NIRVANA 3.0

NIRVANA
MIND BODY HEART SOUL FEB 2016
AT
FIRST SWIPE
NOT LOVE
diet hard
Losing your
veg-inity
arty farty
3.99 SGD
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GIFT CARD INSIDE!

ContenT
02
03
04
Mind
Valentine’s
special
12
22
23
24
Therapeutic
Meowments
Arty Farty
More Pressure,
More Stress
Different Taste
for a Different
Phase
Soul
Nut-So-Easy!
Diet Hard
A Beautiful Mind
06
07
08
10
14
15
16
18
20
body
Step Açaí!
Sinless Treats
Flab To Fit ...
With Kpop!
Food Fallacies
Couch Potatoes
of Wrath
Holey Hell!
Losing Your
Veg-inity
HEart
Not Love At First
Swipe
Dealing With...

Editor’s Note
My team and I would like to extend the warmest of welcomes to you. Change is the
only constant, and we embrace that. We love how society is progressively growing into a
community that promotes the importance of caring for and loving your mind, body, heart and
soul. There are no shortcuts to NIRVANA, so kudos to you! Because the fact that this magazine
is in your hands tells us that you are already taking the first step towards a healthier lifestyle.
We hope that you will constantly find new ways to reach your personal paradise as
you flip through our pages; a world with tranquility for the mind, healthy delicacies for the
body, tips for the heart and comfort for the soul.
Know that this magazine was produced for you, the fun-loving and lionhearted ones.
So continue being adventurous and brave, and always carry the mindset that your promised
land is out there. Let NIRVANA transcend you into a whole new heavenly experience and
remember, your happiness is a reflection of your health x
Editor of NIRVANA
Heidi Tan Rachel Chan
Cheng Si Min Hazique Hibri
Sub-Editors
Designers
Lee Rong Yin
Gan Zhen Ying Yong Lynette Nur Afini
Writers
Photo Editor
NIRVANA is a health and
wellness magazine for the
fun and fearless. We want
to give you a glimpse into
our world; the peace and
tranquility amidst the storm
that is our bustling lion city!
1

MIND
Cats of all sizes and breeds live in the sanctuary, which was
evident as a flocculent white Persian and a petite ginger
Scottish Fold strutted across the floor. The sanctuary
spanned “slightly over 1,200 square feet”, as reported by
Asia One, meaning that other than the occasional territorial
dispute, the cats had more than enough space to themselves.
In order to cater to the naturally active personality of felines,
Cats’ Safari makes sure to provide its cats with a variety of
play items stashed away in various nooks and crannies for
them to unwind after a long day of interaction.
Felines from other cat cafes such as The Company of Cats,
featured on its website’s photo album, look like regular
Singaporean cats, with pairs of rounded eyes wide open and
perfectly pointed ears, but not the ones from Cats’ Safari.
Each cat has a different backstory and/or deformity, which
is one of the things that makes the place much more unique.
therapeutic
MEOWments
RACHEL CHAN explores the Cats’ Safari,
a newly opened cat therapy centre in
Turf Club Road’s Sunny Heights
Derrick Tan, the brains behind Cats’ Safari, sat down with
me amongst the cats and explained, “They were all rescued
from kitten farms, some were picked from the street that
were injured. Sometimes there are abandonment or hoarder
cases and abuse.”
“I help a lot of people, especially the special needs kids by
using cats. I actually see many good results in that as the
kids are more open, they talk to people, and you can see
the smile on their faces,” mentioned Derrick, with much
compassion in his voice.
According to PsychCentral, “Therapy animals assist… in
helping clients with a multitude of goals such as improving
self-esteem and developing social skills, as well as providing
help for anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Nestled inside vibrant Sunny Heights at Turf Club
Road, is Cats’ Safari, a charming little place where
anyone can head to after a hectic week for a furtastic
session with its cats at a reasonable price!
Sunny Heights, according to Channel NewsAsia, is “the
largest animal day-care centre in Singapore” to date. As I
strolled past dogs frolicking in the sun and countless framed
pictures of pugs around Sunny Heights, Cats’ Safari finally
came into view.
With a light blue exterior and a few resident cats reveling
in the afternoon sunlight while suspended in transparent
tunnels, the sanctuary gave off a warm, cosy aura.
However, behind all the cuteness this furry land provides,
Cats’ Safari serves a much deeper rationale. It is known to
be a therapy centre, where one faces a warm cuddly fur ball
instead of an indifferent, overly charged therapist.
After entering the sanctuary and putting on a pair of
socks - a requirement, a staff member emerged from
behind the green gates and briefed me on the cats’
temperaments and the house rules. Some absolute
‘don’ts’ are not to carry the cats and not to use flash
while snapping pictures of them as it may startle them.
2
Cats’ Safari’s cause has garnered much support from many
members of the public.
Kenneth Leong, a frequent patron at Cats’ Safari, was happily
playing with a fluffy warm buddy as he gushed, “I think it’s
a pretty good initiative by Derrick. You’ve realised that these
cats, by taking them in, in return are relaying the compassion
he [Derrick] has shown to them, to other people. The cats
are paying it forward to everyone.”
Sharing more about his experience at the centre, Derrick
said, “I personally believe in animal therapy because I am a
very quick tempered person. I believe that whenever I’m with
animals, it actually helps calming me down and I feel good
after being with the animals.”
Patrons are able to purchase some merchandise such as
shirts to donate to Cats’ Safari or could donate into 2 white
boxes on either side of the gate to Voices for
Animals, another initiative founded by Derrick.
As I bade farewell to Cats’ Safari, there’s only
one word to describe the experience: purr-fect.
ILLUSTRATION BY: CARRINE LOW

arty farty
MIND
YONG LYNETTE finds out why the latest
colouring book trend is helping teens release
stress and how it is closely associated to your
diaper days
Your life is spiralling out of
control. No such thing as a
good night’s sleep and you feel
disoriented, angsty and 100 per cent
unmotivated. What you’re feeling is
common, unavoidable even. It’s stress.
In small dosages, stress boosts your
productivity and helps you overcome
daily challenges! However, pay close
attention and you may realise that your
mood swings are signs that you should
take care of your emotional wellbeing.
A primary survey done in November
2015 shows that 8 out of every 10 of 18
to 24 year olds, are experiencing stress.
Academic stress and emotional stress
are the top 2 sources of stress cited by
the respondents.
Joanna Tan, a senior art therapist in
private practice, added, “We suffer
from psychosomatic illnesses, when
we are unwell emotionally, our body
aches.” Does that explain why your
body can’t keep up?
colouring
books that are
currently taking
over by storm.
Colouring
can also help to
improve concentration
and reduce one’s anxiety. By drawing
your attention to small spaces in the
colouring book, it acts as a distraction
from what’s stressing you.
“It’s a simple task to fill that space with
colour and it gives the person a sense
of control,” says Tan.
If you’re thinking, “Why would I want
to colour? That’s childish.” Wait till
you check out the myriad of designs
available! Many artists have jumped
onto the bandwagon and are releasing
their own versions of colouring books.
Famous landmarks, animals in the
forest and even underwater creatures,
you name it!
with your fingers
and drawing with
crayons, so what’s the
difference now? Withhold judgement
on yourself and truly clear your mind!
Here’s how to colour yourself into a
place of peace!
Step 1: Buy a colouring book
of your preference, or hop
over to Pinterest and search
for printable colouring pages
PHOTO BY: LEE RONG YIN
By turning to our favourite comfort
foods and eating the equivalent of
our stress in ice cream pints, we only
become weighed down by our food
baby, on top of the stress we can’t
seem to get rid of.
Lucky for us, experts say that stress
can actually be alleviated, simply with
a colour pencil in hand.
Hailed by the Huffington Post as the
21st century’s alternative to meditation,
colouring to release stress is the new
hype amongst young adults.
Book stores like Kinokuniya, Times,
and Popular are now stacking their
display counters with towers of
“I was interested in travelling at that
moment so I thought why not give it
a shot?” shared Suharti Bin Suhaimi,
a 22-year-old student who spends an
hour every night colouring in her “Cities
Around the World” colouring book.
As an added benefit, colouring may
also bring back fond memories of your
diaper days.
“When (colouring), they are the master
of that small space and it makes
them feel good! People have a natural
inclination to what makes them happy,”
said Tan.
Even as a kid, you knew the joys of
sculpting with play-dough, painting
Step 2: Purchase a set of
colour pencils
Step 3: Position yourself in
a comfortable setting
Step 4: Knock yourself out;
unleash your colour pencil
fury
Step 5: Feel a sense of
calmness settle in your being
upon completion
3

