Food and Health Room

[Anthea]

13 Health Factors

Brain health is one of the most pressing issues facing older Americans today; one in every five adults 65 and older has mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition in which people start to “show subtle-but-measurable cognitive decline,” according to the American Psychological Association

One in seven has been diagnosed with dementia, which can lead to cognitive decline severe enough to impact a person’s ability to perform daily activities, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

And by 2050, the number of Americans with dementia is expected to triple, according to a scientific statement published in the journal Stroke by the American Stroke Association and the American Heart Association (AHA).

But it’s not all bad news. Based on a meta-analysis of years of research, the statement authors revealed that there are 13 steps you can take to improve your overall wellness and preserve your brain health throughout the aging process. Even better, these actions also promote cardiovascular health, reducing the risk of stroke, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.

What are the risk factors for dementia?

Alzheimer’s disease, which causes issues with memory, thinking, language, and behavior, is the most common form of dementia. To reduce your risk, the statement authors recommend paying close attention to 13 risk factors that impact your risk for cognitive decline.

The first seven factors (dubbed Life’s Simple 7 by the AHA) focus on heart health, while the last six address brain health more specifically—and all of them can be managed with lifestyle changes. Here’s what you can do now to protect your brain in the years to come:

✔️ Manage blood pressure. Hypertension is a known risk factor for vascular dementia, or cognitive impairment caused by impaired blood flow to the brain.

✔️ Control cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to clogged arteries and stroke, and the scientific brief says it’s associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

✔️ Reduce blood sugar. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have been linked to MCI that leads to dementia, although it’s not clear if treating diabetes can lower that risk.

✔️ Stay as active as possible. Getting daily physical activity is associated with a lower overall chance of developing dementia and cardiovascular disease.

✔️ Eat a nutrient-rich diet. Balanced eating plans, including the DASH, Mediterranean, and MIND diets, are associated with slower rates of cognitive decline beginning in middle age.

✔️ Lose weight, if necessary. Obesity is one of the most common risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, according to the research.

✔️ Stop smoking. Smokers have a higher risk of developing dementia, but the study found that quitting decreased that risk almost to non-smoker levels.

✔️ Drink alcohol responsibly. Light and moderate alcohol consumption is slightly protective against MCI, but excessive or long-term use can have the opposite effect.

✔️ Treat sleep disorders. Conditions like insomnia and sleep apnea appear to contribute to cognitive decline, so professional intervention may be necessary.

✔️ Stay social. Social isolation and loneliness have recently been linked to MCI and dementia, although the exact relationship between the two is still unclear.

✔️ Combat hearing loss. Scientists believe sensory deprivation through hearing loss could lead to cognitive decline, and hearing aids might actually improve memory.

✔️ Seek help for depression. Depression later in life is a risk factor for dementia, and vice versa. More research is necessary, but proper treatment may break the association.

✔️ Continue to learn. Education increases cognitive reserve, and the earlier you start, the better. (Access to education also indicates access to better, more expensive care.)

The mind and the body aren’t two separate systems; they’re directly connected, affecting each other in ways that scientists are only beginning to understand.

“Many people think of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and other risk factors as affecting only heart health, yet these very same risk factors affect our brain health,” Ronald M. Lazar, Ph.D., FAHA, one of the statement authors and director of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, said in a press release. “Patients might be more likely to pay attention to the importance of addressing modifiable risk factors if they understood the links.”
When should you start focusing on brain health?

It’s important to protect your brain at any age, but young adults and those approaching middle age might have the most to gain from these recommendations. Early attention to each of these risk factors can pay dividends years or decades later.

“Scientists are learning more about how to prevent cognitive decline before changes to the brain have begun,” Lazar said. “Prevention doesn’t start in older age; it exists along the health care continuum from pediatrics to adulthood.”

First, talk to your doctor about any pressing health issues. Then, get started on each of the AHA’s 13 recommendations for preventing MCI and dementia. Even if you’re over 65, it’s still worthwhile to include behaviors in your daily routine that can help manage dementia risk factors—because the best time to start protecting your brain is right now.

