Basil The Sweet Herb
Sweet Basil Ocimum basilicum Basil is my favorite of all the herbs because it is so versatile and easy to grow. Those of you who follow my recipes site will know that I like to grow my own herbs and as basil is normally ready to eat just 6-weeks after planting I naturally use it often. Basil is an attractive annual, about 18 inches 450 mm tall with light-green, fairly broad leaves. There are several species of cultivated basil, one having purple leaves, so it is also a decorative plant in your garden. Basil grows easily from seed planted after all danger of frost has passed. Pinch stems when the plant reaches 18 inches 450 mm tall to promote bushy, compact growth. Avoid lush growth as it may reduce the flavor. Green leaves can be picked about 6 weeks following planting. It is best to cut leaves for drying just before flowers open. However, if you can use fresh the taste is far better and it is also an extra vegetable to compliment a healthy diet. Spicy-scented basil leaves are one of the most popular of all herbs used in cooking. There are two particular ways I like to use basil; the first...
Vegan Diet Secrets: Becoming A Vegetarian
A lot of vegans do not even know why they wanted to become vegans in the first place. Why are you a vegan. If you cannot answer this question in depth, then there s really no reason to become a vegan diet fan. You have to do some soul searching and find some answers from deep inside you. Find out exactly why you want to become a vegan. If you don t find any reasons behind your decision then it s just a phase you re going through. So first of all, you have to educate yourself about being a vegan. Know the facts of the vegan diet. Know exactly what you re getting yourself into. Know exactly why you are doing it. Start reading books, newspapers, magazines about vegan diets. Search the internet for articles or other information concerning vegan diets. To sum up you have to know the pros and cons of becoming a vegan . Here are some secret tips to get you started if you re really desperate about becoming e vegetarian. Start the easy way. Did you have any favorite dish before becoming a vegetarian. Maybe that dish was a vegetarian dish or could become one easily. So start with that favorite dish...
A Healthy Breakfast: Not An Impossible Mission
It s a trite but true refrain that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. For most of us, it s been about 12 hours since our last meal and our bodies need a good refueling. Yet, statistics show that as many at 50 of us don t eat breakfast. We re too busy. We don t like breakfast foods. We re not hungry. We re trying to lose weight. Sad to say, none of those reasons are valid. There are many healthy breakfasts that can either be bought or made that are fast and even portable. There s no law that says you have to eat breakfast foods for breakfast. You legitimately might not feel hungry in the morning, particularly if you aren t accustomed to eating breakfast. But you should eat something, even if you make a fairly light choice, like fruit and yogurt. Trying to lose weight is the worst excuse of all. Study after study shows that people who skip breakfast end up eating more the rest of the day than people who eat a solid breakfast every morning. So how do you get the magical mix of the right nutrients that will give you energy and send you healthfully into your day. It s not that...
How To Stop A Panic Attack
What are panic attacks and panic disorder. A panic attack is a sudden, unpleasant and debilitating experience in which the sufferer often feels as if he or she is dying. One very noticeable panic attack symptom is what feels like a rapid heartbeat, as if the heart is going to explode. Panic attack symptoms include: - fear of dying - shallow and or rapid breathing - sweating, shaking, trembling - severe anxiety - fear of a heart attack - feeling out of control - hot flashes or chills - fear of going crazy - nausea - visual disturbances - dizziness or feeling faint - numbness or tingling of extremeties - feeling as if the walls are closing in Recurring panic attacks are a symptom of panic disorder, which affects one in 75 people. The symptoms for panic disorder are the same as for an individual panic attack, except that the sufferer experiences panic attacks on a more regular basis. Panic disorder symptoms include the fear of having another panic attack, a fear that in itself could bring on a panic attack. Panic disorder in turn can lead to situational avoidance, which means that the...
The High Blood Pressure And Sodium Connection: Is Salt Raising Your Blood Pressure
That is what recent research is telling us about sodium s role in managing blood pressure. Hypertension, it turns out, is not caused by too much salt. Neither is it lowered by simply cutting salt out of your diet. So how is it that table salt sodium is still getting such a bad rap and being linked to high blood pressure. The real culprit it turns out is not salt, but how your body manages sodium and its proportion to the amount of potassium, calcium and magnesium in your body. Scientists have discovered that deficiencies in potassium, calcium and magnesium have a much greater impact on blood pressure than the mineral salt. These other minerals are so important in controlling blood pressure that when they are out of balance with each other, they can make salt more of a threat to healthy blood pressure. The fact is that only about 10 percent of the population is considered salt sensitive. It is this relatively small group that has to watch their salt intake for a variety of reasons, including its impact on blood pressure. There are some easy ways to make sure all of the important minerals in...