Natural Health September 2017

Published by: 

Editor’s Message 

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Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

T: +603-6203 2522 F: +603-6203 4522 

E: info@acepremier.com www.AcePremier.com 

Publisher 

John Lim 

Editor 

Thiagarajan 

Editorial Team 

John Lim 

Thiagarajan 

Marketing & Sales 

Fiona Lim 

Adeline Chin 

Creative Team 

Nasyiha Badela 

Advisory Panel 

Dr Abdul Jamal B. Mohd Thalha 

Orthopaedic Surgeon 

Sentosa Medical Centre 

Dr Koh Chuan Keng 

Consultant Dermatologist 

President 

Dermalogical Society of Malaysia 

Good Fats vs Bad Fats 

When you hear the word ‘fat’, you probably would think ‘bad’. That's because for 

years we've heard that fat causes heart attacks, high cholesterol, weight gain, 

and even afternoon slumps. Now we know better. Science has shown that not 

all fats are created equal. We are starting to realise that not all ‘fat’ is necessarily 

bad, and that certain fats can actually be beneficial to our health. For example, 

polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids from foods like salmon, olive 

oil and peanut butter are attributed to prevention of heart disease, Alzheimer's, 

depression, and various forms of cancer. 

We must be careful not to associate the ‘good’ fat with the ‘bad’. While 

polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are beneficial to a healthy balance, 

other fats are making the headlines because of their role in causing disease. 

The saturated fats we find in meats and dairy foods can raise blood cholesterol 

levels, increasing the risk for heart disease. Beware of the worst fat of all – trans 

fats – to be avoided entirely if possible. 

If all this seems complicated, you're not alone. Many are still finding it a bit 

difficult to differentiate the ‘fatty details’. You’ll find inside some simple terms to 

keep your food tasty and heart healthy under the World Heart Day section. 

To your great health. 

John Lim 

Thiagarajan 

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Dr. Rajbans Singh 

Consultant Physician and Geriatrician 

Healthy Ageing Specialist 

Pantai Medical Centre and 

President, Malaysian Wellness Society 

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Disclaimer 

Editorial material herein is provided for information only. Reader 

are cautioned not to use this information as a substitute for 

regular professional health care and consultation. Although 

great care has been taken in compiling and checking the 

information given in this publication, the publisher, authors, 

advisors and agents shall not be responsible or in any way 

liable for continued currency of the information or for any 

errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this publication whether 

arising from negligence or otherwise howsoever, or for any 

consequences arising there from. The inclusion or exclusion 

of any product does not mean that the publisher advocates or 

rejects its use either generally or in particular field or fields. 

Advertisements are subject to editorial acceptance and 

have no influence on editorial content or presentation. The 

publishers, authors, advisors and agents do not guarantee, 

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Copyright © 2017. AcePremier.com Sdn Bhd. 

Available at

Advertorial 

Assisting You to 

Function Better 

MAL16075047NC 

Antioxidants come up frequently in discussions about good 

health and preventing diseases. Antioxidants are substances 

that help to prevent oxygen damage to our body's cells. 

Oxygen damage (oxidation) occurs when our body's cells use 

oxygen and produce toxic molecules called free radicals which 

damage the cells. 

Our body's natural defence systems usually repair the damage 

caused by oxidation. However if oxygen damage overpowers 

our body's natural defences, the reactions can accumulate. 

This can result in the degeneration of your bones, the 

weakening of your immune system and the premature effects 

of ageing. Oxygen damage may also lead to the onset of 

chronic illnesses. 

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How Can Antioxidant Help? 

Antioxidants prevent and repair the damage caused by free 

radicals. Research has shown that antioxidants help to increase 

our energy. 

Tart cherries get their rich red colour and many of their powerful 

anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits from the flavonoid 

anthocyanin. 

Gouch All Natural Antioxidant 

Gouch is formulated from an all-natural blend of tart cherry 

extract and pineapple bromelain. Gouch is 100% natural 

with significant level of strong antioxidants (anthocyanins) and 

phytonutrients. By combining both these super fruits Gouch 

may help promote the body’s ability to fight illnesses and 

support health. 

This is a supplement product advertisement 

KKLIU 1732/2017

NATURAL & Beauty 

Facial Rejuvenation 

Facial rejuvenation 

includes varieties 

of major permanent 

and long-term plastic 

surgery, less invasive 

mid-range surgical 

procedures, and noninvasive 

temporary 

skin treatments. 

It's Time for You to Look Younger 

4 Natural Health * September 2017 VOL 83


What You Need to Know About Facial 

Rejuvenation 

Signs of ageing may be more visible on 

the face than any other area of the body. 

Facial rejuvenation is a strategy using a 

variety of treatments to combat a variety 

of forces at work in an ageing face. 

Here are some of the factors that may 

accelerate facial ageing: 

•Exposure to sun, wind, excessive heat 

and cold. 

•Chemical and biological pollution. 

•Hormonal changes, depleted collagen 

production, thinning of the skin due 

to free radical damage, facial bone 

changes, and slacked facial ligaments. 

•Improper daily habits in terms of 

skincare, diet, exercise, and 

cigarette smoking. 

•Medical conditions including skin 

disorders, acne, and chicken pox, 

which may produce scarring. 

•Miscellaneous physiological 

functions can produce freckling 

pigmentation spots (lentigos), dry spots 

(keratoses), broken capillaries, and 

hyperpigmentation from hormonal 

changes (which may be induced by 

pregnancy or birth control medications). 

•Genetics. 

Facial rejuvenation can mean different 

things to different people. There are noninvasive 

and minimally invasive treatments 

and procedures used to improve slight 

facial imperfections, including stem 

cell face lift. There are plastic surgery 

procedures that can dramatically improve 

the appearance of the face. All of these 

are forms of facial rejuvenation. The 

most successful approach may be a 

combination of procedures and treatments 

for a comprehensive facial 

rejuvenation strategy. 

Facial Bones Change With Age 

A recent ASPS study helped us better 

understand how ageing affects facial 

bones. New information about shifting 

bone structure and bone loss has an 

impact on how plastic surgeons treat 

patients seeking cosmetic procedures. 

Anti-Ageing Skincare 

Today, medical skincare programmes are 

available to address the specific needs 

of ageing people. Advances have also 

been made in the area of exfoliation and 

moisturising to maintain skin tone and 

appearance. There are also nonsurgical 

facelift treatments available to improve skin 

texture, elasticity, and pigmentation. Other 

common treatments include antioxidant 

therapy, vitamin c, and retin-a. 

More effective treatments are becoming 

available for skin disorders and adult 

acne. Facial exercise has been used 

to prepare the skin for certain skin 

resurfacing treatments. Laser hair removal 

helps eliminate facial hair that comes 

with age. Micropigmentation has arrived 

on the consumer market to assist with 

hyperpigmentation (skin discolouration 

spots), thinned lips, and fine hair follicles. 

Menopause is better understood, making 

it easier for both patient and doctor to 

combat ageing appearances associated 

with menopause. Vitamin supplements 

and natural healing have become popular 

as well. 

Skin Resurfacing Treatments 

Microdermabrasion, vibraderm, chemical 

peel, and laser skin resurfacing improve 

skin texture, the appearance of fine lines, 

hyperpigmentation, freckling, dry spots, 

and pore size. Some skin resurfacing 

procedures offer supplementary benefits 

such as reducing the appearance of 

broken capillaries and improving collagen 

production. Laser scar removal can assist 

with ageing scars. 

Facial Fillers and Injectables 

Facial fillers such as Restylane,Sculptra, 

fat transfers, collagen, Radiesse and Laviv 

injections work to fill in furrows, wrinkles, 

and folds in many of the lower facial areas. 

Some of these fillers increase volume in 

hollowed or sunken facial areas. Botox 

and Dysport release the contraction of the 

muscle in order to reduce muscle-causing 

wrinkles in the upper facial area. Some 

facial injectables and fillers may provide 

additional anti-ageing benefits as well. You 

can begin with this injectable 

fillers overview. 

Plastic Surgery Procedures 

Mini and micro procedures such as 

a feather or thread lift or other facelift 

variations may improve the appearance 

of a specific facial feature for five or more 

years. A facelift can dramatically improve 

the appearance of certain facial areas for 

ten to 15 years. The brow lift can reduce 

severe wrinkles in the forehead and brow 

area. Blepharoplasty can remarkably 

improve excess fat above the eyes and 

certain wrinkles in the eye area. If you are 

interested in a facelift, it is important to 

discuss the facelift cost with your surgeon 

so you have a better understanding of 

the associated fees of the procedure. It is 

also important to ask him or her to view 

a portfolio of facelift before and after 

photos to see how the surgery could help 

you. Facial implants, including cheek, 

chin, or jaw implants, can improve the 

appearance of reduced bone structure in an 

ageing face. The neck lift is another facial 

rejuvenation procedure, giving your neck a 

more youthful appearance. Rhinoplasty is a 

facial-rejuvenation component to correct or 

improve the appearance of your nose. 

Consult Qualified Treatment Providers 

There are so many facial-rejuvenation 

options available today, with so many 

different areas of focus, a combination 

treatment plan may be the best way to 

achieve your rejuvenation goals. You will 

need to consult a board-certified plastic 

surgeon, a dermatologist, and other 

skincare professionals to discuss your 

condition, your goals, and to create a 

customised treatment strategy. 

Natural Health * September 2017 VOL 83 

5


ELECTROLYSIS 

How It Works: Electrolysis uses a 

fine, needle-shaped electrode to 

apply an electrical current to the 

hair follicle. 

LASER HAIR REMOVAL 

How It Works: Laser penetrates the skin 

to target the hair shaft and inhibit hair 

growth. It essentially destroys the follicle, 

meaning it can achieve permanent 

removal. Typically, the hair in treated 

areas falls out within 2-3 weeks. 

Best For: People with hair darker than 

their skin. The laser needs to be able to 

lock on to the dark pigment in order to 

differentiate the dark hair from the skin. 

Pros: Great for long-term hair removal 

in all areas. It causes no damage to the 

dermis, so even the most sensitive skin 

can be treated. 

Cons: Laser hair removal can be painful, 

with most people describing it as a 

“snapping” sensation against the skin, 

as well as a sensation of heat from the 

laser. Also, it requires numerous visits to 

a dermatologist for best results. 

Average Cost: To have it professionally 

done, laser hair removal costs, on 

average, from RM200 to above 

RM1,000 depending on the size 

of the area being treated. While it 

may seem expensive, in the long run, 

many consider laser removal to be an 

investment that can pay off. 

How long does it last? If the optimal 

number of initial sessions are completed, 

you might want to have touchups every 

six to 12 months. 

Best For: Small areas such as 

the eyebrows, upper lip, and 

underarms, as it treats each hair 

and follicle individually, which 

is time-consuming and can get 

expensive. 

Pros: Can permanently remove 

hair and is suitable for very fine 

and light-coloured hair, unlike 

laser, which works best on darker 

hair. 

Cons: When improperly done, 

electrolysis can lead to scarring 

or skin discolouration. Treatments 

can be uncomfortable and 

cause a “stinging” or “pricking” 

sensation, and as with laser 

hair removal, permanent results 

require multiple sessions. 

However, because this type of 

removal deals with only one 

hair at a time, it can take much 

longer to complete (15 to 30 

sessions). You will see results 

faster with smaller areas like 

the face or bikini line than with 

larger areas like arms or legs. 

There is a stinging sensation for 

each follicle that may or may not 

be painful, again depending on 

your threshold. 

Average Cost: Around RM200 

to above thousands for a 

30-minute session. 

How long does it last? If you 

follow through with all of the 

sessions required, results can be 

permanent. However, it is not 

always 100 percent permanent 

for everyone. 

SUGARING 

How It Works: Sugaring is similar to 

waxing. As the name implies, it involves 

a sugar-containing paste or gel to 

remove hair. 

Pros: It works by applying the paste or 

gel and, depending on the type, either 

removing it with or against hair growth 

to pull the hair out by the root. And 

because the medium is all-natural, you 

can even make it at home. 

Cons: Like waxing, the hair is still being 

pulled out, so there will be some pain. 

However, because the paste doesn't stick 

as much to the skin itself, it is reportedly 

less painful than waxing. 

Average Cost: To have it professionally 

done, sugaring can cost anywhere from 

RM40 to RM200 depending on the 

area. Sugaring kits can be purchased for 

at-home ranging from RM35 to RM50, 

but you can also make your own at 

home for just a few ringgit. 

How long does it last? Just like waxing, 

it usually takes three to six weeks for hair 

to grow back. 

References: 

www.bustle.com 

stylecaster.com 

www.instyle.com 


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Coconut oil is loaded with good fats that provide you with energy, able to fight microbes in the body and 

is excellent for cooking. Coconut oil is used in many natural beauty products, and for good reason: it's 

naturally antibacterial and antifungal. Coconut oil for skin is an excellent moisturiser; it can penetrate hair 

better than other oils, and it smells amazing. But did you know that coconut oil is a great emollient for skin 

too? That’s right. You can reap coconut oil’s benefits from the outside-in. 

Gets Deeper Into the Skin 

Why does coconut oil for skin work so 

well? In part, it’s due to the saturated fats 

that help the skin stay moisturised, with 

the fat preventing moisture loss through 

the skin’s pores. Its low molecular weight 

allows it to penetrate your skin on a 

deeper level than your average product 

to give your skin a healthy, smooth and 

even tone. 

Palmer’s Coconut Oil 

Formula: Total Body Benefits 

Coconut Oil Body Scrub 

This luxurious, decadently scented body 

scrub combines indulgent Coconut Oil, 

Peppermint Oil and Raw Coconut Sugar 

for smooth, soft skin. It sloughs away dry, 

flaky skin revealing smooth glowing skin 

below. Then in water the Raw Coconut 

Sugar dissolves leaving a light sheen of 

Coconut Oil to hydrate and nourish the 

skin. To top it off it smells like heavenly 

Tahitian Monoi! 

Indulgent Coconut Body Wash 

Indulge your skin and senses with 

this luscious body wash to leave skin 

hydrated and moisturised. Your skin 

will love you. The easiest way to know 

you're pampering your skin from the 

moment you hit the shower. 

Coconut Oil Body Oil 

A light, quickly absorbed oil that 

restores skins natural oil balance 

and gives an overall healthy glow. 

Nourishes deeply yet absorbs quickly, 

without leaving a greasy residue. The 

metered-pump bottle makes it easy to 

apply and perfect for travel. 

Palmer's® Coconut Oil Formula 

products contain ethically and 

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Tahitian Monoi Oil, infused with Tiare 

flower petals. Coconut oil deeply 

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hydrates and pampers. Sweet almond 

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Palmer's is against animal testing. 

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Available in Clinics & Leading Pharmacies

WHAT’S New 

Sweet September 

Increase Your Fibre and Protein 

Intake with Ayam Brand Baked 

Beans 

There are three variants to suit differing tastes and diet 

requirements, namely the original Ayam Brand Baked 

Beans, Ayam Brand Baked Beans Cheese, and Ayam 

Brand Baked Beans Light that contains 3.9g to 4.51g of 

dietary fibre per 100g. Ayam Brand selects the best, big 

northern haricot beans, imported directly from the United 

States of America for the assurance of consistent quality 

and taste. The beans are then stewed to perfection so that 

they maintain their shape, and yet are tender, direct from 

the can. 

Ayam Brand Baked Beans come in two sizes – the 

425g (RM3.29) family size, and the 230g (RM2.12) size. 

Choose from baked beans in tomato sauce, or tomato 

sauce with real parmesan cheese for a creamier taste, or 

Ayam Brand Baked Beans in Light Tomato Sauce that has 

the same great taste but is formulated with 54% reduced 

sugar and 28% lower salt. 

