Where Pittsburgh Eats

The last 25 years has seen the growth of a cottage industry in the study of the health effects of drinking coffee. And no wonder - over 400 million cups a day are consumed throughout the world. But for decades health workers warned that the habit might be unsafe. Recent studies show the opposite is more likely to be the case.

One believed culprit in coffee ? caffeine - considered an unhealthy stimulus because it causes a raise in heart rate and blood pressure. Now it is understood that there is really no dramatic affect and any affect it does have is very brief.

Continued research has discovered that not only is moderate coffee consumption not a health risk, there are some benefits.

Large amounts of coffee are believed to have a healthy affect on your colon, possibly lowering your risk of cancer. But this benefit requires that you drink over 4 cups daily which could be a bit excessive.

There are positives affects that coffee can have even when consumed in moderation.

Recent medical studies have produced much information on the benefits of antioxidants, and these are found in great quantity in coffee. In fact there are more antioxidants found in coffee than in tomatoes and cranberries. Antioxidants are beneficial because they cleanse the blood of harmful cells that can deplete the bloods oxygen and make a person more susceptible to certain types of cancer and heart disease.

Parkinson’s disease is one of the most debilitating and heartrending diseases around. Certain studies indicate the possibility that in addition to contributing to awareness of mind coffee also helps lessen the symptoms of Parkinson’s sufferers.

American and Scandinavian studies both suggest that decaf and regular coffee help reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes. Good news for the Scandinavians who have the highest per capita consumption in the world.

The caffeine in coffee also assists the digestive process by producing more acid in the stomach. This results in a decreased possibility of gall and kidney stones and makes for better digestion overall.

Theophylline, a bronchodilator is of great benefit to those who suffer from asthma. This property of coffee helps open the air passages and easier breathing.

But those benefits, not surprisingly, come with risks.

Though mammalian sperm swim faster, longer and farther in fluids laced with coffee some studies link heavy coffee drinking with reduced fertility.

Large amounts of coffee produce homocysteine in your blood which can cause heart disease. Also research suggests that coffee can lead to high LDL cholesterol. Two other possible negatives when considering how much coffee you will consume.

From the beaches of Brazil to the beaches of Australia, the acai berry with its health benefits and sweet flavour are finally available to active and busy Australians as a healthy new snack.

One sector of the population benefiting from this berry is athletes. Acai is a natural alternative to the protein bars and shakes that they would normally eat and drink to assist with workouts, training and competitions.

Of course, you do not have to be an athletic sort of person to reap the benefits of this revitalizing berry. Acai berries contain the minerals, proteins, vitamins and antioxidants occasionally lacking in the food intake of vegans, vegetarians and those on diets who do not eat meat, eggs or dairy products.

So what exactly is it that makes this berry so special? The answer to that question is in the contents of the berry, which many people say act as a remedy to numerous ailments and problems with health. The berry consists of Vitamins B1, B2, B3, C and E as well as iron, ORAC, calcium, potassium, protein, phosphorus, fiber, phytosterols, sterols, fatty acids Omega 6 and 9, fatty acids of an unsaturated nature, anthocyanin and polyphenols.

These ingredients provide health benefits to those who consume this berry. It is healthier than eggs, pomegranate, and blueberries. It benefits digestion, arthritis, inflammation, immunity, skin conditions, the heart, body cleansing, cholesterol levels, stamina, energy, and the overall health of the entire human body.

The acai berry does not contain cholesterol and, therefore, lowers and maintains cholesterol levels in the body. It works well to fight the pain of arthritis and inflammation issues as well providing immunity against flu and colds and all manner of other winter time viruses. The berry aids digestion and protects the heart by combating stress and thus minimizing the chances of heart disease. Naturally, this is great for professionals or those who are studying.

This may well be the reason why several athletes and well know people who live in Australia have recently become fans of the acai berry and rave about the effects the berry has had on their daily lives as well as their careers.

Layne Beachley, World Surfing Champion, exclaims that Amazon Power Acai “offers the best sustenance” for her training workout as well as her surfing competitions. It keeps her satisfied throughout the day, but it is light and easily digestible. She also likes the sweet flavour and its natural contents. Since her diet is restricted due to numerous food allergies the Amazon Power Acai has the nutrients, vitamins, proteins and antioxidants she needs to replace other foods that she is unable to eat.

