It is mandatory that we clean our kitchen regularly. It is the place where we prepare the food that we eat and serve to our families so it is compulsory to keep it clean as well as the utensils in it. Health enthusiasts in Singapore stated that, if we do not give the right attention and cleanliness to our kitchens, this area could be the source of food-borne illnesses. If you do not want to acquire these food poisoning and other illnesses, then you should follow these ways:

1. Sanitize your kitchen regularly
When it comes to ensuring your home’s food safety, don’t just clean. Make sure to sanitize everything. Disinfect your sink, stove and utensils by using cleansers or DIY bleaches, etc. Commit to a regular schedule of sanitizing your kitchen and other important areas in your home. Germs and bacteria are everywhere which is why it is imperative that we keep things neat, clean and safe not only for ourselves but for our families as well.

2. Make sure to cook your meat properly
When cooking your food, you have to make sure that you cook it properly. Regardless of what type of recipe or meat you’re cooking, make sure that the right temperature is applied to your meat. It is advisable that you don’t eat it if it’s close to raw since you might get exposed to bacteria or other food poisoning causing germs. Not all stomachs are tough enough to handle various ways of cooking food, especially kids. So see to it that you serve them tasty and properly cooked food.

3. Use different cutting boards
There are many Chefs who would advise that it is necessary to use one designated chopping board for each type of meat or food. This should be done in order to prevent cross contamination. Food safety is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly so as much as possible, if we can, we should follow clean and safety procedures like this.

4. Clean as you go all the time
It’s always important that we and our families be reminded from to time to remember the things that we need to do as we go around and use the kitchen. We should make sure to wash our hands properly as we handle food or using utensils. Also, we have to make sure to wash everything carefully before and after use. Lastly, we should always check and keep the pests out of our kitchen if we do not want our food to get contaminated by pests.

Is severe joint pain usually wakes you up in the middle of the night? One of the possible reasons you’re experiencing this is gout.

Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs in the joints, particularly in the fingers and toes. Excessive amount of uric acid in the blood crystallizes in the joints as the kidneys cannot eliminate all of it. Your kidneys will have a hard time getting rid of the uric acid when other acidic substances are also present in your system. Not allowing it to go near your vital organs, your body converts the acid into crystals, which are then deposited in the joints.

Fortunately, it’s possible to help your kidney counteract the acidity level of your body. By regularly drinking alkaline water, you increase your body’s alkalinity and lessening the acidity level. Know why many doctors in Singapore recommend ionized water to their patients with gout.

Gout Attacks

After eating, your body starts working by first breaking down the purines, which requires production of uric acid. Purines can be found in foods, like anchovies, mushrooms, herring, asparagus, and meat organs. If your body functions the way it should be, the uric acid dissolves and gets flushed out of the body through your urine.

However, if your body produces too much uric acid, the acid builds up and gets stored in the body. Then, you are left with urate crystals, which look like needles, stored in your joints. They gradually build up in these areas and nearby tissues causing swelling, inflammation, and excruciating pain. You then must try alkaline water from Singapore to get rid of this problem If you experience sudden and intense pain in any of your joints, have it checked by a doctor. Not addressing it only intensifies the pain over time. If along with gout attacks you experience fever, and the joint is inflamed, get medical assistance right away—it could be that the gout is infected.

Treating Gout

Mild and manageable gout symptoms can be remedied at home. To relieve yourself of pain, focus on reducing your body’s acidity level by:

• Reducing intake of acidic foods and beverages; and
• Take measures to raise alkalinity of the body

Decreasing your acidic intake will prevent your kidneys from over-working, while raising your body’s alkaline level counteracts the level of acidity.

Increasing pH Level with Natural Method

As someone who suffers intense pain during gout attacks, you may not feel comfortable taking strong medications to relieve pain. Why fight one disease, and then deal with multiple side effects of the treatment later on? The side effects only add more discomfort to the existing pain. Rather than taking drugs, try a more natural approach in relieving gout attacks.

Perhaps, you may have tried drinking water with baking soda and lemon to raise your body’s pH level, neutralizing the acid that causes gout. While this natural method can provide relief, it is not for everyone. Due to the high sodium content found in baking soda, people who suffer from high blood pressure and kidney, liver, and heart disease may experience more critical side effects when they opt for this solution.

