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Seniors
Common Health Problems that affect those over 50! • Cataracts • Diabetes • Digestion Problems • Prostate & Urinary Tract Conditions • Blood Circulation Problems • Memory Decline • Menopause • Heart & Cholesterol Problems • Decrease in Energy & Vitality • Varicose Veins • Joint Problems
FRONT
Editor’s Page
A
s the chief editor of this health magazine, I always encounter this question: “What should we do to have a healthy body?” In fact, the secret to health is not in response to questions such as “what medicine can cure this disease?” or “what kind of food can benefit our body?” It is commonsense that we all know.
Reasons unhealthy you are
1. Eat light food which contains less sugar, less salt, no ice, less oil and avoid icy food. 2. Early to bed and early to rise. 3. Less anger and more smiles. 4. Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. 5. Maintain a balanced diet with a fixed amount of food and stop eating when you are satisfied, not when you are full. 6. Do regular and more exercises. 7. Do not sit for long periods of time. Get up and walk around. 8. Do not overuse your eyes. Give them a periodic rest. 9. Wash your hands regularly during the day, especially after going to the toilet, using public transport as well as using you mobile phone and computer keyboard for long periods of time - and brush your teeth after meals.
By: Lan Yu
If you take a closer look at these items, which of these are you not familiar with? However, how many of them do you really regularly abide by? It is only because you fail to keep these good habits that you often fall sick and have health problems, and thus you need doctors or a health journal to provide you with professional advice in terms of what kind of nutrition you need, or special exercises you should do and how to cure your disease. After all, medicines cannot root out your disease. If you maintain bad habits, even if your illness has been cured, you will eventually fall sick again. Many of my doctor friends complain that they are very tired because some of their patients, whom they tried hard to cure, return to the hospital again in even worse condition. The reason why this happens is that these patients often think that it is not a big deal to have an illness since we have skilled doctors and a well developed medical science and technology. Therefore, doctors will have no time to rest and our journals will keep having articles filled with lists of items that are often ignored. Please bear in mind that prevention is better than cure. Most of the serious diseases are chronic illnesses which are mainly caused by patients’ unhealthy lifestyles.
4
te Privaings viewn be ca ged arran
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Blk 524A Jelepang Road, Greenridge Shopping Centre Blk 399 Yung Sheng Road, Taman Jurong Shopping Centre Blk 150A Bishan Street 11 Blk 168 Bedok South Avenue 3 Blk 116 Bukit Merah View Blk 123 Yishun Street 11 Blk 809 Hougang Central Blk 272 Bukit Batok East Avenue 4 Blk 101 Yishun Avenue 5 Blk 201B Tampines Street 21 No. 3 McCallum Street Blk 78A Telok Blangah Street 32 Blk 34 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee No. 321 Geylang Road Blk 698 Hougang Street 61 No. 27 Foch Road, Hoe Nam Building No. 200 Jalan Sultan, Textile Centre Blk 106 Hougang Avenue 1 No. 115 Jalan Besar Blk 262 Serangoon Central Blk 2 Jalan Bukit Merah Blk 163 Toa Payoh Lorong 1 No.1 Sengkang Square Blk 221 Boon Lay Place, Boon Lay Shopping Centre Blk 45 Balestier Road Blk 25 New Upper Changi Road Blk 123 Bedok North Street 2 No. 21 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4 Blk 163 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 No.10 Anson Road, International Plaza Blk 259 Pasir Ris Street 21, Loyang Point Blk 43 Holland Drive Blk 548 Woodlands Drive 44 Blk 8 Toa Payoh Lorong 7 Blk 654 Yishun Avenue 4 Blk 12 Telok Blangah Crescent Blk 451 Clementi Avenue 3 No.1 Jelebu Road, Bukit Panjang Plaza Blk 347 Bukit Batok Street 34 Blk 638A Jurong West Street 61, Pioneer Mall Blk 109 Bukit Purmei Road Blk 121 Bedok Reservoir Road No.1000 Upper Serangoon Road Blk 18 Upper Boon Keng Road Blk 533 Choa Chu Kanf Street 51, Limbang Shopping Centre No. 201 Yishun Avenue 2 Blk 38 Teban Garden Road Blk 1 Beach Road Blk 301 Serangoon Avenue 2 Blk 89 Whampoa Drive Blk 27A Chai Chee Road No. 802 Bukit Batok West Avenue 5, Bukit Gombak MRT Station Blk 256 Yishun Ring Road Blk 685 Hougang Street 61 Blk 323 Bukit Batok Street 33 Blk137 Teck Whye Lane Blk 325 Ubi Avenue 1
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Live THE GOOD LIFE
contents FEBRUARY - MARCH 2014
14 Winning Time
Always giving you goodies to smile about
16 Joke
Laughter is the best medicine
Products 18 Lifestyle Live well, live in style
20 Curing tooth decay with maggot
An unconventional method to cure cavities. Do you believe it?
24
Dental Health
Our dental expert answers your queries
22 6 Astonishing Numbers
How important is health? Let the number speak
Menopause 23 Managing Understanding the options available to manage menopause
93 CHINESE ZODIAC
FORTUNES IN 2014 (Part 2)
The New Year is once again upon us, and for those of you who are concerned about your fortunes next year, we have prepared a fortune telling for you to usher in 2014
Cover Story George Clooney, Genuine Creativity Activist, actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter, George Clooney has been in the film industry for 36 years. We bring you on a journey with this charming gentleman.
8
FEBRUARY - MARCH 2014
contents
FEATURES The Magic of Alkaline Water, 44 A fresh leash of life in one’s late years, 51 Old & Cool, 57 Become a gym expert in weeks, 62 Cacao-Food of the Gods, 66 Dangers of a sedentary lifestyle, 72 Dynamics Of Life, 74 Defeat Yourself through Golf, 77 Yoga For Insomnia, 82 Super-yacht, 98 Gathering at the Samsara Gourmet, 108
REGULARS Editor’s Note, 4 Distribution coverage, 6 Reader’s Mail, 17 FilmSpector, 100 Enjoy the Arts, 102 Bookworm, 104 Survey, 107 Subscription, 109 Shopping Cart, 110
WEALTH Investing 20K, 46 Manage Your Financial Planning, 64 Financial management clinic, 69
NUTRITION Three post-festival detox dishes, 53 Multivitamins, 56 The enemy of bad cholesterol, 60 Astaxanthin, 84 Which Contains more Nutritional Value, 90
OTHERS Faecal incontinence, 48 Nine Tips to Protect Your Hearing, 70 Is constipation a small problem? 80 Fitness Over 40 - Let’s Play, Singapore!, 88
10
SPECIAL
30 TRAVEL SPECIAL Everyone enjoys travelling, but once one is past forty, travelling becomes a burden. This is due to a plunge in physical energy, or due to physical ailments which make one unable to withstand the vagaries of travel. What are the kinds of travel which are more effective than medicine, and the types of illnesses that make one unsuited for travelling?
Contributors <<Managing Menopause>> Dr Chua is a firm believer of health education, primary prevention and holistic approach. Women are encouraged to go beyond managing daily mundane affairs, to use their time to attend to their medical, physical, emotional and even psychosocial needs. She continues to devote time and energy for women in different parts of the world, including China, Niger, Nepal, Ladakh, Bangalore, Zambia and parts of Indonesia.
Dr Chua Yang
<<The Second Half of Life, which group do you belong to?>> Theressa Fu, Taiwan’s most renowned Tarot card guru, has conducted many talks and seminars. She enjoys the title of “Tarot queen”. For years, she has shed light on people’s circumstances, and is extremely insightful in the areas of romance, family, health and finances. Are you currently at crossroads with no sense of direction or guidance? Visit “Tarot Queen’s blog” at http:// tw.myblog.yahoo.com/ Theressa Fu theressa-fu/.
<<Faecal Incontinence: The Silent Epidemic>> Dr Wong is currently a Consultant Surgeon in the Department of Colorectal Surgery and serves as the Director of the Anorectal Ultrasound & Physiology Laboratory in Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Dr Wong completed a Ministry of Health (MOH) sponsored fellowship in Pelvic Floor and Functional Colorectal Disorders in France in 2010. He then returned to the Department to pursue his subspecialty interest in functional colorectal disorders and minimallyinvasive colorectal surgery.
<<Manage Your Financial Planning>>, <<Fitness Over 40 Let’s Play, Singapore! >> Kris Moller is an accomplished IT professional turned writer after 50 years in Industry and has been living with his wife Ervina in Singapore since 2006. Kris does not believe in traditional Kris Moller retirement but sees it as “Life’s Action Replay Button with an opportunity to further secure your signature to your Legacy”.
Dr Mark Wong Te Ching
Kris is currently writing two follow-up books “Perspective” and “Workforce Issues In A Graying World” in his Purposeful Retirement Series. He loves reading, writing, music, watching and acting in movies, other art forms, traveling, animals, adventure in general (he did a parachute jump and shark cage dive), and talking about any subject. In 2012 he finally achieved a life’s ambitions by playing in a feature film.
<<2014 Chinese Zodiac Fortunes>> Master Hui was born into a family of professional Feng Shui Masters, and has been working in the Feng Shui field since 1986. He has had more than 20 years of rich experience and knowledge in Feng Shui matters, and is highly regarded and recommended by all his clients, which include Singapore artistes. Not only does Masters Hui contribute to the community at large through detailed Feng Shui advice, he also frequently participates in and gives generously to charity organizations and events worldwide. As such, he is widely known as the “Feng Shui Goodwill Ambassador”.
“Over 65 And Still In Demand” is available at www.amazon.com. Price S$29. Visit his blog: http://passiontoplan.wordpress. com/
Master Hui 12
His recent book “Over 65 And Still In Demand” shares lessons learned on the elements that are central to life, the practical steps to address in the run-up to and for an active and purposeful retirement, and how to plan and stay active during its continued transition.
Book Giveaways Q1: Which of the following are NOT foods that contribute to depression, according to the book “Eat Yourself Happy”? A. Fresh fruits and vegetables B. Sugary Foods C. Alcoholic drinks Q2: With regards to the book “Small Change: Investment Made Simple,” who made the statement that “Goh Eng Yeow makes the important distinction between investing and speculating.”? A. Magnus Böcker B. George Clooney C. Han Fook Kwang Q3: In the book “The Tai Chi Bible,” which book is the Tai Chi techniques explained in reference to? A. The Journey to the West B. I Ching (Book of Changes) C. The Classic of Boxing Q4: In the book “Complete Asian Cookbook: Indonesia, Malaysia & Singapore,” how many geographical regions are the recipes divided into? A. 3 B. 6 C. 8 Contest winners of last issue: THE WORLD’S BEST ASIAN NOODLES RECIPES: 125 GREAT RECIPES FROM TOP CHEFS Rebecca Goh 1145 XXXX Tan Mei Fong 8712 XXXX Ng Mei Ling Salina 9787 XXXX
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FRONT
Jokes
JUST LAUGHS FOR
Same service
Powerful sleeping pills
A man who had been married for ten years was consulting a marriage counsellor.
Bob was having trouble falling asleep at night. He went to see his doctor, who prescribed some extra-strong sleeping pills. On Sunday night, Bob took the pills, slept well and was well awake before he heard the alarm.
“When I was first married, I was very happy. I’d come home from a hard day down at the shop and my little dog would race around barking and my wife would bring me my slippers. Now, everything has changed. When I come home, my dog brings me my slippers and my wife barks at me”. “I don’t know what you’re complaining about” said the counsellor. “You’re still getting the same service.”
He took his time getting to the office, strolled in and said to his boss: “I did not have trouble getting up this morning.” “That’s fine,” roared the boss, “but where were you Monday and Tuesday?”
E Paradise OK J S T An elderly couple died in an unfortunate accident, but found themselves suddenly in heaven. BE They met Saint Peter, who began giving them a tour.
“Here is your oceanside condo, over there are the tennis courts. The swimming pool is that way, and you’ll find four golf courses. If you need any refreshments, just stop by any of the many bars located throughout the area and an angel will be glad to mix your favorite cocktail.”
Doctor’s periodic visit
Father’s mathematical skills
During the doctor’s periodic visit to my elderly mother, I told him that Mother would be celebrating her 98th birthday in few days. He then announced that he would be celebrating a birthday in a few days’ time, and asked for a kiss in return.
One day, Tim’s mathematics teacher checked his homework and saw that he had finally gotten all his sums right. The teacher was very pleased and rather surprised. He called Tim to his desk and said to him, “You got all your homework right this time, Tim. What happened? Did your father help you?”
When he left, my mother shook her head in disgust. “Can you imagine?” she said. “Seventy dollars and I had to kiss him too!”
“No sir. He was too busy last night, so I had to do it all by myself,” said Tim.
16
By: QianYing Hu
“Jeez Gertrude,” the old man hissed when Saint Peter walked off, “we could have been here ten years ago if you hadn’t forced me to stop smoking, and made us eat all that oat bran, wheat germ, and low-fat food!”
Reader
FRONT
The amazing effect of
onion in
red wine k Little fol from n o i t p i r c pres er our read
M
y friend, a wine trader told me that red wine and onions are very nourishing when taken together. I was initially skeptical, because he is in this trade, so he might have been saying this just to sell his red wine. But he repeatedly reassured me that many people have taken it with very good results, so I decided to start making my own â&#x20AC;&#x153;red wine and onionsâ&#x20AC;?. The effect was stunning, even my wife was full of compliments. After two days, I did not have to go to the toilet at night, and there was significant improvement in many of her conditions as well, like pain in the knees, cataract, and early signs of forgetfulness. Besides, I also have high blood pressure, but after I drank it, my blood sugar become stable, and my blood sugar went down. It even helps in Presbyopia, because after drinking it I can read newspapers without wearing my glasses. I used to wake up in the middle of the night, and unable to go back to sleep. It helps to remove the insomnia that I had without the need for sleeping pills. Lethargy in the eyes and blurriness also disappeared after about a week of continuous consumption.
By: Jolynn Chia
Though I had aciduria, my urine actually turned nearly transparent after taking it too.
Ingredients: 2 onions, 500ml of red wine. (For a typical bottle of red wine, 3 onions will be required.) Steps: 1. Wash the onions, remove the brown skin, and slice it into eight pieces; 2. Put the onion into the glass bottle, add red wine, (the effect may be better if the skin is also added); 3. Cover the bottle and seal it tightly, place it in a cool and shady place for two to eight days, (one week is the most optimal); 4. Remove the onions from the bottle using a strainer. VoilĂ ! The red wine is ready for consumption. Store them separately in the refrigerator. Serving method: 1. Take a cup (50ml) each time, one to two times every day. For older folks, take around 20ml every time. 2. Eating the onions previously soaked in red wine brings further beneficial effects;
My stomach used to bloat very often, and I suffered from painful constipation, but by the second day (of taking the red wine), regular bowel movement resumed.
3. Non-drinkers may consider using twice the amount of boiled water to dilute the wine, or pour the wine into the electric cooker for four to five minutes, hence evaporating the alcohol before taking it. 4. Add some honey if you have a sweet tooth.
Such a powerful prescription contains very simple ingredients.
Hamilton Zhou, Hong Kong, Lawyer, 63 years old.
5. Storage method: Leave it in the refrigerator. 17
FRONT
Lifestyle Products
01 WINE PEARLS Available at uncommongood.com at SGD 34.10 Instead of spoiling your wine with a bucket of ice, this innovative, yet classy chiller will allow you to enjoy wines at their ideal sipping temperatures. You just need to freeze this set of stainless steel orbs, and place a couple into your wine. The oval shape of the chillers is ideal for round bottomed glasses, since the glimmering spheres will pile up elegantly in the bottom of the bowl. While these pearls are perfect for wine, their ability to chill without altering or diluting delicate flavors also makes them ideal for cooling top-shelf liquors, delicate cocktails, and fresh fruit juices. They are sold as a set of 4. http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/wine-pearls
02 MELTING CLOCKS Available at gadgetsandgear.com at USD 19.95 This eye catching clock design is inspired by Salvador Dali’s work of art, ‘The Pesistence of memory’. This clock looks like it comes straight out of a surrealist painting. Designed to look like a large pocket watch complete with winder on top, this stylish timepiece is perfectly balances to hang off any flat surface securely. It is a suitable gift for art lover, especially Dali’s fans to decorate their living space. http://www.gadgetsandgear.com/melting-clock.html
03 CHIKUNO CUBE
Creative
Barang
It’s really about little things and innovations that make our life fun and enjoyable.
By: Lucy kusnadi
Available at uncommongoods.com at SGD 39.50 Chikuno is a made of bamboo charcoal which is widely popular of its excellent absorption properties. This stylish block of bamboo charcoal will block out any unwanted odors in your house. One gram of charcoal has nearly the surface area of a tennis court. This specially designed Chikuno Cube uses a honey-comb struvture to maximize this power-creating a surprisingly effective air freshener for refrigerator, closet, or other enclosed space. It can be “recharged” each month by leaving it in the sun for six hours. Reusable for up to a year. This product is made in Kyoto, Japan and is a winner of 2008 Japanese Good Design Award. http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/chikuno-cube
01
02 18
03
Lifestyle Products
FRONT
04 SAND TRAP PAPERWEIGHT Available at uncommongoods.com at USD37.00 Sometime when your daily paper work starts to become redundant, you need a little entertainment on your desk. The Sand Trap paperweight, which is handcrafted in Seattle, contains a colorful assortment of tees, a real golf ball, and sand. This vibrant decoration will take away your sour mood and brighten your whole table. This miniature sand trap makes a great gift for golfloving dads and bosses. This handmade glass globe also contains ash from the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption. This item has 3.5” in diameter and 4” in height. http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/sand-trappaperweight
05 04
KOI FISH WALL HANGER Available at karmakiss.net at USD 399.99 This Koi Fish Wall Hanger is made for both fish lovers and homeaesthetic enthusiast. It brings a touch of oriental beauty into your home and is yet sleek and functional. This multifunction item is also suitable for minimalist room. Made of powder-coated steel, this Koi Fish Wall Hanger will be just the right gift for your closest persons’ house warming. With its unique design, it is guaranteed to be an instant conversation piece. This item is available in four color choice: Gloss black, gloss white, deep red or grey chrome, and available in two sizes: Small : 15” x 24: and large: 28” x 48”. The small Koi Fish Wall Hanger is good to hold light weight items such as scarves jewelry, photos, important notes, while the large Koi Fish Wall Hanger can hold everything from heavy winter coats to delicate silk scarves. http://karmakiss.net/en/home-room-and-garden-decor/roomaccoutrements/koi-fish-wall-hanger.html
06 KITCHEN SCALE BY EVA SOLO 05
Available at emmohome.com at USD 135 A real breakthrough in kitchen wares which consist of three parts: a metal container with a measuring line on the outside, a glass jar with a weighing scale and a stainless steel spring. These three elements combine to create a perfect set of scales that can weigh up to 1 kilogram. The scales have a tare function which means they can be “reset” between the adding of ingredients. With metric, imperial, and US unit indication on the inside of the metal container, it doubles as a conventional measuring jug. And as the only kitchen scales in the world (probably), they can be put straight into the dishwasher. The scales take up a minimum of spaces in drawers or cupboards as everything fits into the glass jar. Glass jar is replaceable. This kitchen ware has won several awards in Housewares and Design award. It is designed by Claus Jensen and Henrik Holbaek. http://www.emmohome.com/eva-solo-kitchen-scale-1-kg.html
06 19
FEATURE Curing Tooth
Curing tooth decay with
maggot
By: Lucy kusnadi
Maggot therapy or maggot debridement method has been used for centuries, including renaissance time. It is commonly used for treating wounds because maggots will eat the infected part of the flesh and disinfect the wound. Many surgeons have implemented this Baer technique to treat wounds and bone disease. It has been consistently shown that wounds infested with maggots heal better than those that are not.
20
Curing Tooth
FEATURE
A
rmed with this information, dentist George Clarence Dreher of Newark, NJ, experimented with maggots to cure tooth decay. The idea is for the maggots to eat the decayed part of the tooth, including the bacteria inside that could cause further damage. The maggot will clean the root canal of dead pulp, a procedure difficult without the use of maggots. At first, he experimented using a freshly pulled out decayed tooth from a patient. However, the maggot he used was too fat to work on the decay. The maggot could not get into the root canal of the teeth. Hence, he had to farm his own batch of maggots out of blowfly eggs that were free of germs. The larvae were fed for twelve hours on pig-liver. One of the tiny maggots was penned in the pulp chamber of the tooth with a light cotton plug. Three days later, all the works killed the maggot. After nine days, the result was very satisfying, the teeth was totally free of decayed part. There was a thin hard white secretion left on the wall of the canal by the maggot, however it was sterile. He experimented 20 times using same type of maggots, and out of that, the maggots had a 100% success rate in removing the decayed parts and sterilizing the teeth. At the same time, he also observed that other 50 un-maggotted decayed teeth, and the result showed that 47 of them were infested with germs. What do you think about this method? This method seems to make sense. But will you be willing to put living larvae to roam your mouth? Well, it’s your choice. May be it is the reason why until now this method is not popularized yet in Singapore regardless the rumoured effectiveness. The list of using maggots in treating wounds and diseases keep increasing. One point to highlight is the right number of maggot for each case must be considered carefully. Maggots grow in body size very quickly, and if too many are used, they will also start to eat the healthy tissues too, making treatment unsafe. Moreover, not all type of flies can be used for this treatment. Some fly maggots feed exclusively on living tissue, while others, on both living and dead tissue. The most commonly used types of flies are blow flies and green bottle flies because these maggots feed on dead tissue only. All maggots used in such procedures are specially grown and harvested in laboratory settings to ensure they are sterilized, preventing any secondary infections caused by microbes carried by the maggots.
Dr Steven Soo says I am not aware of any documented use of maggots to cure tooth decay. There has been no peer reviewed documented use of maggots that I am aware of in searching the scientific database (thus side effects of using this treatment is unknown). Conventional treatment for dental decay is usually done by a dentist who will remove the inflamed or infected pulp/nerve and filling the infected cavity/root canal with a suitable dental material. This will then seal the space preventing further bacterial infection. Modern dental treatment such as Root Canal Treatment (RCT) of an infected root canal is very predictable and has a high success rate. The nature of the anatomy of the canal space makes it not amenable to cleaning and disinfecting other than by your dental professionals. Alternative methods do not have the development, refinement and documented success of conventional root canal therapy and cannot be recommended. Dr Steven Soo Dental Specialist in Prosthodontics at Specialist Dental Group®. He was formely a Clinical Lecturer at the Eastman Dental Institute and Clinical Teacher at the GKT Dental Institute, both of which are affiliated with the University of London. Dr Soo has a special interest in prosthetic and implant restorative dentisty.
21
FRONT
Numbers
ASTONISHING NUMBERS A NUMERICAL LOOK ON HEALTH ISSUES
366,000,000 Diabetes affects up to 366 million people globally according to a 2012 World Health Organization survey.
69%
An increase in walking speed can reduce the risk of stroke. Walking at 1.25 meters per second or more than the average speed (1.06 m/s) can reduce the risk of stroke by 69% for 50 to 70 year olds.
7,200,000 Approximately 7.2 million people die due to atherosclerotic heart disease every year.
100x
It is possible for males to be diagnosed with breast cancer. However, females are at a 100 times greater risk of contracting breast cancer than males.
Elder people are at a greatest risk of contracting influenza. During a flu season an estimated 90 percent of influenza associated deaths occur among adults age 65 years and older.
70
Eighty percent of those over 70 years of age are diagnosed with cataracts. 22
By: ZiQi Chen
90%
Menopause
FEATURE
MANAGING MENOPAUSE
A
“
What is menopause and what is the usual age for menopause? What are the pre-menopause symptoms and how do I deal with it? Mdm Lim, Bedok
T
he last menstrual period in a woman’s lifetime is “Menopause”. The average age of reaching menopause is 50 years and it is normal to reach menopause anytime between 45 and 55 years. It is also common to start experiencing menopause symptoms as early as 2-5 years before menopause. If you have reached your last menses before 45 years, it is considered early and if menopause is reached before 40 years, it is considered premature. In Singapore, 20% of women will experience moderate to severe peri-menopause symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, mood changes and sleep disturbance. These symptoms may persist for 2-3 years on average but are rarely lifelong! When estrogen reduces following menopause, the skin and vagina will demonstrate some dryness issues which make these areas sensitive and itchy. Applying usual antifungal creams on the vagina on such occasion will not help. Vaginal dryness and thinning can result in painful sexual activities as well as increased risk of vaginal and urinary infection. It is important to recognize these menopause related symptoms and understand them so that you are not frightened by them or overwhelmed by them. To clarify, the increased total number of years of hormonal exposure is the main reason for increased risk of breast cancer following hormone replacement therapy (HRT). That means that instead of reduced hormonal stimulation to the breasts as one reaches menopause naturally at 50, if she continues to take HRT for 5 years, she would be exposed to hormones for an extra 5 years. These increased years of stimulation will increase her risk of breast cancer. In the same way, women who naturally reach menopause late (beyond 55 years) have also increased risks.
hormonal support to prevent problems like osteoporosis and hyperlipidaemia. If this woman takes HRT till the “normal” age of menopause at 50, she has not increased her risks of breast cancer. Phytoestrogens are plant products that simulate some small effects of hormones in our body thereby reducing menopausal symptoms. They are not associated with increased breast cancer risks. If we are looking for a treatment option that targets all of your symptoms and concerns, some version of hormonal therapy may still be considered especially if you are at a young age. An alternative will be phytoestrogen although this option does not typically improve vaginal health. If the main concern is to improve vaginal health so as not to compromise the sexual relationship, there are very effective topical medication that can be considered. These also come in hormonal and non-hormonal options. The most effective course of action would be to consult your gynae directly to assess the need as well as the risk-benefit profile of any possible treatment option before deciding the best way forward.
Dr Chua Yang Obstetrician & Gynaecologist MBBS (S’Pore), MRCOG (UK), FAMS Graduate Diploma (Acupuncture) Graduate Diploma (Mental Health)
On the other hand, if a woman reaches menopause prematurely at 40, it is highly recommended for her to continue
MANAGING MENOPAUSE Sérélys Vaginal Gel A specially formulated lubricant for women that moisturises as well as maintains the balance of vaginal flora. 产品外观： SERELYS® 阴道凝胶卫生、方便，每盒7支单剂 量产品，按每支送药器.5毫升产品独立包装.
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For the launch of Sérélys tablets please see us at our Booth C25 28 - 30 March 2014 Suntec Hall 401 - 404
FEATURE Teeth
Will dental caries cause bad breath?
