Category Archives: Food & Drink

Authentic Romanian Recipes

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In general, Romanians like eating different delicious kinds of food. Here you can find authentic Romanian recipes, which are usually cooked on special occasions, or you can try them whenever you like. Therefore, you can find out two recipes: traditional cheese ball and cabbage rolls. You know; when they want to eat something nice, Romanians do not lose time, so let us begin with the cheese ball, which can be found in the list of any authentic Romanian recipes books. This dish is ready in about one hour. The ingredients needed are 350 grams corn flour, half of teaspoon of salt, 1 liter and a half of water, for a corn flour sauce. Then, for the stuff, you need 4 eggs, 50 grams of butter, and 300 g of cheese, preferably two different kinds. Here we have to mention that the best types of cheese for this dish are bellows cheese (branza de burduf) and a kind of salty cheese called “telemea”. First, you have to cook a quite soft corn flour sauce and boil the eggs. Meanwhile, you must have available an earthen pot, which is a symbol of authentic Romanian recipes. In order to obtain the best outcome you have to keep this pot in cold water for 15 minutes, and then rub it with plenty of butter, so that the cheese ball will not stick to the pot. When the corn flour sauce is ready, you can pour a third of it into the pot, and put on its top the bellows cheese after you have flaked it using a fork, a little butter (about 1 teaspoon) and two halves of eggs. Then cover it with another third of corn flour sauce, and then put the salty cheese on it, together with the other two eggs and finally the last layer of corn flour sauce. To continue, cabbage rolls are famous too in the list of authentic Romanian recipes. It is true that it takes you about half of hour to prepare them, and if you want to cook them in the oven, you can spend with them one hour and a half. The ingredients you need are 1 kilo mince, 2 medium sized onions, a bunch of verdure, 200 grams rice, 2 spoons tomato paste, 1 teaspoon of salt, half a teaspoon of pepper, 2 leaves of laurel, 1 hot pepper, medium sized sauerkraut (which you should keep in water in order to make it release salt, two hours before). You can also use raw cabbage, but you have to scald it first. As far as equipment is concerned, you need specific kitchen utensils and a Romanian earthen pot. Besides, as home appliances, you can use the cooker, which of course must have an oven, kitchen robot or mince maker. Hack meat using a kitchen robot or a mince maker. Mix the mince with the rice, the chopped onion, the verdure, after you minced it too using a knife, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Then you have to choose cabbage leaves and put the mixture onto them and roll them. These two authentic Romanian recipes are an expression of Romanian essential jobs in the past, which were shepherd and rich farmer, who used to enjoy eating, drinking a little natural wine or brandy and then telling jokes and feeling great.



By: Amit

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Health Food Versus Junk Food In Today’s Society

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McDonalds Burger King Pizza Hut There are dozens of fast food chains in every part of the world, making it quite difficult for anyone to have a strict diet. Who would want a salad when they could easily have a large fry and an entire pizza? Unfortunately, the foods that taste the best are often the worst for your body. While we usually ignore this important fact, it is crucial that we at least try to consume nutritional food four days out of the week.

Since the health trend has spiked in most recent years, a myth has circulated across the globe. Most people feel that “nutritional food” – the types of products with an abundance of fiber, protein, and other vitamins, taste like the bottom of your toilet seat. Although many of these products do taste a bit bland, there are plenty that are delicious. It is just a matter of weeding out the disgusting foods and focusing on the ones that taste the best.

If you are trying your best to be healthy, it is essential to find foods that will treat your bodies well. Most grocery stores include products that have an “organic” symbol at the bottom of each box. This is great to look for, especially if you are searching for healthy alternatives. Once you have come across this symbol, you should try to find something high in fiber. For instance, Fiber One cereals or Kashi products are very high in the nutrients your body needs. Fortunately, they also taste amazing. Looking for something sweeter? Add a few berries to your cereal each morning.

Looking for wheat products is also key. Instead of buying Wonder bread, opt for whole grain or wheat. These types of products are much better for your bodies, and actually include the fiber that you should be getting. Not ready to give up all of the bagels and danishes? At least try buying the low fat wheat bagels, which barely taste any different. Add light cream cheese, and you are all set for a healthy breakfast.

Aside from organic foods and whole wheat bread, you should be taking nutritional supplements. While some people enjoy swallowing their daily vitamin, others like to be creative. Noni Juice is a popular favorite, as it is a natural fruit juice that does not have any extra preservatives. Looking for sweetness with all of the nutrients? Noni Juice is the perfect product, if that is what you are looking for. It not only boosts your immune system, but it gives you energy, and it fights off viruses that are trying to get you sick.

