Dr. Travis Stork from the TV show "The Doctors" has a book out called "The Lean Belly Prescription", and it includes tips on how to lose weight in just ten seconds. Obviously, you won't actually get THINNER in ten seconds. They're just weight-loss STRATEGIES that take ten seconds or less. Here are the top four.
#1.) Ruin Your Appetite. Drinking two glasses of water before a meal makes you feel full, and it can reduce the number of calories you eat by up to 20%. You don't have to chug, but unless you're a horse, you probably won't drink two glasses in ten seconds. Actually, you can accomplish the same thing if you have just one glass of water, then start with a cup of broth-based soup, like miso, minestrone, or chicken noodle.
#2.) Sign Up for a 5K Race. According to a study at the University of Michigan, you're more likely to maintain an exercise program if you find more reasons to work out than just weight loss.
#3.) Eat Chile Peppers. Capsaicin is the stuff in chilies that makes them hot. And according to a recent study, it also increases your metabolism. If you eat just one tablespoon of chopped red or green chilies, it can boost your metabolism by up to 23%.
#4.) Eliminate Added Sugar. According to a survey done by the USDA, the average American eats about 20 teaspoons of added sugar a day, which translates to about 320 empty calories. Most of that sugar comes in the form of soda, baked goods, breakfast cereal, candy, and fruit drinks.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Envious of Brit-Brit's Body? Here's the secret:
BRITNEY SPEARS is in pretty good shape these days --wanna know her secrets? Cosmopolitan magazine spoke with celebrity trainer JOE DOWDELL, who dished out three moves to get Britney's body!
1. The Glute Bridge. It might not be the most ladylike movement, but lay on your back with knees bent and feet on the floor. Lift your hips, hold for five seconds and squeeze the booty before coming back down. Do two sets of ten for tight hind quarters.
2. Push-Ups. Face the floor, hands at shoulder level and feet together. Lift your body from a few inches off the floor until arms are straight --you should see results in your triceps and core.
3. The Split Squat. Stand up with one foot in front of your body with knee slightly bent, put the other behind you with toes on the ground. Lower down with your weight on the front heel and stop when you're an inch above the floor. Do two sets of ten and switch legs.
1. The Glute Bridge. It might not be the most ladylike movement, but lay on your back with knees bent and feet on the floor. Lift your hips, hold for five seconds and squeeze the booty before coming back down. Do two sets of ten for tight hind quarters.
2. Push-Ups. Face the floor, hands at shoulder level and feet together. Lift your body from a few inches off the floor until arms are straight --you should see results in your triceps and core.
3. The Split Squat. Stand up with one foot in front of your body with knee slightly bent, put the other behind you with toes on the ground. Lower down with your weight on the front heel and stop when you're an inch above the floor. Do two sets of ten and switch legs.
Ten MORE Things That Suddenly Cost Way More:
There were some new numbers last Friday about the Consumer Price Index . . . that's a measurement of the overall price of household goods. According to the new stats, it's gone up 2.7% in the last year. And the price of gas . . . which has gone up 28% in the last year . . . is just the tip of the iceberg. Here are ten other things that either ALREADY cost more, or are ABOUT to cost more.
#1.) Plane Tickets. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, domestic fares went up 22% between August and February, mostly because of gas prices.
#2.) Insurance. State Farm just announced an average rate hike of 18.8% for homeowners in Florida, so we can assume they'll do the same thing everywhere else soon. And Allstate has been raising rates for auto insurance too.
#3.) Chocolate. Late last month, Hersey's raised its wholesale prices by almost 10%. The prices in most stores haven't gone up yet, but they will in May or June.
#4.) Coffee. The price of coffee jumped 27% between December and March, and companies like Starbucks, Folgers, and Dunkin' Donuts have all started charging more.
#5.) Fast Food. McDonald's is raising prices this year because the cost of ingredients is going up. And Wendy's says they expect to pay 15% more for beef in 2011. So expect the price of a burger to go up at basically EVERY restaurant.
#6.) Produce. Even when you take the growing season into account, the price of fruit and vegetables has gone up an astounding 23% in the last three months. Bananas are up 10%, and potatoes are up 39%.
