Healthy is the New Happy - Natugee x Mrs Malaysia World event at Furama Hotel Bukit Bintang

Being healthy is the key to successful ageing. Highly stressful lifestyles often result in bad food choices and sedentary lifestyles,  resulting in hormonal imbalances. And raging or lacking of hormones can definitely cause skin problems, besides using the wrong skincare products. Healthy is the new happy is a beauty event coorganised by Natugee and Mrs Malaysia World at Furama Hotel Bukit Bintang.

Feeling tired? This may not just be due to lack of sleep. Hormones usually work in harmony in our bodies. It can be difficult to spot when hormonal problems are brewing because symptoms can be vague like gaining or losing weight,  bloated stomach,  cold or heat intolerance, stress and anxiety versus sluggish minds.  We had to go through a detailed questionaire pertaining to various hormones.

Dr Linda,  a medical doctor who specializes in regenerative medicine,  explains how regular hormonal checks could be helpful in solving these issues. She provides services and consultations for those with hormonal imbalance. I find her practice different  because mainstream medical practice like what I'm currently in do not test hormonal levels routinely. We only check them if it's suggestive clinically. Hmm,  food for thoughts.

The event then continued by an amazing talk by Natugee's founder Miss Rena Rifaee how to read labels for skincare products. The ingredients with the highest concentration is listed in descending order and watch out for ingredients after the 5th ingredients because these can be the hidden harsh ingredients such as SLS and SLES.

5 common misconceptions for skincare was also explained. Squeaky clean skin is too dry and can cause excessive sebum production and breakout. Good fats such as omega 3 fatty oils are essential for good skin. Do not be tricked in believing that pores will shrink. The only way to keep the pores from enlarging is by keeping our skin clean. Dehydrated and dry skin are not the same! Dry skin lacks oil and need exfoliation and moisturizer. Dehydrated skin has excessive dead cells that requires exfoliation but moisturising doesn't really help. Hyaluronic acid may help though.

The event was also attended by Mrs Malaysia World finalists. They all looked gorgeous posing for a group photo. Even though they are married,  these ladies are great examples how to maintain their physical fitness and beauty.

Throughout the talks,  we had free-flow high tea by Furama Hotel. There was a mouthwatering selection of danish, assorted fruit kebabs, macaroons, handcrafted chocolate,  marshmallow, walnut banana cakes, cheese cakes,  puddings, sponge cakes, nuts and muruku. Drinks were mineral water, guava juice and coffee.

Besides these eye opening talks,  3 booths were also set up by Natugee, The Asian Parenting, as well as Waka Waka playland under Furama Hotel Bukit Bintang.

I had the luck of getting 200 TAP points from the wheel of fortune,  as well as a great goodie bag containing the following products

-Natugee Deep Cleansing Lotion 20ml & Natugee Happy Skin Mask
-Narinar Aromatherapy Oils
- BondaHaven Spa Essential oil
-Jamu Tun Teja MEKAR Breast Herbal Firming Cream
-Lovera Magic Jelly Baby Multipurpose Gel for baby skin
-Wirdora Rivoli Swarovski Brooch Set
-Eori Eczema Wonder Skin Oil
-CHIIO Succulent by The Nitty Gritty

These are great examples of skincare products using only natural ingredients without harsh chemicals such as paraben,  alcohol and are safe for babies as well as breastfeeding or expecting mothers. Quality products are really important for those with sensitive skin and eczema too.

Thank you so much for all the sponsors and Furama Bukit Bintang for the wonderful afternoon event! It was an eye opener to the road to beauty. Watch the highlights here.

Jean C 30 days hydrolyzed collagen drink review

Good quality collagen supplement does not have to be expensive! Collagen consumption is particularly important for those who has bad lifestyle habits such as profligate eating and alcohol drinking,  smoking and regular suntanning. In my previous article,  I pointed out how to supplement collagen correctly.

Jean C,  Jeanne Calment in full,  is a centenarian who lived until the age of 122. She inspired the brand Jean C to produce collagen supplement that promotes Healthy Ageing at an affordable price tag for Malaysians. Such a great collagen drink in Malaysia!

