Fish Slice Soup

Health is Wealth!

Many people do not know that due to the world modernisation, we are facing a serious risk of prematured aging.

We can prevent it by leading a nutritional immunology lifestyle. He was a healthy 29-year-old who was chasing his next promotion and planning a holiday. But all these came to a abrupt halt when Mak Kwok Fai got a stroke. Read more here: http://bit.ly/1pFecLf

Vegetables, Tofu & Fishball Soup

Ebola poses low public health risk to Singapore: MOH

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ebola-poses-low-public/1291146.html?cid=FBSG

Stewed Bittergourd with BBQ Pork

Great Drink for the family!

Unhealthy Air Quality Recorded in 9 Areas Malaysia !

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/unhealthy-air-quality-recorded-9-areas-malaysia-20140729

ALERT: Delivered By Airplane: Ebola Now Threatens 21 Million People In Major Metro Area

http://freedomoutpost.com/2014/07/alert-delivered-airplane-ebola-now-threatens-21-million-people-major-metro-area/

Antihistamines for Allergies

Treating allergies can involve different medications, including steroids and allergy shots, but usually the first thing to try is an antihistamine.
How Antihistamines Treat Allergies
When your body comes into contact with whatever your allergic trigger is -- pollen, ragweed, pet dander, dust mites, for example -- it makes chemicals called histamines. They cause the tissue in your nose to swell (making it stuffy), your nose and eyes to run, and your eyes to itch. Sometimes you may also get an itchy rash on your skin, called hives.
Antihistamines reduce or block histamines, so they stop allergy symptoms.
Antihistamines work well to relieve symptoms of different types of allergies, including seasonal (hay fever), indoor, and food allergies, but they can't relieve every symptom. To treat nasal congestion, your doctor may recommend taking a decongestant. Some drugs combine an antihistamine and decongestant.
What Types of Antihistamines Are Available?
Antihistamines come in different forms, including tablets, capsules, liquids, nasal sprays, and eyedrops. Some are only available by prescription. Others you can buy over the counter (OTC) at your local pharmacy.
Examples of prescription antihistamines include:

• Astelin, Astepro (azelastine) nasal sprays
• Atarax, Vistaril (hydroxyzine)
• Clarinex (desloratadine)
• Cyproheptadine (generic only)
• Emadine (emadastine) eyedrops
• Livostin (levocabastine) eyedrops
• Optivar (azelastine) eyedrops
• Palgic (carbinoxamine)
• Xyzal (levocetirizine)

Examples of OTC antihistamines:

• Allegra (fexofenadine)
• Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
• Dimetane (brompheniramine)
• Claritin, Alavert (loratadine)
• Tavist (clemastine)
• Chlor-Trimeton (chlorpheniramine)
• Zyrtec (certirizine)

Eyedrops likes Emadine and Livostin treat symptoms of eye allergies, including itchy, watery eyes. Some medications, like Allegra-D, Claritin-D, and Zyrtec-D, combine an antihistamine and a decongestant to relieve congestion.

Side Effects of Antihistamines
Antihistamines can cause side effects, and some cause more side effects than others. Drugs such as Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, and Tavist and belong to an older group known as "first-generation" antihistamines. They tend to cause more side effects, particularly drowsiness.

Newer-generation antihistamines such as Allegra, Clarinex, and Zyrtec and have fewer side effects, so they may be a better choice for some people.

Some of the main side effects of antihistamines include:

• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Restlessness or moodiness (in some children)
• Trouble urinating or not being able to urinate
• Blurred vision
• Confusion

If you're taking an antihistamine that causes drowsiness, try to take it before bedtime. Don’t take it during the day before driving or operating heavy machinery.

Read the label before you take an allergy drug. Antihistamines may interact with other medications you are taking.

Talk to your doctor first if you have an enlarged prostate, heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, kidney or liver disease, a bladder obstruction, or glaucoma. Also check with your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing.

Understand the difference between synthetic and whole food supplementation

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032058_synthetic_vitamins_supplements.html##ixzz38G4GD9qV

Synthetic vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, kills beneficial probiotic bacteria in the gut

m.naturalnews.com/news/040147_vitamin_C_ascorbic_acid_synthetic_vitamins.html

Pregnant mummies must read

Dear Mummies

Many people think what the doctor says is always right. One has to be mindful of what is being prescribed to us. You may think what is given to you is beneficial but it may harming you and your fetus.

Before we look further, please read this. http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-vitamin-supplements

Do we need drugs / synthetic supplements for our body?
http://www.doctoryourself.com/medicines.html

Do We need folate or folic acid? Why do doctor still prescibe?
http://thankyourbody.com/folate-vs-folic-acid-for-pregnancy/

Should you take EPA & DHA from fish oil or ALA from plant?
What plant has over fish:
•Rich in ALA, an omega-3 essential fatty acid found ONLY in plants.
• No fishy smell and aftertaste.
• No risk of toxic contaminants.
• No side effects associated with fish oil supplements, e.g. diarrhea, abdominal bloating, nosebleeds.
• Fish oil may interact with medications, e.g. blood thinners, aspirin and high blood pressure drugs.
• An overdose of fish oil can lead to increased risk of stroke and cancer.
• Will not deplete vitamin E.
• Zero cholesterol and fat.
• Lower in calories. One tablespoon of cod liver oil has 122 calories.
• Has healthful antioxidants, phytochemicals and polysaccharides.
• Eco-friendly. Does not use blubber from endangered species of whales and seals. Dolphins may end up in fishermen’s nets with tuna, which is used in fish oil supplements.

Taking drugs / synthetic supplements, there's a risk of overdoze. How about considering wholesome organic plant food which do not have risk of overdoze.

