5 top tips for choosing the best swimwear

As the days get warmer, the inevitable swimwear decisions come round again. Which style will flatter my body shape? What prints and colours are in fashion this year?

And, most importantly, how to distract the eye from body hang-ups?

Here are five tips to help you choose the ideal swimwear and hit the beach with confidence and style.

Several factors need to be kept in mind when looking for swimwear which will work perfectly with your body shape, fit your personality, and be on-trend. While personal preferences are obviously important, it should be remembered that not all swimwear styles (bandeau, push-up, triangle or underwired tops, high-waist, high-cut or boy short bottoms) are appropriate for all body types.

What will you be using the swimwear for

To get a tan, swim, or walk along on the beach? Your choice of swimwear depends on what you’re going to use it for. If you’re planning a sporty vacation, you should be looking for swimwear which will support your bust, which means bandeau styles are not an option.

However, if you simply intend to lounge around getting a tan you have a bigger choice, and the ideal would be a piece which would leave a minimum of white lines.

While it may not be the most important factor to bear in mind, the planned use for your swimwear is something to consider.

Swimwear to suit your body shape

This is key to your choice of swimwear and can be a big headache for some people. While our eyes can be attracted to fashionable swimwear, it is how it looks on us that really matters.

Bandeau shapes do not suit all body types and are better avoided if you are small up top as they tend to accentuate the impression of a small bust and flatten you out even more. Big busts can wear a bandeau shape but they should be underwired and have adjustable straps to provide maximum support. Balconette and deep V styles (particularly for one pieces) are also perfect for flattering big busts. In contrast, smaller busts work well with push-up and halter neck styles.

A lime crochet shelf bikini from the Ashish x Topshop collection.

No more hang-ups

The ideal would be to leave our body hang-ups at home and just enjoy the break, but if they remain stubbornly with us, there are a few tricks that can help.

Those who are self-conscious about their tummy can opt for high-waist bottoms which sit on the hips, flatten the stomach and smooth out any bumps.

If you’re not happy with the size of your posterior, choose low-rise or boy short styles. The glamorous one-piece, which has been back in fashion for several seasons now, is also a good solution for covering up any “imperfections”.

What are this season’s trends

Of great importance to some, and not to others, the current trends can be a factor in choosing the perfect swimwear. Prints, colours, fabrics are, of course, a matter of personal taste, but it is perhaps worth taking a look at what the fashion world is focused on at the moment.

This season many sources of inspirations are in evidence, with a general return to nature and a range of colours that includes white, cream, pastels and hints of transparency, with fabrics such as cotton, Lycra and natural fibers.

However, the summer of 2016 will also include eye-catching flashy colours, shiny fabrics and sexy cuts. Glamour will also be high on the agenda with swimwear that can be worn during the day and in the evening. This translates into pieces that are low cut or cut out at waist level, and colours such as black and gold and iridescent shades.

As often is the case, various types of prints, ranging from animal to geometrical and floral, will also be on trend.

Worth knowing

Aside from the shape of the swimwear, there are a number of easy ways to sculpt your figure and highlight your strong points. It is worth bearing in mind that frills, ruffles, bows and prints will accentuate that part of the body. Smaller busts can use this to their advantage to make them look bigger, whereas big busts should avoid them.

In the same way, if you want to make your bottom half look bigger, choose swimwear with frilly details or horizontal stripes.

Now that top and bottom halves can be bought separately, it’s also possible to put bright colours on the part of the body to be emphasised. – AFP Relaxnews

Why you should worry about giving your child antibiotics

Children given antibiotics before the age of three could be at greater risk of developing prediabetes in adolescence. Photo: AFP/Istock

A Greek study has found that giving antibiotics to toddlers, which is sometimes unavoidable, could alter their metabolism and increase their risk of developing prediabetes.

At any age, taking antibiotics is known to disrupt naturally occurring gut flora by killing certain good bacteria. Medical professionals sometimes recommend a course of probiotics alongside treatment to rebalance the body’s microbal ecosystem.

“Increased consumption of antibiotics up to the age of 3 seems to decrease beneficial gut microbes and alter nutrient absorption and metabolism. This may lead to prediabetes, an early high-risk stage of type 2 diabetes mellitus,” explains Dr Charikleia Stefanaki, Research Associate in Pediatric Endocrinology at Athens University Medical School, Greece.

