http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/the-mexican-hairless-or-xoloitzcuintli-dog-breed.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/the-mexican-hairless-or-xoloitzcuintli-dog-breed.html Wed, 30 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The exotic looking Xolo’s most distinguishing characteristics are its large bat-like ears and of course its hairless body. The Xolo’s athletic looking body somewhat resembles a Manchester Terrier without fur. Actually only about 75% of the breed is hairless as you will usually find one Xolo puppy in a litter of 4 or 5 with a short dense coat. Apart from its exotic appearance, intelligence and loyal nature, the other major reason for its popularity is the fact that it is classed as a hypoallergenic dog breed. The hairless variety is a non-shedding dog and a well groomed coated variety is a low-shedding dog. Both of these Xolo varieties are likely to make good pets for people who suffer from allergies to dogs. The Xolo actually comes in three sizes. The toy variety makes a good companion dog and usually is about 9 to 14 inches tall at shoulder height and is a little larger than a Chihuahua. The miniature variety usually stands from 14 to 18 inches tall and is about the size of a Beagle. The standard variety ranges from 18 to 23 inches at shoulder height and is about the size of a Labrador Retriever.

The Xolo is one of the world’s oldest and rarest breeds. Statues and effigies dating back more than 3,000 years have been found in Mayan tombs. Xolos were valued for their loyalty, companionship and intelligence as well as their curative and mystical powers. The remains of Xolos have been found in Aztec burial sites where they were supposed to guide the souls to a happy afterlife. At one time, Xolos were prevalent throughout Mexico, Central and South America. The number of Xolos dwindled over time and the breed was almost extinct by the 1940’s but was kept alive by secluded Indian tribes in remote parts of Mexico and South America. Fortunately Mexican breeders worked hard to re-establish the breed by searching for the dogs in remote villages and outposts. Their diligent work paid off and a breeding program was established and the breed was registered in Mexico in 1955. The breed has also been registered by the Canadian Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club and is now designated as the official dog of Mexico.

Potential show quality Xolos are commanding prices in excess of $2,500 and, after the recent results of the 2007 World Dog Show, are likely to become even more popular. Prospective buyers should recognize that standard-sized Xolos need a lot of exercise, discipline and attention when they are young. Mature Xolos require much less exercise. This is not a dog that you can keep in a kennel in your backyard. Xolos should become an integral part of your household and require lots of socialization and firm handling or they will end up running your household. The Xolo is an extremely intelligent dog and can be trained to excel at obedience and agility competitions as well being good therapy and watch dogs. Toy Xolos make good companion dogs. The skin of the Xolo is quite hardy and requires minimal care. Too much bathing will remove natural oils and too much sunscreen will clog pores and cause acne. However the hairless variety should be protected from extreme heat and extreme cold. The Xolo is an exceptionally healthy breed and can be expected to live from 16 to 20 years of age.

Additional Information on the Mexican Hairless or Xolo breed can be found at www.dog-breed-facts.com/Breeds/Xolo.html .

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About the author: Mike Mathews is an editor and writer for the popular web site Dog Breed Facts. He has owned, trained and shown a number of dog breeds over the years and has written many articles and e-books. His Latest eBook is Choosing a Dog For Your Lifestyle.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/poodle-hybrid-designer-dogs.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/poodle-hybrid-designer-dogs.html Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Most of the Poodle hybrids are quite attractive with beautiful coats. Colors range from whites and creams to apricot, brown, chocolate, silver, gray, black and multi-colored. Their coats are low to non-shedding and will need combing, brushing and clipping on a regular basis. Poodles are very intelligent and most “poo” hybrids should be fairly easy to train. Since there are three sizes of pure-bred Poodles (Toy, Miniature and Standard), you can have many different sizes of “poo” hybrids. Through the wonders of artificial insemination, the smaller Toy and Miniature Poodles can be bred with larger breeds such as the Labrador or the Golden Retriever to produce smaller designer dogs. While a Poodle could be either the dam or sire in most pairings, in this situation the Labrador or Golden Retriever would be the dam. One of the most popular designer dogs today is the Cockapoo which can take many forms. The Cockapoo Club of America recognizes two main types of Cockapoos – the American Cockapoo (Poodle/American Cocker Spaniel cross) and the English Cockapoo (Poodle/ English Cocker Spaniel cross). Four sizes of Cockapoo are designated. These are the: Teacup Toy (under 6 pounds grown weight); the Toy (7 – 12 pounds); Miniature (13 -18 pounds); and Maxi (over 19 pounds). Information on “poo” hybrids such as Cockapoos, Goldendoodles and Labradoodles can be found at www.dog-breed-facts.com .

