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	<title>Fruit baskets page</title>
	<link>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com</link>
	<description>Fruit baskets page</description>
	<language>en</language>
	<category>Fruit+baskets</category>
	<item>
		<title>Rules of the Game</title>
		<link>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/Rules_of_the_Game/page/2678</link>
		<category>of</category>
		<guid>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/Rules_of_the_Game/page/2678</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We're talkin' about the game of being an expert at what you do. These rules are unforgiving. Break them and a remorseless force simply sweeps you off the board, clicks you off the screen?and you're not even history. You're nuthin', baby.Abide by these ...]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<P>We're talkin' about the game of being an expert at what you do. These rules are unforgiving. Break them and a remorseless force simply sweeps you off the board, clicks you off the screen?and you're not even history. You're nuthin', baby.Abide by these rules and you smile all the way to the bank. I started out not even knowing there were rules. </P><P>Within 4 years I'd lost my little all. $235,000 eaten up, gone beyond recovery. Money talks, right? Well, mine went without saying!I learned these rules the hard way. You can too. You can learn the hard way. </P><P>Do you really choose to do that? Nobody cares. Nobody will care. It's your life. Now that I've had a chance to think about it, I prefer the easy way. I'd rather learn from other people's goof-ups. </P><P>So, let's get started.Rule 1: Have something of value to offer your company or your market . Something you're passionate about. Something that comes from the marrow of your bones. From your core. From your gut. </P><P>From your essence. From your soul. And when you offer it, be it. Allow it out of your pores, out of your heart, out of your deepest feelings and beliefs. Let it shine from your eyes, be reflected in your stance and your glance, radiate from your fingertips. </P><P>Yes, from your eyelashes. Be on fire! Be so enraptured by what you offer that you magnetize your prospects, associates and clients to your services or products.Rule 2. Be a marketer first, an expert next. (Marketing, defined: Marketing is creating conditions by which others decide on their own that they want what you've got.) Be a marketer first?and then a deliverer of what you offer. Many fine professionals and business people do not survive because they think the world is going to welcome them with open arms. </P><P>Sorry, no cigar. This is a painful lesson. You either gotta be so dazzling, charming, entertaining, gorgeous, brilliant that your prospects and clients all but lose control, are beside themselves, go ape in your presence. Or be a fine marketer. How to market is beyond the scope of this short piece. </P><P>By whatever means, you just gotta attract those in your universe to desire what you offer. Rule 3. Have integrity. Integrity that is absolute. Would you go driving in a car with a tire that wouldn't hold air? Would you go sailing in a leaking boat? Would you eat a spoiled fruit? When the skin of a fruit is broken open, the fruit begins to rot right there. </P><P>Nature insists on integrity. Is integrity any less important in your commitments to your prospects, your associates or your clients?Rule 4. Be exclusive. Be one-of-a-kind. Be a specialist. </P><P>Create your unique market position. Be special in your corner of your world. Be the only game in town. Know more about what you do than anyone else on earth. And don't tell me you can't do it. </P><P>You can. I know you can. Your creator endowed you with a unique talent. A talent nobody else has. Engage it! Rule 5. </P><P>Associate with brilliant achievers. Associate with people who are reaching for lofty outcomes and dedicating themselves to worthy attainments. To outcomes that make a vital difference for others as well as themselves. People who are super-positive. People who build you up by their presence. </P><P>Shun ordinary work-a-day types who lack a sense of their latent magnificence. Rule 6. Invest in Brand You. In this, my 22nd year in business, I continue to invest tens of thousands of dollars in research each year. Not just dollars. </P><P>Time. Probable 20 to 30 hours each week in pure research. Why? So I can stay on the cutting edge. And, not just time. Focus. </P><P>Energy. Asking why. Contemplation. Meditation. Looking inside. </P><P>Looking outside. Looking away. Here's the idea. . . </P><P>Make yourself such a unique resource for the market you serve that there simply isn't a #2. Be so far out in front that others who would compete with you can't even shine your shoes. This is what I want you to do. You do it by using the brains your God gave you. Rule 7. </P><P>Find your North Star. Set your compass by your North Star. Your North Star is your personal mission. The North Star allows mariners to set their course and stay on course. That's what your personal mission does for you. </P><P>Have a personal mission. Put it in writing. Be sure it is transcendent. You know your mission is transcendent when you awaken one morning realizing you no longer have your mission. Instead, your mission has you. </P><P>You're caught up in the rapture, the energy, and the power of your mission. You're a mission samurai. You're a warrior. Now you're hooked. Hooked to the magnificent destiny you've created for yourself. </P><P>From this moment on you have a new and vibrant energy. It's always been there. Waiting inside you. Waiting for you to release it. Measure your every decision against your mission. </P><P>Whatever action serves your mission is good. Actions that do not advance your mission are to be avoided. Create a mission. And a Mission Statement. Put it on your office wall, your refrigerator door, your bathroom mirror. </P><P>Live it. Live it vividly. Let it govern your every action.Rule 8. Set specific goals. Measurable goals. </P><P>Goals with deadlines. Goals that advance your mission. Then take the bit in your teeth. Go after those goals ferociously. Relentlessly. </P><P>Let setbacks strengthen your resolve. Rule 9. Get debt-free as fast as you can. The wisest experts agree on this. Get out of the plastic trap. </P><P>Then, invest your profits for the long-term. Rule 10. Make yourself one of the best anywhere."Be more of what you are. Be all of what you are. Do what you love; do it with your whole heart. </P><P>Do it with passion and a clear vision of where you are going. And a commitment to become excellent and the courage to face your fears and to be realistic and honest with yourself and to take complete responsibility for your future. And if you do that and if every morning you wake up and hit the ground running you will be outstanding in your field!" (Brian Tracy) Rule 11. Raise your fees. Be worth more than your fees. </P><P>Most entrepreneurs and consultants lack the courage to set fees that reflect the real value they deliver. This insight shows you why: Most specialists, 83%, according to Tom Winninger, are the K-marts of their business. 