Zakarys Blog

In the market for a new home? Why not consider a log home? Here are a few reasons why a log home just might be right for you:

Beauty

Needless to say, the natural, rugged beauty of a log home is striking against a forested backdrop. A log home has a rustic, primitive beauty missing from traditional homes.

Uniqueness

Do you want your home to stand out from the rest? A log home will definitely stand out. The look of a log home is so unique and rustic, especially in an area where there are traditionally built homes. Are you someone who doesn’t like to conform to what the rest of the crowd is doing? A log home may be the way to go.

Comfort

Any home can be comfortable, but a log home can offer a cozy, warm feeling that a traditional home simply cannot duplicate. Just imagine sitting by the fire sipping a cup of hot cocoa. Imagine waking up in a room where the logs walls are exposed and feeling like your in an old western movie. Imagine celebrating Christmas in a log home, with a huge Christmas tree, stockings hanging over the rustic fireplace and the children snuggled safely in their beds to awaken to presents from Santa the next morning. The ambience of a log home is like no other.

History

Maybe your ancestors came to the U.S. long ago and lived in a log cabin. You can get a feel for how they lived then, while still enjoying today’s modern conveniences. A log home offers a certain connection with history and a pioneer spirit that is missing in traditionally built homes.

Environmental

Nowadays, log homes can be built from reclaimed and salvaged timber, so you aren’t cutting down forest to build your home. Not only that, but a log home is actually biodegradable, after many years, it will simply begin to rot away and the logs will become part of the forest from which it came. Log home construction also tends to use less toxic materials so the environmental footprint is much less. You can also use solar panels, Energy Star compliant appliances and accessories and your log home becomes one of the most environmentally sound choices for the home owner concerned about environmental issues.

Cost

Modern log homes, especially those built from kits or packages can actually be cost saving, sometimes less than traditionally built homes. With the average cost of homes built in the US about $115 per square foot, log homes usually have a cost of $90 - $110 per square foot. Plus, since log homes can be weather proofed like never before, this adds up to long term cost savings in heating and cooling costs. Log homes are also generally more strongly built than traditional homes, so a log home can last many years and stand up to the test of time and weather while also keeping its value.

So when thinking about your next home, why not consider a log home? The advantages are many and the modern advances in construction of log homes makes it a viable, even savvy option for your main home or just a vacation home. Don’t rule out the beauty and spirit that only a log home can offer.

Lydia Quinn writes for Log Home Exchange, where you can find information on buying and selling your log home. Visit us at: www.loghomeexchange.com/ http://www.loghomeexchange.com/ .

Susan Estrich - Does a doctor have a right to deny treatment to a patient because of her own religious views?

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In today’s climate of change any one can find them selves short on cash and as a result miss a few payments. This can result in a foreclosure process being initiated by the lender. If you ever find yourself in such a situation you should contact your lender as soon as possible. Banks and other lenders never like to miss payments but would rather know in advance. They also will probably want to know why you’re having a problem and how you are planning to deal with the situation. They may even have useful suggestions. A Loss Mitigation Department might be able to help.

Some times a loan or a second mortgage is an appropriate solution, although under some conditions that might just make things worse. You also might want to consider selling your house before the bank does. That would be a pre-foreclosure sale and although you still have to pay back the loan you will probably be in a better position to do that. Another possibility to consider is what’s called deed in lieu of foreclosure in this scenario you still owe the rest of your loan, but you will avoid foreclosure and save your credit rating.

Bankruptcy is sometimes used to delay a foreclosure this is not always a good idea. You may choose to use either chapter 7 or chapter 13 again depending on your individual circumstances. Bankruptcy may do more harm to your credit rating then a foreclosure and there is no guaranty you won’t wind up with both.

Foreclosure Prevention Services exist that can help you determine which strategy is most appropriate for your state of affairs. When you can’t pay the full amount owed without creating a hardship for your family you can get a legal review of your situation. You do have rights and choices, find out just what they are before making any decision that may have lasting effects on your ability to purchase land in the future.

