5 Myths About Exercising During Your Period  

Editor

You have probably heard so many different things about the relationship between exercise and menstruation. You might even be practicing some of them. However, not all of these beliefs are true. If you want to find out which ones are facts and which are just make-believe, here are five of the most common beliefs about working out “on the red”.

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  1. Myth: Working out would worsen your mood

Fact: Working out helps control mood swings

Although you’ve always been told to take things easy during your menstrual period, doing light exercises will actually help you in managing your premenstrual symptoms. According to Singapore health experts, exercising helps in releasing endorphins, which is responsible for sending happy thoughts all over the body. So avoid sulking in the corner, and instead, perform some light cardio to lighten up your mood.

  1. Myth: Exercising will deplete all your energy

Fact: Exercising may probably boost your energy

Your body releases more hormones the week during and after your period, which gives your body an extra energy boost. Although you may feel grumpy and bloated, your body during these times is actually in the best condition to do some workout routine. Just take it easy and exercise only if you really feel up for it.

  1. Myth: It’s okay to perform extreme routines on regular days

Fact: Stick to your comfort zone or “controlled stress” level

Make sure exercise on a level that’s comfortable for you if you during regular days. If you happen to get to a much lower body weight percentage than is normal for your height, then your body will start to shut down functions that it deems unnecessary, which could result to a delayed period, or a skipped menstrual cycle. So, just stick to your regular workout routine and avoid overdoing it.

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  1. Myth: Water is definitely off-limits

Fact: You can relax in a hot shower

Most people think that the pool is off-limits when you have your period, but that’s not really the case. In fact, swimming a little or relaxing in a bath or in a shower after your workout routine will help relax your muscles. Just make sure that you wear a tampon, of course.

  1. Myth: Avoid stretching your body

Fact: Yoga is your best form of exercise

If you’re not in the mood to perform your cardio exercise while feeling bloated, then doing yoga routines might serve as a great solution to tone your muscles and ease your cramps. Performing yoga positions is excellent for your body, especially if you’re suffering from lower back pains during your period.

Now that the facts have been cleared, you can now perform your workout routine even if it’s your time of the month. Just exercise safely and consider your current condition.

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Essential Medical Items to Bring on a Trip

Editor

After long months of saving and planning, the last thing you’d want on your dream getaway is for it to be ruined by a stomach trouble or a surprise cold. We’ve listed several travel essentials that will help you manage the most common health problems while you enjoy your journey.

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  1. Saline Nasal Spray

Being stressed out while travelling is one of the many things that can mess your immune system—as well as your vacation plans. This is especially true if you are going on to travel by air. Add the dry air in the plane and it won’t surprise anyone if you get sick mid-flight. However, having a saline nasal spray at hand could spare you from all that. Carrying one with you will help in keeping your mucus membrane moist, making it less susceptible to germs.

  1. Nail Clipper

Long nails and a perfectly done manicure will keep your nails and hands looking lovely, but that might not be the case if you get sick because of it. Studies show that long nails contain more bacteria, increasing the risk of bacteria spreading on the skin and even inside the body through exposed food. So do keep your nails trimmed even during your trip by always having a nail clipper at hand.

  1. Bandage Strips

Accidental cuts are common during adventurous trips, and keeping some bandage strips in your luggage will definitely keep simple cuts from getting worse. Just clean your cut using a bottled water and soap, plaster the strip and you’re good to go.

  1. Pain Relievers

If you’re the active and adventurous type, then bringing a packet of pain reliever will surely make you enjoy your vacation more. Ibuprofen has been proven as the best choice for relieving inflammation and soreness from arthritis, sprains and similar issues.

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  1. Aloe Vera Gel

Aside from soothing sunburns, this gel is also great for calming blisters and itchy insect bites after a tiring day of sightseeing. Plus, this cool gel is also great for zapping unexpected blemishes during your trip.

  1. Antihistamine

Not only will this alleviate your allergies, it will also save you a trip to the doctor in case a rash pops up. If you’re jet-lagged after a long flight, pop some tablet a couple of minutes before heading to bed to help you get a good snooze.

  1. Stomach Soother

The worst way to ruin all your sightseeing plans is by getting an upset stomach. Prevent that from happening by packing a stomach soother, such as Pepto-Bismol, in your bag. This med is great for easing an upset stomach, diarrhoea, nausea and even heartburn.

Travelling can be really fun, especially if you’ve packed all the right items in your luggage. So whether you’re headed for the Caribbean or just to a simple weekend road trip near your area in Singapore, make the most of it with this expert-approved travel kit.

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Encouraging Your Significant Other to Save Money  

Editor

Most Singaporeans think that being a couple means shelling out lots of cash on romantic dates and hot getaways. It doesn’t have to be that way. Being a couple means saving together. If we are committed to saving money, the power of two can build serious cash. Being thrifty should be the way of life here in Singapore.

