I swear, when I am in pain..

Guess what I read on Medical News Today? Researchers from the School of Psychology at the University of Keele in the UK have found that cursing, can provide effective short-term pain relief.

They also discovered that as compared to those who swear frequently, those who do NOT swear a lot ( a lot equating to a few times a day, what is considered a few, I do not know, twice? thrice a day?) are more likely to benefit from swearing. They believe that swearing can help in situations where medical care or painkillers are not easily accessible.

As I was typing this post, a little lab mouse came up to me, saying he has a message to all researchers who use him and other experimental mammals as test subjects for their research. I couldn't help but take a picture of him.

 I hope he'll be guarantied of some pain relief. D:

Your very own carry along natural moisturiser

For those of you who may not know, I have two doggies at home. Older doggie is Kookie, a beagle who has skin problems. Younger doggie is Peppy, a terrier who only occasionally has skin problems.
The other day, Kookie's skin really began to act up. Seeing the red patches on his body, constant itching, and general  malaise and lethargic demeanor can be depressing. I once did a post on how we used turmeric and aloe vera (AV) to treat Kookies skin condition, however nowadays, when we apply the AV or turmeric on his skin, I think it must hurt him as his skin is soar, hence he has developed an aversion to it.


Hence, we decided to try and make an  AV spray for him. Atleast this way we wouldn't have to rub it on his skin (which could sting him?).  If you too want to make you own AV spray for your cat your dog or just for you,this is what you will need:

1. Fresh aloe vera
2. Knife/Spoon
3. Strainer
4. Blender
5. Water (optional)
6. Spray bottle
7. Ice cube tray (optional)

• First, remove the AV gel from the leaf, use a knife and begin stripping it away. You could even use a spoon too to scoop out the gel.
• Place it in the strainer if you aren't comfortable with the excess liquid (although if Iwere you I'd keep some because it too has good properties)
• Place the gel in a blender and blend for 30 seconds-1.5mins (Add water IF you want..)
• Pour liquid into spray bottles
• If you don't have enough bottles to store the AV, just pour it into ice cube trays and place it in the freezer. This way, when you need the AV, all you have to do is remove the cubes from your freezer and use the amount you want.

I bought 2 bottles, personally i prefer the second as the aloe came out in spray form.  They are so convenient to carry along, just put it in your bag and spray it on if your skin gets dry or itchy.

Btw, total cost of making my own AV moisturizer- $3.00. 

Ah yes, and total amount of harsh preservatives/ synthetic colors/ fragrances etc  in my moisturizer- 0.

Stop a mate driving drunk, legend

Came across this pretty cool  anti drink-driving ad.

http://youtu.be/dIYvD9DI1ZA

Thought it was very well done, check it out if you can

Let's get physical, physical

What new and exciting exercise craze do you get when you combine.....

A bicycle.. with ......

                                                   ?

Well, you get Cycle Karaoke.. it's the latest craze to hit gyms in America. If you can't imagine how a typical workout session would be like, well just imagine this.. you're in a room full of other cyclists, your session will be like any other normal session, except this time, once you're done with some fast-paced pedalling, a karaoke screen lights up and a microphone is then passed to one lucky biker who takes the spotlight while cycling.

The main idea behind this is that the effort  put into singing the words the person sees on the screen is meant to be a distraction from any physical strain they may be facing while cycling.

Kinda cool, but my only concern is.. what happens when you're in a class okay, all pumped up, ready to work it when * DA DA* a bunch of toneless-musically- challenged people start belting out numbers in an unbearably horrific manner? ( BTW, you have also just got out of work and all you want is some good ol' exercise time)

Worry not, you have options, yey , you could:

1. Opt for "normal" cycling sessions/spin classes/ aerobics/ belly dancing/zumba okay basically anything that will help you avoid having to put up with a discordant and pointless mixture of sounds
2. Go with a bunch of friends ( now that won't be annoying, you'll just end up laughing at each other and maybe even yourself) 
3. Never return for a Cycle Karaoke session again

Or hey if you want to get really creative, you could  suggest providing people with the option of using autotune. hahaha oh come on, you know it'll make everything sound a little better :P hahah, come on then.. what are you waiting for?

