Category Archives: Wellness

AFTNews, Mental Health, PRNews

Relationship between COVID-19 stressors and health behaviours: results from The Psycorona Study

The pandemic is teaching us key lessons about the relationship between different types of stressors and health outcomes.

Covid-19 Fatigue – Part One: A report by Australia Fitness Today

In a recent study published in Preventive Medicine Reports*, Dr Shian-Ling Keng, Associate Professor from the Department of Psychology at Monash University Malaysia, along with a team of 107 researchers from over 40 countries globally, are charting COVID-19’s deadly sweep across the world by delving into the virus’ often overlooked impact on people’s health behaviours. This study is conducted with Dr Michael Stanton, Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health at California State University, East Bay as a co-leading investigator. Other key collaborators of the study include Dr LeeAnn Haskins (University of Georgia, USA), Dr Jeannette Ickovics (Yale University, USA), Dr Antwan Jones (the George Washington University, USA), Dr Diana Grigsby-Toussaint (Brown University, USA), and Dr Carlos Almenara (Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Peru).

Anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and home confinement measures have been found to be associated with adverse health behaviours, such as unhealthy eating, smoking, drinking, and decreased physical activity. These unhealthy behaviours are risk factors for non-communicable diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, which in turn increase the risk of contracting COVID-19 and greater disease severity and may eventually lead to increased mortality. However, to date, most studies have been limited by regional sampling, which precludes the examination of behavioural consequences associated with the pandemic at a global level.

Descriptive Statistics for COVID-19 Stressors and Health Behaviors. | Download Scientific Diagram (researchgate.net) – image via license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

Using data from the global PsyCorona project, an international, longitudinal online study of psychological and behavioural correlates of COVID-19, Dr Keng and over 100 behavioural scientists surveyed 7,402 adult participants from 86 countries across three waves of assessment and measured  their perceived infection risk, economic burden, and engagement in health behaviours ranging from physical exercise, unhealthy eating, smoking, to alcohol consumption. By employing a multilevel regression approach in its data analysis, the team tested whether COVID-19 infection risk and economic burden correlate with a decline in healthy behavioural habits. The study found that perceived economic burden was linked with reduced diet quality and sleep quality, as well as increased smoking. There was also an interaction between perceived COVID-19 infection risk and economic burden, such that diet quality and sleep quality were lowest among those reported high levels of COVID-19 infection risk and economic burden. Neither binge drinking nor physical exercise were associated with perceived COVID-19 infection risk, economic burden, or their interaction.  

“The pandemic is teaching us key lessons about the relationship between different types of stressors and health outcomes across different socioeconomic groups. In particular, it highlights the importance of attending to cumulative, negative effects of high infection risk and economic burden on health outcomes”, said Dr Keng. This project began when Dr Keng was a faculty member with the Division of Psychology at Yale-NUS College, Singapore.

Since March 2020, the PsyCorona scientists have conducted ongoing 20-minute interviews with more than 60,000 people in 115 countries. The survey topics range from handwashing and mask-wearing to dissatisfaction with government messaging. The project is jointly funded by the New York University Abu Dhabi, the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III in Madrid, with Dr Pontus Leander (Wayne State University, USA) and Dr Jocelyn Bélanger (NYU Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) as principal investigators. 

“We are asking: If you perceive that you will get infected, and if you think that in the next few months your personal situation will be worse due to the economic consequences of COVID, will you sleep less, and will you eat more and eat unhealthy food?” Dr Stanton explained.

Preliminary findings from the study point to the value of developing interventions to address COVID-related stressors, which have an impact on health behaviours that, in turn, may influence vulnerability to COVID-19 and other health outcomes. Dr Keng noted that the relationships between COVID-19 stressors and health behaviours appear to be consistent across geographical regions — from impoverished nations to more developed European countries and the United States, and the relationships remained after controlling for variations in gender, age and levels of education. As a next step, the team aims to examine psychological mechanisms that may account for the relationships, including negative emotions and use of coping strategies such as problem solving and avoidance.

Dr Jones, Associate Professor from the Department of Sociology at The George Washington University, expressed that pandemics are notorious for inciting short- and long-term economic challenges. “However, there has been less attention on…how socially and economically vulnerable populations will be affected by the changing spatial landscape brought on by the consequences of the pandemic,” he stated.

Another co-author, Dr Grigsby-Toussaint, Associate Professor of Behavioural and Social Sciences and Epidemiology at the Brown University School of Public Health, indicated that supporting and engaging in international collaborative efforts are critical for mitigating the impact of COVID-19. “Although effective interventions targeting COVID-19 have to be tailored to the local context, it is important to have a broader view of stressors and health behaviours that are continuing to drive the pandemic.”

