Cold Rash = Cold Urticaria

Now I know what those hive-like rashes that appear when I go to wintry countries is called.
By the editors of Health, an excerpt from Health, January/February 2005:

Q: Sometimes when I go walking in the winter, I get an itchy, bumpy rash on my arms. Am I allergic to cold weather, or what?

A: Your skin might just be parched by the drier, seasonal air. But there is something allergists call acquired cold urticaria, where a drop in temperature triggers your immune system, causing itchy hives. Even though the symptoms might seem mild, in rare cases they could progress to anaphylactic shock, says David R. Weldon, MD, a member of the urticarial committee of American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. An allergist can confirm if you're reacting to a drop in the mercury (and not, for example, the lining of your winter coat).
 

Rated Health Magazine's Best Shampoo 2004

While springcleaning, I came across these magazine clippings which I kept from way back. Actually 2004 feels like yesterday to me, but I guess my bigger frame and failing memory tell me otherwise. No, I have not tried this shampoo but I certainly look forward to trying it myself!

Excerpt from November 2004 Health Magazine :

With the presidential election at hand, a thought comes to mind: Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing. Sometimes, though, the more options you have, the more confused you become. Take beauty products, for example. There are a staggering number of them on the market, each offering something amazing -- younger-looking skin, fuller lips, frizz-free hair. But knowing which claims are truthful isn't always easy. So for the sixth straight year, we went in search of products that not only make you look good but leave your skin, hair, and other body parts in healthier shape. First, we asked cosmetics companies to nominate their all-stars; then we enlisted three dermatologists to give them a trial run. The votes are in. The winners are...
Voted BEST SHAMPOO 2004
EO Chamomile & Honey Shampoo ($8.99 *THEN..dry laughter*)

Apparently this is how it looks like now:

Aloe vera, hops, white ginger, wild-cherry bark, nettle, and horsetail: You'd be hard-pressed to find a shampoo with as many natural ingredients. But the one that piqued the interest of judge Grace Pak, M.D., was honey, one of nature's best-kept secrets. "It's a great healer and a humectant that helps hair retain moisture," Pak notes. Just as important, she says, is what's not on the list. "Most shampoos use detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate to help clear oil from the scalp. Yet these ingredients tend to strip hair of necessary moisture." In their place are amphoteric surfactants (what manufacturers often call a "coconut-oil cleansing complex"), detergents similar to the ones found in baby shampoos. These mild ingredients clean effectively while treating hair with kid gloves. Chamomile oil calms skin irritations, while witch hazel, a natural antiseptic, removes excess oil and product buildup, leaving your scalp clean and refreshed. And sensitive types, take note: There are no synthetic dyes, fragrances, or fillers.

I'm balding

Many outsiders think that being a flight attendant is easy money. I'm telling you, that cannot be further than the truth. Having worked other jobs, I assure you the only easy part about our job is that we don't get to take home work. That said, I find most of my days off spent glued to the bed, almost comatose and completely unaware of what happens around me as though in a drugged state. 

Besides the fact that it is physically very demanding and taxing to your health, many of us also develop health problems associated with flying.  Trust me, out of ten stewardesses, eight of them develop atopic dermatitis/ eczema. Unfortunately, I'm no exception to the case. About as common as eczema is hair loss, which affects both male and female attendants. So the next time you're on a plane, do appreciate these unsung heroes more.

I've just realised that I'm balding too, when my boyfriend took a picture of me from the back. I know I've been shedding a bit too much hair but I've been blithely ignoring it. I suspect it's due to the poor physical state I'm in, and also the fact that I have very long hair and I have to constantly tie it in a tight bun to work, fasten it with a million pins and slick back all fly-aways and cowlicks with copious amounts of gel and hairspray. Some background info before I start: I do not drink or smoke, and I try to eat as healthily as I can. My dad suffers from male pattern baldness but then again he is 61. Hmm, my hair is virgin and I have not dyed or done any chemical treatments to my hair before. Prior to joining the airlines, my hair had always been my crowning glory, and the object of my friends' envy. I used to be asked so often what shampoo and conditioner I used (I no longer get asked that anymore). 

Do something, I will. And I plan to embark on this baldness-annihilation plan ASAP before people start asking me if I have alopecia. May the heavens aid me. I will try to stick to it for two months before reviewing my scalp condition again.

I will be outlining my plan here and hopefully it is comprehensive enough. Please feel free to provide any suggestions. I'll be all too thankful. :)

Diet:

1. Nutrition: - Protein
   A strand of hair is composed of mostly protein, which means your hair needs protein to grow. "Hair and nails are both protein fibers," says dermatologist Paradi Mirmirani, MD, of the Permanente Medical Group in Vallejo, Calif., and a member of the North American Hair Research Society.
                           
