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! |
Maximize workout at minimum time!
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) burns 9 times higher than conventional exercise. It stimulates body to convert fat store into energy effectively. For beginners: warm up, start 30 seconds intensive phase, follow by 90 seconds rest. Repeat 6-8 times. It takes 15-20 minutes. HIIT can be applied during cycling, running, and rope skipping, and so on. For obese or older adults, it is best to do it with the monitoring of professionals to avoid overloading yourself. Not enough time for exercise? It is not a valid excuse anymore! |
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. |
Minimize sunlight exposure.
Overexposure to harmful UV rays can cause up to 20% more collagen loss in skin. Always ensure you have sun protection and stay out of the sun from 11am to 3pm, when the rays are the most intense. According to Environmental Working Group in UK, there are currently no sunscreens that meet their safety levels. Common sunscreen contains Vitamin A (retinol/ retinyl palmitate) which may increase the risk of cancer or disrupt hormonal balance. Choose sunscreen without these harmful chemicals. For added protection, wear a hat and cover up. |
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! |
Cultivate stronger relationships.
Spending too much time isolated and alone can be detrimental to your mental and social well-being. Long term isolation or a lack of community interaction is proven to result in emotional issues like anxiety. Sharing your feelings and thoughts with your family and/or close friends can foster a sense of belonging and reduce negative emotions. You’ll be amazed that even a simple short message can brighten up your day! |
Joint food.
Foods high in antioxidants such as fruits and vegetables can help to fight off free radicals which may damage our joints. Omega-3 fatty acids have natural anti-inflammation properties to reduce swelling and stiffness. For extra cartilage help, take supplements with glucosamine and chondroitin to build up cartilage, improve joint lubrication and to inhibit enzymes from further cartilage breakdown. Joint Sensei is a quad-action formula with glucosamine, chondroitin, cat’s claw and Ajuga extracts specially formulated for joint health and improved flexibility. |
Simple foods for a healthy liver.
A poorly functioning liver leads to fatigue, weakness, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. The easiest way to protect your liver is to eat right! Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage contain glucosinolates which help the liver produce enzymes for detoxification. Green leafy vegetables and fruits contain antioxidants that protect the liver from free radical damage. Garlic contains Allicin, which helps rinse out heavy metals such as mercury and lead from the liver. Add these foods into your daily diet to keep your liver healthy! |
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. |
Poor immune health? Your gut could be the culprit!
When the intestinal lining is irritated, it creates pathways for unwanted larger molecules to pass through. Bacteria, toxins, undigested food particles, are the potential culprits that impair your immune health. Stress, infections, excessive alcohol consumption, a poor diet and medication can affect your gut. Vinegar is a traditional aid for digestion and reducing bloatedness, as it promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut. For a new sense of wellness from within, try Kouzu Vinegar, a prized amino-rich Japanese vinegar. The 3-year fermented formula promotes vitality, aids digestion and natural weight loss! |
Leukorrhea solution.
Leukorrhea is a thick, whitish or yellowish vaginal discharge. Inflammation around the vaginal, yeast infection and the usage of vaginal deodorants may lead to leukorrhea. Power up your own immune defense through intake of probiotics may help inhibit the growth of yeast and other microbes that possibly lead to abnormal discharge. Pick underwear with cotton material over nylon as nylon retains sweat and increases the risk of infection. Good hygiene and a well-balanced diet are essential to reduce risk of infections. |
Eating for two during pregnancy?
Mothers need additional calories during pregnancy for the natural weight gain. However, the extra calorie needs is not as high as most mothers think. Pregnant women only need to add about 100kcal for the first trimester, add another 200kcal for the second and third trimester. A cup of soy milk supplies your excess calorie needs for the first trimester. While 1 medium banana, 1 apple, 1 cup of soy milk with 1 piece of digestive biscuit in addition to your daily diet provides you nutrients for the excess needs during second and third trimester. |
Easy steps to prevent dandruff.
Dandruff happens due to the faster turnover of skin cells, so the old cell is shed off from our scalp. It happens among people with imbalanced oil level (oil or dry scalp) and it is common among men. Dandruff different from the dry scalp, you should wash your hair frequently with a natural shampoo to wash off the excessive dandruff. Massage your hair during hair wash to stimulate blood circulation and loosen the dandruff from your hair. |
Moisturize dry scalp.
We put in a lot of efforts to make sure that our skin is well-moisturized and tend to forget the layer of skins underneath the hair. If we have dry skin, most likely will have a dry scalp too. Dry skin is the most common cause of itchy and flaking scalp. Scalp oil moisturizes scalp better than the cream or lotion as it stays longer on the scalp. Jojoba oil is most commonly used. Others include almond, flax seed, or olive oil. Apply the scalp oil on wet hair, it prevents oil getting into hair. Choose shampoo with citrus oil, tea tree oil or chamomile oil as they rinse out oil treatment effectively. |
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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