Cranberries: The Year-Round Antioxidant

This little fruit is a staple over Thanksgiving, but is sometimes forgotten the rest of the year. When, in fact, it should be part of our diets every day. Did you know that one cup of cranberries delivers almost 9,000 total antioxidant capacity?

Heath Benefits:
1) Treats Urinary Tract Infections
The high levels of a substance called proanthocyanidis (PACs) in cranberries helps to reduce the adhesion of certain bacteria to the urinary tract walls.

2) Fights Heart Disease
High fiber intakes are associated with lower risks of developing heart disease, while lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

3) Prevents Dental Problems
PACs also helps to prevent bacteria from binding to teeth. This helps to prevent gum disease.

4) Helps to Fight Radical Damage
In preliminary studies, researchers have found strong evidence that cranberries can help protect the brain from neurological damage related to the aging process.

5) Contains Anti-Aging Properties
The acid contained in cranberries serves as a great exfoliate for skin, while vitamins A and C maintain the normal collagen production of the skin.

Facts and Figures:

• Half of a cup of cranberries only contains 25 calories
• It takes one ton or more of cranberry vines per acre to plant a blog.
• Americans consume some 400 million pounds of cranberries each year.
• The cranberry is just one of three fruits native to North America.
• Cranberries are also high in calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Try It At Home: Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup of orange juice (no sugar added or freshly squeezed)

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

1 bag of cranberries

1/2 cup water

Directions:

1) Combine the sugar, orange juice, 1/2 cup water, the cinnamon, salt, and cranberries into a medium saucepan.

2) Bring up to a simmer over medium heat, and cook for 15 minutes.

Let cool completely before serving. 

(Source: Food Network)

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Natural Remedies to Menstrual Cramps

Attention women everywhere. Perhaps trying to cram every midol or pamprin pill you can find down your throat is not the answer. All women have been throughout it, suffered through it. Waking up in the middle of the night with cramps that feel like you're being cut in two.

The pain medication can only get you so far, and you don't want to build up a tolerance for fear that next month it won't make any difference. Perhaps you should stop raiding your medicine cabinet, and start raiding your spice rack.

Here are some all natural spices that help with menstrual cramps (or - men - all kinds of cramps).

1) Mustard Powder - Add a little bit of this to warm water, and prepare yourself for relaxation. Although, please don't try to drink this. It wouldn't taste very great. Just put it in a bowl big enough that your feet can soak. Then, just pop your feet in, sit back and allow the mustard powder to work its magic.





2) Ginger - No wonder the Gingerman was so happy all of the time! This spice is a great anti-cramp remedy, and it comes in a million different forms. You can drink hot or cold ginger tea, or take ginger supplements during 'that time of the month'. You can also eat ginger bread, which is delicious. Ginger snaps are also great, but they're not as healthy for you as some of these other options. Of course, you can always add some ginger to whatever you're cooking, but it may not be enough for your body to really kick itself into gear.

3) Fennel - Though this lovely herb can often get stuck in your teeth, it just might be worth it. Fennel naturally helps to circulate blood, which means it can help move the blood in your ovaries. This will make you feel less cramped and achy. You can also eat fennel if you need blood circulation in general. You can either add some fennel to hot water and make a tea, or simply add fennel to whatever you're making - that is, if it would complement it.

4) Cinnamon - Perhaps there is some good news on this list! Not all things that are good for you taste badly! Cinnamon naturally helps with inflammation, so it will be a great way to relieve bloating and cramps - of any kind. There are so many different ways that you can use this one. You can add it into your tea, or your coffee. You can toss some into whatever you're baking. You can add some to your sauces to give it a sweeter taste. You can sprinkle some on top of your yogurt or oatmeal. The choices are limitless.

5) Thyme and Basil - You're gonna wanna make time to read this! Both of these herbs contain a chemical that is a natural painkiller, so it will obviously help with whatever pain you have from your menstrual cycle. You can add this to a sauce, to meat, to bread. You can also add it to some hot water, and drink it like tea. The ball is in your court.

Any one of these might help you with your menstrual cramps, of course. However, if they become unbearable, you might need to seek out a health care physician for further guidance.

Head on over to SearchMyCity.com to find out even more healthy things, and natural things, you can do for your body!

