You love the crunch of apples; your tongue excites with delight as you chomp down on the crisp exterior of an apple and a sudden burst of flavour spills into your mouth. Apple skins are packed with a nutrients and free radical-fighting flavonoids, but they are also contaminated with pesticide residues and chemical wax – unsafe for humans if consumed in large amounts. The latter is now the regular practice of various commercial farms, where farmers dip fresh apples into chemical wax after harvest to preserve and protect them against rough transits from the orchard to the supermarket.
Although farmers are allowed to use a regulated quantity of wax on apples, we cannot be sure of the actual amount used to sustain those lustrous apple skins. Such substance may create an extra sparkle on the fruit to dazzle us all but chemical wax can cover and allow harmful pesticides to linger on the apple for a longer period of time. Furthermore, the chemical wax also poses a risk to human health as it is linked to a series of health issues, from digestive disorders to cancer. As food safety scandals and recalls become more common in recent times, are fresh apple skins really safe to eat?
We think an apple a day now may not keep the doctor away so apple skin fans, hear us out: bin the skins, eat the fruit and not the wax. We know you’ll rinse your delicious apple under water or give it a good rub on your sleeve before taking a bite but that may not be enough to get rid of the nasties. Well, here’s the peel deal if you’re not one for tossing out the apple skins: improve your fruit washing philosophy with a scrub brush and some commercial produce cleanser.
Remove the waxFor an inexpensive option, you can create a natural and effective wash at home as well. Our favourite wax-removal technique is easy peasy lemon squeezy! Prepare a lemon bath for your apples: fill a large bowl (or sink) with lukewarm water, add one tablespoon of lemon juice and another tablespoon of baking soda. Swirl the mixture around and let your apples bob around the mixture for 10 minutes or so. Use a fruit or vegetable scrub to brush the exterior of the apples thereafter, then rinse well and pat dry with kitchen paper towels. You may substitute lemon juice with plain white vinegar too.
Opt for organic applesIf all these sound too troublesome, choose unwaxed or organic apples that even the bugs love it. They are more likely to be chemical-free and it will reduce your exposure to injurious chemicals.
Of course, the ultimate decision (to eat apple skins or not) lies with you, but with the large amounts of chemicals we are exposed to everyday, every bit of chemical reduction counts. The extra effort to clean your apples well or to purchase organic apples will be greatly beneficial to your overall health.
Written by: Valerie Tan
Today, everyone is becoming increasingly aware of their health and beauty. After all, it is the first point of visual contact when communicating and interacting with others. You wouldn't believe the number and variety of health and beauty products out there for various concerns, skin types, skin tones and occasions. Stepping into stores like Sephora, Guardian and Watsons can be a very relieving process because everything you might need can usually be found in these stores. But at what cost? Health and beauty products can be very expensive (I should know, I'm a university student...) and furthermore, if you're lazy (like me) you might not even feel like researching and buying new products. "The best things are invented by lazy people for lazy people" This is a quote by yours truly, and I personally think it makes a great deal of sense. Hence, this article goes out to the lazy people who need health and beauty life hacks from the comfort of your home. From a lazy person to lazy people, this is my gift to you.
There are so many benefits to drinking lemon water. It makes you feel like a fancy country club person that likes finger sandwiches and bubbly water. (Adding lemon into your the water makes it fancy) It looks much cooler than regular water. And on to the serious benefits, lemon water flushes the toxins from your system, alkalises your body and keeps your digestive system working as it should. Furthermore, it is anti-fungal and boosts your immune system, especially perfect in the mornings to give you that extra boost of energy and all natural health boost to conquer your day.
