Bubble Tea Contains More Sugar Than Carbonated Drinks

Bubble Tea is one of the most popular drinks in Malaysia, it tastes great and it is perfect for our hot climate. Many people choose it as an alternative to carbonated drinks or soft drinks. So it may surprise many that Bubble Tea can contain as much as 5 teaspoons of sugar or more. There is a lot more sugar in Bubble tea than there is in a cup of coffee.

Consumers all over the world, especially in Malaysia love sugar treats. It is true that many food and drinks are meant to be taken sweet but having too much sugar in your diet has many downsides for you.

But it is not just Bubble Tea that has high sugar content. Even traditional favorites such as chrysanthemum tea, herbal tea, green tea and soya drink packs plenty of sugar in a can or pack. Read the label the next time you go shopping.

Depending on the brand, there can be up to 25g of sugar in a can of Soya drink. For Ice Lemon Tea, it can have up 15g of sugar.

FUN FACT 1: A teaspoon is 4.2 grams of sugar

Recommended Daily Intake Of Sugar
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends only six to 10 percent of our daily calories should come from sugar. On an average 2,000 calorie diet, that comes to 120-200 calories and 30-50 grams per day. This includes the sugar in your drinks, snacks and food such as cupcakes and cereals, as well as sugar found naturally in fruits or honey.

There are natural sugar in fruits which adds to your daily intake. If you go for a smoothie or a bubble tea, that can add a lot more sugar in your diet than is recommended.

FUN FACT 2: 1g of sugar is 4 calories

How To Enjoy Your Bubble Tea

You should not drink Bubble Tea every day but you can still enjoy it as the occasional treat. If you go to an artisan Bubble Tea shop, order a smaller size, you can ask for less sugar, use milk instead of non-dairy creamers and skip the toppings. But I have yet to see a Bubble Tea shop in my area where you can ask for “kurang manis”.

Bubble Tea comes with toppings, pearls, pudding, coconut jelly, grass jelly and aloe vera jelly that adds another dimension to your favorite drink. It even comes with cream cheese which is really nice. However, beware that any extra topping you add increases the calorie content in your drink to over 200 calories.

Bubble Tea is meant to be enjoyed and do so by all means, just don’t drink it every day. Treat yourself to the occasional drink and exercise more.

FUN FACT 3: You need to power walk for 30 to 45 mins to burn off 200 calories.

Too Much Sugar Is Not So Great For You
By now, you should already know that too much sugar in your diet is not good for you. Sugar provides empty calories (which is calories without nutrition), and can lead to obesity, diabetics and disorders. This is such a concern that the Malaysian government introduced the “Sugar Tax” in July 2019.

• Soft drinks, carbonated drinks , isotonic drinks, coffee in cans are now subject to a tax of 40sens per litre if the total sugar exceed 5g per 100ml.
• Flavored milk are taxed if the total sugars exceed 7g per 100ml.
• Fruit and vegetable juices or drinks are taxed if the total sugars exceeds 12g per 100ml.

Sources:
1) Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara – https://www.facebook.com/ThomsonHospitalKD/
2) https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2019/07/25/healthier-bubble-tea-this-pj-hospital-shares-useful-facebook-tips-for-enjoy/1774732

This article was originally published on www.herbalsabah.com.

Are You One Of Those Who Think Crash Diets Help You Lose Body Fat?

For many women, dieting is the same as fasting. How many times have you teased someone who is not eating and say they are on a diet? The truth is, dieting or fasting does not get rid of your body fat. Quite the opposite, if you don’t eat, your body will go into survival mode and start storing fat. You need to eat if you want to lose your body fat, and here is the really bad news – you need to ensure you lose body fat by increasing your physical activity.

What happens when you skip a meal is that you get rid of your bloat, and the water in your body. It makes you look good in dress, especially important when you have a dinner or a party to attend. Starve yourself long enough and you will lose body fat, along with muscles and pretty soon, you won’t look very good. Which is as close to anorexia as you would want to be.

The most effective way to lose body fat is to eat the right kind of food. Food should look good, taste great and be easy to prepare. You are not just feeding your body, you are also feeding your brain. Fruits provide fuel for your body and is the primarily source of energy for your brain. An added bonus of eating fruits is the vitamins and other nutrients found in fruits, as well as anti-oxidants in what are termed superfruits.

By providing your body with the right food, combined with an active lifestyle, you will not only look good, you will feeling great too!

