Zestz : Celebrating the Present

"The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness"

Abraham Harold Maslow (1908 –1970) was an American psychologist. He is noted for his conceptualization of a "hierarchy of human needs", and is considered the founder of humanistic psychology.

Zestz for LAUGHS

A ‘Before Viagra and Zestz Moisturising Gel’ Story

After a few years of married life, a guy finds that he is unable to perform anymore. He goes to his doctor, and his doctor tried a few things but nothing works.

Finally the doctor says to him, ‘This is all in your mind.’ and refers him to a psychiatrist.

After a few visits to the shrink, the shrink confesses, ‘I am at a loss as to how you can possible be cured.’ Finally the psychiatrist refers him to a dukun (witch doctor).

The dukun says, ‘I can cure this,’ and throws some powder on a flame. There is a flash with billowing blue smoke. ‘This is powerful healing but you can only use it once a year! All you have to do is say ”one, two, three” and it shall rise for as long as you wish!’

The guy then asks the dukun, ‘What happens when it’s over?’

The dukun says, ‘All you or your partner has to say is “one, two, three, four” and it will go down. But be warned it will not work again for a year.’

The guy goes home and that night he is ready to surprise his wife with the good news.

So he is lying in bed with her and says, ‘One, two, three.’

Sure enough, he was suddenly up and ready.

His wife turns over and says, ’What did you say “one, two, three’ for?’

Author unknown

Too Little or Too Much Sleep Harmful

Many of us have heard about the sad demise of Ranjan Das of cardiac arrest in October this year. Ranjan, just 42 years of age, was the CEO of SAP-Indian Subcontinent, the youngest CEO of an MNC in India. He was an unlikely candidate for a heart attack, since he was known to exercise regularly and be scrupulous in his food habits. But he had admitted to not having enough sleep, some say this usually amounted to not more than 5 hours duration each day.

Sleeping either less than 7 hours or more than 8 hours may be a risk factor for an array of common medical problems, including weight gain, diabetes and hypertension (1).

Calcified Arteries and Heart Disease

King et al at University of Chicago Medical Center found that not getting enough sleep increases the risk of clogged up arteries and heart disease (2). Conversely, sleeping well appears to prevent calcified deposits in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart.

The five-year study of 495 men and women in their 40s found that light sleepers suffered more artery damage.

Calcified arteries were found in 27 per cent of volunteers who slept less than five hours a night. That figure dropped to 11 per cent for participants sleeping five to seven hours, and six per cent for those who spent more than seven hours asleep. The benefit of one hour of additional sleep was comparable to the gains from lowering systolic blood pressure by 17 mm Hg.

Inflammatory Cytokines and Coronary Artery Calcification

A new study in the journal Sleep suggests that inflammation may be the pathway linking extreme sleep durations to an increased risk for disease. Dr Patel et al.(3)found that sleep duration is associated with changes in the levels of specific cytokines that are important in regulating inflammation.

Cytokines are proteins that are produced by cells. Cytokines interact with cells of the immune system in order to regulate the body's response to disease and infection. Increases in habitual sleep durations are associated with elevations in the cytokines CRP and IL-6 while reduced PSG sleep duration is associated with elevated TNFa levels.

Activation of pro-inflammatory pathways may represent a mechanism by which extreme sleep habits affect health.

Now everybody, just ration yourself to

Not LESS Than 7, Not MORE Than 8 hours sleep a day.

1. Steptoe A, Peacey V, Wardle J. Sleep Duration and Health in Young Adults. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:1689-1692.
2. King et al. Short Sleep Duration and Incident Coronary Artery Calcification. JAMA, 2008; 300 (24): 2859
3. Patel SR, Zhu X, Storfer-Isser A, Mehra R, Jenny NS, Tracy R, Redline S. Sleep duration and biomarkers of inflammation. Sleep. 2009 Feb 1;32(2):200-4
4. Photo credit: http://www.shiftworkdisorder.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Sleep-Heart-Attack-273x300.jpg

SURBEX ZINC

Surbex Zinc High-potency B-Complex with Zinc,Vitamin E and 750mg of Vitamin C Filmtab.

Usage

A high potency B-Complex plus 750mg Vitamin C for adults who are constantly under various types of stress such as metabolic stress, physical stress, stress due to infections etc.

Helps to reduce fatigue.

Zinc is important for wound healing.