Many people not facing foreclosure themselves are interested in the subject due to the fact that it may offer them an investment opportunity. In most cases these individuals are more concerned with making a profit than with performing a service and yet it may be possible to do both at once.

Those who are in danger of loosing their property due to foreclosure may actually benefit from an encounter with those seeking financial gain. There are web sites that specialize in bringing such individuals together. Almost any web search including the word foreclosure will yield numerous sites that fall into this category. If you are either about to be foreclosed on or have an interest in investing in foreclosure properties a search of this nature is probably a good place to start.

Jack Colton owns and operates www.stop-a-foreclosure.com http://www.stop-a-foreclosure.com Foreclosure Information

Pat Buchanan - After losing both houses of Congress in the 1994 election, Bill Clinton expostulated: The president of the United States is not irrelevant!

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The ‘pick me up’ we get from drinking tea is a result of the caffeine in the tea. When black tea caffeine first was discovered in the year 1827, it was thought to be a new substance and was named theine. It was found to have effects identical to coffee and in fact, eventually it was found out to be the same caffeine as found in coffee, so the term theine was dropped from use.

Black tea caffeine has he same effects on the human body as caffeine obtained by drinking coffee. It will speed up reaction time and increase alertness as well as improve overall concentration.

It is thought that the increase in alertness and reaction time is a direct result of a stimulation of the cardiac and respiratory systems of the body which increases the amount of oxygen in circulation throughout the body. In addition to that, black tea caffeine stimulates the kidneys and digestive juices, and may even boost metabolism and eliminate toxins.

Some studies conclude that caffeine is beneficial in that improves the performance of the brain and helps to reduce heart disease and other diseases as well. More studies are needed to confirm these conclusions. Most dieticians continue to warn against consuming large amounts of caffeine since there are known undesirable side effects such as shortness of breath, insomnia, and heart palpitations.

However, there is an advantage to consuming black tea caffeine as opposed to the caffeine found in coffee. The reason is because there is less caffeine overall in a cup of black tea as opposed to coffee. A typical cup of coffee has around 16 mg of caffeine while a cup of black tea might have only 6 - 8 mg. So you could drink a few cups of black tea caffeine and not have the potent effects you might obtain from one cup of strong coffee.

There are actually many interesting factors which influence the amount of black tea caffeine that is present. The variety of the tea leaves as well as where on the tea plant the leaves are located play an important part.

Leaves that are toward the bottom half of the tea plant are older and have more phytochemicals and other plant substances than the young leaves toward the top of the plant. In addition to that, where the tea plant is gown, how it is cut, and the length of time it is brewed or steeped will all have an effect on the amount of black tea caffeine available in each cup.

Compared to other varieties of teas, black tea has the highest caffeine content and is probably due to the way it is processed since it undergoes a full oxidation which gives it a uniquely stong taste.

Anne Morris is an established freelance writer. You can find more of her writing at www.blackteacentral.com http://www.blackteacentral.com and www.chitosanplanet.com http://www.chitosanplanet.com .

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Cuban cigars originate from the Caribbean, which has a tropical climate very different to Europe. As a natural product, your Havana cigars need to be kept carefully. They are used to being in a warm climate with a relatively high humidity.

Therefore they will need to be protected from extremes of temperature and humidity (particularly low humidity). This is particularly difficult to achieve in air conditioned and centrally heated buildings, where the air tends to get de-humidified and cigars can dry out very quickly. Some cigars come in aluminum tubes which can help preserve them in dry climates, however they tend to mature at a much slower rate than ‘naked’ boxed cigars.

Maintain a temperature of 16 C to 20 C and a relative humidity of 65% - 70%.

In the UK you will need a humidor to maintain the humidity of your cigars at various times of the year:

Humidity

At the least, keep your cigars in a tight fitting cupboard, drawer or box, away from radiators and other sources of heat. Pick the coolest indoor spot in your house. Leave the cigars in their original boxes as this will help preserve them, stop them from being damaged, and prevent any cross-tainting of flavours between different varieties of cigars stored in the same area. If the humidity in your make-shift humidor is low, a damp sponge in a cup will serve as a basic provider of humidity.