*Articles published on Preventive Medicine Reports are peer-reviewed and made freely available for everyone to read, download, and reuse in line with the user license displayed on the article.

AFT Ed.’s notes:

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Mental Health, Wellness

Discovering your core values

By Dominic Junghaenel
Including workbook with exercise and step-by-step instructions.

What are core values?

Simply put, your personal core values are your fundamental beliefs. They reflect what you stand for, what’s important to you. Your core values guide your behavior and your decisions. The emphasis here is on YOU; we’re not talking about values in a sense of morality or social norms.

Why core values are important

As a career coach, personal values are one of the most important tools in my work with any client, and one of the first things I want to get clarity on. For me, those values form the base for all subsequent work, such as creating a personal mission statement, building a vision or setting career goals.

If our goals are not set in line with our values, we’ll have a much harder time mastering the challenges along the way. Similarly, if your job does not satisfy your personal values, you’re more likely to experience a lack of motivation and fulfillment in the long run. Knowing your values can therefore help you make the right career choice.

And there are other reasons why identifying your core values is beneficial, such as:

Making good decisions

Knowing your personal values is one of the best tools to make difficult decisions. If you’re crystal clear about what you want and what’s important to you, you can eliminate a lot of inner dialogue and arrive at decisions more efficiently and with more confidence. Or put the other way around, I believe the best decisions we make are the ones based on and aligned with our values.

Experiencing more fulfillment

People who live by their values tend to experience greater fulfillment and happiness. In other words, if we neglect our personal values, we suffer mentally and emotionally. I have experienced this in my own life too. Dr. Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap, claims that our values are even more important than our goals, because “we might not reach our goals, but we can always choose to live by our values”.

Becoming an effective leader

Getting clarity on your own values is also a critical step in becoming an effective and authentic leader. Studies have shown that leaders who are seen as inspiring tend to have consistent values that they display every day. It seems that people become effective leaders when they are rooted in who they are and what matters most to them.

Are you ready to discover your personal values? Scroll down to find an exercise that will help you discover yours.

Exercise – Discover Your Core Values

Download the workbook or follow the step-by-step instructions below

DOWNLOAD WORKBOOK

Before you start

Approach things with an open mind. We’re often quick to presume we know the answers before we even start. As a result, we are missing the opportunity to embark on a creative self-discovery process. Adopt a beginner’s mind by letting go of any expectations about what will happen and instead develop a curiosity to understand yourself more deeply.

Core values are discovered, not selected. Your core values are an integral part of you and the point of the following exercise is to help you become consciously aware of them. Core values are not the same as aspirational values that express who you want to be, what you aspire to.

To do this exercise, all you need is a piece of paper, a pen and an undisturbed place. When you’re ready, start by following the instructions below.

Step 1 – List up

Things you enjoy

  1. Make a list of things you enjoy – What are your interests and hobbies? What are you passionate about? How do you spend your free time? List up everything that comes to your mind.
  2. Think about why you enjoy these things – This is a crucial element of the exercise. Two people can have the same interest, let’s say they like playing tennis, but their WHYs can be very different. One person might enjoy the competition and the challenge, for them it’s about winning and seeing who’s the better player. The other person might play tennis to get some exercise and keep in shape, for them it’s part of a healthy lifestyle. Take some time and carefully think about your motivations for the activities you listed.
  3. Assign values – Go back to your list and try to determine what values lie behind each of the things you enjoy. In some cases the values already became evident when you thought about your motivations. In the example of the person that likes to play tennis in order to win, their values might be “Challenge” or “Recognition”.

Role models

  • Think about people that inspire you – These can be people you know personally or indirectly or even historical figures. List them all up. Again, the important part is to ask yourself why you respect or admire these people. What do they stand for, what values do they represent?
  • Same as before, list up the reasons and determine the underlying values.

Negative experiences

  • Think about negative experiences – Another way to discover your values is by remembering situations in which you were frustrated, upset or sad. What did you feel in those particular situations and why?
  • What values were being violated or suppressed? Write them down.

If you need help to come up with values, you can refer to a list of the most common values below (page 6 in your workbook). The list is by no means exhaustive so don’t restrict yourself to those values only.

Core Values

Core values list by MindfulCareer.org

Step 2 – Group together

By now, you might have a long list of personal values. Maybe there are 10, 20 or 50 values on your list. The next step is to group similar values under related themes.

For example, compassion, empathy and understanding are similar. Or independence, freedom and individuality are related. Group them together.

