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Monthly Archive for June 2009

Protein – Of Prime Importance

Protein and it’s many functions

After water it is the most plentiful substance in the body. Some feel that protein in the form of meat and poultry are essential to the diet, others think that protein is animal meat only. Protein however, comes in many forms and some are better for you than others.

There are lots of views on the level of protein we need in our daily food allowance. I am going to cover choosing the right protein and the quantities you should consume for optimum health and of course weight loss!

Benefits of Protein- the scientific bit:

• Needed to rebuild body cells, tissue, muscles and organs

• Used to keep our amino acid pool topped up – AA’s are used for building and repairing the cells of the body

• It provides enzymes and hormones

• It is a vital element in our body’s structure

• It is needed in the process of producing hair and nails

• It is used as a source of energy if there is an inadequate source

Quite amazing don’t you think!

Things you need to know:

To understand the type of energy we get from protein, you first need to imagine a scenario of a sprinter as he or she runs the fast but short distance to the finish line. Protein provides that level of energy – a rush of energy which soon wears off.

• The digestive system will not cope with the digestion of high levels of protein, it creates stress to the kidneys & liver and it leaves undigested proteins in the colon causing digestive problems such as flatulence, bloating, IBS, constipation and much more.

• High protein diets do not enhance muscle strength, size or mass, and therefore offer no advantage

Choosing the right Protein:

• Meat contains saturated fat which is unhealthy. It is not an essential form of protein. You can get your protein from far better sources. If animal protein is eaten a better option would be poultry. Try to limit your intake to 1 per week of red meat and no more than 2 times per week of poultry – weight 50-100 grams.

• Fish is a good form of protein and should be eaten 2-3 times per week and 2 of these portions should contain Omega3 such as Salmon, Mackerel or fresh Tuna. Did you know that there is no Omega3 in tinned Tuna

• Nuts and seeds are a healthy option but contain a lot of fat/oils therefore a lot of calories, however this is good fat so can be consumed in small amounts – say a tablespoon on cereal, salad or as a snack

• Eggs due to cholesterol should be limited to one per week

• Beans, pulses & brown rice and grains contain protein along with carbohydrates so a good source of protein as they do not contain fat therefore low in calorific value.

Try to replace some of your current meat protein with these foods.

Daily Recommended amount of Protein:

• Protein should make up approx 15% of our daily intake of food

• Whilst it is vitally important to our diets we do not need very much of it. Protein in any form should be limited to a maximum of 2-3 portions per day of between 50 – 125gms and be made up mostly of non-animal protein.

• As a rule of thumb protein should never be more than 1/6th of the quantity of food on your plate. Over time plates have become very large so a good example would be a dessert plate.

Karen Fullick – Nutritional Therapist

Tip of the day

Try introducing basmati brown rice to your daily food allowance. It has a nutty taste and more chewy texture than white rice. It is full of nutrients and slow release energy. Eating this with vegetable curry is a tasty, healthy alternative to steak and chips and you will feel better afterward!

admin in Tips on June 28 2009 » 0 comments

If You Stop Paying Your Life Insurance Premiums, What Happens?



Things happen in this world that we have no control over and sometimes life gets in the way.  When this happens we may stop doing things that we would normally take care of right away, like paying the premiums on our life insurance policies and so fourth.  The fact is that this can happen to anyone and what happens when we stop paying our life insurance premiums is what matters the most.  There are several things that can and will happen and it all depends on the way that the policy is set up.  There is no one way to determine the exact out come because of the many factors that come into play.  You will need some baseline knowledge to understand how to handle such an occurrence.

The most basic life insurance policy is similar in nature to the other types of insurance policies that you have.  The basic idea is that you must keep paying to keep the policy active.  If you stop paying the premiums the policy is no longer valid and no pay out will be made if you were to pass on.  This is just like the other types of insurance that you have as they require the payments to be kept current in all situations.  The difference is that there are certain clauses built into life insurance policies that will help you get out of such a bind.

Asking for help from the life insurance company that you are with is the best course of action to take. They will be of the utmost help to you and they can work directly with the policy to make sure that certain things are taken care of.  In most cases there is a period of grace that is given for the payment of the premium.  So if you have a month where the payment is late for one reason or another you will probably have at least two weeks to make sure the payment arrives before there are any adverse effects on the policy itself.  This is very common among insurance companies as they are aware that certain things can come up.

If the premiums on your life insurance policy go into default then there are certain things about the policy that you should understand.  For one thing there is a dormant period when the payments are not made.  This means that there is a time frame when the policy is still available but not active and if the payments are made then the policy will be reactivated for you.  Most people believe that once they default the policy is gone for good but this would not be in the best interest of the life insurance company at all. They will do everything in their power to make sure that you continue to have coverage through them.

admin in Tips on June 28 2009 » 0 comments

FHA home loan Florida, FHA mortgage Florida,

FHA home loan Florida, FHA mortgage Florida, Florida FHA Loans have many advantages over other financing programs including:

 Minimal Down Payment and Closing Costs.

•·  Down payment less than 3% of Sales Price

•·  100% Financing options available

•·  No reserves or required.

