Friday, November 7, 2008

Spirulina for Vegans and Non-Vegans

For all those vegans (and non-vegans) out there who are hesitant to supplement with fish oil there's an even better solution for you.It's called spirulina and it is one of the most incredible foods our planet has to offer. Spirulina is a blue-green algae. Spirulina usually grows in waters of lakes naturally alkaline localized in arid zones.Spirulina has unparalleled health benefits (explained later) and is an incredibly sustainable food source. For instance, according the journal Human Nature, spirulina presents a fast reproduction rate, dividing itself three times a day! Therefore, an area exclusively aimed at spirulina growth may produce 125 times more protein if compared to an area of the same size aimed at growing corn and 70 times more protein if compared to the breeding of cattle.Furthermore, the spirulina presents some advantages in relation to other algae and seaweeds such as presenting no problems with digestion and no toxicity to humans. This can't be said for other seaweeds such as Chlorella.Spirulina - the omega-3 food choice for vegans!Now let's get to the good stuff. If you're a vegan and looking for an alternative to fish then spirulina is what you want. This is because algaes, like spirulina, are athe original source of omega-3 fatty acids. Algaes are what small, bottom-feeding fish consume. These fish are then eaten by larger ones, and then eventually by humans. Cold water fish, which are well-known for their omega-3 fatty acids, owe their "omega-3 fame" to the consumption algaes such as spirulina, even if indirectly.Here are some more incredible nutritional characteristics of spirulina. For starters, spirulina is the probably the highest vegetarian protein source consisting of 60-70% protein! It is also rich in chlorophyll and carotenoids, vitamins (vitamin A, especially) and tons of important minerals from deep in the seabed. An important note (especially for vegetarians and vegans) is that spirulina is a terrific source of vitamin B12 and iron.Iron is the most common mineral deficiency in the world. Since spirulina contains high iron concentrations its bioavailability has been tested in comparison to ferrous sulfate which is the typical iron supplement. One such comparison was revealed in the journal Nutrition Research, spirulina fed rats absorbed 60% more iron than rats fed the iron supplement!So next time someone asks you where you're getting your protein, iron, or B12 from just tell them you're eating an incredible blue-green powder called spirulina.Aside from human breast milk and evening primrose oil, spirulina is the only food source rich in gamma linoleic acid (GLA). The GLA content comprises 25% of the total polyunsaturated fatty acid content of spirulina, a number that is much higher than the GLA content of evening primrose oil (only 7%)!The Importance of GLAGLA is essential fatty acid that has numerous benefits to the body. Along with omega-3 fatty acids, GLA has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Both are excellent skin fatty acids for preventing and treating eczema, psoriasis, wrinkles, rashes and more. Research has confirmed that GLA has positive effects in breast cancer treatment; they enhance lubrication in those with Sjogren's syndrome; help relieve PMS symptoms, breast pain, skin conditions (including eczema and psoriasis, and wrinkles), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children; improve cardiovascular health, mental health; and much more!A British study published in 2000 observed women who had locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer (when cancer cells spread elsewhere in the body). They found that women with breast cancer who were taking Tamoxifen (a drug that blocks estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer) and received GLA demonstrated faster clinical response than those taking Tamoxifen alone. Study participants received 3 grams of GLA. The researchers concluded that GLA was a useful adjunct to primary Tamoxifen treatment with no serious side effects: "... this study suggests high-dose oral GLA to be a valuable new agent in the treatment of hormone-sensitive breast cancer."Spirulina's Effects on Blood Lipids and CholesterolNumerous studies on rats have shown that spirulina has powerful effects on blood lipids and cholesterol. Almost all these studies show a reduction in LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides, and fat deposits in the arteries upon consuming spirulina.A human study investigating the cholesterol-lowering effect of spirulina published in Nutrition Reports International looked at 30 male volunteers who had mild hyperlipidemia and mild hypertension. They were divided into two groups. Group A subjects were given spirulina at 4.2 g/day and group B subjects the same amount of spirulina for 4 weeks and, then were observed for the next 4 weeks without spirulina.The results showed a statistically significant reduction of LDL-cholesterol in Group A subjects after 8 weeks. The LDL-cholesterol also fell significantly in Group B subjects after 4 weeks of spirulina consumption, but thereafter increased to its baseline value after administration of spirulina was discontinued.Anti-Cancer and Anti-Radioactive Properties of SpirulinaSeveral animal studies have shown that spirulina inhibits tumor and protects the body from cancer propagation.There are also unpublished reports from scientists and doctors about the radioprotective effect of spirulina in experiments conducted on child victims of the Chernobyl radiation. In a study involving 49 children, 3-7 years old, in Beryozovka, administration of spirulina for 45 days resulted in an increase in T-cell suppressors and beneficial hormones. In addition, the radioactivity of the urine decreased in 83% of the children!These are just some of the powerful benefits and healing powers possessed by spirulina. So whether or not you supplement with fish oil, I would highly recommend spirulina as an addition to your diet for lifelong health, strength, and vigor!References:Furst PT. Spirulina - a nutricious alga, once a staple of Aztec diet, could feed many of the world hungry people. Human Nature 1978;3:60.Nakaya N, Honma Y, Goto Y (1988) Cholesterol lowering effect of Spirulina Nutr. Rep. Int. 37: 1329-1337.Johnson P, Shubert LE (1986) Availability of iron to rats from Spirulina, a blue-green alga. Nutr. Res. 6: 85-94.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

The P's of Marketing

Denver Internet Marketing professionals and specialist use many tactics to attract and retain their customers. These activities comprise of different concepts, the most important one being the marketing mix. There are two concepts for marketing mix: 4P and 7P. It is essential to balance the 4Ps or the 7Ps of the marketing mix. The concept of 4Ps has been long used for the product industry while the latter has emerged as a successful proposition for the services industry.