If you feel sore the next day after you've worked out, you know you definitely did something right. Feeling sore is normal after you've had an intense work out session but sometimes it can be a tad overwhelming and using certain muscles may hurt. (For example, I can barely climb stairs after leg day at my gym.) If this is a problem for you, try including ginger in your meals. You can add ginger into stir-frys, teas and even juices! Researchers at the University of Georgia found that consuming 2g of raw or heat-treated ginger per day can reduce post-workout muscle soreness by 25%. The reason this is so is because ginger has anti-inflammatory compounds and oils that exhibit painkilling properties. It couldn't hurt to give it a shot! (Pun intended)
In Singapore, or Asia for that matter, it can get pretty hot and humid and that leads to sweat and greasy oily hair. (It is virtually impossible for me to not wash my hair everyday because I feel utterly gross and dirty if I do not) I'm sure many of you face the same problems as well. If there are days that your hair is greasy and all kinds of nasty but for some reason you don't have a chance to wash it, use baby powder! Sprinkle some on your roots (and the bangs/fringe if you have them), and the powder will soak up the excess oil that makes your hair look greasy. You can do this at night so you can wake up with deceptively fresh looking hair.
With new shoes, come new responsibilities. It takes a bit of time to break into your shoes (especially high heel shoes) and more often than not, you'll end up with some little devil kisses from your shoes a.k.a. blisters. These monsters are usually so small but they can be terribly annoying and painful at times. I have to fight the urge to remove my shoes and walk barefoot. To prevent this from happening in the future, dab some antiperspirant on the bits of your feet that rub against your shoes. The antiperspirant not only reduces friction, it also keeps the area dry. (say bye bye to sweaty feet)
The lip scrubs sold in stores can be very expensive and essentially, if you can make the same thing at home which also serves the exact same purpose at a much lower cost, why not! Did I mention your DIY lip scrub will be edible? Just take 1 tablespoon of organic coconut oil, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of organic honey and mix well in a bowl until you achieved the desired consistency. So you might be wondering, why these ingredients?
The brown sugar acts as an exfoliator to slough off the damaged top layer of skin, exposing a new softer lip that allows for better penetration of hydrating products and makes your favorite lipsticks go on smoother and last longer.
A herbarium is a collection of preserved plant and herb specimens. These specimens are typically used for scientific study, but for the everyday collectors, a herbarium can just be a unique decoration in your house. I'll be honest, when researching, I initially thought a herbarium was like a terrarium but with herbs instead of usual plants like cacti. *cue laughter* Turns out it's a collection of herbs in frames. So if you were like me and you thought this article was an online terrarium workshop, it's time to learn something new! Life is all about surprises and spontaneity, isn't it?
To produce a comprehensive physical collection, there are a few facets that require your attention when creating your own herbarium. If you wish to create a simple one that requires minimal effort, it is a much simpler process but if you want to create a more sophisticated and professional looking herbarium, you may need to purchase a few items. Let us start with the simple one first; this is a great activity to do with your kids or nature-loving friends because it'll get you out of the house and into the sun where you will get that much needed vitamin D.
What you will need:
Many of these items can be found at your local book or stationery store and they are inexpensive so this fun little project definitely won't burn a hole in your pocket.
Instructions:
Not too hard, right? This is no doubt a fun and productive way to spend the weekend with your loved ones. Collecting is a good hobby to foster amongst children because studies have shown that it improves both creativity and pattern recognition in children. Seeing as collecting requires organisational skills, the hobby also allows them to improve their aptitude for recognizing everyday characteristics and being able to identify breaks in a pattern.
A bigger and more comprehensive herbariumNow, if you would like to make a bigger herbarium, your mounting process will differ slightly from the previous set of instructions. It will also cost slightly more to put together but it will come out looking like something from a museum. The only thing that changes would be the mounting process. Instead of putting your sheets into a plastic protector, purchase a plastic screen to paste on top of your sheet, and then frame it in a glass frame instead of a binder. Your frames will go nicely as a decoration over your bed or dining room. Nothing like a little splash of green hues to brighten up your day. Not to mention it is great for that mid-work eye break. As you add more to your collection and you find yourself without any more space, they make great gifts as well. Nothing shows love quite like a handmade gift!
For the adventurous craftsmen out there, you can make your very own flower press as well. Pressed flowers can be used in other crafts projects too; like jewelry and decor.
What you will need:
Instructions:
You could even decorate your flower press while waiting for the flowers to dry. A word of caution, make sure you leave the flowers to dry for the aforementioned period of time before opening the press to peek! The flowers might rip or crumble if they are not completely dried.
