Magnesium

Many people don't know this, but magnesium deficiency is a big problem today. Many people could reduce leg cramps and even blood pressure by supplementing with this inexpensive nutrient.

The regular dose for most shouldn't exceed 400mg. Many people, or larger people, can tolerate 1000mg per day, in a divided dose. Take with food. Too much can cause diarrhea. Just think milk of MAGNESia...

This mineral relaxes muscles, including those of the colon and blood vessels, as well as regular muscles. This explains the effect.

Years ago it was plentiful in produce from soil and drinking water. Today it is not as plentiful.  Supplementation is necessary for most.

Hope this helps.

Electric Coffee Makers

Coffee machines come in different types. They can be sorted by how many cups they brew at a time, single serve, specialty coffee like espresso or cappuccino, or whether they are run by electric or stove top. The most common type today, in the industrialized world, are electric coffee makers.

Before you even get to what type of machine you need, you have to understand that to make a great cup of coffee you need clean fresh water. If you live in a locale which fluoridates and chlorinates the water, you really need to invest in a proper water filtration system, unless you have bottled water service and use that for coffee. You want as many impurities removed from the water as you can before putting it through your machine. This also works to keep the machine clean from mineral buildup.

Another factor is the coffee that you use. You should buy top quality coffee from a reputable coffee supplier. Many people are now going with gourmet coffee from "fair trade" suppliers which is a better deal for the farmers who actually grow the coffee. In the past the large coffee conglomerates would squeeze the coffee farmers to maximize profit. Conscience is entering into the business now, and since modern people are having a resurgence of conscience when dealing with people in poorer and developing nations, as well as trying to rectify past wrongs and salvage 3rd world opinion of modern business and the consuming nations and their people, this is also becoming a selling point for coffee suppliers. If you can advertise that you are "fair trade" then you appeal to this instinct in many modern consumers.

Now that we have that sorted, you should get a machine that meets your needs. First on the list is how many cups do you need to brew at a time. If you are a busy family then a 10 or 12 cup model might be in order. If you are a single person who lives alone then one cup coffee makers might work for you. A working couple may only need a dual coffee maker.

Another factor that you may want to look at is extra functionality. Programmability is when the machine can be set at night and be ready to start brewing when the timer reaches the desired time of day. You get to wake to the smell of coffee which is ready for you. Modern machines also have safety features which let them stay plugged in, unlike some older models.

Some machines come with paper saving plastic filter baskets which do not require you to purchase after market filters which get thrown away. Also, there are accessories such as grinders. A Cuisinart coffee grinder might be just what you need to grind your beans any way you need.

If you are the member of an organization, there are large percolator models that can serve huge amounts of coffee in short order for thirsty crowds. These units are great at fundraisers and they are durable and last a long time. Perhaps a simple French press is all that you need to make individual amounts of coffee. Another type is the small espresso brewer for making strong espresso coffee. Electric cappuccino machines are also available for making the famous latte coffee drink that many of us have after our restaurant feasts.

No matter which way you cut it, there is a coffee machine behind just about any type of coffee that you drink. Instant coffee is thankfully almost a thing of the past, as even the youngest of coffee drinkers have much more discerning tastes that some of the older generation that grew used to that horrid invention called instant coffee. Blech!

The Raw Food Diet

Cooking takes so many nutrients and vitamins OUT of food. You automatically start feeding your body what it needs when you stop cooking food and start eating uncooked, nutrient-rich foods. Raw vegetables have exponentially more nutrition than cooked vegetables.

Cooking also alters the chemistry of foods, often making them harder to digest. Why do we have so many digestive problems in this country? We’re putting foods into our bodies in a form that we weren’t designed to absorb. High fiber, high water content fresh produce abolishes constipation of the bowels, cells, and circulatory system. Obstructions are cleared and blood flow increases to each and every cell in the body. Enhanced blood flow is significant for two reasons: as mentioned above, blood delivers nutrients and oxygen to living cells, and carries away their toxic metabolites.

