Corn syrup is an artificial sweetener that is employed in many foodstuff and beverages. Do you are sure of what is high fructose corn syrup and the dangers of the same on you’s health, in the eventuality of indiscriminate consumption?
Option sweeteners and food additives are used to add flavor to foodstuff and beverages. Earlier common table sugar, which happens to be often referred to as sucrose, and honey, were used as sweeteners in a range of foodstuff. However, in the 1970s, a group of Japanese scientists arrive at a way for you to convert cornstarch into high fructose corn syrup (HCFS) which will be used as a sweetening agent. Cornstarch is chemically treated to taste similar like table sugar. The composition of this sweetener, which is often referred to as corn sugar, is 45 percent glucose and 55 percent fructose, which carry it as sweet as sugar or even sweeter. This is substantially transferred to the US and every product may have a calculated percent of this food additive.
Brief Overview on High Fructose Corn Syrup
As mentioned earlier, corn syrup is a different sweetener transferred to the food industry. Since it is comparatively inexpensive than sugar, many manufacturers use this modified cornstarch in processed foods and beverages. Carbonated beverage industries are high users of this sweetener. Other products that incorporate corn syrup as an active ingredient are breakfast cereals, cookies, commercially baked goods, cake mixes and sauces etc.. Another advantage of using corn syrup is that increases the shelf life of the foodstuff and then makes the food look more appetizing. In spite of knowing about the dangers of using corn syrup, many food manufacturers are using it in their products, since it is readily available and is cheaper than table sugar and honey.
High Fructose Corn Syrup Side Effects
Though corn syrup is a key ingredient in various unhealthy food and beverage industries, there are many health risks associated with the over use of this food additive. Given below are some of the dangers of this artificial sweetener.
Consuming large numbers of foods containing corn syrup can end in obesity. This is because the calorie content in these foods is relatively high and they tend to accumulate elsewhere in the body and increase the body mass.
Toxic heavy metals like mercury and chromium tend to get stored in the body, which can cause deterioration of the organs. Other complications of over intake of products containing corn syrup are type 2 diabetes, poor nutrition and inflammation of the nerves, especially nervus opticus.
Another health risk is that it makes the person more prone to ulcers and also can lead to nerve damage. This is mainly caused to its over consumption of carbonated drinks, that contain a harmful chemical methylglyoxal (carboxyl compounds).
Insulin production in the pancreas is hampered, bringing about the person feeling ‘em pty stomach’ all the time. This triggers the person to overeat for the absence of insulin which gives a feeling of fullness, and it is typically responsible obesity.
The body tends to react in a different manner for the presence of sweetened corn syrup. This compound gets accumulated in the liver, which releases enzymes to store more fat in the body. This can lead to an increase in the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides which can increase the chances of getting high blood pressure and coronary heart diseases.
A high fructose corn syrup name change is being suggested by the manufacturers of this sweetener. The new name for corn syrup is believed to be ‘corn sugar’. In order to avoid any health risks, it is critical to avoid foods that have been treated with additives and artificial sweeteners, and stick to natural foodstuff.
Foodchem company full name is Fooding Group Limited. It is a intercontinental provider of food additives and ingredients specializing in serving the demand for raw materials needed for finished foodstuff. Our clients trust foodchem to supply quality ingredients each one of the time. Combined with strict manufacturing processes, top notch R&D and a disciplined trading platform, FoodIng Group is constantly on the build upon our experience while keep your eyes peeled of the future.
Showing posts with label foodchem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foodchem. Show all posts
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Foodchem For Fooding Group
Food chemistry is the research of chemical change and interactions of all biological and non-biological components of foods. The biological substances include such items as meat, poultry, lettuce, beer, and milk as representatives. It appears like biochemistry in its main components that include carbohydrates, lipids, and protein, but it also includes areas that include water, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, food additives, flavors, and colors. This discipline also encompasses how foodchem change under certain food processing techniques and ways either to enhance or to prevent them from happening. An example of enhancing a process would be to push fermentation of dairy products with microorganisms that convert lactose to lactic acid ; an instance of preventing a process would be stopping the browning on the outside of freshly cut Red Delicious apples using lemon juice or other acidulated water.
The diet of any animal contains hundreds if not many different molecules, but the majority of the ingested nutrients are at the plan of huge macromolecules which could not be absorbed into blood without first being reduced to much simpler and smaller forms – even table sugar (sucrose) unable to be absorbed without first being enzymatically ripped apart into glucose and fructose. The most important enzymatic reaction in digestion of foodstuffs is hydrolysis – the breaking of a chemical bond by the addition of a water molecule.
Foodchem Company
Foodchem company full name is Fooding Group Limited. It is a global provider of food additives and ingredients specializing in serving the demand for raw materials needed for finished foodstuff. Our clients trust us to provide quality ingredients every single time. Combined with strict manufacturing processes, ace R&D and a disciplined trading platform, FoodIng Group is constantly on the build upon our experience while keep your eyes peeled for the future.
Fooding Group Limited was first established in 1995 under the name Jinhua Chemicals. Our company originally operated a small plant base, manufacturing only a hardly any FoodIngredients.
Five years later, as our company started expanding, the group had grown to three mill, at which point the offering of our products globally really begun to transpire through our first marketing-dedicated office in Shanxi.
In 2005, as our business continued to grow, we moved to Shanghai and began operating under the name : Shanghai Honghao Chemicals Co., Limited.
It wasnt until 2008 that we then began to have a footprint in virtually every corner of the globe as we grew to five mill, 35 operating factories and 3 planting bases. It was also around the period that our company did start to take a more aggressive participation in industry wide events, fairs and exhibitions.
Today you might get our ingredients and additives being used in multitude of finished products around the world. Furthermore, our marketing business has grown so significantly, that in 2011, first we bought in experienced professionals from the western part of the world to help us grow, and in some cases create new businesses in underserved markets.
Our mission is to work worlds leading provider of food additives and ingredients. This will be accomplished by providing quality ingredients that match the specifications of our clients at competitive prices. Our veranda’s will derive from trusted sources and arrive to our clients in a timely and well arranged manner. Clients will take comfort in knowing that all of their product needs are being handled by a professional and friendly support staff that constantly strives to outperform.
The diet of any animal contains hundreds if not many different molecules, but the majority of the ingested nutrients are at the plan of huge macromolecules which could not be absorbed into blood without first being reduced to much simpler and smaller forms – even table sugar (sucrose) unable to be absorbed without first being enzymatically ripped apart into glucose and fructose. The most important enzymatic reaction in digestion of foodstuffs is hydrolysis – the breaking of a chemical bond by the addition of a water molecule.
Foodchem Company
Foodchem company full name is Fooding Group Limited. It is a global provider of food additives and ingredients specializing in serving the demand for raw materials needed for finished foodstuff. Our clients trust us to provide quality ingredients every single time. Combined with strict manufacturing processes, ace R&D and a disciplined trading platform, FoodIng Group is constantly on the build upon our experience while keep your eyes peeled for the future.
Fooding Group Limited was first established in 1995 under the name Jinhua Chemicals. Our company originally operated a small plant base, manufacturing only a hardly any FoodIngredients.
Five years later, as our company started expanding, the group had grown to three mill, at which point the offering of our products globally really begun to transpire through our first marketing-dedicated office in Shanxi.
In 2005, as our business continued to grow, we moved to Shanghai and began operating under the name : Shanghai Honghao Chemicals Co., Limited.
It wasnt until 2008 that we then began to have a footprint in virtually every corner of the globe as we grew to five mill, 35 operating factories and 3 planting bases. It was also around the period that our company did start to take a more aggressive participation in industry wide events, fairs and exhibitions.
Today you might get our ingredients and additives being used in multitude of finished products around the world. Furthermore, our marketing business has grown so significantly, that in 2011, first we bought in experienced professionals from the western part of the world to help us grow, and in some cases create new businesses in underserved markets.
Our mission is to work worlds leading provider of food additives and ingredients. This will be accomplished by providing quality ingredients that match the specifications of our clients at competitive prices. Our veranda’s will derive from trusted sources and arrive to our clients in a timely and well arranged manner. Clients will take comfort in knowing that all of their product needs are being handled by a professional and friendly support staff that constantly strives to outperform.
Labels:
foodchem
Sunday, May 27, 2012
What’s Sluggish Liver
The liver is the largest organ in the body which performs different bodily functions, but if gets over burdened by various toxins, it shows symptoms of being a sluggish liver that we normally fail to recognize.
The liver is a vital body organ present below the diaphragm in the thoracic region of the abdomen. It performs a wide range of functions like detoxification, protein synthesis and production of biochemicals essential for digestion. It produces bile, an alkaline compound which helps in digestion through the emulsification of lipids. Liver also performs and controls different high-volume biochemical reactions involving highly equipped tissues for synthesis and breakdown of small and complex molecules. Some other functions performed by the liver are:
1. Generation of fats emulsifying substances
2. Glucose to glycogen conversion
3. Manufacturing of amino acids
4. Removal of toxic substances from the blood
5. Storage of vitamins and minerals
6. Maintaining proper levels of glucose in the blood
Causes for a Sluggish Liver
Causes for a sluggish liver can be due to different types of liver pathologies like:
Excessive accumulation of fat within the liver cells due to alcoholism, obesity, diabetes, drugs (like corticosteroids, tetracycline and aspirin) or elevated serum triglyceride levels can lead to impeding liver function.
Another cause is intrahepatic problems which occur due to over exposure to food additives, solvents (cleaning materials, formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, etc.), heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, and aluminum), and other toxins.
Viral infections of liver like hepatitis, inherited disorders like Gilbert’s syndrome, hyperthyroidism, consumption of anabolic steroids/estrogens/oral contraceptives are some other factors that can restrict the bile flow in the liver and cause impaired liver function.
Lack of physical activities, poor nutritious diet, aging, etc, are some other common causes for a sluggish liver functioning.
Symptoms of a Sluggish Liver
Here are some signs or indications that may help to identify if the liver is sluggish or not functioning properly.
For an average person approximately 80% of the cholesterol is generated by the liver. Therefore, if the liver is not functioning well there will be abnormalities in the level of fats in the blood stream like elevated LDL cholesterol and reduced HDL cholesterol.
A sluggish liver leads to poor digestion which causes elevated triglycerides (lipids containing three individual fatty acids bounded together in a single large molecule). The person may also experience bloating or gassiness and flatulence (a state of excessive gas in the alimentary canal), especially after the meals.
Since the liver plays an important role in eliminating toxins from the body and maintaining the efficiency of the body’s immune system, skin irritation or skin allergies is also considered as the first sign of liver damage. A person can be prone to develop rashes, psoriasis, eczema, boils or acne if the liver is removing the toxins out through the skin.
The liver also helps regulate blood sugar levels, hence signs that the liver is not maintaining blood sugar levels may include, loss of appetite, weakness or dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
The liver filters out mutated hormones, therefore the symptoms in women may include heavy or clotted menstruation, irregular periods, fibroids in breast or uterus, hot flashes, cysts on ovaries, mood swings or any menopausal problems.
Chronic fatigue, headaches, fever, constipation, jaundice, gallbladder disease/gallstones, hair loss, etc., are some other common sluggish liver symptoms. However, the best ways to avoid impairment or sluggishness of the liver is to clean it up with a detox, and eating diet low in fat and high in fiber and water. Avoiding alcohol and processed or foodchem junk foods and incorporating plenty of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet along with lean protein foods like fish, tofu, legumes, etc., will surely minimize the risks of having any kind of liver infection/disorder.
The liver is a vital body organ present below the diaphragm in the thoracic region of the abdomen. It performs a wide range of functions like detoxification, protein synthesis and production of biochemicals essential for digestion. It produces bile, an alkaline compound which helps in digestion through the emulsification of lipids. Liver also performs and controls different high-volume biochemical reactions involving highly equipped tissues for synthesis and breakdown of small and complex molecules. Some other functions performed by the liver are:
1. Generation of fats emulsifying substances
2. Glucose to glycogen conversion
3. Manufacturing of amino acids
4. Removal of toxic substances from the blood
5. Storage of vitamins and minerals
6. Maintaining proper levels of glucose in the blood
Causes for a Sluggish Liver
Causes for a sluggish liver can be due to different types of liver pathologies like:
Excessive accumulation of fat within the liver cells due to alcoholism, obesity, diabetes, drugs (like corticosteroids, tetracycline and aspirin) or elevated serum triglyceride levels can lead to impeding liver function.
Another cause is intrahepatic problems which occur due to over exposure to food additives, solvents (cleaning materials, formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, etc.), heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, and aluminum), and other toxins.
Viral infections of liver like hepatitis, inherited disorders like Gilbert’s syndrome, hyperthyroidism, consumption of anabolic steroids/estrogens/oral contraceptives are some other factors that can restrict the bile flow in the liver and cause impaired liver function.
Lack of physical activities, poor nutritious diet, aging, etc, are some other common causes for a sluggish liver functioning.
Symptoms of a Sluggish Liver
Here are some signs or indications that may help to identify if the liver is sluggish or not functioning properly.
For an average person approximately 80% of the cholesterol is generated by the liver. Therefore, if the liver is not functioning well there will be abnormalities in the level of fats in the blood stream like elevated LDL cholesterol and reduced HDL cholesterol.
A sluggish liver leads to poor digestion which causes elevated triglycerides (lipids containing three individual fatty acids bounded together in a single large molecule). The person may also experience bloating or gassiness and flatulence (a state of excessive gas in the alimentary canal), especially after the meals.
Since the liver plays an important role in eliminating toxins from the body and maintaining the efficiency of the body’s immune system, skin irritation or skin allergies is also considered as the first sign of liver damage. A person can be prone to develop rashes, psoriasis, eczema, boils or acne if the liver is removing the toxins out through the skin.
The liver also helps regulate blood sugar levels, hence signs that the liver is not maintaining blood sugar levels may include, loss of appetite, weakness or dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
The liver filters out mutated hormones, therefore the symptoms in women may include heavy or clotted menstruation, irregular periods, fibroids in breast or uterus, hot flashes, cysts on ovaries, mood swings or any menopausal problems.
Chronic fatigue, headaches, fever, constipation, jaundice, gallbladder disease/gallstones, hair loss, etc., are some other common sluggish liver symptoms. However, the best ways to avoid impairment or sluggishness of the liver is to clean it up with a detox, and eating diet low in fat and high in fiber and water. Avoiding alcohol and processed or foodchem junk foods and incorporating plenty of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet along with lean protein foods like fish, tofu, legumes, etc., will surely minimize the risks of having any kind of liver infection/disorder.
How To Make Soy Candle
There are many soy candle making ideas that can make the task of preparing candles fun and interesting. You can find some creative soy candle making ideas.
Soy candles are very popular these days due to various reasons. Cost of soy candles are lesser than any other candles because soy wax is cheaper than beeswax. As it has a natural aroma of its own, if you wish you may not add any scent to it. Soy candles do not give out any smoke because these candles are made of natural soy wax. Therefore, it is considered as environment friendly and preferred by those who need to avoid smoke for health reasons. There are two different types of soy candles. One that have wicks and the other without wicks. The candle making ideas that we have discussed here can be implemented very easily for practical purposes.
Making Soy Candles
Instructions
The following instructions are related to soy wax candle making. Take a double boiler and melt one pound of soy wax in it at a temperature of 175 degrees. To keep a check on the temperature, you can attach a thermometer to the boiler. Once the wax is melted, add some color to it. While adding color, you should be careful because if you put excess of color you cannot take it out from the wax. A general measurement for this purpose is around 12 drops of dyes in one pound of soy wax. Soy wax has its own natural fragrance. Even then if you want to give a specific fragrance of your choice, you can do so by adding some essential oil. Usually, one and half ounce of essential oil is sufficient for a pound of soy wax. Blend the color and the oil well with the molten wax so that they get distributed evenly all through the wax.
Bring down the temperature of the wax to 150 degrees and then pour it into mold or container till the molten soy wax fills up the container to the top. Now, it’s time to put the wicks in your candle. You can use the same wicks in the candles that are used in paraffin wax candles. Wicks should be placed into the candles when a skin layer is formed at the top of the candle. Hold the upper end of the wick and insert it into the wax by gently pushing it in. Try to keep the wick straight inside the candle. Allow the wax to cool down for about 4-5 hours. During this time, do not even try to move the container from one location to another. When the candle is cooled down and hardened completely, pull it out of the container, holding the tips of the wick. Thus your soy candle is ready but wait 2-3 days before you start lighting them. This is one of the most simple homemade soy candle recipes.
Tips
1. Here are some useful tips that will help you at the time of making soy candles:
2. Never use paints or food additives used in food or crayons for this purpose as they tend to clog the wick and the candle will melt out very fast.
3. The essential oils you are using to add fragrance to the candle should be one which is suitable for soy wax.
4. Some people add UV-inhibitor which prevents the wax from getting melted under sunlight or fluorescent bulb.
5. To keep the wick straight, inside the molten wax, place a pencil across the mouth of the mold which will provide adequate support to the wick.
6. After insertion of the wick, you will find a small hole developed at the center of the candle. In order to close this hole, you can bring a hot flame near the top of the candle which will melt the wax at the top and fill up the hole.
Candle Designs
You can come up with unique soy candle making ideas to make candles that can be used for decorative purposes. If you wish to have flower bases for your candles, you can use dried petals of various flowers, like, rose, jasmine, zinnia and so on. Even dried herbs can be used for the same purpose. Just press these colorful petals into the molten soy wax. It will look beautiful and smell good too. You can also use mold in the shape of various fruits, like, apples, oranges, water melons, etc. and for this you should also add the suitable color of the fruit to get the resembling effect. Similarly, you can make candles in the shape of seashells. Soy candles in the shape of seashells, in your room, will remind you of the sandy beaches. However, try to avoid candles with dipped tappers as the set up time for soy wax is too long.
