Duo Advance Treatment With Slimming 101

Hello Swaggers, it's Rena here today and I had the chance to try out Slimming 101's Duo Advance Treatment at their outlet at Hougang Mall.  

When I first arrived, I was promptly greeted by the therapist, Lynn, and was served a cup of tea. Next, Lynn invited me to change into a robe, put my things into a locker and proceeded to a room to take and record my vital signs, height and weight. After that, I was led into a wet room and she instructed me to sit in the steam room filled with essential oils such as lavender for a couple of minutes. This was really the start to a very relaxing session!

Next, Lynn led me to the treatment room where she explained that she would working on my problem area - ie. my tummy. Soon after that, the duo advance treatment began. During the treatment, Lynn explained every session with detail and what she was working on. 

During the first few minutes, she used this high-tech slimming machine to break down the stubborn fats around my tummy. The machine was emitting a loud annoying beeping sound, but Lynn told me not to be alarmed as the beeps meant that fats have been detected and melted. This non-invasive treatment was absolutely pain free with no downtime and immediate results.  You can even do this treatment during lunch time if you're busy (like me) or after work.

For the next session, another therapist, Maggie, walked into the room and began massaging me using Slimming 101's Signature Meridian Therapy. She applied pressing techniques to specific acupressure points to further break down stubborn fats and increase drainage through the lymphatic nodes. It also helps to promote one's metabolism rate, reduce the size of the actual fat chamber and significantly improves the body contour.

After the acupressure session, an amazing mud mask made with grade premium botanical ingredients such as rosemary, lavender, white thyme, citron fruits, cinnamon leaves, juniper, sage, peppermint, capsicum, black pepper and ginger, was applied all over my body, hands and legs and left for a few minutes. These ingredients help to allow clients to lose excess weight and fats in safe, painless and effective ways.

Cinnamon leaves, Rosemary and White Thyme play a vital role in Slimming 101's treatment procedures. Why? Because: 

• Cinnamon leaves help dissolve cellulite by dilating capillary vessels
• Rosemary  activates lymphatic nodes to enhance drainage and blood circulation
• White thyme acts as a tonic with anti-inflammatory properties.

A few minutes later, Maggie helped me to the clean shower area for a shower to remove the herbs dried on my body, hands and legs.

At the end of the treatment, I was led me back to the examination room again and took my weight and vital signs again. Although my weight remained the same, I lost 0.7cm around my waist, 0.5cm upper abdomen and 0.4cm at my lower abdomen. Overall, I really enjoyed this relaxing treatment and felt so light when I walked out of Slimming 101. You might think that the inch-loss is due to water retention but don't forget, my weight did not change.

Besides it being so relaxing, what I really liked about Slimming 101 was that they used natural ingredients while still utilising the latest technology to help us melt away stubborn fats in a safe way. Naturally, I was advised to have a healthy diet and to exercise but this treatment is really good for those areas that just doesn't seem to want to go away!

If you need to erase inches off your waist, tummy or any parts of your body immediately in a safe way, Slimming 101 is the best place to visit. SWAG guide members will get a special discounted trial rates @ $48 w/GST (Usual Price : $650). Not a SWAG Guide member yet? Sign up and book this service now!

Get A Stronger You Through Hot Yoga

Get your free yoga sessions here: http://www.realyoga.com.sg/index.php/free-hot-yoga-class-pass

SAUCEink Acquires SWAG Guide

SAUCEink today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SWAG (Simple Wellness And Glamour) Guide, a business focused on body confidence by providing curated articles and booking platform for health, wellness and fitness services as well as products. SAUCEink itself has evolved from a digital fashion magazine into a digital community with social commerce capabilities. The agreement combines the strengths of both companies by leveraging on SAUCEink’s network and resources while expanding content topics and expertise of SWAG Guide to deliver a holistic lifestyle experience to consumers.

“We believe that with SWAG Guide’s contribution, our readers and members will get better content on matters that concern them - wellness and beauty. Moreover, we are pleased to combine our strengths and expertise to meet the demands of the marketplace by delivering relevant content and services to consumers, as well as new tools to various brands,” said Sabrina Wang, CEO of SAUCEink.

“By teaming up with SAUCEink, SWAG Guide is now able to impact a larger audience by leveraging on SAUCEink’s network in Singapore and Philippines. We are glad to develop the Wellness and Beauty category within SAUCEink and we believe that we are better able to help more people to be body confident through this merger,” added Melissa Fann, Founder of SWAG Guide.

The ones who would benefit the most from this acquisition would be the members of both companies. Current members of SWAG Guide will automatically become SAUCEink members and get access to topics that cover fashion, beauty, wellness and inspirational leaders. Brands listed on SWAG Guide will also be listed on SAUCEink and they can now tap on the latter’s platform for a community that can review products or services, share them with others and inspire sales or bookings through the online store.

Under the terms of the agreement, SWAG Guide’s Founder will join SAUCEink as it’s Chief Operating Officer and the full transaction is expected to be completed by end of March 2016.

###

About SAUCEink
SAUCEink is a style magazine, backed with a social commerce platform, tailored for women.

The platform not only gives our members an easy means of creating their own personal branding page, website, blog, e-commerce store, etc.; it's also a means of a marketing platform to allow users to interact and extent their reach!


Media Contacts
SAUCEink
marketing@sauceink.com

SWAG Guide
Melissa Fann
Founder
Email: melissa@swagguide.com

Workshop - Effortless Beauty On The Inside Out

Did you know that Beauty comes from both what you eat and what you put on your face?

Come join us for a delicious lunch where our experts will give you essential tips on what foods to eat to boost your natural beauty as well as how latest scientific discoveries have unlocked youth in skincare.

