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A nutritionist’s guide to the top 10 mood-boosting foods you should include in your diet

In this article, we will be hearing from the wise advice of Clara Mah, a nutritionist at Bella Marie France. Are you aware that when your body is stressed, it produces cortisol, also known as the stress hormone? Thus, it explains why you sometimes crave for comfort food that is high in fat or sugar.

According to Clara, white bread, white rice, pasta, and pastries alongside high consumption of meat and fats are linked to higher oxidative stress. If you want to decrease the oxidative effects of stress, then fill your plates with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, and legumes instead.

To aid you in making a wiser choice while grocery shopping this week, take it from the nutritionist on the top 10 mood-boosting foods you should include in your diet!

#1: Dark Leafy Greens

Image Credits: thehealthsite.com

We all know the benefits of eating vegetables. But to be specific, you want to go for dark leafy ones such as spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and beet greens. Here’s your chance to stock up on vitamins A, C, E, K, nutrients, minerals, and phytochemicals to boost your mental wellness.

#2: Avocados

Image Credits: delish.com

Avocados aren’t that cheap, to be honest. But the superfruit does wonders in supporting the production of the memory and learning brain chemical acetylcholine. All thanks to the presence of healthy monounsaturated fats, which is also present in extra virgin olive oil.

#3: Chia Seeds

Image Credits: eatthis.com

You’ve probably heard of people including chia seeds in their meals to aid them in weight loss. Also known as a superfood, it’s not just rich in fibre but also omega-3 fatty acids, which is essential to maintain your mental and emotional health.

#4: Eggs

Image Credits: kirbiecravings.com

Do you want to have better mental acuity and focus? Then make sure to include eggs in your balanced diet. The substances present in the egg aids in maintaining memory and communication signals. It also contains essential nutrients for your brain to function properly.

#5: Bananas

Image Credits: Medical News Today

Want a ‘feel-good’ hormone? Turn to bananas. They contain high levels of tryptophan that convert to serotonin to help with a mood boost. Bananas also uplift your energy and even have the power to assist in overcoming depression.

#6: Berries

Image Credits: Dr. Oz

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, and blackberries are just some of the berries you can quickly bag home from the supermarket. By safeguarding brain cells from damage, it’s an excellent choice for persons with Alzheimer’s disease or mental decline.

#7: Turmeric

Image Credits: Healthline

Turmeric carries curcumin which has been scientifically proven to treat psychiatric disorders and improve symptoms of depression. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties. Need to spice up your dishes? You know what to add.

#8: Yoghurt

Image Credits: weightlossresources.co.uk

Want to fight symptoms of depression and anxiety and improve your mental wellness? The probiotics and lactobacillus in yoghurt can do just that. Have it with your daily serving of fruits to start your morning right!

#9: Dark Chocolate

Image Credits: everydayhealth.com

Here’s your excuse to pick up that bar of chocolate this week at the store. But remember to go for dark ones, not just any flavour you like. It stimulates the production of endorphins to trigger positive feelings. Together with flavonols and serotonin, it may just be your quick solution to conquer the blues.

#10: Walnuts

Image Credits: myrecipes.com

Nuts generally contain the right nutrients and fats. But if you want to significantly improve brain functions, mental flexibility, and have better memory, then walnuts are your to-go option. It contains polyunsaturated fat, polyphenols, and vitamin E to reduce oxidative damage and inflammation in the brain.

5 skincare gift sets under S$50 you can consider for the yearend season of giving

This year hasn’t been great for many of us, and the yearend celebrations would probably be slightly different. Amid the pandemic, Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2021 organisers said on Thursday (Nov 5) that there will be no fireworks display at Marina Bay on New Year’s Eve. Oh well, it’s indeed better to be safe than sorry with the virus still lurking around.

But don’t be disheartened! We read that fireworks will still be available at various heartland locations islandwide. More details to come as we take a step closer to December. And talking about the yearend, let’s not forget to keep up with the spirit of giving. With everyone tightening their belts this year, we’ve put together five skincare gift sets under S$50 for your consideration.

