Study links chopstick usage to arthritis

[kamome]

Time to try eating sushi with a fork

A study of more than 2,500 residents of Beijing found that osteoarthritis was more common in the hands used to operate chopsticks -- and in the fingers specifically stressed by chopstick use.

[Taro Toporific]

Time to try eating sushi with a fork

A study of more than 2,500 residents of Beijing found that osteoarthritis was more common in the hands used to operate chopsticks -- and in the fingers specifically stressed by chopstick use.

I don't understand why the Reuters story is using a sushi in the picture for the study chopstick use in BEIJING CHINA but ... in most real sushi places a guy should use his fingers to to eat sushi. It's more otorashi/macho.

[Milla]

Ha, that study is total nonsense!

I use chopsticks everyday so should I be concerned about osteroarthritis.
and what were the ages of the 2,500 residents?
It's more like arthritis from old age.
Knife and fork users beware, maybe another research will say you will suffer from it too

hehe, bikkle I agree with u.

[Crispy]

They must have been holding their chopsticks in a non-ergonomically correct way.

[kamome]

[cstaylor]

At least the Korean chopsticks I've used at the BBQ places are metal... really tough to use.

[Milla]

I've been wondering why Korean BBQ use metal chopsticks, anyone know?
they are just too heavy and awkward to use

[Caustic Saint]

I've been wondering why Korean BBQ use metal chopsticks, anyone know?
they are just too heavy and awkward to use

As a guess, I'll say they use the metal ones so they can wash and reuse them. That's what they do here in Korea, so I'm assuming that'd be the reason at Korean joints in Japan.

I'm no big fan of them either, preferring the disposable wooden ones. I pick those up in the 50- or 100-pack so I've always got some handy at home. I don't find the metal ones too heavy, but the contours and surface are all wrong for picking up most foods. You can pretty much forget about picking up anything slippery with them. Sometimes it's best to go "barbarian" and use 'em to stab whatever it is you're trying to eat.

I manage well enough with them, but it's becuase I've more or less been fored to do so. They're the only option in the school restaurant when dinner's served.

[GomiGirl]

When are the studies going to be released about the link between excess use of a computer mouse/keyboard with arthritis???

*GG scratches her head and thinks about a career change*

[GomiGirl]

I'm no big fan of them either, preferring the disposable wooden ones. I pick those up in the 50- or 100-pack so I've always got some handy at home.

I carry my own plastic ones with me.. the disposable wooden ones have too many splinters and I am occassionally concerned with the number trees every year that are required on such a throw away item.

But metal??? yukky poo.

[Caustic Saint]

The only problem I've had with disposable wooden ones is that they'll sometimes poke through the trash bag. Solution? Save a Pringles can and drop the chopsticks in there! Once it fills up, toss it out and start over with a new can.

[Taro Toporific]

When are the studies going to be released about the link between excess use of a computer mouse/keyboard with arthritis???

You should see the groove I've burnished between the right button and scrollwheel of my laser mouse since Jan. Scary. My screen fonts are cranked up to 14 point and I've switched to LED screens just to keep from going blind.

Like you, I'm going arthritic and blind since I've been online since the mid-eighties. Actually, I've been online since '69 if you let me count faxing marksheet data to complete my Fortan classes... Good god Buddha, I'm getting old...

[Caustic Saint]

But there are benefits too!





See what you can learn by watching anime? (Above pictures taken from Furikuri, aka FLCL.)

[GargoyleTS]

I like the wooden chopsticks. Its the barbarian/redneck in me. I like any food eating utensil I can just hack the end off with a knife and use as a toothpick when I am done eating!

(GTS does not claim responsibility for anything said or implied in this message. If you try whittling down and using a chopstick as a toothpick, he will not be held responsible for your blatant act of stupidity.)

[cstaylor]

I carry my own plastic ones with me..

This I have to see. I've eaten a bazillion obentos, and not one splinter. My thinking: if millions of Japanese can use the wooden ones, I can too.

[kamome]

GG's right about the effect of wooden chopsticks on the environment. I wonder how much of the Brazilian rainforest has gone towards those bentos I eat for lunch? Then again, I've done nothing about it. I keep using the wooden chopsticks anyway. I'm an armchair environmentalist--conserving in theory but not much in fact (i.e., I'm lazy).

[kurohinge1]

... Yeah, I've heard this, but whenever I try eating sushi with my hands, it falls apart and I wind up eating the rice in pieces ...

I've found the stability of sushi (the vinegar cement?) is adversely affected by the sauce you dip it in, so you can't let it soak or the structural integrity will fail.

I just dip and devour, without delay. It also helps to have a cavernous mouth like mine as it's much easier to each them in one go.

But the chopsticks are good for mopping up any survivors.



I also heard that the wasabi hidden between the rice and fish is now known to kill bacteria in the mouth so it's a natural partner for eating raw fish.

[katakori]

the disposable wooden ones have too many splinters and I am occassionally concerned with the number trees every year that are required on such a throw away item.

i never understood why it is very rare to find bamboo ones in japan, as opposed to wooden ones (from "real" trees). as bamboo grow ultra fast and ultra-cheaply. i have seen a lot of them overseas but not so much in japan, nor in the chinese world and vietnam where they use the big plastic ones (green or orange) that they wash (i guess) afterwards.

[kamome]

Maybe it's because the J's need to find a way to make use of all those cedar trees they planted (besides causing hay fever attacks each Spring).