Category Food

Why are soft drinks bad for your health?

Soft drinks are carbonated beverages. They are commonly also known as soda, soda pop, pop or tonic. While occasional consumption of these types of beverages may not cause any negative effects, drinking them on a regular basis is not healthy. Cutting back on the number of soft drinks you consume — or eliminating them from your diet altogether — is the best way to prevent associated health problems.

Obesity and a high body mass index are risk factors for many chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer. While still not a healthy alternative, substituting diet soda for regular soda will at least reduce caloric intake and can help to shed unwanted pounds. However, a better solution is to replace the soda, with calorie-free water and three servings of low-fat or fat-free milk per day.

According to an article published in 2005 by “American Academy of Family Physicians,” consuming soft drinks on a regular basis may also contribute to a higher risk of developing diabetes. The sweeteners and caramel coloring added to soft drinks, may decrease insulin sensitivity. Since drinking soda adds sugar and calories to the diet, it may also raise the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which raises the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Ingesting sugar can contribute to tooth decay because acid is produced when bacteria enters the mouth and mixes with sugar. When the acid attacks the teeth for 20 minutes or more and causes plaque buildup on the teeth and gums, it leads to tooth decay. 

 

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What is the recommended amount of daily salt intake, according to the World Health Organisation?

Salt in the diet can come from processed foods, either because they are particularly high in salt (such as ready meals, processed meats like bacon, ham and salami, cheese, salty snack foods, and instant noodles, among others) or because they are consumed frequently in large amounts (such as bread and processed cereal products). Salt is also added to food during cooking (bouillon and stock cubes) or at the table (soy sauce, fish sauce and table salt).

For adults: WHO recommends that adults consume less than 5 g (just under a teaspoon) of salt per day.

For children: WHO recommends that the recommended maximum intake of salt for adults be adjusted downward for children aged two to 15 years based on their energy requirements relative to those of adults. 

All salt that is consumed should be iodized or “fortified” with iodine, which is essential for healthy brain development in the fetus and young child and optimizing people’s mental function in general.

 

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Why do we need vitamins?

Vitamins are substances our body needs to grow, function properly, and to fight off disease. But our body cannot produce all the required vitamins nits own. So we turn to food sources and sometimes supplements to get them. All 13 vitamins play a crucial role in our well-being.

Vitamins are of two types: fat soluble and water soluble. Some vitamins that form part of our daily diet get stored in the fatty tissues of our body and in the liver. They remain there for about six months, ready to be used by the body whenever required. Vitamins A, D, E and K fall under this category. In contrast, water –soluble vitamins do not get stored anywhere and are carried in the bloodstream throughout the body. Some of these that do not get used up get excreted in urine. Hence it is important to constantly replenish them, vitamins C and the big group of B vitamins (B1 – thiamine, B2 – Riboflavin, B3- Niacin, B5 – pantothenic acid, B6-pyridoxine, B7-niotin, B9-folate and B12 – cobalamin) fall in this category.

Vitamin A: if you want keen eyesight, then this is the vitamins you need to take. A great immune booster, it also protects the body from infections diseases. It promotes cell development and growth, besides healthy hair, skin, bones and teeth. So, milk fortified with Vitamin A, liver, turna and cod liver oil, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables (carrots, sweet potato, red bell peppers) and leafy greens such as spinach are the foods you need to take to get this vitamin.

Vitamin B: This group, comprising B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12, provides your body with the energy it needs to get its metabolism going. Besides, B vitamins play a role in producing red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of the body as well as boost nerve health. So turn to dairy products, whole grains, wheat, oats, fish, poultry, meat, eggs, leafy greens and legumes to get your dose of Vitamin B.

Vitamin C: This vitamin keeps gums and blood vessels in good health. A powerful antioxidant, it helps wounds heal fast and builds the body’s resistance to disease and aids in iron absorption. Citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, green and red peppers, broccoli and cabbage are rich in this vitamin.

Vitamin D: Make sure your body gets enough of this vitamin if you want strong bones and teeth. This vitamin also helps your body absorb calcium, an essential mineral.

Did you know the body produces vitamin D in response to sun exposure? It is also available in foods such as egg yolk, fish, liver and cereals fortified with it.

Vitamin E: An antioxidant, it protects body tissue from damage caused by free radicals which are compounds that form when our body converts food into energy. It helps cells fight off infections. Almost and peanuts are good sources of vitamin E. Besides, you can get it from wheat, oats, egg yolk and green veggies.

Vitamin K: This vitamin plays a critical role in making the blood clot in case of injury, thereby preventing excessive blood loss. This vitamin is largely present in leafy green veggies and Brussels sprouts and also in milk, yoghurt and cheese.

 

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What is veganism?

The coronavirus outbreak has sparked an interest in veganism with more and more people finding themselves drawn towards plant-based foods and drinks.

