How Healthy Food and Lifestyle Can Effect Our Skin

By Zita Parekh


We all want to be healthy, wealthy and beautiful. But when it comes to talking about beauty, some people know a lot about skin care, while others haven't a clue what our skin is designed for.

When we reach the age that we begin to see fine lines and wrinkles, we start to look for solutions. I may not be a doctor, but I studied anatomy and physiology while at university and I know that our skin deserves all the nutrition we can give it. If anything, we have to feed our skin natural, healthy, raw food instead of processed food if we expect it to stand up to wind and sun.

The skin normally renews its cells every 28 days. We can talk all day long about lotions and creams, but applying a cream with nutrients to the surface of our skin does not ensure that those nutrients actually penetrate into our skin cells.

I want to share a personal story with you. A couple of years ago my 30-year-old son fell ill and I was shocked by the doctors' diagnoses. One said that his intestines were abnormally long and the other said he had warm tape! I couldn't believe it.

Neither could my son. Rejecting what the doctors had said, he decided to clean his body. At first, he visited doctors who specialized in natural medicine. They put him on a diet, but all that did was cause him to lose a lot of weight. He then turned to reading about alternative medicine, followed their recipes and instructions, and cleaned his liver. As a result, he was able to get rid of 30 stones from his liver.

When I visited my son in Europe recently, I was amazed at how he looked so radiant and healthy, his skin practically glowing. He told me that he ate five times a day, eating nothing but natural, balanced food and forgoing anything that had added salt or sugar, as well as no smoked foods or white bread, and drank fresh juice every day.

His story typifies how a clean body and good nutrients can affect our skin. By ensuring that our body has the nutrients it needs, and by including a few key herbs, oils and other remedies in our regular routine, we can not only quickly improve the quality of our skin, but we can also look good as well as feel young and healthy. Essential fatty acids are vital to our skin. Good-quality oils help to keep skin lubricated and healthy overall, since what happens inside your body determines the quality of your skin.

While the main goal is to detoxify our bodies for our own good health and a healthy skin, it is also important to create good eating habits for our children. A child is a mirror of our own habits, and by giving our babies some bites of cake, pizza or overcooked food rather than fruits and vegetables when they start to eat real food, we are creating some very bad habits for them. The answer, of course, is education.

Processing removes essential nutrients from foods, may also destroy nutrients or change them into toxic substances. We need to teach our kids to eat those foods that are rich in antioxidants, such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and plums. A wide variety of different foods is always recommended for a healthy balanced diet so that the body receives the vast complement of nutrients it needs for good health. Replace processed foods with fresh ones, don't eat junk food, don't drink soft drinks, stay away from sugar, and you'll be well on your way looking younger.

Simply eat a well-balanced and varied diet that includes more then 25 ingredients per day and have a healthy lifestyle. Believe me, it will help to keep your skin in good condition. Also learn how to read product labels to understand better what is healthy for our skin and what is not. To learn more, visit: http://www.theantiagingblueprint.com

Zita Parekh, Anti-Aging Specialist

Choosing the Right Food and Wine For Your Event

By Oron Raviv


Choosing what food and wine to serve at one's function can be a difficult task. Undoubtedly the type of food and wine that will be chosen will be influenced by the time of year. One needs to keep in mind that food that is elegant, tasty and easy to handle will invariably be the most successful. Food choices can be a very personal thing and are often influenced by one's cultural background as well as the time of day and place of the function, the formality of the setting, and the method of food service.

It is important to ensure that the beverages served compliment the food. Also aim to match the quality of the food with the quality of the wine. White wines are generally served with entrees. Heavy main courses normally deserve a red wine, however if the main course involves seafood then you may wish to stick with white wine the whole way through the food service. Ensure thought that you do provide a variety of beverages though so that the individual needs of your guests will be met. It is vital to provide soft-drinks for young guests but also for adults who do not drink or have been named the "designated driver". Providing a range of non-alcoholic cocktails is one way to ensure that these guests feel that they have been well catered for. If toasts are to be made during the event ensure that there is champagne on hand.

If you are planning to provide your own drinks then working out appropriate quantities can sometimes appear a daunting task. The general rule is approximately six serves per bottle of wine or champagne using standard size glasses. It is always better to over cater rather than under cater. Try to order drinks from a company who will take back unopened stock if required. Be aware that the labels of wine bottles placed in ice can come off. If a wine bottle label comes off it will not be refunded. Allow two glasses of champagne, three glasses of wine, and two glasses of beer per guest. Add an extra 30 percent to this quantity in order to cover a heavier then expected demand.

Get Stronger With Healthy Food And Have A Body You Can Be Proud Of

By Silvia Goodman


A healthy food regime consists of good nutritional diet that supplements the basic need of body. It supplies the appropriate amount of energy and sufficient raw materials to keep the body healthy. It also provides anti-oxidants that make people feel young and be proud of looking great. Having fair idea of why the body requires healthy food, the next thing is to know more about healthy food and eating methods of healthy food, in order to attain stronger body.

Healthy Food for Stronger Body:

Food in natural state: The food helps to build stronger body. Fresh fruits, apples and berries are good for satisfying the desire for sweets. Vegetables of all kinds such a green, yellow and orange are rich in vitamins and minerals. Steamed vegetables retain the nutritional value of the vegetables. Avoid calorie rich sauces and fats. High calorie foods are not good for health.

Fish, Chicken and Meat: To attain a stronger body, serve seafood two or three times a week. Ocean fish consists of essential fatty acids that are usually deficient in the healthy diet. Prefer baked chicken and fish rather than fried ones. The lean meat such as venison or bison is healthier than beef, which is rich in fat.

Processed bacon, lunchmeat, sausages and hot dogs contain plenty of junk, which the body does not require. Even if anybody wants to have such meats, then probably they can go for healthier versions that are available at health food departments.

Avoid Non-nutritional food: White bread and noodles are made of flour that is not good for health. The flour does not contain nutritional content. Moreover, the high starch content of white bread affects the sugar level of the blood quicker than a regular sugar. In addition, sugary pastries and snacks, apple pie are non-nutritional items, which are not good for health. It is essential that pasta or baked items have to be made from whole grains.

Benefits of Variety in Food & Water:

Some people are very much sensitive to frequently eaten food. Therefore, such people have to break the habit and start eating a variety in food to achieve stronger body. Consume various kinds of grains. Spelt is a better substitute for wheat. Prefer to have almond or rice milk rather than cow's milk. People have to eat variety of food even if they do not like it.

Drink plenty of water and limit beverages such as soft drinks. If individuals are tired of drinking plain water, add some lime or lemon slice to it. Serve kids with some fruit juice with carbonated water. Even green and herbal tea can be good substitute for water. However, avoid excess of caffeine.

Avoid Skipping Meals:

Skipping breakfast brings down the energy level by midmorning. It is better to split the breakfast in half than skipping it. It helps greatly by eating breakfast early such as oatmeal, egg or whole grain bread. Snacks such as almonds and raisins also benefit the health greatly. The split breakfast provides better solution than going for candy bars or coffee, and retains the energy level to feel good and fresh.

Spicy Food And The Perfect Wine Pairing

By Stuart Jay

A common dilemma in pairing food and wine is what wine to serve with spicy food. Acids, tannins and sugars in wine interact with food so we will use this knowledge in our food and wine pairing.

To answer the question of what wine to pair with food that is spicy, we need to know something about capsaicin, the pain- or pleasure-producing component of Chile peppers, and the food and wine pairing relationship.

Capsaicin activates pain receptors in the mouth. These pain receptors are also sensitive to temperature. Hot beverages, like sake or tea, will turn on these pain receptors and kick up the heat. Cold drinks will turn off the pain receptors, but as soon as the mouth warms up again, the burn returns.

Food and wine pairing is highly subjective.

However, when pairing wine with spicy foods there are benefits to consider in pairing spicy foods with Riesling wine. Wine by itself tastes different than wine paired with food. The wine's effect on the food's flavor is similar to the way spice affects a food flavor.

Capsaicin is fat soluble. A dairy drink that is cold, high in acidity to stimulate salivary flow, but with some sweetness proven to ameliorate the burn, makes yogurt an effective antidote.

