Planning to Skip Cardio? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t
Posted by Editor in Uncategorized on May 14th, 2019 | Comments Off on Planning to Skip Cardio? Here’s Why You Shouldn’tEvery once in a while, you’ll see a hulking Singaporean bodybuilder casually walking down the streets. If there was a scenario where he was made to climb up the stairs to the fourth floor of a building, he would easily get tired. This is just an example, of course. We’re not taking shots at all the mass monsters out there! In fact, there are also a lot of bodybuilders who can run for hours and not get tired.
The above example is just a small picture of how different you will feel if you do cardio or not. This is the issue though; some people just seem to not like cardio at all. Whatever their reason is, they might not understand the importance of cardio overall. So here it is:
To have a stronger heart
The number one and most important reason why we need to do cardiovascular exercises is to have a strong and healthy heart. Always remember that the heart is also a muscle, and it’s the most hard-working one! Doing cardio regularly can help keep the heart in great shape. You’ll be able to perform different activities without easily losing your breath.
It can serve as a warm-up
Warming up and cooling down is important in any form of exercise. So, you can use light cardio as your warm-up. Start slow and gradually increase the intensity, only to a point where you’re not too tired to do your actual workout. When you warm up with light cardio exercises, you’re simultaneously preparing your heart to be able to pump out blood effectively during the workout while also heating up your muscles so that they become more flexible.
You’ll be able to do more overall
As stated earlier, when your heart is healthy and strong, you can perform a lot more and a lot better. This is simply because your heart is able to pump out blood more efficiently throughout the body. Because of this, oxygen and other nutrients are delivered to muscle tissues through the blood. This enables muscles to work at a higher capacity and also recover faster.
Better control of blood sugar
Outside of working out, doing cardio exercises also have great benefits for our health. Sugar (glucose) is the body’s main source of fuel. When you exercise, your body will be better at utilizing glucose for fuel and energy. This will also significantly help you fight against spikes in blood sugar and even blood pressure.
Again, cardio is important, but you should also learn to strike a balance. If you push yourself too much during cardio exercises, you might be too exhausted to do your workouts. Your heart will get strained and your body, overall, will have difficulty keeping up with your demands.
A List of the Best Museums You Can Go to in Singapore
Posted by Editor in Uncategorized on May 14th, 2019 | Comments Off on A List of the Best Museums You Can Go to in SingaporeWhether you’re a Singaporean or an interested tourist, there is no better place to get to know the rich culture and history of Singapore than the museums. All from history and diverse cultures to technological advancements and toys, there are many museums around Singapore to go to!
National Museum of Singapore
The oldest and largest museum in Singapore, the National Museum is also one of the architectural icons of the nation. It has two separate galleries; one centered on Singapore’s history and its evolution from a British colony to an independent nation, and another that features a rotating selection of galleries called the Singapore Living Galleries. This, of course, is a good place to go for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of Singapore.
ArtScience Museum
If you’re in the Marina Bay Area, it will be hard for you to miss the white lotus-shaped building that is the ArtScience Museum. Currently its permanent exhibition, “Future World”, features interactive technology and high-tech installations that kids and adults would surely enjoy. The ArtScience Museum has also hosted many blockbuster exhibitions like Harry Potter-themed ones, Titanic-themed ones, dinosaurs, LEGOs and a lot more.
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
LKC is Singapore’s first and only natural history museum, and it’s very far away from being a letdown. Two floors and 15 different-themed zones of an exhibition gallery showcasing more than 2,000 specimens of animals, plant life, sea life, dinosaur fossils and a lot more. The museum showcases scientific research as well as environmental issues that can be both enriching and eye-opening to visitors, locals and tourists alike.
Peranakan Museum
The Peranakan Chinese of Singapore are natives who are descendants of Chinese immigrants who eventually came to the Malay Archipelago. This museum hosts an exhibition that showcases the Peranakan culture from their artifacts to different historical galleries on the Peranakan community. The building stood as the Old Tao Nan School before it was reconditioned as a museum.
MINT Museum of Toys
‘Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys’ or MINT should be a great visit for all the toy lovers in Singapore. The museum houses a great collection of over 50,000 vintage toys and items, dating as old as the 1840s and all from different countries. All those are divided into 4 different levels while another 2 galleries are dedicated to vintage enamel signs. MINT also hosts special events from time to time.
Singapore Science Centre
Originally, the Singapore Science Centre was a part of the National Museum of Singapore. It was then separated to be able to focus more science and technology. It features a 12-gallery exhibition with over 1,000 exhibits and each collection promoting technology, life sciences, industry sciences, and more. It’s an amazing place to bring kids! The Science Centre also has the nation’s only dome-shaped theater, the OMNIMAX Theater.
6 Secrets All-Inclusive Resorts Won’t Tell You
Posted by Editor in Uncategorized on Apr 17th, 2019 | Comments Off on 6 Secrets All-Inclusive Resorts Won’t Tell YouSummer is just around the corner, and it’s that time of the year again when people travel for a well-deserved vacation. Don’t just pay for that lackluster trip. Find out for yourself whether that all-in package is truly worth the expensive price or not by keeping these things in mind.
- They are rarely ‘all-inclusive’
To see if you are priced fairly, compare you all-in hotel fee to the standard room rate without the other services. Some resorts budget around S$200 per person a day for meals and leisurely drinks under their all-inclusive deals. Ask yourself if you really consume that much to find out if the package is worth getting.
- Discounts could be because of unfavorable factors
Ongoing renovations are not mentioned in resorts’ marketing materials, so confirm with your hotel or risk enduring noise and dust your entire vacation. Another reason why hotels offer discounted all-in packages is the invite more guests during off-peak seasons, such as hurricane season in western countries. While you might have saved a lot from your package, you may not enjoy the place as much because of natural disasters.
