What's In Your LIfe? Chemistry

A: "Ouch! I'm heaving headache! B: "Eat PANADOL~~"

2009-07-25T00:44:00.000-07:00

At present time, whenever a person is having headache or is feeling achy in any part of his/her body, or fever sometimes, he/she will most likeky to take in Panadol.

Various products of Panadol seen in market

However, not all of them know what does Panadol actually do. They just have a concept that Panadol will relieve their pain and they eventually consume it. So, now I will be the one explaining to you how Panadol works here. Or to be more detailed, the question should be - how does paracetamol work?

Well, Panadol contains the active ingredient paracetamol. It is a simple painkilling medicine used to relieve mild to moderate pain and fever. Although it has been widely used for over 100 years, many people did not understand how it actually works. But, it is now thought that it works by reducing the production of prostaglandins in the brain and spinal cord.

Paracetamol

How many of you here know what prostaglandin is? It sounds scientific, doesn't it? Haha. In fact, prostaglandins are produced by our body in response to injury and certain diseases. One of their actions is to sensitize nerve endings, so that when the injury is stimulated, it will cause pain.

Thus, when the production of prostaglandin is reduced, the actions of sensitizing the nerves will be reduced as well. This will eventually increase our pain threshold, so that although the injury remains, we can feel it less.

How does it reduce fever then? It is thought that paracetamol can affect an area of the brain that regulates our body temperature, or known as the the hypothalamic heat-regulating center.

Here I made a flowchart to show you the summarized actions of paracetamol towards injury:

Take in Panadol --> Take in paracetamol --> Reduces the production of prostaglandins --> Less nerves will be sensitized --> We feel less pain although the injury remains

There are some cautions to be noted when you are to take in Panadol:

You should not take this medicine with any other paracetamol-containing products.
You should not exceed the dose as it is dangerous.
You should consult a doctor if symptoms persist.

Besides, children under 12 years of age are not recommended to take in Panadol. But, there are other forms of paracetamol which are more suitable for them.

Furthermore, Panadol should not be taken with other certain kinds of medicine as well. For example, cholestyramine, metoclopramide and domperidone. Cholestyramine will reduce the absorption of paracetamol from the gut so the effect of paracetamol will be reduced. On the other hand, metoclopramide and domperidone will increase the absorption of paracetamol from the gut.

We are also recommended not to take in Panadol for a long duration. Long-term use of paracetamol may increase the anti-blood-clotting effect of warfarin and other anticoagulant medicines, leading to an increased risk of bleeding.

It is totally undeniable that Panadol is a good painkiller. However, I personally think that we should not rely on it at most of the time. As mentioned above, taking it in overdose or in long-term duration will be harmful to our body. Take it whenever necessary only. If you are just suffering from a light fever, drink plenty of water, that will be the most appropriate cure to it. Don't think it is convenient and simply take in Panadol. This is not a good habit anyway.

CARE YOUR LIFE FOR IT IS YOUR LIFE.
CARE FOUR HEALTH FOR IT IS YOUR HEALTH.
CARE YOURSELF FOR EVERYONE CARES FOR YOU TOO.

References:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100003607.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol

Wondering why the food taste damn good?

2009-07-04T23:33:00.000-07:00

I love to eat, so does everyone.

Unless you are suffering from Anorexia Nervosa disorder~ Haha.
Well, let's get back to our main topic.
Since eating is one of life's pleasure,
taste and flavor are definitely important
to enjoying food.
So, what is the component that makes
your food tasty?
There are actually two.
They are glutamate and monosodium glutamate.
Monosodium glutamate is the one known as MSG.
I believe most of you knew and heard of MSG.

Nonetheless, I will still explain the definition roughly
on these two components before going further.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Glutamate:
Glutamate is an amino acid,
found naturally in all protein-containing foods,
such as cheese, milk, mushrooms, meat,
fish and many vegetables.
Glutamate is also produced by human body
and is vital for metabolism and brain function.

Mushrooms

Cheese

Meats

Vegetables

Milk

(ALL OF THESE CONTAIN GLUTAMATE~)

Monosodium Glutamate:

Structural Formula of MSG

MSG is the sodium salt of glutamate.
When MSG is added to foods,
it provides a similar flavoring function
as the glutamate that occurs naturally in food.
MSG is comprised of nothing more than
water, sodium and glutamate.

