All Your Health Tips

Safer drinking water

2009-07-15T14:15:00.005-04:00

How many of us actually take the time out during the day to question what is really in our drinking water? Personally, it never crossed my mind until recently when I noticed more and more articles about bottled water in the paper. After some research, I decided it's time for a change!

Water, which is so vital to our health and well-being, contains a bunch of chemicals and toxic waste that we definitely do not want to be consuming. For example, FLUORIDE. There is a big controversy whether fluoride is actually beneficial or harmful to you. There are claims that fluoride actually prevents tooth decay. But isn't it enough that we use fluoride in our tooth paste? Must we ingest it every single day??

"Some advocates believe that the truth about fluoride does not reach the public easily because fluoride, produced as a toxic waste byproduct of many types of heavy industry - such as aluminum, steel, fertilizer, glass, cement and other industries -- must be disposed of somewhere. If it's not used as an additive to water, manufacturers would have to pay millions of dollars to dispose of it properly, so the pressure to keep fluoride listed as a healthy additive to water-and not as an environmental toxin that requires costly disposal - is great and political pressures to keep fluoride in the drinking water is strong."

Parents should pay particular attetion to this fluoride issue because dental fluorosis affects children. If children ingest an excessive amount of fluoride during their tooth forming years, their teeth can possibly end up looking like this:

To avoid ingesting fluoride in your drinking water, you can always purchase a water filter. But make sure that the water filter actually filters fluoride along with other toxic chemicals. Companies such as Brita and Pur retain fluoride in water. A good company to consider is Berkey Light Water Filters. Their water filters come in different sizes based on your needs.

*Evian and spring water do not contain fluoride.

Issues with Bottled Water

2009-07-14T14:20:00.015-04:00

It’s funny what kind of mind games advertisements can do to consumers. Fast Food: Ads vs. Reality compares photos of how fast food looks in advertisements to how they REALLY look on our table. It’s amazing to see the vast difference between the two. With that being said, let’s take a look at how bottled water is portrayed in advertisements.

Perfect thirst quencher

cool sensation

looks nice and fresh

She looks quite happy drinking her bottled water...

But what happens to those plastic bottles after you're done?

Not only is bottled water bad for the environment, it is not all that beneficial to your health either. Bottled Water Blues is a great website to get the real deal on bottled water issues. Some of the issues stated on the website

1) 90% of the cost of bottled water is for the packaging itself, meaning the bottle, label, and cap. You would think that 90% of the cost should go towards the quality of the water, which leads me to the second issue...

2) Bottled water makers are only required to ensure that the water is as good as tap water but not necessarily better. In addition, there is no "right to know" requirement for bottled water as opposed to the city water system. Honestly, who knows what we're really drinking from the bottle.

3) Bottled water makers are exempt from regulating standards for certain toxic or cancer-causing chemicals. City water system must meet standards.

4) Unlike the city water system, "a certain amount of any type coliform bacteria is allowed in bottled water."

5) "City tape water, from surface, must be filtered and disinfected. In contrast, there are no federal filtration or disinfection requirements for bottled water."

How safe is your bottled-water?

2009-07-13T15:46:00.002-04:00

It seems as if there has been a rise in skepticism over bottled water in the media lately. “While municipal water utilities are required to provide public reports of test results, bottled-water makers are not,” according to CNN. A town in Australia even voted to ban bottled-water. “The voluntary ban has been triggered by concerns about the carbon footprint associated with bottling and transporting the water,” according to The Daily Telegraph. If we can’t trust bottled-water makers to ensure safety in our beverage, what should we do? The answer is simple:
1) Buy a water filter or dispenser. You could save up to $600 a year by bottling your own water.

2) Use an eco-friendly stainless steel water bottle such as Klean Kanteen. These water bottles are toxin-free, made to last, and recyclable.

If you want to read more about eco-friendly water bottles, check out my BPA-Free Water Bottle entry.

