Chinese Underground Factory of Fine Food

Chinese Underground Factory of Fine Food

Police officers uncovered an underground factory of the local fine food, known as “Century eggs”. Duck eggs are mainly used to prepare this dish. It is made by preserving duck eggs in a mixture of clay, ash, salt, lime, and rice hulls for several weeks to several months, depending on the method of processing. Through the process, the yolk becomes a dark green, cream-like substance with a strong odor of sulphur and ammonia, while the white becomes a dark brown, transparent jelly with little flavor.

Paramodel Sculptures

Paramodel - art duo from Osaka, who works in the genres of sculpture, installation, painting and photography. Sculptures from the series "Tomica" consist of a toy truck, carrying in the back of Japanese food. Price - $ 270 per figure. Amazing really !

World's Largest Omelette

In an attempt to promote eggs as a healthy and cheap food source, and celebrate World Egg Day, Turkish chefs managed to set a new world record for the World's Largest Omelette.

50 Turkish cooks, along with 1o chefs whisked 110,010 eggs on a giant fryer, 10 meters in diameter. The omelette took 2.5 hours to cook, but I bet the people involved could think of no better way to celebrate World Egg Day. 432 liters of oil were needed to make this larger-than-life-dish nice and fluffy. The event was staged by the Turkish Egg Producers Association as a way of promoting eggs as a tasty and healthy meal.

The giant omelette weighed 4.4 tons, beating the old record of 3.625 tons, by almost a ton. After the offcial weighing, the omlette was served to the thousands of by-standers attracted by the smell.

Lunch Party in Qatar's Sheikh Palace

Food for a nice smile and fresh breath

Cinnamon destroys oral bacteria, apple calcium and phosphorus prevent tooth decay, tea stops plaque.

It is known that too much sugar can damage oral health.However, there are foods that are good for teeth and gums as well. We bring the surprising list of foods and herbs that protect the teeth and reduce bad breath.

Yogurt

Sugar free yogurt reduces the number of bacteria that cause bad breath, tooth decay and gum diseases. Studies done on volunteers who consumed a serving of yogurt each day for 6 months, have shown that their levels of hydrogen-sulphide, the main cause of bad breath, decreased by 80 percent. Their levels of dental plaque and gingivitis decreased as well.

Cheese, chicken and nuts

Cheese, chicken and nuts provide calcium and phosphorus. These elements are essential for re-storage of minerals in teeth and for rebuilding of acid damaged enamel. We all know that milk is good for teeth, and this is because milk provides calcium, which also promotes storage of minerals.

Tea

Tea, especially black, is extremely useful in fighting bacteria that causes plaque. Tea limits opportunities for enzyme that converts sugar in the adhesive layer that enables the development of plaque on teeth. It also prevents gathering of bacteria, which reduces the amount of plaque buildup. Research has shown that drinking tea helps in the prevention of common human diseases, caries and parodentoze.

Cinnamon

Essential oil obtained from cinnamon can destroy the bacteria. Peppermint, rosemary and sage are popular for covering up bad breath, but cinnamon is the only one that really destroys the oral bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell).

Good results are often achieved by chewing gum with cinnamon. The tests showed that they destroyed 50 percent of all oral bacteria, and 40 percent of those caused bad breath. Cinnamon tea has the same effect.

Mediterranean diet fights depression

People who practice the Mediterranean diet have 30% less chances of getting depressed than those who don’t.

People whopractice the so-called Mediterranean diet, that is, people whose menus are rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and fish, are at a lower risk of developing depression, Reuters writes.

The research conducted by Spanish scientists, found that those who ate the Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of depression by as much as 30 percent compared to those who didn’t.

Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of diabetes

- The specific mechanisms that prevent the occurrence of depression, are still not known - Almudena Sanchez-Villegas from the University of Las Palmas, which conducted this study, said.

However, she states that elements of the diet can greatly improve cardiovascular function, restore damaged cells in the body, and reduce the development of depression.

The advantage of the Mediterranean diet, the experts note, is also that it reduces the risk of diabetes, asthma and cancer. Scientists obtained this data by analyzing the questionnaire that was filled by 11,000 persons.

Hippo was the main ingredient of the first soup

Discover how many snails do French eat every year, what is the Worcestershire sauce and what can you make out of peanuts.

Every day the media relates various tips on nutrition, new discoveries, diets and the like. However, there is still lots of interesting information that many people are generally unfamiliar with. We bring you some of it:
- Lemons contain more sugar than strawberries.

- Onion was named after the Latin word meaning a large pearl.

- Half of the world's population lives mainly on rice.

