Menopause does not only occur to women, men can also experience menopause, however, women’s menopausal symptoms are more serious. Menopause generally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, and it is the time that marks the end of menstrual cycles. During the menopause period, women experience some changes both physically and psychologically. And these menopause symptoms include:

Physical symptoms:

• Night sweats and hot flashes
• Joint pain
• Palpitations
• Headache
• Urinary incontinence
• Loss of breast fullness
• Chest stuffiness

Emotional symptoms:

• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Depressed 

These are some of the menopausal symptoms in women, and they are caused by the gradual decrease in female hormone, estrogen secretion. During this period, menopausal women experience irregular periods. During menopause, women are at increased risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases, so menopausal women should replenish nutrients from balance diets. Menopausal women can try to adjust their mood by participating in more group activities and meeting some new friends, it can help to relieve their emotional symptoms. As for physical symptoms, it is recommended that menopausal women maintain a healthy lifestyle, go to bed early, reduce smoking and alcohol consumption.

CHEVIN Nutritionist KeQi:

You may complain that mothers often lose their temper over the smallest things, but in fact these are out of their control, it is due to the decline in estrogen level during menopause causing physical and emotional changes in female. Just like adolescence, menopause is just a life stage. Our mothers never complain during our puberty period, so we should not complain either, we should be more tolerant of our mothers especially during their menopause. We can be more caring, considerate, and understanding towards our mothers. Try to lighten their burden as much as possible, communicate with your mother, and be a good listener to listen to their concerns. Get through this tough time with your mum or other menopausal female.

Liver is the largest internal organ in our body, it plays an important role in metabolic processes in the human body. It breaks down the harmful substances in our body and detoxifies the blood. There are many factors which might affect our liver health such as sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking and lack of sleep, however, alcohol is one of the most important factors that affects our liver health. Alcohol consumption has been proven to negatively affect our liver cells.

Alcoholic Fatty Liver

         Degeneration of liver cells could lead to the increase of the risk of getting liver diseases. One of the most common liver diseases is fatty liver, it has been categorized into two groups which are non-alcoholic fatty liver and alcoholic fatty liver. Over 90% of the alcohol consumed is broken down in the liver, therefore, excessive drinking will lead to the damage of liver cells. When the liver cells are continuously being damaged, the liver functions will decline affecting the detox process, which could result in other health consequences.

 The Danger of Fatty Liver

Fatty liver could lead to scarring of liver, cirrhosis and even liver cancer which is irreversible. Cirrhosis could be developed after 10 years of heavy drinking. According to statistics, over 90% of the heavy drinkers suffer from fatty liver problems, approximately 25% develop alcoholic hepatitis and up to 15% develop liver cirrhosis.

 Signs of unhealthy liver cells

         Fatty liver could be asymptomatic in the early stage, therefore, it is very important to keep track of the condition of your liver. There are some signals which might (be hinting) your liver problems including body weakness, oral bitterness, dryness or bad breath, poor sleeping quality, skin problems, easily tired and loss of appetite. If you notice some of the signals stated, you should monitor your liver health or seek for a proper liver check-up. It could also be monitored through a common blood test, where liver enzymes are tested and they are important in monitoring your liver health. You could focus on Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate transaminase (AST). When the degeneration and the damage of liver cells continuously increase, the ALT and AST level will be affected.

CHEVIN Nutritionist Ke Qi:

We should try to reduce alcohol consumption in our daily diet as it might lead to a negative impact on our liver. Especially for people with liver problems or diseases, you should stop consuming alcohol as it might cause continuous damage towards your liver cells. For patients who are suffering from liver diseases and people with family history of liver problems, it is important to get frequent check-ups on your liver to keep track of your liver health. Take care of your liver before it is too late.

Fatigue | Skin Problems | Stress & Mood Swings | Memory Decline | Poor Sleeping Quality & Insomnia | Changes in Eating Habits | Gastrointestinal Problems | Dizziness & Headache | Hair Loss | Poor Immunity.

