Best Spas of 2011

Best Spas in the US & the Caribbean.

In The Americas and Caribbean, the body treatments at The Peninsula Spa by ESPA in New York (pictured) are second to none.

1. The Peninsula Spa by ESPA, The Peninsula, New York, USA 94.88
2. The Blue Spa, Carlisle Bay, Antigua 94.24
3. COMO Shambhala Retreat, Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos 93.61
4. The Spa, Mandarin Oriental, New York, USA 91.95
5. The Spa, Sandy Lane, Barbados 90.40
6. The Spa, Fasano Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 90.33
7. Kinan Spa, Maroma Resort and Spa, Mayan Riviera, Mexico 89.91
8. The Spa, Calistoga Ranch, California, USA 87.85
9. The Cloister Spa at Sea Island Resorts, Georgia, USA 87.84
10. The Spa, Four Seasons Resort Whistler, Canada 87.52

Hotel Spas: Asia and the Indian Subcontinent best in 2011

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo (pictured), came out top in Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, but you also rate the spa facilities at the Leela Palace Kempinski Bangalore, and think the individual approach at the Banyan Tree Spa in Phuket, Thailand, is excellent
1. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo 95.17

2. The Spa, Leela Palace Kempinski, Bangalore, India 95.04

3. Banyan Tree Spa, Banyan Tree Phuket, Thailand 94.55

4. Six Senses Earth Spa, Six Senses Hua Hin, Thailand 94.47

5. Oberoi Spa, The Oberoi Udaivila's, Udaipur, India 93.73

6. Jiva Spa, Taj Exotica, Goa, India 92.02

7. Anantara Spa, Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa, Thailand 91.52

8. The Spa, The Chedi Phuket, Thailand 90.78

9. Raffles Amrita Spa, Raffles Hotel Singapore, Singapore 89.60

10. The Spa, Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand 88.94

10. Mandara Spa,The Datai Langkawi, Malaysia 88.94

IEurope Asia Minor and the Russian Federation best of 2011

You will appreciate the service at the spa at Four Seasons Hotel Georges V Paris (above), making it top of its category just ahead of the Anassa in Cyprus, which you say has the best facilities.

1. The Spa, Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, France 95.44
2. The Thalassa Spa, Anassa, Cyprus 95.25
3. Metropole ESPA, Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo, Monaco 94.17
4. ESPA at Castello Nero, Florence, Italy 91.49
5. ESPA at The Ritz- Carlton, Moscow, Russian Federation 89.40
6. The Retreat Spa, InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel, Cyprus 88.75
7. The Spa at Bahía del Duque Resort by ESPA, Tenerife 87.80
8. Six Senses Spa, Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay, Bodrum, Turkey 86.92
9. Cinq Mondes Spa, Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne, Switzerland 86.86
10. SPA, Choupana Hills Resort & Spa, Madeira 85.65

Hotel Spas: Australasia & the South Pacific

In Australasia & the South Pacific, the individual approach of the Chuan Spa at The Langham hotel in Melbourne impressed you, and it just beat the Hélène Spa at the InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa in Bora Bora, which took top marks for ambience/design.
1. Chuan Spa, The Langham, Melbourne, Australia 94.96

2. Hélène Spa, InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa, Bora Bora, French Polynesia 94.35

3. CHI, The Spa, Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, Australia 92.29

4. The Reef House Day Spa, The Sebel Reef House & Spa, Queensland, Australia 91.11

5. Red Ochre Spa, Sails in the Desert Hotel, Ayers Rock Resort, Uluru, Australia 90.67

6. The Spa at The Richardson, The Richardson Hotel & Spa, Perth, Australia 89.92

7. Waldheim Alpine Spa, Cradle Mountain Lodge, Tasmania 89.63

8. Spa Hayman, Hayman, Great Barrier Reef, Australia 89.25

9. Capella Spa, Lord Howe Island, Australia 88.82

10. Kauri Cliffs, Matauri Bay, New Zealand 88.54

Hotel spas: Africa, Middle East & the Indian Ocean

The SPA at La Mamounia, in Marrakech (pictured), swept the board in five out of 10 criteria, coming number one in our list of the top 25 spas in the world, as well as being ranked the best in its region.
1. SPA, La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco 95.57*

