Different Types of Protein
Whey protein is a quickly digested protein, and as such it is ideal to use during workout and post-workout. During the post workout time, there is a great need for amino acids to begin muscle repair and Whey protein is excellent for this. Whey is highly bioavailable, and boasts the highest biological value of any protein source. Therefore, a whey product may be an excellent choice for those looking for a protein product that can be readily used by the body to build mass.
Casein protein is slower absorbing from the stomach and small intestine so the blood amino acid levels don’t rise quite as rapidly. The slow absorption will help sustain elevated amino acid levels over a longer period of time. Casein is extracted from the milk through ultra filtration, without the use of chemicals. This process increases the amount of bioactive milk peptides that support immune function as well as enhance muscle growth. Because this type or protein is an extremely slow digesting protein, which some people mistake for being inferior. However casein is a rich protein source that will feed the body at a steady rate, which makes it ideal as a dietary supplement during the day or as a night-time protein to feed the body while you sleep.
Casein is the only protein you should be taking before going to sleep. The reason is because your body needs to be sustained for six to eight hours during your sleep without food. Casein protein is also found in milk but works more slowly and also sticks around in the blood for longer. It also has properties that help prevent muscle depletion. Casein is best taken before bedtime when the body needs a steady supply of proteins while the muscles repair and rebuild during the night.
Egg protein is considered to be one of the best forms of natural protein. The white of eggs contains the proteins. Egg Protein Powder Egg protein is still one of the highest-quality proteins available. It is virtually devoid of carbs and fat, and it is readily digested and absorbed. Egg yolks provide healthy fats, as well as highly bioavailable iron, riboflavin, folate, vitamins B12, D and E, and choline (which enhances strength and brain function).
All about Brie Cheese
Brie appetizers are not only mouthwatering, but they are so versatile. It’s amazing
what you can do with a Brie cheese. How did “real” Brie cheese come about in the
first place? Well, according to cheese experts, producing Brie cheese started in the
French province called, not surprisingly, Brie – a town 60 miles from Paris!
The oldest recorded evidence of its existence was found in the chronicles of
Charlemagne. The Emperor at the time, tasted the cheese in the city of Brie around
the year 774 BC. And here’s another interesting tidbit about Brie cheese… Louis
XVI’s last and dying wish was supposedly to have a final taste of Brie.
It is sometimes called Brie de Meaux and is considered one of the most popular of
the 400+ cheeses from France. Brie de Meaux’s popularity can be attributed to a
competition that took place around 1814. During a Vienna Congress, an argument
broke out regarding which country made the best and finest cheese.
As a result, a Frenchman by the name of Talleyrand, suggested a competition
between the different countries and their national cheeses, as he was convinced that
France would win. And of course, they did! Brie de Meaux was the winner and
became known as the “King of Cheeses” and as you can imagine, instantly became
an overnight success that swept Europe and has retained that distinction ever since.
As a matter of fact, Brie Cheese from France won a gold medal from the Brie
National Contest in both 2000 and 2001.
What makes it so darn good? Brie is made from unpasteurized cow’s milk and has
an appealing combination of flavors including hazelnut, fruit and herbs. And it takes
approximately 6.6 gallons of milk to make one round of brie cheese!
The process of making it consists of heating the milk to no more than 37 degrees C
- but only during the renneting stage. Therefore, the cheese is never cooked. After
being put into a mold with a special, perforated shovel called “pelle à Brie”, it is
salted with a dry salt. This salting process is used to balance the sweetness that
occurs because of the high quality of milk used.
Maturation takes place in a cool cellar. The cheese develops a white mold around it
and the creamy part turns to a light straw color. The whole process takes at least 4
weeks and sometimes more.
In France, there are only 5 or 6 real Brie de Meaux producers left. Apparently it’s an
economically-challenged industry to get into. Brie has a very fragile curd that is
easily broken and requires a special room built only for the use of making Brie and
Triple Crème. It has to maintain just the right temperature or the maturation
process will not work. This, in itself, makes Brie hard to make and evidently requires
quite an investment. Therefore, farmers are not as inclined to invest their time and
money on such a delicate, not always reliable process.
To serve Brie cheese properly, it’s best to allow it to come to room temperature.
Some good suggestions of wine to serve with any kind of Brie appetizer is a red
Côte-du-Rhône, a red Bordeaux or Burgundy and it always goes well with a good
quality Champagne.
In the United States, we don’t sell “real Brie” because of the pasteurization laws that
have been installed in this country. US FDA regulations say that you can only make
cheese with our pasteurized milk. Our “Brie” is not true Brie, but it’s as close as we
can get to make it taste like Brie de Meaux from France. If you were to put true
French Brie next to Brie made in the United States, the difference would be highly
noticeable. You would get hooked on the French Brie and have to make yearly trips
to France to feed your new craving!
In lieu of going to France, try this savory Brie appetizer. You’ll be glad you did!