When you purchase your cigars from Tomtom, they will be packed in an airtight zip-loc bag, which will maintain the humidity of your cigars while you transport them from the shop to your humidor. These bags are a very efficient short term humidor, however we would not recommend that you leave your cigars sealed in these bags for more than one month. Although humidity will be maintained, cigars also need to be exposed to some fresh air to allow them to ‘breathe’ and age correctly.

A variety of desk-top and travel humidors can be purchased (see ‘Accessories’) and are an essential item for the dedicated cigar smoker (more information below).

Temperature

The danger of excessive temperature (combined with too much humidity) is that the cigars can either go moldy or be damaged by weavil attack. If cigars go moldy, this is generally not a problem, as long as it is spotted reasonably soon and the mould (or bloom) only appears on the wrapper leaf. The mould can be removed with a soft brush (e.g. a badger shaving brush) and then the cigar can be returned to store in the correct conditions. If mould gets into the end of the cigar, we recommend that you do not smoke it. Weavil, or tobacco beetle, is a more serious problem. If you see any small holes in your cigar, you should take immediate action. Please call Tomtom for further advice. Never store cigars near direct sunlight or for long periods exposed to sea breezes (salt will not enhance your smoke). The lower the temperature, the higher the humidity required to compensate.

Desk-Top Humidors

There is a very wide selection of these humidors on the market. The basic design requirements are that they are sealable (and generally lockable!), but allow the cigars to breathe. This is normally achieved by leaving the base of the box unvarnished: and no portion of the inner cedar box should be laminated. The box contains a fitting, which provides the humidity: this is normally a pad containing a sponge or chalk, which can be dampened. The box may also contain a dial showing humidity and temperature.

As a rule of thumb, the smaller the box, the harder it is to maintain a steady level of humidity within its confines. These humidors do not regulate temperature. The price range starts from about 125 for a plexi glass humidor, which will hold approximately 50 cigars to 2000 and above. A comprehensive selection is shown on our accessory page. Fabulous humidors can also be created out of antique boxes which many families have inherited as writing slopes or medal cases and which have since become redundant. This is a very cost-effective way of storing your cigars in a unique and personal humidor.

Travel Humidors

Ranging in price from 100 upwards. These are not suitable for long-term storage of cigars, however they are essential if you are moving about: the wrapper leaf on a handmade cigar is very thin and delicate and will easily damage. The safest way to prevent this is to keep the cigars in their original box, in tubes or in a purpose-built travel humidor.

Cigar Cases

Generally these do not offer humidification systems built in, but will protect your cigars if you take them in your pocket for the day. There are some metal tubes with hermetically sealed screw tops that will act in the same way as a cigar tube and seal in moisture. The majority are made from leather and offer protection from damage as well as limited protection from fluctuations in humidity and temperature.

Reviving Dried-Out Cigars

This is not an exact science and not always successful. Dry cigars need to be rehumidified very slowly and with care. We suggest you speak to us

Footnote

We do NOT recommend that cigars are kept in a refrigerator for storage. It is likely that the cigars will be dried out by this process and irretrievably damaged.

Mike Keesling is a freelance writer and cigar afficiando. His favorite cigar emporium is Ceniza Lounge www.cenizalounge.com http://www.cenizalounge.com in Pasadena, California.

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In my family, we have camping lovers and camping haters. My husband, kids, and I love to go camping. My mother just stares at me every time I talk about an upcoming camping trip and asks why I want to leave my brand new home that has a brand new bed with a brand new mattress so that I can go sleep in the woods on a mattress I fill with air. Being the articulate person I am I say, “Because it’s fun.”

It’s hard to explain to a non camper how relaxing it is to be out in the open air all day at a campground with miles of trails to hike and bike; or by a lake to go swimming, boating, or fishing in.

I tell my Mom how it’s fun to explore the area trails; looking at the views, the vegetation, and the wildlife. For example, during a recent camping trip an evening bike ride brought me within 10 feet of a baby deer out with its mother. It’s hard to explain how fun it is to be able to see something like that.