- The average person consumes about 35 tons of food during their lifetime.

- Ice cream comes from China and it was brought to Europe by Marco Polo.

- In France, 500,000,000 snails are eaten every year.

- A gallon of drinking water contains about 100,000 bacteria.

- Skimmed milk contains as much of calcium as a whole.

- Frozen vegetables are sometimes healthier than the fresh, especially if the fresh stayed at a room temperature.

- Supposedly Giacomo Casanova consumed chocolate before the conquest of women - due to its aphrodisiac abilities.

- After the milk is exposed to sun light for two hours, it loses between half and two thirds of its vitamin B content.

- If one of the sources of your vitamin C is meat or beans, the body will make a better use of iron.

- Peanuts are used to manufacture dynamite – peanut butter oil is transformed into glycerol, which is later processed into nitroglycerin, one of the ingredients of dynamite.

- Worcestershire sauce is created by dissolving anchovies in vinegar, until the anchovies melt completely, including bones.

- The first soup that was ever made contained hippo

- The remains of fast food restaurants were found even in the ruins of ancient cities. Even the ancient Greeks loved fast food. The only thing that is new is a mass production, standard menus and fast food recipes.

- Wieners were first made in China

- In the Middle Ages, the fish was traditionally served with a slice of lemon, because it was thought that the lemon juice degraded all accidentally swallowed bones.

Meat

Untill the year 1300 the word ‘meat’ referred to all solid foods, while the word ‘drink’ was used for all the liquid foods. Around the same year the word ‘meat’ was increasingly used to mark the animal flesh used for food. Shortly afterwards, when the meat of animals become a significant part of the English diet, this term got its present meaning.

Alcohol in cooking

Contrary to what most people believe, and this includes many professionals, beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages used in preparation of the food remain after cooking process is done and they do not evaporate.

100 percent of alcohol remains in the dishes that are immediately consumed. Leave the dishes overnight, and the alcohol content will be reduced to about 70 percent. Boiled dishes will contain about 85 percent of the original alcohol and the open-flame preparation will preserve about 75 percent. Alcohol concentration decreases significantly only after 2.5 hours of cooking when only 5 percent remains.

Fork

Spain and Italy were the first countries that adopted the use of table fork. It happened in the 16th century, almost one hundred years before it was first used in France.

The 6 Basic Nutrients Groups

The 6 groups contain everything the body needs to survive and perform its daily activities. When we maintain a proper balance of these nutrients, we have everything we need for optimal health. While the exact balance varies from person to person, we'll share the generally accepted guidelines that can help us make the right choices. Here are the 6 basic nutrients groups:

Basic Nutrients Groups For Energy:

Carbohydrates:

These nutrients provide sugars to your system for quick energy. 40-50% of our daily food energy intake (in calories) should be carbohydrates, but not just any carbohydrates. Many processed foods (candy, ice cream, soda, fruit juice, honey, etc.) have very high amounts of refined carbohydrates that flood your body too quickly with energy. Over time, this can cause very serious health problems. Make sure to get most of your carbohydrates from unprocessed foods (whole grains, beans, peas, brown rice, fresh fruits and vegetables).

Proteins:

These are sometimes called the building blocks of life because, in addition to providing slow, sustained energy, proteins provide necessary amino acids that help regulate body function and structure. This is why some body-builders and athletes add protein supplements to their diets. Go to our page, Proteins-Amino Acids to get more information on specific proteins. 20-30% of our daily food energy intake should be from proteins. While all meats and dairy foods are high in proteins, the best protein foods are low in cholesterol and saturated fats (ocean fish, salmon is best, tofu, beans, black-eyed peas).

Fats:

Fats may be the least understood of the nutrient groups. We can't live without them but we think they harm us. Actually, only certain fats (cholesterol, saturated fats) are harmful when eaten in excess. This is why we should limit our beef, pork, lamb, veal, butter, coconut and dairy products. Monounsaturated fats (from nuts, seeds, olives) and Polyunsaturated fats (from sunflower, corn, fish and shellfish) are fats that are good for us. Omega 3 fats (cold water ocean fish, salmon) actually have been shown to reduce cholesterol. Our fat intake should be about 20-30% of our diet.

Basic Nutrients Groups For Metabolism:

Vitamins:

These nutrients have been proven over time to be necessary for health and fitness, but are in short supply in most modern diets. It only takes a tiny amount of these nutrients, but, if missing from the diet, they can cause giant health problems with names like scurvy, night blindness, anemia, etc. Many vitamin supplements are available at varying strengths and qualities. Be careful, because too much of some vitamins can be as harmful as too little. You can get recommended amounts, natural sources and benefits of specific vitamins from our page, Vitamin Benefits List.

