Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Foods to Consume and Avoid for Oral and Genital Herpes


This condition can trigger the surfacing of painful red blisters within the mouth area or the area of the genitals. These blisters are normally accompanied by itching, tingling and burning sensation within the affected regions. The outbreak of the sores is typically concentrated on the mucous membranes of the genital region and the lip, although this may occur in various parts of the body as well.

There are antiviral medications that can be opted for in order to control the outbreak and reduce its frequency. However, these medications are not capable of eliminating the virus. This is due to the fact that once you get infected by HSV; you will have the virus all your life. What an infected individual can do is to alleviate the symptoms of the condition and this can be done using medications and natural remedies. However, experts do believe that foods play a huge role in controlling cold sore conditions.

Foods that should be Avoided

Basically, there are two different types of amino acids that can help regulate the occurrence of cold sore outbreaks. These are amino acids L-arginine and L-lysine. In order to alleviate the symptoms of the condition, doctors normally recommend a diet that is high in L-lysine and low in L-arginine. Lysine is helpful in inhibiting the metabolism of amino acid arginine, which is the primary compound that herpes virus needs to replicate. The list of foods rich in arginine and should be avoided includes the following:

Foods to Avoid for Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is considered as a highly contagious condition that occurs in the genitals due to HSV. This condition can be transmitted sexually and the symptoms include the presence of watery and reddish blisters on the penis, vagina, anus or buttocks and the scrotum. Although antiviral medications can be prescribed to reduce the severity of the symptoms, it is also necessary to learn about the foods that can actually worsen the condition. Some of the foods that should be avoided when suffering from genital herpes include the following:

Dark leafy vegetables like mustard greens and spinach
Shrimp
Lobster
Crabs
Caffeine
Brown rice
Gelatin
Nuts and other nut products
Chocolate
Caffeine
Oatmeal
Sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds
Raisins
Whole wheat bread
Sugary snacks
Foods to Avoid for Oral Herpes

Oral herpes is due to herpes simplex virus type 1 and the symptoms include the existence of painful cold sores on the gums, lips, roof of the mouth, tongue and the inside part of the cheeks. These are ulcerative lesions within the mouth that is normally accompanied with muscular aches and fever. Aside from the consumption of OTC medications and certain numbing products, dietary changes are considered as natural cures for oral herpes and the foods that should be avoided are as follows:

Brazil nuts, hazel nuts, peanuts, walnuts, pistachio nuts and almonds
Cocoa powder
Sesame seeds
Peanut butter
Cashews
Oatmeal
Tomatoes
Carob powder
Pecans
Chickpeas
Brown rice
Onions
Citrus fruits
Peas
Goat's milk
Brussels sprouts
Cow's milk
Lamb
Dried beans
Squash
Aside from these, foods containing sugar, chocolate, vinegar, animal proteins, cola drinks and coffee should also be avoided. Such food and beverage products can put strains into the body's immune system and trigger cold sores or fever blisters.

Foods to Eat for Oral and Genital Herpes

Aside from the foods that should be avoided, there are certain foods that should be consumed as well. These foods are high in lysine and are helpful in alleviating the symptoms of both conditions and in shortening the duration of the outbreak. Some of the foods that can be very helpful against oral and genital herpes include the following:

Chicken
Fresh fish
Pork
Beef
Soybeans
Cheese
Broccoli
Eggs

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Best Citrus Juicer Ratings and Reviews


If you are planning to buy juicers to help you create the most organic and fresh citrus juice, then be sure to make some ample research prior to making any decision. Today, there are several citrus juicers available on the market. They come in different types, models, brands and prices to suit your individual needs and personal taste. In this article we shall discuss some of the top rated juicers that you can choose from.

Handheld Juicers

If you are on a budget, perhaps the best type of citrus juice extractor for you is a handheld device, such as Amco 2-in-1 squeezer. This small kitchen tool is so affordable and easy to use. Amco 2-in-1 squeezer is a simple, dual-sided center plate that enables you to extract juice by simply squeezing it. This device will certainly give you some fresh lime or lemon juice at a very low price.

Stand Juicers

Compared with handheld devices, this one is a little bit costly since it lessens the need to hold the tool in order to extract juice. Some of the best stand citrus juice extractors are Chef'n Juicester and KitchenAid Citrus Juicer Attachment. Chef'n Juicester is as cute as a button with its two different sizes of reamers, double strainer and anti-skid base. KitchenAid, on the other hand, utilizes the power of stand mixer in extracting citrus juice as its strainer basket catches the pulp and seeds.

Electric Juicers

While handheld and stand up juice extractors can significantly consume your time and energy, then why don't you consider buying electric juicers? These days, there are plenty of electrical juicing devices for you to choose from. Some of the best brands out on the market today are Waring Pro, Juice Master Plus and Omega 4000. Each of these brands has its own special features and advantages.

Let us take for instance the Waring Pro Professional, which has a very sleek look and heavy-duty juicing power. It is excellent for squeezing out juice from all forms of citrus fruits from tiny limes to big grapefruit. It allows you to extract juice effectively as its removable strainer catches its pulp. Whether you are a right-handed or a left-handed user, you have nothing to worry about using this tool.

Making a Better Juicer Comparison

If you want to make a better comparison among these products, the best thing you can do is to read some reliable juicer ratings and reviews. Nowadays, there are several websites offering this type of information. Product ratings and reviews aim to help the consumers make the right decision by giving them several choices and providing the right specifications of the product.

