Sunday, December 29, 2019

Scoville Scale Organoleptic Test

The Scoville scale is a measure of how pungent or spicy hot chili peppers and other chemicals are. Do you know how the scale is determined and what it means? Origin of the Scoville Scale The Scoville scale is named for American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville, who devised the Scoville Organoleptic Test in 1912 to measure the amount of capsaicin in hot peppers. Capsaicin is the chemical responsible for most of the spicy heat of peppers and certain other foods. How to Measure Scoville To perform the Scoville Organoleptic Test, an alcohol extract of capsaicin oil from a dried pepper is mixed with a solution of water and sugar to the point where a panel of taste-testers can barely detect the heat of the pepper. The pepper is assigned Scoville units based on how much the oil was diluted with water in order to reach this point. As an example, if a pepper has a Scoville rating of 50,000, that means capsaicin oil from that pepper was diluted 50,000 times before the testers could just barely detect the heat. The higher the Scoville rating, the hotter the pepper. Tasters on the panel taste one sample per session so that the results from one sample dont interfere with subsequent testing. Even so, the test is subjective because it relies on human taste, so it is inherently imprecise. Scoville ratings for peppers also change according to a type of peppers growing conditions (especially humidity and soil), maturity, seed lineage, and other factors. The Scoville rating for a t ype of pepper may vary naturally by a factor of 10 or more. Scoville Scale and Chemicals The hottest hot pepper on the Scoville scale is the Carolina Reaper, with a Scoville rating of 2.2 million Scoville units, followed by the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion pepper, with a Scoville rating of around 1.6 million Scoville units (compared with 16 million Scoville units for pure capsaicin). Other extremely hot and pungent peppers include the Naga Jolokia or Bhut Jolokia and its cultivars, the Ghost chili, and Dorset Naga. However, other plants produce spicy hot chemicals that can be measured using the Scoville scale, including piperine from black pepper and gingerol from ginger. The hottest chemical is resiniferatoxin, which comes from a species of resin spurge, a cactus-like plant found in Morocco. Resiniferatoxin has a Scoville rating a thousand times hotter than pure capsaicin from hot peppers, or over 16 billion  Scoville units! ASTA Pungency Units Because the Scoville test is subjective, the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) uses high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to accurately measure the concentration of spice-producing chemicals. The value is expressed in ASTA Pungency Units, where different chemicals are mathematically weighted according to their capacity to produce a sensation of heat. The conversion for ASTA Pungency Units to Scoville heat units is that ASTA pungency units are multiplied by 15 to give equivalent Scoville units (1 ASTA pungency unit 15 Scoville units). Even though HPLC gives an accurate measurement of the chemical concentration, the conversion to Scoville units is a little off, since converting ASTA Pungency Units to Scoville Units yields a value from 20 to 50 percent lower than the value from the original Scoville Organoleptic Test. Scoville Scale for Peppers Scoville heat units Pepper Type 1,500,000–2,000,000 Pepper spray, Trinidad Moruga Scorpion 855,000–1,463,700 Naga Viper pepper, Infinity chili, Bhut Jolokia chili pepper, Bedfordshire Super Naga, Trinidad Scorpion, Butch T pepper 350,000–580,000 Red Savina habanero 100,000–350,000 Habanero chili, Scotch bonnet pepper, Peruvian White Habanero, Datil pepper, Rocoto, Madame Jeanette, Jamaican hot pepper, Guyana Wiri Wiri 50,000–100,000 Byadgi chili, Bird's eye chili (Thai chili), Malagueta pepper, Chiltepin pepper, Piri piri, Pequin pepper 30,000–50,000 Guntur chilli, Cayenne pepper, Ajà ­ pepper, Tabasco pepper, Cumari pepper, Katara 10,000–23,000 Serrano pepper, Peter pepper, Aleppo pepper 3,500–8,000 Tabasco sauce, Espelette pepper, Jalapeà ±o pepper, Chipotle pepper, Guajillo pepper, some Anaheim peppers, Hungarian wax pepper 1,000–2,500 Some Anaheim peppers, Poblano pepper, Rocotillo pepper, Peppadew 100–900 Pimento, Peperoncini, Banana pepper No significant heat Bell pepper, Cubanelle, Aji dulce Tips to Make Hot Peppers Stop Burning Capsaicin isnt water-soluble, so drinking cold water wont ease the burn of a hot pepper. Drinking alcohol is even worse because the capsaicin dissolves in it and gets spread around your mouth. The molecule binds to pain receptors, so the trick is to either neutralize alkaline capsaicin  with acidic food or drink (for example, soda or citrus) or surround it with fatty food (for example, sour cream or cheese).