Pro Junior Surfer and Runner-up ISA Amateur World Champion, Chris Friend, says he is given the power to train and “surf at 100% intensity” by taking Amazon Power Acai. He not only eats acai for breakfast but also as a snack during the day and he simply loves the taste.

Acai is now being sold worldwide as a healthy berry perfect for active, health conscious people. It is a very sweet dark purple berry that resembles a blueberry, but has a slight chocolaty taste. It provides an energy boost, boasts numerous health benefits and a great flavour. It is sold as juice, puree, capsules, powder, and as a fruit.

If you’re considering a career in bartending, chances are great you’ve heard of professional bartending schools. Just like any other profession, successful bartenders posess a certain skill set. Many procedural skills can be learned from a bartending course, like drink recipes, mixology, and state certifications.

Should you decide to attend a bartending school, you’ll have ample choices. On site and online courses are available in nearly every major city and suburban areas. As you might imagine, some of these schools and courses are better than others, similar to any type of educational institution.

Before you fork over any fees or tuition, here’s a quick guide to questions you should ask. These five questions could very well mean the difference between a successful educational experience or a waste of money.

Five Questions To Ask A Bartending School

1. Will You Help Me With Job Placement? Obviously, if you’re attending a bartending school, you’re in the market for a bartending job. Find out if the school you’re considering established relationships with area employers. This would include large caterers, chain restaurants, and independent bars and taverns. Ask to see job placement statistics.

2. How Long Have You Been In Business? While length of time in business doesn’t always equate to quality, it should give you some indication of the school’s credibility. Also, make sure the school has been certified by the state.

3. How Big Are The Classes And Can I See A Classroom? A school should willingly show you a classroom. Check to see how the classroom is set up … it should look like a bar. Also, the smaller the ratio between students and faculty, the better. You’ll want the individual attention you deserve.

4. Are References Available? You’ll want to actually talk to a recent graduate of the school. Not to be distrustful, but any institution can slap up names and glowing statements about their courses. Ask to speak to someone who is roughly your age and your background. This will give you practical insight into the progression from student to bartender.

5. How Do Your Fees Compare To Other Schools? While cheapest isn’t always best, be sure to compare fees and program components. The key is conducting a bit of research. You don’t want to be overcharged, but keep in mind the quality of the instruction is most important.

Summary

A reputable bartending school can be the launching pad to a lucrative, successful career. But it’s up to you to do the background research. There are many fine bartending schools in every major city. By asking appropriate questions, you’ll learn which is best for you and your personal situation.

Being a lady, people might think it strange for me to be so in love with Tsingtao beer, but to be honest, I don’t care what they think. Tsingtao beer is from China yet actually has a German hertiage. I am never sure if it’s a German or Chinese beer, but always drink it regardless.

apparently the beer is from where it is produced. So I guess seeing as Tsingtao beer is made in China, it is Chinese beer. Either way it doesn’t bother me!

Tsingtao beer is mostly available in bottles rather than on tap which is good for me as I like drinking from bottles as much as from a cold pint glass. In fact as I first discovered Tsingtao beer, there was a lot of drink drugging going on so bottles were safer. Better to be safe than sorry i say! I have to say i became hooked on Tsingtao beer!

Tsingtao beer is the largest selling Chinese brand of beer in America. I began drinking it there and now I can’t stop!

I can really understand why it appeals to so many people. The fact it only has 157 calories to it’s name and that’s great news for people like me who want to stay clear of the beer belly. Such a refreshing drink, can’t go wrong.

While my friends order the cheapest beer on draft at the bar, I prefer to enjoy and savour my larger by asking for Tsingtao beer. It has a slightly malty flavour but retains its crispness nutty taste.

Tsingtao beer is the most popular drink out of China, when you think about this in terms of relativity that is quite amazing. China has a population of 1.26 billion people! If Tsingtao beer is the most popular drink in China, then imagine how much gets drunk!

Two-thirds of China is also mountains or desert land, which defiantly makes for thirsty times I’d say. I don’t know if id want to live in china, it would be warm, and my favourite Tsingtao beer would be cheap, but guess I would lose my sense of identity among all the people and such a big place.