Amaretto Brie Appetizer
There’s nothing like serving this yummy Amaretto Brie appetizer. Especially when
you watch everyone diving into it without leaving a trace behind. Your friends and
guests will beg you for this recipe. It’s simple to make and the creamy almond flavor
is fantastic with a baguette or gourmet-type crackers.
What you’ll need:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 oz. of amaretto liqueur
- 1 round of Brie cheese
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds (chopped walnuts will work also)
- Toast points, sliced apples, baguette or crackers
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then melt the butter and add the brown
sugar in a heavy sauce pan. Stir until heated through and consistency is smooth and
thick.
Remove the pan from the heat and add cinnamon, nutmeg and the Amaretto. Mix
ingredients well.
Next, place the Brie round (remove Brie from packaging) in an oven-safe dish. Take
the sauce you just created and pour over the Brie. Then, top the sauce with the
sliced almonds.
All you need to do is bake it for 10 or 15 minutes until the cheese is soft. You could
also microwave it if you are in a big hurry. But only put it in the microwave for 30
second intervals until it is soft and warm. If you microwave it for too long you will
end up with Amaretto Brie appetizer soup, and that is not what we want here!
You can serve the melted Brie on a pretty plate surrounded by apple slices, sliced
baguette and crackers. It will fast disappear!
If you are interested in other Brie appetizers and other easy to make appetizer
recipes, please visit Easy Appetizer Recipes found at the URL below where
you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the variety of choices.
Important: Feel free to republish this article on your website. However,
you are not allowed to modify any part of its content and all links should be kept
active.
Six Tips on How to Build a Basement Bar in Your Home
Many of you may have a little basement in your home. Some use it as their laundry area. Some use it as their mini gym. Others use it as an extension room for house guests. But what if none of these ideas draw your attention? Yet you cannot get over the fact that your basement is not being used to its maximum potential. Then you realized that whenever you have huge celebrations at home, your living room is just not enough. Then you start thinking why not convert your vacuous basement into a bar? Bingo! So here are a few tips for you on how to build a basement bar in your home.
1. Visualize – Visualize your idea of a basement bar in your mind. This should be a good starting point on how to build a basement bar. Before anything else, you got to imagine how it is going to look like. Draw it on a sheet of paper. Go down to your basement and figure out which corner you want to put the bar.
2. The Plan – Make a basement bar checklist. After you got a basement drawing in your sketch pad, you should be able to imagine the materials and tools to use in setting it up. Other than wood, you should be able to see things like electrical wiring, lighting fixtures, framing, plumbing, and all other things you can see through in your sketch.
3. Inspiration – Check out your friends’ basement bars. Supposing you still do not have a clear view of what needs to consider in this project. You may want to visit your friends who have basement bars. And do not ever forget to ask them pointers in how to build a basement bar. That is probably one of the most reliable help you could get. For sure, your friends would be more than willing to share their experience.
4. Basement Bar Photos – Check out home design magazines. This medium is another source of ideas in how to build a basement bar. The thing is that your plans of realizing this project only happens when you have your concept clear. These types of magazines help you imagine what you hope to achieve with your basement bar because they show pictures. This is a big advantage especially if your grades in art class were very low.
5. The Right Materials – Materials to use. Yes of course you got to know this. In the planning stage, materials and labor cost are usually what determines a project’s cost. At this point, it is not enough to just know the basics how to build a basement bar. Extra knowledge is a very important factor as well.
6. Supplies and equipment. Common sense and experience will tell you that when you see a bar, there is always liquor and most often music. Although this can be thought of in details when your bar is almost finished, it may help to include this in your preparations. Maybe know a little bit about what brand of wine, brandy, or whatever liquor you know that can suit your taste. Perhaps your preference has a lot to do with the mood you set in your bar. Then of course knowing a little bit about music equipment can lead you to understand what type of speakers you need to install. Acoustic insulation is also a consideration if you want music piped in to your basement bar.
Now that you have the design plan listed out for your little project, it is time to work on it. The good thing about this is that you can do it yourself. If you have no background in carpentry or interior designing, this is a good time to learn. Then maybe, in the future, you might want to share your experience. You might want to return the favor by giving your personal tips on how to build a basement bar.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Red Wine
There are no two ways about it, drinking to much red wine is bad for your health. But then arises the questions, how much is too much?
In 1994 two Canadian doctors wrote a report which stated that ‘if every adult in North America drank 2 glasses of wine a day the incidents of heart disease would come down by 40%’. This was great news for many wine lovers.
As we all know there are always two versions of every story. In many countries wine drinking is increasing. If research is to be believed then this should not be too much of a problem. In fact the main issue arises from the way we are drinking wine.
Most wine lovers will agree that a bottle of red wine split between two people is the perfect accompaniment to good food. The issue here is that men and women are developing similar drinking habits. But women are not men and will never have the same physique.
