Showing posts with label Disturbing Delicacies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disturbing Delicacies. Show all posts
Friday, 17 May 2013
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Coffee from an elephant's gut fills a $50 cup
GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Thailand (AP) — In the lush hills of northern Thailand, a herd of 20 elephants is excreting some of the world's most expensive coffee.
Trumpeted as earthy in flavor and smooth on the palate, the exotic new brew is made from beans eaten by Thai elephants and plucked a day later from their dung. A gut reaction inside the elephant creates what its founder calls the coffee's unique taste. Stomach turning or oddly alluring, this is not just one of the world's most unusual specialty coffees. At $1,100 per kilogram ($500 per pound), it's also among the world's priciest. For now, only the wealthy or well-traveled have access to the cuppa, which is called Black Ivory Coffee. It was launched last month at a few luxury hotels in remote corners of the world — first in northern Thailand, then the Maldives and now Abu Dhabi — with the price tag of about $50 a serving.
world — first in northern Thailand, then the Maldives and now Abu Dhabi — with the price tag of about $50 a serving.
The Associated Press traveled to the coffee's production site in the Golden Triangle, an area historically known for producing drugs more potent than coffee, to see the jumbo baristas at work. And to sip the finished product from a dainty demi-tasse. In the misty mountains where Thailand meets Laos and Burna, the coffee's creator cites biology and scientific research to answer the basic question: Why elephants?
"When an elephant eats coffee, its stomach acid breaks down the protein found in coffee, which is a key factor in bitterness," said Blake Dinkin, who has spent $300,000 developing the coffee. "You end up with a cup that's very smooth without the bitterness of regular coffee."
The result is similar in civet coffee, or kopi luwak, another exorbitantly expensive variety extracted from the excrement of the weasel-like civet. But the elephants' massive stomach provides a bonus.
Think of the elephant as the animal kingdom's equivalent of a slow cooker. It takes between 15-30 hours to digest the beans, which stew together with bananas, sugar cane and other ingredients in the elephant's vegetarian diet to infuse unique earthy and fruity flavors, said the 42-year-old Canadian, who has a background in civet coffee.
"My theory is that a natural fermentation process takes place in the elephant's gut," said Dinkin. "That fermentation imparts flavors you wouldn't get from other coffees."
At the jungle retreat that is home to the herd, conservationists were initially skeptical about the idea.
"My initial thought was about caffeine — won't the elephants get wired on it or addicted to coffee?" said John Roberts, director of elephants at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, a refuge for rescued elephants. It now earns 8 percent of the coffee's total sales, which go toward the herd's healthcare. "As far as we can tell there is definitely no harm to the elephants."
Before presenting his proposal to the foundation, Dinkin said he worked with a Canadian-based veterinarian that ran blood tests on zoo elephants showing they don't absorb any caffeine from eating raw coffee cherries.
"I thought it was well worth a try because we're looking for anything that can help elephants to make a living," said Roberts, who estimates the cost of keeping each elephant is about $1,000 a month.
As for the coffee's inflated price, Dinkin half-joked that elephants are highly inefficient workers. It takes 33 kilograms (72 pounds) of raw coffee cherries to produce 1 kilogram of (2 pounds) Black Ivory coffee. The majority of beans get chewed up, broken or lost in tall grass after being excreted.
And, his artisanal process is labor-intensive. He uses pure Arabica beans hand-picked by hill-tribe women from a small mountain estate. Once the elephants do their business, the wives of elephant mahouts collect the dung, break it open and pick out the coffee. After a thorough washing, the coffee cherries are processed to extract the beans, which are then brought to a gourmet roaster in Bangkok.
Inevitably, the elephant coffee has become the butt of jokes. Dinkin shared his favorites: Crap-accino. Good to the last dropping. Elephant poop coffee.
As far away as Hollywood, even Jay Leno has taken cracks.
"Here's my question," Leno quipped recently. "Who is the first person that saw a bunch of coffee beans and a pile of elephant dung and said, 'You know, if I ground those up and drank it, I'll bet that would be delicious.'"
Jokes aside, people are drinking it. Black Ivory's maiden batch of 70 kilograms (150 pounds) has sold out. Dinkin hopes to crank out six times that amount in 2013, catering to a customer he sees as relatively affluent, open-minded and adventurous with a desire to tell a good story.
For now, the only places to get it are a few Anantara luxury resorts, including one at the Golden Triangle beside the elephant foundation.
