South Korea Saturday reported its first case of swine flu after Hong Kong said a man who flew from Mexico had the disease, in Asia's first confirmed cases as the virus continues its global spread.
But health authorities said the world appeared better prepared to fight an epidemic than a few years ago, and vowed that a vaccine was only months away.
Confirmation by Hong Kong authorities Friday that a traveller who arrived from Mexico, via Shanghai, had tested positive for A(H1N1) flu virus saw an entire hotel quarantined.
And in South Korea, authorities Saturday confirmed the country's first case, involving a a 51-year-old woman who returned from Mexico Sunday.
The Hong Kong case sent shivers through the territory as thousands donned masks in an echo of the 2003 SARS crisis.
China responded quickly, saying it was to put all passengers on the flight from Mexico to Shanghai under quarantine and that flights from Mexico to the city were being suspended. Denmark and France joined the list of countries reporting their first cases.
But in a sign that authorities may be containing the spread of the disease, Mexico, which has been at the epicentre of the outbreak, said the new, multi-strain virus appeared not to be as aggressive as had first been feared.
Mexico's government late Friday raised its confirmed toll of flu cases to 16 dead and 381 infected.
"Fortunately, the virus is not so aggressive -- it's not a case of avian flu, which had a mortality rate of nearly 70 percent," Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova earlier told reporters.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang was taking no chances, however, in this densely populated, sub-tropical territory, saying he would "raise the alert level from serious to emergency."
China "has asked health authorities in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong to immediately put passengers on flight AM098... under quarantine and a seven-day medical observation," the health ministry said on its website.
And Xinhua news agency reported Beijing was shutting down flights between Mexico and Shanghai.
Xinhua reported that China had notified the Mexican government and airlines about the decision, adding Beijing may send a charter plane to Mexico to collect "Chinese passengers who had planned to fly to Shanghai from the city of Mexico on May 3."
Meanwhile, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDCP) said in a statement: "Test results have confirmed the first probable patient, whose case was reported on Monday, was infected with Influenza A (H1N1)."
The woman, reportedly a nun, who returned from Mexico Sunday, has been responding well to treatment and is expected to be discharged from hospital Monday, health officials said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that a pandemic is now imminent, raising its alert level to five out of six, but a senior official at the UN agency said a vaccine was in the pipeline.
"We have no doubt that making a successful vaccine is possible in a relatively short period of time," Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research said, adding it may take four to six months.
With 143 infections confirmed in the United States across 20 states, US officials also said the outbreak did not appear to be anywhere near as dangerous as the 1918 flu epidemic, killing an estimated 50 million people around the globe.
"We do not see the markers for virulence that were seen in the 1918 virus," Nancy Cox, the chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) influenza division, told reporters.
The head of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) added her voice to global reassurances, saying Latin America was better prepared to handle today's outbreak than five years ago, when avian flu struck.
Spain, meanwhile, reported that its number of suspected swine flu cases appeared to have stabilised as the figures dropped to 108 from 116. There are so far 13 confirmed cases in the country.
Among the latest cases revealed was that of a nurse in Germany who had treated a patient with the disease, but had not been to Mexico.
Scottish authorities also confirmed the first case of swine flu in Britain involving someone who had not recently travelled to Mexico.
And in France Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said the country's first two cases of swine flu had been confirmed.
Most cases outside Mexico have involved only mild symptoms of the illness that can be easily treated with existing flu medicines, and some experts have suggested the virus may have weakened as it was carried outside the country.
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Saturday, May 2, 2009
Special Gifts for Your Loved
Here are the 8 special gifts for the one or anyone you love:
1. Presence
I think, the presence of someone who loved is the priceless gift. Indeed, we can also present by mail, phone, photo, fax or e-mail. However, with be beside him/her, you can share feelings, attention and affection in a more intensive and intact. The quality of presence is also important. So, make your presence as causes of his/her happiness.
2. Listen
Few people are able to give this gift, because, most people prefer to listened, rather than listen. Has long been known that the harmonious relationship between people is determined by the willingness to listen to each other. Give it to him/her. By providing all attention on his/her words, indirectly, we also have to foster patience and humility. To be able to hear well, make sure that you are in a good situation and relax and can capture what was he/she says fully. Look his/her face. Do not interrupt, criticize and judge. Let him/her finish his/her words. This allows you to give the appropriate response after that. No need to make a discussion or evaluation. Just thanks will be very sweet for him/her.
3. Silence
Like in the words, there is strength in the silence. Silence can be used to punish, banish or confusing people. But more than that, silence can also show our devotion to someone because we give him/her ‘a space’. Especially if in the day-to-day we are eager to advise, organize, criticize and even complain.
4. Freedom
Love someone does not mean that we have full rights to manage or have the person’s life. Can we claim to love someone if we always bridle him/her? Give freedom is one manifestation of love. The meaning of freedom is not “you can do everything you want”. More of that, give the freedom is give him/her a totally trust to take responsibility for everything that he/she do or wanna do.
5. Magnificence
Who is unhappy, if the one who love suddenly come into being more handsome or beautiful? Look beautiful and shapely is also a gift too! No fault if you give it every day! Beside of the beauty of personal appearance, you can give the beauty atmosphere at home. Vase and beautiful fresh flowers in the family room or dining table that fit beautifully, for example.
6. Positive Response
Unconsciously, we often give negative response of the mind, attitude or action of people we loved. As though no rightness of him/her and the absolutely rightness only from us. In this time, try to give a positive response. Say it clearly and upright. Just try to remember, how many time in the past week you thanks him/her to all the things that he/she do it for you? Also remember, have you praise him/her? Both it, thanks and praise (also apology), is the gift of love which is often forgotten.
7. Willingness Budge
Not all problems worthy to a squabble. Especially to become a serious quarrel. You should consider whether a love relationship should be sacrificed just because that problem? When you think of this, it means you are ready to give the gift ‘willingness budge’. Alright, you may complain or angry because he came late. But if it once, why should be the trigger of conflict that drag on? Willingness to budge can also fade resentment and invites us to realize that there are no perfect human beings in this world.
8. Smile
Believe it or not, the power of smile is very great. Smile, especialy given with all of heart and soul, can thaw an ungainly relationship, encourage despair, and make anything better. Smiles is also a signal that we open up to the world around us. So, when the last time you give a sweet smile for your beloved?
Read More..Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sarah Jessica Parker Expecting Twins via Surrogate
Sex and the City actress Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband Matthew Broderick are expecting twin girls via a surrogate mother, their representatives said on Tuesday.
Parker, 44, and Broderick, 47, "are happily anticipating the birth of their twin daughters later this summer with the generous help of a surrogate. The entire family is overjoyed," a statement from the couple said.
The couple have a six year old son, James, and have long wanted to add to their family but had no luck, an unidentified friend was quoted as telling Entertainment Weekly magazine.
They turned to a surrogate last year, the magazine said. The surrogate's name and details have not been disclosed.
"They had a lot of unsuccessful tries," the friend was quoted as saying. "They came to the conclusion that this was going to be the best alternative for expanding their family."
Parker is expected to begin shooting a sequel later this year to the hit movie version of "Sex and the City" along with fellow stars Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis.
Broderick, star of the Broadway musical and movie "The Producers", and Parker married in 1997.
© Copyright (c) Reuters
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Parker, 44, and Broderick, 47, "are happily anticipating the birth of their twin daughters later this summer with the generous help of a surrogate. The entire family is overjoyed," a statement from the couple said.
The couple have a six year old son, James, and have long wanted to add to their family but had no luck, an unidentified friend was quoted as telling Entertainment Weekly magazine.
They turned to a surrogate last year, the magazine said. The surrogate's name and details have not been disclosed.
"They had a lot of unsuccessful tries," the friend was quoted as saying. "They came to the conclusion that this was going to be the best alternative for expanding their family."
Parker is expected to begin shooting a sequel later this year to the hit movie version of "Sex and the City" along with fellow stars Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis.
Broderick, star of the Broadway musical and movie "The Producers", and Parker married in 1997.
© Copyright (c) Reuters
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Friday, April 17, 2009
Translate Easier with Google Translate
Long time ago, translate a text needs a special skill which no everyone have it. Only some people are able to translate into a foreign language or otherwise, from foreign to local language. In further development, the dictionary made with a variety of sizes and the amount of vocabulary, ranging from the inexpensive to the most expensive.
After that, digital technology also give a big contribution to translate problem, especially since the dictionary software or the dictionary which is can run by computer are made. So the big-dictionary book is not needed anymore, which is sometimes too difficult to find the words you want. In addition, translator software that can translate a paragraph, not just a word, was born. Such as transtool, rekso or another software.
Now, with technology of internet, translate the text made easier. There are several websites that provide a text translation service for free. For example is Google Translate from Google Inc. One of the advantages of Google Translate is the ability to translate so many languages, at least, there are 32 languages that can be translated.
All that we must to do just copy and paste the text to be translated, and then select the source of language from choices under the copy and paste the text before, and then select the desired language for the results, and finally click translate. Then in the text box next to the original, the translation will appear.
Not only that, Google Translate can be used to translate a web-page, with just copy and paste the web content in the box that are available before, and then click translate, then within a few seconds the website will appear in a language that we want.
However, the translate results can not be perfectly, because it is related to the order of the original text. Sometimes some vocabulary has not been recognized by Google Translate, so sometimes we need to change the vocabulary with a appropriate vocabulary or a basic vocabulary, and then translate again.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
About Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)
This morning, I was receive an sms form my best friend who preach the the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has retract drugs which is containing Phenylpropanolamine (PPA). Because the PPA has been caused brain haemorrhage. Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is a synthetic compound of the sympathomimetic amine structurally similar to presor amines epinephrine, phenylephrine, aphedrine stimulation and central nervous system like ephedrine and amphetamine. In Indonesia, PPA is found in cough and influenza medicines. Of course, almost all hundreds influenza medicines brands is contains PPA.
Due to this time I have influenza and is being consume Neozep Forte (which after I read in the box it’s contain 15 mg of PPA), of course, I surprised and a little panic. So, I browse the Google to find more information.
And I can take lessons as follow:
In fact, this PPA case is not a new case. According to this link, PPA was recalled in United States since 2000. Its was followed by Malaysia and Singapore. Because in these countries PPA not only use as decongestant (influenza medicine), but also produced as a mixture of loose weight drugs (PPA can also press appetite).
Meanwhile, other countries such as European, Japan, Philippines, and Australia does not recall PPA from the market. Indonesia, based on meeting of Komnas POJ (December 5, 2000), allows use of PPA only as an active influenza and cough medicine. However, the dosage is reduced, from 25 mg per dose to 15 mg per dose. And since April 16, 2001, Indonesia (BPOM) has banned the circulation of all drugs which is containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA) more than 15 mg per dose.