17% of specialists are the Tiffany's of their business. Which are you to be? Make yourself the best, the very best, at what you do. And charge accordingly.Rule 12. </P><P>Get yourself a coach, a mentor. Get the very best you can find. Then trust this person. If you can't trust this person, get somebody else. Open up. </P><P>Tell your mentor where you've been, where you are, where you want to be. Get an expert in the field you've set your heart on. Someone who understands. Someone who has been around the track a few more times than you. Listen to what your mentor says. </P><P>Abide by your mentor's guidance. And march on to glory!. </P>]]></content:encoded>
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	<item>
		<title>The Origins Of Basketball</title>
		<link>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/The_Origins_Of_Basketball/page/16332</link>
		<category>Of</category>
		<guid>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/The_Origins_Of_Basketball/page/16332</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you know the origin of basketball?The origins of the game of basketball can be traced back to a gentleman by the name of Dr. James Naismith. In 1861, Naismith was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada. During his early school days, Naismith would play a ...]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<P>Do you know the origin of basketball?The origins of the game of basketball can be traced back to a gentleman by the name of Dr. James Naismith. In 1861, Naismith was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada. During his early school days, Naismith would play a game called duck on a rock whereby the child would endeavor to knock the duck off the top of the rock with a toss of another rock.Later on, Naismith would go on to McGill University in Montreal and would later become McGill University's Athletic Director. He would subsequently move on to YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts and in 1891, the game of basketball began. </P><P>Given the cold Massachusetts winters, Naismith needed to find a recreational activity that could be played indoors and he preferred a sport that would develop skill and one that was not exclusively relying on strength. The first game was played with two peach baskets for goals and a soccer ball.Further to his credit, Naismith became a medical doctor specializing in sports physiology and a Presbyterian minister. Naismith was able to see his beloved sport of basketball, gain acceptance in numerous countries through the YMCA since 1893. As well, the sport of basketball was brought forth at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. As we speak, the game of basketball has become a very popular professional sport.. </P>]]></content:encoded>
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	<item>
		<title>Body And Soul - Keeping It Together!</title>
		<link>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/Body_And_Soul_-_Keeping_It_Together%21/page/2198</link>
		<category>Keeping</category>
		<guid>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/Body_And_Soul_-_Keeping_It_Together%21/page/2198</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[LET'S START WITH THE BODY . . .H E A L T HIt is said that the first thing a man does when he wakes in the morning is to look out of the window to see how the weather has changed overnight, and the first thing a women does on waking is to look in the mirror ...]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<P>LET'S START WITH THE BODY . . .H E A L T HIt is said that the first thing a man does when he wakes in the morning is to look out of the window to see how the weather has changed overnight, and the first thing a women does on waking is to look in the mirror to see what the night has done to her face. Enough said & but if your look in the mirror is followed by 'Oh, my God & I could do with a face-lift, etc. etc.' (don't worry, we've all been there) before you start layering on more make-up and deciding to embark yet again on another diet/exercise regime (which will probably have been forgotten anyway by the weekend), let's stop wishing, and start by trying to make the best of what we have got.We may not be able to recapture the healthy glow of youth, but we may be able to inject a little sparkle by giving as much thought to the inside of our bodies as we do to the outside. </P><P>Just think of what would happen to a house if it were not built on firm foundations. Also how would our cars run if we filled them up with the wrong fuel? Similarly, how can we expect our bodies to function smoothly if we just worry about the paintwork and not concentrate on the engine? So analyse what you are putting into your body. Is it mainly 'comfort/grab-a-snack - I'm in a hurry' food, eg buns, crisps, chocolates etc., or is it nourishing food with all the vitamins and minerals the body requires to operate efficiently?Many moons ago, a colleague of mine, who had a connection with a pharmaceutical company, said the idea had been muted within the company that as the elderly often start the day with a cup of tea and digestive biscuit, then a good way of ensuring that they receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals was to add them to the digestive biscuit It seemed a great idea, but when you think of how we absentmindedly dip into a packet of biscuits, then we would probably overdose on vitamins. Although we need vitamins we can also have