Standard Definitions of Fibromyalgia Treatment and What we Know

Whenthe standarddepictionof fibromyalgia was first introduced, we lackedevenbasiccomprehension of the condition, and had onlya guide for researchers who wereattemptingto deepen this knowledge.Due to increasing research, our understandinghas grown from countingtenderpointsand focusingon pai&#110f;ul;musclesto an evolvingconcept of a heterogeneous set of subgroups who havecentralnervoussystemsensitivityand a countless variety of potentialdysfunctional biochemicaland metabolic interactions. With this new FM concept comes the need for a depictionthatacknowledges the complexityof fibromyalgia.

We are deligh&#116ed;to present an innovative workof art,designed by artistAnne Félicité, wife of the famed French researcher Dr. JeanB. Eisinger.The figuredepicts fibromyalgia in a new way,reflecting thatthose of us withfibromyalgia are not victims of fate (or of threeFates), are morethan the sum of our tenderpoints,and are complex individuals who are each unique in metabolic makeup and needs.

FM is not a catchall, “wastebasket” diagnosis.FM is a state of centralsensitization. Thismeansthatyourcentralnervoussystemmay be unusually sensitiveto pain(hyperalgesia) and you alsomay findcertain sounds, vibrations, light, and other sensations (evensmells) to be translated by yourbodyintodiscomfort or pain. Certain typesof sound,suchas staccatomusic or talk, or certain pitches, may be unendurableand promoteincreasedsensitivityto other stimuli. The same may be trueof the pattern of shadow and lightby trees passing alongin a car, or evenbeing stuckin an elevator or car witha woman withheavy perfume. Diffuse,body-wide painis partof FM, but not all of it by any means.

Fibromyalgia is not yet considereda disease. Diseaseshaveknown causes and well-understood mechanisms for producingsymptoms.FM is a syndrome, whichmeansit is a specificset of signsand symptomsthatoccur together. Syndromes are no less serious or potentially;disablingthan diseases. Rheumatoidarthritis and lupus are alsoclassifiedas syndromes.Lab testsfor FM do not exist rightnow. Lab testsare valid onlyto checkfor co-existing conditions. You can haveother conditions and alsohaveFM.

You haveprobably heard about the official FM definition requiring11 of 18 tenderpointsto be present.Thiswas partof the criteria originallyto be usedto define patients to be admitted intoclinicalstudies of FM, and the tenderpointshad to be present in all four quadrants— thatis, the upper rightand leftand lowerrightand leftparts;of yourbody. You must havehad widespread,more-or-less continuous painfor at least threemonths. Thiswas not originallyintendedto be diagnostic. Since most clinicalstudies fail to separate symptomsof FM from co-existing CMP,the conclusionsof manystudies may be faulty. Tenderpointsoccur in pairs on variousparts;of the body. In traumatic FM, tenderpointsmay be clusteredaroundan injuryinsteadof, or in additionto, the 18 “official” points. These clusters can alsooccur arounda repetitivestrain or a degenerative and/or inflammatoryproblem, suchas arthritis.Localized painusually indicates a co-existing condition, suchas chronicmyofascial pain(CMP), but evenwithCMP this can be misleading, as you willreadlater.

(ArticlesBase ID #1173643)

Dawn Stevens is a Fibromyalgia Expert and noted author

treatment fibromyalgia

fibromyalgia pain relief

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Make Your Own Beer — Without Making Mistakes

If you are going to make your own beer then your biggest worry has to be that something will go wrong and the whole brew will be ruined. What can you do to reduce the chances of that happening to almost zero? The answer could be very simple…

Who Likes A Challenge?

OK, sometimes a challenge is good. It can stretch us, and if the task is that bit more difficult then the satisfaction in getting a good result is all the greater. But it’s all a matter of degree. If the odds are so stacked against you that the chances of failure are seriously high, then that can kind of take away the enjoyment.

It’s like that with home brewing. A little difficulty or ‘challenge’ might be OK, but too much and it can ruin the hobby, and your brew.

And let’s face it, the processes in home brewing the traditional way can be quite complicated. All that preparing the ingredients, malting your grains, mixing at different stages, transferring between containers etc … It’s a long, drawn out business that is full of risks. And any mistake can potentially ruin everything.