Some of this information includes the product's capacity, price, model and special features. These accounts are shared by real consumers and experts alike who have already tried using the product in order to make a fair judgment. So before you make a decision, do not forget to read some of these reviews.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

How Be Good To Bees?


This is an issue that should not only concern me but needs to concern the human race. This may sound sound harsh but it is the truth, let me explain. Think of the world as one body full of living things that all work with each other to keep the body a working functional body. If one or more of these living things that helps bring nutrition to the body happens to die out well it effects the others now there is nothing doing the job that was being done to help keep the body in check. Now every living thing in the body scrambles to try and cover them spots but they can not because they were not made to do them jobs so now with out the nutrition other living things die out as well and the body starts to break down eventually resulting a dead body. The same effect is happening to earth with bees going missing there is less and less bees to pollinate our very foods we eat. Where does milk comes from? Cows give milk right but why can a cow give milk? Bees help pollinate the food cows eat keeping the cows healthy so they can give milk. Did you know that bees pollinate broccoli, carrots, avocados, apples, pears, tangerines, pumpkins, soybeans, peaches, squash, cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, even almonds and that's just a fraction of the food the bees pollinate. Without bees all this will start to diminish, not cool.

Why are the bees disappearing? Pesticides being sprayed on fields and crops are known to be a big factor and mites, viruses, bacteria, fungus, and disease are also factors but there is usually evidence in those cases so where are the bees swarming off to without a sign? Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a term used to label this terrible happening. There are a lot of scientists on the case but is still not totally clear as to why exactly bees are deserting their hives without a trace. One thing is starting to come clear though that is a major danger to bees which is the zombie fly and has been killing off bumblebees, honey bees and other flying insects. Ramesh Sagili (a scientist from the Oregon State University) is one scientist that has been keeping close watch for afflicted bees and had found a dead one belly up one morning on a sidewalk. Noticing this Sagili had taken it back to the lab and placed it in a vial. Four days later seven larvae had crawled out of the neck of the bee after the head fell off. Three weeks later one of the larvae had grown into a zombie fly. Zombie fly is a name used for this type of fly because of the zombie like behavior that takes place from the host after eggs are laid in their abdomen and the gruesome death handed to them, the real name is Apocephalus borealis. The zombie fly will land on a bee then penetrate it in order to lay eggs in the bee's abdomen. The bee starts to react strangely to this for example, by taking night flights when they should be home in bed resulting in death because leaving the hive at night is suicide and they are smarter than that so it really messes with their mind, it would mine too. These bees have been found laying underneath street lights, that kind of thing. Not that the bees never had enough stress in their lives now this. Could this be a link to the colony collapse disorder? It is still to early to tell but i think it is a good break through and always remember to be nice to bees.


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

5 Uniquely American Foods


Fast food is arguably America's greatest culinary legacy - although many would argue that isn't exactly a great contribution, especially to public health. It's also arguably an unfair statement too; beyond fast food restaurants, America boasts a wealth of delicious cuisine owing to it's rich mix of nationalities and cultures.

So, without further ado, here are five uniquely American foods that prove the Land of the Free is also the Land of the Delicious.

Twinkies

Okay, so not really a meal as such but Twinkies always invoke a sense of wonder in those who've never visited the States. Encasing vanilla cream in a delicious sponge cake, the Twinkie is America's ultimate sweet treat.

The popularity of the Twinkie is such that you can get the cake in a variety of flavours, including chocolate Twinkies and banana flavour cream-filled Twinkies. Deep-fried Twinkies, although quite unhealthy, are also popular in the States especially at state fairs and baseball games.

Biscuits and Gravy

Often mistaken for digestives in traditional beef gravy by confused Brits, biscuits and gravy is actually an irresistible combination of scone-like dough biscuits and a milk gravy with meat drippings. Originating in the South during the War of Independence, biscuits and gravy remain a staple Stateside breakfast dish.

Grits

Another dish originating in America's southern states, Grits are also a common source of confusion to those living outside of the US - and some of those who live in the US too!

Grits were created by Native Americans and consist of coarsely-ground corn mixed with water to form a sort of thick porridge. Grits are traditionally a breakfast dish and there are quite a variants; grits mixed with milk for a creamier consistency, grits with cheese and even grits with shrimp!

Buffalo Wings

'But Buffalos don't have wings?' Buffalo Wings are literally named, but it's because they're chicken wings made to a recipe originating in Buffalo, New York! Buffalo Wings are what we traditionally think of as hot wings; chicken wings deep-fried and then coated in a sauce, usually consisting of Cayenne pepper and butter.

The traditional Buffalo wing has evolved over time, specifically with regards to heat. Restaurants across the States try and out do each other in order to boast the hottest wings in the country. These super-hot wings are usually served in the form of a food challenge and definitely aren't for the faint of heart - or stomach!

Clam Chowder

Originating in New England, chowder is essentially a thick seafood or vegetable soup. Chowder bears more in common with a traditional stew, however, as it is thickened with broken up crackers and consists of a lot of vegetables and seafood.

The most famous chowder by far is New England Clam Chowder, which consists of clams, broth, diced potatoes and onions. Interestingly, clam chowder is considered a Friday tradition among Catholics, a tradition that has it's roots in previous laws dictating that no meat could be eaten on a Friday.