I like to slice the avocado and put it on a plain toasted bagel with a little salt on top.

You can also make avocado soup

Avocado Soup
* 2 cups chicken broth
* 1 ripe avocado
* 1 cup heavy cream
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
* 1/4 cup dry sherry
* 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Heat the chicken broth until hot, not boiling. Set aside.

Peel the avocado and remove the seed. Cut into several pieces, place in the food processor or blender, and purée. Turn off the blender and pour in the whipping cream, followed by the hot chicken broth, cumin, salt, white pepper, sherry and lemon juice. Pulse a few times, just until mixture is blended. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if desired.

If you don't want to eat all of them at once, just freeze them.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Freeze-Avocados&id=3112920

Neutrogena oil free acne wash has given me some sort of burn, help please?

I've been using Neutrogena oil free acne wash as the bottle indicates (twice a day) for around the last 4 days. I have gotten some sort of chemical burn from it and my face is red, swollen, raw, flakey and dry. It burns a lot, too.
I've tried the Pure Simplicity pumpkin mask from Bath and Body Works and a homemade avocado mask thus far.
Any ideas how to get this constant burning to stop?
Thanks for your help!

my sister used to have less acne than i did - i used product and she just used ivory soap. then she got ONE breakout and she had a spaz and started using this wash, and i did what she did - except i used cetaphil cleanser instead of soap. now i have less acne than she does and she has prolonged red marks (my red marks fade quicker than hers, she has scars from pimples she had a while ago because of this cleanser) so overall i dont recommend it. i just saw the product and thought i'd give a heads up, sorry if i don't help answer the question

Masks For Face – Getting The Best Skin Mask Now!

Let's face it.  Many people depend on masks for face to cleanse their skin deeply, and hydrate effectively.  It really depends on what the facial treatments you are using have in them, as to whether or not you are going to be able to get the results that you want.  A lot of the formulas being developed by the major cosmetics companies leave a lot to be desired where the quality of their ingredients are concerned.

It may surprise you that I would say that the ingredients used by some of the biggest companies in the cosmetics industry are low quality, but the truth is that they are.  The vast majority of the ingredients these companies use are chemical based, from many of the active ingredients down to the preservatives and antibacterial agents.  You do not want to be absorbing these chemicals into your skin.

Although the cosmetics companies have declared that the chemical agents they use to make their masks for face and other skin care products are safe, and effective, evidence has proven them to be wrong on both counts.  In fact, the European Union has already imposed a ban on many of the chemicals commonly used to make skin care formulas, and the U.S. FDA is seeking to force a similar ban.

The reason that these regulatory agencies want these chemicals out of cosmetics formulas so badly is because many of them have been proven to cause the development of cancer, and others have been shown to have toxic effects on the human body.  Do you really want to be using products that cause you to accumulate carcinogens and toxins in the soft tissue throughout your body?

Masks for face should consist of only the purist of ingredients, because nature has provided us with all that we need in order to have healthy skin.  Plant based compounds possess properties that enable them to interact with the skin far better than anything created by man ever could.  Natural ingredients also provide your skin with all of the antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids it need for optimum health.

Natural compounds such as active Manuka honey and avocado oil actually help the body produce more collagen.  Applying masks for face containing Cynergy TK, which is a fusion of keratin proteins and enzymes, has been proven to cause a dramatic increase in the amount of collagen and elastin your body is producing.  Formulas featuring Cynergy TK can significantly decrease the number and severity of the lines and wrinkles in your skin.

The most effective hydrating and cleansing formulas on the market will contain ingredients such as these for increasing the amount of connective tissue you have.  You cannot go wrong with products that will actually work with your system in order to correct the issues caused by aging.  Cynergy TK will alleviate your wrinkles where other compounds will have little effect.

So now you know.  Cleansing or hydrating masks for face that feature natural ingredients such as Cynergy TK will make a world of difference in the way you look.

Visit my site to learn about more amazing natural skin care substances you have probably never heard of.

About the Author

Laurel is a long time user and passionate advocate of natural skin care products. Visit her site now to discover cutting edge, anti-aging skin care products she recommends after extensive research: http://www.beautiful-skin-site.com.