How much do you exactly know about the vitamins you bought at home?

Let's take a look at the following.

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-vitamin-supplements

Achar

Paracetamol can slow brain development in kids

Extracted from:
http://www.dnaindia.com/health/report-paracetamol-can-slow-brain-development-in-kids-1953682

Do not give Aspirin or Ibuprofen to Patient!

http://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/dengue-fever-do-not-give-aspirin-or-ibuprofen-to-the-patient/

So what ingredients really go into a hot dog? Read on and you may never want to eat another frankfurter

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2175655/So-really-ingredients-really-sausage-Read-eat-frankfurter-again.html

6 food that impart cancer risk

1. Eat plenty of fruit & vegetable
2. Limit or avoid alcohol

3 + 4. Avoid red and processed meat

5. Women eat soy food to reduce risk of breast cancer

6. Men limit or avoid dairy products to reduce the risk of prostate cancer

Source:
http://www.businessinsider.com/6-foods-that-impact-cancer-risk-2014-6?IR=T&utm_content=buffer627b4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Avoid drinking cow’s milk

As I explain in the Save Our Bones Program and contrary to mainstream recommendations, drinking milk and eating lots of dairy products are not the answer to reversing osteoporosis. And while in the Save Our Bones Program no food is completely off limits, I strongly recommend that you explore the different milk substitute options that I will list for you here.

But first, I’d like to clarify that unsweetened fermented or cultured dairy products such as yogurt, kefir, and sour cream are acid neutral. Yogurt in particular is chock-full of beneficial qualities. As is the case with milk, organic yogurt does not have rBGH, but even several of the most well-known yogurt brands have stopped using the bovine growth hormone (rBGH). You should call your favorite yogurt company to confirm. One more clarification: when I say unsweetened I mean without sugar or any artificial sweetener. However, you can add honey or stevia, a zero calorie plant-derived sweetener that is delicious and alkalizing as well. I like to carry around stevia packets in my purse so that I’m always able to sweeten food or drinks when I’m on the go.

Milk now is.......

Milk is an acidifying animal protein

Like any other animal derived protein-rich food, milk has a positive potential renal acid load (PRAL) which triggers a protective biological reaction to neutralize all the damaging acidic protein before it reaches the kidneys.

The body is designed for survival, so it sacrifices bone density to protect the kidneys and urinary tract because the latter are essential to survival. And the most readily available source of acid neutralizer is in the bones. So even though milk contains calcium, it ends up sapping your bones of that crucial mineral. But that’s not all because…

Today’s milk is a processed food

Until the end of the 19th century in Europe and the beginning of the 20th century in the US, milk was consumed unpasteurized or raw. Later on, homogenization became the industry’s standard. These processes further alter milk’s chemistry and actually increase its detrimental acidifying effects.

Raw milk advocates claim that if cow’s milk is left “as is” it is a healthy and wholesome drink. It is true that raw milk is less acidifying than processed milk and that pasteurization and homogenization may cause a long list of digestive and other health problems, but I still don’t recommend drinking any kind of cow’s milk.

Nowadays, milking cows are given antibiotics and most are also injected with a genetically engineered form of bovine growth hormone (rBGH). A man-made or synthetic hormone used to artificially increase milk production, rBGH also increases blood levels of the insulin-growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in those who drink it. And higher levels of IGF-1 are linked to several cancers.

This should not be ignored, especially in view of recent information by Samuel Epstein, MD, Professor of Environmental Medicine at the University of Illinois School of Public Health, and Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition. In an article titled “Monsanto’s Hormonal Milk Poses Serious Risks of Breast Cancer, Besides Other Cancers” (http://www.preventcancer.com/press/releases/july8_98.htm, June 21, 1998) Dr. Epstein concludes that:

“Drinking rBGH milk would thus be expected to significantly increase IGF-1 blood levels and consequently to increase risks of developing breast cancer and promoting its invasiveness.”

Even though organic milk is from cows that are not given antibiotics or rBHG, if you truly care about your bone health and your overall health, you should…

Scientific studies show that milk increases fracture risk

Many scientific studies contradict the conventional wisdom that milk and dairy consumption help reduce osteoporotic fractures. Surprisingly, studies demonstrating that milk and dairy products actually fail to protect bones from fractures outnumber studies that prove otherwise. Even drinking milk from a young age does not protect against future fracture risk but actually increases it. Shattering the “savings account” calcium theory, Cumming and Klineberg report their study findings as follows:

“Consumption of dairy products, particularly at age 20 years, was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture in old age. (“Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Hip Fractures in the Elderly”. American Journal of Epidemiology. Vol. 139, No. 5, 1994).

And the 12 year long Harvard Nurses’ Health Study found that those who consumed the most calcium from dairy foods broke more bones than those who rarely drank milk. This is a broad study based on 77,761 women aged 34 through 59 years of age.

In the authors’ own words:

“These data do not support the hypothesis that higher consumption of milk or other food sources of calcium by adult women protects against hip or forearm fractures.” (Source: Feskanich D, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA. Milk, dietary calcium, and bone fractures in women: a 12-year prospective study. American Journal of Public Health. 1997).

Shocking statistics ignored by mainstream medicine

In the Save Our Bones Program one of the topics I discuss is the complete disregard of scientific evidence that discredits milk and dairy products as the best source of calcium.

One exception is Amy Lanou Ph.D., nutrition director for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, D.C., who states that:

“The countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis are the ones where people drink the most milk and have the most calcium in their diets. The connection between calcium consumption and bone health is actually very weak, and the connection between dairy consumption and bone health is almost nonexistent.”

