Tag: <span>food</span>

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Believe it or not there is a strong connection between cooking healthy food and the cookware you’re using. Depending on the pot the food cooked in it turns our either depleted– lacking in nutrients and toxic or nutritionally dense and 100% non-toxic.

Let’s see how the cooking pot makes the difference:

The Effect on Nutrients

The nutritional value of food is derived from the ingredients you are using, but if you make a mistake in choosing the wrong cookware, you can lose most of the essential proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and other nutrients. They are delicate and when cooked with the harsh heat from metal and ceramic pots they are destroyed in this process. This loss of nutrients causes food to turn out less tasty and while additional seasoning can help improve the taste, what would you do to make up for the lost nutrients?

The Leaching

Do you know that most conventional cookware leach while cooking? Don’t believe me, just do a simple alkaline baking soda test at home to test your cookware and you won’t need any other proof (search for Alkaline baking soda test for leaching). It is recommended that we eat at least 80% alkaline food to maintain a healthy body and baking soda is high on the alkaline scale. So, if the pots are leaching with baking soda, they certainly will do the same with most others foods you cook.

What happens is – at cooking temperature, metal ions from conventional metal and ceramic cookware (ceramic is glazed with chemicals that contain metal oxides) leach into food (it’s a biochemical entity) and react with it. They are assimilated with food and accumulate in organs and tissues. When this goes on for too long, these metal toxins create the foundation for various health problems, some of which turn out to be severe diseases. The body finds it hard to fight diseases since the immune system is also compromised.

The Perfect Cookware

The perfect cookware would be the one that would not only preserve the delicate nutrients in food but would also be 100% inert (non-reactive). Pure clay cookware does justice to both these requirements. It’s unique far-infrared heat is food-friendly and doesn’t damage the delicate nutrients while cooking and cooks food uniformly and thoroughly without compromising on its natural taste.

Pure clay has an innate property of being non-reactive, which makes it perfect for cooking food. It doesn’t leach anything and is tested to be 100% safe and non-toxic (an alkaline baking soda test can prove this as well).

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Source by Sharon Ray

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Going into the fall of 2012 Foster Farms filed bankruptcy, some of this was blamed on the Mid West drought that year causing the cost of feed to skyrocket, but that wasn’t the only challenge, too was the issue of regulations, and a new set of stringent rules concerning animal waste and protein fibers getting into the ground water. Then there were the issues with transportation regulations and cost of fuel.

The inspections have increased although they are scheduled to decrease allowing more to be done in-house by the companies themselves. Still this also raises the cost, transfers more liability, and challenges the cost of insurance due to all the unknowns with these changes. Okay so, let’s talk because this is what is happening here in the US, but we also have companies importing food products from other countries and they don’t have near the level of scrutiny.

One book about China and their challenges with food safety noted that only 1% of all the cargo containers of food coming from China are inspected, but of that one percent 60% is rejected while the rest gets through, thus it enters our food supply chain for human consumption.

On October 12, 2012 there was an news story on the Associated Press, and another one in Business Week on October 11, 2012 titled; “Asian Seafood Raised on Pig Feces Approved for U.S. Consumers,” by Nguyen Dieu Tu Uyen and William Bi. The real problem here is that there is only one US FDA office in all of China, so, you can see the problem, but this particular problem was found in Vietnam.

Additionally, the Wall Street Journal had an interesting article on September 17, 2012 titled, “Cattle Inspectors Fear Going to Mexico” by Ana Campoy which stated that the Mexican Cattlemen had opened a state-of-the-art inspection facility, but unfortunately the US veterinarians fear traveling to Mexico to go to the complex.” Again, you can see the challenges, the need for armed security and inspectors saying; I didn’t sign up for this to risk my life to check out cows in drug-cartel territory.

If the United States is going to provide health coverage for those who cannot afford it and then give them food stamps to buy food in the grocery store, then shouldn’t they ensure the food is safe to eat first? Well, I dare to ask the question. Of course this is not the only question I care to raise or the biggest concern I have. I want to know; is the food in our grocery stores safe to eat, and can we trust the government and the FDA to protect us? I truly feel that the answer is no, and that my friends is a scary thought. Therefore, I ask that you please consider all this and think on it.

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Source by Lance Winslow

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PET FOOD MARKET

The pet food market was valued at USD 74.9 billion in 2016. North America accounted for the largest share of over 35% of the global market in 2016. The second largest market is Europe, followed by Asia-Pacific with around 20% of the market share, thus, accelerating the trend of pet owners across the globe. In North America, the United States holds the major market share of pets and pet owners, which is expected to register a high CAGR, during 2017-2022 (the forecast period).