Garden and Landscape FAQ

Are in attendance any poisonous animals or insects resembling spiders surrounded by Maryland?
im gonna put a matress in the backyard and sleep on it tonight, no tent or anything. my backyard has a wooden court theres a tree in my backyard. and i live in a townhouse. i live contained by gaithersburg maryland, it is in the suburbs. im just startled of...

Are in that any relatively uncomplicated ways to seize rid of mosquitoes surrounded by your courtyard?
For some reason, my backyard is covered with mosquitoes during the spring and summer months. There is no standing marine and not many low spots that water will sit surrounded by after a rain. Every time I go outside, I come stern in covered with bites. I've...

Are leaves and petals biodegradable?
I'm asking because recently, my mom has needed me to do gardening work. I need to know whether to rake those or if I should just set out them there cuz they'll disappear. What do you guys do personally if you do if truth be told get rid of them?...

Are Lily's poisonous?
my grandson keeps picking mine and rubs them on his face and my 1 yr matured grandaughter put the petles in her mouth

Are matured suacepans any upright within a vegetable garden?
I have a couple of old aluminum saucepans and wonder if I can use these contained by my veg. garden to put plants in or any advice would be of assistance.

Are nearby such things for gardening as solar?
looking for solar waterfalls that are not an arm and leg and ideas where on earth a great store or site on line would be?

Are potato leaves/greens pleasant?
I've been told by someone that the leaves/greens of the potato plant are not edible and within fact can be poisonous and cause stomach upsets or long possession problems. I've been growing our own potatoes for years in the garden, and enjoy consumed potato leaves/greens also for years and...

Are Shubert Black Cherries Poisinous?
I bought a black Shubert cherry tree last year, and this is the first time this tree has beared fruit. ( tree have red leaves) These cherries are black, and are no bigger than a pea. I was also wondering if they are not poisinous can you make preserve out...

Are small black ball surrounded by shed insect eggs?
Thanks for previouse replies, much appreciated. Its a pity this forum dosn't provide for attaching photo's. The balls are as small as pin heads (too small for mice) also the clusters are on the hardboard ceiling. I thought spiders wraped their babies within nests. I cleared one of sheds...

Are snapdragons perrenials or annuals?
I'm from Michigan, and last Spring I planted snapdragons, this year I decided to plant something else, but the snapdragons come back up. I don't mind, but I thought Snapdragons were annuals.

Are squirrels breaking bad my squash blooms?
Do birds break them off, too? There are many squirrels and birds contained by our neighborhood. Each morning I discover that another one of my flowers from my zucchini squash has been broken verbs off of its base. What's going on? At this rate, I'm afraid...

Are Star Jasmines Good house plants?
I had a house plant book that said that a Jasmine was a fitting house plant and it could grow 9' tall, so I would need to prune it. I be at a store and fell in-love with this Star Jasmine and the smell is a to-die-for-lemony scent. All is...

Are the bottom of my zucchini plants stems suppose to turn black?
My plants are producing fruit but the base of the leaf stem are turning black.

Are these poison ivy?
these are green leaves attatched to vines going across my fence...they have five fingers (leaves)..(im not sure if i saw a red outline...) plz answer...

Are tomatos best grown from the core,or greenhouse grown.?
my plant is now 2 and a half foot tall when will i see tomatos,i am now getting frustrated. its closely of ants in the soil where i grow them what can i do,because i dont want any ants within my tomatos.

Are unripe winter squash tasty?
I'm very much a novice at Winter Squash growing-- Please give a hand! I have a Huge Butternut squash vine, and the squash ends have be turning brown (yuck) So before this Huge maybe 3 pound squash get rot end, I picked it. I knocked on the rinde; which is...

Are venus flytraps allowed to munch through ham/and or turkey?
i just got one and required to know...it is about the size of a quarter (the venus flytrap)

Are walking irises poisonous to cats??
I have 2 cats and just get a walking iris. They like to chew on the leaves, would this be toxic to them?? Also are they inside or outside plants?? Thank you!

Are you supposed to top out chrysanthemums surrounded by July?
Do you pinch the tops, chop them off with choppers, and how far from the root? I did not hold much luck before. Any advice would be appreciated.

Asian Pear tree desires?
If all goes resourcefully, we'll be moving in to our new home surrounded by a month and one of the trees that I would like to plant is an Asian pear tree, but I'm not sure if it will do well contained by our area. I live in SC. ...

