Oral Sex or Blowjob is Bad for your Health

Studies shows that oral sex is now the main cause of throat cancer in people under 50 years old. There has been a rise of oral cancers in the last decade mainly because of unprotected sex causing the transfer of a virus called human papilloma virus or HPV.

Before, oral cancers are diagnosed mostly to men who drink or smoke, but now it is being seen in younger men. Prof Maura Gillison of Ohio State University in Columbus said the sexually transmitted HPV was a bigger cause of some oral cancers than tobacco. Teenagers nowadays consider oral sex to be 'casual, socially acceptable, inconsequential and significantly less risk to their health than “real” sex', posing a greater risk in contracting oral cancer than smoking or alcohol.

"The American study of 300 people showed that those with more than six partners were almost nine times at greater risk of contracting the disease while those who had already experienced a previous oral HPV infection were 32 times more likely to develop cancer." 

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Oral Sex or Blowjob is Bad for your Health

Studies shows that oral sex is now the main cause of throat cancer in people under 50 years old. There has been a rise of oral cancers in the last decade mainly because of unprotected sex causing the transfer of a virus called human papilloma virus or HPV.

Before, oral cancers are diagnosed mostly to men who drink or smoke, but now it is being seen in younger men. Prof Maura Gillison of Ohio State University in Columbus said the sexually transmitted HPV was a bigger cause of some oral cancers than tobacco. Teenagers nowadays consider oral sex to be 'casual, socially acceptable, inconsequential and significantly less risk to their health than “real” sex', posing a greater risk in contracting oral cancer than smoking or alcohol.

"The American study of 300 people showed that those with more than six partners were almost nine times at greater risk of contracting the disease while those who had already experienced a previous oral HPV infection were 32 times more likely to develop cancer." 

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Control a Prosthetic Arm with Your Mind

Scientists found a way to control a prosthetic arm with one's mind. They connect the nerves from person's stump(end of a limb left after amputation) to muscles in his chest. It gives a person a wider range of movements that was not possible before.

Nate Bunderson was the one who presented the findings to the Society of Neuroscience conference in San Diego in November. He said "If you transfer the nerves [from the stump] to healthy muscles, then you can amplify the brain signals used to control the arm." Instead of sending signals to the arm, the

chest muscles sends signals to the computer, then the computer interprets the signals and send it to the prosthesis.

Mr. Sullivan was the first to undergo the surgery eight years ago and is doing great. Most amputees lose control of the nerves over time, because they can no longer control the muscles but Mr Sullivan's signals appear to become stronger. Mr Bunderson said: "Instead of having muscles interpret the neural command, we now have a computer trying to interpret the neural command and the brain has to adjust to that."

The technology is there, with more support I think we could have a good enough prosthesis to be considered as a replacement for the real thing. 

Source: www.newscientist.com

Control a Prosthetic Arm with Your Mind

Scientists found a way to control a prosthetic arm with one's mind. They connect the nerves from person's stump(end of a limb left after amputation) to muscles in his chest. It gives a person a wider range of movements that was not possible before.

Nate Bunderson was the one who presented the findings to the Society of Neuroscience conference in San Diego in November. He said "If you transfer the nerves [from the stump] to healthy muscles, then you can amplify the brain signals used to control the arm." Instead of sending signals to the arm, the

chest muscles sends signals to the computer, then the computer interprets the signals and send it to the prosthesis.

Mr. Sullivan was the first to undergo the surgery eight years ago and is doing great. Most amputees lose control of the nerves over time, because they can no longer control the muscles but Mr Sullivan's signals appear to become stronger. Mr Bunderson said: "Instead of having muscles interpret the neural command, we now have a computer trying to interpret the neural command and the brain has to adjust to that."

The technology is there, with more support I think we could have a good enough prosthesis to be considered as a replacement for the real thing. 

