Avocados are one of the yummiest and most versatile healthy foods out there – you could put it in a salad, blend it into your favorite smoothie, put it in a sandwich or turn it into guacamole. This exotic fruit has gained substantial popularity in recent times and has been referred to as a “superfood” due to its unique nutritional composition, and biochemical profile.

Avocados also have one of the highest antioxidant capacities among fruits and vegetables, being an important dietary source of phenol antioxidants and xanthophyll carotenoids (such as lutein and zeaxanthin), and are a source of other important phytochemicals such as phytosterols, vitamin C, E, A, niacin and folate.

Good for Your Health

A Hong Kong Dermatology Clinic show that a recent scientific review of the Hass avocado have identified four primary health effects of eating avocados:

• Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease

• Reducing the risk of obesity and supporting weight loss

• Supporting brain function and healthy memory

• Stimulating improved gut microbiota health

These benefits stem from the avocado’s unique combination of nutritional features:

• Rich in healthy fats such as oleic acid ( high ratio of unsaturated to saturated fat, similar to olive oil).

• Source of multifunctional prebiotic and viscous fiber.

• Relatively low energy density of 1.6kcal/g – 79% of its edible weight consists of water and fiber with a creamy smooth texture, and unlike a typical fruit, contain a very low sugar content.

• Its oleic acid and water emulsion increases carotenoid absorption from low-fat fruits and vegetables when eaten together

Good for skin

When our skin ages, there is progressive loss of elasticity, firmness and hydration which results in wrinkles, skin laxity and pigment spots. A major contributing factor is excessive ultraviolet radiation (UV) that causes oxidative stress and damages the connective tissue beneath the skin. Consequently, a healthy diet rich in antioxidants including carotenoids are suggested as a preventive strategy against skin aging

A recent study shows that eating one avocado daily for 8 weeks can improve skin firmness.

The avocado, with its natural combination of carotenoids along with unsaturated fatty acids, has been demonstrated to increase carotenoid absorption, of which are vital components of the antioxidative protective system that help to neutralize unstable “free radicals” from the body’s metabolic processes and from the environment.

 These carotenoids have been demonstrated to have the ability to reach and concentrate at the skin and research findings from a recent pilot clinical study also suggested that daily oral avocado consumption may lead to enhanced elasticity and firmness of the facial skin. With so many benefits, don’t hesitate and go get your dose of avocado now!

A New Reason to Love the Avocado Firmer Skin

Avocados are one of the yummiest and most versatile healthy foods out there – you could put it in a salad, blend it into your favorite smoothie, put it in a sandwich or turn it into guacamole. This exotic fruit has gained substantial popularity in recent times and has been referred to as a “superfood” due to its unique nutritional composition, and biochemical profile.

Avocados also have one of the highest antioxidant capacities among fruits and vegetables, being an important dietary source of phenol antioxidants and xanthophyll carotenoids (such as lutein and zeaxanthin), and are a source of other important phytochemicals such as phytosterols, vitamin C, E, A, niacin and folate.

Good for Your Health

A Dermatologist Hong Kong show that a recent scientific review of the Hass avocado have identified four primary health effects of eating avocados:

• Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease

• Reducing the risk of obesity and supporting weight loss

• Supporting brain function and healthy memory

• Stimulating improved gut microbiota health

These benefits stem from the avocado’s unique combination of nutritional features:

• Rich in healthy fats such as oleic acid ( high ratio of unsaturated to saturated fat, similar to olive oil).

• Source of multifunctional prebiotic and viscous fiber.

• Relatively low energy density of 1.6kcal/g – 79% of its edible weight consists of water and fiber with a creamy smooth texture, and unlike a typical fruit, contain a very low sugar content.

• Its oleic acid and water emulsion increases carotenoid absorption from low-fat fruits and vegetables when eaten together

Good for skin

When our skin ages, there is progressive loss of elasticity, firmness and hydration which results in wrinkles, skin laxity and pigment spots. A major contributing factor is excessive ultraviolet radiation (UV) that causes oxidative stress and damages the connective tissue beneath the skin. Consequently, a healthy diet rich in antioxidants including carotenoids are suggested as a preventive strategy against skin aging

A recent study shows that eating one avocado daily for 8 weeks can improve skin firmness.

The avocado, with its natural combination of carotenoids along with unsaturated fatty acids, has been demonstrated to increase carotenoid absorption, of which are vital components of the antioxidative protective system that help to neutralize unstable “free radicals” from the body’s metabolic processes and from the environment.

 These carotenoids have been demonstrated to have the ability to reach and concentrate at the skin and research findings from a recent pilot clinical study also suggested that daily oral avocado consumption may lead to enhanced elasticity and firmness of the facial skin. With so many benefits, don’t hesitate and go get your dose of avocado now!

What’s this NEW shingles vaccine Shingrix?

What is Shingles?

Shingles is the reactivation of varicella zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the varicella zoster virus will remain dormant (inactive) along the nerves in your body. When your immune system is weak, the virus becomes reactivated again which is shingles.

Shingles usually starts with muscle ache and tiredness, just like when you first catching a cold. Then you will discover a small patch of rash that eventually turn into clusters of small blisters either on your torso, arms or legs, sometimes could happen over the ears or even scalp. The rash could be painful or itchy, and usually is only on either left or right side of your body. The pain could be excruciating, and it might take few days up to a week to recover from shingles

Why should I get shingles shot?