Attaching plaque to stone?
We got the ok to place a plaque on a mountain top in honor of my lil brother. I entail some help about how to accomplish this. We thought we be going to engrave into some granite that we have and is small satisfactory to bring up the...

Average Hourly Wage For Gardening:?
I have just be to a interview at a nurseying home which has a pretty large garden which requires job like: Mowing a huge gardening going over it 3 times - Trimming Bushes All over The place - Prawing bushs - Planting seeds - Cutting Bushes -...

Average prairie mowing rate?
I live in Indiana and want to mow some yards around the neighborhood but don't know how much to charge.I will be using my own mower and gas. What is the starting rate for a small or a colossal yard? What do others pay or grasp paid? Thanks,

Avocado houseplant, started from pit, 16inches high-ranking. Was o.k. but yesterday I transplanted it to a deeper pot?
I used fresh Miracle Grow potting soil. Within hours its leaves went totally limp, even after watering. I love this plant. Can anyone please notify me what to do for it before it dies? I'm not trying for the fruit, I just want the plant. Thanks a bunch.

Azalea plant within apartment?
Help someone, My father gave my fiance and I an azalea plant for a present and we live in an apartment (on the 3rd floor!). It's already birth to die, what can I do with it? Is there anyway to hold it alive in a pot...

Azalea seed. When and how should they be planted?
I have four azalea seeds what time of year should they be planted and what is the best method ? Thanks.

Baby Palm Tree's, should I maintain them surrounded by river or pot them?
I have baby Palm Tree's that enjoy been plucked from under a full grown one. They are between 5 - 9 inches. I own tryed potting them & leaving them in river, but they always seem to die. Any body know how I can fastidiousness for them ? ( California...

Baby Palm Tree's, should I maintain them within marine or pot them?
I have baby Palm Tree's that own been plucked from under a full grown one. They are between 5 - 9 inches. I enjoy tryed potting them & leaving them in sea, but they always seem to die. Anyone know how I can diligence for them ? ( California Palm...

Baby Tree Swallow out of nestbox, on the ground but not flying...?
I posted here because I know many who garden put out nest boxes. These babies should be ready to be in motion, there is one perched half road out of the box. The parents keep coming around, but one baby is on the ground hopping forward and trying...

Backyard Makeover?
My neighbors have a horrible back courtyard. Now I'm sure that all of you have see shows where the owners don't have to offer any money it's all done for free. So I would like to know how I can nominate them to enjoy there backyard transformed. The backyard is...

More Garden and Landscape questions please visit : HomeAVA.com More than 13,000 Home DIY Questions and Answers

About the Author

HomeAVA.com

Natural Skin Care Products

As more people are becoming aware of the effect of pesticides and synthetic ingredients on our environment and health, more women are interested in using natural skin care products. With the increasing demand comes more widely available natural skin care products which may be chemical-free, completely organic, or even vegan. It is estimated that, during a typical skin care treatment, a woman's skin, hair and nails come in contact with over 100 chemicals, many of them harmful to health. In her lifetime, the average woman will ingest around four pounds of lipstick, and lipstick can contain tar, aluminum and many other poisonous or carcinogenic substances. Therefore, natural skin care products are more in demand these days, as awareness of health increases.

Natural skin care products are available in the following forms:

· Cosmetics

· Shampoos and conditioners

· Cleansers

· Skin conditioners

· Skin toners and hydrators

There are also natural perfumes, moisturizers and skin treatments. Natural and organic cosmetics are free of synthetic dyes and the color can be obtained through plants and minerals. They usually have a shorter shelf-life than conventional cosmetics, and should be replaced often. Natural cosmetics are available as foundations, lipsticks, eyeliners and other beautifying products. Many natural cosmetics use animal products such as beeswax and lanolin, and vegans, those who avoid animal products completely, should find cosmetics using vegetable oils such as palm and shea butter.

Many of consumers of natural beauty products enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy along with cleansing and conditioning their skin and hair. Aromatherapy is the art of affecting one's sense of well-being through the use of essential oils from flowers and herbs. Some blends stimulate while others relax. Many natural skin care products are available in sets which include a shower gel, soap, shampoo and conditioner, a scrub and cologne. Orange, bergamont and cedar have stimulating effects and refresh the skin. Many report a tingling sensation after using natural citrus and cedar products. Jasmine and Ylang-Ylang soothes and prevents stress.

