Famous French Food

The French are known for their fine ways of dining and exquisite food as well. Every region in France has its own specialty, which is probably why we have different types of famous French food popular all over the globe. Families are known to pass down their secret recipes to the next generation, which include some really exquisite ingredients as well.

French food is known for its richness of flavor. The dinnertime is a very large affair for the French. During the Middle Ages, the French were known for their lavish banquets. This contained heavily seasoned food. Later on, during the period of the French Revolution, there was a marked move away from the use of spices. With the mention of famous French food, cheese and wine would obviously crop up in the minds of many. However, today, there are many regional dishes that have also seeped into the culture of many cuisines worldwide. Let us take a quick look at some of the various types of famous French food and recipes to make the same at home!

List of Famous French Food:

Baguette - This is a variety of bread with a crispy crust. Baguettes form to be a major feature of French breakfast.

Blanquette de veau - This is a famous French veal dish. This contains veal meat combined with aromatic vegetables.

Chocolate Mousse - The chocolate mousse although commonly available all over the world is actually a famous French food item. This is a very delicious dessert made from egg and cream.

Madeleine - The madeleine is a traditional cake of France. These are very small shaped cakes which have a shell like appearance.

Éclair - The Éclair is a long and thin shaped delicious pastry with a cream filling and loads of icing.

Choucroute garnie - The chocolate garnie consists of sausages and salted meats often combined with potatoes.

Crêpe- This is a pancake that is made from wheat flour.

Bouillabaisse- The Bouillabaisse is a traditional fish stew that is prepared with different kinds of cooked fish. A variety of herbs and spices are used to add flavor to the same.

Gougère- This is a pastry that is made along with cheese. In the English language, these are known as cheese puffs.

Cassoulet- This famous French food originated in the southwest area of France. Its main ingredients are meat combined with pork skin and white beans.

Ratatouille- This is a traditional vegetable dish. The complete name remains to be ratatouille niçoise and it consists of stewed vegetables. Ratatouille is generally served as a side dish but it can be served as a complete dish in its own as well. This dish is generally prepared in the summer season with the help of fresh vegetables.

Quiche Lorraine- A quiche simply means a baked dish that consists of a combination of eggs and milk in a pastry crust. This kind of an egg pie is prepared with other ingredients as well.

Tarte flambée- This dish is a speciality of the Alsatian region in France. It is made of thin bread dough which is topped with onions, bacons and some amount of fresh cream

Can Drinking Tea Make You Live Longer?

Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, after water. Asian cultures drink gallons of green, oolong and other teas, and the Brits consume large quantities of black tea. In fact, everywhere in the world, tea is a regular part of life. In many cases, we drink tea because we like it, but as it turns out, it may be extremely healthy for us, too.

Over the years there’s been tons of research on the benefits of tea to our health. And, as we learn more and more, it’s becoming clear that drinking tea may be one of the best things we can do to protect our health and prolong our lives. The University of Toronto Medical Journal outlines the many benefits that drinking tea can offer.

Prevention of Heart Disease

Studies have shown that regular tea consumption can actually lower cholesterol levels circulating in the blood. In fact, some studies have shown tea to reduce total cholesterol by as much as 6.5% and LDL cholesterol by as much as 11%. A reduction in cholesterol prevents atherosclerosis, a condition in which the arteries that carry blood become narrowed due to a buildup of plaque. The plaque that builds up in our arteries is created when LDL cholesterol oxidizes.

Prevention of Cancer

Tea has been shown to reduce the risk of several forms of cancer. In fact, tea has been shown to reduce lung tumors by 80% in laboratory mice. Tea has also been effective in human studies on cancer, including breast cancer, colon cancer and gastric cancer.

Weight Loss

Tea has also been shown to be an effective weight loss supplement. Tea increases energy expenditure, promotes fat oxidation and decreases fat storage. Many studies have shown that drinking tea in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise can help you lose more weight than diet and exercise alone.

Improvement in Intestinal Tract Bacteria

Regular tea consumption can help improve the bacteria that live in your intestinal tract; eliminating harmful bacteria and helping beneficial bacteria to flourish. Tea has been shown to reduce the level of H pylori bacteria in the stomach. H pylori is associated with the development of ulcers.

