and I'm a mix of Israeli, Dutch, Indonesian and Chinese. Both my parents danced and acted, and I was an audience to their talents. I was always upside down doing handstands as a child - a bundle of energy - so my mum sent me to gymnastics classes. I also did ballet and dance. After watching the 1984 Olympics, I fell in love with rhythmic gymnastics and started competing professionally. I competed internationally for 10 years and even made fifth place in the United States Olympic trials [in 1992]. I had a dance background and loved creating new elements, and I think the audience liked my performance more than my routine. I gave up gymnastics and started performing.

CATS OUT OF THE BAG When we first started, The Pussycat Dolls was more of an underground act, it was the cool thing in [Los Angeles] that few people knew about and we played gigs in The Viper Room and The Roxy. This sensual, burlesque act was conceptualised way back in 1995 but most people think it's relatively new. In 2003, we signed a record deal that brought the group into the limelight but the Dolls had been around long before. The original group was Nicole Scherzinger, Melody Thornton, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Kimberly Wyatt and me. When we were performing, celebrities came to be a part of the show. It was more risqué in the early days, we didn't sing live, we lip-synched and we had amazing guest stars like Carmen Electra, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani join in.

THEN CAME GWEN When Gwen joined, the fame aspect grew considerably. I was choreographing for [Stefani's band] No Doubt - I've had many avatars - as an independent artist and, when I met Gwen, I said, 'If you ever want to be a part of the Dolls, let me know.' Six months go by, she came to check out the show and, at the end, she came backstage and said, 'I'm jealous. I want to be in it. I love it!' And then we based the show all around her and her music. Gwen was the quintessential Pussycat Doll, really sophisticated and classic. And she has this perfect combination of beauty and rock 'n' roll and sex appeal. She brought something new to the show. It was so great, we went on tour as an opening act for No Doubt. We had a ball.

SPLIT DECISION I left the group in 2008. The split came naturally. Girls have come and gone over the years, some bitterly, some not. Groups are a difficult thing; the relationship goes through a lot. We enjoyed the perks together, we suffered the losses together. We developed bonds but ... some personalities don't mesh in the long run. Nicole did lead the group and was often seen as 'the face' ... but each member had value. Well, I really don't want to focus on the negative but let me just say when things are good, no one leaves a multiplatinum-record-selling group. It's sort of unfortunate, we all worked hard, we had a wide fan base, Nicole was always experimenting and made the group a bigger success but ... many of us did feel that no one should be taken for granted. It affects your experience. After a while, I was happy to leave.

HONG KONG CONNECTION I was in Hong Kong in December for a charity show and I met Ann Tsang [of Antithesis records] and [rapper] Detroit Diamond. I had met Ann before but this time she said, 'We have to work on something together'. Before I knew it, we were all at a studio working together. The synergy was amazing. I love working here in Hong Kong, it's fast, it's efficient.

I've been to the city many times. It's like New York on speed. It's got some amazing qualities - fashion, food, the whole lifestyle. It is so multicultural. I remember coming here years ago, when I was with the group, and thinking, 'I'm definitely coming back soon'. I feel this strange connection to Asia - my mother was born in Indonesia, my grandmother is part Chinese - and I have Chinese tattoos on my back.

IDOL GOSSIP As much as I love LA, I like leaving it on occasion, too. Living in the heartland of gossip and tabloid culture, my personal life is speculated on but I don't really care to talk much about it. At the moment, my personal life is me and my mother. The tabloids often get it very wrong. Like they did in the early days of American Idol, when I went to support [the reality show's most famous runner up] Adam Lambert [see The Review].