Many designer dog breeders insist that the first generation hybrid puppies will be healthier and have fewer genetic health problems than the founding breeds. They say that this is due to a phenomenon called hybrid vigor. Some breeders will even breed a first generation “-poo” hybrid back to another Poodle to try and ensure a non-shedding coat. The resulting back-cross will be ¾ Poodle and ¼ other founding breed. Other experienced hybrid breeders tend to focus on producing a multi-generational line of hybrid puppies with standardized characteristics by breeding non-related hybrids with the desired characteristics. It is really up to you as to which type of designer dog hybrid – first generation, back-cross or multi-generation – that you purchase. However since the founding breeds are always pure-bred with potential genetic problems, purchasers should always ask to see the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) certificates for both parents. This combination of genetic testing and cross-breed vigor should help to ensure you acquire a healthy puppy.


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Mike Mathews is an editor and contributor for the popular dog breed facts information site and has developed articles on 3 “poo” hybrid designer dogs - the Labradoodle, the Goldendoodle and the Cockapoo - which can be found at www.dog-breed-facts.com/cockapoo.html

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/pet-allergies.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/pet-allergies.html Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600
We can first find out if we are really allergic to the family pet, or something else like dust, pollen or mold, by visiting an allergist physician and getting tested for various allergens. If your allergic reactions are severe then the allergist may recommend allergy shots to desensitize your reaction to dander allergens. Next you can try and allergen proof your home by getting rid of your carpets and replacing your curtains with vertical blinds. Easily washed surfaces can eliminate a lot of dander allergens. If you have wall-to-wall carpeting then have it steam cleaned fairly often. If possible install air cleaners and air filters and vacuum often with a vacuum cleaner with a high allergen containment rating. Restrict your pet’s access to your bed and bedroom and try to keep pets off the chairs and sofa that you regularly use. Try to minimize the dander allergens on your pets by washing them weekly with a special moisturizing allergy shampoo. Obviously, it is easier to do with a dog than a cat. Wash your hands frequently when playing with or grooming your pet. Try spraying your pet’s coat with an anti-allergy spray that helps eliminate allergens. Try to groom your pet frequently as the combing and brushing will help stimulate a healthy skin. Try and do the grooming outside your house and if possible get someone else to do the grooming. If it isn’t possible then wear rubber gloves and a mask to reduce your exposure to the dander. Finally, if you are getting a new cat or dog, you may want to try and get a breed that produces less dander. All pets produce some dander – even the so-called hypoallergenic pure-bred and hybrid designer breeds. Smaller pets produce less dander than larger pets. Light-colored and short haired cats seem to produce less dander. In dogs, many of the non-shedding or low-shedding breeds may also produce less dander. See the Dog Allergies section of www.dog-breed-facts.com/dog-allergies.html for a list of dog breeds that should produce less dander.

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Mike Mathews is an editor and regular contributor to the popular dog breed information site www.dog-breed-facts.com . He recently added a new section on Dog Allergies that shows allergy sufferers how to cope with their allergic reactions to dogs - which can be found at http://www.dog-breed-facts.com/dog-allergies.html

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/super-food-the-acai-palm-berry.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/super-food-the-acai-palm-berry.html Tue, 08 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500 antioxidants. The dark purple berry, which tastes something like a blend of berries and chocolate, supposedly contains 10 to 30 times the flavonoids contained in red wine. The pulp is also rich in B vitamins, minerals, protein, Vitamin E, caffeine, fiber and essential fatty acids (such as Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9). This wonder food is purported to fight cancer, control cholesterol, increase energy, improve your sex life and help you lose weight. The University of Florida is studying its cancer fighting properties and Dr. Nicholas Perricone has recommended it as one of his “top 10 superfoods for age-defying beauty” on Oprah Winfrey's talk show, and in an article in “Oprah” magazine and also in his book “The Perricone Promise”. This little berry has been touted as one of the most nutritious and healthy foods in the world.

The studies being conducted at the University of Florida have determined that the Brazilian berry destroys cultured leukemia cancer cells. This study was not intended to show whether acai berries could prevent leukemia in people as it was only a cell-culture model. This is not a unique effect as other fruits such as grapes, guavas and mangoes contained antioxidant products that also destroyed cultured cancer cells. A lot of claims are being made but research has just started on the acai berry. Another study is underway to investigate the effects of acai's antioxidants on human subjects.