Summer Food Series #2- Healthier Grilling Options

2009-06-12T13:00:00.002-04:00

In Summer Food Series#1, we went over the harmful chemicals that are produced when we grill our food. However, there are healthier choices we can make to minimize or eliminate these carcinogenic compounds.

>Grilling fruits and vegetables do not produce HCAs or PAHs. Hence you don't have to feel guilty about indulging. Not only is it beneficial for your health, it is also good for your waistline! You may be thinking that grilling fruits and veggies is so lame compared to meat. However, there are some really great ideas on how to have a healthy and delicious barbeque on the weightlossresource.co.uk website.

>If you absolutely have to have meat when you're grilling, perhaps you can opt for lean meat such as salmon or turkey. If you insist on grilling beef, make sure you marinate the meat. "It can reduce HCA formation in meat and fish by up to 99 percent."

>Keep track of time when you're grilling. The longer you keep the meat on the grill, more HCAs will get produced. Anything longer than 30 minutes is extremely harmful to your health. To avoid that issue, you can either cut your meat into small portions so it will cook faster or heat it in the microwave for a few minutes.

>Use eco-friendly natural charcoals to avoid emitting air pollutants.

Feel free to add onto the list!

Summer Food Series #1: Harmful effects of Grilling

2009-06-11T14:46:00.004-04:00

Ah summer, the season of grilling! What is more enjoyable than gathering with family and friends while chowing down on some grilled burgers and hot dogs, with a fat sausage on the side? We find every excuse to pull out the grill and pig out whenever the weather allows. However, the next time you go running over to your grill, you may want to stop and think about what you are actually be putting your body and the environment through.

> The process of grilling meat produces a chemical called heterocyclic amines (HCAs). "The National Institue of Health has placed HCA on the list of "reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens." Researchers believe that HCAs can alter a person's DNA and "lead to growth of abnormal cells."

>When the fat from the meat drips onto the charcoal, another chemical called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is produced. Afterwards, the PAHs gets deposited on the food as the smoke rises.Just like HCAs, PAHs are also known to be potentially carcinogenic compounds.

>Briquettes and lump charcoal contribute air pollution. In addition, "lump charcoal is made from charred wood, which is a factor of deforestation."

>Burning of charcoal produces soot, which in turn contains air pollutants that later gets inhaled and deposited in the lung.

Even though there are many negative effects to grilling, don't lose hope! You don't have to give up grilling all together. In Summer Food Series #2, we will go over how to make healthier choices when grilling.

How Healthy is Frozen Yogurt Anyway?

2009-06-02T13:57:00.002-04:00

As the weather is getting warmer, our taste buds are craving for some of that rich and creamy goodness AKA ice-cream. But no! For those of us on a diet, we try our best to restrain ourselves and stick to our diet regimen. Hence, we turn to a “healthier” alternative: frozen yogurt. But really how healthy is frozen yogurt anyway?

Sure, compared to ice-cream, frozen yogurt is a saint. It has seemingly fewer calories, fat, and more nutritional value. However, you must pay attention to how many ounces of frozen yogurt you are actually eating. “A large cone of frozen yogurt--nine to 13 ounces--"costs" 25-30 calories per ounce, totaling 225-325 calories per serving.” Remember that some frozen yogurt have the potential to be high in sugar and fat. Opt for fat-free sugar-free ones. Likewise we have to be smart about which topping (if any) we choose. It would negate the benefits of eating frozen yogurt if we’re just going to add chocolate chip and different types of candy to our healthier alternative.

An article on BNET reviews questions people have about frozen yogurt. An interesting point that came up was whether frozen yogurt is nutritionally similar to non-frozen yogurt. The answer was FALSE. Non-frozen yogurt has much more calcium and protein as compared to frozen yogurt.

So while frozen yogurt may seem like a better choice than ice-cream, our real winner is our plain old regular yogurt. It has live bacterial cultures that aid in digestion and support other beneficial bacteria in our body.

BPA-Free Water Bottles

2009-05-14T22:41:00.006-04:00

It seems like everything we see or hear has been about going green or having a healthier lifestyle these days. It is indeed difficult for people to make big sudden drastic changes in their everyday habits for the sake of saving the planet, however there are little choices we could makethat will make all the difference. For example, switching from plastic bottles to BPA-free water bottles.

