My most recommended cooking oil-COCONUT OIL : )

Hihi, I use to be concerned about my beauty. Thus, a good health can not be neglected as it can add luster for our appearance which I pay attention the most, haha!!! XD  To get a healthy body,  let's start on our daily life...We usually need good cooking oil to prepare a tasty and healthy diet. So, we have to choose the cooking oils wisely. Here, I would like to recommend the type of cooking oil I used and the knowledge about it. It is COCONUT OIL~~

Firstly, I would like to point out some key points for choosing coconut oil:

• Choosing a wrong cooking oil can leads to heart disease.
• Extra-virgin coconut oil is the healthiest of most cooking oil.
• Extra-virgin coconut oil is safe to use for cooking without fear of heart disease and high cholesterol.

Some cooking oils are very unhealthy such as 'vegetable' cooking oils. WHY??? Vegetable oils such as soybean oil, corn oil, safflower oil and etc. These 'vegetable' oil processed under high heat, pressure and industrial solvents(for example, hexane). Thus, these 'vegetable' oils are called processed oils which are not good for health. Processed oils are mostly composed of polyunsaturated fats. Polyunsaturated fat is the most reactive of fat that easily prone to oxidation and free radical production under heat and light. Besides, as those oils are the most inflammatory inside our bodies due to their high reactivity to heat and light, can promote many internal problems(diabetes, heart diseases, etc.)



The order of stability type of fat under heat and light----from most stable to least


Saturated ~> Monosaturated ~> Polysaturated

Saturated fats are the healthiest oils to cook with such as coconut oils.

WHY???

 Saturated fats are more stable and less inflammatory than polysaturated oils. Coconut oils have very little polyunsaturates and are mostly composed of saturated oils that are least reactive under heat and light. Thus, it is least inflammatory in our bodies from cooking use.That's why coconut oil(considered as tropical oil) are best for cooking. 

Chemical properties of coconut oil

1. saturated fats (triglycerides).
2. medium chain fatty acids.

Structural formula of saturated fats

Physical properties of coconut oil:

1. Colourless at or above 30 degree Celsius.
2. White when solid.
3. Melting points at 25 degree Celsius. (Solid below this temperature)
4. Smoking point at 177 degree Celsius 
5. Forms a white homogeneous mixture during beaten well in little water. If not, insoluble in water.
6. Density is 924.27 Kg/Meter3

From the researchers, NATURAL EXTRA-VIRGIN COCONUT OIL is healthy!!!

Researchers concluded that unadulterated coconut oil did not cause elevated cholesterol. Besides, it did not caused an increase of heart disease. (Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine 30:165-171;1992)

Researchers made a study on added natural, unadulterated coconut oil int the diets of men with normal cholesterol. By the study's end, the men enjoyed a healthier cholesterol balance(bad cholesterol came down a little whereas good cholesterol went up a little). (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 59:841-846:1994) 

Therefore, extra-virgin coconut oil is safe to use for cooking without fear of heart disease or high cholesterol.

The coconut cooking oil that I recommended:
Nutiva Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a good and healthy cooking oil but doesn't mean that can work for all your dishes as it has mild, coconut flavour(may not suitable for all recipes). So, you can use another options like organic butter as it contains mostly saturated fats too. Lastly, please bare in mind that not to overuse of cooking oils for your cooking. Overuse might increase your overall calories...

Hope this can help you to know more about coconut oil. Bye bye!!!   ^^

CHEMICAL SURFACE CLEANER – “Cif”

White colour is one of the favourite colours that like by everybody. Wall and floors which painted by white colour can represent the cleanest of a house. However, white colour is the hardest colour that can be well taking care. Honestly, children like to touch or in contact to the wall when playing in the house. When their hands were dirty, it might leave some fingerprints or stains on the wall.  Do you feel annoying or frustrating when you unable or cannot remove the fingerprints and stains on the wall? I am not so clear about it until today I discovered it. I am so surprised because “Cif” can just like a magic cream that removes stubborn dirt easily with little effort~

What is “Cif”?

