Ammonia in Pink Slime: Is it Really a Concern?

Ammonia is produced in our bodies and the environment. This chemical can be used for many industrial purposes like fertilizers, cleaning products, and hair dyes ^[4]. But can we also find it in our food? You might have heard of ‘pink slime’ a nickname for beef that is made with a lot more than just beef trimmings. Pink slime could contain other parts of the cow and to kill pathogens they spray it with ammonia (you know, like glass cleaner) ^[2]. That sounds yummy doesn’t it? As you probably guessed a lot of people complained about this fake beef that was served in fast food restaurants like McDonald’s ^[2].

Today, most of these restaurants claim to serve 100% real beef so we shouldn’t be worried about ammonia or ear parts in our food anymore, right? Well, unfortunately the foods we consume often have chemical additives in them, and pink slime is considered safe so it could be added to your burgers. But is it really that bad? The real health concern behind pink slime is not the necessarily the ears and other tissue, but the treatment with ammonia. If ingested in high quantities, ammonia can be toxic and cause several health effects like headaches, nausea, and coughing ^[1]. In more extreme cases constant exposure to the chemical can even lead to coma or death ^[1].

Despite these concerns, ammonia can actually be found in more than just pink slime. Ammonia can be used in baked goods, and it even occurs naturally in milk ^[3]. So ingestion of ammonia through food is actually quite common but the levels are so low that they don’t cause harm ^[3]. In fact, the most commonly affected group of ammonia toxicity are men and women that are exposed to the chemical at work ^[5]. In conclusion, ammonia is found in many foods but is added in very small quantities that must be regulated. It is important to try to avoid exposure to the chemical because of the known toxicity of it, but pink slime is definitely not the biggest concern when considering the toxic effects of ammonia.

[1] Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (2000). Ammonia [Material Safety Data Sheet]. Retrieved from    

             http://avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/MSDS/NH3_gas.pdf

[2] Burton, B. (2015, October 15). 'Pink slime' in burgers? McDonald's hires former mythBuster to 

             find out. Retrieved from http://www.cnet.com/news/pink-slime-in-burgers-mcdonalds-hires-

             former-mythbuster-to-find-out/

[3] Geller, M. (2012, April). Ammonia used in many foods, not just pink slime| Reuters. Retrieved 

             from http://www.reuters.com/article/us-food-ammonia-idUSBRE8331B420120404

[4] New York State: Department of Health. (2005, May). The facts about ammonia. Retrieved from 

             https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/chemical_ terrorism/ammonia_tech.htm

[5] The Encyclopedia of Earth. (2011, September). Health effects of ammonia. Retrieved from 

             http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/153328/

Fluoride Fluorine: What do you mean?

FLUORIDE FLUORINE:WHAT DO YOU MEAN? 

[1]

Have you ever heard of the terms fluoride and fluorine? Although they sound similar, they are in fact different! What makes them so different from one another? FLUORIDE is often found as sodium fluoride which is an inorganic compound that has a chemical formula of NaF, and is composed of negative fluoride ions (F-) and positive sodium ions (Na+) [3]. On the other hand, FLUORINE is an element (F) and exists as a highly toxic pale yellow gas [3]. 

Now that we have established the difference between FLUORIDE and FLUORINE why do we care? Sodium fluoride is a common chemical found in toothpaste, water, and it is even used in the manufacturing of some steel [1]. It is important to understand the chemical nature of sodium fluoride as it surrounds us on a daily basis. Understanding the proper use of any chemical is important to ensure any possible negative impacts on human any environmental health are minimal.

[2]

Is Sodium Fluoride Safe?

Sodium fluoride is in fact safe in small doses. A toxic does can cause vomiting, nausea, burning of the digestive tract, and abdominal pain however sodium fluoride in our toothpaste and water is minimal and will not lead to toxic effects [3]. The LD50 = 52 mg/Kg in rat [2]. This means that 52mg/Kg would be required in one dose to cause death. Although that may seem scary, don't be afraid!! None of the products on the market contain anywhere close to that amount of fluoride, and any fluoride that is not used by the body will be excreted through the urine. Often toothpaste contains 0.15% sodium fluoride which is equivalent to 0.3 mg [4]. Treated water contains roughly 1.2 ppm or .12% which is also safe for consumption [4]. 

Toothpaste and Water Treatment

[3]

Why would we want sodium fluoride in our toothpaste and water? Well, it is great for our teeth! How so? Sodium fluoride is a by product of treating calcium phosphate with sulphuric acid [3]. The main minerals that make up the outer layer of the teeth are calcium and phosphate [1]. Fluoride has the ability to help deposit these minerals on the tooth which helps prevent tooth decay due to acidic conditions that fluctuate in the oral cavity. In terms of water treatment, fluoride in the water has the ability to reach the general population. This allows fluoride to be distributed to everyone, including individuals who may not have the best oral hygiene practice or the resources to receive proper dental care. Water treatment can be controversial, however it does allow access to fluoride which may not be available to everyone otherwise. 

As a whole, sodium fluoride is a safe and reliable resource that can be used to help reduce tooth decay when used properly. Do not fear! Sodium fluoride will help keep your smile healthy and happy. 

