Celebrity Life

Loro Piana has long been associated with raw materials and fabrics of the highest quality, with which it uses to create wardrobe staples using its Italian savoir-faire. In the past, what we would consider wardrobe staples included tailored shirts, fitted pants, a well-made cashmere sweater and perhaps a structured wool coat. Before 2020 descended upon us, it would seem rather bizarre to consider sportswear essential wear.

But this mindset has clearly changed. With our focus shifted to health and wellbeing more than ever, it was time for more traditional companies to consider a new challenge. Why should those who strive for wellness and health need to give up the pleasures of refined dressing?

Loro Piana takes this in its stride as the brand launches its first-ever Wellness Capsule Collection. The collection features two exclusive sets of clothes and accessories dedicated to meditation and the outdoors, crafted, as always, with its exceptional materials.

Both sets are born from the key notion of comfort. The Meditation Set includes a lightly padded mat in Cashmere Storm System, which has luxurious detailing like a hand-stitched leather trim and a half-moon pillow. In the Outdoor Kit, the sleeping bag is a marriage of tech and comfort. The Wind microfibre is used to protect from humidity and wind, and Baby Cashmere in its inner lining gives the ultimate softness and warmth.

Loro Piana Art of Wellbeing video series

To highlight the capsule collection, Loro Piana turned to two of the biggest names associated with the wellness sphere in Hong Kong: singer-songwriter and yoga instructor Alex Lam and founder of YogaUP Chaukei Ngai.

The Art of Wellbeing is a four-part series with the two personalities on their personal journey into wellness. In part one, the pair discuss the benefits of meditation. The videos are not only personal, they are educational too. In parts two to four, Lam and Ngai teach us deep breathing and yoga poses that will help with meditation.

The capsule collection is available at Loro Piana's Landmark Store from now until January 17, 2021.

The post Loro Piana Looks at Wellness With New Capsule Collection appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

I'm holding a vial about the size of my thumb, which contains a cotton bud I’ve used to swab the inside of my cheek. It’s hard to believe that inside this tiny container is the key to most of the questions I’ve ever had about myself – my ancestry, my body type and whether I’m at risk of hereditary disease.

These are some of the most commonly asked queries, but did you know you can also find out more about your own personality – whether, for example, you’re an agreeable person? You could find out more about your ideal sporting regimen – what exercises are most effective for you? You could even find out if you were cut out to be an entrepreneur through analysing your success traits.

Within this vial is, of course, a sample of your DNA. Scientists have studied the human genome for decades to understand our genetic make-up. Mapping out the human genome in its entirety was only declared complete in 2003 with the Human Genome Project, which was started in 1990 and involved a massive collaboration between scientists around the world. Nowadays, it takes 18 days to run tests based on your saliva sample, utilising whole exome-sequencing technology, which gives you 500 reports to tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know – and perhaps some things you didn’t – about yourself.

CircleDNA by Prenetics is one of the leading genetics companies to offer this service, and today I’m meeting its founder, Danny Yeung, to find out how it all began.

The Impact of Covid

It’s an extremely busy time for Yeung; in a year when health has become more important than ever before, sales for the CircleDNA kit have skyrocketed. But, more than that, Yeung has branched out to establish Project Screen, which uses WHO- recommended testing technologies as part of a turnkey solution to enable key industries and sports leagues safely to return to work and play.

“Interestingly enough,” says Yeung, “I’d say there are three to four companies that have really made an impact on Covid-19 – and they all came from genetic testing, because a lot of the laboratory equipment, and the scientific and medical aspects, are highy transferable to Covid testing.”

His company, Prenetics, made the pivot to Covid testing last March, when Yeung received a barrage of messages from close friends asking whether his company offered it. “It was difficult to get a Covid test back then. You had to pay HK$3,000-$4,000 for a Covid test and that was only limited to a few hospitals,” Yeung explains. “It seemed just insane to me, so we had a meeting with senior government officials in Hong Kong to see if we could play a supporting role.”

Operating five test centres in the community, Prenetics has carried out more than 400,000 PCR tests, identifying a few hundred positive cases within the community. At its peak, the company was doing 20,000 tests a day in Hong Kong alone.

Danny Yeung's Pivot to Health

An entrepreneur his whole adult life, health hadn’t been a top priority for Yeung. “It was probably the last thing I thought about,” he says. “I started working before I was 15, and began my first business at 25. You don’t take care of yourself as an entrepreneur, you eat crappy food and you don’t sleep.

“When I moved to Hong Kong in 2010, that was probably my most unhealthy time. This was when I started uBuyiBuy and Groupon – I was working with restaurants, going out a lot, eating a lot and socialising.”