Disadvantages of plastic bottles

Plastic bottles contain a chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA). Studies have shown that long term exposure to BPA leads to an increase in growth of breast cancer cells and prostate cancer cells. Other possible illnesses include heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. In addition, not all plastic bottles are recyclable. This leads to increase in junk in landfills and eventually air pollution when the junk is incinerated.

Advantages of stainless steel water bottles

A better alternative to the plastic water bottle is a stainless steel water bottle like Klean Kanteen. Klean Kanteen water bottles are toxin-free and 100% recyclable. They are eco-friendly and come in different sizes and colors. These water bottles are so sturdy that they practically last you a life time.

Advantages of aluminum water bottles

SIGG water bottles are also 100% recyclable and eco-friendly. They have surpassed the requirements of the FDA and are non-leaching. A concern people may have about aluminum water bottles is that they still use a plastic liner on the inside of the bottle. However, according to this blogger, the liner inside a SIGG bottle is "made from a water-based resin that is baked into the bottle."

Our first step to going green could be as simple as choosing a stainless steel or aluminum water bottle!

Cancer Banter: The Battle Zones

2009-05-10T17:45:00.002-04:00

This is a quick story about cancer and the medical insurance companies:
Cancer Banter: The Battle Zones

It's important to keep ourselves aware that even in a country as rich and as resourceful as the United States, there are so many shortcomings that has yet to be faced. In fact, most of the time we get in the way of ourselves because of legal issues, greed, politics and most of all, stupidity.

President Obama has put together a very vague and ambitious goal of modernizing the healthcare industry by trying to push for electronic medical records and granting more funding. However, the infrastructure and entire practice needs to be put into review. With some of the best minds and doctors in all the world practicing in the U.S., why do we make it so hard for us to provide the best of care of all of our citizens?

Eating after Exercise

2009-05-10T02:28:00.000-04:00

Eating after exercise is important. It is important to eat the right foods and repair the body after a good workout. However, this statement comes with a big asterisk (*).

Here are some basics to remember:

After a minimum of 10 minutes of sustained workout, your targeted muscle fibers will start to burn stored energy
The more intense the workout, the more protein your body will require to repair your body
When you eat after a good workout is key to sustaining the benefits of your workout and decrease repair time

The first 20 to 30 minutes after a workout, the muscles in your body will still be active from the exercise stimulus. The innervated body will not be ready to accept and utilize the protein if eaten/drank right after a workout. To avoid the aches and pains from a strong workout and to maximize the results, drink a protein shake after your body has time to rest. Depending on your fitness level, wait 20 minutes to about an hour after a workout before drinking a protein shake. Avoid shakes with high sugar (carbohydrate) levels and sodium levels.

After 2 or 3 hours after your protein drink, eat a healthy meal that consists of some fiber and lots of more protein, preferably solid proteins. Avoid the saturated fats and minimize the carbohydrates. For example, avoid the sugars and booze that some people reward themselves after a hard workout at the gym.

Protein is broken down into amino acids that is used as "replacement" energy for your body's used energy. The body burns amino acids quickly through aerobic exercise and continues to burn for a little while longer. Anaerobic exercise helps burn amino acids even longer and sometimes overnight while the muscles are resting and repairing. Protein must be consumed shortly after a workout to help replenish the lost energy and to avoid the body from breaking down its own muscles to regain it.

How much protein should you consume after a workout?
For an average person: 1g per kilogram of body weight
For an extreme intense workout or training athlete: 2g per kilogram of body weight

Sources of protein:
Lean Red Meat, Lean White Meat: Fish, Chicken or turkey (no skin), Eggs (preferably egg whites) Beans and legumes (which are high in carbohydrates). Nuts (nuts are also high in fat)... just to name a few.

Remember, protein drinks are great -- but watch out for those hidden carbohydrates and sodium content which may throw off your hard work! If you are exercising consistently, remember to continue to eat healthy low-fat protein-packed foods throughout the day to maintain the body rebuilding process and maximize your workout efforts.

