A Kitchen Lab

  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...