What is kosher salt and why everyone is talking about it?

Everything you need to know about Kosher Salt

Have you ever wondered how bland the world of food would be if we had not discovered salt? Salt is one such ingredient that not just adds the maximum taste to our food but also elevates other flavours and helps everything taste better. Apart from being an integral ingredient for food, it has a lot of medicinal benefits like helping the body in maintaining thyroid levels, preventing low blood pressure, keeping the body hydrated. Did you know that there are more than 10 varieties of edible salt? While the most commonly used amongst all the varieties of salt is our regular table salt, Kosher Salt is now becoming the talk of the town. To find out what is Kosher salt, read on:

What is Kosher Salt and how is it made?
Every kind of salt found is a naturally occurring substance that is generally harvested from seawater and rock salt deposits in mines made of salt. To get a step ahead to achieve the final product, water has to be completely evaporated from seawater salt and brine the rock-salt by pumping water on these rocks. Once the salt is clean, its crystals can be used in many ways. Kosher salt is a kind of salt is gained from these crystals. The texture of this salt is coarse and it is generally not iodised. This is one of the major reasons why people are preferring to use Kosher instead of regular, table salt. The structure and texture of the salt might depend on particular brands and also on the production.

How was the name derived?
The word ‘Kosher’ is used for food that is cooked according to Jewish dietary laws. So, technically, almost everything can be Kosher and every salt produced can be Kosher if it is cooked or made in Kosher supervision. But the idea behind its name had nothing to do with the Jewish Laws of cooking. The word Kosher signifies cleanliness and Kosher salt was first used to brine meat. So, it was quite literally Koshering the meat by making it free of any parasites or blood. With the process, the name stuck with this flaky variation of salt.

How and when to use it?
Kosher salt, if measured correctly, is usually lighter than table salt or the regular salt that we generally use in our households. So, if the quantity of the salt isn’t mentioned in any particular recipe, it is advised to use your judgement. The reason why most people these days are inclined towards using Kosher salt is that it is lighter and distributes easily all over your food but has a little difficulty in dissolving and that is when table salt comes to use. The versatility of Kosher salt mas made its demand rise even though the final product will end up tasting just the same as any other food cooked with regular salt. You can use it in a recipe where it asks you to use ‘coarse salt’. The main purpose of it is to either brine or give your food final seasoning. 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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What Is MCT Oil, and Why Is It Good For You?

One of the fastest-rising stars of the low-carb keto (or ketogenic) diet is MCT or medium-chain triglycerides. MCTs are a form of naturally-occurring fats that are shorter than typical lipid compounds, and are thus much easier for the body to break down and convert to energy, and so less likely to be stored in the body as fat.

MCTs are most commonly found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil and dairy products. However, coconut oil and dairy products are also rich in saturated fats that increase levels of “bad” cholesterol, and palm kernel oil is harvested through incredibly unethical methods that are disastrous to the environment and are threatening to kill off several endangered species, including the orangutan.
But that doesn’t mean you should give up on MCTs, as these beneficial fats are also available as a standalone product with a much smaller volume of saturated fats. MCT oil can be a terrific alternative for mainstream cooking oils, and as long as the product you’re using is derived from coconuts, your conscience shouldn’t be bothering you. But why are these good for us to begin with?

1. It promotes weight loss
There are several reasons why MCT oil could help you reach your weight-loss gains. For one, the body breaks down MCTs a lot faster than other fats and can use it as an instant source of energy, which, as mentioned, can prevent the accumulation of fat tissue in the body.
Secondly, MCT consumption has been shown to promote the release of “fullness” hormones which will keep you from snacking or eating overly large helpings of food. It also appears to have a beneficial effect on gut health.
Finally, MCT has been shown in several different studies to be an effective means to lose weight, and more specifically shed off adipose tissue in obese men. This, in turn, could be critical in promoting a healthier heart, and reduced chances of contracting cardiovascular disease.

2. It’s a great substitute for carbs
Because of its faster breakdown rate, MCT makes for a terrific source of energy that can also promote ketosis, the process in which the body burns excess fat for energy, in lieu of carbohydrates.
Additionally, MCT reduces the buildup of lactic acid during intense physical exertion, which can cause sore and weak muscles following exercise. Lactate buildup is the result of the body breaking down carbs at a breakneck pace. Because you’re using fat instead of carbs, lactic acid levels dropdown.

