Friday 1 May 2015

LADY@LXG: We truly are what we eat, or ingest...

Where supplements are concerned, there are two types of people; those who guzzle a kadzillion, multi-coloured pills and capsules with their morning kale juice or those who feel that the whole supplement industry is nothing but a clever scam. 

I fall into the former category. In fact, I take about 20 pills / capsules daily and it doesn’t just stop at me. In fact my cats and dogs also take a dose of supplements to help them maintain their joints and muscles, skin and coat.

In fact, this whole supplement obsession, is not something that I suddenly woke up to. No siree, in fact, both my parents are totally into supplements and as wee bairns, my brothers and I, had to hold out our chubby little hands while our mother placed an assortment of pills into them.

I mean, if you look at it objectively, how many of us are really aware of what we are eating and how many of us, actually manage to cram the requisite number of fruits and vegetables down the gullet, every single day? I for one, don’t! 

Personally, I love fruits and vegetables, but I am a naturally lazy person. While I am all for sterilizing my living space on a daily basis, I absolutely abhor cooking. Don’t get me wrong, I have absolutely no problem with eating, but the whole concept of cooking really gets me down, which is why my diet consists of cookies, candy, instant food, fast food and when I feel packed with toxins, I will drag myself to the kitchen and make some ‘real’ food in a desperate bid to detox. This is essentially why supplements are so important to me. After all, with the life style I lead (lets not even go there) and the diet I have, if I didn’t take supplements, my skin and teeth would rot and my bones would shatter, not to mention that my hair would all fall off. 

This is why, I spend a sizeable percentage of my salary on a multitude of vitamins. In fact, open my wallet and you will find a number of member cards to almost every supplement store here in Singapore. Recently, I came across a new brand of supplements from AdN, which I just had to try. Their prices are very competitive (important factor when you buy as much as I do) and I liked the variety of supplements they had on offer, so let me share with you some of the products that I bought.
AdN VisionCare caught my eye (ha ha get it?) because my eyes do not produce much tears and with me spending most of my day in front of the computer, the last thing I need is to have vision issues. 

Plus I loved that this product which is naturally derived from marigold flowers, contained carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin, proven to help protect the eyes from harmful light waves (did I mention that I slouch most of the day in front of a computer?).

It also has antioxidant properties and helps prevent damage to the eyes, while Lutein may even lower the risk of getting some eye problems and with symptoms of certain eye conditions. The bottle lasts two-months and was only $49!
Recently I was diagnosed with horrifically high cholesterol (yeah, wonder why right?) which is why this one caught my eye; AdN CholestoCare which cost me $69 (for around 15-30 days, depending on how often you take it, I take 1 cap once a day after lunch) is a blend of red yeast rice, milk thistle, alpha lipoic acid and CoQ10 for healthy cholesterol levels, liver function and overall wellbeing. 

Red yeast rice has a long history of being used by traditional Chinese herbalists and is said to help keep cholesterol levels healthy naturally, while Milk Thistle helps protect the liver from toxic chemicals and also has some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. I have been taking this now for a few weeks, so lets see if my readings are better at my next blood test! 
Did I mention that I need to eat cookies and chocolates daily? Well I do, or I get quite grumpy. It doesn’t help that my mother keeps dragging me to have my blood sugar tested for diabetes, so when I spotted AdN GlucoCare which cost me $59 for a month’s supply, I grabbed a few bottles (okay, so I grabbed like five bottles). 

This supplement contains a blend of ingredients to help with healthy blood glucose control. Thiamine (Vit B1) and Pantothenic Acid (Vit B5) helps the body use carbohydrates more efficiently and increases energy, while Chromium and GlucoFit helps improve the way the body uses glucose. Gymnema Sylvestre, which has been used for a long time in Ayurvedic medicine, helps to reduce the  absorption of glucose from our diet as well as help our body to use glucose properly. So I pop this pill before or after I gorge on candy. I look at it as an insurance policy, after all, it sure beats taking nothing and it makes me feel less guilty when I gorge on candy daily.
Ever since I turned 30 and my knees started to ache, I have been religiously taking my glucosamine, so I was quite pleased when I found AdN Glucosamine + MSM which at $89 for 1.5-3-months (depending upon how many you take a day, I just take one capsule and I am pain free). 

It contains a blend of glucosamine sulfate, MSM and chondrotin for healthy joints. 

