The correct way to supplement collagen featuring NutriBear

Happy CNY!

Those who have been following my posts would have read about NutriBear- an efficacious collagen supplement. If not catch up here to learn about the function of collagen in the body and how to age gracefully.

In this article, I'm going to talk about how to supplement yourselves with sufficient amount of collagen. And the common misconceptions and questions regarding collagen supplementation.

1. Get the purest collagen

There are many collagen products in the market. But one can rarely find a single product that only contains collagen. Many includes other vitamins and minerals- especially vitamin C due to its benefits to the skin.

However, this combination is not palatable. Therefore, other additives and sweeteners are needed in the product. This is precisely the reason why NutriBear only contains collagen because Dr Cheng JC， the founder insists to create NutriBear. In fact, she suggests taking NutriBear separately with a Vitamin C supplement of your choice for the optimal level of collagen production.

But Berry flavoured NutriBear is also now available with added vitamin C.

Of course all NutriBear products are free of gluten, GMO, heavy metals and preservatives.

2. Get the correct source of collagen.

Many animal parts contain collagen including cow, swine, chicken and fish. The first 3 are much cheaper but also less effective. Fish collagen is absorbed 1.5 times more efficiently into the bloodstream, meaning more collagen consumed can be used by the body instead of being excreted.

3. Why granulated hydrolyzed collagen?

Granulation is a way to process collagen to make it easier to dissolve and absorb.

True enough, look at my previous YouTube video and you can see how easily the collagen powder dissolves without stirring in hot or warm water.

4. Powder vs capsule collagen

We need 5g of collagen supplement in a day. This increases with age as we are able to produce less. 1 scoop of NutriBear provides this 5g.

But there's only 0.5g in each capsule. You do the mathematics! It's just like taking medications. If you underdose yourself, you won't get the desired effect.

It takes around 3-4 weeks of collagen supplementation to start seeing the results.

5. Perhaps the favorite question - is it safe in pregnant or breastfeeding mothers?

As a general physician and breastfeeding mother, I know how tricky it is to get a trustable supplement. But NutriBear totally fits the bill. I love mixing NutriBear 1 scoop a day into my homemade red dates, longan and goji berry drink to boost breast milk production. 

 Still please check with your healthcare professionals before starting any supplement because other coexisting medical problems may make it dangerous to consume certain supplements.

So look good, feel good, save bears with NutriBear today!

More information
NutriBear website
Facebook page
Instagram

If you are a scientist-->

For the real science behind it, read these research evidence. It shows how collagen supplementation is important in good skin, preventing osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and improving bone health. Note that these studies are not large scale like other studies for medications so collagen may be useful but it can't be recommended in practising guidelines for healthcare professionals. 

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.

Skin pigmentation away featuring Dr Glamogenic Spot Whitening Serum

I used to have sun kissed skin and I admit that I wasn't so diligent in providing sun protection. But I love bushwalking and the outdoors. With aging and 2 pregnancies, you can imagine the effect of photoaging and hormonal imbalance on my skin. And the sleepless nights caring for 2 adorable children are not helpful.

One of the annoying problem is  excessive skin pigmentation, mostly from acne scars, sun spots and of course my dark circles. Hyperpigmentation is caused by excessive melanin stimulated by exposure to UV rays. And it can take 10-20 years to develop. Read more on Cosmopolitan. It's not easy to treat these with the usual recommendation being laser which is minimally invasive with potential recurrence.

Dr Glamogenic Spot Whitening Serum

Dr Glamogenic is a skincare brand formulated in Korea but widely marketed in Australia. In my previous article, I have explained why I prefer to use products tailored to Asian skin.

The main active ingredients include

Shea butter
Macadamia oil
Squalene
Soy isoflavones
Glycyrrhizate
Sunflower seed oil
Bee wax

This unique formulation benefit the skin by
1. Brightening dull complexion and promote radiance
2. Hydrating and moisturising
3. Nourishing the skin thus promoting collagen production
4. Lightening Pigmentation by even distribution of melanin which also works for dark circles

How to Use?
Step 1 cleanse
Step 2 tone
Step 3 use Dr Glamogenic Spot Whitening Serum while skin is still damp
Step 4 wait for serum to absorb
Step 5 moisturise

Watch my YouTube video for detailed instructions how to apply the serum. You can choose to use the serum with an eye massager for deeper penetration. Please subscribe to Dr Yingzangel. 

Would I recommend it?

Yes! Miraculously I have noticed a difference in merely 3 days without the pain and cost of going through laser treatment. The serum is not greasy and gets absorbed quickly.

