Monday, May 5, 2008

home cooking

Home Is Where The Heart (And The Cooking) Is

Do you have a special recipe that reminds you of where you grew up? Maybe it's your mom's mashed potatoes, or your grandmother's famous pumpkin pie. Whatever it is, it stirs up feelings and memories that are associated with childhood and youth. Home cooking has become a culinary style that many professional chefs try to invoke. It causes feelings of nostalgia, making the diner feel happy and fulfilled. Though home cooking was not originally a specific concept, it has evolved to become a cooking style that professional chefs—as well as cooks all over the world—strive for in their dishes.

Meals And Memories

There are several meals that are typically associated with the home cooking style. These meals are usually heavy or rich—but they are always delicious! They can be different from chef to chef, because one characteristic of home cooking is that the meals frequently come from family recipes. The meals or dishes can also vary by country and region, because this too can affect the meals that one ate while they were growing up. There are a wide range of factors that affect what meals are associated with "home cooking." Thus, no two home cooking recipes are exactly alike—each has their own touch from the heart!

Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and sweet potatoes are a few typical meals that are often associated with the term "home cooking." Fried chicken and hush puppies are two items commonly associated with southern soul food. In Italy, home cooking might include dishes like lasagna and veal. In Spain, a home cooked meal might incorporate rice and enchiladas.

A Special Secret Recipe

Finding a recipe and making it special in some way—like by serving it on an annual special occasion—can make it fall under the category of home cooking. Try a recipe for cornbread—it might just become an instant family classic!

To begin, gather 1 cup of yellow cornmeal, 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 cup of whole wheat pastry flour, ¼ teaspoon of salt, ½ cup of canola oil, and 2 tablespoons of maple syrup. Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately in two different bowls, and then combine them well. Pout the mixture into a well oiled baking pan, and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Family Favorites

It is great to come home for a holiday or special occasion and find your favorite meal cooking on the stove. Not only does it mean you get to have a special treat, but it also stirs up childhood memories.

nutro dog food

No Need To Be Afraid Of Nutro Dog Food

After the massive pet food recall of 2007, many pet owners are wondering whether it's safe to go back to the recalled brands their pets know and love. All three lines of Nutro dog food were affected by the recall. The containments have been identified and eliminated from entering the pet food chain, until maybe the next recall. But considering how long Nutro dog food has been around, they have had far more satisfied customers than unsatisfied ones.

About The Company

Nutro dog food and cat food started in the mind of a British entrepreneur who started his own line of pet foods in the 1920's. The inevitable then happened – he was bought out by an American in 1926. John Saleen named the company Nutro and headquartered it in California. While selling the pet food available, the Saleen family put the profits into research and development.

One of the first companies to get on the "best nutrition" bandwagon in the mid-1980's, Nutro dog food emphasized proper food ingredients like chicken and rice rather than the hodgepodge of slaughterhouse scraps and preservatives dog food mainly consisted of. In fact, there was even a dog condition known by vets as "dog food disease" where dogs that lived on only cheap dog food became horribly malnourished.

Would I Feed It To My Dog?

This writer has fed dry Nutro dog food and biscuits to her own dog, who means more to me than life itself. I want her to eat much better than I do because I want her to live as long and pain-free as possible. Nutro dog food also comes in cans, but I haven't tried them yet. The reaction from my dog was "good, but not back flip-worthy good". She never got sick.

You do have to pay more than average for Nutro dog food. However, they often give out coupons for free bags and other deep discounts. They usually have free samples and sales representatives in big chain pet stores to talk to you about pet nutrition, if you so desire.

Although my dog was not overly excited by Nutro dog food, I have no hesitation about feeding it to her again, even if she won't do a back flip for it like she will attempt for other kinds of food (like Nutro's pouch food for cats, which she is forbidden). Just like junk food, it tends to satisfy cravings that have nothing to do with proper nutrition. Feeding Alpo is like feeding McDonald's – while Nutro dog food is like feeding a well balanced diet.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

natural vs commercial dog food

The Big Debate: Natural Vs Commercial Dog Food

There has been an ongoing debate about natural vs commercial dog food, one that is important for all dog owners to be aware of. After all, the food that you feed your dog is going to have a major aspect on your pet’s overall health, so you want to make sure that you choose the best food possible.

Natural

When it comes to natural vs commercial dog food, there are advantages and disadvantages to both. One of the most major advantages to natural dog food is that you know you are giving your dog only the purest most natural ingredients possible. This means your dog will have better digestion and be less likely to get diarrhea or constipation.

Commercial

Commercial dog food tends to have more additives and preservatives, and although still provides your dogs with essential vitamins and nutrients, at the same time are filling your dog with ingredients that if anything are going to end up hurting them. Many commercial dog foods result in making dogs overweight and this is then a whole other problem that has to be dealt with.

In the discussion of natural vs commercial dog food, one of the best ways to decide which you want to feed to your dog is by taking a look at the top few products in each category. For natural dog foods for instance, there is the holistic original dog food by Riplees Ranch.