The session will be interactive too! Two lucky attendees will be chosen to be our model for the live demonstrations of both our facial regime and one useful make up essential to say 'bye bye' to wrinkles and eye bags!

Price is $45 and includes 3-course meal at Equilibrium, Capitol Piazza.




Sign up today at: http://effortless-beauty.peatix.com

Speakers:
Chong Su Lee (Look Good Feel Great Always) is a wellness consultant who is a trained chemist but now helps people get fit and healthy through customised plans.

Natalie Turner (Energise Life)

Drinking more water reduces sugar, sodium and saturated fat intake

Based on the fact that about two thirds of our bodies are comprised of water, it may seem obvious that consuming water is important for our health. But a new study finds that by increasing plain water consumption, we can control our weight and reduce intakes of sugar, sodium and saturated fat.

The study, published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, is led by Prof. Ruopeng An, from the University of Illinois.

Though most people meet their body’s fluid requirements by drinking plain water and other beverages, we also get some fluids through certain foods, such as soup broths, celery, tomatoes and melons.

To further investigate how increasing water intake can affect parameters of health, the researchers used a nationally representative sample of more than 18,300 adults in the US from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2012.

The researchers asked participants to recall all foods and drinks they consumed on 2 days that were between 3-10 days apart.

Prof. An then calculated the amount of plain water that each participant consumed as a percentage of daily dietary water intake from both foods and drinks.

Although drinks such as black tea, herbal tea and coffee were not assessed as sources of plain water, Prof. An did include their water content in the calculations of total water consumption.

Promoting water consumption: a public health strategy
On a daily basis, the participants consumed an average of about 4.2 cups of plain water, which accounts for just over 30% of their total water consumption.

The average calorie intake for each participant was 2,157 calories, which included 125 calories from sugar-sweetened beverages and 432 calories from “discretionary foods” – desserts, pastries, snack mixes and other foods that are not essential.

The results of the study revealed that people who increased their consumption of plain water by one to three cups daily lowered total energy intake by 68-205 calories each day and their sodium intake by 78-235 g each day.

For purposes of the study, “plain water” was defined as water from a tap, cooler, drinking fountain or bottle.

Further results showed that the people who increased their water consumption also consumed 5-18 g less sugar, as well as 7-21 g less cholesterol.

“This finding indicates that it might be sufficient to design and deliver universal nutrition interventions and education campaigns that promote plain water consumption in replacement of beverages with calories in diverse population subgroups without profound concerns about message and strategy customization,” says Prof. An.

He and his team add that these effects were similar across race, ethnicity, education attainment, income level and body weight status, however, they were larger among males than females, and among young or middle-aged adults than older adults.

Prof. An suggests these differences could have been linked with the higher daily calorie intakes associated with men and young or middle-aged adults.

The researchers conclude their study by noting that “promoting plain water intake could be a useful public health strategy for reducing energy and targeted nutrient consumption in US adults, which warrants confirmation in future controlled interventions.”

Source: MedicalNewsToday.com

20% off - Happy International Women's Day!

8 March is International Women's Day and to celebrate all things female, you're getting 20% off all wellness purchases made at our SWAG Shop (http://shop.swagguide.com). All you've got to do is use the promo code "INTLDAY" at the checkout!

Spread the word to your besties and pamper yourself on the day that celebrates YOU.

Webinar - 5 Tips on how to slow down the signs of aging

Ever wondered why aging occurs and how it happens on a cellular level? Want to know how you can prolong the aging process through cutting edge technology in skincare?

Come join us in this webinar on Wed, 16 Mar at 8pm as we share with you the science behind aging and how you can slow it down so that you remain beautiful and younger, longer.

Register today at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/190339029921911044

Webinar - What's The Fuss Over Detox & Cleansing?

Are you curious to learn about the body's detoxification process? Find out how what we consume and how our lifestyles affect the way our bodies get rid of toxins. Also, learn about the recent popular detox and cleansing programmes to understand what really works and what doesn't.

Come and join us for this webinar on Wed, 23 Mar at 8pm to hear from our wellness coach, Chong Su Lee of Look Good Feel Great Always, to learn about how the body's natural detoxification process and how our modern lifestyles and food habits are affecting this. Register below! https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6801776114998311940

Expert Hair Care With Trichologist

Ms Pooja Chhabra - Trichologist at Trichokare

Meet Pooja, one of the trichologists at TK TrichoKare. I was very lucky to be able to have a consultation with her during my last appointment with TrichoKare and I was very happy to finally have an expert examine and advise me on my hair loss issue from a more scientific and biological point of view.

As per usual, the consultation began with a scan of my scalp and she was very happy that my scalp was very clean (compared to the previous appointment). I was happy that my twice-a-day shampoo habit has paid off. She also pointed out that she could see that my veins were quite close to the scalp, indicating that I have sensitive scalp/skin. That is true, which is also why I'm quite particular about what products I use. Nevertheless, I am still suffering from hair loss.

What causes hair loss?
A variety of reasons cause hair loss, including:

• hormones
• stress
• genetics
• scalp infections
• certain hairstyles
• oily scalp with clogged hair follicles

In my case, it was a combination of both genetic and hormonal issues. Pooja explained that chemically speaking, the main culprit for baldness is DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), a derivative of the male hormone testosterone which can be found in the oil glands of every hair follicle. As women's hormones change every month and even more drastically during pregnancy, DHT is triggered more so with us because the balance of hormones keep changing. We all know how a teeny tiny bit of hormone change can really wreak havoc in our bodies and (now we know) hair. This DHT is also the cause of hair loss in men but it is often a lot easier to treat because men's hormone levels do not fluctuate as often as women's.