   - Iron
   Not getting enough iron can cause hair loss.

   The best source of iron in your diet is meat. Clams, oysters, and organ meat top the list.

   Good vegetarian sources of iron include fortified cereals, soybeans, pumpkin seeds, white beans, lentils, and spinach. The problem with iron from non-animal sources is that the body absorbs iron less efficiently from plants. "It's possible to eat a vegetarian diet paying attention to iron and still not get enough," Gerbstadt says.
   - Vitamin D
   
   
   Though the evidence still isn't clear, some studies suggest that vitamin D may play a role in the hair cycle.
   
   
   And also, apparently minerals like biotin and zinc have not been proven to help. Apparently, experts are divided in their views about these supposed hair supplements. 
   
   
   (http://www.webmd.com/beauty/hair-health-11/eat-hair-type?page=1) 
2. Supplements 

Boosting your memory naturally

Today's episode of Kyou no Kenkou 今日の健康　on NHK featured Dr.Shimada Hiroyuki of The National Institute for Longevity Sciencies 島田裕之（国立長寿医療研究センター室長）who introduced simple exercises to prevent the onset of dementia (ninchishou認知症). 
While I'm not yet at a risk for dementia, I'm intrigued by the link between exercise, brain activity and memory. The doctor mentioned that physical exercise done together with brain exercises increases BDNF levels, which will help to prevent Alzheimer's and dementia. 

Prune and almond tart

My brother hoards newspapers so we have newspaper cuttings from way back. I found this scattered among other things on the living room floor and it immediately piqued my curiosity. I'm currently in the "healthy cooking" phase and I've also always been a vociferous advocate of good nutrition. You may find this recipe useful too, though it's not particularly healthy.

All rights go to The Straits Times, and I'm merely typing it word-for-word so I can throw the yellowing article away once I'm done. Keeping yellowed newspaper cuttings just isn't hygienic or healthy; I can picture the millions of microscopic dust mites having a feast at this very moment, and oh, the occasional silverfish slithering around the telltale signs of small holes in old paper. My hoarder brother just doesn't get it; hoarding is PATHOLOGICAL, I tell you. It is a kind of mental illness. 

So here goes: 

Published in "Hunger Management", The Sunday Times, The Straits Times, August 7,2011.

For a low-resolution printable copy, please click on this image

Real weight loss

It has been a long time since I last posted on this blog. I do know that I have little (or no) readership, but it does not faze me because that is the whole point of me starting this blog. I wanted it to be ad-free, and obviously having no readers, if anybody were to read my posts, they would know it comes from a person who really wants to share her unbiased, honest opinion with no vested interest whatsoever.

These days, how rare is it to find a real review when most reviews are sponsored and paid. That is what usually happens to me. Being a discerning consumer, I usually Google reviews for a particular product. But I soon realised that they're mostly posted by the company itself, or by bloggers who are sponsored.

My cynicism is not unfounded. Take for example the recent womenshealthmagazine.com Garcinia Cambogia scam. Having been lured by the catchy headline on a Facebook post about painless and easy weight loss, I decided to do some research on the new "miracle" supplement.

What I unearthed just proved my point and deeply cemented my cynicism. Though I have not personally tried the supplement, I have read about its caffeine-like metabolic side-effects and that is enough to put me off trying it.

Personally, I don't think there is any single easy, painless way to lose weight safely. As the adage goes, "No pain, no gain".

I currently am controlling my weight with Optifast, having been recommended this truly miraculous product by Dr Lee of The Sloane Clinic after he refused to prescribe me any medication. (On a sidenote, this is what I call medical ethics. I am not fat, I'm just not thin, and I suppose he cared about my health too much to prescribe any medication.) I later found out from my best friend in NZ who's also a surgeon at a hospital in Auckland, that her colleagues prescribe Optifast to their bariatric patients before lap-band surgery. Hey, if doctors are excited about Optifast, and the world is talking about it, then count me in!  

While it really works, it is not a supplement. It merely is a meal replacement, and aids in dieting. Dieting is by no means painless! My dieting sisters, I'm sure you know what I mean. I'm a huge foodie, so much so that going vegetarian is something almost impossible. Some days I go vegetarian to pay penance for my sins (psychologically I feel like I have less karmic debt when I don't eat killed animals), but God knows how tough it is to stay away from the temptations of the meaty "flesh".

