The alignment of the Moon, Sun and Earth that occurs during a Full Moon cause changes in the atmospheric pressure and movement of the water in the Earth’s rivers and oceans. According to the International Federation of Phyto and Aromatherapy, Full Moon also has an effect on human’s metabolism enabling people to remove the toxins and fat from the body faster and easier.

Lunar Cycles

The lunar cycles have a direct impact on our health, our emotions, and our overall state of mind tend to change during Full Moon, but the influence of the Moon does not stop here; there are studies that show how, during Full Moon, patients who undergo heart surgery have better surviving rates but also less time spent in the hospital during the recovery period.

It is also believed that women have a stronger connection with the moon due to their menstrual cycles. In some points during the menstrual cycle, fluid retention can occur and, even though, not all women are at the same point in their menstrual cycle when Full Moon occurs, it is believed that the werewolf diet, or the lunar diet, can help them lose weight.

What Is The Werewolf Or Lunar Diet?

The werewolf or lunar diet can help people to expel toxins from the body, stimulating the process of lipolysis (the process of decomposition of fat stored in the cells in our bodies), helping the organism to absorb nutrients by supporting the enzymes in our bodies.

The werewolf diet is a type of detox diet that cleans the intestines of toxins, allowing people to lose weight and excess water from the body. Women might be able to see better results than men, however this diet is good for both sexes.

Moon Diet Plans

People who want to lose weight should know that there are two moon diet plans they can follow. Both plans include liquid cleanse that not only help them lose weight but also reduce cravings. The liquid cleanse can be done during Full Moon, New Moon or the beginning of a moon phase.

The Basic Moon Diet Plan

This diet plan is simple and easy to follow – all people have to do in order to lose excess liquid from their bodies is to consume only water and juices during Full Moon or New Moon. It is recommended to consume liquids known for their diuretic properties, such as spring or mineral water, green tea and fresh juices made at home from fresh vegetables and fruits.

The Extended Moon Diet Plan

As opposed to the basic moon diet plan that covers only one phase of the moon, the Full Moon or the New Moon, the extended plan covers all phases of the moon including the waning phase and waxing phase. This plan has three different steps.

The first step of the extended moon diet plan is a replica of the basic diet moon plan and it should be done during both Full Moon and New Moon.

The second step that takes place during waning moon involves eating solid, regular food and drinking eight glasses of water per day. The eight glasses of water are very important if you want to reduce your cravings and to continue to lose weight during the other phases of the moon.

The third and last step involves avoiding sweets and fats and not eating after 6 PM. The waxing moon is the phase of the moon when people experience the most food cravings so being extra careful during this period of time is mandatory for the success of the moon diet plan.

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Fresh Is Always Better

Instead of going for ingredients that are not so fresh, opt for those that are as fresh as possible. This is one thing that counts and that could be the difference between food that tastes great and food that practically has no taste.

The Magical Ingredients: Lemon Juice, Vinegar And Lime Juice

In the event that you have a bland dish, the ingredients mentioned will help in offering the complexity that you are surely looking for.

Knives Need To Be Sharp

This is especially true in the event that you need to cut something that is hard or if you simply have a lot of ingredients that need to be cut. The problem with most kitchens is that the knives are dull. Make sure that yours are sharp since this will definitely make cooking a lot more enjoyable.

Start From The Beginning

We understand that you want to bake something that is really complex but it is a much better approach to start with the simple soup. That is because it is free-form and baking requires much attention to detail, which is gained in time. You cannot become a really good cook overnight.

Lay Ingredients Before Starting

That will help you to easily have everything that is needed at hand. Simply use was paper to lay ingredients on. You will love this approach.

Be Extra Careful With Your Seasoning

One of the worst things that you can do when cooking is to over season foods. It is a lot better to under season as the overall negative effect would not be as bad as with over seasoning.

Use Chicken Broth For Cooking Vegetables

This is great since it will help prevent the vegetables from sticking while also incorporating flavor. Tofu or beans stand out as a wonderful protein source that has to be considered in anyone’s diet. The protein rich foods can easily be found in most grocery stores around the world. By using beans or tofu you can easily add more flavor, which is what you surely want. Also, let the bone inside the roost if you are short for time. Meat will actually cook faster since the bone will carry heat right to the roast’s center.

