In general, turmeric is considered safe even at higher doses. However, turmeric does have some contraindications.

It should be used with caution by people with gallstones, stomach ulcers, or bile duct obstruction as turmeric may exacerbate these conditions.

Turmeric can be a uterine stimulant, so pregnant women should consult with a doctor before taking turmeric during pregnancy.

People with serious liver or heart conditions should also consult with a doctor before taking turmeric supplements.

Ingredients
4 cups water
1 tablespoon ground turmeric
lemon (optional)
honey (optional)

Directions
Bring water to a boil. Reduce heat and add ground turmeric. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Strain into a mug using a mesh strainer or cheesecloth.

Add honey and/or lemon to taste.

Fights Swine Flu
A recent study showed that elderberry extract fights swine flu in vitro.

Prevents and Treats Seasonal Flu
Several studies have shown elderberry works wonders against both type A influenza and type B influenza. It shortens the course of the flu by inhibiting the enzyme neuraminidase.

In one 2004 study conducted in Norway and presented at the 15th Annual Conference on Antiviral Research, elderberry extract cured 93% of flu patients within two days compared to six days in the group given a placebo. .

Anti-Inflammatory
Elderberries contain anthocyanins, compounds that have been shown in studies to reduce inflammation. Other foods that contain anthocyanins include blueberries, cranberries, and raspberries.

The study was done by HerbalScience Group and was published in the scientific journal Phytochemistry. The study was done on HerbalSciene's own propietary elderberry extract.

"Our studies on HerbalScience's proprietary elderberry extract have enabled us to identify the key bioactives that contribute to its antiviral activity, and begin to understand how the mixture of natural chemistries present in elderberry functions," said Randall S. Alberte, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of HerbalScience Group and one of the authors of the published study.

Arrabiata sauce is most often used with penne pasta but it's also great with other pasta shapes like spaghetti and rigatoni. You might also want to try this sauce on chicken or shrimp.

Ingredients

1 lb penne pasta
1/4 c. olive oil
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 c. minced fresh parsley
3 cloves minced garlic
1 (28 oz) whole plum tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
grated parmesan or pecorino romano cheese (optional)

Directions

Place a large pot of water on the stove to boil.

Crush the tomatoes with a fork and set them aside.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until it is golden brown, being careful not to burn it.

Turn down flame to medium low. Add red pepper flakes, tomatoes, salt, and pepper.

Return the heat to medium and cook 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mixture should become saucy.

While the sauce is cooking, bring the water to a boil and add a dash of salt. Add the pasta and cook until it is al dente.

Drain the pasta in a colander. Do not rinse with water (it will hold onto the sauce better that way!)

Add drained pasta to sauce and mix it together. Sprinkle parsley over the top and serve with grated parmesan or pecorino romano cheese.

To puree avocado, peel the fruit and remove the pit. Puree the flesh, add half a tablespoon of lemon or lime juice for each avocado, and place the puree into a plastic container or bag leaving about half an inch of air at the top.

Seal the container and place in the freezer. The mixture will stay good for four or five months.

After thawing, use within three days.

I often hear people say that shrimp have a lot of calories and should be avoided if one is trying to lose weight. This is simply not true.

Three ounces of raw shrimp has about 80 calories. So the fat and calories in the shrimp you eat are entirely dependent on how you prepare them. Fried shrimp, of course, are high in fat and calories. The same goes for shrimp dishes that are prepared with a lot of butter such as shrimp scampi.

A great low fat lunch or dinner is a large salad topped with boiled shrimp or shrimp stir fried in water instead of oil. I do this a lot and they taste just as good as shrimp stir fried in oil.

Ingredients

2 medium avocados

2 cups red leaf lettuce

2 cups cooked shrimp

1 cup cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup sliced cucumber

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Wash and dry lettuce, tear into large pieces, and arrange in a bed on the bottom of a plate or bowl.

