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. |
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! |
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! |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Liver-Friendly Diet
Firstly, watch your alcohol intake. Processing alcohol stresses your liver significantly. Keeping your liver from toxic chemicals relaxes it and maintains its optimal function. And also, keep yourself away from greasy fatty foods. Saturated fats are harder to process, such as sausages, bacon, hot dogs, and high fat dairy products. Limit the intake of processed food like white rice, biscuits, cakes, pastries, donuts and candy. Fresh fruits and vegetables are good source of enzymes, fibers, vitamins, phyto-nutrients, that help optimize liver functions. |
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! |
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. |
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! |
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! |
Omega-3 fortified foods for health?
Research shows omega-3 fats help keeping heart, joints and brain healthy. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for omega-3 fats in the UK is 450mg for adults and 200mg for children. Recognizing the health benefits of omega-3, a lot of foods are now fortified with this healthy fat. But, are they sufficient to supply the need? To reach the recommended daily amounts, an adult needs to eat 5 omega-3 enriched eggs daily! A 6-ounce salmon has 100 times higher omega-3 content compared with fortified yoghurt. So, go get the salmon or tuna 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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