A Few Words About Plastic Bags

A very helpful cooking tip for both beginners and more advanced cooks is to use a plastic bag when storing unripe fruits. Simply place the fruits in it and perforate it. When you do that, air circulates. At the same time, gas is retained. Fruits will retain taste.

Since we mentioned gases, keep in mind that freshly cut onions have sulfurous gasses. This is a gas that can easily leak out, making the flavor bad. You can get rid of the gas by rinsing onions.

A Few Words About Cutting Boards

It is important to properly take care of the wood cutting boards. This is because it can easily warp and crack when too much moisture, dryness or heat exposure is present. The board should not be submerged when it is cleaned. Use soapy water instead. Regular oiling can help it to maintain quality for a longer period of time.

Cooking Temperature Counts

Most novice cooks do not yet have the necessary patience to wait until a dish is cooked, especially when referring to those that take a lot of time. If the cooking book that you read says you have to leave something in the oven for 3 hours at a certain temperature, do not use a higher temperature in an attempt to get rid of cooking fast. This will only make the dish bad. It is vital that you respect recommendations and that you do not try to hurry things up. The best dishes do take a lot of time to turn into masterpieces.

Olive Oil For Frying

There are hundreds of websites that talk about the benefits associated with olive oil. We cannot deny this but the list of benefits leads some people to thinking that it is a very good idea to use olive oil for frying. This is not at all the case. Palm tree oil would be better if you want to use something more special but if you cannot afford the costs, regular cooking oil is always better.

Speaking about oil, make sure that you do not overdo it. Also, although it is tempting to do, never re-use the cooking oil. You are throwing away a lot of the possible taste when you do that since the oil naturally gains some of the flavor. To make it even worse, oil that was already used for cooking is even worse for your health than fresh one.

Always Take Your Time

If there is only one thing that you would remember from this article, it is this one: always take your time when you learn how to cook. Ask questions and use the internet to your advantage. If there is something that you do not understand on an article written on a blog or a recipe, ask. You will be surprised to see that the community actually helps itself a lot.

Do you know other cooking tips that are very good for beginners? If so, feel free to share in the comment section. Remember that every single cook out there was helped by someone in the beginning. Cooking is seen as an art form by many and we are definitely not far away from that. Let us help each other make art!

By Boris Dzhingarov who is founder of Dzhingarov.Com, edited by Adrian Cruce!

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In my last blog I covered all the different types of food that should be avoided before prom day, so I figured it would only be fitting with this blog post to lay out all the foods that are okay eat and why. As a quick recap, avoid eating smelling foods that will remain in your bloodstream for 24 hours. These include: cheese, milk, beef, chicken, and coffee, as well as bad habits like smoking and drinking alcohol (behind your parent’s back) . Other foods that should be avoided are the stick-to-your-teeth sticky foods and the fibrous gap-filling kinds. These include meat, mangos, pineapples, popcorn, caramel, sticky candies, coconut, seaweed, bananas, and spinach.

However, there are foods that can leave your breath smelling like an angel, so let’s talk about those. But brace yourself, cuz they’re all naturally raw foods. Okay, let’s lay these out on the table for starters:

• Apples
• Berries
• Parsley
• Cloves, Fennel Seeds, and Cinnamon Sticks
• Lemons and other Citrons
• Mint
• Yoghurt

Righty, now let’s digest them a bit…

Apples

Apples, aside from smelling oh so pleasantly refreshing, are perfect for munching before a prom day because they act somewhat like a natural toothbrush. Chewing on apples produces a lot of saliva in your mouth which keeps smelly germs from breeding when your mouth is too dry. They also have a lot of fibre that can help to brush over your tongue and the back of your mouth.

Berries

Berries, though I would not suggest teeth staining blueberries, are also great Prom Day foods. They are an excellent source of antioxidants as well as pleasant smells. Again, just be sure you don’t choose any berries that will stain your teeth.

Parsley

Parsley, a tad bitter in my opinion, but a great breath cleanser in its own right. Parsley isn’t just a pretty salad decoration, but a powerhouse of chlorophyll that helps deodorise your mouth. So, if you forgot all about not eating a garlic dish, no worries. Chew on a parsley stem for a while, do the hand to mouth breath test, and you’re good to go!