#7.) Furniture. Companies like Ethan Allen and La-Z-Boy are charging up to 7% more because the prices of cotton, yarn, leather, and steel have gone up.
#8.) Juice. Last month, Tropicana announced they'll be charging 4 to 8% more for some types of juice, because cold weather damaged citrus crops in Florida. And Minute Maid is doing the exact same thing.
#9.) Soft Drinks. The price of carbonated drinks went up by 14% between December and March, mainly because of higher costs for ingredients, packaging, and transportation.
#10.) Tires. Between September and March, U.S. tire prices climbed 6%, and last month Cooper Tires raised their prices for the second time this year. When they announced the price hike, the company said the price for rubber had gone up 75% in just a few months.
#1.) Plane Tickets. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, domestic fares went up 22% between August and February, mostly because of gas prices.
#2.) Insurance. State Farm just announced an average rate hike of 18.8% for homeowners in Florida, so we can assume they'll do the same thing everywhere else soon. And Allstate has been raising rates for auto insurance too.
#3.) Chocolate. Late last month, Hersey's raised its wholesale prices by almost 10%. The prices in most stores haven't gone up yet, but they will in May or June.
#4.) Coffee. The price of coffee jumped 27% between December and March, and companies like Starbucks, Folgers, and Dunkin' Donuts have all started charging more.
#5.) Fast Food. McDonald's is raising prices this year because the cost of ingredients is going up. And Wendy's says they expect to pay 15% more for beef in 2011. So expect the price of a burger to go up at basically EVERY restaurant.
#6.) Produce. Even when you take the growing season into account, the price of fruit and vegetables has gone up an astounding 23% in the last three months. Bananas are up 10%, and potatoes are up 39%.
#7.) Furniture. Companies like Ethan Allen and La-Z-Boy are charging up to 7% more because the prices of cotton, yarn, leather, and steel have gone up.
#8.) Juice. Last month, Tropicana announced they'll be charging 4 to 8% more for some types of juice, because cold weather damaged citrus crops in Florida. And Minute Maid is doing the exact same thing.
#9.) Soft Drinks. The price of carbonated drinks went up by 14% between December and March, mainly because of higher costs for ingredients, packaging, and transportation.
#10.) Tires. Between September and March, U.S. tire prices climbed 6%, and last month Cooper Tires raised their prices for the second time this year. When they announced the price hike, the company said the price for rubber had gone up 75% in just a few months.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Three Main Ways You Might Be Sabotaging Your Children's Health
#1.) Letting Them Watch Too Much TV. Almost half of the parents surveyed said they let their kids watch more than two hours of TV a day, and 74% of parents said they spent family time doing sedentary things . . . like watching more TV. But it's hard to bond in front of the TV, since everyone has to stay quiet the whole time. So going for a walk or a family bike ride is better anyway.
#2.) Letting Them Stay Inside All Day. This sort of goes hand-in-hand with watching too much TV, but 84% of the parents who were surveyed said their children don't play outside on a daily basis. And 74% said their kids don't meet the minimum recommendation of one hour of aerobic activity a day. But making sure your kids are active is important in more ways than one: A 2009 study of 11,000 eight and nine-year-olds found that kids behaved better in school if they got just 15 minutes of recess per day.
#3.) Letting Them Eat Too Much Junk Food. This is the big one: According to recent data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 40% of the calories consumed by 2-to-18-year-olds are "empty" calories from fat and sugar. And only 16% of parents in the YMCA poll said they make sure their kids get at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, which is the recommended MINIMUM. Meanwhile, 10% of ALL their calories come from soda and fruit drinks. So in other words, you should teach your kids to drink more water, and cut back on things like chips and candy. It won't just affect their weight, it'll affect their brains too. A study done last year found that three-year-olds who had diets that were high in fat, sugar, and calories had lower IQs by age eight compared to kids who had healthy diets.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Going Up...
As you know, prices are climbing for everything from coffee and chocolate to tires and toilet paper. Here are a few things going up:
Airlines have been raising ticket prices steadily to pass on the expense of higher fuel costs. Domestic round-trip fares were boosted a half dozen times this year by $4 to $10 each.