Other Dr Glamogenic products available in Malaysia are:

For body :

1. Enliven Brightening Cream ( under arm, elbow,knee)

2.Youth Restoring Modeling Shaping Cream  ( body sculpting and firming)

For face :

3. Hyaluronic Booster Serum

4. Antioxidant Vit C+ Serum

5. Brassica Peeling Gel  ( for exfoliation )

7. Dynamic Brightening Mask

8. Vitalize Soothing Mask

If you are interested there are 3 methods to get your own Dr Glamogenic products

A. Visit Glamogenic Kiosk ( Authorized dealer)
Vintage Collection International Sdn Bhd Address: PC-001, Ground Floor,Sunway Giza Mall.
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
( -same level with Village grocer / opposite Tea Live )

B. WhatsApp order : +6 012 691 6128

C. Online order via FB Page : Glamogenic Official 

Debunking the mystery of bird's nest | Toko Tsuru premium bird's nest review

Being so expensive, is it really worth consuming bird's nest? From food to cosmetics, bird's nest is being added for its tauted benefits. Is this real or just a scam? Afterall, it's just solidified saliva produced by nesting swiftlets. Very much glorified eh?

People, especially Chinese, have been craving for bird's nest, pushing its price skyhigh. Traditionally, collection involves climbing treacherous caves as the swiftlets nest near dangerous terrain. Recently, bird's nests are also being farmed in Malaysia. A building is provided for the swiftlets to nest with the freedom to come and go. Cave nests, are of course, much more costly due to its scarcity.

Swiftlet farming harbours a lot of knowledge.  A renowned Professor Dr Lim, a kidney specialist in Malaysia, is actively involved. Ethical swiftlet farming makes sure only empty nests are collected after the eggs have hatched and the baby swiftlets do not need them anymore. There's ongoing research from his team about how to farm swiftlets and the nutritional value of bird's nest.  Read more here. 

Nests are then graded according to purity and size from the best white nests aka imperial nests to feathery nests and lastly grass nests. And of course priced accordingly.

The process to manufacture edible bird's nests is equally tedious. There are 7 steps involved and illustrated in the diagram below.    Most of the steps are labour intensive and requires experience and on job training. This is particularly true about the cleaning part. It's very meticulous using small forceps to pick out feathers and impurities.

One can either obtain bird's nest in the market after it's being cleaned in its original form. It takes double boiling for at least an hour to be cooked. The alternative is to use a slow cooker. Or purchase it in bottled versions that's ready for consumption. Bird's nest goes well with rock sugar, goji berries and red dates. There are even people who cleans bird's nest only for their own consumption.

So there must be a valid reason why people spend so much time and effort to produce good bird's nest. The proven nutritional value of bird's nest is as summarized below- the main active ingredients being sialic acid, epidermal growth factor and mitogenic stimulation factor. That's where the claims for supple and youthful skin come from.

Toko Tsuru premium bird's nest strictly adhere to the highest standards explained above to produce premium bird's nest soup canned for convenient consumption. It contains just bird's nest and rock sugar as bird's nest alone is rather bland to taste. Nothing else.

Each bottle is made of 4g of raw premium bird's nest! The other important nutrients include sialic acid, protein, fibre and phytonutrients.

Even though rock sugar is added, the bird's nest tasted just right and not too sweet. 

Look at how full the bottle is with bird's nest! There's very little amount of water actually unlike most of the other commercially available bird's nest. 

Let's bring these premium gifts to our loved ones this festive season. We should only give them the best for wishes of goodwill and health. Afterall, they gave us their best. Get it from PMMII.com

D&V Grand Chicken Kuantan food review

To be honest, there are not many chicken chops that I would crave for. One of them is the popular Taiwanese spicy XL chicken chop. And now Kuantanese has a great alternative at D&V Grand Chicken!

D&V Grand Chicken
Level 3
East Coast Mall, Kuantan.
Opens daily 10am to 10pm
Facebook page 

There are as many as 18 types of chicken chops available at the moment after 4 months of its grand opening. Other branches are in JB, Sabah, Sarawak and Indonesia. Since there's no pork, no lard and no alcohol served, D&V is Muslim friendly as well. 

One can choose between the D&V vs flaming crust. D&V is their special combination of flour that makes the chicken chop's crunch.  The flaming variety is very similar to the popular Taiwanese chicken chop that's more crispy. It's very difficult to describe the subtlety so you just have to try it yourself to decide which is your favorite.

For each type of crust, one can then opt a flavor out of the 9 choices, namely original, salt & pepper, lemon, cheese, barbeque, matcha, wasabi, sour plum and seaweed. Believe it or not, ongoing R&D is happening in the Kuantan branch for more unique local flavors!

We tried the more popular options. For the D&V chicken chops, clockwise from upper photo, spicy cheese, cheese and barbeque. I definitely prefer adding the chilli powder to all the varieties simply because I love spicy food. The cheese tastes like my childhood favorite cheese rings. The barbeque version gives a more charred flavor.