A Hong Kong Dermatologist says that shingles is not a simple rash that goes away quickly without any problem. If it happens around the eyes, which accounts for around 10-25%of the shingles cases, could result in red, painful watery eyes and even loss of vision in severe cases; and the scars from shingles especially on the face could be very disfiguring. Shingles also could cause a notorious complication called post herpetic neuralgia(PHN) , which is a persisting pain along the nerve where the shingles is reactivated, could be extremely unpleasant that bothers you day and night up to 3 months! This pain is more common when you get older, with about 18% chance if you are 50 years old or above, and up to 33% if you reach 80 years old. So don’t underestimate the power of this virus

Shingles is almost possible to everyone in the community. 98% of the Hong Kong population aged over 39 had been exposed to chicken pox (whether they remember or not), and therefore are at risk of developing shingles in their lifetime, and the odds increases when they get older.

If there is a way to prevent it, then why not consider it?

I have got a shingles vaccine before how is it different?

Shingrix is the latest shingles vaccine, which is a recombinant vaccine that requires 2 doses, 2 to 6 months apart. It brings up the prevention efficacy from 51% of the old shingles vaccine Zostavax, to 97.2% if fully vaccinated with Shingrix. It’s also worth knowing that vaccine efficacy of Zostavax would dramatically reduce over the years, to almost none statistically after 11 years, while studies showed the overall efficacy of Shingrix remains at 90.9% after 7 years, and the antibody immune response is still at a good 6-fold increase compared to baseline after 10 years

Therefore, even you have got Zostavax in the past, it is still recommended to receive Shingrix shots to prevent shingles as your immunity against the virus might have gone down significantly over time! In fact, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of US recommends adults 50 years and older, or adults 19 years or older with weakened immune system like cancer patients or on immunosuppressants should get Shingrix, even you had shingles, Zostavax or Chickenpox vaccine before

Comparison of old and new generation vaccines

Shingrix is generally safe. The side effects are mainly sore arm with pain at the injection site; or sometimes fever with a bit tiredness and headache, similar to getting a flu vaccine.

Shingrix is not recommended if you have the following conditions

Ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or a dose of Shingrix. Currently having shingles 03 Currently having an acute infection. Currently pregnant or breastfeeding.

It is estimated about 1 in every 3 people in US will have shingles in their lifetime. Shingles could have complications like scarring, post herpetic neuralgia or even loss of vision.

What’s this NEW shingles vaccine Shingrix?

What is Shingles?

Shingles is the reactivation of varicella zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the varicella zoster virus will remain dormant (inactive) along the nerves in your body. When your immune system is weak, the virus becomes reactivated again which is shingles.

Shingles usually starts with muscle ache and tiredness, just like when you first catching a cold. Then you will discover a small patch of rash that eventually turn into clusters of small blisters either on your torso, arms or legs, sometimes could happen over the ears or even scalp. The rash could be painful or itchy, and usually is only on either left or right side of your body. The pain could be excruciating, and it might take few days up to a week to recover from shingles

Why should I get shingles shot?

A Hong Kong Dermatology Specialist says that shingles is not a simple rash that goes away quickly without any problem. If it happens around the eyes, which accounts for around 10-25%of the shingles cases, could result in red, painful watery eyes and even loss of vision in severe cases; and the scars from shingles especially on the face could be very disfiguring. Shingles also could cause a notorious complication called post herpetic neuralgia(PHN) , which is a persisting pain along the nerve where the shingles is reactivated, could be extremely unpleasant that bothers you day and night up to 3 months! This pain is more common when you get older, with about 18% chance if you are 50 years old or above, and up to 33% if you reach 80 years old. So don’t underestimate the power of this virus

Shingles is almost possible to everyone in the community. 98% of the Hong Kong population aged over 39 had been exposed to chicken pox (whether they remember or not), and therefore are at risk of developing shingles in their lifetime, and the odds increases when they get older.

If there is a way to prevent it, then why not consider it?

I have got a shingles vaccine before how is it different?

Shingrix is the latest shingles vaccine, which is a recombinant vaccine that requires 2 doses, 2 to 6 months apart. It brings up the prevention efficacy from 51% of the old shingles vaccine Zostavax, to 97.2% if fully vaccinated with Shingrix. It’s also worth knowing that vaccine efficacy of Zostavax would dramatically reduce over the years, to almost none statistically after 11 years, while studies showed the overall efficacy of Shingrix remains at 90.9% after 7 years, and the antibody immune response is still at a good 6-fold increase compared to baseline after 10 years

Therefore, even you have got Zostavax in the past, it is still recommended to receive Shingrix shots to prevent shingles as your immunity against the virus might have gone down significantly over time! In fact, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of US recommends adults 50 years and older, or adults 19 years or older with weakened immune system like cancer patients or on immunosuppressants should get Shingrix, even you had shingles, Zostavax or Chickenpox vaccine before

Comparison of old and new generation vaccines

Shingrix is generally safe. The side effects are mainly sore arm with pain at the injection site; or sometimes fever with a bit tiredness and headache, similar to getting a flu vaccine.

Shingrix is not recommended if you have the following conditions

Ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or a dose of Shingrix. Currently having shingles 03 Currently having an acute infection. Currently pregnant or breastfeeding.

It is estimated about 1 in every 3 people in US will have shingles in their lifetime. Shingles could have complications like scarring, post herpetic neuralgia or even loss of vision.