The Benefits of Cleaning Green

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The Benefits of Cleaning Green

natural cleaning products

The use of natural cleaning products is certainly becoming the most preferred cleaning alternative these days. Yes, there are a lot of cleaning solutions out there, but cleaning solutions made from naturally derived ingredients are the most preferred because more and more consumers are really becoming aware of the environmental and health benefits of using natural cleaning products.

Are you one of those people who really do not care about the type of cleaning products that they use – now is certainly the time to care and also switch to using cleaning products produced with natural ingredients. Now, this is the part where you ask this question “why on earth do I have to switch to natural cleaning products when the other chemically produced cleaning products work perfectly fine for all my household cleaning tasks?”

There are two really great reasons why you should switch to natural cleaning products

Very Affordable
A natural cleaning product sure delivers the same effective cleaning results (even better) than non-natural cleaning solutions, but at a lower cost. The ingredients used for producing natural cleaning products are much easier to obtain and are also very affordable as well – which in turn makes natural products more affordable.

You must also understand that whenever you spend your money on acquiring a natural cleaning product, please know that you are not only keeping your home and laundry clean, you are also protecting your family as well. You also minimize the pollution of the environment – keeping the environment free of harmful pollutants is like music to the ears of everyone who wants to keep our earth nice and clean.


Safe – Really Safe for Use
The chemicals used for the production of non-natural cleaning products can harm the health of the user and the environment. The chemicals used in the production of many of these non-natural cleaning products include the following:

• Neurotoxins
• Carcinogens
• Heavy metals
• Depressants

The direct and or indirect contact with the aforementioned chemicals can really put the user and everyone else at great risk. There are many health problems that can be caused by not using natural cleaning products and some of these health issues include the following:

• Respiratory problems
• Allergic reactions
• Cancers
• Trigger asthmatic attacks
• Reproductive problems
• Dizziness
• Fainting spells
• Headaches

The chemicals in many of these toxic cleaning products enter the human system through air or water. The chemicals can contaminate your source of drinking water or mix with the air you breathe. So you see, cleaning products that are chemically produced can cause diseases, allergic reactions and illnesses instead of preventing them – take the hint!


Thanks to Grab Green for this helpful article

How does Aromatherapy Work

How does Aromatherapy Work

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Aromatherapy is the practice of using plant oils that are often volatile and using essential oils to improve psychological and physical well-being of a person. Essential oils are liquid extracts taken from the purest or the most essential part of the aromatic plant. These oils are highly concentrated and should never be used directly on the skin; they are most commonly used along with a base oil or with the help of a diluter. Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist, initiated the modern practice of aromatherapy.

How does Aromatherapy Work

Aromatherapy affects our sense of smell. The essential oil and aroma bath salts used in this therapy are absorbed into the bloodstream.
When we inhale the air-filled with aroma, it goes to the roof of the nose where olfactory receptors carry the smell to the limbic system, which is a part of our brain. The limbic system is connected with instinct, mood and emotions. This is known as the inhalation method. In the topical method, aromatic oils are rubbed on the body which helps increase the blood circulation and also eliminates toxins. Taking a bath with aromatic bath salts is good for people suffering from sleep-related problems.

Benefits of Aromatherapy

Though this therapy does not help in curing major illnesses, it is effective in relieving the discomforts associated with them. Some benefits include; improvement of skin tone, regulates hormones, relaxes muscles and improves sleep. It also helps in relieving menstrual cramps and improving blood circulation. Other benefits of aromatherapy involve reducing headaches due to tension and relieves lung congestion.

Aromatherapy candles

The benefits of Aromatherapy candles depend upon the type and quality of essential oil infused in the candle. These candles help alleviate different health issues like sinus infections, cold, nausea, etc. and also reduce stress.
The fragrance pervading through the entire room from an aromatic candle is simply soothing! Aromatherapy candles are candles infused with natural essences tapped from plants. As awareness about its benefits is rising, more and more people are buying these candles and lighting it in the house. So what's so special about these candles? Let's find out!

Aromatherapy Candles

These candles are based on the principle of aromatherapy, wherein liquid materials from special plants, also known as essential oils are selected and carefully extracted by distillation and used to bring about soothing and healing effects. Aromatherapy is used to enhance a person's mood and improve health conditions. People interested in tapping the benefits of aromatherapy go in for massages, direct inhalation methods and topic application of essential oils. These days, sales of aromatherapy candles are also surging in the stores, because of their convenience and versatility. With these candles one need not specially set aside time to get the massage done to enjoy the benefits, but can light these candles on an evening after a stressful day at work.

The Benefits of Aromatherapy Candles

Aromatherapy candles when lit release a faint, yet continuous stream of floral and herbal essential oils into the air as they burn. When a person inhales the essential oil vapors, the oil molecules enter the respiratory system and ultimately get imbibed into the bloodstream, thereby preventing and treating certain illness in the body. Moreover, the oil released has chemical properties that help one to relax, thereby reducing stress. Several people even look at these candles as an alternative form of medicine, however, since there are no decisive research statements to support this, we can completely rely on this belief. Nevertheless, the fragrances released by these candles do affect a person's psychological and physical state.

Since the candles are available with a variety of different essential oils, with each oil having its own health benefits, the effect achieved from each candle varies. Let us have a look at the different essential oil infused into aromatherapy candles.

Basil: Essential oils extracted from basil are believed to improve a person's concentration level.