I’m a little relieved, because Neozep Forte which I consume is contain 15 mg of PPA, still on secure limit from BPOM. But considering of the side effects that can be caused by PPA is egregious enough, it seems I may not take the medicine too easy 
My suggestion is always note the information listed in the drug package. If necessary, check the information about one of every substance in the drug. The information I mean is about the function and side effects, safe dose or the maximum safe dose per day. For PPA, based on this link, the dose allowed in Indonesia much less than the dose allowed in UK and US. That is 10-25 mg per dose. Usage per day is allowed a maximum of 75 mg for adults and 37.5 mg for children 6-12 years and is not recommended for children under the age of 6 years.
Monday, March 16, 2009
How Love Can Last
New research suggests long-term romance is possible and deeply satisfying.
Oh sure, being crazy in love might be fine for Beyonce, but what happens 15 years down the road? Are you condemned to spend your Friday nights on the couch watching television while your husband tries to clean out his left ear with the tiny plastic arm of a wrestling figurine belonging to your youngest son? In other words, does romance always die?
Not according to a recent study published in the March issue of Review of General Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association. Lead researcher Dr. Bianca P. Acevedo, then at Stony Brook University (currently at University of California, Santa Barbara), says that the study challenges the belief that romantic love generally fizzles and is replaced by companionship love if things are going well in the relationship. “When taking a closer look, it seems like some people were still very much in love. They just weren’t crazy.”
Acevedo says that people often erroneously believe that romantic love and passionate love are the same. “Romantic love has the intensity, engagement and sexual chemistry that passionate love has, minus the obsessive component.” She adds that passionate or obsessive love helps drive shorter relationships but not longer ones.
Acevedo and co-researcher Dr. Arthur Aron reviewed 25 studies with 6,070 individuals in short-and long-term relationships, classifying the relationships in each of the studies as romantic, passionate (romantic with obsession) or friendship-like love and categorized them as long-or short-term. Unsurprisingly, those who reported greater romantic love were more satisfied in their long-term relationships than those who classified their love as companion-like.
Aron says that the romance kept alive by these long-term couples is in some ways even better than the maddening love at the beginning of a relationship. “When people first fall in love we also have this mania component that comes with a lot of anxiety and concern and fear,” he says. “If the person’s out of your sight for five minutes, are they dead or have they found someone else? In a long-term relationship, those who are able to experience intense love not only get the benefit of being intensely in love but they’re comfortable and confident and they don’t have to be afraid. If you’re with someone for 10 or 20 years, you know they’re going to be there tomorrow.”
Maggie Scarf, author of September Songs, a book about couples between the ages of 50 and 75, says that even when romance fades during the child-rearing years, it can be rekindled. “Sometimes people have gotten into the companionship mode because they’re so busy negotiating with their kids and things that are happening in daily life with the family — which, let’s face it, are generally not very romantic,” she says. “As the kids peel off to lives of their own, it’s not that you’re not involved with them and their families, it’s that you have more time to re-find each other and that old intimacy.”
So how can a couple increase their odds for longterm romance? Aron says that’s “the $64,000 question” and he is appealing for funding to study just that. But he acknowledges five generally accepted factors for successful coupling: first, a lack of stressful external factors, such as living in a war zone, being poor, being discriminated against, or having a child die; second, neither party being highly anxious or depressed; third, good communication skills, and the ability to resolve conflicts and support each other; fourth, doing novel, challenging, exciting things together on a regular basis; and fifth, capitalizing on the other’s successes. Aron points to the last factor as particularly important. “If your partner has a success and you can celebrate it with them, that is an unmitigated positive thing for a relationship. Many people just say, ‘Oh, that’s nice,’ and go on with their business.”
Scarf adds that relationships that began in a throbbing burst of flames might have a better chance at locating a spark 20 years on. “If you can look back, as I can to a particularly romantic moment with my husband where we kissed each other in a pine forest and the world spun on its axis, that’s great,” she says. “But not everyone has that. Some people got married because it seemed like the right time.”
This recent study may change people’s expectations of what they want in longterm relationships, according to Acevedo, with companionship love, which is what many couples see as the natural progression of a successful relationship, coming to be seen as an unnecessary compromise.
“Couples should strive for love with all the trimmings,” Acevedo says. “For some people, stagnation might be a desirable state, but it doesn’t have to be that way. And couples who have been together a long time and wish to get back their romantic edge should know it is an attainable goal that, like most good things in life, requires energy and devotion.”
Read More..Monday, February 2, 2009
Gift Ideas for Valentines Day
Valentine's Day is coming and you're wrestling with what to get your wife. You want something as special as your feelings for her, yet as tangible as the ring
you placed on her finger when you were married. Following are some gift ideas any wife would love.
1. Private retreat.
If your wife is like most, she would appreciate some extra time spent alone with you, especially if she's also a mom and has had little personal time for herself lately. Why not consider splurging for a weekend away. Can't afford that this year? Then consider hiring a baby sitter and spending the weekend all alone doing some of your favorite activities. Little things mean a lot, by taking the step to spend more time with your wife, you will give the greatest gift any wife would love -- her husband.
2. Spa special.
Any wife would appreciate being pampered with a trip to her favorite hair salon. Throw in a manicure and pedicure, and enjoy watching her twirl in delight as she shows off the results. One great spa special is a make-over, including a facial and image consultation to help your wife choose colors that would flatter her most. Many larger departments stores have ongoing and special make-overs for free with or without a make-up purchase. Stop by your local store and ask whether they offer gift certificates. If they do, don't forget to add enough cash to the certificate so that she can purchase some of the new make-up she tries. Warning: If you wife does not wear makeup often, this may nto be the gift for her.
3. Sparkling gems.
Consider buying your wife a piece of jewelry to replace something she has always wanted, or desperately need. Earrings (make sure you check to see if she prefers clipped or pierced), watches, necklaces, pendants may fall in this category. Based on your budget, you can choose from precious, semi-precious or custom jewelry in styles and designs that flatter you wife's personality and unique image. One idea, could be to replace a stone that she has lost from a favorite piece of jewelry, bringing new life to an old favorite.
4. Perfect picture.
Surprise your wife with a new family portrait. There are two ways you can do this. The first is to get a professional portrait with just yourself, and if you have them, your children. The second, is to set an appointment that includes your wife post-spa special. In the latter, the portrait will remind her of the special spa treatment you gave her this year.
5. Money, honey.
Your wife will love money as a valentine's gift. The pitfalls of this, however, is that she may consider it a "no-brainer" gift that you gave her as an afterthought. Or worse, she'll take the money and run and spend it on you and the kids. The alternative? Give her a gift certificate, gift card, or e-certificate (online gift certificate) to one of her favorite stores. This could include a store that sells clothing, perfume, jewelry, handbags, shoes
or any other things for women only! Put a deadline on it (say 30 days), and that'll force her to think and buy quickly.
Read More..
you placed on her finger when you were married. Following are some gift ideas any wife would love.
1. Private retreat.
If your wife is like most, she would appreciate some extra time spent alone with you, especially if she's also a mom and has had little personal time for herself lately. Why not consider splurging for a weekend away. Can't afford that this year? Then consider hiring a baby sitter and spending the weekend all alone doing some of your favorite activities. Little things mean a lot, by taking the step to spend more time with your wife, you will give the greatest gift any wife would love -- her husband.
2. Spa special.
Any wife would appreciate being pampered with a trip to her favorite hair salon. Throw in a manicure and pedicure, and enjoy watching her twirl in delight as she shows off the results. One great spa special is a make-over, including a facial and image consultation to help your wife choose colors that would flatter her most. Many larger departments stores have ongoing and special make-overs for free with or without a make-up purchase. Stop by your local store and ask whether they offer gift certificates. If they do, don't forget to add enough cash to the certificate so that she can purchase some of the new make-up she tries. Warning: If you wife does not wear makeup often, this may nto be the gift for her.
3. Sparkling gems.
Consider buying your wife a piece of jewelry to replace something she has always wanted, or desperately need. Earrings (make sure you check to see if she prefers clipped or pierced), watches, necklaces, pendants may fall in this category. Based on your budget, you can choose from precious, semi-precious or custom jewelry in styles and designs that flatter you wife's personality and unique image. One idea, could be to replace a stone that she has lost from a favorite piece of jewelry, bringing new life to an old favorite.
4. Perfect picture.
Surprise your wife with a new family portrait. There are two ways you can do this. The first is to get a professional portrait with just yourself, and if you have them, your children. The second, is to set an appointment that includes your wife post-spa special. In the latter, the portrait will remind her of the special spa treatment you gave her this year.
5. Money, honey.
Your wife will love money as a valentine's gift. The pitfalls of this, however, is that she may consider it a "no-brainer" gift that you gave her as an afterthought. Or worse, she'll take the money and run and spend it on you and the kids. The alternative? Give her a gift certificate, gift card, or e-certificate (online gift certificate) to one of her favorite stores. This could include a store that sells clothing, perfume, jewelry, handbags, shoes
or any other things for women only! Put a deadline on it (say 30 days), and that'll force her to think and buy quickly.
Read More..
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Talk in Mens' Language
If you often irritated by men’s ‘catching power’ to understand the most simple instructions. You are not alone. I and some friends have experience it. One of my friends has often complained her husband did what he did not ask and ignore her request, at least from her perspective. If she protests, her husband just said, it should be done by maid. ‘Misunderstanding’ pattern like this is usually happen, the wives want they ’standard’ run, while the husband feel that what they do is “more than enough”.
“It’s like two people talking in two different languages, one with English, one with French, so do not know,” said Rhona Raskin, therapeutist sex and family, owner of Rhona.com. Often, the difference is more vague than the example of the differences in the two languages. Here are some suggestions from Raskin to ‘communicate’ with the men in the correct language.
1. Do not ask him to ‘read’ your mind
If there is a wedge in the heart, say clearly. You may be thinking, attitude or movement that you do is enough for men to understand what you mean. For known, because one thing and another, male is a bad reader of body language. For men, what is not said is none. So, women often blame the man as the person who is less/not sensitive or not able to understand your feelings. Believe me, with the men, words is more powerful than a thousand body language.
2. Talk clearly but tactical
Say what you want clearly, with words that are not attacked him and cause ‘against reactions’. He can response your accuse words like “now you never want to accompany me to the shopping mall anymore” with hundred reasons that through on his mind at that time or hit his dumb wall. Better if you said “I nostalgic the moment like our first date, walking together, dining at our favourite restaurant.” Usually that approach is more effective.