But instead my Mom asked me how bad the bugs bit and if I got sunburned during that day’s hike.

Then I try to explain to her about how much fun it is to sit around the campfire at night. It’s a great time for casual conversation and to have a beverage and maybe a few toasted marshmallows or S’mores. I love watching the flames and listening to the wood crackle and pop. My mom asks how we keep the mosquitoes away (lots of tiki torches and mosquito repellant) and says, “Doesn’t it get boring after a half hour?” Again, being the articulate person I am my answer is, “Ummmm, no.”

I try to explain the food cooked outdoors just tastes better. Campfire coffee along with bacon and eggs is hard to beat. And those little S’more makers you can buy in the store are nothing like the delicious S’mores you make over a real campfire. And if you’ve never had a pudgie pie made over a campfire, you’re missing out on one of the best camping foods there is! But when I explain to my Mom how good camping food is, she wonders if the bugs buzz around the food we’re trying to eat and asks if I miss my dishwasher. Thanks Mom! My pop-up camper doesn’t have hot water so I have to do things the old fashioned way and heat the water I need to wash dishes.

When it comes to camping though, most non campers could deal with sleeping in a tent or a pop-up camper and wouldn’t mind cooking their food outside. But the one sticking point for many non-campers is the bathroom and shower facilities at campgrounds (unless you’re lucky enough to have a camper with its own bathroom and shower facilities). Camping is not like staying at a 5 star hotel. The bathroom and shower amenities take a little getting used to. Some people will wait as long as possible to go to the bathroom because they want to avoid using the pit toilets at the campground any more than necessary. My sister-in-law doesn’t mind the pit toilets as much as she minds the spiders that are usually in them.

Camping is what you make of it. Nobody says you have to like it. My Mom doesn’t but I sure do. It’s a way to get away from the daily stresses of your normal life, kick back, relax, and enjoy yourself for a few days. You’ll have responsibilities no more taxing than deciding what clothes to wear that day, what to eat, and whether you want to go for a walk or a bike ride or just sit in a chair and relax by the campfire.

D Ruplinger shares her camping experiences and advice at www.campingearth.com http://www.campingearth.com . Make sure you get her outstanding camping newsletter for great camping tips and campfire recipes - www.campingearth.com/newsletter/ http://www.campingearth.com/newsletter/ .

AP - A spokeswoman for the Phoenix Mars Lander mission says a hacker took over the mission’s public Web site during the night and changed its lead news story.

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When confronted with the possibility of foreclosure, it is but natural that a person may feel disheartened and helpless. The thought of losing the home where you and your whole family lives can be unbearable. However, foreclosure should not be the end of your road. There are still some steps that can be done to turn the situation around.

Banks Are Not Happy About Foreclosure

The notion that banks are happy about foreclosing homes is a false one. In reality, banks would prefer to receive regular cash payments rather than house titles. This is the reason why banks usually have financial assistance programs to help those who are facing foreclosure of property.

A Back-Up Plan

If you have been a good payer in the past months or years, there is no reason why banks shouldn’t extend a back-up plan to help you with your mortgage. A new payment arrangement can be made on your behalf to help you keep up with your bills. But in order to make this happen, you have to meet with your lender and inform them about your present financial situation.

Yes, going through the details is necessary so that your lender can understand why you are having difficulty in keeping up with your monthly mortgage. If you have lost work or if you are in need of money due to a family emergency or a sickness in the family, you need to tell your lender. Ask if you can avail of new arrangements with regards to submitting your payment.

Reinstatement and Forbearance

Perhaps a reinstatement can be made so you can submit your payments at a later date. Your lender will also likely grant you forbearance due to the fact that you are taking steps to improve your current situation. Once the lending companies see that you are caught in a temporary financial crisis and that you are doing the necessary actions to get by your financial difficulties, they would be willing to make some arrangements for you.

Mortgage Refinancing

Another option would be refinancing your home loan. Perhaps you may avail of a new mortgage loan with lower interest rates as your existing loan. Ask your lending company if it is possible for you to refinance your existing mortgage loan without filing for a new application. Some lending companies give this opportunity for clients who are stranded in a financial crisis due to circumstances beyond their control.