In fact, we ALL take this supplement, including my 17 year old cat Jelly, who has arthritis in her lower back (don't worry, this has been approved by her veterinarian as not all human supplements are safe for animals, so before you share your stash with your fur-kid, always check with their veterinarian ). 
I combine this with AdN Hi Omega-3 for us all, including my new puppy. This is made from natural fish oil concentrate from sardines,  anchovies and mackerel and encapsulated in a softgel. 

Apparently, smaller fish have less risk of environmental contamination than larger, predatory fish (I say, reading directly from the AdN website), thus making them an ideal source of omega 3. 

In fact, AdN Hi Omega-3 claims to have TWICE AS MUCH OMEGA 3 in ONE capsule as  compared to the usual fish oil products in the market (which contains only 120mg DHA/180mg EPA per capsule), which honestly is good enough for me!

I am really happy with my find and so far have no complaints at all. So if you are new to supplements, give this brand a try. Its affordable, works fine and is available online at AdN supplements.




Tuesday 28 April 2015

GRABCAR: Book Your Ride!


Now that you've learned a little more about GrabCar and it's benefits and convenience, let's do a walkthrough of how to make a booking. Actually it couldn't be easier: 

First of all, if you haven't already done so, you'll have to download the free GrabTaxi app onto your mobile phone. The App is available on all platforms.



After you've installed and started up the app, you simply have to enter your pick-up and drop-off locations, and then select the GrabCar service you'd like.

Once a booking is confirmed, passengers will receive their assigned driver’s details – name, mobile number, vehicle registration number and also his photo. They'll also be able to track the driver’s movements as he moves towards them.


Here's the breakdown of the GrabCar fares:
  • Based on distance, time, location and demand.Your fare will be shown on the app once you enter the pick-up point, drop-off point, and pick up time (for advanced bookings). Where applicable, surcharges apply to this fare for ERP, additional stops, and additional waiting time.
  • Additional stops are chargeable at S$5 per stop if the additional distance travelled is less than 5 km. For distances equal to 5km and above, passengers will have to create a new booking. Maximum no. of additional stops is 3.
  • Additional waiting time: S$5 per 10 mins.
  • The fare is calculated by the app according to the following formula:
  • Base Fare S$3 + S$0.70 Per KM + Advanced Booking Fee $5 (if applicable) + Surcharge
  • (if applicable) Surcharges are dependent on time, location and demand.
  • Hourly hire is available at S$35 per hour (min 2 hours). Simply key in "SG GC ECONOMY" into the drop off location and select the relevant option to book. 
As previously stated, the great thing is even if we do get caught in a jam or the driver has to take a massive detour for some reason, the fare remains fixed* once you make the booking.
(*ERP not included. Additional stops are chargeable at S$5 per stop. Additional waiting time: S$5 per 10 mins).

You can read more about the GrabCar service via http://grabtaxi.com/grabcar/.
So now, why not experience the convenience and comfort of a GrabCar ride for yourself!

GRABCAR/LXG PROMOTION TIME! 



As part of the launch of GrabCar (Economy), get 10 x $5 off GrabCar Economy rides from today 'til 3rd May 2015 by entering “TRYGC” into the promo code box to enjoy this great offer!

And ESPECIALLY for LXG readers: MORE EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS! 

Enter “GRABLEAGUE” into the promo code from 28th April to 12th May 2015 and enjoy $8 off your first 2 GrabCar rides!

Terms and Conditions: 

“TRYGC” promo code is available for a maximum of 10 rides only
“GRABLEAGUE” promo code is available for a maximum of 2 rides only from 28th April to 12th May 2015.
These two promo codes cannot be used at the same time.
The “GRABLEAGUE” promo code is applicable to all GrabCar categories.

Visit the LXGers' Facebook Page to find out more!

GRABCAR: The New Way to Travel!


People are always saying that there are just way too many taxis on the road in Singapore – and it does seem that way doesn't it – especially when you're stuck in a traffic jam during rush hour.

But I'll bet that just like me, you'd be questioning that statement when you've been hanging on the phone for over an hour on a Monday morning, getting late for an important meeting!

During peak hours, its a minor miracle to actually book a taxi on time; even though we have six different cab companies to choose from in Singapore - comprising as of January 2015, over 28,500 taxis!

Of course the recent GrabTaxi service has eased that burden considerably, but there are still certain times during the day when you can't avoid having to hang on the line.

