Free Glide

One look at a line at the local Starbucks in the morning and you don’t need to be convinced of the huge amount of coffee consumption in the U.S. The National Coffee Association found in 2000 that 54% of the U.S. adult population drinks coffee daily. Guess there’s nothing like the first double espresso in the morning to clear the cobwebs from our heads so we can face the day.

But what are the effects relating to fitness? If that grande-no-foam-double-whipped-extra-shot-no-fat latte gives us the get-up-and-go to start our day at work, will it do the same if we’re headed to the gym?

Physiological Effects

The main ingredient in coffee that gives us that jolt is caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant. Caffeine is found naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, and chocolate, and is a popular added ingredient in carbonated beverages and some over-the-counter medications such as cold remedies, diuretics, aspirin, and weight control aids. It is estimated that in the U.S., 75% of caffeine intake comes from coffee.

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system by blocking adenosine, a neurotransmitter that normally causes a calming effect in the body. The resulting neural stimulation due to this blockage causes the adrenal glands to release adrenaline, the “fight or flight” hormone. Your heart rate increases, your pupils dilate, your muscles tighten up, and glucose is released into your blood stream for extra energy. Voila… you now have the caffeine buzz.

But wait…we’re not done yet. Caffeine also increases dopamine. Dopamine activates the pleasure in parts of the brain. It has been suspected that this also contributes to caffeine addiction.

Physiologically, caffeine makes us you feel alert, pumps adrenaline to give you energy and changes dopamine production to make you feel good. Another espresso, anyone?

Ergogenic Effects of Caffeine to Performance

In addition to various psychological and physiological benefits, numerous studies have documented caffeine’s ergogenic effect on athletic performance, particularly in regard to endurance. Studies show that caffeine ingestion prior to exercising extended endurance in moderately strenuous aerobic activity. Other studies researching caffeine consumption on elite distance runners and distance swimmers show increased performance times following caffeine consumption.

Despite effects on endurance, caffeine produced no effect on maximal muscular force in a study measuring voluntary and electrically stimulated muscle actions. However, the same study did show findings that suggest caffeine has an ergogenic effect on muscle during repetitive, low frequency stimulation.

Caffeine’s positive performance-enhancing effects have been well documented. So much so that the International Olympic Committee placed a ban leading to disqualification for an athlete with urinary limits exceeding 12 mg/mL. Roughly 600 to 800mg of caffeine, or 4 to 7 cups of coffee, consumed over a 30-minute period would be enough to exceed this level and cause disqualification. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has a similar limit, set at 15 mg/mL.

Coffee: A Pre-Workout Drink?

Before you make Starbucks part of your pre-workout warm-up in order to harness the effects of caffeine, be aware that simply downing a grande may not give you similar benefits found in these studies. A recent Canadian study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology compared the effect of coffee and caffeine on run time to exhaustion. A group of nine men took part in five trials. Sixty minutes before each run, the men took one of the following:

• A placebo

• Caffeine capsules

• De-caffeinated coffee with caffeine added

• Regular coffee

Performance times were up to 10 times longer in subjects using the caffeine capsules, with no differences in times among the other trials. Since the level of caffeine absorption was similar during the caffeine trials, researchers concluded something in the coffee itself that interferes with caffeine’s performance-enhancing effects. This makes sense considering that there are literally hundreds of compounds dissolved when coffee beans are roasted, ground and extracted. Results of this research suggest that if benefits of caffeine on endurance times are desired, caffeine capsules work better than coffee.

Caffeine and Creatine Supplementation

Although caffeine has been shown to increase endurance time, further research shows it may actually blunt the effect of creatine, a popular and well-researched compound known for its consistent ergogenic effects. In a study evaluating the effect of pre-exercise caffeine ingestion on both creatine stores and high-intensity exercise performance, caffeine totally counteracted any effects of creatine supplementation. It was suggested that individuals who creatine load should refrain from caffeine-containing foods and beverages if positive effects are desired.

The Downside of Caffeine

Despite coffee/caffeine’s positive effects on psychological states and performance, there are numerous documented risks that must considered when consuming caffeine, whether for performance-enhancing effects or simply as a part of daily dietary consumption.