Hershey’s Chocolate raised its wholesale prices nearly 10% in late March. We may not feel the pinch until after Easter.
Coffee prices jumped 27% between December and March as companies passed along their record cost of unroasted beans.
McDonald’s is dealing with higher ingredient costs and expects to raise U.S. prices this year. The cost of fruits and vegetables has risen 23% in three months, including bananas up 10% and potatoes up 39%.
Furniture manufacturers are increasing prices up to 7% due to higher costs of cotton, yarn, leather and steel.
Diapers, soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, trash bags and many other everyday items all have been targeted for price hikes as companies respond to rising ingredient costs.
State Farm and Allstate, the nation’s two biggest home and auto insurers, are pursuing further price hikes.
Airlines have been raising ticket prices steadily to pass on the expense of higher fuel costs. Domestic round-trip fares were boosted a half dozen times this year by $4 to $10 each.
Hershey’s Chocolate raised its wholesale prices nearly 10% in late March. We may not feel the pinch until after Easter.
Coffee prices jumped 27% between December and March as companies passed along their record cost of unroasted beans.
McDonald’s is dealing with higher ingredient costs and expects to raise U.S. prices this year. The cost of fruits and vegetables has risen 23% in three months, including bananas up 10% and potatoes up 39%.
Furniture manufacturers are increasing prices up to 7% due to higher costs of cotton, yarn, leather and steel.
Diapers, soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, trash bags and many other everyday items all have been targeted for price hikes as companies respond to rising ingredient costs.
State Farm and Allstate, the nation’s two biggest home and auto insurers, are pursuing further price hikes.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Four Weird Tricks That Make You Eat Less:
If you wana lose weight but have absolutely no will power, here are four tricks that will make you eat less:
#1.) Turn on Relaxing Music. Soft music naturally relaxes you and lowers your stress level, which makes you chew slower than if you were listening to, say, death metal. And when you eat slower, you start feeling full faster.
#2.) Turn on More Lights. Dim lighting might create a more romantic atmosphere, but another reason restaurants keep the lights down is because it lowers your inhibitions and makes you eat more.
#3.) Light a Vanilla-Scented Candle. The scent of vanilla makes you less likely to want dessert. In fact, one group of volunteers lost an average of four-and-a-half pounds each by wearing vanilla-scented patches.
#4.) Paint Your Dining Room Blue. This is weird, but researchers have found that people eat 33% less if they're sitting in a blue room. It's because when light bounces off of the walls, it creates a blue tint, which makes the food look less appetizing. The colors red, orange, and yellow have the opposite effect, which is why so many fast-food places use those colors inside.
#1.) Turn on Relaxing Music. Soft music naturally relaxes you and lowers your stress level, which makes you chew slower than if you were listening to, say, death metal. And when you eat slower, you start feeling full faster.
#2.) Turn on More Lights. Dim lighting might create a more romantic atmosphere, but another reason restaurants keep the lights down is because it lowers your inhibitions and makes you eat more.
#3.) Light a Vanilla-Scented Candle. The scent of vanilla makes you less likely to want dessert. In fact, one group of volunteers lost an average of four-and-a-half pounds each by wearing vanilla-scented patches.
#4.) Paint Your Dining Room Blue. This is weird, but researchers have found that people eat 33% less if they're sitting in a blue room. It's because when light bounces off of the walls, it creates a blue tint, which makes the food look less appetizing. The colors red, orange, and yellow have the opposite effect, which is why so many fast-food places use those colors inside.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Three Very Basic Things You Won't Believe You're Doing Wrong:
Here's something you might not know: The straight-backed chair has been around for thousands of years, but it's one of the reasons 80% of Americans have back problems. Basically, we're just not meant to sit at a 90-degree angle, and our bodies are more comfortable either kneeling, reclining, or sitting on a stool or a bench. So you've been sitting wrong your whole life and never knew it. Here's a list of three more basic things you won't believe you're doing wrong.