Pooja told me not to give up hope as my clean scalp has shown that there is still a chance to work on the follicles to ensure that they get more nutrients required for healthy hair growth. She then customised the treatment for me and explained that I was going to get a hair mask to soothe the sensitive skin while also balancing it so that it will be less oily. After that, an ampoule which contains extracts from herbs that clinically show improvement in hair growth and to nourish the hair follicles will be applied onto my scalp. It's as if I'm going for a facial but instead of my face, I'm treating my scalp!

Too much white hair!

Another problem plaguing me is the amount of white hair that I have on my head. Lucky me, I was given a preview of their colouring services before it launches in April! My hair was coloured before the hair mask and since TrichoKare is the hair care experts, naturally the hair dye that they use did not contain ammonia and uses natural ingredients.

Indeed, no nasty chemical smells while my head was smothered with the dye. I did not experience any itching on my scalp while waiting for it to set either! During the wash, my consultant switched from their usual conditioner to another one which was more moisturising and targeted at grey hair. This was simply because she realised that although my scalp was oily, the ends of my hair were very dry. I've got to say that I love the personalised treatment.

Ampoule used for the treatment

The ampoule was sprayed onto my scalp with something that reminded me of an air-spray gun. It felt really cool on the scalp and the massage that followed after was amazing! Besides being very relaxing, the head massage is also meant to promote blood circulation to the scalp and therefore, encourage nutrients to reach the follicles. Pretty similar to what my cold laser is supposed to do.

After the blow dry, my head was given the infra-red treatment by what I'd like to call the 'octopus' and Pooja explained that this is to kill off any bacteria on the scalp as this too would affect the health of your hair.

After colouring

I'm also glad that the hair colour covered all my grey hair! The consultant then added some of their Hair Coat which immediately added shine to my hair without it feeling oily. I also noticed that it helped with the frizziness too! When I touched my hair, it was really soft and a far cry from how it was when I walked into the salon.

At the end of the treatment, it was back into the consultation room for a review scan. The hair colouring has helped to show where there are empty hair follicles and Pooja was optimistic that new hair can grow back from them.

Unfortunately, I could not get the hair growth treatment straightaway. Pooja explained that the herbal extracts used for hair growth would be rendered useless if the scalp and hair follicle were still clogged with oil and toxins as the growth factor would not be absorbed. Which is why it is normally recommended for clients to do 6 to 8 cleansing Trichological Scalp Treatments before going onto the hair growth treatments. Hair growth also differs from person to person because of our natural hair cycles as well as the cause(s) of each individual's hair loss.

I decided to buy some of TrichoKare's fabulous hair care products so that I can continue having great hair after leaving the salon. I was so grateful that Pooja was around because what went into my bag was also per her recommendation. My shampoo (it's called Purifying Bath) is meant to be strong enough to wash off oil from my scalp so that I no longer need to wash my hair twice a day. In my bag also went the Hair Coat and Black Shine, both contain proteins and nutrients that were blended by trichologists to repair damaged hair while moisturising it. I also got an ampoule for at-home treatment.

I must say that I really enjoyed this treatment and it's mostly due to the good advice of the trichologist who customised the treatment from start to finish. With so much stress, pollution and diet issues  (not to mention how some of us change hair colour like we change clothes) nowadays, it is important to take better care of your scalp like how one takes care of our face.

Which is why, if you have hair problems but do not know where to start, do make an appointment with TrichoKare's trichologist for your first time consultation. If you just want to try out TrichoKare's Scalp Treatment, SWAG Guide is happy to say that we've managed to get a special price for you!

Book your trial Scalp Treatment for only S$48 (w/ GST) instead of S$138 here.
You can also book your appointment with the trichologist at S$91.60 here.

It's free to join SWAG Guide as a member to enjoy these promotions and say 'YES' to healthy, beautiful hair!

SWAG Giveaway #1

We're giving away this set of Alba Botanica 'acne dote' range of skincare worth S$70! What do you have to do to stand a chance to win it?

1. 'Like' and follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@swaguide)
2. 'Like' and 'Share' the post
3. Tag 3 friends in the comments on either Facebook or Instagram

Contest ends at midnight, 7 Mar 2016.

Good luck to all!

Nourish Your Skin With Ligne St Barth (exclusive to SWAG Guide)

What do you do when you have been having dry and itchy skin at my legs recently? Fortunately for me, it was timely that I was introduced to premium skincare brand, Ligne St Barth.

Ligne St Barth's skincare products are made in Saint Barthelemy Island in the Caribbean and their products have been widely used by celebrities who make special trips to the island to indulge in the Ligne St Barth Spa. It was also touted as "models' best kept secret" until recent years.

Besides being a luxury brand with elegant packaging, Ligne St Barth's products are made with natural ingredients that are suitable for sensitive and problematic skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. The bottles are shaped like rum bottles because the local Caribbean women would make avocado oil at home and store them in empty rum bottles. Some of these women gave the founder of Ligne St Barth bottles of aloe vera gel and avocado oil as a cure for his skin problem. The rum bottle shape is retained as a nod to those local women and till today, this family owned business still employs local Caribbean women to produce the range of products.

As mentioned, I tried their Aloe Vera Gel with Mint which can be used for the face, body and hair. I must say that this bottle of aloe vera gel was a skin-saver for my dry and itchy leg rash!

Before trying this product, I have to say that I am a frequent user Aloe Vera Gel to soothe post-pole abrasions; cure itches and insect bites as well as moisturise my legs after shaving. The tinge of mint with the Aloe Vera Gel made this product even better for me not just because I am biased towards anything mint-related, but also because I enjoyed the nice, cooling sensation after application. It really felt like I was soothing my skin!