If candle making is your hobby or you want to start your own business, you can use the candle making ideas given here which can serve both the purposes. That means, these methods can be used for making foodchem candles on a large scale as well. You can use your creative mind to come up with more innovative ideas for making soy candles.
Soy candles are very popular these days due to various reasons. Cost of soy candles are lesser than any other candles because soy wax is cheaper than beeswax. As it has a natural aroma of its own, if you wish you may not add any scent to it. Soy candles do not give out any smoke because these candles are made of natural soy wax. Therefore, it is considered as environment friendly and preferred by those who need to avoid smoke for health reasons. There are two different types of soy candles. One that have wicks and the other without wicks. The candle making ideas that we have discussed here can be implemented very easily for practical purposes.
Making Soy Candles
Instructions
The following instructions are related to soy wax candle making. Take a double boiler and melt one pound of soy wax in it at a temperature of 175 degrees. To keep a check on the temperature, you can attach a thermometer to the boiler. Once the wax is melted, add some color to it. While adding color, you should be careful because if you put excess of color you cannot take it out from the wax. A general measurement for this purpose is around 12 drops of dyes in one pound of soy wax. Soy wax has its own natural fragrance. Even then if you want to give a specific fragrance of your choice, you can do so by adding some essential oil. Usually, one and half ounce of essential oil is sufficient for a pound of soy wax. Blend the color and the oil well with the molten wax so that they get distributed evenly all through the wax.
Bring down the temperature of the wax to 150 degrees and then pour it into mold or container till the molten soy wax fills up the container to the top. Now, it’s time to put the wicks in your candle. You can use the same wicks in the candles that are used in paraffin wax candles. Wicks should be placed into the candles when a skin layer is formed at the top of the candle. Hold the upper end of the wick and insert it into the wax by gently pushing it in. Try to keep the wick straight inside the candle. Allow the wax to cool down for about 4-5 hours. During this time, do not even try to move the container from one location to another. When the candle is cooled down and hardened completely, pull it out of the container, holding the tips of the wick. Thus your soy candle is ready but wait 2-3 days before you start lighting them. This is one of the most simple homemade soy candle recipes.
Tips
1. Here are some useful tips that will help you at the time of making soy candles:
2. Never use paints or food additives used in food or crayons for this purpose as they tend to clog the wick and the candle will melt out very fast.
3. The essential oils you are using to add fragrance to the candle should be one which is suitable for soy wax.
4. Some people add UV-inhibitor which prevents the wax from getting melted under sunlight or fluorescent bulb.
5. To keep the wick straight, inside the molten wax, place a pencil across the mouth of the mold which will provide adequate support to the wick.
6. After insertion of the wick, you will find a small hole developed at the center of the candle. In order to close this hole, you can bring a hot flame near the top of the candle which will melt the wax at the top and fill up the hole.
Candle Designs
You can come up with unique soy candle making ideas to make candles that can be used for decorative purposes. If you wish to have flower bases for your candles, you can use dried petals of various flowers, like, rose, jasmine, zinnia and so on. Even dried herbs can be used for the same purpose. Just press these colorful petals into the molten soy wax. It will look beautiful and smell good too. You can also use mold in the shape of various fruits, like, apples, oranges, water melons, etc. and for this you should also add the suitable color of the fruit to get the resembling effect. Similarly, you can make candles in the shape of seashells. Soy candles in the shape of seashells, in your room, will remind you of the sandy beaches. However, try to avoid candles with dipped tappers as the set up time for soy wax is too long.
If candle making is your hobby or you want to start your own business, you can use the candle making ideas given here which can serve both the purposes. That means, these methods can be used for making foodchem candles on a large scale as well. You can use your creative mind to come up with more innovative ideas for making soy candles.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
How Many Calories in Coffee
Coffee is the first choice of a number of people, as an early morning drink. Many of us cannot fathom facing a grueling day without that first cup of coffee. But ever wondered how many calories your ‘wake-up drink’ has?
A lot of us consume coffee without thinking twice about how many calories it may contain. It is a must-have to be able to keep ourselves going. Many consider it to be the oil that keeps the human machine running. However, it is not coffee itself, but the way you have it that determines the amount of calories in a cup of coffee. Choosing the right kind will not affect your weight, but the wrong one may increase the chances of failure in that diet you are following religiously, to desperately lose weight.
Calories in Coffee
As mentioned earlier, the calorie count in coffee completely depends on how you like it. Now coffee is a bitter drink, and it is natural for us to add some kind of food additives to sweeten it, at least until we develop a taste for bitter coffee. It is however, interesting to note that the calories in black coffee are much lesser than those in coffee with cream and sugar.
The average calories in cup of coffee – plain brewed, black (8 oz portion) is 2-5 calories. Similar is the case with an espresso. These calories come from some protein and mono-unsaturated oils present in coffee beans. It is the addition of milk and sugar, and various other toppings, that add to the calories in coffee. The addition of one teaspoon of sugar, increases the average calories in a cup of coffee by almost 15 calories.
Moreover, as the quantity consumed increases, for example, medium or large servings, so do the calories in that cup of coffee. To give you an idea about how many calories coffee has, given below is a table, that mentions the amount of calories in a cup of coffee.
Beverage Serving (per ounce) Calories
Instant Coffee 8 4
Espresso 1 1
Cafe Latte – Whole Milk 16 260
Cafe Latte – Non-Fat Milk 16 165
Cafe Mocha – Whole Milk – With Whipped Cream 16 400
Cafe Mocha – Non-Fat Milk – With Whipped Cream 16 330
Cafe Mocha – Non-Fat Milk 16 220
Cappuccino – Whole Milk 16 150
Cappuccino – Non-Fat Milk 16 100
Cafe Americano 16 15
Calories in Additives in Coffee
Here’s a list of the calories in the additives that go into making our coffee a special (and calorie-filled) treat.
Additive Calories (per tbsp)
Cream 52
Whole Milk 9
Non-Fat Milk 5
Skimmed Milk 6
Soy Milk 6
Sugar 48
Whipped Cream 52
Chocolate Syrup 50
Coffee Creamer – Liquid, Regular 20
Coffee Creamer – Liquid, Fat Free 10
Coffee Creamer – Powder, Regular 60 (20 – 1tsp)
Coffee Creamer – Powder, Non-Fat 30 (10 – 1 tsp)
Reducing the Calorie Count in Coffee
By cutting down the number of calories consumed in coffee, you need not give up your favorite coffee drink.
a. Try to develop a taste for black coffee. It may take a while, but as you have seen, it is almost a zero-calorie drink. To start off with, purchase a black coffee and add the additives on your own. In this way, you can slowly reduce the amount you put and in turn, reduce the amount of calories consumed.
b. Try to reduce the serving size of the coffee. Go in for a medium instead of a large, or a small instead of a medium. By reducing the serving, you can reduce the total amount of calories you consume through coffee. Moreover, if you reduce the number of servings you have per day, it will make a vast difference in the long run.
c. In coffees that contain syrups, try to reduce the number of pumps that go into making the coffee as sweet as it is. For instance, even 1 pump of syrup is enough, rather than 4 pumps that are usually present in one cup of coffee. Also, a number of sugar-free syrups are available that taste the same, yet are relatively calorie-free.
d. You can also begin to reduce the calorie count in coffee, by having your coffee without the whipped cream you may have always liked. The calorie count in coffee can reduce by almost 80 calories when you decide to avoid whipped cream.
e. Opt for substitutes such as saccharine instead of sugar, and try to avoid having coffee with additives like chocolate in it. Slowly, you can try to get out of the habit of adding sugar or sweeteners at all.
You might not be able to tell the difference immediately after reducing your calorie intake via coffee. Nevertheless, over a period of time, say in a span of one year, you will realize how many calories you may have saved yourself from, by finding other suitable and effective alternatives to your favorite drink foodchem. Even then you will be able to relish it in the same manner.
A lot of us consume coffee without thinking twice about how many calories it may contain. It is a must-have to be able to keep ourselves going. Many consider it to be the oil that keeps the human machine running. However, it is not coffee itself, but the way you have it that determines the amount of calories in a cup of coffee. Choosing the right kind will not affect your weight, but the wrong one may increase the chances of failure in that diet you are following religiously, to desperately lose weight.
Calories in Coffee
As mentioned earlier, the calorie count in coffee completely depends on how you like it. Now coffee is a bitter drink, and it is natural for us to add some kind of food additives to sweeten it, at least until we develop a taste for bitter coffee. It is however, interesting to note that the calories in black coffee are much lesser than those in coffee with cream and sugar.
The average calories in cup of coffee – plain brewed, black (8 oz portion) is 2-5 calories. Similar is the case with an espresso. These calories come from some protein and mono-unsaturated oils present in coffee beans. It is the addition of milk and sugar, and various other toppings, that add to the calories in coffee. The addition of one teaspoon of sugar, increases the average calories in a cup of coffee by almost 15 calories.
Moreover, as the quantity consumed increases, for example, medium or large servings, so do the calories in that cup of coffee. To give you an idea about how many calories coffee has, given below is a table, that mentions the amount of calories in a cup of coffee.
Beverage Serving (per ounce) Calories
Instant Coffee 8 4
Espresso 1 1
Cafe Latte – Whole Milk 16 260
Cafe Latte – Non-Fat Milk 16 165
Cafe Mocha – Whole Milk – With Whipped Cream 16 400
Cafe Mocha – Non-Fat Milk – With Whipped Cream 16 330
Cafe Mocha – Non-Fat Milk 16 220
Cappuccino – Whole Milk 16 150
Cappuccino – Non-Fat Milk 16 100
Cafe Americano 16 15
Calories in Additives in Coffee
Here’s a list of the calories in the additives that go into making our coffee a special (and calorie-filled) treat.
Additive Calories (per tbsp)
Cream 52
Whole Milk 9
Non-Fat Milk 5
Skimmed Milk 6
Soy Milk 6
Sugar 48
Whipped Cream 52
Chocolate Syrup 50
Coffee Creamer – Liquid, Regular 20
Coffee Creamer – Liquid, Fat Free 10
Coffee Creamer – Powder, Regular 60 (20 – 1tsp)
Coffee Creamer – Powder, Non-Fat 30 (10 – 1 tsp)
Reducing the Calorie Count in Coffee
By cutting down the number of calories consumed in coffee, you need not give up your favorite coffee drink.
a. Try to develop a taste for black coffee. It may take a while, but as you have seen, it is almost a zero-calorie drink. To start off with, purchase a black coffee and add the additives on your own. In this way, you can slowly reduce the amount you put and in turn, reduce the amount of calories consumed.
b. Try to reduce the serving size of the coffee. Go in for a medium instead of a large, or a small instead of a medium. By reducing the serving, you can reduce the total amount of calories you consume through coffee. Moreover, if you reduce the number of servings you have per day, it will make a vast difference in the long run.
c. In coffees that contain syrups, try to reduce the number of pumps that go into making the coffee as sweet as it is. For instance, even 1 pump of syrup is enough, rather than 4 pumps that are usually present in one cup of coffee. Also, a number of sugar-free syrups are available that taste the same, yet are relatively calorie-free.
d. You can also begin to reduce the calorie count in coffee, by having your coffee without the whipped cream you may have always liked. The calorie count in coffee can reduce by almost 80 calories when you decide to avoid whipped cream.
e. Opt for substitutes such as saccharine instead of sugar, and try to avoid having coffee with additives like chocolate in it. Slowly, you can try to get out of the habit of adding sugar or sweeteners at all.
You might not be able to tell the difference immediately after reducing your calorie intake via coffee. Nevertheless, over a period of time, say in a span of one year, you will realize how many calories you may have saved yourself from, by finding other suitable and effective alternatives to your favorite drink foodchem. Even then you will be able to relish it in the same manner.
Homemade Soap Additives Ideas
Homemade soap is more skin-friendly than commercial soaps. The advantage of making soaps at home is that one can customize the soaps as per one’s tastes and preferences.
Most commercial soaps lack glycerin, and make the skin dry and itchy. The component glycerin helps retain moisture, and though its level cannot be altered in commercial soaps, one can make soap at home with glycerin. Homemade lye soap recipes comprise a combination of lye and fat, resulting in a chemical process called saponification. During this process, glycerin is released as a by-product. Homemade soap making is not only easy, but it also enables people to make soaps that suits their needs. Making soap at home gives the flexibility and authority to choose ingredients to be added in the soap. Scent is commonly added to soaps to make them more appealing. It is believed that vanilla scent calms a person, and the tangerine one, with its powerful citrus fragrance, is actually quite invigorating. It is highly beneficial to people who find it difficult to get to their feet in the mornings!
Homemade Soap Additives Ideas
To enhance the aroma and quality of the soap, one can add various kinds of soap food additives beyond color and scent. The different homemade soap additives are:
Herbs: Adding herbs to the soap mixture not only gives the soap its uniqueness, but also provide various health benefits. Herbs such as lavender exhibit anti-inflammatory properties which help the skin relax. Moreover, it has a wonderful aroma. Chamomile is another herb which is refreshing and soothing. It also works as a mild astringent and is effective in reducing irritation in skin with eczema. Rosemary also has mild astringent properties which helps relax, and basil is naturally antibacterial. Eucalyptus adds the invigorating aspect to the soap, and for a cooling and stimulating effect, one can add lemongrass.
Milk and Butter: Adding cocoa butter to the soap mixture causes the soap to become creamy, and Shea butter, on the other hand, is added to soaps as an ultra-moisturizer. One can add instant powdered milk to the soap mixture as a natural cleanser. However, since milk softens soap, only a limited amount should be added. Besides powder, one can also add about 1 tbsp of coconut or goat’s milk per pound of soap base. If fresh milk is added, then some amount of Vitamin E should be added to the soap in order to prevent mold. The above mentioned ingredients are to be added in small amounts (? tbsp) until the properties desired are achieved. The maximum amount that should be added is 2 tbsp. Milk ought to be frozen before use, as it should be slushy when added to the mixture. This is because milk has a tendency to overheat.
Spices: For a spicy scent, add ground cloves to the soap mixture. Powdered cinnamon,when added to the soap imparts a spicy, speckled-brown natural hue and a home-baked scent to the soap. Cinnamon is believed to be a stress reliever and stimulant. However, large amounts of cinnamon can result in skin irritation, thus it needs to be used sparingly. In order to give a warm brown color, cocoa powder can be added.
Other Additives: Aloe vera relieves dry as well as burned skin and is a good soap additive. Honey also has relaxing properties and can be added in a limited quantity, as too much honey softens soap. Oatmeal (regular oatmeal) with its soothing and exfoliating properties is another option. Cornmeal, sugar and salts can be used as natural exfoliants. Poppy seeds are gentle exfoliants which add an interesting texture to the soap. If one is looking for a natural colorant, then adding Calendula petals is a good idea. These petals hold their golden color in the soap and add natural beauty to it. Beeswax can be added as it not only acts as a hardening agent, but also imparts a lovely, fragrant aroma. Coffee is a common natural deodorizer. People who have oily skin can add clay (Glacial or Bentonite), as clay has the ability to draw excess oil from the skin. Almond meal helps absorb excess oil from the skin and unclogs pores.
While adding foodchem additives, it is advisable to place them in the mold before pouring soap. This will allow the additives to be on the top of the soap, giving them a unique look. Using the above homemade soap additives ideas, one can make a unique soap that suits one’s personal needs. These homemade soaps make wonderful gifts as well!
Most commercial soaps lack glycerin, and make the skin dry and itchy. The component glycerin helps retain moisture, and though its level cannot be altered in commercial soaps, one can make soap at home with glycerin. Homemade lye soap recipes comprise a combination of lye and fat, resulting in a chemical process called saponification. During this process, glycerin is released as a by-product. Homemade soap making is not only easy, but it also enables people to make soaps that suits their needs. Making soap at home gives the flexibility and authority to choose ingredients to be added in the soap. Scent is commonly added to soaps to make them more appealing. It is believed that vanilla scent calms a person, and the tangerine one, with its powerful citrus fragrance, is actually quite invigorating. It is highly beneficial to people who find it difficult to get to their feet in the mornings!
Homemade Soap Additives Ideas
To enhance the aroma and quality of the soap, one can add various kinds of soap food additives beyond color and scent. The different homemade soap additives are:
Herbs: Adding herbs to the soap mixture not only gives the soap its uniqueness, but also provide various health benefits. Herbs such as lavender exhibit anti-inflammatory properties which help the skin relax. Moreover, it has a wonderful aroma. Chamomile is another herb which is refreshing and soothing. It also works as a mild astringent and is effective in reducing irritation in skin with eczema. Rosemary also has mild astringent properties which helps relax, and basil is naturally antibacterial. Eucalyptus adds the invigorating aspect to the soap, and for a cooling and stimulating effect, one can add lemongrass.
Milk and Butter: Adding cocoa butter to the soap mixture causes the soap to become creamy, and Shea butter, on the other hand, is added to soaps as an ultra-moisturizer. One can add instant powdered milk to the soap mixture as a natural cleanser. However, since milk softens soap, only a limited amount should be added. Besides powder, one can also add about 1 tbsp of coconut or goat’s milk per pound of soap base. If fresh milk is added, then some amount of Vitamin E should be added to the soap in order to prevent mold. The above mentioned ingredients are to be added in small amounts (? tbsp) until the properties desired are achieved. The maximum amount that should be added is 2 tbsp. Milk ought to be frozen before use, as it should be slushy when added to the mixture. This is because milk has a tendency to overheat.