When it comes to wine and spicy food pairing, Rieslings, particularly low alcohol German Kabinett and Spatlese, are effective at soothing the burn because they have a lot in common with yogurt: the cold temperature turns off the pain receptors, high acidity stimulates salivary flow, and the sweetness soothes the palate from very hot or spicy foods.

Hot and spicy Thai dishes, or hot curries, taste best with sweet dessert wines.

Some hot and spicy Thai dishes, or hot curries for example, often taste best when the food is paired with sweet dessert wines. The sweet, botrytis-affected wines that can be paired with spicy foods are rated in ascending order of sweetness: Auslese, Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese. The low alcohol (8-10%) compared to Alsatian, Austrian and southern hemisphere Rieslings (12-15%) is an added benefit because alcohol also activates oral pain receptors (think about a shot of vodka) and will therefore kick up the burn.

Expensive wines made from Riesling are late harvest dessert wines and can be a compliment when paired with very spicy foods.

These wines are produced by letting the grapes hang on the vines well past normal picking time. Evaporation is caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea ("noble rot") or by freezing, as in the case of ice wine (in German, Eiswein), where water is removed and the resulting wine offers richer layers on the palate. These concentrated wines have more sugar (in extreme cases hundreds of grams per liter), more acid (to give balance to all the sugar), more flavor, and more complexity.

Don't stress over the perfect food and wine pairing. The key to the pleasure of wine and food pairing is simply relaxing and enjoying conviviality with the most important ingredients, friends and loved ones.

Alkaline Food and Ph Balance - Making the Right Choices for a Balanced Diet

By Cliff Smith


Energetic people who cycle, run, hike, play tennis, golf, build muscle up, or do any physical activity and want to perform at peak levels of fitness, have a choice to make. It's a choice many never consider, but one of the most important choices for overall health and fitness. It stares you right in the face every time you eat, drink or consume anything. The choice to consider is whether or not a food or beverage is going to help you maintain proper ph balance, or is it going to throw that delicate balance off and leave you vulnerable to health problems.

In order to maintain suitable ph balance, nutritionists suggest 80% of dietary intake should be alkaline and 20% acidic. What exactly does that mean? I'll explain. The alkalinity or acidic properties of a food or beverage come into play when your body burns them for fuel. Consuming too many acidic foods, drugs, tobacco, sodas, cocktails, and coffee cause the Ph level of the blood to become overly acidic, therefore, out of balance. It's kind of like a swimming pool that has an overly acidic Ph level, it's out balance, and as any pool owner knows, that can cause problems.

Here is a short list of foods that are acidic when the body burns them for fuel:
· White flour, refined sugars
· Dairy products
· Meat, fish
· Peanut butter
· Chocolate
· Nuts (not all of them, but most).
· Plums, prunes and cranberries (surprising, but true, even some healthy fruits and vegetables can form an acid ash, especially over- cooked vegetables)

Here are some good choices for alkaline food to help maintain proper ph balance:
· Almonds, Apples, Avocados
· Bananas, Beans, Brazil nuts
· Broccoli, Cantaloupe, Carrots

Most people have this alkaline/acid ratio upside down, which means the body has to find a sure source of calcium in order to correct the acid/alkaline imbalance. A human being's blood Ph level is meant to stay at 7.4, so the body is constantly working to maintain that level, no matter what you consume. Your body is naturally engineered to sustain that delicate Ph balance at all costs, because if it goes too far off, cells begin to die. If you are forcing your body to work harder in order to preserve that Ph level, how hard can it work for you when you are doing physical activities? If the body has to neutralize more acid that it is designed for, where do you think it finds a readily available supply of something alkaline to do that? Our bones. Yes, when the consumption of alkaline food and drinks is insufficient to do the job, then the body has to pull calcium from bones in order to neutralize excess acid in the bloodstream.

It is a nutrition fact that too many acid forming foods and beverages such as meat, coffee, alcohol, sugar, dairy, and refined flour products can cause a body's Ph balance to be too acidic. This can lead to all sorts of health problems, not the least of which is bone weakness. A calcium supplement may help. However, if the calcium is not from a whole food source, the body does not absorb it as efficiently due to the lack of live enzymes, but more about that in a future article. The best whole food sources for calcium are broccoli, green leafy vegetables, and other alkaline foods.

Ph balance is just one of many considerations when choosing a healthy balanced diet. Search the Internet for more alkaline food options and other choices for improving and maintaining overall health and fitness.

Avoiding Food and Water Illness When Away from Home

By Jennifer Jordan

When traveling, eating is part of the fun. Not only does travel allow you to experience foods from other cultures, but it also allows you to experience foods you might not have the opportunity to eat very often: move over ham and cheese, it’s time to dine on something more exotic.

There are, however, some downsides to travel eating. When you‘re traveling for a business that gives you a food allowance, you might not be worried about expense, believing that no meal is too pricey for corporate to approve. This is valid from a monetary standpoint, but foods from other parts of the world can force you to pay a different kind of price: they may have a costly affect on your body.

Whenever and wherever you travel, you risk food and waterborne illnesses. These can do anything from making you slightly nauseous to making you really sick. For these reasons, you need to be a little vigilant when traveling and eating: you need to think with your head and not with your taste buds.

Select Food Carefully: Ingesting food provides a pathway for infection to enter your body. According to the CDC, travelers are at greatest risk for E-Coli, dysentery, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, norovirus, and hepatitis A. To avoid infection, travel eaters should be cautious of what they put on their plates and in their mouths. In areas that do not have high sanitation standards, raw foods, such as salad, vegetables, and uncooked fish, should be avoided as should dairy products. A traveler’s best bet is to eat foods that are fully cooked: the heat destroys infectious agents. These foods should be eaten soon after they are pulled from oven; any food that sits out for hours at a time becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Travelers should also dine in restaurants that have a good reputation; purchasing any type of food from a street cart or sidewalk diner can increase the risk of less-than-stellar preparation.

Be Vigilant of Food Allergies: If you have food allergies - an allergy to peanuts or shellfish, for example - you likely know all about eating with vigilance. This may be easier to do in your hometown than it is somewhere else. In certain areas, there are strict guidelines to avoid allergic reactions. For instance, a restaurant may only carry individual packets of peanut butter rather than jars that can more easily get mixed with other foods. This isn’t, however, the norm. Some restaurants may not list peanuts or shellfish as an ingredient, but they might have got mixed in accidentally. To avoid this, ask the staff specifically about their precautions for allergies. And, of course, always carry an EpiPen, just in case.

Be Cautious when Swimming: No one enters an ocean or a swimming pool with the purpose of drinking the water: a swimmer with a straw is not a sight you often see. Yet, swimmers occasionally swallow water, it just comes with the territory. A drink or two of sea or pool water may seem harmless, but at times it can be harmful. Heavily polluted lakes, rivers and oceans, particularly those known to contain human or animal sewage, should be avoided. But, if you really feel the need to take a dip, don’t submerge your head and don’t go near the water if you have an open cut. Pools that are treated with chlorine generally have less infectious agents - as chlorine is their enemy - but it might not kill all viruses. For this reason, it’s best to also stay out of pools when you have an open wound or, of course, an open mouth.

Drink Wisely: Some areas of the world do not have access to a filter or treatment system: their water may be contaminated. If contamination is possible, drinking tap water (including using ice cubes made from tap water) should be avoided. If tap water is all that is available, it should be boiled before it is consumed (sorry ice cubes, you’re out of luck). Water aside, some of the safer drinks to consume are bottled or canned beverages, beer, wine, and drinks made from boiling water, such as coffee,tea, or hot chocolate.

Whenever you are traveling, you are at risk for illness. If the airsickness or carsickness doesn’t get you, then the food or water illnesses just might. Being cautious and making wise choices in what you eat and drink is your best bet for staying healthy, assuring that your trip does not involve a trip to the hospital.

Serving Caviar With Food And Drink

By Tania Penwell


Caviar, marketed all over the globe as a delicacy, is chiefly consumed as a garnish or as a spread. Since historical times, caviar has been playing the role of a premier delicacy of kings, emperors and such other heads of state. This is not easily obtainable and comes for a high price. It is also not very easy to ready it for serving as a treat.