The link was established by team of scientists who analysed stool samples from 10 prediabetic adolescents and 14 healthy control patients, aged between 12 and 17.

The prediabetic adolescents reported having taken antibiotics over three times a year by the time they were three years old. In fact, they were 8.5 times more likely to have taken antibiotics between birth and three years old than the healthy participants. Their stool samples were found to contain fewer species of Ruminococcus, a type of bacteria that forms colonies which nourish beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Antibiotics can destroy healthy gut flora in children and change the way their bodies absorb nutrients, leading to prediabetes. Photo: AFP/Shutterstock

The researchers suggest that this reduction could lead to unfavourable changes in gut flora, which may explain the onset of prediabetes.

To help reassure parents, the study’s authors suggest that certain prebiotics (non-digestible fibres that nourish beneficial microbes) and probiotics could help reestablish a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut and reduce any risk of prediabetes that could be linked to increased antibiotic use in early childhood.

They also highlight the importance of using antibiotics correctly and only when really needed, especially in children. “Gut microbes are a delicate ‘organ’ frequently neglected by the medical community that produces vitamins, hormones and micronutrients, interacts with the gut’s nervous system, and influences the gut’s immune response,” Charikleia Stefanaki points out. – AFP Relaxnews

Lithium brings anti-aging drugs a step closer

Lithium is a mood-stabilizing drug used to treat patients with bipolar disorder. But according to a new study, it may also pave the way for anti-aging drugs.

To reach their findings, lead researcher Dr. Jorge Iván Castillo-Quan - who was based at the Institute of Healthy Ageing at the UK's University College London (UCL) at the time of study - and colleagues administered different doses of lithium chloride to 160 adult fruit flies.Published in the journal Cell Reports, the study reveals that fruit flies given low-dose lithium lived longer than a control group.

The fruit fly, or Drosophila melanogaster, is an ideal model for studying human genetics, as the insects share 75% of the same genes that cause disease in humans.

The team found that when the fruit flies were given low doses of lithium in adulthood or later life, they lived an average of 16-18% longer than flies that received sodium chloride, regardless of the insects' genetic makeup.

The lifespan-increasing effects were strongest with short-term and one-off doses of the drug, according to the researchers; flies that received a single dose of lithium in later life lived an average of 13% longer, while younger flies that were treated with the drug for 15 days before receiving a control drug also had a longer lifespan.

No adverse effects were identified with low doses of lithium, with the team noting that the fruit flies fed normally and produced healthy offspring.

Higher doses of the drug, however, were found to reduce the flies' lifespan.

Lithium blocks GSK-3 to increase lifespan

On investigating how lithium increased the lifespan of fruit flies, the team found the drug blocks activity of a molecule called glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3).

GSK-3 has previously been linked to the development of age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

What is more, the researchers found that, at the same time as blocking GSK-3, lithium promotes activity of a molecule called nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF-2), which is involved in protecting cells against oxidative stress - a key player in the aging process.

Based on their findings, the researchers suggest that targeting GSK-3 could be a promising drug target in the fight against aging.

Speaking of the potential implications of these results, Dr. Castillo-Quan says:

"To improve our quality and length of life we must delay the onset of age-related diseases by extending the healthiest period of our lives. Identifying a drug target for aging is a crucial step in achieving this and by targeting GSK-3, we could discover new ways of controlling the aging process in mammals, including humans."

Claire Bale, head of research communications at Parkinson's UK - which helped fund the study - describes the findings as "encouraging," noting that they may bring us closer to strategies that combat age-related diseases.

"This research has the potential to not only help create a healthier older generation, but also provide significant insights into how we could potentially treat or even prevent conditions of aging like Parkinson's," she adds.

According to Prof. Dame Linda Partridge - principal investigator of the study, and director of UCL's Institute of Healthy Ageing and the Max Planck Institute for Biology and Ageing in Germany - says the next step is to target GSK-3 in more complex animals, with the end goal being to develop a drug that can be tested in humans.

Is there a relationship between gut health and allergy?

For good gut health, ensure a healthy diet that is rich in fibre.

Believe it or not, gut health has a lot to do with how our bodies react to allergens. After all, as much as 70% of the immune system “reside” in the gut, where gut microbiota come into play – the good bacteria not only aid in the process of food digestion, it also plays a crucial role in the body’s immune response.

A growing number of studies show increasing links that support this.

However, with the widespread use of antibiotics, diets high in fat and low in fibre and Caesarean births, negative changes are occurring in our gut microbiota.