“
I have huge gaps between my teeth. May I find out, apart from a lack of aesthetic appeal, will there be other adverse consequences? Will I get bad breath very easily? Mr. Wong, Eunos
• Periodontal or gum disease; • Consumption of certain foods, e.g., garlic • Poor oral hygiene – caused by food particles between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums which collect bacteria;
A B
esides the lack of aesthetic appeal, sometimes the adjacent/surrounding teeth can drift or tilt into the huge gaps and hence potentially affect chewing function and increase difficulty in cleaning the teeth. When access for oral hygiene is impaired, problems such as gum disease and tooth decay can happen. There is no scientific link between huge gaps between teeth and bad breath. However, sometimes food can get trapped between gaps and if one’s oral hygiene is inadequate, the food that remains in the mouth becomes a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause bad breath.
• Dry mouth condition (xerostomia) which can occur due to hormonal changes (e.g., menopause) or due to other medications; • Smoking; • Other medical conditions, such as digestive system problems, diabetes, ear or nose infections, or some forms of cancer It is crucial that one uses dental cleaning aids such as the interdental brush to clean the teeth surfaces next to these gaps to rid of plaque and food particles so as to prevent the development of gum disease or teeth cavities. It may also be advisable to see a dentist to determine the cause of the huge gaps between the teeth so as to prevent further dental issues.
24
By: Shugui Chen
There are several possible causes of bad breath. While the subjective condition of bad breath is commonly caused by localized dental problems, such as infection, ill-fitting dental fillings or dentures, there are more factors that cause objective type of bad breath, such as:
Dr Daylene Leong US Periodontist, Specialist Dental Group®
FEATURE Cover Story
“
ss at writing e c c u s e m o s I’ve had e it. It’s k li I d n a , g in t and direc ative than e r c e r o m ly e infinit things I e v a h I d n a , g just actin d do. want to say an
”
George Clooney
Clooney soared to fame after outstanding performances in drama series ER and Ocean’s Eleven. Apart from being one of the sexiest men in Hollywood, Clooney remains the only person to have been nominated for six Oscars. Prime brings you closer to the man who tirelessly reinvents himself.
First role in 1978: Centennial TV series 1996: From Dusk ti ll D awn Won MTV M ovie Awards Best Breakth rough Perform for Won Saturn ance Awards for B est Actor Won Screen ER Season 2 Actors Guild Awards for O Performance utstanding by an Ensem ble in a Dram a Series Titled “Sexie st Man Aliv 1997: e” by People Magazine 2001: O Brother, W Won Golden here Art Th Globe award ou? s for Best Act or-Motion Picture Com edy/Musical
Cover Story
FEATURE
2005: Ranked by T V Guide #1 o f “50 Sexiest Syriana Stars of All T ime” Won Acade my Awards for Best Supp Won Golden orting Actor Globe Award s for Best Su Good Night, pporting Act and Good L or uck Won Satellite Awards for B es 2006: t ScreenplayOriginal Voted “Sexie st Man Aliv e” by People 2007: Magazine Ranked #13 of 50 Smart est People in Entertainm Hollywood ent Weekly by Ocean’s Thir teen Won People ’s Choice Aw ard for Favo Won Teen C rite On Screen hoice Award Match-Up for Choice M 2012: ovie: Chemis try The Descen dants Won Golden Globe Award s for Best Act Drama or-Motion Pic ture 2013: Argo Won Acade my Awards for Best Motio Won BAFTA n Picture of th Awards for B e Year est Film Won AFI Aw ards for Movi e of the Year
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FEATURE Cover Story
CAREER Activist, actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter During his career both in front of and behind the screen, George Clooney received numerous awards and nominations. He made his first television appearance at 5 years old, playing sketch characters on the local talk shows where his father hosted in 1966. In 1977, Clooney tried out for the Cincinnati Reds to play professional baseball, however, he failed. He made his acting debut on Centennial TV mini-series in 1978. Clooney attended Northern Kentucky University in 1979, majoring in Broadcast Journalism. He eventually did not last long at college and dropped out of school in 1981. Later, before gaining recognition, Clooney stuck around the Cincinnati area for a while, working as a shoe salesman and farmhand picking tobacco. He was harvesting tobacco when he got a call from Miguel Ferrer. Miguel and his father were making a film in Kentucky about horse racing, and Ferrer offered Clooney a small role. The movie was never released but the experience gave Clooney the spirit to enter the acting industry again. Encouraged by Ferrer, Clooney decided to move to Hollywood, Los Angeles to become an actor. Slowly through hard work, he built his fame, and to make ends meet, he picked up whatever work he could find. He even ran errands for his aunt and chauffeured her around town. Clooney’s fame began to soar after starring in a popular drama series ER, for which he won Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance 4 years in a row (1996-1999). He was cast as Batman for Batman & Robin in 1998, and according to him, the film was a failure. After leaving the ER drama series in 2001 Clooney starred in the first of the Ocean’s Eleven trilogy in which his fame widened. In 2002 he made his first debut as director with a biographical thriller film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. In 2005, Clooney was ranked number one on the “50 Sexiest Stars of All Time” list. He is also the only male public figure that managed to be titled twice as “Sexiest Man Alive” by People Magazine. In 2013, he won various awards for the film Argo which he produced together with Grant Heslov and Ben Affleck.
Aside from the entertainment industry, he is also renowned for his charity work. Since 2008, Clooney has served as a United Nations Messenger of Peace. He has been known to give generous donations to homeless people and writers (during the 2007 strike). He took part in raising funds for the Darfur conflict, the 2004 Tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and 9/11 victims. He was involved in Barack Obama’s presidential election campaigns in 2008 and 2012, and is also a supporter of gay rights.
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By: Lucy Kusnadi, Jolynn chia
Clooney is the only person in history to be nominated for Oscars in six different categories: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Cover Story
FAMILY George Timothy Clooney was born in 1961 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA to Nina Bruce-Warren, a former beauty pageant queen and Nick Clooney, a former anchorman, as well as a game show and American Movie Classics host. Clooney’s ancestry includes Irish, German, English, and more distant Scottish and Dutch roots. He has an older sister, Adelia and his cousins Miguel and Rafael Ferrer are also actors. Clooney was raised a strict Roman Catholic and also served as altar boy in his younger days. His parents influenced much of his consciousness of social issues. Due to the nature of his father’s work, Clooney and his family had to move several times throughout Kentucky and Ohio. In 1974 they settled down for good in downtown Augusta, Kentucky, a small town on the Ohio River. Clooney was married once to Talia Balsam in 1989, but divorced in 1993. He has been in relationships with many female public figures; however they were usually relatively short term relationships. He admitted that he would never get married again or have children.
FEATURE
Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville, and Cate Blanchett, George Clooney will also be playing in this film as Lt. Frank Stokes. This film is based on the book The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel. An unlikely World War II platoon is tasked by US President FDR to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their rightful owners. The Allied platoon is made up of seven museum directors, curators, and art historians who are obviously not known for their combat skill. It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell. Do they have a chance to succeed to prevent the destruction of 1,000 years of culture? And in the first place, are they willing to risk their lives to save the masterpieces? The film was initially planned to be released in December 2013. However as director, Clooney asked the studio for more postproduction time due to special effects that had not yet been completed.
HEALTH During earlier years when Clooney was in middle school, he suffered Bell’s Palsy, a form of facial paralysis resulting in an inability to control facial muscles. It went away within a year, however, during that year he was bullied because of the malady. He underwent numerous surgical procedures over the years, and still constantly feels the residual effects. In 2004, whilst filming a political drama Syriana, Clooney had a condition involving a torn dura mater, one of the membranes that cover the spinal cord, which caused him to suffer from headaches and short-term memory loss. The injury caused spinal fluid to leak from his nose and left him with terrible back pain. After completing the film, Clooney underwent two surgeries to fix the problem. In 2007 he had a motorcycle accident and had to be hospitalized. Despite all these injuries, Clooney’s optimistic attitude helps him to move on and recover. Apart from that, Clooney is perfectly healthy in his current 50’s. To stay fit and healthy he chooses to do Bikram, a form of hot yoga. UPCOMING MOVIE The Monuments Men is scheduled to be released in 7 February 2014. Clooney is director, writer, and producer of this film. Along with other big stars such as Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Travel
Everyone loves travelling, but once one is past forty, travelling becomes a burden. This is due to a plunge in physical energy, or due to physical ailments which make one unable to withstand the vagaries of travel. However, staying at home for an extended period is detrimental to health. In the current issue, Prime discusses the kinds of travel which are more effective than medicine, and the types of illnesses that makes one unsuited for travellingâ&#x20AC;ŚIf you like travelling, do not miss this!
Travel Safety Tips p Medical conditions which make one unsuitable for travelling
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33
p
36 40
Be a Medical Tourist? p 30
By: Liu Xing
10 place for seniors to travel p
Travel SPECIAL Life FEATURE
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Travel
Travel
Safety Tips When traveling, we are exposed to unexpected conditions such as injuries or diarrhea. However, the lack of immediate medical facilities in many scenic spots often results in the delay of one’s treatment. Therefore, it would be best to be prepared in advance and familiarize yourself with all kinds of know-hows in case of various emergencies. Here are some tips that might help.
THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU CHOW DOWN LOCAL CUISINE SUCH AS WILD PLANTS OR INSECTS It seems a routine for many people to get a taste of the local flavor when they travel to a certain place. Nevertheless, when it comes to uncommon food such as wild plants or insects, you should think twice. Some places have the custom of eating fried locusts, which, as delicious as they may taste, may also trigger a severe allergic reaction to the foreign protein, as in the case of allergy to penicillin. Meanwhile, some wild vegetables and mushrooms should be avoided as well, for fear that they may result in food poisoning. THE IMPORTANCE OF FIXATION BEFORE MOBILIZING IN CASE OF BONE FRACTURE Nowadays, activities such as hiking, mountain-climbing have become very popular among people old and young. However, one might easily break their bones during such activities. It’s therefore necessary to learn some first-aid treatments in case of a bone fracture. There are four symptoms for broken bones - rapid swelling, deformity, server pain, and dysfunction. If you have a bad fall and display the above symptoms, it’s important that you give a simple fixation to the injured place. Take the common leg fracture for example, you should quickly bind your injured leg with your sound leg; fill in some soft clothes between your ankles and tie your legs with bandage. In order not to let the broken leg pierce the blood vessel or nerves and thus cause severe secondary damages, you should never move your body unless you get the fracture fixed. LOOK OUT FOR SNAKES IN THE FORESTS The recess of mountains and forests are among the most-loved destinations for adventurers. But they are also the habitats of 32
snakes. One often hears reports of tourists falling victim to snake bites. If you are hiking in the forests or through the mountain, wear high-top shoes and use a stick to help lead your way. If you get bitten by a snake, apply tourniquet to the side of the wound that is nearer to the heart, in order to stop the venom from flowing upwards. Then press the wound area to squeeze out part of the venom. Meanwhile, call the emergency center for help. WATCH OUT FOR “FLOWER KILLERS” A middle-aged woman was almost killed by the flowers she brought home from a trip in the mountains. She suffered from asthma the night she came home with the flowers, which resulted in respiratory obstruction that made her incapable of even mustering the strength to call for help. Had it not been the timely arrival of her family, who sent her to hospital immediately, she would have almost certainly lost her life. In autumn, the pollen in the air becomes the cause of many allergic and respiratory diseases. Clinical studies have found that there are over 200 varieties of pollen that will lead to abnormal function of the human body when inhaled. The higher the pollen count, the higher one’s chances of contracting a cold, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, rhinitis, pharyngitis and suffering from headache, dizziness, and high blood pressure, etc. So how do we protect ourselves from these killers? Here are some simple tips: 1. Firstly, since pollen count often rises to the highest during autumn, it is vital for those who have a history of such allergies to take protective measures such as wearing masks when they go outdoors. Make sure that you stay away as much as possible from flowers you are allergic to. 2. What’s more, do not pick flowers you don’t know and never should you take them home or decorate your hair with them. You should also get your clothes and shoes washed and sterilized whenever you return from an outdoor trip. A shower will be very beneficial, if possible.
By: Min Lin
BRING A FIRST-AID KIT WITH YOU The contents of the first aid kit vary according to your destinations. Normally it should include bandage, rubbing alcohol, gauze, aseptic cotton, tourniquet, as well as medicines that can alleviate symptoms of diarrhea and allergies. Essential balm and safflower oil might also be helpful.
Travel SPECIAL Life FEATURE
Medical conditions which make one
unsuitable for
travelling
By: Carrie Towne, Jolynn Chia
Every year some travelers get sick due to reasons such as tiredness, poor diet, acclimatization in new places and even their own ill-health. It is not advisable for the frail and elderly, and persons with health issues to take a long trip.
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Travel
RESPIRATORY INFLAMMATION Patients suffering from respiratory diseases such as chronic inflammation of emphysema, declining lung function or weak respiratory resistance and those who easily contract acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, acute bronchitis or pneumonia are not suitable to go out during the cold season or travel to cold regions and mountain regions with varied changes in temperatures. Tips: Patients suffering from respiratory infection are easily attacked by wind chill, and are quickly infected by bacteria and viruses, tired out on trips, and by acclimatization.
CARDIO CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE It is necessary for people with cardiovascular diseases to focus on health and safety during holiday travels. People with illnesses such as coronary heart disease, coronary artery or angina and even myocardial infarction (though they might have recovered for more than six months without angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure) or are suffering from rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and heart disease caused by hypertension, all need to attend to their safety. It has become common that aircraft have to land for passengers with a heart attack to get them to a hospital in an emergency. Also, some tourists who are relatively highly emotive, excited, tired or experiencing a disrupted physical environment, may have an angina attack, myocardial infarction and other cardio cerebrovascular disease. Tips: It is better for patients with cardio cerebrovascular disease not to visit places that are too cold or snowy.
GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES
S
o, what kind of diseases are unsafe to travel with? People with heart disease, hypertension, chronic renal failure, diabetes and osteoarthropathy are advised not to make long-distance trips that will tire them out because the change of life rhythm can easily cause the incidence of disease or make them weaker. Moreover, people with respiratory inflammation, pneumonia, chronic nephritis, hepatitis, asthma, allergic constitution and gastric / duodenal ulcers are also advised not to embark on long-distance trips. Those who travel must have health-care knowledge related to traveling and choose the proper seasons and suitable destinations.
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Gastrointestinal diseases and gastrointestinal digestive disorders are common on trips, and often occur on journeys because of environmental transformation and differences in local eating habits. Some travelers may contract acute gastroenteritis and food poisoning because of an unhealthy diet. Some people with serious stomach and bleeding ulcers, should focus on a healthy travel diet and avoid getting too tired. If someone starts to vomit, have diarrhea and severe abdominal pain, other tourists should immediately inform their tour guides or take the person to a nearby hospital for treatment. Someone should also help to clean up and disinfect the waste to prevent the spread of diseases. Tips: People suffering from cancerous, gastric and duodenal ulcers can easily experience a relapse when seasons transform from fall to winter and spring.
Travel SPECIAL Life FEATURE
OTHER DISEASES People with certain diseases are not suitable to make long trips. These diseases include allergic constitution, bronchial asthma or severe allergic skin diseases, allergic reactions to drugs, seafood related issues, thrombocytopenic purpura, hemophilia, anemia, high blood pressure, or phase I or II hypertension. Tips: Diabetic patients with vascular complications and disease, heart disease, and hypertension should bath under the guidance of a doctor.
WHAT DISEASES MAKE IT UNSAFE TO TRAVEL BY PLANE? 1. Patients with cardiovascular disease. Mild hypoxia may cause a patient to relapse or experience a worsening cardiovascular disease, heart failure, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, and severe hypertension. 2. Patients with respiratory diseases. These include emphysema, lung disease, pneumothorax, congenital lung cysts due to changes at high altitude, which may cause difficulty in breathing. 3. Acute sinusitis and otitis media. Since nasal passages and the ear canal are more sensitive, flying high and pronounced pressure changes can easily aggravate sinusitis, and inflammation, resulting in the ear canal tympanic membrane perforation, whilst otitis (middle ear infection) make patients prone to motion sickness.
TIPS FOR A HEALTHY FLIGHT Taking 500mg of vitamin C daily for the two days before the flight and until the destination is reached can effectively prevent jet leg. Have a good rest before trips. Make sure to get enough sleep which will help prevent aggravating reactions. Carry necessary sedatives and analgesic drugs in case of an emergency, but check with the airline as well as the country you are travelling to that those are not prohibited on board or in your destination country. Actively move various parts of your body as much as possible to increase blood circulation, which can reduce aircraft syndrome symptoms.
10 S
FEATURE SPECIAL FEATURE Travel
Travel
place for
eniors to
travel
THE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN
There is a secret but wonderful resort named Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan Province in China. Literally translated it means nine villages. Its natural water resources consist of three valleys which must be the first thing that people who have been there before, think of. These valleys have been inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992. Water drops, a total of 114 lakes and 47 springs form 17 groups of multi-level waterfalls which has been called a fairy tale place due to these and its colorful forests, white snowy mountains and crystal sky.
Bhutan is a landlocked country in South Asia located at the eastern end of the Himalayas, and consists mostly of steep and high mountains crisscrossed by a network of swift rivers. Although it is a small country, Bhutan has become a paradise for endangered species due to a suitable natural environment and the consciousness for protecting animals. It is possible to come across rare orchids and precious snow leopards in the forest.
All four seasons of the year are the best times to visit. In autumn the mountains are dressed up in colorful leaves. Winter is like an ice snow world and the freezing waterfalls are clear as crystal. The weather is not consistent though and it is advisable to take a disposable rain coat. Autumn nights are cold, so wear a jumper to keep warm. There is much traditional food in Jiuzhaigou such as suan tsai, taro and buffalo meat which makes good choices as gifts or which can be enjoyed by one self.
36
The local religion is Buddhism and there are many splendid temples constructed on the cliffs, such as the famous Taktshang Goemba, Paro Dzongkhag, and Trashi Chhoe Dzong. People lead a traditional life and dress up in national costume to greet visitors warmheartedly. The weather in Bhutan is mild and breathing its fresh air is beneficial for elders. The environment is quiet and visitors experience a feeling that they have left behind noisy cities. Local cultural relics and antiquaries must be purchased in authorized shops only since any personal selling and buying are against the law.
HUI’AN Hui’an is a small town located in the central part of Vietnam and is one of the few preserved world cultural heritages in the region. The town is quiet and filled with unique customs, and since only motorbikes and bicycles are used for daily transport, living there basically does not feel pressured or depressing. Due to its proximity to China there are many beautiful delicate Chinese style buildings, the owners of which are mainly from the provinces of Guangdong and Fujians. The local people are very good at crafts, especially knitting. Vietnam is well known for its products and all kinds of tropical fruit grow there. Some of the favourites that visitors would not like to miss out on are peanuts with coconut topping and green been cake. Another sought-after product is Agalloch eaglewood which, with its special spice, will keep a room scented. Hui’an is the ideal place to go for elders who want to enjoy a more relaxed pace of life and those who miss the culture of Teochew. In closing please remember that due to local custom it is not polite to touch a person’s head.
By: ZiQi Chen, DanDan Wang , Wang Hu, Lucy Kusnadi
JIU ZHAI GOU
Travel SPECIAL FEATURE
MACAU Macau is the biggest gambling centre in the world. It combines 400 hundred years of Chinese and western culture and has various styles of architecture. No matter what attracts tourists to Macau’s - be it the tasty cuisine, ancient buildings, holy churches, or win-or-lose within one second’s gambling – it never lets people down. The Ruins of St. Paul has become a symbol of Macau, and is one of the landmarks that tourists should not miss. Tourists should also not leave Macau without seeing the most famous ancient Taoist A-Ma Temple, the splendid Macau Lisboa Casino, and the breathless Macau Jockey Club. During your travel to Macau you will have an opportunity to taste worldwide cuisine including Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai food. The most famous traditional food is steamed fish, roasted chicken, roasted pork and Wonton dumplings. The most attractive item is Portuguese Tarts which is special due to its wonderful crispy appearance but soft inside. Moreover, almond cookies, pork jerky and crispy fried shrimp are famous for being used in cookie baking for over half century and which are top choices for gifts. Autumn is the best season for travelling. Winter is cold and dry, so visitors need to keep their skin moisturized. Spring is foggy and one needs to keep warm.
DUBAI
ANGKOR WAT
Dubai is located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf and has a desert climate. Summers in Dubai are extremely hot, but winters are warm and mild.
Summers in Angkor Wat are hot and rainy, and winters are warm and dry. Giant precious trees and delicate Buddha statues can be seen everywhere. Angkor Wat is one of the largest religious resorts, and has become a symbol of Cambodia.
As the biggest city in the United Arab Emirates, the international modern city of Dubai is an important economic and financial centre in the Middle East. It is also famous for some of the largest construction projects in the world such as the 828 meters high Burj Khalifa Tower (162 levels), the World Islands which are considered the eighth Wonder of the World, the five star luxury Burj Al Arab hotel, and an unforgettable fantastic culture and landscape. You can enjoy the best tourism and services in Dubai, and the amazing Islamic culture and tradition. Winter is the most suitable season for elders to travel, because they can enjoy the wonderful desert landscape without getting sun-burnt. Tourists who suffer from respiratory and intestinal diseases can try the famous dates (phoenix dactylifera), which appear to have great potential as a medicinal food for a number of diseases inflicting humankind. Dubai is the most ideal holiday destination for tourists who have never experienced the unique Islamic culture and natural landscape, and is also a shopping paradise for people who are obsessed with luxury products.
For elder tourists Angkor Wat is an ideal travel destination. There are numerous well known resorts, including Bayon, Baphuon, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, Phnom Bakheng, Ta Keo, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, Preah Neak Pean, Ta Som, Roluos Group of Monuments, Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean, and Prasat Suor Prat. You will be able to enjoy the tropical scenery and have a wonderful time sharing with the local people their many remaining traditional festivals. On Bon Om Touk day the public assembles along the river in front of the palace to hold boat races. There are many different kinds of cuisine in Cambodia, the most famous and palatable of which are prahok and fish balls. Expenses in Cambodia are quite low. When transferring between different resorts, one can take a tuktuk, which is a kind of general transportation in Cambodia. It can be hired by the side of the road for a price equal to between SGD 4 and SGD 5. If you travel a long distance, such as a sightseeing tour, the price can increase to SGD 8. Please be aware that slippers or thongs, mini-skirts, and tops without sleeves are not considered proper dress in Cambodia. 37
SPECIAL FEATURE
Travel
HARBIN
BURMA
Harbin is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in the northeastern part of China. The architecture brings the city the nickname of “Oriental Moscow”, with buildings such as the St. Sophia Cathedral, St. Nikolas Orthodox Church, and the most representative symbol amongst its European style architectures – the Harbin Central Street which is the largest walking street in Asia.
Burma is called the Golden Land and is the largest country in the Indochinese Peninsula. It has a rich and diverse cultural heritage with temples, towers, and abundant natural resources such as the Snow Mountains, tropical rain forests, lakes and unpolluted rivers, which can be viewed as some of the best in the world. Its traditional crafts have also become a drawing power for foreigners.
Harbin is often called “Ice City’. The world famous China Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is the biggest winter activity and exhibits enormous ice sculptures in several avenues. Harbin Ice and Snow World features illuminated full size buildings made from blocks of one meter thick crystal clear ice whilst enormous snow sculptures are on display at Sun Island, with an ice-lantern exhibition at Zhaolin Garden. During the annual winter festival there are many other traditional sport competitions such as winter-swimming, ice hockey, football, skiing and learning how to make your own ice sculptures – all of which will definitely make your trip worthwhile and colorful. Harbin is also well known for its cuisine, such as chicken braised mushrooms, oden (actually a Japanese winter dish), and crispy rice pork cutlet. Winters in Harbin are freezing and the seasonal temperature is not stable, so it is important to keep warm. It is wise to wear thermal underwear, extra heavy socks or stockings (two pairs), a windproof jacket, gloves, a hat and a scarf.
The original capital of Burma is Yangon. The Shwedagon Pagoda and Ngalaik Lake Gardens are located there and since it is an evergreen city its nickname became the City of Gardens. Karaweik Palace on the eastern shore of Kandawgyi Lake represents the best architectural style of Burma and is a “must see” tourist attraction. The most famous food is mohinga which is fine round rice noodles served in a hearty herbal fish and shallot-based broth. Another favourite and nutritious dish - served annually at festivals - is Shan-style rice which is cooked with turmeric and then squashed into a dish with a topping of flakes of freshwater fish and garlic oil. Taking some shrimp paste home with you may also sound like a good idea. It is important that visitors dress appropriately and not wear exposing clothes when visiting temples. It is a good idea to use mosquito repellent, and anti-perspiration spray also helps for the moist weather.
LOMBOK Lombok in Indonesia is an island often called “Bali’s sister island” because it is located nearby, and though similar in size and condition, it is much less crowded. It has a peninsula called “Semenanjung Sekotong” and an archipelago of three small islands called Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. As it is near to the equator, the weather is either sunny or rainy. This island is well known for its marine life and sea sports. The water that surrounds the Sekotong Peninsula is crystal clear and tourists are able to see with their naked eyes various ocean creatures, especially fish. The Gili’s offer varying degrees of diving challenges because each island has a different sea depth that envelops it and divers often snorkel in the shallow parts to see the coral gardens. For inexperienced divers, there are professional divers that will accompany them into greater depths. Accommodation wise, there are five star resorts and a large golf course if you are looking for a convenient place to stay. There are, however, also more affordable inns available. Seafood dining in Lombok is relatively inexpensive. There are many seafood restaurants that serve freshly caught fish and prawns. More extravagant menus, such as lobsters, abalones and crabs are also served. Lombok’s attractions include their culture and tourists can enjoy traditional dances performed by local residents. There are various locally handmade items such as fabrics, accessories and snacks. Many traditional structures can also be seen. Lombok is a suitable destination for tourists that come alone or as a couple, or a family. The island has a very relaxed pace which is a stark difference from the hustle and bustle of cities.
