Constipation problem

Have you ever been suffer from constipation problem? I’m sure nowadays people tend to face constipation problem included children, adults or elderly, normally we just shy to search for a solution. Constipation usually is defined as bowel movement fewer than 3 times per week. Constipation stools are usually hard, dry, small in size, and difficult to eliminate.

Why constipation? Let's have a general view on causes based on age group.

Children	Picky food choices, less vegetables and fruits intake. High intake of prepared foods and processed foods (low in fiber), fast food as main meal daily.
Pregnant women	Hormonal changes.
Adults	Emotional stress.
Elderly	Difficulties with chewing or swallowing may cause older people tend to eat soft foods that are processed and low in fiber.

你是否烦恼着便秘问题呢？我相信现代人都会面对便秘问题，包括儿童，成人或年长者。便秘通常是指排便少于每周3次。便秘的粪便通常是坚硬，干燥，体积小，而且很难消除的。

便秘的原因：

孩子们	对食物挑剔，低蔬菜和水果的摄取量。过量食用加工食品（低纤维），快餐等。
孕妇	荷尔蒙变化
工作者	情绪紧张
年长者	咀嚼或吞咽困难可能会导致老年人摄入低纤维和柔软的食物。

Bad Breath prevention guidelines

Hi, a sad and memorable atmosphere this week due to earthquake, but life goes on. Hope you all are blessed with health and joy. As I promised, I will post several guidelines on how to prevent bad breath, this guidelines are useful and the same I used to educate my patient. 

1.                  Using fluoride toothpaste to brush teeth at least 2 times every day (morning and night). Be sure to clean your gum as well as all tooth surfaces.

2.                  Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove foods between your teeth.

3.                  Eat more fruits and vegetables every day.

4.                  Avoid foods that cause you bad breath. Also avoid alcoholic beverages, which often cause bad breath.

5.                  Avoid using tobacco products.

6.                  A dry mouth has an unpleasant smell. If your mouth is dry, you can suck on sugar-free mints, chew sugar-free gum or drink more water.

7.                  Most mouthwashes do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath. If you use a mouthwash, swish it around in your mouth for 30 seconds before spitting it out.

8.                  If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night. Brush the dentures and soak them overnight in a disinfecting solution.

9.                  See your dentist twice a year to have your teeth cleaned.

1。使用含氟牙膏刷牙，至少每天2次（上午和晚上）。一定要清洁牙齿，牙龈和舌头的所有表面。
2。使用牙线清洁牙齿，每天至少一次以清除牙齿之间的食物。
3。多吃水果和蔬菜。少吃肉类。
4。避免的造成口臭的食物。尽量避免饮用含酒精的饮料，这往往导致口臭。
5。避免抽烟和使用烟草制品。
6。有时，口干会有难闻的气味。如果你的口腔是干的，你可以食用无糖薄荷糖，嚼无糖口香糖或喝更多的水。
7。如果您使用漱口水，用力在你的嘴里漱30秒左右，然后才吐出来。
8。如果你戴假牙，晚上睡前刷假牙和把它们浸泡在消毒液过夜。
9。每年让牙医检查牙齿清洁两次。

Food during disaster

This evening after hearing the news of earthquake in Japan (around 3pm in Malaysia), I was totally shocked. We just heard NZ earthquake recently and now another natural disaster. I don't have much comment but I do hope people will take care of their food safety, raw and cooked food should be separate. Remember to avoid unsafe drinking water to keep yourself from any risk of disease. Hope quake victims are doing well during this tough period.

Bad Breath is a sign of health problem?

Smoking and others tobacco usage can bring effects that cause bad breath. If you have a poor oral hygiene by not brushing your teeth regularly, plaque (a sticky, colorless film) builds up on your teeth which is a place for bacteria to live and yet another reason why breath can turn foul.

The most important issue is bad breath can be a sign of a health problem. Sinus infections, chronic lung infections, liver or kidney diseases, and diabetes are some health conditions that may cause bad breath situation. If a friend told you that You Have Bad Breath, isn't it a shame? So the best way is to practice a good oral hygiene everyday. I will post a guidelines to keep our bad breath away in the next post. Stay tuned !

吸烟和其他烟草的使用也将带来口臭效果。口腔卫生不好是因为不经常刷牙，造成牙菌斑（一种粘性的，无色膜）。牙菌斑是细菌生长的好地方，造成口臭问题。口臭也可能是一个健康问题的征兆。鼻窦感染，慢性肺部感染，肝或肾脏疾病，糖尿病等一些卫生条件，可能导致口臭。口臭会使人感到尴尬，所以让我们从今天开始，实践保护良好的口腔卫生。

Acidic Food

Here is another tip to share about bad breath. Foods with a high acidic content are a root of bad breath as well. pH is a term used to describe the acidity of an environment. Our oral cavity has a normal pH of 6.5 (7 is considered neutral). Some of the foods you should aware are coffee and citrus juices. Acid encourages the bacteria reproduce much faster. In order to decrease the production of odorous sulfur compounds, the acid environment needs to be neutralized (drinking more water or more alkaline foods).

具有高酸性食品是一个引发口臭的问题。 口腔内有一个正常的pH值6.5（7被认为是中性）。应该留意一些咖啡和许多柑橘果汁。因为酸性使细菌繁殖得更快，进而产生异味硫化合物。

Brush teeth or mouthwash after meal

Why we need to brush our teeth or use mouthwash after every meal? It is important as relates to the problem of Bad Breath. After eating, food particles can remain in our mouth, which promotes bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. Food which is exposed out for long time will spoil. That spoiling action is due to anaerobic bacteria breaking down proteins in that particular food. Bacteria in mouth creates the volatile sulfur compounds of bad breath and taste disorders. That is why it can cause bad breath to a person. Bacteria can also cause gum disease (also known as gingivitis) and brings bad breath.

进食后，食物残渣会留在口中，从而促进牙齿之间的细菌生长，甚至牙龈周围和舌头上。如果食物残渣暴露在口腔中太久会坏掉。这是由于细菌在无氧气情况下会破坏含蛋白质的食物，进而制造口臭和味觉紊乱的挥发性含硫化合物。细菌也可引起牙龈病（也称为牙龈炎）。牙龈炎也会导致口臭。

Below is a video that explains the effect of bad breath. Although is a joke , but is also a good video to share and alert us. By the way, doctors, don't take it so serious on the storyline of this video ><.

Mind your Breath

Hi everyone, is littlediet time again. I just went through a busy week, sickness is spreading everyday and a dietitian job is harder than before. Of course, doctor is the busiest one. I have to thank readers that still visit my blog and waiting for my regular update.


Since I met a number of patients, I hate when I am talking to a patient with bad breath. Is food one of the factor causing bad breath? Yes. There are specific food that cause it as they contain volatile sulfur compounds - the culprit in causing bad breath. These foods have odors which are picked up by the blood system and are exhaled through the lungs up for several days after a meal. Well, best examples are Onions, Garlic, Cabbage, Curry, Alcohol, Dairy foods (in lactose intolerant persons) and sugar. Maybe you all are not alert with it, but take my advice to control the portion you have for foods above. Hope you can have a nice day ever!