#1.) Going to the Bathroom. Humans aren't really designed to go to the bathroom sitting down. We're designed to squat. But modern toilets are getting taller and taller because people think they're more comfortable. It's actually something doctors have known for a long time: One medical textbook from 1964 said, quote, "the ideal posture for defecation is the squatting position, with the thighs fixed upon the abdomen." Using modern toilets is actually one of the reasons people get hemorrhoids, but I won't explain why, because it's pretty gross. If you want to achieve the squatting effect on a standard toilet, all you need are two strategically placed footstools.
#2.) Bathing. The gist of it is, we shower too much now, and it washes away the outermost layer of skin, which is called "the horny layer." No, I'm not joking. The horny layer is basically just dead skin, and it actually protects your living skin from all sorts of diseases. There's no real consensus on how many times you should shower per week, but it's less than seven. And instead of covering yourself in lather, you're supposed to only use a tiny bit of soap for your entire body.
#3.) Breathing. Here's a test: Take a deep breath right now . . . If you're like most people, you raised your shoulders and your chest puffed out a little. But the PROPER way to breathe is by using your diaphragm, which is under your lungs, closer to your stomach. When you breathe with your chest, you only use the top part of your lungs, and you get less oxygen, which can lead to headaches, fatigue, anxiety, and even panic attacks. To practice breathing the RIGHT way, try to "inflate" your stomach when you breathe in, and keep your chest somewhat still. If you practice it enough, your diaphragm will get stronger, and eventually you'll start doing it in your sleep.
#1.) Going to the Bathroom. Humans aren't really designed to go to the bathroom sitting down. We're designed to squat. But modern toilets are getting taller and taller because people think they're more comfortable. It's actually something doctors have known for a long time: One medical textbook from 1964 said, quote, "the ideal posture for defecation is the squatting position, with the thighs fixed upon the abdomen." Using modern toilets is actually one of the reasons people get hemorrhoids, but I won't explain why, because it's pretty gross. If you want to achieve the squatting effect on a standard toilet, all you need are two strategically placed footstools.
#2.) Bathing. The gist of it is, we shower too much now, and it washes away the outermost layer of skin, which is called "the horny layer." No, I'm not joking. The horny layer is basically just dead skin, and it actually protects your living skin from all sorts of diseases. There's no real consensus on how many times you should shower per week, but it's less than seven. And instead of covering yourself in lather, you're supposed to only use a tiny bit of soap for your entire body.
#3.) Breathing. Here's a test: Take a deep breath right now . . . If you're like most people, you raised your shoulders and your chest puffed out a little. But the PROPER way to breathe is by using your diaphragm, which is under your lungs, closer to your stomach. When you breathe with your chest, you only use the top part of your lungs, and you get less oxygen, which can lead to headaches, fatigue, anxiety, and even panic attacks. To practice breathing the RIGHT way, try to "inflate" your stomach when you breathe in, and keep your chest somewhat still. If you practice it enough, your diaphragm will get stronger, and eventually you'll start doing it in your sleep.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sneaky Ways to Save Cash
• Mascara: It can last for 5 months if you swirl the brush as you pull it out instead of pumping it up & down. Dipping the tube in boiling water for about 15 seconds will make it gooey again.
• Nail Polish: Since heat and sunlight destroy it by separating the ingredients, keep your bottles in the fridge and you will more than double their lifespan.
• Perfume: Direct light makes perfume lose its scent and start to smell funky, but keeping the bottles in the original box or in a medicine cabinet can get you 3 extra years out of it.
• Razors: Keep your blade sharper for longer by dipping it in rubbing alcohol after each use. Don’t leave your razor where it will get sprayed with water and is more likely to rust.
• Running Shoes: You can quadruple their lifespan by keeping them at room temperature when they’re off your feet. Cold air breaks down the soles and messes up the air pockets.
• Nail Polish: Since heat and sunlight destroy it by separating the ingredients, keep your bottles in the fridge and you will more than double their lifespan.
• Perfume: Direct light makes perfume lose its scent and start to smell funky, but keeping the bottles in the original box or in a medicine cabinet can get you 3 extra years out of it.