Jake Smith, an editorial fellow at Prevention, recently graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in magazine journalism and just started going to the gym. Let's be honest—he's probably scrolling through Twitter right now.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/13-h ... o-research

Let us ALL think for ourselves and NOT allow certain political leaders to suppress the Kurdish dream of a FREE KURDISTAN

[Anthea]

Psoriasis linked to heart disease

When most people hear about psoriasis, they immediately think of the skin problems it causes – those red, scaly patches that aren’t just uncomfortable but can also make someone feel really self-conscious

What’s less known, though, is that psoriasis goes deeper than skin issues. It’s linked to a much bigger health concern: a higher risk of heart disease.

Psoriasis is actually a long-term autoimmune condition. This means that the body’s defense system, which usually fights off infections, mistakenly starts attacking healthy cells.

For people with psoriasis, this battle is waged against their skin cells, leading to the quick buildup and formation of those distinctive scaly spots.

But the problem isn’t just skin-deep. Studies have found that if you have psoriasis, you’re more likely to develop heart disease, including serious conditions like blocked arteries, heart attacks, and strokes.

So, what ties psoriasis to heart disease? It all comes down to inflammation. Psoriasis causes chronic inflammation, a kind of overreaction of the body’s defense system.

While inflammation is supposed to protect us, it can actually do a lot of damage if it keeps going when it’s not needed. This ongoing inflammation doesn’t just stay with the skin; it can also affect the heart and blood vessels.

In other words, the inflammation seen in the skin of someone with psoriasis might also be happening inside their body, including in critical areas related to heart health.

The research is quite clear on this. One major study showed that people with severe psoriasis could face up to a 58% higher risk of experiencing a major heart problem and a 43% increased risk of stroke compared to those without psoriasis.

And this isn’t only a concern as we get older; even younger folks with severe psoriasis are at a higher risk. This suggests that psoriasis’s impact on heart health is both significant and widespread.

Additionally, the inflammation linked to psoriasis can lead to other heart disease risk factors, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. Psoriasis patients are also more likely to have diabetes, another heart disease contributor.

Together, these risks create a tangled web of factors that significantly affect the heart health of those with psoriasis.

Knowing about this connection is really important if you have psoriasis. Managing your skin condition with treatments that lower inflammation might also help protect your heart.

On top of this, living a heart-healthy lifestyle – eating right, staying active, quitting smoking, and keeping stress in check – is even more crucial for people with psoriasis.

To wrap up, understanding the link between psoriasis and heart disease is key to recognizing psoriasis as more than just a skin condition. It’s a whole-body issue that can significantly affect heart health.

This connection underlines the importance of comprehensive care, focusing on both managing psoriasis and reducing the risk of heart disease to take good care of your overall health.

[Anthea]

Spring plants offer villagers income

In Sulaimani’s province’s Penjwen town, women collect spring plants, celebrated for their delicious taste and considerable health advantages, to sell as produce

“We get up at 6 o'clock in the morning, and we have our chores to do. We come down and collect the spring plants, take our share, and take them back wet and fresh for dinner,” explained Mariyam Salih, a villager, to Rudaw’s Sazgar Salah on Friday.

Throughout the spring season, numerous villagers delve into the cultivation and harvesting of various plants as a means of income generation.

Bakhtiar Ali, the director of the Malakawa organization for environmental protection, stated that “For many years, we have been stressing the importance of protecting and treating spring plants well because they are important and valuable. Villagers should harvest them scientifically and conscientiously.”

Aside from the act of uprooting plants itself, digging too deep in order to harvest them and leaving holes in the ground after having done it, can harm the soil and disrupt the ecosystem, upsetting the natural balance and making the environment more vulnerable, impacting not only the area in question but also the overall health of the surrounding ecosystem.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/18042024

[Anthea]

Important summer safety instructions
from Kurdistan’s Civil Defense

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – With the arrival of the first day of summer, the Kurdistan Region’s Civil Defense has issued the following urgent instructions to prevent any unwanted incidents:

1. Vehicle Safety:

- Keep vehicles away from the following items when parked:

- Soft drinks of all kinds

- All kinds of lighters

- Water bottles

- Perfumes, power banks, and electronic devices in general

- Slightly open car windows.

