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! |
Walk the mall!
Nothing is more exciting than doing your exercise and shopping at the same time. A research on shopping pattern shows that shoppers spent up to 86 minutes in shopping mall per visit. An 86 minutes of brisk walking can use up 500kcal! That is ¼ of the daily calorie intake of a normal weight adult! Incorporate brisk walking during your shopping spree for the extra calories burnt. A weekly shopping trip can help you lose 1kg in 4 months time, simple by walking faster in the mall! |
Wear protective clothing.
Clothing provides up to 98% UV protection against harmful UV rays. Choose tightly-woven fabric over loosely-woven types for the best UV shield. Test the UV-protection level of the fabric by holding it up to the light. If you can see through the fabric, then the UV radiation can penetrate it easily to reach your skin layers. Taking antioxidants can help boost your sun protection from within. Coenzyme Q10 is an essential nutrient and potent antioxidant to fight UV-generated free radicals, and also safeguards your heart and enhances energy levels. |
Water for Beauty.
70% of our body is made up of water. Water is necessary for metabolic activities and regulating the moisture content in skin. With aging, the skin’s water binding ability is significantly reduced. For hydration from within, try Hyaluronic Acid, a skin nutrient that locks up to 6,000 times its weight to retain moisture, smoothen wrinkles, and stimulate repair of damaged skin. |
Manage stress better.
When more than 90% of doctor visits are stress-related, you can save yourself time and money by learning how to manage stress levels better. Stress drains energy and deprives your body of essential nutrients for healthy metabolism. Under stress, the body loses the B Vitamins the fastest. Consuming more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, meat or poultry ensures a healthy level of Vitamin Bs. To supplement your diet better, take a comprehensive Vitamin B Complex to improve mood and alleviate stress. Exercise has been proven to regulate stress levels by reducing stress hormones and increasing endorphins (the ‘feel good’ hormone) that helps your body relax. |
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! |
Eye exercise.
A four-step eye exercise can relieve tired eyes after long hours of working in front of the computer screen. Do it daily, particularly in between breaks from the computer. Step 1: Close your eyes tightly for 3- 5 seconds and open them for 3-5 seconds. Repeat 7-8 times. Step 2: Close your eyes again and massage in circular movements for 1-2 minutes. Step 3: Press three fingers against upper eyelids, hold for 1-2 seconds then release. Repeat 5 times. Step 4: Roll your eyes clockwise, then counter-clockwise, and then blink once. Repeat 5 times. |
Soy Good!
Soy protein can lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart diseases. Soy reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. The FDA claims that diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol with 25g of soy protein per day can help to reduce the risk of heart diseases. One glass of soy milk contains 6-7 grams of soy protein. For good heart health, have more tofu, or take 3 – 4 glasses of unsweetened soy milk daily. |
Hand foot mouth disease (HFMD).
HFMD is caused by a viral infection. Children aged 2 weeks to 5 years old are most susceptible to the disease. It can transmit via direct contact through saliva, nasal discharge and feces. Boosting your child’s immunity can help reduce the chances of contracting HFMD. Therefore, parents should ensure their child eats a balanced diet with more vegetables and fruit for the vitamins, minerals and antioxidant-rich content. For picky eaters, try CHAKARI Fruits or CHAKARI Vegetables. Each sachet of the delicious fine powder is equivalent to 20 cherries or 3 cups of broccoli! |
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! |
Monthly breast self exam can save lives!
Diagnosis of breast cancer at the earlier stage increases the chances of successful treatment. All females should start self exam at the age of 20. First, lie down on your back and put your right hand behind your head. Use three middle fingers from left hand to feel the lumps at right breast. Move around your breast in circular movement from outer edge to nipple area. Repeat for left breast. Do the self exam at the same time every month either a few days after period or first day of starting new pack of oral contraceptive pills. |
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! |
Right practice for shampooing!
Daily hair wash is essential for the hot and humid weather in Singapore. But, do you practice the right way in shampooing? The first step should be gently brushing your hair to improve blood circulation in scalp and avoid entangled hair. Rinse hair with warm water to remove the dirt. Do not apply your shampoo directly onto scalp. Make it into foam by using your palms before applying. Massage scalp gently with fingers, not nails. Spend longer time while rinsing to ensure no shampoo residue remains. Tapping your hair by towel and let it dry with cool air. |
Regular trimming promote hair growth?
Wrong. A haircut has no effect on the rate of hair growth. Trim it or not, hair grows at the rate of one inch per month. Hair growth will not be affected by trimming the hair end. The only proven factors that affect rate of hair growth are genetics, hormones, and diet. However, chopping of the split ends may promote better hair growth. As the presence of split ends impede healthy hair growth. Avoid split ends by preventing over-styling in the first place is more effective for healthy hair growth! |
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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