I think it will be better to stay put in England and get the Chinese experience with a gorgeous bottle of Tsingtao beer.

Bordering eight separate countries, the Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world. Not only does its massive river basin provide one fifth of the world’s freshwater but it teems with uncountable varieties of birds and freshwater fish. In fact, one third of all living animal and plant species are found in Amazon.

It is in this lush, flourishing environment that the acai berry grows. According to sources, the native Amazon tribes use almost 2,000 of the 3,000 known rainforest fruits for remedial purposes. The acai berry is one of the most potent and powerful of these fruits.

Despite its use in the treatment of ailments for thousands of years, the acai berry remained virtually unknown to the western world before around 1990. But at last, we too are able to tap into the amazing health benefits that the acai berry possesses.

The acai berry is a natural source of antioxidants, with ten times the antioxidant level of grapes and twice that of blueberries. There is also fibre and protein to sweeten the deal - and of course there is the flavour; the acai berry has a taste reminiscent of both chocolate and blueberries.

The acai berry has other nutritional benefits, especially high anthocyanin levels. These are the same compounds which give red wine its health benefits. Acai berries have higher levels of these compounds than does wine and of course is free of the negative health impacts imparted by the presence of alcohol.

The benefits don’t stop there! The acai berry is listed as an effective anti-aging super food in health food circles and is actually believed to decelerate the aging process. This is presumed to be a joint effect of the anthocyanins and the antioxidants found in the berry.

Acai berries have been used in making wine with a higher nutritional value to fight the disease schistosomosis (which is transmitted by snails) and in manufacturing an antibiotic to combat staph infections - this is a berry which has a wealth of nutritional benefits and a lot of different applications.

The acai berry is a little, round, black-purple drupe about 1 inch in diameter. There is a similarity between this and grapes in look and feel. Whilst the immense popularity of this fruit lies in the fact that it provides incredible health benefits the flavour is also simply superb. Perhaps the easiest way to enjoy the benefits of the acai berry is by drinking it as a juice or in smoothies.

A dry red wine is one of the best wines to understand how this delightful tasting red wine is made. As you know, red wines in a variety of flavors, some borders on the taste of a sweeter wine, and some are quite tart tasting. The most important thing to know that the initial flavor of the red wine is directly drawn from the skins of the grapes.

The first step of making a dry red wine is to put the grapes into a crusher. The crusher is the equipment that will gently break the skins of the grapes. Whether or not you include the stalks of the grapes into the crusher depends on the amount of tannin that is required for the type of wine that is being made.

You will need to put the grapes and their skins into a vat for the fermentation process. Fermentation is a process in red wine that should not be rushed, as it may take several weeks to complete the process. You will need to determine the temperature for the fermentation process - as a high temperature causes more tannin and color to be drawn from the grapes. In sealed vat, the fermenting process can be sped up considerably.

Fermenting the wine can be a slow process and is directly related to the flavor quality of the wine. The longer the fermenting process, usually means that the wine will hold more favor and color. What makes a dry red wine? A dry red wines, means that it contains very little residual sugar. Through the fermenting process, the sugar that is found naturally in the grapes have been converted into alcohol.

Next, you will want to put the remaining grapes into a wine press to be crushed to create a tannic wine. Sometimes wine makers will add a free run wine into the tannic wine to add more structure to the wine blend to ensure a drying tasting red wine.

Blend the press wine and the vat wine together and then transfer the blended wine to a wine tank or wine barrel for another round of fermentation. The second fermentation process is usually longer than the first, as it is important to allow enough time for the wine to develop is full quality. A dry red wine, requires you to reduce the sugar content.

Patience for this next step is very important, as red wine should spend at least a minimum of one year in the wine barrel. Of course, many wine reds will spend a lot more time in the wine barrels, some for many years. It depends on type of red wine and quality taste that you are trying to achieve. A dry red wine is a good candidate for a longer stay in the wine barrels. Before the wine is filtered and bottle, egg whites should be added to the wine to stop yeast and other solids from forming.