Why Take The Risk?

So, if there’s a good alternative why take the risk of failure? Why pour all your time and effort into something that is hard work and can so easily go wrong?

You see, the sort of home brewing kits you can get these days make the whole operation so much easier. Compared to the traditional method, with kits there’s really very little you have to do. Each malt kit (for whichever type of beer you choose) comes ready prepared; you just add the odd extra ingredient, mix with water, and leave to ferment.

Quality and Reliability

But, how about the quality with kits? After all, there’s no point taking the easy route if all you can get is second rate beer. Thankfully, with kits nowadays there is absolutely no compromise on quality. You can achieve the most delicious results — everything that homebrewed beer is renowned for.   

And what’s more, you can achieve top results with incredible reliability. With kits the process is made so easy that virtually all the risk is taken away, so you can brew with confidence — instead of with worry.  

Sure, you can get great results the traditional way also, but not with the same reliability unless you are already an expert. No, if you take the traditional route you will need to know what you are doing or be prepared for a lot of trial and error and learning the hard way. That’s not what most people are looking for in a hobby.

Sadly, traditional home brewing can be full of disappointment. It’s bad enough that one little mistake in a long sequence of steps can ruin the whole brew, but what’s worse is that you might not realize it till quite some time later…

… How quickly eager anticipation can turn into bitter disappointment! Have you read all those posts in the forums from people agonizing over why their brew isn’t looking right? There’s no need to suffer like that.

Instead — Relax and Enjoy

Instead of worrying over how your brew is going to turn out, when you use kits you can relax and enjoy yourself because you can be confident in the result — top quality beer, time after time. And all with minimum work!

Oh, and by the way you can really impress your friends with this — they won’t know how easy it was, but each week you can bring out a top quality homebrewed beer of your own. All the favorite varieties are available with kits, and you can even experiment with your own original flavors and versions.  This is how the hobby should be — easy, fun and delicious!

Ready to make your own beer this fun and easy way? Take the next step now by getting a FREE Guide to homebrewing with kits — and it even includes lots of easy and delicious recipes. Go download it now at => http://EasyHomeBrewingGuide.com

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Distillation - Liquor Craft

Plant materials that have high carbohydrate content are fermented leading to the production of a dilute solution of ethanol. The basic process of distillation for the manufacture of liquor consists in distilling this solution. For enhanced taste components other than ethanol, including water, esters, and other alcohols, are collected in the condensate. While the basic distillation process remains essentially the same for most liquor, the most commonly manufactured spirits using this method are rum and whiskey.

In case you are looking for home brew and brewing ingredients, you cannot go wrong with Australian Home Brewing. The company started in 1968 which means they are in their 40th year of operation. In fact, they started in this business when “homebrew” was illegal. It was not until 1972 when the Whitlam government was in power that the Attorney General, Lionell Murphy changed the law to allow people to ferment beer, wine & other drinks for their own use.

Australian Home Brewing has always looked after the needs of people who are interested in making their own drinks at home. They supply the ingredients, equipment and information you need to make your own drinks & also make sure that you get the maximum drinking pleasure & enjoyment from brewing by backing you with expert help. You can have as much help as you want from them and it is all free.

In addition, they are part of a Nation-wide Network of Specialists called BREWnet. This gives them a vast pool of knowledge and expertise to call on so you will always be able to get an expert answer. If we don’t have the answer to your question, they will be able to get it from someone else in the network. If you would like some advice, or if you have any questions to ask, please visit them at their website http://www.liquorcraft.com.au. You can also order distilling equipment, Air Still and any other brewing ingredients that you need.

Brandon Jones has worked in the liquor industry for the past six years. He has also been writing articles for the uninitiated in the craft of home brewing. His articles are informative without being boring.

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The Flavia Single Cup Brewing System

August 20, 2009 | By admin In Home Brewing | Comments(0)

Coffee and tea are very popular drinks that almost everyone enjoy. You can find these drinks in homes, offices, hotel lobbies, etc. Traditionally, brewing coffee and tea requires special skills. For example, if you want to make yourself a cup of mochaccino, you will need to have the exact recipe.

