12 Kegunaan Cuka Sebagai Pembersih

Rumah bersih pasti idaman semua orang. Nah, tahukah Anda bahwa di dapur terdapat pembersih yang lebih ramah lingkungan ketimbang pembersih yang dijual di toko? Ya, cuka putih dapat berfungsi sebagai pembersih tiada dua yang murah dan tidak mengandung racun.

Berikut ini 12 kegunaan cuka untuk membersihkan rumah:

1. Pembersih wastafel, bak dan lantai. Campurkan seperempat cangkir baking soda, satu sendok makan sabun cair, dan cuka secukupnya. Anda pun memiliki bahan pengganti pembersih kimia.

2. Pembersih meja. Tuangkan cuka putih pada sehelai kain lap lalu gunakan supaya meja lebih segar.

3. Di dalam cucian. Tambahkan seperempat cangkir cuka ke dalam cucian Anda. Selain melembutkan kain, cuka juga akan menghilangkan noda membandel.

4. Pembersih jendela. Campurkan cuka dengan air dalam botol semprot, dan gunakan untuk membersihkan jendela dan kaca rumah.

5. Pembersih gusi. Panaskan cuka putih, letakkan diatas gusi anda, dan lihatlah hasilnya.

6. Penghilang noda pada kayu. Campurkan cuka dan minyak zaitun dengan perbandingan yang sama, dan gosokkan dengan kain di atas kayu. Lihatlah, nodanya telah hilang.

7. Pembersih karat. Rendamlah alat yang berkarat di dalam cairan cuka selama satu malam, namun pastikan Anda membilasnya bersih di pagi hari, agar cuka tidak bikin logam berkarat.

8. Pembersih mesin kopi. Tuangkan cuka ke dalam pembuat kopi, campur dengan air dan biarkan bekerja dengan baik. Cairan itu akan menghilangkan kerak kapur dan membuat kopi Anda terasa lebih segar.

9. Pembersih saluran air: Apakah Anda merasa saluran air berbau? Tuangkan secangkir baking soda dengan cuka putih panas. Biarkan selama beberapa menit, dan larutkan dalam air. Lalu tuangkan ke saluran air.

10. Pembersih microwave. Campurkan cuka dan air ke dalam piring, masukkan ke dalam microwave, lalu biarkan mendidih di dalam. Biarkan uap cuka bekerja secara ajaib, kemudian bersihkanlah.

11. Pembersih pintu oven. Sapukan cuka putih di seluruh bagian dalam pintu oven, kemudian diamkan selama 15 menit, lalu bersihkanlah. Penggunaan cuka sebagai pembersih ini dapat mengurangi penggunaan sabun dan lainnya.

12. Pembersih gelas. Semprotkan cuka ke dalam gelas anggur, diamkan selama beberapa menit, dan bilas dengan air panas, dan biarkan mengering.

 

Waspadai, 8 Tempat Bakteri Berkembang

Ghiboo.com – Ada banyak tempat dimana bakteri dapat hidup dan berkembang biak. Tanpa disadari, tempat-tempat tersebut biasa kita sentuh di kehidupan sehari-hari. Akibatnya, kita bisa terkena berbagai penyakit.
Berikut ini beberapa tempat yang menjadi sarang bakteri, seperti dilansir melalui Dailymail, Jumat (13/4).

Kantong plastik belanja

Kantong plastik belanjaan dari supermarket memuat semua bahan makanan, mulai dari daging merah, ikan hingga sayuran. Penelitian yang menguji puluhan kantong belanja menemukan lebih dari setengah kantong plastik belanja terkontaminasi bakteri membahayakan, seperti E. coli.

Keranjang buah dan sayur

Buah dan sayuran sangat mudah menjadi layu atau busuk karena adanya pertumbuhan bakteri, sehingga dapat menyebabkan masalah gangguan pencernaan. Tempat buah dan sayuran merupakan sarang dari bakteri, seperti E. coli, salmonella dan listeria yang bisa tumbuh dengan cepat.

Botol air minum

Botol air minum plastik yang dipakai berulang kali menunjukkan adanya pertumbuhan bakteri berbahaya. Sebuah penelitian yang menguji puluhan botol minum anak SD menunjukkan sebagian besar proses pencucian botol air minum tak mampu untuk menghilangkan kuman. Bahkan lebih dari sepertiganya menunjukkan adanya bakteri fecal yang berasal dari kontaminasi tangan. Cuci botol dengan air mendidih seminggu sekali.

Spons cuci piring dan kain lap dapur

Hanya seminggu setelah pemakaian pertama, spons pencuci piring menjadi sarang bagi jutaan bakteri, seperti E. coli dan staphylococcus, yang berasal dari kontak dengan feses. Cobalah rendam dengan air dan taruhlah ke dalam microwave dengan panas tinggi selama dua menit. Cara ini akan membunuh 99 persen bakteri.

