Name that Ingredient!! Part 4

As promised, I'm back to talking about food additives. The ingredient I'll be discussing today is one I have always heard my mother, an ARNP, warn me about consuming too often.

When I was a kid, I loved hot dogs, sausage, baloney, bacon, and a host of other salty, highly processed meats. The only time I really got to eat them, however, was when I was staying at a friend or family member's home because my mother was worried about a harmful ingredient common to all of these foods: sodium nitrate.

According to a CNN.com report, the sodium nitrate used in hotdogs, sausage, baloney, bacon, smoked or cured fish, including salmon, and in other meat-curing preparations, has huge cancer-causing potential.  Sodium nitrate is usually included in foods because, in addition to being a dye, it acts as a preservative that can prevent botulism (a kind of food poisoning). The problem is that once sodium nitrate is ingested and mixes with chemicals in the stomach, it allows nitrosamine to form. According to the CNN.com report mentioned above, nitrosamine is highly carcinogenic.

So there we have it: avoid meats cured with sodium nitrate and your mother is usually right.

Happy Eating!

Shalencia

Information found at: http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/indepth.food/additives/table.html

What to eat before and after workout

Workout is a beneficial way to keep fit.  Some people think it is too difficult to keep a diet to lose weight!  So they prefer to do workout. So at the same time, questions are raised!  What should I eat before the exercise? What should I have after workout to avoid gaining weight? Drink fruit juice or sports drinks? How long I can eat after the exercise?

Before exercise

You can eat high-fiber biscuit, yogurt, raisins or fresh fruit 1-2 hours before workout. This will help you have a more effective exercise!

After exercise

Give yourself at least half of an hour to one hour before eating.

Don’t drink caffeinated beverages after the workout, such as coffee and tea.  They will complement the shortage of your body’s water.

Drinking water is better than sport-drinks. Although sport-drinks replenish electrolytes, it is not helpful for losing weight.

Choose high protein food as lunch/ dinner.

Happy Holiday!

Danlu

Watch out your weight during the holiday!!!

Thanksgiving is around the corner!!! Christmas will be here soon!!!  I love all the holidays!! It is a great time to get together with your family and relax!!  No school & No work!!  Just have fun!! But it is also the time that we all need to watch out our weight!!  It is so easy to eat too much during the holiday. At the same time, we get a lazy schedule.  We are more like to go out late and get up super late.  Do not really get a lot of time to work out.  Also, we usually get big dinner: a huge turkey, all different types of side dishes, and a lot of dessert.  So how can we have fun, but avoid gaining too much weight during the holiday season?  Here are some suggestions!
1. Don't go to a party with hunger
During the holiday season, there are a lot of parties.  It is great to go to parties to have fun. But when you have so many parties to go, it becomes dangerous to gain weight.  One thing you definitely can do is never being hungry when you go to a party. You can have some healthy snack before you go, such as your favorite fruit, healthy bars and some low-fat/non-fat yogurt.

2. Be careful about the choices of food & drinks
Pick healthy food rather than junk food
Small plate & small bits

3. Try to keep moving!  
If you cannot go to workout everyday, or you cannot go to workout long hours a day, try to move around in your place rather than just lay on the bed.

Danlu

Name That Ingredient: Hair Care Edition! Part 3

Hi there!
Today I'll be adding the final ingredient of the Name That Ingredient's Hair Care series. On the back of many cosmetics and hair care products, you're sure to find either methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, or butylparaben. Parabens are additives that act as a preservative.

Recently, they've become a topic of medical controversy because several studies have linked them to hormone disruptions, early puberty and breast cancer.

The following article from Livestrong.com can tell you a little more about this preservative and why many choose to stay away from all parabens.

Wishing You Happy, Healthy Hair!

Shalencia


http://www.livestrong.com/article/150690-what-are-the-dangers-of-parabens-in-skin-care/

Name That Ingredient: Hair Care Edition! Part 2

Hi all!

Yesterday we learned about the sudsy joys of sulfates. Today I want to introduce you to another group of lovely hair-care ingredients: Silicones. One of the curly-haired gurus that I've recently started looking into had this to day about silicones:

"The purpose of silicone hair products are to coat the hair with a micro-fine layer of conditioners creating sheen, reducing friction for easier combing and to prevent tangles and breakage. Silicones also help other ingredients in conditioners and lotions to spread easily."

To me, that sounded pretty awesome, until I read on:

"Silicones are not water-soluble unless they are modified to be, so they also form a water-sealing barrier to prevent loss of water from hair and help retain dye by making hair more hydrophobic (water-repellent)."

