Lick your wounds

When I was a kid, I used to put my saliva on my wound until I can feel the wetness on and around the wound area. Then normally I get scolded by my mom for doing this, but I just couldn’t stop myself, it just let me feel better. So, day by day, I was getting used to this so called “dirty act” whenever I get cut. And today, I came across an article in a magazine with the title “Lick your wounds” which support this “dirty act” as shown below:-

Human saliva may not always get the respect it deserves but this humble fluid had been shown to have powerful antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. One study conducted by French researchers in 2006 identified a pain-killer in saliva called opiorphin which is reportedly six times more potent than morphine. Considering these traits, a new discovery by Dutch-based scientists at the Academic Centre for Dentistry in Amsterdam makes perfect sense. They have isolated a compound in human saliva called histatin that greatly speeds the healing wounds. According to Gerald Weissmann, editor-in-chief of The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, which published the results, the findings explain “why wounds in the mouth, like those of a tooth extraction, heal much faster than comparable wounds of the skin and bone. It also directs us to begin looking at saliva as a source for new drugs.” Because saliva is virtually unlimited resource, wound-healing drugs could be mass-produced with relative ease. The researchers are particularly hopeful that their findings will mean good news for people like diabetics and burn victims who suffer from hard-to-heal wounds.

So friend, what do you think after reading this article? If you are doing the same “dirty act” as mine when kids, please do share this article with your parents…to show that.. sometimes…kids are right!

Cooking Oil : How to choose a good one?

All manufacturers claim their own cooking oil is the best! Canola oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, butter, margarine and even virgin coconut oil each has its supporters. Before we conclude the best cooking oil(s), let's look at the essential - Fats 101. We classified the following fats as "good fats" and "bad fats" based on their heart-smart values: their ability to raise or lower total and LDL cholesterol.

The Bad Fats

• Saturated Fats - Saturated fats raise total blood cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol).
• Trans Fats - Trans fats raise LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and lower HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol).

The Good Fats

• Monounsaturated Fats - Monounsaturated fats lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and increase the HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol).
• Polyunsaturated Fats - Polyunsaturated fats also lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Omega 3 fatty acids belong to this group.

Therefore, based on the above classification, the "ideal" cooking oil should contain higher amount of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and with minimal or no saturated fats and trans fats.

As long as you're using fats and oils sparingly in your cooking and preparation, it would be fine to use any one of the following "good" oils. All of the following oils are low in saturated fats and trans fats. Some have high concentration of monounsaturated fats such as olive oil. Choose corn oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, soy oil or canola oil if you wish to fry foods as these oils have higher smoke point. It is best not to fry with olive oil as its smoke point is only about 190C/375F.

Good Cooking Oils:

• canola oil
• flax seed oil
• peanut oil
• olive oil
  
• non-hydrogenated soft margarine
• safflower oil
• sunflower oil
• corn oil

The following "bad" oils contain high percentage of trans fat or saturated fats. Some, such as coconut oil, even contain more saturated fats than animal products!

Bad Cooking Oils:

• Vegetable shortening
• Hard margarine
• Butter
• Palm oil
• Coconut oil
  
• Palm kernel oil

Source : http://www.healthcastle.com

In short, types of fat we choose and total amount of fat we consume will make a difference to our heart health. Thus, it is advisable to use "good cooking oil" that mentioned above instead of "bad cooking oil" in your daily cooking.