Are Micro plastics in the Tea Bags Dangerous for Our Health?

Tea bags in the box

Tea in the tea bags have been long time around in the market, more than two decades may be. It is a reasonable question that what made of tea bags?

It is generally believed, the tea bags made from:

- hemp (fibers from specific plants)

- bio plastics made from corn (it is biodegradable plastics)

- nylon

- Polyethylene Terephthalate

Some sources said that tea bags are mainly made of natural fibers, friendly materials, but using plastic as seal.

Other sources reported about using of plastic is more common than biodegradable fibers to make tea bags sold in the groceries.

Then, Are Micro plastics in the Teabag Dangerous for our Health?

Floating tea in the mug

Scientists mentioned that the tea bags could release “tiny” plastics into hot waters. Number of plastics per bag:

- 11.6 billion micro plastics

- 3.1 billion nanoplastics (smaller than micro plastics)

No prove that there is health risk to drink tea from tea bags as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

To confirm the WHO reported, then researchers observed whether micro plastic came out from tea bags is toxic or not.

The researchers found that water fleas have survived from exposing of contaminated micro plastics. Thus, tea bags plastic is safe for human health.

However, I myself did not drink tea from tea bags recently for my own convenient. How about you? Do you drink tea from tea bags? 

# You may like to read:

- Why Many Big Cities are Sinking? | Tanza Erlambang Update

Can Blood Sugar Hold at Normal Level Without Medication? - Diabetes 12

Blood control of Diabetes patient, just for illustration

(credit to Diet Doctor).

Some may have a question: can we cure diabetes? The answer is no, but patients may manage or maintain blood sugar to normal level.

Normal or near normal level of blood sugar may be hold without medication by such as:

- healthy or low caloric diet

- weight loss

It is reported that low calorie diets, less than 850 calories per day affects on blood sugar level.

The level could be normal in certain period. If diet is done for 5 months, the normal range would be for 1 year.

In addition to normal or near normal blood sugar level, low calorie diet could control blood pressure as well.

Weight loss is important too. Few pounds loss able to manage blood sugar level, and even diabetes free in some cases.

Weight loss (credit to Medical Xpress)

Possible diabetes free if diagnosed early, and taken action to loss weight as soon as possible.

Lost about 30 pounds (14 kg) for type 2 diabetes patients have positive effects in terms of:

- cells to control blood sugar will work well

- lower fat in liver and pancreas help beta cells to release insulin to manage blood sugar.

It is believed that to control blood glucose by lower calorie diets consumption and weight loss program is better than by medications (insulin injection or drugs) at early stage of diabetes type 2 patients.

Some American Customs are not Apply in Other Countries – part 1

Free refill in many coffee shops in America

Every countries have their own customs, some not apply to other countries as of America.

Some American customs are considered not normal, pretty bad and even cruel to other countries. Just for few examples:

- Free refill

- Arrival on scheduled

- Left hand

- Open the gift

- Finishing the food

- Shoes inside rooms

- Older money

- Imperial system

No free refill for drinks in many countries. Refill means pay another drink. Drinking water not free as well.

Writing with left hand, illustration purpose.

In America or other industry countries that we “require” to arrive on time. My experienced in Japan that Japanese arrived 15 or 30 minutes before schedule.

But not in developing countries such as in many Asian and South American countries. If we come on time, it means we arrive too early, could be 1 hour before schedule in the USA.

It is traditional or religious or even practical values to use right hand in many Asian countries.

They could be Buddhism, Confucianism or Shintoism countries (China, South Korea or Japan); Hinduism countries (India or Nepal); and Muslim countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia or middle east).

Never use left hand for any purposes (shake hand, writing, eating) in those countries.

# To be continued to part 2

## You may like to read:

1) - What is Type 2 Diabetes? - Diabetes 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

2) - What is the Relationship between Eggs and Diabetes? - Diabetes 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

3) - Why Pancreas of Type 2 Diabetic Persons Produce Less Insulin? - Diabetes 3 | Tanza Erlambang Update

4) - Could Medicines Affect on Pancreas to Produce Insulin? - Diabetes 4 | Tanza Erlambang Update

5) - Effect of Metabolic on Beta Cells in the Pancreas - Diabetes 5 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Why Many Big Cities are Sinking? | Tanza Erlambang Update

What is the Meaning of Cheaper Cities in the USA?