Health food is always going to somewhat have a negative connotation. After all, it never will be Pizza Hut or Burger King. However, these junk foods will by no means give you the nutrition that you desperately seek. By eating healthy foods and looking great, you will not only feel better about yourself, but you’ll have additional energy. It is a known fact that you will feel much different if you consume foods with fiber and nutrients. Once you start eating these types of groceries, chances are you’ll turn the other cheek to fast food chains.



By: Pascal E. Erdmann

About the Author:

The author Pascal Erdmann is the director and owner of Natures Products Ltd, supplier of organic noni juice at Natures Products Ltd



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Thai Food for Health

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Dining in the UK is, like so many aspects of modern life, sometimes a compromise. In days gone by, when gender roles conformed to long-established stereotypes, a housewife would prepare a full, cooked meal for the family to share in the evening. These days, when it is more likely that both partners in a relationship will have careers, time is at a premium and many begrudge time spent cooking after a busy day at work. Consequently, takeaway food and restaurant meals account for a larger part of our diet then ever before.

While many of us avoid the kind of fast food that we consider to be junky American imports, such as burgers and greasy fried chicken, we do not seem to be so aware of the health aspects of other cuisines which, although established, are also relative newcomers to our shores.

Health in diet and lifestyle is a modern obsession. We shy away from overdoing the very obvious unhealthy foods. We limit our intake of cakes, sweets, chips, but we are less wary of eating Indian and Chinese restaurant meals or takeaways – perhaps several times a week – even though, at the back of our minds, we know that these are often as full of fat, sugar and salt as the more obvious junk foods.

Of the imported cuisines popular in the UK, Thai food offers one of the most consistently healthy and well-balanced diets available. Its various techniques and components are a fusion of contributions made by the Asian, European and African cultures that, at various periods, took advantage of the trade routes upon which Thailand was so well placed. It is almost as if it has embraced all the best elements from the many influences that played parts in its evolution, while leaving out most of the things which we now know are not healthy to eat.

An article in the health section of the BBC’s website stated that the popular Indian dish chicken tikka masala with pilau rice typically contains around 47g of fat, while a similar Thai food choice, stir fried chicken with plain steamed rice (phad khing hai) has just 13g of fat of which only 3g is saturated fat. The difference is striking, and the more dishes one compares, the greater the contrast one sees between the two cuisines so far as healthy eating considerations are concerned.

As well as a healthy, balanced overall diet, the individual ingredients used in Thai cooking are well known for their benefits and, in many cases, they are actually used in Southeast Asian medicine.

Turmeric, for example, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, both of these qualities are known to play a part in preventing the development of cancer.

Lemongrass, a lovely, fragrant, lemony herb is used in Chinese medicine in the treatment of colds and flu-like bugs. It is also known to help maintain good digestion.

Galangal is a variant of ginger and, as such, shares many of its properties. Galangal is particularly renowned for its effectiveness in relieving digestive problems and gastric disorders. It is also reputed to assist in the reduction of pain and stiffness caused by arthritis.  

Chillies, cayenne in particular, have recently come to the attention of western researchers. Indications are that chillies and their extracts may be beneficial in maintaining a healthy cardio-vascular system, and in supporting the body’s ability to produce insulin. Some researchers have also found positive impact on certain skin conditions, and on digestion. Another, quite unusual, benefit of chillies is that they are known to combat insomnia, so your delicious Thai meal will also help you to sleep soundly at night!

Coriander is well known throughout Asia and is one of the most vital ingredients common to most cuisines from that region. Like many of the other herbs used in Thai cooking, it is known to aid good digestion, and is reputed to encourage a strong immune system, thus helping to defend against common minor illnesses.

Coconut milk is believed to assist in the lowering of  LDL, a form of cholesterol which is harmful at high levels. It also helps to raise levels of more desirable fatty substances that the body needs in order to function optimally. Like coriander, coconut milk is known for its immunity boosting properties. Some of its components are also known to inhibit some of the effects of aging.

Kaffir Lime Leaves have antioxidant properties like several of the ingredients we have mentioned already. Kaffir is said to purify the blood and assist digestion, while promoting dental and oral health. Kaffir is one of the main flavours used in Thai cuisine.

But there is more to the healthy eating aspect of the Thai diet than the individual properties of its ingredients: one should not underestimate the importance of the freshness of Thai herbs. Where many Asian cooking styles use a lot of dried spices and extracts, Thai cooking tends to make use of fresh herbs in their natural, whole state rather than extracts. Whole foods of any kind are now widely recognised, even in the west, as being the healthier option, and should be preferred over processed or powdered derivatives.

