A Kitchen Lab

The body does not manufacture most vitamins.  The only way these vitamins can be obtained is only through a well-balanced diet. However, cooking can destroy some of the vitamins in our foods. Water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B vitamins seem to be the most vulnerable to degradation in cooking.  Microwave Or Steam Although cooking helps to break down the thick cell walls of many plants, releasing the nutrients stored in them, which is actually suitable for stews and soups. If you are not cooking soups or stews, to minimize the loss of vitamins during cooking, natural foods should be microwaved or steamed rather than boiled in water that will be eventually thrown out later. Raw Vegetables Versus Cooked Vegetables Many people believe raw vegetables contain more nutrition than cooked vegetables, but not in all cases; it depends on the type of nutrient. For example, when researchers analyzed the plasma of people in one study, they found that those who ate a raw food diet h...

  Like a circus moving from town to town, the Jalapeno crave is going around. So for all you Jalapeno lovers, I know you wouldn't mind a few tips to help you enjoy or dig into a few more Jalapeno poppers or even some Jalapeno chicken salad without having to suffer the consequences. Suppose you enjoy preparing your Jalapeno treats yourself; in that case, I must warn you, "exercise caution when cutting these "hotties"; because if you don't, your eyes, nose, and skin will have to pay the price.  If you would rather sit somewhere where it's cozy (like a restaurant or a Jalapeno specialty spot and enjoy your "hotties"), then you don't have to worry about feeling the after-cutting burn. You just have to deal with a mouthful of fire. Just make sure you order a carton or glass of milk, yogurt, or some dairy ice cream. Yes, it has to be dairy! The casein found in dairy can help wash the capsaicin away. If somehow you have long opted out of consuming dair...

Since my mission is to use this blog to share the following:  1. What I know about cooking in general 2. How our particular food can help us to be healthier and even live longer. I have been spending a lot of time discovering more about the negative and positive consequences of eating certain foods.  Surprisingly, in one of my research, I have discovered the formation of cancers and the foods that can help prevent these most feared diseases from forming or even taking over our bodies! Although researchers believe consuming food rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals (selenium) can help protect the body from oxygen-free radicals. In this article, I will be focusing only on antioxidants and their mechanisms of action in cancer prevention. First, we will look at the “bad guys” known as Free Radicals ( the guys to be blamed for cancers). We will then look at “good guys” called Antioxidants (some of the main guys known for defeating these “bad guys”) and the usual str...

Bacillus Cereus is among some of the many species of bacteria that usually lurked around our home kitchens and other food handling or food preparation environment. Because this bacterium can cause severe illnesses, it’s of paramount importance that we know what steps to follow when handling foods. In this post, we will be particularly looking at the following: Source of this bacterium Illnesses this genus usually cause  Signs and symptoms of these illnesses Recommended (USDA) primary & secondary medical interventions  Recommended temperatures that hot and cold foods should be kept Bacillus Cereus  The bacterium Bacillus cereus, otherwise referred to as B. cereus, is a genus usually found in foods. It tends to multiply rapidly at room temperature and produces toxins that can cause several illnesses. Sources Foods that have sat out for an extended period at room temperature, particularly rice and other leftovers, are usually one of the primary sources...

Many people have been switching to using margarine instead of butter to reduce their intake of saturated fats. But, now researchers are questioning how healthy a choice is margarine, even though it has far less saturated fat than butter. A Comparison of Saturated and Unsaturated Fats To read, open the image in a new window.   Butter versus Margarine Based on findings, the distinguishing characteristic between margarine and butter is not the caloric content, as they are about equal, but the composition of their fatty acids. About 62% of the fatty acids in the butter are saturated compared with 20% in margarine. During the manufacturing process of margarine and some other vegetable shortenings, unsaturated corn, soybean, or sunflower oil is partially hydrogenated---a process called hydrogenation wherein hydrogen is added to the oil. This causes the chemical structure of the original polyunsaturated oil to be arranged to a liquid not found in nature that is mor...