Features

• 6 high potency B complex vitamins to help increase your energy levels and improves your stamina
• 750mg of Vitamin C to boost body's defense system against infections
• Additional Zinc content helps to prevent colds and hair loss, and promotes faster recovery from illnes
• Contains 400mcg of folic acid to help lower the level of homocysteine, the newly proven risk factor of cardiovascular disease
• Film-coated tablet to prevent vitamin odour and after taste, and for easy swallowing
• Convenient once-a-day dosage

Picture credit: http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9594/ent6zw7.jpg

Laminaria ochroleuca

Laminaria ochroleuca, a brown algae also known as the golden seaweed, is found on rocks from the low water spring tide level to the shallow subtidal along the Atlantic coast of France. Specific lipids in the membrnces of the golden seaweed enable it to resist the oxidative stress due to salinity, emersion/immersion and strong solar radiation variations

Antileukine 6® is a specific lipidic membrane extract from Laminaria ochroleuca, rich in stabilizing compounds like phosphatidylcholine, alpha lipoic acid derivatives, vitamins A & E and CoQ10

These same compounds are thought to be associated with the remarkable skin protection afforded by Antilekine 6 against sunlight.

Extensive efficacy testing has shown that Antileukine 6 has the ability to inhibit the inflammatory mediators (IL-1, IL-6 and PGE2) that are produced as a result of UV radiation. In addition, Studies on cell cultures of monocytes and dendritic cells clearly show that Antileukine 6 has a protective effect against UV-induced immune suppression. This immune protection capability enables UV-damaged cells to be eliminated more effectively. DNA damage by UV radiation is a key factor in development of skin cancer.

An additional benefit of Antileukine 6 is its ability to help replenish the lipid barrier and optimise the moisture content of the epidermis. Optimising the water content in turn leads to a smoother, more supple skin.

Inclusion of Antileukine 6 into day care products boosts protection from solar radiation.

Ellgy h2o UV White contains Lactokine, a Milk Peptide Complex which reduces the melanin production for a fairer and even skin complexion.

It is fortified with Antileukine 6 to help protect the skin’s cells against UV damage.

Bibir Kering?

Di sini ada beberapa cara untuk mencegah dari kesakitan akibat bibir pecah atau merekah;

1. Elakkan dari menjilat bibir yang kering. Menjilat bibir tidak akan melegakan – ia hanya akan membuat bibir bertambah kering dan lebih merekah dengan menyingkirkan minyak pelindung yang ada. Tambahan pula air liur mengandungi sedikit enzim penghadaman yang mana tidak akan membuat luka di bibir menjadi lebih baik.

2. Selalu pastikan bibir anda dilembapkan dengan pelembap bibir. Petrolatum sahaja sudah cukup baik dan sesuai untuk merkea yang ada alergi sentuhan. Sapukan pelembap bibir sebelum tidur terutamanya jika anda tidur dalam bilik berhawa dingin. Jika anda cenderung meleleh air ketika anda tidur, sapukan pelembap bibir yang mengandungi zink oksida yang bertindak sebagai penghalang mencegah bibir menjadi kering.

3. Jangan lupa minum air secukupnya

4. Sesetengah individu melepaskan tekanan dengan tabiat menjilat atau mengunyah bibir. Gunakan pelembap bibir setiap kali anda merasa ingin menjilat bibir atau menggigit bibir untuk menghentikan tabiat ini.

5. Alahan dan sensitif kepada buah-buahan sitrus, nikel, bahan kimia dalam ubat gigi, gincu dan ubat kumur serta ubat-ubat tertentu boleh menyebabkan bibir merekah pada sesetengah orang. Bincang dengan doktor atau ahli farmai anda.

The Zestz of Ginsenosides

Anecdotal reports in the scientific literature suggest that Ginseng can improve sexual dysfunction such as erectile dysfunction in men and anorgasmia (failure to achieve orgasm/climax during sexual intercourse) and decreased libido in men and women..

Chen X and Lee TJ (1) working on rabbits found that Ginsenosides facilitate the release of nitric oxide in endothelial tissue of rabbit corpus cavernosum (sponge-like erectile tissue which contain most of the blood in the penis during penile erection), a step in the events leading to engorgement of blood in the corpus cavernosum and erection.

Ginsenosides may have promise for women, as the biochemical process of erection is the same in the clitoris.

Reported side effects of taking ginseng include: high blood pressure; insomnia; restlessness; anxiety; euphoria; diarrhea; vomiting; headache; nosebleed; breast pain;vaginal bleeding (www.ummc.edu)

These effects appear to occur primarily with high dosages or prolonged use. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Alternatively, you can consider a pharmacist refined and tested moisturising gel for erectile dysfunction, anorgasmia or decreased libido. Click on Zestzpharma at the side bar for details.


1. Chen X, Lee TJ. Ginsenosides-induced nitric oxide-mediated relaxation of the rabbit corpus cavernosum. Br J Pharmacol. 1995 May;115(1):15-8.

2. Each capsule of Pharmaton contains 1.6mg of ginsenosides.

"Sex on television can't hurt you unless you fall off"