Author: smartfutureAdmin

With the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, it is without a doubt that the general public is sinking into much uncertainty. The worries about their job stability, finances and the state of the world moving forward. For those with existing mental health conditions, the stress from the current situation is only further exacerbating their condition.

With the government implemented Circuit Breaker status, more than 70% of the global population have migrated to working from home and schools migrating to e-learning. The sudden pressure for all family members to be under one roof can cause both overwhelming anxiety to both adults and children. But the good news is that there are many ways that may help you reduce stress and take care of your mental well-being and here are some tips.

Talk to People

Social distancing does not mean to socially isolate. Human are by nature – social beings and rely on interaction to stimulate the mind and stay sane. So, reach out to your friends and family and connect through chat apps and video calls. Share your concerns with them and in the process, make sure that they are okay too.

If you are looking for light-hearted social activities, try playing drawing games with friends or strangers via sites like https://skribbl.io/ or Cards Against Humanity online.

Stay Physically Active

It’s easy to let your mind wander when you are doing nothing. Engage in simple activities such as a walk at the neighbourhood park or just dedicating 20 minutes a day to simple exercises. Exercises are essential as it gets the blood flowing and help it to circulate better in the body – ensuring ample energy throughout the day. Exercising also enhances the responses to bacterial and viral intruders and is important to maintain a stable immune system.

Not sure of what exercises you can do at home? June from 1 Workout A Day has many exercises videos on her channel that you can get started on.

Know When To Power Off

Make routine your new best friend. It helps you to create a clear distinction between work and non-work time, essential to both your physical health and mental workspace. While working from home trains people to be focused and disciplined, it is easy to miss the cues and work beyond the hours. Overcome the problem by implementing work hours and stick to it. Refrain from sending out work emails or reading them past your working hours and allocate time to your family and well-being. With proper work-life balance, you will be able to realise that you working is not as stressful as it seems.

Know Your Red Flags

Always keep your emotions in check. If you find yourself feeling frustrated, worry or sad, or feeling physically uncomfortable like tension, constant upset stomach or jitters, or even unexplained actions such as sudden outrage or compulsively checking the latest COVID statistics -recognise these as symptoms of stress or anxiety.

To avoid sinking deeper into the negative emotions, try to distract yourself. It could be to take time off from the screen or news by stretching, listening to music or journaling. If it gets too overwhelming, allow yourself some time to calm down and address the issue.

Using the box breathing technique can be useful to calm yourself down and regain control over your thoughts. It can help you focus and identify why you are feeling that way and help you to rationalize to feel better.

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If you felt as though you have exhausted all methods and is still feeling very much helpless. Do not panic and know that if you need help, you can always talk to someone about it. Sometimes it is not easy speaking to family or friends about things but speaking to a stranger might be much easier. Here is a link that may help : https://www.sos.org.sg/get-help/other-available-resources

Let’s hope we all can press on and overcome this pandemic together.

The COVID-19 outbreak across the globe have seen millions of employees worldwide migrating from their workplace to home, many for the first time. Corporate enterprises are making the concerted efforts to fight the coronavirus outbreak by encouraging or enforcing their employees to work from home – a move strongly encouraged by medical experts in reducing the spread of the virus.

While staying at home can be comfortable for some, studies have shown that staying at home for a prolonged period of time can be detrimental to both physical and mental health. Separate studies of quarantined patients of SARS, the 2003 coronavirus outbreak in 2003 have seen an onset of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in China healthcare workers at 10% and in Canda, symptoms of PTSD and depression – observed in 28.9% and 31.2% of respondents, respectively.

However, as the situation progresses, more and more people are facing the prospects of quarantine, social distancing or working from home. Here are some ideas for yourself to adapt to the new normal.

Workout Video Game

For the uninitiated, workout video games corporate gameplay with fitness elements that not only help players to feel good mentally but also physically. Some titles have shown results of player drastically losing weight over a period of time and like with most of the games played moderately – video games have shown to help those who suffer from mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, antisocial personality disorder (APD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Alzheimer’s disease.

