Canon launched the PowerShot G1 X (left), a new prosumer compact camera for photography enthusiasts seeking the best in imaging. The new flagship camera in the PowerShot series inherits technologies from Canon’s EOS range of DSLRs, such as the new 1.5-inch, 14.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and the DIGIC 5 image processor contributing to Canon’s high-sensitivity (HS system) for stunning image quality.  Along with advanced optics, a maximum ISO speed of 12,800, and Intelligent Image Stabiliser (IS), the PowerShot G1 X is the perfect instrument for those who want the power of an EOS camera in a smaller package.

The new PowerShot G1 X also records full HD video (1080p) at 24 frames per second (fps) with stereo sound, via a dedicated movie recording start/stop button. Taking full advantage of the camera’s large CMOS sensor, high ISO capabilities, and full digital zoom at recording, users can experience high-quality movies, even in low light conditions. The movies are easily viewable on a HDTV via the camera’s built-in HDMI terminal or downloadable to a computer via USB.

With a 3” Vari-angle LCD monitor at a high resolution of 922,000 dots, users can innovatively frame their shots, by flipping the monitor out and swiveling it at almost all angles for easy viewing, whether it is a high or low-angle shot. The PowerShot G1 X’s optical viewfinder also zooms in and out along with the lens, providing users with accurate points of reference to frame their shot.

The PowerShot G1 X will be available in early March at authorised Canon dealers at the recommended retail price of S$999.

The Japanese have come up with a unique product that helps skin problems including dryness and pigmentation. Ichirô Yamamoto was living with his mother in her 70s and owns a horse range. Mrs Yamamoto suffered from very dry, tight and pigmented skin due to the cold and dry weather and often, her skin would crack during the harsh winter.

In the recent years, the Japanese have taken a liking for Basashi (horse sashimi). Mrs Yamamoto would cut the horsemeat into smaller portions and sell them to the sashimi bar restaurants. She realised in doing so that the skin on her fingers, palm and hands had improved tremendously and they no longer had the painful itchiness. She discovered that the natural horse oil flowing out had moisturised and nourished her hands. Ichirô then teamed up with a dermatologist to come up with a viable product (which besides horse oil has a natural patented active ingredient to target skin problems like dryness and pigmentation) called Gokujo Bahyu (above, left), which is now available in Singapore. This cream is not meant for the hair or to be taken orally.

The premium horse oil in the product contains oleic acid, linoleic acid and palmitic acid, which are similar to human serum. It penetrates into human skin, and moisturises, nourishes and revitalises the skin. It also promotes skin metabolism to slow down ageing. Formulated with arbutin and Vitamin C, it effectively purifies and clarifies the skin. It is not advisable to use when there is open wound. The product has already been featured in the Chinese newspapers.

Currently there is a promotion going on till end February, where you can get an S$5 rebate on the product, simply by sending an SMS to Club MYN’s number 98317887. The product, which costs S$43.80 (with rebate), is being sold at all 40 ZPT outlets in Singapore.  

BY: Edna Lam

The Lims at their sundry shop.

Lim Tian Lye, 81, (left) and Toh Kwee Eng, 80, took the limelight at an event “Buggy Buggy Love by the Lake” on January 1, 2012 for being the couple who have logged 60 years of marriage, the longest among all the 33 participating couples. The event was organised by the Family Life Champions of Boon Lay, Chua Chu Kang, Pioneer, Yew Tee and Yuhua Divisions to celebrate marriage and foster closer family ties in the community.

What was planned as an interview by Agelessonline with the octogenarian couple on the secrets of marriage and long-lasting love, turned out to be much more than that! Glimpses of the Lims’ lives over six decades spun a colourful and inspirational chronicle of the spirit of survival against all odds and the ultimate sacrifices made for the family good in an era of much greater economic hardships:

The fateful meeting

Married on June 27, 1952, and after 10 children (four sons and six daughters), 15 grandchildren and three great grandchildren, Lim and Toh shared the story of their lives at their sundry shop Tian Hoe Farm Product Trading in Bukit Batok.