Penelitian juga menunjukkan bahwa wastafel lima kali lebih kotor dibandingkan toilet. Sisa-sisa makanan merupakan faktor penyebab timbulnya bakteri, seperti Coli dan Salmonella. Usahakan untuk menjaga kebersihan wastafel, mulai dari permukaan hingga lubang pembuangan.

Mobil

Kemudi mobil ternyata sembilan kali lebih mungkin menjadi sarang kuman dibandingkan di toilet umum. Ini disebabkan banyak pengemudi mobil yang menyetir sambil makan.

Selain kemudi mobil, penelitian juga menemukan beberapa bakteri lain, seperti Bacilus cereus (penyebab keracunan makanan), Arthrobacter (berasal dari kulit manusia), hingga bakteri Staphylococcus banyak ditemukan pada pintu, roda kemudi dan di bawah kursi.

Bersihkan mobil dengan vacuum dan tisu antibakteri sebulan sekali. Bersihkan juga semua sisa makanan dan sampah setelah Anda selesai melakukan perjalanan.

Boneka

Penelitian di University of Otago, Selandia Baru, menemukan bahwa lebih dari setengah mainan anak yang lembut, seperti boneka, merupakan sarang bagi tungau debu yang dapat memperparah demam, eksim atau asma. Hal ini disebabkan boneka secara tak disengaja dimasukkan ke mulut anak saat anak tidur, sehingga meningkatkan risiko asma.

Untuk pencegahannya, cuci boneka sebulan sekali untuk menghilangkan alergen. Selain itu, jemur selama beberapa jam atau masukkan boneka kedalam freezer semalam.

Keset kaki

Penelitian dalam jurnal Applied and Environmental Microbiology menemukan keset kaki dan toilet menjadi tempat patogen Sphingomonas dan methylobacterium berkembang biak, sehingga menimbulkan penyakit pernapasan.

Coba untuk mencuci dan menjemur keset kaki setelah digunakan dan diakhiri dengan menyemprotnya menggunakan larutan antibakteri. Cuci dengan air panas bersuhu 60 derajat Celcius seminggu sekali.

Rak sepatu

Rak sepatu adalah sumber segala sesuatu yang dimulai dari makanan, hingga kotoran hewan yang bisa menimbulkan kontaminasi silang. Bahkan jika tidak ada patogen berbahaya di sepatu, rak akan menjadi media pertukaran kuman/bakteri saat Anda menyentuh rak lantas mengambil sepatu.

 

Bahasa Tubuh yang Harus Dihindari Saat Wawancara Kerja

Wawancara kerja berguna tidak hanya untuk menilai kemampuan Anda, tapi juga perilaku. Banyak hal harus dipersiapkan agar momen yang menentukan ini berjalan lancar. Salah satunya, mengetahui bahasa tubuh yang sebaiknya dihindari.

Profesor Mehrabian, ahli psikologi dari Universitas UCLA, Amerika, bahasa tubuh sangat menentukan penilaian terhadap diri Anda ketimbang kata-kata yang terucap. Menurut penelitiannya, gerak tubuh dan ekspresi wajah memiliki pengaruh 55 persen sementara kata-kata yang diucapkan hanya 7 persen.

Kesempatan untuk menciptakan kesan pertama yang baik tak memakan lama. Menurut penelitian, 30 detik hingga empat menit pertama merupakan waktu kritis yang sangat menentukan. Nah, agar tak salah langkah saat wawancara kerja, hindarilah beberapa gerak tubuh yang bisa mengundang penafsiran negatif pada diri Anda.

Senyum palsu
Masuklah ke ruangan wawancara dengan percaya diri dan senyum yang tulus. Senyum yang terpaksa akan sangat terlihat dan membuat Anda terlihat seperti orang yang suka berpura-pura. Senyum yang tulus mengesankan Anda orang yang percaya diri, terbuka, dan nyaman dengan keadaan sekitar. Tapi hindari juga tersenyum terus-menerus yang bisa memberikan sinyal yang salah pada calon atasan Anda.

Gerakan dan posisi tangan
Gerakan tangan memegang peranan penting dalam mengekspresikan bahasa tubuh Anda. Melipat tangan di dada merupakan bahasa tubuh yang wajib dihindari. Melipat tangan di dada mengesankan Anda menjaga jarak, bersikap tertutup, atau malah terkesan bosan dengan pembicaraan ini. Mungkin saran ini sudah sering Anda dengar, tapi kenyataannya saat sedang gugup masih banyak orang melakukannya.

Menepuk-nepukkan tangan atau terus menggerakkan tangan menandakan Anda sangat gelisah. Gerakan ini secara tidak langsung juga bisa membuat orang yang mewawancarai Anda menjadi tidak nyaman dan terganggu.

Hindari juga mengetuk-ketukan tangan ke meja saat proses wawancara. Melakukan hal ini secara tidak langsung Anda mengirimkan sinyal kalau Anda bosan atau merasa lebih tahu dari si pewawancara.