Schedule for Events in Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay is full of various venues and events, for both the young and the old. It's time to let loose some cash and have a fabulous time. Here is a schedule of the upcoming events in Tampa Bay - and the surrounding cities.

Erich Church: The Outsiders World Tour
Saturday, March 28, 2015
7:30 pm

Mayor's Mac and Cheese Throwdown
Saturday, May 2, 2015
4:00 pm

Craftology 2015
May 9, 2015
8:00 pm

Disney on Ice: Frozen
May 14-17, 2015

10th Annual Taste of Tampa
April 12, 2015
1 pm - 4 pm

Brandon Ballet: Hansel and Gretel
May 2 & 3, 2015

School of Russian Ballet: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
April 11, 2015
5:00 pm

98 Rockfest
April 24, 2015
6:00 pm

Big Guava Music Festival
May 8 & 9, 2015

2015 NCAA Women's Final Tour
April 5 & 7, 2015

Foods to Help With Digestion

Sometimes we get constipated. POOP. I said it. It's something we all deal with, but there are some of us who struggle to maintain a normal bowel movement. It can be stressful and frustrating, but it can also make you feel uncomfortable. If you're bloated and gaseous all the time, you never want to do anything. 

No wonder. You're full of it! Here are some foods that will help to naturally sooth your digestive system. It will lead to a digestive tract that you will appreciate.

#1 - Chia Seeds

These seeds are really rich in both antioxidants and nutrients. They also swell when mixed with water, so can be combined with water to create an egg supplement. These seeds contain a significant source of fiber, which helps to lower cholesterol and increase regular bowel function. 

#2 - Zucchini 

This green vegetable is also high in fiber, and it is very hydrating, considering it contains a lot of water within the vegetable. It's important to remember that a lot of the nutrients and fiber are in the skin, so leave it on when you decide to eat this green.          

#3 - Bone Broth

Increasingly popular, bone broth helps to reduce inflammation and protect against infection. It's the same reason you were told as a child to drink broth when you were sick. It helps. Except, bone broth contains a lot more minerals like calcium and magnesium. This liquid basically just helps to heal and seal your gut against all that you may decide to ingest.

  

#4 - Wild Alaskan Salmon

All salmon is great for your digestion and your health. The difference with Wild Alaskan salmon is that is isn't fed genetically modified food, so it contains a lot of the minerals and nutrients that die off in the typical variety. 

Food Additives

We all know that food additives are bad, but perhaps we don't realize the full extent of how bad they truly are. They can cause a whole host of issues, from kidney tumors to Alzheimer's to mental confusion. It's time we take a stand, and really pay attention to what's in our food. It's mind-blowing, and incredibly eye-opening, to realize that a lot of these additives weren't in our foods before the 1980's.

At what point did food manufacturers decide that it was okay to slowly add these toxic chemicals into the food that we eat, and the beverages that we drink. We need to open our eyes and be aware.

These are the most common additives found in your food, and the ones to be aware of:

Aspartame - This is typically found in flavored yogurts, diet sodas, jello, cereal, and even toothpaste.

High Fructose Corn Syrup - Just about everything we eat today that is sweet.

Monosodium Glutamate - Also known as MSG, this is in chips, most Chinese food, frozen dinners, etc.

Trans Fat - Luckily, we were made aware of this additive, and it has been taken out of a lot of our foods today. However, it can still be found in baked goods and margarine.

Food Dyes - Blue #1 and Blue #2, Red #3 and Red #40, Yellow #6, and Yellow Tartrazine. These are found in cereal, candy, drink mixes, American cheeses, ice cream, etc.

Sodium Sulfite - Wine and dried fruits

Potassium Bromate - Breads

Sulfur Dioxide - Beer, juices, potato products, soft drinks, etc.

A Taste You Will Crave Long After You Leave

 The indiscriminate pub sign out front doesn’t begin to hint at what lies inside The Stein & Vine, which manages to successfully combine friendly service, warm décor and a blossoming food menu – not to mention a chalkboard on the wall boasting a bevy of brews. 

Ty Mathis, who is at the helm of the kitchen as the chef, and his wife, Lacey, own the restaurant and bar. Mathis described opening The Stein & Vine in late 2012 as a lifelong dream, made even sweeter after spending months personally rebuilding the bar from the floor to the ceiling.