3. It can prevent bacterial and yeast infections
MCTs appear to possess antibacterial and antifungal effects, as they appear to kill off infectious fungi such as several yeast species, as well as several types of disease-causing bacteria, particularly ones that affect the gastrointestinal tract.

4. It could help prevent epileptic seizures
Weight loss isn’t the only reason to incorporate MCT oil in your kitchen. As mentioned before, MCT oil consumption promotes ketosis, which, beyond burning fat burning, also increases the production of ketone bodies, molecules derived from fatty acids that are capable of empowering brain function. Several pieces of research have shown that higher ketone production was associated with decreased seizures in people suffering from epilepsy.

5. It might help to stave off Alzheimer’s
While studies on the topic are still rudimentary, and further research is needed to make substantive claims, there is reason to believe ketosis can help in preventing or mitigating brain decay in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s. The reason is one of the characteristics of Alzheimer’s is a reduced ability of the brain to absorb energy from carbohydrates. By reducing brain dependency on sugars and supplementing it with ketone bodies, we could potentially improve brain function in people with Alzheimer’s.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                       https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                     FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                   

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Synthetic joint lubricant could potentially treat osteoarthritis

Treating osteoarthritis with synthetic joint lubricant may become a reality. The lubricant, currently in canine clinical trials, shows promise for eventual use in humans, claims a study.
 
The treatment, developed by biomedical engineers, is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring joint lubricant that binds to the surface of cartilage in joints and acts as a cushion during high-impact activities, such as running. 

"When the production of that specific lubricant goes down, it creates higher contact between the surfaces of the joint and, over time, it leads to osteoarthritis," said a researcher.

The study  focuses on a naturally occurring joint lubricant called lubricant, the production of which declines following traumatic injuries to a joint, such as a ligament tear in a knee.

The knee is lubricated in two ways - hydrodynamic mode and boundary mode.

Hydrodynamic mode lubrication occurs when the joint is moving fast and there isn't a strong force pushing down on it. In this mode, joints are lubricated by compounds like hyaluronic acid (HA) that are thick and gooey, like car oil. There are numerous HA products in the market, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, for treating hydrodynamic mode lubrication disorders.

But HA is ineffective when strong forces are pushing down on the joint, such as those that occur during running or jumping. In these instances, thick gooey HA squirts out from between the cartilage surfaces, and boundary mode lubrication is necessary. Under these forces, lubricin binds to the surface of the cartilage. It contains sugars that hold on to water, to cushion hard forces on the knee.

The researchers described a synthetic polymer they developed that mimics the function of lubricin and is much easier to produce. "We are in clinical trials, with dogs that have osteoarthritis, with our collaborators "he said.

"Once we finalise the efficacy study in dogs, we will be in a very good position to market the material for veterinary osteoarthritis treatment," he said. From there, the human market for a lubricin substitute should follow, just as HA has been made available for human use, mainly in knees.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                      FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                     https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

8 Methods Companies Use To Hide Sugar In Foods

It’s no secret that eating too much added sugar can harm your health in a variety of ways, with excess sugar consumption being linked to a variety of conditions like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. But even if you use little to no added sugar in your cooking, you might be consuming way more of it than the recommended daily amount. How is that possible? One major reason why that might be happening is that companies add a lot of sugar to their products, but they try to conceal it in a variety of ways to be able to pass them off as healthy foods.

And while the maximum daily amount of added sugar for men should be no more than 37.5 grams (9 teaspoons) and for women it should not exceed 25 grams (6 teaspoons), 1 protein bar can contain as much as 30 grams (7.5 teaspoons) of added sugars, which is over the daily recommended allowance for women. Let’s investigate how it is possible for companies to sell you junk food under the premise of healthy food, and how you can use food labels to make smart purchasing decisions that would promote and not harm your health.

1. They Use a Different Word For Sugar

When you want to find out how much sugar a product contains, let’s say, a box of cereal, you usually look at the back of a cereal box and scan the ingredients list for key words like sugar, sucrose, glucose, and fructose. If you don’t find those, or find them in the middle or at the end of the ingredients list, which means that there isn’t a lot of it in the product, you make the conclusion that it’s a healthy choice, right?