Collagen production plummets as we age,  starting as early as 25 years of age. Collagen is essential for skin,  joint, bone,  hair and nail health. Each sachet of Jean C contains 3g of marine hydrolyzed collagen (We need about 5g in a day) . This form of collagen is the easiest to be absorbed by the body.  Marine collagen has the highest quality but those with seafood allergies have to refrain from consumption.

Besides that,  other phytonutrients in Jean C are derived from the following natural plant extracts:

Astaxanthin
- also known as, “king of carotenoids”, is 800X stronger than coq10, as well as 75x stronger than alpha lipoic acid to protect against damage and increase skin moisture retention ability.

Amla (Indian Superfood)
- has 20X vit C compared to orange which reduces the effect of premature aging, hydrates the skin to lighten pigmentation and
reduce scar.

Açai (Amazon Superfood)
- is rich in polyphenol and anthocyanins which area essential to control pigmentation, treat acne and lighten scars

Baobab (African Superfood)
- is also called  “ tree of life” superfood as the level of antioxidant is twice that of pomegranate. It is also rich in polyphenol to boost skin moisture and collagen production.

Lingonberry (Scandanavian Superfood)
- contains more antioxidants than blueberries & cranberries. Arbutin inhibits melanin production to prevent uv induced hyperpigmentation.

How to use?

Mix 1 sachet to 150ml of water. Take daily for 2 to 4 weeks to start seeing the results.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

Even though studies done for the benefit of consuming collagen are not huge and exhaustive,  there is definitely visible improvement as early as 2 weeks. I could see that my skin has become more radiant with more even skin tone. I also love the refreshing grape taste that Jean C has. And what's more,  such a good product is only selling at RM89 for 30 days supply!

Just be careful that pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should avoid taking Jean C though because it's simply unethical to do research for supplements in this group of people. Therefore we do not have enough safety data to recommend use.

Grab your own Jean C 30 days hydrolyzed collagen drink now! Free delivery nationwide. Use JEANC79 to get a further RM10 off from your order. Or Buy 3 for RM219 - JEANC219 to get RM48 off with (normal price RM267)

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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 certifications before proceeding with treatment and stop if discomfort or side effect ensues.

Authentic Korean Pub Food | Gangnam Street Kuantan Food Review

I really think Kuantan lacks good authentic Korean food before Gangnam Street was opened.  Most of the Korean food here is already Malaysianized with fairly standard menus. Gangnam Street is recently opened by a young Korean gentleman Kim whose mother is the owner of Ye Mi Won Kuantan. Read on to find out our dining experience.

Gangnam Street
16, Lorong Tun Ismail 8, Sri Dagangan Bussiness Centre, 25000 Kuantan, Pahang
017-986 7408
https://g.co/kgs/YYtZzY
Opens daily 1pm to 12am
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Gangnam Street is a children friendly pub and restaurant with spacious and comfortable dining environment. All the ingredients are directly imported from Korea!

We love the decorative trinkets displayed on the shelf.

Our sumptuous dinner started with a classic Korean appetizer- corn salad that washes down well with a can of beer. Sweet corn kernel pan grilled with diced capsicum and mozzarella cheese drizzled with Italian herbs and ketchup. This creates a healthy entree which tastes like pizza. Yum! Bing Boy's favorite.

My classic cheese pull photo.

Cheese Gaelanmali is a great side dish. An egg omelette with a slightly gooey centre with melted mozzarella cheese, cabbage,  seaweed and mushroom with ketchup. The dish should be devoured hot to enjoy the fragrance of melted cheese. Another children friendly dish.

Original YangNyeom is a must order! Korean fried chicken done well with a sweet soy based sauce that wasn't too sticky. It's lightly flavoured with golden crispy skin and fresh juicy flesh. We love how chicken breast,  drumstick and Maryland besides the classic chicken wings were also served for healthier lean protein portion.

Maeun YangNyeom simply means spicy fried chicken. Each servings come with a generous  10 pieces of fried chicken,  enough to feed 2 to 3 adults. The spicy sauce comes from the chef's secret recipe which was very pleasant and not irritating to the pallate. Lightly toasted sesame seeds further brought out the fragrance.