TASTES FOR NEW EXPERIENCES AND PORTIONS AS INDULGENCE ALIBI

Flavors and textures are becoming bolder, more complex, authentic, and specific. The correlation of pet food and the modern formats blending freeze-dried bits, with kibble or treats, for texture variations, is making pet owners choose from a range of variety of shapes, textures, and flavors. Moreover, clean labeling continues to grow. Health conscious consumers look for permissible indulgences, like the smaller portion sizes of treats or candies with healthier ingredients like chia seeds or yogurt. Pet treats are developing, in terms of ingredients with functional or other nutritional benefits, which is allowing pet owners to indulge their pets free from guilt. New dog food products comprised of 80% of the global launches in 2015. The launches from September 2015 to September 2016, are keeping the health-related trend intact in new products by category. The share for cat food was around 68% globally. This trend of health and wellness has made good sales for the manufacturers. A few instances in this context are Hill’s Ideal Balance, a new range of dog and cat food that combines natural ingredients with Hill’s perfectly balanced nutrition, is now available in South Africa. CORE® RawRev, a new high-protein grain-free product, is launched by Wellness CORE®, a family of grain-free, natural animal nutrition company.

IMPROVEMENT IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK LEADS TO GROWTH IN PET FOOD SALES

The high internet connectivity available in the major countries is boosting the use on e-commerce sites as an effective distribution channel. The notions of convenience, affluence or exclusivity, safety, and market awareness play a very crucial role in the developing nations. The unreliability of local goods, as indicated by the recent scandals, is also making people rely on foreign goods. These are made easily available through the e-commerce, further making the sales high. Owing to the industry’s two pet superstores, PetSmart and Petco, the e-commerce channel is exploding with the pet product sales. The late embrace of the market connectivity in the minor markets of small economies, such as Vietnam, Thailand etc., is a cause of infrastructure lag and almost negligible product awareness. These stores offer the nascent market advantages of low regulations and competition. The companies, as the e-commerce is strengthening, are negotiating the ever-changing internet landscape with the factors such as dealing with giants like Amazon that is deciding to sell through similar e-commerce websites and mergers & acquisitions. For instance, in April 2017, PetSmart announced that it will acquire Chewy.com, which heightened the consternation in the independent pet retailers. In response, Tuffy’s Pet Food, a manufacturer to independent and family-owned businesses, announced pulling out its products from Chewy, as it would be owned by the largest US pet store chain. Though Tuffy’s reports a very positive response, not every company detaches itself easily from any large e-commerce sites.

“FREE FROM ALL” AND “FLEXITARIAN EFFECT” BOTH HAVING THEIR WAY TOGETHER

Though the consumers today are part-time vegetarians, they seem to do the opposite when it comes to pet food. The pet owners look for diet options, which focus on the carnivorous nature of dogs and cats, thus, driving the number of products with high and fresh meat claims. Despite the demand for carnivorous diets, veggies are still going mainstream and the producers are innovating their existing products. Free from” for all-the free from trend has been growing, since the past few years and has now hit the mainstream. Pet foods are being formulated with respect to the concerns of humans that include organic and non-GMO ingredients. These ingredients are used in low-carb recipes and have gluten-free claims on new cereal products that increased from one in 15 in 2011 to one in five in 2016. New product launches, with organic or GMO-free ingredients, are witnessing growth in the market. Organic and natural food sales are expected to increase 14.6%, annually, in next two years. For Petco and PetSmart, organic pet foods are bought at a 7.1% and 5.6% rate, respectively, with organic purchases at veterinary clinics at 5.3%. Brands communicate more about the production processes, due to the rising consumer interest in natural plus authenticity and transparency. This is true for the buyers, too, especially, for the ones seeking products in non-traditional formats such as raw, freeze-dried, frozen and baked. Balchem Corp., a global health, and nutrition company, introduced a new line of specialty nutrients and unique processing additives. The Omega Plus range was launched in the South Island in September 2016, after the two years of continuous R&D. In addition, Bob Martin launched Simply+, a range of products marketed as “nutritionally advanced food that provides dogs with all the essentials of a healthy diet”.