Surprised? You shouldn’t be, because as I mentioned earlier in this article…

Cow’s milk is custom-designed for calves

Thanks to our creative ingenuity and perhaps related to our ancient survival needs, we adopted the dubious habit of drinking another species’ milk. Nobody can dispute that cow’s milk is an excellent food source for calves. Weighing around 100 pounds at birth, a calf typically gains approximately eight times its weight by the time it is weaned. But unlike humans, once calves are weaned, they never drink milk again. And the same applies to every mammalian species on this planet.

Also, each mammalian species has its own “designer” milk, and cow’s milk is no exception. For example, cow’s milk contains on average three times the amount of protein than human milk which creates metabolic disturbances in humans that have detrimental bone health consequences.

It’s important to bear in mind that mother’s milk is excellent nourishment for human babies, but its composition is very different from cow’s milk.

Do you know drinking animals' milk leaches out more calcium?

Milk depletes the calcium from your bones

The milk myth has spread around the world based on the flawed belief that this protein and calcium-rich drink is essential to support good overall health and bone health in particular at any age. It is easy to understand that the confusion about milk’s imaginary benefits stems from the fact that it contains calcium – around 300 mg per cup.

But many scientific studies have shown an assortment of detrimental health effects directly linked to milk consumption. And the most surprising link is that not only do we barely absorb the calcium in cow’s milk (especially if pasteurized), but to make matters worse, it actually increases calcium loss from the bones. What an irony this is!

Here’s how it happens. Like all animal protein, milk acidifies the body pH which in turn triggers a biological correction. You see, calcium is an excellent acid neutralizer and the biggest storage of calcium in the body is – you guessed it… in the bones. So the very same calcium that our bones need to stay strong is utilized to neutralize the acidifying effect of milk. Once calcium is pulled out of the bones, it leaves the body via the urine, so that the surprising net result after this is an actual calcium deficit.

Knowing this, you’ll understand why statistics show that countries with the lowest consumption of dairy products also have the lowest fracture incidence in their population (there’s more on this later).

Meatballs Vegetable Noodle Soup

Dang Shen Chicken Soup

Dang Shen

Properties: The herb is sweet in flavour, neutral in nature, and acts on the lung and spleen channels. Being sweet, neutral, noist, not dry, not greasy and mild in potency, it can not only invigorate spleen-qi but also nourish blood and promote the production of the body fluid. with its effects similar to but weaker than those of ginseng, dangshen can be used to replace ginseng but the dosage of dangshen should be doubled as much as that of ginseng wherever ginseng is used except for emergency treatment of collapse. Therefore, dangshen is often used to treat deficiency of spleen-qi and lung-qi and deficiency of body fluid and blood.

Effects: Reinforcing the spleen, tonifying the lung, nourishing blood and promoting the production of the body fluid.

Pearl Bean Chicken Soup

All type of beans including the cranberry beans, are also great choices. All beans are low in fat, low in kilojoules, and are high in dietary fibre. Beans, although plant foods, are very high in protein, and thus serve as a meat-alternative for vegetarians.

Get your maid trained as confinement nanny!

Mothers of newborns who do not want to shell out thousands of dollars to hire confinement nannies will soon have a more affordable option: their maids.
But first, the foreign domestic workers will need to be trained for the task, and that is we could help you.

Nagaimo Yam - [Nagaimo, Yamaimo (Japan); Glutinous Yam, Cinnamon vine, Japanese Mountain Yam, Chinese Yam; Ma (Korea); Shan yao, Huai shan, Huai shan yao (China)

 

Uses: In China this yam is widely used in herbal medicine, but in Japan it is more used for food. While most yams require at least cooking to detoxify them, this yam is eaten raw and shredded after being soaked whole in a vinegar-water solution to neutralize oxalic acid in the skin. It is also used to make yamaimo soba noodles. Tororo, sometimes served over sushi or with rice, is grated yam mixed with dashi, shoyu and mirin. Some say this yam is an "acquired taste" outside of Japan, but considering the quantities sold in Southern California's Chinese and Southeast Asian markets, that taste seems to have been rather widely acquired

Cooking: For most traditional Japanese recipes nagaimo is shredded or grated and used raw or lightly cooked. I find the fine shredding side of my grater does a good job. You end up with a gooey mush that's slimier than snail snot, but do not be discouraged - it cooks quite well by various methods, and the result is not slimy.

Medicinal Uses: This yam has long been important in Chinese herbal medicine and also in Japan. It is used for a variety of digestive and respiratory problems, diabetes, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and male sexual disfunction.

SPECIAL PROMOTION!!!

1) $40.00 for 1 day class. Refer a friend & you will get 50% off for the fee which is only $20.00 for 1 day class.

2) $100.00 for 3 days classes (UP. $120.00) & free basic housekeeping class or basic baby care class will be included.



