ZAP INFO

It’s true that most people think “blond” when they think about summer hair ideas, but if you’ve been paying attention lately, you might notice that it’s dark hair that has been making headlines. Whether you’re eyeballing Kim K’s inky shade or the more subtle "bronde," dark hair is a gorgeous, dramatic statement to make for summer. But becoming a bottle brunette is not without its challenges. Here are 10 things you need to know before you go over to the dark side. 1. You’ll need to think about your brows If you’re making a significant color change (going from blond to black, for example), you’ll either need to dye your brows to go along with your new hair or find a fabulous new product to fill them in with. Brow-dyeing should never be attempted at home (all those chemicals so close to your eyes!), so make sure you see a professional if you go the permanent route. If you decide to fill them in, picking a product that matches your new color is imperative. As a genera...

The old saying, “An apple a day can keep the doctor away,” may have truth behind it after all. Eating nourishing foods rich in certain vitamins can help your immune system fight off illness. We talked to registered dietitian Julia Zumpano, RD, LD for a closer look at these vitamins, what foods you can find them in and how they can help keep you healthy. Here’s what she had to say: Vitamin C is one of the biggest immune system boosters of all. In fact, a lack of vitamin C can even make you more prone to getting sick. Foods rich in vitamin C include oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, kale and broccoli. Daily intake of vitamin C is essential for good health because your body doesn’t produce or store it. The good news is that vitamin C is in so many foods that most people don’t need to take a vitamin C supplement unless a doctor advises it. Vitamin B6 is vital to supporting biochemical reactions in the immune system. Vitamin B6-rich foods incl...

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a staple for healthy eaters everywhere - they're lean and they're an excellent source of protein, but all too often they're also bone-dry and flavourless. This could lead anyone astray from healthy eating! Fortunately, Disneyland Resort Executive Chef Chris Faulkner has a solution for dried up, unappetising chicken. As a star chef and Ironman triathlete, he knows how to fuel a body in a way that also tastes delicious (read: gourmet sports nutrition!). As Chef Chris told us during our Lunch 'N Learn cooking class at Disneyland, "Cook the breast with the skin on, then take it off to keep the chicken juicier. You'll save calories by removing the skin, but you'll have more flavour and better texture." Don't forget to brine your chicken, too. His recipe: lemon juice, orange juice, salt, peppercorns, thyme, garlic, bay leaf, and sliced lemons, limes, and oranges. Simmer for 20 minutes, then add ice to cool ...

Fidget spinners are the latest playground craze, but some mums and child safety groups have labelled the hand-held toys dangerous and are calling for them to be recalled. Several mums have taken to social media to share some pretty scary stories about the dangers of fidget spinners including choking hazards and injuries. And Kids In Danger (KID) – a nonprofit organisation committed to protecting children by improving the safety of children’s products – have also raised concerns about the palm-sized gadgets. Buzzfeed reported that 23-year-old mum, Johely Morelos, from Oregon believes the toys should be recalled and given a choking hazard after her son Cayden swallowed part of his fidget spinner. The incident came days after she’d told him the story of a Texas girl who had to be taken to hospital after choking on a detachable part of her fidget spinner. But the warning wasn’t enough to prevent Cayden putting a loose part of the toy in his own mouth. Staff at the local hospital w...

Avocados have many health benefits. They are packed with nutrients and are therefore considered as one of the best foods you can eat. Avocados are most beneficial when eaten raw. Many of the most well-researched and important health benefits of avocados are as follows: Good Digestion: It is believed that avocados are soothing for the intestine and therefore aid in digestion. They contain soluble and insoluble fibers that help to keep digestive system running smoothly. These two types of fiber are very important for digestion, because they bulk up stools and help to ensure the smooth passage of food through the intestinal tract. Furthermore, they stimulate gastric and digestive juices so nutrients are absorbed in the most efficient and rapid way. Finally, they reduce the symptoms from conditions like constipation and diarrhea. All in all, the huge amount of fiber found in avocados (40% of daily requirement per serving) makes this a very important food for optimizing your digestive...

Gerontologist Denham Harman, also known as the ‘father of the free radical theory of ageing’, was the first to discover the concept of free radicals in 1954. Free radicals are now suggested as one of the major contributors to ageing. Free radicals are reactive molecules and are involved in disease development. Sources of free radicals include stress, pollution as well as smoking and high alcohol consumption. The need for antioxidants in our daily life is thus crucial due to increased exposure to such free radicals. What are antioxidants? Antioxidants are thought to be able to slow down ageing and thus improve skin health through preventing reactive oxygen species from causing damage to our biological system. This is done by detoxifying these reactive oxygen species and thus be able to repair the resulting damage on proteins, fats, and DNA. Antioxidants are also capable of repairing damaged molecules like your DNA, can promote the destruction of cancer cells, and thus stop canc...

Is there an optimal time to eat dinner? According to experts, you should eat dinner at least three hours before bedtime – this allows the food to be mostly digested before you turn in. It also ensures that your hormonal balance is maintained and you sleep well. By eating too close to bedtime, you risk some adverse effects: Digestive problems: Lying down with a full stomach can disrupt the process of digestion and cause digestive problems such as heartburn, gas and acid reflux. Weight gain: Eating late can also cause weight gain and lead to obesity. Studies show that if you eat close to bedtime when your activity level is low, your body is more likely to store the calories you consume as fat. High blood pressure: New research suggests that eating dinner late can have an adverse effect on your blood pressure and your heart. Researchers at a Turkish university studied more than 700 men and women with high blood pressure, and found that those who ate within two hours of goi...