Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The Miracle Effects of Green Tea

As green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. But the beverage green tea is a true tea that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. As green tea is popular in China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Morocco, and the Middle East now it has become more widespread in the West, where traditionally black tea is consumed. Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea?

The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times. Nadine Taylor wrote in her book green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years. They use treat everything from headaches to depression.

Green tea has many benefits according to Japanese study people who drink at least a pint of green tea each day have a lower risk of death because it reduce the risk of heart disease.

Green tea's ability to fight cancer is even more potent and varied than scientists suspected. According to BBC that scientists already know that green tea contains anti-oxidants which may have a protective effect against cancer. But now they have discovered that chemicals in the tea also shut down a key molecule which can play a significant role in the development of cancer.

Scientific research in Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long connected with intake green tea. Like The Journal of the National Cancer Institute issue research that indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women about sixty percent. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

Therefore green tea may helpful medical condition like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, infection, impaired immune function. Green tea contains EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) which is a powerful anti-oxidant. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol. EGCG acts in a way that it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue and inhibiting the development of cancer cells. EGCG act to lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots.

Some other benefits that green tea can even help stop tooth decay. Just as its bacteria destroying abilities can assist to prevent food poisoning, Green tea is believed to help boost metabolism, produce fat and calorie-burning effectsFree Reprint Articles, it mean it has also good choice for weight loss. Green tea can also kill the bacteria that cause dental plaque. In the same time green tea can be for use for preparations skin products from deodorants to creams.

The only side effect of green tea is that it contains caffeine which causes insomnia but green tea contains less caffeine as compare to coffee. Overall green tea is the best herbs give us so many benefits.

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Saturday, December 4, 2010

Getting a Job in the Food and Beverage Industry

Getting a job in the food and beverage industry can be difficult if you don’t have any experience. This article will give you a few tips to making the job hunting a little easier. A little effort upfront can make getting a job easier and increase your income at the same time.


Working in a restaurant / bar can be a great way to earn a good income. Taking a position as a server, or bartender, is the best option, as they are tip based positions which is where the most money can be earned. But, these jobs are not necessarily easy and you have to have the right personality to deal with the public on a regular basis. So if you have the personality and want to get started in the Food & Beverage business, what is the best way to get started?

Well to start you need a good resume. It needs to be different and highlight your personality, not just your work experience. People eat and drink at restaurants because they wish to be social, otherwise they’d sequester themselves at home. Restaurant owners want people that are personable, who are comfortable in the spotlight, because when you are serving a big group, you will be the centre of attention. Smiling, a good sense of humour and wit are all important tools as a server or bartender, so make them obvious on your resume. Otherwise, highlight your professionalism and work ethic. Here is an example of a bartenders resume to get you started. Also you create your resume, tailor it to each restaurant or bar you apply. Don’t send the same resume to a hip hop club that you’d send to a fine dining restaurant.

You also have to be well groomed. Sorry, nobody wants to eat their meal around someone who smells like sour yogurt or looks like they just rolled out of bed. Being well groomed is directly related to your income potential, so take it seriously. Owners of these businesses will also judge you based on how you look. Even though this may sound shallow and judgmental, you are in the service business and most people, especially those that tip really well, don’t want to be served by a slob. If you are apply for jobs on a particular day, go out and treat yourself to a clothing make-over and haircut, then hit the restaurants and bars with your nicely designed resume.

Once you have the job, the best way to make a living as a server or bartender is to make the job a profession. Even if you are just going to be employed in the food and beverage industry until you are finished school, taking your position seriously and being an absolute professional with garner you a significant wage increase. Take some time to watch the really experienced servers and bartenders at good restaurants and bars. Learn from your coworkers and especially learn the basics like opening a bottle of wine and the top 10 cocktails your establishment serves. Finally, work on your memory because if you can remember a customers drink and name the next time they come inFeature Articles, you’ve just earned yourself a great tip. Do this for everyone and you may just find the money so good that you have a new career.

Article Tags: Beverage Industry
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Darcy O'Neil is a bartender with a formal education in chemistry. His motive for becoming a bartender was part by chance and partially to fulfill his culinary desires. Darcy currently works as a bartender and spends his time writing about his mixology experiences on his website,The Art of Drink.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Understanding Drug-Food Interactions

A drug-food interaction occurs most commonly when the consumption of a specific food or beverage affects the activity of a drug or consumption of the drug affects the activity of the food or overall nutritional status.