This product is smooth and gentle and it's also a great for soothing sun-burnt skin. Besides the body, you can use this to hydrate your face, particularly if you have sensitive and immensely dry skin.  You could also use this as a hair serum although I still prefer to use this on the body. 

What I love most about Ligne St Barth's Aloe Vera Gel is the fact that it gets absorbed by the skin very quickly and leaves behind a soft and silky finish. The other Aloe Vera Gels I've used in the past were rather sticky so I had to be extra careful when I applied them right before bedtime but with Ligne St Barth's Aloe Vera Gel with Mint, I'm glad to say that such a worry did not occur. Now that I'm down to my last drop, I am already missing it! 

So... are you interested to try out Ligne St Barth's skincare products?

SWAG Guide is the first in Singapore to exclusively sell Ligne St Barth's products and you can purchase the products on SWAG Guide's online store. Moreover, there's a sale ongoing for Ligne St Barth! The retail prices are S$12 (for 25ml bottle), S$50.50 (for 125ml bottle) and S$90.90 (for 200ml bottle). 

Feel free to sign up as a member on SWAG Guide and refer your friends to enjoy a $5 discount off your next purchase. Happy shopping!

Disclaimer: Reviews are based on personal experiences.

Mood Boosted With Jeunesse RESERVE Antioxidant Fruit Blend Gel

Hi, Bianche here to have a look at the Jeunesse RESERVE Antioxidant Fruit Blend Gel for Beauty which I consumed for a week straight. I am selective about the things which I dine on and the activities that I do - they have to be favorable and wholesome to my health.  I am also consistently vigilant about brand-new beauty treatments or products which may advance my beauty but I'm quite thrilled with this antioxidant gel drink!

Above is how each gel pack looks like and the drink itself has a slight jelly consistency. It's mauve-coloured and chock-full of acai, pomegranate, blueberries, cherries, aloe vera and green tea.

What RESERVE is composed of

It tasted absolutely delicious! The flavour was of concentrated cherry and blueberry: sweet but slightly tangy. 

Raves for the convenient small gel packs! They are light and flat, so you can throw a couple into your handbag which makes it convenient to bring around everywhere! You wouldn't worry about it breaking or not keeping well. It lasted the entire day in my purse before I remembered to drink it. 

When you're having a tough day, drinking this has the power to brighten your mood up psychologically. To me, this is equivalent to consuming Chicken Essence (a quintessential tonic that Singaporeans like to take in order to improve their mental or cognitive performance) although this also has beauty benefits.

What makes Jeunesse's RESERVE so powerful? Undoubtedly delectable and luscious, it's packed with concentrated beauty ingredients - acai, green tea, blueberries and pomegranate which put me in a five-star mood that I was ingesting such super foods and improving my health and my aesthetic appearance daily. Moreover, the antioxidants in the gel ensured that my energy levels were kept high. 

As mentioned earlier, Jeunesse RESERVE has a slight jelly texture which I love. I kept my sachets in the refrigerator because I enjoyed drinking them cold. I drank this every morning when I woke up, during the time I was unwell and even before a photoshoot!  They had the power to cheer me up, give me a confidence boost and generally brightened up my mood for a full day. 

This product comes from the United States and according to the manufacturer, Jeunesse,

Reserve™ helps to:

• Combate free radical damage, which is linked to many health issues

• Release powerful antioxidants into your body

• Make young cells last longer, supercharging health & well-being

• Delay cell aging and premature aging, extending lifespan

• Improve cardiovascular function with anthocyanins

• Aid digestion through essential fatty acids

• Increase metabolism to assist healthy weight loss

• Make nutrients quickly available through bio-available gel

• Penetrate red blood cells and helping to protect against oxidated stress

• Contains only natural fruit that is delicious

Taking Reserve™ every single day results in:

• Radiant skin

• Increased energy levels

• Anti-aging effects

• Nutrition delivered at cellular levels

I took these photos in the week when I was sloshing down RESERVE. Despite feeling sick, I think I still look quite radiant!

It significantly bolstered my disposition when I was feeling under the weather. When you find that you're stretching yourself out thin, safeguard your beauty and energy by taking Jeunesse Reserve.

Healthy, optimises your beauty, heavenly and yummy, I am smitten with this sweet drink! 

To purchase your one-month supply of Jeneusse RESERVE gel packs, visit http://shop.swagguide.com/collections/jeunesse/products/reserve. If you are interested to become a wholesale consumer and purchase it at a discount, do write in to marketing@passhen.com to find out more!

30 Days After Parasite Cleanse

I have finally ended my parasite cleanse! I can't believe that it has been a month since I've started on this cleanse and it is amazing how many things have happened to my body since then. Nothing significant has happened since last week but I do realise now that alcohol hits my system a lot faster than before. Chilli also tastes a bit spicier. What is 'worse' is that my body now rejects junk food and makes me pay for it the next day by depositing the junk in the harshest manner. Not diarrhoea. Just whoosh....plus cramps. I can feel my intestines doing it's job.

There was an interesting conversation that I had with someone over Facebook though. I was tagged by a mutual friend on this lady's (let's call her OC) post because he knew that I had gone on this cleanse and OC is quite sure that she has parasites because her boyfriend was diagnosed with it. She and her boyfriend were losing a lot of weight suddenly while feeling fatigued, which led her boyfriend to go see the doctor and he was finally diagnosed with having parasites.

OC was a bit conflicted because although she knew that she had parasites, she wanted to get rid of all of them but the prescribed medication from the doctors only killed a few types. Moreover, the testing required for all the parasites plus the medication would be a very hefty sum. Some of her friends advised her to do natural healing and herbal remedies.

