Combat Hair Loss with these Essential Nutrients and Healthy Food Choices

Sometimes, relying on shampoo choice alone does not really stop the countless strands of hair you continually lose each day. Many people in Singapore consult various health professionals regarding their concerning hair condition, and more often than not they are rather surprised when it points back to their general lifestyle. Did you know that the condition of your hair is actually affected largely by the status of your internal health?

Nutritionists believe that a better diet and healthier lifestyle can slow or fully reverse hair loss, making the hair thicker and healthier. The era of our thickest hair has come and gone when we were fifteen years old, hence as we grow older we must keep as much of that hair and maintain its natural shine, strength, and luster.

In order to help you combat hair loss, this article will present some of the most common nutrients and healthy food choices you can consume on the daily. These key nutrients are required regularly by the cells that make up each strand of your hair.

Each of our hair strand is composed of protein. This means the more protein we consume, the more likely it is for our hair to benefit from the intake. If the body falls short on protein supply, this can be the reason behind why you are suffering from various hair problems like hair thinning, regular loss, and the like. Good sources of protein such as chicken, egg, milk, and other poultry products are essential if you want a lustrous hair. Other protein-filled food choices include fish, nuts, and legumes.

Omega 3 fatty acids
Omega-3s are essential fats found in external sources which compose the cells that line your scalp. They also provide natural body oils which help keep the scalp and hair hydrated. Increasing your consumption of this essential fatty acid contributes to the improvement of your hair condition, so the next time you do your grocery don’t forget to add in various seeds like nuts and pumpkin, as well as avocado and salmon.

Too little iron in your diet may also majorly cause hair loss, since it is another important mineral-component of the hair. When iron levels are low, this may cause anemia. This condition disrupts the follicle’s nutrient supply and in turn affects the growth cycle of your hair and may lead to shedding. Raise your iron intake by including leafy green vegetables in your meals such as spinach, lentils, and broccoli. You may also opt to eat fish, egg, and chicken, too.

Deficiency in Zinc can cause drastic changes in the protein structure of hair follicles. With that, it often leads to a much weakened structural cohesion. This makes your hair fall off much more easily and rapidly compared to its normal pace. Strengthen your hair follicles by load up in your zinc supply and eat more of soy products, nuts, seeds, and eggs.

7 Unexpected Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar


That bottle of apple cider vinegar in your pantry is capable of doing so much more than just adding flavour to your salad. In fact, you can move to your medicine cabinet as it is very effective for almost everything, from your hair to your digestive health.

  1. Wart Remover

Soak—not just dampen—a cotton ball, squeeze out excess and tape it over a wart with adhesive bandage. Your skin may swell a bit as it reacts with the vinegar. You may have to do this a few more days until the wart has fallen off.

  1. Facial Toner

Mix one part of apple cider vinegar with two parts water and use it as a toner. The mixture help regular your skin’s pH level and also softens and cleanses it.

  1. Sunburn Relief

Sometimes, some areas of the skin get missed by sunblock, good thing there’s apple cider vinegar to the rescue. One tablespoon of apple cider mixed added to your lotion helps tame the redness on your skin. The lotion and apple cider, when combine, helps neutralize and soothe the burn to relieve skin irritation.

  1. Dandruff Buster

Rather than suffering the itchiness of scalp due to dandruff, treat it quickly with apple cider solution. Mix water and the vinegar in a spray bottle, and spray it concentrating onto the roots of your hair. Massage well into your scalp and let it stay for half an hour before rinsing. This solution is safe for everyday use until dandruff completely disappears.

  1. Flea Treatment

In a spray bottle, mix one part of apple cider in one part water, and then spray it to your pets fur. Repeat at least once a day for a week to get rid of fleas.

  1. Sparkling Solution

Pour a cup of apple cider in your toilet and let it sit for half an hour, then flush. You can also dampen a cloth with water and apple cider vinegar solution to wipe the counters. This effective cleans tiles while leaving a mild apple scent.

  1. Sore Throat Relief

Apple cider vinegar contains anti-bacterial properties, so it’s effective to break down congestion and mucus. Mix equal parts of honey and apple cider. Take a tablespoon of it every four hours to relieve pain. Another option is to mix two tablespoons of the vinegar and a teaspoon of honey in a cup of warm water. Sip it slowly and avoid the drink from soaking your teeth. Gargle and rinse your moth well to protect the enamel of the tooth.

