When it comes to feeding your Pond fish, there is a vast array of commercially available foods. With many different companies now producing a plethora of food choices, it is important to educate yourself on the nutritional requirements of your fish. In addition to nutrition, the ability to efficiently disperse the food to your Koi or pond fish is an important function that is often overlooked. There are several commonly available pelleted formulas, including; sinking, slowly sinking, floating, and crumbles, not to mention flake food.

The most common variety of Pond Fish food is the floating pelleted formula. Floating pellets provide a unique advantage over most other varieties in that they entice fish to the upper levels of the pond, creating a remarkable viewing opportunity. By consistently providing your Koi or Pond Fish with floating foods, they will associate the surface, and often one location in particular with feeding. They will become more bold, and increasingly personable, and will often learn to accept food directly from the pond-owner’s hand. The major drawback to floating food is noticeable mainly in ornamental varieties of goldfish. By gulping at the surface, the goldfish will often engulf atmospheric air, sometimes leading to infections of the swim bladder. It is also important to be aware of fast moving areas of the pond, as floating foods are often swiftly moved into overflows, or down flowing streams.

The best choice of fish foods is often the sinking or slowly sinking variety. By sinking from the surface areas, the food is safe from flowing out of reach from the fish. It also ensures that no atmospheric air is engulfed by your Pond Fish, preventing possible infections. The sinking action of the food will also create movement, which is a major appetite stimulant in fish. It may be beneficial to begin new acquisitions on a sinking diet. The disadvantages of sinking are mainly aesthetic. The fish will not become as personable without a floating food addition, although they will still associate the location with food. It is also possible that the food sinks too quickly, possibly becoming entrapped in the substrate.

Crumbles and flake food are generally reserved for smaller pond fish and juvenile Koi. They should be fed as a first food before the fish are weaned onto a larger sized maintenance diet. When provided to larger fish, flakes and crumbles are often ignored, creating a wasteful environment.

Once nutrition is provided for, each type of <A HREF=”http://www.naturalenviro.com/sections.php?section=FishFood”>pond fish food</A> has its place in pond fish culture. It is important to consider the size of the fish, as well as the environment in which they will be fed. Larger ponds with areas of slow moving water can be comfortably fed with floating pelleted food. This will create the surface activity that is often desired. Sinking pellets are wonderful for acclimating new arrivals, or when used in fast moving streams. They will also prevent infection of the swim bladder. Lastly, crumbles and flake food should generally only be given to smaller or juvenile specimens. If chosen properly, the food selection will go a long way towards long-term health.

Casey Coke
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/types-of-fish-food-717425.html

People are struggling with maintaining healthy food choices. It is not surprising because they are constantly bombarded with conflicting information about what’s healthy and what’s not and they are also given numerous choices when it comes to food products. With all these choices and information, it is not inevitable that people will end up confused. You probably share the same confusion. Who can blame you?

If you would visit a local grocery store, you would find numerous aisles of different foods. If you would go to a restaurant, you would find pages after pages of menus. With so man food choices, you probably are finding it hard to stick to your “healthy foods only” diet. To make sure that you would go home with a bag full of healthy food choices, here are some tips that you should definitely take note of.

Shop Only When You’re Not Hungry

Go to the grocery store only when your stomach is full. This does not need much explanation. Doing your grocery when your stomach is empty would definitely tempt you to buy anything that catches your fancy. You’d be practically throwing your “healthy food choices” list out of the window. It is best to do your grocery shopping after you have eaten your breakfast in the morning or your dinner in the evening.

Choose Canned or Bottled Products Carefully

First of all, if you are going to buy meat, vegetables and fruits, do not buy those that are packed with oil. If you need to buy these food products, make sure that you buy those that are packed in water. Chances are the water will likely reduce the calories in meat products. Do not buy products that are labeled “hydrogenated”. These products practically scream, “Fats!” You need to have a discerning and careful eye when it comes to sneaky wordings in packages. This is one way to make sure that you only end up with healthy food choices.

You should also avoid products with high fructose or glucose content. Many products like juices and soft drinks are loaded with high fructose content. When you see these words “high fructose” in a grocery product, you should definitely stay away from it. These words basically mean that you would be drinking something with 100% pure sugar in it.

Many manufacturers add high fructose to their products in order to save money. Unfortunately, this causes obesity and diabetes. Examples of this are pancake corn syrups. This is why it is very important that you first check product labels before you buy anything. To be able to make healthy food choices, you need to make sure that you are making informed choices.

Buy Organic Meat and Poultry

When purchasing meat products like beef, pork and poultry, you should definitely consider opting for organic products. These are free from growth hormones, steroids and other chemicals. When buying poultry, you should look for free range chickens because they often tastes delicious than caged chickens. You should also get skinless chicken because bad cholesterols and calories in chickens are concentrated on their skin.

When buying organic foods, it is better to buy them locally. Not only will you help your community’s economy, you will also save energy. This is the additional bonus you get from making healthy food choices.

Make Wise Grocery Product Choices

First of all, you should make sure that you opt for low sodium prepackaged foods. If you are too busy and you have to resort to buying frozen dinners and canned foods, make sure that you get packages with the lowest sodium count. Making these simple healthy food choices will ensure that you will avoid various illnesses like hypertension or cardiac problems.

If you are one of those people who would like to avoid dairy products, you can opt for food alternatives like broccoli. This vegetable is packed with calcium, so you would still be getting the nutrient despite the absence of milk or cheese in your diet.

When buying breads and cereals, you should opt for whole grain foods. Also, make sure that you always read the labels and get products that are low in fat or zero in fat. You can still give in to your sweet cravings without necessarily placing yourself at risk of developing diabetes.

Eating healthy involves making healthy food choices. You need to make sure that every food that gets into your grocery basket is healthy for you and your family.

ProChef360Blog
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/how-to-make-healthy-food-choices-716118.html

As more and more people are taking a hard look at the effects that pollution is having on our planet, new terminology is emerging.

The term sustainable development encompasses the concept of using our resources wisely so that we can enjoy them, but they will also be available for future generations.

Another term that has been showing up in the worldwide lexicon is “food miles”. Before the industrial revolution, food was grown and consumed locally. What food wasn’t grown at home was obtained at local farmers markets, or using the barter system.

As the world is becoming globalized, the ease in which food can be transported is having a major impact on the environment. The transportation of that food can use a tremendous amount of fossil fuel. “Food miles” is the total distance that food goods are transported from the field or source of manufacture to the consumer. This term has become an indicator of sustainability, and has sparked a movement towards using foods produced and consumed locally.

Recent studies are showing that the globalization within the food industry has resulted in more and more products being imported from foreign companies. This has greatly increased the “food miles” a product travels, and substantially increases the amount of pollution that is generated.

In an effort to supply consumers with fresh food, the use of the airplane to transport that food has greatly increased. Since air transportation produces far greater greenhouse gasses than ships, this also has a negative effect on our environment.

Long distance transportation also requires more packaging since consumers will not buy bruised foods. Packaging made from cardboard, paper and plastics use more of our natural resources such as trees and fossil fuels. The increased packaging also requires that more trees be cut down, destroying wildlife habitat. Then the packaging ends up in our landfills when it is discarded. This creates a vicious course that harms the environment.

Consumers need to be aware of where their food originates. Packing will often tell what country produced the product you are planning to purchase. Buying fruits and vegetables that are “in season” often means that that they are locally produced and travel less miles to get to market. Choosing apples from New York State is preferred over buying them from New Zealand.

Buying locally is part of the key. It not only helps the economy by supporting our local growers, it is better for the environment. The trend is to buy “organic” but if that food comes from South America, the benefit to the environment is minimized.

The other benefit of purchasing locally is that the produce is fresher, so you are getting healthier food that contains fewer preservatives. Often the cost is less because we are not paying for the cost of transportation, packaging, advertising and all the chemical additives.

If as a consumer you wish to lower your carbon footprint, your best option is to purchase most products that have been produced within a thirty mile radius, choose products that are not damaging to the environment and purchase products from the areas where they grow best.

During World Wars I and II, citizens were asked to plant victory gardens. These gardens produced over one third of all the vegetables consumed in the country. Maybe it’s time to go back to the “good old days” and consider planting gardens to grow our own vegetables to help the environment.