MIND
MORE PRESSURE,
NUR AFINI discovers the possible reasons behind the increasing trend of stress
among young adults in Singapore
Singapore’s Health and Well-being Report stated that
young adults aged between 18 to 24 years old worry
the most, with 78 per cent experiencing mild to severe
stress. The finding correlates to the reported rising cases of
depression and suicide in Singapore.
If you are constantly worrying and stressing yourself out,
you should take a break and calm yourself down. Having too
much stress is never good. In fact, it can get really harmful
for you too!
What is stress? Helpguide.org stated that stress is your
body’s way of responding to various kinds of demand or
threat. Changes happen to your body due to the hormones
that are being released when it senses that you are stressed.
According to Apa.org, the most common type of stress is
acute stress.
This comes from demands and pressures in the past as well
as in the future. This is especially familiar among young
adults in Singapore who are constantly worrying about
matters such as having to do well in school and rushing to
meet assignment deadlines.
In 2010, a survey was conducted by Newscenter.philips.com
to find out why are Singaporeans stressed. They found out
that 78 per cent of young adults aged from 18 to 24 years old
are mostly stressed about losing their jobs, saving enough
money for the future and the economy.
Singapore may be a thriving and excellent country, but is our
generation struggling to keep up?
Radiah Salim, 53, president of Club Heal Organisation, a
psychiatric rehabilitation day care service, shared her views
on this rising trend.
She said, “Singaporeans are preoccupied with chasing the
Singaporean dream, which was defined in the past as the 5Cs
– car, condominium, credit card, country club membership
and cash. The pressure they put on themselves to make sure
they have what others have is causing the stress.”
Radiah raised some suggestions about how stress can be
minimised if people are more interactive with one another.
By engaging with others, you will be able to let loose and
relieve your worries.
Not only will you be able to relieve your stress, but you can
also practise your social skills to prevent yourself from being
a socially awkward person, a tactic you can learn to kill 2
birds with one stone!
However, too much stress is never healthy. With reference
from Helpguide.org, when you constantly experience stress
in your daily life, it can suppress your immune system and
you will also find yourself dealing with several mental and
emotional problems.
Some common conditions that are associated with stress are
depression and serious eating disorders like anorexia.
Junita Hanis, a 19-year-old Singapore Polytechnic student,
went through a series of stress encounters in her life, which
was subsequently diagnosed as depression in 2013.
“It was a combination of factors that’s happening in my life
that caused me to breakdown, and to a point where I was
actually physically hurting myself,” she said hesitantly.
Based on an article written on Healthyplace.com, self-injury
usually happens when an individual is too overwhelmed with
stress and resort to unhealthy ways that may temporarily
help them deal with the emotional or mental pain they are
currently going through.
4

MIND
MORE STRESS
“People always put too much pressure on
themselves in order to do well to the point
where they don’t realise that they are actually
compromising their mental health.”
Junita Hanis, 19-year-0ld student
When asked about the increasing trend of stress in Singapore,
Junita said, “People always put too much pressure on
themselves in order to do well to the point where they don’t
realize that they are compromising their mental health.”
Soh Yuning, a 21-year-old student, also brought up a similar
point. Yuning mentioned that, “There is an increasing amount
of academic pressure put on young adults in Singapore.
Education is becoming more and more competitive, which
makes it harder for students to keep up.”
With Singapore known as the world’s leading smart nation,
according to a Straits Times article it can’t be helped that it
will get tougher for future generations to uphold that name.
Yuning was diagnosed with insomnia at the age of 14 in
2008. She claimed that her stress was
mainly due to schoolwork. She had
trouble sleeping at night and at times,
she didn’t even get to sleep at all.
Although stress may sound intimidating, you are encouraged
to seek help if you have it or it may lead to other bigger
problems. There are many healthy ways to minimise stress.
You can apply for yoga classes, learn to meditate or even
engage yourself in more outdoor activities.
However, never resort to unhealthy ways like smoking or
drinking alcohol because you will have to deal with other
health problems in the near future.
The trend of stress among young adults in Singapore may
continue if we don’t educate ourselves on how to deal with
it. If more people were aware of this trend, there would be
more preventive measures taken to tackle the issue.
Radiah has hopes for change in the
coming years.
However, she added, “I think this trend
might continue increasing before it
stabilises. In the mean time, we can
help raise awareness about the
importance of healthy lifestyle
and not just about stress itself.”
However, now that she is older, she tries to combat
her sleeping disorder by calming her mind. “Don’t overwhelm
yourself and take things one at a time. Know when to stop,
or do what you like until you can feel the stress settling
down,” she advised.
Insomnia is one of the most common stress-related
conditions. Healthline.com stated that worries can keep your
mind active at night, which causes you to have problems
sleeping. Insomnia can impact your everyday life significantly
as it may eventually affect your
personal health.
ILLUSTRATION BY: HAZIQUE HIBRI
5

BODY
CARRINE LOW sits down with Project Açaí’s co-founder Deborah Ng and discovers more
about her life that is now intertwined with a new and healthy dessert alternative in town
Decked out in black yoga pants and a tank top with
a smoothie clutched in hand, 24-year-old media
communication graduate, Deborah Ng, was all smiles as
she sat down to share her story. She launched Project Acai
(say, “ah-sigh-ee”), Singapore’s first dedicated acai superfood
cafe in hopes of bringing healthier eating to the masses.
PRESENT
Today, Project Acai has 2 outlets available in Singapore - 1 of
them cosily nestled within the cul-de-sac of Holland Village
and the other located at the basement of Ngee Ann City,
Takashimaya in Orchard Road.
PAST
Deborah, or better known as Debbie, was studying in
Melbourne, Australia with big sister Melissa Ng, 29, when
they first decided to adopt healthier eating habits. “There
are tons of healthy food places everywhere in Australia,”
mentioned Debbie.
After returning to Singapore, Debbie realised that it was
much trickier for her to locate nutritious food options
here, and thus decided to start Project Acai to “provide
Singaporeans with accessible and healthier food options”.
Their acai bowl comprises
of a thick acai berry
smoothie base and is
adorned with fresh
fruits and toppings
like goji berries
and chia seeds.
Debbie shared how she has her junk food cravings from time
to time but with more healthier food options in Singapore, it
is 1 less excuse for her to indulge in unhealthy snacks.
Acai berries are best known for their incredible health
benefits, with 10 times the antioxidant levels of blueberries.
“Antioxidants are chemicals that fortify our immune
systems,” said Alvin, personal trainer from True Fitness. No
wonder acai berries are hailed king of the superfoods!
FUTURE
As for her growing business, she wishes for Project Acai to
reach out to more Singaporean youths. “We mostly get young
working adults coming to our outlets as of now. We want
to reach out to more youths because we want to be more
encouraging for youngsters to eat healthier,” said Debbie.
For those searching for healthier dessert options, Project
Acai offers dairy-free, vegan-friendly and gluten-free
desserts. They use organic acai berries and they do not
add artificial flavourings into their guilt-free treats. “All the
sugars in the foods we serve comes from the fruits, so there
is no additional white sugar,” explained Debbie.
Debbie could not be bothered about eating healthier
when she was 18 years old, but she is living proof that all
individuals can turn over a new leaf when it comes to eating
habits. “Saying no to chips and pizza can be really tough. But
there is also a rise in wholesome and healthy food places for
all of us, so why not just give health eating a go, right?
“Saying no to chips and pizza can be really tough.
But there is also a rise in wholesome and healthy
food places for all of us, so why not just give healthy
eating a go, right?”
Deborah Ng, co-founder of Project Acai
“It is truly the small steps you have to push yourself to take if
you want to alter your lifestyle for the better. Eat smart. Add
fruits to your diet, cut out soda and processed sugar or start
going out for walks, the little things matter,” added Debbie.
6 ILLUSTRATION & PHOTO BY:
CARRINE LOW