The acai berry is a small dark blue fruit, similar in size to a blueberry or small grape but with less pulp, that grows in clusters or panicles of approximately 800 berries on Acai palm trees. The tribes of the Amazon knew of the health properties of this fruit for centuries and traditionally pulped it to make wine. The berries contain a thin layer of edible pulp surrounding a large seed. These palms are extremely prevalent in the floodplain areas of the Amazon River and are easy to cultivate as a replacement tree in areas where the rain forest has been destroyed. The slender palms grow from 40 to 80 feet tall and have leaves up to 10 feet long. Each palm can produce more than 50 pounds of berries annually. The harvesting of this powerful antioxidant rich product has become a major industry in Brazil and employs up to 30,000 people on a daily basis to harvest and process the product. Unfortunately the fruit deteriorates rapidly after harvesting (active properties can disappear after 24 hours) and so it is restricted to being eaten in the growing region or being processed and shipped as juice or frozen pulp. This industry has become an economic and environmentally-friendly alternative to unsustainable harvesting of hearts of palm, logging and conversion of the rain forest to farming or ranching. During the last decade in Brazil, acai has become a major food fad and Brazilians consume the frozen pulp alone or in yogurt, ice cream, smoothies, drinks, fruit or as a cereal topping. The frozen pulp tastes like a blueberry sorbet or ice cream with a hint of chocolate.

Acai can be difficult to find outside of South America although the frozen pulp and juices are starting to be imported into the US and Canada. Your best chance of finding the product is in health food stores or the health food section of your supermarket. Make sure that the acai berry is wild harvested and quickly frozen to retain its maximum nutrient value. Also in the US, acai is being sold as an ingredient in a number of beverages, and as frozen fruit that can be added to home-made smoothies as well as in health food extracts and supplements.


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Mark Ransome is a contributing editor and writer for the popular new website Benefits of Antioxidants. Visitors will have access to a new free diet and weight loss program: The Psychiatrist’s Weight Loss Program.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/regulation-of-trans-fats.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/regulation-of-trans-fats.html Tue, 08 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500
What are trans fats? Fatty acids in foods are made up of polyunsaturated (like safflower oil, sunflower oil and corn oil), monounsaturated (like olive oil, peanuts, and avocados), saturated (like coconut oil, palm oil, butter and cheese) and trans fats (like margarine and shortening). Saturated and trans fats are linked to coronary heart disease. The majority of trans fats are produced by the food industry when it uses a process called hydrogenation to turn liquid vegetable oils into semi-solid products. This process hardens and stabilizes the oils, enhances the flavor and extends the shelf life of food products. These trans fats also break down less easily which makes them more suitable for frying. The majority of trans fats are found in foods made with shortening, margarine or partially-hydrogenated oils and in baked goods like crackers, cookies and donuts and in fried foods like french fries and fried chicken. The trans fat content of some of these foods can be as high as 45% of the total fat in the food product. Trans fats also occur naturally at fairly low levels in ruminant-based foods like dairy products and beef and lamb.

Are trans fats worse than saturated fats? There is a lot of evidence linking both trans fats and saturated fats to coronary heart disease. Trans fats appear much more dangerous because metabolic studies have shown that they increase the blood levels of our bad cholesterol (LDL) and decrease the levels of our good cholesterol (HDL). Saturated fats appear less damaging because they elevate the total cholesterol levels - both bad (LDL) and good (HDL). The Harvard School of Public Health found that removing trans fats from the industrial food supply could prevent tens of thousands of heart attacks and cardiac deaths each year in the US. The findings are published in the April 13, 2006 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Government organizations around the world have started to act to resolve the problem. In 2002, the US National Academies of Science recommended that trans fat consumption be kept as low as possible. In 2003 the World Health Organization recommended that trans fat intake be limited to less than 1% of overall energy intake. Also in 2003, Denmark set an upper limit on industrially produced trans fats in foods, limiting them to just 2% of the total fats in foods. They excluded meat and dairy products. In 2005 Canada required mandatory labeling of trans fats in packaged foods. The US followed in 2006 with a mandatory labeling for any foods containing 0.5 grams or more of trans fats per serving.

Is mandatory labeling sufficient? Shouldn't we let informed consumers self-regulate the amount of trans fats they consume? Once the consumer understands how harmful trans fats are and that as little as 5 grams per day can lead to heart disease, then mandatory labeling will force the food industry to reduce the amounts contained in food products much faster than a bunch of government regulations, However what about restaurants and the fast food industry? Here is where the Canadian government task force recommendations are probably a good thing. Consumers do not know how much trans fats there are in french fries, deep fried chicken and baked goods. Therefore we should adopt the recommendation from the June 27th, 2006 final report of the Trans Fat Task Force that states - “For all vegetable oils and soft, spreadable (tub-type) margarines sold to consumers or for use as an ingredient in the preparation of foods on site by retailers or food service establishments, the total trans fat content be limited by regulation to 2% of total fat content.” This will allow us to eat restaurant and fast food industry foods with the knowledge that the trans fat content is limited to 2% or less.