Here, Yeung makes another observation. Health wasn’t a priority for him, but nor was it a priority for many others. “You only think of health and wellness when you’re already able to survive,” he says. “In many aspects, health is a kind of luxury. To have a healthy lifestyle is actually more expensive, correct? So I wasn’t always healthy. I wasn’t always eating properly.

“Health is a journey, right? It’s not an overnight thing,” says Yeung, who only really begun to think about the subject in 2014, around the time he left Groupon and became a father. For his next venture, he wanted to explore health. He didn’t have a background in science or medicine, but he’d developed an interest in genetics testing, finding it a powerful tool for people to take charge of their own health and take necessary steps to live healthier and stronger.

“Health is a journey. It's not an overnight thing”

Danny Yeung

A Health Scare

Yeung himself has first-hand experience. Now aged just 36, he discovered through genetic testing a few years ago that he had an increased risk for colon cancer. “It was a surprise to me, because I don’t have a family history of cancer,” he says. Within the general health-care system, a colonoscopy was only recommended at the age of 50. Realising many years earlier that he has an increased risk means he can actively take steps to reduce it.

“Genetics isn’t a death sentence,” says Yeung. “If you know you have an increased risk, why increase that risk further?” He began to live more healthily, managing his diet, cutting out red meat and exercising more. “I lost 20 pounds. I used to love steak, but once you know this information, you’re motivated to make these changes.”

Although self-care is a huge topic today, it often feels like a luxury. After all, pamper-me moments are only possible if you can afford the time and the money to do it. But shouldn’t health – both physical and mental – be essential and accessible to everyone?

Yeung certainly feels this way. “That’s why we launched CircleDNA,” he says. “I felt that the best form of medicine is actually prevention, not treatment. Because once you have the disease, whether it’s high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or cancer – whatever it is – you want the best doctor and the best treatment, and all of this is very costly. It’s also not the best treatment. Those who are invested in their own health already have this amazing tool that can really enable them to make the right choices for the rest of their life.”

“Those who are invested in their own health already have this amazing tool that can really enable them to make the right choices for the rest of their life”

Danny Yeung

How CircleDNA Works

The procedure is so simple it’s almost shocking. You simply swab your saliva, seal the sample in the vial provided and mail it to Prenetics. You’re given 500 reports within 18 days, all of which you can access through CircleDNA’s user-friendly mobile app.

“When I started looking into this six years ago, that was what fascinated me the most. I was really fascinated that you can do so little and get so much information,” says Yeung. “That’s all due to the genetic-sequencing technology. It’s not new technology, but we’ve been able to make it much more cost-effective. The Human Genome Project cost about US$3 billion to map out, but the cost to individuals has dropped dramatically, to a few thousand Hong Kong dollars.”

The 500 tests span 20 categories, mapping out common health risks, cancers, diseases, dementia and brain health, as well as touching on family planning, ancestry and gender traits. You can learn about planning your diet, nutrition, stress and sleep patterns, as well as your skin type, general wellbeing and sports and fitness regimes. You can even find out your sensitivities to pollution and drugs, and learn about your physical, personality, behavioural and success traits. Are you gifted in music and dance? Well, it’s a mystery no more. Genetic testing has taken out all the guesswork, and put your health and wellbeing back into your own hands.

“You can find out so much about yourself,” says Yeung. “And the great thing is, in terms of health and wellness, it’s such a small cost for a lifetime of information.”

The post Danny Yeung: Investing in Our Own Health appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Dusk is approaching and dramatic clouds darken the bitter British winter sky. Two assistants are lighting up the face of Nga Nguyen as she swishes around in an Armani emerald-green cape and our photographer snaps the final shots of the session.

We’ve had a full day of shooting in the woods, on the outskirts of northern London, glamorous outfit changes done next to trees and bushes. Nguyen has been a trouper, barely fighting off the biting wind in tall Fendi boots.

Our 28-year-old cover girl, a London-based Vietnamese heiress, fashion VIP and influencer, has just launched her first independent business, NGA – an accessory and wellness collection “for the future”. She’s been helping her family, who made their fortune in real estate, with their business in London. But the step to becoming a young entrepreneur with her own company has been full of challenges and rewards.

“The name Never Go Alone (abrievated to NGA spelling her name) relates to my experience contracting the Covid-19 virus and wanting others to feel safe and protected,” she explained as we sipped hot tea in a quiet corner in the heart of Mayfair three weeks before.

