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Italian food is unique amongst world cuisines in that it has birthed not one, but two international sensations.  Of course I’m talking about pasta and pizza.  Pizza is one of the most widely eaten foods today.  While most people think of pizza in America as Italian food, it really is not like the pizza of authentic Italian food.  It is said that with one taste of pizza made in the style of authentic Italian food, you will never go back to the Americanized version.  Even when eating at Italian food restaurants it is hard to capture the distinguished taste of true Italian pizza. 

Pizza is one Italian food that has been around in one form or another for centuries.  It has a long history in the Mediterranean where it began as a seasoned flatbread that was used more as an edible plate to hold other food, rather than as a food by itself.  However, these earlier pizzas established a name for Italian food very early on and were eaten in Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Babylon and were emphatically praised by many historians of the day.

It was in the Middle Ages that pizza began to take a form that would be more familiar to Italian food lovers today.  Pizza started out being just a dough topped with herbs and olive oil.  Once mozzarella cheese began to be produced from Indian Water Buffalo it quickly became a signature aspect of pizza.  Today at any true Italian food eatery this fresh mozzarella di buffalo is nonnegotiable.  The dried shredded mozzarella that is often associated with Italian food would actually never be used on a pizza made by a true Italian food chef. 

It wouldn’t be until the tomato became popular in Italian food in the 18th century that we would see modern pizza.  During this time pizza began to take an even more prominent role in Italian food.  In Naples pizza was sold on the streets for every meal.  This once peasant food was quickly taking hold of all of society, including the upper class.  In fact, by 1830 the first ever pizzeria was opened in Naples.  Ever since this time pizzerias have been found all over the world converting people to the love of Italian food. 

Traditional Italian pizza is cooked in a wood fired oven.  The reason American pizza is often not thought of as a true Italian food is because the large restaurant chains that specialize in pizza do not cook it in a wood fired oven.  Pizzas featured in Italian food restaurants should use only the freshest ingredients.  In Italy pizzas change with the seasons as new ingredients become available.  The great thing about pizza that has made it so popular is the fact that it can be topped with a vast array of toppings.  Each region of Italy has its own particular style of pizza that they specialize in, making use of the ingredients most readily available to them.

So for real Italian food pizza it is necessary to step out of the confining ideas of just a few types of pizza and open your mind to the different possibilities.  Italian food is full of variety and you could literally spend a year in Italy just trying all the different styles of pizza that made Italian food so universally popular.    

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But wait, there’s more.

The beauty about green tea is that is not fermented unlike other teas. Which is a good thing because it doesn’t take away the most important elements that is essential for keeping the body healthy. That would include the fat burning compounds.

There are three steps in the processing of green tea namely heating, then rubbing and lastly, drying. There are also different kinds of tea like: baked green tea, dried green tea, fried green tea and steamed green tea.

Nowadays, green tea is becoming more popular in coffee shops or in grocery stores because of its major benefits that consumers are discovering. Even coffee shops are including a wide variety of natural green tea flavors in their menu for greater choice. Green tea has become an alternative to orange pokoe. Why all the changes and consideration in favor of green tea? Because you’re pouring the way for a healthier longer life.

Green tea is one of the active ingredients that is used in numerous weight loss products. According to researches, thermogenesis, fat oxidation and increased energy expenditure are just some of the result of what green tea can do to your body as an effective product for weightloss.

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What’s in a tea?

Green tea possesses anti-oxidation effects which are  highly effective. This antioxidant is called as epigallacatechin gallate which is a compound that is also know as EGCG. EGCG is from polyphenol that has the capacity to burn fat effectively. According to a research from Switzerland, drinking at least three cups of green tea regularly can cause 80 percent of calories burned without even increasing the rate of heart activity and ruling out the caffeine content.

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Antioxidants?

If you still have no idea what an antioxidant is, read on. An antioxidant is a kind of “good” chemical that can be found in plants. Antioxidants are kinds of substances that can protect a person’s body from free radicals. Free radicals are fragments of special molecules that damage the body in its cellular level. Hurting the body through the cellular level will have great negative effects by making the body more vulnerable to diseases that are degenerative like heart diseases and cancer. Antioxidants work by deactivating free radicals thus, minimizing the amount of damage that it can do to the body.

For centuries now, green tea has become the pride of China because of the many benefits it can contribute. No wonder the Chinese take pride in their tea. It is now considered as one of the most popular medicinal beverage that the world has recognized.

