gonzaga310.weebly.com · Web view2019. 9. 28. · saying “car” in Spanish is “automobil” but the Northerners say “carro” which is clearly derived from the word “car.”

Gonzalez, GabrielaCIN:302126856

A.I.

a. Juarez, Mexico has recently developed into a high-crime city full of drug

cartels. However, it was once a city full of life and so much energy. My mother grew

up in Juarez along with twelve other siblings. It was very hard for my grandparents

to support a big family but they managed. My grandmother had to cook huge pots of

food that contained accessible and affordable ingredients such as cactus, onions,

beans, rice, and jalapenos to name a few. These are staple ingredients one can find

in almost all Mexican dishes and a few of them will be utilized in my recipe. Meals

were cooked and accompanied with any random ingredient that was available, and

as it turns out, there can be health benefits that come from these impromptu meals.

It was very common for families to utilize any vegetable or herb with meat, eggs,

beans, or even just cheese to make a meal because money was sparse and they had

to resort to homegrown or affordable foods. A lot of creativity went into many of

these dishes and some of them are still around, reminding us that even though the

basis of their creation was just throwing anything into a pot to have a warm meal,

they are still delicious and nutritious.

b. Mexican culture varies from region to region. The accents are very

different in each state. Some accents are more obvious than others and Mexicans

can generally tell where somebody is from just by hearing their voice. For example,

the people from northern states such as Chihuahua (where Juarez is) and Baja

California tend to have strong voices and a unique vocabulary that consists of

“Spanglish” words, a combination of Spanish and English words. For example, the


proper way of saying “car” in Spanish is “automobil” but the Northerners say “carro”

which is clearly derived from the word “car.” Ways of living and speaking are

different in each state and village in Mexico but something common you can find

throughout the entire nation is the delicious and spicy cuisine. Almost all Mexican

dishes incorporate some spice to it, giving the dishes an extra kick.

c. Mexico has many famous dishes including Mole Poblano, Tamales, and

Menudo. Mole Poblano consists of chocolate-chili sauce with sesame seeds served

over chicken. Tamales come in different variations such as pork mixed with a red

chili sauce, chicken or cheese tamales mixed with a green chili sauce, and there is

also pineapple tamales that contain raisins as well. Menudo is a soup that contains

hominy and pieces of meat mixed in with the stew. The actual soup is made from

boiled chili peppers that are later blended with water and salt. Most people add

onions, crushed red pepper, lemon and oregano in their soup.

d. The Mexican community has one of the highest obesity and type II

diabetes rates in the nation. This is a huge concern because a lot of this stems from

the Mexican diet that is high in corn tortillas, rice, and beans and a lack of education.

These can be healthy foods, certainly beans and rice, however the problem arises

when all of these foods are consumed in one meal. Mexican dishes that follow this

staple are high in carbohydrates and many families still cook with lard. If the way

these foods are prepared is changed, they will be healthier foods. Olive oil should


replace lard and only one of the three carbohydrates should be used in one meal.

Lastly, the quantity of tortillas consumed daily should be 1-2.

AII.

The dish I have selected to present is a modified version of my

grandmother’s recipe. This was a meal that my mother and her family consumed

frequently and it is a dish that we still eat today in my home. The original recipe

requires for ground beef, but for the sake of this recipe and to make it healthier, I

will replace the ground beef with ground turkey. Another substitute that may be

used is diced chicken.

Ingredients required (prepares for 4 people):

1 Lb of ground turkey

1-2 cup(s) of diced nopales (prickly pear); this can be bought at stores

shaved and diced.

½ cup of diced onions

1-2 cup(s) of diced tomatoes

Diced jalapenos; amount used depends on how well you can tolerate the

spicy factor.

1 ½ cup of uncooked white rice


How to prepare:

1. Cook the rice by combining it in a pan with 3 cups of water and 2 tsp of

butter and ½ tsp of salt. Butter and salt are optional and can be added to the

amount desired. Bring to a boil and stir frequently.

2. After boiling, reduce the heat and cover the pan with a lid. Allow to cook for

15-20 minutes

3. To prepare the ground turkey, use a separate pan and add 1-2 tbsp of olive

oil and heat up the pan. When warm enough cook the ground turkey and add

desired amount of salt and pepper. Cook until turkey turns light brown and

then add the nopales, tomatoes, onions, and jalapenos. Cook for and extra 3-4

minutes.

4. Combine turkey with rice in the large pan and it is ready to be served.

AIII.