At sunset one recent evening in the hotel's hilltop bar, an American couple sampled the brew. They said it surpassed their expectations.
"I thought it would be repulsive," said Ryan Nelson, 31, of Tampa, Florida. "But I loved it. It was something different. There's definitely something wild about it that I can't put a name on."
His wife Asleigh, a biologist and coffee lover, called it a "fantastic product for an eco-conscious consumer," since the coffee helps fund elephant conservation.
But how does it taste?
"Very interesting," she said, choosing her words carefully. "Very novel."
"I don't think I could afford it every day on my zookeeper's salary," she said. "But I'm certainly enjoying it sitting here overlooking the elephants, on vacation."
Via — Link
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Top 10 Best Foods for Human Brain Health
Here’s a list of best foods for human brain health. Sometime We don’t care about our foods. We should remember that “We are what We eat”. Brain is the most important part of our body that need nutrition from our foods. So We have to consider to eat the best foods for brain health. Here are 10 of the best foods for human brain health
10. Whole Grains
Whole grains is working to increase blood flow to the brain. It is very supportive to the quality and quantity of brain function. These seeds contain lots of B6 vitamin, which is full of thiamine. Thiamine is great for anyone trying to improve memory. Scientific research has shown that memory loss has increased dramatically during the late 60′s or early 70′s. Eating whole grains is good while we grow old.
9. Eggs
As we get older, our brains begin to shrink because of something called brain atrophy. However, we can fight this natural process by routinely eat the eggs. This is because eggs contain a lot of vitamin B12 and lecithin. Vitamin B12 helpful against brain shrinkage, which is often seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Eggs is very helpful for brain health although very unhealthy if eaten too much because full of essential fatty acids. Egg yolk, although contain very high cholesterol, contain high choline, which is the building substance of the brain cells. Choline may help improve memory. Once again don’t take eggs to much in a day, just 1-2 eggs a day is enough.
8. Oysters
If You like seafood, of course You like to eat it. Research has shown that the oyster is very beneficial for your brain. Oysters are rich in zinc and iron minerals, which is very helpful for keeping the mind sharp and improve the ability to recall information easily. Zinc and iron have been associated with the brain’s ability to stay focused and remember information. Lack of zinc and iron can lead to distortions of memory, poor concentration, and of course other diseases throughout the body.
7. Tea, especially green tea
Do You like to drink coffee in the morning? Try to replace it with a cup of tea! Just freshly brewed, green tea or black tea is very beneficial for the brain because it contains catechins. Do You ever had a day where you just feel tired, tired, and “too lazy” to think? Perhaps because less catechin in your brain. Catechin useful to keep the mind sharp, fresh, and work properly. It also allows for more relaxed and help to combat mental fatigue. Green tea is much stronger than black tea, both very good for you.
6. Berries
Blueberry is very good in improving motoric skills and overall learning ability. Most berries, including blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc., are full of antioxidants that are good for improving brain health. You can help reverse the effects of aging on the brain by eating this fruit once a day. Berry, most contain fisetin and flavenoid, which is very good to improve memory, and allow you for easy recall of past events.
5. Curry
Curry is very useful to keep the brain fresh. As the main ingredient of curry powder, curcumin full of antioxidants that help fight brain aging and maintain cognitive function as you get older. Antioxidants are also struggling against free radical damage that can occur in the brain and body. Free radicals can cause inflammation and other diseases in the body. Curry is not only good for the brain, It also can fight diabetes and heart disease.
4. Leafy Green Vegetables
Leafy green vegetables such as cabbage, kale, spinach, etc., is very good for the brain of children and adults. This vegetable is very helpful when we need to recall old information and processes such as you just learned yesterday. This is because these foods are full of vitamins B6, B12, and folate, which is an important compound in the brain needed to break down homocysteine levels, which can lead to forgetfulness and even Alzheimer’s disease. These vegetables are often contains high iron. So the kids must be taught to eat green vegetables.
3. Nuts and Seeds
Looking for snacks that have good effects to the brain? It’s snacks from nuts and seeds. Like peanuts, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and other types of nuts or seeds that you can think of is good for your brain. Nuts and seeds are full of Omega-3s and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as folate, vitamin E, and vitamin B6. All of these nutrients allows you to think more clearly. They also help you to think more positive, because the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids work as natural antidepressants. Some seeds and nuts are also full of thiamine and magnesium, which is good for memory and cognitive function of the brain.
