Friday, February 28, 2014
Lack of vitamin D can increase blood pressure
Lack of vitamin D can increase blood pressure - Levels of vitamin D in the body it has an important role on blood pressure. Because if the lack, at increased risk of hypertension or high blood pressure, according to new research.
Vitamin D itself is often erred to as the sun vitamin. Its functions include the amplifier in the immune system, maintain healthy bones and teeth, as well as maximizing the absorption of calcium.
Approximately 155 thousand people across Europe and North America are involved in research conducted by experts from University College London. According to the researchers, the higher the concentration of vitamin D in the body, blood pressure remained stable and low.
"With this study, we can say that cardiovascular disease is actually able to be prevented by keeping the intake of vitamin D," said lead researcher Dr. Vimal Karani, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
Previously, a lot of research that says that vitamin D deficiency is also capable of triggering a variety of illnesses. Such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and immune system problems.
Western citizens is identical to the problem of lack of vitamin D. Because the winter in the country they are reluctant to make the sun shine.
However, researchers confirmed that vitamin D may actually be obtained through food and not just from the sun. Examples of oily fish (salmon), eggs and liver, cereals, and milk powder.
Vitamin D itself is often erred to as the sun vitamin. Its functions include the amplifier in the immune system, maintain healthy bones and teeth, as well as maximizing the absorption of calcium.
Approximately 155 thousand people across Europe and North America are involved in research conducted by experts from University College London. According to the researchers, the higher the concentration of vitamin D in the body, blood pressure remained stable and low.
"With this study, we can say that cardiovascular disease is actually able to be prevented by keeping the intake of vitamin D," said lead researcher Dr. Vimal Karani, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
Previously, a lot of research that says that vitamin D deficiency is also capable of triggering a variety of illnesses. Such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and immune system problems.
Western citizens is identical to the problem of lack of vitamin D. Because the winter in the country they are reluctant to make the sun shine.
However, researchers confirmed that vitamin D may actually be obtained through food and not just from the sun. Examples of oily fish (salmon), eggs and liver, cereals, and milk powder.
Low levels of vitamin D are associated with mortality in older adults
Low levels of vitamin D and high levels of parathyroid hormone are associated with increased mortality in African American and Caucasian older adults, according to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Societys Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM). The study also indicates that the potential impact of remediating low vitamin D levels is greater in African Americans than Caucasians because vitamin D insufficiency is more common in African Americans.
For the past several years, there has been considerable interest in the role vitamin D plays in improving health and preventing disease. Low levels of vitamin D have been directly associated with various forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Most studies regarding the health effects of low vitamin D levels have been conducted on persons of European origin, but the current study examines the relationship between vitamin D and mortality in blacks and whites.
"We observed vitamin D insufficiency (defined as blood levels <20 ng/ml), in one third of our study participants. This was associated with nearly a 50 percent increase in the mortality rate in older adults," said Stephen B. Kritchevsky, PhD, Professor of Internal Medicine and Transitional Science at the Wake Forest School of Medicine, and lead researcher of this study. "Our findings suggest that low levels of vitamin D may be a substantial public health concern for our nations older adults."
In this study, 2,638 Caucasians and African-Americans aged 70-79 years were asked to fast for 12-hours, after which a blood sample was collected to determine levels of vitamin D. Every six months study participants were contacted to ascertain their medical condition. This study determined the proportion of deaths among participants of with different vitamin D levels. In addition to many health factors, the time of year was also taken into account due to the seasonal effects on vitamin D. Researchers found that levels of vitamin D less than 30 ng/ml were associated with significantly increased all-cause mortality.
"We all know that good nutrition is important to overall health and our study adds to a growing body of literature that underscores the importance of vitamin D and indicates that poor vitamin D nutrition is wide-spread," said Kritchevsky. "The good news is its easy to improve vitamin D status either through increased skin exposure to sunlight or through diet or supplements."
Thursday, February 27, 2014
6 An easy way to prevent cavities!
6 An easy way to prevent cavities! - There is a hurt expression that is better than a toothache. Yes, maybe toothache pain is one that makes a lot of people give up. In addition to pain, tooth decay can also cause many other problems such as bad breath odor.
Before experiencing toothache because of cavities, its good to take precautions. Here are some easy ways you can do to prevent cavities, as reported by Mag for Women.
1. Brush your teeth after eating
Brush your teeth after eating will ensure that there is no leftover food stuck to clean teeth from germs and unwanted. But remember, do not brush your teeth immediately after eating acidic foods, because it can easily make your teeth rotten. After eating acidic foods, wait half an hour before brushing your teeth.
2. Brush your teeth twice a day
You may often hear this. However, this advice really works. Do not be lazy to brush your teeth at least twice a day, when you wake up and before bed. It would be very nice if you also brush your teeth after eating, such as the above points.
3. Using dental floss
Dental floss or dental floss can help remove small particles stuck in the crevices of the teeth. This is the reason why it is very important to use dental floss to prevent cavities, especially on the parts unseen cracks in between the teeth. Usually the food is stuck in place could cause damage to two teeth at once.
4. Healthy food
Eating a healthy and nutritious diet is essential to maintaining the health and strength of teeth. Strong teeth also need nutrients such as calcium. So do not just brush your teeth , but also meet nutritional needs.
5. Stay away from foods that stick
Avoid eating foods that are likely to stick to the teeth such as caramels and other sweets. Such foods can cause major damage to the teeth and make your teeth cavities quickly.
6. Visit your doctor regularly
Do not forget to always check the teeth regularly with your doctor. Doctors can help find small holes that can be invisible when you brush your teeth. Perform regular check ups with your dentist also help prevent cavities.
Those are some easy steps that can be done to prevent cavities. Certainly better than letting prevent cavities and feel the pain. Not to mention you have to spend money to pay for dental care patch.
Before experiencing toothache because of cavities, its good to take precautions. Here are some easy ways you can do to prevent cavities, as reported by Mag for Women.
1. Brush your teeth after eating
Brush your teeth after eating will ensure that there is no leftover food stuck to clean teeth from germs and unwanted. But remember, do not brush your teeth immediately after eating acidic foods, because it can easily make your teeth rotten. After eating acidic foods, wait half an hour before brushing your teeth.
2. Brush your teeth twice a day
You may often hear this. However, this advice really works. Do not be lazy to brush your teeth at least twice a day, when you wake up and before bed. It would be very nice if you also brush your teeth after eating, such as the above points.
3. Using dental floss
Dental floss or dental floss can help remove small particles stuck in the crevices of the teeth. This is the reason why it is very important to use dental floss to prevent cavities, especially on the parts unseen cracks in between the teeth. Usually the food is stuck in place could cause damage to two teeth at once.
4. Healthy food
Eating a healthy and nutritious diet is essential to maintaining the health and strength of teeth. Strong teeth also need nutrients such as calcium. So do not just brush your teeth , but also meet nutritional needs.
5. Stay away from foods that stick
Avoid eating foods that are likely to stick to the teeth such as caramels and other sweets. Such foods can cause major damage to the teeth and make your teeth cavities quickly.
6. Visit your doctor regularly
Do not forget to always check the teeth regularly with your doctor. Doctors can help find small holes that can be invisible when you brush your teeth. Perform regular check ups with your dentist also help prevent cavities.
Those are some easy steps that can be done to prevent cavities. Certainly better than letting prevent cavities and feel the pain. Not to mention you have to spend money to pay for dental care patch.
I Waited Patiently He Inclined Unto Me and Heard My Cry
Along with millions of other Americans, the Disease Management Care Blog spent a Friday night in front of the TV, transfixed by the unfolding Boston Marathon manhunt. If it had been on the streets of Watertown, it too would have applauded the fine work of the law enforcement personnel when they successfully nabbed Mr. Tsarnaev.
But there is little to celebrate here. Two more young men were caught up in a sociopathic ideology, their victims have months of healing in front of them and Americas been reminded of just how vulnerable and tough we are.
We live in an imperfect world and will be figuratively singing this hymn a long, long time.
But there is little to celebrate here. Two more young men were caught up in a sociopathic ideology, their victims have months of healing in front of them and Americas been reminded of just how vulnerable and tough we are.
We live in an imperfect world and will be figuratively singing this hymn a long, long time.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Relying on technology caused dementia at a young age
Relying on technology caused dementia at a young age - Experts in South Korea reported the number of cases of digital dementia in adolescents and younger children. Digital dementia is a form of dementia or memory power reduction and ones brain from too reliant on technology.
The experts explained that today many young children and teenagers who are too dependent upon technology, for example to record the activity, considering the date, and the other, so that they are lazy to use brains to remember the small things. Teens are too dependent on technology known to experience a decline in cognitive abilities, as occurs in people who suffered injuries on the head or mentally ill.
"The use of smartphones and gaming equipment in excess can interfere with brain development. Heavy technology users usually have a good left brain development. However this makes them memorable and right brain does not develop at all," said Byun Gi-won, one of the doctors at the Brain Balance Centre, Seoul, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Right brain associated with concentration, memory, and the ability to focus and pay attention to something. The right brain is not growing can cause a person to develop dementia, a brain disease that makes sufferers difficulty remembering and experiencing early dementia.
Researchers emphasize that it is more influential in children and adolescents than adults because their brains are still in the development stage. This situation is most at risk for adolescents and young people aged 10-19 years who use their smartphones more than seven hours each day.
The experts explained that today many young children and teenagers who are too dependent upon technology, for example to record the activity, considering the date, and the other, so that they are lazy to use brains to remember the small things. Teens are too dependent on technology known to experience a decline in cognitive abilities, as occurs in people who suffered injuries on the head or mentally ill.
"The use of smartphones and gaming equipment in excess can interfere with brain development. Heavy technology users usually have a good left brain development. However this makes them memorable and right brain does not develop at all," said Byun Gi-won, one of the doctors at the Brain Balance Centre, Seoul, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Right brain associated with concentration, memory, and the ability to focus and pay attention to something. The right brain is not growing can cause a person to develop dementia, a brain disease that makes sufferers difficulty remembering and experiencing early dementia.
Researchers emphasize that it is more influential in children and adolescents than adults because their brains are still in the development stage. This situation is most at risk for adolescents and young people aged 10-19 years who use their smartphones more than seven hours each day.
Bitter Melon Juice May Help to Prevent and Treat Pancreatic Cancer
Bitter Melon Juice Regulates Pancreatic Metabolism to Dramatically Lower Pancreatic Cancer Risk
A group of scientists working at the Colorado University Cancer Centerin Denver have released the results of a study in the journalCarcinogenesis, demonstrating how bitter melon juice restricts the ability of pancreatic cancer cells to metabolize glucose, thus cutting the cells energy source and eventually killing them. In the past, researchers have shown that bitter melon juice kills breast cancer cells in a Petri-dish culture medium. This study provides compelling evidence that the natural extract effectively neutralizes pancreatic cancer cells.
Lead study author, Dr. Rajesh Agarwal commented “We used the juice… people especially in Asian countries are already consuming it in quantity. We show that it affects the glucose metabolism pathway to restrict energy and kill pancreatic cancer cells.” Scientists became interested in the connection between pancreatic cancer and bitter melon juice because diabetics are known to be at much higher risk of developing the disease and bitter melon has been shown to effect diabetes through centuries of use in China and India.
Limit Dietary Sugar and Monitor Body Weight to Prevent Metabolic Breakdown that Fuels Pancreatic Cancer
Using a mouse model to determine the effect of bitter melon juice on pancreatic cancer cells, the researchers found that the juice regulates insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells. After analyzing cell cultures, the team showed that mouse models of pancreatic cancer that were fed bitter melon juice were sixty percent less likely to develop the disease than controls. After a detailed examination, scientists found that bitter melon juice alters pancreatic cancer cell metabolism and activates the AMP-activated protein kinase, an enzyme that indicates low energy levels in the cells.
