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For hundreds of years across many cultures strawberries have been claimed to have medicinal properties. In Chinese cultures strawberries are claimed to be a good cure for a hangover. They are claimed to help get rid of bad breath and whiten teeth.

There are also claims that strawberries may help joint, kidney, and liver ailments. Surprisingly it may be true. Strawberries have been found to contain an aspirin type compound called salicylate, which may explain the claims made by sufferers of these ailments after eating strawberries.

Unfortunately some people may also be allergic to strawberries as they contain a common allergen.

Naturally strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C. folate and potassium. They also contain anti-cancer bioflavonoids, and their seeds provide an insoluble fibre which helps with constipation.

Strawberries are also a good source of pectin and other soluble fibres which help to lower cholesterol.

You can keep strawberries in the fridge for a few days, but as you’re probably aware once washed they need to be eaten fairly quickly or they will develop mould. If you want to help your children be a little healthier, just pop a few strawberries into their lunchbox. They make a great healthy treat.


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Technorati Tags: bad breath, bioflavonoids, cancer, chinese cultures, cholesterol, common allergen, cure for a hangover, Eating, fibres, folate, hangover, Health, insoluble fibre, liver ailments, lower cholesterol, pectin, salicylate, strawberries, vitamin C, whiten teeth

photo credit: EverJean

Dark chocolate sales have reportedly doubled over the last two years in the U.K. according to information supplied by consumer analysts Mintel.

Total sales are now standing at approximately 170 million dollars. Earlier Health and Wellness blog I reported about the health benefits of eating dark chocolate against ordinary milk chocolate. It seems that in the United Kingdom people have become more aware of plain chocolate’s healthier image.

It seems that more people are aware that dark chocolate contains antioxidants which can help in the fight against cancer. In some restaurants dark chocolate bars are being served as an accompaniment to wine.

However as much as you love chocolate, it can still be fattening so don’t use the healthier image as an excuse to eat more chocolate. Instead try to eat less, but simply switch from the more milk containing varieties to the darker chocolate instead.

It would be interesting to see if these figures coincide with trends from other countries.

Tags: dark chocolate, plain chocolate, antioxidants, cancer

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photo credit: Noodle Bones

China food risk revealed.

Visited China recently? If you are travelling, or intending to travel to China, then you should pay particular attention to this article.

One of China’s most famous consumer advocates and author has recently revealed some startling insights into China’s food chain, and has indicated that contaminated food products may not only be prevalent in China, but may also be the subject of exports to foreign countries.

Zhou Qing has been exposing China’s food industry and other food related problems in his book called, “What Kind of God”.

It would appear from his investigations that various chemicals are being recklessly introduced into the food chain by breeders of meat and seafood products.

He relates to instances where young girls of seven years old have started to develop breasts, and young boys of six years old who were starting to grow beards.

The problems are that chemicals such as clenbuterol, which is a chemical poisonous to humans, and which causes side-effects such as fatigue nausea, heart palpitations, and dizziness is being given to pigs as a lean meat essence. It also makes the pork much redder and meatier and more appealing.

One breeder when tackled by a Chinese food official was asked didn’t he know that it harms people, replied, “ Yes, but city people have free medical care so it’s no problem”.

Unfortunately tainted Chinese food products and drugs have become a global issue of concern following a spate of illnesses and accidents. A number of deaths of American pets were recently blamed on pet foods that included melamine spiked wheat gluten, and it is believed at least 50 people have died in Panama from cough syrup laced with mislabelled diethylene glycol.

Many countries across Europe, Asia, and the American continent have found potentially carcinogenic chemicals and compounds in seafood exports. And apparently in Russia Chinese exports of pork were found to be contaminated with Mercury.

Zhou claims that even inside China more dangerous practices are occurring, and that the Chinese people themselves especially in the cities are at great risk from contaminated food. In another such example Zhou claims that seafood farmers regularly dump bottles full of potential carcinogens into their tanks in order to reduce or prevent fungal infections among their produce.

It would seem that an attitude of, “well everyone’s doing it”, and “so what, I’m not eating it” is undermining the industry.

Unfortunately these contaminated food products then find their way into street markets, restaurants and street food vendor’s stalls where they are unwittingly consumed by the ordinary Chinese public and tourists alike.

These revelations have personally made me feel very wary of ever travelling to China, and they would have great concerns if any members of my family ever considered a holiday there. Literally, “God knows what you may be eating”.

Tags: contaminated food, contaminated exports, contaminated food risk, chinese food, chinese exports



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