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. |
SLS-free shampoo!
Check your shampoo label and look for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) – a common foaming agent that present in 90% commercially available shampoos. SLS is able to permeate the skin effectively and concentrate in some organs such as eyes, brain and heart. It washes away the hair moisture and may lead to premature shedding of hair, clogged hair follicle and finally, and hair loss. Avoid products containing SLS. Seek natural alternatives! AFC Shokaigan Shampoo with zero content of SLS and natural blend of 10 amino acids to gently deep cleanse, unclog hair follicles and regulate hair scalp pH. |
Cervical cancer leads to 100 death cases per year in Singapore!
There are 200 diagnosed cases yearly. Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), early sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, smoking, weakened immune system and taking oral contraceptives expose females to higher risk. You may have no signs or symptoms of cervical cancer until it has progressed to an advanced stage. If you are sexually active, do a pap smear every three years for early detection. Load up your body with raspberries as the ellagic acid in these berries is clinically proven to possibly kill off HPV and inhibit cancer growth. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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! |
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! |
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. |
Wear protective clothing.
Clothing provides up to 98% UV protection against harmful UV rays. Choose tightly-woven fabric over loosely-woven types for the best UV shield. Test the UV-protection level of the fabric by holding it up to the light. If you can see through the fabric, then the UV radiation can penetrate it easily to reach your skin layers. Taking antioxidants can help boost your sun protection from within. Coenzyme Q10 is an essential nutrient and potent antioxidant to fight UV-generated free radicals, and also safeguards your heart and enhances energy levels. |
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! |
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! |
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! |
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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