Ask Assistance

If you want, you can also ask assistance from non-profit groups or credit counseling agencies to help you talk with your creditors. These groups are particularly knowledgeable and experienced on financial matters so they know how to deal with creditors. They can help you reach a new payment plan that will be more appropriate for your present monthly income. Find a reputable non-profit group or credit counseling agency in the internet and check its credibility from the Better Business Bureau. These associations should be willing to help you without asking for an expensive professional fee or service charge.

Stop Foreclosure

When faced with the possibility of foreclosure, the first thing you would want to do is take a look at your present financial status. If the situation is much worse than expected, for instance, if your mortgage will eat up more than 40% of your monthly income, then perhaps you should consider selling your home property. But if your monthly earnings still allow you to pay at least 40% or less of your monthly mortgage, then it is very possible to save your home without turning back on your mortgage.

The important thing to remember is to get in touch with your lender as soon as possible. Don’t wait until you’ve missed one or two monthly payments before notifying your lender. Don’t wait until your lender starts calling you about your balances. Have the initiative to inform your lender that you will not be able to submit your payment for the upcoming due date and explain why. In most cases, communication solves the problem.

Liz Roberts is a loan consultant with NewHorizon Finance and has been providing consumers and business owners with home loans financing since 1989. For years she has helped people with home loans problems especially pertaining to home mortgage loans and bad credit home loans.

AP - Brazil’s government agreed to release stunning photos of Amazon Indians firing arrows at an airplane so that the world can better understand the threats facing one of the few tribes still living in near-total isolation from civilization, officials said Friday.

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Want to learn more about bass fishing? Are you catching less bass because you’re using the wrong lure? You can finally learn how to do it the right way. There are many ebooks as well as web sites on the internet which can help you providing information about bass fishing and how to be successful at it.

The promise of this bass fishing ebook is that it will surely aid you in getting better bass. Moreover, you just have to follow the tips and techniques and you will surely catch more and larger bass than you ever thought possible.

There are bass secrets that are contained in many books. Most are amazed to see the results on their very next bass fishing getaway. Some may be very disappointed spending the day bass fishing and never having a good catch.

Maybe because you have used the wrong bait or if you had spent a little more time in a different location of the lake before the wind suddenly came. Well, if you have been thinking about those problems, these secret bass fishing guides and ebooks will easily solve your problem. How? With these, you will know the best baits to use in every case or situation. Moreover, you will be able to know where the best part of the lake for catching fish is.

It is affected by so many factors like wind and weather at any particular time so it is really advisable that one should know about it. The next time you try, you are close to being a bass professional.

These guides will let you learn the various techniques and tips on how to catch a bigger bass. If you have never tried fishing before, then you will be an enthusiast once you have read information and ebooks about bass fishing.

It is not that hard at all. Many people are often disbelievers and have a common notion of bass fishing. They say it is complicated. But this is not true. Once you have got an ebook or you have appropriate information on bass fishing, you will no longer have a hard time getting improved bass fishing results. So what are some of the few big bass fishing secrets?

First and foremost, you must start off by thinking like a bass fish. It may sound crazy but it could help you in finding where the big one is. It is also advised that you find the right and appropriate tackle to use in any situation or case. You must have a lot of information on crank baits, spinner baits, plastic worms, buzz baits and many other types of baits.

This would be one of the things that you would find very important. A good lure is one of the techniques you have to learn and be knowledgeable about. In addition, you must know what part of the lake or stream is best to bass fish in different weather conditions. It will be different on a rainy day or a windy day, early in the morning or late in the evening. Other factors also affect fishing such as on a crowded lake or a steady lake and many other conditions. It is up to you to research it further.

Another thing you must know are the most common bass fishing mistakes that almost every fisherman makes and executes. After knowing them and knowing the reason why it will instill in your mind that these common practices end up in error so you must not practice them.

Another significant thing is that you must choose the right bass fishing rod. You must learn the techniques and secrets on how to choose and where to find the most appropriate bass fishing rods there are.