Step 3 – Find a common theme

Look at each group and select a word that best represents the whole group. It can be one of the values within the group or a new word.

For example, I might choose “self-reliance” as the word that best describes my values of independence, freedom and individuality.

Step 4 – Determine top values

After completing step 3, you may still have a considerable list of values. Now comes the time to determine which values are most important to you.

You want to end up at somewhere between 5 to 10 values. If you have too many, you won’t be able to remember them all and to use them effectively, for example when making difficult decisions. Picking just a few forces you to get to the root of who you really are and what you stand for.

Ask yourself: What values are essential to your life? What values represent your primary way of being?

Step 5 – Rank your values

In this last step, we want to rank your core values in order of importance. This is usually the most challenging part but also a crucial one; you may have core values that are in conflict with each other, for example, growth and stability. Or there might be situations where not all your values can be met. So it’s important to know which of your values are non-negotiable.

In order to do this, write down your core values in no particular order. Then look at the first two values and ask yourself, “If I could satisfy only one of these, which would I choose?” Go through the whole list and compare all values with each other until your list is in the right order.

Step 6 – Review and adjust

Congratulations! You’ve completed the exercise. It’s time to take a break and clear your mind. I recommend to “sleep over it” and come back to your list the next day.

With a fresh mind, review your core values list.

  • Do these values “feel right”? Do they resonate with you?
  • Do these values represent things you would support, even if your choice wasn’t popular?
  • Would you be comfortable and proud to tell your values to your friends and family?

Don’t hesitate to make changes to your list, nothing is written in stone.

Step 7 – Observe yourself

Over the coming days, be mindful of the choices you make and keep reviewing your list regularly.

Whenever you make a decision, consciously put a label on the values behind. Are the values on your list reflected in your daily life. If not, are there other values that you are living by as you go through your day? Keep working on your list (removing/replacing values, changing the order, finding a better word to describe a specific value, etc.) until you are satisfied with it.

Final notes

Knowing your core values is only one step on the path to an authentic life. Learning to apply them daily is a major component to happiness and success.

The key, especially in the beginning, is to keep your values top of mind. Put them where you can always see them, for example on post-it notes or on your screensaver or desktop.

As you go through your days, identify behaviors and actions that satisfy your core values. Try to bring more of those into your life – and get rid of the ones that are in conflict with your values. Whenever you set a goal or evaluate an opportunity, make sure you take your core values into account.

By actively and consciously living your values, you will experience – and enjoy – personal growth.

“Knowing your values does not mean you’ll always live in perfect accordance with them, but as a map, they will help guide you on your journey through life.”

– Amy Blacklock

This article has been contributed by Dominic Junghaenel of MindfulCareer.org. Dominic is a Career & Leadership Coach who is passionate about personal development and supporting people in overcoming challenges and reaching their goals. He is also a sports enthusiast and is currently challenging himself to go ice swimming in Switzerland.

Cover image: airdone Getty Images via Canva Pro.

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AFT Features, AFTNews, Features Australia/NZ, PRNews, Seniors' Health

New report reveals staggering future $442 billion cost of Alzheimer’s disease

The University of Canberra’s National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) has revealed the staggering future economic cost of Alzheimer’s disease, and its impact on Australia’s workforce, patients, families and communities.1

The report, The Economic and Societal Cost of Alzheimer’s Disease in Australia, 2021-2041, commissioned by Biogen Australia and New Zealand, builds on NATSEM and Dementia Australia’s Economic Cost of Dementia in Australia 2016-2056 Report released in 2017 and projects a 20-year $442 billion impact of Alzheimer’s disease to the Australian economy.1

Lead author Emeritus Professor Laurie Brown from NATSEM said the number of people aged 50 and over with diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease is expected to increase by 73% from 153,888 in 2021 to 266,114 by 2041. This increase will lead to an annual cost of $26.6 billion, including direct costs (aged care, hospital and out of hospital services) of $9.8 billion and indirect costs (informal care, lost productivity, and income support) of $16.8 billion by 2041.1

“The modelling paints a significant challenge to government, health and aged care systems into the future,” said Professor Brown. “The numbers also provide insight into the ripple effect on families and the community as they struggle to care for people living with the disease.”

Under current care, the number of people in Residential Aged Care Facilities with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease is expected to increase by more than 72 per cent over the next 20 years, with the numbers increasing from 42,478 persons in 2021 to 73,172 in 2041.1

“This is a huge challenge for an aged care system already under pressure. It will see financial impacts of formal residential and community aged care rising by almost $3.6 billion annually and requiring a paid workforce of 18,652 in 2041 to support those living with Alzheimer’s disease in the community alone, up from 10,752 in 2021,” said Professor Brown.