CROSS-BORDER ZONE TO HELP MEET BUOYANT DEMAND

The domestic market is growing at an annual rate of above 30% in China and is poised to accelerate at the same rate by 2022, reaching CNY 150 billion and further, making it the third-largest market, worldwide. Moreover, Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province inaugurated the first cross-border pet industry experimental zone in the city’s Jianggan District. The experimental zone will pilot the reforms on the regulation and approval of cross-border imports. It will explore the introduction of national standards in the industry and promote the exportation of domestically made products. Moreover, more than 35 enterprises, including the cross-border e-commerce sites like Tmall, Kaola Beibei, and related logistics & warehousing companies, have been established in the experimental zone. The zone, basically, enables one-stop services and aims to enroll open, transparent, and smart pet food import channels and regulatory policies. Similar efforts are being taken by the countries to focus on the growing pet population and trends. The market players are taking complete advantage of this situation and investing in R&D for innovative product launches.

NOTABLE MARKET DEVELOPMENTS

1. Nestlé Purina launched a new production hall at its facility in Bük, in Hungary’s northwest, making the plant the largest production center in Europe and opened the USD 86 million factories in Brazil. This step is expected to boost the Nestlé Purina for more growth than the domestic market.

2. Carna4: Formulas Inspired by Health Food Trends. This manufacturer takes inspiration from the human health food sector to formulate innovative and whole-food recipes for dogs and cats.

3. PetLife Supersedes Expectations for the Acquisition of Dr. Geoff’s Real Food for Pets. PetLife Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a developer of a new generation of high potency veterinary cancer medications and nutraceuticals for pets, announced that it is acquiring Dr. Geoff’s Real Food for Pets™ and expansion plans for a national rollout.

4. German Company Entering Thailand. Interquell, a German-based dog, and cat food company, entered the Thai industry by forming a joint venture, named Happy Pet (Thailand) Co Ltd, with partner Technic Pet Holding, reported Pets International. Interquell holds 49% of the joint venture. Interquell owns the Happy Dog and Happy Cat premium brands.

TOPICS COVERED IN THE REPORT

How will face-to-face interaction boost the pet food market in Digital Age?

Is low thiamine cat food the cause for Australian cat deaths?

Gluten free foods, GMO foods making their mark in the pet food industry.

Edible insects creeping into pet food popularity.

Humanization and premiumisation on peaks in the pet industry.

Will the US and China continue their dominance in the pet food market? What are the emerging markets?

Will growing market connectivity in Asian countries of Vietnam, Thailand etc. boost the Asia-Pacific pet food market?

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Source by Rohith Sampathi

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Italy is one of the oldest countries in the world, and thanks to the geographical boundaries of the Mediterranean Sea and the Alps it has remained largely unchanged throughout history. Even during the Roman Empire, Italy was set apart. Legions that had been abroad always knew when they had returned to the mother country. Italian food history, however, reaches far beyond the country’s borders.

For starters, look at pasta. There is much historical debate on its origins, but many historians point to Marco Polo’s voyages to the Far East, from which he returned with all manner of foreign spices and foods, as the venue from which pasta came. The Chinese had cooked with noodles for centuries, and Marco Polo’s men encountered the same on their travels.

The tomato, now considered a staple in Italian cuisine, was long thought to be poisonous, partly because it is related to the deadly nightshade plant. Other Europeans found it to be palatable long before the first Italian cook simmered some down to make tomato sauce.

The Greeks, neighbors and frequent military rivals of the Italians, had a great amount of influence on Italian cuisine, especially in the area of spices and the preparation of seafood. Calamari, or squid, now a common dish on every Italian restaurant menu, was originally something Greeks were known for consuming.

The Roman Empire’s excursions into North Africa were another fertile breeding ground for culinary expansion. The number of herbs, spices and vegetables that entered the Italian menu from Egypt and the other African territories is uncountable.

Even today, Italian food history continues to evolve. Much of the changes now, though, take place beyond the shores of Italy. In America, for example, chefs like Mario Batali have fused classic Italian dishes with American cuisine to come up with dishes that combine the best of both worlds. In cities and towns all over the country, chefs are taking traditional ingredients and combining them in new ways. In what could perhaps be called a “full-circle” journey for pasta, some Italian-Asian fusion restaurants are even beginning to evolve.

But perhaps the best way to get a full idea of Italian food history is to get out and eat some. Better yet, eat a lot! Eating Italian food is always better than Italian food history.

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Source by Andrew Krause

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Whenever we you have an outdoor trip planned, you just bring out your big red cooler, fill it with ice then put all your food and drinks in there, right? Having a cooler is a good start, but proper food storage is so much more than throwing all your food in one. This is especially true if you’re staying outdoors for more than a couple of days.

