Stay Healthy WITHOUT Airconditioning

  

How many of us can do without airconditioning?  Not possible in a dry and humid climate like Singapore.  It is no longer a luxury but a necessity in our daily life whether in our working place or home.  In fact, majority of us know that airconditioning is bad for the health, and contributes to medical problems like cough, cold, asthma, sinus, dry skin and eyes but simply cannot live without it.

(1)  Respiratory infections

When exposed suddenly to cold and dry air, the lining of the nose becomes irritated and inflamed, and starts to produce mucus.  This nasal congestion problem can extend with mucus dripping into the throat and induce a cough to expel it.  However, if the irritant is not removed, bacteria moves in to thrive on the stagnant fluid.  Excessive amount can cause an infection. People with sensitive nose or nasal allergies are prone to this problem.

Asthma patients also experience attack in such an environment.  This happens when sensitive airways react to a trigger factor like cold and dry air by tightening and becoming inflamed, causing coughing, wheezing and breathing difficulties. Those sufferers should take their medications regularly to minimise the risk of irritation and symptoms.

Not forgetting that aircondition unit itself is a fertile ground for breeding mold and bacteria, such as legionella, responsible for fatal pneumonia.  Just by inhaling the mist of water vapour emitting from the aircon is good enough to introduce harmful bacteria into the body.  This is how the ‘sick building syndrome’ comes about when harmful bacteria get trapped into an aircon unit and travel far and wide in a building sharing a common aircon system spreading its contagious effect.

Advice is to service the airconditioning unit every 3 months, and apply a chemical wash or disinfect yearly.

(2)  Skin woes

Reduced humidity in an aircon space promotes drier skin as the dry air blowing out absorbs moisture from the skin.  The external irritants worsen certain skin conditions like dry skin, eczema and ichthyosis (dry and scaly).  Hence, prolonged exposure to dry air can result in faster degeneration of body cells, causing wrinkle formation and premature aging.  Oil secreted by the sebaceous glands that lubricates the surface of the skin and protects the moisture in the cells is ‘scraped off’ exposing them to the thin air resulting in evaporation.  This results in sagging cells losing the elasticity, radiance and plump-up features.

Advice is to apply moisturiser on the skin 2-3 times a day.

(3)  Dry eyes

Constant exposure to airconditioning leads to faster evaporation of tears, resulting in eye discomfort and fatigue, and blurring of vision.

Use artificial tear eye drops if your eyes are feeling dry.

(4)  Cost savings

Huge savings if you turned off the airconditioning.  Switching to an electric fan can save as much as 90% of the utility bill.  On extremely hot weather, you can turn on the aircon but use an air humidifier to make the air less dry.

Conclusion

For the betterment of our planet, conservation of energy is a prerogative for everyone.  We should help to reduce the amount of fossil fuels burnt to produce energy and the volume of greenhouses gases generated, including carbon dioxide, which are released during the burning process.

Source:  ST Mind your Body, Mar 31, 2011

VIVA corner

Taking VIVAShield helps to strengthen and protect the skin tissue as it contains potent antioxidants that neutralises free radicals.

VIVA Omega 3 helps to replace the oil on the skin lost from the damage caused by long exposure to dry air.

VIVA Refresh detoxifying toner and Rejuvenate Mask can help to restore the healthy tone to the damaged skin by adding moisture, coenzyme 10 and collagen to the hungry and thirsty cells.

The POTENT Tongkat Ali

 

Tongkat Ali is a flowering plant native to Indonesia and Malaysia. The meaning of the word Tongkat Ali is “Ali’s walking stick” in the Malay language. It actually indicates the ability of the shrub to fight against physical exhaustion and mental fatigue by strengthening the immunity.

In Malaysia, the indigenous people in the Pahang forests have traditionally been making use of the plant parts for its antimalarial, aphrodisiac, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial and antipyretic (lowering fever) activities.

However, the part of the tree proven medicinally is the root and has to be dug vertically into the ground to extract. To most of us in Southeast Asia, it is dubbed the “Asian Viagra”, associated with increasing male virility and sexual prowess and may treat erectile dysfunction.

