Dangerous Cooking Habits - part I
You are what you eat.
We eat food everyday every time, it's necessary to take care and choose healthy food. Some bad habits about food we must avoided are as below:
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Too much salt
An excess of sodium in a diet can raise blood pressure. That alone may cause numerous other conditions, some of which have permanent consequences. The American Heart Association recommends 2.4 grams of salt per day. More than that may lead to strokes and kidney problems.
Salt hardens the arteries, so if a person happens to have high cholesterol, the problem can compound. Getting off the habit of salty food can also be frustrating; some claim that salt is addictive (ever see people who put salt on their food before tasting it?), so start early and avoid the "white stuff."
Alzheimer's-causing foods
The origins of Alzheimer's disease are still poorly understood, though one thing is certain -- prevention can start early. Studies are sketchy on the matter but here is what scientists have discovered so far:
Aluminum seems to play an important role in Alzheimer's. The metal accumulates in the brain and causes dementia in later parts of life. Some studies have shown that pickles and cheese may promote a buildup of aluminum in the body. That doesn't mean these foods "cause" the condition, but clinical studies have shown a link between them and aluminum, and how the body absorbs aluminum.
Other suspected comestibles include: drinking water containing aluminum, processed foods (cake mix, frozen dough), aluminum-containing antacids, and baking powder.
Dangerous chemicals
Drink less decaffeinated carbonated beverages as some contain Xylene and Toluene, two chemicals that can be harmful to the nervous system and cause changes in the liver and kidneys. Xylene and Toluene are mainly found in gasoline, paint, varnish, and other nasty fumes, but most sodas also contain them in small amounts.
Even though studies have yet to show that these agents are harmful in carbonated drinks (we know they are bad in paints and solvents), consumers still need to know that cola contains such chemicals.
Consume fewer foods with Aspartame (artificial sweeteners) because they may cause some forms of brain damage. A study in Norway conducted on seven-day-old rats confirmed that artificial sweeteners, like the ones contained in diet drinks, could damage and kill brain cells. 0.06 mg/ml of Aspartame administered for four days was enough to show significant results. It should also be noted that a can of diet cola contains 0.24 mg/ml of artificial sweetener.
No need for alarm, though, because it takes much less of anything to affect baby rats, and results in the short run are negligible. But scientists advise that small children should not consume diet cola since receptors and the synapses at that age are still developing.
Avoid aluminum utensils
As stated above, aluminum plays an important role in the development Alzheimer's. It's not quite clear if the metal has a direct effect on us or needs other agents to be absorbed into the nervous system (the body tends to fight it), but one thing is for sure: using aluminum pots and pans doesn't help. The same can be said of canned foods and drinks.
A good cooking tip -- if one owns aluminum utensils -- is not to store or leave food inside pots and pans for a long time. Some like to store provisions in the very pots they cook in, but this practice should be avoided with aluminum paraphernalia.
Styrofoam dangers
Do not microwave food in Styrofoam containers because they can melt. The material is quite safe (unless consumed) but since it is made of petroleum, it's carcinogenic by definition. Even though a container may look intact, parts of it can melt away when heated.
Whatever you do, do not consume food when a Styrofoam container is visibly melted; use Tupperware instead. Storing food in Styrofoam is okay, though; the material is non-biodegradable.
Avoid food with Monosodium Glutamate (MSG); it may cause Alzheimer's disease, learning disorders and Huntington's chorea. Glutamate is a widely criticized popular food additive usually found in bouillon, whey protein, soy sauce, and pork flavoring. The FDA affirms that MSG is safe, but a 1980 study done on lab animals showed that it damages brain cells.
It is believed that glutamate -- a kind of amino acid -- is used to stimulate taste buds, making food tastier (I don't know what's scarier: the possible negative effects or the fact that we don't really know why people add it to food).
Open-flame grills
All men love barbecues but too much of them can be bad. Mom was right (sort of); burnt food can cause cancer so do not eat open-flame grilled food too often. But don't panic just yet; look at the details.