2. CHI, The Spa, Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Muscat, Oman 95.16

3. The Spa by ESPA, One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives 94.65

4. COMO Shambhala Retreat, Cocoa Island, Maldives 94.28

5. Pezula Spa, Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa, Knysna, South Africa 92.09

6. The Spa, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landau Giraavaru, Maldives 91.53

7. Banyan Tree Spa, Banyan Tree Seychelles 90.11

8. Six Senses Spa, Soneva Gili by Six Senses, Maldives 88.79

9. The Spa, Four Seasons Resort, Seychelles 87.67

10. The Oberoi Spa, The Oberoi, Mauritius 87.33

The Best Diet Ever!

One of its champions, Dr. Dimitrios Trichopoulos of Harvard University, calls the Mediterranean way of eating "possibly the best ever."

Trichopoulos can point to hundreds of scientific studies — as well as a long-running natural experiment among Mediterranean people themselves — linking the diet to a decrease in mortality rates (meaning deaths per thousand per year) and, more specifically, to reduced rates of heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes and other serious health problems.

An in depth article from the Mayo Clinic regarding the Mediterranean diet.

Benefits of the Mediterranean diet

Research has shown that the traditional Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart disease. In fact, a recent analysis of more than 1.5 million healthy adults demonstrated that following a Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of overall and cardiovascular mortality, a reduced incidence of cancer and cancer mortality, and a reduced incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

For this reason, most if not all major scientific organizations encourage healthy adults to adapt a style of eating like that of the Mediterranean diet for prevention of major chronic diseases.

Key components of the Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes:

Getting plenty of exercise
Eating primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts
Replacing butter with healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil
Using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods
Limiting red meat to no more than a few times a month
Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week
Drinking red wine in moderation (optional)
The diet also recognizes the importance of enjoying meals with family and friends.

Fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains

The Mediterranean diet traditionally includes fruits, vegetables, pasta and rice. For example, residents of Greece eat very little red meat and average nine servings a day of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. The Mediterranean diet has been associated with a lower level of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — the "bad" cholesterol that's more likely to build up deposits in your arteries.

Nuts are another part of a healthy Mediterranean diet. Nuts are high in fat (approximately 80 percent of their calories come from fat), but most of the fat is not saturated. Because nuts are high in calories, they should not be eaten in large amounts — generally no more than a handful a day. For the best nutrition, avoid candied or honey-roasted and heavily salted nuts.

Grains in the Mediterranean region are typically whole grain and usually contain very few unhealthy trans fats, and bread is an important part of the diet there. However, throughout the Mediterranean region, bread is eaten plain or dipped in olive oil — not eaten with butter or margarines, which contain saturated or trans fats.

Mediterranean diet: Choose this heart-healthy diet option

Healthy fats

The focus of the Mediterranean diet isn't on limiting total fat consumption, but rather to make wise choices about the types of fat you eat. The Mediterranean diet discourages saturated fats and hydrogenated oils (trans fats), both of which contribute to heart disease.

The Mediterranean diet features olive oil as the primary source of fat. Olive oil provides monounsaturated fat — a type of fat that can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels when used in place of saturated or trans fats. "Extra-virgin" and "virgin" olive oils — the least processed forms — also contain the highest levels of the protective plant compounds that provide antioxidant effects.

Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, such as canola oil and some nuts, contain the beneficial linolenic acid (a type of omega-3 fatty acid). Omega-3 fatty acids lower triglycerides, decrease blood clotting, are associated with decreased sudden heart attack, improve the health of your blood vessels, and help moderate blood pressure. Fatty fish — such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon — are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish is eaten on a regular basis in the Mediterranean diet.

Wine

The health effects of alcohol have been debated for many years, and some doctors are reluctant to encourage alcohol consumption because of the health consequences of excessive drinking. However, alcohol — in moderation — has been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease in some research studies.