Dishes taught will be chosen from the following : - 
1) Boiled vegetables with oyster sauce
2) Stir fry kailan with oyster sauce
3) Steamed egg
4) Fried egg with luncheon meat / char siew / pork / onions
5) Steamed tofu with fish paste
6) Stewed chicken with potato & carrot
7) Steamed pork with bean paste
8) Steamed fish with ginger slice & tomato
9) Steamed chicken with wolfberries & red dates
10) Chicken rice & cabbage fishballs soup
11) Yong Tau Foo Soup
12) Water cress spare ribs soup
13) Lotus root spare ribs soup
14) ABC Chicken Soup
15) Ginseng chicken soup
16) Boiled Bean OR Soya Sprouts with Black Sauce
17) Steamed Sea Bass with Black Sauce
18) Steamed Salmon Fish Head with Miso Sauce
19) Steamed Fish Paste with Wolfberries
20) Stewed Soya Sauce Chicken Wings & Tofu
21) Mustard Vege Soup with Scallop
22) Stir Fried Vegetables with Mushrooms
23) Steamed Tofu with Stewed Mushrooms
24) Steamed Meatballs with Water Chestnuts & Carrots
25) Stir Fried Snakehead Fish Slices
26) Stir Fried Red Yeast Fish Slices
27) Stir Fried Lemongrass Chicken
28) Steamed Pork Patty
29) Steamed Fish with Preserved Vegetables
30) Pork Ball Porridge
31) Old Cucumber Spare Ribs Soup
32) Marrow Carrot Fish Bone Soup
33) Lemongrass Chicken Soup
34) Herbal Porridge
35) Papaya, Lotus Root, Chicken Feet & Peanut Soup
36) Mushroom Chicken Soup

Assam Fish Head

Marrow Carrot Fish Bone Soup

Old Cucumber Spare Ribs Soup

Pork Ball Porridge

Steamed Chicken

Steamed Pork Patty

Steamed fish with Preserved Vegetables - one of my kid's favourite.

Get your maid trained as confinement nanny!

Mothers of newborns who do not want to shell out thousands of dollars to hire confinement nannies will soon have a more affordable option: their maids.

But first, the foreign domestic workers will need to be trained for the task, and that is where

we could help you.

 

 

New Recipe that I tried today! Suitable for everyone even for mummies during their confinement period.

Lemongrass Pandan Drink with Gula Melaka

Just made my family a refreshing Lemongrass Pandan Drink with Gula Melaka. Great to enjoy with ice in this super hot weather!
Everyone should try this as this drink has health benefits too.

Newborn Jaundice

I chanced upon this article & feel it is very useful for new parents as a guide. Hope you all find it useful
 

Home treatment for newborns with jaundice or icterus

By Dr. William Sears

Q. Our 6-day-old son has a slight case of jaundice. Is there anything we can do at home to get rid of it, besides exposure to sunlight? I have heard about using some kind of special lamp as treatment. What is the truth behind this?
A. Nearly all newborn babies get a touch of jaundice, or a yellow tinge to the skin. Some babies get more jaundice than others. Jaundice is caused by the buildup of yellow pigment, or bilirubin, in the skin. Normally, when worn-out blood cells are broken down by the body, the bilirubin is released and disposed of by the body's master filter  -- the liver. However, a newborn's immature liver can't dispose of all the extra bilirubin, so the excess settles in the skin, causing jaundice. As soon as your baby's liver becomes more mature, it will be able to dispose of the excess bilirubin, and the jaundice will disappear.
Jaundice is only a problem if there is an underlying medical reason for it, such as extreme prematurity or a blood grouping incompatibility. Premature infants usually have higher levels of bilirubin because their livers are even less mature than those of other infants. Also, if mothers and babies have different blood types, more blood cells are broken down, so the bilirubin is higher. In both these cases, the high bilirubin levels can lead to severe jaundice, which can interfere with the development of the brain. However, doctors normally monitor bilirubin levels to keep them from getting that high.
Since your baby has "a slight case of jaundice," he likely has the usual type of newborn jaundice, called physiologic jaundice, which is temporary and harmless. You don't need to worry that the bilirubin has gotten harmfully high. Here are some things to help bring the usual levels of bilirubin down:
Home phototherapy. What you've heard about at-home lamp therapy is correct: If your baby's bilirubin level is going up instead of down, your doctor may want to prescribe home phototherapy, an alternative to keeping newborns in the hospital for jaundice treatment. Home phototherapy requires you to put your baby under a special sun lamp and is only done when bilirubin levels are unusually high. Another, newer form of treatment is to wrap baby in a bili-blanket, a device that removes bilirubin. This is the easiest way to do home therapy in mild cases of jaundice that require treatment.
Expose your baby to sunlight. If the jaundice is slight, you may not have to institute any treatment at all. Your doctor may, however, advise you to put your skin-exposed baby next to a closed window and let the rays of sunlight shine on him for around fifteen minutes, four times a day. Sunlight dissolves the bilirubin in the skin so that it can be excreted in your baby's urine.
Feed your baby frequently. The more fluid  -- breastmilk or formula  -- you get into your baby, the easier it is for his body to flush out the excess bilirubin. Feed your baby at least every two to three hours during the day and when he awakens at night.
Be sure your doctor explains to you the concept of physiologic, or "non-worry," jaundice. Oftentimes, the worry level of new parents is higher than the bilirubin level of the baby. It's important to avoid needless worry, since it can interfere with your ability to make milk and to get to know your newborn.

Nutrition & Health Benefits Of Chrysanthemum Tea

• Chrysanthemum tea detoxifies the blood, helps with sinus congestion and regulates high blood pressure. It can also help to calm the nerves.
• Modern researches on the tea have established that it contains choline, vitamin A, vitamin B1, glycosides, adenine, amino acids, flavonoid, volatile oil, and other nutrients.
• Chrysanthemum tea restrains the growth of bacteria in the body, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus hemolyticus B, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella dysenteriae, tubercle bacillus and dermatomycosis.
• The Chinese medicine prescribes this tea for relief against influenza and it is also used in treating heatstroke, due to its cooling effect.
• When chrysanthemum tea is drunk with meals, it facilitates digestion, more so of greasy and oily foods. The tea is also consumed to strengthen the lungs and relieve head congestion.
• The tea is also believed to improve vision and hearing. It can be safely recommended for obese people, as it contains zero calories, when consumed without adding sugar or honey. It also doesn’t contain any caffeine.