“Before he asked my parents for my hand two years after meeting me, I hadn’t even noticed him and hardly knew him!” said the petite but spunky Toh with a stern smile. In 1950, Lim and Toh were studying in the same secondary school, one in day class and the other in the evening one. “I went to his evening class to help teach the students to use the abacus which I was very good at. Apparently he already had his eyes on me at that time. In those days, people were much more conservative, I was only 18 and was not interested in boys or going out. In fact, I never went out with him and we never visited each other’s homes before we were married!” Toh said emphatically.

After two years of such courtship at a distance, Lim proposed through Toh’s parents who agreed and thus began their 60 years of life together.

Singapore in the 1950s and 60s was not the same city as we live in now. Post-war Singapore was strife with political and social turbulence as well as racial tension. The city-state and its masses were struggling with a host of economic problems such as mass unemployment, housing shortage, proper urban development and generally, low standard of living. The early days of the Lims’ marriage encapsulated the trials and tribulations of those bygone days.

If pigs can fly

When asked about the most memorable moments in their 60-year marriage, instead of the typical anecdotes of romance and love, Toh reminisced pragmatically, “The most unforgettable and hardest moment happened four months after we were married. My husband was still very young and wasn’t working after finishing school and getting married. We were living with his large extended family of six people when one day, his uncle, the kampong chief, ordered us to split away from the family, to go out and find work to support ourselves.”

Before they left, Lim’s third uncle wanted to give them a sow as a means of livelihood and asked Toh to draw lots to choose one among the few. “I picked an extremely productive sow that bore 15 piglets which we sold and managed to make some money when we first set out on our own.” After the first pig got old, Toh’s mother gave her another pig, which turned out to be equally productive. “We felt extremely blessed,” said Toh.

To live …

The Lims' wedding.

In the 1950s and 60s, the Lims spent much of the two decades toiling over multiple jobs and finding all sorts of ingenious ways to make ends meet to support their rapidly expanding family. Home was in Choa Chu Kang in those days, and the young couple ran a stall in a nearby factory selling food to the workers. At the same time, they also sold coffee powder; they picked up duck feathers from poultry farms and resold them; and they even took photos from people to have them replicated as paintings, charging a fee. They worked all through the day and night and hardly slept. While they were at work at the factory, their expanding brood of children were mobilised to look after the makeshift sundry shop that they also ran from their kampong home.

“At that time, my mother was very dark and thin from all that hard and harsh daily labour and not eating much. She has sacrificed a lot for the family,” testified their eldest son Lim Thiam Seng.

Said Toh: “Despite the hardship in those days, I still felt very blessed. While we were in Choa Chu Kang, we had really good neighbours who comforted me when they knew how desperately we were trying to make ends meet.” It was not easy rearing 10 children in such hard times, but Toh never for one moment thought of giving up. “There were people who asked to adopt some of my children, it was a common thing to do back in those days. For me, it was not an option to give away my children.”

Life improved for the family in the 1970s when the children had grown up and started working, taking some of the burden off their parents.

Through thick & thin

Back to the age-old question of how they managed to stay together for 60 years, Toh shared some of her words of wisdom: “One can’t have too many expectations in life, or you are bound to be disappointed. ‘Face’ is important to us too. Even though life was hard in those days, our minds were just set on one thing – to survive and bring up the family no matter what the circumstances were. Our labour has definitely paid off. I believe such is life – after all the bitterness, sweetness will come. To see our children having grown up into healthy and happy individuals is my greatest happiness.”

For Lim, who is the more quiet and subdued of the two, marriage is about “give and take”. ”Over the years, I have learned to increasingly appreciate my wife and what she has endured for the family. For a marriage to last, there needs to be common understanding, respect and tolerance. My mantra has always been not to take things to heart or take things too seriously, especially the things one says during an argument.”