For these recipes and more, please visit us at http://www. 

ayambrand.com.my/recipe and or find us on Facebook at https:// 

www.facebook.com/AyamBrand. 

Royal Expert Smooth & 

Clear Cream 

Skin Lightening Cream 

Royal Expert Smooth & Clear not only helps to brighten 

skin, but also reduces the appearance of wrinkles and acne 

with a 3B Action: Balancing, Brightening and Boosting. It's 

an essential protein for the health and appearance of your 

skin that reduces the typical signs of ageing. It works as 

an important building block for elasticity and reduces the 

appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This cream is packed 

with beneficial ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Vitamin C, 

Glutathione and Grape Seed Oil that will reveal a brighter, 

supple and restore a youthful complexion. Chamomile 

extract hydrates and soothes the skin, while Niacinamide 

helps to even out skin tone. It contains around 28 types of 

ingredients. This significant formula functions to lighten and 

enhance the metabolic functions of your skin, reduces the 

depth of wrinkles and protects against skin ageing, increases 

the density and tightens your skin and keeps your skin 

youthful. Suitable for all skin types too. 

Murad Malaysia Introduces Latest Skin Care 

Product To Complement Today’s Harsh 

Environmental Changes 

Understanding the desires and needs of women today, Murad launched its new skin 

care products; City Skin Duo to protect against all five environmental aggressors, 

including digital devices, infrared radiation, UVA and UVB Rays, and pollution. 

Aside from protections, Murad’s City Skin Duo also detoxifies your skin from past 

damages. The City Skin Duo consists of; City Skin Age Defense SPF50 and City 

Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer. 

City Skin Age Defense SPF50++++ is an ultra-lightweight, 100% mineral sunscreen that utilizes environmental protection 

technology. Murad has combined a physical SPF50 barrier with the antioxidant lutein, which forms an additional 

protective layer to counteract not only IRA damage, but also pollution, levels of which are at an all-time high. 

City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer is a night-time moisturizer which detoxifies the skin overnight from the pollutants 

and toxins that have accumulated throughout the day. Its super-charged antioxidants from marrubium plant stem-cells 

neutralize pollutants and strengthen the skin’s barrier while you sleep and vitamin C immediately brightens and evens 

skin tone. 

The City Skin Duo is now available at Murad counters nationwide orwww.murad.com.my. Enjoy 10% discount on City Skin Duo 

products when you purchase online with CITYSKIN code atwww.murad.com.my valid until 31st October 2017. 


WHAT’S New 

GOUCH All Natural 

Antioxidant 

Antioxidants prevent and repair the 

damage caused by free radicals. Research 

has shown that antioxidants help to 

increase our energy. Tart cherries get their 

rich red colour and many of their powerful 

anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits 

from the flavonoid anthocyanin. 

Gouch is formulated from an all-natural blend 

of tart cherry extract and pineapple bromelain. 

Gouch is 100% natural with significant level 

of strong antioxidants (anthocyanins) and 

phytonutrients. By combining both these super 

fruits Gouch may help promote the body’s 

ability to fight illnesses and support health. 

This is a supplement product advertisement. 

MAL16075047NC 

MAL16075037NC 

KKLIU 1732/2017 

Linola, Good News For Rough, 

Dry, Cracked And Sensitive Skin 

Malaysians will meet a brand new super hero that will be 

rescuing troubled skins nationwide. Linola is a well-loved 

pharmaceutical skincare range developed by Dr. August 

Wolff in Germany since 1957 and has continually gone 

through countless research and development exercises 

over the decades. Today, it is the No.1 preferred medical 

skin care by paediatricians in Germany. 

Named after its key ingredient, Linoleic acid, which boosts 

amazing protective, regenerative and anti-inflammatory 

properties, Linola is not just another run-of-the-mill range 

of products made for dry skin. Wholly formulated and 

produced in Germany. 

Linola is heaven-sent for chronic and acute atopic eczema 

sufferers, as it not only helps with the healing but also with 

soothing the itchiness and inflammation that comes with 

the condition. 

It contains linoleic acid rich vegetable oil and is free 

from harmful mineral oils and silicones. This Lotion is most 

suitable for very dry skin as well as eczema sufferers. 

Reduce Cold & Flu with 

Clinically Proven Wellmune ® 

Yeast Beta-glucan! 

KidsBiomune, The Clear Winner! 

Protect your child from catching the common cold and flu: 

Opt for KidsBiomune. 

KidsBiomune contains Wellmune ® , a patented beta 

1,3/1,6 glucan derived from the cell wall of yeast 

(Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Wellmune ® is clinically 

proven to enhance your child’s body immunity naturally by 

enhancing the body immune system, protecting your child 

against common cold and flu. KidsBiomune is in palatable 

mango flavour and recommended for children who are able 

to chew properly. It is available in most leading pharmacies 

and in the pack size of 10 x 5’s per box and 60’s per 

bottle. You just need 1-2 gummies a day for a strong and 

healthy kid. 


9

HEALTH & Wellness 

How Fibre and 

Probiotics Shore Up 

Your Gut Health 

Your digestive system breaks down the foods you eat into 

the nutrients your body needs. If you neglect your digestive 

health, your body could run into problems digesting foods and 

absorbing those nutrients. For some of us, digestive discomfort 

has become a fact of life. We complain about everyday 

ailments such as occasional gas, bloating and irregularity but 

they don't have to be. 

Research has shown that our gut microbes play a significant 

role in regulating our health and weight. And more research 

has suggested a way we might mend this imbalance: by 

eating foods full of probiotics and loading up on prebiotics. 

What are probiotics and prebiotics 

anyway? 

Probiotics are “good” bacteria that help keep your digestive 

system healthy by controlling growth of harmful bacteria. 

Prebiotics are carbohydrates that cannot be digested by the 

human body. They are food for probiotics. The primary benefit 

of probiotics and prebiotics appears to be helping you maintain 

a healthy digestive system. 

If you suffer from gut trouble probiotics and fibre supplements 

are typically used to treat digestion and elimination problems. 

Probiotics can help balance your intestinal flora, the healthy 



bacteria in your intestines. Many people rely on probiotics 

if they take antibiotics, which can destroy gut bacteria. 

Fibre supplements can alleviate constipation and pass 

stools through your intestinal tract. They may also help with 

irritable bowel syndrome, haemorrhoids and even diabetes. 

Why Fibre Is Important To Your 

Health 

Most people know that dietary fibre, sometimes referred 

to as roughage helps to keep you regular, but often don't 

know just how important fibre is to your overall health. 

The fact is that fibre is one of the foods necessary to keep 

you healthy, and without it you can suffer everything from 

constipation to Irritable bowel syndrome to increasing your 

risk for colon cancer. The problem is that most people don't 

get enough fibre to maintain proper health, leaving them 

with an unbalanced digestive system that may wreak havoc 

on the rest of their health. 

The Role of Fibre In Digestive 

Health 

Fibre plays a huge role in your digestive health. There 

are two different kinds of dietary fibre: insoluble fibre and 

soluble fibre – and both are necessary for your digestive 

health. Insoluble fibre moves through your digestive 

system absorbing excess fluid and regulating the removal 

of waste. Soluble fibre is the prebiotic fibre that helps 

to strengthen the good bacteria in your digestive system 

and keep it strong and growing, so it can defend your 

digestive system from the bad bacteria that can cause 

infections and other health problems. 

In addition, both insoluble fibre and soluble fibre help 

your body absorb the vital nutrients it needs to keep every 

organ and system in the body healthy and functioning. This 

means that fibre plays an important and essential part in 

maintaining not just good digestive health but, good overall 

health as well. 

By paying attention and making a few simple changes, 

you can help your digestive system do the job it was 

made to do – absorbing nutrients and keeping things 

running smoothly. 

Available at: 

• Guardian • Watsons Natural • Health Caring * September • Pharmacies 

2017 VOL 83 11 

ELLIS SDN. BHD.(148826-P) Tel:03-7729 9633


Tips for Good 

Digestive Health 

Good digestive health starts with making 

healthy food and lifestyle choices. Here 

are some effective tips to improve your 

digestive health: 

• Eat a high-fibre diet: Consuming 

a diet that is high in fibre will keep 

foods moving through your digestive 

tract. It can also help prevent a 

number of common digestive issues 

such as constipation, IBS, and others. 

Fruits like passion fruit, pomegranates, 

pears, persimmons bananas, apples 

and oranges are one good way to 

add to the fibre. One downside to 

some fruits is that they contain a lot of 

fructose – fruit sugar – that can cause 

gas. One way to avoid this is to 

consume high-fibre, lower-sugar fruits 

that don't bring on the bloated tummy, 

like kiwi. One cup of kiwi offers 5 

grams of fibre, plus you'll get other 

good-for-you nutrients, like more than 

double your daily vitamin C quota. 

• Stay hydrated: Always drink plenty of 

water. Water helps your body dissolve 

fats and fiber and helps things move 

through your system more efficiently. 

• Add probiotics into your diet: 

Probiotics are healthy bacteria that 

exist in your digestive tract. Adding 

more to your diet through food and 

supplementation will help keep 

your body healthy. Low fat yogurt, 

sourdough bread, sour pickles and 

kimchi are a great source of probiotics. 

• Cleanse and detox: Performing a 

cleanse on occasion will help your 

body refresh and recharge, and allow 

your digestive system to reset. 

• Limit consumption of processed 

foods: It's always best to choose fresh, 

high quality food sources such as 

fruits, vegetables, and lean meats over 

processed and high fat food options. 

• Exercise regularly: Exercise helps 

keep food moving through your system 

as it uses the food you consume for 

energy. It also helps you maintain a 

healthy weight, something else that 

will improve your digestion. 

• Eat on a schedule: Your body loves 

routine. Eating frequent, smaller 

meals and snacks will keep your 

digestive system working effectively 

and efficiently. 

Getting the Fibre Your 

Body Needs 

Certain grains, raw vegetables, and 

fresh fruits are excellent sources of dietary 

fibre. Unfortunately, in most cases unless 

you buy organic food, not only are you 

getting fibre, but you are also getting a 

lot of chemicals from pesticides – and 

possibly even heavy metals from areas 

where there is high pollution, making the 

fibre you do take in less than healthy for 

your body and your digestive system. 

Good digestion is vital for good health. 

A stomach that has the correct level of 

good and bad bacteria is a healthy one. 

Also, the right level of fibre and water 

are excellent for assisting the body in 

eliminating waste. While getting the 

fibre your body needs is important for 

your health, it isn't as easy to get good 

sources of fibre as you might think. 

Certain grains, raw vegetables, and 

fresh fruits are excellent sources of dietary 

fibre. Unfortunately, in most cases unless 

you buy organic food, not only are you 

getting fibre, but you are also getting 

a lot of chemicals from pesticides - and 

possibly even heavy metals from areas 

where there is high pollution, making the 

fibre you do take in less than healthy for 

your body and your digestive system. 

Taking a good fibre supplement can 

help give you the good fibre your body 

needs, without the chemicals you may 

be getting from those ‘in 

store’ fresh foods. 

However, you do 

have to be careful 

in choosing 

a good fibre 

supplement 

with probiotics 

and look at how 

the supplement is 

manufactured before 

purchasing it. 


Advertorial 

(MAL16055017N) 

KKLIU 1818/2016 

OPCEDEN OMEGA-3 FISH OIL TG 500/200 

TG form (triglycerides form), Norway source, 

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Due to the increasing consumer 

awareness about the health risk 

associated with high-fat and cholesterol 

foods, as well as high-sugar and salt 

products, Opceden is now responding 

to the rapidly growing demand 

for pure and highly concentrated 

Omega-3 by providing an added 

nutritional formulation on healthy ageing 

throughout life. As a result, Opceden 

Omega-3 Fish Oil TG500/200 fish 

oils are now available. 

Omega-3 marine essential fatty acids 

have good health benefits. Marine 

sources of omega-3 are particularly 

important, because omega-3 fish oil is 

comprised of polyunsaturated, essential 

fatty acids that cannot be synthesised by 

the human body and must be obtained 

from food or supplementation. 

EPA (eicosapentainoic acid) and DHA 

(docosahexaenoic acid) are the two key 

essential fatty acids in Omega-3. Studies 

have shown that EPA and DHA are 

important for proper health maintanance 

and immune function. EPA and DHA may 

affect many aspects of body function. 

Opeceden Omega-3 Fish 

Oil TG 500/200 is in TG 

form (Triglycerides form) 

Most fish oil supplements in the market 

are generally available in Ethyl Ester 

form or Triglyceride form. Structurally, 

the major difference between the two 

forms is that in Ethyl Ester, the fatty acids 

(EPA & DHA) are esterified to an ethanol 

backbone, while in Triglycerides form 

(TG form), the fatty acids are esterified to 

a glycerol alcohol backbone. 

Typically, fats in most food sources are 

found in their natural triglyceride (TG) 

form. TGs are generally associated 

with standard fish body or fish liver 

oil. These fats are comprised of three 

fatty acids (such as omega-3 EPA and 

DHA) linked to a molecule of glycerol. 

Without glycerol, free fatty acids can 

rapidly oxidase and therefore the 

glycerol backbone helps to naturally 

stabilise the fat molecules and prevent 

breakdown and oxidation. To digest fatty 

acid in diet, we need pancreatic lipase 

(enzyme). The studies found that the 

lipase to hydrolyze TG form is 10 - 50 

times faster and ensures that absorption 

to body is optimised.


Beat the 

Beast of 

Obesity 

Understanding Obesity and Related 

Terms 

Obesity is one of the most pervasive, chronic diseases in need 

of new strategies for medical treatment and prevention. As 

a leading cause of mortality, morbidity, disability, healthcare 

utilisation and healthcare costs, the high prevalence of obesity 

continues to strain every healthcare system. It is caused as 

a result of deposition of excess adipose tissue, which is 

determined by measuring the Body Mass Index. Significantly, 

excess adiposity or obesity causes increased levels of 

circulating fatty acids and inflammation, leading to insulin 

resistance, resulting in type 2 diabetes. Obesity has been linked 

heavily to food and lifestyle habits. The biology of food intake 

is very complex, involving smell, taste, texture, temperature, 

emotional and metabolic responses, which signal the brain to 

initiate or cease eating. 

Obesity is a disease that affects a majority of the world 

population and the numbers of people with obesity have been 

increasing significantly, a trend that shows no sign of reversing. 

Obesity puts individuals at risk for more than 30 chronic health 

conditions, to name a few of the deadliest and most common, 

type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, gallstones, 

heart disease, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, GERD, stress 

incontinence, heart failure, degenerative joint disease, birth 

defects, miscarriages, asthma and other respiratory conditions, 

and numerous cancers. 

What Is BMI? 

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a mathematical calculation involving 

height and weight, irrespective of family history, gender, age or 

race. BMI is calculated by dividing a person's body weight in 

kilograms by their height in meters squared 

BMI = Weight (kg) ÷ Height2 (m2) 

Classification 

Underweight 

Normal range 

Overweight 

Pre-Obese 

Obese I 

Obese II 

Obese III 

BMI 

< 18.5 

18.5 – 22.9 

≥ 23 

23.0 – 27.4 

27.5 – 34.9 

35.0 – 39.0 

≥ 40.0 

Associated Health Risks 

Low (risks of deficiencyrelated 

health problems) 

Acceptable risk levels 

Moderate risks 

Increased risks 

High risks 

Very high risks 

Extremely high risks 

This information can be misleading, however, for very muscular 

people, or for pregnant or lactating women. BMI is frequently 

used in population studies because of its ease of determination 

and well-supported association with mortality and health effects. 

However, other measures of excess adipose tissue, such as 

waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and others are also used. 