Crystalline Monosodium Glutamate

Why is MSG used?
As the title mentioned above,
it is to give taste!
MSG is a flavor enhancer that
has been used effectively
to bring out the best taste in foods,
emphasizing natural flavors.

MSG seen in market:

MSG is normally obtained
by the fermentation of carbohydrates,
using bacteria or yeast species
from genera such as Brevibacterium, Arthrobacter,
Microbacterium, and Corynebacterium .

Like the sodium salts of other amino acids,
MSG is a stable colorless solid
that is degraded by strong oxidizing agents.
It exists as a pair of mirror image stereoisomers,
but only the naturally occurring L-glutamate form
is used as a flavor enhancer.

The most popular MSG being used in Malaysia

Our body handles glutamate and MSG the same.
For instance, the body does not distinguish
between free glutamate from tomatoes or cheese
and the glutamate from MSG added to foods.
Glutamate is glutamate,
whether naturally present or from MSG.

Is MSG safe?
Well, I can't even ensure you.
Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
has classified MSG as a food ingredient that is
"generally recognized as safe",
the use of MSG remains controversial.
It was researched that MSG may not contribute to
any long-term health problems, such as Alzheimer's disease.
However, some people may still have
short-term reactions to MSG.
These reactions (known as MSG symptom complex)
may include:
- headache
- flushing
- sweating
- sense of facial pressure
- numbness in or around the mouth
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- nausea
- weakness

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In my opinion, as long as we consume MSG
in an appropriate amount daily,
it should not be that serious.
No matter how it is still considered a chemical,
taking too much of it
would still harm our body of course.

Anyway, I still wanna thank those
who invented MSG. =)
Because of MSG, we get to enjoy tasty foods.
Because of tasty foods, I have my current body size.

References:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/monosodium-glutamate/AN01251
http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures/msgbroch.cfm

Choose Olive Oil! It is damn healthy!

2009-06-12T06:04:00.000-07:00

I am sure most of you have ever heard of olive oil.

And, I also believe many people are currently using it also.

Indeed, olive oil brings manifold advantages to us.

To those of you who might not know it clearly enough,
I will briefly introduce it to you here.
Olive

Olive oil has the greatest exponent of monounsaturated fat.
It is a prime component of Mediterranean Diet.
Olive oil is known as a natural juice which preserves the
taste, aroma , vitamins and properties of the olive fruit.
Olive oil is the only vegetable oil which can be consumed
as it is freshly pressed from the fruit.

Olive oil

Why would we say it is beneficial to our health? =)
Of course there are reasons:
1) High content of monounsaturated fatty acids
2) High content of antioxidative substances
3) Offers protection against heart disease
4) Well tolerated by stomach
5) Has a beneficial function on ulcers and gastritis
6) Activates the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones
7) Lowers the incidence of gallstone formation

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Generally, there are several types of olive oil.
It depends on the amount of processing involved.
Varieties include:
1) Extra virgin
2) Virgin
3) Pure
4) Extra light

Extra virgin
considered the best, lease processed,
comprising the oil from the first pressing of the olives.

Virgin
from the second pressing.

Pure
undergoes some processing, such as filtering and refining.

Extra light
undergoes considerable processing and only retains a very mild olive flavor.

Studies have shown that people who consumed
25 milliliters (mL) of virgin olive oil daily for 1 week
showed less oxidation of LDL cholesterol and
higher levels of antioxidant compounds,
particularly phenols, in the blood.

But while all types of olive oil are sources of
monounsaturated fat, extra virgin olive oil,
from the first pressing of the olives,
contains higher levels of antioxidant,
particularly vitamin E and phenols,
because it is less processed.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Olive oil is clearly one of the good oils,
one of the healing fats.
Most people do quite well with it
since it does not upset the
critical omega 6 to omega 3 ratio
and most of the fatty acids in olive oil
are actually an omega-9 oil which is monounsaturated.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fat composition of olive oil

