Cooking May Be Hazardous To Your Health

Did you know that cooking your food could cause serious damage to your health?

Changes take place, as food is cooked above 117 degrees Fahrenheit for three minutes or longer. Damage becomes progressively worse at higher temperatures over longer periods of time.

* 30% to 50% of vitamins, minerals and amino acids are destroyed. The degree of depletion, destruction, and alteration is simply a matter of temperature, cooking method, and time.

* 100% of enzymes are damaged and the body is depleted of the energy it needs to maintain and repair tissue and organ systems, which will shorten our lives. Eating enzyme-dead food places a burden on the pancreas and other organs and overworks them, which eventually exhausts these organs and rendering them ineffective.

* After eating a cooked meal, there is a rush of white blood cells towards the digestive tract, leaving the rest of the body less protected by the immune system. The immune system “thinks” the body is being invaded by a foreign (toxic) substance when cooked food is eaten.

* Much needed natural fibers break down and the body needs 20-30 grams of fiber daily to have the ability to remove the toxins that accumulate at a rapid rate.

* There is malnutrition at the cellular level. Cooked foods are lower in nutrients and they contain wastes and toxins. For this reason the individual cells don't receive enough of the nutrients they need to combat the daily onslaught of excess free radicals that build up within the cells. Eventually many of the cells in our body become overworked and unable to handle the continuous attacks. The result is serious disease and illness. A prime example is cancer, which kills an estimated 30% of Americans.

Gee, we thought we were eating a healthy home cooked meal! Now because of all the changes that took place in the food when it was cooked, we have actually caused premature aging in our bodies. We may have even contributed to the attack of a serious illness.

What can be done to counteract all the damage done by cooking? It is virtually impossible to eat nothing but raw food. The good news is that we can live long healthy lives if we know what to do.

1. Eat lots of fresh fruit daily (certified organic when possible)

2. Eat lots of raw vegetables. Choose from romaine or leafy green lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, red sweet peppers, pea pods, etc. They are loaded with antioxidants and phytonutrients.

3. When cooking, steam your vegetables and serve on the crisp side.

4. Drink plenty of pure filtered water.

5. Take high quality nutritional supplements including antioxidants, colostrum, phytonutrients and glyconutrients.

In summary, with today’s high stress, fast paced society we have to be proactive about protecting our health and the health of our loved ones. Finding new tips and secrets on good health is one way of the best ways to guard against illness. For more information,

I can be reached at 715-484-2225 or email me at VitalCarbs4You@yahoo.com. I would love to hear from you.

About the Author:
Bonnie Fronek, National Health Educator, has been helping people find alternatives that improve their eating habits and their health. Being a former cancer patient, she seriously pursued learning how to help her body heal and repair and to prevent serious illness from returning. She loves to share her findings and help others to experience better health and well-being. Her website is: http://www.RealHealthSecrets.com.
This article was posted on November 17, 2006
Article Source: articlecity

Cooking As A Culinary Art

Culinary arts is the art of cooking. Cooking is a way to prepare food that will be eaten or served to other people.

The culinary arts is comprised of many categories - some of which are tools, methods, combination of spices and ingredients that adds flavour to the food. It normally needs the right measurements, proper selection and accurate combination of ingredients involved to reach desired result.

The diversity of the Culinary arts around the world mirrors many considerations such as:

- Economic
- Aesthetic
- Nutritional
- Religious
- Cultural

1. The Dawn Of Fire

The culinary arts, if not always, is associated with fire. The heat generated by fire is oftentimes required to be applied to be able to change the food's texture, flavour, nutritional contents and even its appearance. Heating is important in the culinary arts because it disinfects the food and makes it softer. The food danger zone is between 4 to 60 degrees Celsius. Within these temperatures, the bacteria found in the found or even those that were transferred to the food can grow at a very alarming rate. Under ideal conditions bacteria can double their population every twenty minutes. Although at a glance, these foods may not appear harmful, when ingested they can be. Many people have the misconception that bacteria will die when we freeze our food or refrigerate them, but this actually does not rid the food of bacteria, merely it slows down their expansion.