So there you have it, the tips and how-to to make your very own herbarium. It isn't exactly the easiest art project but it isn't the hardest either. If you have a great appreciation for plants and you would like it to manifest into something most tangible for decorative purposes, then this is the project for you.
We at Nilufer would love to see some of your creations! Do tag us on instagram of the pictures of your herbariums! Enjoy crafting!
As a fresh new 2018 starts, we all know what comes next: New Year Resolutions. Let's be honest - we never stick to the resolutions we make and often forget about them three months into the new year.
If one resolution of yours has always been eating healthy, and you've always found it a near impossible task to include bitter greens into your diet, these 5 Vegan influencers from Singapore will definitely change your mind and introduce a whole new concept of 'healthy eating'.
Vegan food doesn't just comprise of soggy oatmeal and drab greens -- these 5 Singaporeans will sweep you off your feet with their drool-worthy creations. Just a warning, you might be a convert by the end of this post.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb04ng0l-O9/?taken-by=jaslyngoh
As one of the familiar faces in the Singapore vegan community, Jaslyn truly embodies the passion and love for real food. Apart from posting her delectable creations and meals on her Instagram page, Jaslyn is also the brainchild of @souleygreen, Singapore's first online vegan mart.
She shares on her blog about her motivation behind this venture - when she first started out as a vegan in 2014, it was difficult for her to get cruelty-free and plant-based products at one place. Often, Jaslyn had to hop between various stores to purchase her necessities, and shop online for certain products that Singapore did not carry at that time. Thus, to bridge the gap between brands and consumers and make the vegan lifestyle more accessible, Jaslyn opened Souley Green.
Although her Instagram feed isn't dominated by vegan food, her spirit and passion for veganism still shines through, and will definitely inspire you to eat healthy, if not try veganism out!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BccfaSIg9-c/?taken-by=_findingnicole
With Nicole's bright and colourful Instagram feed, your eyes will be in for a treat as you spend the next hour scrolling through the page, wondering how vegan food can look so delicious. Her unique creations of 'unicorn' tofu mousse and immaculate pancake stacks will definitely leave you drooling. Behind her bright and eye-catching photos, however, lies a touching and inspiring story of how she became vegan.
2 years ago, Nicole was struggling with an eating disorder, depriving herself of nutrition and happiness as she convinced herself that she was still 'too big'. Upon discovering veganism, she decided to pull herself out of the void of eating disorders. She realised that her body was a vessel that kept her alive, and the food she consumed gave her fuel to live. Thus, she filled herself with plant-based food that keeps her full and healthy, and encourages her followers switch to a plant-based diet as well.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdND--ThGFe/?taken-by=tumblinbumblincrumblincookie
Lin's vegan creations are simply out of this world - simply take a look at her vegan spiced pumpkin cinnamon rolls and vegan peppermint dark chocolate tart - who knew such decadent desserts could be vegan? The best part is that she shares the recipes for all these goodness on her blog, accompanied with her stellar writing which she uses to dish out her thoughts and feelings about her daily life, which is so relatable.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQiJn9khKHL/?taken-by=simplyalphonsine
Alphonsine shares her vegan journey through clean and minimal shots of delectable food on her Instagram page. Apart from posting on her Instagram, she also operates a YouTube channel where she shares recipes and various tips on saving money as a vegan. We all know how expensive Acai bowls can get!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYsx2LhHtSB/?taken-by=veganishappiness
Another familiar face to the vegan community, Lee Ting shares various places to visit for delicious vegan and vegetarian food. Despite her young age, she is yet another hustling entrepreneur - she recently opened her own vegan cafe, Soul Alife, in December. Now we know where to get our fix of vegan mac and cheese!
Although excessive amounts of caffeine can be detrimental to your health in the long run, you really don’t have to quit it cold turkey. So rather than going without your steaming cup of joe in the mornings, try to limit your caffeine intake and switch to herbal teas instead. Find out how caffeine affects your health and which teas can undo its negative effects.
As a stimulant, coffee can excite the heart and cause shallow breathing. It also causes your adrenaline levels to spike, which raises your blood pressure reading. This is stressful on the cardiovascular system and can have fatal outcomes for individuals with heart conditions.