Although many find it beneficial because they prevent the hair from losing water and make styling easier, the water-repellant properties of silicones make it a nightmare for many with chronically dry hair. Additionally, because they are not water-soluble, they are one of the key reasons we need sulfate shampoos: to get rid of silicones buildup on the hair and scalp. So, most likely, if you want to stop using sulfate shampoos, you will probably have to eliminate, or at least minimize your use of silicone containing products.

However, some silicones are water-soluble and are safe to use if you want to avoid sulfate shampoos. Another one of my favorite curly-haired gurus has put together the following information on silicones, both water soluble and not:


"A silicone ingredient with end with -cone, -conol, or -xane. Examples include: dimethicone, dimethiconol, amodimethicone, cyclomethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, and trimethicone. None of these are water soluble...

Make sure you don't confuse silicones with preservatives, which frequently end in -one (rather than -cone). Methylchloroisothiazolinone, while a mouthful, is a water soluble preservative...

Another little complexity about silicones is that scientists can modify their structure to make them water soluble. These cones are...friendly, but some people choose to avoid them for the sake of being totally silicone free...If a silicone ingredient (-cone, -conol, or -xane) is prefaced with PEG or PPG, it is water soluble. So PEG-12 Dimethicone is water soluble..."

Wishing you Happy, Healthy Hair!


Shalencia


Information found at:
http://dormroomcurly.blogspot.com/2008/12/style-definitions-table.html
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curly-hair-care-methods/no-poo/silicones-no-poo/silicone-hair-products-not-so-bad-after-all

Name That Ingredient! Hair Care Edition

I've recently started product-jumping for shampoos and conditioners because every shampoo I've used seems to dry my hair out and no conditioner seems to be able to get it moisturized. So, now I'm taking my label-reading habits to a new level by exploring what's in the hair products I use. Through lurking on several hair sites for curly-haired women, I've found that a few ingredients seem to be common causes for dry, frizzy curls. The ones I'll be exploring today are the sulfates sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium laryl sulfate, and all of their sulfate-y cousins.

Sulfates are basically the ingredient in things like liquid detergent and shampoo that help them to lather. They break up all of the grease and oil so that it can be washed away, thus providing us with a clean, fresh scalp and head of hair. Although many can use shampoos containing sulfates with no ill-effects, many users suffer scalp irritation and dry hair from using these shampoos. They can prove to be very harsh on both hair and scalp and remove natural oils that are essential to curly hair because of its texture.

However, fear not! There are plenty of organic shampoos that contain no sulfates at all and can still give your hair and scalp the nice thorough cleaning it needs.

Wishing You Happy, Healthy Hair,

Shalencia

Energy Drink - healthy or not!

Time just flew by.  It is almost the end of the semester.  Everything is coming together: exams, homework and tons of projects.  I have been experiencing the craziest week of this semester.  I did three projects and one exam this week.  I cannot even remember how did I really go through this week.  I have not stayed up so late in the library since my freshmen year.  But I did not leave the library until 2 am for two days this week.  And this Tuesday was the first time that I drank 5-hour energy.  To be honest to you, I was nervous before I drank it because I think drinking this type of energy drink is not healthy at all.  I was reading the details on the bottle.  Under Caution, it states that 5-hour energy contains caffeine comparable to a cup of the leading premium coffee.  After you drink it, you may experience a Niacin Rush (hot feeling, skin redness) that lasts a few minutes.  This is caused by increased blood flow near the skin.  This caution sounds scary to me, but I still drank it because I had to stay up to work on all the mess.  I drank half of the whole bottle.  I was awake for the first one hour, then I literally fell asleep.  I even did not recognize how that happened.  I guess that I was just so tired.  Then I did search the feedback and comments on 5-hour energy online.  I found all different comments.  Someone thinks it is really useful and it helps to stay awake. (At least, it did not work for me.  :(   )  Someone was complaining about the side effects after drinking the 5- hour energy.  After reviewing all different comments, it seems that we do understand that it could be some possible danger after you drink the 5-hour energy.  But no one officially states that we should not drink it.  Please let me know how do you guys think about this kind of energy drink!!

Stranded On Campus For Lunch?

Its 2:30pm and I am busy working away in the library, I can feel my stomach growling and I know that it is time for lunch. Ughhh I am hungry, do not have time to leave campus, and really dislike almost all of the lunch option on campus….its time to get creative with what we have to work with. After four years of managing through the lunch hours at the University of Miami, I have manage to find a few hidden, yummy options spread throughout campus.