The Right Food To Help You Lose Body Fat

Choosing the right food for your body is not as hard as it looks. All the basic food lessons you have learn is what you need. Start the day with a bowl of fruits and fruit juice is an ideal way to start the day. Fruits provide energy for your body and wakes up your brain. Snacking on a bowl of milk and cereal, toast or sandwich later in the morning provides more energy for your body and stops you from going hungry.

For lunch, eat more vegetables or have a salad. Vegetables are a good replacement for fruits and provides the same goodness. Have a serving of meat or fish for lunch, as long as it isn’t junk food. Too much starch and potatoes will tend to make you sleepy during the day. You can keep track of what you eat and see how well you perform later in the day. There is a connection between what you eat and how well you perform.

For dinner, you can eat whatever you want just so long as you keep to your portion control and there isn’t too much fried food. A healthy serving of vegetables, along with a desert of fresh fruits is good for your body.

By removing junk food, fried and oily food, watching your calories you are setting yourself up for success. Keep up your physical activities and you will start to lose body fat. Continue to watch what you eat and pretty soon you will find yourself feeling energetic.

Mistaking Water Loss For Body Fat Loss

Many desperate people turn to crash diets hoping they will lose the most weight in the shortest time that way. Perhaps they have had past experiences of losing weight successfully with this type of plan, or they have read about a new diet that some celebrity has followed to lose weight fast. So what is wrong with crash diets? Is there any reason why they have such a bad reputation?

The most obvious problem with crash diets is that the weight loss is almost always temporary. If you suddenly change to a restricted diet, your body will respond by storing less water. You will lose weight and be less bloated, thinner, but you will not necessarily lose any fat. When you end the diet that weight will go right back on.

Of course, you may lose some fat too, depending on the diet and how long you follow it. However, the body often goes into starvation mode during these diets. It thinks a famine has hit, and it should slow down the metabolism and store as much fat as possible to guard against the hard times ahead. When you increase your food consumption, even if you do it in a healthy way, that famine metabolism can persist and lead your body to gain some or all of the weight back.

Added to that is the psychological effect of breaking a crash diet. Whether this happens at the end of the planned diet or in the middle out of desperation, it tends involve overeating. For this reason alone, many people who follow crash diets find that a month later, they are heavier than they were before the diet.

In addition, there are some significant health issues with crash diets. First, diets that focus on losing weight fast are usually very restrictive in the types of foods that you can eat. Many foods (and sometimes whole food groups) will be cut out. This is not something you could do in the long term without suffering from deficiencies. It is not good for the body in the short term either.

On many crash diets you will not be getting the nutrients that the body needs. It is true that you can take supplements, but many supplements rely on substances in whole foods to make them work most effectively. Nutrient deficiencies lead to cravings, making it harder to stick to the diet and more likely that you will break out in a binge. At the same time, you may be getting more of some nutrients than is healthy.

To summarize, crash diets can only ever be a temporary solution, for example for a situation where you need to lose a little weight for a particular event, and you do not mind if you gain it back – and more – afterward. The healthiest option for losing weight is to make changes that will allow you to lose weight slowly on a healthy eating plan that does not ban any foods completely, but allows you to incorporate occasional treats. In the long term, people who follow crash diets are likely to gain weight, not lose it.

This article was originally published on HerbalSabah.com in 2012.

Sandakan Hobby Vita Workshop

Sandakan Hobby Vita Workshop is a hobby shop located at Mile 4, Liberty Parade, Lot 2, Block A, 1st Floor, Jalan Labuk, Bandar Kim Fung in Sandakan. I found them through their Shopee store when I ordered Warhammer 40K models in 2022.

If you are a Warhammer fan, this is the most comprehensive Independent Retailer For Games Workshop products. For Warhammer Age of Sigmar models, Warhammer 40K box sets and Citadel paints.

Fans of the Warhammer games, Lord of the Rings game, and Gundam models will know where this shop is. For those who are just getting into the hobby, drop by and find out more. They are always happy to help you out. Who knows? You might start building your army today.

Warhammer 40k

After years of following Warhammer 40k, I finally decided to buy my first set of miniatures. I saw Sandakan Hobby on Shopee and because they are a local shop, I decided to order from them. Warhammer 40K models cost the same throughout Malaysia, especially when you factor in the delivery charges. So it makes sense to buy from your local hobby shop whenever you can.