For this recipe, I will focus on the ingredients and functional molecular structures

of: Tomatoes, onions, and rice.

1.Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

The tomato has many antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins. The antioxidant found in

tomatoes, lycopene, has shown effectiveness in preventing prostate cancer, heart

disease, and osteoporosis (Devon). It is high in vitamin C, making it a good food to

boost up a person’s immunity. The dietary fiber is another excellent compound

found in tomato that aids with digestion and weight control. Alpha-tomatine has an

anti-fungal effect that protects tomatoes from insects (Jacob).


Compounds: steroid alkaloid glycosides: chief alkaloid alpha-tomatine. (PDR)

Lycopene

(About)

Alpha-tomatine

(Chemical

Book)


2. Onion (Allium cepa): Retrieved from PDR

The use and functionalities of onions have been proven effective by the Commission

E to treat:

Loss of appetite

Arteriosclerosis

Dyspepric complaints

Fevers and colds

Cough/bronchitis

Hypertension

Tendency to infection

Inflammation of the mouth and pharynx

Common cold

Compounds:

Alliins

Fructosans

Flavonoids: quercetin-4’-O-beta-D-glucoside (spiraeoside)

Steroid saponins

Saccharose and other sugars

Quercetin (Spiraeoside) is known to have anti-cancer effects by slowing or stopping

tumor growth and protect cells. This is especially notable in colon cancer (Welter).


Alliin:

(RD Chemicals)

Spiraeoside:

(Pub Chem)


3. Rice (Oryza sativa):

Rice is a good source of energy because of its high carbohydrate content. It has been

proven to be effective for pain relief and sedation of the digestive tract. (PDR 706)

Some of its unproven uses include using it “during recovery from disorders of the GI

tract, illnesses of the GI tract and diarrhea” (PDR 706).

It is used in Chinese medicine to treat diabetes, spontaneous perspiration, diarrhea,

and debility (PDR 706).

In Indian medicine, it is used for pneumonia, diarrhea, and diseases of the colon

(PDR 706).

Compounds:

Starch

Proteins

Fatty oil

Polysaccharides, soluble: galactoarabinoxylan

Monosaccharides, oligosaccharides: glucose, fructose, saccharose

Flavonoids: tricine, tricine-7-O-glucoside, tricinine

Steroids: sterols, beta-sistosterol, gamma-sitosterol, campesterol

Diterpenes: momilactone A and B

Trigonelline

Trypsin inhibitors

Lectins

Vitamins of the B group


Beta-sitosterol:

“Beta sitosterol works in your intestines to reduce your absorption of cholesterol

from food. In addition, although it is chemically similar to cholesterol, only a small

amount of beta sitosterol actually reaches your blood after you consume it. A

number of clinical trials have examined the potential benefits of sitosterol in

lowering cholesterol. In a review of 14 trials with plant sterols, including beta

sitosterol, published in the "Western Journal of Medicine" in 2000, the authors

concluded that adding these compounds to the diet results in a significant reduction

in LDL levels in human subjects. They also concluded that the benefit of the sterols

was highest for adults over 50 and slightly less in younger people.” (Marie)

(Natures Method)


Trigonelline:

(Wild Flower)

“Trigonelline has hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, neuroprotective, antimigraine,

sedative, memory-improving, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-tumor activities, and

it has been shown to reduce diabetic auditory neuropathy and platelet aggregation.”

(Zhou et al)


BI.

“Herbal Essence Chicken”

An herbal chicken recipe useful to aid with the flu and UTI’s.

Ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in quarters

1 head garlic, minced

1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

1/2 tsp fresh sage, chopped

1 tsp fresh rosemary leaf

1 tsp fresh thyme

salt (to taste)

black pepper (to taste)

How to prepare:

1. Cook chicken and garlic in a pan, use olive oil

2. Add herbs, salt, and pepper

3. May squeeze lemon juice for extra tenderness


1. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris):

Retrieved from PDR:

“Thyme is a bronchial antispasmodic and an expectorant. It has shown antibacterial,

antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoan, and antioxidant properties” (846)

Compounds:

Volatile oil: thymol, p-cymene, carvacrol, gamma-terpinine, borneol, linalool

Caffeic acid derivatives: rosmarinic acid

Flavonoids: luteolin, apigenin, naringenin, eriodictyol, cirsilineol, salvigenin,

cirsimaritin, thymonine, thymusine

Triterpenes: ursolic acid, oleanolic acid

Thymol:

(Answers)

Thymol is a powerful antioxidant that helps combat free radicals. It possesses anti-

fungal and antibacterial properties.