2. Baking

Baking is probably the most famous department in the culinary arts. In the culinary arts, baking is the art of cooking food using an oven. The food is cooked through applying dry heat evenly through the oven and onto the food. It is used in producing pastry based goodies such as pies, tarts and cakes. The dry heat in the oven causes the starch to gelatinize and results to the browning or charring of the outside of the food. Some uneducated in the culinary arts might think that the charred part or the brown part is not as tasty as it sounds, but this part is actually what gives taste and flavour to the baked good, partly sealing the moisture of the food. The browning apparent in the baked good is caused by the sugar caramelizing and the chemical reaction that happens between the reduction of sugar and the amino acid (Maillard reaction). Moisture in the baked goody, on the other hand, is not really completely kept in, in time as the goody is being baked it will become drier and drier.

3. Boiling

Another category is boiling. Boiling is when there is a rapid vaporization of any liquid when the liquid is heated. In cooking, boiling is divided into many other categories. Blanching, a cooking term used to describe the submersion of food into boiling water and removing it after a certain period of time and then throwing it into cold water or letting water run over it causing the firming of food. Pressure cooking is when food is cooked inside an enclosed cooking tool that would limit the air that's coming in or going out of that tool - this technique speeds up the pace of cooking. Stewing would probably be the most popular cooking technique in the culinary arts division. It is a method where meats are cut up into smaller pieces and along with some vegetables are simmered into a liquid. Simmering, then again is a cooking method where the liquid is barely kept away from its boiling point. Other boiling techniques are braising, codding, steaming, infusion, poaching, double steaming, steeping and vacuum flask cooking.

4. Other

To most Americans, microwaving and grilling are the most common forms of cooking. Microwaving is the easiest and simplest form of cooking; it is a technique used mostly to reheat sumptuous meals ready to be consumed. And for grilling, most Americans have a grill station in their backyard. Grilling is a roasting method that is cooking directly under a source of heat. Other roasting methods are Barbecuing, Searing and Rotisserie. A less common method is smoking meat, or even salting it.

About the Author:
Trevor Marshall
For more great culinary art related articles and resources check out www.great-culinary-schools.com
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Try Mediterranean Food; Your Body Will Thank You!

Mediterranean food contains many benefits including weight loss, heart disease prevention, and in lowering your chances of cancer. This lifestyle and diet are rich in vital nutrients, and can be prepared in many ways. Mediterranean food offers a great variety of ingredients that anyone can enjoy, and it can easily be incorporated into any diet.

Have you ever wondered why the people of Greece and Spain enjoy longer lives with low rates of heart disease and cancer? Experts now believe that these healthy statistics can be attributed to the foods they eat.

In general, Mediterranean foods are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. The Mediterranean acquires these vital nutrients from a diet which includes fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts and olive oil. In fact, many Americans have joined in on this healthy revolution by taking up the Mediterranean diet to lose weight and enjoy the many health benefits associated with weight loss.

Key Beneficial Ingredients

There are a variety of foods enjoyed by the Mediterranean. Omega-3 fatty acids are gained from foods like tuna, mackerel, anchovies, olives, and even olive oil. Salads include a wide array of vegetables like tomatoes, spinach, and avocado, which are high in vitamins and antioxidants. Peppers and artichokes are often used as side dishes or are incorporated into recipes. Fruits are also liberally enjoyed, ranging from strawberries and lemons to oranges and plums. With foods like these, it's no surprise that the Mediterranean live longer and healthier lives than most modern countries.

Seldom-used Ingredients

While you can enjoy a nice, colorful palette, Mediterranean foods rarely include red meat, butter, spreads, white pasta, or creamy sauces. These are lower-ranked foods that offer the lowest nutrients, and the Mediterranean rarely consumes these products. Instead, they fill their plates with natural foods cooked in olive oil. In the absence of such foods, Mediterranean dishes are much healthier and offer key vitamins and nutrients that are great for the body.

Health Benefits of Mediterranean Food

Because red meat and butter are usually filled with saturated fats, consuming these foods can cause weight gain, heart problems, and ailments related to obesity. In Mediterranean states, these foods are replaced with fish and vegetables, which are better for your health. In addition, they prepare all their food in olive oil.

