inny’s Kitchen has always been fun
with a foodie side. It is a greats segment where I let you into my kitchen and
give you a taste of what I am feeling; great treats and just simple recipes you
can try at home. It is basically food and fun!
But I came across a foodie like me
who had a great piece on the Kenya Buzz (www.kenyabuzz.com) which I would love to share today. Oh, I should call her a “saladie”
(not sure whether that’s an English word) because she is “mad” about salads.
WHY SALADS?
I honestly have no proper answer to
this question. Still thinking about it. I am not sure if it’s because of
boredom (eating other people’s salads), or just another discovered hobby. I
never knitted as a child, only learnt it in my adulthood and still knit. I
might just kind t you a sweater or make you a salad.
In January 2013; my new year’s
resolution was to get into chocolate rehab and eat raw salad for lunch. Just
like most people; I didn’t see myself surviving, without chocolate. I mean, who
quits chocolate? Very unserious people. I did start with two weeks, then I did
a month; I did 40 days and at this rate; I could do a year. Bring it on! By the
way; I did have withdrawal symptoms (nothing dramatic like shaking and acting
crazish). I see chocolate in the supermarket and I am proud to say that I
ignore the voices. Those voices used to turn me into a zombie (true story) and
somehow, I would end up buying a few bars. How, I have no idea!
Focus! Back to the real story. So I
started to make salads for my lunch, and I just started basic, but with leaves
that my stomach and mind said ok. Lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cheese just to
begin with. I have discovered that I prefer my veggies raw (not fashion). I
find cooked veggies or even steamed; boring. And I mean dead boring! Like seriously-
BORING! Am sure you get my drift by now.
There is something about raw veggies
that I can’t explain. They give you so much energy. Sometimes I wonder if ii am
on coffee. I am never tired, I feel great, and I could run across the continent
and back (no I will not deliver your mail). Let us just say I feel so alive and
high on vegetables.
I’m not a vegetarian, but I love my
fish and my skinned chicken. I just steam them and slap a salad together and there
is the meal. But I can’t ignore the benefits that come with enjoying my
vegetables.
ur guys have been rocking the 90’s vintage street
look all over Nairobi. Have our ladies been left behind? Oh, hell, no, the
skater cut design; popular in the 80’s is what they are currently digging.
Dresses and skirts in this style are short and
flared- they kinda remind me of the sexy ladies on Mexican soaps. Although it
comes across as a young street look; it comes in a variety of fabrics which
make it wearable and you can pull the look and rock it.
·For an official wear, team up
skater-skirt with a button-down blouse and tights. Cropped tops, t-shirts and
pullovers work perfectly well.
·A pair of killer heels will work
perfectly for a night out and give your legs extra length. Pair it up with
ankle boots or brogues to dress it down for a day look.
·Skater skirt or dress length is usually
mid- thigh, hence tights and leggings come to the rescue of those who are not
comfortable showing too much skin. Opt for neutral-coloured tights for a
conservative look or go edgy with colored ones. Knee-length tights or socks
give you a school girl look. If you are bold enough, go without leggings, but
make sure your legs are well toned.
·As with all other trends, this style is
not for everyone. It favors tall frames, but if you are petite, you can still
pull it off if you add some height with a pair of killer heels.
Special thanks to:
Model- Jillian Quarless
Photographer-Antonnio Arroyo of Konsepts Photography
on Facebook.
You can’t help noticing the new trend in Nairobi where everyone in the office is eating peanuts. From men to fellow women; it seems like the in-thing.
As everyone keeps on nibbling theses little wonders called peanuts; your truly did a research and found out that there is a huge surge in both diabetes and high blood pressure; with a filling on half of our country’s already over stretched hospital beds.
Back in 2008; a random sample of 4,000 dwellers in central Nairobi found 700 of them suffering from either high blood pressure or diabetes.
Writing for Nakumatt’s Smart Life Magazine; Larisa Brown laments; “lifestyle diseases that were at the bottom of the ‘health concern’ list are now a cause of alarm.