Minerals:

Like Vitamins, it only takes a tiny amount of each mineral to avoid serious health problems (like anemia, bone disease, depression, etc), but with more processed and prepared foods in our diets, less minerals are available. Also, like vitamins, too much of a specific mineral can cause serious health problems. See our page Nutritional Supplements for guidelines on how to choose mineral supplements. Also see Minerals Good For The Body for our recommended amounts, natural sources and benefits of specific minerals.

Water:

Yes, water is a nutrient...the forgotten nutrient. Many people chase after the latest, most exotic nutrient when all they really need is to drink enough pure water. Nothing else works like water to clean your system, control your weight, digestion, energy, alertness. Nothing on this page can work if you're not getting enough pure water. For most adults, 1/2 to 3/4 gallon of water daily is right...don't go much over that. Like all other nutrients, too much water can cause serious health problems. See our page Drinking Water-Advantages for information on water advantages, disadvantages, purity, etc.

Nutrients For Life:

People looking for nutrient information usually want to avoid health problems, get the most out of life and the most life they can. Not just physical existence, but mental and spiritual. If you're looking for more than body or looks in your health and fitness goals, you can find it spiritually through God. He can heal the stuff your diet doesn't control and bring real health and fitness to your life. If you want His help, go to Healing From God.

7 don't's after a meal

* Don't smoke-Experiment from experts proves that smoking a cigarette after meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarettes (chances of cancer is higher).

* Don't eat fruits immediately - Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause stomach to be bloated with air. Therefore take fruit 1-2 hr after meal or 1hr before meal.

* Don't drink tea - Because tea leaves contain a high content of acid.This substance will cause the Protein content in the food we consume to be hardened thus difficult to digest.

* Don't loosen your belt - Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted & blocked.

* Don't bathe - Bathing will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs & body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease. This will weaken the digestive system in our stomach.

* Don't walk about - People always say that after a meal walk a hundred steps and you will live till 99. In actual fact this is not true.. Walking will cause the digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we intake.

* Don't sleep immediately - The food we intake will not be able to digest properly. Thus will lead to gastric & infection in our intestine.

The Miracle of Green Tea

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, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. 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.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

* Cancer
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* High cholesterol levels
* Cariovascular disease
* Infection
* Impaired immune function


What makes green tea so special?


The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.

Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

Other Benefits

New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.

Harmful Effects?

To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.

Burning Fat with Foods

Grapefruit

I'm not sure if it has magical fat-burning properties, but research suggests that this sweet 'n' sour citrus fruit can aid in weight loss. One Scripps Clinic study found that eating half of a grapefruit or drinking four ounces of grapefruit juice with meals (without making any other changes in eating habits) resulted in an average weight loss of more than three pounds in 12 weeks. Scientists speculate the weight loss happens because grapefruit lowers insulin levels, which curbs your urge to snack. And, of course, the less you snack, the easier it is to lose weight.

Tip: If grapefruit is a little too tart for you, try sprinkling some Splenda on top.

Green Tea

Green tea is one ambitious beverage. Not only does it help prevent cancer and heart disease, but numerous research studies have also found that drinking green tea, or taking green tea supplements, can also rev up your metabolism. Just how big of a difference can this fat-burning brew make? Some researchers claim if you drink five cups of green tea a day, you'll burn 70 to 80 extra calories. That's not bad, and definitely worth a shot!

Spicy Foods

Like it hot? Good news: Eating spicy foods can help you burn more fat. Hot foods make you sweat and raise your heart rate, which temporarily increases your metabolism. So grab some cayenne, your favorite bottle of hot sauce, hot chilies or red pepper flakes, and give your food ‑- and your metabolism ‑- a kick.

Low-Fat/Nonfat Dairy

In addition to building strong bones, calcium also inhibits the production of calcitriol, a hormone that tells cells to generate more fat. Woohoo! Several studies have concluded that incorporating low-fat or nonfat dairy products into your diet can help you lose more weight. My favorite forms of low-fat dairy are Dannon Light 'n' Fit Smoothies, Yoplait Light Yogurt and Dreyer's Grand Light Ice Cream.

Water

Skimp on water, and it'll be harder to lose weight. Dehydration slows down your metabolism, and it can also lead to sugar cravings and fatigue (which might make you less likely to exercise). Yikes! Some experts recommend guzzling eight cups of H2O a day. I have at least 10 to 12 glasses daily.

