Letter: A big thank you

Editor, The Friday Flyer:
A great big thank you to all the generous people who helped make the Jr. Women’s Club (JWC) annual Holiday Boutique at the Lodge this past Saturday, November 24, such a huge success!
I would like to thank Staples in Hemet for donating our “grand prize” – a beautiful leather Sealy Posturepedic Memory Foam executive desk chair. I’d also like to thank Jdock Seafood Co. and Michelle Rojo for donating our “yummy grand prize” – a five-pound box of fresh Wild Alaskan Salmon, flown in from Seward, Alaska.
The cute snowman and penguin decorations donated by the Do It Center in Lake Elsinore were the door prizes. A special thanks goes to all the vendors who were so generous to donate one of their items for the drawing to raise money for the many local families we help during the holidays.
A big thank you to Rick, Alex, Joe, Chris, Loretta and Scott who were all extremely helpful in setting up all the tables and chairs and lunches for the 50 local vendors who displayed their goods and services.
Thanks to the many shoppers, lookers and ticket buyers who came out to support this year’s event and brought canned goods, blankets and jackets!
Thank you to The Friday Flyer for its wonderful articles. Many thanks to the JWC members who baked items for the baked goods sale.
And, finally, I would like to thank Les Coy, Ruth Stiefel, Misti Janes, Jen Boatman, Heather Gotoski, Meredith Kielty, Karen Wentzel, Melissa Conner, Taylor Conner, Carol Winn, Monica O’Rourke, Michelle Rojo and previous Chairperson Sue Collins. I could not have done it without all their help and hard work. Thank you all!
Becki Kenney
2007 Holiday Boutique Chairperson

http://www.thefridayflyer.com/FF-2007-11-30/FFS-8243.htm

Game on! Make the best cookies ever

Holiday cookie-baking isn't the apron-wrapped, wooden-spoon, kid-on- a-step-stool Norman Rockwell experience Madison Avenue wants you to believe it is.

Far from it. Any dedicated baker — amateur or professional — knows the truth: Cookies are competition.

We say bring it on. This year, don't bake just for fun. This year, bake to win.

Use our collection of favorite recipes -- provided for you under the heading "Related articles" -- as your personal playbook, and let the games begin. Because these cookies take the cake.

http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_7685169

Dipping Into the Past

2 young Englishmen convicted in thefts from hotel stable

100 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 19, 1907

• Farmers coming into Orangeville recently have suffered rather severely by the theft of valuable robes from their rigs while left in the hotel sheds. On Saturday night, Dec. Dec. 7, two young Englishmen - Hutchings and Lewis - were arrested for attempted assault and later released on cash bail. They were arrested again when Hutchings had a fine robe in his possession and Lewis a big fish, which they could not account for. Last Friday, Police Magistrate Pattulo imposed a nominal fine for the assault and Hutchings and Lewis were convicted of theft of the robe and fish. The sentences were 30 days for Hutchings and 14 for Lewis.

• The seventh number of "Yuletide," the Christmas publication of the Victoria Literary Society of Shelburne Continuation School, is now on sale. There are half-tone pictures of the founder of the Society, the Winter and Michaelmas term Executives, and the members of Dufferin County Council and the county officials. The reading matter includes special articles on different subjects, letters from the absent ones, a letter to the absent ones, school and society notes for the year, the school register, etc. The 40-page publication is quite a handsome one, and you need feel no doubt as to its acceptability as a Christmas card to an absent friend. The price is only 15 cents a copy. You can secure a copy at the ECONOMIST office or by placing your order with any of the teachers or senior pupils of the school.

• The annual entertainment in connection with St. James' Church, Primrose, held in the new hall, lot 30, Prince of Wales Road, Mono, Tuesday evening, was a great success, both from the standpoint of attendance and excellence of program presented. The big feature was the presentation of the drama in four acts, "Dot, the Miner's Daughter, or One Glass of Wine," by amateurs of the neighbourhood.

• The contest for mayor in Orangeville is currently between A. D. McKitrick, the present deputy reeve, and J. L. Island, who opposed Mayor C. W. McKeown last year, with chances in favour of the former. James Armstrong, the present reeve, will be a candidate for re-election and will probably be elected by acclamation.

• At its meeting Monday evening, Shelburne Council passed the following motion: "That pursuant to the petition by R. A. Riky and others for a sanitary and storm sewer on part of Main Street, part of Owen Sound St. and part of Victoria St., as described in petition, and the clerk having certified to the correctness of the same pursuant to the bylaw respecting local improvements, this council does decide to go on with the work and hereby refer the matter to such engineer as may be decided upon, for a report according to the bylaw."

75 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 22, 1932

• The Shelburne High School Year Book 1932 is the niftiest of souvenirs and available for only 35 cents a copy. It is an advertisement for the town, because it is a handsome little book in its purple and gold cover, and with black and white drawings, half-tone photographs and a page of cartoons, as well as many pages representing the literary efforts of the pupils, in addition to articles giving an epitome of school life of the year.

• The C.P.R. has announced a decision to cut off the buffet-parlor car on its line between Owen Sound and Toronto at about the end of December. One of the expensive frills due to railway competition, it was instituted about 12 years ago at the request of the Owen Sound Board of Trade. The district passenger agent says the car has been showing a serious loss.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, December 18, 1957

• David Nesbitt, 24, of Orangeville, is recovering from a severe shaking up and shock when the read end of his commercial bread truck was struck by the northbound passenger train at the Main Street crossing in Shelburne last Friday morning. Mr. Nesbitt was thrown into the snow and the immediate area was strewn with baked goods. An up-to-date alarm system for the crossing is plainly needed.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, December 22, 1982

• Dufferin County Board of Education has ordered the removal of pinball machines from Orangeville District Secondary School and Centre dufferin District High School, In presenting a motion calling for their removal, Shelburne trustee Larry Haskell said board bylaws prohibit gambling on board premises and pinball machines "are nothing more than a low form of gambling and should not be in the schools.

• Dufferin County Council will consider setting up a reserve fund for Dufferin Oaks. Orangeville Reeve Arnold Patterson said he is in favour of putting surplus funds in a reserve, so long as the fund was set up in such a way that it did not require putting monies into the fund annually.

http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2007/1220/Columns/025.html

Baked Goods -- Bake Me A Wish

Firefox News pledges to donate 100% of commissions from all affiliate sales made site-wide before December 31st, 2007 to the Actor's Fund in support of writers, crew, and support staff affected by the Writers' Strike.

We want to make it perfectly clear that the companies listed here simply offer commissions to web sites that refers customers their way. By listing companies for the Writer's Strike Virtual Mall we are not implying that they support the strike or endorse the Actor's Fund. We're just collecting the commission and giving it on to the Actor's Fund. That's it.


http://firefox.org/news/pages/Baked-Goods-%252d%252d-Bake-Me-A-Wish.html

Are Fat-Free Products a Smart Choice After Gastric Bypass?

Have you wondered as you enjoyed your “fat-free” product what exactly was put back in the product to replace the fat? The new “fat free” products are creamy, crispy, tasty and delicious, something had to take the place of the fat, right? What is it?

Nutritionally (and emotionally) fat gets a bad rap. Fat is a major nutrient important for proper growth and development and maintenance of good health. Fats carry the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K and aid their absorption in the intestine. They are the only source of the essential fatty acids linoleic and linolenic acids. Fats are an important source of calories because they supply 9 calories of energy per gram versus 4 calories per gram for protein and carbohydrates.

On the downside there are limits on the amount we should eat because increased intake of fat is linked to heart disease, cancer and obesity. The FDA recommends an intake to no more than 30 percent of calories from fat. A weight loss surgery (WLS) patient should intake even fewer fat calories because the malabsorptive system makes digesting fats difficult.

So are we dodging the fat bullet by replacing full-fat products with light or fat free products? What are we getting in return?

In theory, the perfect fat replacement is one that contributes everything fat does in a food but without the calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Fat replacements can help reduce a food's fat and calories while maintaining some of the desirable qualities fat brings to food, such as "mouth feel," texture and flavor. Under FDA regulations, fat replacements fall into one of two categories: food additives or "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) substances.

Fat replacements may be carbohydrate, protein or fat-based substances. The first to hit the market were carbohydrates disguised as fat. Avicel, for example, is a carbohydrate-based gel. Others in this category include dextrins, maltodextrins, fiber, gums, starch, and modified food starch. These carbohydrate fat replacements are used in a variety of foods, including dairy-type products, sauces, frozen desserts, salad dressings, processed meats, baked goods, spreads, chewing gum, and sweets.

Protein-based fat substitutes came along in the early 1990s. These and fat-based replacements were designed specifically to replace fat in foods. Protein based fat replacements are often made from whey protein or milk and egg protein. These fat replacements provide 1 to 4 calories per gram, depending on their water content, and are approved for use in frozen dessert-type foods, reduced-fat versions of butter, sour cream, cheese, yogurt, salad dressing, margarine, mayonnaise, baked goods, coffee creamer, soups, and sauces.

Finally, there are the fat-based fat replacements – most of us know the brand name Olestra. Introduced in 1996 it is used in preparing potato chips, crackers, tortilla chips, and other savory snacks. Olestra has properties similar to those of naturally occurring fat, but it provides zero calories and no fat. That's because Olestra is indigestible. It passes through the digestive tract but is not absorbed into the body. This is due to its unique configuration: a center unit of sucrose (sugar) with six, seven or eight fatty acids attached. Olestra sounds promising, but it does have some drawbacks. Studies show that it may cause intestinal cramps and loose stools in some individuals. While there is no specific data, Olestra may be particularly distressful to WLS patients who have undergone the malabsorptive procedure.

As with all things WLS, it is important to know what we are feeding our bodies, to treat them well and take all things in moderation.

Kaye Bailey © 2005 - All Rights Reserved

LivingAfterWLS
LivingAfterWLS Blog

Top 8 Most Common Childhood Food Allergies

Both kids and adults can suffer from a variety of allergies that can range from dust to medical pharmaceuticals and products. Some of the most difficult to deal with for the allergy sufferer however is in the food category. According to the Mayo Clinic, a recognized authority on medical conditions, there are the top 8 most common food allergies.

The biggest problem with food allergies is caused by the fact that our modern lifestyle brings us into contact with many products that may have the allergen in it or has been contaminated with the problem product.

Here's the top eight most common food allergies

1. Milk and dairy products.

Problem Source: a lot of restaurant food is prepared on a common grill. Butter and cream is often used in many products. Even products labeled as "nondairy" may contain a substance or compound derived from milk or dairy.