As for the flaming varieties, seaweed in the top photo and salt & pepper in the bottom one. The seaweed flakes adds wonderful fragrance to the chicken chop and compliments it well. Salt & pepper on the other hand, is suitable for those who prefer lighter taste.

The milkshake list is equally impressive. From top photo clockwise- durian, strawberry, blueberry, original coconut, shredded coconut and syrup. Just realised I missed out the Oreo milkshake in my collection. The drinks are made from frozen fresh fruits including D24 flesh! The coconut varieties are made from D&V signature pure coconut ice cream without added sugar. So customers can opt to have their shakes without added sugar and milk. My favorite, no doubt is the thick aromatic D24 milkshake.

D&V Kuantan branch has a few special menu not found elsewhere.

Nasi lemak with D&V chicken chop

Nasi lemak with flaming chicken chop

Their rice is fragrant with the smell of coconut milk with crunchy roasted peanuts and a generous amount of sambal that's more on the sweet side.

D&V chicken wrap. I love how crispy the wrap is with an awesome cheese pull and wonderful juicy chicken chop with each bite.

D&V fries. Similarly, one can choose a flavor from the list above. We had the wasabi one. Love the kick of the wasabi powder which has the ability to make anyone tear up.

Our verdict 8/10! Simply because cravings satisfied :p

My Kuantan readers, I would like to give away a few D&V vouchers. Simply like and share my FB post, tag 3 friends in the comments below. The lucky winners will be announced on 31 January.

No more PMS skin featuring R.E.D. Essence

I believe many ladies will relate to this scenario. During certain period of the month, Dr Yingzangel has sudden severe breakout. It's just so tiring and she feels so emotionally overwhelmed. Welcome to premenstrual syndrome!

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is so common that 75% women experience some form of PMS. It's mainly caused by cyclical changes in female sex hormones. The severity varies. In severe cases, this can become premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Read more about PMS on Mayo Clinic. It is generally treated with lifestyle changes, rarely medications and hormonal pills.

What this article has left out are the terrible effects on our skin. These fluctuating hormone levels can cause acne, dry and dull skin, pale skin tone, tired complexion, slowing skin metabolism and weaker skin barrier. Exactly what I'm having!

R.E.D. Essence is a Swissvita product from Taiwan which promises to tackle ‘hormonal’ skin. This serum has 3:7 of oil to serum ratio.

The active ingredients in the oil component are

Copper teprenone- improves skin elasticity by maintaining telomere length, preventing skin cell death and ageing.

Artic gentiana -a wild flower that helps to smooth fine lines

In the serum component,

Multi molecular hyaluronic complex- it's collagen, an essential part of the skin to maintain suppleness and elasticity

Centella asiatica/pennywort- contains madecassoside a potent antioxidant and a rich source of amino acid, hydrates and soothes irritated skin

Vitamins- creates a healthy and ruddy complexion

So how does one use the R.E.D. essence?

Step 1 cleanse

Step 2 tone

Step 3 R.E.D. essence

Step 4 moisturise

As with any other essence, it's used in two to three drops daily. Remember to shake it to mix the oil and serum together before using. It is also suitable for those with sensitive skin as the essence is free of alcohol, paraben and fragrance.

Continuous use for a week brings obvious improvement in complexion and skin hydration. So it's perfect to start using it from day one to seven of the menstrual cycle. If you want more sustained results, simply use it everyday! It's also lightweight and non greasy when applied.

Would I buy it again?

Yes! Why would I give up the only skincare product that will help with PMS skin?

Head on to AllYoung Malaysia website to grab your own R.E.D. essence.

Chicken + honey 关丹美食分享

太好了 久违的东海岸博客组又聚在一起了。这一次要带大家到 Chicken+ Honey 尝试一下大马人都爱的炸鸡。我是应店主的要求转身为华文部落客 呵呵

Chicken + Honey

20a, Jalan Putra Square 6, Pekan Melayu, 25300 Kuantan, Pahang
013-399 8889

https://g.co/kgs/295sce
面子书
https://m.facebook.com/chickenhoney/

在炎热的天气，这里的用餐环境很舒适。店面摆设典雅，也设有冷气 。

这里的招牌菜是韩式炸鸡翅。这是一份十二个鸡翅的单点。如果叫套餐，也附送茶水和鸡饭。口味方面我们选了六个蜜制鸡翅，另外六个韩式辣酱。这鸡翅表面是稍微带有黏性的，炸的正好，肉质口感鲜嫩，鸡汁香浓。

当然也少不了传统的炸鸡翅。原味带有盐和胡椒的香气，是小朋友们的最爱。他们家独特的超辣炸鸡翅还真是个极限挑战啊。真鸡不可漏相，味蕾马上就被辣麻了。店长还很客气的说他们只是用一般的辣椒粉罢了。

