Travel: Malacca and Penang, Malaysia

View of our cruise ship in the distance from
the top of St. Paul's Church, Malacca.

We docked at Malacca on the second day and Penang on the third day of our Costa Atlantica cruise and spent half a day touring the city. Here is what we did in both places.

Malacca

- St. Paul's Church. This historical place is a must-visit if you are in Malacca. 

- St. John's Fort. 

- Chicken Rice Balls. We had lunch at one of the chicken rice restaurants recommended by our taxi driver. The chicken rice tastes similar to what we have in Singapore but the way they shape the rice into little balls was interesting. It was a good lunch.

- Dutch Square. We stopped here to take pictures at the Christ Church Melaka and the Clock Tower. They also sell souvenirs there.

- Coconuts and Durians. Then we made one last stop to try coconut shakes, also recommended by our taxi driver, and I must say it was very good. We also drank coconut juice and ate durians, the "king of fruits." If you haven't tried durians in your life, it is a tropical fruit with a spiky skin and a very pungent smell. People say you either love it or hate it. I love it but I only eat it during special occasions because it is considered a "heaty" fruit and too much of it is not good for our health. And do you also know that you can get drunk from eating too much durians?

Penang

- Clock Tower. Our cruise ship docked at the Penang port which was close to the Clock Tower in Georgetown. 

- Lunch at Gurney Drive. We had lunch at one of the bakuteh places on Gurney Drive and we loved it. Their version of bakuteh has more of the herbal taste than the peppery ones we have in Singapore. We also tried prawn mee (noodle), char kwei tiao, liang teh (tea), and more durians. 

 So that was it for our short Malacca and Penang adventures. 

At Penang Port before we entered the ship back to Singapore.

Travel: Three-Day Costa Atlantica Cruise

We went on a three-night Costa Atlantica cruise in June with our extended family from Singapore with two stops at Malacca and Penang, Malaysia. It's the first family trip with my grandma after her husband passed away last year and we were happy that she finally wanted to come along. The cruise ship has a lovely classic interior with many facilities including swimming pools, casino, shops, restaurants and they hold performances each night such as cabarets, musical performances, dance classes, and magic shows. The staff were friendly and very helpful. I was pleasantly surprised that they cleaned our room twice a day. It was nice to come to a clean room after a hot day touring the city and once again after dinner. Cruise tickets include all-day buffet (which was just average in my opinion), but if you book the suites, you get to eat at the restaurants, where the food was much better. Here are some of the highlights of the tour in pictures.

The cruise ship.

View of Marina, Singapore,
from our cruise ship before we depart.

The water slide at the top deck.

View of the swimming pools at the top deck.

The atrium.

View of the atrium from the top floor.

One of the fine dining restaurants on the top deck.

Beautiful sunrise.

And one of the best sunset I've seen.

Just before the sky gets dark.
Isn't God the ultimate Painter?

Til' next time.

No-Fry Shrimp Crackers

Many of us in Indonesia grew up eating fried shrimp crackers. I love them but I don't generally eat them because: 

1. I don't know what they are made of. The one shown above is made of cooked dried shrimp, special tapioca flour, sugar, and salt. Who knows how they "cook" the dried shrimp and what is in their "special" tapioca flour. I'm also sure they used refined sugar and salt. 

2. They are commonly deep-fried using regular vegetable oil. Regular vegetable oil is rancid, unstable, and prone to oxidative damage when heated, which causes free radicals to form. Free radicals causes premature aging and many harmful diseases including heart disease and cancer. 

So please, please, if you must have fried shrimp crackers, either:

1. Deep-fry them in coconut oil (only that coconut oil is very expensive and I personally cannot justify the use of it to fry shrimp crackers).

2. Microwaving them for one minute. Place a few crackers in the microwave at a time, cook them for one minute (the crackers above were microwaved). I know the use of microwaves is a highly controversial topic, but let's discuss them some other time.

Recipe: Avocado Banana Popsicle

Avocado is such a nutritious food and I have been trying to look for ways to give Elin more of it. She has never liked avocados since she was a baby. But I may have just scored another recipe that she loves. It's avocado mixed with banana and serve it in the form of popsicles.  And it doesn't contain any added sugar so it is all natural!