2. Eggs

Egg whites are also a source of problem for many. Eggs substitutes are known to use egg whites in an attempt to be heart healthy and limit cholesterol. If you have a sensitivity to eggs, most pasta including macaroni and spaghetti can cause a problem.

3. Peanuts

Consider the fact that although a person with a peanut allergy may simply order an ice cream cone at the local Dairy Queen, the cone itself, wrapper and most probably the counters may have all come in contact with peanut toppings.

4. Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts)

Here, the problem is more with cooking oils than anything else. Foods can be prepared in a variety of oils that are derived from nuts. Many foods use oils in the manufacturing of the product. Modern food manufacturing also can cause cross-contamination or contact as many foods are made using the same equipment. Tree Nut shells have also found their way into many common products as an abrasive.

5. Fish

While identifying are fishy friends from the ocean is relatively easy, don't forget that a lot of prepackaged sauces may also contain fish oils and products. Common steak and Worcestershire sauces may contain in anchovy dish

6. Shellfish - shrimp and lobster

Cross contact contamination in restaurants is a big issue here. Your nice big steak may have been sizzling right next to the other diners stack of shrimp Watch also when going in for medical tests. This is especially true for any MRI type test that requires dye injections. Depending on the body part to be examined, a contrast medium or dye can be injected into your veins. These contrast mediums can be shellfish based!

7. Soy

Although considered a healthy product, for someone with a story and tolerance many foods. Cereals, soups, infant formulas, prepackaged sauces, and many baked goods can all use soy or soy products in their recipes.

8. Wheat and Gluten

From a food perspective, this is probably one of the most challenging to keep under control. Wheat-based products and gluten are used in many products. Think flour. We're talking about most baked goods, all breads, rolls, crackers, tortillas, fried foods breading and anything else where flour is an ingredient.

Abigail Franks knows that Childhood allergies and asthma are a challenge. For more infomration on child asthma and allergies, visit Child Asthma and Asthma and Allergies On this site you can also download a free report on Asthma Triggers.

7 Lessons in Successful Self-Employment from "Weeds"

I have a new love -- and it's not a man or a house or a car. It's an edgy Showtime television suburban satire, "Weeds", in which Mary Louise Parker plays a widowed soccer mom, Nancy Botwin, in a fictional subdivision of Los Angeles called Agrestic. Nancy struggles with the sudden death of her husband from a heart attack and agonizes how she'll support her family in their upper-class lifestyle. Not having any discernable job skills, Nancy discovers the lucrative income in being the local neighbor pot dealer.

The show is quirky, irreverent, and raunchy. The dysfunctional family dynamics are hysterical, especially when her unemployed pot-head brother-in-law, Andy, arrives on her doorstep. Her interactions and affection for her supplier, a black ghetto family headed by matriarch Heylia James, and Heylia's unwed pregnant daughter and ne'er-do-well son, Conrad, are a stark contrast to her daily life in Agrestic. And, the broad social and political statements that are constant undercurrents in the series are really just right on the money.

This show is a big shift for me -- I'm probably the only person my age who's never done any type of drug -- so admitting I love a show about a pot-dealing suburban mom is strange, I admit. What's most fun for me to watch is Nancy's development as a entrepreneurial businesswoman who's going to do what it takes to be the most successful weed dealer in Agrestic. There's not alot of difference between Nancy and me in the quest to build successful businesses, except that my business is legal, of course, and I don't have to dodge bullets in drive-by shootings at my supplier's house.

Here are some great lessons on building a business from suburban pot mom Nancy Botwin:

1. Fish where the fish are. Due to her friendship with her accountant, Doug Wilson (played by Kevin Nealon), and his group of friends, Nancy quickly realizes that Agrestic is a wonderful market for her product. She finds a great source of pot and is easily able to sell it, as her upscale target market is eager to buy and can easily afford her prices.

Lesson: Know your target market. Are they male or female? What age group? What industry? What socio-economic group? Where do they hang out on- and off-line? What do they read? To what groups and associations (real and virtual, personal and professional) do they belong? How much money do they make? Can they easily afford your product or service?

2. It's all about benefits, not features. Doug discovers a cheap source of medical marijuana in a clinic in LA and thinks he's discovered a gold mine. However, in order to use the clinic, he has to get a prescription for medical marijuana from a shady physician and then drive an hour into the city every time he needs a refill. Nancy offers him the opportunity to buy the same stuff locally, without the drive, and no prescription needed.

Lesson: People do business with you because you can help them solve a problem. They care little about how you solve it (the features of the solution). They just want you to make the problem go away so that they have one less thing to worry about (the benefits of doing business with you).

3. Understand the needs of your target market. Nancy takes a trip to LA to check out the medical marijuana clinic, and discovers a sheer cornucopia of pot, available in more varieties than she'd ever imagined. This visit makes her realize that she's buying the bottom-of-the-barrel weed and gives her supplier a list of the "good stuff" that her clients really want. Then, to give her clients a better high for their buck (and enable her clients to hide their marijuana use), she begins to package the pot in various baked goods that she makes in her home kitchen. One client cleans her out of baked goods in one visit.

Lesson: Give your clients what they want, not what you think they need. Many service business owners head into the marketplace and have no idea if they offer a product or service that the public wants. Or, they offer what they think is good for a client rather than what will solve a client's pressing problem. Do your market research to understand the needs and problems of your target market.

4. The failure of most businesses is due to undercapitalization. Nancy's personal expenses are exceeding her income, and she approaches her supplier, Heylia, to give her inventory on credit. Heylia laughs in her face, but after Nancy begs, she's permitted to hock her leased Land Rover and multi-carat wedding ring with Heylia to get the quantity of pot that she needs for the week.

Lesson: Being self-employed is a financial roller-coaster ride. Have financial reserves in place before you start your business so that you can pay your bills until you begin making a profit. And, if you come up short of cash, try negotiation with your suppliers or vendors for more favorable payment terms.

5. Slow and steady wins the business growth race. Nancy becomes heady with her sales success in her suburb and begins to eye other markets so she can make even more money. While on the local college campus seeking a tutor for her son, she realizes the campus is a ready-made market for pot and is initially very successful in capturing that market. However, what she doesn't realize is that she is treading on another dealer's territory (one of the campus security officers), and in a mock arrest on campus by this officer, she loses about $15,000 worth of inventory. When she tells Heylia what happened, Heylia just laughs and tells Nancy she's been "jacked" by another dealer, and that's the price she pays for trying to grow too fast.

Lesson: Great success in your business will make you want to conquer the world. However, quick expansion without proper planning makes many a business owner go belly-up. Plan for the growth of your business, and include that growth in your business plans and vision statements so that it's a natural evolution of your business.

6. To be successful, you need your family's support. Nancy tries to be an "moral" pot dealer and refuses to sell to children, or permit anyone working for her to sell to children. In the same vein, she tries to shield her children from the true nature of her business, not wanting to set a bad example for them (see the irony in this series?). However, secrets are hard to keep from teenagers. In an act of rebellion, Silas, her 15 year-old son, tells her he doesn't have to follow her rules any longer, throwing in her face that she has no right to tell him what do to since she's selling pot. When she tells Andy, her brother-in-law, about the situation, Andy tells her that Silas is just angry with her because she has lied to him about how she's making money.

Lesson: Deciding to run your own business can be the quickest road to divorce or family alienation. Keep your family updated on what's happening in your business, especially if you run a business that's going to keep you away from them on an ongoing basis. Family rules, structure, and expectations may need to shift for awhile, and the more that you family can be a part of creating that change, the healthier and happier you all will be.

7. The Lone Ranger didn't ride alone. As Nancy reviews her life lessons in entrepreneurship during Season 1, she realizes that it's hard work running a business by herself. She invites her accountant and attorney (two of her best clients), her brother-in-law, another dealer, and son of her supplier to go into business with her and help her grow her territory and make it all work.

Lesson: You're great at the core service you provide to your clients, but you can't be good at everything, nor should you try to be. Create two lists, one of what you love to do, and the other of what you hate to do. Do what you do best (and love to do) and delegate the rest to your support team. Spend your time more profitably looking for opportunities rather than wasting it on tasks that you can hire out much more cheaply and efficiently than by trying to do it all yourself.

Business lessons show up in many shapes, forms, and sizes. Tune in to the next season of "Weeds" and see what's in store for Nancy as she builds her suburban pot empire.

Copyright 2006 Donna Gunter

Online Business Resource Queen (TM) and Business Coach Donna Gunter helps self-employed service professionals learn how to get more clients online at http://www.OnlineBizCoachingCompany.com To sign up for more FREE tips like these and claim your FREE gift, TurboCharge Your Online Marketing Toolkit, visit her site at http://www.GetMoreClientsOnline.com Read about running an online biz at our blog, http://www.getmoreclientsonlineblog.com

Protect Your Heart and Arteries During the Holiday Season

Introduction

If you have heart disease or any health condition such as high cholesterol or high triglycerides, you may have started feeling a little apprehensive as you see the holiday season approaching. You are fully aware that plenty of sweets, cookies, pies, cakes and the like are going to be around during the next few weeks and you know that despite the bad press all those goodies have earned over the years, you are going to sink your teeth into them. You also know that when the holidays are over, you'll feel guilty as they come for having succumbed to temptation. Not a rosy outlook, indeed!

Relax, don't panic. Just by taking a couple of preventive steps, you can have your cake and eat it, and by that I mean that you can eat your cakes, pies, cookies, and still protect your arteries. If you are wondering how that's possible, here is how: watch out for trans fats and stay away from them as much as possible.

What are trans fats?

Trans fats are the worst of all fats. Hydrogenated oils or trans fats, as they are usually called, are produced artificially by inserting molecules of hydrogen in vegetable oils, a process called hydrogenation. Through this process, the oil, which is liquid at room temperature, changes it original form and becomes solid. In addition, the new fat ends up with an unnatural chemical structure.

Why do you need to stay away from trans fats?

Trans fats can hurt because:

• Through the manufacturing process, the liquid oil becomes solid or saturated; saturated fat can get stuck in your arteries. In addition, eating too much saturated fat may cause your liver to produce more cholesterol than your body needs.

• Because of the hydrogenation process, the original oil ends up with a different chemical structure. The unnatural shapes of trans fats cause our cells to become malformed and to malfunction. And that includes the cells of the heart and arteries.

• They raise LDL cholesterol, the "bad" guy. This is the type of cholesterol responsible for clogging the arteries.

• They lower HDL cholesterol, the "good" guy. This is the one you need in abundance to clean your arteries.