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Childhood Obesity An Epidemic - 876 Words

Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is more than a major issue in the United States: it is an epidemic. The number of overweight and obese children in America has increased at an alarming rate over the past years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years [1]. American Heart Association stated, â€Å"Today one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese; nearly triple the rate in 1963† [5]. Unfortunately, this affects our children physically, mentally, and long-term. Obesity is not specifically just being a few pounds overweight. A child is considered obese when his or her weight, compared to height, is abnormal by ten pounds or more. This is a growing issue in children ages 7-17 and is getting worse. The most effective methods of hindering this epidemic are by mandating a quality and nutritious school lunch program, increasing childhood activity initiatives, and educating caretakers at home. Schools play an important role in promoting physical activity and healthy eating habits, which are a fundamental component of the American educational experience. Mrs. Michelle Obama’s â€Å"We Can† program is great for children in every shape and form [4]. The â€Å"We Can† program stands for ways to enhance children s activity nutrition. It is a national movement designed to give parents, caregivers, and entire communities a way to help children 8 to 13Show MoreRelatedObesity : Childhood Obesity Epidemic1418 Words   |  6 Pagesh is article â€Å"There is no Childhood Obesity Epidemic† discussed the there is a â€Å"stunning† drop in childhood obesity rate. He claims that obesity rates among two to five year olds have plunged over the past decade, and that the so called â€Å"obesity epidemic† had ended. I strongly disagree with Campos view that there is no childhood obesity epidemic, this is due to the researches that was done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which shows that childhood obesity has more than doubled inRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Childhood Obesity1216 Words   |  5 Pagesintervening in order to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity claim that, â€Å"parents who strive to keep their kids healthy may not have all the tools they need to do so† (â€Å"Childhood Obesity.† Issues Controversies). Therefore supporters agree that the government â€Å"should step in and enable parents to do the best job they can† (â€Å"Childhood Obesity.â €  Issues Controversies). Joe Thompson, â€Å"director of the Rober Wood Foundation Center to prevent Childhood Obesity† claims that not all parents are ableRead MoreChildhood Obesity : An Epidemic834 Words   |  4 PagesIn the United States, childhood obesity is an epidemic and in the past 30 years, childhood obesity have had nearly tripled. There are 31 % of American children and adolescents are either overweight or obese. And according to the numbers, more than 23 million of American children are either overweight or obese and more than 12 million are obese (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2013). The complications of obesity in the childhood period are broad, those include but limited to: hypertensionRead MoreChildhood Obesity : An Epidemic1036 Words   |  5 PagesRainsu Kumbhani All About Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is an epidemic in U.S. In the year of 2012, about â€Å"one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.† Also, percentages of childhood obesity have increased by over ten percent in the last thirty years in children and adolescents (Childhood Obesity Facts 2015). These statistics are shocking, and many people are concerned for the health of their children. This medical condition, as defined by Mayo Clinic, leads to seriousRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Childhood Obesity Essay1053 Words   |  5 PagesThe Epidemic of Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity continues to increase substantially each generation, especially here in the United States. Today, children have become more lazy while eating unhealthy and in excess. This trend ultimately results in increased healthcare problems throughout their life. Childhood obesity has increased because children eat in excess, they are allowed to eat food which is unhealthy, they lack the exercise needed to maintain a healthy weight, and are permittedRead MoreThe Epidemic of Childhood Obesity2154 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction Childhood obesity is an epidemic that goes on throughout the United States. Studies have shown how obesity in children may start, and how it affects each and every child in America. Childhood obesity has been getting attention in the media from famous celebrities all the way to the First Lady of the United States. There are many things that cause childhood obesity and very few ways to stop it. However, there are people out there who are trying to help by getting children active, eatingRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Childhood Obesity3013 Words   |  13 Pages The epidemic of childhood obesity Childhood obesity is an important issue because of this diseases impact over the past few years. With the changing of lifestyles, the production of children who are not as healthy as they should be has increased. Due to these results, a widespread of children being obese has occurred. The Center for Disease Control, CDC, distinguishes between being overweight and being obese. Overweight simply means that the weight is high compared to others in the same height categoryRead MoreChildhood Obesity : An Epidemic Essay1641 Words   |  7 PagesChildhood obesity is an epidemic in America. Many experts like doctors and dietitians have narrowed the epidemic to a few causes some being lack of exercise, genetics, and food insecurity. Exercise and genetics could lead to obesity in the way that you need exercise to burn fat and some people are genetically more inclined to store more fat. Obesity is having excessive amount of fat that could lead to other health problem which is scary to think that childhood obesity is something that is on theRea d MoreChildhood Obesity : An Epidemic Essay1954 Words   |  8 PagesChildhood obesity is not merely an issue in the United States- it is an epidemic. The number of overweight and obese children in America has increased at an alarming rate over the past years, and there is no chance of it slowing down unless action is taken. Obesity puts children at a high risk of developing many serious illnesses. Not only do children who are obese have unhealthy weights, but they also have a high risk of having weak lungs, poor blood quality, and a variety of other sicknesses. ParentsRead MoreChildhood Obesity Is An Epidemic878 Words   |  4 PagesChildhood obesity is an epidemic that has been spreading around the United States like a wild fire in a dry field, increasing more and more without much resistance to stop it from spreading. The SPARK PE program was created in 1989, and aims to be that resistance against childhood obesity, with carefully planned programs in hopes of showing the youth s of America that exercise and proper nutrition can lead to a successful, healthy life (SPARK). SPARK aims at achieving this goal by carefully planning

