#loutish

Top Gear ‘regrets’ offensive remark | Television & radio | The Guardian

Trigger warning – the following is a bald-faced lie and the worst try to get off for making a racist joke – they thought they could

get away with – 100% fail and sorry will not cut it!

“We were not aware at the time, and it has subsequently been brought to our attention, that the word ‘slope’ is considered by some to be offensive and although it might not be widely recognised in the UK, we…

By Dinah Jackson

Expert Author Dinah Jackson

If you know idli, you know how delicious it is. Many people know the puffy nan, some the flatbread, tortilla-like chapatti, but unless you know southern Indian cuisine you probably don't know the soft, delectable delights of idli. Idli, I suppose, is technically a type of bread. It looks like a bun and has the mealy quality of bread, but the taste is altogether different as idli is made from basmati rice flour. So idli is like bread in the same way that cornbread is like bread I guess.

In any case, when idli is eaten properly it serves as a substitute for rice. It is steamed and eaten with any number of curries and chutneys. The grandest way of all to eat idli is to eat it on a houseboat while touring the magical green backwaters of Kerala.

My first experience with idli was none of the romantic image I painted above at all however- it was a terrible shock. My wife and I had been eating at a restaurant near our guesthouse for some days and the food was really great. We were friendly with the staff and one day I even gave them a couple of kilos of guava that I had purchased at the market. In return they whipped us up a most delicious guava lassi.

So before heading to Kovalam, we thought we would have breakfast there before catching the train. The food had been great, right? When I saw the idli I knew what it was and was anxious to try it. I dipped it in the accompanying curry and hungrily put it in my mouth only to discover that it was the hottest curry I had ever encountered in my whole life! Apparently, people in Madras eat extra hot curry in the morning to wake them up! Sometimes cultural differences can be huge.

This article was written by Dinah Jackson who is a nutritionist in Japan. To find the rarest Japanese Pokemon cards, check out the store that has every kind of Japanese Pokemon cards that you can imagine. Also an incredible selection of Japanese Pokemon plush toys, figures, binders, deck boxes, sleeves, and just about anything you can imagine. Delivered right to your front door from Japan.

By Adrian Hargray

Are you thinking about becoming a vegetarian? If not then you should, because it's an excellent lifestyle change. Becoming a vegetarian is good for a few reasons. The first reason is that this new lifestyle is excellent for your health. When you give up on all the meat and junk food that you normally consume, you're cutting back on the fat intake that aren't good for your body.

Another reason becoming a vegetarian is a smart thing to do is that it's cheaper. Yes believe it or not, eating right comes at a lower price. If you normally consume $5 a pop for every fast food dinner that you eat, then you will be pleased to know that you don't have to do this with eating healthier. You can prepare full course healthy meals for only $5 and this meal can last you for days.

When you go vegetarian, you're taking in a considerable amount of less fat than you normally do. You can reduce your risk of heart attacks if you eat a lot of nuts, and if you're going to become a vegetarian, then you will have to turn to nuts as a source of protein. You will be also pleased to know that vegetarians are usually not obese.

By eating right, you cut back on the fatty foods that would contribute to your weight problem. This can allow you to be proud of how you look when you go out in public. But some people have a hard time with going vegetarian because of the strict lifestyle that it suggests. The trick is to make going vegetarian fun and exciting.

Another reason going vegetarian is a good thing to do is that it's good for the environment. Your decision for going vegetarian will inspire others to do the same and can set off a whirlwind of helpful events. Eventually you will create your own vegetarian group, and you all can motivate each other to do better.

A vegetarian diet also helps in reducing the risk of cancer. A lot of vegetarian diets are high in fiber and contain anti-oxidants that help to eliminate free radicals in the body. By going vegetarian, you also help combat the chances of acquiring Type 2 diabetes.

I think it's plain to see that becoming a vegetarian is a smart thing to do. If you're still on the fence about whether or not to become vegetarian, then make the decision right now to become one.

By Ari Laksemi

When people decide to lower the cholesterol intakes in their diets, the biggest problem they face is with choosing the right types of food. At least this is what they think is the biggest problem. The truth, however, is that choosing a low cholesterol food is pretty straightforward. It is the cooking of this food that needs to be monitored. 

