Thursday, April 19, 2007
Social Studies and Literature mid-years are approaching! With the rise in our stress levels. we are tending to head for fast food to get convenient food to satiate our hunger. However we must always bear in mind of how bad fast food is for our health! According to reports credited to "club-vitamin.com", a combination of Egg McMuffins and Sausage McMuffins for breakfast, with slabs of fried hash browns on the side, can almost fcause one to feel their arteries slamming shut.
Yet when huge doses of vitamins C and E were added to the diet, an extraordinary thing happened. The subjects’ arteries responded to the high-fat meal as though they’d eaten a low-fat bowl of corn flakes.
Therefore, I believe that one who eats alot of fast-food (basically every living creature), should take their daily dose of healthy vitamins to counteract the harmful effects fast food has on our bodies.
It is scientifically believed that antioxidant vitamins can decrease the heart-disease risk posed by a fatty diet.
The 20 subjects who ate the fat-packed McDonald’s breakfast had impaired blood vessel function for up to four hours afterwards. But no such impairment was found on another day when they swallowed 20 times the recommended daily dosage of vitamins C and E immediately before eating the same meal.
I found this really amazing! The powers and great effects vitamins have on us is astounding!
The research appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
"The predominant mechanism by which a high-fat (especially saturated fat) diet leads to atherosclerosis is by elevating serum cholesterol," wrote the authors, led by Dr. Gary Plotnick, a professor of medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Centre.
Their findings provide further evidence of a "second potential pathway" to hardened arteries in which dietary fats damage the endothelium, the inner layer of cells that line the heart and the blood vessels.
The study may help explain why people sometimes have heart attacks right after eating a big, fatty meal, and why some people with normal cholesterol levels develop heart problems, said Dr. Kenneth Cooper, author of The Antioxidant Revolution and founder of the Cooper Aerobics Centre in Dallas.
"This is just further information that documents the beneficial effects of antioxidants," Cooper said.
Antioxidants, such as the vitamins studied, work by soaking up dangerous byproducts that form when the body metabolizes oxygen. These byproducts, known as free radicals, can damage cells. They are thought to interact with some fats in a way that makes them clog arteries, and can produce cellular damage that sometimes leads to cancer.
Dr. Meir Stampfer, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard’s School of Public Health, called the study "a good piece of work and a nice step forward."
But, he added, "It was a small number of people and just one meal. We want to know what happens long term."
It’s unknown if antioxidant vitamins could block the effects of a consistently high-fat diet. Long-term use of vitamins in such high doses also could be harmful.
Plotnick stressed that findings are "very preliminary."
"We’re not ready to recommend people take vitamins and eat whatever they want," he said. ‘We need to repeat this on a long-term basis ... with more people."
The study involved 13 men and seven women ages 25 to 53 with normal cholesterol levels. They were monitored after eating different breakfasts on three separate days:
Two McMuffins with two patties of hash browns, containing 50 grams of fat (14 grams saturated fat) and 225 mg of cholesterol.
The same high-fat foods after ingesting 1000 mg of vitamin C and 800 international units of vitamin E.
A bowl of frosted corn flakes and 236 millilitres of skim milk, containing no fat and 13 grams of cholesterol.
For six hours after the subjects ate, their arm arteries were periodically constricted with blood-pressure cuffs and monitored with ultrasound.
The vitamin-enhanced high-fat meal and the low-fat meal produced the same, healthy response when the blood-pressure cuffs were released: The arteries dilated by about 20 per cent.
But after the high-fat meal alone, the arteries dilated significantly less than that for as long as four hours, an impaired response indicating possible accumulations of fat, the researchers said.
That suggested, the researchers said, that vitamins C and E prevent fatty foods from clogging the blood vessels and damaging their lining.
So, my dear friends, after reading this enlightening article, doesnt it just inspire you to take your vitamins regularly and not require your parents to nag at you before consuming them? What are you waiting for! start poing your daily dose of antioxidants!
Debra(:
credits and acknowledgement:
http://www.club-vitamin.com/pages/fattyfood.htm
Monday, April 16, 2007
This should serve as another reason and incentive for which we should keep away from fast food joints. I know that in SIngapore with everyone's jam packed schedule, fast food really lives up to its name. One can go out and in of a fast food joint in under 5mins, enabling themselves to grab a bite before embarking on journeys or just to satiate their hunger. It is generally fast and th food tastes very good as it is fried many times. This is very unhealthy and will affect our health in the long run.
The survey of 40 popular beef burgers and grillsteaks found two-thirds contained less than 90% pure meat, with some containing as little as 60% meat. And every burger contained meat that was fattier than typical beef mince. 'Compared with regular minced beef at 16% fat, we found some frozen burgers using meat that was 50% pure fat, even after grilling, some products were providing six teaspoons of fat in a single portion, including high levels of artery-clogging saturated fat.'
Yet shoppers face a real problem trying to compare products, says the Food Commission. 'Some products tell you the nutrients before cooking, some only after cooking - and with up to a third of the fat and water dripping off a burger under the grill, it is often impossible to compare two products.'
The survey also found many companies using cheap filling agents including starches, beet fibre, pea fibre and rice flour to pad out the meat, and chemicals to increase the amount of water in the product.
The Food Commission is calling for labelling that makes it easier for shoppers to compare products, including clear statements about the fattiness of the meat.
Well, personally i head to a fast food joint almost every day with my friend. We know how unhealthy it is but we are yet still unable to resist the temptation. However gaining new insight on this issue, however not stopping me from patronising fast food joints, would at least cause me to think twice for the second helpings.
something different
TAU SUAN - one of my favourite desserts! <3>
Ingredients
600 gms skinned green beans
Pandan leaves
300g sugar (reduced or increased to suit taste)
2000ml water
160g sweet potato flour, sifted
250 ml water
Method
1) Soak the beans for one hour. Steam over boiling water for about 30 minutes until beans are soft.
2) Boil pandan leaves and sugar with the 2000ml water.
3) Blend the sweet potato four with 250ml water.
4) When the sugar water boils, lower the heat and stir in the sweet potato flour to thicken.
5) While stirring in the flour, add in the steamed beans.
6) Served hot.
O_O!!
Malaysia and?! AND?!
I AM QUITE SURE THAT BLANK THERE IS 'SINGAPORE'. *feelings of patroism emerge*
Er, okay back to topic. Just one glance at an Ice Kachang and you know nothing good will come out from eating eat. It's just ice, syrup and tons of jelly and sweetened beans. MORE OVER, COCONUT. Wow. Go run that 100 laps.
Even so, I am really happy to be living in Singapore. Most Singaporeans don't appreciate the wide variety of foods we have here. My mom told me about her stay in Hawaii where she had to stuff herself with burgers and pizzas everyday. If it was me, I would have died. In Singapore, we walk in to any food court or hawker centre and we instantly get at least 20 different kinds of food. Be it carrot cake, hor fun, ban mian, chicken rice, prawn mee, mee pok, hokkien mee etc etc ETC.
Singapore = Food Paradise.
I love this place.
Oh oh oh. I know this is rather belated, but HAPPY EASTER'S.
I had Easter eggs!
YOU SPY THE BIO WORKBOOK. Look! Look! Substrates ^^
No, I didn't finish the whole thing by myself. I had help from my cousin and brother.
Refer to previous post about disadvantages of Chocolate.
I never knew Easter was around Good Friday. I always thought it was near Christmas. Yes, I do live under a rock, thank you very much.
I suppose my post isn't very educational. However, I thought I should do something light and something you could relate to (LOCAL DESSERTS <3).>
Extra: Ever since I started on this blog, my tastebuds changed. I hate fast food and sweet stuff (desserts not included! They are different.) Whenever I look at fries, I think of the trans fats and the oil oozing out from them. I get so repulsed, I can't even bring myself to touch it. Soem goes for pizza. Have you ever noticed? It shines.
My life will never be the same again.
[music Яaven Loud Speeeaker - Nightmare ]
- Willa
Monday, April 9, 2007
Here's some links to videos regarding MSG and aspartame !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG-tF_E1Hyw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MNlEDmBX2g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n-gA0wvi84
O,y . Btw , remember to eat balanced diet and exercise regularly.Eat more fruits and vegetables !At least it'll burn some fats !
Sloth breds fats !

