Healing Ulcers With Cabbage Juice

Stomach ulcers are a painful open sores found in the digestive tract. Ulcers can be triggered by stress, and poor dieting, but the primary cause for an ulcer is an infection caused by the H. pylori bacteria. This bacterial organism weakens the protective coating of the stomach and duodenum and allows the damaging digestive juices to irritate the sensitive lining below. The bacteria has been found in the saliva of some infected people so it is believed to be spread through kissing, as well as possibly through food or water. Overuse of aspirin and ibuprofen is also documented as a common cause of ulcers. There are a number of risk factors that increase the chance of developing ulcers including increasing age, alcohol abuse, diabetes, and smoking. The pain experienced from ulcers comes from contact between the open sores and acidic digestive juices. Eating brings temporary relief as the acids are neutralized, but the pain returns once the food is digested. Using a control group consisting of 100 people with peptic ulcers, Dr. Cheney found that drinking 4 glasses of raw cabbage juice led to healing of peptic ulcers within 4 to 10 days, with no other changes in their diet.. X-ray exams confirmed more rapid healing from cabbage juice when compared to treatments given in hospitals that took an average of 30 days. Peptic ulcers are found on the stomach lining, while duodenal ulcers are found on the lining of the upper small intestine.

The healing properties found in cabbage come from two anti-ulcer compounds, glutamine (an amino acid that fuels the cells that line the stomach and intestine) and S-methyl-methionine (labeled as Vitamin U by Dr. Cheney). Glutamine is available in capsules for those who are too busy to juice cabbage, and is proven as a superior cure to antacids. Juicing cabbage is simple, and done by cutting the head into segments small enough to fit into your juicer's feeding chute. When using cabbage juice it is recommended not to drink more than 4 oz at a time to avoid over stimulating the gastric juices, which can lead to cramping of the intestine and gassiness due to the sulfur in the juice reacting with existing intestinal bacteria. Mixing cabbage juice with carrot juice can help cut the effect of sulfur and tone intestinal walls. Beyond its ability to heal stomach ulcers, cabbage is also recognized as a successful treatment for a number of other health conditions including colitis and constipation. It is also known to help clear up acne, and heal infected gums. It's important to choose heads of cabbage that are firm with no loose leave or discoloration, which means loss of nutritional value. 

Juicer

Healing Ulcers With Cabbage Juice

Article posted by: Juliet White

Visit Raw Juicers to purchase a good quality wheatgrass juicer [http://www.rawjuicers.com/wheatgrass-juicer.html] to avoid heating and thus damaging the juice.

http://www.rawjuicers.com

1-800-746-1191

Juicer Recipes For a 2010 Weight Loss Plan

If you are starting a diet plan please do yourself a favor and don't starve yourself. If you deny your body the fuel it needs to function, it goes into a "safe mode" and pretty much shuts down by slowing down your metabolism so dramatically that weight loss is virtually impossible. Plus, you are probably irritable and not too pleasant to be around either!

The real "trick" to dieting isn't starving. Nor is it spending a lot of your hard earned money on gimmick diet plans or pills. The "trick" is to consume fewer calories than your body burns on a daily basis while still providing the vitamins and nutrients required to maintain good health. Personally, I have found that a great way to do this is by pre-planning meals so I don't end up at the local drive through and by adding Smoothies to my diet.

Juicer

Smoothies are unique because they can be made with so many different ingredients including low calorie yogurts, milk, and soy. There are literally hundreds of fruit smoothie recipes so you won't bet board eating the same thing day after day after day. You can make weight loss smoothies to the consistency you desire so they will give you that "full" feeling which will result in eating less. Also, because of the ingredients used, having a healthy smoothie each day will insure your body gets the vital vitamins and nutrients it needs. Here's a tip: the bolder the color of the fruit, the more vitamins, minerals, and nutrients you are getting.

Fruit smoothie recipes are, most often, made of low fat, skim or soy milk but you can also make fresh fruit juice recipes as well. Most smoothie mixes avoid sugars so right from the start you are avoiding unnecessary calories. One of the best things about fruit smoothie recipes is that the fruit used is naturally sweet and, if you also use a low fat flavored yogurt in the mix, your sweet tooth is satisfied without harm to your diet!

You have the ability to make 2010 the year you lose the weight and keep it off. All you need to do is start!

Juicer Recipes For a 2010 Weight Loss Plan

Fruit smoothie recipes are an excellent diet aid. Not only do they bring a variety of flavors to your meal plans but these juicer recipes also provide a very large amount of the daily vitamins and minerals our bodies require to function properly.

These healthy smoothies also provide a base for introducing additional dietary supplements such as Mila's Chia Seed which may be one of the best available.

We post a new free juicing recipe each weekday at Best Fruit Smoothies.com and I invite you to visit. We also offer a good selection of smoothie recipe books that virtually guarantee you will never have to have the same recipe twice!

This is the year to finally lose the weight. Juicing recipes like smoothies will help you achieve your personal goals.

Yummy Goldenberries

Have you ever heard of a goldenberry? I hadn't until recently, when I purchased up a bag of organic, vegan goldenberries made by Golden Power from Whole Foods. On my way home, I was glancing over my receipt and noticed the bag of them was more than ! They certainly are not the cheapest berry I've ever purchased. I was both annoyed and intrigued.

So, what are these special berries exactly? Well, goldenberries are apparently a "superfruit" that hail from South America. From what I've read they appear to be very healthy - with a high vitamin A content. They are rich in bioflavonoids, which help reduce inflammation in the body. They also contain a high level of vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin P, as well as some iron. In case you are wondering, vitamin P (sometimes known as rutin) is believed to strengthen the circulatory system in addition to helping with vitamin C absorption.

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

What are they like? Well, these particular golden berries from Golden Power are a lot like giant raisins, but better! They have a very potent smell, and their taste is both sweet and tart (it has the essence of orange and a bit of grapefruit). The taste was a bit surprising at first (it is strong), but after a while I found that they tasted more and more like candy. In terms of calories, a serving of 28 grams has 80 calories, 0 grams of fat, 2 grams of protein (impressive for a fruit!), and 3 grams of fiber -- so only 1 weight watchers point!

There are tons of ways to eat goldenberries. You can eat them on their own, add them to low calorie oatmeal or low calorie cereal, combine them into fage yogurt, eat them with low calorie ice cream or low calorie frozen yogurt, combine them in a low calorie trail mix, or even sprinkle them on pancakes or make jam out of them.

Enjoy!

Yummy Goldenberries

Juliet

http://www.yummydietfood.com

Top 3 Ruby Tuesday Recipes

Ruby Tuesday has great food. I'm sure you know what I mean if you have ever dined there. I love the burgers, steaks, salad bar, and everything in between. They are one my top restaurant choices if I want a burger or a salad for dinner. Ruby Tuesday has other delicious food too. I just recently started researching Ruby Tuesday recipes. I was surprised at the amount of information available. If you are struggling to pay your bills in a tough economy, you might want to consider making some of these Ruby Tuesday recipes at home. If you want to try three Ruby Tuesday recipes, here are my top three recommendations along with the accompanying recipe.

Ruby Tuesday Turkey Burger
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried minced onion (optional)
1 egg
1/2 cup crushed cheese flavored crackers

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

Preheat a grill for high heat.