BODY
Sinless Treats
Looking for guilt-free and delicious ice cream to satisfy your sweet
tooth? Join CARRINE LOW as she checks out Singapore’s very first
sugar-free ice cream parlour!
hether it’s the fear of gaining extra pounds or the desire to lead a healthier lifestyle,
Singaporean youths are starting to venture into healthier food places in an attempt to
monitor what they’re eating. If you love desserts but hate dealing with the guilt after, here
Wcomes Sugalight to the rescue.
Elgin Tan, 35, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sugalight Factory, first started the whole
concept of offering Singaporeans sugar-free ice cream with only 1 thing in mind – his
diabetic father, who also happened to be a huge ice cream lover.
PHOTO BY: CARRINE LOW
In a research conducted by AIA Singapore, Singapore was
shown to have one of the highest diabetes rates today with
the number of Singaporeans aged 18 to 29 suffering from
diabetes doubling since the past decade. Despite recent
trends involving Singaporeans adopting a healthier
eating lifestyle, 73.5 per cent are still regularly indulging
in sugary foods.
Elgin shared that Sugalight was originally targeted at
the diabetic market and explained, “I also wanted to
promote leading a healthier lifestyle here, the obesity
epidemic happening around the world – especially in
America – is mainly caused by sugar, which is a toxic
and addictive drug that many in the food industry use
to get people hooked on their products.”
Instead of sugar, Sugalight uses a premium natural
sweetener called Xylitol, which is also known as ‘sugar
alcohol’. “It tastes like sugar but possesses a much lower calorie
rating,” explained Gerald Chan, 23, Account Manager of Sugalight.
It is hard to imagine a sugar-free ice cream shop offering a wide range of
flavours, but Sugalight defies all expectations, serving over 20 different flavours,
including ones that cater to the local palette such as Salted Gula Melaka, Durian and
even Pulut Hitam.
salted gula melaka
In just one bite, the creamy, golden
goodness and a unique tasting
combination of sweet and savoury
elements start to travel through your
taste buds.
Gula Melaka is also widely known
as ‘palm sugar’ and the low-calorie
sweetener, Xylitol, sure does a superb
job in replicating its taste.
Rating:
strawberry cheesecake
Baby pink in colour with a perfect balance
of strawberry fused with a tinge of cheese,
this flavour truly hits the spot on so many
levels.
Due to the substitution of sugar with
Xylitol, it is not as sweet as the traditional
strawberry cheesecake flavoured ice
cream. However, its rich, smooth texture
sure makes up for the lack of sweetness.
Rating:
7

BODY
Step 1a : Start with an ‘okay’ gesture with
your hands.
Step 1b : Rotate your hips. Repeat step 1
another six times.
Step 2 : Do a kicking motion with alternate
legs and rotate your arms in cycling motion.
Flab To Fit
LEE RONG YIN looks at how you can groove to Kpop
hits with simple aerobic choreographs and keep fit
“H
ere we go! Twist your
torso, then do some
jumping jacks and
give me a punch!”
“That is the way you sweat it out!”
Yelled Rachael He, a KpopX
Fitness Master Trainer,
as she led an army of
30 women in the
war against flab.
The battle lasted 50
minutes and ended
in pants and grunts as
the women felt the full
effects of this fat blasting
exercise.
But what is KpopX Fitness?
“Well, it’s a moderate-high
intensity dance fitness class
that enables you to burn as
much as 500 calories per
session while dance exercising
to 13 to 14 Kpop (Korean-Pop)
songs, which is equivalent to
an hour of cycling or jogging,”
answered Rachael.
Taking the world by storm,
“KpopX Fitness is titled as the
latest and trendiest fitness of
this era and currently has more
than 500 participants, mainly
aged 20 to 30,” said Rachael.
Korean culture has always been a trend
in Singapore, with Korean music being
the most popular, especially among the
young people. Exercising can be seen
as a tedious process but working out
to Kpop songs is definitely something
new and cool.
With a growing number of people
joining the fitness programme, it’s
no surprise that KpopX Fitness was
crowned as the ‘Best Dance Fitness
2015’ by Shape Magazine.
The Singapore home grown fitness
regime cleverly simplifies Kpop dance
moves and combines with aerobic and
body toning exercise, which allows one
with no dance or aerobics background
to do it with ease because the founder
of KpopX Fitness, Maddy Lim, and her
fellow master trainers, are selective
with the songs and choreography.
They always make sure that the dance
steps and aerobic moves are doable
before they conduct them in the class.
“It’s not just about exercising, most
importantly, it’s about having fun while
you work out,” said the certified KpopX
Fitness Trainer. “You can achieve
weight loss, body toning, and (at
the same time) enjoy health benefits
like increased stamina, endurance,
coordination and flexibility.”
Step 3a : Hop with right and left legs
alternatively with wrist rotation for 3 times.
Step 3b : Bring your arms up and cross them
above your head. Repeat step 3 again.
8

BODY
... with k-pop!
“It’s not just about exercising, most importantly, it’s
about having fun while you work out,”
Rachael He, KpopX Fitness Trainer
A report from the Ministry of
Health stated that 5.4 per cent of
people aged 18 to 29 are obese in
year 2014.
Also, according to Dr Amy Khor,
Senior Minister of State for
Health, more young people in
Singapore are getting obese,
diabetes and high blood pressure
because “they consume more
calories than they burn”, so she
urged people to exercise more.
“Doing aerobics is a great way to
burn calories and stay fit,” said
Rachael.
Aerobic exercises have been
touted for its many health
benefits such as reducing the risk
of getting almost every disease,
lowering high blood pressure,
improving your immune system,
toning your muscles, increasing
stamina as well as giving you
more energy to work and play.
“I like how they extract the
signature moves from the song’s
choreography and complement
it with other aerobics moves,”
gushed Hui Ling, a student from
Rachael’s class.
“I absolutely enjoy KpopX Fitness,
which I didn’t expect when I
first joined because I have never
enjoyed exercising,” she said
enthusiastically.
Passionate about the fitness,
Hui Ling felt that her “fitness
level grew tremendously” after
joining the class and was “glad to
discover KpopX Fitness”.
Rachael agreed too. A majority
of the participants who do not
exercise regularly find themselves
pumping up the fun while
exercising to Kpop hits.
When Rachael was asked to
describe KpopX Fitness in 1 word
- creative, engaging, intense, or
trendy, she exclaimed, “No, it’s
extraordinary!”
Step 5c : Rotate your hips sexily for about five
seconds, and punch in the air again.
Step 5b : Punch to the right three times.
Step 5a : Punch your right arm to the air.
Step 4a : Tap your shoulders twice
PHOTO BY: LEE RONG YIN
ILLUSTRATION BY: CHENG SI MIN
Step 4b : Stretch your arms out. Repeat step
4 another eight times while switching legs.
Song:
Up and Down
by EXID
9

BODY
food fallacies
There are many different types of consumables that have become popular amongst young people for
various different reasons. With so many new products sprouting on the shelves of local supermarkets,
many young people end up patronising these new trends blindly. However, there are things that these
products don’t tell you upfront and it’s easy to be fooled by the claims that they make. Granola bars, energy
drinks and fruit juices are some examples of these products. So before you decide to follow those trends, you
should think twice before buying them on your next trip to the supermarket.
Granola bars have become the centre of many discussions when it comes to healthy
snacks. Business student, Zane Neo, 18, is an individual who includes granola bars in
his everyday diet because he thinks it is “a healthy and convenient snack”. He shared
that he has a few friends in school who ate granola bars as well. However, is this popular
‘healthy’ snack really healthy after all?
To that, Fitness & Health International’s Senior Nutritionist, Jenny Goh, answered, “No,
simply because of the amount of sugars they pump into each bar.” Quaker’s S’mores
Granola Bars has an appalling 8 grams of sugar in each bar. That’s equivalent to 2
teaspoons of sugar in just 1 bar!
These sugars may come in the form of added sugar like invert sugar - made up of
glucose and fructose. “There are a lot of ingredients listed on the packaging that many
of us are not familiar with,” Jenny added, explaining why people tend to overlook the
nutrition facts of food.
GRANOLA
BARS
According to its packaging, these bars contain 8 grams of whole grains in each bar.
That’s 1/3 of your daily whole grain needs in a serving (2 bars)! Nevertheless, Jenny
thinks that granola bars do not even deserve to be called healthy snacks because of its
lack of overall nutrition. “You might as well get your whole grains from your conventional
whole grain foods like brown rice and wholemeal bread,” said Jenny with a laugh.
“Pass me another” were the words of avid gamer Marcel Kempers, as he recounted the
night he drank about 7 cans of Monster Energy Drinks while playing computer games
at his friend’s house.
“In my school, my friends always have 1 [drink] if they’re falling asleep in class but I
usually only drink them at night when I want to stay awake to play games or when I
have to study,” he said. Whether you drink it during the day or night, energy drinks
have always promised one thing – a boost of energy for the next hour or so. However,
at what cost?
ENERGY
DRINKS
“My heart was beating faster and faster especially when it was super tense in the late
game (period of time during the computer game Dota where the game is close to an
end),” added Marcel, discussing how he felt that night. A single can of Monster Energy
Drink contains about 54 grams of sugar and 154 milligrams of caffeine.
That means Marcel’s body consumed a whopping 1078 milligrams of caffeine from
those 7 cans he had that 1 night. According to Mayo Clinic, some side effects of heavy
caffeine intake include insomnia and faster heartbeats. In a primary survey done in
January 2016, 4 in 5 youths aged 18 to 25 have experienced having a faster heart rate
after consuming energy drinks.
10