The problem with this approach is that not everyone has the skills and time to make a special drink like that. And that’s just one drink. There are other drinks like gourmet coffee, cappuccinos, lattes, and so on. In addition, it’s not very practical to create such drinks manually especially if you have a large of people.

To overcome these challenges, Flavia has come up with simple and practical solutions. Brewers are the solutions to the challenges. Brewers are special machines that are programmed to mix and create special drinks. Note that a brewer does not work the same way as an ordinary coffee maker. If you are using a coffee maker, you are still relying on your own brewing skills. But if you are using a brewer, you can rely completely on the machine to produce the drinks that you want.

So what exactly is a single cup brewing system?

The coffee brewer already “knows” how to brew the coffee that you want. All you have to do is to fill the brewer up with the right coffee or tea powder. There is no need to cleaning between drinks.

No cleaning is required because the process is so simple. Start by placing a cup on the brewer machine. Choose your options. The machine will then prompt you to insert the Filterpacks accordingly. Once the Filterpacks have been inserted, the brewing process starts and you get your drink in a few minutes! In other words, the process involves brewing directly from pack to cup. That is why no cleaning is required between drinks.

The key benefit for using the Flavia single cup brewing system is that you can consistency. No human being can make 30 cups of coffee and have the coffee taste exactly the same every time. Only a machine can do that. So you don’t have to worry about taste inconsistencies. The coffee will turn out right every single time. It doesn’t matter if you make just 1 cup or 30 cups, the quality will be consistent.

There are different models that you can choose from. You can choose a brewer that makes coffee for 1 to 5 people, 5 to 30 people, or more than 30 people. It all depends on your own needs. For instance, if you need a brewer for a family of 5, then the smallest model will do just fine. But if you need a brewer for your workplace, then you need at least a medium sized brewer.

All the models can be used to make different drinks, and the process of brewing is similar - from pack to cup. The main difference lies in the size of the water tank. Obviously, the model that can make the most number of drinks have the largest water tank. The water tank is detachable for refilling.


Flavia Fusion drinks stations give you the freedom to brew more than 30 gourmet hot or iced drinks, one delicious cup at a time. The Ultimate Single Cup Coffee And Single Cup Coffee Maker

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Different Drinks for Different People

August 20, 2009 | By admin In Home Brewing | Comments(0)

Have you ever bought a cup of coffee and found that the taste is not to your liking? You wanted to throw it away but then you remembered you paid a few dollars for that cheesy cup of coffee! So you drank the whole cup even though the taste didn’t really appeal to you.

This is not a problem that is unique or uncommon. It can happen to anyone. You see, the problem lies in the brewing process, and the choice of drink mix. When you buy a latte or a mocha from a cafe, you are buying a drink that is produced using a standard brewing process. Here is where the problem arises.

If you are an avid coffee drinker, you know that it is possible to produce many different types of tastes. You use a coffee powder that is well roasted for a stronger fragrance. Or you can choose to use a powder that has a lighter flavor so that your drink don’t come out too strong.

But you can’t really customize your drinks at a cafe can you? So the only option here is to brew coffees of teas yourself. This is not a really good option in the past because there is no easy way to brew coffees of teas without going into too much hassle.

Fortunately, Flavia has come up with the ideal solution. You can now have your favorite drink within minutes. The magic is all in the system. Here is how it works.

First, you need to purchase a Flavia Fusion Drink Station. This is no ordinary coffee maker. The design itself is ingenious. The drink is produced from a pack to cup. This means that there is no for washing or changing of filters in between drinks. You start by choosing the type of drink that you want to make, then load in the appropriate filter packs. The brewer has a detachable water tank at the back. Hot water is then mixed with the contents in the filter packs to produce the drinks.

In other words, the same brewer can be used to create many different types of drinks. If you visit the Flavia’s official website, you will see that there are many different types of drinks that you can choose from. These range from more traditional coffees to special drinks like Milkyway swirl or Mars swirl.

You can have a Flavia Fusion System in your home or office, then load up on the filter packs. Make sure that you have at least 3 types of drinks available - one coffee, one tea, and one chocolate. When guests arrive, you are confident that there will be something that is ideal for your guests.

