Diwali 2018: 5 Indian Deepavali sweets that may be adulterated
With increased demands for sweets during festivals like Diwali, food adulteration has become a common practice in recent days. Here are five Deepavali mithais that may be adulterated.
5 Diwali sweets that may be adulterated | Photo Credit: Thinkstock
New Delhi: There’s no denying the fact that Diwali is a time when we all stuff ourselves with sweets and other indulgent dishes. The festival of lights is also a time when family and friends exchange sweets and gifts. Deepavali sweets, such as motichoor ke ladoo, khoya barfi, paneer barfi, kaju katli, are undeniably irresistible. Perhaps, you will find most sweet shops packed with a variety of different types of mithais and other traditional foods during the festive season.
However, with increased demands for the sweets during festivals like Diwali, adulteration of foods and adding artificial colours to make them more attractive has become a common practice in recent days, raising a major health concern. Therefore, it is important to be wary of consuming certain goodies, especially the ones that are prone to adulteration. Here are five sweets that are often found to be adulterated in the market. Take a look below!
Khoye ki Barfi
With most sweets that are consumed during festivities being made with khoya and mawa, this is one item that is often prone to adulteration. It is said that makers usually add wheat or rice flour (starch) to increase the quantity and make more profit from these sweets. So, it would be wise on your part to check for its purity when buying a mithai with khoya.
Kaju Katli
Kaju katli, which is made with cashews, milk, ghee, sugar, saffron and other ingredients, is one of the most popular sweets sold around Diwali. The Indian dessert has silver varq which is layered on it to make it look appealing. However, silver being an expensive metal, vendors use aluminium foils that look like sliver varq. That’s why it is often suggested to make kaju katli at home to protect yourself from the harmful effects of these fake substances. Read - Diwali 2018: 9 simple ways cheat meals can help boost your weight loss this festive season
Motichoor Ladoo
Motichoor ladoo is one such mithai that is often found to be adulterated because vendors tend to use bright and sometimes non-permitted artificial colours that are more stable, long-lasting and appealing to the customers. These ladoos are available in different colours.
Paneer Barfi
Instead of milk extract, often the paneer that is used to make the barfi has excessive cornstarch and, in some cases, harmful chemicals and urea are mixed in it. Hence, it is safer to make paneer barfi at home or take any paneer mithai from a trusted shop. Read - Diwali: Five adulterated foods you're probably consuming without realising
Kaju Pista Roll
Kaju Pista roll happens to be one of the most adulterated sweets during Diwali, considering the fact that pistas and cashew nuts used as ingredients in mithais are the most expensive nuts. Unfortunately, many sweet sellers use artificial or synthetic flavours in place of pistachios and cashews, putting your health at risk.
This festive season, try switching to homemade sweets to celebrate a very happy and safe Diwali!
Delhi air pollution: How particulate matter (PM) and pollutants affect your health
High levels of air pollution can cause a range of health problems, including respiratory ailments, and cardiovascular diseases. Take a look at how PM and air pollutants affect your health.
How air pollutants like CO, NO2 and SO2 affect your body | Photo Credit: Thinkstock
New Delhi: Air pollution in Delhi continued to worsen, causing serious health concerns among residents even as weather officials warned of further worsening of air quality in the coming days. On Monday morning (November 5, 2018), the levels of the particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in the National Capital spiked to ‘hazardous’, leaving Delhiites gasping for breath. Particulate matter is a complex mixture that may contain soot, smoke, metals, nitrates, sulfates, dust, water and tire rubber. Fine particulate matter, also known as PM2.5, can enter the lungs and bloodstream. High levels of air pollution can cause a range of health problems, including respiratory ailments, cardiovascular diseases, adverse pregnancy outcomes (such as preterm birth), and even death.
Basically, air pollution is a mixture of natural and man-made substances in the air we breathe. Air pollutants can be found everywhere - outdoors and indoors. Common air pollutants include particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide. Take a look at how pollutants affect your health. Read - Delhi pollution: How air pollutants like CO, NO2 and SO2 affect your body
How pollutants affect human health
Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) - Numerous studies have linked exposure to particulate matter to a number of conditions - although the size of determines their potential to cause health problems.
- PM10 (particles in the air with a diameter of fewer than 10 micrometres) - these are small particles enough to pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Inhalation of these particles can result in a number of health issues, ranging from coughing and wheezing to asthma attacks and bronchitis to high blood pressure, heart attack, strokes, and even premature death.
- PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less) - Fine particles (PM2.5) pose the greatest health risk, they are so tiny and can get deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream. Exposure to fine particles can also affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter has been linked with an increased rate of chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function and increased mortality from lung cancer and heart disease.
Hydrocarbons (benzene, methane etc.) - Health effects of hydrocarbons include a dull headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, disorientation and loss of consciousness, etc. Read - Delhi air pollution: Five best indoor plants that purify air in your home
Nitrogen oxides - A highly reactive gas that has a variety of adverse health effects on the respiratory system. Potential health effects from exposure to nitrogen dioxide include susceptible to respiratory infections, cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, asthma, chronic bronchitis, airway inflammation in healthy people.
Carbon monoxide - Carbon monoxide (CO) can cause various health issues by reducing the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs, such as the heart, brain and tissues. Potential health effects from exposure to CO include- headache, nausea, dizziness and anxiety, reduced mental alertness, cardiovascular diseases, heart attack, impaired fetal development. In higher concentration, it can even cause death.
Sulfur dioxide - Sulphur dioxide cause eye irritation, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, sore throat, nose irritation, asthma, chronic bronchitis. It has also been found to exacerbate cardiovascular diseases.
Ozone - Even at low levels, ground-level ozone can be harmful to our health. It can irritate the lining of the nose, airways and lungs, resulting in respiratory tract infections, breathing difficulty, asthma, lung damage and even premature death. Some people may experience chest pain.
Biomass and waste burning - Burning biomass emit large amounts of pollutants, such as carbon dioxide (CO2). Exposure to CO2 can lead to a number of health problems, including a headache, nausea, dizziness and anxiety, reduced mental alertness, cardiovascular diseases, heart attack, impaired fetal development. In higher concentration, it can even cause death.
Mercury - Mercury can get into the air from a number of sources, such as forest fires, burning of fossil fuels, etc. According to the WHO, inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal. In the long-term, it can cause memory problems, kidney damage and respiratory failure.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) - Air pollutants, including PAHs, can result in poisoning, disorientation, organ damage, especially the lungs.
Selenium - Environmental contaminants, such as selenium can lead to organ damage, low IQ, behavioural problems, cancer, etc.
Soot - Tiny particle pollution, commonly referred to as ‘soot’, is one of the deadliest forms of air pollution. Health effects from exposure to soot include airway irritation, breathing difficulty, aggravated asthma etc. Recently, new research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress showed soot particles are able to reach the placenta via the bloodstream.
No comments:
Post a Comment