where to buy goji berries for health

where to buy goji berriesTop Ten Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Did you know the average American gains 5-7 pounds every year between Thanksgiving and New Year�s Day? That equates to ingesting at least 17,500 more calories than you burn on a daily basis during that time period. At a minimum, that equals nearly 500 extra calories per day on average over that stretch of days.

Usually, the added weight comes in fancy cookie trays or creatively decorated gift baskets from clients, friends and family. The sound of Christmas music and arrival of cold weather encourage us to partake of traditional holiday fare and simply move less. This combination leads to tighter fitting pants and feeling sluggish.

Now is the time to fight back! Don�t wait to start your exercise program after the New Year begins. Initiate better exercise and eating habits now, because the weight is always harder to take off compared to preventing the gain beforehand. See the list below for tips on staying trim during this holiday season.

1. Perform strength training workouts at least 3 times per week.

2. Build in extra cardiovascular training if you decide to stray from your normal eating patterns to offset the extra calories.

3. Limit alcohol consumption as it will cloud your eating judgment and predisposes you to cravings and overeating.

4. Limit the number of holiday parties you attend.

5. Eat a small nutritious and fibrous snack prior to arriving at holiday parties. This way you will eat less because your stomach will feel full faster.

6. Do not buy holiday snacks for your house. If it is available, you will graze all day long without even noticing.

7. Plan events such as the Jingle Bell Run that keep you focused on training and exercise amidst the hustle and bustle.

8. Try to limit eating out when possible. With shopping, it becomes easy to dine out and partake in heavier foods and desserts.

9. Go to bed early or on time. Studies suggest that getting too little sleep will affect metabolism and prompt late night eating.

10. While at the mall, take additional time to walk after your shopping is finished.

Brian Schiff, PT, CSCS, is a respected author, physical therapist and fitness expert. You can sign-up for his free online newsletter @ http://www.thefitnessedge.cc.

Copyright � 2004 Brian Schiff

Chicken Wings Or Some Fuel In The Tank

A national dilemma? After seeing a recent report on the Chicken Wing Industry i think all of us who love a couple of beers and some wings, is a question we will be asking of ourselves. It seems that the recent surge in the manufacturing of Biodiesel is forcing the manufactures of these fine delicacies to raise their prices to offset the cost that they are being charged for Chicken Wings. It seems that the farmers who grow the feed that chicken farmers use to feed their chickens don't give a hoot about those of us who enjoy the wings of these fine feathered Animals.

So all the Restaurants and bars are having to raise the prices on their Chicken Wings to offset the price they are paying for them. And with the state of this economy is were this dilemma will begin. As you know in order to afford this good ole American pastime you have to earn a pay check and in order to get a paycheck you have to work and to work you have to drive and in order to drive you have to put fuel in the tank and with the oil crisis we are having its looking like biodiesel is going to become a big part of our lives soon and in order for them to make biodiesel you need corn which is also Chicken feed which again brings up the question, Chicken Wings or Fuel for the tank?

What would joey chestnut do if there were no Wing Bowl? Could you image going to K.F.C and having to ala carte your Chicken Wings in your twelve piece bucket, What would Colonel Sanders think of this dilemma? Ala carte my Wings? I'm sure he would be heart broken for sure. But wait, there could be a way out of this dilemma and in doing so we could save the world at the same time. You see if all of us Chicken Wing lovers would start taking Public Transportation to work we would lessen the need for the production of Biodiesel which in return would lessen the need for corn which would drive down the price on feed in return would drive down the price on Chicken Wings right? Which would also drive down our out put on Carbon Dioxide Emissions which would lessen the greenhouse effect which would help eliminate Global Warming Right? Who ever thought that a thing that we love to eat and really isn't that good for our health would help save the world, isn't it ironic?

Well i hope all you Chicken Wing lovers will take notice because change is on the way so maybe we can get a fleet of buses to bring us to and from work, we can call them the Chicken Wing Express And continue to be able to enjoy our wings.

Peace Love and Happiness!

Michael Robbins is a freelance writer from the east coast with many views on everyday life. http://mydailydose-kidrapido.blogspot.com

Beginner's Guide To Vanilla Beans

Sadly, most home cooks use store bought vanilla extract when they need to amp up a recipe with vanilla flavor. Average grocery store vanilla extract is frequently composed of artificial vanilla flavoring, artificial colorings, corn syrup, etc. If you want to perfume your dishes with the most pure and potent vanilla flavor, the only choice is to use real vanilla beans. If you have never used fresh vanilla beans, do not be intimidated. Sourcing, choosing, storing, and using vanilla beans is actually quite simple.

Types Of Vanilla Beans
The most common types of vanilla beans are Bourbon (Madagascar), Mexican, and Tahitian, although you can find vanilla beans from several other areas including Hawaii, Jamaica, Indonesia, Tongo, and even India. Each variety of vanilla varies in potency, size, and color. Depending on the type of vanilla flavor you are trying to achieve will determine the best variety of vanilla bean to use.