For the Lims, retirement is not on the cards. They live upstairs from their sundry shop which they have been running every day from 4.30am to 7pm for the past 26 years without rest, except on the first day of Chinese New Year every year.

“We have customers who have been coming to us since they were young children. They are all grown-up now but some are still in the neighbourhood. We have customers of all races whom we see every day. They are our friends, this is our life,” Toh said with a smile and the greatest sense of contentment and happiness spilling out from the corners of her eyes.

BY: Yen Fang

Kidney cancer is a relatively uncommon cancer and historically accounts for only about three percent of all cancer incidences. However, worldwide incidence is increasing by about two percent to three percent per year and in the US, 39,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2006 alone. In Singapore, the incidence is 5.4 per 100,000 per year, according to the Singapore Cancer Registry. The rates locally have also approximately doubled over the last 35 years, according to Molly Lim’s doctor, Dr Tiong Ho Yee (seen left with Lim), consultant, Department of Urology, National University Hospital.

In addition, the mortality rate from metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) kidney cancer per unit population seems to be rising with 13,000 reported deaths in 2006 in the US. It is now considered to be the most lethal urologic cancer in the US. In Singapore, the age-adjusted cancer specific mortality is 2.4 per 100,000 per year for men and 1.3 per 100,000 per year.

Agelessonline talks to Dr Tiong about the symptoms and treatments, as well as re-occurrence:

What are the symptoms, causes and factors?

In early cases, patients often do not complain of any symptoms. With increased screening being performed such as X-rays, ultrasound and CT scans, most small renal cancers are being picked up incidentally at very early stages and these patients will not have any symptoms. In the late stages, patients are classically described as presenting with loin pain, loin swelling (lump) and blood in the urine (haematuria), fatigue, weight loss, and pain or a mass on the side or lower back. This presentation is less common today. 

With regards to causes, a small number of kidney cancers may be hereditary, especially in families with a history of kidney cancers; otherwise most cancers are termed as sporadic. This means that there is no known cause; however, the incidence of kidney cancer is higher in smokers and in patients with kidney failure on long-term dialysis. Age is not a cause but an association and kidney cancers, like most other cancers, more commonly occur in the elderly than the young.

Can it be prevented?

At the moment, there are no current established, preventative measures for kidney cancer. However, healthy living is important and as smoking is a known association, not smoking is probably the best preventative measure one can take.

What kinds of treatments are available for those with cancer of the kidney?

The treatment for kidney cancer depends on the stage of the kidney cancer and also needs to be individualised for each patient depending on their health condition. For small cancers less than 4cm, these are amenable to partial nephrectomy – where only part of the kidney with the kidney cancer is excised/removed. The remaining kidney is then repaired with the result of preserving as much residual kidney function as possible. For partial nephrectomy, the surgery may be open wound or minimally invasive using key-hole laparoscopic or robotic surgery, depending on the location of the cancer on the kidney.

For larger kidney cancers, the entire kidney needs to be removed (radical or total nephrectomy) to achieve the best cancer control. This can again be done either via an open wound or using key-hole laparoscopic surgery. The advantage of key-hole or robotic surgery over open surgery is a quicker recovery and less pain, but it needs to depend on the suitability of the case.

In patients whereby the cancer has been shown to have spread to other organs, there may still be a role for surgery but will need to be used in combination with chemotherapy agents.

What is the likelihood of kidney cancer re-occurring?

The likelihood of kidney cancer recurring or progressing after nephrectomy for initial presumed localised cancer depends on the stage of the kidney cancer. If the initial stage is Stage 1 (meaning that the tumours are less than 8cm in size), then 90 percent will remain disease-free at five years. If the initial stage is Stage 2 (more than 8cm) or Stage 3 (involving major veins), 25 percent of patients would have disease progression by five years. If the tumor is Stage 4, then less than 25 percent would be disease-free at five years. This is according to data from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in 2008. 