- Do not completely fill the vehicle's fuel tank.

- Avoid overfilling tires, especially when traveling long distances.

2. Hydration:

- Drink plenty of water and various fluids, especially during sun exposure, to compensate for fluid loss.

3. Gas Cylinder Safety:

- Do not expose cooking gas cylinders to direct sunlight.

4. Electrical Safety:

- Ensure electrical switches are not overloaded.

- Only use air conditioners in rooms where family members are present.

- Do not overload electrical wires beyond their specified capacity.

- Avoid using electrical distribution and extension cords for multiple devices simultaneously.

- Turn off excess electrical appliances to reduce the load on electricity networks.

5. Generator Safety:

- Generator owners should install high-quality conductors and avoid using random spider wires.

6. Agricultural Safety:

- Do not burn the residues of wheat and barley harvests to prepare the land for planting. Legal action will be taken against those who do.

7. Swimming Safety:

- Swimming in rivers and streams is prohibited except in permitted swimming pools.

- Ensure all safety requirements are met in swimming pools, and guide pool owners on the guidelines and depth of the pools.

8. Sun Protection:

- Use an umbrella and apply sunscreen to protect your skin from direct sunlight.

- Avoid direct sunlight, especially between 11 am and 3 pm.

9. Environmental Care:

- Irrigate gardens and trees to protect them and improve the surrounding environment.

- Operate several water fountains in different public squares and parks to provide relief from the hot weather.

- Plant more evergreen trees to provide adequate shade and improve the atmosphere with oxygen.

10. Emergency Contact:

- In case of any emergency, call the Civil Defense Control Telephone (115) free of charge from all lines and networks. This number is available in the provinces of Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok, Halabja, as well as the independent administrations of Soran, Garmian, Raperin, Zakho, and Akre.

These measures are issued by the General Media of Civil Defense of the Kurdistan Region to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens during the summer season.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/35 ... il-Defense

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Demand for fresh milk in Zakho

Local farmers in Duhok province’s Zakho say the demand for fresh milk is too high to meet, forcing many of their clients to wait for days before they can sell the sought-after product.

Haji Rashid Tawuk has about 2,000 sheep and goats. He relies on a traditional network of clients to sell the livestock, many of whom know him personally. The personal nature of the business relationship helps with building trust, as the clients know the product is genuine and fresh.

“We deliver the milk to their houses. There is high demand, and people come from here [Zakho] and others from Duhok,” Rashid said, explaining that some come to his farm to buy the milk while others make phone calls to request their products.

“Sometimes they make a call, and we say ‘We do not have any milk at the moment, you have to wait for several days.’”

He is from Tawuk village, where farmers have a total of 10,000 livestock.

Milk and cheese are the highest in demand. Zain Kamal, another farmer, said they sell one kilogram of milk for 1,500 Iraqi dinars (about $1), and 9,000 dinars ($6) for a kilogram of cheese.

“The price is good, thank God,” he said.

Emad Guli and his four brothers are farmers. They too use the traditional methods to milk the sheep and goats and refrain from using any tools in the process.

“We do not have a shop. We have special clients,” Guli said, explaining that they do not have a shop but rather rely on traditional transactions.

“The milk production, thank God, is very good this year,” he said, attributing the high production to a good rainy season.

However, he lamented that they cannot fully reap the rewards of the rainy season because people are less inclined to buy fresh, local produce due to budget issues.

“The only problem is that people have less purchasing power, they have less money to spend,” he said.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has failed to pay the salaries of its civil servants on time and in full for a decade due to a financial crisis that deteriorated when a ruling by a Paris-based arbitration court suspended its export of oil to the international markets a year ago. The Kurdish government now relies on local income and its controversial share of the federal budget.

The situation in recent months has cautiously improved since Baghdad started sending the salaries of the Kurdistan Region’s public sector earlier this year.