Usage of fresh caviar

There is a limited time within which the caviar obtained is to be made use of (till its freshness is retained). Fresh caviar obtained remains fit for usage/consumption for up to four weeks. There are also pasteurized varieties of the product available that can stay suitable enough for longer time. Upon opening up of the caviar container the product is to be used up soon (in a few days’ time).

Proceeding with serving of caviar

Caviar is indeed a very special food as far as its taste is concerned. It tickles the taste buds of all the various areas of the tongue that are sensitive to different kinds of taste. Thus, it promises a unique and exceptional experience in taste.

It is best to serve caviar by leaving it in the tin (container) in which it comes and surround it with ice. In an effort to take it out of the container and serve it in a more decorative manner there stands the risk of breaking the grain and losing the special flavors prior to consumption. Besides, caviar is a tricky item that can combine with a variety of food items to produce either a delectable or a disapproving taste. So, it is better to serve it separately so as to obviate the risk of the flavors getting offset.

Serving caviar with food items and drinks

A best way of serving caviar is to serve it on lightly toasted bread or crackers together with butter as a hors d’oeuvre. This can be quite a treat provided the bread or cracker has not been made too hard by toasting.

Contrary to the prevalent misconception it is certainly not suitable to serve caviar with eggs and other items having a strong taste like sour cream or yogurt. The special taste of caviar gets downed as a result.

Caviar can be served alongside beverages in a suitable manner. Champagne with caviar is a classical combination though some may find this to be tilted towards excess of sweetness. Caviar served with vodka is also a traditionally acclaimed treat combination.

Do Manufacturing Processes Make it Impossible for Food and Drug Companies to Create Healthy Products

By Lance Winslow


Many believe that the manufacturing and food processing systems make it nearly impossible for large Corporations to produce healthy foods and drugs, but is this really true and is it fair to condemn our food distribution system? What if they did not exist? How do you feed 5.5 Million in Houston, 13.5 Million in Southern California and 12 million people in NYC? And what about sending food all over the World like we do too?

No not necessarily. The most efficient processes also allow them to make better products for less cost. They might often choose to make crappy products some times to prop up shareholders equity and quarterly profits, but the consumers can also choose not to buy them right? No one is holding a gun to people’s heads making them buy processed foods.

Some will say that in these processed foods and drugs are chemicals, which are indeed toxic. Well, sure there are some chemicals which are not good for the bio-systems in everything from Soft Drinks to Frozen TV Dinners, but also realize that many of these chemicals are needed to prevent disease, spoilage and make them taste right after thawing out and being re-heated.

Processed foods are an issue for human consumption and yes there is junk in lots of it. No one can deny that. Of course other issues include the depleted soil too, pesticides, polluted water for animals and crops. Now also realize that some of these chemicals allow the foods to be insta-frozen, reheated, microwaved, sustain travel time spoilage issues, prevent bacteria, etc. too.

So there is a catch 22 involved also. And in the end we ought to be thankful for the abundance of food available in our nation, even if we abuse this privilege by eating way too much; judging by the chubbiness of the average American. I hope this article propelled thought in 2007.

Love Your Food and Lose Weight Without Feeling Deprived

By Janice Elizabeth Small

You'd think that those of us who love food the most are the ones who would also weigh the most. (You know the saying, never trust a thin cook.)

But that's not quite the case. While it's true that some gourmets are overweight after years of enjoying the finer things in life, most people who want to lose weight eat the same old meals over and over again and, generally, the meals they eat are far from exquisite.

The problem for most overweight people is the sheer quantity of food. A love of piling your plate high and snacking on high calorie junk food and drinks can soon pile on the pounds. It's not usually sampling rich and varied cuisine with fine wines that does it.

You see to love something is also to treat it with respect and true food lovers appreciate food for its taste, texture and presentation. Do you always take the time to experience everything there is to appreciate about your meal?

To truly enjoy food you need to taste it slowly. Almost without exception I have found a link between being overweight and the speed of making food disappear from the plate. If you always clear your plate before others are finished you may want to think about that.

But then maybe the food you eat is not worth lingering over.

If that's the case, it's not difficult to upgrade the quality of your food. Excellent ingredients are available everywhere without costing an arm and a leg and you'll find simple recipes all over the internet. Why would you put up with anything less than good healthy delicious food when it is available to everyone as easily as any other kind of food?

1. But I Always Eat....

We often inherit our eating habits from our families and end up cooking the same kinds of meals. Or we have a trusted repertoire of a few dishes and rarely venture beyond the usual meals we make.

But there are NO LIMITS to how delicious food can be. Why limit yourself when there is a world of delicious food out there for the taking?

2. I Can't Be Bothered...

It does take a little time and effort to find new recipes but if you are shopping and cooking anyway, you may as well shop for and cook something delicious and healthy rather than the same old meals all the time. You don't have to completely change your diet - just try a out a new recipe every once in a while to give your meals a whole new lease of life.

3. I Didn't Know....

Maybe you just haven't thought about what you are missing by eating the same foods all the time. You might like the food you have now but if you want to lose weight something has to change.

You can just eat less of the foods you always eat (and sometimes you need to eat a lot less if you have been piling your plate with high calorie foods) or you could upgrade your food and eat modest portions of delicious nutritious life-enhancing meals.

Sometimes people who start a healthy eating plan find that despite their fears they end up enjoying their food more than ever especially if they are adventurous enough to try new recipes and food items they hadn't considered before.

Not every new recipe will be a hit with you but you are sure to find some winners which will enhance your mealtimes for years to come.

If your experience of losing weight in the past has all been about restriction and deprivation try thinking about your weight loss program in a new way. Consider the huge opportunity you have to upgrade the food you eat to include meals you will truly love and which will keep your body healthy in years to come too.

A Disturbing Trend: Americans Spending Less on Food and More on Medicine

By Bill Scibetta


According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the amount of money Americans spend on food as a percentage of disposable income has dropped from 15.4 percent in 1980 to 9.9 percent in 2005. It’s clear with all the super-sizing of portions and waistlines; we’re not eating less we’re just eating cheaper. High calorie, nutrient deficient processed foods cost less than fresh nutrient dense whole foods. As our investment in healthy food has decreased since 1980, so has our health and in that same time our spending on drugs has dramatically increased. The obesity rate in the US had held steady at around 15 percent from 1960 to 1980. Since 1980 obesity has grown to 31 percent. Type II diabetes is at epidemic proportions and cancer is now the leading cause of death in our country. We are going to be the first generation of Americans whose life expectancy is shorter than our parents. With all the indisputable information of the benefits of healthy nutrition and exercise how can we let this happen? The sad truth is our society is trading good and healthy for cheap and easy.

Why is it so much cheaper to eat junk than eat healthy? It’s simple, supply and demand, basic economics 101…right? Well …sort of (with a little help from the US government.) The USDA helps the food industry keep the prices of junk food low by subsidizing crops commonly used in processed foods. Namely wheat (refined four), soy (hydrogenated oil), and the granddaddy of them all corn (high fructose corn syrup). High fructose corn syrup which was developed in the seventies is a chemically processed sugar that is extracted from corn starch. Because it mixes easily, it is sweeter than sugar; it extends shelf life, and costs about 20 percent less than sugar it took little time for high fructose corn syrup to become the food industry’s sweetener of choice. Through its use in sodas, snacks, frozen foods, breads, condiments, etc., high fructose corn syrup has become a staple in many American diets. Because of its prevalence and the fact that fructose is converted to fat in the liver more easily than other sugars, high fructose corn syrup has been implicated as a major contributor to our country’s obesity epidemic. Between 1995 and 2004 corn crops received a whooping $41.8 billion in government subsidies. This policy has caused farmers to ignore healthy crops and has flooded the market with junk made from the derivatives of the highly subsidized crops, namely refined flour, hydrogenated fats made from soybeans and of course high fructose corn syrup. Add to this, heavy tariffs placed on sugar and other produce imports and you start to understand why you can buy a 24 serving box of corn flakes or a case of cola for less than 3 grapefruits or a pint of fresh berries. To make matters worse the food industry spends billions of advertising dollars each year in order to showcase their manufactured, nutrient bare, disease promoting options.

