The 'dangers' of plastic packaging

KUALA LUMPUR: It is a common practice among Malaysians to drink teh tarik, kopi O, and other hot drinks from a plastic bag or cup.
But doing that can apparently lead to weight gain.
Shimadzu-Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) centre for xenobiotic studies head and senior consultant Prof Dr Mustafa Ali Mohd is, therefore, urging for the plastic packaging for hot or citric drinks to be banned immediately.
"Paper cups should be used instead."
Mustafa said plastic bags and cups contain phthalates and may also contain Bisphenol A (BPA)
Heat, acidity and alkalinity, he said, enhances the leachate levels of these substances into food or drinks, adding that phthalates may cause obesity.
"This is because phthalates has been shown to affect the fat metabolism in the body and this may result in obesity.
"This has already been demonstrated in animal studies," he said.
The most widely used phthalates are the suspected carcinogenic di-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) which resulted in the food scare recently.
Phthalates, said Mustafa, are esters of phthalic acid.
They are mainly used as plasticisers, which is a substance added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency and durability.
"Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) which cause destruction to the system that regulates the hormones in our body.
"A small fluctuation in the composition of the hormones in the body can bring about drastic effects.
"For example, if the estrogen levels in a woman's body increases, this can result in breast cancer.
"If a person has extra estrogen, he or she may have more feminine characteristics and if they have more testosterone, they may be more masculine.
"That is why the body controls this all the time." Phthalates, he said, also affect fertility rates and puberty in children.
Aside from phthalates, Mustafa said most plastic packaging used for drinks may also contain BPA.
He said BPA had properties similar to estrogen when it binds to the receptor in the body.
"Some studies observe that they alter the puberty onset time which means that those exposed to it could mature faster."
Mustafa said BPA would result in the derailment of the normal growth process of children, especially the fertility and the reproductive system.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ministry would "seriously consider giving more accurate advice to the public on how to use plastic packaging".
"We have also engaged a local university to conduct a study on the migration of melamine and DEHP into food and drinks.
"The migration of melamine and DEHP does happen, but the quantity is usually very low."
'Most packaging don't need phthalates'
Most plastic food packaging and storage items do not require phthalates as plasticisers, said the Malaysian Plastics Forum. The forum's Education and Awareness chairman Ahmad Khairuddin Sha'aban said phthalates are not required for food packaging and storage items.
These include packaging wraps, containers, freezer trays, beverage bottles and re-sealable bags.
Ahmad Khairuddin said it is mandatory for manufacturers to comply with food contact regulations.
They include the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European food contact articles or packaging regulations for food contact applications.
He said phthalates are often erroneously referred to as if they are a single substance.
Inactual fact, there are about 14 phthalates currently in the market.
"Too often, individuals mistakenly attribute the characteristics of one phthalate to the whole group.
However, Ahmad Khairuddin said phthalates exhibit a variety of physical, chemical and toxicological properties.
"It must be considered as individual substances, not as a group,"Ahmad Khairuddin said.
Read more: The 'dangers' of plastic packaging http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/16plast/Article#ixzz1UJ59m0Ec

Lemon Kills Cancer Cells

The surprising benefits of lemon!

Read carefully & you be the judge.

Lemon (Citrus) is a miraculous product to kill cancer cells. It is 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy.
Why do we not know about that? Because there are laboratories interested in making a synthetic version that will bring them huge profits. You can now help a friend in need by letting him/her know that lemon juice is beneficial in preventing the disease. Its taste is pleasant and it does not produce the horrific effects of chemotherapy. How many people will die while this closely guarded secret is kept, so as not to jeopardize the beneficial multimillionaires large corporations? As you know, the lemon tree is known for its varieties of lemons and limes. You can eat the fruit in different ways: you can eat the pulp, juice press, prepare drinks, sorbets, pastries, etc... It is credited with many virtues, but the most interesting is the effect it produces on cysts and tumors. This plant is a proven remedy against cancers of all types. Some say it is very useful in all variants of cancer. It is considered also as an anti microbial spectrum against bacterial infections and fungi, effective against internal parasites and worms, it regulates blood pressure which is too high and an antidepressant, combats stress and nervous disorders.
The source of this information is fascinating: it comes from one of the largest drug manufacturers in the world, says that after more than 20 laboratory tests since 1970, the extracts revealed that: It destroys the malignant cells in 12 cancers, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreas ... The compounds of this tree showed 10,000 times better than the product Adriamycin, a drug normally used chemotherapeutic in the world, slowing the growth of cancer cells. And what is even more astonishing: this type of therapy with lemon extract only destroys malignant cancer cells and it does not affect healthy cells.

Institute of Health Sciences, 819 N. L.L.C. Cause Street, Baltimore, MD1201

The Magic Fruit - BANANA

This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.
No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B 6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system .

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B 6, B 12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on your shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !

Egg Whites - Healing Miracle For Burns

A young man sprinkling his lawn and bushes with pesticides wanted to check the contents of the barrel to see how much pesticide remained in it. He raised the cover and lit his lighter; the vapors inflamed and engulfed him. He jumped from his truck, screaming.

His neighbor came out of her house with a dozen eggs, yelling: "bring me some eggs!" She broke them, separating the whites from the yolks. The neighbor woman helped her to apply the whites on the young man's face. When the ambulance arrived and when the EMTs saw the young man, they asked who had done this. Everyone pointed to the lady in charge. They congratulated her and said: "You have saved his face." By the end of the summer, the young man brought the lady a bouquet of roses to thank her. His face was like a baby's skin.

Keep in mind this treatment of burns which is included in teaching beginner fireman this method. First aid consists to spraying cold water on the affected area until the heat is reduced and stops burning the layers of skin. Then, spread egg whites on the affected are.

One woman burned a large part of her hand with boiling water. In spite of the pain, she ran cold faucet water on her hand, separated 2 egg white from the yolks, beat them slightly and dipped her hand in the solution. The whites then dried and formed a protective layer.
She later learned that the egg white is a natural collagen and continued during at least one hour to apply layer upon layer of beaten egg white.

By afternoon she no longer felt any pain and the next day there was hardly a trace of the burn. 10 days later, no trace was left at all and her skin had regained its normal color. The burned area was totally regenerated thanks to the collagen in the egg whites, a placenta full of vitamins.