Rudaw approached the agriculture department in Zakho, but they said that they do not have an official figure for the number of livestock in their area. However, they estimated that the farmers might own 25,000 livestock.

The Kurdish market is highly reliant on Iranian and Syrian animals. It also relies on foreign dairy products to meet the local demand.

There used to be four dairy factories in Zakho, but only one remains open. It does not use fresh milk in its production cycle.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/20062024

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Over 1,000 arrested on drug charges

Kurdish security forces have arrested over 1,000 on drug-related charges in the Kurdistan Region since January, the spokesperson of the Sulaimani-based security forces (Asayish) told Rudaw on Saturday.

“More than 1,000 people have been arrested on charges of drug trafficking and usage, 572 were in Sulaimani province,” Salam Abdulkhaliq, head of the Asayish media team, told Rudaw’s Soran Hussein.

Abdulkhaliq said that most of those arrested for using narcotics were between 18 and 30 years old, while the traffickers are of varying ages.

“There are very few females. For example, one woman has been arrested on drug charges in Sulaimani province,” he said, explaining that most of the suspects are males.

Drug trafficking and use has been on the rise in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq since the fall of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.

In an interview with Rudaw in March, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Labour and Social Affairs Minister Kwestan Muhamad warned against the spread of drugs in the Region, calling them a “great danger and more dangerous than terrorism.”

In May, the general director of the Kurdistan Region’s correctional facilities said that convictions on drug-related charges in the Region have significantly increased.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has said that the Region is “seriously and widely working to eradicate and combat” the threat of drugs, calling on Kurdish and international communities last October to cooperate with Erbil to eliminate what he described an “endemic” problem.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/22062024

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Producing Mushrooms in Kurdistan

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The General Director of Agriculture in Erbil Sayed Hemin Murad, on Saturday stated to Kurdistan 24 “The mushroom growing in Kurdistan Region identified as 11 projects. The annual production is more than adequate for our needs.”

There are 4 mushroom-growing manufactures in Erbil the capital city, the mushroom in Kurdistan Region is exported to the middle and south of Iraq.

Murad highlighted “Mushroom is not a main requirement in our people’s dietary habit. The mushroom-producing projects make adequate amount for the local purpose, the rest of the crop is sent out to the middle and south of Iraq.”

Murad affirmed that the mushroom annual production is estimated to 3190 tons.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/35 ... tan-Region

[Anthea]

Kurdistan Produces 3,500 Tons of Fish

The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Kurdistan Government, through its Fisheries Department, annually produces 3,500 tons of fish in Kurdistan via 413 licensed fish projects, as revealed by Bestun Najmadin, Director of the Fisheries Department, in an interview with BasNews on Monday

Najmadin emphasized ongoing efforts to expand the fish farming sector by licensing additional projects. The ministry aims to promote legal operation of these projects to increase fish production.

Despite an average annual fish consumption requirement of 16.5 kilograms per person, the Kurdistan Region has not yet achieved self-sufficiency in fish production. Therefore, the ministry has allowed imports of fish to meet demand.

Importers of goods and fish will receive exemptions from customs duties and taxes. However, they will pay a higher rate for electricity compared to other commercial projects, according to the ministry.

The rising demand for fish in Kurdistan has spurred traders to establish new fish farms. The ministry indicates it is actively working to develop the fish farming sector to achieve self-sufficiency and meet growing fish demand.

Under the leadership of the ninth Cabinet of the KRG, the government has consistently focused on enhancing industries and upgrading infrastructure across the Region. Emphasis has been placed on sectors like fish farming and agriculture to diversify revenue streams and reduce dependence on crude oil exports, which remain suspended.

Over the past four years, the government has implemented various incentive programs aimed at promoting agricultural expansion and achieving food self-sufficiency.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/854347

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Store And Reheat Leftover Rice

When it comes to food safety and proper techniques to prevent food borne illnesses, many people think of things like raw chicken, mayo-based dishes, and unwashed lettuce

Truthfully, bacteria can grow and thrive on most foods, even the most unassuming of things, like rice. Social media has trended with stories of people getting sick from eating leftover rice, leaving many to wonder if it's even worth saving it at all. In short, yes, you can safely store, reheat, and eat leftover rice so long as you are mindful of how you handle it.

