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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Laugh to better health!
The easiest and simplest way to boost your immunity is to laugh out loud. Laughing helps to decrease stress hormones and increases immune cells and strengthens your internal defence system to resist colds better. Having a positive attitude, and a sense of humor helps you relax and feel more upbeat. |
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. |
Feed your eyes.
In various studies and clinical trials, antioxidant vitamins such as vitamins A, C and E can help maintain healthy cells and tissues in the eyes. These vitamins are found in fruits and vegetables such as oranges, tomatoes, kale and spinach. Two key protective antioxidants are lutein and zeaxanthin, which also help to protect against macular degeneration and protect eyes from free radical damage. Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for nerve conduction in the retina. For healthy eyes, eat a good and balanced diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, with oily fish like salmon, sardine or mackerel. |
Take 5 from the computer.
Computers have become necessities in our daily lives. It’s important to maintain good eye habits and good posture, as long term repeated usage can lead to repetitive strain injury. Ideally, the computer screen should be 18-30 inches away from you. Take short, frequent breaks of at least 30 seconds after every 20 minutes of computer use to rest your muscles and eyes. Bilberry is naturally rich in anthocyanins that alleviate fatigue and guard your eyes against the glaring damage. |
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! |
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. |
Barley grass for beautiful skin.
Barley grass has a wide array of skin-beautifying nutrients. It is naturally rich in Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) that neutralizes free radicals from sunlight, pollution and so on. SOD is also found to reverse skin scarring. Barley grass also provides chlorophyll that facilitates detoxification for clear and radiant skin. AFC Green Beauty is a unique blend of barley grass, with kale and green tea for detoxification and 2,500mg collagen per serving to enhance skin protection. |
Why Japanese are slimmest?
How is it that the Japanese are one of the slimmest people around? Their slimming secrets: Seaweed & Walking. The Japanese have been eating seaweed for centuries. Seaweed is added to many Japanese foods such as sushi, soup and even as garnishing on their rice or noodles. Not only is seaweed high in fibre, it is also rich in nutrients and contains Fucoxanthin, a fat-busting substance. In addition, Japanese office folks walk a lot everyday during their commute as most of them take public transport that requires them to walk 30 minutes or more to the train station and changing trains. We too can emulate the Japanese lifestyle by putting in additional time for walking, be it to the supermarket, an after-dinner stroll or exploring the city on foot during weekends. |
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! |
How to use DHA for brain development
During the last trimester of pregnancy and first two years of life, the brain undergoes rapid growth - 'brain growth spurt'. At this stage, brain requires sufficient nutrients especially DHA for the development of sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and motor development. Fetuses and infants receive DHA from mothers through placenta and breast milk. Mothers should ensure sufficient DHA level through rich DHA fishes free from heavy metals and pollutants, and high DHA supplements. Infant fed with formula is highly recommended to have DHA oil added to milk to aid brain development. |
Is memory decline due to aging is preventable?
Some parts of brain essential for memory are highly vulnerable to aging. With increasing age, brain losses its nerve cells and becomes less efficient. Brain aging can be accelerated with exposure to poisons, tobacco, alcohol. Studies have shown that memory problems among older people can be lessened with physical and mental stimulations to improve mental performance. DHA is highly researched as an important fatty acids that support brain function and reduce aging decline. |
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