Hobby Shop owners throughout Malaysia are the same, you can talk to them about hobbies the whole day. There are so much to talk about and it is always great to meet new friends. That is what you get when you join the hobby, any one of us are willing to talk about painting, army lists, cool models and everything else.

For many of us, the best part of the hobby is building and painting your own army. If you want to paint miniatures, I really suggest you try Citadel paints. The wide colour selection means there is a colour that is just right for your models and your army.

There are many factions to choose from: Space Marines, Orks, Necrons, Chaos, Aeldari, Tau Empire and Tyranids. Within these factions, there are dozens of units you can choose from. You choose the ones you want to paint or play. You can even paint them in your own colours and make your army unique.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar
If you prefer Fantasy, Warhammer Age of Sigmar might be more suitable for you. There are characters that resemble Knights called Stormcast Eternals. You will also find factions like Chaos, Death, Destruction, Mercenaries and more.

Whether you prefer an adventure using swords and shields, or using sorcery, or a warband that have a mix of characters that can do both. It is up to you. You get to choose how you want to enjoy your hobby.

Website:
https://sandakanhobby.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SandakanHobby/

Address:
Mile 4, Liberty Parade, Lot 2, Block A, 1st Floor, Jalan Labuk, Bandar Kim Fung, Sandakan.

Telephone:
+6016-826 7790

Opening Hours:
Mon – Sat : 3.00pm – 11.00pm
Sun : 11.00am – 11.00pm
Best call before you go.

Moe House – a Hobby Space in Kota Kinabalu

Moe House is a hobby shop located on the 1st floor of Asia City Phase 2 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. I found it while searching online for Warhammer 40K Citadel paints in May of 2022.

We are talking about tabletop hobbies such as Warhammer miniatures, Lord of the Rings game, Star Wars board-games, card games like One Piece, Digimon, Dragonball and Magic The Gathering.

Warhammer 40k

After years of reading Warhammer 40k books, I finally bought my first set of miniature online. I wanted to start painting Warhammer miniatures and because they looked good, I got a set of Primaris Space Marine Reivers.

It turned out that my Acrylic paints worked great on paper but not for plastic models. So another hobby shop in 1 Borneo, Tabletop Arena (you can find them on Goggle Listing) directed me to Moe House. Moe House, as it turned out was the place to go if you wanted Warhammer 40K models and Citadel paints.

If you want to paint miniatures, I really suggest you try Citadel water-based paints. The colour selection is mind-boggling but the paint goes on really easily and mistakes are easy to fix especially if you are a beginner.

Not just paints and models
If you want to get started in Warhammer 40K, you should know that you have to build and paint your own army. The models have to be assembled (either push-fit or glued) and then you paint your factions colours.

This is the old school way of hobbies, you build, you paint, and then if you want to, find a tournament or someone to play your army against. Some people, like myself, are more interested in the collecting and painting part of the hobby. Others just want to go to war.

The Warhammer 40K universe is enormous. It is unlikely you will ever get to build and paint everything you want. The best way to enjoy the hobby is to start small and enjoy yourself.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar
Then I found out there was another game called the Age of Sigmar. This is or used to be Warhammer Fantasy. Whereas Warhammer 40K is sci-fi, Age of Sigmar is fantasy. So if you like knights and monsters, barbarian and sorcerers, this is what you should pick up.

Personally, I do both. I pick the models I want to paint and build them according to the rules, That way, my army or warband can be used on the tabletop for a game.

The game mechanics is similar, but generally Warhammer 40K has a longer, larger and slightly more complicated gameplay and rules.

Games Workshop
Warhammer 40K, Warhammer, Age of Sigmar are games published by Games Workshop. They have been around since the early 1980s. So the lore is very well established, the characters and story-lines have a depth to them that you do not typically find in other products.

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MoeHouse91/

Address:
No L-92, 1st floor, Star City Mall Phase 2, C-stage 1 (link bridge), Asia City, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Telephone:
+6012-868 1280

Opening Hours:
Mon – Tue : Closed
Wed – Sun : 12.30pm – 6.00pm
Public Holidays : 9am – 6pm

Hoola Hoop Cafe – a Space for Food & Fun

Afternoon tea at Hoola Hoop Cafe can be a very relaxing and happy time with friends. Personally, I find it to be a calming atmosphere with excellent service. The menu is fun and the coffee is served with latte art. So the next time you are scheduling a meet-up with friends, I highly recommend you come to this cafe for an afternoon tea.