Haze Back - How to protect ourselves, try this!

Chrysanthemum tea is made form chrysanthemum flowers, belonging to the Chrysanthemum morifolium or Chrysanthemum indicum species, which is extremely popular in East Asia, specifically China. Chrysanthemum flowers are usually dried and boiled in hot water in a teapot, cup or glass, to prepare this tea. Rock sugar or honey is also added to chrysanthemum tea and occasionally, wolfberries are included. The tea that is prepared is transparent and can be bright yellow or pale in color, exuding a floral aroma. In China, after a pot of chrysanthemum tea is emptied, hot water is again added to the flowers. This produces a tea that is less strong than the previous one. The process is repeated several times, until the flowers lose their aroma completely. Traditional Chinese medicine practices still use chrysanthemum tisane for treating conditions such as sore throat and fever.

Do I need to take any supplements if I'm breastfeeding?

You should take a daily supplement for breastfeeding mums that contains 10 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D. Breastfed babies get vitamin D from breastmilk, so you need to have enough vitamin D in your diet. If you took a supplement containing vitamin D when you were pregnant, you can carry on taking it while you're breastfeeding.

If you took a vitamin D supplement throughout pregnancy, and continue to take it while you're breastfeeding, your baby will receive enough vitamin D in his first few months. However, if you didn't take a vitamin D supplement in pregnancy, and are breastfeeding, your baby may need to have daily vitamin D drops from when he's a month old.

Vitamin D is made by our bodies when our skin is exposed to sunlight. It's important because it helps bones and teeth to grow healthily. In the UK, it can be hard to make enough vitamin D all year round, especially if you don't spend much time outside, or have dark skin.

Can I drink alcohol if I'm breastfeeding?

The occasional drink is unlikely to harm you or your baby. However, it's safest not to have more than one or two units of alcohol, once or twice a week, if you are breastfeeding.

Alcohol passes through your breastmilk to your baby. Drinking more than two units a day while you are breastfeeding may reduce your milk supply, and even affect your baby's development.

As a rough guide:

• a small (125ml) glass of wine is two units
• a pint of strong lager is three units
• a bottle of alcopop is between one and two units

But this also depends on the strength of the drink, which will be detailed as a percentage on the label. The higher the percentage, the stronger the drink.

How fast alcohol enters your bloodstream, and then your breastmilk, depends on how much you weigh, and whether you have a full or empty stomach. The amount of alcohol in your blood usually peaks between 30 minutes and 90 minutes after you have the drink. You'll need to allow an hour or two for your body to be clear of one unit of alcohol.

So if you want to have an alcoholic drink when you are breastfeeding, feed your baby before having the drink. Two or three hours later, when it's time to feed your baby again, the level of alcohol in your blood should be low enough not to affect your baby.

However, if your baby is newborn, she may need feeding more often than every two hours or three hours. So you may want to stick to soft drinks for the moment.

Can I drink tea and coffee if I'm breastfeeding?

Avoid having lots of caffeinated drinks when you're breastfeeding. We don't have a UK guideline for a safe amount of caffeine for breastfeeding mums. In the US, women who are breastfeeding are recommended to have no more than about 200mg of caffeine a day. That's about two mugs of tea, or two mugs of instant coffee, or one mug of filter coffee, a day.

More than this amount of caffeine is unlikely to harm your baby. However, if your baby seems very unsettled or restless, or finds it difficult to sleep, try cutting back on caffeine, or not having any at all. This may make a difference to your baby.

Do I need extra calories when I am breastfeeding?

You don't need to have extra calories as a new mum, because your body is so efficient at producing milk. Be guided by your appetite, and eat when you're hungry. Your body may have laid down fat stores during pregnancy, and breastfeeding can help to use up these fat stores.

The amount you need to eat depends on your pre-pregnancy weight, and how much weight you gained during pregnancy, as well as how active you are.

Having said that, breastfeeding usually gives you a big appetite. So if you don't feel like eating, it could be a sign that you need extra emotional support. Women who have postnatal depression sometimes lose their appetite. If you're finding it a struggle to eat, talk to your doctor or health visitor.

My 1st try of Stir Fried Red Yeast Rice Fish Slices, very delicious !

Take a look through our reflexes milestone chart and find out what you can expect from your baby in the first year.

Wishing Everyone A Very Happy Chinese New Year & Huat Ah to Better Health, Career, Business & In Everything You Do!

Do I need to drink more water when I'm breastfeeding?

You only need to drink enough to satisfy your thirst while you're breastfeeding. Drinking lots of water, or being thirsty, won't affect your milk supply. Your body is very good at regulating its reserves to keep your milk supply going.

However, bear in mind that during breastfeeding your body releases the hormone oxytocin, which makes you feel thirsty. So keep a drink nearby when you're breastfeeding

If you're worried about whether you're getting enough to drink, check the colour of your wee. If it's pale-coloured, you're getting plenty to drink. If it's dark yellow, or smells strongly, or if you feel lethargic or faint, you may be dehydrated, in which case you should drink more water.

What should I eat when I'm breastfeeding?

You don't need to eat any special or different foods while you're breastfeeding. However, you should try to follow a healthy, balanced diet, which includes:

• Starchy foods, such as bread and rice. Choose wholegrain varieties, for added fibre.
• Plenty of fruit and vegetables.
• Some protein, such as lean meat, eggs and pulses. Have at least two portions of fish a week, including oily varieties, such as salmon.
• Some low-fat dairy food, such as a yoghurt or a glass of milk.

What can cause pain while I'm breastfeeding?