Ingredients

1 ripe avocado
2 small ripe bananas

Directions

Mash bananas and avocado using a fork. Put them into a popsicle mold or an ice cube tray. Freeze it until it's hard. That's it!

This recipe makes four popsicles. I was one happy mama when she finished one popsicle in one seating after dinner. That's a quarter of an avocado and half of a banana.

Bon appétit!

Summary of "In-Depth on Cod Liver Oil" Series, Resources of Where to Buy Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil in Singapore, and A Giveaway! (8 of 8)

This month at Pasture Living, we are doing a series about "In-Depth on Cod Liver Oil." This was one of the first health food, along with coconut oil, that my family consumes daily since we started our journey of healthy living. The health community regards cod liver oil as the number one superfood and I will share with you why that is so. Hopefully by the end of this series, your eyes will be opened to this amazing elixir that has kept the ancient generations healthy and strong. Afterwards you may just be convinced why you MUST, and not just SHOULD, take cod liver oil. I promise it will be the best investment to you and your family's health and something you do not want to miss out.

We're wrapping up this series with resources for your own reading and information on where and how to order Green Pasture FCLO in Singapore. If you've missed this series, you can find the posts below:

Introduction to Cod Liver Oil

What's So Good About Cod Liver Oil?

Why Should I Take Cod Liver Oil if I'm Already Healthy?

What To Look For in Cod Liver Oil and What is the Best Brand?

Differences between Fermented Cod Liver Oil, Regular Cod Liver Oil, and Regular Fish Oil

Cost, Taste, and Considerations for Getting Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil

My Personal Reasons for Taking Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil

Green Pasture FCLO Testimonies

Notes on Vitamins A and D Contents in Green Pasture FCLO

Fermentation is NOT a "Rotting Process"

"If my family were to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to bring one superfood to consume, in addition to whatever we found on the island, I would pick this one (cod liver oil)" (source)

Where to Buy Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil in Singapore?

Rated as the "best" by Weston A. Price Foundation, Green Pasture undoubtedly is the number one brand recommended by the health community.

See WAPF website if you are in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Hong Kong. US residents can buy directly from Green Pasture website.

See here to learn more about Green Pasture FCLO and FAQ's.

Types of Green Pasture FCLO's

- Regular FCLO. This is 100% FCLO in liquid form. This is the most cost-effective option, but in order to get the maximum benefit, your diets need to include saturated fats such as high vitamin butter oil (HVBO), butter from pasture-fed cows, or coconut oil as FCLO works synergistically with saturated fats.

- Butter oil/FCLO blend. This blend combines one-third high vitamin butter oil (HVBO) and two-thirds FCLO in gel form. We've learned that CLO on its own was relatively ineffective but combined with HVBO, it produces excellent results.

- Emulsified FCLO. Emulsification aids in flavor and some may find it easier to digest (gel form). This is the easiest to swallow being in liquid form. It's got a zero calorie, zero glycemic index natural sweetener called stevia, which helps to cover the fishy taste of the FCLO very well. It's my family's favorite flavor.

- Capsules FCLO. If you can't take FCLO in liquid form, this is for you. However, it is the most expensive way of consuming FCLO.

How to Order?

For Singapore, You can order for the different types and flavors of FCLO here. Fermented CLO is extremely stable and they can keep for a long time. You can put it on the counter, in the fridge, or freezer. If you leave it on the counter, the CLO will continue to ferment, gradually making the taste stronger over time. 

If you are curious or confused on which ones to get, I'm currently taking the butter oil/FCLO blend and my baby is taking the regular FCLO (Oslo Orange), along with coconut oil separately. She tried the Cinnamon Tingle butter oil/FCLO blend, but it was too spicy for her. She also tried the emulsified FCLO (peppermint) before and was fine with it. It actually taste good (and sweet) because they add stevia leaf (a natural sweetener with a zero glycemic index!). I would get the butter oil/FCLO blend if you don't consume ample saturated fats in your diet. For the little ones, I recommend either the regular FCLO or the emulsified peppermint FCLO.

