Oysters Chive Pancake Recipe

When my mother in law sent over some home grown chives, it means Oysters Chive Pancake time! This is a crowd pleaser and a foolproof recipe. All you need is a tad more oil to pan fry and remember do not squish your pancakes or they will become too dense.

Ingredients

225g miniature oysters

75g Chinese chives

2 eggs

2 tbsp tapioca starch

Seasoning

1/2 tsp Salt

pinch of fish sauce

pinch of pepper

Yields 2 pancakes 

Method

Wash the oysters. Mix with a little salt and corn flour and rinse thoroughly.

Pan Fry oysters for 1-2 mins then set aside.

Chop chives; beat the eggs in.

Add oysters, salt, then tapioca starch to make a batter.

Fry pancake over medium heat until golden, flip the pancake over and fry the other side.

Before removing the pancake, turn the heat up, the strong heat helps to 'drive out' some of the oil that has been absorbed by the cake. 

Sprinkle with pepper and serve with fish sauce or sweet chilli sauce.

Lazy Keto Pumpkin Custard Tarts

Here's more recipe without adding refined sugar. Just the natural sweetness of pumpkin and dates. People with prediabetes and diabetes shouldn't add sugar to their food. But this doesn't mean we cannot enjoy dessert. Just improvise and use sweetener or natural fruits/vegetables! After a while you will realise food actually tastes much better without added sugar.

Ingredients

280g pumpkin, peeled and diced into 2cm cubes

250ml milk 

8 dried dates, chopped

¼ tsp. cinnamon

3 tbsps custard powder

400g frozen puff pastry

Method

If you have time, it's best to thaw puff pastry overnight in the fridge. 

If not, thaw it on the counter until it's pliable enough to unfold without cracking, but still cold to the touch. 

If the butter is starting to melt or if the dough feels very limp, refrigerate it for 30 minutes.

Steam Pumpkin until soft and mash. Set aside.

Add dates in milk and simmer for 5mins.

Add custard powder until the mixture thickens.

Add pumpkin and cinnamon powder.

Cut and shape the puff pastry into aluminum cupcake mould.

Pierce the pastry with a fork.

Bake in preheated oven at 180C for 15 minutes until just light gold.

Pour custard into the tart shells.

Bake in preheated oven at 180C for another 25 minutes.

Enjoy while warm!

Clean Future with Clean Water | Cleanwash Home Solutions

Malaysia is blessed with plenty of water supply compared to other countries like the neighboring Singapore and Australia. However, the water supply is disrupted frequently due to scheduled maintanence or unplanned piping problems. We often notice unpleasant smell and taste of water, especially in certain areas even though the water is disinfected as the transporting water pipes are often corroded and rusty, risking leakage of metal into our water. Therefore, almost half of the Malaysian households have installed water filters and most will boil the water before consumption. 

Poor water quality is also bad for our health including skin issues. It can lead to eczema, lead toxicity, acne, premature ageing and dark circles! Marie Claire has an interesting article based on some anecdotal experience on how consuming enough water boosts energy level, mood and makes skin more supple.

Pay attention to the color of the new filter before installing to the water heater.

A day after installation.

Home water treatment systems consist if water conditioners and water filters. They can also be divided into point of entry (treat all the water supplied to the house) and point of use systems (usually limited to one faucet). Generally speaking, it is not advisable to have water filtration systems that use reverse osmosis or distillation as it completely removes minerals including fluoride which is a very important source to protect against dental caries. 

Another practical point about water filters is to service or replace cartridges regularly every 1-3months so that the system filters effectively, provides quality filtration and to prolong the lifespan of the system.

To ensure clean water supply, we have installed a few point of use water filtration systems in the house. We have been using the good old fashioned Panasonic water filter in the kitchen until we come across Clean Wash.

Cleanwash Home Solutions - Multipurpose Water Filter

Cleanwash Multipurpose Water Filter consists of a PP filter with calcium sulfite balls. It effectively filters out particles bigger than 5microns size and also chlorine in the water. Each set comes with tubings and accessories and the installation is super easy. Only took an inexperienced person like me 5mins!

