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. |
Dye your hair, harm your health.
Hair dying contains chemicals that capable of removing or covering natural pigments found inside the hair shaft. Use of these chemicals can result in many side effects, including skin irritation, hair breakage and skin discolouration. Many studies have consistently found that hair colorists have an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma and leukemia. You should avoid and reduce the frequency of hair dying to reduce your risk from getting cancer. |
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. |
Bigger may not be better during pregnancy.
Weight gain during pregnancy varies among women. If you are underweight (BMI <18.5), you should gain 12.5-18kg. If your weight is normal (BMI 18.5-25), the recommended weight gain is 11.5-16kg. For overweight mother (BMI 25.1-29.9), weight gain should between 7-11.5kg. For those who are obese, weight gain is should be <7kg. Avoid sudden and excess weight gain as these are associated with adverse health effects: pregnancy induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, large baby who may become obese, and complications during delivery. |
Caffeine and pregnancy.
Excess caffeine may lead to low birth weight and miscarriage. Caffeine may affect baby’s growth as it may constrict blood vessels and limit the nutrient supplies to baby. Also, caffeine inhibits iron absorption. The low iron stores at fetal stage causes higher risk of iron deficiency anemia during infant development. Yet, pregnant mothers need not avoid caffeine totally. American Dietetic Association suggests 300mg daily (equals to 3 cups of coffee) as the upper limit of caffeine intake for pregnant women. Other sources of Caffeine include tea, soda, chocolates and energy drink! |
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. |
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. |
Stretch and flex.
Regular stretching helps keep muscles and joints strong and reduce the incidence of injury. To increase your joint’s current range of motion, the surrounding muscles have to be stretched progressively beyond their accustomed length. For example, stretching your waist muscles can help prevent back injury. Stand with a half squat with feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent and hands on hips. Bend slowly to the left then back to the center. Then bend to the right. You should feel the tension at your waist muscles. Keep it parallel without leaning forwards or backwards. It takes merely 5 minutes for 10 repetitions! |
Essential Good Cholesterol.
Cholesterol is necessary for the production of hormones, bile salts and vitamins in our body. High levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) may cause plaque formation on artery walls, while good cholesterol (HDL) facilitates removal of excess cholesterol thus decreasing the risk of heart diseases. Maintain a good cholesterol balance with soluble fiber intake (to lower bad LDL), and Omega-3 fatty acids (to raise good HDL). Cold water fish (salmon, sardine and mackerel) are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Alternatively, try flax seeds and soy beans. |
Choose healthier oils!
Different cooking oils have different smoking points, giving them different optimum heating temperatures for different cooking methods. Unsaturated oils are healthier choices for cooking. However, when unsaturated oils are used in deep frying, they may turn toxic which leads to an increased cancer risk. For light cooking and salad dressings, look to polyunsaturated oils like Sesame oil or Safflower oil. For stir-frying, choose oils with a higher amount of monounsaturated fats like Canola oil. |
Choose whole grain breads.
Choose wholegrain breads over white breads. White bread is made from white flour is refined to remove the bran and germ, which carry the most nutrients and fiber. Look out for food labels that list the first ingredient as whole wheat, whole meal, or whole corn. If you can, choose whole grain breads with intact grains, seeds, oats or nuts. These will help regulate blood sugar level and maximize the benefits of carbohydrates. |
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. |
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. |
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 your way health!
No time for gym? According to World Health Organization, physical activity does not necessarily means running a marathon or playing competitive sports. It can be walking children to school or taking a brisk stroll in the park. Studies show that increasing daily walking steps is associated with a decline in the body fats, reduced waist girth and improved resting heart rate. Keep your daily steps no fewer than 7,500, as it helps avoid tummy fat accumulation. Use stairs but not elevator, alight two bus stops early, it all adds up to the steps taken per day. |
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. |
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. |
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