Source: www.newscientist.com

Taco Bell's Fake Beef

I eat at our local Taco Bell once in a while. But seeing this article about the meat they use in their taco makes me think again. They don't actually use "beef" in their dishes. They use "Taco Meat Filling"  which customers are not informed of. The list of ingredients

Water, isolated oat product, salt, chili pepper, onion powder, tomato powder, oats (wheat), soy lecithin, sugar, spices, maltodextrin (a polysaccharide that is absorbed as glucose), soybean oil (anti-dusting agent), garlic powder, autolyzed yeast extract, citric acid, caramel color, cocoa powder, silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent), natural flavors, yeast, modified corn starch, natural smoke flavor, salt, sodium phosphate, less than 2% of beef broth, potassium phosphate, and potassium lactate. 

Base on the label, they use only 36% beef and the rest of the 64%, well you can just guess. According to the USDA, you can't consider this as being "beef" nor being "grounded beef."

Grounded beef is defined as:

Chopped fresh and/or frozen beef with or without seasoning and without the addition of beef fat as such, shall not contain more than 30 percent fat, and shall not contain added water, phosphates, binders, or extenders.

Note that Taco Bell does not use "Taco Meat Filling" in their packaging and ads. Would you still eat at Taco Bell if you saw these ingredients in their packaging?

Source: gizmodo.com (Jesus Diaz)

Taco Bell's Fake Beef

I eat at our local Taco Bell once in a while. But seeing this article about the meat they use in their taco makes me think again. They don't actually use "beef" in their dishes. They use "Taco Meat Filling"  which customers are not informed of. The list of ingredients

Water, isolated oat product, salt, chili pepper, onion powder, tomato powder, oats (wheat), soy lecithin, sugar, spices, maltodextrin (a polysaccharide that is absorbed as glucose), soybean oil (anti-dusting agent), garlic powder, autolyzed yeast extract, citric acid, caramel color, cocoa powder, silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent), natural flavors, yeast, modified corn starch, natural smoke flavor, salt, sodium phosphate, less than 2% of beef broth, potassium phosphate, and potassium lactate. 

Base on the label, they use only 36% beef and the rest of the 64%, well you can just guess. According to the USDA, you can't consider this as being "beef" nor being "grounded beef."

Grounded beef is defined as:

Chopped fresh and/or frozen beef with or without seasoning and without the addition of beef fat as such, shall not contain more than 30 percent fat, and shall not contain added water, phosphates, binders, or extenders.

Note that Taco Bell does not use "Taco Meat Filling" in their packaging and ads. Would you still eat at Taco Bell if you saw these ingredients in their packaging?

Source: gizmodo.com (Jesus Diaz)

Doctors Misdiagnosed Pregnancy with Menopause

Anita Arora, 46 gave birth to a baby boy two days after she knew she was pregnant. She repeatedly asked doctors 5 months before that she had suspicions that she was pregnant but were ignored and doctors said that she was going through menopause. She has already two children so she is familiar with the signs of pregnancy, but instead of offering to take a pregnancy test, they misdiagnosed her with early menopause.

Her new born son, Matthew, was delivered in a life-saving operation on Christmas Day. Just two days after knowing she was actually pregnant. The baby was two months premature and would have died if

surgeons had not delivered him immediately.

Mrs Arora is filing complaints to her local Primary Care Trust and the General Medical Council about the treatment she received and is considering negligence action against the doctors. She said: "I told them five months ago I thought I was pregnant. My periods had stopped and I was gaining weight. I asked whether it was possible, but they told me not to worry, it was just my age."

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Doctors Misdiagnosed Pregnancy with Menopause

Anita Arora, 46 gave birth to a baby boy two days after she knew she was pregnant. She repeatedly asked doctors 5 months before that she had suspicions that she was pregnant but were ignored and doctors said that she was going through menopause. She has already two children so she is familiar with the signs of pregnancy, but instead of offering to take a pregnancy test, they misdiagnosed her with early menopause.

Her new born son, Matthew, was delivered in a life-saving operation on Christmas Day. Just two days after knowing she was actually pregnant. The baby was two months premature and would have died if

surgeons had not delivered him immediately.

Mrs Arora is filing complaints to her local Primary Care Trust and the General Medical Council about the treatment she received and is considering negligence action against the doctors. She said: "I told them five months ago I thought I was pregnant. My periods had stopped and I was gaining weight. I asked whether it was possible, but they told me not to worry, it was just my age."