The Mediterranean diet typically includes a moderate amount of wine. This means no more than 5 ounces (148 milliliters) of wine daily for women (or men over age 65), and no more than 10 ounces (296 milliliters) of wine daily for men under age 65. More than this may increase the risk of health problems, including increased risk of certain types of cancer.

If you're unable to limit your alcohol intake to the amounts defined above, if you have a personal or family history of alcohol abuse, or if you have heart or liver disease, refrain from drinking wine or any other alcohol. Also keep in mind that red wine may trigger migraines in some people.

Putting it all together

The Mediterranean diet is a delicious and healthy way to eat. Many people who switch to this style of eating say they'll never eat any other way. Here are some specific steps to get you started:

Eat your veggies and fruits — and switch to whole grains. An abundance and variety of plant foods should make up the majority of your meals. They should be minimally processed, and try to purchase them when they're in season. Strive for seven to 10 servings a day of veggies and fruits. Switch to whole-grain bread and cereal, and begin to eat more whole-gain rice and pasta products. Keep baby carrots, apples and bananas on hand for quick, satisfying snacks. Fruit salads are a wonderful way to eat a variety of healthy fruit.

Go nuts. Keep almonds, cashews, pistachios and walnuts on hand for a quick snack. Choose natural peanut butter, rather than the kind with hydrogenated fat added. Try tahini (blended sesame seeds) as a dip or spread for bread.

Pass on the butter. Try olive or canola oil as a healthy replacement for butter or margarine. Use it in cooking. After cooking pasta, add a touch of olive oil, some garlic and green onions for flavoring. Dip bread in flavored olive oil or lightly spread it on whole-grain bread for a tasty alternative to butter. Try tahini (blended sesame seeds) as a dip or spread for bread too.

Spice it up. Herbs and spices make food tasty and are also rich in health-promoting substances. Season your meals with herbs and spices rather than salt.

Go fish. Eat fish once or twice a week. Fresh or water-packed tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel and herring are healthy choices. Grilled fish tastes good and requires little cleanup. Avoid fried fish, unless it's sauteed in a small amount of canola oil.

Rein in the red meat. Substitute fish and poultry for red meat. When eaten, make sure it's lean and keep portions small (about the size of a deck of cards). Also avoid sausage, bacon and other high-fat meats.

Choose low-fat dairy. Limit higher fat dairy products such as whole or 2 percent milk, cheese and ice cream. Switch to skim milk, fat-free yogurt and low-fat cheese.

Raise a glass to healthy eating. If it's OK with your doctor, have a glass of wine at dinner. If you don't drink alcohol, you don't need to start. Drinking purple grape juice may be an alternative to wine.

Thanksgiving Prayer

Happy Thanksgiving EVERYONE!

I thank God first & foremost for everything. For the sunny days & the stormy ones. For watching over me and YOU 24/7... & for his Grace that always suffice yours and my needs.

... and for HIM to bless me with family & friends like you*.....

For bloggers like me and the ones who read & follow my blogs, "thank you too!"

SO I wish all of YOU - a wonderful, happy & a safe Thanksgiving*** And always remember, you are so much blessed more than you'll ever know or imagine...

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!***.................................

Passages for Thanksgiving Prayer
from Askville.com

"O God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry;

When I have work,
help me to remember the jobless;

When I have a home,
help me to remember those who have no home at all;

When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer,

And remembering,
help me to destroy my complacency;

Bestir my compassion,
and be concerned enough to help;

By word and deed,
those who cry out for what we take for granted.

O Lord, with humble hearts we pray
Thy blessings this Thanksgiving Day
And ask that at table place,
Where grateful folk say words of grace,
That thou will come to share the yield Thy bounty gave to farm and field.
We pray that love will bless, O Lord,
Each hearth, each home, each festive board,
And that Thy peace will come to stay,
Where candles glow, Thanksgiving Day

Amen.

My Review of Restaurants, Food & Places Part 1

Here are my favorites of Restaurants, Food & Places, Etc...

