Many individuals purchase yogurt frequently at their local grocery stores with no thought about doing so. However, stop for a moment to think about what goes into factory-made yogurt. Unless the yogurt is organic, chances are that it includes things including corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, or sucralose.

Unluckily, more often than not, the components in store-bought yogurt are unhealthy, even possibly detrimental. E.g., corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup are recognized as bad for the human body to consume. Some research holds the theory that corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup may cause high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease.

Regarding aspartame and sucralose, they are artificial sugar. Many people feel that, by replacing real sugar with artificial sugar, they are making healthy choices. While artificial sweeteners may or may not be harmful in and of themselves, removing real sugar from foods does not make the foods lowfat. However, use of artificial sugar is believed to be linked to an increase in obesity because it gives people a false sense of wellness.

Artificial sweeteners also have a chemical taste to them. Some people are more aware of this, and do not like the chemically taste that yogurts that contain these sweeteners typically have. However, they often don't want the strong sweetness of store-bought yogurts made with real sugar.

Another worry is about the fruits found in store-bought. Unless yogurt is organic, there is a real concern of pesticide residue in the fruits used.

However, deciding to make yogurt from scratch means control what ingredients go into your body. When you make your own yogurt, you can put in whatever ingredients you want. You can add fruits you have grown yourself, that are organic, or that you have cleaned using your own trusted method.

To sweeten your yogurt, you can make it as sweet or tart as you wish. Even better, you can sweeten it with the sweetener that you want. Do you like granulated sugar? Then use it! Do you like honey? Then, use that! It is your decision how sweet you you want your yogurt to be and what you use to accomplish its sweetness.

When you control what goes into your yogurt, then you control your health. You can take comfort knowing that there is nothing artificial or harmful in the yogurt you eat. This doesn't even include the fact that yogurt made by you has a far superior taste over whatever you can get in a store!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ginny_Bailey

The acarajé, the main attraction on any tray held by the streets vendors in Bahia (Brazil) is a small cake characteristic of the Candomblé religion. The word acarajé is a very funny mistake. Its real name is "acará". When they say in yoruba: "acará -je" it means: "I have acará", and that is what the women who sell it shout. These women belong to the Yoruba ethnical group.

Acarajé belongs to the cult of Iansá. Iansá is the Lady of the Winds and the flash of lightning. It represents freedom in the figure of the wind. It corresponds to Saint Barbara in the Catholic Religion. She carries a scimitar, her colors are red combined with white and her ritual greeting is EPAHEI!

Acarajé is made and sold by women in Bahia and has been declared "heritage culture" of this region of Brazil. And the ceremony of certification of the craft, held on August 15, 2005, at the headquarters of the National Institute of Artistic and Historic Heritage (Iphan), in Salvador, was of great importance for these women and for the city of Bahia of Saint Salvador as well. During the ceremony, women were very proud, with their trays and bringing a lot of acarajé.

The acarajés are small cakes, made of black-eyed peas, seasoned with ground dried shrimp and onions, are shaped into balls and deep fried in palm oil, then split and filled with a spicy shrimp and onion filling. Though with dried shrimp are traditional, they have an extremely strong flavor.

Even though you can buy it and eat it any time by the streets of Bahia, Acarajé originally came from Western Africa, and is still sold on the streets of Nigeria and Ghana. But it turned out to be the most typical food in Salvador, where it can be bought in the streets.

Acarajes are part of the so many interesting things that you have to see and taste in the City of Salvador, which you should not omit on your next trip!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beatriz_Alvarez

What's so special about Mauviel copper cookware? Well, this cookware for the truly discerning cook has been around since 1830, and for professional chefs, it's some of the most sought-after cookware in the world. Copper pots and pans made by Mauviel come in several different lines and materials, and they are created with the utmost in quality manufacturing, so they'll last in your kitchen for years to come.

Copper has been used for cooking for centuries because it has some wonderful qualities. Copper heats more evenly and quicker than other metals. You'll have more control over what you cook because it heats up and cools down quickly. You can cook with a lower heat in copper cookware, which leads to better food quality. You can use copper cookware on any type of stove, and in the oven and under the broiler, too. Copper is soft, so it easily releases food and it's easy to clean, too. Copper is the metal of choice for candy makers because unlined copper bowls keep melted sugar from crystallizing, and it's the best for beating egg whites to perfection, too.

When you shop for Mauviel copper cookware, there are some things you should know. The company offers four different handle designs and three different pan thicknesses, along with stainless steel linings. They have created these lines because each cook is different and the personality of the pans can match the personality and experience of the cook. The stainless steel interior is also up for just about any type of food you put in it, and it can withstand the higher temps of your oven and broiler, too.

Mauviel brand copper cookware is the green alternative for cookware, too. Since you don't have to use such high temperatures when you cook with copper, you'll save on energy and you can see that savings on your energy bill. If you cook with aluminum cookware, you'll need about half the heat you use now, if you use stainless steel, you'll need even less than half, and you'll need about a quarter of the heat you use now if you cook with cast iron cookware.

You can keep your Mauviel copper cookware looking beautiful for decades to come by periodically polishing the copper surface. Never put your copper cookware in the dishwasher, and always let cooked on food soak in warm, soapy water. Stainless steel is tough but it can still be harmed by using scrubbers or scouring powders.

For a big selection of Mauviel copper, try YourSmartKitchen.com, we offer many distinctive pieces of Mauviel copper, from sauté pans to sauce pans and more. This beautiful cookware will make cooking a breeze, and it will add beauty to your kitchen too, with it's distinctive copper sheen and obvious quality.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Retter