The popularity of salads, fish and seafood mean that there are plenty of alternatives to red meat. That said, body builders and macho traditionalists who don’t consider a meal to be a real meal unless it contains a decent helping of red meat would find that a Thai menu caters for them too.

As with all cuisines, there are some things best enjoyed in moderation. If one ate only dishes rich in coconut milk, for example, then one might reasonably expect to add a few inches to one’s waistline. Similarly, someone on a diet may decide to opt for plain or fragrant, rather than fried, rice dishes in order to keep the calories down, but the great thing about Thai cuisine is that meals are generally composed with all elements very well balanced, so it is most likely that a full meal would contain all these marvellous ingredients in just the right proportions.

Few dietary experts would dispute that the Thai diet is one of the most intrinsically healthy in the world.



By: ThaiFoodOnline

About the Author:

Permission is granted to publish this article electronically in free-only publications, like a website or ezine (print requires individual permission) as long as all links are active. A courtesy copy is requested on publication (email info@thai-food-online.co.uk). The original article can be found at http://www.thai-food-online.co.uk/thai_food_articles/thai-food-health.asp



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Fast Food Advertising to Children

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Over 10 billion dollars is spent on fast food advertising to children annually in numerous fashions. The majority of these ads are for food and drink that is high in fat, sugar, calories, salt and low in nutrients. Its not as much the advertisement itself as much as it is the tactic used to entice our children to want their product. The most obvious media venue is television advertisement. The marketing gurus know how to get into childrens heads and how to get their most wanted response. They know that children can and do influence their parents when it comes to food purchases.

On an average children view over 40,000 commercials a year most of which are for candies, cereals, toys, and fast food restaurants. Fast food advertising to children is not only limited to fast food restaurants. If it is fast and it is food then it is fast food. Its fair to say that fast food advertising is big business. Additionally, trying to curtail children from television viewing is a daunting task particularly since many kids have televisions in their bedrooms. The methods used for advertisement are within the norm for advertising. Businesses spend money to get their product noticed by what should be their target audience. In other words, you’d be hard pressed to find an advertisement on 60 Minutes for Cocoa Krispies just like you’d be hard pressed to find an advertisement on the Nickelodeon Channel for T.D.Waterhouse.

Sneaky Tactics

Children today have more purchasing power, they are the consumers of tomorrow, and because they do influence their parents on purchases it opens a whole new audience for marketers. Children are much more vocal than they used to be and they are not afraid to speak up when they want something. Advertisers call this Pester Power. I call it nagging. In other words, kids aren’t afraid to kick and scream to get their parents to buy something. Fast food advertising to children is all about Pester Power and marketers rely on children to nag the parents rather than market to the parents directly. They know that marketing to children will net higher results. Marketers break Pester Power down into 2 categories. Persistence nagging and importance nagging. Persistence nagging is begging repeatedly . Importance nagging, on the other hand, is what marketers rely on. This is all about providing for their children and the guilt that comes with not being available enough for their kids. There are many tactics used in fast food advertising to children such as toys included with meals and monopoly game pieces. Fast food businesses will claim that this is to provide a more pleasant visit to their store for the parents but in reality it is baiting children to desire fast food.

Internet And Viral Marketing

Fast food advertising to children is not only limited to television. The internet; which is more cost effective and viral marketing have also become advertising venues. Internet marketers know how kids use the net and how popular sites such as MySpace and Facebook are. They also know that children love to click on links. If it says click here – they do. Many websites offer free ring tones and music downloads. In order to get the freebie an e-mail address is required and thus cross promotion campaigns begin creating fast food advertisement to children via e-mail marketing.

We can’t stop fast food advertising to children but we can control the television viewing time. Less time in front of the television as a family could reduce the pestering for fast food and create a more nutritious and healthy family environment.



By: James Rouse

About the Author:

James Rouse is a personal weight loss coach and author of the popular http://www.helpcurechildobesity.com – a website created out of his passion. Perhaps you have a passion or hobby you’d like to write about. Discover how to turn it into a profitable Web site like James has. Visit http://www.helpcurechildobesity.com/how-i-did-this-bx2 to learn more.



Food & Drink

Nature dog food recipes – 3 top dog dietary tips

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Even though there are bags of commercially manufactured pet food available in the market, a true dog lover will always favor nature dog food recipes over them. The reasons for this bias are not hard to fathom. For one homemade dog food is safer and secondly it is also not that difficult to make, if you are willing to invest just a little bit of your time and energy. One person who is best placed to advice you on natural recipes for your dog is your vet. They can offer you valuable tips on the ingredients based on your dog’s breed, size and the climatic conditions in your place. Here are some great tips for natural dog food recipes for the overall good health of your pet dog.