He..he... look at those fatty creamy layer on the cake !
You can start by consuming fruit juice every morning . But don't ever consume packed ones !
Most of them are sweetened by Aspartame , an artificial sweetener , substitute for sugar ! The same goes with Equal , NUTRAsweet , soft drinks , diet-coke , low-fat foods , and diet snacks .Aspartame is a chemical substance found in 1965 , in a "lucky" laboratory accident .It is a substance 200 times sweeter than glucose (white sugar) hence , cheaper and more convenient for manufacture use.Aspartame reduce calories in food , since manufacturer needs only a small amount of for each product ,yet it is POISONOUS ! Ironically ,it is used widely in diet and low-fat foods .
Researches have proved that Aspartame cause brain tumors in rats as far back as the 1970s, however latest animal test on it, in 2005 reveals the fact that even small doses 0f Aspartame increase the incidence of lymphomas and leukemia ,along with brain tumors.Some of our friends who are allergic to aspartame may also suffer from headaches, dizziness and hallucinations after consuming it.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggested a policy to execute soft drinks from school due to the high rate of teenage obesity. Research has proven that most teenagers drinks at least one can of packed drinks a day .Packed drinks contains flavorings , sweeteners , and colourings ! Aspartame in those packed drinks is poisonous , while the other sweetened with glucose is a source of excess sugar in teenagers’ diet .A can may contain at least 12 teaspoon of sugar , often found in unnatural form of high fructose corn syrup .Instead , real fresh fruit juices could be sold in replacement .
I , myself , thinks that teenagers should be briefed in the danger of many various kind of unhealthy foods and drinks around them . Tenagers are ruining their body unconsciously due to temptation to those “delicious” foods ! This problems could bring obesity , diseases , disorders , cancer , etc to our young generation , who are the nations hope and successors{eh…this is a bio blog….^^}.anyway , Teenagers need to know the dangers of unhealthy foods ! There is no totally harmless chemical substance which can turns ordinary food into
a delicious one , nut I wonder if we could have one in the future ....
= )
TerenzEat FRESH fruits !
Thanks !
Please drop by and add a comment !
Saturday, April 7, 2007