Spices: For a spicy scent, add ground cloves to the soap mixture. Powdered cinnamon,when added to the soap imparts a spicy, speckled-brown natural hue and a home-baked scent to the soap. Cinnamon is believed to be a stress reliever and stimulant. However, large amounts of cinnamon can result in skin irritation, thus it needs to be used sparingly. In order to give a warm brown color, cocoa powder can be added.
Other Additives: Aloe vera relieves dry as well as burned skin and is a good soap additive. Honey also has relaxing properties and can be added in a limited quantity, as too much honey softens soap. Oatmeal (regular oatmeal) with its soothing and exfoliating properties is another option. Cornmeal, sugar and salts can be used as natural exfoliants. Poppy seeds are gentle exfoliants which add an interesting texture to the soap. If one is looking for a natural colorant, then adding Calendula petals is a good idea. These petals hold their golden color in the soap and add natural beauty to it. Beeswax can be added as it not only acts as a hardening agent, but also imparts a lovely, fragrant aroma. Coffee is a common natural deodorizer. People who have oily skin can add clay (Glacial or Bentonite), as clay has the ability to draw excess oil from the skin. Almond meal helps absorb excess oil from the skin and unclogs pores.
While adding foodchem additives, it is advisable to place them in the mold before pouring soap. This will allow the additives to be on the top of the soap, giving them a unique look. Using the above homemade soap additives ideas, one can make a unique soap that suits one’s personal needs. These homemade soaps make wonderful gifts as well!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
What's Hard Water Soap
Hard water contains many minerals that affect the cleaning process and also forms soap scum. A soap is one of the commonest used household material. It is believed that a soap with a good lather is better than a soap with relatively less lather. Natural soaps are nowadays a part of our daily life. The quality of soap not only depends on the chemicals that are used in it, but also on the type of water that is being used with it. Water as such has no classification, however, generally it is divided into two categories, hard water and soft water.
What Is Hard And Soft Water?
Hard water is usually defined as the water that doesn't form lather with a soap. It contains a lot of minerals that makes it unfit and harmful to some extent for various purposes. It contains high amounts of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and also certain amounts of Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn). It also contains dissolved compounds of sulfates and carbonates. Hardness in water is of two types, temporary hardness and permanent hardness. Temporary hardness can be removed by simple process like boiling, but permanent hardness can't be easily removed. Soft water on the other hand is free of the minerals and contains cations of sodium and some anions. Soft water is considered to form lather with soap, however, since it is devoid of many ions and minerals it usually tastes salty.
Basic Chemistry of Soaps
Water has the unique property of surface tension that you can easily observe by dripping a drop of water on a table or a glass or even on your hands. It is due to the property of surface tension that water droplets are spherical in shape. A drop of water will always try to be in a spherical shape and it won't spread on the table, unless disturbed by an external source. In the process of cleaning, it is necessary that the surface tension is reduced and water molecules are spread throughout the surface that is to be cleaned. Soaps and surfactants are the chemical substances that have certain foodchem ingredients that play important role in cleaning, loosening and dispersing in water. This also helps in holding the soil in suspension until the dust and dirt is rinsed away. Soaps are basically water-soluble, sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids. Generally, soaps are made from fats and oils by treating them with a strong alkali. Saponification is a process that is used to manufacture soaps. Soaps act as an excellent cleanser that emulsifies the fat and insoluble particles.
Effects Of Hard Water: Soap Scum
Soap scum is a natural consequence of the interaction of the calcium and mineral ions in hard water and the soap chemicals. This leads to the formation of an insoluble compound that precipitates to form a scum, that we generally refer to as soap scum. The scum generally occurs due to the chemicals in the water contrary to the belief that the soap chemicals are responsible for its occurrence.
There is a lot of research being carried out by soap manufacturing companies in order to reduce problems of soap scum and poor lather in hard water. Companies are experimenting with natural food additives like coconut oil, so that effective soaps can be developed that can form good lather even with hard water.
What Is Hard And Soft Water?
Hard water is usually defined as the water that doesn't form lather with a soap. It contains a lot of minerals that makes it unfit and harmful to some extent for various purposes. It contains high amounts of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and also certain amounts of Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn). It also contains dissolved compounds of sulfates and carbonates. Hardness in water is of two types, temporary hardness and permanent hardness. Temporary hardness can be removed by simple process like boiling, but permanent hardness can't be easily removed. Soft water on the other hand is free of the minerals and contains cations of sodium and some anions. Soft water is considered to form lather with soap, however, since it is devoid of many ions and minerals it usually tastes salty.
Basic Chemistry of Soaps
Water has the unique property of surface tension that you can easily observe by dripping a drop of water on a table or a glass or even on your hands. It is due to the property of surface tension that water droplets are spherical in shape. A drop of water will always try to be in a spherical shape and it won't spread on the table, unless disturbed by an external source. In the process of cleaning, it is necessary that the surface tension is reduced and water molecules are spread throughout the surface that is to be cleaned. Soaps and surfactants are the chemical substances that have certain foodchem ingredients that play important role in cleaning, loosening and dispersing in water. This also helps in holding the soil in suspension until the dust and dirt is rinsed away. Soaps are basically water-soluble, sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids. Generally, soaps are made from fats and oils by treating them with a strong alkali. Saponification is a process that is used to manufacture soaps. Soaps act as an excellent cleanser that emulsifies the fat and insoluble particles.
Effects Of Hard Water: Soap Scum
Soap scum is a natural consequence of the interaction of the calcium and mineral ions in hard water and the soap chemicals. This leads to the formation of an insoluble compound that precipitates to form a scum, that we generally refer to as soap scum. The scum generally occurs due to the chemicals in the water contrary to the belief that the soap chemicals are responsible for its occurrence.
There is a lot of research being carried out by soap manufacturing companies in order to reduce problems of soap scum and poor lather in hard water. Companies are experimenting with natural food additives like coconut oil, so that effective soaps can be developed that can form good lather even with hard water.
Recipe Of Henna Hair Dye
A henna hair dye recipe is easy to make and its ingredients are readily available. Being a purely natural product, you can use henna hair dye any time to improve your hair color and texture.
Henna hair dye is a natural product, prepared from the flowering plant Lawsonia Inermis. The leaves of this plant is used for hair coloring and body art. The plant contains an active ingredient called lawsone that gives color to the skin and hair. Basically, the natural henna hair dye colors are light red and burgundy. Nevertheless, food additives can be mixed with henna powder to give different shades of color to the hair.
Since henna hair dye is a herbal formulation, it is almost free from the side effects that can be a result of harmful hair coloring products sold in the market. Most people use henna hair dye for gray hair covering, while some apply it for reducing hair fall, promoting hair growth and adding volume to the hair. Based on your purpose of applying, henna hair dye recipe can be easy to complex.
Henna Hair Dye
Similar to other natural hair dye recipes, henna hair dye is easy to prepare at home. You can make it just by mixing henna powder with water. However, complex henna recipes using acidic ingredients and additives also exists. Acid quickens the release of lawsone dye and is preferable for giving red color to the hair. You can also add coffee, tea leaves and essential oils to mask the henna smell, as well as to smoothen the hair texture. The ingredients and steps for brewing henna are as follows.
Supplies Required
Henna powder (preferably body art quality), Citrus juices (lemon or grapefruit juice), Plastic stain free container, Plastic spoon, Zipper bag or plastic wrap.
Procedure
a. Depending upon your hair length and volume, take about 150-500 grams of henna powder in a plastic container.
b. Add 2-3 teaspoons of citrus juices or vinegar to the henna powder and stir the mixture well.
c. If you're using coffee, tea leaves and essential oils, add them in sufficient amounts in the mixing bowl.
d. Stir the mixture and check its consistency. If it is very thick, gently add water and continue stirring.
e. Stop adding water when the consistency of the dye resembles that of yogurt.
f. Cover the mixture with a plastic wrap or a zipper bag and leave it overnight or for about 6 hours.
You can check whether the henna hair dye is ready or not by dipping a white paper. If the paper is stained orange, then it is done and you can apply it.
In case, you do not want to go through the steps for preparation of henna hair dye, you can opt for pre-mixed colors of henna that are available in the market. There is a high chance that these products contain additional chemicals and metallic salts, hence, make sure you purchase it from a reliable brand.
Henna Dyeing Instructions
The same henna hair dye recipe gives different colors for varied hair types. So, do not proceed with applying henna hair dye, just because you like the hair shade of your friend who has recently applied henna. The best way is to check the color by conducting a strand test. You can use shed hair from the hair brush for this test. Prepare the dye in a small bowl as per your choice and add the shed hair. Soak for about 3-6 hours or as much time as you want to keep the henna mix on your hair. Wash and rinse the hair with cold water and wait for a few days to check the color. If you like the hair shade, only then apply the henna dye.
For applying henna hair dye, shampoo and towel dry your hair. To prevent staining your hands and clothes, you can wear gloves and old shirts. For easy application, you can comb and part the hair into sections. Using a squeeze bottle, start applying henna dye from the nape of the neck and cover the root of the hair till the end. Continue applying upwards till all the hair strands are covered with henna paste. Once you are done with henna application, wrap your head with a clean plastic bag to avoid dripping. Clean the drops of henna from the forehead, ears and neck (if any). Leave the henna hair dye for at least 2 hours and rinse with cold water.
This was in brief about henna dye recipe and instructions for its application. As the color of henna hair dye changes after foodchem oxidation, the actual hair shade is observed after a few days of dyeing. This henna hair dyeing is temporary and the color may retain for about two months. However, repeated henna hair dyeing helps in permanent coloring of the hair strands.
Henna hair dye is a natural product, prepared from the flowering plant Lawsonia Inermis. The leaves of this plant is used for hair coloring and body art. The plant contains an active ingredient called lawsone that gives color to the skin and hair. Basically, the natural henna hair dye colors are light red and burgundy. Nevertheless, food additives can be mixed with henna powder to give different shades of color to the hair.
Since henna hair dye is a herbal formulation, it is almost free from the side effects that can be a result of harmful hair coloring products sold in the market. Most people use henna hair dye for gray hair covering, while some apply it for reducing hair fall, promoting hair growth and adding volume to the hair. Based on your purpose of applying, henna hair dye recipe can be easy to complex.
Henna Hair Dye
Similar to other natural hair dye recipes, henna hair dye is easy to prepare at home. You can make it just by mixing henna powder with water. However, complex henna recipes using acidic ingredients and additives also exists. Acid quickens the release of lawsone dye and is preferable for giving red color to the hair. You can also add coffee, tea leaves and essential oils to mask the henna smell, as well as to smoothen the hair texture. The ingredients and steps for brewing henna are as follows.
Supplies Required
Henna powder (preferably body art quality), Citrus juices (lemon or grapefruit juice), Plastic stain free container, Plastic spoon, Zipper bag or plastic wrap.
Procedure
a. Depending upon your hair length and volume, take about 150-500 grams of henna powder in a plastic container.
b. Add 2-3 teaspoons of citrus juices or vinegar to the henna powder and stir the mixture well.
c. If you're using coffee, tea leaves and essential oils, add them in sufficient amounts in the mixing bowl.
d. Stir the mixture and check its consistency. If it is very thick, gently add water and continue stirring.
e. Stop adding water when the consistency of the dye resembles that of yogurt.
f. Cover the mixture with a plastic wrap or a zipper bag and leave it overnight or for about 6 hours.
You can check whether the henna hair dye is ready or not by dipping a white paper. If the paper is stained orange, then it is done and you can apply it.
In case, you do not want to go through the steps for preparation of henna hair dye, you can opt for pre-mixed colors of henna that are available in the market. There is a high chance that these products contain additional chemicals and metallic salts, hence, make sure you purchase it from a reliable brand.
Henna Dyeing Instructions
The same henna hair dye recipe gives different colors for varied hair types. So, do not proceed with applying henna hair dye, just because you like the hair shade of your friend who has recently applied henna. The best way is to check the color by conducting a strand test. You can use shed hair from the hair brush for this test. Prepare the dye in a small bowl as per your choice and add the shed hair. Soak for about 3-6 hours or as much time as you want to keep the henna mix on your hair. Wash and rinse the hair with cold water and wait for a few days to check the color. If you like the hair shade, only then apply the henna dye.
For applying henna hair dye, shampoo and towel dry your hair. To prevent staining your hands and clothes, you can wear gloves and old shirts. For easy application, you can comb and part the hair into sections. Using a squeeze bottle, start applying henna dye from the nape of the neck and cover the root of the hair till the end. Continue applying upwards till all the hair strands are covered with henna paste. Once you are done with henna application, wrap your head with a clean plastic bag to avoid dripping. Clean the drops of henna from the forehead, ears and neck (if any). Leave the henna hair dye for at least 2 hours and rinse with cold water.
This was in brief about henna dye recipe and instructions for its application. As the color of henna hair dye changes after foodchem oxidation, the actual hair shade is observed after a few days of dyeing. This henna hair dyeing is temporary and the color may retain for about two months. However, repeated henna hair dyeing helps in permanent coloring of the hair strands.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Substitutes For Cooking
There are substitutes for spices, there are substitutes for sauces. There are substitutes for bakery and dairy products. Gosh, there are alternatives for so many things in cooking.
Nothing can be substituted for; some say. But that doesn’t seem to be true in case of cooking and eating. “If not this, then that”, is the general human tendency there. We try to find substitutes for everything in life, although somewhere at the back of our minds, we know that’s not really possible. Substituting everything in life is impossible and so be it!
But, when it comes to food, there are substitutes for almost every food ingredient. But there is one thing that cannot be substituted for, it’s the taste. Why do similar recipes made by different people have different tastes? It is because the taste of a recipe does not depend only on its ingredients and method of preparation. It also depends on who cooks it. It’s not just the ingredients that go into a recipe and give it the taste. And if ‘only’ they did, mother’s recipes wouldn’t taste different! When mom prepares food, perhaps her love sneaks into the recipe and adds to the ingredients! And that is why nothing can substitute for the flavor of something that’s mom-made. There can be substitutes for ingredients but there’s no substitute for the taste.
Why recipe substitutions? We need them when certain ingredients are unavailable at home or in the market. When we forget to buy the stuff we need, that is when we need to get hold of something that is handy. Using margarine as a substitute for butter and vice versa is a common example of the use of substitutes in cooking. Vegetable oil and vegetable shortening can substitute each other; grape juice can substitute wine. It’s common sense to use foods of similar flavor as alternatives for one another. Obviously, you won’t like the substitutes to bring about a radical change to how your recipe tastes. Or you will find yourself finding a substitute for what you have cooked!
Cooking is an art, for some, a hobby, a stress buster. I am sure you wouldn’t want to alter the taste of what you are planning to prepare, just because you are using substitutes. The use of substitutes in cooking is an adjustment with the availability of foodstuffs. It’s definitely not a compromise with the taste. So, choose the substitutes right and go for them only if you don’t have the originals at hand. Mostly, when you are short of time to buy the ingredients or when you don’t have them in the required quantities, you need to opt for their substitutes. Here is a list of the different substitutes in cooking. It will help you find the right alternatives in cooking and still retain the near-original flavor of the dish. With this list handy, you won’t have to cook up stories of the unavailability of ingredients. You will be able to cook; if not with the actual ingredients, but definitely with their readily available substitutes!
Here we give you tables for ingredients falling under different categories. Each table gives you a list of recipe ingredients along with their substitutes. In some cases, the substitute is the one most commonly used; in some cases, it’s one of the many that are used. There can be many alternatives for a given ingredient. For other alternatives apart from the ones given in the table, you can refer to the ‘also see’ column and start planning what to cook next and how; with the actual ingredients or their substitutes? Whichever way you choose, be happy while you cook; it will reflect in the recipe. That’s another thing that can’t be substituted for.
Substitutes in Baking
Given here is a substitutes list for ingredients that often get into the oven or the microwave and come out baked and delicious. Take for example cakes and bread recipes, that most of us love to eat. Can you imagine anything substituting for bread flour? Do you think there can be an egg substitute in cake? Well, if you don’t, you are wrong. There are alternatives for so many things in baking. Read on to find out.
Food Item Substitute(s) Also See
a. Egg Tofu Egg Substitute in Baking
b. Sugar maple syrup, honey, molasses Sugar Substitutes for Baking
c. Cocoa carob powder Cocoa Powder Substitute
d. Kirsch Cherry syrup Kirsch Substitute in Baking
e. Oil in Baking apple sauce, butter Oil Substitute in Baking
f. Baking Powder baking soda with cream of tartar, buttermilk or lime juice Baking Powder Substitute
g. Baking Soda baking powder Baking Soda Substitute
h. Cream of Tartar baking powder Cream of Tartar Substitute
i. Shortening butter, margarine or oil Shortening Substitute
j. Cake Flour all-purpose flour with cornstarch or pastry flour Cake Flour Substitute
k. Bread Flour all-purpose flour Bread Flour Substitute
l. Self Rising Flour all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt Self Rising Flour Substitute
Substitutes for Milk and Milk Products
Condense it, it’s tastier; evaporate it, it can still be used; powder it, it’s still not useless; extract all its fat or make it sour; process it in the way you like; its usability won’t diminish at all. Well, I am talking about milk! Milk in all its forms and their substitutes…that’s what the following table gives you. Take a look.
