Kirin Mets - Fat Busting Cola

Here's another fat busting cola that is being sold in Japan - Kirin Mets Cola.

This is my third post about fat busting drinks that are being sold in Japan. I am just amazed that fat busting cola is now becoming a popular beverage in Japan :).  Kirin Mets Cola was launched in April 2012. This fat busting cola was introduced first before the Pepsi Special fat blocking soda.  What's next? Maybe Coke will also launch its own fat busting cola in the next few months.

And here's what I got from google about this product (source: www.foodstuff)

Japan is renowned for its prodigious and eclectic-to-bizarre product innovation when it comes to food and beverages - and recently, giant beverage maker, Kirin, released the "first-ever" health food cola in April. The drink is called Kirin Mets Cola. According to the company, the drink contains an indigestible form dextrin sometimes used as a fibre supplement, which restricts the body’s ability to absorb fat while eating. It contains no sweeteners and has strong carbonation for a refreshing feel. They also claim that blood tests performed in house after consuming the beverage prove the drink keeps levels of neutral fats low after eating.

An increasing health consciousness, particularly among 30-something males, combined with the indisputable fact that high-calorie, delicious foods like hamburgers, pizza and chips just cry out for a cola accompaniment, has led to the development of this fat-busting drink, says Kirin.

The company adds its target demographic is guys who love cola but are worried about their weight, as well as former customers who have stopped buying soft drinks for health reasons. With Mets Cola, they hope to welcome them back with open arms.

I have tasted Kirin Mets and I like the taste better than Pepsi Special.  The taste is somewhere between the regular and diet coke. But this is still a softdrink so I will only drink it once in a while to satisfy my craving for cola :).

Healthya - Fat Burning Drink

I have heard of this healthy drink that claims to burn body fat - Healthya is the brand name. This product is produced by Kao and it's only available in Japan.

Product Features

Approved as a Food for Specified Health Use by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare.

Approved Health Claim

Due to high content of tea catechin, this drink promotes fat utilization as energy and is suitable for people who are concerned about body fat.

Well, I am one of those who are concerned about body fat.  So, I am a prime prospect of this product :).  Before I decided to lose weight last year, my %body fat was above the upper limit. I managed to bring it down to the normal level, through exercise and diet. After achieving my weight loss goal, my body weight has now stabilized. I continue to work out everyday but I am not losing weight anymore, but I can feel that my muscles are more toned now.  If I can still bring down my % body fat, then it would be a bonus.  

I want to try this Healthya drink and see if the claim is true. But, I think I have to drink it regularly to see the benefit. I will take this as a challenge. If I don't lose body fat after one month, then I will stop drinking this, haha!

And now the challenge begins... today is my day 1.

Pepsi Special Fat Blocking Soda - Only in Japan

A new soda, Pepsi Special has just been launched in Japan. It claims that it helps reduce body fat.  Hmmm, sounds too good to be true.

I'm not a fan of diet sodas because I know diet sodas are unhealthy.  But, I got curious of this new product that claims that it can help get rid of fat, and so I bought 2 bottles this afternoon when I went to Daie supermarket so I that I can give it a try :).  It tastes good, just like diet Pepsi or Coke. But I am still not convinced that it can really get rid of fat.

Here's something that I got from my google research.

In Japan, the Suntory beverage company -- PepsiCo's sole distributor in Japan since 1997 -- is marketing "Pepsi Special," a black-and-gold bottle featuring "dextrin," which the company claims is a fiber that blocks fat absorption. Suntory also claims that Pepsi Special reduces "the postprandial rise in triglycerides in the blood."

The implication seems to be that drinking Pepsi Special while eating will somehow reduce the amount of fat you digest. The brand is being advertised as a "FOSHU" product, shorthand for "food specified health use." Black and gold was chosen to impart "a sense of luxury."

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/pepsi-special-fat-blocking-soda-in-japan-2012-11#ixzz2Crbe48Zo

Be Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The Beauty of Autumn

Why do I love Autumn? The answer is simple. The beauty and wonder of Autumn never ceases to amaze me. There is nothing more beautiful than the colorful trees of Autumn.

Rokko Island is just so beautiful again with all the changing color of the Autumn leaves.  I will really miss this place, my second home since 2007,  and  most especially the Autumn season, my favorite season of the year.  If my stay in Japan will not be extended to December next year, then this will be my last Autumn season in Japan, sigh :((. 

I went jogging around Greenbelt this morning and I got the chance to take these beautiful pictures of colorful Autumn trees using my phone camera :).  

Photo Apps

I love the photo applications on iPad and iPhone :). It's just so easy to design and make the photos look artistic and catchy by using these apps. Creating photo collages and designing the pictures with different backgrounds is also very easy with these apps.  My favorite apps are the "Girls Camera" for the cute frames and designs and "GQ Image" for creating collages.

Here are my sample pictures using these photo apps :).

Countdown

On this day of your life, Glo, we believe God wants you to know ... that your prayers are being answered.

Prayers are not like shopping lists with items that can be ticked off.  If you remember that a prayer is a conversation with God, you will see God respond everyday.

I talked to my boss today and asked her about my transfer date to Singapore. I had a discussion with her about 3 months ago requesting her if I can move at a later date.  Our new R&D office in Singapore is scheduled to open on August 1, 2013, a month earlier than the estimated timing. I told her that I wouldn't want to move at the same time with most of the people who will be moving on August 1st. It's going to be very busy for everyone.  Ayokong makigulo.  Anyway, she told me that I can move in October 2013.  God has answered my prayer.  I have been given 3 months more to stay in Japan which is good news for me. I am still hoping though that she will allow me to move at a much later date, in December 2013. I want to spend another autumn and winter in Japan and make the most of my remaining stay here in Japan. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

And the countdown starts now ....

The Art of Letting Go

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". - 

Jeremiah 29:11

It's already November, only 2 months left in 2012 and soon it will be 2013. Time flies really fast, and before I know it, it's time to move to Singapore. Honestly, I am dreading the day I have to say sayonara (goodbye) Japan :(. I so love Japan and I love everything about Japan. It's just so hard to let go. But I have to accept that nothing in this world is permanent. The only thing permanent in this world is change. I guess, it's about time for me to let go and accept what the future brings. After all, this is God's plan for me and the best thing for me to do is to place my complete trust in Him with true sincerity and He will never let me down.

Some inspiring thoughts about letting go. Got these tweets from Twitter.

Don't be afraid of letting go. It doesn't mean you are weak. It means you are strong enough to start fresh again.

Sometimes you're not afraid of letting go, you're just afraid of accepting the fact that it's already gone.

Don't be afraid of letting go. You may lose something good, but you might gain something even better.

The hardest thing to do is letting go not because you want to but because you have to.

You don't realize how hard the road to letting go is, until you are the one traveling it.

Letting go isn't about giving up. It's about accepting the fact that some things just can not be.

Wonderful things are coming. Start by letting go.