BODY
Follow HAZIQUE HIBRI as he shares 3 consumables that you should be wary of
on your next trip to the supermarket
“The maximum we can take is about 300 to 400 milligrams of caffeine everyday and
this is why I always tell my students to stop whenever I see them drinking their energy
drinks,” said dance instructor, Chua Yi De, 23, who teaches urban dance to students
at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
“These energy drinks can make you feel like God for a
while but when it wears off and your body crashes, it is
never really worth it, in my opinion.”
Chua Yi De, 23-year-old dance instructor
Apart from just caffeine and sugar, Monster Energy Drinks also contain a high level of
Vitamin B3, with about 38 milligrams 1 can. According to the Health Promotion Board,
the recommended vitamin B3 intake per day is only 19.5 mg for males and 13.9 for
females. Yi De mentioned, “These energy drinks can make you feel like God for a while
but when it wears off and your body crashes, it is never really worth it, in my opinion.”
SALE
Monster Energy Drinks
has ingredients like
Taurine, Guarana, and
Ginseng which are
actually good for you.
But remember, too much
of a good thing will
eventually turn out bad!
Juice fasts and juice cleanses have been the talk of many young people who have been looking for a simple detox for their
body. Fitness enthusiast Jurvis Tan, 18, had tried juice cleanses before but said that he “didn’t want to spend money on the
cold-pressed fruit juices that people recommended because they cost a bomb” and opted for fruit juices that can easily be
found in local supermarkets.
“It feels better and less sinful to drink fruit juices compared to soft drinks,” he mentioned. However, just 250 millilitres of
Sunkist’s Orange Juice Drink contains about 28 grams of sugar already. The same amount of Coca Cola only has 26.5 grams
of sugar, which meant that even fruit juices in the supermarket could have a higher sugar content than
soft drinks. No wonder so many kids love fruit juices, not fruits.
FRUIT
juices
Taking a look at the ‘no sugar added’ version of Sunkist’s Orange Juice Drink, it contains about 18.3
grams of sugar that they claim comes naturally from the fruit juice itself. Jenny explained, “Some may
claim to be sugar-free, others say they’re freshly squeezed but the only way you can find out [the
truth] is by looking at what is stated on the packaging”. She continued, “At the end of the day, it’s still
sugar and our recommended daily intake for sugar is between 40 to 55 milligrams per day”.
On the flip side, Sunkist’s Orange Juice Drink is rich in Vitamins A, C
and E. “Most fruit juices in the market are quite rich in vitamins but
it’s up to you to look for the ones with less sugar,” Jenny elaborated.
She also warned people to look out for words like ‘fructose’ in the
ingredients list, which is fruit sugar that may be
added in those drinks.
It’s a good habit to check the nutrition labels on products so
you know exactly what’s being put into your bodies. So the next
time you’re at a supermarket, remember to think twice before
dropping products into your cart!
ILLUSTRATION BY: HAZIQUE HIBRI
11

VALENTINE’S SPECIAL
Whether you’re newly attached or if you’re an old couple, find out how you can maximise
this special Valentine’s Day with YONG LYNETTE, NUR AFINI and GAN ZHEN YIN
If you’re at the point of the relationship where you’re
blushing from their touch and ending late night phone calls
with “I love you”s, Valentine’s Day is likely one of the first
romantic holidays that you and your partner will share
together. You’d think that with the gift exchanging, googly
eyes over lavish dinners and the romance surrounding it
all, it’ll be the most magical day of the year for people in a
relationship; but Valentine’s Day for new couples can be as
awkward as a 100 kilo gorilla doing ballet.
The media also tells us that Valentine’s Day just isn’t
Valentine’s Day without traditional love tokens like
chocolates and roses. So how do you handle the V-day? Is a
gift appropriate? Should you just buy a card? What does he/
she want to do?
Here’s my two cents for you to relax and sail through your
first V-day together, worry-free!
Have a simple conversation about the holiday with your
partner, maybe even discuss the prospect of presents in
advance and set a spending limit on
the gifts. Keeping to a low budget
means little knick knacks or
joke gifts will take the stress
out of the day, and turn it
into something you and your
partner can enjoy!
But if joke gifts aren’t your type, you can’t go wrong with
something edible that you can share together, like a nice
packed lunch.
Eizabeth Lim, 19, and Fergus Koh, 18, are only a month into
their new relationship, but both agree that sincerity is the
most important ingredient in a Valentine’s Day gift.
“She’s vegetarian and doesn’t have a lot of food choices
whenever she’s busy. I’m thinking of making some food for
her,” quipped Fergus.
Take a leaf out of Fergus’s book; be meticulous and know
your partner well. It’s a good time to ask questions and find
out more about your partner’s preferences!
Something that wouldn’t necessarily cost you anything is to
just spend quality time together! Elizabeth and Fergus will
be spending time together watching a dance battle because
they share a common passion – dance.
So, forget about the oversized bouquets and teddy bears,
get over your gift anxiety and go with the flow. As a fresh
couple, enjoy each other’s company and focus on forming
a bond of trust and friendship! It shouldn’t be about the
materialistic goods on your first Valentine’s Day together.
PHOTO BY: ONG YE FENG
ILLUSTRATION BY: CHENG SI MIN
12

VALENTINE’S SPECIAL
Skip the mundane formal dinner at a
restaurant or the movie you’ve been
planning to bring your partner to and
plan fun activities together to spice
things up. Here’s why you should bring
your partner to ZOOM Trampoline Park
Singapore this Valentine’s Day!
ZOOM Park, 1 of the largest indoor
trampoline parks located in Pandan
Gardens, offers exciting activities such
as American trampoline sports and
dodgeball to keep you bouncing on
your feet (literally), guaranteeing you a
good time!
To make your date more memorable,
double or even triple date your friends
to compete against each other in
dodgeball. A little competition does
add more excitement!
Jamiatul Hida, 20, said, “My boyfriend
and I always have a good time after
a day at the trampoline park and
we enjoy laughing at each other
attempting random tricks after failing
miserably at it.”
An article on ‘The Effects of Adrenaline
on Arousal and Attraction’ stated that
when adrenaline releases in your body,
it boosts your emotional arousal, which
leads to a higher amount of attraction
between partners.
So while you’re jumping, he/she is
actually falling more in love with you!
ZOOM Park may be the right place for
you both as jumping can interest the 2
of you to keep fit because trampolining
trains your cardiovascular fitness.
“...it was worth it as I was
doing it with someone I
love.”
Amirul Adil, 22
According to Zoomparkasia.com,
the vigorous aerobic workouts you
do on the trampoline increases your
heart muscles’ strength and fitness,
which pumps oxygen around your
body faster, making you more healthy
and alert. With your leg and stomach
muscles working together, it keeps
your physique toned as well.
Also, trampolining for 10 minutes
is equivalent to a 30-minute run,
according to a NASA study. This means
that you can burn up to 1,000 calories
with just an hour on the trampoline.
Why not lose weight in a fun way?
“I gym a lot and my girlfriend dragged
me there [ZOOM Park] once.
Afterwards, my body was aching. But,
it was worth it as I was doing it with
someone I love,” said Amirul Adli, 22.
Well, start preparing a date to fuel you
and your partner’s adrenaline at the
trampoline park; it’s affordable, fun
and full of benefits! Couples who sweat
together, stay together.
For more information, you can visit
www.zoomparkasia.com.
Now that you have known each other
long enough, it can get tedious (and
expensive) to plan the perfect night
out - especially if you have been doing
it for years.
So why not try something different
- like laughing your hearts out while
watching funny shows on TV together?
Studies have shown that shared
laughter bonds people and heightens
the happiness and intimacy that is
shared among them. According to
helpguide.org, not only does laughter
cultivate emotional connections, it can
bring about physical health benefits as
well.
These benefits include boosting your
immune system, releasing endorphins
(feel - good chemicals), as well as
relieving physical tension and stress
for up to 45 minutes after.
Laughter is such a great health benefit
that it has been reported that a man
who was diagnosed with a lifelong
untreatable disease was cured when he
locked himself up in a hotel room and
binge watch various comedy series.
If that’s not enough to convince you,
maybe the money will. According
to drwealth.com, Singaporean male
students spend an average of $125 per
month on dating.
This is due to costs that can accumulate
from the occasional cab flagging,
movies at the cinema, as well as gifts to
their partners.
So to avoid this dreaded hole in the
wallet caused by Valentine’s (ironically
due to perhaps planning that perfect
candlelight dinner), why not bring your
partner back home with snacks in hand,
from the nearby convenience store,
and stream chick flicks and comedy
films to watch together instead, on the
14th of February.
Plus, it is an added bonus that Netflix
is now available in Singapore and new
users are offered their first month
free. So spend your lovely month of
February with your beloved, happily
(and cheaply), by staying in, cuddling
up against one another on the couch
and watching a good show.
Examples of such shows are, the
parody documentary series, “Parks &
Recreation”, funny movies like “Dumb
and Dumber”, as well as other shows
that contain comedic elements to help
you and your loved one have a good
time laughing out loud at home!
13