Natural skin care products are usually made of bases and essential oils. Depending on the product, the base may be a wax or a cream made of moisturizing oils and plant butters. Unrefined shea butter from Africa is a common choice and Tamanu from Madagascar is prized for its soothing properties. The best essential oils are expeller pressed, which means that they are extracted without chemical solvents. The bases and oils are combined to produce skin creams, cleansers, perfumes and lipsticks.

Skin masks and treatments are in-depth processes and require several types of natural skin care products for an entire treatment. Mud masks may contain real, vitamin-rich mud or clay from certain regions of the world known for producing nourishing products. A mask, which draws out the impurities from the skin and improves circulation, is usually followed by a hydrating spray. Rosewater is often used for this purpose, because of its nourishing and moisturizing properties. The skin is cleansed using a scrub, made of crushed peach pits or another rough material that sloughs off dead cells. Cleansers are used according to one's skin type; those with dry skin may use a cleanser with a fruit such as avocado or banana, and those with oily-skin or acne find tea tree oil cleanser to be quite effective. A moisturizer completes the treatment, and is made of oils from plants such as cocoa or palm that gently add moisture without clogging the pores.

One should be careful when purchasing natural skin care products. Many conventional skin care products claim to have natural ingredients, but this might mean that they use a bit of a plant or an herb, and the other 95% of the lotion is made of chemicals. Read the label to ensure that the products you are using are all-natural, if this is important to you, and work with a company that you trust.

About the Author

Matt Garrett http://www.Dry-Skin-Care.Org http://www.natural-skin-care-product.net

Cooking The Best Fajita For You

Fajita is generally beef, chicken, pork or shrimp grilled and served on a flour tortilla with condiments. The chicken is worked with onions and bell peppers. Fajita is served to the table sizzling loudly on a metal platter with tortilla and condiments on the side. Making your lips watery?

Texans would love to take credit for giving the world fajitas but the honor goes to south of the border, Vagueros, who learnt the art of cutting tough beef into skirt steak. Fajitas are basically Tex Mex dishes. Nowadays Fajita is almost anything cooked and wrapped in a flour tortilla. Only true fajitas are skirt steak.

The preparation of Fajitas starts with marinating the beef using limejuice to tenderize at least for 24 hours. Well, there are no set rules for marinating; you can use your creative sense for that, but don't forget to use limejuice. To marinade beef or chicken, you can use the Ass Kickin Soakin' and Grilling Sauce. This would bring a true Mexican flavor.

Fajitas are real fun to eat, and here are the ways to cook the best Fajitas, namely:

Grilling an exciting fajita

Traditional method for cooking fajita is over coal for approximately 6 minutes on both sides for skirt steaks around one pound. After the meat gets cooked, you should let it rest for a few minutes and cut it across the grain diagonally in to finger length strips.

Oven broiling fajitas

Broil the meat 4 inches below the flame for about 6 minutes on both sides. Then you can let it rest for a few minutes and slice it diagonally in to finger length strips.

Pan frying fajitas

Drain the meat and cut it across the grain in finger length strips and fry over high heat for not more than 1.5 minutes turning frequently. Roll them in flour tortilla. Choose thick tortillas available in any supermarket. Warm them up by sealing in foil packages, 6-8 at a time. On a frying pan, add few tablespoon of olive oil, cut one large onion and separate into rings and cut bell peppers into strips. Add them to the frying pan and stir fry. Serve with stir fried onions and bell peppers.

Some specialized fajita preparations are Pico-de-gallo, guacamole, Fajita on a stick, Fah-HEE-Tah, Beef Fajita Marinade and many more. Here are a few, which I find interesting, but you can always add your magic touch to them:

Pico-de-gallo

This fiery and flavorable salsa is like any other salsa but the ingredients are finely chopped. If rightly made it is hot. Since people make it to their liking they can control the heat.

Guacamole

Cool and buttery smoothness of guacamole adds the finishing touch on a fajita. Experiment your ideas on it and get it right. My suggestion is to select the right Avocado of Haas variety with brownish-black skin with a pebbly texture.