Associate Professor Michael Woodward AM, geriatrician and Head of Aged Care Research, Austin Health said importantly the report also provides an opportunity to quantify the societal costs outside the health system.

“The impact I see on carers and the community each day is often the most challenging to quantify. However, with an expected additional 80,000+ people with Alzheimer’s disease in the community by 2041 compared with today we can’t afford not to consider this impact in any future approach,” Associate Professor Woodward said.

The report also investigated the potential impact of a disease modifying therapy on the numbers.1 Disease-modifying therapies target the pathogenic pathway of Alzheimer’s disease to delay the onset or progression of dementia.2 The modelling indicates there is an opportunity to reduce the burden on aged care over the 20 years by $7.9 billion, the cost of residential care by $7.0 billion and formal care in the community by $880 million. With fewer people having moderate or severe AD dementia, the cost of informal care is also reduced by $4.3 billion – giving a total savings of $12.2 billion.1

“While the modelling suggests that the introduction of a disease modifying therapy has the potential to lessen the future impact of Alzheimer’s disease, it is only part of the solution,” said Associate Professor Woodward.

“The findings in this report attest to the importance of developing and implementing a system and society-wide approach, in alignment with the anticipated national dementia strategy to ensure we can provide the best possible clinical outcomes and quality of life in the future. We do not have time to delay,” Associate Professor Woodward continued.

This data reinforces the findings from the recent White Paper on the Future of Alzheimer’s disease in Australia that revealed the need for urgent collaboration and action in the healthcare system to manage the growing impact of the disease.

Article and image provided by SenateSHJ on behalf of the University of Canberra and Biogen Australia and New Zealand.

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AustraliaFitnessToday.com provides this article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. When publishing, please enable back links and quote source: https://www.australiafitnesstoday.com/2022/03/21/new-report-reveals-staggering-future-442-billion-cost-of-alzheimers-disease/

References:

1. Brown LJ., Li J. and La HA (2022). The Economic and Societal Cost of Alzheimer’s Disease in Australia, 2021-2041. NATSEM, University of Canberra, Canberra.

2. Cummings, J & Fox, N (2017). Defining Disease Modifying Therapy For Alzheimer’s Disease. J Prev Alz Dis. 4(2):109-115.

AFTNews, Kid's Health

Restoring the Gift of Hearing

Restoring the gift of hearing with advanced technology using robot-assisted surgery

Every year, World Hearing Day falls on 3 March. Imagine a world that is silent – no birds
chirping, no music and no words to be heard. That’s how seven year-old Suri (not her real name)
has experienced the world for the past three years. However, in January this year, her silent world took
a delightful turn for the better when Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City granted Suri the gift of hearing with a Cochlear implant using a 3D Exoscope. This robot-assisted technology with 3D cameras is commonly used in neurosurgery and Dr Shailendra Sivalingam, Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon
decided to harness the machine’s advantages in providing better visibility and ergonomics
during Cochlear implant surgery.

“Cochlear implant surgery is traditionally done with a 2D operating microscope and now, it
can be performed using a 3D Exoscope, making us the first private hospital in Malaysia to do
so. The surgery on Suri went smoothly without any difficulty and using the Exoscope,
precise, complicated surgical manoeuvres were performed flawlessly,”

Dr. Shailendra Sivalingam, Consultant ENT Surgeon

The Wonders of Sounds for a Child

Suri was four years old when her mother, Samantha, noticed she did not respond when being
called. She was diagnosed with severe hearing loss in both ears and was fitted with hearing
aids. Her speech was also found to be two years behind her age, which required her to
undergo speech therapy. A specific cause of her hearing loss could not be identified, and she
did not have any family history of hearing loss.

“She would go about her day lip reading and reading facial gestures – until the pandemic hit.
It was really challenging when classes started being conducted online. She could hardly hear
a word her teacher was saying over the computer, and face masks meant she couldn’t lip
read,” Samantha said.

As the years passed, Suri’s hearing continued to deteriorate until a point that her hearing
aids were no longer helping her.

“We were introduced to Dr Shailendra at Sunway Medical Centre, who told us about a
Cochlear implant. I feared Suri would not be able to function normally in society if her
condition continued to decline. So, I decided that she should have this implant. I trust her
speech will improve with better hearing,” Samantha expressed.

Cochlear implants are different from hearing aids in that hearing aids only amplify audible
sound, while a Cochlear implant delivers signals directly to the hearing organ (cochlea).