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Travel SPECIAL Travel FEATURE
SAPPORO, HOKKAIDO Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan. It has a cool climate, consisting of a warm summer and snowy winter. During summer, many tourists from other parts of Japan come to avoid the normally hot weather. Here you will come across plenty of historical buildings, parks, and gardens, as well as shopping centers and art museums. A unique element is that there is a smoking ban in the downtown. Every year festivals are held in Sapporo where one can enjoy traditional performances. The most famous festival, Sapporo Snow Festival, is held in February of each year. Various artists from around the world compete in sculpting the most gigantic and elaborate artwork from ice and snow. Sapporo is well-known for “hairy crab”, an expensive treat that can be found in any seafood restaurant. It is also known as the birthplace of miso ramen, whilst soup curry, Sapporo sweets, and jingisukan (a lamb barbecue) are also specialties. The local beer is also a “must try” if you like to have a beer. The Sapporo Beer Garden has a 100 minutes “all you can eat and drink” menu. There is a wide choice of accommodation available in Sapporo ranging from backpacker class to grand hotels. However, during times nearer to big events such as the Sapporo Snow Festival, tourists must book early to avoid disappointment because all rooms are usually booked out.
Product of UK
SPECIAL FEATURE
Travel
Be a Medical
Tourist ? Why would a patient want to become a medical tourist ? The main reasons are: A price (cost) advantage Excellent service Brand new facilities An awesome travel experience.
F
ollow our recommendations and you could end up being a medical tourist as well!
By: Xing Liu
For most people who need medical care, the last thing on their mind would be travel but a growing number of Singaporean medical tourists are going overseas for everything from a physical examination to cosmetic surgery and even major heart surgery.Â
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Travel SPECIAL FEATURE
THE TOP FOUR MEDICAL TRAVEL DESTINATIONS We explore the top regional destinations for health care travel below. In each of these countries, medical tourism services are gaining ground, whilst the number of reliable agents, recovery accommodation and travel support services expand each year.
1. India
excellent hotels and western style restaurants are available, they are extremely expensive. There is also no middle ground, with the alternatives being either luxury hotels or those of much lesser quality. For those who like Indian food, it is of course plentiful and cheap but do not underestimate how quickly that can become boring on a long trip. On the brighter side, India has magnificent sights to see, from Hindu shrines to Islamic monuments and palaces and a vibrant modern culture. While much of the country is still poorly developed, medical tourists can rest assured that their hospitals and - for a price - their hotels will be very modern. Venturing beyond these, however, a traveler is virtually guaranteed to occasionally suffer from diarrhea, and intestinal parasites are common even for cautious eaters. On the other hand, the odds of contracting a serious disease are low, however several additional vaccinations are strongly recommended that are not necessary for the other hubs.
Flight time from Singapore: About 5 hours.
2. Thailand
Pros: India is a good choice for major surgery as the cost is pretty low, but medical tourists should make sure to go to a hospital with a strong track record related to their particular condition. Cons: Tourism options after treatment are not as comfortable as in and around the other hubs but are among the most interesting. India is the cheapest of any of the four hubs - major or minor and is the equal of the other major hubs in terms of quality of staff and equipment. It offers top private hospitals especially in the larger cities of Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai. Prices average at half of those in Singapore with particular deals in dentistry and diagnostic imaging approaching only a tenth of the fees in Singapore. Compared to the other major hubs, India has a higher proportion of medical tourists who require major surgery than those who need minor surgery and check-ups - which has given rise to specialist hospitals across the country. These hospitals are far out of financial reach of most Indians and cater specifically for foreign tourists with very specific needs - for example some centers will focus strongly on heart surgery while others will deal with joint replacements. These specialist hospitals are very new with top rate medical teams, high volumes and experience in their specialty, and the best available equipment. A high volume of heart surgeries, however, does not translate into high volumes overall, and these hospitals consequently rely heavily on agents, especially on the internet, to recruit prospective patients. These facilities also offer procedures that are rare or unavailable in Singapore, such as hip polishing or resurfacing, which is a popular surgery amongst medical tourists. Tourism in India can be impressive and at the same time quite uncomfortable. The infrastructure is very poor, and though
Flight time from Singapore: 2.5 hours. Pros: Although prices are on average about 20% higher than those in India, the main advantages are a better tourist experience overall and more bundling of services. Cons: Political tension is a major risk. For months now dozens of countries have issued travel warnings related to mass street demonstrations against the Thai government, mostly advising people to exercise caution near the main rallying sites in the capital of Bangkok. Thailand is the largest medical tourism hub in total volume and in both high-end and low-end procedures. The two largest medical tourism destinations are the Bumrungrad and Bangkok Hospitals which annually treat 400,000 and 150,000 foreign patients respectively. Whereas most medical tourists going to India focus on specialty hospitals that are often in different cities, each of these Thai mega-centers provides full services. Their massive overall volume translates into high volumes in each specialty, which in turn translates into more experienced doctors, better equipment and lower prices.
41
SPECIAL FEATURE
Travel
This packaging of services often earns Thailand regular medical tourists, who find that flying there annually for a comprehensive physical examination, dental work and minor procedures along with a week on the beach at Phuket is both a cheaper and more enjoyable option than doing the same at home.
4. Malaysia
Thailand’s tourism options are among the strongest of any medical hub, balancing exotic culture with pristine beaches supported by a very mature tourism industry. Both Thai and foreign restaurants are plentiful and affordable, while Thai hotels come in all levels of luxury and are much more reasonably priced than their peers in Singapore or India. For tourists seeking a number of smaller procedures, Thailand is a sure bet. Those seeking a specific, major surgery should weigh Thailand and India carefully. The Indian option will likely be cheaper, but not by much and the recovery environment and support are generally better in Thailand.
3. South Korea
Flight time from Singapore: About 1 hour. Pros: Malaysian hospitals have created “well-man” and “wellwoman” packages that include extensive, low-cost physicals and tests that promote preventive care. Please take care that you do not become a victim of crime. With more than a quarter of a million medical travelers each year, Malaysia compares favorably to India, Thailand and neighboring Singapore in terms of its medical facilities, skill and costs. As well as having special burn treatment centers, Malaysian hospitals have created “well-man” and “well-woman” packages that include extensive, low-cost physicals and tests that promote preventive care. A battery of tests, including blood work, bone density scan, chest X-ray and treadmill, usually runs around just S$430, compared to S$2,500 in Singapore.
Flight time from Singapore: About 6 hours. Pros: South Korea has earned a reputation for spinal surgeries, cancer screenings and treatments as well as cosmetic surgery. Cons: Language barrier. South Korea is one of the technologically and scientifically most advanced nations in the world. It has earned a reputation for spinal surgeries, cancer screenings and treatments and cosmetic surgery. Many South Korean hospitals are fully digitized, with electronic health records as the standard. Daegu, in the center of the country, hosts a well-known herbal medicine market dating back to the 17th century. On the southern seacoast, Busan attracts many medical travelers to the local Hanyang University Medical Center for low-cost, comprehensive health screenings. The biggest disadvantage is the language barrier. Whilst good English can be expected from doctors and hospital staff, many medical tourists have little experience traveling overseas and especially in non-English speaking countries. South Korea offers some Medicine Overseas Programs where all arrangements are aptly made in advance for the medical tourists, including hotel and hospital stay, recovery stage assistance and even a translator to assist in overcoming any language barriers. Without a doubt, these convenient programs cost more for the patients. 42
Although there is crime in all countries, tourists are advised to take care as cases of bag snatching, ATM fraud, spiked drinks and gambling scams have been reported in the general press. Common sense advice, such as keeping an eye on your passport and cash and wearing a money belt, may save visitors a lot of heartache. REASONS NOT TO DO MEDICAL TRAVELLING Even though medical travelling has clear advantages, several disadvantages come to mind. 1. No Legal Recourse Medical tourists have few options if there is a major problem. While the treatment for complications is also low-priced, there is effectively no opportunity to get financial compensation to pay for either more treatment or for emotional distress. There is no way around this issue, though the kind of incompetence that would lead to lawsuits in Singapore is rare in the major tourism hospitals due to their less hectic work shifts and a surplus of staff. This makes it vitally important to choose a reputable hospital and agent to deal with. 2. Whom to deal with? Finding the right hospital and travel agent is often a stumbling block for medical tourists. For basic procedures like a checkup and some dental work, simply booking a flight and calling the hospital a week ahead of time is usually sufficient. For more
Travel SPECIAL Travel FEATURE
Following are additional destinations and you should be firm about where you want to go before contacting a service. Patients’ story Beauty therapist Tomio Tong found the prices charged by Mt. Elizabeth Hospital plastic surgeons for her facelift too expensive in the range of S$30,000 to S$50,000. She eventually did her facelift in Taiwan, and the veteran plastic surgeon charged a mere S$11,000. Expenditure on airfare and accommodation added up to S$1,200. The total expenditure was therefore significantly less than what she would have had to fork out if she had sought treatment in Singapore. Costs aside, good services were cited as another pull factor. As Terence Seah, who did his full body checkup at Bumrungrad Hospital, observed “Singapore hospitals tend to do things very quickly and rush you from one station to the other. The staff is also less friendly.” His experience in Thailand was the complete opposite. An English-speaking nurse would guide him from station to station and the doctors would also explain the findings in detail.
complicated procedures or first-time tourists, more in-depth consultations with the hospital, and where necessary the use of a good agent, are recommended. In general the agent will profit from organizing the trip and directing you to a hospital and you may pay a premium on the travel arrangements only, not the medical services, though most hospitals will offer their agents a commission for bringing in business. Regardless, your consultation will originate from the hospital itself (medical consultation centers always speak excellent English) so you can reliably deal directly with the hospital, though it usually costs you nothing to use an agent for this. Agents can take care of other issues related to your trip such are air tickets, hotel bookings and tour packages. If you have little experience in traveling, they are a safe bet. When looking for agents to recommend a location for your medical care, however, it is better to research and choose a destination country yourself. IN CLOSING Medical tourism can be complicated if you make your own plans. The alternative is to simply use an agent though you may pay a premium for their planning services. Either way, it offers strong advantages both in lower cost and a superior service of the medical care while the opportunity to travel and vacation should not be underestimated. With few exceptions, medical tourism should be considered for any non-emergency procedure, from a filling to a hip replacement. Once the decision to go abroad has been made, the next step is to choose the destination.
Other top destinations outside of Asia Brazil: It is home to the highest per capita number of practicing cosmetic doctors in the world. Brazil attracts tourists not only to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, but also to smaller cities, including Porto Alegre and Santos. Common procedures, such as tummy tucks, breast augmentations, facelifts and rhinoplasty run S$3,000 to S$6,500. Costa Rica: Nearly 15% of international tourists who visit this ecological paradise take advantage of its medical services - mainly cosmetic surgery and dental care. San Jose and its surrounding area are home to hundreds of board-certified doctors, surgeons and dentists. Hungary: Long known for its mineral springs, lakes, baths and spas, Hungary has more dentists per capita than any other country. They are found not only in Budapest, but also in the small town of Mosonmagyaróvár (near the Austrian border) which, with only 30,000 inhabitants, has 160 dental offices. Turkey: Medical tourists may be surprised to know that this Eurasian country is home to many JCI-accredited health care facilities, and the medical system has plenty of doctors who are Western-trained and fluent in English. The Turkish government enforces strict quality standards in every area of medical technology, facilities and personnel. Dunyagoz, in particular, is a center for ophthalmology.
FEATURE Water
The Magic of
Alkaline
Water
Toxins are the number one cause of ageing. They are often a result of poor diet, pollution, and stress. Toxins can build up in your body causing cell damage that leads to premature ageing. The best way to fight toxins and detoxify your body is with antioxidants. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as easy as drinking antioxidant-rich alkaline water.
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Water
FEATURE
O
ne of the main causes of fatigue, toxemia, constipation, and premature ageing is simply that most people don’t drink enough water. It’s common knowledge that clean, pure water is a cornerstone of good health. Our muscles are 70% water, our blood 82%, bones contain up to 25% water, and our brain 85% water. Since three quarters of the body is water, the ongoing intake of water is essential to your every function. These days most water sources are polluted and contain chemicals which are used to treat water as it would be hard to improve the healthfulness or cleaning power of water without adding any chemicals or supplements to it. So this leaves us confused about what kind of drinking water is best for our health, and what kind of home water treatment produces the best drinking water. Also, beyond water filtration, there’s also the issue of pH alkaline versus acidic water. These days people install machines that put drinking water through an “ionization” process also called “electrolysis”. This is accomplished using negatively and positively charged electrodes. In the process, water atoms give electrons to the electrodes or receive them. The result is a chemical reaction in water becoming more acid or alkaline. Tap water typically has a pH of around 7, or neutral; alkaline water has a pH of more than 7; acidic water, less than 7. Some research studies indicate that alkaline water has a variety of benefits, ranging from giving you energy to counteracting unhealthy effects of acidic foods you eat. Many people claim that regularly drinking alkaline water will slow down the ageing process, help fight tooth decay and prevent bone loss. This is because most people eat a highly acidic diet, which subsequently causes their bodies to balance their blood pH levels by taking vital minerals, such as magnesium and calcium, from their bones, tissue and teeth. Additionally, it is said that regular alkaline water consumption can help prevent diseases associated with the bone and cellular degeneration, such as arthritis, osteoporosis and assorted types of kidney disorders. Alkaline water is also thought to normalize blood flow as a result of normalizing blood pH levels. Furthermore, because of the effective way it penetrates cells; many people say ionized water is better at hydrating your body than regular water. On an aesthetic level, ionized water can prove useful in preventing dry hair and skin.
By: Anupriya Poddar
Here are five benefits of drinking alkaline water: 1. Detoxify Detoxify your body to remove normal acidic waste products accumulated daily, plus remove toxins accumulated in your body from your environment, prescription drugs, unnatural foods and from the “normal” process of ageing. Acid wastes collected in the body can lead to more serious health conditions. Drinking alkaline water daily can neutralize the acidity and wash acid waste products from cells and tissues. 2. Hydrate Hydrate your body: this is basic to maintain or regain optimum health. During ionization your alkaline water filter forms your water into micro clusters that are more easily absorbed at the cellular levels thus “super hydrating” your body.
3. Oxygenate / antioxidants Alkaline water acts as an antioxidant, scavenging for and neutralizing harmful free radicals. Because alkaline water has the ability to give up electrons, it can effectively neutralize and block free-radical damage to the body. Ionized alkaline water seeks out free radicals and converts them into oxygen which your body can use for energy production and tissue oxygenation. Cancer and most other illnesses cannot survive in an oxygenated, alkaline environment. 4. Alkalise your body’s PH levels Alkaline water helps balance the body’s pH, which tends to be acidic because of our high acid food diet, stress and exposure to environmental toxins such as smog. Alkalise your body pH from acidic to alkaline pH, because cancer and many other illnesses cannot live in alkaline environments. Alkaline is the “normal” state of healthy persons. 5. Enhance your immune system Enhance your immune system to maximise your body’s ability to fight off disease and heal itself. We already know that prevention is better than cure. Also, if and when disease does strike, it’s important that our immune system and other vital systems are able to react swiftly and efficiently. Consuming ionized water helps to maintain good health and keep our organs in great shape so why not switch to alkaline water today? KYK series of Alkaline Water Ionizers is backed by more than 33 years of research and 130 patents, received more than 30 global awards and accolades. KYK Alkaline Water Ionizers have incorporated the latest technologies and design elements to create the best health enhancement water for your entire family. Progressive and up-to-date technologies such as SMPS Switch Mode Power Supply ensure an accurate pH is produced while reducing noise, heat and energy consumption. Patented slotted design large platinum coated titanium plates offering up to 200 square inches of ionization area ensure reliable and long lasting ionization performance – which is more than double of what is generally offered in the market. The experts say: “Change your water, change your life!” so why not change it today? 45
FEATURE Investing
INVESTING
20K
What will you do if you find yourself in possession of SGD 20,000 either by lottery or after saving your income? You have three choices: Save it Invest it Spend it.
SGD 20,000 is an amount that is neither too small to be negligible nor too big to afford heavy investment. In the October-November Prime issue, we mentioned the importance of saving for your advanced age, yet there are many options left to utilize your spare cash. One might opt to pay back a debt or buy urgent needs before deciding to convert the remaining cash into a “less liquid” form. For those who have nothing urgent to pay, it will be more sensible to “capitalize” it before being tempted to spend it all on petty consumption. Nonetheless, based on a survey, Singaporeans save and invest 61% of their money, and from that fact we know that most Singaporeans are not compulsive consumers, even though the larger part of their savings will most likely consist of CPF. Next we discuss the investment options you have for your SGD 20,000. Different people choose to invest their money differently i.e.: 46
Conservative people
• Those who dislike taking risk can invest in gold. Seeing that
gold is part of a high liquidity market, this type of investment is considered to be one of the most popular ways of storing money. There are multiple ways to invest in gold such as purchasing gold coins or buying gold jewellery from local dealers. However, jewellery is not the most effective way since the price you pay also includes the shaping cost.
• Alternatively you can do a long term deposit in a bank as a
prudent investment. This is an extremely safe type of investment. Normally the longer the term, the higher the rate of return will be.
Moderate people
• People who do not mind taking minor risk can invest in debt
securities issued by governments. Options are to choose between treasury bills (<1 year maturity date), and bonds (>1 year maturity date) by considering the rate of return you desire and
By: Lucy Kusnadi
WE PROVIDE INFORMATION AND DISCUSS SOME SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO INVEST YOUR SGD 20, 000.
Secrets of Succession Investing
the time span you expect your money to stay locked up. Longer maturity dates give you a higher yield but also increased risk. Nonetheless for countries with the autonomy to print their own money, the risk of declaring default (unable to pay) is unlikely. Adventurous people
• Those who are risk seekers can invest in stocks or mutual
funds. There are good stocks and bad stocks. Good stocks tend to be higher priced with lower yield and risk, while bad stocks are normally cheap and risky, with a possible higher yield.
• Mutual funds combine all kinds of investment money, thus
resulting in diversified risk and yield. It normally consists of various stocks and bonds mixed together which is then split into smaller sizes for investors to buy.
Despite having ups and downs, the price of gold shows an upward trend, making it suitable for long term investment. However, if you plan to definitely spend a large part of your money some time in the near future e.g. on an education fee, and cannot risk losing it, then depositing it for half a year or more could be a good choice. Make sure to choose stable banks that have very little risk of declaring default. In Singapore, if you buy SGD 20,000’s worth of 1-year treasury bills with a 0.28% annual yield from the Singapore government you will receive your SGD 20,000 back plus earn SGD 56 in interest after one year. Or, if you buy a 5-year bond, you will earn more or less a 0.6 % yield per year, plus periodic interest rate earnings.. As for stocks, fundamental knowledge is needed. In Singapore the local stock exchange is called the Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX) which lists stocks and companies. If you have no prior experience in managing the buying and selling of stocks, you can consider buying mutual funds instead, and let someone else with expertise manage your funds. Wealth management services are offered by many banks and agents in Singapore. All in all, every one of these options pose risks to a certain extent. However with proper tactics and knowledge you can achieve your objective which is to maximise return with as little risk as possible. It never hurts to also deepen your knowledge of something new, especially on how to manage your own financial accounts. It is never too late to learn how to invest your money. In conclusion here are some tips on investing:
• It is important to spread your investment type. You can do that
by mixing buying gold (or maybe silver), bond funds with stock funds, and also include domestic funds and overseas funds.
• Invest frequently, during both good and bad times. The point
is to minimize your risk. It also avoids overexposure in one area of the market which means you are risking too much in that one segment.
• As the famous investor Warren Buffett said: ’Rule No. 1: never
FEATURE
According to a survey conducted in 2011, 87% of the working adults in Singapore do not have their Wills written yet. Writing a Will is an integral but important part of succession planning. Unfortunately, it is often a neglected part of the planning process. Having written Wills for clients for the past 12 years, he realised that many of his clients have done very little about their succession planning prior to meeting him. Some of his clients have little knowledge on the impact of making a nomination for their CPF moneys, insurance moneys. Many get confused between a joint-tenancy and tenancy-in-common property. Not understanding some of these default arrangements can have severe impact on our succession planning. He will be sharing some of the common misconceptions and offer some practice tips on succession planning for both individuals and business owners at the 50+ exhibition. His tag-line: “Failing to plan is planning to fail”.
Patrick Chang
Catch him live at 50 Plus Forum 28th March 2014 - 2pm (English) 30th March 2014 - 6pm (Chinese) Please call 6280 6690 to register
MUST YOUR WILL BE WRITTEN BY A LAWYER? We make Will writing Affordable ($250) and accessible (24/7)! It’s as easy as 123: 1. Decide who is in-charge; 2. Decide who gets your assets; 3. Decide when to sign your Will. Visit us at: www.simplywills.com.sg
lose money; rule No. 2: don’t forget rule No. 1’. No matter what investments you make, always avoid taking unreasonable risks regardless of lucrative return. Be smart and calculative in making choices.
Have fun investing! 47
FEATURE Faecal Incontinence
Faecal Incontinence:
The Silent Epidemic Based on international data, it is estimated that between 1 to 18% of the adult Western population suffers from faecal incontinence, with women and the elderly being the most ‘at–risk’. The Dept of Colorectal Surgery at Singapore General Hospital has recently concluded the Nation’s first prevalence study of faecal incontinence, which revealed that an estimated 5% of the local population (approximately 200,000 citizens) is suffering from this condition.
Director, SGH Pelvic Floor Disorders Service and Consultant, Department of Colorectal Surgery, SGH
48
By: Clarence Lee
DOCTOR MARK WONG
FEATURE Faecal Incontinence
Q. What is Faecal Incontinence (FI)? Faecal incontinence (FI) occurs when a person loses the ability to control their anal muscles and bowel movements, resulting in leakage of faeces and or gas. If left untreated or mismanaged, FI can lead to severe skin irritation as well as depression, causing affected individuals to withdraw from their families and society.
Q. How does FI affect sufferers’ quality of life? Sacral Nerve Stimulation pacemaker (left) and electrode (right)
A. Most sufferers in Singapore are unaware of the available treatment options and the resulting negative effects on their overall physical and psychosocial wellbeing are often overlooked. In addition, the accompanying embarrassment and fear of social stigmatisation cause the afflicted (most of whom are elderly) to suffer in silence, setting up a vicious cycle that perpetuates the misinformed notion that faecal incontinence is simply ‘part-and-parcel’ of growing old. Consequently, sufferers are relegated to a suboptimal quality of life.
Q. What are the risk factors for FI? A. The risk factors for women include instrument-assisted delivery (e.g. forceps and vacuum-assistance), large birth weight and a prolonged second stage of labour. In men, the risk factors include anal sphincter injuries due to anorectal procedures e.g. surgery for conditions such as haemorrhoids, anal fissures/fistula or colorectal cancer. Radiation treatment for conditions like prostate cancer also contributes significantly to faecal incontinence in males. Other risk factors are major surgery for colorectal cancer or benign conditions, in which part of or the entire rectum is removed, and trauma to the perineum or pelvis, such as pelvic fractures after road traffic accidents or penetrating injuries. Occasionally, injuries associated with sexual assault can result in faecal incontinence.
Q. What are the available treatments for FI? Majority of sufferers can benefit from conservative measures such as dietary modification, tailored medical therapy and pelvic floor rehabilitation. However, when the above measures fail, surgery may be the only means of providing further relief of symptoms. The conservative treatment options offered include: Dietary modifications: to improve stool consistency, as firmer stools can result in less ‘leaks’. Medications: to improve stool consistency, including anti-diarrhoeal agents and stool-bulking agents like fiber supplements. Anorectal biofeedback therapy: these are specific pelvic floor exercises taught by specialist nurses, comprising a series of breathing exercises that are coordinated with anal and abdominal muscle contraction and relaxation. The aim is to condition and coordinate anal muscle movements for improve sensation and overall control. Surgical options include: Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS), Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS), Injectable bulking agents, Anal muscle (sphincter) repair and Rectal prolapse surgery (or Rectopexy). There is an urgent need to educate the community and health care providers about the magnitude of the problem as the number of sufferers are likely to increase with our rapidly aging population. Furthermore, in most cases, effective treatment is available and sufferers need not live with the malady.
Q. How to find out more? A. For more information, please contact Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Call Centre at 63214377 and ask for the SGH Pelvic Floor Disorders Service (PFDS) Nurse Specialist incharge.
Patient receiving outpatient PTNS treatment on ankle
64 50
Tarot Witch
FEATURE
The second half of life,
where are you?
Figure 2
“
Figure 1
Figure 3
Figure 4
By: XiaoLing Luo
How do you do, my Tarot witch? I am a middle-aged woman, had worked in the company for three decades, but got laid off before the end of last year due to the economic downturn. Actually I was quite anxious when I had news about the layoffs issue as I am almost fifty with no special skill-set. Right now, I am ready for change and want to live the rest of life differently, not like the previous years. As I am single, I don’t spend much and am prepared to live frugally. I have also set aside money for my retirement years; in short, I just need to earn enough for my daily expenses and want to experience something different from my younger days. Currently, I am learning calligraphy, and am wondering if I should pursue this a make it my new career?
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FEATURE Tarot Witch
I
am impressed with your courage, instead of being bitter or depressed; you found new directions in life. To be retrenched after spending most part of your life in a company can be devastating for most people. I believe your greatest asset is being able to take it in your stride and that alone can overcome anything. At your age, there is no need to worry neither about relationship issues, nor the material satisfaction. From your letter, I can sense that you are healthy; and always remember - health is wealth! I would like to call your current situation the second half of life. You did not belong to the win team in the first half. Let us see how to live successfully in the next half? Think in your mind and pick one figure amongst one to four, and we will see how you can live a different second half life.
52
Figure 1
Figure 3
Tarot <<High Priestess>>
Tarot <<Mace 4>>
>> The life of Group do as you wish
>> the life of Group everyone loves me
You may have already reached the level that everything is nothing, but why not share the positive aspect of your attitude with other people so that you can reach another high in your life. How is it possible? You may ask. How can I be capable to share the so-called realm of life? Discover who you truly are and fully give every aspect of your uniqueness to the world. This is your path to an extraordinary life.
Join voluntary organisations; participate in forums and lectures are some basic ways to make new friends. We live in a community with a lot of people, we need to cooperate, share the opportunity, and learn to collaborate, be a team player; and be a people person. The most important thing in life is to love yourself. When you love and respect yourself, you can radiate and be a pillar of strength to others around you. Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.