When a food alters a drug’s activity or vice versa, the affected compound is changed in aspects of how quickly or how much of it gets absorbed into the body, how much of it distributes to it’s site of action, and how quickly it gets broken down or passed out from the body. Such drug-food interactions may result in the individual experiencing side effects, toxicity or not getting full benefit from the drug or food.
In altering the absorption of drugs, foods may bind with the drug, change the acidity of the stomach, moderate the contractions of stomach muscles or change the speed at which stomach contents move through the body. Dietary fibre in the form of pectin and other soluble fibres can slow down the absorption of Tylenol® (acetaminophen). Almost half of a single dose of the antibiotic Zithromax® (azithromycin) does not get absorbed when it is taken with food. When another antibiotic ciprofloxacin is taken with iron, a complex is formed and about half of a single dose also becomes unavailable for absorption. One of the most significantly food-affected drugs is Fosamax® (alendronate) where up to 99.9% of an oral tablet can become unavailable for absorption if taken with food, coffee or orange juice. Sometimes increased benefit is derived from taking certain medicines with food. Taking the statin Mevacor® (lovastatin) with food enhances it’s absorption while taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs like aspirin with food can help to reduce stomach irritation.

Different drinks can alter the breakdown of a drug in the body. Components of grapefruit juice can inhibit enzymes in the liver from breaking down a variety of drugs. Taking grapefruit juice while on the heart drug felodipine results in much less of the drug broken down and this can cause lower blood pressure and faster heart rates than otherwise expected. The heart drug Inderal® (propranolol) can escape early breakdown in the liver when it is taken with food hence it’s effectiveness could be increased.

One important class of drugs known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can inhibit body enzymes from breaking down a compound known as tyramine. This compound can be found in aged cheese, pickled fish, yeast extracts, red wine, fava beans and fermented products, and can accumulate in the body if taken with MAOIs and the combination could result in critically high blood pressure.

Milk, vegetables and citrus fruits can reduce the acidity of urine while meats, fish, cheese and eggs often increase the acidity of urine. These different effects can affect the quantity and rate of expulsion of certain drugs. Other drugs may be more or less active in the urinary system depending on the urine acidity. The mood controlling drug known as lithium is affected by a high salt (sodium chloride) diet because it competes with sodium for absorption back into the body from the kidney. With a high salt diet, more lithium is passed out and lithium is consequently less active in the body. The converse occurs with a low salt diet.

Some foods can directly affect the action of drugs without affecting the drugs themselves. Taking a lot of green leafy vegetables or green tea can increase vitamin K levels in the body that counteract the effects of the anticoagulant drug warfarin. Taking a lot of bananas while on the potassium-sparing water pills Aldactone® (spironolactone) can result in excessive amounts of potassium in the body that can be toxic. Alcohol can increase the drowsiness and reduced concentration associated with sleeping pills, antidepressants and allergy medicines. Another potentiating effect can occur when the asthma drug theophylline is taken with coffee. The caffeine in coffee shares the same structure as theophylline and helps with expanding the airways but also can increase theophylline’s side effects of nervousness, tremor or insomnia.

While most drug-food interactions can be detrimental, some have been used under supervised treatment to reduce drug doses and associated costs. Oncologists recently found that taking the breast cancer drug Tykerb® (lapatinib) with food instead of without food as suggested by the drug development trials almost doubled the absorption of the drug and taking it with a high-fat meal tripled the absorption. Grapefruit juice may even further prevent the drug from being broken down in the body so that more of the dose remains available to fight cancer cells. While this is a novel and potentially useful means of taking food and drugs together for better treatment, expert supervision is important in ensuring benefit and minimizing undesirable effects.

Even while much of the concern over drug-food interactions center around how foods affect the activity of drugs, many drugs also expected to exert significant effects on foodsArticle Search, body nutrients and byproducts. The weight loss drug Xenical® (orlistat) is taken specifically with meals to interact with the fat in food so that it is not absorbed and passes out in the stools. Colestid® (colestipol) and Questran® (cholestyramine) are taken orally to bind bile acids in the intestine preventing such acids from being recirculated in the body and thereby reducing cholesterol. Another drug acting on food is Fosrenol® (lanthanum carbonate) that is used to bind and prevent the absorption of phosphates in the diet.
Some drugs can also affect nutritional well being resulting in the need for food or nutrient supplementation. Examples include taking certain antacids and water pills that can lead to nutrient deficiencies resulting in muscle weakness and other related symptoms. Folic acid supplementation may be required if on the anticonvulsant Dilantin® (phenytoin). Zinc deficiency coupled with the loss of taste can occur when on the antirheumatic penicillamine.

Drug-food interactions are becoming increasingly common and can be detrimental if not well understood or properly managed. Pharmacists are the experts to turn to for a better understanding and are in the best position to advise on optimum management.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sudesh Samuel is a pharmacist and medical communications specialist with a keen interest in medication management services that make treatments safer, more effective and less costly. He is president of the Institute for Medication Management - http://www.medicationreview.net

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Some Things That You Should Consider For A Good Cooking School !!

Cooking may seem hard to do and it actually is, to the novice. But once you learn the various techniques, you will find out that cooking is actually a breeze. There are processes and techniques that will help you prepare a mean dish for your family and you can learn all this from a good cooking school.