But scientific evidence shows that high blood pressure can be ended in just a few weeks; and the risk of heart disease set aside, by eating just a handful of nuts a day. These nuts include nuts like almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts and walnuts.
It was in California back in 1992 that researchers at Loma Linda university first discovered that people eating nuts daily had up to 60 per cent fewer heart attacks that those who didn’t. The study of 31,000 people; of all weights; ages and both genders, was based on a mix of peanuts, almonds, walnuts and other nuts.
It is time to move from the old age mentality that nutritional advice has always tended towards advising minimal nut consumption on the grounds that they area a ‘fatty’ food. On the contrary, scientists now say eating nuts regularly reduces the risk of obesity and may help with weigh loss.
Since I am a foodie and we are in the whole issue of nuts; why don’t you try my guacamole with peanuts some time?
Serves 2
Prep: 15 mins; no cooking or fire
2 mashed up guacamoles
A bag of nuts
2 finely chopped small pieces of raw tomato
1 finely chopped small pieces of raw onion
1.Mash up the guacamole into a sauce.
2.Add the finely chopped raw tomatoes and onions.
3.Stir in the onions and tomatoes with the guacamole sauce.
4.Add the bag of nuts and mix them up.
-sugar can be added to increase taste for those who love their guacamole with sugar.
-guacamole is what we know in the local language as avocado.
the story is online at-http://kenyakidz.com/new/index.php/latest-news/17-health/778-nuts-heal-chronic-diseases-studies-show
You can’t help but notice the new trend in Daystar especially among the ladies where everyone is into eating nuts. It seems like the in-thing but the wave is taking over the offices too as nearly everyone is nibbling on peanuts.
Some few years ago; nutritional advice always tended towards advising minimal nut consumption on the grounds that they are a “fatty” food. But scientists are now saying that eating nuts regularly reduces the risk of obesity and may help with weight loss.
According to a piece on the Standard newspaper; nuts are excellent sources of protein, fibre, minerals, healthy mono- unsaturated fats, and vitamin R and omega-3 essential fatty acids.
Nuts like almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts and walnuts fight bad cholesterol and control the total cholesterol level in the body, therefore reducing the risk of heart disease. Cholesterol is not all bad; it is the fat that provides support in the membranes of our bodies’ cell. And so not all cholesterol is bad. There is the god cholesterol, which aids functioning of our body and bad cholesterol; which collects in the walls of blood vessels causing blockage.
By reducing cholesterol levels; nuts cushion the heart from notorious elements like hypertension. Magnesium, calcium and potassium contents in nuts reduce blood pressure.
The reality in Kenya today and right now is that lifestyle diseases that were at the bottom of the “health concern” list are now a cause of alarm. How do you explain a research done in 2008; where a random sample of 4,000 dwellers in central Nairobi found 700 of them suffering from either high blood pressure or diabetes?
Feeding on nuts has been connected to reduced incidence of coronary heart disease in both men and women and reduces blood cholesterol levels. These benefits can be attributed back to the fibre and heart- healthy unsaturated fats nuts contain.
Other reviews such as that published in Atherosclerosis Report and The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition report that eating nuts on a regular basis may help reduce the risk of diabetes in women. And for people already diagnosed with diabetes, nuts are a healthy addition to a diabetic diet, they contain few carbohydrates and have low glycerine index, which can help control blood sugar levels.
Other benefits of eating nuts and seeds include:
§Ellagic acid in nuts lowers the risk of cancer.
§Decreases the risk of prostrate and breast cancers.
§Increase immunity and reduces the risk of tumor growth.
§Leads to improved blood flow.
§Leads to improved sexual potency.
So while we are still at this issue of peanuts; I ‘m a foodie so go ahead and try my guacamole sauce with nuts some time.
Serves 2
Prep: 15 mins; no cooking or fire
2 mashed up guacamoles.
A bag of nuts.
2 finely chopped small pieces of raw tomato.
1 finely chopped small pieces of raw onion.
1.Mash up the guacamoles into a sauce.
2.Add the finely chopped raw tomatoes and onions.