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With this, it is imperative that we practice being thrifty. If our partner is not keen about saving money, it is time that we learn to encourage our significant other to save money. Here are some tips on how we can encourage the other to save money:

  • Voting power: When we are with friends and our significant other, we tend to spend more than what we bargained for. It is crucial that our significant other has a say when we are deciding where we want to eat because two heads are better than one. A budget-conscious partner can make things a lot easier and cheaper.

 

  • Affordable overseas vacations: If our partner is low maintenance but still loves overseas vacations, the accommodation and the flight are not an issue. We need to decide and talk about compromises for a successful travel.

 

  • Buying in bulk: We know that buying things in large quantities can save us money – no matter how little it is. There are many stores here in Singapore that offers bulk orders. The good thing is that the purchasing power of two is greater plus it cuts down the transportation cost.

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  • Saving on transport cost: Coordinating carpool is convenient and easy if it is with your significant other. Instead of using two cars, we can consider one car and pool our resources for gas. This also entails talking about scheme that is both beneficial for us.

In other countries, couples cohabitate to save more money. These people pool their money to pay rent, mortgage or utility bills. This will work too. We should remember that things are easier if it is done with our partner. If the couple cannot afford to move out, perhaps it is not yet time to live together. However, they can still save for the future.

Being frugal or thrifty is challenging here because there are many things that we can consider but if our significant other is serious about saving money for the future, we have to support it no matter how difficult it is. We have to save now before it is too late. What are we waiting for? Good luck!article-2476472-0625E7FF0000044D-283_634x419

The Health Benefits of Beer  

Editor

Singapore comes to life at night. After work, we come together with our friends and talk about things. There is nothing wrong with coming together for booze but there are things that we need to know before indulging. The first thing that you should know is the Liquor Control Bill which forbids Singaporeans and visitors to consume alcohol beyond 10:30pm.

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The second thing that we should know is the benefits of drinking beer. Beer is not just an alcohol that releases happy hormones when we consume it. It also gives benefits only if we drink it moderately.

  • Helps fight dementia: We should know that a new study made by Chinese researchers revealed that beers can help fight dementia. According to researchers, hops (a plant used to make beer) releases chemicals that can protect the brain cells from dementia caused by stress. This chemical is named Xanthohumol. It fights damage which leads to degeneration of brain cells. Beers can also boost one’s memory.
  • Helps digestion: Beers can help digestion. In fact, thirty cl glass of beer contain one gram of soluble fibre. Fibre deficiency can lead to intestinal and gastric disorders like diarrhoea and constipation.

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  • Helps lower bad cholesterol: It was mentioned earlier that beers contain fibre. Aside from digestion, fibre can also held reduce the LDL cholesterol levels in our body. LDL cholesterol is commonly known as the “bad cholesterol”. We should be aware that beers can reduce the risk of heart attack compared to non-drinkers.
  • Helps increase vitamin B: Beer also contains vitamin B (like B1, B2, B6 and B12).
  • Helps with colds: Beer can help us deal with colds. If we have colds, drinking warm beer can be a remedy. This is because when barley is heated, it can improve the circulation of blood. Furthermore, it can also help with the congestion.
  • Helps deal with insomnia: Beers can help us deal with insomnia. For people who have troubles sleeping, beers can be an excellent solution. Beers contain nicotinic acid and lactoflavin which promote sleep.
  • Helps blood clotting: Beers can help with blood clotting. There are ingredients in beer that prevent the formation of blood clotting.
  • Helps reduce anxiety: There is no doubt that beers can combat anxiety and stress. This is according to the University of Montreal. Two glasses of beer a day can make a difference at the end of the day.

So, if you fancy a bottle, indulge but remember to drink it moderately and remember the new Bill.

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Muscle-Building Tips for Women

Editor

The society here in Singapore is leaning towards fitness and health. This is a good thing for a nation that is so busy about economics and finances. The government is encouraging all to be fit and healthy by providing subsidies and access to activities that promote fitness and health. If you want join, you have to act immediately before it is too late.

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Strong is the new sexy here in Singapore. There are women here who are inspired to lead an active lifestyle. These women are particular about toning and muscles. If you want to be strong and be like other women with muscles, you can consider the following tips:

1. Hit the weights. Many women are not particular about weights because they do not see and understand its importance and benefits. If you know what shape you want, weights can help you sculpt your body. If you lift weights, your muscle’s density and mass will increase. Even if you leave the gym, the muscle will still retain.

2. Do not overwork on cardio. If you think that cardio can help your shape, you have to think twice. Cardio alone is not effective when building muscles. Cardio can only help you burn calories. It is an excellent cardio-vascular exercise which can keep your heart healthy. However, cardio cannot help you build or tone your muscle. Cardio is after all a “neurogenic training” which does not promote muscular density.