• They damage the lining of the arteries, setting the stage for the formation of plaque. Plaque also clogs your arteries.

So, what products should you stay away from during the holidays to avoid trans fats? You probably have guessed by now. During the holiday season (and this goes also for the rest of the year) you need to pay particular attention to commercial baked goods containing high amounts of fat such as cakes, pies, cookies, croissants, donuts, ice cream, and the like.

Does this mean you have to go through the holidays without having a cookie or a piece of cake? No. What you need to do is minimize the potential harm trans fats can cause. How? By doing the following:

• When buying commercial baked goods always read the label. If the label indicates the product has any amount of trans fats don't buy it. The report issued by the Institute of Medicine in 2002 doesn't set maximum levels for trans fats but food authorities believe any amount above zero is a risk.

• Check also the ingredients on the label and look for hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil. Food manufacturers do not have to list the amount of trans fats if the total fat in the food is less than 0.5 grams per serving. As a safety measure, don't buy products that list this type of oil as part of the ingredients.

• Dust off your favorite recipes for cookies, pies, and cakes and do some baking at home. Choose a recipe that uses butter instead or margarine. In the past we assumed that margarine was better for the heart because it's produced from vegetable oils and has no cholesterol; however, solid margarine is made from hydrogenated oils and contains large amounts of trans fats.

• Email your favorite cookie recipe to those friends and family members who like to show up at your door on Christmas day with commercial baked cookies as a present. They might take the hint.

Conclusion

Health authorities are concerned that the consumption of trans fats might have contributed to the 20th century epidemic of coronary heart disease because they are compounds that have unnatural shapes. But if you follow these few guidelines, you will have taken a big step towards the protection of your heart and arteries. And what is even better, you won't have to deal with a guilty conscience on January the 2nd.

Remember, however, to practice moderation when it comes to amounts and portions; after all, baked goods can be high in calories since they contain large amounts of fat and sugar.

About the Author:
Emilia Klapp is a Registered Dietitian and author of "Your Heart Needs the Mediterranean Diet". The book is written in clear language and is an excellent read for anyone interested in dietary means to improve cardiac health. For more information about the author and the book and to get a free list of the 10 Top Mediterranean curative foods, go to: http://www.emiliaklapp.com

Heart Healthy Diet Tips - Avoid These Unhealthy Foods

A high percentage of Americans are overweight and at risk for heart disease. The leading cause of obesity in the U.S. is the consumption of unhealthy foods such as fast food, which tends to be loaded with trans fat and saturated fat. If you can't cut out fatty foods entirely, then it is important to minimize how much you consume in order to maintain a healthy heart and cardiovascular system. Here are five types of food items to avoid.

1. Restaurant Fried Food - The oil used to fry foods in restaurants and fast food joints isn't very healthy for your heart. Most fried foods at restaurants contain trans fat - a type of fatty acid that is bad for your cardiovascular system.

   Some restaurants are beginning to use trans fat free frying oil. Many fast food restaurants publicize this change but you can ask what kind of frying oil is used in any restaurant. If you aren't sure, avoid fried foods at restaurants. Even if they aren't high in trans fat, fried foods are often higher in total fat than other menu options. Instead, choose broiled meats, fresh side dishes of beans or vegetables and non-pastry desserts.

2. Full Fat Milk (as an everyday drink) - Many people have switched from drinking whole milk to lower fat versions - nonfat milk (skim), 1% milk (low fat) or 2% milk (reduced fat). If you haven't made the switch, do it today!

   One glass of whole milk contains 4.5 grams of saturated fat, compared with 0g in skim milk, 1.5 grams in 1% milk, and 3 grams in 2% milk.

3. Processed Foods High in Sodium - With the abundance of foods available in our supermarkets, it's easy to rely on the convenience and flavor of processed foods. But it's hard to eat a low sodium diet when you eat a lot of pre-processed packaged foods. Canned soups, frozen meals and packaged snacks are just a few items you find at the store that can be very high in sodium.

   Look at the food label for the sodium content. The goal for a healthy adult is to eat less than 2300 mg sodium per day. If you have heart disease or a high risk of heart disease, eat less than 1500 mg per day.

   In place of these items, choose fresh or homemade alternatives. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables with little added salt, homemade baked goods, simple meals and healthy snacks like whole grains, nuts and seeds.

4. Processed Foods Containing Trans Fat - Trans fat is found in many processed foods and scientists now know that eating trans fat can raise your risk of heart disease. Even small amounts of trans fat can be harmful. Even if the trans fat value is zero, avoid foods with hydrogenated vegetable oils in the ingredient list.

   Foods to be watchful of are margarines, baked goods, packaged pie crust, microwave popcorn and some frozen vegetables like frozen french fries. Be careful of bakery items, too. Baked goods from smaller bakeries are often not required to list the nutrient content of the food. So the trans fat content is unknown. Ingredient lists are required, however, allowing you to avoid baked goods made with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

5. Soft Drinks - Drinking soft drinks everyday can be unhealthy for your heart. Regular soft drinks are very high in sugar, which means lot of calories and no other nutrient benefits. And even diet and low-calorie soda have been shown to be associated with a greater risk of heart disease. One reason may be that your body has a hard time maintaining a healthy weight when you drink soda.

   Breaking the soda habit can be tough. One of the best things you can do to help get to a healthy weight is to drink water or milk with meals and water to quench thirst. That way, you can save the calories for healthy foods.

Remember, you may not be able to completely eliminate unhealthy, fatty foods from your diet but by cutting back you will be increasing heart health. Exercising for 20 or 30 minutes per day, coupled with dietary improvements, could extend your life by years -- not months!

Barbara Chevaux is an accomplished heart health and fitness writer whose material can be found on HeartMart.com. Chevaux earned a Master's Degree in Human Nutrition and has been a freelance writer for over five years. She spent most of her professional career in the food industry, where she was involved with researching the potential heart health benefits of consuming dark chocolate. HeartMart is a free website that includes information about heart disease and keys to a healthy heart, including heart healthy diets and dietary supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids.

Meat, Dairy and Egg Substitutes Reviewed

As vegetarianism continues to make its way into the mainstream, many companies are entering the meat, dairy and egg substitutes markets to satisfy the growing demand for animal product alternatives. Read these reviews of the best substitutes out there that will make the transition to vegetarianism as painless as possible.

For plain meat-free burgers, vegetarians may choose Boca's Original meatless burgers or Morningstar Farms' Grillers veggie burgers. For veggie burgers with more flavor, Boca and Morningstar Farms offer flavored varieties such as Boca's Grilled Vegetable, Roasted Garlic and Roasted Onion burgers or Morningstar Farms' Mushroom Lover's, Philly Cheese Steak and Spicy Black Bean veggie burgers.

Boca and Morningstar Farms also sell other meat alternatives. Boca's other products include meatless ground burger, pizza and Chik'n Nuggets. Morningstar Farms also carries meatless corn dogs, Veggie Breakfast Bacon Strips and meatless buffalo wings.

Several companies offer cheese alternatives. Note to vegans: many cheese products advertised as "soy cheese" or "lactose-free" often contain an ingredient called casein, which is derived from milk but is not lactose. Those who wish to avoid dairy products of all kinds should be sure to read ingredient labels and be aware of casein.

For truly dairy-free grated parmesan cheese, Vegan brand is a good option. Vegan brand also offers cheese slices in mozzarella and American flavors. These slices are great when used cold in sandwiches. Vegan cheese, however, is typically not great for melting.

But there is one dairy-free cheese brand that melts extremely well and is delicious: Follow Your Heart brand cheese. This cheese comes in mozzarella, cheddar, nacho and monterey jack varieties. It can be used in anything from pizza to cheese fries to tacos and quesadillas.

For egg substitutes in baked goods, many health food stores sell powdered Ener-G Egg Replacer that can be mixed with warm water to use in place of eggs in baked goods. If Ener-G Egg Replacer is not available, 1 tablespoon cornstarch plus 3 tablespoons water can be used as a substitute for one egg in baked goods.

For a scrambled egg alternative or an egg salad alternative, tofu is a great option. For scrambled tofu, break up a block of tofu and add turmeric, salt and pepper to taste, along with sauteed veggies like onions, garlic and sundried tomatoes.

For a tofu mock egg salad, mix a broken up block of tofu with 1/3 cup Vegenaise (a mayonaise substitute also made by Follow Your Heart brand) and 1 tablespoon of mustard. Add to this celery, green onions, thyme and salt and pepper to taste.

For those who forego dairy, there are many alternatives to cow's milk. Silk sells an organic soymilk that can be drank alone or put in cereal or "Silkshakes". Silk also sells a delicious chocolate soymilk beverage. For a creamier chocolate soy milk, though, you may opt for the 8th Continent brand soy milk.

For those who do not enjoy the taste of soy milk, most grocery stores sell rice milk, which is a lighter beverage than soy milk, or almond milk, which has a pleasant, nutty taste.

Finally, vegans and those who avoid dairy can enjoy dairy-free ice cream that tastes just like the real thing. The most accessible non-dairy ice creams are Tofutti brand and Soy Delicious brand. Some grocery stores also supply rice ice cream.

Being vegetarian or vegan is a lot easier today because of these meat, dairy and egg alternatives. Luckily, most of the above mentioned brands are available in most grocery stores. If you cannot find a product that you want, though, be sure to talk to grocery store managers, who in most cases will be happy to order products for customers.

Michael Russell Your Independent Vegetarian guide.

Edible Wedding Favors

When you are trying to decide on wedding favors for your nuptials, it can be a bit difficult to come up with something that will please everyone. One new trend that seems to be a big hit with young and old alike is providing edible wedding favors for your guests. Almost everyone enjoys getting something tasty to eat, so your edible wedding favors are sure to be a hit with all your guests. The following are some great edible wedding favors that you may want to consider for your big day.

Tea, Cocoa, and Coffee

Many people enjoy sipping warm drinks, especially in the winter time. Giving out various favors such as wonderful teas, hot cocoa mixes, or gourmet coffee is a great way to warm the hearts of your guests. You can decorate them nicely to go with your wedding colors or theme, and no doubt everyone will enjoy this drinkable treat. You can even find them online in pre-packaged wonderful bride and groom designs.

Baked Goods

Baked goods are edible wedding favors that are always a big hit with guests. You may choose to have cookies or brownies that are wrapped and ready to go. Some couples have also chosen to have a mini-bakery set up where their guests can choose their baked goods. This can be a bit on the expensive side, but your wedding guests will be thrilled with the chance to pick their favorite pastry or baked good to take home after the wedding reception.