3.Stir in the onions and tomatoes with the guacamole sauce.
4.Add the bag of nuts and mix them up.
-Sugar can be added to increase taste for those who love their guacamole with sugar.
-Guacamole is what we know as avocado in the local “mama mboga” language.
read more at-http://kenyakidz.com/new/index.php/latest-news/17-health/778-nuts-heal-chronic-diseases-studies-show
Samira is a bubbly 6-year old who adores her mother very much. Every time she spots her mum before the mirror, she innocently creeps up for a fun experience and for a mother-daughter bonding session over facials and make-ups.
Like most mothers, Samira’s mum is always tempted to apply make-up on her which she often reluctantly does on several occasions especially when they are about to go out or have guests over. Her argument;
“It is just a simple eye-liner. It won’t hurt any bit, right?”
Wrong! Well according to Muthoni Njoba, a make-up specialist, failure to clean off any make-up very well is dangerous as make-up left on the skin can clog pores and cause premature aging.
As mothers, we forget that our skins are not always the same as our daughters or little children. That is why it is advisable for one to go to a professional make-up artist to advice on the best suitable make –up (foundation, concealer, powder, eye-shadow e.t.c) for your skin tone, skin type and features.
Factual research has shown that our skin starts aging after the age of 25; so mum do your child justice by withholding that make-up. Your child’s skin is very soft, tender and flawless at a young age and it would be a disgrace for a beautiful 10-year old girl looking like a 30-year old due to make-up.
Finally; as a mother and as a woman, I am sure one of your New Year resolution is dedicating yourself to a great skin care and embarking on the journey of using make-up to enhance your already beautiful features. While you undertake this treacherous journey of greatness and amazing look; tag along your girlfriends; sisters or better yet your young daughter. Encourage them to drink lots of water and eat fresh vegetables.
That is the best kept secret to a better health and flawless beautiful skin. The secret is out now ladies!
hey i got thie great email from of our readers thought i should share it- Hi,
My name is Aldo Baker, I wanted to share a piece of content with you that I thought might interest your readers. FamilyCord’s new infographic, "There Grows my baby” is a monthly milestone guide starting from newborn to 24 months old.
If you like the graphic, please feel free to add it to your blog or help us share it through social media.
To display the graphic on your blog or website you can easily copy and paste the code directly from the infographic webpage.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Aldo Baker
At FamilyCord, we know that every child is unique — they grow, learn, and develop at their own pace. The baby milestones below are based off of generally accepted development milestones and offer a loose guide that you can compare with your child's development.
Feel free to leave a comment, share with friends and enjoy this graphic on Baby Growth Milestones!
breast angels aims to curb kenya’s top women killer
Breast cancer is now the number one killer of women of 35 to 55 in Kenya, according to the Nairobi Cancer Registry’s most recent statistics, striking now one in nine women in the country, and killing many of them, due to late diagnosis. Half a century ago, breast cancer was rare, medical experts say. But between 2000 and 2006, the Nairobi Cancer Registry recorded 10,484 cases of cancer in both men and women, with breast cancer accounting for 20.9 per cent of women’s cancer cases, closely followed by cervical cancer at 19.8 per cent. Other recent studies have shown one in nine Kenyan women as being diagnosed with breast cancer, and one per cent of Kenyan men. Studies have also shown that those affected in Kenya are relatively younger than in developed countries. According to the Nairobi Cancer Report, since the year 2000, breast cancer has been the most diagnosed cancer among women in Nairobi, of which 51 per cent of cases were in women below the age of 50. And although incidences remain relatively low in comparison to developed countries, breast cancer mortality in Kenya is higher. Supporting these findings, The Kenya Breast Health Program, which is working to promote breast cancer awareness this month, estimates that 80 to 90 per cent of breast cancer patients go for consultations when they are in stage 3 and stage 4 of the disease.
Indeed, some 95 per cent of women in Kenya have never had a clinical breast examination and screening mammography is not widespread in the country.