Cities around the world are still adapting to the new normal of social distancing and mask- wearing in public, sanitising hands and surfaces, and avoiding crowded areas. NGA’s newly launched key products are very much part of this new lifestyle: they include a sanitising skin treatment; a perfume; hand cream; specific wipes for hands, around the home, and for tech devices; a technical face mask, and a candle with the brand’s signature scent.

“While recovering I wanted to create something positive. That’s where my brand was born”

Nga Nguyen

In March as the first wave of Covid-19 hit Europe, and just after attending Paris Fashion Week, Nguyen garnered unwanted fame when news spread that she’d fallen ill with the novel disease. Hysteria followed from fashion-week crowds who are typically packed in at shows like sardines, a few hundred to a room. Online and social-media bullying ensued as she was being treated in hospital.

She says she hasn’t been back home to Vietnam since then. Instead, and even as she lay in her hospital bed, Nguyen has been intent on turning that misfortune into something more positive, focusing on wellness. “While I was recovering, I wanted to create something positive, and that’s where my brand and collection were born,” she says. “It’s really about supporting others on the journey to the new normal … As I was being treated, all I could think about was how to turn this terrible situation around and create something that raises awareness and protects people.”

First and foremost was a focus on the ingredients, Nguyen explains, when her core team of four – all communicating virtually – developed the products. The aloe vera and ginseng extracts are ultra-moisturising and offset the smell of disinfecting alcohol that must be contained in any formula labelled “sanitising”. The scent of the range is a rich unisex mix that uses a base of earthy sandalwood and cardamon.

“And rather than a standard antibacterial gel, I wanted to make a treatment in the form of a mist. It smells as luxurious as a perfume and moisturises the skin, rather than leaving it dry or sticky,” Nguyen says. Aiming her brand at a premium market, Nguyen and the small team she put together towards the end of 2020 adopted a multi-sensory approach during development – taking in practical concerns as well as creating something that would feel, and look, good.

The NGA range is impressively sleek in packaging and branding, which she worked on with the London design agency, Layer. It all aligns with the affordable-luxury segment that Nguyen is targeting. “I’ve always had a passion for design and in my line of work I’ve come to realise that though the product itself can be great, people always appreciate quality design,” she says as she handles one of the palm-sized, smooth grey hand sanitiser cases. “It needed to be sustainable, eye-catching, aesthetically pleasing, but all the while practical, on-the-go with great all-day performance.”

This isn’t completely out of the blue, as Nguyen has worked in the beauty and skincare industry before. After earning a master’s degree in luxury management at the INSEEC business school in Paris, she had an 18-month stint as a marketing assistant for LVMH’s heritage perfume brand Aqua di Parma. “It really helped me learn the ins and outs of marketing and how retail works … and how marketing for fast consumer goods is so different than for luxury products,” she says. “And I’m obsessed with hygiene myself, constantly wiping everything down everywhere I go.”

With the beauty industry crowded with key players, that experience helped to strengthen an overall knowledge of how such brands operate, and especially how to captivate consumer attention with good PR and e-commerce strategies for NGA. Her international upbringing and education (she speaks Vietnamese, English and French, and is learning Russian) means that she’s been comfortably global in her approach.

The events of early 2020 no doubt focussed Nguyen on personal health, both physical and mental well-being. She takes brisk morning walks around her Mayfair neighbourhood, hitting 10,000 steps before 10am “regardless of the weather or how busy I am”. She does pilates three times a week and exercises for 30 minutes before bed each night. Her daily supplements include vitamin D, and fish and peppermint oils.

“The whole experience really taught me to live slower,” she adds. “And it gave me plenty of time to do deep research into protective products.” Although she’s not that into skincare, Nga Nguyen tries “to focus more on hydrating. But one secret is that I use coconut oil for everything – make-up remover, moisturiser, hair mask and so on. But, most importantly, I make sure to get a good night’s sleep. Rest is key!”

"I'm definitely more Zen now, I take time to appreciate the little things."

Nga Nguyen

Her lifestyle now focusses on organic and unprocessed foods, with only occasional alcohol. But the goal is to do things with a sense of balance. So while there’s exercise, intermittent fasting and cold-blast showers, she’s also a pleasure- seeking foodie who regularly indulges in Michelin-star delights at the restaurants of Claude Bosi, Adam Handling, Enrico Bartolini, Michel Roux Jr and Heston Blumenthal, or character-filled venues such as the Woodspeen Restaurant, which is located in a converted 19th- century English farmhouse.

