Latest news with #Poon
Fox News
7 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Do you really need three meals a day? Experts debate the traditional rule
Breakfast, lunch and dinner have been a staple regimen for diet and nutrition — but is it necessary for overall health? Statistics show that most Americans (64%) consume three meals daily and 28% consume two meals — but some may struggle to hit three meals a day, while others prefer smaller, more frequent meals. Serena Poon, a certified nutritionist and longevity wellness advisor based in Los Angeles, said she considers the concept of three meals a "more cultural convention" than a "biological necessity." "There's no magic in 'three meals a day,'" she told Fox News Digital. "What matters is the quality of your food, the timing of your meals, and how well both align with your unique biology and lifestyle." "A flexible routine, such as two nourishing meals and a snack, or three well-balanced meals eaten within a 10- to 12-hour window, has strong scientific backing and fits comfortably into most modern schedules." A 2024 review published in JAMA found that lower meal frequency, earlier calorie distribution and time-restricted eating led to greater weight loss and metabolic improvements than the traditional three-meal pattern, Poon pointed out. "From a nutrition and metabolism perspective, what you eat matters more than when you eat." In another study published this year in Nature Medicine, overweight or obese adults who ate only during an eight-hour window "reduced visceral fat and cardiometabolic risk" just as effectively as standard eating. Extremely low frequencies of eating, such as one meal a day, can "heighten hunger and risk micronutrient gaps, so they require professional guidance," Poon warned. Lauri Wright, PhD, RDN, director of nutrition programs and associate professor at the USF College of Public Health, agreed that the idea of eating three meals a day is cultural, evolving largely from social norms, work schedules and industrialization rather than scientific evidence. "From a nutrition and metabolism perspective, what you eat matters more than when you eat for most people," she said. "Some individuals thrive on three balanced meals a day, while others do well with smaller, more frequent meals. What's important is meeting your body's nutritional needs across the day." Regular meals can help stabilize blood sugar, support energy levels and prevent overeating, especially for those who have conditions like diabetes or are prone to "energy crashes," Wright noted. "But there's no one-size-fits-all pattern," she said. "Skipping breakfast or consolidating meals, for example, can work for some people without negative health effects, as long as nutrient quality and total intake are adequate." "In short, three meals a day can be a helpful guideline, but it's not a strict requirement for health." Poon suggested that "personalization is key" when it comes to eating frequency, but most healthy adults thrive on an eight- to-12-hour eating window that begins within two hours of waking and ends at least three hours before bedtime. She also pointed to study data showing that eating within a 10-hour window for eight weeks improved appetite regulation, sleep quality and morning GLP-1 levels in young adults. People who rise early in the day may benefit from "front-loading" calories into breakfast and lunch, Poon suggested, while shift workers may function better with a later window. Those with conditions such as diabetes, eating disorder histories or pregnancy should ask their doctor about individualized diet plans. "Consider lifestyle, medical needs (like diabetes), age and preferences," Poon advised. "Some thrive on three meals, others on intermittent fasting or grazing — it's about consistency, nutrient quality and listening to your body." The expert also recommended paying attention to internal signals and hunger cues, like gentle stomach rumbling, a dip in focus or mild irritability. A meal should end at "comfortable satiety," or a feeling of satisfaction. "Intuitive eating practices have been linked to lower morning cortisol, better mental health and sleep scores, and improved mood metrics," she said. Instead of eating based on the clock, listening to authentic hunger and fullness cues will help maintain steady energy, sharpen focus and avoid last-minute, less-nutritious choices, Poon added. For more Health articles, visit "Whatever cadence you choose, keep the focus on whole foods, balanced macronutrients and nutrient-rich options," she recommended. "Most importantly, stay consistent in a pattern that honors your circadian rhythm, accommodates your social life and supports your personal health goals."