too much of a good thing. It is worth remembering that whereas the body will expel too much of say Vitamin C, the body will store Vitamins A & D and an overload of these vitamins can have a detrimental effect. </P><P>So leave it to the experts to get the balance right. It is better to start the day (together with your nourishing breakfast) with a good multi-vitamin and mineral tablet. The tablet container will show the RDA (which stands for the 'recommended daily allowance'), and it will also show how the tablet equates with this.A good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement is the Holland & Barrett'sFormula for the 50 PLUS called ABC PLUS SENIOR (on half-price offer at the present time). Another supplement I would recommend for those of us whose memory is not what it used to be is 'Ginkgo Biloba'. (Also on half-price offer at the moment). </P><P>This has been in use for years on the continent as an aid to improving the circulation. It is said that it not only improves the supply of blood to the head and subsequently improves the memory (so hopefully we'll remember where we put the bottle of tablets) but it also improves the blood supply to the extremities, which is great if you suffer from cold hands and feet. Ginkgo, by the way, comes from the Ginkgo tree, which is one of the oldest trees known to man. You can therefore appreciate how vital it is that we do not allow plants to become extinct.Remember the old wives' tale that 'fish is good for the brain'? (When I hear this saying, my mind always goes back to a lecturer jokingly saying that his mother was determined that he would do well and always made him eat fish before an examination, and, of course, to her delight he did do well). Well, now it has been proved that Omega 3 (pure fish oils) not only benefits the brain but the whole body. </P><P>It is high in essential fatty acids, which help to maintain a healthy heart and circulation.Another very good supplement is Selenium. This was naturally present in the earth and in our vegetables years ago, but sadly has become depleted over the years with intensive farming and chemicals. So we can put back this missing ingredient. I certainly felt a difference on taking this as a supplement.Now, if you are prone to numerous infections, coughs, colds, etc., then your immune system needs a boost. In addition to the usual Vitamin C, a couple of good supplements for this are Zinc and Echinacea. </P><P>It's a good idea to take Echinacea well before the 'flu time' is upon us in order to get it into the system.We have always known the importance of making sure that we have enough calcium in order to maintain bone strength, but it is only in the past few years that Glucosamine has come to the fore as an aid to the joints. Glucosamine is believed to stimulate cartilage growth and prevent it wearing down and hopefully reducing the subsequent pain. I have a friend who swears this has helped her painful joints. Chondroitin is often added to the Glucosamine as this helps to attract fluid into the cartilage Healthy Direct (www.healthydirect.co.uk) has a special offer on this powerful combination of Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Vitamin C. They also operate a free postage and packing with prompt delivery service, which is great if you have difficulty in getting to the shops. </P><P>Notice that throughout I have been using the word 'supplement' as no tablets are going to replace a healthy diet. I remember being told by a doctor when I was in my twenties that the way towards a healthy life was to eat a small amount of a wide variety of foods and that way the body would obtain the necessary vitamins and nourishment. Whilst I agree with the 'variety' advice, I am not sure with the present day treatment and overlong storage of foodstuffs (particularly fruit and vegetables) whether there are many vitamins left by the time they reach the table. It came as a shock to hear at one lecture that when they tested an orange for its Vitamin C content, the results came back as a surprising 'nil'. Still to end on a happy note, the fibre content was there, and we must eat plenty of FRESH fruit and vegetables not only for the vitamins but also for the fibre and enzymes necessary for the digestive process to function properly. </P><P>But more on that - together with a breakdown of all the essential vitamins and my favourite subject - FOOD - (I'll try not to think about or mention chocolate cake) IT'S & 'HOLD-BACK-THE-YEARS' FOOD && next time Looking forward to chatting to you again and also looking forward to hearing from you &. </P>]]></content:encoded>
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	<item>
		<title>Chinese Gooseberries and Oprah?</title>
		<link>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/Chinese_Gooseberries_and_Oprah%3F/page/17076</link>
		<category>Chinese</category>
		<guid>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/Chinese_Gooseberries_and_Oprah%3F/page/17076</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Oprah and Harpo Productions, consistently reap awe-inspiring progress and record-breaking profits even after 25 years. While Oprah consistently soars with stellar growth, the rest of the industry seems to stumble, tumble or even disappear. So, just what ...]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<P>Oprah and Harpo Productions, consistently reap awe-inspiring progress and record-breaking profits even after 25 years. While Oprah consistently soars with stellar growth, the rest of the industry seems to stumble, tumble or even disappear. So, just what is it about Oprah that has her consistently reaping hilacious growth for more than two decades and still remain fresh and vivacious as ever? Oprah Winfrey has reinvented herself so smoothly, so successfully and with such precision, very few have consciously noticed! I believe Oprah is aware of the fact that annuals are-by nature-dormant for seasons at a time. She innovatively capitalizes on this truth and remains a "perennial classic."You Grow, Girl! Oprah consistently manifests phenomenal growth professionally, intellectually, spiritually, financially and socially every "season" of her year. Whereas others, seem content to rely primarily on the harvest of their "falls." Oprah is not only acutely aware of her environment, but she plans (and plants) so well, so