Have you ever encountered any of the symptoms above? Those are the top ten symptoms of suboptimal health. Suboptimal health is a state of declining physiological function. Some people often experience discomfort, but there are no abnormalities shown in medical check-up. That may be a sign of suboptimal health. People with suboptimal health symptoms mostly fall between 18 to 45 years old with higher risk in female. Most people tend to ignore the symptoms of suboptimal health. However, those symptoms are early warnings of many health consequences. If you are facing more than two symptoms stated, it means that your health are deteriorating.

Fatigue

• Constantly feeling of tired or lack of energy
• Concentration difficulties, easily distracted 
• Feeling tired whole day long without specific reason
• Physical strength deteriorates 
• Visual fatigue after facing electronical devices for long hours

Skin problems

• Dull complexion and imbalance skin tone
• Moisture lost causing dry skin and wrinkles 
• Oily skin causes clogged pores, blackheads and acne problem

Mood swings

• Sudden change of mood
• Intense shift of emotional state 
• Easily irritated
• Intense sadness, anger, stress or anxiousness.

Memory decline

• Worsened memory
• Forgetfulness 
• Often forget simple things in life 

Poor sleeping quality or insomnia

• Suffer from insomnia or sleep deprivation
• Difficulty falling asleep at night
• Poor sleeping quality, easily awakened 
• Vivid dreams resulting in tiredness and lack of rest on the next day

Changes in eating habits affecting gastrointestinal health

• Changes in taste and flavour preference
• Unhealthy food choices such as oily, spicy or salty food 
• Loss of appetite
• Overeating or binge eating
• Irregular meal time leading to bloatedness 
• Gastrointestinal problems such as indigestion, gastric problem or diarrhea

Dizziness and headache

• Headache without a specific reason
• Continuously dizziness 
• Repeated headaches which affect work performance and mood

Hair fall problem

• Hair fall problem at young age
• Hair volume decreases 
• hairline begins to recede 
• Excessive oily or dry scalp
• Unhealthy scalp such as dandruff problem, itchiness, and redness

Weak immunity, get sick easily

• Weakened immune system 
• Get sick easily such as cold, sore throat and fever.

Chevin nutritionist Ke Qi:

There are many health problems or consequences which are begins with bad habits in life. If you encounter more than 2 symptoms stated above, it’s time for you to make some changes. You can try to exercise more and reduce the usage of electronical devices, eat and sleep at regular time daily and prevent skipping meals or staying up late. Mood swings could be due to long term stress, hormonal imbalance or mental illness. If you are facing emotional problem or stuck in a toxic or stressful environment, you should seek for professional help such as consultant or you can try to release stress by talking to your family or close friends. Besides, diet choices is one of the most important factors in maintaining health. Try to reduce having food that are high in salt, sugar and oil. Instead, you can consume more antioxidant rich food. Antioxidants help to strengthen the immune system, reduce sickness and also enhance skin condition.

Prostate problem is a very common condition as men age, and prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. According to statistics, 1 in 8 men get prostate cancer in a lifetime. So, every man should take good care of prostate health.

Symptoms of enlarged prostate:

• Painful urination
• Trouble urinating
• Increased frequency of nocturia
• Decreased force in the stream of urine
• Frequent urination
• Difficulty starting to urinate

 Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), is the enlargement of the prostate. Enlarged prostate causes compression and pressure towards the urethra, causing discomfort during urination. Studies have shown that over 50% of men over the age of 40 are facing prostate enlargement problem. Protect your prostate health by maintaining healthy lifestyle habits before it’s too late. 

Tips to protect prostate health:

• Prolonged sitting

Sitting for long periods of time can cause pressure on the prostate, which can affect prostate health.

• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption 

Tobacco and alcohol could lead to the dilation of blood vessels, which can cause the prostate enlargement.

• Don’t ignore the urge to urinate

Holding your urine for too long can lead to pressure, congestion, and swelling of the prostate gland over time, which could lead to prostatitis.

• Reduce spicy food

Spicy food is highly irritating, which can affect the prostate health and leads to the urethra compression.