Washing machine installation video

Shower line installation video

Their replacement cartridge is also affordable and can be purchased online through ClearLiving website.

Look at how dirty the filter is after a week! 

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

I have installed Cleanwash Multipurpose Water Filter on my washing machine and shower line for a few weeks now. Remember in my previous post I discussed about my skin issues due to prolonged face mask use? I have noticed significant improvement in acne and irritative rash. My laundry also smells so fresh now. I had some problems with installing the filter to my water heater with pump- but it's quickly resolved by the efficient and friendly customer service team. Good aftersale service is definitely a plus when considering a water filter.

Good news to my Malaysian readers! I am collaborating with Cleanwash for a giveaway. Just pay RM0.99 and, 5, yes 5 lucky readers get a set of Cleanwash Multipurpose Water Filter (NRP RM88, delivery excluded ) each if you follow these steps:

1. Like and Follow Clear Living FB.
2. Tag 3 friends in the comment section of this post.
3. Share, like and follow my FB OR Repost, like and follow my IG!

Deadline on 30 June 20!

Dr Yingzangel

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Clear Living

Official Clear Living Website

Clear Living FB

(postage not included)

* Peninsular Malaysia – Rm 8.00 delivery charge per trip in a single purchase.

* East Malaysia – Rm 15.00 delivery charge per trip in a single purchase

* Storewide purchase at Rm 100.00 or above entitles for FREE DELIVERY in peninsular Malaysia

Why breastfeed until 2 years? | Shapee® 3-in-1 Breast Therapy Thermal Pads Review

After the first birthday, many mothers think it's the time to wean the baby off breastfeeding. Please don't! After the first sleepless month, breastmilk supply is already established and our body should have adjusted to baby's demand. There shouldn't be any more engorgement. Hopefully by then the little one is already an expert in breastfeeding.

My eldest took a month to do that and I had to express and feed. My second was a natural since he was born and could breastfeed lying down. I started to work when they were 3 months old so I had to start pumping x2-3/day from 8am to 5pm during workdays. Am absolutely in love with my faithful Spectra 9 plus breast pump which helps to maintain my milk supply.

As doctors, Mr husband and I are well aware of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months and preferably for 2 years. Besides its obvious nutritional benefits, breastfeeding is also the fastest way to soothe an irritated toddler from tantrums, discomfort and guiltily to sleep (we are still sleep training our second).

Do you know that:

Breastfeeding your toddler can provide:

29% of his daily energy needs
43% of protein requirements
75% of Vitamin A requirements
60% of Vitamin C requirements.

Read more about breastfeeding your toddler here at ASN.

We are so glad that we have Shapee® 3-in-1 Breast Therapy Thermal Pads to ease the journey of breastfeeding. It's definitely no easy feat.

In the early days, breast engorgements can be really unbearable and painful. They felt so heavy like solid rocks and makes me feel feverish and shiver in the first week. I had to manually massage and unclog my breasts until I started to use Shapee® 3-in-1 Breast Therapy Thermal Pads. Simply keep the pads in the freezer an hour before use. Instead of using cabbage leaves which can be inconvenient to bring around. Lol.

A month before my maternity leave ends, I have to start freezing breastmilk for the boy. In order to stimulate letdown and increase yield, I use Shapee® 3-in-1 Breast Therapy Thermal Pads as heat therapy. There are 2 ways to heat the pads- heat them with the soft cover on for 10-15 seconds or immerse in hot water with cover off for 10 minutes. 

Then I simply wrap them around my breast pump flanges and then secure them with my nursing bras. My work can be incredibly hectic as a full-time doctor, so 10 minutes of pumping time is all I have each session. The thermal pads are very useful to have.