Yet when women arrive in the terminal stages of the disease, little can be done. This marks a sharp contrast to the outlook on early detection and intervention, which can typically achieve a cure rate of 95 per cent. Breast cancer screening and management could reduce breast cancer mortality in the country by 20 to 50 per cent, says the organisation.
But when detected far later, sufferers often cannot even afford to pay the bills for treatment. After surgery which removes the cancerous growths, patients go through hormonal radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment in which cancer cells are destroyed. Currently, the cheapest drug used in chemotherapy costs nearly Sh10, 000, which is out of reach for the many Kenyans still living on little more than one dollar a day. Yet, older women are at real risk, and especially if a woman has a mother, sister or daughter who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 20 to 30 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer, have a family history of cancer, says Breastcancer.org.
That said, some 90 per cent of breast cancers are not hereditary but are due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of aging.
For the 5 to 10 per cent of the population vulnerable through gene mutations inherited from parents, mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are common. With such mutations, women have an 80 per cent risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime. However, the blame for the far greater number of non-hereditary cases has been laid at various doors. Many nutritionists blame them on poor diet and lifestyle. They say the traditional balanced diet included wholegrain foods and vegetables that boosted the immunity and which have been set aside as people have switched to eating refined or fast foods, of low nutritional value. Lack of exercise, stress, smoking and other negative lifestyle habits have also been found to contribute to cancer.Other studies have linked the surge in breast cancers to specific chemicals in anti-perspirant and deodorants. However, the cause for the increase is still largely unknown.
However, with early treatment so often effective, Kenya Breast Health has now formed a group, Breast Angels, to raise awareness on how to be alert to early symptoms of the cancer. They teach women how to perform self breast examinations in which a person feels their breasts in search of lumps, and offer a three-step self breast examination, now available in vernacular languages, including Luo, Kikuyu and Swahili. Apart from self-examination, the cancer can be detected clinically, through x-ray mammography and breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The importance of these examinations, according to the organisation, is their power in detecting breast cancer early, at which point it is curable.
In Kenya, the most common breast examination is the mammography, where an x-ray is done of the breast tissue. This form of examination can also pick up other breast problems that may not necessarily be cancer related, and reveals lumps before they can be felt through self examination.
Having a mammogram requires removal of upper clothing and is best done with no powders, ointments, creams, oils or deodorants on breasts and underarms.
There are 12 mammography centres in Kenya, requiring a doctor’s letter for appointments. However, many of the centers also accept self-referred patients if they are over age the age of 35, meaning women can book an appointment without a referral from a doctor.
The hospitals and centers that do mammography include: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, Karen Hospital, The Nairobi Hospital, M. P. Shah Hospital, located in Nairobi apart from The Mater Hospital.
Others are the Coast Provincial General Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital (Mombasa), Mombasa Hospital while New Nyanza Provincial General Hospital is located in Kisumu. In Nakuru the available centers include Ranalo Medical Imaging Centre, Gateway House & War Memorial Hospital, and Radiology Centre while in Meru there’s the Meru Medical Centre.
The Kenya Breast Health Programme is also offering screening services during October, which is international breast cancer month. The organization will also be conducting mammograms from January to October next year, in various hospitals including the Matter Hospital, on given dates free of charge. To raise funds for this screening, they are selling sculptures called "Zarina" , costing from Sh1, 000 (10cm in size) for individuals and Sh75,000 (50cm) for corporate buyers. They can be contacted on 020 601028/604397 or email info@kenyabreast.org for more information.