The letdown reflex

You may feel fleeting pain in your breasts when your milk lets down. The letdown reflex, also called the milk ejection reflex, is set off by the hormone oxytocin. It stimulates the muscle cells in your breasts to squeeze out milk.

Oxytocin is released whenever your baby feeds in the first few days after she's born. Later on, just thinking about feeding your baby can trigger this hormone release. You may even find that your breasts leak when this happens.

Different women feel the letdown reflex in different ways. You may feel:

• slight tingling, or pins and needles
• immense pressure and slight pain, ache or discomfort
• nothing at all

As time goes by, and as you get used to breastfeeding, you'll probably become less and less aware of this.

Producing too much milk

Some mums who produce lots of milk have painful twinges deep in their breasts during feeds. This painful letdown reflex usually fades in the first three months of breastfeeding. If your baby latches on well each time she feeds, your milk supply should quickly settle down to match her needs.

Thrush

Thrush, a common fungal infection, can develop in your baby's mouth and on your nipples. The moist, warm, sugary environment of your baby's mouth while she is feeding is the perfect place for thrush to flourish.

Occasionally, the thrush infection may enter your milk ducts (ductal thrush). These are the channels through which your milk flows to your nipples, and once they're infected, breastfeeding can be painful.

Unlike letdown pain, thrush pain lasts during your baby's feed and gets worse after feeds. It's unusual to get a thrush infection in your milk ducts, though. Some experts even doubt that ductal thrush exists. You're more likely to have it just on your nipples.

If you or your baby has a thrush infection, you'll need to see your doctor, so you can both be treated.

Engorgement

In the first few days after your baby is born, your breasts flood with milk, and more blood flows to your breasts, making the tissues swell.

This may lead to your breasts becoming engorged and feeling hot and painful. The milk-producing cells in your breasts become swollen, making letdown difficult. Your breasts may also look red and shiny.

This is perfectly normal. It's your body's way of making sure your new baby has plenty of milk. Once your baby starts feeding regularly, and latching on well, your breasts will regulate the amount of milk that's produced, and the discomfort should pass. If it doesn't, see your midwife, health visitor, or a breastfeeding specialist as soon as possible.

Mastitis

If an area of your breast becomes inflamed, this can mean you have a painful condition called mastitis. It happens when excess milk is forced out of a duct and into your breast tissue. Your breast will be red and tender, and you will feel feverish. You can keep breastfeeding your baby, but see your doctor straight away for treatment

Breastfeeding

If you've just started breastfeeding, you're doing the right thing for you and your baby.

But if breastfeeding doesn't come naturally at first, don't worry. Plenty of new mums and babies have to practise and persevere until they get the hang of it.

Is it true that breast is best?

Yes, breastmilk is the best food for your baby. It's the healthiest way to feed her.

Breastmilk is a complete food. It contains at least 400 nutrients, as well as hormones and disease-fighting compounds, that aren't present in formula milk. Its nutritional make-up even adjusts to your baby's needs as she grows.

Feeding your baby only breastmilk for up to six months (exclusive breastfeeding) is particularly good for her. It can improve your baby’s cognitive development. So being breastfed could even make her more intelligent.

Babies who are exclusively breastfed from birth are also much less likely to be ill in their first year of life. Being breastfed may help your baby to fend off illnesses such as:

• gastroenteritis
• pneumonia and bronchiolitis
• ear infections

We can't say that exclusive breastfeeding reduces the risk of children ever developing eczema. But babies who are breastfed for any period of time do tend to have lower rates of severe eczema than babies who were always formula-fed. It's also possible that breastfeeding delays when your child first develops eczema.

Breastfeeding helps to build a special bond between you and your baby. And in the long-term, breastfeeding may help your baby to stay healthy. Studies have shown that adults who were breastfed as babies, when compared with those who were formula-fed:

• had lower blood pressure
• had lower cholesterol levels
• were less likely to become obese
• were less likely to develop type 2 diabetes

Breastfeeding is good for you, too, and may help you to lose weight. In the long term, it also helps to:

• lower your risk of breast cancer
• protect against ovarian cancer before the menopause
• reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes

How often should I feed my newborn baby?

Let your baby be your guide, and feed him as often as he wants to feed. There's no need to set up a breastfeeding routine during the first few days and weeks.

On the first day, your baby will probably feed at least three to four times. After the first sleepy day or two have passed, your baby may seem hungry most of the time. And he probably is, since he'll digest a feed within a couple of hours.

At this point, your baby will probably want to breastfeed at least eight times a day . Though he could feed a lot more than that, such as every hour or so . By the end of the first week, his feeds will probably have settled down to six to eight a day.

There's no maximum number of feeds a day when you're demand-feeding in the early days and weeks. The more your baby feeds, the more milk your breasts will be stimulated to produce .

It's normal for newborn babies to want to feed very frequently. If you meet your baby's demands by offering your breast, you'll produce more milk. Topping-up with formula during the first six weeks can reduce your milk supply, as your body won't get the signals from your baby feeding to make more milk.

Baby burping techniques

1) Hold your baby in an upright position against your chest. Support him with your shoulder and chin. Hold his head with your hand and with the other firmly but gently pat on his back.
2) Hold your baby upright in your lap and support his chest. Lean the baby slightly forward and pat on his back. You can also use circular movements to encourage burping. 
3) You can also place your baby in your lap on his belly. Put your hand underneath the baby’s chest. With your other hand apply circular movements and light patting on the his back.
4) If your baby has more trouble burping, try bending his legs towards the chest. This might help the gas come out.


It is also important not to let your baby cry too much before a feeding as they could ingest more air before they take the milk. It’s also a good idea to take one or two breaks during the feed to help milk digest and to give you time to relieve any discomfort through burping.