BODY
couch potatoes
of wrath
LEE RONG YIN explores the bad side of the couch potato lifestyle
among youngsters and why it’s time to give the bad habit a “sack”
G
one are the days where people looked out of the window
to see youths lacing up their sports shoes and heading
out for an exercise, instead, they transform their bodies
into mash sitting in front of a screen 24/7 – if they even look
out of the window, that is. Youths these days tend to lead a
sedentary lifestyle, spending too much time sitting at school
or work. So what causes the inactive lifestyle?
According to a study done by Singapore Polytechnic in 2012,
youths spend an average of 5.5 hours daily online and another
study found out that Singaporean adolescents spend about
20 hours per week on gaming. If you see yourself belonging
to the above, then you probably are a couch potato.
What exactly defines a couch potato? In the past, a couch
potato was someone who did little to no exercise and
watched a lot of television. But now in the modern era, the
definition of a couch potato has evolved.
Physical inactiveness can make you feel more restless and
your immune system may become weaker. He agreed on that
point, “I realised I fall sick quite often now, even though I
am not sure if inadequate exercise is the sole reason to my
frequent flu.”
Another research conducted by the National University
of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health in
2007 revealed that there was an association of time spent
watching television with a higher intake of calories due to
the habit of ‘mindless’ snacking while watching television.
“More young people are getting illnesses like coronary heart
disease, high blood pressure, heart attack, obesity and
joint issues, which should only hit them at a much older
age due a lack of physical activities, and they are definitely
not exercising enough,” explained Wendy. It seemed like the
tables have turned.
“The new generation of couch potato would be someone
who hides behind their electronic devices such as laptop or
handphone for hours, consumes chips non stop while sitting
on their couch and does no exercise at all,” said Wendy Cho,
Fitness Development Manager of True Fitness.
Tan Zhen Hang, 18, student in Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s
business school, is an example of a couch potato. Besides
going to school, Zhen Hang spends most of his time on
the bed with either his laptop, or his handphone. He rarely
exercises and the last time he went for a run was during
(physical education) lessons in secondary school.
Lim Ying, nutritionist at Eat Right Nutrition Consultancy,
shared that, “Young people don’t see the immediate effects
because they think they are young and healthy. But when
health issues start to surface, it will be too late by the time
they learn their lesson.”
But how many are actually doing something to achieve a
healthy lifestyle? So if you are planning to kick start your
fitness journey, it is not too late to start now. Sara Wee,
musician, will get you motivated with her story to stay fit.
SARA WEE, 28
mUSICIAN, yoga enthusiast
“With an intense working duration of 12 to 15 hours daily and
night gigs that typically end at 1 am to 2 am, Sara always finds
at least an hour in between her daily schedule to workout.
14
ILLUSTRATION BY: HAZIQUE HIBRI
The vocalist and guitarist of 53A is a fitness enthusiast and
has an undying passion for yoga, “Yoga is really very good
for digestive track and it also balances me out emotionally,
mentally and physically. I rarely fall sick after doing yoga.”
If you think yoga is all about flexibility, you are absolutely
wrong. However, with that being said, yoga is not for
everybody, neither are cardio exercises nor running. “Start
with something very simple, even if it is just a 5-minute
workout of jogging on the spot,” suggested Sara.
“You need to get your heart moving before illnesses like heart
problems and high cholesterol knock on your door.”

BODY
F
CHENG SI MIN explores the trend of body piercings and digs out uncommon
knowledge about the possible aftermath of getting a piercing
rom ripped jeans to leopard prints, it is evident that
young Singaporeans are becoming more daring in
their fashion choices. In recent times, however, it
seems as though this creative outlet is not enough.
“Youths are now wanting to look more ‘gangster’ as ever,”
said Kishore S/O Balasubramaniam, a huge fan of piercings
and body art. “They’re taking fashion to the next level by
bringing piercings to the common table.”
According to a study by Beyond Social Services Singapore, 1
of the activities that youths were most willing to do was to
get a tattoo or piercing. This percentage stood at 13 per cent,
and was second to alcohol consumption.
Take Kishore, for example. The 20-year-old used to have 7
piercings; 1 on his left helix (upper ear cartilage), 1 on his lip,
1 on his left eyebrow and 2 on each earlobe.
“I started off with earlobe piercings at the age of 15,” said
Kishore. “A lot of boys were also starting to get it too so I
thought, why not go for something different?”
A person who faced such complications is Chia Pei Xuan,
having 2 pairs of piercings on her earlobes and a navel
piercing. The problematic piercing? One that she used
to have on her left helix, which she got from an amateur
piercing salon in Jurong.
Not long after she got her helix pierced, a lump slowly
developed on top of her piercing. According to healthline.
com, it’s called a keloid lump, where it starts to form when
excess skin grows to overcompensate for the irritation
caused by the piercing.
Pei Xuan estimated that the lump grew up to about half a
centimetre. She did not think much of it until it grew bigger
and started producing pus. She then decided to surgically
remove it after failing to suppress it with an injection.
Pei Xuan believed that the main
cause of the keloid lump was
the lack of knowledge she
had on how to take care of
her piercings.
“I wanted to look cool and express myself
differently. I was also at the rebellious age,
and was willing to do anything to anger
my teachers and parents,”
Kishore, fan of piercings and body art
Elizabeth Liz, Professional Piercing Artist from B*dazzle,
believes that it is a trending fashion choice. “If you don’t like
your piercing, you let it close, and you can re-pierce it if you
want to. It’s just like changing your clothes, simple as that.”
Kishore laughed and said, “I know of people getting infections
from a piercing. Someone even fainted before! That’s why I
got my lip and eyebrow piercing from a professional store. I
was afraid that the regular stores would screw things up.”
Kishore’s concerns are not baseless. According to research
done by statisticbrain.com in 2015, 31 per cent of all
piercings had complications, and 15.2 per cent of piercings
required professional help. Online science magazine, Helix,
stated that possible major side effects from a piercing are
allergic reactions and hepatitis.
Elizabeth believes that this was due to the piercing artists
not properly informing customers on after-care procedures,
applying especially to the less established salons.
“I don’t remember them
briefing me about how
to take care of them. The
only thing they said was
to sleep on the other
ear,” she added.
The main reason why
most youths are more
inclined to visit less
established piercing
salons is because of
its affordability.
“I mean, come on, $60 compared to
$3 for 1 piercing, the difference is so huge!”
exclaimed Kishore.
Elizabeth advised youths who are planning to
get a piercing to think about how it would affect
their daily lives. A piercing on the tongue could
cause even speech impairment.
If youths are still keen, then seek a professional
piercer for better quality services and jewellery.
She stressed, “You’ll never know, a possible
infection might cost you more than that few
dollars you spent.”
PHOTO BY: LEE RONG YIN
15