In a large bowl, mix together the ground turkey, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, minced onion, egg and crackers using your hands. Form into four fat patties.

Place patties on the grill, and cook for about 5 minutes per side, until well done.

Ruby Tuesday Crab Cakes
1 lb. crab meat
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup Saltines, crushed
1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon paprika or Old Bay seasoning
cayenne pepper or Morton's Hot Salt
onion powder for sprinkling
butter or olive oil for frying

Remove any shell from crab. In a medium bowl, toss together crushed Saltine cracker crumbs, egg, parsley and mayonnaise until moistened, but do not over mix. Add salt and pepper.

Form into five or six cakes, 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick. Place in refrigerator on cookie sheet for at least one hour so they will set up. Sprinkle lightly with cayenne or Morton's Hot Salt and onion powder.

In a heavy skillet, fry crab cakes in butter (or olive oil), turning once until both sides are nicely browned (about 10 minutes).

Ruby Tuesday Broccoli Salad
1/3 cup hot water
4 tlbs. sugar
4 tlb. vinegar
1 cup mayo
2 heads broccoli cut into small pieces
16oz sharp cheddar cheese cut up
2 lbs bacon cooked crisp and crumbled
1 medium red onion minced

Put broccoli in a bowl.
Dissolve sugar in hot water.
Pour over broccoli
Add remaining ingredients mix well, refrigerate for a couple hours

Top 3 Ruby Tuesday Recipes

Jake Kelly is an expert in restaurant food and recipes. Would you like more information on restaurant recipes? Just visit his web page at Find more restaurant recipes!

Top 10 Best Smoothie Recipes

There are two good reasons to make a healthy recipe smoothie: 1) They taste great; and 2) They are filled with lots of fruit that have health benefits for your body. Here's a sample of popular smoothie recipes that can be a positive addition to your daily diet.

Orange Julius Smoothie - This is a delicious drink made with orange juice, milk, and vanilla extract. The Orange Julius franchise is responsible for creating this popular smoothie, and if you can find an Orange Julius location in your town, you'll be in for a real treat.

\"Smoothie Recipes\"

Strawberry Orange Smoothie - Made with fresh or frozen strawberries, orange juice and honey. A wonderful sunkissed drink to help you wake up in the mornings.

Chocolate Banana Smoothie - Made with a ripe banana, chocolate syrup and milk. A healthier way to get your chocolate fix!

Classic Blueberry Smoothie - Made with fresh or frozen blueberries, frozen juice and yogurt. Blueberries have lots of antioxidants, so you can enjoy this knowing you're helping your body stay strong and healthy.

Tropical Five Fruit Smoothie - Made with banana, kiwi, mango, papaya and orange juice. Escape to the tropics with this exotic blend of flavors. Mangoes are packed with vitamins. A great energy recipe smoothie.

Creamsicle Smoothie - Made with fresh cantaloupe melon, orange juice, vanilla extract and honey. This yummy drink will remind you of the ice cream version you enjoyed on lazy summer days as a child.

Berry Brainstorm Smoothie - Made with frozen strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, juice and yogurt. The official drink of superheroes and people who need extra brain power to accomplish amazing tasks. A great frozen fruit smoothie recipe.

Pina Colada Smoothie - Made with pineapple, banana, coconut and milk. A tasty slimmed-down version of the popular alcoholic drink. The real pina colada has 644 calories--ouch!

Cherry Vanilla Smoothie - Made with frozen cherries, raspberries, vanilla yogurt and milk. If you love cherries drenched in creamy vanilla, this is your smoothie.

Creamy Coffee Smoothie - Made with instant coffee, sugar and heavy cream. Okay, maybe it's a little heavy on the calorie side, but this is a great way to add variety to your daily java routine.

Top 10 Best Smoothie Recipes

Donna Monday You can find all of the above smoothie recipes and more by visiting this site and clicking on the Milkshake-n-Smoothie link. [http://www.best-free-cooking-recipes.com]

Homemade Energy Bar Recipe

Energy bars take up almost as much space on the isles of grocery stores and gas stations as candy bars. They provide a quick fix of calories for people on the go, or the athlete who needs extra fuel. The bars are typically high in protein, though many contain high amounts of corn syrup and sugars as well. Energy Bars come with names like "Splendor Berry," "Cocoa Supreme," and "Peanut Surprise." But these products contain more "surprise" and less natural ingredients like peanuts, cocoa, or berries. In fact, the modern energy bar is such a potent lab development of artificial sweeteners and designer whey that the actual product barely resembles or tastes like anything that could come out of the ground...

Which is why you should make your own energy bars. Natural, organic, high protein energy bars. And this is a recipe for one of the best.

\"Smoothie Recipes\"

Ingredients

  • 0.25 cup sesame seed meal
  • 0.25 cup almond butter
  • 0.25 cup coconut oil (can be found at health food store or higher quality grocery stores)
  • 0.5 cup almonds (chopped or slivered)
  • 0.5 cup pecans
  • 0.5 cup dried blueberries
  • 0.25 shredded coconut (unsweetened)
  • 0.5 teaspoon natural honey
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Toast nuts and shredded coconut on a baking sheet. During baking, give the sheet a good shake occasionally to flip shreds for a more even toast. Blend the mixture in a food processor until ingredients are thoroughly chopped and pulpy.

Microwave the almond butter and coconut oil together for about 30 seconds. Stir until the mixture becomes gooey and smooth. Mix the honey, salt, and pure vanilla extract into the almond butter/coconut oil. Fold the sesame seed meal and nut mixture into the "goo" and mix vigorously. Add the blueberries, and keep mixing vigorously.

Flatten the mixture into a 4 x 8 bread or loaf pan. Refrigerate for thirty minutes. The mixture should be thick, but not brittle. Cut into 6 bars, or for kicks, slice up into "cookie cutter" shapes like stars and hearts for the kids.

The great thing about these energy bars is that they are naturally low in carbohydrates. Yet, they still provide that calorie kick as well as healthy nuts and fats associated with a high protein diet. It's perfect for the carb counter who's looking for a boost of energy without overloading on sugar. If this is up your alley, check out these healthy nut recipes for more high protein options.

Homemade Energy Bar Recipe

Mark Sisson is a former professional triathlete who runs a popular health and nutrition blog, Mark's Daily Apple. Check it out for more great articles and information on the Primal Blueprint, a revolutionary health plan using the principles of human evolution as the basis for modern, high protein, healthy living.

Avocado Smoothies - Avocado Is Rich In Magnesium That Reduces Risk Of Excess Belly Fat

AVOCADO BANANA BERRY SMOOTHIE

You can throw just about anything in a smoothie to enhance its flavor such as honey, tofu, jams, any combination of fruits, peanut butter, juices, etc., but keep in mind it will effect the nutritional values.

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

Half a ripe avocado

1 to 1 1/2 frozen bananas

4 to 5 frozen or fresh strawberries

Splash non-fat soy or other nut milk

Pinch cardamom

Pinch allspice

Whatever else strikes your fancy... Nuts, fruits, spices, etc throw all ingredients into a blender and blend until desired texture is reached.