Chocolates

Another great choice in edible wedding favors are chocolates. You can have candy bars personalized with your names and wedding date to hand out to your guests. Gourmet chocolates are also a great idea as well, especially if they are in decorative boxes and tied with pretty ribbon. Dress up your chocolate favor gifts by putting them in themed wedding favor packaging.

Chocolate Covered Fruit

If you want something a bit more decadent, you may want to consider having chocolate covered fruit for your wedding favors. Chocolate covered strawberries, cherries, bananas, and even blueberries are tasty treats that your guests will no doubt enjoy.

Mint Tins

Mints are a traditional favor for formal or casual wedding celebrations. Treat your wedding guests to heart-shaped mints packaged in bride or groom designed tins. Decorative mint tins not only add to your table decor, they will also enhance the festive mood for your guests at the wedding reception.

Finally, whether you have a large budget or a tight one, there are edible wedding favors that will fit into your budget. With so many great choices and price options, choosing these kinds of favors will tempt the taste buds of your guests while being easy on the wallet as well.

L Hayes is a wedding professional and owner of Wedding Favors Emporium. They carry an extensive line of unique wedding favors. They offer many popular gift ideas such as place card holders, wedding favor packaging, and bridesmaid gifts. For more information about edible wedding favors, wedding planning, or wedding reception ideas, visit their website.

Better Baking Technique: Is it Done Yet?

Are my breads, cookies, or cakes baked and ready to come out of the oven yet?

The ability to tell when products are baked seems to cause more consternation than almost any other phase of baking. And of course, it is important. Over baked cookies are dry and hard; under baked bread is soggy. But you can get it right. In this article, we will give you the techniques and pointers for baking your goods to perfection.

Yeast breads

The tendency is to under bake yeast breads. The internal temperature of yeast breads should be 210 degrees and must be at least 185 degrees. The only way to reliably tell what is going on inside that loaf is with a probe type thermometer. Remove the bread from the pan and insert the thermometer through the bottom crust into the center of the loaf.

(If you are going to bake bread and you don’t have a thermometer, we strongly recommend that you purchase one. You will need it to test the temperature of the water, the dough, and the finished bread. You can buy one on our site.)

When the bread is done, the crust color will range from a golden brown to a deep brown for artisan breads baked in a hot oven. Breads with a higher sugar content or in a hot oven will tend to brown more rapidly as the sugar caramelizes. If the bread is browning too rapidly, make a tent of aluminum foil and cover the top of the loaf.

In light colored pans, the bottom crust is the last to brown. With a done loaf, the bottom will color even in a light-colored pan.

My mother was a bread baker. She tested doneness by tapping the loaf with her finger--a done loaf will sound hollow when tapped. I don’t remember her ever making a mistake. Though she taught me to do the same, I’m not as good as she was. Out of habit, I still tap the loaf but I nearly always follow with a thermometer probe and sometimes the thermometer proves me wrong.

Cookies

If the tendency is to under bake breads, the tendency is to over bake cookies. Take them out just before you think they are done; you won’t be wrong often.

My father is a consummate cookie baker. If you ask him what his secret is, he’ll tell you: “I don’t over bake cookies.” The difference between a just right cookie and an over baked one is dramatic.

Make cookies uniform in size. Not only are they more attractive but different sizes of cookies take different times to bake.

Most recipe writers tell you to leave the cookies on the sheet for a minute or two. Cookies continue to bake on a hot baking sheet. Sometimes that’s necessary for an easy release but for most recipes, we remove them as quickly as we can.

If the cookies look a little soggy in the middle, then leave them on the sheet for a few minutes and they will firm up.

Most cookies should be gold in color, not brown. Both the amount of sugar and soda in the recipe will affect how fast a cookie browns.

Chocolate cookies represent another challenge: you can’t tell if they are browning. If you are baking with a new recipe, bake a few cookies and check them for doneness before baking the entire batch. Chocolate cookies will tend to lose their “wet” look when done.

Many bar cookies will have a dry, shiny crust when done.

Cakes

For most baked goods--but especially cakes--it is best to set the timer for a few minutes less than directed in the recipe—different ovens or even different positions in the oven bake differently. A dark pan bakes more quickly than a light pan. When you find your cake not quite done and continue baking, set the timer for three or four minutes and check again.

A toothpick inserted in the center of the cake will come out clean when done. “Clean” means a few crumbs. If there is wet looking batter clinging to the toothpick, it’s not done.

If you don’t want to poke a whole in the center of the cake, check for doneness with your finger. There should be some resiliency to the touch and the cake should spring back. When done, the cake will usually have a golden brown color to the top though different recipes will brown more or less quickly. When done, the cake will tend to pull away form the edges.

Quick Breads

Quick breads are basically cakes in a loaf pan. The same tests that you use on cakes can be used with quick breads. Stick the toothpick or skewer right in the open crack in the center of the bread. The area under that crack seems to be the last area in the loaf to set up.

Incidentally, quick breads release from the pan easier if left to cool for few minutes before removing. Because of the larger mass, a loaf does not continue cooking as quickly as cookies do.

Custard Pies

Custard pies—including pumpkin pies—are a special problem. It takes quite a while for the protein in the eggs to set and make the pie firm. Often, the crust is becoming too brown before the eggs set. If so, cover the crust with strips of aluminum foil to retard further browning.

When a custard pie is done, a knife inserted in the center of the pie will come out clean. If you don’t want a cut mark in the center of your pie, use the jiggle test. Pick the pie up with two hot pads or mitts and gently shake the pie back and forth. If done, all but the center should be firm—there will be a little jiggle in the center. The center will continue to cook and firm up after you remove the pie from the oven.

We hope these guidelines help. With practice and observation, you’ll soon become very proficient at judging when your bread or cookies are baked to perfection. Your baked goods will then be irresistible.

Dennis Weaver is the general manager at The Prepared Pantry (http://www.preparedpantry.com) with recipes, ideas, and the best selection of mixes and ingredients. Visit the free Bakers' Library for more articles like this, free baking guides, and tested recipes.

Reformulating Kids' Breakfast Foods Will Be A Challenging Undertaking

Kids love sugar. From breakfast cereals to treats after dinner, children naturally gravitate to colorfully packaged sweets, supported by engaging television ads. But after years of following this strategy, major food companies are taking another approach. Childhood favorites such as sugary breakfast cereals are being reformulated to meet self-imposed limits for sugar and fat. The task of reformulating poses some serious challenges, if it can be done at all.

Why the focus on products aimed at kids? A survey that the National Center for Health Statistics conducted between 1963 and ’65, reported that 4.2 percent of children ages 6-11 were overweight. When the survey was repeated in 2003-’04, the percentage had risen dramatically to 18.8 percent. Although many causes are associated with childhood obesity, food companies are taking the lead to discontinue marketing products high in sugar and fat to children.

Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative

In November 2006, the Council of Better Business Bureaus and 11 of the largest, most influential food companies launched the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative. Cadbury Adams, Campbell Soup, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Hershey, Kellogg, Kraft, Mars, McDonald’s, PepsiCo, and Unilever agreed that at least 50 percent of their advertising to children under 12 would focus on good nutrition or healthy lifestyles. The companies agreed to stop advertising products in elementary schools and reduce the use of interactive games, toys, and licensed characters for products that do not conform to the initiative.

They also agreed to come up with individual plans detailing how they would meet these guidelines. Kellogg, under the threat of a lawsuit by Center for Science in the Public Interest and the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, submitted some of the most stringent guidelines for this initiative. The company said it would not advertise products to children under 12 unless it contained less than 200 calories per serving, 0 grams of trans fats, 2 grams or less of saturated fat, 230 milligrams or less of sodium, and less than 12 grams of sugar, excluding sugars from fruit and dairy sources. As a result, Kellogg will not advertise some of its most popular cereal brands: Apple Jacks, Cocoa Krispies, and Fruit Loops to children unless these products can be successfully reformulated. To perform such a monumental task, here are just a few things to consider when reducing sugar in cereals, snacks and baked goods.

Sweetening the Deal

Sugar has a number of functions in bakery and snack products. In addition to sweetness, sugars acts as a bulking agent, reducing water activity. Sugars contribute to color development and delay starch gelatinization, allowing time for the product to expand before a stable structure is formed. The FDA has approved five high-intensity sweeteners for sugar replacement: aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, neotame, and sucralose. With the exception of aspartame, these sweeteners can withstand the high temperatures used to manufacture baked goods and snacks. Since high-intensity sweeteners are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, bulking agents such as maltodextrin or dextrose are often added to create sweetener blends with improved dispersion and water binding properties.

Sugar alcohols or polyols are another sugar replacement. Common polyols include mannitol, isomaltose, sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, and lactitol. Sugar alcohols are not directly absorbed by the body but instead move into the intestine where they are fermented by bacteria in the gut. Depending on the type of polyol, caloric values are reduced to between 0.2 and 2.6 calories per gram compared to sucrose at 4 calories per gram. Unlike high-intensity sweeteners, sugar alcohols have similar or slightly reduced sweetening power compared to sucrose. Frequently, a polyol is blended with a high intensity sweetener to improve functionality and flavor.

Sweet fibers such as polydextrose and oligofructose present another option for food scientists looking to replace sugars with a less caloric ingredient. In addition to replacing sugar, polydextrose is also a fat replacer.

The Trouble with Substitutions

But replacing sugar is more complicated than just achieving the same level of sweetness with a sugar substitute. Browning reactions such as Maillard browning and caramelization are substantially reduced when sugars are replaced with high intensity sweeteners or sugar alcohols, impacting both texture and flavor. The addition of either polydextrose or oligofructose may enhance color development in sugar-free baked goods by providing a source of reducing sugars for these reactions.

Aftertaste is another problem for many of the available sugar substitutes. Most high-intensity sweeteners impart at least some bitterness. Aspartame and sucralose are particularly noted for tasting less bitter than either saccharin or acesulfame-K. At high levels of substitution, polydextrose and oligofructose are also noted for their bitter aftertaste. Sugar alcohols tend to have a similar taste profile when compared to sugar, but several of these alcohols create a cooling sensation when dissolved in the mouth.

Lastly, textural changes following substitution may pose serious challenges for the food product developer. Without sugar, starches and proteins in the mixture will form a set structure at lower temperatures. Since the crust is the most exposed surface to heat, the crust will set first, inhibiting gas expansion. Thus, baked goods with sugar substitutes tend to have a denser, less expanded structure. Selection of the correct bulking agent can rectify this problem by binding water and delaying structure setting.