Fah-HEE-Tah

Traditional skirt steak has to be marinated for long 24 hours in limejuice, red capsicum and garlic. Cooked meat is cut into strips and them wrapped in a warm tortilla and garnished with salsa or guacamole.

Fajita On A Stick

Soak 8-9 bamboo skewers for 10 minutes. Trim fat from steak and cut crosswise into 1/2 " thickness. Thread equal amount of beef weaving back and forth onto skewer. Combine dressing and lime juice. Brush on beef peppers and onions. Place vegetables on grid for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and add beef to the centre. Add salt. When ready, serve beef and vegetables in tortilla with salsa.

Beef Fajita Marinade

Combine limejuice, tequila, crushed dried oregano leaves, cloves of garlic, minced fresh cilantro, ground cumin, ground black pepper. Mix well and pour marinade over meat, refrigerate overnight or even 24 hours in zip top bag. It makes enough marinade for 1 1/2 pound flank steak.

Fajitas are terrific for informal dinner party. It is inherently festive or goes hand-in-hand with margaritas or Mexican beer and Tex Mex treat. Good Luck! Taste your own Fajitas, don't go for the restaurant version of Fajitas.

About the Author

Want to find out about growing celery and celery nutrition? Get tips from the Benefits Of Celery website.

Can I Lower My Cholesterol Without Drugs?

It's been 20 years since I completed the Ironman Triathlon. Now my Olympic dreams have given way to the nightmare of paying for my kids education. Still, I workout regularly, eat well and almost fit into the jeans I wore in the '80s. So...

How Could I Possibly Have A Cholesterol Problem?

Since I'm your doctor, I'm a little embarrassed to reveal my cholesterol numbers. But if we're going to beat it together-here they are:

•My total cholesterol is 213 (not terrible, since the goal for total cholesterol is below 200).
•My LDL (low density aka bad cholesterol) is 155. The ideal for bad cholesterol is below 130 (100 if you have heart problems). LDL, cholesterol's evil step brother, got its bad reputation by filling your arteries with fat causing high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes and dementia. The LDL may be the single most important number we measure.
•My HDL (good cholesterol) is 55. HDL should stay over 45 for men and 55 for women. The higher the better since HDLs remove the fatty plaques from your arteries and brings them to the liver for elimination

The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL is important to measure. It tells us the amount of fatty material floating around in comparison to the amount being removed. The ideal ratio is 3.5 or less. So if my HDL is 55, to have an ideal cholesterol to HDL ratio of 3.5, my total cholesterol has to be 192 or less (your HDL x 3.5 = the highest total cholesterol you can have and still be ideal.) Try it out...plug in your HDL, multiply it by 3.5 and see if your cholesterol is out of balance.

All Men May Be Created Equal, But All Fats Aren't

The leading causes of death in the U.S. are heart attacks, cancer and strokes. These diseases all have one thing in common; they are all related to the type of fat we eat. Notice that I didn't say the amount of fat. That's not nearly as important (although obesity is!).

Some fats actually improve our health. They correct our cholesterol balance, prevent heart attacks, reduce the chance of stroke and prevent inflammatory diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis.

You'll spot the good fats. They're liquid at room temperature and consist of:

•Monounsaturated Oils like olive oil, canola oil, oils derived from nuts and avocados.
•Polyunsaturated Oils like corn, soybean, and safflower oils and fish.

Some Fats Aren't So Good. They're solid in room temperature and are called:

•Saturated Fats. They're found in whole milk, red meat, chicken skin, butter, cheese, chocolate and even coconuts. Basically, milk products and meat contain saturated fats. They raise both good and bad cholesterols, but hurt the proper cholesterol/HDL ratio.

Some of us have to be more careful than others since 75% of our cholesterol is manufactured by the liver. In other words, if you've got the bad cholesterol genes and your liver continually pumps out cholesterol, you need to act on this newsletter. Others can just pass it on to those who aren't so blessed.

The Most Evil Fat of All is:

•Man made and prematurely ages and kills thousands of people every year.
•Not safe in any amount to anyone (Institute of Medicine).
•Responsible for Significantly Raising our Bad Cholesterol While Lowering Our Good Cholesterol.
•So unhealthy that even bacteria and mold won't grow on it.