Safer Treatment with Alkaline Water

A more effective and much safer way to relieve gout pain in any patient is alkaline or ionized water.
If you have existing health condition or you just don’t enjoy drinking baking-soda-and-lemon water because of its awful taste, get yourself an alkaline water filter instead. Ionized water from a water filter has higher pH level than alkalized water with baking soda. Plus, it doesn’t change the water’s taste unlike the baking powder method.
With ionized water, you can make juices and smoothies, as well as use them in cooking food. Moreover, it contains powerful antioxidants that strengthen the immune system as it hydrates the cells and flushes out excess acid from your kidneys.

Benefits of Alkaline Water for Gout Patients

Alkaline water offers many health benefits with no side effects. Here are some of the many benefits of this miracle water that are essential for combating gout pains.

• Neutralizes the Body’s Acidity Level
As mentioned, too much acid in the blood causes gout. By drinking ionized water, you’re lowering your body’s acidity level, which helps a lot in combating gout attacks. Also, the negative ORP in ionized water is antioxidant, which helps the body get rid of acids, toxins, and free radicals.

• Eases Aches and Pains
Suffering chronic pain caused by gout attacks can be disabling. By drinking ionized water, you replenish the body’s alkalinity and fight the cause of gout. In result, the pain subsides and slowly diminishes. Likewise, other pains caused by chronic illnesses like cancer can also be remedied by taking alkaline water.

• Better Blood Circulation
Being an effective antioxidant, ionized water is abundant of elements that combine with unstable oxygen to turn them into healthier form of oxygen molecules, promoting better blood circulation.

• Hydrates the Body for Better Organ Function
When tap water goes through alkaline water filter, the water’s molecular cluster reduces by two-thirds, which means it has more mobility to penetrate cellular membranes. And when the potency of water easily and fully penetrates into every part of your system, organs function more efficiently and effectively.

Fighting gout pain with alkaline water is recommended by many health experts in Singapore and is proven to provide fast relief to patients. No more sleepless nights and inability to go to places due to excruciating joint pains. No more worrying about gout attacks when on travel and long holidays. Simply incorporate alkalized water into your daily diet, and you will enjoy a life free from gout every day.

 

Blood sugar is a concerning health issue affective a huge bracket of people in varying race, gender and age. Thankfully, there are natural ways to help lower blood sugar levels safely through the food we eat every day.

These food choices also help insulin work effectively in the body- an important factor to consider to keep blood sugar stable.

• Spinach

These leafy greens high in amino acids help regulate blood sugar in the body. A single serving has a total of 5 grams of protein and a healthy dose of fiber. Spinach is rich in essential minerals like potassium, calcium and magnesium- all contributing to better control of blood sugar level. Be sure to add these in your salads and other entrees.

• Avocado

A highly renowned superfood in its own right, avocados are packed with monounsaturated fats, which are healthy fats good for your heart. It has a high dose of fiber, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium and amino acids. Avocadoes serve as great alternatives of cheese and mayo, for people with diabetes and food intolerance.

• Eggs

Eggs are essential for a balanced diet. It is a meatless protein rich in fats and vitamins, and when consumed in moderation, can become a great protein source for diabetic people. See to it that you only eat a couple a day. These are easy to digest so blood sugar is gradually declined and nutrients are able to travel to cells quicker.

• Broccoli

Cruciferous vegetables loaded with tons of essential nutrients, broccolis are another good source of fiber. Fiber is important because it aids in slowing down the release of sugar from the food we eat to out cells. In addition, fiber promotes a healthy digestion and better assimilation of nutrients. Since broccolis are very resilient ingredients, you can eat them stir-fried, roasted, steamed or as a part of your favorite soup.

• Greek yogurt

The best type of yogurt is the plain, non-fat Greek version because it is teeming in calcium, magnesium and protein. Making Greek yogurt a part of your diet is a great way of adding dairy to your daily food consumption. Add fresh fruits for added flavor and nutrients.

• Almonds

A smart snack choice, almonds have more protein and fiber compared to other nuts. This makes almonds an effective food that helps lower blood glucose levels. Overall, almonds contain about only a gram of natural sugar, 7 grams protein and 3 grams fiber.

• Chia seeds

Tiny chia seeds are health heavyweights because of the natural benefits they offer when consumed regularly. Rich in magnesium, iron and calcium, chia is also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids that are good for the heart and the body. These are tasteless so it’s easy to consume and add to our favorite meals. You can add it to oatmeal, parfait and even your daily drinks.

• Lentils

A source of lean protein, lentils are also packed with nutrients such as iron, potassium and fiber. It’s very convenient to eat because it can be cooked for a quick 20 minutes, unlike other types of beans. The nutty flavor makes it a great partner of stir-fried entrees.

There’s a common notion that a Singapore woman only needs to visit a gynaecologist when trying to get pregnant. However, what every woman needs to understand is that gynaecological problems aren’t only limited to pregnancy and post-partum health.