Sebaiknya letakkan tangan Anda secara santai dan terbuka di posisi yang paling membuat Anda santai. Hindari terlalu banyak menggunakan gerakan tangan atau jari untuk menghindari kesan yang salah.

Jabatan tangan
Saat memulai dan mengakhiri wawancara jangan lupa jabat tangan si pewawancara dan ucapkan terimakasih. Jabat tangan dengan erat namun wajar. Jangan biarkan tangan terlalu lemas atau mencengkeram terlalu keras. Jika telapak tangan Anda berkeringat, seka dahulu keringat di tangan Anda sebelum masuk ke ruang wawancara.

Menyentuh wajah
Menyentuh wajah sebaiknya dihindari saat wawancara kerja. Gerakan ini dapat menyiratkan Anda gugup atau tidak jujur terhadap pernyataan Anda.

Posisi kaki
Duduklah dengan kedua kaki menyentuh lantai yang menggambarkan Anda nyaman dan percaya diri. Saat gugup atau cemas Anda sering tak membuat gerak tubuh secara tidak sadar. Salah satu yang paling sering ditemui adalah menggerak-gerakan kaki tanpa henti. Gerakan kaki ini menandakan Anda sangat tidak nyaman bahkan tak sabar ingin keluar dari ruangan.

Kontak mata & posisi duduk
Kontak mata dengan si pewawancara memang baik. Tapi terus-menerus menatap si pewawancara tanpa henti juga bisa membuat dia tidak nyaman. Ahli gerak tubuh Janine Driver mengatakan, 60 persen kontak mata sudah cukup membuat Anda terlihat antusias. Selain mata, fokuskan tatapan pada segitiga bagian atas wajah yaitu area sekitar alis kanan-kiri dan pertengahan hidung.

Jangan terlalu sering menatap bagian bawah wajah terutama bagian mulut dan dahi yang bisa membuat si pewawancara menjadi tidak nyaman. Jika pewawancara Anda lebih dari satu, tatap mereka secara bergantian. Hindari tatapan kosong yang membuat lawan bicara Anda kurang nyaman.

Duduklah dengan posisi yang nyaman, tidak terlalu tegak maupun tidak terlalu bersandar. Condongkan tubuh sedikit (sedikit saja) ke arah pewawancara untuk menandakan Anda fokus dan antusias.

Selamat mencoba!

 

Top 5 foods to help you sleep

5 sleep-inducing foods to help you drift off

Whether it’s a one-off occurrence before a big event or a nightly struggle, most of us suffer from insomnia at one time or another. Fortunately, there are many foods that can help you sleep a little easier. To help you relax and catch some Zs, check out our top 5 foods to help you sleep.

Dairy products

If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, foods containing tryptophan should be a first port of call. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, helps to raise serotonin and melatonin levels in the body, both of which can help induce sleep. While turkey is a famously good source of tryptophan, other (perhaps more bedtime-friendly) sources include dairy products such as yoghurt and milk.

On top of their tryptophan levels, dairy snacks are also a great source of calcium, which helps the brain to use tryptophan to create melatonin. Research has also suggested that a deficiency of calcium in the diet can cause disturbed sleep patterns and a lack of deep (REM) sleep.

Oats

While many of us associate oats with breakfast time, they are also the perfect evening snack. Oats are a good natural source of melatonin, which is often taken as a sleep aid due to its ability to help regulate the body’s internal clock. They are also another good source of tryptophan, especially when combined with milk.

Furthermore, oats are rich in both calcium and magnesium; two minerals that have been proven to promote good quality sleep. For a warm, soothing snack before bed, try eating a small bowl of porridge to help you drift off, combined with any of the following toppings to help double its effects.

Bananas

If you suffer from muscle spasms or cramps during the night, it may be that you are deficient in the electrolytes magnesium and potassium, both of which help to relax muscles and keep them functioning properly. Fortunately, bananas are excellent source of both minerals, making them a good bedtime snack, particularly after a heavy exercise session.

As well as being rich in these essential minerals, bananas also contain tryptophan, which can help to promote sleep. Researchers from the University of New England in New South Wales have also found that having a banana before bed can help sufferers of sleep apnea by keeping their throats open and therefore reducing the risk of choking.

Cherries

For those who have trouble sleeping, you may be familiar with over-the-counter melatonin supplements used to treat insomnia. However, while melatonin can help to regulate sleep, it may be unwise to rely on supplements for long-term use. Fortunately, cherries provide a great natural source of melatonin as well as being excellent for overall health.

A research study published in The Journal of Sleep and Sleep Disorders Research has indicated that consuming tart cherries before bed helped participants sleep faster and easier, making fresh cherries or cherry juice a great natural sleep aid.

Flax seeds

Flax seeds are great for increasing levels of sleep-regulating substance serotonin in the body due to their high levels of both tryptophan and omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, the omega-3 fatty acids they contain have been proven to help reduce the anxiety, depression and stress which are leading causes of insomnia, and have been shown to be effective against the condition sleep apnea.