Remember that as your baby grows, the need to burp so frequently will decrease. An older infant will be able to get rid of the extra gas without your help – you will find their BIG burps hilarious!

Stired Fry Snakehead Fish Slices

Your baby's poo: what's normal and what's not

What will my newborn's poos be like?
For the first couple of days after the birth, your baby will pass meconium. This is made up of mucus, amniotic fluid, and everything your baby has ingested while she was in your uterus (womb).

Meconium is greeny-black in colour, and has a sticky, tar-like texture. It may be difficult to wipe off that tiny bottom, but its appearance is a good sign that your baby's bowels are working normally.

For Breast Engorgement

1. Encourage infant to suck more frequently to help relieve the milk congestion and the heaviness you may feel from engorgement.
2. Apply a warm compress to the breast or take a warm shower before nursing to help relax the tissue and relax the discomfort from your tender breasts.
3. Make sure you wear a nursing bra that provides enough support, so your breasts don’t feel like they’re so heavy. Wired bras may be uncomfortable, so look for one that fits right without the need of wires.
4. Gently massage your breasts before feeding to help facilitate the milk and soften the tissue. This will also help your baby to suckle more easily.
5. Pump any excess milk that you still feel is causing the heaviness after your baby is finished feeding.

The lactation consultants at Stanford, recommend cool cabbage leaf compresses between nursings as part of their engorgement solution. Use green cabbage leaves. Crush them with a rolling pin if the leaves don’t fit well to the shape of your breasts. Or cut off the tops of the leaf veins – whatever gives you the best fit. The leaves can stay on for about 20 minutes, two or three times a day, perhaps with a cold compress over them. Some suggest putting them on after every feed, and leaving them on until the cabbage wilts, but others are concerned that this will reduce the milk supply.
During weaning, they can be left on continuously. One study, published in the June 1993 Birth, found that women whose engorgement was treated with cabbage leaves experienced greater relief and were more likely to continue nursing (76 percent versus 58 percent). Women who used the cabbage leaves preventatively, while their milk was first coming in, tended to report less engorgement. 

A later study in the March 1995 Journal of Human Lactation, found that chilled gelpaks and chilled cabbage leaves both result in a significant drop in engorgement pain. Although both worked equally well, the majority of women studied preferred the cabbage leaves. In the September 1995 issue of the same journal, researchers reported that when women had chilled cabbage leaves on one breast and room temperature cabbage leaves on the other, the relief of engorgement was significant, and was the same on both sides; use whatever temperature is more comfortable for you.

Simple remedies for breastfeeding discomfort

Over the years, medical research has shown that infants are susceptible to any drugs ingested by a breastfeeding mother. Almost any drug can pass through mum’s system and secrete into the breast milk, which can obviously be a health risk for baby.

If you are affected by breastfeeding discomfort and pain, you may feel at a loss of what to do to get some relief. There are a number of simple remedies for breastfeeding discomfort that won’t require you taking any medication.
For sore nipples

    1) Make sure your infant in a proper breastfeeding position, so he is grasping the nipple properly and not pulling at it. This well ensure more milk for him and less pain for you.

    2) Expose your breasts to fresh air between feedings. Leave your bra unsnapped for 10 to 15 minutes after feedings, and try wearing unwired nursing bras for more overall relief.

    3) Apply aloe vera or vitamin E to your sore spots after you’ve fed to soothe the area. Make sure there is no residue left before your baby’s next feeding.

    4) Avoid using hand pumps to pump breast milk. Electric pumps use less pressure on the nipples and will help relieve your soreness.

Tips to reduce Nipple Soreness and Irritation

1) Observe the proper latching position. Supporting the infant’s head while breast feeding prevents unnecessary movement that may result in pulling of the breast.

2) Protect the nipple area from any possible causes of abrasion. Provide the infant with something to hold on while breastfeeding, such as the mother’s own shirt or blouse.

3) When disengaging the baby from sucking, gently break the suction by placing a clean finger in the corner of the baby’s mouth to initiate the release of nipple. Do not force him to disengage, as this may only lead to pulling of the nipples, which may lead to an abrasion.

4) When hardened milk accumulates in the nipple duct, wash it with saline water or expressed milk. Don’t let breast milk accumulate in it.

5) Don’t leave the breast in constant wetness. This may promote bacterial growth, making it prone for infection. Air drying the breast after every feeding may be helpful.

6) Encourage the infant to frequently suck on the engorged breast to relieve it from congestion. Manually express the remaining milk to empty the breast after feeding.

7) Maintain good hygiene and a well balanced diet, as a way of strengthening the immune system for battling possible infections.

8) For severe infections the use of antibiotics is helpful. Precaution is needed as not to take drugs contraindicated to lactating women.

9) Include the child in the treatment session. Unless the baby’s thrush or blisters heal, infection may recur in the mother’s breast

Sudden Nipple Soreness While Nursing

Nipple soreness can be linked to serious problems like plugged ducts or mastitis. However, it can also occur for no obvious reason. The annoying thing is that sometimes nipple soreness can come about even after months of pain-free nursing. Women have a lower tendency of experiencing soreness in the earlier phases of lactation, but due to the constant pressure exerted by the baby on the breast while feeding, the possibility of nipple soreness can increase as time goes on. Here are some factors that contribute to nipple soreness when breastfeeding and how you can find relief.