• Razors: Keep your blade sharper for longer by dipping it in rubbing alcohol after each use. Don’t leave your razor where it will get sprayed with water and is more likely to rust.
• Running Shoes: You can quadruple their lifespan by keeping them at room temperature when they’re off your feet. Cold air breaks down the soles and messes up the air pockets.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Five Stupid Things People Have Tried to Deduct on Their Taxes:
You don't have to do your taxes until Monday, April 18th this year, because of a little-known holiday celebrated in Washington D.C. called Emancipation Day. So if you want to wait until the last minute and do your taxes next weekend, you can. But if you're like a lot of people and you're planning to do them THIS week, make sure you don't do what any of THESE people did . . .Here's a list from CNNMoney.com of five stupid things people have tried to deduct on their taxes.
#1.) Hookers. A lawyer in New York tried to deduct the $66,000 he spent on prostitutes as a medical expense, along with the $5,000 he spent on pornography and sex therapy books. But obviously, if you pay for something that's ILLEGAL, you can't deduct it. And he couldn't deduct the money he spent on the books either, because a court ruled they were for his, quote, "general welfare", and not prescribed by a doctor.
#2.) Candy and Flowers for Secretaries. A public defender in Santa Clara, California tried to deduct it on his taxes, but the IRS decided it was a personal expense that wasn't necessary for his business.
#3.) Buffalo Meat. A professional bodybuilder in Wisconsin tried to deduct it, saying it has more protein than other meats. But a court decided that since plenty of normal people eat buffalo meat too, it wasn't deductable. But the guy DID manage to deduct tanning products and "posing oil", which is the stuff bodybuilders rub all over themselves so they look shiny.
#4.) An Aquarium. A guy in Rock Hill, South Carolina tried to deduct an eleven hundred dollar, 75-gallon saltwater aquarium, which would have been fine if he was in the exotic fish business. The problem was, he was a stockbroker.
#5.) Underwear. One of the guys in ROD STEWART'S band once tried to deduct leather pants, hats, a vest, and silk boxers because he wore them on stage. The IRS eventually let him deduct some of the flashier items, but not the boxers since no one could see them.
#1.) Hookers. A lawyer in New York tried to deduct the $66,000 he spent on prostitutes as a medical expense, along with the $5,000 he spent on pornography and sex therapy books. But obviously, if you pay for something that's ILLEGAL, you can't deduct it. And he couldn't deduct the money he spent on the books either, because a court ruled they were for his, quote, "general welfare", and not prescribed by a doctor.
#2.) Candy and Flowers for Secretaries. A public defender in Santa Clara, California tried to deduct it on his taxes, but the IRS decided it was a personal expense that wasn't necessary for his business.
#3.) Buffalo Meat. A professional bodybuilder in Wisconsin tried to deduct it, saying it has more protein than other meats. But a court decided that since plenty of normal people eat buffalo meat too, it wasn't deductable. But the guy DID manage to deduct tanning products and "posing oil", which is the stuff bodybuilders rub all over themselves so they look shiny.
#4.) An Aquarium. A guy in Rock Hill, South Carolina tried to deduct an eleven hundred dollar, 75-gallon saltwater aquarium, which would have been fine if he was in the exotic fish business. The problem was, he was a stockbroker.
#5.) Underwear. One of the guys in ROD STEWART'S band once tried to deduct leather pants, hats, a vest, and silk boxers because he wore them on stage. The IRS eventually let him deduct some of the flashier items, but not the boxers since no one could see them.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Four Steps for How to Break Bad News:
Being the bearer of bad news is never fun, but if you do it wrong it can be even worse. So here are four steps to help you deliver bad news in the best way possible.
Step One: Drop a Warning. Tell the person they should sit down, or just say you need to talk about something serious. It probably won't make the bad news any easier to hear, but it's better than just blurting it out.
Step Two: Don't Beat Around the Bush. Once you've dropped a warning, tell them what they need to hear in plain English, using as few words as possible. If you're vague or you don't tell them right away, they'll be confused and frustrated.