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Contraceptive Implant Caused Birth Control Failure

Hundreds of women have become pregnant after a long-term contraceptive implant failed. The NHS paid compensations to seven women who were unexpectedly became pregnant amounting to an average of more than £28,000 each. A lawyer said that many women were left traumatized and some decided to undergo abortions when the implants failed.

The hormone-filled rod implant called Implanon is a £90 device is a flexible rod that is inserted

under the skin of the upper arm. It releases the hormone progesterone which stops the ovaries from releasing eggs. It provides protection against pregnancy for up to three years and properly inserted it is more effective than pills.

Implanon is one of the worst mass contraceptive failures to hit the NHS in living memory. A total of 584 women reported unwanted pregnancies and 1,607 complaints to the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Doctors say that the implant is difficult to insert to the arm and is impossible to check if they are properly installed because it is invisible to X-ray. If the implant is installed to deep, it won't work.

Implanon’s manufacturer MSD, a subsidiary of global pharmaceutical giant Merck, has now replaced Implanon with Nexplanon, which has a new pre-loaded applicator and can be detected by X-ray or CT scan. But they have yet to recall Implanon, which raises concerns that women still are buying the implant.

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Contraceptive Implant Caused Birth Control Failure

Hundreds of women have become pregnant after a long-term contraceptive implant failed. The NHS paid compensations to seven women who were unexpectedly became pregnant amounting to an average of more than £28,000 each. A lawyer said that many women were left traumatized and some decided to undergo abortions when the implants failed.

The hormone-filled rod implant called Implanon is a £90 device is a flexible rod that is inserted

under the skin of the upper arm. It releases the hormone progesterone which stops the ovaries from releasing eggs. It provides protection against pregnancy for up to three years and properly inserted it is more effective than pills.

Implanon is one of the worst mass contraceptive failures to hit the NHS in living memory. A total of 584 women reported unwanted pregnancies and 1,607 complaints to the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Doctors say that the implant is difficult to insert to the arm and is impossible to check if they are properly installed because it is invisible to X-ray. If the implant is installed to deep, it won't work.

Implanon’s manufacturer MSD, a subsidiary of global pharmaceutical giant Merck, has now replaced Implanon with Nexplanon, which has a new pre-loaded applicator and can be detected by X-ray or CT scan. But they have yet to recall Implanon, which raises concerns that women still are buying the implant.

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Nintendo 3DS Games Bad for Children's Health?

Nintendo has issued a health warning on their hand held console 3DS. They say that a specialists revealed that eyesight of children under six years old could be harmed by playing 3D games which present different images to the right and left eye.

"Younger children should only play 2D versions of 3DS games", said Nintendo.

Warnings on 3D movies and games are not new. Sony and Toshiba has also started warning people of the side effects of watching 3D movies or playing 3D games. Sony has even went as far as telling parents to get medical advice first before letting children watch 3D contents on any devices. The companies have also warned that
watching too much 3D content can cause discomfort.

The 3DS, the new version of the popular DS handheld launches in late February in Japan and in Europe and the US in March. More on Nintendo 3DS.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk ; gizmodo.com

Nintendo 3DS Games Bad for Children's Health?

Nintendo has issued a health warning on their hand held console 3DS. They say that a specialists revealed that eyesight of children under six years old could be harmed by playing 3D games which present different images to the right and left eye.

"Younger children should only play 2D versions of 3DS games", said Nintendo.

Warnings on 3D movies and games are not new. Sony and Toshiba has also started warning people of the side effects of watching 3D movies or playing 3D games. Sony has even went as far as telling parents to get medical advice first before letting children watch 3D contents on any devices. The companies have also warned that
watching too much 3D content can cause discomfort.

The 3DS, the new version of the popular DS handheld launches in late February in Japan and in Europe and the US in March. More on Nintendo 3DS.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk ; gizmodo.com

Bionic Heart

Verna, now 78, has a failing heart, for a last attempt, doctors decided to implant an experimental, battery-powered mechanical heart pump known as a Left Ventricular Assist Device, or LVAD, into a cavity in her abdomen to assist her heart in pumping.