For someone who lives in the social-media limelight, the issue of mental wellness is pertinent, especially after her health crisis in March. Hers is a story that highlights the pros and pitfalls of all that – and in an unusually compacted timeframe.
“I really just focused on my health and made the decision to avoid social media for 10 weeks during my recovery,” Nguyen explains. “I do love social media, because it allows me to share my life with people who care about me. But you can’t let it control you or take over your time. There’s so much fake news that it can really distort your world view. It almost encourages you to react quickly, rather than take the time to think things through.”

But with her health restored, Nguyen can focus again on her great love: fashion. Gucci, Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton and Amina Muaddi are her go-to shoe brands, but she also has a fondness for sustainable labels such as Nanushka, Gabriela Hearst and Commission.

“I love sharp tailoring with a twist; and I love crystal embellishments, bold colours and lots of accessories,” she says. But now, with our lifestyles changed, she’s veering towards comfort – more tonal luxurious loungewear and trainers over heels. But perhaps this isn’t a bad thing.

“I’m definitely more Zen now,” adds a thoughtful Nguyen. “I make sure to take the time to appreciate the little things and look after myself better mentally and physically … I practise deep breathing daily.”

Like so many around the world, living in varying cycles of lockdown has given her a renewed appreciation of nature. Living between the two expansive, green spaces of Hyde Park and Green Park has aided those early rises and fresh walks that recharge her body and senses.

When London is its usual hive of activity, Nguyen is often found at colourful outdoor markets, pastry shops or organic grocers in Notting Hill, Primrose Hill and Holland Park. Her Mayfair neighbourhood is alive with new restaurants and social spaces. As one of the liveliest areas of the West End is on her doorstep, she has no shortage of “little boutiques, high-end shops, and cute cafes” to keep her entertained.

By the end of photo-shoot day, bundled in a huge furry Balenciaga coat, Nguyen bids warm goodbyes, walks to her car and drives off into the cold night. The scene is a far cry from life when she’s back in Hanoi. There, her routine is slow and homely: tropical weather, swimming in the pool and enjoying gorgeously fresh local fruit. She usually hangs out with family, particularly her grandma, with whom she tends a sunlit, organic garden in their big backyard.

Her grandmother is Nguyen’s hero, a woman who started off selling groceries roadside to soldiers during the Vietnam War, biking through the night to pick up fresh produce from the local markets. “Eventually she built this into a big produce-centred business,” Nga says. “She even has a photo with Ho Chi Minh.” It all allowed her father to kick off a white-collar career and build a family real-estate business. With Nga starting her own brand while only in her twenties, albeit with far more resources than her grandmother had, that entrepreneurial spirit is clearly in her genes.

(Hero Shot: Outfit Fendi; Jewellery Nguyen’s Own)

STYLING JING ZHANG / PHOTOGRAPHY OLIVER YOAN / PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNA LOWRY / MAKE-UP AND HAIR REVE RYU

The post Nga Nguyen on Her Personal Journey to Wellness and Her Brand NGA appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

This holiday self-care gift guide is perfect for those who are over-stressed, need a pick-me-up, or a little encouragement to love themselves more. 2020 was no doubt an extremely tough year for most, and everyone deserves a little self-love and pampering. Here are seven thoughtful self-care gifts to tell your loved ones just how much you care about their wellbeing.

For more holiday inspiration and gift guides, head to our 2020 Christmas Edit here.

Prima Body Gem

The founders of Prima are firm believers that nature is the ultimate healer, and has all the ingredients and tools we need to bring balance back into our lives. The Bath Gem is an effervescent mineral soak for relaxation and recovery, chock full of functional minerals and moisturising oils as well as pure, whole plant hemp extract with naturally occurring CBD to soothe the mind and body. Available at Lane Crawford.

Wildflower Pure Tincture

Wildflower's Tinctures are the company's strongest CBD remedy, formulated with the highest concentration of broad-spectrum CBD and fortified with milk thistle and coconut oil. The versatile product can be taken sublingually under the tongue or added to your coffee and smoothies. Available at Lane Crawford.

Crabtree & Evelyn Evelyn Rose Femme de Force Candle

Set the mood with Crabtree & Evelyn's signature Evelyn Rose candle, a blend of wild roses, lemon, and a hint of spice that will take your mind off your troubles for a few hours. We also love the inspirational doodle on the glass.

Angela Caglia Self love Rose Quartz Eye Mask

Following the massive success of its rose quartz rollers and lifting tools, Angela Caglia has released a limited-edition eye mask, hand-woven using similar cooling crystals that will aid in blood circulation and reduce under-eye puffy circles. Best worn while meditating. Available at Net-a-Porter.