•·  FHA regulated closing costs.

•·  Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards buyers costs.

Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as:

•·  No minimum FICO score or credit score requirements.

•·  FHA will allow a home purchase 2 years after a Bankruptcy.

•·  FHA will allow a home purchase 3 years after a Foreclosure

Easier Debt Ratio & Job Requirement Guidelines such as:

•·  Higher Debt Ratio’s than other home loan programs.

•·  Less than two years on the job is allowed.

•·  Self-Employed individuals o.k.

Apply for an FHA loan at www.FHAmortgageFHALoan.com

FHA Home Loans for Purchasing a Florida Home

Although Florida FHA home loans require additional paperwork, the reality is that applying for an FHA mortgage loan in Florida is not much different from applying for conventional financing. In fact, for many borrowers the small amount of extra time turns out to be an exceptional mortgage bargain because they save thousands of dollars over the life of their Florida Mortgage.

At 1st Continental Mortgage, we have been working with the FHA program for many years. We’re experts at assembling the proper paperwork and presenting your loan application to FHA approved lenders diligently and professionally. It’s one of the ways that we have earned our reputation for closing FHA home loans in Florida on-time.

You may be surprised at how flexible sellers are in the current market and how many programs there are that provide Downpayment assistance to applicants for FHA financing to purchase Florida homes, condos, and townhouses. The fact is, seller can pay up to 6% towards your closing costs. This means, no closing costs for you when negotiated during the purchase contract!

The FHA program offers excellent fixed rate options and never a prepayment penalty. If other mortgage lenders are quoting you subprime rates, you owe it to yourself to make the call to 1st Continental Mortgage to compare the costs of getting an FHA home loan for your home purchase. Call 1-800-570-0448 to speak with an FHA mortgage expert before accepting any conventional mortgage quote as the best you can do!

For first time home buyers and other borrowers, the FHA home loans can have key advantages:

Easy Qualification – The FHA loan insures lenders against loss for loans made to properly qualified FHA home loan borrowers. So you’re likely to find FHA mortgage loans with terms that make it easier for you to qualify.

Minimal Downpayment Requirements – FHA mortgages can work with as little as 3% down and those funds can come from a family member, charity, or your employer. Although the FHA loan does not have a zero down mortgage option yet, you will find that your 1st Continental Mortgage loan officer can point you to many Downpayment assistance programs that work well with Florida FHA home loans.

Less than A-1 Credit is Okay – The Florida FHA home loan program exists to expand the pool of home buyers. Even borrowers with prior bankruptcies or mortgage lates get approved every day for FHA mortgages to buy or Refinance homes in Hillsborough County or any of the other Florida counties we serve. The FHA loan program uses credit quality, not credit score!

Lower Cost Over the Life of the Loan – The Florida FHA home loan rates are extraordinarily competitive. FHA’s lower risk to the lender means a better rate for the borrower.

Safeguards for Borrowers Who Get Behind – The Florida FHA loan mortgages also allow the lender more options in helping borrowers who fall behind keep their homes are get current again: special forbearance, workouts, even free mortgage counseling. Further, HUD can allow the lender to take past due payments and move them to the end of the loan and in some instance will actually pay your past due payments for you. Options to save your home you’ll never get from a conventional loan! In an uncertain world, this is another excellent reason for you to get an FHA mortgage.

Options for Manufactured Housing – Under certain conditions, you can even finance a Mobile Home or manufactured home using a Florida FHA mortgage loan. Call 1-800-570-0448 to get pre-approved for a Florida FHA loan for manufactured housing or just use our quick application to learn more!

FHA Loans Are Fully Assumable – When you are ready to sell your home, you can offer buyers FHA financing! All FHA loans can be assumed by qualified buyers.

These are just seven of the many good reasons to apply for an FHA mortgage. Call 1-800-570-0448 to speak with a friendly Florida FHA loan specialist now!

The FHA program has evolved since it started in 1934 and now has options for HUD insured loans that fit a variety of different borrowers and situations.

Serving These Fine Florida Communities:

Arcadia :: Boca Raton :: Boynton Beach :: Bradenton :: Brandon :: Cape Coral :: Clearwater :: Clewiston

Crestview :: Daytona Beach :: Deerfield Beach :: Deland :: Delray Beach :: Deltona :: Destin :: Englewood

Fort Pierce :: Ft. Lauderdale :: Ft. Myers :: Ft. Walton Beach :: Gainesville :: Hollywood :: Homosassa Springs

Jacksonville :: Key West :: Kissimmee :: Lake City :: Lakeland :: Lynn Haven :: Marathon :: Marco Island

Melbourne :: Miami :: Miami Beach :: North Fort Myers :: North Miami Beach :: Naples :: Ocala :: Okeechobee

Orlando :: Ormond Beach :: Osprey :: Palatka :: Palm Bay :: Palm Beach :: Palm Coast :: Panama City :: Pensacola

Pompano Beach :: Port St. Lucie :: Punta Gorda :: Santa Rosa :: Sarasota :: Sebastian :: Sebring :: Springhill