2. Fish
Fish in general is very beneficial for your health, especially for your brain. Fish is full of Omega-3, which is a fatty acid that is very beneficial to the body in various aspects. Eating one serving of fish a week can greatly reduce the chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease. These fatty acids help brain function because they coat the neurons that sometimes has a layer of fatty acids which are stiff with a high content of cholesterol and saturated fats in the body. Omega-3 will cover the neurons with good fats, which allows them to move easily throughout the brain. Omega-3 also provides more oxygen to the brain, and allows to store new information while still remembering the old information. The best fish to eat for brain health is salmon, tuna, and herring. Eat more vitamins for your brain by eating tuna fish and choose from a variety of tuna recipes at Beewellforlife.com.
1. Chocolate
While You replace your coffee drink with hot chocolate drink each day, It’s not just delicious but also very nutritious for your brain. Scientists have proved that the antioxidant content found in cocoa powder is more powerful than the antioxidants found in other foods, such as green tea or red wine. The main antioxidants found in cocoa, known as flavonols, it is important to help increasing blood flow to the brain.
Let’s consider eating those best foods for human brain to keep our brain healthy as We grow old 
10. Whole Grains
Whole grains is working to increase blood flow to the brain. It is very supportive to the quality and quantity of brain function. These seeds contain lots of B6 vitamin, which is full of thiamine. Thiamine is great for anyone trying to improve memory. Scientific research has shown that memory loss has increased dramatically during the late 60′s or early 70′s. Eating whole grains is good while we grow old.
9. Eggs
As we get older, our brains begin to shrink because of something called brain atrophy. However, we can fight this natural process by routinely eat the eggs. This is because eggs contain a lot of vitamin B12 and lecithin. Vitamin B12 helpful against brain shrinkage, which is often seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Eggs is very helpful for brain health although very unhealthy if eaten too much because full of essential fatty acids. Egg yolk, although contain very high cholesterol, contain high choline, which is the building substance of the brain cells. Choline may help improve memory. Once again don’t take eggs to much in a day, just 1-2 eggs a day is enough.
Eggs
If You like seafood, of course You like to eat it. Research has shown that the oyster is very beneficial for your brain. Oysters are rich in zinc and iron minerals, which is very helpful for keeping the mind sharp and improve the ability to recall information easily. Zinc and iron have been associated with the brain’s ability to stay focused and remember information. Lack of zinc and iron can lead to distortions of memory, poor concentration, and of course other diseases throughout the body.
Oysters
Do You like to drink coffee in the morning? Try to replace it with a cup of tea! Just freshly brewed, green tea or black tea is very beneficial for the brain because it contains catechins. Do You ever had a day where you just feel tired, tired, and “too lazy” to think? Perhaps because less catechin in your brain. Catechin useful to keep the mind sharp, fresh, and work properly. It also allows for more relaxed and help to combat mental fatigue. Green tea is much stronger than black tea, both very good for you.
Green tea
6. Berries
Blueberry is very good in improving motoric skills and overall learning ability. Most berries, including blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc., are full of antioxidants that are good for improving brain health. You can help reverse the effects of aging on the brain by eating this fruit once a day. Berry, most contain fisetin and flavenoid, which is very good to improve memory, and allow you for easy recall of past events.
Berries
Curry is very useful to keep the brain fresh. As the main ingredient of curry powder, curcumin full of antioxidants that help fight brain aging and maintain cognitive function as you get older. Antioxidants are also struggling against free radical damage that can occur in the brain and body. Free radicals can cause inflammation and other diseases in the body. Curry is not only good for the brain, It also can fight diabetes and heart disease.
Curry
Leafy green vegetables such as cabbage, kale, spinach, etc., is very good for the brain of children and adults. This vegetable is very helpful when we need to recall old information and processes such as you just learned yesterday. This is because these foods are full of vitamins B6, B12, and folate, which is an important compound in the brain needed to break down homocysteine levels, which can lead to forgetfulness and even Alzheimer’s disease. These vegetables are often contains high iron. So the kids must be taught to eat green vegetables.
Leafy Green Vegetables
Looking for snacks that have good effects to the brain? It’s snacks from nuts and seeds. Like peanuts, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and other types of nuts or seeds that you can think of is good for your brain. Nuts and seeds are full of Omega-3s and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as folate, vitamin E, and vitamin B6. All of these nutrients allows you to think more clearly. They also help you to think more positive, because the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids work as natural antidepressants. Some seeds and nuts are also full of thiamine and magnesium, which is good for memory and cognitive function of the brain.