Green tea can refresh, enlighten, soothe, promote inner happiness, calmness, stimulate and more importantly, promote a healthy lifestyle.

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A very popular Italian dish is the minestrone soup.  This soup makes excellent use of one of the most popular ingredients in Italian food, beans.  Beans are widely used in Italian food and are the feature ingredient in many soups, not just the minestrone.  Along with beans are nuts as another popular ingredient.  The main nut preferred for Italian food is the pine nut.  This nut is used to not only accent pasta dishes, but also as a main ingredient in popular desserts.  But, the most common and popular use of the nuts is in pesto sauce.  Nothing says Italian food like a good pesto sauce.

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Another popular Italian food ingredient is rice.  By far the most popular use for this ingredient is in the signature Italian food dish of risotto.  Here rice is mixed with broth, vegetables and spices to make a very unique and flavorful dish.  Risotto is widely known as the most popular appetizer in Italian food and different regions take great pride in their individual risottos.  Rice is also used in many different soups and stews throughout Italy. 

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The most ubiquitous of all popular Italian food ingredients is olive oil.  The best olive oil is known as extra virgin olive oil and many Italian food chefs rely strictly on extra virgin olive oil.  The difference between extra virgin olive oil and virgin olive oil is the acidity.  In order to be classified as extra virgin the olive oil must not contain more than one percent acidity.  Virgin olive oil on the other hand cannot have more than two percent acidity.  Extra virgin olive oil is by far the most popular in Italian food where it is used not only to cook food in, but also as a dressing for salad and a dipping option for bread. 

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When discussing popular Italian food it is essential to talk about the most popular breads and pastries.  Breads serve an important role in Italian food.  They can be used as appetizers, sides to a meal, and desserts.  The most popular breads are flavored with herbs, cheeses, and sun-dried tomatoes.  An excellent dessert bread in Italian food is the biscotti which means “twice baked”.  This popular dessert is more like a biscuit or cookie and is often flavored with almonds and spices.  Fruit can be added to the biscotti and a popular choice is cherries.  Biscotti are very versatile in Italian food, being served for breakfast with coffee or as an after dinner treat.

There is much more to Italian food than just pasta and sauce.  Italian food is a cuisine of diversity.  When traveling in Italy it is often amusing to see the stark difference between what Italian food is popular in America and what Italian food is popular in Italy.  If you want to try some different Italian food you certainly can’t go wrong with these time tested favorites.

Working out a natural diet

By incorporating at least 3 cups of green tea in your meal daily, you are enhancing a more balanced diet. Together with exercise, green tea has turned out to be more effective than ever. There is no such thing as how many servings every meal can green tea be incorporated. No exact doses. Just one cup every breakfast, lunch, dinner and even during midnight snacks is sufficient enough to be part of your daily diet.

Green tea preserves all its important compounds like antioxidants because it is brewed and not fermented, It is advisable to drink green tea while it’s still hot because live antioxidants are very prominent and its valuable nutritional affects are also preserved. It’s better to purchase and brew loose green tea leaves than the bottled or powdered ones because they are not as effective as brewing.

Black tea versus green tea
Black tea is not similar to green tea at all. While green tea is typically brewed, black tea is fermented. The fermentation process of black tea tends to eliminate the important vitamins and nutrients that are beneficial to health. Therefore, it is concluded that green tea is proven to be more effective than black tea.

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Green tea diet benefits

• Reduce the risk for hypertension and high blood pressure

• Destroy free radicals

• Maintain healthy fluid and electrolyte balance that can help relieve fatigue and stress

• Lower increased amount of cholesterol level

• Toxin prevention in the liver

• Antiviral and antibacterial properties

• Reduce incidences of cancer in parts of the body like colon, pancreas, esophagus, rectum, bladder and stomach by up to sixty percent

• Increased metabolism

• Strengthen immune system

• Stops thrombosis formation which is the cause for heart attacks

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Caffeine content

Thoughts about the caffeine content in green tea have bothered and quite alarmed avid drinkers of the beverage. Although, there are ways to lessen the caffeine content in your green tea by adjusting yourself in the effects and observing the tolerance of your body.

Warning on green tea caffeine

• If you have a medical condition or you’re pregnant, be sure to consult your physician first before consuming the beverage.

• Drink moderately. Caffeine is not the only thing that can do negative effects when increased. Higher concentration of polyphenols can damage the kidney and liver. Don’t drink 8-10 cups of green tea a day. That can be very harmful especially if you have a low tolerance level. The more acceptable intake is at least 3-4 cups a day.