Not only that, flax seeds are a good source of magnesium, which is renowned for its ability to reduce stress due to its relaxing effect on the muscles and nervous system. Magnesium has also been shown to help prevent restless leg syndrome and night terrors; both of which can affect sleep.

 

5 foods that help you live longer

Increase your life expectancy with these five healthy foods

While none of us will forever, you can add some extra years on to your life by paying attention to what you eat. To increase your lifespan as well as improving the quality of your life, check out these five foods that help you live longer.

Brightly coloured fruit and vegetables

Research suggests that those who eat more fruit and vegetables tend to live longer than those who don’t, due to the nutrients they contain. While all fruit and veg is good for you, brightly coloured produce is particularly beneficial as the natural pigments which give them their colour can also help prevent cancer. The Okinawans – who are reputed to have the world’s longest life expectancy and who have low rates of heart disease and cancer – have a diet that is rich in fruit and veg, especially dark green and yellow varieties. In particular, the Okinawan diet features large quantities of sweet potatoes, having replaced the traditional Japanese staple of rice with this vibrant veg.

Dark chocolate

Good news for chocoholics – chocolate can help you live longer!  Cocoa beans are packed with antioxidants which studies have found can help cut your risk of heart disease – the biggest killer in the Western world. This may be why Jeanne Louise Calment, who lived a grand total of 122 years and 164 days (the oldest verified age of any human being ever) put her good health down to her regular chocolate consumption. However, before you go stocking up on chocolate bars, it is worth bearing in mind that one square a day is enough to boost your health. Also, make sure you go for the over 70 per cent cocoa bars which contain more flavonoids and less sugar.

Oily fish

People in Japan have the longest life expectancy in the world, which may be down to their traditional diet which is high in fish. Not only does opting for fish over meat reduce your risk of many of the health problems associated with red meat, such as heart disease, but oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout are renowned for their health benefits. Oily fish are a good source of vitamins A and D which are good for the immune system. Furthermore, they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which have been linked to a lowered risk of heart disease, brain damage and stroke.

Green tea

Another staple of the Japanese diet, green tea boasts an impressive array of health benefits, helping to improve cardiovascular health, regulate blood pressure, boost the immune system, and lower cholesterol. Studies have even suggested that drinking green tea – which is rich in health-boosting flavonoids – can help to lower your risk of cancer. Research findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association appear to back up these health claims, as the Japanese study of more than 40,000 participants found that those who drank five or more cups of green tea a day had a death rate that was 16 per cent lower than those who drank one cup, over the course of 11 years.

Olive oil

Many of us stay away from fats and oils in a bid to stay trim and healthy; however, ‘good’ monounsaturated fats, which are found in olive oil, are actually essential for good health. Studies have found that regularly consuming olive oil can help cut your risk of stroke and heart disease, due to its high content of micronutrients called phenols which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The oil is also a staple of the healthy Mediterranean diet, which studies suggests can help you live longer. Research has found that those who follow this eating plan have a 20 per cent higher chance of living longer, gaining an estimated average of two to three years.

 

Top five ‘bad’ foods that are actually good for you

Five foods that are healthier than you think

If you are fed up of being told what to eat and drink, well, this could be your lucky day. We’ve taken five foods that are generally labeled as being bad for you and unearthed some healthy aspects to them. Granted, they are not foods that you can scoff and guzzle to your heart’s content — but as a part of a healthy and balanced diet, the following five foods aren’t actually as bad for you as you may think.

Peanut butter

Peanut butter is generally left on the shelf by dieters due to its high fat content, but surprisingly (depending on the brand of course) a teaspoon of the whole-nut variety comes in at just 30 calories. So why is it good for you?  Well, research shows that eating peanuts or peanut butter can actually help your heart; consumption has been associated with lower total cholesterol, lower LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol, and lower triglycerides, all of which are associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk. And, the good news is these benefits seem to occur without promoting weight gain. Try a teaspoon of PB smeared on a couple of oat cakes for a satisfying snack and under 150 calories.

Pizza

Now, don’t get too excited, we are not saying a 12-inch stuffed crust is good for you but pizza made in the healthy way can actually provide you with a great complete meal incorporating all of the vital food groups. The pizza base acts as a source of carbohydrate, a healthy portion of vegetables and some protein in the topping and then a sprinkling of cheese gives you your fat. To make a homemade super-healthy slice opt for a wholemeal or wholegrain base, smear on a rich tomato sauce, and then pile on the veggies and lean meat or seafood and finally top with a little low-fat mozzarella.

Beer & stout

Research has suggested that a pint of beer could help protect against heart disease, and maybe even more so than a glass of red wine. It’s all down to the presence of B6 which prevents the build up in the body of a chemical called homocysteine – thought to be linked to an increase in the risk of heart disease. And when it comes to stout, it seems the slogan “Guinness is good for you” has some truth too. Research published in 2003 from the University of Wisconsin showed that a pint of the black stuff is as effective as an aspirin in preventing blood clots, and much tastier.