3. Do not expect too much
I don’t know why, usually men are not good enough in verbal expression. “Most of men tend to measure everything in terms of action, especially in the emotional problems,” Raskin said. So, if your partner from the beginning suddenly stutter when you ask him to said ‘I Love You’, do not hope he will suddenly totally changed as your wish. If you want to change it, identify with the real action instead of words. Because men can understand it more quickly. Another example, when he promises something to you, do not expect he will fulfill it soon. Remind him over and over, cause maybe he do it just because it tends to avoid problems with you.
4. Never push him with a difficult question
The questions such as “Am I obesity?” Or “Where better, I wear green dress or black?” Usually got a silent answer or nonsense. For men, that questions was a dilemma. They afraid, that any answers given will make you offended. So, never ask him to answer a questions like that.
5. Wisely choose the right time
Proverbial “wise people know when to open and close the mouth” may be applied very appropriately to communicate with the men. It waste the time if you talk to the men while he is busy watching football or doing his hobby. The most appropriate time to tell him something, Raskin said, is when he is ‘fresh’, such as after bathing in holiday morning.
6. Take a good assumption
Actually, most of men is good person. If he doesn’t say anything after you angry, do not assume that he doesn’t care about you or your aspiration. Most of men are thinking, that the problems will be completed with a depth of think and deed,not with the mouth competition. Trust your intuition when you will marry him. At that time, of course you think that he is a good man and your soulmate. I think, this need to always keep in mind before you attract the wrong conclusions.
Need in Indonesian? just click here.
Read More..Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Easy Ways to Eat 5 Fruits & Vegetables a Day
Over the past few years, we’ve been bombarded with warnings about rising obesity, cancer and diabetes rates. Nearly every report makes a strong argument for the link between disease and diet. Government guidelines are advising us to eat a minimum of five portions of fruit and vegetables every day -- even more if we can manage, since the consensus is that you can’t eat too many vegetables. The trouble is, for many of us eating even five portions can seem like a serious challenge. When we work long hours, we naturally reach for convenience foods, almost all of which are carb-based.
Cooking at home is a lost art, with the sound of something sizzling on the stove being replaced by the beep of the microwave. This article will try to address this problem and offer some quick, easy and delicious ways to increase your daily intake of fruit and vegetables. The importance of plant foods in your diet can’t be overemphasized; they make you look and feel better and provide you with more steady energy throughout the day than convenience food can. Add a few of these tips into your daily routine, and you’ll be doing your body a huge favor. Remember, one portion is considered to be about 80 grams.
1- Smoothies
Buying an all-natural (100% fruit, no sugar added) smoothie is an easy way to boost your fruit intake. Some companies even sell vegetable smoothies. But if you’re prepared to spend 10 minutes in the kitchen, you can make a smoothie that will give you five fruit portions in one gloriously sweet hit. Two kiwis, two bananas, a handful of grapes, a handful of strawberries, and 250 ml of pure pressed apple or orange juice will do the trick. This is a full breakfast or post-workout energy boost, and if you want to add some whey protein or spirulina powder into the mix, all the better. The beauty of a well-built smoothie is that the wide variety of colors of fruit means you’re getting a wide variety of nutrients: Vitamins A, B2, B6, C, E, folate, niacin, potassium, not to mention dietary fiber. You can just as easily make a vegetable smoothie as long as you use fresh, raw ingredients. If you throw some tomato juice into a vegetable smoothie, make sure that it’s not full of sugar or salt – common hidden ingredients in commercial vegetable juices.
2- Incorporate vegetables into your snacking
Try substituting something healthy for your mid-morning coffee break snack. Raw carrots, celery and other crunchy vegetables will be just as filling, and will help you avoid the drop in energy that comes after eating a high-sugar snack. Consider this: A chocolate chip muffin can contain around 700 calories. For the average man, this amounts to nearly one third of the recommended daily caloric intake, and will cause a monumental sugar crash later on. Instead of eating something that has roughly the nutritional value of an old shoe, replace it with a handful of fresh vegetables. An average carrot may contain as few as 32 calories, celery as little as 8. You could eat a pound of vegetables and still have consumed far fewer calories than you would have with that muffin. If the veggies themselves are too boring, add some hummus dip for some protein or a low-fat yogurt-based dip, but skip the dollop of ranch dressing.
3- Add fruit/berries to your breakfast
Adding something extra to your breakfast is another really quick and simple way to increase your fruit intake. If you have yogurt or cereal at breakfast, sprinkle a handful of fruit into the bowl. Raspberries, blackberries and blueberries taste great and they‘re packed with nutrients. Fresh berries can be expensive, but you can just as easily thaw a handful of frozen berries in the microwave and add them to your cereal. Adding a chopped banana will provide you with a little energy boost at the start of the day. The list of potential fruits is endless, and we don’t want to add all of them here, but if you want to keep things interesting and give yourself a range of nutrients, switch it up every so often.
4- Double up on servings
At lunch and dinner, try increasing the amount of vegetables you put on your plate. If it sounds obvious, it is. Many people put far fewer vegetables on their plate than the standard portion size of 80 grams. To make sure you’re getting your five a day, try to have two different types of vegetables in a meal. This has multiple benefits: by eating a larger amount of vegetables, you will crowd out other foods on your plate, like potatoes and meat, and chances are you eat plenty of those anyway. Reducing the higher-calorie foods (but not eliminating them altogether) can help you lose weight in addition to improving your overall health. Forget the popular misconception that fresh vegetables are expensive. Compared to microwave meals and other processed goods, vegetables are surprisingly affordable, and frozen vegetables can go a very long way and last a very long time in your freezer without compromising their healthiness.
5- Canned and frozen count too
Fruits and vegetables that have been canned or frozen retain their nutrients just as well as fresh vegetables, and in some cases, even more effectively. Frozen veggies are quick to prepare, which means getting your five a day gets even easier. Canned sweet corn, for example, can be microwaved in under two minutes, and frozen vegetables can be steamed in the microwave almost as quickly. This means you really have no excuse to be avoiding vegetables at dinner. A selection of canned and frozen vegetables with your main course, and some canned fruit for dessert (avoid fruit that is in syrup) and you can easily consume five portions of fruits and vegetables in just one sitting.
veg out
Add all these tips together, and you could easily eat between 12 and 15 portions every day without making any major changes to your lifestyle. All it takes to give yourself a huge nutritional boost is a little planning. You may inadvertently find some unexpected fringe benefits -- lower shopping bills, more energy and a slimmer waistline. It’s hard to overemphasize just how valuable getting your five (or more) each day can be. Try making sure you eat at least five fruits and vegetables every day for a week, and you may be pleasantly surprised.
Read More..
Cooking at home is a lost art, with the sound of something sizzling on the stove being replaced by the beep of the microwave. This article will try to address this problem and offer some quick, easy and delicious ways to increase your daily intake of fruit and vegetables. The importance of plant foods in your diet can’t be overemphasized; they make you look and feel better and provide you with more steady energy throughout the day than convenience food can. Add a few of these tips into your daily routine, and you’ll be doing your body a huge favor. Remember, one portion is considered to be about 80 grams.
1- Smoothies
Buying an all-natural (100% fruit, no sugar added) smoothie is an easy way to boost your fruit intake. Some companies even sell vegetable smoothies. But if you’re prepared to spend 10 minutes in the kitchen, you can make a smoothie that will give you five fruit portions in one gloriously sweet hit. Two kiwis, two bananas, a handful of grapes, a handful of strawberries, and 250 ml of pure pressed apple or orange juice will do the trick. This is a full breakfast or post-workout energy boost, and if you want to add some whey protein or spirulina powder into the mix, all the better. The beauty of a well-built smoothie is that the wide variety of colors of fruit means you’re getting a wide variety of nutrients: Vitamins A, B2, B6, C, E, folate, niacin, potassium, not to mention dietary fiber. You can just as easily make a vegetable smoothie as long as you use fresh, raw ingredients. If you throw some tomato juice into a vegetable smoothie, make sure that it’s not full of sugar or salt – common hidden ingredients in commercial vegetable juices.
2- Incorporate vegetables into your snacking
Try substituting something healthy for your mid-morning coffee break snack. Raw carrots, celery and other crunchy vegetables will be just as filling, and will help you avoid the drop in energy that comes after eating a high-sugar snack. Consider this: A chocolate chip muffin can contain around 700 calories. For the average man, this amounts to nearly one third of the recommended daily caloric intake, and will cause a monumental sugar crash later on. Instead of eating something that has roughly the nutritional value of an old shoe, replace it with a handful of fresh vegetables. An average carrot may contain as few as 32 calories, celery as little as 8. You could eat a pound of vegetables and still have consumed far fewer calories than you would have with that muffin. If the veggies themselves are too boring, add some hummus dip for some protein or a low-fat yogurt-based dip, but skip the dollop of ranch dressing.
3- Add fruit/berries to your breakfast
Adding something extra to your breakfast is another really quick and simple way to increase your fruit intake. If you have yogurt or cereal at breakfast, sprinkle a handful of fruit into the bowl. Raspberries, blackberries and blueberries taste great and they‘re packed with nutrients. Fresh berries can be expensive, but you can just as easily thaw a handful of frozen berries in the microwave and add them to your cereal. Adding a chopped banana will provide you with a little energy boost at the start of the day. The list of potential fruits is endless, and we don’t want to add all of them here, but if you want to keep things interesting and give yourself a range of nutrients, switch it up every so often.
4- Double up on servings
At lunch and dinner, try increasing the amount of vegetables you put on your plate. If it sounds obvious, it is. Many people put far fewer vegetables on their plate than the standard portion size of 80 grams. To make sure you’re getting your five a day, try to have two different types of vegetables in a meal. This has multiple benefits: by eating a larger amount of vegetables, you will crowd out other foods on your plate, like potatoes and meat, and chances are you eat plenty of those anyway. Reducing the higher-calorie foods (but not eliminating them altogether) can help you lose weight in addition to improving your overall health. Forget the popular misconception that fresh vegetables are expensive. Compared to microwave meals and other processed goods, vegetables are surprisingly affordable, and frozen vegetables can go a very long way and last a very long time in your freezer without compromising their healthiness.
