First Veggie Saturday!

Saturday 20th March 2010,
The first successful Saturday where Prem and I were vegetarians for an entire day.
Even though it was only for a day, I felt thoroughly light and fresh. I wasn't lethargic or moody. I am seriously thinking of being vegetarian on a more often basis.

However, we have yet to figure out choices of food for vegans. There seem to be very few choices for now. Yesterday, we made a trip to Paragon, bought 2 bowls of salads and a packet of sunflower seeds. And that only cost us about SGD6.

That was delicious! And healthy. I guess it was because I ate it and had no guilty feeling at all. I was truly happy. Sometimes in life, the simplest things makes one happy.

As for dinner, we went to Loving Hut at Peace Ctr and ordered more vegetarian food. This was the one other place which we know of. As we had once stumbled upon it, a long time ago. They offer food that appeals to the eyes and taste buds. They also provide a tv programme called, Constructive News and Note Worthy News. I personally think that the news is excellent as they bring positive thoughts to anyone watching it while waiting for the food to be served.

As I sat there waiting for my meal, I allowed myself to be absorbed by the positive energy. The world has already too much of negative energy, being there gave me an extra sense of peace.

Life In Singapore and Supplements

Its been awhile since I wrote here. Time has been packed with the hustle and bustle of Singapore life.

I often think to myself, why work so hard? Is it worth it? I have landed myself a lecturing position in an institution. Work is bountiful as in every other job, however the rewards are the satisfaction that I obtain from my work. So I guess in many ways it is worth it.

I have always had a weak constitution. If not for my fiance Prem, I would probably be still be a sick cat. I realise that I have a really difficult system. I can't consume 'cooling' food because I tend to catch cold often and neither can I consume 'heaty' foods. Gosh.

So in the end, lately I have limited myself to fruits, vegetables and wheat bread. Pathetic, is it not?

Thank God for supplements and thank Prem for supplying them. I really have learnt that supplements are really important for me, and I think for many people out there too. They have helped me maintain my strength and energy which I constantly need in class.

Honestly, I forgot to take them today, and now I realise why I am feeling exhausted and as a result feeling emotionally low. I sort of was grumpy earlier today and consequently didn't have a relaxing time with Prem. I am sorry for my actions.

I will post pictures of the supplements that I take soon to serve as a reminder to me!

In Pursue of Happiness

While doing our best in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, we should also put in major effort in achieving a healthy mind. 

Did you know that being happy could add years to your life span?! Happiness can't cure illnesses, it can however, help healthy people live about 7.5 to 10 years longer, according to 30 studies. Being happy can make one more likely to watch his/her diet and be more perceptive of illnesses. Staying upbeat, being optimistic surely helps in getting more work done and done effectively too. Staying happy around people can also help spread that happy 'germ' around.

Here are some ways to achieve HAPPINESS:

Get worry out of the way by setting a worry time, such as 30 mins daily; preferably after work. Having this means that, when it is time to worry, sit and worry for that worry time only and when a worry comes up along the day, put it aside till worry time comes along and worry then. This emphasizes on the fact on being in the present.

Many researches have shown that altruism is a powerful catalyst for happiness. Hence random act of kindness can not only bring happiness to others but to yourself too. So head out there and make it a goal to do at least one kind act a day. Smiling is an easy way to start, putting a smile on your face will in turn put a smile on someone else's. A tiny smile from the heart may brighten someone's day.

What is your definition of happiness? Happiness can come in the form of contentment. Sometimes, satisfying a craving or just eating a simple nutritious meal can be pure joy as it brings contentment to you. Waking up each day and being able to see the sun is in itself a happiness to me.

Truly, being curious makes living a whole lot more fun. Set time aside for doing something new, like a new sport, reading new findings, visiting a new place, taking up a new hobby etc. Learning is the key to a happier life. 

Learn something new everyday.

Skeletons in All of Us

As we mature with time, our skeletons lose their strength naturally. Our skeletons are what hold our frames, often we experience aches and pains. No matter how much calcium we take, as time passes, the pressure that gravity puts on our bones shows no mercy. 

We can't fight the forces of nature, we can, however, take action in caring for our bones. We can save ourselves from injury by doing chores correctly.

Our knees are our largest joints in our bodies, it is then only right that we make sure that they are less prone to injuries. Trust me, our knees get most of the jerks, knocks and abrasions on a daily basis. Wear supportive footwear to lessen the impact on the knees. 

Sitting up straight is essential. Pick a butt rest that supports the curve of your lower back. If that isn't possible, fret not. Use a roll up towel and place it between your lower back and the back of the chair. Always sit with your spine lengthened and shoulders wide.