BODY
HEIDI TAN explores veganism and how a plant-based diet can be veggie good for you
V
eganism, the word that sounds just as good as a
death sentence to most - a lifestyle devoid of meat,
milk, cheese, honey and eggs. But hey, believe it or
not, this ‘death sentence’ is becoming more of a trendy
lifestyle choice!
So… a vegan lifestyle, does that mean fruit for breakfast,
salad for lunch and a fruit salad for dinner?
To most, a vegan diet immediately brings to mind having
to live off raw leaves, nuts and fruit - much like prehistoric
cavemen who were condemned to a miserable life of
tasteless meals.
But, hold that thought!
Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D., author of The Flexitarian Diet,
said that this new vegan trend has been fueled by many
factors, with 1 main reason being, weight loss.
“I’m seeing more people going vegan because they’ve heard it
can help them lose weight,” said Dawn, who estimated that
the average weight of a vegan is up to 15 per cent less than
that of someone who eats meat—which translated to 20 to
25 pounds for the average woman.
In local news, vegan cafes have started sprouting up at the
speed of light and the increasing number of ‘#vegan’ posts,
estimating around at least 646 posts a day of tantalising
food, or the odd half naked, bicep flexing ‘selfie’, dominating
our social media feeds had not gone unnoticed.
Along with a growing army of
influential individuals taking to the
vegan lifestyle, many have started
following in their footsteps and
garnered interest in this severely
misunderstood lifestyle.
Even celebrity super-power
couple, Beyoncé and Jay-Z,
jumped on this fruit and fibre
laden bandwagon, devoting
themselves to a 22-day vegan
boot camp as part of a “spiritual
and physical cleanse”.
However, there is much more to the vegan lifestyle than
pictures of thick fluffy oat pancakes topped with a variety
of tropical fruits, roasted honey almonds and cacao nibs,
dribbled with a decadent chocolate glaze.
Shanell Choo, 18, was first introduced to the vegan lifestyle
through food accounts she followed on various social media
platforms. Intrigued by the difference between veganism
and vegetarianism, she decided to look more into it, starting
her on her vegan journey.
Coming from a background of an eating disorder, Shanell
found her life controlled by food. She was miserable
obsessing over portion sizes and the type of food she
ate. However, with the introduction of a vegan lifestyle,
everything changed.
She said, “Now, I no longer feel the need to restrict
myself in any way. And I’m no longer fearful or
anxious around food, I eat whenever I want,
and however much I want until I’m full.”
Shanell also believes that veganism helped
her escape the diet obsession that
society had unconsciously cultivated,
16

giving her a new perspective towards nutrition and healthy
eating. It has been 9 months since she first went vegan and
Shanell could not be happier with the effects a vegan diet
has had on her body.
“The food you eat really has the ability to affect how you feel
on the inside and how you feel about
yourself.”
Cheekily, she added that not only
has a plant based lifestyle helped her
maintain a good complexion and an
unusually high amount of energy, but
her fibre laden diet has also banished
any toilet woes she once had.
Yeo Hui Wen, nutritionist, agreed, “It is
proven that a vegetarian or vegan diet
can possibly affect an individual, mentally and emotionally.
Research studies have further stated that these diets are able
to lift moods and help individuals deal with mood swings.”
Hui Wen also strongly believes that a plant-based diet could
possibly offer other great health benefits. “I have witnessed
the magic of a vegan diet on patients suffering from diseases
such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity.”
“They embark on a full plant
based diet and within a week or
2, they see and feel results that
modern medication has never
been able to provide them with.”
Yeo Hui Wen, nutritionist
BODY
Doesn’t this make the vegan diet sound more like some form
of miracle mojo-jojo instead of the initial ‘miserable, bland
diet plan’?
Well, those are only a few wonders of vegan diet and should
be one of many reasons for you to consider a plant based
meal once in a while!
However, some people choose a vegan
diet for more ethical grounds, citing
reasons such as animal cruelty and
the support of fair trade as a basis for
their transition.
Nicole Ng, 18, a vegetarian since
birth, took her humanitarian cause
a step further 2 years ago when she
decided to make the transition to lead
a fully vegan lifestyle. She mentioned, “I transitioned mainly
because I wanted to lead a healthier lifestyle without hurting
any innocent lives.”
Since starting on her vegan journey, she has also become
more conscious of the materials and ingredients used in the
manufacturing of certain products that she buys. She said
that she’d prefer products that are animal-cruelty free and
“rather not have animals suffer” for her to look good.
She added, “They embark on a full plant based diet and
within a week or 2, they see and feel results that modern
medication has never been able to provide them with.” But
Hui Wen is not the only 1.
According to VegKitchen, a controlled study conducted
by professors at George Washington University and the
University of Toronto proved this statement true. Renowned
Harvard trained physician, Dean Ornish, stated that with
each passing day, patients who suffered from heart disease
found their coronary arteries “gradually widening, causing
their diagnosed chest pains to dissolve almost like magic”.
With veganism promising a myriad of environmental,
health and ethical benefits, it is no surprise that our health
conscious society has discovered deliciousness in the ageold
dull and unappetising impression of a plant based diet.
So the next time you find yourself craving for some good
ol’ juicy steak, picture a baby calf gazing up at you with
pleading eyes and you might just opt for a caramalised onion
and garlic herb crusted pizza. So much for a boring, bland
and BLEH diet, huh?
Gina Yashere, a comedian, testified to the magical benefits
of a plant based diet. She started noticing something wrong
with her body in early 2005. She said, “I had been feeling
tired for months and my joints were aching, but then I woke
one morning to find I couldn’t open my hands…my eyes were
dry and I would wake at night to find my lids stuck together.”
Upon visiting a private doctor, she was diagnosed with
lupus, a disease that was thought to have claimed her aunt’s
life. However, after converting to a fully raw, plant based
lifestyle, she saw results almost immediately and is now
close to being lupus free.
PHOTO BY: LEE RONG YIN
17

HEART
Not Love at
YONG LYNETTE finds out how the love realm has evolved in this digital world of romance
E
ddy and Cindy Chua met in 1986 in Mei Chin
Primary School, where they were working as
teachers. Cindy was the new trainee teacher in
school, and Eddy thought she was charming, kind-hearted
and gentle. Cindy found him very helpful, friendly, and the
life of the party.
They went swimming every Friday with other teachers and
Eddy would sneak some time from the rest, to talk to her. A
friendship blossomed and feelings grew. They got married
in 1991 and gave birth to a daughter, then a son. Eddy still
wears his wedding ring 24 years on.
This, is a simple story of boy meets girl and they fall in love,
but it doesn’t seem likely to happen to you right? Chief
Dating Coach of Divine Connect Singapore, Cindy Leong,
concurred, “It’s quite different now with social media. People
are more outgoing.
And as people become more educated and confident of
themselves, you really think you have more choices, it’s an
“Oh, if I can get a better one, then why settle for this?” kind
of mind set.”
It doesn’t help that infamous dating app, Tinder, is available
in 196 countries and boasts 1.4 billion swipes a day. For the
less acquainted, Tinder is the hottest ‘chick’ in the dating app
town. It is hailed as the Monopoly of the millenial generation
by Thought Catalog.
Tinder is just a database to meet people. Full stop. To meet
people you’ve never met and to connect with people you
want to connect with. It’s a great tool to widen your social
circle and talk to anyone from all walks of life.
“Just like social parties and school camps,
it’s a platform to meet new people. But...
There’s a reason why the icon is a flame.
Don’t play with fire, you’ll get burnt.”
Zikki Xie, Tinder user
But oh, do some people love to ‘roast’ in the pain of the
flame. Most of the time, they think they’ve really got the
hang of it, and dating is easy. Like riding a bicycle. Except
the bicycle is on fire, they are on fire, everything is on fire
and they are in hell.
There are just too many reasons why you
shouldn’t turn to technology to build
relationships, but why are young people
doing it nowadays?
As people are getting busier; there is
no time to go out physically to meet
people. Many do it in the comfort of
their phones, but is everyone portraying
themselves as who they really are?
Users get to peruse 160 word biographies and flatteringly–
angled profile pictures of people around them, then decide
to swipe right if they look good and swipe left if they vaguely
resemble Steven Lim.
Also, you’re allowed to start conversations only with other
people that have swiped right on you. “It sets the tone of ‘I
think you’re cute and you think I’m cute too’,
so talking isn’t as awkward
as trying to pick someone
up outside,” shared Tinder
user, Zikki Xie.
PHOTO BY: HAZIQUE HIBRI
18

