Category: Health

The ElderShield scheme went through a reform in 2007 by the Ministry of Health. The ElderShield supplements ( ElderShield Lifetime Care 300) were introduced to cater to the needs of those who wish to obtain higher disability insurance coverage to cushion the impact of increasing healthcare expenses.

In the Basic plan , if one has to pay about $300 plus yearly which gives a monthly payout for up to 60mths.

The ElderShield Lifetime Care 300 , if one has to pay $400 -$600( varies from age difference), also female has to pay more!  With Lifetime you can continue to receive a monthly payout of $300 for life! 

1) Which is a better option, Basic Eldershield 300 Plan or the ElderShield Lifetime Care 300?

2) Is it compulsory for all the S’pore citizen to buy the above?

3) Which would you choose once you hit 55years of age?

4) Why is there such a discrepancy between the male and female premiums?

Do you know how to prevent loose teeth due to aging?
It’s not Calcium or Magnesium, it is vanadium, is a micro-mineral. You entire body contains about 100ug of it.

Unfortunately you don’t find it in most multivitamins–& our diets rarely contain enough. So most people have a deficiency. & one of the biggest effects of a vanadium deficiency is loose teeth.

Most vanadium in your bones tend to concentrate where it makes the bones surrounding your teeth tightly in their sockets. If you don’t have enough vanadium, these bones can’t hold onto teeth as well.

Foods highest in vanadium are buckwheat (~30ug/ounce), parsley (~25ug/ounce), oats (~10ug/ounce), & egg (13ug/ounce). Unforunately, most people don’t eat enough of these foods to get the vanadium they need.

The solution is to take a vanadium supplement, but you must be careful because it can cause toxicity. 50mg vanadium sulfate/cap contains 10mg pure vanadium. Since only 1% of dieatary vanadium actually gets absorbed, taking 10mg will get you 1/10th of a mg—>100ug into your body. This is the total amount you should have in your body. About once a week is a great way to ensure that your teeth stay right they belong, without toxicity.

My body has somehow or
rather like coconut water, knowing that it was good in some way, now I
know scientifically why, and also why 100plus just does not work for me
in fact it has a laxative effect on me especially after a meal. 

Coconut properties that have been known to help : .

Coconut Water contains organic compounds possessing healthy growth-promoting

• Keep the body cool and at the proper temperature
• Orally re-hydrate your body; it is an all-natural isotonic beverage
• Carry nutrients and oxygen to cells
• Naturally replenish your body’s fluids after exercising
• Raise your metabolism
• Promote weight-loss
• Boost your immune system
• Detoxify and fight viruses
• Cleanse your digestive tract
• Control diabetes
• Aid your body in fighting viruses that cause the flu, herpes, and AIDS
• Balance your PH and reduce risk of cancer
• Treat kidney and urethral stones
• Boost poor circulation

 Coconut Water Information
Compilied by John Kohler

The English name coconut, first mentioned in English print in 1555, comes from Spanish and Portugese word coco, which
means ‘monkey face.’ Spanish and Portugese explorers found a
resemblance to a monkey’s face in the three round indented markings or
‘eyes’ found at the base of the coconut. On the Nicobar Islands of the
Indian Ocean , whole coconuts were used as currency for the purchace of
goods until the early part of the twentieth century.

Coconuts
are the fruit of the coconut palm, botanically known as cocos nucifera,
with nucifera meaning ‘nut-bearing.’ The fruit-bearing palms are native
to Malaysia , Polynesia and southern Asia, and are now also prolific in
South America , India , the Pacific Islands , Hawaii and Florida . The
light, fibrous husk allowed it to easily drift on the oceans to other
areas to propagate. In Sanskrit, the coconut palm is known as kalpa vriksha,
meaning ‘tree which gives all that is necessary for living,’ since
nearly all parts of the tree can be used in some manner or another. The
coconut itself has many food uses, including milk, meat, sugar and oil
as well as functioning as its own dish and cup. The husk was also
burned for fuel by natives, but today a s! eed fibre called coir
is taken from the husk and used to make brushes, mats, fishnets, and
rope. A very potent fermented toddy or drink is also made from the
coconut palm’s sap. Coconut oil,
a saturated fat made fro! m dried coconut meat, is used for commercial
frying and in candies and margarines, as well as in non-edible products
such as soaps and cosmetics.

Although it takes up to a year
for coconuts to mature, the trees bloom up to thirteen times a year, so
fruit is constantly forming yielding a continuous harvest year-round.
An average harvest from one tree runs about 60 coconuts, with some
trees yielding three times that amount. The coconut’s name is a bit of
a misnomer, since it is botanically classified as a drupe and not a
nut.. It is the largest seed known.