When I left the group, my intention wasn't to go solo. I wanted to go out and create and produce - and that's how The Zodiac Show came into being. It's an underground live-performance show that I co-founded as an outlet for both established and new singers, dancers, rappers, poets and performing artists to come together on stage to display their true passion and talent. It's a multiple-genre thing that I can't fully describe. Rap, aerial fire shows, opera, drag queens, everything on stage, all united on one platform. Dita von Teese, Macy Gray, Grammy winners and producers all collaborating. It's my passion project. Adam Lambert was in The Zodiac Show for years - long before Idol - so, of course, we've been friends for a long time. During the show, I went to support him and you can see me in the audience on the Idol re-runs.

CRACKING SMILES Beyond the music, the show, the documentary [about The Zodiac Show], my involvement with Operation Smile, as a 'Smile ambassador', is very important to me. I was born with a cleft lip and palate and I experienced rejection at every corner. But I understand why; this business is about image. I had a scar on my lip after my surgery and people would look and ask, 'What's that?' But it became part of my character. One in 600 children in the US are born with this condition. In America, we have surgery, which takes just 45 minutes, but in Third World countries, there is nowhere to go. I teamed up with the charity to benefit children born with the condition by offering arts education and inspiration for them to live their dreams.

Q&A: Vivian Lau: Interview with Miss Hong Kong 2000: South China Morning Post

Miss Hong Kong 2000 Vivian Lau gives a model set of answers to P.Ramakrishnan.

Q: Favourite bar/club?
I don't go to bars or clubs.

Q: What is your poison?
Liars.

Q: What are you listening to?
R&B and Canto-pop.

Q: Is there a song that always makes you dance?
Sowing The Seeds Of Love.

Q: What song tells you that it's time to go home?
Where Did Your Heart Go? by Wham.

Q: What is your favourite film and why?
The Negotiator - it was so cool.

Q: What is your favourite item of clothing?
Jeans. I am crazy about jeans. I like to get them in North America.

Q: Worst fashion decision?
I bought a pair of five-inch heals once.

Q: Who is your hero?
My parents and my piano teacher.

Q: How do you like to relax?
Going to a really nice cafe and having dessert.

Q: What's the most exciting thing you have ever done?
Joining the Miss Hong Kong Pageant and winning.

Q: Who would you most like to be trapped in a lift with?
A humorous guy.

Q: How do you contribute to society?
I treat people very nicely and hopefully they will do the same to others. Also, I am quite environmentally friendly.

Q: What is your motto?
Seize the day.

Eating Out: Cat Street Cafe: Dino's: Jhankar: Restaurant reviews for 24/7: South China Morning Post

Cat Street Cafe

Cat Street Cafe is split into two sections, the karaoke bar and restaurant. Unluckily, we arrived at 9.15pm - just after the karaoke kicked off and just before happy hour ended. Warbling wannabes screeched Canto-pop at the top of their voices while we sipped pre-dinner drinks that failed to pack a punch ($25 during happy hour, $40 at other times).

After that our waitress couldn't find a wine list, so we looked over laminated strips of paper that constituted the main menu and the waitress indicated which items were "sold out" - most of them.

Our starters arrived, soaked in grease, with shrivelled, shredded onion slices lurking at the bottom of my onion soup ($38). For the main course, we ordered a 10-inch pizza capricciosa ($98), which surprisingly came with pineapple (not listed in the ingredients ), which I am allergic to.

Our grand finale was the steak, with a side order of borderline sauce. The large slab of meat was rubbery, while the accompanying heavily oiled fries and florets of broccoli weren't worth wasting calories on.

Our bill came to $530 for two - a lot of money, considering the quality. At the end of the day, this is more karaoke bar than restaurant.

14-18 Laura Road, Wan Chai.
Tel: 2865 1008. Open:11.30am-3.30pm, 6pm-11pm, karaoke 9pm-late.
$$$

May 18 - May 24, 2001



Dino's

As it's part of the Harbour Plaza Hotel, you might expect this Italian eatery to be an impressive suit-and-tie affair. It's not. The convivial restaurant has two painted circus tents for the ceiling that shade just a few tables, while others are left victim to local weather conditions.