Good breastmilk bags are also important for freezing breastmilk in chest freezers which can be kept up to 12 months! Shapee has recently introduced Milkee Lab Bags which have the following features:

-Double zipper to avoid spillage
-Designated write-on area
-Measurement capacity
-Stable standing bottom
-Thermal sensor
-Baby-friendly material
-Reinforced seal
-Pre- Sterilized bags
-Available with 2 size ( 7oz / 5oz ) with 25 bags per box

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

Shapee® 3-in-1 Breast Therapy Thermal Pads are great accessories to have for breastfeeding moms.  They are washable, reusable, BPA and BPS free. The most important thing is they are safe and doesn't contain toxic materials like lead or irritative ingredients such as latex. The soft and flexible design fits snugly to the breasts and is compatible to any breast pump.

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How and When to use Sanitizer | Cellnique Sanitising Nano Mist Review

Sanitizing is no longer a foreign concept to us. Personal hygiene is of upmost importance nowadays. Whenever possible, hand washing using soap and water is the most effective way to get rid of germs, especially when the hands are greasy or contaminated by harmful chemicals. 

Hand washing reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16-21%.
At work, healthcare workers like me practise 5 moments of hand hygiene. But it's not always feasible to reach for a tap at each moment. That's when, sanitizers become very useful.

Read CDC guideline about sanitizer use.

This is how we should wash our hands.

https://youtu.be/UTNi1oEQjZc

At work, we use alcohol based hand sanitizers as they are proven to work. However, frequent use can really wreak havoc on our skin. Alcohol dehydrates the skin. They strip away the skin’s natural acid layer. This makes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles more obvious. Besides that, alcohol also irritates the skin which can cause contact irritant dermatitis especially for those with sensitive skin. The natural lipid barrier of the skin is also removed which may make acne worse. Not surprisingly, skin cells also die when exposed to alcohol.

Cellnique Sanitising Nano Mist could be a promising solution other than alcohol based sanitizer.

Cellnique Sanitising Nano Mist features
-No alcohol
-No skin irritants
-No preservatives
-Nitrates-Free
-Tricosan-Free
-Chemical-Free

The main active ingredient is Nano-Colloidal Silver. This is basically silver in ionized form or nanoparticles. Nano-Colloidal Silver exhibits excellent antimicrobial, antifungal properties and is used for coating medical devices for preventing biofilm formation. It is also good in wound dressing in ionised form. Nano-Colloidal Silver use is definitely not foreign to my work as a doctor.

Infused with essential oils, this nano-colloidal silver sanitising mist is specially formulated to protect our skin including the face against germs and fungal infections. It is long lasting and suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.

Nigella Sativa Seed Oil is rich in antioxidants. This retards premature skin ageing and is also great to calm irritated skin due to eczema, psoriasis and other forms of dermatitis. Besides that, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil also has potent antibacterial properties even for bugs resistant to antibiotics such as the MRSA superbug.

Bitter Orange Seed Oil, on the other hand, helps to maintain the oil water balance of the skin to optimise the skin's function as a natural barrier against germs. This oil also contains citric acid (Vitamin C), which maintains fairer complexion and strengthens the barrier even more.

A little bit about the background of Cellnique Paramedical. Cellnique Paramedical strives to combine the latest pharmaceutical grade skin care with advanced medical formulation including ingredients such as collagen and CoQ10. Backed by science, Cellnique has even established Cellnique Institute of Advanced Derma Aesthetics. This is how serious the company views the importance of research in product development. Recently, Cellnique Paramedical has turned its focus to solve skin problems in Asians. This is a great news for us because Asian skin is definitely not the same as others!

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

I really love these comparison charts to show how effective yet protective Cellnique Sanitising Nano Mist is. They even compare with chlorox which immediately remind me of Mr Trump :p

Traditionally highly concentrated alcohol is known to kill germs including Covid19, but many people especially healthcare workers like me, having to hand rub up to 100 times/day, will end up with irritant contact dermatitis. And we definitely cannot use those on our face. Cellnique Sanitising Nano Mist is suitable and safe for whole body use including the face. Kill virus but please spare our skin!

Get your own Cellnique Sanitising nano mist using this code SDY05 now!