Daily Express
24-07-2025
- General
- Daily Express
RM1.3 million water system for Berhala folks
Published on: Thursday, July 24, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 24, 2025 By: Mardinah Jikur Text Size: Frankie, Fui Fui and Walter launching the system. SANDAKAN: Residents of Pulau Berhala now have access to clean water through the RM1.3 million Self-Powered and Mobile Drinking Water System implemented by Jetama Water Sdn Bhd. The system can cater to the needs of between 5,000 and 7,500 users, supplying each person with between four to six litres of clean water per day. This makes Pulau Berhala one of the first locations to receive the system out of 10 units implemented by Jetama Water Sdn Bhd throughout Sabah, particularly in remote and island areas where access and logistics pose significant challenges to clean water supply. The commissioning of the solar-powered drinking water system project was officiated by Tanjong Papat Assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung in a ceremony held on the island Tuesday. Also present were Sandakan Municipal Council President Walter Kenson; Jetama Water Chairman and Tanjong Papat Constituency Secretary Liau Fui Fui; Jetama Water, Jetama Water Deputy Chairman Datuk Juhari Janan; the Jetama Water CEO, the Pulau Berhala Village Chief Junior Jikirin; and Tanjong Papat Community Development Leader Mohd Faried Ismail. Poon emphasised that every citizen, whether on the mainland or on remote islands such as Pulau Berhala, deserves access to adequate, safe and quality basic infrastructure. 'When I was informed by Jetama about the potential of this mobile drinking water system, I immediately worked to ensure Pulau Berhala was listed as one of the recipients,' he said, adding that the system has now been fully completed. He also acknowledged the collective effort of various parties that led to Pulau Berhala being selected, and expressed his appreciation to Jetama Water for their excellent cooperation in making the initiative a success. Although the main system is installed at Block A on the island, Poon said that, at his request, Jetama will also install additional water tanks at Blocks B and C to ensure more balanced and comprehensive water distribution across the entire community. He urged residents to take good care of the facilities provided. Meanwhile, Liau said the solar-powered water system project had been announced late last year and has now been completed and is fully operational. He expressed hope that the system would bring meaningful benefit to the island's residents. 'We felt compelled to install the system here after assessing the community's current needs. The remaining nine units have already been identified for other locations in Sabah,' he said. Juhari said the project reflects Jetama's ongoing commitment to providing access to clean water for communities in need throughout the State. Representing the residents, Junior expressed gratitude to Jetama Water and Poon for their efforts. 'Clean water supply is a vital necessity and will greatly benefit residents, especially the elderly, children and everyone living on this island,' he said. Pulau Berhala is home to over 3,000 residents, most of whom work as fishermen. Meanwhile, Walter said Pulau Berhala has tourism potential and urged residents to help preserve the island's natural beauty. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Paper
17-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Poon wins Tony Cruz Award by a whisker
HONG KONG Matthew Poon withstood an inspired season-finale push from Derek Leung, to claim his first Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong's leading home-grown jockey in dramatic circumstances at Happy Valley on July 16. With Leung's wins on Me Tsui's Vulcanus in the Class 4 Let Me Fight Handicap (1,200m) and Frankie Lor's Regal Gem in the Class 3 Sun Jewellery Handicap (1,200m), officials resorted to a countback for thirds after both Poon and Leung finished tied on 36 wins and 38 seconds. Poon, who honed his craft in Adelaide where he earned his nickname the Poon Train, claimed the award named after the former legendary Hong Kong jockey, now a top trainer, with 56 thirds to Leung's 35. "It's a really great competition and good motivation for all of us. We stay very focused and hungry throughout the season," said Poon, who enjoyed successful stints at Kranji as an apprentice jockey attached to the Shane Baertschiger yard in 2017 and 2018. "All of the local jockeys improve as a result. I think it really encourages every local jockey to improve. "I'm so glad I can get there and it means a lot to win my first one. Hopefully I'll win a second one." Without a win in 39 rides since June 4, Poon owed his eventual crowning - his second after the Hong Kong champion apprentice title seven years ago in the 2017-18 season - to his second placing on Ragnarr behind Speedy Smartie in the opening event, the Class 5 Silver Grecian Handicap (1,200m). Incidentally, Speedy Smartie handed trainer Benno Yung, 66, a perfect send-off with win No. 361 on his last day before retiring. The destiny of the Tony Cruz Award hovered in the balance until the 847th and final race of the season with Matthew Chadwick still able to clinch the coveted prize for the second time with a win on Thriving Brothers, while Poon could have sealed victory with success on Copartner Fleet. Thriving Brothers loomed to take the lead in the straight before finishing fourth, while Copartner Fleet faded into ninth place, leaving Leung to celebrate aboard Regal Gem. Leung finished the season in a blaze with seven wins across the closing eight meetings, but even that late flourish at the eleventh hour proved too little too late for that decisive blow. "The competition is a positive for the local jockeys," said Leung. "It's a good result for me and I hope I can bring this form for next season and have a good start - tonight, I can't catch the (Poon) Train." Already crowned eight-time champion jockey Zac Purton took his final season tally to 138 wins with a race-to-race double on Francis Lui's Highland Rahy and Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Waves in Race 8. Australian trainer John Size who sealed his 13th title last week, returned home empty-handed at the finale, settling on a score of 69 winners. As a spin-off to the trainers' premiership, Caspar Fownes reclaimed his King of the Valley title as Happy Valley's leading trainer of the season when James Orman piloted Monarch County to victory in Race 2. Fownes, who holds the record for the most wins by a trainer at Happy Valley with 628 victories, topped the city circuit's standings this season with 27 to Mark Newnham's 24. HKJC