I prefer it smooth, but some like a chewable drink. Very, very delicious! Serves: 1.

AVOCADO AVALANCHE SMOOTHIE

1 large avocado

2 teaspoons condensed milk

1 cup ice

Scoop out avocado into blender.

Add 2 teaspoons condensed milk or a little more, depending on how sweet you like it. Then add the ice and blend all of it together until it's a semi-creamy texture.

PEAR AVOCADO SMOOTHIE

1 large pear, chopped

1/2 cups green grapes

1/4 avocado

2 teaspoons honey

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Blend and top with chopped pecans.

Good to Know:

Avocado is rich in magnesium that reduces risk of excess belly fat, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar- the symptoms of metabolic syndrome.

One Avocado delivers a whooping 11 grams of fiber.

1/4 avocado = 4 grams

Studies at the Smell n Taste Treatment Research Foundation in Chicago reveal that inhaling sweet scents like the arome of prickly Pear activates the brain's satiety center, reducing caloric intake enough to lose 5 pounds monthly.

Foods to Slim Down Fast

Avocado Smoothies - Avocado Is Rich In Magnesium That Reduces Risk Of Excess Belly Fat

Foods to Slim Down Fast

Breville Juicer Reviews - Which Model is Best For You?

Looking at individual Breville juicer reviews will give you a lot of information about each individual juicer that they manufacture. But what if you don't know which one is best for you? After all, the prices range from to 9. There's obviously a difference between them! That's where a comparison review steps in. In this article we'll cover all seven of the Breville juicers and talk about what features they have in common and where they differ.

The Seven Breville Juicer Models are:

Juicer

  • Juice Fountain Compact BJE200XL at an msrp of .00
  • Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL at an msrp of 9.00
  • Ikon Multi-speed Juice Fountain BJE510XL at an msrp of 9.00
  • Die-cast Juice Fountain Elite 800JEXL at an msrp of 9.00
  • Dual Disc Juice Processor BJE820XL at an msrp of 9.00
  • The Juice and Blend BJB840XL at an msrp of 9.00
  • Die Cast Citrus Press 800CPXL at an msrp of 9.00

All of these seven models are manufactured by the same company, Breville, an Australian manufacturer that has been in business since 1932. They are all quite similar except for the last one in the list, the die cast citrus press. We'll cover that one real quick, since it is so different than the others.

The citrus press juicer is a hand powered press style juicer that juices only citrus; grapefruits, oranges, lemons, etc. It is made of die cast metal to hold up against the acidity of many citrus fruits. It also features a power assisted press, which makes it easier to extract the citrus juice, less muscle needed! The big detraction on numerous consumer juicer reviews is that there is a plastic part under the press that wears out under heavy use.

All right, now let's cover the other six juicer reviews in this line. The first four in the list, the compact, the plus, the ikon and the elite are all home grade juicers. They are the models that most people will choose to purchase for home juicing.

They are all centrifugal style juicers (vs. masticating, twin gear, single gear, and auger styles). What this means in plain english is that they will juice fast (much faster than the other styles of juicers) but will also heat the juice more than those other types typically do. This is a concern only if you are very particular about your juice heat and enzyme retention. The more fresh juice is heated, the more it loses valuable health promoting enzymes. If this is a concern for you, consider another style of juicer from another manufacturer altogether.

The compact has a 750 watt motor, the plus an 850 watt motor, the ikon a 900 watt motor and the elite has a 1,000 watt motor. For industry standards with centrifugal style juicers, these are good. With centrifugal types, the higher the motor wattage the better.

The first two in the line, the compact and the plus, have a plastic housing in a silver satin finish that mimics stainless steel. The ikon makes the upgrade to stainless steel and the elite to die cast metal. All of the Breville juicers reviewed have a very attractive appearance, however that silver finish on the bottom two models will wear with age.

Other differences are the speed controls. The compact is a one speed juicer. The plus steps it up to 2 speeds, the ikon has a whopping 5 speeds, the elite has 2 speeds.

So between these four, which is the best juicer reviewed? The compact is a great buy for the casual juicer at a low . The plus at 9 is a pass due to consumer reports of motor burn-outs. The upgrade to the 9 ikon makes more sense. The elite at 9 and titanium cutting blades is heading into heavy duty juicer territory. It is for users who plan on doing extensive juicing. For most families the compact or the ikon will be perfect.

Now what about those other two juicers? The dual disc juice processor and the juice & blend are both juicer/blender combos. At 9 the dual disc features a durable die cast body, a 1200 watt motor, 5 speed juicing and titanium cutting discs. Just unveiled August 2010 is the 9 juice & blend. It differs from the dual disc in that there are two separate top mounts that can be attached to the motor base. One is a juicer and one is a blender. They are basically two separate machines that share a motor base. The juice and blend also features 5 speed settings and titanium cutting discs. These two are for serious juicing and smoothie making fans, or cooks who want the creme de la creme of appliances in their kitchen!

Breville Juicer Reviews - Which Model is Best For You?

Still want to know more? Check out more detailed individual Breville Juicer reviews at the best juicer reviews website.

Patrick Ray is a Certified Nutritionist who write health articles for The Best Juicer Reviews website and Your Nutrition magazine. He is a health nut and regular imbiber of aloe, carrot, beet and ginger juice. He's never met a tincture he couldn't handle.

Copyright: you may freely republish this article, provided the resource box and links remain active, intact, unchanged and do follow.

How to Freeze Avocados

Don't you just hate it when an avocado goes bad before you have a chance to eat it? It seems like such a waste of a wonderful fruit (yes, they are technically fruits not vegetables). Here's how to freeze avocadoes so you can use them later on in your favorite dips, sandwiches or salads.

Avocados don't freeze well whole or sliced. The best way to do it is to mash them up and then freeze them. Here's how to do it.

\"Smoothie Recipes\"

Take two ripe avocados and slice them in half. Remove the pit and using a spoon scoop all the flesh out into a clean bowl. Add one tablespoon of lemon juice to the bowl. The acidity will keep the avocado from turning an unappealing grayish brown.

Use a fork to mash your avocados well. Transfer them into a freezer bag and seal it tightly, leaving just a little air space to allow the frozen fruit to expand. Plan to use your avocado within 3 to 4 months for best results.

When you're ready for your mashed avocado, allow it to defrost in the fridge overnight. Then use it as usual in dips or as a sandwich spread.

For a quick guacamole dip, mix your thawed avocado puree with two tablespoons of salsa. Another yummy dip is to mix equal amounts of mashed avocado and cream cheese. You may also want o stir in some chopped tomatoes, onions and green peppers.

You can also use it to make delicious cold avocado soup. Simply blend your mashed avocado with a cup of cold chicken stock, some green onion and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper to taste, chill and serve.

How to Freeze Avocados

And now I would like to invite you to take a look at my freezer cooking guide - Freezer Cooking Made Simple to learn more about making homecooked meals for the freezer.

Susanne Myers - The Hillbilly Housewife.

16 Growing Hair Tips to Help Grow Hair Out Faster

Growing hair fast? Everyone wants it but few seem to be able to attain it. Well in this article I will share a few Indian secrets that have been proven to help with growing a longer mane.