meticulously ... </P><P>she evens reaps harvests during her "winters!"What's Inside Really Never Changes! Chinese gooseberries didn't sell well at all until they were renamed, Kiwi fruit. Seemingly overnight, this humble, quaint-looking, fuzzy fruit was "reinvented" into an exotic, all-of-a-sudden-much-desired, green intricacy. The "Queen of Personality" went from "The Oprah Winfrey Show," to "Oprah!" and now owns O! magazine. Her reinventions are powerful, yet short and simple. But her core and all that's inside, has never been compromised. </P><P>The Key to Reinvention is Real Simple. Keep it short; but powerful! Even Einstein kept it down to:E= mc2 (yet he reinvented and rocked the science world). Tend to Your Garden; But Don't Pull Up All the Roots! Don't limit yourself to just replanting your life. Learn how to identify which sections need to be up-rooted; which sections need to be cultivated and which sections need to be left alone.Now, while you're reading this, Oprah is hard at work cultivating her next "row." Isn't it time you got busy, too?. </P>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>What?!?  No Bananas?</title>
		<link>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/What%3F%21%3F__No_Bananas%3F/page/3123</link>
		<category>What%3F%21%3F++No+Bananas%3F</category>
		<guid>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/What%3F%21%3F__No_Bananas%3F/page/3123</guid>
		<description><![CDATA["Where are your bananas?"  It seemed like a logical question to ask.  For all of my forty trips around the sun, bananas were a key item to place in the grocery cart.  For the first time I could recall, the banana bin was empty.  So I asked a store worker ...]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<P>"Where are your bananas?"  It seemed like a logical question to ask.  For all of my forty trips around the sun, bananas were a key item to place in the grocery cart.  For the first time I could recall, the banana bin was empty.  So I asked a store worker where the bananas were."We don't have any," he replied.  "We'll be getting some in tomorrow."It took me a few moments to absorb this information. </P><P> "What do you mean you don't have any?" I thought.  "Every store has bananas."  True, sometimes they are almost green enough to pass for bent cucumbers.  And they occasionally appear to have lost an arm-wrestling match with a watermelon.  But there are always bananas of some sort in the store.Then it dawned on me just how foolish my expectations were.    I live well north of New York City. </P><P> Even if somebody invented a way to cultivate them in the Great White North, it was early April, and they would not bear fruit at that time of year.  For goodness sake, outside the snow was falling and inside I was expecting tropical bananas!If you commute in a big city, you might have noticed traffic grinding to a halt.  Why?  Look to bananas for the answer.  Just as I was frustrated by my grocery expectations not being met, millions of commuters are frustrated daily by their traffic expectations not being met.Consider some of the major machines in your life, such as television.  Twenty years ago, we would watch a TV show. </P><P> Ads would come and ads would go, but we would watch it from start to finish.  Who does that these days?  "What were you watching, honey?""I dunno.  But I think I caught 412 channels."And if ever you should lose the converter ... I know, I know, this is a family publication, so we'll cut the profanity.And what about the Internet?  If a web site takes more than five seconds to load, where are we?  "Did you order that book from Amazon for me?""I dunno.  But I think I reached warp speed with my clicking finger. </P><P> Ouch!   I think I sprained it."If fancy TV gadgets and high-speed Internet feed our impatience, what about car ads?  Vrroooooommm.  See how fast this car can go?  Wow.  It does zero to 60 in 5.2 seconds ... in the ad.  And zero to zero in half an hour stuck on the Santa Monica Freeway.As we expect our machines each day to break yesterday's speed record, our cars seem to be slowing to a crawl. </P><P> That's because more and more people are squeezing onto the same road space trying to zoom faster and faster and honking their horns louder and louder (because we all know that cars move faster when their horns get honked, right?  Especially when they get honked LONG and LOUD, right?).  Is it just me, or is this poor math?  A realist would expect traffic to get a little slower each year, which just proves how rare realists really are.  Every one of us expects to move faster and faster.And I expect bananas on the store shelf even when it is snowing outside.  So what can we do?  Easy, we can grumble and complain.  We can shout abusive words at store clerks and other drivers. </P><P> We can honk our horns (not recommended in the fruit section).Or we can step back and ask ourselves logical questions about what we should realistically expect.  For instance, "Can I really expect bananas on my grocer's shelves in the middle of winter when I know the truck is stuck in traffic?". </P>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>At Home with Bakelite</title>
		<link>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/At_Home_with_Bakelite/page/1102</link>
		<category>baskets</category>
		<guid>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/At_Home_with_Bakelite/page/1102</guid>
