Here at Gramps' Place, we share very funny and sometimes pretty lame jokes, interesting, motivational or educational stories, fun facts and also tips
on how to stay healthy.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Health: 'Pick the right veg' for health
Obvious choices of fruit and vegetables are not necessarily the healthiest, say researchers.
According to US experts, making simple swaps like eating sweet potatoes instead of carrots and papaya rather than oranges would make a difference.
Foods, like raspberries, watercress and kale, are richer in phytonutrients which may help prevent disease, they told a US meeting.
UK nutritionists said a balanced diet is essential to good health.
The British Nutrition Foundation warned that relying on eating a few select food types to boost health was ill-advised and said there was no such thing as a "superfood".
Experts recommend five portions a day of fruit and veg in a healthy diet.
Plant foods are known to contain "phytonutrient" chemicals that can protect the heart and arteries and prevent cancers.
But the most popular varieties may not be the best, according to US researchers.
They analysed data from US health surveys of people's dietary habits to look at the most common sources of phytonutrients.
They found that for 10 of the 14 phytonutrients studied, a single food type accounted for two-thirds or more of an individual's consumption, regardless of how much fruit and veg they ate overall.
Carrots were the most common source of beta-carotene, oranges and orange juice the most common source of beta-cryptoxanthin, spinach the most common source of lutein/zeaxanthin, strawberries the most common source of ellagic acid and mustard the biggest provider of isothiocynates.
However, for each of these phytonutrients there was a richer food source available.
Richer foods
Switching from carrots to sweet potatoes would nearly double beta-carotene intake, say the researchers.
Similarly, papaya contains 15 times more beta-cryptoxanthin than oranges, while kale has three times more lutein/zeaxanthin than spinach.
Raspberries have three times more ellagic acid than strawberries and one cup of watercress contains as much isothiocyanate as four teaspoonfuls of mustard.
Study leader Keith Randolph, who is a technology strategist for the supplement company Nutrilite, said: "These data highlight the importance of not only the quantity but also the significant impact the quality and variety of the fruits and vegetables you eat can have on your health."
Dr Emma Williams of the British Nutrition Foundation said: "They are right that some foods are richer sources of phytonutrients. But at the end of the day, to be healthy you need to make sure you have a varied and balanced diet. No one food can give you everything you need."
The findings were presented at the 2010 Experimental Biology conference in Anaheim, California.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Miscellaneous: Funny Pepsi adverts
Throughout the years, there's been a few banned/aired Pepsi adverts that were really funny. I thought I'd post a few here, the first one really beats almost any advert I've ever seen hands-down though, enjoy! =)
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Health: Cook instant noodles the correct way
Having been staying home to study for exams over the study break, it was difficult to avoid the temptations of having instant noodles for convenience sake. Got this email and thought I'd share if with you guys. While eating instant noodles is definitely unhealthy, why not minimise its harmful effects if you could right? Cheers. =)
Ah.... Instant noodles, it's bad for health, counting the calories and the sodium and MSG inside, but in the busy cities of most countries, and with the way how marketing side is promoting, instant noodles has become quite a norm to the society.
I know many may disagree that we should continue to consume instant noodles, but when we just can't avoid having a quick fill of the stomach and ahead with the rush of assignments we have in hand, there are some tips and reminders you need to know about cooking instant noodles.
Normally, we cook the instant noodles by putting the noodles into a pot with water, throw in the powder and let it cook for 3 minutes.
Believe it or not, this is the WRONG method of cooking the instant noodles.
By doing this, when we actually boil the ingredients in the powder, normally with MSG, it will change the molecular structures of the MSG causing it to be toxic. The other thing that you may or may not realised is that, the noodles are coated with wax and it will take around 4 to 5 days for the body to excrete the wax after you have taken the noodles.
The Correct Way
Boil the noodles in a pot with water.
Once the noodles is cooked, take out the noodles, and throw away the water which contains wax.
Boil another pot of water until boiling and put the noodles into the hot boiling water and then shut off the fire.
Only at this stage when the fire is off, and while the water is very hot, put the ingredients with the powder into the water, to make noodle soup.
However, if you need dry noodles, take out the noodles and add the ingredients with the powder and toss it around.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Miscellaneous: Dusty and Nice
Heya everyone
Due to lack of content, my updates on Gramp's Place won't be as frequent as ever. However, I'm working on a new blog, Dusty and Nice where I review movies past and present that I enjoyed a lot. This will allow people to know more about some of the older awesome movies that they might've missed and watch them. Do continue to give me your support, thanks! *thumbsup* =)
