PEWARNA BUATAN SANGAT BERBAHAYA

Zat pewarna makanan alami sejak dulu telah dikenal dalam industri makanan untuk meningkatkan daya tarik produk makanan tersebut, sehingga konsumen tergugah untuk membelinya. Namun celakanya sudah sejak lama pula terjadi penyalahgunaan dengan adanya pewarna buatan yang tidak diizinkan untuk digunakan sebagai zat aditif. Contoh yang sering ditemui di lapangan dan diberitakan di beberapa media massa adalah penggunaan bahan pewarna Rhodamine B, yaitu zat pewarna yang lazim digunakan dalam industri tekstil, namun digunakan sebagai pewarna makanan. Berbagai penelitian dan uji telah membuktikan bahwa dari penggunaan zat pewarna ini pada makanan dapat menyebabkan kerusakan pada organ hati.

Pada uji terhadap mencit, diperoleh hasil ; terjadi perubahan sel hati dari normal menjadi nekrosis dan jaringan disekitarnya mengalami disintegrasi atau disorganisasi.Kerusakan pada jaringan hati ditandai dengan terjadinya piknotik (sel yang melakukan pinositosis ) dan hiperkromatik (pewarnaan yang lebih kuat dari normal) dari nukleus.

Degenerasi lemak dan sitolisis dari sitoplasma. Batas antar sel tidak jelas, susunan sel tidak teratur dan sinusoid tidak utuh. Semakin tinggi dosis yang diberikan, maka semakin berat sekali tingkat kerusakan jaringan hati mencit. Secara statistik, terdapat perbedaan yang nyata antara kelompok kontrol dengan kelompok perlakuan dalam laju rata-rata pertambaan berat badan mencit. Sedangkan menurut studi yang dilakukan oleh Universitas Hokoriku, Kanazawa , Jepang.

Efek Rhodamine B pada kosmetik adalah pada proliferasi dari fibroblas yang diamati pada kultur sistem. Rhodamine B pada takaran 25 mikrogram/ml dan diatasnya secara signifikan menyebabkan pengurangan sel setelah 72 jam dalam kultur. Studi ini menghasilkan bahwa 50 mikrogram/ml dalam rhodamine B menyebabkan berkurangnya jumlah sel setelah 48 jam dan lebih. Studi ini juga menyarankan bahwa zat warna rhodamine B menghambat proliferasi tanpa mengurangi penggabungan sel. Gabungan [3H] timidine dan [14C] leusin dalam fraksi asam tidak terlarut dari membran sel secara signifikan dihambat oleh 50 mikrogram/ml Rhodamine B. Rhodamine 6G menyebabkan kerusakan sel yang parah dan rhodamine B secara signifikan mengurangi jumlah sel. Rhodamine 123 tidak memiliki efek yang berarti, sedangkan. Lebih jauh lagi, rhodamine B mengurangi jumlah sel vaskuler endothelial pada pembuluh darah sapi dan sel otot polos pada pembuluh darah hewan berkulit duri setelah 72 jam dalam kultur. Sehingga tidak berlebihan jika studi ini menyimpulkan bahwa rhodamine B menghambat proses proliferasi lipo fibroblast pada manusia.

Berikut ini adalah nama-nama lain dari Rhodamine B
- Acid Bruliant Pink B
- ADC Rhodamine B
- Aizen Rhodamine BH
- Aizen Rhodamine BHC
- Akiriku Rhodamine B
- Briliant Pink B
- Calcozine Rhodamine BL
- Calcozine Rhodamine BX
- Calcozine Rhodamine BXP
- Cerise Toner
- [9-(orto-Karboksifenil)-6-(dietilamino)-3H-xantin-3-ylidene] dietil ammonium klorida
- Cerise Toner X127
- Certiqual Rhodamine
- Cogilor Red 321.10
- Cosmetic Briliant Pink Bluish D conc
- Edicol Supra Rose B
- Elcozine rhodamine B
- Geranium Lake N
- Hexacol Rhodamine B Extra
- Rheonine B
- Symulex Magenta
- Takaoka Rhodmine B
- Tetraetilrhodamine