The process of breaking down alcohol in the body puts pressure on the liver. If the wine is drunk with food then the absorption level is slowed down and the liver gets longer to process the alcohol. There is a big different when a large man drinks half a bottle of wine and when a small women does. Not only is there a difference in their physique, but probably also in what they are eating. If this large man orders steak and chips with half a bottle of red wine then there is a lot of food in the stomach at the same time as the red wine. This means that it is entering the body at a hugely reduced concentration.
Lets imagine that the small woman had a Caesar salad with her half a bottle of wine, her body will be hit by the wine at a much higher concentration and will put her body under considerably more pressure.
So to get the advantages of wine we have to drink it in moderation. Unfortunately no one can define that for us. Each and every wine drinker needs to understand how their body is processing the wine and judge from their lifestyle and physique what the right amount is for them.
So don’t let the disadvantages of red wine stop you drinking it. Drinking red wine should be a pleasure, so let the flavinoids help you fight cancer and let the red wine reduce you chances of heart disease, just be sensible.
How Can I Tell If My Old Wine is Still OK to Drink?
Have you ever heard the story of how Jesus warned his followers to “not store new wine in old wineskin?” I am sure someone in the crowd asked himself, “What if it’s an old wine? Can old wine be stored in old wineskins or would he disapprove of this as well? Or should I just open the wine immediately and partake of its grapey goodness in its entirety, without worrying about the age or quality of the wineskin?”
Most people, upon seeing a dusty old wine bottle that has been stored seemingly forever, would simply deduce that the bottle of wine is still in good condition. There is a common misconception that wine tastes better after it has aged. However, not all wines do get better with age. Approximately 95% of the world’s wines are meant to be consumed relatively quickly, as they are not meant to age. Only the finest and most expensive wines are created to benefit from a watchful aging process performed at controlled temperatures. One rarely sees wine that turns into vinegar, as it used to do in the old days. These days, wine turns brown, flat and dull after going through oxidation caused from long and improper storage.
So how then can you tell if your wine is still in good condition? The answer is quite simple (and probably the one you don’t want to hear): Taste it and determine.
An old wine, if it turns bad, will not hurt you. It doesn’t turn toxic. It just turns into a bad, cheap Sherry. Depending on the storage conditions, the wine was exposed to, these wines can still be preserved well. Still one should not count on it. If you are planning to open up a bottle of your grandpa’s old vintage wine from his collection, you should have a good bottle of new wine available as backup, just in case. If they are wine connoisseurs, your guests may rather leave your house than have another glass of your tainted grapes.
Generally, only the robust reds are best left to age – the Bordeaux, Burgundies and Rhones from France; the Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, Pinot Noirs and Syrahs from the New World; the sturdy reds from Italy; and the rich, strong dessert Ports, Sauternes, and Rieslings from Germany, are best left to age. The rest, are best left to chance.
If you are unsure of the condition of your aged wine, the safest thing to do is to have it appraised. The internet is teeming with wine buyers who are experts at appraising old vintage wines. If you play your cards right, you can get your wine appraised for free, and get it sold, hassle free, in the process.
How To Make A Cheap And Easy Gourmet Wine Gift Basket
Buying a gourmet wine gift basket can be expensive. You can easily make a beautiful, custom, personalized, gourmet wine gift basket cheaply. You can use champagne too.
Gift baskets are always popular and a great idea to give as a gift. People love to receive gift baskets. Making your own gourmet wine gift basket is cheap and easy. You can fill your gift basket with a variety of good wine or champagne and inexpensive items; you have lots of choices.
I’ve put together a few great ideas for making gourmet wine gift baskets, complete with instructions on how to make them. You can make inexpensive wine gift baskets or expensive wine gift baskets depending on your budget. You can easily customize each basket to your recipient.
You can add one or two bottles of expensive or inexpensive wine. You can save money on your wine purchases by going to a wine shop and asking to see the less expensive good wines or you can go to Costco for some great wine bargains, but still very good wines. The wine for your gift doesn’t have to be expensive.
You can find many inexpensive items for use in making your gift baskets or filling your gift baskets, at ‘dollar’ stores, craft stores, party stores, discount outlets, flea markets, close-out stores, etc.
For wine gift containers you can use: any type of basket, wicker basket, straw basket, bucket, champagne bucket, antique trunk, hamper, Asian-style trunk, picnic basket, or seasonal container. Make sure it’s sturdy enough.
For gift basket liner you can use: tissue paper, shredded paper, shredded newspaper, tea towels, dish towels, hand towels, kitchen towels, colored towels, colored napkins, placemats, or fabric pieces.
For gift basket filler you can use: shredded colored paper, straw, crumpled newspaper comics, a bed of wrapped chocolates or other wrapped candy.
For items in the container it’ll depend on the specialty or theme of the gift basket – in this case a gourmet, wine gift basket. Here is a small random sampling of what you can include besides the wine.
Gift certificate for massage or spa visit, scented oils, scented massage oils, gift certificate to favorite store, gift certificate for restaurant, loofah, fragrant candle, matches to light candles, CD of nature sounds, favorite artist CD, DVD of newer release movie, handwritten poem, perfume, cologne, watch, framed photo, inspirational book, spa pillows, bath pillows, spa supplies, bath and body products, facial and body scrubs, handmade soaps, fragrant soaps, shampoos, hand and foot lotion or fluffy towel.