Hmmm.. been such a long time hasn't it!

HI! I just realised it's been forever since I last blogged.

JUST KIDDING.

In fact, I've missed blogging about interesting health facts/news/health centered issues for a while. I have been busy, but hey, I am quite free today, and in the mood to write! Sooooooooo let's see then.. where do I start?! I think I'll start with this post I had never published..                                                               

                             1) the TARMY campaign?

Interesting, I caught a glimpse of this in today's papers
before rushing off to work.

                            What on earth is this about?

Well, in Sydney, research commissioned by Pfizer Australia is raising awareness about the effect smoking has on our lungs. So if you take a closer look at the picture, you will realise that the blackish-dark-grey gooey goo is supposed to depict tar found in cigarettes. Why such a focus on tar then and not the remaining chemicals found in a cigarette? That my friends is because tar accumulation if one of the primary causes of lung cancer, and lung cancer is one of the top five leading causes of cancer related deaths. The campaign features a collection of 10 silhouetted figures, here are a few pictures.

The campaign features a collection of 10 silhouetted figures, each figure representing a different smoker profile. I have put up pictures of just three profiles. I particularly like the picture in the middle, of the pregnant lady. That profile is supposed to depict " “Janet”, 32, who is pregnant and smoking, and as a result her baby could be born 200g underweight". So many complications can be avoided for both mother and child if she doesn't smoke when pregnant ( not that we should be smoking when we aren't pregnant, but you know what I mean).

I think this campaign is pretty creative. Will it greatly impact the number of smokers? I'm not quite sure. Although, the research study did find that tar accumulation was rated as the third most significant reason current smokers would quit smoking (76%). Let's see what happens.. 

Moving on...........................

 (2) Health Apps

Just an update on health applications to come, and a brief overview of what already exists. For those of you who own smart phones, this won't come as a surprise-then again, it might. Did you know that Singapore hospitals are set to launch a torrent of medical apps for mobile devices? Currently, many of the apps available offer basic information to the user ( providing dietary tips,information on diseases etc.). However, doctors in Singapore want to take these apps a step further. They want to create a new generation of apps which will personalise advice and even empower patients to monitor and track their existing conditions. 

The above might sound a little ambitious and hard to believe, but the new generation of apps have already begun to take off. For example, health-care group SingHealth had recently released an app for rheumatoid arthritis patients which require patients to provide data on their daily activities, knock in the level of pain they are experiencing and their overall health. From there, the app uses this information and calculates the degree of severity of their rheumatoid condition. The information is then presented  in the form of a graph so that these very users may present it as a print out to their respective doctors. SingHealth is working on similar apps for those suffering from high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes and even those who have undergone organ transplants. I did try to find this app but I couldn't  not sure if it still exists :(

Did you know, that the British government funded research for the creation of an app which tests for sexually transmitted diseases? In fact, the way they were tested for was similar to that of a pregnancy test kit. The app includes a computer chip on which a urine or saliva sample can be placed. Once the chip is attached to a smart phone, the app goes to work to test the sample for sexually transmitted diseases! A M A Z I N G. time saving, money saving, inspiring.. (just added that cause it rhymes. ha ha ha.).. Anyways, I have collated the top free health apps available to all. Download em if you want!

• Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker

• Epocrates (provides info on drugs and their side effects)

• The Breast Cancer Diagnosis Guide ( put in your lab results and the guide researches articles and news specific to your diagnosis)

While trying out these apps, just keep in mind  not to believe everything you read. Also, don't get unduly panicky okay ( anybody who knows me well enough will be like, look who talking?) ?
Hahah, always consult a doctor first before trusting your own (or your gadgets) diagnosis! :)

Just the video version of the Avocado face mask :)

Things to keep in mind:

1. Make sure you get a medium-large sized avocado so the mask is thick and not too watery
2. Feel free to adjust the quantity of each ingredient. It is really up to you :)

This is just the video version of a post done last year. It has been modified a little though. Here is a refresher as to why the ingredients used are good for the skin.

