Ang Kalatas Volume IV September 2014 Issue | Page 20

20 THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 4 Number 12 | September 2014 FOOD & HEALTH The Grace Hotel's FOOD FESTIVAL. A brief review by Jaime K Pimentel Looked great, tasted even better THE chef’s version of ‘relyenong bangus’ or stuffed milkfish was a favourite at the 2014 Flavours of the Philippines Food Festival, dished out over two weeks in Sydney’s four-star The Grace Hotel, courtesy of the Philippine Tourism Office and sponsor Cebu Pacific Air, the Philippines’ new carrier. FINE-food lovers ~ and who’s not one ~ were treated to a daily change of the Philippines’ most delicious dishes: from temptingly brown chicken adobo and braised pork belly humba to ox tail kare-kare, lechon kawali, lapu-lapu Filipiniana, crab salad with mango, and banana heart in coconut milk. Just on day-one for starters. An array of desserts featured a tantalizing leche flan, capped off with a mix-yourown halo-halo. Had I the resources, I would have returned an assault on a new menu the next day. And the next and the next. Why not, The Grace sat smack in the heart of our city so accessible by train, bus and car. Sorry, the hotel did not have a helipad for air transport and it was a bit distant to Sydney’s Rellenong Bangus. Photo: Marilie Bomediano wharf to come by ferry. What would have been value added to the food festival was an atmosphere of ceberation, I thought. A little melodic Filipino music, perhaps. Some hostesses in Filipino costumes. A tinikling dance thown in? But what the heck, we spent almost two hours at The Grace’s fine-dining and sharing the best of Filipino food with friends. We don’t usually take that long to have lunch, so one can guess why we stayed. Bring the Filipino food festival back next year. And the next, and the next. Facts and fiction of teeth whitening A ccording to recent studies, the eyes and teeth are the first things noticed in a person 80 per cent of the time. Smiling provides improvement on an individual’s health, stress level and attractiveness. No wonder in this day and age, more and more people are getting their teeth whitened. Well, why not? Teeth whitening is considered as one of the least invasive procedures in dentistry. This common dental procedure involves the altering of teeth shade by breaking down teeth stains through chemical means. Despite the advances of technology in dentistry, there are still a lot of misconceptions about teeth whitening. Here are the most common myths about teeth whitening: MYTH: Teeth Whitening is painful and can be harmful to your mouth. FACT: If done professionally, teeth whitening procedure is one of the safest treatments that can be provided by an oral healthcare professional. Although hypersensitivity of the teeth is the most common side effect, this can be minimised with ease. MYTH: Teeth Whitening damages and weakens your teeth. FACT: The most common material used in whitening teeth is Carbamide Peroxide (CP). When applied to tooth surfaces, CP breaks down stains resulting to whiter teeth appearance. Recent studies have also shown that Carbamide Peroxide is an effective solution in controlling plaque, thus minimising dental decay, gum disease and promotes good oral health. MYTH: All teeth whitening systems can work. FACT: There are many different methods of whitening teeth. The most common method is a customised take-home teethwhitening treatment. This involves a dentist-prescribed teethwhitening material with a customised tray to be worn by the patient every day or every night. W ly enough. At this stage, the baby has a high blood alcohol concentration and lacks oxygen and nutrients needed for its brain and organs to grow properly. White matter in the brain, which is responsible for speeding the processing of information, is sensitive to alcohol. Timing is another medical factor in the development of FAS. The baby’s facial features are formed during week six to nine of pregnancy. This three week window is more likely to have babies with facial deformities associated with FAS. Damage to the baby’s organs through drinking is most likely to happen in the first three months. SYMPTOMS: l Small head with elfin-like face l Poor vision and hearing l Joint and limb defects l Congenital heart disease l Organ defects (i.e. k idney) l Learning difficulties: problem with language, inappropriate social behaviour, poor short-term memory, inability to grasp instructions l Hyperactivity and poor attention l Poor coordination l Mood swings DIAGNOSIS: Early diagnosis can prevent “secondary disabilities’ which are GETTING