Abraham Mathew Saji 

Pharmacist 

Individuals may need to use additional factors to assess their 

individual risk including family history, level of physical activity, 

smoking and dietary habits. 

Waist Circumference 

Waist circumference is another widely used measurement to 

determine abdominal fat content. An excess of abdominal 

fat, when out of proportion to total body fat, is considered a 

predictor of risk factors related to obesity. Men with a waist 

measurement exceeding 40 inches are considered at risk. 

Women are at risk with a waist measurement of 35 inches 

or greater. 

Waist to Hip Ratio 

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a measurement that measures the 

ratio of waist circumference to that of the hip. It determines how 

much fat is stored on your waist, hips, and buttocks. Not all 

excess weight is the same when it comes to your health risks. 

People who carry more weight around their midsection (an 

apple-shaped body) are at higher risk for obesity related health 

risks than those who carry more of their weight in their hips and 

thighs (a pear-shaped body). According to the World Health 

Organization (WHO), a healthy WHR is 0.9 or less in men 

and 0.85 or less for women. 

Cause of Obesity 

There could be many causes for the development of obesity. But 

the main fundamental cause is an energy imbalance between 

calories consumed and spent. Globally, there has been an 

increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat, 

and an increase in physical inactivity due to the increasingly 

sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes 

of transportation, and increasing urbanization. Changes in 

dietary and physical activity patterns are often the result of 

environmental and societal changes. 

Waist-to-hip ratio chart 

Health risk Women 

Low 

0.80 or lower 

Moderate 0.81–0.85 

High 

0.86 or higher 

Men 

0.95 or lower 

0.96–1.0 

1.0 or higher 

Statistics 

Overweight and obesity are the fifth leading risk for global 

deaths. At least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result 

of being overweight or obese. In addition, 44% of the 

diabetes burden, 23% of the ischaemic heart disease burden 

and between 7% and 41% of certain cancer burdens are 

attributable to overweight and obesity. Some WHO global 

estimates from 2008 indicate that: 

• More than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight. 

• Of these overweight adults, over 200 million men and 

nearly 300 million women were obese. 

• Overall, more than 10% of the world’s adult population 

was obese. 

Once considered a high-income country problem, overweight 

and obesity are now on the rise in low- and middle-income 

countries, particularly in urban settings. Overweight and obesity 

are linked to more deaths worldwide than underweight. For 

example, 65% of the world’s population lives in countries where 

overweight and obesity kill more people than underweight (this 

includes all high-income and most middle-income countries). 


15


Malaysia is not far away from these numbers. A national 

health and morbidity survey shows that obesity is prevalent 

among Malaysians above 18, with the numbers drastically 

rising. The number of obesity cases in 1996 was 4.4% (of the 

population), rising to 14% in 2006. "This rose to 15.1% in 

2011 and 17.7% in 2016. About 30.3% of adults suffered 

weight problems. As a whole, one in two Malaysian adults is 

overweight or one in five is obese. 

Individual responsibility can only have its full effect where 

people have access to a healthy lifestyle. 

Therefore, at the societal level it is important to: 

• support individuals in following the recommendations above, 

through sustained societal commitment, 

• the collaboration of many public and private stakeholders, 

• make regular physical activity and healthier dietary 

choices available, affordable and easily accessible to all – 

especially the poorest individuals. 

The food industry can play a significant role in promoting 

healthy diets by: 

• reducing the fat, sugar and salt content of processed foods, 

• ensuring that healthy and nutritious choices are available 

and affordable to all consumers, 

• practicing responsible marketing especially those aimed at 

children and teenagers, 

• ensuring the availability of healthy food choices and 

supporting regular physical activity practice in the 

workplace. 

Prevention and Future Outlook for 

Obesity 

Overweight and obesity, as well as their related noncommunicable 

diseases, are largely preventable. Supportive 

environments and communities are fundamental in shaping 

people’s choices, making the healthier choice of food and 

regular physical activity the most affordable and viable choice 

for preventing obesity. 

References: 

1) Eric A.F et. al.; Annual Medical Spending Attributable to Obesity – 

Payer and Service Specific Estimates; Health Affairs 28, No. 5; 2009: 

822 – 831; accessed Aug. 2017. 

2) Obesity Facts and Figures; European Association for the Study of 

Obesity; accessed Aug. 2017. 

3) Malaysia Clinical Practice Guidelines on Management of Obesity; 

2004; accessed Aug. 2017. 

At the individual level, people can: 

• limit energy intake from total fats and sugars, 

• increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as 

legumes, whole grains and nuts, 

• engage in regular physical activity (60 minutes a day for 

children and 150 minutes per week for adults). 

Abraham Mathew Saji is a pharmacist by qualification, engaged 

in research and development of medicines and their implications on 

the human body. He is an avid reader in pursuit of knowledge and 

understanding of technological advancements in the medical and 

pharmaceutical world. He is even more passionate about sharing his 

acquired knowledge, which he does by speaking at conferences, 

lectures and writing. He can be contacted at maz31abr@gmail.com for 

any clarification. 



Are You Using 

Your Cooking 

Oil Right? 


17


Some time ago, "cooking oil" in the 

ears of the average American chef 

meant vegetable oil. Or just a clot of 

melted lard to keep the undertakers and 

cardiologists in caviar or just some olive 

oil of undefined quality used for the 

preparation of salad dressing. 

Later on, say a few decades later the 

variety available at our regular grocery 

store became somewhat intimidating 

if not engaging and that's minus the 

stock pile of cooking oils we can see 

in most grocery stores. Nowadays, 

we have a whole lot of choices and 

recommendations from coconut oil to 

avocado oil, etc. Each one of these 

oils also has their unique features and 

characteristics, and these characteristics 

at times match what you have heard 

about them from top chefs or experienced 

people like my mum. 

Coconut Oil 

Perfect for: 

• Baking 

• Sautéing 

• Low heat roasting 

• Smoke Point: 359°F 

Coconut oil has of late gathered some 

reputation as a result of some hipster 

approval and dubious health claims. And 

sincerely speaking it deserves some of it. 

When coagulated at room temperature 

it serves as a perfect substitute for butter 

in some cakes, cookies and other baking 

recipes either for the creation of nondiary 

option or only just because it tastes 

great with banana, chocolate, and other 

tropical flavours. When it comes to low 

heat recipes, you want to use it with 

sautéing vegetables or chicken. 

Fun Facts: 

Coconut oil is also excellent and 

positively effective for your skin and hair, 

any beauty product that has coconut oil 

as one of their ingredients can be trusted 

to do an excellent job. Coconut oil could 

save the day if you eventually run out of 

massage oil on a date. 

Peanut Oil 

Perfect For: 

• Dishes that have a lot of nuts in them, 

especially with intense heat like in a 

stir fry 

• Smoke point: 440°F 

The advantage and also disadvantage 

of the peanut oil is that it tastes exactly 

like peanuts. Well, it's entirely idle if 

you are coating your wok for... say Thai 

cooking, but it isn't that great for coating 

your skillet to boil a steak. Its smoke point 

is exceptionally high, which makes it 

ideal for deep frying as well as regular 

frying. Utilise it for dishes that already 

are amenable to peanut taste for instance 

moles, fried chicken and South East 

Asian dishes. 

Fun Facts: 

Peanut oil goes foul quickly and even 

faster than other oils. Purchase little 

quantity and store in places with low 

temperatures like a dark cabinet far off 

from the cooking stove. 

EVOO aka Extra virgin 

olive oil 

Perfect For: 

• Sprinkling over delicious dishes, dips, 

salad dressing, etc. (in that other) 

• Smoke Point: 320°F (do not use EVOO 

for high-temperature cooking as it 

destroys its excellent flavor and quality. 

Cold pressing prepares EVOO, thus 

means that it have at a temperature 

not higher than 80.5°. More extreme 

temperatures will produce some more 

oil effortlessly, and this is what makes 

this oil more expensive. This retains 

more antioxidants, flavours, and 

monounsaturated fats and offers a far 

more complex and robust flavour profile. 

Dependant on the region, flavours 

could be buttery, grassy, fruity, or bitter. 

Utilising it for those flavours ain't a bad 

idea, but not as a lubrication or texture 

agent... and obviously not as a means 

of deep frying. 

Fun Facts 

EVOO is most times counterfeited, 

buying from a trusted supplier is a way to 

confirm authenticity, and you could also 

research on that effect. 

Sesame Oil 

Perfect For: 

• Frying and Sautéing 


Though it most times has a nutty aroma, 

the sesame oil still has a neutral flavour. 

It also has a mid high smoke point; this 

makes it a fantastic choice for coating 

your wok or fry pan before plunking down 

veggies or meat. It incorporates a lot of 

minerals, fatty acids, and vitamins before 

cooking so that it will work perfectly for 

salad dressing, mostly with an Asian 

flavour like orange or ginger. The heat 

releases more of the Sesame so smoked 

sesame oils might taste very nutty. Utilise it 

for recipes where you require the sesame 

flavour to carry through. 

Fun Fact: 

There's a saying that originated from 

Urdu that goes "there isn't any oil left 

in this Sesame" this means a person is 

very cranky. 



Olive Oil 

Perfect For: 

• Sautéing, frying, and, deep frying, 

you can make this your default oil for 

anything. 


The Olive Oil is sure to be in the pans of 

the commercial kitchens if they are not 

using any vegetable oil. the regular olive 

oil usually has an unremarkable ooze, 

great working texture which makes it 

among the most versatile among cooking 

oils, and a high smoke point. Because 

it has a palate and a neutral nose, it's 

perfect for incorporating pepper, garlic, 

and other flavours. 

Fun fact: 

Some of the popular olive oils are 

washed with solvents at an intense 

temperature to neutralise or normalise 

its flavour. Go with EVOO for taste. But 

remember, do not heat it! 

Corn/Vegetable/ 

Canola Oil 

Perfect For: 

• Deep frying and frying 

• Smoke Points: 450°F 

This oil comes with a small price tag 

with a high smoke point, thus making 

this kind of oil the standard issue for most 

professional kitchens. It doesn't have a 

flavour so whatever you cook in it tastes 

like itself and not like the oil. You could 

make this your default oil, just like basic 

refined salt. Just like salt, it isn't the best 

oil for your health; this is why people 

are opting for the fancier and more 

expensive options. Be sure to use it in 

most recipes, and especially for fried 

chicken, recipes that involve throwing 

stuff in boiling oil and stir-frying. 

Fun Fact: 

The small price tag is as a result of using 

subsidised crops as the primary raw 

material for the making of the oil. 

Grapeseed Oil 

Perfect For: 

• Low temperature sautéing and 

emulsified recipes. 


Grapeseed oil has been thrown in the 

trash bag for a long time now and 

referred to as an undesirable byproduct 

of wine production. But some fresh 

research on how it affects our body 

system has made it a cosmetic item in the 

present times. 

Proof from trusted sources say it curbs 

hunger chemically when you consume 

even a little. It's an excellent choice, and 

it will not separate at lower temperatures. 

So it's perfect for making dressings, 

sauces, and mayonnaise. 

Fun Fact: 

This great oil has been used for decades 

if not centuries as a skin moisturiser in dry 

climates, and it's also awesome with hair. 

Avocado Oil 

Perfect For: 

• Grilling 


Avocado oil is known to have one of 

the highest smoke points of all other oils. 

Which makes it ideal for high-temperature 

cooking: stir-frying and fried eggs for 

example. It has butter like texture and 

flavour as well as a high content of 

monounsaturated fat (the good part). Even 

with its extreme temperature tolerance, it's 

still as versatile as the olive oil. It makes 

for great sprinkle or garnishes, especially 

when mixed into a vinaigrette. 

Fun Fact: 

Discovery has been achieved via 

reliable research that the lutein in the 

avocado oil does a fantastic job with 

improving eyesight. 

Safflower/Sunflower Oil 

Perfect For: 

• Substituting vegetable oil. 


Produced from pressed seeds of 

sunflower and it younger sibling the 

safflower, it has the same smoke point, 

texture, and flavor as vegetable, canola 

and corn oil. It's far better for health, has 

less bad fat and much more healthy fat 

than the cheaper veggie oils. 

You have to keep in mind that it 

goes wrong in a short period, so it is 

advisable to buy in small bottles. Utilise 

in similar baking, frying, and roasting 

applications you would with veggie oil. 

Fun Fact: 

Sunflowers are freaking gigantic. The tallest 

species grow as long as thirty feet. That's a 

whole lot of seeds and a ton or great oil. 


19

COVER Story 

Davina 

Goh 

The 

Vegan 

Warrior 

Davina is a quirky yet ballsy woman with years of 

experience in the performing arts, emceeing and 

modelling. She is also an athlete enthusiast, conservationist 

and a passionate vegan who is garnering thousands of 

views for her self-made cooking videos under Davina Da 

Vegan. A dynamic personality, Davina would go above 

and beyond for a physical challenge, even if it means 

spending 8 months in a Shaolin kung fu school in China. 

Last year, she swam and kayaked 18km as part of the 

Raleigh Round Island Challenge at Perhentian Island and 

took another challenge – a half marathon at the Men’s 

Health Women’s Health (#MHWHNightRun) Night Run, the 

largest night run in Malaysia held in partnership with AIA 

Vitality (#AIAVitalityMY) on 22 July at MAEPS, Serdang. 

Davina’s interests include animal welfare, voluntary 

simplicity, fitness, vegan cooking and travel. 


COVER Story 

Full name: Davina Goh 

Age: 34 

Weight: 52kg 

Height: 5’5” 

Likes: Clouds and coconuts 

Dislikes: Disrespect 

Favourite food: All things vegan! 

Favourite colour: Blue 

Favourite music: 

70s Funk and Disco 

Favourite place: 

Myanmar and Nepal 

Favourite pastime: Being outside 

What I’m reading now: 

The Book: On the Taboo Against 

Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts 

My inspiration: My mother and my husband 

My motto: Have good intentions and the rest will follow 

What gets me going? Laughing children 

Something about me that you don’t know: I can wiggle my scalp 

How will you best describe yourself? 

Not your average person! 

Tell us your typical day 

Meditating, experimenting in the kitchen, exercise, work and meetings, playing with 

my cat, spending time with loved ones, watching a documentary if there’stime. 

Three things you’d never leave 

home without? 

My phone, a notebook and lozenges. 

What’s your most memorable moment in life? 

Being invited to dance on stage with Jamiroquai in Singapore. Their music helped 

me get through a lot of rough times in my youth, and it was the first time travelling by 

myself to do something crazy like that, so that moment was a triumph of self-discovery. 

How do you pamper yourself in your free time? 

I brew a cup of herbal tea, light up some incense, make a turmeric facial mask and 

chill out for a bit. 

What’s your indulgence? 

Vegan ice-cream! 


21

COVER Story 

What’s your secret to looking 

so fabulous? 

Vegan ice-cream! Haha. A vegan diet is a big aspect, as well 

as a young, positive attitude. 

What’s your diet like to look 

slim and sexy? 

I don’t monitor what I eat but I make sure that I always eat 

real food – food that are fresh, unprocessed and homemade 

whenever possible. I keep myself hydrated and eat a lot of 

fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, beans and legumes. 

For desserts, I also bake my own cakes and cookies. I regularly 

post up pictures and recipes of the food and drinks I make on 

my Instagram, @imdavinagoh. If you’re curious to check out 

#whatveganseat and maybe try it out for yourself! 

What’s your philosophy in life? 

Great things come out of gratitude. 

What’s your ultimate goal 

in life? 

As a plant-based lifestyle advocate, my ultimate goal is to 

encourage and inspire others to lead happier, healthier lives 

by adjusting attitudes towards what we put into our bodies. 