Here are some top-selling titles to get you started: Wii Sports (on Wii), Just Dance (Wii, Wii U, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Stadia), Ring Fit Adventure (Nintendo Switch), Shape Up(Xbox One), and Creed: Rise to Glory (Oculus Quest, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows).

Online Streaming Exercises

With the latest announcement of the Singapore government limiting outdoor activities, many are finding alternatives to change up their workout routine. Luckily, there are tons of free-to-stream videos workout online that you can even mix up with different instructors or to incorporate a new regimen in exercises.

For the first-timers, here are some Youtube Channels to check on:
For the Pilates-lover: https://www.youtube.com/user/blogilates/featured
For those that like to move along: https://www.youtube.com/user/popsugartvfit
For the dancing queens: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheFitnessMarshall
For those that like AI: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUlDJcPPOOQK-3UrxEyhAQ
And lastly, for the chill yogi: https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene/videos

Starting a new hobby

Starting a new hobby can be scary – devoting hours of your life and then realising that – maybe this is not for me after all and then give up on it can get depressing after a while. Finding a hobby is a journey but once you find it, you will see how it excites you and motivate you towards different goals. If mindless hobbies are not your way to go, try something practical like soap making, baking, or restoring furniture.

Trying new recipes

While juggling work, kids and home duties are tough, you do not have to worry about burning down your kitchen trying new recipes. Simple recipes such as the latest trend of Dalgona coffee (the recipe takes less than 5 minutes) or Mason Jar Salad can be an easy and quick way to get you started. Who knows, you may even become the next power food Instagrammer!

Additionally tip for your next grocery run – do not forget to incorporate some nature’s immunity boosters into your list.

The internet is overwhelmed with countless articles on the latest diet fad and videos with fitness “gurus” promoting the latest diet trend. From intermittent fasting to keto diet, paleo diet and Mediterranean diet, there is always something new every day.

While each diet has its own merits, you don’t have to kill yourself if it does not work. Here are some tips that you can introduce to everyday eating habits that will edge you closer to your health goals.

Eat more fruits and vegetables

We all know consuming more fruits and vegetables, in general, is essential for our health. A diet rich in fruits and vegetable, in the long run, can help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect upon blood sugar.

But the question is, how do we turn in into a habit?

Tip 1: Set small and measurable goals – While it is recommended to eat 2 servings of fruits and vegetables in a day, you do not have to force yourself if you do not like to. Start small with a an apple a day and slowly increasing it to more fruits and also introduce vegetables to your meal.

Tip 2: Try new food – No one is going to enjoy steamed broccoli and tofu over a period of time. Introducing new way of enjoying your food like having your yoghurt with granola and fruit puree or change up your breakfast by adding shredded carrot into your pancake mix as a partial sugar replacement.

Tip 3: Keep Healthy Snacks on Hand – Having healthy snacks on standby can be useful when you are mindless snacking. Snacks like trail mix or raisin will not only curb the appetite, it will give you that energy boost you require.

Share your dessert

When it comes to dessert, some of us are guilty as charged. But fret not, not all sugary treats are bad. Studies have shown that desserts are not only a great pick me up but also prove to be as effective in weight control. In a study published in the journal Steroids, 195 obese adults followed calorie-controlled diets for 16 weeks. Both plans contained the same amount of calories and namely healthy foods, with one difference—one group consumed dessert daily. The dessert eaters lost slightly more weight than the non-dessert eaters and were significantly more successful at losing weight.

So now you know, the next time you have a sugar craving, you do not have to cut it off entirely. Sharing a dessert not only prevent you from indulging excessively, but it is also a great move for portion control and as said – weight loss.

Read Those Labels

“You are what you eat” may be an overused saying but knowing what you eat may not be what we all do.

Dietary labels such as “healthy”, “whole grain” or “low-sugar” are not necessarily a healthier choice as this claim does not highlight the total amount of nutrients and does not emphasize that it could be high in sugars, fats and sodium – but luckily, the nutrition information panel does illustrate the full list of the nutritional value. A good to know when looking at the labels is the listing of ingredients which is generally arrange from the majority used to the least. Learning to read labels thoroughly and checking for excessive sugar, sodium, and saturated fat content will actually help you cut off some of that unnecessary nutrients.