New Diet Trick

2009-05-08T15:38:00.000-04:00

As summer is slowly creeping its way back to New York, it got me scrambling for new ways to lose weight for the warmer season. Of course we all know that results from fad diets are only temporary and end up hurting our body more than it helps. However, I recently found a new trick from Oprah's site that will give me a better picture (literally)of what I'm eating. Many studies show that if you write down everything you eat, your chances of of successfully shedding pounds are increased. But the problem is not only am I too lazy to record everything but I have trouble describing how much I actually ate. Hence, the new diet trick: take a picture of what you're about to eat! When you look back at the photos, you will actually see what and how much you have been eating. After all, the saying is "a picture is worth a thousand words."

A Healthier KFC?

2009-05-06T22:39:00.000-04:00

After Oprah promoted the free two- piece grilled chicken KFC meal on her show, it's been the latest craze for the past two days. It seems that KFC has finally jumped on the "healthy" fastfood bandwagon, joining other fastfood joints like McDonalds who offer healthier options for their consumers. People are becoming so health-conscious that even fastfood restaurants feel the pressure to change their menu. Although KFC claims that there are drastic cuts in calories and grams of fat in the grilled chicken, it's still not considered a health food. But hey- who would say no to a free piece of chicken let along a free meal?

New trend due to Swine Flu

2009-05-01T17:10:00.000-04:00

Fashion trends come and go all the time. Perhaps it’s time for New York City to catch up with the new face mask trend happening in Asia right now. In Japan, Maskore launched a campaign teaching girls how to match their face masks with different outfits and hairstyles. While it may seem ridiculous to think that face masks could ever be fashionable, it is very practical, especially during this time of swine flu scare. Plus, fashion is subjective. When rain boots and Ugg boots first became popular, I thought they were the ugliest things ever. Girls wearing them looked like they belong in a fish market. Nonetheless, the trend caught on, partially because it’s practical!

As the number of people confirmed with swine flu increase each day, it would be wise to take necessary precautions. While many people argue that face masks like N95 do not prevent people from getting infected with th e swine flu, it does prevent the wearer from spreading his/her germs to other people, which is equally important. In Hong Kong, face masks are sold out everywhere to the point where people have to order them from other countries. When Hong Kong was first hit with SARS, many people left their homes without wearing a mask. It’s not surprising that now with the talk of swine flu becoming a pandemic, face masks are wiped out in Hong Kong. Clearly, they have learned from past experience. Hopefully we can learn from other people’s mistake too.

Healthy Marijuana Tax

2009-04-21T16:07:00.000-04:00

The argument for legalization and taxation of marijuana has long been debated over since the big public outpouring of 'acceptable use' came about in the days of the Flower Child. Baby Boomers no longer want to be hindered in their choice and there isn't any real evidence, social or medical, that can prove that marijuana is worse than legalized drugs such as alcohol and nicotine. But in the end, it may not be as easy as people think to change the rules of our government.

Smoking and drinking has been socially accepted in the history of mankind as long as there have been gatherings of more than, say, 2 people. Its something you do. You drink, you laugh, pass out and regret some of it the next morning. It's what you do. And there are so many varieties and qualities of drink ... there are even exams and certifications for people who are connoisseurs of drinking and smoking. In fact, there are connoisseurs who travel to Amsterdam to freely express their personal tastes in smoke.

With all of the money generated in the related businesses of the tobacco and alcohol industry, its almost ludicrious to think why no group has approached this cash crop with the same fervor like Phillip Morris or Robert Mondavi. Marijuana grows, its harvested, processed, packaged, shipped, sold and consumed. It's a hard argument differentiate the difference between pot-making process and let's say, tobacco or Merlot.