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Mark Ransome is a contributing editor and writer for the popular new website Benefits of Antioxidants. Visitors will have access to a new free diet and weight loss program: The Psychiatrist’s Weight Loss Program.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/the-protective-giant-schnauzer.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/the-protective-giant-schnauzer.html Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500 dog breeds. The oldest and progenitor of the other two Schnauzer breeds is the mid-sized Standard Schnauzer or Mittelschnauzer. While this breed probably originated in the Middle Ages, it is the least popular of the Schnauzer breeds with an American Kennel Club (AKC) registration ranking of 99 in 2005. The most popular Schnauzer is the Miniature Schnauzer with an AKC registration ranking of 10 in 2005. The Mini or Zwergschnauzer was originally bred as a rat catcher and watchdog but is now an extremely popular companion dog. The Giant Schnauzer or Reisenschnauzer was bred to be a capable and versatile working dog and was ranked 78 in 2005 AKC registrations.

The German Schnauzers share a common ancestry and genetics with the versatile German Pinscher breeds. At one time the rough-coated Schnauzers and smooth-coated Pinschers were thought to be varieties of the same German Pinscher Breed as they often occurred in the same litter. The smooth puppies were called Pinschers and the rough puppies with furry schnauzes or muzzles were called Schnauzers. The mid-size German Pinscher was also involved in the development of the Doberman, Miniature Pinscher and other Pinscher type breeds. However it is best known for its involvement in the development of the wire-haired Pinscher or Standard Schnauzer which became an official breed when it was exhibited in Germany in the 1870's.

About the 1850's farmers around Munich used various large drover cattle dogs to work their cattle and then bred them with Standard Schnauzers and possibly black Great Danes and Bouvier des Flandres. The progeny of this breeding program were then carefully bred with Standard Schnauzers to produce a larger version with similar characteristics. These larger dogs were initially called Mucheners and later Giant Schnauzers or Reisenschnauzers and were used to herd cattle and sheep. The Giants also became prized as guard dogs and watchdogs for butcher shops and breweries. In fact the Giants became less popular as farmer's cattle dogs and more popular as coach dogs and guard dogs. By the end of the 19 century the Giant Schnauzer became an extremely popular participant at German dog shows. During the First World War, the Giant became an excellent police and security dog and also a battle-tested war dog. Giant Schnauzers were intelligent, powerful, large enough to be a deterrent and easy to train. In Germany the Giant became the dog of choice for police and military work. In the US and Canada, Giants are used for search and rescue work and also at airports for the detection of dangerous or illegal substances.

The first Giants were shipped to North America in the 1920s and by the 1930's some of the best German breeding stock was in the US. The Giants have excelled in conformation, obedience, agility and schutzhund competitions and when thoroughly socialized make good family pets. However this is not a dog for an inexperienced or novice dog owner as the Reisenschnauzer is a dominant breed which is genetically protective of its family pack and distrustful of strangers. Owning a Giant takes a gigantic commitment to early and on-going socialization with children, other dogs and strangers. Giants can be aggressive toward small pets, other dogs and overly protective of its family's children when they are playing with others. Small children should be thoroughly supervised when playing around the Giant Schnauzer as the breed will try and dominate them. Giant Schnauzers do best with older family children and are not the best breed for families with young children or other pets. This breed has the potential for assertive and aggressive behavior and the owner must be capable of controlling this powerful dog on its leash when it attempts to get into a fight with another aggressive dog. Giants require lots of time and attention and need lots of human interaction. They are also working dogs and require lots of daily exercise. Giants make fantastic family pets if they are thoroughly socialized and trained when young. All members of the family should be involved in the early training and socialization so that the young Giant doesn't try to raise itself in the family pack hierarchy and dominate certain family members. All members of the family should use the same consistent approach to dealing with the Giant so it knows that it is at the bottom of the family pack hierarchy. Caution should also be used when strangers come onto the Giant's property or into its house. The Giant must be thoroughly socialized to accept the visits of strangers when it is a puppy or else it must be locked in its crate to avoid being overly protective of its turf when strangers visit.

Giant Schnauzers have an expected lifespan of about 10 to 12 years. Prospective buyers should ask for the breeding parents Orthopedic Foundation for Animals test results for hip dysplasia. They should also ask about cancer, hypothyroidism, epilepsy and bloat in the breeders specific bloodlines.

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About the Author - Mike Mathews is a contributing writer and editor for the popular dog breed site: www.dog-breed-facts.com . He provides informative, real-world advice and tips on dog breeds, dog health and more. As well be sure to check out his free report on Dog Training.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/the-next-vitamins.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/the-next-vitamins.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0500 antioxidants available to donate electrons and neutralize the free radicals then cell damage will result. When we are young, the body generates some of the antioxidants it needs and it acquires the remainder from the food we eat. As we get older, the body generates fewer antioxidants and the free radicals outnumber the antioxidants. This means the body is unable to repair the free radical damage and it ages and becomes subject to age-related degenerative diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, strokes, Alzheimer's disease, and macular degeneration. Additional free radicals are created when we expose our body to the sun's ultraviolet radiation, cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes and other air and water pollutants. Approximately 10 million people in North America have cancer and about 600,000 people will die from it this year. Until recently, we thought the key to slowing the aging process and associated diseases was to ensure the body had an excess supply of antioxidants by eating lots of fruits and vegetables and supplementing our healthy diet with multi-vitamins.

