Food & Health

23
Jul
Bird’s Nest or Collagen Supplement

I have a confession to make today.

I seriously think that I’ve reached an age where skin care is QUEEN and any product that can help to battle fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin would get my attention.

Besides skin care products, I also believe in ‘beauty from within’. That simply means paying attention to what we put into our body and not just what we put on it. The key is to achieve great skin by staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet (especially food that is rich in anti-oxidants) and taking beauty supplements to tackle specific beauty concerns.

Recently, I went to Eu Yan Sang to purchase some health supplement for my mother-in-law. I saw their premium concentrated bird’s nest series on the shelf. When I saw these words on the packaging – best rejuvenating supplement and maintain glowing completion, I was totally sold!

In our Chinese history, the empresses and concubines ate bird’s nest for health and beauty. Bird’s nest is one of the best tonic foods trusted by generations. But is it really that good as compared to those collagen supplements that we have now?

Now, I’m wondering which one is better… Bird’s Nest or Collagen Supplement? What do you think?

Possibly Related Posts:

This post has 6 comments

8
Jul
Zespri Kiwi

When we think of Vitamin C, one fruit that always come to our mind is the ORANGE. We seldom think about those succulent greens covered in brown, leathery velvet called KIWI. This fruit is mega rich in Vitamin C which surpasses those in the oranges, and it contains health-giving substances found in other fruits like potassium, beta-carotene and minerals.

Let’s talk a little bit on the health benefits of kiwi. This fruit contains a potent mix of Vitamins A, C and E which are great in protecting our bodies against free radicals damage. This means having a lesser risk of cancer and heart diseases. Kiwi is also great in maintaining youthful and flawless skin.

The dietary fiber in kiwi can aid in improving the conditions of those with diabetes and colon cancer. Kiwi is also great in reducing cholesterol levels, which means lesser risk of heart attack. Lastly, Kiwi’s high vitamin C and potassium content can help reduce risk for cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and even asthma.

Last month, I was invited to a media event at AFC Studios in Orchard Central for the launch of Zespri Kiwifruit season this year. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend it as I was tied-up with works. Popular food blogger, Dr. Leslie Tay, is the appointed Zespri Ambassador and he talked about the nutritional values of kiwi in his blog. Click HERE to read the article, but I’ve to warn you that it’s a super long post.

I bought some Zespri kiwis from Cold Storage last weekend. The green kiwi has a sweet and mildly zesty taste. The golden kiwi is much sweeter and less zesty than the green kiwi, but they are more expensive too. It’s the first time I ate a golden kiwi, and oh my, it was so delicious!

I tried to convince Little Edison to eat the kiwis. But currently, he is obsessed with strawberry and he refused to eat any other fruits. He has a peculiar eating habit. When he loves a certain fruit, he wants to eat it everyday. Until the day he decides that he had enough, he will stop eating that particular fruit totally. Then, he is willing to try other fruits.

I really enjoy eating these kiwis. And I hope Little Edison will enjoy eating them as much as I do. What about you? Have you tried the Zespri Kiwi? Do you like them?

Possibly Related Posts:

This post has 3 comments

1
Jul
Constipated

Constipation, although very common in children, it can also be a very frustration problem. It is defined as the passage of hard and painful stools or going four or more days without a bowel movement.

It is most commonly caused by a diet that is low in fiber, but it can also be caused by drinking too much milk (more than 12-16oz/d) or not drinking enough water.

Our Little Edison has been struggling with constipation problem for the last 2-3 weeks. Whenever he is constipated and has hard painful stools, he will hold his bowel movements to prevent it from hurting again. This creates another cycle of constipation and it will become worse.

Constipation is not only painful for Little Edison but it is also a heart-wrenching experience for me. I feel so sad whenever I see him in pain. There is no major change in his diet, thus I’m really clueless on what is the root cause of his constipation.

The only change that I can think of now is his formula milk – Pediasure. He started taking the “new formula” Pediasure about a month ago. When he was drinking the “old formula”, he had regular bowel movement and he wasn’t constipated. Could this be the root cause?