Fancy chocolates, boxed chocolates, chocolate bars, giant-size boxed candy, gourmet chips, pretzels, gourmet nuts, gourmet pasta, gourmet olive oil, pre-packaged food items, gourmet crackers, wrapped gourmet cheeses – two or three different kinds, fruits, any foods you like, Italian recipes, Mexican food recipes or other ethnic recipes, wine glasses or champagne glasses.
For gift basket wrapping you can use tulle netting or I like to use cellophane wrap. You can buy it in large rolls. Look for specialty packaging outlets where you can buy it wholesale. Tie off the wrapped basket with ribbon. Wired fabric ribbon is best if you have it.
For bows: You can use pre-packaged bows but making your own bow is easy and the best presentation if you can do it. Use a large or huge bow.
Assemble all your gift basket items, tools you need, etc. Now line your selected gift container. Then stuff the selected filler into the wine gift basket to give added height to your items. Place, layer and arrange your selected items on the filler in the gift container. Put the larger items in the back, the smaller items in front.
Fill in the holes or prop up with more filler (shredded paper, Easter basket grass, wrapped chocolates, napkins or holiday napkins etc.)Also you can use ‘picks’ of artificial flowers to fill in space.
Place your cellophane or other wrap under the gift basket. Center the gift basket on the wrap. Bring the cellophane or other wrap over the top of the gift basket and tie it with ribbon and or a beautiful bow! Use ribbon and bows to match your theme colors.
Tuck a card in the ribbon and that’s it!
You can find fabric or wired ribbon cheaply at Costco– especially in the fall prior to Christmas but often throughout the year in some stores. You can shred paper in a paper shredder.
If you’re going to need a lot of cellophane you can purchase it wholesale through the packaging specialty stores throughout the U.S. but should be easily found in craft stores.
General tips: Try to use non-perishable items except for fruit for fruit baskets. Use freshly packaged food items, because even packaged crackers and cookies can go stale in a couple of months.
You can find filler flower ‘picks’ at garage sales for pennies. If you buy wholesale they are usually around a dollar each.
Tips: It’s best not to use fragrant items in your wine gift basket. You can easily check out gourmet wine gift baskets on the Internet to see what typically goes in them.
Also there’s nothing like learning how to make wine or other gift baskets from a video or DVD for making cheap and easy gift baskets. You can view it over and over again and share it with your children, other family members and friends. You can even charge for classes with your new-found knowledge and/or start a home based business. In any event, making a gourmet, custom, personalized wine gift basket is cheap and easy.
Birthday Invitation Phrases and Wording
Birthday invitations, and the wording and phrases that go in them, can run the gamut from witty and fun to serious and straightforward. The best thing to keep in mind when deciding upon birthday invitation verses and wording is who the birthday party is for. Age, personality, interests, and even profession can play a part. The invitation wording should represent the celebrant well.
Children’s Birthday Invitations are typically fun and lighthearted, and usually play a part in a larger theme. Sometimes inspiration for a theme can come just by browsing through some birthday invitations.
Once a theme is in place, you’ll want to include birthday invitation wording to match. For a Circus themed party with Circus party invitations the invitation wording might read:
The giraffe stretches his neck to see;
the elephant waves his trunk with glee;
the seal twirls his ball with joy,
in honor of the birthday boy.
Come join Cody in celebrating his seventh birthday
Saturday, April 20th at 1:00 PM
RSVP (509) 123-4567
The older the child gets it may become easier to decide on a theme, or even forgo the theme as the child gets into its teen years. A sweet sixteen, for example, is a theme all its own. For this kind of party, you should pick out some Sweet Sixteen invitations that fit the personality of the celebrant. If it’s a girl, something pink and frilly might be appropriate, such as Princess Tiara Birthday Party Invitation, with the following wording:
Steer clear! Brianna’s got a license to drive!
Come celebrate her sweet sixteen.
Friday, March 14th
5:00 – 7:00 PM
at Big Daddy’s Bowling
2850 S. Ray, Spokane
R.S.V.P. (509)-777-7777
If the birthday person is turning 18 years of age or younger, it is considered okay to include the exact age they are turning in the birthday invitation wording. When considering including jokes about age, do so with much consideration and sensitivity. Consider the formality of the party and who’s being invited. If it’s a formal dinner for a coworker, you may want to nix any thought of light-heartedness. If it’s a backyard barbecue party for a close relative or friend, this may be the perfect time for a light-hearted jab. Generally, the rule is to only make an age-related joke if the person who’s birthday you’re celebrating would make the joke themselves.
When considering birthday invitation wording when the celebrant is an adult, it is common to point out the joys of growing older:
Some things are better the older they grow.
Antiques, wine and someone special we know!