For years we assumed it was the vitamins in fruits and vegetables that provided us with a defense against aging and age-related diseases. We also wanted to ensure we had an adequate supply of vitamins so we took low dose once-a-day-type multivitamins for insurance. However long term studies have shown that low dose multivitamins had no impact on the survival of healthy people. Recently scientists have theorized that the health benefits due to eating fruits and vegetables may be from other nutrients such as phytochemicals or the combination of phytochemicals and vitamins. Phytochemicals or phytonutrients are simply “plant chemicals” that exist in fruits, vegetables and other plants like whole grain and tea. Scientists have already discovered thousands of phytochemicals and think that as well as being powerful antioxidants these phytonutrients provide our body with an entire range of health benefits. A few examples of foods, the phytochemicals they contain, and their health benefits are discussed below.

Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries and other berries contain the phytonutrients anthocyanidin and ellagic acid which are antioxidants that can suppress cancer and protect against heart disease. Berries are also rich in soluble fiber which should lower our cholesterol. Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes etc. contain flavanones such as limonoids which help stimulate the body's enzymes to detoxify carcinogens. These citrus fruits also contain carotenoids which are powerful cancer fighting antioxidants and flavonoids which are antioxidants that may inhibit blood clotting.

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, cabbage, cauliflower etc. contain indoles which act to make estrogen less potent and which may reduce the risk of breast cancer. These vegetables also contain isothiocynates such as sulphoraphane which may neutralize cancer-causing chemicals and interfere with tumor growth. Orange and yellow fruits and vegetables like apricots, papaya, sweet potatoes, carrots, sweet peppers, etc. and leafy greens such as spinach contain carotenoids such as beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin that are powerful antioxidants that should suppress cancer, strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. These colorful foods are also rich in Vitamin C, other vitamins, minerals and fiber and should reduce the risk of macular degeneration.

Non-traditional healthy foods such as tea, wine and soy have also been found to be high in phytonutrients. Both green tea and black tea contain flavonols which combat cancers and catechins which may protect arteries from the buildup of plaque. Red wine contains resveratrol which may prevent internal cell and skin cell damage, inhibit tumor growth and lower blood cholesterol. Other phytochemicals in red wine are flavonols like quercetin and catechins, anthocyanidins and ellagic acid which were discussed earlier. Soy products contain isoflavonoids, lignans, saponins and protease inhibitors which can all provide cancer protection.

Products to combat aging and degenerative diseases are being developed. Both Pfizer and Merck are testing drugs to stimulate the older body to make more growth hormone and develop more lean muscle mass. Controlled studies on seniors are showing a lot of promise. Phytonutrient supplements like lycopene and beta carotene have been available for some time. The next supplements based on groups of phytonutrients that target specific conditions are already being marketed. How effective they will be remains to be seen. For now we should concentrate on obtaining our phytonutrients from our healthy diet and monitor developments in the pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement industries.


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Mark Ransome is a contributing editor and writer for the popular new website Benefits of Antioxidants. Visitors will have access to a new free diet and weight loss program: The Psychiatrist’s Weight Loss Program.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/supplements/healthy-eating.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/supplements/healthy-eating.html Tue, 20 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0500 antioxidants. But what about the actual food we eat. One of the major problems with our modern diet is that the food we eat is a tasty combination of saturated fats and highly processed and quickly digested carbohydrates. However in the last several years, people have become so concerned about fats in their diet that they have substituted carbohydrates and avoided even the good unsaturated fats in lean meat, olive oil and other plant oils. Now everybody seems to be eating a medium- to high-carbohydrate diet without giving proper attention to the type of carbs that they eat.

