What is a mojito

Not only is the Mojito one of the most popular cocktails in the world, but people love to talk about it too. It’s mentioned on TV, it’s in books it’s doing the talk show rounds, it’s all over the place. So I looked it up a few recipes to see what all the fuss was about. It’s a minty drink with rum. Sounds like something I would like, so I decided it was time to try the Mojito.

Before picking a recipe to try I decided to do a little research first. Let’s see, it’s a Cuban cocktail that makes a great summer drink. Sounds good so far. It also says that it was Ernest Hemingway’s second favorite drink besides the Daiquiri. Wow, it’s got history too. And due to Barcardi’s recent advertising it’s enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Okay, I’m sold, now how do you make this thing.

I chose the Barcardi Mojito web site to get a recipe and was treated to short video clip of how to make one. If you get a chance be sure to check it out. I’m very impressed with these alcohol websites. They really go all out with videos, recipes and other fun things.

Hmmm, looking at the recipe it’s just rum and club soda and that’s easy enough but the complicated part is the fresh ingredients. You need to add mint leaves, lime juice and sugar to the glass or pitcher and then muddle them. Muddling is sort of like using a mortar and pestle but you do it in the drink glass itself. This mojito seems like a drink that I need to know what it tastes first before trying it at home.

I could go to bar and try it but instead I decided to go the liquor store and buy one of those Rose’s Cocktail Mixers that I’m a big fan off. All you have to do is add one part rum and three parts Rose’s Mojito Mixer and you’ve got a Mojito. I’m sure this will give me a good idea what a Mojito is supposed to taste like and then in the future I can fiddle around with the fresh ingredients and figure out the proper amounts to get the flavor I’m looking for.

So in my opinion, the Mojito is definitely a summer drink, perfect for those warm days spent around the pool. The mint is refreshing, the lime flavor quenches and the rum does the job. Now it’s time for me to find my mortar and pestle.

What are genetically modified foods

It is difficult to think of another technology that has caused as much debate or concern as that of genetic engineering (GE) with food.

Should patents on plants, animals and humans, as well as patents on their genes be allowed? Our ability to alter the genetic blueprint of animals and plants is in the process of changing many aspects of science and medicine. Many people see this as beneficial others see this as tampering with nature.

But what about genetically-modified (GM) food? Do we want to eat such food? And is it really such a big deal?

Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants, animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes in a way that does not occur naturally.

A recent GM Nation report concluded that the general public is overwhelmingly against GM technology, with feelings ranging from suspicion and skepticism, to hostility and rejection; there are, it was said, many more people who are cautious, suspicious or out rightly hostile about GM crops than there are supportive towards them.

Anxiety in society over genetically modified food is understandable, fuelled by a variety of causes - consumer unfamiliarity; lack of reliable information on the current safeguards in place; a steady stream of negative opinion in the media; opposition by activist groups; growing mistrust of industry; and a general lack of awareness of how our food is produced. The scientific community has not adequately addressed public concerns about GM foods, nor has it effectively communicated the value of the new technology.

The Royal Society, the UKs premier scientific body has pointed out the total lack of evidence that genetically modified crops cause harm to humans. But youd never have guessed that from the often negative media coverage.

When considering genetic engineering, it should be remembered that almost every living thing that man exploits has been genetically-modified in some way. The crops we use for food, the animals we eat, our pets and the plants in our gardens are radically different from those that existed in the so-called natural state.

Thousands of years of selective breeding have improved the yields of crops, the milk production of cows, the quantity of meat on cattle and the sizes and colours of our flowers and dogs.

But because of commercial interests, the public is being denied the right to know about GE ingredients in the food chain, and therefore losing the right to avoid them despite the presence of labelling laws in certain countries. GMOs should not be released into the environment as there is not adequate scientific understanding of their impact on the environment and human health. Genetic pollution could be a major threat because GMOs cannot be recalled once released into the environment. Labelling of all products with GE ingredients doesnt appear to be happening at the moment which is important for those people that want to avoid them.