L'Objet Oh Mon Dieu Incense Holder

This beautiful incense holder embodies L'Objet's philosophy of creating functional works of art. Cast from white porcelain, the pursed lips design holds a singular incense stick that can purify your living space. Available at Net-a-Porter.

Senteurs D'Orient Jasmine of Arabia Mediterranean Bath Salts with Ceramic Box

Nothing says self-care more than a good long soak and your favorite book. Sun-evaporated Mediterranean sea salt is infused with nourishing essential oils and minerals to create this Jasmine of Arabia bath soak. It comes in a beautiful, one-of-a-kind earthen ceramic box that is hand-sculpted using artisanal techniques. Available at Net-a-Porter.

The Fullest Saffron Latte

Forget turmeric lattes, the latest concoction to tick all your self-care, wellness boxes is the saffron latte. Organically grown saffron is mixed with a base of creamy coconut milk for a wonderfully golden-hued drink that is slightly sweet and floral. Saffron is known to be a mood booster and helps with anti-anxiety. Available at Lane Crawford.

The Floristry Flower Jar

Spruce up your living space with some evergreens and some festive red and white florals from The Floristry. The Archangel bouquet is its holiday offering, but you can choose from a range of different florals and palettes to suit your mood. Or better yet, why not get a floral subscription? Delivered to your door monthly, these wild-inspired bouquets are lovingly made to order using only the best fresh and dried flowers and foliage.

The post Best Christmas Self-Care Gifts for You and Your Loved Ones appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

This holiday self-care gift guide is perfect for those who are over-stressed, need a pick-me-up, or a little encouragement to love themselves more. 2020 was no doubt an extremely tough year for most, and everyone deserves a little self-love and pampering. Here are seven thoughtful self-care gifts to tell your loved ones just how much you care about their wellbeing.

For more holiday inspiration and gift guides, head to our 2020 Christmas Edit here.

Prima Body Gem

The founders of Prima are firm believers that nature is the ultimate healer, and has all the ingredients and tools we need to bring balance back into our lives. The Bath Gem is an effervescent mineral soak for relaxation and recovery, chock full of functional minerals and moisturising oils as well as pure, whole plant hemp extract with naturally occurring CBD to soothe the mind and body. Available at Lane Crawford.

Wildflower Pure Tincture

Wildflower's Tinctures are the company's strongest CBD remedy, formulated with the highest concentration of broad-spectrum CBD and fortified with milk thistle and coconut oil. The versatile product can be taken sublingually under the tongue or added to your coffee and smoothies. Available at Lane Crawford.

Crabtree & Evelyn Evelyn Rose Femme de Force Candle

Set the mood with Crabtree & Evelyn's signature Evelyn Rose candle, a blend of wild roses, lemon, and a hint of spice that will take your mind off your troubles for a few hours. We also love the inspirational doodle on the glass.

Angela Caglia Self love Rose Quartz Eye Mask

Following the massive success of its rose quartz rollers and lifting tools, Angela Caglia has released a limited-edition eye mask, hand-woven using similar cooling crystals that will aid in blood circulation and reduce under-eye puffy circles. Best worn while meditating. Available at Net-a-Porter.

L'Objet Oh Mon Dieu Incense Holder

This beautiful incense holder embodies L'Objet's philosophy of creating functional works of art. Cast from white porcelain, the pursed lips design holds a singular incense stick that can purify your living space. Available at Net-a-Porter.

Senteurs D'Orient Jasmine of Arabia Mediterranean Bath Salts with Ceramic Box

Nothing says self-care more than a good long soak and your favorite book. Sun-evaporated Mediterranean sea salt is infused with nourishing essential oils and minerals to create this Jasmine of Arabia bath soak. It comes in a beautiful, one-of-a-kind earthen ceramic box that is hand-sculpted using artisanal techniques. Available at Net-a-Porter.

The Fullest Saffron Latte

Forget turmeric lattes, the latest concoction to tick all your self-care, wellness boxes is the saffron latte. Organically grown saffron is mixed with a base of creamy coconut milk for a wonderfully golden-hued drink that is slightly sweet and floral. Saffron is known to be a mood booster and helps with anti-anxiety. Available at Lane Crawford.

The Floristry Flower Jar

Spruce up your living space with some evergreens and some festive red and white florals from The Floristry. The Archangel bouquet is its holiday offering, but you can choose from a range of different florals and palettes to suit your mood. Or better yet, why not get a floral subscription? Delivered to your door monthly, these wild-inspired bouquets are lovingly made to order using only the best fresh and dried flowers and foliage.