Not all carbohydrates behave the same in our bodies. We have been told for years to avoid simple carbs like honey and white bread and eat complex carbohydrates that our body doesn’t digest and turn to glucose as quickly. However determining whether a food containing carbohydrates is absorbed and raises our blood sugar quickly or slowly is not at all intuitive. Scientists have done a lot of rigorous testing over the past several years and have found that white bread and baked potatoes raise our blood sugar level much faster than honey, jams and chocolate bars. These scientists developed a numerical index called the Glycemic Index or GI to compare the ability of different carbohydrate containing foods to raise the body’s blood sugar levels – or in other words the speed of conversion to glucose. GI values are determined by feeding human subjects who have fasted overnight a fixed amount of the food and then measuring their blood glucose levels at fixed intervals of time. Pure glucose is set at 100 and then other foods are compared to this profile. Testing is time consuming and the tests have to be averaged for a number of individuals. However these studies have yielded some surprising results such as the fact that the starches in rice, bread, potatoes and many types of cereals were absorbed and raised blood sugars very quickly but the sugars in fruit, candy, chocolate and ice cream did not result in prolonged rises in blood sugars. In other words many of the starchy foods had a much higher Glycemic Index than many of the sugary foods. Needless to say these results seem counter intuitive and have caused a lot of controversy in the food industry. The rate of absorption is very dependant on how the carbs are bound up with the food fiber and the particle size. For example less gelatinized products like al dente spaghetti and oatmeal have lower GI values and stone ground flours have lower GI values than finely ground flours. The fibrous coat surrounding beans and seeds stop enzymes from getting at the starchy carbs inside and will slow the digestion of grainy breads, legumes and barley. The acidity of foods also slows down digestion and vinegar, lemon juice, pickles and sourdough bread will result in lower GI meal values.

The Glycemic Index is important not only to diabetics but also to non-diabetics because we need to know what foods will keep our blood sugars on an even keel and not raise them too high and then have them plummet down again causing hunger. The slow digestion of low GI foods and the gradual rise and fall in blood-glucose response helps people with diabetes control their blood sugar levels and increase their sensitivity to insulin. Low GI foods will help healthy people delay hunger pangs and promote weight loss in overweight individuals. In addition low GI carbohydrates can reduce blood cholesterol levels and also reduce our risk of heart disease. High blood glucose spikes can result in oxidative stress leading to the formation of plaque that can cause atherosclerosis and even blood clots. So keeping our blood sugar levels fairly level and low seems like what we should be trying to achieve through healthy eating. How do we go about achieving this?

The first step is to look at what carbohydrates we are consuming and the GI levels of the meals that we are eating. Then we should try and ensure we have at least one low GI food in each meal to keep the overall meal GI close to 50. Most fats and proteins have no effect on the GI level of our meal because they don’t contain carbs. However watch out for saturated fats and too many calories. Let’s look at some meals and see what substitutions we could make. The GI values are shown in brackets.

Breakfast

Cut back on Corn Flakes (92), Rice Krispies (82) and substitute All-Bran (32) or switch to a cereal based on oats, barley or bran. Stop eating white bagels (72), white bread (70) or whole-wheat bread (77) and switch to pumpernickel (50) or sourdough (55). Fruits are mostly low GI foods and surprisingly orange juice (46) is very good.

Lunch and Dinner

Eat your colored vegetables and make your salad dressings with olive oil and vinegar. Avoid parsnips (97) and substitute pastas like al dente white spaghetti (38), linguini (46) or macaroni (47) for Instant white rice (87) and potatoes – baked (85), red-skin peeled and boiled (88). Except for parsnips and potatoes most vegetables have a low GI value.

Additional information on GI values can be found at the University of Sydney website www.glycemicindex.com/ or in the “The New Glucose Revolution: Shopper’s Guide to GI Values 2006.

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Mark Ransome is a contributing editor and writer for the popular new website – Benefits of Antioxidants. Visitors to www.benefits-of-antioxidants.com will have access to a new free diet and weight loss program – The Psychiatrist’s Weight Loss Program.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/hobbies/white-pass-and-yukon-route-to-the-klondike-gold-rush.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/hobbies/white-pass-and-yukon-route-to-the-klondike-gold-rush.html Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0500 When my wife and I recently stepped off a cruise ship in Skagway Alaska, we were excited to be revisiting some her family's history. In 1897 her grandfather Jim and her great uncle Albert, joined almost 100,000 gold-rush prospectors who were going to the Klondike to search for gold. They were among the 30,000 or so prospectors who actually reached the Yukon. The journey was long and arduous and they walked most of the way as their pack horse was used to carry their supplies. The Canadian Northwest Mounted Police insisted that each Klondiker must bring a year worth of supplies with them before they were allowed to go to the Yukon. There were two routes through the mountains to Whitehorse on the Yukon River: The first route was the Chilkoot Pass trail which was too steep for pack animals. Klondikers had to stage their supplies and leapfrog back to carry their year's worth of supplies up the steep icy trail. Many prospectors abandoned their quest here or perished in the extremely cold weather. Jim and Albert chose the second route called the White Pass Trail, which climbed to almost 3,000 feet in elevation out of Skagway and was just as steep and treacherous, but could accommodate pack horses. This information was of doubtful value as over 3,000 pack animals were killed on this trail which was nicknamed “dead horse trail”. Jim and Albert lost their packhorse during the climb but eventually made it to Bennett Lake with their supplies. They rafted down the Lake and onto the Yukon River while undergoing many difficulties and adventures, but reached Whitehorse and then Dawson City and the goldfields. Unfortunately most of the gold claims had been staked by locals and early prospectors and they ended up working as miners for the next two years until they had earned enough money to return home. The fact that they survived the extreme cold and harsh conditions was a tribute to their strength and indomitable spirits. Although they didn't bring home any gold, they brought home a lifetime of stories to pass onto their grandchildren.

