Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Counting Carbs With WineThe recent health claims that wines have antioxidants in them that may block free radicals, prevent heart disease, cancer, and other conditions associated with aging seems to have some validity. Polyphenol, catechin, and cholesterol-reducing resveratrol are found predominately in red wines in various degrees. One suggestion as to why some of these antioxidants are present in red wines is that grapes that have been distressed during their growth will exhibit the highest level of antioxidants. Red-skinned grapes seem to have better growing success in less temperate climates but exhibit the effects of stressful weather conditions in the form of higher levels of resveratrol. Before all you wine enthusiasts start shouting, I told you so! let me point out that many of the same antioxidant benefits can also be found in dark beers, too.

What low-carbohydrate dieters are most concerned about with wine, however, is its carbohydrate count, loosely a function of the wine's residual sugar content. Although residual sugar levels are often made available by vintners and are a good indication as to the possible dryness or sweetness of a wine (the higher the number, the sweeter the wine), we cant, unfortunately, extrapolate the carbohydrate count of the wine from this figure without a full lab analysis.

Some wine-related Web sites say that there are no carbohydrates in dry wine, a glaring example of people who have no idea of the mechanics of fermentation. The process of converting sugars to alcohol and carbon dioxide during fermentation is limited by the attenuation of the yeast or the manipulation of the fermentation by the vintner. In order for a wine to have no carbohydrates in it, it would have to be pure alcohol, in other words, distilled. Of course at that point, the liquid would no longer be wine, but brandy or cognac. Alland I repeatall wines, including dry wines, have some residual sugar left behind after the fermentation process ends. Residual sugar equals carbohydrates. If it were possible to use fermentation to convert a sugary liquid into a drink that was free of carbohydrates, the process of distillation would be a meaningless procedure. Only after distillation, when the resultant liquid is transformed into ethyl alcohol (ethanol), will a once-fermented liquid truly become carbohydrate-free.

You might notice while shopping for wine that some fruit-blended wines actually carry a nutritional analysis statement on them. For any wine with an alcohol content of less than 7% by volume, the Food and Drug Administration actually has jurisdiction over the nutritional labeling of the product. However, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has jurisdiction over the mandated government warnings that are also found on the labels of these wines and of all alcohol-based products. This is one of the few times that the FDA gets involved in the realm of spirited beverages with the TTB. Youll also find nutritional information on ciders under 7%.

What kind of a margin of error does the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau allow in the measurement of carbohydrates in wine? From the TTB ruling: Statements of carbohydrates and fat contents [on wine labels or advertising materials] are acceptable provided the actual carbohydrate or fat contents, as determined by ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the former alcohol trade regulatory agency) lab analysis, are within a reasonable range below, but in no case more than 20% above, the labeled amount.

If you're on a low-carbohydrate diet and enjoy the occasional pressings from the noble grape, the following list of wines with their carbohydrate counts should help you keep your daily carb intake in check:

Barton & Guestier

Cabernet Sauvignon ('02)5 oz1.70 g
Chardonnay ('02)5 oz1.10 g
French Tom Cabernet Sauvignon ('02)5 oz1.30 g
French Tom Chardonnay ('02)5 oz1.10 g
French Tom Merlot ('01)5 oz1.40 g


Ecco Domani

Cabernet Sauvignon (01)5 oz4.00 g
Chianti (01)5 oz3.60 g
Merlot (01)5 oz4.05 g
Pinot Bianco (96)5 oz3.50 g
Pinot Grigio (02)5 oz3.15 g


For more information on the carbohydrate count of more than 1000 worldwide brands of beer, 400 wines, 60 liqueurs, and distilled products, go to www.lcbartender.com.


Bob Skilnik, 2004


Bob Skilnik is a Chicagoland freelance writer who has written for the Chicago Tribune, the Collector Magazine, the American Breweriana Associations Journal and the national Association Breweriana Advertisings Breweriana Collector on the subjects of beer, brewery history and breweriana. He is a 1991 graduate of the chicago-based Siebel Institute of Technology, the oldest brewing school in the united States, with a degree in Brewing Technology.