Figure 2
Figure 4
Tarot <<Coin 1>>
Tarot <<Power>>
>> the life of Group make perfection more perfect
>> the life of Group good fate
At the age of what Chinese people call being free from doubts and knowing fate, we do not demand how much we can earn, but learn some financial management as a new goal in life and this new knowledge can also prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
Being blessed refers to being healthy and in the position to help others in need. It is no longer referring to having lots of children and grandchildren. If you are blessed, why not challenge your own physical abilities; try finishing the marathon or triathlon; or on a milder note, try walking. Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
Detox Dishes
FRONT
3 post-festival
etox
ishes
Having had too many heavy meals over the Chinese New Year, do you feel uncomfortable in your stomach and have a poor appetite? Now, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have some light and nourishing food to give your tummy a break. WHITE FUNGUS SOUP WITH BAMBOO SHOOTS Ingredients: White Fungus 25g, bamboo shoots 300g and one egg. How to cook: Rinse and soak the whole white fungus in cold water. Then trim off the stems and cut them into small pieces. Beat the egg. Pour water into a pot and bring to a boil. Then add white fungus, bamboo shoots and beaten egg. Reduce the heat to mild and simmer for 5 minutes. Finally add salt to increase the flavor. HEALTHÂ BENEFITS:
Bamboo shoots:
It is rich in nutrients including protein, fat and various kinds of amino acid and minerals. It contains rich collagen and can be used as a medicine, featuring in its nourishing nature. It helps to tonify the spleen, increase appetite, clear heat in the lungs, improve your sleep and benefit the brain.
It can help to promote intestinal peristalsis, improve digestion and absorption as well as reduce the risks of high cholesterol and other related disease. Also, it contains many polysaccharides, which have anticancer effects.
By: Jolynn Chia, Lan Yu
White fungus:
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FRONT
Detox Dishes
HAWTHORN PORRIDGE Ingredients: hawthorn 40g, rice 100g, granulated sugar. How to cook: Wash and slice the hawthorn. Cook the sliced hawthorn with water into soup. Rinse the rice and boil it in a pot with water. Add the hawthorn soup and bring to a boil. Add some granulated sugar before serving. HEALTHÂ BENEFITS:
Hawthorn:
1. It can prevent cardiovascular diseases through blood vessel expansion, increasing coronary blood flow, stimulating the central nervous system, reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, softening blood vessels, dieresis and sedation. 2. It helps to prevent arteriosclerosis and has anti-cancer and anti-aging effects. Hawthorn can also improve heart ability and do good to treat presbycardia. 3. It can stimulate appetite and digestion and improve the immune system overall.
BUCKWHEAT NOODLE Ingredient: buckwheat noodle 100g, yellow and red bell peppers and green pepper. How to cook: Cook buckwheat noodle and put into a plate. Whisk together the chili oil, salt, sesame oil, and vinegar and add it into the noodle. Use colored peppers as decoration. HEALTHÂ BENEFITS:
Buckwheat:
1. It contains plenty of PMP which can resist the increase of blood fat and greatly reduce the level of cholesterol and fatty acid. 2. It can increase the amount of neurotransmitters, which helps in preventing dementia. 3. It prevents diabetes by stimulating insulin and reducing blood glucose level. 4. It can increase the flexibility of blood capillaries and thus helps to treat arteriosclerosis, reduce blood pressure and prevent cerebral vascular accidents.
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FEATURE Multivitamins
Multivitamins – have you chosen
the one right for you? A multivitamin provides a nutritional back-up for a less-than-ideal diet. However with so many different brands and varieties to choose from, it’s hard to know where to begin
A
s we age our calorie and nutrient needs change. Thus, our body needs more of certain vitamins and minerals at a time when we may find that we are eating a bit less. Whether we eat three-meals a day or small meals and snacks throughout the day, we must ensure what we eat is packed with Vitamin-rich options. But most of us fail to meet dietary recommendations for many reasons, including poor appetite, changing nutritional needs, or lessthan-healthy food choices we make without us knowing. Taking a once-daily multivitamin is an easy way to fill in small nutritional gaps. Since even the best eating plans can fall short of meeting all of the 40-plus nutrients we need each day. However, at any pharmacy today, the supplement aisle is filled with so many different brands and varieties to choose from, it’s hard to know where to begin. But first, it is important to remember that healthy eating remains the best source of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. A multivitamin is not a substitute for healthy food or a healthy lifestyle, but it can provide a nutritional back-up for a less-than-ideal diet. So once we have that clear, it is about choosing the multivitamin best suited for your age, gender, health condition and your lifestyle. Luckily today, there are multivitamins customized for men and women over the age of 50. These formulas take into account that after age 50, absorption slows down for a few nutrients like calcium, vitamins B6 and B12, and you need more vitamin D. Your body no longer produces enough of the acid needed to break down the naturally occurring vitamin B12 from food. Synthetic vitamin B12, found in dietary supplements and in fortified foods, is easier to absorb and does not require the acid from your body. Choose a senior multivitamin formulated specifically for your sex. There are several nutrient recommendations that are different for men and women over the age of 50. When women stop menstruating, their iron needs drop to the same levels as a man’s. Women who eat a balanced diet most of the time can take a multivitamin with very little or no iron.
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Centrum Silver Adults 50+ applies the latest nutritional science to bring you an ‘age-adjusted’ multivitamin with a broad spectrum of nutrients that help protect the health of adults aged 50 and above. It is formulated with key nutrients like B-Vitamins and lycopene to help support heart health; Zinc and B-Vitamins to help support normal brain function; and Vitamins A, C, and E, Zinc and Lutein to help support healthy eyes - the top three concern areas of most people. Centrum Silver was the multivitamin chosen for a landmark study on long term health benefits this time examining Eye Health. This study, called the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) 2, was conducted by the National Eye Institute. Centrum was the only multivitamin offered to study participants in addition to the supplements being tested, and 89% of participants chose to take it! In the Study, to test whether long-term multivitamin supplementation affects the incidence of cataract or age related macular degeneration (AMD), a total of 14, 641 US male physicians aged over 50 years participated in this test. These randomized trial data from a large group of middle-aged and older US male physicians indicate that long-term daily multivitamin use modestly and significantly decreased the risk of cataract but had no significant effect on visually significant AMD. This comes on the heels of the Physicians’ Health Study (PHS) II. The PHS II study evaluated the long-term health benefits of taking multivitamins for men age 50 and older. And because of its quality, Centrum was the only multivitamin used. Centrum multivitamins help people fill dietary gaps when they aren’t fulfilling all their nutritional needs through food alone, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. And as the most recommended, most preferred, and the most studied multivitamin brand in the United States, Centrum stands by its heritage and is proud to have been a part of these important studies. This only goes to prove the efficacy of this multivitamins – thereby making your choice easier.
Old & Cool
FEATURE
Old & Cool
Turning old is not as frightening as people may think, because you can live with dignity and pleasure like these folks below.
Geoffrey Schneider, 100, Oldest Teacher, Australian Father Geoffrey Schneider, teacher and chaplain at Sydney’s St Aloysius’ College’s Junior School for 48 years. The secret of his success, he said, is “a mountain of patience.” “If things are going wrong, don’t start shouting. Just proceed quietly and things will settle down eventually”. Father Schneider has taught at schools in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, shaping the intellects and values of leading figures of Australian government, business, academia and sport, including Tony Abbott. Retirement does not appeal to him at all. “Why retire,” he said, “So I can read the paper every morning and then forget what’s in it? That’s what a retired friend told me happens to him...At 3pm there’s afternoon tea and if you don’t turn up in the first minute they come knock on your door and say, ‘It’s tea time now’. “Really, I shouldn’t be frightened of it, but it just doesn’t appeal to me. I just feel I can be more useful here.” http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/ arts-culture/videos/worlds-oldestteacher-still-in-classroom http://www.worldrecordacademy. com/amazing/oldest_working_ teacher_Father_Geoffrey_Schneider_ sets_world_record_113120.html
Ernestine Shepherd, 76, Oldest Female bodybuilder, American Ernestine Shepherd is in better shape than most people decades her junior. She works as a certified personal trainer at her gym. Ernestine Shepherd is the oldest competitive female bodybuilder in the world, as declared by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010 and 2011. As of 2011, she is 74 years old. In addition, she conducts exercise classes for seniors at the Union Memorial United Methodist Church in Baltimore, and works as a personal trainer. Ernestine runs about 130 km per week and bench presses 22kg. Bicep curls are done with 7- and 9-kg dumbbells. Her diet consists of 1,700 calories a day, mostly comprised of boiled egg whites, chicken, vegetables and a liquid egg white drink. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Ernestine_Shepherd http://ernestineshepherd.net/
George Weiss, 86, Oldest Iphone app developer George Weiss has been inventing for over 50 years, and in 2011, at the age of 84, finally one of his inventions that made it to market has now also been made accessible on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Weiss invented Dabble – The Fast Thinking Word Game – where players get 20 letters each and in five minutes, have to use them to spell out five words. “A lot has changed since 1958, but people still love a good game,” says Weiss in a press release today, recalling the year he first invented the game. Despite being a successful inventor, Weiss is no stranger to failure. He spent the last fifty years coming up with 80 inventions that never got anywhere. Dabble is now Game of the Year for 2011, and with the help of developers at Flashy Substance and Itch, he has now created an app version of the game which is being sold for $0.99. http://thenextweb.com/ shareables/2011/08/18/is-this-84year-old-man-the-worlds-oldestiphone-app-designer/#!quNyY
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FEATURE Old & Cool
Four kinds of
mushrooms
that strengthen your immunity Saoul Mamby, 66, Oldest Boxer, American Saoul Mamby was born in 1947 in Bronx, New York, USA. When he was 22 years old, he took a vacation in Jamaica and became interested in boxing. This prompted him to pursue a professional career as boxer, and since then, he has been involved in high profiled competitions. However, in his 50s, He was forced to retire by the California State athletic commission following his last lost in 2000. At the age of 60, Saoul Mamby announced a comeback which was supposed to have taken place in Lapwai, Idaho at the Pi-Nee-Waus Community Center of the Nez Perce Tribe, but unfortunately it was subsequently canceled. He fought several weeks later, weighing 68 kilograms and lost to a tenround decision to journeyman fighter Anthony Osbourne in the Cayman Islands. This made Saoul one of the oldest boxers ever to appear in an officially sanctioned bout. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saoul_Mamby
Nature has already prepared the best preventive medicinal foods — mushrooms. Let’s see how these mushrooms can increase your resistance against cancer 1. Monkey head mushroom—Hericium erinaceus Hericium erinaceus can increase the gastric mucosal barrier function. It also increases the number of white blood cells by improving the lymphocyte transformation rate, and thus enhances the body’s immunity to several kinds of cancer. Anti-cancer effect:
2. Lingzhi –Ganoderma lucidum Lingzhi can significantly improve immunity and is able to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and tumor swelling. The main anti-cancer components can improve the immunity of tumor patients by increasing immune cells to inhibit cancer cells, in support of cancer therapy. Anti-cancer effect:
3. Cordyceps sinensis
The couple tied the knot in 1925 and after an incredible 87 years together, Karam and Kartari Chand are known as one of the world’s longest married couples. This year, Karam is going to be 108 and Kartari, who will be 102. They were married in the Punjab region of India. The Chands, who currently stay in Bradford, have eight children, 27 grandchildren and 23 greatgrandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Chands said that they now spend most of their time together enjoying life. Mr. Chand said: “Eat and drink what you want but in moderation. I have never held back from enjoying my life.” And Mrs. Chand said: “We have eaten good wholesome food, there’s nothing artificial in our diet, but things like butter, milk, and fresh yoghurt are what we like.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_the_ longest_marriages http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16441633 58
Anti-cancer effect:
4. Shii-take mushrooms Shii-take mushrooms can strongly enhances immune function in tumour conditions. It enables entry into the cancer cells, inhibiting their proliferation and contributes to the prevention and treatment of cancer. Its juice can be of great help during chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Anti-cancer effect:
By: Hu Chao, Yeo Hwee Yanne, Shugui Chen
Karam Chand & Kartari Chand, Longest time married couple, 88 years marriage, Bradford United Kingdom
Cordyceps helps fight tumour formation and enhance immunity against malignant tumors as it can strengthen the antigen antibody response and increase immunity surveillance and elimination effects against mutant cells.
My Body’s Best Friend “Mushroom beta-glucans, which are not fully released through normal home cooking methods, are carefully extracted
and
retained
in
each
bottle of BRAND’S® MycoProtec Essence of Mushroom.” Dr Tsi, Senior Manager, Regional Research & Development, Cerebos Pacific Limited
BRAND’S® MycoProtec Essence of Mushroom: Prepared with modern manufacturing process Savoury to your palate Ready for consumption at your convenience Air-tight sealed and contains no added preservatives Unique blend of 5 premium mushrooms and is suitable for vegetarians Available at FairPrice, Guardian, Unity and selected Chinese Medical Halls.
FEATURE Cholesterol
The Natural
Enemy of LDL
Cholesterol Plant sterols and cholesterol are born enemies, as if they have to fight for only one seat arranged by God. As long as plant sterols are ingested they will turn to do aggressive battle with cholesterol.
In the end the plant sterols will always emerge as the winner because they are able to interfere with the absorption of cholesterol. This means that less cholesterol is able to pass from the intestine into the bloodstream, hence cholesterol levels are lowered. There are three main types of cholesterol i.e.:
High density lipoprotein (HDL), known as “beneficial cholesterol” Low density lipoprotein (LDL), which is referred to as the “bad cholesterol”
Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) – which is also associated with
By: ZiQi Chen
heart-related issues.
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Cholesterol
S
tudies related to plant sterols and their influence on cholesterol has been undertaken since early 1953. Plant sterols are honorably titled by scientists as the golden key of life due to its ability to decrease the cholesterol level in the blood. They have, therefore, been strongly recommended by a number of global health authorities and organizations, such as the World Heart Federation, American Heart Association, British Heart Foundation, German Nutrition Society, and Australian Heart Foundation and have been approved by 47 nations worldwide due to its credibility in the field of food science. What are Plant Sterols? Plant sterols are active natural ingredients that are commonly found in the daily diet, such as in the roots, stems leaves and seeds of fruits and vegetables. Plant and animal sterols are similar in structure, though the former is able to recognize both the beneficial HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, and can replace LDL in the intestinal lumen. Consequently, plant sterols are effective in dragging LDL cholesterol out of the system and lowering the amount of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Meanwhile, plant sterols have no negative influence on the remaining beneficial cholesterol. It is worth noting that this function of plant sterols cannot be triggered until the absorption of cholesterol is beyond 400 – 450mg, at which point the plant sterols become beneficial in preventing cholesterol ingestion. In other words, if the level of cholesterol absorption is within the healthy range, plant sterols have no impact on cholesterol ingestion. Plant sterols are therefore helpful in maintaining a healthy cholesterol level in the system. However, since such an important structural component cannot be formed in the human system the unique way to absorb plant sterols is via diet. As the quality of life has been improving, the structure of the human diet has been changing gradually as well. Food processing damages plant sterols, restricting its daily absorption rate to between 200 to 400 mg only, which means that it cannot reduce cholesterol levels. This led experts worldwide to suggest that the general public adopt a varying diet in order to increase the absorption of the amount of plant sterols. Other Benefits of Plant Sterols Apart from lowering the cholesterol level, another useful function of plant sterols is that they play a protective role of the prostate. There is accumulated evidence that shows plant sterols can significantly improve the condition of prostate enlargement and is just as effective as fintasteride. As a result, plant sterols have been commented upon as “a protective god of males”. Moreover, plant sterols have positive influences in other fields as well, such as skin care. They are immensely easy to penetrate, resulting in highly effective benefits, such as trapping water in the epidermis to make skin remain moist, boosting facial metabolism and hair growth and protection, as well as preventing dermatitis, sunburn and aging. Besides, since lipid emulsions are known to be rich in plant sterols, they are also used for producing different kinds of ointments, which are characterized as smoothing, longlasting, and easy to preserve in excellent quality. In addition, they can treat inflammation. Plant sterols are not only effective in preventing the absorption of extra cholesterol, speeding up its breakdown and restricting its compounding, but can also protect people from suffering atherosclerosis, and are helpful in treating ulcers, squamous-cell
FEATURE
carcinoma (a type of skin cancer) and cervical cancer. Moreover, it promotes wound healing, muscle growth, capillary circulation, and prevents liver stones. Additionally, plant sterols are important primary materials for producing steroid medicines and vitamin D3. How to Get Plant Sterols? Vegetable oil contains the highest level of plant sterols per unit. One example is corn oil which has 968 mg of plant sterols in every 100g of corn oil, and ranks amongst the top foods that contain plant sterols. In other words, it is possible to absorb the largest amount of plant sterols without ingesting extra cholesterol. Since a few years ago, dieticians all over the world have been attempting to find more ways to add plant sterols to daily food, such as in bread, milk, yogurt, cooking oil, and orange juice, based on local eating habits. Therefore, when choosing products, it is wise to purchase food that contains higher amounts of plant sterol ingredients.
Food that contain Plant Sterols – Amount per 100mg
Corn oil 968mg
Sesame oil 714 mg
Soybean oil 250 mg
Olive oil 221 mg
Peanut oil 220 mg
Italian salad dressing 121 mg
Cicer arietinum linn 35 mg
Banana 16 mg
Carrot 12 mg
Tomato17 mg
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FEATURE Gym
Become a Gym Expert in Weeks We often hear the question“How do you eat an elephant?”. The answer is invariably “One bite at a time”. In the light of knowing that, pursuing an outstanding physique requires determination, compulsion and energy - a systematic training plan which this book offers, and which would speed up the desired changes.
1. Memorise your workout to increase its efficiency. 2. Concentrate on your workout and control the tension of every piece of muscle in your body. Feel with every repetition. 3. Control your diet. Drink more water, eat more vegetables and less junk food.
You may not know who said that “knowledge is king”, but you must recognize the truth behind it. Hitting the gym without proper preparation is like going for a final examination without studying. You will not want to be the one who “surely fails”. Memorize your daily exercise plan and the instructions of your exercises and you will save a great deal of time by not wandering around the gym thinking of what to do next. It will also prevent you from getting severely injured due to misunderstanding the instructions. One tip for getting familiar with the exercises is to have a portable “memo pad”. You can carry this in your pocket and refresh your memory anytime, anywhere. As a starting point, the upper body should be the focus of exercises. Press-ups, back raises, and triceps digs are recognized worldwide as three of the most efficient ways of exercising your various upper body parts.
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By: Yang Yi
Your 3-Week Plan
Week 1
Gym
FEATURE
and your legs stretched out in a press-up position. Remain in this position for more than 40 seconds and you will immediately sense that fat is burning. How to build your hip? Stand tall, then sit back and down keeping your back long and your chest lifted. Keep your knees in line with your middle toes. All your weight needs to go through your heels as this will take the pressure away from your knees and activate your glutes and hamstrings. Hold this position for a while.
Week 3 You may be thrilled to find out the changes - physical and mental - within yourself after 2 weeks of constant training. However, a correct diet and getting hydrated will help you to progress even faster. You need to replace 2.4 litres (5 pints) of water that is lost or expelled from your body every day. A press-up starts with your hands just wider than your shoulders and then lowering your chest down to the floor until there is a fist-sized distance between your chest and the floor. Slowly push back up to the starting position. Your body should remain in a straight line. A back raise requires you to lie flat on your stomach, facing down, with arms pointing away from your body with palms down but thumbs slightly turned up. Then raise your upper body and legs off the floor so you are balanced on your pelvis. To do triceps digs, all you need to do is face away from a bench and start with your hands on the bench. Keep your backside close to the bench and, bending from the elbows, lower your body down towards the floor, before slowly pushing back up.
Week 2 After adhering to your gym routine for a week, you are getting to make gym a part of your life, and subconsciously you will smile more often. Why? According to American writer George William Curtis,” Happiness lies, first of all, in health.”
Although some water will come from the food you eat, it is important that you drink plenty of water during the day to ensure that you do not become dehydrated. You also need to control the calories in takeaways. Nothing beats a tasty takeaway, but keep an eye on the calories. Here are some data you can refer to: A burger has 550 calories A pizza hut pepperoni 6-inch personal pan pizza has 610 calories A chicken breast has 360 calories 100 grams broccoli contains ONLY 34 calories. In week 3 it is time to implement some core exercises into your gym routine. Sit-ups and leg raises both target your abs. To do a sit-up, lie on your back with your feet flat on the floor and your knees bent. Lightly support your head with your hands but do not pull your neck up with your hands. Use your abs to lift up your upper body so that your shoulder blades come off the floor to about 45 degrees. A leg raise starts on your back with your hands by your side. Lift up your legs and upper body together so you create a ‘V’ shape with your body, then lower your legs down.
Coming into the second week, it is time to learn how to ensure being loose and relaxed when you are working out. It is not necessary to get caught up in the technical and scientific details of techniques at this stage. Concentrate on keeping your mind focused on the part of your body that you are working with during each exercise and feel it working with each repetition. You will also get to realize that training your upper body is not enough to give you a balanced physique. This week, let us do some lower body exercises.
Your 12–Week Guide to Gym: From your armchair to a complete body workout in 12 weeks. Author: Daniel Ford Available at: Kinokuniya Bookstores Book web price: S$28.90 Kinokuniya privilege card member price: S$23.12
Front plank is so far the easiest yet most fat-consuming exercise. To get into position, place your forearms flat on the floor with your elbows just behind your shoulder alignment 63
FEATURE Financial
Manage Your
Financial Planning Financial security and independence is one of the fundamental pillars of retirement, and financial planning is an important component of it, more so in preparation for retirement.
1. BUDGET AND CASH FLOW PLANNING It is not only how much you earn. It is how you spend it and how much you keep. To manage this you need a cash flow plan which covers your expected income and outgoings for a specific period (normally one year) and the timing of each of these so that you do not fall short of cash at any point during the year. ✱ Know your financial position, thus your net worth. The simplest way to calculate this is to subtract all your household liabilities from your household assets. But remember, you cannot eat the bricks in your house. ✱ Approach a qualified accountant and financial advisor for professional help. 2. WILL AND ESTATE PLANNING ✱ 70% of all people in the USA die without a will. Making a Will Estate planning involves the plan to handle your financial affairs at death. We will all eventually die and most of us will have assets in one form or another to be distributed either as willed or as intestate. The Intestate Succession Act in Singapore covers intestacy for all but Muslims for whom a will can be prepared in accordance with the Singapore’s Wills Act and the Administration of Muslim Law Act thereby complying with both civil and Syariah laws . 64
✱ Make a living will and let your executor and other parties know where to find the relevant critical documents. Wills are regularly contested, especially amongst the rich. It is thus advisable that you have a properly written will for various reasons, including the fact that it minimizes some of the stress for families after such a tragic event. ✱ An increasing number of Singaporeans are creating living wills. Confusion exists about a Living Will and a Health Care Power of Attorney (see below). Living wills are helpful as backup documents. In the event that a person enters an irreversible coma and the health care agent designated in the Health Care Power of Attorney is unavailable, the Living Will clarifies the desires of the person concerning their death-bed treatment. Both documents are revocable through normal revocation procedures. “Generation skipping trust funds” are also popular. This is a legally binding trust in which the assets are passed down to the grantor’s grandchildren, bypassing the children with the objective to avoid estate taxes in some countries. Be aware that trusts sometimes delay the immediate availability of funds for a surviving spouse due to the time it takes to settle an estate. You should revisit your will at regular intervals to ensure that it keeps pace with changing circumstances. An example is where a trust was set up to ensure children are looked after during their school years but may not need the same trust fund once they are self-reliant. Setting up a Power of Attorney Some people become incapacitated to the point where they cannot make decisions or where other parties contest their capability to make decisions. This can become a nightmare for the person and family members and may lead to conflict amongst the remaining family members due to various reasons. ✱ Consider setting up a power of attorney.
By: Kris Moller
F
acts point out that 75% of households in the USA do not have enough retirement money. It is assumed that this is true of most Western countries. It therefore stands to reason that early on in your career you need to develop a financial plan which culminates in financial security in retirement. This article discusses the 10 areas and important points which are normally covered in such a financial plan.
Financial
It is often wise not to give the power of attorney to a family member. 3. TAX LIABILITY MINIMIZING PLANNING This is somewhat complex and is best discussed with a qualified financial advisor. The bottom line is normally to move assets from the higher to the lower tax paying partner.
FEATURE
schools and other institutions through its Edusave scheme. Other plans exist for Independent Schools and Integrated Programme Schools. Merit Bursaries and Good Progress Awards are also available. ✱ Approach a qualified accountant and financial advisor for professional help. 9. CHARITIES AND TITHES PLANNING
✱ Find a good tax accountant who can look at legal rebates and tax reliefs such as for capital gains, inheritance and the impact if you retire abroad. 4. DEBT REDUCTION PLANNING Payment of multiple debts can be tackled in various ways. One way is to sort them from the smallest to the largest amount, also taking into account your monthly interest payments. Combine all the payments that you make on them all. Next, pay the minimum amount on all of them except for the smallest debt. Pay the smallest one off as quickly as possible using the largest amount that you can afford. Once that is done, tackle the next one until they are all done. ✱ Consider minimizing your number of credit cards (down to possibly only one) and do not use it unless you can make a full payment every month. 5. RETIREMENT FUNDING PLANNING This plan has its own sub-components to which you must attend if you want to have enough retirement money. Include all your income streams and outgoing financial requirements. Various retirement calculators and opinions exist on the amount of money that you (will) need to retire on.
You may consider making tax-deductable charitable donations to non-profit organizations that you consider worthwhile. Those who are deeply involved in church affairs may consider regular tithing as part of outgoings. 10. GENERALLY ORGANIZING YOUR FINANCES The below may be useful to help you organize your finances: ✱ Obtain professional advice on investments. It is generally better to locate an advisor through friends rather than to search for one on the internet. ✱ Protect you account information at all times. Do not publish any personal information on social networks or elsewhere. ✱ Know your assets and money-makers. You are a unique person and your best (and sometimes only major) asset because of your skills and experience. Make use of this uniqueness – sharpen, repackage and resell it as necessary. ✱ Take into account your personal and government pension and other funds including savings accounts, other investments, and your pension rights if you work after a certain age. ✱ Take inflation into account.
✱ Approach a qualified accountant and financial advisor for professional help. 6. INSURANCE PLANNING Insurance is often seen as a money-making racket but the right amount of life and property insurance will make you sleep more restful at night. Further, consider taking out appropriate life and health insurance with global organizations to cover yourself. This puts you in a stronger position when evaluating and negotiating future job offers. 7. EMERGENCY FUNDING PLANNING Initial wisdom dictated that three to six months’ worth of living expenses was required to tide you over emergencies and to find new employment if you should become redundant. Nowadays lead times to find new employment have increased and you may need between six months and one year.
✱ Streamline your income and expenses and related paperwork. ✱ Protect yourself if you are in the process of divorcing, have divorced, or are going bankrupt.
Key Principles Five out of seven finance-related items are under your control. It is important to learn the value of money. Serious questions on financial matters face all retirees, particularly if they outlive their retirement funds. Your investment profile and therefore investment strategies will change over time. Action Steps Create a financial plan. Obtain professional financial advice. Learn to save and invest as early as possible. Develop alternative income streams if possible. Balance your “wants” against your “needs”.