I am convinced that everyone, especially pregnant and nursing mothers, growing children, and those recovering from illnesses. If you are not yet convinced, I encourage you to do further reading on FCLO and see for yourself the amazing benefits of this elixir.

Introductory Giveaways

Two lucky winners will receive one bottle of Green Pasture FCLO each (SGD$85 value).

To enter:

1. You need to purchase (order and pre-order) your FCLO before 10 August 2013 (Singapore time). Each bottle purchased before 31 July 2013 will entitle you one entry to win a bottle of regular FCLO.

2. "Like" Pasture Living on Facebook, if you haven't already done so.

3. Subscribe to Pasture Living blog through email (on the top right corner of the blog).

Buyers can get an additional entry if you share this blog post on your Facebook or Google+ page. You can find the link at the bottom of this post.

Winners will be randomly selected and contacted via email sometime in the second week of August 2013.

Update on Aug 14, 2013: The two winners have been announced on Facebook and winners have been notified. Congratulations!

Some resources that I Used to Write This Series

Wise Traditions Article, Spring 2009

Cod Liver Oil: The Number One Superfood

Cod Liver Oil Basics and Recommendations

Cod Liver Oil Manufacturing

Green Pasture

Vitamin A Saga

Miracle of Vitamin D

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Green Pasture nor am I paid to write a review about their products. I'm just a very satisfied consumer and believe in the effectiveness of Green Pasture FCLO. All opinions are completely my own. 

Buying Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil in Singapore

If you missed our series on "In-Depth on Cod Liver Oil," you can read them here. We discussed its history, health benefits, what to look for in FCLO, differences between regular fish oil/CLO and FCLO, and my personal reasons for getting Green Pasture FCLO.

Green Pasture is rated the "best" by Weston A. Price Foundation and is the only brand that I would recommend to anyone. If you do an internet search on the best FCLO, you will almost always get referred to Green Pasture. You can read Green Pasture's FAQ's and Summary here.

Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil (FCLO) Product List

Click on the flavors to see the description and product label.

Regular FCLO (liquid), 237 ml

SGD$85

Original (pre-order)

Oslo Orange (pre-order)

Butter Oil/FCLO Blend (gel), 240 ml (pre-order)

SGD$95

Original

Chocolate Cream

Cinnamon Tingle

Butter Oil/FCLO Blend (capsules), 120 capsules

SGD$90

Original (pre-order)

Emulsified FCLO (gel), 237 ml

SGD$85

Peppermint (in stock)

Click here if you are unsure about the differences between the different types of FCLO and which FCLO to get.

How to Order?

Use this order form. Please read the instruction below carefully before you place your order.

- Email Confirmation. You will get an email confirmation when you submit your order form. If not, please contact me.

- Supply Availability. I do not always have stocks available for purchase. I buy extras when I order for my own consumption, as such, I only have limited quantities of Green Pasture FCLO's at any one time.

1. If items are available, full payment is due upon ordering (after you receive email confirmation). 

2. If items are not available, you need to pre-order and wait until the next shipment if the current stock runs out. Fifty percent deposit is required to place a pre-order of any quantity through online bank transfer. The remaining balance will have to be paid after the order has arrived and before delivery/pick up. 

- Local Delivery or Self Pick Up. To avoid any frustration due to damage or loss in transit, local delivery is only via my chosen carrier. Flat rate delivery charge of SG$6 within Singapore (door-to-door) up to 8 bottles of FCLO, then it's an additional of SG$1 per bottle. You will need to specify the delivery time window: 9am-1pm, 1-5pm, or 5-9pm. If no one is there when the initial attempt of delivery is made, an additional $6 will be charged for a second delivery. You can also choose to pick up locally.

- International Buyers. Please note that it is the buyers' responsibility to cover the cost of international shipping, tracking, insurance, and any issues in customs) and I will not be held responsible for any damage or loss in transit once they are shipped. (FCLO is a valuable product. Although items generally arrive safely 95-98% of the time, sometimes they do get lost in transit and it can get frustrating).