Use your apple cider vinegar more. Use it on yourself and around the house, and you’ll see great improvements from your skin to your kitchen tiles with just one kitchen staple product.

What Impacts Your Risk of Developing Breast Cancer

You’ve probably heard the statistics – that one in eight Singapore women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. However, what the statistics doesn’t tell you is that your risk of developing breast cancer is different from that of your friend, colleague, or even your sister. So do you know what impacts your risk of getting the said disease? Here are nine factors worth considering as you assess your own likelihood of developing breast cancer.

1. Your Weight

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing breast cancer by 30 to 60 percent. Why? It’s because oestrogen is produced in fat cells, and the more fat cells you have the more oestrogen your body pumps out – and that extra oestrogen in your body is what leads to tumour growth that will soon lead to cancer.

2. Your Waist Size

The numbers on the scale isn’t all that matters; where you carry those extra pounds makes a difference, as well. A recent study conducted by the British Medical Journal showed that the most significant factor that boosts a woman’s post-menopausal breast cancer odds is how much her waist size has gone up since her twenties. Studies suggest that weight carried around the waist area is what causes an increased risk of developing the disease.

3. Your Workout Regimen

Exercising lowers your breast cancer risk in several ways. First, working out acts as a natural immune system booster and an anti-inflammatory agent. Second, it lowers the insulin level and the amount of glucose in your bloodstream, and helps your body in breaking down all the excess oestrogen. A research also found that even high-risk women can benefit from boosting their workout routines. That said, experts recommend that you arrange for breast cancer screening in Singapore and exercising an hour a day at least four to five times a week.

4. Your Drinking Habits

A number of studies showed a link between higher risks of developing breast cancer with an increased alcohol consumption. Singapore experts even found that drinking in the years between your first menstrual period and your first pregnancy increases your risk of getting the disease. Simply put, the more you knock back, the higher your breast cancer Singapore risk becomes.

5. Your Diet

Several studies suggest that cutting on red meat consumption and eating more plant-based food is what puts the brakes on cancer cell growth. The power of the veggies comes down to this: cruciferous vegetables (cold weather favourites like cauliflowers and Brussel sprouts) lowers inflammation and helps in balancing oestrogen level, while colourful red-orange produce, such as tomatoes and carrots, are filled with carotenoids that’s been linked to a lower breast cancer risk. Aside from consuming these veggies, limiting your sugar and high-fat dairy intake will also help you stay protected from the disease.

6. Your Genes

Women who carry the gene mutations BRCA1 or BRCA2 has a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who don’t carry these defective genes. However, there’s another recently identified gene to worry about, especially for younger women. A group of researchers found that in women under age 40, mutations in the PALB2 gene results in an eight to nine times higher risk of developing breast cancer compared to women in the same age group without the said gene mutation. If breast cancer also runs in your family, then it’d be best to consult your doctor about undergoing breast cancer tests.

7. Your Family History

While you may not carry a breast cancer gene mutation, and no one in your family does either, simply having a first-degree relative (your daughter, sister, or mom) with breast cancer still doubles your likelihood of being diagnosed with the disease in the future. In fact, having two first-degree relatives with breast cancer Singapore triples your risk of developing it as well. If either situation occurs on your family, do check in with your doctor and ask if you’re a candidate for earlier or more rigorous screening for breast cancer methods.

8. Your Ethnicity or Race

Although breast cancer strikes women of all racial groups and ethnic backgrounds, black women are 40 percent more likely to die from the disease than their white or Asian counterparts. While experts aren’t sure about the reason for this, there are a few theories to this. Some research show that black women have greater odds of acquiring more aggressive forms of breast cancer, while other Singapore health experts suspect that this disparity exists because of their limited access to medical advances and top-notch screening tools. Whatever your ethnic background is, make sure that you perform regular self-examinations, get yearly mammogram tests and insist on getting the best treatment available.

9. Environmental Toxins

Aside from your lifestyle and ethnicity, some evidences also show and prove that exposure to certain toxins known as endocrine disruptor raises one’s risk of developing breast cancer. These chemicals rack up in the fat cells where they imitate your own natural oestrogen, which potentially leads to tumour growth. Some of the common endocrine disruptors are bisphenol A (BPA), a type of plastic used in cans, containers, and phthalates, a preservative found in cosmetics.

While it’s not the same for everyone, these are some of the factors that you can look into as you asses your own likelihood of developing breast cancer. Make sure to take all these factors into consideration to get a more accurate result of your assessment.