Triterpenes:

(Amsar)

Terpenes stimulate the cilia in lower respiratory tract to help move mucous out of

lungs (Singleton).


2. Sage (salvia officinalis)

From PDR p.717:

Sage has antibacterial, fungistatic, virostatic, astringent, secretolytic, and

perspiration-inhibiting effects. Indications and uses approved by Commission E

include: loss of appetite, inflammation of the mouth and pharynx, and excessice

perspiration.

It is used externally for inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and

throat internaly for dyspeptic symptoms, and as a diaphoteric.

Compounds:

Volatile oil

Caffeic acid derivatives

Diterpenes

Flavonoids

Triterpenes


1,8-cineole (Volatile oil)

A potent volatile oil with antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and

expectorant properties. It has been proven to be effective against Staph aureus

(Contursi).

(Pub Chem)

Beta-thujone (Volatile oil)

(Chemical Book)


3. Parsley (Petroselinium crispum)

Retrieved from PDR pg.630

The Commission E has approved the use of parsley for infections of the urinary

tract and kidney and bladder stones.

Compounds:

Volatile oil

Apiole

Myristicin

1-allyl-2,3,4,5-tetramethoxybenzole

Furocoumarins

Flavonoids

Vitamins: ascorbic acid

Apiin (flavonoid):

(Chemical Book)


Myristicin:

(Wikipedia)


Works Cited

Contursi, Janet. "Home Remedies for Staph Infections." LIVESTRONG.COM. Live Strong Foundation, 29 Mar. 2011. Web. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/253880-home-remedies-for-staph-infections/>.

Devon, Ryan. "Tomato Health Benefits." LIVESTRONG.COM. Live Strong Foundation, 22 May 2011. Web. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/408302-tomato-health-benefits/>.

Jacob, Aglaee. "List of Nightshade Vegetables & Fruits." LIVESTRONG.COM. Live Strong Foundation, 28 Jan. 2011. Web. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/367949-list-of-nightshade-vegetables-fruits/>.

Marie, Joanne. "Beta Sitosterol for Lower Cholesterol." LIVESTRONG.COM. Live Strong Foundation, 22 June 2011. Web. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/499010-beta-sitosterol-for-lower-cholesterol/>.

Singleton, Bonnie. "Chest Congestion & Thyme." LIVESTRONG.COM. Live Strong Foundation, 18 Aug. 2011. Web. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/520281-chest-congestion-thyme/>.

Welter, Sonya. "5 Things You Need to Know About the Health Benefits of Onions." LIVESTRONG.COM. Live Strong Foundation, 18 Nov. 2009. Web. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/4697-need-health-benefits-onions/>.

Zhou, J., L. Chan, and S. Zhou. "Trigonelline: A Plant Alkaloid with Therapeutic Potential for Diabetes and Central Nervous System Disease." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2012. Web. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22680628>.

Brendler, T., Gruenwald, J., Jaenicke, C. (2007). PDR for herbal medicines. Montvale, NJ: Thomson Healthcare Inc.

Images:http://chemistry.about.com/od/factsstructures/ig/Chemical-Structures---L/Lycopene.htm

http://www.rdchemicals.com/chemicals.php?mode=details&mol_id=7498

http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=5320844

http://www.naturesmethod.com/Products/Provize.php

wildflowerfinder.org.uk/

http://www.answers.com/topic/thymol

http://www.answers.com/topic/thymol

http://www.naturesmethod.com/Products/Provize.php

http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=5320844

http://www.rdchemicals.com/chemicals.php?mode=details&mol_id=7498

http://chemistry.about.com/od/factsstructures/ig/Chemical-Structures---L/Lycopene.htm

http://chemistry.about.com/od/factsstructures/ig/Chemical-Structures---L/Lycopene.htm


http://www.amsar.com/PhytoChemicals/oleanolic.htm

http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/image/structurefly.cgi?sid=12031&width=400&height=400

http://www.chemicalbook.com/ProductChemicalPropertiesCB1142613_EN.htm

http://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductProperty_EN_CB4257323.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Myristicin.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Myristicin.svg

http://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductProperty_EN_CB4257323.htm

http://www.chemicalbook.com/ProductChemicalPropertiesCB1142613_EN.htm



http://www.amsar.com/PhytoChemicals/oleanolic.htm

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gonzaga310.weebly.com · Web view2019. 9. 28. · saying “car” in Spanish is “automobil” but the Northerners say “carro” which is clearly derived from the word “car.”