Wellness Channel

To Eat Organic or Not?

wellnesschannel — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:44:09 +0000

I view myself as being health-conscious, especially in the last 5 years. Perhaps it is due to a fear of aging, I love to read articles relating to health and anti-aging remedies. I take health supplements, and I go for organic skin-care and cosmetics as far as I can. I also buy organic food products once in a while if I have the budget to spend.

I read about this article “What’s So Great About Organic Food” in the September issue of TIME magazine. As you may have guessed, the market for organic food is currently small but increasing. Organic foods currently represent 3% of the total US market and 1-7% in European countries. In India, the certified organic market has grown 200%. Definitely, the demand is there and is growing.

Of course, these organic products are also very pricey. In China, the certified organic food can be up to 700% higher thann the conventional produce. What surprises me is that a 2009 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found no difference between organic and conventional produce with regard to all but 3 of the vitamins and other food components studied. Bear in mind, this is just one study. There are also many other studies that have linked health benefits to the consumption of organic food. Afterall, common sense tells us that it would not do us good to have too much pesticides and chemicals in our body.

Then, whether to eat organic or not depends on how you rationalize it out. The article in TIME magazine suggested going for organic eggs, milk and beef if you can afford it due to the amount of antibiotics and hormones present in these produce. As for fruits and vegetables, we can go for the conventional ones since there isn’t much nutritional difference and that eating any fruits and vegetables is better than not eating them at all.

Food for thought. Weigh your purse.

What Does Your Stools Tell You?

wellnesschannel — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:19:16 +0000

Following my recent blog entry, I received a forwarded email from a friend. It is about how your stools can reveal surprising facts about your health. In fact, examining our stools is one of the best ways to find out what is really going on in our body. Take a quick quiz to find out more!

[Source unknown]

Question #1: How long does it take you to have a bowel movement?
Less than 60 seconds
More than two minutes

Answer: Healthy bowel movements happen within 60 seconds of sitting on the toilet. The stool should easily come out without straining, grunting or any discomfort. It should have the consistency of toothpaste. If you have time to read a newspaper while sitting on the toilet, you probably have a problem with constipation or poor bowel health.

Question #2: What is the shape of your stool?
Long like a banana round, hard pellets thin, pencil-shaped

Answer: Healthy stool averages about four to six inches long and are shaped like a banana or a torpedo. Very narrow, pencil-shaped stool is a sign your colon walls are impacted or you have polyps or growths on the inside of your colon or rectum. This causes the stool to squeeze to get through. Stress can also create narrow stool. Hard, round or pellet-shaped stool is a possible sign of poor liver function, lack of exercise, dehydration or constipation.

Question #3: Is your stool accompanied by foul odor?
Yes No

Answer: Gas or odor is a sign of a bacterial imbalance in your intestinal flora. The “bad” bacteria release foul-smelling gases and toxins that can cramp your colon and create embarrassing odors.
You can eliminate this odor by removing debris and encrusted feces from the walls of your intestines and restoring the balance in your intestinal flora.

Question #4: What color is your stool?
Yellow Green Brown Gray Black Bright red

Answer: According to Mayo Clinic research, all shades of brown and even green are considered normal stool colors. And the foods you eat can affect the color of your stool. For example, beets, tomato juice, blueberries, popsicles and green leafy vegetables can affect your stool color. However, a distinct change in stool color can be a warning sign for health problems.

Yellow-colored stool indicates your food is moving too quickly through your digestive tract as in the case of diarrhea. If stool is greasy or foul-smelling, it may indicate excess fat caused by mal-absorption of nutrients.

Green-colored stool means your food isn’t properly being processed through your intestines. As a result, bile isn’t broken down and gives your stool that green color. Green stool can also mean you’re eating too much sugar, fruits and vegetables and not enough grains or salt.

Gray or ashy colored stool indicates undigested fats or heavy use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs that contain aluminum hydroxide. It can also indicate a lack of bile in the stool that may be caused by a bile duct obstruction. Black stool is a serious warning sign for bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, possibly the stomach.

Bright red stool may indicate bleeding in the lower intestinal tract, possibly the large intestine or rectum. Hemorrhoids may also be the source of the bleeding.

Question #5: Do you pass gas while you’re having a bowel movement or have you noticed air or bubbles in your stool?
Yes No

Answer: Air or bubbles in stool can indicate an intestinal imbalance. Gas producing bacteria may be overgrowing and competing with the healthier flora in your gut.