It can be available in the form of regular powder where the root is just crushed and pulverized, and also in various extract potencies where the active ingredients are more concentrated.

Medical studies

In recent times, some scientific studies conducted discovered that it enhances sexual characteristics and performance in rodents. Other laboratory animal tests have produced positive indications, with one extract having been observed to increase sexual activity in mature rats, including arousal, sniffing and mounting behavior.

In another experiment conducted on male treated rats, it was found that this extract, eurycoma longifolia increases sperm count, and the plasma testosterone level was significantly increased when compared with that of the control and infertile animals.

Following this study, researchers in the field of sports medicine started to look into the anabolic potential of the plant. In a placebo-controlled human study with healthy young men in a weight-training program, it was found that “the lean body mass of the treatment group showed a significant increment, from 52.26 (7.18) kg to 54.39 (7.43) kg (p = 0.012).” Furthermore, “the increase in strength in the treatment group was larger than in the placebo group (6.78% and 2.77% respectively. The mean arm circumference of the treatment group increased significantly by 1.8 cm after the supplementation… but there was no significant increase in the placebo group.” The results of the study were published in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Sports Medicine. This is one of many ingredients mostly made up of cultivated roots in sports supplement and in gym circles, commonly referred to as Longjack.

Cancer treatment

Taiwanese scientists isolated 65 biochemical compounds from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia, of which ten exhibited “strong cytotoxicity” towards human lung and breast cancer cell lines. They also isolated beta-carboline alkaloids, several of which were active against lung and breast cancer cell lines. Medical researchers in Japan concluded that different fractions were effective against different cancers with one extract induced apoptosis in breast-cancer cells.

Concerns

+ A study into this aspect concluded: ”The results indicate that eurycomanone is poorly bioavailable when given orally… the absolute bioavailability of the compound was low with 10.5%… ” its poor oral bioavailability may be due to poor membrane permeability in view of its low P value and/or high first-pass metabolism.”

+ “As of 2011, we have come across only limited human research regarding the influence of this herb on testosterone levels. Even if this herb helps make, or release, testosterone, would the effects continue over time? The answers are not clear at this time. We do know that taking a tongkal ali supplement helps increase libido and genital sensation, along with orgasm strength. Are these due to testosterone release or due to other factors? Supplementation with this plant extract may not be an effective long term strategy to increase levels of testosterone, but it could perhaps be in the short term.”

+ The governments of Canada and Singapore have issued warnings against the product XP Tongkat Ali Supreme for containing the prescription drug tadalafil which can be life-threatening in some individuals.

+ Traditionally Eurycoma longifolia is extracted and purified with water and not ethanol as practised by some manufacturers. Surveys have shown a large number of Malaysian Eurycoma longifolia products (36 out of 100) are contaminated with mercury and lead beyond legally permitted limits.

+ Fake Eurycoma longifolia products have been pulled off the shelves in several countries but are still sold over the Internet, mostly shipped from the UK. In Malaysia, the common use of Eurycoma longifolia as a food and drink additive, coupled with a wide distribution of products using cheaper synthetic drugs in lieu of Eurycoma longifolia, has led to the invention of an electronic tongue to determine the presence and concentration of genuine Eurycoma longifolia in products claiming to contain it.

Who should not use?

* As Tongkat ali is believed to increase testosterone levels, men with breast or prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease or sleep apnea should avoid it.

* Pregnant or nursing women or children.

* People with weakened immune systems as some evidence suggest it may further weaken immune function.

* Those who have heart failure or heart rhythm problems should be cautious and use minute amounts since this herb increases heart rate.

* People who are taking immunosuppressant drugs.

Precautions

+ Only buy Tongkat Ali root extract that has been taken from trees at least 10 years of age or the extract is considered less effective.

+ When used in high dosages, side effects include increased body temperature, anxiety, restlessness, irritability and insomnia (in turn reduces sex drive).

BE SAFE THAN BE SORRY ! WHAT IS FUN MAY NO LONGER BE FUN ANYMORE !!

