Alarm over reports on the dangers of microwave cooking has been around us for quite sometime.  However I cant imagine a home nowadays without the microwave ovens.

There are basically two concerns: radiation and the unknown health effects on the food cooked in microwave.

Let me present the facts:

As of October 1971, the US FDA has regulated the manufacture of microwaves with regard to radiation safety with limits of around 5 milliwatts per square meter which is far below the level known to harm people.  Likewise no residual radiation is present after the microwave is stopped.

The US FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition was tasked to examine the effect of food coverings and the possibility of harm for the particles that migrate to the food.  After a thorough investigation the Cneter then released information to the public regarding safety of  microwave.  The findings include that so far no known health hazards have been proven for these health susceptors like paper, paperboards, polymers and adhesives that are supposed to migrate to the food when we cook in the microwave. However they are reassuring the public that the Center will continue to monitor the safety of the products cooked in microwave and so far no further reports have been made.

If you look at sites that condemn the microwave… don’t be fooled by anecdotal reports.  It has to be science based and well researched.  Anybody can just present their proofs but if no validation is done then the report is not acceptable to the scientific community.

For Now…Enjoy Your

Microwave!

I am a user of iPod… I carry it with me when I exercise everyday and when I travel long distance either by plane or land.  It’s the fad and I think this gadget will be in vogue for quite sometime.  Unlike the older versions of this gadget like the Walkman where you cant increase the volume because the sound turns bad… the sound of the iPod gets better the louder it gets.  As a result, you don’t even feel the loudness because you’re enjoying the music… and that’s where the problem comes in.

According to the Mayo Clinic Hearing Loss Center…Decibels of 80 or below are safe.  Most MP3’s or iPods can expose us up to 120 decibels.  It is now estimated that approximately 1/3 of all the hearing losses are noise induced!  And  MP3 or iPod usage contributes to this statistics… So iPod users… the most important preventive strategy to avoid the problem of hearing loss is to make sure you get the “safe” decibel.

A safe decibel means:

1. if you are able to hear a conversation while listening to the music,

2. If nobody else hears the music in your iPod,

3. If you are able to talk without shouting and

4. If you’re enjoying the music without turning the volume all the way up.

It is recommended that the volume should be less than 60% of the total volume set in the gadget.

For me, it pays to be cautious because hearing loss may not be apparent now because it takes years to develop.  But more importantly… once hearing loss sets in…it’s Permanent!

To be able to hear well is a blessing… So

Let’s Enjoy Our iPods Safely!

MSG or monosodium glutamate has been added to chinese foods for flavoring for decades… but anecdotal reports have convinced a lot of consumers that anything with MSG can be BAD!  It is for this reason that the US FDA launched its own investigation after a flurry of complaints from consumers to determine the truth and facts about the harmful effects of MSG.

In 1995, the US FDA ordered a thorough review on this controversial ingredient and eventually found no scientific evidence to prove that this product is responsible for diseases including Alzheimer’s and other nervous system illnesses as long as typical levels are used in cooking anf food preparation.

The problem that majority of the cases of reactions to MSG happen after eating in a chinese restaurant, one starts to feel the symptoms of the so called MSG Complex. The symptoms include: chest tightness, headache, palpitations, or even shortness of breath which tend to occur within one hour after eating 3 grams or more of MSG on an empty stomach or without other food.  The FDA estimates that a typical serving of glutamate-treated food contains less than 0.5 grams of MSG and that a “reaction is most likely if the MSG is eaten in a large quantity or in a liquid, such as a clear soup. “

The Fact Finding Board further concluded that:

In Short… small amounts of MSG to add to the flavor of our food should be okay…

Chinese Food?  Enjoy It Without

Fear of MSG!

Unfortunately,it was a very busy week attending a convention in Madrid. More than 24 hours in the plane and while attneding the convention, all you do is listen to lectures, take a break to eat then listen again. So INACTIVITY was the name of the game!

Haven’t you noticed that the more inactive you are, the more moody you become…or the other way around: the more active you are,the better you feel? Here are some facts:

A recent study by the University of Texas published in December 2005 showed that a group of depressed individuals after walking the treadmill for 30minutes had an improvement in mood, developed more positive feeling and a good sense of well being with more vigor than the other group who were told to rest quietly. The study concluded that changes in mood are affected by physical activity.

So what my friends and I did was to find time to explore Madrid and neighboring areas ( see my photo album titled SPAIN) for a whole day of walking tour… and my weren’t we refreshed!

So the next time your day does not seem to be right… Stand Up and Walk…

Being In A Bad Mood…Is Another

 Reason to Exercise!

You may not have realized it but suddenly your medications seem to lose potency.  Your blood pressure seems to be a little higher…or your blood sugar seems to be erratic with fluctuations not seen before.  The least of all possibilities is loss of potency of medications.

In a recent survey done among patients… the most common area they keep their drugs is the worst … that is the bathroom where heat and moisture are common place.  We always neglect the fact that humidity factor is an important aspect that can hasten the deterioration of drug potency.  We seldom or never talk to our patients about storing medications in the proper place.

It is strongly recommended that we store medications away from heat, humidity and moisture… and store them in a cool dry place away from the sun and definitely out of reach of children.

Protect Drug Potency… Store

Them Properly!

Just arrived in Cebu form Beijing and one of the most feared areas for me to catch flu is boarding on a plane.  I feel lucky if I am seated next to somebody without cough or colds…otherwise brace yourself for the flu season.

Influenza also known as flu is caused by a virus.  It is pretty contagious and usually infect the respiratory tract and will manifest as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and body aches. You can easily get the virus if you come in contact with somebody harboring the virus.  And it can be anywhere … while attending mass in the church, watching movies or inside the plane.  Coming in contact with people daily is a risk in itself.

Fortunately, this disease can now be prevented because of the Flu Vaccine.  Anybody above the age of 6 months can avail of this vaccine.  This is given every year depending of what three types of flu viruses will be predicted to affect people in that year.  For this year, the vaccine has been available since April.

It is generally recommended to all individuals > 65 years of age and I always recommend it to all my diabetic patients irregardless of age.  Likewise patients with chronic illnesses like asthma, kidney or heart disease should have this injection once a year.

This vaccine can prevent flu in 70% to 90% of the time.  If you get the flu inspite of the vaccine, normally, it has a reduced severity and duration avoiding hospital stay.  People however who are allergic to eggs should avoid this vaccine.

My advise if you get a Flu?  As simple as what our mothers have taught us: plenty of rest, drink lots of liquids, wash your hands to avoid spread and definitely stay home.

Prevent the Flu- Have Yourself Vaccinated!