Make your food last longer and fresher with these tips about proper camping food storage:

Keep your cooler colder for longer

Your cooler will serve as your “fridge” when you’re outdoors, that’s why it’s important to keep it cold for as long as possible, especially when your trip is for more than a couple of days. Freeze all your food and drinks before packing them inside the cooler. If you can, use separate coolers for food and drinks, as you will be opening the cooler from time to time to get a drink, which may melt the ice quicker and affect the perishables.

Use block ice instead of ice cubes if you can because they last longer.

Plan for more ice

If you’re camping out for a while, your cooler will run out of ice eventually. Call the campground office ahead and ask if they sell ice. If they don’t, find a convenience store or establishment nearest your campground where you can get ice.

Otherwise, plan your meals ahead and make sure to consume perishables first.

Store your food under the shade

A sunny day is great for outdoor activities, but not so good for your cooler. Make sure that your cooler always stays in a shady spot. Under a tree, a tent awning or a pop-up shelter are good places to keep your cooler away from the sunshine.

Don’t forget your dry goods

Your snacks, spices and other dry goods need a home, too. Store them in a plastic bin or two, which you can keep locked or hang up in a tree when not needed. Storing them in one place keeps your campsite mess-free.

Keep wildlife away

There is only one thing that attracts bugs, critters and wildlife (including bears!) to a campsite, and that’s food. Make sure that you keep all your food, leftovers included, locked away in your coolers or bins at all times.

Do not eat inside your tent and make sure you properly dispose of trash at the end of each day.

Follow these tips on proper camping food storage for an mess-free and organized campsite!

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Source by Daniel J. Smith

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The matching of a wine to a particular food is quite a skill, but once your palate develops – all it takes is practice – the task will become easier. Food matching tips from the experts is a great place to start, and get a feel of wine-tasting terminology. An accurate description of a wine will make it much easier to match it up with a food.

1. Try to match the wine with the dominant flavour of the dish to find a good balance between the two. Here are a few matching suggestions:
   • Foods with a naturally higher acid content, including many fruits and cheeses, will often go well with younger wines which have a higher acidity such as Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio or Zinfandel. These wines will also complement foods such as fish, chicken or salads which are frequently flavoured with lemon or vinegar.
   • Highly seasoned dishes flavoured with salt or spice will pair well with lower alcohol, fruity wines like Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, a dry Rosé or Pinot Noir rather than anything highly tannic.
   • Delicately cooked and flavoured food, such as steamed, smoked or poached dishes, will require a delicate match. Again, try Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel or Gewürztraminer.
   • Rich, heartier dishes require fuller bodied wines such as Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel or Chardonnay.
   • Sweeter savoury dishes, such as honey roasted ham or pork with a syrupy glaze, will suit a medium sweet or off dry style of wine like Riesling or Chenin Blanc.
   • Desserts and puddings will only successfully match well rounded sweet or dessert wines. The wine needs to taste sweeter than the dish it hopes to complement. Serving anything else leaves the wine in danger of tasting acidic, try Muscat, Vespaiola, Frontignac or a Port.
2. Experiment with food and wine pairings.
   • Opposites often attract, so you can choose sweet wines to complement salty cheeses and spicy Asian food.
   • Know your geography and you can match food and wine by place of origin, as regional pairings – having developed naturally together – are often well suited.

   Important! When you are drinking very fine wine, remember to only serve it alongside neutral dishes that are lightly seasoned. You do not want to overpower the delicacy of the wine.

3. If you find the match of your food and wine is not perfect, adjust the flavour of your meal. With careful use of the right seasoning or cooking method, an unsuitable dish can be cunningly tweaked to better suit the wine, if you find it feels too dry or too bitter.
   • Lemon juice or vinegar will sharpen the flavour of a dish and make it more compatible with an acidic wine. The wine in turn will taste richer and more mellow.
   • Salt will suppress unwanted bitterness in wine. It will also make sweet wines taste sweeter.
   • Fresh pepper – grind over a rare steak to add texture and juiciness and make a heavily tannic wine taste less tannic.
   • Meat cooked rare will add texture and juices to the meal, and can often compensate for a mediocre wine.
   • Sweetness in a dish will increase the awareness of bitterness in the wine, making it appear stronger and drier.
4. Use a ‘forkful’ for cooking! Wine can be an exceptional ingredient for marinades and sauces, but if you decide to add wine in the preparation of the food, make sure it is of good quality – don’t cut corners just because you are cooking with it. Try to use the same variety of wine that you will be serving with the dish, and if possible the same wine itself.
5. For formal dinners, follow etiquette and serve:
   • Lighter wines before more full-bodied wines.
   • Drier wines before sweet ones (unless there is a particularly sweet early course).
   • Lower alcohol wines before higher alcohol wines.