8. EDUCATION FUNDING PLANNING Various ways exist to fund education for attending a school or college. The Ministry of Education in Singapore provides Funds, Grants and Awards to Government and Government-aided 65
FEATURE Cacao
CACAO Food of the Gods I
n this issue, I’d like to feature a wondrous food that I have embraced for more than 6 years as a staple, but only fully experienced its magic less than a year ago. It is called theobroma cacao, derived from the Greek language and literally meaning “food of the gods”. Today, we call finished products that contain a fair percentage of it “chocolate”. It should not be mistaken for its close relative theobroma grandiflorum or “cupuacu”. Today, theobroma cacao is being harvested and exported in massive quantities globally. It is ubiquitous in virtually all Western restaurant dessert menus, supermarkets and in the form of gifts, especially on Valentine’s Day. It can’t be just an accident that people are so enamoured by it, that people are willing to pay a relatively high price to enjoy luscious creations of it, and huge international companies exist just selling chocolate and chocolate-based products worldwide whilst growing from strength to strength. There has to be something about it – it’s definitely not just about how it’s being marketed and positioned, unlike the diamond ring and champagne; and it’s definitely not because it is addictive like coffee in our highly adrenalised society needing an imbalanced and artificial boost. It does have some magic and allure to it. And that keeps many of us coming back for more.
Clarence Lee | Founder of True Wellness Solutions Pte Ltd (www.true-wellness-solutions.com), Certified Lymphologist (IAL), David Wolfe’s Raw Nutrition, BodyMind Nutrition, Genesis - Eating Healthy Professional Certification, Holistic Nutrition Strategist & Advanced Nutritional Solutions Researcher Email clarence@true-wellness-solutions.com • Contact number: 8614 5653
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Cacao
HISTORY OF THEOBROMA CACAO The ancient Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs believed theobroma cacao to be a source of power. They didn’t know whether to call it a food or a medicine because of its medicinal properties. Rulers like Montezuma (Aztec emperor) drank theobroma cacao in small amounts up to fifty times a day for increased virility. When Cortez (led Spanish colonisers to victory against the Aztecs, leading to the fall of their empire) discovered the drink he made it the mainstay of his soldiers’ diet. Of course, the Aztecs fell not because they were inferior, but because they didn’t have guns or horses. History reports that those who drank theobroma cacao felt increased energy, focus, stamina, happiness, and virility. Christopher Columbus’ son Ferdinand was awestruck by how much value the Native Americans placed on cacao beans, saying, “They seemed to hold these almonds (referring to the cacao beans) at a great price; for when they were brought on board ship together with their goods, I observed that when any of these almonds fell, they all stooped to pick it up, as if an eye had fallen.” The cacao beans were often used as local currency in many parts of Central America, and in some of those areas, cacao beans continued to be used as currency till as recently as the last century. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CACAO AND COCOA? Today, cacao and cocoa are used interchangeably by people to refer to the original cacao bean, or the raw material for chocolate. However, for the purposes of this article and by the endorsement of many cacao researchers around the world, I will refer to cacao as the original, sacred and raw theobroma cacao. Cocoa first came about when Dutch chocolate maker Conrad J. van Houten patented an inexpensive method that spearheaded chocolate making and production – resulting in a pulverised fine powder which was then called “cocoa”. Of course, these were all processed with machinery, roasting was involved, alkaline salts were added … and it gave birth to many more modern methods that favoured ease of production and incorporation into finished products versus capturing the magic of the original “cacao”.
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What gave cacao such high reverence from the wise, ancient cultures and civilisations who consumed them? Well, here are just some benefits: Undeniably the #1 Food for Heart – Even small amounts of cacao can reduce cholesterol in the blood and lower blood pressure. It regulates the heartbeat, strengthens cardiovascular function tremendously and improves the circulatory system of the body immensely. It is also the best food source of the heart and bone health mineral Magnesium. I rank Magnesium up there in importance with Silica and Iodine as the top 3 must-have minerals with organic sulphur forming part of the critical “must-haves”. Undoubtedly the #1 Food for Mental Wellness – Cacao is a GUARANTEED boost for even the numbest of individuals who don’t seem to respond to many other health foods. It brings unparalleled mental clarity, brain power, and profound mood balance. It is THE best food for depression, stress and pre-menstrual syndrome. It also helps neurotransmitter balance and boosts brain chemistry – even inducing chemical reactions and production in the brain that enable people to fall in love and experience bliss i.e. from phenylethylamine, anandamide, serotonin and more. It is in fact a phenomenal and healthy replacement for adrenal-overworking coffee as it gives a clean, sustainable energy without the jitters and the crash (associated with short-lived coffee effects). #1 Antioxidant Source – Cacao, especially the raw powder form, has the highest ORAC score and hence strongest antioxidant ability of any food per unit weight out there. It thus surpasses many expensive and well-packaged “antioxidant” products on the market – which means phenomenally anti-ageing to the consumer. A study was done where 8,000 male Harvard graduates who ate chocolate outlived their peers – a sign of chocolate being a true longevity food. Brilliant Weight Loss and Appetite Control Aid – High Magnesium content also helps with glucose metabolism and keeps sugar levels in check. Potent Libido and Virility Booster
So there you have it, my topic is about this sacred, healing, medicinal superfood that we call cacao, and cocoa is simply the processed and heated stuff that you see everywhere today. WHY IS CACAO SUCH AN AMAZING FOOD? There is linguistic evidence that the ancient Olmecs of Mexico prepared chocolate. By the 8th century AD, the Mayans were carving images of a cacao god on ceremonial bowls. The Aztecs, later the dominant culture of Mexico, considered cacao a gift from the gods. From archaeological evidence, it is clear that the natives used cacao in a wide array of drinks, gruels, porridges, powders and probably solid substances. Today, there are cacao shamans who still guide modern individuals searching for deeper healing and connectedness with cacao brews and preparations around Central and South America. It is not difficult to sign up for a “cacao ceremony”.
Makes other substances better absorbed when mixed or consumed together The #1 Food for the Spirit – Brilliant for right-brained creativity, intuition and achieving higher wisdom. Cacao is the one food which helps greatly with pineal gland expansion and activation, which enhances many meditational and spiritual practices. It assists with the emotional creation of optimism, creativity, joy and child-like laughter like the Willy Wonka character from the book and movie Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. Willy Wonka is a creative and optimistic alchemist – and cacao is just that – an alchemist, which is why any herbs, foods or nutritional substances mixed with it becomes further potentiated. It is exactly because of this ability that it is often mixed with other entheogens (psychoactive substances used in shamanic, religious or spiritual contexts). It appears that some type of MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhbitor) phenomenon occurs from eating raw cacao that heightens intuitive and psychic abilities. Extremely nutrient dense – HUNDREDS of other balanced and synergistic nutritional components and a good protein source too.
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FEATURE Cacao
BUT WAIT – NOT ALL CACAOS ARE THE SAME! Take it from me having consumed cacao and chocolate for over 6 years very purposefully that it is immensely challenging to fully access and receive its purported benefits until you know where to find the type of cacao that the ancient and wise people were using. This brings me back to how most people are getting it wrong today when it comes to food and nutritional products. They do not understand the importance of source, processing/extraction methods and technology, delivery systems and much more. They instead fall prey to clever marketing, branding, and so on. Having been in this industry for a bit, we know when something is way overpriced and simply a product positioned in a premium way but not necessarily premium. It is a huge misfortune that many experts, “gurus”, practitioners and the like are focused on what the research and science are saying is good, but then let sales reps and companies tell them what products are good (which rep or company will put their own product down?). You need to research these products just as, if not more, thoroughly. I see many raw food gurus and nutritionists teaching people about cacao, raw chocolate making and the like – but the brands and companies that they recommend, when put through lab tests or deeper investigation reveal any or a combination of the following: 1. High heavy metal contamination – bad news for long-term consumption. 2. Claims that it is “raw (as in uncooked)” when it has in fact been heavily processed and heated but just “quietly” presented as “raw (as in raw material form)”. 3. Claims that it is “organic” when in fact it has not gone through proper certification or after certification, the standards differ greatly from pre-certification phases. This is common in many countries where cacao originate as they have no deep knowledge of agriculture and farming, where, for example, neighbouring crops from say, brown rice fields, cross-contaminate with their pesticide laden water. You can say that it is their fault or not – but it is our duty as consumers who put these stuff into our bodies daily and recommend it to loved ones to really dig deeper. Many do it as a means of livelihood, but we have to consume it as a means to “upgrade” our bodies and look for the right sources. 4. Claims that it is “superior quality” when in fact they are hybrid, CCN51 varieties. In fact, most of the big brand “superfood” and “raw food” companies use these forms of cacao which is inferior in nutrition and lacking in all those benefits mentioned above. As you can see, many cacao sources and chocolates today are nowhere near the level of the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas. At best, you have single origin chocolate which are cultivated specially for taste – but not for nutritional value.
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HOW TO OBTAIN THE TRUE FOOD OF THE GODS? I have had the good fortune to have met a very passionate cacao researcher who lives in South America and manages a group of wild-harvesters of sacred, wild cacao. These forms of cacao are not cultivated, they are of the wild variety, and is what the shamans would use – which is what we call “ceremonial grade”. An insight to how rare this heirloom variety is like even if you cultivate it: less than 1% of the global cacao population! But we all know, cultivated ginseng and wild ginseng is just different – even the price is “wildly” different. The good news is we have procured small lots of this cacao to share with the true cacao seeker and are selling it on par or even below the prices of organic and health food stores here – who are really unknowingly selling hybrid, CCN51 varieties. It doesn’t require a connoisseur to taste the difference. Wild cacao of this variety tastes super and just mixing “chocolate block like” pieces of it (100% chocolate) with some honey will send you to a magical kingdom of sensory delight. But what’s even better, the effects are seriously felt. In today’s stressed up society, having a food like this that grounds you, calms you, yet brings clean, deep, sustainable mental clarity, power and sharpness whilst ensuring you can sleep at night is genuinely priceless. Back in the old Western days, there were “coffee shops and cocoa shops” – selling hot chocolate and coffee, with great people like Mahatma Gandhi favouring chocolate. It was a luxury that only the elite could afford back then. But today, when you consider that it is sold in per pound packs and compare it to prices of regular organic chocolate, you will know that this is affordable – much more so than the “luxury brands and boutiques” out there. We also conduct workshops on how to make fast, easy and super tasting hot chocolate drinks, cold protein smoothies, raw ice cream, desserts, “nutella-like” chocolate spreads and more. The best of the lot is raw chocolate with herbal extracts like cordyceps, Vitamin D3 and more incorporated … and people can’t even taste it! I once joked with some friends that even if they were to give me a car and a cow in exchange for my cacao (“car-cow”), I wouldn’t do the barter – just to epitomise its benefits. But right now, I ain’t joking anymore.
A
Financial
FEATURE
Financial management
clinic
A T
o help you realize your vision for post-retirement life, we can suggest a practical yet creative solution. An Instant Estate for your wife and daughters. How it works is that you can set aside S$570,000 for 2 single premium legacy planning insurance solutions. This insurance product will provide S$2 million estate for your daughters, so S$1 million each when the time comes.
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I am 50 years of age, a proud father and husband. I have worked hard and smart to achieve two key goals every man strives for: Both of my daughters are studying in prestigious universities with their educational expenses fully taken care of. In addition, I have also saved enough (about S$2 million) to ensure that my dear wife would sustain her current lifestyle even if I stop working. Although greatly relieved that I have taken care of my family’s most important current and future needs, but I still face a nagging conflict. Having worked hard for decades, I now dream of travelling around the world with my wife and occasional indulgence on fine wines and food. But whenever I think of fulfilling these dreams, something holds me back. Deep inside, I feel that splurging on my dreams would be at the cost of the savings for my family’s future needs. In short, in spite of being blessed with immense wealth, I feel uneasy, guilty even when it comes to fulfilling my own dreams. So do you have any solutions for me?
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Mr. Chan, Sentosa
For this kind of estate planning, you can either seek the service from a trust company, an insurance company or a bank. The minimum requirement for trust services from a trust company is normally S$5 million asset. And it is quite time consuming to compare insurance products/plans from various insurance companies. So you may approach a bank which can provide a comprehensive solution (which includes the trust and insurance elements) to you and tailor-make the plan based on your specific needs. The bank can even provide premium financing to you, which provides more liquidity to you while enjoying the full protection to secure the future of loved ones. A cautious reminder to you, you need to look into the risk elements with any financial solutions. The major risk involved in this Instant Estate planning is that the default risk of the insurance company which provides you the underlying insurance products. During the 2008 Financial Crisis, the U.S. government bailed out AIG, to protect the interests of the clients who purchased the life insurance from AIA. In Singapore, there have been stringent and prudent measures by the government to prevent similar incidents from happening. Insurance companies in Singapore need to maintain their capital ratios at levels well above the minimum capital adequacy ratio of 120% that they need to have as capital management. So they have sufficient capital cushions from default. So with this plan in place, you would be able to fund the estate you wish to leave for your family - and, at the same time, be free to fulfill your dreams. This will leave you guilt free with total peace of mind neither compromising the future of your loved ones nor your dreams.
David Wang Senior Client Acquisition Manager, UOB Privilege Banking david.wangw@uobgroup.com UOB Privilege Banking Center, One Raffles Place Ground Floor, Singapore 048616 This article does not represent any financial advice from the bank.
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FEATURE Hearing
Tips 9to Protect Your
Hearing
Seniors often face hearing problems. However, they are embarrassed to keep asking others to repeat what has been said. So, how do you protect your hearing? Below are some tips.
T
he hearing of senior and middle-aged people gradually deteriorates during the aging process. In some cases they even end up becoming deaf. This is often caused by a lack of blood in inner ears and dysbolism.
sound waves created by exploding firecrackers or booming thunder are likely to crack inner ears, resulting in hearing loss of both ears. Therefore, senior people should wear earplugs to protect their hearing in harmful conditions.
The hearing ability of an ordinary person reaches its peak between the ages of 20 and 30. It, however, has a tendency to decrease after the age of 30.
Avoid injury of ear canals. Seniors like to use an ear pick or a matchstick to dig in their ear canals. Why? The reason is that their ears feel uncomfortably dry due to decreased secretion of earwax when blood circulation becomes poor at an elder age. The insufferable itch is temporarily relieved by the action of digging. However, digging is dangerous because of possible injury to ear canals, which may lead to infection, inflammation and even cracks in eardrums. The best solution to the problem of itchy ears is to use cotton swabs to gently clean ear canals.
Generally 6%-10% of the population between the ages of 65 and 75 can actually feel they are losing their hearing ability and some of them become even totally deaf. As common a phenomenon as this is, though, there are still exceptions: many seniors enjoy keen hearing.
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Here are several tips to reduce the risk of presbycusis.
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Use medicine that has a toxic effect on ears carefully. Do not rashly use antibiotics and chemicals that have a toxic effect on ears. Do not overdose on antibiotics such as streptomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin and do not take them for too long. Take other medicine interchangeably or take traditional Chinese medicine instead.
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By: LuYao Zhang
loud noise. 1 Avoid If seniors live in a noisy environment for a long time, their hearing ability - which decreases naturally - will deteriorate even more seriously. The capillaries in their inner ears are often in a spastic state which leads to insufficient blood supply in inner ears and causes a sharp decrease in hearing ability. Strong
Give up smoking. Researchers have proved that people who smoke more than 10 cigarettes every day face a higher risk of presbycusis, compared to those who do not smoke. Sixty-five percent of patients who suffer from presbycusis have a habit of smoking regularly.
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Pay attention to emotion regulation. The autonomic nervous system of those seniors who often remain in an irritated mood may fail to perform a regulatory function, causing an insufficient blood supply and dropsy in the organs of inner ears, as well as a nutritional disturbance of the auditory nerve. This may result in a sharp decrease in hearing ability and sudden hearing loss. Seniors should, therefore, try to keep a relaxed and cheerful mood.
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Protect and strength the “qi” in kidneys. Ancient Chinese medicine theory holds that the function of kidneys deeply influences the performance of ears. The decrease of hearing ability is closely related to the function of kidneys. The “qi” in kidneys of seniors declines with the aging process. They should, therefore, under the instruction of doctors, take suitable ancient Chinese medicine to invigorate their kidneys. People who suffer from an obvious symptom of hearing loss can take rice congee with walnuts, sesame, peanuts, and swine’s kidneys which are helpful to protect hearing.
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Have a less high fat diet. Medical specialists have found that 70% of those who suffer from presbycusis also have arteriosclerosis and that there is a correlation between the two diseases, the latter to a certain degree being relevant to hyperlipidemia. Fat dysbolism results in a decreased blood supply in inner ear canals. The increase of peroxidized lipid in blood serum and inner ear tissue is directly harmful to inner ears, causing a decrease in hearing ability. Hence, seniors should not eat too much high-fat food. Do more outdoor activities. Seniors should adequately partake in outdoor activities, often be in the sun for short periods of time (preferably in the early morning and late afternoon) and eat food rich in iron, calcium and vitamins, such as lean meat, beans, auricularia, dried small shrimps, mushrooms, all kinds of leafy vegetables and fruits.
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Actively treat the health problems caused by aging. As mentioned above, research indicates that 70% of those who suffer from presbycusis also have arteriosclerosis. As arteriosclerosis deteriorates hearing ability also deteriorates. Therefore, for seniors the prevention and cure of arteriosclerosis and anemia is one of the most effective ways to prevent them from also having presbycusis. Besides, 59% of the people who suffer from presbycusis have circulatory problems, including heart failures, pulmonary heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Active treatment of these diseases is also helpful to prevent hearing loss.
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A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE IS MORE HARMFUL THAN SMOKING
A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE HURTS THE BRAINS AND DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Each cigarette reduces your lifespan by eleven minutes. However, a research study by the University of Queensland discovered that sitting for one hour causes damage comparable to smoking two cigarettes, which shortens lifespan by 22 minutes: The World Health Organization revealed that every year 2 million people die due to a sedentary lifestyle.
Sitting for long hours causes digestive system to be less effective, make you lose appetite, lead to bloating and constipation, causes the immunity system to deteriorate, muscles to contract, osteoporosis, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity. In addition, it will also restrict blood flow to the brain, debilitates memory. In other words, sitting for long hours may cause premature death.
Researchers have shown that by sitting consecutively for four hours, genes involved in regulating glucose and fats in the body begin to shut down, and the system starts to emit harmful signals. In fact, even for those who exercise regularly, sitting for long hours is still detrimental to health.
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A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE CAUSE YOU TO DEVELOP PROSTATITIS When you sit for a long time, all your upper body strength is pressing upon your lower torso. Therefore, your prostate experience heavy pressure, and the blood circulation in it will be affected. Metabolites accumulate in the body, causing
By: Jolynn Chia
FEATURE Sedentary
the Prostate gland to be blocked, poor excretion in the gland fluid, resulting in chronic prostate blood congestion, gradually triggering prostatitis.
A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE LEADS TO CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS Sitting for long hours restricts movement of the neck. By moving it upwards, the blood supply to the brain may be insufficient or even resulting in brain atrophy and cerebral infarction; by moving it downwards, limbs and torso activity will be affected, even causing disability in serious cases. Another important reason is that because people with cervical spondylosis have been increasing, the age has reduced. Statistics show that among people who work at their desks permanently, their chances of getting cervical spondylosis are six times that of others.
YOU CAN EASILY GET THE “ECONOMY CLASS SYNDROME” The Economy Class syndrome refers to people not moving while sitting in a confined space, like on the plane, during when the legs are bent, causing the blood circulation in the veins in the back of one’s legs to be poor, and also leading to formation of blood clots. If the blood clots falls, and reaches the lungs, it may cause pulmonary embolism and ultimately, sudden death. In other words, the Economy Class Syndrome can lead to death. According to estimates, the odds of dying in a long-term flight is 1/6000, which means that in an aircraft which can carry 300 passengers, there will be one case of “Economy Class Syndrome” out of every twenty flights. In fact, experts think that as long as you maintain a fixed sitting posture with your knees bent and remain immobile for more than four hours, the odds of getting “Economy Class Syndrome” will increase drastically. In modern times, those who sit for long hours to drive or work, far outnumbers those who sit for long hours on the plane, making “Economy Class Syndrome” a serious threat for many people.
A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE CAUSE ONE TO DEVELOP HEART DISEASES Those who sit for long hours have poorer blood circulation, higher blood viscosity, and with time, other afflictions like atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and stroke will befall them too. Research has shown that, the risk of coronary heart disease is four times that of those who exercise regularly or are physically active. Studies has also proven that the incidence of cerebral infarction is also higher by 136% for those above 35 years old and sits for long hours, while their chances of cerebral hemorrhage also increases by 220%.
A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE CAUSE ONE TO DEVELOP HIGH BLOOD SUGAR Sitting for long hours causes one to have high blood sugar. The American Diabetes magazine has reported that in a study of 3781 males and 4576 females with normal blood sugar level, when asked to focus on the television for more than two hours, their blood sugar level begins to increase. The rise is more significant for woman than for man.
FEATURE Life
Dynamic of Life
– Life’s Certainties and Challenges One of the certainties of life is the uncertainties.
TEXT BY KHOR CHEE KOK, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM, MBA (UK), B BUS(AUS), AEPP, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL ALLIANCE PTE LTD EMAIL CHEEKOK@FA.COM.SG
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Life
Life is uncertain, but death is certain. In some religions, one is not only taught how to live, but also how to face life’s many truths; one of which is death. So, what does our final departure; death, has to do with financial planning? Financial planning is planning on protecting your assets and loved ones. Hence the question to ask is: “Do you love your loved ones as long as you live or as long as they live?” Johnny Hates Jazz sings: “I wish that I could turn back the clock. Bring the wheels of time to a stop. Back to the days when life was so much better…”
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as if you are “living”. A will is your final document and expression of infinite love and aspiration for your loved ones. Some of life uncertainties can be certain. In financial planning, will writing is one of the “must-do” plans to be done. It helps you to allow your loved ones to carry on living to the best that they can, and the best that you can for them to carry on living. WITHOUT A WILL, THERE IS THE INTESTATE SUCCESSION ACT Can you live without a will? Sure, it is the same question as to can you live with little to spare? If you know you can do better, then why not? What’s stopping you?
While a Mandarin song goes:“时光已逝永不回往事只能回味...” Different lyrics, different languages, different singers in different eras, singing the same message about time passes by and no turning back. I am certain that there are more songs about how much we could have done about bringing back time. People fantasizes about the timing machine but till the time machine is invented; and if it ever does, we remain prudent to financially plan ahead for our loved ones as we loved than as long as they live, and that death will never “do us apart”.
Now if you don’t have a will. Singapore has an intestate succession act which act as follow for a citizen that dies without a will written. For example: Deceased dies leaving… With Spouse
I WISH … AND IF I COULD… Truth of the matter is that issues such as “I wish…” and “If I could…” can happen here and now. Why wait and miss the opportunity when you can get them done here and now.
To Spouse $50,000 To Children $50,000
No Children But Parents
To Spouse $50,000 To Parents $50,000 To Children $100,000
To Brothers & Sisters $100,000
No Children, No Parents, No To Grandparents Brothers & Sisters $100,000 But Grandparents No Children, No Parents, No To Uncle & Aunt Brothers & Sisters, $100,000 No Grandparents, But Uncle & Aunt
1. Living life “as if there is no tomorrow”. Love with more passion and less reasons. There is no need to have a good reason to love. Love is just loving and not asking why, why, why…
No Children, No Parents, No Brothers & Sisters, No Grandparents, No Uncle & Aunt
2. Accumulate, enhance and preserve your wealth so that there will be enough; financially to support your passion and loved ones, whether the days ahead are sunny or not, well or could have been better.
4. Last but not least, having a will written. A will ensures that when the final departure comes, “you” will be around to distribute your wealth, assets and legacy, the way you will it and
Children and No Parents Children and Parents
No Children, No Parents But Brothers & Sisters
There are four ways of leaving your legacy. A legacy is beyond dollars and cents. It is about ensuring that your love, dreams and aspirations for your loved ones live on even when you no longer do. They are:
3. Protect your assets and loved ones. Buying relevant insurances; and not just a lot of it. Insurance is one of the best financial planning tools to create immediate wealth should an unplanned event happen. Quality and not quantity in sum assured means being advised on the right insurance to procure.
No Children and No Parents To Spouse $100,000
Without Spouse Children and No Parents Children and Parents
Caring for our loved ones as long as you can is possible and can be done with a little planning.
SGD $100,000
To Government $100,000
Sounds good?! Truth is it is, but incomplete. Assuming a newly married couple out on a honeymoon. An unplanned event happened and both died before the ambulance or help arrives. When the time of dead for neither one can be determined, the younger spouse if deemed to have died later than the older spouse (assuming the wife in this case). 75
FEATURE Life
Per intestate succession act, the entire estate and assets of the newly married would pass on to the parents of the deceased younger spouse; in this case, the hubby. The parents of the wife will get nothing officially, even if the apartment, car, diamond ring, etc… are gifts from her parents. Is this alright with you?! CAN YOU DO BETTER? Certainly, and that’s to have a will done per your intentions, and as if you are living, even when you are not. Without a will, the distribution of assets and estate can be more costly and definitely more time consuming. A will has to be done in proper, registered in accordance and file in order. Hong Kong’s Ms Nina Wang was one of Asia richest woman with a worth of US$4.2 billion at the time of her death in 2007. Her will was contested. A local scout movement pioneer who passed away last year, has his apartment contested by his children, while his spouse lives to witness the ongoing squabbles. Will writing is not just for the rich or the poor. It is a document for a responsible person to have his intentions written such that should the final departure arrived in maturity or prematurely, he is ready and has things ready for his loved ones. If one has a few millions and left without a will. There are potential challenges and disputes. Even if the legal cost is few ten of a thousand; if not few hundred thousand or more, the beneficiaries will still be likely to be left with, still a few millions; and hopefully. In the case of an average person, leaving behind a public apartment and a few tenth of a thousand. Should there be dispute and legal suit, the beneficiaries will be lucky to be left with the apartment, if it doesn’t end up having to sell it to pay for the legal expenses or more. WILL WRITING IS ONLY FOR THE RICH? Is will writing just for the rich, or equally important for the average? Are you too young to have a will written? A will writing service; be it with a legal or financial consultant, can be valid and will not cost you an arm or a leg. It starts from just a few hundreds for a simple will. Writing a will is not just about money and assets. It can be about legal guardian, funeral arrangements, living arrangements, etc… It is about a legacy, love and aspiration express in your “final document” for your loved ones to continue living and living well.