Obesity is endemic in the Western world these days. The diet industry is more profitable than the oil companies. Why? Because the way we eat and prepare our food practically guarantees that we’ll overeat. Psychologists tell us that we overeat because our souls are hungry. But in reality, our bodies are hungry, even though we may feel full. When you start giving your body the nutrients it craves, overeating will cease.

Eating raw foods is a boost to your metabolism as well. It takes a little more energy to digest raw foods, but it’s a healthy process. Rather than spending energy to rid itself of toxins produced by cooking food, the body uses its energy to feed every cell, sending vitamins, fluids, enzymes and oxygen to make your body the efficient machine it was intended to be.

You’ll naturally stop overeating, because your body and brain will no longer be starving for the nutrients they need. A starving brain will trigger the thoughts that make you overeat. The brain and the rest of your body don’t need quantity; they need quality.

Cheat your way thin.

Brand New Diet From A True Nationally Published Author. Use Your Favorite Foods To Lose Fat Faster!

Anchovies Rule!

Many Americans today are sissies who can't tolerate strong tasting food. That's not an anti American comment. I am an American. I find that a great percentage of the people whom I know and meet have an aversion to things like anchovies, sardines, herrring, most fish, raw garlic, etc. Now I know that some of these foods may not be a first choice when in polite company or if you are headed to a job interview, but let's get real, people. Except for the sodium content, anchovies and sardines are good for you. Actually, if you look at the sodium content of many popular and fast foods, and adjust for portion or serving size, you would find that many come close to anchovies. Also, if you drink enough water and are generally healthy it isn't a problem.

So, lets look at the can label. It says about 2 servings per container, so amounts are doubled. Total fat 2.5g, Cholesterol 15mg, Protein 4g, Sodium 1050mg. So that's 2100mg sodium per can, but wait a minute. You can't tell me that much of that sodium hasn't leaked into the olive oil that fills the can and surrounds the anchovies, and you don't drink the oil, right? It's probably a lot less consumed - that is unless those numbers are strictly for what is in the fish. I doubt it.

Anchovies are also high in Omega 3 fatty acids, the good stuff that you need, and are packaged in olive oil, which is great for you as well.

Put it this way. I could have gone out for lunch today and gotten a huge roast beast sandwich wrap, or even a fast food double hamburger or some fried chicken. It was late and I didn't want to go out in the rain or eat a huge lunch late in the day, so I opted for one of those cans of anchovies in my desk drawer. I have frozen grain bread in the freezer at work, and they have a toaster oven. So, I had toast covered with anchovy filets. Luckily I work in a sparsely populated office devoid of those shallow little disco girls who would surely make comments about the stinky offensive fish and save me the trouble of telling them to go break a leg on the dance floor. ;-)

Honestly, I can't understand many of these people. I have friends who are big hulking men who go to pieces around fishy food. It's sad.

Can Pizza be Healthy?

Well, if you trust the place that makes it - like a local place vs the big pizza chains - and you eat it in moderation, then sure. We have a local place near where I work which makes the best thin crust pizza. It's to DIE for. I had some for lunch today. Someone at work ordered one with hot peppers and they couldn't eat much because they had lunch and someone brought it back for them so they asked if I could help eat it. Say the word! ;-) Always ready to help out a colleague in distress. :D

What's better is that since the crust is thin that's less bread as compared to a traditional type of pizza. That is if you don't eat a whole pie and at this place it's easy for a regular sized guy to eat an entire large pie since the crust is so thin. The place is Kinchley's Tavern in Ramsey, NJ. (US)

I can't do a better review than this guy has done. They have many photos and an extensive well written review, so I linked to it. Enjoy!

Magical Curry

Turmeric, one of the components in Indian curry, can treat the joint pain of arthritis and may be useful in the fight against things like cancer and Alzheimer's. So, all you curry haters, it's not too late to add this wonderful food spice to your list of healthy food choices.

It's tough for me because my wife hates curry. I love the stuff and I have a can of the powder in the closet. I should get some chicken and make some curry chicken on a day when I know that she will not be home. ;-)