Cinnamon

Research shows that a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon, eaten with food, helps metabolize sugars more effectively and lower the body's blood sugar levels. This is helpful because high blood sugar levels and excess sugar in the blood can lead to fat storage. Cinnamon also brings out natural sweetness in food and, well, tastes good. So sprinkle away! My favorite way to use the stuff? Mixed with Splenda and some fat-free cottage cheese or on baked apples. Mmm!

HG Protein Tip..!

Protein is essential for building muscle. And the more muscle you have, the more fat you burn ‑- even when you're at rest. Protein also has the highest thermic effect of all the macronutrients (protein, carbs and fat). So, you burn more calories digesting protein than you do digesting carbs or fats. Your best protein-packed bets are turkey, egg whites, fish, tuna and skinless, boneless chicken breasts
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Largest Buffet at Festival Guatemala set Guinness Record

At the Festival Gastronomico in Guatemala on the 27 August 2009, a Guinness record attempt for the Largest Buffet with the making of 1158 dishes. - current record was set only 4 months earlier in Turkeywith 1028 individual dishes.

World Biggest Burger in London set Guinness Record

A host of record breakers including the world's tallest man and the biggest burger ever sold have been unveiled at an event in London.
The burger weighs in at more than 13st and sells for 499 dollars (£302) at Mallie's Sports Grill and Bar in Southgate, Michigan, US, according to the Guinness World Records (GWR).

Restaurant owner Steve Mallie said it took eight hours to bake the bun big enough to hold the 185lb (84kg) burger.
He said: "Being in the Guinness World Records book is the greatest accomplishment we've ever done. I've worked my entire life to build this restaurant and being able to have the notoriety of Guinness makes it just that bit more rewarding."
The burger is baked for 15 hours before it is topped with cheese, lettuce and tomato and wheeled out into the restaurant on a trolley.

Other records include the new holder of the world's tallest man title. Sultan Kosen, 27, is 8ft 1in (246.5cm). Speaking to journalists, he said he hoped his new-found fame would bring him love for the first time.

Turkish Mr Kosen, who also has the largest hands (27.5cm) and feet (36.5cm) on the globe, said his size had put women off and he had never even had a girlfriend. He said: "The first thing I want to do is have a car that I can fit in but more than that I want to get married. Up until now it's been really difficult to find a girlfriend. I've never had one, they were usually scared of me. I'm hoping now I will find one."

One the difficulties of being so tall is getting clothes which fit - Mr Kosen wore a specially-made suit to meet journalists which was one of the first outfits he has owned that is the right size. He also had to have a three-metre long bed made. But his towering height does have its upsides. He said: "The good thing about being so tall is that I can see people from a long distance. The other thing is at home they use my height to change the light bulbs and hang the curtains, things like that."

A smiling Mr Kosen, who used crutches to stand, said he had always dreamed of coming to London and had two seats to himself on the flight over.

Don’t drink milk when you have gastric

I was having a mild gastric yesterday and when I voiced it out, hubby told me to drink some milk to ease the gastric pain. But somewhere on the back of my mind, I remember hearing some advise about how milk will aggravate gastric pains even more than it provides relieve. I told him this and he said it can’t be, because an aunt of his has bad gastric problems and her doctor specifically told her to drink milk. Still not convinced, I decided to do some research about the effect of milk on gastric pains, whether milk relives gastric pains or worsen it. What do you think?

From my searches on the internet, I found many forums and websites that suggest taking milk to help relieve gastric and stomach ulcer pains. This is because milk is an alkaline component and it will neutralise the acidity of the gastric juice in the stomach that is causing the gastric pains. However, upon further reading, I read that milk is only a short term relief to gastric.

Milk contains fats and protein. When these components enter the body system, they encourage more acid juices to be secreted in the stomach so that it can digest the proteins. So before long, you may find that your gastric may return. And if you keep drinking milk as a cure for gastric, it won’t help you in the long term. You can read more about the explanation on this from some short paragraphs here and here.

The next time you have gastric and prefer to take natural remedies to cure gastric pains, here are some things you can do:

1. Drink lots of water

2. Eat garlic (read about the health benefits of garlic here) – Long term consumption of garlic helps to prevent stomach acidity. For a quick relieve from gastric pains, you can try crushing 2 cloves of garlic and consuming it.

3. Drink apple cider vinegar (read about the benefits of apple cider vinegar here)- Apple cider vinegar and garlic can be combined help relieve gastric pains. Crush a couple of cloves of garlic into a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, refrigerate and take a spoonful for instant relief.

Heart-Healthy Advice You Need

Whether you're at high risk for heart trouble or you're trying to control early-stage heart disease, here are some simple lifestyle changes you can make.