The implant has an internal and external component. The external component picks up
sound with a microphone and transmits it to the internal part. The internal part is placed
under the skin behind the ear where a fine electrode enters the cochlea. The electrode
stimulates the auditory nerve which sends signals to the brain, producing hearing.

The Moment of Truth

It would be another two weeks after surgery before the Cochlear implant was activated.
Those two weeks were pretty rough on Suri who couldn’t hear at all, making communication
hard between her and her family. Samantha said her daughter was silent the first five days and
slowly came out of her shell when she started communicating through text.

Dr Shailendra explains that a Cochlear patient’s initial hearing will not sound like normal
hearing when the implant is switched on as the device needs to be tuned and adjusted to fit
the individual. The implant mapping process may take up to 6 months after surgery, and this
varies between patients depending on their individual responses.

“Suri was quite nervous on the day and when it was switched on, she was a little
overwhelmed with the new sounds that she was hesitant to wear the external component.
She tried it again after some persuasion on the lowest volume to let her gradually warm up
to the new sounds she is experiencing.

“Until the day of surgery, I was still second-guessing my decision. Did I make the right choice
to put Suri through such a major surgery? But looking at her now (about a month after
surgery), she has made good progress since the implant was switched on. She is discovering
new sounds every day and has become more cheerful and alert of her surroundings,”
Samantha said.

Hearing again means a brighter future awaits

“I’m happy for Suri and her family because I understand the difficulties they have gone
through. This is a big step towards regaining her hearing and it is extremely rewarding to be
able to restore a person’s hearing as it is one of our cardinal senses. It satisfies me the most
to see a Cochlear implant patient being able to live a normal life among their peers,” Dr
Shailendra expressed.

“With Suri, her hearing loss has affected her speech which has impacted her education and
learning. Now, we are hopeful that she will be able to communicate better when she goes
back to school. Our journey has a long way to go, but this does mean a brighter future for
Suri,” Samantha said.

The use of robot-assisted technology is the way forward and becoming a norm in many
surgical fields. The 3D Exoscope is among many advanced robotic surgical camera systems
to help improve surgical precision and patient safety. For Cochlear implant, this has certainly
proven to be a sound decision.

Article and image provided by Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, Malaysia.

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Originally published by AsiaFitnessToday.com provides news releases licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Source: https://www.asiafitnesstoday.com/?p=11812

AFT Features, Features Korea, Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), The Kurang Manis Podcast

[Korean Version] 덜 단 The Kurang Manis (Sugar,Less) Podcast by AsiaFitnessToday.com

Hello 2022! We welcome the new year with a special Korean podcast version of highlights from Season 1 of The Kurang Manis (Sugar, Less) Podcast, voiced by four students of one of South Korea’s oldest private universities, Chosun University in Gwangju. The students were mentored by podcast co-hosts Nikki Yeo and Jasmine Low over a month, where they spent hours researching the topics, discussed as a group, translated articles from English to Korean (www.asiafitnesstoday.com/sugarless) and lent their voices to this recording. We hope this outreach will play a significant role in halving NCDs in the Asia Pacific region – as per Asia Fitness Today’s MISSION 2030.

We hope you’ve enjoyed these bite-sized pieces of information on lifestyle diseases. Learn more about The Kurang Manis (Sugar, Less) Podcast here: https://www.asiafitnesstoday.com/?p=9233

⚫️🔴⚪️

Produced by AsiaFitnessToday.com Podcasts.

Producer and Editor Jasmine Low & Nikki Yeo.

Korean Version recorded by the individual students using their mobile devices.

English Podcast recorded at Sydney Podcast Studios.

All Rights Reserved, Go International Group Dotcom Sdn. Bhd.

TC: https://bit.ly/3b9FHuM

EMAIL: info@asiafitnesstoday.com

Originally published in English between February – May 2021.

Kid's Health, Our Environment

Learn nature’s secrets with Bali-based Kenny Peavy!

Learn Nature’s Secrets!

Explore Nature and Learn the mysteries of Nature and her inhabitants. We’ll explore cool habitats, learn fun facts, and discover the amazing and interesting stories Nature has to tell us! Let’s connect with as many inhabitants here as we can while creating lives full of adventure, learning and building healthy and sustainable communities! Along the way, we’ll explore Nature’s Secrets alongside Sustainable Living, BALANCED Living, Wellbeing, Mindfulness, Creating a Healthy Lifestyle, and discover how we can connect with People and Planet. It’s incredibly crucial that we make deep connections with Nature and spend time discovering her secrets while we Learn to Love Life on The Pale Blue Dot.