They are called Trans Fats

These are fake, man made fats. They started as real oils but were heated then cooled until they became solid. This process is called hydrogenation (because it adds hydrogen). You know who they are; they're the fried foods, fast foods, commercial packaged baked goods, margarine, vegetable shortening and all products that say "hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated" in the ingredients.

You'll see them all over packaged foods because they never die or go bad. They nearly last forever, since mold and bacteria won't even grow on them. Nothing will!

In fact, The Nurses' Health Study found when they replaced only 30 calories of carbohydrates with 30 calories of trans fats the risk of heart disease nearly doubled. When they replaced 80 calories of carbohydrates with 80 calories of either polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats (the good fats), your chance of heart disease dropped by 30 to 40 percent. THAT'S A BIG HEALTH GAIN WITH LESS THAN 100 CALORIES OF DIET CHANGE!

Let's put it another way...

By replacing that glob of margarine with olive oil, you'll lower your chance of heart disease by one-third.

Is it worth it?

This is so important that in January 2006, a law requiring all food packaging to state whether it contains trans fats goes into effect.

To summarize, fats can be either liquid or solid at room temperature. Always choose liquids, they are the good fats. Fats that are solid at room temperature should be avoided. When cooking with oil, stir fry...don't deep fry.

If you need to buy foods with trans fats, make sure they are listed as low as possible on the ingredient list. The higher on the list, the more in the food.

Is There Anything I Can Take, Naturally, To Balance My Cholesterol?

There appears to be three or four effective products worthy of a try, such as:

Garlic: While there is disagreement in the literature, the garlic that hasn't had its odor removed (wild garlic) may lower your total cholesterol, bad cholesterol and triglycerides (circulating blood fat) about 10%.

Fish Oil: An abundant quantity of research seems to conclude that 1-2 grams of a fish oil supplement per day reduces your chance of a heart attack and stroke by preventing dangerous, irregular heart rhythms, thinning the blood, lowering triglycerides and preventing inflammation. In fact, one large trial found that by taking just 1 gram per day of fish oil over a 3.5 year period reduced the risk of dying from heart disease by 25 percent in those who already survived one heart attack. While it significantly lowered triglycerides, it seemed to slightly raise bad cholesterol.

Since women's hearts are especially sensitive to high triglycerides. Those whose levels are high may benefit from taking 4 g/day of fish oil. Adding apple pectin (a type of fiber) to the fish oil seems to increase its triglyceride lowering ability even further. Flax seed oil, also an Omega 3 fatty acid (like fish oil), doesn't seem to lower triglyceride levels.

So make sure it's fish oil not just Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
Niacin: (Nicotinic acid) Lowers bad and total cholesterol and raises good cholesterol. It also can lower triglycerides. Unfortunately the dose needed for treatment is about 100 times more than the Recommended Daily Allowance and can potentially be toxic, especially to your liver. It should be considered a medication and taken only under your doctor's directions if the other natural alternatives weren't effective or appropriate.
Plant Sterols and Stanols: These plant products are added to some margarines and prevent the absorption of cholesterol in our intestines. In daily use, it has consistently lowered bad cholesterol about 10%.3,7 So far it does not appear to have long term negative effects. Life long use is predicted to result in a 20% decrease in coronary events.

But, The Best Is Saved For Last

Policosanol: A sugar cane derivative that lowers total cholesterol by 16% to 21%, bad cholesterol by 21% to 29% and raises good cholesterol by 8% to 15%. Although it's triglyceride lowering effects have not been consistent, other cardiac benefits such as the prevention of clots and the dangerous oxidation of bad cholesterol have been demonstrated. Three year follow-ups have not shown negative side effects. 10-20 mg/day seems to be just as beneficial as higher doses.

Standard pharmaceutical treatments today include Statin Drugs, such as:
• Mevacor
• Zocor and
• Pravachol

They work by interfering with the liver's ability to produce cholesterol and increasing its ability to remove cholesterol from the blood. Although statins can lower LDL cholesterol by as much as 60 percent, they can also damage the liver and, in rare incidences, cause a serious or deadly illness.
But, there's good news. The chances of dying from the three leading causes of death (coronary vascular, cancer and strokes) are largely under your control.

