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! |
Math for weight lost.
One pound of fat is approximately to 3500 calorie. Cut down 500kcal per day gives you 1 pound of fat lost per week. Cut down 250kcal per day by simply by skipping one slice of bread (75kcal), one tablespoon of peanut butter (90kcal), and three tablespoons of rice (90kcal). The rest of the 250kcal, you can burn it off easily with simple exercises: 15-min walk to office and 15-min back from office (95kcal) plus 20-min jogging. Set your weight target sensibly with the math! Remember not to push yourself too hard as it may cause lost weight rebound! |
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! |
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. |
Quality sleep for good health.
Aim to get a good night’s rest of 6-8 hours of sleep for good health. A lack of sleep can cause muscle aches, dizziness, weight gain, attention deficit and lack of concentration. It can even increase the risk of developing cancer! The Nurses’ Health Study by Harvard University concludes that people who do not get sufficient amounts of sleep are at a much higher risk of developing breast cancer and colon cancer. Sleep helps to promote healthy secretion of Human Growth Hormone and melatonin that prevent aging and testosterone production. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Hair styling without the damage.
Exposure to heat through blow-drying or perming can affect the quality of hair. It may result in split ends which are non-reversible. Please ensure that sufficient nourishment is supplied before and after the heat-styling. You can always consult your hair stylist for styling which causes lesser harm, and products with natural ingredients. |
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. |
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. |
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