5- Canned and frozen count too
Fruits and vegetables that have been canned or frozen retain their nutrients just as well as fresh vegetables, and in some cases, even more effectively. Frozen veggies are quick to prepare, which means getting your five a day gets even easier. Canned sweet corn, for example, can be microwaved in under two minutes, and frozen vegetables can be steamed in the microwave almost as quickly. This means you really have no excuse to be avoiding vegetables at dinner. A selection of canned and frozen vegetables with your main course, and some canned fruit for dessert (avoid fruit that is in syrup) and you can easily consume five portions of fruits and vegetables in just one sitting.
veg out
Add all these tips together, and you could easily eat between 12 and 15 portions every day without making any major changes to your lifestyle. All it takes to give yourself a huge nutritional boost is a little planning. You may inadvertently find some unexpected fringe benefits -- lower shopping bills, more energy and a slimmer waistline. It’s hard to overemphasize just how valuable getting your five (or more) each day can be. Try making sure you eat at least five fruits and vegetables every day for a week, and you may be pleasantly surprised.
Read More..
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Best Things You Can Do for Your Skin
The basics for skin care are the easiest way to start. Naturally, a good diet, exercise and adequate sleep are the basic building blocks for healthy-looking skin.
But beyond those key factors, the best thing you can do for your skin is to protect it, which means combating the effects of your environment with a proper cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen.
We're often deterred from taking these obvious steps because we don't experience instant success. But there is no magic cream that produces immediate effects: you can't anticipate that a cosmetic product will work faster than a medical therapy. You can expect to use a new skin care product or regime for six to eight weeks before you really see the results.
When you're young, your skin can recuperate from almost any insult you throw at it. As you age, however, your skin loses its elasticity and ability to recover from damage. The earlier you take action to care for your skin, the more damage you will be able to prevent. You may even be able to reverse what has already occurred.
That's why it's important to understand the state your skin is in now, anticipate where it is going and have a five-year goal.
The skin, like any organ of the body, changes with age, so you'll need to alter the skin care routine and products you choose now to maintain the results you want to achieve in the future--but the fundamentals remain the same. As you strive to make your skin look its best, remember there is no one product that does it all. Product choices have to be tailored to each skin type, determined by whether your skin is tolerant or sensitive, oily or dry.
Cleanser
Your skin is your interface with the world, and your barrier to outside influences. It acts as a protective film that keeps the outside out, and the inside in. Because you are exposed to so many factors in your environment, a cleanser is an important and very simple part of daily care.
These synthetic detergents are designed for short contact with the skin, and to be well rinsed off to avoid irritation. You don't want to leave any residual soap on your skin. For those with sensitive skin, a foaming wash may be a good choice, just as a cleanser with salicylic acid may help someone with blackheads as a major part of their acne.
Moisturizer
A good moisturizer is the force-field that protects your skin from common environmental and topical irritants. As your skin's invisible shield, it reduces the evaporation of water by including occlusive barriers like petrolatum, mineral oil or lanolin.
A moisturizer also has factors that attract water to the outer layer of the skin. These humectants include glycerine, urea, propylene glycol and gelatin.
The final component of a moisturizer is an emollient that fills in the tiny crevices between the outer flakes of skin to give a nice, smooth, soft texture. Your moisturizer should spread well, stay in place and not evaporate to leave you unprotected.
Sunscreen
Sunscreens, which are an entire topic in themselves, should be a part of your daily routine for those times when you just can't avoid that dash outside in the light of day. The big thing about sun is that it bites you as soon as you go outside. There is no "five-second rule." Put on your broad-spectrum sunscreen, with an SPF of at least 30, every morning.
In General
Look for products that make you feel comfortable and produce the desired effect. As for price, use common sense. You should judge how much the price difference is validated by the results you get. While you often get what you pay for, there may be a price point beyond which you do not get a significant benefit.
Finally, if you are having trouble with anything you are putting on your skin, stop using it! Swelling or redness around the eyes is often the first big tip-off. If you are concerned, do a use-test first, by applying a product behind your ears for a couple of days.
For everyone who wants to look great, the only route is consistency and attention to skin management. "Wash-and-wear" eventually looks worn. You can ignore your skin, but time won't.
The Worst Things You Can Do For Your Skin
Two words: smoking and tanning. These activities will not only age you, but will cause irreparable damage.
If you are still smoking, just stop. Your skin will lose that sallow, thickened and unhealthy appearance faster than many topical therapies could help you.
It's even worse to ignore changes that are happening on your skin: benign neglect is not an acceptable approach to healthy skin. Pay attention to spots that change. A simple guideline is to see your doctor if you have a spot that doesn't heal within two to three months.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
Read More..
But beyond those key factors, the best thing you can do for your skin is to protect it, which means combating the effects of your environment with a proper cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen.
We're often deterred from taking these obvious steps because we don't experience instant success. But there is no magic cream that produces immediate effects: you can't anticipate that a cosmetic product will work faster than a medical therapy. You can expect to use a new skin care product or regime for six to eight weeks before you really see the results.
When you're young, your skin can recuperate from almost any insult you throw at it. As you age, however, your skin loses its elasticity and ability to recover from damage. The earlier you take action to care for your skin, the more damage you will be able to prevent. You may even be able to reverse what has already occurred.
That's why it's important to understand the state your skin is in now, anticipate where it is going and have a five-year goal.
The skin, like any organ of the body, changes with age, so you'll need to alter the skin care routine and products you choose now to maintain the results you want to achieve in the future--but the fundamentals remain the same. As you strive to make your skin look its best, remember there is no one product that does it all. Product choices have to be tailored to each skin type, determined by whether your skin is tolerant or sensitive, oily or dry.
Cleanser
Your skin is your interface with the world, and your barrier to outside influences. It acts as a protective film that keeps the outside out, and the inside in. Because you are exposed to so many factors in your environment, a cleanser is an important and very simple part of daily care.
These synthetic detergents are designed for short contact with the skin, and to be well rinsed off to avoid irritation. You don't want to leave any residual soap on your skin. For those with sensitive skin, a foaming wash may be a good choice, just as a cleanser with salicylic acid may help someone with blackheads as a major part of their acne.
Moisturizer
A good moisturizer is the force-field that protects your skin from common environmental and topical irritants. As your skin's invisible shield, it reduces the evaporation of water by including occlusive barriers like petrolatum, mineral oil or lanolin.
A moisturizer also has factors that attract water to the outer layer of the skin. These humectants include glycerine, urea, propylene glycol and gelatin.
The final component of a moisturizer is an emollient that fills in the tiny crevices between the outer flakes of skin to give a nice, smooth, soft texture. Your moisturizer should spread well, stay in place and not evaporate to leave you unprotected.
Sunscreen
Sunscreens, which are an entire topic in themselves, should be a part of your daily routine for those times when you just can't avoid that dash outside in the light of day. The big thing about sun is that it bites you as soon as you go outside. There is no "five-second rule." Put on your broad-spectrum sunscreen, with an SPF of at least 30, every morning.
In General
Look for products that make you feel comfortable and produce the desired effect. As for price, use common sense. You should judge how much the price difference is validated by the results you get. While you often get what you pay for, there may be a price point beyond which you do not get a significant benefit.
Finally, if you are having trouble with anything you are putting on your skin, stop using it! Swelling or redness around the eyes is often the first big tip-off. If you are concerned, do a use-test first, by applying a product behind your ears for a couple of days.
For everyone who wants to look great, the only route is consistency and attention to skin management. "Wash-and-wear" eventually looks worn. You can ignore your skin, but time won't.
The Worst Things You Can Do For Your Skin
Two words: smoking and tanning. These activities will not only age you, but will cause irreparable damage.
If you are still smoking, just stop. Your skin will lose that sallow, thickened and unhealthy appearance faster than many topical therapies could help you.
It's even worse to ignore changes that are happening on your skin: benign neglect is not an acceptable approach to healthy skin. Pay attention to spots that change. A simple guideline is to see your doctor if you have a spot that doesn't heal within two to three months.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
Read More..
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
How Diet Affects Fertility
Every new life starts with two seemingly simple events. First, an active sperm burrows into a perfectly mature egg. Then the resulting fertilized egg nestles into the specially prepared lining of the uterus and begins to grow. The key phrase in that description is "seemingly simple." Dozens of steps influenced by a cascade of carefully timed hormones are needed to make and mature eggs and sperm. Their union is both a mad dash and a complex dance, choreographed by hormones, physiology and environmental cues.
A constellation of other factors can come into play. Many couples delay having a baby until they are financially ready or have established themselves in their professions. Waiting, though, decreases the odds of conceiving and increases the chances of having a miscarriage. Fewer than 10 percent of women in their early 20s have issues with infertility, compared with nearly 30 percent of those in their early 40s. Sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are on the upswing, can cause or contribute to infertility. The linked epidemics of obesity and diabetes sweeping the country have reproductive repercussions. Environmental contaminants known as endocrine disruptors, such as some pesticides and emissions from burning plastics, appear to affect fertility in women and men. Stress and anxiety, both in general and about fertility, can also interfere with getting pregnant. Add all these to the complexity of conception and it's no wonder that infertility is a common problem, besetting an estimated 6 million American couples.
It's almost become a cliché that diet, exercise and lifestyle choices affect how long you'll live, the health of your heart, the odds you'll develop cancer and a host of other health-related issues. Is fertility on this list? The answer to that question has long been a qualified "maybe," based on old wives' tales, conventional wisdom—and almost no science. Farmers, ranchers and animal scientists know more about how nutrition affects fertility in cows, pigs and other commercially important animals than fertility experts know about how it affects reproduction in humans. There are small hints scattered across medical journals, but few systematic studies of this crucial connection in people.
We set out to change this critical information gap with the help of more than 18,000 women taking part in the Nurses' Health Study, a long-term research project looking at the effects of diet and other factors on the development of chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Each of these women said she was trying to have a baby. Over eight years of follow-up, most of them did. About one in six women, though, had some trouble getting pregnant, including hundreds who experienced ovulatory infertility—a problem related to the maturation or release of a mature egg each month. When we compared their diets, exercise habits and other lifestyle choices with those of women who readily got pregnant, several key differences emerged. We have translated these differences into fertility-boosting strategies.
At least for now, these recommendations are aimed at preventing and reversing ovulatory infertility, which accounts for one quarter or more of all cases of infertility. They won't work for infertility due to physical impediments like blocked fallopian tubes. They may work for other types of infertility, but we don't yet have enough data to explore connections between nutrition and infertility due to other causes. And since the Nurses' Health Study doesn't include information on the participants' partners, we weren't able to explore how nutrition affects male infertility. From what we have gleaned from the limited research in this area, some of our strategies might improve fertility in men, too. The plan described in The Fertility Diet doesn't guarantee a pregnancy any more than do in vitro fertilization or other forms of assisted reproduction. But it's virtually free, available to everyone, has no side effects, sets the stage for a healthy pregnancy, and forms the foundation of a healthy eating strategy for motherhood and beyond. That's a winning combination no matter how you look at it.