Machines come in 3 sizes - 1 to 5 people, 5 to 30 people, and 30 people and above. The larger the machine, the bigger the water tank. With a larger water tank, you can make more drinks without having to worry about the tank running out of water.

Now you can have gourmet coffee at home or at work, without having to pay exorbitant prices. The best part is, you are sure that the taste of the drink is what you really wanted!

Flavia Discount. Flavia Single Cup Brewers And Single Cup Beverages. Flavia Fusion drinks stations give you the freedom to brew more than 30 gourmet hot or iced drinks, one delicious cup at a time. Enjoy a delicious FLAVIA coffee, tea, cappuccino or hot chocolate brewed from the most stylish and easiest to operate personal coffee maker youArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/home-brewing-articles/different-drinks-for-different-people-1142152.html

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Types of Flavia Drinks

August 20, 2009 | By admin In Home Brewing | Comments(0)

With a Flavia brewing machine, you can make any type of coffee, tea, or chocolate drinks. Some of the more popular drinks that you see if cafes can be produced in just a few minutes. Imagine having your favorite cappuccino or latte brewed in the comfort of your very own home without any hassle. On top of the convenience and ease of preparation, you also happen to save a bundle! Let’s take a look at a few types of Flavia drinks that you can brew. There are five broad categories.

1) Coffees.

Some people can’t seem to do without a cup of coffee every morning. Perhaps this is due to habit. Coffee has a very unique taste. The key issue here is to notice that different types of coffee can have very different tastes. So if you are looking for a specific taste, then you need to pay attention to 2 things - the roast and the flavor of the coffee.

A stronger roast will give a stronger fragrance to the coffee. If you have always enjoyed drinks with strong fragrances, then choose something that has a stronger roast. Also, coffee mixes have different flavor intensities. The more intense the flavor, the stronger the coffee. If you like a more refreshing flavor for your morning coffee, then a light flavored mix would be an ideal choice.

2) Teas.

Coffee drinkers are mostly tea drinkers as well. Tea has antioxidants that will help boost the immune system and improve overall health. Many health experts recommend drinking tea on a regular basis. A cup of tea a day will not only be beneficial to health, the act of drinking tea also helps to mind to relax as well.

You find that Flavia has many popular teas in its product mix. You can choose to buy Earl Grey, English tea, Rooibos tea, or Japanese green tea (gaining popularity fast). Unlike coffee, tea always have a more refreshing taste. If you are concerned about living a healthier lifestyle, drinking tea would be a wise choice.

3) Chocolates.

When the weather is cold, you may feel like drinking a cup of hot creamy chocolate. The warm chocolate flowing down your throat and bringing warmth to your body is an inexplicably enjoyable feeling. You can have your favorite peppermint hot chocolate or DOVE hot chocolate in your own home.

4) Cappuccinos / Lattes.

Cappuccinos and lattes have been very popular with the young. Cappuccinos are stronger drinks. You can sit down with a cup of cappuccino and all you have to do is to sip a little of the drink to enjoy its strong taste. But if you are feeling a little thirsty, then you need a drink with more liquid volume. Latte would be a good choice. Almost everyone likes a good latte.

5) Mochas & Chococcinos

Finally, you have the mochas and chococcinos. These are special drinks that mix coffee and chocolate together. The reason why the two go so well together is because coffee by itself has a bitter taste. Chocolate can help enhance the taste because it has a sweet taste. The two combine to produce richer and creamier drinks.


Flavia Fusion drinks stations give you the freedom to brew more than 30 gourmet hot or iced drinks, one delicious cup at a time. The Ultimate Single Cup Coffee And Single Cup Coffee Maker

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Buying Wine Online - An Introduction

August 16, 2009 | By admin In Food and Drink | Comments(0)

Purchasing things online has always concerned people, especially those without knowledge of the intricacies of the internet.? The mere idea of putting a credit card number into a computer is not something contemplated.? Transactions by the millions are now being processed via the internet thanks to the added improvement in security over the years.

