Food and Health

Fatty Foods can be Addictive

An article about Fatty Foods published in Health.com immediately caught my attention. Apparently, foods that are high in fat and calorie impact the brain just like how cocaine and heroin does.

Based on the article, a new study has been conducted on rats and results show that pigging on foods that are high in fat and calorie lead to uncontrollable eating habits that can be compared to drug addiction.

Doing drugs targets the pleasure centers of the brain and overloads them at some point. When these so called pleasure centers overload, it crashes and the pleasure level goes down; additional doses are needed to bring the pleasure level up. The scenario is also the same with fatty foods. There will be a time when the pleasure center of the brain will reach its peak and overload. When this happens, it is more likely that more fatty and high calorie food will be consumed to bring the pleasure level up again – this reaction is uncontrollable and will power alone may not be enough.

Boosting Health with Antioxidants

Free Radicals are one of the causes of cell damage. These are produced in the cells through a chemical reaction known as oxidation. Antioxidants are particles that are able to slow down or prevent oxidation from happening leaving the cells unharmed.

Why should I continue reading this article when some of the terms in the first paragraph alone seem confusing? Chronic diseases such as cancer and hardening of the arteries can possibly be caused by cell damage due to Free Radicals. Did that catch your attention? I guess you better read on.

The Real Magic behind Magic Sugar

This is probably the 3rd time that I read about Magic Sugar in the news within the last 3 years. The last time I read about it was yesterday – while keeping myself updated with the current events in the Philippines.

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral warned the public against the use of magic sugar which is allegedly being smuggled into the country. According to the news, Secretary Cabral described magic sugar as an artificial sugar that is also known as sodium cyclamate; this could cause dizziness, vomiting, and stomach ache.

Trying to feed my curious mind, I started to figure out what the real magic behind magic sugar is. Here are the things that I learned:

Pringles Recalls 2 Flavors

The possible Salmonella issue on HVP (Hydrolized Vegetable Protein) has prompted Procter and Gamble to voluntarily recall two flavors of Pringles in the United States.

You might have heard the news a few days back about the discovery of Salmonella Tennessee in some of the HVP supplied by Basic Food Flavors, Inc. It was said that P&G was notified by one of its suppliers that a seasoning used in two of their Pringles product contain HVP manufactured by Basic Food Flavors.

Girl Scout Cookies, Recalled

Girl Scout cookies are several different cookie assortments sold by Girl Scouts of the USA. This is a fund raiser intended to support events and activities of the Girl Scouts. Some proceeds from the sale of these cookies are also used to maintain camps, properties, and cookie sales incentives.

Little Brownie Bakers (LBB), one of the licensed Girl Scout Cookie companies, declared a recall on some batches of Lemon Chalet Crème Cookies that they manufactured. Apparently, several complaints were received by LBB on the odd taste and smell of the said cookie.

According to LBB, the cookies contain oils that possibly broke down resulting in the unpleasant taste and odor. However, the company already took precautionary steps to test the samples and they determined that they are still safe to eat although it did not meet the company’s quality standards.

The Kentucky based company said that customers who purchased the Lemon Chalet Crème Cookies can call 1-800-962-1718 for more information. You may also want to visit the official site of the Girl Scouts of the USA for their news release.

7 Foods that Lower Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is defined as the force that the blood applies on the arteries as it flows. Optimal blood pressure with respect to cardiovascular risk is less than 120/80 mm Hg (source: americanheart.org).

A person with a high blood pressure means that he or she has “Hypertension”. This is regarded as a silent killer and has no definite symptoms to watch out for. The best way to determine if you have a high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis.

If you have hypertension, consult your doctor right away for proper treatment. You would likely be advised to control your blood pressure by exercising more, lowering your salt intake, drinking alcohol in moderation, reduce stress, and avoiding foods that can trigger hypertension.

Top 7 Aphrodisiac foods

An aphrodisiac is a substance which is used in the belief that it increases sexual desire. The name comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sensuality and love. Throughout history, many foods, drinks, and behaviors have had a reputation for making sex more attainable and/or pleasurable. – Wikipedia

Before anything else, let me emphasize that this article is not intended to encourage or promote any form of malicious idea – my purpose is to inform and remind everyone that every food that we ingest contains different substances that may affect our behavior and mood.

Eggplant Nicotine Content

We all know what an eggplant is and most of us might be familiar with its different varieties but are you sure that you knew it that well? We might define an eggplant as a vegetable that is dark-purple in color (some are green) that is used to make “tortang talong” or “eggplant parmigiana” and even “ensalada” – there is more to eggplant that some of us might not be aware of.

Positive Health Effects of Coffee

Millions of people depend on coffee for their daily morning boost. Though there were several negative studies about the effects of Coffee on health in the past, people are still habitually consuming it mainly because of its stimulating effect that helps increase alertness.

It is said that ingesting Caffeine, a bitter crystalline alkaloid that acts as a mild stimulant found in coffee, can lead to restlessness, insomnia, and other health issues. This is probably the main reason why some people avoid drinking coffee. Did you know that recent studies show that coffee is not that bad at all? In fact, there are conditions that coffee can control: such as Asthma. It is said that coffee can control mild Asthma attacks when medication is not available. Also, risks of having Colon Cancer, Gallstones, Liver cirrhosis can be reduced significantly by drinking at least 2 cups of coffee per day.

Sounds interesting, isn’t it? Have I mentioned that coffee can also cure mild headaches and helps prevent dental cavities from forming? Coffee is also attributed in reducing the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, restore appetite, and refresh olfactory receptors.

These are just some of the positive effects that I’ve read while trying to justify my habit. If you want to dig deeper, I suggest you consult a medical expert or research more on this topic. Cheers!

Do Apple seeds really contain Cyanide?

Cyanide is any chemical compound made-up of Carbon and Nitrogen. This compound is considered poisonus. When ingested cyanide prohibits blood from carrying oxygen, causing death by suffocation. This compound is illegally used in fishing and is responsible for the damage on coral reefs and death of marine life.

Does Eating Sweet Potato Make You Fart?

Kamote or Sweet Potato is a fleshy, brownish, tube-like plant root that looks similar to the ordinary potato but differs in color, taste, and other aspects. This is commonly used as a vegetable and is considered as one of the favorite ingredients in Asian cuisine. Unknown to many, Kamote is very nutritious (even more nutritious than other vegetables). It contains high amounts of vitamins and minerals such as fiber, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron, vitamin B6, and calcium.

Coconut: The Wonder Fruit

Photo Credit: Mateomon1 (www.flickr.com)

Coconuts were dubbed as such by the Spanish and Portuguese explorers. Apparently, the brown and hairy surface of mature Coconuts reminded them on one of their childhood fear, the Iberian Bogeyman of which they call “El Coco”. According to them, El Coco is a hairy monster that hides under the bed of children and eats those who misbehave.

Food and Health

Footer