Sunny Health

The supposed link between cancer and cosmetics was once again thrown into the limelight following a study by the NTU which was published in the Straits Times. The study said that zinc oxide, a common chemical used in beauty products such as cosmetics or even sunblock, could be cancerous. The notion that cosmetics contain cancerous products is not new. Years ago, researchers have brought up the link, but have always been disputed. Sadly, nobody seems to be able to make up their mind or say for sure whether the link between cosmetics and cancer exists. A lot of research findings are in premature stage, and there has yet been any study that demonstrates a direct link between cancer and cosmetics.

Still, it is better to be safer than sorry. There are some products in cosmetics that have potential to be cancerous. When taken in significant amounts, they may eventually cause cancer.

Here are some chemicals in cosmetics that are known to be harmful to health.
· Fragrances: May cause allergies and cancers
· DMDM hydantoin and imidazolidinyl urea: Comes with toxic contaminants.
· Hydroquinone: May lead to allergies and cancer.
· Oxybenzone: May lead to allergies, developmental toxicity and hormone disruption.
· Triclosan or triclocarban: Contains thyroid.
· Triethanolamine (TEA): May lead to allergies and comes with toxic contaminants.
· Parabens or -paraben: May lead to cancer or hormone disruption.
· PEG or -eth: These ingredients can come with hidden toxic contaminants.

Products that may have adverse effects on health in the long-run:

· Anti-aging creams with lactic, glycolic, AHA and BHA acids.
· Hair dyes, especially dark permanent dyes.
· Liquid hand soaps with triclosan/ triclocabron.
· Nail polish and removers with formaldehyde, DBP or toluene.
· Skin lighteners with hydroquinone.
· Heavily scented products.

Mercury is well-known to be toxic. In significantly high amounts, it can cause brain damage and death. Mostly found in household cleaning products, it has recently been introduced as an additive for the cosmeticsindustry. Mercury is found in eye products such as mascara, eyeliner, and eye shadow. While exposure to mercury is not initially harmful in small quantities, mercury does accumulate in the body and could cause health risks in the future. Unfortunately, not enough people are taking this threat seriously, Minnesota, USA, is the only place that has banned mercury in cosmetics this year.

This lack of interest and caution is also attributed to the fact that many young people think that they have a good immune system, and therefore, not likely to contract cancer or diseases in their youth. But this is clearly not true, as people in their teens are known to contract cancer as well.

That said, this article does not mean to scare you off grooming and using make-up. Just remember to read the ingredients of the products you are buying and lay off those that are known to be potential health hazards. There are also organic and natural beauty and skin products that utilize more health friendly ingredients. Of course, they also tend to cost more, but health is more important than money after all! Bodyshop, Botani, Logona, Living Nature, Nature's Essence are some examples of more health-friendly beauty and body care products, just to name a few. Unfortunately, many organic brands hail from overseas and are more costly. It may be cheaper to purchase direct from the retail websites of these brands, and get some friends to join you and save on shipping fees.

So, is there such a thing as cancerous cosmetics? Well, there's a popular saying, "There's no smoke without fire." One can never be too careful!

For many young people, moving to a new home is usually an exciting experience. More often than not, a new home means a more refreshing environment, more privacy, perhaps even bigger space. New is generally perceived as something novel and better.


Deciding what to move over

Seaweed is popular in Asian cuisine, especially Japanese cuisine. It's widespread usage in Japanese meals may account for the Japanese people's long lifespans and good skin.

You must be wondering how that frumpy thin piece of weed-like substance is so good. Seaweed grows in the ocean, where it picks up a range of minerals and other nutrients. It is non-complex, making it easy for the body to break down and release the minerals and nutrients inside. Seaweed also has no fat or other unhealthy component. It is usually prepared without any oils.

• Seaweed can help control your appetite– Seaweed is low in fat but packed with soluble fibre, which helps control blood sugar levels and keeps your bowels moving. The fibre can help you feel full on very few calories.
• It's chock-full of vitamins and minerals – Seaweed is a great source of vitamins A, C, E, K and B vitamins. It's also rich in minerals, including iodine, selenium, calcium and iron.
• Lowers cholesterol – Seaweed helps block fat absorption so it increases weight loss.
• Better skin – Seaweed contains methionine and cysteine-rich in algae so it can prevent skin drying, often fresh or dry skin rich luster and oily skin may improve oil secretion.
• Increases immunity against some types of illnesses – The protein extract of seaweed polysaccharides boost immunity against various viruses.