Food Item Substitute(s) Also See
a. Milk plant milk, grain milk Milk Substitute
b. Evaporated Milk dry milk and water, soy milk or fresh milk Evaporated Milk Substitute
c. Condensed Milk mixture of dry milk, boiling water and butter, with sweetener added Condensed Milk Substitute
d. Powdered Milk regular milk or coconut milk Powdered Milk Substitute
e. Heavy Cream a mixture of milk and unsalted butter Heavy Cream Substitute
f. Sour Cream butter added to sour milk of buttermilk Sour Cream Substitute
g. Butter margarine or olive oil Butter Substitute
h. Buttermilk yogurt or cream of tartar added to plain milk Buttermilk Substitute
Substituting for Sauces
Sauce, derived from the Latin word salsus, which means salted, is an important element of every cuisine. Be it a French food recipe or a pasta from the Italian cuisine; be it Chinese, Peruvian, Korean or British, sauces are a part of every kind of cooking. They are a must-haves for the saucy flavor they render to recipes. But what if the sauce is not available with you every time you need it? The simple solution is to opt for its substitute. Here is the table of substitutes for some of these commonly used sauces.
Food Item Substitute(s) Also See
Oyster Sauce soy sauce or fish sauce Oyster Sauce Substitute
Soy Sauce concoction of garlic vinegar, onion powder, ground ginger and blackstrap Soy Sauce Substitute
Tomato Sauce tomato paste or tomato juice Tomato Sauce Substitute
Hoisin Sauce a paste of prunes and sherry, soy sauce and garlic added Hoisin Sauce Substitute
Worcestershire Sauce steak sauce or soy sauce Worcestershire Sauce Substitute
Substitutes for Food Additives: Spices, Herbs, Sweeteners
The table that follows enlists the substitutes of ingredients that spice up food – the herbs and spices and of ingredients that sweeten food recipes – yes, the sweeteners; all of which are categorized as food additives as they make a value addition to the taste of food.
Food Item Substitute(s) Also See
a. Anise Seed star anise seeds or fennel seeds Anise Seed Substitute
b. Bay Leaf thyme or ground basil Bay Leaf Substitute
c. Cardamom mixture of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves or brown cardamom(lesser expensive substitute) Cardamom Substitute
d. Fennel celery Fennel Substitute
e. Celery Seed celery salt or dill seed Celery Seed Substitute
f. Celery Salt ground celery seeds Celery Salt Substitute
g. Cumin caraway or anise seeds Cumin Seeds Substitute
h. Coriander Seeds a mixture of caraway, cumin and fennel seeds Coriander Seeds Substitute
i. Galangal ginger root Galangal Substitute
j. Nutmeg cinnamon or mace Nutmeg Substitute
k. Paprika cayenne pepper, red pepper or chili powder Paprika Substitute
l. Vegetable Oil applesauce, coconut oil Vegetable Oil Substitute
m. Cooking Oil applesauce Cooking Oil Substitute
n. Sesame Oil peanut oil or toasted sesame seeds; light sesame oil for the dark one Sesame Oil Substitute
o. Canola Oil vegetable oil, olive oil Canola Oil Substitute
p. Safflower Oil canola oil, soybean oil Safflower Oil Substitute
q. Grape seed Oil safflower oil, sunflower oil Grape seed Oil Substitute
r. Xanthan Gum guar gum Xanthan Gum Substitute
s. White Wine Vinegar white vinegar or cider vinegar White Wine Vinegar Substitute
t. Powdered Sugar blended mixture of granulated sugar and cornstarch or blended plain sugar Powdered Sugar Substitute
u. Brown Sugar mixture of granulated sugar and molasses Brown Sugar Substitute
v. Corn Syrup honey or molasses Corn Syrup Substitute
w. Molasses corn syrup, brown sugar Molasses Substitute
x. Agave Nectar sugar syrup, honey, maple syrup Agave Nectar Substitute
y. Vanilla Extract maple syrup, almond extract, Fiori di sicilia extract or vanilla essence Vanilla Extract Substitute
z. Vanilla Bean vanilla extract Vanilla Bean Substitute
Other Foods and their Substitutes
There’s always this ‘others’ category in everything. Something that does not belong to any particular foodchem category is conveniently made a part of ‘others’. The table below enlists substitutes for all those food items that could not be made to belong to any of the aforementioned categories. But they are important in their own right.
Food Item Substitute(s) Also See
a. Dry White Wine dry white vermouth, apple cider vinegar(non-alcoholic) -
b. Coconut Milk combination of hot water or milk and coconut cream Coconut Milk Substitute
c. Cornstarch rice flour, arrowroot, potato flour or all-purpose flour(double the qnty) Cornstarch Substitute
d. Tapioca Flour arrowroot powder Tapioca Flour Substitute
e. Cocoa Powder baking soda added to unsweetened chocolate Cocoa Powder Substitute
f. Cream Cheese French Neufchatel, ricotta cheese or fat-free yogurt Cream Cheese Substitute
Remember, substitutes in cooking serve the right purpose only when you know what not to substitute for.
Nothing can be substituted for; some say. But that doesn’t seem to be true in case of cooking and eating. “If not this, then that”, is the general human tendency there. We try to find substitutes for everything in life, although somewhere at the back of our minds, we know that’s not really possible. Substituting everything in life is impossible and so be it!
But, when it comes to food, there are substitutes for almost every food ingredient. But there is one thing that cannot be substituted for, it’s the taste. Why do similar recipes made by different people have different tastes? It is because the taste of a recipe does not depend only on its ingredients and method of preparation. It also depends on who cooks it. It’s not just the ingredients that go into a recipe and give it the taste. And if ‘only’ they did, mother’s recipes wouldn’t taste different! When mom prepares food, perhaps her love sneaks into the recipe and adds to the ingredients! And that is why nothing can substitute for the flavor of something that’s mom-made. There can be substitutes for ingredients but there’s no substitute for the taste.
Why recipe substitutions? We need them when certain ingredients are unavailable at home or in the market. When we forget to buy the stuff we need, that is when we need to get hold of something that is handy. Using margarine as a substitute for butter and vice versa is a common example of the use of substitutes in cooking. Vegetable oil and vegetable shortening can substitute each other; grape juice can substitute wine. It’s common sense to use foods of similar flavor as alternatives for one another. Obviously, you won’t like the substitutes to bring about a radical change to how your recipe tastes. Or you will find yourself finding a substitute for what you have cooked!
Cooking is an art, for some, a hobby, a stress buster. I am sure you wouldn’t want to alter the taste of what you are planning to prepare, just because you are using substitutes. The use of substitutes in cooking is an adjustment with the availability of foodstuffs. It’s definitely not a compromise with the taste. So, choose the substitutes right and go for them only if you don’t have the originals at hand. Mostly, when you are short of time to buy the ingredients or when you don’t have them in the required quantities, you need to opt for their substitutes. Here is a list of the different substitutes in cooking. It will help you find the right alternatives in cooking and still retain the near-original flavor of the dish. With this list handy, you won’t have to cook up stories of the unavailability of ingredients. You will be able to cook; if not with the actual ingredients, but definitely with their readily available substitutes!
Here we give you tables for ingredients falling under different categories. Each table gives you a list of recipe ingredients along with their substitutes. In some cases, the substitute is the one most commonly used; in some cases, it’s one of the many that are used. There can be many alternatives for a given ingredient. For other alternatives apart from the ones given in the table, you can refer to the ‘also see’ column and start planning what to cook next and how; with the actual ingredients or their substitutes? Whichever way you choose, be happy while you cook; it will reflect in the recipe. That’s another thing that can’t be substituted for.
Substitutes in Baking
Given here is a substitutes list for ingredients that often get into the oven or the microwave and come out baked and delicious. Take for example cakes and bread recipes, that most of us love to eat. Can you imagine anything substituting for bread flour? Do you think there can be an egg substitute in cake? Well, if you don’t, you are wrong. There are alternatives for so many things in baking. Read on to find out.
Food Item Substitute(s) Also See
a. Egg Tofu Egg Substitute in Baking
b. Sugar maple syrup, honey, molasses Sugar Substitutes for Baking
c. Cocoa carob powder Cocoa Powder Substitute
d. Kirsch Cherry syrup Kirsch Substitute in Baking
e. Oil in Baking apple sauce, butter Oil Substitute in Baking
f. Baking Powder baking soda with cream of tartar, buttermilk or lime juice Baking Powder Substitute
g. Baking Soda baking powder Baking Soda Substitute
h. Cream of Tartar baking powder Cream of Tartar Substitute
i. Shortening butter, margarine or oil Shortening Substitute
j. Cake Flour all-purpose flour with cornstarch or pastry flour Cake Flour Substitute
k. Bread Flour all-purpose flour Bread Flour Substitute
l. Self Rising Flour all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt Self Rising Flour Substitute
Substitutes for Milk and Milk Products
Condense it, it’s tastier; evaporate it, it can still be used; powder it, it’s still not useless; extract all its fat or make it sour; process it in the way you like; its usability won’t diminish at all. Well, I am talking about milk! Milk in all its forms and their substitutes…that’s what the following table gives you. Take a look.
Food Item Substitute(s) Also See
a. Milk plant milk, grain milk Milk Substitute
b. Evaporated Milk dry milk and water, soy milk or fresh milk Evaporated Milk Substitute
c. Condensed Milk mixture of dry milk, boiling water and butter, with sweetener added Condensed Milk Substitute
d. Powdered Milk regular milk or coconut milk Powdered Milk Substitute
e. Heavy Cream a mixture of milk and unsalted butter Heavy Cream Substitute
f. Sour Cream butter added to sour milk of buttermilk Sour Cream Substitute
g. Butter margarine or olive oil Butter Substitute
h. Buttermilk yogurt or cream of tartar added to plain milk Buttermilk Substitute
Substituting for Sauces
Sauce, derived from the Latin word salsus, which means salted, is an important element of every cuisine. Be it a French food recipe or a pasta from the Italian cuisine; be it Chinese, Peruvian, Korean or British, sauces are a part of every kind of cooking. They are a must-haves for the saucy flavor they render to recipes. But what if the sauce is not available with you every time you need it? The simple solution is to opt for its substitute. Here is the table of substitutes for some of these commonly used sauces.
Food Item Substitute(s) Also See
Oyster Sauce soy sauce or fish sauce Oyster Sauce Substitute
Soy Sauce concoction of garlic vinegar, onion powder, ground ginger and blackstrap Soy Sauce Substitute
Tomato Sauce tomato paste or tomato juice Tomato Sauce Substitute
Hoisin Sauce a paste of prunes and sherry, soy sauce and garlic added Hoisin Sauce Substitute
Worcestershire Sauce steak sauce or soy sauce Worcestershire Sauce Substitute
Substitutes for Food Additives: Spices, Herbs, Sweeteners
The table that follows enlists the substitutes of ingredients that spice up food – the herbs and spices and of ingredients that sweeten food recipes – yes, the sweeteners; all of which are categorized as food additives as they make a value addition to the taste of food.
Food Item Substitute(s) Also See
a. Anise Seed star anise seeds or fennel seeds Anise Seed Substitute
b. Bay Leaf thyme or ground basil Bay Leaf Substitute
c. Cardamom mixture of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves or brown cardamom(lesser expensive substitute) Cardamom Substitute
d. Fennel celery Fennel Substitute
e. Celery Seed celery salt or dill seed Celery Seed Substitute
f. Celery Salt ground celery seeds Celery Salt Substitute
g. Cumin caraway or anise seeds Cumin Seeds Substitute
h. Coriander Seeds a mixture of caraway, cumin and fennel seeds Coriander Seeds Substitute
i. Galangal ginger root Galangal Substitute
j. Nutmeg cinnamon or mace Nutmeg Substitute
k. Paprika cayenne pepper, red pepper or chili powder Paprika Substitute
l. Vegetable Oil applesauce, coconut oil Vegetable Oil Substitute
m. Cooking Oil applesauce Cooking Oil Substitute
n. Sesame Oil peanut oil or toasted sesame seeds; light sesame oil for the dark one Sesame Oil Substitute
o. Canola Oil vegetable oil, olive oil Canola Oil Substitute
p. Safflower Oil canola oil, soybean oil Safflower Oil Substitute
q. Grape seed Oil safflower oil, sunflower oil Grape seed Oil Substitute
r. Xanthan Gum guar gum Xanthan Gum Substitute
s. White Wine Vinegar white vinegar or cider vinegar White Wine Vinegar Substitute
t. Powdered Sugar blended mixture of granulated sugar and cornstarch or blended plain sugar Powdered Sugar Substitute
u. Brown Sugar mixture of granulated sugar and molasses Brown Sugar Substitute
v. Corn Syrup honey or molasses Corn Syrup Substitute
w. Molasses corn syrup, brown sugar Molasses Substitute
x. Agave Nectar sugar syrup, honey, maple syrup Agave Nectar Substitute
y. Vanilla Extract maple syrup, almond extract, Fiori di sicilia extract or vanilla essence Vanilla Extract Substitute
z. Vanilla Bean vanilla extract Vanilla Bean Substitute
Other Foods and their Substitutes
There’s always this ‘others’ category in everything. Something that does not belong to any particular foodchem category is conveniently made a part of ‘others’. The table below enlists substitutes for all those food items that could not be made to belong to any of the aforementioned categories. But they are important in their own right.
Food Item Substitute(s) Also See
a. Dry White Wine dry white vermouth, apple cider vinegar(non-alcoholic) -
b. Coconut Milk combination of hot water or milk and coconut cream Coconut Milk Substitute
c. Cornstarch rice flour, arrowroot, potato flour or all-purpose flour(double the qnty) Cornstarch Substitute
d. Tapioca Flour arrowroot powder Tapioca Flour Substitute
e. Cocoa Powder baking soda added to unsweetened chocolate Cocoa Powder Substitute
f. Cream Cheese French Neufchatel, ricotta cheese or fat-free yogurt Cream Cheese Substitute
Remember, substitutes in cooking serve the right purpose only when you know what not to substitute for.
Difference Between Synthetic Oil and Regular Oil
Synthetic oil vs. regular oil is a complicated debate and several different opinions and facts that have been discussed by engineers. Today, a significant amount of confusion still exists regarding the issue, what is better, synthetic or mineral. Fact is, this debate does not have any concrete conclusions.
If you walk into the nearest mechanic’s garage, you will notice that there are several different types of lubricants that are used by mechanics and engineers to minimize friction that is caused, while running automobiles. There are several kinds of lubricants that are used to aid the functioning of components that range from the suspension systems of your automobile to the pistons in the engine. In short, almost all the moving components in your vehicle require lubrication to keep it in good shape.
Motor Oil: Synthetic and Mineral
Motor oil, essentially lubricates the parts which are located inside the engine blocks. This oil acts as a lubricant to minimize the moving parts, a coolant (to some extent) and a protective cover of the metallic moving parts. In short motor oil goes into the engine block to aid its functioning and also reduce the friction.
Any motor oil, may it be synthetic or mineral (regular), consists of two key components:
a. Base Stock: The base stock is principally the oils which consist of the major volume of the motor oil. Base stocks can be of 3 types:
Competently conventional/regular base stocks are derived from crude oil and have natural mineral oil in them. This usually accounts for the existence of uneven and odd sized molecules.
There are some stocks which are a combination of synthetic and regular stocks.
Synthetic base stocks are the ones which are composed artificially, by using a number of chemicals which are synthesized.
b. Additives: Food Additives are the different chemicals within the motor oils, which help oil and the engine to function properly. Additives usually include:
Anti-wear agents
Anti-foam agents
Anti-rust and corrosion agents
Oxidation Inhibitors
Extreme Pressure Additives
Viscosity Index Improver
Friction Modifiers
Pour Point Depressants
There are, of course, certain differences in the compositions of different manufacturers. The following is a table showing the different types of oil and their ‘Lubricant Viscosity Grades’, by the Society of Automobile Engineers.
Fully Synthetic Oils Semi-synthetic/Mixed/Semi-regular Fully Regular/Mineral Oils
0W-30
0W-40
5W-40
5W-30
10W-40
15W-40
10W-40
15W-40
(*note: The number before the ‘W’ states the viscosity at low/cold temperatures and the number after the W states the viscosity at high/hot temperatures, the numbers are largely comparative)
Which One is Better?
Both, synthetic oil as well as regular oil are basically used in the piston block of the car’s engine. The piston block is cylindrical in shape and holds the pistons within it. The piston of your car keeps on moving up and down to keep the automobile running. The synthetic or the conventional motor oil forms a layer of molecules over the inner surfaces of piston blocks, thus smoothing out the motion of the pistons. There are two basic advantages of using these oils as lubricants in the engine. The first advantage is that the pistons get lubricated and there is ease of motion. The second advantage is that the heat that is formed within the engine also gets substantially reduced, thereby increasing the life of the engine and the quality of firing. Another genuine advantage of using lubricating oil in the engine is that it drastically boosts the fuel economy of the automobile.
You must be wondering when choosing between synthetic oil vs. regular conventional oil for motor which would prove to be beneficial. Before we actually look at the comparison, let us have a look at some of the proprieties and important characteristics of synthetic motor oil and conventional motor oil.
There are many characteristics and merits, as well as demerits of both the oils.
1. Synthetic Oil
Synthetic oil, on the other hand, is man-made and is manufactured by the chemical industry using different processes. Unlike the nonuniform structure of the molecules in the conventional motor oil, the molecules of the synthetic oil are uniform to the extent of being almost identical to one another. This type of molecular structure is often considered as a very good merit or characteristic of any lubricant.
As mentioned above, the debate on synthetic motor oil vs. regular oil does not have any kind of concrete conclusion. However, it is worth comparing the many merits and demerits of both the types of oils.
