Monday, June 16, 2008

Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load

By Don DeGrazia The experts used to tell us we should avoid simple carbohydrates, i.e. sugar, and instead eat complex carbohydrates, i.e. starches. Some of them are still saying that, which is unfortunate because scientists now know that this is not the right way to look at it. Scientists now know that some starches, such as baked potato for example, cause your blood sugar and insulin levels to increase dramatically in much the same way as sugars cause these levels to jump. So they constructed something called the Glycemic Index, which shows how fast and to what degree a given amount of each kind of carbohydrate causes your blood sugar and insulin levels to rise. In a typical glycemic index, pure glucose is assigned the number 100. All other carbohydrates are assigned lower numbers corresponding to how fast and to what degree they cause your blood sugar to rise in comparison to the way pure glucose causes your blood sugar to rise. A baked russet potato causes your blood sugar to rise about 85% as much as pure glucose, so a baked potato is said to have a glycemic index of 85 on this type of index. Now more and more diet-book gurus and nutrition journalists are telling people to forget about whether a carbohydrate is simple or complex, and simply judge it by its glycemic index. They tell us the rule we should follow is to simply avoid foods that have a high glycemic index. This is unfortunate too, though, because the glycemic index only tells you how much a given quantity of the carbohydrate in a given food causes your blood sugar to rise. The glycemic index does not tell you how much carbohydrate is contained in that food. And the quantity of carbohydrate in a given food is an even more important factor in determining how much that food will cause your blood sugar and insulin to rise. No problem. Another index has more recently been developed by scientists which takes into consideration both factors: to what degree a given quantity of a given carbohydrate causes your blood sugar to rise, and also the quantity of carbohydrate contained in a specific-size portion of that food. This new index is called the Glycemic Load, and it provides you with extremely important information for weight loss and for many other aspects of health, energy, appearance, and emotional well-being. Dr. Jennie Brand-Miller at the University of Sydney and some of her colleagues published an extensive list showing both the glycemic index and the glycemic load of 750 foods in the July 2002 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, pages 5-56. It's a tedious list to consult, though, because it contains many foods and brands from other parts of the world, which most Americans are not concerned about. More and more diet books, including several by Dr. Jenny Brand-Miller, are including more usable glycemic indexes these days, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding one. The reason it is so important for you to have this information is because when food causes your blood sugar to rise too much, the increased blood sugar causes your insulin levels to rise, and that causes weight gain, especially around the waist, and all sorts of other health, appearance, and emotional problems as well. Insulin is an extremely important endocrine hormone that has a powerful effect on many aspects of health, appearance, and feelings of well-being. When insulin levels are elevated, the levels of many other hormones and other types of chemical messengers in your body change as well. And this can lead to all sorts of trouble. Recent scientific studies have revealed a dramatic relationship between high-glycemic foods, obesity, and several major illnesses. Don De Grazia attended the University of Chicago as a Hutchins Scholar and has participated in workshops co-sponsored by the Harvard University Medical School and Beth Israel Hospital. In 1982 he participated in a series of workshops which were co-sponsored by the University of Indiana Medical School, Dental School, and Graduate School of Psychology. He is the director of Outreach Counseling Center in Oak Park, Illinois, and has conducted highly successful smoking-cessation, weight-loss, diet, and nutrition programs for more than 32 years. He is also a writer who has been published in the United States, Canada, Italy, and Japan. He has won several international awards for his writing. In the year 2000, the Illinois Arts Council, an agency of the State of Illinois, selected his fiction for its annual literary award. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_DeGrazia http://EzineArticles.com/?Glycemic-Index-and-Glycemic-Load&id=207969 hard money home loans arizona
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Thursday, June 12, 2008

