My Coffee... Good or Bad??

Speaking of coffee, there are various opinions about the coffee. Some say that coffee bad for health, some of the opinions are that the coffee is very good for health.

Coffee has some positive effect as well as negative effect to our body. It’s all depends on how we consume it daily.

Coffee Benefits

According to Harvard Women's Health, the consumption of several cups of coffee a day may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, the formation of kidney stones, colon cancer, Parkinson's disease, liver damage (cirrhosis), heart disease and prevent decline in brain cognitive power.

·         Diabetes. Twenty studies conducted around the world shows that coffee reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 50%. The researchers speculate that the cause is chlorogenic acid in coffee act to slow the absorption of sugar in the digestive tract. Chlorogenic acid also stimulates the formation of GLP-1, a chemical that increases insulin (the hormone that regulates the absorption of sugar into the cells.) Other substances in coffee that is trigonelin (pro-vitamin B3) is also thought to help slow the absorption of glucose.

·         Cancer. Research has consistently shown that coffee reduces the risk of liver cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer.

·         Cirrhosis. Coffee protects the liver from cirrhosis, particularly cirrhosis due to alcoholism.

·         Parkinson's disease. The coffee drinkers have a risk of Parkinson's half lower than those who do not drink coffee.

·         Heart disease and stroke. Coffee consumption does not increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Contrast, coffee actually slightly reduce the risk of stokes. A study of more than 83,000 women over the age of 24 years showed those who drank two to three cups of coffee a day had a risk of stroke by 19% lower than those who do not drink coffee. Studies of a number of men in Finland showed similar results.

·         Cognitive function. A study of 4197 women and 2820 men in France showed that drinking at least three cups of coffee a day can prevent decline in cognitive function due to aging of the brain up to 33 percent in women. However, the same benefits not found in men. This may be because women are more sensitive to caffeine.

The negative effects of coffee

However, coffee also has a negative effect. Caffeine as main content of coffee is a stimulant that addicted. Caffeine affects cardiovascular system such as increased heart rate and blood pressure. The negative impact that occurs when you consume to excess.

For most people, drinking two to three cups of coffee does not give a negative impact. Drinking coffee with more frequency than that can cause heart palpitations, insomnia, headaches and other disorders. Therefore, for those who consumed coffee that was not sleepy, for example because of lack of sleep, it is suggested that consumption is spread throughout the day.

Research on the relationship of coffee consumption with miscarriage does not provide uniform conclusions. But, for the safety of pregnant women are advised not to drink more than one cup of coffee a day.

DANGEROUS TYPE OF PLASTIC AROUND US

Hei guys, don't you realize that there are sooooo many kind of plastics all around us? Some of them are good, and some are not good. Well, if we want our family to be safe from all of those dangerous materials of the plastics around us, let's take a look at these explanation.

There are so many kinds of plastics, ut the one that's well known is that the plastic number 1 until 7 that are acceptable as food packaging materials.

 1. Plastic number 1 (PETE or PET)

Usage: Usually used for plastic bottles are colored clear / transparent / translucent, such as mineral water bottles, juice bottles, and almost any other beverage bottles.

Bottle type PET / PETE is recommended only use ONCE ! Why? If it is too often used, much less used to store warm or even hot water, will result in a layer of polymer on the bottle will melt and release carcinogenic (can cause cancer) in the long term. 

2. Plastic number 2 HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)

Usage: Usually used for milk bottle white milk, Tupperware, gallons of drinking water, folding chairs, and others. HDPE has a much stronger material properties, hard, opaque and more resistant to high temperatures.

Recommendation:
HDPE is a plastic material that is safe for use because of its ability to prevent chemical reaction between the plastic containers made ​​from HDPE with food / beverage packed.
Not the same as PET, HDPE can still be used repeatedly as long as it did not experience heating above 120 degrees Celsius. But the more safe when used only once. 

3. Plastic number 3 PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

This kind of plastic is very difficult to be recycled...

Use: Plastics can be found on the plastic wrap (cling wrap), and bottles. 

Recommendation: So we should look for another alternative food packaging (not marked 3 and V), such as plastics made ​​of polyethylene or natural materials (eg banana leaf).

4. Plastic number 4 LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene)

LDPE plastic that is the type of brown plastic (thermoplastic / made ​​from petroleum).

Usage: usually used to place food, plastic packaging, and bottles of soft.

Recommendation:
Plastics can be recycled, either for goods that require flexibility, but strong, and has good resistance to chemical reaction.

Goods made ​​from LDPE are difficult to destroy, but still good for the food because it is difficult to react chemically with foods that are packed with this material.