2. Regular Oil
The boom in the automobile industry that occurred just before the World War I, saw many changes in the auto parts, lubricants and fuels that were used in the automobiles. In these initial stages of development, regular oil was used as a lubricant for the piston and piston blocks. The constant changes and improvisations in the conventional or regular oil has shown many proven advantages in using it as a lubricant.
Conventional lubrication oil which is also known as mineral oil, is a product of the process of fractional distillation, which is used to break down petroleum into various products. In case of conventional oil, the molecular structuring is rather uneven and yet possess a quality of high lubrication. The advantage of conventional motor oil is that it is cheaper than synthetic oil and is available almost universally.
3. When to Use What
As we know, conventional motor oil that is derived from crude oil has an uneven molecular structure. This makes it suitable for new engines. The internal surfaces of the new engine, though shaped and forged very beautifully are not hundred percent accurate. Due to this, the inner surface of the piston block and the surface of the piston itself becomes extremely accurate, as the excess and inaccurate points (which are technically known faults) on the surfaces get shredded off as a result of the friction and heat. The uneven molecules aid this evening out of the auto components. There are, however, two drawbacks of this type of oil. The first drawback is that the regular oil gets oxidized at a very high temperature, which results into creation of pollutants. In same way, at very low temperatures, formation of sludge occurs which renders the oil, useless.
The synthetic oil, on the other hand, does not have any type of drawback, when it comes to extreme temperatures and air pollution. This type of oil is gives very good results, when it is used for car engines that are a few years old. The synthetic oil is extremely instrumental, when it comes to preservation of the engine components and ensures excellent running of the engine. The only drawback is that the synthetic oil, in present day market, is rather costly. To know more about this debate, read more on: synthetic oil vs. mineral oil.
Some Essential Tips
If you are planning to change the type of motor oil you choose, you can take a look at the following tips:
1. If your car is pretty old and you have been using it for quite a long time, then it is recommended that you do not suddenly shift from regular to synthetic as there is a possibility, that the synthetic oil which is very, very fine in nature may leak through the well used components of the engine block.
2. Your car ,manual would mention the brand and grade of the oil which suits the engine best. Hence it is best to use the said oil and its grade.
3. Climate and temperature where you live affects the viscosity of oil. If you live in a place where you experience extreme climates and temperatures, then get in touch with the company or the car’s dealer as he will recommend you the appropriate grade.
4. Often engineers recommend the use of regular/mineral oil when an automobile is newly purchased, till the engines are properly run in, following which the user can switch to synthetic oil. Now it is very important, that one clarifies two points, one for how much time should the mineral oil be used, and two, should the change be sudden or should one go to semi-synthetic oil first and then switch to completely synthetic oil.
5. If possible, it is also advisable that one uses the brand which is recommended by the automobile manufacturer.
As a conclusion it can be said that, to reduce the car engine problems, mineral oil should be used in the initial periods of the life of the engine, and for the later on years, it would be good to use the synthetic oil foodchem. Well, I hope this short debate on synthetic oil vs. regular oil provides some useful information!
If you walk into the nearest mechanic’s garage, you will notice that there are several different types of lubricants that are used by mechanics and engineers to minimize friction that is caused, while running automobiles. There are several kinds of lubricants that are used to aid the functioning of components that range from the suspension systems of your automobile to the pistons in the engine. In short, almost all the moving components in your vehicle require lubrication to keep it in good shape.
Motor Oil: Synthetic and Mineral
Motor oil, essentially lubricates the parts which are located inside the engine blocks. This oil acts as a lubricant to minimize the moving parts, a coolant (to some extent) and a protective cover of the metallic moving parts. In short motor oil goes into the engine block to aid its functioning and also reduce the friction.
Any motor oil, may it be synthetic or mineral (regular), consists of two key components:
a. Base Stock: The base stock is principally the oils which consist of the major volume of the motor oil. Base stocks can be of 3 types:
Competently conventional/regular base stocks are derived from crude oil and have natural mineral oil in them. This usually accounts for the existence of uneven and odd sized molecules.
There are some stocks which are a combination of synthetic and regular stocks.
Synthetic base stocks are the ones which are composed artificially, by using a number of chemicals which are synthesized.
b. Additives: Food Additives are the different chemicals within the motor oils, which help oil and the engine to function properly. Additives usually include:
Anti-wear agents
Anti-foam agents
Anti-rust and corrosion agents
Oxidation Inhibitors
Extreme Pressure Additives
Viscosity Index Improver
Friction Modifiers
Pour Point Depressants
There are, of course, certain differences in the compositions of different manufacturers. The following is a table showing the different types of oil and their ‘Lubricant Viscosity Grades’, by the Society of Automobile Engineers.
Fully Synthetic Oils Semi-synthetic/Mixed/Semi-regular Fully Regular/Mineral Oils
0W-30
0W-40
5W-40
5W-30
10W-40
15W-40
10W-40
15W-40
(*note: The number before the ‘W’ states the viscosity at low/cold temperatures and the number after the W states the viscosity at high/hot temperatures, the numbers are largely comparative)
Which One is Better?
Both, synthetic oil as well as regular oil are basically used in the piston block of the car’s engine. The piston block is cylindrical in shape and holds the pistons within it. The piston of your car keeps on moving up and down to keep the automobile running. The synthetic or the conventional motor oil forms a layer of molecules over the inner surfaces of piston blocks, thus smoothing out the motion of the pistons. There are two basic advantages of using these oils as lubricants in the engine. The first advantage is that the pistons get lubricated and there is ease of motion. The second advantage is that the heat that is formed within the engine also gets substantially reduced, thereby increasing the life of the engine and the quality of firing. Another genuine advantage of using lubricating oil in the engine is that it drastically boosts the fuel economy of the automobile.
You must be wondering when choosing between synthetic oil vs. regular conventional oil for motor which would prove to be beneficial. Before we actually look at the comparison, let us have a look at some of the proprieties and important characteristics of synthetic motor oil and conventional motor oil.
There are many characteristics and merits, as well as demerits of both the oils.
1. Synthetic Oil
Synthetic oil, on the other hand, is man-made and is manufactured by the chemical industry using different processes. Unlike the nonuniform structure of the molecules in the conventional motor oil, the molecules of the synthetic oil are uniform to the extent of being almost identical to one another. This type of molecular structure is often considered as a very good merit or characteristic of any lubricant.
As mentioned above, the debate on synthetic motor oil vs. regular oil does not have any kind of concrete conclusion. However, it is worth comparing the many merits and demerits of both the types of oils.
2. Regular Oil
The boom in the automobile industry that occurred just before the World War I, saw many changes in the auto parts, lubricants and fuels that were used in the automobiles. In these initial stages of development, regular oil was used as a lubricant for the piston and piston blocks. The constant changes and improvisations in the conventional or regular oil has shown many proven advantages in using it as a lubricant.
Conventional lubrication oil which is also known as mineral oil, is a product of the process of fractional distillation, which is used to break down petroleum into various products. In case of conventional oil, the molecular structuring is rather uneven and yet possess a quality of high lubrication. The advantage of conventional motor oil is that it is cheaper than synthetic oil and is available almost universally.
3. When to Use What
As we know, conventional motor oil that is derived from crude oil has an uneven molecular structure. This makes it suitable for new engines. The internal surfaces of the new engine, though shaped and forged very beautifully are not hundred percent accurate. Due to this, the inner surface of the piston block and the surface of the piston itself becomes extremely accurate, as the excess and inaccurate points (which are technically known faults) on the surfaces get shredded off as a result of the friction and heat. The uneven molecules aid this evening out of the auto components. There are, however, two drawbacks of this type of oil. The first drawback is that the regular oil gets oxidized at a very high temperature, which results into creation of pollutants. In same way, at very low temperatures, formation of sludge occurs which renders the oil, useless.
The synthetic oil, on the other hand, does not have any type of drawback, when it comes to extreme temperatures and air pollution. This type of oil is gives very good results, when it is used for car engines that are a few years old. The synthetic oil is extremely instrumental, when it comes to preservation of the engine components and ensures excellent running of the engine. The only drawback is that the synthetic oil, in present day market, is rather costly. To know more about this debate, read more on: synthetic oil vs. mineral oil.
Some Essential Tips
If you are planning to change the type of motor oil you choose, you can take a look at the following tips:
1. If your car is pretty old and you have been using it for quite a long time, then it is recommended that you do not suddenly shift from regular to synthetic as there is a possibility, that the synthetic oil which is very, very fine in nature may leak through the well used components of the engine block.
2. Your car ,manual would mention the brand and grade of the oil which suits the engine best. Hence it is best to use the said oil and its grade.
3. Climate and temperature where you live affects the viscosity of oil. If you live in a place where you experience extreme climates and temperatures, then get in touch with the company or the car’s dealer as he will recommend you the appropriate grade.
4. Often engineers recommend the use of regular/mineral oil when an automobile is newly purchased, till the engines are properly run in, following which the user can switch to synthetic oil. Now it is very important, that one clarifies two points, one for how much time should the mineral oil be used, and two, should the change be sudden or should one go to semi-synthetic oil first and then switch to completely synthetic oil.
5. If possible, it is also advisable that one uses the brand which is recommended by the automobile manufacturer.
As a conclusion it can be said that, to reduce the car engine problems, mineral oil should be used in the initial periods of the life of the engine, and for the later on years, it would be good to use the synthetic oil foodchem. Well, I hope this short debate on synthetic oil vs. regular oil provides some useful information!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Difference between Cumin Seeds and Ground Cumin
Cumin Seeds Vs Ground Cumin
Here we will discuss the difference between cumin seeds and ground cumin.
As we all know, cumin is a very important spice that is an essential ingredient in South East Asian cooking, particularly Indian cuisine. A spicy curry or a bowl of Mexican chili will never taste as mouth-watering without this aromatic spice. Cumin is a spice that is essential for flavoring spicy curries. Cumin is the dried seed of a flowering plant that flowers annually and belongs to the parsley family. It is highly aromatic and has a slightly bitter taste with a nutty flavor. Cumin seeds come in three colors, black, amber and white with black being the most widely used. Cumin seeds are food additives, also used for imparting a distinct and complex flavor to certain high-end gourmet cheeses. Some recipes call for ground cumin which is prepared from cumin seeds.
Difference between Cumin Seeds and Ground Cumin
The cumin seeds have a striped pattern and are boat shaped that tapers at both ends. They are pungent and slightly bitter with a rather sharp taste. As it is quite a powerful spice, it should be used sparingly in dishes as too much of cumin can overpower the entire dish. It should be stored in air tight containers and placed in a cool dry place like your pantry away from sunlight. Cumin seeds can be stored in this way for up to six weeks in this way and they can be used whole for tempering lentil dishes or for flavoring soups and stews. The best way to use whole cumin seeds is to dry roast the seeds in a pan to bring out its unique taste and aroma. Dry roasting the cumin seeds will help in releasing the oils in the seeds and thus it will intensify the flavor. If you are going to use cumin seeds for tempering, then you need to first dry roast the cumin seeds. Then take a small pan and heat some vegetable oil. Once the oil has just started smoking, remove pan from heat and fry the cumin seeds with other whole spices like mustard and fenugreek. Pour this oil along with the spices into your soups and stews to give a whole new flavor dimension to it.
Ground cumin and seeds ingredient can be brought in most stores but it is best to ground some of your own from cumin seeds. Ground cumin has a very intense nutty flavor and a small amount goes a long way. Ground cumin should also be stored in air tight bottles away from heat and sunlight. Ground cumin does not store as well as cumin seeds and you can keep them up to 6 to 8 weeks. After this the ground cumin begins to lose its flavor and aroma and thus becomes quit useless as a spice.
Converting Cumin Seeds to Ground Cumin
One of the advantages of ground cumin is that it can be used for flavoring soups and curries and a bit of ground cumin is enough for a dish. It is a good idea to grind your own cumin powder from cumin seeds and here is the procedure. For making ground cumin you need to heat a skillet on high heat. Now roast the cumin seeds in the skillet at a low heat by stirring it continuously with a wooden spoon. When the cumin seeds changes color to a darker hue and you get a mild aroma transfer the seeds to a bowl. Take care not to over roast the cumin seeds or it will turn bitter. When the roasted cumin seeds have cooled down grind them in a mortar and pestle until you get a very fine powdery texture.
Some cumin seeds health benefits are its ability to improve digestion and prevent flatulence. In addition to this cumin seeds can help to cure stomach ache and heart burn and its oil foochem acts as a sedative for curing insomnia. Thus there are many benefits of consuming cumin seeds besides its culinary uses. Whether you use whole cumin seeds or ground cumin, this spice has the ability to enhance the flavor of your dish.
Here we will discuss the difference between cumin seeds and ground cumin.
As we all know, cumin is a very important spice that is an essential ingredient in South East Asian cooking, particularly Indian cuisine. A spicy curry or a bowl of Mexican chili will never taste as mouth-watering without this aromatic spice. Cumin is a spice that is essential for flavoring spicy curries. Cumin is the dried seed of a flowering plant that flowers annually and belongs to the parsley family. It is highly aromatic and has a slightly bitter taste with a nutty flavor. Cumin seeds come in three colors, black, amber and white with black being the most widely used. Cumin seeds are food additives, also used for imparting a distinct and complex flavor to certain high-end gourmet cheeses. Some recipes call for ground cumin which is prepared from cumin seeds.
Difference between Cumin Seeds and Ground Cumin
The cumin seeds have a striped pattern and are boat shaped that tapers at both ends. They are pungent and slightly bitter with a rather sharp taste. As it is quite a powerful spice, it should be used sparingly in dishes as too much of cumin can overpower the entire dish. It should be stored in air tight containers and placed in a cool dry place like your pantry away from sunlight. Cumin seeds can be stored in this way for up to six weeks in this way and they can be used whole for tempering lentil dishes or for flavoring soups and stews. The best way to use whole cumin seeds is to dry roast the seeds in a pan to bring out its unique taste and aroma. Dry roasting the cumin seeds will help in releasing the oils in the seeds and thus it will intensify the flavor. If you are going to use cumin seeds for tempering, then you need to first dry roast the cumin seeds. Then take a small pan and heat some vegetable oil. Once the oil has just started smoking, remove pan from heat and fry the cumin seeds with other whole spices like mustard and fenugreek. Pour this oil along with the spices into your soups and stews to give a whole new flavor dimension to it.
Ground cumin and seeds ingredient can be brought in most stores but it is best to ground some of your own from cumin seeds. Ground cumin has a very intense nutty flavor and a small amount goes a long way. Ground cumin should also be stored in air tight bottles away from heat and sunlight. Ground cumin does not store as well as cumin seeds and you can keep them up to 6 to 8 weeks. After this the ground cumin begins to lose its flavor and aroma and thus becomes quit useless as a spice.
Converting Cumin Seeds to Ground Cumin
One of the advantages of ground cumin is that it can be used for flavoring soups and curries and a bit of ground cumin is enough for a dish. It is a good idea to grind your own cumin powder from cumin seeds and here is the procedure. For making ground cumin you need to heat a skillet on high heat. Now roast the cumin seeds in the skillet at a low heat by stirring it continuously with a wooden spoon. When the cumin seeds changes color to a darker hue and you get a mild aroma transfer the seeds to a bowl. Take care not to over roast the cumin seeds or it will turn bitter. When the roasted cumin seeds have cooled down grind them in a mortar and pestle until you get a very fine powdery texture.
Some cumin seeds health benefits are its ability to improve digestion and prevent flatulence. In addition to this cumin seeds can help to cure stomach ache and heart burn and its oil foochem acts as a sedative for curing insomnia. Thus there are many benefits of consuming cumin seeds besides its culinary uses. Whether you use whole cumin seeds or ground cumin, this spice has the ability to enhance the flavor of your dish.
How To Uses Chromatography
There are many chromatography applications in today’s industrial and chemical plants, and chromatography uses are not only manifold, but also essential in some cases.
Chromatography is a laboratory process that occurs in several steps and is used to separate mixtures of various chemicals into their individual components. The governing principle of chromatography is that different chemicals in a mixture have different degrees of dissolving in a liquid or sticking to a solid surface. In other words, chromatography can identify a chemical and separate it from a dense mixture of other chemicals and show it on a surface.
In the chromatography processes, a stream of liquid, that is called mobile phase, is made to flow through a tube known as column, and it is packed with porous solid material, called the stationary phase. The sample of the mixture that is to be analyzed is sent through the mobile phase and as the mixture proceeds in the tube, the compounds are separated. Chromatography is preferred over many other techniques as it doesn’t cause any molecular changes in the composition of the chemicals involved.
Various chemicals in a mixture have different sticking ability on a surface. By varying this process in many ways, the chromatography technique can be used to separate any amount of quantities ranging from micrograms (in laboratories) to tons (in chemical plants). There are various chromatography procedures that have become popular since the invention of chromatography by Russian botanist, Mikhail Semyonovich Tsvet, in 1901.
Uses of Chromatography
Chromatography has evolved to be one of the most widely used chemical techniques to separate particles and contaminates in chemical plants. For example, in the chemical industries, pesticides and insecticides like DDT in the groundwater and PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) are removed by the process of chromatography. As a major testing tool, chromatography is used by government agencies to separate toxic materials from the drinking water and also to monitor air quality.
In the field of organic chemistry and pharmacy, chiral compounds are very close to each other in terms of atomic or molecular weight, element composition, and the physical properties. However, they exist in two different forms, called the enantiomers and optical isomers. Both these compounds though may appear to be same, have very different chemical properties. So, in pharmacy, chromatography becomes crucial to analyze the exact chiral compound so that correct medicines can be manufactured. For instance, a compound called thalidomide has two optical isomers and one of the isomers can cause birth defect if a pregnant women consumes it in early stages of pregnancy. So, it is important to carefully separate the isomers.