There are many cooking schools out there that have a wide range of lessons that they offer... for kids, for moms, for hobbyists, or anybody who just want to cook a good meal.

Cooking may seem hard to do and it actually is, to the novice. But once you learn the various techniques, you will find out that cooking is actually a breeze. There are processes and techniques that will help you prepare a mean dish for your family and you can learn all this from a good cooking school.

There are many cooking schools out there that have a wide range of lessons that they offer... for kids, for moms, for hobbyists, or anybody who just want to cook a good meal. With so many to choose from, it might be a little hard to select which is a good choice. So here are some of the things that you should consider when looking for a good cooking school.


1- price range:
Unless you have a lot of money stashed away in the bank, the tuition fee will figure a lot in the kind of cooking school you want to enroll in and the kind of program that you wish to take. For those who have the budget, a full program is recommended as this will teach you all you need to know at a fraction of the cost when you combined all the other short courses. However, if you do not have the money to spend, look for a class that you like that is within your price range and then ask for a discount should you decide to take the class after that.


2- Materials:
Some cooking class will already be providing the materials for you while some will ask you to buy your own. Clear this up with the cooking school you are eyeing before enrolling because this will figure a lot in your budget.


3- Lessons and range:
This will really depend on just what you want to learn and how much experience in cooking you have. Lessons can range from something simple as broiling and grilling to something as complicated as baking an elaborate cake complete with the decorations. It is actually all up to you. One advice that you should heed is to always determine first what you want to learn about and to make sure that you have all the other skills You see, some classes and programs have pre-requisite lessons that you have to first accomplish before you can take it up. For instance, you cannot bake a cake if you do not yet know how to fry, boil and heat food properly.


4- Location:
Another very important factor in finding a good cooking school is the place where you will be taking your class. Is the school at your neighborhood or do you have to drive there in the morning. This is especially important with people who have a lot in their plate like cooking for family members or classes 

in school. IdeallyBusiness Management Articles, it should be along the way fro your work or from your home.


5- Student: teacher ratio:
You cannot learn much if you are 20 in the class and there is only one teacher. You need a class that is smaller in size so that the teacher can help you individually with the lesson. It will also be easier for you to ask questions when you are just a few in the group. Student: teacher ratio is also important in comprehension as this means that you are much closer to your teacher when she explains.

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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Some Tips For Cooking Classes !!

One of the best things that you can learn to do in your life is to learn how to cook. Cooking is a life skill that you will need all throughout your life and you will never be at a disadvantage if you know how to cook. That is why cooking classes are pretty popular especially during summer with young students and during schooldays with mommies who want to improve their cooking skills.If you have already enrolled in a cooking class and you are worried that you may not know as much as your classmate about cooking, get over the thought. 

One of the best things that you can learn to do in your life is to learn how to cook. Cooking is a life skill that you will need all throughout your life and you will never be at a disadvantage if you know how to cook. That is why cooking classes are pretty popular especially during summer with young students and during schooldays with mommies who want to improve their cooking skills.

If you have already enrolled in a cooking class and you are worried that you may not know as much as your classmate about cooking, get over the thought. You enrolled in the class to learn so who cares if your classmate knows more than you. He or she would have wasted their tuition fee if that is the case.


Still, there is no harm in preparing for the cooking class and making sure that you have all that you need to make the cooking class easier and more fun for you. Here are some tips.


1. Bring notebook and pen or a tape recorder:

If you do not have a photographic memory, then it is best to bring a pen and a notebook when you go to class. This will help you keep up with what the teachers is saying in the class. If you have a tape recorder, this is much better as it will be able to capture much of what your teachers are saying unlike with writing notes when you are held back by how fast you can write down the words. If you are a slow writer and you know it, then a recorder is the best option for you.


2. Do illustrations:

You may not be the best artist in the world and you may not even be able to draw a straight line even if your life depended on it, but illustrations will help you a lot especially when remembering the steps that you have to take to prepare the food. Drawing the procedures will help jog your memory about the process and it will also clear up the procedure for you, something that words will not be able to. If you do have a video camera, ask your teacher if you can tape the session. Do not do this unless they have consented because 90% of the time, they will not allow it for fear that it will be mass produced and sold to other people.


3. Sleep early:

When you go to your cooking class, you want to be at least awake and alert to really learn 

from what the teachers is saying. If you had a late night the previous night, what the teachers are saying may not register well to you. If that is the case, then you should prepare for the possibility and bring a recorder. You may not be very awake to listen to the teachers but at least you have a tape recorder to do the listening to you.


4. Ask questions:

The best way to learn is to make sure that you have understood everything that the teacher was saying. If you do not understand any of the procedures that he or she is teaching, then don't hesitate to ask questions and clarify. After allPsychology Articles, you are preparing for the cooking class and you have the right to really learn the lesson.

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