After my wife and I toured historic Skagway we then embarked on the most fantastic train ride of our lives - The White Pass and Yukon Route or WP&YR. We booked an all day excursion to Bennett Station British Columbia. The rail cars were authentic 1900 parlor cars or converted to look authentic and we joined our cruise ship passengers on a wonderful narrated tour back into history. The scenery was incredible and you had to marvel at the engineering prowess of the railroad builders as they constructed tunnels, switchbacks and hanging trestles up the steep mountain pass. The slow journey up the mountain gave us ample opportunity to view the steep and treacherous White Pass trail that Jim and Albert had climbed. We saw skeleton horse heads on the trail but whether these were of 1897 vintage or had been placed there by the local tourist board is not for me to say. We eventually reached Bennett Station where we had a box lunch and were given a guided tour before making the return journey to Skagway. It was an incredible journey which prompted me to do a little more research on the WP&YR and its links to the Klondike gold rush.

The WP&YR is a narrow, 3-foot gauge railway that connected the port of Skagway Alaska and Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon. It is the most heavily used tourist railroad in existence today and carries over 400,000 passengers each year during the May until October season. The railroad is isolated and not connected to any other system. The original line was over 110 miles in length but the most commonly used section today is the first 40 miles between Skagway and Bennett Station, although plans are to add some excursions to Carcross, Yukon. Originally the intention was to link Skagway at the northernmost end of the Inside Passage to the gold mining districts of the Klondike. British investment was secured and construction was started in 1898 and finished in July 1900. Three companies managed the railroad known as the WP&YR:
-The Pacific & Arctic Railway from Skagway to the British Columbia border near White Pass.
-The BC-Yukon Railway from White Pass to the BC Yukon border near Pennington.
-The British Yukon Railroad to Whitehorse.
Traffic on the WP&YR dropped significantly after the gold rush with the severe decline in the population of the Yukon Territories. Tourist trade saved the WP&YR as they began promoting recreational travel off the steamships that stopped in Skagway. The Second World War brought about the need to build the Alaska Highway linking Alaska through the Yukon and BC to the lower 48 states. The WP&YR was the best way to move supplies to the highway site. The US Army leased the railroad from 1942 to 1946 and ran multiple daily supply trains during that period. After the war, increased mining activities in the Yukon maintained the rail traffic to 1982. Numerous spur lines were opened and closed to mines in the district. The WP&YR pioneered some of the first transshipment of containers from ships to rail during the post-war period. In 1982 extremely depressed metal prices forced the mines to close and the railroad shut down in October, 1982. However by 1988 increased cruise ship traffic to Skagway prompted the WP&YR to reopen in 1988 and traffic has increased every year.

The WP&YR rolling stock consists of approximately 20 diesel-electric locomotives, 2 steam engines and 70 antique and replica parlor car type coaches. 11 diesel-electric locomotives are ALCO 251A's built by GE between 1954 and 1966, and 9 are ALCO 251D's built by ALCO between 1969 and 1982. The two steam locomotives are Engine #73 which is a fully restored 1947 Baldwin 2-8-2 Mikado class unit and recently rebuilt Engine #69 which is a Baldwin 2-8-0 steam locomotive originally built for WP&YR in 1907. The parlor cars are antique or replicas of antique coaches with an average age of 50 years and with an average of approximately 40 seats per carriage. The parlor cars are named after lakes and rivers in Alaska, Yukon and BC and the oldest car is Lake Emerald which was built in 1883.

The future of the WP&YR railroad looks promising with the continued increase in cruise ship traffic visiting Skagway. I urge all readers to visit Skagway and travel on one of the most scenic and historic train routes in operation today. Information on the schedules and fares can be found at www.whitepassrailroad.com/schedule.html.


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Mike Mathews is an author and contributor for Model Trains, which is a new and very popular model train website.



Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/before-buying-a-designer-dog.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/before-buying-a-designer-dog.html Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 Puggle , Schnoodle, Labradoodle and Maltipoo and you are probably wondering if they are purebreds or mongrels and why they cost so much. You may also have heard that designer dogs are healthier than purebreds, don't shed and are good for people with allergies. I will attempt to address these issues and provide other information in the following article.