What's my take? I told her that since it's quite obvious to her that she has parasites, she should go to the doctor and get those medication quick. Kill them fast and then use herbal detox to cleanse out all the endotoxins built up by those parasites as well as caused when the parasites die.

Hearing her story made me more convinced that even in our clean society, these little buggers are still around and surviving well. Thus, I will do this parasite cleanse once a year. In the meanwhile, I also happen to receive a free bottle of garlic supplements so I'll eat those from now so as to prevent more parasites from growing before my next cleanse. Yup...those critters hate loads of garlic!

To learn more about the 30-day ClearStart or Paraway Plus, go to: https://shop.swagguide.com/collections/unicity.

Pásshen is now SWAG Guide

We are changing our name from Pásshen to SWAG Guide! SWAG stands for Simple Wellness And Glamorous, which is a better representation of what we aim to do here. Our website is still a platform for curated services and products meant to help you achieve better body confidence so that you can be the best of yourselves.

The transition will take place in phases, so do not get a huge shock. Those who took part in our  name voting contest would have probably guessed that this was coming soon.

We're very excited with this name change and we hope you love it as much as we do!

Are You Gluten-sensitive?

I've been talking to a lot of people about how I found out that I'm slightly gluten sensitive and why a lot of people probably are but simply do not know about it. After every such conversation, most of them would ask me to blog about it and so here I am! I must stress that I'm no expert and this is only my opinion. You should always consult your doctor and do more proper research before you embark on any crazy experiments with your diet.

First of, let's find out what gluten really is. According to www.livescience.com, gluten refers to the proteins found in wheat grain but it can also be found in other cereal grains such as rye and barley. It is what makes breads and cake have that elastic texture.

Is Gluten Bad?
If you're gluten-intolerant, then yes...you can't eat any gluten and some severe cases of gluten-intolerance have met with death. The most well-known form of gluten intolerance is celiac disease and when someone with this disease consumes gluten, it will trigger an immune response that damages their intestines, preventing them from absorbing vital nutrients.

Another form of gluten intolerance, although quite rare, is wheat allergy and the reaction is normally through skin, respiratory or gastrointestinal. It is in recent years that scientists have found another form of gluten intolerance where patients may experience many celiac disease symptoms, such as diarrhoea, fatigue and joint pain, but do not appear to have damaged intestines. This is when doctors would recommend the patients to go on a gluten-free diet.

Why the trend to go gluten-free?
There is a perception that going gluten-free is healthier because some articles have written that the human stomach does not digest wheat that well, therefore causing a lot of gas in the stomach and intestines. In addition, the publication of Karyn Seroussi’s "Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A Mother’s Story of Research and Recovery" in 2000, and actress Jenny McCarthy’s books and activism, prompted many parents of autistic children to try a diet free of gluten and casein, a protein in milk. As some parents reported success with the diet, scientists devised studies to try to pin down the diet’s impact on behavior. So far, however, these studies haven’t convinced scientists of the diet’s effectiveness.

Nonetheless, this 'health' craze doesn't seem to be ending any time soon especially with celebrities such as Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga going on a complete gluten-free diet and claiming that they lose weight in the process. Gluten-free is now big business and the marketing folks at each of these health food companies aren't going to stop churning out them gluten-free labels. Yay for those with celiac while the rest of us had better make more informed choices.

Why I went gluten-free
As I was researching about endometriosis and other autoimmune diseases, I read about how researchers have seen that there's non-celiac gluten sensitivity (as mentioned earlier) and that people with this gluten sensitivity tend to have other autoimmune diseases or symptoms. I too often felt fatigued and bloated, but I blamed it all on the endometriosis plus stress at work. However, those articles that linked gluten sensitivity to the symptoms of endometriosis made me want to test out this theory.

Thus, I went a full month without eating a lot of gluten. I can't say that I went totally cold turkey because the sad thing about food these days is that there are a lot of gluten traces during the processing of food...even for soy sauce. What I did do was cut out pasta, breads, pizza, wraps, cakes and donuts. However, I did not cut out carbs. I merely chose alternatives such as rice and potato.

I was never a huge fan of cakes, bread and donuts so it was not that hard the first week into this diet. However, lunch was a tough choice because I could not eat pasta, wraps or pizza. I had to stick to potato and rice...which limited the variety of meals. Sometimes, I had no choice but to succumb to eating gluten as I could not be too fussy about my meals when dining with my (now ex) colleagues. Nonetheless, I pressed on.

The result? I lost the bloat but in terms of weight loss, it was about 0.5kg overall but what I liked most of all was that I no longer had that uncomfortable bloating. Moreover, the lack of fatigue was more significant and my energy levels were higher during the day.

When I went back to my regular diet, I experimented again. I took my weight every morning to see whether what I ate the day before would affect my weight the next day. I found out that I could eat gluten at any time of the day except for dinner. If I ate a plate of pasta or even a nice sandwich, I would put on 0.5 to 0.8kg the next day.

Is it all in our heads?
A couple of researchers who studied self-diagnosed gluten-sensitive patients found that that NONE of them were actually gluten sensitive. The study also revealed that these patients were experiencing a "nocebo" effect, where they thought they'd feel worse when given gluten and therefore would really feel worse when given gluten. In other words, it's all psychological.

Another study also states that people who go on gluten-free diets often make other lifestyle changes which contribute to their weight loss or better skin. For example, someone might cook more meals at home rather than eating fast food as they go on this gluten-free diet. They may eat more vegetables and less fatty foods as a result as well.