Slow Carbs, Not No Carbs
Once upon a time, and not that long ago, carbohydrates were the go-to gang for taste, comfort, convenience and energy. Bread, pasta, rice, potatoes—these were the highly recommended, base-of-the-food-pyramid foods that supplied us with half or more of our calories. Then in rumbled the Atkins and South Beach diets. In a scene out of George Orwell's "1984," good became bad almost overnight as the two weight-loss juggernauts turned carbohydrates into dietary demons, vilifying them as the source of big bellies and jiggling thighs. Following the no-carb gospel, millions of Americans spurned carbohydrates in hopes of shedding pounds. Then, like all diet fads great and small, the no-carb craze lost its luster and faded from prominence.
Continued to page 2.
Read More..
A constellation of other factors can come into play. Many couples delay having a baby until they are financially ready or have established themselves in their professions. Waiting, though, decreases the odds of conceiving and increases the chances of having a miscarriage. Fewer than 10 percent of women in their early 20s have issues with infertility, compared with nearly 30 percent of those in their early 40s. Sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are on the upswing, can cause or contribute to infertility. The linked epidemics of obesity and diabetes sweeping the country have reproductive repercussions. Environmental contaminants known as endocrine disruptors, such as some pesticides and emissions from burning plastics, appear to affect fertility in women and men. Stress and anxiety, both in general and about fertility, can also interfere with getting pregnant. Add all these to the complexity of conception and it's no wonder that infertility is a common problem, besetting an estimated 6 million American couples.
It's almost become a cliché that diet, exercise and lifestyle choices affect how long you'll live, the health of your heart, the odds you'll develop cancer and a host of other health-related issues. Is fertility on this list? The answer to that question has long been a qualified "maybe," based on old wives' tales, conventional wisdom—and almost no science. Farmers, ranchers and animal scientists know more about how nutrition affects fertility in cows, pigs and other commercially important animals than fertility experts know about how it affects reproduction in humans. There are small hints scattered across medical journals, but few systematic studies of this crucial connection in people.
We set out to change this critical information gap with the help of more than 18,000 women taking part in the Nurses' Health Study, a long-term research project looking at the effects of diet and other factors on the development of chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Each of these women said she was trying to have a baby. Over eight years of follow-up, most of them did. About one in six women, though, had some trouble getting pregnant, including hundreds who experienced ovulatory infertility—a problem related to the maturation or release of a mature egg each month. When we compared their diets, exercise habits and other lifestyle choices with those of women who readily got pregnant, several key differences emerged. We have translated these differences into fertility-boosting strategies.
At least for now, these recommendations are aimed at preventing and reversing ovulatory infertility, which accounts for one quarter or more of all cases of infertility. They won't work for infertility due to physical impediments like blocked fallopian tubes. They may work for other types of infertility, but we don't yet have enough data to explore connections between nutrition and infertility due to other causes. And since the Nurses' Health Study doesn't include information on the participants' partners, we weren't able to explore how nutrition affects male infertility. From what we have gleaned from the limited research in this area, some of our strategies might improve fertility in men, too. The plan described in The Fertility Diet doesn't guarantee a pregnancy any more than do in vitro fertilization or other forms of assisted reproduction. But it's virtually free, available to everyone, has no side effects, sets the stage for a healthy pregnancy, and forms the foundation of a healthy eating strategy for motherhood and beyond. That's a winning combination no matter how you look at it.
Slow Carbs, Not No Carbs
Once upon a time, and not that long ago, carbohydrates were the go-to gang for taste, comfort, convenience and energy. Bread, pasta, rice, potatoes—these were the highly recommended, base-of-the-food-pyramid foods that supplied us with half or more of our calories. Then in rumbled the Atkins and South Beach diets. In a scene out of George Orwell's "1984," good became bad almost overnight as the two weight-loss juggernauts turned carbohydrates into dietary demons, vilifying them as the source of big bellies and jiggling thighs. Following the no-carb gospel, millions of Americans spurned carbohydrates in hopes of shedding pounds. Then, like all diet fads great and small, the no-carb craze lost its luster and faded from prominence.
Continued to page 2.
Read More..
Thursday, October 2, 2008
How to Romance a Woman
Ask any adult and they’ll tell you that men and women are different in many ways (beyond the obvious physical differences!). Emotionally, men and women often have different needs. Our challenges in understanding the needs of the opposite sex have made books like “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” bestsellers. Let’s take a look, then, at a few things tips on how to successfully romance a woman --- from a woman’s perspective.
*Compliments*
Compliments are a little like frosting – too slick, and they slide right off. Too thick, and they’re sickening. But a cake without frosting is a little sad; and a woman without compliments may feel the same way. A good compliment can make a woman feel truly appreciated and loved. What then differentiates a “good” compliment from a bad one? Here are a few factors:
• Sincerity – women like to know that they can trust a man. We like to hear compliments that are clear and specific, that come from the heart. Most women would rather receive one sincere compliment rather than ten insincere ones. A single insincere compliment can also serve to discredit you, and devalue your future compliments.
• Specificity – A vague compliment is like that frosting above, but you forgot to add enough sugar. It’s okay, but it is just kind of “neutral”. Add a specific detail or two, though, and the compliment takes on new value. Compare the impact of “That’s a pretty dress” with the more specific “I love your dress. It really brings out the blue in your eyes, and really shows off your sexy body.” Which one do you think is apt to make your partner feel more appreciated?
• Frequently – while some men toss out compliments like they’re business cards at a Rotary convention, others are so frugal with compliments that the woman ends up feeling unappreciated. If you fall into the first category, check out the two recommendations above. If you’re in the latter category, you might want to try praising your partner a little more often. Compliments that come freely and more frequently make us feel appreciated and loved.
• Unexpectedly – If you find your partner “fishing” for compliments, it may be that you could improve on your complimenting skills. One tip is to offer compliments and praise when she isn’t expecting them – as a sign of your love and appreciation for her and all she does for you. Some women say that the only time they get compliments is when they ask for them, or when their husbands want sex. So they are suspicious of all unsolicited compliments. How sad is that? Let your partner know how much you love and appreciate her, and she’ll appreciate your attentiveness.
• Intelligently – one of the greatest compliments you can give a woman is to appreciate her mind/soul/intellect. It’s far easier to hand out compliments about physical attributes – her appearance, her outfit, her haircut, etc. than it is to compliment her intelligence. Next time you have the chance to tell your partner how much you appreciate her for something non-cosmetic, do so. Tell her how impressed you are with her handling of a difficult situation, or her patience in a stressful area, or her creativity in resolving an issue. Tell her how you appreciate the decisions she made on specific issues. Let her share her day and her accomplishments with you, and listen to the many choices, decisions and frustrations she faced. Appreciating her intellect, her giving nature, her negotiation skills, etc. can help her recognize that not only are you really listening to her, but that you appreciate her as a person, as well.
*Gifts and Thoughtful Gestures*
A heartfelt gift can be an incredibly romantic thing. For those of you on a budget, romance does not have to mean big budgets. One man I know left cards for his wife every day for a week when she was struggling with an issue at work, telling her how much he loved her and appreciated her. She shared that this was a real source of strength for her as she dealt with the problems during the day, giving her self-esteem a much-needed boost.
Sometimes the presentation of the gift can be as important as the gift itself, too. Flowers grabbed in the grocery store and flung at your partner with a “These were on sale” comment may show you care, but a lot of the potential impact is lost in the process. Even an inexpensive grocery store bouquet can be a romantic gesture if presented correctly. Accompanied by a kiss, present the flowers to your partner with a smile, and a gracious compliment. Something like, “I saw these and couldn’t resist getting them for you to brighten up the kitchen. Can I stick them in some water for you?” will do just fine, if you aren’t the naturally romantic type.
One caveat – most women don’t appreciate having gifts associated with sex. Even if the sex was stunning, try to make sure your gifts are presented as tokens of your appreciation for her giving nature, or your growing love for her, or a wonderful weekend together. Tied in with a sincere compliment about something non-sexual, if possible. Gifts tied to sex can make a woman feel cheap and used; while a gift for the same weekend presented “because you’re always so fun to be with” carries a far more positive connotation.
One of the most thoughtful gifts you can give a woman is your time and your attention. Listen to her, what she likes and dislikes. Ask her to tell you about her day, and then listen. Don’t interrupt or tune her out, and don’t try to “fix” her problems for her (unless she asks you to intervene). Just listening to her and offering sympathy and caring, laughter and sharing, will tell her that she’s important to you. Take an afternoon off and go have a picnic in the park together. Get a babysitter and go out for a romantic dinner, or ask her for a list of five things she wants to do and try to hit two or three of them. The most important thing is not how much money you spend, it’s the time you spend with her and the fact that you are making her your priority for that time.
Most women would love to have more time, attention and interest from their husbands and boyfriends. Although there are obviously exceptions, the fact is that the “romance” fades from most relationships as time and outside demands wear on the couple. I hope that these tips have given you some ideas on how you can put a little of the romance back into your relationship!
Read More..
*Compliments*
Compliments are a little like frosting – too slick, and they slide right off. Too thick, and they’re sickening. But a cake without frosting is a little sad; and a woman without compliments may feel the same way. A good compliment can make a woman feel truly appreciated and loved. What then differentiates a “good” compliment from a bad one? Here are a few factors:
• Sincerity – women like to know that they can trust a man. We like to hear compliments that are clear and specific, that come from the heart. Most women would rather receive one sincere compliment rather than ten insincere ones. A single insincere compliment can also serve to discredit you, and devalue your future compliments.
• Specificity – A vague compliment is like that frosting above, but you forgot to add enough sugar. It’s okay, but it is just kind of “neutral”. Add a specific detail or two, though, and the compliment takes on new value. Compare the impact of “That’s a pretty dress” with the more specific “I love your dress. It really brings out the blue in your eyes, and really shows off your sexy body.” Which one do you think is apt to make your partner feel more appreciated?
• Frequently – while some men toss out compliments like they’re business cards at a Rotary convention, others are so frugal with compliments that the woman ends up feeling unappreciated. If you fall into the first category, check out the two recommendations above. If you’re in the latter category, you might want to try praising your partner a little more often. Compliments that come freely and more frequently make us feel appreciated and loved.