Exercise and Eat Right

Simple lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of heart disease. If you're at high risk or you're trying to control early-stage heart disease, here are some important preventive steps -- involving diet, exercise, medical options, supplements and lifestyle -- you can take.

Diet

Think international. People who eat a traditional Mediterranean or Asian diet appear to have lower rates of heart disease than those who eat a typical American diet. Incorporate elements of these diets into your healthy eating plan.
Eat heart-smart foods. Choose foods that can reduce cholesterol and improve heart health, such as fruits (apples, avocados, dried fruits, grapefruit, oranges, strawberries), vegetables (broccoli, carrots, corn, lima beans, onions), seafood (clams, mussels, oysters), fish containing omega-3 fatty acids (salmon and bluefish), soy, nuts and whole-grain breads and cereals.

Cut the fat. To keep your cholesterol level down, limit the amount of fat you eat, especially saturated fat. Your total fat intake should be no more than 30% of your daily calories. Focus on low-fat alternatives to red meat, such as fish or skinless chicken or turkey. Eating fish several times a week can cut your risk of heart attack by as much as half. Lower your intake of dairy fats by switching to low-fat or skim varieties. Or try soy milk -- soy protein can lower cholesterol.

Spice it up. If you have high blood pressure, cut your sodium intake. In fact, researchers now think that even people whose blood pressure is within normal range should cut back on sodium. Avoid processed foods, which contain a lot of sodium, and ease up on salt at mealtime. But don't settle for bland fare. Add flavor with salsa, curry, peppers, or garlic. Eating one to three cloves of garlic a day has been shown to reduce blood pressure and possibly lower cholesterol.

Add rough stuff. Soluble fiber -- plentiful in fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains -- prevents arterial plaque buildup. Studies show that eating three or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily can lower the risk of heart attack and stroke by 25% or more. In one study, eating cooked dried beans daily lowered LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, by 20% in just three weeks. Other research showed that a diet high in whole grains can cut a woman's risk of dying from heart disease by up to 15%. And dozens of studies confirm that eating oats has a cholesterol-lowering effect.

Seeing red. Drinking alcohol in moderation raises HDL, or "good," cholesterol and "thins" the blood, reducing the likelihood of clots that can cause heart attack and stroke. Red wine offers additional benefits. Its dark pigments are rich in bioflavonoids that prevent the oxidation of LDL, making it less likely to stick to artery walls. Research showed that people who drank two 8-ounce glasses of red wine a day were 40% less likely to have a heart attack than those who didn't imbibe. But don't overdo it -- too much alcohol raises your triglyceride level (and high triglyceride levels are linked to coronary artery disease and untreated diabetes in some people). And if you have an alcohol problem, the harm far outweighs any potential benefit. Other good sources of bioflavonoids: black and green tea, onions, kale and apples.

Exercise

Work your heart. The best preventive medicine for your heart is aerobic exercise. It reduces high blood pressure and atherosclerosis by widening the blood vessels. Plus, it raises "good" cholesterol levels. Choose an activity that works the large muscles of your legs and buttocks (like brisk walking or bicycling), and strive to reach your target heart rate for at least 15 to 20 minutes, three or four times a week.

An (up)lifting idea. An American Heart Association (AHA) survey found that lifting weights a few times a week can improve heart health in some people. That's because stronger muscles can lower your heart rate and blood pressure. Having more muscle tissue also raises your metabolism, which helps control your weight. But don't skip the brisk walk. The AHA recommends pumping iron in addition to aerobic exercise.

Be flexible. Flexibility exercises like yoga not only help keep your joints limber but also help cut the production of stress hormones that can contribute to heart disease.

Evaluate Your Heart Health

Medical Options

Schedule a checkup. Until age 65, you should have your blood pressure checked at least every other year. At age 65, you should have it checked at least annually. Most doctors also recommend a yearly cholesterol screening if you have high cholesterol or other heart-disease risk factors. Your doctor may also recommend electrocardiography (an ECG) to evaluate your heart health. While you're there, ask about a simple blood test for a substance called C-reactive protein. According to Harvard researchers studying 28,000 healthy women, this test helped predict heart attack risk better than cholesterol tests.

An aspirin a day? People with existing heart disease may benefit from low-dose aspirin therapy, which may prevent heart attacks. The dosage ranges from part of an aspirin (80 mg) to one aspirin (325 mg) daily. Ask your doctor what's right for you.

Depressurize. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease. If diet and exercise can't control it, blood-pressure medication can help.