Reclaimed bricks from an Ybor City schoolhouse, circa 1913, were used to build the unique bar area, complete with storage areas and concealed draught lines. Tinted front windows keep out bright light from the parking lot, but custom light fixtures set amongst the high industrial ceiling with exposed, painted pipes reflect muted light off of the handmade penny-pressed bar top, which features hundreds of heads up copper under a clear coating.

However, with only 52 seats, this neighborhood bar with global appeal can get crowded on the weekends…but it’s worth the wait. While some of the menu favorites are permanent, there are changes made daily based on ingredient availability since Mathis embraces the farm to table concept. “There is a love of food and beer that comes through to our customers,” said manager Steve Lavelle. “We love everything we serve.” The soup of the day, a potato, bacon and cheddar mixture, was the Goldilocks of soup – not too salty, not too thick and in the end, just right as a start to lunch.

Pig wings, made from tender pork shank, are the clear best seller. The variation on regular chicken wings comes with a choice of five original sauces, including Habanero BBQ, Latin Lime and, of course, Buffalo. The dish’s popularity has even led to a collection of patron-donated pigs with wings, from stuffed to lighted.

If you need heat, the Volcano burger, made with bleu cheese, sriracha, jalapenos and buffalo sauce, can set your soul on fire, and the Cajun corn on the cob, a deep-fried treat with butter and secret seasonings, redefines vegetables forever. he most memorable bite in the house, however, is the 33 1/3 & a Bird. It is a burger made with 1/3 bacon, cheese, a fried egg in the middle and served with tator tots.

If you’re unsure what to sip while savoring the burger, or any of the dishes, Mathis is ready to help. As a Cicerone Certified Beer Server, he can recommend the right barley and hops combination for customers, whether they’re looking to experiment or just trying to find a more familiar taste. Selection is never an issue, with 30 rotating draughts from craft breweries in the Tampa area and across the country, as well as 150 bottled beer selections. “I like to think we are expanding people’s palates,” Mathis stated.

True to its name, The Stein & Vine also offers a wide assortment of wine, ranging from Washington State standards to hard-to-find French varietals, most of which are poured by the glass. “We want to keep improving the bar and working on new menu items,” Mathis said. “We’re a small business. We want our customers to be happy and drink local with us.”


The Stein & Vine, which opens at noon everyday, is located at 827 West Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon. To see a current menu and check out the latest and greatest beers on tap, go to www.thesteinandvine.com. For take-out, call 813-655-4786.

Make sure to check out searchmycity.com for even more great places like this one!

Because They Make Dieting D’liteful

D’lites Emporium gives you a treat you can eat with a contented sigh. With over 100 flavors and only 50 calories per serving, everyone can find pleasure in this treat without a hint of guilt. They have many different locations throughout Florida, including one right here in Tampa.


Opened since 1982, D’lites Emporium was built on the foundation that the word “diet” has many definitions. They focus on creating healthy alternatives that are tasty, fun and meet any dietary needs. All the ice cream is made in house using local fat free milk from a dairy farm in Ocala. The texture and flavor are incredible, making it hard to tell the ice cream is low in sodium, sugar, fat and carbohydrates.

While there are roughly 100 flavors and counting, only six are available at one time. Vanilla and chocolate are always on the menu, while the other four flavors change daily. Tessa, owner of the Tampa location, says the rotation of flavors creates an incentive for residents to try something new every time they walk through the door – even though the uniqueness of the product is incentive enough.

When I visited D’lites Emporium, the flavors on the floor were Butterfinger, birthday cake, German chocolate cake and coffee toffee. The flavors were so rich that I almost could not believe it was low fat. To find out what unique flavors will be coming next, visit their Facebook page.

On the website you can vote for your favorite flavor to increase the chance it will be put on rotation. This fall you will find incredible flavors like Pumpkin Spice Latte.


If creating guilt-free flavors wasn’t talent enough, if you are hosting a party or event, you can call in a request to have your flavor of choice made into an ice cream cake or sandwich. At D’lites Emporium, flavors are not the only things that change daily. Every day they present a new special so you can stay healthy and save money. Stop by and enjoy your guilt-free treat today!



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