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and can produce restlessness, headaches, and irritability. Caffeine also elevates your heart rate and blood pressure. Over the long-term as your body gets used to caffeine, it requires higher amounts to get the same effects. Certainly, having your body in a state of hormonal emergency all day long isn’t very healthy.

Caffeine is also a diuretic and causes a loss of fluid, which then leads to a dehydrating effect. This is obviously not conducive to fitness activities such as resistance training, as fluid is needed for the transfer of nutrients to facilitate muscular growth. It is also important when considering the further loss of fluid while exercising in hot environments.

Perhaps the most important long-term problem is the effect of caffeine on sleep. The half-life of caffeine in the body is about 6 hours. If you drink a big cup of coffee with 200 mg of caffeine at 4PM, at 10PM you still have about 100mg in your body. By 4AM, you still have 50mg floating in your system. Even though you may be able to sleep, you may not be able to obtain the restful benefits of deep sleep. What’s worse, the cycle continues as you may use more and more caffeine in hopes of counteracting this deficit.

Caffeinated Conclusions…

Though caffeine has some benefits in relation to exercise performance, risks have been documented. Most problems seem evident with very high consumption. The American Heart Association says that moderate coffee drinking (one or two cups per day) does not seem to be harmful for most people. As with everything else, moderation is the key to healthy caffeine consumption. Further research is needed to clearly determine whether the performance-enhancing benefits of caffeine outweigh the potential risks.

About The Author

Jon Gestl, CSCS, is a Chicago personal trainer and fitness instructor who specializes in helping people get in shape in the privacy and convenience of their home or office. He is a United States National Aerobic Champion silver and bronze medalist and world-ranked sportaerobic competitor and editor of the fitness ezine “Inspired Informed and Inshape.” He can be contacted through his website at http://www.jongestl.com.

jongestl@jongestl.com

Dips make wonderful appetizers. They are also wonderful snacks instead of cookies or chips. My kids have always loved these dips and I smile knowing they are getting just a little bit of vegetables into their bodies. We also bring these dips to potlucks and they are finished every single time.

Broccoli Dip

Ingredients:
10 oz package of frozen broccoli in cheese sauce (cook according to package directions)
4 tablespoons plain yogurt
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon minced onion
teaspoon salt
dash of curry powder

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Chill overnight.

Spinach Dip

Ingredients:
10 oz. package of frozen spinach thawed and drained.

1 cup sour cream (I use low fat)
1 cup mayonnaise (I use low fat)
1 package dry vegetable soup mix

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and chill overnight. If you like water chestnuts, try adding chopped water chestnuts to the recipe.

Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:
1 can of unmarinated artichoke hearts, chopped and drained
1 cup mayonnaise (I use light)
1 can (4 oz) of diced green chiles
1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions:
Mix all ingredients and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm.

All of these dips can be served with crackers or bread.

Selecting the cookware for your kitchen implies a few certain points you should consider: budget, cooking and eating habits, your family size, etc. One of the most essential points in choosing cookware is the material it is made of. Often, such an important detail is simply overlooked or is considered to be minor. In fact, proper understanding of differences between cookware materials will assist you in making the best choice and further on, will help maintain your cookware in a good shape.

Stainless steel cookware is very common thank to its moderate price and a number of qualities, such as good tensile strength, excellent corrosion resistance and non-reaction with alkaline or acidic materials. Using stainless steel cookware allows using less oil and it better preserves the nutritious value of food. The drawback is that stainless steel does not conduct heat well, so the cookware requires a thick aluminum or copper core in the bottom and, sometimes, the sides to conduct heat more evenly and make the cookware more responsive to heat. Stainless steel cookware care is quite simple as it can be washed in a dishwasher and scraped with nylon pads. Special stainless steel cleaners will help bring the shine back.

Non-stick cookware is a blessing when cooking and reheating sticky kinds of food. This coated surface also means you will need less oil or fat while frying on it. But you have to be careful while using and washing non-stick cookware. Avoid scratches on the surface or it’ll lose its properties. Use only wooden, plastic, or coated utensils when cooking. Wash in hot soapy water but never in a dishwasher.