Deal with diabetes. People with diabetes, most of whom are adults with the type 2 form of the disease, are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or stroke. Controlling the disease is often just a matter of losing extra pounds, exercising regularly and following a heart-healthy diet.

Don't ignore depression. One study found that depressed people were 1.7 times more likely to develop heart disease and that depressed men were nearly three times as likely to die from it. See your doctor for help.

Supplements

Consider folate and vitamin B6. These vitamins lower elevated levels of homocysteine, a substance in the blood that may raise your risk of heart disease. A daily intake of more than 400 mcg of folate and 3 mg of B6 appears to reduce the risk of heart disease in women.
Go fish. Fish oil capsules contain omega-3 fatty acids, which act as anticlotting agents. Check with your doctor before taking them to avoid interactions with other medications.
Get garlic. Garlic capsules offer the health benefits of garlic without odor. Choose pills that supply 4000 mcg of allicin and take 400 to 600 mg a day.

Lifestyle

Rein in your rage. Don't get mad -- it's bad for your heart. A study of nearly 13,000 people found that those who were quick to anger were almost three times more likely to have heart attacks than their cooler-headed peers.
Stay trim. Being even slightly overweight can increase your blood pressure and put you at greater risk for heart disease. Follow a heart-smart diet and make exercise a priority.
No ifs, ands, or butts. According to the American Heart Association, you can cut your risk of death related to heart disease by 50% by kicking the smoking habit. After three smoke-free years, your risk of heart disease is the same as that of a lifelong nonsmoker.

Time out. Minimize stress, a risk factor for heart disease. Try meditation or visualization or yoga. Prayer may also help. Take brisk walks with a friend; your conversation may add extra stress relief.

Getting away is good for your heart. Researchers found that men between ages 35 and 57 who took a yearly vacation were one-third less likely to die from heart disease than their stay-at-work colleagues.

17 Things Your Pizza Delivery Guy Won't Tell You

1. Telling me your address is just the first step. Making sure the number is on your house or mailbox is kind of important too.
2. We have some fantastic customers and some who are just terrible. But I'll deliver to them all—this is what I do.

3. Many delivery drivers are teenage boys, and most parents don't like their teenage boys driving around at night in downpours or blizzards. Yet these same people have no qualms about having other teenage kids deliver their pizza in these conditions.

4. There are always "special customers," like the little old lady who wants to pay her bill with a $5 check. I’ll take it because none of us want to be mean to a grandmother. But if she hasn't ordered from us before, I won’t take it.

5. We act like we really want to have a conversation with you at your door, but we don't, unless we know you. Basically, we just want to get the delivery over with.

6. I can reel off the addresses of all the customers who don't tip. (Yes, we remember!) I also know all the good tippers and will treat them and their food accordingly.

7. I will try to be as nice to you as possible. But if you complain that I'm late, or if you have a problem with your order, I won’t be so nice.

8. The majority of our employees work 12-14 hours a day. At the end of the day, we just want to go home. So please don't call for a delivery at closing time and then complain that we can't accommodate you.

9. At our shop, we use our own cars to deliver pizza. Last week one of our guys smashed his car into a pole on an icy road. Now he's using a rental car.

10. I'm one of the easiest people to get along with. But if you're rude to me, I have no problem going toe-to-toe with you.

11. Don't jump in the shower right after you order pizza and then not the answer the door. I can't wait much longer than a few minutes.

12. If you live across the street, please don’t call for a delivery. Get off your rear end and pick up the pizza yourself.

13. I probably break a speeding law once a day.

14. After I leave this job, I'm sure I won’t be able to eat pizza for at least a year.

15. The majority of customers who stand there chatting about the weather are just trying to make up for not giving us tips.

16. You ordered the pizza. You know how much it costs. Please have your money (and tip) ready when you answer the door.

17. I don't have the authority to give you a discount. Really, I don't. I'm just the delivery guy.

Life's Little Etiquette Rules

Have you had it with picky eaters? Learn how to be more patient with guests, kids, your friends and even your family members.

Don't let picky eaters ruin your dinner party plans.

Life's Little Etiquette Conundrums
Q: I've had it with picky eaters. I try to plan a holiday menu only to hear we can't have this dish because so-and-so won't eat cheese or can't stand onions. It's not like I'm serving liver. Should I tell these folks to just eat normally—or bend to their wishes?

A: Ah, the lacto-ovo vegetarian. The gluten-free. The caffeine-free. The zero-carber and the low-fatter. You simply can't accommodate the diverse needs of today's eaters! Tell them beforehand about the menu. Make sure no one is allergic to anything. Then say, "I'll be sure to put sauces and dressings on the side, in case anyone doesn't like them." Listen, if people choose to follow strict dietary rules, it's up to them to figure out how to get fed. Enjoy the company, and realize that if anyone goes home hungry, it's not your fault.

