Health and Beauty Care | Beauty Sleep

Do you know what's the best solution for individual Health and Beauty care?

“Zzzzzzzz” ---->> This is an international language which i think everyone knows --->> Sleep!! Or should I say Beauty Sleep for women!

In this new age, where there are lots of night activites, How many of us are able to catch enough sleep daily?

Even though this is one of my favourite past time, but i can never seem to get enough of it. Quality but no Quantity.

But again, how much is enough?

From my own opinion, i will be fresh and alert only when i am able to sleep when i am tired and woke up when my body and brain tells me to, not due to the shrilling sound of the alarm clock. = )

Why do we need to Beauty Sleep?
By now, everyone would have already know that sleeping is needed for rest, repair and restoration of the mind and body. It is also likely that memory and learning are consolidated during sleep. When we do not get enough sleep, we become very sleepy, irritable, brain function is slowed and affecting performance in tasks that requires close attention, and our mood is also affected.


What exactly is the big Zzzzz (Sleep) about?
Normal sleep consists of cycles of Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep alternating with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. NREM sleep consists of light and deep sleep. REM sleep is also known as “dream” sleep.

Normal adults need an average of 8 hours of sleep (range 6 - 10 hours). It is normal to fall asleep within 10 to 20 minutes of going to bed, to wake up spontaneously once or twice in the night then fall back to sleep readily, and wake up feeling refreshed. Children need more and tend to have aquired more deep sleep, while the elderly have more frequent awakenings and less deep sleeping.
Good sleepers generally have a regular sleep-wake schedules and sleep at least 6-7 hours a night. A good sleeper feels refreshed upon awakening and is able to maintain alertness throughout the day, without the need for an afternoon nap or sleeping in on weekends

How do getting too little sleep affect our health and beauty?
When we do not get enough sleep, our memory, concentration, alertness and mood are affected.
The most evident consequence of getting too little sleep is sleepiness. Not only does this impact upon work and school performance, it is potentially life threatening when driving or operating machinery on the job. The most profound impact of sleep deprivation in the body is felt in the brain. Neurological disturbances range from the subtle such as cognitive impairment and memory lapses, to frank hallucinations, blurred vision, ptosis, disorientation, incoordination of body movements and slurred speech. Mood disturbances are also common, with depression being more common in sleep deprived individuals.

Are Napping (Beauty Sleep) good for your health?
In the majority of people who do not get enough sleep regularly, a short 20-30 minute nap in the afternoon, when there is a natural mid-afternoon “dip” in alertness, can be refreshing and help recover some lost sleep. Sleeping in for an hour or 2 on weekends can have a similar catch-up effect. Naps however are generally discouraged in people who have chronic insomnia, with difficulty falling asleep at night. The reason being that long afternoon naps, by discharging some of our daily sleep need, reduce the drive to sleep at night. Blunting the pressure to sleep through daytime napping will add to the insomniac’s typically high nocturnal arousal state, and exacerbate the inability to fall asleep.

So make sure you have enough quality and quantity sleep everyday and it will sure benefit you health in the long run. And for women, sleeping is the best beauty care you can ever have.

Health and Beauty Care : Beauty Sleep

Health Care | Mad about Coffee

Your best indulgence for a healthy living, drink Coffee for good health.

Just the very mention of the name will send their lovers thinking and dreaming for them~~
Just a waft of the smell, will send them drooling and craving for them~~
In case you are wondering when I became so poetic~ hehe...
Just talking about my favorite COFFEE, will send me into Poetic mood... = ) Drinking coffee is also a form of Art right!!

You have to sip slowly and enjoy the deep rich aroma of the coffee bean and bitter and sweet lingering after taste... Hmmmm~~~
For me, the best time to enjoy my coffee is around Tea Break, 3pm... Though I will need my daily morning dose as well... ;p
Sometimes I wonder if I’m drinking way too much...
I’ve found an interesting site, all about coffee... so for all the coffee lovers (or addicts) out there, here goes... : )
www.talkaboutcoffee.com

Health Benefits of Coffee
- A study shows that Americans get most of their antioxidants from their daily cup of coffee. One to two cups a day appears to be beneficial. Or, if you don't like coffee, try black tea, the second most consumed antioxidant source. Coffee is rich in antioxidants, which help prevent aging and protect against cell damage.
- A Moderate doses of caffeine, the equivalent of two cups of coffee can cut post-gym muscle pain, a small study found. But the research was done on people who were not regular coffee drinkers.
- Drinking coffee regularly may reduce the risk of Parkinson’s Disease, memory loss due to aging and Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and kidney stones.
- Coffee helps improve mental alertness, attention, wakefulness, physical endurance and stamina.
- Drinking coffee speeds up the recovery of muscles from fatigue, possibly by calling on glycogen stores in muscles

The not so good health effects of Coffee
- Caffeine can indeed keep you up at night, health experts’ advice avoiding it for 6 hours before bedtime
- Heavy consumption of boiled coffee elevates cholesterol levels
- Coffee has a negative effect on blood vessel tone and function
- Caffeine temporarily raises blood pressure, which can be dangerous to those with chronic hypertension
- Drinking a lot of coffee can affect the absorption of calcium and increase the risk of osteoporosis - Caffeine is a mild diuretic and may increase the risk of dehydration.
- Caffeine can make it more difficult for those with type 2 diabetes to control their blood sugar levels.

