What Exactly Is Processed Food? If any food that is boxed, bagged, canned or jarred and has a list of ingredients on the label, it's processed. They are derived from methods such as canning, freezing, refrigeration, dehydration, and aseptic processing. These processed foods are overloaded with hydrogenated oil, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and trans fats. They are lacking in necessary nutrition and loaded with empty sugar, water, fat, flour, starch, artificial colorings and flavors. A stroll down the grocery store's aisles can be a tempting experience with rows and rows of delicious food all wrapped up in colorful packages, beckoning you to give it a try . I have to admit, I am no exception. Good , delicious food that’s appealing and convenient is highly tempting. In Singapore, known for being a food paradise, you can never escape from the wide array of food in every nook and corner.For example, in a single day, my contact with food are found in my house, petrol kiosk, hawker center and night market stalls. How can I resist? It’s a miracle that my Body Mass Index (BMI for short) is within the acceptable range.
Thankfully my parents are health conscious and whenever we have meals at home, they are the healthy diets which includes lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and steamed/baked fish or meat. But once I am out, my diet is out of balance. It is laden with processed food which unfortunately, included curry puffs, burgers,fried food, fries, Slurpees and etc. To top it all up, I usually have a packet of my favourite potato chips or Cheezels. I know that they are all bad for my body system, but I cant help it. For example, the blue colouring in Slurpee stays in my tongue for hours after that. Imagine if my intestines were painted blue! This is evidence of artificial colouring. The yellow colouring in chips and Cheezels turned my fingers and lips a golden yellow. Though processed foods are yummy, they are neither good nor healthy. Sometimes, I feel bloated and sleepy, all thanks to them. I have a new year resolution; that is to cut down on all these processed food. It’s challenging but I’m trying very hard!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Blog Prompt #3 China's Three Gorges Dam
Blog Prompt
Q: Discuss the socio-economic impact of the Three Gorges Dam
Chinese officials acknowledged that the massive hydroelectric Three Gorge Dam, sandwiched between breathtaking cliffs on the Yangtze River in Central China, may be triggering landslides, altering ecosystems and causing serious environmental problems. The dam on an area heavily populated, home to threatened animals and plant species crossed by geologic fault lines is a recipe for disaster. Millions of people were forced to re locate to make room for the dam. For remaining residents, they were faced with landslides, waterborne diseases and a decline in biodiversity. Water collected in a lake longer than lake Superior and caused flooding, resulting in devastating results, including death. Loose soil around the cliffs caused constant landslides. Residents had to constantly relocate to higher or safer grounds whenever the water level of the reservoir changes, impacting their social lives tremendously. One of the greatest fears is that the dam may trigger severe earthquakes as the reservoir sits on two major faults. The people are constantly living in fear. On the other hand, at the mouth of Yangtze residents of Shanghai are experiencing water shortages and drought. The decrease in freshwater flow results in more seawater seeping upstream, bringing along with it jellyfish and other diseases. In addition to massive fishspecies, it will also affect endangered species, including theYangtze dolphin, the Chinese Sturgeon, the Chinese Tiger, theChinese Alligator, the Siberian Crane, and the Giant Panda.
The biodiversity is badly affected. Animals and plants are disappearing and facing extinction. The effects of the dam’s disturbance of whole ecosystems could reverberate for decades. `
Despite the Three Gorges Dam’s growing list of problems, hydropower remains an integral component of China’s energy mix. It aims to increase it’s electricity from renewal sources. The dam is to reduce emissions of sulfur
dioxide and carbon dioxide; generating electricity equal to about
40 million tons of coal.
Q: Discuss the socio-economic impact of the Three Gorges Dam
Chinese officials acknowledged that the massive hydroelectric Three Gorge Dam, sandwiched between breathtaking cliffs on the Yangtze River in Central China, may be triggering landslides, altering ecosystems and causing serious environmental problems. The dam on an area heavily populated, home to threatened animals and plant species crossed by geologic fault lines is a recipe for disaster. Millions of people were forced to re locate to make room for the dam. For remaining residents, they were faced with landslides, waterborne diseases and a decline in biodiversity. Water collected in a lake longer than lake Superior and caused flooding, resulting in devastating results, including death. Loose soil around the cliffs caused constant landslides. Residents had to constantly relocate to higher or safer grounds whenever the water level of the reservoir changes, impacting their social lives tremendously. One of the greatest fears is that the dam may trigger severe earthquakes as the reservoir sits on two major faults. The people are constantly living in fear. On the other hand, at the mouth of Yangtze residents of Shanghai are experiencing water shortages and drought. The decrease in freshwater flow results in more seawater seeping upstream, bringing along with it jellyfish and other diseases. In addition to massive fishspecies, it will also affect endangered species, including theYangtze dolphin, the Chinese Sturgeon, the Chinese Tiger, theChinese Alligator, the Siberian Crane, and the Giant Panda.