Get them as a present for yourself or your loved ones!

#1: Clinique Merry Moisture

Price: S$19

We will roll with the most affordable option, Clinique Merry Moisture at just S$19. The set consists of a Moisture Surge™ 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator (1oz/30ml) and a Chubby Stick™ Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Mega Melon (0.04oz/1.2g). The hydrator contains hyaluronic acid and aloe water to give skin the power to rehydrate itself. At the same time, the lip balm nourishes lips with vitamin E, mango, and shea butter.

#2: Innisfree Winter Glow Skin Set Holiday Edition

Price: S$26

Next up on our list, we have the Winter Glow Skin Set Holiday Edition (70ml) from Innisfree. This skincare trio comprises of the Jeju Green Tea and Jeju Orchid essentials you need for moisturised glowing skin. The packaging is a collaboration with Steven Harrington, an LA-based artist and designer known for his cheerful and contemporary, psychedelic pop-aesthetics. Let Harrington’s signature quirky illustrations delight the festivities!

#3: Sephora Collection Wild Wishes Tropical Skincare Set (Limited Edition)

Price: S$26

With the same budget at S$26, you can also consider the Wild Wishes Tropical Skincare Set (Limited Edition) by Sephora. The selection of masks boasting a variety of different ingredients, textures, and benefits come in a limited-edition tropical design pouch. To be exact, you will get five types of masks, including a mud mask, grape face mask, pineapple nose mask, green clay mask, and an açaï smoothie mask.

#4: Origins Mask Merry Skincare Set (Limited Edition)

Price: S$36

Similar to our previous listing, Mask Merry Skincare Set by Origins has five must-have masks. Original Skin™ gently exfoliates and refines pores while the Drink Up™ Overnight infuses skin with 72-hour hydration. The set also includes Dr Andrew Weil for Origins™ Mega-Mushroom to soothe the look of visible redness. Lastly, the Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask detoxifies, and Charcoal Honey gently purifies pores and nourishes.

#5: Laneige Mini Sleeping Mask Set

Price: S$46

To round up our list of skincare gift sets under S$50, we have the Laneige Mini Sleeping Mask Set at S$46. The collection includes the well-known Water Sleeping Mask (25ml), Lavender Water Sleeping Mask (25ml), and Cica Sleeping Mask (25ml). The overnight masks will restore your skin’s liveliness, giving you a well-rested appearance the next morning. Bring either one on your staycations or your upcoming yearend trip to Hong Kong!

May your upcoming Merry Christmas be filled with lots of love and laughter.

These 10 skincare habits will help you achieve your beauty goals in no time

When it comes to skincare, many of us are clueless. Based on hearsay, sometimes we commit skincare regime mistakes and then blame it on bad genes. While skin condition may be hereditary, it also takes effort if you want to achieve flawless skin.

Here are 10 skincare habits that will help you achieve your beauty goals in no time.

#1: Get enough shuteye

A consultant dermatologist, Dr Stephanie Ho, shares that your sleep quality affects your skin’s age. Poor sleep quality may weaken its ability to repair itself from damage such as sunburn. Thus, be sure to get enough rest, ideally a good one at night.

#2: Faithfully apply sunscreen

Image Credits: Depositphotos

According to Dr Ho, prolonged exposure to sun rays result in the early formation of pigmentation, wrinkles, and dryness. All these can lead to initial signs of ageing. To counter it, be sure to include sunscreens in your skincare routine.

#3: Use the right products

Expensive products don’t always do the trick. Manman Chong, education director for Asia at French skincare company Caudalie, points out that using the wrong products might aggravate existing skin problems and conditions. Seek professional help if you’re unsure.

#4: Remove makeup thoroughly

Image Credits: Business Insider

Not correctly removing makeup might result in your pores clogging over time. Makeup artist Clarence Lee recommends us to choose a good cleansing oil. Save time and money since now you do not need to buy separate makeup removers for the eye, lip, and face.

