Why You Must Say NO To Margarine

This is  a post to fill in the long absent... OMG looking at the calendar, it has been 2 months since I went hiking at Nepal. Missing the place so much and that reminded me that I have not post anything bout the trekking experience. Soon...

Lets talk bout margarine today... and why we shouldn't consume them. Its interesting to learn bout these facts. From the origination of margarine to the reason why we should avoid the food. Does it even qualified to be categorized as food? Read on....

First thing first, I don't come out with this story ok. So if there's any facts that wasn't all that true or misleading or offending anyone, I would like to apologize in advance. I just read it somewhere and share it here.

Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. Omg, when I read the line, fatten the bird? So it does fatten human as well ya? When it killed the turkeys (omg, omg, are we going to get killed too?), the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back.

It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. They have even come out with some clever ideas by adding flavorings. Now the battle of the margarine and butter is just bout to begin...

Both have the same amount of calories... Now you might be thinking eating either ones gives you the same amount of fats (if you're a health freak) you might as well opt for the cheaper ones. Butter is generally more pricey. In fact, butter is slightly higher in saturated fats  at 8grams compared to margarine at 5grams.

Research from Harvard Medical Study shows that eating margarine increase heart disease in women (specifically) by 53%, wtf... compared to eating the same amount of butter. Whereby, butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods. Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few and only because it has been added in.

Apart from that, butter tastes much better than margarine (this I must agree, i like the creamy buttery taste, while margarine only has the oily taste). Butter can enhance the flavor of other foods as well. Another plus point is, butter has been around for centuries while margarine has been around for less than 100 years.

And now, let's go to the cons of margarine:

- very high in trans fatty acids

- triples the risk of coronary heart disease

- increases  LDL (bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL (good cholesterol)

- increases the risk of cancers up to 5 times

- lowers the quality of breast milk (take note breastfeeding mommies)

- decreases immune responses

- decreases insulin responses

And here's the most disturbing fact... the most interesting part...

"margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC and shares 27 ingredients as the PAINT"

These facts alone were enough to have one to avoid margarine for life and anything that is hydrogenated. (it means hydrogen is added, in changing the molecular structure of the substance).

You can try by doing this experiment. Open a tub of margarine (or take a scoop of it) and leave it open at your garage or shaded area. Do the same to the butter... so that you can do the comparison. Within a couple of days you will notice these:

• no flies not even those pesky fruit flies will go near margarine 
• the margarine won't rot nor smell differently because it has no nutritional value; nothing will grow on it. Not even those teeny weeny microorganisms will find that home to grow.
• the opposite can be seen on butter tho

Why? because margarine is near plastic. You might as well melt the take-away containers and spread that on your toast next time...lol... joke

Here's a photo to show the results of the experiment

 

Now, choose wisely :)

Banana and You

Found some very interesting FACTS about Bananas online... Here are something to take note. So interesting that one will never look at a banana in the same way again. 

First thing first... Never ever put banana in the refrigerator...

A nice looking bananas just in case you're wondering what is this fruit...duhhh

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Here are the facts of Bananas (and my comment aka reminder for myself)

DEPRESSION:

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. 

(I have no depression issue but no harm eating on the fruit to make me happier)

PMS:

Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood. 

(Important note for all ladies whom experience PMS every month)

ANEMIA:

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
(Again to all ladies, replenish the iron after the monthly period)

BLOOD PRESSURE:

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

(Although I have very good measurement for blood pressure, no harm taking note on this one tho)

BRAIN POWER:

200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

(I wonder if it improves the memory power as well? When your brain is powerful, so does the memory right, right? I need powerful memory so badly because I was thinking of something and the next second i forgotten what had came into my mine and this is happening so frequently)

CONSTIPATION:

High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

(Everyone experiences this once in a while I believe, including myself... chomp chomp chomp bananas)

HANGOVERS:

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

(Party animals, this is for you... definitely not for me...lol)

HEARTBURN:

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

(Don't know what is causing my regular heartburn lately but this is definitely a good solution than popping pills)

MORNING SICKNESS:

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

(Do not need it for now)

MOSQUITO BITES:

Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

(To all mommies, to whom their babies are precious, rub on bananas skin instead of oil or cream that might have chemical effects... knowing all mommies going organic for their kids now)

NERVES:

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system..

(Good news for me, next time before board on a flight, I will eat bananas. If you are wondering why, I have phobia of flying)

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

(Good news also, that means biting on bananas will reduce the craving for other fattening, unhealthy food such as chips, chocolates or heavier food like nasi lemak or roti canai)

ULCERS:

The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chroniclercases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

(Guess this is somehow related to heartburn as well...so bananas that's it)

TEMPERATURE CONTROL:

Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

(No comment on this one...but why not since Malaysia is such a hot country)

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has FOUR TIMES the protein, TWICE the carbohydrate, THREE TIMES the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A BANANA a day keeps the doctor away!'

(I definitely like this new sayings!!)

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

My Little Creations

I did it!! Cooking has never been my passion and kitchen is never my place. I dislike the food preparation, the oil, the heat and the washing. If I were to choose 1 of the above, I will choose washing although I hate to do it too, it was the easiest of all. 

But when you grow older and moving out from your parents house or comfort zone, something need to be done. You can't rely everyday on the fast food chains (cos these food makes you gain weight faster than you ever realized), or survive on bread, buns or instant noodles. These food make you sick, if not fat :p

So I have taken 1 step further, bought some good kitchen wares, shop for some groceries and based on some whatsapp recipes that friends sent, I kick start my mission to cook. Some simple healthy meals to keep the stomach full at the same time doesn't required much works (actually still loads of work). Combined with some ingredients (not so much on ingredients actually but rather something you can get off the shelves and eat on its own), I managed to produce some happiness on the plate. Tadaaa.... My creations .....

Mushroom soups. A canned of Campbell wild mushroom (where you can just heat up and eat/drink just like that), and a packet of Shitake mushroom, blend it to ... Errr... Not too fine. Mix into the canned mushroom and cook. The result is nicer color mushroom soup, with slight texture too.

Then I have this vegetarian soup. Lol... I'm not vegetarian, just that I couldn't find any meat at home unless my flesh count but I can't cook myself right? right? I just cut and dump in all veges I have in the fridge, carrots, cabbage, onions, tofu and mushroom again. Put everything in the pot and add in water to cover everything. I'm not sure what is this process call but my term is boil until everything is soft. Add lil bit of salt (i added too much :p) 

Then I have this lazy people syndrome. I found the easiest way to fill my stomach. That will be steaming the sweet potatoes (with skin). Steam until they are soft enough and you cut to half, peel the skin and eat them fresh. Full of carbs and fibers.... I concluded this as healthy carbs.

My friend gave me this idea to prepare egg sandwich for lunch at work. Healthy and fast preparation for a non-morning-person. Hard boiled the egg, mash them and spread onto the wholemeal bread. Didn't add anything to the mashed egg because I was taught to add mayo and pepper, but both are not my kinda thing.

Lastly, I was experimenting with this thing my mom used to prepare for tea time. I called it the Bombay style but apparently it's called the French Toast by most. What I did was, break the eggs and stir them until they look nice...lol. add a pinch of sugar or more, to taste. Then you dip your breads into the egg, take it out and fry them with minimal oil. Looks good ya...

See, the very easy to prepare stuff and i didn't go hungry in January 2013. Actually, i repeated the above preparation a couple of times so that I can improve and they should taste better :)