• Unexpectedly – If you find your partner “fishing” for compliments, it may be that you could improve on your complimenting skills. One tip is to offer compliments and praise when she isn’t expecting them – as a sign of your love and appreciation for her and all she does for you. Some women say that the only time they get compliments is when they ask for them, or when their husbands want sex. So they are suspicious of all unsolicited compliments. How sad is that? Let your partner know how much you love and appreciate her, and she’ll appreciate your attentiveness.
• Intelligently – one of the greatest compliments you can give a woman is to appreciate her mind/soul/intellect. It’s far easier to hand out compliments about physical attributes – her appearance, her outfit, her haircut, etc. than it is to compliment her intelligence. Next time you have the chance to tell your partner how much you appreciate her for something non-cosmetic, do so. Tell her how impressed you are with her handling of a difficult situation, or her patience in a stressful area, or her creativity in resolving an issue. Tell her how you appreciate the decisions she made on specific issues. Let her share her day and her accomplishments with you, and listen to the many choices, decisions and frustrations she faced. Appreciating her intellect, her giving nature, her negotiation skills, etc. can help her recognize that not only are you really listening to her, but that you appreciate her as a person, as well.
*Gifts and Thoughtful Gestures*
A heartfelt gift can be an incredibly romantic thing. For those of you on a budget, romance does not have to mean big budgets. One man I know left cards for his wife every day for a week when she was struggling with an issue at work, telling her how much he loved her and appreciated her. She shared that this was a real source of strength for her as she dealt with the problems during the day, giving her self-esteem a much-needed boost.
Sometimes the presentation of the gift can be as important as the gift itself, too. Flowers grabbed in the grocery store and flung at your partner with a “These were on sale” comment may show you care, but a lot of the potential impact is lost in the process. Even an inexpensive grocery store bouquet can be a romantic gesture if presented correctly. Accompanied by a kiss, present the flowers to your partner with a smile, and a gracious compliment. Something like, “I saw these and couldn’t resist getting them for you to brighten up the kitchen. Can I stick them in some water for you?” will do just fine, if you aren’t the naturally romantic type.
One caveat – most women don’t appreciate having gifts associated with sex. Even if the sex was stunning, try to make sure your gifts are presented as tokens of your appreciation for her giving nature, or your growing love for her, or a wonderful weekend together. Tied in with a sincere compliment about something non-sexual, if possible. Gifts tied to sex can make a woman feel cheap and used; while a gift for the same weekend presented “because you’re always so fun to be with” carries a far more positive connotation.
One of the most thoughtful gifts you can give a woman is your time and your attention. Listen to her, what she likes and dislikes. Ask her to tell you about her day, and then listen. Don’t interrupt or tune her out, and don’t try to “fix” her problems for her (unless she asks you to intervene). Just listening to her and offering sympathy and caring, laughter and sharing, will tell her that she’s important to you. Take an afternoon off and go have a picnic in the park together. Get a babysitter and go out for a romantic dinner, or ask her for a list of five things she wants to do and try to hit two or three of them. The most important thing is not how much money you spend, it’s the time you spend with her and the fact that you are making her your priority for that time.
Most women would love to have more time, attention and interest from their husbands and boyfriends. Although there are obviously exceptions, the fact is that the “romance” fades from most relationships as time and outside demands wear on the couple. I hope that these tips have given you some ideas on how you can put a little of the romance back into your relationship!
Read More..
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The Great Key to Making a Good First Impression
Many people think that whenever they meet someone new, they have to put on a false front, or pretend to be someone they’re not. Actually, being your real self will work better if you really want to connect with other people.
One of the most common reasons that people have difficulty making conversation with someone they don’t know very well is because they put too much pressure on themselves to put on a great performance.
Because of this sense of pressure, they try too hard to be impressive, to talk a lot, and to brag about their accomplishments. They won’t spend any time listening to and getting to know the person they are with.
Instead of impressing the other person however, this kind of self centered behavior is likely to irritate and annoy them.
Here’s a very important lesson to learn about making conversation with new people: Insisting to yourself that you have to be brilliant and dazzling in all your conversations will not win you new friends. It will not even improve your conversational performance.
When you think to yourself that you have to perform perfectly in all your conversations, and put up a false front, you will actually make your performance worse! You will become too nervous and awkward, and you’ll be too focused on your own performance. You won’t be focused on getting to know the new person you’ve just met.
New people that you meet are not looking for brilliant conversation. What they are looking for is someone who will be comfortable to be with, and fun to talk to. But most of all they are looking for someone who seems interested in them!
If you really want to impress the person you are meeting, it’s more important to be a good listener than to be a great talker.
If you want to know that person better, you can start by exchanging a few low key pleasantries, but you should move on quickly to a slightly more personal level of discussion. Ask a few basic questions and offer a little bit of information about yourself, your likes or dislikes, or your opinion on some neutral topic. Notice whether the other person lights up with interest about any topics you mention.
This can give you new interesting areas for both of you to discuss. Try to find out who they are, and what is interesting to them.
Even if it seems somewhat difficult and awkward for you in the beginning, develop the habit of introducing yourself to others as soon as you meet them, or very early in the conversation. Otherwise you could spend hours talking and neither of you will have any idea of what your conversation partner’s name is.
Socially confident people introduce themselves to their conversation partners very early in the course of conversation. People who are shy or socially awkward tend to introduce themselves much later, or not at all. Shy people often wait until someone asks for their name, but they rarely volunteer to give it, and they rarely ask the other person for their name.
Sometimes it is easier to ask the other person for their name first, and then offer your own. If you practice the new behavior enough times, it will eventually become second nature to you. With enough practice, it will no longer seem intimidating to take a more active role.
The important thing is simply to develop the habit of starting simple little conversations with lots more people. Look for the interests you have in common.
So remember: Show interest in other people. Smile. Listen. Look at the person you’re talking with.
Whenever you start talking to new people, don’t strive for great dialogue, or the perfect opening lines. Just get started, and keep on talking. Focus more on finding out what is interesting about the other person than on talking about what is interesting about you.
Let other people get to know the real you, instead of a fake you. Source http://www.relationshipsarticlelibrary.com
Read More..
One of the most common reasons that people have difficulty making conversation with someone they don’t know very well is because they put too much pressure on themselves to put on a great performance.
Because of this sense of pressure, they try too hard to be impressive, to talk a lot, and to brag about their accomplishments. They won’t spend any time listening to and getting to know the person they are with.
Instead of impressing the other person however, this kind of self centered behavior is likely to irritate and annoy them.
Here’s a very important lesson to learn about making conversation with new people: Insisting to yourself that you have to be brilliant and dazzling in all your conversations will not win you new friends. It will not even improve your conversational performance.
When you think to yourself that you have to perform perfectly in all your conversations, and put up a false front, you will actually make your performance worse! You will become too nervous and awkward, and you’ll be too focused on your own performance. You won’t be focused on getting to know the new person you’ve just met.
New people that you meet are not looking for brilliant conversation. What they are looking for is someone who will be comfortable to be with, and fun to talk to. But most of all they are looking for someone who seems interested in them!
If you really want to impress the person you are meeting, it’s more important to be a good listener than to be a great talker.
If you want to know that person better, you can start by exchanging a few low key pleasantries, but you should move on quickly to a slightly more personal level of discussion. Ask a few basic questions and offer a little bit of information about yourself, your likes or dislikes, or your opinion on some neutral topic. Notice whether the other person lights up with interest about any topics you mention.
This can give you new interesting areas for both of you to discuss. Try to find out who they are, and what is interesting to them.
Even if it seems somewhat difficult and awkward for you in the beginning, develop the habit of introducing yourself to others as soon as you meet them, or very early in the conversation. Otherwise you could spend hours talking and neither of you will have any idea of what your conversation partner’s name is.
Socially confident people introduce themselves to their conversation partners very early in the course of conversation. People who are shy or socially awkward tend to introduce themselves much later, or not at all. Shy people often wait until someone asks for their name, but they rarely volunteer to give it, and they rarely ask the other person for their name.
Sometimes it is easier to ask the other person for their name first, and then offer your own. If you practice the new behavior enough times, it will eventually become second nature to you. With enough practice, it will no longer seem intimidating to take a more active role.
The important thing is simply to develop the habit of starting simple little conversations with lots more people. Look for the interests you have in common.
So remember: Show interest in other people. Smile. Listen. Look at the person you’re talking with.
Whenever you start talking to new people, don’t strive for great dialogue, or the perfect opening lines. Just get started, and keep on talking. Focus more on finding out what is interesting about the other person than on talking about what is interesting about you.
Let other people get to know the real you, instead of a fake you. Source http://www.relationshipsarticlelibrary.com
Read More..
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Barbecue Tips and Trends
This is three handy tips for backyard chefs this season, courtesy someone who should know, Linda Lee, manager of Windsor's popular Patio Palace.
- Inspect. Clean up the barbecue, not just the obvious fixtures but check for spiders and and insect nests in the venturi tubes, the tubes that extend from the burner to the control valves. "Make sure the flame is blue, not yellow. If you see yellow, get it cleaned," Lee cautions, pointing to serious fires that have occurred. She says the siding of one house was destroyed because of a fire from the barbecue.
- Read labels. When buying a new barbecue, check whether it's North American-made. If not, parts and service may be hard to come by, Lee emphasizes. At least, find out whether parts and service are available from the retailer for the brands on display. Brands like Broil King based in Waterloo, Napoleon from Barrie and Weber in the United States provide support, including parts and service.
- Know your needs. Barbecues can cost $300 to more than $1,000 and come with a variety of features. "Know what's best for you," Lee advises, when it comes to choosing between models. She's seeing more models that are more affordable. They may have fewer features than higher-end, luxury barbecues but may still be a good value.
Accessories remain popular as a trend, with items like rib racks to provide more grill space and keep bones from burning, pizza stones for wood-fired grilling, and grill brushes that can be filled with water to hasten cleaning.
Such toys for the grill actually have a practical purpose, Lee maintains. They make the barbecue appliance more useful, providing more possibilities for cooking.
Read More..
- Inspect. Clean up the barbecue, not just the obvious fixtures but check for spiders and and insect nests in the venturi tubes, the tubes that extend from the burner to the control valves. "Make sure the flame is blue, not yellow. If you see yellow, get it cleaned," Lee cautions, pointing to serious fires that have occurred. She says the siding of one house was destroyed because of a fire from the barbecue.
- Read labels. When buying a new barbecue, check whether it's North American-made. If not, parts and service may be hard to come by, Lee emphasizes. At least, find out whether parts and service are available from the retailer for the brands on display. Brands like Broil King based in Waterloo, Napoleon from Barrie and Weber in the United States provide support, including parts and service.