You should still keep in mind who is having the birthday. You don’t necessarily have to throw a themed party, but the wording for the birthday invitation cards should show a glimmer of who the celebrant is. Let’s say the celebrant enjoys Gardening. You’ll want to get Garden Party Invitations and include matching wording:
Friends are flowers in the garden of life . . .
and we’ve “picked” a great bunch to celebrate Jackie’s Birthday.
Another avenue you might pursue is the surprise party. In your invitation wording, it should be expressed clearly that the celebrant doesn’t and shouldn’t know details of the party. Here are some examples:
Shh! It’s a surprise party!
Please join us in celebrating
Holly Roberts 30th birthday
On September 2nd
At 7 o’clock pm
The Smith’s House
1201 S. Wesley
Madison, WI
Our good friend Jerry is turning the big 5-0
We’re throwing a party, and you’re invited to show.
If you can make it, here’s a word to the wise,
Keep it under your hat, ’cause it’s a surprise!
July 10th at 6 PM
At the Rock Bottom Brewery
560 Main Street
Seattle, WA
Please join us in celebrating
Tina Clarks Birthday
on May 22nd
Cocktails – 6:00pm
Dinner – 7:30pm
Scratch Restaurant
345 W Ivy
It’s a surprise!
Overall, your birthday invitation wording should not only convey the details of the party, but should also be a good reflection of who the celebrant is.
Dangers of Dehydration – And The Importance of Kidney Cleansing
The human body is composed of 75 percent water and 25 percent solid matter. To provide nourishment, eliminate waste and regulate all the functions in the body, we need water. Most modern societies, however, no longer stress the importance of drinking water as the most important “nutrient” among all nutrients. Entire population groups are substituting water with tea, coffee, alcohol and other manufactured beverages. Many people don’t realize that the natural thirst signal of the body is a sign that it requires pure, plain drinking water. Instead, they opt for other beverages in the belief that this would satisfy the body’s water requirements. This is a false belief.
It is true that beverages such as tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks and juices contain water but they also contain caffeine, alcohol, sugar, artificial sweeteners or other chemicals that act as strong dehydrators. The more you drink these beverages, the more dehydrated you become because the effects they create in the body are exactly opposite to the ones that are produced by water. Caffeine containing beverages, for example, trigger stress responses that have strong diuretic effects (causing increased urination, at first). Beverages with added sugar drastically raise blood sugar levels, which uses up large quantities of cellular water, too. Regular consumption of such beverages results in chronic dehydration, which is a common factor in every toxicity crisis.
There is no practical or rational reason to treat an illness (toxicity crisis) with synthetic drugs or even with natural medications and methods unless the body’s need for hydration has been met first. Drugs and other forms of medical intervention can be dangerous for the human physiology largely because of their dehydrating effects. Most patients today are suffering from ‘thirst disease’, a progressive state of dehydration in certain areas of the body. Unable to remove toxins from these parts due to insufficient water supply, the body is faced with the consequences of their destructive effects. The lack of recognition of the most basic aspects of water metabolism in our body can be held responsible for seeing a disease when it really is the body’s urgent cry for water.
Recognizing Dehydration
Those who have lived for many years without proper water intake are the most likely to succumb to the build-up of toxins in the body. Chronic disease is always accompanied by dehydration and, in many cases, caused by dehydration. The longer a person lives on a low water ration and/or on a high ration of stimulating beverages or foods, the more severe and long lasting is the toxicity crisis. Heart disease, obesity, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, stomach ulcers, hypertension, cancer, MS, Alzheimer’s, and many other chronic forms of disease are precipitated by years of “body drought.” Infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses cannot thrive in a well-hydrated body. Drinking enough water is therefore one of the most important preventives for any disease.
People who do not drink enough water or unduly deplete their body’s water reserves through overstimulation for a period of time gradually lower the ratio of the volume of water that exists inside the cells to the ratio of volume of water that is found outside the cells. Under dehydrated conditions, the cells may lose up to 28% or more of their water volume. This certainly undermines all cellular activities, whether they occur in skin cells, stomach cells, liver cells, kidney cells or heart cells. Whenever there is cellular dehydration, metabolic waste products are retained, causing symptoms that resemble disease but in truth are nothing but signs of disturbed water metabolism. Since more and more water begins to accumulate outside the cells, the dehydration may not be apparent to the afflicted person; he may in fact notice that he retains water, leading to swelling of his legs, feet, arms and face. Also his kidneys may begin to hold on to water, markedly reducing urinary secretion and causing retention of harmful waste material. Even the enzymes and proteins living in the dehydrated cells become so inefficient that they are no longer able to recognize the dehydrated state of the body; they fail to set off the ‘thirst alarm’.
Demetria, a 53-year-old Greek woman consulted me to find relief for a painful condition of gallbladder disease. Her skin was dark gray, indicating a high concentration of toxins in her liver and throughout her body. Seeing how dehydrated (and swollen) her body was, I offered her a glass of water. She said: “I never drink water, it makes me sick!” I told her that her natural thirst signals no longer worked because of cellular dehydration and that without drinking water her body could not return to balance. Any water she would drink would instantly be used to remove some of the toxins lurking in her stomach, giving rise to nausea. In her case, any other therapy than drinking water would have been a waste of time and money.
