The Best Cup of Coffee

In the coffee business there are people called a 'barista'. A 'barista' is some who prepares coffee drinks. Also in the coffee business there are professional coffee tasters called 'cuppers'. Cuppers and baristas work together with the companies to find the best tasting beans to create the best drinks. It the barista, though, who left to serve the customer with the final product and they who will be told upfront just how good it is. That is why their opinions are highly valued.
Coffee beans are produced in around 70 different countries. They are produced everywhere from Africa to the Middle East and from South America to the Caribbean. They are also produce in Hawaii. The band of coffee producing countries is around the equator where the weather is perfect for growing them. Of course each country has it own climate which somewhat differ from each other. This causes each country to produce their own unique type of coffee bean. The difference in the equipment and techniques used also can be seen form country to country and also in a factor in how different the coffee product is. Despite these differences, though, coffee plants are all in two major categories - Arabica and Robusta. Robusta has half the caffeine of Arabica and is used in the finest coffees. They are more flavorful beans with a full aroma. Higher altitudes make for better bean growth. In fact altitudes at 3000 feet or above are preferred. Coffee beans grown in these premium conditions are called Milds. Beans grown at lower altitudes are called by different names, such as Brazils.
Judgment of the bean will include consideration to where it is grown as mentioned above. Additionally. The judgment will also take into consideration roasting. The customer may roast their own beans, so they will get a good green colored bean and that is about as far as the judgment goes. However, for those looking for roasted beans, the judgment is broken down further. There are light beans that are often referred to as cinnamon. They are acidic and have a lot of caffeine content. Then there are medium beans which are also called American. They are darker and do not produce the highest quality, but they are popular. Then there are the dark or city roast that are used in many specialty shops because they have low caffeine and an acid taste that result in a less bitter and sweeter cup of coffee. They are general use din espresso. There is also the French roast which is full bodied, dark and made with an oily bean. There is the darkest or Italian roast. It is used a lot for espresso and has a deep brown color with a pungent aroma and are considered to make a fine cup of coffee. As you go from light to darkest the taste and quality of the coffee will be less acidic and more sweet. The carmelization of the sugar in the coffee bean during roasting is the reason for this. The longer the roasting the more sweetness and the less caffeine which causes a bitter taste.
The next time you are out shopping for coffee you can keep these barista tips in mind for choosing the best kind of coffee. You should know the beans and understand what type you need to suit your taste.

By: John J. Baker

Free Yoga Exercises: Improve Your Body And Mind

Learning yoga for free is a very good opportunity to practice some exercises that will help you improve the state of your body and mind. With little confidence and the right instructions, you too can learn to master this ancient art.Proper health can be maintained easily with these yoga exercises, that are called ashtanga yoga. They consist of different poses that must be maintained correctly for a certain amount of time, and they will provide those practicing them peace of mind and more energy.You will need to change a little your daily routine to include the yoga exercises. Yoga must be practiced every day, in the same way that you do other things every day. In yoga, three points are needed to be performed: one is the repeating of a mantra, needed to maintain the same consciousness, one is represented by reading the scripts, and one consists of meditation.When meditating, you need to assume the so called Corpse pose, a pose that must be repeated as a final relaxation. Your body will relax, but you must used the pose during meditation, as recommended.Warm up is recommended before getting along with yoga exercises. Your muscles need to be relaxed so you can perform the yoga routine flawlessly. Some shoulder lifts must follow, along with some eye exercises, for improving sight and against tiredness. A sun salutation exercise will follow, so your muscles are stretched and ready for the next one. Leg raises are good for preparing the muscles, and a head stand pose will be required for letting the heart rest.Here is how these exercises continue:At first, the bridge and plough poses are recommended - they are good for back flexibility. This asana is more difficult and some time is needed to perform it without any trouble. Balance is important, always remember.The nervous system can be stimulated through the bend pose; when followed by the fish pose, your chest muscles and lungs will be stimulated, as well.The cobra pose helps the circulation in the lower abdomen area and it is recommended for women that experience menstrual problems.The locust pose is good to prevent constipation and to strengthen the lower back.Your back will get stronger and more flexible if you practice the bow pose, and it is also a good stimulant for reducing abdominal fat.Yoga exercises cannot be performed without proper breathing. The crow pose will help you achieve good breathing, and your joints will know an improvement, as well. Body flexibility can also be increased with the triangle pose.In the end, the Corpse pose must be repeated. This way, the energy you used for the exercises will be regained, and your body will rest.You may try whichever exercise you think it is best for you. Many benefits can be drawn from them, but be careful to avoid overstretching and to repeat the same exercises every day.
By: Camie Ibara