The device, called HeartMate II and made by Thoratec Corp, was approved by U.S. health regulators in 2008 for the purpose of keeping patients alive while they waited for a heart transplant. But in January, it was approved for permanent use in patients who are ineligible for a transplant.

To stay alive, patients must be connected to a lead called a drive-line that runs from the LVAD out through the skin and to a power source.At night, the LVAD is directly connected into a wall socket. By day patients are powered by rechargeable batteries, weighing six or seven pounds. While powered by battery, patients can go about much of their daily lives. But being plugged into the wall at night and having fears of the device running out of battery is stressful, but then again, you are alive. 

However you look at it, LVADs are improving the quality of life for hundreds of patients, including Dick Cheney, the former vice president of the United States and a multiple heart attack survivor. But without a beating heart, would that change how you see a person?

Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

Bionic Heart

Verna, now 78, has a failing heart, for a last attempt, doctors decided to implant an experimental, battery-powered mechanical heart pump known as a Left Ventricular Assist Device, or LVAD, into a cavity in her abdomen to assist her heart in pumping.

The device, called HeartMate II and made by Thoratec Corp, was approved by U.S. health regulators in 2008 for the purpose of keeping patients alive while they waited for a heart transplant. But in January, it was approved for permanent use in patients who are ineligible for a transplant.

To stay alive, patients must be connected to a lead called a drive-line that runs from the LVAD out through the skin and to a power source.At night, the LVAD is directly connected into a wall socket. By day patients are powered by rechargeable batteries, weighing six or seven pounds. While powered by battery, patients can go about much of their daily lives. But being plugged into the wall at night and having fears of the device running out of battery is stressful, but then again, you are alive. 

However you look at it, LVADs are improving the quality of life for hundreds of patients, including Dick Cheney, the former vice president of the United States and a multiple heart attack survivor. But without a beating heart, would that change how you see a person?

Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

Man With High-Tech Robot Arm Dies After Car Crash

Christian Kandlbauer had lost both his arms in an accident after climbing up a utility pole and getting shocked by touching a power line in September 2005. I know, who would touch a power line? But he did. Luckily he was given a second chance. With the help of a high-tech, mind-controlled robotic limb, he was able to regain almost every vital movements an independent individual should have. He even got a driver's license.

Now the 22-year-old has died of injuries suffered from a car accident. His car veered off the road and hit a tree. The cause of the crash is
still unknown and if the robotic arm had anything to do with it.

"Kandlbauer was the first person outside the United States to wear the innovative, robotic limb that recognized signals from his brain and moved accordingly, said Otto Bock of HealthCare Products GmbH that produced the prothesis. With a normal prothesis for his right arm and the high-tech prosthesis in place of his left, Kandlbauer's daily life had largely returned to normal. He was able to get a job at a warehouse for an auto repair shop and obtain his driver's license in October 2009." [news.yahoo.com]

You maybe wondering can he really drive a normal car? No he can't. To enable Kandlbauer to drive himself to work every morning, his Subaru Impreza was adapted with special equipment, including a modified emergency brake and special buttons to operate the horn, indicator lights and windshield wipers. It was later approved by local transportation authorities.

"I like driving," he said on his site. What an ironic and tragic thing to happen. He should not have been given a license in the first place. There are so many things that can happen to you when driving. A driver needs a full working body to react to every scenario thrown to him while on the road. I'm just saying that when a normal person drives a car there's always a risk for accidents. What more for a robotic armed man? Would you have agreed to allow Kandlbauer to drive?

Source: news.yahoo.com

Man With High-Tech Robot Arm Dies After Car Crash

Christian Kandlbauer had lost both his arms in an accident after climbing up a utility pole and getting shocked by touching a power line in September 2005. I know, who would touch a power line? But he did. Luckily he was given a second chance. With the help of a high-tech, mind-controlled robotic limb, he was able to regain almost every vital movements an independent individual should have. He even got a driver's license.

Now the 22-year-old has died of injuries suffered from a car accident. His car veered off the road and hit a tree. The cause of the crash is
still unknown and if the robotic arm had anything to do with it.

