Tag Archives: toxic

Jun19

Toxic Tip of the Day!

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So, I know I said I would be posting my green tea cooler recipe on this fine Tuesday, but I’ll be traveling all day today and probably won’t have time! However, I love you all so much and didn’t want to keep you hanging. So, I’m giving you a quick toxic foodie tip while I wait to board my plane!

Here it is lovely people!

I know you have probably heard about the nitrate, nitrite, and nitrosamines carcinogenic scare with cured meats, more specifically with hot dogs. Now, this is true, they are toxic. Nitrates are not toxic but are converted into nitrites, which are toxic, by intestinal bacteria. In addition, nitrites can also be further converted to nitrosamines which are even more toxic and carcinogenic (more on this later!).

But …

There is a lot of talk about hot dogs and their nitrates and nitrites… but I bet you didn’t know about these statistics… take a look!!!

Human Exposure to nitrite/nitrate:

80% from vegetables (spinach, beets, radishes, celery, and cabbages)

10-15% from the one and only … water (tap)

and about 5% or less from cured meats

WHAT???

Have a happy Tuesday!!!

Handbook of Food Toxicology, S. S. Deshpande

Apr16

Tipsy Toxins

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I promise, this will be my last post on alcohol, at least for a little while! And for those of you who think I’m just this crazy party girl, you’re wrong. I’m actually a rare exception. I’m a newly 21-year-old that doesn’t really drink alcoholic beverages. I tend to stick to my diet coke and ice tea! However, to retire my alcohol posting days, I wanted to leave you all with one more booze post.

Metabolism. Metabolism was the topic of my food toxicology lecture today, and I learned some super interesting facts about the metabolism of alcohol that I would like to share.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to get super scientific on you, well maybe just a little….

So, here’s some science….

Primarily located in our stomach lining and our livers is an enzyme known as Alcohol Dehydrogenase, let’s call it ALD. ALD (with the help of NAD+ or NAHP) catalyzes the conversion of alcohols to aldehydes or ketones, both of which are toxic. Acetaldehyde (an aldehyde formed when alcohol is catalyzed by ALD) is what causes flushing, headaches, nausea, and vomiting; in other words, your common dreaded hangover! However, the aldehyde, in this case acetaldehyde, is further detoxified in the body by the enzyme Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (AD). AD oxidizes aldehydes to their corresponding acids so that they can be conjugated and detoxified and ultimately excreted from the body!

And to end with a bang…

 Some Fun Facts About Why Your Friend Can Drink More Than You:

#1. Genetic variation (polymorphism) between two people can make a difference in one’s ability to metabolize alcohol. One may have a fast type of AD which detoxifies the acetaldehyde quickly, while the other may have a slow type of AD which keeps acetaldehyde concentrations high and in turn makes you feel sick!!!

#2. Asians. Unfortunately, slow AD genotypes are found in Asian populations.

#3. Male vs. Female. Males and females have different levels of the detoxifying enzymes.

#4. Building up your tolerance. You always hear college students say “I need to build up my tolerance.” But what does that really mean?? Well, by slowly, but frequently, “building up” your alcohol intake every time you drink, you are also up-regulating the enzymes that help detoxify the alcoholic beverages, in turn building your tolerance.

Apr14

News On Booze

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Late last night, well technically this morning, I was greeted by my housemate and his 6 pack of Dos Equis Lager. Happy 21st birthday Jeremy!!!!

 I would love to tell you that I’m about to go downstairs and make a delicious triple layer, chocolate cake topped with homemade vanilla frosting and fresh strawberries, but that would be one big lie!  Instead, I’m actually spending some quality time with my computer and lab report.   I will, however, be attending the celebratory birthday dinner when Jeremy orders his first “dinner beer.”

 From fraternity parties to Beer-Bellies and Twenty-first birthday celebrations, beer has become a basic necessity for the “traditional” college experience.  So, when I came across a recent recall by Heineken USA, I was on it!

To keep YOU updated, here’s your current news on booze…

 Heineken recalled certain Mexican beers, including 12-ounce brown bottles of Carta Blanca, Dos Equis Ambar, and “Beers of Mexico” and “Best of Mexico” variety packs, due to defective bottles.

 Defected bottles???  Heineken recently announced that there may be a potential for small particles of glass to fall off the inside lip of the beer bottle and fall into the beer.  Furthermore, they stated that the pieces may vary in size and may not be easily visible.

The number of defective bottles is less than 1%, and the recall is only a precautionary measure.   Fortunately for Jeremy, Dos Equis Lager green bottles and draught are not impacted.  In addition, Dos Equis Ambar draught, Tecate, and Carta Blanca 32-ounce bottles are also safe.

 So, to all you 21-year-olds going out to the bars tonight watch out for shards of glass in ice-cold beer!

 More info about the recall can be found at www.heinekenusa.com, by calling 1-877-522-5001, or by emailing CcmCerveza@QualityCustomerCare.com.