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Green Pasture nor am I paid to write a review about their products. I'm just a very satisfied consumer and believe in the effectiveness of Green Pasture FCLO. All opinions are completely my own. 

Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil Summary and FAQ's

Summary of Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil (source)

"ALL cod Liver Oil in the World is molecularly distilled. It has to have synthetic vitamins A and D added back because the natural balance is destroyed during the intense industrial processing. 

EXCEPT this one that is - the incredible, Blue Ice Cod Liver Oil. It's fermented using traditional methods combined with the quality and assurance of modern manufacturing process. This is the convenient capsules, if you would prefer liquid see This Page. 

It’s the richest known natural source of vitamins A and D in their most easy to absorb form and is packed with valuable Omega oils. But this is only part of the nutritional story., because there are many more powerful nutrients such as quinones, vitamin K, vitamin E and CoQ enzymes. 

The traditional lacto-fermentation process also transforms aspects of the natural vitamins into different metabolites that are readily easily absorbed by your body. You will be enjoying vastly more nutrients (in a totally natural form) than you would do if using the other cheap, refined oils. 

Fermenting fish livers has thousands of years of healthy tradition But during the time of the industrial revolution in the 1850s, Cod Liver Oil’s quality was completely compromised in the name of mass production. Around a hundred years later, it became industry standard to process Cod Liver Oil so heavily, that synthetic vitamins are added back in (and not in the right balance!) 

That’s why you wont see the breakdown of the amounts of Vitamins in this traditional food, and you can read more on the technicalities of this below. 

Wild caught from the clean, pure waters of the Arctic region to excellent marine stewardship standards. Produced by Green Pastures a family firm, in certified, GMP premises in America. Every batch is independently tested, and guaranteed free from PCB's and heavy metals. The process meets and exceeds many international standards including Norwegian Medical Standards (NMS), European Pharmacopeia Standards (EPS) and the California Prop 65"

You can find Green Pasture FAQs here.

Why Aren't the Vitamin A and D Amounts Specified?

From Green Pasture

The concern that facilitated the discussion about what nutrient content to list on the Fermented Cod Liver Oil label, is that there are a wide range of test results on method and lab. In addition, there are thousands of nutrients within Fermented Cod Liver Oil including many minor forms of A/D that are not currently discussed.

The FDA views a dietary supplement like a drug, but the Fermented Cod Liver Oil is more like a food. Drugs have 'known' amounts of very specific ADDED nutrients (if one wants to call lab made molecules nutrients). Lab nutrients can be easily measured and reported.

After working with the product for 5 years our conclusion is that media medicine and FDA label requirements do not fit the Fermented Cod Liver Oil. It is like putting a square peg in a round hole. It is beyond vitamin A and D. It is not proper to tie Fermented Cod Liver Oil into a standard CLO discussion nor can the product accurately be defined in these terms. We get questions about A / D / EPA / DHA and we do discuss openly and as a result sometimes people struggle to understand the concept that the Fermented Cod Liver Oil  is not a drug and it is not as easy as it has exactly 842iu's of vitamin D per ml and this will do this or that in your body.

The product cannot be defined in standard media medicine terms and there is no need to know these things other than discussion and intrigue as the product is what it is as it has been for thousands of years (prior to the industrialization of fish oils). Not knowing this or that does not change the product nor how one should use the product.

Our new labels will have the familiar design you’ve come to recognize, however, quantities of Vitamins A & D will no longer appear on the label. Instead, we’ve moved detailed information about our testing results to our web site. Along with random testing results of Vitamin A & D found in our products, we’ll also be providing information on pollutants like heavy metals and PCBs - none of which fits into the small space of a label.

There are numerous forms of Vitamin A & D. Nutrient pioneer, Dr. Royal Lee, identified over 160 forms of Vitamin A alone. We test our products for just two of those forms - a daunting enough task.

In testing our Fermented Cod Liver Oil, we noticed some of the minor forms of Vitamin A identified by Dr. Lee. Since Vitamin A is broken down into minor forms during the natural digestion process, our research results are not surprising. We believe these minor forms have additional health benefits that can’t be represented on a label.

