Say Goodbye to Blurry Vision with LASIK Surgery

Google images

In this modern day, correcting vision problems is no longer limited to wearing contact lenses or glasses. There are now far more advanced methods in correcting eye problems, the LASIK surgery being one of the most popular. It is a medical treatment that uses the sophisticated technology of lasers to cure eye problems such as astigmatism, farsightedness, nearsightedness, blurry visions, and more. 

The LASIK surgery starts off with the physician administering numbing drops in order for the operation to be painless. A special instrument will keep the eyelids open and a special laser or blade will then be used to make a small cut in the cornea. The cut will create a flap that will be pulled back to expose the corneal tissues, this is now where the reshaping of the cornea will take place. After the adjustments have been done, the flap will be re-positioned and there is no need for sutures. During the surgery, the patient will have to focus on a point of light to keep the eye fixed, making the operation easier. The process usually takes half an hour or so.

Google Images

After LASIK surgery, medications will be prescribed by the physician. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully and to administer the necessary eye drops as scheduled. This will ensure a full and speedy healing process. Follow up appointments few days after the surgery is very important. For the meantime, stay away from strenuous activities like heavy contact sports as well as high temperature environments like sauna or hot tubs. At night, a special shield for the eyes might also be prescribed in order to ensure the eye's safety while the patient is sleeping.

The LASIK surgery is a popular method of correcting vision problems for a reason. The results are immediate, the surgery doesn't take a very long time, it is generally painless, and once it's fully healed the need for glasses or contact lenses can be eliminated or at least be significantly minimized.

Marc Tay comes with a wealth of experience having worked at the Eye Department of the Singapore General Hospital, the Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the Toa Payoh Hospital and the Singapore National Eye Centre making him one of the most trusted eye-surgeon not only in Singapore but around the globe.

The Underlying Beauty of Liquid Face-lift

Looking young and beautiful is a must for almost every woman and the methods of retaining that youthful glow is ever so increasing. One of the anti-aging methods that is gaining more and more popularity nowadays is the liquid facelift. Unlike some facelifts that require surgery, the liquid facelift is simply done by injecting specific injectable into the skin, the most popular one being Botox. 

Google Images

Some of the common problem areas that liquid facelift deals with are wrinkles, crow’s feet, eye bags, nasolabial lines, oral lines, skin sagging, volume loss, and more. These problems in the face become more apparent as a person ages and fortunately, there are ways to fix it. The process of liquid facelift usually takes 15 minutes to half an hour, depending on the patient. There might be some swelling and bruising in the injection areas initially but it must disappear in a day or two. There are also over-the-counter medications and ice packs to relieve discomforts. Usually, the process is painless as anesthesia is administered before the procedure. 

However, the most important factor to consider when having a liquid facelift is this—the doctor. Never ever settle for a non-professional, especially when it comes to injecting stuff in your body, more importantly the face. Choose a professional that has a vast experience in liquid facelift and its components like Dr. Dr. Kevin Teh. He is an experienced general practitioner with a special interest in Aesthetic Medicine and subsequently built up years of experience with rigorous training in various disciplines. Ensure that your doctor is someone you're comfortable with. There are also some health factors to consider before going through this treatment. People who have the following medical conditions are usually not the best candidates when it comes to the liquid facelift—those with diabetes, neuromuscular disorders, allergies to certain products, cardiovascular diseases, bleeding disorders, and autoimmune diseases. It is important to be healthy for a person who wishes to undergo treatments similar to this.

With liquid facelift, it is now possible to retain that youthful glow and at the same time avoid all the stress that involves facial surgery. With just a few injections and a matter of minutes, anyone can have their youthful face again. 

Preparing for Menopause with Fat Burning Exercises

When you hit your 40s, it's high time to prepare for one of the greatest changes to happen to your body: menopause. To help you get through the effects of menopause, it's best to start integrating fat burning exercises into your lifestyle. 

During middle age, your menstrual cycle naturally stops because of the decline of reproductive hormones and primary ovarian insufficiency. This natural phenomenon called menopause is not a sign of ill health. Rather, during this time, your body will experience different changes that make it harder to retain a healthy lifestyle. 