Saturated Fats:
Palmitic acid - 7.5%-20%, Stearic acid - 0.5%-5.0%, Arachidic acid - <0.8%,>
Unsaturated Fats
Monounsaturated Fats: Oleic acid - 55.0%-83.0%, Palmitoleic acid - 0.3%-3.5% Polyunsaturated Fats: Linoleic acid - 3.5%-21.0%, Linolenic acid - <1.5%>

Properties

Food Energy: per 100g, 3700 kJ (880 kcal) Melting Point: -6°C Boiling Point: 300°C Smoke Point: 190°C (virgin) 210°C (refined)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, what do you think?
How do you find it?
Of course good lar! xD
Try it out. Really.
Although it might be a little costly,
it is worth for everything it gives. =)

References:

http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/olive-oil.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_oil

Arh! Your mouth smells disgusting! Stay away from me!

2009-06-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Have you guys ever found out your mouth actually smells putrid
but you did not know it?
This is serious especially when you are talking with others.
I lol-ed when I'm typing this sentence because it triggers me to recall one of my secondary school friends who was actually having this kinda problem.
He was a very talkative fellow but, his mouth smells all the time!
I did not wanna hurt him so I decided not to tell him. =X

Argh! I'm having a bad breath!

Well, having a bad breath is not really comfortable, whether to the patient himself/herself or to whom he/she is talking. Bad breath or halitosis can actually be fixed
with simple bad-breath home remedies. Bad breath is caused by odor-causing bacteria that live in your mouth. However, there are some other possible factors that could affect the odor of our mouth aside from dry mouth, like tooth decay, gum disease,
throat and/or tonsil infection and many more. If you find your bad breath problem very serious,
consulting a doctor would be a better choice
since this kinda problem can be a sign of a health problem.

We definitely don't wanna become like this!

Amongst sooooo many choices for remedy, I personally choose to use Listerine, which is a brand name for antiseptic mouthwash. The reason I opt for it is because IT REALLY WORKS. (Not to me, but to my friend in real life. I wasn't encountering the problem.
So, don't get misunderstood! =S) The product is marketed under the slogan "Kills germs that cause bad breath". There are various Listerine antiseptic mouthwash products which have been released in the market. Over here I will show you some of them. Here you go!

Original Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash
(It's a little intense, but no other mouthwash can compete
with its impressive germ-killing career.)

Cool Mint Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash
(It's not only a germ killer but a people pleaser.
It's been America's favorite for years.)

Natural Citrus Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash
(It has all the germ-killing power of LISTERINE® Antiseptic,
but in a smooth, less-intense flavor.)

FreshBurst Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash
(A refreshing way to fight germs in spearmint stlye.)

Advanced Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash With Tartar Protection
(Its invigorating arctic mint flavor will keep you rinsing.)

Vanilla Mint Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash
(100% of the germ-killing power of regular Listerine antiseptic,
plus a smooth, less-intense flavor.)

Composition of the mouthwash products:

The active ingredients listed on Listerine bottles include menthol, thymol, methyl salicylate and eucalyptol. Ehtanol is present in concentrations of 21.6% in the flavored product and 26.9% in the original gold Listerine Antiseptic.
Thymol is an antiseptic, methyl salicylate is cleaning agent, and menthol is local anesthetic. At this concentration, the ethanol serves to dissolve the active ingredients.

Menthol:Menthol is an organic compound that is made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is an waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color. It is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring naturally is (−)-menthol, which is assigned the (1R, 2S, 5R) configuration.

Thymol:

Thymol, also known as 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol, (IPMP) is a monoterpene phenol derivative of cymene, C₁₀H₁₄OH, isomeric with carvacoal, found in oil of thyme, and extracted as a white crystalline substance of a pleasant aromatic odor and strong antiseptic properties. Thymol is slightly soluble in water, but is extremely soluble in alcohols and other organic solvents.

Methyl Salicylate:Methyl salicylate (chemical formula C₆H₄(OH)COOCH₃) is a natural product of many species of plants. Some of the plants producing it are called wintergreens, hence the common name.