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Is Microneedling worth trying? | Common Labs Vitamin E Microneedle Spot Cream Review

Microneedling is essentially acupuncture for the skin. This introduces microscopic puncture that will promote the natural healing process by stimulating collagen production and ameliorating issues like wrinkle, enlarged pores, acne scars and stretch marks. I know this sounds scary, but it's incredibly safe when done properly by a trained aesthetic doctor. 

Now it's even possible to do microneedling at home! The needles are shorter and duller than the ones used in the clinic. But can definitely open up the pores so that products can penetrate better.

Read more about microneedling here at Glamour.

Common Labs Vitamin E Microneedle Spot Cream offers effective penetration using super micro-needle (smaller than pore size). It also features acne fighting Gesolza™ technology, 54% Tea tree leaf extract and Vitamin E. 

This is the full list of ingredients:

Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Carbomer, Panthenol, Betaine, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Madecassoside, Tocopherol, Artemisia Annua Extract 

How to do microneedling at home?

1. Double Cleanse and Tone.

2. Apply small amount only on troubled or desired area. Up to 2-3 times/day

3. The microneedles will open up the pores up to 70hours to absorb skincare products better.

4. Continue to apply serum and moisturizer twice a day.

5. The microneedles are naturally removed during skin regeneration and sheddding.

6. Use every 2~3 days.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

You would have noticed that I'm practically bringing aesthetic treatments home recently! As a physician, I think Covid19 is here to stay unless we find a safe and effective vaccine. Social distancing is the new normal so cutting down non-essential trips out is surely the way to go. Home microneedling is not as invasive but it's definitely effective. A great product to own for skin problems created by retained sweats due to prolonged face mask use.

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Is Vitamin C Supplementation necessary? | EC Pomegranate Mixture Review

When I was younger, my mom asked me to pop a vitamin C tablet every morning. I simply enjoyed the taste of the sweet chewable tablet. But is it necessary? Vitamin C is one the safest supplements one can ever take. It may not be the panacea to everything. But it really does have benefits in boosting the immune system, protecting our heart, brain and eyes. Not to mention the anti-ageing effects. Therefore, it is not surprising to know that Vitamin C Supplementation is beneficial against Covid19 infection. You can find the published study here.

However, most of the benefits are only seen at a higher dose of at least 500mg daily. It is simply not practical to consume that from our normal dietary intake. On top of supplementation, we will still have to take 5-9 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables everyday. The safe dosage of vitamin C Supplementation varies to age and gender and can be found in this article.

There are so many Vitamin C preparations out there- chewable tablets, effervescent tablets and liquid formulation. We do know that some preparations stronger than 500mg can cause some stomach lining irritation and discomfort, so look for  a non-acidic, buffered form of the vitamin. This is why I consume EC Pomegranate Mixture regularly.

Read more about Vitamin C Supplementation on WebMD.

EC Pomegranate Mixture

Pureway C is the more superior form of vitamin C in the form of its fatty metabolites. This allows faster absorption from the gut into the bloodstream and to the cells where it's needed. Pureway C also has potent antioxidant effect that remove free radicals that can damage normal cells and cause premature ageing. It is approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), categorized as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA. This preparation is also stomach friendly.

Besides that, EC Pomegranate Mixture does not contain added sugar. It's naturally sweetened by apple and pomegranate juice. Apple and Pomegranate contain strong antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. This help to supplement our daily fruit intake, all compressed into 15ml and 400mg of vitamin C goodness. 

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

You may think I'm a non conventional doctor. I am not against all sorts of supplementation but I do urge people to be alert and vigilant. Study about the product before consuming from valid sources. Only buy from reputed sources and not some herbal shop with homemade supplements made in the back alley. People love supplements undoubtedly. However, those with chronic illnesses- kidney failure, liver failure,heart failure and diabetes need to steer away from supplements and herbal remedies. If you really want to try, bring it to your doctor so you are monitored regularly if needed for side effects.

Disclaimer: the opinion given is merely a personal experience and does not constitute formal medical advice. Please seek your medical professional's advice before any complementary therapy. Always ask for certified professionals before proceeding with treatment and stop if discomfort or side effect ensues.

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