Assuming you've cooked your rice and eaten your fill of it, you'll want to store any leftovers in a covered, airtight container, and place it in the refrigerator immediately. According to recommendations from the USDA, you must do this within two hours of removing your rice from the heat of the stove to prevent dangerous bacterial growth.

If you think the rice has been sitting unheated on the counter for longer, it's best to toss away the leftovers. In warm conditions (90 degrees Fahrenheit or more), refrigerate your rice within one hour.

You should eat your leftovers within three to four days, or freeze them for up to four months. When you reheat your rice, whether that's in the microwave or on the stovetop, be sure the food is heated to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to destroy any potentially dangerous bacteria.

But what about 'fried rice syndrome'?

In 2023, a TikTok video posted by @jpall20 went viral; it discussed a terrible occurrence in 2008 of a 20-year old Belgian man who died a mere 10 hours after reheating and eating leftover pasta that had been sitting on his kitchen counter for five days. According to a 2011 article from the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, a high amount of the bacteria Bacillus cereus was found in the pasta. Its growth was attributed to improper food storage. Ultimately, the bacteria caused the man's liver to quickly fail.

Bacillus cereus can be found in things like grains and rice because it lives in water and soil, and it can easily be transferred into resources that grow there. While it's a common bacteria whose spores are not killed by heat, it grows to dangerous levels between the temperatures of 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why it's important to quickly store and cool any leftovers.

The condition that comes from food poisoning linked to Bacillus cereus has garnered the nickname "fried rice syndrome" even though the bacteria has been linked to foods other than rice, like potatoes, pastries, sushi, and the aforementioned pasta.

Properly stored leftover rice makes great meals

If you've done your due diligence and properly stored your leftover rice in the fridge within the right time frame, there's no shortage of dishes you can create with it. And the best part is: the rice is already done.

Despite its somewhat unfair connection to a deadly condition, a classic choice is fried rice. Just toss your rice with a scrambled egg, soy sauce, some veggies, and bite-sized pieces of chicken, and cook everything to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can make a great batch of rice pudding with leftover rice as well. All you need to do is heat the rice with milk or cream, some sugar, and whatever else you want to flavor it with, from cocoa powder to dried fruit or a simple vanilla extract.

When you have leftover rice it's the perfect time to make onigiri or musubi, but if you're using SPAM in the recipe, be aware that an open can of the stuff doesn't take long to go bad either. Other ideas include adding your rice to stuffed pepper or zucchini filling, putting it in cabbage rolls and casseroles, and stirring it into soups.

You can also combine rice with eggs and flour, form into balls, stuff with cheese, coat with breadcrumbs, and deep fry for an easy and delicious arancini. Enjoy these tasty bites dipped into the best store-bought marinara sauce.

https://www.thetakeout.com/1634682/how- ... wtab-en-gb

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Third annual fig festival

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Dozens of farmers from the districts of Taq Taq, Segirdkan, and Shwan participated in the third annual Fig Festival, attracting thousands of tourists to the region's scenic agricultural areas

Eighty farmers from Taq Taq and Shwan districts showcased their gardens and agricultural products at the festival, which has become a key event for promoting local produce.

Among the participants was Ala, a third-year student at the College of Agriculture, who has turned her academic knowledge into a practical venture.

Ala exhibited organic figs and grapes under her own brand, setting herself apart by using advanced agricultural techniques to maintain the quality of her products.

"In addition to packaging the figs, I prepare them in a unique way and apply agricultural methods to prevent quality deterioration," she explained.

The Fig Festival, held annually in Taq Taq at the end of August to coincide with the fig ripening season, has become a significant attraction for both locals and visitors.

Ismail Abdullah, Director of Tourism in Koya, told Kurdistan 24 that the festival's primary goal is to showcase the region's tourist areas and provide a platform for local farmers to market their products.