Sulitnya Mencari Makanan Sehat di Pasaran
Repotnya jadi konsumen di Indonesia! Memilih produk makanan yang sehat tampaknya perlu kerja keras. Bayangkan! Pengujian di laboratorium Balai Besar POM Yogyakarta, Semarang, maupun Medan, menunjukkan, setengah dari contoh produk pangan mengandung bahan tambahan makanan terlarang. Zat tambahan berbahaya yang paling sering ditambahkan produsen adalah zat pewarna rhodamine B dan methanyl yellow, pemanis buatan siklamat atau sakarin, serta pembuat kenyal berupa formalin atau boraks. Kendati, Badan POM telah cukup lama mensosialisasikan kepada konsumen maupun produsen, tampaknya belum ada tanda-tanda makanan yang mengandung zat berbahaya itu akan lenyap dari pasaran. Demikian terungkap dalam round table discussion perumusan strategi promosi keamanan pangan oleh Badan POM di Jakarta, belum lama ini. Masalah terbesar dalam penggunaan zat berbahaya ini adalah: kesadaran konsumen untuk lebih berhati-hati memilih makanan masih sangat rendah. Yang penting kenyang dan lezat. Sedangkan buat produsen, tak ada larangan tegas yang menghalangi mereka menambahkan zat apapun dalam produk mereka, terutama buat industri rumah tangga. Waspadai Makanan Berwarna Warni Rhodamine B, adalah pewarna tekstil, yang jadi favorit produsen untuk membuat warna produknya berwarna-warni menarik. Padahal, zat ini sangat beracun jika tertelan, terhirup maupun terserap lewat kulit. Zat ini juga bersifat karsinogenik atau dapat memicu kanker.

Pengawet Makanan yang Bikin Umur Tak Awet
Formalin adalah zat pengawet yang paling sering digunakan produsen makanan yang tak bertanggung jawab. Larutan formaldehid sebenarnya berfungsi sebagai desinfektan. Formaldehid biasa digunakan industri plastik, busa, dan resin untuk kertas, karpet, tekstil, cat, dan furnitur. Zat ini sangat iritatif, bisa menimbulkan luka bakar bahkan mematikan.

Download tgl 21/01/2009 dari www.bali-organic.com

TIP LANGSING	PEWARNA BUATAN
JENIS PENYAKIT JANTUNG	APA ITU KOLESTEROL ?
DIET MENURUNKAN HORMON	TIPS MENGATASI JERAWAT
PENUAAN DINI	LAKI-LAKI TUA BERPELUANG MENGHASILKAN ANAK CACAT