Cloves

Cloves, Fennel Seeds, and Cinnamon Sticks have, since the beginning of romantic history and folklore, been known as breath fresheners. Just as a confirmation, yes they are! While it might be a bit foul tasting to chew on a mouthful, try chewing a single clove, a couple of fennel seeds, or a small cinnamon stick bark. Don’t swallow. Just chew. Cloves, fennel, and cinnamon bark all have essential oils that will kill bacteria and bad smells instantly!

Lemons

Lemons and other Citrons, while there is a slight web-information conflict on this one, lemons and other citrons really do help to clear your breath and make it smell like spring! (Okay, without the slush and all.) Oranges are just perfect! Whether you eat the fruit or drink its juice the refreshing scent will help to throw off bad breath. Lots of gourmet restaurants put slices of oranges into the water they serve for this very purpose. Lemons are also great for neutralising bad smelling breath and even leftover food smells on your hands.

Mint

Mint! Don’t we all know what a refreshing smell and taste mint is! Chewing on mint leaves, drinking mint leaf tea, Sugarless mint gum, and even CB12 Mint-Menthol Mouthwash are all perfect ways of cleansing your breath. Just remember that not all are edible! :p Mint has that knack for giving our mouths that refreshingly cooling sensation. Feel free to chew on mint leaves, if you want to go the natural route to fresh breath before a prom day. But don’t forget that using a good CB12 Mint-Menthol Mouthwash, though not as edible, is just as effective for great smelling breath!

Yogurt

Yogurt! A recent study was done in Japan which showed that if you eat natural yogurt that has probiotic bacteria twice a day for six weeks you can reduce bad breath by lowering the levels of sulphide compounds. Yogurt is also a great diet and weight loss food which is perfect for getting ready for your prom.

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The Secret of Healthy Eating

The key to eating healthily is to include a variety of different foods in your diet and make sure that there are enough fruits and vegetables on the menu.  Ideally it should be a case of all things in moderation since eating too much of some foods is likely to lead to problems further down the line.  If you have no idea what you eat over the course of the average week, but you are feeling under par and lacking in energy, it is a good idea to keep a food diary so you can identify where the problem areas might be.

Why Bother with Home Cooked Meals?

There is often a misconception amongst busy people that cooking a meal from scratch is time consuming, but as long as you have the ingredients to hand and choose a simple dish to prepare, this is not the case at all.  Unlike a microwave meal or a fat-laden takeaway, home cooked meals made from fresh ingredients are much better for you as they contain more nutrients.

I’m too busy to Eat Healthily!

Modern life is stressful enough without feeling guilty about your failure to eat a healthy diet, but the good news is that eating healthily can be stress free if you plan your meals in advance.  All you have to do is spend a bit of time thinking about what your schedule is over the course of the coming week and plan some meals accordingly.  Take advantage of seasonal ingredients and stick to simple recipes if time is likely to be in short supply.  Quick and easy dishes such as pasta only take a short time to prepare, yet are full of nutrients, and if you make double quantities, you can put the rest in the freezer for another night.

Take Advantage of Online Shopping

Online shopping is a godsend for busy people.  Instead of dashing around the local supermarket at some unholy time of night, you can sit at home and add ingredients to a virtual shopping basket.  The more you shop online, the easier it gets as the system remembers your favourites and makes suggestions.  And if you have your list of planned meals to hand, you won’t forget anything vital.

Try Fruit and Vegetable Delivery Boxes

Fruit and veg delivery boxes are another great way of ensuring you eat enough fresh fruit and vegetables.  Fruit and vegetable delivery boxes can be customised to suit your individual needs.  All you do is place an order and in no time at all, a box of freshly harvested fruit and vegetables is delivered straight to your door.

Store Cupboard Staples

Always keep a selection of staple ingredients in your cupboard, so if all else fails you can drum up some pancakes or an omelette.  Good kitchen cupboard staples include:

• Tinned tomatoes
• Baked beans
• Flour
• Eggs
• Rice
• Pasta
• Jars of pasta sauce
• Tinned tuna

A combination of any of the above can produce a healthy meal in no time at all if you arrive home too late to cook anything overly complicated.

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