We started off with warm "Mama's minestrone" ($45) while sipping a well-priced red Montepulcianod' Abruzzo ($185 bottle). Olive oil lovers might relish the greasy bruschetta ($45) - warm bread topped with tomato, basil and garlic flavour.

My friend had a creamy roast cod steak ($110), delicious and perfectly cooked, but it came with a few bland potatoes and vegetables devoid of flavour. My Verdure pizza with a topping of grilled seasonal vegetables ($70) was also a disappointment, a textbook creation that tasted too plain. We skipped the deserts on offer 0 tiramisu, panna cotta and frozen sabayon (all $50).

Still, the marquee restaurant is popular - the fantastic view of Victoria Harbour is reason enough to keep Dino's busy. The bill for two came to $594, including service charge.

Address: Harbour Plaza Hotel, 20 Tak Fung Street, Hunghom.
Tel: 2621 3188.
Open: Sun-Thur noon-1am; Fri-Sat noon-2am.
$$$

Jhankar

Jhankar is yet another eatery in the overcrowded streets between Jordon and Yau Ma Tei. Serving mostly south Indian food with a few Thai dishes as well, it's easy to miss as it occupies the second floor of Double Set Commercial Centre, but even on a rain-lashed week night, the restaurant had a good turnout.

It's surprising because the interior isn't impressive; the stained and decrepit carpet, cheesy postcard-plastered walls, garish pink tablecloths and the Christmas-light festooned windows had my friend wanting to head for the exit. But by the end, we were glad we stayed.

We stuck with Indian dishes. A plain naan bread ($10), followed by a buttered one ($12) while we sipped our beers ($18), was a great way to start what became a feast. Our helpful waitress suggested a simple vegetable curry ($35) with the bread. We were glad she did, as it was the perfect accompaniment.

Patience is called for because as the menu indicated, each item is individually made and there's a time lag between dishes. Another serving of bread was in order so we tried the fantastic khurmi naan ($12). Warm and slightly charred, it was filled with garlic, tomato, chilli and served with a spinach yoghurt dipping sauce. It was a finger-licking delight and the highlight of the meal.

The main course - chicken biryani in basmati rice ($35) - was, unfortunately, a bit of an anti-climax. The rice and chicken were dry and bland, so we spiced it up with a delightful chicken korma - boneless meat marinated in seasoned yoghurt and curry ($48).

This is a backpacker's paradise. With generous portions at cheap prices, it's a winner when strapped for cash, starving and craving curry. The total with two beers and two soft drinks came to $149.

Address: 2/f Double Set Commercial Centre, 37a-37b Jordan road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon.
Tel; 9206 4134. 

Open: Monday-Friday 11.30am-3pm, 6pm-midnight.
Saturday and Sunday 12.30am-midnight.
$

CEO Series: Thierry Fritsch: Interview with President and CEO of Chaumet, Paris

Thierry Fritsch
President and CEO of Chaumet, Paris

As the head of the prestigious French brand, Chaumet, Thierry Fritsch hops around the globe ensuring the pristine image and standards of the company are strictly maintained. He speaks to P.Ramakrishnan on the eve of the opening of the brand's signature store in Central, Hong Kong.

The House of Chaumet can be traced back centuries, not decades, as the company provided jewellery to Marie Antoinette and Napoleon Bonaparte. So how is this Parisian brand still relevant and not an archaic relic from history? By staying ahead of the curve, knowing where fashion is heading, and constantly upgrading its image and its products, while remaining true to the company's philosophy and rich tradition.

Even the most cynical of media watchers have been impressed by the Chaumet advertising campaign - the mirror-like shot of the modern girl staring at herself in vintage form, a reflection of Chaumet's link between past and present. How did the concept come about?


Thierry Fritsch: From the beginning, I wanted to use a British photographer because only a British photographer would immediately understand how we could play with the concept of royalty, without trying to make the model look like the Queen of England. We selected Richard Burbridge, an Englishman who works in New York. I had lunch with him and tried to explain the idea. Then he said, "I've got it, you want an element of fantasy somewhere, not reality. I have the picture in mind."