Do the Right Thing

Intense pressure from consumer groups, the media and the government are causing major food companies to change the way they market to kids. This change represents a major opportunity to create ingredients and products that are healthy and kid-friendly. Kellogg—and many of its competitors—has a formidable challenge ahead of it. The risk of consumers rejecting reformulated favorites is a real concern. Yet, Kellogg is wise to take on this task and confirm its commitment to the health and well-being of consumers.

If products cannot be reformulated, they will not be marketed to children. Still, they will remain an integral component of Kellogg’s product line. Perhaps Kellogg has the best of both worlds with options for reformulation, traditional formulas and opportunities for new products with a healthier image. In any event, Kellogg and the other 10 companies that joined this initiative realize that something must be done to curb childhood obesity. The Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative is a good first step towards combating this epidemic.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Matalanis

Bakers Racks - Storage Made Simple

For many, the perfect home is one that would take them back generations to days when every day there was a home cooked meal on the table and the family gathered to discuss what they had done with their day. While that rarely happens in today's world, there are ways to recapture a little bit of that feeling through your home décor.

Back in a time when every day's bread was made fresh, not to mention the cakes and pies, the smell of all those baked goods would waft through the house, and into the yard, letting people know great cooking was almost theirs. There is no self-respecting country home that would have been lacking a bakers rack. If you are trying to bring that world to life in your home, you need one too.

If you are not a baker, you may think the idea of owning a bakers rack is a little bit of overkill. But just because you will not be filling the shelves with a number of loaves of bread and various fruit filled pies every day does not mean a bakers rack can't serve practical purposes in your home. You can have the old world charm of the furniture, but put it to work with more modern uses.

Generally, bakers racks would belong in the kitchen, near where all the cooking is done. In today's kitchen that means you can use bakers racks as great places for excess storage. Some bakers racks have cabinets on the bottom that can be used as a way to de-clutter your kitchen counter tops. Think about all those things you have in the kitchen that you periodically use, but generally just take up space. They could be stored in the bottom of bakers racks. This is also a way to hide those modern appliances that can take away from your country kitchen appearance.

On the top part of the bakers racks you have a number of options for uses. These are the shelves where the baked goods would set to cool. Now you can use this space as a display area. If you have some especially precious country kitchenware pieces you may want to show them off on the shelves so all your visitors can appreciate them. Or if you want to show off that you really can do some down home country cooking, you may want to use this space in the bakers racks to display your country cookbook collection or recipe holder.

Some kitchens are a little tighter for space than others, and you may be thinking that you just can't fit bakers racks into your kitchen. If you have a spare corner, you can. There are corner bakers racks that will slip into that unused space and give you a lot of new and needed storage. You can even use bakers racks with a counter space in the middle as an extra area to prep for meals.

If you are trying to truly recapture the past in the old country, your home will not be complete without bakers racks.

Jennifer Akre, owner of numerous online specialty shops, shares her insight on how to create more space in your home by using decorative bakers racks, stunning pot racks and sleek bar stools.

Easy Fundraising Ideas

Stay at home moms, school children or just about anyone who wants to raise some funds for either a good cause or for some personal reasons need not worry about which fundraising idea they would use and considering that there are actually a of fundraising ideas out there. It’s actually up to you to pick the one that it suitable for you target market.

Common as well as tried and tested fundraising ideas that are sure to be able to earn you a lot of money are the following:

1. The Basics

- Use baked goods that look appetizing
- There is no need to be extremely competitive with your peers
- Presentation is as important as quality
- Sell as much baked goods as you can
- Offer a package deal where you lose money on one item but make it back on another

2. Offer Samples

A good fundraising trick when it comes to bake sales is to provide your customers free taste so that they’ll be able to sample the goods before they actually commit into buying them. You may think of this as costly but you wouldn’t really hand out actual sized muffins or cookies, just bits of it will do and if your baked goods are really good then your customers will probably end up buying more since bake sales are fundraising events that don't really occur very often thus customers may wish to stock up a bit.

Other popular baked goods that sell easily during bake sales are:

- Home made cookies
- Cakes
- Pastries
- Cheesecakes
- Soft pretzels
- Pies

3. Cookie Dough

A new fundraising idea when it comes to bake sales is to actually start selling cookie dough that comes in all sorts of great tasting flavors! This item has a high selling factor because you can price it far lower than regular cookies (as it takes you less time and effort to make). Make it as unique as possible. There is actually no need to spend too much on eye catching packaging. You just have to be very creative and incredibly resourceful for this one.

Types:

- Chocolate chunk  Chunks of chocolate are fabulously laid out onto the cookie
- Peanut butter   Nutritious yet an incredibly sweet delight
- Sugar    Baked to golden and crisp perfection, this is already a household specialty
- Snickerdoodle   Deliciously sweet cinnamon that is mixed with your cookie dough
- Oatmeal raisin  Chucked with delicious sun dried raisins with oatmeal that is reminiscent of what your grandmother used to make
- Candy    There are rainbow embellished cookies that can easily catch your little tykes’ fancy usually made with M&M chocolate as toppings
- Chocolate macadamia nut Just the sound of this luxuriously creamy cookie dough is enough to make your mouth water
- Triple chocolate  Chocolate lovers rejoice at this incredibly sweet and delicious home made treatan
- Chocolate walnut crunch Another cookie dough favorite at fundraising events

4. Pizza Cards

Another popular fundraising idea nowadays is selling pizza cards and the community discount fundraising card. During these hard times, people would actually avoid a couple of bargains here and there but scrimping on food was never an option. That is why pizza cards are a great fundraising project. Not only is it very convenient to sell pizza cards (you can just phone up people, offering them the pizza cards or just knock on your neighbors’ doors and start offering your product), but there is actually no need for you to organize an event for this anymore. In addition, a lot of people are easily attracted to how cheap pizza cards actually cost.

Pizza companies actually love this fundraising idea as they tend to get more customers and would actually gain a lot of profit if you’re able to sell 30 pizza cards. You in turn will also earn a lot since if you buy the pizza cards in bulk you’ll actually be able to buy them from the supporting pizza company for just $3.00 each! It’s perfect for all sorts of fundraising events from school charity fundraising events to the neighborhood fundraising project.

5. Discount Community Cards

Discount community cards, however, are the most profitable and popular fundraising product ever. This actually proves to be a bigger bang for your customers’ buck as they can choose to avail of all sorts of products or services from the various neighborhood establishment area. Unlike the pizza card wherein you can only use it for getting pizza, the discount community card is far more flexible. Great for bargain hunters.

For more great fundraising related articles and resources check out http://FundraiserSecrets.com

Enjoy Baked Goods And Desserts Delivered Right To Your Door!

Do you have a sweet tooth for Italian cookies, scones, muffins, brownies, coffee cakes, cheese cakes, chocolate truffles, and cream puffs? Whatever your fancy is, today you have access to old world bake shoppes, without having to stand on long queues or travel long distances for your cherished desserts. For these days we have a host of online stores of various cake manufacturing and retailing houses specializing in fresh baked cookies, cakes and more, shipped across the US. Some of these even have worldwide delivery services. Some also expand their repertoire with dessert catering for special functions, where they custom decorate cakes and pastries with ideas and pictures from the customers, adding tantalizing flavors and luscious fruit fillings.

Whether you're looking for a delicious breakfast relaxation with butter cookies or cannoli, a quick lunch bite with mouth-watering cheese cakes or dinner enhancement with rich cream and chocolate pastries, the wonderful assortment of baked goods are there for you, embellished with luscious flavors and colors of fresh fruit, tempting both the eye and the palate. Many of the stores also allow you to combine the classic taste of butter cream with your personal choice of delectable frostings, fillings and cake layers, of which they provide a listing. They begin their pledge of service to you with the preliminary consultation where you are provided with a complete overview of their services and a sampling of their dessert items. Whether it is cannoli, the Sicilian delicacy with the traditional ricotta cheese combined with rich burgundy wine, or cheese cakes of the old-fashioned Italian variety, these online stores make every item easily available all over the US and Canada.

The scrumptious pastries from these online stores tempt even the strictest calorie counter! They also claim to use only the best butter, rich cream and other tantalizing combinations, resulting in delightful butter cookies and luxurious cakes made as the perfect fit for your holiday diet. A time-honored tradition of celebrations, the Italian cookies and butter cookies are made by world-class Pastry Shoppes in and around America. Daring to be delicately divine and uniquely different than the ordinary chocolate chip, the Italian cookies have an elegance all their own, in what they present a perfect amalgamation of classic Italian essence and the "new age" sophisticated baking techniques. Americans seem to have truly developed an "obsession" towards purchasing these cookies from online stores flooding the search engines of the web world. Most of these stores claim that their baked goods help you decrease fat content by 25-50% as they use low-calorie ingredients. Researches show that these gourmet baked goods, cakes and cookies are not only easy to store, but also remain fresh for months. However, some use preservatives to store the baked items; so make sure to get your cookies or cannoli, cheese cakes or coffee cakes fresh and in one piece, prior to placing your order online to be shipped to your home.

Lopa Bhattacharya is a content writer/developer working on websites for overseas/Indian clientele. Has worked for various corporate website projects, CD-Rom presentations, brochures, flyers and other communication materials on varied themes ranging from travel, hotel industry, photography, web design and software development to US-based clubs and network communities. Was previously an editorial associate for a news, culture and entertainment portal based on the life and times of Kolkata.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lopa_Bhattacharya

The South Beach Diet

Dr. Arthur Agatston, a cardiologist, developed the South Beach diet that is described as “neither low-fat nor low-carb”. The South Beach Diet is a method to teach participants how to eat the ‘right’ carbs and seek out the ‘right’ fats. The diet plan is divided into three Phases. Phase One is a strict 14-day program where nuts, cheese, eggs and regular-sized portions of lean protein are allowed. Phase One incorporates three meals a day with mandatory snacks in an effort to ensure the dieter is not left with hunger pains and give up. This strict Phase One eliminates sweets and starches to abolish cravings for these foods from the participant. Phase Two continues until the dieter has achieved their optimal weight and includes the reintroduction of dairy foods and whole-grain breads. The final maintenance Phase Three is geared towards establishing a healthy eating lifestyle that should, ideally, be adopted by the participant for the rest of their life.

The South Beach Diet is emphatic in reminding the participant of the foods they are allowed to eat and how to avoid the foods that are best left alone. Many restaurants in Miami cater to the South Beach Diet which goes by the credo “now you can eat like a movie star- and look like one”. On the South Beach Diet, eating in restaurants is permitted, snacks are mandatory and flexibility is stressed. There is an overall cutback on carbohydrates and the diet allows for sufficient fats and animal proteins contained in meats. Fish, turkey, chicken, nuts, yogurt, cheeses and milk are recommended.