New research shows that both the type and mix of microbiota can have a big influence on an infant’s developing immune system, and by extension, his risk of developing allergies such as asthma, eczema, hives and food allergy.

What is an allergy?

An allergy is a response triggered by the body’s immune system when it reacts to otherwise harmless substances such as dust, pollen, or certain types of foods.

The substances that cause the allergies are known as allergens.

Unfortunately, people with allergies often have to learn to live with it by managing their lifestyles in order to minimise contact with allergens.

There is also growing evidence linking gut health with better allergic response – certain types of bacteria were reported to minimise or even eliminate food allergy symptoms in the laboratory.

Gut health starts from birth

Studies have shown that infants who suffer from allergic disease or developed it later all had measurable alterations in their intestinal microbiota.

Babies who are breastfed may have lower risk of allergies. Photo: Shutterstock

It was also found that perinatal administration of beneficial bacteria halved the development of atopic eczema during the first two years of life.

Two key factors that are known to lower the risk of allergy and asthma from developing are breastfeeding and natural birth. The gastrointestinal (GI) system of a foetus is sterile, and both natural childbirth and breastfeeding will help to seed your infant’s GI system with gut microbiota.

These bacteria will, in turn, affect the development of his immune system.

Another study also showed that breastfed babies had a more diverse gut microbiota than non-breastfed babies and were less likely to develop allergies to pets.

Keeping your gut healthy

Since your child’s gut is responsible for a large part of his body’s immune system, it is to your benefit to keep his guts healthy.

There are three main things to know in order to keep his gut healthy:

Prebiotics – These are essentially food for good bacteria. Most plant-based foods that are rich in fibre represent excellent sources of prebiotics, such as fruits and vegetables. Examples include apples (with the skin), oranges, banana, onions and garlic, shallots, leeks, beans, legumes, asparagus and wholegrains. For infants who have just started complementary feeding, use a blender to prevent choking hazards.

Probiotics – The good bacteria themselves! By including probiotic-rich foods in your child’s diet, you will be ensuring that his gut microbiota is balanced. Recommended foods include miso, natto, kefir, and fermented milk/soy products (eg tempeh). Probiotics are also available as supplements. However, you should discuss with your child’s paediatrician before giving him any.

Cut down consumption of fat, sugar and salt to ensure good gut health.

Beware of medicines – Certain medications (especially antibiotics) may lead to a condition known as dysbiosis or dysbacteriosis, which basically means that the balance of gut microbiota has been severely compromised.

Since more disease-causing bacteria are becoming more antibiotic-resistant, demanding an antibiotic prescription for your child may not be the best answer. However, if it is necessary, then consult with a paediatrician to see how his gut microbiota can be replenished.

Good habits for gut health

After ensuring that your child gets enough prebiotics and probiotics, you should also ensure that he maintains certain habits to help ensure good gut health. These include:

• Make sure he drinks sufficient water daily.

• Give him a healthy diet that is rich in fibre on a daily basis.

• Limit his intake of fat, sugar and salt.

• Allow him to have at least one hour of exercise a day. This can be any kind of physical games that involve some form of aerobic activity such as football or running.

Finally, always bear in mind that your child’s gut health can be harmed by external factors, such as the food he eats. There are even studies revealing how changes in a person’s diet caused alterations in their gut microbiota within a day.

The saying “you are what you eat” certainly seems to be very apt.

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Dr Amir Hamzah Abdul Latiff is a consultant paediatrician and consultant clinical immunologist/allergist. This article is courtesy of the Malaysian Paediatric Association’s Positive Parenting programme in collaboration with expert partners. For further information, visit www.mypositiveparenting.org. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

ZENTRIL SACHET 5G 30S @ RM160 net

Zentril is a new formulation for patients with osteoarthritis. While most formulation centres on the main ingredient of Glucosamine and Chondroitin, the formulation in ZENTRIL has another important ingredient called Collagen Type II. Zentril uses oligo as natural sweetener and is therefore sugar free and suitable for diabetics. It is in sachet form to improve absorption and has a delicious lemon taste.

What is the source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin? Shark Cartilage. The skeletal structure of shark consists of cartilage, not hard bone. This material is strong and rich in nutrients and compunds that are believed to be beneficial to humans. The molecular structure of shark cartilage is also similar to our joints which comprises of natural minerals and chondroitin. Chondroitin is a major component of cartilage, the tough connective tissue that cushions the joints. Chondroitin helps to keep the cartilage healthy because of its water absorbing capability which acts as a shock absorber and helps in reducing inflammation and pain in the joints.