Metastatic kidney cancers traditionally present a bleak outlook with less than 50 percent of patients surviving more than a year after diagnosis. One reason is that renal cell carcinoma (the most common type of kidney cancer in adults) is resistant to chemotherapeutic agents that have yielded response rates of less than five percent. However, over the last two to three years, targeted molecular agents such as Sorefenib (Bayer and Onyx Pharmaceuticals), Sunitinib (Pfizer) and others have arrived on the market as effective treatments of advanced kidney cancers.

These micromolecular drugs are enzyme inhibitors and they selectively inhibit proteins whose functions include stimulation of blood vessel growth, which kidney cancers are dependent on for growth. When compared to placebo, progression free survival was significantly greater for metastatic kidney cancer patients treated with these agents. As these new agents are orally taken, patients are not admitted to the hospital for administration. Now, more than ever, the outlook for metastatic kidney cancer is looking brighter despite higher mortality in the past years.

Are there side effects to these new medications?

Side effects include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, anaemia, low white cell count as well as inflammation of hands and feet as well as mucous membranes. Therefore, careful monitoring and follow-up is needed for side effects’ assessment and managment.

In what way are they better than the traditional treatment of chemotherapy?

The response of kidney cancers to these new agents are significantly better than traditional chemotherapy with resultant better survival.

With a removal of one kidney, can a person still enjoy a full life? What do they need to keep in mind with one kidney? Do they have to take medication the rest of their lives? What about chemo or even dialysis?

In patients with the removal of the entire kidney for cancer, he or she can still enjoy a full life after recovering from the initial post operative phase. It is important to protect the other kidney from deteriorating in function as this is the only remaining kidney. It has been shown that patients with solitary kidney have greater worsening renal function in the presence of other medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia. Hence, careful control of one’s blood pressure is important with regular checks, appropriate blood pressure medications and controlled dietary salt intake.

For patients with diabetes, sugar control needs to be optimised and high cholesterol and lipid levels can be managed with dietary controls and exercise, and medication if necessary. In patients who are healthy otherwise with no other medical conditions (such as healthy patients who have donated their kidneys for transplantation), medication may not be needed at all. If kidney function is well preserved, dialysis will not be needed.

There have been kidney transplants in the past. If one can live well on one kidney, why is a transplant then necessary?

Kidney transplants are not indicated if a patient has a functioning kidney. It may be necessary if the remaining kidney, after removal of the opposite one, fails completely. In these cases, transplants are only possible if the patient is cancer-free for more than five years.

Can someone survive on even half a kidney?

Patients with cancer in a solitary kidney (after they have lost the other kidney beforehand through surgery or disease) will need an obligatory partial nephrectomy to be performed and may result in this situation of half a kidney. In general with half a kidney, a patient will not have a completely normal kidney function but may have adequate function for survival without the need for dialysis.

TO SEE PART 1 of this story – go here.

** WRITER’S NOTE: The cancer medications are extremely costly. It is vital that people get insurance as without it, people would have to pay out-of-pocket.

3M has launched a new polarizing LED lamp. Featuring a sleeker and more compact design, the new LED2000 sports a curved lamp body with arms that that are highly flexible, can tilt at multiple angles and close fully to save space. Coupled with 3M’s proprietary polarising light filter, which is capable of reducing up to 80 percent glare and harmful UV rays, to promote optimal reading comfort. The LED2000 is not only good for the eyes, but also adds style to any living space.

Besides the seven adjustable brightness levels that allow users to customise the amount of light for any activity, the new LED2000 also features a new mood lighting function. It comes with two levels to create a soothing and warm environment.

The LED2000 is now available at S$309. Find it at leading retailers such as Best Denki, Home-Fix and Popular bookstores.

Seize the day! This phrase is often used to encourage people to enjoy life before it is too late. Molly Lim (left) is one such person. At 70, she has endured a kidney removal operation and knows the need to bounce back from a tough experience. She shared with Agelessonline her experiences and looking forward:

How did you discover that you had cancer of the kidney?

