drinking

Papaya
Deliciously sweet with musky undertones and a soft, butter-like consistency, it is no wonder the papaya was reputably called the fruit of the angels by Christopher Columbus. Once considered quite exotic, they can now be found in markets throughout the year. Although there is a slight seasonal peak in early summer and fall, papaya trees produce fruit year round. Papayas are spherical or pear-shaped fruits that can be as long as 20 inches. The ones commonly found in the market usually average about 7 inches and weigh about one pound. Their flesh is a rich orange color with either yellow or pink hues. Inside the inner cavity of the fruit are black, round seeds encased in a gelatinous-like substance. Papayas seeds are edible, although their peppery flavor is somewhat bitter. The fruit, as well as the other parts of the papaya tree, contain papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins. This enzyme is especially concentrated in the fruit when it is unripe. Papain is extracted to make ...

212 Men Splash by Carolina Herrera
A lighter, fresher version of the original, 212 Splash from Carolina Herrera is definitely a staple fragrance for the summer months. The limited-edition scent is available in blue for men and pink for women obviously, and comes packaged in what looks like an oversized drinks can. That’s presumably to evoke the refreshing ethos of the fragrance, which is to “relieve the heat of the city by making the skin a vibrant oasis”. Splash for men is a light and fresh-smelling fusion of mint, nutmeg, bergamot and ginger. If you liked the original, then you’ll definitely be a fan of this. Warning: aftershave will not actually relieve the heat of the city sun or quench your thirst, should the packaging fool you into drinking ...

The 20 Unhealthiest Drinks in America
Americans have a drinking problem, and not the type you might think. As the authors of the best-selling book Eat This, Not That!, David Zinczenko and co-author Matt Goulding get e-mails all the time from readers who claim they eat carefully, they work out consistently, but they still can get the needle on the scale to budge. What gives? goes the collective, exasperated refrain from the stagnant dieter. What most people don know is that the biggest roadblock between you and the body you want isn found at the end of a fork, but at the bottom of a glass. As a country we take in 21 percent of our daily calories from beverages and, according to the FDA, the average American takes in 82 grams of added sugars every day. Thats 20 teaspoons, which contribute an empty 317 calories to our already calorie-saturated diets. Sure, some of that comes from soda, but even if youve traded regular Coke for diet, whole milk coffee drinks for low-fat lattes, and you barely touch the booze, you could ...

Apples
The warm scent and flavor of baking apples is a sure sign that fall is just around the corner. In the Northern Hemisphere apples are in season from late summer to early winter. However, many varieties are available year round because they have been either kept in cold storage or imported from the Southern Hemisphere. Apples are crisp, white-fleshed fruits with red, yellow or green skin. They range in taste from moderately sweet and refreshing to pleasantly tart depending on the variety. The apple is a member of the rose family, with a compartmentalized core that classifies it as a pome fruit. Food Chart This chart graphically details the %DV that a serving of Apples provides for each of the nutrients of which it is a good, very good, or excellent source according to our Food Rating System. Additional information about the amount of these nutrients provided by Apples can be found in the Food Rating System Chart. A link that takes you to the In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Apples, ...

Cranberries
A cousin of the blueberry, this very tart, bright red berry can still be found growing wild as a shrub, but when cultivated, is grown on low trailing vines in great sandy bogs. The American cranberry, the variety most cultivated in the northern United States and southern Canada, produces a larger berry than the wild cranberry or the European variety. Cranberries have long been valued for their ability to help prevent and treat urinary tract infections. Now, recent studies suggest that this native American berry may also promote gastrointestinal and oral health, prevent the formation of kidney stones, lower LDL and raise HDL good cholesterol, aid in recovery from stroke, and even help prevent cancer. Fresh cranberries, which contain the highest levels of beneficial nutrients, are at their peak from October through December, just in time to add their festive hue, tart tangy flavor and numerous health protective effects to your holiday meals. When cranberries short fresh season is ...

Strawberries
The fragrantly sweet juiciness and deep red color of strawberries can brighten up both the taste and aesthetics of any meal; it is no wonder they are the most popular berry fruit in the world. Although strawberries have become increasingly available year-round, they are at the peak of their season from April through July when they are the most delicious and most abundant. While there are more than 600 varieties of strawberries that differ in flavor, size and texture, one can usually identify a strawberry by its red flesh that has yellow seeds piercing its surface, and the small, regal, green leafy cap and stem that adorn its crown. In addition to strawberries that are cultivated, there are also varieties that grow wild. These are much smaller in size, but feature a more intense flavor. Food Chart This chart graphically details the %DV that a serving of Strawberries provides for each of the nutrients of which it is a good, very good, or excellent source according to our Food Rating ...

Golf Tips from Camilo Villegas
Last September, Camilo Villegas was driving his black, 500-horsepower Porsche Cayenne Turbo to his Atlanta hotel after a PGA tournament when he saw flashing lights behind him. He pulled onto the shoulder of the road and waited as a policeman sauntered up to his window. You been drinking? the cop asked. Officer, I just got off the golf course. I was playing in a tournament, replied Villegas. So youve had a few drinks. Officer, like I said, I just got off the course. Thats exactly what I mean, countered the cop. You golf, you drink. Thats what its all about. After Villegas explained he was a professional golfer, the officer relented and let him off the hook for creeping above the speed limit. I thought that was pretty funny, says Villegas. Lots of people still don think of golf as a sport. Villegas pronounced bee-JAY-gus is a 26-year-old from Colombia who turned pro in 2004 and finished last year with nearly $4 million in career earnings. Although he has yet to ...

Fine Living: Premium Chocolates
The world of chocolate has its highs and lows, to be sure. And the solid milk-chocolate bunnies we all enjoyed as kids are fine for 7-year-olds, but your palate has evolved beyond swapping quality for quantity. While Ferrero Rocher and Godiva are fine for some, the true chocolate connoisseur knows that the best there is to offer cannot be found in any drugstore. Thankfully, gourmet chocolate is more abundant -- and more available -- in today’s market than ever before. After all, if Americans spend about $13 billion a year on chocolate, why shouldn’t we spend it on the good stuff? La Maison du Chocolat Country of origin: France Price: Truffles are around $80 per pound and boxes are as much as $200. As one of France’s finest manufacturers, there may be no other store that makes chocolate as luxurious as La Maison du Chocolat. The name says it all; it translates to The House of Chocolate. La Maison packages its chocolates in leather boxes that are fine enough for the best jewelry. ...