Further reporting done by Kurdistan24 correspondent Aras Amin

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/36 ... heartlands

[Anthea]

Experts praise Kurdistan’s water

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Water experts have lauded the springs of the Kurdistan Region, highlighting their high-quality drinking water due to the natural presence of minerals. The Bekhal region, known for its scenic beauty and tourism, also plays a crucial role as a key water source for residents

Fresh spring water is delivered directly to local communities through a network of specialized pipes. The water quality has garnered international attention, with Serbia expressing interest in importing fresh water from the Kurdistan Region.

The Soran General Directorate of Health's laboratory regularly tests the water from Bekhal to ensure its safety and quality. Muhammed Hasso, director of the laboratory, assured the public in a statement to Kurdistan24 that Bekhal's water is safe for consumption. “We conduct chemical tests to ensure the water does not contain harmful components. Overall, most of the water in the Kurdistan Region is safe and of high quality,” Hasso explained.

Water expert Sherwan Sharif emphasized the export potential of Kurdistan’s water resources, noting that much of the spring and groundwater can be bottled with minimal treatment. “In many areas, the water only requires minor treatments to remove substances like mud and lead, which are present in very small and invisible amounts,” Sharif said.

Kurdistan Region is rich in natural water resources, with hundreds of springs and groundwater sources. Experts believe that the region could significantly benefit from exporting its water resources through proper management and collaboration with other countries.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/36 ... ial-export

[Anthea]

KRG Bans Tomato Imports

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has announced a ban on the import of tomatoes across Iraq, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources

Kurdistan Region Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Begard Talabani, stated on Monday that the Iraqi Economic Council, in coordination with the KRG, has decided to prohibit tomato imports throughout the country.

Talabani explained that the ban aims to provide an opportunity for the marketing of tomato products grown by farmers in the Kurdistan Region.

In May 2021, the Kurdistan Region temporarily banned tomato imports to support local farmers.

In recent years, tomatoes from Turkey and Iran have constituted the majority of produce consumed in the Kurdistan Region.

The KRG has announced plans to support the development of greenhouses, improve farming infrastructure, and raise tariffs on imported agricultural goods as part of its efforts to promote self-sustainability in the region.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Agriculture in Erbil stated that, except for tomatoes, the Kurdistan Region now relies on domestic production, with a 40% increase in all local agricultural products compared to last year.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/859898

[Anthea]

Can cooking with an air fryer

save you money?

Sliced Bread is testing more wonder products suggested by you to see if their claims stand up to scrutiny

This time, it's air fryers. Recently dubbed the product that defined 2021, air fryer sales are up 400%.

But how do they work? And, because they use little to no oil, are they healthier than other cooking methods?

And listener Sally has another question: at a time when the cost of living is rocketing, will using an air fryer reduce energy consumption and therefore save her money?

Greg Foot speaks to a food scientist at Imperial College London and the BBC's Good Food Magazine to find out. So what does Sally need to consider before deciding whether an air fryer is worth the investment?

1. An air fryer cooks by blowing hot air around the food

An air fryer is a similar size to a breadmaker and sits on your kitchen counter. It cooks by blowing very hot air, at high speed, all around the food. "It's basically a very strong, very hot wind," explains Dr Jakub Radzikowski, Culinary Education Designer at Imperial College London. "You could compare it to drying your hair with a hairdryer."

"It is essentially the same as a fan oven," he says, "but it's smaller and the fan is usually much, much stronger." The strength of the air current inside an air fryer resembles a very high-end professional oven that you would find in a commercial kitchen.

2. An air fryer cooks faster than a conventional oven – but only in small batches

Because an air fryer's fan is more powerful and the compartment is smaller, the whole device is more efficient, says Jakub. "If I have a chicken thigh, I will probably cook it for 20 minutes in an air fryer. In an oven it would take longer." Also, it takes longer to pre-heat a larger, conventional oven.

