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. |
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. |
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! |
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! |
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. |
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 King Chlorella -pure chlorella tablets with fully cracked cell wall to release chlorella nutrients optimally. Chlorella is a super green food with highest chlorophyll content to cleanse blood, remove toxins and balance body pH, and it has high nutrients to support growth and daily nutritional needs. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Have a rainbow diet!
Nothing can beat the natural goodness in raw fruits and vegetables, in supplying most of the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals for general well-being. Including a colorful array of fruits and vegetables provide well-rounded benefits: Think Red for hormonal balance and cancer protection; Orange for skin health and UV protection; Green for toxic removal; Purple for healthy vision; White for stamina and immune health! |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Swap your calories!
Tempted to grab the Curry Puff at your snack time? Paused. It is heavily loaded with 246kcal, 16g of fats, and Trans-fats. Equivalent to calorie of 1 Chinese bowl of rice! Quickly swap that fattening puff with 20 almond nuts of 120kcal instead. You save yourself of 126kcal! And you are feeding your body with calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and other minerals! Still craving for fats? Take Chitosan Trim before your sinful indulgence. It binds and dispels the fats, for effective control of your fat intake. |
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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