 

 

We only have one planet as far as I can tell. I reckon it would be best if we learned to get along and start sharing this place we all call home. For Samara. You will never know how much happiness and Joy you bring to me. May the sun forever shine after the rain on this Pale Blue Dot we all share. Attributions All photos by Kenny Peavy shot on location in Borobudur (Java, Indonesia), Prabanan (Java, Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Bukit Kiara, Malaysia), Tioman Island (Malaysia), FRIM (Malaysia), Sirinat National Park (Phuket, Thailand) Krabi (Thailand), Gunung Leuseur National Park (Bukit Lawang, Sumatra), Inspired by The Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan.

Kenny Peavy

Attributions: All photos by Kenny Peavy shot on location in Borobudur (Java, Indonesia), Prabanan (Java, Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Bukit Kiara, Malaysia), Tioman Island (Malaysia), FRIM (Malaysia), Sirinat National Park (Phuket, Thailand) Krabi (Thailand), Gunung Leuseur National Park (Bukit Lawang, Sumatra), Inspired by The Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan.

If you are interested in Nature, Biology, Ecology, Natural History & Sustainable living, subscribe or follow Kenny Peavy:

Cite this article:

Originally published in Asia Fitness Today, “Learn nature’s secrets with Bali-based Kenny Peavy!”, Authored by: Jasmine Low, URL: https://www.asiafitnesstoday.com/learn-natures-secrets-with-bali-based-kenny-peavy/, first published on 29 August 2021.

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Diet & Nutrition, Healthy Recipes, Wellness

A Healthier Twist to Malaysia’s Favourite Local Dishes

Three nutritionists from Malaysia’s Alpro Pharmacy have come together to create healthier versions of much-loved Malaysian breakfast dishes.

Without much further ado, here are the recipes:

Roti ‘Wholemeal’ Sarang Burung (Bird’s Nest)

Ingredients A

2 slices of wholemeal bread

1 whole egg

1 teaspoon of butter

1 slice of cheddar cheese

Ingredients B

2 teaspoons of boiled chicken

1 teaspoon of holland onion

1 teaspoon of capsicum

1 teaspoon of tomato

1 teaspoon of button mushroom

Ingredients C

Pinch of salt

Black pepper powder

Chili flakes

Method

  1. Dice the holland onion, capsicum, tomato, and mushroom.
  2. Shred the chicken.
  3. Mix Ingredients B in a bowl.
  4. Mix Ingredients C with Ingredients B and mix well.
  5. Spread butter on the bread.
  6. With butter side up, place the slices of bread in a cup, making sure to cover the bottom entirely and allowing the bread corners to extend above the rims. Use a spoon the press to make the bird’s nest shape.
  7. Pour the mixed ingredients onto the bread.
  8. Put cheese on top.
  9. Crack the egg into the cup.
  10. Bake the bread at 150 C – 160 C for 3-5 minutes (in an air fryer)

Thosai

Ingredients

500gms thosai flour

6 cups of water

2 scoops of metabolic sauver

1 teaspoon of metabolic virgin coconut oil

Method

1. Mix the thosai flour with the six cups of water. Mix well and allow it to sit for 30 minutes.

2. Stir the batter until it reaches pouring consistency.

3. Add 2 scoops of metabolic sauver.

4. Heat a pan and grease it with a little bit of metabolic virgin coconut oil.

5. Using a serving spoon, pick up a spoonful of batter and pour it at the center of the pan. Spread the batter quickly with the serving spoon. Note that the batter should not touch the edges of the pan.

6. Trickle a bit of metabolic virgin coconut oil around the edges.

7. When the edges begin to brown, flip the batter.

8. Let it cook for around 1 minute.

9. After one minute, your thosai is ready to be consumed.

Kolo Mee (Chicken)

Cite this article:

Published by Asia Fitness Today, “A Healthier Twist to Malaysia’s Favourite Local Dishes”, Authored by: Alpro Pharmacy, URL: https://www.asiafitnesstoday.com/a-healthier-twist-to-malaysias-favorite-local-dishes/, first published on 27 August 2021.

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AFT TV, Documentary, Our Environment, Wellness

5 documentaries that bring hope in Regenerating our Planet

Team AFT explores the narrative about people who are trying to make a positive change for the planet. People who are regenerating lands and greening the planet with regenerative agriculture. We’ve handpicked five titles for your enjoyment. It must be mentioned, that we got onto this exploratory path after watching Diana Rodgers RD’s Sacred Cow. A Real Food Nutritionist, Author & Sustainability Advocate, Rodgers’ film discusses the meat industry that’s being blamed for everything from cancer to global warming. Are cattle being unfairly scapegoated?