References 
 [1]Common Uses of Sodium Fluoride. (2016). Retrieved from 
         http://www.livestrong.com/article/344745-   common-uses-of-sodium-fluoride/

[2]MSDS: Sodium Fluoride. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927595

[3] Sodium Fluoride. (2006). In N. Schlager, J. Weisblatt, & D. E. Newton (Eds.), Chemical Compounds (Vol. 3, pp. 747-751). Detroit: UXL. Retrieved from 
 http://library.mtroyal.ca:2200/ps/i.doid=GALE%7CCX3441700187&v=2.1&u=mtroyalc&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=7dd19c355e338b776fdc9e86a67b49fa

[4]Oral Answers. (2011). Is there more fluoride in a peas sized amount of toothpaste or a litre of    
       water?. Retrieved from http://www.oralanswers.com/is-there-more-fluoride-in-a-pea-sized- 
       amount-of-toothpaste-or-a-liter-of-water/

Image Refernces 
[1]http://www.clker.com/cliparts/q/t/4/1/F/J/blue-toothbrush-hi.png
[2]http://ottawadowntowndentist.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/toothpaste.jpg
[3]http://townofmorris.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/tap-water.jpg

Why avoid Gluten? Its Yummy!

Now that you’re staring at this picture, what do you see? One side is trying to convince you, "EAT ME" and the other, "AVOID ME". Well just for your information, neither side is better than the other. Yes of course one side looks fresher, natural, and seemed to be healthier. But does that mean that food on the other side is not good for you? Or it doesn't taste good? Or what makes it so unhealthy? The only difference that I see in these two pictures is one side contains gluten foods and other side contains gluten free foods. Therefore this picture is convincing us that food that contains gluten should be avoided. Now, is it a good idea to eliminate gluten from your daily diet? 

Let's start with breakfast. Many of us start our day with a slice of bread, donut or a muffin and a coffee weather its from Tim Horton or homemade. A sandwich for lunch is amazing. Then a plate of pasta for dinner is ideal. Sometime between meals we go for ice cream and crackers. We all love to eat these food and we can't deny it. But the solid fact is, all these food contains gluten. We've been such a big fan of breads, sandwich, pastas, ice creams and the list goes on, for many years, so why avoid it now? If you can digest it and doesn't make you sick there shouldn't be any valid reason to eliminate gluten from you diet beside the rumors being said that gluten is not healthy. 

Of course gluten is not made for everyone. Not everyone can eat it neither digest it. In fact, some people are negatively reacted to gluten. This is common in people who are suffering from celiac disease. People who have celiac disease, when gluten reaches the stomach and then it is exposed to the cell of immune system, they mistakenly take it a foreign invader, like a bacteria [1]. In celiac disease (the most severe form of gluten sensitivity), the immune system attacks the gluten proteins, but it also attacks an enzyme in the cells of digestive tract. Therefore, gluten exposure in celiac causes the immune system to attack both the gluten as well as the intestinal wall itself [1]. So if these people continue to eat the food we love such as breads, pasta, donuts, cookies, ice cream and so on, they will certainly experience nutrient deficiencies, various digestive issues, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, anemia, fatigue, failure to thrive as well as many other serious disease and even death [1]. Therefore, it is important they avoid gluten and eat this boring fresh, natural food also known as healthy food.

But don't be scare guys! I have couple of good news for you. First, celiac disease is very rare among young people. It usually develops at a later age. If your going to high school, then you should enjoy eating sandwiches and go for ice cream with your friends. Second good news is if your parents or grand parents are not gluten sensitive neither suffering from celiac disease, then the chances are you'll have 100% freedom to eat gluten containing food for the rest of your life. If you notice any of the symptoms that I mentioned above, then you must talk to your parents and go see a doctor. Maybe it's not the gluten that is making you sick, it could be other ingredients in the food. Celiac disease is known as an autoimmune condition that tends to run within the families [2]. So if your ancestors had celiac disease there is a possibility that you'll have to migrate across the picture and adapt the gluten-free diet at a later age. And the final good news is, people live with the illusion that gluten-containing food is bad for health and it introduces many illnesses. Then, they decide to eat gluten-free foods. DON'T LISTEN TO THEM! They are stupid and misguiding you. Actually gluten-free diets lack of certain sugars, proteins, vitamins, and fibers that you need in order for your body to function [3].

So go ahead guys, don't be fooled with what people say about gluten. You should only worry about not eating gluten if you’re suffering from celiac disease, which is very rare, if you’re still in high school. I would never stop you from not consuming gluten so go enjoy all kind of foods, weather is gluten (breads, pasta, cookies, crackers) or gluten-free (fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, and fish).

References

[1] Gunnars, K. (2013, November). 6 Reasons Why Gluten is Bad For Some People. In Authority Nutrition. Retrieved March 31, 2016, from https://authoritynutrition.com/6-shocking-reasons-why-gluten-is-bad/

[2] Wheeler, R. B. (2014, November 20). Celiac Later in Life: Can You Become Gluten Intolerant?. In EverydayHealth. Retrieved April 12, 2016, from http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/developing-celiac-later-life-can-you-become-gluten-intolerant/

Jaret, P. (n.d.). The Truth About Gluten. In WebMD. Retrieved April 6, 2016, from http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthy-kitchen-11/truth-about-gluten