"Kandlbauer was the first person outside the United States to wear the innovative, robotic limb that recognized signals from his brain and moved accordingly, said Otto Bock of HealthCare Products GmbH that produced the prothesis. With a normal prothesis for his right arm and the high-tech prosthesis in place of his left, Kandlbauer's daily life had largely returned to normal. He was able to get a job at a warehouse for an auto repair shop and obtain his driver's license in October 2009." [news.yahoo.com]

You maybe wondering can he really drive a normal car? No he can't. To enable Kandlbauer to drive himself to work every morning, his Subaru Impreza was adapted with special equipment, including a modified emergency brake and special buttons to operate the horn, indicator lights and windshield wipers. It was later approved by local transportation authorities.

"I like driving," he said on his site. What an ironic and tragic thing to happen. He should not have been given a license in the first place. There are so many things that can happen to you when driving. A driver needs a full working body to react to every scenario thrown to him while on the road. I'm just saying that when a normal person drives a car there's always a risk for accidents. What more for a robotic armed man? Would you have agreed to allow Kandlbauer to drive?

Source: news.yahoo.com

Gaming Addiction Causes South Korean to Kill Mom

A South Korean court on Friday sentenced an Internet addict  for killing his mother after she criticised his online gaming habit. Prosecutors had sought the death sentence but he was only sentenced to 20 years in prison. The 22-year-old was arrested in February on charges of clubbing his 53-year-old mother to death at her home. 

How to Overcome Internet Addiction

In March a 32-year-old man died after playing on the Internet for five days with few breaks. A similar incident was reported involving a 28-year-old man in 2005. In May, a 41-year-old man was sentenced to two years in jail after he and his wife left their daughter to die while raising a "virtual child" on the Internet. [YahooNews]

How to Overcome Internet Addiction [www.startrungrow.com]

Practise the opposite:
If you have an Internet habit, which means you check your emails first thing in the morning, it may be time to alter your routine so that you have breakfast before logging on. Making changes in this way will break the established pattern, which so often is part of an addiction. This will not solve the problem, but will at least be a step forward in helping to break the routine.

Finalise goals:
Set yourself goals to avoid Internet usage. Set a programme so your sessions are structured and you have limited time on and a time that you must disconnect. Have someone help you monitor this.

Look at life:
Sit down with people you trust and try and get a vision of what you are missing out on in life because you are spending so much time on the Internet. Write all these things down so you can refer to them again and again. Tell yourself that life is about living and that time is passing you by. Have on your list your friends and your family and think about the times you spent with them before and the joy and happiness you had.

Join a support group:
By talking with others who are in the same situation, you will make new and real friends and begin to realise you are not the only one that has to fight this addiction. Support is very important and you must make a commitment to keep the support group going until you are free. The support group may also involve professionals who you need to see for guidance, where necessary.

Get family support:
You will need the support of family members, because they know and love you more than most. Make sure there is a key to the computer room and have it available for certain times of the day. Make sure the door is always open so that your spouse or parent can come in at any time to see what you are doing on the Internet. Be accountable and be totally open, as this is one of the best ways to fight this type of addiction.

Gaming Addiction Causes South Korean to Kill Mom

A South Korean court on Friday sentenced an Internet addict  for killing his mother after she criticised his online gaming habit. Prosecutors had sought the death sentence but he was only sentenced to 20 years in prison. The 22-year-old was arrested in February on charges of clubbing his 53-year-old mother to death at her home. 

How to Overcome Internet Addiction

In March a 32-year-old man died after playing on the Internet for five days with few breaks. A similar incident was reported involving a 28-year-old man in 2005. In May, a 41-year-old man was sentenced to two years in jail after he and his wife left their daughter to die while raising a "virtual child" on the Internet. [YahooNews]

How to Overcome Internet Addiction [www.startrungrow.com]

Practise the opposite:
If you have an Internet habit, which means you check your emails first thing in the morning, it may be time to alter your routine so that you have breakfast before logging on. Making changes in this way will break the established pattern, which so often is part of an addiction. This will not solve the problem, but will at least be a step forward in helping to break the routine.