For me, that was not true because I was still working full time at a 9 to 5 job and although I wasn't eating pizzas and pasta, I was still eating my chye png and rice noodles etc. I was also actively  recording down the calorie intake each day and it hardly changed from my gluten-laden days. That is why my conclusion is that I'm slightly sensitive to gluten and it has been helping me control the bloat better than all the other 'solutions' that I get from therapists at the spas.

Many dieticians do not recommend going on a gluten-free diet because grains that contain gluten often contain other essential nutrients such as vitamin B6. Moreover, some manufacturers add in fat into gluten-free products in order to enhance the taste or to improve the texture. I've also seen some gluten-free products containing white rice flour, which means that it has been processed twice, making me wonder how much nutrients would've been stripped away before it became noodles or pasta sheets.

Nevertheless, please do not take my word for it. Go see the doctor, get yourself tested and then experiment a little with your diet. We are unique individuals and our diets should be customised for our current lifestyles too.

How The Bikini Evolved - Every Woman Should Watch This

Women tend to dress in order to impress and attract those of the opposite sex, which seems like a normal thing to do. However, what if how you dress makes men see you as an object instead of a human being who is smart, beautiful and worthy of attention?

The bikini seems all the norm these days and if you walked onto the beach in a one-piece, you may be called 'conservative' or may even be laughed at. However, if you watched this video, it will challenge your idea on what the word 'modesty' means.

You are worthy and you should wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident!

Interview With The Asian Entrepreneur Magazine

 

We're so excited and proud that our founder, Melissa Fann, was recently interviewed by The Asian Entrepreneur Magazine, a leading global business magazine that focuses on Asian entrepreneurship. Big thanks to those who helped to make it happen!

The full interview can be read here: http://www.asianentrepreneur.org/melissa-fann-founder-of-passhen/ 

This interview is part of a series featuring the profiles of entrepreneurs in Asia.

Loading Up On Antioxidants

As you know, I was quite ill 2 weeks ago with sore throat and what not. It was only later that I realised that I was having a healing crisis from my parasite cleansing but it was still important to tackle the symptoms of my illness.

I got my box of Jeunesse Reserve gel packs a month ago and have been taking it faithfully everyday.  What I like about it is that it's super delicious and you can taste the fruits used in this blend - cherries, blueberries and grape seed. As we know, antioxidants help repair our bodies on the cellular level. There are many different types of antioxidants but they basically help to combat free radicals and prevent aging while boosting immunity and energy levels.

On normal days, I drink one gel pack in the morning and I do find that it had similar effects on me as caffeine in terms of energy levels. I felt more alert but unlike caffeine, there wasn't a crash or heart palpitations. After one week, I was convinced that the ingredients used were good stuff. So when I started having that bad sore throat, all the more I needed to combat it and support my body's natural defence by boosting it with Vitamin C and antioxidants.

My usual 'cure' for sore throats is apple cider vinegar with honey. This time round, I added in my Jeunesse Reserve to the mix. As the gel drink itself is very sweet, you may be able to add in more vinegar. I used warm water as it was more soothing but you can add in ice if you want it cold.

The eventual concoction is this dark purple drink. It still tasted like cherries, vinegar and honey. It was quite delicious and it did help with the energy levels despite me being so sick.

To purchase your month's supply of gel packs, visit http://shop.swagguide.com/collections/jeunesse/products/reserve or http://passhen.jeunesseglobal.com.

To request for a sample, send an email to marketing@passhen.com with your name and mailing address.

Three Weeks After Parasite Cleansing

It has now been three weeks since I've embarked on this parasite cleansing journey...which means that I've also gone beyond the half way point! 10 more days! So, what interesting things happened this past week?

That, my dear friends, is not a rash under my armpit. I suddenly spotted it one day after my shower and was wondering what that was. It didn't hurt nor itched. I suspected that it's my lymph nodes flaring up and when I did some online research as to the positions of lymph nodes, I did hit the nail on the head.

My skin on my arms are still itching and I see more rashes coming up, which isn't fun. The most irritating thing that has occurred so far is the mucus production in my sinuses. I've always had sinusitis and now I can feel a lot of drip back to my throat but my nostrils aren't clogged up. Weird. However, this is affecting my sleep. I've started to snore instead of my usual heavy breathing and I'm breathing through my mouth while I sleep, causing a very dry mouth in the mornings.

Again, all these are typical detox features. Flaring up incredibly since it's my first real detox/cleanse.  Good news is that I haven't noticed any more critters in my stool during my trips to the loo. That probably also explains why the symptoms of the cleanse are now mainly on my skin and sinuses, because the herbs are now taking effect and helping to get rid of residual endotoxins.

What I find the most interesting thing now is that my appetite has gone down. I no longer crave for oily, fried foods such as fried chicken and french fries. Both of them used to be my biggest indulgences but during the week, I did buy a fried chicken wing and when I bit into it, it no longer tasted as wonderful as I thought it would. Also, I find that I'm eating less than my usual and that's helping with maintaining my weight loss. I'm half surprised but yet rationally, I was expecting this to happen. Why? Parasites feed on your food and they are known to be the ones sending signals to your brain to eat more sugar and oily foods because that's what they like to eat. And in large quantities. Now that I've finally gotten rid of them from my body, I don't have these aliens telling my brain to feed my body with junk food. Furthermore, the hormones controlling the signals of sugar levels in the body etc can now work properly. Thus, I'm eating the amounts that I really require.