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Source by Rob Hemphill

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Increasing numbers of free soul food recipes continue to reflect a more balanced diet while sounding the drum for healthier eating. The evidence is in the number of menu changes, ingredients and cooking methods used to prepare the recipes. As public demand builds, more industry insiders are heeding the call for dishes that are healthier than traditional southern dishes have been in the past.

Traditionally known for rich tasting and filling dishes, but loaded with fat, calories and sodium, soul food is changing its ways thanks to a group of creative cooks, publishers and website owners. “If we don’t change our menus we may run out of customers to serve.” Claims one soul food restaurant owner, who wished to remain anonymous. That’s the feeling of many people in the industry.

“It’s not just a profit motive, but a genuine concern for our customers, because most of my customers are friends and family.” Claims Chef Richard Booker, Executive chef for a famous Las Vegas Casino restaurant specializing in healthy soul food.

More consumers welcome the healthy changes after they taste the food. At the start of this healthier menu movement many consumers balked at the possible changes. It was especially hard winning over the older consumer who is used to the traditional way of cooking, seasoning and preparing soul food recipes.

But the new school way of cooking healthier continues to win more converts who turned their noses at the idea of eating their favorite southern dishes with low or even no salt. Before they would have never believed they could enjoy chicken without it being deep fried in animal fat, or lard to be more exact. In addition, most would have thought cooking black eye peas or collard greens in anything but fat back as worst than blasphemy.

Eating is believing. To the surprise of many food critics and experts, the tasty but healthier dishes continue to win even the harshest critics. After all, who can argue with the fact many people are overweight and experience other health issues because of bad diet, especially African Americans. In addition, with the high cost of medical care, more people see the handwriting on the wall and are starting to change their eating habits.

Experts and insiders see healthier soul food recipes as the answer to those who love the robust taste of southern cooking.

Here’s some of the popular secrets to keeping food tasty and healthy at the same time,

1. Use Creative Substitutes

For example, replace salt with natural herbs and spices, such as onion and garlic powder, chili peppers, lemon and lime juice, apple cider vinegar and more.

2. Healthier Way To Cook Collard Greens and Other Southern Vegetables

The traditional and most unhealthy ways to cook southern style vegetables have always been to flavor with fatback or ham hocks. However, these high fat and sodium seasonings have proved to contribute to high blood pressure, obesity and other ailments. A healthier substitute for flavoring vegetables and beans is smoked turkey. It contains low or even no fat if you remove the skin. In addition, the sodium level is often a fraction of fatback or ham hocks.

3. Salt Less and Marinate More

A key component in making meats more flavorful has always been salt. However, a healthier alternative many creative cooks use is to marinade meat. This gives it flavor and tenderness, many have learned to love better than salt. A good natural marinade is apple cider vinegar, olive oil, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.

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Source by Roy Primm

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If you have not stored up food and water for an emergency or a disaster, this article could be a lifesaver for you and your family.

Is your reason or excuse for not being prepared the same one used by well over 300 million other Americans? The two most widely claimed excuses are, procrastination and finances, then there’s those with their heads in the sand or cyber clouds. Oh, almost forgot the 60+% that truly believe there is no reason what so ever to prepare period. Disasters? Those things happen anywhere but here in my backyard and besides, I’ll worry about it when it happens.

If you’re in the “not likely will happen” camp, you must be or were living in the outback with no connection to the outside world. It’s no longer a matter of what the disaster will be but rather when one will occur. As I’m writing this article Hurricane Harvey is bearing down on South Texas, and many coastal residents interviewed by news reporters, expressed doubt regarding the severity of the storm and the media’s expressed urgency regarding immediate evacuation of the coast. If my memory serves me correctly, it is the very same scenario regarding skeptics of Katrina’s forecast, resulting in 1,800 deaths.

Most Americans are oblivious about the plethora of pending disasters unrelated to predictable weather conditions such as hurricanes, tornados, rain and snow storms, floods, and even droughts can be forecasted. Recently Geologists are reporting earthquake activity across the entire country with tremors recorded from all major faults. There are over 400 tremors recorded daily in a 400-sq. Mile area of one of the largest dormant volcanos in the world, Yellowstone National Park. Now, not so dormant according to volcanologists. Most of this information is withheld or suppressed to prevent major panic in the affected regions. Such as the fact that Mt. Rainer is also active and swelling as did Mt. St. Helen before its eruption, however, the experts say it will be five times worst because of the lava cork holding back a potential early eruption. National Geographic has produced a video depicting the potential destruction of such an event, and a similar documentary on the potential destruction of Yellowstone’s super volcano.