Remember my previous post on chips ? Here’s an additional evidence ! Mr.Dennis Meizys , on his letter , stated that his company is researching on the production of biodiesel from used vegetable oil , or more popularly known as trans fats ! Manufacturers they suspected to produce most waste oil ? Burger King , McDonald’s[again….^^’]and KFC !
The mafufacturers had replied to Mr.Dennis’ offer to buy their used oil with an explanation that they hardly have any oil left ! Imagine : thousands litres of oil was brought into the company , but only tens litres was disposed !They should have give all they have to him , since Mr.Dennis offer to take it for free , while they had to pay an approximate amount of $200 for the disposal per month .Now , you ask yourself , how could this be ?The answer ? The oil was recycled to the last drop absorbed by the food , so all that filthy oil finally reach the “finish line “ in your digestive system ! Those rumours going around saying that those snacks are low-fat , fresh from oven ? See how greasy they are !Re-used vegetable oils have higher fatty acids concentration . To lower the concentration , the oil was chemically treated before it was sent back for another production of potato chips !Moreover , they are difficult to catalyze into bio-diesel that the manufacturers hesitated to use them and even avoid them as engine oils , yet we still consume potato chips !
Used vegetable oil is also capable to cause environmental damage .That’s why manufacturers ought to spend thousands dollar for their disposal instead of throwing them away through drain .They’ll clog up the sewage system !Therefore I encouraged you all to eat up those snacks as much as you can ! Go ahead ! Why ? For each bag of potato chips you eat , you are doing a favor for our natural environment by disposing those toxic , down your “sewage system” _digestive system ! Your sink’s disposal system could be replaced by $ 80 ! What about your kidneys , arteries , liver and heart ?

I , myself agreed to public opinion that chemically-treated foods should not be consumed frequently . Wax contained within noodles and pastas , aspartame in canned drinks , acrylamide , monosodium glutamate , trans fats , all of them are poisonous to our body .However , despite all efforts made by various organizations , our society continues to consume these foods. Maybe someday scientists could invent something flavorous , yet harmless to be consumed , but when would it be ? Years passed by and humans life-age-expectation is declining .Maybe someday , humans would be extinct . Not as the results of huge meteors , or declining birth-rate , but miserably , "food poisoning ".