#5: Clean your makeup tools

Talking about makeup, Lee advocates using clean tools. Even if you do not share them with others, bacteria can still form over time due to a certain level of moistness in our makeup products combined with the skin’s natural sebum.

#6: Leave that pimple alone

Image Credits: theogeeclinic.com

Dr Ho remarked that popping pimples does not solve the underlying problem and may lead to infection and even scarring. If you’re facing acne problems, book an appointment with a dermatologist to receive proper topical treatments or oral medication.

#7: Hydrate sufficiently

If dryness, flakiness, and reduced suppleness of the skin is what you detest, then keep up with proper hydration. Dr Ho recommended about 2.7 litres of water for women and 3.7 litres for men. Alternatively, when you feel thirsty or spot a darker urine colour, it’s a sign to drink up.

#8: Go easy on exfoliation

Image Credits: Foreo

In short, exfoliation is not for everyone. Especially for people with sensitive and dry skin, overdoing it can cause inflammation and itchiness. It’s also wise to check your current skincare products for substances like retinoids or benzoyl peroxide.

#9: Give products time to work their magic

Chong suggests giving 28 to 56 days (or four to eight weeks) to decide if a particular skincare product is working for you because healthy skin regenerates in 28 days. Also known as ‘cellular turnover’, it plays a crucial role in bringing out your product’s effectiveness (if any).

#10: Avoid hot water for face wash

Image Credits: Brit + Co

Using hot water for face wash can irritate and strip the skin of natural oils. The ideal water temperature should not be too high or too low since extreme temperatures affect our vulnerable facial skin. Chong proposes using lukewarm water of about 30 degrees Celcius instead.

UOB partners Shopee to offer customers greater value as they shop online

Partnership comes as more customers are shifting their buying online; online campaigns such as 11.11 and Black Friday expected to boost online spend

United Overseas Bank (UOB) and Shopee have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to offer customers more value when they use UOB’s flagship UOB One Credit or Debit cards to make purchases on Shopee’s online marketplace.

The MOU is timely given the surge in online spending this year. Since the start of the year, spend on retail purchases made online by UOB cardmembers has grown close to 50 per cent year on year. In the second quarter of this year when Singapore underwent a circuit breaker period to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, spend made online surged 69 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.

Even as businesses begin to resume operations from July, online spending continues to increase as customers take to the ease of shopping online. Among UOB cardmembers, Shopee has been their preferred choice, with spend made on Shopee outpacing other popular online marketplaces in 2020. For example, spend at Shopee made by cardmembers of UOB’s flagship cashback credit card, the UOB One Card tripled between 2019 and September 2020.

Given the popularity of Shopee among UOB One Cardmembers, the MOU partners have signed up to offer exclusive deals and cash rebates of up to 10 per cent when customers charge their purchases on Shopee to their UOB One Card. The partnership comes as e-commerce campaigns such as 11.11 and Black Friday are expected to draw in more customers looking for value as they shop online.

In addition to exclusive privileges for UOB One Cardmembers, the MOU partners will also explore the use of data analytics and APIs to personalise the customer experience as they shop online and to offer digital payment options that are relevant to the consumer, such as using reward points to offset their purchases.

This could also lead to initiatives such as the integration of Shopee’s features on UOB’s all-in-one mobile banking app, UOB Mighty or vice versa.

Ms Jacquelyn Tan, Head of Group Personal Financial Services, UOB said, “At UOB, our focus is always on how we can make our customers’ purchasing journey simpler, smarter and safer. We have been expanding the exclusive partnerships for our flagship credit card, the UOB One Card, to serve the lifestyle needs of our consumers. Today, UOB One Cardmembers can enjoy exclusive privileges when they shop at any Dairy Farm Group brands, hail a ride or order food delivery with Grab or pay their utilities bills with SP Group.