Here are some of my favorites:

·      

Market Place Salad Bar: This salad bar offers a variety of different healthy and unique options, including two daily soup offerings. The Market Place even has two different types of grilled chicken that can be purchased upon checkout. Personally, I enjoy the grain offerings, which always includes a type of quinoa salad, the healthiest grain that you can eat.

·      Sushi Maki: Although the sushi sitting in the case does not always look that appealing, Sushi Maki actually takes special orders that they make fresh in front of you, its as good as going to the actual restaurant!

·      Oasis Deli: This little Jewish café is hidden inside the student center, next to the swimming pool. The Deli always has delicious egg and bagel sandwiches for breakfast. For lunch my favorites are a build your own turkey and whole-wheat tortilla wrap and the matzos ball soup on a chilly day!

·      Starbucks: I actually love the egg sandwiches from Starbucks. I know that they do not look that good when they are sitting in the case but they are actually very yummy when they are heated up. My favorite is the egg white and spinach wrap. Not only are these egg sandwiches low in calorie, but they are also quick so that you can get right back to your studying in the library.

As always,  HAPPY EATING BLOG FOLLOWERS!

<3 Kyle 

Mexican Food Heaven

Happy Sunday blog followers!! I thought that I would dedicate this post to my favorite type of cuisine…MEXICAN FOOD.

Mexican food has gotten a bad reputation for not being healthy. I thought that I would share my favorite healthy, yet still delicious Mexican delights.

Posole: This traditional Mexican stew is great for cold fall and winter nights. Quite possibly one of my favorite soups, posole is easy to make and packs a great spice which will definitely warm you up. Here is my favorite recipe:

Recipe Ingredients

•                1 can (15 oz) yellow or white hominy, drained

•                1 can (14.5 oz) Mexican-style diced tomatoes

•                1 can (10 oz) mild green enchilada sauce

•                2 carrots, diced

•                1 medium onion, chopped

•                3 garlic cloves, minced

•                2 tsp cumin

•                5 chicken thighs

•                (1 1⁄2 lbs), skin removed

•                Chopped cilantro (optional)

•                Lime wedges (optional)

•                Tortilla chips (optional)

Recipe Preparation

Combine hominy, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, carrots, onion, garlic and cumin in slow-cooker. Add chicken and stir to combine. Cover and cook on high 3 to 3 1⁄2 hours until chicken is cooked through and vegetables tender. Skim and discard any fat from the surface.

Remove chicken; pull meat off bones into large shreds. Stir back into slow-cooker. Stir in cilantro, if using. Serve with lime wedges and tortilla chips.

Guacamole: Delicious and quite possibly the easier food to make. Guacamole is great with meat, chips, salads, carrots, and more! Just mash up two ripe avocados, add onions and tomatoes, squeeze a little lemon, and top it off with some salt and pepper.

Chicken Fajita Salad: This salad is pretty much the same as a chicken fajita, minus the tortilla and rice. Just as satisfying as a chicken fajita, this salad contains almost half the calories of real fajitas and is easy to make. For those of you who are Miami locals, check out Taco Rico’s chicken fajita salad, and they deliver for those lazy nights!

Grilled Fish Tacos: Another healthy Mexican alternative that is easy to make and available at most restaurants. Grilled fish tacos are light in calories, heavy on flavor. The soft corn tortilla is actually healthy for you! 

How to keep healthy when you have all the stress from school or work

This is a really tough week.  All the exams, papers and projects are due at the same time.  It is so difficult to stay with my bed for enough hours.  I started to hate my alarm clock. Sometimes, I even got scared to hear the alarm clock to wake me up.  What was worse, I truly did all the unhealthy things in this week.  I did not go to the gym at all. I drank different types of beverages, especially sodas.  Also, I ate junk food at late night when I was studying for my exams.  Eventually, all the unhealthy behaviors turn out to bad things.  More pimples come out and my weight goes straight up.  I even got a strong headaches this morning after I got up.  I am so annoyed with myself, and I complained all these issues to my friends.  However, this is the life for colleges.  You want to have fun, but you always need to deal with all the school work.  Then I start to think about how I can keep healthy when I get stuck in all the work.
1. Try not to go to sleep too late, then get up earlier to study.  
When you are studying too late, it becomes less effective.  It might took twice even longer for you to remember/ learn the same materials. Instead, try to get up earlier to take a shower to make you awake, then go ahead to study.  At least, it works more effectively for me.