Highly processed foods are, of course, eliminated. Baked goods, snacks, soft drinks and breads fall into this category. Participants are encouraged to steer away from low-fat prepared foods, as they are often prepared with additional carbohydrates.

In the three phases of the South Beach Diet, the initial phase cuts carbohydrates from the diet dramatically. The theory behind this is that when avoided, the craving for carbohydrates decreases and once they are reintroduced into the diet, the body will properly metabolize them. Phase One completely excludes alcohol, sugar, pasta, rice, fruit, bread, potatoes, fast food and baked goods from the participant’s food options. After this 14 day period, pasta, cereals, fruit and bread are gradually added back into the diet but not to excess.

The South Beach Diet does not require exercise for comprehensive weight-loss within this diet plan.

Once this diet is in the maintenance phase, a wide range of foods and permission to indulge occasionally on some high-fat and high-carb foods is included in the diet plan. The South Beach Diet participants report a lower level of bad cholesterol and increase in good cholesterol when adhering to this diet. A study of 40 overweight people who participated in the South Beach Diet shows that, on average, their weight-loss was maintained at 13.6 pounds. The South Beach Diet is currently among the top five diets in the USA, with many celebrities touting their success and proving to fame-obsessed Americans that you can ‘look like a movie star- and eat like one, too’.

Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on health and visit our associated site articles for free.

Eggs - Milk and Cheese in Your Low-Fat Cholesterol

Eggs

Each egg yolk contains about 213 milligrams of cholesterol. It is a known fact that egg yolks are high in dietary cholesterol and they should be limited to no more than 4 yolks per week. This includes the amount of egg yolks contained in any processed foods or baked goods. Ask the bakery if the recipe uses whole eggs and check the label to see just how much cholesterol the food contains. Limit these types of foods just for some occasional treats.

You can substitute egg yolks with egg whites in your recipes since they have no cholesterol. In place of whole egg, you can also use a cholesterol-free egg substitute. You do not really have to worry about the taste since in many baked goods, you cannot tell the difference.

Milk and cheese group

Just like high fat meats, regular dairy products that have fat are also high in cholesterol and saturated fat. 2 percent milk, ice cream and cheese are regular dairy foods that have a lot of fat. Even though it is important to limit the amount of regular dairy products, you should know that these products are an important source of nutrients. You should eat no more than 2 or 3 servings per day or non-fat or low fat dairy products. A small guide to buying nonfat and low fat dairy foods is listed below:

Milk

Rather than buying whole or 2 percent milk, but either fat free or 1 percent. Remember that 1 percent or fat free milk contain the same amount of calcium and other nutrients as whole milk, the only difference being that they have a smaller quantity of saturated fat and cholesterol.

Cheese

Go for fat free, reduced fat, low fat or part skim cheese whenever you go looking for hard cheeses. It is recommended that you only chose those varieties that have 3 grams of fat or less per ounce.

When you are looking for soft cheeses, look for the low fat (1 percent or less), non fat cottage cheese, part-skim or light ricotta versions. Some of these cheeses have 3 grams of fat or less per ounce.

Choose lower sodium cheeses if you are watching your sodium intake. Compare the sodium intake content by reading the label of several cheese products.

Frozen dairy desserts

Remember to always buy frozen desserts that have a lower intake of saturated fat such as low fat frozen yogurt, ice milk, low fat frozen dairy desserts, sorbets, fruit ices and Popsicles.

Jean Helmet is a content editor who focuses on a wide array of niche health topics. Her latest website - Natural Cholesterol Supplement focuses on cholesterol as a whole, and in particular, a natural product our editors personally use with excellent health results known as - Cholest-Natural

Be sure to check out our cholesterol product of choice, it is the natural supplement we use and recommend to friends and family, and have done for over 3 years.

Grains - Sweets and Snacks

Breads, Cereals, Rice, Pasta, and Other Grains

Generally foods such as pasta, rice, cereals, breads and other grains and dry beans and peas are higher in fiber and starch and pretty low in calories in saturated fat than other foods. Except for some bakery breads and sweet bread products made with high fat butter, eggs and high cholesterol milk, these foods have no dietary cholesterol which make them great for a low cholesterol diet. Also, some good food choices are fruits and vegetables, naturally low fat low cholesterol breads and other foods in this group.

Foods from this group should be eaten in 6 to 11 servings every day. Remember to keep your carbohydrate intake below the maximum of 60 percent of total calories if you have high triglyceride levels and / or low HDL level. You can choose a diet where you substitute unsaturated fat for saturated fat, and has no more than 35 percent of fat.

When buying foods from this certain group there are certain things you should remember:

Choose whole grain rolls and breads often because these have more fiber than white breads

Remember that dry cereals are low in fat. Also, avoid or limit the high fat granola, muesli and oat bran types that are made with nuts and coconut or coconut oil because this increases the saturated fat content. It is very important that you add fat free milk or at most 1 percent milk instead of buying whole or low fat (2 percent) milk to save cholesterol and saturated fat.

Use pasta and rice as entrees. Always hold the high fat sauces such as cheese, butter, and cream.

Limit sweet baked goods such as croissants, biscuits, muffins, pastries, butter rolls and doughnuts, since they are made with lots of saturated fat mostly from whole milk, eggs and butter. These are also high in cholesterol

Snacks

Baked goods such as cakes and cookies, but also snacks like cheese crackers and some chips are often high in cholesterol and saturated fat. The best thing to do is limit the intake of sweets and snacks. Some low fat sweets and snacks to buy and use only now and then are listed below:

Angel food cake topped with either fresh fruit slices or fruit puree

Fat free or low fat pastries, cupcakes, cakes, brownies and cheesecake

Fat free or low fat cookies. This includes animal crackers, lemon or vanilla wafers, fruit or fig bars, devil’s food cookies and ginger snaps.

Frozen low fat or non fat ice milk, sherbet, sorbet, ice milk and fruit ices

Gelatin desserts – be careful at the whipped cream

Graham crackers

Puddings

Jean Helmet is a content editor who focuses on a wide array of niche health topics. Her latest website - Natural Cholesterol Supplement focuses on cholesterol as a whole, and in particular, a natural product our editors personally use with excellent health results known as - Cholest-Natural

Be sure to check out our cholesterol product of choice, it is the natural supplement we use and recommend to friends and family, and have done for over 3 years.

Orange County California, a Veritable Vegetarian's Delight!

Craving a really good vegetarian-based meal? Having trouble getting anyone in your family or line-up of friends to join you in a meal? In Orange County California you can "have your cake and eat it too"! While I may not be a total vegan (a girl's gotta have a good BBQ'd rib sometimes), I do prefer eating a vegetarian meal most of the time. Problem is my family and friends think this type of cuisine is not something they wish to share with me! They think of soy based foods as something meant for me and me alone.

Fortunately, I have found mighty fine restaurants in our wonderful Southern California home that try very hard to cater to all concerned! So meat-eaters take a seat, even you will find something tasty in these fun places!

Mother's Market and Cafe-Mother's has a wonderful vegan menu, but since they also are a complete organic and health food market, the cafe serves up fish and chicken dishes as well. At least it was on the menu at the one I went to in Laguna Hills-which is one of the smaller units. Mother's has several locations throughout the county.

Rutabegorz-This restaurant has a warm place in my heart. Before it grew to the 3 locations it has today, it had just the one in Fullerton. Okay, this was in the '70's and I was but a young college student, but I was into healthy eating even then! Why I love Rutabegorz is the atmosphere is relaxed, the baked goods are made on the premises (low fat, low/non sugar and tasty too!), the menu eclectic and my husband doesn't mind the tuna and salad dishes. When I went there "way back when", my college dance buddies and I could feel good eating the whole wheat bagel with avocado, tomatoes and soy cheese. Wish they still had it on the menu! Besides Fullerton, they also have one in Orange and Tustin

Zinc's Cafe and Market-Laguna Beach. Great breakfasts. Terrific baked goods. Salads are wonderful. Some very interesting lunch choices. Menu is always changing, but the coffee is gourmet and smells wonderful.

Native Foods-the new kid in town, sort of speak. Located in Costa Mesa, this is turning into quite a wonderful destination spot for vegans. Semi-casual, upscale menu-they have some faux meat dishes that from what a couple of diners said-had someone ordered their meals for them without telling them what kind of restaurant this is, they would have never guessed that they weren't eating "the real thing".

Veggie and Tea House-This is just what it says, mainly a tea house that happens to serve vegetarian dishes. While this place is charming and the food quite nice, in all honesty, this is probably the least likely of all the recommended places that might pass muster with the meat eating crowd.

Other suggestions? Most Asian restaurants are quite vegan/vegetarian friendly! Jade Palace in Aliso Viejo will substitute tofu for any meat in any of their dishes.

So fellow vegetable lovers take heart, we can go out for a meal with our carnivore mates and we all can enjoy!

Carine Nadel is on The Reader's Advisory Panel of Woman's Day magazine and has had numerous articles and recipes published both on various websites and print publications. To read more of her work, log onto: http://www.Carine-whatscooking.blogspot.com

Gluten Free Baking - You Need To Substitute!

People newly diagnosed with Celiac disease have a lot of changes to make, and a lot of new dietary restrictions follow. One of the hardest things for a lot of people to overcome is a passion for gluten rich baked goods, breads and cakes. Thankfully, although gluten free baking does require a bit of creativity, it can be done, and there are all sorts of substitutions and tricks out there to make baked goods that are great on their own merits…not just good for gluten free food!

Gluten is a protein in wheat and other flours, and gluten forms strong protein strands in batters and dough's that allows gas to become trapped within, and allows for leavening with cooking. The problem with gluten free cooking…is that there is no gluten! There is nothing strong enough to really trap those expanding gases, and nothing to allow for light airy cakes, breads, muffins…

So we have to get creative. Instead of leavening agents such as yeast or baking soda, we use agar-agar or whipped egg whites, which create a similar matrix of trapped air within the food, and replicate the behaviors of gluten trapped gasses.

You obviously cannot use wheat flour, but there are a great variety of milled grains that can serve as acceptable substitutes. Corn, rice (rice is a very nice mild tasting flour) barley, soy…lots of great alternatives. There is nothing stopping you from great creations except your imagination, and a willingness to learn and to experiment. My mother's gluten free lemon loaf recipe is fantastic, and better than any "regular" lemon loaf I've ever tasted.