Organic or raw meat is something that finds a place in many nature dog food recipes. You can try out various cuts of organic or raw meat. Nature dog food recipes with assorted grains are also known to be a healthy option for your dogs. They are known to provide all the energy that your dog needs throughout the day, while also making them feel ‘full’. If you have some garden space available in your home, you can also try out nature dog food recipes with juices of vegetables and fruits, which are home grown. Dogs are known to love these juices, especially during the hot summer months. Apple bits and baby carrots can be used as snacks for your dog. Additionally you can try giving them ice cubes during the summers. These snacks make for excellent nature dog food recipes. Homemade doggy biscuits with natural ingredients are another option that you have got. Not only are they quite simple to make, they are also highly nutritious and help in keeping your dog’s daily calorie dietary intake’s calorie count low.

Now Pay Close Attention Here-

To ensure perfect growth, dogs require fiber and other nutrition’s beside meat in their diet. The Dog Food Purchased from Market is not full of all required Nutritions. Make the best healthy Dog Food Recipes at home and Increase the life span of your Dog by 134%. If you don’t know how to make healthy dog food recipes for your Dog, then this is the most important message you will ever read- Click Here



By: Mr. Pom

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I love blogging, reading and playing chess in my spare time.



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Food Combinations and Menu Ideas For Entertaining Raw

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This interview is an excerpt from Kevin Gianni’s Renegade Roundtable, which can be found at http://www.RenegadeRoundtable.com. In this excerpt, Joel Odhner shares on food combinations and menu ideas for entertaining raw.

Renegade Water Secrets with Joel Odhner, restaurant owner, chef, and raw food chef with clients from Delaware to New York.

Kevin: So let’s move into food combining. What are some raw foods that go together like peas in a pod and what are some that shouldn’t be putting in your

meals.

Joel:Okay, well, one of the obvious ones some people don’t think about is, if you are going to eat a melon, only eat melons. So just oftentimes, in fact, often I’ll just have a whole melon for lunch. I’ll just eat the entire watermelon or cantaloupe or whatever it is and nothing else. I consider melons kind of like jet fuel. It goes through you much quicker than anything else does and digests much quicker. So sort of the worst thing you can do is to eat like some nut- based or that kind of thing, a pate or something like that and then follow it up with some melon because it will move through faster than you wish it did. I’ll just put it to you that way.

Kevin: Right, right.

Joel:And then the sort of the big no-no, there’s a lot of talk about mixing fruits with vegetables, other kind of fruits. And it really in my own privileged brain it all depends on you. Everyone’s digestion system is just a little different, a little more sensitive. Personally, I’m not real sensitive to stuff. I know that, I mean I love avocados and yet I know I don’t digest them really well. So I have to be careful and about eating those on top of a lot of other things, as much as I love them. So I try not to actually mix them like with a tomato, sort of like an avocado, tomato, onion kind of mix. Just kind of like chopped up, salsa kind of thing. This is a great case. You really got to listen to your own body and see what works for you and just kind of use yourself as your own test. In general, the heavier nuts and beans and things like that, sprouted beans and any of those based items remember that they are the heavier food, so if you have those and then follow it up with much lighter food it tends to kind of stop up your

system a little bit. So try to eat them at separate meals or I would eat those, actually eat the lighter foods first and the other ones on top.

Kevin: Got you. And you mentioned sprouts. Do you use a lot of sprouts when you’re preparing meals or not?

Joel:Sprouts, as in like sunflower sprouts and that kind of thing, yes. Not a lot per se, but I do. Sprouted, I don’t really use many sprouted peas, beans or lentils. They’re great. I love them. I don’t happen to personally use them. It’s not for any particular reason other than I just make a lot of other dishes. Speaking of that, sprouting something like a group or like a thing of peas, beans and lentils, it’s really simple and you just put it in the glass jar, maybe put a quarter cup of each one in one jar all mixed together, cover it with water, leave it overnight, drain the water off, and, you know, do that twice a day and within like three to five days, you’ll have sprouts. You’ll have sprouted peas and lentils which is great on top of a salad. It’s a great protein source. It’s excellent and it literally costs pennies.

Kevin: Yeah.

Joel:And at this time of year you stick it in the windowsill and you grow a little sprout and you’re all set. So anybody who’s up for that, it’s quite simple to do. You don’t need to go to the store and buy it that way.

Kevin: Do you think that’s one of the cheapest ways. I know a lot of people were asking how do you keep it into a budget? I know sprouts is definitely one of them. What are some of the other ways?