That said, I found interesting flavours of Optifast in Australia--banana milkshake, coffee and the newest addition to Optifast, Caramel! They really taste better than the Chocolate, Vanilla or Strawberry ones which are the only ones we carry in Singapore. Plus, they're much cheaper. I've happily carted some boxes back from Australia and NZ, so if anybody does want to try it, I can let it go by the sachet at cheapsgskincare.wordpress.com.

Good taste and interesting flavours notwithstanding, you can imagine how tough it is for me to go on a solely Optifast diet, which is the most effective way to lose weight in a short time. Thus, I substituted only one meal with Optifast at the start. And cut down on carbohydrates. No rice, no bread, but more of the main dishes. When I do indulge in sinful stuff or overeat, which happens a lot unfortunately, I take Fancl's Calorie Limit before I eat and Perfect Slim after the meal. Or more like either one since my indulgences are usually not planned. And well, it has been working. It has been more than a year since I did the expensive and frankly, not so effective, Cryolipolysis, but I'm still in shape. Still struggling to maintain my weight since I hardly exercise, but at least it hovers around the BMI of 21.

Recently I've also introduced Yakult, Apple Cider Vinegar and Aloe Vera pills into my diet, which has helped in my bowel movements. The occasional Aojiru青汁 (or powdered Kale) as well. Now I go to the toilet for the big one at least twice a day, while before I used to go once a day or once in two days. A combination of all of these changes to my diet has helped me lose weight healthily with higher-than-before energy levels too.

To detail what I do to keep the pounds off,

1. I start off my day with two cups of very dilute Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. I dilute it this much because I have a weak stomach with frequent gastric problems.
2.  Replace one meal of the day with Optifast 
3. Limit my carbohydrate intake. Do not take more than two scoops of rice per meal. When I feel hungry, I take yoghurt or drink Optifast.
4. When I do indulge, I take 4 pills of Fancl's Calorie Limit half an hour before. And/or Perfect Slim after the meal. They're all-natural, and I've inspected their ingredients. Fancl's Calorie Limit probably just helps you poop better while Perfect Slim has high extracts of chilli so it supposedly helps you burn the fats off safely. I trust Fancl wholeheartedly. 
5. Take a bottle of Yakult after said heavy meal.
6. And, I'm taking Avalon's Aloe Vera pills now, two a day, if I feel like I've eaten too much in a day. This acts as a healthy laxative. 

Fancl Supplements for Weight Control

It's been some time. Looking back, I started this blog to air my opinions on certain products and procedures, and also to document the changes in my beauty regime. It is hardly a regime nowadays. Usually I'm too bushed I just want to strip my hair of the chemical gunk and shower all the dirt away before I collapse on the bed. My life has fallen into a predictable pattern of fulfilling my basic needs of sleep, comfort, food and drink. My facial routine has been stripped down to the bare minimum of hydrating my face with moisturisers and masks. Thankfully, since I discovered the combination of products that work for me (Fancl's collagen supplement, iS Clinical, Dermalogica...especially the Daily Microfoliant which I probably can't live without and Fancl's Overnight Treatments), my skin has not had any breakouts. Which I consider an achievement. I have many people in my industry--where one's appearance is of paramount importance--commenting on my good skin and asking which products I use. I realised I have the persuading power, and people are following my advice and getting the products I recommend. That to me is rather new. So, I strongly advocate finding the cocktail of beauty products that work for you and staying away from harsh additives, preservatives and fragrance in all facial products. My face reacts to the slightest of artificial perfume, and popular products like Laneige are completely out for me. Even Kiehl's Overnight Hydrating Masque (I think it's called that) stings when I apply it. If it stings, it must be because of something harsh in it. Or so I am inclined to believe.

While my skin looks good, free from all the common skin problems my colleagues are afflicted with, I am constantly struggling with my weight. Not that I care much. I've been eating and snacking happily and without heed of consequences. Till one day after Chinese New Year I realised my uniform feels tight...and God, even the seams started splitting and I was even callously humiliated by my supervisor. And my boyfriend started to comment on my weight. Then came the last straw, when my WLeader (who determines my life and death in the company) pulled me aside and commented on my expanding girth and tight uniform, and that he would send me on BMI Check if I didn't do anything about it. 

Seriously, I may have gained 5 kg, but I am not a whale. 

For this job, to look good in my uniform,  I want to, and I will, lose weight. I WILL NOT MURDER MY UNIFORM. OH BEAUTIFUL UNIFORM, I am very sorry my girth tore your seams asunder.

It is the 13th of March, 2013, today, and I will embark on a journey of self-discoveryrecovery. I'm sure my hard work will pay off.

How does a person lose weight healthily?

I still need to eat...since I've got serious gastric problems and my hormones are not in the best shape either. That was when I read about Fancl's Calorie Limit.