Most of us choose a hang-out place for it’s atmosphere, food menu and the drinks they serve. Hoola Hoop Cafe ticks all the boxes with their neat and modern decor, and a fun specialty menu that is priced affordably. What sets them apart is the food on their menu – delicious and healthy servings of freshly made dishes.

All Day Dining

Breakfast Menu
They offer all day dining, starting from breakfast to lunch, tea and desserts. Breakfast is a healthy start to the day, made from scratch with their Healthy Croissant Brekkie or Big Breakfast. Complete your breakfast with tea or brewed coffee of your choice.

Kids are taken care of with a special egg & toast breakfast, waffle with fruits or cereal with fruits. Finish off breakfast with fresh juice or a chocolate latte.

Lunch or Mains Menu
Their mains consists of Beef goulash with rice, lamb stew, chicken stroganoff with pasta, grilled vegetable salad, chicken curry rice, and spaghetti. Or if you want something light, try their mushroom soup.

Desserts
For those who thinks of desserts being the best part of the meal, they have Swiss roll with fruits and ice-cream, or waffles with fruits and ice-cream, or cake of the day.

Afternoon Tea
What they really excel at is afternoon tea, a proper afternoon tea with scones, cucumber sandwiches and cakes. Afternoon tea is served with quality tea of your choice, a selection scones, sandwiches and cakes served to your table.

There are not many places in Kota Kinabalu that offers afternoon tea outside of hotels and resorts. You just have to try out their afternoon tea to see how it compares. You will not be disappointed.

A space for kids to hang out
While the adults chat, the kids are not left out. There is a menu for kids, as well as fruit juices and sodas. Hoola Hoop Cafe has given kids their own special place to have fun – a child-safe spacious play area with activities they can do by themselves.

Themed Parties – For Any Occasion

Hoola Hoop Cafe is a space for food & fun which is why you are welcomed to host themed parties at their place. Whatever the occasion, be it a birthday party, baby shower or Christmas party. They offer a variety of children’s themed birthday parties as well.

You can also host your business event at this cafe, from product launches to networking events. The cafe can be exclusively yours for the day, along with food and drinks (non-alcoholic). The cafe typically seats 28, but can be rearranged to increase seating when necessary.

Website:
https://www.facebook.com/hoolahoopcafe/

Address:
Lot 3, 1st Floor, Block B, Lintas Jaya Uptownship, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Telephone:
+6 016-725 5482

Opening Hours:
Mon – Wed : 9am to 6pm
Thurs : Closed
Fri – Sat : 9am to 10pm
Sun : 9am – 6pm
Public Holidays : 9am – 6pm (unless otherwise announced on their FB and IG page)

Borneo Fullforce Tours & Travel

Sabah consistently ranks high on places to visit as it did on the TripAdvisor’s 2018 Traveller’s Choice Awards, as published in The Daily Express (April 12, 2018).

Many of the attractions in Sabah are well-known worldwide, from Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu to Semporna. Nature attractions, cultural experiences, sun, sea and beaches, you can find it all in Sabah.

Borneo Fullforce Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd is an established and registered tour agency that takes you on an adventure in the paradise that is North Borneo.

Borneo Fullforce Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd offers day trips and overnight packages to all the major destinations in Sabah.

Destinations may include: City Tour, Climbing Mount Kinabalu, Tip of Borneo, Semporna, Islands around Kota Kinabalu, whitewater rafting and anywhere else you would like to go.

Visit their website and see why tourists from around the world, South East Asia region and West Malaysia choose to experience Sabah with Borneo Fullforce Tours and Travel.

Website:
https://borneofullforce.com

Address:
Lot 21C, 2nd Floor, Phase 2, Likas Plaza, Jalan Tuaran, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Telephone:
+6 013 8586018

Bright Star Tuition Centre

Bright Star Tuition Centre is in Plaza Kingfisher offering tuition classes and after-school day care. They offer tuition classes for UPSR, SPM and UEC.

Language Classes: English, Chinese and Malay.
Tuition Classes: Primary and Secondary school for single or all subjects.
Homework Classes: Help with homework, coaching and focus on weaker subjects.
After-School Care: Classroom activities, meals and transport can be arranged.

Bright Star Centre is located on the 1st floor, directly above Cecilia Music School.