But don’t worry help is on the way. In 2003 the American Council for Fitness & Nutrition (ACFN) was created. As their website states the ACFN is a “non-profit association comprised of food and beverage companies, trade associations, nonprofit groups and nutrition advocates working toward comprehensive and achievable solutions to the nation’s obesity epidemic”. Sleep tight America, ACFN members who include PepsiCo, Coca Cola, Burger King, McDonalds, Jack in The Box, and the Archer Daniels Midland Company (the world’s largest producer of high fructose corn syrup) are working tirelessly to find ways to make you healthier. Talk about the fox guarding the hen house. If you want to learn about the dangers of dehydration during physical activity and how you can now prevent it just go to Pepsi’s website. They’re there to help because they care about you and your health. They recommend “A healthy balance of "fun" drinks like soda and carbonated beverages, lots of water (eight glasses a day), orange juice and other fruit juices for potassium and Vitamin C, and milk or other calcium fortified beverages like orange juice …” The helpful health and fitness experts at Pepsi.com also warn kids about the dangers of creatine which they describe as a “growth hormone, which some kids take in the mistaken belief that they are healthy.” First of all Pepsi, creatine is an amino acid not a growth hormone. Secondly, although I do not support creatine use in kids because studies of its long term safety have not yet been established, it has been studied extensively and has not yet been shown to be harmful. Unlike aspartame, an artificial sweetener that has been proven in at least 90 independent studies to be harmful to our health. Aspartame is used by Pepsi and other members of the American Council for Fitness & Nutrition to sweeten their “fun” diet drinks and other sugar free products. This dangerous toxin has been shown to cause headaches, memory loss, seizures, vision loss, coma and cancer as well as exacerbate or mimic symptoms of fibromyalgia, MS, lupus, ADD, diabetes, Alzheimer's, chronic fatigue and depression. If aspartame is so harmful how did it ever get FDA approval? The FDA kept aspartame off the market for nearly 20 years because it had never been proven safe. Aspartame finally gained FDA approval in the early 1980s. Coincidently, the recently resigned U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who was on President Regan’s transition team, hand picked the FDA Commissioner who finally approved aspartame. Oh by the way, at the time Rumsfeld was the CEO of Searle Laboratories the makers of aspartame. You know the old saying “it’s not what you know; it’s who you know…and, what the public doesn’t know!” While it may take some time for the ACFN to find a solution to our deteriorating health there’s no need to worry; the pharmaceutical industry has your back.

Fortunately for us drug companies have been there to help us during this down turn in our country’s eating habits and deteriorating health. In 1980 Americans spent approximately $12 billion per year on prescription drugs; in 2004 that number had increased to over $180 billion. Drug makers have been there with medications to help us with obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension, sexual dysfunction, depression, attention deficit disorder, type II diabetes, acid reflux, headaches and arthritis pain; all conditions that can often be reduced or eliminated through good nutrition and physical activity.

In some cases the drugs have been worse than the condition (remember Phen Phen and Vioxx.) With the way the FDA works and the power of pharmaceutical lobbies its only a matter of time before we learn that another drug we’ve been taking for years is unsafe. Our poor choices and lack of self discipline and accountability (along with the Federal Trade Commissions changes in regulations that allow pharmaceutical companies to advertise directly to consumers) have allowed drug makers to prosper just as the food industry has. Each year the pharmaceutical industry spends billions of advertising dollars in an attempt to persuade us to give up accountability of our own health and entrust our wellness to their pills. In 2005 Americans spent upwards of $500 billion on prescription and over the counter drugs. It’s obvious advertising works, but don’t believe everything you read or see on television. Make educated decisions concerning your health, be proactive, ask questions, and do research. Whether it’s coming from a doctor, a drug company, or someone like me; don’t take advice blindly, educate yourself.

Although good nutrition may be more expensive right now, we simply cannot afford to keep eating junk. We need to be healthier and we need to be accountable for our own health. Our good choices can make a difference for everybody. Support local growers, join a natural food co-op, avoid processed foods, exercise, and contact your politicians and demand the FDA keep poison out of our food and nutritious real foods in our schools. Actions like these are already making a small difference as we are seeing a decrease in Trans fatty acids in many foods and an increase in natural and organic choices on grocery store shelves. But it’s not enough. The food and drug industries have proven that advertising works. For America to get healthy its going to take an enormous grass roots word of mouth advertising campaign. Make good choices and spread the word about the dangers of processed foods and poor nutrition and the benefits of good nutrition and exercise. It’s up to us to take control and invest in our health, invest in the health of our children and invest in the health of our society. Let’s start now!

How Does the Food You Eat and Drinks You Drink Affect Your Health Insurance?

By Elizabeth Newberry


We Americans love our food and drinks, don’t we? It seems like with every turn of your car’s steering wheel, there’s a McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s, Hardees, KFC – well, the list of fast food restaurants could go on forever. The point is, they keep popping up all over the place because of consumer demand. We want the cheap, fast food and drinks offered by these fast food restaurants, and we want them everywhere. It’s all about cheap convenience.

However, the convenience of this cheap, fast food and drinks can actually come with quite a high price – poor health. Eating this food, such as greasy cheese burgers and salty French fries, and drinking these drinks, such as high calorie sodas, may be alright in moderation, but many Americans have made cruising through one or two of these drive-thrus a weekly, or even daily, ritual. Americans are on the go, day in and day out, and these easily accessible restaurants are too tempting to pass up.

Yet, too much of this kind of food and drinks can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity, just to name a few of the health problems, and when we develop health problems, we either rely on our health insurance to bail us out, or wish we had health insurance in the first place. By avoiding this kind of food and drinks, or at least only indulging in moderation, we can avoid these health complications.

It is always wise to have a good health insurance policy, even if it means purchasing an individual health insurance policy if your employer doesn’t offer a health insurance package; however, by eating health foods and drinking healthy drinks and exercising, you can help take care of yourself before these kinds of health complications kick in and necessitate health insurance, or at least health insurance coverage for the kinds of health complications that this food and drinks can cause.

Portuguese Food and Cuisine

By Briony Stephenson


Briony Stephenson introduces the hidden delights of Portuguese cuisine.

Despite the lasting influence it has had on food in such far-away places as Macau and Goa, Portuguese cuisine is hugely underrepresented outside Portugal. Often confused with Spanish cooking, it is, in fact, quite distinct. At its best, Portuguese food is simple ingredients impeccably prepared. Based on regional produce, emphasising fish, meat, olive oil, tomato, and spices, it features hearty soups, homemade bread and cheeses, as well as unexpected combinations of meat and shellfish.

For a relatively small nation, Portugal has surprising gastronomic variety. The Estremadura region, which includes Lisbon, is famous for its seafood - the fish market at Cascais, just outside the capital, is one of the largest in the country - while the production of sausages and cheese elsewhere adds another dimension to the national cuisine. The Algarve, the last region of Portugal to achieve independence from the Moors, and situated on North Africa's doorstep, contributes a centuries-old tradition of almond and fig sweets.

Traditional Portuguese food is typified by fish.Indeed, the Portuguese have a long history of absorbing culinary traditions from other peoples. The age of discovery was propelled by the desire for exotic spices and ever since Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route to India at the turn of the sixteenth century, they have proved enormously popular. Peri-peri, a Brazilian spice transplanted to the former African colonies is used to flavour chicken and shrimp. Curry spices from Goa are common seasonings. These spices are typically used very sparingly, adding subtle flavour and depth to dishes. It is these influences that have helped make Portuguese food so markedly different from that of other Mediterranean countries and in Lisbon today there are scores of restaurants specialising in the cuisines of the old empire as well as Brazilian-style juice bars, offering drinks and ice-cream made from exotic fruits.

If there is one thing that typifies traditional Portuguese food, however, it is fish. From the common anchovy to swordfish, sole, sea bream, bass and salmon, markets and menus reveal the full extent of Portugal's love affair with seafood. In Portugal, even a street-bought fish burger is filled with flavour. Bacalhau, salted cod, is the Portuguese fish and said to be the basis for some 365 recipes, one for each day of the year. Two dishes are particularly notable. Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá, essentially a casserole of cod, potatoes and onion, is an Oporto speciality and considered perhaps Portugal's greatest bacalhau recipe. From Estremadura comes bacalhau á bràs, scrambled eggs with salted cod, potatoes and onions.