Joel:Sprouts is definitely the way to go, you know, from a cheap standpoint and getting your protein. I don’t think, it’s like I said before, try as much as possible to buy in bulk. And if you can share with another family or two, that’s really great. I think going out and buying daily is a real hassle. Although it’s funny, I did notice someone said that they live in New York and I thought they said New York City and didn’t like shopping every day. Well, it’s funny. I would take the opposite of all places. I would think that was the easiest place to shop every day because so many places to pick from.

Kevin: Yeah.

Joel:But from a time essence, hopefully you should be able to buy, depending on how many people you’re buying for, twice a week. I mean the key is you’re just going to load your fridge up with produce versus other than that, whatever else you might have, used to have in there and it’s funny. Speaking of cost I have one client who I have who actually eats meat, as well as other things, too. Compared to my other clients, she actually spends close to one and a half to two times as much.

Kevin: Are you kidding me?

Joel:I’m not kidding you.

Kevin: Wow.

Joel:So it’s a big misnomer. Everybody thinks that eating vegetarian or being vegan is more expensive, but it’s actually less expensive. The funny thing is she does eat some vegetables, but not many. So she is basically buying just meat. She’s spending close to one and a half to two times as much as the clients I buy all vegetables for.

Kevin: Wow.

Joel:So I’m buying this stuff from the exact same stores, so it’s not like it’s a cheap store and an expensive store. In fact, the store I buy from happens to be kind of expensive all across the board and yet she’s still spending more than the vegetarian group. So it’s really if you think about it, you’re just sort of shifting rather than spending in the past if people were spending money on meat, cheese, and dairy you’re now just going to take those dollars and it’s probably going to end up being less and spend it on fruits and vegetables. Because you really can’t from a quantity standpoint, how much can you eat? People used to eat a fair amount of meat, but now, you’re not going to eat three pounds of vegetables at lunchtime. You’re just not going to unless you’re juicing.

Kevin: I’ve tried it and it doesn’t work.

Joel:Yeah, exactly. If you’re going to eat an entire head of celery, an entire cucumber, four carrots and a whole thing of romaine, you’re to eat a little bit of that.

Kevin: Right.

Joel:No, I was going to say as people start eating more and more raw, you are going to notice that you are actually going to eat less in volume. When I first started doing raw eight, nine years ago I did. I had like the mixing bowl that’s the size that’s probably a foot and a half across and I’d eat these monstrous salads and within a very short amount of time I was down to pretty much of a normal size salad and that was it because you’re starting to get so much more of the vitamins and minerals from the quality of the food that you’re eating. You don’t need near the volume you used to. I’m a six-one, 200 pound guy. It’s not like and I don’t eat massive amounts of food. And I eat and I exercise. I mean I’m like you. I’m always out doing something.

Kevin: Yep. And you mentioned juicing. Now, how are you preserving your juices as you’re driving around? Do you have any sort of technique?

Joel:Certainly, keep them in glass.

Kevin: Yeah.

Joel:And when you do put them in glass you want to fill them up to the absolute top so that there’s no air getting into it because air is what is going to start breaking it down. And then I have a little cooler that I keep a little freezer pack in. I keep it cold, which will help preserve it as much as possible. Pretty much I carry what I’m going to do for the day. I’m not going to carry more than that.

Kevin: Here is a great question here that I got that I really like and the person asked, I’m having guests over, they’re none raw, they don’t really eat raw, but she wants us to prepare them something raw that they’ll really like. So what are one or two things that you found are great cross-over type meals. That people are just like, wait a minute, this is raw?

Joel:Well, kale salad’s a great one.

Kevin: Yeah.

Joel:I mean if you want to do something different than a typical salad.

Kevin: Right.

Joel:I would often use, like I said before, stuffed portabello mushroom, stuff it with a burger because a lot of people are into mushrooms and it’s a great thing, especially if you can marinate the mushroom a little bit it makes it a little bit softer.

Kevin: Okay.

Joel:Along with your burger. And depending on the time of the year, certainly there are some great soups. Like a gazpacho soup or that kind of thing or you can even make a chili which is good. Another thing is I will often make a burrito. A burrito I make is a walnut-based and it’s like your quote unquote meat. You just add some chili powder and some cumin and cilantro diced up, onion and tomato and you can roll that up, like I said before, like a wrap, like a sprouted wrap. And so you’re having it, you know, 99-percent raw basically the insides are.

And in fact, I will tell you a funny story I made that one time and one buddy of mine, he swore he would never — he has to have meat and so I made that burrito and put it in a little tortilla

wrap and I wrapped it up tin foil like it looked like I had bought it from a store and I brought it in and I said, I stopped a while ago it’s probably kind of cold, but it will be fine. He opens it up and inhales it and he’s like, it was great. And I said, by the way, there wasn’t one animal product in there. He said yes, it was. So I mean it’s a great item. Those are some easy, and those are all literally 15 minutes of prep time.