ready to join a gym and shape up this spring? Make sure you study gym deal offerings first to make sure you don’t lose money before you lose weight. NSW Fair Trading Minister Matthew Mason-Cox urged consumers wanting to kick start their Spring fitness regime to read contracts carefully before joining a gym, as consumer complaints reach a three year high. Mr Mason-Cox said Fair Trading received 456 complaints about health clubs and gyms in the 2013-2014 financial year, the highest level in three years. “We have also seen a significant increase in the level of consumer enquiries, which was up 60 per cent to 727 in the past financial year,’’ he said. “This is a concerning trend, which is why we are urging consumers to shop around and check the fine print before signing any contracts. Of the 456 complaints registered in the 2013-14 financial year, 189 related to cancellations and cooling off of contracts and 88 involved refunds. “Joining a gym can be costly, so don’t be pressured into signing up on the spot,’’ he said. “A number of gyms now offer short duration membership or pay as you go options, so it is best to shop around and find a gym agreement that best suits your needs. “Be wary of special deals and promotions offered in a verbal sales pitch. “Put any changes in writing as proof of what has been agreed and understand that by signing a contract, both parties are agreeing to all the small print. Mr Mason-Cox encouraged customers to choose a gym that was a member of Fitness Australia and operated under the NSW Fitness Code of Conduct. The Code sets a standard for consumer protection. [NSW Fair Trading] Your Mouth, Your Body, Your Health alth Even though most of the teeth whitening systems available in the market work to a certain degree, the dentist-supervised method provides a safer and more predictable whitening result. MYTH: Teeth Whitening can also whiten fillings and crowns. FACT: Contrary to many beliefs, crowns and fillings will not whiten. Only teeth will. Patients requiring major dental procedures such as crowns, veneer or composite fillings involving front teeth should consider teeth whitening procedure first. This will provide better aesthetic result at the end. If you have any further questions, concerns and interests on FOETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME (FAS) omen who drink alcohol during pregnancy can give birth to babies with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) characterised by defects and disabilities ranging from mild to severe. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a severe form of the condition. When a pregnant woman drinks, the alcohol goes across the placenta to the foetus via the bloodstream. The foetus’ liver is not fully formed so it cannot metabolise the alcohol quick- Consumers urged to read fine print before joining a gym DR. ROUEL VERGARA [email protected] Before and after teeth whitening teeth whitening treatment, it is highly recommended that you seek professional dental advice. Dr. Rouel Vergara, DMD is a general dentist practitioner focusing on patientcentred dentistry. He is a member of various dental organizations in Australia and overseas, and is also actively involved in providing lectures and workshops for dental health professionals in the Asia Pacific region. Dr. Vergara practices in Parramatta and Empire Bay, NSW. Healthwise not present at birth, with appropriate support. TREATMENT: Referral to Paediatricians who are likely to investigate problems further with Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Speech and Language Therapists and Specialists for organ defects. Special Education and Social Services can help very young children to adjust to the society. Behavioural Training and Medication will help alleviate mood swings. PREVENTION: Women who drink should reduce consumption to a minimum or ideally, STOP drinking alto- FE WATMORE Registered Nurse gether. If trying to conceive, ask your partner to help you by cutting down his drinking as well, as drinking impairs sperm count and heavy drinking cause temporary impotence. Damage can be done in the first few weeks of pregnancy when a woman might not yet know that she is pregnant - the risk increases if the mother is a heavy drinker. FAS does not occur if the mother refrains from drinking during pregnancy. If you are a woman with a drinking problem who wants to get pregnant, seek help from a Health Care Professional. REFERENCES: fasdtrust.co.uk Healthline-FAS Femail.com.au/foetalalcoholsyndrome.htm Foetal Alcohol Syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia