Sather

Fruits and vegetables form an important part of a healthy diet. If you consume 2-3 servings of each daily, you will be well-protected against cardiovascular diseases, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and some types of cancer.

That's because fruits and vegetables contain polyphenols which protect our normal cells from free radical damage, thereby boost up our immune systems.

Dieticians strongly recommend apples as part of our diet due to their plentiful source of polyphenols.

Snack on an apple which is delicious, satisfying, juicy and easy to carry. It is also relatively low in calories, contains no fat, cholesterol or sodium, so it is an excellent fruit to maintain healthy weight and heart.

Apples are also high in fructose, a simple sugar which is sweeter than sucrose (main component of cane sugar). As Fructose metabolized slower, it helps to control blood sugar levels, therefore is suitable for diabetes patients.

An effective way to cure constipation is to eat ripe, uncooked apples since they contain a lot of soluble and insoluble fiber. They can also be stewed which are effective treatment for diarrhoea and gastroenteritis.

Some use apples to treat skin blisters.

Dried apples are eaten as a snack. Apple slices are exposed to the fumes of burning sulphur to prevent them from browning, then dried in the sun on wire trays.

As moisture is lost, natural sugars become concentrated, which is why athletes value dried apples as a source of carbohydrate that is quickly converted to energy. Dried apples contain six times more calories than fresh ones. They are high in fibre and moderate source of iron. But lost their vitamin C during drying process.

Putting apples with other fruits eg apricots together in a paper bag for two to four days will help other fruits ripen faster. For the same reason, avoid storing apples with strong-smelling foods to prevent them from absorbing unpleasant odors.

When choosing apples, make sure they are firm to the touch and free from brown bruises. Handle them gently to prevent bruising.

Large apples are more likely to be overripe which are best for stewing and baking.

It's best to store apples in a cool environment (refrigerator is the best) where oxygen balance has been chemically lowered. This halts the natural maturing processes, so they can be kept for several months without going soft. When the fruit is again exposed to normal temperatures and oxygen levels on the supermarket shelves, it continues to mature and may quickly go soft.

To avoid cut apples from browning, dip them in a mixture of one part lemon juice to three parts water - or Vitamin C-fortified 100% apple juice.

Should we peel the apple? No, as two-thirds of the fiber, and many of the antioxidants, are found in an apple's peel. However, some raise concerns about the amount of pesticides on the peel. so we should run the apples under the tap more thoroughly if we decide to eat the peel.

Is apple juice as good? It is best to eat apples rather than drink apple juices as blending may cause important nutrients like polyphenols and fiber to disappear. But if you really wants to drink apple juice, opt for the cloudy rather than clear apple juice to get more polyphenols and pectins.

Here's a simple apple recipe :

Sauted Apples (serves 4)

Ingredients: 1 teaspoon butter, 4 firm, tart apples, peeled, cored and sliced, a pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)

Cooking Instructions:
1. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the sliced apples and the cinnamon.
3. Cook till the apples turn soft.
4. Serve with pancakes

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The Penguins -

Mario Lemieux and his band of pirates, fresh from holding up Pittsburg for the right to hang on to the Penguins, made a few more well calculated moves to sail the good ship Crosby into the finals in the Eastern Conference.

Adding Gary Roberts and Peter Sykora as first line rental units gives Pittsburg scoring depth at three lines even if Roberts can only be counted on for sporadic service during the season. Shifting Malkin to center gives the Penguins a trio of centers (Staal, Malkin, and Crosby) that can only be envied by other teams. Fleury at goal is coming into his prime and should give steady service between the pipes even if there is no proven back up. The only addition at defense is Sydor who provides experience at the blue line for a unit that is just good enough not to waste the offense. Maybe not the Cup this year but Pittsburg is close and will contend this year and in the immediate future.

The Rangers -

The Rangers have a lot to prove this year and it looks like they are betting on the aging Straka 35; Jagr, 36; and Shanahan, 38; to duplicate their last season production. Talent added seems to be intriguing but is at best a wash with talent that has left the organization. In 06-07, this trio accounted for 88 of the Rangers 242 goals (36.3%). Jagr is losing his speed and ability to create space and angles in the 5 on 5 and its harder for him to dominate on the power play. Straka may have the most gas left in the tank but his numbers are due to fall off. Shanahan is the dead man walking for the Blue Shirts and I am puzzled as to why he was brought back for an encore. What should we expect this year? The Rangers will keep the fans in the stands with a respectable start but, oh God, even the Islanders will pass them this year. Look for the Rangers to finish fourth.

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There are many different types of headaches that a person can get. Each of them has their own distinct characteristics, and none of them are pleasant. Some of them include a migraine headache that lasts from several hours to several days in some cases. You could get sinus headaches that start with a slow pressure and then build to a headache where you feel as if your head is going to fly apart. There are also some headaches that are caused by things like the weather or stress. They build and while they don't become as strong as a migraine or a sinus headache they are relentless and tend to just drive you slowly insane from the pain. One of the strangest headaches, however, are pinpoint headaches. These are headaches that tend to concentrate all of their pain in one area, just like a pin poking through your skull. They can last anywhere from several seconds to hours or more.

Most people that suffer from pinpoint headaches don't know where they are coming from. Sometimes the pain is rather dull, and they exist at most times, even if you are not aware of it at the time. Other times they are almost crippling in their intensity. If you are having pinpoint headaches the best thing that you can do is to make sure that it isn't a serious problem, other than that, since they don't tend to happen like a regular headache, you could try looking for a natural method to overcome the problem.

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Murcia, Spain is part of Spains Costa Blanca region and located approximately forty-five miles from the larger city of Alicante. Murcia weather is among Spains mildest weather and favorable for vacations in every season. Winter temperature rarely fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) and daytime temperatures in the summer can easily reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).

Murcias climate in the summer is very dry since there is little rain during this time. Rainfall averages from 0.7 inches in June and .22 inches in August. Most days in the summer are very hot and sunny. The warm weather in the Costa Blanca region has been very good for agriculture. This area around Murcia is known for its wine, fruits, flowers, vegetables and olive oil. You will surely be able to enjoy fresh produce during you visit.

The weather during the spring is beautiful with warm and mild temperatures. If you want to avoid the crowded, popular summer season but still hope to enjoy the summer weather, you may want to consider a vacation in the spring months. There is still little rain during these months with the average rainfall between .5 inches and .65 inches each month. Spring in Murcia is favorable for enjoying activities outdoors and on the beach enjoying the sun. The average high temperatures during the day range from approximately 69 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 26 degrees Celsius).

Autumn, though, is nearly as hot as the summer temperatures in Murcia. Temperatures are beginning to cool a bit toward the end of the season, but are still favorable for vacations and activities. The average daily temperature is between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (20 and 30 degrees Celsius). There is little rainfall during the Autumn months with its average monthly rainfall ranging from .8 to .69 inches. With such little rainfall, the autumn months are great for golf vacations. The weather is warm enough to play but not as hot as in the summer.

The winter is a popular time for those seeking to escape the cold temperatures of Northern Europe, whether for a short vacation or the entire winter season as some retired individuals do. Most days during the winter are still sunny and there is little rainfall. Average temperatures during the day range from approximately 62 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit (17 to 18 degrees Celsius). The average temperature at night is approximately 41 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (5 to 7 degrees Celsius). As you see, even a trip to Murcia during the winter season can comfortably include golf, sightseeing or relaxing in the sunshine thanks to Murcias favorable climates all year around.

Concentrating on latest news in Spain, the writer works for the most part for http://www.alicante-spain.com . His articles on Murcia weather are found on http://www.alicante-spain.com and other web pages.