It's a fact that diseases or illnesses of the large intestine such as colon cancer and diverticula can be caused by a diet low in fiber. For this reason, we shouldn't be consuming foods just to satisfy our hunger but also to prevent the risk of both illnesses. If you have the tendency to eat a lot of processed or refined foods, for example, you should be aware that when foods are processed or refined, almost all of the natural fibers are removed. However, one dietary approach that we can take to reduce the risk of diverticula and colon cancer is to incorporate sufficient dietary fiber in our daily diets. What is Dietary Fiber Fiber is a form of complex carbohydrate. A high-fiber diet gives a person a feeling of fullness without added calories. Food rich in fiber includes starchy vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grain bread, and cereals; because dietary fiber cannot be broken down by human digestive enzymes.  Instead, it passes down the intestinal tract and adds bulk to t...

Cruciferous Vegetables Patients undergoing Radiation therapy for cancer have been known to frequently experience damage to healthy tissues and several other side effects. However, based on a most recent study featured in an academic journal, dated 10/16/13, cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli is believed to contain an anti-cancerous compound that can protect healthy tissues from radiation damage or decrease the side effects often observed in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. According to this group of researchers, this anti-cancer compound that has been proven to protect rodents from lethal doses of radiation has already been shown to be safe in humans. This compound they call “DIM” has been studied as a cancer prevention agent for many years, but this is the first indication that it can also act as a guard against radiation. The typical side effects observed in cancer patients who have received radiation therapy are usually a redu...

Being malnourished alone during pregnancy doesn't lead to spontaneous abortions, premature births, or cause women to lose their babies shortly after birth. In fact, teratogens, lifestyles, consuming the wrong foods, or too much of certain foods are all responsible. The Effects of Malnutrition In countries ravaged by famine or war, such as Somalia or Rwanda, the effects of malnutrition on child development are apparent. There are usually high rates of miscarriage and failure to thrive. However, even in developed societies such as the U.S, a small percentage of all live births have shown indications of fetal malnutritio n. However, researchers believe most fetal malnutrition occurs in low-income families simply because, during pregnancy, these often economically disadvantaged women cannot afford the proper nutrition-- precisely, a balanced diet rich in protein and calcium. However, in this post, we will focus primarily on some foods known to cause spontaneous abortion. A...

Protect Yourself Now From This Most Common Food Bug For decades, food poisoning has been a common occurrence globally. In the U.S. alone --- based on data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) --- from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2010, there were 1,527 foodborne disease outbreaks resulting in 29,444 cases of illness, 1,184 hospitalizations, and 23 deaths. Of the 790 outbreaks with a laboratory-confirmed illness, norovirus was the most commonly reported infection outbreak, followed by Salmonella. What is Salmonella Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the United States. It is usually caused by foods that include contaminated eggs, poultry, meat, unpasteurized milk or juice, cheese, contaminated raw fruits and vegetables such as alfalfa sprouts and melons. Other sources include spices and nuts. Usually, symptoms last for a few days, and most people can recover without treatment. However, Salmonella can cause more severe illn...

Did You Know This About Cancer? When we prepare our meals, we shouldn’t only prepare food just to satisfy our hunger. We should also try as much as possible to select food items that are very nutritious and can help to reduce the risk of certain illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and others.  Because cancer is by far the most deadly of all medical conditions mentioned above, it’s of paramount importance that we fully grasp the co-relations between nutrition and cancer and the actions we can take to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of this illness. Fighting Cancer No doubt that the most effective approach in the fight against cancer is health education, such as educating ourselves on the importance of negative lifestyle modifications. Since nutrition is believed to be one of the primary causes of cancer, in this post, we will be focusing mainly on a few recommended dietary changes that can help tremendously to minimize the likeli...

How To Pick Healthier Foods You shouldn't only learn how to cook and know what food to cook. It's more important that you know what food items you should prepare based on their nutritional value. Selecting foods based on their nutritional value can be a rather challenging task, primarily because of two reasons. First, there are many food items available to choose from, and of course, the prices vary. Secondly, the nutrients differ from one food item to another. Despite this sometimes daunting and time-consuming task, shoppers should always ensure they get the best nutritional value for their money, not just a bargain. When you are trying to decide on which supermarket you should shop, you should ask yourself this simple yet very important question: "Will I be able to get the best quality fruits, vegetables, and meats and a wide selection of foods?" No doubt, this question should be sufficient to help you with your final decision.   Last but not least, ...