Similar variability and testing struggles are present in Vitamin D. Hundreds of forms are possible, but in the end only two are commonly measured.

Our former label reported the average amounts of Vitamins A & D present in the random testing of our Fermented Cod Liver Oil, but this is no longer permitted by the FDA. Current standards call for the testing of each batch produced to meet minimum FDA requirements. But as we’ve pointed out, the variables of natural foods are too numerous to ensure that each batch will contain a consistent amount. And it is not practical to test each batch as our batches are small compared to mainstream manufacturers.

Because of this, the challenge we face is determining how to present this information on a label.

In general, the industrialized food model meets label requirements by adding specific amounts of synthetic vitamins that are easily measured in a lab and reporting those on their labels. Green Pasture Products is committed to providing high quality real food and will not use synthetic vitamins, regardless of the consequences.

One option we considered would be to show the lowest possible amount of Vitamins A& D based on any batch, but this does not give you an accurate picture of the nutritional value of our products. As such we have decided to remove this information from our labels and make it available on our website – where it makes sense. The random test data that will be provided will not be for any one specific lot or jar but is for general discussion.

We will not compromise our products simply to satisfy FDA labeling requirements. We prefer to offer products as they have been available for thousands of years – without regard to today's industrialized media-driven, food-labeling requirements.

A decade ago, the main reason physicians ordered a vitamin D test was if there was a concern about the patient’s bone density. However, a flurry of research now has implicated the prohormone in a host of conditions, including among others, certain cancers, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, Alzheimer’s disease, psoriasis, and all-cause mortality, while also indicating that vitamin D insufficiency is prevalent. Even though vitamin D’s mechanism of action in the prevention or progression of various diseases has not been established definitively, these studies have been picked up by the popular press, causing demand for vitamin D testing to skyrocket. At the same time, there have been notable technological advancements in vitamin D testing, controversies surrounding certain tests, and considerable confusion about both analytical considerations and clinical interpretation of vitamin D results, leaving laboratorians and clinicians unsure about how to implement or interpret the test properly.

"There’s significant confusion out there," agreed Hershel Raff, PhD, director of the endocrinology research laboratory for ACL Laboratories and professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. "Vitamin D testing has become part of the routine physical in Wisconsin, but some doctors don’t really understand what they’re ordering, so they check off anything that looks close." Raff believes the vitamin D naming conventions only muddy the waters: 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 also is known as ergocalciferol, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, as cholecalciferol, and 1,25 (OH)2 D, as calcitriol. Some doctors mistakenly think 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 or 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 is the same as 25-OH-D or 1,25 (OH)2 D.

In concert with the confusion about which vitamin D test to order, there is no consensus about the appropriate reference range and cut-offs for deficiency or insufficiency, as well as optimal and possible toxicity status.

Yet another level of confusion exists as a result of several lingering analytical issues with the various assays.

According to Rao, it is not uncommon for physicians to receive vitamin D test results for the same patient but from different labs that have used different assays and produced different results, putting laboratorians in a spot to explain the discrepancies.

Even as there has been a trail of confusion in vitamin D analytics, there is, in the eyes of many, hope on the horizon.

While LCMS is becoming the preferred analytical method of many reference labs and has been called the gold standard for measuring vitamin D, not all lab directors see it that way.

As the vitamin D field continues to evolve, there are steps laboratorians can take to improve vitamin D testing proficiency and inform the medical community about the test’s appropriate use. Raff spends a good bit of time educating physicians one-on-one, in group presentations, and in writing, including in an internal newsletter that detailed the biochemistry of vitamin D and the differences between 25-OH-D and 1,25 (OH)2 D testing and their respective indications.

While the industry awaits analytical improvements and further clinical evidence about vitamin D, laboratories will be challenged to maintain high-quality testing and keep physicians well-informed about testing indications. As Carter put it, "We’ll just have to grit our teeth."