In time, as technology improves, buying from overseas will not hurt the environment. Many countries rely heavily on the exportation of food goods to other countries, so a shift to purchasing locally grown food could be devastating to these countries.

Beverly Saltonstall
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/what-are-food-miles-and-how-does-it-affect-you-715486.html

For many people shopping is not fun, especially food shopping, and more specifically shopping for “healthy foods” instead of the “quick and easy, ready to eat pre-packaged foods” that have become  staples in so many of our diets.  That alone is enough to make most food shoppers run for the hills, so when a food restriction such as a soy allergy is added to the list full blown panic is sure to follow…quickly!  You can’t put all the blame on the shopper though; our busy life styles are partly to blame.  When you’re working 10+ hours a day, not counting the 2 hours a day of commuting time,  plus driving the kids all over town, and trying to get at least 6 of the 8 recommended hours of sleep, it doesn’t leave much time for cooking let alone shopping for food, and food manufacturers use that to their advantage.  Food advertisement after food advertisement is using our busy “on-the-go” lifestyles as the main pitch for their product, but can you blame them?  They’re in this for one reason, to make money.  It’s our job to decide what’s best for us, not the food manufactures, and it all starts at the grocery store.  So let’s take a peek, shall we?

For starters stay away from the food aisles you usually spend the majority of your time in since most of what you’ll find there is not very healthy for you, and is sure to have soy in it.  Most grocery stores have the entrance right next to the produce section, but most shoppers spend the least amount of time here.  When people see the produce section they tend to see a lot of meal preparation time, and can easily be overwhelmed by the amount of different foods they know very little about.  The truth is what’s quicker and easier than putting a salad together, or steaming some vegetables for a healthy side dish, and don’t worry about only being able to identify 1/3 of what you see.  There is usually at least one employee working the produce section who would be happy to tell you what that fruit or vegetable is you have in your hand, and the knowledgeable ones may even be able to tell you how to prepare it; and let’s not forget the internet.  With a few taps on the keyboard and clicks of the mouse you’ll be able to find dozens of recipes for whatever you find at the store, regardless of how exotic it may be.  The truth is I do about 85 percent of my shopping in the produce aisles and you should try to do the same.  You would be amazed at the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, and with most grocery stores stocking organic produce these days you’re bound to find plenty of good tasting healthy “Soy-Free” foods. 

Next, for all those prepackaged foods that are still on your list, always look into the organic brands first.  They’re usually a little more expensive, but with organic foods becoming more and more popular more stores are carrying their own brands of organic foods.  When you buy organic you can be sure you’re buying all natural foods with no artificial preservatives, no food colorings, and no dyes.  It is still very important to read the labels though, because signs of the “soy conspiracy” can still be found in the “all natural” foods, but it’s not as prevalent as in the heavily processed non-organic foods so you’re bound to find what your need.  In the case where an organic brand is not available then look for the brand with the least amount of ingredients on the package; stick with all natural ingredients and no artificial additives.  If you’re buying ketchup for instance, why is there anything in the bottle except for tomato related products and maybe some sea salt?  

At this point in your food store venture, there shouldn’t be anything else on your list except for the non-edibles; that wasn’t so bad, was it?  So let’s recap your food shopping experience; stock up heavily on fresh produce, go organic when possible, choose products with the least amount of ingredients listed, and always scrutinize food labels for soy related ingredients.  Using this method of shopping you might just find yourself eager to go to the food store and buy what you need; your next healthy meal is only a produce aisle away.

mike
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/healthy-soy-free-food-shopping-756345.html

What you don’t know could turn out to be bad for your dog!

While most of us don’t pay a lot of attention to what we’re feeding out pets, we really shouldn’t be trusting manufacturers to label things accurately and follow regulations. There aren’t many rules about what can be used in dog food, and what you don’t know could make your dog VERY sick.

Not Fit To Eat

Did you know that many different brands of dog food could contain unpleasant substances like hair, ligaments, organs, skin, nervous tissue, and meat from diseased animals? Or that spoiled meat and the bodies of euthanized zoo animals and pets could be used?

Even the good meat that ends up in cat and dog food has undergone heavy processing, losing most of the value it once had. Ingredients like “poultry broth” and “animal meal” are far removed from the meat we imagine.

Animal meal, for instance, is what’s left after fat and meat have been processed out of a carcass. What’s left is dried and ground, resulting in a meal similar in texture to cornmeal. Broths are made up of processed carcasses from many different animal types, in just about any condition.

It’s Not Illegal!

You might think this sort of thing would be against the law. After all, there are strict rules about what can be used in human food and those laws are fairly well enforced. Unfortunately, pet food regulations are a lot looser and are rarely well enforced.

Just about anything could end up in your pet’s food, and the labels mean almost noting, even if they claim the food is balanced and healthy. Those words just indicate that the food has a particular percentage of protein, fat, and artificial minerals and vitamins.

Toxic Additives

All of us have probably heard of the recent pet food recalls created by contaminated wheat gluten from China. However, melamine isn’t the only dangerous additive that can be found in pet food. There are a lot of preservatives that aren’t allowed in human food, and which cause illnesses like cancer, kidney failure, liver failure and more.

Expensive Brands, Too

Unfortunately, it’s not just the cheap brands that are causing the problem. High end and organic foods are also poorly regulated. They might be higher quality, but there’s no good way to tell what ingredients they’re using. That can make it extremely hard to find foods that are appropriate for your dog, since even those recommended by the vet could be dangerous.

Solutions

There are a number of things you can do to protect your dog. First, learn to read the label – ingredients higher on the label are in larger percentages. That means you should look for named meats instead of generic terms, broths or meals.

You can also learn about the additives and preservatives that can hurt your pets, and look for the foods with the lowest percentage of grains. There are also a number of excellent recipes out there that can help dedicated pet owners make their own foods. Just be sure to do something, since most foods are actually dangerous.

Lynn Halladay
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/an-easy-way-to-make-sure-your-dog-is-in-the-best-shape-a-guide-to-the-best-dog-food-682354.html

Y Ancient Chinese philosophy has a very important influence in Chinese food culture. Let’s first look at a very interesting picture:

Yin and Yang

This is the traditional symbol for the forces of yin and yang, sometimes described as two fish swimming head to tail. The left half is yin and the right half is yang. Taken literally, yin and yang mean the dark side and sunny side of a hill.

People commonly think of yin and yang as opposing forces. However, it is really more appropriate to view them as complementary pairs. The Chinese believe problems arise not when the two forces are battling, but when there is an imbalance between them. Floods, divorce, or even a fire in the kitchen – all can be attributed to disharmony in the forces of yin and yang.

How does the concept of yin and yang relate to food?

A basic adherence to this philosophy can be found in ANY Chinese dish, from stir-fried beef with broccoli to sweet and sour pork. There is always a balance in color, flavors, and textures.

However, belief in the importance of following the principles of yin and yang in the diet extends further.

Certain foods have yin properties, while others have yang properties – Cooling or warm, fat or non-fat, high-calorie or low- calorie, and etc.

Almost no foodstuff is purely yin or yang – it’s more that one characteristic tends to dominate. It also reinforces that it is not so much the individual ingredients, as the the balance and contrast between ingredients in each dish, that is important. Interestingly, cooking methods also have more of a yin or yang property, as the list below demonstrates.

500+ Healthy Chinese Recipes Cookbook. Learn How To Cook Low Fat & Low Carb Chinese Food From Master Chef W/ 40 Years Of Cooking Experience!

Dear Nicholas Zhou,

I am enjoying your recipes and I thank you for such a great cook book.

I would love to have you talk about Healthy Chinese Recipes on WSBS radio. I produce Ms Ruby’s Food Talk on Thursday mornings at 9:30am eastern time with Ruth Adams Bronz who is a cookbook author and restaurant owner. What would you say to a 30 minute interview some Thursday morning.

Please let me know and keep the recipes coming. The ginger beef recipe was delicious.

Nick Diller – Morning host and Producer of
Ms Ruby’s Food Talk on 860AM WSBS

virgilio vallecera
http://www.articlesbase.com/crockpot-recipes-articles/chinese-food-is-the-solution-healthy-balanced-food-for-you-734884.html

Some of the most deadly allergies are those caused by food. While some people have no allergies, others are allergic to one or more things. Food allergies are difficult, however, because the offending particle is actually ingested, and therefore harder to remove.

Reactions in those with food allergies can range from mild irritation, such as a slight itch in the mouth, inside of the ears and/or the back of throat, or to severe swelling of the airway, causing a blocked passageway. If not treated, the more serious food reactions can result in death.

One of the most common food allergies is a reaction to peanuts and peanut products. Some people only experience a reaction when ingesting peanuts and products like peanut butter. Those who are more sensitive to peanut products, however, can sometimes experience a deadly reaction when a small portion of powder or oil is present. Many candy companies that include peanut varieties warn that those with severe allergies to peanuts that even non-peanut candies may have traces of peanut products. Many people have allergies to other nuts, such as walnuts, macadamia nuts and almonds.

Gluten allergies are another severe food allergy. People allergic to gluten are unable to ingest products made with gluten. Most foods made from white flour contain gluten. It is extremely difficult for these people to find foods that are safe to eat. There are, however, cookbooks available that give recipes for gluten-free foods. Whole grain breads are an alternative to white bread (which contains gluten).

An allergy to lactose is another difficult food allergy to deal with, as lactose is present in most dairy products. Soy products can help alleviate the inconveniences associated with lactose intolerance.

Some people are actually allergic to raw fruits and vegetables. This is one of the less common food allergies. After cooking the foods, many of the produce that poses a danger raw become safe to eat.

Food allergies are not always present from infancy. They can develop at any stage in life, and for many reasons. Many women find that when they become pregnant, they suddenly develop allergies to new things. The key is to monitor your reactions, and, if you aren’t sure how you will react to something, try a very small amount, or avoid it altogether.

James Hunt
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/types-of-food-allergies-10030.html

Indian cuisine is considered as one of the most exotic and flavorful cuisines in the world. If you are into something interesting to tantalize your taste buds, then Indian cuisine is a must-try. Its flavours are so beguiling, variety are so wide and the infusion of spices are so aromatic. No wonder why people from all corners of the globe, whether you are brought up in a Western or Eastern culture, are so into Indian food.

These days, instead of making their own Indian food recipes at home, people would rather eat out or order them from restaurants. Why? More often than not, people usually think that in order to produce a well-cooked Indian cooking recipes, one must have all the special herbs and spices from India and one must know how to mix them perfectly. Aside from that, many people think that in order to bring out the real Indian flavor and aroma of the food, it would take them so many hours and a lot of tough work to prepare for the ingredients.

But the truth of the matter is, Indian cooking is as easy as you cooking your favourite Italian recipes. You do not have to be an expert in the kitchen or hardcore Indian cuisine enthusiast. We all know spices are the souls of Indian cuisine. If you get the spices right, you are as good as successfully creating a delicious Indian meal. The many ingredients as well as the herbs and spices that you will need to produce a great Indian dish are actually within your reach. Thanks to the growing popularity of Indian cuisine, many exotic ground or whole spices and a wide selections of curry mixes can be readily purchased from many local food stores and supermarkets, and even conveniently through online.  Gone are the days where you need to peel, chop and grind your ginger or garlic and to wash your knife, chopping board and grinder afterwards. Garlic, ginger, onions and a wide range of other spice mixes that are preservative free and as pure as having just prepared them are not hard to find. Therefore, the authenticity of the taste of the Indian food you are trying to prepare is not compromised.

Make sure that you have these basic ingredients that are common in Indian food in your pantry. One of the main basic ingredients is the red onion. Aside from that, you must also include the three important G’s. They are the Ginger, the Garlic, and the Green chillies. Other  equally important spices in Indian cuisine that you must not ignore include cumin, fenugreek, black mustard seed, chilli pepper and turmeric. To add more zest and spiciness to your dishes, add more fresh red chilli as well as chilli powder as desired. Often, garam masala or Indian spice mix is used. This ubiquitous mix is a combination of various spices such as cumin seeds, black pepper, coriander seeds, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom . These are the basic ingredients that allow you to jump start your way of making Indian dishes from your very own kitchen.

Cooking Indian food is not that hard as long as you have the right herbs and spices, which are easily available in the market or can be planted in your backyard.