5. Plastic number 5 PP (Polypropylene)  

Usage: Type PP (POLYPROPYLENE) is the best plastic material selection, especially for the food and drinks like a place to store food, drink bottles and most drink bottles for babies.

Recommendation: Look for the code number 5 when buying goods made ​​from plastic containers to store various foods and beverages.

6. Plastic number 6 (polystyrene)

Use: the PS is usually used as food packaging materials Styrofoam, disposable drinking places, and others.

Recommendation: This material should be avoided, because in addition harmful to brain health, disrupt the hormone estrogen in women that result in reproductive problems, and growth and nervous system, also because this material is difficult to be recycled. If any recycled, this material requires a very long process and long.

7. Plastic number 7 

Other types of plastic To this there are 4 types, namely:

• SAN: Styrene Acrylo Nitrile
• ABS: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
• PC: Polycarbonate
• Nylon

Use of: OTHER can be found at places such as food and drink sports drink bottles, auto parts, household equipment, computers, electronic equipment, and plastic packaging.

SAN and ABS

Usage: Usually found on the mixer bowl, wrapping flasks, dishes, cutlery, coffee filter, and toothbrush, while the ABS is commonly used as pipe material and lego toys.
Recommendation: Plastic with seven types of SAN and ABS is one of the plastic material which is excellent for use in packaging food or beverages. 

 PCUsage: found in plastic baby bottles, toddler cups (sippy cup), polycarbonate drinking bottles, and cans of food and beverage packaging, including cans of infant formula.
Ironically milk bottle is very likely to have the heating process, whether it be for the purpose of sterilization by boiling, heated by microwave, or poured boiling water or hot water
Recommendation: RECOMMENDATIONS NOT USED TO PLACE FOOD OR DRINK.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLASTIC SYMBOLS?

It should be wise in using plastic, especially code 1, 3, 6, and 7 (PC), all have a chemical hazard. Use only disposable (once)!

Will be safe when using plastic with codes 2, 4, 5, and 7 (SAN or ABS)

One more thing to be aware of the use of plastic in the food industry is the contamination of plastic dyes in food. For example, when buying fried on the sidewalk, the seller usually gives fried foods are still hot into bags colored crackle. Apparently this dye bag crackle if exposed to heat, can be broken down, degraded into a toxic radical form of substances hazardous to health in particular can cause cells to grow uncontrollably in diseases such as cancer. Therefore, be careful with the use of colored crackle bag to mengkemas hot food, as well as plastic packaging other food color.

Well, how about your baby's bottle??

INDONESIAN SOTO

Chicken Soto is a typical Indonesian food in the form of a type of chicken soup with a creamy sauce. The yellow color is caused by the use of turmeric as a spice. Soto chickens are found in areas in Indonesia. Chicken soup is a kind of chicken soup with glass noodles content, bean sprouts, slices of chicken eggs, cabbage, potatoes and tomatoes.

Chicken soto can be eaten with white rice or rice cake slices.

Ingredients :

·         1 chicken whole

·         200 grams cabbage

·         200 grams of bean sprouts

·         4 potatoes (boiled or steamed, peeled, and fried)

·         2 tomatoes

·         50 g glass noodles (soaked in hot water)

·         3 hard-boiled eggs

·         2 liters of water

·         fried onions

Spices :

·         3 sheets of orange leaves

·         2 stalks lemongrass

·         2 bay leaves

·         1 leek

·         25 grams galangal

·         2 tablespoons cooking oil

Mashed spices :

·         5 grams of turmeric

·         4 pieces of hazelnut

·         15 grams ginger

·         3 pieces red onion

·         2 cloves garlic

·         ½ teaspoon pepper

·         2 tablespoons salt

How to make Soto :

·         Saute spices smoothed with a low heat until fragrant.

·         Boil the chicken in the pot along with sautéed spice, galangal, lime leaves, bay leaves, lemon grass and leaves for at least 30 minutes until the chicken becomes tender. Cooking time can be shortened by using Presto pan.
When the sauce is still less savory may added salt or pepper to taste.

·         Separate meat from bone with a fork and knife.

·         Enter the bone back into the sauce in the pan.

·         Enter the green onion slices.

·         Sauce need boiled again before serving.

How to serve:

·         In the bowl place the cabbage, bean sprouts, vermicelli, sliced ​​potatoes, tomatoes, and eggs and chicken meat.

·         Pour the boiling soup broth into bowl.

·         Add fried onion and lemon slices on top if you like.

·         Serve with a sauce of vinegar, soy sauce, crackers and chips.