One of the significant chromatography uses is made in pharmaceutical companies, who specialize in making medicines. Chromatography is used by pharmaceutical companies to prepare large amounts of pure materials that are further required in making medicines. Also, it is used to check the presence of any contamination in the manufactured compounds.
Other important chromatography uses are in the food industry where proper food maintenance is necessary to ensure quality. Chromatography is used as a technique to separate the food additives, vitamins, preservatives, proteins and amino acids. Some other chromatography uses are in the detection of drugs or medications in the urine and the separation of traces of chemicals in the case of fire in houses or buildings. It is also very popular in forensic science for investigative purposes.
Chromatography technology has gained immense industrial popularity in the past few decades as it can separate chemicals foodchem that just differ even in their atomic orientations in space. These were some of the chromatography uses that are used in various technological pursuits in chemical industries.
Chromatography is a laboratory process that occurs in several steps and is used to separate mixtures of various chemicals into their individual components. The governing principle of chromatography is that different chemicals in a mixture have different degrees of dissolving in a liquid or sticking to a solid surface. In other words, chromatography can identify a chemical and separate it from a dense mixture of other chemicals and show it on a surface.
In the chromatography processes, a stream of liquid, that is called mobile phase, is made to flow through a tube known as column, and it is packed with porous solid material, called the stationary phase. The sample of the mixture that is to be analyzed is sent through the mobile phase and as the mixture proceeds in the tube, the compounds are separated. Chromatography is preferred over many other techniques as it doesn’t cause any molecular changes in the composition of the chemicals involved.
Various chemicals in a mixture have different sticking ability on a surface. By varying this process in many ways, the chromatography technique can be used to separate any amount of quantities ranging from micrograms (in laboratories) to tons (in chemical plants). There are various chromatography procedures that have become popular since the invention of chromatography by Russian botanist, Mikhail Semyonovich Tsvet, in 1901.
Uses of Chromatography
Chromatography has evolved to be one of the most widely used chemical techniques to separate particles and contaminates in chemical plants. For example, in the chemical industries, pesticides and insecticides like DDT in the groundwater and PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) are removed by the process of chromatography. As a major testing tool, chromatography is used by government agencies to separate toxic materials from the drinking water and also to monitor air quality.
In the field of organic chemistry and pharmacy, chiral compounds are very close to each other in terms of atomic or molecular weight, element composition, and the physical properties. However, they exist in two different forms, called the enantiomers and optical isomers. Both these compounds though may appear to be same, have very different chemical properties. So, in pharmacy, chromatography becomes crucial to analyze the exact chiral compound so that correct medicines can be manufactured. For instance, a compound called thalidomide has two optical isomers and one of the isomers can cause birth defect if a pregnant women consumes it in early stages of pregnancy. So, it is important to carefully separate the isomers.
One of the significant chromatography uses is made in pharmaceutical companies, who specialize in making medicines. Chromatography is used by pharmaceutical companies to prepare large amounts of pure materials that are further required in making medicines. Also, it is used to check the presence of any contamination in the manufactured compounds.
Other important chromatography uses are in the food industry where proper food maintenance is necessary to ensure quality. Chromatography is used as a technique to separate the food additives, vitamins, preservatives, proteins and amino acids. Some other chromatography uses are in the detection of drugs or medications in the urine and the separation of traces of chemicals in the case of fire in houses or buildings. It is also very popular in forensic science for investigative purposes.
Chromatography technology has gained immense industrial popularity in the past few decades as it can separate chemicals foodchem that just differ even in their atomic orientations in space. These were some of the chromatography uses that are used in various technological pursuits in chemical industries.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Kit Of Fuel Injector Cleaning
Fuel injectors supply fuel to the combustion chamber of the engine. They are considered as a replacement for carburetors. These days most of the cars come with fuel injectors rather than carburetors. The advantage of fuel injectors is that, the rate at which fuel is supplied to the combustion chamber can be controlled with the help of a computer program. Fuel injectors are very much vulnerable to clogging and getting dirty. This may lead to several car problems such as degraded engine performance, poor idling, increased emission, etc. Fuel injector cleaning is often recommended in such cases to improve the car performance. Often, cleaning fuel injector with a cleaning kit is the preferred way of most car owners.
Fuel Injector Cleaning Process
The process for fuel injector cleaning with the help of a pressurized solvent is simple, though it requires a little technical knowledge. The first and the foremost thing after buying a fuel injector cleaning kit is locating the fuel injectors of your car. User’s manual of your car may help you locating the injectors. Next, you need to remove the fuel lines connecting the injector and fuel pump. This can also be done by placing a U tube which helps the fuel to return directly to the fuel tank. Now, connect the solvent to the fuel port on the fuel rail. Since the solvent delivers a high amount of pressure in the fuel tank, it is recommended that you remove the fuel cap from the tank. Open the valve on the kit until the fuel pressure reading reaches the mark for your vehicle. Turn the ignition on and run the engine until the fuel cleaning solvent is completely exhausted. Remove the cleaning kit and reconnect the fuel lines.
Fuel Injector Cleaning Kit
Fuel injector problems can be easily minimized if you regularly use an additive for cleaning them. This additive is mixed with fuel. There are many gas stations where you get impure quality of fuel. Over the time, the impurities get clogged in the injectors, thereby affecting the engine performance. Additives can greatly prolong the clogging of fuel injectors. However, they do nothing to clean the existing clogged fuel injectors. If you haven’t ever used additives, chances are your injectors might have already become clogged with impurities. In such case ‘on car’ and ‘off car’ cleaning is your only option. Off car cleaning is performed by a mechanic and is usually the last resort. However, before that you can try cleaning fuel injectors on your own with the help of a cleaning kit. These kits are widely available at any auto parts store at a cost of around $100. The kit comprises a pressurized fuel injector cleaner solvent and the assembly for connecting it to the fuel port on the fuel rail.
Fuel Injector Cleaning Frequency
There is a lot of confusion regarding the number of times you should take up the cleaning job. In case you have been using the additive on a regular basis, your fuel injectors should be reasonably clean. This situation does not warrant the need for cleaning the injectors with a cleaning kit. One must not exceed the use of cleaning kit more than three times in the lifetime of a car. The reason is, the cleaning solvent erodes the injectors, thereby making them inefficient after more than three cleaning sessions. A fuel injector replacement would be an ideal solution in such a case.
If you find heavy build up on your injectors foodchem, it is best to take them to a mechanic for off car cleaning than inflicting damage upon them with the use of a fuel injector cleaning kit. Cost for professional cleaning is about $40, which is not an expensive option.
Fuel Injector Cleaning Process
The process for fuel injector cleaning with the help of a pressurized solvent is simple, though it requires a little technical knowledge. The first and the foremost thing after buying a fuel injector cleaning kit is locating the fuel injectors of your car. User’s manual of your car may help you locating the injectors. Next, you need to remove the fuel lines connecting the injector and fuel pump. This can also be done by placing a U tube which helps the fuel to return directly to the fuel tank. Now, connect the solvent to the fuel port on the fuel rail. Since the solvent delivers a high amount of pressure in the fuel tank, it is recommended that you remove the fuel cap from the tank. Open the valve on the kit until the fuel pressure reading reaches the mark for your vehicle. Turn the ignition on and run the engine until the fuel cleaning solvent is completely exhausted. Remove the cleaning kit and reconnect the fuel lines.
Fuel Injector Cleaning Kit
Fuel injector problems can be easily minimized if you regularly use an additive for cleaning them. This additive is mixed with fuel. There are many gas stations where you get impure quality of fuel. Over the time, the impurities get clogged in the injectors, thereby affecting the engine performance. Additives can greatly prolong the clogging of fuel injectors. However, they do nothing to clean the existing clogged fuel injectors. If you haven’t ever used additives, chances are your injectors might have already become clogged with impurities. In such case ‘on car’ and ‘off car’ cleaning is your only option. Off car cleaning is performed by a mechanic and is usually the last resort. However, before that you can try cleaning fuel injectors on your own with the help of a cleaning kit. These kits are widely available at any auto parts store at a cost of around $100. The kit comprises a pressurized fuel injector cleaner solvent and the assembly for connecting it to the fuel port on the fuel rail.
Fuel Injector Cleaning Frequency
There is a lot of confusion regarding the number of times you should take up the cleaning job. In case you have been using the additive on a regular basis, your fuel injectors should be reasonably clean. This situation does not warrant the need for cleaning the injectors with a cleaning kit. One must not exceed the use of cleaning kit more than three times in the lifetime of a car. The reason is, the cleaning solvent erodes the injectors, thereby making them inefficient after more than three cleaning sessions. A fuel injector replacement would be an ideal solution in such a case.
If you find heavy build up on your injectors foodchem, it is best to take them to a mechanic for off car cleaning than inflicting damage upon them with the use of a fuel injector cleaning kit. Cost for professional cleaning is about $40, which is not an expensive option.
The Foods Which Trigger Migraines
A lot of people suffer from the agonizing pain of migraines these days. Migraine sufferers would do anything to get relief from this throbbing headache. Which kinds of foods that trigger migraines that should be avoided to prevent migraine attacks?
Migraine is a severe headache which is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The sufferer becomes extremely sensitive to light and sound, which makes him look for a quiet and dark place to lie down. Migraine pain can be unilateral or bilateral and it can last for several hours. Before it strikes, a person may experience visual disturbances, feeling of intense energy, thirst, craving for sweets, irritability or depression. Sometimes the attack may come without a prodrome. There can be various causes of migraine attacks, but avoiding the foods that induce migraine can be an easier way to keep the pain away.
Migraine is more common in women. Studies have shown that women are three times more prone to migraine than men. The frequency and severity of headaches though varies from person to person. Although there is no permanent cure, one can reduce the attacks and the severity of the pain, by making certain changes in the lifestyle. But for this, one should be aware of the different causes of migraine. There are many things which can trigger migraines. One should be able to identify the triggers of migraine, and try to avoid them to minimize the severe attacks. Diet often plays an important role in case of migraine. There are a lot of food items that trigger migraines.
Foods to Avoid for Migraines
Amines
Foods containing tyramine are known to be the most common migraine triggers. Tyramine is an amine present in many protein-based foods. It is formed as a result of breakdown of proteins. Fermented foods or those which are stored for a long time have a higher tyramine content. Tyramine is known to elevate blood pressure resulting in migraines. Other amines which can trigger migraines include phenylalanine, phenylethylamine, octopamine, serotonin, dopamine and histamine. One should also stay away from tobacco as it contains nicotine which also intensifies the migraine attacks. For many people though dietary amines are quickly broken down and hence don’t pose a threat. Foods high in amines that lead to migraines are: Cheese, Tofu, Yogurt, Canned or processed meat, Avocados, Raisins and nuts, Beans, Onions, Canned soups, Dried figs, Peanut butter, Fruits like bananas, papayas, pineapples, plums, Spinach, Tomatoes, Yeast and yeast extracts.
Certain beverages contain artificial sweeteners and preservatives which trigger migraine attacks. Coffee, chocolate, tea, and all fizzy drinks can pose a threat to migraine sufferers. Alcoholic drinks like whisky, wine, beer and champagne can also trigger migraine attacks.
Food Preservatives
Food preservatives or additives are closely associated with migraine headaches. A lot of processed foods contain certain food additives in varying amounts. The ones known to trigger migraines are monosodium glutamate salt (MSG), nitrates, nitrites, sulphites and aspartame. Certain food dyes and artificial sweeteners can also worsen the migraine attack at times.
Food containing additives:
MSG is mostly used in Chinese foods and also in a lot of processed food items, Bacon, Pickles, Sausages, Pepperoni, Ham, Hotdogs, Drinks and Beverages.
Foods high in tyramine and the other amines that trigger migraines should be avoided as they exacerbate migraine attacks. One should consume fresh foods, as the tyramine content is higher in aged or stored foods.
Milk Products
Milk contains a protein known as ‘casein’ which creates histamines. Histamines produce mucus. If the histamine level increases, a lot of mucus is produced which puts pressure on the brain membranes, thus triggering migraines. Dairy products to be avoided in order to minimize the intensity of migraines are:
Cheese, Milk, Sour cream, Yogurt.
One needs to find out the foods he is sensitive to and try to avoid them. A dairy can be maintained to keep a track of the attacks foodchem. This helps to identify the probable food items that trigger the migraine headache. Identify the foods that trigger migraines in your case and stay away from them.
Migraine is a severe headache which is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The sufferer becomes extremely sensitive to light and sound, which makes him look for a quiet and dark place to lie down. Migraine pain can be unilateral or bilateral and it can last for several hours. Before it strikes, a person may experience visual disturbances, feeling of intense energy, thirst, craving for sweets, irritability or depression. Sometimes the attack may come without a prodrome. There can be various causes of migraine attacks, but avoiding the foods that induce migraine can be an easier way to keep the pain away.
Migraine is more common in women. Studies have shown that women are three times more prone to migraine than men. The frequency and severity of headaches though varies from person to person. Although there is no permanent cure, one can reduce the attacks and the severity of the pain, by making certain changes in the lifestyle. But for this, one should be aware of the different causes of migraine. There are many things which can trigger migraines. One should be able to identify the triggers of migraine, and try to avoid them to minimize the severe attacks. Diet often plays an important role in case of migraine. There are a lot of food items that trigger migraines.
Foods to Avoid for Migraines
Amines
Foods containing tyramine are known to be the most common migraine triggers. Tyramine is an amine present in many protein-based foods. It is formed as a result of breakdown of proteins. Fermented foods or those which are stored for a long time have a higher tyramine content. Tyramine is known to elevate blood pressure resulting in migraines. Other amines which can trigger migraines include phenylalanine, phenylethylamine, octopamine, serotonin, dopamine and histamine. One should also stay away from tobacco as it contains nicotine which also intensifies the migraine attacks. For many people though dietary amines are quickly broken down and hence don’t pose a threat. Foods high in amines that lead to migraines are: Cheese, Tofu, Yogurt, Canned or processed meat, Avocados, Raisins and nuts, Beans, Onions, Canned soups, Dried figs, Peanut butter, Fruits like bananas, papayas, pineapples, plums, Spinach, Tomatoes, Yeast and yeast extracts.
Certain beverages contain artificial sweeteners and preservatives which trigger migraine attacks. Coffee, chocolate, tea, and all fizzy drinks can pose a threat to migraine sufferers. Alcoholic drinks like whisky, wine, beer and champagne can also trigger migraine attacks.
Food Preservatives
Food preservatives or additives are closely associated with migraine headaches. A lot of processed foods contain certain food additives in varying amounts. The ones known to trigger migraines are monosodium glutamate salt (MSG), nitrates, nitrites, sulphites and aspartame. Certain food dyes and artificial sweeteners can also worsen the migraine attack at times.
Food containing additives:
MSG is mostly used in Chinese foods and also in a lot of processed food items, Bacon, Pickles, Sausages, Pepperoni, Ham, Hotdogs, Drinks and Beverages.
Foods high in tyramine and the other amines that trigger migraines should be avoided as they exacerbate migraine attacks. One should consume fresh foods, as the tyramine content is higher in aged or stored foods.
Milk Products
Milk contains a protein known as ‘casein’ which creates histamines. Histamines produce mucus. If the histamine level increases, a lot of mucus is produced which puts pressure on the brain membranes, thus triggering migraines. Dairy products to be avoided in order to minimize the intensity of migraines are:
Cheese, Milk, Sour cream, Yogurt.
One needs to find out the foods he is sensitive to and try to avoid them. A dairy can be maintained to keep a track of the attacks foodchem. This helps to identify the probable food items that trigger the migraine headache. Identify the foods that trigger migraines in your case and stay away from them.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
How to Avoid Most Dangerous Food Additives
Dangerous Food Additives
Do you know that there are several dangerous food additives which you regularly consume through the medium of foods and drinks? We gorge on our favorite fast food, pizzas, Chinese dishes, etc. without bothering about the ingredients used in these dishes. Secondly, most of us calorie conscious people, avoid sugar and use aspartame instead. Thirdly, we also love to add a lot of color to our foods and hence, use food colors. However, does any of think whether these food additives are good for our health or not? Many of these products are termed as dangerous food additives and are not meant for regular consumption.
The most common dangers of food additives and preservatives is that these can lead to abdominal pain and discomfort. One may experience nausea, vomiting, flatulence, etc. on consumption of these products. However, there are some food additives that can lead to more severe side effects, like they can increase the risk of cancer or many other fatal diseases. The following are such dangerous food additives which should be avoided.
Potassium Bromate
Potassium bromate is banned in most of parts of the world but, not in the United States. This product is specially added to flour while making biscuits and rolls to increase their volume. It was found to be a cause of cancer, when tested on animals. In some parts, one may come across food product packages, containing potassium bromate, warning of cancer.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
One of the most common food additive, food enhancer and flavoring agent, Monosodium Glutamate or MSG, is commonly found in Chinese cuisine. It is found in a variety of packaged and processed sauces, salad dressing, gravy, soy sauce; fish, chicken and sausage products. Monosodium Glutamate side effects include headache, nausea, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, abdominal inflammation, and sudden cardiac death.
Aspartame
If you are a regular user of Nutra-sweet and Equal, think twice! It contains aspartame which is also one of the most dangerous food additives today. Apart from these products, it is also found in diet sodas, and products that claim ‘no sugar’. Aspartame is linked to several cancer types like leukemia, lymphoma, etc. It is specially advised not to be used during pregnancy. Dangers of aspartame also include weight loss, hair loss, memory loss, confusion, etc.