Best Spas in CA:

Montage Resorts & Spa
Laguna Beach, CA
http://www.spamontage.com/lagunabeach/

Review: My #1 star. From a scale of 1 to 10 I give them an 11 stars! It was that awesome*
From the ambiance and the massage itself was amazing. Enough said. Best Resorts & Spa in California maybe the entire country.


Price: $$$$

Spa Gregories
200 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
http://spagregories.com/

Review: My second choice. Every staff member in this place is very nice and warm. It's a haven for peace and tranquility for your mind and body. It's great to be a repeat customer here. This is a full service spa. From massage, facials, body wraps, salon, etc....


Price: $$

Best Steakhouse in CA

Lucky's Steakhouse
1279 Coast Village Rd
Montecito, CA 93108
www.luckys-steakhouse.com/

Review: Near Santa Barbara. Former Richard Nixon, Dean Martin, Sammie Davis and other big names ate in this place. From the entrance the hostess, servers and the whole ambiance of the place, plus your table settings etc... you will feel like a dignitary. It is the most succulent rib eye steak I have ever tasted. The grilled scallops in pesto sauce were impressive as well as the deserts. The only drawback is your bill also feels like a dignitary.

Price: $$$$$

Mastro's Ocean Club
8112 E Coast Hwy
Newport Beach, CA
http://www.mastrosrestaurants.com/

Review: My oh my! I had a wonderful experience at Mastro's Ocean Club. A great steakhouse place and yet with a subtle, relaxed but elegant feel to it. There's a jazz band that plays here too. Okay, let's get right to it. Their steaks in my opinion is second to Lucky's. I can go here every week if I can. Their appetizers, salads and deserts were all splendidly impeccable Great wine selections. The server is detailed and warm. Really pleasant.

Price: $$$

Try it and please give me some feedback.Till my next review. Have a great afternoon :)

Best Sex on the Beach

If you like cocktails. You surely will love my version of Sex on the Beach cocktail. It all started 6 years ago. It was my niece's birthday. She, her husband and I went to this famous Jazz club called Vibrato Grill in Bel Air Los Angeles near Century City for her 26t birthday. After we entered the club waiting for our reserved seats we hanged out at the bar. When it was my turn to order my drink, I thought to myself since this is a fantastic place and a special night I want really something awesome!

I asked the Bartender, what would you recommend? His reply was not something I was expecting. After all he was this supposedly great bartender. He said, "whatever you want." Well, he wasn't pretty to ask him for a date. Seriously, so that is when I asked myself, what would really be a fabulous cocktail?

And that is when I thought about this drink. Spur of the moment. My version of Sex on the Beach. After I instructed the bartender how to put it together, I knew after my first sip it was Fantabulous! He tried it and he loved it. He even asked me that I should name that drink. Next thing you know our seats were ready and were escorted like royalty to our table. Enjoyed the food, the music and the evening.

Oh yeah, I will give everyone a review on Vibrato Grill this week. It was a wonderful experience.

Without further due, here's the recipe.

Note: You can play around with quantity of the Mango, Orange & Strawberry depending on your taste. Even so with the Vodka and the Rum.

1 Grey Goose Vodka
1/2 Mango Rum
1/2 Peach Schnapps
1/2 Orange Juice
1 /2 Mango
1 Strawberry

There you go. Cheers :)

And always remember to drink moderately. DO NOT drink & drive. Enjoy*...........................

Preventive Measures & Dangers of a Stroke & Heart Attack

My dad died of heart trouble back in 1997. His diabetes actually sealed his fate and died at the age of 70. My mom had a stroke 18 months ago but survived and is doing good. Last year it was my brother in law had a heart attack. He also survived and is now doing well. Then last Monday, my brother too had a stroke. He too is recovering and is doing good. Thank God for the second chances they got. Because my dad didn't.

This motivated me to be more conscious about my own lifestyle & share about the dangers and preventive measures of a heart attack and a stroke. Either way, they are both deadly. Mini, mild or whatever. It is what it is.

Here's a great article that hopefully may help all of us in preventing or delaying these diseases. They say that knowledge is power. But action is more powerful.