Cast iron is comparatively inexpensive, conducts heat evenly and once heated, keeps it for a long time. Such cookware is good for deep-frying and slow cooking. The main problem is that it rusts, stains and becomes pitted when exposed to air, moisture and certain foods. Do not wash cast-iron cookware in soapy water, instead try wiping clean with a paper towel. To prevent rusting, remove any excess moisture from the surface and coat with oil before storing.

Aluminum cookware is quite cheap compared to other materials. It’s very lightweight yet strong. It is a good conductor of heat and does not easily distort when exposed to high temperatures. The obvious drawback is its reaction to acidic and alkaline foods leading to corrosion and spoiling the taste of the food cooked. That’s why it is often coated with stainless steel or anodized coating to protect the food. It doesn’t require any special care, usual washing in a soapy water is enough. However, if the surface has anodized coating, you better avoid washing the cookware in a dishwasher and be careful not to scratch the finish.

Lined copper cookware is quite expensive, though has a number of advantages. It conducts and responses to heat very well, cools down quickly when removed from the heat, preventing food from burning and becoming overdone. Copper cookware is a good choice for many cooking methods. The main problem is that copper interacts with everything it comes in contact with. Moisture in the air causes it to form a film on it that is poisonous and salty food causes a chemical reaction that can make food have a metallic taste. For that reason copper cookware is lined with tin, silver or stainless steel to enhance its qualities. Care includes delicate washing with soapy water and regular polishing with special copper polish to keep its bright copper shine.

Daniel Smith writes about CookWare Coupons and CookWare on sale

We’ve all seen the Coupon Queens on various television shows and been amazed at how little they paid for a ton of grocery items. Sometimes you may even wonder how on earth she can care for her family when it seems she bought thirty packages of pasta and nothing to go with it. The truth is, she didn’t need the pasta sauce, she picked up thirty jars of that last week, when it was on sale, and she was getting it for free or pennies with her coupons.

The trick to saving the most money on groceries is to be a stockpiler. To do this, you need to gather as many coupons as you can for items you know you will use, match them up with a store sale, and then buy as many as possible while you are getting the items cheap or free. Using this tip, you can make sure you have enough of the needed items without having to pay full price.

Coupons and sales tend to cycle and once you try it for awhile, you will learn the cycles for your area and know when it is time to stock up. By doing this you will have enough supplies on hand, so you can wait to pick up more when the item is on sale again, and you have a coupon to go with the sale.

And there we come to another issue that some people don’t understand, you can use a coupon in conjuction with a store sale. They are two totally different promotions, so you aren’t doing anything fraudulent. You simply cannot combine more than one manufacturers coupon on a single item, but if you put ten items on the conveyor belt and have ten coupons, then that is fine as long as your store permits it. Some stores do set limits on how many like coupons they will accept on one order so always check before doing your shopping. You can also combine a store specific coupon with a manufacturers coupon to realize even more savings.

If you have a store in your area that doubles coupons you can really save some money. Some stores double up to 50cents and some to 99cents, thus giving you $1 or $1.98 off. This is another store policy you will have to inquire about before shopping, as it varies from retailer to retailer.

One of the most important tips that I tell everyone who asks me about my couponing and how I save so much money is to FORGET BRAND LOYALTY! I know there are occasional exceptions where some products suffer in quality between brands but this is not the rule. One brand of tissues will wipe your nose as well as another, and if you can get one for less than $1, and the other is over $2 a box, then by purchasing the one you’re getting cheapest, you’re putting that money back into your wallet for something else. If you are like me, disabled with no disposable income, then every little bit you save can mean another meal that comes home for your family.

The best place to find coupons is in your local Sunday newspaper. Generally, there are two inserts each week, except for holidays, and some weeks there are manufacturer specific coupon inserts. If you find your local paper doesn’t have them, then try looking around to find an out of town paper for the coupon inserts. Each week, I buy at least one early paper, which is available in my town Saturday evening. I browse through the coupons, and if there are good coupons, and I know I will save more than what I am paying for the paper, I will go out the next day and buy another stack. You are not limited to only one paper and one copy of each coupon.