When people get used to a certain way of cooking, they tend to stick to the same style regardless of the type of food. For instance, a family who has been using large amounts of oil in their daily dishes will continue using the same quantities of oil even after deciding to cut down on lower cholesterol foods. The point of consuming lower cholesterol food is to reduce the overall cholesterol intake. However, if this food is prepared with high quantities of fats and oils, it is no longer low cholesterol food.

When switching to a lower cholesterol diet, it is crucial to master the art of low cholesterol cooking. While it sounds complicated, a few simple tips can sort it out. When preparing dishes of vegetables of foods, small cholesterol cooking calls for methods such as steaming or grilling instead of sautéing the vegetables with

saturated fats like butter or oil. If the flavor of fat is a must, they should be limited as much as possible. Instead of the flavor of fats or oils, it is also a good idea to substitute them with spices and herbs for extra flavor, a good habit for low cholesterol cooking. The spices and herbs will also be a change to an otherwise routine dish.

When cooking meats, too, many people tend to add lots of oils with claims of additional flavor. Meats have their own flavors, which should be enjoyed, instead of adding large amounts of fat, destroying the original flavor of the

meat and training the palate for a greasier diet. Meats are best grilled or baked. Frying is the least favorable for lower cholesterol cooking. Opting for seafood more during the week can cut down some serious calories. Using seafood is one of the best practices of low cholesterol cooking. Fish, in particular contains Omega-3 fats, which are extremely beneficial to the body.

Many people switching to low cholesterol diets crave desserts which have high contents of bad cholesterol. However, this does not have to be the case for deserts. Using low cholesterol cooking techniques, it is possible to prepare desserts that are healthy. Using fruits is a good replacement for rich chocolates and creams used in high cholesterol desserts. Fruit salads are one of the healthiest desserts when it comes to low cholesterol cooking. Also it is best to use fruits themselves instead of canned preserves and such.

By M Nizam Sualman

There are so many diet plans available, it is often difficult to choose which ones can benefit you the most and which can have the most effective results. It isn't just about the initial weight loss either - we all want to be able to find a diet plan that will help us sustain that weight loss as well. So what can the raw food diet weight loss plan really do for you? And is it as easy to sustain as you might think?

What is the Raw Food Diet?

This diet is pretty self-explanatory - throughout the diet plan you are encouraged to eat plenty of raw foods. These can include a diet of raw fish, fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy (or soya) products or a combination of these.

The raw diet is about producing more enzymes in your diet which can help you speed up your metabolic rate, improve digestion and aid weight loss. These enzymes have a range of health benefits but they can be destroyed when they are cooked at more than 116 degrees Fahrenheit. As such, this particular diet has been developed to make sure that you can benefit from the often neglected enzymes.

Advantages of the Raw Food Diet

Long-Term Sustainable Weight Loss - Once your body has adjusted to eating only raw products, you can truly begin to see the benefits and also realize how easy the weight loss plan is. You don't need to worry about finding a microwave or oven at lunch and dinners. This diet food can be quick and easy to serve which makes it an easy option for long-term healthy eating.

More Energy - People that have tried the raw food diet have said that they have much more energy than they had when eating cooked foods.

Improved Digestion - The enzymes and antioxidants in raw foods are the reason that you can feel so much better in terms of digestive health. The vitamins and minerals found in raw foods can help flush out your system so that you can lose weight easily and also reduce any feeling of bloating.

Better Skin - Thanks to the large amount of antioxidants in raw fruits and veggies, you can detox your system and benefit from a much better complexion.

Healthier Heart - With lower cholesterol levels due to lack of fried foods or oily ingredients, this diet can be great for your heart's health.

Tasty - One of the best advantages of taking on the raw food diet weight loss plan is the great recipes that you can create - and it just goes to show you don't need cooked foods to make up a yummy meal. These can include fruit dishes, salads, dips, cookies, desserts, sauces, breakfasts and dressings!