This is the magic of an artist, because you have a wish and then you see the artist transform it into reality. He also suggested that the perfect model would be Stella Tennant because she's British, she's an aristocrat, she knows how to wear a tiara, and because she's a modern woman. I said to him that I didn't know her and that she would probably be very expensive but he said that she was a friend and he would call her. Then he called Stella and told her that she had no choice! There was one shoot in New York with just Richard, Stella and the tiara and they did it! It was magic.


The entire campaign came into being in one session?
Thierry Fritsch: Yes. During the shoot, Stella was supposed to wear the tiara and make it stand up like a crown, but she said that was old-fashioned and boring. "I'm going to put it on like a bandana," she said, and the result was outstanding. She dared to do it because she is an aristocrat and was not in awe of a tiara. She did it in a natural way, with a true understanding of what Chaumet is. It's a natural story.


While running the company, you've also been involved in every aspect of bringing Chaumet to life. How do you see your role?
Thierry Fritsch: My job is just to select the right people. It is just like casting. If you select the right photographer, the right model, the right architect, the right designer, the right craftsman, then they will work their magic. You know, apart from Stella or Richard or someone like the great architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte (who designed our stores), they have to understand what Chaumet is, its history and its significance in both the past and present. When you understand the roots, then you can go very far.

Apart from royal families, who's buying your signature piece, the tiara?

Thierry Fritsch: Well, we don't sell only tiaras - the market of tiaras is somewhat limited in the world! We also have an extensive range of watches and fine jewellery. You may be surprised to know that we still do actually sell tiaras and crowns, particularly to royal families in the Gulf. Wait, see this? (Fritsch finds a sketch of a turban, lavishly embellished with pearls and emeralds). This was done for the Maharaja of Indore. It's the original drawing. We make some of the grand pieces by creating drawings first, and we still do special orders like this. All kinds of people are welcome at Chaumet.

What other Asian hot-spots are there for Chaumet?
Thierry Fritsch: People understand Chaumet all around the world - anyone who knows haute couture, and old cultures. For example, its very easy for us to explain Chaumet to Japanese people and I'm not afraid of the Chinese market or the Italian market because if you have had a culture for centuries, then you'll understand Chaumet. We've been in Japan for a while, and now it's the number one market in the world for us.

Why Japan? Why not a European country with ever-present royalty?
Thierry Fritsch: Japan is a massive luxury goods market. The Japanese fall between Imperial tradition and strong modernity, and they fully understand the value of luxury goods. Last year I went to Japan six times, and this year seven, to break my record.

Published in The Peninsula magazine, Volume3, Issue 4

Heart of the Matter: Feature on Men's Health: An Inside look at Wellness, Fitness and Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Feature for Fit HK Magazine. 

By P Ramakrishnan. Images courtesy of Seasons Fitness.

When Arnold Schwarzenegger had to undergo a heart-operation a few years ago, many a couch potato must have taken a double-take as the news appeared on the ticker-tape on CNN. Schwarzenegger. The man described by the Guinness Book of World Records as, brace yourself for this, "the most perfectly developed man in the history of the world".

If he had a heart condition, what hope is there for mortals and mankind?

The fact of the matter is, you may be as thin as a rake or a gym gorrilla, but you can still have an unhealthy heart. Anil Ahuja from Pure Fitness, explains, “For both men and women, there are many factors that contribute to heart problems. A few examples are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of regular exercise, family history, age and smoking. I advise anyone to take a moment to look at their lifestyle, family history and their general health.”

Unfortunately, in many cases, not only does the next generation inherit potentially fatal heart conditions, but they also mirror their parents’ exercise habits – which in some cases are non-existent.