A dehydrated person may also suffer from lack of energy. Due to the shortage of water inside the cell the normal osmotic flow of water through the cell membrane becomes disrupted or severely disturbed. Like in a stream, the movement of water into the cells generates “hydroelectric” energy, which is subsequently stored in form of ATP molecules (the main source of cellular energy). Normally, the water we drink keeps the cell volume balanced and the salt we eat maintains the balanced volume of water that is held outside the cells and in circulation; this generates the right osmotic pressure necessary for cellular nourishment and energy production. During dehydration, this basic process is undermined.
The Pain Connection
Another major indicator of dehydration in the body is pain. In response to increasing water shortage, the brain activates and stores the important neurotransmitter histamine, which directs certain subordinate water regulators to redistribute the amount of water that is in circulation. This system helps move water to areas where it is needed for basic metabolic activity and survival (from drought). When histamine and its subordinate regulators for water intake and distribution come across pain-sensing nerves in the body, they cause strong and continual pain. These pain signals, as they manifest, for example, in rheumatoid arthritis, angina, dyspepsia, low back problems, neuralgia, migraine, and hangover headaches, etc., are necessary to alert the person to attend to the problem of general or local dehydration.
Taking analgesics or other pain relieving medications such as antihistamines or antacids can cause irreversible damage in the body. They not only fail to address the real problem (which may be dehydration) but they also cut the connection between the neurotransmitter histamine and its subordinate regulators such as vasopressin, Renin-Angiotensin (RA), prostaglandin (PG), and kinins. Although the action of the pain killing drugs can relieve local pain for a while, they nevertheless stop the body from knowing the priority areas for water distribution, adding confusion to all its functions. Antihistamines — also known as allergy drugs – effectively prevent the body’s histamines from ensuring balanced water distribution.
In addition to jeopardizing the water regulating mechanisms, after reaching a certain pain threshold, painkillers become ineffective because the brain takes over as a direct center for monitoring pain perpetuation (unless of course the body is hydrated again). If the body produces pain out of its own accord (not caused through an injury), this should first be interpreted as a cry for water. The use of painkillers, which suppress this cardinal signal of chronic and local dehydration in the body and which “short circuit” its emergency routes, sabotages waste elimination and sows the seeds of chronic illness.
There is enough documentation to show that these drugs can have fatal side effects. They can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, killing thousands each year. Yet the body’s natural pain signals are perfectly normal responses to an abnormal situation, which may be simple dehydration. In the case that a pain is simply unbearable, the use of painkillers, however, may be unavoidable. At the same time, the pain-afflicted person should drink plenty of fresh water and discontinue all energy-depleting factors, as these tend to have a strongly dehydrating effect.
‘Body Drought’ – the Strongest Form of Stress
Our brain, working round the clock, requires more water than any other part of the body. Under normal conditions, it contains about twenty percent of all the blood that circulates through the body. It is estimated that brain cells consist of 85 percent water. Their energy requirements are not only met by metabolizing glucose (simple sugar), but also by generating “hydroelectric” energy from the water drive through cell osmosis. The brain depends greatly on this self-generated source of energy to maintain its complex processes and efficiency.
Water deficiency in the brain tissue cut downs its energy supply and thereby depresses many of its vital functions – hence the word depression. With a low level of brain energy, we are unable to meet our personal and social challenges and subsequently succumb to fear, anxiety, anger and other emotional problems. We may feel drained, lethargic, stressed and depressed. The chronic fatigue syndrome, which is commonly known as M.E., is mainly a symptom of progressive brain dehydration and subsequent retention of metabolic toxins in the brain. The syndrome may disappear on its own when the afflicted person stops stimulating the brain with caffeine, tobacco, drugs, animal products, etc., and begins a consequent program of re-hydrating the body.
The Stress Response
When dehydrated, the body has to put up the fight of a lifetime — similar to the one experienced in a “fight or flight” situation. The body meets a crisis situation by mobilizing several powerful hormones, including adrenalin, endorphins, cortisone, prolactin, vasopressin, and Renin-Angiotensin (RA).
Endorphins, for example, help us to withstand pain and stress and allow the body to continue most of its functions. Cortisone orders the mobilisation of stored energies and essential raw materials to supply the body with energy and basic nutrients during the crisis. In other words, this hormone allows the body to literally feed off itself. This in itself is a very stressful and damaging situation for the body and is expressed by such emotions as, “I can’t cope anymore” or, “I feel this is eating at me.” Many patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, MS or other degenerative diseases take cortisone drugs, which often give them a boost of energy and morale for a relatively short period of time.
The ‘success’ of the drug, however, only lasts as long as there are still reserves left in the body that can be mobilized for energy and nutrient distribution. Once the body has used up its emergency reserves the organism can barely function anymore and the symptoms of disease become worse than ever.