Lavender: Essential oils from lavender are believed to help a person cope with fatigue and depression. Moreover, it imparts a calming effect, thus, people stressed by work can light these candles to relax. They even treat headaches.

Eucalyptus: This oil is used by people to relieve cold, sinus infections or allergies, thus, are used as decongestant by people. Its fragrance is believed to be energizing!

Citronella: Candles infused with citronella essential oils are helpful in keeping insects and other unwanted eight legged creatures at bay. Thus, these candles are found being lit when people entertain their guests outdoors.

Chamomile: Essential oils from the chamomile plant helps soothe and relax a person. For a good night's sleep, and to reduce restlessness buy candles infused with German chamomile oil.

Tea tree oil: People infected with a cold can opt for aromatherapy candles scented with tea tree oils.

Jasmine: Oils extracted from jasmine is used as a relaxant and antidepressant.

Rose: These essential oils alleviate depression.

Clove: Clove oils have stimulating effect.

Sandalwood: Acts as a sedative and aphrodisiac.

Ginger Oil: Helps alleviate nausea.

Besides these oils there's myrrh that reduces toothaches, then there's rosemary oil that acts as a mental stimulant and there's cypress oil that alleviates cases of excessive perspiration. However, you need to understand that aromatherapy candles are not magic candles and do not provide instant healing. Though, they will definitely get you relaxed after work! For a completely natural candle, you can opt for soy aromatherapy candles (made from 100% soy beans), whose popularity is also surging today. You also need to remember that not all candles available in the stores are the same.

The quality of essential oils used in the candle determines the therapeutic effects of the candle. Moreover, the country in which the plants are grown and the surrounding environment affects the quality of the candle. The rarer the plant, the more expensive the candle. Candles with blends of essential oils are also available, thus making it possible for you to enjoy the multiple benefits of aromatherapy candles without having to buy several candles.

If you're wondering where to get these candles from, then you don't need to look very far to enjoy their benefits. The web's online shopping facility brings marketers and consumers closer. You could even purchase these candles and give them to a friend. If you enjoy candle making, then try your hand at making your own aromatic candles. Aromatherapy candles when correctly selected, not only add fragrance to the room, but also help ease and heal a person's spirit, soul and body! In a nut shell aromatherapy candles help invigorate, relax, concentrate and add the right soothing atmosphere to the room!

Thanks to Priya Johnson and Maya Pillai for this information

Nutritionally Depleted Foods – Is this the Beginning of the End?

Nutritionally Depleted Foods

 – Is this the Beginning of the End?

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More than a few studies have indicated that our fruits and vegetables these days are less nutritious than they once had been. Less nutritious food means that our diets have become more devoid of the nutrients essential to fight off disease so to maintain optimal health. Acid rain, pesticide use and over-harvesting of farms are primarily to blame: we suffer in terms of sickness and disease.

Acid rain has affected the nutritional content of crops by eroding nutrients in the soil. The crops that make it to harvest despite acid rain simply do not flourish as they normally would under optimal growing conditions. People who eat food derived from acid-rain exposed crops lack vital nutrients. Inadequate nutritional intake is associated with the increased risk of developing virtually all chronic degenerative diseases, including cancer, heart disease, lupus, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis,arthritis, headaches, fatigue, multiple sclerosis, migraines, infertility, and inflammatory bowel disease. There are many causes of acid rain: namely the industrial outpouring from factories which is taken up into the atmosphere, concentrates in clouds and then eventually rains down into the soil and ground water. All forms of environmental pollution add to the already overly acidic rain conditions.

Over-harvesting of soil on farms means that the soil becomes progressively depleted in nutrition, leading to nutritionally deficient crops. The pesticides and herbicides used to produce higher yields of various crops directly and indirectly affect nutritional content; not to mention, organo-pesticides are thought to increases our chances of a variety of autoimmune diseases and some cancers.

Foodstuffs are transported great distances, resulting in loss of nutritional content along the way. Freezing foods help to maintain their nutritional content. The time lapsed from the harvesting of foodstuffs to their consumption at the table results in nutritional loss; the longer this time period, the lower the nutritional content. The overall production of more crops due to advancement in technologies has resulted in crops that are diluted in nutritional content; a greater yield of crops derived from the same soil will become progressively more and more depleted.

The presence of selenium in soils is estimated to be entirely absent within the next five years, increasing cancer risk and human susceptibility to oxidative diseases (virtually all degenerative diseases are oxidative in nature). Many of us in the nutritional field believe that a large number of chronic health problems, no matter how big or how small, may result from inadequate healing because of nutritionally deficient diets. The National Institute of Health agrees that approximately 60% of women’s cancers and 40% of men’s cancers are related to nutritional factors.

We can get more nutrition out of fruits and vegetables, even those that are inherently deficient based on what I have written above, by consuming foods closer to the time of harvesting as opposed to waiting long periods. Choosing to eat frozen foods as opposed to non-frozen (fresh) is best because non-frozen foods lose nutritional value faster than frozen. This does not mean that fresh foods should not be consumed.

We can cook our foods more slowly which reduces nutrient loss; cook our foods at lower temperatures which reduces nutrient loss; chew our foods thoroughly to break the plant-cell walls of fruits and vegetables releasing nutrients; choose organically grown foodstuffs that contain less toxic residues that actually require nutrients for the body to process and detoxify them; we can choose to consume foods that are grown locally, as smaller farms are not as over-harvested such that their soil has a higher nutrient content; generally speaking, canned foods are poorest for nutritional health.