Much talked about in the past regarding the San Andres Fault as a major threat to millions of Californians. However, a discovery has taken precedence. The New Madrid Fault is not new, to Geologist who have studied this area around the Mississippi and Ohio rivers for decades. Recently, unprecedented activity has sparked such a concern that it’s potential for destruction could be ten times worse than San Andres fault. Based upon geologic predictions, the US Navy has drawn up new water navigation maps of the US predicting the resulting math which depicts a resulting shipping lane from the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Michigan following the current course of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

Why can’t these findings and predictions be shared the news media? A major reason is their intrinsic irresponsibility, hype, drama, and exaggeration of pending events. What would be the results of a major panic of a vast sector of the population? If the results were vast migrations out of an affected area, where would they go, or more accurately, where could they go?

Another natural disaster that has the potential of eradicating over two-thirds of this countries population is an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) from a sun flare or a neutron bomb detonated 30-40 miles above the US on either the east or west coast. Most American do not have a clue what an EMP is until it shuts down the grid- and they are in darkness for months or even years. An EMP attack also disables everything with electronic circuitry like cell phones, computers, cars, planes trains, boats, etc. Welcome back to the horse and buggy era.

What I have given as samples to this point are enough to end civilization as we know it and yet I have not talked about the imminent collapse of our dollar and economy, civil war or WW-III, a major pandemic or terrorist attack.

How many more possibilities need I mentioned before I sound like a Doomsday profit or Fear Porn Purveyor or Monger. O, fine, pick just one! Then ask yourself this simple question, “Do I have enough food to last me at least one month?” Do you believe the grocery store will have any food left after one day following a major disaster? If it is a prolonged disaster, will you survive two or three months? What about protecting what you do have from looters and those that wish to do you great bodily harm to attain what you have? How long will the food you now have in your cupboards last? Water? What about when the water stops flowing from your taps? Three to 4 days without water, your no more!

If it were possible to know you only had 1-2 weeks to collect enough food to last three years, do you have the means or knowledge to know how to do so? Well, that is exactly why I’m writing this article, to tell you how to accomplish this.

For just $109.00 and a seven gal bucket with n air-tight, water-tight lid, you can have enough healthy food that will store easily for 15-20 years and provides two generous meals per day ($0.14 per meal) 50-lbs of long grain rice and 45-lbs of Pinto beans. (From Costco or other warehouse store or food club). Now all you need is pots and a wood camping stove or Solar Sun Oven and utensils. Last but not least, either water or a device that will purify polluted water.

So you don’t go crazy eating plain beans and rice, stock up on a large variety of spices and cans of tuna, chicken, beef, Spam, etc. to add more protein and variety to the beans and rice meals.

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Source by Douglas Hoover

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==========The Scoop on Premium Dog Food========

If you’re interested in premium dog food, then I probably don’t have to tell you about the importance of diet in keeping your dog active and healthy. You already know you want something better than “average” for your furry friend.

But how much do you really know about what’s in a premium food and what your particular pet’s needs are? I’m no veterinarian but I do know a thing or two about health and nutrition. (As a family dentist who practiced for twenty years, I saw first hand the effects of poor dietary habits on human health — and particularly on human teeth!!).

Like you, your dog has to deal with the effects of stress, age, exertion, a polluted environment, and foods grown in nutrient-depleted soils. Unlike you, he has to get practically all of his nutrition from a single food. Sure, you may give him a few treats or the occasional table scrap (not too many I hope!), but otherwise he’s eating out of the same bag or can day in and day out. You want him to get complete nutrition out of that one food.

===========Complete Nutrition?===============

Even the experts seem to disagree on exactly what complete nutrition is. Maybe this explains why there are so many formulas for premium dog food out there. There’s one thing they do agree on, though: premium dog food is better for your pet than economy and grocery store brands. Although you’ll pay more, it usually holds true that you get what you pay for.

Experts also agree that, because premium foods are more nutritionally dense and easier to digest, your dog won’t need to eat as much. One study even concluded that if you fed your dog the recommended amounts on each package, you’d end up saving money on the premium formulas. That’s because your dog needs to eat a lot less of it. (You’ll save on pooper scoopers too!)

Another way to know if your dog is getting a proper diet is simply to observe him. Are his eyes bright, his coat silky and shiny, and his skin free from dryness and itching? Is he at a healthy weight? How about his energy level? This may vary from one animal to another, but as you get to know yours, you’ll know when your dog isn’t feeling up to par.