Noting that bitter melon juice may provide a natural treatment to pancreatic cancer that avoids the use of toxic pharmaceuticals, Dr. Agarwal concluded “Its a very exciting finding… many researchers are engineering new drugs to target cancer cells ability to supply themselves with energy, and here we have a naturally-occurring compound that may do just that.” Closely monitoring body weight and sugar intake to avoid metabolic dysfunction may help to protect against pancreatic cancer. Health-minded individuals may want to supplement with bitter melon extract (500 mg/day) to provide an added level of protection against this devastating disease.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
The Three Rules of Leftovers
It has been said that if everyone in the U.S. packed a lunch to bring to the office, we would obliterate the U.S. deficit inside of three days.
Okay, that’s a lie. But brown bagging it to work will save you, personally, a lot of money over the course of a year. Maybe not trillions, but definitely hundreds, and perhaps even thousands. Of course, buying the ingredients, finding Tupperware, taking 10-15 minutes, and actually assembling that lunch may seem a bit complicated for a $3 daily savings.
But that’s where leftovers come in. When applied caully, they can:
And to that, I proclaim, “What a bunch of hooey. Seriously now.” Leftovers are decidedly un-lame. In fact, they’re the universe’s way of saying, “Nice work with dinner last night, chief. As a reward, here’s some more of the same. And – bonus – this time, you don’t have to do as many dishes.”
The secret to successful leftover-ing is creating them intentionally. You cant look at them as an occasional bonus, but an almost-every-night inevitability. To make this easier, remember MSR:
Lets elaborate.
Make more than enough: Instead of cooking just what you need, make two or three times the amount. Never scale recipes down, even if youre cooking for one.
Save the extra: Dont throw food out. Portion it into individual serving containers and store it in your fridge or freezer. You can even portion the meal before you settle down to dinner, to ensure youll have enough for lunch tomorrow.
Repurpose it later: Most likely, youll be using the leftovers as straight-up lunches, with little or no alteration. But in some cases, you can save part of a meal to make into something entirely different later. The perfect example is Fried Rice, which uses leftover grains as a base for all-new flavors. Another example: last week, HOTUS and I ordered Mexican takeout. There wasnt much left beyond onions, peppers, and about a cup of enchilada sauce. This week, we combined them, added some pinto beans, scooped it on rice, and shredded some cheddar into the mixture for an excellent, 10-minute chili.
And thats it: MSR.
Readers, do you make leftovers intentionally? Do you consider them a vital part of your diet? How do you optimize their use? Fire away in the comment section.
~~~
If you enjoyed this article, you might also delight in:
 |
| From Flickrs Muffet |
But that’s where leftovers come in. When applied caully, they can:
- Reduce food costs, because youre not spending extra to eat out.
- Optimize the health quotient of your lunches (or any meal, really), by allowing you to control exactly what goes into your food.
- Eliminate packaging waste, since theres no need for restaurant meals.
- Decrease the time it takes you to prepare an office lunch – just pop em in your bag and go.
And to that, I proclaim, “What a bunch of hooey. Seriously now.” Leftovers are decidedly un-lame. In fact, they’re the universe’s way of saying, “Nice work with dinner last night, chief. As a reward, here’s some more of the same. And – bonus – this time, you don’t have to do as many dishes.”
The secret to successful leftover-ing is creating them intentionally. You cant look at them as an occasional bonus, but an almost-every-night inevitability. To make this easier, remember MSR:
M: Make more than enough
S: Save the extra
R: Repurpose it later
Lets elaborate.
Make more than enough: Instead of cooking just what you need, make two or three times the amount. Never scale recipes down, even if youre cooking for one.
 |
| From Flickrs Apreche |
Repurpose it later: Most likely, youll be using the leftovers as straight-up lunches, with little or no alteration. But in some cases, you can save part of a meal to make into something entirely different later. The perfect example is Fried Rice, which uses leftover grains as a base for all-new flavors. Another example: last week, HOTUS and I ordered Mexican takeout. There wasnt much left beyond onions, peppers, and about a cup of enchilada sauce. This week, we combined them, added some pinto beans, scooped it on rice, and shredded some cheddar into the mixture for an excellent, 10-minute chili.
And thats it: MSR.
Readers, do you make leftovers intentionally? Do you consider them a vital part of your diet? How do you optimize their use? Fire away in the comment section.
~~~
If you enjoyed this article, you might also delight in:
- 65 Cheap, Healthy, One-Dish Meals with Good Leftover Potential
- 156 Cheap, Healthy Recipes for Ten Common Leftover Herbs
- The Brown Bag Brigade: Your One-Stop Shop for Work Lunch Ideas
Diabetes Diet and Food tips
Diet and Food Tips for Diabetes
First of all if you are a diabetes patient the first thing you should do is to consult a doctor. You should strictly follow the guideline given by your doctor and should also take dietary precautions for diabetes as directed.Diet plays a major role in treatment of diabetes and hence it should never be taken lightly or carelessly. Dietary precaution and changes in diabetes aim to control diabetes thus a patient should abide by the guidelines provided by the doctor and dietitian. Patient may be required to make even drastic changes in diet and lifestyle but its all for good and worth it.
What is Diabetes,Diabetes symptoms, Causes and home remedies for diabetes
Food and Diet Tips for Diabetes
What to eat to beat Diabetes? (Dos for Diabetics)
Bitter-gourd (karela): It contains plant insulin which is very good for lowering blood sugar.
It can be taken in form of vegetable and also as a juice. It is considered as one of the best food for diabetics.
Flaxseed (alsi in Hindi): It is very good source of essential fatty acid (Omega-3) and has also got hight content of soluble fiber.
Food rich in soluble fiber are good food for diatetics: Potatoes, onions, legumes, Broccoli, Carrots, Barley, prunes, Apples, Oats. There many benefits of taking soluble fiber it lowers cholesterol, checks constipation, encourages release and production of pancreatic enzyme, maintains insulin functions.
Cinnamon: This sweet spice has many proven incidences of reducing blood sugar levels thus helping in controlling diabetes. It can be taken in beverages like tea and coffee, add it to cereals like oats and also in desserts like apple and banana puddings. You can also take it in form of capsules. 
Fenugreek seed (methi): They Contain amino acids (4-hydroxyisoleucine ). which stimulates the secretion of insulin from pancreas. Fenugreek seeds also helps in reducing cholesterol.What to avoid in diabetes ? (Donts for Diabetics)
Avoid following food to control diabetes
Limit the consumption of animal products like cheese, poultry with skin, ice cream and red meat etc.
Avoid eating fried and salty snacks like chips and wafers.
Dont eat highly processed food as they are low in fiber content.
Dont drink sugar based beverages replace them with green tea(also add cinnamon to it).
Dont eat food prepared with white flour choose whole grains instead.
Consider the above dos and donts in your daily diet for diabetes, this definitely will ensure that you dont raise your sugar levels.
Also Read : Natural Remedies for Type 2 Diabetes
Natural Remedies for Diabetes
Native Remedies Insulate Plus Capsules, 60-Count Bottle
Native Remedies Diabetonic, Insulate Plus and Vizu-All UltraPack
Also Read: Home Remedies for Diabetes
Monday, February 24, 2014
10 Signs dogs and cats with cancer
10 Signs dogs and cats with cancer - Not just humans that can get cancer, it can be pets, especially dogs and cats. So what kind of signs? Recognize as quoted from Care2 following.
Lumps
Not all lumps are found on the body of a dog or cat is a sign of cancer. But it never hurts to make sure it is to the vet.
Scent is not pleasant
If a dog or cat issue a foul smell from the mouth, ears, or other body parts, please check immediately.
Health conditions
Cat or dog vomit, blood, or diarrhea can be a sign of cancer. Health condition that was not fair to the veterinarian should be consulted.
Wound does not heal
If the dog or cat has a long injury recovery, meaning that pets may be exposed to infection, skin disease, or cancer.
Weight loss
Cancer also make pets lost weight drastically.
Decreased appetite
Dogs and cats will not experience a decrease in appetite for no apparent reason. Although cancer is not the only thing causing it, but consult a veterinarian is recommended.
Coughing and difficulty breathing
Coughing and breathing difficulties can be triggered by heart disease, pulmonary, and cancer.
Depression
If a cat or dog to be different, like a lot of sleep, rarely play, and looks lazy, maybe they have cancer. Because depression is also a sign of diseases including cancer.
Bowel habits
Changes in bowel movements, whether its more often, rarely, or eject blood, is a condition that needs to be wary of. Because it could be a sign of cancer.
Pain
When cats and dogs walk and hobbled look or in pain, they may be affected by arthritis or cancer - particularly bone cancer.
Thats the sign of a variety of dogs and cats with cancer. If these signs appear, please feel free to go to the vet immediately.
Lumps
Not all lumps are found on the body of a dog or cat is a sign of cancer. But it never hurts to make sure it is to the vet.
Scent is not pleasant
If a dog or cat issue a foul smell from the mouth, ears, or other body parts, please check immediately.
Health conditions
Cat or dog vomit, blood, or diarrhea can be a sign of cancer. Health condition that was not fair to the veterinarian should be consulted.
Wound does not heal
If the dog or cat has a long injury recovery, meaning that pets may be exposed to infection, skin disease, or cancer.
Weight loss
Cancer also make pets lost weight drastically.
Decreased appetite
Dogs and cats will not experience a decrease in appetite for no apparent reason. Although cancer is not the only thing causing it, but consult a veterinarian is recommended.
Coughing and difficulty breathing
Coughing and breathing difficulties can be triggered by heart disease, pulmonary, and cancer.
Depression
If a cat or dog to be different, like a lot of sleep, rarely play, and looks lazy, maybe they have cancer. Because depression is also a sign of diseases including cancer.
Bowel habits
Changes in bowel movements, whether its more often, rarely, or eject blood, is a condition that needs to be wary of. Because it could be a sign of cancer.
Pain
When cats and dogs walk and hobbled look or in pain, they may be affected by arthritis or cancer - particularly bone cancer.
Thats the sign of a variety of dogs and cats with cancer. If these signs appear, please feel free to go to the vet immediately.
The Latest Health Wonk Review Is Up!
Now that the Surpremes have retreated to chambers, its time to dial back on the constitutionality "stuff" and turn our attention to other health wonk stuff. Thats why you may want to check out David Williams Health Business Blog and its hosted postings on topics like the EHR, SGR, DNR, FFS and much much more!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Double Chocolate Zucchini Brownies
Brownies, the word itself makes my kids drool, they are great fans of brownies eventhough i bake rarely brownies coz somehow brownies for me means loads of butter. These flat,bakes squares or bars are well known for their beautiful texture between the cake and cookies. They can be either fudgy,cakey depending upon their density, i love brownies with loads of nuts.Brownies are common in lunchbox, its typically eaten with hand and often served along with milk or coffee, but my choice of serving is always with few scoops of icecream.
I tasted brownies once i landed in Paris, H and myself both had a long walk after visiting the famous white church in Paris. Then he took me to a restaurant and he ordered two brownies with icecream, when i heard the word brownies, i was bit curious but never showed that i never ate or seen that mystery brownies, once the server served us, i started with a spoon and completely fallen in love with this fudgey bars. Then later,i revealed this secret to my H and he never failed to mock me whenever i make brownies at home. A kids birthday party without a fudgy brownies, i cant imagine it and this fudgy brownies goes for double chocolate and finely grated zucchini, yea this beautiful brownies have a veggie in it, trust me you will love it..Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#27.Sending to my own event CWS-Almonds guest hosted by Preeti of Simply Tadka.
1+1/2cups All purpose flour
1/4cup Almond meal
1/2cup Zucchini (grated finely)
1/2cup Dark Chocolate chunks (chopped finely)
1/4cup White chocolate chips
2nos Eggs
1/4cup Butter
1/4cup Oil
1cup Sugar
1/tsp Baking powder
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Melt the dark chocolate chunks with some water in microwave.
Beat the butter along with oil, sugar, eggs, until the mixture turns smooth.