Wine being sold over the internet has been met with some reluctance over the years as well.? These days, more and more quality online stores are presenting quality wines at affordable prices.

One great way of being informed of things happening in the industry, as well as being presented with great bargains, is to sign up to mailing lists.? The more sites you sign up to, the more information you will receive with a wider range of choice.

Online wine sites are many and varied.? It can take sometime to wade through the many different sites to find exactly what you’re wanting.? The best way to go about this is to start by searching for your favourite wines, then your favourite wineries, then your favourite regions.? You can even research for a combination of wineries and type of wine, or regions and type of wine.? You’re bound to find what you’re searching for.

Online wine websites are varied from site to site, but fall into certain categories which include:
1. Wine direct from the winery from their own website.
2. Wine direct from the winery via an affiliate website that takes commission from the winery for the sale.
3. Companies that buy the wine from the winery, then on sell it via their website.
4. Auction houses which sell off stock no longer required from the winery or garnered through special deals.

Wine being purchased from a wine auction should be treated with some caution though.? The problem with buying older style wines from auction houses is knowing how the wine has been stored over time.

The best places to buy wine online are through companies that stock a variety of wine which is of the newest vintage as you really can’t go wrong.? Most of the sites have a guarantee on quality so there should never be a problem.

Buying wine online shouldn’t be a stressful affair.? It should really extend the experience you’ve already personally had at a winery, or allow you to pick up a bargain that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to get.

This is just a short guide to help ease the concerns of some people about buying things online, especially wine.? More and more quality wine sites are popping up all the time, so why not give it a try and buy online for your next wine purchase.

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Homebrew Beer — 6 Great Reasons To Get Started Now

August 15, 2009 | By admin In Home Brewing | Comments(0)

If you are a beer advocate and enjoy the fine taste of a delicious brew, then you will love what you can achieve with homebrewing. Making homebrew beer is a hobby enjoyed by thousands, but what makes it so popular? Here are six top reasons why you too will want to get started now on brewing your own.

1. It’s Easy

Forget the mess and difficulty of malting your own grains, now with a simple beer kit and malt extract it couldn’t be easier.

Just take the ingredients provided, mix them with water as per the instructions, place the cap on the fermenter, and let the yeast do the work. It brews your beer, while you take it easy. Check it’s ready with the hydrometer, then bottle it (an easy filler tube is provided for this), and soon you can enjoy that liquid nectar.

That’s the beauty of homebrewing with kits — everything is provided for brewing high quality beer, and it’s all made so easy.

2. It’s Cheap

Not surprisingly, making your own beer is a lot cheaper than drinking the commercial brands. The microbrewery kit is reasonably priced and completely reusable; then choose from a wide range of individual malt kits to give you whichever delicious variety of beer you fancy at the time. You can brew up six gallons of your favorite nectar for about $20-30. It’s a cheap and delicious hobby!  

3. It’s Fun

You know, some hobbies can seem like hard work — not this one! Not only is it easy and cheap, but you can have fun and enjoy the results. You can now brew classic lager, stout, ales and other great beers. Try one variety after another if you like. Or experiment by creating your own special blends and flavors, and try them on your friends!  

4. Taste the Difference!

Homebrewed beer is completely pure — there are no artificial colors or added preservatives. This contributes to its special quality of taste and flavor.

Whichever variety you try — refreshing, smooth, satisfying — it beats commercial brands hands down. And you are not limited to the regular classics — now you can create all kinds of delicious originals. Experiment with beautiful honey beers, or spiced ales, or the legendary Goat Scrotum Ale — a blissful blend of fascinating flavors.

Venture into the wide world of homebrewing, and you won’t want to go back!

5. Impress Your Friends

Get ready to impress your friends, family and work colleagues. People are amazed how good homebrew tastes, so don’t be surprised when they come back for more. And of course you need never run out — you can easily brew up 6 gallons at a time, each and every week, and a different tasty beer each time. Now that’s impressive.

6. Health Benefits

And, you know what? Drinking homebrewed beer in moderation also has distinct health benefits. These include decreasing the chance of stroke and coronary heart disease, decreasing the occurrence of blood clots, and increasing your good cholesterol. It is also a proven stress reliever. And there are more health benefits besides. So you can truly feel good about your new hobby.