2. Eat some fruits instead of junk food as late night snack.
It is so reasonable to eat snacks when you are studying at late night.  But choose wisely!!  Fruits are more healthy, even though junk food is yummy!  :(

3. No time to work out?  NO!!
It is really difficult to go to the gym when you are in the exam weeks.  I prefer to take a nap rather than going to the gym.  So what can we do?  I guess we can take advantages over small time to do a little bit work out.  Walk to the campus instead of driving or taking the school bus, if your place is not too far away from the school.  Use the stairs instead of taking the elevators!  

Please let me know if you have any other ideas!!

Danlu

Name That Ingredient!! Post-Halloween Version

Nestle's favorite holiday, Halloween, has just passed and I'm sure that many of us indulged in our favorite sweets. Naturally, I had to look on the back of a few of these delightful treats to see what was inside. After all, it's not as if sweet tarts grow on trees! I noticed a common ingredient in a lot of the sugar-free candies: Sorbitol. This natural fruit sugar has been used for quite some time in sugar-free and diabetic food products instead of cane sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Yet, I have found quite a few publications indicating that this sweetener does far more harm than good. Find out more from this article that I gathered from Medscape.com

Happy Eating!

Shalencia

January 11, 2008 — Consuming sweets and chewing gum with sugar substitutes may help the weight-conscious slash calories, but excessive use of the sweetener sorbitol can cause extreme weight loss and other problems, according to a new report.
In this week's BMJ, Juergen Bauditz, MD, of the University of Berlin, and colleagues describe two patients with a sorbitol habit who had dramatic, unexplained weight loss until their excessive use of the sweetener was discovered.
Sugar-Free Sweeteners and Side Effects: Case Histories
One patient, a 21-year-old woman, had unexplained diarrhea and abdominal pain for eight months. She reported an unintended weight loss of 24 pounds, weighing in at about 90 pounds.
After she was asked about diet, she said she chewed sugar-free gum with sorbitol daily, taking in about 18 to 20 grams a day. One stick typically has 1.25 grams.
Once she eliminated sorbitol from her diet, the gastrointestinal problems stopped and she gained back more than 15 pounds.
The second patient, a 46-year-old man, had been hospitalized because of diarrhea and a weight loss of more than 48 pounds during the previous year. His blood work and other exams came back normal, but when asked about diet, he, too, reported excessive consumption of sorbitol. He chewed 20 sticks of sugar-free gum daily and also ate about 7 ounces of sweets daily, totaling about 30 grams of sorbitol.
When he cut out the sorbitol, he gained back 11 pounds within six months and his diarrhea problems disappeared.
The message for doctors, the authors conclude, is to inquire about dietary habits when a patient has unexplained weight loss.
Sugar-Free Sweeteners and Side Effects: A Food Scientist's View
Reports of side effects such as abdominal pain and diarrhea with high amounts of sorbitol consumption are nothing new, says Roger Clemens, DrPH, a spokesman for the Institute of Food Technologists and professor of pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
"The laxative effect is very well documented," Clemens tells WebMD. "It could be these individuals [in the case histories] were particularly sensitive." And they did consume excessive amounts, he notes. "We would not expect the average consumer to consume upwards of 20 sticks of gum a day."
"Sorbitol is not well absorbed," Clemens says. As a result, excess water enters the gastrointestinal tract and diarrhea can occur. Those who rely on artificially sweetened products to help manage their diabetes or to reduce overall calories, he says, should use a variety of such products and consume them in moderation. Sorbitol is found in toothpastes as well as chewing gum and sweets.
What's a 'Safe' Amount of Sorbitol?
The FDA requires a warning label on a product with sorbitol if the manufacturer thinks the consumption would exceed 50 grams a day, according to an FDA spokesperson.
But levels under 50 grams of sorbitol daily may cause problems for some people, says Patti Truant, a spokeswoman for the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, D.C. In 1999, the center petitioned the FDA to require a better label on sorbitol-containing products, noting that problems such as diarrhea can occur with as few as 10 grams a day of the sweetener.
Sorbitol Manufacturers Respond
The cases reported in BMJ involved excesses, says Chris Perille, a spokesman for the William Wrigley Jr. Company, which makes chewing gum containing sorbitol (including its brands Extra, Orbit, Freedent, and Eclipse).
"To reach the threshold of excessive consumption of sorbitol through use of gum alone [at levels set by the FDA], someone would have to chew close to 50 sticks or 100 pellets of gum daily," he says. In the U.S., he adds, the average per capita gum consumption is just one stick every other day.
The ingredient is safe and effective "when used as directed," adds Tonia Elrod, a spokeswoman for Procter & Gamble, the manufacturer of Crest toothpaste, which contains sorbitol.

Article found at: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/568700
Picture found at: http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/feature-articles/2008/october/Halloween-Candy.html