If
you’ve ever opened a fresh coconut, you will have seen the thin, opaque
almost clear coconut juice or water which has a slight almond flavor.
Contrary to popular belief, this is not
the coconut milk. However, the water is consumed as a drink fresh from
the coconut by many, and it can also be used in recipes.

Here is some information about Coconut Water
http://www.rawguru.com/store/raw-food/organic_wild_young_coconuts.html

It’s
a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic
balance as we have in ! our blood. It’s the fluid of life, so to
speak.’ In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the
conflict regularly used coconut water – siphoned directly from the nut
– to give emergency plasma transfusions to wounded soldiers.

Most
coconut water is still consumed fresh in tropical coastal areas – once
exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its organoleptic and
nutritional characteristics, and begins to ferment.
Coconut Water is More Nutritious than whole milk – Less fat and NO cholesterol!

• Coconut Water is More Healthy than Orange Juice – Much lower calories
• Coconut Water is Better than processed baby milk- It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother’s milk
• Coconut water is naturally sterile — Water permeates though the filtering husk!
• Coconut water is a universal donor– Its identical to human blood plasma
• Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage – The same level we have in our blood.
• Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries thru Coconut IV
  Coconut
  water is the very stuff of Nature, biologically Pure, full of Natural
  Sugars, Salts, and Vitamins to ward off fatigue…. and is the next
  wave of energy drinks BUT natural!’, according to Mortin Satin, Chielf
  of the United Nation’s Food & Agriculture Organization.

  Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.

  Coconut water has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200 mg!

  Coconut water has 5mg of
  Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars.

  Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg, compared to sports drinks at about 39mg.

  Data is based on a 100ml drink

Hydraporine

Nobel Prize Discovery

HYDRAPORINE regulates the skin water channels to guarantee maximum water level retention in the dermis & prevent skin surface water loss 24 hours a day – resulting in super, supple & glowing skin.

Come discover the innovative skin hydration system with Lendan!

• For those who want to stay young!
• Those who want to know why they are ageing prematurely!
• Especially for those Silverhairs!!

Invitation to LENDAN in SINGAPORE 2008

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Function Hall (Near Tanglin Gate)

5^th July 2008   1.00 – 5.00pm.

AWAKENING

• Lendan’s Oasis (Open to public)
•  Exhilarating Facial & Body Demo
• Alluring Beauty Promotions
• Personal Skin Analysis
• Grand Lucky Draw!  

Host: Tan Chian Wah

ADVICE FROM UKM MEDICAL DOCTOR

Little did you know …… after reading THIS, you’ll NEVER look at petai
in the same way again! (info from Pheng Sok) 

Petai contains three natural sugars -sucrose, fructose and glucose.
Combined with fiber, petai gives an instant, sustained and substantial
boost of energy.

Research has proved that just two servings of petai
provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder
petai is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes. But energy
isn’t the only way petai can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome
or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it
a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND among people
suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating petai.

This is because petai contains tryptophan, a type of protein that the
body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your
mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS(premenstrual syndrome):
Forget the pills – eat petai.

The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood
glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:
High in iron, petai can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the
blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

 Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt,
making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and
Drug Administration has just allowed the petai industry to make official
claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and
stroke.

Brain Power :
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through
their exams this year by eating petai at breakfast, break, and lunch
in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the
potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:
High in fiber, including petai in the diet can help restore normal bowel
action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a petai
milkshake, sweetened with honey. The petai calms the stomach and,
with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while
the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:
Petai has a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from
heartburn, try eating petai for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness :
Snacking on petai between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels
up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites :
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected
area with the inside of the petai skin. Many people find it amazingly
successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:
Petai is high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight:
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work
leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at
5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more
likely to be in high-pressure jobs.

The report concluded that, to avoid
panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar
levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep
levels steady.

Ulcers:
Petai is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of
its soft texture and smoothness.

It is the only raw fruit that can be
eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes
over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control :
Many other cultures see petai as a ‘cooling’ fruit that can lower both the
physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers.

In Holland,
for example, pregnant women eat petai to ensure their baby is born
with a cool temperature..

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) :
Petai can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood
enhancer, tryptophan.

Smoking:
Petai can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they
contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help
the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends
oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance. When we
are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium
levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium petai
snack.

Strokes:
According to research in ‘The New England Journal of Medicine, ‘eating
petai as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by
as much as 40%’.

Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a
wart, take a piece of petai and place it on the wart. Carefully hold the
petai in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, as you can see, petai really is a natural remedy for many ills.

When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice
the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin
A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich
in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its
time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, ‘A Petai a day
keeps the doctor away’.