Another great place to find inserts is your local newspaper recycling center. Many people do not use coupons, millions of dollars worth are thrown away each year, so with a little digging you can find a real treasure trove. By searching online or visiting message boards, you can also find links to printables, or people who are willing to trade the ones they can’t use for other coupons, or for a small postage and handling fee.

When you first get into couponing, you will spend the same, or maybe even a little more than you did before on groceries, but once you build a little stockpile you will suddenly see the savings add up. It makes a big difference when you run out of shampoo and can just run to the closet and grab another bottle that you got for free, instead of running to the store and spending almost $3 for a replacement bottle.

Yes, it does take some time and effort, you have to organize your coupons, be willing to store hop, and spend a few minutes to review the sales flyer, and match it with your coupons, but you can quickly turn couponing into a great hobby as well as money saver.

Verleen Wonderly is a published freelance writer and has worked for http://www.dealoftheday.com since its inception in 1999.

Much like the different varieties of coffee, cacao beans come in varying types. Three kinds of beans dominate the world market, serving as the base for most fine chocolates.

Each of the three main beans grown from cacao trees serves as the prime base in chocolates. Without the bean there would be no chocolates and without the finer beans gourmet confections would be bland indeed.

Grown in different parts of the world, the three beans used in most chocolate production today are the Criollo, Forasteros and Trinitario. Each of these beans has its own properties that result in slightly different tastes in the chocolate end product.

The Criollo beans are the ones that started it all. Europeans first stumbled across them in 1502 when Christopher Columbus came in contact with them. Grown in South America, these beans are known for producing the finest in chocolates. They grow in South America’s milder climates and require very rich soil. The beans themselves are considered the best for making chocolates because they are highly aromatic and have low acid levels, which helps create fine chocolate end products.

Forasteros come from the Amazon region of South America. These beans are thought to account for about 80 percent of the world’s cacao production. Not considered as fine as the Criollo, these beans produce a weak aroma and have a bitter taste although they can be processed to create fine products.

Less common for chocolate making than the Forasteros and not as fine in quality as the Criollo, the Trinitario is considered a hybrid bean from the cacao tree. This bean combines the taste of the Criollo with the higher yields of the Forasteros and is grown in South America, various Caribbean islands and a few other locals.

To take any of the beans and process it into a fine product of chocolate takes skill, and expertise. Not naturally sweet, the cacao resulting from the bean must be specially worked to create the chocolate flavor so many around the world crave.

Want to learn more about the fascinating history of chocolate? Visit us at http://www.chocolate-gourmet-gifts.com

George Murray is the President of Centric Promotions, Inc. Learn more about the history of chocolate and view an assortment of luxury chocolates and chocolate gifts by visiting us at: http://www.chocolate-gourmet-gifts.com

Automatic espresso machines are available for either home or commercial use. If you are considering using an espresso machine that is not automated or that is not going to make that drink for you, you could be in the kitchen, making drinks while your guests are getting a little bored. An automatic espresso machine is one that will cost anywhere from $400 and up, but it is well worth the money when you consider all the time that you are going to save in the kitchen. Your automatic espresso machine is one that will give you benefits again and again.

The automatic espresso machine is one that is going to grind the coffee for you. If you are grinding your own coffee all the time, and then putting it in your espresso machine you will notice that it can be a lot of work. It can be messy when you are trying to talk with your family and guests, and you really just don’t have time to grind coffee while you are trying to entertain. Grinding your own coffee is the best way to get the very best tasting espresso drinks, but the automatic espresso machine is going to do this for you. All you have to do is measure the coffee you want to grind and it will take over all the work from there!

For the home or the office, an automatic espresso machine is one that will provide the ultimate results so you, and everyone else can get back to what ever else you were doing. In the workplace, giving those small added benefits such as a great cup of coffee or a latte early in the morning is going to boost moral and going to keep people working as they aren’t focused on wishing they had a good cup of coffee right now.

