Omega-3 fortified foods for health?
Research shows omega-3 fats help keeping heart, joints and brain healthy. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for omega-3 fats in the UK is 450mg for adults and 200mg for children. Recognizing the health benefits of omega-3, a lot of foods are now fortified with this healthy fat. But, are they sufficient to supply the need? To reach the recommended daily amounts, an adult needs to eat 5 omega-3 enriched eggs daily! A 6-ounce salmon has 100 times higher omega-3 content compared with fortified yoghurt. So, go get the salmon or tuna instead! |
What is in the bubble tea?
A cup of bubble tea to quench your thirst and you are loading your body with calories, fats and sugars! Bubble tea contains flavourants, sugars, with minimal nutritional value. The chewy black pearls are made from tapioca and sugar. With one added serving of the pearls, the calories of your bubble tea boosts up another 100kcal. Prefer the milky taste? It adds another 70kcal. For a calorie-sensible treat, get plain bubble tea without milk and choose Nata de Coco instead of the pearls. Best of all, head to the nearest convenient store for a low-sugar soy milk instead! |
Oatmeal as a natural exfoliator.
Looking for a natural remedy to cleanse and exfoliate skin? Other than helping lower cholesterol and improving digestion with its high fiber content, Oatmeal contains saponin, a natural cleanser to retain skin’s moisture. Grind 3 tablespoons of rolled oats finely and add water to form a paste. Apply to face and neck, leaving on for 10 minutes. Rinse off. This natural mask gently removes dirt, oils and cleanses the pores without irritating the skin. Try it today! |
For makeup that stays:
Start with a clean, moisturized face. It is important to exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells, to minimize a blotchy or flaky appearance. For naturally radiant, healthy looking skin, ensure a sufficient intake of collagen in your diet. Collagen is an important protein that is an important building block for healthy skin. A quality collagen formula like Collagen Beauty helps skin regeneration and improves skin clarity for a more youthful appearance. |
Liver-Friendly Diet
Firstly, watch your alcohol intake. Processing alcohol stresses your liver significantly. Keeping your liver from toxic chemicals relaxes it and maintains its optimal function. And also, keep yourself away from greasy fatty foods. Saturated fats are harder to process, such as sausages, bacon, hot dogs, and high fat dairy products. Limit the intake of processed food like white rice, biscuits, cakes, pastries, donuts and candy. Fresh fruits and vegetables are good source of enzymes, fibers, vitamins, phyto-nutrients, that help optimize liver functions. |
Watch the caffeine.
A moderate caffeine intake boosts metabolism and elevates moods. Long term effects of caffeine however, can cause heart palpitations, hypertension and insomnia. It is best to keep your daily caffeine intake to less than 400mg. One serving of espresso (1 oz.) has 40mg of caffeine. A cup of brewed coffee (8 oz.) contains up to 133mg of caffeine. Decaf coffee has less than 5mg of caffeine. Energy drinks and soft drinks are high in caffeine too - Red Bull (12 oz) has about 80mg of caffeine while a diet Pepsi has 36mg! |
Red wine for a healthy heart.
Red wines contain antioxidants that can help to increase your ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) and protect against artery damage by the ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL). Red wines also contain a substance called resverastrol which help to prevent blood clots, reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. According to the American Heart Association, the recommended intake is 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women (1 drink = 4 ounce/118ml of red wine). Taken in moderation, a glass of red wine help provide many health benefits towards a healthy heart. |
Effective natural relief for constipation.
Constipation can happen because the colon absorbs too much water or due to sluggish colon muscle contractions. Insufficient fiber intake is the likely cause in most cases. Soluble fiber from oats, rice bran, and fruit help soften stools for easy elimination. Whole grains, cereals, seeds, and the skin of most fruits and vegetables provide insoluble fibers that help the stool pass quickly through intestines. To meet your daily fiber needs, aim for at least 2 servings of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables/ legumes. Drink at least 8 glasses of water to aid regular bowel movement. |
Probiotics for immunity.
An alternative medicine recognized by National Institute of Health in US, probiotics are commonly used to prevent and treat certain illnesses and support general wellness. Antibiotics kill gut-friendly bacteria as well as the unfriendly bacteria and probiotics are widely used after antibiotics to offset its side effects. A research published in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal at April 2010 shows that probiotics reduce the severity of diarrhea and enhance immunity. It also increases bioavailabity of B vitamins, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, and others. |
Boost immune health with Agaricus mushroom.
The Agaricus Blazei Murill (or commonly known as Brazilian mushrooms) contains the highest level of beta-glucans. Beta-glucans stimulate various aspects of the immune system by increasing activity levels of immune cells like macrophages and T-cells that are first to fight bad bacteria and viruses. Lifestream ABM Immuno Advance contains 10 times concentrated extract with other medicinal mushroom extracts for potent immunity protection and support general health. |
Hormone pills and breast cancer?
Research findings from the California Teachers Study point the decline in breast cancer to the reduced use of Hormone Therapy (HT) at peri-menopausal stage. Prolonged use of HT may be a link to the increased risk of breast cancer, stroke, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. As your body undergoes the transition, try to rely on natural plant-based alternatives instead. Try Maca (Lepidium peruvianum), clinically proven to support hormonal imbalances, to improve mood and regulates stress. Many women find this a boon to improving menopausal symptoms. |
Down with PMS!
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) includes irritability, mood swings, water retention, bloating, and headaches. Interestingly, PMS can account for more than 50% of the sick leave women take at work. Research by National Institute of Health shows that women currently under stress have moderate to severe symptoms during menstruation. Solutions? Pick a sport - running, tennis, aerobic dancing, any kind of intensive exercise is helpful to boost serotonin levels (the ‘happy’ hormone). This helps to reduce or even prevent PMS. Plus, exercise is a good stress buster too! |
Comb for silky hair.
A good comb helps you to get a healthy hair. Spend 3 minutes to inspect a comb. To avoid irritation to the scalp, choose comb with smooth edges. Use your finger tips to feel the edges. Avoid comb that cause even discomfort or pain. Comb with a wide-tooth can detangle better. A good comb needs to have the thickness to avoid bending while combing. Choose comb with anti-static property, it helps prevent fizzy hair. Ox horn and certain wood comb have you achieve silky hair. Remember not to comb wet hair, and it can cause breakage. |
Spa for your scalp at home.
To boost healthy hair growth, sufficient nutrient supply is highly important. Massage promotes circulation to the scalp, ensuring nutrients channels to the hair follicles, and increases the rate and quality of hair. As little as 5 minutes of massage will be helpful for strong hair. After applying your hair care products, a gentle massage can enhance the absorption into scalp layers, maximize the products functions and thus allow it to work better. |
Sensitive teeth? Pick the right brush for pain-free brushing
For those with sensitive teeth and bleeding gum, brushing and cleaning interdental spaces can create pain and discomfort. Tooth sensitivity occurs as a result of receding gum and exposed dentin. Many factors lead to sensitivity. Brushing too hard, over time, can damage enamel and cause recession of gum. The build-up of plaque, may cause gum disease, leading to bleeding gum and sensitivity. Pick a soft brush with fine bristles to reduce abrasive on tooth structure and to cleanse the gum line better. A toothbrush with compact brush head allows you to brush hard-to-reach areas, like back teeth, which can be easily missed while brushing with normal-sized brush head. |
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