这里店主贴心的附上手套。大家可安心吃鸡翅，不怕弄脏手 。

想吃正餐的食客我会介绍烤鸡饭。香喷喷的鸡饭配上了烤的嫩嫩的鸡大腿，脂肪都被烤溶了，剩下香香有嚼劲的鸡皮。辣椒很好吃，也是鸡饭的必加佐料。

只是如果您饭量大的话，就要加饭啦。

专为小斌点的清汤鱼丸米粉。清清淡淡的，很适合解油，吃了暖胃。他超爱的，吃了大半碗。

其他小吃包括炸饺子。这一直来都是我的弱点。超爱香脆的外皮，鸡肉与香菜组成了多汁的内陷，赞！

炸金针菇。脆的不得了，咬的很上口。就像零食咬着咬着就完啦。

这里饮料的种类也是相当多的。从左起，荔枝、泰式奶茶、柠檬酸梅、烧仙草、荔枝茶、柠檬汁。冷冻甜甜的味道很解暑，也很解辣。缓和了鸡翅的辛辣 。

甜点方面就来份榴莲起司蛋糕吧 。这里的蛋糕偏奶油味，带了淡淡的榴莲清香，不油腻，也不过甜。冷冷的，口感倾向冰淇淋。一家大小都超爱哦。

就介绍到此。评评分我们给了7.5星。大家不妨试一试，觉得我写的到位的，不忘点赞分享噢。

Asian skin care featuring Elle foaming facial cleanser and water oil

No discriminations intended. But Asian skin is indeed very different from their Caucasian counterparts. Therefore our skincare needs differ too. How different is it?

Asian skin generally

1. Tans more and burns less because of more melanin
2. Has early pigmentation in 20s is common
3. Has dull and uneven skin tone
4. Is more sensitive and drier
5. Is more oily

Read more about Asian skin on femalemag

So I love Asian skincare products! Elle has s range of skincare products designed in Taiwan. This series mainly tackle skin problem 2+3+4+anti-aging!

Elle skincare foaming facial cleanser

The main active ingredient is red algae procured in France. It contains sulfated polysaccharides (carrageenan), peptides, carotenoids, and fatty acids. This forms powerful antioxidants that not only helps to protect the skin from damaging UV, but also neutralizes free radicals formed as a result of air pollution.

When applied, the cream cleanser foams up slightly in contact with water. The foams can penetrate deeper into the pores and cleanse the impurities away.

I love the 'oceanic scent’ of the cleanser which is a bit salty sort of smell and lingers for some time after it's washed off. My face felt so clean and fresh without being over dried.

Would I buy again? Yes because the last time I bought a red algae cleanser cost 3 times more than this from my previous facial salon. Definitely value for money!

Get it from AllYoung Malaysia here.

Elle Iris Water-like Oil

This is such a mind boggling name when I first came across it. I'm sure you are wondering what it does for your skin. It's a facial oil that is so lightweight and non greasy that it looks and feels like water! In short, it works like a moisturiser.

The list of active ingredients are all oils!

-argan oil (high vitamin E and fatty acid content)

-plantasens AJO (a brand itself that boasts the use of plant-based actives, multi-functional emulsifiers, and a broad selection of emollients)

- squalene (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory for aging and acne prone skin)

- kalpariane (boosts synthesis of hyaluronic acid)

- dipeptide and hexapeptide (stimulates collagen production)

How to use it?

Use it after cleansing and toning. Squeeze 1-2 drops onto the palm and rub until microbubbles form. Gently massage it onto the face. Cup the face with the warmth of the palms to enhance absorption.

This water-like oil is absorbed so well that I felt a boost to my skin condition. At the same time, my face maintains non greasy after a long day out. I have been going out with my bare face recently because I feel more confident with my skin condition now.

Not only can it be used on the face, it can also transform into hair oil, lip balm, cuticle oil, body oil and mix it with blush to create a ruddy complexion.

I love how hydrated my lips are are after a drop. Note that I have developed problems with dry and cracked lips after recovering from a severe bout of lip ezcema.

Would I buy again? The price is a bit steep but with the CNY promotion, I would. Because I can get a free Swissvita travel kit set haha with the current campaign. The multiple functions is really useful especially while traveling to downsize my luggage.

Get this at AllYoung Malaysia website here.

And a healthy skin must be well hydrated! Adequate water consumption is the key. Therefore, having this A5 size memo bottle by Elle makes it so much easier. I love how it's transparent and lack of difficult small corner so I can clean it easily. The size of 420ml makes it fit easily into my handbag so no more excuse of not bringing my own water.

Besides that, it can keep water from -20 to 90 degrees Celsius! Being BPA free, the memo bottle is definitely safe for use. And its shape also makes it easier to hold.

These 3 great Elle products really rejuvenates one inside out. My complexion has started to glow despite being severely sleep deprived caring for baby Yi. The duty of a mother :)