Nuts and seeds
Fish in general is very beneficial for your health, especially for your brain. Fish is full of Omega-3, which is a fatty acid that is very beneficial to the body in various aspects. Eating one serving of fish a week can greatly reduce the chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease. These fatty acids help brain function because they coat the neurons that sometimes has a layer of fatty acids which are stiff with a high content of cholesterol and saturated fats in the body. Omega-3 will cover the neurons with good fats, which allows them to move easily throughout the brain. Omega-3 also provides more oxygen to the brain, and allows to store new information while still remembering the old information. The best fish to eat for brain health is salmon, tuna, and herring. Eat more vitamins for your brain by eating tuna fish and choose from a variety of tuna recipes at Beewellforlife.com.
Fishs
While You replace your coffee drink with hot chocolate drink each day, It’s not just delicious but also very nutritious for your brain. Scientists have proved that the antioxidant content found in cocoa powder is more powerful than the antioxidants found in other foods, such as green tea or red wine. The main antioxidants found in cocoa, known as flavonols, it is important to help increasing blood flow to the brain.
Chocolate
Saturday, 3 July 2010
9 Foods that Can Make Your Life Longer
Maybe you’ve heard a variety of foods that can make you healthy, well what about foods that can make your life longer? If you’re curious, do not hesitate to read this. Based on some healthy aspect, there are 9 foods that can make your life longer if you consume on a regular basis. What foods are they?
1. Broccoli
According to experts, broccoli contains more vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than a glass of milk and more natural fiber than the stack of bread wheat and contain enough antioxidants
Advantages: broccoli is one vegetable that contains many anti-carcinogen that can stimulate the body to fight substances cause cancer. Not only that, broccoli also works to prevent cataracts, heart disease, arthritis, ulcers and various viruses.
To get maximum benefit,You can eat broccoli in boiled or raw. You also can consume with a salad with low-fat cheese topping.
2. Chamomile
Chamomile come from daisy family and is usually used for medical treatment.
Advantages: Chamomile is usually used to relax the nerves. Commonly used to reduce stress and pressure. The less amount of stress you suffered, the lower your chances are also attacked by various diseases related to stress. In addition Chamomile also helps detoxify the body by throwing useless junk through the kidneys.
Serving: Chamomile can be consumed as dried food or brewed. Can also be dipped into warm water like tea.
3. Cranberries
Come from berries family and contain vitamin c, the chemical eradication of bacteria and contains antioxidants.
Advantages: Cranberries help protect the occurrence of urinary tract infections, cancer and also protects the entry of harmful bacteria into the organs of the body.
Serving: This fruit does have the benefit for the body but eating this fruit in raw is acidic. If you like eating fruit, try to mix with corn muffins. But if you want to take maximum advantage of this fruit, try to drink a mixture of cranberries and apple juice so it’s not too acidic.
4. Fish Oil
Some fish such as salmon, mackerel or anchovies known as producer of omega-3.
Advantages: Eat these fishes can lower cholesterol in the blood and also protects you from strokes and blood clots in the brain
Serving: You can consume raw like sushi or also can be roasted.
5. Lemon
Lemon is still a close relative of citrus fruit and also contain lots of vitamin C.
Advantages: besides useful on maintain the beauty of the face, lemon juice is an anti-bacterial properties which are good for fighting infections in the mouth like canker sores and sore throats.
Serving: Try lemon juice over the salmon when you’re in the mood to eat sushi, can also drink lemon juice mixed with water or add lemon juice on your salad.
6. Onion
According to experts, onions are also rich in vitamin C, antioxidants and sulfur.
Advantages: It’s ironic because the garlic makes your breath less savory but were able to protect you from a variety of respiratory diseases such as asthma and respiratory tract inflammation. Not only that, the onion was also able to raise levels of HDL or good cholesterol in the blood and protects you from the threat of cancer.
Serving: The best way to consume garlic is to eat a raw in salads or sandwiches. And the best onion to consume is red onion and garlic.
7. Wheat
Wheat has a high calcium content, and also has the best natural fiber for you who want to go on a diet.
Advantages: If you want to enjoy a long life with a healthy body, try to switch to wheat. Wheat serves to protect your teeth so that It isn’t easily vulnerable. It also prevent bone loss, so you do not get osteoporosis. Besides, wheat is also a food low in cholesterol that can reduce blood pressure and fight colon cancer.
Serving: How to best serve wheat is to cook it over low heat or brewed with hot water.