New Paper
26-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Chadwick keeps Poon on toes
HONG KONG The battle for the Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong's leading homegrown jockey intensified at Happy Valley on June 25, when Matthew Chadwick's double pushed him to within two wins of Matthew Poon, with only six meetings left in the 2024/25 season. Chadwick boosted his season's tally to 34 - compared to Poon's 36 - with wins on the Cruz-trained Superb Capitalist in the HK$1.86 million (S$303,000) Class 3 St George's Challenge Cup Handicap (1,000m) and Me Tsui's Another Zonda in the HK$2.05 million Class 3 Renfrew Handicap (1,650m). Winner of the Tony Cruz Award in 2021/22, Chadwick has steadily cut into Poon's lead with seven wins from the last nine meetings, and is poised to continue the challenge ahead of the season finale on July 16. "We'll see what happens, we'll try our best. I'm just trying to pick up better rides. The fields are getting smaller, everyone's riding well and it's harder to get rides," said Chadwick. "You've just got to make them count when they come. Hopefully, I can get some more decent rides." Superb Capitalist ($23) notched his fifth victory at Happy Valley - and sixth overall - before Another Zonda ($54) scored his first win at the city circuit after previously triumphing at Sha Tin. My Day My Way ($16) broke through in spectacular fashion for Danny Shum and Jerry Chau in the second section of the Class 4 Hereford Handicap (1,200m). Woodfire Champ ($58) claimed his second course-and-distance victory with success in the Class 5 Chester Handicap (1,200m) for Michael Chang and Derek Leung. Seventh of 12 runners at the 150m, My Day My Way charged late to claim New Power in the last stride, prevailing by a short head. "He ran a tremendous race, I knew coming to the outside would be hard but we were very lucky," said Shum. "The last 20 metres, he was very strong. I think he can win in Class 3 as well. I'll give him a break now and wait for next season." Shum posted a double when Harry Bentley piloted progressive three-year-old Wrote A New Page ($29) to his second successive win in the first section of the Class 4 Lancashire Handicap (1,650m). Chang also eventually sealed a brace when Amazing Victory ($156) presented James Orman with his ninth win of the season by claiming the third section of the Class 4 Hereford Handicap (1,200m). "When I thought I was going to be here for only six weeks, the goal was to get one winner," said Orman, who arrived from Queensland, Australia in February. "When I got the extension, I thought I wanted to ride 10 winners - I thought it was a reasonable goal for my first stint and less than half a year. "I didn't come here with expectations to be riding winners here every week like at home. I just wanted to get a few winners and hopefully stay." David Hayes combined with Lyle Hewitson to land the second section of the Class 4 Lancashire Handicap (1,650m) with Amazing Run ($58), who succeeded despite drawing his eighth double-figure barrier from 11 starts this season. "He's had a really unlucky year with bad barriers - tonight included (gate 10), but Hewitson rode a great race and he won like a good horse, so we're very happy," said Hayes. "He had no gear on when he won, then he lost his form and we were trying to make him win playing around with his gear. "But we just decided to go back to nothing and the horse really likes it." David Hall's Never Too Soon ($16) swept to a three-length triumph in the first section Class 4 Hereford Handicap (1,200m) for Brenton Avdulla. "He (Never Too Soon) is a good old soldier, he's had a pretty tough season - it's taken him all this time until he could get his win," Hall said of the seven-year-old, who won three races in Australia when he raced as Never Never River in 2020/21. "He's got down to a rating of 54 and he was always going to be dangerous. He's a backmarker and in these 1,200m races at Happy Valley races, he always needs a bit of luck. "He needs a barrier and he needs a bit of speed to help. He got in the right race tonight off that rating and got his run at the right time." Dragon Four Seas ($26) thundered to victory in the Class 3 Selkirk Handicap (1,200m) to give Zac Purton his 123rd win of the season and Manfred Man his 38th of the campaign. HKJC
South China Morning Post
20-06-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Who created AI app MediSafe? Hong Kong student and US software firm stake claims
Two Hong Kong government departments have launched an investigation into an award-winning medication prescription app invented by a student that had already been in use by a clinic three years earlier, the Post has learned. Advertisement The Digital Policy Office and Education Bureau said they were studying the mobile app that a student surnamed Poon, from St Paul's Co-educational College in Mid-Levels, submitted in competitions as her invention. Poon declined to respond to online accusations calling her 'a fake inventor', but told the Post she was going through the verification process with competition organisers. Her father, Ronnie Poon Tung-ping, is one of two doctors at a specialist clinic in Central that commissioned a US-based artificial intelligence (AI) software development agency to create the app in 2022, which was subsequently deployed. The investigations were launched after the incident came to light on June 13, prompted by City University student Hailey Cheng, who raised concerns on social media platform Threads about the research and development culture in secondary schools' STEM education and competitions, as well as the privacy of patients using the MediSafe app. Advertisement MediSafe, a medication management system designed to prevent prescription errors through AI-driven verification of patient information, has won at least six awards since August last year. The honours include a silver medal in the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions, Geneva, in 2025, a prestigious globally recognised accolade.