Eucalyptol:Eucalyptol is a natural organic compound which is a colorless liquid. It is a cycloc ether and a monoterpenoid. Eucalyptol is also known by a variety of synonyms, 1,8-cineole, limonene oxide, cajeputol, 1,8-epoxy-p-menthane, 1,8-oxido-p-menthane, eucalyptol, eucalyptole, 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[2,2,2]octane, cineol, cineole.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After so much of "chemistry lesson" above,
apart from knowing the chemicals in Listerine mouthwash,
I believe you should already have confidence in Listerine as well. =)
On the other hand, using mouthwash only is not the most appropriate way to taking care of your mouth and teeth though.
You should always brush your teeth, brush your tongue, use dental floss (optional) and drink plenty of water.
Don't just rely on antiseptic mouthwash.
I have ever tried that last time,
and.. well I don't wanna recall that again. =.=

It is very important to keep your mouth breath fresh all the time so it does not cause embarrassing social situations and damage your self-esteem.
Fresh breath! Good image! High confidence!
You can definitely make it too!

p/s: If you could not see some of the images of the chemical structures above, click the particular image and you will then be linked to the webpage showing you the clear image there. Sorry for any inconveniences caused. =P

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listerine
http://www.listerine.com/products.jsp

Face Skin Cells Say: "We need proper nutrients, Master."

2009-05-19T02:32:00.000-07:00

In this modern era, loads of expensive products exist

for beautifying the face skin and keeping it looking young and fresh.
My mum and my lil sister like to use facial mask very much.
Sometimes, I would feel "beh tahan" for I don't love seeing them
in whity-scary-ghosty look! (that's lame I know LOL)
Anyway, I knew they did it for their skin health.
Not really a big deal actually. xD
My lil sister's skin is white like hell!
She has been using so-called
Garnier Light (i ain't sure whether it's spelt correctly) products until now.
The product is really named so correctly,
this is why my sis's skin becomes so white and fair
after using it. (like ghost ><)
Oh ya, don't be misled that these products
only apply to women, there are even some
which are specially created for men now!
Well, it ain't wrong at all if men are to care their face skin as what the women do!

So, people! Don't be lazy to take care of your face skin anymore!
Care your face skin for it indicates your entire image to people.
A fresh and energized look is very important nowadays.
If you leave it uncared, you might look dull and ugly. (No offence ya! =P)
Eventually, you might be giving a not-so-good impression to other people.
So, to prevent this from happening,
START USING FACIAL MASK FROM NOW ON!

To those nincompoops who might not know what a "facial mask" is,
I will kindly elucidate its meaning to you here. (LOL, that's very lame)
A facial mask simply means a creamy mask
applied on face
for smoothing or cleaning purpose.
It often contains minerals, vitamins and fruit extracts, such as cucumber.
The perceived effect of a facial mask treatment can be
revitalizing, rejuvenating or refreshing.

Refer to the image above, that's how a facial mask looks like.
Having facial treatment is actually kind of enjoyable. =P

By the way, facial masks can actually be made in two ways.
Organic and Inorganic!

It is believed that most of the people would prefer to use inorganic facial masks.
There must be reasons for sure:
1. They can be found a lot easily in markets.
2. Side-effect from frequent advertisements being published on television.
3. people are just too lazy to make a homemade mask themselves.

If I were to do a facial mask treatment,
I will definitely choose the organic-made aka homemade one. Why?
Well, I believe some of you might have known the reason.
I don't choose inorganic mask because it is mainly made up with chemicals.
We could name it as "chemical" mask instead of inorganic. lol
Ya, I knew it contains the required nutrients as well.
However, the term "chemicals" itself has already discomforted me.
For those consumers who use inorganic facial mask,
I strongly advise you to read the labels before purchase or use.

When reading the labels, you will most likely find some of the
harmful-Carcinogenic ingredients on list.
The term "carcinogen" refers to any substance, radionuclide or radiation
which is an agent directly involved in the promotion of cancer.
The hazard symbol for carcinogenic chemicals in the
Globally Harmonized System

One of the carcinogenic substances is Propylene Glycol.
According to The American Academy of Dermatologists Inc,
Propylene Glycol can cause significant number of reactions and
was a primary irritant to the skin at low level of concentrations.

Another chemical that would be found in products is called Octoxynol-9.
Here comes a contradiction.
Octoxnol-9 is being used in facial mask products.
But, Octoxynol-9 is found listed on drugs.com as being a common spermicide.
I wonder if it kills sperm, what would it do to my living skin cells?