Finalise goals:
Set yourself goals to avoid Internet usage. Set a programme so your sessions are structured and you have limited time on and a time that you must disconnect. Have someone help you monitor this.

Look at life:
Sit down with people you trust and try and get a vision of what you are missing out on in life because you are spending so much time on the Internet. Write all these things down so you can refer to them again and again. Tell yourself that life is about living and that time is passing you by. Have on your list your friends and your family and think about the times you spent with them before and the joy and happiness you had.

Join a support group:
By talking with others who are in the same situation, you will make new and real friends and begin to realise you are not the only one that has to fight this addiction. Support is very important and you must make a commitment to keep the support group going until you are free. The support group may also involve professionals who you need to see for guidance, where necessary.

Get family support:
You will need the support of family members, because they know and love you more than most. Make sure there is a key to the computer room and have it available for certain times of the day. Make sure the door is always open so that your spouse or parent can come in at any time to see what you are doing on the Internet. Be accountable and be totally open, as this is one of the best ways to fight this type of addiction.

Fresh Milk Loses Nutrients in Refrigerated Milk Displays in Supermarket

Image Via allundervalued.com

We all know that Milk in direct sunlight is not good. But do you know why? Milk can develop off-flavors and lose nutrients after four minutes of exposure to direct sunlight. But do you know that Refrigerated milk in supermarket cabinets can have the same effect? Most supermarket cabinets have fluorescent display case lighting. After four hours of exposure to fluorescent display case lighting, refrigerated milk will develop
off-flavors and lose nutrients.

Light initiates two chemical reactions which result in off-flavors and the loss of nutrients. Milk in glass or plastic containers are most vulnerable to off-flavors and loss of nutrients. Although milk in paper cartons are less prone to loss of nutrients, it can still develop off-flavors.

Image Via arabianbusiness.com

Lipid Oxidation of Milk

whey proteins, composed of amino acids containing sulfur, degrade and break down, producing “sunlight” flavors reminiscent of burnt feathers or burnt hair that can last for two to three days.

In the second reaction, the unsaturated fatty acids in milk lipids (milkfat triglycerides / triacylglycerols) become oxidized, producing malodorous carbonyl compounds that taste metallic or cardboardy and do not dissipate.

Various studies have found that these chemical reactions can occur in milk after four minutes of exposure to direct sunlight, and after four hours of exposure to fluorescent lighting, while the off-flavors were detected by trained tasters after milk was exposed to light for 15 to 30 minutes, and by consumers after milk was exposed to light for one to two hours.

In a Pennsylvania study, light-related off-flavors developed within 36 hours in almost half of 449 samples of milk in translucent plastic jugs. Another study found that off-flavors were present in approximately 80% of the blow-mold plastic milk containers exposed to fluorescent lighting in supermarket dairy display cases.

Milk Nutrient Loss During Lipid Oxidation

Vitamin A (especially added Vitamin A)

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, present in small quantities in milk)

Vitamin D (especially added Vitamin D)

riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Riboflavin is destroyed by ultraviolet light.

Pyridoxine and Vitamin B12

One study found that 90% of the added Vitamin A and 8% of the riboflavin was lost from milk in polyethylene containers after 24 hours of exposure to fluorescent lights, with increased loss of these nutrients as the fat content of the milk decreased.

Flavor Changes of Milk

When milk is exposed to light, two chemical reactions occur that cause the milk to taste like burnt feathers, burnt hair, cardboard, or metal.

Factors that affect the rate of flavor change and nutrient loss in milk caused by exposure to display case lighting are the intensity of the light, the wavelengths present in the light, the distance between the fluorescent light bulb and the milk, the material of the container, the amount of surface area exposed to the light, the temperature of the milk, and the duration of light exposure. The higher the fat content, the more vulnerable the milk or cream is to the off-flavor effects of lipid oxidation.

Milk in light-transmissible containers such as transparent glass or plastic is most commonly affected but milk in paper cartons can also be affected when the cartons are exposed to intense light for long periods of time.

"One way to have good-tasting milk is to protect it from light."