What is Collagen Type II- there are 14 different kinds of collagen, but the primary collagen, the most prominent one and the most medicinal type of collagen is Type II collagen. Regular use of Collagen Type II can provide a significant dose of HA (Hyaluronic Acid) which can normally be found in virtually all tissues and body fluids especially the synovial fluids (joint), the eyes vitreous fluid and in the skin. HA plays a critical role in maintaining healthy joint synovial fluid and thus help to prevent the degeneration of aging joints. 

Benefits of Type II Collagen

-        Enhance the production of HA, producing a thick, effective lubricating synovial fluid that protects and cushions the joints

-        Rebuild the cartilage in arthritic joints

-        Powerful anti-inflammatory effect

Direction to use:

Stir 1 sachet of Zentril into 120-130ml of water

Recommended Dosage:

1 sachet daily (morning before meal). Those with gastric problems, take after meal

Storage:

Keep in a cool dry place. Keep out of reach of children.

Precaution:

Not suitable for children & pregnant women. If taking prescription medication or under a physician’s care for any medical condition, consult physician before using the product.

                                                                                                                                                                            

Zentril adalah satu formula baru untuk pesakit dengan osteoartritis. Manakala pusat Kenyataan yang paling atas bahan utama Glucosamine dan Chondroitin, rumusan dalam ZENTRIL mempunyai satu lagi ramuan penting yang dipanggil kolagen Jenis II. Zentril menggunakan oligo sebagai pemanis semula jadi dan oleh itu bebas gula dan sesuai untuk pesakit kencing manis. Ia adalah dalam bentuk satchet untuk meningkatkan penyerapan dan mempunyai rasa lemon yang lazat.

Apakah sumber Glucosamine dan Chondroitin? Shark Rawan. Struktur rangka jerung terdiri daripada tulang rawan, tulang tidak keras. Bahan ini adalah kuat dan kaya dengan nutrien dan sebatian yang dipercayai memberi manfaat kepada manusia. Struktur molekul rawan ahark juga sama dengan sendi-sendi kita yang terdiri daripada mineral semula jadi dan kondroitin. Chondroitin adalah komponen utama tulang rawan, tisu penghubung yang sukar bantal sendi.Chondroitin untuk membantu memelihara tulang rawan sihat kerana keupayaan menyerap air yang bertindak sebagai penyerap kejutan dan membantu dalam mengurangkan keradangan dan kesakitan pada sendi.
 

Apakah Kolagen Jenis II- terdapat 14 jenis kolagen, tetapi kolagen utama, yang paling terkenal dan jenis yang paling perubatan daripada kolagen jenis II kolagen. Penggunaan tetap Kolagen Jenis II boleh memberikan dos besar HA (Asid Hyaluronic) yang biasanya boleh didapati di hampir semua tisu dan cecair badan terutamanya cecair sinovia (bersama), mata cecair vitreous dan dalam kulit. HA memainkan peranan penting dalam mengekalkan cecair sinovia sihat bersama dan dengan itu membantu untuk mencegah degenerasi sendi penuaan.

Faedah Jenis II Kolagen
- Meningkatkan pengeluaran HA, menghasilkan, berkesan pelincir cecair sinovial tebal yang melindungi dan bantal sendi
- Membina semula tulang rawan dalam sendi artritis
- Kesan anti-radang yang kuat

Cara pemgambilan:
Kacaukan 1 paket Zentril ke dalam 120 - 130ml air
 

Dos Cadangan:
1 paket setiap hari (pagi sebelum sarapan). Yang ada masalah gastrik, ambil selepas makan.
 

Cara Penyimpanan:
Simpan di tempat yang dinging & kering. Jauhkan daripada kanak-kanak.
 

Perhatian:
Tidak sesuai untuk kanak-kanak & wanita hamil. Sila dapatkan nasihat doctor jika penyakit berlarutan.

Berjaya MyChemist to launch in Malaysia

Australian based CW Retail Asia has entered into a joint venture in Malaysia to roll out a chain of pharmacies under the Chemist Warehouse brand.

Chemist Warehouse Berjaya Asia will be run by Morning Charm, a company just acquired by Berjaya Corp (BCorp), in partnership with Melbourne-based CW Retail Asia.