By Dr. Michael Wald – Director of Nutritional Services at Integrated Medicine of Mount Kisco

Thanks to Gibiru

Glacial Rock Dust it's Elemental

ORGANIC GARDENING AND SOIL SUPPLEMENTATION 

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Glacial Rock Dust it's Elemental

Mineralize the soil, lose the weeds!

Glacial Rock Dust contains trace minerals, including 14 of the body’s essential and minor (trace) minerals needed for optimum physical and mental health—boron, calcium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium, and zinc. In the book The Survival of Civilization, John Hamaker suggests finely-ground glacial gravel because that is nature's way throughout millennia to create fertile soils.

Glacial gravel, which is a natural mixture of rocks, will create a broad spectrum of minerals in the soil in a natural balance.These trace elements play a very important role in the overall production of healthy plants, fruits and vegetables. Properly mineralized soils offer not only better nutrition and health for the plant but pest and disease resistance as well. In corn, once enough copper is in the soil and taken up by the plant, grasshoppers won’t come into the fields, so insect pressure and damage are greatly reduced. 

Weed pressures decrease, as weeds have been shown by recent research to be indicator species for soil problems. Specific weeds will show up where specific minerals or trace elements are missing from the soils. Tissue tests of the weeds in relation to soil tests taken at the weed roots shows this. Improvements to the soil will cause weeds to “move” to areas of problem soils. Jay L. Mc Caman has published “Weeds and Why They Grow”, a look at over 800 different weed species and the soils that they grow in. As an example, burdock grows in soils with very high levels of iron and sulfate, very low levels of calcium and manganese.

Pumice a real soil rejuvenater

Organic Gardening and Soil Supplementation 

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Pumice a real soil rejuvenater

The roots of plants are living organisms requiring a continual supply of oxygen, the introduction of air into the soil even though it is wet is very important. Likewise, roots are constantly releasing carbon dioxide, which must be removed from the root zone. Plants require that these gases be supplied or exhausted via soil pores. Thus, a good soil must be porous to permit the exchange of gases while also adequately retaining water to meet the needs of the plant. Additionally, the plant must obtain more than a dozen elements from the soil for its growth.

With the addition of as little as 10% pumice in potting media and garden soils you will experience the following advantages:

•  Increases bulk density of potting mixes
•  The porous nature of pumice allows it to hold vital nutrients in the microscopic surface pores, which helps regulate fertilizer feedings. It can even be supercharged with nutrients before it is added to the growing medium.
• Excellent conditioner for soils that need increased aeration and drainage.
•  Loosens the density of heavy clay garden soils, letting in the air and water plants need.
•  Holds moisture in the soil, reducing watering requirements by as much as 35%

•  Pumice is inorganic, so it will not decompose or compact over time, meaning it functions continuously and can be recycled and reused.
• Does not attract or host fungi, nematodes, or insects

•  Pumice is pH neutral.
• Packing medium for storing tubers, roots and bulbs

Lawn and Turf management. Used both in preparing a quality seed bed for new turf areas as well as a top dressing after airification on heavily-trafficked lawns or greens to restore or maintain proper soil structure.

Mulches Coarse-grind pumice makes an excellent and attractive mulch for flower and shrubbery beds. The soil beneath the mulch stays moist longer and is less likely to compact from watering. Weed problems are minimized with a couple of inches of pumice mulch. It does not break down, so does not need to be replaced. 

Composting Pumice is a great bedding additive to your worm composter. It adds additional air space, prevents matting, and helps to control moisture

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How Vermicomposting Works

Red Wigglers

What kind of worms do you want wiggling around your house? Red wigglers, of course. Red wigglers, or Eisenia foetida, are the best compost worms. Unlike your everyday night crawlers, they live well in close, highly populated conditions and don't burrow. In nature, you would almost never find a red wiggler worm heading deep underground.
If you decide to start a compost bin, you can get these red wigglers from any of a number of places. Like night crawlers, they make a tasty meal for fish, and bait shops often carry them. These usually come packaged in small containers and at a relatively high price. It's better to get your worms online from a reputable worm farm. The advantage to this is that they sell worms by the pound -- and knowing how much your worms weigh is vitally important to your compost. You should be able to get the worms for about $20 per pound plus shipping. Anybody who sells them for more is ripping you off. You can also get your worms from a neighbor who composts. You'll find when you begin vermicomposting that your worm population will double every 90 days or so. That's how you know that your worms are healthy and happy. Just be sure you weigh your worms before you put them in the bin.
Why is it important to weigh your worms? Fat worms are good. Red wiggler worms can eat about half of their weight in food every day. This means if you put one pound (16 ounces) of worms (about 1,000 worms) into your bin, you will be able to feed them one half of a pound (8 ounces) of food every day. The best way to decide how many worms you'll need for your bin is to weigh the amount of organic waste you throw away each day for about a week. When you know about how much you toss on average, buy twice as many pounds of worms as the amount of waste. For example, if you average one pound of organic waste per day, you should buy two pounds of worms.
Reports vary on how long worms will live. Some say only a few months, some say up to 10 years. No matter what, the worms will reproduce; however, you don't need to concern yourself with buying an equal number of male and female worms -- they're hermaphroditic. In other words, they have both male and female sex organs, yet it still takes two worms to reproduce.
Sexually mature worms have dark red bands around their necks. Every few months, they'll congregate into one huge, squiggling ball at the bottom of your bin. When you see that, you know that it's time to hang the "Do Not Disturb" sign.