One of the problems you will encounter during menopause is increased fat gain. According to a study, women in their menopausal stage burn less overall body fat than younger women even while doing the same exercises. The study found that postmenstrual women have 33% less whole-body fat oxidation than premenopausal women. They also have 19% less energy expenditure; meaning, they also burn fewer calories. Postmenstrual women also have less lean body mass than younger women. 

Google Images

Aside from an increase in fat gain, menopause can also change your body fat distribution primarily because of the decreasing levels of estrogen in your body. Naturally, women store excess fat in the hips and thighs. But after menopause, you may start to gain fat in areas similar to men. Stubborn abdominal fat may also increase, which can heighten your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. 

To lessen the effect of these changes on your lifestyle, it helps to follow a regular fitness regimen that can help you burn fat fast. Among the different regimens around, burst training simply fits the bill. 

Burst training is exercising at 90 to 100 percent of your maximum effort for a short period of time like 30 to 60 seconds, followed by another 30 to 60 seconds or more of low impact activity for recovery. For the high-intensity portion of the workout, perform demanding fat burning exercises like burpees and skier hops. Then follow them with exercises that focus on specific muscles. 

This kind of work out is more effective at burning fat compared to performing at a slower pace like jogging for 45 minutes. Many studies support that burst training actually burns more fat cells since it creates the right hormonal responses for real fat loss and lean muscle development. Not only that, burst training will also prevent overtraining, which can make you susceptible to injuries.

Aside from burning fat, burst training can also help prevent bone loss, which is very common after menopause. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, women lose the most bone density during and after menopause. When you hit 35, you'll lose one percent of your bone density; and you'll lose as much as four percent when you reach your 40s. As you lose more bone density, you'll increase your chances of osteoporosis. This also makes your bones more vulnerable to fracture from falls. 

Burst training can involve intense weight bearing exercises that can prevent bone loss. Performing these exercises regularly helps maintain your balance and coordination to prevent osteoporosis-related problems. 

Another type of exercise to add to your burst training regimen for bone loss prevention is resistance training. In these exercises, the muscle contracts against an external resistance to help you become stronger and increase your bone density. Lifting weights and using resistance bands are some forms of resistance training. 

Doing cardio every morning is not the only way to get your heart pumping and body moving to control fat. If you're looking for a more intensive regimen to help you prepare for menopause, burst training is the exercise program you need to follow. More than that, since these fat burning exercises are performed for only a short time, you can easily fit them to any busy schedule.

Fat Burning Workout Regimens That Strengthen the Body against Injuries

google images

Most people who choose to go on a diet to reach their ideal weight often forget that exercise is equally important to keep the body healthy. To maintain a healthy body while losing weight, they can do fat burning workout routines that can strengthen the body as well. 

Poor fitness can lead to various physical problems, such as muscle imbalances. Muscle groups that are attached to joints normally work against one another to provide proper joint control. However, sustained postures or repeated movements in a single direction can cause one muscle group to grow stronger, while the other remains weak. This leads to one side pulling joints out of position and causing postural problems that affect the neck, shoulders, lower back, thighs, and knees.

Working out is also vital for maintaining bone health. Bones are living tissues that respond to physical activity by building calcium. This increases bone density that help prevent fractures, especially in older adults with osteoporosis.

Lack of exercise also leads to muscle weakness, which increases the risk of injuries while doing strenuous activities. Weak muscles may prevent the body from coping with increased physical demands and lead to fatigue, soreness, and tears. Inactivity can further cause joints to stiffen and become fragile, increasing the likelihood of strain, swelling, and pain. Exercise helps maintain the fluidity of motion in joints, and stabilize tendons and ligaments to improve balance and prevent injuries.