Don't Tell Me These Three Steps Are Too Hard...

1. Test your cholesterol (good, bad and total) and triglycerides

2. Watch the type of fats you eat.
o Eat fats that are oils at room temperature
o Moderately limit meat and dairy fats
o Severely limit margarine, fried foods and packaged food with the word "hydrogenated" in the ingredients.

3. If your cholesterol or triglycerides are elevated or out of balance, talk to us about whether you are a candidate for natural treatments. They can be very effective and may prevent the need for medications. Sometimes medications are necessary but the supplements may allow you to take a lower dose.

About the Author

Dr. Rick Morris is the founder of the The Morris Spinal Stenosis and Disc Center in Santa Monica, Ca. You can read more of his health articles or contact him at his website and find out about his
non-surgical treatment of low back pain disorders

All that sick stuff you said is soo not right.
It needs tang!
I mean salad is not very scary or mysteryous!
Maybe u can do...
A toast with A BIG PRUNE in the middle and make 8 legs with little choclet sticks.
I ts scary and delicious!
Other thing u could do is drinks!

FOR EXAMPLE!
Get some wine but cook it before u drink it
its as good! but no alkohol!
and u could get cranbery juice and it will look like smeared blood in ther glasses!

I hope i helped!
Jenny M&S!

Ingredients:
8 chicken breast halves, skinned
8 slices Swiss cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/3 cup white wine
1 cup Pepperidge herb stuffing mix
1/4 teaspoon melted butter or margarine

Directions:

1. Put chicken in very lightly greased baking dish. Top with cheese.

2. Combine soup and wine. Spoon over chicken.

3. Sprinkle with stuffing. Drizzle melted butter over chicken.

4. Bake at 350 degrees 45 to 50 minutes. Serves 6 to 8.

well according to one of your suggestions it's more like a dessert

Introducing Fruits to Small Children

When is the best time to start giving fruits to babies?

Most baby books recommend starting from 4-6 months. I prefer giving vegetables from 6 months and to introduce fruits from about 8 – 10 months. This gives me time to check on the baby’s ability to digest the vegetables. You can check this out by looking at your baby’s stools. If the stools contain undigested vegetables this means that his system is not ready to take fruits, which is why I recommend starting fruits later.

It is best to hold off on introducing citrus fruits until your baby is at least 2 years old. Citrus fruits commonly cause allergies or food-sensitivity reactions, such as a diaper rash or eczema. If you have a family history of allergies or asthma, it is best to avoid all citrus fruits including tomatoes and strawberries. When you do introduce citrus fruits, monitor your child for symptoms such as hives, rashes or wheezing. Sometimes milk may cause an allergic reaction if combined with fruits especially orange. If you have a family history of allergies, eczema and asthma, it might be useful to refer to the chart on blood group diet and check out the most suitable fruit to give and which one to avoid.

Some people advocate giving pureed fruits to small children. I personally do not like to do this because, firstly I am too lazy to do this and secondly but most importantly, processing fruits will reduce the nutritional contents of the fruits.

Another question that many mothers ask is: “Should I extract the juice from the fruits for my baby?” My answer is “No”. Your baby needs to eat the fibre from the fruit as well as the juice. The fibre is necessary to prevent constipation and some of the vital nutrients are in the fibre so by just giving the juice alone your baby will not have all the nutrients of the fruit.

Drinking too much fruit juice tends to increase restlessness in healthy infants and the children tend to become shorter and fatter. If you really must give fruit juice to your baby, make sure that the juices that you purchase are pasteurized. Limit your baby's intake of juice to 4-6oz per day, this is equivalent to one serving of fruit and is sufficient for a baby's dietary needs. If you use commercial fruit juices always dilute it before giving to your baby. The formula is one part juice to 3 parts water.

Some taboos with regards to giving fruit juice to baby

• Never give fruit juice to baby below 6 months of age

• Do not give sweet juices from a feeding bottle as this leads to early tooth decay

• Do not allow your baby to endlessly sip juice throughout the day

So far all the children that I have looked after do not have any problems eating their vegetables and fruits. In fact, they love eating so much I sometimes wonder where they put the food. I guess they must have hollow legs!

Instead of making fruits into purees for babies I prefer to scrape the fruit and give it fresh to the baby. I like to use this method until the baby is 1 year old.