Because an air fryer's fan is more powerful and the compartment is smaller, the whole device is more efficient.
Dr Jakub Radzikowski, Imperial College London

However, because the drawer in an air fryer has less capacity, you can only cook smaller amounts. "If you're cooking for four people or six people the kind of time saving doesn't work anymore because you have to cook in a few batches in the air fryer," says the food scientist.

3. An air fryer is great for 'crispy' foods

Marketing images for air fryers often feature chicken and chips. This is because they’re great for cooking "anything that you want crispy", says Jakub. Kale chips, banana chips, panko courgettes, you name it. His favourite food for the air fryer is chicken legs or thighs: after 20 minutes you get something that's "perfectly juicy inside" with a skin that is so crispy it "shatters like glass".

4. It's healthier than deep-fat frying

"Compared to deep-fat frying it is obviously healthier because it has lower fat content," says Jakub. But it can also be healthier than cooking with a conventional oven. If your potatoes are sitting in oil then they will absorb it as they cook. With the air fryer it’s all in the perforated basket: "If there is any excess fat it will drip to the bottom and you don't have to eat it."

There remain healthier ways to cook but "the perk of an air fryer is that it often has additional functions to the air frying function," says Anya Gilbert, senior digital reviews writer at BBC Good Food Magazine.

You can often grill or steam instead, both without using oil at all.

5. There's a huge range of prices and functions between models

The range of different air fryers on the market is vast. "They’re getting more and more versatile as well," says Anya. "Some of the newest models from brands like Ninja have about 15 functions."

BBC Good Food Magazine recently published its 14 best air fryers of 2022, rating models across a whole range of categories. "Cosori as a brand came out really well as best value standard size but also best for affordability in general," says Anya. Their 4.3 litre model retails at £79. However, it's possible to spend a whole lot more.

"The Ninja Foodi MAX Health Grill & Air Fryer was a really highly rated model,” says Anya. "It's around £249, but it has a few bells and whistles. For example, an integrated meat thermometer."

6. An air fryer does use less energy than a conventional oven

Producer Simon cooked two same-weight chicken legs and two same-weight jacket potatoes – one in the oven, one in the air fryer (being careful to make sure other appliances were switched off at the time of cooking). Then he compared his smart meter to see how much energy was used. The team compared the electric air fryer to an electric oven to give a like-for-like comparison of energy use.

"The chicken took about 35 minutes to cook in the oven and the smart meter told me that I used 1.05 kilowatt hours of electricity." Converted to cash, that's 21.04p. "The air fryer took 20 minutes to cook the chicken and my smart meter read a usage of 0.43 kilowatt hours of electricity." That’s 8.6p.

It took around an hour to cook the potato through properly in the oven. That was 1.31 kilowatt hours, or 26.25p. "But the air fryer took much less time," says Simon. “Thirty-five minutes for the jacket spud.” That used 0.55 kilowatt hours (11.02p).

The conclusion? "Cooking in the air fryer uses less than half of the energy required to cook the chicken or the jacket potato in the oven," says Greg. "So, cooking in the oven costs more than double what it costs in an air fryer."

7. An air fryer can never fully replace an oven – but it's a 'great invention'

Jakub doesn't think an air fryer can ever fully replace an oven. "Obviously you cannot roast a whole chicken in an air fryer," he says, or at least not a turkey! "But I think it's a great little invention. I have one; I use it a lot. I think it's great for people who don’t have an oven."

Anya agrees: "I think air fryers are a really exciting gadget… They can be a smart investment when it comes to kitchen storage and cooking time so, yes, I’m a fan."

So, will listener Sally be switching off her oven and ordering herself an air fryer?

[Anthea]

Someone Dies Every 10 Minutes from Smoking

The Iraqi Ministry of Health has released alarming statistics on smoking among Iraqis, revealing that one person dies every 10 minutes due to smoking-related causes

Wasim Keelan, deputy director of tobacco control at the Ministry of Health, stated that 20 percent of the country's population smokes, predominantly men, and many smoke various tobacco products, with about 50 percent smoking poor-quality substitutes.

He disclosed that Iraqi smokers collectively spend 6 billion Dinars daily on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Keelan emphasized the presence of toxic substances in conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vapes. While implementing tobacco control laws poses challenges.