If you feel like snacking, seaweed is a great substitute for chips. Dried seaweed is crispy, and it is sometimes flavoured with chilli flakes and other flavourful substances for a greater variety of tastes. Do watch the salt content of such flavoured seaweed though!

Adding sesame seeds to a bowl of dried seaweed strips makes a delicious and healthy snack too!

The weather has been blowing hot and cold these days, alternating between sunny and rainy, several times in a day! Small wonder that more people are falling sick from having their bodies toyed with in this manner! Among the illnesses that patients sick treatment for, flu is one of the most common ones. In Singapore. flu season typically begins in November and can last until May. Flu outbreaks can peak in any month during the flu season.

The spirits are high tonight (no pun intended, or not……) as Halloween is celebrated all around the world. Halloween is a day when children and adults alike have fun trading candy, dressing up as spooks, and being spooked. Although it originated from the West, it has been gaining popularity in Asia, including Singapore. The large variety of Halloween spook events held by various places of interests and renowned organizations is a testament of this.




Make your own healthy Halloween sweet treat!



Honey-coated Green Apples

If you're familiar with Caramel Apples (see picture above), this dish is actually something similar, but uses honey in place of  caramel. Honey is a good substitute because it is sweet, but far healthier than caramel.


     
Directions

Pancreatic cancer is by no means a rare disease or a recent discovery, but it had been a lesser known evil compared to other more well-known cancers like breast cancer and lung cancer, until recently when it claimed the life of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. More people have since been wondering about pancreatic cancer.

What is the Pancreas?

The pancreas is a gland, surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, liver, spleen and gallbladder. It is portrayed by the organ coloured yellow in the above illustration. The pancrease produces enzymes that help with digestion, as well as hormones.

What is Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a disease characterised by out-of-control cell growth, which begins in the pancreas. Rather than developing into healthy and normal pancreas tissue, these abnormal cells continue dividing and form lumps of tissue called tumour. Tumours interfere with the main functions of the pancreas. If a tumour stays in one particular spot and demonstrates limited growth, it is generally considered benign and harmless.

It is more dangerous when tumours from the cancer cells spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymph systems. When a tumour successfully spreads to other parts of the body and grows, they are invading and destroying other healthy tissues. The result is a more serious condition that is very difficult to treat.

Risk Factors

There are no specific reasons as to why people get pancreatic cancer. However, researchers have identified some potential risk factors.
• Higher occurrence in men than in women
• Smoking cigarettes and smokeless tobacco
• Alcohol consumption. Long term, heavy drinking leads to chronic pancreatitis, which is a known risk factor.
• Obesity
• Lack of exercise
• Diet low in vegetables and fruits but high in red meat

Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer

The symptoms are quite varied and dependent on where the cancer is located, where it has spread and how big the tumour is. Pancreatic cancer is a “silent” disease because it rarely shows early symptoms. Tumours of the pancreas cancers are usually too small to cause any symptoms. However, when the cancer grows, symptoms include:
• Pain in the upper abdomen from the tumour pushing against nerves.
• A painless yellowing of the skin and eyes, darkening of the urine called “jaundice” (created when the cancer interferes with the bile duct and the liver).
• Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
• Significant weight loss and weakness.

These symptoms are not exactly unique to pancreatic cancer. Hence, it is difficult to diagnose the disease before it is in an advanced stage. If the cancer spreads, additional symptoms can present themselves in the newly affected area. Symptoms ultimately depend on the location to which the cancer has spread.

Therefore, it is best to go for a body checkup annually. Have a balanced diet, eat more vegetables and fruits, and avoid unhealthy habits like smoking and heavy alcohol assumption that can have negative repercussions on your body!

Today is Steve Jobs Day. As we mourn the great man who invented many gadgets that improved our lives, let us not forget his advice:

“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith.”

Cancer is one of those diseases that can be a real mystery, akin to a brick that falls out of nowhere and strikes. Although it is mostly associated with people who lead unhealthy lifestyles and have unhealthy diets, perfectly healthy people fall prey to cancer with absolutely no inkling on why it happened to them. The number of young cancer patients has also been increasing, with some barely out of their teens. In fact, the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) is organizing a Rays of Hope Charity Concert to raise funds for young cancer patients.

Life is unpredictable. If you fall sick, you can’t turn back time and change that fact, no matter how much you question it. The best way would be to harbour faith and deal with it positively. Something good could come out of it, like remission for example.