Constriction of blood vessels
When the cells in the body are under-supplied with water, the brain’s pituitary gland produces the neurotransmitter vasopressin, a hormone that has the property of constricting blood vessels in areas where there is cellular dehydration. During dehydration, the quantity of water in the bloodstream is reduced. Vasopressin, as its name suggests, squeezes the vascular system, i.e., the capillaries and arteries, to reduce their fluid volume. This maneuver is necessary to continue having enough pressure to allow for a steady filtration of water into the cells. This gives vasopressin a hypertensive property. High blood pressure is a common experience among people who are dehydrated. A similar situation occurs in the liver’s bile ducts, which begin to constrict in response to restricted availability of water. Gallstone formation is a direct result of dehydration.
A person who drinks alcohol suppresses the secretion of vasopressin and thereby increases cellular dehydration (if alcohol consumption is excessive, cellular dehydration may reach dangerously high levels). To survive the body “drought,” the body has to secrete ever more stress hormones, among them the addictive endorphins. With regular consumption of alcohol, meaning every day for several years, dehydration increases even further and endorphin production becomes an addictive habit. This may lead to alcoholism, a disease that has devastating consequences on a person’s personal and social life.
Water Retention and Kidney Damage
The Renin-Angiotensin (RA) system is activated when there is a water shortage in the body. This system is used to direct the body to hold on to water wherever possible. It instructs the kidneys to inhibit urination and tightens the capillaries and the vascular system, particularly in areas that are not as vital as the brain and the heart muscles. At the same time, it stimulates an increase in the absorption of sodium (salt), which helps the body to retain water. Unless the body returns to its normal level of hydration, the RA system remains activated. But this also means that the pressure of the blood against the walls of the blood vessels remains abnormally high, causing the damage that is known as cardiovascular disease.
Hypertension and the retention of urine in the kidneys lead to kidney damage. Conventional treatments for this condition consist mostly of diuretic (urine forming) drugs and restricted salt consumption. Both may have severe drawbacks. Diuretic drugs, which are used to normalize the blood pressure, as well as reduced salt intake strongly undermine the body’s emergency efforts to save the little water it has left for cell functions. The resulting stress response causes a further increase in dehydration and the vicious cycle is complete. There are so many kidney replacements made today that result from chronic dehydration, caused by something as simple as not drinking enough water or overstimulation of the nervous system.
The Caffeine and Alcohol Drama
The caffeine contained in such beverages as tea, coffee, cacao or colas not only stimulates the central nervous system and immune system but also acts as a strong diuretic. For every cup of coffee or tea you drink you relinquish approximately three cups of water, which the body cannot afford to give up without suffering damage. The caffeine containing cola beverages work in a similar way. Caffeine, being a nerve toxin, stimulates the body’s stress hormones and triggers a strong immune response that may give a person the (false) impression that his level of energy and vitality has suddenly increased. To remove the nerve toxin caffeine, the body has to come up with extra water, which it takes from its cells. Hence there is an occurrence of cellular dehydration.
Caffeine, which is a major component in most soft drinks, removes water from the body faster than the body can absorb it again, thereby generating constant thirst. People, who frequently take soft drinks, can never really quench their thirst because their bodies continually and increasingly run out of cellular water. There are college students who drink as many as 10-14 cans of cola a day. Eventually, they confuse their bodies’ never-ending thirst signal with hunger and they begin to overeat, causing swelling and excessive weight gain. Apart from its diuretic action and its addictive effects on the brain, regular caffeine intake overstimulates the heart muscles, causing exhaustion and heart disease.
Alcohol has a similar diuretic effect as caffeine containing beverages. For every glass of beer, for example, the body is forced to sacrifice about three glasses of water. A hangover results when due to alcohol abuse the brain suffers severe dehydration. If this occurs repeatedly, a large number of brain cells become damaged and die. Many important brain functions slow down or become depressed. Recovery is possible to a certain extent if alcohol consumption is discontinued.
Kidney Stones
The main functions of the kidneys are to keep the blood pure and healthy and maintain proper fluid balance in the body. To accomplish this difficult feat, the kidneys constantly monitor normal blood volume and filter from the blood the right quantity of urine to keep it balanced. There are many influences that can disrupt this mechanism and cause congestion in the kidneys. They include overstimulation, dehydration, fatigue, overeating, gallstones, blood pressure disturbance, medical or narcotic drugs, vitamins, digestive disorders, etc. When the kidneys are incapable of sufficiently separating the urine from the blood, part of the urine continues to circulate throughout the body, depositing urinary waste products in the blood vessels, joints, tissues, and organs. Skin diseases, strong body odor, sweating of palms and feet, water retention, intestinal swelling, high blood pressure, etc. are all signs of toxic blood caused by crystals and stones in the kidneys.