Try alternatives like hibiscus tea, which has shown to lower systolic blood pressure. Hibiscus tea has many antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on blood vessel walls, and is able to improve their elasticity and ability to dilate. You should drink the tea consistently to maintain its positive results.
The effects of caffeine on the body include increased heart rate, increased adrenaline levels, and heightened senses. In combination, they can make some individuals feel overwhelmingly anxious and jittery.
If caffeine affects you in this way, try peppermint tea instead. The menthol in peppermint is actually a natural muscle relaxant, making it a go-to choice if you’re feeling especially irritable.
Coffee is a diuretic, which means it causes dehydration. That can directly affects your skin. Dehydrated skin causes inflammation and premature aging, as a result of collagen loss. This is because caffeine inhibits the enzyme prolidase, which plays a major role in collagen synthesis and production.
If you find yourself losing that glow, you may want to switch to green tea. Its free radical-fighting catechins, EGCG, reduces skin damage and prevents wrinkle formation. They have also been shown to revive dying skin cells and promote healthy new cells.
The combined effects of coffee being a diuretic and stimulant can cause sudden and intense headaches. Also, you’ll start to experience withdrawals about 12 to 24 hours after your last dose of caffeine, and not satisfying your craving can lead to headaches too.
Many herbal teas help with the throbs in your head. For example, ginger tea is known for its anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties while peppermint tea helps to relax the nerves, which in turn reduces the incidence of spasms in the gastrointestinal tract, which are responsible for inducing headache symptoms.
Caffeine inhibits the activity of a neurotransmitter called Adenosine, which is one of your brain’s natural tranquilisers. This affects your ability to fall asleep, even when you’re tired.
Chamomile tea is a classic traditional herbal remedy that has been used to fight insomnia, anxiety, and stress. It promotes sleepiness while helping to calm upset stomachs and increases the production of a chemical that relaxes nerves and muscles, almost acting like a mild sedative. Remember to steep the leaves for at least 10 minutes before drinking, and you can rest assured you’ll have a good night’s sleep!
Written by Anna Fernandez
With the festive season drawing close, this can only mean one thing: parties. As your house begins to fill with hustle and bustle, the pressure to whip up tasty dishes for your guests also rises.
Before you pull your hair out over what to serve your guests - or worse, guests who show up without warning - amidst all the festive hustle, read to find out more about how to prepare the following appetisers that are sure to be a hit. These are the perfect solution to your worries, and are simple and quick to make without being too heavy on the waistline.
Instead of opting for caterers and breaking the bank, simply prepare these fuss-free appetisers which are packed with nutrients and and flavour. Wait no longer to impress your friends with your prowess as a domestic goddess with these easy recipes! Read on to find out more.
These insanely addictive enoki bacon wraps will definitely be a hit amongst your guests, with the savoury, juicy bacon complementing the sweetness of the enoki mushroom. The best part? This appetiser doesn’t take more than 15 minutes to prepare, and is also a low-calorie snack.
Image cred: Wikimedia Commons
Wrap each slice of bacon with a small handful of enoki mushrooms and roll it up tightly. Secure with a toothpick if necessary.
Not only are these a treat for your tastebuds, these are also an aesthetic treat for your guests. These eye-catching rainbow fruit skewers are incredibly simple to make, and add a refreshing touch of juiciness to your party.
This classic Italian appetiser is a must-have at every party. The medley of flavours of tomatoes, garlic and basil come together in a mouth-watering combination that whets the appetite and makes your guest hungry for more!
Blanch tomatoes in boiled water for 1 minute and peel off the skin after the tomatoes have cooled.
This tangy and fresh salsa is great for eating on its own, but is also delicious when served with grilled meat - your guests will be spoilt for choice!
Dice up an avocado, a ripe mango, and a small red onion and place in a medium bowl.
Best served chilled, these cucumber cups are a refreshing snack for your guests to cleanse their tastebuds before digging in!
Cut a cucumber into ¾-inch-thick slices and form a depression in each slice with a small ice cream scoop to form cups.