Limit your ultra-processed snacks 

Ultra-processed snacks are the third phrase for food that is meant to be sold for consumption.

Generally, food has 3 processes.
The first stage of the process involved making sure the food is edible, which will be like harvesting gran, and slaughtering of livestock – these are still considered “whole” food.
The second stage involves a more complex procedure such as cooking, freezing and canning. Some examples are fruit juices, bran cereals and deli rotisserie chicken.
The third stage – which is also known as ultra-process, food is when manufacturers inject flavours, add sugars, fats, and chemical preservatives. Examples include white bread, flavoured potato chips, coke, and etc.

Ultra-processed snacks contain high sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats as they are meant to preserve the food for some time and provides a better texture for people to chew on. They are affordable and convenient and can be hard to resist purchasing them (I feel you). High consumption of ultra-processed food will result in more detrimental health complications such as increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and overweight. However, not all processed foods are bad as studies have shown that several processed foods such as peanut butter, tinned salmon and natural probiotic yoghurt still contain the necessary vitamins and minerals.

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Essentially, healthy eating transforms the way you live by providing you with sustenance and reducing the risks of diseases in the future. Eating right will not only boost your immune system but also, improve your mental health.

As the COVID-19 virus persists, the issue of social distancing, panic buying, and fakes news rises abound. Whatsapp messages about the impending lockdown of the nation or news about the patients getting better on their own are aplenty and easy to convince the uninformed. If you have some time, here are some myths buster and facts that you should be looking at.

What is the COVID-19 virus?

COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus disease that was discovered in 2019. This infectious disease causes a respiratory illness with symptoms such as high fever, dry cough, tiredness and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing.

How does it spread?

It has been reaffirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the COVID-19 virus is primarily spread through droplets. The coronavirus disease spreads mainly through contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze near you. Also, it spreads when an individual touches a surface or object that has the virus, then touches his face such as the eyes, nose or mouth.

Myths Buster

Despite the worrying and stressful period, we should continue to stay vigilant and be calm, check news sources to prevent misinformation of the coronavirus disease to others.

Myth 1: The Coronavirus Disease Does Not Survive in Hot Weather

From the statistics collected so far, the coronavirus has shown to be able to transmit in ALL areas – including areas with hot and humid weather.

Myth 2: The Coronavirus Only Affects the Older and Younger Demographic

Statistics tabulated by the World Health Organization has said that people of all ages need to take steps to protect themselves from COVID-19. In particular, older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable as they are at increased risk of severe complications.

Myth 3: Antibiotics is All I Need to Get Well

Although there are reports of patients getting well on their own, self-medicating or taking antibiotics are definitely not the right way to get better. Antibiotics are used to fight bacteria, not viruses, which is what COVID-19 is. While the myth may have stemmed from the fact some people who are hospitalized for coronavirus have received antibiotics, but that is only because bacterial “co-infections” are possible with COVID-19, according to the WHO – the antibiotic does not treat the virus itself.

Patients who has symptoms of the virus are encouraged to visit their GP clinics and do not GP hop.

Myth 4: Mosquitoes Spreads Coronavirus

With the temperature rises as we go into the hottest months of the year, the increasing population of mosquitoes are leading people to raise concern on mosquitoes being the possible channel of the virus. WHO has confirmed that so far, there are no information nor evidence to suggest that the coronavirus can be transmitted by mosquitoes and that the primarily spread is only though droplet from someone with the virus. Once again, emphasizing on the need for social distancing and frequent hand washing.

Myth 5: Rinsing Your Nose and Gargling With Saline Solution Helps Prevent Covid-19 Infection

While the WHO has confirmed that there is evidence stating that regular rinsing of the nose with saline can help you get over the common cold more quickly, this method does not apply to COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

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Good habits are essential to keep the virus away from yourself and others. Here are some habits to incorporate into your daily routine.

• Wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap for 20 seconds.
• Refrain from touching your face, especially when your hands are unclean.
• If you are feeling unwell, wear a mask if you need to go out and see the doctor. Also, you should rest at home.
• Use a hand sanitiser or disinfectant wipes when water is unavailable.
• Practise social distancing; stand 1 metre away from an individual while in queues and stand at the designated lines and blocks in public spaces as they are marked out to indicate social distancing efforts
• Opt for cashless or contactless payment to minimise contact and also as to also speed up the processing of payment.
• Defer all non-essential overseas travelling.
• Monitor your own health conditions and avoid going to mass gatherings.