Overview:

If plaque builds up in the body's arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis (ATH-er-o-skler-O-sis). Over time, plaque hardens and narrows the arteries. This may limit the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body.

Atherosclerosis can affect any artery in the body. For example, if plaque builds up in the coronary (heart) arteries, a heart attack can occur. If plaque builds up in the carotid arteries, a stroke can occur.

A stroke also can occur if blood clots form in the carotid arteries. This can happen if the plaque in an artery cracks or ruptures. Blood cell fragments called platelets (PLATE-lets) stick to the site of the injury and may clump together to form blood clots. Blood clots can partly or fully block a carotid artery.

A piece of plaque or a blood clot also can break away from the wall of the carotid artery. The plaque or clot can travel through the bloodstream and get stuck in one of the brain's smaller arteries. This can block blood flow in the artery and cause a stroke.

Here's the article:

What Causes Carotid Artery Disease?
Carotid artery disease seems to start when damage occurs to the inner layers of the carotid arteries. Major factors that contribute to damage include:

Smoking
High levels of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood
High blood pressure
High levels of sugar in the blood due to insulin resistance or diabetes
When damage occurs, your body starts a healing process. The healing may cause plaque to build up where the arteries are damaged.

When damage occurs, your body starts a healing process. The healing may cause plaque to build up where the arteries are damaged.

The plaque in an artery can crack or rupture. If this happens, blood cell fragments called platelets will stick to the site of the injury and may clump together to form blood clots.

The buildup of plaque or blood clots can severely narrow or block the carotid arteries. This limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your brain, which can cause a stroke.

Who Is at Risk for Carotid Artery Disease?

Certain traits, conditions, or habits may raise your risk for carotid artery disease. These conditions are known as risk factors. The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to get the disease. Some risk factors you can control, but others you can't.

The major risk factors for carotid artery disease, listed below, also are the major risk factors for coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease) and peripheral arterial disease.

Unhealthy blood cholesterol levels. This includes high LDL cholesterol (sometimes called “bad” cholesterol) and low HDL cholesterol (sometimes called “good” cholesterol).
High blood pressure. Blood pressure is considered high if it stays at or above 140/90 mmHg over time. If you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure is defined as 130/80 mmHg or higher. (The mmHg is millimeters of mercury—the units used to measure blood pressure.)
Smoking. Smoking can damage and tighten blood vessels, lead to unhealthy cholesterol levels, and raise blood pressure. Smoking also can limit how much oxygen reaches the body's tissues.
Insulin resistance. This condition occurs if the body can't use its own insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that helps move blood sugar into cells where it's used as an energy source. Insulin resistance may lead to diabetes.
Diabetes. With this disease, the body's blood sugar level is too high because the body doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use its insulin properly. People who have diabetes are four times more likely to have carotid artery disease than people who don't have diabetes.
Overweight or obesity. The terms "overweight" and "obesity" refer to body weight that's greater than what is considered healthy for a certain height.
Metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that raise your risk for stroke and other health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. The five metabolic risk factors are a large waistline (abdominal obesity), a high triglyceride (tri-GLIS-er-ide) level (a type of fat found in the blood), a low HDL cholesterol level, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed if you have at least three of these metabolic risk factors.
Lack of physical activity. Lack of physical activity can worsen some other risk factors for carotid artery disease, such as unhealthy blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, diabetes, and overweight or obesity.
Unhealthy diet. An unhealthy diet can raise your risk for carotid artery disease. Foods that are high in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and sugar can worsen other carotid artery disease risk factors.
Older age. As you get older, your risk for carotid artery disease increases. Genetic or lifestyle factors cause plaque to build up in your arteries as you age. Before age 75, the risk is greater in men than women. However, after age 75, the risk is greater in women.
Family history of atherosclerosis.


Transient Ischemic Attack (Mini-Stroke)

For some people, having a TIA, or “mini-stroke,” is the first sign of carotid artery disease. During a mini-stroke, you may have some or all of the symptoms of a stroke. However, the symptoms usually go away on their own within 24 hours.