- Know your needs. Barbecues can cost $300 to more than $1,000 and come with a variety of features. "Know what's best for you," Lee advises, when it comes to choosing between models. She's seeing more models that are more affordable. They may have fewer features than higher-end, luxury barbecues but may still be a good value.
Accessories remain popular as a trend, with items like rib racks to provide more grill space and keep bones from burning, pizza stones for wood-fired grilling, and grill brushes that can be filled with water to hasten cleaning.
Such toys for the grill actually have a practical purpose, Lee maintains. They make the barbecue appliance more useful, providing more possibilities for cooking.
Read More..
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Cook with Couscous
If you're tired of serving mashed potatoes, rice or noodles with a dinner entrée, switch things up and mound some couscous on your plate. It's easy to cook, is widely available and can make any dinner seem a little more exotic.
Couscous is a staple of North African cuisine, made by turning grain into tiny balls of dough and steaming them. It has been served for millennia in countries such as Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia and often accompanied with vegetables, fish or meat. Some of the local names for couscous in those countries are identical to the word for "food," which indicates how important it is to their diet.
The traditional vessel used to cook couscous is called a couscousière. It's basically a double boiler where a stew or other creation gets cooked in the bottom of the pot, and the couscous sits in the top part, cooking in the steam that rises from the food below.
Couscous comes in a few forms, but what you most often see for sale in Canada is what is sometimes referred to as "instant" couscous, although that won't be noted on the box or bulk food bin. It is a quick-cooking grain product made by moistening and forming semolina into fine granules, steaming them and then drying them.
To cook this type of couscous, available in regular, whole-wheat and flavoured, you most often simply stir it into boiling water, stock or other liquid, cover tightly, remove from the heat and allowed the couscous to plump up five minutes, before fluffing with a fork to separate the grains.
This type of couscous is a versatile ingredient. For example, you can cook it plainly and use it as a base to spoon something saucy over, such as a stew or braised dish.
You can also add ingredients to the couscous as it cooks and create a side dish that can rival the entrée, which I did in today's recipe for couscous with pine nuts, olives, roasted peppers and basil. After cooking and cooling, couscous can make a great base for a salad or addition to a soup.
I've also seen recipes where couscous was used in a dessert, flavoured with chocolate, almonds and cinnamon.
Another type of couscous becoming more widely available in Canada is called Israeli or pearl couscous. I found it for sale at a bulk food store and at a European-style delicatessen. It's much larger than the couscous noted above, about the size of a small pea.
This type of couscous can be cooked in boiling, salted water as you would pasta. It takes quite a bit longer to cook than fine granulated couscous and can be used in similar ways, such as a side dish or in a salad. I've also seen it added directly to soups and stews and used to make a risotto-like dish.
Middle Eastern specialty food stores might also sell traditional couscous, which requires soaking and slow steaming to cook it, and Lebanese couscous, called maghrabiyeh, which is cooked by soaking in boiling water about 45 minutes.
Eric Akis is the author of the best-selling Everyone Can Cook book series. His columns appear in the Life section Wednesday and Sunday.
VEGETABLE SOUP WITH COUSCOUS
This colourful soup is made more filling by spooning couscous into each bowl just before serving.
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: About 20 minutes
Makes: 4 servings
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, in small cubes
1 celery rib, cut into small cubes
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 (14-oz.) can diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground oregano
• pinch each crushed chili flakes and sugar
3 cups vegetable stock
1 cup water
2/3 cup couscous
1/2 cup frozen peas
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Pour oil in a medium-sized pot and set over medium heat. Cook onion, carrot and celery, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook 1 minute more. Add the tomatoes, cumin, oreg-ano, chili flakes, sugar and stock. Simmer gently 15 minutes. Meanwhile, place the 1 cup water in a small pot and bring to a boil. Stir in the couscous, cover, remove from the heat and let stand 5 minutes.
When the soup is cooked, stir in peas and heat through 1 minute. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Divide the couscous among 4 large soup bowls. Ladle in the soup and serve.
COUSCOUS WITH PINE NUTS AND OLIVES
The Mediterranean flavours of this dish suit grilled lamb chops. Have all ingredients chopped, measured and ready to go before starting this quick-cooking dish.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: About 6-7 minutes
Makes: 6-8 servings
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (340 gram) pkg. couscous (about 1 3/4 cups)
1/3 cup pine nuts
1 large roasted red pepper, finely diced (sold in jars or in bulk at most supermarkets)
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup pitted black olives, coarsely chopped
* salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Place the stock, olive oil and garlic in a medium-sized pot and bring to a boil. Mix in the remaining ingredients.
Cover, turn off the heat and let the couscous stand 5 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork to separate the grains and then serve.
ISRAELI COUSCOUS SALAD WITH MIXED VEGETABLES, FETA AND RAISINS
A colourful salad you can serve with grilled or roasted fish, chicken or lamb. It's also a great salad to bring to a potluck dinner.
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 18-20 minutes
Makes: 8 servings
1 cup Israeli couscous
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp orange juice
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
3 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
* salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
8 cherry tomatoes, each quartered
1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
1/3 cup finely chopped yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup raisins
100 grams feta cheese, crumbled
Bring 4 cups of lightly salted water to a slow boil. Add the couscous and cook 18-20 minutes, or until just tender. Drain the couscous well, cool in ice-cold water and drain well again. Place the couscous in a bowl and toss in the remaining ingredients.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, gently tossing the salad again just before doing so. Salad can be readied several hours in advance of serving.
Read More..
Couscous is a staple of North African cuisine, made by turning grain into tiny balls of dough and steaming them. It has been served for millennia in countries such as Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia and often accompanied with vegetables, fish or meat. Some of the local names for couscous in those countries are identical to the word for "food," which indicates how important it is to their diet.
The traditional vessel used to cook couscous is called a couscousière. It's basically a double boiler where a stew or other creation gets cooked in the bottom of the pot, and the couscous sits in the top part, cooking in the steam that rises from the food below.
Couscous comes in a few forms, but what you most often see for sale in Canada is what is sometimes referred to as "instant" couscous, although that won't be noted on the box or bulk food bin. It is a quick-cooking grain product made by moistening and forming semolina into fine granules, steaming them and then drying them.
To cook this type of couscous, available in regular, whole-wheat and flavoured, you most often simply stir it into boiling water, stock or other liquid, cover tightly, remove from the heat and allowed the couscous to plump up five minutes, before fluffing with a fork to separate the grains.
This type of couscous is a versatile ingredient. For example, you can cook it plainly and use it as a base to spoon something saucy over, such as a stew or braised dish.
You can also add ingredients to the couscous as it cooks and create a side dish that can rival the entrée, which I did in today's recipe for couscous with pine nuts, olives, roasted peppers and basil. After cooking and cooling, couscous can make a great base for a salad or addition to a soup.
I've also seen recipes where couscous was used in a dessert, flavoured with chocolate, almonds and cinnamon.
Another type of couscous becoming more widely available in Canada is called Israeli or pearl couscous. I found it for sale at a bulk food store and at a European-style delicatessen. It's much larger than the couscous noted above, about the size of a small pea.
This type of couscous can be cooked in boiling, salted water as you would pasta. It takes quite a bit longer to cook than fine granulated couscous and can be used in similar ways, such as a side dish or in a salad. I've also seen it added directly to soups and stews and used to make a risotto-like dish.
Middle Eastern specialty food stores might also sell traditional couscous, which requires soaking and slow steaming to cook it, and Lebanese couscous, called maghrabiyeh, which is cooked by soaking in boiling water about 45 minutes.
Eric Akis is the author of the best-selling Everyone Can Cook book series. His columns appear in the Life section Wednesday and Sunday.
VEGETABLE SOUP WITH COUSCOUS
This colourful soup is made more filling by spooning couscous into each bowl just before serving.
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: About 20 minutes
Makes: 4 servings
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, in small cubes
1 celery rib, cut into small cubes
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 (14-oz.) can diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground oregano
• pinch each crushed chili flakes and sugar
3 cups vegetable stock
1 cup water
2/3 cup couscous
1/2 cup frozen peas
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Pour oil in a medium-sized pot and set over medium heat. Cook onion, carrot and celery, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook 1 minute more. Add the tomatoes, cumin, oreg-ano, chili flakes, sugar and stock. Simmer gently 15 minutes. Meanwhile, place the 1 cup water in a small pot and bring to a boil. Stir in the couscous, cover, remove from the heat and let stand 5 minutes.
When the soup is cooked, stir in peas and heat through 1 minute. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Divide the couscous among 4 large soup bowls. Ladle in the soup and serve.
COUSCOUS WITH PINE NUTS AND OLIVES
The Mediterranean flavours of this dish suit grilled lamb chops. Have all ingredients chopped, measured and ready to go before starting this quick-cooking dish.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: About 6-7 minutes
Makes: 6-8 servings
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (340 gram) pkg. couscous (about 1 3/4 cups)
1/3 cup pine nuts
1 large roasted red pepper, finely diced (sold in jars or in bulk at most supermarkets)
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup pitted black olives, coarsely chopped
* salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Place the stock, olive oil and garlic in a medium-sized pot and bring to a boil. Mix in the remaining ingredients.
Cover, turn off the heat and let the couscous stand 5 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork to separate the grains and then serve.
ISRAELI COUSCOUS SALAD WITH MIXED VEGETABLES, FETA AND RAISINS
A colourful salad you can serve with grilled or roasted fish, chicken or lamb. It's also a great salad to bring to a potluck dinner.
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 18-20 minutes
Makes: 8 servings
1 cup Israeli couscous
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp orange juice
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
3 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
* salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
8 cherry tomatoes, each quartered
1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
1/3 cup finely chopped yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup raisins
100 grams feta cheese, crumbled
Bring 4 cups of lightly salted water to a slow boil. Add the couscous and cook 18-20 minutes, or until just tender. Drain the couscous well, cool in ice-cold water and drain well again. Place the couscous in a bowl and toss in the remaining ingredients.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, gently tossing the salad again just before doing so. Salad can be readied several hours in advance of serving.
Read More..
Saturday, June 7, 2008
What Needs to be Done for Quiting Smoking?
Revolutionary move is the need of the hour. Smoking is the deadly disease of the day that is taking our society in its grip by leaps and bound. Every second person that we see around is inhaling and exhaling the cigar. Smoking has become a habit of many and people take it very casually. It has become a symbol of fashion and modernism.