Shock is often the first reaction when a doctor pronounces that you have cancer. You may not believe what is happening, and interrogate the doctor with the same questions repeatedly. Your brain just can’t take in any information.

Shock usually leads to denial. Some may choose to cope with their situation by pretending that it’s not happening. You may find that you don’t want to know anything about your cancer or treatment, or prefer to talk about it as little as possible or not at all. Because by accepting that you need treatment, the fear of not being able to lead a normal life, or death, becomes real.

While shock and denial are completely natural reactions, they are helpful and even harmful, possibly causing delay to your remission process. You must come to terms with your illness, and then speak with your doctor on all available options, be it remission process, or ways to improve end-of-life journeys for those with terminal-stage cancer. Death is everyone's destiny. Why not approach it with joy and contentment, instead of sorrow and remorse? If you mop around and fall into depression, your loved ones will be even more upset. For their sakes, you must pull yourself together.

Here are ways to instil some optimism in your life:

Share your fears. The more people to share your burden, the lighter the burden becomes. Join a cancer support group, where you can share experiences with and get support from fellow cancer patients and cancer survivors. Your hospital may have one, or at least a helpline for cancer patients who need to talk to someone. 

Seek financial support if you need it. Worried about the cost of your treatments? Don’t feel embarrassed to approach your hospital staff to inquire about relevant welfare schemes and financial assistant programmes. Your cancer support group can also give you advice on seeking assistance from community welfare schemes.

Have someone accompany you to appointments. They serve as a pillar for emotional support, and they can also be your extra pair of ears, helping you to note down important things that the doctor says. They may also help you with making decisions.

Find a venue to express your thoughts and vent your emotions. Sometimes, listening ears are not always available. You may also have some pent-up frustration, which you would not want to vent on your loved ones and caregivers. You can consider keeping a journal. Writing down your feelings helps you better understand them. It can also be a great way to release stress. Many cancer patients even go one step further by publishing their thoughts and experiences online. This is a meaningful thing to do as you are being a source of inspiration and resource to others. You may even get to make friends with people from other parts of the world!

Eat well. As a cancer patient, your diet may have plenty of restrictions. If you have to undergo chemotherapy, your appetite becomes poorer, and you may feel nauseous. However, you need to eat well, or you will not have the strength to do the things you want to do, or there may be repercussions after remission. "Sharing Plates" is a locally produced book that not only contains inspirational stories about cancer patients, but also recipies written by the cancer patients' families.

Do your favourite things to relax. Keep yourself entertained to avoid your mind from wandering. Listening to music, reading a book, watching dvds of your favourite movies, knitting, origami, playing computer games are just some of the entertaining activities that do not require much energy on your part.

Make a list of things you want to do when you get well. They can range from simple wishes like eating a bar of chocolate to more complex ones like enjoying a boat ride down a street in Venice. It will give you a sense of purpose. Some cancer patients find that they are suddenly at a loss for what to do after remission, when they have no more treatments and appointments to go to. Reflecting on a hopeful future will make you feel optimistic, as well as fill your void as you try to get life back to normal.

Spend more time with your loved ones. Enjoying each others company will lift your spirits as well as theirs. Even a simple activity like watching television together helps.

Last but not least, take it easy and enjoy every moment. Life is always a learning process. Whether you are learning something tangible, or something intangible, such as learning to have courage, you are doing something productive. Your life is not a burden, and never should be.

When you look at the title of this article, are green vegetables and salads the first things that are called to mind? Indeed, greens in your diet is good for health. However, veggy-haters need not despair, because using greens to improve your health is not limited to your diet, it extends to your surroundings as well.

Most of us keep our windows closed even when we are at home to keep out haze and dust. However, this results in the air indoors becoming very stuffy and humid, and we end up having to resort to switching on the fan or airconditioning despite a nice breeze blowing outside.

In 1989, a study conducted by NASA showed that indoor plants can remove air pollutants. Chemicals found in the air are absorbed by the roots, leaves, soil and micro-organisms to degrade the chemicals. This study showed that by adding a potted plant for every 100 square foot of space in your home or office, you can significantly reduce the level of air pollutants. The more plants there are, the cleaner the air becomes!