Cif is a brand of household cleaning products by Unilever, known as Jif in Australia, New Zealand, Middle East and the Nordic countries. Cif is the largest selling abrasive cleaner product in the world. Cif launched in France in 1969, it is marketed against scouring powders such as Vim, as a creamy and hence protective but powerful domestic cleaner. Initially focused on cream cleansers for the kitchen and bathroom, it was launched using a now famous "skater" advert, which highlighted how scouring powders could "scratch like skates on ice." Asia is Cif's fastest-growing market, and India it’s largest.

What does Cif contain?

Cif contain few ingredients:
Sodium Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonate, Alcohol Ethoxylate, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylic Polymer, Antifoam Emulsion, Preservative, Perfume, and Water.

These ingredient above mixed together act as a function of Surfactants.

What is Surfactants and how does it works?

Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, the interfacial tension between two liquids, or that between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants reduce the surface tension of water by adsorbing at the liquid-gas interface. They also reduce the interfacial tension between oil and water by adsorbing at the liquid-liquid interface. Many surfactants can also assemble in the bulk solution into aggregates. Examples of such aggregates are vesicles and micelle.

The concentration at which surfactants begin to form micelle is known as the critical micelle concentration (CMC). When micelles form in water, their tails form a core that can encapsulate an oil droplet, and their heads form an outer shell that maintains favorable contact with water. When surfactants assemble in oil, the aggregate is referred to as a reverse micelle. In a reverse micelle, the heads are in the core and the tails maintain favorable contact with oil. Surfactants are also often classified into four primary groups; anionic, cationic, non-ionic, and dual charge - zwitterionic. Thermodynamics of the surfactant systems are of great importance, theoretically and practically. This is because surfactant systems represent systems between ordered and disordered states of matter. Surfactant solutions may contain an ordered phase – micelles, and a disordered phase - free surfactant molecules and/or ions in the solution.

“Cif” brings a lot of benefits for the entire house wife in the world. “Cif” is the greatest invention of surface cleaner. It helps a lot of house wives to remove the stubborn dirt with the easiest way and without any worries. My mother had used “Cif” for more than 10 years. If your children made the walls dirty, perhaps you can use “Cif” for your priority option of surface cleaner...

Fun During The Shower

I was very tired and happy when I had completed my Unilife final assignment regarding on the Melting Pot of Culture Week showcase on 28^th July. The clock hits to 8pm. I am starting my journey back home. God know what? The traffic starts to build up from UCSI heading to Kesas highway. It took me 1 hour or more to reached home safely. Once I reach home, I’m quickly taking a shower. My body were extremely smelly and stinks after the whole day of sweat. My leg was totally redness and itchy due to I was showering at my friend’s house for two days. My skin was very sensitive to chlorine water.

WHATT SHOULD I DO? WHAT PRODUCT CAN HELP ME TO SOLVE THIS??
Water? That’s great, but not enough. Soaps? They just destroy my good bacterial flora and may leave my skin open to break-down and deterioration. I am asking for my parent’s help. They starts ask me to use this product, the Sebamed Liquid Face and Body Wash on my body for again after I stopped used this since I was young.

Sebamed seems to work perfectly to my body. My skin is very sensitive and prone to constant battles with contact dermatitis. I have used many products marketed for sensitive skin such as Dove and Nutrogena and after just one use I always end up with contact dermatitis. Not only my rash slowly reduce within hours as is customary but when I woke up the next morning my skin was as soft, supple and rash free as it was before I went to my friend’s house. It was a light and refreshing scent and what I loved most was that I did not feel as though I was wearing it when I got out of the shower.

I find it interesting that Sebamed Liquid Face and Body Wash is dermatologist developed especially formulated with mild wash active ingredients that particularly indicated for the cleansing and conditioning of sensitive and problematic skin. Sebamed meets the skin's needs for ultra-mild, effective, deep cleansing of the pores to protect the skin’s health. Sebamed keeps my dry skin well hydrated and silky but it also prevents my oily and acne-prone skin (face) from getting oily or breaking out. It contains a natural moisturizing complex of vitamins, Pentavitin which protects my skin from dehydration and soothing allantoin, it rinses away completely for naturally healthier, smoother skin. This rich blend of moisturizers and gentle tensides cleanse my skin without irritation. 