Kevin: Right. Imagine that, the person who is putting on the dinner party, 15 minutes of prep time. Imagine what else you can do. You can actually sit with your guests. How cool is that?

Joel:Here’s the great part. You can make all this food in advance and it doesn’t go bad, it doesn’t wilt. It’s like it’s ready to go.

Kevin: Right.

Joel:You can make these things and be all set, exactly. So you can actually spend more time with your guests and hold on I got to get it up to temperature and I’ll be right there.



By: Kevin Gianni

About the Author:
To read the rest of this transcript as well as access The Renegade Roundtable experts just like Joel Odhner please click here! Kevin Gianni is an internationally recognized health advocate, author & film consultant. He has helped thousands of people take control of their own health naturally. For more information visit raw food diets and holistic nutrition.



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What is Food Intolerance?

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What is Food Intolerance?

Food intolerance is discussed quite often these days – so what exactly does it mean?  Well, sometimes our bodies cannot tolerate the foods we eat. This is known as food intolerance. When people consume foods that they’re sensitive to, such as dairy products for lactose intolerant individuals, their bodies have a negative physical reaction. The effects show up every time the food is consumed, although not always right away. If large quantities of the food are ingested, symptoms can be severe.

Food intolerance is sometimes mistaken for food allergy.  Food allergies cause a person’s immune system to sit up and take notice, while food intolerances don’t involve the immune system.  Neither are they linked to contaminated or spoiled foods; those cause food poisoning, not intolerance.

Food intolerance describes the adverse physical reaction to the ingestion of certain foods; it is something that affects the digestive system.

The Causes of Food Intolerance

As mentioned earlier, food intolerance is caused by the inability to digest certain types of food, usually due to insufficient amounts of the chemicals or enzymes needed to digest a particular food.

Lactose intolerance is very common. People who suffer from this condition don’t have enough of the enzyme called ‘lactase’. Therefore, their bodies can’t break down the lactose, or milk sugar, in dairy products.

Common symptoms of lactose intolerance include intestinal distress, gas, bloating, and bowel irregularities.

Other people can’t process alcohol because they don’t have enough of the enzyme ‘alcohol dehydrogenase’. They can become ill if they consume even a single alcoholic beverage.

The additives, flavor enhancers, and preservatives in processed foods are another common source of food intolerance. MSGs, caffeine, benzoates, and aspartame cause pain and fatigue in sensitive individuals.

Who Suffers from Food Intolerance?

Anyone can!  Food intolerance is not limited to any particular group of people, however there are some factors that play a role in the likelihood that a person is affected by intolerance.

Food intolerance can be hereditary; therefore if your parents have food intolerances, chances are good that you’ll have some too. Ethnicity plays a role, too. Only 10% of northern and western Europeans suffer from lactose intolerance whereas persons of Asian, African, Greek, and Native American descent are much more susceptible.  Lactose intolerance affects 70-90% of the latter populations.

Newborns tend to produce more lactase, so they can digest lactose more easily than adults and older children. The symptoms of lactose intolerance can appear in children as young as two, but many people develop it later in life. Gastroenteritis sometimes causes a dip in lactase levels, bringing on a temporary intolerance to dairy products. Children face a high risk of lactose intolerance following gastroenteritis.

And half of all Asians are affected by alcohol intolerance!

What are the Symptoms of Food Intolerance?

The symptoms of food intolerance center around the digestive system.  Sufferers may experience stomach pain, bloating, nausea, loose stools, or the opposite (constipation.) These symptoms are seldom life-threatening, but they can make a person miserable on a daily basis. They can manifest anywhere from a few hours to a few days after the food is consumed, making it difficult to identify exactly what the problem food is.

Alcohol intolerance causes redness of the face, nausea, irregular heartbeat, headaches, and dizziness.

Symptoms can also feel similar to allergy symptoms, such as a runny nose or itchy throat.

Food intolerance symptoms can become quite severe if a large quantity of the food has been consumed. People with a slight enzyme deficiency typically don’t experience symptoms as acutely as people with a larger deficit.

How is a Diagnosis Made?

Trial and error is the simplest way to test for food intolerance. This is done by removing one food from the diet for a while and monitoring symptoms for improvement. If symptoms decrease, the food is then reintroduced. A return of symptoms will reveal whether or not that food was the culprit.

This method works best for those who have intolerance to one or two foods.

For those people (like me!) who have intolerance to several foods, the elimination method could take months…years…and an answer still might not be found.  There are home tests on the market, that can identify your problem foods for you.  Check out http://www.foodintolerancenews.com to see one.