Veganism is the practice of avoiding animal products, especially in one’s diet. It seeks to exclude all forms of exploitation of animals for food and fibre. In other words, it rejects the idea of commodifying animals.

Those who adopt this philosophy as a way of life are called vegans. They not only avoid animal foods such as meat fish, milk and other dairy items eggs and honey, and animal-derived products such as leather, but also refuse to patronise zoos and circuses that use animals for entertainment. The tem ‘vegan’ was coined by Donald Watson of Britain in 1944 to describe non-dairy vegetarians.

Many vegans eschew meat as it amounts to cruelty to animals. Some practise veganism to improve their health. Environmental concern arising out of animal agriculture is also one of the reasons that makes people go vegan. Then, what do vegans eat? A vegan diet comprises food from plants such as fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, rice wheat and vegetable oils. Vegans consume soymilk, almond milk and coconut milk in the place of dairy milk.

Health benefits

Vegan foods are rich in fibre and antioxidants. They help protect against diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Besides, a plant-based diet could lower cholesterol and the risk for certain coronary diseases while keeping body weight in check.

Though a vegan diet can be male healthy and nutritive with the available alternatives, there is one nutrient – vitamin B12 which our body needs to make red blood cells – that is present only in animal products.

Did you know?

The total number of vegans, vegetarians, and related categories was estimated to be about 8% of the world population as of 2018.

 

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What are the functions of WFP?

What is WFP?

The World Food

Programme is a Rome based United Nations agency that provides aid to nearly 100 million people in about 88 countries worldwide, Entirely funded by donations from government, corporates and individuals, it focusses on providing food aid during emergencies such as wars, conflicts and natural disasters.

The beginning

The agency was founded in 1961, thanks to the efforts of the U.S. under the administration of John F. Kennedy. The idea to provide food aid through the UN system was mooted by the previous president Dwight Eisenhower. The agency, which began functioning with a mandate of three years, soon justified its existence by effectively responding to various crises such as the Iran earthquake that claimed 12.000 lives, a typhoon in Thailand and the Algerian war. It became a full-fledged UN programme in 1965. In the nearly six decades since its inception, the WFP has grown to be the largest humanitarian agency in the world.

Reaching aid

Most of WFP’s work is concentrated in conflict-ridden areas as people there are more likely to be undernourished than those elsewhere. Besides specialising in reaching aid to some of the most dangerous and remotest places in the world, the WFP focusses on providing development and rehabilitation aid. It is engaged in supporting school meals projects in different countries, including India. It works in association with two other UN agencies – the Food and Agriculture Organisation, which helps countries draw up policy to support sustainable agriculture, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, which finances projects in rural areas. According to the WFP, it distributes over 15 billion rations of food yearly. It has over 5,000 trucks, 30 ships and 100 aircraft engaged daily in delivering food and other assistance to those in need across the globe. That’s not all, WFP has created an emergency delivery service that has ensured continuous flow of aid during this pandemic. Can you believe that the WFP has managed to dispatch medical supplies to over a hundred countries to help governments battling COVID-19 in the absence of commercial flights?

 

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What are some mind-blowing facts about food?

White chocolate is not chocolate
Don’t be fooled by the name of white chocolate. It doesn’t contain any chocolate. It’s actually just a mixture of sugar, milk, vanilla, lecithin and cocoa butter.

Nutmeg is a hallucinogen
If you take a lot of nutmeg, it works like a psychedelic because it contains a natural compound called “myxorubicin.”. If taken in large doses, it can have a mind altering effect. It is also poisonous in large doses.

There is no difference between the wax on the surface of fruit candy and that on the car
The luster of fruit fudge comes from the palm wax of Brazil, which is actually the same type of wax used in cars. I don’t know what you think about this!

Ketchup was once used as medicine
As early as 1800, people believed that tomatoes had medicinal value. Doctors at the time claimed that ketchup could treat diarrhea and indigestion, so it was once used as a pill.

Biscuits are more harmful to your teeth than sugar
Acid is the biggest cause of tooth decay, not sugar! Biscuits tend to stick to your teeth and eventually become a hotbed of bacteria.

Drink more wine in the bar, not because it is good, but because the music is loud
Studies have shown that the volume of music can change people’s drinking habits. Loud music seems to make people drink more and faster.

The validity period of bottled water has nothing to do with water
Water doesn’t expire, but bottles do. Plastic bottles will leak chemical particles into the water over time. Although it will not make the water harmful, it will reduce the freshness of the water.

 Honey is actually the vomit of bees
When bees collect nectar, they take nectar and keep it in their stomachs. Once back in the hive, the nectar is expelled back into the hive.

Sweet drinks can cause dementia
Studies have shown that people who drink one or more artificial sweetened drink a day are three times more likely to develop dementia than others.

 

Credit : Quora

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