Add the melted dark chocolate, grated zucchini now, no need to drain the water from zucchini.
Now add the flour,almond meal and baking powder,give a stir.finally stir in the white chocolate chips, keep aside few chips to sprinkle on the top of the batter.
Grease a square baking pan, pour the batter, sprinkle the leftover white chocolate chips and bake for 25-30minutes.
Let it cool completely.
Cut as squares and serve with few scoops of vanila icecream.
I tasted brownies once i landed in Paris, H and myself both had a long walk after visiting the famous white church in Paris. Then he took me to a restaurant and he ordered two brownies with icecream, when i heard the word brownies, i was bit curious but never showed that i never ate or seen that mystery brownies, once the server served us, i started with a spoon and completely fallen in love with this fudgey bars. Then later,i revealed this secret to my H and he never failed to mock me whenever i make brownies at home. A kids birthday party without a fudgy brownies, i cant imagine it and this fudgy brownies goes for double chocolate and finely grated zucchini, yea this beautiful brownies have a veggie in it, trust me you will love it..Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#27.Sending to my own event CWS-Almonds guest hosted by Preeti of Simply Tadka.
1/4cup Almond meal
1/2cup Zucchini (grated finely)
1/2cup Dark Chocolate chunks (chopped finely)
1/4cup White chocolate chips
2nos Eggs
1/4cup Butter
1/4cup Oil
1cup Sugar
1/tsp Baking powder
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Melt the dark chocolate chunks with some water in microwave.
Beat the butter along with oil, sugar, eggs, until the mixture turns smooth.
Add the melted dark chocolate, grated zucchini now, no need to drain the water from zucchini.
Now add the flour,almond meal and baking powder,give a stir.finally stir in the white chocolate chips, keep aside few chips to sprinkle on the top of the batter.
Grease a square baking pan, pour the batter, sprinkle the leftover white chocolate chips and bake for 25-30minutes.
Let it cool completely.
Cut as squares and serve with few scoops of vanila icecream.
The Truth About Marriage What No One Ever Tells You
By the time you decide to get hitched, you may think you know your partner well. After all, you’re best friends who’ve agreed to spend the rest of your lives together.
But married life often turns out to be full of unexpected disappointments and joys.
“People are surprised that even in this most intimate relationship, there’s a lot that needs to be discovered,” says Kim Lundholm-Eades, MS, a marriage and family therapist and co-owner of CenterLife Counseling in Centerville, Minn. “There isn’t a... Spock mind meld that goes on between a couple just because they’ve gotten married.”
Here’s what relationship researchers, marriage therapists, and married couples told WebMD about what winds up surprising people most after they tie the knot.
For 24 years, Orbuch has followed 373 couples for a long-term study called the Early Years of Marriage Project. In interviews and questionnaires, the couples reported that small irritations - like never loading the dishwasher or always being late to the movies -- became big issues if they didnt talk about it.
"It’s very important to talk about what’s irritating you in a nonthreatening way and to compromise," Orbuch tells WebMD. “Don’t let these things fester."
“The most difficult part of my marriage has been dealing with our families,” Michelle, 31, a New York writer married for six years, tells WebMD in an email. She asked that her last name not be published.
“For example, my in-laws desired an instant closeness," Michelle says. "They want so much to treat me like the daughter they never had. But I feel like that would be a bit of a charade for me. Also, I think it may have hurt them at the beginning that I didn’t change my name.”
But Michelle was pleasantly surprised by her husbands effect on her own family. “He acts as a buffer at family dinners and his presence makes everyone behave better,” she says. “My parents really like him and feel comfortable with him.”
Some people are most surprised by how much their marriage is like their parents marriage.
“Couples often underestimate the role that each individuals family history plays,” says Lundholm-Eades. “They vow that their marriage will be different from their parents’ marriage, and then are surprised and often horrified by the similarities. They may argue about finances, for instance, or make failed assumptions about the division of household chores -- just like their parents did,” she says.
“This sharing is what makes it a deeper relationship. But it’s surprising how this doubling is both rewarding and more taxing,” David says.
Orbuch says the couples she studied didn’t know, when they were first married, that life would get so busy and stressful that sometimes they’d put their relationship on the back burner. “The more roles and responsibilities you take on, the less you can give to any one of them,” she says.
The couples told her they learned to make an effort to talk about something other than the kids, work, or maintaining the household. They could reconnect, even if they were stressed, by regularly talking about other important things, such as their feelings, goals, and dreams for the future.
“Look for opportunities to get excited about your partner’s successes,” says Arthur Aron, PhD, professor of social psychology at Stony Brook University. “It really strengthens the relationship. And research shows it’s even more important than supporting your partner when things go badly."
“We found that it’s so significant if you feel your partner frequently makes you feel special, cared for, and loved,” says Orbuch. “You can do this by complimenting your partner, thanking them for helping around the house, or saying simple things like: “I would still choose you if I had to do it all over again,” she says.
“I was still unhappy with my job and still had the same stresses and emotional baggage,” she says. “I didnt realize that even with a relationship that made me happy, I had to continue working on the other parts of my life. Being in love and having someones love didnt make my problems go away.”
Also, Aron notes that people are sometimes dissatisfied with their marriage when the real problem is that they’re depressed or have other problems in their life.
If you’re unhappy in your relationship, he says, it makes sense to look at how the rest of your life is going. "You can always find excuses in what the other person is doing if you’re feeling bad," Aron says.
“We’ve been through some really tough situations, like being in medical school and having a baby at the same time."
Getting through a particularly tough situation together can put things in perspective, says David Halper, MA, a marriage and family therapist and the co-owner of CenterLife Counseling in Centerville, Minn.
“When a big issue like a serious illness arises, couples often realize that their disagreements that seemed so important are really trivial,” Halper says. “And this renewed perspective can be the catalyst for a more positive, intentional relationship focused on what the couple truly values.”
But married life often turns out to be full of unexpected disappointments and joys.
“People are surprised that even in this most intimate relationship, there’s a lot that needs to be discovered,” says Kim Lundholm-Eades, MS, a marriage and family therapist and co-owner of CenterLife Counseling in Centerville, Minn. “There isn’t a... Spock mind meld that goes on between a couple just because they’ve gotten married.”
Here’s what relationship researchers, marriage therapists, and married couples told WebMD about what winds up surprising people most after they tie the knot.
You need to sweat the small stuff.
“Many couples say that what surprised them most about their marriage is that they really have to address the little things that are irritating them, which is the opposite of what you hear in the media about letting the small stuff go,” says Terri L. Orbuch, PhD, author of 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great and a research professor at the University of Michigans Institute for Social Research.For 24 years, Orbuch has followed 373 couples for a long-term study called the Early Years of Marriage Project. In interviews and questionnaires, the couples reported that small irritations - like never loading the dishwasher or always being late to the movies -- became big issues if they didnt talk about it.
"It’s very important to talk about what’s irritating you in a nonthreatening way and to compromise," Orbuch tells WebMD. “Don’t let these things fester."
Your families matter more than you think.
Once you’ve had a few holiday meals with your future in-laws, you may feel that you know how to negotiate your relationship with them. But doing so can be surprisingly hard.“The most difficult part of my marriage has been dealing with our families,” Michelle, 31, a New York writer married for six years, tells WebMD in an email. She asked that her last name not be published.
“For example, my in-laws desired an instant closeness," Michelle says. "They want so much to treat me like the daughter they never had. But I feel like that would be a bit of a charade for me. Also, I think it may have hurt them at the beginning that I didn’t change my name.”
But Michelle was pleasantly surprised by her husbands effect on her own family. “He acts as a buffer at family dinners and his presence makes everyone behave better,” she says. “My parents really like him and feel comfortable with him.”
Some people are most surprised by how much their marriage is like their parents marriage.
“Couples often underestimate the role that each individuals family history plays,” says Lundholm-Eades. “They vow that their marriage will be different from their parents’ marriage, and then are surprised and often horrified by the similarities. They may argue about finances, for instance, or make failed assumptions about the division of household chores -- just like their parents did,” she says.
Your marriage will need more juggling than you expect.
“It may seem obvious, but there is twice as much that you go through when you’re married: all the emotional ups and downs, job-related successes and anxieties, medical issues, family commitments and celebrations and conflicts - everything doubles,” David, 36, a financial strategist in New York who has been married for five years, tells WebMD in an email. He asked that his last name not be published.“This sharing is what makes it a deeper relationship. But it’s surprising how this doubling is both rewarding and more taxing,” David says.
Orbuch says the couples she studied didn’t know, when they were first married, that life would get so busy and stressful that sometimes they’d put their relationship on the back burner. “The more roles and responsibilities you take on, the less you can give to any one of them,” she says.
The couples told her they learned to make an effort to talk about something other than the kids, work, or maintaining the household. They could reconnect, even if they were stressed, by regularly talking about other important things, such as their feelings, goals, and dreams for the future.
Compliments are key.
Experts say they’ve been surprised to learn how essential it is to long-term happiness to compliment your spouse and to celebrate his or her achievements.“Look for opportunities to get excited about your partner’s successes,” says Arthur Aron, PhD, professor of social psychology at Stony Brook University. “It really strengthens the relationship. And research shows it’s even more important than supporting your partner when things go badly."
“We found that it’s so significant if you feel your partner frequently makes you feel special, cared for, and loved,” says Orbuch. “You can do this by complimenting your partner, thanking them for helping around the house, or saying simple things like: “I would still choose you if I had to do it all over again,” she says.
A good marriage won’t necessarily make you happy or fix your problems.
After the excitement of setting up house and getting married, Michelle says she was surprised to feel the same old frustrations.“I was still unhappy with my job and still had the same stresses and emotional baggage,” she says. “I didnt realize that even with a relationship that made me happy, I had to continue working on the other parts of my life. Being in love and having someones love didnt make my problems go away.”
Also, Aron notes that people are sometimes dissatisfied with their marriage when the real problem is that they’re depressed or have other problems in their life.
If you’re unhappy in your relationship, he says, it makes sense to look at how the rest of your life is going. "You can always find excuses in what the other person is doing if you’re feeling bad," Aron says.
You’ll be surprised what you can get through together.
“The fact that weve survived so many challenging situations, and somehow move on to others, is something that continues to surprise me,” Patrick, a 37-year-old Vermont dad who has been married for six years,“We’ve been through some really tough situations, like being in medical school and having a baby at the same time."
Getting through a particularly tough situation together can put things in perspective, says David Halper, MA, a marriage and family therapist and the co-owner of CenterLife Counseling in Centerville, Minn.
“When a big issue like a serious illness arises, couples often realize that their disagreements that seemed so important are really trivial,” Halper says. “And this renewed perspective can be the catalyst for a more positive, intentional relationship focused on what the couple truly values.”
Saturday, February 22, 2014
The healing herbs
Herbs have been used all over the world for ages. The use of herbal medicines and products may be more in some specific cultures or parts of the world than other but they are used almost everywhere. The Chinese system, the Ayurvedic medicines, Roman and Greek herbs. These systems are very well developed and have been around since thousands of years. Ayurveda and the Siddha system of medicine have been incorporating such plants in treating illnesses since ages.
In some developing societies these herbal medicines are perred over the modern medicines simply because they can’t afford to buy the expensive modern medicines. Even in the most developed nations people are using herbal medicine actively as alternative health care products.
We find various herbs commonly growing around us but never take much notice of them. But you will be surprised to know and learn about their therapeutic and medicinal potentials in treating common health ailments. Its time to recognize this backyard wealth of health easily found grown in our backyards and kitchen gardens and make use of it in staying healthy.
1) Neem
Neem is used as a multi purpose remedy for common ailments. Neem is believed to improve the immune system, digestive system, and respiratory functions including sprains, flu, skin diseases, heart diseases, fever, indigestion, viral infection, etc.. It can also be used to flush toxins from the body. Additionally, many people buy Neem capsules to assist with improved bowel functions.