Homebrewing your own beer has never been so easy, fun and delicious. No wonder it’s the hobby of choice for so many people.

Ready to start making your own homebrew beer the fun and easy way? Take the first step today by getting a FREE Guide to simple homebrewing, including 13 easy and delicious recipes. Go download it now at => http://EasyHomeBrewingGuide.com

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Vote for the Environment- Choose Organic Meat

August 13, 2009 | By admin In Home Brewing | Comments(0)

Your everyday meat choices are important - and not just because they impact your health and well being. Making healthy “green” choices for yourself and your family can also benefit the environment for generations to come. When you support organic agricultural practices by choosing organic meat and other organic foods, here’s what you do for the planet:

Reduce unhealthy chemicals and toxins in our environment.

Most crops in the US are grown with the aid of various synthetic chemicals including pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and fungicides. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 60% of herbicides, 90% of fungicides and 30% of insecticides are carcinogenic. Certified organic farmers do no use most conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. Organic agricultural practices prevent pesticides and other chemicals from getting into the air, earth and water that sustain us. When you choose organic meat from small family farms, you “vote” for a planet free of harmful contaminants.

Build healthy soil.

Well-balanced soil is the foundation of healthy, nutritious food. Conventional farming depletes the soil over time. Organic farmers build healthy soils by nourishing the living component of the soil, the microbial inhabitants that release, transform, and transfer nutrients. Soil organic matter contributes to good soil structure and water-holding capacity. Organic farmers feed soil biota and build soil organic matter with cover crops, compost, and biologically based soil amendments. These methods not only produce healthy plants that are better able to resist disease and insect predation, but also protect biodiversity and promote soil stability and fertility. Choosing organic meat and other agricultural products means you’re voting to keep essential nutrients in the soil where they belong.

Protect the water supply.

Conventional agricultural practices contribute to water pollution, which is bad for our health and for the environment. As much as 99% of the pesticides applied to crops enter the environment. Contamination of soil and groundwater is a serious threat to many species of wildlife. By eliminating polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching, and by building healthier soil, organic practices prevent contamination and protect and conserve water resources. So choosing organic meat means you’re voting for cleaner water.

Consume less fossil fuel.

Organic farming seeks to make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls. Organic farmers use green manures and crop covers, rather than synthetic fertilizers made from petroleum. If you want to vote against global warming, air quality deterioration, oil spills, and acid rain, choose organic meat and other organic foods.

Respect and nurture healthy animals and people.

Choosing organic is a great way to take care of the people you care about. You can nourish yourself, your family, and the planet by supporting sustainable farming practices and eating foods that are truly good for you. We think this the best reason to choose organic meat: because you can enjoy a delicious meal and peace of mind.

Organic Meat Versus Natural: What the Labels Mean

Labeling food is like labeling people. Too often, the description is deceptive, or doesn’t give you a full picture of what’s inside. Organic meat, natural meat, grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, hormone-free milk?there are alot of variations out there in the marketplace.

So what should the average buyer do? When it comes to agricultural products such as produce, grains, dairy and meats, most of us don’t have the luxury of getting to know our local farms and farmers. Here are some tips:

1) Buy your meat, dairy and produce from a trusted supplier.

2) Learn how to “read between the lines” of meat labels.

3) Prioritize with concerns such as taste, convenience, health, food safety, the environment, humane animal treatment, and supporting small family farms.

4) Encourage accurate labeling by the USDA and the FDA.

Free ranging chickens

Is Organic Meat Different Than Natural Meat?

The easy answer to the above question is Yes. While some producers of “natural meat” may follow organic farming best practices, there is no strict definition of the term. Organic meat, on the other hand, is required to adhere to strict standards established by the USDA National Organic Program.

Here’s are some simple, useful definitions of Natural, Hormone Free, Organic and Grass Fed:

Natural - “Natural” sounds good, but the truth is that it doesn’t mean much on a meat label. The FDA does not restrict the use of the term “natural” except for added color, synthetic substances, and flavors. For example: meat labeled natural can be raised on farms that use pesticides on their fields and in their animal feed.