Sodium Nitrate
Most of the preserved meats contains a dangerous food additive that is sodium nitrate. Foods like hotdogs, bacon, ham, smoked fish, breakfast sausages, luncheon meats, corned beef, etc, contain this food additive which is believed to turn carcinogenic when exposed to the acid in the stomach. Regular consumption of cured meats is also believed to be one of the reasons for causing cancer in people.
Olestra
Olestra is fat substitute, used as a food additive, widely popular under the brand name Olean. This foodchem additive is harmful to the human body as it does not get absorbed in the body. Consumption of this product leads to abdominal discomfort, stomach cramps, diarrhea, flatulence, etc. On the other hand, regular consumption of this product also decreases the body’s ability to absorb natural and beneficial fats.
Dangerous Food Additives List
Apart from the above mentioned harmful ones, there are several other food additives to avoid. The following is a list of such products that one should be aware of and avoid completely.
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Calcium Disodium EDTA, Carrageenan, Cyclamate, Disodium Guanylate, Disodium Inosinate, Food Colors, Preservatives, Propyl Gallate, Sucralose, Saccharin, Sodium benzoate, Stevia, Sulfites.
These were some of the most dangerous food additives food additives that you need to avoid, as they are harmful to health. Rather than adding the spice and color to your food artificially, you can favor food safety by opting for natural, freshly made and raw food to have a healthy and disease free life! Take care!
Do you know that there are several dangerous food additives which you regularly consume through the medium of foods and drinks? We gorge on our favorite fast food, pizzas, Chinese dishes, etc. without bothering about the ingredients used in these dishes. Secondly, most of us calorie conscious people, avoid sugar and use aspartame instead. Thirdly, we also love to add a lot of color to our foods and hence, use food colors. However, does any of think whether these food additives are good for our health or not? Many of these products are termed as dangerous food additives and are not meant for regular consumption.
The most common dangers of food additives and preservatives is that these can lead to abdominal pain and discomfort. One may experience nausea, vomiting, flatulence, etc. on consumption of these products. However, there are some food additives that can lead to more severe side effects, like they can increase the risk of cancer or many other fatal diseases. The following are such dangerous food additives which should be avoided.
Potassium Bromate
Potassium bromate is banned in most of parts of the world but, not in the United States. This product is specially added to flour while making biscuits and rolls to increase their volume. It was found to be a cause of cancer, when tested on animals. In some parts, one may come across food product packages, containing potassium bromate, warning of cancer.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
One of the most common food additive, food enhancer and flavoring agent, Monosodium Glutamate or MSG, is commonly found in Chinese cuisine. It is found in a variety of packaged and processed sauces, salad dressing, gravy, soy sauce; fish, chicken and sausage products. Monosodium Glutamate side effects include headache, nausea, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, abdominal inflammation, and sudden cardiac death.
Aspartame
If you are a regular user of Nutra-sweet and Equal, think twice! It contains aspartame which is also one of the most dangerous food additives today. Apart from these products, it is also found in diet sodas, and products that claim ‘no sugar’. Aspartame is linked to several cancer types like leukemia, lymphoma, etc. It is specially advised not to be used during pregnancy. Dangers of aspartame also include weight loss, hair loss, memory loss, confusion, etc.
Sodium Nitrate
Most of the preserved meats contains a dangerous food additive that is sodium nitrate. Foods like hotdogs, bacon, ham, smoked fish, breakfast sausages, luncheon meats, corned beef, etc, contain this food additive which is believed to turn carcinogenic when exposed to the acid in the stomach. Regular consumption of cured meats is also believed to be one of the reasons for causing cancer in people.
Olestra
Olestra is fat substitute, used as a food additive, widely popular under the brand name Olean. This foodchem additive is harmful to the human body as it does not get absorbed in the body. Consumption of this product leads to abdominal discomfort, stomach cramps, diarrhea, flatulence, etc. On the other hand, regular consumption of this product also decreases the body’s ability to absorb natural and beneficial fats.
Dangerous Food Additives List
Apart from the above mentioned harmful ones, there are several other food additives to avoid. The following is a list of such products that one should be aware of and avoid completely.
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Calcium Disodium EDTA, Carrageenan, Cyclamate, Disodium Guanylate, Disodium Inosinate, Food Colors, Preservatives, Propyl Gallate, Sucralose, Saccharin, Sodium benzoate, Stevia, Sulfites.
These were some of the most dangerous food additives food additives that you need to avoid, as they are harmful to health. Rather than adding the spice and color to your food artificially, you can favor food safety by opting for natural, freshly made and raw food to have a healthy and disease free life! Take care!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Ingredients of Food Coloring
Food coloring is a substance that is added to foods to make them look more vibrant and appetizing. Food coloring is a type of food additive, which are used to enhance the color and appearance of foods that can be found in a large number of food products right from a candy to baked goods, frosting and even wine. Apart from creating a new color and enhancing the natural color of a food, food coloring can help to protect the color of a food or drink from the effects of light, temperature and storing conditions. In general, food coloring comes in two forms, dye and lake. Dye is soluble in water, but insoluble in oil, while lake is soluble in oil and more stable than dye. But, what does food coloring contain? Food coloring can contain several ingredients, which can vary slightly among the different types of food colorings.
Components of Food Coloring Agents
Food coloring can be natural and artificial, and the artificial food coloring can contain several color additives. The artificial food coloring can contain propylparaben, propylene glycol and certified color additives by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) of United States, which are usually denoted by certain numbers. As for example, the artificial red dye can contain FD&C Red 3 (erythrosine) and 40 along with propylparaben, propylene glycol and water. Another red food coloring that can be commonly found in manufactured goods is carmine, which is derived from certain insects.
Natural red color can be obtained from beetroot, carrot, cherries, elderberries and currants. The caramel color is usually derived from caramelized sugar. The green pigment or dye can also be obtained from natural products like, seaweed, grasses and vegetation. The artificial green pigment generally contains ingredients like, FD&C yellow 5, FD&C blue 1, water, POVand propylene glycol. The synthetic yellow pigment too contains propylparaben, propylene glycol and water, along with FD&C yellow 5 (tartrazine) and FD&C red 40. The synthetic black food coloring on the other hand, is obtained by combining FD&C red 40, FD&C blue 1, FD&C yellow 5, phosphoric acid, water and sodium benzoate.
Is Color Additive Bad for You?
The various color additives or food colorings are tested for their safety by various bodies across the world, but their findings have been quite different from one another. Food colorings that are used in United States are approved by the FDA, and it is reflected in the FD&C numbers given to the various color food additives. Despite the FDA approval, artificial or synthetic food colorings are often seen with suspicion. Some scientific studies have also pointed out that certain synthetic food coloring can have an association with the rising incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
Many believe that the use of petrochemicals, hydrocarbon derivatives and coal tar in artificial food coloring can cause such disorders. Food colorings are also believed to have an adverse effect on the immune system and male fertility, besides having association with health conditions like, asthma and allergies.
Natural food colorings are by and large considered as a safe alternative to synthetic food coloring. Even FDA does not require the natural food colors to be tested for their safety. With the growing concern about the dangers of artificial food coloring additives, natural food colors are gaining wide popularity. Nowadays, some natural food dyes are also produced commercially. As for example, the caramel color is largely produced from caramelized sugar, while the natural orange color is usually obtained from seeds. A reddish-orange dye, known as annatto is derived from achiote seeds.
The natural green dyes are mainly made from seaweed, chlorella algae and other vegetation, as has been mentioned already. On the other hand, turmeric powder is the natural yellow dye. Saffron is also used widely as a natural food coloring additive foodchem. The natural red dye is largely made from vegetables like, beetroot, carrots, cherries and elderberries, or it can be obtained from the cochineal insect, known as Dactylopius coccus. Paprika spice can also be used to make natural red dye, while butterfly pea can give a blue food dye. Apart from the basic colors like, red, blue, yellow and green, you can get many other shades like, golden, burgundy, mauve, etc. by combining different colors.
Components of Food Coloring Agents
Food coloring can be natural and artificial, and the artificial food coloring can contain several color additives. The artificial food coloring can contain propylparaben, propylene glycol and certified color additives by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) of United States, which are usually denoted by certain numbers. As for example, the artificial red dye can contain FD&C Red 3 (erythrosine) and 40 along with propylparaben, propylene glycol and water. Another red food coloring that can be commonly found in manufactured goods is carmine, which is derived from certain insects.
Natural red color can be obtained from beetroot, carrot, cherries, elderberries and currants. The caramel color is usually derived from caramelized sugar. The green pigment or dye can also be obtained from natural products like, seaweed, grasses and vegetation. The artificial green pigment generally contains ingredients like, FD&C yellow 5, FD&C blue 1, water, POVand propylene glycol. The synthetic yellow pigment too contains propylparaben, propylene glycol and water, along with FD&C yellow 5 (tartrazine) and FD&C red 40. The synthetic black food coloring on the other hand, is obtained by combining FD&C red 40, FD&C blue 1, FD&C yellow 5, phosphoric acid, water and sodium benzoate.
Is Color Additive Bad for You?
The various color additives or food colorings are tested for their safety by various bodies across the world, but their findings have been quite different from one another. Food colorings that are used in United States are approved by the FDA, and it is reflected in the FD&C numbers given to the various color food additives. Despite the FDA approval, artificial or synthetic food colorings are often seen with suspicion. Some scientific studies have also pointed out that certain synthetic food coloring can have an association with the rising incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
Many believe that the use of petrochemicals, hydrocarbon derivatives and coal tar in artificial food coloring can cause such disorders. Food colorings are also believed to have an adverse effect on the immune system and male fertility, besides having association with health conditions like, asthma and allergies.
Natural food colorings are by and large considered as a safe alternative to synthetic food coloring. Even FDA does not require the natural food colors to be tested for their safety. With the growing concern about the dangers of artificial food coloring additives, natural food colors are gaining wide popularity. Nowadays, some natural food dyes are also produced commercially. As for example, the caramel color is largely produced from caramelized sugar, while the natural orange color is usually obtained from seeds. A reddish-orange dye, known as annatto is derived from achiote seeds.
The natural green dyes are mainly made from seaweed, chlorella algae and other vegetation, as has been mentioned already. On the other hand, turmeric powder is the natural yellow dye. Saffron is also used widely as a natural food coloring additive foodchem. The natural red dye is largely made from vegetables like, beetroot, carrots, cherries and elderberries, or it can be obtained from the cochineal insect, known as Dactylopius coccus. Paprika spice can also be used to make natural red dye, while butterfly pea can give a blue food dye. Apart from the basic colors like, red, blue, yellow and green, you can get many other shades like, golden, burgundy, mauve, etc. by combining different colors.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Food Intolerance Symptoms
Food intolerance is often mistaken for food allergies and the two terms are used interchangeably. Let us know more about food intolerance symptoms in adults, which are pretty different from food allergy symptoms.
Any problem which results out of ingestion of certain foods is commonly labeled as food poisoning. The term food allergies is also used unreasonably, many a time. However, there is a clear distinction between food allergies, food poisoning and food intolerance. The three disorders also produce symptoms which are peculiar to the respective disorder only. Amongst all the food related disorders, food intolerance is the most common one. It affects adults as well as children, however, the occurrence of food intolerance is more in adults than children. This article deals with food intolerance symptoms in adults. But before that, it would be interesting to find what exactly is food intolerance.
What is Food Intolerance
Food intolerance is the body’s inability to digest certain foods, beverages or food additives. Food intolerance is said to have occurred when the body generates certain undesirable physiological responses, even when a non allergic food is consumed. Food intolerance is a result of absence of low amount of certain enzymes which are required to break down the proteins in the food in order to facilitate digestion. Food allergies on the other hand, are caused due to trigger to the immune system caused by certain foods. These foods are capable of producing allergic response only in certain people and may be entirely safe for others. Food poisoning is another case, in which toxic substances enter the body through the medium of food. These substances then cause certain undesirable symptoms in the individual.
Food Intolerance Symptoms in Adults
Food intolerance is a common phenomenon in adults as well as children of all ages. The most common food intolerance type is lactose intolerance. It affects about 10% of adult population in America. It occurs due to low amount or absence of an enzyme named lactase. People with lactose intolerance cannot digest dairy products. Babies are usually born with high amount of lactase. Hence, the symptoms of lactose intolerance surface only after the age of 2 years, when the production of lactase in the body begins to diminish.
Given below is a list of common foods that cause intolerance reaction in some people: Dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, Strawberries, citrus fruits and tomatoes, Flavor enhancers such as MSG (monosodium glutamate), Chocolate, Eggs, particularly egg white, Histamine and other amines in some foods. Food additives, Wine, especially red wine.
Food intolerance is often associated with conditions such as asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Another fact about food intolerance in that, you may not experience it until late in your life. Meaning, you might be eating a certain food item for the whole of life without any problem, but suddenly develop a response to it once you reach your sixties or seventies. The truth is that, there was always a problem with digestion of that particular food item in your body, only you never experienced any symptoms. Old age, a bout of illness or stress can compromise your digestive system. Hence, you are more likely to experience food intolerance symptoms in such circumstances. In older age, the body cannot produce enough enzymes and hence, becomes more susceptible to various food related disorders. This is the reason why food intolerance symptoms in women and men become more pronounced in old age.
The occurrence of symptoms is also largely dependent upon the amount of food you consume. You may not have any problem if you only consume small portions of the problematic food everyday. In fact, your body may become used to it and may not react in a dramatic way. However, eating large portions of the food(foodchem) in question is bound to invoke undesirable effects in body. Food intolerance symptoms develop over a period of time, say days or even weeks after ingestion of the food. Whereas, symptoms of food allergies are instantaneous and more dramatic.
The symptoms of food intolerance in adults are somewhat similar to food poisoning symptoms. Typical food intolerance symptoms include: Nausea, Stomach pain, Gas, cramps or bloating, Vomiting, Heartburn, Diarrhea, Headaches, Irritability or nervousness.
Food intolerance is mainly attributable to genetic predisposition. Some people are naturally programmed to produce the requisite enzyme in small amount or not produce at all. There is very little that can be done to overcome this problem. The best solution is to identify foods that are troublesome for you and avoid them entirely. However, it is important to incorporate substitute foods so as to avoid nutrient deficiency. People with lactose intolerance can take lactase enzyme tablets while children can be given soy milk.
Food intolerance symptoms in adults can be controlled with the help of medications and diet. However, consult your doctor before introducing substitute substances in your diet.
Any problem which results out of ingestion of certain foods is commonly labeled as food poisoning. The term food allergies is also used unreasonably, many a time. However, there is a clear distinction between food allergies, food poisoning and food intolerance. The three disorders also produce symptoms which are peculiar to the respective disorder only. Amongst all the food related disorders, food intolerance is the most common one. It affects adults as well as children, however, the occurrence of food intolerance is more in adults than children. This article deals with food intolerance symptoms in adults. But before that, it would be interesting to find what exactly is food intolerance.
What is Food Intolerance
Food intolerance is the body’s inability to digest certain foods, beverages or food additives. Food intolerance is said to have occurred when the body generates certain undesirable physiological responses, even when a non allergic food is consumed. Food intolerance is a result of absence of low amount of certain enzymes which are required to break down the proteins in the food in order to facilitate digestion. Food allergies on the other hand, are caused due to trigger to the immune system caused by certain foods. These foods are capable of producing allergic response only in certain people and may be entirely safe for others. Food poisoning is another case, in which toxic substances enter the body through the medium of food. These substances then cause certain undesirable symptoms in the individual.
Food Intolerance Symptoms in Adults
Food intolerance is a common phenomenon in adults as well as children of all ages. The most common food intolerance type is lactose intolerance. It affects about 10% of adult population in America. It occurs due to low amount or absence of an enzyme named lactase. People with lactose intolerance cannot digest dairy products. Babies are usually born with high amount of lactase. Hence, the symptoms of lactose intolerance surface only after the age of 2 years, when the production of lactase in the body begins to diminish.
Given below is a list of common foods that cause intolerance reaction in some people: Dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, Strawberries, citrus fruits and tomatoes, Flavor enhancers such as MSG (monosodium glutamate), Chocolate, Eggs, particularly egg white, Histamine and other amines in some foods. Food additives, Wine, especially red wine.
Food intolerance is often associated with conditions such as asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Another fact about food intolerance in that, you may not experience it until late in your life. Meaning, you might be eating a certain food item for the whole of life without any problem, but suddenly develop a response to it once you reach your sixties or seventies. The truth is that, there was always a problem with digestion of that particular food item in your body, only you never experienced any symptoms. Old age, a bout of illness or stress can compromise your digestive system. Hence, you are more likely to experience food intolerance symptoms in such circumstances. In older age, the body cannot produce enough enzymes and hence, becomes more susceptible to various food related disorders. This is the reason why food intolerance symptoms in women and men become more pronounced in old age.
The occurrence of symptoms is also largely dependent upon the amount of food you consume. You may not have any problem if you only consume small portions of the problematic food everyday. In fact, your body may become used to it and may not react in a dramatic way. However, eating large portions of the food(foodchem) in question is bound to invoke undesirable effects in body. Food intolerance symptoms develop over a period of time, say days or even weeks after ingestion of the food. Whereas, symptoms of food allergies are instantaneous and more dramatic.
The symptoms of food intolerance in adults are somewhat similar to food poisoning symptoms. Typical food intolerance symptoms include: Nausea, Stomach pain, Gas, cramps or bloating, Vomiting, Heartburn, Diarrhea, Headaches, Irritability or nervousness.