Malaysia is one of the most obese countries in Southeast 

Asia and I am working towards changing that. I have been 

receiving messages from people who have been eating less 

meat because of knowing who I am and what I do. I hope that 

together, we can all take part in this cultural shift towards more 

mindful eating. 

If you’re to choose only one 

among all the roles you play 

– teaching, playwriting, spoken 

word and dance – which one 

would it be and why? 

I would certainly pick acting. It has been my first love and still 

is, my number one love. As a teenager, I used it to escape 

from my insecurities. As the years went by, I started using it to 

hone my empathy. It has helped me discover the person who I 

am today. 

What does fitness mean to you? 

Fitness gives me life! It gives me so much energy. It allows me 

to appreciate my body for its capabilities; I learn humility from 

my injuries and it instils discipline when I need to work hard to 

stay strong or be stronger in the face of physical shortcomings. 

How do you keep yourself fit? 

I just keep moving! I love hiking, swimming, running – anything 

that keeps me outdoors. I met my husband at a kungfu school 

and we do fitness dates! He’s a great motivator in my life. I 

also have regular sessions with a Master Trainer called Jeck 

Beng at Fitness First Malaysia. Jeck has been instrumental in 

building up my overall strength over the past year. 

You’re a vegan and showcase 

vegan cooking. Can you tell us 

why being a vegan is important 

to you? How difficult is it to be 

a vegan in Malaysia? 

Being a vegan is important to me because it’s the greatest 

investment I’ve ever made for my health. And, for that reason, I 

believe that a plant-based diet should be important for everyone 

else. A majority of us eat several times a day every single day, 

so changing what we eat is the easiest and most effective way 

to improve our wellbeing. Malaysia is blessed with a huge 

variety of tropical fruit and vegetables and beans, tofu and 

tempeh are cheap and easily available. I have also observed 

that there are now more vegetarian/vegan F&B establishments 

in the Klang Valley than there has ever been in the last five 

years. It’s a lot easier to maintain a balanced vegan diet here 

than many may think! 

Can you tell us about your stint 

as a student at Maling Shaolin 

Kung Fu Academy in Jiangsu 

Province, China? 

I’m not sure where to start with this because lessons were 

learned on so many levels. It was challenging every single 

day, not just physically but also dealing with never feeling 

good enough. Injuries were frequent which hampered training. 

During my time there, China was experiencing one of its hottest 

summers and it was also the first time ever that I'd experienced 

snow and winter with no central heating at the school. In eight 

months my body transformed in strength, endurance, speed and 

flexibility. I overcame a lot of fears and made a lot of peace 

with myself. I bonded with students from all over the world who 

had their own extraordinary stories about how they turned up at 

the school. No one was spared from showing their ugly sides 

and we relied on each other for encouragement and support. 

I still consider them some of my closest friends. It was the 

experience of a lifetime and I’d do it all over again, if I was a 

bit younger! 


COVER Story 

Can you tell us about the 

Raleigh Round Island Challenge 

at Perhentian Island last year? 

Shortly after my return from China, I was approached by a 

swimming academy called Advanced Aquatics to be a part of 

their endurance swimming programme called Zen Swim. My 

coaches suggested that I find a good challenge to apply what I 

had learned from them and the Raleigh Round Island Challenge 

at the time was the last open-water swimming event of the year. 

It involved being in a team of four to swim and kayak 18km 

around Perhentian Island. I thought the attempt would also be 

a great way to spread awareness about marine conservation. 

I trained in Zen Swim for nine months, whilst running a 

crowdfunding campaign to support two NGOs, MareCet and 

Reef Check Malaysia. I strained my back a week before the 

event, so I was nervous I couldn’t do it. But I had a fantastic 

team who literally had my back. We managed to complete the 

challenge without further injury on top of being in the ocean for 

12 hours. My campaign also raised over RM23,000. It was an 

event that showed me that we are all capable being a change 

in the world if we really want to. 

Tell us about your preparation 

for Men’s Health Women’s 

Health Night Run, the largest 

night run in Malaysia held in 

partnership with AIA Vitality 

Jeck has been giving me a lot of tough love! He has been 

helping to build up my lower body strength, especially in my 

glutes – they are my weakness. I’ve done enough squats and 

lunges to last a lifetime! I’ve been supplementing my diet with 

plant-based protein powders including Soluxe Pea Protein. I’ve 

been going for yoga classes to stretch out tired muscles and 

maintain my mobility. And I sleep at least seven hours a night. 

Sleep is so important for performance! 

How would you like to inspire 

others to make a change in the 

world? 

This was not my intention but I suppose that I’ve been living 

by example – staying true to myself and my values. I think we 

need to revisit our values and principles. A lot of principles get 

pushed aside these days as a survival tactic, without thinking on 

a deeper level about repercussions. I would like to inspire by 

encouraging others to stay genuine. When we are comfortable 

with the quirks that make each of us unique and remember the 

things that are really important in life, then we can focus better 

on the issues that call for our care and concern. 

What projects are you 

currently working on and 

what’s in the pipeline? 

I’ve had my first Malay-speaking role in a local film called 

‘Safari Mall.’ My appearance is very brief but it was one 

of the most immersive experiences I’ve had as an actor. 

The film will be out in cinemas soon. Apart from that, I’ll be 

participating in the Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival in October 

at Publika. I’ll be speaking at a Sustainable Farming forum, 

besides having a booth of my own to sell my vegan food! I’m 

very excited about that. 

Where do you see yourself 10 

years from now? 

I don’t make such long-term goals because it spoils the fun of 

finding life out as it happens. I do see myself being very happy. 

Maybe I’ll be lounging on a beach somewhere wondering what 

I was doing ten years ago! 


23

Interview 

Understand Your Genetic Code, 

Realise Your True Potential 

Wouldn't it be great if you can empower yourself to look, feel and live your 

best with customised wellness and lifestyle solutions tailored to your unique 

genetic traits? Well, now it's possible with Imagene Labs – positioned to 

be Asia’s most trusted personal genomics service. Natural Health speaks 

to Har Jia Yi, General Manager of Imagene Labs to understand how our 

unique genetic profiles can help us realise our full potentials. 

Har Jia Yi 

What are Imagene Labs tests for? 

Simply put. Imagene Labs seeks to empower individuals by 

unlocking their genetic code and optimise lives with customised 

wellness and lifestyle solutions tailored to each person’s unique 

genetic traits. 

Imagene lab creates a personalised wellness solutions for 

consumers based on their DNA, as you know there is no one 

size that fits all. We provide solutions to health, especially in 

fitness, nutrition and skincare. For instance, if you ask someone 

to lose weight, you can’t just give a general solution like just eat 

less and exercise more. It doesn’t just work like that. If it works, 

then there would not be fat people in the world. The idea is that 

we see a big gap in the market in customised wellness. That 

is why we came out with a solution with skincare and nutrition 

products based on an individual’s DNA profile. 

Customisation is an increasing trend in wellness. So currently 

your health profile is now known based on questionnaire or 

scanners; both health scanners and skin scanners. Some of 

these methods would not meet the objective. Because if you 

ask someone “Do you have dry skin?” the answer is based 

on what the person feels. So it can be subjective. However, 

if it’s based on DNA, it’s more scientific and also objective. 

The tests can tell you your risk profile that you may not know 

of at the moment; things that may have not happened yet − it’s 

preemptive. So, it’s also takes into consideration your future. 

We call it preventive and precision wellness. At the moment, 

we’ve started with fitness, skincare and nutrition. 

Can you tell us briefly the background 

of the company? 

Imagene Labs is Asia’s leading genetics-driven wellness 

company. Imagene Labs was incorporated in Singapore in 

September 2016 with a growing footprint in South East Asia. 

We’re now in Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. We 

plan to go into other markets like Indonesia, Vietnam and the 

Philippines soon. 

Who are your main clients? 

We have both B2B and B2C channels. Right now most of 

our clients come from B2B because as you can imagine 

fitness is very relevant to the gym industry because the way 

we test for fitness; we look at endurance, power, injuries, 

so on and so forth. The gym trainers use an individual’s 

information to create a personalised training programme, 

which can add onto their current offering and make the 

training programme shorter and cut off all trials and errors. 

Some of our corporate clients even provide the test package 

as part of their employee benefits. 


Interview 

How different is one test from the other? 

For fitness we test for 15 traits and cover almost over 110 

genes and we are able to tell what they’re good at. For 

example, athletic performance, aerobic, how much oxygen 

one can pump out, power of endurance, muscle soreness, 

injury risk, gaining lean body mass and whether they’re good 

at power or endurance sports. So using the information, the 

gym trainer can personalise the training programme and help 

to reach their goals much faster, for instance, their weight 

management goals. 

There are also traits for exercise aversion – people will higher 

aversion should find an exercise that’s fun. They are not that 

motivated on their own and they need to find someone to 

exercise with them. We also have ‘obesity potential’ and also 

‘difficulty in losing weight’ traits that we can test for. If you know 

someone who has a high difficulty is losing weight then maybe 

the trainer would want to add on high metabolic activities. As 

for skin, we work closely with aesthetic doctors and beauty 

spas where we can look at 10 traits covering ageing related 

areas like collagen breakdown and skin sensitivity. 

Nutrition covers 30 traits. This is very interesting as it tells you 

about nutrition deficiencies as well as diet compatibilities. 

People go on diet but they don’t know what to follow; low 

fat, low carb, and Mediterranean diet plan. Our test will 

tell them which will work better for them. We actually have 

testimonials of people who have followed such type of diets 

and successfully lost weight and maintained because they’re no 

more starving themselves but changing the kind of food they’re 

eating. We also look at food sensitivity like gluten, beans and 

so on. 

For skin we look at skin and sensitivity. Let’s take collagen 

breakdown. Somebody who is young may not have shown 

signs of collagen breakdown but if the report says the person 

has a high risk of collagen breakdown, then they need to 

take precaution. And the report doesn’t just tell the consumer 

the results. We also provide recommendations based on 

diet, lifestyle, exercise changes and skincare, what kind of 

ingredients they should look for when they’re buying their 

products. We close the loop by providing them customised 

product using the latest German technology which we’re 

working with our partners to provide. 

For each person, we’ve a different plans based on their results 

– what they actually need and we’ve doctors who treat the ratio 

and it would be mixed according to the person’s needs. Some 

people may need two, three or four scoops depending on what 

formulation is recommended. 

How does the genetic testing work and 

what at what age can one take it? 

Your DNA does not change – it’s a one-time test telling you 

what your body – your natural traits are and how to combat 

it if there is something negative. If there is something positive 

for instance, somebody has good endurance, the person can 

technically train for a marathon. So it actually tells people 

what their potentials are. It’s an easy test too. And it needs just 

your saliva. The DNA result will be delivered in two weeks 

and another week to deliver your product. Based on market 

standards, a child as young as two years can take the test. 

Anyone younger than that may not have the cheek cells for the 

DNA test. The oldest can be of any age. 

Can one choose the type of DNA to 

be tested? 

You can choose the type of test and the product that you want 

to consume. Our most popular one is the all 3-in-1 plus two 

products because we bundle in such a way that it’s more 

value-added. 

Can you share how any of your clients 

has benefitted from the DNA results? 

One very good example is a client of ours in Singapore, in 

her 30s, who was trying to lose weight. She had tried many 

different types of diets but failed. So, based on our test we 

found that she responds better to low fat diet. She changed her 

diet accordingly to our test recommendations. She followed 

a low fat meal plan, doesn’t starve herself. All she did was 

reduce her fat intake and to just enjoy her food, and she was 

soon able to reduce around 5kg within two months. It was 

gradual and not drastic like in extreme diet. 

For more information on a tailored DNA test visit 

www.imagenelabs.com or email hello@imagenelabs.com 


25

SPECIAL 

World Heart Day 

September 28 

Krill Oil vs Fish Oil 

Which One Is For You? 

Which omega-3 supplement should we be reaching for? Let’s 

look up the health benefits of fish oil and krill oil. 

More people are turning to krill oil for omega 3 nutrition 

because of its significant advantages over other marine oils. Like 

fish oils, krill oil is naturally loaded with heart-healthy omega 3 

essential fatty acids EPA and DHA. Essential fatty acids support 

cardiovascular health, healthy cognitive function, joint health 

and more. 

Although research continues to clarify the roles of DHA and EPA, 

some evidence suggests that DHA may be more important in 

certain situations, while EPA may be more important in others. 

Keep in mind, however, that participants in most studies were 

not eating diets rich in DHA or EPA (i.e., not eating fish at least 

twice a week) according to ConsumerLab.com. 

It’s not clear that any type of fish oil supplement will provide 

value if you are already getting substantial amounts of EPA 

and DHA naturally from foods. In fact, in terms of general 

cardiovascular benefit, it’s pretty clear that you are better off 

eating fish (not fried!) than taking a supplement. But if you won’t 

eat fish or other foods rich in EPA and DHA, consider taking a 

supplement. 


SPECIAL 

Here are some of the benefits which have been seen with EPA and DHA supplementation: 

DHA 

Pregnancy – DHA is important during pregnancy for 

normal development of the infant and may decrease 

premature births. Pregnant women should get at least 

200 mg of DHA per day from a supplement or lowmercury 

fish. 

Depression – Large 

amounts of EPA relative 

to DHA may help relieve 

depression in cases 

of moderate to severe 

depression (not mild 

depression). 

EPA 

Periodontitis – High-dose DHA has helped improve 

periodontitis (inflammation around the teeth 

causing pocketing), although this was not seen 

with high-dose EPA. 

Anxiety – A supplement 

high in EPA helped reduce 

anxiety in students. 

Chemotherapy – A 

supplement providing 

a large amount of EPA 

has helped prevent 

weight loss during 

cancer chemotherapy. 

Age-related Cognitive Decline – Studies have shown 

a modest benefit with a supplement high in DHA. A 

supplement high in EPA did not have this benefit. 

Alzheimer's disease – A 

supplement containing more 

EPA than DHA helped slow 

cognitive decline in patients 

with Alzheimer's disease. 

This has not been seen with 

supplements higher in DHA. 

However, no omega-3 

supplement can reverse 

Alzheimer's disease. 

EPA and DHA 

Acne – A high-dose combination of EPA and DHA helped reduced the number and severity of acne in men and women. 

Strength training – More equal combinations of EPA and DHA have helped improve strength during strength training 

in a study of older women. 

High triglycerides – Very high doses of EPA and DHA from concentrated fish oil can lower triglyceride levels. 

Heart health 

Omega-3s from fish-oil pills and fatty fish can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, research has found. 

Both fish-oil pills and krill-oil supplements supply the healthful omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. 

With all the marketing material out there, it can be hard to know which omega-3 supplement you should be taking. 


27

SPECIAL 

The differences between the two 

Krill oil 

Krill oil is a nutrient-dense substance extracted from a tiny, 

bottom-of-the-food-chain crustacean that lives in the icy 

waters around the Antarctic. It is said to provide the same 

health benefits as fish oil because it is also a rich source of 

the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 

docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are essential to health. 

arthritis, for example, may need to take nine to 14 standard 

capsules a day, whereas, according to krill oil marketing, only 

one capsule is needed for the same effect. 

Those in the krill oil business also say it is a safer and 

cleaner product because it is sourced from less contaminated 

waters. From an eco point of view, it seems to depend on 

where the oil is bought from. Manufacturer of krill oil should 

demonstrate that the krill is sourced in an environmentally 

sustainable manner with minimal harm to local ecosystems 

and limited by-catch. 

Have in mind that krill oil supplements could be more 

expensive than fish oil because of the expensive processes 

undertaken to ensure quality and eco-sustainability. 