• Avocado is full of nourishing oils and is rich in vitamin E and vitamin A (both are great for the skin).
• Honey is packed with antioxidants and aids in promoting softness and suppleness. It is also great for sensitive skin, not harsh at all.
• Yogurt contains zinc and lactic acid ( aids in moisturizing).
• Almond oil is rich in vitamin E. Improves you complexion by soothing skin irritations, dry and itchy skin and it aids in  moisturizing the skin.

Enjoy!

Fit for a Flop? Certainly hope not!

Mum and I went shopping for a pair of comfortable slippers the other day and ended up buying a pair of fit flops each. We both ended up getting the same colour! Below is a picture of the comfy pair of thongs, it is a nice greyish pair which can match almost anything.

An added bonus? Apparently, the FitFlops have been biomechanically engineered to aid in toning and tightening  leg muscles as one walks in them .  The name of this technology is Microwobbleboard technology. The picture below briefly describes it, while the website actually has a 4 minute video which goes into a more detailed description of how it works.

Check out their advertising



If you can't read what the SIDE EFFECTS of FitFlops are, let me help you. *AHEM* They are,

• Tones legs and thighs
• Happier feet and joints
• Excessive smiling as a result of an easier way of working out

Terrible side effects huh? Oh dear.

I don't really know why the image seems to show a lady who is about to run/ or who is in the middle of a run or jog or sprint/ cause I don't know anybody who goes running around with their flip flops on. Anyway, lets not forget.. "Its a thong with the gym built-in" OOoo, Ahhhhh...

One thing I have to say though is that these slippers are just SOOO comfortable. I have never ever owned a pair which are this comfortable ( or costly ha ha ha, its true) .Whether or not you become more toned or whatever, your comfort certainly isn't compromised. ITS SUPER COMFY, mum agrees too, 100%.  You gotta believe it coming from a lady with Plantar Fasciitis ( a condition where overuse of the plantar fascia or arch tendon of the foot causes heel and arch pain).

Lets just see in time, if all the "side effects" of it are true.

Miracles with paws

Did you know that at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, a female Labrador retriever has been specially trained to sniff out bowel cancer?  Her name is Marine, and she has been sniffing samples of bowel cancer at the St. Sugar Cancer Sniffing Dog Training Center in Minamiboso.

She can identify  cancerous from non cancerous samples present in either breath or stool samples! She was made to  carry out 74 "sniff tests" over several months by  lead researcher Hideto Sonoda and his team. The breath and stool samples would vary, so as to complicate things and  create a more real-life  situation. Hence,  some samples would contain confirmed cases of bowel cancer, while others were non-cancerous, contained bowel polyps, gut problems such as inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, diverticulitis, or appendicitis. Results are amazingly promising, as her accuracy is high and on par with colonoscopy tests ( a technique used to examine the internal environment of the colon).


As training dogs and using them as a screening tool for this purpose is said to be expensive, scientists and researchers are aiming to learn how the dog can differentiate samples. This is to  one day create a sensor which can specifically detect cancer compounds present  in faecal material , breathe or the air, as cancer is believed to smell differently from other cells in the body.

A picture of Marine sniffing out samples

Here is to hope, that one day, these little miracles with paws will bring us another step closer to helping us better understand this dreaded disease. Not just for those who have bowel cancer, but for all those who are suffering different types of cancers. Here is to hope that as each day passes, this dream will manifest into reality, and that we will grow towards saving millions and millions of lives.

SADS

Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS)

Today, I just came to learn that such a condition exists. I read about  a teenage girl, Jemma Benjamin, who collapsed and died from SADS minutes after she was kissed for the first time.

:(

At first, I thought this is something which happens when we kiss someone (heh silly, i know), but noo, this can happen at any time really. I read about a 23 year old model by the name of  Hayley Crook who passed away from this as she was sleeping. There may or may not be warning signs. If there are, feeling dizzy and fainting spells are commonly reported. (This DOES NOT mean that everytime you feel dizzy or faint you are going to experience SADS). This often takes place during physical exercise or when a person gets emotionally stirred.

