The Forties Formula

The dopamine hit from sugar can feel like a reward, but the more you chase it, the more your brain demands.

In this eye-opening discussion, hosts Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim explore the complex world of sugar and its impact on our bodies, brains, and daily habits. Drawing from their experience as a metabolic health coach and an integrated health strategist, they unpack why sugar cravings feel almost impossible to resist and what we can do to regain control.

They examine how modern lifestyles, sleep deprivation, and emotional stress combine to fuel sugar cravings, weight gain, and mood swings. They also explain why quitting sugar is so difficult and how all-or-nothing mindsets can undermine even the most committed health efforts.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why sugar cravings are not about willpower, but about habit loops and brain reinforcement

• How evolutionary biology wired us to seek sweet foods for energy and survival

• The difference between addiction and habitual sugar consumption

• How processed foods and modern marketing exploit our biology to keep us hooked

• The impact of sugar on mood, hormones, and overall health

• Strategies for enjoying sugar without being controlled by it, including timing and balance

• How sugar disrupts gut health, feeds harmful bacteria, and contributes to mood swings and anxiety

• The impact of emotional eating and stress-related sugar consumption on overall health

Sugar isn’t inherently evil. It’s the relationship we build with it that shapes our health and wellbeing. Understanding our biology, habits, and environment gives us the knowledge and empowerment to outsmart the system and create sustainable, mindful eating patterns.

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CHAPTERS

05:07 — Sugar “addiction” is a habit loop

09:59 — Can warning labels and nutrition labels really help?

13:03 — Why are we addicted to sugar?

15:45 — Processed foods keep us overeating

18:51 — Cue-reward loops lock in habit

26:30 — “Healthy” foods often hide excess sugar

29:28 — Sugar hides under many label names

30:53 — Calorie counts don’t always change choices

33:15 — Singapore’s Nutri-Grade system and its flaws

47:53 — Use replacements to manage cravings

52:10 — Positive vs Negative reinforcement

54:22 — Exercise uses sugar in muscles and boosts endorphins

01:11:31 — Intermittent fasting can help if timed right

01:15:30 — Tricks: vinegar, meal order, timing

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

🥩 The Meat Club – Get $12 off your first order with code TFF12

🌯 Guzman y Gomez – Where Clean is the New Healthy - 21 restaurants deliver islandwide!

💊 AVEA Longevity - Use code FORMULA20 for 20% your entire purchase

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🌿 Homeopathy doesn't just treat symptoms, it seeks the root, the reason, and the real you behind the imbalance.

In this insightful episode of The Forties Formula podcast, hosts Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with DR. RUKSHIN SHAH, a seasoned pediatric homeopath based in Singapore with deep expertise in childhood neurological conditions and autism spectrum disorders.

Together, they explore how conventional medicine often misses the emotional and energetic layers behind common midlife symptoms. Dr. Rukshin explains how homeopathy uncovers these hidden roots by looking at childhood experiences, family dynamics, and long-held emotional burdens, all through the lens of psycho-neuro-endocrino-immunology, the science of mind-body connection.

In this episode, we explore:

• The quiet exhaustion many women carry in their 40s and why standard medicine often fails to see it

• The limits of homeopathy and when conventional emergency medicine is necessary

• How personalized remedies are chosen and why they work

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CHAPTERS

06:00 — What conventional medicine often misses in women’s health in their 40s

09:16 — How mind, hormones, and immunity are connected

10:07 — What is homeopathy?

13:53 — How homeopathy treats the whole person

18:28 — Homeopathy uses natural remedies tailored to you

23:37 — Homeopathy supports the body’s healing, not suppress symptoms

26:19 — Research disproves homeopathy as placebo

28:32 — The limits of homeopathy

31:05 — The need for emotional introspection in chronic disease and cancer

36:33 — The importance of patient conversations for deep healing

45:26 — Homeopathy revealed the real root of a client’s fatigue

50:38 — Addressing concerns of vegans about animal-based remedies

52:30 — The forties formula: Start honoring your emotions

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

🥩 The Meat Club – Get $12 off your first order with code TFF12

🌯 Guzman y Gomez – Where Clean is the New Healthy - 21 restaurants deliver islandwide!

💚 Greytt - Use code TFF30 for $20 off a trial session or 50% off a 5-session class pack

💊 AVEA Longevity - Use code FORMULA20 for 20% your entire purchase at avea-life.com

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📩 Join our mailing list for exclusive content, our weekly Friday FOURPlay newsletter, expert tips, and early access to giveaways!

🎙️THE FORTIES FORMULA IS GOING LIVE IN SG this August 14th - snag your ticket here!

“The best friendships are mirrors reflecting your growth, not shadows competing with your light.”

In this insightful episode of The Forties Formula podcast, hosts Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with SHIREENA SHROFF MANCHHARAM, the visionary Founder and Principal Consultant of Sheens Consulting and the creator of the mental health movement Getting to Happy and ANJU CAWTHRA, a dynamic community leader, broadcaster, and the Director of Seasoned Singapore Expat Women, for an unfiltered conversation about female friendship.

Together, we reflect on the differences between friendships in our twenties and forties, from nights out and wide social circles to quieter and meaningful connections. We explore what it means to truly cherish low-maintenance, high-quality friendships that survive distance, time, and life’s many changes. This honest and thoughtful episode will have you nodding along, smiling, and reaching out to that friend you have been meaning to catch up with.

In this episode, we explore:

• How female friendships shift as we grow older and priorities change

• How personal growth and life stages affect who we stay close to

• The difference between texting and truly showing up in friendship

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CHAPTERS

05:47 — Friendships easier in twenties

10:06 — Maintaining friendships takes effort

11:44 — Saying “no” helps focus on real friends

17:43 — Let go of draining friends

27:26 — The superficial standards

28:44 — Red flags and green flags for female friendships

31:23 — The best friendships accept you in every season

33:23 — Respect how people choose to share their lives

36:26 — Don’t wait to be invited, create the moment

37:00 — Say yes to connection, even when it’s not perfect

47:02 – Friendships can rekindle even after decades

50:05 – Let the community carry itself

52:05 – The formula for friendship in your 40s

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

🥩 The Meat Club – Get $12 off your first order with code TFF12

🌯 Guzman y Gomez – Where Clean is the New Healthy - 21 restaurants deliver islandwide!

💊 AVEA Longevity - Use code FORMULA20 for 20% your entire purchase at avea-life.com

______________

📩 Join our mailing list for exclusive content, our weekly Friday FOURPlay newsletter, expert tips, and early access to giveaways!

🎙️THE FORTIES FORMULA IS GOING LIVE IN SG this August 14th - sn

ag your ticket here!