Spicy Teokbokki contains soft and chewy Korean rice cakes fried in a mildly spicy homemade sauce (with customisable level of hotness) with glass noodles, a half boiled egg, fish cakes,  Shitake mushroom, cucumber and cabbage. The flavor was well balanced with just the right amount of sweetness and spiciness with an aftertaste of the fragrant sesame oil.

Kimchi Bokkem Bap is none other than a warm and cosy serving of Kimchi fried rice with fresh shitake mushroom, pork slices, seaweed slices to give a healthy crunch. The sunny side up egg complement the taste very well with our favorite runny yolk.

Gimbap is a seaweed sushi roll with the following ingredients: sausage,  cucumber,  preserved carrots and egg. Nicely plated as the ultimate crowd pleaser which also provides wholesome nutrition with each bite.

Besides beer towers, fruit soju is also available. These are non carbonated fruit based drinks with flavours such as apple and yoghurt which are slightly sweetened to help digesting our heavy dinner.

3 complimentary side dishes also come with each order. They deserve special mention. The potato wedges are made from premium imported potatoes and baked until fluffy and soft inside. Preserved radish cubes are crunchy and works well to wash away the oiliness of fried chicken. The refreshing salad contains homemade lemon zested sauce with   iceberg lettuce, raisins,  roasted sunflower seeds, capsicum,  cucumber and purple cabbage.

This is thus far the best Korean food we have sampled in Kuantan with a verdict of 8.5/10! And more menu is coming soon as requested by their customers. We can't wait to try more of these delicious treats.

健康的消化系统由一天一包Kojo 做起

很多人觉得我很能干。是全职内科专科，白天看超过五十位病人，急救是我的专长。我也爱医治老人家，有空和他们聊聊天，了解了解病情。工作量高，有时超时办讲座，开会。放工后，面对家人和两位活泼可爱的儿子，我也必须精力充沛，笑脸迎人。其实我想说有时候我真的很累。可是没时间休息。

除了适当的运动，均衡的饮食和良好起居也扮演重要的角色。所以，我会摄取适量的蔬菜水果，因为它们含有丰富的营养、矿物质和纤维。而饮用Kojo消化酶饮品很快捷就能达到每日所需。

Kojo很适合生活忙碌的我。有时忙起来还真的很难达到一天四到六分蔬菜水果的分量。正常人进食后消化系统会产生各种不同的消化酶。唾液里就开始有淀粉酶来分解碳水化合物。详细的各种消化酶分泌器官请参阅从痞客邦下载的图片。每一种食物都由不同的酶消化。

每一包Kojo消化酶都含有以下活性成分
-淀粉酶分解碳水化合物，
-蛋白酶分解蛋白质，
-蔗糖酶分解蔗糖成果糖和葡萄糖，
-鳳梨酶是一种蛋白酶，
可抗炎以促进伤口愈合
-黑枣增强免疫系统， 起杀菌功效
-木瓜酶有益消除肠里的寄生虫，
-果胶促进消化，
-无花果蛋白酶抗氧化，也抗血糖高。

这些都是从蔬菜水果提炼出来的，符合卫生部和有关当局的验证与批准。

如此推理，食用额外的酶就能减少消化不良的迹象。比如改善胃酸倒流，胃胀气，肠易激综合症和胃炎症。食物分解得快，也更容易被身体吸收，滋养细胞，促进新陈代谢，使人更有活力，不容易衰老。可能还有逆龄的工效噢！这是每个女人梦寐以求的吧。当然，良好的消化系统，确保我天天都把宿便排泄出来，起排毒效果。整体来说，这也能起瘦身的效果！

如何饮用Kojo?

每天一包20毫升Kojo。记得要补充水分，至少一天八杯水，才能起更好的效果。

身为一名医生，我有时真的很惭愧。毕竟很了解健康饮食的重要性，可是很多时候还是免不了煎炸爆炒，多盐多糖！开始饮用Kojo一周后，明显减少了肠胃负担，排便顺畅，精神也抖擞许多。当然再好的保养品也要像Kojo这样甜甜，有苹果味的才合胃口啊，呵呵。喝了也没泻肚子，没肚痛。