- Brochure photos are always edited
Scanning and browsing through photos in brochures and websites of hotels would give you the impression that they offer five-star amenities and services. While your all-in package brochure gives you pictures of plush rooms and pristine beaches, we also recommend checking travel websites for un-retouched images of your resort for comparison.
- Food-borne illnesses is quite common
Be careful with what you eat by avoiding lukewarm offerings and drinks that have been left out for hours when dining in buffets. Diarrhea happens on one in every four travelers, so it is imperative to be mindful with the food and always bring anti-diarrhea meds wherever your go.
- A healthcare insurance will give you peace of mind
In relation to number 4, opt for an enhanced medical coverage to get you covered against any illnesses or accidents incurred during the trip. Secure a medical coverage that arranges a doctor’s visit to your own hotel room, instead of you going to the hospital.
- The cheaper hotel nearby offers the same beach as your luxe hotel
Before booking that posh hotel, find out first if there are more affordable hotels nearby. Expensive resorts and cheaper hotels usually share the same stretch of beach. If you are visiting the place mainly for the beach and doesn’t mind skimping on fancy amenities, you’ll save a lot of cash with the more affordable option.
An all-inclusive vacay may seem like a more convenient option, but a little research won’t hurt.
Top 4 Tips to Make Intermittent Fasting Easier
Posted by Editor in Uncategorized on Apr 17th, 2019 | Comments Off on Top 4 Tips to Make Intermittent Fasting EasierIntermittent fasting is the newest diet plan right now. As what the name implies, it is a type of diet where you fast for a certain set of time, typically between 16 to 20 consecutive hours; and you eat during the other four to eight hours of your day. The exact time you start and end your fasting is up to you. But the most common for 16-hour fasting is the 8pm to 12nn of the next day. You can only start eating again in the next eight hours after 12nn, but you can have coffee, tea or water during your fasting hours.
It may sound a lot to stop yourself from craving anything solid for 16 hours, but really it is just a matter of mind setting. To further help you shave off those extra pounds, here are some tips to make intermittent fasting a lot more bearable.
- Start fasting after dinner
Have your dinner around seven in the evening. If you wake up at seven in the morning, you are already in your 11th hour of fasting and just five hours away from your first meal. Scheduling your fast at bedtime makes it easier for you to curb your cravings since you’re asleep most of the hours.
- Squeeze some lemon into your water
During those fasting hours when you’re awake, drinking water with lime or lemon can also help control your sweet cravings. You may also have a cup of tea or coffee. After a few weeks, your system will get used to these, reducing frequency of craving for anything sugary.
- Eat more protein during meal times
Once your fasting ends, do not binge eat. Still, prioritize healthy eating to maximize the results. Minimize intake of foods made with processed sugars and carbohydrate. Instead, focus on consuming more protein from pork and beef as this helps you stay full for longer hours. Get a dose of your healthy fats from fish almonds and avocadoes’ and healthy carbs from fruits and veggies.
- Schedule your fast only twice a week
Fasting for 16 hours twice a week already cuts your calorie intake by 30 percent. Fasting more than that would reduce your calorie intake even more, causing lack of energy and strength and making you prone to over eating.
Intermittent fasting does not have to feel like torture. These tips are just some of the many different ways to make this diet plan manageable and more effective. Feel free to play around and incorporate just one or two of these tips into your diet. If you find these tips making intermittent fasting more convenient, then you would enjoy the diet plan in a way you would want to continue doing it.
3 Big Reasons to Start Fermenting Vegetables
Posted by Editor in Uncategorized on Mar 18th, 2019 | Comments Off on 3 Big Reasons to Start Fermenting VegetablesModern civilization has given us everything we need and want to make everyday life so much easier, from the electricity and running water we currently enjoy, to the refrigerators and coffee that we use nearly every day.
However, it also has its downsides, not just on the environment around us, but on the environment that’s inside us as well – and this is where fermenting food comes in.
Why Ferment?
Fermentation has been a way to prepare and extend the shelf life of food, even before refrigerators were around.
With natural fermentation, food is broken down into a more digestible form while still retaining its nutrients, and even introduces vital enzymes, such as b-vitamins, and probiotics that are good for your gut.
Here are the biggest reasons why you should start fermenting vegetables at home:
- Fermented Foods Are Easier to Digest
Food is broken down and made easier to digest through fermentation, which is great for those who are suffering digestive problems. This is possible since the bacteria will break the food down using a process that doesn’t involve oxygen or air.
- They Balance Your Gut Flora
Fermented foods are good for you not just because they’re easier to digest, but they also contain healthy bacteria and yeast strains that your gut needs to produce and process nutrients that your body can’t.
One vital product that’s produced during the fermentation process is lactic acid, which your body burns to give your muscles more energy and reduces your tendency to suffer from muscle cramps.
- They’re Easy to Prepare
Any food that you prepare yourself will taste better than the food that you would just normally buy. Even if you don’t cook regularly, fermentation is something you’ll be able to appreciate since it will last you a long time.
Fermenting vegetables is also easy to do – all you really need is a clean jar with a lid and a mix of water and sea salt (or any other type of unrefined salt). Once the bacteria has finished fermenting them, you’re done!
Not only is fermenting your own food natural and easy to do, but fermented foods can also be kept at room temperature while still retaining their long shelf life (which can last for months), especially when compared to other foods that spoil faster and more easily.
Additionally, fermenting vegetables can save you a lot of money, especially if you’re on a tight budget and have to cut down on buying a lot of groceries. There’s also no reason to not start doing it since there are all kinds of fermented dishes you can start making.