Shellfish, including clams (amêijoas) and mussels (mexilhões) are also of a high quality. Crab and squid are often stuffed, and lulas recheadas à lisbonense (stuffed squid Lisbon-style) is a great example of Portuguese seafood. Visitors to Lisbon can find traditional shops by the docks selling snails (caracóis).

There are plenty of options for the meat-lover too. Espetada, grilled skewers of beef with garlic, is popular, as is suckling pig (leitão). Cozido à portuguesa, a one-dish meal of beef, pork, sausage and vegetables, reflects the resourcefulness of traditional cooking. A rather more unusual combination is the pork and clams of porco à alentejana (pork Alentejo-style). Pork is also cooked with mussels na cataplana, with the wok-like cataplana sealing in the flavours. Meanwhile, the city of Oporto boasts tripa à moda do Porto (Oporto-style tripe), supposedly a legacy from the days of Prince Henry the Navigator, when the city was left with nothing but tripe after providing the Infante's ships with food. To this day Oporto natives are known as tripeiros, or tripe-eaters.

Broiled chicken (frango grelhado), seasoned with peri-peri, garlic, and/or olive oil, is one of the few things that has made its mark outside Portugal, where it can be found in cities with a large Portuguese population. The highly aromatic peri-peri chicken is often served in specialist restaurants.

Portuguese food: a hidden treasure.Soups constitute an integral part of traditional cooking, with all manner of vegetables, fish and meat used to create a variety of soups, stews and chowders. Caldo verde (literally green broth), made from a soup of kale-like cabbage thickened with potato and containing a slice of salpicão or chouriço sausage, originated from the northern province of Minho but is now considered a national dish. Along with canja de galinha (chicken broth), caldo verde is a filling, comforting and ubiquitous favourite. For the more adventurous, caldeirada de lulas à madeirense (squid stew Madeira-style) features a characteristically Portuguese combination of seafood, curry and ginger. Another typical dish is the açorda where vegetables or shellfish are added to thick rustic bread to create a 'dry' soup.

Those with a sweet tooth may be interested to learn that one of Portugal's best-kept culinary secrets is its vast and distinctive range of desserts, cakes and pastries. A staple of restaurant menus is chocolate mousse - richer, denser and smoother than foreign versions, while other favourites include arroz doce, a lemon and cinnamon-flavoured rice pudding. The most famous sweets, however, are the rich egg-yolk and sugar-based cakes, influenced by Moorish cooking and perfected by Guimerães nuns in the sixteenth century. For a uniquely Portuguese experience, the visitor should head for a pasteleria (or confeitaria), where the many varieties of cakes and other confections, as well as savoury delicacies like bolinhas de bacalhau, cod balls, are served. The Antiga Confeitaria de Belém, where the legendary pastéis de nata, delicious custard-filled tarts, are baked, is a Lisbon highlight. Nearby Sintra has its own traditional pastry, queijadas de Sintra (a type of cheese tart), which street vendors sell in packs of six.

The Portuguese attitude to food is simple and imaginative, traditional and inventive. Above all, enjoying good food and the social aspects of eating out is an esteemed part of everyday life. From informal cafes to world-class restaurants, all budgets and occasions are catered for. Tiny cafes and tascas, often no more than holes in the wall, abound. The opportunity to sample this largely unknown cuisine in all its variety is one of the real rewards of visiting Portugal.

(c) http://www.portugalvisitor.com

Food and Drinks Blender Buying Tips

By Rocque Bowen


Almost every kitchen has at least one blender. There are many different makes and models out there to choose from, and now there are even multi colored blenders that are affordable.

Most blenders are versatile small appliances that you can fit into any budget. Blenders can do the job of several other kitchen tools such as a food processor, a juicer and even a coffee maker. This is due to the fact that blenders are powerful enough to mash vegetables and fruits and turn it into thick purees like a food processor. They can make juices, cocktails and smoothies like an ordinary juicer, too. Another popular feature of a blender is that you can buy coffee beans and enjoy freshly ground coffee. These are just a few examples of the endless list of uses for a blender.

Is it time to buy a new blender? Do you already have one, but have it hidden away somewhere, and rarely use it? Have you noticed that blenders are now coming in shapes and sizes to ompliment any kitchen? This article is going to show you why you should be using a blender, and why you might consider buying another one if you already own one.

Blenders are used to create healthy food and drinks for you and your family. If you are on a specific diet plan or have turned vegetarian, you will be amazed by the usefulness of this small appliance. Now is a great time to buy a new blender. Here are some tips on how to find a good blender.

1. You can never go wrong by choosing the best brands.

One of the best blender brands in the market year after year is the Oster. The company has the honor in the apliance field of having the name "blenders" often called "osterizers". This is the same way that you often hear "tissues" called "Kleenex". The Oster brand blenders are the top of the line, and might be the most expensive. However, it is known for being sturdy, and worth the money. Especially if you are going to make shakes and smoothies, or protein blended drinks often. These drinks necessitate crushing hard ice to give them that extra special taste and texture.

If you are going to be crushing coffee beans, the Oster blender will not have any problem with multiple uses. You can also use the blender to chop nuts for garnishes or to add to cooking. If you are going to use the blender for mainly making purees or juices, and not crushing a lot of ice, you can probably settle for the cheaper brands that are also well suited for this purpose. While a cheaper blender will crush ice, nuts, and coffee beans, remember not to overdo it just in case. Pay attention to how hard your blender is having to work to complete these tasks.

2. Do not buy a used blender

If you can avoid buying a used blender, you should. Used blenders can last a long time, but you never know how much wear and tear it has on it, or how it was stored and taken care of. Your blender will be a well used appliance so getting a new one gives you the advantage of being able to exchange it if you are not completely happy with it. However, if you are sure that the second hand blender has not been used often, then it will probably be a good buy, and you can learn whether or not you want to upgrade to a new one in the near future.

If you are going to buy a used blender you should check the product and make sure that there are no cracks in the container and the stainless steel blades are in good shape. Check the seals on the blender, too, so you know that it is not going to leak, and make sure there are no oil leaks or grease built up around the base.

3. Get a blender powerful enough to meet your needs.

The amount of power a blender has will vary by the model and the manufacturer. Not all blenders are the same. You will want to know if the type of blender you are considering will be able to crush a lot of ice, if you want to make lots of drinks that need it. Remember there are a lot of blender types available, and get your questions answered before you buy.

Making purees, or crushing cooked veggies, or most raw veggies, won't need the same power requirements as a blender that you want to use for making peanut butter, or grinding a lot of coffee.

4. Pick the size of a blender that fits your kitchen.

There are different sizes of blenders now, and there are even different colors of the same model. When you shop for a blender have an idea where you want to keep it. Look for one that has the size that meets your storage needs.

To summarize, there are several blender choices available now including different sizes, power for a variety of purposes, and price ranges. When you are ready to buy a new blender be aware of what you are going to want to use it for, and how often you plan on using it. Blenders can and should be used daily to add to a healthy diet, and just making good food and beverages.

Find a blender that you are going to enjoy using over and over.

Food and Drinks Made Easy With Oster and Cuisinart Blenders

By David Urmann and Wasim Ahmad


Choosing the best blender means it has to be tough, long-lasting and convenient to use. Oster and Cuisinart are brand names that guaranty first class performance every time. They dedicate their time, energy and research to provide customers with what they are exactly looking for.

Oster blenders are known for its quality and durability. It has millions of loyal users and followers because their products last for years. It is an excellent appliance for food preparation. They have produced so many models already but we mention here a few.

You can get the Oster Contemporary Classic Beehive Blender at $75. It has two speed settings to better control precision in grinding. The classic Beehive is resistant to scratch with a jar that can be cleaned in a dishwasher. It can serve up to five cups and has a stainless steel ice-crushing blade.

Oster also takes pride in another product, the Oster 14 Speed Blender with Food Processor. It has a first-rate mincing and chopping performance from its chopper blade or the reversible disc blade. This type of blender is convenient to use that can fill five cups. It has a scratch resistant and dishwasher-safe glass jar. The food processor has a three-cup capacity. You can pour in liquids as you use it with its food pusher and cover. This fine blender with food processor can also be put away conveniently with its cord storage. You can purchase this for only $46.38.

