Archive for February, 2011
Flavoring With Wines and Spirits – Do Alcoholic Beverages Contribute Any Nutritional Value to Food
Wines, beers and spirits have long been enjoyed as drinks but have taken on a new role as flavoring ingredients in cooking and baking. Although some countries have used them liberally in the past, they are now being used in many traditional and non-traditional cuisines and cooking application throughout the world.
The cook does not have to be a bartender or wine steward to use these beverages properly in the kitchen. A basic understanding of types of beverages, and the flavors that dominate them, is an important aspect of modern nutritional cooking.
Related posts
Beverage Companies Stop Selling Sodas In Schools
A recent story bothers me more than it should, and I am not sure who the be angry at more, parents, the school boards, or the politicians. Major beverage companies like Pepsi and Coca-Cola have agreed to stop selling sodas with sugar in schools. This agreement was worked out in conjunction with the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association. On the surface, it looks good. It is attacking the problems of obesity of younger children in schools.
The problem I have with this agreement is the lack of focus on the bigger picture. Parents will complain to local school boards about the mere sight of “Pepsi” or “Coke” on a scoreboard in the basketball gym, yet forget the large amount of money Pepsi or Coke donates to help fund the sports. Are their kids so weak-willed they can not make an actual choice not to drink the soda? Mom and Dad must not have done a good enough job educating children on nutritional choices.
Rosacea Treatment and Prevention
Rosacea (rose-AY-sha) is a chronic (long-term) skin disease It is estimated to affect over 45 million people worldwide. It causes redness and pimples. Rosacea occurs in both men and women and, and although it may occur at any age, onset usually begins after the age of 30. It affects fair-skinned people of mostly north-western European descent, and has been nicknamed the ‘curse of the Celts’ by some in Ireland. Rosacea is sometimes called acne rosacea, which is misleading because rosacea and acne are two totally different conditions, although they can appear together. As rosacea progresses, other symptoms can develop such as semi-permanent erythema, telangiectasia (dilation of superficial blood vessels on the face), red domed papules (small bumps) and pustules, red gritty eyes, burning and stinging sensations, and in some advanced cases, a red lobulated nose (rhinophyma). The disorder can be confused and co-exist with acne vulgaris and/or seborrheic dermatitis. There are four identified rosacea subtypes. Ocular rosacea: Red, dry and irritated eyes and eyelids. Some other symptoms include foreign body sensations, itching and burning. Papulopustular rosacea: Some permanent redness with red bumps (papules) with some pus filled (pustules) (which typically last 1-4 days); this subtype can be easily confused with acne.Phymatous rosacea is most commonly associated with rhinophyma, an enlargement of the nose. Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea is redness (erythema) with a tendency to flush and blush easily. It is also common to have small blood vessels visible near the surface of the skin (telangiectasias) and possibly burning or itching sensations.
Frst signs of rosacea are said to be persisting redness due to exercise, changes in temperature, and cleansing. It’s also a misconception that this red-faced condition is caused by drinking alcoholic beverages. It usually starts between age 30 and 60. Rosacea may be aggravated by facial creams or oils, and especially by topical steroids. Rosacea can affect all segments of the population, particularly those with fair skin who tend to flush or blush easily. The disorder may be somewhat more common in women, but is often more severe in men — perhaps because men tend to delay seeking medical help until the condition reaches advanced stages. There are several theories regarding the origin of overactive facial blood vessels and inflammation, including genetic, environmental, vascular, inflammatory factors. Some believe the social and emotional effects of rosacea are worse than the physical symptoms. In one survey, 1 nearly 70 percent of rosacea patients said it lowered their self-confidence and self-esteem. Forty-one percent said the condition caused them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements. In some cases, the eyes may also be affected by rosacea, resulting in a gritty feeling and bloodshot appearance. As the severity advances, the symptoms may include swollen blood vessels in the eyes, and in rare cases small hard bumps may develop on the eyelids and vision may be affected.
Related posts
-
You are currently browsing the archives for February, 2011