 

Human skin is slightly acidic! Normal alkali soaps destroy this barrier function. Washing action can weaken and even partially destroy the acid protection barrier of the skin especially when alkali soaps are used or when showering are too frequent. Washing also deprives the skin of oil and moisture. The barrier zone is attacked; there is increased transepidermal loss of moisture, leading to irritation and infection. Every sebamed product is meticulously formulated to a pH balance of exactly 5.5 and alkali-free. pH 5.5 is vital for healthy skin. This is essential in maintaining my skin‘s natural hydrolipid barrier against environmental stress by strengthens and stabilizes the ecological balance of my skin's acid mantle promoting its barrier function.

It was an effective prophylaxis against blemishes and other skin disorders.  Sebames is suitable for facial and total body cleansing. The most important is it was appropriated for feminine hygiene which is the care to taken by every girl who using this including myself.Top of ForBottom of Form

What is the advantage of using the Sebamed pH 5.5?

• Preserves the natural acidic mantle of my skin.    
• Softens and moisturizes the skin, keeping it supple and healthy. Frequent washing causes no problem. 
• Long term use can easily cause dryness.    
• Clears pores: does not precipitate minerals in water to block pores.  
• Suitable for sensitive and problem skin and protects healthy skin.  
• Inhibits bacteria.   
• Promotes the formation of the skin’s own slightly acidic protective function.   
• Increase the resistance-power of the skin. Irritation, allergies, dryness and redness may not occur.

To my amazement nothing of the sort happened. I would recommend this product to anyone with extremely sensitive skin like me. I love it!! I love the clean feeling after taking a bath with it, the way my skin feels moisturized, and the smell of it! For those who are thinking about trying it, get it! You will love it! Anyway, thumbs up for the product.

The Ingredients that need to take a count on.

Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Laureth-2, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Glycol Distearate, Fragrance (Parfum), Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Pyridoxine HCI (Vitamin B6), Glycine, Magnesium Aspartate, Alanine, Lysine, Leucine, Biotin (Vitamin H), Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Citrate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sorbitan Laurate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Yellow 10 (CI 47005), Blue 1 (CI 42090)

 

The Story of Cotton

T-shirt never fail to let a person look fashionable as t-shirt is the clothes that easy to mix and match. Nowadays, t-shirts are available in a variety of sizes, colours, patterns, styles, sleeves, and designation. T-shirts is just fit to anyone from infants to adults. A simple t-shirt and jeans can let a person looks pretty nice and energetic too. 

Don’t you agree on that?

So, what is the main raw material for t-shirt? Well, most of the t-shirts are made of cotton. Some environmentally conscious manufacturers will use organically grown cotton to make the products.

What is Cotton?

Cotton flower

Cotton ball in green

Cotton ball ripe

Cotton ball open

Cotton plant is a shrubby plant and belongs to the Mallow family. It produces lovely flower. Cotton is a soft white natural fiber can be obtained from the cotton plant. Organic Cotton is one of the most widely used fibers in the textile world and is enormously important commodity throughout the world.
The cotton fibers normally grow around the seeds so that the plant can help to distribute themselves by wind. Today cotton is produced for manufacturing various organic cotton products, organic fabric, organic cotton clothing, organic cotton garments for kids, infants, women and men.

Organic Cotton Products

Organic Cotton Products Manufacturer eliminates toxic chemicals in every step of the growing process by emphasizing natural. Organic cotton products such as gift boxes, gift bags, handkerchief, health and beauty products, travel and sampler kits represents a safe and sustainable practice as there are no harmful toxics involved in the process. They are also eco products because they are renewable, versatile and sustainable.

Organic Fabrics

Organic Fabric comes under variety of designs, colors and graphic elements. Organic fabrics are used in personal care items like sanitary products, cotton swabs, baby diapers. These products provide support to global sustainable agriculture, thereby enhancing the health of the customers and protecting the environment from toxic chemicals.

Organic Cotton Clothing

Organic Cotton Clothing is done without the use of hazardous toxics, synthetic fertilizers, harsh chemical bleaches or dyes. Organic Cotton Clothing includes high quality clothing apparels. They have same fiber strength, length and all other properties as conventional cotton.

Properties of Cotton

1. Soft and comfortable
2. Good absorbency. It can absorb perspiration quickly without leave a sticky feel.
3. Good colour retention and can print well on it.
4. Machine washable. No matter it is white cotton shirt or coloured cotton shirt, it can be washed by washing machine.