• Don’t be fooled by energy drinks made from green tea. Aside from diminished or very less antioxidants, energy drinks have high sugar content. Drinks like these have already undergone a lot of processes that may lose important nutrients upon reaching your body.

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In Asia, green tea is quite popular. For many generations, the tea has already been a part of family gatherings and even their day to day lives. There are various reasons why Asian people loved to drink green tea. Aside from its excellent taste, you can also derive some health benefits from drinking green tea. Recently, medical communities and the western countries have recognized the benefits of drinking green tea. There are various reasons why individuals should drink tea and these reasons are found in this article.

The very first reason is that green tea is something different. You’re probably used to drinking softdrinks, coffee, fruit juices, and other beverages. Green tea is something new that you should try out. It’s not everyday that you get to encounter something unique in terms of taste and most specially, very few beverages have health benefits.

Most Americans drink coffee several times a day and since it contains a larger amount of caffeine, some people are already looking into substituting green tea instead. You will surely enjoy the tea’s nutty aroma and its sweet grassy flavor. Although some studies show that green tea also has caffeine, there are now decaffeinated green tea sold in the market.

Still, if you want to go for the traditional green tea, it would help to know that the caffeine content is lesser as compared to coffee. Some people get jitters and you can avoid this by taking green tea in moderate amounts. Those who plan to stay late or those who work at night should drink green tea instead of coffee to help them stay awake.

The second reason why people should drink tea is that it contains healing properties. Because of today’s advanced science, many medical experts are discovering green tea’s healing properties. Green tea is mainly made up of antioxidants which can help in improving the overall health of an individual. If you lack energy to carry out the day’s tasks and chores, don’t forget to drink your tea because you will feel a burst of energy especially if you drink it everyday.

Healthy cells are also promoted by drinking tea. There are still other health benefits that you can take advantage. You see, if you drink green tea, you can prevent heart diseases, cancer, and other health problems. Those who often get sick should take tea in order to boost the immune system’s health. People with weight problems can also take green tea instead of water and juices to reduce weight since the tea can suppress appetite. You can take it anytime you like, before meals, during, and after meals.

Are there still other reasons that you can think of? So far, there is no other beverage that can give you a lot of health benefits. If you go to the groceries, you can find different kinds of green tea preparations. It would be best if you can grow a tea plant so that you can prepare the original serving. But anyway, since people today live a busy lifestyle, they always prefer the instant – from food to their drinks. There are now bottled green tea which you can purchase and they are ready to drink. Hurry and go to the local grocery now to purchse your green tea.

If you want, you can also take supplements of green tea but before you buy any, ask your doctor first. It would also be good if you check product reviews regarding the supplements. That way, you will know which brands sell more and which are effective. Seek the doctor’s advice before taking any health supplement so that your actions can be guided, most especially if you’re a pregnant woman or if you have certain allergies and illnesses.

If the Asian people benefited from green tea for hundreds of years, then there’s probably no reason why you shouldn’t try it yourself. Medical communities are already promoting the intake of green tea, so don’t be left behind. Join other people who are now discovering the health benefits of drinking tea.

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Wissotzky Green Tea Chest, Assorted Tea Collection w/ 80 Assorted Green Teas

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About Wissotzky Green Tea Chest, Assorted Tea Collection w/ 80 Assorted Green Teas detail

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1582 in Health and Beauty
• Brand: WISSOTZKY

Features

• The Essence of Harmony & Vitality
• Green Tea Box 6 Flavours
• Kosher Parve
• Made in Israel
• Box dimensions: 12.5″ L x 9.5″ W x 2.25″ H

Product Description

A tempting set for teatime. This collection of 80 assorted green teas arrives in a decorative green-tinted, wooden-hinged box. Each of the six delicious flavors is made from a unique blend of leaves and spices for a wonderful taste we’ve come to expect from Wissotzky Tea. 20 Verbena & Lemongrass green teas – 20 Spearmint green teas – 10 Jasmine green teas – 10 Citrus Fruit green teas – 10 Ginger & Lemongrass green teas – 10 Wildberries & Passion Fruit green teas

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Potassium: A Heart-Helping Essential Nutrient continued…

For example, 8 ounces of orange juice supplies nearly four times the potassium of an orange-flavored beverage. A cup of low-fat flavored yogurt at 434 milligrams of potassium is a far wiser choice than a couple of chocolate chip cookies with merely 30 milligrams potassium.