Neem oil is used to treat a number of ailments ranging from lice to eczema, psoriasis, acne, dry skin, and irritation. Some serious health concerns like cancer, kidney diseases, sexually transmitted diseases are also claimed to be treated by neem extract.
2)Peppermint
Peppermint is carminative, relieves muscular spasms, increases sweating, stimulates secretion of bile and is an antiseptic. It’s therapeutic value lies in its ability to relieve wind, flatulence, bloating and colic. Studies indicate that it relieves colon spasms and helps to cure ulcers. Peppermint also eases headaches. Menthol, its main constituent, is known to have antibacterial properties.
3)Basil (Tulsi)
Acts as blood purifier and anti bacterial. It is effective against cough & cold. Basil enhances digestion, improves appetite & increases blood circulation. Regular consumption of the basil boosts up the immune system. The holy basil is also a herbal remedy for a lot of common ailments. Herere top fifteen medicinal uses of tulsi.
The tulsi plant has many medicinal properties. The leaves are a nerve tonic and also sharpen memory. They promote the removal of the catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tube. The leaves strengthen the stomach and induce copious perspiration. The seed of the plant are mucilaginous.
4)The Indian Gooseberry
Amla or indian gooseberry is aphrodisiac, hemostatic, carminative, stomachic, diuretic and laxative. Being nutritive, it increases red blood cells count. It is one of the highest natural resources of Vitamin C (3,000 mg / fruit).
5) Ashoka
It relieves diabetes, treats dyspepsia, diseases of the blood, tumors, abdominal enlargement, colic, piles, ulcers and bone fractures as well as diarrhea & bleeding piles. The leaves of the plant has a special blood purifying property. It also serves as an excellent uterine tonic and is very useful to treat syphilis and biliousness.
6)Green Coriander
Coriander leaves stimulate appetite and improves digestion. These are rich in magnesium, potassium & fibers. Regular consumption boosts immunity and purifies blood. Studies how their role in curing diabetes.
7)Lemon
It helps to control Blood Pressure, purifies blood, reduces swelling of the spleen & strengthens the immune system. It is rich in vitamins C, B, B2, and calcium & iron. The plant protects our body against germs and bacteria.
8)Betel leaf
Betel exhibits carminative, stimulant, astringent and aromatic properties. The leaf improves taste & appetite. Betel leaf juice is a tonic to brain, heart, liver and other internal organs. It is beneficial in improving bowel action in cases of constipation. Betel leaves juice also cures eye problems and night blindness effectively.
9)Peepal tree
It is useful in inflammations & glandular swelling of the neck. Its root bark is useful for stomatitis and in ulcers. Roots of peepal tree are good for gout. The roots when chewed are considered beneficial for treating gum diseases. Its fruit promotes digestion, checks vomiting, treats asthma & is useful in urinary troubles & heart diseases. The leaves of peepal are also used to treat constipation.
10)Bay
It has a reputation for soothing the stomach and relieving flatulence. Its leaves are known for their ability to relieve aches & pains associated with rheumatism, & for sprains, bruises, and skin rashes.
In some developing societies these herbal medicines are perred over the modern medicines simply because they can’t afford to buy the expensive modern medicines. Even in the most developed nations people are using herbal medicine actively as alternative health care products.
We find various herbs commonly growing around us but never take much notice of them. But you will be surprised to know and learn about their therapeutic and medicinal potentials in treating common health ailments. Its time to recognize this backyard wealth of health easily found grown in our backyards and kitchen gardens and make use of it in staying healthy.
1) Neem
Neem is used as a multi purpose remedy for common ailments. Neem is believed to improve the immune system, digestive system, and respiratory functions including sprains, flu, skin diseases, heart diseases, fever, indigestion, viral infection, etc.. It can also be used to flush toxins from the body. Additionally, many people buy Neem capsules to assist with improved bowel functions.
Neem oil is used to treat a number of ailments ranging from lice to eczema, psoriasis, acne, dry skin, and irritation. Some serious health concerns like cancer, kidney diseases, sexually transmitted diseases are also claimed to be treated by neem extract.
2)Peppermint
Peppermint is carminative, relieves muscular spasms, increases sweating, stimulates secretion of bile and is an antiseptic. It’s therapeutic value lies in its ability to relieve wind, flatulence, bloating and colic. Studies indicate that it relieves colon spasms and helps to cure ulcers. Peppermint also eases headaches. Menthol, its main constituent, is known to have antibacterial properties.
3)Basil (Tulsi)
Acts as blood purifier and anti bacterial. It is effective against cough & cold. Basil enhances digestion, improves appetite & increases blood circulation. Regular consumption of the basil boosts up the immune system. The holy basil is also a herbal remedy for a lot of common ailments. Herere top fifteen medicinal uses of tulsi.
The tulsi plant has many medicinal properties. The leaves are a nerve tonic and also sharpen memory. They promote the removal of the catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tube. The leaves strengthen the stomach and induce copious perspiration. The seed of the plant are mucilaginous.
4)The Indian Gooseberry
Amla or indian gooseberry is aphrodisiac, hemostatic, carminative, stomachic, diuretic and laxative. Being nutritive, it increases red blood cells count. It is one of the highest natural resources of Vitamin C (3,000 mg / fruit).
5) Ashoka
It relieves diabetes, treats dyspepsia, diseases of the blood, tumors, abdominal enlargement, colic, piles, ulcers and bone fractures as well as diarrhea & bleeding piles. The leaves of the plant has a special blood purifying property. It also serves as an excellent uterine tonic and is very useful to treat syphilis and biliousness.
6)Green Coriander
Coriander leaves stimulate appetite and improves digestion. These are rich in magnesium, potassium & fibers. Regular consumption boosts immunity and purifies blood. Studies how their role in curing diabetes.
7)Lemon
It helps to control Blood Pressure, purifies blood, reduces swelling of the spleen & strengthens the immune system. It is rich in vitamins C, B, B2, and calcium & iron. The plant protects our body against germs and bacteria.
8)Betel leaf
Betel exhibits carminative, stimulant, astringent and aromatic properties. The leaf improves taste & appetite. Betel leaf juice is a tonic to brain, heart, liver and other internal organs. It is beneficial in improving bowel action in cases of constipation. Betel leaves juice also cures eye problems and night blindness effectively.
9)Peepal tree
It is useful in inflammations & glandular swelling of the neck. Its root bark is useful for stomatitis and in ulcers. Roots of peepal tree are good for gout. The roots when chewed are considered beneficial for treating gum diseases. Its fruit promotes digestion, checks vomiting, treats asthma & is useful in urinary troubles & heart diseases. The leaves of peepal are also used to treat constipation.
10)Bay
It has a reputation for soothing the stomach and relieving flatulence. Its leaves are known for their ability to relieve aches & pains associated with rheumatism, & for sprains, bruises, and skin rashes.
Narkel Narus Bengali Coconut Laddoos
My two previous posts are with coconut as main ingredient, you guys might have noticed that. As my theme for this weeks blogging marathon is chose an ingredient and cook from 3 different cookbooks i chosed coconut as main ingredient. For my todays post, am here with a very addictive coconut laddoos from Bengali cuisine, i chosed these cute laddoos from Malini Basus Miss Masala cookbook.Traditionally this laddoos are prepared with jaggery and whole milk. Thank god i recently picked a packet of jaggery from Indian grocery, thats why i chosed to prepare this coconut laddoos for my third day of blogging marathon.
This coconut laddoos gets ready really very quick, quite an easy breezy sweet. Malini used dark muscovado sugar and condensed milk, but i prepared mine with jaggery and unsweetened condensed milk. Unsweetened condensed milk aka evaporated milk and jaggery together works pectly, this laddoos are one of the very easy sweet i have tried till now.If you need something quick as a sweet for a pooja or to serve your sudden guest, you must definitely give a try to this fabulous cuties.Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#26.Sending to 27 coupons & Swathis Traditional Indian Sweets.
2cups Fresh grated coconut
1cup Evaporated milk
1/2cup Jaggery
Take the coconut,milk and jaggery in a heavy bottomed vessel,cook everything in medium flame for 10minutes and cook in simmer until they liquid evaporates and you get a sticky,thick mixture.
Form little balls out of the slightly warm mixture with ur hand.
Place on a plate and chill it in fridge for a atleast two hours.
Beware these laddoos are quite addictive.
This coconut laddoos gets ready really very quick, quite an easy breezy sweet. Malini used dark muscovado sugar and condensed milk, but i prepared mine with jaggery and unsweetened condensed milk. Unsweetened condensed milk aka evaporated milk and jaggery together works pectly, this laddoos are one of the very easy sweet i have tried till now.If you need something quick as a sweet for a pooja or to serve your sudden guest, you must definitely give a try to this fabulous cuties.Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#26.Sending to 27 coupons & Swathis Traditional Indian Sweets.
2cups Fresh grated coconut
1cup Evaporated milk
1/2cup Jaggery
Take the coconut,milk and jaggery in a heavy bottomed vessel,cook everything in medium flame for 10minutes and cook in simmer until they liquid evaporates and you get a sticky,thick mixture.
Form little balls out of the slightly warm mixture with ur hand.
Place on a plate and chill it in fridge for a atleast two hours.
Beware these laddoos are quite addictive.
Friday, February 21, 2014
5 Causes of dry cough
5 Causes of dry cough - Cough can affect anyone, whether young children, adults, and the elderly. Common types of cough santa easily cured with medication, can even heal by itself without taking drugs. But if a dry cough, it can not be considered trivial. When dry cough attack you, you may have symptoms of a serious illness. You have to know the causes of dry cough, as reported by Mag for Women following.
1. Respiratory infections
Dry cough can by comparing respiratory infections. So if you are a dry cough not recover in one to two weeks immediately consult the doctor. Because if not handled by experts, it is likely there will be other symptoms.
2. Allergic reactions
Often allergic to something, might cause a dry cough. Signs scratchy throat and eye redness or irritation. Soon overcome your allergy so that you experience a dry cough stopped.
3. Drug side effects
Be caul when often consume drugs without a doctors prescription. Due to random drug consumption can also lead to a dry cough. Properties of several drugs (one of which is to control blood pressure) can indeed trigger a dry cough.
4. Acid lux
When eating spicy foods, the amount of stomach acid are increased. Even in some cases, acid lux or a rose in my throat. That is one of the causes of dry cough.
5. Serious illness
Final cause of dry cough is a sign of a serious illness such as cancer, heart failure, pneumonia up. Dry cough usually also accompanied by various other symptoms such as shortness of breath, blurred vision, swollen body, and other alarming conditions.
To prevent health problems arise for the other body, quickly handle your dry cough. When everything has been in the travel way but dry cough continued unabated, immediately contact your doctor skilled in the art to get proper treatment.
1. Respiratory infections
Dry cough can by comparing respiratory infections. So if you are a dry cough not recover in one to two weeks immediately consult the doctor. Because if not handled by experts, it is likely there will be other symptoms.
2. Allergic reactions
Often allergic to something, might cause a dry cough. Signs scratchy throat and eye redness or irritation. Soon overcome your allergy so that you experience a dry cough stopped.
3. Drug side effects
Be caul when often consume drugs without a doctors prescription. Due to random drug consumption can also lead to a dry cough. Properties of several drugs (one of which is to control blood pressure) can indeed trigger a dry cough.
4. Acid lux
When eating spicy foods, the amount of stomach acid are increased. Even in some cases, acid lux or a rose in my throat. That is one of the causes of dry cough.
5. Serious illness
Final cause of dry cough is a sign of a serious illness such as cancer, heart failure, pneumonia up. Dry cough usually also accompanied by various other symptoms such as shortness of breath, blurred vision, swollen body, and other alarming conditions.
To prevent health problems arise for the other body, quickly handle your dry cough. When everything has been in the travel way but dry cough continued unabated, immediately contact your doctor skilled in the art to get proper treatment.