How to be a SMART consumer

***SHELF LIFE***

Should we just throw away unconsumed food after their expiration dates?   Often we gauge the safety date on shelf-stable products by:

 

Use-By, Best if Used By, Best By, Best Before when actually all the above merely give indication how long the product is likely to remain at its absolute best quality when unopened.

 

Proper storage allow the shelf life to be extended beyond this date. However, examine if there is any noticeable gradual changes in the unopened product’s texture, color or flavor.

As for perishables like meat, seafood, poultry and milk, the sell-by date is a guide for stores to know how long they can display a particular product. It is advisable to buy the product before the sell-by date expires. If you have followed the safe storage procedures, consuming not far beyond that date is not a problem. For instance, milk that has been continuously refrigerated remains drinkable for about one week after the “sell by” date on the package. However, take ‘expires on’ seriously when infant formula and some baby foods are concerned.

 

Note packing codes which appear as a series of letters and/or numbers on the package may indicate the date or time of manufacture, and does not provide any indication of either food safety or quality. This is of good help to manufacturers and grocers in rotating their stock and quickly locate products in the event of a recall.

 

***FRUIT LABEL***

Do you know that the little sticker on the piece of fruit you are eating  right now tells you a whole lot more than just the country of origin?  Pay  attention to these critical numbers as stores are not obligated to tell  you from the digits if the produce is grown naturally, organically or genetically.

 

+   Conventional Fruit Labels – Four digits starting with 3 or 4  (eg. 4922)

These produce have been grown on ordinary conventional farms where harmful  fertilizers and chemical pesticides are applied. This is why you need to wash  your fruit before eating it.

 

+   Genetically Modified Fruits – Five digits and starts with the  digit 8 (eg. 89222)

Nobody knows yet what the effect genetically modified foods” has on our  bodies or whether they are any harmful effects.

 

Basically, the genetically altered produce has its genes mutated by scientist in order to make them  more resistant to bugs and pesticide sprays during harvesting.

 

+  Organic Fruit Labels – Five digits and starts with number 9  (eg. 99222)

 

***ORGANIC FOOD*** 

+  Paying more for organic is worth it? Organic produce may help to avoid pesticides, but it may be more prevalent than you think.

 

List compiled in the US of the pesticide levels of common rank, ranked 1 (lowest) to 100 (highest)

 

* Peaches – 100

* Apples – 89

 * Strawberries – 82

 * Pear – 65

 * Grapes – 43

 

* Oranges – 42

 * Blueberries – 24

 * Bananas – 16

 * Pineapples – 7

 

Other items nicknamed the “clean 15″ includes onions, sweet corn and avocados  having lower levels of pesticides on average. (for complete list, go to Ewg.org/foodnews/)

 

+  Organic food uses no pesticides?

 

Most people harbour the thought that organic food is grown pesticide free. Is this the reality?

The British Journal of Nutrition found that organic produce contains less pesticide residue than conventional food. The big difference is that conventional farmers apply synthetic pesticides not permitted under organic farming.  Besides using natural farming methods, pesticides are still necessary to enable healthy natural growth. Thus, organic farmers use lots of natural pesticides which prove to be as toxic as the synthetic ones.

There is no test carried out on levels of organic pesticides. Basically, the organic pesticides have little impact of the environment as they degrade faster. To be more effective on plants, more have to be applied and thus the end result may be about the same for both types.

 

The two popular organic pesticides – rotenone and pyrethrin are extracted from sub-tropical plant species and chyrsanthemum respectively. On excessive use, both can damage nerves or nerves cells. This is found to cause Parkinson’s disease in laboratory mice.

 

Given the fact that the level of pesticides even in conventionally growth produce is already way below permissible levels, rinsing any produce thoroughly eliminates most pesticide residues is sufficed.

For those who still insists on organic food, it is just one part of  the equation of eating well. Eating organic potato chips may seem better than  the ordinary one, but it is still the unhealthy junk food. Avoid processed food at all cost.

So eating sufficient fresh fruits and vegetables whether organic or not makes more sense than having a limited intake of organic food due to cost reason.

 

Source: http://www.stilltasty.com/articles/view/5