Durians – how nutritious are they?
Crowned as the ‘King of Fruits’, durian is arguably the most iconic fruit of Malaysia. Durians are best known for its distinctive smell that divides the people into two groups – durian lovers and durian haters. The unique flavour in durians is attributable to the presence of over 100 volatile compounds, including some that contribute […]
Spicy gene in your DNA
DNA is the blueprint that defined who you are. For example, behaviours, physical appearance and your special traits, such as your spicy gene determine your tolerance to spicy food. “Pain tastes like spices, it adds favours to life.” Uma Dhamija How does people senes the spicy flavour. Your nervous system controls spicy sensation. The system […]
The truth about Asthma and your genes
Scientists support the role of outdoor air pollutants and genes in acutely aggravating asthma diseases in children and adults. There are many advantages of living in Kuala Lumpur. Above all, the delicious food and the convenient means for a living. On the contrary, the haze is the major drawback of living in the city. However, it’s […]
Genetics and Human Diseases by Dr. Ng – Genetic Disorders (Part 3)
Genetic variations makes us unique from each other, it can also provide some protective benefits. How else do genetic variations affect us? Let’s dive into other aspects of genetic variations. How do genes affect our susceptibility for certain diseases? According to Dr. Ng Zhi Xiang, the differences in our ethnicity can be related to different […]
Genetics and Human Diseases by Dr. Ng – Genetic Variations (Part 2)
In the first part, we talked about traits or phenotype. But, have you ever wondered what will happen to these traits when there is variations in DNA? “Genetic variations are what makes our physical appearances different from each other.” said Dr. Ng What happens when there is variations in the DNA? There’s only approximately 0.5% […]
Genetics and Human Diseases by Dr. Ng – Basics of Genetics (Part 1)
We had the privilege of talking to Dr. Ng Zhi Xiang to pick his brain on genetics and human diseases during a live webinar. Dr. Ng, currently an Assistant Professor in nutrition at the School of Biosciences in a private institution, obtained his PhD in Molecular Biochemistry from University of Malaya in 2012. He also […]
Are your genes making you fat?
Obesity is currently a major health concern, both globally and locally. This is because obesity is a risk factor of many non-communicable diseases. We all know that a poor diet and lifestyle can cause unhealthy weight gain. The question now is, do our genes play a role in controlling our weight too? Can I blame […]
Facts about FAT – what are they for?
You might be one of the people who runs away whenever you see the word ‘fat’ in any foods. They might have a bad reputation, but they are not useless for us – in fact, we need fat to survive! Fats have more functions than you think! 1. Source of Energy Fat is an important […]
Control your salt intake!
Do you often feel thirsty after eating a meal outside, or after having a pack of potato chips? This is probably because the food is too salty. If you frequently experience this, your salt intake may be too high! The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily salt intake of less than 5 gram (1 […]
Alcohol – why do we get drunk?
Other than the Asian flush, getting drunk is another issue that we might face if we drink too much. But have you ever wondered how does alcohol make us feel tipsy and drunk? What does alcohol do to us? After having an alcoholic drink, our bodies absorb alcohol in our stomach and small intestine. It […]