My Personal Reasons For Taking Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil (7 of 8)

This month at Pasture Living, we will be doing a series about "In-Depth on Cod Liver Oil." This was one of the first health food, along with coconut oil, that my family consume daily since we started our journey of healthy living. The health community regards cod liver oil as the number one superfood and I will share with you why that is so. Hopefully by the end of this series, your eyes will be opened to this amazing elixir that has kept the ancient generations healthy and strong. Afterwards you may just be convinced why you MUST, and not just SHOULD, take cod liver oil. I promise it will be the best investment to you and your family's health and something you do not want to miss out.

I hope by now you've understood the "how," "why," and "what" of fermented cod liver oil (FCLO), the differences between FCLO, regular CLO, and regular fish oil, and discussions on cost, taste, and other considerations before purchasing FCLO. I knew for sure that my family had to start taking FCLO. I just to find the brand. Online searches always referred me back to Green Pasture and I understand why. 

Here are my own personal reasons on why I decided to take Green Pasture FCLO. 

1. Green Pasture is the only company that makes FCLO through the traditional fermentation method, retaining all the naturally-occurring nutrients (and even enhances them!). It doesn't go through any industrial processing or have any synthetic vitamins added to it, making the products very stable from oxidative damage.

2. Out diet lacks the valuable nutrients found in FCLO (mainly the naturally-occurring omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA and vitamin A) because we eat very little wild-caught fish to supply us with DHA and EPA and I cannot guarantee that the meat we eat are pasture-raised. Remember that animal fat is the only source of true vitamin A.

3. Even if we get to eat wild-caught fish (which is often unavailable or very expensive in Singapore), we have to eat a lot of them in order to get the same amount of nutrients in a serving of FCLO.

"Eating fish will not provide the levels of nutrients that are found in cod liver oil. Even in heavy fish-eating populations, the addition of cod liver oil improves health. And taking fish oils is not the same as taking cod liver liver oil. One tablespoon of regular cod liver oil and one-half tablespoon of high-vitamin cod liver oil provide the amount of elongated omega-3 fatty acids found in twelve 1,000 mg fish oil capsules. As for vitamin D, body oils of fish can be good sources as long as you are willing to eat a lot of them. One-half pound of fatty herring or sardines gives a dose of vitamin D equal to that of about one tablespoon of cod liver oil. But salmon oil has one-fifth the potency of cod liver oil. (source)

4. Our lifestyle is mostly indoor and our body lacks the natural vitamin D needed for so many bodily functions and optimal health. The "ten minutes in morning sun" mantra gives us very little vitamin D from the sun. Definitely not enough. (And we've learned that contrary to popular belief, our body produces the most vitamin D when the sun is at its peak (midday), not early morning). Also, science has proven that our body cannot absorb calcium if we lack vitamin D, so taking vitamin D-rich FCLO will help calcium absorption in our body.

5. Evidences show how taking FCLO kept primitive generations in superb health. Our generation thinks it's the norm for all children to wear glasses, have crooked teeth and wear braces, but it wasn't like that before. Strong physique, well-formed facial features, perfect eyesight, teeth alignment, and jaw structure were the norm, and I hope that my children can grow up the way God designed them to be.

6. My 18-month old toddler has always been a picky eater and does not like meat or fish, thus giving her FCLO, along with coconut oil, ensures that she gets all her nutritional oils (good fats) that are so vital for optimal body functions (that said, FCLO is even more important for those who lacks meat/fish sources in their diet).

7. FCLO comes out to be more cost-effective than taking multiple kinds of supplements and eating wild-caught fish and I feel more assured and safe knowing that my family gets our nutrients that are naturally-occurring, not artificial or synthetic.

So, those are my main reasons for consuming Green Pasture FCLO.

You can think of cod liver oil like honey. They are good for you in their raw state, but there are also processed ones which you want to avoid. Green Pasture fermented cod liver oil is like manuka honey with the highest UMF rating. It is the best of its kind. If I were to recommend one supplement to anyone, it would be FCLO.

Next, we will end this series with resources for your own reading and information on where and how to order Green Pasture FCLO in Singapore. 

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Green Pasture nor am I paid to write a review about their products. I'm just a very satisfied consumer and believe in the effectiveness of Green Pasture FCLO. All opinions are completely my own.