The main selling points for krill oil are that its omega-3s 

are packaged differently from fish oils, in the form of a 

phospholipid that is easier for the body to absorb, and that it 

has the added bonus of containing another essential nutrient, 

choline, as well as an antioxidant. 

The benefits that set krill oil apart 

Some findings show that krill oil has a few benefits that may 

make it a superior omega 3 source when compared to 

traditional fish oil supplements. Krill oil contains carotenoid 

antioxidant astaxanthin. Fish oil does not. Astaxanthin is a 

high powered antioxidant with a molecular structure that 

makes it very effective at neutralizing free radicals. 

According to manufacturers krill oil has better absorption rate 

– up to 60 per cent – means less capsules need to be taken 

to achieve the desired health benefits. People taking fish oil for 

Fish oil 

Supporters of the fish oil industry point to the large body of 

research conducted on the benefits of fish oil compared with 

the research on krill oil, which both camps say is fairly thin 

on the ground. For now, fish oil has the backing of many 

years of scientific research, which shows that it fully deserves 

all the hype about its health benefits. Many say that fish oil 

works because of the many clinical 

trials that show this. 

Fish oil and krill oil are both 

great sources of omega-3 and 

complement each other. The most 

important message for now is that 

you get your recommended daily dose of omega-3s from 

whatever source there is. If you are taking an omega-3 

supplement, check if the oil has the recommended daily dose 

of 500mg. 

Tip: whichever 

type you 

choose, look 

for a reputable 

brand that 

follows good 

manufacturing 

processes and 

uses sustainably 

harvested oil. 

Bottom line 

More clinical research is needed. Most people can get enough 

DHA and EPA by eating fatty, low-mercury fish – such as 

Alaskan salmon and sardines – at least twice weekly. 

If you take a supplement, consult a doctor because krill oil and 

fish oil may interact with some drugs, including blood thinners. 

Fishy burps? 

You may have heard 

that krill oil doesn’t 

cause the dreaded 

fishy burps that fish oil 

can. This is yet to be 

confirmed. However, 

you can minimise the 

problem by freezing 

pills, taking fish-oil 

supplements at the start 

of a meal, or buying 

an odourless brand. 

Sources: 

www.consumerreports.org 

www.bodyandsoul.com.au 

www.webmd.com 


SPECIAL 

Unclog Your Arteries Naturally 

As we grow older, our blood vessels become more rigid and 

less elastic because we all develop a degree of atherosclerosis, 

a condition that occurs when a substance called plague builds 

up in the walls of the arteries. The plaques are made up of 

cholesterol, fat, cellular waste product, calcium and fibrin (a 

clotting material in the blood). The buildups narrow the arteries, 

reducing blood flow and the supply of oxygen to the cells. 

When a blood clot forms, it can partly or completely block the 

flow of the blood. Clogged arteries can lead to a heart attack 

or stroke. 

Endothelial cells coat the inner surface of blood vessels, forming 

a continuous lining called endothelium for the entire vascular 

system and play a key role in the maintaining homeostasis of 

circulation. Endothelial cells secrete vasoactive substances that 

cause relaxation(vasodilation) and contraction (vasocontriction) 

of the underlying smooth muscle, thus controlling blood 

pressure. Endothelial cells also control blood clot and platelet 

adhesion as well as regulate immune and inflammatory 

reactions. Endothelial dysfunction is an initiative step in the 

development of atherosclerosis and appears to result from 

reduced levels of nitric oxide (NO) availability. Nitric oxide 

(NO) released by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) causes 

smooth muscle cell relaxation and stops platelet aggregation 

and adhesion, thus contributing maintenance of vascular 

integrity. This is critical in preventing blood clots in the vascular 

system that can lead to cardiovascular diseases. 

Herbal Extracts with Plaque Preventive 

Properties 

Till now there are a few natural supplements with herbal extracts 

that hold strong scientific evidence in preventing additional 

plaque from forming and improving blood circulation naturally. 

• Olive Extracts (Fruit & Leaf) 

RR 

Contain high levels of 

antioxidants, including 

hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, 

triterpenoids and tocopherol 

(vitamin E) 

RR 

Protect LDL cholesterol from 

oxidation in the walls of blood 

vessels. 

• Pomegranate Fruit Extract 

RR 

Contains punicalagin, a unique 

and powerful antioxidant that 

contributes highly to the control of 

cardiovascular risk. 

RR 

Improves coronary endothelialdependent 

relaxation. 

RR 

Reduces blood pressure and stress 

hormone level. 

• Gingko Biloba Extract 

RR 

Inhibits platelet aggregation 

induced by platelet-activating 

factor (PAF) and lipid 

peroxidising agents. 

RR 

Exhibits vasodilating effect. 

RR 

Alleviates symptoms associated 

with cerebral blood flow. 

This article is brought to you by Nutriva International Sdn. Bhd.

SPECIAL 

Mono 

& Poly 

Are You Getting 

Enough Me? 



Omega-3 and Omega-6 

How much do you include healthier 

fats in your diet to help reduce the 

risk of heart disease? Healthier 

fats include monounsaturated fats 

and polyunsaturated fats (omega-3 

and omega-6). These fats help the 

cholesterol balance in your blood by 

decreasing the bad (LDL) cholesterol 

and increase the good (HDL) 

cholesterol. Replacing saturated and 

trans fats with healthier ones helps to 

lower your risk of heart disease. 

Make sure you have these healthier 

sources of fat in your healthy 

balanced diet. 

Monounsaturated fat 

Sources of monounsaturated fat 

include: 

• avocados 

• almonds, cashews and peanuts 

• cooking oils made from plants or 

seeds like canola, olive, peanut, 

soybean, rice bran, sesame and 

sunflower oils. 

Polyunsaturated fat 

Sources of polyunsaturated fat (both 

omega-3 and omega-6) include: 

• fish 

• tahini (sesame seed spread) 

• linseed (flaxseed) and chia seeds 

• soybean, sunflower, safflower, and 

canola oil, and margarine spreads 

made from these oils 

• pine nuts, walnuts and brazil nuts. 

Omega-3 

Omega-3 fats are a type of 

polyunsaturated fat that, like other dietary 

polyunsaturated fats, reduce your risk of 

heart disease. Omega-3s can: 

• lower heart rate and improve heart 

rhythm 

• decrease the risk of clotting 

• lower triglycerides 

• reduce blood pressure 

• improve blood vessel function and 

delay the build up of plaque (a fatty 

substance) in coronary arteries. 

Try to include omega-3 fats from all of 

these 3 sources as part of a healthy 

eating pattern: 

Marine: Omega-3 is found mainly in 

oily fish like tuna, salmon, sardines and 

blue mackerel. Other good sources are 

fish like barramundi and flathead, and 

seafood like scallops and mussels. Try 

to eat 2–3 serves a week. 

Plants: Good sources of plant-based 

omega-3 include walnuts, linseed 

(flaxseed), chia seeds and oils 

and spreads made from canola or 

soybean. Aim to include foods that 

provide at least 1 gram of plantsourced 

omega-3 every day. 

Animals: Omega-3 is also found in 

animal products like eggs, chicken 

and beef. 

For people who don’t eat fish, 

omega-3 capsules or liquids can also 

help supplement your intake. 

Omega-6: Omega-6 is a type 

of polyunsaturated fat that lowers 

LDL cholesterol. Eating foods with 

unsaturated fat, including omega-6, 

instead of foods high saturated and 

trans fats helps to get the right balance 

for your blood cholesterol (lower LDL 

and increase HDL). 

Easy ways to eat more 

healthy fats 

Include 2–3 serves of fish a week 

(100–150 g per serve). 

Use nuts and seeds in your breakfast. 

Sprinkle ground linseed on cereal or 

try a handful of almonds sprinkled 

over yoghurt. 

A handful (about 30 g) of unsalted 

nuts makes a healthy snack any time 

of the day. 

Use oils made from olive, sunflower, 

canola and safflower oils in cooking 

and try tahini, nut butters or avocado 

on sandwiches and toast. 

Choose wholegrain bread with linseeds. 

Add foods containing good fats to 

your main meals. Use avocado, 

pine nuts or sesame seeds in salads. 

Sprinkle nuts or seeds over vegetables. 

Add walnuts, ground or whole linseeds 

and chia seeds to stir fries. 

References: 

www.heartfoundation.org.au 

www.heart.org 


SPECIAL 

Saturated and 

trans fats 

Eat less of me 

Too much unhealthy saturated and trans 

fat increases your risk of heart disease. 

Limit saturated fat, and avoid trans fat. 



Saturated fat 

Eating a lot of saturated fat 

increases your blood cholesterol, 

in particular increasing the bad 

(LDL) cholesterol. Choosing foods 

with healthier fats instead helps to 

balance your blood cholesterol, 

by increasing the good (HDL) 

cholesterol and lowering the bad 

(LDL) cholesterol, which reduces your 

risk of heart disease. 

Saturated fat mainly comes from 

the fat you can see on meat and 

chicken, from dairy products and 

from some plant foods like palm 

and coconut oil. It can be found 

in processed foods like biscuits, 

pastries and takeaway foods that 

have used ingredients like butter, 

palm oil (often simply called 

vegetable oil), cheese and meat. 

For heart health, it is recommended 

saturated fat be only 7% of your 

total energy intake. For example, for 

an average adult intake of 8700 

kilojoules, 7% is about 16 grams of 

saturated fat. 

Trans fat 

To reduce the risk of heart disease, 

limit trans fat as much as possible. 

Trans fat increases our risk of heart 

disease by increasing the bad (LDL) 

cholesterol and lowering the good 

(HDL) cholesterol in our blood. 

Small amounts of trans fats naturally 

occur in dairy products, beef, veal, 

lamb and mutton. The way some 

fats and oils are processed during 

manufacturing produces artificial 

or ‘industrially produced’ trans fats. 

They’re in foods that use partially 

hydrogenated vegetable fats, like 

deep-fried foods and baked foods like 

biscuits, cakes, pastries and buns. 

For heart health, it is recommended 

that less than 1% of total energy 

should come from trans fat. 

Trans fat on food 

labels 

In many countries manufacturers 

don’t have to list trans fat on the 

nutrition information panel. So if you 

want to reduce trans fat in your food 

supply, take a closer look at the 

labelling of trans fat. 

Tips for eating less 

saturated and trans 

fats 

• Choose reduced fat milk, cheese 

and yoghurt. 

• On packaged food products 

in the supermarket, check the 

ingredients list for ‘hydrogenated 

oils’ or ‘partially hydrogenated 

vegetable oils’ and avoid foods 

with these. 

• Eat less bought cakes, biscuits 

and pastries. Also limit takeaway 

food like hamburgers, pizza and 

hot chips. These foods should 

only be eaten sometimes and in 

small amounts. 

• Trim all the fat you can see off 

meat, and remove skin from 

chicken. 

• Avoid processed meat (e.g. 

sausages and salami). 

• Eat fish instead of meat 2–3 

times a week, and choose 

legume or bean-based meals 

twice a week. 


31

SPECIAL 

Hope in Breast Cancer 

Don’t Lose Hope; It Isn’t Over Till It’s Over. 

The big C is daunting and despairing. When a person 

is diagnosed with cancer, their world often seems like its 

collapsing around them. This is an understandable feeling, 

but it doesn’t have to necessarily be that way. Today’s 

advancement in technology has a promising outlook on the 

increase of cancer survivors in years to come. 

‘Early Detection and Early Treatment Save Lives’ has been the 

mantra for cancer since decades ago. Women who reached 

the age of 40 are encouraged to get mammograms while 

manual breast examination should be constantly done by 

younger women, especially those with a family history of the 

disease. 

Doctors today are able to detect breast cancer at a much 

earlier stage thanks to advanced technology in screening that 

could identify the cancer and being able to undergo treatment 

earlier before it spreads aggressively. 

Understanding your condition is the key. Here's a closer look 

at breast cancer and what happens down the line. 


SPECIAL 

Dr Ng Char Hong 

MBChB (UK), M Surgery (UM), AM (Mal) 

Consultant Breast & Breast Reconstructive Surgery 

What Is Breast Cancer? 

Breast cancer is a condition that starts 

from an uncontrolled growth of breast 

cells that develops into a malignant 

tumour. It is the most common type of 

cancer among women in Malaysia. 

Averages of 4,000 new cases are 

reported each year, where 1 in 19 

Malaysian women are diagnosed with 

breast cancer. 

Are You At Risk? 

Being a woman in itself poses a risk 

of developing breast cancer, although 

there is a very small percentage of 

men who are at risk as well. Certain 

women post a higher risk due to early 

menarche, late menopause, did not 

produce children, didn't breast feed 

for 6 months, and obesity. However, 

some inherited their condition from other 

female family members who had 

breast cancer. 

Warning Signs: 

•Swelling of all or part of the breast 

•Skin irritation or dimpling 

•Breast pain 

•Nipple pain or the nipple 

turning inward 

•Redness, scaliness, or thickening of the 

nipple or breast skin 

•A nipple discharge other than 

breast milk 

•A lump in the underarm area 

You Have Been 

Diagnosed; What To Do 

Now? 

Naturally, you will go through all the 

motion; shock, anger, sadness and 

despair. First of all, try your best to 

calm down and not panic.What 

you should do: 

1) Get a biopsy – the doctor will 

remove a small piece of tissue from the 

lump tocheck it for cancer cells. 

2) The cancer cells will be graded to 

predict how fast the cancer is likely to 

grow and spread. 

3) Get advice from the doctor on 

which treatment is best for you. 

4) Do not give up and stay positive. 

Breast Cancer Surgery 

– Choosing Between 

a Lumpectomy and a 

Mastectomy 

A lumpectomy is often called breast 

conserving therapy because the goal 

is to remove the cancer and leave the 

healthy tissues behind. A mastectomy 

is the removal of all the breast gland 

tissue, which usually includes the nipple 

as well. Both have the same outcome 

inoverall survival rates. 

With a lumpectomy, the area of 

cancer could be removed and still 

maintain a natural looking breast with 

minimal scarring. With oncoplastic 

breast surgery technique, tissues are 

transferred to fill in the spot that was 

removed by loosening the surrounding 

tissue and surgically designing the area 

so that it should not look hollowed 

out. If you have a mastectomy, you 

have an option to undergo a breast 

reconstruction surgery to build a breast 

shape that looks a lot like your 

natural breast. 

Radiation Treatment 

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays 

to kill any cancer cells that may still be 

left in the breast after a lumpectomy 

thus increasing the success rate of the 

procedure. It is typically not necessary 

for a patient who is 

having a mastectomy. 


33

SPECIAL 

There are 2 types 

of radiation therapy 

treatment for breast 

cancer offered in 

SunMed: 

1) Intraoperative 

radiotherapy (IORT) 

Intraoperative radiation therapy 

(IORT) is a procedure to treat breast 

cancer during surgery by delivering 

a concentrated dose of radiation 

therapy to a tumour bed, which are 

the tissues surrounding the cancer. 

It is used during a lumpectomy, a 

breast conservation surgery while the 

patient is still in the operating room 

and unconscious. The miniaturised 

radiation device is inserted in the 

lumpectomy cavity after the tumour 

has been removed. 

This customisable form of radiation 

therapy helps kill microscopic 

disease, reduce the amount of time 

of radiation treatment and provide an 

added radiation "boost" to generate a 

more positive outcome for the surgery. 

2) External beam 

radiotherapy (EBRT) 

External beam radiation is one of the 

most common types of radiation therapy 

used for cancer treatment. EBRT delivers 

high-energy rays to tumours using a 

special X-ray machine called a linear 

accelerator. 

The machine scans the body, and 

emitting high dose of radiation that could 

be delivered from any angle and shapes 

the radiation beam to the contour of the 

tumour. 