A corner of Gainesville, Georgia

People have many reasons to live or move in the cities. For some Americans, the considerations could be:

- total population

- population growth, include migration

- cost of living

- housing values

- household income.

The most decision factor is “living cost.” Then, What is the Meaning of Cheaper Cities in the USA?

Cheaper cities mean that the average cost of living in those cities is below national averages.

It is estimated that average cost of living in the USA is US$ 11,000 per person per year. Family of 4 could reach US$ 44,000 per year.

Sebring city, Florida

In term of cheaper place, these 10 cities are below average of national living cost:

- Gainesville, Georgia

- Spartanburg, South Carolina

- Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, South Carolina

- Huntsville, Alabama,

- Bowling Green, Kentucky

- Burlington, North Carolina

- Salisbury, MD-DE

- Sebring, Florida

- Auburn-Opelika, Alabama

- Homosassa Springs, Florida

Above 10 cities are favorite places to live in America currently. Two of them in Florida quite surprise me, because I thought Florida was expensive state due to its famous for tourist destination.

However, they are not big cities like Los Angeles or New York.

I live in the current community due to its moderate in terms of population (250,000 people), cost of living (lower than national average), good public facilities and good education system.

What are the main reasons for you to live in your current town

You may like to read:

-  Why Many Big Cities are Sinking? | Tanza Erlambang Update

What Effect of Diversity Patrons on the Arts in the 15th-18th centuries? - part 2

Ludovico Sforza, duke of Milan

We talked little bit about Isabella D'este, one of important figures in “renaissance period (15th-18th centuries).” Please read: What Effect of Diversity Patrons on the Arts in the 15th-18th centuries? - part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Ludovico Sforza is another crucial figures in the period, patron of Leonardo da Vinci for 17 years.

Leonardo da vinci, a genius of many areas, including:

- paintings

- sculpture

- science

- music

- mathematics

- literature

- astronamy

- engineering

- architect

The Last supper, work of art by Leonardo da Vinci

Ludovico Sforza commissioned one of the monumental art woks, the Last Supper.

The work started in 1495 and completed in 1498. This is part of renovation series for mausoleum of Storza family.

As duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza sponsored extensive works such as:

- designed canals

- developed streets with gardens

- improved university

- built cathedral

- sponsored murals

In my opinion that the renaissance began in Italy, and then shared by great nations in Europe.

New patrons not only stimulate development of art, but also in scholarship and in science in Europe and even beyond.

These patrons had organized various elements of modern spirit, where other nations should learn to have better live in the future.

You may like to read:

-  Why Many Big Cities are Sinking? | Tanza Erlambang Update

References

Muscato, C. 2003. Patrons of Renaissance Art: Roles, Influence & Famous Works. Retrieved from study.com..

Wikiwand. 2016. Portrait of Isabella d'Este (Titian). Retrieved from wikiwand.

Extinction of Rhinoceros in Borneo Island Indonesia

Rhino in the jungle of Sumatra

It is called Sumatra rhino, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, had been lived in three places:

- Malaysia peninsula, Malaysia

- Borneo, belong to both Malaysia and Indonesian

- Sumatra, Indonesia bigger Island

Rhino was declared extinct in Malaysia Borneo in 2015, and the last Rhino founded died in Malaysia peninsula in 2016.

People had seen few rhinos in Indonesian Borneo, and estimated no more than 80 rhinos live in Sumatra rain forest.

Why rhinos population depleted and even extinction in some areas? The reasons:

- hunting for pleasure

- poaching for rhino horns

- habitat loss due to palm plantations and other purposes

- forest burning every year for industry purposes.

The rhino horn is believed to have specif values, hence trade illegally. Demand for horns are increasing dramatically since 2007.

A female rhino with her a newborn baby.

Super natural beliefs of rhino horns are:

- good for traditional medicine such as Chinese medicines

- tonic of rhino horns could de-toxify body, especially after drinking alcohol.

- symbol for wealth and success.

Forest burning not only affect on rhino population, but also caused endangered for many animals. They are included:

- Clouded leopard

- Sun bear

- Elephant

- Tiger

- Orangutan

Burning produces carbon dioxide in great number compared to industries producing. This is a man made catastrophe where the smokes spread to neighboring countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

This intentionally forest burning need to be stopped by international community soon.