Stones in the kidneys begin as tiny crystals and can eventually become as large as an egg. The tiny crystals are too small to be detected by X-rays and since they do not cause pain, they are rarely noticed yet they are big enough to block the flow of liquid through the tiny kidney tubules. Crystals or stones are formed in the kidneys when urinary constituents, which normally in solution, are precipitated. Precipitation occurs when these particles occur in excessive amounts or when urine becomes too concentrated. The crystal particles or stones are usually full of sharp angles, which may cut and wear away the inner surface of the urinary canal (ureter) during their passage from the kidneys to the bladder. This causes severe pain in the loins or lower back. There may even be blood in the urine, pain running down the legs, numbness in the thighs and a difficulty in passing urine.
Most crystals or stones originate in the kidneys, although some may also be formed in the bladder. If a large stone enters a ureter, urine flow becomes obstructed. This can lead to serious complications, such as kidney infection or kidney failure.
Why The Need For A Kidney Cleanse?
The kidneys make a tremendous effort in trying to keep the body clear of toxic substances such as lead, cadmium, mercury and other impassable pollutants. They also maintain fluid and electrolyte balance and regulate the pressure from the heart that forces the blood through their filtering system. Kidney stones greatly impair this ability, which consequently increases the amounts of heavy metals and raises the body’s general level of toxicity. This can lead to infection, high blood pressure, heart disease, brain disorders, cancer and many other diseases.
The following signs indicate the presence of crystals and stones in the kidneys or bladder: A dark or whitish color under the eyes; puffy or swollen eyes, particularly in the morning; deep wrinkles under and around the eyes; tiny whitish, tan-colored or dark lumps under the eyes, which can be felt or made visible when stretching the skin outwards towards the cheekbones; overlapping of the skin of the upper eyelid; chronic pain in the lower back; swelling of feet and legs; constant fear or anxiety. There are a number of herbs that can effectively dissolve kidney stones within a period of 20-30 days. Whether someone has been diagnosed as having kidney stones or not, doing a kidney cleanse once or twice a year produces tremendous curative and preventive benefits. The kidney cleanse not only improves physical health but also reduces stress, fear and anxieties.
Flair Bottles
If you’re trying to snazz up your bar, then using gimmicks like flair bottles can be a really fun way to add some personality. The bottles come in many different shapes and sizes, and there are options to suit any sort of bar design, so follow along as I go over the major styles.
First off, the bottles will come in one of the major styles. There are flair bottles that look like wine bottles, like bottle of Sky vodka, like classic bar clicker bottles, and in just about any other shape you can imagine. There are even entirely unique shapes for flair bottles, like ones shaped like obelisks or pyramids.
The color and design combinations for flair bottles also fall into a few specific categories. One is white with design, which is the most common on the market. The white bottle is emblazoned with one of thousand different design types. These range from skulls to flames to designs you would expect to see on a trucker’s mud flaps. The white bottle gives these designs high visibility, and are the easiest to work on for custom designs.
Other color and design combinations that are popular include colored bottles, fogged glass, and the most popular, lit glasses. Having colored glasses with base lights to illuminate your liquor has proven to be one of the most popular options for flair bottles. Whatever you choose, there are options in shapes, colors, sizes, and designs to suit you. Try experimenting with the different options until you find one that works well for you, and always remember to drink responsibly.
Motorhome Winegard Satellite
The true joy of the motorhome experience is the blend of roughing it with the enjoyment of the comforts of home. With a motorhome Winegard Satellite receiver, your favorite show is part of the experience.
The Winegard Sensar III Batwing motorhome antenna is the most popular motorhome antenna on the market today. It was first developed by the Winegard Company in the early 1970′s for use in motorhomes for reception of television signals. In recent years, Winegard has been a leader in technological advances that have brought not only television to motorhome users, but also full satellite TV reception.
The Winegard Satellite systems use GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) technology to provide satellite TV reception to your motorhome both when parked and also when moving. The systems use the GPS to keep the antenna directed toward the nearest satellites when the motorhome is in motion providing reception to your passengers. The in motion satellite receivers are small domed units that fit easily on the top of the motorhome.
The MV-2222 Winegard In Motion Satellite Reception system is the top of the line in this mobile technology. At a cost of just over two thousand dollars, it brings both Dish Network and Direct TV satellite semotorhomeice to your motorhome. The system is simple to operate with not much more than an on/off button. It has the ability to handle to separate signals at the same time, so that a family can be watching two shows on two different TV’s at the same time. This is the ideal situation for the larger family.
Although the GPS controlled in motion systems represent state of the art, there are a wide variety of other options for the motorhome owner. Winegard makes small dish type satellite receivers that can be mounted when the vehicle is parked. These antennas are relatively inexpensive and they are not difficult to mount and tune for satellite reception. In most cases, the only information that you need is the local Zip Code where you are parked to tune the antenna.
The attraction of the motorhome experience for many people is the ability to bring the comforts of home on the road. Television plays an important role in informing and entertaining people in today’s society and there is no reason to be without it while on the road in your motorhome. The Winegard Satellite antennas have recently entered the High Definition reception arena as well. Their product line should include the ideal system for your motorhome and your personal requirements.