The symptoms may include:

Sudden weakness or numbness in the face or limbs, often on just one side of the body
The inability to move one or more of your limbs
Trouble speaking or understanding speech
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Dizziness or loss of balance
A sudden, severe headache with no known cause
Even if the symptoms stop quickly, you should see a doctor right away. Call 9–1–1 for help. Do not drive yourself to the hospital. It's important to get checked and to get treatment started as soon as possible.

A mini-stroke is a warning sign that you're at high risk of having a stroke. You shouldn't ignore these symptoms. About one-third of people who have mini-strokes will later have strokes. Getting medical care can help find possible causes of a mini-stroke and help you manage risk factors. These actions might prevent a future stroke.

Although a mini-stroke may warn of a stroke, it doesn't predict when a stroke will happen. A stroke may occur days, weeks, or even months after a mini-stroke. In about half of the cases of strokes that follow TIAs, the strokes occur within 1 year.

Stroke

The symptoms of a stroke are the same as those of a mini-stroke, but the results are not. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage; long-term disability, such as vision or speech problems or paralysis (an inability to move); or death. Most people who have strokes have not previously had warning mini-strokes.

Getting treatment for a stroke right away is very important. You have the best chance for full recovery if treatment to open a blocked artery is given within 4 hours of symptom onset. The sooner treatment occurs, the better your chances of recovery.

Call 9–1–1 for help as soon as symptoms occur. Do not drive yourself to the hospital. It's very important to get checked and to get treatment started as soon as possible.

Make those close to you aware of stroke symptoms and the need for urgent action. Learning the signs and symptoms of a stroke will allow you to help yourself or someone close to you lower the risk of brain damage or death due to a stroke.

Preventions:

Lifestyle Changes

Making lifestyle changes can help prevent carotid artery disease or keep it from getting worse. For some people, these changes may be the only treatment needed:

Follow a healthy diet to prevent or lower high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol and to maintain a healthy weight.
Be physically active. Check with your doctor first to find out how much and what kinds of activity are safe for you.
If you're overweight or obese, lose weight.
If you smoke, quit. Also, try to avoid secondhand smoke.
Follow a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Following a healthy diet can prevent or reduce high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol and help you maintain a healthy weight.

For information about healthy eating, go to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI's) Aim for a Healthy Weight Web site. This site provides practical tips on healthy eating, physical activity, and controlling your weight.

Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC). Your doctor may recommend a three-part program called TLC if you have high blood cholesterol. TLC includes a healthy diet, physical activity, and weight management.

With the TLC diet, less than 7 percent of your daily calories should come from saturated fat. This kind of fat is found mainly in meat, poultry, and dairy products. No more than 25 to 35 percent of your daily calories should come from all fats, including saturated, trans, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats.

You also should have less than 200 mg a day of cholesterol. The amounts of cholesterol and the different kinds of fat in prepared foods can be found on the foods' Nutrition Facts labels.

Foods high in soluble fiber also are part of a healthy diet. They help block the digestive tract from absorbing cholesterol. These foods include:

Whole-grain cereals such as oatmeal and oat bran
Fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges, pears, and prunes
Legumes such as kidney beans, lentils, chick peas, black-eyed peas, and lima beans

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can increase important cholesterol-lowering compounds in your diet. These compounds, called plant stanols or sterols, work like soluble fiber.

Fish are an important part of a healthy diet. They're a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help lower blood cholesterol levels. Try to have about two fish meals every week. Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids are salmon, tuna (canned or fresh), and mackerel.

You also should try to limit the amount of sodium (salt) that you eat. Too much sodium can raise your risk of high blood pressure. Choose low-sodium and "no added salt" foods and seasonings at the table or when cooking. The Nutrition Facts label on food packaging shows the amount of sodium in an item.

Try to limit drinks with alcohol. Too much alcohol will raise your blood pressure and triglyceride level. (Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood.) Alcohol also adds extra calories, which will cause weight gain.

Men should have no more than two drinks containing alcohol a day. Women should have no more than one drink containing alcohol a day. One drink is a glass of wine, beer, or a small amount of hard liquor.