Avoid fast foods!
Terenz
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Dear Snacks ~Dear MSG

"more than plump " ???
What does it look loke ? Here! ! Take a look !!

Wow ! How's it ? Sexy ? Certainly not for me ..
THIS IS A RESULT OF UNHEALTHY SNACKING !!!!!!
But ...
who doesn't like snacks ? I mean "normal human beings ! " not "anorexians".
If you recall carefully , you'll find out that :
You snacks when you're happy .




You snacks when you're relaxing .
(esp for those pop-corn and muvee mania)
Sooo, I conclude that almost EVERYONE snacks EVERYTIME EVERWHERE !!

It's not . It' s
According to researcher JOHN ERB's book , The Slow Poisoning Of America ,
MSG are capable of making us FAT !! Why ???
Scientist have been producing "obese rats" for use in diabetes and diet studies . Rats are not naturally obese , so scientist must "create" them in the cheapest and easiest way !When those poor rodents were born , they were injected with certain chemical substance . Guess what they call the rats ? MSG-Treated Rats !!
tHEY iNJECT Mono Sodium Glutamate into the poor rodents' bodies to make them grow rapidly fat !!!
Quick !
Run to your kitchen and check your fridge !
Surely , you'll find MSG or "Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein", which is an alias for MSG , in your Food Nutrition table .
The worst thing is , it causes adiction but had not been banned until now !
They're NICOTINE FOR FOOD,a "betcha can't just eat one !" snacks !
They make you EAT MORE without you realizing it !Doritos is one of those snacks which contains quite a big amount of MSG although they had claimed that the;ve cut out the trans fat,
anyway MSG can be converted into trans fat , in our body . !!

so , whatever happens , don't consume MSG any further !!!

BEWARE!!!!Not only Doritos ,but also Lays , burger king , McD , KFC , and many other restaurants and snacks contains MSG !!
MSG is related to diabetes . It also causes Migraines and headaches, Autism, ADHD and even Alzheimer's ! John Erb had investigate into the matter and had found out that the authorities had known how dangerous this thing is but they didn't take any necessary action !
Stop consuming MSG !
Stop SNACKING UNHEALTHY FOODS!!
Safe yourself first !!
Eat balanced DIET !!!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
this is a RANDOM post
charmaine phua is back!
and charmaine phua is proud to admit that i ate LOTS and LOTS of char siew today.
hahahaha
but then i'm doubl-y proud to admit that i exercised alot today.
and HEYHO,
all the endomorphins got me high!
actually,
eating those really unhealthy foods isn't one of the BIGGEST problems that we fall trap into,
because its OKAY to binge once in a while!
although, MODERATION IS very important of course.
i mean like once in a while cant be like once every 2 days or something.
But anyway, the most crucial problem that we suffer from is our LAZINESS.
-lazy to walk,
-lazy to take our own glass of water (i'm sorry aunty, i know i ALWAYS holler for water),
-lazy to EXERCISE!
the 3rd point being the most !terrible):
because without exercising we DO NOT BURN any CALORIES, at all.
ZILCH,
NADA,
z-e-r-o.
and all of us use the same excuse of
"HEY, IM TIRED. and its already so late, nevermind i shall do it tomorrow. "
but then when tomorrow comes,
don't we all just repeat the same excuse over and over again?
We give ourselves countless numbers of reasons just to not exercise and "SLACK".
(i know i'm guilty too*gulp*)
And i feel that it is one of the major problems which deeply affects us all!
Adults use the excuse of having "worked too long" and that they were "tired".
Students like ourselves use the excuse of "Wha! So much homework! NO TIME."
Actually, exercising at night is even better than exercising in the morning.
we should all ditch homework and USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO EXERCISE!
XD
hahaha
well no, but my point is that we should all make time to exercise!
so that we can all feel less guilty and less fattened up after eating that horribly delicious bag of PO-TA-TO chips!
<3charmaine