Here’s how much potassium kids need on a daily basis:

• 1- to 3 years: 3,000 milligrams
• 4- to 8 years: 3,800 milligrams
• 9- to 13 years: 4,500 milligrams
• 14- to 18 years: 4,700 milligrams

Serve at least one fruit or vegetable at every meal and snack and encourage your child to eat a balanced diet with fresh meat and seafood and dairy foods to maximize his potassium intake.

If you’re concerned your kids aren’t getting the nutrients they need, have a talk with their pediatrician. And remember, a diet low in processed food and rich in produce, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy can help them — and you — get the essential nutrients they need.

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Vitamin E: An Essential Nutrient Superhero

Vitamin E is a cellular superhero of sorts. As a powerful antioxidant nutrient, vitamin E battles free radicals, the by-products of normal metabolism, and exposure to ultraviolet rays, air pollution, and cigarette smoke. Vitamin E is also vital for a strong immune system.

Vitamin E is found in abundance in fatty foods, which you may curb out of concern for your child’s weight, but fear of fat can hinder healthy eating in kids.

“Offering your child too many low-fat foods may limit his vitamin E intake,” says Bridget Swinney, MS, RD, author of Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids, and mother of two.

So can restricting nuts. The prevalence of nut allergies may have you holding off from offering them until later in childhood.

“At that point, children may not accept nuts and nut products as readily,” says Swinney.

According to the AAP, only high-risk children need to be concerned about food allergy. When mom and dad have allergies or one parent and a child’s sibling has allergies, you should be extra cautious. Speak with your pediatrician about allergy risk if you fall into one of these categories.

There are actually eight forms of vitamin E in food, with the alpha-tocopherol (ATE) form being the most useful to the body, according to the National Academy of Sciences.

Increasing Vitamin E: Vegetable oils, wheat germ, fortified foods, and dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, are rich in ATE. Just one ounce of almonds satisfies the daily ATE needs of 4- to 8-year-olds. Sunflower seeds are packed with ATE vitamin E, too: one-quarter cups provides 9- to 13-year-olds all they need for the day.

There are other ways to get vitamin E besides eating nut and nut butters and sunflower seeds. Fortified cereals are a great way to work in the vitamin E your child needs. Using sunflower and safflower oils for cooking and salad dressings provides more vitamin E than corn and canola oils.

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Potassium: A Heart-Helping Essential Nutrient

Potassium insures normal heart and muscle function; maintains fluid balance; participates in energy production; and promotes strong bones.

A potassium-rich diet helps head off high blood pressurein adults. Getting children in the habit of including high-potassium foods may help them keep blood pressure in check as they age, too.

Potassium is in every food, so why don’t children get enough? Blame it on too many processed choices.

“Kids, just like adults, don’t eat enough of the fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that are richest in potassium,” Swinney says.

Increasing Potassium: Dairy foods and fresh (cooked) meats and seafood are also good potassium sources. Generally speaking, the more processed the food, the less potassium it provides, and the more sodium in a food, the lower the potassium.

Fiber: An Essential Nutrient for Satiety

On-the-go lifestyles are one of the reasons why kids are eating less fiber than they should. A lack of fiber-filled whole grains and fresh and lightly processed fruits and vegetables — foods typically eaten at home — is largely to blame.

“I’m a dietitian and getting my own kids to eat enough fiber is challenging,” says Shield.

Fiber is necessary for curbing constipation by adding bulk to bowel movements, stimulating the gut to pass waste with greater ease. Fiber also helps kids feel fuller, a handy weapon in the battle of the bulge.

When consumed as part of a balanced diet, fiber helps head off type 2 diabetes and high blood cholesterol concentrations in adults, and may work for kids, too. Diets rich in fiber-filled foods may reduce the risk of heart disease later in life.

Fiber is a complex carbohydrate that keeps good company. Generally speaking, high-fiber foods are packed with vitamins and minerals to fuel growth and development. They also contain beneficial plant compounds called phytonutrients that boost a child’s immunity.

How much fiber is enough? That depends on your child’s age, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Figure your child’s daily fiber quota in grams by adding five to his age. For example, a 5-year-old should get 10 grams of daily dietary fiber.

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Increasing Fiber: Boost your family’s fiber intake by serving a fruit or vegetable (or both) with meals and snacks. Opt for whole-grain breads and cereals, pasta, and other grains.

Also, try to include legumes, including chickpeas, lentils, and white beans in salads, soups and omelets. Coincidentally, many of these same foods provide potassium and magnesium, too.