Lindsay Lohan
http://www.articlesbase.com/cooking-tips-articles/what-you-need-to-cook-indian-food-687613.html

The shocking truth about commercial dog food and dog health. Do you know that the dog food you are feeding your pet could be a cause of early death? The number one cause of dog illness can be accredited to commercial dog food. Your loveable best friend may already be on the road to suffering a slow and excruciating death!

The information contained inside “Dog Food Secrets” eBook is very graphic and disturbing. But, it may be the only information that could save and extend the life of your pet by over 100%! Learn which dog foods still contain up to 6 deadly chemicals that have been banned from human foods because of causing cancer an many other diseases.

Discover the dog food secrets that major dog food companies don’t want you to know. The fact is that the life span of your dog can be increased by up to 8 years just by changing the food. Also, many unwanted dog behavior problems can be solved simply by changing the diet of your dog.

Leading veterinarians and dog health experts agree that many dog foods are deficient in key nutrients. Feeding such foods to your dog causes it to be overly sensitive to its environment. By not eating enough natural foods your dogs adrenal glands become unable to produce enough cortisol. This is a vital hormone needed for a dog to be healthy and to be able to resist disease.

If you want your dog to live a long and happy life, you should do the following three things starting today:

1. Stop feeding your dog with commercial dog food until you learn which ones are not harmful to your dog.

2. Learn how to interpret the nutritional labels on commercial dog foods.

3. Start feeding your dog with well-balanced, healthy home made foods.

The way your dog performs everyday tasks, how he/she feels and acts are the best measurements of the quality of the food. “Dog Food Secrets” educates you about how to keep your dog healthy and happy. Any questions you may have about dog health are answered in this amazing eBook. You also get a free mini-course that contains dog health tips and gourmet recipes so that you may provide your dog with a well-balanced, healthy diet.

Ultimately, you are the one responsible for giving the best care you know how. Remember just because your dog isn’t complaining, it doesn’t always mean you’re doing the right thing.

Peter Nagy
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-food-secrets-exposed-dont-let-your-dog-die-young-53416.html

The phrase “health freaks” is well known. But a new phrase “cooking freaks” can be coined for those immensely in love with their kitchens! Their conversations center round cooking recipes and they are constantly awaiting opportunities to surprise everyone — family members, friends, relatives — with innovative dishes! The praise that follows the consumption of every mouth-watering dish is enough reward for them!

Cooking recipes are very easy to find and hoard. Just take a look around — book stores, stores supplying health food, grocery stores — all of them have recipes in stock.
For more details go to: www.classic-dessert-collection.com it comes as a boon when you find these recipes in unusual places like gift shops offering special items. But the best place to get cooking recipes is of course, the Internet. There are literally hundreds to be found on different web sites! The one who loves to cook is truly lost for words when being flooded with so many recipes!

If you dislike the idea of having so many loose pages around, just purchase a bound cookbook. Modern cookbooks give illustrations of what a dish will look like after it has been cooked. Generally, the recipes you collect come minus pictures. So there is a certain amount of apprehension when trying out something new, wondering if the dish will really turn out well or not. You need have no such doubts where recipes come with accompanying pictures. You are willing to try anything!

The possibilities of what you can do with all these cooking recipes are endless?

-Imagine a time when you want to make a special occasion even more special with a fabulous cooking creation of your own. Your recipes come in very handy then!
-You could throw a “Let’s exchange cooking recipes” party where each guest brings the recipe as well as the prepared dish.
-A recipe club could be started where members exchange recipes or even demonstrate the preparation of a new dish at a weekly get-together or a monthly get-together.
If you have been collecting cooking recipes over the years, why not think about authoring your own cookbook?
-For can visit to: www.cooking-chinese-style.com collecting a favorite chef’s famous recipes can become a hobby, if nothing else. Not only do you possess recipes for all occasions, you improve your own culinary skills by trying out new dishes all the time.

All said and done, should your inexperience in cooking come in the way of trying out the cooking recipes you have collected so far, well, just turn on the television to watch cooking shows and learn. DVDs about cooking are also available. As a last resort, join cookery classes! The choice of wanting to learn alone or with others rests entirely with you!

Vipen Zizta
http://www.articlesbase.com/cooking-tips-articles/cooking-recipes-are-very-easy-to-find-and-hoard-727544.html