Please know this: A normal bowel movement happens within 60 seconds of sitting on the toilet. There should be no straining, pain, bleeding or foul odor accompanied with your bowel movements. And wiping afterwards should be easy and simple, using just one or two pieces of toilet paper!

If that’s not your experience in the bathroom, then you need to give your intestines a thorough internal cleaning!

The Importance of Moving Bowels Regularly

wellnesschannel — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:19:51 +0000

Normally, I do not experience problems moving my bowels. So, when a friend of mine told me that she typically only moved her bowels every 2-3 days, I was kinda surprised. I’ve come across many health articles saying that it is important to be able to move one’s bowels at least once or twice daily. If not, the body becomes a breeding ground for all sorts of illnesses and attacks. Why is that so?

Our large intestine or colon absorb water and salts from the food we eat. If we do not pass out these bowel contents regularly, more water is absorbed, resulting in the bowel contents becoming harder and drier. This can easily result in constipation. The wastes that stay in our colon for long periods can also be harmful, as these can cause inflammed and hardened gut wall.

This is also why we need to drink a lot of water each day, to ensure smooth bowel movements. For those who have problems with bowel movement despite drinking lotsa water, take fibre and bulking agents (e.g. psyllium husks) which can soften the stools.

Recently, I’ve been drinking this detox drink – “Cleanse”, which consists of mainly soluble and insoluble dietary fibre. One of its main ingredients is psyllium husk. I’ve previously tried other detox drinks which taste awful and gave me terrible stomache the following morning. “Cleanse”, which is in peach flavour, taste really nice and the morning-after stomach pain is also more tolerable (Not everyone will experience stomache as some of my drinks who drank this do not experience stomache at all).

Anyone’s who interested to get a box, leave me a comment. Retail price is S$30 per box, which comes with 15 sachets.

Oh, did I mention that detox will also help slimming? Start your detox regime today!

IPL Hair Removal

wellnesschannel — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:39:25 +0000

Last Wednesday over dinner with my kakis, Claire said that she had recently gone for IPL hair removal at Bedok Reservoir Road. She sang praises for that, saying that it was $1 per pulse. She had gone for 98 pulses for the first time, and said that she needed to go for another 2 sessions to complete the permanent hair removal process.

As for how exactly IPL works, see the following URL with a video:

http://singaporebeautyguide.com/what-is-ipl-hair-removal/

This does sound like an attractive option, especially for those with obvious or thick unwanted hair. Side effects are quite minimal, and include:

Possibility of temporary burns, blistering and pigmentation especially for sensitive skin. Hence, patch test is important.
Slight risk of scarring.
Infections and allergies may occur.

Read more about these side effects and how to deal with them:

http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/possible-side-effects-on-ipl-laser-hair-removal-treatments-314769.html#ixzz0w7gNGI1i

http://www.hairremovalforum.com/laser-hair-removal-research/laser-hair-removal-side-effects/39/

http://www.consultingroom.com/Treatment_FAQs/Side_Effects.asp?Treatment_Faqs_ID=44&Laser-and-IPL-Hair-Removal

For now, this is likely not something I am considering. I thought it is quite therapeutic to do that tweezing once in a while!

My dear friends who are seriously considering, do take some time to read this article on “Hair Removal Horrors” and make sure you get a trained and skilled person to do it! Good luck!

http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/5098779/health/hair-removal-horrors

Meridian Massage

wellnesschannel — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:04:28 +0000

Went for a half-day Meridian Massage lesson with Rong yesterday. The trainer was from BEACON LOHAS (www.beaconlohas.com). The lesson was pretty interesting. Besides understanding the theory behind TCM and Meridian system, there was quite a bit of hands-on session where we learn how to massage ourselves.

According to the trainer, while there are around 59 meridian lines, only 12 are the main ones. Based on the concept of 相表里, every meridianis paired such that when one is down, the other will be affected too. See below for the pairing of the 12 main meridians:

Lung meridian （肺经）with large intestine meridian （大肠经）
Heart meridian （心经）with small intestine meridian （小肠经）
Pericadium meridian （心包经）with triple energizer merdian （三焦经）
Spleen meridian （脾经）with stomach meridian （胃经）
Kidney meridian （肾经）with bladder meridian （膀胱经）
Liver meridian （肝经） with gall bladder meridian （胆经）

Note that meridian is different as organ. It is the entire system. It is also different from acupoints. Hence, in massaging, you do not need to be very precise to hit an exact point (离穴不离经). When pain is felt when massaging a particular meridian area, that means that particular organ system is not functioning optimally (痛则不通，不痛则通).