Furthermore, you must know how to develop a successful bass fishing pattern. This will really help you in your fishing trip result in catching a larger bass. Some may go bass fishing at night so it is good that you learn professional night bass fishing techniques. Moreover, others may also be benefited by learning the professional winter bass fishing techniques for those who experience four seasons.

These are only some of the many techniques and tips on how to improve your bass fishing strategy. If you do not have any strategy at all, you may really get disappointed from time to time. But, it is suggested that you first learn and read sufficient information and guides on bass fishing.

Karen O’Donnell

AP - The Democratic head of the Senate’s environment committee tried Saturday to drum up support for legislation to deal with “one of the most important issues of our time,” global warming.

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Yes many of us have made attempts on sketching that dream car of ours, and more often than not it has made us frustrated that it looks not even close to what we had in our mind. I finally learned to get the right proportions and make the sketches not look like it was a pile of garbage and instead make them look like a Cadillac, Shelby, Corvette, Ferrari or whatever I try to sketch.

What you need to do is to look at the outward lines of the car, try to get a shape by simply trying to sketch a few lines. Then compare that to your reference car and simply fine tune the lines little by little without erasing the old lines.

My best advise is to leave the wheels while you are sketching the lines of the cars. Why you may ask, well simply because the wheels are usually the hardest part of car sketches.

Then when you are starting to get satisfied with the general shape of the car-sketch, try adding the wheels. But don’t be surprised if getting the wheels correct takes longer time than the the whole car!

How long does it take to do a good car sketch then? Well it is very different, depending on how the perspective of the car is. Usually getting the right proportions should take between 1-3hours. Then fine tuning it is what take lot of time, I can spend easily 10 hours on a car sketch before starting to shade it! So it all depends on how much patience and time you want to spend on this sketch of you dreamcar!

The kind of pencils I use is different, but try some and you will probably find the one you feels most comfortable with and then go with that. And remember to not be afraid of using the eraser!

Lukas Niklasson is the associated editor to the website www.autodrawings.net http://www.autodrawings.net . It is a website that focus on car drawings of all sorts. It get updated regurarly with new drawings and interesting information regarding car artwork.

AFP - Hillary Clinton Saturday makes a last stand in her ebbing White House bid, as the Democratic Party tries to defuse a unity-sapping row over voided primary votes in Michigan and Florida.

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The advent of world-spanning computer technologies has created an environment in which all sorts of data is easily accessible by almost anyone. At the same time, more and more of our personal data is being collected and stored in computer systems. How can we be sure that it’s safe? Data protection systems and technologies exist to protect our privacy.

Data protection is geared towards protecting personal information such as family details and medical records - information we may not want to share with just anyone. Data protection schemes aim to guarantee everyone a basic minimum of privacy in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. People dealing with sensitive government or corporate information may also rely on data protection.

Data protection begins with the type of privacy agreements which you will often see when you’re asked to enter personal information into a website. This is the first stage of data protection - communication, ensuring that all those who are party to information exchange agree on what constitutes private data. Protection of such information can’t otherwise be assumed, as the rules on what ought to fall under data protection schemes differ in different countries and between different organisations.

Whenever sensitive information is stored on computer systems, the law demands that it must be subject to adequate data protection. Special data protection software has been developed for this purpose, designed to identify this information and keep it separate from other records. Data protection depends on good information management, limiting access and, in some cases, limiting the period for which information is stored. Data protection software may also limit the context in which sensitive information can be utilised.

The advent of secure data protection systems minimises the risk of identity fraud faced by computer users sharing personal information. Data protection is essential in ensuring that emerging technologies do not undermine the older systems on which society is based.

Paul Abbey owns and operates www.dataprotectionworld.com http://www.dataprotectionworld.com Data Protection

AP - Television producer Sophie Altman, who created the long-running quiz show “It’s Academic,” pitting teams of high school students against each other, has died. She was 95.

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It’s become a mantra. Fat is bad.

At least, that’s what almost all the diet gurus say.