We all miss certain foods when we change our eating habits for better health, but we don’t need to stop enjoying our favorites, we just need to use our ingenuity to get back in the kitchen whipping up a great cake, bread, batch of cookies…all gluten free!

John Lee is the chef owner of The Salsa Kitchen and The Jerk Island Caribbean restaurant in Chiang Mai Thailand.

For the best gluten free lemon loaf recipe ever, visit: http://hubpages.com/hub/Gluten_free_banana_lemon_loaf_The_best_ever_gluten_free_recipe

Holiday Gourmet Food Gift Guide

It's official, people of all ages love to receive gourmet foods as a gift. For any occasion, for birthdays, for anniversaries, for Christmas, for Mother's Day, for Father's Day, it doesn't matter. Gourmet foods are one of the few gifts that you can count on to please the recipient. Everyone who receives a gourmet food gift basket or package feels special. Here is a guide to the most popular types of gourmet food gifts and what type of gift recipient they are perfect for:

Cheeses

Cheese is a great gift for the true "foodie", or anyone who also enjoys wine. Gourmet cheeses are available from all over the world, but the very best specialty cheeses tend to come from France, Italy, England, Spain, Ireland and, of course, the United States. Whether you get someone a true cheddar from England or a wedge of genuine Brie from France, you are getting someone a very special gift that will surely be savored.

Gourmet Cheesecake

Cakes are nice, cheese is nice, but put these two things together and you have cheesecake! Cheesecake is a wonderful and special gift that's especially nice to bring along to a party or dinner as a hostess gift. Many types of cheesecake are available, from decadently rich chocolate truffle cheesecake to cheesecakes swirled with candies, cookies, fruit and even biscotti.

Baked Goods

Cookies, cakes, pastry, pies, coffee cakes, anything that is baked, people love! If you have someone on your gift giving list who loves cookies, then get them a cookie bouquet. There are also luxurious specialty cakes available online to buy. Some of the most popular cakes online are coffee cakes. Coffee cakes are especially wonderful gifts to give to a couple or a large family. There's nothing better than a breakfast of coffee and a wedge of coffee cake on Christmas morning.

Chocolates

Who doesn't love to receive chocolates as a gift? Just about everyone LOVES chocolate, and there is a wide array of chocolates available online. From truffles topped with edible gold leaf and gold dust to silky smooth fudge to boxes of chocolates that are filled with exotic creams, nuts and fillings. Nothing pleases quite like chocolate.

Drinks

Drinks are a surprisingly popular gift idea. From fine wines to flavored coffee to organic teas to rarely produced sodas, drinks are a thoughtful gift. Give a fine wine to go with some good imported cheese or give someone a case of their favorite soda that they haven't been able to get for 20 years. Teas are also a nice gift for anyone who enjoys a healthier lifestyle or who simply enjoys a nice calming drink. There are many teas available, including lovely gift boxed varieties, fine imported teas from Japan and China, as well as organic teas, herbal teas and many flavored varieties of tea.

Fruits & Nuts

Fruit as a gift has been around a long time, from the old pioneer days when people could not afford expensive gifts, they picked the bounty from their own orchard and gave that instead. Fruit is a fantastic gift for older people, anyone who enjoys healthier treats, as well as folks who can't get certain types of fruit in their area. In addition, dried fruits and nuts are a great traditional gift for just about anyone who enjoys healthy snacks. Nuts are super healthy and are also a nice gift for anyone who enjoys baking.

Whether you choose a decadent and luxurious gourmet food gift or a more healthful treat, a gourmet food gift is one that won't fail to please.

Ricky Alberta writes for Gourmet Food Web, a directory of gourmet food gifts and gift ideas including gourmet food gift baskets, cheeses, chocolates and gourmet baked goods from around the web.

Yeast Allergy - The Ultimate Low Carb Diet

Grain based food products are the staple of most all of Europe and North America. They love their regional breads and rolls. All these carbohydrates coupled with a sedate lifestyle leads to an undesired weight gain. Carbs are found in many of the processed foods that are so popular in United States. Most people don't realize how much carbohydrate related foods they eat each day. What if you were diagnosed with an allergy to yeast?

That is right. There are people with a yeast allergy. They cannot drink or eat anything that has yeast as an ingredient. Many people do not realize the extent of the number of foods and baked goods that have yeast as an ingredient. Most all of the baked goods contain yeast, like breads and bagels. All alcoholic drinks are made with yeast. There goes having a glass of Champaign to celebrate the New Year with. Although there are non alcoholic alternatives available.

A yeast allergy can be a good thing

Having a yeast allergy can be a blessing in disguise. Use your yeast allergy to your advantage and go on a low carbohydrate diet. You will keep your yeast allergy under control and take off some of the unwanted pounds.

A yeast allergy for carb lovers can be devastating. What is worse is there are those who do not know they have a yeast allergy. They keep wondering why they are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms.

* Fatigue or lethargy

* Feeling of being drained

* Headaches

* Muscle Aches

* Irritability

* Psoriasis

* Chronic hives (urticaria)

* High sugar foods drastically increase symptoms

* Feeling of being intoxicated which leads to a "hangover feeling". This is due to fermentation and alcohol production by yeast.

You keep on feeling discomfort at certain times of the day. You have no idea why or what is causing it. The only way to find out is to schedule an appointment with an allergy doctor and have an allergy test performed.

If your allergy doctor performs an allergy test and determines that, in fact, you have a yeast allergy, he will inform you of the severity of it. Your allergy doctor will provide you with a collection of information about yeast allergies and what can be done to control them. Unfortunately, they are not curable; however, they are controllable. Most likely the allergy doctor will also recommend that you see a dietician that will help you develop a yeast free eating plan.

Depending on the severity of your yeast allergy you may be required to drastically reduce the amount of carbohydrates in your diet. It will be a good idea to consult with a registered dietician to develop a strategy and meal plan for you to follow. A side benefit of a low carb diet is it will help you reduce weight and the risk of adult onset diabetes.

You’d be surprised exactly how many foods out there have yeast in them. It’s by being cautious and seeing the bright side of things, that will get you through your yeast allergy so that you can live a normal life once more without the discomfort of yeast allergy attacks.

To learn more about understanding allergies visit http://www.allergyanswersguide.com which provides information on living an allergy free life.

Easy Christmas Party Games, Plans & Ideas

Christmas party games and ideas are easy to plan with a festive mindset. Think fun! Whoever is heading to your house for the holidays, make it a Christmas to remember. These ideas are a breeze to plan and will inspire the joys of the season for you and your guest to share.

With all the hype and consumerism that has taken over the pleasure of Christmas, don't forget that nothing can replace the joys of a simple celebration at home with close friends and family. Think of Christmas past - the smell of fresh baked goods, the sparkling luminous tree, Christmas carols playing on the stereo, much talking and laughter throughout the house. This is the stuff of a true Christmas where the joys of the season can be found. It is also the simplest of celebrations to plan.

The smell of fresh baked goods coming out of the oven is an irresistible holiday memory. Even the family "scrooge" can't resist the temptation to indulge in Christmas treats and sweets. Don't spend all your time baking, a simple cookie recipe or two is all it will take to get your guests into the kitchen. Consider a holiday baking party with a few close friends, everyone shares their best Christmas cookie. How about a cookie decorating party? Cookie decorating is fun for kids, big kids and kids at heart. These recipes will bring the joys to your kitchen:

White Rolled Christmas Cookies

· 1 c. powdered sugar
· 1 tsp. cream of tartar
· 1 tsp. soda
· 1 c. butter (margarine may be used)
· 2 c. flour
· 1 egg, well beaten
· 1 tsp. vanilla
· 1 tsp. almond extract, if desired

Roll out dough a cut with cookie cutters. Dough can be rolled and re-rolled as often as necessary for cutting desired shapes. Frost with favorite powdered sugar icing and decorate. Also may be rolled in balls and pressed flat to 1/4 inch. Bake at 300 to 350 degrees for 8 minutes.

Christmas Fruitcake Cookies

· 1 c. butter, softened
· 1-1/2 c. sugar
· 2 eggs
· 2-1/2 c. flour
· 1/2 tsp. salt
· 1 tsp. baking soda
· 1 tsp. cinnamon
· 2 (8 oz.) pkgs. pitted dates, chopped
· 3 c. pecans, chopped
· 1 (8 oz.) pkg. candied pineapple, chopped
· 1 (8 oz.) pkg. candied cherries, quartered

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, beat well. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add the rest. Drop on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 13 minutes.

How about Christmas movie night or nights. A great past time for families who want to create a holiday tradition to do every year. There are a number of wonderful holiday movies that will become family favorites. Try some of these for your family holiday movie night:

· It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - The top all time favorite every year as George escapes the clutches of evil Mr. Potter and realizes he's the richest man in town. Thanks, Clarence.

· Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - Did Macy's just hire the real Santa Claus? Hearts young and old still melt as Maureen O'Hara (and a very young Natalie Wood) finally see that "faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to."

· A Christmas Story (1983) - Ralphie schemes and dreams his way to his one and only Christmas wish, the official Red Ryder air rifle.

· A Christmas Carol (1951) - The all-time best version of the Dickens classic starring Alister Sim as Scrooge and a definite must for any holiday DVD collection.

· The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) - Tim Burton's original stop-motion masterpiece about a bunch of ghouls who just don't get Christmas "...and they call him Sandy Claws!"

· The Santa Clause (1994) - Comedian Tim Allen's only successful big screen performance to date as a hapless divorced dad begins to put on weight and grows a long white beard.

· Polar Express (2004) - On track to becoming a classic with Tom Hanks as the conductor on the early morning run to the North Pole.

Nothing says Christmas like Christmas carols. The tried and true classics are still the favorites. How about a tradition of caroling with family and friends. A rousing rendition of "Deck the Halls" is sure to get your group and your neighbors in the holiday mood. This list of carols are perfect for your caroling adventure:

· The 12 Days of Christmas
· Christmas Tree
· Come All Ye Faithful
· God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
· Tannenbaum
· Hark The Herald Angels Sing
· Silent Night
· The First Noel
· It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
· We Wish You A Merry Christmas
· Jingle Bells
· Joy To The World
· Three Kings

Create some holiday magic with your family and friends The scents, sounds and traditions from seasons past makes a great backdrop for a season of festivities, laughter and fun. Start a few new traditions your gang will want to do year after year. A bit of planning and a lot of love will create traditions enjoyed by the young and the young-at-heart. A little Christmas party games and fun will make the season merry bright and memorable. Happy holidays!