How smoking is started
Many people start smoking as a step towards socializing. They do so to show the society that they are also a part of it and can gel well with it. The younger generation that leaves their homes to conquer life starts smoking to mix well with the society. They think that they will be accepted easily in the society if they do what the others do, whether it is right or wrong. Younger generation often follows the footsteps of their elderly and seniors. When they see their parents smoking, they do the same without any hesitation.
What is needed today?
We need to bring a revolution in our society and uproot the deadly disease. This can be achieved best by educating people about the harmful consequences of smoking. People should be made aware about the harm they are doing to themselves viz. health loss and money loss. Tobacco makes our hair and clothes stink. It stains our teeth and our mouth smells foul. Money expended on cigarettes is a complete waste. They should be made to understand that hard earned money should be expensed only constructively. Further parents and seniors need not to smoke in front of their children, or for that matter at homes. They should rather take up the matter with their children as a piece of educational advice and discuss it openly with them in the right perspective.
Government’s role in this
Also the government and other authorities should organize “Quit Smoking” programs and campaigns. Celebrities should be asked to participate in these campaigns and propagate the same for a noble cause. Medical camps should be put up where free medical aid and assistance should be provided to the sufferers. Teachers and coaches of various sports should educate the athletes about the ill effects of smoking and convince them to quit it. Flagrant use of cigarettes in movies and other TV shows should be banned because many actors are ideals for the younger generation. At last prevention is better than cure so one should be over cautious at the initial stages itself and should not lay prey to the deadly disease.
Read More..
How smoking is started
Many people start smoking as a step towards socializing. They do so to show the society that they are also a part of it and can gel well with it. The younger generation that leaves their homes to conquer life starts smoking to mix well with the society. They think that they will be accepted easily in the society if they do what the others do, whether it is right or wrong. Younger generation often follows the footsteps of their elderly and seniors. When they see their parents smoking, they do the same without any hesitation.
What is needed today?
We need to bring a revolution in our society and uproot the deadly disease. This can be achieved best by educating people about the harmful consequences of smoking. People should be made aware about the harm they are doing to themselves viz. health loss and money loss. Tobacco makes our hair and clothes stink. It stains our teeth and our mouth smells foul. Money expended on cigarettes is a complete waste. They should be made to understand that hard earned money should be expensed only constructively. Further parents and seniors need not to smoke in front of their children, or for that matter at homes. They should rather take up the matter with their children as a piece of educational advice and discuss it openly with them in the right perspective.
Government’s role in this
Also the government and other authorities should organize “Quit Smoking” programs and campaigns. Celebrities should be asked to participate in these campaigns and propagate the same for a noble cause. Medical camps should be put up where free medical aid and assistance should be provided to the sufferers. Teachers and coaches of various sports should educate the athletes about the ill effects of smoking and convince them to quit it. Flagrant use of cigarettes in movies and other TV shows should be banned because many actors are ideals for the younger generation. At last prevention is better than cure so one should be over cautious at the initial stages itself and should not lay prey to the deadly disease.
Read More..
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Arabbi, a Buddhist monk and a Rastafarian walk into a bar. What's the first thing the women inside notice?
Each dude's hair.
Sorry for the lacking punchline, but the sad state of men's hairstyles today is no laughing matter (except the so-bad-it's-good mullet).
Axe, a company focused on men's grooming products, recently surveyed 2,000 American women on men's hair care. About three-quarters of the women said hair is one of the first things they notice about a guy. Almost half felt guy's hairstyles all look the same, and that guys their age need help styling their hair. Worse, 62 per cent said they are not likely to take a guy with bad hair home at the end of the night. Yet only 29 per cent of guys in the same survey considered their hair to be an important factor in attracting women.
Now, I don't want to overstate the importance of this disconnect, but suffice to say the global recession should immediately take a back seat to this crisis. Until that happens, though, a guy who puts a bit of effort into his hair can take advantage of the monotonous world of men's mops. It's never been easier to grab the ladies' attention. And your boss's: well-tended locks are an obvious sign that you take care of yourself.
Hold up, I know what you're thinking: every time I step out of the box with my hairstyle, I end up looking goofy. But there are ways to get and keep a style that fits your type of hair, says Toronto-based image consultant Shannon Stewart, who has styled Bono, Billy Talent and Sting. Read on for tips from Stewart and Annette Burwash, owner of Getaway Spa For Men in Bridgeland, on how to get a good haircut and properly style your hair.
Great Hair Starts With A Great Haircut
It can be tough to find a good hairstylist, especially if you're not willing to spend what you would on Calgary Flames tickets. But shell out as much as you can afford for a good cut.
"A really good haircut will make styling your hair much easier," Stewart says.
Keep your hair short if you have thinning hair with a receding hairline. The longer hair grows, the thinner it looks. And if you're bald or almost there, forget the comb-over. Keep the sides and back trim, or even shaved, like Michael Jordan.
Men with thick and coarse hair usually look better and have an easier time styling a shorter cut. Personalize short hair by making it messy or spiky, or coiffing it in the direction you like. But it's easiest to keep most of it facing the way it tends to grow.
Get your hair cut every three weeks to keep it trimmed and easy to style. Even if you want to grow it out, keep your haircuts regular so your locks don't get mussy.
Which Hair Products To Buy And How To Apply Them
Before you style your 'do, clean it with a pH-balanced shampoo and conditioner. An acidic shampoo dries out your scalp, causing flakes and an itchy head.
If you have really fine, straight hair, wash it most days. If you have thick hair and don't use much product, Stewart recommends skipping a day or two between washings to let your natural oils come back.
Don't be lazy in your search and resort to using your partner's fruity conditioner. A guy's scalp is usually oilier and sweatier than a woman's, and women aren't turned on by a guy who smells like lilacs.
There's a whole whack of new men's hair products out there, with strange names like pomade, mess constructor, and "Funkifier" gel -- so let's demystify the hair-care aisle. The bad hair products start with gel. There's a reason they call it a gelmet. And since gel is mostly water, when it dries you're left with a crusty residue. Likewise, avoid hairspray, because it tends to dry out your scalp.
Stewart recommends using a quality hair wax, pomade, putty or cream. Burwash disagrees, saying only waxes and creams are good choices for your hair, because the other products are too greasy. Waxes and creams are easy on your hair and scalp. They don't get flaky or clump hair like gel or hairspray. Both give you a wet look. Wax is the hardest product, but keeps your hair pliable so you can re-style for drinks after work. Cream is much softer, but doesn't have as much hold. Beeswax in the ingredients is the sign of a good wax, Burwash says.
Pomade gives a bit of sheen for a more polished, preppy look at the office, while putty offers good hold and provides a matte look. A good paste gives that just-out-of-bed look, Stewart says, which is hit-or-miss in my experience.
The thinner and finer your hair, the less hold your product needs. When applying it, remember: pinches, not handfuls. And relax. Excessive primping is not required. If you're styling your hair right, a few minutes should be enough to wow the women.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
Read More..
Each dude's hair.
Sorry for the lacking punchline, but the sad state of men's hairstyles today is no laughing matter (except the so-bad-it's-good mullet).
Axe, a company focused on men's grooming products, recently surveyed 2,000 American women on men's hair care. About three-quarters of the women said hair is one of the first things they notice about a guy. Almost half felt guy's hairstyles all look the same, and that guys their age need help styling their hair. Worse, 62 per cent said they are not likely to take a guy with bad hair home at the end of the night. Yet only 29 per cent of guys in the same survey considered their hair to be an important factor in attracting women.
Now, I don't want to overstate the importance of this disconnect, but suffice to say the global recession should immediately take a back seat to this crisis. Until that happens, though, a guy who puts a bit of effort into his hair can take advantage of the monotonous world of men's mops. It's never been easier to grab the ladies' attention. And your boss's: well-tended locks are an obvious sign that you take care of yourself.
Hold up, I know what you're thinking: every time I step out of the box with my hairstyle, I end up looking goofy. But there are ways to get and keep a style that fits your type of hair, says Toronto-based image consultant Shannon Stewart, who has styled Bono, Billy Talent and Sting. Read on for tips from Stewart and Annette Burwash, owner of Getaway Spa For Men in Bridgeland, on how to get a good haircut and properly style your hair.
Great Hair Starts With A Great Haircut
It can be tough to find a good hairstylist, especially if you're not willing to spend what you would on Calgary Flames tickets. But shell out as much as you can afford for a good cut.
"A really good haircut will make styling your hair much easier," Stewart says.
Keep your hair short if you have thinning hair with a receding hairline. The longer hair grows, the thinner it looks. And if you're bald or almost there, forget the comb-over. Keep the sides and back trim, or even shaved, like Michael Jordan.
Men with thick and coarse hair usually look better and have an easier time styling a shorter cut. Personalize short hair by making it messy or spiky, or coiffing it in the direction you like. But it's easiest to keep most of it facing the way it tends to grow.
Get your hair cut every three weeks to keep it trimmed and easy to style. Even if you want to grow it out, keep your haircuts regular so your locks don't get mussy.
Which Hair Products To Buy And How To Apply Them
Before you style your 'do, clean it with a pH-balanced shampoo and conditioner. An acidic shampoo dries out your scalp, causing flakes and an itchy head.
If you have really fine, straight hair, wash it most days. If you have thick hair and don't use much product, Stewart recommends skipping a day or two between washings to let your natural oils come back.
Don't be lazy in your search and resort to using your partner's fruity conditioner. A guy's scalp is usually oilier and sweatier than a woman's, and women aren't turned on by a guy who smells like lilacs.
There's a whole whack of new men's hair products out there, with strange names like pomade, mess constructor, and "Funkifier" gel -- so let's demystify the hair-care aisle. The bad hair products start with gel. There's a reason they call it a gelmet. And since gel is mostly water, when it dries you're left with a crusty residue. Likewise, avoid hairspray, because it tends to dry out your scalp.
Stewart recommends using a quality hair wax, pomade, putty or cream. Burwash disagrees, saying only waxes and creams are good choices for your hair, because the other products are too greasy. Waxes and creams are easy on your hair and scalp. They don't get flaky or clump hair like gel or hairspray. Both give you a wet look. Wax is the hardest product, but keeps your hair pliable so you can re-style for drinks after work. Cream is much softer, but doesn't have as much hold. Beeswax in the ingredients is the sign of a good wax, Burwash says.
Pomade gives a bit of sheen for a more polished, preppy look at the office, while putty offers good hold and provides a matte look. A good paste gives that just-out-of-bed look, Stewart says, which is hit-or-miss in my experience.
The thinner and finer your hair, the less hold your product needs. When applying it, remember: pinches, not handfuls. And relax. Excessive primping is not required. If you're styling your hair right, a few minutes should be enough to wow the women.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
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