This specialised focus will do less 

damage to normal tissues while it 

destroys cancerous cells and shrinks 

tumours. Examples of EBRT include 

3D conformal radiation therapy, IMRT, 

IGRT, TomoTherapy and stereotactic 

radiosurgery. 

Hormone Therapy for 

Breast Cancer 

Certain types of cancer are affected by 

hormones in the blood. These hormones 

attach to special proteins called 

hormone receptors. These hormone 

receptors, estrogen receptor-positive (ERpositive) 

and/or progesterone receptorpositive 

(PR-positive) help the cancer 

cells grow. All tumours are checked for 

hormone receptors by testing the tissue 

that was removed during a biopsy. 

Hormone therapies are often used to 

treat hormone receptor-positive breast 

cancers. It slows down or stops the 

growth of hormone receptor-positive 

tumours by preventing the cancer cells 

from getting the hormones they need 

to grow. It can also be used to treat 

cancer that relapses after treatment 

or that have spread to other parts of 

the body. As it is a form of systemic 

therapy, it could reach cancer cells in 

any part of the body and not just in the 

breast. 

Chemotherapy for Breast 

Cancer 

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses 

drugs to kill cancer cells. It may be 

injected into the vein or taken orally. The 

drug travels through the bloodstream 

to reach cancer cells in most parts of 

the body. Chemotherapy does not 

apply to all breast cancer cases apart 

from certain conditions that require this 

method. 

•Before surgery (neoadjuvant 

chemotherapy) 

Neoadjuvant chemo is given before the 

surgery takes place. It aims to shrink the 

tumour so that it can be removed with 

less extensive surgery. 

•After surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) 

Adjuvant chemo is used after surgery 

to try to eradicate any cancer cells that 

may have been left behind or spread 

but can't be detected, even on imaging 

tests. 

•For advanced breast cancer 

Chemo is normally used as the main 

method of treatment for women whose 

cancer has spread outside the breast 

and underarm area. 


SPECIAL 

Surprising Acid 

Reflux Symptoms 

That Aren't Heartburn. 

An Overview on Gastroesophageal Reflux 


SPECIAL 

Dr Dennis Khoo Yeap Teng 

Consultant Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist & Physician 

MBBS (Malaya), MRCP (UK), MRCPS (Glasgow), AM (Mal), 

Fellowship in Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Advanced 

Endoscopy (MOH), MAGA (USA), MACG (USA), National 

Gastroenterolgy and Endoscopy Trainer (MOH) 

Tropicana Medical Centre 

Gastroesophageal reflux, also known 

as acid reflux, occurs when the stomach 

contents reflux or back up into the 

esophagus and/or mouth. Reflux is a 

normal process that occurs in healthy 

infants, children, and adults. Most 

episodes are brief and do not cause 

bothersome symptoms or complications. 

In contrast, people with 

gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 

experience bothersome symptoms as a 

result of the reflux. Symptoms can include 

heartburn, regurgitation, vomiting, and 

difficulty or pain with swallowing. The 

reflux of stomach acid can adversely 

affect the vocal cords causing hoarseness 

or even be inhaled into the lungs (called 

aspiration). 

What Is 

Gastroesophageal 

Reflux? 

When we eat, food is carried from 

the mouth to the stomach through the 

esophagus, a tube-like structure that is 

approximately 26cm long and 2.5cm 

wide in adults. The esophagus is made 

of tissue and muscle layers that expand 

and contract to propel food to the 

stomach through a series of wave-like 

movements called peristalsis. 

At the lower end of the esophagus, 

where it joins the stomach, there is 

a circular ring of muscle called the 

lower esophageal sphincter (LES). After 

swallowing, the LES relaxes to allow 

food to enter the stomach and then 

contracts to prevent the back-up of food 

and acid into the esophagus. 

However, sometimes the LES is weak or 

becomes relaxed because the stomach is 

distended, allowing liquids in the stomach 

to wash back into the esophagus. This 

happens occasionally in all individuals. 

Most of these episodes occur shortly 

after meals, are brief, and do not cause 

symptoms. Normally, acid reflux should 

occur only rarely during sleep. 

Acid reflux — Acid reflux becomes 

gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 

when it causes bothersome symptoms or 

injury to the esophagus. The amount of 

acid reflux required to cause GERD varies. 

In general, damage to the esophagus is 

more likely to occur when acid refluxes 

frequently, the reflux is very acidic, or 

the esophagus is unable to clear away 

the acid quickly. The most common 

symptoms associated with acid reflux are 

heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, and 

trouble swallowing. The treatments of 

GERD are designed to prevent one or all 

of these symptoms from occurring. 

Hiatus hernia — the diaphragm is a 

large flat muscle at the base of the lungs 

that contracts and relaxes as a person 

breathes in and out. The esophagus 

passes through an opening in the 

diaphragm called the diaphragmatic 

hiatus before it joins with the stomach. 

Normally, the diaphragm contracts, 

which improve the strength of the LES, 

especially during bending, coughing, 

or straining. If there is a weakening in 

the diaphragm muscle at the hiatus, the 

stomach may be able to partially slip 

through the diaphragm into the chest, 

forming a sliding hiatus hernia. 

The presence of a hiatus hernia makes acid 

reflux more likely. A hiatus hernia is more 

common in people over age 50. Obesity 

and pregnancy are also contributing 

factors. The exact cause is unknown but 

may be related to the loosening of the 

tissues around the diaphragm that occurs 

with advancing age. There is no way to 

prevent a hiatus hernia. 


37

SPECIAL 

Acid Reflux Symptoms 

People who experience heartburn at 

least two to three times a week may 

have gastroesophageal reflux disease, 

or GERD. The most common symptom 

of GERD, heartburn is experienced as 

a burning sensation in the centre of the 

chest, which sometimes spreads to the 

throat; there also may be an acid taste 

in the throat. Other symptoms of reflux 

maybe surprising and include: 

• Stomach pain 

• Non-burning chest pain 

• Difficulty swallowing (called 

dysphagia), or food getting stuck 

• Painful swallowing 

• Persistent laryngitis/hoarseness 

• Persistent sore throat 

• Chronic cough, new onset asthma, or 

asthma only at night 

• Regurgitation of foods/fluids; taste of 

acid in the throat 

• Sense of a lump in the throat 

• Worsening dental disease 

• Recurrent lung infections (called 

pneumonia) 

• Chronic sinusitis 

• Waking up with a choking sensation 

When to seek help — the following 

signs and symptoms may indicate a 

more serious problem, and should 

be reported to a healthcare provider 

immediately: 

• Difficulty or pain with swallowing 

(feeling that food gets "stuck") 

• Unexplained weight loss 

• Chest pain 

• Choking 

• Bleeding (vomiting blood or darkcoloured 

stools) 

Acid Reflux Complications 

The vast majority of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease will not develop 

serious complications, particularly when reflux is adequately treated. However, a 

number of serious complications can arise in patients with severe gastroesophageal 

reflux disease. 

Ulcers — Ulcers can form in the 

esophagus as a result of burning from 

stomach acid. In some cases, bleeding 

occurs. You may not be aware of 

bleeding. 

Stricture — Damage from acid 

can cause the esophagus to scar and 

narrow, causing a blockage (stricture) 

that can cause food or pills to get stuck 

in the esophagus. The narrowing is 

caused by scar tissue that develops as a 

result of ulcers that repeatedly damage 

and then heal in the esophagus. 

Lung and throat problems — 

Some people reflux acid into the throat, 

causing inflammation of the vocal cords, 

a sore throat, or a hoarse voice. The 

acid can be inhaled into the lungs and 

cause a type of pneumonia (aspiration 

pneumonia) or asthma symptoms. 

Chronic acid reflux into the lungs 

may eventually cause permanent lung 

damage, called pulmonary fibrosis or 

bronchiectasis. 

Barrett's esophagus — Barrett's 

esophagus occurs when the normal 

cells that line the lower esophagus 

(squamous cells) are replaced by a 

different cell type (intestinal cells). This 

process usually results from repeated 

damage to the esophageal lining, and 

the most common cause is longstanding 

gastroesophageal reflux disease. The 

intestinal cells have a small risk of 

transforming into cancer cells. 

Esophageal cancer — A major 

risk factor for adenocarcinoma of the 

oesophagus is Barrett's esophagus, 

discussed above. However, only a small 

percentage of people with GERD will 

develop Barrett's esophagus and an 

even smaller percentage will develop 

adenocarcinoma. 


SPECIAL 

Reflux Treatment 

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is treated according to its 

severity. 

Mild symptoms — Initial treatments for mild acid reflux 

include dietary changes and using non-prescription medications 

like antacid. 

Lifestyle changes — Weight loss – Losing weight may help 

people who are overweight to reduce acid reflux. 

• Raise the head of the bed six to eight inches – 

Although most people only have heartburn for the two- to 

three-hour period after meals, some wake up at night with 

heartburn. People with nighttime heartburn can elevate the 

head of their bed, which raises the head and shoulders 

higher than the stomach, allowing gravity to prevent acid 

from refluxing. 

Raising the head 

of the bed can be 

done with blocks 

of wood under 

the legs of the 

bed or a foam 

wedge under the 

mattress. Several 

manufacturers 

have developed 

commercial 

products for this purpose. However, it is not helpful to use 

additional pillows; this can cause an unnatural bend in the 

body that increases pressure on the stomach, worsening 

acid reflux. 

• Avoid acid reflux-inducing foods – Some foods 

also cause relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, 

promoting acid reflux. Excessive caffeine, chocolate, 

alcohol, peppermint, and fatty foods may cause bothersome 

acid reflux in some people. 

• Quit smoking – Saliva helps 

to neutralise refluxed acid, and 

smoking reduces the amount of 

saliva in the mouth and throat. 

Smoking also lowers the pressure 

in the lower esophageal sphincter 

and provokes coughing, causing 

frequent episodes of acid reflux in 

the esophagus. Quitting smoking 

can reduce or eliminate symptoms of 

mild reflux. 

• Avoid large 

and late meals 

– Lying down with 

a full stomach may 

increase the risk 

of acid reflux. By 

eating three or 

more hours before 

bedtime, reflux 

may be reduced. 

In addition, eating 

smaller meals may 

prevent the stomach 

from becoming 

overdistended, 

which can cause 

acid reflux. 

• Avoid tight fitting clothing – At minimum, tight-fitting 

clothing can increase discomfort, but it may also increase 

pressure in the abdomen, forcing stomach contents into the 

esophagus. 

Antacids — Antacids are commonly used for short-term relief 

of acid reflux. However, the stomach acid is only neutralised 

very briefly after each dose, so they are not very effective. 

Histamine antagonists — the histamine antagonists 

reduce production of acid in the stomach. However, they are 

somewhat less effective than proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). 

Example of histamine antagonists available is ranitidine (Zantac), 

Moderate to severe symptoms — Patients with 

moderate to severe symptoms of acid reflux, complications of 

gastroesophageal reflux disease, or mild acid reflux symptoms 

that have not responded to the lifestyle modifications and the 

medications described above usually require treatment with 

prescription medications. Most patients are treated with a 

proton pump inhibitor. 

Proton pump inhibitors — PPIs include omeprazole 

(omesec, losec), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole 

(Prevacid), dexlansoprazole (dexilant), pantoprazole (controloc), 

and rabeprazole (pariet), which are stronger and more effective 

than the H2 antagonists. 

Once the optimal dose and type of PPI is found, you will 

probably be kept on the PPI for approximately eight weeks. 

Depending upon your symptoms after eight weeks, the 

medication dose may be decreased or discontinued. If 

symptoms return within three months, long-term treatment is 

usually recommended. If symptoms do not return within three 

months, treatment may be needed only intermittently. The goal 

of treatment for GERD is to take the lowest possible dose of 

medication that controls symptoms and prevents complications. 

Proton pump inhibitors are safe, although they may be 

expensive, especially if taken for a long period of time. Longterm 

risks of PPIs may include an increased risk of gut infections, 

or reducedabsorption of minerals and nutrients. In general, 

these risks are small. However, even a small risk emphasizes 

the need to take the lowest possible dose for the shortest 

possible time. 


39

Recipes of the Month 

Everything 

Eggs 

EVERYTHING EGGS offers a fresh, 

unique and modern take on the 

humblest of foods. Eggs, without 

question, remain one of the most 

inexpensive, healthful and readily 

available food items. Eggs are an 

extremely useful ingredient and so 

fundamental to cooking that every 

culture has its own egg-based 

recipes for any meal at any time 

of the day. Here are four recipes 

you can try out today. 

The author, Azian Hasan blogs 

about food at azianhasan. 

com and is the author of five 

cookbooks. She also shares 

her recipes on TV9’s morning 

talk show, Nasi Lemak Kopi 

O. A mother of three, she 

loves cooking for her family 

and has a culinary certificate 

from Seri Ain Culinary School. 

Learn more about Azian 

Hasan: azianhasan.com 



Egg Pops 

Makes 8-10 pops 

Ingredients 

• 2 large eggs 

• 1 cup evaporated milk 

• 1 cup self-raising flour 

• ½ tsp vanilla essence 

• 1 tbsp butter 

• Jam 

• ¼ tsp salt 

Method 

1. Blend the milk, eggs, selfraising 

flour, vanilla essence 

and salt in an electric mixer 

until completely combined. 

2. Preheat the oven to 180°C. 

Let the batter rest while the 

oven heats. 

3. Put the muffin mould in the 

oven for 2 minutes to warm. 

4. Remove the muffin mould from 

the oven and butter it. 

5. Pour the batter mixture into 

each cup three quarters full 

and bake for 10-15 minutes 

or until brown. 

6. Cool the egg pops, cut them 

into half and spread the jam 

inside them. 

Egg Crostini with 

Tomato and Avocado 

Ingredients 


• 8 slices of French bread 

• 1 avocado, mashed 

• ¼ cup fresh milk 

• 5 cherry tomatoes, diced 


• ¼ tsp ground black pepper 


Garnishings 

1 tsp chives, cut into 1cm lengths 

Method 


2. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter and brush it 

on both sides of each slice of French bread. 

Arrange the slices on a baking tray and bake 

for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Remove 

the bread from the oven and set it aside. 

3. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt 

and pepper. 

4. Heat a medium non-stick sauté pan over 

medium-low heat. Melt the remaining 

tablespoon of butter in the pan. Pour in the 

eggs and cook them, stirring as needed, until 

they’re scrambled to your desired consistency. 

5. Spread a portion of the mashed avocado on 

one side of each slice of toasted bread. Top the 

avocado with the scrambled eggs and garnish 

with the diced cherry tomatoes and chives. 


41


Baked Cheese with 

Egg and Prawn 

Ingredients 

Method 


• 7 large prawns, shelled, with 

tails intact 

• 1 cup fresh milk 


• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour 

• 30g cheddar cheese, grated 

• ¼ tsp ground white pepper 


1. Melt the butter, then add the 

flour and stir well. Pour in the 

fresh milk, a little at a time, 

and continue whisking for 2-3 

minutes or until the mixture 

thickens. Set aside. 


3. Beat the eggs, add them to 

the mixture and season with 

ground white pepper and salt. 

4. Mix well and transfer it into an 

ovenproof casserole dish. Put 

the shrimp on top and bake 

for 10-15 minutes. Serve. 

Spicy Tomato 

Baked Eggs 

Ingredients 


• 1 large yellow onion, diced 

• 1 can tomato purée 

• 1 red chilli, sliced thinly 

• 1 clove of garlic, pounded 

• 2 stalks coriander leaves, 

coarsely chopped 

• 1 tomato, diced 

• 1 tsp paprika 

• 1 tbsp cooking oil 

• ¼ tsp ground white pepper 

• 1 tsp sugar 


Method 

1. Heat the oil in a pan. Sauté the 

yellow onion and garlic until 

fragrant. 