Cut avocados in half and remove the pits. Slice into wedges. Lay wedges over the bed of lettuce. Cut cherry tomatoes in half and arrange them over the lettuce and avocado. Add cucumber slices.

Place cooked shrimp over the salad fixings. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette or your favorite dressing.

Enjoy!

Avocados, sometimes called alligator pears, are a fruit in the Lauraceae family (laurel). Like many other fruits, avocados contain a single large pit (seed).

Because they are not sweet and are often used in salads and other vegetable dishes, many people believe them to be vegetables. However, in some countries they are used in desserts. In Brazil, Indonesia, and Vietnam avocados are used in milkshakes while in Sri Lanka a dessert is made using mashed avocados, sugar, and milk.

No matter how you eat them, the health benefits of avocados make them one of the healthiest foods in the world.

The word pescetarian is a combination of the Italian word for fish (pesce) and the word vegetarian.

Many people who are pescetarians call themselves vegetarians but a pescetarian is not a vegetarian. Pescetarians who call themselves vegetarians often incur the ire of true vegetarians.

When people ask me if I'm a vegetarian, I say, "No, I eat seafood. I'm a pescetarian."

Often, people will look at me funny because they've never heard the term before. The funniest response I've ever had was, "What, you're a Presbyterian?"

The study followed more than 175,000 men for nine years and concluded that those who ate the most red meat and processed meats had a higher incidence of prostate cancer.

Previous studies on the link between red meat and prostate cancer have been inconclusive. This new study adds more information to the question of whether red and processed meats have a significant impact on the development of prostate cancer.

According to the California Avocado Commission, one medium avocado has 250 calories and 22.5 grams of fat. The fat is mostly mono and polyunsaturated, both of which contribute to a healthy heart and body.

So don't be afraid to add avocado to your diet even if you're trying to lose weight. Substituting half a medium avocado (125 calories) several times per week for another 125 calorie snack will not add any calories to your diet but you'll be gaining all of the powerful nutrition it has to offer and that extra boost of nutrition will keep you satisfied longer and may even help with weight loss.

Some notable festival features will include the world's largest vat of guacamole, Best Guacamole Contest, Largest Avocado Contest, a Kid's Block Party, and much more.

Avocado lovers will be able to try unusual avocado dishes like avocado ice cream and fried avocado.

The festival runs from Friday at 4pm and continues through Sunday evening. Admission is free.

For more information visit the festival website: www.avofest.com

This recipe makes 4 Mexican pizzas.

Ingredients
8 extra large corn tortillas
1 can vegetarian refried beans
1 pkg ground soy meat
2 Roma tomatoes
1/2 c. yellow onion, chopped
1 c. enchilada sauce
1 c. cheddar cheese
1 c. Jack cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Spray two baking sheets with cooking spray. Place 4 tortillas on each sheet and spray lightly on top with cooking spray. Bake for 20 minutes, turning over halfway through the cooking time.

While the tortillas are baking, heat the ground soy meat in a skillet (or cook the ground beef).

Remove baking sheets from oven. Spread a layer of beans on four of the tortillas. Spread a layer of soy meat on top of the beans. Place a tortilla on top of each one and top with enchilada sauce. Sprinkle onions and cheese on top.

Place back in the oven and bake for ten minutes or until cheese is melted.

The New Jersey Superior Court lawsuit alleges that Denny's heavy use of salt puts "the restaurant chain's customers at greater risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke." The lawsuit asks the court to order Denny's to list the sodium content of its food on the menu and warn about the hazards of consuming salt in high doses.

One of the worst offenders is the Meat Lover's Scramble which has a whopping 5,690 mg of sodium while a simple scrambled eggs and cheese on the senior menu has 2,060 mg.

The lawsuit is being filed on behalf of Nick DeBenedetto, a 48-year old New Jersey man who is seeking class-action status for the suit and says, "I never would have selected those items had I known."