It happened on October 30, 2010. Early that morning, I discovered some blood in the urine. As I did not feel any pain, I thought it was not serious enough to cancel my plans which included taking part in a 10km marathon in Singapore the following day.

I proceeded to take the bus from Kuala Lumpur (where I live) to Singapore. However half way enroute to Singapore, I felt excruciating pain. Arrangements were then made for an ambulance to pick me up at the Singapore Customs Checkpoint to bring me to the nearest hospital which was the National University Hospital (NUH).

Did you have any symptoms or knew anything was wrong with you?

There was no symptoms until that fateful day.   

When they discovered you had a mass in your kidney, what was your reaction?

The CT scan showed a gigantic growth in the kidney. When the doctor/surgeon told me that I needed to remove my left kidney, I started to cry. I collapsed, totally shell-shocked. Fortunately, my two daughters and son-in-law were with me when the bad news were told.  I decided, with the evidence presented, that I should not procrastinate further but to take action speedily.

You had a chance to return to KL for a short time before the impending operation. How did you use your time?

After receiving a jab (to deal with the pain) at the emergency ward in NUH, I felt better. I was almost back to normal. Without delay, I took the first plane back to Kuala Lumpur (Petaling Jaya) and for the next two days, I tried to clear some unfinished business – issued cheques for contractors (the house was being renovated at that time), cleared my bills, etc.

Friends were in a state of shock, as they were not expecting a person like me who is a health-nut to face such a dilemma. I received much support from my friends and relatives. Many Christian and even Buddhist prayers were made on my behalf – from two pastors and several friends.

You also did homework on your doctor too. How is all this important?

Once the news broke about my tumour, my classmates and daughter rallied around me. They wanted the best treatment and so they went around checking the surgeon’s credentials and getting various confirmations including from the CEO of the hospital and his two buddies. It was quite embarrassing having to inform him of our ‘research’ but it did the trick, I received VIP treatment!

Finally, I rushed back to Singapore to re-do my Will and burial arrangements, just in case I did not make it through the operation!

How long was your surgery and what did they discover?

I never expected the surgery to take seven hours. The tumour mass weighed over a kilogram. The biopsy results showed that the tumour was cancerous and luckily it was contained within the kidney.

The incision was very large, it went from the left to right of my tummy. The Chinese word ‘ren’ is now literally stitched on my tummy!  

How was your recovery and how long?

I took only a month to recover. The many years of exercise and diet played a big part in my recovery. I do regular workouts in the gym and have gone hiking, backpacking and even skiing plus my diet contains mainly vegetables.

The surgeon was surprised that my organs were not “antique” enough considering my age.  The rest of my organs, apart from my left kidney are very healthy, according to what he said. After my surgery, my friends were pleasantly surprised as I appeared fresh and not like a person who had recently undergone a major operation. I even got back a bit of my weight!

Any history of cancer in your family?

On my side of the family, there has been no incidence of cancer. Many of them lived to a ripe old age.

What lessons did you learn from the whole experience?

After such a major operation, I was grounded for several months. I started to take stock of my life. For the last two years, my life was overwhelmed with stress. I was literally living on edge and could only unwind when I was on vacations. I have always been an independent woman, a loner some would say. But this trauma has brought me closer to the family – my daughters and son-in-law.

What now lies ahead?

I will continue my same healthy regime, maybe try to increase my vegetable intake to 99 percent from 95 percent.  I will continue to go for my regular medical checkups and screening.

Would you like to add anything else?

The Lord above has given me a chance to live. I shall not fail to treasure this life and continue to extend the betterment of others. Thanks to all, relatives, family, hospital staff and friends who have provided me a lot of help through that period. Without them I could not survive through this “tsunami”.