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WILL WRITING IS PART OF RISK MANAGEMENT Planning for the best and preparing for the worst. However, not everything can be willed. Some of the items that cannot be willed are CPF, joint tenancy property, joint bank accounts, insurance death benefits with nominated beneficiary, etc… Financial planning that includes a will, safe guards yourself and your loved ones per your dreams and aspirations. A will provides the best possible transition of assets and aspiration you have for your loved ones as if you are still “living” and indeed you “are”. It is one of the smallest deeds, which completes the biggest intentions of yours! Consider having a will done and review yours if you already have one. Once done, you have put yourself in good position to live well and as if there is no “tomorrow”, for you know that your loved ones will do well as long as they live, and so would you!
Golf
Defeat R
eally strong people are able to “defeat” themselves. Through playing golf, you can defeat yourself, and thus recognize yourself.
Seemingly simple and boring, golf incorporates profound philosophies. On the golf course you do not see fierce fighting between players or get sharp responses from them. However, anyone who had ever played golf can feel its rich wisdom. 18 holes per round are just like Life. And it is similar to the process of wealth seeking - excellent scores need not only basic qualities and hitting skills, but also a good mentality and peaceful mood. Golf is definitely a great way to self-cultivate.
FEATURE
Yourself through
Golf
Being somewhat different from most other sports, there is no direct opponent in Golf. Players compete with themselves and endeavor to “defeat” themselves instead of someone else. It is similar to investment, as well as Life.
By: JingYi Li
Every hole is just like every small goal of our life, and all the 18 holes are linked to a bigger goal. You have chances to enjoy hillsides with clear water and green hills, and the view of ponds. You also have the challenge of facing hills. During a round you have to deal with many kinds of troublesome situations under which to hit the ball. You may have up to 14 clubs – as the tools – in your golf bag and the lay of the land changes all the time. Sometimes, you may be standing on top of a hill overlooking a spacious fairway, sometimes you may be in a low-lying area hitting the ball towards a hole shielded by a hill. At times you may have to hit the ball onto a small island surrounded by water, in which case you not only need to make decisions based on landform, but also need to consider the location of the hole, the direction of the wind and grass, as well as the choice of tools. You need to make decisions, choose the club from your golf bag and finish the action of hitting the ball calmly to the expected location.
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FEATURE Golf
NOT THAT SIMPLE
PUT THE GOAL IN YOUR HEART
Unlike other ball games with “tricks” such as a hidden forehand or backhand, golf only needs one gesture – how to execute a perfect swing with the right club and hit the ball. Therefore, there are limited things a coach can teach, i.e. only basic stance and movements - the remainder needs your continued practice and careful perception. Taking a hasty stance can lead to a deviation in direction. Even a tiny mistake in your standing position can lead to magnified mistakes in hitting the ball and where it eventually lands. Great body coordination is needed, thus it is not that easy to execute a good hit.
When playing golf, you must put the goal in your heart, not just in your eyes and mind. Ideally, addressing the ball requires you to envision your goal in your heart without looking at the action of hitting the ball. Since your head is just like an axis, any tiny deviation will lead to a change in the flight path of the ball. Therefore, make sure about the completion of your follow though movement and raise your head only after completing the stroke. The result will often turn out to be better.
Similar to golf, many concepts in investment violate our habits, and tricks could be nothing but obstacles. Golf needs you to use your brain, and you don’t need to rush into hitting the ball - because the ball is stationary. The more relaxed you are the better. However, almost no one can always control themselves in trying to manage their strength when hitting the ball. That is why even cultured people sometimes scold themselves. That also explains why intelligent people can easily make fools of themselves in trying to be smart in the stock market. Acquiring wealth needs a good mentality, not just being smart. Actually, people mostly have enough time to make long-range and careful plans, but then often rush into making decisions on investments, and finally have to pay a heavy price.
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People are always eager to know the result, but forget the fact that the result is the by-product of a correct approach and movement. Just like the process of wealth building, the result will turn out to be good when someone puts the goal in his or her heart and focus on doing every movement correctly on the way to reaching the goal. Putting the goal in your eyes leads to an eagerness for quick success and instant benefits - therefore, quality can not guaranteed.
Golf
FEATURE
‘SLOW’ EQUALS TO ‘FAST’
STABLE RULES
Another violation of our thinking habits in playing golf is that it is ‘slow’. On the golf course, even genial players like Woods will occasionally hit the ball into a sandpit, just like Buffett will misjudge investments. Except obstacles like sand pits, ponds, and roughs, golf players also need to overcome emotional fluctuations. All these can affect your next swing. However, it is strange that people rush into hitting and then - after the fact - regret not being ready. Actually, everyone has enough time to prepare their emotion and posture before hitting the ball.
Playing golf is also a good sport with which to improve your personality. A player’s mood reflects on the effect of wanting to execute the hit immediately.
The movement of hitting the ball needs to be a perfect arc, while the ball is only a small “obstacle” in it. Many other sports require athletes to have agility and quick reactions, but golf is to the contrary. Except at the moment of hitting, all the preceding steps need to be absolute ‘slow’. Only those who had played golf can understand why many players get so mad and even throw their clubs away. They are mad at themselves for ‘not be able to deal with a stationary little white ball’. An excellent golf player needs a peaceful mood, a stable swing, and even a few misses, from time to time, to win over themselves. A stable performance is required to reduce misses, in other words, to enhance risk control.
MORE PRECISION, LESS SERIOUSNESS A coach once said that you should not hold the club too tightly or too loosely but rather imagine that you are holding a bird: too tight will lead to its death while too loose will let it fly away. This description is quite funny – but spot on. Seek for that feeling in your practicing, and discover that a correct, relaxed and complete grip can lead to the right angle of club at the moment of connecting with the ball – leading to a good hit and releasing the full power into play. Otherwise, an incorrect grip could lead to a weak shot, a hook or a slice. Precision includes discipline, order and rhythm. The flexible attitude of switching between nervousness and relaxation is hard to describe. You need to experience this by yourself. Golf needs concentrated attention and focus to be a game that is “easy on the heart”. Using it to practice your way in Life is very effective and advisable.
On the golf course, it is hard to achieve good scores without a good mood. Fewer mistakes are the key to winning, and strategies and choosing the right clubs are important. You could choose hitting directly – without the necessary preparation - to achieve your goals. This may be exciting but also risky, and may provide some fun during the process. If it succeeds, fulfillment and confidence will be brought about. However, there will be terrible results if you make mistakes, such as the ball dropping into a pond or sand pit. All these will let lead to a high score. You could also choose a relatively conservative way – such as segmented hitting - which is safe but kind of boring. It is just like an investment, less greed and a relatively conservative way would also bring you a satisfied return, but you must accept a boring process. If we could feel with our hearts, life would be simple, and everything would be easy to do.
HUMANITY ON THE GOLF COURSE If you want to understand someone quickly, ask him/her for a round of golf. It is Life in miniature. In the process of playing golf, you will have a chance to find out your companion’s attitude to facing and dealing with various situations. You will recognize that, in the whole process, some of the players endeavor to prove themselves, and how a restive heart and fluctuating mood lead to frequent mistakes. Being more insistent leads to nothing but misses. Some of them will throw the clubs away, some will complain, some will blame the caddie, while some of them will enjoy various risky situations peacefully, calmly and unhurriedly. Golf is a sport that is commonly played in many countries. It is designed for people who like to challenge themselves, rather than being a game for the rich. Why are people who once played golf hard to be interested in other ball sports? The answer is “because people are mostly interested in themselves”.
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FEATURE Constipation
Is constipation asmallproblem? Many people suffer from constipation, but regard it as insignificant. Accumulated stools are bad for your health. They will result in fermentation of harmful bacteria, therefore various kinds of poisonous gas and carcinogenic substances will be produced and transported to all parts of the body through circulation. The following seven serious problems might be caused by long-term constipation.
1. PASSING A SMELLY WIND Constipation will result in the increase of harmful bacteria in your intestines, and produce gas such as hydrogen sulfide, or ammonia that might lead you to discharge smelly feces or smelly winds. All these will cause inconveniences and troubles in daily life.
2. BULGING BELLY When smooth and regular defecation canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be realized, a lot of fat and toxins will accumulate within your intestines. Human beings small intestines are pretty long, hence once feces begin to accumulate within the intestines, the belly will bulge. Various kinds of fat and metabolin (metabolite) of protein that fail to be expelled will begin to rot in the intestines and produce a lot of gas leading to the increase of the bellyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s area and waist.
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By: Kris Moller
3. ROUGH SKIN When poisonous substances initiated by constipation permeate blood and enter the skin layer, it will cause skin acne, and rough and sallow skin, as well as body odor.
4. HEADACHES Poisonous substances, transported within the blood, will circulate throughout the whole body. Brain hypoxia will result when insufficient oxygen is provided to the brain by way of the blood which is loaded with toxins, which will cause headaches and amnesia.
5. MUSCULAR STIFFNESS When harmful substances, caused by constipation, circulate throughout the whole body by way of the blood, too much substances which causes fatigue will result in muscular stiffness, and poisonous substances will suffocate the circulation, resulting in symptoms of cold hands and feet.
6. CHRONIC DISEASES Accumulated rotten substances produce harmful by-products that will circulate throughout the body by way of the blood. It will destroy the immune system, and lead to cold and various chronic diseases.
7. RISK OF CARCINOGENESIS A continuous accumulation of rotten substances in the intestines will directly lead to intestinal cell mutation or cell death, even colorectal cancer. Abnormal interferences of hormone within female bodies by these substances will suffocate hormone secretion, and result in a risk of breast cancer.
WHY WILL MEAT AND ANIMAL FAT MAKE YOU SUFFER FROM CONSTIPATION? Food types
Meat (pork belly, chine )
Animal fat(butter, lard oil, pigskin) and margarine
1. Lack dietary fiber, thus fail to accelerate digestion and metabolism.
1. Stimulate bilification (formation and excretion of bile), and produce lots of bile.
2. Are difficult to digest, and likely to rot within the intestines.
2. Accelerate bacterial reproduction within the intestines, and change the intestinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; inner situation.
3. Contains a great proportion of fat, and need more bile from your body to digest.
3. Margarine contains large amounts of trans-fatty acids, which disturb normal metabolism and digestion.
Reasons
4. Margarine leads to the increase of permeability of intestinal tract, so bacteria could traverse it easily.
FEATURE Yoga
Yoga for
Insomnia I
By: Charmaine Ong, www.charmaine-ong.com
nsomnia is a type of sleep disorder and it is defined as the ability to fall asleep after lying in bed for thirty minutes or inability to sustain sleep for more than a few hours without waking Common clinical factors that cause insomnia are stress, poor diet, hormonal changes and things that interfere with the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s normal sleep cycle such as shift work and jet lag.
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Yoga
FEATURE
There were research findings from Department of Medicine from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School that demonstrated good evidence of daily yoga practice generated positive improvements on measurement of sleep quality and quantity.
ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING Come to a comfortable seated position. Keep head and spine upright, relax the body and close your eyes.
Below are some yoga poses that can help relieve stress and calms the nervous systems which in turn aid the body and mind to slow down and lead to a more restful sleep.
Exhale completely and close the right nostril with your right thumb and inhale through the left nostril in the count of 4.
LEGS UP THE WALL Go to a spot against the wall, sit against the wall with side of the body. As you lie down, bring both your legs up to rest on the wall with body perpendicular to the edge of the wall. You may wish to prop your hips up with a cushion or bolster. Stay in this pose for about 1 – 5 minutes. Bend your knees to the chest and roll onto the side to release the pose. PLOW POSE Lie down on your back with legs together (supine position). Place the arms by the side of the body as you raise both legs up and bring them over your head. Try to touch the toes to the floor behind the head without forcing.
Practice diaphragmatic breaths for a few rounds.
At the end of inhalation, close left nostril with right ring finger and remove your right thumb from right nostril and exhale through the right nostril. If possible do this in the count of 8. Inhale through right nostril in count of 4, close right nostril with right thumb and exhale through the left nostril in count of 8. This completes one round. Perform this long as you are comfortable. This breathing should not be practice if your nasal passages are blocked. Check that your lungs should not feel strained while performing any breathing exercises. DISCLAIMER: These information is for educational purpose and participate at your own risks. Wear comfortable clothing so you can move around freely. The above suggestions are not intended to be a substitute for consulting your physician and the writer is not responsible for any adverse outcomes from the information provided.
Support your low back by bending the elbows and place hands onto the back of the ribs for support. Remain in this pose for about 1-5 minutes or as long as you are comfortable with. Release palm to the ground and slowly lower the body and hips back down to the ground to return to the supine position.
Get Active, Stay Active Four-position seat height
CONTRAINDICATIONS: This asana should not be practiced by one with high blood pressure, hernia, slipped disc or anyone with neck problems. CHILD’S POSE Sit on your heels (Japanese way of sitting). While exhaling, lean torso forward and extend both arms out. Allow hands and forehead to rest on the floor in front of the knees. With practice, gradually increase the length of time in final position as long as you are comfortable with it.
Handle height is easily adjustable Patented maintenance-free brake system
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for special price inclusive delivery
This pose calms anger and frayed nerves. Breathe normally while in the pose. CONTRAINDICATION: This is not to be performed by people with slipped disc and high blood pressure. Modifications will be required for people with the latter condition. Sole Distributor: Active
Moments Pte Ltd 28 Sin Ming Lane #04-141 Midview City Singapore 573972 Tel.: +65 9272 6618 www.activemoments.com.sg
Also Available at: Rehabmart Balestier +65 6352 4400 Rehabmart Paya Lebar +65 6455 1551 Rehabmart Pearl Centre +65 6324 7077 Rehabmart Tagore Lane +65 6250 0555 HAFBox Tanglin Shopping Centre 03-32 + 65 6235 4560
FEATURE Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin Daily exposure to free radicals — contained within the air we breathe and the food we eat — results in ongoing, long-term physical stress. The widespread oxidative stress they cause to all systems of the body is also believed to be a primary contributor to what we call the ageing process. Astaxanthin works against free radicals by providing powerful antioxidant defense to help protect the entire body on a cellular level.
A
staxanthin is a carotenoid that gives the reddish pigment to salmon, crab, krill and lobster. It was approved as a food coloring (or color additive) for specific uses in animal and fish foods. It is known for its powerful antioxidant effects and has been shown to be a superior free radical quencher when compared to other antioxidants like vitamin C, coenzyme Q10 and green tea as in the following amazing examples:
Antioxidants are generally classified into two broad categories i.e. water-soluble (hydrophilic) such as vitamin C, glutathione, and catechins, and lipid-soluble (hydrophobic) including vitamins E, A, and beta-carotene for example. The human body needs both types of antioxidants because each one targets different types of cells and tissues for free radical scavenging. When taken together, the efficacy of water- and lipid-soluble antioxidants is enhanced even more. Astaxanthin’s unique structure includes long chains which allow it to cover the cell membrane and provide antioxidant protection in all layers, whereas other antioxidants are more limited. Astaxanthin quenches free radicals both in the water and fat loving zone of the membrane in contrast to most antioxidants, which work either in the inner (Vitamin E and Beta Carotene) or outer (Vitamin C) side of the membrane. Astaxanthin is one of the few molecules which can cross the Brain-Retinal Blood Barrier leading to neuro-protective effects and alleviation of eye fatigue.
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As the most powerful Anti-ageing Molecule of Mother Nature, the rising popularity of astaxanthin as anti-ageing nutraceutical supplementation and cosmeceutical application has been endorsed by acclaimed researchers, health specialists and professional athletes worldwide as well as being featured in many nutritional regimens in popular mass media. Research shows that, due to astaxanthin’s potent antioxidant activity, it may be beneficial in fighting cardiovascular, visual, immune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases. Some research supports the assumption that it may protect body tissues from oxidative and ultraviolet damage through its suppression of NF-KB activation. CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH The Japanese are the top consumers of food containing astaxanthin and also have high incidences of heart health among developed countries. In addition, a growing body of scientific evidence points to a strong link between natural astaxanthin and cardiovascular health. High blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides, oxidation of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and lowering levels of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are the primary causes that lead to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in the vessels. This condition emerges at early an age and gradually compromises vascular integrity leading to atherosclerosis at a later stage of a person’s lifespan. Atherosclerosis is a cardiovascular condition in
By: Lucy Kusnadi, Tony Liao
• 6000 times stronger than Vitamin C • 800 times stronger than CoQ10 • 550 times stronger than Green tea catechins • 550 times stronger than Vitamin E • 75 times stronger than Alpha lipoic acid • 40 times stronger than Beta-Carotene • 17 times more potent than Grape Seed Extracts
Astaxanthin
FEATURE
EYE FATIGUE RELIEF In addition to its effects on cardiovascular health, astaxanthin promotes healthy visual accommodation and retinal capillary blood flow. The exact mechanism by which astaxanthin supports vision is unknown, though some believe that by promoting blood flow to the ciliary body it provides nourishment for the ciliary muscles. Astaxanthin is also believed to work by promoting normal NF-kB activation by oxygen radicals, which may explain how it helps to alleviate occasional eye fatigue. Astaxanthin helps visual health in the following ways:
• Helps to prevent oxidative stress in the eye • Helps reduce the occurrence of occasional eye fatigue and eye
strain associated with visual electronics
•
Supports healthy blood flow in the eye, promoting nourishment for the eye and helping to maintain proper eye function
• Supports healthy visual focus.
which fat deposits and becomes oxidized along the inner lining of the artery walls. This silent yet deadly build-up progressively thickens, hardens and eventually blocks the arteries leading to sudden and severe circulatory complications including vascular ischemia, stroke or heart attack, which kills a person every 3 seconds. There have been 30 cardiovascular-specific research publications, including 10 clinical studies, investigating possible benefits of astaxanthin on both blood lipid levels and blood vessels. These studies have shown that astaxanthin helps maintain normal levels of HDL and triglycerides when consumed orally. Three recent clinical studies support astaxanthin’s ability to help maintain healthy blood vessels. Other recent human studies indicate that astaxanthin supports cardiovascular health. A series of human studies suggest that astaxanthin helps maintain healthy blood pressure by promoting healthy blood flow and vascular tone. Astaxanthin supports cardiovascular health in several ways as follows:
•
Assists to sustain regular cholesterol levels by helping to maintain normal serum triglycerides and HDL cholesterol levels
•
Promotes healthy blood flow to and from the heart, supporting the body’s delivery of nutrients and removal of wastes
• Helps maintain normal blood pressure • Promotes healthy arteries by protecting LDL (bad cholesterol)
SKIN CARE AND ANTI-AGEING While ageing is natural and cannot be avoided, there are factors such as solar radiation and physical and mechanical damage that accelerate the propensity of visible ageing. Today, humans face increasing exposure to chemical pollution, ultraviolet radiation and ozone levels, all of which can damage the skin’s dermal layer causing wrinkles and enhancing the risk of malignant skin cancer. These negative effects are compounded with increasingly poor diets and lifestyle habits which are not conducive to maintaining the skin’s natural repair process and antioxidant network. Oxygen present in our cells can form harmful radicals known as ROS or active oxygen when sufficient energy from UV rays is applied. ROS include singlet oxygen, super oxides and hydroxyl radicals (leading to peroxyl radicals) and they attempt to steal electrons from neighboring molecules such as DNA, phospholipids, enzymes and protein in order to stabilize. Singlet oxygen also depletes the antioxidant defense system of fibroblasts, especially CAT and SOD. Fibroblasts secrete collagen, a main component of extracellular matrix which provides structural support to the cells. Fortunately, astaxanthin is able to quench singlet oxygen reactions and suppress lipid peroxidation to control the presence of ROS much more effectively than other well known antioxidants such as Catechin, Vitamin C, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Coenzyme Q10, Tocopherol, Lutein and Beta Carotene. Astaxanthin helps skin care and antiageing as follows:
•
Provides powerful antioxidant defense and restores skin’s natural antioxidant balance (SOD, CAT, and GSH).
•
Promotes healthy skin by improving skin moisture and helps to maintain skin elasticity
•
Reduces the risk of skin cancer by protecting against accumulated DNA damage
•
Reduces puffiness and erythema by suppressing the inflammatory pathway.
from oxidative stress.
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FEATURE Astaxanthin
ENDURANCE & WEIGHT CONTROL For an athlete, astaxanthin can potentially help increase strength and improve overall stamina and endurance, enable quicker recovery after workouts, and reduce joint and muscle soreness caused by vigorous exercise. But how does astaxanthin potentially enhance endurance and recovery? One key area in which astaxanthin has a positive effect is on mitochondria. Mitochondria are little intracellular powerhouses within the human body. They produce up to 95% of the human body’s energy. So, it should not be a surprise that mitochondria are found in muscle tissue. That’s where the human body has one of the greatest demands for intense bursts of energy. But there is a downside to this energy-producing activity i.e. it can generate highly reactive free radicals. These free radicals can damage cell membranes. The more strenuous the workout, the more free radicals are produced. The bottom line might be that the athlete ends up with tired and sore muscles, and that’s where astaxanthin comes in. As a powerful antioxidant, astaxanthin has been shown to effectively scavenge free radicals from muscle tissue and help reduce singlet oxygen (a particular type of ‘bad’ oxidation). This is how astaxanthin can potentially give strength, stamina, and endurance a healthful boost. Furthermore, astaxanthin increases the metabolism of lipids as the main source of energy production by protecting the carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I) involved in fatty acid transportation into mitochondria.
GASTRIC HEALTH Approximately one in four people experiences dyspepsia at some time that is linked to common causes such as food types, stress, stomach ulcers, or acid reflux. There are no standardized treatments that exist to effectively treat the patient if the exact causes of non-ulcer dyspepsia are unknown. The usual procedure involves the problematic remedies of acid blocking medicines, painkillers or antibiotics. However, drug treatment faces problems with increasing antibiotic resistant bacteria and carries an increased risk of damage to the stomach. Therefore, clinically proven nondrug treatments are becoming more attractive to physicians and patients. Astaxanthin may be useful, particularly against Helicobacter pylori positive gastritis and non-ulcer dyspepsia acid reflux. The mechanisms of action include the following:
•
Decreasing oxidative stress by astaxanthin’s potent antioxidant property
• Controlling bacterial infection by shifting the immune response • Alleviating dyspeptic symptoms by retarding inflammation Furthermore, these results infer that acid reflux in connection with either H. pylori positive or negative conditions can still expect improvements with astaxanthin.
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Astaxanthin
TYPE 2 DIABETES Excess blood glucose needs to be converted by insulin (produced by the pancreas ß-cells) into glycogen stores, however, when glycogen stores are full, glucose is converted into fat. Over time, the body’s cells may eventually become desensitized to insulin making it necessary to produce more insulin to achieve the same effect. It is this process that eventually leads to what is known as a hyperinsulinaemic state. As a result, the body loses its ability to control high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) that could result in toxic conditions and promote further complications such as kidney failure. Although clinical trials involving antioxidants in humans have only recently begun, preliminary results concluded that strong antioxidant supplementation may improve Type 2 diabetic control and inhibit progressive renal damage by circumventing the effects of glycation-mediated ROS under hyperglycemic conditions. Astaxanthin improved pancreas function, insulin sensitivity, reduced kidney damage and glucose toxicity in diabetic mouse models. New techniques by gene chip analysis and fluorescence imageing revealed further details of mechanism and site of protection by astaxanthin. Further research and clinical studies are still required. However, it is reasonable to suggest that astaxanthin may be useful as part of a nutrigenomic strategy for Type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. Many carotenoids may be easily obtained simply by eating a good diet rich in fresh organic produce. However, astaxanthin, the super antioxidant of unique structure, is challenging to come by. In fact, because astaxanthin cannot be synthesized in animal bodies, there are only 2 known sources, i.e. firstly a very unique source of microalgae called Haematococcus pluvialis, and secondly, creatures (salmon, and krill, for example) that consume the microalgae.
FEATURE
Consequently, astaxanthin supplement might be the best approach left. Here’s a simple list of factors recommended when searching for the supplement.
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Make sure the astaxanthin formula is created from marine microalgae and not some form of fungus, or some other less effective form.
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Due to the fact that astaxanthin is best absorbed when taken with a ‘fatty’ meal (lipid-soluble), look for a formula that contains some sort of oil or fatty acid that will help maximize absorption. Without this additional ingredient absorption could be less than optimal.
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Don’t just settle for what’s necessarily on the label of the bottle. Dig deeper into finding out more information on how the manufacturer guarantees stability and efficacy of the formula.
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In addition, make sure the manufacturer can provide solid evidence that they don’t use chemical solvents or preservatives in their formulation processes.
•
The power of astaxanthin to fight free radicals is of critical importance, but it must also be delivered to the body in sufficient amounts to be truly effective. Typical astaxanthin formulations contain only 2-4 mg per serving — an amount which falls short in delivering all possible benefits for the heart, eyes, skin and muscles. Due to new research, most recommendations for daily dosages of astaxanthin now range from 4-8mg. Look for at least a 4mg minimum serving size to prevent from having to take twice as many capsules.
To take advantage of this powerful antioxidant the way salmon do, one would need to find and consume the type of microalgae identified above (highly unlikely), or eat a healthy supply of salmon itself. The challenge with salmon is to get adequate amounts of the antioxidant, either expensive sockeye salmon needs to be consumed, or large amounts of other types of salmon (almost two pounds, i.e. just under one kilogram, of Atlantic salmon). Additionally, even if it is wild salmon, there are always concerns with mercury and other heavy metal content.
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FEATURE Fitness
Fitness Over 40 -
Let’s Play, Singapore! Physical activity is vital throughout life, but as you age, physical and mental changes happen that make exercising and fitness more crucial in order to maintain health and even longevity.