Bentonite is sometimes used in masks. It will actually form firms
that are gas impermeable. This will eventually trap the toxins and carbon oxide
in the skin which need to vent and escape.
Thus, the skin will be suffocated
due to the shut-out of vitally needed oxygen.

There are actually more and more of these pernicious substances.
But, I ain't going any further into them
because I'm here to introduce you the organic masks!

______________________________________________________________

Probably skin peel is one of the fastest ways
to make you have a younger look.
However, the Retin-A, concentrated glycolic acid and harsh chemical peels which
cosmetic dermatologists prescribe can cause following side effects:
1. Lines decrease
2. Smooth skin finish
3. Stripping your skin's protective layer
4. Increasing chance of sun damage
5. Skin aging
6. Skin cancer

So, despite of using all these chemicals,
why don't you make yourself a natural skin peel?
Don't worry about the ingredients matter.
You could most probably get all of them from your refrigerator!
You can use tomatoes, pineapple or any other fruits or veggies
that contain natural acids
Slice the ingredients thinly first,
then place them on your face,
covering the skin thoroughly.
Leave them for 20 minutes.
After that, wash with warm water.
So basically this is how it is done.
Soooo easy, isn't it?

Other than that, there are many other methods too.
I will briefly introduce and go through some of them here.

Cucumber Mascara

Freshy Cucumber

1. Cucumber to remedy rosacea
Firstly, you peel the skin off of a fresh cucumber.
Then, puree the insides in a blender with one egg white.
Coat your face with this mixture.
Leave it on for 30 minutes.
Finally, wash off with cold water.
If you use this mask daily and
you should notice improvement within one month.
Cucumber mask does not only remove the skin blockages,
but it covers some other important aspects also,
such as soothing the spirit and clearing heat.

Natural Yogurt

2. Yogurt for a smooth skin texture
Firstly, wash your face.
Then, apply organic plain yogurt as a facial cream.
Leave on for 15 minutes.
Finally, wash off with cold water.
You could end it with a moisturizer too.
To reduce any redness, apply a cold pack for 10 minutes.
Yogurt is said to be a traditional ingredients
for healthy skin.
Lactic acid, a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid
is contained in natural yogurt.
It can gently peel off the dead skin layer
and give you a smooth skin texture.
Over time, yogurt can also lighten spots
and even out a patchy skin tone.

Apple Cider Vinegar

3. Tone with apple cider vinegar
Firstly, dilute one part cider vinegar in two parts distilled water.
After you have washed your skin,
apply the diluted vinegar solutiion with a cotton pad to your face.
Follow with a natural moisturizing lotion, this is optional though.
Apple cider vinegar can be a natural and effective toner
for your skin.
In vinegar, there is malic acid.
It basically helps renew your skin
by ridding the epidermis of dead skin cells.

In fact, you should also be alert that
what type of mask you should use
accordingly to what type of skin you have.

If you have oily skin, go for a clay or mud mask
to absorb excess oil buildup
as well as to tighten the skin and exfoliate the face skin.

If you have dry skin, try out a creamy hydrating mask
like oatmeal, milk powder and china clay.
These would be the perfect homemade facial masks for dry skin.

As for sensitive skin, you will need to use a light gel mask.

Anyway, I personally recommend a web to you.
This webpage contains a lot of useful recipes to making facial mask.
Hence, I hope you all can learn to make homemade facial mask after reading my post.
=P

CLICK ME FOR MORE MASK RECIPES! x)

Well, that's all for the organic facial mask.
I hope these natural recipes bring you beautiful skin well into your late years!

Take care of your face skin.
Don't ignore your face skin.
Otherwise, your "face skin cells"
would come and complain! xD
And remember, even if you "feed" them,
do choose the appropriate nutrient medium.

Looking young is great! =)
I hereby wish you all live long, live strong and live happy! =P

References:
http://www.lookbeauty.com/SkinCare/FaceMaskRecipes/BeautyTips.aspx?m=25&mm=117
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/18673/6-all-natural-age-defying-skin-recipes
http://www.geocities.com/luvmebabe7/masks.html
http://www.healthy-communications.com/harmfulingredients1.html
http://www.natural-skincare-authority.com/OCTOXYNOL-9.html