Getting Your Daily Dose

The recommended dose of tea for health benefits is about 30 ounces per day – the equivalent of 2 ½ cans of soda. While this may seem like a lot, it’s easy to consume this amount if you replace some of the other beverages you consume with tea.

Consider this:

- Replace one cup of your morning coffee with a cup of tea instead – that’s 8 ounces.

- Have one bottle of green tea with lunch instead of a bottled soda – that’s another 12 ounces.

- For an afternoon break, make a relaxing cup of tea instead of a snack. You’ll save calories and get another 8 ounces of tea.

- Have a cup of lavender or mint tea before bed – you’re getting another eight ounces of tea, and you’ll sleep better too!

Which tea is best?

- There are literally thousands of varieties of tea available – so much that you may be confused about which you should be drinking. Probably the best tea for you is the one that you like, because if you like it you’ll drink more of it. However, if you’re choosing tea strictly for the health benefits, here are some suggestions to help you choose the tea that will give you the most benefit.

- Choose green tea over black – Green tea is unfermented, which means that more of the original anti-oxidants are intact. It is believed that green tea has more health benefits than black tea because these anti-oxidants remain in their natural state. If you don’t like the flavor of plain green tea, there are dozens of flavored green teas. They are just as healthy, and taste great. In addition, you can find bottled green teas that are very convenient when you’re on the go. Choose caffeinated teas over decaffeinated

– Caffeinated teas have the most health benefit. It is believed that the caffeine in tea works with the anti-oxidants to create the maximum effects. Those who are caffeine sensitive might try green tea, as its caffeine content is lower than that of black tea.

- Make sure it’s real tea – There are many beverages that are referred to as tea that are not really tea. True tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal teas, and teas like rooibos and mate are really tisanes –meaning they come from other plants. There’s certainly nothing wrong with these teas, but they don’t provide the health benefits that you’ll find in a true tea.

- Drink it the way you like it- Tea retains the same health benefits whether you drink it hot or cold and whether or not you add milk. Just remember to skip the sugar if you’re drinking tea to help you lose weight.

- With all the health benefits that we’re discovering about tea, it’s a pretty good assumption that tea may help you live longer. By putting off many of the signs and diseases of aging, you’re also likely to be healthier and more active in your old age. Tea is a natural, refreshing way to improve your health and longevity.

ิัิัBy: http://www.utmj.org/issues/81.1/Medical%20Murmurs.pdf

Is coffee bad for your health?

For many years, coffee has been blamed for a series of medical problems from the amusing line "it will stop you from growing" to the less amusing worries that it might start heart disease and cancer. Despite all this, recent studies have shown that coffee isn’t as unhealthy as it was initially thought. So what’s the final answer? Is drinking coffee good or is it bad for your health? The best answer is that: it doesn’t seem to harm you and it might actually help you.

A recent study from May 2006 (128000 participants) has shown that there is no high risk for the appearance of cardiovascular diseases for filtered coffee consumers. The results of this study show that the risk of setting off such diseases is not influenced by the quantity of consumed filtered coffee.

In March 2006, 4000 coffee drinkers participated in a study showing the fact that two or more coffee cups per day can lead to high risk of setting off a heart disease. It only happens in the cases of persons suffering from a specific genetic mutation that slows down the body’s assimilation process when it comes to coffee.

There are two sides of the debate yet, considering the large number of participants in the first study we mentioned here (plus numerous other studies), it is logical that we come to the conclusion that this liquid causes very little or no harm to the persons that love to drink it.

However, this affirmation does not imply that you would exaggerate when it comes to drinking coffee. Even if large quantities of the stuff do not harm you, there are also a variety of other drinks such as milk or juice that contain certain nutrients that coffee does not. We should not exaggerate in any situation.

When it comes to other advantages that coffee can bring to your general state of health, there are some scientifically facts claiming that constant coffee consumption protects the body against type 2 diabetes and colon cancer.

There are no exact reasons why coffee has anything to say when it comes to that certain type of diabetes, but doctors have come up with a series of plausible explanations:Coffee contains antioxidants that control the destruction of a cell that contributes to the evolution of the disease. In addition, it is a source of clorogenyc acid-in the case of experiments conducted on animals, it was proven that this reduces glucose concentrations.