WHAT IS BIODEGRADABLE?

What happens when you throw your apple core out the window and say, "Don't worry, it's biodegradable?" When that apple core hits the ground, it's already being broken down by oxygen and other environmental factors. As it rests on the ground, a variety of critters begin to nibble at the core, helping to speed the breakdown process. Worms, flies and other insects arrive on the scene to get their share. As these decomposers digest, they help complete the cycle and turn that apple core into topsoil.

Thanks to How Stuff Works

The Facts About Bisphenol A (BPA)

How Environmental Exposure May Affect Your Child

The Facts About Bisphenol A (BPA)

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In 2008, the possible health risks of the Bisphenol A (BPA) -- a common chemical in plastic -- made headlines. Parents were alarmed, pediatricians inundated with questions, and stores sold-out of BPA-free bottles and sippy cups.

Where do things stand now? Have plastic manufacturers changed their practices? How careful does a parent need to be when it comes to plastics and BPA? Here's the latest information we have about possible BPA risks.

BPA Basics

BPA is a chemical that has been used to harden plastics for more than 40 years. It's everywhere. It's in medical devices, compact discs, dental sealants, water bottles, the lining of canned foods and drinks, and many other products.
More than 90% of us have BPA in our bodies right now. We get most of it by eating foods that have been in containers made with BPA. It's also possible to pick up BPA through air, dust, and water.
BPA was common in baby bottles, sippy cups, baby formula cans, and other products for babies and young children. Controversy changed that. Now, the six major companies that make baby bottles and cups for infants have stopped using BPA in the products they sell in the U.S. Many manufacturers of infant formula have stopped using BPA in their cans as well.
According to the U.S. Department of Health, toys generally don't contain BPA. While the hard outer shield of some pacifiers do have BPA, the nipple that the baby sucks on does not

BPA Risks

What does BPA do to us? We still don't really know, since we don't have definitive studies of its effects in people yet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration used to say that BPA was safe. But in 2010 the agency altered its position. The FDA maintains that studies using standardized toxicity tests have shown BPA to be safe at the current low levels of human exposure. But based on other evidence -- largely from animal studies -- the FDA expressed "some concern" about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate glands in fetuses, infants, and young children.
How could BPA affect the body? Here are some areas of concern.

• Hormone levels. Some experts believe that BPA could theoretically act like a hormone in the body, disrupting normal hormone levels and development in fetuses, babies, and children. Animal studies have had mixed results.
• Brain and behavior problems. After a review of the evidence, the National Toxicology Program at the FDA expressed concern about BPA’s possible effects on the brain and behavior of infants and young children.
• Cancer. Some animal studies have shown a possible link between BPA exposure and a later increased risk of cancer.
• Heart problems. Two studies have found that adults with the highest levels of BPA in their bodies seem to have a higher incidence of heart problems. However, the higher incidence could be unrelated to BPA.
• Other conditions. Some experts have looked into a connection between BPA exposure and many conditions -- obesity, diabetes, ADHD, and others. The evidence isn't strong enough to show a link.
• Increased risk to children. Some studies suggest that possible effects from BPA could be most pronounced in infants and young children. Their bodies are still developing and they are less efficient at eliminating substances from their systems.

Although this list of possible BPA risks is frightening, keep in mind that nothing has been established. The concern about BPA risks stems primarily from studies in animals.
A few studies in people have found a correlation between BPA and a higher incidence of certain health problems, but no direct evidence that BPA caused the problem. Other studies contradict some of these results. Some experts doubt that BPA poses a health risk at the doses most people are exposed to.

BPA: Governmental Action

The federal government is now funding new research into BPA risks. We don't know the results of these studies yet. Recommendations about BPA could change in the next few years.

For now, there are no restrictions on the use of BPA in products. The Food and Drug Administration does recommend taking "reasonable steps" to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply. The FDA has also expressed support for manufacturers who have stopped using BPA in products for babies and for companies working to develop alternatives to the BPA in canned foods.

A number of states have taken action. Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington, Wisconsin, and Vermont have laws restricting or banning the sale of certain products containing BPA, like bottles and sippy cups. So have cities like Chicago and Albany, as well as a few counties in New York. Similar laws are likely to pass in New York and California, and state legislatures are considering restrictions in many other states.

BPA Risks: What Can Parents Do?

Although the evidence is not certain, the FDA does recommend taking precautions against BPA exposure.
Trying to eliminate BPA from your child's life is probably impossible. But limiting your child's exposure -- and your own -- is possible. It doesn't even have to be hard. Here are some tips on how to do it.

• Find products that are BPA-free. It isn't as hard as it once was. Many brands of bottles, sippy cups, and other tableware prominently advertise that they are BPA-free.
• Look for infant formula that is BPA-free. Many brands no longer contain BPA in the can. If a brand does have BPA in the lining, some experts recommend powdered formula over liquid. Liquid is more likely to absorb BPA from the lining.
• Choose non-plastic containers for food. Containers made of glass, porcelain, or stainless steel do not contain BPA.
• Do not heat plastic that could contain BPA. Never use plastic in the microwave, since heat can cause BPA to leach out. For the same reason, never pour boiling water into a plastic bottle when making formula. Hand-wash plastic bottles, cups, and plates.
• Throw out any plastic products -- like bottles or sippy cups -- that are chipped or cracked. They can harbor germs. If they also have BPA, it's more likely to leach into food.
• Use fewer canned foods and more fresh or frozen. Many canned foods still contain BPA in their linings.
• Avoid plastics with a 3 or a 7 recycle code on the bottom. These plastics might contain BPA. Other types of numbered plastic are much less likely to have BPA in them.