Depending on the quality of your wine, you can now bottle and package your wine, or you may chose to continue to store your wine for a longer period of time until the wine is properly aged to perfection. The amount of time your wine will spend in the bottle is also important, but with a simple, delightful red wine, it is not necessary for red wine to spend a lot of time in the bottle to taste delicious. You can still have a dry red wine by reducing the sugar in the fermentation process. Keep in mind that the more complicated and complex the red wine the greater the need and benefit to allow your wine to age in the bottle to bring out both the fullness in flavor and color.

Acai is being heralded as one of the richest nutritive fruits on the planet. It is packed with antioxidants, the powerful acai berry has been harvested by the natives of South America for centuries for there energy, health, and healing properties.

The acai is a purple berry a little bit smaller than a grape and is indigenous to the Amazon Rainforest. The acai fruit may be found in some of the large acai palms which can grow as high as 30 meters and grows in floodplains and swamps. The acai fruit grows in large bunches up to 700 to 900 individual fruits at a time, and has 2 crops a year.

Acai fruit has a major amount of calcium, which can help reinforce bones, and also avert osteoporosis. Some women who are experiencing severe menstrual pain can also benefit from the Acai. The Acai berry has also been confirmed to be one of the richest natural sources of Anthocyanins. The berry is bursting with several other ingredients including fibre, protein, vitamins B, C and E, potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron. Acai’s Antioxidant spectrum includes more diverse types of Antioxidents than any other recognized food source. Let’s face it, no solitary antioxident will allow you to live forever.

Acai berry should not be processed,it should be 100 percent pure and natural and be kosher certified,this will assure people that it is of a very high level and standard.If you are not taking an organic antioxidant then you are throwing money away.Acai berry is now extremly popular due to the health benifits,and antioxidants in the fruit.

The acai berry is said to have twice the amount of antioxidants as blueberries at least 10 times that of grapes.Apparently antioxidants can help against premature aging, something we may all need at some time in our life.Antioxidants are important for health and well being and that is why the Acai berry is so very popular. Antioxidants are effective chemical compounds that counter the effects of free radicals on skin. Free radicals are atoms, molecules or ions which are highly reactive oxygen molecules, that cause damage to the skin proteins that keep your skin smooth and elastic.

Antioxidants can play a vital role in Eradicating free radicals from the human body before they can do any harm.Anthocyanins are a form of Antioxidants,these are important to the body as they fight off illness and tissue damage. Anthocyanins are very good for reducing inflammation and can also make the human body healthier.

Your body can be thought of as a precision machine. It comes with thousands of intricate parts that combine to make an amazingly functional team. Like any machine, your body needs regular maintenance and fuel.

Bodies need fuel with the right mix of nutrients to run at maximum efficiency. Good eating habits will improve your overall health, but it is also necessary to dig through the poor information that most of us hear about.

Below, you’ll find some myth busters on good eating habits:

1. “It is best to work out on an empty stomach.” A definite myth. Your stomach’s rumblings are an attempt to tell you something, not to get you to go to the gym! If you ignore tummy rumbling, you are forcing your engine to run without fuel. Have a light snack, even just a piece of fruit, before you undertake anything physical.

2. “Energy bars and drinks are good meal replacements.” Wrong again. While these can be fine on the fly or in a pinch, meal replacement bars and drinks are no match for a properly balanced diet. In order to get the antioxidants you need, reach for fruits and vegetables for a boost of vitamins, fiber, minerals and fluid.

3. “Breakfast is not that important.” Mom was right about this, as breakfast is the most important meal of each day. Eat a healthy breakfast to give your body the charge it needs to meet your busy schedule. If you skip breakfast, your low fuel start will leave you feeling sluggish and hungry throughout the day.

4. “Low-carb diets offer all the nutrients you need.” While low-carb diets can be beneficial for weight loss, they are not great for all-around good health. Your body needs carbohydrates to store energy and develop muscle tissue.

5. “Just eat what you want, whenever you want.” Sorry, life is not that easy! Just because you exercise regularly, and make some good choices around food, does not give you license to eat whatever you want. The key is balancing all the choices. Eating all cheese and wheat products one week, and all fruit and veggies the next is not going to lead to a healthy body.

