Beer on my Beef Please

By: Kate M. Serrano

Nothing beats a cold bottle and a hot steak on the grill. What’s more cool is pouring the cold one on your meat before grilling also has a positive effect on health.

Using beer as flavor base of marinade dates back to the old Egyptian and Mesopotamian days. Both civilizations are advanced and archaeological evidence suggests their cuisine was rich and flavourful. A tough steak can be extremely difficult to chew. Beer allows you to enjoy the once tough leaner cuts as its alcohol content helps tenderize the meat by breaking down its proteins. The longer the steaks marinate in beer, the more meat proteins dissolve, and the more tender the steaks become.  Plus, the beer combined with citrus juices or vinegar will make the tenderizing process faster than with just the beer alone. Of course beer marinade doesn’t only work on steak and meat. Wheat or white beers can be used to steam hot dogs or to base sauces for steaks. Also, flavoured beers like apricot or lime are good choices when paired with sauces or marinades of the same flavor.

And here is the good part. According to the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, marinating with beer reduces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These are the deadly carcinogens that form on meat cooked on a grill or barbeque. Limited exposure to PAHs mean limited exposure to cancer. In an experiment conducted by researchers, they found that dark beers reduced net PAHs by 53 percent. This is twice the effect compared to results from a non-alcoholic pilsner, which reduced only 25 percent.

So next time you plan on a barbeque party, keep in mind that beer-bathed pork and beef may look as healthy as it tastes. Just make sure not to drink the marinade.
                 

Top 6 Super Foods for Asthma

There may not be a solid cure for asthma, however there is a variety of super foods with excellent nutrient profiles that are well suited to tackle and alleviate asthma symptoms such as the shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. These 12 super foods prove time and again that they can combat these terrible symptoms with wholesome goodness.

1. AVOCADOS - A rich source of glutathione, which has been proven to protect cells against free radical damage and been shown to successfully detoxify foreign substances such as pollutants.Without glutathione various antioxidants would not be able to function efficiently. Avocados provide an excellent source of vitamin E, particularly for asthma which is linked to a nut allergy (Nuts are ordinarily a prime source of vitamin E) However if you’re diagnosed with a latex allergy avoiding avocados may be in your favor; those allergic to latex are often allergic to avocados and other foods that contain chitinases. Organically grown avocados are not treated with ethylene gas which therefore results in lower levels of chitinases  

2. BROCCOLI SPROUTS - is the goldmine of nutrition, a excellent addition to your diet if you are a sufferer of asthma. Recent studies suggest that those who ate broccoli sprouts for 3 days had a significant increase in antioxidant compounds that control inflammation in the airway that is associated with bronchial asthma. The effect was even more so pronounced within those who had ate the most broccoli sprouts. Available at many health food stores, markets and grocery stores, these make a excellent addition to soups salads salsa topped dishes and sandwiches.  

3. APPLES - Some studies show that apples possess some very extraordinary properties that provide extra protection against asthma; Showing that children drinking apple juice daily have wheezing reduced up to 50%. These effects are caused by the fruits bioflavonoids, such as quercetin; which is known to possess strong anti-histamines, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. When purchasing apples, avoid shiny apples these ones are waxed and try and stick to organic, better yet, peel them before you eat them! Apples contain the highest levels of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.

4. BANANAS -This super food may help you breathe easier. According to a study conducted in Britain children who consumed a banana a day had a 34% less of a chance of developing asthmatic symptoms such as wheezing. Bananas are one of the best sources of pyridoxine, commonly known as the vitamin B6. Pyridoxine plays a critical role in the production of adenosine trisphosphate (ATP_ and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) molecules that have been proven to relax bronchial smooth muscle tissue.

5. GINGER - One of the most well known spices in the world, it is also known for its powers in aiding and relieving common illnesses, but what its not commonly known for is for its power to help alleviate asthma symptoms. The asthma fighting properties are thought to be attributable to gingerols, a strong anti-inflammatory substance that also gives ginger its strong distinctive flavor. Fresh ginger, is said to be the most effective form of ginger is available year round in the produce section of your local supermarket,                                                                                               

6. SPINACH - The nutrients found in spinach makes it one of the most valuable and important health foods that you can add to any anti-asthmatic diet. One study conducted with 68,535 female participants found that women with a high intake of spinach had a lower prevalence of asthma. Spinach is one of the best sources of beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and magnesium. It also has a substantial amount of potassium content in comparison to its calorie content; a 100 calorie serving provides 40% of the reference daily intake for an important anti-asthmatic meal.

                                          

Animal Protector

By: Daniela Silva

Pitbulls, known as one of the most aggressive and powerful breeds are consistently receiving a bad reputation, and many pit bull owners are denied homes or insurance due to the breed. With 238 psi pounds of force it is really easy to get carried away with fear, however this didn’t matter to Wilson Martins.

Living in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Mr. Martins has dedicated his life to helping animals in dire need; taking  animals found in extreme situations, he provides medical attention, food and the care they are deprived of. Mr.Martins treats all his patients with the greatest medicine; love, and assures they are treated with the highest respect.  

Recently this man provided care to a pitbull that many would turn away in fear of the animals belligerence, however the unforgiving deteriorating conditions that literally eaten away the flesh of the poor animal. With time, the pitbull healed, and looks as though it has never been in harms way, you couldn't tell by its mentality nor were its previous gashes manifested. All it takes is common sense, a big heart and the ability to do something good.

The Demise of the Queen

By: Daniela Silva
The beautiful plight of the monarch may be coming to an end, the species are dying out and yes, we can witness the extinction of a wonderful species within our lifetime. Due to the  heavy destruction of the milkweed plant the monarchs have already declined by 44% of their population becoming a critically endangered species.

The steady extinction of the species don't just affect the pollination of flora, but it also affects tourism and the jobs of many in California and mexico, where the Monarchs are big business; but what is killing the butterflies?

GMO corn,soybean crops and GMO herbicides is one of the  leading problems of the butterflies resulting in the destruction of  a majority of the milkweed plants which is the only plant the eggs can be laid on as well. With Monsanto owning 90% of the worlds crops, there is a limited amount of space for the monarch to actually flourish, which leaves it up to us, the people to take control and do something about it.

Tangelo Park Hero

By: Daniela Silva
What does it take to be a hero? courage, strength, super powers or simply just kindness and will? Harris Rosen; a  millionaire previously employed in Disneyland, had “adopted”  a Florida neighborhood by the name of Tangelo park in 1993. Crime continuously manifested itself in the small community and many young teens never stuck around to graduate. Parents distraught and hopeless lost their ability to really focus on parenting and providing mature support for their own community, however this all changed when a man decided something needed to be done.

With hard work and dedication  the crime rate was astonishingly in half and with no catches to the scholarship program Mr.Rosen had implemented on the communities high schools, the  graduation rate  increased from a miserable 25% to an Aspiring 100%. Along with the scholarship Mr. Rosen had also provided  free daycare for children, books, tuition, room and board for students and a family resource center  with parenting classes and counselling for parents.

Mr. Rosen had put his heart into helping this community become stable and ensured that every student became successful and gained control of their own future; his act of kindness has impacted the lives of many, created an education system that is hard to beat and provided a higher standard of living.

Who is the hero in your community?