Thanks to Web MD

Advantages of Stainless steel Cookware

Advantages of Stainless steel Cookware

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Having a hard time choosing the right cookware set for your home? It’s not easy. The number of cookware brands seems to be growing every day and the range of pots and pans is enormous with many materials besides stainless steel. Confusing the issue even more is the clad style cookware range which is cookware made up of two or more different metals.

So with all this in mind how do you eventually decide on the right type of cookware whilst keeping within your budget? The answer is to know exactly what you want before you buy. In a nutshell this means that you need to know enough about cookware to enable you to make an informed decision.
  

What should you look for when buying cookware?

There are certain things you need to consider when choosing cookware. These include:

Heat conductivity – Some metals are better heat conductors than others. For instance, copper is a particularly good heat conductor whereas stainless steel is not. What this means in terms of cookware is that the better the heat conductivity the better and the more evenly your food will cook. It also means that when you turn the heat up or down the copper cookware will react a lot quicker to the temperature change than stainless steel cookware.

Price – The amount you pay for your cookware will most likely be a determining factor in what you end up buying. The rule of thumb with cookware is to buy the best you can afford.

Durability – Some types of cookware will maintain their good looks and last longer than others. Stainless steel is considered to be one of the best in this respect.

Reactivity – Some metals react with certain foods. Aluminum for instance has a tendency to react with tomato and other acidic dishes. This means that your food can actually absorb some of the metal, so take care with your cookware choices and ensure that you are aware of the reactivity of each product.

Maintenance – If you would prefer to not to have to shine your cookware every night just to keep it looking good then you  will need to consider the amount of maintenance required to keep it in tip-top shape. Copper and cast iron cookware generally require quite a bit of work to keep it looking pristine whilst stainless steel is normally a little easier to look after.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Stainless Steel

Stainless steel would have to be the most common type of cookware materials. You will probably find it in most households. 

Stainless steel is actually an alloy of metals including steel, carbon and chromium. The reason stainless steel is called ‘stainless’ is because of its ability to resist corrosion.

Stainless steel is an excellent choice for cookware BUT because of its inability to conduct heat well it is important that you choose stainless steel cookware that has an aluminum or copper core. Without it you will find that you will get hot spots on the cooking surface and foods will cook unevenly.

Advantages

Relatively inexpensive

Durable

Scratch resistant

Keeps it shiny look for a long time

Doesn't react with foods

Warp resistant

Disadvantages

Not a good conductor of heat

Think about what pieces of cookware you need before setting out to the shops. There is no point in buying a 20 piece set if you will only end up using a few pieces.

Buying a cookware set is usually a lot cheaper than buying piece by piece. But again if you are not going to use all the pieces then really consider if a set is worth the money.

Making the final decision on whether you want stainless steel is really a personal decision based on how much time you spend cooking, your expertise in the kitchen and your budget.

For all round flexibility, usability, and price, stainless steel cookware would be at the top of the list. When you consider the advantages it beats the others hands down. However it does have one big drawback in that it doesn’t conduct heat well and if you are concerned about having evenly cooked foods then heat conduction is important.

The solution to this is clad cookware. This style of cookware is made up of multiple layers of different metals. So, when shopping, look for stainless steel cookware with a layer of copper or aluminium sandwiched in the base. Stainless steel cookware with a copper base is generally more expensive than cookware with an aluminium base, but it does have the advantage of better heat conduction.

Take your time when choosing cookware, buy the best product you can afford, and follow the manufacturers instructions on looking after your pots and pans and you will be rewarded with years of good service and an enjoyable cooking experience.

   Thanks to What's Cooking America

How to Make a Good Cup of Tea

How to Make a Good Cup of Tea

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Instructions

1. Choose high-quality loose-leaf teas, as it is difficult to judge the quality or age of tea packaged in bags. Additionally, tea bags suffocate the herbs, which reduces the steep and can change the final taste of tea. Loose-leaf teas are processed with greater care and are generally fresher, providing a better flavor.
2. Pack the tea ball loosely, filling about three quarters of one half of the ball to allow for even flow of water throughout. Only make one cup of tea with each ball, replacing the loose leaves or using a separate ball for other cups of tea. If you are preparing more than once cup of tea, larger tea balls are available. However, remember to only fill one half of the ball three quarters of the way, using one to two teaspoons of loose-leaf tea for each cup of hot water.
3. Make a good cup of tea with a nice, clean kettle. Because water contains minerals, your kettle can quickly build up a hard layer of lime and other sediments. Make sure that you scrub and rinse the kettle thoroughly and often.
4. Use filtered tap water for making tea, as it has a high amount of oxygen circulating throughout, unlike bottled, distilled or previously boiled water. Bring water to a rolling boil for most teas. However, if you are making bitter tea, such as dandelion or green tea, allow the water to simmer, but not boil, as boiling water can make your tea even more bitter.
5. Pour the water directly over the tea ball and then cover the mug with a saucer or the tea kettle with the lid to allow your tea to steep. For a general pleasure cup of tea, steeping three to five minutes is usually good. To make medicinal tea, steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the tea ball before serving.
6. Wait to add sweetener or milk until your tea is fully steeped and you have removed the ball. While white sugar is the most common sweetener for tea, you can make an especially good cup by using raw honey or raw sugar instead of the more processed and chemical laden alternatives. When adding milk, make sure that it has warmed to room temperature to prevent scalding when pouring it into the hot tea.