The fully automatic espresso machine is one that will grind the coffee, that will dose and tamp the coffee to your liking and then it will brew your drinks and dispense the drinks in a manner that is easy to handle and that is virtually hassle free for you. Automatic espresso machines are great when you are entertaining, throwing a party, when you are too busy to do it yourself, when you wish you had a maid to do it for you, and just because you are working hard at doing other things in the house all the time, but deserve and want a great cup of coffee.

The brewing units that are automatic are designed to give you the ultimate experience in coffee drinking allowing you to make all types of coffee drinks that you can enjoy again and again. All you have to do is measure the ingredients, add the water, and then after you are finished enjoying your favorite coffee drink, you empty the grinds and fill it up again for next time. The frothing attachment is one that you are going to wonder how you ever did without! Clean up is just as easy as it is for any other type of coffee maker, but an automatic espresso machine does so much more!

Coffee, in all sorts, could be a “pick me up drink ” or a ” real downer-down the shaft-drink” depending on how the person is affected by it. But, do you know that a single cup of coffeeaside from boosting your alertness, perking you up, and even improving your concentrationcan actually lead you to addiction: caffeine addiction. While many people think that drinking coffee is a “healthy” habit, some experts say that it’s very important for them to remember that coffee’s main ingredient is caffeinea “drug” that can be abused even in mild dosages.

Although now, we all know that too much coffee is bad for our health, most of us cannot help but indulge into this addicting act. Since nutritionists cannot do anything about the world’s addiction to coffee, most of them continuously search for alternatives to give people better options. And one of these breakthrough alternatives is Gano coffee.

Made from Ganoderma extract, Gano coffee is considered to be nutritious and healthy beverage. Recognized as the first known “healthy coffee,” in the world, Gano coffee is produced by growing and processing organically without the use of chemicals, pesticides, hormones or artificial fertilizers. Gano coffee gives you an energy boost - not from caffeine, but from the ancient healthy ingredient called “Ganoderma Lucidum,” that has been recognized for it’s amazing properties.

Being a coffee that that has a lower caffeine amount compared to commercially processed decaf coffees, Gano coffee is now one of the most popular coffee crazes to catch up on the modern coffee drinking world. Contrary to the common conception, Gano coffee is not a “substitute coffee” but an “alternative coffee” that gives you the richer flavor than fully-caffeinated coffee. Gano coffee also allows you to continue savoring the full-bodied flavor you are getting in a premium instant coffee while providing you more energy than your usual caffeinated drink.

Proven as a delicious and nutritious drink, Gano coffee gives you more vigor while reducing you stress and fatigue. Among the so many benefits of drinking gano coffee include the detoxification and rejuvenation of your body while strengthening your immune system. Aside from helping you boost your energy level, Gano coffee also contributes to the improvement of your sleeping patterns while increasing the oxygen to your brain, and helps balance your weight. Since Gano coffee contains less net caffeine than most of your other favorite caffeinated beverages, you can actually enjoy the benefits and delicious taste of a “healthy coffee” that is good for your wellbeing. And with every cup of gano coffee you drink, you are making it as a healthy habit.

With every cup of gano coffee you drink, you are getting a “caffeine jumpstart” that will last for hours without the caffeine. Aside from making gano coffee as a good habit, here are some hints on how you can keep your coffee habit as healthy as possible especially if you are an avid coffee lover.

Although you are a person that has higher “caffeine urgency” than the others, you must still listen to what your body says. When it says it can no longer take an extra cup, learn not to let your urgency control over you. If you still don’t resort to drinking healthy coffee like gano coffee, always be aware of the caffeine content of your coffee since it varies widely depending on brewing and roasting methods. And though most research says that drinking 1-3 cups of coffee a day does not seem to have any negative effects in most healthy people, always make sure that you know the level of caffeine intake especially if you are undergoing any medications.

Terry Dunn is Webmaster of http://www.Ganoderma-Online.com - a Informational Resource about Ganoderma

Chicken is one of my favorite meats to cook. It is low in fat, high in protein, and if
cooked correctly, it will definitely be a crowd pleaser. There are many different
recipes for grilling and smoking chicken, and I have included my two favorite
recipes below. I am known as The Smoker King, and I am the author and
Webmaster of “Outdoor Cooking: Barbeque, Sauces, Mops, Rubs,” so you can bet
that my favorite way to cook chicken is outdoors, on a grill or smoker.