• Cut the fruit into 4 big slices. It is best to start with one big slice per day and you can give more as your baby gets used to the fruit.

• Using a teaspoon, scrape the fruit until you get some pulp and juice onto the tip of the spoon.

• Offer it to the baby.

• Continue scraping and feeding it to the baby until the slice is finished.

Fruits which are suitable for ‘scraping’

• Apples contain both insoluble and soluble fiber and are an excellent source of antioxidants especially the peels. Apples' protective effects against free radical damage to cholesterol reach their peak at three hours following apple consumption and drop off after 24 hours, providing yet another good reason to eat a whole fresh apple a day.

• Avocados are a surprisingly complete food, with fourteen minerals to stimulate growth, including iron and copper. The sodium and potassium in avocados keeps the body chemically balanced, and their low sugar content and absence of starch make them an ideal fruit for diabetics. Vitamins in avocados include A, several B-complex, C, and E, as well as phosphorus and magnesium. They’re also a great source of antioxidants like vitamins E and C, fruit oil and digestible fats. Because of their density, avocados filling. When blended with other fruits, they make particularly nutritious baby food.

• Pears are rich in pectin, a soluble fiber, which helps the body to eliminate cholesterol and also protects against environmental toxins. Pears are also a good source of potassium, protein, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K. It is an ideal weight loss food therefore should not give too much to small children.

If the fruit is soft you can give it slice by slice instead of mashing it up. This will teach your baby to enjoy the real texture of the fruit and it is less messy.

• I like to use the local ‘pisang emas’ because the texture is smoother and one banana is just nice for small children.

• Peel the banana and using a teaspoon, slice off a small piece at a time.

• Feed your baby one slice at a time

Fruits that is suitable for ‘slicing’ with a spoon.

• Bananas are an exceptionally rich source of prebiotic which nourishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the colon. Probiotics produce vitamins and digestive enzymes that improve our ability to absorb nutrients and compounds to protect us against unfriendly microorganisms and the body's ability to absorb calcium. In addition, gastrointestinal transit time is lessened, decreasing the risk of colon cancer. Bananas have antacid effects that protect against stomach ulcers and ulcer damage. In addition, bananas contain pectin, a soluble fiber that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract and ease constipation.

• Kiwifruit is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of dietary fiber. It is also a good source of the minerals potassium, magnesium and copper. In addition, kiwi fruit is a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E.

• Papayas are an excellent source of three very powerful antioxidants, vitamin C, E and A. Vitamin C and vitamin A, which is made in the body from the beta-carotene in papaya, are both needed for the proper function of a healthy immune system. Papaya therefore may be a healthy fruit choice for preventing such illnesses as recurrent ear infections, colds and flu.

Once your baby is over 1 year old, start offering cut pieces of fruits. To prevent oxidation of vitamin C, I always cut the fruit immediately before serving. If you really have to cut the fruit in advance, then it is best to keep the fruit in an air tight container to prevent oxidation.

Other fruits that is suitable for ‘cutting’

• Mangoes are packed with vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. They are perfect to replenish salts, vitamins and energy after physical exercise. Mango strengthens and invigorates the nerve tissues in muscles, heart, brain and other parts of the body. The enzymes of mango cleanse the bowel of the "filth" within and are an ideal antidote for all toxic effects inside the body. The vitamin C in mango enhances the absorption of iron and so prevents anemia in vegetarians.

• Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production. Watermelon is a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1, magnesium and potassium. It is a very good thirst quencher.

Examples of some fruits that is not suitable for children below 2 years of age.

• Oranges can cause over production of phlegm and may be allergenic.

• Very acidic fruits such as pineapple and pomelo.

• Very ‘heaty’ fruits such as durian, mandarin oranges and guava

• Very ‘cooling’ fruits such as mangosteen, Chinese pear and

Always remember to try one fruit at a time so that you can assess whether that fruit is suitable. Normally by the end of 6 months your baby should be able to take a large variety of fruits.

About the Author

Cecilia Koh is a registered nurse/midwife with over 30 years working experience in England and Malaysia. She was a parentcraft educator before setting up her own childcare centre for children aged 1 month to 2 years.
To view her articles in pictorial form go to http://www.babiesconsult.com