2. Stir in the diced tomato, red 

chilli, paprika, tomato purée, 

ground white pepper, sugar 

and salt. Cook until the gravy 

thickens. 

3. Make 4 dips in the gravy, then 

crack an egg into each. 

4. Cover the pan and cook over 

low heat for 6-8 minutes or until 

the eggs are done to your liking. 

5. Sprinkle with chopped coriander 

leaves. Serve. 


FITNESS Bytes 

Vegetarian diets almost twice 

as effective in reducing body 

weight, study finds 

Dieters who go vegetarian not only lose weight more 

effectively than those on conventional low-calorie diets 

but also improve their metabolism by reducing muscle 

fat, a new study published in the Journal of the American 

College of Nutrition has found. 

Losing muscle fat improves glucose and lipid metabolism 

so this finding is particularly important for people with 

metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, says lead 

author, Dr. Hana Kahleová, Director of Clinical Research 

at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in 

Washington DC. 

“Vegetarian diets proved to be the most effective diets 

for weight loss. However, we also showed that a 

vegetarian diet is much more effective at reducing muscle 

fat, thus improving metabolism. This finding is important 

for people who are trying to lose weight, including 

those suffering from metabolic syndrome and/or type 2 

diabetes. But it is also relevant to anyone who takes their 

weight management seriously and wants to stay lean and 

healthy,” she said. 

www.sciencedaily.com 

Can this kind of rock 

climbing treat depression? 

Bouldering, a form of rock climbing that involves climbing 

rocks or walls to a moderate height without ropes or a 

harness, could be an effect way to treat symptoms of 

depression. For a recent study, researchers led a team 

that involved more than 100 individuals in a bouldering 

intervention in Germany, where some hospitals have begun 

to use climbing as a therapeutic treatment. 

Team co-leader Eva-Maria Stelzer, who began researching 

the benefits of bouldering while completing her master’s 

in psychology at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in 

Germany explains that bouldering has a number of other 

important characteristics that make it especially beneficial 

for the treatment of depression, namely that it helps boost 

self-efficacy and social interactions—both of which hold 

innate benefits for dealing 

with depression. 

“You have to be mindful and focused on the moment. It 

does not leave much room to let your mind wonder on 

things that may be going on in your life—you have to focus 

on not falling,” Stelzer says. 

Teens get as much physical 

activity as 60-year-olds, 

study shows 

Lack of exercise is a risk factor for many serious conditions. The fact 

that neither adults nor teenagers get as much exercise as they should is, 

perhaps, not very surprising. But new research shows that the situation 

might be a lot more worrying than previously believed. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that 

adults engage in at least 2.5 hours of physical activity per week. 

The CDC also reports that only 1 in 5 adults get this much physical activity. 

People who do not get the exercise they need are more likely to die 

prematurely or develop a range of serious illnesses such as heart disease, 

stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some forms of cancer. Not only do 

adults not get enough exercise, but teenagers fare even worse. Fewer than 

3 in 10 high school students get a minimum of 60 minutes of daily physical 

activity, which is the level of exercise recommended by both the CDC and 

the World Health Organization (WHO). 


43

FITNESS & Weight Loss 

How fit 

are you for 

your age? 

It’s only human to work out what you’re good at – 

then do that on repeat. 

Take running 5km for example. You might be able 

to do it without even breaking a sweat, but ask you 

to hold pigeon pose for 60 seconds? Unbearable. 

Too many of us focus on one type of exercise, such 

as a weekly run or spin class, rather than having 

a varied exercise routine that covers strength, 

stamina and mobility. 

5 components of physical 

fitness 

There are actually five components of physical 

fitness: muscular strength (think power), muscular 

endurance (think time), cardiovascular endurance 

(think heart and oxygen pumping exercise over 

time), body fat composition (think compared to 

muscle) and finally flexibility (think mobility). 

An effective fitness program will attempt to improve 

all five components. 

Exercise is important at any age but as we get 

older exercise becomes even more important for 

our mental and physical health,” says Associate 

Professor Briony Dow, Director of the National 

Ageing Research Institute. 

But just how ‘fit’ should you be 

at your age? 

Sure push-ups and burpees are important, but 

this list proves it takes more than just cardio to 

be defined as ‘fit’. Here is the checklist for each 

generation, as shared by Virgin Active fitness 

expert Tim Wright with The Telegraph. How do 

you rate? 



In your 20s 

you should be 

able to... 

Run 5km in 30 minutes 

Do 20 burpees in a row 

Hold a full plank for 

one minute 

In your 

30s you should be 

able to... 

Run 2km in less than 12 minutes 

Hold a plank for 45 seconds 

Dead lift more than 50 per cent 

of your body weight 

In your 40s 

you should be 

able to... 

Sprint for 60 seconds 

without stopping 

Do 10 push-ups without 

stopping 

Touch your toes 

comfortably with 

straight legs 

In your 


able to... 

Run at a moderate pace for 60 

seconds without stopping 

Do five burpees without stopping 

Lower yourself into a cross-legged 

position on the floor without 

using your hands, and then 

return to standing 

In your 


able to... 

Regularly take more than 10,000 

steps in a day 

Do 12 body weight squats 

without stopping 

Touch your fingertips with one 

hand over your shoulder and 

the other behind your 

back 

In your 


able to... 

Walk 1.5km in less than 15 minutes 

Climb a flight of stairs with 10 steps 

in under 30 seconds comfortably 

Rise to stand from a chair without 

using your hands or arms, and 

repeat at least 12 times in 

30 seconds. 


45


Bye-Bye 

Jiggly 

Arms! 

7 Exercises 

to Burn Arm 

Fat Fast 

Have you ever wished to have sculpted, attractive and 

toned arms? Having those flabby arms makes you feel 

self-conscious and makes you look a little out of proportion 

even if you have normal weight. You feel embarrassed and 

quit wearing sleeveless dresses and tops. But don’t worry! 

Now with just 7 easy moves you can get perfectly toned 

and slimed arms. You don’t have to invest buying costly 

equipments and waste time at the gym. These exercises are 

super easy and so effective to reduce excess arm fat. 

1 Arm Circles 

An easy and effective exercise to tone arms, underarms and improve shoulder 

flexibility. You can do this exercise anywhere, anytime while watching TV or 

listening to the radio. This exercise can be done while sitting or standing based on 

your comfort. 

Targets – Upper arms, Underarms, Biceps, Triceps and Shoulders. 

1. Comfortably sit on a mat and extend your arms straight out to the sides, your 

arms should be held parallel to the ground. 

2. Now rotate your arms in small, circular motion. 

3. Do in clockwise and anticlockwise direction. 

4. Repeat for 20 times each in both the direction. 



2 Arm Flapping 

This is another fun way to lose arm fat fast. All you have to do is flap your 

arms just like birds flap their wings. This exercise release stress and tension 

from your body, sculpts your arms, shoulders and hand. 

Targets – Upper arms, Lower arms, Underarms, Shoulder 

and Hand 

1. Comfortably sit on a mat and extend your arms straight out to the sides. 

2. Slightly bend your elbows and flap your arms to feel that you are flying. 

3. Do this arm flapping for 3 counts, followed by a hand clap 

over the head. 

4. Repeat this process for 20 times. 

3 Arm Pulldown Exercise 

This exercise tones your arm muscles and eliminates excess upper back fat. 

You can do this exercise without using any weights or special equipments. 

Targets – Arms, Shoulders, Chest and Upper Back Fat 

1. Raise your arms up straight over your head. 

2. Close your hands tightly and pull down your arms close towards the sides 

of your chest. 

3. Hold the position for 5 counts and then release. 

4. Repeat for 15 times. 

4 One Arm Side Stretch 

This exercise stretches your arms, chest and upper back muscles. This arm 

exercise is really fun to do. Just maintain the rhythm and you will feel like you 

are dancing. 

Targets – Arms, Shoulders, Triceps and Upper Back Fat 

1. Bend your elbows and keep your arms close to your chest. 

2. Stretch one arm out and to the side and then return to the original position. 

3. Similarly Repeat for the other arm. 

4. Do this exercise 25 times each with alternate arms. 


47


5 Swing Arms 

This exercise may look easy but it really works. If you don’t like running, then 

this is the best alternative for you. This exercise tones your upper body, arms, 

shoulders and biceps. 

Targets – Arms, Biceps, Shoulder and Underarms. 

1. Stand straight with your head up and feet a little wide apart and arms 

down at your sides. 

2. Keep your body still and just swing your arms forward and backward. 

3. Move your arms faster and continuously for 2 minutes to burn 

excess arm fat. 

6 Triple Raise Exercise 

Triple raise exercise is a great arm toning exercise. It’s super easy and can 

you do it almost anywhere. This exercise also tones and shape your upper 

body. 

Targets – Arms, Shoulder, Biceps, Upper body and 

Underarms. 

1. Comfortably sit on a mat and extend your arms in front at chest level. 

2. Your arms should be parallel to the ground. 

3. Raise your arms above your head and then slowly return to starting 

position (arms at your chest level). 

4. Similarly raise your arms to the left side and then return to the starting 

position. Repeat for right side. 

5. Perform for a total of 15 repetitions. 

7 Shoulder Rotation Exercise 

This is an easy, relaxing exercise that you can do after you have completed 

all of the above 6 exercises. This exercise strengthens your shoulder muscles, 

releases tension and reduces your arm fat. Make sure you do this exercise in 

a right way otherwise it’s not effective. Check the below steps. 

Targets – Shoulder, Arms and Underarms 

1. Place your palms on your shoulders and rotate your shoulders. 

2. Make sure the elbows touch each other slightly at every rotation. 

3. Do this 10 times each for both the direction, clockwise and anticlockwise. 



9 Gym 

Habits 

That Are 

Damaging 

To Your Skin 

We all know that exercise is good for your body. And when you’re 

headed to the gym, it’s likely you’re more focused on the workout than 

anything else. However, one aspect that you should keep in mind is your 

skin. You’d be surprised how a trip to the gym can have quite an impact 

on the health of your skin, especially if you aggravate it with less-thanhealthy 

skin habits. Check out these gym habits that you may be guilty of! 

Wearing Too Much 

Makeup 

Is this worth the clog? Your pores need 

to breathe, and adding sweat to makeup 

can cause a build-up that will block your 

pores, which can lead to breakouts. And 

you’d end up having streaky makeup 

anyway! Go to the gym makeup free; 

you’ll get a better natural glow from your 

workout than from any bronzer. 

Cleansing Your Face 

Keep your skin clear while you sweat! 

Wash your face to eliminate the oils, 

bacteria and sweat have accumulated 

on the skin. Gently cleanse your face 

with a mild cleanser before and after 

a workout to remove any dirt and 

impurities! And always to wash your 

hands before washing your face. 


49


Not Protecting Your Skin 

When exercising outdoors, SPF is vital. From 

premature ageing to melanoma, the risks of 

sun damage are well-known. It’s important 

to choose the right sunscreen formula as 

oily sunscreen can cause acne by clogging 

pores. So keep your skin protected with 

a lightweight or oil-free moisturiser with 

adequate broad spectrum protection. 

Showering 

with Hot Water 

It may be tempting to jump into the 

shower and relax with a nice long hot 

one after a good workout. Hot water 

may soothe your tired muscles, but it 

will strip your skin of vital oils. And that 

would result in your skin getting dry, 

itchy and unhappy. Opt for a lukewarm 

shower instead, or even a cold 

refreshing one. 

Keeping Your Hair Down 

Wear a hair or headband to keep your 

hair up! Hair should always be pulled 

back away from the face to keep sweat 

away from your face. Hair products such 

as conditioners, sprays, gels are unsuitable 

for the face and can alter the PH of the 

skin and clog pores leading to breakouts. 

Not Using Moisturiser 

When you sweat during a workout, your skin 

loses moisture, leaving the skin dehydrated. 

And dehydrated skin will result in premature 

ageing and the potential for pores to clog. The 

best time to rehydrate thirsty skin is right out of 

the shower. So, take a few minutes to keep 

your skin hydrated, and replenish by applying 

a lightweight moisturiser and body lotion; 

applying while the skin is still damp is best. 

Cross-Contamination 

Avoid touching your face and skin 

after using un-sanitised machines 

and yoga mats. These things 

are used by many, many people 

throughout the day and you can 

bet that bacteria and germs are 

pretty happy with these spots. 

Avoid transferring these nasties to 

your face and if possible, wipe 

down the machine or mat before 

you use it. 

This article is brought to you be 

PurelyB. Visit www.purelyb.com 

Staying In Your Gym 

Clothes All Day 

Keeping your workout clothes on after you 

exercise can be bad for your skin! Your damp 

clothing is the ideal breeding ground for 

bacteria and fungus. This can cause body 

acne, a weakened immune system, vaginal 

and skin yeast infection, just to name a few. 

You also don’t smell your best after a workout 

so a change of clothes is always a good idea. 

Being dehydrated 

Staying hydrated is important to have a 

glowing complexion! Your body loses 

more moisture in heated environments, so 

keep hydrated after, or even during your 

workout for your skin to recover. And yes, 

water is best. Carry a water bottle with you 

so it’ll be easy for you to stay hydrated. 


PROMO 

Nessa Presents The Future Of Hearing 

Care Innovation As Malaysia Gets Noisier 

World’s 1st Remote Technology, Made-For-TV & iPhone Hearing Aids 

Debut To Cater To Modern Lifestyles 

Nessa (Asia’s most innovative hearing care solutions) has 

officially launched the Nessa brand and its innovative hearing 

solutions to the Malaysian media. This could not have been 

timelier as Malaysia gets noisier, to a level that jeopardises 

health – young and old alike. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that the 

prevalence of disabling hearing loss in adults (65+) is highest in 

South East Asia (48%) and Asia Pacific (43.5%). Globally, there 

are 360 million persons in the world with disabling hearing 

loss. In Malaysia, 30% of the 3.8 million elderlies have some 

degree of hearing loss. 

Our modern lifestyle is constantly exposing us to noise pollution, 

be it at work or at recreational activities – that leads to a 

decrease in the average age of when hearing loss occurs.In 

2015, WHO reported that 1.1 billion teenagers and young 

adults are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe sounds levels 

(from prolonged exposure to personal audio devices, clubs, 

concerts and noisy workplaces). 

Occupational health doctor Dr. Abed Onn stated that hearing 

loss is one of the top 3 occupational diseases in Malaysia 

alongside lower back pain and upper limb muscular disorders. 

Nessa presented the future of hearing care solutions to suit 

modern lifestyles, which essentially addresses three key areas: 

“Stigma, Convenience & Cost”. 

Nessa is the first hearing care provider to offer testing and 

hearing aid fitting and adjustments remotely from the comfort and 

convenience of any location you may be in. Customers have 

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To obtain a better picture of the hearing conditions in Malaysia, 

Nessa released findings of a national survey conducted since 

January. According to the survey, 65% have not done a hearing 

test before. The top three hearing issues or related symptoms 

Malaysians experience are ringing in the ears (40%), giddiness/ 

dizziness (25%) and difficulties in hearing (22%). More than 50% 

said that by hearing better, they could improve interactions with 

friends and families, and over 30% said they would be able to 

do lot of things like before and boost their confidence. 

According to research, 90% of Malaysians with hearing loss 

do not use hearing aids in spite of the potential physical and 

psychological consequences it may have on their lives. Most 

perceived hearing device is costly or wearing them means one 

must be ‘old’ and ‘disabled”. Some also thinks that hearing loss 

is part of ageing and therefore ignore the problem. Some might 

even have bought an amplifier which could have exacerbated 

hearing conditions. 

With world-class hearing devices made in Denmark, the hearing 

aids provided by Nessa are co-designed with Apple, made for 

TV and made-for-iPhone. 