The first recipe is one that I use when I cook chicken fajitas. The marinade gives a
tequila-lime twist to the chicken, which is great for Mexican-type dishes. The
second recipe is my take on the famous beer can chicken recipe. Through my
experience, I have found that placing the chicken on a beer can throne while it is
smoking produces a juicy, tender bird. Smoking chicken is one of my favorite ways
to cook chicken, and after you have tried this recipe, I believe that you will really like
smoking chicken too.

Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken

Ingredients:

4-Chicken Breasts

2-Cups of Margarita Mix (I prefer Mr. and Mrs. T’s)

1/2-Cup Vinegar

1/2 Cup Olive Oil

1-Tbsp Onion Powder

1-Tbsp Garlic Powder

1-Tbsp Cajun Seasoning

Lemon Pepper

Option for a kicked up version: Add one shot of Tequila

Recipe:

1. Trim chicken breasts to remove fat

2. Using the flat side of a meat tenderizer, pound the each chicken breast until they
are about 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick.

3. Mix all ingredients into a bowl just big enough to hold the chicken breasts while
they are completely covered in the marinade.

4. Add chicken breasts, and refrigerate for 1/2 to 1 hour. The longer they stay in
the marinade, the more Tequila lime taste they will have.

5. Season both sides of the chicken with Lemon Pepper before grilling.

6. Grill over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes per side. Times may vary
depending on heat, just make sure that the meat is white throughout the breast,
and the juices run clear.

This is a great recipe for chicken fajitas.

Here is my recipe for Cajun smoked, beer-can chicken.

Injection Ingredients:

1. A 3 or 4 pound chicken

2. 1/2 cup melted butter (room temperature)

3. 2 tablespoons of Tony Chachere’s seasoning (more for a spicier chicken)

4. 1-teaspoon garlic powder

5. 1/2 cup vinegar

Rub Ingredients:

1. Olive oil

2. Tony Chachere’s seasoning.

Mop Ingredients:

1. Apple Cider

2. A Spray Bottle

Other:

1. A beer of your choice (1/2 full)

2. 3 cloves of garlic

3. About 3 tablespoons of chopped garlic

Directions:

1. Whisk all injection ingredients together.

2. Using a kitchen syringe, inject the liquid into various spots on the chicken. Try to
be even as possible, injecting about 1/2 of the mixture into the breasts, and the
other 1/2 throughout the rest of the chicken.

3. Rub the chicken down with olive oil, and apply an even layer of Tony’s to the bird.

4. Drink half of the beer, widen the opening at the top of the can, then put the garlic
and onion in the can.

5. Place the bird on the can. It should sit up by itself.

6. Preheat your smoker to about 250 F degrees. I use hickory for chicken, charcoal
works well too.

7. Put the chicken on the smoker and spray the chicken with the apple cider about
every 30 minutes.

8. Smoke the chicken for 3-4 hours, or until the internal temperature of the thickest
meat reaches 180 F Degrees.

I hope you enjoy both recipes as much as I do. You can find many more at my
website listed below.

Aaron Ralston, also known as The Smoker King, is the owner of Outdoor
Cooking: Barbeque, Sauces, Mops, Rubs at
http://www.thesmokerking.com. Check out thesmokerking.com today to learn
many great barbeque and cooking recipes and techniques.

Around 850 A.D it is thought that a lone shepherd and his sheep
happened upon a strange and mysterious plant growing upon a
secluded and forgotten hillside. Before he could stop them
some of his herd had began to gnaw away at this unusual
berry. After about fifteen minutes or so the herder started
to notice that his sheep were behaving in an odd manner. Not
only were they unusually alert but they also appeared to be
extremely hyperactive. Now being a little weary and
extremely tired the shepherd decided to try the berries and
see if the end results would be the same for him as they had
been for his flock. To his pleasant surprise the shepherd
began to feel wide awake and he too became very alert. After
a few hours had passed along came a wandering monk who,
after being informed of the plants amazing qualities
proceeded to scold the poor shepherd and lecture him on his
foolish indulgence. After he had finished telling the
shepherd just what a sinner he had been the monk set upon
his journey but not before he had added a little something
to his backpack and supplies.