Friday, December 13, 2019

The Benefits of Marijuana Use for Medical Purposes Free Essays

It is normal for people to feel that rules are meant to forbid. When one goes out for a short drive for instance, he or she would encounter a lot of rules to observe – speed-limits, stop-lights, pedestrian lanes, no right or left turn signals, among many others. But it is also not wrong to think that rules, while they forbid certain things to be done, are actually meant to regulate. We will write a custom essay sample on The Benefits of Marijuana Use for Medical Purposes or any similar topic only for you Order Now This means that laws exists not really to stop people from doing what they so desire. Instead, they are there to regulate so that the people can live in a decent and harmonious society. Currently, the use of marijuana is forbidden by a lot of world governments, the United States included. And it is normally accepted that such prohibition stems from the desire to implement peace and order in the society. We all know for a fact that marijuana is a type of drug that, when smoked, can elicit certain psychological and physical effects. People who smoke marijuana experience a feeling of being high – i.e., they feel a sensation characterized by being relaxed or pacified, or being a dreamy or semi-conscious state. Marijuana can make a person lose control as well. This is why, many authorities have forbidden its cultivation and possession, because its use can make a person do certain things he or she do not want to. Be that as it may, I still would like to argue that authorities must start looking at the possibility of legitimizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The use of marijuana, as mentioned, can bring about certain psychological effects. And many authorities fear that, if left unchecked, its widespread use can lead people to commit heinous crimes such as gang-wars, robbery, rape and even homicide. But in their desire to regulate the use of marijuana, in view of the noble purpose of maintaining peace and quiet within the society, many authorities have also undermined the benefits which can be gained from its use. Specifically, these governments are overlooking the fact that marijuana can help doctors, and all those attending to the medical needs of the patients, administer helpful ways to effectively address pain management. The hospital is a place where sick persons are treated. Most often than not, these treatments come with a very high price – i.e., these persons have to deal with the pain that comes with having to be treated with their illnesses. In a manner of speaking, doctors and medical practitioners are tasked not only with the duty to cure their patients’ sickness, but also to make sure that patients can tolerate the cure which would be given to them. There are certain cures – for instance, surgeries – which are accompanied with intolerable pain. This is why, pain management is an essential part of medical practice. In view of such need, I have reasons to think that governments can start looking into the possibility of allowing the legitimate use of marijuana, if only doctors and nurses can be helped in addressing pain management issues. Since marijuana can make a people less conscious of their bodily sensation, a dose of which can help patients deal with the pain of certain medical cures. This is especially true after surgeries. When a patient undergoes surgery, the aftermath can be very stressful. He or she needs to put up with the grimacing pain that comes with the medical procedure. And there are even times when, because of the intense pain, patients get to be traumatized because of the intense pain that comes with their operation. The use of anesthesia to address this pain issues is a common practice in the medical field. But because any high dosage giving out of anesthesia can seriously affect bodily functions, many doctors opt to use it quite sparingly. They would rather have the patients bear their post-procedure pain, than give them medicines which can seriously impede their normal physiological functions. How to cite The Benefits of Marijuana Use for Medical Purposes, Papers