Dangers of Eating Canned Food

1. Bisphenol or BPA

The most dangerous of all, among canned foods that can harm you, is plastic contaminants in our canned goods. Most canned food these days have a plastic coating inside the can to supposedly keep the food, vegetables, and fruits – fresh. Well, it may keep them more but this comes at the expense of harming you

This plastic coating is known as Bisphenol , or BPA for short and it is harmful, because humans are not suppose to eat plastic material made from crude oil. Make sense?

In some cases, one little drop of BPA is enough to kill rats in labs.

BPA is a toxic chemical that causes hormone imbalances and wide variety of health issues ranging from hypertension, aggression ,  obesity, heart disease, reproductive abnormalities, neurological effects, heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, and other serious health problems.

A study by Environmental Working Group shows that more than 50% of cans with brand names have toxic BPA in them.

Caution: Avoid canned food as much as possible

2. Imported Canned Food

First the foods are picked when they are not ripe and have 80% less nutrients than a fully ripe fruits and vegetables.

Second, the facilities are not as hygienic and inspected on a regular basis and hence have the cause of a few incidences of outbreaks in the last 20 years, like the famous incident regarding canned green beans from Brazil or the salmonella outbreak from sprouts from Columbia

3. Aluminum leaks

Just as Aluminum pots and pans leak, so do aluminum cans.

Many people thought that putting food into aluminum cans, sealed and cooked will retain the freshness. This is absolutely wrong! The aluminum radicals will retain inside the cans and contaminate the food!

When too much aluminum is accumulated inside the body, memory issue like Alzheimer's will occur.

Some believe that the plastic lining of aluminum cans can prevent corrosion and contamination. However, in reality, the plastic liners cannot protect the food completely against aluminum because aluminum will leak out when heated and contaminate the food.

Caution: Do not heat the food with aluminum can together. For your own safety, separate the food from the can then proceed to heating.

4. Preservatives (Salt)

Extensive amount of sodium (salt) is used to keep the preservatives in canned food from rotting.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  responded and issued a statement, “… there has been no proof that these preservatives would cause major damage to human cells or that they are harmful to mass public”.

Part of what they say is true. If you follow the healthy guideline and only consume what is needed for your body, salt is not harmful.


However, from my knowledge, if you take too much intake of salt can cause hypertension, dehydration if you do not drink enough water and also kidney damage in a long run.

Caution: Know your limits and only consume what is needed, not too much.

5. Low level food quality

Let’s be honest with ourselves and admit that if the fruits and vegetables and other ingredients are of high quality, they will be sold fresh and at high price.

Now if the quality of the ingredients are not that great or the fruits and vegetables look old and stale or not so healthy, then they will be hidden from the eyes of supermarket shoppers and be forced into a can along with other low quality food, cooked up in a mass oven while still inside the can and then shipped all over the world and sold may be one or two years later from when they were picked and were prepared.

Caution: Don’t expect the ingredients inside your canned foods to be of high quality because they are usually not.

Some important guideline to take note:

  1. Avoid canned food as much as possible

  2. Transfer canned food into glass jar when storing, to prevent further contamination of metal.

  3. Avoid genetic engineered food

  4. Organic good is always a better choice.

  5. If you're able to grow your own fruits and vegetable, that would be the best (You eat what you grow)

Stay healthy and happy! Cheers!

Myths and Truth about Breast Cancer

Many get confuse between certain facts about Breast Cancer. 

Get a clearer idea and start preventing cancer!

Here are some Myths and Truth about Breast Cancer.

Myth 1

• Men do not get breast cancer; it affects women only.

Truth

It is estimated that approximately 2,190 men each year would be diagnosed with breast cancer and 410 would die from it. While this percentage is still small, men should also check themselves periodically by doing a breast self-exam while in the shower and reporting any changes to their physicians. 

Breast cancer in men is usually detected as a hard lump underneath the nipple and areola.  Many men has less awareness on this issue and are less likely to assume that a lump is breast cancer, which cause a delay in seeking treatment. 

Myth 2

• Breast cancer is contagious.