		<description><![CDATA["Plastic" objects are part of our history.  These items represent a significant example of Americana.  The Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art and the Philadelphia Museum all include "plastics" in their collections.You do not have to go to a museum ...]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<P>"Plastic" objects are part of our history.  These items represent a significant example of Americana.  The Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art and the Philadelphia Museum all include "plastics" in their collections.You do not have to go to a museum to enjoy seeing and collecting "plastic" items.  The primary goal of the new movement, in the 1930's and 40's, was to provide less expensive, decorative, and useful items in the home, using machines to create and service the large population.It created an enormous variety of both functional and decorative high and low cost objects for the home which are sought after by collectors today.  Antique plastic is not a contradiction of terms ? plastics have been around in synthetic form for well over 100 years making them a true antique. </P><P> BAKELITE was developed by Dr. Leo Baekeland in 1907 and was originally intended as an insulator for electricity, and is not quite 100 years old.  Besides Bakelite jewelry, Bakelite has brought us items such as radios, kitchenware, flatware, clocks, Bakelite handled utensils, telephones, salt and pepper shakers, etc.  The list of items boggle the mind and keeps increasing the pleasure it brings to the collector of any or all of the above.  When to decide to collect Bakelite? Colors, design and style are no doubt what will attract you initially. </P><P> The broad pallet of Bakelite enables today's collector to enjoy both nostalgia and utility.  For example, your eye catches a set of red plastic canisters ? and it becomes a "look" in your kitchen, which can be followed for a search for a set of Bakelite Flatware for your dining experience.  Above all, you are buying what you like and at the same time buying items of value.  The value increases as authentic examples of an era diminish in supply.  Collecting is a tangible, you had fun finding it and have the pleasure of the item in your home. </P><P> The term "streamlined" appeared in magazines and illustrations of the day, to describe the design that set this era apart.  Cocktail shakers, some accentuated with Bakelite, Bakelite napkin rings, drink stirrers, fruit knives, etc., were all part of the scene -  the streamlined Bakelite radio playing popular songs of the day.  This is now what collectors seek to continue to enhance the look of the era that has now become an important part of their lives.  We advise collectors of Antique and Vintage Bakelite items for their home, to buy what gives them pleasure and don't be afraid to set an eclectic table ? utensils and flatware do not have to match nor do they have to be the same color.  Buy "orphaned" pieces of Bakelite flatware to create a bright and colorful look ? all that matters is what appeals to you, the collector. </P><P> Be certain, that in order to assure the continuance of this search for Antique and Vintage Bakelite for the home, one has to always be certain of where and from whom these items are being purchased, and buy from reputable and knowledgeable dealers.At our shop Evelynne's Oldies But Goodies at Ruby Lane, we have been dealing in and have an expertise in the field of Antique and Vintage Bakelite for well over 20 years.  Please stop by and enjoy our selection of all things bakelite, including Bakelite household items, which include utensils, flatware, etc.  <a href="http://www.rubylane.com/shops/evelynnesoldiesbutgoodies" target=new>http://www.rubylane.com/shops/evelynnesoldiesbutgoodies</a>. </P>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The GI Diet Explained</title>
		<link>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/The_GI_Diet_Explained/page/9467</link>
		<category>The+GI+Diet+Explained</category>
		<guid>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/The_GI_Diet_Explained/page/9467</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The latest 'hot' diet to hit the market is the 'GI Diet' or 'Glycaemic Index' diet. Used by stars such as Kylie Minogue and Helen Porter, the GI Diet was invented in 1981 by Dr David Jenkins and is actually well respected by qualified nutritionists too, ...]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<P>The latest 'hot' diet to hit the market is the 'GI Diet' or 'Glycaemic Index' diet. Used by stars such as Kylie Minogue and Helen Porter, the GI Diet was invented in 1981 by Dr David Jenkins and is actually well respected by qualified nutritionists too, so it's not just the latest 'celeb fad' diet.Dr Jenkins based his ideas on his observations into how different carb-rich foods affect human blood sugar levels in diabetics. What he found amazed him and us here at <a href="http://www.supadiet.com" target=new>www.supadiet.com</a> too - namely that there are some starchy foods that affect blood sugar levels dramatically, while some sugar-heavy foods actually have little effect. This is, of course, in direct contrast to all the perceived medical wisdom. The culmination of Dr Jenkins' work is a scale called the Glycaemic Index, ranking foods on the basis of how they affect your blood sugar levels.Starting with glucose which has a GI of 100, the GI scale goes all the way down to zero. </P><P>By comparing how various foods raise blood sugar levels when we eat them, each food can be positioned on the GI scale relative to glucose. A high GI value means the food causes a fast and large rise in blood sugar levels, while a low GI value means the food has only a slow, low effect on blood sugar. Foods that have low GI values are supposed to release sugar into the blood slowly, over a long period, providing constant energy thru the day, meaning that hunger pangs are less likely to strike. High GI value foods, in contrast, flood the body with sugar fast, but the effect wears off just as quickly meaning you get hungry again. This is why a candy bar often seems such a good idea when we are starving, yet rarely satisfies. </P><P>Keep that kind of snacking up, and you end up pumping far more calories into your system than you actually need, because the falling blood sugar levels make you body think you are hungry again. A recipe for weight gain, in fact, as several researchers at <a href="http://www.supadiet.com" target=new>www.supadiet.com</a> have found to their cost!So the gist of the GI diet is to focus on low GI value foods, as these are the ones that will keep you going for longer without hunger rearing it's ugly head! A 'low' value is generally thought to be below about 55 on the GI scale, while 'medium' foods are between 56 and 69. Above 70, and the food is a high GI value. Obviously, on the GI diet, you focus on low GI value foods, keeping your blood sugar at a constant level and holding hunger pangs at arms length. You should generally cut down on fat-laden foods too, even if technically they are 'low' GI foods. </P><P>Milk, chips and chocolate are examples of this.You have probably already spotted the main problem with the GI diet - it can be hard to tell what the GI value of an entire meal