And to take the argument in a slightly different direction: HEALTH! We have fast food restaurants pushing other types of drug-like addictions for grease and fat and carbs. Even our own bodies can't help but give in to the carb-crave. How many people in the US today are obese or have obesity-related illnesses? According to the CDC research a few years ago, it was estimated that over 112,000 death cases a year can be attributed to obesity. Can we compare those numbers with those who pass the dutchie rather than the perverbial Big Mac? (FYI: Whoppers are a little worse than Big Mac).

There's marinol and other approved forms of Marijuana and its THC that can be used to treat patients. There are sites dedicated to teaching people about the holistic and useful products that can be created (i.e. hemp) in sites like this, but the real truth is that there isn't any major side effects that anyone has found ... yet. This may be due to the lack of actual funded research and possible lack of interest as it is one of those slightly taboo topics that politicians don't want to talk due to its ironic "underground", but socially accepted, use in America. Even one of our famed presidents have been quoted, "I didn't inhale".

Today, we have nicotine patches, AA meetings, taxes, etc. that all continue to feed the the T&A industry (that's Tobacco and Alcohol for those minds stuck in the gutter). Its not direct sales, but they are related. There are books, seminars, government grants, you name it. . . there's money around it.

So, besides the benign comments above for the pro-legalization and pro-taxation mantra that many liberals have thrown around in the last few decades, there are other major factors that have been left unsaid. If you legalize marijuana, tax it and provide a new vertical market for North America, we have to address the other issues appropriately as well. We have to address the responsibility of such legalization and the implications of the already growing problem of teen-related deaths due to alcohol. We have to address the issues of organized crime trade that may be affected from this (and its potential backlash). We have to address the possible increase in public funding that may be shifted from fighting the import of illegal pot to enforcing the legal use of it. We have to address the possible association with the Sugar/Obesity Tax (like the controversial tax that Gov Paterson of NY tried to propose) and any other related taxes that may cause new uproar. And so on and so forth. Its sounds good on paper when you just consider the potential earnings, but there are a lot of other costs that go into and maintaining such an endeavor as pot legalization.

This may be why it no popular politician really embraced the liberal ideas fully ... or it could just be the reminance of old-school conservatism of our Puritan forefathers who founded this nation. Regardless of its potential medical benefits, textile markets, retail sales, consumer taxes and more, the real underlying question is: IS the changeover really so great that its worth all of the its looming (and understated) problems? The (healthy) debate will continue and we as a nation are still very far away from seeing packaged pot at the local deli.

Melt away stress

2009-04-17T11:06:00.000-04:00

When my friend invited me to go with him to a Korean sauna, jjimjilbang, last week, I was so hesitant. I don’t know how many of you have experienced jjimjilbang, but it entails getting butt-naked in front of other people. It’s more like a public bathhouse mixed in with a sauna, if you will. Not only am I stressed over ways of how to secure my job, but now I have to worry about old men staring me down while I’m trying to take a shower.

But after doing some reading on the health benefits of saunas and steam rooms, I finally gave in to my friend’s pestering. We checked out a Korean sauna out in Jersey. Apparently, it was featured in The New York Times three years ago. When you first go in, you have to pay an admission fee and then you are given a set of clothes to change into. Afterward, you have the freedom of choosing different sauna rooms to go into. Each room has different health benefits. For example, the gold pyramid room strengthens your immune system while preventing the aging process. Likewise the rock salt room is good for sweating out toxins. Some rooms claim to relieve muscle aches and back pains.

There are so many health benefits to saunas and steam rooms that the list is endless. Some major advantages are clearer skin, increased immunity against diseases, stress relief, improved blood circulation, and extra calories burnt. Saunas are great for the immune system because it creates an artificial fever by increasing the temperature of your body temporarily. This triggers an increased production of white blood cells, antibodies, and interferon.

It was indeed awkward at first when I walked into the shower area. I saw a bunch of middle-aged men scrubbing each others backs. But after I got past the moment, I really started enjoying myself. The steam room and hot tub definitely put me at ease. A great thing about the Korean sauna I went to is the time limit…there is none! I spent five hours there relaxing in the different sauna rooms, the restaurant area, and the lounge. Make sure to print out your e-coupon from the website if you decide to go.