For more information about TLC, go to the NHLBI's “Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol With TLC.”

For the full article go to: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/catd/treatment.html

Let's all have a Happy Hearty Living :)

A Yummy Baked Mussels Recipe

A great Baked Mussels recipe from Chef Osteria Panevino from a restaurant in San Diego.

Mussels are readily available along the most of California's shoreline, and have been prized as table fare by coastal residents for centuries. They are delectable with pesto sauce and pasta, are absolutely mandatory when making Spanish paella and are a gourmet delicacy when simply steamed and dipped in garlic butter. Here, Chef Alberto Morreale offers a great, Sicilian-style recipe for baked mussels that offers a touch of Medeterranean elegance to offset the delicate flavor of the popular Mollusk.

Cook Tip: Enjoy this dish with a fresh, green salad and a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.

Ingredients
2 lb. large black mussels
1/4 C. olive oil
1/3 C. water
(to taste) salt and pepper
2 C. bread crumbs
4 Tbsp. grated Pecorino Romano cheese
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
2 Tbsp. Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 tsp. crushed red chili
12 fresh pear tomatoes, chopped

Directions:

Scrub the mussels with a brush, and pull off beards if necessary. Prepare a fry pan with a tight fitting lid that is large enough to hold all the mussels. Add 3-4 Tbsp. olive oil, water, salt, and pepper. Cover pan; let mussels steam over medium heat to open.
Meanwhile, combine breadcrumbs, cheese, garlic, parsley, and chili. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F). Remove mussels from pan to cool and reserve cooking liquid. Discard any unopened mussels. Open shells of remaining mussles and pull mussels from shell. Do not break shells apart.

Lay shells flat across a rimmed baking sheet and place one mussel in each shell. Cover mussel with 1 Tbsp. stuffing mixture and 1 Tbsp. chopped tomatoes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Drizzle with olive oil and remaining liquid from steam process to moisten breadcrumbs. Bake until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes. Serve hot.

Bon Appetit!

World's Most Exciting & Expensive Cars

If you like cars you will absolutely love this article I got from Automotorportal.com with pictures as well. Here you will find the top 10 most expensive and exciting cars in the world.

Enjoy.

World's Most Expensive Cars

What is the most expensive car in the world? The 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe was sold for $8,700,000 in 1987. However, that car and many alike will not be included in this list because it is not available on the market today. It is hard to imagine someone would actually spend 8 million dollars on a car instead of using it for something more productive. However, if you had the money and opportunity, you would probably spend a small fraction of it on a collection of supercars for your private garage.

Here are the 10 most expensive production cars on the market; we will not include concept cars.

1. Bugatti Veyron Super Sports $2,400,000. This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today (the base Veyron costs $1,700,000). It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. It is also the fastest street legal car when tested again on July 10, 2010 with the 2010 Super Sport Version reaching a top speed of 267 mph. When competing against the Bugatti Veyron, you better be prepared!

Pagani Zonda Clinque Roadster $1,850,000. One of the most exotic cars out there is one of the most expensive. It can go from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 217 mph.

We have a tie for 3rd place.

3. Lamborghini Reventon $1,600,000. The most powerful and the most expensive Lamborghini ever built is the third on the list. It takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph and it has a top speed of 211 mph. Its rarity (limited to 20) and slick design are the reasons why it is so expensive and costly to own.

3. Koenigsegg Agera R $1,600,000. The Agera R can burn 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, reaching a maximum speed of 260 mph. It has the parts to reach 270 mph, but the supercar is electronically capped at 235 mph. With the completion of certain paperwork, the company will unlock the speed limit for one occasion.

4. McLaren F1 $970,000. In 1994, the McLaren F1 was the fastest and most expensive car. Even though it was built 15 years ago, it has an unbelievable top speed of 240 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Even today, the McLaren F1 is still top on the list and outperforms many other supercars.

For the full article here's the link which also has full details for each vehicle:
http://www.thesupercars.org/bugatti/bugatti-veyron/