FEBRUARY TO MARCH 2014 The schedule for 2014 covers at least 37 types and groups of sports – for both the professional and amateur. Of these a total of 26 will have events during the months of February to March 2014 including badminton, basket ball, bowling, chess, cricket, cross country, cycling, equestrian, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, judo, martial arts, netball, other sports, rugby, running, sailing, sepak takraw, softball, squash, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, and water polo. We look at 4 of these in more detail. Event: Other Sports: New Moon KHCycle MetaSprint Series: Duathlon Date: 16 Mar 2014 Venue: To be confirmed. This is a race for everyone – male and female, kids, youth, “discovery” and “sprint” – from age 7 to 99! For “discovery” (newbie): Run 1.5km, cycle 10km, and finish with a 1.5km run. For “sprint” (experienced): Run 3km, cycle 20km, and finish with a 3km run. General: An aquathlon (swim and run) takes place in mid-February and a triathlon (swim, cycle and run) in mid-April 2014. Events: Cycling: OCBC Cycle Singapore Dates and times: The annual OCBC Cycle attracts large participation and crowds. There are a number of events during Mar 2014, the most important ones for 40+’ers being: 28 Mar 2014, the Women’s & Masters’ Criterium for age 17 years and above / 40 years and above. Start time is 4.45pm, for 45 minutes. 30 Mar 2014, the Super Challenge for age 16 above. This is a 59km ride, starting at 5.15am. Venue: Start and finish point is at the F1 Pit Building. Enquiries: (+65) 6799 5909 General: There are more than 100 tracks, some as short as a 7.5 km test track and some all the way to Malaysia, some for Sunday morning breakfast runs and others for daily relaxation. Locations: Visit http://www.mapmyride.com/sg/singapore/ 88
Events: Running: MediaCorp’s Hong Bao and The Marina Run Dates: 2 Dates as follows: MediaCorp’s Hong Bao on 9 Feb 2014, (website: http://www. mediacorphongbaorun.com/web/) The Marina Run on 15 Feb 2014 (website: http://www.marinarun. com.sg/). This is considered one of the most scenic half marathons and 10km races in Singapore. The 2014 event includes a 5km “Wet & Wild” Fun Run, a 10km and 21km”Light up the Nite” run. Venues: The Nicoll Highway (Hong Bao). Along the river front and waterfront communities (Marina Run). General: There are 9 running events during February and Mar 2014 and many other runs throughout the year. One of the well known ones is the annual Standard Chartered Marathon. Practice venues: Multiple with the top five locations being: MacRitchie Reservoir Loop 9.7 km, for intermediate to advanced runners. The Southern Ridges Trail 9km, for intermediate to advanced runners. Keppel Bay 3km, for all runners. Singapore River 6km, for all runners. Fort Canning Park 3km, runs past Singapore’s most historic sites. Location: Visit http://www.runningguild.com/index.php/ runningcalendar/
Event: Tennis: STA Open Singles & Doubles - 2014 Dates and times: 22 Feb - 1 Mar 2014. Official time of matches is for weekdays: 6pm - 11pm, Saturday: 2pm - 11pm and Sunday 9am onwards. Venue: Kallang Tennis Centre. General: There are 12 tennis centres in Singapore with an average court rental of $3.50 per hour for weekdays and $9.50 over weekend. Most are open daily from 7am - 10pm. Kallang Tennis Centre is by far the biggest with 14 courts. Locations: Visit http://www.singtennis.org.sg/
By: Kris Moller
T
he importance of sport, and the benefits that it can bring throughout life, is well documented. However, recent figures show that 51% of people responded that they did not participate in any sport or physical exercise. This figure is even higher for the elderly. To underscore its importance and commitment to fitness and physical activity, the Singapore Sports Council publishes an annual sports calendar (see https://www. singaporesports.sg/calendar.aspx).
Fitness
THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORT FOR THE ELDERLY As our bodies age we become weaker, and the elderly lose bone density and 15% of muscle for every decade that they age. There are thus four components in physical fitness for the elderly i.e.: Strength training. Endurance exercises. Stretching. Balance exercises. Regular exercise and sports address these four components, resulting in many health benefits and even increased longevity. All it requires is a few dedicated hours per week to become and remain fit to live healthier and longer lives. Sport: Improves the immune system and reduces the chance of disease – regular exercises oxidizes the body, lowers both blood pressure and cholesterol, thus reduces the risk of obesity, diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Strengthens bones – ageing often brings osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, especially amongst women. Even light or medium weight exercises improve bone thickness, strength and endurance. Improves muscular strength - helps restore and preserve muscular strength - including heart muscle - which helps maintain mobility and prevent falls and injuries. Improves balance, mobility and flexibility – thus reducing the risk of falls. Improves stress release, improved sleeping habits, and mental health - exercise is a natural mood changer, giving us a feeling of physical and mental wellbeing.
FEATURE
Picking sports gear Choose lightweight and light-coloured clothes (shirts, tank tops, pants) that are comfortable and made of breathable material to absorb and evaporate perspiration quickly. Women should wear a sports bra. Invest in a pair of good walking or running shoes that fit comfortably, bend where your foot bends, support your foot and heel, and allows the normal motion of your foot. Leave a thumbswidth of space between your longest toe and the tip of the shoe. General flexibility exercises Following are a number of flexibility exercises: Shoulder stretch: Hold both hands together. Lift hands up to shoulder level. Stretch forward and hold. Chest stretch: Open up both arms, push towards the back and hold. Hip stretch: Kneel on both knees in an upright position. Place left foot in front. Keep the knee at 90-degree angle. Maintaining an upright back. Push forward at the hip and hold. Repeat for right foot. Hamstring Stretch: Lie on your back and keep your left leg straight. Lift up and hold. Keep hip and lower back neutral. Repeat for the right leg. General resistance exercises Perform these exercises at least 10 times twice a week. Rest 60 seconds between each exercise.
TIPS – READY, SET, GO! General considerations Consider the following when thinking of starting or continuing with any physical activity routine:
Chest press: Place exercise band under the upper back (around the shoulder blades). Maintaining a flat back, lift the band away from the chest till elbows is straight. Breathe out. Breathe in and slowly return to starting position.
Get medical clearance, especially if you have any pre-existing conditions. Start slow and build up your exercise program slowly. Consider health concerns, such as diabetes. Stop if you feel out of breath, experience a chest pain, or “something feels wrong”. Do not exceed the recommended heart rate. See Box 1: Heart Rate, Column C. Consider dress code. For all sports there is gear that fits the purpose. Tip: Do not run a marathon in new shoes. Join a group such as for running, cycling, tai chi and water sport. Consider time of day. Be careful between 11am – 3pm due to heat. Ensure to wear the right clothes and stay hydrated.
Squat: Stand in front of a chair with feet placed hip-width apart. Lower buttocks slowly, keeping an upright posture (like trying to sit on a chair). Ensure knees are positioned behind your toes. Breathe out and push body up slowly.
Prevention and personal precautions tips Warm up for at least 10 minutes. Start slow and increase the intensity. Cool down for 10 minutes afterwards. Make sure to wear the right equipment. Wear hats in the sun, gloves for gym work and protective gear such as a helmet when cycling. Avoid alcohol or strong coffee before an event - both cause dehydration. Understand the rules of the game / event. Learn first aid and CRP (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) if you can, since one day you may save a life.
Calf Raise: Stand next to a chair with feet placed hip width apart. Slowly raise heels and stand on your toes for two seconds. Breathe out. Breathe in and return to starting position. A
B
C
D
Age
Heart rate 220-Age
Heart rate - 50% (for up to 6 months)
Heart rate - 85% afterwards
50 55 60 65 70
170 165 160 155 150
85 83 80 78 75
145 140 136 132 128
Conclusion Physical activity, and through it the participation in sport, is vital throughout life, but more so as you age in order to maintain good health and even longevity. 89
FEATURE Nutritional
Which Contains more Nutritional Value, Dairy Milk or
Soy Milk ? Soy milk is a traditional beverage in China and it is also one of the most popular drinks in Western countries. When you visit a supermarket you are often presented with these two beverages. Which one do you believe to be more nutritional?
T
By: Ziqi Chen
he qualities of soy milk make it a fantastic drink due to its numerous nutrients, such as protein and various essential minerals required by humans, and is known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;organic milkâ&#x20AC;?. It also contains a very similar nutritional value as dairy milk. We are, therefore, going to compare and contrast these two beverages, in an attempt to find out their suitability for various kinds of people.
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$
FEATURE Nutritional
PROTEIN Neither dairy milk nor soy milk contains a high proportion of protein. However, if it is really necessary to figure out the difference, then dairy milk contains 3% protein whilst soy milk contains 1.5% to 2% proportion of protein in every 100g. >> Winner: dairy milk FAT With regards to fat, soy milk occupies the more advantageous position. The fat level contained in soy milk is much lower than that in dairy milk, and are mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids that do not cause risk to health. Moreover, soy milk is well known for containing isoflavones, which has a beneficial effect in terms of preventing cholesterol absorption. As a result, ingesting soy milk for the long term helps to protect users from cardiovascular and cerebral problems. >> Winner: soy milk VITAMINS Dairy milk is rich in Vitamins A and D, whilst they are absent in soy milk. Dairy milk also contains more Vitamin B than soy milk. It has 8 types of Vitamin B, compared to soy milk which contains 7 types, but lacking in Vitamin B12. However, the proportion of Vitamin E and K are higher in soy milk than in dairy milk. >> Winner: dairy milk wins by a narrow margin. DIETARY FIBER Ingesting moderate amounts of dietary fiber helps to expel toxins. In this case, soy milk is an absolutely winner, since it contains high levels of dietary fiber. In contrast, dietary fiber cannot be found in the dairy milk because it is derived from animals. >> Winner: soy milk CALCIUM As for calcium, dairy milk is a clear winner, since it contains five times more calcium than soy milk does, which explains why it has been domestically advocated for decades to drink dairy milk. Calcium contributes to boosting bone development and growth, and is an essential nutrient for children during their formative age. >> Winner: dairy milk OTHERS Soy milk contains soy isoflavones, which play a significant role with women who are going through menopause. This natural resource is able to improve skin conditions, such as tightening saggy facial skin, thus making it wrinkle-free. Apart from this, soy milk contains abundant minerals such as phosphorus, and iron which is 25 times more than that contained in diary milk. It is known that there are instances when people feel sick after drinking diary milk, while occasionally there are those who suffer from the same symptoms when drinking soy milk. The reason is that this group of people is sensitive to oligosaccharide and anti-nutritional factors, which cause gas and bloating. However, the side effects are not harmful to health if there is no abnormality of the intestinal system. The treatment is to control the volume of drink when ingesting it for the first time and then to gradually increase it so that the intestinal system has time to adapt to these sensitive compounds. Soy milk, as a plant-based product, is less likely to be contaminated when processed. In fact, soy milk can be homemade and it is rare to use fake soy beans.
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To sum up, both soy milk and dairy milk are highly nutrient beverages which can help absorb protein effectively. Dairy milk has an advantage when it comes to ingesting calcium, while the drawback is that it contains a high level of cholesterol, thus it is not ideal for losing weight and may cause health concerns such as atherosclerosis. On the contrary, soy milk has beneficial effects regarding coronary artery matters, but lacks calcium. Seven Notices To Be Aware of When Drinking Soy Milk 1. Heat soy milk to boiling temperature It is important to make sure that you cook the soy milk at high a temperature to inactivate anti-nutritional factors, such as soyasaponins and trypsin inhibitors. These may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms of poisoning. Generally speaking, many families know that it is necessary to boil soy milk before drinking it. However, many of them turn off the heat immediately when it seemingly arrives at boiling point. Experts points out when it starts forming foam on the surface, the temperature is approximately 89 to 90 Celsius degrees, which is not boiling, thus not enough to inactivate the anti- nutritional factors, The milk must still be continuously boiled for another 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10 minutes, but moderated so it does not spill out of the container. 2. Avoid having soy milk and eggs at same time In China, a traditional way to cook soy milk is to boil it with eggs, as it is assumed that nutrients must be doubled, which is misguided and not based on scientific fact. The egg white compound, called mucoproteins, combines with the trypsin in the soy milk very easily, and consequently produces a digestible substance that blocks nutrients of both the eggs and soy milk from being absorbed. 3. Do not drink soy milk on an empty stomach Do not feed babies soy milk on an empty stomach. The proteins contained in soy milk can mostly metabolize into energy for a grown person. However, this does not work for babies, due to immature intestinal systems that cannot absorb nutrients this way. Therefore, an appropriate solution is to feed babies with food that contain carbohydrates, such as bread, buns, and biscuits, which promote the absorption of nutrients. 4. Do not serve soy milk with brown sugar Brow sugar contains organic acids, such as acetic acid and D-lactic acid, which can combine with the protein and calcium in the soy milk to form compounds such as calcium acetate and calcium lactate. These compounds can negatively impact the nutrient values of soy milk, and have an unfavorable influence on their absorption. 5. Do not preserve soy milk in a vacuum bottle When soy milk is preserved in a vacuum bottle for three to four hours it will result in bacteria largely increasing in a mildtemperature environment. 6. Drink moderate amount of soy milk Drink soy milk in moderation, since large volumes may engender feeling ill, such as feeling bloated, cause diarrhea, and other symptoms due to the overwhelming amount of protein. 7. Do not drink soy milk with medication Some antibiotics such as Erythromycin are able to break down the nutrients contained in soy milk, and even trigger harmful side effects.
Chinese Zodiac
FEATURE
2014
Chinese Zodiac Fortunes By: ChaoHu, ZiQi Chen, LinJiao Mao, YueYu, JieXin,JiaWen Wu
(Part 2 of a 2 part series article) Text by: Master Hui
The New Year is once again upon us, and for those of you who are concerned about your fortunes next year, our magazine has prepared a gift for you to usher in the New Year. We invited famous fortune-telling expert Master Hui Jie to predict your zodiac fortunes for the coming year - hopefully this will help bring in good fortune all year round
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FEATURE Chinese Zodiac
Horse
Horses have bad fortune this year hence it is important to balance your income and outgoings. Do not make high risk investments.
FORTUNE If you were born in the Year of the Horse, you will not be very lucky in 2014. You may encounter many frustrations at work which will cause stress and unhappiness. Careers will often change and it will be a challenge to find a new job, hence just continue doing what you normally do. Accumulate more skills and experience which will lay a solid foundation for later on in your career. Be kind to others, obey the law and be disciplined, communicate more, be involved in more collective activities and accept your friends’ advice modestly. Do financial planning and avoid risky investments. WEALTH Horses have bad fortune this year hence it is important to balance your income and outgoings. Do not make high risk investments. Take the advice of family and friends in cases which involve money matters. Be careful when trying to cooperate with casual acquaintances without obtaining a deep knowledge of them. Do not be fooled by their compliments and appearances. RELATIONSHIPS Horses are not good at having relationships this year. Couples will often quarrel with each other because of mood swings. Mutual tolerance, understanding and patience can help to avoid hurting each other. Single men and women should grab opportunities when fate comes along. Married people need to maintain a distance when having contact with the opposite sex in order to avoid damage to family relationships. Horses who want to get married without any bad influence should choose the best day for their wedding according to the birthday of both partners. HEALTH Those who were born in the Year of the Horse may suffer much in 2014, hence be careful in case of damage to health. Those with gastrointestinal problems should develop healthy eating habits and have regular physical checkups. Horses should pay more attention to driving and obeying traffic regulations to avoid accidents. Keep sharp tools away from children. 94
Sheep
FORTUNE People under the sign of the Sheep (Ram) are going to encounter their “Suihe” Lucky Star in the Year of the Green Wooden Horse, so 2014 will be an excellent year for them since they will have a great opportunity to develop their career. Male Sheep will be assisted by a number of Lucky Stars, especially in their career due to the Sun Star in their Self Palace, so they will get promoted easily. With regard to wealth, matters will probably also run well. Sheep engaged in business will be likely to develop a brand new plan if they follow the sound advice given by experienced friends. It is important that Sheep remember to try and keep a modest attitude at all times when achieving success in their career in case they get deceived by jealous people. Additionally, maintain general health and combine work with reasonable rest. WEALTH In general, there appear to be an increase in wealth for people born in the Year of the Sheep. Professionals will be able to show their outstanding talent and creative skills. As a result, they are more likely to hear good news of salary increases. Moreover,
Chinese Zodiac
2014 will be an ideal year for people who want to run their own business, because they will receive assistance from their Lucy Stars and successfully tackle obstacles. People engaged in an unpredictable career, such as insurance, and housing agencies, will be rewarded with welcome bonuses due to getting more contracts signed. However, it is worth pointing out that Sheep must learn to balance their income and outgoings, but in 2014 this skill will improve and every penny will be spent in the area that it is supposed to be. Consequently, Sheep will enjoy a colorful life in 2014 and will be able to save. RELATIONSHIPS Single people under the sign of the Sheep will experience extraordinary luck with the opposite sex, especially females will very likely meet nice guys with ideal characteristics and good financial status. People who are in a relationship or engaged will continuously get along well with their partners, and may get married this year. Hence it is better to prepare for the wedding earlier. Married people may welcome their first born child, and men may attract other females since they achieve success in their career. Therefore, it is better not to be too passionate with the opposite sex, in case of creating negative influences within their marriage. HEALTH People under the sign of the Sheep will maintain general health, and not be diagnosed with serious diseases. Conditions will get milder in 2014 for those who were previously suffering from illness. Since Sheep in the year of the Horse will have a wonderful career, it is inevitable to dine with colleagues or business partners. Be aware that an unhealthy diet, excessive volumes of alcohol, irregular times for meals and going to sleep, and mental pressure will trigger intestinal problems. Try to exercise regularly and decline unnecessary social activities in order to prevent illness.
Monkey FORTUNE Bad luck exceeds good luck. The overall fortune in the Year of Horse is not very ideal. There could be people who will often try to stop you from moving forward, which could result in reduced efficiency at work. Hence, try not to rely on others and carry out your business by yourself step by step, else it could be difficult for you to achieve success. While you are under bad fortune,
FEATURE
patience becomes quite important and staying away from gossip would also help you with your work. Attempt to think out solutions rather than try to run away from them when facing problems with your work. Keep your mind clear and sharp to steer away from getting yourself involved in any unnecessary lawsuits, especially when dealing with paperwork concerning your own company. It is advisable to stick to what you have already accomplished rather than to expand if you are doing business currently. For those of you who are trying to start out on a new career, it is advisable to prepare well in advance and seek help from others. Whatever it is that you want to do, make sure you have given it full consideration before making any decisions. WEALTH If you were born in the Year of the Monkey, you may encounter trouble related to money. Therefore, you should avoid lending money to either your relatives or friends in order to stay away from trouble. Overall, it is not a good year for making a fortune, hence it is important to manage your money wisely and try to live frugally. You should invest in a moderate way, namely, study the market carefully, and “hit and run” before you get yourself into any possible trouble due to greed. Remember to be cautious about people with bad intentions to prevent being defrauded. Learn to distinguish good investment opportunities and honest partners. RELATIONSHIPS Your love-life could be problematic as you step into 2014. Married couples will be busy with business trips and be more apart than together. Your love-life will also become duller and will have almost no passion left, which could possibly result in a husband looking for a mistress, and eventually threaten your marriage. For those who are unmarried, there could be frequent arguments amongst lovers, which may endanger relationships with girlfriends or boyfriends. Therefore, be honest, tolerant and understanding with each other. Try to work matters out when you encounter any problems, so as to protect your relationships from falling apart. It does not seem to be a good year to find a life partner if you are a bachelor. Even if you are in a relationship, it could turn out to be just a mare’s nest. Remember not to over-trust any online dating sites and settle for a casual lover for the sake of being involved in a relationship. HEALTH Your health condition may not be very satisfying. You could also be quite upset as a result of things going against your will at work, when trying to make your fortune, or in your love-life. It may lead to problems such as insomnia and abnormal blood pressure. In order to avoid all these potential problems, you need to adjust your emotions to these possible circumstances, rest more and just let things be as they are. For those who are past their middle-age, be concerned about problems of your heart and lungs, as old illnesses could re-occur or even get worse. Pay attention to traffic to eliminate the possibility of accidents if you drive yourself. Make sure to take good care of yourself when undertaking long journeys as endemic and gastrointestinal problems could occur during such journeys or being in a different area. Try to avoid any metal knives to protect yourself from getting hurt. 95
FEATURE Chinese Zodiac
Chinese Rooster FORTUNE This is generally a very auspicious year for the Rooster in the Year of the Horse. Career-wise, benefactors of the opposite gender will appear. You may work with great facility and realize your ambition, for you will be appreciated and trusted by your superiors, and be promoted to an important post as well, which may put your knowledge and experience to extremely good account. But more than anything, there is hope for you to get a promotion and be given a raise. At the same time you should be modest and prudent, guard against arrogance and rashness, and minimize friction between yourself and others. If ever you come into conflict, endure and avoid having an altercation with others in order to reduce work-related resistance. Businessmen and investment professionals will have favorable opportunities this year, but you are well advised to also keep a beady eye on your rivals in order not to let any good opportunities go by. Do not be too ambitious and if you know when best to let it be, so much the better. WEALTH The Rooster will have a good performance in both fixed incomes and windfalls in 2014. Provided you work hard, it will repay your labor well, since it is possible for you to get promoted and be given a raise as well. Yet, compared with last year, you will have a higher expenditure this year, meaning you will have to be cautious. Business will develop smoothly with the help of benefactors. Therefore, this year’s profits will increase by a larger margin than ever before. However, businessmen should never engage in speculation and profiteering in case they break the law. Those who engage in trade would be better off investing rationally and optimizing investment strategies. Never get involved in highrisk investments in pursuit of profit maximization; otherwise you may spoil the ship for a halfpennyworth of tar. Do not expose your wealth – it will invite thieves. RELATIONSHIPS For the Rooster, the planets are lined up to give you what you need, so it is one of the best years for good fortune in romance. Married couples will live a happy life this year. However, due to too much good luck in adventures with women, you would be better off to keep your distance when associating with one of the opposite gender. As long as both sides can keep a cool head, a third party will never have the opportunity to break in. For singles who participate more in group activities and social events in the Year of the Horse, chances are that they will fall in love and find their ideal lifelong companion. For those who have been falling in love for a long time, it will be an ideal year to tie the knot. You may plan ahead for it. 96
HEALTH Major health problems will not occur to the Rooster as long as you watch your diet and have a regular routine. It is of great importance not to trouble yourself with trifles, and visit the doctor as soon as possible when you feel unwell. For the sake of work, you will have more social intercourse, especially dinner parties, which would be best to decline. If you must attend, a mainly light diet is preferable and overeating is not encouraged. You should further be moderate in your drinking, so as not to unduly burden your stomach and cause related diseases. Senior people should attach great importance to cardiovascular diseases. It will serve you well to have a general check-up at the beginning of the year since prevention is better than cure. Women planning pregnancies this year should be especially careful with gynecological problems.
Dogs
FORTUNE People born in the Year of the Dog will simultaneously have an ominous and auspicious fortune in the Year of the Horse. Base persons may hold up the development of your career, so it is important to build good interpersonal relationships by avoiding disputes and bickering. You may resort to a helpful person when in need. It is advisable to keep a low profile in everything you do. Communicate with colleagues and clients to ensure limited problems in performance. Working people should forge ahead, calmly face and solve all problems, be well-prepared and wait for an opportunity to make a difference. Businessmen should not invest heavily or expand business. This is a year to be conservative rather than aggressive. The operation and expenditure of a company should be dealt with carefully.
Chinese Zodiac
FEATURE
Maintain good business relationships with clients. Take special care of yourself and beware of any accidents that can be lethal. WEALTH With the possibility of overspending this year, the Dog should properly manage income and control a yearning for new items in order to make ends meet. The Dog is likely to be the victim of scams this year, so you must not be fooled by how things appear to be. Be especially careful when signing contracts to keep clear of quarrels and lawsuits. Be moderate in investment. Stop when earnings have been obtained. Do not be too greedy and let matters get out of control. Lock the windows and doors of your home to prevent thieves from entering. Guard valuable belongings. RELATIONSHIPS Dogs will have a bumpy year in relationships. If you are in a relationship, you are likely to be at odds with your partner because you may have different opinions on the same thing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cold warsâ&#x20AC;? may sometimes even erupt, in which case, tolerance will be the best solution. Think about the nice qualities that attracted you to your partner. Emotional crises can be solved with an active attitude on both sides. Single people are not very popular with the opposite sex this year. You will have to try very hard to get to know someone, but new relationships will not be very stable, so do not get too deeply involved to prevent yourself from being hurt. Married people should stay away from affairs. Do not indulge in temptations. HEALTH Dogs will have a precarious year in health, especially those with gastrointestinal problems. Maintain a healthy diet, get enough rest and remain calm to prevent sudden illnesses. Eat clean food. Do not eat raw or cold food. People who already have illnesses should keep an eye on the progression of their diseases, especially any acute onset. Do regular checkups to discover symptoms and treat them timely. Obey all traffic rules strictly if you drive. Get sufficient sleep, and do not drink and drive.
Dogs will have a precarious year in health, especially those with gastrointestinal problems.
Pig
FORTUNE In general, people born in the Year of Boar will have their prospects elevated, and get rid of the dooms which resulted from the conflicts with Tai Sui last year. This year you will make a dramatic breakthrough in your career with the constant help from others. If you are a jobholder, keep in mind that cooperation with others will bring you many more opportunities to achieve success and win the appreciation of your boss so as to get promoted or receive a pay rise. However, do not show off yourself in case for envy and gossip. If you are an investor your business will step onto a brand-new stage. A bold mind will assist you to expand market-share. Pay attention to ventures. Keep them in a moderate dimension for the sake of money issues. WEALTH You will have a fairly good income this year. Jobholders will more likely get a pay rise coupled with steady wages. If you engage in business, windfall will strike you looking forward to the big picture. It is not recommended, though, to venture into a high-risk or go-go investment, otherwise you might lose money or even incur lawsuits. Keep doors locked to prevent thieves from breaking into your house. Further, raise the awareness of safety and take your valuables with you wherever you go. RELATIONSHIPS Love affairs will run smoothly this year, such as a marriage if the time for it has come. In like manner, single people are strongly advised to take an active part in socializing and creating a better environment to come across your Mr. or Mrs. Right. Whereas there may be chemistry between you and the opposite sex, it is of importance to keep your nose clean. Mind your step with friends, especially when you are married, or it may ruin your reputation. Staying humble and cautious will always be helpful to establish a good social network with colleagues so that it paves the way for your success. HEALTH By and large, health is not a problem, but you also need to pay attention to exercise adequately to ensure that you will not be knocked over by laborious tasks and the endless whirl of society. Perhaps it is preferable to decline some unnecessary entertainment from time to time. If you have to partake, go home as soon as possible. For the young particularly, kidney and urinary system issues deserve your attention, so a regular body check-up will be a suitable precaution. Avoid partaking excessively in sport which may give rise to the potential of ostealgia. As for females, gynecopathy prevention is a long-term matter. Last but not least, balancing your diet is important to maintain your health. 97
FEATURE Super-yachts
Superyachts
By: Xu Jingxia
Every billionaire has a yacht or super-yacht. You need to spend an average of $22 million to purchase and then maintain it. According to the Fortune magazine, one of the eight most expensive assets that one can buy is a yacht.