Step Three: Don't Try to Soften the Blow. A lot of people end up hedging the bad news with something that's not really true because they feel guilty and want to make the person feel better. It's a natural reaction, but it can undermine the whole point of telling them bad news in the first place. Even doctors do it: According to a recent study, as many as one-in-four cancer specialists will give a patient bad news, then follow it up with something that softens the blow, whether it's accurate or not.
Step Four: Be More Than Just the Messenger. Once the person hears the news, they might need to talk. So prepare yourself to be supportive. One situation when you might NOT want to offer support is if you're breaking up with the person. In that case, don't try to be a shoulder to cry on because it'll just make them angrier.
Step One: Drop a Warning. Tell the person they should sit down, or just say you need to talk about something serious. It probably won't make the bad news any easier to hear, but it's better than just blurting it out.
Step Two: Don't Beat Around the Bush. Once you've dropped a warning, tell them what they need to hear in plain English, using as few words as possible. If you're vague or you don't tell them right away, they'll be confused and frustrated.
Step Three: Don't Try to Soften the Blow. A lot of people end up hedging the bad news with something that's not really true because they feel guilty and want to make the person feel better. It's a natural reaction, but it can undermine the whole point of telling them bad news in the first place. Even doctors do it: According to a recent study, as many as one-in-four cancer specialists will give a patient bad news, then follow it up with something that softens the blow, whether it's accurate or not.
Step Four: Be More Than Just the Messenger. Once the person hears the news, they might need to talk. So prepare yourself to be supportive. One situation when you might NOT want to offer support is if you're breaking up with the person. In that case, don't try to be a shoulder to cry on because it'll just make them angrier.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Eight Surprising Things That Are Bad for Your Teeth:
Obviously, bad dental hygiene can lead to cavities and gum disease, but here's a list from Health.com of eight surprising things that can also be bad for your teeth.
#1.) Bottled Water. About 60% of people in the U.S. have fluoride in their tap water, but most brands of bottled water don't. So if you ONLY drink bottled water, you might not be getting enough fluoride to protect your teeth from cavities.
#2.) Sports Drinks. They usually have a lot of sugar and a high level of acid, which can wear away your enamel. And the same goes for soda, coffee, and wine.
#3.) Diabetes. It lowers your body's resistance to infections and puts you at risk for developing gum disease. So if you're diabetic, brushing and flossing is even MORE important.
#4.) Cigarettes. Obviously, they can stain your teeth yellow, but a lot of smokers don't realize that the tar from tobacco sticks to their teeth and acts like glue for bacteria, which can cause tooth decay and gum disease.
#5.) Pregnancy. Estrogen and progesterone levels skyrocket when you're pregnant, which can cause inflammation of the gums and lead to gingivitis. And birth control pills can do the same thing because they basically just make your body THINK it's pregnant. Also, if you're pregnant and you have morning sickness, the stomach acid can cause tooth decay. So after you get sick, you're supposed to brush with baking soda or baking soda toothpaste to neutralize the acid.
#6.) Prescription Medication. A lot of prescription pills, over-the-counter pills, and even diet pills can cause dry mouth, which puts you at risk for gum disease, tooth decay, and cavities.
#7.) Dieting. When you don't get enough vitamins and nutrients, it increases your chances of developing infections, including periodontal disease. So when you're on a diet, it's especially important to get enough B vitamins, calcium, protein, vitamin C, and folate, which is mainly found in leafy green vegetables.
#8.) Brushing Right After You Eat. If the food is acidic, brushing can cause erosion of your enamel.
#1.) Bottled Water. About 60% of people in the U.S. have fluoride in their tap water, but most brands of bottled water don't. So if you ONLY drink bottled water, you might not be getting enough fluoride to protect your teeth from cavities.
#2.) Sports Drinks. They usually have a lot of sugar and a high level of acid, which can wear away your enamel. And the same goes for soda, coffee, and wine.
#3.) Diabetes. It lowers your body's resistance to infections and puts you at risk for developing gum disease. So if you're diabetic, brushing and flossing is even MORE important.
#4.) Cigarettes. Obviously, they can stain your teeth yellow, but a lot of smokers don't realize that the tar from tobacco sticks to their teeth and acts like glue for bacteria, which can cause tooth decay and gum disease.