Truth

You cannot catch breast cancer or transfer it to someone else's body. Breast cancer is the result of uncontrolled cell growth of mutated cells that begin to spread into other tissues within the breast. However, you can reduce your risk by practicing a healthy lifestyle, being aware of the risk factors, and following an early detection plan so that you will be diagnosed early if breast cancer were to occur.

Myth 3

• Finding a lump in your breast means you have breast cancer.

TRUTH

Only a small percentage of breast lumps turn out to be cancer.  But if you discover a persistent lump in your breast or notice any changes in breast tissue, it should never be ignored. It is very important that you see a physician for a clinical breast exam. He or she may possibly order breast imaging studies to determine if this lump is of concern or not. 

Take charge of your health by performing routine breast self-exams, establishing ongoing communication with your doctor, getting an annual clinical breast exam, and scheduling your routine screening  mammograms.

Myth 4

• A mammogram can cause breast cancer to spread.

TRUTH

A mammogram, or x-ray of the breast, currently remains the gold standard for the early detection of

breast cancer. Breast compression while getting a mammogram cannot cause cancer to spread. According to the National Cancer Institute, “The benefits of mammography, however, nearly always outweigh the potential harm from the radiation exposure. Mammograms require very small doses of radiation. The risk of harm from this radiation exposure is extremely low.”

The standard recommendation is an annual mammographic screening for women beginning at age 40. Base your decision on your physician's recommendation and be sure to discuss any remaining questions or concerns you may have with your physician.

Tips to prevent Breast Cancer:

• Exercise boosts the immune system and helps you to keep your weight in check. With as little as three hours of exercise per week, or about 30 minutes a day, a woman can begin to lower her risk of breast cancer. This doesn’t require going to a gym either. Power walking is more than sufficient!

• A nutritious, low-fat diet (30 grams or less) with plenty of fruits and green and orange vegetables can help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. A high-fat diet increases the risk because fat triggers estrogen production that can fuel tumor growth.

Credit to: http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org

7 Causes of Breast Cancer

Being a woman, I also have certain fear and doubts about the most atrocious women "killer", Breast Cancer.

Even though i myself does not have any family members or friends who diagnose breast cancer, i am still curious what are the cause of breast cancer. As a woman, i feel that i should be prepared and prevent this from happening. 

Hope that after reading this, you have some ideas how this breast cancer come about and be mindful of your health. 

Below is the research I found on the causes of Breast Cancer.

1. Age

The risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. About 1 out of 8 invasive breast cancers are found in women younger than 45, while about 2 of 3 invasive breast cancers are found in women age 55 or older.

2. Family Inheritance  

Less than 15% of women with breast cancer have a family member with this disease. This means that most (over 85%) women who get breast cancer do not have a family history of this disease.

Despite that, breast cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives have this disease.

Having one first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) with breast cancer approximately doubles the chance of getting the cancer. Having 2 first-degree relatives increases her risk about 3-fold.

3. Personal History

If one is previously diagnosed with breast cancer, it is very likely that he/she will be diagnosed with breast cancer again.

4. Menstrual periods

Women who have had more menstrual cycles because they started menstruating early (before age 12) and/or went through menopause later (after age 55) have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. The increase in risk may be due to a longer lifetime exposure to the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

5. Drinking Alcohol

The risk of getting breast cancer increases according to the amount of alcohol you drink. Alcohol naturally is a harmful drink and should not be consumed in huge amount. 

Too much alcohol can also be harmful to the liver and other parts of the body.

6. Being Overweight or Obese 

Being overweight or obese, naturally is already an issue. 

Before menopause, production of estrogen is controlled by ovaries. After menopause, fat tissues will produce estrogen while the ovaries will stop working. With more fat tissues in the body, more estrogen will be produce, which lead to the increasing risk of breast cancer. 

7. Radiation

Exposure to radiation when the breast is still developing will increase the likelihood of breast cancer. Even when the breast is fully developed, exposure to radiation will cause mutation to the genes and hence, causes cancer.

After knowing the causes of breast cancer, the next best thing would be to prevent it! Things like radiation and alcohol, it is best to avoid. 

However, for things that we cannot control, like age and inheritance, we can't help it...

Take action, before it's too late. 

Confuse About Maggi Noodles?

Hello Readers,


In just a few hours time, i will be flying out of town to a foreign land for a seminar class. And guess what? I actually prepared 10 packs of maggi noodles for this one week trip! 