** UPDATE: Before Christmas last year, Lim had her one-year checkup and the doctor at NUH discovered that her cancer did spread to other parts of her organs, including her brain. However, the majority are small tumours and her doctors (including an oncologist, urology surgeon and neuro-surgeon) are optimistic that they can be controlled by a new medication. She has since gone for the non-invasive procedure Gamma Knife which took around two hours to radiate the two tumours in her brain. She continues to be remain positive. Lim is Agelessonline’s director/founder/editor’s mother. On top of her tumours, she also has a blot clot near her heart which she is currently taking blood thinners.

The Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) will celebrate World Cancer Day on February 4, 2012 with the message that “Cancer can be prevented” and a reminder to the public to go for regular cancer screening.

The logo for SCS’s World Cancer Day participation features a lilac-coloured ribbon, which represents all cancers and general cancer awareness. The Society will be distributing 50,000 bookmarks with its World Cancer Day logo and messaging through polyclinics and at events that SCS will be participating in (see below for details).

Celebrated each year on February 4, World Cancer Day is a reminder of the disease, which is the most common cause of death in Singapore, responsible for one in every four deaths. Worldwide, the disease kills 7.6 million people each year, according to the number of deaths due to cancer in 2008 by the World Health Organization.

Prevention

However, many types of cancer can be prevented by following a healthy lifestyle and through the avoidance of risk factors which include tobacco and alcohol use as well as excessive exposure to sunlight and pollutants. Besides avoiding cancer risk factors, regular cancer screening is advised in order to detect cancer at an early stage.

The early detection of cancer offers more effective treatment and better chances of a cure. To encourage regular screening, SCS offers the following free screening services as well as screening subsidies when it conducts various cancer awareness campaigns:

• Faecal Occult Blood Test kit (a preliminary screening test for colorectal cancer).
• Pap smear (a screening test for cervical cancer).
• Physical breast examination and the teaching of self-breast examination by SCS doctors.

Message to the masses

To celebrate World Cancer Day, SCS has partnered various cancer-concerned institutions in the following events to bring the cancer message to the population:

1. Awareness of the Life before Death – In conjunction with the premier screening of the award-winning documentary which was funded by the Lien Foundation, 50 volunteers and staff from SCS including cancer survivors will take to the streets at Orchard Road (public areas near Dhoby Ghaut and City Hall MRT stations), Raffles Place and Tanjong Pagar Road on February 1, 2012 to distribute pens in the form of syringes. These syringe pens serve as a reminder of the 7.6 million people worldwide who die from cancer each year, of which, a vast majority lives in the Third World and have no access to pain medication, according to the World Health Organization.
2. Singapore Slingers Game – The Singapore Slingers will dedicate its game on February 1, 2012 against the San Miguel Beermen from the Philippines to World Cancer Day. During the game, jerseys and other memorabilia will be auctioned to benefit SCS.
3. National Healthcare Group Polyclinics Supports World Cancer Day 2012 – The National Healthcare Group Polyclinics will be distributing giveaways from 1 to 10 February 2012. Members of the public who wish to make donations to SCS can drop their donations in the donation boxes placed in the following polyclinics: Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Clement, Hougang, Jurong Toa Payoh, Woodlands and Yishun.
4. National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) World Cancer Day 2012 Celebration – National University Cancer Institute, Singapore celebrates World Cancer Day with an activity packed morning on February 3, 2012 from 9am to 1pm. There will be cancer prevention information, food, games, balloon sculpting, face painting and goodie bags (for the first 200) plus a special performance by popular DJ Billy Wang at 11.15am.

For more information, please visit: www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg.

3M has launched the new Safety Walk Anti-Slip Floor Stickers (left and below, right) which feature four colour creations depicting animals and clover-leaf designs that fit a variety of age groups and preferences, as well as a clear design which blends into the existing home décor. This anti-slip solution was created with safety in mind and is targeted at a number of groups including the elderly. They can be placed in accident-prone areas like the bathroom or the kitchen.

