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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Healthy travelling!
Nothing spoils the excitement of discovering a foreign place like falling sick. The most common conditions are diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps and bloating. It pays to take extra precautions, particularly if you are travelling to developing countries: always stick to bottled water, avoid eating raw or undercooked food. Wash your hands with soap, and use a hand sanitizer when washing facilities are unavailable. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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! |
Why the Japanese live the longest?
Want to know the secret why the Japanese live the longest? There is a small village which is 2 hours drive from Tokyo, Yuzurihara 'Village of Long Life' with villagers live up to 90s with extremely good health. They have remarkably youthful skin, surprisingly good eyesight, strong and flexible joints. Their secrets? a diet rich in hyaluronic acid. Dr Toyosuki investigated the intriguing phenomenon and found that the villagers ate abundance of starchy root vegetables - konnyaku, taro, sweet potato and so on - which are naturally high in hyaluronic acid. A molecule produced naturally by your body, hyaluronic acid is greatly distributed in joints, skin and eyes. Known as 'Super Water Magnet', hyaluronic acid is commonly used as nature's moisturizer in skin supplement and skin care products. It traps moisture within skin layers, plumps up flaccid skin cells, smoothens fine lines and wrinkles. |
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! |
Eat to a slimmer you.
Simply knowing when to eat and what to eat can help you hit your weight target. Research shows that a big breakfast eater has greater satiety than a huge dinner eater. Split most of your calories for the daytime rather than stocking it up for the late meal. Eat at a slower pace with at least 15 chews for each mouthful of food. Fruits and vegetables have higher water and fiber contents, which provide have appetite-controlled properties. Papaya and strawberry are a great snack during craving. And you can serve lettuce and spinach with your main meals for better appetite control! |
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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