His interests in beer and brewing were cultivated while serving as a German translator in West germany for the united States Army. Skilnik is the Associate Editor for the ABA Journal and The Tap newspaper, and a member of the Society of midland Authors and the Culinary Historians of chicago. He has appeared in the Chicagoland area on Media Ones television program, The Buzz, WTTW's chicago Tonight with Bob Sirott and Phil Ponce, Chicagos Public radio station, WBEZ , Springfield, IL's WUIS radio and the WOR Morning Show with Ed Walsh in New york. Skilnik's national television appearances have been on the cold Pizza morning show on ESPN2 and fox News live.

Skilnik's latest effort is The Low-Carb Bartender, published by Adams Media. This reference book of hundreds of beers, wines, liquors, and liqueurs with their carbohydrate counts and a collection of over two hundred low carb mixed-drink recipes will be available in bookstores in November, 2004.

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Stress Management With Massages

daily life can grind you down. Worse, you might not notice it until your body rebels in a big way.

One way to beat back the stress is through a massage every week or two. It takes 30 minutes to an hour and you will feel like a million bucks. Of course, you have to know what you are getting into, so here is a breakdown of the more popular massages.

At the top of the list, we have the Swedish massage. This is the default massage for most therapists. If you ask for a massage, it is what you get. It is undertaken using a lotion or oil which is applied to the body as sections are worked on. Long, smooth strokes are made over muscles with a nominal amount of pressure. The Swedish massage will relax you for a few hours, but not much beyond that.

The deep tissue massage can be found on the other end of the massage scale. The point of this massage is not to provide you with a peaceful, relaxing massage experience. It is to get at those deep knots of tension. This is done through the application of a lot of pressure on areas of tension. You will grimace and groan. So, why get it? Well, you will feel much better afterwards and the effects will last for days.

For something a bit different, a traditional thai massage is recommended. A real thai massage is a dozy. It takes place with you on your back on a padded floor. The thai therapist then begins twisting and bending your body this way and that. The stated purpose is to align your energy meridians. You can think of it as forced yoga. You will feel 20 years younger after a month of these massages.

Similar to the thai massage, we have the shiatsu massage. Originating in Japan, this massage also has the stated purpose of aligning your energy points. The primary difference is the method used by the therapist to do this. instead of bending you like a pretzel, the therapist will use their fingers to dig in at positions of energy. It can smart a bit, but the results are usually very relaxing.

There are many other massages that one can find to fill your particular need. If you feet are killing you, a reflexology foot massage can do wonders. Heck, there are even massages tailored to the pregnant, a Godsend if ever there was! To get the benefits of any of these massages, you just have to get out there and try them.

Get spa information for your area at ResortSpaDestinations.com.

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Having A Ball with X-Box Games

I love playing video games. I love it so much that I even have two video games systems at home an x box and a Playstation. I used to play with my Playstation most of the time because it had all the games that I love to play. But recently Ive noticed that I now have an extensive collection of x box games and my Playstation has been collecting dust in a corner.

It all began a year ago when I saw the x box in my neighbors multi family yard sale. He wanted to get rid of it because his son has been spending all of his me on it and I was able to get for a reasonably low price. And since he also had lots of x box games to go with the system I was able to get them for a few bucks as well. I was able to get my favorite fighting games for a lot less money than of have I bought them from a video game store.

The x box game that Ive grown to really love is the Dance Dance Revolution. Its a new type of game that combines a workout with the normal gaming experience. Its a revolutionary video game that tries to accurately simulate dancing. At the time that I bought the game I had no idea that it would be challenging.

To my surprise it was quite difficult and I actually felt that I was really dancing as I played the game. Its amazing to play a game that stimulates your mind while giving you a cardio-vascular exercise.

X box games can cost quite a lot and I learned that it would be wise to rent a game from a video store to determine if its worth buying. However, Dance Dance revolution was the exception. Its the only game that was more convenient to buy than to having rent the game and the mat. The idea of using a mat that was used by other people seemed quite unhygienic.