Health Care: Mad about Coffee

Health Care | Fruitalicious

Health Care start from what you eat, so be particular of what you put inside your mouth.

Watermelon, Orange, Lemon, Papaya, Rockmelon Juice etc, these are some of the standard juices that we grew up drinking.

When everyone is starting to become more and more health conscious.. Many different variety of fruit juice combination are also being studied. That adds on to the Booming Juices Business!

I’ve received an email from a friend on the different Combination of Healthy Juices and their Health Benefits, so here goes :

Papaya + Pineapple + Milk - Rich in vitamin C, E, Iron. Improve skin complexion and metabolism





Carrot + Ginger + Apple - Boost and cleanse our system





Apple + Cucumber + Celery - Prevent cancer, reduce cholesterol, and eliminate stomach upset and headache





Tomato + Carrot + Apple - Improve skin complexion and eliminate bad breath





Bitter gourd + Apple + Milk - Avoid bad breath and reduce internal body heat





Orange + Ginger + Cucumber - Improve Skin texture and moisture and reduce body heat





Pineapple + Apple + Watermelon - To dispel excess salts, nourishes the bladder and kidney





Apple + Cucumber + Kiwi - To improve skin complexion





Pear & Banana - Regulates sugar content





Banana + Pineapple + Milk - Rich in vitamin with nutritious and prevent constipation





Carrot + Apple + Pear + Mango - Clear body heat, counteracts toxicity, decreased blood pressure and fight oxidization





Honeydew + Grape + Watermelon + Milk - Rich in vitamin C + Vitamin B2 that increase cell activity and strengthen body immunity


Health Care: Fruitalicious

Health Care | 10 Tips to Stay Young

First of all, i would like to salute the founder of Internet. With this marvelous technology, people like me, is able to access and receive information easily. ^,^

Today, I’ve received an email from my friend on 10 Tips on How to Stay Young:

1) Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them -- that is why you pay them.

2) Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3) Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4) Enjoy the simple things.

5) Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6) The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7) Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8) Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9) Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county. Travel to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10) Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

And Always Bear in mind...
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away...

Life – Live it, Embrace it and rejoice in it.

Health Care: 10 Tips to Stay Young

Health Care | Omega 3

Health Care Review : Omega 3 is part of Health Food

Today is another Lazy Blue Tuesday.. *yawnz*
I’ve already lost counts on the numbers of yawns throughout the day... My colleague was suggesting that i can consider to get energy booster supplement, as i’m always feeling lethargic, though the only booster that is on my mind lately is “Butt Booster (body shaping girdle)”.. hehehee

What to do, as i grow closer and closer to the BIG THIRTY, even my butt also can’t resist the pull of centre of gravity.. ;p
Currently i’m still scouting around, once i buy and tested, i will update and let you know ya..

Back to our topic about supplements, frankly speaking, i’m not a fan of supplements, i don’t believe in popping pills. I would rather eat my fair share of white meat, fruits and vegetables and build up my immune system through appropriate diet.

But, lately i’ve heard a lot of rave about Omega 3, other then anti-oxidants, which now can also be widely found in skincare and consume food. Omega 3 is a category of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). Meaning that the it is something which the body must have, but also which it can neither manufacture nor store, other then consuming the food rich in EFAs.

EFAs are split into 2 groups, Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids. Omega 9 was often considered an EFA but in fact the body can make omega 9 from unsaturated fats in the diet. Omega 3 fatty acids can be found in cold water Fish like Salmon, Mackerel, Lake Trout, Herring, Sardines, Tuna and Plants like Canola, Soybean, Flaxseed, Walnut, as well as dark green leafy vegetables like kale and collard greens. You can also get omega-3s from fish-oil capsules. I was also recommended by GP to get “Evening Primrose Oil” capsules for my Eczema as it is rich in Omega 3. As omega 3 was seen as being good for the skin and the immune system. It helps to make the cell membrane flexible and therefore makes cells work better.

Now, scientists are confirming that the anti-inflammatory properties of omega 3 help reduce your chances of developing inflammatory chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis and autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, Omega 6 is pro-inflammatory. It provides us with prostaglandins, which help us maintain a functioning blood clotting system, regulate the kidneys and keep our brains healthy.

All of these are critical to our health, but we need the omega 6 in just the right amounts. If the ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 is too high it can make our bodies more prone to inflammation. Inflammation is at the base of many chronic diseases and disorders, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, eczema, asthma and behavioural disorders.

So everyone let’s start our fishy business today!