Q: My neighbor's daughter is seven months older than my four-year-old, and until recently, they got along very well. The other girl has started being mean and ignoring my daughter. At first, I chalked it up to "kids will be kids," but then my neighbor rescheduled her daughter's birthday party without telling us the new date (I heard about it through the grapevine). My daughter keeps asking, "When are we going to the party?" My heart aches for her, and it hurts my feelings too. Should I say something?
--Snubbed
A: It sounds like your family is getting dumped. But before you confront a woman whose kid is mean to yours, determine if this temporary separation is not actually a blessing. Four-year-olds will change a million times in a million different ways. Let the friendship develop—or not—in its own good time. In the meantime, busy your child with other playmates. Your actions will show her that real friendship isn't something you beg for or demand.

Q: I have a friend who wants me to do everything with him. He'll call me to see if I'm busy. If I'm not, he'll shout, "Pack your bags! We're going camping!" He'll ask me to take pictures with my cell phone so he can see where I am. I'd like to keep him as a friend, but I'm suffocating. What can I tell him?
--Enough Already

A: I'm suffocating just reading your letter. Your friend needs more friends. You can't possibly provide all the attention he needs. Stop doing all the stuff that feels wrong. Taking pictures of what you're doing? Just stop! Gently guide him into clubs, sports, any activities that he enjoys and would widen his circle. If he's a true friend, he'll be able to take it when you say, "You're smothering me."

Q: My 41-year-old husband and his former coworker (a 28-year-old woman) text each other on their personal cell phones. When I confronted him, he told me young people text all the time and she feels comfortable texting him because they are "related" (she's married to my sister-in-law's husband's brother; we see one another once a year). On this month's phone bill, I saw that he had texted her while he was on a hunting trip and during his drive to work. I feel betrayed. He says he loves me and only me and would not cheat with her. Should I be worried?
--Not LOL

A: Icky, icky. I don't like this at all. Texting hubby needs to fess up—probably to himself first. He's getting a thrill out of all the attention from Little Miss Instant Message. Confront him again. If he denies the tingle, ask him if he would agree to start texting you instead of her when he's driving his car or hunting deer (neither sounds very safe to me, by the way). He may reject this as an uninteresting proposal. This is where you say, "Honey, you've got a problem, and now we do too."

Q: I had a wonderful mother-in-law, so I've tried to treat my own daughter-in-law with the same warmth. But after four years, she still runs hot and cold. One week, she needs my help and everything is fine, but if I don't respond or smile at the right moment, my son calls to cancel whatever plans we had. I'm ready to give up.
--Clueless

A: Warmth is born of profound respect for others. It doesn't sound like either of you has it for each other—yet. Emulating your own mother-in-law does not obligate your daughter-in-law to act in any particular way. Go ahead and grieve that you can't simply replicate an earlier relationship, and give this chilly new relationship more time to thaw.

Chromium is an essential trace mineral first discovered in 1955. Although our bodies contain only a few milligrams, even this tiny amount is critical for regulating insulin and blood sugar levels, as well as activating enzymes essential for energy production.

We get chromium through food, primarily yeast, grains, nuts, prunes, potatoes, and seafood. But we don't get enough overall; many Americans are deficient in chromium. One reason is that diets high in refined sugar leach chromium right out of us.

Recent studies find that supplementing with chromium may not only lower cholesterol but also help stabilize blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. Thus, it may be particularly beneficial to people with metabolic syndrome or diabetes.

What the research shows: In one small study of 28 people, those taking 200 micrograms of chromium daily for 42 days had significant decreases in both total cholesterol and LDL, decreases that didn't occur when they took a placebo. At least eight other studies have found that chromium supplementation improved cholesterol. And numerous studies found supplementing with at least 400 micrograms of chromium improved fasting glucose levels, a sign of improved insulin sensitivity. Be aware that chromium may take several weeks or even months to yield results.

Who should take it: People with metabolic syndrome or diabetes, as well as anyone susceptible to chromium deficiency (including athletes, the elderly, and people who follow diets high in refined sugar).

Recommended dose: 200 to 400 micrograms a day in divided doses for people with insulin resistance; 400 to 1,000 micrograms a day in divided doses for people with diabetes. Use chromium picolinate as your source. For everyone else the amount in a multivitamin should be sufficient.

Warnings/contraindications: If you have diabetes, check with your doctor; taking chromium may alter your requirements for insulin or other diabetes medication.