Oster offers another product, the Oster 14 Speed Blender minus the food processor. This costs $47.37. Having the same capacity and quality, this model includes a five-cup scratch resistant and dishwasher-safe glass jar. It also has a stainless steel ice crusher. It is designed with 14 possible speed options and brushed with chrome to look good on top of your counter. It also has cord storage so you can neatly put it away.

Cuisinart Blenders is another leading brand that equates to quality. Its PowerBlend 600 Blender features a 500-watt motor. It has a large capacity with a 56 oz glass blender jar where you can also pour in liquids through its clear 2 oz measure pour lid. Use its 7-speed touchpad controls to adjust its blending performance. You can pulse, stir, chop, mix, puree, liquefy and crush ice with it. Simply pack it away without the tangle of cords with its brilliant push-in cord storage. Buy this product for $59.95 with a limited 3-year warranty.

Food processors and blenders are good together with the Cuisinart SmartPower Duet blender/food processor. Its large capacity of 40 oz glass blender jar can prepare ice and frozen drinks for several people. The work bowl can handle a volume of 3 cups. This model is so easy to use with its electronic touchpad and 7-speed controls that has separate buttons for ice crushing and food processing. You can pulse, too, at any speed rate. The stainless steel chopping blade, reversible slicing/shredding disc and any removable parts are scratch resistant and dishwasher-safe. At $99.95, it comes with an Instruction and recipe book. Enjoy Cuisinart's 3-year warranty.

For quality and style, Cuisinart presents the SmartPower Premier 600-Watt Blender. You can buy this for $99.95 and enjoy its durability and flair from the cast metal and stainless case that has an embossed Cuisinart logo. Its special feature is the count-up timer that helps you keep up with the time indicated in recipes. The powerful 600-watt motor can crush ice with no hassle and can handle the roughest blending jobs with ease. You can serve your recipe to as many people as you want with its 50 oz glass jar capacity.

This particular model also features the Cuisinart easy-to-use push-button controls and an easy push-on cover with a removable measured pour lid. Enjoy Cuisinart's 3-year warranty service and explore new food ideas with the instruction/recipe book that comes with it.

Career in Food and Beverage Industry

By Tom Justa


In the later years a career in the food and beverage industry was a big No! No! Times have changed and people find the Food Industry more exploring, interesting and interactive, apart from the excellent salary package. If you hold an inclination to do something big in the Food Industry, initially you will have to start with little things. A skilled worker has more openings in this industry. A degree in culinary arts, nutrition & dietetics, food and beverage operations will do the magic. The Food and Beverage industry is all about Serving. The more you serve, the more you earn.

The Food and Beverage Industry is a huge industry, not limiting the job opportunities to specific openings. Food Service management requirements are similar to those of any other management position in the service industry. Any person, who is willing to work hard, enjoys dealing with people and supervising others can enter in the management level jobs.

Highlights on the various Divisions of Food and Beverage Industry

Bakery Industry

This sector is doing brisk business. Stiff competition in the global bakery market is a driving force for growth potential. The mindsets of people are changing, now people just don't want a round cake but designer cakes. The Job is not just limited to Baker and a Helper, it has moved on from just a "Bakery" to a giant size Bakery Industry. There are top level job positions namely Vice President, General Manager, Chief Financial Officer to name a few.

Hotel Industry

This is yet another section doing overwhelming business. Huge number of Job Vacancies lies in this area. Beginning from a Bartender, Chef and Room Service Boy right up to top managerial level jobs. This industry is also known as the "Hospitality Industry". This industry is directly associated with Free Time. The Hotels in Exotic Holiday Destinations are striving towards having brisk business. They try to reduce rates, brush up the facilities available and try to see that none of the rooms are empty.

Beverage Industry

When it comes to wine, drinks, the Beverage Industry rushes into action. The Key positions for this industry are Quality Analyst. People are so particular about food; there is a need for a Quality assurance manager in the Beverage Industry as here is it more dealing with drinks. Apart from this there are various other Jobs available here.

Bright Career Prospects

The career opportunities are brighter in the Food and Beverage Industry. Here you could choose the area of your interest. If you are a foodie and love to cook you could opt for the Hotel Industry and if you love to meet people and move to places the Hospitality Industry is calling you. Variations in Job profile is what the Industry offers. All you need to do is to slog it out and excel in your work.

Conclusion

From the industry analysis we can conclude that the Food Industry progressed in leaps and bounds. There are openings in various sectors namely Food Science, Food Technology, Food Machinery to name a few. It has become a field of variety wherein you could explore your potentials and work within the areas of your interest.

A Simple Solution to Fast Food and Obesity in America

By C R Akomas


America is the most powerful and richest country on earth. Due to its wealth it has also become the most obese nation on earth with 28%-31% of the population obese in 2003, and 35%-40% by 2009. These are drastic and worrying figures. It has been estimated that by 2040, 70% of the population will be obese. There must be a way to reduce fast food and obesity in America.

Why i mentioned obesity is because it is one of the chief factors that contribute to the prevelance of obesity.

During the past 20 years there has been a steady rise in obesity. Americans are getting fatter and fatter each year. It is estimated that one in five Americans are obese. As the health care costs of treating obesity rise some people blame the plight on fast food.

Facing fierce competition for customer loyalty some fast food organisations such as McDonalds and Burger King have promoted their over sized burgers, extra large fries and soda drinks at very low prices just to target low income strapped families who rely on large take out portions that can feed their children and themselves economically.

This leads to wide spread obesity amongst the population. The portions served by these fast food outlets are far bigger than the recommended portion sizes for most foods. As Americans eat more and more frequently they become more accustomed to those oversized portions and then think that it is normal. The large portions of these meals lead to weight gain.

It is true that fast food has become a large percentage of American's diet, so it is no wonder that a link has been considered between fast food and obesity.

There is a simple solution. We have just got to cut back on this fast food type of diet. Fast food does not have to be cut out altogether and at all costs.

It just needs to be considered the exception rather than the rule in your families diet choices. You should eat the bulk of your food at home and when you do make sure that you are serving vegetables, fruits, whole grains on everyone's plate. That big mac and fries should be a treat enjoyed on occasion and not the regular on the home menu.

With these few wise choices and an understanding of good health and nutrition, this can be a simple solution to fast food and obesity in america.

Food and Behavior in Children - Does What You Feed Your Children Affect Their Behavior?

By Barbara Hillary, PhD


Have you wondered if the food your children eat every day might affect their behavior?

The Food for the Brain Foundation in England carried out a survey on over 10,000 British school-aged children, ages 6 through 16, in an attempt to compare aspects of their behavior with academic performance, score tests, and health. The results revealed a significant association between diet, behavior, and school performance. The outcomes of the survey show that 1 in 3 children had problems with attention, tantrums, mood swings, and almost half of them constantly craved sugar.

Key findings of the survey:

- The average intake of dark green vegetables is only 1 serving a week!

- Average intake of seeds/nuts is half a serving a week.

- Average sugar servings in or added to food and drinks is 3.5 a day.

- Children who eat diets high in fried and processed foods are three times more likely to be badly behaved.

- Children who eat vegetables, oily fish, nuts, and seeds do best in school.

- Children with better diets have higher test scores.

The survey found that fruits and vegetables were associated with better behavior than fried foods. Children eating more fruits and vegetables were twice as likely to have better behavior. Processed foods, such as fast food, sweets, and meats, were more likely to contribute to behavioral problems. About 44% of children consuming processed foods had bad behavior on most days, according to the survey.

The best foods for good academic performance were dark green leafy vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, oily fish, and water. The survey showed that children who included these foods in their diets have 11% higher test scores. The take home message form this survey is to increase your family's intake of grains, fruits, and vegetables, and decrease the amount of processed foods eaten during the week.

Brain boosting breakfasts to keep your child full:

- Oatmeal with 1 tablespoon ground seeds (flax, sesame, pumpkin, sunflower), or nuts, and chopped fresh fruit.

- Wholegrain toast with peanut butter and sugar free jam.

- Poached, boiled, or scrambled eggs with wholegrain toast or pita served with sweet cherry tomatoes or low sugar ketchup.

- Sliced fruits, chopped hard-boiled eggs, and wholegrain toast cut into fun shapes with a pastry cutter.