Health Care: Omega 3

Health Care | Healthy Snacks

Healthy Snacks for Good Health Building a Good Health Care Regime

Working in air-conditioned office makes me :

- Thirsty (i’m sitting next to the aircon, sometimes i feel i’m like a wet sponge whose water is slowly being sap up by the dry environment, so daily head to toe moisturizing is a must-do for me, it is very important to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.. heed my advice and u will not regret when u grow older)

- Sleepy (due to boredom at never ending problem at work.. finally my bad luck year is almost over, Good Riddance!)

- Hungry (could be related to sleepy, or in a nicer way, i have speedy metabolism rate)..

Due to the above 3 factors, it is easy for us to munch and drink (1st cup of coffee) and munch and drink (2nd cup of coffee) while typing away at work..

I always like to munch on a pack of cookies when i’m hungry or when my mouth is feeling siap siap (tasteless) at work, and soon enough it start from occasional to a daily routine.. sometimes i wonder how nice it will be if exercise routine can also be so easily adopted.. hehehe..

Today i wake up feeling Berries in the Air, thus i made up my mind to at least munch on something healthier if really need to munch, so just now during lunch, i bought a pack of dried cranberry and apricot from the pushcart shop.

The cranberry was sweet and addictive, the taste of the apricot appears to be bland in comparison.. For Berries Lovers, you really got to try this!!
So, the next time before you reach for your favorite not-so-nutritious comfort food, remember that choosing snacks wisely can be good for your heart, digestive system, and energy level.

Below are a list of recommendation for some healthy snack to munch on when your mouth is feeling siap siap.. Snacks In the Office (SIO):

1) Apricots - Fresh, ripe apricots are high in fibre and low in calories. They are a good source of beta carotene, the plant form of vitamin A.

2) Apple - is the ideal healthy snack. They are also relatively low in calories and contain a high proportion of fructose, a simple sugar that is sweeter than table sugar (sucrose) and metabolized more slowly, helping to control blood sugar levels. Bioflavonoids in apples may protect against lung disease and be helpful to smokers.

3) Blue Berries - Good source of anthocyanosides and anti-oxidants. Have antibacterial properties

4) Cranberry & strawberries – Excellent source of anti-oxidant,

5) Nuts in general - Excellent source of vitamin E, Walnuts may help to reduce the risk of heart disease.

In my research, i’ve also came an interesting article on 10 Super Fruits that was publish in straits time on 14 Jul 2008 as follows:

1 Pomegranate aka Granada
What it is: Has around 600 seeds that can range from white to deep red.
Where it grows: Native to the Mediterranean Middle East
Supposed benefits: Some studies suggest that the juice may contain almost three times the total antioxidants in green tea and red wine.

2 Kiwi aka Chinese gooseberry
What it is: Flesh can be bright green or golden.
Where it grows: Can be grown in most temperate climates with adequate summer heat
Supposed benefits: A single kiwi is said to supply more than the normal daily adult requirement of vitamin C.

3 Mangosteen aka Manggis
What it is: Has sweet-sour white flesh
Where it grows: Primarily in countries with a hot, humid climate such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia
Supposed benefits: Its rind contains xanthones, which are said to neutralise free radicals.

4 Goji (pronounced goh-gee) aka Wolfberry
What it is: Red berries that are usually found dried
Where it grows: China, Mongolia and the Himalayas in Tibet
Supposed benefits: It contains carotenoids that act as antioxidants to protect the retina of the eye.

5 Cranberry aka Mossberry, fenberry
What it is: Berries, 6 to 18mm in size, turn deep red when ripe.
Where it grows: A major commercial crop in the United States and Canada
Supposed benefits: It is used to prevent or treat urinary tract infections.

6 Noni aka Cheese fruit, ach, mengkudu
What it is: Oval-shaped and prickly
Where it grows: Native to South-east Asia but now grows in India and the Pacific islands
Supposed benefits: The juice is said to be able to help reduce high blood pressure and relieve arthritic pain as it contains a high level of antioxidants.

7 Avocado aka Palta, abacate
What it is: Egg shaped, green-brown on the outside and green-yellow on the inside
Where it grows: Long history of being cultivated in Central and South America
Supposed benefits: It contains healthy monounsaturated fat, which has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

8 Seabuckthorn aka Sandthorn, seaberry
What it is: Soft and juicy orange berries, 6 to 9mm in diameter
Where is grows: Native to Europe and Asia
Supposed benefits: It is said to boost the immune system as it is rich in vitamin C.

9 Blueberry aka Bleuet
What it is: Indigo berries, 5 to 16mm in diameter
Where it grows: Native to North America but also grown in Australia, New Zealand and South American countries
Supposed benefits: It is said to be an anti-ageing superstar that is loaded with antioxidants to improve vision and brain function.

10 Acai (pronounced as-sa-E) aka Cabbage palm berry
What it is: A dark-blue berry that is similar in size to a grape
Where it grows: South American rainforests
Supposed benefits: Claims to have twice the antioxidants found in blueberries, as well as omega fatty acids, protein and fibre.

Health Care Healthy Snacks