Foods

Almonds and Cholesterol – Are Almonds a Heart-Healthy Snack

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Almonds and Cholesterol: Are Almonds Really a Heart-Healthy Snack?

It seems that many people are experiencing confusion over almonds and if they should or shouldn’t be included as part of a heart healthy diet. On one hand, almonds are reported to lower bad LDL cholesterol. On the other hand, almonds are a calorie-dense food that’s also high in fat.

Numerous studies, including one by the British Journal of Medicine, has shown convincing evidence that regular almond consumption helps lower bad LDL cholesterol. And not just any LDL, but it’s been shown to reduce the small dense LDL particles that do the most damage to your arterial walls and puts you at a much higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

So what about the question of almonds being high in fat? Over 60% of the fat content in almonds is monounsaturated fats. (This is the same type of fat that is found in olive oil.) Monounsaturated fat is widely accepted to be a key ingredient to reducing the risk of heart disease and part of a heart-healthy diet.

But the health benefits of almonds doesn’t stop with having healthy natural fat and it’s ability to lower low-density lipoproteins. Almonds pack an antioxidant punch with it’s high levels of Vitamin E. And with over 60 mg of magnesium in a quarter-cup of almonds, that’s just more good news for your heart. You see, magnesium has been shown to help improve blood flow and make things ‘easy’ on your veins and arteries. (Translation: Less stress and work for your heart.)

Concerned about adding too many calories if you start eating almonds? Truth is, almonds have been shown to be beneficial at helping aid weight loss. But if you are just a little too ‘scared’ to add more calories, do this…

Substitute almonds for other foods vs. adding almonds to your existing diet. In fact, it’s been estimated by some researchers based on date from a Nurses Health Study that replacing carbohydrates with healthy nuts like almonds may low the risk of heart disease by as much as 30%. The risk may be lowered as much as 45% if you substitute nuts with saturated fats like those founds in meat and dairy.

Looking for some ways to add almonds to your diet? Try these…

– Add almonds to your salad instead of meat or croutons
– Add to your morning cereals (hot or cold)
– Add to yogurt for a tasty crunch
– Add sliced almonds to vegetable dish (great with green beans)
– Eat with a sandwich as a crunchy substitute for chips
– Two words: Almond butter!

And not surprising, eating almond as a “whole food” is optimal for maximum health benefits. The antioxidant punch mentioned previously is more than doubled when the skins are combined with the meat of the almond, compared to either one separately.

Cottage Food Laws Making Profits From Your Kitchen

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If you search for a baking forum, several will pop up showcasing discussions about women worldwide using their home-based kitchens to bake cakes, cookies, pies, cupcakes, breads and more, all in an effort to make extra income and show-off their culinary talents. In 2002, Warren Brown, moonlighted as a cake baker, eventually leaving his job as a Washington DC lawyer to take his deliciously amazing cakes to the masses two bakeries. Today Brown has seven locations across Maryland, Virginia and the nations capitol.

Everyone knows someone who can create a delicious cake or pie; In fact, if you stroll through any community farmer’s market you will see folks selling their homemade baked goods, apple butter or heirloom candy? The ability to sell a food specialty is made possible in most United States (U.S.) communities by the existence of “cottage food laws;” a special law giving home food processors permission to make potentially non hazardous food products from the home kitchen. In the U.S., cottage food laws are different for every state so home food processor’s must check with their individual state regulatory agency to learn about specific food processing rules and food labeling requirements; while all other states may require the use of a licensed commercial kitchen.

Today eleven states currently have house bills pending, and the residents are hopeful these cottage food laws will pass bringing that much needed shot in the arm to their local economies. There is really no way of knowing how many home-based bakers and small food processors there are across America, however one thing is for certain, today the consumers desire for homemade, clean label foods with no preservatives opens the door for all food entrepreneurs ready and willing to become essential commodities in their community.

The list of states below have cottage food law legislation pending:

Arizona
HB2103 – 501R – I
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/hb2103p.htm

Arkansas
The newest state to pass a cottage food law
http://www.arkansashouse.org/public/php/pdf_viewer.php?pdf=ftp://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/2011/Public/HB1323.pdf

Maryland
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12262.html

South Dakota
South Dakota Bill (HB1240)
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/hb2103p.htm

Washington State
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2011&bill=5748

The Many Tastes of Venetian Recipes

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Traditional Venetian recipes are unique from the rest of Italy and reflect many different neighboring cultures. The foods are delicious and there are some certain recipes that stand out as being classics in Venice.

Venetian recipes often revolve around fish, which is natural given its coastal location.

Risotto with fish is a perfect example, and there are so many delicious ways to serve it. These rice dishes can be made with fish as well as other kinds of seafood, such as shrimp, mussels, prawns or even lobster. For something a little bit different, try risotto al nero di seppia which is risotto with cuttlefish ink. It’s a deep black color that you almost never seen in cuisine.

In many Venetian recipes, the fish is either fried in oil or grilled. As an appetizer or snack, you should try the sardine in saor which is a cold dish with sardines, onion, pine nuts, raisins and a dressing of oil and vinegar. It’s sweet, sour and salted all at once.