Brain boosting lunch tips:

- Offer raw vegetables (carrot, cucumber, peppers, cherry tomatoes, baby corn, celery, broccoli, radishes), rice cakes, or fruit.

- As dip, use a small container of hummus, low-fat cream cheese, or yogurt.

- Serve dried fruit and nuts.

Money Saving Tips For Food and Drink Expenses

By Joe Deacon


Everyone faces those days when it is just easier to eat out than go home and cook. In today's fast paced society, it can be very hard to have time at the end of the day to fix a four course meal. However, this can be an expensive habit if you go out often. There are steps you can take to lower the tab when you just need a break or you are treating yourself to a night out.

Cut Out the Soda

Soda is one of the highest marked up items on any menu. Most restaurants will charge almost two dollars for one drink and some don't even offer free refills. When you consider that for a party of five that is an extra ten dollars on the check, you will probably agree that water is a much better choice. The other option you might consider is purchasing a meal that includes a drink.

Deserts Are a No-No

Many deserts cost almost as much as the main course and very few people ever finish them. You are much better off to wait until you get home for something sweet or stop somewhere and buy a whole cake on the way home. You can usually buy a whole pie or cake at the grocery store for less than the cost of four slices at a restaurant.

Learn To Share

Sharing large entrées is a great way to save money on a meal. Many restaurants offer large portion that end up going to waste. This is a great idea if you have children or babies. Rather than buying a kid's meal you can just ask for an additional plate. Be aware some restaurants frown on this practice and will charge for an additional plate.

Take Advantage of Kids Night

If you will be eating out with kids look for a restaurant that offers free kids meals or very cheap ones. Some companies have one night a week that they designate as kids day and all kids under 12 eat free. You can also look for restaurants that have special kid's menus. These menus will often have many of the same items on the adult menu, just at a scaled down size.

Limited Time Specials

Some restaurants will offer limited time deals like buy one get one free, or two meals for a set price. You should also check for the special of the day. In most establishments, one meal is offered at a discounted rate each day. You might even find some restaurants offer a free appetizer or desert with your meal. These specials can be a great way to stretch your dollar a little further.

Download or Buy Coupons

There are two types of coupons to be considered when you are considering going out for dinner. You can download regular coupons online for special savings or free items with you meal. However, you can also buy coupons or gift cards for many places online. Check your local radio or television site. With these deals, you can purchase a certificate or coupon to spend twice as much as you pay. For example, if you buy the coupon for 25 dollars you get to spend it for 50 dollars.

Save Money on Food and Drinks

By Elena Price


The weekly grocery shopping bill is many people's biggest expense after housing. While it's difficult to save money on mortgages and rents there are plenty of savings to be made by being careful with food and drink expenditure.

Plan a weeks worth of meals, create a list of ingredients and only purchase these items. By sticking to this no food will go to waste and you will be less tempted to purchase extra goodies. When you are in the supermarket where possible try to purchase "own brand" items. You'll find them much cheaper than leading brands and often the product tastes very similar if not exactly the same.

When you visit your supermarket don't go in hungry. Research suggests that you will spend around 20% more when you food shop hungry as opposed to shopping after a meal.

Buy in bulk. Markets and greengrocers will give good deals on produce if you buy in larger quantities. Supermarkets often have BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free) offers. Take advantage of these: freeze the extra items for use in the future. Grow your own, find an allotment or convert part of your garden into a veg patch. You'll be surprised by the savings and how good home-grown produce tastes.

Shop around - don't just stick with one shop play the supermarkets against each other. Special offers tend to move from one chain to the next so use price comparison sites to find the best deals before you set off shopping. Buy local. By supporting your local farmers market more money makes its way back to the local economy. Check out old Christmas gifts - there may be food hampers that you have forgotten about full of luxury food and drinks

Try to cook just what you planned for in your recipe, this way you'll only use the ingredients you've bought and not extras. Don't cook too large a portion, when cooking pasta and rice use a mug to measure out the amount needed. Consider taking a packed lunch to work, cook up a bit more of an evening put it in Tupperware and freeze them.

Once you've finished cooking, use up the leftovers. The end of a chicken, cut offs of vegetables can be turned into stock or a tasty homemade soup. Don't buy bottled water or soft drinks. Drink tap water! A water filter will do wonders if your tap water isn't too nice or just leave a glass of tap water in a window for around 30 minutes for the chlorine taste to go away.

Shop around - don't just stick with one shop play the supermarkets against each other. Special offers tend to move from one chain to the next so use price comparison sites to find the best deals before you set off shopping.

Ten Ideas For Creating Food and Drinks in the Blender

By Joseph Nyamache


Smoothies are a delicious example of a drink that can be made in the blender. You can be as creative as you like with the ingredients and experimenting with tastes and textures is a lot of fun. You can whiz up milk and fruit, mixed fruit with honey and much more. If you have a blender and you only use it occasionally for making a smoothie now and then, you are missing out on a lot of other ways your blender can help you.

Here are some handy tips on how to make the most of your blender.

1. You can make your own baby food using the blender. This works out cheaper than buying baby food, plus you will know exactly what goes into it.

2. Blenders can help you with cooking because you can use them to chop and puree your ingredients, which is a real time saver. Some people prefer not to cook because they don't have time but using a blender can solve this problem. You can liquefy, chop, blend and puree in a blender and they come in handy with a multitude of different recipes.

3. You can make nice sauces using the blender to chop ingredients evenly. This is a great time saver as well as being easier and safer than using knifes to chop your herbs, vegetables or whichever ingredients you are using.

4. If you have family or friends coming for a visit, you can whip up spreads, dips and other exciting mixtures in the blender. You can even make a business out of it if you are good at creating culinary masterpieces. All it takes is some experimentation and practice.

5. You can grate hard cheeses such as Swiss and Cheddar in the blender. Cut it into cubes and add them through the feeder cap while the blender runs.

6. Make breadcrumbs in the blender. Use fresh bread for soft breadcrumbs or stale bread for dry breadcrumbs. Again, you should add the pieces through the feeder cap while the motor runs.

7. Your blender can grind whole spices, coffee beans, nuts and crackers. You can make delicious nut butters or spice butters in this way.

8. Use the blender to grind poppy seeds, grate fresh coconut, dissolve gelatin and reconstitute frozen fruit juice and dry milk.

9. You can puree hot soup in the blender. Only fill it half full and leave the feeder cap open for the steam to escape. Begin on a very low setting and turn it up gradually.

10. And of course, there are smoothies!

The blender was invented in 1922 by Stephen Poplawski to create soda fountain drinks. He placed a blade at the base of a tall container and the first blender was born. Of course, the blender has been developed more since then and a blender is a frequent sight in most people's kitchens these days. Blenders come in glass, plastic and steel.

You can get ready-made mixes for smoothies or make your own from scratch. Whether the sun is shining or it is a cold day, juices and smoothies always go down a treat. A blender is designed to add air to a drink, to make it frothy, which is why blender smoothies always come out so good. So if you have a blender and hardly ever use it, why not try out some of the above ideas!

Good Food and Drinks When Trying to Conceive - Part 2

By Melissa M. Coleman


In part 1 of "Good Food and Drinks When Trying to Conceive" we spoke about water, and how much water can have a positive or negative effect on your fertility and your pregnancy efforts. Now it's time to talk a little bit about food, and how what we put into our bodies can affect us. Also what TO PUT in your body to maximize fertility.

Now just a word on vegetarian diets... If a woman is aware of her basic nutritional needs as discussed in this article, she should do just fine on a well-balanced vegetarian diet. By eating a wide variety of whole grains, legumes, dried fruit, lima beans and wheat germ, a woman should be able to get enough iron, zinc and other trace minerals to have a healthy body and a healthy pregnancy. Those on vegan diets may need to seek the advice of a health professional on taking supplements such as calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12.

What else goes into a healthy pre-conception diet?

Meat, fish, eggs, a variety of fruits and vegetables

Dairy food for calcium

Cereals (preferably non-sweetened), beans, whole grain bread

Limited starches such as potatoes and pasta (whole grain pasta and sweet potatoes provide more fiber and beta-carotene than the white starches)

Foods low in fat and high in fiber are most desirable - they include fruits & vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grain products.

Wine with meals (or without meals, for that matter!

What foods should you limit?