Back at the abbey the monks decided to try this new magical
stimulant. Soon the endless hours of praying became easy to
endure. Coffee the beverage had been unleashed. Its
widespread use first took hold in the Ethiopian regions
before then moving on to the Arabian empire. Here it was to
be held for many years as a sacred substance until it was
illegally exported to the outside world by an Arab called
Baba Budan. Word of its effects then began to spread and in
a short while coffee was to become one of the most treasured
commodities in our history. Today we drink a staggering 4
billion cups each and every year and there are many among us
who would simply refuse to start our day without it.

Although coffee is mainly known as a sleep suppressant there
are those who consider coffee to have many health benefits.
It is thought that people who suffer from asthma and partake
of the beverage have at least 25% less symptoms which may be
due to a substance in coffee called theophylline. This is
known as a bronchodilator and quite simply it is thought to
help those who suffer with the disease to breath with a
little more ease. Drinking coffee on a daily basis is also
thought to help lower your chances of developing colon
cancer by a figure also in the region of about 25%. This may
be due to the fact that coffee helps to keep you regular.
Coffee can do more than just help you get through your day.

Apart from the benefits that have just been mentioned it has
to be said that simply drinking coffee as a beverage is a
delight that cannot easily be surpassed. The amazing thing
is that the average person has no idea of the varied tastes
that this hallowed bean has to offer. One of the growing
trends of recent years has to be the rising popularity of
ordering coffee via the wonder we call the internet. Never
before have we been able to sample such a wide variety of
tastes, blends and aromas without having to endure the
tedious trials of hiking around the city. I myself tend to
place small orders but I always make a point to record the
name, blend and of course exactly from whom I purchased.

Now that you are aware of the tale of the mystical beans I hope
that if in the days to come you are considering visiting your
local coffee shop you recall the story of the lowly shepherd
and think about just what you might be drinking were he not
to have wandered onto that bleak and lonely hillside. Why
not take advantage of the internet and try the many
different varieties and blends available. Not only will you
impress your tastebuds, your friends will be grateful as
well.

Cappuccino or latte?

Valerie Shapero is the owner of Fuzzy
Coffee which is a
premier source of information about coffee. For questions or
comments about this article, please visit:
http://fuzzycoffee.com

Chocolate has been viewed as a global delicacy for centuries, but only recently, it has been discovered that chocolate contains an array of phytochemicals, considered highly valuable to our health. Cocoa products, including chocolate, are among some of the most concentrated sources of flavinoids - rich antioxidants. These antioxidants have the ability to destroy free radicals and inhibit lipid oxidization.

This is good news. That means that if you eat chocolate, you are actually lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease, increasing your trace mineral intake capabilities and intaking an anti-inflammatory. There are also rumors that chocolate can help in the fight against cancer.

Antioxidants are well known as powerful anti-aging allies - a boon to discriminating bathroom counters everywhere. That also means that if you spread it on your skin, chocolate will return a youthful glow and protect from the effects of sun and pollution.

The fat content in cocoa butter is composed mainly of a high quality linoleic acid. This gives chocolate the capacity to reduce fine lines, scars and stretch marks. Skin is allowed to slowly regain lost elasticity.

Chocolate has been valued as a sacred mood-enhancer since its discovery. It has been believed to be an aphrodisiac as well as an antidepressant.

French women have an interesting take on indulgence - never deprive yourself. Eat chocolate whenever you crave it. The catch is that a French woman will buy one piece of the most exquisite chocolate she can find, and she’ll spend ten minutes eating it. A far cry from grabbing a couple Caramilks out of the two for one bin.

Just imagine the possibilities - get yourself some good chocolates and enjoy them in the tub with some body chocolate.

Ivy Mills has been researching chemical sensitivity and natural alternatives for over five years and has brought her knowledge to the marketplace in her company, Valhalla Essences. Her personal experiences have fed a passion to help others with the same problem. Ivy welcomes others to share their stories and experiences on her blog, Peaceful Power.