Why Cotoneaster Makes a Good Bonsai Candidate

By Patrick Desnoyers One of the popular broadleaf species for bonsai is the cotoneaster. This specie is praised for its small leaves, fruits and ramification which makes it a mame candidate. These preferred characteristics can also be accentuated by choosing a species of cotoneaster. The cotoneaster multi-florus is by its name liked for having many flowers, from white to pink, but it is producing larger leaves then other cotoneaster. The cotoneaster microphyllus, by its common name small leave cotoneaster, this one shows incredibly small leaves, which makes it the perfect tree for really small bonsai. The most preferred bonsai candidate of cotoneaster is the cotoneaster horizontalis or commonly called rockspray cotoneaster. In all proportion this is the best choice, because it is a fast grower, small leaves, produce flowers early, and bear fruits at a young age. Aesthetically, this one is a show stopper. In spring it displays wonderful colors with a mix of light and dark green for the foliage, white, pink and red for the flowers. As the growing season progress, leaves turn from a light green to a dark glossy green. In the meantime, the tree is preparing itself to support bright red fruit. In the colder climate, the cotoneaster loose its leaves but keep its fruit till early winter. The denuded tree with bright red fruit and white snow makes it a good subject for picture. Cotoneaster can be propagated in many ways. The more common are by cuttings or by seeds. Growing a cotoneaster bonsai from seeds is easy compare to other species, because it is a fast growing tree and its ramifying itself at an early age. I prefer to grow from seeds rather then cuttings, because in a growing season, a sprouted seeds can attain the same girth as a cutting. Germinating a cotoneaster seeds can be tricky. Fortunately, the most common used cotoneaster as bonsai, are producing seeds that necessitate boiling water to scarify the seeds, before germination, compare to some cotoneaster species that requires an acidic treatment to remove the protective coating. In nature, this treatment is accomplished in the stomach of the fruit eating animal that ingested a cotoneaster berrie. Avid full time hobby bonsai grower. As been practicing bonsai and gardening for more then 8 years. Owner of http://www.mishobonsai.com, a website with ressource for Bonsai seeds and tree seeds. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Desnoyers http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Cotoneaster-Makes-a-Good-Bonsai-Candidate&id=348443 fast unsecured tenant loans
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Saturday, June 7, 2008