In an ideal world, where money was no obstacle, I'd just click my fingers and my personal chauffeur would be at my beck and call, complete with a sparkly set of wheels. But unfortunately, this is the real world, and I'm not made of money! But as of April 2015, the dream and luxury of an affordable chauffeur-driven ride has become that more accessible...


The same people that brought you GrabTaxi have now launched GrabCar, and I've been itching to try it! GrabCar complements the GrabTaxi service – and it just might be the answer to our prayers - balancing the vehicle-to-passenger supply and demand situation during critical periods such as peak hours.

In July 2014, GrabCar was launched to complement GrabTaxi’s taxi booking services, offering premium 4-seaters for those who like to travel in style, as well as 6- and 13- seaters for commuters travelling in groups or with luggage. However during peak hours taxi demand still exceeds supply, therefore in April 2015, a fourth option GrabCar (Economy) was officially launched in Singapore to provide commuters with another option to get a ride.

Started in Malaysia, it is now available in Thailand, Philippines and Singapore. The App has been downloaded on more than 3.8 million mobile devices to date.

And this is how it works: Just like GrabTaxi, GrabCar is an on-demand, private hire vehicle service which is booked via the existing GrabTaxi mobile app. Users can select the type of GrabCar service that they require, for example, GrabCar (Economy), to make a booking.

(There are now 4 tiers to GrabCar: GrabCar (Economy), GrabCar+ (Premium), GrabCar 6- seater and GrabCar 13-seater. Each category is designed to suit the different needs and budget of commuters).

Once a booking is confirmed, passengers will receive their assigned driver’s details – name, mobile number, vehicle registration number and also his photo. Passengers will also be able to track the driver’s movements as he moves towards them.

Pretty straightforward right? So this weekend, we put the updated app to action for ourselves and took our first GrabCar ride!

GrabCar driver Mohamad: on time and ready to go!
Our driver Mohamad arrived right on time and even waited for us for a few minutes longer as we were running a little late. Smartly dressed and very polite, Mohammad made us relax immediately - and in fact that was the most refreshing thing about the entire ride; he was calm and friendly, not in the typical mad rush that most taxi 'uncles' are in, as they fight to get in as many bookings as possible during their daily shifts. The great thing is even if we do get caught in a jam or the driver has to take a massive detour for some reason, the fare remains fixed* once you make the booking.
(*ERP not included. Additional stops are chargeable at S$5 per stop. Additional waiting time: S$5 per 10 mins).

Our ride was a spotless champagne-gold Toyota Corolla. As GrabCar (Economy) is catered towards the everyday taxi user seeking an affordable alternative to cabs, vehicles used are usually Toyota Corolla, Toyota Wish and Honda Civic, with fares comparable to taxis.

If you happen to be more adventurous and want to leave an impression, GrabCar+ Premium offers a more premium range of vehicle models, like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5-series, with correspondingly higher fares.

We had a pleasant chat with Mohamad during the course of our journey, and he was very happy working with GrabCar, already taking on average at least ten rides a day. In no time we had reached our destination, and even a couple of traffic jams on the way did nothing to spoil the ride!

The convenience and comfort of a GrabCar ride has made it an instant hit with me, and I can see myself making use of this service many, many times in the near future!

Destination Reached: A pair of happy travellers!
You can read more about the GrabCar service via http://grabtaxi.com/grabcar/.

Stay tuned for our next post - where we'll show you how to make a booking with GrabTaxi, and show you how easy and convenient it is!

GRABCAR/LXG PROMOTION TIME! 


As part of the launch of GrabCar (Economy), get 10 x $5 off GrabCar Economy rides from today 'til 3rd May 2015 by entering “TRYGC” into the promo code box to enjoy this great offer!

And ESPECIALLY for LXG readers: MORE EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS! 
Enter “GRABLEAGUE” into the promo code from 28th April to 12th May 2015 and enjoy $8 off your first 2 GrabCar rides!

Terms and Conditions: 

“TRYGC” promo code is available for a maximum of 10 rides only

“GRABLEAGUE” promo code is available for a maximum of 2 rides only from 28th April to 12th May 2015.
These two promo codes cannot be used at the same time.
The “GRABLEAGUE” promo code is applicable to all GrabCar categories.

Visit the LXGers' Facebook Page to find out more!