For something a little different, but still with great Venetian history, try the baccala. It’s a dried and salted codfish that was introduced to the area in the 1400s when Venetian seamen were wrecked on Norway’s Lofoten Island. They loved the fish and brought it back with them, though the specific recipes have changed over time to suit Venetian tastes.

There is more to Venetian food than just fish. With such close associations to the Middle East, you can find many meals with other meats and cheeses as well. Fegato alla veneziana is a sour and spicy dish made with liver, onions and oil and vinegar. Local vegetables are frequently used, such as artichokes, radishes and peas. Rice with peas (risi e bisi) is a well-known Venetian recipe.

If you are going out to eat, you might enjoy cicchetti which is really a term for a wide mix of finger foods that you can enjoy casually at a wine bar or local restaurant. Grilled breads, meatballs cold cuts and vegetables all make excellent cicchetti.

Venetian sandwiches are known as tramezzino, and can be found all across Italy with many variations. The base is soft white bread and mayonnaise, but the fillings can include ingredients like tomatoes, mozzarella, tuna, olives, ham, eggs, mushrooms or artichokes.

When you visit Venice, you must try at least a few of these traditional Venetian recipes while you are in the city.

Foods That Can Help You Get Pregnant Easily

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Unknown to most women, there are some foods that can help you get pregnant easily. There are actually other factors to help you get pregnant fast and food is just one of them. What you eat can actually affect how fast you will conceive. This even applies to your partner, as it takes two to tango.
New findings indicate that your diet during pregnancy could even affect your chances of having either a baby girl or boy. In fact, research has discovered that expecting mothers who often had a high-calorie diet and ate breakfast regularly had more chances of giving birth to a baby boy. Scientists are suggesting that people being too busy for breakfast and having low calorie diets these days probably influence the increasing number of girls being born in recent years.
So how can food make one get pregnant easily? To date, there is proof established yet, but there is increasing evidence on the subject. In studies, those who took multivitamins that included folic acid or iron were found to have better chances of getting pregnant. It is also found that nutrients deriving from vegetables, fruits, beans and supplements in contrast to red meat, are able to boost fertility.
Watching Weight – Experts suggest that anyone wanting to get pregnant easily should initially watch her weight. Women who have a BMI (body mass index) of 20 to 24 have the most likelihood of falling pregnant. On the other hand, women with a BMI over 24 or less than 20 have a less likelihood of conceiving. However, this definitely does not mean there’s no hope for those who do not fall in the healthy weight category. Studies indicate that any woman can jump-start ovulation by making some healthy and moderate changes in their weight.
Organic Food – So what foods can you try to get pregnant easily? There are a number of foods that are considered fertility boosting. Try to consume about 8 portions of organic fruits and vegetables each day. Go for organic when it comes to animal produce such as meat and dairy products. Consume more brown whole foods instead of white refined foods-whole foods contain more zinc, which is good for you. Moreover, you need to eat fewer portions but on a regular basis each day to maintain proper blood sugar levels in your body.
Fiber – Don’t forget your fiber, which is important in maintaining a healthy bowel and boosting fertility. Finally, eat more “good fats,” which could be taken from oily fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel. You may take fish oil supplements or eat sunflower/pumpkin seeds, as mercury levels can be high in seafood. While you’re at it, drink around 8 glass of water each day.
Foods To Avoid – While there are foods that can help you get pregnant easily, there are those that you should avoid. Avoid drinking caffeine as much as possible. Also avoid drinking alcohol. These substances are known to present a risk of infertility in women.
Choose your diet well. Food has obviously been used as a source of nutrients for our well-being. But with so many choices these days, we need to choose the right kinds of food. Eating wisely can help any woman get pregnant easily.

Smart, Stylish Pet-food Storage Solutions

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If pets had their way, they’d raid the bags containing their kibble and help themselves to an all-day feast, every day. This is hardly a desirable scenario, as it leads to obesity and digestive upset, so take care to store food where pets can’t get at it while you’re not looking.

Dogs, by the way, are not the only ones guilty of raiding bags of kibble; hungry cats have also been known to apply their claws and teeth to almost-full bags – even those heavy-duty foil models! – and help themselves to heaps of between-meal snacks.

Most pet-food storage containers are made of plastic, which is porous (so their contents are not safe from bacteria) and easily gnawed open by a large, determined dog.

Pet-supply stores sell large clips to “reseal” opened bags of kibble – but these do nothing to prevent the contents from growing stale, or permitting the entry of hungry insects.

Happily, there are much better, more sanitary ways to store large bags of opened kibble.
If there’s room in your refrigerator, stick the opened bag of kibble in there. Or, decant the contents of the bag into glass food-storage jars. These are widely available at kitchen-supply stores and online, and they come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from round to square. Some have threaded metal lids, others close with a rubber washer that securely closes with a metal clamp.

If you’d like double protection – refrigeration plus a glass jar – investigate refrigerator glassware, widely available in nesting sets, complete with convenient plastic lids. Just don’t subject glass that isn’t made for refrigerator storage to your fridge’s chilly atmosphere, or it will crack and break, and you’ll have wasted all that kibble.

In the fridge or out, glass jars keep pets and bugs away from the food, and they look quite decorative just sitting there on your kitchen counter or shelf. The good habit of transferring kibble from the bag to the jar could even inspire you to be better about putting away flour, sugar, and other bagged food items!