Although a general health doctor can treat a problem symptomatically, he may not be able to get to the core of the problem. A detailed examination—along with the right treatment—done by a certified gynaecologist will evaluate your reproductive health status completely and accurately. Here are the reasons to see a gynaecologist.

1. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

This isn’t the regular heavy flow you experience when on your period, but an unusually heavy bleeding that soaks two to three sanitary napkins in an hour or two—more significantly if it’s accompanies with shortness of breath and rapid heart rate. In worst cases, which are extremely rare, extreme blood loss could result in the need for blood transfusion. In order to determine the correct treatment, discuss your condition and the severity of your case with a gynae.

2. Post-Menopausal Bleeding or Bleeding Between Cycles

Occasional spotting shouldn’t be alarming, but when the bleeding lasts for days or is painful it’s time to head to the hospital. This could be a sign of miscarriage or vaginal injury, or even cervical cancer. If you’re experiencing mid-cycle bleeding for months, there certainly is something going on internally that needs immediate medical attention, and Thomson gynaecology doctors help women in Singapore for such problems. Also, inform your doctor if you’re in your menopausal stage, but have experienced bleeding again. This could be a warning sign of uterine cancer.

3. Abnormal Vaginal Discharge

Vaginal discharge is your body’s natural way of keeping your vagina healthy and clean. The consistency of the discharge varies, depending on where you are in your cycle. However, if your discharge looks yellowish, greenish, or grayish accompanied with foul smelling odour, you should see a gynaecologist right away as this may be a sign of vaginal infection. Two major reasons are bacterial and yeast infections, which are easily treated with medication.

4. Abdominal Discomfort and Pelvic Pain

Sharp sensations of pain in the pelvic area may be a sign of infection, a dangerous ectopic pregnancy or a ruptured ovarian cyst. Constant sensations of pain or feeling of fullness in the abdomen area could be a symptom of uterine fibroids, which are non-cancerous tumours. Another potential cause of pelvic pain is endometriosis, a condition in which the uterus lining grows outside the organ. Apart from experiencing pain, this condition can also lead to pregnancy complications, so make sure to talk to a specialist in Singapore soon.

5. Painful Sex

Being one of life’s best pleasures, sex shouldn’t feel painful. Painful sensations while having sex can be felt as soreness in the genital area or as deep pelvic pain. Common causes of this problem are vaginal dryness, uterine fibroids, or infections. Your doctor in Singapore will likely suggest a pelvic examination and other physical tests to see what’s wrong and come up with a medical solution.

6. Birth Control

By the time you become sexually active, you should immediately see a gynaecologist to discuss about the right birth control method for you unless you want to conceive. Birth control isn’t only important to avoid unwanted pregnancy, but also to ensure you’re safe from STDs. If synthetic form of birth control (e.g. birth control pills) makes you uncomfortable, there are hormone-free options as well. Your doctor is the best person you can discuss it with in order to find out what method suits you best.

7. Breast Examination

Breast cancer has no particular cause, making every woman prone to this illness. Early diagnosis and treatment is the best way to fight it. Regular visits to your doctor will help detect any lumps and irregularities in your breasts that could be a sign of serious health problem. Singapore hospitals and clinics can refer you for a scan should you require it.

8. Pre-Pregnancy Counselling

If you’re planning to have a baby, be sure to get all the necessary tests done—know you and your husband’s health status, any existing condition that can hamper healthy maternity, and the know-hows of a healthy and happy pregnancy. Your physician can do more than just writing you a medical prescription; she can help you go through the journey healthily.

9. Pap Smear Test

A Pap smear is vital to ensure that your female organ is healthy. Ideally, when a woman reaches the age of 21, she should start taking a Pap smear test every four to five years to make sure she’s safe from any signs of cervical cancer and other health related problems.

10. Problems With Bowel Movements or Urination

Difficulty on bowel movement or urinary incontinence can be signs of pelvic problems. That is when the tissues in the pelvic organs become weak or damaged, usually because of childbirth. If your doctor concludes that it’s because of weakened pelvic muscle, she may suggest doing kegels—a pelvic exercise—to gain back the strength of the area. However, if it’s due to damaged tissues, you may have to undergo other treatment methods.

Be sensitive with your body’s needs and always pay attention to the symptoms you may be feeling. If you’re experiencing pain, irregularities, or any problem that you think is related to your reproductive health, a gynaecology test will help answer your questions. After doing several tests, your doctor can make a clear evaluation of the problem and provide the right treatment to help you get back to feeling your best.