By Claire Liebig-Denham

The diet that people call the 'fry-up diet', The Atkins diet involves limited consumption of carbohydrates to switch the body's metabolism from metabolizing glucose as energy over to converting stored body fat to energy a process known as ketosis. In the two week introduction, food is very limited but you'll find yourself eating many foods the traditional dieter would die for like meat, eggs and cheese. So if you are a meat lover this is the diet for you. You can even cook with butter, put mayonnaise and on your salads (limited to loose leafy and 2-3 cups per day). You cannot eat any fruit and only quarter of a cup a certain cooked vegetables.

The diet does allow for adding fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods after the two-week induction period. However, even when some carbohydrates are introduced back into your diet you'll find yourself being forbidden from eating foods like pasta, white bread and cakes for life.

Then, over time, the transition from weight loss to weight maintenance is made by gradually increasing carbohydrates so long as gradual weight loss is maintained.

Exercise in all phases as part of a healthy lifestyle is now emphasized more than when the diet was first introduced.

Allowed Foods are as following:-

Meat, Poultry & Shellfish

Any meat including beef, lamb, pork, bacon; a juicy steak is a popular favorite! All poultry including chicken, turkey, goose and duck. If you fancy you can even eat pheasant, quail, ostrich or emu! All fish can be eaten in abundance. Any unprocessed shellfish can be eaten including crab, lobster, squid, oyster, clams, prawn and shrimps.

Vegetables

Many vegetables are allowed on the Atkins Diet. In fact, just about any vegetable you might wish to eat is permitted, with the exception of corn, potatoes, green peas, and other sweet or starchy vegetables. Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution divides allowable vegetables into two groups: salad vegetables and other vegetables.

Fats

The beauty of this diet to me is that most fats are allowed! Yes you read that correctly. Cold-pressed vegetable oils are preferred, and it is important to include some source of omega-3 fatty acids, such as linseed oil or salmon. Butter is allowed but margarine is not. Olive oil, nut oils, seed oils, and vegetable oils are allowed. You may also include in cooking, any fat that is part of your meat. Happy Days!

Dairy

Most dairy products are permitted on the Atkins Diet with the exception of milk and yoghurts. In fact, it is recommended that you actually choose those that are full-fat and as low in carbohydrate as possible! Wow... that mean full fat cheeses are allowed whether hard or soft and diet cheese, spreads not be eaten. However, happily, all cream including cheese and butter may be eaten. Cheese: full-fat cow, goat, or sheep's milk cheeses, as well as soy cheese, are permitted, and it doesn't even matter if they are hard or soft cheeses. No diet cheese, cheese spread, processed cheese food, or whey cheese is allowed. Shame, hey I thought not.

Other permitted dairy: Heavy cream, light cream, sour cream, cream cheese, and butter are allowed. It actually encourages you to avoid fat-free or reduced fat options!

Condiments and Spices

It surprised me to learn that it is important to be careful when choosing condiments whilst on the Atkins plan. Sugar in any form is expressly forbidden, and most people are surprised to learn how many of their favorite condiments, dressings, and spice blends contain some form of sugar. For this reason, most salad dressings are not permissible unless you can find sugar and starch free options.

My take on this is you can easily make your own sauces and dressings that tasty without the use of sugar.

Drinks

You can drink almost any beverage whilst on the Atkins program. However, there are three taboos that must be adhered to and these are sugar in any form, caffeine, and fruit juice. You cannot have milk in your tea and coffee with weirdly, you can have cream!

Sweeteners

Any artificial, non-sugar sweetener is permitted on the Atkins food list. If you prefer a natural sweetener, you may use Stevia-- an intensely sweet herb that is available in most health food and grocery stores. Basically, all natural sugars including honey are prohibited. Now this where I would find the Atkins diet difficult; this would excludes cakes, biscuits, chocolate.

Conclusion

I adore meat, salad and other vegetables but I also love bread and chips. I just cannot imagine living for the rest of my life without eating another sandwich or piece of toast let alone never having another doughnut or cake. It would be possible for me to actually enjoy this diet for a short period whilst I lost weight but as for a life long diet... maybe it's not for me. How about you?