The 7Ps of the marketing mix can be discussed as:



Product - It must provide value to a customer but does not have to be tangible at the same time. Basically, it involves introducing new products or improvising the existing products.



Price - Pricing must be competitive and must entail profit. The pricing strategy can comprise discounts, offers and the like.



Place - It refers to the place where the customers can buy the product and how the product reaches out to that place. This is done through different channels, like Internet, wholesalers and retailers.



Promotion - It includes the various ways of communicating to the customers of what the company has to offer. It is about communicating about the benefits of using a particular product or service rather than just talking about its features.



People - People refer to the customers, employees, management and everybody else involved in it. It is essential for everyone to realize that the reputation of the brand that you are involved with is in the people's hands.



Process - It refers to the methods and process of providing a service and is hence essential to have a thorough knowledge on whether the services are helpful to the customers, if they are provided in time, if the customers are informed in hand about the services and many such things.



Physical (evidence) - It refers to the experience of using a product or service. When a service goes out to the customer, it is essential that you help him see what he is buying or not. For example- brochures, pamphlets etc serve this purpose.




Medha Behera



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Medha_Behera
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-7Ps-of-Marketing-Mix&id=1486721

Monday, November 3, 2008

Christmas Crafts

It's Christmas and Russian Santa time! And it's time for you to join your family, especially your children to celebrate the most loved and peaceful moment of the year. Create some special moments learning them to let free their imagination and make by their self real pieces of art.



For this special Christmas floral arrangement, you have just to purchase a few useful things: one floral foam, from any local flower shop, some pine branches, 5 red santini (or any color you want), one small and thick red candle with a pine or fresh flavor. You'll also need a green or red dish as a base for your arrangement. First, you'll moderate the foam after the dish's dimension and lines, letting to see just 2 centimeters from the bowl.



Then cut the centre of the foam that the candle gets through. Don't you forget that the candle have to burn at least for one day. So don't cover it with the floral foam, or take care about the floral arrangement not to be debased by the warmth or the candle's flame. We have to point out that the candle has to be put in the arrangement ultimately, so your work doesn't become more difficult. After this intervention, glue the foam on the dish, for the Christmas arrangement's stability, especially if it's about your children's work. Let the rest in your children's care. They'll love to play and to contribute to the house's decoration. You have just to prepare the vegetal material, using a knife or clippers: cut the santini's stem at a very sharp angle, for a better hydration. And the kids will stick the pine branches covering the foam with. Then the santini will stay above, as a patch of color, as a sensation point.



For a snow effect, you can use a special Christmas spray. Don't forget to water the foam for the flower to resist more. Put this arrangement in the centre of the Christmas table and let your children to be proud of their work. They'll feel the spirit of Christmas.



Christmas arrangemet with roses



This is a fresh flower arrangement for your happy Christmas table. You need a glass bowl, 5 red roses, 5-7 lemon slices, pine branches, 4-5 stems of sweet briar, one orange pliable wrapping paper, soil, wires and a strait ribbon. It's easy to made, but you have to prepare the lemon slice about two weeks before you start to make the Christmas arrangement. Cut the lemon to obtain slices of 1 centimeter width. Then let them dry on a hot surface.The drown lemon slices will be varnished using a hairbrush. In this form, these fresh elements will decorate your special Christmas arrangement. You can also use the drown and varnished lemon slices to garnish your Christmas tree or any other arrangements. Fill a glass with soil or floral foam and water it. Then stick the pine branches without covering the bowl, but giving a round aspect to the arrangement. Put one rose in the centre and the other 4 roses corresponding to the four sides of the bowl.



The sweet briar has to be put above through roses, as a quantity contrast. It could mean the family's joining: children and parents and the rolled paper signify the Santa Claus's gifts. The last ones and the lemon slices too are wired and the stick in the floral foam. These represent the freshness the happy to be rounded by the entire family. Don't you deny yourself a special moment, a sweet, happy and relaxing one.




http://www.flowersgrowing.com



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aura_Angheliu
http://EzineArticles.com/?Hand-Made-Christmas-Arrangements&id=1583358

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VoIP Phone Systems

The way we make phone calls is changing. In fact in many circumstances things have already changed. Take long distance calls for instance, many service providers are already using a technology called Voice Over IP or VOIP for short. If you have never heard of VOIP before, then the following article will change the way you think about how long distance phone calls are being made now, and about how all phone calls will be made in the future. Voice Over IP (VOIP), as demonstrated with Microsoft's Response Point Phone System, is a method for turning analogue audio signals into digital data that can be transferred over the internet.

You may be asking yourself how this is useful. Well think about it for a few seconds. If it is possible to turn analogue signals into digital data, then VOIP can turn a standard internet connection into a method for placing phone calls anywhere in the world virtually free, except for your internet service fee, enabling you to bypass the phone companies entirely.

Voice Over IP (VOIP) has the potential to completely revolutionise the way the worlds phone systems operate. There are many VOIP service providers that have been around for a while, and are growing steadily. Now the worlds leading telecommunications operators are waking up to the endless possibilities of this new technology, setting up VOIP calling centres around the world and promoting the sales of Voice Over IP phone systems.