The biodiversity is badly affected. Animals and plants are disappearing and facing extinction. The effects of the dam’s disturbance of whole ecosystems could reverberate for decades. `
Despite the Three Gorges Dam’s growing list of problems, hydropower remains an integral component of China’s energy mix. It aims to increase it’s electricity from renewal sources. The dam is to reduce emissions of sulfur
dioxide and carbon dioxide; generating electricity equal to about
40 million tons of coal.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
News Clip #3 : Silver Workforce
Blog Prompt
Q:Imagine you are one of these older workers. You have been invited by the Manpower Ministry to give a short speech to a group of local businesses to a group of local businesses to encourage older workers. Write the speech that you will deliver.
Hello everybody. Thank you for taking time off your busy schedule to attend my talk today.
I am Peter Tan and I am in my sixties. I have been able to find employment after my retirement all thanks to the Re-Employ Senior Worker Scheme organised by the Manpower Minstry.
It is a programme where rebates are given to companies which re-employ retired workers. Thus I have been able to start working again, and able to support my family of 5 and see my 3 children through tertiary education.In this difficult time as we are facing economical crisis, my job is a godsend. Due to my many years of experience in the production line, I have been able to contribute positively to my company. I am also put in charge of training the younger generations. It is a win-win situation. The company gains and so do I, financially. If not for the rehiring programme, I would not be able to stand here and share with you the success of the programme.I am very thankful. I urge all companies to re-employ older retired workers, thus providing them with job opportunities. The companies are also contributing to the workers well-being and keeping their minds active. In this difficult time, the rebates from the Manpower Minstry will be an added advantage if companies re-employ their retired workers. The companies are keeping up with their social responsibility by supporting this scheme. All re-employed workers are very thankful that they are still useful and can contribute to Singapore's economy.
The Manpower Ministry is also encouraging companies to make their jobs more age-friendly by offering a host of benefits .In this instance, company which modify their facilities or job scope to cater to older workers will get several rebates. All these are music to silver workers like me as I would want to work for as long as I could. Please give your full support to these programmes. Many older workers like me are thankful that we are mentally active and have a job.
Thank you .
Q:Imagine you are one of these older workers. You have been invited by the Manpower Ministry to give a short speech to a group of local businesses to a group of local businesses to encourage older workers. Write the speech that you will deliver.
Hello everybody. Thank you for taking time off your busy schedule to attend my talk today.
I am Peter Tan and I am in my sixties. I have been able to find employment after my retirement all thanks to the Re-Employ Senior Worker Scheme organised by the Manpower Minstry.
It is a programme where rebates are given to companies which re-employ retired workers. Thus I have been able to start working again, and able to support my family of 5 and see my 3 children through tertiary education.In this difficult time as we are facing economical crisis, my job is a godsend. Due to my many years of experience in the production line, I have been able to contribute positively to my company. I am also put in charge of training the younger generations. It is a win-win situation. The company gains and so do I, financially. If not for the rehiring programme, I would not be able to stand here and share with you the success of the programme.I am very thankful. I urge all companies to re-employ older retired workers, thus providing them with job opportunities. The companies are also contributing to the workers well-being and keeping their minds active. In this difficult time, the rebates from the Manpower Minstry will be an added advantage if companies re-employ their retired workers. The companies are keeping up with their social responsibility by supporting this scheme. All re-employed workers are very thankful that they are still useful and can contribute to Singapore's economy.
The Manpower Ministry is also encouraging companies to make their jobs more age-friendly by offering a host of benefits .In this instance, company which modify their facilities or job scope to cater to older workers will get several rebates. All these are music to silver workers like me as I would want to work for as long as I could. Please give your full support to these programmes. Many older workers like me are thankful that we are mentally active and have a job.
Thank you .
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Effects of Global Warming
Hello Everybody! Do you know the effects of global warming? Do you feel that Singapore is getting hotter? Do you read about news about chaotic weather like natural catastrophies, flooding, typhoons etc...
We have none other to blame than global warming. This is caused by both natural and unnatural activities. For example, the ozone layer is a layer surrounding the earth that protects us from the rays of the sun. However, this layer has been depleting for the past decades and will continue in the years to come.
The rising amount of greenhouse gases is forming a blanket around the earth. It traps the sun's rays and increases the temperature. This will eventually cause the polar ice caps to melt and the sea level will increase. Low lying areas will be affected.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. It's bad,isn't it? How can we stop it? What can we do? Everybody has a part to play. It's never too young to start. Start small by carrying out the three R's -Reduce, reuse and recycle.
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