Olive oil is known to be great for your digestive system and is loaded with vitamins like A, B-1, B-2, D, E, and more. Using olive oil in place of butter or other oils may help those with heart problems. When sweetening foods, honey is used. Honey has many known benefits and can work wonders for diabetes patients.

For those looking to lose weight, Mediterranean food may be the answer. Because the diet is so colorful with vegetables, fruits, and high-protein foods, weight loss may come naturally in the absence of sugar and saturated fats. In addition to losing weight, problems associated with obesity may significantly improve.

As you can tell, there are many benefits to eating Mediterranean food. Not only is it healthy for the body, it will please your taste buds and make a fantastic presentation at the kitchen table. Try Mediterranean food; your body will thank you!

Summary:

Mediterranean food contains many benefits including weight loss, heart disease prevention, and in lowering your chances of cancer. This lifestyle and diet are rich in vital nutrients, and can be prepared in many ways. Mediterranean food offers a great variety of ingredients that anyone can enjoy, and it can easily be incorporated into any diet.

About the Author:
Brooke Hayles
Check Out More Helpful Information About Mediterranean Food For FREE!
Visit http://www.mediterraneanfoodvault.com/ >Mediterranean Food Vault Now!
Submitted on 2006-12-02
Article Source: http://www.articlesarea.com/

British Cuisine

Has always suffered from bad press. The simple homespun fare and plain preparation of most traditional British foods pales when compared to French haute cuisine, and it’s not uncommon for food critics to sound almost apologetic when writing about traditional British dishes as if there were something shameful in enjoying a good, thick joint of beef with an accompaniment of Yorkshire pudding. If they speak in glowing terms of anything at all, it is a nod to the clever naming of British foods, where dishes like bubble and squeak and spotted dick appear on restaurant menus.

And yet, for all the snickering and apologetic references, British cuisine at its best is hearty, delicious, simple fare on which to fuel the nation that influenced the entire world. There is no other nation in the world that does a roast of beef to such perfection, nor any better accompaniment to the succulent meat than a puffed, piping hot Yorkshire pudding prepared in its drippings, and few cuisines have a dessert that can compare with the pure heaven that is a well made trifle or treacle tart.

British cuisine is a blending of the practical with the nutritious. If it is, as some say, unimaginative, that may be because the food itself needs little imagination to fancy it up and make it palatable. It is certainly not because the British mind lacks imagination when it comes to food – the common names for everyday meals sometimes require a translator just so you’ll know what’s on your plate. A walk through a restaurant take-away menu offers such dishes as ‘mushy peas’, steak and kidney pie, fish and chips and bangers and mash.

There are well-known British dishes for eating at each meal. Some of the most popular include:

Breakfast:
A full English country breakfast includes meat, eggs, pancakes or toast and side dishes like hash and bangers and mash. It’s hearty fare, the sort that is set on the table for dinner in most other cultures. It often includes leftovers from last night’s dinner, diced and fried together with seasonings and butter, sometimes called country hash.

Tea:
The tradition of mid-afternoon tea is one that’s been observed by the British for centuries. Among the most common dishes served at mid-afternoon tea are finger-foods like crumpets with jam and clotted cream, dainty watercress sandwiches and scones with raisins or dried fruits.

Sunday Dinner:
The Sunday dinner has a long tradition as being a family occasion – the one meal of the week at which all family members gathered. A roast joint of meat – beef, lamb, pork or chicken – is nearly a requirement, and it is served with a potato and vegetable, and very often accompanied by Yorkshire pudding.

Puddings and custards feature prominently in British cuisine. Baked, boiled or steamed, puddings are usually made with suet and breading, and studded with dried fruits and nuts. One of the most popular and delightful British desserts is the trifle, and there are nearly as many variations as there are cooks. The base is a sponge cake, often left over from another meal. Soaked in Madeira or port, it is layered in a dish with custard, jam, fruits and Jell-O and topped with whipped cream. The end result is a delicious mélange that is features all that is good about British cookery – plain, practical cooking that is meant to fill the belly and satisfy the taste buds.

About the author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a food and nutrition expert specializing the Mexican, Chinese, and Italian food. Visit http://www.food-and-nutrition.com/ for more information on cooking delicious and healthy meals.
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