Thanks to eHow.com

What if you could make healthy fried foods?

Maxi-Matic 3 Qt. Stainless Steel Deep Fryer

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 Who doesn't love fried foods? French fries, chicken tenders, jalapeno poppers, and onion rings. Does it get any better than that? Too bad fried foods aren't healthy.... But, wait. What if you could make healthy fried foods? You probably think there's no possible way you could prepare your favorite snacks without feeling guilty about it. But, in this article, you'll learn all the tricks on how to make fried food healthy.

The first step to making healthy fried food is to buy a large deep fryer with an immersed heating element. This ensures that your oil heats to the proper temperature. Deep fryers that have a heating element outside of the pot, heat the pot and then heat the oil. Also buying a large deep fryer ensures that your oil stays hot once the food goes in.

The second step is to ensure that you use healthy oil. It's always better to choose oil, such as canola oil, rather than shortening. By choosing healthy oil, you ensure that your fried foods have less fat and calories. But, if you follow the next step, hardly any oil will penetrate your fried foods at all.

The third step is to make sure your oil is hot enough. This is one of the most important steps you can follow when preparing healthy fried foods. For many fried foods, this means keeping your oil at 375 degrees. When you keep your oil at the proper temperature very little oil penetrates your fried foods. The reason is as soon as the food hits the oil the outside of the food is seared preventing oil from getting inside. It's easy to keep your oil at the proper temperature if you follow the first step and this next step.

The fourth step to making healthy fried food is to not overload your deep fryer. When you add too much to your deep fryer, the temperature of the oil falls drastically. When this happens, your fried food doesn't immediately sear and the oil gets in. If you want to fry a lot of food in one time period, do so in batches. That way the temperature of your oil remains consistent.

The fifth step to making healthy fried food is to make sure you use enough healthy oil. This doesn't mean that more oil will get into your fried foods. What it does mean is that your fried foods will be healthy. Why is that? When you have enough oil, you ensure that your oil temperature doesn't drop. You also ensure that all of your fried food sears immediately rather than pieces sticking out of the oil.

The last step is to drain your healthy fried foods. While the above steps will keep things healthy, you still need to follow this step. As soon as you take the fried food from the oil, place it on paper towels and season. All the oil that was clinging to the outside of your snacks will be removed.

If you follow all the steps, you'll have healthy fried foods. The truth is, you could fry enough snacks for four people and, if you measured your oil, you would see that you only used 1 teaspoon of oil. Only 1 teaspoon split among four people. What you need to realize is that deep frying isn't unhealthy. There are just people who don't fry foods in a healthy way.

 

Thanks to Amy Brantley at Yahoo Voices

Perfect Homemade Pasta

 150mm Hand Operated Pasta Machine

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Recipe: Perfect Homemade Pasta

Home-made pasta is so easy and tastes so much better than shop bought.

Ingredients

• 200g (7 oz) “00″ type flour
• 2 Large organic eggs
• Salt

1. Make a heap out of your flour on a chopping board with a hollow well in the middle.
2. Crack your eggs into the hollow and begin to mix around by hand. Warning; at first it will form crumbs and won't look like it will ever come together. Keep working and it will.
3. Now time to knead; I find the easiest way is to squash it with both hands and then stretch the dough away from me with one of them while holding it with the other, pushing with the base of my hand near my wrist. I then simply fold it back on itself, give it a little twist and repeat. Keep doing this until the dough feels smooth.
4. Wrap your ball of pasta dough in cling film and leave somewhere cool (the fridge is fine) for 1 hour.
5. Remove your pasta from the fridge and flour a rolling pin and chopping board and as you’re using a machine roll out to about 1/2 a cm thick.
6. Using the machine you can now pass it through on the widest setting; do this a couple of times, before reducing the width by one setting and passing through.Repeat the passing / reducing width process until the desired thickness of pasta is reached. Once done cut your pasta with a knife or cutting device on your machine into the desired shapes.
7. Your pasta is ready. You can now either hang it to dry or cook it right away in salted boiling water – it’ll only take a couple of minutes, unlike dried pasta, so keep an eye on it.

Preparation time: 1 hour(s) 30 minute(s)

Cooking time: 3 minute(s)

Thanks to Real Epicurean

Why the Worm Factory® 360?

Worm Factory 360 Composting Worm Bin

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Why the Worm Factory® 360?

Americans throw away 34 million tons of food waste into landfills each year, more than any other type of waste (www.EPA.gov). While traditional backyard composting has its place, the process can take up to two years and rotating it can become a chore. Worm composting uses worms to do the work of breaking down waste and is more efficient and easier to manage than a traditional backyard compost pile. In addition, its compact design makes it perfect for use in any household.

Worm composting makes it easy to recycle kitchen scraps, paper waste and cardboard into nutrient rich fertilizer for your plants, creating a more sustainable lifestyle by recycling and improving soil quality. The Worm Factory 360 houses thousands of composting worms in a compact space. These worms work 24/7 to efficiently produce highly beneficial, rich compost packed with microbes and water soluble plant nutrients.

This eliminates all the work of traditional composting and yields a much more valuable end product. Worm compost has been proven to have ten times the nutrients of traditional backyard compost. The more nutrients that are available to your plants, the larger they grow and the more bountiful your harvest is. This system allows you to enjoy ORGANIC vegetables, fruits, and flowers grown with the help of your kitchen scraps.