Studies on animals have shown that charred and burnt meats are carcinogenic, and so is the smoke generated by burnt fat that drips from meat. On a more reassuring note, Alexis Currie-Williams, Nutrition and Physical Activity Manager for the American Cancer Society, states that, "while grilling foods may increase the risk for cancer, it's not at the top the cancer-causing list." In other words, grilling is bad, but not very bad, especially if proper cooking measures are taken.
When grilling food from now on, don't:
# Grill food too close to the flames.
# Use fatty meat or leave excess fat on the meat -- it will result in the food
# being smoldered by fat-smoke. Char the meat.
GM Foods
Avoid Genetically Modified foods for now. The GM food industry is still in its infancy, so we don't know how such foods can affect people. In rare cases, allergic reactions, nerve damage and poisoning have all been reported.
Food makers must inform people which products are genetically modified so people could at least know what "can" have dangerous effects. Canola seeds, soya and maize are some of the most widely modified foods.
Listeria
Cooking foods properly, keeping the kitchen area and utensils clean to avoid cross-contamination, drinking pasteurized milk, and washing food before eating are all practices that can prevent Listeria.
Listeria is a pathogen that makes people ill and causes meningitis. Vegetables, milk, cheese, meat, and seafood should all be handled carefully and properly.
Mushroom risks
North Americans normally tend to avoid picking mushrooms themselves, but Eastern Europeans and Asians enjoy picking their own shrooms.
This practice can be dangerous when the same wild species of mushrooms are consumed on different continents. Some mushrooms are safe in one part of the world, but can be poisonous in another, even though they are the same species.
Microwave risks
Possible microwave risks include increased LDL cholesterol levels (the bad kind). The study was conducted by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the University Institute of Biochemistry.
On the other hand, most national safety agencies maintain that microwaves are safe. My suggestion is to use microwave ovens as little as possible. I myself don't even own one, yet I still manage to survive.
----
This are taken from here
We eat food everyday every time, it's necessary to take care and choose healthy food. Some bad habits about food we must avoided are as below:
----
Too much salt
An excess of sodium in a diet can raise blood pressure. That alone may cause numerous other conditions, some of which have permanent consequences. The American Heart Association recommends 2.4 grams of salt per day. More than that may lead to strokes and kidney problems.
Salt hardens the arteries, so if a person happens to have high cholesterol, the problem can compound. Getting off the habit of salty food can also be frustrating; some claim that salt is addictive (ever see people who put salt on their food before tasting it?), so start early and avoid the "white stuff."
Alzheimer's-causing foods
The origins of Alzheimer's disease are still poorly understood, though one thing is certain -- prevention can start early. Studies are sketchy on the matter but here is what scientists have discovered so far:
Aluminum seems to play an important role in Alzheimer's. The metal accumulates in the brain and causes dementia in later parts of life. Some studies have shown that pickles and cheese may promote a buildup of aluminum in the body. That doesn't mean these foods "cause" the condition, but clinical studies have shown a link between them and aluminum, and how the body absorbs aluminum.
Other suspected comestibles include: drinking water containing aluminum, processed foods (cake mix, frozen dough), aluminum-containing antacids, and baking powder.
Dangerous chemicals
Drink less decaffeinated carbonated beverages as some contain Xylene and Toluene, two chemicals that can be harmful to the nervous system and cause changes in the liver and kidneys. Xylene and Toluene are mainly found in gasoline, paint, varnish, and other nasty fumes, but most sodas also contain them in small amounts.
Even though studies have yet to show that these agents are harmful in carbonated drinks (we know they are bad in paints and solvents), consumers still need to know that cola contains such chemicals.
Consume fewer foods with Aspartame (artificial sweeteners) because they may cause some forms of brain damage. A study in Norway conducted on seven-day-old rats confirmed that artificial sweeteners, like the ones contained in diet drinks, could damage and kill brain cells. 0.06 mg/ml of Aspartame administered for four days was enough to show significant results. It should also be noted that a can of diet cola contains 0.24 mg/ml of artificial sweetener.
