What plastic products do to your health

Plastic goods come in different shapes, colours and sizes. These days, virtually every household item contains one plastic element or the other. From a baby’s feeding bottle to toys, plates, cups, cutlery, lunch baskets, freezer bags, table mats, buckets and large water containers, plastic wares seem to have taken over in the home.

Ditto the offices, where many portable utilities like water dispenser and waste bins, among others, are handy. In drive-through restaurants, you are served foods in microwavable take-away packs that are plastic.

At social gatherings such as burial ceremonies, chieftaincy celebrations or birthdays, different designs of plastic ware are usually handed out as tokens, and they are mostly monogrammed with the names and pictures of the hosts.

Food packaging and beverage industries also make use of plastic products, especially because of their durability and availability.

Western diet, route to early grave

BY SOLAADE AYO-ADERELE

Western food

What does your breakfast look like?

The answer to this simple question may be as diverse as the ethnic tribes that make up Nigeria, what with our attitude towards food, which borders on consuming large portions.

Among the upwardly mobile, breakfast may consist of corn flakes (which are usually fortified with some so-called vitamins), bacon, fried eggs or omelet, white bread and tea sweetened with white sugar — or other forms of sugars that researchers say are not in the least healthy.

At work, lunch may not be better, as it may be a combination of fried chicken or sautéed fish, with a generous serving of French fries, to be washed down with a large, chilled bottle of sugary beverage.

Dinner is no better, as it may consist of some take-away from the numerous fast food eateries that line major routes. Yet, experts say you eat Western diet to your peril. The unambiguous conclusion among dieticians, nutritionists, physicians and researchers is that Western diet is unhealthy and should not be taken regularly or served at the family table for that matter.

Nutritional benefits of onion

Never mind the tears they provoke, onions help in your fight against diseases. A prized member of the lily family, they lavish you with health benefits while adding taste to your food. A quick glimpse at their incredible health benefits:

• The phytochemicals in onions improve the working of Vitamin C in the body, thus gifting you with improved immunity.

• Onions contain chromium, which assists in regulating blood sugar.

• For centuries, onions have been used to reduce inflammation and heal infections.

• Do you enjoy sliced onions with your food? If yes, rejoice! Raw onion encourages the production of good cholesterol (HDL), thus keeping your heart healthy.

• A powerful compound called quercetin in onions is known to play a significant role in preventing cancer.

• Got bitten by a honeybee? Apply onion juice on the area for immediate relief from the pain and burning sensation.

• Onions and garlic are both pungent in odour and flavour. Linked to this pungency is the fact that both of these vegetables are excellent natural antibacterial agents. By eating a diet that is heavy in (raw or slightly cooked) onions, you can boost your body’s natural protection against bacteria. You’ll be less likely to experience certain types of infections.

• Onions are generally high in iron. Red onions, in particular, have the highest concentrations of iron. This can be helpful for a number of reasons. Onions can prevent anaemia and also boost blood cells in a number of ways as a result of the iron that they contain.

• Folic acid is helpful in regulating body systems. It is typically found in different types of fruits, but onions are unique in that they contain a hefty amount of folic acid.

• Contributed by: Ebuka Ezeji

Source: Punchng.com