Food intolerance is mainly attributable to genetic predisposition. Some people are naturally programmed to produce the requisite enzyme in small amount or not produce at all. There is very little that can be done to overcome this problem. The best solution is to identify foods that are troublesome for you and avoid them entirely. However, it is important to incorporate substitute foods so as to avoid nutrient deficiency. People with lactose intolerance can take lactase enzyme tablets while children can be given soy milk.
Food intolerance symptoms in adults can be controlled with the help of medications and diet. However, consult your doctor before introducing substitute substances in your diet.
Food Preservatives in What You Eat
Preservatives in food are a type of food additives. They can be natural or artificial. Different kind of preservative work in a different ways. However, mostly preservatives are added to the food to prevent the food from decomposing by microbial growth or by any undesirable chemical changes. However, a process can also help to preserve the food better. Many fruits and meats are dried, so that they stay edible for longer. Also, process like freezing, pickling, smoking or salting can greatly help to preserve the food. For example, we tend to store fresh fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator, to keep them fresh for longer. Here are some natural common preservatives which we generally find in stored natural food items, and some of the synthetic harmful preservatives and their short term and long term effects explained. Wondering, what are the preservatives in food and what are the harmful ones that you need to avoid?
Natural Preservatives
Including:Sugar, Salt, Oil, Acids, Antioxidants, Spices, Herbs, Glycerin, Chelating Agents, Alcohol, Honey.
Natural preservatives like salt and sugar have been used since ages to preserve foodstuffs. Sugars are generally used to preserve fruits, or to make jams. While salts are added to dried meats and vegetables to preserve them for longer. Salt and sugar acts as excellent natural preservatives, as they prevent the bacterial growth through the process of osmosis. Preservatives like vinegar or herb extract like rosemary extract are also used. Vinegar is a kind of acid, which helps to kill microbes and bacteria. Rosemary extract works as an excellent antioxidant, and prevents the oxidation of foods.
Spices seem to slow down the growth of microbes and also reduce the rate of oxidation. Spices like cloves, sage, mustard, thyme and oregano are commonly used. Oil helps the foods to stay fresh, by preventing microbes coming in contact with the food, also it reduces the rate of oxidation in food. Honey in its undiluted form acts as a great natural preservative, as it creates an excellent barrier against microbes. Wine which is a type of alcohol in itself acts as a good preservative. Processes like heating, cooking, pasteurization and desiccation also act as a natural preservative alternative.
Synthetic Preservatives
This is a list of synthetic preservative food additives.
Antimicrobial agents, Antioxidants, Benzoates (like benzoic acid, sodium benzoate,), Nitrites (like sodium nitrite), Caramel, Butyrates, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), Sulphites (like sulfur dioxide), Sorbates (such as potassium sorbate, sodium sorbate).
There are some synthetic chemicals that pose many health problem. So you should know the preservatives in food to avoid. Nitrates, are carcinogenic in nature and may even cause reactions like vomiting, headache, sneezing, etc. Sulfites are antioxidants which can destroy vitamin B1 in the body, and cause problems in patients who have asthma. Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate can cause skin conditions and eye irritation. BHA and BHT are also carcinogenic in nature and cause many other symptoms like dizziness, asthma attacks, nausea, allergic reactions, hyperactivity, etc. One should also avoid propyl gallate as it is linked to various types of cancer. Sodium citrate is also another toxic preservative in foods, which when eaten in high amounts can cause bladder tumors. TBHQ which is tertiary butylhydroquinone is another harmful preservative in food, which can cause nausea and delirium.
Eating foodstuffs which contain natural preservatives foodchem in small portions is okay. However, if your body is sensitive to natural preservatives containing foods too, then you need to completely avoid them. Also, synthetic preservative in food, need to be completely avoided. Because, the side effects of synthetic chemical preservative may not be evident but after some time a person might suffer from major side effects.
Natural Preservatives
Including:Sugar, Salt, Oil, Acids, Antioxidants, Spices, Herbs, Glycerin, Chelating Agents, Alcohol, Honey.
Natural preservatives like salt and sugar have been used since ages to preserve foodstuffs. Sugars are generally used to preserve fruits, or to make jams. While salts are added to dried meats and vegetables to preserve them for longer. Salt and sugar acts as excellent natural preservatives, as they prevent the bacterial growth through the process of osmosis. Preservatives like vinegar or herb extract like rosemary extract are also used. Vinegar is a kind of acid, which helps to kill microbes and bacteria. Rosemary extract works as an excellent antioxidant, and prevents the oxidation of foods.
Spices seem to slow down the growth of microbes and also reduce the rate of oxidation. Spices like cloves, sage, mustard, thyme and oregano are commonly used. Oil helps the foods to stay fresh, by preventing microbes coming in contact with the food, also it reduces the rate of oxidation in food. Honey in its undiluted form acts as a great natural preservative, as it creates an excellent barrier against microbes. Wine which is a type of alcohol in itself acts as a good preservative. Processes like heating, cooking, pasteurization and desiccation also act as a natural preservative alternative.
Synthetic Preservatives
This is a list of synthetic preservative food additives.
Antimicrobial agents, Antioxidants, Benzoates (like benzoic acid, sodium benzoate,), Nitrites (like sodium nitrite), Caramel, Butyrates, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), Sulphites (like sulfur dioxide), Sorbates (such as potassium sorbate, sodium sorbate).
There are some synthetic chemicals that pose many health problem. So you should know the preservatives in food to avoid. Nitrates, are carcinogenic in nature and may even cause reactions like vomiting, headache, sneezing, etc. Sulfites are antioxidants which can destroy vitamin B1 in the body, and cause problems in patients who have asthma. Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate can cause skin conditions and eye irritation. BHA and BHT are also carcinogenic in nature and cause many other symptoms like dizziness, asthma attacks, nausea, allergic reactions, hyperactivity, etc. One should also avoid propyl gallate as it is linked to various types of cancer. Sodium citrate is also another toxic preservative in foods, which when eaten in high amounts can cause bladder tumors. TBHQ which is tertiary butylhydroquinone is another harmful preservative in food, which can cause nausea and delirium.
Eating foodstuffs which contain natural preservatives foodchem in small portions is okay. However, if your body is sensitive to natural preservatives containing foods too, then you need to completely avoid them. Also, synthetic preservative in food, need to be completely avoided. Because, the side effects of synthetic chemical preservative may not be evident but after some time a person might suffer from major side effects.
Monday, May 14, 2012
How About Canned Soup
How about canned soup?’ is a question we should all ask ourselves. We blindly go on lapping up the tasty liquid that come in cans, not once bothering to wonder if it’s in any way detrimental to our bodies.
What’s better than a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter’s day? It feels like heaven when the hot piping liquid goes down our throat, soothing our taste buds, as well as our bodies. Besides satiating one’s taste buds, soups also furnish the body with all kinds of essential vitamins and minerals. Unlike other forms of cooking, which remove most of the essential nutrients, soups retain most of the nutrients from vegetables. No wonder, it rejuvenates the body! However, with the jet speed pace of lives today, we’re constantly on the lookout for faster solutions and ways to make life simpler. We quickly grab a few cans of soup and lap it up after work. After all, it’s one of the quickest means to put a hot meal on the table. However, is canned soup healthy?
Canned Soup
Canned soup comprises several unhealthy components such as fat, sodium, starch, artificial food additives, preservatives and colors. Most canned soups contain about 1000 grams of sodium, which is way above the body’s requirement. Luxury soups containing cream also load the body with high levels of fat. These days soup manufacturers are touting that their soups are lower in sodium, fat and cholesterol. We find all kinds of canned soup brands with all kinds of labels such as low carb canned soups, healthy canned soups, etc. however, is the canned soup diet healthy?
Is Canned Soup Healthy?
The supermarkets are loaded with different kinds of canned soups. Let’s find out, how should we decide, which canned soup is healthy!
High Sodium Content
However, most canned soups contain considerable amounts of salt, which can be seen in the list of ingredients on the label. High amount of salt is added to increase the shelf life canned soup. With each spoonful of delicious soup, you are actually taking in high doses of sodium. Campbell’s traditional soups still load the body with more than 800 mg of sodium in just one-cup serving of soup. The FDA in 1994, stated that for a food item to be labeled healthy, it needs to contain less than 480 mg of sodium per serving, which is 20% of the daily value. Thus, a soup can be only called ‘healthy canned soup’ if it contains less than 480 g of sodium. Check the label on your soup before purchasing it.
Less Nutritious than Homemade Soup
The soup in canned form has undergone a lot of processes before it undergoes canning. The soup we find in cans has less nutrition content, as compared to homemade soup. It contains lower level of vitamin C and vitamin B1.
BPA Content
Some of the canned soups available today are packed in metal cans coated with a potentially dangerous chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA). As per Consumer Reports’ November 2009, it was said that BPA is associated with causing deleterious conditions, such as breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes and prostate cancer and is also known as an endocrine disruptor. They also went on to mention that some of the most loved soups were seen to contain dangerously high levels of BPA.
Thus, quit perusing over canned soup reviews in the effort to find the best canned soup. Pick out some homemade soup recipes and make some yourself. The best part about homemade soups is that one knows what goes into it. There’s no fear about the ingredients(foodchem) and one does not have to spend unnecessary time worrying about what one is feeding the family. Canned shelf life is higher and it’s easier to prepare, however if it decreases our shelf life, it’s only wiser to stick to homemade soups. Hope this article on ‘is canned soup healthy’ was informative and helpful!
What’s better than a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter’s day? It feels like heaven when the hot piping liquid goes down our throat, soothing our taste buds, as well as our bodies. Besides satiating one’s taste buds, soups also furnish the body with all kinds of essential vitamins and minerals. Unlike other forms of cooking, which remove most of the essential nutrients, soups retain most of the nutrients from vegetables. No wonder, it rejuvenates the body! However, with the jet speed pace of lives today, we’re constantly on the lookout for faster solutions and ways to make life simpler. We quickly grab a few cans of soup and lap it up after work. After all, it’s one of the quickest means to put a hot meal on the table. However, is canned soup healthy?
Canned Soup
Canned soup comprises several unhealthy components such as fat, sodium, starch, artificial food additives, preservatives and colors. Most canned soups contain about 1000 grams of sodium, which is way above the body’s requirement. Luxury soups containing cream also load the body with high levels of fat. These days soup manufacturers are touting that their soups are lower in sodium, fat and cholesterol. We find all kinds of canned soup brands with all kinds of labels such as low carb canned soups, healthy canned soups, etc. however, is the canned soup diet healthy?
Is Canned Soup Healthy?
The supermarkets are loaded with different kinds of canned soups. Let’s find out, how should we decide, which canned soup is healthy!
High Sodium Content
However, most canned soups contain considerable amounts of salt, which can be seen in the list of ingredients on the label. High amount of salt is added to increase the shelf life canned soup. With each spoonful of delicious soup, you are actually taking in high doses of sodium. Campbell’s traditional soups still load the body with more than 800 mg of sodium in just one-cup serving of soup. The FDA in 1994, stated that for a food item to be labeled healthy, it needs to contain less than 480 mg of sodium per serving, which is 20% of the daily value. Thus, a soup can be only called ‘healthy canned soup’ if it contains less than 480 g of sodium. Check the label on your soup before purchasing it.
Less Nutritious than Homemade Soup
The soup in canned form has undergone a lot of processes before it undergoes canning. The soup we find in cans has less nutrition content, as compared to homemade soup. It contains lower level of vitamin C and vitamin B1.
BPA Content
Some of the canned soups available today are packed in metal cans coated with a potentially dangerous chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA). As per Consumer Reports’ November 2009, it was said that BPA is associated with causing deleterious conditions, such as breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes and prostate cancer and is also known as an endocrine disruptor. They also went on to mention that some of the most loved soups were seen to contain dangerously high levels of BPA.
Thus, quit perusing over canned soup reviews in the effort to find the best canned soup. Pick out some homemade soup recipes and make some yourself. The best part about homemade soups is that one knows what goes into it. There’s no fear about the ingredients(foodchem) and one does not have to spend unnecessary time worrying about what one is feeding the family. Canned shelf life is higher and it’s easier to prepare, however if it decreases our shelf life, it’s only wiser to stick to homemade soups. Hope this article on ‘is canned soup healthy’ was informative and helpful!
Food Allergies To Eczema
Eczema
Eczema is a skin disorder which is related to eczema food allergies. Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis, which is a type of skin disorder. Its characteristics are similar to a rash, where the affected area looks red with a prominent blackish tinge. The discolored areas feel scratchy and are subjected to flakiness, blisters and in some cases, oozing. The reasons for this skin condition may vary from person to person. However, sometimes certain foods also play a huge role in triggering this skin problem. Eczema is a commonly found skin disorder among children and adults, and almost 10 to 20% children develop this condition by the age of one.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are a cause of eczema in children and in adults as well. Eggs, milk, soy and wheat are some of the food items that can cause this skin allergy in infants. Allergies of seafood, chemical ingredients used in foods, colorings, acidic fruits, nuts, food additives and preservatives can cause this skin disorder. The tolerance level of every person is different, hence intolerance towards certain food items can be different for every individual.
Hereditary
Children or adolescents suffering from eczema, may have a medical history of this skin problem in the family. If either of the parents or both of them have this disorder, there are 80% chances that the children will acquire it too.
Allergens
Pollen, dust mites, feathers, mold, pet hair, soaps, shampoos, washing powders and certain cosmetics are some allergens that can trigger irritation on the skin, leading to an outburst of this rash. Alcohol based perfumes, astringents and some fragrances can worsen the condition.
Irritants
Irritants like tobacco smoke, chemicals, paints, bleach, extreme weather conditions, air conditioning and over heating can cause eczema. To avoid extremities of temperature, it is best to wear clothes that will keep you comfortable. Washing the clothes after using them once, is the best way of keeping skin disorders at bay.
Diet for Eczema
Food allergies need to be spotted before you begin to follow a diet for controlling eczema. For instance, if you are allergic to egg, remove it completely from your diet. To know which food item is causing the trouble, maintain a diary, and record what happens when you consume a particular food item, to find out about what foods to avoid with eczema. Eliminate this item from your dietary intake for a given period and reintroduce it later to see what happens then. It is difficult to diagnose foods that can trigger this skin problem, so, seek your doctor’s permission before you begin this trial and error method. Tartrazine, sodium benzoate, sodium glutamate and sodium metabisulphite are some of the foodchem food additives that lead to eczema.
Dealing with Eczema
As noted above, this skin disorder is not always caused by food. Poor immune system, can also cause eczema. Thus, building your immune system is the best way of going about this treatment. Experts have found that natural remedies are the best way of suppressing the spread of this type of rash. Additionally, the natural cures, do not have side effects. Vitamin E oil, Hydrocotyle, Curcuma Tr, Vinca Minor or Graphites 3X are some of the natural remedies for eczema.
This skin condition can recur, however it can be cured too. It takes time to heal, but, it can be completely eliminated if one sticks to natural treatments, healthy diet, lifestyle and strict regular skin care.
Eczema is a skin disorder which is related to eczema food allergies. Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis, which is a type of skin disorder. Its characteristics are similar to a rash, where the affected area looks red with a prominent blackish tinge. The discolored areas feel scratchy and are subjected to flakiness, blisters and in some cases, oozing. The reasons for this skin condition may vary from person to person. However, sometimes certain foods also play a huge role in triggering this skin problem. Eczema is a commonly found skin disorder among children and adults, and almost 10 to 20% children develop this condition by the age of one.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are a cause of eczema in children and in adults as well. Eggs, milk, soy and wheat are some of the food items that can cause this skin allergy in infants. Allergies of seafood, chemical ingredients used in foods, colorings, acidic fruits, nuts, food additives and preservatives can cause this skin disorder. The tolerance level of every person is different, hence intolerance towards certain food items can be different for every individual.
Hereditary
Children or adolescents suffering from eczema, may have a medical history of this skin problem in the family. If either of the parents or both of them have this disorder, there are 80% chances that the children will acquire it too.
Allergens
Pollen, dust mites, feathers, mold, pet hair, soaps, shampoos, washing powders and certain cosmetics are some allergens that can trigger irritation on the skin, leading to an outburst of this rash. Alcohol based perfumes, astringents and some fragrances can worsen the condition.
Irritants
Irritants like tobacco smoke, chemicals, paints, bleach, extreme weather conditions, air conditioning and over heating can cause eczema. To avoid extremities of temperature, it is best to wear clothes that will keep you comfortable. Washing the clothes after using them once, is the best way of keeping skin disorders at bay.
Diet for Eczema
Food allergies need to be spotted before you begin to follow a diet for controlling eczema. For instance, if you are allergic to egg, remove it completely from your diet. To know which food item is causing the trouble, maintain a diary, and record what happens when you consume a particular food item, to find out about what foods to avoid with eczema. Eliminate this item from your dietary intake for a given period and reintroduce it later to see what happens then. It is difficult to diagnose foods that can trigger this skin problem, so, seek your doctor’s permission before you begin this trial and error method. Tartrazine, sodium benzoate, sodium glutamate and sodium metabisulphite are some of the foodchem food additives that lead to eczema.
Dealing with Eczema
As noted above, this skin disorder is not always caused by food. Poor immune system, can also cause eczema. Thus, building your immune system is the best way of going about this treatment. Experts have found that natural remedies are the best way of suppressing the spread of this type of rash. Additionally, the natural cures, do not have side effects. Vitamin E oil, Hydrocotyle, Curcuma Tr, Vinca Minor or Graphites 3X are some of the natural remedies for eczema.
This skin condition can recur, however it can be cured too. It takes time to heal, but, it can be completely eliminated if one sticks to natural treatments, healthy diet, lifestyle and strict regular skin care.
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