#5.) Pregnancy. Estrogen and progesterone levels skyrocket when you're pregnant, which can cause inflammation of the gums and lead to gingivitis. And birth control pills can do the same thing because they basically just make your body THINK it's pregnant. Also, if you're pregnant and you have morning sickness, the stomach acid can cause tooth decay. So after you get sick, you're supposed to brush with baking soda or baking soda toothpaste to neutralize the acid.
#6.) Prescription Medication. A lot of prescription pills, over-the-counter pills, and even diet pills can cause dry mouth, which puts you at risk for gum disease, tooth decay, and cavities.
#7.) Dieting. When you don't get enough vitamins and nutrients, it increases your chances of developing infections, including periodontal disease. So when you're on a diet, it's especially important to get enough B vitamins, calcium, protein, vitamin C, and folate, which is mainly found in leafy green vegetables.
#8.) Brushing Right After You Eat. If the food is acidic, brushing can cause erosion of your enamel.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Future Governor of NJ?
You probably wanted to be an astronaut or a fireman when you were a kid. But below is a vid of a 3-year-old kid sitting in his car seat and crying, because he's too small to be Governor . . . of New Jersey. When his mom asks if he thinks he's qualified, he says yes. But then she tricks him and asks if he'd raise property taxes, and since he has no idea what property taxes are . . . once again, he says yes.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Before you hit up the Farmer's Market:
It’s almost time to think about hitting up the local Farmer’s Markets, but here are a few things you need to know before you go courtesy of Bon Appetit Magazine:
• PEAS: buy frozen, not fresh. Fresh spring peas have a very short season, so unless you can get peas plucked right off the vine, they will disappoint.
• CARROTS: The orange nubs that come in plastic bags aren't babies at all. They're full-size carrots cut down with a machine. Real baby carrots are picked when small; there are also specific varieties bred to grow no bigger than three inches or so.
• LEEKS: On their own, leeks are a delicious side. As an ensemble player, they're a great alternative to onions in a stew, saute, or risotto. Leeks need vigilant cleaning, too. Rinse them under running water until all the grit is gone.
• RHUBARB: When shopping for rhubarb, try to find the field-grown stuff. Hothouse-grown rhubarb won't be as vibrant-looking as field-grown. At the market, choose red, glossy stalks that feel firm. Medium-thick stalks of rhubarb have the best chance of being tender, not fibrous.
• ASPARAGUS: Thick spears (3/4 inch or so) have better texture and flavor. To prep asparagus, skip the wasteful bend-and-snap method. Just cut off the bottom inch or so, then peel the bottom portion with a vegetable peeler.
• STRAWBERRIES: To choose the best strawberries, use your nose. Pick up the container and inhale. Buy organic if you can. Nonorganic berries are often loaded with pesticides.
• PEAS: buy frozen, not fresh. Fresh spring peas have a very short season, so unless you can get peas plucked right off the vine, they will disappoint.
• CARROTS: The orange nubs that come in plastic bags aren't babies at all. They're full-size carrots cut down with a machine. Real baby carrots are picked when small; there are also specific varieties bred to grow no bigger than three inches or so.
• LEEKS: On their own, leeks are a delicious side. As an ensemble player, they're a great alternative to onions in a stew, saute, or risotto. Leeks need vigilant cleaning, too. Rinse them under running water until all the grit is gone.
• RHUBARB: When shopping for rhubarb, try to find the field-grown stuff. Hothouse-grown rhubarb won't be as vibrant-looking as field-grown. At the market, choose red, glossy stalks that feel firm. Medium-thick stalks of rhubarb have the best chance of being tender, not fibrous.
• ASPARAGUS: Thick spears (3/4 inch or so) have better texture and flavor. To prep asparagus, skip the wasteful bend-and-snap method. Just cut off the bottom inch or so, then peel the bottom portion with a vegetable peeler.
• STRAWBERRIES: To choose the best strawberries, use your nose. Pick up the container and inhale. Buy organic if you can. Nonorganic berries are often loaded with pesticides.
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