有兴趣的话，请上SHANEO官网了解详情。一盒Kojo RM150, 算起来每天差不多十令吉，相当合理。现在还可享有30令吉回扣券噢。赶快上网买吧！现在购买还打折噢。只要输入Promo code : KOJO30就可领取。

IG: @Shaneoglobal
FB: @shaneoglobal

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此篇文章代表个人立场，不是医疗诊断。在服用任何保养品前请询问医疗人士的专业意见。如出现身体不适现象，请即刻求医。谢谢阅读！

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Is cheat day harmful for diet plan? | E-chiz Food Review

I have been doing clean eating for a while now.  After attending many conferences talking about pre-diabetes and fatty liver, I have become much more health conscious. But to fulfill 4 to 6 servings of fruits and vegetables is no easy feat. When I walk pass and smell the fragrance of fried food,  I still yearn to have some. So last weekend we had a lunch date out- cheat day at E-chiz KCM- proudly Kuantan owned and next to Chatime!

An occasional indulgence,  in any manner,  does not harm previous consistent effort in healthy eating,  if done right. An acceptable cheat day will be a meal that does not follow strict calorie counting. Because life becomes so dull otherwise! But I would say portion control is still important-especially to cut down on carbohydrates and avoid overeating.

Having deep fried food and some dessert is fine. Try to eat only until 70% full. For the rest of the meals during the day,  stick to the healthy suku suku separuh meal plan to avoid guilt and a total upset of healthy diet. Share the meal with a group of people for easier portion control that allows a chance to try more food variety as well. Read more to find out about Cheat Day/Meal here.

E-CHIZ

L1-09A-10 Kuantan City Mall, 1, Jalan Putra Square 6, Putra Square, 25300 Kuantan, Pahang
https://g.co/kgs/wWzk8j
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Fried stuff is always tempting. Look at the cheese corn dogs! The sinful combo comes with the classic breaded corn dog vs the healthier special corn dog. A huge sausage, coated with mozzarella cheese and bread, deep fried until golden then drizzled with more cheese sauce and chilli sauce. The special version has diced potatoes coated on the outside which provides more nutritional value.

The classic cheese pull photo! Yummylicious. Ask for sauces to be served on the side to reduce the amount of calories consumed.

There are 4 varieties of fried chicken available here. Each serving uses drumettes and chicken wings breaded and fried until crispy.

Honey and soy tasted savoury with a touch of the fragrance of honey. The most classic， non spicy option available. But it doesn't mean it's plain! I like how well balanced the flavor was.

Red hot pepper chicken wings tasted similar to the Korean Gochujang chicken. What I really like is the spiciness is mild with some sweetness and doesn't cause a spicy diarrhea afterwards. Lol.

Cheesy chicken wing is a must try for cheese lovers.  The amount of melted mozzarella was so generous that the chicken had to be literally dug out from underneath. Despite that,   it did not feel too weighed down and filling as the texture was light and not overly salty.

One of the popular flavour is the salted egg version. Salted egg goes really well with many dishes, even with dessert. And this E-chiz chicken wing is no exception. I had to order for extra portion because it was so good. That's why I said it's our cheat meal out.

A small bowl of sushi rice went down well with the sauces.

For children,  chicken nuggets were a good choice. They were served plain with ketchup when requested. Made from actual chicken meat,  it's lightly flavoured and still juicy on the inside. Knowing how picky Bing boy is,  we were glad that he actually enjoyed the nuggets.

Instead of ordering a meal set (which will give a serving of fries and salad for each set of chicken wings), we ordered cheesy potato wedges as a side dish instead to cut down the total carbohydrate amount.  We should have ordered for some salad to help adding to the daily vegetable requirement, but I forgot. The wedges were nice and crunchy outside but soft and fluffy inside. They went great with cheese and chilli sauce too! Wedges offer the same level of satisfaction but are healthier because they are baked, absorbs flavours much better and use much less oil.

Our verdict is 7.5/10! A quick fix for all the cravings at such an affordable price tag.

Eucalyptus in household use | Eucapro Products Review

Many know eucalyptus or gum tree leaves as fluffy koala bears' favorite food. But do you know that it has many other medicinal use? Gum tree leaves have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti fungal and pain relieving properties.