 

1. Fools & Dreamers: Regenerating a native forest

Summary: Fools & Dreamers: Regenerating a Native Forest is a 30-minute documentary telling the story of Hinewai Nature Reserve, on New Zealand’s Banks Peninsula, and its kaitiaki/manager of 30 years, botanist Hugh Wilson. When, in 1987, Hugh let the local community know of his plans to allow the introduced ‘weed’ gorse to grow as a nurse canopy to regenerate farmland into native forest, people were not only skeptical but outright angry – the plan was the sort to be expected only of “fools and dreamers”.

Now considered a hero locally and across the country, Hugh oversees 1500 hectares resplendent in native forest, where birds and other wildlife are abundant and 47 known waterfalls are in permanent flow. He has proven without doubt that nature knows best – and that he is no fool.

Find out more about the film at foolsanddreamers.com

Directed by Jordan Osmond & Antoinette Wilson
Written by Antoinette Wilson, Jordan Osmond, and Nick Tucker
Producer: Antoinette Wilson
Executive producer: Quatro Trust
Cinematography: Jordan Osmond & Jason Hosking
Editing: Jordan Osmond
Sound recording: Anna Veale
Original score: Karl Steven and Ariana Tikao
Sound mixing: James Henderson
Color grade: Mike Kelland

2. Regreening the desert with John D. Liu

Summary: For more than 15 years, cameraman and ecologist John D. Liu has been working on his worldwide mission to green deserts and to restore biodiversity. It all started in 1995 when Liu filmed the Loess-plateau in China. He witnessed a local population who turned an area of almost the same size as The Netherlands from a dry, exhausted wasteland into one green oasis. This experience changed his life. From that moment on, Liu has been travelling all over the world to convince and inspire government leaders, policy-makers and farmers with his film material and knowledge. Liu diligently spreads the message that restoration of ecosystems is not only possible, but also economically very meaningful. Backlight accompanies Liu on his mission in Jordan and shows on the basis of Liu’s own film material that a green future is possible worldwide.

Originally broadcasted by VPRO in 2012. © VPRO Backlight April 2012 On VPRO broadcast you will find nonfiction videos with English subtitles, French subtitles and Spanish subtitles, such as documentaries, short interviews and documentary series. VPRO Documentary publishes one new subtitled documentary about current affairs, finance, sustainability, climate change or politics every week. We research subjects like politics, world economy, society and science with experts and try to grasp the essence of prominent trends and developments.

3. This country isn’t just carbon neutral – it’s carbon negative

Summary: Deep in the Himalayas, on the border between China and India, lies the Kingdom of Bhutan, which has pledged to remain carbon neutral for all time. In this illuminating talk, Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay shares his country’s mission to put happiness before economic growth and set a world standard for environmental preservation.

4. ecologyst films presents Farmer.Sailor.Chef

Summary: Taking place on land and sea, Farmer.Sailor.Chef follows the adventure of the Providence (the oldest working vessel in BC, a 1903 80′ tall ship). Sail with her owner and captain, Simon Fawkes, and his crew across the Salish Sea to Salt Spring Island, off the coast of Vancouver Island. Pause en route to fish with wild chef and fisherman Teddy Cusco, landing at the beautiful biodynamic Stowell Lake Farm. A farm renowned in the local area for its community ownership model, its beautiful quiet spaces, and its abundant fresh veg from regenerative farming practices. The film dives into our characters’ stories and sustainable practices, sunrise to sunset on the farm, and the wild BC landscape. It culminates in a visually captivating celebratory meal outside with produce from the farm and other hyperlocal ingredients, cooked up by the film’s chef, Kyle Gerrard.

A delight for the senses, an ode to BC’s adventurous spirit, a culinary experience. Step aboard.

Directed by Cam MacArthur
Executive Producer: Rene Gauthier
Co-Executive Producers: Simon Fawkes and Kyle Gerrard
Associate Producer: Momme Halbe
Cinematographers: Cam MacArthur and Hugh Allen
Sound by Jasper Sassaman
Edited by Cam MacArthur and Gabriel Swift

5. Unbroken Ground: Revolutions start from the bottom

Summary: Unbroken Ground explains the critical role food will play in the next frontier of our efforts to solve the environmental crisis. It explores four areas of agriculture that aim to change our relationship to the land and oceans. Most of our food is produced using methods that reduce biodiversity, decimate soil and contribute to climate change. We believe our food can and should be a part of the solution to the environmental crisis – grown, harvested and produced in ways that restore our land, water and wildlife. The film tells the story of four groups that are pioneers in the fields of regenerative agriculture, regenerative grazing, diversified crop development and restorative fishing.