How to control your calorie intake

How to control your calorie intake
Calorie intake can be controlled through low calorie cooking methods that are:
Steaming: There are three ways of steaming your food direct, indirect and pressure cooking. As the use of oil is very minimal it results in lower fat content which is very beneficial for the calories conscious people. It can be used for cooking many food products vegetables as well as meat and sea food.
Boiling: Cooking food in boiling water is one form of cutting down on the oil. This also helps in removing the impurities of the food. This water can also be used as vegetable stock or chicken stock which is very good for health.
Roasting: It is one method of cooking food which uses the dry heat, be it an open flame or any other source of heat. It helps in increasing the flavor of the food. It is generally used for poultry products as well as tender meats and vegetables, potatoes, tomato, and other products.
Sautéing: It means frying in a shallow open pan, that's the key with very small amount of oil. For even cooking all the vegetables should be evenly chopped. By steaming before sautéing helps to reduce the fat and in this manner less fat is consumed.
Stewing: It is cooking of food in a covered pan with very small quantity of water. This pan is kept on simmer to keep the nutrients preserved. This method is used for meat, chicken, fruits and vegetables.
Grilling: It is a form of roasting which can be cooked by direct or radiant heat. The charcoal used gives a different flavor to the food. Vegetables too can be grilled which happens to be very tasty.
Poaching: The food is cooked in simmering liquid. It is mainly used for delicate food products like eggs, poultry, fish and fruit as they very easily fall apart. The flavor of the food is always preserved in such a manner of cooking.
Braising: It is the best way to get vegetables tender and cook tougher cuts of meat. It is basically cooking with moist heat which is done in a covered pot with small amount of liquid. You can also use small amount of oil too.
Marinate: Marinating is mostly done to meat as they soak up the flavor of the seasoned mixture of vinegar oil, spices, curd and lime. Here the meat is usually immersed in the mixture before being cooked to get the distinct flavor.
Fiber Fiber is a very rich and healthy diet which helps in managing your weight. There are two types of fibers - soluble and insoluble. As it is a rich diet it helps in giving the stomach a required need for satisfaction and fullness. Rich in high fiber but poor in calorie content, which is the mantra for high fiber diet. Along with regular exercise regime, high-fiber, low-fat diet provides a healthy and happy body.
Artificial sweeteners There are two types of artificial sweeteners one is the Types-nutritive and the other the non-nutritive. These sweeteners should be used according to ones own discretion. In general it is considered safe for consumption, but before adding anything new to your diet consult the doctor. These sweeteners are either 200 to 500 times sweeter than sugar and should be consumed in very small doses.
Fat replacers By the name itself you can make out that it replaces all or some fat in the food products. This is the best way to reduce your fat consumption which all reduces your calorie intake. There are three types of fat replacers: Carbohydrate based fat replacers, Protein based fat replacers and fat based fat replacers. All the fruits and vegetable purees are fat replacers. Instead of using the actual product which is rich in fat these purees and sauces help in reducing that.

by: BATUL KAKA

The Best Way to Lower Cholesterol Levels

The autumnal equinox is the time of balance between light and dark. It marks the first day of the season of autumn. It's also the season for cultivating eggplant when the south wind brings the moist air current here in Taiwan.Eggplant Habitats in TaiwanEggplant is a cold-sensitive vegetable that requires a long warm season for best yields. The annual hottest season, from July through September, is very suitable for eggplant growth. Gaoxiong county and Bingdong county are the two main habitats, approximately compose the 56% productivity. Next is the counties of Zhanghua and Nantou, which are in the middle area of Taiwan, approximately composes 29%. Other areas also have cultivations but few.Positive and Negative ReviewsStudies of the Institute of Biology of S?o Paulo State University, Brazil (Instituto de Bioci?ncias of the UNESP de Botucatu, S?o Paulo) also showed that eggplant is effective in the treatment of high blood cholesterol hypercholesterolemia. It can block the formation of free radicals, help control cholesterol levels and is also a source of folic acid and potassium. However, some sources, particularly in the natural health community, state that eggplant can cause or significantly worsen arthritis and should be avoided by those sensitive to them.Vitamin P Helps in Lowering CholesterolScientific experiments showed the result that eggplant contains Vitamin P amounts to 7200 milligrams per kilogram. Vitamin P, known as the "permeability vitamin", is the body of the 14 essential vitamins one, can strengthen one's body between the cell the adhesive power and improve the capillary force, to reduce the risk of cerebral blood clots, since it lessens the permeability of the walls of the capillary blood vessels. In the nutritional therapy, eating the eggplant often not only has the inhibitory action to senior citizen's angiosclerosis but also the special function to reduces hypertension and prevent the capillary bursts. That's the reason why eggplant stands out in the popular healthy food's vegetables.The Black Nightshade ElementThe modern science also knows eggplant containing "the black nightshade element" which can suppress tumor multiplication in the digesting system. Expert in preventing and controlling cancer suggests cancer patient taking the eggplant as daily food. The eggplant can also prevent and control the hemoptysis, age-spots and bad blood sickness. To arthritis patient, it also has certain effectiveness. Famous Vegetable in Sui and Tang DynastiesAs a cultivated plant, it is widely used in Taiwanese cuisine. It is reported that the emperors of Sui and Tang dynasties were fed specially this edible eggplant. Therefore it has name of the longevity vegetable and is often described as the king of vegetables.How to Cook HealthyThe better way to cook eggplant is cooking it in the rice cooker or others with steam. Takes it out when it is well-done. Then mixes it with Jiang Mo, minced green onion, crushed garlic, sesame oil, vinegar and the sauce oil to make it a delicious dish that riches in color, sweet smell and taste.

by: THOMAS TSAI