Which Kind Of Pizza Are You?

January 30, 2009 | Posted by Lorena as The Facts / History at 10:39 pm | (2) Comments »

Speaking of pizza – check out the previous post on a “super pizza” from Rachel Ray – do you know all the different styles of pizza in existence? I am not sure that I can get all of them right but I do know a good pizza when I taste one. Still, if you want to be in the know, here are some of the different kinds of pizza.

Neapolitan pizza
This pizza is usually small, about 10 inches in diameter. The crust is thin and the pizza is baked in a wood oven. The ingredients used are light and very fresh and placed sparingly on top of the dough. The best example would be the margherita pizza – cheese, tomatoes, and basil.

New York-style pizza
They say that this is what most people think of when you say pizza – well, at least Americans. This kind of pizza is said to have evolved from the Neapolitan except that the New York-style is bigger, is crisper (and chewy at once btw), and can have any topping that you want. Pizza enthusiasts will tell you that it is best made with only 2 toppings max, to maintain the crispness of the crust.

Sicilian pizza
Ahhh, think thick and rectangular. Think lots of sauce. Think lots of cheese. Think garlic. These are the things that characterize a good Sicilian pizza.

Deep dish pizza
Obviously, deep dish pizza gives you visions of lots of toppings and sauce. This pizza has been likened to casseroles actually. This is also known as Chicago-style pizza.

So, which pizza are you?

Processed Food Can Be Addictive

January 12, 2009 | Posted by Lorena as The Facts / History at 11:16 am | Comments »

Shopper Selecting Package of Ground Beef

If my grandmother were alive today, I am sure that she would adamantly insist that she could have told me this! She was a strong advocate against anything processed and she just might have been right. According to a study conducted by scientists from New Zealand, “compulsive food consumption has similar underlying brain mechanisms that result in drug dependence, and argue that heavily processed carbohydrates have the most potential to cause addiction.”

So what does the evidence show? Simon Thurley, the lead researcher of the group who also belongs to the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, says that the problem lies in kinds of food that have a high glycemic index, or GI, and that most processed food have a high GI. What happens is that food with high GI causes the level of blood sugar to suddenly go up. Basically, there is a sugar rush within the body of the person who takes in the food with high GI. And how is the sugar rush addictive? The studies show that it actually stimulates the parts of the brain that are stimulated when nicotine and other sorts of drugs are ingested.

The implications of the results of this study are huge. In fact, this could mean that obesity is a result of an addiction. It could very well be an addiction. However, another expert by the name of Boyd Swinburn is quick to point out that the study is not conclusive and that obesity may be far from a mere addiction. Still, it would be wise not to eat too much of processed food, don’t you think?

Got Heartburn? Eat More Of These Foods

January 7, 2009 | Posted by Lorena as The Facts / History, Weight Watchers Recipe & Handy Info at 10:55 pm | (1) Comment »

Over the holidays, people tend to overindulge. In fact, I know a lot of people who purposely got themselves ready to gorge on Christmas and New Year. The result? Tummy aches and heart burn. Not everyone suffers from heartburn but if you have had a case before, you know how much it can hurt. If heartburn is your problem, here are some foods that can help you avoid heartburn attacks.

Fruits
Apples – fresh or dried, or even in juice form
Bananas – usually fresh

Vegetables
Baked potato
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Green beans
Peas

Meat – yes, you can eat meat and avoid heartburn!
Lean ground beef – extra lean if you can get that.
Chicken – make sure it is the breast part and throw away that skin
Egg whites
Fish

Dairy – sorry no milk included but you can have the following:
Cheese – doctors say feta (goat) is the best choice
Cream cheese – as long as its fat free
Soy cheese – I’ve never had this so I don’t know how it tastes.

So these are some of the foods that you can eat without having to worry too much about triggering a heartburn episode. Do take note, however, that these items are classified under “minimal risk of heartburn.” It does not mean that if you eat these foods, you will never get heartburn. You also have to take a look at other aspects of your lifestyle, which may be causing your attacks. The idea is to balance things out with the food that you eat.

Peppers Are Good For You

December 29, 2008 | Posted by Lorena as The Facts / History at 12:22 pm | Comments »

Speaking of peppers, did you know that they are good for your health? More than the fact that peppers give your dishes a kick, they also give food a splash of color. Another thing about peppers is that, when cooked right, they add texture to your dishes.

Now on to their health benefits – peppers are bursting with vitamins! Basically all kinds of peppers – and there are countless varieties – contain a healthy dose of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K. If you want an extra high dose, though, you should go with the red peppers as they contain more than the normal amount of these vitamins. If you don’t already know, vitamin A is good for the eyes. And like vitamin C, it also helps boost your immune system, prevent cell damage, and help slow down the effects of aging. Vitamin K, on the other hand, helps promote blood clotting, strengthens the bones, and also helps prevent cell damage.

More than these vitamins, peppers also contain lycopene, the substance that has been promoted a lot for its anti-cancer properties. The same benefit is acquired from the beta-cryptoxanthin content of peppers.

Another component found in peppers is capsaicin, which has been proven to decrease the levels of bad cholesterol among others. Interestingly enough, capsaicin is also known to lower the risk of stomach ulcers. Now I bet you didn’t know that! It used to be that people thought that peppers increased the risk of ulcers but it is said that capsaicin actually kills the bacteria that can lead to ulcers.

Now you have it – peppers are good for your body and not just for your gastronomic fancies!

Hershey’s…caramel?

June 20, 2008 | Posted by Lorena as Chocolate, The Facts / History at 12:02 pm | (1) Comment »

hersheys

If it weren’t for heat, we would never have a Hershey’s bar.

Candy maker Milton S. Hershey used to make caramels. But since those didn’t retain the imprint of his name in the summertime, he made the switch to chocolate. That was 1903 — and more than a century later, his name has made a permanent mark in candy history.

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