Remember Stephen Gately from Boyzone? It is speculated that he too died from this condition . Scary part is that those who are in the pink of health ( all the above) can fall prey to the condition. So unpredictable huh? Anyways, you can actually go for heart screening to get tested for undetected cardiac abnormalities and irregularities that can cause SADS. 

When Boobifying foods just get a little crazy.

What: Cookies which claim to increase your breast size.

Where From: Japan

Been around since: 2007

Apparently: Consuming two of these cookies a day will increase the size of your boobs within a month. Just remember to drink PLENTY of water once you have eaten each cookie. This enables the cookie to absorb the water, swell, and make you feel full.

Best part about it: ingredients are said to be NATURAL! YEY, That's why the cookie contains such  NATURAL ingredients such as Flour, Quasi-chocolate,  Adjusted soymilk powder, Tofu liquid, Shortening, Skim milk, Cocoa powder, Dried albumen, Starch, Powered soybean hypocotyls, Pueraria mirifica, Artificial sweetener (Sorbitol), Leavening agent, Emulsifier(from Soybean) and Coloring.

The F cup cookies contain an indigenous herb called Pueraria mirifica (as highlighted above under ingredients). It is a common  herb used in folk medicine by Thai people for breast enlargement. It is also known as “Kwao Krua”. (Does it work? There doesn't seem to be enough conclusive evidence to date that it does). However, that hasn't impeded the idea of creating products which contain crude forms of the Thai herb (in probably minute amounts) that promise customers bigger boobs.Anything for some  financial success ey? You know what, currently, commercial products containing adulterated forms of Pueraria,  mirifica are available as creams, gels or soaps and as capsules or tablets.

No joke. Take a look below..

O, and wow, the F-cup cookie company has gone all out. You see, if you don't like cookies very much, you can always opt for cake or pudding which also contain Pueraria mirifica, and which also promise to increase your breast size . O HOORAAY. Ah yes, and they come in different flavours too.

 The manufacturers came up with this, before the cookies/pudding/cake

 Bust Up Gum. The product claims to be made from natural ingredients.  All you have to do is chew the gum, and all the "nutrients" are absorbed through the membranes of your mouth. It goes into your bloodstream, and BAM, within a few weeks, it increases your breast size 

Dear female friends or boyfriends of girlfriends who suggest their girlfriends should try these types of products out, or who make their partners feel the need to try such products out, I may not be a doctor, I may not be the most intelligent person on planet earth, I may not even make sense most of the time, but HEY, come on.. do you REALLY think you/your girlfriend/ your girlfriends girlfriend or manfriend who wants to become a girlfriend is going to go from an A to an F-cup just by eating these cookies/pudding/cake/chewing Bust Up Gum? 

Most importantly, if any young, impressionable girl happens to read this post, be it now or in 5 or 2000 billion years time,have you questioned the SAFETY and QUALITY of the product you are planning on purchasing/ingesting? What happens once you stop taking the cookies? Will you have to keep taking it to maintain your new breast size( if it works)?I read up some of the side effects of JUST the COOKIES above, and this is what I found:

1. Increases levels of PHYTOESTROGEN in the body. This means that you are putting in an artificial form of estrogen or estrogen look-alike which mimics human hormones. Not only does it have a chemical effect on your breasts, but other parts of the bodily system can also be affected.Liver maybe? Also, increased levels of estrogen in the body are  linked with increased chances of breast cancer occurrence.
2. Diarrhoea
3. Stomach cramps
4. Nausea
5. Excessive vaginal secretion
6. I read under a review of the product that a lady broke out into spots after trying it. 

Some people will do just about anything for money. The manufacturers even sell Bust Up Gum tank tops

I first came to know about these F-cup cookies when an article came out in the papers. It had something to do with girls who skip their meals who choose to feel full  by eating 1 or 2 of these cookies which promise to  increase their breast size. You know, you just wonder how these young girls are ever going to love themselves for who they are. I don't know which is more disappointing, the fact that  there are people out there who manufacture such questionable products or the fact that our own country allows these things to be sold / brought in. Just google it and you will find numerous sites which offer to bring in these cookies for you, once you purchase them.

It's not what you have, it's how you use it ;)