Well... Maggi Noodles are easy to cook, taste fantastic, so... Why not???

But as i look at those pack of maggi noodles, i thought...

"Are those noodles healthy?..."




I actually went online and search on Maggi Noodles and learn pretty lot on Maggi Noddles!

According to some of the research and reports i read online, this is what i found... 

• Flavor enhance: MSG (Monosodium glutamate) , Concentrated salt added to food to enhance the flavor

• "All the samples tested had high level of sodium and fat and significantly low fibre content."

• Top Ramen oat noodles had less than the claimed 6.8 per cent of oat flour. It also claims to be full of fibre with fibre content at 5.6 grams.

• The quantity of vegetables is not enough to contribute to the nutritional content in Maggi New Vegetable Atta Noodles.

• Wai Wai X-press Instant Noodles Masala Delight claimed to be enriched with iron. However, iron was found to be only 2.6 mg against the claim of seven mg.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/instant-noodle-brands-maggi-unhealthy-option/1/226261.html

Note that this post is not to criticize any of the maggi noodles brand. 

Indeed, maggi noodles do taste good, however, in long-terms, it give you medical issues such as obesity, cardiac disorders and blood pressure problems.

Yes, i know, i will be bringing 10 packs of maggi oversea, so, i am well prepared for more pimples on my face :( 

So dear reader, if you're addicted to maggi, try to add some vegetables in your noodles, to add nutrients to your meal.

Maggi is bad, in a long run. It's easy to prepare and taste awesome, but to give up your health, i don't think it's worth it...

Anything that is too much, will bring harm to our body. 

Cheers,

Butterfly <3

Is Chocolate healthy?

The question is, are all kind of chocolate healthy? And what are the differences between dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate?

Today, i am going to clarify all your doubts on "Is Chocolate REALLY Healthy? "

Chocolate can be processed in a number of ways, and the manner in which it is processed has a major effect on its nutritional value. In general, the closer the final chocolate product is to the original cocoa bean, the higher the nutritional benefit will be.

Cocoa bean has the highest nutritional content. However, untreated cocoa bean is extremely bitter, and not at all like the processed chocolate you are used to consuming. So cocoa is treated to make it more palatable. The way it is treated has a large effect on how much nutritious chocolate have.

Powdered cocoa is also popular, and can have a high nutritional profile if prepared without cream, high-fat milk or large quantities of sugar.

In general, there are three types of chocolate that are processed as chocolate bars: dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate.

Dark Chocolate

For the best nutritional benefit from chocolate, turn to dark or semi-sweet chocolate. The higher the percentage of cocoa in the bar--70% or more--the more nutritional benefit you will receive.

• High level of antioxidants which help eliminate toxins that can cause diseases, lowering the risk of cancer and helping to regulate cholesterol

• Rich in epicatechin and Gallic acids which protect the heart from heart attacks

• Has benefits for cardiovascular health and lowers blood pressure.

• Acts as a brain stimulator, cough preventer and antidiarrheal effects

• Help blood flow more freely to the brain, which can aid older adults at risk for dementia or other health problem

• Lower hormone levels that cause emotional stress and anxiety.

Milk Chocolate

 Milk chocolate contains milk powder, sugar, and a small percentage of cocoa solids and cocoa butter. It is the addition of milk powder and the low content of cocoa in milk chocolate that gives it a creamier and sweeter taste.

It's nutritional profile is higher than white chocolate as a reason of the small presence of cocoa in it, but its overall nutritional profile is reduced by the addition of milk and usually fairly large quantities of sugar.

When compared to dark chocolate, milk chocolate has a slightly higher dairy fat and calorie content but hardly enough to be noticeable. Due to the higher milk content in the milk chocolate there is a bit more calcium and protein than dark chocolate. However, milk chocolate has more saturated fats and cholesterol.

White Chocolate

White chocolate is the least nutritious of the three. Containing no cocoa, white chocolate is prepared from the cocoa butter. This cocoa butter is combined with milk and sugar to create white chocolate. Because of the absence of the cocoa solids, white chocolate has very low nutritional value.

For people who are seeking to lose weight, white chocolate is the wrong choice, for its richness in calories. 