Specific tests are used to diagnose lactose intolerance. For example, your physician might recommend a test to measure the amount of hydrogen in your breath; a stool acidity test; or a blood glucose test to determine how well the patient digests milk sugar.

How is Food Intolerance Treated?

Food intolerance is usually controlled by removing the troublesome food(s) from the person’s diet. For instance, lactose intolerant individuals can replace regular milk with soy milk.

If the intolerance is mild to moderate, the affected person can try eating only very limited amounts of the food in question. Mild lactose intolerance can be managed through the use of lactase enzyme supplements.

If foods are removed from one’s diet, they should be replaced with nutritious alternatives. It’s crucial to avoid malnutrition, especially in growing children. If you have questions about suitable food replacements, speak with your nutrition specialist.



By: Kimberly Buchanan

About the Author:

Kimberly Buchanan has been interested and involved in various aspects of the health industry for over 10 years. She has personal experience with food intolerances and allergies as well as experience helping others discover the cause of and cure for their own intolerances, allergies, and other health related ailments (eg vitamin deficiency, weight gain).



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Choosing The Best Dry Dog Food

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Sometimes, the best dry dog food is the one that your dog will eat the most. It is easier to buy something that your canine will eat as opposed to having them eat dog food that may be better for them, but one that they may not necessarily like. However, there are a few things you need to consider when you walk down the pet food aisles at your local retailer.

Consider the price of the dry dog food. Often, dry dog food that are cheap or are not branded are made with ingredients like fillers and seasonings that are not necessarily good for dogs. These ingredient may be tasty, but they can be harmful to your dog. These dry dog food often have too much preservatives, which can cause your dog to develop health problems that may eventually cause them to suffer later on in life.

To increase the vitality and life expectancy of your dog, go with good quality dry dog food. You don’t really need to purchase the most expensive dry dog food there is, but it is best if you stick with dry dog food that is manufactured by a reputable dog food company and is priced reasonably.

The main ingredient in the best dry dog food is rice, corn or soybean. High quality dry dog food will also have other ingredients such as beef and chicken. Stores also sell dry dog food formulated specifically to a dog’s age. Manufacturers classify the different types of dry dog food as being for puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs. Purchasing the dry dog food that’s most suitable for your dog’s age is always important.

If you want to know what are the best dry dog foods, ask your veterinarian. Veterinarians would often recommend the branded dry dog foods. These brands are more expensive, but if you have an older dog, it may be to your advantage to pay a little more for the best dry dog food.

You will know if you’ve picked the best dry dog food by the way your dog looks and feels. When you take your dog for yearly shots, his coat should be healthy, his eyes should be clear and he should be full of energy. If your pet doesn’t look well and seems lethargic, there could be something wrong with his diet. It is always wise to keep notes about what your dog is eating on a daily basis. This way, a veterinarian can diagnose your dog more quickly and recommend the best dry dog food for your pet.



By: George Chao

About the Author:
George Chao, owner of Digital Excellent Free Online Magazine
Help your pet live healthier and longer, choose the right dog food for your pet. Find out more at Dog Food Guide



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Dummies Guide To Organic Food

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What is organic food? While we may have heard about it for over thousand times,many are still in the dark about organic food and its benefits.We hope this article would shed some light on organic food.

The Organic Revolution – The organic revolution is a global phenomenon witnessed in every part of the world. Global organic food market was about USD40 billion in 2006 and over 30 percent or USD12 billion of the global demand stems from the US. The world organic market has been growing by 20% a year since the early 1990s, with future growth estimates ranging from 10-50% annually depending on the country.

What Is Organic Food – Organic food are foods that are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste or sewage sludge.and processed without ionizing radiation or food additives.For livestocks, they are reared without the routine use of antibiotics or growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified.

The word organic food does not only apply to the food from your own home garden, but also to the store bought food products, in which no synthetic artificial inputs are used. In the contemporary times, the term organic food is usually used in reference to the certified organic foods. It has been claimed by health experts that organic food is more nutritious. Some of the features that can be associated with organic food are more attention to quality, good taste, proper selection of crop varieties etc.

Organic Gardening – Organic Gardening is gardening without the use of man-made chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers. It is said by some of its supporters to be more in harmony with nature. An organic gardener strives to work in harmony with natural systems and to minimize and continually replenish any resources the garden consumes. Organic produce is also known for its superior flavor.

Organic Fertilizers – Organic fertilizers can actually be cheaper, because you can make them yourself. Fish emulsion is a common organic fertilizer. It is a sort of tea made from dead fish. Seaweed fertilizer is another tea-like fertilizer that many organic gardeners swear by.