Always prepare yourself for a cough or sneeze. Sudden sneezes and coughs can cause jerks. Such sudden movements can jerk a weakened torso forwards and as a result, injure the spine. So, whenever, you feel a sneeze or a cough coming, bend your knees, set your back straight and put a hand on your thigh for support. Or brace your lower back with your hand to stay upright. Not easy to follow, this can be done with much practice. However, it will be worth the effort. 

Doing chores such as vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, can surely put a strain on your back. So it is important to bend your knees and hips and NOT your waist. Push and pull instead of twisting. Do you realise that we seldom bend our knees even when we walk? As a result, the impact is relatively large on our knees, causing more injuries and of course more aches.

When leaning down to load the washing machine or to make the bed, it will be wise not to sag from your waist, but instead bend your knees and hips while keeping your lower back straight.

Lastly, even I am sometimes guilty of this! I often simply bend my back and lift heavy objects from the ground. When lifting heavy objects from the ground, squat with back straightened and/or get someone to help. Lifting heavy objects can cause compression fracture as a great deal of pressure is put on the spine. So please be more mindful and spare your bones.

Sun-Dried NOT!

Calling all Earth people,

The weather has been really unforgiving. Scorching sun and sweltering heat. Taking care of our skin is a must, slapping on SPF, loads of sunscreen. This will prevent premature aging and most importantly, taking this little time to protect our largest organ can prevent skin cancer. 

Dermatologists in Universities in Manchester and Newcastle studied that people who take tomato paste and olive oil regularly (psst... these are present in foods such as pasta) are found to have a third more protection on their skin as compared to people who only consume olive oil. The dermatologists believe that protection of our skin can be done through our diets. So fight ageing and skin cancer through our tummies!

Eat well, feel good and look great!

For my bestie, Shan

Hey Shan! Congratulation on being a mum to be! This is just for you and every beautiful mum to be-s out there.

Acne during pregnancy is quite common. It is caused by hormonal imbalances that produce too much sebum (the oily substance). Psoriasis happens when the skin cells reproduce much faster than usual. What happens next, is that the skin then builds up dry and flaking patches and thus causing itching and irritation.

Try to avoid eating oily food and fried foods as they will lead to oily skin. Drink more warm plain water. It will help flush your system. This is the norm to do for anyone.

Please remember to seek doctor's permission before eating and trying anything please.

Avocado is rich in fatty oils but it contains loads of vitamins A, C, E and B complex, which are all important for great complexion. It has strong antibacterial and antifungal properties, so it is great for acne and other irritating skin conditions.

Make up a paste of avocado pulp and apply it to any dry skin to soothe and moisturise.

Raw and unprocessed honey is excellent for oily and blemished skin as it has antibacterial properties and it can moisturise the skin without making it oily. Cosmetic clay absorbs excess oil from the skin and draws toxin out of the skin. Lavender essential oil calms and soothes the skin inflammation and helps to heal blemishes. (However, please check with doctors if the essential oil can be used during your pregnancy).

Use 2 tablespoons raw unprocessed honey with one teaspoon cosmetic clay together with 2 drops of lavender essential oil. Combine the ingredients and mix into a thin paste (add more cosmetic clay if needed). Spread over clean, damp skin. Remove after 15min with warn water.

How to treat a blemish? Don't squeeze pimples. Instead, apply a sequence of alternating warm and cold, clean cloths (a minute of warn then a minute of cold) several times a day. This will heal the skin by boosting circulation. Follow up with a dab of tea tree essential oil.

Most importantly, you have to feel good to look good. Feeling good with your inner self, it will show on your outer looks, for sure. Be positive and eat healthily. Cheers!

Remedies for Toothache

During the first quarter of 2008, I was having problems with my wisdom tooth. The pain was immense and often led to fever and of course lost of appetite. This pain caused me to lose concentration and needless to say, I was often in a foul mood. In the end, I extracted both my upper and lower wisdom teeth from my left gum.

Before extraction, these were some of the useful remedies that I used to ease some pain. Rinsing mouth with warm salt water helped to rid the gums of bacteria which was causing the pain. Also clove oil can be rubbed onto the gum around the aching tooth to soothe the pain. In Germany, dentists use a clove-based anesthetic to rid the pain of toothache.

Apart from toothaches, some soreness in the gums may surface. To strengthen gums, drink plenty of rose hip or blackcurrent tea as sore gums may be due to the lack of Vitamin B and C.

These are some simple remedies for not so painful toothaches. However, these are not the final solutions to toothaches, please see your dentist if the pain persists.