Here are the steps to help with faster hair growth

Smoothie

1. Grind up half a cup of black dal or lentil, one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds into a coarse powder. Mix well into half a cup of yogurt and apply to the scalp. Leave this on for 2 hours and then rinse.

2. Massage warm castor oil and almond oil to your scalp once a week.

3. Mix amla powder with one egg. Apply to your hair and leave on for a half hour.

4. Take equal parts of lime seeds and black pepper and grind them up. Add water and apply to your scalp on a regular basis.

5. Combine raw mango pulp with oil for a year and then apply to your scalp regularly.

6. Make a paste of hot olive oil, honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and apply to your hair 15 minutes before bathing.

7. Take herbal powder triphala and mix it with aloe vera and apply it to your hair. Do this for a period of 3 to 6 months to promote hair growth.

8. Take the juice of coriander leaves and apply to your hair.

9. Combine soaked fenugreek seeds, shikakai powder, reetha powder, amla powder, dried lemon or lime peels plus two eggs. Make a paste, massage this into your hair, and leave on for 20 minutes. Wash your hair using a good herbal hair shampoo that contains hibiscus.

10. Boil together 1 cup of mustard oil and 4 tablespoons of henna leaves. Filter it and bottle. Use this combination on a regular basis to prevent bald spots and help with growing hair

11. Create a paste of olive oil, honey and cinnamon powder and massage onto the scalp. Leave this on for 15 minutes and then use a mild shampoo to wash it off. You will want to do this at least a few times a week.

12. Make a paste using fenugreek seeds and water. Massage onto the scalp after oiling it and leave it on for one hour. Wash this off and repeat this process every day for a month.

13. Combine one egg, 2 ½ tablespoons of milk powder and 1 tablespoon of wheat germ oil. Leave this on the scalp for 30 minutes and wash it off.

14. Create a shampoo using 100 grams each of amla, reetha and skikakai. Boil in 2 litres of water until the liquid is reduced by half. Use this shampoo at least once a month until your hair becomes thick. This will also help boost growing hair

15. Drink 1 teaspoon of cider vinegar with one glass of water with meals 2-3 times a week.

16. Make a smoothie of banana, honey, yogurt and skim milk. Make it a habit of drinking this smoothie every day.

And there you have it a few simple ways to help with growing hair faster. Use these methods diligently and in no time you will have longer thicker tresses

16 Growing Hair Tips to Help Grow Hair Out Faster

Discover The Secrets To Growing Hair Faster By Using A Powerful Herbal Hair Oil To Grow Long Hair Fast

Under The Sea Party Menu Ideas With Refreshing Food Ideas

We all remember those Under the Sea proms and dances that teachers used to love to throw. Well, now its time for a little adult flashback for the baby boomers. Who says we can't have a little fun and act like kids again? This party's menu is great fun and holds plenty of more adult fare, so if you are looking for ideas for a more kid's themed Under the Sea party you may want to stretch your own imagination a little bit.

However, there's no need to stretch the imagination at this adult Under the Sea party menu. All the food here fulfills your wildest dreams. Why not start everyone off with some filling and tasty Salmon Cream Cheese dip? Don't forget the crackers! You can even add more of a Cajun twist to this Under the Sea party with a main course of baked crawfish, fried scallops and oyster stuffing. Lighter fare for the menu can be a crab salad with large pieces of Romaine lettuce and other delightful veggies to offset it. Dessert should be tropical to bring up images and flavors of island regions. Look to mangos, bananas and passion fruit to make up a great tropical smoothie for the guests.

Smoothie

A tropical smoothie is limited only in flavor by the variety of fruits available for your use. We suggest for the Under the Sea party a mix of oranges, limes, passion fruit and mango. If you want you can add some banana, but not too much or its flavor will overpower the other flavors of the smoothie. Crush up ice first in the blender or food processor. Then add in chunks of fruit and squeeze in the juice of a lime and a lemon. Blenderize the mix until it's all smooth. Pour out into large stemmed glasses and garnish your Under the Sea drink with a small umbrella.

These menu ideas will make for a great and tasty Under the Sea party using flavors from several regions. Don't be afraid to mix and match for your meals.

Under The Sea Party Menu Ideas With Refreshing Food Ideas

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for birthday party supplies and fun party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Themes including Party Supplies to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Diverticulitis Diets - Natural Vegetable and Fruit Juices

If you are suffering from diverticulitis symptoms, you certainly don't want to be eating a lot of food and especially not processed foods. You need to check into some diverticulitis diets. Ones with lots of homemade vegetable and fruit juices is a smart choice, or if need be add some juices to the diet, like making your own carrot, papaya, cantaloupe or watermelon juice, which are all well known for there digestive enzymes, or you can even mix and match them.

You can find a diet for diverticulitis which can and will help all digestive problems. My holistic journey started back in the early 1980's with a natural colon cleansing product that I tried for about 6-8 weeks and boy did it work. Next I purchased a juicer called the champion juicer and I have personally known the benefits for many years.

Juicer

It changed my life in and astounding way. Not to mention weight control, overall feeling more healthy and energetic.

I have been using a juice man junior juicer for quite some time now and you can buy several different juice machines for under a hundred dollars these days. Cutting back on your fiber intake during flare ups will reduce bowel movements, there by reducing inflammation, irritation and possible infection.

As for diverticulitis diets, carrot juice is practically a miracle food in most nutritionists opinions, lettuce, potatoes, beets, celery can all be eaten or juiced for part of a correct diet for diverticulitis. Prunes, prune juice, cabbage and many dried fruits and nuts are some of the foods to avoid during an attack. Lots of healthy fluids are needed including water, and stay away from fruits and vegetables that may be to acidic.

You should begin to slowly add a proper high fiber diet back in as soon as your feeling well and moving away from any previously bad eating habits that contributed to the signs and symptoms. This will also help to prevent any and all future health problems as well. Be sure though to continue any of the new healthy habits you picked up along the way.

There are actually some very good diverticulitis diets and books on digestive problems available online.

Diverticulitis Diets - Natural Vegetable and Fruit Juices

Receive a free report [http://www.digestivepaingone.info] on solving diverticulitis and other digestive problems [http://www.digestivepaingone.info]

How to Design and Layout a Coffee Shop Or Espresso Bar

If you are planning to open an espresso bar/coffee shop, then developing an efficient store design and layout will be one of the most important factors in positioning your business for success.

Speed of service is critical to the profitability of a coffee business. An efficient ergonomic store design will allow you to maximize your sales by serving as many customers as possible during peak business periods. Even though your business may be open 12 to 16 hours a day, in reality, 80% of your sales will probably occur during 20% of those hours. Coffee is primarily a morning beverage, so your busy times of day (those times when you are most likely to have a line of waiting customers), may be from 6:30AM to 8:30AM, and then again around lunchtime. If you have a poor store layout, that does not provide a logical and efficient flow for customers and employees, then the speed of customer service and product preparation will be impaired.

Blenders

Think of it like this; if someone pulls open the front door of your store, and they see 5 people are waiting in line to order, there's a good chance they'll come in, wait in line, and make a purchase. But, if they see that 20 people are waiting in line, there is a high probability that they may determine that the wait will be too long, and they will simply get coffee somewhere else. This is money that just escaped your cash register! And, if they come to your store multiple times, and frequently find a long line of waiting customers, they may decide you are not a viable option for coffee, and will probably never return. Poor design slows down the entire service process, resulting in a longer line of waiting customers, and lost sales. So in reality, your daily business income will be dependent upon how many customers you can serve during peak business periods, and good store design will be essential to achieving that objective!