I’m wondering if anyone of you faces the similar problem like me. Care to share?

-

Possibly Related Posts:

This post has 19 comments

30
Jun
Dietary Guideline for a Three Years Old

Every child should eat a well-balanced diet that comprises a variety of nutrient-dense foods. However, during childhood, some children tend to become fussy with food, reject certain foods or eat very little. This phase of pickiness may last for just a few days or it may go on for a while.

Our Little Edison became fussy with food after he turned two. When he was 1+ years old, he ate oatmeal everyday. My MIL cooked oatmeal with fish, chicken or pork with different types of vegetables. He loves them.

After a year, he decided that he had enough of oatmeal and he rejected the food totally. He will scream if we attempt to feed him with oatmeal again. From there on, he eats bread, noodles, biscuits or soft-boiled eggs for his lunch and dinner. He doesn’t like porridge or rice, and he rarely eats them.

As a full-time working mother, it is quite a challenge for me to ensure that he takes proper meals everyday. As a matter of fact, my MIL prepares the meals for Little Edison on the weekdays and I leave it all in her good hands. On the weekends, I will cook for him if we are not going out.

I put up this little chart in my kitchen. It serves as a reference for me – every time I prepare meals for Little Edison. It’s nice to look at, isn’t it? =)

This information is extracted from ‘Birth to Eighteen Years – Dietary Tips for Your Child’s Well-Being’, published by Health Promotion Board.

……….

3 to 6 Years Old

Rice and Alternatives (3 – 4 servings per day): Two slices of bread, ½ bowl of noodles, 4 plain biscuits and 1 cup of plain cornflakes

Fruit (1 serving per day): one small orange

Vegetables (1 serving per day): ¾ mug of cooked leafy vegetables

Meat and Alternatives (1 serving per day): one palm-sized fish or lean meat.

Milk (500ml) and Water (6 to 8 glasses)

-

--

Possibly Related Posts:

This post has no comment

17
Jun
Questions about Milk

A mother posted a question in the forum recently. She was asking what the recommended milk intake is for a toddler. I was thinking something like 500ml, but I wasn’t sure. So, I googled for the answer and here are my findings:

What is the ideal milk intake?

According to the guidelines stated in Dumex website, a toddler (1-3 years old) needs a minimum of 350ml of milk but not exceeding 600ml so that they don’t fill up too much.

The Health Promotion Board recommends that children between 3 to 6 years old consume 500ml of milk each day. Milk is a great source of important nutrients essential for keeping our toddlers healthy and most importantly calcium for strong bones and teeth.

So, I’m right. It’s 500ml!

But not too much!

Excessive cow’s milk can cause an imbalance in two ways. Firstly, it is high in energy (calories). Secondly, it contains a lot of calcium. This energy-dense milk can fill a little tummy quickly. As a result, they might turn away from meals and thereby causing them to become deficient in other nutrients. Too much calcium can also interfere with iron absorption, which in turn has been link to fussy eating. Finally, too much milk can increase the risk of tooth decay due to milk sugars. (Information depicted from Huggies website)

Argh! This is so tricky. When Little Edison refuses to take his meal, we usually supplement him with milk so that he won’t go hungry. But when he drinks more milk, he becomes full and his next meal may be affected again. It’s a chicken-and-egg situation.

Anyway, the above information really shed new light on Little Edison’s fussy eating behavior. Perhaps, he has been overfilling with milk or he is low in iron due to too much calcium.

What is the RDI of Calcium anyway?

The recommended daily allowance (RDI) of calcium for children between 1–3 years is 400-500mg. When I take a look at Pediasure that Little Edison is taking, one feed of 225ml has 212mg of calcium. So, just two feeds (450ml) provide 424mg of calcium. Obviously, with three feeds, it will exceed the RDI. Not forgetting other calcium-rich food that he is taking, such as cheese and yoghurt, I realized that he has over-reached his calcium needs.

Read the rest of this entry…

Possibly Related Posts:

This post has 5 comments