On the other hand, it contains a bit of calcium. Moreover, as it does not contain chocolate, it is caffeine free so ideal for those who are sensitive to caffeine.

We all know that chocolate, in general, is tasty, but even the tastiest and healthiest chocolate should be consumed wisely and in the right amount. Dark chocolate, white chocolate and milk chocolate, are all bad if you abuse their intake. Eat wisely, stay healthy, you don’t want to gain weight or become addicted to them.

What are the benefits of Ginger?

First of all, Happy New Year!

This is the first post i am posting for 2015. Why? Because ginger is a really special herb that can help the human race. Okay, maybe not so extraordinary, but the benefits of ginger is really useful!

What are the benefits of Ginger?

Ginger is a herb that is used as a spice and also for its therapeutic qualities. The underground stem (rhizome) can be used fresh, powdered, dried, or as an oil or juice. Ginger is part of the Zingiberaceae family, as are cardamom, turmeric and galangal.

Ginger is widely used throughout the world for treating loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting after surgery, nausea resulting from cancer treatment, flatulence ,stomach upset, colic, morning sickness and motion sickness.

Some people find ginger helps them with the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, cough, menstrual cramps, arthritis and muscle pain.

In some parts of the world, ginger juice is applied to the skin to treat burns.

1. Inflammation of the colon

Experts say that inflammation of the colon is a precursor to colon cancer. Co-researcher Suzanna M. Zick, N.D., M.P.H., explained that by reducing inflammation in the colon a person reduces their risk of developing colon cancer.

Zick said "We need to apply the same rigor to the sorts of questions about the effect of ginger root that we apply to other clinical trial research. Interest in this is only going to increase as people look for ways to prevent cancer that are nontoxic, and improve their quality of life in a cost-effective way."

2. Combats Stomach Discomfort.

Ginger is ideal in assisting digestion, thereby improving food absorption

and avoiding possible stomach ache. Ginger appears to reduce inflammation in a similar way to aspirin and ibuprofen.

Moreover, it contain some of the most potent anti-inflammatory fighting substances that makes it a natural and powerful painkiller.

3. Muscle pain caused by exercise

A study involving 74 volunteers carried out at the University of Georgia found that daily ginger supplementation reduced exercise-induced muscle pain by 25%.

The researchers noted that the pain-reducing effect was not enhanced by heat-treating the ginger.

4. Nausea caused by chemotherapy

Ginger supplements administered alongside anti-vomiting medications can reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea symptoms by 40%.

Dr. Ryan explained that about 70% of cancer patients who receive chemotherapy experience nausea and vomiting.

He said "By taking the ginger prior to chemotherapy treatment, the National Cancer Institute-funded study suggests its earlier absorption into the body may have anti-inflammatory properties."

5. Ovarian cancer

A study found that exposing ovarian cancer cells to a solution of ginger powder resulted in their death in every single test.

The cancer cells either died as a result of apoptosis (they committed suicide) or autophagy (they digested/attacked themselves).

The researchers, from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center added that the ginger solution also prevented the cancer cells from building up resistance to cancer treatment

6. Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation)

Ginger can help reduce the symptoms of pain in primary dysmenorrhea (period pains)

Research has found that the 82.85% of the women taking the ginger capsules reported improvements in pain symptoms compared to 47.05% of those on placebo.

7. Maintain Normal Blood Circulation

Ginger contains chromium, magnesium and zinc which can help to improve blood flow, as well as help prevent chills, fever, and excessive sweat.

8. Cold and Flu Prevention.

Ginger has been used for thousands of years as a natural treatment for colds and flu around Asia.

9. Fights Common Respiratory Problems.

If you’re suffering from common respiratory diseases such as a cough, ginger aids in expanding your lungs and loosening up phlegm because it is a natural expectorant that breaks down and removes mucus.. That way you can quickly recover from difficulty in breathing.

Ginger is also used as a flavoring by the food and drinks industry, as a spice and flavoring in cooking, and for fragrance in soaps and cosmetics.

It contains a chemical that is used as an ingredient in antacid, laxative and anti-gas medications.

 Invite Ginger into your life, and enjoy the many benefits it has! 

Once again, Happy New Year. May you have a healthy and happy life ahead!  :)