Written by Stella Kabura for African Laughter…http://www.webaraza.com/webaraza2/about-us/141-breast-angels-aims-to-curb-kenyas-top-women-killer-
The Health Ministers of the East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) Health Community passed a resolution in 2002 directing the Secretariat to work with the countries to fortify commonly consumed foods in the region after recognizing that the high levels of malnutrition in the region. Following initial promotion efforts, the countries identified staple foods suitable for fortification as oil, sugar,
Maize meal/ flour and wheat flour. These foods can be used as vehicles to deliver essential micronutrients to the populations
Based on the guidelines and other available information, most of the countries in the East African Region And in the larger Africa have initiated national programs on oil fortification with vitamin A; and wheat flour, maize meal/ maize flour fortification with iron, zinc, folic acid, niacin, vitamin B-1, B-2 and B-12 and vitamin A. Sugar fortification with vitamin A has also been considered as a way of supplementing other sources of the vitamin in order to prevent and reduce problems associated with the deficiency of this vitamin. Fats and oils are considered to be some of the most cost effective, technically feasible and widely used vehicle for vitamins A, D and E because the three vitamins are fat soluble and fats and oils, to a greater extent, are centrally processed. Vegetable fats and oils are also consumed by nearly by everyone
The micronutrients used to fortify fats and oils are found to be stable. However, the stability of the vitamins used to nutrify fats and oils is dependant on many factors. One important factor that needs to be taken into consideration is the quality of the refined oil because if the oil is partially oxidized, it will result in the oxidation of the vitamins added to the oil. Besides the oil needs to be packed in opaque, air tight containers where in the head space of the container is flushed with an inert gas like nitrogen. This will prevent the oil from oxidation that may be caused due to the exposure to air and light. Further, antioxidants need to be added to increase the shelf life, so as to prevent oil from turning rancid. These antioxidants will further also protect the vitamins thereby providing stability to the micronutrients used in fortification. In order to account for the minor processing losses, the appropriate overages are also taken into consideration. However, an important point to be kept in mind is that, repeated use of these fats or oils in frying foods will affect the stability of these vitamins.
The WHO states that limitations to food fortification may include human rights issues indicating that consumers has the right to choose if they want fortified products or not, potential for insufficient demand of the fortified product, increased production costs that may lead increase retail costs, and the potential that the fortified products will still not be a solution to nutrient deficiencies amongst low income populations who may not be able to afford the new product and children who may not be able to consume adequate amounts.[2]
Food safety worries led to legislation in Denmark in 2004 restricting foods fortified with extra vitamins or minerals. Products banned include:Rice Crispies,Shreddies,Horlicks,OvaltineandMarmite.[9]
Danes said [Kelloggs] Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and Special K wanted to include "toxic" doses which, if eaten regularly, could damage children's livers and kidneys and harm fetuses in pregnant women.[10]
ARE THERE ANY HEALTH BENEFITS TO THE FORTIFICATION OF FATS AND OILS?
•Food fortification helps in reducing the rate of illness in children and the rate of death at an early age due to malnutrition. This shows a positive effect of food fortification.
•Food fortification is also found to be effective and beneficial for children's growth and development.
•Fortified foods, being nutrient dense, provides stamina and the energy.
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WHAT KENYA’S LAW STATES ON FORTIFICATION OF FATS AND OILS?
Legal Notice No. 62
THE FOOD, DRUGS AND CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES ACT Cap. 254)
IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 28 of the Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act, the Minister for Public Health and Sanitation makes the following Regulations:—
THE FOOD, DRUGS AND CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES (FOOD LABELLING, ADDITIVES AND STANDARDS) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 2012.
Citation
1.These Regulations may be cited as the Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances (Food Labelling, Additives and Standards) (Amendment) Regulations, 2012.
Sub. Leg.
2.The Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances (Food Labelling, Additives and Standards) Regulations (in these Regulations referred to as “the principal Regulations”) are amended in regulation 2 by inserting the following new definitions in their proper alphabetical sequence—
“food bio-fortification” means addition of nutrients through a process of genetic manipulation to mitigate the dietary deficiency in a food article;
“food enrichment” means addition of nutrients to replace nutrients lost during processing or addition of nutrients to enhance existing nutrients in a food article;
“food fortification” means addition of nutrients to bridge the dietary deficiency in a food article;
“Minister” means the Minister for the time being responsible for matters related to public health and sanitation.
(2) vegetable fats and oils shall be fortified with Vitamin A in accordance with the Kenya Standard for Edible Fats and oils KS326-2:2009.
320. Labeling of fortified products shall be done in accordance with the relevant Kenyan Standard relating to nutrition.