6. “Reduce calories as much as possible.” Losing weight involves both exercise and cutting calories, but if you cut too many, you run the risk of doing more harm to yourself than good. Chop calories gently, targeting one or two pounds per week. If you are losing weight too quickly, add some more fruits and veggies to slow things down.

7. “Skip soda and alcohol.” This is no myth. Good eating habits go hand in hand with good drinking habits. Water, milk, and juice will always be the best beverage choices for active bodies. Drink often, and not only when you feel thirsty. By the time you begin to feel thirst, your body is already close to running on empty.

A solid understanding of a healthy diet will lead you to make good eating habit choices. It is not that complicated, and when you change what you eat, you will have made a big step toward overall wellness enhancement. Fuel up with good food, and keep that motor running for smooth performance down the road.

I like a nice cup of tea in the morning and at many intervals through the day. Brewing and drinking tea is a pleasurable rite that provides me with all the water I need to live, that stimulates my taste buds and that revives my spirit. Gift tea baskets let you give all this to friends and family too.

You can buy tea baskets already made into gifts but it is much more fulfilling to put them together yourself. It demonstrates so much more care and thoughtfulness. By personalising the gift tea basket to the person you have in mind you will add far more than the pure monetary value of the gift. The recipient will be overwhelmed.

My most recent tea gift basket idea was to a good friend who is obsessed with fitness and healthy diet. The centrepiece was a special pack of green chai which aids digestion and diet at the same time as being very refreshing and therapeutic. There was also a book about the tea’s history and health value alongside a selection of the richest chocolates. All this served to remind her of the need for moderation all things except moderation.

She was very appreciative of all my efforts and is now really into green chai. So much so in fact, that she is doing similar baskets for all her buddies in the aerobic class.

Fruit and flowers too can add a whole new dimension to your unique tea gift baskets. What are your friends favourite fruits? What colours do they love? Which flowers and fragrances give them most pleasure? Fruit teas, gift wrapping and even fruity biscuits can give you endless room for personal creativity too.

There are a myriad of flavours within a large number of categories of tea and this allows each gift basket to be unique and adapted to the receiver. Imagine a basket of fruit teas mingled with colourful real fruit or herb teas with flowers for mothers day.

Or how about helping a ‘non-morning’ person that you know, with a gift basket of all the breakfast blends and some breakfast breads for toasting and covering in different marmalades. All done up in sunshine yellow gift wrapping. At the other end of the day someone who struggles to relax would benefit from a lavender theme.

Gift tea baskets are only lmited by the extent of your imagination but they all have one thing in common; they are put together with love and given with consideration.

For those who are anxious to explore the California wine country, there are a host of options available for you to help in planning. You can chose a self-planning guide that will help you to pick the regions you want to visit and taste. Areas like Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, Santa Barbara and Medocino offer great family vineyards along with walking tours, wine-making seminars as well as many spectacular tasting opportunities.

Since you don’t want to be caught drinking and driving while touring the wine country, your first concern should be transportation. Choose from a variety of options: bus, limo, jeep, train or travel in style in a hot air balloon. No matter how tight your budget id you should be able to find adequate transportation.

If you don’t want to just limit yourself to wine tours and tastings you can find great tours that offer other activities such as meals, dinner theatre or even mountain biking. If you want to relax and enjoy, feel free to book yourself some spa accommodations. Booking tours online is a breeze and you can customize a trip to be perfectly suited to you. If you are in for a bit of adventure you can even book a surprise tour where you will never know what will happen next! And if at any time you want to change your tour this should be no problem.

Once you’ve settled on your destination and method of transportation you can then you can go ahead and check out tours that suit what you are looking for. There are tons of sites that offer online tour booking, and several that cater to wine tours alone. You can either book an entire tour, or just your travel and then you can figure out where you are going from there. If this is your first time visiting wine country you may be more comfortable with choosing a tour operator that decides the stops for you, as they will have more experience in the area.

The possibilities are endless and can be as unique as you want. If a romantic getaway is what you’re looking for, then possibly a quaint bed and breakfast surrounded by panoramic vineyard views would be just the ticket! It is also possible to fit in other attractions as well, depending on the area you plan on visiting. Many of the most popular tours fill up quickly, so do your research and book well in advance. With whatever amount of time and money you have available, there is a unique experience awaiting you in California wine country!