Chocolate

Granted, chocolate is not low in calories nor in fat so generally gets lumped with the ‘bad’ food label. But dark bitter chocolate is very high in health-promoting antioxidants which help to mop up harmful free radicals which cause cell and DNA damage. And if you are looking to shed a few pounds you can use dark chocolate as a way to curb any sweet cravings, just a few small squares to quell a full on chocolate pig out is well worth the modest calorie and fat intake.

Ice cream

Ice cream’s first positive relates to its GI or Glycemic Index; as ice cream is, in fact, a low GI food. This means that it releases its sugars slowly and so can keep you feeling fuller for longer. And for that reason you are less likely to binge after eating ice cream. Obviously it’s all about moderation and demolishing a whole tub in one sitting isn’t going to be good for you, but if you are comparing desserts like for like, 75 grams of Ben and Jerry’s Cookies and Cream ice-cream contains only 114 calories compared to a slice of cheesecake with 511 calories – and is therefore the better option. Secondly, ice-cream is made of milk which contains many essential nutrients and vitamins. Studies show a possible link between milk consumption and a lowered risk of arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, and colorectal cancer.

 

7 shocking food facts

Seven surprising facts you may not know about your food

Even after analysing food packets, checking out ingredients and swatting up on calorie counts, there are certain things you may not know about your food. Here are seven food facts that may surprise you.

World chocolate supplies are set to run out

It is one of the most popular treats worldwide, so it may come as bad news to many that world chocolate supplies may soon run out. Due to political unrest and dangers to farmers in the Ivory Coast (where a large proportion of the world’s cocoa beans are grown), many fair trade cocoa farmers and trainers have fled the country and chocolate production has hit a low. It has been predicted that supplies of sustainable chocolate are set to run out, and a chocolate drought has been predicted for 2014.

One of the world’s most expensive foods is made from saliva

From caviar (fish eggs) to truffles (an edible fungus), it seems that many of the world’s most expensive foods are made of dubious substances, and bird’s nest soup is no exception. The soup, which is an expensive Chinese delicacy, is made from a particular kind of nest that is created by bird saliva. While many of us would be reluctant to shell out for saliva, the bird nests that form this soup are one of the most expensive animal food products around.

Your food can legally contain bugs and hairs

Most of us wouldn’t class insects as a component of our diets; however, you may be eating more of them than you think and, worryingly, these may not be the only unpleasant addition to your diet. In the US, the FDA allows for “natural defects” by permitting a certain amount of bugs and rodent hair to be present in food products. For example, chocolate products may contain an average of 60 insect fragments and one rodent hair per 100g, while citrus fruit juice can contain one maggot per 250ml.

 

• Food & Diet

• > Food & Your Health
• The benefits of food on our health
• Top foods for boosting immunity
• How to maintain optimum health and prevent disease
• What foods to eat to maintain optimum health
• Healthy eating and your mood
• The health benefits of antioxidants
• Boosting your energy with food
• Foods to increase your brain power
• Obesity facts
• Top foods for enhancing fertility
• Seven stress-busting foods
• The top 10 worst foods to eat
• The pros and cons of organic food
• Top foods to keep you young
• Winter-proof your diet
• Top 10 most toxic foods
• Top 5 facelift foods
• Top 5 banned foods
• Top 10 detox foods
• Top 5 most addictive foods
• Top 10 healing foods
• Top five ‘bad’ foods that are actually good for you
• Top 5 foods to help you sleep
• Top 5 pick-me-up foods
• Five foods to beat the blues
• 10 foods to suit your mood
• Top 10 worst food and drink world records
• 7 shocking food facts
• 5 foods that help you live longer

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7 shocking food facts

Seven surprising facts you may not know about your food

Even after analysing food packets, checking out ingredients and swatting up on calorie counts, there are certain things you may not know about your food. Here are seven food facts that may surprise you.

World chocolate supplies are set to run out

It is one of the most popular treats worldwide, so it may come as bad news to many that world chocolate supplies may soon run out. Due to political unrest and dangers to farmers in the Ivory Coast (where a large proportion of the world’s cocoa beans are grown), many fair trade cocoa farmers and trainers have fled the country and chocolate production has hit a low. It has been predicted that supplies of sustainable chocolate are set to run out, and a chocolate drought has been predicted for 2014.

One of the world’s most expensive foods is made from saliva

From caviar (fish eggs) to truffles (an edible fungus), it seems that many of the world’s most expensive foods are made of dubious substances, and bird’s nest soup is no exception. The soup, which is an expensive Chinese delicacy, is made from a particular kind of nest that is created by bird saliva. While many of us would be reluctant to shell out for saliva, the bird nests that form this soup are one of the most expensive animal food products around.