No need for alarm, though, because it takes much less of anything to affect baby rats, and results in the short run are negligible. But scientists advise that small children should not consume diet cola since receptors and the synapses at that age are still developing.
Avoid aluminum utensils
As stated above, aluminum plays an important role in the development Alzheimer's. It's not quite clear if the metal has a direct effect on us or needs other agents to be absorbed into the nervous system (the body tends to fight it), but one thing is for sure: using aluminum pots and pans doesn't help. The same can be said of canned foods and drinks.
A good cooking tip -- if one owns aluminum utensils -- is not to store or leave food inside pots and pans for a long time. Some like to store provisions in the very pots they cook in, but this practice should be avoided with aluminum paraphernalia.
Styrofoam dangers
Do not microwave food in Styrofoam containers because they can melt. The material is quite safe (unless consumed) but since it is made of petroleum, it's carcinogenic by definition. Even though a container may look intact, parts of it can melt away when heated.
Whatever you do, do not consume food when a Styrofoam container is visibly melted; use Tupperware instead. Storing food in Styrofoam is okay, though; the material is non-biodegradable.
Avoid food with Monosodium Glutamate (MSG); it may cause Alzheimer's disease, learning disorders and Huntington's chorea. Glutamate is a widely criticized popular food additive usually found in bouillon, whey protein, soy sauce, and pork flavoring. The FDA affirms that MSG is safe, but a 1980 study done on lab animals showed that it damages brain cells.
It is believed that glutamate -- a kind of amino acid -- is used to stimulate taste buds, making food tastier (I don't know what's scarier: the possible negative effects or the fact that we don't really know why people add it to food).
Open-flame grills
All men love barbecues but too much of them can be bad. Mom was right (sort of); burnt food can cause cancer so do not eat open-flame grilled food too often. But don't panic just yet; look at the details.
Studies on animals have shown that charred and burnt meats are carcinogenic, and so is the smoke generated by burnt fat that drips from meat. On a more reassuring note, Alexis Currie-Williams, Nutrition and Physical Activity Manager for the American Cancer Society, states that, "while grilling foods may increase the risk for cancer, it's not at the top the cancer-causing list." In other words, grilling is bad, but not very bad, especially if proper cooking measures are taken.
When grilling food from now on, don't:
# Grill food too close to the flames.
# Use fatty meat or leave excess fat on the meat -- it will result in the food
# being smoldered by fat-smoke. Char the meat.
GM Foods
Avoid Genetically Modified foods for now. The GM food industry is still in its infancy, so we don't know how such foods can affect people. In rare cases, allergic reactions, nerve damage and poisoning have all been reported.
Food makers must inform people which products are genetically modified so people could at least know what "can" have dangerous effects. Canola seeds, soya and maize are some of the most widely modified foods.
Listeria
Cooking foods properly, keeping the kitchen area and utensils clean to avoid cross-contamination, drinking pasteurized milk, and washing food before eating are all practices that can prevent Listeria.
Listeria is a pathogen that makes people ill and causes meningitis. Vegetables, milk, cheese, meat, and seafood should all be handled carefully and properly.
Mushroom risks
North Americans normally tend to avoid picking mushrooms themselves, but Eastern Europeans and Asians enjoy picking their own shrooms.
This practice can be dangerous when the same wild species of mushrooms are consumed on different continents. Some mushrooms are safe in one part of the world, but can be poisonous in another, even though they are the same species.
Microwave risks
Possible microwave risks include increased LDL cholesterol levels (the bad kind). The study was conducted by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the University Institute of Biochemistry.
On the other hand, most national safety agencies maintain that microwaves are safe. My suggestion is to use microwave ovens as little as possible. I myself don't even own one, yet I still manage to survive.
----
This are taken from here
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