But did you know that when we cut too much fat from our diets, we may be eliminating the very element we need to absorb the vitamins and nutrients that keep us healthy.

That’s because certain vitamins, especially in fruits and vegetables, are fat-soluble. In other words, your body can’t absorb nutrients unless enough fat is present.

So if you’re constantly eliminating the fat from your diet to cut calories or to follow the latest warnings, you may be getting far less healthful effects from your salads, other vegetables and fruits.

In studies released in 2004 and again this year by Ohio State University, researchers found that the absorption of carotenoids from yellow, orange, and red vegetables is better when you eat them with some fat. Carotenoids are believed to have cancer-fighting properties.

Here is a partial list of some fat-soluble compounds that may be absorbed better if you eat them with fat:

1. Beta Carotene. This can be found in foods such as cantaloupe and carrots.

The researchers suggest eating salads with full-fat rather than low-fat or no-fat dressings. So if you put carrots in your salad, full-fat dressing may help you to absorb the nutrients.

But with so many people unable to stay on strict low-fat or veggie diets, why not choose something that tastes a little better? For example, something that people in Pittsburgh once called a Boston cooler.

You cut a cantaloupe in half (leave the rind on), clean the seeds out of the middle, and put a scoop of chocolate or vanilla ice cream in the hollow of the half-melon.

Then place the half-melon in a bowl so it doesn’t fall over when you try to eat it. You eat the ice cream and the melon with a spoon.

It’s about 250 calories, but it’s a great snack or dessert. You get to indulge with ice cream, but still get some good nutrients from the cantaloupe.

It’s also filling. So you shouldn’t be as hungry as when you just nibble on a salad.

And the best part is that the fat in the ice cream may enhance your body’s ability to absorb the fat-soluble compounds from the cantaloupe. (Although no one knows for sure at the moment.)

2. Lycopene. This is the red carotenoid found in watermelon, tomatoes and pink grapefruit.

It’s also a potential cancer fighter. Researchers have shown that our bodies absorb the lycopene in tomatoes more efficiently as sauce, juice or ketchup.

Here again, rather than always eating salads with full-fat dressing, why not try cheese ravioli with tomato sauce? It’s a tasty, satisfying dinner.

And you may be enhancing your absorption of the lycopene in the tomato sauce with the cheese in the ravioli.

3. Vitamin E. This can be found in broccoli, mangoes, peanuts and spinach.

Some research suggests that vitamin E can help your heart and possibly prevent blood clots. But the results aren’t conclusive yet.

However, a recent German study with rats showed that eating trans fats actually slowed the absorption of vitamin E when compared to other types of fats. So this may get tricky.

4. Lutein. This antioxidant can be found in dark green, leafy vegetables like spinach and also in egg yolks.

Lutein is supposed to help your skin and your eyes, particularly in reducing the risk of macular degeneration.

I find it interesting that we’re allowed to eat eggs again when the food police vilified eggs for so many years - particularly egg yolks.

Have we also gone too far in vilifying fat?

So before you completely cut the fat from your diet, think about the nutrients you may be missing.

Now I’m not saying we should eat only high-fat foods.

But while it’s not healthy to go to extremes with high fat, it seems as though it’s not healthy to go to extremes with low fat, either.

Maybe it isn’t only the fat that’s making us fat, but also the number of calories we consume. Some moderation in both areas just might do the trick.

And I believe people are more likely to lose weight if they like the foods they eat.

So talk to your doctor about whether you really need to cut so much fat from your diet. Or is it healthy to have a little ice cream or ravioli once in a while?

His answer might surprise you.

Debbie Fontana is a full-time author and business owner who writes about health, weight loss, looking great, and feeling fantastic. She created the delicious I Love to Cheat lifestyle diet and the companion I Love to Cheat Rewards Newsletter. She encourages her subscribers to submit their weight loss problems, questions, and concerns. Visit her at www.ILoveToCheatDiet.com http://www.ILoveToCheatDiet.com .

RealClearPolitics.com - As political observers are examining national polls, even key state polls, North Carolina may be the precursor to victory or defeat for Barack Obama in November.

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