Your food can legally contain bugs and hairs

Most of us wouldn’t class insects as a component of our diets; however, you may be eating more of them than you think and, worryingly, these may not be the only unpleasant addition to your diet. In the US, the FDA allows for “natural defects” by permitting a certain amount of bugs and rodent hair to be present in food products. For example, chocolate products may contain an average of 60 insect fragments and one rodent hair per 100g, while citrus fruit juice can contain one maggot per 250ml.

 

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Fruit and vegetables have become less nutritious

Although fruit and vegetables are one of the best sources of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, research findings published in the journal HortScience suggest that they have actually become less nutritious than they were 50 years ago, due to new agricultural methods which have stripped nutrients from soil. In fact, according to one study, it would take eight oranges to get the same levels of vitamin A as it would in one orange a few generations ago. To make sure you get enough vitamins, try to buy organic produce where possible and eat more fruit and veg.

‘Pre-washed’ salads may be contaminated with bacteria

Many of us opt for pre-washed salads when purchasing our greens. However, a Consumer Reports study has found that pre-washed salads may not be as clean as they seem. The study, which tested just over 200 samples of different pre-washed salads, found that 39 per cent of those tested contained bacteria called coliform, which is normally used to indicate contamination of food products. While this doesn’t mean you should ditch the greens, you should be careful to wash salads thoroughly at home, even if they are advertised as already washed.

Chewing coffee beans can freshen your breath

Coffee may not be the first thing you reach for when looking to freshen your breath, however if you have been eating onions and garlic then it may be just what you need. If you haven’t got a toothbrush to hand, then chewing on roasted coffee beans can help extinguish onion or garlic breath. Other good breath fresheners include parsley or mint leaves.

Chocolate is as healthy as fruit

Perhaps this good news comes too late if drought predictions are to be believed, but research has suggested that chocolate can be just as healthy as fruit. When tested and compared to juices from ‘superfruits’ such as blueberries and pomegranate, dark chocolate was found to be higher in antioxidants, which are essential for fighting disease and preventing wrinkles. For a healthy treat, it is best to go for a pure dark chocolate as milk, sugar and too much processing can reduce these health benefits.

 

Top 10 worst food and drink world records

10 unhealthy world records you shouldn’t try at home

Food and drink world records are amongst the most hotly contested record breaking feats, with people all around the world trying to do things quicker, bigger, and taller than those before them. If you want to see the worst that the record books have to offer then take a look at this list of 10 highly unhealthy food and drink world records that we definitely don’t recommend you try at home.

Most ‘ghost chillis’ eaten in two minutes

The Bhut Jolokia pepper, better known as the ‘ghost chilli’ is one of the hottest chillis in the world, coming in at just over one million on the Scoville scale for chilli heat; 200 times more spicy than a jalapeño pepper.  Most people can’t even manage one of these deadly peppers without diving for a glass of water, but Indian woman Anandita Dutta Tamuly managed to eat an astounding 51 of them in two minutes. As if that wasn’t crazy enough already, she bizarrely ‘celebrated’ by rubbing the seeds of the chilli into her eyes when she had completed the challenge.

Biggest gingerbread house

With a confectionary construction effort that would put the witch from Hansel and Gretel to shame, Roger Pelcher entered the record books by building the largest gingerbread house the world has ever seen. The house, which should probably be described as more of a mansion, is 20 metres (67 feet) tall and took Roger and his team nine days to build.

Largest burger

The title of World’s Largest Burger is a frequently broken one that has been held all around the world, but at the time of writing the holders are ‘Juicys’, an outdoor food specialist who set the record at Alameda County Fair in California. This beast of a burger weighed in at a staggering 352kg (777 pounds) and had to be moved around with a fork lift truck. At 1,375,000 calories, an adult man could get his recommended daily calorie intake from this cow-sized burger for nearly a year and a half.

Fattest town

The town of Huntington in West Virginia holds the rather unfortunate title of being the most overweight town in the USA, which itself is one of the fattest countries in the world. Strangely, the town’s 105kg (233 pounds) ex-mayor said that the health of Huntington’s residents is an issue that “doesn’t really come up.” It probably should though, considering over half of the town’s population are clinically obese, and they lead the way in national rates of heart disease and diabetes.

Largest bowl of cereal

Breakfast cereal company Kellogg’s set the world record for largest bowl of cereal by creating a mammoth 2.5 metre (eight feet) wide bowl and filling it with over a tonne of cornflakes and milk. Apparently this was to raise awareness of the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, although they may have gone slightly over the top by creating a bowl of cornflakes so huge that you could easily swim around in it.

Fastest ice cream eating

Peter Dowdeswell does not mess around when it comes to eating and drinking world records, with around 350 of them to his name. Perhaps the most impressive of all those records is the insane feat of eating 5.45kg (12 pounds) of ice cream in only 45 seconds. Wondering how he managed that without the world’s most severe case of brain freeze? The ice cream was ‘partly thawed’ meaning this record probably blurred the lines between eating and drinking.