Bourbon vanilla beans are prized for their deep, rich, well-rounded, full-bodied flavor. Bourbon vanilla beans are our preferred vanilla bean here at FoodRap. In our experience, Tahitian vanilla beans have a tendency to smell more flowery and lack the punch of the Bourbon vanilla beans. Mexican vanilla beans used to be considered the best in the world a long time ago, but presently, the quality of them is not always consistent or reliable.

The best thing to do is gather an assortment of samples of each type of vanilla bean and try them. See what you like best. Make your own judgments.

Sourcing Vanilla Beans
If you want to pay a premium price for vanilla beans, go ahead and buy them from your local grocery store. You can pay upwards of $10-$15 for a scant few beans. If you want the best price and superior quality, look around on the internet. There are many reputable merchants offering pounds of high quality vanilla beans at very reasonable prices.

Choosing Vanilla Beans
Regardless of country of origin, premium vanilla beans should be plump and moist, have a robust aroma, and have an oily sheen to them. Additionally, they should be at least 7-8 inches long, or longer. Stay away from vanilla beans that have dried out, have hardly any scent, are too short, or have molded/mildewed.

Storing Vanilla Beans
Vanilla beans have a long shelf life and can be kept indefinitely in a dry, dark, cool place, away from the heat of your stove. We keep ours wrapped in wax paper inside an airtight container in our pantry. Other people we know keep theirs in airtight glass jars, which works just as well. Be sure not to put your vanilla beans in the refrigerator. They will become hard, crystallized, and essentially ruined.

Using Vanilla Beans
Your vanilla beans can be used in virtually any recipe calling for vanilla. A single vanilla bean is roughly equivalent to 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. To extract the vanilla beans from the pod, slit the bean lengthwise with a sharp knife. Drag the tip of your knife along the length of the slit pod and scrape out the vanilla beans in one slow single motion. If you don't want to use the tip of your knife, you can also use the tip of a spoon, which works great.

Do not discard the vanilla pod after you have scraped the seeds out. The pod itself contains quite a bit of vanilla-ness and can be shoved into a container of sugar to make vanilla sugar, or into a container of salt to make vanilla salt.

Unique Ways To Use Vanilla Beans
Vanilla beans are not just for desserts and baked goods. You can use them in myriad other ways to achieve many uncommon yet delightful flavor combinations. Here are a few ideas to stimulate your senses;

+ Vanilla Sugar
If you have done much baking, you are probably familiar with vanilla sugar. It can be purchased (for an excruciatingly high price) in small tea bag sized pouches at some upscale grocery stores. But using your own vanilla beans, you can easily make your own vanilla sugar for a tiny fraction of the price. Whenever you make something that calls for vanilla, just toss your scraped pods into a container of sugar and leave it. That's it! Whenever you have a recipe that calls for sugar, use your vanilla sugar for a wonderful vanilla backbone to whatever you are making. You can use it in cakes, cookies, custards, brulees, cocktails, coffee, tea, etc. The possibilities really are endless.

+ Vanilla Salt
Using the same process described above for vanilla sugar, toss your scraped pods into a container of salt and let it sit. For something really unique, use your vanilla salt on seafood, chicken, roasted vegetables, etc. We have even used our vanilla salt on spicy roasted potatoes and it was fantastic.

+ Vanilla Coffee
Leave a scraped vanilla pod to dry out and harden. It doesn't take too long. Then when it is ready, break it up and put it in your coffee grinder with your coffee beans. Upon brewing, the hot water will release a divine vanilla flavor into your brewed coffee or espresso.

+ Vanilla Iced Tea
Immerse a leftover vanilla pod into some freshly brewed iced tea. Let it sit in the tea overnight. The next day, remove the spent pod, pour the tea over ice and serve. Another technique I have used is to make vanilla sun tea in the summer. I have a big glass gallon jug for making sun tea. So, I put the tea bags, water, and leftover vanilla pod in the jug and sit the jug out where it will be exposed to the summer sun all day. Later that night, I take out the tea bags and the pod, pour over some crushed ice, and savor the flavor.

+ Vanilla Balsamic Vinegar
Using a bottle of good quality balsamic vinegar, immerse a slit unscraped vanilla bean into the bottle. Recap and shake well. Let it sit for a couple weeks before using. This doesn't give the balsamic vinegar a noticeable vanilla flavor or aroma. It adds a refined backbone that balances the vinegar on the palette and gives it a unique character. Sauteeing mushrooms and onions in vanilla balsamic vinegar is absolutely wonderful.

+ Vanilla Bean Butter
Take a 1/2 pound of butter out and let it come to room temperature. Once the butter is ready, put the butter in a bowl. Slit a vanilla bean and scrape the vanilla beans into the butter. Using a small whisk, or a hand mixer, incorporate the vanilla beans into the butter. Form the butter into a log or any other shape you like and put back into the refrigerator to harden. I usually roll mine into a log and cover with wax paper. Then, I just slice off little rounds whenever I want them. Use the vanilla bean butter in cookie dough, in sauces, on seafood, on pancakes, etc.

Sidney Stone is the editor of http://www.FoodRap.com and an enthusiastic personal chef that specializes in artisan breadmaking and pastries.