Americans have excessively high blood cholesterol levels. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP ATP III, 2001) states that a sound diet, weight loss and physical activity are the cornerstones of therapy for many individuals with cholesterol disorders. (Cholesterol-lowering drug therapy is reserved for those who have the very highest lipid levels or for those who have diabetes or coronary disease.) Atherosclerosis is a costly and fatal disease. Although there is no known cure, new evidence suggests that intensive lowering of serum total cholesterol, or more specifically, LDL cholesterol may retard the progression of coronary artery disease. The box, right, contains the NCEP cholesterol guidelines authored in 2001 by a panel of physicians and lipid experts. Reducing cholesterol through exercise, particularly LDL cholesterol, can be quite labor intensive. When individuals accumulate a sufficient weekly volume of exercise they can lower both total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and increase HDL-cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol). Exercise itself does not “burn off” cholesterol like it can with fat tissue. However, when exercise is of sufficient volume, for example, an adequate weekly frequency and duration, it can significantly reduce triglycerides and stimulate several metabolic enzyme systems in the muscles and liver to convert some of the cholesterol to a more favorable form, such as HDL-cholesterol. Reducing triglycerides decreases triglyceride-rich particles that are known to promote the growth of fatty deposits on artery walls. For many people with cholesterol disorders the first choice of therapy is dietary modification. In general, reducing high-glycemic carbohydrates reduces triglycerides, and reducing saturated and trans-fat foods decreases LDL-cholesterol. If LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) is high enough, dietary therapy is often supplemented with cholesterol-lowering drug therapy. Exercise is of tremendous benefit when used in combination with either of these two forms of therapy. For those who maintain a frequent and sufficient level of exercise, it is possible that their physician will reduce their cholesterol-lowering medication and in some cases stop it altogether. Here are guidelines that outline a systematic approach for favorably altering cholesterol levels with regular exercise: • If you have a less-than-desirable cholesterol level, or your doctor has indicated you have a cholesterol disorder, have your physician establish your cardiovascular health status before engaging in a vigorous exercise program. Your physician may elect to perform additional blood tests (e.g., C-reactive protein) and/or a graded exercise test with an ECG (treadmill stress test) on you first. • Choose dynamic forms of exercise that tend to last at least 20 to 30 minutes and are performed at moderate intensities. Moderate exercise intensities would be an approximate effort of four to seven, on a scale of one to ten with ten being near maximal exercise. • In general, for exercise to significantly lower cholesterol levels, a relatively high volume of exercise is recommended (e.g. 1,500 kcal or more per week). In 12 to 16 weeks this volume of exercise can reduce total cholesterol by 10 to 20 percent. Fifteen hundred calories expended during exercise is equivalent to three to four hours per week for the average unfit person performing moderate-intensity walking, swimming, walk-jogging or cycling. This volume of weekly exercise is approximately the same volume of physical activity required to lose weight. As a result, fat weight loss tends to be associated with increases in HDL-cholesterol and reductions in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels, especially fat lost around the waist and abdomen. A sample program would be to start with walking 20 minutes per day, four days a week. Over six to eight weeks, graduate this program to one hour, six to seven days a week of walking over hilly (variable) terrain or walk-jogging over relatively flat ground. An alternative would be to walk 50 to 60 minutes three days a week and take an aerobics class three days a week and perhaps two to three sets of singles tennis on the seventh day. It is important to know that lower volumes of weekly exercise can still produce many other benefits, such as improved fitness and overall health, reduced blood pressure and increased psychological well-being. An ACE-certified Clinical Exercise Specialist can help you make the connection safely and effectively. A heart attack is a life-threatening event. Everyone should know the warning signs of a heart attack and how to get emergency help. Many people suffer permanent damage to their hearts or die because they do not get help immediately. Each year, more than a million persons in the United States have a heart attack, and about half (515,000) of them die. About one-half of those who die do so within 1 hour of the start of symptoms and before reaching the hospital. Both men and women have heart attacks. Emergency personnel can often stop arrhythmias with emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), defibrillation (electrical shock), and prompt advanced cardiac life support procedures. If care is sought soon enough, blood flow in the blocked artery can be restored in time to prevent permanent damage to the heart. Most people, however, do not seek medical care for 2 hours or more after symptoms begin. Many people wait 12 hours or longer. Symptoms and Diagnosis The warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack can include: Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. Heart attack pain can sometimes feel like indigestion or heartburn. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Pain, discomfort, or numbness can occur in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Shortness of breath. Difficulty in breathing often comes along with chest discomfort, but it may occur before chest discomfort. Other symptoms. Examples include breaking out in a cold sweat, having nausea and vomiting, or feeling light-headed or dizzy. Signs and symptoms vary from person to person. In fact, if you have a second heart attack, your symptoms may not be the same as for the first heart attack. Some people have no symptoms. This is called a "silent" heart attack. The symptoms of angina (chest pain) can be similar to the symptoms of a heart attack. If you have angina and notice a change or a worsening of your symptoms, talk with your doctor right away. Diagnosis of a heart attack may include the following tests: EKG (electrocardiogram). This test is used to measure the rate and regularity of your heartbeat. A 12-lead EKG is used in diagnosing a heart attack. Blood tests. When cells in the heart die, they release enzymes into the blood. These enzymes are called markers or biomarkers. Measuring the amount of these markers in the blood can show how much damage was done to your heart. These tests are often repeated at intervals to check for changes. The specific blood tests are: Troponin test. This test checks the troponin levels in the blood. This blood test is considered the most accurate to see if a heart attack has occurred and how much damage it did to the heart. CK or CK-MB test. These tests check for the amount of the different forms of creatine kinase in the blood. Myoglobin test. This test checks for the presence of myoglobin in the blood. Myoglobin is released when the heart or other muscle is injured. Nuclear heart scan. This test uses radioactive tracers (technetium or thallium) to outline heart chambers and major blood vessels leading to and from the heart. A nuclear heart scan shows any damage to your heart muscle. Cardiac catheterization. A thin, flexible tube (catheter) is passed through an artery in the groin (upper thigh) or arm to reach the coronary arteries. Your doctor can use the catheter to determine pressure and blood flow in the heart's chambers, collect blood samples from the heart, and examine the arteries of the heart by x ray. Coronary angiography. This test is usually performed along with cardiac catheterization. A dye that can be seen by using x ray is injected through the catheter into the coronary arteries. Your doctor can see the flow of blood through the heart and see where there are blockages. Causes Most heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries (the blood vessels that bring blood and oxygen to the heart muscle). When blood cannot reach part of your heart, that area starves for oxygen. If the blockage continues long enough, cells in the affected area die. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common underlying cause of a heart attack. CAD is the hardening and narrowing of the coronary arteries by the buildup of plaque in the inside walls (atherosclerosis). Over time, plaque buildup in the coronary arteries can: Narrow the arteries so that less blood flows to the heart muscle Block completely the arteries and the flow of blood Cause blood clots to form and block the arteries A less common cause of heart attacks is a severe spasm (tightening) of the coronary artery that cuts off blood flow to the heart. These spasms can occur in persons with or without CAD. Artery spasm can sometimes be caused by: Taking certain drugs, such as cocaine Emotional stress Exposure to cold Cigarette smoking