And of course there is natural compost that can help you make use of your kitchen waste! The benefits of organic gardening far outweigh the few drawbacks. It may be a bit more work, but it is so rewarding!

Organic Food Consumption – Organic food consumption has become the trend of the time, but still there are many who do not have a clear idea regarding the definition of organic food and this can be attributed to the fact that we do not possess adequate organic food information. Well, organic food in simple terms can be defined as food that is natural and does not involve the usage of any kind of preservatives or artificial pesticides. Read further to explore organic food facts

Organic Food Production – Organic food production is legally regulated. Currently, the United States, the European Union, Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain organic certification in order to market food as organic.Organic products protect us from toxic and chemical induced diseases while nourishing our bodies to promote good health. Non-organic food only appears to be cheaper, but it costs us our health, our farmland, our eco-systems and taxes to pay for the disasters that chemical farming create. Chemical farming has led to dramatic erosion of the soil, killing off whole species of birds and near extinction of some of our beautiful wildlife. Sustainable Organic Agriculture is already feeding people around the world. Chemical farming can seriously damage farmer’s health.

Benefits of Organic Food – Organic foods contain phenolic compounds that protect you from developing heart disease and cancer. Organic food ensures high food quality, which other conventional foods cannot commit. Since organic food is natural and fresh, it boasts off its rich taste. So, head your way towards leading a healthy lifestyle, by eating organic foods.



By: Paul Hata

About the Author:

Paul Hata is active in various social and community programs aimed at providing equal access to education,health and jobs to all.Paul has over 10 years experience in managing a multi-million dollar advertising company.Paul can be reached at – EarlyPlanet.com



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Food List with Glycemic Index

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Food List with Glycemic Index

Traditional thinking has told us that complex carbohydrates like rice and potatoes were absorbed slowly, and that simple and refined carbohydrates, like candies and jams resulted in a sharp rise in blood sugar. However recent research has indicated that this is not necessarily the case. There are more factors involved than just simple vs complex or refined vs natural.

The GI values are a measure of 1 to 100 where pure glucose has a value of 100. Many carbohydrate-rich foods have been tested and applied against the index. A value of 50 (for example) indicates that the food has an effect on blood sugar equal to half that of glucose.

The Glycemic Index (GI) measures the effect of foods on your blood sugar levels. Eating foods with a high glycemic index value will raise the blood sugar level more dramatically than foods with a low glycemic index value.

Glycemic Index Food List

LOW GI (< 55)

Apple and apple juice

Apricot

Barley

Baked Beans, dried beans, butter beans, chick peas, soy beans, lentils

Breakfast cereals (oats, muesli, bran)

Whole grain / nutty bread

Cherries

Custard

Fruit Loaf

Grapefruit

Grapes

Milk, Yogurt

M&Ms 

Oranges

Pasta

Peaches

Peanuts

Pears

Peas

Pineapple Juice (unsweetened)

Plums

Corn (still on cob)

Salad Vegetables

Sweet Potato

 

MEDIUM GI (55-70)

Banana

Basmati Rice

Bread (white and brown)

Couscous

Ice Cream

Orange juice

Pineapple, mango, melon

Pita bread

Pizza

Popcorn

Potatoes (new)

Potato chips

Raisins 

Rye bread

Yam

 

HIGH GI (> 70)

Rice

Potatoes

Pumpkin

Waffles

Sports drinks

Water melon

Crackers and crisp breads

Carrots

Parsnips

Nachos

Honey

Broad beans

Pretzels

French Fries

Low GI eating: A guide to forming your own low GI eating habits.

Choose Basmati rice instead of normal rice. New potatoes have a lower GI than older potatoes. Sweet potatoes also have a low GI. Unrefined cereals such as oats or muesli are lower in GI than processed cereals. Bread with lots of grains and seeds are lower in GI than other breads. When eating biscuits and crackers, those with whole grains in them are lower in GI. Cakes and muffins made with fruit, oats, and seeds can supply more low-GI ingredients. Fruits – Stone fruit (peaches, nectarines), apples, citrus are lower in GI than tropical fruits such as bananas, melons, pineapple, etc.

By: Dr. Ripudaman Singh

About the Author:

B.Sc.(Med.), B.Ed., M.A.(Edu.), M.Litt.(Edu.), Ph.D.(Edu.Psy.), PGDCA.

Served as Science Master, Employment Department as Vocational Guidance Officer.

Retired from Employment Department, Punjab India as Dy. Director (Off.) and Remained Incharge of Overseas Employment Cell of Punjab Govt. for 5 yeras.

More than 60 articles published in Punjabi News Papers like Punjabi Tribune, Daily Ajit, Jagbani and Chardhikala.

Serving now Arihant Computer Center



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