Unusual Channel
By Ma. Renette B. Uy  

On instant noodle and staying young

How many of us are very fond of eating instant noodles? Pancit canton, mami, instant spaghetti noodles, etc? I guess we are all guilty somehow because who would not be tempted to eat these great noodles. Besides being handy or convenient to have around the house it is basically cheap. Nowadays, the buying consumers are very price-conscious and I believe I know why it is so. These are hard times and especially for Filipinos, we try to substitute a major necessity to a cheaper one no matter what it is just to cope with difficult times. Sad but true. Our country is very political in nature, most public servants, if not all, only cares how much money they can get from being a government figure. Why do you think they are changing sides every time there is a political crisis? Need I say more? I may be sounding too harsh on the subject of public servants but I guess my eyes are too wide open I cannot help but see it. However, I do not want to go government bashing now, too tired to do that and whatever for? It will not change anything anyway. My story, by the way is about instant noodles. To go back to my real topic for this week, please read on. A friend sent this information to me through email and I believe it is a point of concern and awareness. Some may know about this already but for those who do not it is really a revelation. This is not by the way to discredit all the companies that manufacture instant noodles. This is to inform the consumers a little information about the effects so that they will somehow know what to do.

FACTS ABOUT INSTANT NOODLES: (This is a story related by doctor to a homemaker)

For instant noodle lovers, make sure you break for at least 3 days after one session of instant noodles before you eat your next packet! My family stopped eating instant noodles more than 5 years ago after hearing about the wax coating the noodles -- the wax is not just in the Styrofoam containers but it coats the noodles. This is why the instant noodles do not stick to each other when cooking. If one were to examine the ordinary Chinese yellow noodles in the market, one will notice that, in their uncooked state the noodles are oily. This layer of oil prevents the noodles from sticking together.

Wanton noodles in their uncooked state have been dusted with flour to prevent them from sticking together. When the hawker or dealer cooks the noodles, notice he cooks them in hot water and then rinses them in cold water before cooking them in hot water again. This process is repeated several times before the noodles are ready to be served. The cooking and rinsing process prevents noodles from sticking together. The hawker then "lowers the noodles in oil and sauce to prevent the noodles from sticking if they are to be served dry. Cooking instructions for spaghetti require oil or butter to be added in the water when boiling the spaghetti to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Otherwise, one gets a big clump of spaghetti!

There was an SBC (now TCS) actor some years ago, who at a busy time of his career had no time to cook, resorted to eating instant noodles everyday. He got cancer later on. His doctor told him about the wax in instant noodles. The doctor told him that our body would need up to 2 days to clear the wax. There was also an SIA steward who after moving out from his mother's house into his own house, did not cook but ate instant noodles almost every meal. He had cancer, and has since died from it. Nowadays the instant noodles are referred as "cancer noodles".

Scary, huh? I am not trying to discourage people from eating instant noodle or this is some campaign ad to promote other products. However, taking extra precaution will not hurt a bit but will help instead. I love instant noodles. It is so convenient and of course, cheap. Let us not take this warning for granted though. I am sure that when it is the health of our children that is the main concern here, its pretty much to be alarmed. The fact sheet did not say not to eat it however; we are just made aware of its effects just in case. Better be safe than sorry.

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I am sure everybody wants to stay young forever. Just like in the movies, one drink of the water from the fountain of life will keep one younger and beautiful forever. Oh well, I have always thought of age as a number, that is all there is to it. A number that adds up every year and is important only when you have to change your driver's license, authenticate a birth certificate, apply for a loan, for marriage certificates, and any legal proceedings that needs it. Other than that, it is just a number! Anyway, we can always keep to the “being young” factor only if; we throw out non-essential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him or her. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. “An idle mind is the devil's workshop" . And the devil's name is Alzheimer's. Enjoy the simple things. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp or breathe. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. Be ALIVE while you are alive. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, and hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. Do not take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next city or town or to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. IN ADDITION, ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

There is this prayer I chanced upon a website a week ago. The title of the prayer is “Keep Us From Pettiness”. After reading it, it had an effect on me because the prayer is so human. It is “real” ! I would like to end today's article with a prayer and I would like to share this prayer with you and hope you will also pray it everyday like I do.

“Dear Lord, keep us O God, from pettiness; let us be large in thought, in word, in deed. Let us be done with faultfinding and leave off self-seeking. May we put away all pretenses and meet each other, face to face, without self-pity and without prejudice. May we never be hasty in judgment and always generous. Let us take time for all things; make us to grow calm, serene, gentle. Teach us to put in action our better impulses-straightforward and unafraid. Grant that we may realize it is the little things of life that create difficulties; that in the big things of life we are as one. Oh, Lord, let us not forget to be kind. Amen.”

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”