Health and Beauty Care Update | Eczema Treatment, Health Food

This post is an update on all my previous discussion on Health and Beauty Care. There are 3 main things that I want to cover, Eczema Treatment, new source of good Health Food and my healthy weekend with Vegetable.

For the past two days, I was on Full day Intensive LC course. It was a nice break away from the usual working routine.

But, sadly for me, the course was held just a few doors away from my department, thus even though the course ends at 4.30pm, we had to drag our butt back to office. End up we work even later then usual. By the time I reach home, I had become the “walking zombie”, but still I have to apply my medicine and moisturizer before sleep, coz my “nightmare -->> Eczema” has returned again.

I’m still unsure what I have eaten to trigger it. My current suspicion is yogurt, though the specialist gave me the green light for yogurt. But could it be everyone’s body react differently to different food?? Hmmm...

One thing I need to mention is the Fruits Vinegar which I’ve been having for the past three weeks though is not daily for me. I drank it about 2-3times a week, I find that it helps to ease the “oily” feeling especially after a huge meal, and it definitely helps in my constipation. Definitelt a good source of health food.

Over the last weekend, I thought to have some light and refreshing meal, so I had my first attempt at salad making for dinner!
It was not filling enough for my boyfriend, cause my poor baby went to bed hungry and didn’t sleep well the whole night.
Thus, I modified the original recipe a bit, throw in some spaghetti so it can serve as a meal for dinner as well :










Ingredients:
500g chicken fillets or tenderloins
Cajun seasoning
Baby Honey Lettuce, Butterhead Lettuce, Radicchio and Rocket, washed and torn into pieces
1 carrot, sliced into ribbons
4 spring onions, sliced into long strips
Penne or spaghetti
Italian Dressing
SPRINKLE the chicken liberally with the Cajun seasoning, Char grill or BBQ the chicken for 6-8 minutes or until cooked through. Slice diagonally into thick strips.
ARRANGE the lettuce onto serving plates top with the chicken, carrot ribbons, spring onions, Spaghetti. Drizzle with dressing and serve immediately.

Health and Beauty Care: Eczema Treatment and Health Food

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

Fruit Vinegar, anyone?

I bought this Sun Vinegar grape (made in Japan) at Isetan supermarket over the weekend for my family and my bf’s mum. What attracted me to the booth, (other then the fact that it was located near to the tidbits booth, where i was buying my tidbits at that moment ;p) was the sign that says daily consumption will improve blood circulation, boost energy level and prevents constipation...

It just simply sounds like my cup of tea, oops! In this case, my cup of vinegar drink!

The Discovery of Vinegar
I have simplified and shorten their history for your easy reading... Dated all the way back to ancient times, where they discovered that grape juice left undisturbed will turn into wine, and when the wine left undisturbed, will turn into vinegar!

Throughout the many centuries, vinegar has been used for many purposes, such as beverage, preservative (as it slows or stops action of bacteria that spoils food), as medicine to treat minor ailments, as an ingredient in food and baking and even as an all purpose household cleaner.

Sun Vinegar from Japan (Info extracted from their leaflet)
It contains the following comprehensive ingredients :

Ø Citric Acid – Helps to purify your blood, stimulates its circulation and burn the neutral fats and cholesterol.

Ø Lactobacillus (when being used with yogurt) – Maybe a great help to get rid of your constipation for your dieting.

Ø Vitamin – Maintains your skin being just like a silk

Ø Calcium – Greatly improves your health

Different ways to enjoy Sun vinegar drink can also be found in the leaflet, if you are interested, you may drop down to Isetan Scotts this week, to get more information from the sales auntie.
I have not start on this new regime of daily vinegar drink yet. I shall start tonight for two weeks, and will update on the goodness if any, again!

Anti-Aging

At this new era, where men & women are getting more and more concern about their outlooks and tend to look at least 10 years younger then their actual age, the word “Anti-Aging” can be found in almost all products ranging from skincare to consume food..

If you think it is too costly to invest in skincare products... Fret Not~~
Below is a list of affordable Top 10 daily food that has anti-wrinkles properties as well :

Spinach
Rich with lutein which helps in hydration and elasticity. It also contains Iron, Vitamin A, C & E that helps to keep skin bright and firm and protect against sun and free radical damage.

Beetroot
Full of anti-oxidants, it contains pigments known as anthocyanins which enhance collagen production to reduce wrinkling.
My suggestion : as beetroot has a strong aftertaste, to lessen the taste, you may try drinking apple or carrot + beetroot fruit juice (one of my all time favorite mix of fruit juice)

Olives
Scientists have found that Olives and virgin olive oil are very high in polyphenols. They help make the skin less prone to wrinkle and slow the aging process by fighting free radicals.
My suggestion: At all time must have in salads and sandwich.

Avocado
This nutrient rich fruit is naturally high in the monounsaturated fat essential for plump youthful skin. They help stimulate collagen production.

Kale (also known as Kai Lan)
It is a great source of nutrient especially in vitamin A which naturally counteracts wrinkles. It also gives you healthy blood circulation for gorgeous glowing skin.

Chillies
Full of vitamins A & E and bioflavonoids, they help skin to heal and remain hydrated. Research also shows the antioxidants in yellow and orange foods build under skin to create extra UV protection.

Tomatoes
They have lots of lycopene, a free radical warrior, and other antioxidants that help prevent wrinkling, maintain moisture and reduce dullness.

Flaxseed Oil
Rich with protein and Omegas 6 and 3 fatty acids, it helps to plump skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and lines.

Grapes
Fresh grapes and its juice contain proanthocyanidins, which help keep skin elastic, smooth and wrinkle-free.

Green Tea
Research shows that its potent antioxidants will make you look younger by boosting collagen and elastin.

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