Address:
16-1, Block E, Plaza Kingfisher, Lorong Plaza Kingfisher 5, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Telephone:
+6 016 821 0640

Bilal Restaurant Kota Kinabalu

Bilal Restaurant is an authentic Mamak restaurant in Bandaran Berjaya, Kota Kinabalu. If you love traditional Southern Indian curry, this restaurant is just the place to go. They serve a variety of curry and all time favourites such as Nasi Briyani and Nasi Kandar.

Their dishes are made with traditional ingredients and packed full of flavours from spices, meat and vegetables. Personally, I am working my way through their menu.

Bilal Restaurant serve Indian Muslim food, Mamak style.

• Fish Head Curry
• Fish Curry
• Mutton Curry Masala
• Roast Chicken Curry Masala
• Goat Head Curry
• Quail Bird Curry
• Indian Vegetarian Curry
• Nasi Briyani
• Nasi Kandar
• Mango Lassi
• Roti Canai
• Tosai
• Murtabak
• Chapati

Best Nasi Briyani in Kota Kinabalu

Many who have tried their food tend to agree – their Nasi Briyani is one of the best in Kota Kinabalu. The food speaks for itself when the ingredients are fresh and the spices are packed with flavour. The curry is thick and aromatic…you will find no watery curry here.

Drop by this curry house for lunch some time or dinner. I am pretty sure you will agree with that the curry here is amazing.

Want something light? How about Roti Canai for tea time?

Nasi Kandar at Inanam Bus Terminal

In August 2019, the owner contacted me and said that they have moved to Inanam Bus Terminal which makes it even easier for me to get to. By moving to Inanam Bus Station, patrons should find it easier for parking.

I cannot even begin to describe how great their flavours are, and I have to watch that I do not over-eat every time I visit them. If you love the authentic flavours of South Indian food, this is the place you want to be at.

For more information, find them on Google Map or visit their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BilalrestaurantKK/.

Address:
16-0, Lot 41, Block F, Inanam Business Centre, Jalan Inanam, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Telephone:
+6018 261 0109

Miracle Skin Laser & Aesthetic Centre

Miracle Skin Laser & Aesthetic Centre offers the latest in skin laser facial treatment. Laser facial is a facial treatment delivered by using top medical grade US FDA approved Korean lasers.

New to laser facial?
Laser facial treatment uses lasers that penetrates into your skin to stimulate the production of natural skin collagen which results in of brightening your skin tone and maintaining youthful looking skin.

All procedures at Miracle Skin Laser & Aesthetic Centre are performed by qualified medical doctor and experienced aesthetician team.

Miracle Skin Laser Treatments

The Skin Centre offers a wide range of affordable skin laser treatments and quality medical grade skin care products.

• Medical Laser
• Acne Treatment
• Pigmentation Removal
• Acne Scar Removal
• Anti-Aging
• Aesthetic
• and more!

For more information, you can contact them directly or visit their website: www.miraclelasercentre.com.

Address:
Lot 15, Ground floor, Lorong Margosa, Taman Luyang Phase 8, Off Jalan Lintas, 88300 Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah, Malaysia.

Telephone:
+6013 547 5198

Alice’s Wedding Gallery Kota Kinabalu

Alice’s Wedding Gallery specializes in wedding favors and door gifts for your special day. From elegant timeless design to modern and funky, you can create unique wedding gifts as a gesture of appreciation for your wedding guests.

There is a wide range of wedding favors, and every order is unique and custom made. Got an idea of a gift? Just bring to them and they will recreate or custom make it for you.

If it is your big day coming up soon, you should start your wedding plans as early as possible. There are plenty to be done, from venue to guest list and the all important perfect wedding dress.

Wedding favors need time to design and create, whether it is printed or crafted. But because every job is unique, you ought to get this done early to reduce stress.

Alice’s Wedding Gallery Wedding Favours

Alice’s Wedding Gallery provides personalized wedding favours for your wedding.

• Wedding Cards
• Wedding Banners and Buntings
• Thank you Tags
• Door gifts
• Custom Wedding gift boxes
• Chinese Custom Wedding Accessories
• and more!

For more information, you can contact them directly or visit their Facebook page: Alice’s Wedding Gallery.

Address:
No. 10, Ground Floor, Beverly Hills Plaza, Jalan Bundusan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Telephone:
088 729 978