Now my final thoughts… few would deny the benefits of modern genetic engineering in medicine. The use of genetically-modified bacteria to produce drugs such as insulin has been a revolution in medicine and saved the lives of millions. GM crops have also been hailed as the saviors of developing countries as they can be modified to prosper in dry, arid countries where there is little rainfall. There seems to be both negatives and positives to GE and GM foods….ill let you decide which food path you choose!

Is green tea really healthy

For several years now, we’ve been hearing about how green tea can prevent many serious diseases, including cancer. As the evidence mounts, it can be hard to ignore the fact that green tea is a powerful way to protect your health.

So, what is it about green tea that is creating so much attention? Well, it appears that the anti-oxidants in green tea are just as powerful as those in fruits and vegetables – possibly even more so. And, anti-oxidants are critical to preserving health and preventing disease.

As we convert the foods we eat into energy, we create free radicals in our body that can damage our cells and our DNA if left unchecked. It is believed that unchecked free radicals contribute to the development of many diseases, including cancer.

Anti-oxidants combat these free radicals so that they are not able to wreak such havoc on our bodies. Therefore, a diet rich in anti-oxidants is a great way to protect your health. Your best sources of anti-oxidants are fresh fruits, vegetables, and yes, green tea.

The research abounds to support the fact that green tea is healthy. Here are some examples.

Take a look in the March, 2004 issue of New Scientist Magazine. You’ll find numerous studies mentioned that suggest that green tea protects against many types of cancers, including lung, prostate and breast cancer. A study at Kyushu University in Japan showed that green tea slowed the growth of a certain type of human lung cancer cells.

Next, visit the US National Cancer Institute’s website and review their studies. You’ll find evidence that the anti-oxidants in green tea inhibited the growth of cancer cells and reduced the number and size of tumors in animals. You can view the press release on this study here: cancer. gov/newscenter/pressreleases/tea

Check out the May 2002 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. This magazine describes a Chinese study that showed that men and women who have been lifelong tea drinkers have higher bone mineral density than those who are not tea drinkers. The study involved 497 Chinese men and 540 Chinese women over the age of 30 who were asked about how much tea they drink as well as about lifestyle factors. Of the 1,037 study participants, 48.4 percent were habitual, long-term tea drinkers. The researchers found that those who had been drinking tea habitually for six to 10 years had higher bone mineral density in the lumbar spine, and those who had been drinking tea regularly for more than 10 years had higher bone mineral density in all body sites measured than study participants who didn’t drink tea regularly.

This same magazine reported on another study in December of 2005 that suggested drinking just one cup a day of green or black tea may lower the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in women by 24 percent. By drinking two or more cups each day, you can cut the risk by up to 48 percent. This study was conducted over a 15 year period by researchers at the Swedish Mammography Cohort.

It’s important to report that there appears to be virtually no evidence that suggests that anything about green tea is unhealthy. Even studies which can’t necessarily support green tea health claims show that green tea has no negative effects.

For example, a study conducted by Yoshitaka Tsubono, M. D., Yoshikazu Nishino, M. D., Shoko Komatsu, M. D., Chung-Cheng Hsieh, Sc. D., Seiki Kanemura, M. D., Ichiro Tsuji, M. D., Haruo Nakatsuka, Ph. D., Akira Fukao, M. D., Hiroshi Satoh, M. D., and Shigeru Hisamichi, M. D. could find no link between consumption of green tea and gastric cancer. The study did not find any increased protection among those who consistently drink green tea, but it also did not find any health risks associated with large green tea consumption.

So, in light of all the evidence, it seems that adding green tea to your diet is a wise choice. While we still need to do more research on the subject, there certainly is reason to believe that green tea is a powerful tool for protecting your health. In addition, there’s reason to believe that green tea’s effects may be more prevalent on certain types of cancers, and less prevalent on others.

And, even if it turns out that green tea doesn’t prevent serious diseases – there is compelling evidence that green tea is healthy. Green tea can support healthy teeth, and slows down the aging process, just as any other food rich in anti-oxidants. Plus, there is also research that suggests that green tea may speed up metabolism and help you maintain a healthy weight.

As you can see – you have nothing to lose. Even if green tea doesn’t make you live to an old age with no serious illnesses, it won’t hurt you. So, go make a cup of green tea. There’s little doubt that it will do something good for your body.