Of course, any persistent health problems should be looked into by your vet, and the same goes for any special dietary needs. But in general you’ll know if your friend is doing well on the diet you’re feeding him. If you see signs that he isn’t, try a different formula or another brand of premium dog food.

Introduce new foods gradually, especially if you have a picky eater. And while we’re on that subject, it’s always nice if your dog enjoys eating his food. This has a lot less to do with taste than it does with smell. Dogs have fewer taste buds than we do, but about 40 times as many scent receptors. So make sure he eats with gusto, and doesn’t just pick at his food.
Here are some basic guidelines you can follow:

============Essential Nutrients=============

Every dog needs the right amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Your dog must have all these in correct proportions to stay healthy. Needs vary with life stage, breed and activity level. Dog food companies make premium dog food for all life stages, from puppy to senior. An average adult dog needs a daily intake of about five ounces for every ten pounds of weight, with essential nutrients in the following proportions:

Protein –23% of total intake

Fats –5% of total intake

Carbohydrates –65% of total intake

Additional vitamins and minerals your dog needs are: Vitamins A, D, E, B-complex, Niacin, Biotin, Folic Acid, Choline, and Pantothenic Acid; Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium Chloride, Magnesium, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Zinc, Iodine, and Selenium.

It’s generally agreed that dogs do better on a protein source that’s primarily meat rather than soybeans and grains. Check the label. All US food labels must list ingredients in order of their quantity. If meat by-products are listed, they should come after the real meat, not before it. Meat by products are an inferior source of protein, and are basically what remains after the good quality meat has been removed. “Crude protein” can be a similarly poor source, since it may include parts of the animal that can’t even be digested or absorbed by the average dog (hair, beaks, etc.).

Omega fatty acids are a hot topic in human nutrition these days, and have been found to be just as important in the canine diet. Both should be present, and in the right ratio. Most premium dog food companies have done the research on this and adjusted the ratios, but as usual, ask your vet if your uncertain.

===========Wet vs. Dry============

You can buy premium dog food in just about any form, but which one is best? Again, most experts seem to agree. Dry food is less likely to allow plaque to accumulate on the teeth, less likely to harbor bacteria if left out too long, and results in firmer, more compact stools. Semi-moist foods are convenient but for some reason (I’m not sure what) don’t offer the same nutritional benefits as premium kibble or canned foods.

That said, I have also heard arguments suggesting that a diet of exclusively dry food can be a strain on a dog’s kidneys. So, to be on the safe side, check with your vet.

===========Life Stages============

Puppies need more calories and essential nutrients than adult dogs. They need up to twice as many calories per ounce of body weight and should get 25% to 30% of their energy from protein depending on the breed.

Most premium dog food brands take this into account in their puppy formulas, but it doesn’t hurt to check the label. By six to eight weeks of age a puppy should be fully weaned and eating his dry food consistently. After that, different breeds reach their mature weight at different rates, by anywhere from 9 months to 24 months old. So it’s hard to give an age or weight by which you should take your pet off puppy food. Again, your vet can help out here.

Also, remember not to try to “rush” the growing process by overfeeding. If she grows too fast, a dog can develop bone growth diseases. A puppy should get three to four meals a day because he’s growing fast but still has a small tummy, but don’t overdo it with portions size.

Adult dogs need to eat according to their size and energy requirements and should be fed two meals a day. This is frequently referred to by the premium dog food companies as a “maintenance diet”.

Unlike cats, dogs are not strictly meat eaters. In fact, a dog is more like an omnivore and will eat just about anything, whether it’s good for him or not! A certain amount of vegetable matter is part of a dog’s natural diet. Dogs love vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, zucchini, peas, and beans, and fruits such as bananas, apples, and melon. These make great low-calorie treats, too!

One thing you should never feed your dog is chocolate–it contains a chemical called theobromine which is toxic to dogs.

Senior dogs need a premium dog food that will help head off and manage the effects of aging. Since different breeds vary so much, it’s hard to give an age by which you should switch to a senior diet. The ASPCA recommends using weight as a guideline, and offers the following:

Small breeds or dogs weighing less than 20 pounds:7 years of age

Medium breeds or dogs weighing 21 to 50 pounds:7 years of age

Large breeds or dogs weighing 51 to 90 pounds:6 years of age

Giant breeds or dogs weighing 91 pounds or more:5 years of age

The ASPCA recommends that you begin dealing with the symptoms of old age before they’re obvious. Just like us, dogs will begin to accumulate more body fat as they age even as they consume fewer calories. (At least we’re not alone!). Muscle mass will tend to decrease, but this doesn’t mean you should lower your older dog’s protein intake. If anything, protein is more important than ever to help maintain muscle mass, so avoid senior dog food formulas with reduced protein.