Hearing devices provided by Nessa are light and comfortable, 

weigh 3 grams and are as small as a 10-cent coin.They are 

almost invisible when worn. This would address any stigma for 

anyone resistant to wear a hearing aid. 

Nessa has created a world’s first – a bundle which includes not 

only hearing aids, but also a combination of attractive lifestyle 

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For more information, please logon to www.nessa.my or call 1800281180 


51

FITNESS Bytes 

One minute of running per day 

associated with better bone 

health in women 

Scientists from the University of Exeter and the University 

of Leicester found those who did "brief bursts" of highintensity, 

weight-bearing activity equivalent to a mediumpaced 

run for pre-menopausal women, or a slow jog for 

post-menopausal women, had better bone health. 

"We don't yet know whether it's better to accumulate this 

small amount of exercise in bits throughout each day or 

all at once, and also whether a slightly longer bout of 

exercise on one or two days per week is just as good as 

1-2 minutes a day," said lead author Dr Victoria Stiles, of 

the University of Exeter. "But there's a clear link between this 

kind of high-intensity, weight-bearing exercise and better 

bone health in women. 

www.sciencedaily.com 

Flip-flops: Fun in the Sun, 

but Tough on Feet 

Flip-flops – the unstructured footwear can cause problems, 

one expert says. 

"Wearing flip-flops is better than going barefoot because 

they do provide some protection for the bottoms of your 

feet, but that's about it," she said. "Flip-flops don't offer any 

arch or heel support, and you have to grip them with your 

toes to keep them on. Wearing them for too long or for the 

wrong activity can cause a lot of different problems," she 

explained. Walking in flip-flops also can alter your natural 

stride, resulting in shin splints, Achilles tendon problems and 

lower back pain. 

health.usnews.com 

Low physical activity 

increases risk of bladder, 

kidney cancer 

Most of us know that physical activity is good for us. But a new study 

shows that a chronic lack of physical activity can drastically increase 

the chance of developing cancer in the bladder and kidneys, and it 

suggests that engaging in more physical activity may reduce this risk. 

Overall, the authors found "evidence of a positive association between 

renal and bladder cancer with lifetime recreational physical inactivity." 

Specifically, they found that those who were physically inactive were 77 

percent more likely to develop renal cancer and 73 percent more likely 

to develop cancer of the bladder. 

A similar risk was found among people with obesity and people with a 

normal body weight – that is, having a body mass index (BMI) of below 30. 

This suggests that leading a sedentary lifestyle is an independent factor that 

influences bladder and renal cancer risk independently of obesity. 

www.medicalnewstoday.com 


PREVENTION & Remedies 

World Alzheimer’s Day 


Alzheimer's 

Watch Out for the 

Warning Signs 

At present, 18 million people worldwide have the disease. By 2020, there will be 34 million. In Malaysia, it 

is estimated that there are currently about 50,000 people with the disease. However, most of them are not 

diagnosed. This is because relatives think that the symptoms displayed are a normal part of growing old and 

thus do not seek medical advice on it. 


53


Alzheimer's Disease affects not only the 

patients themselves, but also profoundly 

changes the lives of family members 

and close friends. Someone they love 

and care for gradually disintegrates as 

a person. Caring for a loved one with 

Alzheimer's Disease is sometimes referred 

to as a "36-hour-a-day" task. However, 

proper understanding of the disease and 

management of the patient can reduce 

the burden considerably and greatly 

improve the quality of life for patients, 

their caregivers and families. 

Alzheimer’s: A Much 

Misunderstood Disease 

Alzheimer's Disease is the most common 

form of dementia. It is NOT a part of 

normal ageing, but a disease involving 

the progressive loss of brain nerve cells. 

Since these nerve cells are essential 

for normal thought, memory and other 

brain functions, people with Alzheimer's 

Disease suffer a decline of mental 

functions which eventually interferes with 

the patient's normal daily activities. 

Over time, Alzheimer's Disease patients 

lose their ability to perform even the 

most basic activities of daily living like 

brushing one's teeth, putting on clothes, 

bathing, etc. In the end, the ability to 

walk and talk may be lost as well. 

Known as the disease of "The Long 

Goodbye", the illness often stretches over 

10 and even 20 years. Despite intensive 

research in recent years, the disease is 

still not yet fully understood, and there is 

still no known cure. 

Who Is At Risk? 

Those most at risk of developing 

Alzheimer's Disease are the elderly, and 

the risk increases with age. According 

to statistics worldwide, one in 20 

of those aged 65 and above have 

Alzheimer's Disease. However, amongst 

those aged 80 and above, one in five 

have Alzheimer's Disease. There is also 

a smaller group of people who may 

develop what is called Early Onset 

Alzheimer's from as young as their 40s or 

even late 30s. 

Warning Signs of 

Alzheimer's Disease 

There are Ten Common Symptoms that 

can serve as a general guideline to help 

identify Alzheimer's Disease sufferers. If 

you think that these problems are affecting 

your daily life, or the life of someone you 

know, you should talk to your doctor, or 

encourage them to talk to theirs. 

Symptoms vary between Alzheimer's 

disease and other types of dementia, but 

there are broad similarities between them 

all. The most common signs are memory 

loss and the loss of practical abilities, 

which can lead to withdrawal from work 

or social activities. 

What to look out for... 

1Memory loss 

Declining memory, especially shortterm 

memory, is the most common early 

symptom of dementia. People with ordinary 

forgetfulness can still remember other 

facts associated with the thing they have 

forgotten. For example, they may briefly 

forget their next-door neighbour's name but 

they still know the person they are talking 

to is their next-door neighbour. A person 

with dementia will not only forget their 

neighbour's name but also the context. 

2Difficulty performing 

familiar tasks 

People with dementia often find it hard 

to complete everyday tasks that are so 

familiar we usually do not think about how 

to do them. A person with dementia may 

not know in what order to put clothes on 

or the steps for preparing a meal. 

3Problems with language 

A person with dementia often forgets 

simple words or substitutes unusual 

words, making speech or writing hard to 

understand. 

4Disorientation to time 

and place 

People with dementia can become lost 

in familiar places such as the road they 

live in, forget where they are or how they 

got there, and not know how to get back 

home. A person with dementia may also 

confuse night and day. 

5Poor or decreased judgement 

People with dementia may dress 

inappropriately, wearing several layers of 

clothes on a warm day or very few on a 

cold day. 



6Problems with keeping track 

of things 

A person with dementia may find it difficult 

to follow a conversation or keep up with 

paying their bills. 

7Misplacing things 

A person with dementia may put things 

in unusual places such as an iron in the 

fridge or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. 

7 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia 

Ageing is the biggest risk factor for dementia and can't be changed. 

There are however lots of things you can do to reduce your risk. It’s up to 

you. You’ll find it easier to adopt a healthier lifestyle if you can build it into 

your normal daily routine. Get your friends and family to support you – or 

better yet, join you. 

Based on the latest research, here are our top tips to reduce your risk of 

dementia. Your risk will be lowest if you can adopt several of these and 

not just one or two. 

1. Keep physically active – for at least 30 minutes, five times a week. 

You’ll need to be active enough to raise your heart rate and get a 

bit out of breath. You could walk, cycle, swim or join an exercise or 

dance group. 

2. Don’t smoke – if you already do smoke, try to stop. By smoking you 

are at a greater risk of developing dementia and harming your lungs, 

heart and circulation. 

8Changes in mood or behaviour 

A person with dementia may become 

unusually emotional and experience rapid 

mood swings for no apparent reason. 

Alternatively a person with dementia may 

show less emotion than was usual previously. 

9Changes in personality 

A person with dementia may seem 

different from his or her usual self in ways 

that are difficult to pinpoint. A person may 

become suspicious, irritable, depressed, 

apathetic or anxious and agitated especially 

in situations where memory problems are 

causing difficulties. 

Loss of initiative 

10 A person with dementia may become 

very passive, sitting in front of the television for 

hours, sleeping more than usual, or appear to 

lose interest in hobbies. 

If you are experiencing any of these 

symptoms or are concerned about a friend 

or relative, visit your doctor and discuss 

your concerns. 

3. Eat a healthy balanced diet – A healthy diet has a high proportion 

of oily fish, fruit, vegetables, unrefined cereals and olive oil, and low 

levels of red meat and sugar. Such a diet will help reduce your risk of 

dementia and heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Try to cut down 

on saturated fat (eg cakes, biscuits, most cheeses) and limit sugary treats. 

Keep an eye on your salt intake too, because salt raises your blood 

pressure and risk of stroke. Read food labels to see what’s in them and 

seek out healthier options. 

4. Keep your alcohol within recommended limits – this is the same as 

four or five large glasses of wine, or seven pints of beer or lager with a 

lower alcohol content. Regularly exceeding these weekly limits increases 

your dementia risk. 

5. Take control of your health – If you’re invited for a regular mid-life 

health check at the doctor’s, be sure to go. It’s like an ‘MOT’ for your 

body and will include a check of your blood pressure, weight and maybe 

cholesterol level. These are linked to dementia and conditions that are 

strong risk factors for dementia (heart disease, stroke and diabetes). 

6. Keep to a healthy weight – this will reduce your risk of type 2 

diabetes, stroke and heart disease – and hence probably of dementia. A 

good place to start is to follow the advice on exercise and diet. Keep a 

diary of your food intake and exercise for each day, and remember that 

alcohol contains hidden calories. 

7. Give your brain a daily workout – This could be reading, doing 

puzzles, word searches or crosswords, playing cards or learning 

something new – maybe another language. If you can keep your mind 

active you are likely to reduce your risk of dementia. There is a bit less 

evidence, but keeping socially engaged and having a good social 

network may also reduce your dementia risk. Visit people or have them 

visit you, join a club or volunteer. 

References: 

www.adfm.org.my 

www.alzheimers.org.uk 

www.alz.co.uk 


55

NEWS & Events 

Nutriva Launches Oliferin ® 

Vascolive As It Celebrates 7th 

Year Anniversary 

16 June: Nutriva International Sdn Bhd celebrated its 7th year 

anniversary with the launch of a new olive-based product 

on the market – Oliferin® Vascolive. The product contains 

premium natural ingredients, including olive extract (OleaA), 

pomegranate fruit extract (Pomanox ®), ginkgo biloba extract 

(Ginkgolon-24®) and black pepper extract (Bioperine®). It 

is traditionally used for improving blood circulation. Nutriva 

presented the new innovative product that comes with an 

attractive packaging design. Armed with a healthy dose 

of insight, Nutriva will develop more health products and 

supplements for the community. 

Landmark Clinical Study Proves 

Efficacy of Probiotics 

22 May: The topline results of a landmark Clinical Study Research 

by PPUKM, which focused on exploring how probiotics (in the 

form of cultured milk drinks that containLactobacillus Acidophilus 

and Lactobacillus casei) affected the overall health of Malaysian 

research subjects against the local backdrop of Malaysian diet and 

lifestyle habits, has shown positive gut health benefits. 

The research team, led by Principle Investigator and Consultant 

Gastroenterologist, Assoc Professor Dr Raja Affendi Raja Ali, 

will continue to monitor and record the results of the study until its 

completion. Professor Dr Raja Affendi shares, “The results of this 

study clearly prove that probiotics, in the form of Lactobacillus 

Acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei, are clearly effective in 

promoting better overall digestive health. Not only did the patients 

in our study report improved ITT, but there was also a significant 

improvement in the symptoms of constipation among them. The 

early results also seem to indicate a positive influence in their 

immune status.” 

Visit http://digestivehealthmalaysia.org 

Campaign for better digestion “It’s Better 

with Yakult” throughout fasting month 

20 May: Yakult joined forces with their brand ambassadors, SchaAlyahya, 

AwalAshaari and their daughter Lara Alana brings festive cheer to the public 

at Aeon Big Wangsa Maju Shopping Centre. More than 300 people turned 

up at the venue. Everyone enjoyed the arranged activities which include 

cooking demonstration and fun quizzes. Yakult merchandise and Aeon Big 

pay card were given away to the lucky winners. Besides the Yakult health 

drinks, leaflets with tips on healthy eating during Ramadan and the Raya 

festive season as well as Raya packets was given out on first come first serve 

basis while stocks last to the shoppers. 

This activity was in line with Yakult’s corporate philosophy which is preventive 

medicine (the concept of prevention is better than cure), healthy intestines 

lead to long life and delivering good health to as many people as possible. 


NEWS & Events 

It’s Your Life, Why Take a Chance 

4 July: The ‘It’s Your Life, Why Take a Chance’ campaign is calling for Malaysian women to take action 

by protecting themselves against cervical cancer. The campaign which is organised by the National 

Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) together with Merck Sharp & Dohme (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (MSD) aims 

to equip women with knowledge on cervical cancer so that they are educated on this preventable cancer 

which will then allow them to take charge of their health. 

In Malaysia, cervical cancer is among the top threemost common cancers and the fifth cause of cancer deaths among women. About 2,145 

women in the country are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 621 of them die from the disease every year, based on estimates from 2012 . 

Two popular personalities, Marion Caunter, a TV personality, and Choo Mei Sze, PhD Developmental Psychology and Youth Ambassador 

for NCSM ,have also come forward as campaign ambassadors to lend their support and inspire more Malaysian women by sharing their 

motivations in supporting this cause through their social media platforms. 

Check out www.itsyourlife.net 

Out With The Myths, In With 

The Facts 

21 June: ‘Busting the myths’, an educational initiative 

by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Malaysia 

(GSK), brought medical experts and members of the 

media to an open discussion about paracetamol, in 

order to separate fact from fiction. 

“For almost 60 years, GSK has been committed to 

providing consumer products that help people do more, 

feel better and live longer. As a leading consumer 

healthcare company in Malaysia, it is our responsibility 

in addition to providing pain relief solutions to ensure 

that our consumers are given the right information 

about paracetamol ‒ information that is scientifically 

accurate and grounded in facts ‒ to ensure that it is used 

appropriately and responsibly.” said Dr Thravin Nathan, 

Area Medical Director – South East Asia, Japan & 

Korea, GSK Consumer Healthcare. 

“We are delighted to be working alongside leading 

experts who are united in the goal to educate and 

empower individuals in the way in which they manage 

their pain, and to promote credible medical advice 

to members of the public. GSK supports the efforts by 

groups such as MedTweetMY and Medical Mythbusters 

Malaysia who have taken to the various social media 

platforms to educate Malaysians and debunk medicalrelated 

myths.” adds Dr Thravin. 

Dettol’s new range cleanses 

deep into pores for skin 

protection 

12 July: As a trusted germ protection 

brand for families around the world, 

Dettol launched its latest variant to 

provide skin protection by cleaning 

deep into the pores. 

Available in both body wash and 

bar soap, the Dettol Deep Cleanse 

range contains 100% natural apricot 

micro-scrubbing beads for satisfying exfoliation of dead skin 

cells, leaving complexion bright and renewed. As the formula 

removes grime, pollutants and germs thoroughly from skin, 

families will also enjoy its lasting fruity fragrance. 

Better skin health protection is now accessible to everyone. 

The Dettol Deep Cleanse Body Wash is available at all major 

pharmacies and supermarkets. The size choices include 225ml 

at RM6.90and 850ml at RM20.25. The 800ml refill pack is 

priced at RM15.67. Alternatively, the Dettol Deep Cleanse Bar 

Soap retails at RM10.45 for 105g (comes in packs of 3+1). 

10October 

World Mental 

Health Day 

18October 

World 

Menopause Day 

25October 

Lung Health Day 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

12October 

World Sight Day 

20October 

World 

Osteoporosis Day 

October 

Breast Cancer 

Awareness Month 


57

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