Rendez Vous With A Foodie A New Event with Priya R of Cook Like Priya
Blogspot,the virtual mom is getting more and more new babies, obviously a four years old blogger like me is just wondering how to know all those beginners. Everyday, i can see newbies are budding here and there and am completely lost with it. Since i love to discover the other food blogs, finally i planned myself to ask few of the new food blog buddies to join their hands with me. This is how my new event was born, also we named it as Rendez Vous With A Foodie, the main motto of this event is to showcase the new food bloggers,their passions and their respective blogs.Truly i want to bring out those buddies and their blogs from their cocoon to showcase each and everyone to my fellow bloggers and followers.Every month ill be inviting two new bloggers and they will be inviting you all to their place with their wonderful guest post.Give them your supports and your encouraging words, hope this will definitely gives them more enthu to stay a long in this virtual world.
Today my first guest is Priya R of Cook like Priya, a wonderful blogger,down to earth person,a very caring and an adorable sister of me.She was kind enough to accept immediately my invitation, obviously am waiting eagerly since few days to see her guest post. Actually i didnt gave her much time to make this post for me,but honestly she was simply awesome and prepared this guest post within less than a week. I can proudly say that i love her dedication, her passion for food as well as her new baby blog here.Priya is blogging less than a year, you can find many fantabulous dishes at her place,she have a collection of wonderful South Indians foods with many beautiful bakes. Seriously you guys have to visit her space to see her recent post, she just baked a rose cake for her anniversary and it was mindblowing, if you ask her she will definitely say she is a novice baker, but trust me she makes many fantabulous baked goodies in a jiffy and once again she proved me that she bakes beautifully by sending me some meringue cookies for the guest post.
Now lets meet my first guest Priya R of Cook like Priya..
Today is a special day for me, the reason being I am the first one to do the guest post series hosted by my dear friend and fellow blogger Priya Aks called Rendez vous with a Foodie. Last week Priya aks had approached a group of newbie food bloggers to do guest posts for her famous blog Priyas Versatile Recipes aka Priyas Easy N Tasty Recipes and I jumped to it almost instantly. This series is only for new food bloggers to get to know more about them and the blogs they write and Priya aks plans to do this twice a month.
I found this as an immense honor and a superb opportunity to showcase talents from the upcoming bloggers like me. As always I wanted to share a special and favorite recipe for this series and keeping in mind the short time frame, I had planned for this Rose Meringue. Priya aks is a very lovely friend and dear sister to me, and I am so happy to get to know her through this virtual platform, she is an inspiration to me and my cooking. We talk a lot and I got to know more about her and one other reason for doing this guest post is her love for meringue cookies and the color pink. And my own surprise for her is in this post itself. Thank you aks for giving me this lovely opportunity to cook for you, your blog and readers. I hope you like my recipe..
Since 10th March 2013 is Mothers Day I planned to dedicate this post to a lovely mother of 3 Priya aks and to every mother in this world also remembering my sweet Amma at this time. Mind you Mothers Day in Europe falls in March, in India and US its in May. So since I live in London I am sending out my wishes to all the Mothers and mums to be.
1) Tell us about you and your blog?
I am Priya Ranjit and I write @ Cook like Priya, my blog is around 9 mts old. I blog about Indian, Continental and baking recipes. My roots are from Chennai, India, I started to fascinate about food and cooking only after marriage like most girls. But least did I expect to blog about my recipes, it was only through the sure motivation of my husband that I decided to do a food blog. One fine boring afternoon I logged in Blogger created a blog. Little did I know that blogging can get me addicted and fetch me tons of like-minded friends.
About me I am a friendly, easy to get along person, I love to cook, eat, draw, paint, sew,sing... my interests are endless. I always believe that I can learn even from a small child, I am open to criticism and I do get hurt when people misunderstand me. But no matter what I just be myself .
2)Before and after blogging, tell us how blogging changed your life?
Before:
- used to cook and forget recipes, never make notes of any recipe that I cook so I used to end up playing guessing games on proportions. This resulted in same curry ending up in a different flavor everytime.
After:
-Make notes of recipes and replicate every dish how I did the very first time. I not make variations with ingredients and understand what makes the curry taste good.
-I started to love my camera and internet without which God forbid my day is so boring.
- I started exploring possibilities in cooking, I learnt to bake only after starting my blog, I never knew one can bake eggless, vegan, gluten free. I used to stick only to South Indian cooking now I have learnt to explore north Indian recipes and I have some favorites too
- Learnt lots of terms/food names/recipes - gluten, zucchini, rye, vegan, foccacia... etc
- My writing skills have improved a lot, blogging has helped me nurture that aspect in me
-I have tons of lovely friends, sisters, blog buddies you name it, I have enemies too :P so my life is balanced and I enjoy, learn, share, giggle, pull legs...and so on
3)When and what motivated you to blog about food?
My husband and parents. I used to click pictures of every dish I cooked and over a time period everyone started asking me for recipes and hence wanted to share them, so thats how I started to blog.
4)There are tons of blogs/pages on food these days what according to you is the speciality of your blog and the food that you cook?
My blog has vegeterain non-vegeterain, baking, eggless bakes, breads, desserts, Indian sweets and so on. It is my collection of favorites (Indian, Chinese, Thai), Ammas recipes (south Indian) and recipes that I have learnt from other sources(baking,vegan gluten-free). I write my personal experiences, tips, tricks and also write about my struggles to a recipe.
5)When its comes to cooking, who is your inspiration?
My mom, she is by far the best cook that I have known. She cooks so many recipes and never fails to reproduce every recipe in the same taste as it was the previous time she cooks. She also cooks Chinese and north Indian recipes
6) Every newbie blogger faces tons of challenges when it comes to blogging,tell me about one of the challenges you faced and how did you overcome it? please specify with facts and details.
The first ever challenge I faced is Blogspot, since I was totally new to it, being someone who was a novice with html I struggled a lot. Later I used to google for answers and found tons of information posted in the internet that helped me build my blog to what it is today. I feel the learning has never stopped, I have a far more things I can do and every day seems like a new thing I can learn.
7)What is your best recipe and your favourite recipes you have blogged till now?
I think my best till date would be my Rose Cake which I did for our anniversary :-). Other recipes are - Caterpillar Nutella Bread, Plum Cake, Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani, Whole Tandoori Chicken,Tomato Pickle
8) Few tips about food photography?
- Good lighting (best is day light)
- Neat plating with less clutter in the name of props
- Focusing the main object food
- Clicking in different angles and choosing the best
- Using different background colors, usually depending on the food color and try to use a contrasting background
- Using a good post-processing tool(editing software)
9)What is your budget for the props,do you have any or else do you manage with your household stuffs?
I would say anything less than £5 is a good deal, as long as its versatile and would look great in pictures. I usually buy new ones and also save a few just for food pictures, this works for me.
10) How do you plan your blog post? Do you post rarely,regularly or once a week?
I make sure I post 4 times a week, although I wish I can post often. But there are some weeks where I may not post more than 2 recipes.
11) Do you have any other passion apart from food blogging or blog you own?
My hobbies and passions keep changing from time to time, as of now my mind is totally focused on my food blog, but I do want to venture into other interests like sewing and writing, which I am yet to explore.
Do accept my sweet surprise Priya aks
Rose Meringue Cookies:
Now lets meet my first guest Priya R of Cook like Priya..
Today is a special day for me, the reason being I am the first one to do the guest post series hosted by my dear friend and fellow blogger Priya Aks called Rendez vous with a Foodie. Last week Priya aks had approached a group of newbie food bloggers to do guest posts for her famous blog Priyas Versatile Recipes aka Priyas Easy N Tasty Recipes and I jumped to it almost instantly. This series is only for new food bloggers to get to know more about them and the blogs they write and Priya aks plans to do this twice a month.
I found this as an immense honor and a superb opportunity to showcase talents from the upcoming bloggers like me. As always I wanted to share a special and favorite recipe for this series and keeping in mind the short time frame, I had planned for this Rose Meringue. Priya aks is a very lovely friend and dear sister to me, and I am so happy to get to know her through this virtual platform, she is an inspiration to me and my cooking. We talk a lot and I got to know more about her and one other reason for doing this guest post is her love for meringue cookies and the color pink. And my own surprise for her is in this post itself. Thank you aks for giving me this lovely opportunity to cook for you, your blog and readers. I hope you like my recipe..
Since 10th March 2013 is Mothers Day I planned to dedicate this post to a lovely mother of 3 Priya aks and to every mother in this world also remembering my sweet Amma at this time. Mind you Mothers Day in Europe falls in March, in India and US its in May. So since I live in London I am sending out my wishes to all the Mothers and mums to be.
1) Tell us about you and your blog?
I am Priya Ranjit and I write @ Cook like Priya, my blog is around 9 mts old. I blog about Indian, Continental and baking recipes. My roots are from Chennai, India, I started to fascinate about food and cooking only after marriage like most girls. But least did I expect to blog about my recipes, it was only through the sure motivation of my husband that I decided to do a food blog. One fine boring afternoon I logged in Blogger created a blog. Little did I know that blogging can get me addicted and fetch me tons of like-minded friends.
About me I am a friendly, easy to get along person, I love to cook, eat, draw, paint, sew,sing... my interests are endless. I always believe that I can learn even from a small child, I am open to criticism and I do get hurt when people misunderstand me. But no matter what I just be myself .
2)Before and after blogging, tell us how blogging changed your life?
Before:
- used to cook and forget recipes, never make notes of any recipe that I cook so I used to end up playing guessing games on proportions. This resulted in same curry ending up in a different flavor everytime.
After:
-Make notes of recipes and replicate every dish how I did the very first time. I not make variations with ingredients and understand what makes the curry taste good.
-I started to love my camera and internet without which God forbid my day is so boring.
- I started exploring possibilities in cooking, I learnt to bake only after starting my blog, I never knew one can bake eggless, vegan, gluten free. I used to stick only to South Indian cooking now I have learnt to explore north Indian recipes and I have some favorites too
- Learnt lots of terms/food names/recipes - gluten, zucchini, rye, vegan, foccacia... etc
- My writing skills have improved a lot, blogging has helped me nurture that aspect in me
-I have tons of lovely friends, sisters, blog buddies you name it, I have enemies too :P so my life is balanced and I enjoy, learn, share, giggle, pull legs...and so on
3)When and what motivated you to blog about food?
My husband and parents. I used to click pictures of every dish I cooked and over a time period everyone started asking me for recipes and hence wanted to share them, so thats how I started to blog.
4)There are tons of blogs/pages on food these days what according to you is the speciality of your blog and the food that you cook?
My blog has vegeterain non-vegeterain, baking, eggless bakes, breads, desserts, Indian sweets and so on. It is my collection of favorites (Indian, Chinese, Thai), Ammas recipes (south Indian) and recipes that I have learnt from other sources(baking,vegan gluten-free). I write my personal experiences, tips, tricks and also write about my struggles to a recipe.
5)When its comes to cooking, who is your inspiration?
My mom, she is by far the best cook that I have known. She cooks so many recipes and never fails to reproduce every recipe in the same taste as it was the previous time she cooks. She also cooks Chinese and north Indian recipes
6) Every newbie blogger faces tons of challenges when it comes to blogging,tell me about one of the challenges you faced and how did you overcome it? please specify with facts and details.
The first ever challenge I faced is Blogspot, since I was totally new to it, being someone who was a novice with html I struggled a lot. Later I used to google for answers and found tons of information posted in the internet that helped me build my blog to what it is today. I feel the learning has never stopped, I have a far more things I can do and every day seems like a new thing I can learn.
7)What is your best recipe and your favourite recipes you have blogged till now?
I think my best till date would be my Rose Cake which I did for our anniversary :-). Other recipes are - Caterpillar Nutella Bread, Plum Cake, Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani, Whole Tandoori Chicken,Tomato Pickle
8) Few tips about food photography?