According to Plant Culture and research by the International Society of Arboriculture, the addition of indoor plants to an office resulted in less stress and a 12% increase in productivity among workers. This is because common chemicals found in our air include benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene which can cause symptoms such as irritation of the mucus membranes, weakness, headaches and loss of appetite, which in turn contribute to stress and decrease in productivity. Prolongued excesssive exposure to such pollutants can even lead to liver and kidney damage and cancer. Plants purify the air of these chemicals, consequently helping to decrease stress and increase productivity!

Some plants have better detoxifying effects than others. Top plants for pollutant removal include aloe, spider plants, orchids, pothos, poinsettias, English ivy, philodendron and lilies.

You do not need to have green fingers to care for plants. Many indoor plants are small, affordable, and easy to maintain. They can be conveniently purchased at departmental stores and supermarkets like Cold Storage, Carrefour and Ikea. For more varieties and special breeds, try local nurseries and florists. You may even purchase them online as some nurseries have websites and delivery services.

Caring for your plants and watching them grow and blossom can be a therapeutic activity. In addition, plants also beautify and brighten up your home and office, and have a soothing effect on the eyes. You can never go wrong with some green in your life!

The ones which may interest you the most would most probably be:

“Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan revealed in Parliament that those aged 50 and above can now tap on Medisave for colonoscopies, which detect colorectal cancer, and mammograms to screen for breast cancer.”

That doesn’t sound too bad does it? In fact, it’s a brilliant idea! Colorectal cancer is the top cancer here, with 1,455 new cases and 638 deaths a year. Breast cancer is the top cancer in women, with about 1,430 new cases and 329 deaths annually.

But wait did I read that correctly? 50 years and above? Um why the age limit? Shouldn’t patients get screenings as early as possible to increase the chances of detecting cancerous tumours? These days, patients as young as in their teens and early twenties are getting diagnosed with cancers that we previously associated with the middle-aged and aged crowd, and various public service ads are directed at younger people to get their health check-ups done. A practical way to do so, instead of spending money on advertising campaigns that do not always promise results, would be to remove the age barrier and provide free or subsidized check-ups even for the younger population. Why splurge on something that delivers half-way results over a sure-win solution, especially when it's for something as important as healthcare?

For the uninitiated, the SCS is giving away free test kits. Anyone can redeem the kits and they can do so at the 56 Guardian pharmacy outlets located across the island or from your local polyclinic from 14th-18th March. If for some reason you aren’t able to make the listed dates, the kits can be collected throughout the year from the following places; the SCS centre at the National Cancer Centre Singapore in Outram or the SCS clinic located in Tanjong Pagar.

With a little research, it was found that in 2009, nearly 30, 000 people picked up the kits (yes, the SCS have been giving away freebies for some time now) and 609 people out of this number were found to have blood in their stools and promptly referred for colonoscopies. This could potentially be a lifesaver. Literally.

I for one am quite pleased that the Singapore Cancer Society is actually making things happen instead of just talking about helping the public. Add to the fact that the campaign is to run in conjunction with the SCS Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (1st – 31st March 2011), we have run out of excuses to ignore the very serious threat of colon cancer. Bravo SCS!

So why do you still not have your very own FREE test kit? Get moving!

However, another exciting event that we can look forward to is the announcement of the Annual Budget 2011! And from various speculations in the papers, we might be anticipating some good news.

As usual, healthcare would be a major talking point, given our aging population and the impending inflation. Recently, the the issue on caring facilities for the aged and sick was brought up. Government announced that they were looking into making day rehabilitation programmes more accessible and affordable to reduce the burden on caregivers of the aged.

This is great news as support for caregivers is really lacking in Singapore, despite the immense mental and physical stress they come under from their duty. Although these are targeted at those with elderly parents to care for, perhaps owing to increasing rates of cancer patients every year, more government support may be available for cancer caregivers.

The caregiver has a lot to live up to. First there is the problem of having to cope with tragic news of health problems or even imminent death, whereby it is impossible to not be grieved by it. Then there is the arduous process of caring for the patient, which includes helping the patient to move around if his mobility is restricted, paying for medical bills, helping him with his rehabilitation exercises, ensuring that he observes his diet plans, putting up with his tantrums etc. After all, he is virtually the pillar of strength for the patient, a motivation for the patient to live on.

As a caregiver, you must keep yourself in tip-top condition at all times, as best as possible! Remaining in good health is extremely vital. You cannot care for someone else if you are in poor health.

Make some time to exercise daily. Exercise is a healthy way to relieve stress too.

Go to bed early and wake up early. Get ample sleep, at least 8 hours a day.