The financial impact of a poor store design can be significant. For the sake of this example, let's say the average customer transaction for your coffee business will be .75. If you have a line of waiting customers each morning between 7:00 AM and 8:30 AM, this means you have 90 minutes of crunch time, in which you must drive through as many customers as possible. If you can service a customer every 45 seconds, you will serve 120 customers during this 90 minutes. But, if it takes you 1 minute 15 seconds to service each customer, then you will only be able to serve 72 customers. 120 customers x .75 = 0.00 x 30 business days per month = ,500. 72 customers x .75 = 0.00 x 30 business days per month = ,100. This represents a difference of ,400 in sales per month (,800 per year), coming from just 90-minutes of business activity each day!

So how should you go about designing your coffee bar? First, understand that putting together a good design is like assembling a puzzle. You have to fit all the pieces in the proper relationship to each other to end up with the desired picture. This may require some trial and error to get things right. I've designed hundreds of coffee bar over the past 15 years, and I can truthfully tell you from experience, it still usually takes me a couple of attempts to produce an optimal design.

The design process begins by determining your menu and other desired store features. If you plan to do in-store baking, then obviously you'll need to include in your plan an oven, exhaust hood, sheet pan rack, a large prep table, and perhaps a mixer. If you plan to have a private meeting room for large groups, then an extra 200 sq. ft. or more will need to be designed-in, in addition to the square footage you are already allocating for normal customer seating.

Your intended menu and other business features should also drive decisions about the size of location you select. How many square feet will be required to fit in all the necessary equipment, fixtures, and other features, along with your desired seating capacity?

Typically, just the space required for the front of the house service area, (cash register, brewing & espresso equipment, pastry case, blenders, etc.), back of the house (storage, prep, dishwashing and office areas), and 2-ADA restrooms, will consume about 800 sq. ft. If space for extensive food prep, baking, coffee roasting, or cooking will be required, this square footage may increase to 1,000 to 1,200, or more. What ever is left over within your space after that, will become your seating area.

So, a typical 1,000 sq. ft coffee bar, serving beverages and simple pastries only, will probably allow for the seating of 15 to 20 customers - max! Increase that square footage to 1,200 sq. ft., and seating should increase to 30, or 35. If you plan to prepare sandwiches, salads, and some other food items on site, 1,400 to 1,600 sq. ft. should provide enough space to seat 35 to 50, respectively.

Next, you will have to determine the tasks that will be performed by each employee position, so that the equipment and fixtures necessary to accomplish those tasks can be located in the appropriate places.

Normally, your cashier will operate the cash register, brew and serve drip coffee, and serve pastries and desserts. Your barista will make all your espresso-based beverages, tea, chai, hot chocolate, Italian sodas, as well as all the blender beverages. If you'll be preparing sandwiches, panini, wraps, salads, snacks and appetizers, or will be baking on-site, then a person dedicated to food prep will be necessary. And, if you anticipate high volume, and will be serving in or on ceramics, a bus-person/dishwasher may be a necessity.

After you have determined what you will be serving, the space you will be leasing, and what each employee will be responsible for, you will then be ready to begin your design process. I usually start my design work from the back door of the space and work my way forward. You'll need to design in all of the features that will be necessary to satisfy your bureaucracies and facilitate your menu, before you make plans for the customer seating area.

Your back door will most likely have to serve as an emergency fire exit, so you'll need a hallway connecting it with your dining room. Locating your 2-ADA restrooms off of this hallway would make good sense. And, because delivery of products will also probably occur through your back door, having access to your back of the house storage area would also be convenient.

In the back of the house, at minimum, you will need to include a water heater, water purification system, dry storage area, back-up refrigerator and freezer storage, ice maker, an office, 3-compartment ware washing sink, rack for washed wares, mop bucket sink, and a hand washing sink. Do any food prep, and the addition of a food prep sink and prep table will be necessary. If doing baking, gelato making, full cooking, or coffee roasting, all the equipment necessary for those functions will also need to be added.

After all the features have been designed into the back of the house, you will then be ready to start your design work on the front of the house service and beverage preparation area. This area will probably include a pastry case, cash register(s), drip coffee brewer and grinder(s), espresso machine and grinders, a dipper well, possibly a granita machine, blenders, ice holding bin, blender rinse sink, hand washing sink, under counter refrigeration (under espresso machine and blenders), and a microwave oven.

If serving food beyond simple pastries and desserts, you may need to add a panini toaster grill, a refrigerated sandwich/salad preparation table, soup cooker/warmer, a bread toaster, etc. If you plan to serve pre made, ready to serve sandwiches, wraps, and salads, along with a selection of bottled beverages, an open-front, reach-in merchandising refrigerator should be considered. Serving ice cream or gelato? If the answer is yes, then an ice cream or gelato dipping cabinet will be necessary along with an additional dipper well.

Finally, when all the working areas of the bar have been designed, the customer seating area can be laid out. This will, of course, include your cafe tables and chairs, couches and comfortable upholstered chairs, coffee tables, and perhaps a window or stand-up bar with bar stools. Impulse-buy and retail merchandise shelves should be established, and a condiment bar should be located close to where customers will pick-up their beverages.

A quick word about couches, large upholstered chairs, and coffee tables. Living room type furniture takes up a lot of space. If you plan to be opening evenings, and will perhaps serve beer and wine, and having comfortable seating will be important for creating a relaxing ambiance, then by all means do it. But if you have limited seating space, and are not trying to encourage people to relax and stay for long periods of time, then stick with cafe tables and chairs. The more people you can seat, the greater your income potential!

Features from the front door to the condiment bar should be arranged in a logical, sequential order. As your customers enter the front door, their travel path should take them past your impulse-buy merchandise display, and the pastry case, before they arrive at the point of order (where your cashier, cash register, and menu-board will be located). Exposing customers to your impulse items and pastries, before they order, will greatly increase their sales. Then, after the order and payment has been taken, they should proceed down-line away from the cash register to pick-up their beverage, and finally, the condiment bar should be located beyond that point. Be sure to separate your point of order from the point of product pick-up by at least six feet, otherwise customers waiting for their beverage may begin to intrude into the space of those ordering.

Don't make the mistakes that many inexperienced designers commonly make. They arrange these features in a haphazard way, so that customers have to change direction, and cut back through the line of awaiting customers to proceed to their next destination in the service sequence. Or, wanting to make their espresso machine a focal point to those entering the store, they place it before the cashier along the customer's path of travel. Customers inevitably end up trying to order from the barista before they are informed that they need to proceed to the cashier first. If this happens dozens of times each day, confusion and slowed beverage production will be the result.

On the employee's side of the counter, work and product flow are even more important. Any unnecessary steps or wasted movements that result from a less than optimal design will slow down employee production. All products should flow seamlesly in one direction towards the ultimate point of pick-up. For example, if preparing a particular item is a 3-step process, then placement of equipment should allow for the 3 steps to occur in order, in one linear direction, with the final step occurring closest to the point where customers will be served.

