Melamine level

Early this year, tests were conducted by Ministry of Health on 3,044 food samples on its melamine level.

The 3,044 food samples have been found to contain a safe level of melamine, based on World Health Organisation requirements.

“The samples included milk, infant formula, ice-cream, yogurt, soy milk, biscuits, chocolate, confectionaries, fruits and vegetables,” Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

Liow said the maximum amount of melamine allowed in powdered infant formula was 1mg a kilo and for other food and animal feed (2.5mg a kilo).

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/11/nation/6833185&sec=nation

Lead Content in Food

Recently there's a candy found to contain excessive lead level and was banned by California. However, be assured that the candy is not sold in local market.

According to Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, the maximum lead content allowed under the Food Regulations 1985 was 2 mg/kg, which followed international standards set by the World Health Organisation.

A risk evaluation by WHO had determined that a 2 mg/kg lead content was safe for consumption based on 0.025 mg/kg of body weight per week.

Hong Kong set the level at 6 mg/kg, Singapore at 2 mg/kg and Indonesia at 1 mg/kg.

An acute lethal dose of lead occurs when at least 300 mg/kg is consumed.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/30/nation/6944627&sec=nation

Health Quotes

When you're not sick doesn't mean you're healthy and just because you're skinny doesn't mean you're healthy too! You never know what's going on inside your body. Some people are striving to lose some weights with all sorts of diets when they're actually slim. Well, there's a difference between slim & healthy and thin & unhealthy. A thin person can have a high level of fat / cholesterol too!

So,
Not sick ≠ healthy
Thin ≠ healthy

trying to gain some weight?
well, The journey of a thousand pounds begins with a single burger. ( Chris O'Brien )
for those who wanna look thin, hang around some fat people, u'll find that you're actually very thin! lol

Here are some interesting quotes on food & health:
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. ~World Health Organization, 1948

If you want to look young and thin, hang around old fat people. ~ Jim Eason.

One of life's mysteries is how a 1kg box of candy can make a woman gain 2kg.

The only two things I don't eat for breakfast are lunch and dinner.

I'm on a seafood diet. When I see food, I eat it.

Why do people go to Burger King and order a double Whopper with a large French fry and insist on getting a diet Coke ?

Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but she can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake."

First need in the reform of hospital management ? That's easy ! The death of all dietitians, and the resurrection of a French chef. ~ Martin H. Fischer (1879-1962).

He who takes medicine and neglects to diet wastes the skill of his doctors. ~Chinese Proverb

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. ~Irish Proverb

When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow is disease. ~Terri Guillemets

vitamin A intake for pregnant mum

Someone asked about vit A intake for pregnant mum. So, let's take a look at the types of vit A, its food sources and the recommended intake..

Retinol/preformed vitamin A is the active form of Vitamin A, a name given due to its function in retina of the eye. It is used directly by the body and the main sources are animal products such as animal liver, milk, eggs.
Another form of vitamin A is called carotenoid / provitamin A as it will be converted into vitamin A in the body. It acts as antioxidants that protect cells from damage by free radicals. It is found in fruits and vege (especially orange / yellow ones).

More than 500 carotenoids are found in nature, but only a few can be converted to vitamin A. The most common ones are beta-carotene, alpha-carotene. Lycopene, Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids that do not have vit A activity but have other health functions.

The standard measurement for vitamin A is RAE (retinol activity equivalents).
1 mcg of = 1 mcg RAE
but 12 mcg of beta-carotene = 1 mcg RAE.
1 mcg RAE = 3.3 IU.

How much vitamin A for a pregnant mum?
According to Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) Malaysia 2005, a pregnant woman’s recommended vitamin A intake (in all 3 trimesters) is 800mcg/d (2640 IU).

According to the American Pregnancy Association, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for pregnant women 19-50yrs old is 770mcg/d (2541 IU) and the Tolerable Upper Level (TUL) is 3000mcg/d (9900 IU). (Established by the National Academy of Sciences in 2000)

The RDA / RNI represent the amount of nutrient required to maintain good health or prevent deficiency in most people

While the TUL represents the highest amount most people can take without experiencing potentially harmful effects.

Pregnant women are not recommended to consume too much of preformed vitamin A. Too much of it can cause birth defects and liver toxicity. However, provitamin A / carotenoid does not cause toxicity.

Do not double the dosage of your prenatal vitamin intake and take any supplement without your doctor’s advice. Bear in mind that some supplements such as multi-vit and fish oil also contain vitamin A. If you’re taking supplement, it is better to maintain vitamin A intake at 5000 IU /day.

You can actually get sufficient vit A through your diet (fruits, vege and your maternal milk). According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, nutrient needs should be met primarily through consuming foods. Foods provide an array of nutrients and other compounds that may have beneficial effects on health. Dietary supplements, while recommended in some cases, cannot replace a healthful diet