Caffeine, maybe the most famous ingredient of coffee, doesn’t seem to be linked in any way to this fact. Studies that have analyzed decaffeinated coffee have shown that this prevents the disease in the same way as coffee containing caffeine does.

Large quantities of coffee seem to contribute to the prevention of diabetes – researches have discovered that people who drink four up to six cups of coffee per day have 28% lower risk in getting the disease compared to people who drink 2 or less cups per day. Studies show that people who drink over six cups per day have a lower 35% of getting the disease.

Though protection against these affections as type2 diabetes and cancel to the colon is more evident due to the consumption to fruit, vegetables and certain cereals then it is due to drinking coffee. Thus don’t be afraid to enjoy your cup daily, but keep in mind that your diet must contain a large variety of food and drinks.

There are also other advantages that coffee has on your general health state .The blacker the coffe, the better.That`s why researchers recommend an espresso over regular coffee. Coffee contains tannin and antioxidants that have benefit effects on the heart and arteries.

Also coffee can be held responsible for the disappearance of headaches and can bring advantages to the liver’s activities –it can prevent cirrhoses and stones. Caffeine can reduce asthmatic attacks, improving blood flow through the heart.

Nevertheless, drinking coffee is not recommended to everyone. Drinking the world’s most popular drug in large quantities can increase anxiety, determining shaking of hands and fast cardiac rhythm. Pregnant women, patients with heart disease and those who suffer from ulcer are advised to avoid drinking coffee.

There are numerous studies and their conclusions even more so. With all this, scientists recommend that one should not drink more than 3 maximum 4 cups of coffee per day.

Healthy Breakfast Foods to Eat

Preparing a breakfast is not at all time-consuming if we can plan well. Given below is a healthy breakfast foods list to give you strength, concentration, improved performance and also maintain a healthy weight.

Cereals Wheat or whole grain cereals like muesli or bran, whole grain rolls, wheat biscuits, bagels, low-fat bran muffins, crackers, or melba toast. Whole grain waffles, with fruit toppings and yoghurt or ricotta cheese and cinnamon is also an ideal breakfast. A bowl of oatmeal also makes up a healthy breakfast. You can either have the instant oatmeal or cook oats and milk. To make it yummy, add fresh fruits like pears, blueberries and peaches. You can even add sliced almonds. According to your taste, add sugar, little honey and cinnamon. This is tasty and healthy as well, as it contains complex carbohydrates, fiber and proteins.

Dairy Products Milk is a good source of protein. Some prefer to have full-fat milk, but the best choice is to have skimmed or semi-skimmed milk. Other dairy products include low-fat yogurt, cheese (cottage or natural cheese).

Fruits and Vegetables The benefits of fruits and vegetables are numerous. The antioxidants present in them helps prevent diseases like stoke, heart attack, vision problems, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, etc. It is a good idea to start a day with a glass of fresh fruit, herb or vegetable juices. Eating a whole fruit is more beneficial due to the extra fiber in the skin. Fruit salad with honey or few spoonfuls of low fat yoghurt, and fresh and raw vegetables with flavored yoghurt are other options you can include in a healthy breakfast foods list. You can even add grated or chopped fruits to your cereal.

Sandwich and Toast Sandwiches are healthy and filling breakfast ideas. For a healthy sandwich, choose breads which have high fiber content and are low in calories. In case of regular breads, wholewheat varieties are best choices. For sandwich spreads, you can opt for mayonnaise, salad dressings, salsa, horseradish, and vinegar. There are various choices for making sandwich fillings. Some of the healthy options include turkey, salmon, shrimp, tuna, canned chicken and veggies like lettuce, tomato, cucumber, mushroom, sprout, spinach, etc.

For those who prefer to have toast for breakfast, it's good to have wholemeal bread instead of the white one. Use thin scraping of butter, margarine, or healthy toast toppings such as peanut butter, low-fat cheese, etc. You can also try other alternatives like rye bread, pitta bread, granary bread, etc.