A lot of doctors and nutritionists poo-poo detox programmes saying that the body will naturally detox itself. Which is true. However, the body doesn't naturally get rid of parasites and that is why after  starting this parasite cleanse, I've been recommending people to do it. Another problem with the modern diet is that we eat too much processed foods and then there's also external pollution that's messing with our skin. There's just a lot for the body to process and it's natural for the body to just detox as much as it can without overloading itself. What a herbal detox does is that it helps the body deal with the daily detoxification process. Best to think of it as banging down the previously small doors of the detox centres to become floodgates. Whoosh! Suddenly the body is processing a lot more toxins a day than it normally does and when it comes to a parasite cleanse, the body has to deal with extra endotoxins released from these dying parasites.

What I'm trying to say is that all these cleanses and detox programmes are a bit of a misnomer. The herbs or juices aren't really the ones cleaning out the waste from your bodies. Your body itself is. What is going on is that these herbs and teas are supporting your body's natural detoxification and allowing more toxins to be processed. Should you then go on a detox programme or parasite cleanse? It's really up to you and what you're comfortable with. If you do choose to go on one, do note that you'll need to stick to it for at least 3 days to see any effects. It may not be easy the first time you do it but if you press on and carry on, the results are worth it. 1.5kg and counting!!

To learn more about the 30-day ClearStart or Paraway Plus, go to:  https://shop.swagguide.com/collections/unicity.

Get Fit In Style!

We've teamed up with Rumi Yoga Wear to give Pásshen members great discounts! We looove Rumi's  eco-friendly shorts, capris and leggings are made 100% of recycled plastic bottles and are super stretchy. They even have a maternity range with an expandable waistband that can be folded down when baby is born!

Comfy and with excellent wicking, you'll remain cool and dry even after an hour's hot yoga session. We should know as we passed a couple over to Amanda Koh, a yoga instructor, and she used them during her pilates AND hot yoga sessions.

To get your hands on a lovely pair of leggings, head onto http://www.rumiyogawear.com/ and don't forget to use the promo code "PASSHEN" to get your 10% off!

Quite loving these colourful capris from Rumi Yoga wear... made from recycled plastic bottles! Meanwhile my cheapo ikea rug makes excellent padding for headstanding hahaha! @rumiyogawear @passhensg #rumilove #sgyoga #singaporeyogis #yogacapris #cny2016 #inversion #headstand #sirsasana #iloveyoga #yogaeverydamnday #practicepracticepractice

A photo posted by Amanda Koh (@amandakohkalariyoga) on Feb 8, 2016 at 5:25am PST

Tribute to Everyone Who Has Been Shamed For Being Fat/Skinny

I don't feel fat until people tell it to me in my face and that's when I'd usually feel bad about myself. There was a period of time where I'd even get depressed. As in clinically depressed, bawling my eyes out and feeling crappy kind of depressed. It has been many years since then and thankfully, I managed to crawl myself out of that hole but I do know that a lot of people are still suffering similar situations.

A friend of mine posted once about how she knows that she has put on weight but she's frustrated at how some people are asking her whether she's pregnant again or offering her all sorts of solutions to lose weight. Another friend of mine had accidentally brushed against an old auntie on CNY eve in the supermarket and was rudely scolded with a "Fat slob! Too greedy and rushing to eat like a pig ah?", thus ruining said friend's mood and made her go back to her own hole of self doubt.

It's not just the fat people who get it. The skinny ones often will get people wanting to feed them (myself included) and people joking about how a wind would blow the skinny people off their feet. Oh my favourite one is probably "you're so skinny that you use a Cheerio as a hula hoop".

Why do women do this to ourselves and to fellow females? Sure, we are all blaming the media for giving us an ideal body weight to conform to. However, the media does not tell us to insult each other. This, unfortunately, is a societal thing. How many times have we been told that fat=lazy? And then of course we see images of starving people who are stick thin and that's where we feel that skinny but healthy people are that size because they're not eating enough.

I watched an episode of "Extreme Makeover" and for the first time, it was a skinny man who was undergoing the makeover. His issue wasn't that he wasn't eating enough. It was that he wasn't building muscles as he didn't go to the gym.

As for lazy, I know a lot of people who are fat but are the most hardworking people. There are many other reasons why the weight is piling on and most of the time, it is some emotional reason and not because they don't have the willpower. Sure, they may say that out loud but if you've watched enough makeover shows or read sufficient articles on inspirational weight loss stories, the actual reason a lot of obese people pile on the weight is because they turn to food for comfort and they went on a spiral where they couldn't get themselves out.

When I look at my old photos, sure, I was much slimmer then but right now, at this moment, the heavier me actually feels happier and more assured about myself. Sure, some of it came due to age but it is also because of an epiphany that I had - my weight does not determine how I feel about myself.

As I said to my friend, we choose how we react and feel. Although insults may make me angry and feel bad for a bit, I tell myself that whatever the insult was isn't me. I determine who I am and I'm growing stronger and healthier with time and on my own terms. I'm not encouraging obese people to remain obese or underweight people to remain stick thin. What I'm saying is, don't judge. If you're judging others, what makes you think that others aren't judging you? Instead of judging, just work on yourself and help others feel better about themselves. Remember, the over eating is often a symptom of emotional problems.

Which is why, when I went through a workshop and we were forced to really think about WHY we're setting up our businesses and WHAT we actually are selling, it reminded me that I want to help everyone be body confident. That is why my company's motto is "Be The Best Of You". Now that I've been reminded of this fact, you'll see a lot of changes with SWAG Guide soon where it'll be more in that direction and become a platform for holistic plans, advice and solutions to enable you to be more confident about yourselves.

Two Weeks After Parasite Cleansing

It has been 2 weeks since I started my parasite cleansing with Paraway Plus and the healing crisis is hitting me really bad.

