Para-pa-pa-pa, I'm lovin' it??!!

This "M" symbol could be found in almost every country ALL AROUND THE WORLD. McDonnald's Corporation, a.k.a McD, is one of the world's LARGEST fast food chain restaurant. Statistic shows, McD serves up 47 millions of customers EACH DAY!

So why am I writing about it? Of course, "I'm lovin' it" too! Ever since I entered college life, I have my meals at McD at least once a week , which is pretty frequent for a Malaysian. And since I have McD meals more than a normal Malaysian, I need to dig out more about the ingredients and stuff in the food itself. I dowanna die one day due to too much McD food intake.
My all-time-favourite burger of McD is BIG MAC. Instead of crapping about the grandmother history of McD, I'm gonna share with you guys what I've discovered about Big Mac.

From the ingredients list, Big Mac is made up of 100% Beef Patty, Big Mac Bun, Pasteurized Process American Cheese, Big Mac Sauce, Lettuce, Pickle Slices, Onions. I think this is a PERFECT combination because I get to eat my Beef with cheese and lettuce.and all. Besides, I think it pretty much 7 classes of nutrients we need each day. Yet, people say having too much fast food is bad. I don't get it. So, here I go again. GOOGLE!!!

So what's the big deal having fast food? After searching about the nutrient facts about fast food, although there's veggies and stuff in a burger, however, there contains many bad fats and other thing that are bad to our health. Namely, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium(excess) and too much carbs.
Trans fat is the common name for a type of unsaturated fat with trans-isomer fatty acid. It is different from other dietary fats because it is not essential to the body. Two common trans fats are oleic acid and elaidic acid(unsaturated fatty acids) with the chemical formula C9H17C9H17O2. Consuming trans fats increases one's risk of coronary heart disease. It raises the levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol and lowering levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. Besides just coronary risks, trans fat will also cause diseases such as diabetes, cancers, OBESITY(the key to all sorts of diseases)......

Cholesterol is a lipidic, waxy steroid found in the cell membranes and transported in the blood plasma of all animals. Although it is important to maintain the permeability of cell membranes, if there's excess cholesterol in blood circulation will also cause heart diseases.

As we can see, having too much fast food often puts us at the risk of developing heart diseases because too much sodium intake will also cause heart diseases by affecting our blood pressure which indirectly affects our heart. Yet, the amount of sodium in ONE meal of McD set is about 2-3times our daily need. Its just plain insane when I come to realize all these. But what can I do? Stop eating??!! NO WAY!! Maybe I'll just reduce my fast food intake and have more veggie, fruits, whole grain food and legumes which will help to break down the cholesterol in our body and will lower the LDL-cholesterol level, especially at the liver.

Guess I really have to gain more self-control or else I will be one of the millions people who dies of heart disease, the world leading cause of death. Those fats do not just give me fat physically, it also affect me mentally and physiologically as they will form plaques in our vessels. I don't wish to be an obese who died of FAT!!!!

People, have a lil health concious. Maybe do more exercise will help because it keeps our heart muscles and all to work to burn the fats. Yet, self control is more important to a healthier lifestyle. Good luck choosing what to eat.

Chocolate makes me HIGH!!!

My course mates often ask me why am I always that hyperactive and always laughing like an idiot? I will always make a funny face and tell them "My glucose level too high, ate too much chocolate I guess" After being asked for a few times, I decided to do some research. Does sugar level, chocolate consumpstion for example, make people happy or HIGH (to be more exact) by effecting the brain?

A research was done by some researchers from University of Bath. It suggests that people who eat chocolate regularly are happier than those who do not! Here's how it goes. A group of 900 people were divided into three - one ate a bar of a well-known brand of chocolate a day, another was asked not to eat chocolate, while the third were free to eat chocolate or not, as they liked. The group reported their feelings via a Web-based interactive diary over a week. In the chocolate group, 70 per cent said they felt happy, compared to 35 per cent in the chocolate-deprived group. In the free choice group, 60 per cent felt happy. (This statistic was found in [http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news/Eating-chocolate-makes-you-happy-1395-1/]

As I'm google-ing MORE about chocolate, I find chocolate consumption has long been associated with enjoyment and pleasure. Popular claims that chocolate has the properties of being a stimulant, relaxant, euphoriant, aphrodisiac, tonic and antidepressant. Besides, it is also commonly claimed that chocolate has the ability to lift spirits, to create "HYPERNESS" and make people feel good. How COOL is that?! Now I guess that pretty much explained why am I always so high. Chocolate from Koko Krunch, Choki-choki, Mars bar, Sneakers......

What suprised me was I discovered that there are over 300 chemicals that compose chocolate have numerous and varied effects on our bodies through the nervous system(Yeek! Affects the mood.). Chocolate and health may seem like an oxymoron. However, chocolate may be a lot better for our health than we ever thought. From different wedsites, it is claimed that there are actually some scientific reasons why chocolate makes us feel good and is good for us.