The post Best Christmas Self-Care Gifts for You and Your Loved Ones appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The co-developer of Smile Makers wants to normalise women’s sexual wellness.

The post How Mattias Hulting is changing the way women’s sexual wellness is presented appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

The co-developer of Smile Makers wants to normalise women’s sexual wellness.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Good news for those with a sweet tooth — a study has discovered that chocolate might be good for you.

British and American researchers suggest that cocoa or, more precisely, the flavanols found in cocoa beans, could increase the mental agility of healthy adults.

The research, carried out by scientists at the University of Birmingham and the University of Illinois, and published in the journal, Scientific Reports, comes at just the right time. In fact, chocoholics may no longer have to feel guilty about their daily habit, not to mention the excesses of the festive season.

Scientists have found that flavanols naturally present in cocoa could not only improve brain blood oxygenation, but could also make you smarter... or, at least, have a positive effect on cognition. Cognitive function encompasses mental abilities such as memory, reasoning, language, decision-making and problem-solving.

[caption id="attachment_212763" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Assorted chocolates. (Image: Jessica Loaiza/ Unsplash)[/caption]

Eighteen healthy male volunteers were recruited based on specific criteria to take part in the study. Age 18 to 45, the volunteers were non-smokers with no previous history of cerebrovascular, cardiovascular or respiratory disease. They were not taking long-term medication, nor suffering from blood-clotting disorders, and had no known infections at the time of the study. Participants were asked to fast for 12 hours before each study visit, and to exclude certain foods and drinks from their diet so as not to skew the results.

The volunteers were tested before and after consuming cacao flavanols on two occasions. On one of those occasions, the subjects were given a cocoa drink enriched with flavanols, while on the other, they were given non-enriched cocoa. The experiment was conducted as a double-blind study, so neither the researchers nor the participants knew who consumed what.

[caption id="attachment_212766" align="aligncenter" width="683"] Time to reach for that hot chocolate. (Image: Sam Hojati/ Unsplash)[/caption]

A brain boost for the most difficult tasks

The scientists first set about analysing blood oxygenation response in participants' brains by asking them to breathe air containing higher levels of carbon dioxide than usually found in the air. They found that the majority of participants had a faster and greater brain oxygenation response after drinking the flavanol-rich drink, compared to other participants, and compared to before consumption.

Next, the volunteers were given a series of cognitive tests. Here, the scientists discovered that participants who consumed the flavanol-enriched cocoa performed better in the more complex cognitive tasks, in comparison to tests carried out before cocoa absorption and to participants who had only consumed low levels of flavanols.

[caption id="attachment_212764" align="alignnone" width="683"] Cacao fruits, from which cocoa beans are derived. (Image: Ly Le Minh/ Unsplash)[/caption]

The study has its limitations, however. The scientists saw no significant difference for the easiest cognitive tests. Similarly, participants who already completed the most difficult tasks before the study didn't see their scores improve.

Flavanols in fruit

Before you reach for your chocolate stash, note that, as well as being found in cocoa, certain fruits and vegetables are also rich in flavanols. Foods containing high levels of flavanols include green tea, fava beans, blackberries, grapes, cherries, raspberries, plums, strawberries, apples and apricots.

(Main and featured image: Ismael Trevino/ Unsplash)

The post Eating Chocolate Could Make You Smarter, According to Research appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Good news for those with a sweet tooth — a study has discovered that chocolate might be good for you.

British and American researchers suggest that cocoa or, more precisely, the flavanols found in cocoa beans, could increase the mental agility of healthy adults.

The research, carried out by scientists at the University of Birmingham and the University of Illinois, and published in the journal, Scientific Reports, comes at just the right time. In fact, chocoholics may no longer have to feel guilty about their daily habit, not to mention the excesses of the festive season.

Scientists have found that flavanols naturally present in cocoa could not only improve brain blood oxygenation, but could also make you smarter... or, at least, have a positive effect on cognition. Cognitive function encompasses mental abilities such as memory, reasoning, language, decision-making and problem-solving.

[caption id="attachment_212763" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Assorted chocolates. (Image: Jessica Loaiza/ Unsplash)[/caption]

Eighteen healthy male volunteers were recruited based on specific criteria to take part in the study. Age 18 to 45, the volunteers were non-smokers with no previous history of cerebrovascular, cardiovascular or respiratory disease. They were not taking long-term medication, nor suffering from blood-clotting disorders, and had no known infections at the time of the study. Participants were asked to fast for 12 hours before each study visit, and to exclude certain foods and drinks from their diet so as not to skew the results.

