One problem with having a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables is that they can spoil and there's wastage. Many foods ripen and spoil due to the release of ethylene. For detailed info about this process see here.
There is a solution in the form of ethylene absorbing bags. The most well known brand is Evert Fresh but these are not available in Singapore. There was another brand called Ever Fresh from japan that used to be carried by Cold Storage but no more!
Fortunatley, I hunted down the local distributor who still carries the bags. At S$50 for 100 bags, this is cheaper than the Evert-Fresh product available at Amazon.
You can buy them here (call first to confirm stock):
Tantraco Ent Pte Ltd
32, Ang Mo Kio Ind Pk 2
#04-17, Sing Ind Complex
Singapore 569510
Phone : (65) 64823575
Fax : (65) 64824398
Email : info@tantraco.com.sg
Open 9-6pm weekdays.
I got some and will test in coming weeks to compare to normal bags. I use them now - so far so good but cannot say how much better they are than normal plastic bags. But they are sturdy and re-useable and so far nothing has spoiled using them.
Labels: diet, food, health, singapore
There is metabolic variance within the human species which means that there is no one diet that will suit everyone.
- Andrew P
A very pragmatic rebuttal of Stephen Byrnes' Myths of Vegetarianism is offered by mystery man Andrew P. Although I am definitely an omnivore, I found AP's article valuable. Instead of getting into the usual unsubstantiatedarguments offered by many vegetarians (and more adamantly by vegans) - like "human's aren't designed to eat meat" - he sticks to facts and highlights some of the pitfalls of an unhealthy vegetarian diet which are often overlooked.
While AP appears to be a mainstream vegetarian, Byrnes comes from a school of nutrition which can best be described as "New is Old." He and other members of the Weston A Price Foundation are doing what they can to roll back to a time before major campaigns by dairy, soy and vegetable oil companies scared people off from what was healthy in our traditional diet. The damage caused by big industry includes:
- Increased consumption of highly processed polyunsaturated oils and thus trans fatty acids. People were encouraged to consume unstable oils high in transfatty acids because "saturated fat and cholesterol leads to heart disease." Ironically, the transfatty acids people were encouraged to consume are much worse culprits. The result being a steady increase in cardiovascular disease ever since. In case you hadn't heard, blaming heart disease on cholesterol is like blaming fires on firemen. If this is news, read more.
- Fresh milk was pasteurised and raw milk became illegal. No doubt this was motivated by a desire to overcome some serious problems which emerged with modern dairy farming however it is a practice with potential hazards. More
- As for soy, it's not the health food it is touted to be and is increasingly linked to a number of health issues. More
Like any movement, the WAP Foundation has it's detractors and they have been called, amongst other things, a cabal of cranks, crackpots and thieves. What's interesting is they have succeeded in not only pissing off the vegetarians but the mainstream meat eaters as well. This probably means they are on to something.
So who is right? Ask me again in 100 years. In the meantime, educate yourself and choose wisely. But if you do choose to go the vegan route, read this carefully. And while you're at it, you should think about going mostly or all raw.
For Your Entertainment:
The Meatrix | 
The Meatrix II | 
Town of Allopath |
Labels: diet, food, health
Recently I've moved to a "mostly raw" diet. To facilitate putting together tasty gourmet raw meals, certain tools are recommended. Finding these in Singapore was no easy job. So here, for those interested, are the fruits of my research. Note that all prices are in Singapore dollars:
Dehydrators
- Ezidri - You can buy this from Tangs or direct from the distributor in Singapore, K-Industrial. They have two models at $200 (500W) and $300 (1000W). These are relatively inexpensive but of course the larger model will cost more in electricity bills. It is expandable and extra trays, sheets and spacer trays are fairly cheap ($5-$15).
- Excalibur - This is the premier choice of raw foodies. The Fit For Life Center (details below) sells the Excalibur 2900 model (600W) for $650.
Juicers
If you don't already know why you need a masticating juicer, then read this. There is also a great comparison of juicers here.
- Champion - top choice if you do NOT intend to juice wheat grass. Available at the Fit For Life Center ($690).
- Twin Health - Fit For Life Center, Organic Paradise ($999), Brown Rice Paradise ($999)
- Green Star - Organic Paradise ($939)
- Samson 6 in 1 - Organic Paradise ($480), Brown Rice Paradise ($480)
Mandoline
This is the queen of food slicers. Amazon info here. This is a serious piece of kitchen equipment engineered to a high standard. You can probably get another food slicer for less but I was unable to find one that would meet my needs (this would have done fine but where to find?). So, I ended up buying a professional model. If this is out of your price range, look for a food slicer that would let you cut cucumbers and zucchinis length-wise into small, thin strands. If your machine can do this, it can probably do most other things you would want of it. Update: see comments below
- Lau Choy Seng, the shop 2 doors down from Sia Huat on Temple Street ($170)
Blenders
Missing from this list are details of where to get a K-Tec or Vita Mix blender (with enough blending power to dispose of a corpse). This is because I have decided to stick with my Braun MX2050 (525W) blender until it dies as it seems rather sturdy and is coping with the present load. When I ultimately research the acquisition of these items, I will update this entry.
Food Processors
There are a number of different food processors available at Tangs, Best Denki, etc., including some all stainless steel professional models that can run you up to $1000.I'm going with a cheap Phillips model for the time being as there seems to be no definitive guidance from the raw community on the ultimate food processor and I take that to mean - any will do in a pinch.
I would recommend, however, that whatever model you purchase, look for (1) more stainless steel parts versus plastic and (2) a large volume capacity. This model, for instance, can hold up to 7 cups. If you are going raw, being able to process food in bulk is very handy. My present food processor barely holds 4 cups and it's a bit of a drag.
Companies
Fit For Life Centre
Blk 462 Crawford Lane #02-55
Singapore 190462
T: 6291-8080, 6392-6088
Hours: 9am - 5:30pm M-F; 9am - 1pm Sat
Brown Rice Paradise
Level 3 Tanglin Mall
163 Tanglin Road
Singapore 247933
Tel: 6738-1121
Organic Paradise
5 Koek Road
Cuppage Plaza #01-25/27
S228796
Tel: 67371824, 67362089
Organic Paradise
62, Temple Road
S058607
Lau Choy Seng info
No.23/ 25 Temple Street, Tel: 6223-5486
Labels: diet, food, singapore