Hence, there are some evidence that it may be useful in treating asthma,  bronchitis,  dental plaque,  gingivitis, head lice,  and fungal nail infection. Besides that,  the aroma,  when combined with other essential oil such as peppermint, makes great aromatherapy for relaxation purposes. Read more about Eucalyptus here on WebMD.

Eucapro products are formulated in Australia. As the active ingredients are derived from plants,  the products are natural and safe without pesticides or even chemical fertilizers. Eucapro products are also free from artificial additives, aromas or flavorings.

I have recently tried the following products and am in love with them!

Eucapro Pure Eucalyptus Oil

This is 100% pure natural pharmaceutical grade eucalyptus oil which gives fresh and  lasting fragrance. It kills 99.99% germs.

Not only can it help in alleviating cold and sore muscles when massaged, it can also be added to laundry as a deodorizer. Rub a small amount to remove stubborn stains, grease marks on clothing, carpet, sofa and soft toys, as well as adhesive labels, annoying chewing gums and tar marks on cars.

Eucapro Natural Disinfectant Eucalyptus Spray

This is an air purifier and surface sanitizer that's particularly suitable for humid areas such as the bathroom, as well as a damp car interior during rainy seasons. It covers the musty smell and purify the air, even as strong as cigarette smokes. Besides that, it can also be in the family room, office and bedroom.

Stuffy nose at night because of cold or allergic rhinitis? Spray some on the pillow to help clearing nasal secretions. The downside of using grandma remedy (old newspapers) to wipe water and finger marks was leaving my hands stained. But now I can use the spray to do the same job easily.

Eucapro Air Purifier Lavender Spray

Made of pure lavender and  Litsea Cubeba Oil, spray 10 minutes before sleep onto linen to create a calm and soothing bedroom environment which helps to lull children to sleep. It infuses a great aroma into pillows and blanket.

Besides that it can also be used for multipurpose cleaner, to disinfect bathrooms,  to freshen musty drawers and wardrobes especially during rainy seasons.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

I tend to avoid using harsh chemicals even while cleaning to prevent any remote possibility of my boys accidentally ingesting or inhaling household cleaning products. I feel comfortable in using Eucapro products when my children are around because the ingredients are non toxic. The price tag is also affordable with good quality.

If you are interested,  head on the Lazada or Camy BabyLand to understand more about Eucapro products.

Eucapro Facebook 

Great food great company | The 92s Kuantan

I can't believe how much good food is there in Kuantan! That's why we have decided to move here permanently. Without the stress of traffic jam,  people are also friendlier and more laid back. So here we were to try the new cafe in town!

The 92s Kuantan
A7, Transit Point, Jalan Dato Lim Hoe Lek, Taman Union, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang
010-989 6980
https://g.co/kgs/jG5NNT
Opens Wednesdays to Mondays 11am-11pm

It was always a Friday lunch break that was long enough for us to hunt for good food. And to savour them slowly without worrying about babysitting at the same time. We ordered food to share between 4 people. This new cafe is just a few doors away from Loft by Loteng which we also tried a few months back.

Fried calamari rings. Bread crumbed fresh calamari rings fried into golden color but it's still juicy inside.  Dipped with sambal, it's a great western and Asian fusion appetizer and crowd pleaser.

Their pizzas are must orders! We had 92s signature pizza. It has a soft, fluffy thick charcoal crust. Toppings were smoked salmon,  Japanese mayonnaise and Bonito flakes. This was a heavenly combination with mozzarella cheese with or without chilli flakes  and I'm not surprised why it's called their signature.

Beef lasagna was soft and warm. Full of the goodness of the tomato based sauce. Beef did not have any games taste. The fresh salad  made the flavor so much more balanced. But the portion was a bit small.

The chicken burger had a juicy patty sandwiched between slices of fresh tomatoes and crispy lettuce, as well as cheese. The portion of the fries was too generous and we couldn't finish it.

Beverage wise, there were mainly caffeinated and non-caffeinated options. We opted the non-caffeinated lattes.

Hojicha latte. Hojicha is green tea roasted in a porcelain  pot over charcoal, changing the color from green to reddish brown.

Green Tea latte. A classic latte which doesn't have the bitterness of green tea.

Overall,  we really enjoyed our lunch. Verdict 8/10!