is, given that a meal has several component foods. Unless you are careful, you could end up following what looks like a good GI diet, but is actually packed out with fat and salt - hardly healthy! This is why meal plans are essential on the GI diet. On a good GI diet plan, you should expect to lose 1 or 2 pounds a week, and this is a pretty sustainable level to aim for, according to leading nutritionists. A GI Diet may also (although the research is not conclusive yet!) help ward off certain types of diabetes, and heart disease too.Like all diets, you should check with your doctor first, to make sure you aren't running any health risks unnecessarily. A typical 'good' GI diet plan for a day might look something like this (more detailed plans are, of course available at <a href="http://www.supadiet.com" target=new>www.supadiet.com</a> ).BreakfastOat porridge with skimmed milk and sweetened and a piece of fruit.ElevensesA low fat fruit yoghurt and another piece of fruit.LunchLentil soup, whole-meal tuna sandwich and some fruit.DinnerWhole-meal pasta with bolognese sauce (extra lean mince) with salad.. </P>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Your Body?s Secret Wisdom-- Eating from the Tree of Life</title>
		<link>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/Your_Body%92s_Secret_Wisdom--_Eating_from_the_Tree_of_Life/page/2121</link>
		<category>Body%3Fs</category>
		<guid>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/Your_Body%92s_Secret_Wisdom--_Eating_from_the_Tree_of_Life/page/2121</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Your body's secret wisdom is as ancient as humankind and encoded in every cell. It knows the perfect food for you to eat at any point in time. Yet we have lost touch with that perfect knowledge in this industrial society. We have lost touch with our birthright ...]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<P>Your body's secret wisdom is as ancient as humankind and encoded in every cell. It knows the perfect food for you to eat at any point in time. Yet we have lost touch with that perfect knowledge in this industrial society. We have lost touch with our birthright of absolute health. <br />
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It doesn't matter how old or how young you are. </P><P>Your body can heal and rejuvenate itself from the inside out, and does so throughout your lifetime. If that is true, why is there such an epidemic of obesity and chronic illness plaguing the wealthiest society in the world?<br />
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We wear our suffering and lost connection to that secret wisdom in the form of excess fat, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. We no longer appreciate the sacred quality of every food we eat, or the myriad life forms that compose our physical nature, our cells.  <br />
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This Do in Remembrance of Me<br />
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One way to reconnect is to take a little time to reflect on the food you are about to eat.  What does my heart want or need today for its health, and pleasure; my lungs, liver, pancreas, blood, skin, teeth and hair, etc? Meditate and ask these questions within before you put something in your mouth.<br />
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What does the food you eat say to you?  Does it say, "I'm ready to become a beautiful part of you-- to sacrifice myself to nourish and energize this human being, because this human being has seen me as a sacred gift of energy?" Or does it say, "I will insist on being recognized," by causing this too-busy-to-care person indigestion, elevated cholesterol, or diabetes?  <br />
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The sacred approach to food will change your perceptions and your tastes. </P><P>In centuries past, every food that humans consumed carried with it a sacred symbolic meaning which modern civilization has forgotten. And in that forgetfulness, we find that we have also lost the ability to successfully utilize the gifts which the Deity has given us.<br />
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What was the Sacred Fruit of Eve?<br />
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Eating food is a sacred experience. Consider the spiritual and sacred qualities which ancient man attributed to his food.<br />
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Christian lore made the apple a symbol of original sin, even though the Bible never mentions an "apple." The tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil bore fruit, but not necessarily apples. The little apple was vilified by the patriarchal system because it displays a pentacle in its center, when cut sideways. <br />
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The pentacle is one of the most ancient and magical of symbols. </P><P>It has been associated in Christianity with the star of Bethlehem, and three kings' star; in Paganism, as the Star of Lorges, the devil's sign, the witch's cross, and the goblin's foot. Even before these interpretations, the pentacle meant good health, or life. <br />
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Healthy to the Core<br />
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This earlier interpretation was attributed to the apple core pentacle of the earth mother goddess Demeter, and represented her unborn daughter, Kore. To this day, we still call the center of the apple the "core." The torso, or center of the human body, is also called the core. And lately, scientists have begun to discuss the health significance of the "apple-shaped" body, which holds more fat around the organs, or belly area.<br />
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In Romanian Myth, the goddess appeared as the fairy Magdalina, sitting in a cosmic apple tree, whose branches reached to heaven and whose roots reached into the ocean's abyss. </P><P>It was believed that a holy name written on an apple, and eaten for three consecutive days, would cure a fever.<br />
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Today, science is proving the miraculous curative powers of certain phytochemicals in the humble apple. Perhaps the apple is the fruit of the other tree that grew in Paradise: the Tree of Immortal Life. <br />