Hormone Free - This claim can be misleading even when it’s technically true. All poultry is free of hormones. Hormones haven’t been endorsed in poultry or pork in the U.S. since 1959. Look for “no antibiotics” or “free range” or “organic” for more comprehensive information about how the chicken was raised.

Organic - When you see the USDA “organic” label, you know the food inside has passed strict guidelines. Here’s a summary of what it means when meat passes the organic test:

* organic farmers do not use antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones.

* organic meat comes from animals that are given 100 percent organic feed.

* organic animals are given access to the outdoors and/or pastures.

* organic farms do no use most conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.

* organic farmers emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.

* organic farms are inspected by a Government-approved certifier to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic meats must be certified, too.

Grass Fed - As of November 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture began regulating a voluntary “U.S. Grass Fed” label for beef and lamb. The regulations require that the animal has access to pasture and isn’t fed grain. Grass-fed beef is lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than conventional beef, with more vitamins and “good fats” like Omega-3s and CLAs.

Donna Jefferson has been an advocate living healthy. Organic Meat is her specialty and would like to share facts with the public.

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Tips for Grilling Organic Beef

August 13, 2009 | By admin In Home Brewing | Comments(0)

There is nothing wrong with cooking a steak or hamburger inside the house, using your stove. But let’s face it: summertime is grilling time, and there’s nothing quite like the taste of juicy organic beef that’s been grilled to perfection in the great outdoors.

We sometimes get asked whether there’s a special technique for grilling organic grass-fed beef, as opposed to conventional beef. The answer is no. But you should be ready for a steak that looks and tastes different than what you may be used to.

High-quality grain-fed steaks have the abundant white marbling you may associate with a classic steakhouse meal. Grass-fed beef is much less marbled. It’s also lower in saturated fat and higher in healthy omega-3 fatty acids (which are also found in fish such as tuna and salmon). While marbling has conventionally been the sign of a superior steak, we think you will be surprised by how fantastic grass-fed steaks taste. Many people find grass-fed beef especially full of flavor, and they love the health benefits. Others incline organic beef that has been grain-finished.

Whether you opt for grass-fed or not, following these simple guidelines for grilling will assist in helping you avoid turning a good steak or burger into a flavorless meal?every backyard cook’s worst horror!

1)CHOOSE THE BEST BEEF! We can’t stress this enough. Meat is our business, and we can tell you that a lesser quality product makes an inferior meal. And grilled steak generally shows no mercy, since you can’t “bury” the taste under a bunch of other ingredients. Organic beef sustainably raised on family farms is not only a enjoyable choice, but also an environmentally friendly one.

2)Heat, clean and oil your grill. The grill needs to be HOT. If you’re using charcoal, that means you shouldn’t be able to hold your hand over it for more than 2 to 3 seconds. On a gas grill, use medium high heat. Ideally, use a stiff wire brush to scrub away any leftovers from your last grilling adventure when the grill is hot, and oil the rack using tongs and a folded paper towel. For more about the finer points of grilling, direct heat, indirect heat, charcoal versus gas, etcetera, visit the Barbecue Bible website.

3)Bring your meat to room temperature. Let sit on your kitchen counter for about 20 minutes. This will help your hamburgers or steak cook more evenly and faster.

4)Season. Salt and pepper is all you really need for great hamburgers and steaks. But of course there are endless choices if you want to get creative: rosemary or thyme, hot peppers, whatever you like!

5)Cook. Turn the meat once during cooking. Adjust time for size of steak or burger and desired doneness. The most foolproof way to test a steak for doneness is to use an instant read thermometer. The internal temperature for rare beef is about 120 degrees; medium-rare is between 125 and 130 degrees; and medium is 135 to 140 degrees. With practice, you’ll determine how to tell doneness visually and through touch (with a “poke test”).

6)Let the meat rest. The meat will continue to cook for a few minutes after you remove it from the grill, and will be juicy and ready to eat after about 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Donna Jefferson has been an advocate living healthy. Organic Meat is her specialty and would like to share facts with the public.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/home-brewing-articles/tips-for-grilling-organic-beef-1122993.html

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