Terri Hunziker founded GamesAndLetters.com. Games and Letters provides hundreds of print-and-play games -- Christmas party games, bridal shower games, baby shower games and more! For immediate access to hundreds of fun games and ideas for your next party, visit, gamesandletters.com.

Sugar Lovers Beware

It would be fair to assume that almost everyone on the planet loves sugar and sweet foods. Processed sugar is in many products and is a key ingredient for baking. It seems that everyone has a sweet tooth for some sugar food in one way or another. Most people know to limit their intake of processed sugar, however, what most people don’t know is that sugar is one of the worst ingredients to put into your body. The chemical reaction of sugar in the body acts as a poison. Studies show that sugar has drug like effects in the body.

Processed sugar has many harmful effects throughout the body and can cause major imbalances in the organ systems. You could say that sugar tends to throw off the homeostatic balance of the whole body by increasing the production of adrenaline by many times. In essence, sugar stimulates the nervous system by inducing a flight or fight response.

This is obviously not a healthy process. This intense reaction of the body increases the production of cortisone, which suppresses immune function and can lead to other health disorders.

The daily intake of sugar leads to many other imbalances and malfunctioning of the bodily processes. High sugar consumption leads to an overly acidic body and in turn will cause the body to strip nutrients from its reserves to counterbalance this effect. This can eventually cause the body to take calcium from the bones and teeth since calcium is the primary mineral used to neutralize high acid in the cells. Osteoporosis and arthritic conditions can result from this continued process.

Sugar and its Link to Weight Gain

Excess sugar consumption will eventually effect every organ in the body. Primarily, sugar is stored in the liver as glucose. Since the liver’s capacity to store sugar in this form is limited, the liver will start to expand almost like a balloon with continued daily sugar intake. When the livers’ capacity has been filled, the excess glycogen (glucose) is returned to the blood in the form of fatty acids (fat). The fatty acid compounds are then taken to various parts of the body and are stored as fat deposits in the buttocks, belly, breasts and hips since these are the most inactive body parts.

The consumption of excess processed (refined) carbohydrates has the same effect on the body. Eating foods with refined white flours and other enriched products can cause the same physiological effects. Consuming excess pasta, rice, chips, pretzels, and other high processed carbohydrates can lead to fat deposits on the body.

Many people do not understand how eating excess pasta or rice can cause weight gain since these foods has very minute quantities of fat and calories in them. The secret is…it is not that important how much fat or calories a food has. The real key is what biological effect does a food have in the body.

When the inactive body parts have become filled with fat then eventually the excess fatty acid deposits will become stored around major organ systems such as the heart and kidneys. This leads to the degeneration of these organs and in turn will cause poor health. This can result in poor immune response, poor circulation, high blood pressure, and can even impact brain functioning.

A False Energy High

Too much sugar intake gives one a false sense of energy. When you eat a sweet food, your energy will go up, however, it only feels that your energy is going up. In fact, this false energy is really your body being stimulated via the flight or fight response that I spoke of earlier. After this reaction has worn off, your energy levels will come crashing down as most people experience every day after they have eaten a high sugar food.

Most children that have ADD can completely heal themselves just by eliminating processed sugars in their diets. Children eat way too many processed sugars. The behaviors and bodily responses that these children feel are the flight or fight responses of their nervous systems. All forms of processed sugars such as nutra sweet, cane juice, corn syrup, brown sugar, splenda, powdered sugar and others have the same effect on the body. The chemical structures of these compounds are very harmful to the body and should not be consumed on a frequent basis.

Fruit sugars are very healthy for you. The monosaccharides (simple sugars) in these natural foods are in a structure that are beneficial to your cells. Fruit sugar has a much different effect on your body than does processed sugar. Fruit sugars nourish and energize the body naturally. This is true energy as compared to the false energy one gets from processed sugars. Your cells require the simple sugars in fruits consistently since they serve to fuel the body with the best substances. Make sure you consistently eat many fruits a day. I would recommend eating 4 to 5 pieces of different fruits a day for better health.

The True Bitterness of nutra sweet & sucralose (splenda tm)

What you are about to discover is information that has been known for quite some time by various health organizations. Please take this information seriously because there are agendas in place to hide this truth and to use it against you.

Aspartame (nutra sweet) is actually worse to consume than sugar. This technical name includes the following brands of sweeteners- (equal, nutra sweet, spoonful and equal measure).

Be advised that these compounds are very powerful and can cause severe biological effects in your body. To say that they are toxic is an understatement. The manufacturer of these compounds knows of the dangers in consuming regular amounts of aspartame substances. As I have already said there is an agenda for putting these compounds into various products.

If you want to know the true agenda then research it for yourself. I am not one who attempts to prove anything to anyone. I challenge you to do your own research and see if you can prove what I am saying wrong. In trying to prove me wrong, you will prove me right.

The Breakdown of Aspartame

Aspartame is a volatile substance, meaning that it breaks down very readily under normal storing conditions. Primarily, all aspartame compounds break down into methanol (alcohol), which is a known neurotoxin. The methanol in time then will break down into formaldehyde that is a highly reactive chemical that is damaging to the cells and genetics of the body.

This process can cause a number of neurodegenerative diseases such as alzheimers, lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS), and parkinson’s disease. The methyl alcohol that forms from aspartame is thousands of times more potent than the alcohol found in a normal alcoholic beverage.

Reactions to aspartame products include the following: headaches, nausea, depression, fatigue, heart palpitations, slurred speech, breathing difficulties, memory loss, seizures and even death. Consuming high amounts of aspartame can also increase your cravings for carbohydrates. I explained earlier that consuming high amounts of empty carbohydrates (refined flours, pasta, rice, chips) will lead to weight gain.

Primarily, the effects of aspartame chemicals in the body seem to alter key hormones thus creating imbalances in neurotransmitters and blocking other hormone precursors.

So, why haven’t you heard about these dangers before now? Let’s see…the diet industry is a trillion dollar market to many organizations. Obviously, they don’t want this secret information to get out to public ears if you know what I mean.

Aspartame & Children

Children love to consume sweets on a daily basis. Many of the food products that these children are consuming have aspartame sweeteners in them. I would advise all parents to get their kids off of aspartame food items. These foods are not healthy for them. There are plenty of healthy alternatives for any of the items that they enjoy.

Email me and I will give you loads of information. Many kids are diagnosed with ADD and other mood disorders. Many of these conditions are being classified as hyper, behavioral problems and others when in fact these children are being affected by the foods they eat. Look at a normal child’s food intake for an average day and you will find that they eat way too much sugar and items with aspartame compounds and other chemicals in them.

This daily consumption of these sweeteners has a harmful effect on their nervous system and therefore becomes expressed as mood disorders and behavioral problems. Take these kids off sugar and these sweeteners and watch them improve.

Pregnant Mothers & Aspartame

If you or anyone you know is pregnant then I would say just stay away from these dangerous sweeteners forever. Make sure you read labels and make it a conscious intent to have the whole family keep clean of these products. It will help your whole family out I assure you.

If you are pregnant and consume aspartame foods you will only be hurting the development of the child. Doing so can cause neurological imbalances and other cellular damage. You are also hurting yourself. It is not worth the price just to have your diet soda. Please educate yourself more on this topic for it can save your health and the baby’s health.

Products to Stay Away From

If you drink diet soda then are you most likely consuming aspartame. Most diet sodas and many other beverages are sweetened with one of the aspartame sugar substitutes. STAY AWAY FROM ALL PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN THE VARIOUS FORMS OF ASPARTAME! These include aspartame, nutra sweet, splenda, spoonful, equal. Read your labels and throw away all items that have these compounds in them. Take responsibility for your diet. If you choose to continue to consume aspartame after reading this chapter well then you are the one to pay the consequences.

What Will I Use To Sweeten My Drinks & My Food

Relax! I know you enjoy sugar and do not want to give up great tasting foods and beverages. You don’t have to. There are some great natural sugar alternatives that I feel taste better than sugar and the other toxic substances mentioned earlier.

To sweeten your drinks you can use Stevia. Stevia is a natural herb that is actually hundreds of times sweeter than regular sugar. It has no fat, carbohydrates or calories and is perfectly suitable for people with diabetes, low carb diets and people with candida and other parasitic conditions. Stevia does not cause spikes in blood sugar and has a nourishing effect on the body. It has been used for centuries among various cultures.

You can get stevia at any health food store in the dietary supplement section. There are 2 products: 1 is a liquid concentrate- I recommend this for sweetening beverages like teas and shakes. The other is a ground up version and is in powder form. I recommend this for foods like cereal or oatmeal.

Agave syrup is an awesome food product. You will love this sweetener guaranteed. It is a compound similar to honey only that it comes from a cactus plant in the desert. I believe that it tastes better than honey and can used on pancakes, cookies and to sweeten baked goods. Try it and see! You can find this at most health food stores. If they don’t have it then ask them to carry it.

Rice syrup is also a good sugar alternative. It can be used in various ways and has a pleasant taste.

Date Paste is very sweet and can be added to baked goods and pancakes, waffles and cookies.

Fruit Juice Concentrates can be used to sweeten baked foods as well.

Barley Malt Syrup is another great alternative.

Honey – old time favorite for many, can be used also in various ways from sweetening drinks to sweetening baked goods. Use only organic varieties.

I would say to just buy some of these sweeteners and see which ones you like. They are all healthy to consume on a daily basis and you will feel the difference. You will not miss regular sugar believe me. Your body will thank you I assure by eating natural sugars. If you want some recipes on how to use these sweeteners then let me know via email.

The Truth About Sweet-N-Low

There have many reports that state Sweet-N-Low can be carcinogenic when used frequently. I remember when I was a child I heard that this can be a harmful compound to the body. The truth of the matter is that Sweet-N-Low is not harmful to your body. The chemical structure of this substance does not have any damaging effects to your cells as do the sugar substitutes mentioned earlier.

I stated previously that the important thing of any compound is the chemical structure and its biological effects once in the body. Sweet-N-Low has no negative effects once in the body. It is actually a good substitute for sugar.

So there you have it. You now know the truth about sugar and sugar substitutes. Please use this information immediately.

You Must Learn To See Through The Veils of Illusion To Get at the Truth !

Rino is a Holistic Wellness Consultant & Health Coach. He specializes in helping people with chronic fatigue syndrome to restore their health. Rino had chronic fatigue syndrome for over 4 years and healed himself through self empowerment and natural healing modalities.

Rino's mission is to educate & empower people on how to create and maintain optimum health for their entire lives.

Rino Soriano - "The Chronic Fatigue Buster" http://www.holistichealthexpert.com

Educating & Empowering People For Optimum Health