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In Russian labs, apple polyphenols extended the life span of mice by 56%-- the human equivalent of 35 or 40 years. "It is quite possible," said one of the Russian biochemists, "to extend people's lifespan by 20-30 years without even having to invent anything." Nature, it seems, already has the answer.<br />
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Researchers in the U.S., Finland, and Sweden have shown positive results in 8 different types of cancer, when treated with apple phytochemicals. Like the scriptures, the old religions and myths hold secret truths which we are only beginning to decipher.<br />
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Sacred Cows<br />
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Cheese is another food with ancient spiritual connections. </P><P>The Egyptians believed the body was created from mother's milk, which curdled into solid form as children put on weight and developed. This same idea is expressed in the Bible: "Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?" (Job 10:10)<br />
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Cheese also served as a surrogate mother in the British countryside.  A newborn child would be passed through a hole in the center of a large ring of cheese, called the "groaning cheese," as part of an old christening rite. This passage through cheese was done to protect the child from unseen dangers, and to bestow good fortune through life. Rich in calcium and protein, it is no wonder that our ancestors revered cheese as a gift from the Goddess.<br />
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In ancient Rome, the horn of plenty or cornucopia was originally a cow's horn, overflowing with all the fruits of the earth. </P><P>The cow was considered the caretaker of humanity. We still use the expressions "holy cow," or negatively, "sacred cow." <br />
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In some of the earliest creation stories, the great Goddess, mother of all the Gods, was the cow. The Great Lady of the South gave birth to the sun, and created the essence of Gods and men. We now know that the complete proteins and overall nutrient content of beef and dairy products make them some of the most nutritious substances on the planet.<br />
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Paradise Lost<br />
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It is sad that the modern industrialized society treats its food supply with so little reverence. Our apples are never fresh from the arms of a generous tree. </P><P>They are gassed, irradiated, fumigated, refrigerated, and stored for weeks or months before arriving at your grocery store. The beautiful apples you see in the produce aisle are no longer the purveyors of healing that nature intended. <br />
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Your body knows you should eat more apples, and other fresh fruit. But buy certified organic produce, grown the way the Goddess intended. Non organically-grown apples have some of the highest pesticide levels of all fruits. </P><P><br />
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Our own government found 36 different pesticides on apples tested from 1992 to 2001. The apples were washed before testing. Many of these pesticides permeated the entire fruit or vegetable, and could not be removed by washing or peeling. <br />
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From Sacred Foods to Superfoods<br />
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In addition, many of the nutrients which our ancestors received from this most sacred fruit have faded before it gets to your table. Supplement your fruits and vegetables with the green tea polyphenols, apple polyphenols, and pharmaceutical grade phytonutrients, available in capsule form. </P><P>These supplements can help your body to detoxify some of the harmful pesticides and ingredients added to our food. <br />
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Apple polyphenols are six times more potent than vitamin C in protecting against environmental toxins and disease. Green tea polyphenols have been shown more effective in the treatment of cancer than some forms of chemotherapy.<br />
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Our cheeses, unless labeled organic, are created with additional chemical processes which leave toxic residue in the final product. The milk, which our children also drink, may contain radioactive elements and bovine growth hormones. And we wonder why our precious youth, suffer from various learning disabilities, hyperactivity, chronic illness, and obesity.<br />
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Cannibals and Cows<br />
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Even our wonderful cows are pressured into maturity and sacrifice prematurely with growth hormones, and cannibalism. </P><P>Mad Cow disease is caused by supplying cows with processed cows as feed. This generates a very dangerous protein called a prion. The prion acts like a virus, replicating itself slowly. This causes a disease in cows which is quite similar to Crutchfield-Jacobs Disease in humans. This same disease was originally seen in tribal peoples who had the custom of eating their dead relatives. </P><P> <br />
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It can take years for the prion to cause the symptoms of Mad Cow disease. Perhaps this is why we slaughter our cows before they are 3 or 4 years old. We are assured by the USDA that our beef supply is safe. Yet non-organically fed cows eat the same thing as the cows in other countries, infected with Mad Cow disease.<br />
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Only nerve tissue is affected by these prions. Stay away from ground beef, which could be processed on the same equipment which processed brain or spinal tissue from cows, unless you know for certain how the ground beef was processed.<br />
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Re-experience the sacred mystery of beef. </P><P>Find out how it was fed and treated before slaughter, and then how it is handled on the way to your table. Or raise your own.<br />
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Give Me Health and a Day<br />