Well, not entirely, as many companies nowadays use many “alternative” names for sugar in an attempt to deceive a consumer that is used to scan the ingredients list before purchasing a certain product. Here is a list of such alternative names that you should watch out for when it comes to powdered added sugar.

Added sugar is also often used in syrup form rather than powdered form, in which case they commonly appear as the following ingredients on nutrition labels.

2. Adding Sugar to Things That Aren’t Sweet

You would expect to see added sugar appearing as an ingredient on a box of cookies, but not so much on a can of tomato sauce, salad dressings and soups. The truth is that humans simply love sweet food because our brains run on sugar and it’s addictive, and for companies, it’s a cheap way of making a product tastier for consumers.

Unfortunately, all of the foods we mentioned above can actually contain a lot of sugar, which add up and can be the culprit behind excess sugar consumption. For example, 100 grams of some ketchups can contain as much as 38 grams of sugar, which is higher than the daily allowance for men. That’s why it is always important to always check the sugar content of a product, be it sweet or savory.

3. Adding Health-Related Claims on Product Packaging

You’re better off completely ignoring claims like natural, zero, healthy, low-fat, diet, and light that often appear on the packaging of products. Instead, look directly at the label and analyze the ingredient list. These products are often lower in fat, calories, and sugar, but they’re often way too abundant in sugars.

4. Using So-Called “Healthy” Sugars

Certain products use labels like refined sugar-free or contains no refined sugar. What these labels mean, however, is that a product doesn't contain white sugar. While it may be true that these so-called “healthy” sugars have a slightly lower glycemic index (GI), they still have little to no additional nutrients compared to whole foods and, at the end of the day, they are still added sugars. A list of popular sugars marketed as healthier can be found in the picture below.

The bottom line is that like white sugar, fructose or corn syrup, these sugars should not exceed the overall amount of 37.5 g for men and 25 g for women. So, it doesn’t matter if you consume 25 g of white sugar, or 10 g of coconut sugar, 10 g of agave syrup and 5 g of honey as a woman, both equal your daily recommended amount. That doesn’t mean that you cannot choose these alternatives, but remember that they are just as damaging to your health as any other sugar.

5. Using a Few Types of Sugar

As we mentioned previously, ingredients appear in any ingredients list according to their amounts in a product, so the first ingredient is usually the most abundant one, whereas there will be very little of the last ingredient on the list. Companies learnt to take advantage of this regulation and often uses several types of sugar in smaller amounts, which makes them appear lower on the ingredients list.

This can trick a consumer into believing that there is very little sugar in the product. So, if you see a few different types of sugar in the middle or at the end of the list, know that the added amount of all these sugars may be way higher than you expect. For example, if you look at the picture below, you will see that this cereal uses a variety of sweeteners, such as sugar, honey, and brown sugar syrup that appear in different places on the list. 

6. Not Distinguishing Between Naturally-Occurring and Added Sugars

There is a difference between eating an orange and drinking a glass of soda, even if both of these products contain a lot of sugar. While products containing added sugars, like a glass of soda, do not contain anything apart from whatever is listed on the packaging, whole foods are packed full with fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and essential nutrients that not only mitigate the damage caused by the sugar they contain, but improve your health. Ingredient labels don’t distinguish between the added and naturally-occurring sugars, but you should keep in mind that choosing whole, unprocessed foods is always better.

7. Changing the Nutritional Facts With Time

If you know that a specific brand makes a great low-sugar product, don’t assume it applies to comparable products by the same brand. It is often the case that a similar product, but with a different flavor or simply one that is sold in a different country will not have the same nutritional content the original did.

It is also often the case that brands change the content of their products when they update the packaging, so always be critical of any changes or variations in the product you know is good, as it may actually turn out to be not so low in sugar.

8. Check the Serving Size

The last, but definitely crucial line in the nutrition facts portion of a product is the serving size. Food companies often manipulate the serving size of a product, making it too small to be realistic, but this makes the product look like it’s not that high in sugar. So, for example 1 small can of soda that even a child can gulp down in a matter of seconds often contains multiple servings, which means that by drinking the whole thing you’re actually consuming double or triple the amount of sugar mentioned on the packaging. Be careful and make smart food purchases.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

                                                                                                                                                     FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/  

         

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