Designer dogs were initially developed by crossing two purebred breeds with the intention of producing a cross-breed dog with certain desirable characteristics. For example a Puggle is a cross between a Pug and a Beagle and a Shorkie is a cross between a Shih Tzu and a Yorkshire Terrier. In an attempt to design a low shed or hypoallergenic dog, breeders have crossed a variety of breeds with toy, miniature and standard Poodles. Examples of the “poo” designer dogs include the Schnoodle (Schnauzer), Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever), Maltepoo (Maltese), and Cockapoo (American Cocker Spaniel).

In order to better understand the concept of designer dogs, we need to know a little bit about canine genetics. Dogs have 78 chromosomes made up from 39 pairs or sets. Each puppy receives half of their chromosomes from their mother and half from their father. These chromosomes contain the puppy's DNA which defines its characteristics or genetic makeup. Generalizing, this means the puppy gets some characteristics from the mother and some from the father in a “random chance” manner and the number of possible combinations is well over one billion. Therefore it is almost impossible for two puppies in the same litter to have exactly the same combination of chromosomes or characteristics. Purebred dogs were developed for a specific purpose such as hunting or herding by cross breeding two or more founding breeds that the breed developers thought would best contribute to meeting that specific purpose. Then over some period of time, the resulting offspring (usually first or second cousins) were bred with each other to minimize the “random chance” characteristics. Then over many generations the resulting dogs would start to breed true and have physical and temperament characteristics with minimal differences across generations and bloodlines. This new breed of dog could then meet a common breed standard and eventually be recognized by a national association. A current success story is the Silky Terrier which was developed in Australia around 1900 by crossing an Australian Terrier with a Yorkshire Terrier in order to obtain the best characteristics of both breeds. The Silky Terrier was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1933 and has become a popular companion dog ranking 65th out of 154 dog breeds registered by the AKC in 2005. Not all characteristics of a new breed are desirable. Some characteristics such as inherited tendencies to specific diseases are bad and breeders try to minimize the chances of this happening by screening the parents before breeding. However this won't entirely prevent diseases from being passed on to the next generation if both parents are carrying a recessive gene for that disease.

Now back to designer dogs. Designer dogs can be created by breeding two appropriate purebred dogs. The resulting puppies are first-generation designer dogs that will have some “random chance” combination of the parents physical and personality characteristics. Reputable breeders will have screened the breeding parents for genetic diseases and desirable personality characteristics. Prospective buyers should ask for the breeding parents Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) orthopedic and other breed specific test results and also the Canine Eye Registry (CERF) recent ophthalmologists report for eye disorders. Many breeders will argue that first-generation designer dogs will be healthier because they come from a larger gene pool. Multi-generational designer dogs are developed when breeders have decided to concentrate on a particular designer dog. These breeders commit themselves to a multi-generational breeding program by breeding the same species of dog in order to standardize on certain desirable characteristics. Let's take the example of a Puggle, where breeders may be trying to minimize the breathing problems of the Pug and tone down the Beagle's single-minded scent following characteristics. Which is better - the possibly healthier first-generation Puggle which may have more or less of each parent's characteristics or the multi-generation Puggle with more predictable characteristics? It really is your choice.

More important is deciding on the type of designer dog you want. Size, activity level, coat type, child tolerance, etc. are all factors you need to research. Go to our Directory of Breed of Dogs and research the founding stock that makes up the designer dog. The most popular designer dogs are the Puggles (Pug and Beagle cross) followed by the Labradoodles (Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle cross). See our Puggle/Labradoodle page for more information on these dogs.

Note that there are really two types of Labradoodles. The first is the unofficial mixed Poodle/Labrador designer breed and the second is the Australian Labradoodle which has resulted from an exhaustive Australian breeding program intended to develop a pure-bred dog breed that will be recognized by the national kennel clubs around the world. The Australian program actually involves 6 different parent breeds: Poodle (standard, miniature, and toy); Labrador Retriever; Irish Water Spaniel; Curly Coat Retriever; American Cocker Spaniel; and English Cocker Spaniel.
Other popular designer dogs are the: Schnoodle (Miniature Schnauzer and Poodle), Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever and Poodle), Shorkie (Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier), Schnorkie (Miniature schnauzer and Yorkshire Terrier), Maltipoo (Maltese and Poodle), and Chorkie (Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier).

Some popular designer dogs are expensive and depending on the area in which you live, you may have a substantial wait time. While doing your required research, you may find you would be just as happy with one of the founding purebred breeds for less money and less wait time. Even better you may be able to save a dog's life by visiting the animal shelters or breed rescue kennels in your area to see if there is a cute dog available which will meet your needs.

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About the Author - Mike Mathews writes articles about dog breeds, dog health, dog training and dog grooming. His report on Puggles and Labradoodles can be seen at Dog Breed Facts.com .

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>