Eggs Egg is the most nutritious protein breakfast. You can have eggs in various forms; poached, scrambled, fried, soft-boiled, hard-boiled or an omelette. Egg whites are more healthier. You can make scramble eggs tastier by adding a little olive oil, and pepper. It goes well with a slice of toast. Read more on breakfast egg recipes.Soy Products

Soy products like tofu or soy milk, soy dogs, soy bacon, soy burgers are good breakfast choices as they are cholesterol-free and are good sources of protein. Fruit Smoothies

Fruit smoothies require minimum preparation time and are very nutritious. Here are some healthy fruit smoothie recipes and protein smoothie recipes for you

Chiang Mai Ratchaphruek

Ratchaphruek was a flower festival held November 1, 2006, to January 31, 2007, in the Thai city of Chiang Mai that drew 3,781,624 visitors. It was one of the grand celebrations being hosted by the Royal Thai Government in honor of King Bhumibol , the world's longest reigning monarch.

The Ratchaphruek ( Cassia fistula L.) or Golden Shower Tree is the national flower of Thailand . It is also named "Khun" or "Chaiyaphruek". The reason that the Ratchaphruek is used to symbolize the nation lies in color: its yellow blossoms match the yellow of Buddhism; furthermore, the Thai people regard yellow as the color of the King as well. Moreover, all golden shower trees bloom at the same time; this unity in flowering is felt to reflect the unity and identity of Thais.

The event was located in 80 hectares of land at the Royal Agricultural Research Center in Mae Hia sub-district, Mueang district , Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand . The 92 days of the expo featured 30 international gardens reflecting nations such as Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Netherlands, South Africa, and Canada; more than 2.5 million trees of 2,200 species of tropical plants and flowers are presented to the world in this exhibition.

The AIPH, the Association of International Horticultural Producers, gave this expo A1 status, its highest level; such an exhibition occurs only once a year throughout the world. In addition, a host country can only hold one such exhibition once a decade.

The festival included many highlights to attract tourists:

Gardens for the king There were two features in this zone: one was International gardens, which were presented by 30 participating nations and covered 21,000 square meters; the other was Corporate gardens , which covered 27,475 square meters, and were presented by both Thai state enterprises, and domestic and international major corporations.

Hor kham Royal Pavillion This building featured Lanna architecture, the architectural style of northern Thailand; inside, visitors saw pictures of King Bhumibol's works and his dedication.
Thai Tropical Garden The enormous 100,000-square-meter garden showcased the diversity of tropical horticulture: fruit varieties, plants, flowers, herbs, and rare plants.

Expo Plaza This was the focus of the exposition's fun-filled activities, amenities, and services. Visitors were able to purchase products from the Royal Projects and authentic local products from Chiangmai such as handicrafts, paper umbrellas, and souvenirs.

Cultural shows A total of 45 cultural shows from various regions of Thailand were performed here, including traditional music and dance. In addition, cultural performances from other nations were presented in this place.

The Thai government had expected an average of 20,000 visitors per day, with over 100,000 visitors on a crowded day, and 3 million visitors in total to attend the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006. At the exposition's conclusion, organizers claimed that the exposition had injected 27 billion baht into the regional economy.
The Thai government has proposed transforming the site of the exposition into a permanent training center. Despite some complaints of corruption and substandard facilities, organizers believed the exposition achieved its goals of promoting tourism and developing Thai horticultural industries 1

Colorful In Chiangmai

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

This famous and important temple dating from 1383 enjoys a prominent position in Chiang Mai, overlooking the city from its mountainside perch. It sits about 3,520 feet above sea level and is accessible via a steep naga staircase comprising around 300 steps. The temple has a huge golden chedi (spire), within which lie some holy Buddha relics that attract devotees from the world over. A walk around the grounds reveals a variety of colorful and fragrant flowers, and murals that depict Buddha's previous lives. Any visit to the city is incomplete without stopping by this temple.