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If you think the world has gone mad, reconsider this axiom: you are what you eat. And remember the creation myth of the cow whose milk curdled the Universe into existence. Mad Cow disease, obesity, and chronic illness in young children may be like the canary in the coal mine-- signs and omens within our own homes and families, which may all begin with the food we eat. <br />
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Insist on food which is grown organically, with care and love. </P><P>Treat it as a divine blessing. Cultivate a renewed sacred connection to everything you eat. The secret wisdom of your body can guide you back to the blessing of your birthright- absolute, radiant health.<br />
. </P>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Fun Facts About Ice Cream</title>
		<link>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/Fun_Facts_About_Ice_Cream/page/9423</link>
		<category>Fun+Facts+About+Ice+Cream</category>
		<guid>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/Fun_Facts_About_Ice_Cream/page/9423</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To this day, the history of ice cream remains a mystery. However, many say that the first ice cream is credited to Emperor Nero of Rome. It was a mixture of snow, nectar, fruit pulp, and honey. Others proclaim that Marco Polo, a 13th century adventurer, ...]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<P>To this day, the history of ice cream remains a mystery. However, many say that the first ice cream is credited to Emperor Nero of Rome. It was a mixture of snow, nectar, fruit pulp, and honey. Others proclaim that Marco Polo, a 13th century adventurer, brought ice cream to Europe from the Far East. However, regardless of where it came from, today's average American consumes 23.2 quarts of ice cream per year, with the first ice cream parlor in America opening in 1776 in New York City.So, which countries like ice cream the most? The United States, New Zealand, Denmark, and Australia top the list. </P><P>The favorite flavor is the classic vanilla. Then comes chocolate, strawberry, neapolitan, and chocolate chip. How do these line up with your own list of favorites?The most popular topping for ice cream ---- chocolate syrup. Who would of thought  ; ) Around 13% of men and 8% of women will admit to licking the bowl clean after eating ice cream. Biggest ice cream sundae - 12 ft tall! This one was made with 4,667 gallons of ice cream in California in 1985. </P><P>	<li>	<li>The average single-scoop ice cream cone takes 50 licks to finish. Try it out with the following recipe. Quick Strawberry Parfait: 	Ingredients<ul>	<li>1 quart of strawberry ice cream	<li>1 pint of whipped cream</ul>InstructionsMix the strawberry ice cream with the whipped cream at serving time. Serve in a glass of your choice and top with whipped cream, with a strawberry on top. (Feel free to top your parfait with other fruits as well.)This recipe will fill eight glasses. </P><P>For other parfait flavors, simply use a different flavored ice cream.. </P>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>3 Tips For Giving A Great Gift</title>
		<link>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/3_Tips_For_Giving_A_Great_Gift/page/9549</link>
		<category>Tips</category>
		<guid>http://www.topfruitbaskets.com/3_Tips_For_Giving_A_Great_Gift/page/9549</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I know that trying to find just the right gift for somebody canbe like going to the dentist at times. Ok, maybe that's alittle bit dramatic. But when people ask me about what theyshould get someone for whatever the occasion, they are somtimesin a panic. ...]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<P>I know that trying to find just the right gift for somebody canbe like going to the dentist at times. Ok, maybe that's alittle bit dramatic. But when people ask me about what theyshould get someone for whatever the occasion, they are somtimesin a panic. This is what I tell them.1. Be OriginalIf you can imagine, you can be "original" . </P><P>It really isn'tthat hard. You know how teachers are always getting those stereotypical apple and school related gifts? (You people know who you are.) Ok, enough. Teachers have feelings too. No, really. (I'm nota teacher but I have friends and family who are and this is whatthey tell me.)This is a prime example of "un-originality". </P><P>(Can you imaginegetting 24 primarily identical gifts at Christmas time?) What'sa teacher to do?Want to win some brownie points? Get he or she something thatthey can use and enjoy.Let me help to stir those creative juices.a.Gift cards or certificates for - Pedicure, Manicure, MovieTheater, Ice Cream Shop, Movie Rental Store, Book Store, GourmetFoods, Golf Course, Restaurant.... b. A great throw blanketc. Tickets to a gamed. Awesome gourmet chocolate and foodsAre you starting to get the picture?2. </P><P>Homemade Is GoodWhen I say homemade, people usually think of food. But homemadecan also relate to sewing, knitting, building, painting,crafting or whatever it is you make with your own two hands. I love to get stuff from people who put their time into a gift. If you have a talent for baking, cooking or making things, youreally ought to give of yourself in that way to others. If youdon't feel that you can make anything yourself, find someone whocan. </P><P>It's just as good.3. Attention Getting PackagingTry to find objects that can be used as containers forpresenting your gifts. Turn them into gift baskets. Let megive you some examples:a. Ceramics- Bowls, mugs, tea cup and saucer, plates, trays, planters...b. </P><P>Any kind of basketc. Hats turned upside downd. Boxes lined with decorative paper on the inside and outAfter deciding on a container, fill it with some sort of tissuepaper or shred.Orgainize the contents of your basket and use clear or coloredgift basket wrap to seal it.Attach ribbon, a bow, maybe a card, flowers, greenery, or candyto it at the top. You could even attach an object that ties into the theme of the gift.You know what people really like? It's to know that someonecared enough about them to put some thought into their gift. So, I guess it really is the "thought" that counts.. </P>]]></content:encoded>
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