X box games on ebay can also be bought for less money than those on video games stores so I go there to check out some games. The most economical way to get new games is to trade games with other x box gamers but you have to make sure than you ca get your games back. In recent months the only games I buy are the ones that Ill really like and of course, the exceptional Dance Dance Revolution.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning X box Games. Get more information by visiting http://www.xtraordinarysite.com/games/games/having-a-ball-with-x-box-games.html.

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7 Persuasive Reasons Why Men Should Shave Their Privates

Here are seven reasons why men should consider shaving their privates. No, I'm not talking about Privates in the Army, although a "soldier" at attention, with a shiny helmet and a loaded weapon, is definitely involved.

most men worry obsessively about the hair on their heads but rarely give a second thought to their pubic hair. Only when the time is right with that special lady do men realize they should have spent some time grooming their privates. Guys, here are 7 compelling reasons why you should groom your pubic hair or even remove it completely.

1. Cleanliness. The crotch is a focal point for heat, sweat, and bacteria. Cropping or removing your pubic hair makes that area much easier to keep clean, and more importantly, smelling clean and manly. She's more likely to explore that area up close if it's well maintained.

2. Novelty. The contrast between your obviously adult-sized package and your new hairlessness can be quite erotic, and not just to you! Your lover may gush over the idea of making love to what now has the illusion of being forbidden fruit.

3. It's More Inviting. If you remove most or all of her objections to performing oral sex on you, isn't it worth the trouble? Pay special attention to removing stray hairs from your shaft. Hair in the mouth sucks, but she won't if she finds one.

4. Don't Forget The Scrotum. A woman's body is playground of softness and smoothness, so don't you think she'll appreciate the same on you? A silky smooth ball sack invites both manual and oral caresses. She's far more likely to play down there if she doesn't have to use a weed-whacker to find it.

5. It's Healthier. She'll see immediately that you have no skin outbreaks or unwanted "critters" to hide. Furthermore, you will have greater manual sensitivity when you perform your periodic testicular self-exam. You do examine yourself regularly, don't you? You should. The earlier you catch any problems, the easier they are to fix.

learn more about Testicular Self Exams (TSE) at http://my.webmd.com/hw/mens_conditions/hw234856.asp

6. It's Fun To Let Her Do It! That's right, let her shave you! This is not only an exercise in trust, but a highly-suspenseful erotic thrill ride. The danger of an ultra sharp razor in such a sensitive area, the tension of long slow razor strokes, the aching of your pulse-pounding erection, and the foamy friction of her shaving-creamed hand on your shaft can intensify your pleasure like you never thought possible. Just don't make any sudden moves.

And most importantly (to some at least):

7. It Makes Your Erection Look Huge. I'm not kidding - you will swear that you gained at least an extra inch in length! If your crotch is not groomed regularly, you probably have pubic hair at least part way up your shaft. Your penis "appears" to begin where that pubic hair ends. Remove the underbrush and your hidden length will be revealed.

When you're grooming the hair on your "big head," don't forget about the hair on the "little head" too! Whether you do it to please yourself or a partner (or both), regular pubic hair grooming or even total pubic hair removal can spice up your love life. If you like it enough, consider permanent removal methods such as laser hair removal or electrolysis.

Note that some people experience moderate to intense itching the first few days after shaving as the pubic hair grows back. You might want your first grooming experience to be at the beginning of a weekend so you're not squirming in your office chair all day Monday! The itching should decrease or stop if you continue to groom yourself regularly.

And if the guys in the gym locker room make fun of you, first ask them why they are checking out your package. In the embarrassed silence that follows, tell them why you did it, that you're having twice as much sex as they are, and what she's doing now that she wouldn't do before! Then get ready to answer their questions.

Visit Hair Removal Answers at http://www.HairRemovalAnswers.com and Laser Hair Removal at http://Laser.HairRemovalAnswers.com for Free Laser Hair Removal facts, Answers, and Articles for Both Men and women. learn How To Tell If You're A Candidate For Laser Hair Removal, How It Works, The Side Effects, And More.

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