3. Think of reps. You need to contact and stress your muscles. With that, you should aim for repetitions. Aim for at least 6 or 12 repetitions and the movement should be challenging.

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4. Remember compound. You have to consider compound movements. Compound movements are heavy movements like deadlifts and squats. These movements can improve your core.

5. Fuel up. Your body needs to fuel up. Sometimes you underestimate it and simply neglect fuelling your body. You have to know that fuelling entails taking amino-acid during and after your workout.

6. Diet. Apart from taking amino-acids, you also have to watch out for your diet. You need to lessen processed foods and start preparing your food from fresh. This can make your muscles harder and firmer.

The tips mentioned above are only effective if you put your heart to it. It should come together to be effective. Remember that all things are possible. You will enjoy it if you are with your friends. You can build your muscles in your house by securing different items but if you want to be trained professionally, it is time to hit the gym. Good luck!

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Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey

Editor

Prices of properties here have fallen significantly because of the government’s stern cooling measure. Despite this fact, housing here still remains unaffordable for some. The 11th Annual Demograhia International Housing Affordability Survey 2014 actually agrees to this.

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The score was given by the Annual Demograhia International Housing Affordability Survey. The survey involves 378 metropolitan markets in 9 countries to include Singapore, United Kingdom, Australia, United States, Canada, Ireland, Japan, China and New Zealand. The survey rates the affordability of housing in the markets mentioned above with the use of “Median Multiple”.

For your information, the “Median Multiple” is commonly used in the evaluation of urban markets. In fact, it is recommended by agencies like the United Nations and the World Bank. It is also used by Harvard University, The Economist, International Monetary Fund and many organizations.

The Demograhia International Housing Affordability Survey is created to monitor the housing affordability of areas. Before knowing the results, it is important that you know the affordability rating categories. The rating categories are:

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  • Affordable: Affordable housing has a Median Multiple score of 3.0 and under.
  • Moderately unaffordable: Moderately unaffordable housing has a Median Multiple score of 3.1 to 4.0.
  • Seriously unaffordable: Seriously unaffordable housing has a Median Multiple score of 4.1 to 5.0.
  • Severely unaffordable: Severely unaffordable housing has a Median Multiple score of 5.1 and over.

Now that you know the rating categories, it is time that you know the results of the survey. Here are the results:

  • United States: In United States, housing is moderately unaffordable with a Median Multiple score of 3.6.
  • Canada and Ireland: In Canada and Ireland, housing is seriously unaffordable with Median Multiple score of 4.3.
  • Japan: Japan’s housing is also seriously unaffordable with Median Multiple score of 4.4.
  • United Kingdom: In United Kingdom, housing has a Median Multiple score of 4.7.
  • Singapore: Singapore housing is one of the highest and the most “seriously unaffordable” with a Median Multiple score of 5.0.
  • Australia: Australia’s housing is severely unaffordable with a Median Multiple score of 6.4.
  • New Zealand: New Zealand’s housing is also severely unaffordable with a Median Multiple score of 8.4.
  • Hong Kong: Hong Kong on the other hand is severely unaffordable with Median Multiple score of 17.0 – the highest of them all.

Now you know the status of the housing markets of the country and the nearby countries. Having a house is indeed unaffordable but if you really want to provide safety and security to your family, you will do your best to comply.

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Things Adults in Singapore Succumb To

Editor

Peer pressure is everywhere. It is not just the sight of teens passing around couple of shots or cigarettes. Peer pressures are also evident among adults not just here in Singapore but around the world. When you say peer pressure, it means an individual exerting effort and encouraging others to change their behaviours, attitudes and values to conform to their norms.

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In other words, it is a manner of influencing others. In this case, let us discuss about adults and the things they succumb to. Here are some things that adults here succumb to in relation to peer pressure:

  • Kid classes: Parents simply want what is best for their kids. Singapore is a difficult place because of the lurking competition. It is only right to set the path for your children but sometimes there are things that are not needed. You spend thousands of dollars because you want to make sure that your kids are not left out. Be honest, there are times that you think what you pay is not actually helping your kid.

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  • Drinks and foods with difficult to pronounce names: People are drawn to fancy names and things. Singaporeans are foodies and there are people who will drive halfway across the island just to get a taste of the famous beef or burger. Notice that when you are with friends, you decide to dine at restaurants that have difficult names to pronounce. Of course, no one will dare to question the price or affordability.
  • Extravagant weddings: Who doesn’t like an extravagant wedding? Everyone loves an extravagant wedding that is why when it is their turn, the couple will do their best to awe their visitors. Sometimes they do not realize that they have incurred massive debts just to throw a wedding party.

If you are not careful about the things mentioned above, you will find yourself broke at the end of the day. However, you have to remember that peer pressure is not necessarily negative. It can be positive depending on the person.

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