Adam Fabbian, a personal trainer at New York @ Hal, warns, “If your heart is weak, less blood is going to your major organs and muscles so that makes you short of breath and tired, even when going about your daily life. These symptoms are an indication of what’s to come”

They say a message hits you with a pebble first, before the brick slams it in. Rob Devereux, Regional Director of Fitness Development at California Fitness, agrees but is quick to point out, “Often the brick hits without warning - for 20 percent of individuals, the first indication that they have heart disease is death. Atherosclerosis (fat deposition in the arteries) is often called the "silent killer" so preventative measures are key.”

The good news is, you can change the pattern and start… well, now. Rob says, “If you haven't exercised for a long time (or never) it is always best to consult with a doctor first to establish whether there may be any health related risks. Assuming that you obtain a clear bill of health, the best option would be to start by walking or stationery cycling as these can be performed at low intensity and have no learning curve.

“Starting with 10 minutes and building to 30 minutes over a period of weeks will ensure that the body adjusts to the increase in activity. Starting out too fast and for too long, apart from being potentially dangerous, can lead to rapid burnout.”

Raymond Chan, Fitness Manager at Seasons Fitness, offers baby steps to get into a program, “In the morning, even before you get out of bed, do a set of stretching exercises, perhaps a couple of sit-ups on the mattress. Do two the first day, then three and so on. It really wakes you up. When you go to work, take the stairs, not the escalator in the MTR. Sometimes, it’ll take you time to find those stairs – a brisk walk in search of it will do you good. When you go shopping, I always recommend that you take your time, walk around, carry your grocery bags. Internet shopping is reducing our fitness level – forget the web sites.”

People with dogs seemed to have a lower risk of heart disease because their routine included walking the dog – even a daily simple stroll does wonder. Says Anil, “Tht may be true in the west, but in Hong Kong of course, it’s the maids with lower risk of heart disease.”

Point taken.








TAKE FIVE

Raymond Chan from Seasons Fitness, offers 5 easy exercises that you can start immediately to benefit your heart:

1) Brisk walking. Moderate amount of exercise can do wonders for your cardiovascular health. Walking around in Hong Kong is free, you can do it anywhere and its easy. Take the stairs when and where you can.
2) Explore new sports – if you’re a loner, cycling or running in Tai Tam is great. Group sports like soccer, basketball in game centres and Victoria Park are easy to join in. In fact, find someone in your office who does a sport, a work out buddy is a great. The first step is the hardest, so find someone else who exercises to help ease the burden.
3) Make a schedule three times a week, 30 minutes a day. Find activities that use a lot of muscle group like swimming or biking. Using as many muscle groups as possible helps boost your heart rate.
4) Do different things every week. Each successive day, aim higher. If you swam one lap on week one, swim two the next. Push yourself for a result. It’ll be hard at first but focus. Focus equals fat burn!
5) Aerobics, dancercise, jazz-ercise, yoga-size, do a fun activity that you haven’t done before. Anything that gets your heart pumping more.



Anil Ahuja shares five mental notes to keep in mind:

1) Control your blood pressure and cholesterol level. Treating high blood pressure can lower your risk of heart attack and stroke, Your diet is a key part of lowering high cholesterol levels.

2) Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight puts a strain on your heart and arteries. Exercise and a low-fat diet can help you lose weight. Being overweight means you have a higher risk of suffering from many other health problems, especially diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

3) Exercise regularly. Remember, your heart is a muscle. It needs regular exercise to stay in shape. Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming, jogging or biking, gives your heart the best workout. You can also use fitness equipment like exercise bicycles, treadmills and ski machines when exercising indoors.

4) Eat a low-fat diet. Keep fat calories to 30 percent or less of the total calories you take in during a day and avoid saturated fat (the fat in meats and coconut oil).

5) Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease If you stop smoking, you can lower your risk of a heart attack by one third within two years. Breathing smoke from someone else's cigarettes is also bad for your heart and lungs. If you live with someone who smokes, encourage him or her to quit.