Equipment should be grouped together so that it is in the immediate proximity of the employee(s) who will be using it. Beyond the actual equipment, empty spaces must be left on the counter top to store ingredients and small wares (tools) used in product preparation. Counter top space will also be needed where menu items will actually be assembled. Think of the grouping of equipment for different job functions as stations. Try to keep different stations compact and in close working proximity to each other, but make sure that there is enough space between each so that employee working-paths don't cross, which could contribute to employee collisions.

Creating defined work stations will allow you to put multiple employees behind the counter when needed. When it is busy, you may need to have 2 cashiers, another person just bagging pastries and brewing coffee, 2 baristas behind the espresso machine, a maybe even a dedicated person working the blenders. If you're preparing sandwiches and salads to order, then another person may need to be added to handle that task. Keeping your stations in close proximity to each other will allow one employee to easily access all equipment during very slow periods of business, thus saving you valuable labor dollars.

When you arrange equipment in relationship to each other, keep in mind that most people are right handed. Stepping to the right of the espresso machine to access the espresso grinder will feel more comfortable than having to move to the left. Likewise, place your ice storage bin to the right of your blenders, so when you scoop ice, you can hold the cup or blender pitcher in your left hand, and scoop with your right.

As you create your store layout, the equipment you select should fit your space and the needs of your anticipated business volume. A busy location will most likely require a dual or twin, air pot, drip coffee brewer (one that can brew 2 pots at the same time), as opposed to a single brewer. If you anticipate selling a lot of blended and ice drinks, then an under counter ice maker, one that can only produce 100 pounds of ice or less per day, will not be sufficient. You should instead locate a high-capacity ice maker (one that can make 400 or 500 lbs. per day) in the back of the house, and transport ice to an ice holding bin up front. Plan to bring in frozen desserts and ice cream? Then a 1 door reach-in freezer in the back of he house will probably be inadequate for you storage needs, so you'll need to consider a 2 or 3 door. I always recommend a 3-group espresso machine for any location that may generate 150 drinks per day or more. And, I can tell you from experience, you can never have too much dry or refrigerated storage space!

Make sure that any equipment you select will be acceptable with your local bureaucracy before your purchase and take delivery of it. All equipment will typically need to be NSF & UL approved, or have a similar, acceptable, foreign certification equivalent. Your bureaucracy will most likely want to see manufacturer specification sheets on all equipment to verify this fact, before they'll approve your plans.

ADA (American's with Disabilities Act) compliance will also come into play when you are designing your coffee bar. In some areas of the country, this will only apply to those areas of your store that will be used by customers. However, other bureaucracies may require your entire store to be ADA compliant. Following are some of the basic requirements of compliance with the code:

• All hallways and isle ways must be 5 feet wide (minimum).

• All countertop working heights must be 34 inches high (instead of normal 36 inch height).

• 18 inches of free wall space must be provided on the strike-side of all doors (the side with the door knob).

• All hand-washing sinks must be ADA friendly.

• All bathrooms must be ADA compliant (5 foot space for wheelchair turnaround, handrails at toilet, acceptable clearance around toilet and hand washing sink, etc.).

• No steps allowed, ramps are OK with the proper slope.

• If your space has multiple levels, then no feature may exist on a level where handicapped access has not been provided, if that same feature does not exist on a level where it will be accessible.

You can find the complete regulations for ADA compliance at the following website:

http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm

Beyond the basic Equipment Floor Plan, showing new partitions, cabinets, equipment, fixtures, and furnishings, you'll need to produce some additional drawings to guide your contractors and satisfy the bureaucracies.

Electrical Plan

An electrical plan will be necessary to show the location of all outlets needed to operate equipment. Information such as voltage, amperage, phase, hertz, special instructions (like, "requires a dedicated circuit"), and the horizontal and vertical location of each outlet, should all be specified.

A small, basic coffee shop might get away with a 200 amp service, but typically 400 amps will be required if your equipment package will include items like an electric water heater, high-temperature dishwasher, or cooking equipment (ovens, panini grill, etc.).

In addition to the electrical work required for your coffee business-specific equipment, you may need to adjust existing electrical for additional or reconfigured lighting, HVAC, general-purpose convenience outlets, and exterior signs. Also, have your electrician run any needed speaker wires, TV/internet cables, and cash register remote receipt printer cables at the same time they are installing electrical wires. Finally, make sure your electrician makes provisions for lighted exit signs, and a battery-powered emergency evacuation lighting system, if needed.

Plumbing Plan

A plan showing all plumbing features will be necessary. At minimum, this should show stub-in locations for all needed water sources (hot & cold), drains, your water heater, water purifications system, grease interceptor (if required), bathroom fixtures, etc.

While a typical P-trap drain should be acceptable for most fixtures and equipment, some will require an air-gap drain. An air gap drain does not go through the "S"-shaped twists of the P-trap. Instead, the drain line comes straight down from the piece of equipment or fixture, and terminates 2 inches above the rim of a porcelain floor sink drain. This porcelain drain basin is usually installed directly into the floor. The air gap between the drain line from your equipment or fixture, and the bottom of the basin, prevents any bacteria in the sewer pipe from migrating into the equipment or fixture. I drain the following pieces of equipment to a floor sink drain when creating a plumbing plan:

• espresso machine

• dipper wells

• ice maker

• ice holding bin

• food prep sink

• soft drink dispensing equipment

To save on the life of your water filtration system, only your espresso machine and coffee brewer should be supplied by with treated water. Coffee is 98% to 99% water, so good water quality is essential. Your ice maker should only require a simple particle filter on the incoming line (unless your water quality is terrible). There is no need to filter water that will be used for hand and dish washing, cleaning mops, flushing toilets, and washing floors!

Be aware that many bureaucracies are now requiring a grease interceptor on the drain line from your 3-compartment ware washing sinks and automatic dishwasher. A grease interceptor is basically a box containing baffles that traps the grease before it can enter the public sewer system.

Also understand that a typical retail space will not come equipped with a water heater with enough capacity to handle your needs. Unless your space was previously some type of a food service operation, you will probably need to replace it with a larger one.

If cutting trenches in the floor will be necessary to install porcelain floor sinks, a grease interceptor, and run drain lines, then establishing a few general purpose floor drains at this same time behind the counter, and in the back of the house, will prove useful. Floor drains will allow you to squeegee liquids away when spills occur, and when washing floors.

Finally, if you added some new walls during your remodel, you may need to have the fire sprinkler system for your space adjusted or reconfigured.

Cabinet Elevations

Drawing cabinet elevations, (the view you would have if you were standing in front of your cabinets), will be necessary for your cabinet maker to understand all the features they will need to incorporate into your cabinet designs.

These elevations are not meant to be shop fabrication drawings for your cabinetmaker, but merely serve a reference, showing needed features and desired configuration. Where do you want drawers, and under counter storage space; and, where do you want cabinet doors on that under counter storage? Where should open space be left for the placement of under counter refrigeration and trashcans? Will cup dispensers be installed in the cabinet face under the counter top? These elevations will provide your cabinetmaker with a clear understanding of all these features.