Largest cup of coffee

We’ve all relied on a cup of coffee to give us a much needed kick start in the morning, but drink the contents of this mammoth mug and you’d be wide awake for the foreseeable future. Made in Puerto Rico to promote the country’s coffee industry, the cup held over 10,000 litres (2,750 gallons) of the hot stuff, enough to serve 50,000 people.

Fastest syrup drinker

Speed drinking is one thing, but surely something like syrup is too thick to consume quickly? Apparently not. Ohio resident Dan Petty drank a 700ml (24 oz) bottle of syrup in 11.24 seconds, smashing the previous record by almost 10 seconds and probably feeling pretty queasy in the process.

Tallest stack of pancakes

The staff of the UK based ‘Food Network’ TV channel broke the world record for tallest pancake stack by just 3 inches (7cm) when they built a tower that reached 32 inches (81cm) tall. The huge stack was made with over 250 eggs and 26 pints of milk, resulting in 725 individual pancakes. That must have taken a lot of syrup to cover – hopefully they didn’t invite Dan Petty…

Most Hostess Cupcakes eaten in a lifetime

You’d think if someone ate something literally every day of their life they’d eventually get sick of it, but that is definitely not the case for Florida resident Suzanne Rutland. She claims to have eaten four Hostess Cupcakes every day of her life since she was a child, which by her estimates adds up to over 50,000 of the cream filled cakes in her lifetime. Strangely Suzanne isn’t even overweight, despite those four Cupcakes alone adding up to 720 calories every day.

 

9 Makanan Terburuk untuk Dikonsumsi

Kami tidak mengatakan, makanan-makanan di bawah ini tidak boleh lagi Anda konsumsi. Tetapi berusahalah menghindari makanan di bawah ini dalam menu Anda, jika Anda ingin mempertahankan nutrisi dan menurunkan berat badan.

1. Pencuci mulut yang digoreng

Pada dasarnya makanan pencuci mulut sudah memiliki kadar lemak dan gula yang tinggi. Jadi bayangkan betapa buruknya jika dihidangkan dengan cara digoreng. Dan jangan terlena dengan pisang goreng atau nanas goreng mentang-mentang buah. Karena dibuat dengan adonan pembungkus dan sirup, mereka adalah pencuci mulut yang buruk.

2. Makanan yang digoreng dan berlapis keju

Pada dasarnya, semua gorengan buruk bagi kesehatan. Jadi jika kentang goreng dilapisi keju, tentu makanan ini masuk dalam daftar paling buruk untuk dikonsumsi. Keju biasanya mengandung lemak 10 kali lebih bayak dari ikan dan daging putih. Apalagi ditambah karbohidrat goreng.

3. Minuman bersoda

Minuman ringan dan soda buruk bagi kesehatan karena mengandung banyak kalori, meskipun dikonsumsi dalam jumlah kecil. Berdasarkan hasil studi, minuman bersoda dapat meningkatkan risiko kerapuhan tulang alias osteoporosis, sakit gigi, dan serangan jantung. Selain itu, minuman-minuman diet juga tidak direkomendasikan karena berpotensi meningkatkan risiko erosi gigi (karena gelembung-gelembung dalam minuman itu bersifat masam).

4. Alcopop berwarna

Alcopop adalah minuman yang mengandung alkohol dengan kadar 4-7 persen. Alcopop mengandung kalori yang tinggi, karena mengandung gula dan alkohol berkalori. Ditambah lagi, minuman itu penuh pewarna dan perasa, yang membuatnya menjadi minuman yang cukup beracun. Panduan yang cukup praktis adalah, semakin cerah warna alcopop, maka semakin buruklah minuman itu untuk dikonsumsi.

5. Makanan cair

Oke, makanan cair memang tidak selalu buruk, namun makanan cair atau minuman makanan pengganti dapat menjauhkan Anda dari mengonsumsi makanan yang tepat. Makanan pengganti mungkin akan lebih cocok dikonsumsi orang yang sedang sakit, namun jangan biarkan makanan semacam itu menggantikan makanan alami.

6. Daging olahan

Daging olahan punya nama lain “daging misteri”, karena tidak jelas apa yang terkandung di dalamnya. Namun satu hal yang pasti, jika daging olahan itu dikemas dalam kaleng dan jenis dagingnya tidak jelas, maka daging tersebut tidak baik bagi tubuh. Berusahalah untuk menghindari sosis dan salami, karena hasil olahan dengan lemak dan garam.

7. Chicken nugget

Chicken nugget hampir sama dengan sosis, yakni berasal dari daging sisa dicampur dengan tepung. Dan saat nugget-nugget kecil itu digoreng, maka akan meningkatkan levelnya sebagai makanan terburuk untuk dikonsumsi. Sepotong kecil nugget yang digoreng menyerap lebih banyak lemak dari hasil penggorengan itu.