HEART
First Swipe
We’re all familiar with the dangers of meeting a paedophile
online but what’s worse is when you get into a relationship
with a fantasised, virtual being.
Cindy noted that a lot of people enter relationships because
they are in love with the virtual person, but when they see
the real person, they’re not who they seemed to be. Even
personal friends you know may be guilty of this. He or she
can be extremely pro active online but when you hang out
with them in real life, they’re totally withdrawn.
On whether Eddy, now 57, would use social media to look
for a girlfriend if he were 18 in this era, he said, “I personally
don’t subscribe to this kind of technology or social media
to court. I may look for friends, but not just communicating
through Facebook.”
Cindy suggested that online relationships should not last
beyond 4 months. “I know people who have been talking for
a long time and have not met, but I keep telling them that
it’s not healthy. You still have to see the person physically, to
feel the vibe and body language of the person.”
However before you even meet said
“virtual being” in real life, how
can you be sure that they
are one hundred per cent
emotionally and legally single?
Cindy revealed, “It’s real
chicken and egg stuff, because
you never know! If you happen
to be very open and you meet
someone who is not, you
end up being hurt.”
Just ask Zikki, “I’ve met more than 1 guy who I’ve matched
with and they had girlfriends outside. Being on Tinder, they’re
“opening their options” to others even with a girlfriend by
their side. And I found my ideal boy, but I was just a toy and
he went back to his girlfriend anyway,” she said.
According to a survey done in January 2016, 40.4 per cent of
18 to 22 year olds are heavy social media users. Conveniently,
Tinder is designed for mobile users. The clear layout is simple
to use and perfect to fill up minutes while waiting for the
bus. Tinder has become a platform for guys and girls alike to
cheat on their partners without them knowing.
So how else can we avoid the jerks and jerkettes that pepper
our digital love life?
“Sports and outdoor activities,” Cindy said. She realised that
it was is a big problem, even when coaching her clients, as
a lot of them do not want to go out and move their body. “It
becomes very hard. You are out of shape, and just physically
less attractive, not so healthy, not so outgoing and energetic.
As part of the young people crowd, I can safely say that we
are more independent – or so we’d like to believe, so here’s
my two cents: Get off your little bums and keep yourself
occupied; join an interest group to sustain you!
Life should be pretty fulfilling as a single person, having
friends and working out. That is the true independent and
healthy lifestyle we should strive for.
Apart from staying active, we should prepare ourselves
emotionally, be mentally strong, and work on our
communication skills. After we gain awareness of ourselves,
we will understand how to communicate better with others.
“A relationship is always a learning process, frankly. You can
never say that you’ve been married for many years and you
think you have reached that stage whereby you can truly
understand your spouse,” said Eddy.
Getting to know someone takes years and people usually
take one whole lifetime to figure out love. Of course, there
are exceptions where some people meet over a holiday
weekend, get married in a month and stay married till their
hair turns gray but even then they are out there in flesh.
On Tinder, you’re just collecting human beings,
with no tangible goal in sight.
I’m ready to extinguish the
Tinder Flame and ignite the
inner flame… are you?
19

HEART
DEALING WITH...
HEIDI TAN and CHENG SI MIN take a roller-coaster ride with dips and turns filled with
emotions through grief and body shaming, and ways on how one can learn to subsist
PHOTO BY: HAZIQUE HIBRI
ILLUSTRATION BY: CARRINE LOW
grief
Long nights filled with tear soaked
pillows, a pounding in your head and
immense heartache. All this fueled
by the pain of the sudden absence
of someone you had devoted so
much of your heart to. This is
what grief entails, what it feels
like to be entirely consumed and
intoxicated by this terrifyingly
raw emotion.
Gevin Yaneza was 18 when
he first experienced grief.
“Pure sadness, terror and
confusion,” was what he felt
upon hearing of his father’s
death. “It was morning
when the hospital called
and said Dad had left… It
was unreal,” said Gevin, his
eyes brimming with tears.
It took a moment for him
to recollect himself as he
recounted his spiral into
the depths of depression.
“I retreated into my shell,
missed 2 weeks of school
and cut off all contact
with my schoolmates. I
was stuck in this rut for
2 long, arduous months.”
Benedict Long, a
counsellor, mentioned
that the different periods
Gevin experienced
mirrored the 5 stages
of grief - Denial and
Isolation, Anger,
Bargaining, Depression
and Acceptance.
The stage of denial is
triggered as a defense
mechanism in buffering
the shock of loss. Once
worn off, some find
themselves dominated
by anger. Incapable of expressing their
vulnerability, they take it out on inanimate
objects or people around them.
Another stage is bargaining, which is
one’s natural reaction to helplessness,
vulnerability and being filled with selfdoubt.
Individuals will feel directionless
and want to regain control of their lives.
The next stage consists of 2 types of
depression. The first, is a reaction to
practical implications of the loss such
as monetary costs. The other is more
private, struggling to say farewell to
their lost beloved. Individuals with the
first type are dominated by sadness,
which could be eased by clarification
and reassurance. The second requires
affection and warmth.
The last and hardest stage of all -
acceptance. This stage represents
withdrawal and calmness, with
individuals feeling positive despite the
loss, acknowledging that moving on will
benefit themselves and the people who
care for them.
Benedict stressed that the stages are not
meant to teach someone how to grief, but
rather to help them better understand
the grieving process.
“The death of a pet can hurt as much as
the death of a relative”, said Benedict,
as he mentioned animal-human bonds.
Evelyn Loh, 21, who recently lost her
family dog, Max, understood the bond.
Evelyn painfully described how her family
was stuck in an emotional dump with
the loss of their 12-year-old Australian
Pekingese. “Max’s departure hurt us so
much that we even considered shifting
because the house felt so different
without him.”
20

HEART
Through the loss, Evelyn learnt to be more
appreciative of the people around her instead
of taking them for granted, which Benedict
said was “beneficial” to individuals.
For Gevin and Evelyn, they learnt that it took
courage to decide to move forward and feel
happy. Although seemingly difficult, it will
body shaming
The bright smile that Annette Lee always had
made her seem like a chirpy and confident
girl. Little did people know that the 18-yearold
used to hate how she looked and would be
discriminated for her size.
eventually be worth it - for both themselves
and the people they love.
“I know my dad just wants to see me happy,”
said Gevin, “This is why I’m doing this for him.”
“A lot of it comes from low self-confidence,”
said Annette. “After I went to Junior College,
I was constantly around people that were
considered ‘attractive’, which made it
even worse.”
“I think a lot of teens can relate to this,”
Annette said. “With media pressure, we
constantly feel the need to look ‘perfect’.
Sadly, whether you like it or not, most of us
aren’t naturally like that.”
This was where body shaming came in.
According to bodyshaming.org, body
shaming is defined as inappropriate negative
statements and attitudes toward another
person’s weight or size.
Annette was 1 of the many victims that have
been affected by body shaming. In fact,
the National Association to Advance Fat
Acceptance (NAAFA) said that there was a 50
per cent plus increase in size discrimination
between 1996 to 2006, with 1 of 3 children
having experienced weight bias from a teacher,
and 2 of 3 children from a classmate.
Annette explained, “It’s a very taboo
issue in Singapore. In an Asian
culture, we hardly speak of such
sensitive topics, which is why
many don’t have the courage
to step forward and seek
help.”
She added, “I think the
turning point is when I
realised that there is
no point hating myself
and feeling so lousy
all the time, and that
drove me to want to
overcome it.”
So how can someone
overcome body
shaming?
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN POSITIVITY
“My friends were very encouraging,” Annette said. “They tried
taking my mind off it by bringing me out to watch movies and
explore different cafes.”
Although body shaming might be becoming more prominent
in Singapore, victims can overcome it if they handle it well
enough. Suki Tong, Child and Adolescent Psychologist, said,
“Pull yourself together and show them how wonderful you
actually are. You don’t need their affirmation - you’re better
than them. Those people were never your friends anyway.”
Stand up to the bullies
A victim should inform the bully that he/she is
uncomfortable with his/her actions and ask him/her to
stop. If they continue to pursue, a victim should report
the bullies to someone with authority to show that he/
she is not a pushover.
21