Possible factors for nipple soreness

• Abrasion – A minor wound in which the surface of the skin is worn away by rubbing or scraping. This may be caused by the infant’s hand clamping tightly on the nipple area. During the teething period, an infant may tend to rub his tender gums, vigorously, along the nipple region, thereby causing the abrasions.
• Thrush – An infection that usually appears on the tongue and sides of the cheeks of your baby as white and gray patches. An infant with thrush may give the mother the same infection, causing initial soreness on the nipples.
• Plugged ducts – Presence of a hardened substance in the nipples may cause soreness and consequently, tenderness. If unmanaged, it may lead to further infection of the breast.
• Engorgement – A distension of the breast with swelling caused by vascular and lymphatic congestion arising from an increase in the blood and lymph supply to the breast.

Top 5 Breastfeeding Essentials

Before your baby arrives there are many things that you can plan and prepare for. Breastfeeding is one of them. You’ll find lots of breastfeeding essentials on the market to help make it easier and more comfortable for you

1) Nursing - a nursing cover was a must! Preferably a big one which is able to hide almost everything. Our mums recommend choosing one that's made of thin material so it's suitable for Singapore's hot weather.

2) Nursing tea - which is a mix of herbs that can help you increase and maintain your breast milk supply. There are many different types of this tea using blended herbs such as fennel, stinging nettle and flavours like chamomile. Speak with your doctor if you are going to start taking a herbal supplement.

3) Nipple cream - having a good nipple cream to moisturise sore or cracked nipples. This is a very common complaint from breastfeeding mums and can be very sore.

4) Nursing wear - Nursing bras and nursing tops are essential for easy access so you don't have to lift up your shirt from the waist up.

5) Support - support was a must-have during their time breastfeeding.

Natural ways to increase your breast milk supply

Insufficient milk production is one of the key problems that new mums encounter when it comes to breastfeeding, making the natural act of breastfeeding frustrating for many. If you’ve encountered this, you may wonder whether to give up on trying to make more milk and to supplement with formula.
However, the problem is that frequent breastfeeding in turns generates more milk production. If you start relying on formula, your body will also gradually produce less.

When your milk should come in

Don’t be alarmed at first if you’re not producing much milk at all. Generally, your breasts start by producing colostrums, and do not become engorged until two to five days after delivery. By this time, you will usually be at home with your baby.
If you aren’t producing much milk after a week, don’t hesitate to seek help right away. The hospital you’ve delivered at have lactation consultants available to help you trouble-shoot your breastfeeding problems and you shouldn’t suffer in silence. They may teach you massage techniques to encourage the milk to flow or loan you a pump to assist you.

At home, you can try consuming some natural remedies, mostly herbal, to help increase your food supplies.

• Fenugreek. Women in India and all over the world use this to increase milk supply. It is easily available from health food stores in the form of tablets. Some women do well on just one tablet three times a day, while others need to take more. Fenugreek is also available as a form of tea or you could mix the powder with milk for drinking.
• Vegetables and fruits. Spinach, garlic, bitter gourd, potatoes and raw papaya are believed by the Indians to improve milk production
• Meaty soups and porridge. Pig trotter soup, red bean soup and rice porridge are believed by the Chinese to be nourishing for the body and good for lactation.
• Brewer’s yeast and oatmeal. Some women in the West use this to improve their milk supply. It could be somewhat similar to the idea of eating something thick and calming like rice porridge.
• Chinese herbs. Dang Gui and dates are designed to nourish the body, clear blockages and in the process, improve your milk supply.
• Fennel. While it doesn’t improve your milk supply, it helps with letdown reflex. It is most useful for mums who find that pumping no longer works well for them

20 things NOT to do during C-section recovery

Recovering from a vaginal delivery is tough but combine this with the major surgery of a Caesarean and it can be even more difficult. There are a lot more things you should avoid doing while in C-section recovery. Read on for 20 things NOT to do.

1. No stairs. Walking up and down stairs pulls on the stomach muscles which are healing.
2. No bending. This should be obvious, but bending and then straightening up strains muscles.
3. No heavy lifting. Anything more than baby will repeatedly tear the healing incisions.
4. No cleaning. Avoid vacuuming and sweeping. These motions and others will stretch the muscles.
5. No reaching. This again, stretches the muscles.
6. No sit-ups. Wait for a few weeks to get rid of your baby belly.
7. No gassy foods. This might upset a still-healing stomach
8. No tight clothes. Especially under-garments. Take pleasure in wearing those ‘big pants’ without feeling guilty while you can!
9. No belts. This is especially bad for the healing tissue.
10. No straining. While in the bathroom especially. It will tear the tissue and hurt your stomach.
11. No driving for at least 3 weeks. This is a combination of feeling drowsy from pain pills and not straining the wound.
12. No sex. Avoid for at least 6 weeks. Take longer if you need to.
13. No running. Take 6-8 weeks off.
14. No baths. Wait until the stitches or staples are removed.
15. No “pushing through the pain”. Stop if anything hurts.
16. No refusing pain medication. Don’t be a tough guy. Take them if you need them.
17. No refusing help. Take it if it’s offered. You just had major surgery.
18. No skipping antibiotics if prescribed.
19. No rushing recovery. Take it slow.
20. No delaying C-section recovery either. Do what you can, when you can, and recovery will be quicker.
    
    
    
    Some of these will not be practical for everyone. Some people have stairs in their house, will have to bend occasionally, and need to strain from time to time. Get as much help and support as you can for the first few weeks of C-section recovery and limit the amount you do as it really will make a difference.
    
    
    All of these are okay in moderation and if you have to do them then take it slowly. Just try to follow this list as much as possible to have a trouble-free C-section recovery. If you try to get back to normal too quickly, you run the risk of infection, re-tearing, or even internal bleeding. All of these things will lead to a much longer recovery. So take it easy!