According to an article released in 2009 in the “Singapore Medical Journal”, a study conducted over a six-month period on elderly injuries seen in a Singapore emergency department revealed that home injuries were the most common reason for consultation. A whopping 85.3 percent of these injuries were due to falls. And many of these injuries can be prevented.

The Safety Walk Anti-Slip Floor Stickers have a comfortable, small grit texture on its surface. Once adhered, its durable adhesive sticker does not allow it to be peeled off easily, enhancing safely and making the sticker resilient for extended periods of use.

The 3M Safety Walk Anti-Slip Floor Stickers come in a wide variety of designs featuring clover leafs, land and sea animals. They are available at S$13.80 for a 4-piece pack. Each piece comes in a size of 13cm x 13cm. Find it at leading hypermarkets and DIY stores.

Accu-Chek Performa meter (left) stands out from the crowd as it needs the smallest blood sample size compared to many other meters and it takes only five seconds to get the results. It is easy-to-read, with a large display and has an easy-to-handle, quick-fill test strip. Other unique features – it is designed to recognise and adjust for temperature and humidity variables, and checks for strip damage and alerts the user when the strip is under-dosed. The Performa meter comes with the Accu-Check Multiclix (left) which features no side-to-side motion thereby minimising pain, 11 depth settings for maximum comfort, and six lancets in one drum so you never see or handle needles again.

Accu-Chek Performa meter bundled with 50 test strips and 24 lancets cost S$138 (inclusive of GST) and the Accu-Chek Performa meter bundled with 25 test strips cost S$118 (inclusive of GST). They can be purchased at all major pharmacies islandwide including at Guardian, Unity and Watsons, as well as leading hospital retail pharmacy stores (KKH, KTPH, TTSH, SGH, NUH, CGH and AH) and at Mustafa.

BY: Mayura Mohta

Here are the top 10 antioxidant-rich foods:

(Source: “The New Optimum Nutrition Bible” by Patrick Holford)

Colors of the rainbow – antioxidant recommendations

1) Color me GREEN

Soup Away – Detox combo – spinach soup with basil and dill

Ingredients:
2 onions
3 potatoes
1/2 cup minced dill
10 basil leaves
juice of 1 lemon
120ml soy/rice milk
2 tbsp agave nectar
500 gms spinach
4 cloves of garlic
a pinch of salt and pepper.

Method:

• Boil all ingredients except lemon juice, agave, salt and pepper.
• When soft, cool and blend till smooth.
• Add the remaining ingredients and serve hot.

TIP: Spinach is high in iron and contains beta carotene, ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid), and other phytochemicals.

2) Color me RED

Roasted not Raw – Side Dish – roasted plum tomatoes (right) with garlic.

Ingredients:
8 Roma tomatoes, halved
12 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
5 bay leaves
3 tbsp fresh oregano
2 tbsp fresh basil
salt & pepper

Method:

• Lightly oil a baking dish and place the halved tomatoes.
• Push garlic cloves between them.
• Brush tomatoes with olive oil and stick bay leaves in between them.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes.
• When the tomatoes are soft, remove and sprinkle with oregano and basil.

TIP: Tomatoes are high in lycopene, ALA, beta-carotene and other phytochemicals.

3) Color me YELLOW

Cold sun – Dessert – mango saffron mousse

Ingredients:

250 gms cubed mangoes
350 gms organic silken tofu
50 gms brown sugar
3 drops of saffron extract

Method:

• Blend all the ingredients till smooth and refrigerate for one hour.
• Before serving, garnish with raisins, pomegranate seeds or chopped pistachios.

TIP: Mangoes are high in vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and other phytochemicals.

4) Color me BLUE

Spread it – Sauce – blueberry spread/dip

Ingredients:
2.5 cups blueberries
1.5 cups brown sugar
½ cup red wine vinegar
2 tbsp minced ginger
1 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp minced shallot
salt & pepper

Method:

• Place all ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat till the blueberries have broken down and the sauce has thickened.
• Cool and store in glass jars in the refrigerator.