Uses of Cotton

1.    Clothing (Blouses, shirt, pants, skirts, swimwear, etc.)
2.    Medical and cosmetic applications (bandages, wound plaster, cotton bud)
3.    Home decorations things (curtain, carpets, pillowcases, etc.)
4.    Cellulose products (fertilizer, fuel, cardboard, etc.)

Uhm..I thought that cotton is just simply can get from the plant. Until today, I only realized that the production of this organic product in cotton is so complicated than what I thought so far. Over 80 countries worldwide is growing cotton. Hence, we can conclude that the cotton really contribute a lot to us everyday. That is why girls like to shop at 'Cotton On' outlets for their favourite clothes.

THE SCIENCE OF CAFFEINE

'A nice breakfast is a good start for the day'. Everyday there were a millions of people start their day with a morning cup of coffee. So do I as I have a quote that ' the fragrance of coffee in the early morning can brighten up my day =)'. In a cup of coffee, caffeine plays a vital role. Caffeine is the most important chemical in the coffee. People do enjoy coffee but did they know about the caffeine? I am not so clear about it until today I discovered it. Whoa I am so surprised because caffeine is in everywhere - IT'S EVERYWHERE !!!!


Here come I explain it briefly about the caffeine that we might taken it everyday.

What is Caffeine?

Caffeine is a white crystalline substance that in the alkaloid family and has a bitter taste when you taste it. Caffeine can be easily found in the leaves and seeds from certain plants. Other than coffee, caffeine also can be found in tea, carbonated drinks (coca-cola) and etc. Caffeine can be defined as a drug because it can function to stimulate the central nervous system (CNS), heart and muscles.Caffeine can block the adenosine and hence increase alertness. Adenosine is a kind of chemical that give signal to the body for rest when tired. So, for a student like me, especially during the exam period, I will have some coffee in order to release fatigue and let me to stay awake at the later night away from sleepiness.


How does Caffeine Works to Brain?

Caffeine inhibits the adenosine receptor in the body by binding to the adenosine receptor as caffeine very look alike to adenosine. Adenosine is a kind of chemical secreted in brain when it is active. The cell in the basal forebrain are function to make a person to stay awake. If the cells function too fast, the adenosine binds to the receptor to slow it down. Thus, a person will start to feel sleepy and need to rest. But since the caffeine is replaced the adenosine to the receptor, the cells no longer detect the adenosine and start to speed up again hence can stay away from sleepiness. This is how caffeine makes a person to stay awake for long hours although body is exhausted. By this combination of the receptor with the caffeine, the liver will release more sugar to provide energy, heart increases and etc.

Some possible hazards linked to coffee due to caffeine:

1. Caffeine is a diuretic, it can increase the production of urine. This can create prostate problems to men.
2. Panic attack. The caffeine makes the panic getting worst as it triggers the fight and flight mechanism in the body.
3. Bone loss. A caffeinated coffee can increase calcium excretion in the urine.

Although there are hazards occurred due to caffeine, it does not mean that caffeine is totally bad. In fact, caffeine also has its contribution towards good.

Some benefits linked to coffee due to caffeine:

1. Caffeine can help a person to stay awake and alert. Regular consumption can even increase the brain power.
2. Caffeine can help in prevent heart disease because it is an antioxidant which can prevent the heart disease and some cancers.
3. Caffeine can help improves memory and mental function. It can help older person to think faster. A lifetime coffee consumption can even brings to lower risk of Alzheimer's diseases.

Caffeine brings us benefits but it also brings us hazards. Too much intake or overdose intake of caffeine would  brings harms to our body. Be consideration to the intake of caffeine. I think i need start to behave in the consumption of the caffeine. I would advice all the person beside me about this too. Good food and appropriate portion brings us to the way of long life and stay healthy. 


You can do caffeine testing on the food that you taken. As for this caffeine testing, you may google it yourself. =D

Introduction =)

Hello,
We're members of group 6.
Our name are:

Wong Ken Meng    1001025415
Tan Yuit Ling         1001025328
Yeong Min Er         1001025534
Teoh Xian Yun       1001025249