St. Augustine :: St. Petersburg :: Tallahassee :: Tampa :: The Villages :: Titusville :: Venice :: Vero Beach

Wauchula :: Wesley Chapel :: West Palm Beach :: Winter Park

Serving These Fine Florida Counties:

Alachua :: Baker :: Bay :: Bradford :: Brevard :: Broward :: Calhoun :: Charlotte :: Citrus :: Clay :: Collier

Columbia :: Dade :: DeSoto :: Dixie :: Duval :: Escambia :: Flagler :: Franklin :: Gadsden :: Gilchrist :: Glades

Gulf :: Hamilton :: Hardee :: Hendry :: Hernando :: Highlands :: Hillsborough :: Holmes :: Indian River :: Jackson

Jefferson :: Lafayette :: Lake :: Lee :: Leon :: Levy :: Liberty :: Madison :: Manatee :: Marion :: Martin :: Miami-Dade

Monroe :: Nassau :: Okaloosa :: Okeechobee :: Orange :: Osceola :: Palm Beach :: Pasco :: Pinellas :: Polk

Putnam :: Saint Johns :: Saint Lucie :: Santa Rosa :: Sarasota :: Seminole :: Sumter :: Suwannee :: Taylor :: Union

Volusia :: Wakulla :: Walton :: Washington

 

 

 

 

 

 

admin in Tips on June 28 2009 » 0 comments

Candies Eyewear – Great Looks For A Great Price!



It is said that Candies eyewear is designed with a unique and innovative touch when it comes to shapes, colors and finishes.  Wearing a pair gives you the feeling of youth, spirit and enegry.  The brand features styles with a wide variety of hues that are well out of the ordinary. 

What I like best about Candies eyewear is the fact that the shapes of their creations are fun, very feminine, and really help to make your eyes stand out.  After all, isn’t that what designer eyewear is all about?

Candies Eyewear Review

Some of the more popular styles at the moment include Candies Emma eyewear, Candies Laura eyewear and Candies Alicia eyewear.  If you are ready to buy a pair or are just thinking about it, here are a few of my top picks for you to consider:

Candies Alba Eyewear

Great looking frames that are available in several colors including Brown, Black and Rose.  They are styled for women and are crafted from metal.  The measurements are: Eye: 51mm, Bridge: 16mm, Vertical: 25.7mm and Temple: 135mm  They retail for around $125.

Candies Claudia Eyewear

Stylish frames that come in several colors such as Burgundy, Pink, Brown and Black Pink, just to name a few.  They are styled for the woman who wants to make a bold statement and stand out from the crowd.  The standard size for this model measures: Eye: 51mm, Bridge 16mm, Vertical: 25.2mm and the Temples: 135mm.  They are made from metal and retail for around $125.

Candies Jolie Eyeglasses

These frames feature the latest look from the brand, available in great colors like Burgundy/Purple, Black/Orange and Brown/Blue, just to name a few.  They are a great look for both casual and formal wear.  The measurements are: Eye: 50mm, Bridge: 14mm, Vertical: 26.8mm and Temples: 135mm.  They are also made from plastic and retail for about $120.

Candies Eyewear On Sale

Above are just a few of my favorite Candies eyewear styles that are available. While you can find them at better department stores and at optical shops such as Lens Crafters and Pearl Vision, Retail prices are generally between $120 to $150 for a pair.  I suggest that you do a search online to find the exact pair you are looking for and to compare prices from several different shops. This way, you can be confident in knowing you are getting the very best possible deal for your money.

admin in Tips on June 28 2009 » 0 comments

Polyurethane and Fiber Glass Body kits Comparison



When you chose your car you would have considered many options before you finally chose the make and model of the car that you actually bought. Now that you have got started on considering car aftermarket products you are back to evaluating options.

A wide variety of body kits are available on the market. You will have a choice of style, color, manufacturer and a host of other variables. Now a lot of the choices you will be making will be a matter of personal taste and you do not need to inform yourself in depth of the options. However one of the choices you will be making is that of the of the material. For this it is useful if you make an informed choice.

The choice of material depends on your needs and the driving conditions in your area. For now let us discuss just two popular materials which are used for making body kits. Polyurethane and Fiber glass composite. Both are composite materials which are ideally suited to the manufacture of body kits since they can be easily molded into the desired shape and yet are strong.

If you were to compare the two materials you would find that Polyurethane is more flexible. This is useful because this means it does not get dented or scratched easily. On the other hand fiber glass retains the paint job much better and the paint is less likely to peel off from a fiber glass body kit. Fiber glass is also able to handle more severe ambient conditions as compared to polyurethane.

As you can see both materials have their plus points and both materials are very popular. You will find options are available to you for each material. So what material should you choose? Well if any of the above qualities help you decide go with that choice. If the roads in your area are not very good you may prefer the durability of a polyurethane body kit.

All things being equal you can choose based on the price. Fiber glass composite kits tend to be cheaper although there is cost variation amongst different manufacturers. You can know more about car aftermarket products at www.ilovebodykits.com.

admin in Tips on June 27 2009 » 0 comments