At a Glance

The Worm Factory 360 is simple to set up and operate. Managing your Worm Factory 360 takes less than 15 minutes a week.

Included with each Worm Factory 360 are a comprehensive instruction guide and DVD that make setup easy and give detailed tips on how to best manage your new Worm Factory 360 year‐round.

Start with just the bottom tray and bedding material included. Add 1lb of composting worms and start filling the tray with household waste. The worms will process and recycle the waste into fine compost full of nutrients. When the first tray is full, stack another on top. Each tray has a grid bottom, so worms migrate upward as new food is added.

As waste is broken down, moisture filters through the system, taking nutrient‐rich particles with it. This makes it possible to harvest organic liquid fertilizer right from the spigot.

Adding Food &Waste

Adding household waste to the Worm Factory 360 is easy; just open the lid and toss the food in. Fruits, vegetables, grains, paper, egg shells, leaves, coffee grounds and more can be added. Three foods to avoid are diary, meat, and citrus items; these can be harmful to the worms and are difficult to compost. Feed your worms about 50% food scraps and 50% fiber and paper. This creates the optimal environment for worms and finished compost. The goal is to recycle what you usually throw away.

Don't worry about feeding your worms every day. Some people feed them a handful a week; some people feed them a handful a day. The general rule of thumb is worms can eat about half their weight in food per day. This means that if you start with 1 lb of worms, they can eat a half pound of food per day. Worms can survive up to two weeks without any additional food. Just feed them a bit extra before going on long vacations.

In a healthy environment composting worms will maintain their population without over or under populating.

Odorless Year‐round Operation

Your waste production isn’t seasonal and your composting efforts shouldn’t be either! Composting is no longer limited to the warm months. The Worm Factory 360 can be used indoors or outdoors,

allowing year round operation. When managed correctly, the Worm Factory 360 is odorless, making it the perfect composter for apartments, kitchens, condos, garages, porches and more! Because of its unique design, the Worm Factory 360 allows oxygen to flow through the system, discouraging stinky garbage odors.

It is important to note that worms are living creatures, and cannot tolerate extreme temperatures. Keep the Worm Factory 360 so that the bedding remains between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or where you would personally feel comfortable.

The Worm Factory 360 is expandable vertically, allowing a high compost capacity while maintaining a very small footprint. When full, each tray weighs 12.5 pounds, making lifting and arranging  trays effortless.

The Worm Composting Cycle

Your first tray will take about three months to become fully composted by the worms. After the first tray is composted the other trays can take as little as a month depending on the waste added. Once you harvest your finished compost from the bottom tray, you will have an empty tray to stack on top again.

The nutrient‐rich finished compost can be used in your garden, raised beds, container gardens, or on houseplants. Even if you’re not a gardener, the Worm Factory 360 helps you reduce your impact and provides an alternative to throwing your waste into the landfill.

Worm compost not only adds vital nutrients to your soil, it also conditions the soil to hold water longer, prevent plant disease, and promote healthy root growth.

Take one step in the green direction with the Worm Factory 360 and create a healthier, happier environment.

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Also check out The Urbin Grower to help you  use your compost.

Hand Held Immersion Blender/Mixer Smoothie Recipe

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Hand Held Immersion Blender/Mixer Smoothie Recipe

Frozen berries and an immersion blender help satisfy a smoothie craving in minutes. The pudding mix is optional, but it adds a satisfying richness that elevates this smoothie recipe to dessert status.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup frozen mixed berries
• 1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 cup low-fat or skim milk
• 1 teaspoon non-fat, sugar-free vanilla pudding mix (optional)

Preparation:

1. Combine ingredients in a small bowl or the blending jar of an immersion blender.
2. Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth.
3. Garnish with whipped cream and fresh fruit, if desired.

Serves one.
Note: This recipe can also be made using a regular blender, although an immersion blender makes cleanup easier!

Many Thanks to:  about.com

Steel Santoku Knives

MasterChef 3 piece Santoku knifes red, white and black handles

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The Santoku bōchō (Japanese: 三徳包丁; "three virtues" or "three uses") or Bunka bōchō (文化包丁) is a general-purpose kitchen knife originating in Japan. Its blade is typically between 5 and 8 inches (13 and 20 cm) long, and has a flat edge and a sheepsfoot blade that curves in an angle approaching 60 degrees at the point. The top of the santoku's handle is in line with the top of the blade. The word refers to the three cutting tasks which the knife performs well: slicing, dicing, and mincing. The santoku's blade and handle are designed to work in harmony by matching the blade's width/weight to the weight of blade tang and handle, and the original Japanese santoku is considered a well-balanced knife.