As it was only a 4-hour lesson, we only managed to learn a few key points of some meridians:

Lung Meridian

中府： Place where your energy accumulates. Takes care of spleen and lung. Massage this area to relieve breathlessness, bloated stomach, water retention, indigestion and cough.

尺泽： Massage to relieve cough, breathlessness and sore throat. Also good for kidney function and to reduce frequent urination, especially at night.

少商： Relieve sore throat (either flu or heatiness)

Large Intestine Meridian

迎香： Relieve cough, clear blocked nose and enhance olfaction

Gall Bladder Meridian

风池： Relieve tired eyes, giddiness, headache, migraine, flu, stiff neck and shoulder.

肩井： Relieve headache, sore eyes, stiff shoulder, toothache and upper body pain.

Large Intestine Meridian

合谷: Acts as a natural pain killer. Relieve headache, toothache, regulate perspiration (too much or too little). Caution: Pregnant ladies or people with hypertension should not massage this point!!

Heart Meridian

神门： Good for calming down and uplifting spirit. Also helps to induce sleep. Relieve digestion problems and motion sickness.

Pericardium Meridian

内关： Regulate heart beat, supply blood to the heart, help with insomnia problems.

[The above sharing is based purely on my personal takeaways from the workshop, which is not meant to be comprehensive advice. BEACON LOHAS runs a 2-day workshop regularly to teach people about meridian massage more holistically. Refer to their website for more details.]

The trainer also mentioned that we need to practice meridian massage diligently and wait for at least 2 weeks to see some results. He also showed some testimonies of people who’ve slimmed down without reducing food intake and exercise, all through proper meridian massage techniques! In fact, he himself is a living testimony! Pretty amazing… Rong and I are seriously contemplating to sign up for the 2-day workshop, which cost around $200…

Beauty Products Review (Part I)

wellnesschannel — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:23:49 +0000

These are the beauty products I’ve used in the recent years, with my personal ratings and review:

FACIAL CLEANSERS & MAKE UP REMOVERS

(1) Fancl Washing Powder (5 stars)
Skin feels very clean, hydrated and smooth. Costs only S$26. Best to throw 2 months after opening as it does not contain preservatives.(2) 100% Pure Purifying Seaweed Facial Mask (5 stars)
Face feels baby-soft, smooth and thoroughly cleansed. Have gave sample to at least 6 friends, all to their delight!

(3) Origins Clean Energy Gentle Cleansing Oil (5 stars)
Light-weight cleansing oil but very effective in removing make-up. No greasy feeling and easy to wash off.

(4) KOSE Perfect Cleansing Oil (4 stars)
One of the best sellers in Japan. Effective in removing make-up. May feel a little oily for some though.

(5) Cyber Colours Eye Makeup Remover (4 stars)
Effective cleanser. A little oily to wash off though.

SUN SCREEN

(1) Origins Brighter by Nature (5 stars)
Non-tinted sun screen with SPF 25/PA++. Face feels smooth, matt and moisturized after application. No greasy feeling at all. Has brightening effect.

(2) Origins Outsmart (4.5 stars)
Not bad at all. Feels light and easily absorbed into skin. This tinted sun screen comes with SPF 25 protection.

(3) 100% Pure Organic Pomegranate Antioxidant Hydration SPF 20 (3.5 stars)
Feels good to apply something so natural on your face. Functional as a sun screen.

EYE CREAM

(1) Origins Eye Doctor (5 stars)
Just the right moisture. Skin area eyes around feel smooth and non-greasy after application. Good buy!

(2) Skin Food Snow Tea Eye Serum (5 stars)
Really love it! Unfortunately, from what I know, Skin Food does not carry this stock anymore. If anyone knows where to get it, let me know!

(3) La Suffren UV-White Eye Flash Concentrate (3 stars)
Was pretty effective for dark eye circles when I first starting using it. But after 2 tubes, realised it is too rich for me (I used twice a day) and started having some oil seeds. Recommend to apply only a thin layer. Can be bought from Hong Kong at around S$10-15 thereabout.

(4) The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream (2 stars)
Too rich. Also not very effective for treating dark eye circles.