Wat Chedi Luang

This is a beautiful temple with an interesting history. In the 16th century, an earthquake partially destroyed the chedi (spire) at the top. It was partially reconstructed in 1992, but ever since only the 60-meter-high foundation remains. For 84 years, it housed the famous Emerald Buddha that now stands in Wat Prakaew in Bangkok. Rumors say it was here that King Mengrai, a former ruler of the north, was struck by lightning. Although the wat was recently cleaned and preserving agents were added to maintain its appearance, some parts are still in ruins

Doi Inthanon National Park

This 1,005 square-kilometer Park located south of Chiang Mai City is, in parts, mountainous and wild. Species not found elsewhere in Thailand can be found here. Perhaps its biggest draw is Doi Inthanon, Thailand's tallest mountain. Standing at 2,565 meters, it offers one of the best places in Thailand for bird watching. Other attractions include Wachiratarn Waterfall, twin stupas dedicated to the king and queen and hill-tribe villages. On higher ground, one can see wild orchids growing. Trekking tours can be arranged through many agencies in Chiang Mai. This is a great trip by motorcycle.

Chiang Mai Trekking

Need some adventure? What better than trekking in the mountains of Chiang Dao and Chiang Mai? During your trek, you will encounter caves, waterfalls, elephant centres, two huge national parks, hill tribes, bamboo rafting and much more. Chiang Dao Nest Tours and Trekking offers different packages - from half day to three day treks ... you get to choose what you want. So, pack your bags and get your knapsack to conquer the mountains!

Mae Sa Elephant Training Center

Come and watch the majestic elephants in one of Thailand's best elephant camps along the Mae Sa Valley. With shows
every day , you can watch these mammoth creatures play football, among other tricks. There are also opportunities to
ride an elephant through the local countryside, feed them with bananas and sugarcane, and take plenty of photographs.
Also within the camp you will find an elephant nursery and a rafting center.

Chiang Mai Zoo

This zoo houses more than 6,000 animals in an environment comprising two waterfalls, reservoirs, an open park, camping spots and animal breeding areas. It also offers some spectacular views of the city. It is best to hire a vehicle as
it is too big to walk and bicycles and motorbikes are not allowed. Among its recent arrivals are 10 penguins, the first ever in Thailand; gibbons, which are bred successfully; and Chayo, the baby elephant, born at the time of the Leonid meteor shower, who became the symbol of the Bangkok Asian Games

Chiang Mai Walking Streets

Wualai Walking Street (Saturday Market)

The Wualai has been so far known for good quality of silver and lacquer wares. On Saturday evenings, the open-air
market will be set up for the famous handicraft area. Do not miss a chance to shop for authentic northern silver, lacquer
wares and unique handicrafts. Tourists are enjoy the local foods and Thai traditional performances. The market start
from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tha Pae Walking Street (Sunday Market)

Starts from Tha Phae Gate through Ratchadamnoen Road every Sunday from 7.00 p.m. until midnight. There are variety
kinds of local products on a reasonable price along both side of the street where Thai and foreign tourists are enjoy
walking & shopping without exhaustion.

Walking streets are now become highlights of numerous ancient cities all over Thailand,the one that is located in Chiang
Mai is believed to be the most popular one.It is a kind of market which offers more authentic local shopping experiences.

Chiang Mai Walking Street project is not only to promote the city as inviting tourisms, but also the ideas to make a better ecconomy by the qualities of city people. Chiang Mai has been prosperous in arts, antiques and very long century of the Lanna cultures, which the government conciders that they should continue and improve the project by fiied up with the potential activities to attract more tourists.There are two places of walking street on weekend.

The frist one is located on Waualai Road which call Waualai Walking Street or Saturday Market.This road is very famous for fine quality of lacquer wares and silver.In this market you can find and purchase authentic northern silver, lacquer wares and unique handicrafts.Moreover the tourists have a chance to try the local foods, enjoy wood and silver carving
and many kinds of traditinal performances.The market is on Saturday evenings start from 4 p.m.

Another one is The Tha Pae Walking Street which opens on Sunday.It has been the frist Walking Street in Chiang Mai, it was the frist economy street of the city sice the last two hundreds years. The Sunday Walking Street Market, the latter sets up every Sunday on Rachadamnoen Road from late afternoon to around midnight.Here you can find various that are unique to Chiang Mai or the surrounding area such as handicrafts, colthing and furniture.It is also a good place to go for a cheap meal or even just for people to watch. The great thing that highly recommended is those comfortable chairs with a gentel massage when you are feelng exhausted.You can sometimes be seen street theatre such as displays of traditional singing or dancing too.

If you have chance to visit Chiang Mai ,Walking Street is another interesting place which all local peple wouldrecommend the visiters to visit.