Design

Santoku blade geometry incorporates the "Sheep's foot" tip. A sheep's foot design essentially draws the spine ("backstrap") down to the front, with very little clearance above the horizontal cutting plane when the blade is resting naturally from heel to forward cutting edge. Providing a more linear cutting edge, the Santoku has limited "rocking" travel (in comparison to a German/Western-style Chef's knife). The Santoku may be used in a rocking motion, however, very little cutting edge makes contact with the surface due to the extreme radius of the tip and very little "tip travel" occurs due to the short cantilever span from contact landing to tip. An example of this limitation can be demonstrated in dicing an onion - a Western knife generally slices downward and then rocks the tip forward to complete a cut; the santoku relies more on a single downward cut, and even landing from heel to tip, thus using less of a rocking motion than Western style cutlery.
The Santoku design is shorter, lighter, thinner, and more hardened (to compensate for thinness) than a traditional Western chef's knife. Standard Santoku blade length is between six and seven inches, in comparison to the typical eight inch home cook's knife. Most classic kitchen knives maintain a blade angle between 40 and 45 degrees (a bi-lateral 20 to 22.5 degree shoulder, from cutting edge); Japanese knives typically incorporate a chisel-tip (sharpened on one side), and maintain a more extreme angle (10 to 15 degree shoulder). A classic santoku will incorporate the Western-style, bilateral cutting edge, but maintain a more extreme 12 to 15 degree shoulder, akin to Japanese cutlery. It is critical to increase the hardness of Santoku steel so edge retention is maintained and "rolling" of the thin cutting edge is mitigated. However, harder, thinner steel is more likely to chip (pushing through a bone or dry herb stock, for example). German knives use slightly "softer" steel, but have more material behind their cutting edge. For the average user, a German-style knife is easier to sharpen, but a santoku knife, if used as designed, will hold its edge longer. With few exceptions, Santoku knives typically have no, sometimes incorporate "scalloped" sides, known as a Granton edge, and maintain a more uniform thickness from spine to blade.

Variations 

Some of the best blades employ San Mai laminated steels, including the pattern known as suminagashi (墨流し literally, "flowing-ink paper"). The term refers to the similarity of the pattern formed by the blade's damascened and multi-layer steel alloys to the traditional Japanese art of suminagashi marbled paper. Forged laminated stainless steel cladding is employed on better Japanese santoku knives to improve strength and rust resistance while maintaining a hard edge. Knives possessing these expensive laminated blades are generally considered to be the ultimate expression of quality in a genuine Japanese santoku.

Many copies of santoku-pattern knives made outside of Japan have substantially different edge designs, different balance, and softer steels (thus requiring a thicker cutting edge profile) than the original Japanese santoku. One trend in some non-Japanese santoku variations made of a single alloy is to include kullenschliff, scallops or recesses (known as kullens) hollowed out of the side of blade, similar to those found in meat-carving knives. These scallops create small air pockets between the blade and the material being sliced in an attempt to improve separation and reduce cutting friction. However, manufacturing limitations generally restrict such features to mass-produced blades fabricated of softer, less expensive stainless steel alloys.

Thanks to WIKI for this information

The Advantages of Bamboo Cutting Boards & Spatulas

The Advantages of Bamboo Cutting Boards & Spatulas

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When purchasing a kitchen cutting board, you want to look for one that is fairly easy to clean, that won't slip around frequently and that won't ruin your knives or harbor bacteria. Spatulas should also be relatively easy to clean and shouldn't ruin your pans from scraping. Cutting boards typically come in plastic, wood, glass, composite and bamboo. Spatulas are commonly types of wood, bamboo and metal. Bamboo cutting boards and spatulas are beneficial to your kitchen experience. Does this Spark an idea?

 Moisture

Bamboo does not absorb moisture very easily. Since the water and juices from anything you cook don't enter the board or spatula, they are less likely to crack or warp due to water separation.

Bacteria

Bamboo's nonporous surface prohibits bacteria from entering through the surface, making it easier to clean and making it safer for your family, especially when it comes to cutting and cooking raw meat for which salmonella can be a concern.

 Durability

Bamboo is durable and withstands hard wood. Although bamboo is technically a plant, the shoots that grow up to 8 feet wide are harder than common woods, including maple and oak. Since bamboo is so hard, there is a less likely chance that your knives will leave marks on it. Bamboo spatulas are less likely to absorb water while cooking as well, meaning they'll last much longer than other options. They also won't damage metal pans.

Renewable 

 Bamboo grows much faster than wood. While a tree can take up to 50 years to grow, bamboo is harvested three to six years after it is planted. The cost of a bamboo board is a bit higher than some other woods, ranging from $10 to $50 in March 2011, depending on its quality.

Thanks to ehow.com for this information Read more: The Advantages of Bamboo Cutting Boards & Spatulas | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8058637_advantages-bamboo-cutting-boards-spatulas.html#ixzz2LnM1oXDc

Create a better cup of Coffee

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Better Chef Red 12 Cup Coffee Maker

At Whole in One Sales we try to sell all of our customers quality merchandise but at the same time we want you to enjoy what we sell you so here are a few tips on how to create a better cup of coffee from http://www.ehow.com/.

 Start with a clean coffee pot. Remove the filter, discard the coffee grounds and wash the carafe in hot, soapy water after each use. Run vinegar through automatic coffee makers periodically to clean the inside.Use a natural or gold filter.
Don't use filters that are bleached white paper, which can add unpleasant tastes.
Invest in a coffee-bean grinder and grind your own beans. Use the freshest coffee possible. Buy fresh-roasted and don't grind the beans until you're ready to make the coffee.

Add 2 tablespoons of coffee for each 6-ounce cup. Use a medium grind for a filter with a flat bottom.

Use a finer grind in a cone filter.

Brew your coffee with cold bottled water. Don't use distilled water or water with added vitamins. Distilled water lacks the mineral qualities good coffee needs, and vitamin water can add flavors.

Drink the coffee within 20 minutes, or store it in a vacuum carafe for a few hours.

 If you use paper filters, rinse them in hot water first.

Don't store coffee in the refrigerator or freezer. Keep it in an airtight container in a cool place and don't buy more than you can use in a week.

 Thanks to eHow