Could Green Tea Improve Insulin Sensitivity? - Diabetes 11

A box of teabags green tea

We discussed about benefit of coffee to reduce risk of diabetes (Is there Relationship between Coffee and Type 2 Diabetes? - Diabetes 10 | Tanza Erlambang Update). This post will talk about green tea.

Term of insulin sensitivity defines as cells responds to insulin improvement, then reduce insulin resistance.

It is important for diabetic patients, because less insulin resistance means more sugar burned, then blood sugar reduced.

The question then: how to improve insulin sensitivity naturally? Drink green tea. It is because green tea contains

- EGCG, a powerful antioxidant “Epi Gallo Catechin Gallate.”

- Polyphenols

Both EGCG and Polyphenols are able to decrease absorption and digestion of glucose, then less insulin resistant and improve insulin sensitivity.

Moreover, benefits of drinking green tea everyday for diabetic patients are:

- blood glucose level management

- hemoglobin A1C level management.

In addition to control diabetes, together with coffee, green tea with less caffeine is known for improvement of the healthy health. 

A tea plantation, beautiful and green

Flavonoids is responsible for healthy health. It is informed that good to consume 400 mg Flavonoids per day.

One cup of green tea contains 150 mg of Flavonoids, thus, it is suitable to drink two to three cups of green tea per day.

By drinking green tea in several cups and consume balance diets lead to lower blood pressure and weight loss that is good for diabetes patients.

It is fact that Japanese people drink several cups of green tea per day have lower risk to get type 2 diabetes.

Why not we start to drink green tea regularly?

Had USA Provided Bomb Sniffing Dogs to other Countries?

A malnourished USA bomb sniffing dog in a foreign country

(credit to Military.com)

USA State Department well known to provides “civilian foreign aid and development assistance” to countries around the globe.

One of aid and assistants is sending “bomb sniffing dogs” to combat terrorism to several countries.

Yes, there are 10 countries had accepted well training sniffing dogs:

- Bahrain

- Egypt

- Indonesia

- Lebanon

- Mexico

- Morocco

- Nepal

- Jordan

- Oman

- Thailand

A bomb sniffing dog in the USA airport (credit to MPR news)

The Transport Security Administration (TSA) said that cost for training a bomb sniffing dog is very expensive.

Cost per dog for training is US$ 218,000, and take care for dog welfare could be US$ 158,00 per year.

More than 180 dogs are sent to at least 10 countries as mentioned above. Unfortunately, these canines are not treated well in certain countries, lead to poor conditions and even death.

In Jordan, bomb sniffing dogs are found the worst. 10 unhealthy dogs are died from 2008 to 2016.

Sniffing dogs are facing skin diseases and overweight in Indonesia. The relate agency in Mexico has no welfare and health records for dogs.

The questions then:

- how the unhealthy and poor condition dogs be able to detect explosive devices and deterring terrorism?

- why US state department had no oversight committee or monitor during dogs deployment in partner countries?

Finally, what do you think? Do you have any suggestions?

How to Keep our Memory to Work until 90 Years old? - Part 2

Walking or jogging, simple exercises

At previous post (How to Keep our Memory to Work until Age 90? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update), we talked little bit about role of diets (fish and green vegetable) to maintain our memory until age 90s.

We discuss about other topics in this post, they are:

- exercises

- friendships

- blood pressure control

- sleeping enough and well

- stress management

- learning a lot

Exercises such as walking 10,000 steps everyday will spur brain cells to grow. In addition, body movement known to maintain healthy brain and improve our physical conditions.

Friendship, just for illustration (credit to tribunnews)

Good friendships enduce a “specific molecule” called as “Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor” (BDNF) which function to repair and create new connection of brain cells. Hence, it will increase memory to work efficient.

Blood pressure relate to increase the risk of many diseases including to get brain suffer or loss memory in older age. It is important to maintain our blood pressure at normal level.

Sleep well will produce hormone to keep brain healthy and processes well. Deep sleep also clean brain waste called as beta amyloid.

Aggregation of beta amyloid in the brain may block neural communications, then lead to Alzheimer diseases.

Managing stress is important to maintain cognitive and mental health. It is said that stress contributed to decline cognitive performance after age 70s.

Finally, learning new skills such as writing classes could improve the memory up to age 90s or even more.