To begin with, the main factors of sugar, fat, and carbohydrate provide a boost of energy. Then there is chocolate's seductive mouth feel which melts slowly in our mouth(it is because of cocoa butter). Also, chocolate contains theobromine, caffeine, phenylethylamine (PEA), and anandamide that add to its appeal. These chemical substances have a profound effect on the brain and also help to prove(I think so) that chocolate has a definite physiological effect on the body.

Theobromine and caffeine are both stimulants. Phenylethylamine is a chemical that our brain releases when we fall in love. It is also being called the "love drug" (Now I know why people love giving out chocolate to their crushes or lovers). It also acts as an anti-depressant by combining with dopamine that is naturally present in the brain. Anandamide helps to stimulate and open synapses in the brain that allow "feel good" waves to transmit more easily. Anandamide was discovered by a scientist in 1992. He named it after the Sanskrit word ananda, which means bliss. See, chocolates are always related to happy things.

Another two other factors are serotonin and endorphins. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that is released after eating carbohydrates. It is a neurotransmitter that communicates a feeling of calm to the brain and helps to stabilize moods. Endorphins are another chemical that act to send high levels of energy and feelings of euphoria to the brain. In addition, endorphins have been shown to be effective painkillers, much like morphine.

Chocolate has a long history associated with feelings of well being. It has been favored by people ranging from the ancient Aztecs to high society Victorians to Popes (COOL isn't it??!!). Chocolate also has a history of being a known aphrodisiac. I think it is quite fascinating that a food such as chocolate can have such an effect on the operations of our brain and thus our perceptions of the world.

There are ENDLESS details about chocolate and I might take me 3 pages-essay-long to further elaborate. Curious to find out more about chocolate, you can always go to this website to learn more about it - http://www.allchocolate.com/understanding/ . I gotta say, IF you want to be like me, EAT MORE COCOA-PRODUCT!!!!


Reference:
http://www.chocolate.org/chocolate.pdf
http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=1419

Eeeww!!! GERMS!!!

Every time going out to restaurant or hawker stalls or wherever to hunt for food, after ordering food and settling down, I will say "Let's go wash hands~". I just can't stand not washing them.

Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. Never ending hand washing. Before eating, we wash our hands; after eating, wash them again. Personally, I have a habit of washing or wiping my hands every time before eating or after doing something. Don't you think it's SO GROSS not washing your hands from time to time? A 3-year-old also would know that germs are EVERYWHERE.

Yet sometimes when my hands are dirty but there's NO WHERE to wash them. I will go nuts. You may think I'm a germophobic, but it makes me itch. But THANK GOD some geniuses created the wonderful, indescribable, the great ON-THE-GO hand sanitizer~

A sample of hand sanitizer, product of Dettol, which has just been sold in market.

A hand sanitizer is also known as a healthcare personnel hand wash or a hand antiseptic( Don't ask me why because this is according to the latest FDA definition). People usually use it as an alternative, just like me, when there's no where possible for us to wash our hands. Well, basically the most important ingredient in a hand sanitizer is ALCOHOL. Alcohol is 99.9% effective in killing germs and bacteria. Scientists claimed that hand sanitizing product that contains a 60% concentration of alcohol is most effective.Of course, it has to work with other agents such as isopropanol, carbomer, triclosan, glycerine, to make a sanitizer a better alternative for hand washing.

Hand sanitizers are particularly pretty helpful in reducing the amount of bacteria on your hands, which can lead to illness or cause infections. I found in a website saying the use of hand sanitizers can reduce the risk of developing respiratory or gastrointestinal illness or maybe flu. This is awesome because we do not know what's on our hands so the best way to ensure that our hands are clean and free from bacteria is to use hand sanitizers when there's no choice(But it's best to use it after proper hand washing to double cleanse our hands). It is so simple to be used. Just simply rub the sanitizing gel on the hands for about 30 seconds, instantly it will eliminate different forms of bacteria and also viruses(NOT ALL, just some. But good enough to maintain the cleanliness). Hand sanitizing has been proven to be very effective against some dangerous forms of bacteria, like methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which can cause the deadly and frightening flesh-eating bacteria. (WOW! factor. How cool with sufficient concentration of alcohol can lead to a healthier life?).

Gel hand sanitizer on the palm.

Now let's get into details regarding the ingredients. The active ingredient in hand sanitizers may be isopropanol. It is used in personal hygiene products when good absorption through the skin is desired(So, I reckoned it is also being used in hand lotion). The inactive ingredients in hand sanitizer typically include a thickening agent such as carbomer for alcohol gels, humectants such as glycerin which a solvent that when added to water and softens the skin. Besides, some also uses triclosan to kill germs. Basically, there's nothing much about the ingredients we can discuss about but from those I've listed down, they are usually related to killing germs.

Steps to cleaner hands by using sanitizer.

Personally, I think hand sanitizer is essential to keep our hands clean (safe from bacteria) at all time. However it should not replace hand washing in any setting. We are recommended to use hand sanitizer after hand washing because in general, hand sanitizer provides the best results when used after we thoroughly wash our hands. This is particularly true after we use the bathroom. So, take it as an alternative but not depending on it.