"Both natural and artificial light can induce quality defects that consumers notice -- and don't like. Light exposure causes chemical reactions in milk that can modify the proteins and fats that are present to produce many negative flavors, ranging from burnt protein (burnt feathers or hair) to cardboard or metallic. The resulting off-flavors are dependent upon various factors such as exposure time, intensity and wavelength of light, and composition of the milk." [safespectrum]

Read more about Dairy Products and the effect of Light in the following websites:

http://www.safespectrum.com/

http://www.promolux.com/ 
http://www.dairy-supermarket-marketing.com/

Fresh Milk Loses Nutrients in Refrigerated Milk Displays in Supermarket

Image Via allundervalued.com

We all know that Milk in direct sunlight is not good. But do you know why? Milk can develop off-flavors and lose nutrients after four minutes of exposure to direct sunlight. But do you know that Refrigerated milk in supermarket cabinets can have the same effect? Most supermarket cabinets have fluorescent display case lighting. After four hours of exposure to fluorescent display case lighting, refrigerated milk will develop
off-flavors and lose nutrients.

Light initiates two chemical reactions which result in off-flavors and the loss of nutrients. Milk in glass or plastic containers are most vulnerable to off-flavors and loss of nutrients. Although milk in paper cartons are less prone to loss of nutrients, it can still develop off-flavors.

Image Via arabianbusiness.com

Lipid Oxidation of Milk

whey proteins, composed of amino acids containing sulfur, degrade and break down, producing “sunlight” flavors reminiscent of burnt feathers or burnt hair that can last for two to three days.

In the second reaction, the unsaturated fatty acids in milk lipids (milkfat triglycerides / triacylglycerols) become oxidized, producing malodorous carbonyl compounds that taste metallic or cardboardy and do not dissipate.

Various studies have found that these chemical reactions can occur in milk after four minutes of exposure to direct sunlight, and after four hours of exposure to fluorescent lighting, while the off-flavors were detected by trained tasters after milk was exposed to light for 15 to 30 minutes, and by consumers after milk was exposed to light for one to two hours.

In a Pennsylvania study, light-related off-flavors developed within 36 hours in almost half of 449 samples of milk in translucent plastic jugs. Another study found that off-flavors were present in approximately 80% of the blow-mold plastic milk containers exposed to fluorescent lighting in supermarket dairy display cases.

Milk Nutrient Loss During Lipid Oxidation

Vitamin A (especially added Vitamin A)

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, present in small quantities in milk)

Vitamin D (especially added Vitamin D)

riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Riboflavin is destroyed by ultraviolet light.

Pyridoxine and Vitamin B12

One study found that 90% of the added Vitamin A and 8% of the riboflavin was lost from milk in polyethylene containers after 24 hours of exposure to fluorescent lights, with increased loss of these nutrients as the fat content of the milk decreased.

Flavor Changes of Milk

When milk is exposed to light, two chemical reactions occur that cause the milk to taste like burnt feathers, burnt hair, cardboard, or metal.

Factors that affect the rate of flavor change and nutrient loss in milk caused by exposure to display case lighting are the intensity of the light, the wavelengths present in the light, the distance between the fluorescent light bulb and the milk, the material of the container, the amount of surface area exposed to the light, the temperature of the milk, and the duration of light exposure. The higher the fat content, the more vulnerable the milk or cream is to the off-flavor effects of lipid oxidation.

Milk in light-transmissible containers such as transparent glass or plastic is most commonly affected but milk in paper cartons can also be affected when the cartons are exposed to intense light for long periods of time.

"One way to have good-tasting milk is to protect it from light."

"Both natural and artificial light can induce quality defects that consumers notice -- and don't like. Light exposure causes chemical reactions in milk that can modify the proteins and fats that are present to produce many negative flavors, ranging from burnt protein (burnt feathers or hair) to cardboard or metallic. The resulting off-flavors are dependent upon various factors such as exposure time, intensity and wavelength of light, and composition of the milk." [safespectrum]

Read more about Dairy Products and the effect of Light in the following websites:

http://www.safespectrum.com/

http://www.promolux.com/ 
http://www.dairy-supermarket-marketing.com/