With Shopee on board as a long-term partner, we now have the largest partner ecosystem in Singapore to enable our customers to derive greater value as they shop online. We are also excited to embark on our commitment with Shopee to explore and to design innovative processes, solutions and services to drive the adoption and usage of online retail and digital payments.”

Mr. Zhou Junjie, Chief Commercial Officer, Shopee, said, “Shopee’s priority has always been to deliver our users with memorable and unique shopping experiences. We utilise a data-driven and hyper-localised approach to cater to consumer needs, resulting in campaigns, offerings, and partnerships that evolve in tandem with ever-changing user demands. Being a proudly homegrown company ourselves, we thus see great synergy in partnering with UOB, one of the largest local banks in both Singapore and Asia, to explore new ways of deepening user engagement. This timely partnership coincides with one of our largest shopping events – the Shopee 11.11 Big Sale – giving us the opportunity to not only bring users the best shopping experience possible, but to also connect, inform, and inspire consumers all across the region.”

Top Spots For Rooftop Dining in Singapore

Once you visit Singapore you have not experienced traditional Singapore unless you try rooftop dining in Singapore. It’s a one-of-a-kind dining experience that you will treasure for the rest of your life. You can enjoy fine cuisine, atmosphere , and catch the breathtaking view of the Singapore skyline all at one sitting. Singapore has many unique rooftop restaurants so you have your pick of the best.

Braci – as the name implies serves Italian dishes that have been carried on from antiquity. Freshly imported from Italy the restaurant maintains the fine Italian legacy of rich pasta marinated in rich sauces. The restaurant has picturesque views of the Singapore river that can be enjoyed from both the bar and the restaurant. The atmosphere is relaxed and you can enjoy their fork-tender pork dish a must try among their traditional Italian cuisine dishes.

CE LA VI – situated on the 57th floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel brings a new definition to fine twilight rooftop dining in Singapore. Come and enjoy a special night atop this rooftop wonder. You can enjoy one of their unforgettable Asian dishes while you take in the breathtaking Singapore skyline.. You will have an unforgettable panoramic view of the world famous sky-lit skyline.

Zafferano – the pride of Singapore brings you some of the finest Italian cuisine you will ever taste. It is perched atop the 43rd floor of the Ocean Financial Center in Collyer Quay a once-in-a-lifetime rooftop dining experience. You have the luxury of glancing across the crystal clear water of Singapore to drink in the beautiful skyline of Singapore’s impressive Central Business district highlighted by the Marina Bay Sands. You can feast on their delicious Canadian Lobster Linguine and scrumptious house-made fettuccine.

Southbridge – a taste of the sea you will enjoy on this 5th floor paradise. The restaurant features some of the best views of the Lion City’s skyline. And who can forget the view of the majestic Marina Bay Sands hotel. Additionally, you can enjoy mouth-watering oyster dishes from the world over. Don’t forget the Lobster Knuckle rolls a treat you won’t forget.

Stellar at 1- Altitude – restaurant perched 62 levels up into the Singapore skyline. As you dine you can enjoy a panoramic view of the stellar Singapore skyline in the distance. The Marina Sands and Singapore Flyer stand out in the distant star-lit skyline. They offer a fine line of menus especially their constellations menu. It features steamed sea urchin custard(an experience all in itself) and roasted pigeon, two dishes that are out of this world.

Jaan – sits on the 7oth floor of the tallest hotel in Singapore-the Swissotel. It has become Singapore’s signature rooftop dining hotspot. You will experience unforgettable rooftop dining in Singapore that will stay with you the rest of your life. Its food is as dreamy as its spectacular night time views. It has been noted perennially on world famous lists of “Best restaurants in Asia” putting it in a dining class all of its own. Their fish and chips is a must try.

Finally, you have a panoramic view of some of the best rooftop dining in Singapore. The list notes some of the best restaurants you will find in Singapore. Each one presenting its own unique dining experience.