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Magnesium: An Essential Nutrient for Growth

Magnesium is involved in about 300 bodily functions responsible for keeping your child going and growing. This amazing mineral helps maintain normal muscle, nerve, and heart function; contributes to a robust immune system; fosters energy production; and bolsters bone health.

In fact, about half of the body’s magnesium is housed in your child’s bones; the remaining half is found inside his cells and in his blood stream.

Here’s how much magnesium your child needs each day:

• 1- through 3-year-olds: 80 milligrams
• 4- through 8-year-olds: 130 milligrams
• 9- through 13-year-olds: 240 milligrams
• 14- through 18-year-old males: 410 milligrams
• 14- through 18-year-old females: 360 milligrams

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Increasing Magnesium: Food labels don’t typically feature magnesium content. No matter. Offering your kids dark green vegetables; a variety of nuts and seeds, particularly pumpkin seeds; whole grains; and white, black, and navy beans as part of a balanced diet will help them meet their magnesium needs.

Another example: 24 ounces of low-fat milk, 4 slices whole-wheat bread, 1 cup whole-grain cereal, and 2 ounces of almonds satisfies the daily magnesium quota for a 15 -year-old male.

America’s children are missing out on five essential nutrients critical to their growth and good health. Coming up short are calcium, fiber, magnesium, vitamin E, and potassium, according to the latest “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” from the U.S. government.

Are your kids getting enough of these vital nutrients? Read on to find out which nutrients your child may lack, why, and how to get these five essential nutrients back into your child’s diet.

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Calcium: A Bone-Building Essential Nutrient

Calcium is best known for optimizing bone growth and contributing to a fracture-free skeleton during childhood and decades later. The majority of calcium is found in bone tissue, but calcium also circulates in the blood stream.

Blood calcium serves a vital role, participating in normal heart rhythm, blood clotting, and muscle function. The body relies on bone calcium to keep blood calcium concentrations up to par.

Getting enough calcium bolsters your child’s bones by balancing the withdrawals with deposits from the diet.

A child’s daily calcium needs vary with age, says the Institute of Medicine, the group of experts that set nutrient quotas.

• 1- through 3-year-olds need 500 milligrams
• 4- through 8-year-olds need 800 milligrams
• 9- to 19-year-olds need 1,300 milligrams

(For reference, 8 ounces of milk serves up 300 milligrams of calcium.)

Many American children, especially teens, are way off the mark when it comes to calcium intake.

“Soft drinks, such as soda and fruit beverages, have infiltrated kids’ diets, causing milk to take a back seat,” says Jodie Shield, MEd, RD, co-author of the American Dietetic Association’s Guide to Healthy Eating for Kids, and mother of three.

What’s worse, calcium needs increase dramatically at a time in life when kids, especially girls, get far less than the suggested amount. One study found adolescent girls averaged 814 milligrams a day vs. the recommended 1,300.

Experts say that calcium gap is significant. Females run a greater risk for osteoporosis, the brittle bone disease that shows up as bone fractures, sometimes decades down the road.

“Just before the teen years, and all throughout adolescence, children must get enough calcium to provide the foundation for strong bones,” says Shield. “During this time, the body lays down nearly half of all the bone mass it will ever have.”

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Increasing Calcium: Shield suggests offering children low-fat or flavored milks instead of other beverages that offer little more than calories. Including dairy at every meal also insures that children meet their calcium goals.

Eight ounces of any type of milk (including lactose-free); 8 ounces of yogurt; and 1.5 ounces of hard cheese, such as cheddar, each contain about the same amount of calcium. As a bonus, milk and certain yogurts are fortified with vitamin D, necessary for calcium to do its job.

Orange juice with added calcium and vitamin D is another calcium-rich, but dairy-free, option; added vitamin D makes it all the better. Children who don’t consume enough dairy or fortified choices may need a calcium supplement.

Choosing a Weight Loss Program(continued)

What Should I Look for In a Weight Loss Program?

Your weight loss program should include plans for weight maintenance after the weight loss phase is over. It is of little benefit to lose a large amount of weight only to regain it.

Weight maintenance is the most difficult part of controlling weight and is not consistently implemented in weight loss programs. The program you select should help you improve your dietary habits, increase your physical activity, and help you change other lifestyle habits that may have contributed to your weight gain in the past.

Being overweight is too often viewed as a temporary problem that can be treated for a few months with a strenuous diet. However, as most overweight people know, weight control must be considered a lifelong effort. To be safe and effective, any weight loss program must address the long-term approach or else the program is largely a waste of money and effort.

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