In 2012, the Iraqi Parliament passed an anti-smoking law, primarily to safeguard public health and reduce smoking rates by enforcing anti-smoking regulations.

The law prohibits smoking in various indoor areas, including government buildings, hospitals, airports, and both public and private companies.

The media would be banned from advertising cigarettes, and organizations that violate the ban would be fined up to 5 million Dinars.

The same fine would be levied against those who import, produce or sell tobacco products that have more than a specified amount of nicotine.

Those who smuggle tobacco into the country would face fines up to 10 million Dinars.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/850264

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Is Obesity a Disease?

Are We Thinking About Obesity All Wrong?

“Obesity is a disease,” Oprah Winfrey declared after disclosing her weight loss with an Ozempic-like drug. “It’s a brain disease,” a prominent obesity doctor explained on a “60 Minutes” episode about the drugs. “Obesity is disease” even has its own discover page on TikTok.

The American Medical Association and the World Health Organization share that view, but whether obesity should be considered a disease has been referred to by health experts as “one of the most polarizing topics in modern medicine.”

Even Jens Juul Holst, a discoverer of the hormone that drugs like Ozempic mimic, told me he isn’t sure what to call obesity. “Whether it’s a disease in its own right is a very difficult question,” he said. Finally, this dispute is coming to a head amid soaring demand for new weight loss medicines, as expert groups around the world rush to define what it means to have obesity.

At the heart of the debate: The medical community has never provided a precise definition for obesity as a disease. It’s typically understood as an excess of body fat, using body mass index, or B.M.I., to gauge who has too much. But B.M.I. — one’s weight divided by the square of one’s height — was never meant to be used as a diagnostic tool and can’t determine whether someone is healthy or sick.

And there’s no consensus on the signs and symptoms that make obesity an illness the way high blood sugar levels are used to diagnose Type 2 diabetes or chest pain and irregular imaging to tell whether someone has heart disease.

Diagnosis by B.M.I. was always imprecise; in an era of remarkably effective weight loss drugs, it’s untenable. Consider that 40 percent of American adults are classified as having obesity, with a B.M.I. of 30 or above. With new treatments that cost upwards of $1,000 per person per month, along with supply shortages, how to define obesity is more than just a fight over nomenclature.

It’s about pinpointing who is sick and will benefit from health care and how to triage that treatment and most effectively allocate resources. It’s about ending the murkiness that has surrounded obesity diagnosis for decades.

Obesity, as it’s currently understood, doesn’t reflect what we now know about body fat. It makes patients out of people who aren’t ill and glosses over those who need health care urgently. In declaring a disease without nailing down what the disease is, the medical community left obesity open to debate among doctors, insurers and everyday people.

This in turn left people with obesity vulnerable, their bodies subject to accusations and questioning, overtreatment, undertreatment and mistreatment. That is to say, almost 30 years into what’s referred to as the obesity epidemic, medicine could be doing a better job at figuring out who’s sick.

In 2013, when the American Medical Association recognized obesity as a disease, it was part of a well-meaning effort to improve health insurance coverage for treatment of people sick with obesity and reduce stigma by emphasizing that size is not a personal choice.

A version of this article appears in print on Sept. 22, 2024, Section SR, Page 6 of the New York edition with the headline: Are We Thinking About Obesity All Wrong?

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/19/opin ... wtab-en-gb

I AM FAT
I am fat because I eat too much
It is not a disease
It is GREED
If I did not open my mouth and fill it with vasts amounts
I would not be fat
If it does not go into my mouth
It would not go onto my hips/stomach

Simple diet for simple people:

Do not buy lots of snack foods such as crisps/biscuits/chocolate
If you do not have it in your home you will not be able to eat it
Cut out sugar
Cut down on the amount you eat
Use small plate rather than large dinner plate
Curries, it is the sauce which is fattening
Home cooking, cut down on sauces use spices to add flavor
Shish kebabs with salad and half a pitta are healthy
Doner kebabs with chips are not healthy
Pizzas are a NO NO