Have a balanced diet and drink lots of fluids. Your charge is usually subject to a healthy diet too so have the same or similar diet with him if possible, and encourage other family members to do the same. This ensures that he will not feel left out and also reduces time needed to cook for multiple people.

Don’t exhaust yourself. If you have a job that is taxing, get a less demanding job. Remember that life does not revolve around wealth and career prospects. Besides, if you turn in a poor performance, it will affect your job anyhow. If income is a problem, the National Cancer Centre Singapore has a comprehensive support programme that can provide counseling and assistance to cancer caregivers on various issues including means to you lighten your financial burden.

Don’t feel the need to watch your charge’s every move. He is not a baby, and it’s absolutely all right for you to step out of the house for awhile to get some fresh air. If you want to go out for a longer period of time and do not feel safe leaving him alone, have a neighbour, relative, friend or engage a professional caregiver temporary to stand in for you.

Keep yourself in good spirits! Your mood really affects the way your body functions. If you’re happy, you’re likely to enjoy what you do and perform it well. As a caregiver, the last thing you want to do is inflict more grief on your charge.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Care giving is indeed a tough job and cannot be done to perfection. If you made mistakes, learn from them and move on. When your charge loses his temper at you, don’t take it to heart. Bear in mind that patients usually vent their anger on their loved ones out of helplessness. They do not actually mean the hurtful things they say.

Just because your charge is sick does not mean that he is not entitled to enjoying life. Spend time with him doing something relaxing that you both enjoy, such as reading, listening to music or watching TV. It keeps both your spirits up.

Maintain an active social life. By this, I do not mean going for shopping trips, clubbing, overseas trips and other high-energy and time-consuming social activities. Confidantes will be very important when you need to let off some steam. Don’t shy away from your friends. Like some housewives, caregivers shut themselves away from the world so that they can concentrate on their charges. This is not a wise thing to do. Let your friends know what is going on in your life, that you are not avoiding them on purpose. Call them up for a chat, invite them out for a meal if possible.

Learn to let go. You may have to give up your favourite activities and a lifestyle you enjoyed due to your role as a caregiver. Let it go, and let it go peacefully. Dwelling on how much you missed will not make it any easier on you. Consider instead, the difference you're making to a loved one's life and be glad that you have the chance and ability to care for him and prolong his life while others look on in vain as their loved ones fade before them. Be proud of your achievement. This mindset is more energizing and positive than any other activity you may be deprived of.

In a study conducted in February 2010, researchers discovered that consuming two or more soft drinks a week increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The study, a joint collaboration between the University of Minnesota and the National University of Singapore, was conducted in Singapore and monitored over 60, 000 men and women across 14 years.

According to Dr Mark Pereira, one of the chief researchers from the University of Minnesota, he found “those consuming soft drinks ... on a nearly daily basis ... their risk was about two, almost two times greater for dying of pancreatic cancer compared to the Chinese men and women in the study who were not consuming those beverages”.

When pressed for a reason as to why soft drinks cause this health risk, Dr Pereira added that “Lots of insulin is secreted when you consume these beverages in high volumes and insulin has been shown to promote the growth of cancer cells”.

Before you ditch your soft drinks in favour of healthier alternatives, several parties have spoken up to cast doubts on such findings. The American Beverage Association has rejected the findings. It says leading scientific bodies such as the National Cancer Institute still do not list soft drinks as risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Further echoing this sentiment is Professor Ian Olver, Cancer Council Australia CEO, who believes further research is needed.

In that regard, let’s take a look at the most recent hospital to be established in Singapore: Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. Located in Yishun, KTPH was established with the intention of providing basic healthcare and all the amenities and benefits of a community hospital to Singaporeans living in the north.

Reports of a new 550 bed hospital suggest that a new hospital is to be established in the western region of Singapore. Construction of the hospital, known as Jurong General Hospital, is expected to be completed by 2015.

This is in view of the growth of the eastern housing estates, which is expected to grow substantially in the next 10 years. Building new hospitals will certainly ease the burden on the already overworked Emergency Department of NUH as well as Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

With Singapore’s population expected to rise to 6.5 million in the near future, it is imperative that more hospitals be built in anticipation of the influx of new citizens. Good to know that the Ministry Of Health has already earmarked the north which ‘definitely needed two to three hospitals‘. According to the Health Minister, future sites to be considered include Woodlands and Bukit Batok.

Any plans for a new hospital in the East then Minister? Pretty please?