Rhythm & Movement

The Kurang Manis Playlist

Help! I’m pre-diabetic! The Kurang Manis (Sugar, Less) Podcast goes in search of ways to avoid diabetes. We interview health & fitness personalities from Asia and the Pacific; athletes, medical doctors, allied health professionals, fitness & wellness experts and people living with diabetes. Co-hosts Nikki Yeo & Jasmine Low chat over a cuppa tea! In Malaysia, it’s the Teh Tarik, made frothy by swift hand movements of a tea-pulling expert but 8tsp of condensed milk in one cup?! Kurang manis, boss! Less sugar please…

In each episode of The Kurang Manis (Sugar, Less) Podcast, our producers have selected music to complement and celebrate the essence of the personalities of our guest speakers (click on links below to view the interviews with each guest speaker). Here’s the playlist for your enjoyment:

AFTNews, AFTNews, Rhythm & Movement

Haifa Kamal releases “A Córdoba” – a flawless collision of Arabic ballads and Flamenco music

Haifa Kamal

With her calming voice that flies over the world of flamenco along with the enchanting guitar rhythms, Haifa Kamal, an independent Jordanian singer, releases her mini-album “A Córdoba” (To Cordoba) in collaboration with Obaider, a Palestinian-founded Spanish flamenco band.

Three songs are released in this mini album on various digital music platforms, such as Anghami, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, and SoundCloud, with each song including a ballad from a different era. While “Shamsu Ennahari” is by Safi Al Din Al Hilli, a fourteenth-century Arab poet, “Asafa Al Hawa” is by Sumaya Saleh, a contemporary Syrian poet, and “En Konta” is by eighteenth-century poet and priest, Nicolas Al Sayegh Al Halabi.

The melodic Spanish tunes that accompany Kamal’s soothing voice are composed and arranged by Obaider, an independent Palestinian band founded by Baider Burman and Obai Al Bitar. Musicians from Spain and Sweden alongside Obaider are behind the tunes of both “Shamsu Ennahari” and “Asafa Al Hawa,” while “En Konta” is composed and arranged by Alvaro Llanos, the bass guitarist in the band.

This iconic team has worked on the album since the outbreak of the coronavirus at the beginning of 2020. Difficult production conditions were imposed due to the lockdowns brought by the pandemic, which extended the music recording for months. With few hours in hand not controlled by quarantine, musicians participating from Spain, Sweden, Jordan, and Qatar found time to work on the project.

The musicians include Haifa Kamal as lead singer, Baider Burman, and Obai Al Bitar on the guitar, Alvaro Llanos as bass guitarist, Manuel Arango on the percussion, Yehia Najem and Alexandra Shabo as backing vocals, along with Najati Al Suloh managing the production.

Haifa Kamal, who aspires to present a new style in each of her projects, adds in this album a new color to her musical career. Like all of her previous productions, this production is also considered independent. She has previously produced “Denya”, an independent album in 2014, and “#TheEDMProject” in 2018, in addition to dozens of singles between her first album and the last one, released this year.

Despite its higher cost and longer completion time, Haifa Kamal says that she prefers independent production. This is because she can not only manage the quality but also seek diversity in each of her works. While this “independency” releases her from the stress of being limited to what is usually required from production companies, it also allows her to shape her musical identity.

It is worth noting that Kamal holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the National Music Conservatory – Jordan, with a concentration in Arabic singing. Although she released her first album in 2014, the beginning of her music career goes way back. Her father, the Palestinian composer and musician Kamal Khalil, discovered her talent when she was six. Since then, she became the youngest lead singer of his band, Baladna. She has also participated in several music projects, such as the Rum Tariq Al-Nasser Group, the Amman Band for Arabic Music, and the National Institute of Music Orchestra, as well as singing different theme songs for Arabic drama series such as “Laysa Saraban”, “Wish Raja’ak”, “Al Aswar”, “Samarkand” and others.

Kamal has also participated in many local music festivals such as Jerash Festival and Fuheis Festival in Jordan. She has also made an appearance in international festivals in Scotland, Cyprus, Tunisia, Opera House in Cairo, Qurain Festival in Kuwait, Opera House in Damascus, and National Day celebrations in the United Arab Emirates.

Obaider is a Palestinian band founded by Baider Burman and Obai Al Bitar, with the participation of musicians from Spain and Sweden. Mixing between Arabic poetry and Spanish Flamenco music, this Andalusian- style band brings different music tastes from all around the world together. They aim not only to show the beauty of the Arabic language but also to allow the youth to reach the language from a different perspective.

Source: PRNewsGIG/AFTNN