Global Wellness Digest

What are the differences between natural sugars and refined sugars?

” Indian ginseng” or Ashwagandha ( Scientific Name: Withania Somnifera) is a nontoxic Indian herb. It is part of the centuries-old Ayurveda – the traditional system of medicine in India. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, one of a class of herbs believed to help the body buffer a variety of stressors. It has therapeutic indications from…

Tongkat Ali and Maca? Have you heard of them? You are probably familiar with American ginseng and Korean ginseng and their energising benefits. On the other hand, TongKat Ali is the popular “Malaysian ginseng”. It is known to support healthy masculinity, performance and vitality. It also maintains healthy hormonal balance in men. And across the…

Best Exercises for Your Precious Bones – According to Harvard Medical School, some exercises can increase muscle mass. Muscle mass is important for muscle strength, control, balance and coordination. Good balance and coordination will prevent unnecessary falls and fractures, especially amongst the elderly. Good exercises for bone strength have the following attributes: (1) Provide resistance…

Spice up your life with ginger! One of the most useful spices for human health, the ginger and its extract or powder confer exceptionally low-cost health benefits and nutrients for us, whether we are sick or well. Ginger can help in the following ways: (1) reduce inflammation – its primary bioactive component gingerol has anti-inflammatory…

Cold Water Therapy for a Healthy Body – A review of over 100 studies by researchers from UIT The Artic University of Norway found strong evidence of significant physical and mental benefits of cold water therapy. Eg winter swimming, cold water bathing and showering. Cold water therapy will help you to lose weight, boost heart…

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in our bodies. It performs many vital functions throughout our body. Sufficient calcium is needed for healthy blood pressure, cancer prevention, healthy nerves and strong joints. Our bodies contain about 1.2kg to 1.4kg of calcium – mostly stored in our bones and teeth. In a calcium-deficient diet, the body…

“An apple a day helps keep the doctor away” is a great motto for your physical wellness. The apple is rich in fiber and antioxidants. It is the favourite fruit of ancient Greeks and Romans. There are over 7000 known cultivars of apple, boasting a great diversity of colour, shape, size and taste. It is…

The American Journal of Cardiology reported that men in their 50s who have sex 2-3 times a week have lower risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to those who have sex less frequently. Researcher Susan Hall who is behind the study says that” men who are having regular sexual activity might be more likely to…

Sex and Enhanced Body Immunity – there is a piece of research which suggests that having sex 1-2 times a week may boost IGA ( a protein from the immune system that helps fight infection) The key is the production of natural opoid peptides – the happy little brain chemicals that are released during sex…

Singapore’s National Wellness Strategy focusing primarily on physical wellness and social wellness in several key areas: (1) Live well, leave well – improving palliative and end-of-life care (2) Everyone encouraged to take ownership of one’s own health eg using HealthHub SG and Healthy 365 and Government will incentivise healthy practices (3) Healthier SG – one…

Lutein and zeaxanthin accumulate in the macular pigment of the retina and research indicates that deficiency may result in higher incidence of age-related macular degeneration. Following our earlier post, do note that a rich source of lutein and zeaxanthin in our regular daily diet is the yolk of the chicken egg. You can get these…

Vitamin C Power – Vitamin C is an essential vitamin and is necessary for the growth, development and repair of all tissues in the body. It enables the efficient functioning of the immune system, maintenance of cartilage, bones and teeth and of course helps in faster wound healing. As an important antioxidant, it can protect…

The Egg- Nature’s Best Vitamin As we remember World Egg Day on 8 October, it is useful to reflect on the nutritious power of the humble chicken egg. It is one of the most nutrient-dense natural foods known to mankind. It contains almost every vitamin/mineral that the human body needs. Not surprisingly, the incubation period…

What is environmental wellness? It is about respecting and living in harmony with our natural surroundings and Planet Earth. It is also about appreciating nature and the importance of ecology. To develop environmental wellness, we need to know that our lifestyle affects the quality of the environment we live in. For example, fresh air, clean…

Social Wellness is a component of global wellness. It is the human dimension, the human connection. Social wellness refers to your relationships with others. It involves developing and building close bonds of friendship, practicing empathy and effective listening, According to research, socially isolated people are more susceptible to illnesses and might have a higher death…

Financial Wellness is the lifeblood of living well when you have physical wellness and mental wellness. To live well in modern urban societies, you need money. What is financial wellness? Financial wellness is feeling good about your financial health. Financial wellness concerns the effective management of your economic life. It means that you are debt-free…

Vocational wellness is having a career that is meaningful and enriching for you. It has to do with maximising our work satisfaction by finding a job or vocation that will bring us joy, happiness and achievement. Why is vocational wellness important to us? Because we spend at least one-third of our adult life in our…

Spiritual Wellness is about your spirituality and being. Spiritual wellness is being connected to something greater than ourselves, having an appreciation for the broad expanse and depth of life on earth and beyond. Spirituality is expressed in many forms whether tied to a religion, a moral philosophy or a set of personal beliefs. It is…

Mental wellness is an important aspect of our overall wellness. Physical wellness is quite meaningless without mental wellness. Imagine a strong car body without a strong engine. Your mind can make you rich or poor, depending on how you use it. In fact, some experts would say there is no physical wellness without mental wellness.…

Physical wellness encompasses a spectrum of healthy behaviours and habits that would keep one in optimal physical condition as it is relevant to our age. These healthy behaviours and habits include but are not limited to regular exercises, proper nutrition, work/life balance, meditation, yoga, safety consciousness, abstinence from smoking and moderate alcohol consumption. It is…