Liver

Un-pasteurized dairy products

Raw eggs

Soft cheeses

Pates

Any foods that contain lots of sugar, partially-hydrogenated oils, lots of salt or fats (again, it's so important to read food labels...and rinse canned veggies to remove salt!)

Good Foods and Drinks When Trying to Conceive - Part 1

By Melissa M. Coleman

Trust me I know...the last thing you want is another diet right now, but what you do want to know what are the good foods and drinks when trying to conceive. It is a very important matter that most women and couples miss out on in their ttc efforts, and it's one that could have a drastic effect on your natural fertility and ability to easily conceive...or at all for that matter.

This article is only part one of a many part series so please do make sure to look through my other articles and read part 2, as there is much to discuss regarding food and drink during this time, and it can't all be done in one article.

Let's start with the most basic and important nutrient of all....

WATER!

Need I say more about the need to drink LOTS of water every day? The startling fact is that most people go around slightly dehydrated much of the time. I thought it was very strange that I had to keep reminding my husband to take a drink of water when we were on long trips...otherwise, he just didn't think about it! The one good thing about the bottled water craze is that it's got most of us thinking about putting more water into our bodies. Since evidence has recently come to light that the clear, disposable water bottles have toxic substances that may affect the water inside, just carry an opaque sports bottle with iced water inside. Make sure your loved ones have one, too. Think about it...the inside of our bodies is filled with moving parts that all require water to work well. And what woman isn't aware of the effect of lack of moisture on the skin?

During pregnancy and lactation, you will need to drink 8 to 12 eight-ounce glasses of liquids every day. Here are a few reasons why water is so very important to us - it provides for transmission of nutrients to cells, balancing acids, holding salts and cushioning the body's organs. Water contributes 55 - 65% of our adult body weight. The fetus also requires an abundant supply of fluids to develop properly in its prenatal environment.

The amount of water required by the body can vary greatly from person to person, and environment to environment. Pregnancy and lactation, exercise, heat, dry climates and high fiber diets are all factors that increase the body's hydration requirement. Inadequate water consumption can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, and decreased mental alertness in pregnant women. For the fetus, it can mean inadequate transportation of nutrients, ineffective removal of waste matter, an overly-warm uterine environment, and insufficient fluid in the amniotic sac. As you can see, the effects of dehydration can jeopardize fetal growth and development. In some severely-dehydrated women, premature labor and delivery can occur. So...even though water bottles are being banned in some communities now, the national thirst for bottled water has made us all aware of the need for hydration.

Treat Your Food and Drink Allergies

By Vairo Anglis


Certain food and drink allergies can make you very uncomfortable in few situations, keeping you always suspicious of what you are about to eat or drink. This can affect a human in a many different ways. Just think about it! How easy it is to have the same food every day you are already bored with? Well let me give you a clue, ''It's NOT Easy.''

Even worse factor is, in some of the cases when you were able to enjoy a certain food or drink, but in the meanwhile you have developed an allergic reaction to it. It surely is very unpleasant to hunger after a certain food and to resent it at the same time because you anticipate the disagreeable effects it will have on you.

Food and Drink sensitivity

The way you get allergic reaction is when a specific enzymes in the product you are having can not tolerate some chemical or natural substance of it.

The main symptoms are: gas, constipation, diarrhea, IBS, skin rash, headaches, and cough.

From another point of view, allergy is an immune response to some allergens, or food proteins that generate the allergy, and has a partially different symptomatology: soft tissues (tongue, lips, eyelids, etc.) swelling lesions itches vomiting culminating anaphylactic shock.

Most common Food generating allergies include milk, eggs, seafood, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and wheat.

Aloeride effectiveness

Now there is a easy way to regain the possibility of using food and drinks banned for long time from your diet. Few cases reports an increased tolerance to substances you could never even think to ingest again after undergoing terrible reactions to them. The fact that Aloeride performs on the immunity system guarantees that allergic reactions, as immunity responses to some mixtures found in food or drinks, can be dealt with. Using Aloeride for drink or food allergies doesn't really mean you should go and grab everything you had allergy before with. It would be really irresponsible from your side, however Aloeride may actually surprise you, it offers you an opportunity to learn simple things like rightfully appreciated food, especially after a period of constant prohibition and frustration.

Energy - Are We Getting Enough From Food and Drinks?

By Heinz Gisel
"Energy and Persistence Alter All Things"
Benjamin Franklin

The basic force and condition behind all activities of human life is the presence on command of energy. Energy is required for every aspect of existence - everything we do, think, feel, move, eat, drink, digest, dream and even breathe uses energy. We are born with a reserve of energy stored in all cells, which needs to be steadily replenished with breathing at all times. If breathing were to stop, death would ensue in a matter of minutes. In hibernation or coma, breathing is greatly reduced because of reduced use of energy expenditure, as compared to ordinary function. Energy cannot be made and it can't be destroyed, it can only be converted from one form into another form.

Now, if Food is Energy - how come that people who eat a lot, particularly overweight and obese people - complain the most about lack of Energy? Fat is our primary source of energy from food, so why don't people that thrive on a fatty diet are bursting with energy? We know that energy in food is measured in kilo calories and a lot of people actually count the daily intake of calories in order to balance their weight. And - yes it doesn't work, why?

Life is much more complex than what can be compacted into a simple arithmetic formula and as a society; we are far away from understanding this complexity. Obviously, food is by far not the only source of energy; we get energy from air, exposure to the sun, cosmic energy, and energy from minerals, rocks, plants, animals and other humans. Expending energy is equally ambiguous; we emit energy without awareness to others, then obviously there is energy expenditure that can be measured such as muscle work at the gym, but what about Passion?

Doesn't passion activate energy even in people that claim to have none? Then, would lack of energy be a euphemism for a lack of purpose in life? At play is with certainty a believe system, the spirit, the soul. We can't measure it, yet we know it plays a vital role in receiving and expending energy. There is scientific evidence that believes influence the contraction and healing of disease and cognitively we know that a purpose in life activates energy according to the task.

Let's go back to energy utilization from food sources. The little we know today is that energy in food cannot be adequately quantified or qualified by counting calories. Food transports information to the cells of the body - that is - food that is alive. Live food has measurable light in it, such as fruits and vegetables, water, eggs, etc., while processed; microwaved or irradiated food has none. The cells in the human body also have light and the intercellular communication is light.

So how can you eat plenty of food and have no energy? The amount of energy available to use at any one time depends on the quality of the blood, lymph, nerves and light energy pathways (known as meridians). These in turn are dependent upon the presence and the proper proportions and amounts of the essential substrates in the body, such as minerals, trace elements, proteins, amino acids, vitamins, fatty acids, carbohydrates, etc. At the same time, interference factors such as toxins from smoking, drugs, environmental toxins, transdermally induced toxins from personal care products, and chemicals inhaled from breathing air must be minimized. In addition we need to be well rested and well hydrated and our body's must be in pH balance, neither acidic: d 6.4 pH, nor alkaline: e 7.0 pH.

If energy disposition were dependent on eating, then the more we would eat the more energy we would have at our disposal, and since fat has the highest energy content, fast food would provide what we need to cope with any energy demand situation. Well, obviously we know cognitively that the opposite is true, the more we eat and the worse the nutritional value of the food, the more sluggish and tired we become. While we can attest to the expenditure of energy, we rarely notice the buildup of energy. Here we return to the "Passion": we may feel that we have no energy at all because we don't perceive any purpose, we need to be overcome with Passion for something in order to unleash our latent potential of energy.

Evidently, the "lack of energy" and the asking for "more energy" is a very complex mind-body matter that drug-based acute-care medicine cannot address. Certainly, there are uncounted drugs in TV ads that promise the magic boost of personal power and often, we resort to a cup of coffee for short term results. Though in order to accomplish lasting results, we must address the cause at the cellular level: energy production. Almost everyone wants "more energy", though every person has a different understanding of what this means. This request is a cry for harmony and equilibrium, the yearning for a healthy body which can derive all the nutrients in food for energy, rather than tiredness and exhaustion. The comforting news is that almost everyone can gain measurable energy by simple lifestyle adjustments, such as avoiding toxins, proper nutrition and adequate exercising. For resources and references visit http://www.d4vc.com/.