This dog food includes ingredients such as chicken meal, brown rice, steamed oatmeal, chicken fat, rice bran, whole ground flax seed, beet pulp, salmon oil, natural chicken flavors, chicory root, dried whole egg, yucca schidigera, glucosomine HCI, marigold extract, carrots, spinach and tomatoes.

In the discussion of natural vs commercial dog food one of the most popular commercial dog foods is Purina dog food. Purina pet food is premium quality for healthy, happy pets, and the Purina Company is always sure to use their knowledge and expertise to consumers’ benefits. Purina truly advances the science of canine health care and nutrition and has provided millions of dogs around the world with unsurpassed nutrition and excellent pet care products.

Besides taking the debate of natural vs commercial dog food into consideration, there are other things you should think about as well when it comes to your dog’s nutrition. Making sure they get plenty of exercise for instance, is also going to make a difference in terms of their overall health and happiness.

fight diabetes

How to Fight Against Diabetes

As estimated by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), nearly 16 million Americans are affected by diabetes mellitus. The damages caused by diabetes are profound. It severely affects coronary arteries of the heart. A majority of patients with diabetes experience heart and blood vessel diseases. In its worse, it may even lead to stroke, kidney failure and other critical health hazards.

How Diabetes Occurs

Before going further with the discussion regarding fight against diabetes, we should reflect on how diabetes occurs. In simple terms, diabetes occurs when body becomes unable to utilize the sugar as it should do for energy production and growth process. The body receives sugar when food is changed into glucose, a variety of sugar. A hormone, known as insulin, is required for glucose absorption in the body.

Types of Diabetes

There are essentially two types of diabetes – Type I and Type II. The former type is insulin-dependent and may appear all of a sudden without any prior complications, mostly prevalent among individuals below 30 years. The second type is non-insulin dependent, takes time to develop and common among people over 40 years. The second type occurs mostly in obese people with high blood pressure.

Obesity is a Curse

You must put best effort to curtail your excess weight. Truly, obesity is a curse and it is quite a common issue in modern world. If you want to fight against diabetes or any other health problems, in the majority of the cases you will discover obesity is the prime killer cause of all complications. Research suggests 7% weight loss and 150 minutes physical activity per week can minimize the risk of developing diabetes to 58%.

Don't Promote Sedentary Behavior

This is another curse of modernization. Technological advancement gives us several benefits each and every moment, and assists us to accomplish our duty is lesser effort than before. Although it seems priceless, it takes a huge toll, leading us to promote sedentary behavior such as going office in car, sitting before computer for prolonged hours, etc. Stay active, be healthy: this is important to fight against diabetes.

Change Your Lifestyle

Research shows lifestyle changes minimize the risk of developing type II diabetes irrespective of gender, age, ethnicity or weight. You must bring changes in your lifestyle to fight against diabetes. You must follow a heart-healthy diet plan, low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Abstain from smoking and control your alcohol consumption. Do not forget to do regular health check-up. Manage high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure, if any.

Promote Self-Care

If you are already diagnosed with diabetes, you must have your meal at around the same time every day. This is a very crucial point to follow to fight against diabetes. Do not forget to take you diabetes medicine meticulously at the same time each day. Thoroughly check your feet every day for any apparent damage including cuts, swelling, blisters, redness, sores, and sore toenails. Brush carefully your teeth and gums every day.


healthy cooking oil

A Search For a Healthy Cooking Oil

Any department store has a variety of cooking oils displaying all types of jargon concerning cholesterol, fats, unsaturated fats, refined, etc. on the packaging. Vegetable oils have long been considered as friendly to the heart and low in fat and calories – a myth. In fact, any cooking oil is all fat, and hence, choosing a healthy cooking oil will reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. However, some oils are more useful than others in cooking.
To select the right brand of cooking oil we need to understand the language associated with oil. The most commonly used word is cholesterol, which is in our body cells and in the fats in the bloodstream. Oils do not contain cholesterol but too much of consumption of oil leads to formation of “bad” cholesterol in the body.

A certain level of cholesterol is important for the functioning of the human body. Then there are fatty acids like Monosaturated Fatty Acid, which reduces bad cholesterol levels without lowering good cholesterol levels. Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid reduces both bad and good cholesterol levels leading to heart diseases. Saturated fats consumed in excess get deposited on the sides of the blood vessels leading to the formation of blood clots. Unsaturated fats are good for health. Refined oils are clear and bland which are processed using chemicals to remove color, odor, particles, and other toxic substances.

Cooking Oil Combinations

Nowadays, a variety of blended oils are available. A combination of two healthy cooking oils to keep a balance of three fatty acids is beneficial to the body. A mix gives the best of both oils and may add to the taste of the food. Two or more kinds of oil in the kitchen could be useful for different purposes like one for salads, another for frying and the third for cooking. In this way you get the health benefits of each oil.