- Good lighting (best is day light)
- Neat plating with less clutter in the name of props
- Focusing the main object food
- Clicking in different angles and choosing the best
- Using different background colors, usually depending on the food color and try to use a contrasting background
- Using a good post-processing tool(editing software)
9)What is your budget for the props,do you have any or else do you manage with your household stuffs?
I would say anything less than £5 is a good deal, as long as its versatile and would look great in pictures. I usually buy new ones and also save a few just for food pictures, this works for me.
10) How do you plan your blog post? Do you post rarely,regularly or once a week?
I make sure I post 4 times a week, although I wish I can post often. But there are some weeks where I may not post more than 2 recipes.
11) Do you have any other passion apart from food blogging or blog you own?
My hobbies and passions keep changing from time to time, as of now my mind is totally focused on my food blog, but I do want to venture into other interests like sewing and writing, which I am yet to explore.
Do accept my sweet surprise Priya aks
Meringue Cookies are so light, airy, sweet and crisp that seem to just melt in your mouth. The outsides of the meringues are nice and crisp, yet the insides remain wonderfully soft and puffy, almost like mini-Pavlovas. I love to have them as they are, they also make a very nice plated dessert that you can top with whipped cream, ice cream, sorbet, and/or fresh fruit.
Makes - 25 cookies
Prep time - 20 mins
Bake time - 1.5 hrs
Ingredients:
Egg large whites - 3
Caster/ superfine sugar - 3/4 cup
Cream of tartar - 1/2 tsp
Rose essence - 1/4 tsp
Vanilla extract - 1/4 tsp
Pink liquid food color - 1 and 1/2 tsp
Method:
1)Pre-heat oven to 160 C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. You can form the cookies with a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch plain/ rosette tip,
2)In the bowl of your electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on low-medium speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat the whites until they hold soft peaks. Add the sugar, a little at a time, and continue to beat, on medium-high speed, until the meringue holds very stiff peaks. Beat in the vanilla extract.
3)Before placing the cookies on the cookie sheet, place a little of the meringue on the underside of each corner of the parchment paper. This will prevent the paper from sliding.
Transfer the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a tip, pipe them as you wish not leaving much space sice they wont spread.
4)Bake the meringues for approximately 1 1/2 hours if you have piped them in small-medium size. The meringues are done when they are pale in color and fairly crisp. (The meringues will release easily from the parchment paper.)Turn off the oven, open the door a crack, and leave the meringues in the oven to finish drying several hours.
The meringues can be covered and stored at room temperature for several days.
Cooks Wisdom:
- If you dont have superfine sugar simply take granulated white sugar and process it for about 30-60 seconds in a food processor
- If using liquid color make sure you use a lot of it, ideally its good to use gel colors, dont be like me
- The meringue is done when it holds stiff peaks and when you rub a little between your thumb and index finger it does not feel gritty. If it feels gritty the sugar has not fully dissolved so keep beating until it feels smooth between your fingers.
- The standard ratio when making hard meringues is 1/4 cup (50 grams) of granulated white sugar for every egg white
- You can also add nuts/ coconut/ sugar sprinkles on top of the meringue if you like them that way
Happy Mothers Day to all Mums and Mums to be
Hope you all enjoyed this guest post by Priya R, stay tuned friends to watch out my next guest on 20th of this month with an another wonderful blogger buddy.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Cheap Healthy Asparagus 81 Recipes for the Springiest of Spring Vegetables
Despite the snow that fell in Syracuse yesterday, spring is pretty much upon us. And along with the warming sun and astronomical pollen count comes that earliest of vegetable bloomers, asparagus.
I don’t know about you guys, but during April and May, I buy as much asparagus as humanly possible. (Perhaps an exaggeration, but you catch my drift.) Whats more, I’m always looking for different ways to prepare it. Because I loves me some roasted shoots, but after awhile, you know – variety, spice of life – all that jazz.
This may be coming a week or two early in some areas, but this compilation of 81 asparagus recipes should keep you in the culinary clear until next year. FYI, the criteria for each chosen dish were as follows:
BREAKFAST
CHG: Asparagus, Mushroom and Parmesan Frittata: Basements and Breakfast
CHG: Roasted Asparagus with Poached Egg & Parmesan
Food Network: Asparagus, Canadian Bacon, and Cheese Frittata
Use egg whites for a lighter dish.
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Asparagus and Tomato Frittata with Havarti and Dill
Sub in a few egg whites and reduce the cheese for a lighter dish.
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Breakfast Casserole with Asparagus, Mushrooms, and Cheese
Sub in a few egg whites for a lighter dish.
Real Simple: Asparagus and Soft Eggs on Toast
Use four eggs and 1/3rd of the olive oil for a lighter meal
Real Simple: Asparagus Spinach Pancakes
Halve the oil (at least) and use a nonstick skillet.
MAINS – CARNIVORE
Eating Well: Chili-Rubbed Tilapia with Asparagus and Lemon
Eating Well: Wok-Seared Chicken Tenders with Asparagus and Pistachios
Everyday Food: Chicken and Asparagus Rolls
Everyday Food: Sauteed Chicken with Asparagus and Mushrooms
RecipeZaar: Thai Rice Noodles with Chicken and Asparagus
Simply Recipes: Flank Steak Stir Fry with Asparagus and Red Peppers
MAINS – VEGETARIAN
101 Cookbooks: Asparagus Stir-Fry
101 Cookbooks: In a Hurry Green Curry
All Recipes: Asparagus and Goat Cheese Quesadillas
All Recipes: Fresh Asparagus Risotto
Cooking Light: Chili-Glazed Tofu over Asparagus and Rice
Cooking Light: Lemon Risotto with Asparagus
Everyday Food: Grilled Pizzas with Asparagus and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Use low-fat ricotta.
Everyday Food: Polenta Wedges with Asparagus and Mushrooms
FatFree Vegan Kitchen: Polenta with Lemony Asparagus and Chickpeas
RecipeZaar: Baked Asparagus Spinach Risotto
PASTA
CHG: Whole Wheat Pasta with Asparagus and Turkey Sausage
Cooking Light: Linguine with Asparagus, Parmesan, and Bacon
Cooking Light: Straw and Hay Alfredo with Roasted Asparagus
Eating Well: Creamy Asparagus Pasta
Everyday Food: Asparagus, Snap Pea, and Avocado Pasta
Everyday Food: Spaghetti with Shaved Asparagus
Real Simple: Pasta Salad with Asparagus and Lemon
SALADS - GRAINS
101 Cookbooks: Spring Tabbouleh
Reduce walnuts for a lighter dish.
101 Cookbooks: Ten-Minute Tasty Asparagus and Brown Rice
Add the dressing only as needed for a lighter dish.
All Recipes: Asparagus Cashew Rice Pilaf
All Recipes: Asparagus, Feta, and Couscous Salad
RecipeZaar: Asparagus Pilaf Rice
SALADS - VEGGIE
101 Cookbooks: Asparagus Salad
CHG: Chlorophyll and Awesomeness Salad
Epicurious: Asparagus and Mushroom Salad with Shaved Parmesan
Epicurious: Asparagus Salad with Sweet Balsamic Vinegar
Epicurious: Roasted Asparagus Salad with Tangerine Dressing
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Salad with Asparagus, Cherry Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, and Feta
Ooo … this looks good.
RecipeZaar: Strawberry Asparagus Salad
SIDES
CHG: Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter
CHG: Roasted Asparagus and Chickpeas
CHG: Steamed Asparagus
All Recipes: Asian Asparagus Salad with Pecans
All Recipes: Asparagus with Parmesan Crust
All Recipes: Baked Asparagus with Balsamic Butter Sauce
All Recipes: Cold Asparagus with Prosciutto and Lemon
All Recipes: Grilled Soy Sesame Asparagus
All Recipes: Orange Glazed Asparagus
All Recipes: Sauteed Garlic Asparagus
Cooking Light: Steamed Asparagus with Lemon-Garlic Gremolata
Cooking Light: Asparagus and Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette
Cooking Light: Mustard-Sauced Asparagus with Chopped Egg
Cooking Light: Spicy Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus
Eating Well: Asparagus with Curry Butter
Epicurious: Asparagus, Peas, and Basil
Epicurious: Proscuitto-Wrapped Asparagus with Mint Dressing
Everyday Food: Broccoli, Asparagus, and Snap Peas in Parchment
Everyday Food: Sauteed Scallions, Mushrooms, and Asparagus
FatFree Vegan Kitchen: Wasabi Roasted Asparagus
Food Network/Emeril: Garlic Roasted Asparagus
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Slow-Roasted Asparagus
Real Simple: Honey Lime Asparagus with Goat Cheese
Real Simple: Pan Roasted New Potatoes with Asparagus
RecipeZaar: Feta Asparagus
RecipeZaar: Foil Baked Asparagus
RecipeZaar: Guilt-Free Guacamole (Asparagus)
RecipeZaar: Ginger Sesame Asparagus
RecipeZaar: Roasted Asparagus with Sage and Lemon Butter
RecipeZaar: Sauteed Asparagus with Red Peppers and Olives
RecipeZaar: Sugared Asparagus
RecipeZaar: Apricot-Glazed Roasted Asparagus
RecipeZaar: Asparagus with Thyme
RecipeZaar: Asparagus Provencal
Stephen Cooks: Grilled Asparagus a la Sutherland
SOUPS
All Recipes: Fresh Asparagus Soup
RecipeZaar: Asparagus Orzo Soup
Simply Recipes: Creamy Asparagus Soup
Reduce some of the cream for a lighter soup.
Yum Sugar: Easy Cream-less Asparagus Soup
And that’s it. Any good recipes you know about, sweet readers? Add ‘em in the comments
~~~
If you like this article, you might also find the following pretty useful:
I don’t know about you guys, but during April and May, I buy as much asparagus as humanly possible. (Perhaps an exaggeration, but you catch my drift.) Whats more, I’m always looking for different ways to prepare it. Because I loves me some roasted shoots, but after awhile, you know – variety, spice of life – all that jazz.
This may be coming a week or two early in some areas, but this compilation of 81 asparagus recipes should keep you in the culinary clear until next year. FYI, the criteria for each chosen dish were as follows:
- It had to include inexpensive, easy-to-find ingredients.
- It had to be healthy according to how we usually do it on this blog. Meaning: mostly made up of whole food ingredients, lower in fat and calories, high in vitamins in minerals, etc.
- If it came from an aggregate recipe site (Cooking Light, All Recipes, etc.), it had to have had a high approval rating from reviewers. If it came from a food blog, I just trust it. We’re trustworthy people, see.
- No Cream of Anything soup or mayonnaise. Because I hate them.
BREAKFAST
CHG: Asparagus, Mushroom and Parmesan Frittata: Basements and Breakfast
CHG: Roasted Asparagus with Poached Egg & ParmesanFood Network: Asparagus, Canadian Bacon, and Cheese Frittata
Use egg whites for a lighter dish.
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Asparagus and Tomato Frittata with Havarti and Dill
Sub in a few egg whites and reduce the cheese for a lighter dish.
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Breakfast Casserole with Asparagus, Mushrooms, and Cheese
Sub in a few egg whites for a lighter dish.
Real Simple: Asparagus and Soft Eggs on Toast
Use four eggs and 1/3rd of the olive oil for a lighter meal
Real Simple: Asparagus Spinach Pancakes
Halve the oil (at least) and use a nonstick skillet.
MAINS – CARNIVORE
Eating Well: Chili-Rubbed Tilapia with Asparagus and Lemon
Eating Well: Wok-Seared Chicken Tenders with Asparagus and Pistachios
Everyday Food: Chicken and Asparagus Rolls
Everyday Food: Sauteed Chicken with Asparagus and Mushrooms
RecipeZaar: Thai Rice Noodles with Chicken and Asparagus
Simply Recipes: Flank Steak Stir Fry with Asparagus and Red Peppers
MAINS – VEGETARIAN
101 Cookbooks: Asparagus Stir-Fry
101 Cookbooks: In a Hurry Green Curry
All Recipes: Asparagus and Goat Cheese Quesadillas
All Recipes: Fresh Asparagus Risotto
Cooking Light: Chili-Glazed Tofu over Asparagus and Rice
Cooking Light: Lemon Risotto with Asparagus
Everyday Food: Grilled Pizzas with Asparagus and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Use low-fat ricotta.