8. Donat

Jika ada satu makanan yang melambangkan makanan junk food abad ke-21, itu adalah donat. Baik dilapisi, diisi, dikilapkan dengan gula dan selai, atau yang polos sekalipun, makanan ini tidak baik bagi tubuh. Bukan hanya sekedar masalah tepung halus dan gula halus, namun makanan ini juga digoreng dalam minyak sulingan. Donat akan mengganggu keseimbangan gula darah Anda, dan dapat mempercepat proses pembakaran, sehingga Anda akan cepat merasa lapar lagi.

9. Sup Kaleng

Sup memang bukan makanan yang buruk dan tidak layak dibandingkan dengan makanan-makanan di atas. Namun jika sudah berbicara mengenai garam dan makanan kemasan, maka tentu saja sup kaleng masuk daftar. Akan jauh lebih baik bila Anda memasak sup sendiri. Bukan kalengan.

 

5 Bahan Alami yang Bisa Mencerahkan Kulit

Wanita yang tinggal di iklim tropis sering ingin kulitnya tampil lebih putih atau cerah. Polusi, paparan sinar matari, dan berbagai faktor lainnya memang bisa membuat warna kulit menjadi lebih gelap. Untuk membuatnya cerah kembali, beberapa bahan alami ini bisa dijadikan pilihan. Apa saja?

Kentang
Kentang bukan bahan alami yang asing untuk kulit. Parutlah kentang, lalu remas atau haluskan. Setelah itu, oleskan pada wajah hingga kering. Setelah kering, ulangi lagi prosesnya hingga mencapai tiga lapisan. Diamkan sampai 15 menit lalu bilas dengan air dingin. Cara kedua: Kupas kentang lalu iris tipis-tipis, lalu tempelkan ke wajah dan diamkan selama 15 menit. Setelah itu cuci bersih wajah. Kentang mengandung enzim catecholase yang bisa membantu mencerahkan kulit.

Pepaya
Enzim papain yang terkandung dalam pepaya sangat bermanfaat untuk kulit. Enzim ini bisa membantu mempercepat proses pergantian sel dan kulit. Selain bisa mencerahkan wajah, enzim ini juga dipercaya dapat menyamarkan noda hitam. Campurkan pepaya yang sudah dihaluskan dengan madu. Gunakan kain bersih dan rendam dalam air hangat. Peras kain bersih lalu sebarkan campuran pepaya di atas kain. Letakkan kain di atas wajah yang sudah dicuci bersih. Diamkan selama 20 menit lalu cuci dengan air hangat. Terakhir, bilas dengan air dingin untuk menutup pori-pori. Gunakan seminggu sekali untuk mendapatkan kulit yang cerah.

Ketimun
Sayuran hijau ini kaya akan antioksidan, vitamin, dan mineral. Selain untuk mencerahkan kulit wajah, ketimun juga bisa digunakan untuk mencerahkan kulit ketiak yang menghitam. Tempelkan jus parutan ketimun pada wajah dan leher. Untuk efek lebih segar, simpan ketimun dalam kulkas satu malam sebelumnya. Kantung mata yang menghitam juga bisa dengan mudah diatasi dengan irisan ketimun yang dingin dan segar. Iris menyilang ketimun lalu tutupi mata Anda dengan potongan ketimun. Diamkan selama 15-20 menit sambil bersantai.

Beras
Beras sejak lama dikenal sebagai rahasia kecantikan wanita Asia. Dikombinasikan dengan susu, beras bisa menjadi ramuan pencerah wajah yang alami. Tumbuk beras hingga berbentuk bubuk lalu campurkan dengan susu atau air bersih secukupnya hingga kental. Tempelkan ke wajah seperti menggunakan masker. Diamkan 15-20 menit lalu cuci dengan air dingin. Beras memiliki kandungan PABA (para aminobenzoic acid) yang tinggi. PABA bisa berfungsi sebagai tabir surya yang baik. Selain itu, beras juga mengandung asam ferulis yang berfungsi sebagai antioksidan dan allantonin yang bisa mempercepat proses perbaikan kulit.

Tomat
Kandungan lycopene dalam tomat berfungsi sebagai pencerah kulit alami. Mengonsumsi tomat juga bisa mengurangsi sensitivitas kulit terhadap sinar UV yang bisa merusak kulit. Kandungan lycopene dalam buah tomat bisa membuat kulit cerah, terlindung dari radikal bebas, dan meningkatkan produksi tabir surya alami pada kulit. Untuk mencerahkan kulit ketiak yang menghitam, potong tomat menjadi dua lalu tempelkan dengan gerakan melingkar pada ketiak. Lakukan ini selama 15 menit lalu cuci bersih. Ritual ini bisa dilakukan setiap hari.

Sedangkan untuk wajah, parut tomat hingga bisa digunakan sebagai masker. Biarkan mengering lalu tempelkan ulang hingga membentuk tiga lapisan. Diamkan selama 20 menit lalu cuci dengan air dingin. Lakukan perawatan ini secara teratur untuk hasil yang maksimal.