There's Milk in my Beer?

I know that many of you are avid beer drinkers or simply enjoy a pint or two, so you might find yourself saying, "Excuse me bartender, there's milk in my beer."

I know that beer sounds like an unusual place for milk to hide and I must say that I was quite surprised to learn this myself. For those 'no-moo'ers like myself, don't fret just yet. The milk sugar lactose is only thus far found in certain stouts such as Sweet Stout or the more obvious Cream Stout or Milk Stout. A list of "milk stouts" can be found at The Beer Advocate.

But why would they add milk to a beer?
Lactose is unfermentable, meaning that it cannot be broken down. Therefore, its sugar-sweet taste is added to the stout to contrast the flavor of the roasted malt or barley, making it sweeter on the palate.

While that sounds like a nice idea from the beer makers, I can't say that I'll ever know what this stout tastes like. If you are dairy-free like me, make sure you know what you're drinking when you need a nice cold beer.

Common Body 'Oddities' Explained

Ever wonder why your body does certain things like produce those fun hiccups or brain freeze after eating something cold? AOL recently published some brief explanations to some of those common, yet pesky, body 'oddities'.

Here is what they have to say (Please note that this information is pulled directly from AOL and is not meant to be read as my own):

SNEEZING
Achewww! Known as sternutation, the act of sneezing removes an irritant from the nose. When a particle or cluster of particles pass through nasal hairs and reach the nasal mucosa, they trigger histamine production. This reaches nerve cells in the nose which signals to the brain to initiate a sneeze. Particles such as dust may irritate the nose and result in a sneeze. Sneezing is more common for people with allergies when they're exposed to various allergens like animal dander and pollen.

HICCUPS
Hiccups are the result of a spasm in the diaphragm, which contracts to pull air into the lungs causing a sudden rush of inhaled air. According to Dr. Michael Farber, Director, Executive Health Program, Hackensack University Medical Center, "This sets off a chain reaction causing the airway opening to close quickly which in turn halts the flow of air thus causing the vocal cords to react by closing quickly, creating the characteristic hic." Hiccups may be the result of eating a big meal, swallowing air, drinking carbonated beverages, tobacco use or sudden emotional excitement. He explains, "Hiccups may improve through basic maneuvers such as relaxation or distraction, eating and drinking, or techniques of altered breathing."

BLUSHING
Awwww, you're blushing. Turning red in the face is caused by the dilation of blood vessels in the face. In fact, this normal physiologic response allows the transfer of heat from our bodies to the skin's surface. Dr. Yael Halaas, board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York explains, "Several factors cause blushing such as a change of temperature, spicy foods, emotional responses and alcohol. Some medical conditions can also cause blushing such as Acne Rosacea." In this condition, there is an increase of vasculature and enlargement of blood vessels in the face. This condition can be treated by a dermatologist or qualified physician.

BRAIN FREEEEEEEEEEEZE!
This almost instantaneous headache is a reaction to a cold substance coming into the roof of the mouth. Better known as brain freeze, Dr. Michael Farber says, "Typical onset is within seconds of exposure to a cold precipitant, as the body reacts by initially reducing blood flow to the region to conserve heat followed by enhanced blood flow return to the region." Nerves within the area sense this and transmit the sensation back to the nerve base as pain. His advice -- relieve pain by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth to warm the area.

EYE TTTTTWITCH
According to experts, eye twitching is essentially a spontaneous spasm of muscles surrounding the eye. The involuntary twitching of an eyelid muscle may last less than a minute, although twitching may occur in one eye or the other, in both or underneath the eye. Some experts attribute it to fatigue, stress or caffeine. If spasms persist a doctor should be consulted.

YAWNING
Known as the act of opening the mouth by taking a deep breath, yawning is a reflex often associated with fatigue, stress or boredom. Some experts say the real reason why we yawn is a result of low oxygen levels in our lungs. As such, when we're resting we don't use our entire lung capacity and just use air sacs at the bottom of our lungs. If the air sacs don't get fresh air, they partially collapse and as a result our brain prompts the body to yawn or possibly sigh to get more air into the lungs.

LEG CRAMPS
Although painful sensations caused by contracting or over shortening of muscles, better known as leg cramps, may occur infrequently they may also be a sign of medical disorders. For instance, in a young athlete leg cramping may be associated with dehydration, especially after intense exercise. According to Dr. Sean McCance, Orthopedic and Spine Surgeon, Mount Sinai Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital, in the elderly population leg cramps is a common symptom of a condition called spinal stenosis. "Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, which leads to compression of the nerves in the lower back. When people stand up and walk, the compression gets worse and that causes vague aching, cramping and sometimes pain and numbness in the legs." Plus, he says in general leg cramping can be a sign of poor blood supply to the legs. Typically when a patient complains of leg cramping; both a spinal exam and a vascular exam are performed.

DOUBLE JOINTEDNESS
Double-jointedness, or the ability to have flexible joints that bend in unusual ways, is also known as hypermobility. Basically, joints and surrounding structures such as ligaments and tendons are abnormally flexible which enables people to bend or rotate them in various ways. For instance, if people can bend their thumbs backwards to their wrists, this is the result of misaligned joints, abnormally shaped ends of one or more bones at a joint. Essentially, joints that stretch more than what is considered normal. The extreme flexibility signifies a wide range of movement between the bones as the result of a shallow socket, extra stretchy ligaments or bone ends that are smoother than normal.