Everyday Food: Polenta Wedges with Asparagus and Mushrooms
FatFree Vegan Kitchen: Polenta with Lemony Asparagus and Chickpeas
RecipeZaar: Baked Asparagus Spinach Risotto
PASTA
CHG: Whole Wheat Pasta with Asparagus and Turkey Sausage
Cooking Light: Linguine with Asparagus, Parmesan, and Bacon
Cooking Light: Straw and Hay Alfredo with Roasted Asparagus
Eating Well: Creamy Asparagus PastaEveryday Food: Asparagus, Snap Pea, and Avocado Pasta
Everyday Food: Spaghetti with Shaved Asparagus
Real Simple: Pasta Salad with Asparagus and Lemon
SALADS - GRAINS
101 Cookbooks: Spring Tabbouleh
Reduce walnuts for a lighter dish.
101 Cookbooks: Ten-Minute Tasty Asparagus and Brown Rice
Add the dressing only as needed for a lighter dish.
All Recipes: Asparagus Cashew Rice Pilaf
All Recipes: Asparagus, Feta, and Couscous Salad
RecipeZaar: Asparagus Pilaf Rice
SALADS - VEGGIE
101 Cookbooks: Asparagus Salad
CHG: Chlorophyll and Awesomeness Salad
Epicurious: Asparagus and Mushroom Salad with Shaved Parmesan
Epicurious: Asparagus Salad with Sweet Balsamic Vinegar
Epicurious: Roasted Asparagus Salad with Tangerine Dressing
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Salad with Asparagus, Cherry Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, and Feta
Ooo … this looks good.
RecipeZaar: Strawberry Asparagus Salad
SIDES
CHG: Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter
CHG: Roasted Asparagus and Chickpeas
CHG: Steamed Asparagus
All Recipes: Asian Asparagus Salad with Pecans
All Recipes: Asparagus with Parmesan Crust
All Recipes: Baked Asparagus with Balsamic Butter Sauce
All Recipes: Cold Asparagus with Prosciutto and Lemon
All Recipes: Grilled Soy Sesame Asparagus
All Recipes: Orange Glazed Asparagus
All Recipes: Sauteed Garlic Asparagus
Cooking Light: Steamed Asparagus with Lemon-Garlic Gremolata
Cooking Light: Asparagus and Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette
Cooking Light: Mustard-Sauced Asparagus with Chopped Egg
Cooking Light: Spicy Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus
Eating Well: Asparagus with Curry Butter
Epicurious: Asparagus, Peas, and Basil
Epicurious: Proscuitto-Wrapped Asparagus with Mint Dressing
Everyday Food: Broccoli, Asparagus, and Snap Peas in Parchment
Everyday Food: Sauteed Scallions, Mushrooms, and Asparagus
FatFree Vegan Kitchen: Wasabi Roasted Asparagus
Food Network/Emeril: Garlic Roasted Asparagus
Kalyn’s Kitchen: Slow-Roasted Asparagus
Real Simple: Honey Lime Asparagus with Goat Cheese
Real Simple: Pan Roasted New Potatoes with Asparagus
RecipeZaar: Feta Asparagus
RecipeZaar: Foil Baked Asparagus
RecipeZaar: Guilt-Free Guacamole (Asparagus)
RecipeZaar: Ginger Sesame Asparagus
RecipeZaar: Roasted Asparagus with Sage and Lemon Butter
RecipeZaar: Sauteed Asparagus with Red Peppers and Olives
RecipeZaar: Sugared Asparagus
RecipeZaar: Apricot-Glazed Roasted Asparagus
RecipeZaar: Asparagus with Thyme
RecipeZaar: Asparagus Provencal
Stephen Cooks: Grilled Asparagus a la Sutherland
SOUPS
All Recipes: Fresh Asparagus Soup
RecipeZaar: Asparagus Orzo Soup
Simply Recipes: Creamy Asparagus Soup
Reduce some of the cream for a lighter soup.
Yum Sugar: Easy Cream-less Asparagus Soup
And that’s it. Any good recipes you know about, sweet readers? Add ‘em in the comments
~~~
If you like this article, you might also find the following pretty useful:
- 156 Cheap, Healthy Recipes for Ten Common Leftover Herbs
- Cheap, Healthy Leafy Greens: 246 Recipes for Cabbage, Kale, Spinach, Swiss Chard, and Beyond
- Cheap, Healthy Salad Dressing: 102 Light Recipes
Proper diet for asthma sufferers
Proper diet for asthma sufferers - People with asthma who eat a diet low in fat and high in fiber have a great chance heal more than that enjoyed a less healthy diet, according to new research.
In the study, patients with acute asthma were asked to consume each of five grams of fat and fiber every day. Their conditions were then compared with healthy people.
As a result, each 10 gram increase in daily fat intake, people with asthma increased by 48 percent.
"The existence of this study can be used as dietary guidelines for people with asthma. They need to reduce fat intake and increase fiber rations to relieve his condition," said researcher Bronwyn Berthon from the University of Newcastle in Australia.
Berthon also said that this study only shows a relationship, not a cause and effect between diet and asthma.
As reported by Live Science, there are 137 people with asthma and 65 healthy respondents involved in this study. They were asked to fill out questionnaires, blood test, and daily consumption of fat and fiber.
The results are then reported in the journal Respirology.
In the study, patients with acute asthma were asked to consume each of five grams of fat and fiber every day. Their conditions were then compared with healthy people.
As a result, each 10 gram increase in daily fat intake, people with asthma increased by 48 percent.
"The existence of this study can be used as dietary guidelines for people with asthma. They need to reduce fat intake and increase fiber rations to relieve his condition," said researcher Bronwyn Berthon from the University of Newcastle in Australia.
Berthon also said that this study only shows a relationship, not a cause and effect between diet and asthma.
As reported by Live Science, there are 137 people with asthma and 65 healthy respondents involved in this study. They were asked to fill out questionnaires, blood test, and daily consumption of fat and fiber.
The results are then reported in the journal Respirology.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Probiotics reduce stress induced intestinal flare ups
For those with irritable bowel syndrome who wonder if stress aggravates their intestinal disorder, a new University of Michigan Health System study shows its not all in their head.
Researchers revealed that while stress does not cause IBS, it does alter brain-gut interactions and induces the intestinal inflammation that often leads to severe or chronic belly pain, loss of appetite and diarrhea.
Stress has a way of suppressing an important component called an inflammasome which is needed to maintain normal gut microbiota, but probiotics reversed the effect in animal models, according to findings published online ahead of print in Gastroenterology.
"The effect of stress could be protected with probiotics which reversed the inhibition of the inflammasome," says senior study author and gastroenterologist John Y. Kao, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan. "This study reveals an important mechanism for explaining why treating IBS patients with probiotics makes sense."
Probiotics are live bacteria that help grow the gut-dwelling "good" bacteria that keep pathogens in check, aid digestion and nutrient absorption and contribute to immune function.
U-M researchers including Chung Owyang, M.D., chief of the U-M Division of Gastroenterology, Gary Huffnagle, Ph.D., professor of pulmonary and critical care, and infectious disease expert Vincent Young, M.D., Ph.D., were able to identify the way stress significantly altered the composition of gut bacteria and the role of probiotics.
Maintaining healthy microbiota requires action by nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein-like receptors, pyrin-domain containing (NLRP)-6 inflammasomes. But when stressed, mice produced corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) that prevented inflammasomes from doing their job.
Inhibiting inflammosomes alters the composition of the gut, leading to intestinal inflammation. In the study, pretreatment with probiotic therapy reduced inflammation in mice with stress-induced small bowel inflammation.
"Additional clinical study is required to determine the optimal probiotic therapy," says Kao. "Patients can start living healthier lifestyles to improve their gut microbiota such as adding more fruits and vegetables to their diet, and looking for ways to keep stress in check."
4 Benefits cry for health
4 Benefits cry for health - Cry and shed tears so many causes, eg sadness, pain and so forth. If you do not want to cry in resistant-resistant, because crying is a lot of benefits for health. Like what are the benefits? Here are 4 benefits of crying as quoted Mag for Women.
1. Remove toxins
Did you know that when we cry toxins can get out of tears, and of crying and tears will make the eyes so healthy. Because the toxin is issued when there is also harmful to eye health.
2. Atrengthen self-
Crying can be regarded as a form of exercise for the soul. Because let out all the negative emotions through crying so much better than keep it to myself. Cried like a sport for the feeling that one moment when he was in a similar position, could be stronger and stronger.
3. Relaxes
Many people claim that crying makes them more relieved. Why so? Crying because apparently makes the body to release endorphins which are the body to relieve pain. So with tears, auto body and mind become more relaxed.
4. Healthy heart
A study never mentions that expresses the pain at low risk for heart disease. Theore, no need to hold back when you want to cry because crying turned out to be heart healthy.
Although crying is very beneficial to health, it does not mean you cry all the time without cause and effect. Thats 4 cry for health benefits, so do not be ashamed to cry again and hold. Good work!
1. Remove toxins
Did you know that when we cry toxins can get out of tears, and of crying and tears will make the eyes so healthy. Because the toxin is issued when there is also harmful to eye health.
2. Atrengthen self-
Crying can be regarded as a form of exercise for the soul. Because let out all the negative emotions through crying so much better than keep it to myself. Cried like a sport for the feeling that one moment when he was in a similar position, could be stronger and stronger.
3. Relaxes
Many people claim that crying makes them more relieved. Why so? Crying because apparently makes the body to release endorphins which are the body to relieve pain. So with tears, auto body and mind become more relaxed.
4. Healthy heart
A study never mentions that expresses the pain at low risk for heart disease. Theore, no need to hold back when you want to cry because crying turned out to be heart healthy.
Although crying is very beneficial to health, it does not mean you cry all the time without cause and effect. Thats 4 cry for health benefits, so do not be ashamed to cry again and hold. Good work!
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Malaria Kills 1 2 Million People Each Year
Malaria Kills 1.2 Million People Each Year - Each year, approximately 1.2 million people worldwide die of malaria. According to the latest data as published in the British medical journal, The Lancet. The figures quoted were much higher than WHO estimates that 655 000 in 2010.
Difference is partly because the amount of the researchers are now using a more extensive data and more reliable, including using a technique called "verbal autopsy". Through this technique the researchers interviewed family members who had recently died. In many poor countries are low health infrastructure, pretty much the death of an unidentified cause.
Even so, both the WHO or the Lancet data showed a decrease in the number of global deaths due to diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.
Global mortality due to malaria disease had increased from 995 000 in 1980 and reached its peak in 2004 which reached 1.82 million, then fell back to 1.24 million in 2010.
Increased mortality in 2004 is partly due to the increased population at high risk of malaria, while the reduction achieved in 2010 because of rapid malaria control efforts in Africa that many funded by international donors.
One of the most active donors today are Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, RBM, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis. In addition to expanding access to treatment, provision of mosquito nets are also effective for preventing mosquito bites.
From the latest data also revealed deaths from Malaria, Malaria also occurs in children and adults. In 2010, approximately 42 percent of deaths occur in children aged over 5 years to over 15 years.
Difference is partly because the amount of the researchers are now using a more extensive data and more reliable, including using a technique called "verbal autopsy". Through this technique the researchers interviewed family members who had recently died. In many poor countries are low health infrastructure, pretty much the death of an unidentified cause.
Even so, both the WHO or the Lancet data showed a decrease in the number of global deaths due to diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.
Global mortality due to malaria disease had increased from 995 000 in 1980 and reached its peak in 2004 which reached 1.82 million, then fell back to 1.24 million in 2010.