While your kitchen base cabinets at home are typically 24 inches deep, for commercial applications they should be 30 inches deep, and 33 inches if an under counter refrigerator is to be inserted. Also, when specifying the size of an open bay to accommodate under counter refrigeration, be sure to allow a couple of inches more than the physical dimensions of the equipment, so that it can be easily inserted and removed for daily cleaning.

Dimensions Plan

You will need to create a floor plan showing all the critical dimensions for new partitions, doors, cabinets, and fixtures. This will, of course, help make sure that everything ends up where it is suppose to be, and will be the right size.

A final thought about design; unless the space you will be designing is a clean vanilla shell (meaning, nothing currently exists in the space, except perhaps one ADA restroom), you will have to make sure that all the features that you are considering keeping, will be acceptable with your local bureaucracy. Many older buildings were not designed to present codes. If the business type remains the same (your space was occupied by a food service establishment before you), then some times any non compliant features will be grandfathered-in, meaning you don't have to bring them up to current requirements. But don't count on this! You need to check with your bureaucracies to make sure. More and more I see bureaucracies requiring new business owners to remodel, so that all features are compliant with codes. This means you may have to rip-out bathrooms and hallways, add fire sprinkler systems, and provide ramps where there are steps. Better you know all these things before you begin your store design!

I always tell my consulting clients, that if I produce a perfect design and layout for them, they will never notice... because everything will be exactly where you would expect it to be. Unfortunately, if you create a less than optimal design for your coffee bar, you probably won't realize it until you start working in it. Changing design mistakes or inadequacies after the fact, can be extremely expensive. Not correcting those mistakes may even cost you more in lost potential sales. For this reason, I strongly suggest using an experienced coffee business space designer to create your layout for you, or at very least, to review the design you have created. Doing so will payoff with dividends.

How to Design and Layout a Coffee Shop Or Espresso Bar

Ed Arvidson is President of E&C Consulting Inc., a company specializing in Specialty Coffee Industry consulting. He frequently creates coffee bar designs for those starting a coffee business. Examples and information related to his design services can be found at: http://www.CoffeeBizConsultant.com/service5.php

Ed is also the creator and instructor of the Los Angeles Coffee Business School, and offers 4-day classes on how to open and operate a successful, profitable coffee business. Information about his school can be found at: http://www.LACoffeeSchool.com/

Juicing Recipes for Skin Care

Energy boosting fresh juice has powerful healing and rejuvenating properties that can help people with skin problems. Evidence illustrates that juicing helps the organs and the body cleanse itself, which results in a softer and healthier looking complexion. Our skin is the body's largest organ so caring for the skin can be achieved by a diet which combines healthy food with fresh juicing.

The following free recipes contain fruits and vegetables, which are known to promote and enhance the skin. Using juicing recipes as an additional treatment for skin care deserves the best produce, preferably organic. These recipes are not cures for major skin concerns but consuming fresh organic juice will assist in better looking and healthier skins. When you make juicing a natural part of your daily diet you will notice a difference in increased energy and a healthy complexion.

Smoothies

VEGETABLE JUICES

A healthy diet with energy boosting vegetable juice recipes will give the best treatment for skin care.

Vegetable 8

1/2 Tomato

1/4 Cucumber

1 Carrot

1 Celery stalk

Handful Spinach

1/2 Red Pepper

1/2-Cup Cabbage

1 Green Onion

Very powerful skin healer, protector and cleanser.

Skin Deep

2 Beets (with leaves)

2 Cucumbers

5 Carrots

Carrot juice is a wonderful treatment for sunburn.

Carrot Blush

4 Carrots

1 Beet

6 Romaine leaves or Dark Green Lettuce

4 Spinach leaves

4 Sprigs parsley

This is a blood regenerator, high in iron and chlorophyll.

Skin Tonic

1 Cucumber

2 Sticks of Celery

1 Small to medium clove of Garlic

Root Ginger - 1 inch

Cucumber juice is beneficial for skin care as it is rich in the mineral silica, which is good for the complexion and skin elasticity.

FRUIT / VEGETABLE JUICE COMBO

Juicing for skin care will result in detoxification, weight loss and healthy looking skin.

Runners Rise

3 Oranges

2 Pears

1 Small yam

Oranges improve skin texture, moisture and reduce body heat.

Skin Smoother

5 Apples

2 Large carrots

1 Large stick of celery

1 Cucumber

Apple and cucumber encourage smooth satin skin.

Clear Complexion

2 Cups spinach

1 Cup of parsley

4 Oranges

Spinach is rich in iron and orange juice is full of vitamin C, which work wonders for a clear complexion.

FRUIT JUICES

Fruit juices make for a great morning energy boost.

Melon Mover

1 Cantaloupe

5 Ice cubes

Dash of cinnamon

Melons are powerful agents in the fight against skin cancer.

Strawberry/Grape

8 Strawberries

4 oz Green or purple grapes

Fresh juices hydrate and combat dry skin.

Citrus Crush

1 Pineapple

2 Pink grapefruit

2 Lemons-juice and rind

2 Limes-juice and rind

Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant that helps promote healthy skin.

SMOOTHIES

Smoothies are the best alternative for a healthy breakfast.

Strawberry Smoothie

30-60 Strawberries

9-12 Medium or large bananas

7-8 Cups fresh squeezed orange juice

1 Cup flaxseed meal

Health Smoothie

1 Kiwi fruit, peeled

1/4 Cantaloupe, with skin

1 Ripe banana

Tropical Smoothie

1 Pineapple

2 Mangoes

4 Passion fruit

2 Papayas

2 Apples

Ginger root - 1 inch, peeled

Papaya and pineapple are rich in vitamin C, E and iron to improve skin complexion and metabolism.

Juicing Recipes for Skin Care

For more juicing tips and reviews on the Breville juicer, Omega juicer, Citrus juicers and more try visiting juicertips.com where you can quickly and easily find tips, advice and information on juicer reviews

What is the Best Juicer to Buy?

People are always trying to figure out what the best juicer is. In my eyes, there is no one perfect juicer out there. However, there is such a thing as the best juicer for you! The way I see it, the best juicer for you is the juicer that is going to make you want to juice every day. And of course, that's going to vary from person to person. But not to worry, I've outlined a few different aspects you should look for to when trying to find that perfect juicer for you!

Centrifugal Juicers

Juicer

If you are just getting into juicing and you don't want to dedicate very much time to it, you should probably look at a centrifugal juicer. They juice at very high speeds and their parts can be easily thrown into the dishwasher.  Quick juice, quick clean up. These are great machines, but they do have some downfalls. They work very well with hard fruits and veggies but they don't work very well with leafy greens or wheatgrass. Additionally, the high speeds that they operate at can help encourage the loss of valuable enzymes and nutrients. However, these juicers still produce healthier juice than you can buy in a grocery store. Therefore, if you aren't interested in leafy greens and you don't need to have the healthiest juice possible, get a centrifugal juicer. You'll love it!