The volunteers were tested before and after consuming cacao flavanols on two occasions. On one of those occasions, the subjects were given a cocoa drink enriched with flavanols, while on the other, they were given non-enriched cocoa. The experiment was conducted as a double-blind study, so neither the researchers nor the participants knew who consumed what.

[caption id="attachment_212766" align="aligncenter" width="683"] Time to reach for that hot chocolate. (Image: Sam Hojati/ Unsplash)[/caption]

A brain boost for the most difficult tasks

The scientists first set about analysing blood oxygenation response in participants' brains by asking them to breathe air containing higher levels of carbon dioxide than usually found in the air. They found that the majority of participants had a faster and greater brain oxygenation response after drinking the flavanol-rich drink, compared to other participants, and compared to before consumption.

Next, the volunteers were given a series of cognitive tests. Here, the scientists discovered that participants who consumed the flavanol-enriched cocoa performed better in the more complex cognitive tasks, in comparison to tests carried out before cocoa absorption and to participants who had only consumed low levels of flavanols.

[caption id="attachment_212764" align="alignnone" width="683"] Cacao fruits, from which cocoa beans are derived. (Image: Ly Le Minh/ Unsplash)[/caption]

The study has its limitations, however. The scientists saw no significant difference for the easiest cognitive tests. Similarly, participants who already completed the most difficult tasks before the study didn't see their scores improve.

Flavanols in fruit

Before you reach for your chocolate stash, note that, as well as being found in cocoa, certain fruits and vegetables are also rich in flavanols. Foods containing high levels of flavanols include green tea, fava beans, blackberries, grapes, cherries, raspberries, plums, strawberries, apples and apricots.

(Main and featured image: Ismael Trevino/ Unsplash)

The post Eating Chocolate Could Make You Smarter, According to Research appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

These Hong Kong hiking trails are where you can get a great workout, the best views of the city, and enough Instagram-worthy pictures to amp up your social media feed.

Hong Kong is constantly described as an urban jungle filled with skyscrapers and concrete, but the fact is that roughly only 25 percent of the city’s 1,108 square kilometres has been developed.

The remaining three-quarters consists of spectacular natural settings, and there’s no better way to explore Hong Kong’s natural beauty than on foot. Indeed, the countless trails dotted across the SAR offer ample opportunities to escape that big-city feeling while enjoying breathtaking views of green mountains, glistening waters, and, yes, that million-dollar skyline from various vantage points.

If you’ve got itchy feet and eager for spectacular sights to soak up, these are the best hiking trails in Hong Kong with killer views.

High West

Distance: 6.2km (3.8mi) round trip | Duration: 1–2 hours | Difficulty: Moderate

Starting out in Kennedy Town, the hike from Sands Street to the viewing point atop High West includes roughly 2,000 steep steps and ends at an elevation of 494 metres (1,620 feet). It’s no walk in the park, but you’ll be rewarded at the end with panoramic views of everything from Sheung Wan to Cyberport, not to mention Kowloon and Lamma Island. You can shave time and distance by starting the hike on Pok Fu Lam Road, or you can cheat and walk an easy 2km (1.24mi) from Victoria Peak.

Lion Rock

Distance: 6.9km (4.3mi) | Duration: 2–3 hours | Difficulty: Moderate

Towering high over Kowloon at 495 metres (1,624 feet), Lion Rock is a must-do for any keen Hong Kong hiker. At the summit, you’ll enjoy 360-degree views of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island beyond; along the way, of course, you’ll get a closer look at this iconic geological feature made from granite estimated to be 140 million years old. The loop trail begins at the Wong Tai Sin MTR station, but you can take a taxi to Fat Jong Temple to bypass the initial steep incline.

Jardine’s Lookout and Mount Butler

Distance: 4.2km (4.3mi) round trip | Duration: 1.5–2.5 hours | Difficulty: Moderate

Head up to Hong Kong Parkview to tackle this loop trail offering both incredible city views and vistas of rolling hills and Tai Tam Reservoir. It’s a short 20-minute ascent to Jardine’s Lookout, where you’ll enjoy a west-facing perspective of Hong Kong Island, Victoria Harbour and West Kowloon. You could just turn around and call it a day, but it’s worth it to continue on for the southward views from the top of Mount Butler before heading down to the reservoir.

Violet Hill and Twin Peaks

Distance: 7.1km (4.4mi) | Duration: 2–3 hours | Difficulty: Strenuous

Also starting from Hong Kong Parkview, this is the hike for those who want a challenge. Getting to the top of Violet Hill is a challenge in itself, and it offers some nice skyline views, but then you’ll go on to tackle not one but two more summits: the dreaded Twin Peaks. Often referred to as the “Terrible Twins,” these leg killers won’t be easy, but power through and you’ll fall in love with the view of Repulse Bay and the panorama of Stanley during the final descent.