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Super-yachts
FEATURE
THE WORLD’S BIGGEST AND MOST EXPENSIVE YACHT Name: Azzam
Price: $600 million
Private suites: 50
Azzam is about 180 meters (590 feet) long, which is longer than some of the average business oil tankers. Taking Lürssen Yachts four years to build, it is owned by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nayan. As a footnote, $600 million represents only 3.5 percent of Sheikh Khalifa’s total asset of $17 billion.
S
till a new industry in Asia, yachts are very common among the wealthy people in America and Europe. If you were one of the richest people in the world and were seen going to the F1 in Monaco or attend the Venice or Cannes Film Festival, you will feel embarrassed to walk down the red carpet without owning a yacht that is equipped with a helicopter. According to statistics, there are thousands of yachts in America, but only those longer than 76.75 feet (24 meters and over) can be called super-yachts. Many yachts can be seen in the harbours of coastal cities in Europe, which shows that a holiday by the sea has been part of the local people’s daily life. However, there are only about two hundred yachts in Asia and Australia. The big challenge that impedes the development of an Asian yacht industry is not the lack of money from the richest people, but the limited berths, certificates of
navigation and restrictions for going on broad. Without berths, you cannot sail yachts. Hong Kong had no berths until two years ago. But Sanya’s large harbour – in Hainan - is available for the richest people. And in Southeast Asia there are other opportunities for going out to sea, especially in the countries with numerous islands such as the south of Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. People can go fishing and diving to enjoy the high-notch of life. The sea and sky seem to blend, and whilst you enjoy the comfort, freedom and private space, you will forget all the troubles in a natural environment. Buying a yacht is expensive, but maintaining it costs more, which generally includes the hull’s rust resistance, staff and other running expenses. A year’s maintenance cost can amount to 20% of the price of the yacht. For a super-yacht, dozens or even hundreds of people may be employed on the yacht. Therefore, the average rich person cannot afford a super-yacht. And that is why the super rich tend to rent out their yachts when they are not in use. Of course, there are professional companies offering rental services and the price depends on the yacht itself. Anyway, a yacht is no longer a status symbol for the really rich people, but has become part of their daily life. 99
REVIEW
Film Review
FilmSpector A front row look at what’s hot at the world of celluloid and online
THE FAMILY MAN
MAMMA MIA
HACHI
Jack Campbell, (played by Nicolas Cage) a successful businessman in New York, is happily living his single life. One day he wakes up with kids jumping on his bed. He’s also married to Kate Reynolds (played by Tea Leoni) who used to be his girlfriend 13 years ago. He becomes a tire salesman driving a mini-van instead a Ferrari. After discovering his “real” life has been eliminated, he tries to fit in with his newly appointed life as a family man. Day by day he’s more confident in his new life and starts to grape what he’s been missing.
An independent, single mother Donna (played by Meryl Streep) who runs a tourist villa on a Greek island is about to hold a wedding for her daughter Sophie. Sophie, without knowing whom her father is, found an old diary and thus secretly invited three guests to identify her father who would walk her down the wedding aisle. These three mid-aged men (Pirece Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard) brought Donna back to her romantic memory 20 years prior. In the end, Sophie found her father and Donna resumed true love with her real husband.
Based on the 1987 Japanese film as well as on a true story, Hachi: A Dog’s Tale stars Richard Gere as a college professor, Parker Wilson, who adopted an abandoned dog and took it home then became closed friends. Even after professor Parker died of heart stroke, Hachi kept waiting in front of train station for nine years in the belief that his human companion would come back to take him home.
Director Brett Ratner offers a dilemma to the audience that what one would choose: money, fame, power, and success or to choose poverty, love and screaming kids? This is the choice Jack faces in this film, so is an ordinary person. This film represents the “what if” of life in a great way and it also shows the struggle in dealing with dream that never comes true.
Mamma Mia is adapted from the 1999 Broadway Musical of the same title. Based on the songs of Swedish pop group ABBA, all of the audience breaks out into songs and feels like to jump and dance with music. It’s a delightful piece of filmmaking with a marvelous cast topped by Meryl Streep. Every character can dance and sing to the music, although some of them might be awkward. With the performance of these mid-aged actors and actresses, Mamma Mia seems to be a great summertime escape.
Money turns out good to have but not everything
http://www.dancuo.com/d-3204.html
A musical drama film draws back to memory of ABBA Album
A Dog’s Tale-Spiritual teacher to human beings
Hachi’s story is a heartwarming and inspiring family drama, dealing with loyalty, patience and devotion. It’s an all-aged film, not only delightful to watch, but it’s spiritual lessons of loyalty, friendship, commitment and love. Through a dog’s perspective, the positive portrayals of family and marriage leave audiences with some important ideals to discuss with their family members. http://www.k50.cn/drama/ zhongquanbagongdegushi/
By: Hsiu Chiung Liu
http://www.71kb.com/gaoqing/3226. htm
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Film Review
REVIEW
NEBRASKA AMADEUS
Gifted genius vs. jealousy mediocre The film begins with the aging royal composer Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) recalls the events of three decades earlier. When young, genius Mozart (Tom Hulce) first captured appreciation of Austrian Emperor Joseph II (Jeffrey Jones), Salieri was so jealous as Mozart with divine gift. Unable to match Mozart’s talent, Salieri used his influence in court to sabotage Mozart. Salieri disguised himself as a mysterious benefactor and commissioned the backbreaking Requiem. Full of fear and being mentally deranged, Mozart became seriously ill, which deprived of Mozart’s health, wealth and life. Most movies about artists (painters, composers, authors, etc.) tend to be dull and less interesting than the work itself. Amadeus is an exception. Director Milos Forman has created an amazing portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, filled with rich details, powerful drama. Amadeus is an achievement, deserving of eight Oscars Awards in 1985. Amadeus reminds us that movies can be lyrical as well as vulgar, ambitious as well as playful, brilliant as well as down and dirty—just like Amadeus himself. http://www.yc23.cn/juqing/ mozhatechuan/
Directed by: Alexander Payne Cast: Bruce Dern Will Forte Bob Odernkirk Story line: An aging father Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) received a mail from Sweepstakes Marketing Company, saying that he won a million dollar prize. Grant decided to travel from Montana to Lincoln, Nebraska to claim the prize. He was stopped by his son, David Grant (Will Forte), who warned his father the mail as a “scam”. A quest of fortune between father and son then developed. The film was shot black and white because Payne wanted to produce an “iconic, archetypal look” of the movie. (06 Feb 2014 )
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallee Cast: Matthew McConaughey Jennifer Gamer Jared Leto Story line: The film tells a story of a Texas electrician Ron Woodroof(Matthew McConaughey) and his battle with the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies after being diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1986. He tries very hard in search for alternative treatments that later helps establishing a way in which fellow HIV-positive people could join for access to his supplies. (23 Jan 2014)
MANDELA-LONG WALK TO FREEDOM Directed by: Justin Chadwick Cast: Idris Elba Naomie Harris Terry Pheto Story line: The film is based on South Africa President Nelson Mandel’s autobiography of the same title. It also chronicles his childhood in a rural village, his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society. (27 Feb 2014) 101
REVIEW
Art
events & happenings around the art world
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ROMEO AND JULIET BY SINGAPORE DANCE THEATRE 13-16 March 2014 • Thu, 13 - Sun, 16 Mar 2014 • Thu - Fri: 8pm • Sat : 1pm & 8pm • Sun: 1pm & 7pm
WHERE: Esplanade Theatre Singapore Dance Theatre will open the 2014 Season with one of the greatest love stories in the classical ballet repertoire - Romeo and Juliet. Set against a powerful score by Sergei Prokofiev, with gorgeous costumes and set designs by Peter Cazalet, Romeo and Juliet was the only full-length classical ballet by Singaporean mastercraftsman in dance, Goh Choo San, known for his widely-acclaimed and award-winning choreographic works. The ballet, inspired by Shakespeare’s timeless love story, beautifully retells Shakespeare’s poignant and timeless love story with Goh’s moving and breath-taking choreography. The ballet, set in Verona tells the story of the Capulets and the Montagues who are sworn enemies. A ball is held at the Capulet’s home that evening, and Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio decide to attend the ball, wearing masks. At the ball, Romeo and Juliet are brought together by Fate and they fall deeply in love. Will the star-crossed lovers overcome all odds and live happily ever after? Or will their romance land them in a tragedy? http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/romeo0314
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By: Lucy kusnadi
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Standard: S$30, S$50, S$70 VIP Box: S$70 Box B - G: S$50 Restricted View: S$30, S$50
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GALA: SUMI JO (SSO) 20 Feb 2014 • Thu, 7.30pm
Standard: S$168, S$138, S$108, S$78, S$58, S$30 VIP Box: S$210 WHERE: Esplanade Concert Hall “A voice from above” Herbert von Karajan Praised for the remarkable agility, precision and warmth of her voice, Sumi Jo has established herself as one of her generation’s most sought-after coloratura sopranos. She returns for a onenight only gala concert with the SSO, performing a selection of breathtaking arias from famous operas such as The Merry Widow, Romeo et Juliette and The Tales of Hoffman, as well as the deeply beautiful Vocalise by Rachmaninov. http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/ssoe200214
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THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER Wed, 26 Feb - Sat, 15 Mar 2014 • Mon, Tue & Fri: 9.30am & 11.30am • Wed & Thu: 9.30am, 11.30am & 2.30pm • Sat: 10.30am & 2.30pm
Standard: S$32, S$30 WHERE: Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel I Theatre’s first production for the year 2014, this 50 minutes musical is suitable for THE WHOLE FAMILY - ANYONE 3 years old and above! A fast-paced and interactive musical, full of delight. Based on the famous Aesop’s Fable - with colourful characters, puppets and tuneful, catchy songs. Specially created with the younger audience in mind, but with unexpected twists and turns to keep even the grownups engaged, involved and on their toes! The play will explore key themes of friendship, rewards for hard work, using your time wisely, balancing the arts, leisure and work, working smart, generosity and making wise judgments. Written and Directed by Brian Seward Music Composed and arranged by Julian Wong http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/ant0314
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CONCERTS FOR CHILDREN: THE STORY OF BABAR, THE LITTLE ELEPHANT (SSO) 15 Mar 2014 • Sat, 11am & 1pm
Standard: Standard: $30, $25 WHERE: The Republic Cultural Centre (Theatre) BRITTEN Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 POULENC L’histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant Jean de Brunhoff’s popular children’s tale of one little elephant’s epic rise from rags to riches is eloquently set to music by Francis Poulenc, and expressively re-imagined with all the enthusiasm and pomp worthy of a royal gathering. Fusing the styles of Mary Poppins and Julia Childs, Britain’s own Symphonia Semi d’Quaver, the internationally renowned “Orchestra-ologist” and devoted fan of composer Henry Purcell, narrates the classic Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra with wit and a wink. Featuring Jason Lai as conductor.
Art
REVIEW
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SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL 2014 Thu, 27 Feb - Sun, 2 Mar 2014 • 6.30pm
ADVANCE BOOKINGS (2 Jan 2014 - 27 Feb 2014) VIP : S$280 A Reserve : S$118 A Reserve - Concession : S$106 B Reserve (Free Standing) : S$98 B Reserve (Free Standing) - Concession : S$88 GATE SALES VIP : S$280 A Reserve : S$128 A Reserve - Concession : S$115 B Reserve (Free Standing) : S$118 B Reserve (Free Standing) - Concession : S$106 WHERE: Event Plaza, MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands; Event Plaza The inaugural Singapore International Jazz Festival (Sing Jazz 2014), presented by Orbis Festival Productions Pte Ltd, will be held from 27 February to 2 March 2014. Supported by two worldclass partners from the leisure and entertainment industries, the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort and the Java International Jazz Festival, Sing Jazz 2014 features four days of memorable performances by a multitude of international jazz stars alongside the cream of local and regional talent. Sing Jazz 2014, and its parallel satellite events, showcases the creative essence of jazz at its most enduring live and spontaneous; while at the same time acknowledging and embracing influences across other genres of music. By featuring an impressive array of multi-awarded international artists at the iconic Marina Bay Sands setting, Sing Jazz 2014 is positioned to establish itself as a landmark festival to Singapore’s annual cultural calendar. http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/sing0314
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BANE Sat, 8 - Sun, 9 Feb 2014 • Sat & Sun: 8pm
Standard: S$90, S$70, S$50 WHERE: Drama Centre Theatre Bane is a one-man one-musician series of comedy dramas. Gun for hire, Bruce Bane, is the central character and he must find out who is trying to kill him before it’s too late. With no props, or set, Joe Bone plays all the characters and Ben Roe plays all the music in these thrilling fast paced productions. Bane combines Hollywood motifs with sharp theatrical techniques, live music, and hilarious physical action, to create an hour of comedy storytelling like no other. http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/bane0214
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Book shelf
The Tai Chi Bible Dan Docherty
Price: S$18.6 Publisher: Godsfield Press
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Dan Docherty presents practical Tai Chi Quan - the most common techniques - and explains them with reference to the Ming dynasty book The Classic of Boxing and to Chinese myth and legend. Through practising the relevant techniques, beginners can strengthen their constitution, while advanced practitioners will acquire renewed perspective into their regular practice. Drawing lessons from his rich experience in imparting Tai Chi concepts to students throughout the world, the author provides practical advice that will be of benefit to the novice and adept alike.
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A review of some of the latest good reads to entertain and stimulate your mind
Complete Asian Cookbook: Indonesia, Malaysia & Singapore Charmaine Solomon
Price: S$22 Publisher: Hardie Grant
The Complete Asian Cookbook series is based on Charmaine Solomonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s groundbreaking work into the diverse, amazing cuisines across many nations. For the first time, The Complete Asian Cookbook is divided into six geographical regions, with respective complementary designs so they may be collected as a complete set. With the same emphasis on authentic recipes that work every time, The Complete Asian Cookbook series promises to be engaging and useful time and again.
Mandela: In Celebration Of A Great Life Charlene Smith
Price: S$26 Publisher: New Holland Publishing The measure of a politician is not in his or her words; that would apply to spin doctors. Instead, it is in the improvements they have brought to the lives of their people. Nelson Mandelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s release from prison and his election as South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first democratically appointed president, ushered in a new age of hope and aspiration. To a people who had endured violence and injustice, and who had been stripped of dignity, Mandela brought hope, pride and a new patriotism. It was in having courage to do the unexpected, withstanding criticism from friends, extending a warm hand to enemies and caring for the most humble, that his status as one of the greatest statesman was consolidated.
By: Jolynn Chia
REVIEW
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Eat Yourself Happy Gill Paul
Price: S$12 Publisher: Hamlyn
This is an informative guide to eating right and improving your mindset. Featured in this book are key foods that have been proven to enhance the wellbeing of our minds and bodies. An astute problemsolver that helps you choose ingredients that address your symptoms, and the results are impressive. With over 60 easy-to-follow, quick-to-prepare, delicious recipes and weekly meal planners, Eat Yourself Happy is an exciting journey to boost your mood and obtain optimal health.
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Small Change: Investment Made Simple Goh Eng Yeow
Price: S$14.02 Publisher: Straits Times Press This book tells you how to grow your nest egg simply by adjusting your approach to making investments. Goh Eng Yeow, who has spent decades around financial markets and writing about investing, reveals why some people make millions while others fail badly; how financial disasters can be golden opportunities for those with the right attitude; and how to apply common sense in making investment picks.cabbies, which offers a peek into the inside story.
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A Change of Appetite: A Year of Better Eating Diana Henry
Price: S$45 Publisher: Mitchell Beazley What happened when one of the world’s most adored and esteemed food writers had a change of appetite? Here are the dishes that Diana Henry created when she started to crave a different kind of diet - less heavy food and meat, more vegetable-, fish- and grain-based dishes - often inspired by the cuisines of the Middle East and Far East, but also drawing on gastronomical ideas from places like Georgia to Scandinavia.
FEATURE Event
Pass on love to
the elderly Most elderly would dread going into a hospital but not the forty elderly from Sarah and Evergreen Circle Seniors Activity Centre, projects under the Presbyterian Community Services.
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n 14 Dec 2013, they were invited by the owner of Samsara Gourmet, Ms Violet Lee, to a Christmas dinner specially prepared for them. Together with her good friend, Jennie Lee, they met one day and came up with the idea of doing some charity for the older people. Violet very kindly offered her newly opened restaurant, located in the posh Mount Elizabeth, Novena hospital. Jennie roped in her staff from Spring Publishing and became waiters and entertainers for the evening. And what entertainers they were, getting the elderly clapping and singing in enthusiastic participation, besides the eating. Ms Violet Lee, a former Miss Singapore in the 80s, spent over 20 years in China and has built her career there in property development from scratch. But last year, she walked away from all that success to come back to Singapore to take care of her ageing parents. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel that the older generation of Singaporeans have done a lot to help build this country. It is time we do something for them!â&#x20AC;? says Violet. Samsara Gourmet, the first of its kind to be located in a hospital, was started by Ms Violet with the vision to provide a cosy venue for patients and visiting family members to enjoy and have quality bonding over food.
By: Sherry
Jennie, a successful publisher and event organizer, an entrepreneur in her own right, has always been actively doing charity work. This time she decided to rope in her staff to help spread the joy of Christmas to those less fortunate.
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by Tea Chapter
Imperial Golden Cassia is a famous light fermented tea from An Xi of Fu Jian province with a light flowery Osmanthus-like aroma. After serving Queen Elizabeth ll this signature tea during her visit on the 10th of October 1989, Tea Chapter decided to name it “Imperial Golden Cassia”. Definitely a tea fit for the Queen. its health benefits include enhance blood circulation, good skin complexion, and may also prevent cancer Simply answer the survey below and submit to Spring Publishing Pte Ltd, 61 Upper Paya Lebar Road, #05-02A, Tat Wan Building, Singapore 534816
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Winning time Joke Lifestyle products Curing tooth decay with maggot 6 Astonishing Numbers Managing menopause Dental Health Cover Story: George Clooney Special Feature : Travelling makes you healthier The Magic of Alkaline Water Investing 20K Faecal incontinence A fresh leash of life in one’s late years Three post-festival detox dishes Multivitamins Cool & Old The enemy of bad cholesterol Become a gym expert in weeks
Manage Your Financial Planning Cacao - Food of the Gods Financial management clinic Nine Tips to Protect Your Hearing Dangers of a sedentary lifestyle Dynamics of Life Defeat Yourself through Golf Is constipation a small problem? Yoga for Insomnia Astaxanthin Fitness Over 40 - Let’s Play, Singapore! Which Contains more Nutritional Value 2014 Chinese zodiac fortunes (Part 2) Super-yacht FilmSpector Art Section: Enjoying the Arts Bookworm Gathering at the Samsara Gourmet
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FEATURE Event
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The owners of the restaurant, Raymond and Violet Lee, welcomed the arrival of 39 elderly guests, and gave them lucky cookies to bless them with good luck and best wishes for the New Year.
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A sincere, warm speech by Raymond and Violet helped the elderly feel welcomed and relaxed. They await the food in uplifting music. Everyone was excited about the upcoming lucky draw.
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The elderly savored the feast with great relish. There were eight dishes in total. And the fish maw soup, which is the restaurantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature dish, won the hearts and conquered the taste buds of our guests.
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While the restaurant boss is speaking, our magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s publisher, Jennie Lee, led the editors to serve food. Usually, the editors are used to holding pens and typing on keyboards, this is their first time serving food. Even though they may be lacking in experience, they are full of sincerity.
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Our Chief Editor David served as the host for the event, and created a warm and lively atmosphere. However, he lost his voice as he was too enthusiastic, so our guests were rather concerned.
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This particular auntie was an extremely sporting guest. She participated in nearly every game we organized, and also called upon other friends to join her. In fact, every guest was actively engaged in our games.
Prizes for some of the games
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One of our games was that of exchanging five 5-cent coins for a pack of cereal. This invited warm response from the elderly, amongst whom many won prizes.
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Among our guests, two had birthdays in December, so the restaurant prepared longevity peaches for them. These peaches were the only ones on the island, air-flown from Beijing only the day before.
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Our event would not have been such a resounding success without the kind support of the staff from the nursing home, Laurence and Shirley. They said that it has been long since the elderly had so much fun, and would love to organize similar events in the future.
Goodie bag for everyone
Bronson
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Available at: Neogetic International Pte Ltd Blk 1026 Tai Seng Ave #06-3534 Tai Seng Ind Estate Singapore 534413
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SINGAPORE (Please indicate your choice) c 12 issues (2 years) of at $54 (U.P. $60 – 10% off newsstand price) + Bronson Professional Hair Curling Iron x1 c 18 issues (3 years) of at $72 (U.P. $90 – 20% off newsstand price) + Bronson Professional Titanium Straightening Iron x1 MALAYSIA (Please indicate your choice) c 12 issues (2 years) of at S$74 + receive 2 complimentary issues of c 18 issues (3 years) of at S$92 + receive 3 complimentary issues of
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Price: S$28.00 (200ml) www.rebirthskincare.com
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FADE OUT WHITE REJUVENATING ANTI-WRINKLE CREAM Fade Out has introduced a line of products to lift freckles, sun spots, age spots, pigmentation marks, and restore flawless clear complexion, in merely four weeks. Among the line of products introduced, Fade Out White Rejuvenating Anti-Wrinkle Cream is specially formulated for ageing skin to stimulate collagen production and protect against age-inducing free radicals. Not only will the skin tone appear lighter and more even, fine lines and wrinkles will appear reduced, and dark areas more faded.
Price: S$18.90 (50ml) Unity Healthcare, Mustafa, NHG Group Pharmacy, Robinsons, BHG, Changi General Hospital Pharmacy, cosmetic outlets and medical halls. www.boots.com for purchase, or www.fadeout.com for information
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HOLISTIC WAY PREMIUM LECITHIN Soy Lecithin chemically binds with cholesterol, and may lower cholesterol levels. It also assists with the neurotransmitters crucial for memory, muscle control, and brain function, therefore improves memory capacity and brain agility. Research suggests that Lecithin may be helpful for repairing liver damage, and protecting against liver damage. Lecithin also helps break down fats and improve blood circulation in the body. Price: S$26.00 (65 capsules) www.holisticway.com.sg
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GNC TRIFLEXâ&#x201E;˘ SPORT Triflex is an oral formulation for promoting joint health and treating age-related and sports-related injuries. The active ingredients in Triflex do more than simply relieve the symptoms of arthritis; they improve the lubrication of the joint and help regenerate lost cartilage. Triflex is a blend of the 4 most important natural compounds used for joint health, and their combination has been proven to provide synergistic relief for joint pain and inflammation. Price: S$88.70, GNC Member S$72.20 (240 caplets per bottle) www.gnc.com (not available on Singapore GNC website yet)
By: Jolynn Chia
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REBIRTH EMU LAVENDER MOISTURISING CREAM Pure emu oil is renowned for its anti-inflammatory benefits and penetrating ability, the latter of which is attributed to high levels of oleic acid. Therefore, it can relax muscles and help to alleviate pain associated with Arthritis. Besides, emu oil is also highly effective in repairing damaged skin as well as reducing itchiness and flaking of dry skin.
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PRIME - Holistic Way Promotion Name ___________________________________________________________ I/C No____________________ Age _____ Gender _______ Marital Status _______ Occupation _______________________ Address ________________________________________________________ Tel No ______________________(H/O) ______________________(HP) E-mail ___________________________________________________ How To Win: Fill in your details and mail this coupon to PRIME - Holistic Way Premium Acai Berry 500mg Promotion, Spring Publishing Pte Ltd, 61 Upper Paya Lebar Road, #05-02A Tat Wan Building, Singapore 534816. Closing date: March 15, 2014. Only one entry per participant; multiple submissions will be disqualified. Only posted entries submitted on original coupons will be accepted. Employees of Spring Publishing Pte Ltd, all sponsors and their advertising agencies are not eligible for entry. Winners will be notified by post. All prizes must be claimed within one month of notification, and are not exchangeable for cash or transferable.Spring Publishing will not be held responsible for late, damaged or lost entries.
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OSIM UCOZY Sitting in front of a computer for prolonged hours usually leads to chronic neck pain and painfully tense shoulder. uCozy is designed for effective support and pampering to provide quick relief of muscle aches. The ergonomically shaped massage nodes in the uCozy neck and shoulder massager ease tense and aching muscles with its robust dual-directional kneading action. The lightweight and portable uCozy massager is wonderfully user-friendly, and operates at the touch of a button. Price: S$98.00 (Usual Price: S$188.00) www.osim.com
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CENTRUM Centrum for Men and Centrum for Women each consists of 24 essential vitamins and minerals, ranging from A to Zinc, the proportions of which are adjusted accordingly to cater to the specific physical and psychological needs of each gender. In the National Nutritional Survey done by the Health Promotion Board in 2010, nearly one in every two Singaporeans ate outside six times a week or more. Thus, most of us are unlikely to obtain the daily recommended intake of nutrients. Centrum researchers have compressed key nutrients into a single multi-vitamin capsule to cater to the hectic lifestyle of Singaporeans. The formulation of Centrum for Men and Centrum for Women aims to attain healthy energy release, strong immunity, radiant skin and defence from environmental stress. Price: $42 for 60 tablets Available at all large supermarkets and pharmacies
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GARDENIA ENRICHED WHOLEMEAL BREAD (100%) Specially catered for those who dislike the grainy texture of traditional wholemeal breads, the Gardenia Enriched Wholemeal Bread (100%) is super soft, so it is ideal for people who wish to switch from white bread to the healthier wholemeal. Whole-grains contain loads of goodness as they are rich in beneficial phytochemicals and antioxidants, and also serves as a great source of dietary fibre, Vitamins B, E and Iron. A regular intake of whole-grains has been proven to reduce risks of heart disease, diabetes, constipation and certain cancers. Price: $1.70 for 300g Available at all major supermarkets and selected convenience stores
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NUS ARTS FESTIVAL 2014 – CONSUMED NUS Arts Festival 2014 (NAF 2014) presents food for thought about what we consume and what consumes us. Enjoy a diverse spread of performances exploring our favourite pre-occupations from shopping and eating, to deeper reflection of the nature of human motivation. Themed “CONSUMED,” the Festival asks, “Can we consume without being consumed?” This year’ performances includes original collaborations with arts professionals and students, including Overdrive: A Triple Bill, presenting dancers from Israel, Japan and Taiwan, and Traces <<走过>> by NUS Dance Synergy and Re:Dance Theatre, and inspired by Literature Nobelist Gao Xing Jian’s script The Other Shore <<彼岸>>. Date: 14 to 29 March www.nusartsfestival.com, or Facebook “nusartsfestival”, for information www.sistic.com.sg for ticketing