Social responsibility is an ethic that we should adopt together. Let’s hope that we can brave through this epidemic together.

For a complete list of myths buster, visit the WHO site.

As COVID-19 hits ever closer to home, adding on to the procedures of good hygiene practice of washing your hand frequently, wearing a facemask when unwell and to avoid physical contact as much as possible, taking ownership of your health and feeding your body certain foods is another way to keeping your immune system strong and those viruses further away.

Not that stocking up on supplements during your pharmacy run is bad, supplements are widely known to only be able to fill up the certain dietary gap while the fresh food you eat is loaded with multi-nutrients. And not to mention, fresh food can actually be a lot less costly than supplements. So here are some food that you can stock up on the next time you are at the supermart.

Citrus Fruits

With most vitamin C supplements sold as orange-flavoured, it’s not a wonder that the orange is known as the powerhouse fruit of Vitamin C. The orange fruit is not only naturally packed with vitamin C but have also been proven to be a good source of fibre and potassium, both of which are essential to support heart health.

If the sweetness of the orange is not your thing, the citrus family also includes the grapefruit, lemons and limes which also provide the same benefits as the orange. A common trick to increase your vitamin C intake is to add lemon in your water – proven to improve hydration, aids weight loss, and also prevent kidney stones.

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Green Tea

Learn a thing or two from the nation of longevity – green tea is synonymous to the Japanese, valued for its health benefits and restorative properties Green tea provides an excellent source of antioxidants, which helps in strengthening the immune system. They also aid in fighting against infection by helping immune cells to produce germ-fighting compounds and also strengthen the liver.

A study was done at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences with a group of 80 people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. They were placed in either a placebo group or 500 mg of green tea extract diet daily for 90 days. After 12 weeks, the group that consumed green tea extract daily, shown significantly reduced liver enzyme levels.

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Bell Peppers

If you have not heard of the “trend word” of 2020 – “Superfood”, let me fill you in – Superfoods are mostly plant-based food ( with some exception of fish and dairy) that are thought to be nutritionally dense and beneficial to the health. One good example of a superfood is the bell peppers. They are known to be excellent sources of vitamins C and A and also antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, thus helping to reduce the risk of heart disease, some cancers, and cataracts, and also alleviate symptoms of arthritis and asthma.

Did you know the different colours of bell peppers does more than adding colours to dishes? Red peppers pack the most nutrition because they have been on the vine the longest. Green peppers are harvested earlier before they have a chance to turn yellow, orange, and then red. Compared to the green bell peppers, the red ones have almost 11 times more beta-carotene and 1.5 times more vitamin C!

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Yoghurt

Yoghurt is one of the best sources of probiotics – friendly bacteria that improve digestion and in recent years, prove to be a great source of Vitamin B and an excellent immunity booster. The live bacteria in probiotics aids in the digestion of lactose and also keep the digestive tract healthy. Topping your yoghurt with some fruits such as blueberries or strawberries and you will a good addition of vitamin C and antioxidants.

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Ginger

Since ancient times, ginger has been an excellent culinary spice and medicinal marvel. The medical properties of ginger are endless. From treating pregnancy-related nauseousness to sea-sick vomiting, reducing inflammation from the onset of osteoarthritis to the lowering of blood sugar, these are just a few of the many health benefits of ginger.

Do not let the pungent flavour of ginger turn you off though. There are well over 1,000 varieties of ginger that you can always give it a shot with. From gingerbread to ginger tea to ginger candy – your options are endless.

As our manufacturers prepare for Industry 4.0, the healthcare system is also being empowered to modernize and become more efficient to meet the growing demand of the current population.

Problems such as the rise of chronic and novel diseases, high medical treatment costs and shortage of healthcare workers are imminent in the growing and ageing population in Singapore. To tackle this multi-faceted problem, other than increasing the number of brick-and-mortar clinics, a solution incorporating the latest technologies to optimize physician’s time, reducing patients’ waiting time, and providing better engagement between patients and physician is needed.