As mentioned in last week's post, I developed a fever and a bad sore throat. It got so bad that I went to see the doctor last Wed and was put on a course of antibiotics, paracetamol and anti-inflammatory meds. I started feeling really good until day 10 of my cleanse where I had to up the number of pills from 2 to 5. On Day 10 itself, I started having a sore throat in the evening. On Day 11, I woke up with my throat more swollen and I even had a mild fever in the afternoon. This meant more paracetamol and anti-inflammatory meds going into my system. Moreover, I had such bad insomnia that I did not sleep till 6am the following morning. I was soon up 2 hours later and that's when I messaged Su Lee for advice.

This is the full symptoms of my healing crisis:

• fever
• sore throat
• semi-blocked sinuses with drip back (probably causing the sore throat)
• pimples
• raised goose pimples on my arms
• slight itching on my arms
• thicker coating on my tongue
• body aches
• diarrhoea (only once)

Su Lee confirmed that it was a healing crisis and told me that if I stopped the cleanse for more than 3 days, I'll have to start from scratch all over again. Thus, I'm pressing on with loads of chlorophyll water as suggested by her. She also suggested taking probiotics as the released toxins may also cause an increase in bad bacteria in the gut so the probiotics will help combat this. Killing two birds with one stone, I mixed the chlorophyll powder with my yoghurt drink and had that for lunch since I wasn't up to swallowing any whole foods.

As per research online, Su Lee mentioned that a detox or cleansing healing crisis will cause underlying conditions to flare up more than before as they haven't really been cured. It's no wonder then that I have blocked sinuses and itching on the arms since I've had sinusitis and eczema since young. Since this is also my first proper cleansing, my body is probably not used to the sudden flood of endotoxins which explains how bad my symptoms are.

Trips to the loo have been some sort of exploration session for me as I tried to look for wriggly stuff or white things that resemble seeds. I 'complained' to Su Lee that I haven't seen any but now that I think about it, I did pass out some parasites. Instead of white ones, mine were dark brown ones! I did find them unusual and was wondering whether it was due to the spinach salad that I had the day before but then I went to do my research and I think its a type of rope worm. I did not take any photos of my stool (I think that's a little gross) but here's a photo that I found online which closely resembles what I saw in my toilet bowl.

On Day 13, I saw quite a few white things in my stool that resembled the size and shape of rice. I thought back to what I ate the previous day and the only thing that I could think that resembled that would be the brown rice that I ate plus okra. But okra seeds are smaller and rounder than those. Plus I've been eating brown rice for years and they've never come out whole like that. They didn't wriggle. Conclusion:  another type of parasite.

I'm hoping that I've gotten rid of as much as possible but from what I read and think, the increased dosage may mean that I'll be seeing more of such parasites in my stool in subsequent weeks. Oh well, better out than in!

I'm still in shock over how much parasites are in my system. Sadly, having parasites in your gut is more common than you think as these little buggers are on vegetables, grains and other types of foods. I'm just glad to be able to get rid of them. Although I really do not like going through the healing crisis. A good side effect is that I've since lost 1kg!

To learn more about the 30-day ClearStart or Paraway Plus, go to:  https://shop.swagguide.com/collections/unicity.

A Tea A Day To Keep The Blues Away

I've been down with the flu for the past 2 weeks and it has been quite miserable with the blocked nose and sore throat. This flu is my healing crisis from my parasite cleansing and when one is sick, one reaches for comfort and for me, one of that is tea.

 

Since Hi-Tea has a special blend of teas called "Health Series" I thought that it would be perfect to drink it while I'm under the weather. I love how each bag is individually wrapped so as to maintain its freshness. This is important because Hi-Tea teas are all natural and made with dried flowers and fruit with no preservatives.

As they come in bags, it's so easy to pop one into a mug, add hot water and let it steep for 3-5 minutes before sipping the brew. The Health tea is made with jasmine, lemon grass and dried lemon which is why the resulting brew was both refreshing in terms of taste and smell. Love how it was mildly sweet, which I was not expecting since there's lemon inside. It really helped to clear up my sinuses and relieve some of my sore throat. If you want, you can add honey to the tea and it'll be a naturally sweet and healthy drink.

For bulk brew, I used a tea pot and as mine is pretty large, I added 2 tea bags and steeped it for 5 minutes. In this case, I brewed Hi-Tea's Beauty blend. This is a blend of French Rose, jasmine flower and apple flower.

Beauty tea blend

The dried flowers themselves look so pretty so hopefully drinking the tea will help maintain my youthful skin...after all, roses are supposed to contain vitamin C. As with most flower teas, the taste of the Beauty Tea was very light, with the dominant rose flavour and ending with a subtle green apple note.

Left to right: Relaxation series, Health series, Beauty series

What I really like about Hi-Tea is the design of the boxes. I could open up the lid, bend it back and now it's like a having a tea display in my kitchen! Don't you think the teas look so pretty on my kitchen counter top? Now I know exactly what the boxes contain and can easily pick up a sachet whenever I feel like drinking a cuppa. Two thumbs up for brilliant design!

Since it's going to be Chinese New Year, I can't wait to just display the teas on my dining table so that my family and friends who are visiting can just choose whatever tea they'd like. Personally, I can't wait to try out all their flavours because they do have quite a few others to choose from:

• Fruit teas (peach, apple rose & blueberry)
• Anti-aging
• Slimming
• Relaxation
• Stevia
• Lemongrass
• Peppermint
• Flower teas (chamomile, chrysanthemum, ginseng flower, osmanthus, rose hip, rose, lavender and French rose)

To view and purchase any of these delicious and natural teas, head onto  http://shop.passhen.com/collections/hi-tea