BODY LOTION / CREAM

(1) 100% Pure Organic Lavender Nourishing Body Cream (5 stars)
My favorite body cream! Skin feels smooth, supple and matt after application. Non-greasy at all. Calm and soothing smell. Only at S$34. Can be bought from Bud Cosmetics Store (http://www.budcosmetics.com).

(2) 100% Pure Organic Pink Grapefruit Body Cream (4 stars)
Same range as above, but while non-greasy, my skin doesn’t feel as smooth and supple as the above.

(3) Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream (3 stars)
Ginger smell is too strong for my liking, though you feel that the cream gets absorbed into the skin quickly.

(4) The Body Shop Moisturizing Body Lotion (Moonflower) (3 stars)
Moisturizing but don’t like the greasy feeling before bedtime.

(5) NIVEA Body Smooth Sensation(3 stars)
Moisturizing but don’t like the greasy feeling before bedtime.

Turmeric (yellow ginger) may reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease

wellnesschannel — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:46:21 +0000

Yesterday, mum cooked Mee Siam and said she had put a lot of turmeric （黄姜）in the gravy. She said turmeric is good and can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Indeed, NUS study in 2006 found that turmeric / yellow ginger, which is the yellow root of Curcuma longa, may boost brain power. The study involved 1,092 Asian people (from 60 to 93 years old) who were not affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. Those who consumed curry occasionally generally did better in a standard cognitive test than those who never or rarely ate curry.
[Source: http://www.nus.edu.sg/research/rg80.php].

Since ancient times, the Indians and Chinese have long been aware of the health benefits of turmeric. As Indian cooking uses turmeric often, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is purportedly lower in India among the elderly than that of the US. Turmeric is also known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiseptic properties. A doctor even noted that it can aid digestion, heal wounds, reduce stretch marks, and treat infection, arthritis, jaundice and fever. Recent research also suggests that turmeric is useful in preventing and blocking the growth of cancer such as melanoma tumor cells, breast cancer, colon cancer and other cancers.
[Source: http://www.askmedicaldoctor.com/medical/doctor/what-does-turmeric--yellow-ginger--do-help-our-health--65081]

Recently, my friends have been complaining that my “tao nai pai” (Hokkien for having bad memory), as I have been forgetful as years go by. Perhaps I should start eating curry at least once a month to keep my memory power going!

Juices which are natural remedies for dengue fever

wellnesschannel — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:33:41 +0000

If you know of anyone who has dengue fever, ask him/her to drink lotsa fresh and unchilled watermelon juice. It is a natural remedy which is effective. This advice was given by a trusted TCM practitioner my family goes to – 王如田医师 @ Yio Chu Kang road. Just a bit of background information about him.

My paternal grandfather was diagnosed with kidney failure in the early 1990s. Doctor said that he had to undergo dialysis to survive. He refused and insisted that he would rather die than to undergo dialysis. Somebody then recommended 王如田医师 to him. 王医师 gave him a prescription (I remember one of the ingredients was scorpion!), supposedly to 以毒攻毒（use poison to counteract poison). He survived on this prescription without undergoing dialysis for the next 10 years. He passed away in 2005 as he stopped taking that prescription after his condition stabilised for so long…

Anyway, the above is just to illustrate the credibility of this TCM doctor. 王医师 said that he had treated a lot of dengue cases with success. A simple remedy is to drink lotsa watermelon juice. I also found similar evidences on several websites and forums:

http://forums.sgclub.com/singapore/dengue_fever_remedy_123745.html

http://forums.keeptouch.net/archive/index.php/t-49547.html

Some of the websites also said that papaya juice and pegaga juice are equally, if not more effective!

http://forums.sgclub.com/singapore/remedy_for_dengue_22837.html
http://www.daddyhobby.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10034
http://www.usj.com.my/bulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=6754

Well, Vit C sure plays a role to boost one’s immune system. But I think there could be some other stuff present in these fruits that make them a natural cure for dengue.

[Note: The above is not meant to replace a medical doctor's advice.]

Health benefits of baby’s breath (满天星)

wellnesschannel — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:57:28 +0000

My mum is an avid reader of health and medicinal books, especially those on TCM and herbs. Whenever I heard of any friends or their loved ones experiencing certain health ailments, I will come back and ask my mum what herbs can be used to improve their condition. She will usually have the answer, and will quote me success stories, either those she read from health magazines or from her own encounters (loved ones’ or friends’ accounts).