Singapore-based Smartfuture has integrated the latest health technology into one inter-connected platform for GP clinics. From a paperless clinic management system with self-registration and digital queue system to the remote treatment of chronic diseases, wearables tracking and telemedicine, physicians will be able to pick-and-choose the technologies on the modular platform. The platform can include modules such as a kiosk with self-registration and vitals taking that is installed in the clinic, take-home device kits for chronic disease patients, a telemedicine web portal for physician and a mobile app to connect to their regular patients.

“We are focused and determined on helping the primary care physicians ride on the latest trends in healthcare technology. The platform will collect and analyse patient data and present it to physicians alongside insights into patient’s medical needs, which will move diagnosis from symptom-based to data-based.”

“The kiosks in clinics will change how we see a doctor for routine problems, just like how ATMs have changed the way we do routine work in a bank. These kiosks will also offer Telemedicine when the physician is not in the clinic, encouraging patients to try telemedicine and realise its efficacy and practicality,” says Sumit Khemani, Chief Executive Officer of Smartfuture.

For media enquiries or further information, please contact Eleanor at eleanor@oursmartfuture.com.

About Smartfuture

Based in Singapore, Smartfuture develops IoT and AI-enabled healthcare solutions for healthcare providers and corporates in Asia. For more information about Smartfuture, visit: www.oursmartfuture.com

Don’t we all have the moment when after a great and sumptuous lunch break, drowsiness starts to sink in? The struggle to stay awake at the meeting scheduled at the untimely 2pm and before you know it, you are on your third cup of joe of the day. Food coma or postprandial somnolence is a real condition and it can happen to anyone of us. Generally, food coma occurs after you have a heavy meal that is high in calories follows by a sedentary lifestyle in the office.

Here are five essential tips to help curb that food coma, so you would not be nodding your head off the next meeting.

Taking smaller meals

Having a large meal packed with high fat and calories during your lunch break leaves you feeling like a slump and studies have shown that some food may cause further drowsiness much more than others. Dairy, oatmeal and your choice of tea are some of the culprits. Replacing them with a well-balanced diet such as grains, unsaturated fats and proteins are essential in your overall health as it helps you to preserve more energy throughout the day.

Drink a non-sweetened beverage after lunch

Ditch your cuppa of milo, 100% sugar bubble teas, and opt for water or tea at the pantry. While the sugar from the beverages will cause an initial surge to your glucose, the feeling of sluggishness will sure kick in after it wears off. Additionally, sugared beverages will lead to dehydration which causes fatigue.

Drinking plenty of fluids such as water throughout the day will fare much better for your system and your energy will not deplete as quickly.

Allowing sufficient rest the day before

Having sufficient rest is always vital for your health and despite your busy schedule, try to kick in 8-9 hours of sleep. Your food coma is also due to sleep debt and poor food choices such as having fast food regularly and meals with high unsaturated fat content. We usually set an alarm for work but another tip that you should adopt is to set an alarm for bedtime and switch your mobile device into silent/do not disturb mode to prevent interrupted sleep. With sufficient rest, you will feel more energised for work and it will boost your overall mood.

Engaging in light physical activity

No, you don’t have to sweat it out by joining a yoga class nor go for a run during your lunch break but a short 10 minutes stroll and stairs climbing will definitely help. Carrying out light stretches and short meditation can also be helpful as these activities keep you awake and enhance your muscular relaxation. Being mindful heightens your awareness and provides a better focus on your work.

Opt for complex carbohydrates 

Complex carbohydrates constitute of fibre and starch which takes a longer time to be digested hence making you feel fuller compared to your simple carbohydrates. Examples of complex carbohydrates are whole grains, oats, legumes, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Foods such as pasta, pizzas, packaged snacks and mainly white carbohydrates make up your simple carbohydrates and high intake of them will exacerbate sleepiness. Despite the popular diet trends such as ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting, carbohydrates should not be neglected and avoided completely. Carbohydrates, when broken down, give our body supplies of energy and the right carbohydrates aid in weight control and guard against chronic condition such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.