Some Healthy Cooking Oils

Olive oil should be one of the main cooking oils in any kitchen. Besides adding its own flavor to foods, it helps in lowering blood cholesterol levels, and lowers the risk of cancer. Olive oils come in different types and the most beneficial to health is the Extra Virgin Oil is the first extract from olives. The next is Virgin, then Pure and finally Extra Light, which goes through processing and has a faint smell of olives. Oils in rich in flavor and aroma are macadamia nut oil and sesame oil. These oils are ideal for sautéing and stir-frying.
Soyabean oil is the most commonly used ‘vegetable’ oil which is bland and does not interfere with the flavor of the dish. Soyola oil, derived for soyabean does not require hydrogenation like most soyabean oils. Hydrogenation for cooking produces fats which are now seen as unhealthy for the heart. This oil is good for frying and for salads, and considered a healthy cooking oil – a good substitute to macadamia nut oil and olive oil which are expensive.

Cooking is very much alive in homes of even the busiest person. People cook and eat at home because it is less expensive than eating out, and primarily because they know what is going into their food. A major concern of health is the use of healthy cooking oil in food which is ensured when one cooks at home. A variety of blended oils available in the market can fool the connoisseur when eating out. Serious health problems arising out of using fatty oils have given rise to a variety of healthy cooking oil available in stores.

Monday, April 28, 2008

natural dog food

Natural Dog Food – Nutrition for Your Dog

If you have decided to serve your dog nutritious natural dog food there are numerous factors you should consider. Check the labels and choose items that have no or very little processed food substances in them. Processed food typically loses a significant amount of the nutrients your dog needs in order to stay healthy. Look for a natural dog food that has fresh meat or meat meal as its main sources of protein.

Carbohydrates and Grains

Try to avoid products that contain high levels of carbohydrates and grains due to the weight increase they will likely produce in your dog as well as health problems. Select a dog food that lists vegetables and perhaps fruits on the label since these types of food items typically contain antioxidants and vitamins that will contribute to the health of your pet. Natural dog foods that place beneficial sources of fats in their products such as fish oil or sunflower oil are good choices for your pet. Fish oils typically contain essential fatty acids and often contain digestive enzymes which help to maintain your dog's healthy condition.

Most pet experts believe that natural pet foods are healthy for your animals and will contribute to a long lifespan when compared to basic pet food. Natural dog foods usually contain mostly whole foods and they typically only use natural substances to preserve the food products. They are usually void of meat by-products, high quantities of corn and flour. They contain whole grains as opposed to fragments of grains that are typically found in dog food products available at grocery stores.

Fresh Food

Natural dog foods are usually made with fresh food products which contain higher levels of natural enzymes and antioxidants as well as a variety of minerals. Quality dog foods typically use highly advanced coking procedures to ensure that the important nutrients are not destroyed during the cooking process. Raw natural vegetables and fruits contain more nutrients and vitamins than cooked vegetables and fruits.

Some veterinarians suggest feeding your dog a natural raw food diet, at least for some of his meals. Some veterinarians believe that health problems such as allergies and inflammatory bowel diseases can be prevented or eliminated by feeding your dog a raw food diet. Raw food diets can also be effective at reducing or eliminating numerous chronic diseases and degenerative diseases. In order to keep your dog healthy and active you might want to feed him healthy natural dog food.

effects of diabetes

The Effects of Exercise on Diabetes

An interesting research suggests that our gene structures are programmed for exercise. In elaborating their claim, the researchers coined the evidence of the lifestyle of prehistoric humans. If any one of them were weak or did not have enough reflex to move quickly, he or she died. Those survived were fit enough to survive and reproduce to pass on this 'fitter' gene through generations.

The proponents of this theory believe that with our existing sedentary behavior the function of these 'fitter' get suppressed, hence result in maladaptive condition, leading to develop many chronic health complications like diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, heart disease and many others.

It is now a well-proven fact that physical activity is mandatory for the healthy management of the body, so is true even when you are suffering from diabetes. The effects of exercise on diabetes are actually profound. In this article we will shed light on different types of exercise and their effects on diabetes of both types.

Aerobic Exercise

If you are suffering from diabetes, quite commonly you will be suggested to practice low to moderate level of aerobic exercises which include walking, swimming, rowing, step classes, cross-country skiing and stair climbing. Research shows that practicing to a moderate level aerobic exercise has significant effects on diabetes of both types. In fact, adults with type 2 diabetes worked out for 150 minutes a week curtail their risk of progress quite extensively.

Resistance Training

Strength or resistance training does not necessarily mean that you need to plan making eight-abs or six-abs. On the contrary, when you are practicing resistance training for a better management of your diabetic condition, it means you are trying your best to keep your body and mind as active as possible. It helps to build stronger muscles and bones and help you to face daily tasks more effectively such as lugging household groceries more easily.

Flexibility Exercise

However, there is no study yet claiming any individual benefit of flexibility exercise, but this exercise helps to increase the flexibility of the joints' and other bodily muscles, leading to minimize the risk of being injured during other exercises. Gentle stretching for 5-10 minutes is usually recommended prior to any aerobic session. However, you may need the thorough guidance of your trainer during flexibility exercising session.

Overall Benefits

The effects of exercise on diabetes are always positive. It helps in lowering blood sugar, improving insulin sensitivity, as well as strengthening the heart condition. Strength training, in fact, may offer extensive positive effects on diabetes of both types, however, lacking sufficient data made in support of this particular aspect. Yoga also has abundant positive effects on diabetes of both types.

 

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