I
dont really like eating Petai, but there was a Chinese restaurant that
Daniel Kang brought me to in JB  that serves special Herbal
soup,  roasted pork and char siew (Malaysian style, crispier,
crunchy and saltier) and Petai sambal that really got me liking it but
not the way Catherine she can finish the whole plate. The Petai sambal
is cooked in a very refreshing way, with the Petai not overpowering but
complementing the sambal and the taste is spicy, hot with that peculiar
Petai taste dont overhang too long.

Daniel maybe you can post the
address of that restaurant her. I  would like to go there again and for those who
like to try it.  Secondly does anyone know anywhere else in
Singapore is Petai serve refreshingly nice. 

Lastly
Petai from what I heard, is not easily found in Singapore, so anyone
wants to comment on that.  In JB famous afternoon Wet Market (near Carefoure
and the Durian Festival) which is as impressive as
the ones you can find in Australia or States. I dont think I have found anywhere in Singapore where
you find a wide, wide variety of fresh meats, vegetables and fruits,
etc and of couse Petai in peeled or pod form quite cheaply.  So
here is to more Petai Power ??? 

 

 

Today, being a Sunday, I went to Lumpini Park (Bangkok).  Here, you will find many Thais with their famiies and clans practising all kinds of healthy exercises.  In particular, my focus was on the different groups practising Tai Chi in slow motion, dressed in colourful T-shirts and pants.  Usually, the men and women are spread over an area, as wide as the music can cover.  At the end of the session, the group would congregate for Chinese Tea and continue chatting until the sun bites into their skin.

Are you practising TaiChi, in the morning, and where in Singapore?  How long have you been doing this exercise, and how many people are there in your group?

Terence Seah

List of SHCians practising Tai Chi now:

1. June Lim
2. Douglas Chan
3. Joyce Tan
4. SB Khoo

Pigs’ feet: the new superfood -Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 03/03/2008

As Britain’s spending on cosmetic surgery soars, Fiona MacDonald Smith suggests it’s time that we chopped and changed our diet instead

The latest anti-ageing food? Pigs’ trotters. That’s right, you heard it here first. In New York, the most talked-about new opening of the past couple of months has been a Japanese restaurant called Hakata Tonton, where 33 out of the 39 dishes contain pigs’ feet.

Young and older face
Isn’t there a cheaper solution to cosmetic surgery?

The reason for this, according to its owner, Himi Okajima, is that they are rich in collagen, the protein responsible for skin and muscle tone, more recognisable to beauty addicts in the form of face creams and fillers.

“Collagen helps your body retain moisture,” says Okajima, who has introduced a chain of restaurants specialising in collagen cuisine in Japan. “Your hair and skin will look better, but it’s not just for looking beautiful now. If you begin eating collagen in your thirties, you will look younger in your forties.”

Maybe this sounds a little improbable (“It’s news to me,” sniffs Lisa Miles of the British Nutrition Foundation. “I’ve certainly never heard of eating collagen”) but Okajima believes he is on to something. Figures published last month show that British spending on cosmetic surgery is the highest in Europe, hitting nearly £500 million in 2006, four times more than in 2001.

Isn’t there a cheaper solution? (Mary is this not one of your favorite diet ? )

It prompt me to invite our SHC members to share their experiences on how to heal or cure common sicknesses, diseases and illnesses, and for those who know of the secret of keeping "Young and Energetic", all methods or ways to achieving it should be either free or inexpensive. 

The medicinal garden in Alexandra Hospital currently has over 90 species of medicinal plants, which was planted in May 2005 together with the help of volunteers from schools & the community. Alexandra Hospital hopes that with the additional of the medicine garden to its 20-hectare land, it would bring about a more holistic healing environment for patients and visitors. Go and find out more on its usefulness.

Recently I came across an article promoting a new method of looking Young not through using "BOTOX" but through practising "FACIAL KHARMA". It said that there are 36 acupoints on our face and if we know of the method to message it regularly, our face will become radiant and youthful. Check it out.

Well, is there anything else you would like to share?

It is very easy to make yoghurt yourself. Cheap, natural and good.  It is a great health food and is used in many yummy recipes.

Share your experiences on yogurt.

All of us have books at home.  We have read them, and they are nicely left on the shelf.  It would be nice if we can borrow some of these books; equally nice, if we can lend others these books.

Books helps us to stay alive.  It refreshes the minds.

All SilverHairsClub members meet regularly, at monthly gatherings, walks, cycling, chats or parties.  We can exchange these books.  Remember to return though.  If you have a book that you like to lend someone, share the name of your book here.

Lending and borrowing books are also excellent ways to get to know one another better.

Terence Seah