One thing you will want to feed him less of is calories. Obesity is a real problem with adult dogs, and many owners don’t even realize their dog is overweight. Aside from portion size and calorie content, one way to avoid an overweight dog is to resist giving him table scraps. Most human food isn’t good for your dog.

===========How Much to Feed============

How’s your dog’s weight? You should be able to feel your dog’s backbone and ribs with light finger pressure, but not actually see them. If you have to “dig” to find them, your dog is overweight and if you can actually see her ribs, she’s underweight.

If you’re not sure how much to feed, you’ll love the interactive Dog Food Calculator on PetsMart’s home page! It’s the result of considerable research that has been published in scientific journals and accepted by industry experts. You can determine the right amount of food to feed your dog and find out how long that 40-lb bag will last!

===========Supplements============

If you’re all ready feeding a nutritionally complete premium dog food, do you still need supplements? This is another hotly debated topic. As a rule, it seems that most dogs do just fine without supplements. For certain dogs and certain conditions supplements can make a differenced. For example, a dog who isn’t thriving and there’s no other medical explanation for it might improve with supplements. Or, dogs with certain skin conditions have been known to improve on supplements. Since there’s a danger of doing more harm than good, you should definitely discuss supplements with your vet.

If you do decide to use one, pick one that’s made from natural sources and is designed as a multivitamin formulated specifically for dogs. That way she’ll get everything in the right amounts and ratios. Add it to the diet twice weekly so you won’t overwhelm or suppress your dog’s own internal regulating mechanisms.

=======Special Diets==========

There are many reasons why a dog might be put on a special diet. Some dogs are very sensitive to certain ingredients in commercial dog foods. Even if you’re feeding her the best of premium dog food, if your dog isn’t thriving, it’s possible her diet is a problem for her. Owners have resorted to alternative diets — holistic, raw foods, even kosher — to optimize their pet’s health. Some choose these diets simply because they believe they’re better, not because their dog is having any issues.

We’ll discuss special diets in a future article. For now, I hope you’ve gained some useful insights about the benefits of premium dog food over and above economy brands.

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Source by Carolyn Schweitzer

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Globalization has indeed had its effects on the food that we eat but, thankfully, there are still places where traditional foods and dishes can be found that are specific to a particular culture, region and cuisine. To come to the aid of those that want a specific niche of products many sites have been dedicated to cuisines around the world. The Middle Eastern food is one such niche which has become more prominent and more popular through the years. On one hand it has to do with the specific list of products that is associated with it, very particular products, manufacturing techniques and, of course, taste qualities.

When you feel like eating some tasty halva, Turkish coffee and other oriental products, you have to make sure you choose your e-store carefully. One thing to keep in mind is that certain products are specific to diners and restaurants. Others have longer shelf lives and thus can manage transportation and can thus be sold online.

Arab food such as baklava and other specific sweets – Turkish delight and alike will maintain their quality for long periods of time, but freshness is indeed a good indicator of how tasty they will be. You have to insure that your online market specializes in those particular products with long shelf lives. It is not that they will be processed or treated to alter their taste or consistency, but actual inbound qualities of the products themselves.

So, when you decide to buy baklava online make sure you choose the right e-store carefully. One way to insure the best products will be delivered to you is to question the business itself. See how long they’ve been in business, if they’ve always catered in a traditional cuisine and what other products they sell. It is not uncommon for such online markets to offer gift cards, so that, when you decide to offer an oriental treat t someone, he will choose himself and have the freshest product available for him.

Middle Eastern food is popular, it is delicious, it is widely different from other American cuisines and it has its own flavor and feel. It can thus be a great way to experience something different, something novel and exciting. Dried foods, spices and herbs, as well as an assortment of roasted nuts can all make a great treat, something different and always exciting to complement your every meal.

Along with these offerings the site should have specific cooking aids available as well as cookbooks and accessories to help you prepare these traditional meals. All Middle Eastern cuisine is very specific in regard to techniques of preparation, so if you want to learn more, they should be able to offer these products to you.

Look for promotions and other chances to win products, these treats may be food related or simply extras for the returning customers. When you have found the perfect online shop for your Arab food you should always use their services as this may bring you better prices or other deals in time.

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Source by Victo Ro Brien