Fish Oil: A Vital Supplement

Eating fish several times a week is an essential part of any cholesterol-lowering plan. But believe it or not, eating fish regularly is still not enough.

To get the amount of omega-3 fatty acids that, according to the latest research, can lower triglycerides, counter inflammation, reduce blood stickiness, and provide other heart benefits, you must supplement your diet with a fish-oil supplement.

Fish oil may have other advantages as well, such as strengthening immune function, improving LDL/HDL ratio, staving off depression, helping with allergies, countering inflammation in people with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, and possibly helping stave off certain cancers. Other benefits worth noting are fish oil's ability to lower blood pressure, slow blood clotting, and stave off type 2 diabetes in conjunction with statin drugs. In addition, fish-oil supplements appear to help regulate your heart's electrical activity, lowering the risk of heart attack or sudden cardiac death from arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats.

If you're worried about having to swallow a yucky-tasting oil every day (maybe you're remembering taking castor oil as a kid), don't worry. The translucent, gelatin capsules are odorless, tasteless, and easy to swallow, even though they are large. And they're also relatively inexpensive -- you can get 100 1,000-milligram softgels for under $3. (As a reminder, 1,000 milligrams equal 1 gram.)

Taking Fish-Oil
Two main types of omega-3 fatty acids make up fish oil: EPA and DHA (don't worry about the full scientific names). Look for a product that contains both. One product we like is Max EPA. Take 1,000 milligrams twice daily. If you already have heart disease, talk to your doctor about taking higher doses. If you're a vegan (someone who does not eat any animal products or fish), consider taking flaxseed oil instead of fish-oil supplements. Flaxseed and its oil are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Take a tablespoon a day in either capsule or oil form, or use in salad dressings and cooking. Just don't take both fish oil and flaxseed oil, since both have blood-thinning effects.

Because fish-oil supplements can reduce the time it takes blood to clot, talk to your doctor before taking them if you're also taking blood-thinning medications like Coumadin (warfarin) or are at high risk for bleeding disorders.

When in the vitamin aisle be sure to look for a brand with the USP label verifying that the supplement contains the level of ingredients the label claims. When ConsumerLab.com, an independent company that evaluates dietary supplements, tested fish-oil supplements, it found that one-third of the 20 brands tested did not contain the levels of EPA and DHA advertised. Two of the products that failed even stated on their labels that they had been tested or verified for potency.

The Essential Multivitamin

More Americans take a daily multivitamin than any other supplement. It's an easy, safe way to get numerous benefits from a variety of nutrients without having to pop a handful of pills every day.

Taking a daily multivitamin is especially important for older adults because as we age, our bodies become less efficient at absorbing vitamins and minerals from food. And if you follow a vegetarian diet, you may not be consuming enough of certain vitamins and minerals to begin with.

When choosing a multivitamin, pick a brand with high quality control, high reported bioavailability (this means your body can absorb the vitamins), and few additives. These include multis by Thorne, PhytoPharmica, and Vital Nutrients. Don't choose a multi that contains iron unless you're a woman who is still menstruating or your doctor has recommended that you take additional iron.

Multivitamins got a boost in June 2002, when the Journal of the American Medical Association published two articles by Harvard doctors on their benefits. The doctors recommended that everyone, regardless of age or health status, take one. We agree. Among the heart-related benefits you might reap are a lower homocysteine level and less oxidation of LDL. Some of the nutrients most likely responsible include:

B vitamins. One of the best reasons to take a multivitamin every day is to be certain to get your fill of B vitamins. This family of vitamins -- thiamin, riboflavin (B1), pyridoxine (B6), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), cobalamin (B12), folic acid, biotin, choline, inositol, and para-aminobenzoic acid -- plays a critical role in every function inside your body. But the vitamins really shine when it comes to your heart. Folate, B6, and B12 help prevent a dangerous buildup of the amino acid homocysteine. If homocysteine levels rise too high, they damage endothelial cells (which line the arteries), blocking the production of nitric oxide and leaving arteries more prone to plaque buildup. Keeping homocysteine in check is a good enough reason by itself to take a multivitamin.

Another B vitamin, choline, helps your body process cholesterol. And vitamin B5 can actually lower LDL and triglycerides and raise HDL, at least at high doses. The vitamin apparently works by reducing the amount of cholesterol your liver makes.

Generally, a multivitamin will give you all of the B vitamins your body needs. But if you have elevated homocysteine levels, talk to your doctor about taking an additional B vitamin supplement. Should you decide to do so, don't exceed the recommended dosages. Because they are fat soluble, many of these vitamins can build up in the body to toxic levels.