To prevent injuries from occurring, regular exercise is necessary. Certain types of fat burning exercises are compound workouts that target several parts of the body, including injury-prone areas such as the lower back, knees, and shoulders. Performing these types of exercises can help people achieve their weight loss goals quickly and strengthen the entire body at the same time. 

google images

Here are a few examples of strengthening exercises you can try adding to a fat burning workout:

Back Raises

If done correctly, back raises don't only help strengthen the lower back but also target the calves, hamstrings, and glutes. On a back-machine station, place both feet under the leg anchor and the upper thighs on the pad. With both hands behind the head, squeeze the glutes and bend at the hips to lower the upper body until it becomes almost perpendicular to the floor. Then, raise the upper body until it realigns with the rest of the body.

Barbell Squats

Barbell squats can strengthen muscles around the knees by engaging the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. To begin, stand at shoulder-width in front of the barbell rack with the back facing the rack. Both feet must face forward and the back should follow the natural curve of the spine. Then, grasp the bar and hold it across the back of the shoulders. Lift the bar and step forward from the rack. Next, bend at the knees as if about to sit on a chair. This must be done while keeping the back straight, the heels planted on the ground, and the quads parallel to the floor. To lift back up, push up from the heels while maintaining proper posture.

Overhead Shoulder Press

The overhead shoulder press is an excellent workout that strengthens muscles around the shoulders and triceps. To do this, sit on a bench with back support. Plant your feet firmly on the ground at shoulder-width. While holding a dumbbell with each hand, raise the elbows at shoulder-height so that the dumbbells are at ear level. Push the dumbbells up until they are directly above the head and touch lightly. Then, lower them down until they return to ear level.

For more fat burning workouts that can help strengthen the body against injuries, visit AthLEANX.com.

The Cocoa Bean: A Surprising Ingredient that Helps Manage Health and Happiness

google images

When you think of cocoa or cacao beans, you may think about chocolate drinks and bars. But, what many people don't know is that cocoa has a lot of health benefits, too. Here at Sunrider, the cocoa bean plays an integral role in some of our products.

Cocoa beans are the dried and fully fermented fatty seeds of the cocoa or cacao tree. Its scientific name is Theobroma cacao, with Theobroma meaning "food of the gods.” This is because the Mayans and the Aztecs believed that cacao was a gift from the gods. Native to the Americas, the cocoa bean was also used as common currency in Mesoamerica before the Spanish conquest.

Raw cocoa contains catechins or polyphenols of the flavanol group that have antioxidant properties. The flavanols increase blood flow and reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Flavanols also assist with the body's insulin sensitivity and improve blood sugar levels.

Cocoa is also known to be an effective ingredient in successful weight management. The polyphenols present in the beans can inhibit the digestion of carbohydrates and fats. It also contains chemicals that increase the production of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that also acts as the body's natural appetite suppressant. Serotonin can curb cravings and make you feel satisfied even if your stomach is not full, allowing you to eat less and lose weight.

Cocoa also helps dieters stay on track with their weight-loss efforts. Together with other components naturally present in the bean, such as B-vitamins and dopamine, serotonin also helps you feel at ease and inhibits emotional eating. It can also help with the body's recovery after a grueling workout or a stressful day. At its rawest form, cocoa is rich in all the chemicals needed to uplift your spirits.

google images

However, just eating cocoa is not enough; otherwise everyone who eats chocolate or drinks hot cocoa would be thin. Extraction and concentration are necessary to truly reap the benefits of the cocoa bean. Sunrider extracts the desired nutrients, while discarding the unwanted materials such as fiber, so your body can absorb the nutrients better. Then we concentrate the extract because you could never eat enough cocoa to make a difference. Concentration is the key to effectiveness.

One of our natural weight loss supplements, SunTrim®+, contains concentrated amounts of cocoa beans that can help "pre-satisfy" your appetite. Because of this, you can easily feel fuller without overeating to help you safely achieve and maintain a healthy weight.*

Also, we have other products such as VitaShake®, SunBar®, and NuPuffs® that are available in cocoa. Instead of grabbing chips, crunchy snacks, and junk food containing hydrogenated oils that add empty calories to your diet, you can take these healthy snack alternatives that fill in the nutrition gaps in your diet.

Visit our online shop to look at your options for healthy and nutritious foods, beverages, and supplements that feature this powerful ingredient.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.