The Basics Of How to Plant Container Gardens

By Mary Hanna All the information you need to know on how to plant Container Gardens. This article will show you how to plant successful and healthy Container Gardens. When you are ready to mix ingredients, be sure the soil is damp and workable. To determine this, take a handful, squeeze it and allow it to drop. If water comes out, it is too wet; if it breaks apart, it is too dry. But if the lump of soil retains its shape or cracks just a little when it is dropped, it is in good condition to work. Be certain gardening containers are clean when you start. Soak used or new clay pots overnight so they will not draw moisture from soil after planting. This is a very important step when you are beginning your plants life. If the pot draws off the moisture the new plant will be deprived. Though redwood, cedar, and cypress s may be left natural, they may also be stained or painted. First clean the surfaces then apply one or two coats of stain or paint. Let dry completely before planting. Consider the shape of each, its color, and texture in relation to the color of flowers and foliage and the present as well as ultimate size of each plant. Don't choose material that is too small, and if you want a group of plants for a large, select one tall specimen for the center to give height and scale. Keep in mind the form of plants, particularly the evergreens which stand out boldly in winter. Rounded types, as clipped yews or globe arborvitae, look well in angulars. Hollies or yews, sheared into squares or pyramids, look better in circular tubs. This contrast of the curving with the straight always gives interest to the garden and those guests that visit. The first step in potting a container garden is to place sufficient drainage material in the bottom of each so that water can pass through freely, but not so much as to interfere with the roots. An inch or two of flower pot pieces (rounded sides up), or chips of brick or flagstone, pebbles, gravel, small stones, or cinders can be used. The larger the, the larger the pieces should be. Some gardeners spread a piece of coarse burlap and a layer of sand over large drainage pieces. A layer of Vermiculite or sphagnum moss over the drainage material is also fine to keep soil from clogging holes. If the holes clog the roots will drown. Above the drainage, spread a layer of soil, the amount depending on the size of the root ball of the plant. Place the plant in position so that the surface of the soil will be an inch (more for big plants) below the rim of the pot. This space is needed to hold water. Fill soil in around the roots, firming gently with your fingers or a piece of wood so as to eliminate air pockets. Do not make the soil too tight for fine feeding roots must be able to penetrate it with ease. Finally, water plants well, let them drain. If water passes through the pot very rapidly, press soil again to firm it, that means there are air pockets. If the soil holds water too long, loosen it a little. Place the plants in a sheltered spot out of sun and wind for the first week or so while they make new root growth and adjust to new conditions. When your permanent trees, shrubs or perennials grow too large for their pots, shift them to bigger ones. Water them the night before so the soil will be moist for transplanting and wont cause you to tug hard to get them out. Dry soil tends to break apart, except on root-bound specimens. Planting large specimens purchased in temporary s is a more involved process. If they are in baskets or boxes, these can be broken or torn apart, but be careful not to disturb the roots. Tins must be opened with tin cutters. To remove plants, put the cut s on their sides and pry steadily at the ball of soil gently in order not to break it. The less root damage the better the odds that the plant will be healthy. All plants benefit from a mulch spread evenly over the surface of the soil. This will keep the soil cool and moist while keeping the weeds under control. Use peat moss, sand, gravel, stones, pebbles, buckwheat hulls, or Vermiculite. One of these will also give an attractive appearance but since the mulch conceals the soil, it is more difficult to determine when to water. Test by poking a finger through the material to touch the soil. In the case of planters, again make certain drainage facilities are good. Usually there are holes at the base or sides. For best results, every four square feet should have a two-inch drainage outlet to keep those roots healthy. Planters require day-by-day care to keep plants at their best. This means pruning, staking, spraying, feeding, and more particularly watering. Often planters are located under overhanging roofs or broad eaves. Wherever they are, do not depend on rain, but apply the hose as often as needed, which is usually daily and sometimes more often. Visit Mary Hannas websites at: GardeningHerb, CruiseTravelDirectory and ContainerGardeningSecrets . Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Hanna http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Basics-Of-How-to-Plant-Container-Gardens&id=175041 well fargo personal loans
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Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Experimenting with Different Packaging

By Adrian Mullan In this article, when we talk about 'packaging', we're not referring to the physical packaging of your product (e.g. cardboard box). Rather, we're referring to the way your product is positioned in the marketplace. Here's an interesting story that highlights the importance of packaging: In the early 1900's Kraft created a cheap powdered cheese designed to have a long shelf life. Unfortunately for Kraft, the product was a flop and they ended up dumping 6 million pounds of the powdered processed cheese with the U.S. Army. In the mean time, a clever salesman within Kraft decided to combine the powdered cheese with macaroni pasta to create 'Kraft Dinner'. The product was an instant success and was marketed to families as a cheap and easy dinner. Kraft had sparked the beginning of modern packaged food products. So while the powdered cheese was a terrible flop, when combined with macaroni and marketed from a different angle - 'Kraft Dinner' became one the most successful packaged food products of all time. Today, the company sells over 7 million boxes of macaroni and cheese every week. Another example is the telecommunications industry. If you've had a phone line connected recently you might have noticed that all the phone companies are bundling their basic products with extra services like Internet access or cable television. If you purchase one service, you get a discount on additional services. This type of 'packaging/bundling' has been very successful for telecommunications companies. The moral of the story is 'it's not what you sell... it's how you sell it'. If you're having trouble getting your products and services out the door, try packaging them in a different way and experiment with new marketing angles. Adrian Mullan is the founder of WebDummy.com.au a full service web design and internet marketing company, specializing in ecommerce website design and search engine optimization. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrian_Mullan http://EzineArticles.com/?Experimenting-with-Different-Packaging&id=171040 unsecured loan bad credit
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