In summary, the ability of hand sanitizer to provide some protection from common cold and flu viruses should be given merit. Now I've found an alternative, and I'm glad to have a chance to share this to the others. Everyone does know about H1N1 and it is crucial to keep our hands clean. The great on-th-go HAND SANITIZER, our best partner in keeping hands clean.

P/S: God bless everyone. Hope none of us will become the victim.

Going Green is the NEW Pink

Being a small town girl in this big city, Kuala Lumpur, people always ask how Kedah (a state well-known for paddy) looks like. Questions and statements like "Wow! Kedah! So your house is surrounded by the paddy field?", "Jeez, there must be cows and goats everywhere.", "You live in the jungle?" or "Is your house made of attap and wood plank?" are pretty common to be heard.

Well, the answers to all the questions and statements are "no". Kedah may look that way back in 50years, but now, definitely not. Look how like-a-bat-out-of-hell fast our country has developed. No more so-called "kampung"(village) boys and girls!

Yet, it's a shame because so many forests were destroyed for the development. I remember there used to be trees around my neighbourhood and kids would be playing on the field. But now, the trees are all gone and all I see are houses. What's worse is the temperature rises drastically over the years and the air is pretty much dry and dusty. No more running-around-children BUT more constructions, more factories, more cars...... these emit smokes that will lead to various chain reactions. From deforestation to greenhouse effect, from greenhouse effect to global warming, these are pretty common and are getting worse.

I reckon everyone knows how dangerous it is if these issues are not fixed, but no one seems to care. Trees and other plants help remove carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) from the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis and release it back into the atmosphere during normal respiration. As deforestation continues, the rate of carbon dioxide increases. This will lead to global warming. It gives me goosebumps just to think about it. Come to think about it, what if deforestation is carried out by every little town for development but no trees are planted back? Imagine every minute or even second a tree is chopped down all around the world, what will the world turn out to be in few years time?

This issue has been haunting us since the 20th century and it's worsening. Besides deforestation, the smokes produced by cars and factories, CFCs produced by aerosol spray and air conditioner...... GOSH! What do we get now? Ozone depletion, retreat of glaciers, drastic climatic change and blah blah blahh...

I think everyone should play a part in making this world a better place to live in. To do so, the best way is PLANT MORE TREES!! We need to stop open burning, practice car pooling or taking the public transport and many more. Small things we do can change the world. Together as human we should protect the wonderful creation of God. Here's a website regarding "A Beginners Guides to Going Green" [http://www.go-green.ae/gogreen_extlinks.php?linkid=943]. The world is at stake. Do something for it, for yourself, and for all the people around you.

Save a tree, save the World.

Think, Top Up And Drive

*Vrooom... Vroooom... Vroooom*
Wind down the windows, shoes off, step on the throttle pedal, feel the breeze beats on my face is something I enjoy doing. To drive with pleasure (as in to drive fastly and smoothly) , it's not just the car itself that matters, the quality of petrol plays an important role, too.

No gasoline=no petrol,=NO DRVING FANCY CARS!!!!

http://eyeforcars.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/1969_mustang_boss302track.jpg

Petrol consists mostly of aliphatic hydrocarbons with between 4 and 12 carbon atoms per molecule. It is produced in oil refineries and is obtained through the distillation of crude oil. It has different characteristics because it is blended together through various refinery streams. Small quantities of various additives are common, for purposes such as tuning engine performance or reducing harmful exhaust emissions. Some mixtures also contain significant quantities of ethanol as a partial alternative fuel.

As years gone by, the petroleum industry is growing. The petrol is modified to different functions and performances. There are two types of commonly-heard-petrol, namely leaded petrol and unleaded petrol. So what's the difference between them? Which is safer to be used? It was found that unleaded petrol is petrol manufactured without the addition of a substance called anti-knock, a compound containing lead that was originally put in petrol to prevent knocking in the engine and to promote smooth running. It also has slightly lower octane rating than leaded petrol and does not release lead compounds into the atmosphere from exhaust fumes. As we all know, lead causes a toxic effect particularly in the brain that is irreversible and puts children at high health risk.

Leaded petrol has been banned in Europe and United States. However, some petrol stations, such as Shell, have tried to do away with leaded petrol. Lead from food, air, and water pose a health hazard to humans. Other effects leads include:
-A rise in blood pressure
-Kidney damage
-Miscarriages and subtle abortion
-Declined fertility of men through sperm damage.
It is pretty obvious that unleaded petrol is safer to be used. For the future generation and for our mother Earth, leaded petrol should not be introduced anymore. So guys, SUPPORT UNLEADED PETROL!

To all those people out there who love to speed-driving, try Shell V-power!!! Then you can go "vroom-vroom" around with less resistance because this is the most advanced fuel Shell has ever developed (a high-octane, nitrogen enriched premium gasoline that actively cleans while you drive to help improve engine performance). Have fun driving!


References:
- http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/opinions/Unleaded_petrol_is_good_for_health_environment_83206.shtml
- http://www.shell.us/home/content/usa/products_services/on_the_road/fuels/shell_vpower/about_vpower/about_vpower.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline#Lead
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum
- http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/leaded_unleaded.pdf

-Bienvenido-