SOUL
GAN ZHEN YIN touches on food alternatives
you can binge on on a comfort day with
homemade Nut-So-Easy Granola balls
Everyone has those days when
nothing goes their way and all they
feel like doing is getting home and
kicking it back with some good ol’ comfort food
on the sofa while watching their favourite shows
on the telly. Sounds good right?
PHOTO BY: LEE RONG YIN
22
Renowned food blogger and owner of ‘The Budget Pantry’,
Chris, said, “Comfort food isn’t something fancy or
something that takes a lot of effort; it can be
something that’s basic and evokes memories.”
To youths, the term ‘comfort food’ brings to
mind calorie-filled indulgences that come in
the form of junk food or sweet treats.
This accurately supports the definition
of comfort food as ‘food that provides
consolation, typically having a high sugar
or carbohydrate content and associated with
meals one may have had in their childhood
or home cooking’.
Hence, in an attempt to shine the light on
healthier alternatives of traditional comfort
food, we introduce our new creations, the
Nut-So-Easy Peanut & Milo Granola Balls!
This recipe will teach you how to make a
snack that not only requires little effort to
make but also covers well for breakfast,
lunch, dinner or even supper.
The main ingredient in this recipe
is granola, as it plays a huge
role in maintaining a good
immune system that may
be compromised due
to one’s increased
levels of stress.
5
6
4
2
1
These bites take less than 15
minutes to make and can even
be pre-made and left in the
fridge to cheer you up after a
long, tough day.
Place 4 pieces of Digestive Crackers, a packet
of Milo Powder and 500 ml of Granola mix into
a ziplock bag. Proceed to break down the mix
by using a rolling pin or a pounder. Make sure all
ingredients are shaken well together.
In a mixing bowl, add 3 tablespoons of peanut butter, a
pinch of sea salt and 2 tablespoons of honey. Mix it up
for a minute until you achieve a smooth, consistent, and
creamy paste.
3
You will need:
Honey
Sea Salt
Granola Mix
Milo Powder
Peanut Butter
Digestive Biscuits
Add in the concoction of Milo powder, digestive
crackers and smashed up granola mix into the mixing
bowl containing the peanut butter honey mix.
Mix all ingredients evenly with a spatula - by now you should
see the mixture coming together to form a thick, crunchy paste.
If the mixture is still not sticking together nicely, you can add more
peanut butter and honey mix.
Grab a tablespoon of the mixture and shape it into a ball using your hands. Allow
your creations to chill in the fridge for at least 15 minutes to firm it up.
After it has been chilled, the balls are ready to be eaten! You can choose to eat them
right away or leave them longer in the freezer for up to half an hour so that it serves as
a dessert as well!

he phrases “I’m too fat” and “I should
Tstarve” are often spoken with
repugnance by youths who have fallen
prey to the rise of unhealthy dieting.
Recently, unhealthy dieting among
youths has been rapid rising, with
studies on Webmd.com, showing that
adolescent females and males who
use “extreme weight control measures
like taking diet pills…or laxatives” have
risen from 8 to 20 per cent and 2 to 7 per
cent respectively.
Kavithraa Naidu, a counsellor from Ngee Ann
Polytechnic, said, “There has been a growing trend
among youth to look slim. How slim is defined varies
to an individual, from bodily well-being comprising of
functional strength to having the least amount of skin
pinch. There has been a need to look slim the fastest
way possible.”
The 21st century’s rapid technology breakthroughs
could inversely negatively impact youths by constantly
exposing them to various negative facets of the media
such as extreme, unattainable body goals.
Miao Yan, 18, a student, confessed, “Social media (and)
technology is so advanced, people can just use their
phones and search for their role models (who) have
good bodies or features. Because of this, many people
want to be like them and will start to diet harmfully.”
An example of the media as a negative influence is
Richard Wang, 19, who was a contestant on the show,
Hey Gorgeous, where hosts searched Singapore for the
‘perfect looking’ teenager. He said that he “didn’t know
what to expect” and that it was “quite overwhelming”
when the judges asked him to strip.
Surveys done on macmh.org also discovered that 90
per cent of females “felt pressure by fashion and media
industries to be skinny” and 46 per cent of them looked
to magazines for the ideal body image.
Besides the media,
there is another
group with
the ability to
indoctrinate
youths to adopt
unhealthy dieting.
Recollecting
the pressure
she felt from her
friends, Miao Yan said, “The
one that puts the most pressure
on us [teenagers] is actually our peers
because you see them everyday. When
they post a picture of how good they look, it
actually affects how you feel. You will feel that,
‘I think I can be the same. I want to be the same. I
need to be the same’.”
Personal trainer Sam Blakey brought up peer pressure
through unkind comments. “Young people are not
very thoughtful and may say ‘You look bad in those
shorts’ or ‘You thought you could wear that?’ That can
(have) a consequence on their bodies, especially at
that age.”
Sam shared that since youths continue growing
until the average age of 20, any food restriction
during this period is detrimntal to the body.
“Our bodies cannot put up with severe
starvation. When you starve yourself, it
starts laying down fat so that upsets your
metabolism.” She suggested setting a
target with realistic and tangible goals so
as to diet healthily. For example, instead
of entirely cutting out foods, swap them
for healthier alternatives
She concluded with a reminder,
“Motivation is probably the biggest
downfall. It is about being resolute. Put
the scales away and have a good time. Be
comfortable in your own skin. We’re not all
built the same. It would be really boring if
we did.”
diet
SOUL
hard
RACHEL CHAN delves into the
dark world of unhealthy dieting in
youths and digs deeper to find
out why they are taking
it to the scales
PHOTO BY: LEE RONG YIN
23

SOUL
GAN ZHEN YIN sits down with Chia Xun An, author of the picture book ‘The Black Box’, to talk
about his experience with mental health issues and how one can help others in the same plight
24PHOTO BY: LEE RONG YIN
With his rather boy-next-door
demeanor, one would never
guess that Xun An has lived with
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) since
the age of 10; but he is not the only one
- a recent study revealed that MDD was
1 of the top 3 common disorders in
Singapore. When asked what
alerted his parents to his
condition, he revealed that
his parents first noticed
a change in his mood.
“I couldn’t sleep at night and I was just
crying (and) banging my head against the
wall repeatedly…it was something out of
the norm.”
That prompted his parents to bring him
to a psychiatrist, who diagnosed Xun
An with MDD. According to Healthline.
com, MDD included symptoms such
as irritability, feelings of self-hate
and suicidal ideation or behaviour.
In more extreme cases, delusions or
hallucinations do occur.
Xun An recollected that secondary school
was tough and due to his notoriety
amongst teachers and his bad attendance
record, he had to repeat a year. But
he persevered and went
on to become the
top scorer for the
annual ‘N’ Level
examinations.
When he entered
polytechnic, things
changed for him as it
was then that Xun An was
diagnosed with another
condition called Borderline
Personality Disorder (BPD).
This included symptoms
like unstable images of selfidentity,
frequent mood swings,
impulsive behaviour and severe
feelings of emptiness.
In light of this second diagnosis, Xun
An fell seriously ill and was forced into
taking a semester’s break. However,
Xun An persisted through and used
his experiences to help others by
publishing a picture book named “The
Black Box”, which documented his
experiences with living with mental
health issues.
In an interview done with The Tapestry
Project, Xun An revealed that “The
Black Box” came about when he
experienced auditory and
visual hallucinations while
having BPD.
Using his drawings as an alternative
coping mechanism. He filled his
drawing book with black lines and
scribbles, which he eventually turned
into an adorable penguin that he
named Penn which he created.
SInce then, Xun An has tried to help
others by responding to their enquiries
via e-mail. The main advice that he
gives to those with mental health
issues is to continue therapy and take
their due medication. To people trying
to help those with mental health issues,
Xun An emphasises that patience and
understanding is key.
Although Xun An acknowledged that
a stigma towards those with mental
health issues still exists, he agreed that
efforts to raise awareness were getting
more prevalent, simply noting, “It will
get better, but it will take time.”
Penn The
Penguin

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