8. Tomatoes
This fruit of course is not stranger in your life. With cheap prices and great benefits, do not be surprised if this became a favorite fruit of many people.
Advantages: Tomato can boost one’s immune system, reduce the spread of germs in the body and reduce the risk of cancer, especially prostate, lung and colon cancer.
Serving: According to experts, cooked tomatoes contain lycopene levels higher than raw tomatoes. Canned tomatoes even contains 3 times the levels of lycopene than fresh tomatoes and the tomato sauce contains 5 times the levels of lycopene than raw tomatoes.
9. Green Tea
Green tea is very popular in Japan. It have a lot of vitamins such as A, C and E which also function as antioxidants.
Advantages: Did you know that green tea is more powerful than a samurai sword because it can prevent the oxidation of cells that will turn into cancer. Also green tea proved efficacious to build a defense for the immune system and thins the blood to fight heart disease.
Serving: Just as you would regular tea. Try green tea brewed with hot water in your cup. Allow for some time. The longer that green tea soak, the better the result for your body.
Try to consume those foods and makes your life healthier.
1. Broccoli
Broccoli
Advantages: broccoli is one vegetable that contains many anti-carcinogen that can stimulate the body to fight substances cause cancer. Not only that, broccoli also works to prevent cataracts, heart disease, arthritis, ulcers and various viruses.
To get maximum benefit,You can eat broccoli in boiled or raw. You also can consume with a salad with low-fat cheese topping.
2. Chamomile
Chamomile
Advantages: Chamomile is usually used to relax the nerves. Commonly used to reduce stress and pressure. The less amount of stress you suffered, the lower your chances are also attacked by various diseases related to stress. In addition Chamomile also helps detoxify the body by throwing useless junk through the kidneys.
Serving: Chamomile can be consumed as dried food or brewed. Can also be dipped into warm water like tea.
3. Cranberries
Cranberries
Advantages: Cranberries help protect the occurrence of urinary tract infections, cancer and also protects the entry of harmful bacteria into the organs of the body.
Serving: This fruit does have the benefit for the body but eating this fruit in raw is acidic. If you like eating fruit, try to mix with corn muffins. But if you want to take maximum advantage of this fruit, try to drink a mixture of cranberries and apple juice so it’s not too acidic.
4. Fish Oil
fish oil
Advantages: Eat these fishes can lower cholesterol in the blood and also protects you from strokes and blood clots in the brain
Serving: You can consume raw like sushi or also can be roasted.
5. Lemon
Lemons
Advantages: besides useful on maintain the beauty of the face, lemon juice is an anti-bacterial properties which are good for fighting infections in the mouth like canker sores and sore throats.
Serving: Try lemon juice over the salmon when you’re in the mood to eat sushi, can also drink lemon juice mixed with water or add lemon juice on your salad.
6. Onion
Red onion
Advantages: It’s ironic because the garlic makes your breath less savory but were able to protect you from a variety of respiratory diseases such as asthma and respiratory tract inflammation. Not only that, the onion was also able to raise levels of HDL or good cholesterol in the blood and protects you from the threat of cancer.
Serving: The best way to consume garlic is to eat a raw in salads or sandwiches. And the best onion to consume is red onion and garlic.
7. Wheat
wheat
Advantages: If you want to enjoy a long life with a healthy body, try to switch to wheat. Wheat serves to protect your teeth so that It isn’t easily vulnerable. It also prevent bone loss, so you do not get osteoporosis. Besides, wheat is also a food low in cholesterol that can reduce blood pressure and fight colon cancer.
Serving: How to best serve wheat is to cook it over low heat or brewed with hot water.
8. Tomatoes
red tomattoes
Advantages: Tomato can boost one’s immune system, reduce the spread of germs in the body and reduce the risk of cancer, especially prostate, lung and colon cancer.
Serving: According to experts, cooked tomatoes contain lycopene levels higher than raw tomatoes. Canned tomatoes even contains 3 times the levels of lycopene than fresh tomatoes and the tomato sauce contains 5 times the levels of lycopene than raw tomatoes.
9. Green Tea
green tea
Advantages: Did you know that green tea is more powerful than a samurai sword because it can prevent the oxidation of cells that will turn into cancer. Also green tea proved efficacious to build a defense for the immune system and thins the blood to fight heart disease.
Serving: Just as you would regular tea. Try green tea brewed with hot water in your cup. Allow for some time. The longer that green tea soak, the better the result for your body.
Try to consume those foods and makes your life healthier.
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