TIP: Blueberries are high in vitamin C, folate, iron, limonene, beta-carotene and other phytochemicals.

5) Color me ORANGE

Soothing salad – Salad – refreshing citrus salad

1 bunch of chopped kale leaves
2 oranges peeled and separated into wedges
1 red grapefruit
1 sliced red onion
1/2 tsp red chili flakes
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp agave nectar/syrup
zest from 1 orange
juice from 1 lime
2 tbsp pine nuts

Method:

• Add the kale, orange, grapefruit, onion, chili flakes and pine nuts to a large bowl and set aside.
• In another bowl whisk together the orange juice, lime juice, vinegar and agave nectar/syrup.
• Pour the mixture over the salad ingredients and toss gently to coat evenly.
• Serve garnished with orange zest.

TIP: Oranges are high in vitamin C, beta-carotene, calcium and other phytochemicals.

6) Color me PINK

Silky smoothie – Drink – mixed berry non-dairy breakfast smoothie

Ingredients:
2 cups mixed berries
1 cup mango
1 tbsp pre-soaked goji berries
1 tsp flaxmeal
2 tbsp oats/brown rice powder
6 pre-soaked dates
250 ml filtered water and some ice

Method:

• Blend all ingredients till smooth.
• Add ice cubes and blend once more.
• Serve chilled with a mint garnish.

TIP: Berries especially strawberries are rich in vitamin C, folate, anthocyanins and other phytochemicals.

Juice me up – 10 best antioxidant combos

1. Arthritis – Blend together 3 medium carrots + 2 to 3 celery stalks + 4 oz cabbage
2. Anti-Senility – Blend together 2 medium apples + 1 cup prunes + 1 tbsp noni juice
3. Osteoporosis – Blend together 1 cup watercress + ½ cup parsley + 2 celery stalks + 2 big carrot
4. Flatulence – Blend together juice of 1 lemon + 1-inch ginger +1 medium orange + ½ medium papaya
5. Eye disorders – Blend together 4 medium carrots+1/4 bunch spinach + 1 to 2 garlic cloves
6. Ear disorders – Blend together 3 medium carrots + 1 bunch watercress + 1 oz ginger root + 1 oz turmeric
7. Hypertension (high blood pressure) – Blend together 1 medium cucumber + 3 medium carrots + 1/4 bunch parsley + 1/4 head lettuce + 1 to 2 garlic cloves
8. Insomnia – Blend together 3 medium carrots + 1 to 2 celery stalks + 1/2 head lettuce
9. Menopause – Blend together ½ cup blackcurrants + 1 cup purple grapes + 1 medium apple
10. Viral infections – Blend together 3 celery stalks + 3 medium carrots + 1/2 medium beet + 2garlic cloves + 1/2 tsp turmeric powder

(Source: Adapted from “Juice Alive” by Steven Bailey and Larry Trivieri)

Tips for improving your antioxidant potential

• Eats 8 to 10 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables especially berries, spinach, carrots, kale, broccoli (left), etc. every week.

• Use herbs and spices regularly for flavouring and garnishing.

• Consult a doctor and take a multivitamin-multimineral supplement daily.

• Try to avoid eating barbequed or fried food; avoid smoking or being in polluted places and under direct sunlight.

• Exercise in moderation and do deep breathing.

Mayura Mohta is a biochemist and microbiologist, who founded social enterprise Healthfriend in 2010. The organization seeks to promote wise eating choices and healthy nutritional habits within the community for sustainable wellness and a better quality of life. It does this through nutrition workshops and seminars that bust common food myths. Profits generated are ploughed back into the local community, through various charities in Singapore and India that support malnourished and underprivileged children.

(** Photos: Pitted prunes, stock.xchng, CWMGary; Healthy green broccoli vegetables, stock.xchng, lockstockb; and Garden (tomatoes), stock.xchng, djackson44.)
 

** TO SEE PART 1, go here.