Recently, one of my kakis spoke of her 25-year-old sister having some problems with her liver. I found out from my mum that baby’s breath (满天星) is actually beneficial for the liver function. She went on to say my aunt’s maid, who had jaundice, recovered after taking baby’s breath for some time! She quoted another success story told to her by my grandma. You may think it’s all old wives’ tale. How much scientific evidence is there?

I did a google search, and boy, there was really little information linking baby’s breath with treating liver problems. There was a promising finding recently though, that baby’s breath may help to cure cancer.

See article at http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2010/04/29/Babys-breath-may-help-cure-cancer/UPI-87451272571461/

Since the information given by my mum pertains more to TCM, I did another search in Chinese and here’s what I’ve found on Baidu:

A doctor (presumably Chinese doctor) wrote that baby’s breath can help to detoxify the liver and is benefit for the gall. I quote “我是一名医生… 本人擅长治疗肝炎、肝硬化、肝腹水等肝病，采用的是地方特色中草药，疗效确切。在中草药配方当中，有一味叫“满天星”，能清肝利胆，软化肝脏…” (Source: http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=762265196)

Another source from a Chinese forum discussing how to treat liver disease. I quote “我听中医说，可以吃“满天星草”，维持一个时期。如果满天星草医不到，可换成“叶下珠”。对了，吃药时要戒口，不能吃白萝卜、韭菜、唐茶。这些都会解药…” (Source: http://www.jbtalks.cc/viewthread.php?tid=586872)

We may still not be convinced. But if there is no harm in taking it (brew as herbal tea), why not give it a try? It can also help to detoxify the body, even if there is nothing wrong with your liver. There are actually many other health benefits other than what was mentioned. If you are keen on trying, you can buy it from any Sheng Siong supermarket. Cost is $5 thereabout. Instructions on how to make the tea is written on the packaging.

Vigorous exercise @ night is bad!

wellnesschannel — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 15:56:51 +0000

Some of you may be familiar with the Merdian Organ Clock (the practice is known as 时间养生法). In short, it is about doing the right things at the right time, so as to maximise your body’s natural healing system. I read this from an article from June’s issue of 《健康No.1》, a SPH health publication which was launched in December last year. The theory of the Meridian Organ Clock originated from 《黄帝内经》 – the Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor, which is an ancient Chinese medical text that has been treated as the fundamental doctrinal source for Chinese medicine for more than two millennia and until today (Source: Wikipedia).

Very briefly, these are the things we should do relative to the time our meridian / organ is functioning most optimally:

==================================================================================

11pm – 1am [Gall]
Must sleep to recharge and detoxify

1am – 3am [Liver]
Remain in deep sleep to ensure sufficient 气血. Women who sleep late are more prone to problems with the breast.

3am – 5am [Lung]
Must be deep and sound asleep to ensure healthy lung functions.

5am – 7am [Large Intestine]
Good to move the bowels to remove toxins.

7am – 9am [Stomach]
Eat breakfast during this period to ensure optimal absorption of nutrients.

9am – 11am [Pancreas]
Good to work, learn or exercise as we are energetic during this period. Drinks lots of water as it can be absorbed maximally.

11am – 1pm [Heart]
Don’t tire yourself too much. Good to rest or go out for lunch. Take a power nap (less than 30 mins) to protect your heart.

1pm – 3pm [Small Intestine]
Can work and learn optimally, due to the absorption of nutrients at lunch.

3pm – 5pm [Bladder]
Prone to tiredness. Good to drink lots of water, or exercise to excrete water.

5pm – 7pm [Kidney]
Conserve energy during this period. Eat dinner and engage in activities that relaxes your mind. No vigorous exercise.

7pm – 9pm [Circulation]
Remain relaxed. Read, listen to music, chit-chat etc. Avoid vigorous exercises and shows that are too exciting.

9pm – 11pm [Triple Warmer]
Relax your mind and ensure a peaceful state before sleep.

==================================================================================

Believe it or not, there is really no harm trying to work your organs correctly. E.g. sleeping before 11pm everyday. It is hard, but if it is going to help us detoxify and stay healthy, maybe we should make that effort.

Look at the below article for your organ working hours!

http://www.whatishealing.com/ArticlesPDF/The%20Meridian%20Organ%20Clock.pdf