CHEVIN nutritionist KeQi: 

If you are facing similar symptoms, it is recommended to have a proper check-up. Prostate problem should be treated as soon as possible to prevent the continuous enlargement of the prostate or the development of related health consequences. Especially for men over 50 years old, it is recommended to have regular prostate check-ups every year. You could also increase the consumption of pumpkin seeds or pumpkin seed oil in your daily diet, which is beneficial for prostate health. The active ingredient in pumpkin seeds helps relieve early prostate enlargement and helps reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Studies have shown that eating about 25 pumpkin seeds a day can help in reducing the risk of prostate problems. Maintaining healthy lifestyle is very important for prostate health, starting from today, don’t ignore your prostate health!

Our gastrointestinal system plays a central role in digestion and also, it has far-reaching effects on our immune system. As the saying goes, “you are what you eat,” and this couldn’t be truer when it comes to gastrointestinal health. A balanced gut microbiome is essential for overall health and wellness. An imbalance gut health can lead to a variety of health problems. Here are some tips to maintain a healthy gastrointestinal system:

Fermented Food: 

Incorporate fermented food like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi into your diet. These foods are rich in probiotics, which can help replenish beneficial gut bacteria.

High Fibre Food: 

High fibre food such as leeks, banana, mushroom and asparagus are rich in prebiotics. Prebiotics are indigestible fibres that nourish beneficial gut bacteria.

Limit Sugar and Processed Foods: 

Excess sugar and processed foods can promote the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut. Reducing your intake of these items is crucial for gut health.

Stay Hydrated: 

Drink adequate amount of water to support the mucosal lining of the GI tract and help maintain its protective functions.

Proper Chewing: 

Chewing your food thoroughly aids in the digestive process and ensures that the food you ingest is properly broken down for absorption.

Rest Well & Manage Stress

Getting adequate amount of sleep is essential in maintaining gut health. Studies have found that chronic stress and sleep deprivation can negatively impact the gut health.

Regular Exercise: 

Physical activity can help stimulate healthy gut motility and promote overall digestive health.

CHEVIN Nutritionist Ke Qi:

Protecting your gut health could be a long journey but gastrointestinal health is a cornerstone of overall well-being. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can have a better idea in improving your gut health and maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal system.

Do you face acne problem, which knock your confidence level and affect your self-esteem? In fact, many young adults are facing similar problems. Despite using various types of skin care products, and some people even seek for dermatological advices, but the acne problem could not be fully solved. Have you ever noticed the common area on your face which are having acne very often? In fact, acnes on different parts of the face are derived from different reasons! It is important to know the root cause of the problem in order to solve the acne. Let’s find out the main causes of acne!

Different area on face:

Forehead : Unhealthy lifestyle, stressful condition

Nose : Excessive oil secretion, constipation, indigestion

Chin : Hormonal imbalance

Cheeks : Toxins, lack of sleep

Cheek side : Excessive toxins, tiring lifestyle

Hairline : Remaining makeup which clogged the pores

Between the eyebrows: lack of exercise, irregular heartbeat, anemia

Temples : Unhealthy eating habits, High lipid intake

Lips : Toxins in the body

How to solve acne problem:

• Healthy diet 

Eat more fruits and vegetables in your daily diet and reduce spicy foods and deep-fried foods. Spicy food could lead to hormonal changes, which can cause acne problems, while deep fried foods can cause excessive oil secretion on the face, which is more prone to breakouts.

• Skin care routine

It is also very important in maintaining skin moisture. If your skin is lacking of moisture, the skin will secrete oil to protect the skin, and oily skin will lead to acne, especially in the T-zone.

• Cleansing

Cleansing or removing makeup is a very important step. If you didn’t remove your makeup, the remaining makeup can clog your pores and worsen your acne problems. Therefore, it is necessary to deeply clean and remove your makeup, and even if you are only wearing sunscreen, cleansing is necessary.

• Living habit

Lacking of sleep and stressful lifestyle is some of the reasons causing declined skin condition. If you are situated in a stressful condition, it is recommended to find a way to relieve stress, so that it will not affect your health and further lead to acne or other health consequences.

CHEVIN Nutritionist KeQi:

Acne problem not only affecting your appearance but many people might have mood swings or low self-esteem due to their breakouts. If you realised that your acnes are continuously appearing on the same area on your face, you can try to understand the root cause of it. Blindly relying on certain skincare products might not be the best way to treat your breakouts. By targeting the root causes of your acne problem, coupled with healthy diet and lifestyle, it can help to relieve your acne problems.