PINS & NEEDLES (OUCH!)
Oooh, ahhhh, owww....when it comes to the pins and needles sensation in your legs, there could be a variety of reasons why it's occurring. Dr. Sean McCance explains, "When pins and needles is in one leg only, it is more likely related to a mechanical problem, whereas if it is in both legs, it is more likely related to a metabolic problem such as a vitamin deficiency, excessive alcohol use, or diabetes." In the setting of lower back pain he says it could be a sign of a herniated disc. This could cause symptoms including pins and needles and numbness in the leg, as well as pain and weakness. He adds, "That is best assessed by physical examination by a spinal specialist followed by an MRI."

Now we just need to find out where our socks go! :D

A Greener Approach to a Girl's Best Friend

To all of my girls out there looking to help the environment while indulging in bling, or to my fellas looking to be mindful when buying for the woman you love, I have some good news.

Tiffany & Co has taken a stand for a healthier environment while remaining as one of the most popular jewelers out there. I may be slow on the info, but I still wanted to make sure that all of you were kept aware - Tiffany & Co has been selling only certified conflict-free diamonds (aka no blood diamonds).

The mega-jewelry store has also chosen to stick with one site in Utah to get their gold and silver, without using cyanide. The chemical is normally used to separate the metal from the rock, and as a result, can contaminate waterways.

If that isn't enough, Tiffany & Co. have decided to ban the use of coral from its jewelry line in order to help preserve the fragile and dying reefs. If you don't agree with this choice, go check out the Great Barrier Reef and you'll thank the company for preserving such beauty.

So go on and buy yourself something pretty :)

Organic Coupons

Finally - a site that gives me exactly what I want.

For those of you who know me well, you know that I love coupons. How can you not after all? They save you money if used correctly (i.e. not getting suckered into buying something you didn't need in the first place) and smartly (i.e. combining a coupon with a sale!).

Unfortunately, there are only a few coupons these days that I choose to clip because I would rather sacrifice a few extra dollars for the quality that I want. But no more!

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) has published coupons to their site!

Check it out and happy shopping!

If you have any questions about any particular product listed, please feel free to ask me about it.

Green Electronics

I just came across this article, talking about green electronics that were debuted at the Consumer Electronics show. From a solar powered blue tooth headset to a corn based laptop, I'm impressed. I only hope some of these make their way to the greater public. Check it out!

Norovirus...I loathe you...

I know that at some point in your life, you've had a stomach virus. In my mind, stomach viruses are the worst because they bring about so much discomfort and there's nearly nothing to do about it. Well, I have some bad news. There's a stomach virus going around called the norovirus. This virus is a vicious thing that is sending hundreds of people to the emergency room. Why?

The Norovirus attacks the stomach, bringing about numerous symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, horrific stomach pains, cold sweats, hot flashes, hives, fevers, etc. Not to get too personal here but I can tell you first hand that this virus is no joke. I was in more pain from this one virus than I have been during my numerous dairy allergy attacks, which have sent me to the hospital. Unfortunately, one of the only things that the hospitals can do is to insert an IV in order to help hydrate the patient. While that is extremely important to be hydrated and is a requirement once liquids can be kept down, I would leave the choice to go to the hospital up to the patient.

For anyone who is worried about this, do not fret. Stress will lower your immune system. By keeping yourself healthy, you will boost your immune system and thereby help to set your defenses against these illnesses.

If you do catch this stomach virus, don't worry. Even though at the time it may not feel like it, it WILL pass. The worst part of it lasts for 12 hours and the overall recovery varies per person. Just keep an optimistic mind and drink water and electrolytes.

Good luck stomachs!

Here are a few articles that explain a bit more about the virus:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/sick-to-your-stomach-youre-not-alone/?hp

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2007/12/20/dont-be-a-party-pooper/

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=21&id=17417

A Year in Review

Another year down. Time is flying by way too quickly in my opinion. In honor of the upcoming transition to a new year that I have to remember when writing the current date, I've decided to come up with a list of my favorite things from this year (if I happen to talk about something that was around prior to 2007, let it go. Sometimes I'm a bit delayed.) Here goes nothing:

Favorite Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; Eat Pray Love

Favorite Movie: Shrek the 3rd!

Favorite TV Show: The Biggest Loser

Favorite Game: Dance Dance Revolution (Great Workout!)
Favorite Gift Idea: MyPublisher Photo Books

Favorite Home Good: Aromatic Oil Reed Diffusers

Favorite Shampoo/Conditioner: Herbal Essences Color Me Happy

Favorite Chap Stick: Un-Petrolatum-Vanilla

Favorite Face Product: SabonNYC - Mud Mask (I actually love all of their products)

Favorite Body Product: JR Watkins Vanilla Dry Oil Body Mist

Favorite Supplement: JarrowFormulas JarroDophilus + FOS

Favorite Recipe: Wholefood's (in Atlanta) Vegan Chocolate Mousse

Favorite Chocolate: Endangered Species - Dark Chocolate with Deep Forest Mint
Favorite Smoothie: Bolthouse Farms - C Boost

Favorite Ice Cream: Soli Organic's Dairy Free Ice Cream (any flavor!)

Favorite Breakfast Food: Applegate Farms - Chicken Apple Sausage

Favorite Bakery: Babycakes NYC

2007 MVP: My new doggy Muffin! :D

Those are some of my favorites. What are yours?!