Mastication Juicers

If you are a bit more serious about the nutritional value of your juice, or you want to be able to juice leafy greens, you should be looking at a mastication juicer. They're not all meant for wheatgrass so if you'd like to juice wheatgrass often, make sure you get a wheatgrass juicer. They come in every variety of mastication juicer. Mastication juicers require a bit more time than centrifugal juicers but they produce healthier juice and can be used as a food processor. They come in a few different variations:

Single Gear

Mastication juicers can either have one gear that chews at fruit or two. Single gear juicers tend to have a lower RPM, but the juicing process itself is faster. This is because there is only one gear to slow the produce from passing through the chamber so it gets sent through the machine more quickly. Downfall: a slightly lower extraction rate. However, the number of gears does not change the juice quality. Therefore, if you are looking for a healthy juicer but you'd like a relatively quick juicing process, this is a great type of juicer for you!

Twin Gear

Twin gear simply means there will be two augers chewing at your produce to extract juice. These juicers produce a very high yield of juice from whatever is sent through them. The tradeoff is that the higher yield usually means a slightly slower process. However, if you are passionate about juicing and you don't mind spending that little bit of extra time juicing, this is the perfect option for you!

Cold-Press

Cold-Press Masticating juicers have motors that run at a speed between 80 RPMs and 200 RPMs. This range of speed ensures that nutritional enzymes aren't lost to unnecessary oxidation, which is encouraged when juice heats up. In other words, it means the motor is spinning slow enough to make sure the juice doesn't get heated because when juice gets heated, enzymes escape. A definite must for all health nuts! Only downside: longer juicing process because of slow speeds.

Price Range

Juicers come in all different shapes and sizes so you can probably find one to suit your price range. As a general rule of thumb though, the more expensive the juicer, the longer it will last and the more it can handle (and very often, the longer the warranty). If you would actually like to begin juicing, consider it an investment. If you buy yourself a cheap juicer that clogs all the time and falls apart, you'll feel as though you've wasted your money and you will find yourself feeling bitter towards juicing. However, if you really want to juice and you do your research and find yourself that perfect juicer to suit your juicing needs, you'll be so happy you spent the extra time and money that you'll never stop juicing! 

What is the Best Juicer to Buy?

Natalie Greggain is a blogger for Purely Juicers. My favorite juicers are the Samson 9001 Juicer and the Omega 8006 Juicer. What's yours? Check out our blog from the Purely Juicers homepage and let me know!

What Is Cacao And Why Is Natural Chocolate Healthy?

Understanding Super Foods: Cacao and Real Chocolate

For some reason I can't get the vision of John Matuszak out of my head. John Matuszak -- you know -- Sloth, from The Goonies! Choc-o-late...Ruth...Ba-by...Ruth. Yes, none of that cinematic magic would have been possible without cacao. Could you imagine? Cacao is responsible for that delicious, sometimes decadent food group we commonly know as chocolate, but it's oh, so much more. In fact, in its purest form, it has health benefits that might even cause you to furrow or lift your brow. But first -- what exactly is cacao?

Smoothie

What Is Cacao?

Cacao is an evergreen tree that generally grows from 10 - 30 feet in height and is native to the tropical regions of the American continents. It is found naturally in the Amazon River Basin as well as the Orinoco River Basin, and can also be found bearing its "fruit" at the base of the Andes Mountain range in foothill elevations of 600 - 1300 ft. above sea level. It is widely accepted by many cacao experts, that the tree was native to Mexico, and brought wild to be cultivated in South America.

It is now farmed in many tropical nations, and the largest commercial producer is actually the western African nation of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. Ghana, Indonesia and the Philippines also cultivate a prominent amount of cacao, and the Americas round out the majority of the commercial farming.

The fruit of the cacao, known as the cacao pod, ripens to a hearty yellow or orange, and weighs about a pound. Within it, you'll find a load of seeds, which are generally referred to as cacao beans. Each seed is made up of about 40 percent fat, which is often extracted and known as cocoa butter.

The Cacao Nib Craze

Is it true that Cacao Nibs, the peeled, crushed cacao seeds/beans, are full of antioxidants? Antioxidants that rival super foods like blueberries, and many antioxidant rich teas? Yes, it's all true. As a matter of fact, the cacao nib is also rich in good fat and minerals such as calcium, zinc, iron and potassium. All that good energy stuff you'd get from drinking a Gatorade without the multiple grams of refined sugar. You'll also find a natural byproduct that is very much like caffeine. It even seems that the natural MAO inhibitors found in these tasty morsels can suppress an overactive appetite.

The Taste of Cacao

What do cacao nibs taste like? Chocolately and nutty. You can pick at it like granola, eat it by the spoonful like granola, grind it into your coffee... not like granola... sprinkle it on ice-cream, put it in a smoothie or a personal favorite -- dip a banana into them.

If you're intrigued, make sure you snag an organic variety of the cacao nibs. Criollo cacao is the rarest of the organically produced cacao, and what you'd probably enjoy the most in your first sampling. You can generally find the goods for -15 a pound, depending on where you shop. Cacao: Along with Goji Berries [http://www.greeneggsandplanet.com/blog/dieting/goji-berries-what-are-goji-berries], just another example of nature's candies.

What Is Cacao And Why Is Natural Chocolate Healthy?

Matty Byloos writes and manages the Green Blog known as: Easy Ways to Go Green, as well as the Organic Food Blog: Organic Eating Daily

Are Fast Food and Obesity Related?

Drive-up restaurants, milkshakes, fries, and time-honored burgers and dripping Coney Islands - that's what makes the American cuisine - since the 1950's. This has been America's characteristic manner of preparing food - Fast Food - the epitome of the American life. Yet should tradition hinder improvement?

When it comes to health, the answer should be a big NO. When America is at risk of the fast food and obesity outbreak, the consumer should think twice before he takes a huge gulp of his sweet soda.

Milkshakes

Fast food and obesity has been a major link that makes the American dinning experience and unfortunately American Health most noteworthy to world specialists. About 60M of the American population is considered obese. Australia only comes second in the fast food craze and obesity maze. Most significantly is that the impending danger of obesity concern has become a world phenomenon. The problem of obesity has crept quickly as fast as the spurt of fast foods all throughout the world. Though, we could not blame McDonaldization and Globalization.

What makes this type of food so appealing not only to Americans is that it's not just hot, tasty, and greasy; it's also constant and convenient. The cheeseburger that you so loved since childhood have never changed a bit - a constancy that is so hard to find in the constantly changing society. Additionally, the fast-paced lifestyle of the current generation only leaves this type of food in the high-ladder for convenience. Preparing everything with minimum fuss has just become so valuable. And you can also add the joy of indulgence. But what about the cons?

Primary is over-indulgence. Not only is this food expensive and isolating; it is also over-eating tolerant. It's true that it is sometimes a wonderful thing to be able to overcome your guilt to have yourself a treat, yet can you take the guilt of burdening your body with fast food and obesity?

The problem with fast food and obesity is that it has become socially acceptable, even encouraged. Some call it expression, even freedom, equality. You see commercials of all sorts urging you get the latest dessert. You go to the mall and there's a special line of plus sizes. It all seems purely natural but it doesn't mean it's totally right. This isn't to say that fast food can't be consumed occasionally, and that fat people should be detested. The point is that these can be avoided, and that there are better choices.

Sure you can look at fast food as just a way of life; but also look at obesity as what it is - a disease, and a serious one - something you wouldn't want to indulge in.

Are Fast Food and Obesity Related?

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