Pineapple Hill

Distance: 5.9km (3.6mi) | Duration: 1–2 hours | Difficulty: Easy

It’s less of a hike and more of a walk from Leung King Plaza in Tuen Mun to the top of Pineapple Hill, which takes its name from Hong Kong’s iconic pineapple buns. The major draw here is what has come to be called Hong Kong’s own Grand Canyon, technically named the Leung Tin Au Gorge. Parts of the route are located close to the Tsing Shan Firing Range, so it’s best to check the government’s firing schedule beforehand to avoid disappointment.

Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff

Distance: 7km (4.3mi) | Duration: 4–5 hours | Difficulty: Strenuous

Kowloon Peak, otherwise known as Fei Ngo Shan, is the tallest point on the peninsula at 602 metres (1,975 feet), so scaling this mountain is quite the challenge. More of a climb than a hike at some points, your sweat (and maybe tears) will pay off with unparalleled views from the viewing point at the top. About halfway down the mountain, you’ll find it’s most Instagrammable feature: Suicide Cliff. It’s a sight to behold, but in case the name didn’t tip you off, please be careful when posing to avoid any accidents.

Dragon’s Back

Distance: 8km (6.9mi) | Duration: 2.5–3.5 hours | Difficulty: Easy

Arguably Hong Kong’s most famous trail, and certainly one of its most popular, the Dragon’s Back is long but relatively leisurely, particularly after the initial ascent to Shek O Peak (284 metres/931 feet). From there, you can enjoy views of Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay; 30 metres ahead, from the Dragon’s Back Viewing Point, you can also see Tai Tam Harbour. The best part? The undulating green hills which gave this trail its name.

Sunset Peak and Lantau Peak

Distance: 15.5km (9.6mi) | Duration: 5.5–6.5 hours | Difficulty: Extremely strenuous

If you want bragging rights for conquering Hong Kong’s toughest hike, here it is. You’ll start out in Mui Wo and work your way up to Sunset Peak (800 metres/2,624 feet) and then continue on to Lantau Peak (934 metres/3,064 feet), the second-highest point in Hong Kong. At this height, there’s a good chance you’ll be above the clouds, which makes for a spectacular sight in its own right, but if it’s clear then you’ll be able to see out to Macau and mainland China.

Tai Mo Shan

Distance: 9.7 km (6 mi) | Duration: 2.5–3.5 hours | Difficulty: Moderate

Here it is: Hong Kong’s highest peak, standing tall at 957 metres (3,140 feet), yet it’s not as difficult to reach the summit as you might think. After a steep initial ascent, it’s mostly ridge-top walking rather than rock climbing. There isn’t much of Hong Kong you can’t see from here on a clear day, but note that the view is often obscured by clouds or fog, which is part of the draw for many photographers who come here looking to shoot dramatic images.

High Island Reservoir East Dam to Tai Long Wan

Distance: 10.7km (6.6mi) round trip | Duration: 2.5–3.5 hours | Difficulty: Moderate

Undoubtedly one of Hong Kong’s most beautiful areas, Tai Long Wan is also one of the hardest to reach. To get here, you’ll start out at High Island Reservoir East Dam, located about a 30-minute taxi ride from Sai Kung Pier. From there, the sometimes-challenging hike takes around three hours and ends in paradise, on the beaches of Ham Tin or Tai Wan, popular places for camping when the weather’s not too hot.

Sharp Peak

Distance: 11.7km (7.2mi) round trip | Duration: 3.5–4.5 hours | Difficulty: Strenuous

For a bird’s-eye view of the beaches of Sai Kung East Country Park, make your way to the top of Sharp Peak (468 metres/1,535 feet). This hike, which begins and ends in Pak Tam Au, requires climbing and dealing with unstable terrain, so it’s best left to advanced hikers only. For those who succeed, the views of the beaches, crystal-clear waters and the country park are simply stunning.

High Junk Peak

Distance: 8.5km (5.3mi) | Duration: 3–4 hours | Difficulty: Strenuous

The narrow summit of High Junk Peak (344 metres/1,128 feet) is the highest accessible point on the Clear Water Bay Peninsula, and it offers amazing views of the bay and the surrounding scenery. On both High Junk Peak and Tim Ha Shan, which you’ll also scale on your way to the fishing village of Po Toi O, there are sections of gravel you’ll have to scramble up and steep sections to conquer, so this one is best left to the experts.

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