BCorp has taken an 80 per cent equity interest in the venture for RM80,000 (US$19,520).
“The project will enable the BCorp Group to expand and strengthen its pharmacy distribution and retail businesses under the co-brand names, as well as making its foray into the pharmacy warehousing business sector,” says BCorp.

In Australia, CW Retail supplies goods and services to pharmacies and operates pharmacy retail chains.

The two partners in the venture say while the initial focus will be on the Malaysian market they may open stores in other Asian countries in due course, under the Chemist Warehouse brand or another.

The new company will also supply goods and services to Cosway Pharmacies, which will be re-branded as Berjaya My Chemist pharmacies, and to Tigas Alliance pharmacies. Chemist Warehouse Berjaya Asia and Berjaya My Chemist pharmacies are members of Tigas Alliance, a pharmacy banner group in Malaysia.

Should I take antibiotics for a cough that won’t go away?

Most bronchitis is viral and shouldn't be treated with antibiotics. Photo: TNS

Although this has long been known, it hasn’t been a very easy message to get across to people who are sick with cold symptoms and want something to make them feel better fast.

Over the years, overuse and abuse of antibiotics have resulted in a big problem. Many bacteria have become resistant to the antibiotics that once were able to kill them.

Newer, stronger antibiotics have been developed to fill the gap, but some bacteria are even resistant to the most powerful agents we have.

That’s why health officials at the federal, state and local levels in the US have been waging a campaign to educate both doctors and patients about the dangers of taking antibiotics when they aren’t really warranted.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the long-lasting hacking coughs that have accompanied so many upper respiratory infections for so many people I know. I mentioned what I’ve heard so many times: That antibiotics should be avoided unless a viral infection lingers and turns into a bacterial infection, such as bronchitis, sinusitis or pneumonia.

In response, I heard from Dr Janice Huff, a family physician, who pointed out that most bronchitis is viral and that antibiotics are often inappropriately prescribed. “Too many people think they need antibiotics for bronchitis, and we need to combat this ignorance.”

Although viral infections are sometimes followed by bacterial infections, which may be treated with antibiotics, Huff said distinguishing one from another is very difficult.

For many years, patients with upper respiratory infections have been coming to doctors after being sick for a day or two and asking for antibiotics. “Two days of cold symptoms is not usually bacterial,” Huff said.

She said doctors should not consider giving antibiotics unless a patient has already been sick for 10 to 14 days or has complications such as high fever and severe facial pain.

Such patients should see their doctors because they may have developed bacterial infections. “There is a small percentage of people who really do need antibiotics,” Huff said. “I don’t want anybody not to take them when they need them.”

Some companies offer rapid tests for influenza and other viruses, but doctors say they’re not always accurate, and wonder if the expense is worth it, especially because the illness would likely have improved on its own with time.

But it takes a determined doctor to refuse antibiotics for patients who have paid to come to the office and expect a prescription.

“It takes a lot longer to have the conversation with people about why we’re not going to give the antibiotics,” Huff said. “A lot of doctors just give antibiotics because it’s faster and easier. But it’s wrong. We should spend time talking to each other to make the right decision.”

Dr David Priest, medical director for infection prevention for Novant Health, leads the Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based hospital system’s effort to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use. He says patients should be as concerned as doctors.

For example, if you give a healthy volunteer an unneeded antibiotic, his remaining natural bacteria will be resistant to that specific antibiotic for six to 12 months, Priest said.

The antibiotic will have killed off susceptible bacteria, leaving only the resistant ones.

“The danger is that if you do that many times over, the whole population will be resistant to the last antibiotic they got,” Priest said. “If the public and the physicians thought about it that way, they would be a little more hesitant to take antibiotics unless it was absolutely necessary.”

One significant problem is the rise of C. diff, short for Clostridium difficile, a diarrhoeal infection most likely to affect patients in hospitals or long-term care centres.

Victims often have conditions that required treatment with antibiotics, and those drugs killed off the intestinal bacteria that had kept C. diff bacteria in check. The infection is potentially life-threatening because C. diff has also become resistant to many antibiotics.

It’s one more reason why everyone should think seriously before assuming antibiotics are the answer.

“We live in a world that wants things fixed quickly,” Priest said. “People underestimate how long it takes to get over a bad viral bronchitis. Weeks and weeks and weeks.” – The Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service