Increased mortality in 2004 is partly due to the increased population at high risk of malaria, while the reduction achieved in 2010 because of rapid malaria control efforts in Africa that many funded by international donors.
One of the most active donors today are Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, RBM, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis. In addition to expanding access to treatment, provision of mosquito nets are also effective for preventing mosquito bites.
From the latest data also revealed deaths from Malaria, Malaria also occurs in children and adults. In 2010, approximately 42 percent of deaths occur in children aged over 5 years to over 15 years.
Pacifier avoid sudden infant death syndrome
Using a pacifiers may protect infants from sudden death syndrome, according to new research.
In detail, the newborn is given a pacifiers has a small risk of dying from sudden death syndrome. Because the presence of cardiac pacifiers to control infants.
In addition, researchers from the Monash Institute of Medical Research, Clayton found that the protection of the pacifiers will still be felt baby pacifiers fell out of his mouth even when he sleeps.
"Sudden death syndrome may be caused by the failure of the baby to wake up from sleep when breathing stops or drastically reduced blood pressure," said Professor Rosemary Horne, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, the baby sucking on a pacifier can make it easier waking from sleep or improve cardiac control - the ability to regulate the heartbeat.
Researchers then included 37 healthy infants to be analyzed when they are napping. Researchers found that babies who suck pacifiers does have a diverse variety of heart rate. It is a sign of cardiac system responds to blood pressure in infants.
The condition persists even though the baby is not really suck pacifier.
Researchers actually do not quite understand why the pacifiers can control cardiac baby. In addition, there is a lot of positive evidence about the use of baby pacifiers. For example, infants should not be given a pacifiers before breastfeeding is completely stable - when the baby is one month old. Then the use of pacifiers should be stopped when the baby is between the ages of 6-12 months.
Sudden death syndrome usually occurs in infants, even though a healthy condition. Premature babies or low birth weight infants most at risk of developing the syndrome. Most occur at night and are rarely exact cause is unknown.
In detail, the newborn is given a pacifiers has a small risk of dying from sudden death syndrome. Because the presence of cardiac pacifiers to control infants.
In addition, researchers from the Monash Institute of Medical Research, Clayton found that the protection of the pacifiers will still be felt baby pacifiers fell out of his mouth even when he sleeps.
"Sudden death syndrome may be caused by the failure of the baby to wake up from sleep when breathing stops or drastically reduced blood pressure," said Professor Rosemary Horne, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, the baby sucking on a pacifier can make it easier waking from sleep or improve cardiac control - the ability to regulate the heartbeat.
Researchers then included 37 healthy infants to be analyzed when they are napping. Researchers found that babies who suck pacifiers does have a diverse variety of heart rate. It is a sign of cardiac system responds to blood pressure in infants.
The condition persists even though the baby is not really suck pacifier.
Researchers actually do not quite understand why the pacifiers can control cardiac baby. In addition, there is a lot of positive evidence about the use of baby pacifiers. For example, infants should not be given a pacifiers before breastfeeding is completely stable - when the baby is one month old. Then the use of pacifiers should be stopped when the baby is between the ages of 6-12 months.
Sudden death syndrome usually occurs in infants, even though a healthy condition. Premature babies or low birth weight infants most at risk of developing the syndrome. Most occur at night and are rarely exact cause is unknown.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Is U S Health Care Really THAT Bad
Is American health care that awful? Listen to the pundits and its easy to believe that other developed nations are blessed with 24-7 access to primary care, minimum out-of-pocket expenses and highly integrated electronic record systems and information sharing.
Cathy Schoen and colleagues from the Commonwealth Fund and Harris Interactive say its not quite that simple. While the U.S. system could be better and cheaper, there were some areas where is wasnt all that bad.
Their article was published in the December 12 issue of Health Affairs.
The authors conducted follow-up mail and phone interviews of primary care physicians from ten developed countries* who had previously participated in a 2009 quality survey. Physicians were asked about topics that included their patients access to care, use of health information technology (HIT) and satisfaction with medical practice. Sample sizes of interviewees from each country ranged from 500 to 2000 and response rates ranged from a low of 20% (Germany) to 48% (Netherlands).
Among the more interesting findings:
The majority of Dutch, French, German And Swiss docs are in clinics with 2 or fewer physicians.
86% of respondents from France said most patients can obtain same day access vs. 22% in Canada. The U.S. rate was 47%, which was higher than Norway and Australia.
The Netherlands (94%) and New Zealand (90%) led the way in access to after-hours care. The U.S. rate was the lowest at 34%.
59% of U.S. physicians said their patients had difficulty paying for health care. At the same time, only 28% had long waits to see a specialist. In Canada, the rates were 25% (payment) and 73% (specialists), respectively. In Norway, 4% had difficulty paying but 60% had long waits for specialists.
Nearly all physicians in Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom use electronic records. The U.S. rate was 69%, while in Switzerland, Canada and France its 41%, 56% and 67%, respectively.
The top four countries reporting that they had "engaged" a nurse case manager were the United Kingdom (78%), the Netherlands (73%), New Zealand (68%) and Switzerland (68%). The rates in Canada, the U.S and Germany were 44%, 43% and 20%, respectively.
Transfer of information about an emergency room visit or a hospital discharged occurred less than half the time in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, United States, Norway and the United Kingdom.
DMCB takeaways:
If other developed nations are role models for the U.S., large clinic systems are not necessarily the way to go.
There may be an inverse correlation between patients ability to pay for care and access to specialist care.
The U.S. is in the middle of the pack when it comes to EHR use.
Nurse-led care manage is not uncommon overseas and a 43% rate in the U.S. is higher than generally realized.
Timely transmittal of emergency room and hospital discharge information seems to be a problem everywhere.
*Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, United States, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom
Cathy Schoen and colleagues from the Commonwealth Fund and Harris Interactive say its not quite that simple. While the U.S. system could be better and cheaper, there were some areas where is wasnt all that bad.
Their article was published in the December 12 issue of Health Affairs.
The authors conducted follow-up mail and phone interviews of primary care physicians from ten developed countries* who had previously participated in a 2009 quality survey. Physicians were asked about topics that included their patients access to care, use of health information technology (HIT) and satisfaction with medical practice. Sample sizes of interviewees from each country ranged from 500 to 2000 and response rates ranged from a low of 20% (Germany) to 48% (Netherlands).
Among the more interesting findings:
The majority of Dutch, French, German And Swiss docs are in clinics with 2 or fewer physicians.
86% of respondents from France said most patients can obtain same day access vs. 22% in Canada. The U.S. rate was 47%, which was higher than Norway and Australia.
The Netherlands (94%) and New Zealand (90%) led the way in access to after-hours care. The U.S. rate was the lowest at 34%.
59% of U.S. physicians said their patients had difficulty paying for health care. At the same time, only 28% had long waits to see a specialist. In Canada, the rates were 25% (payment) and 73% (specialists), respectively. In Norway, 4% had difficulty paying but 60% had long waits for specialists.
Nearly all physicians in Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom use electronic records. The U.S. rate was 69%, while in Switzerland, Canada and France its 41%, 56% and 67%, respectively.
The top four countries reporting that they had "engaged" a nurse case manager were the United Kingdom (78%), the Netherlands (73%), New Zealand (68%) and Switzerland (68%). The rates in Canada, the U.S and Germany were 44%, 43% and 20%, respectively.
Transfer of information about an emergency room visit or a hospital discharged occurred less than half the time in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, United States, Norway and the United Kingdom.
DMCB takeaways:
If other developed nations are role models for the U.S., large clinic systems are not necessarily the way to go.
There may be an inverse correlation between patients ability to pay for care and access to specialist care.
The U.S. is in the middle of the pack when it comes to EHR use.
Nurse-led care manage is not uncommon overseas and a 43% rate in the U.S. is higher than generally realized.
Timely transmittal of emergency room and hospital discharge information seems to be a problem everywhere.
*Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, United States, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom
Dozens benefits of breakfast oatmeal every day
Dozens benefits of breakfast oatmeal every day - Oatmeal is not only rich in fiber and nutritious supply energy to the body, but also gave dozens of benefits if you eat them every day as a breakfast menu. What is it? Check out more as reported by the Health Me Up below.
Immune system
Oatmeal contains fiber called beta glucan which is known to fight viruses, bacteria, and parasites. So eat oatmeal with improving the bodys immune system.
Weight
Because high-fiber, the process was slow digesting oatmeal. Theore oatmeal make a full stomach durable and able to help the weight loss process.
Digestion
Constipation? Try eating oatmeal every day as a breakfast menu. Besides being able to maintain a healthy weight, eating oatmeal also helps digestion.
Diabetes
Diabetics are also advised to eat oatmeal. Because oatmeal has a property to absorb excess sugar in the body due to the action of insulin is problematic.
High blood pressure
Eating oatmeal every day can reduce high blood pressure. Even if allowed by your doctor, oatmeal consumption may help control blood pressure without medication.
Asthma
Studies suggest that consumption of oatmeal can lower the risk of childhood asthma. In the same study, oatmeal is eaten with fish are also efficacious in preventing inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose.
Cholesterol
Fiber in oatmeal has a special effect on cholesterol, which lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. Maintain cardiovascular health so if often eat oatmeal every day.
Cancer
Oatmeal contains antioxidants that counteract free radicals. At least consumption of oatmeal can prevent breast cancer, small intestine, and colon.
Libido
If you feel sexual desire is declining, try eating oatmeal. Because the composition of the oatmeal is also effective in balancing the hormones testosterone and estrogen levels that increase libido.
Skin
Looking for a natural way to nourish the skin? Besides edible, oatmeal can also be used as a natural mask recipe. Oatmeal mask is best used for skin itchy, dry, and irritated.
Drunk alcohol
Waking up in the morning with a hangover headache is not fun. Try to correct it with a breakfast of oatmeal every morning.
Mood
Some foods can make a bad mood. But not with oatmeal. Breakfast is oatmeal that contains vitamin B6 makes the body relax and improve a bad mood.
That dozens of health benefits of oatmeal breakfast every day. Enjoy regular oatmeal and get the health benefits to your body.
Immune system
Oatmeal contains fiber called beta glucan which is known to fight viruses, bacteria, and parasites. So eat oatmeal with improving the bodys immune system.
Weight
Because high-fiber, the process was slow digesting oatmeal. Theore oatmeal make a full stomach durable and able to help the weight loss process.
Digestion
Constipation? Try eating oatmeal every day as a breakfast menu. Besides being able to maintain a healthy weight, eating oatmeal also helps digestion.
Diabetes
Diabetics are also advised to eat oatmeal. Because oatmeal has a property to absorb excess sugar in the body due to the action of insulin is problematic.
High blood pressure
Eating oatmeal every day can reduce high blood pressure. Even if allowed by your doctor, oatmeal consumption may help control blood pressure without medication.
Asthma
Studies suggest that consumption of oatmeal can lower the risk of childhood asthma. In the same study, oatmeal is eaten with fish are also efficacious in preventing inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose.
Cholesterol
Fiber in oatmeal has a special effect on cholesterol, which lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. Maintain cardiovascular health so if often eat oatmeal every day.
Cancer
Oatmeal contains antioxidants that counteract free radicals. At least consumption of oatmeal can prevent breast cancer, small intestine, and colon.
Libido
If you feel sexual desire is declining, try eating oatmeal. Because the composition of the oatmeal is also effective in balancing the hormones testosterone and estrogen levels that increase libido.
Skin
Looking for a natural way to nourish the skin? Besides edible, oatmeal can also be used as a natural mask recipe. Oatmeal mask is best used for skin itchy, dry, and irritated.
Drunk alcohol
Waking up in the morning with a hangover headache is not fun. Try to correct it with a breakfast of oatmeal every morning.
Mood
Some foods can make a bad mood. But not with oatmeal. Breakfast is oatmeal that contains vitamin B6 makes the body relax and improve a bad mood.
That dozens of health benefits of oatmeal breakfast every day. Enjoy regular oatmeal and get the health benefits to your body.
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