10 health benefits of garlic

1. Heart disease: Garlic is a superb natural supplement to your diet for combating heart disease. Not only does garlic work to lower bad cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, but garlic also helps protect the aorta in the heart by slowing the aging process of the aorta. Basically, garlic has natural anti-clotting and blood thinning properties.
2. Impotence: This one might be for you guys. And yes, garlic helps with impotence. How? First, garlic helps with blood circulation, and that's important for ... well, you know what it's important for if you're an adult. But garlic also stimulates the male body to create a nitric oxide synthase enzyme, an enzyme needed for males to reach an erection.
3. Low-weight birth: Studies done in Great Britain have shown that garlic taken by pregnant women helps the unborn to gain weight. Also, to add, if you are concerned about the bad breath garlic can give you, there are available at most pharmacies and grocery stores garlic supplements (usually in a pill form) that don't leave you with the bad breath.
4. Infections: Natural, raw garlic works as an antibiotic. It can even kill some harmful bacteria, including that from staph infections, that are resistant to modern medical antibiotics.
5. Allergies: Take at least one garlic pill a day, or eat a tea spoon of garlic a day, to help ward off allergies, especially allergies caused by changes in weather. Your best bet is to begin taking the garlic at least a few weeks before a new allergy season kicks in. It's the antiviral properties of garlic that help with this.
6. Tooth aches: Sore tooth? Rub some garlic oil on it. Or place a crushed garlic clove on the tooth and around the gums. Give it a few minutes. The pain should begin to ease.
7. Cold sores: Crush a clove of garlic into a glass of slightly warm water and drink it twice a day. The anti-viral and anti-bacterial benefits of garlic can help to lessen the effects of and help to defeat cold sores and other forms of herpes. Be warned, however, not to apply garlic directly to sores on the skin because in some people this can cause a burning sensation. Also, some people have allergies to garlic and should not apply garlic to their skin. To be safe, always check with your doctor.
8. Cancer: Studies have shown that regularly partaking of garlic helps to lessen carcinogenic compounds in the body, especially helping to prevent stomach, colon and esophagus cancer.
9. Food poisoning: Garlic is loaded with an anti-bacterial chemical called allicin (which also causes garlic's unique smell). Allicin is a great natural compound for fighting bacteria, which includes bad bacteria that can build up in the stomach due to food poisoning.
10. Common cold: Garlic helps to kill viruses in your body, especially cold viruses and other harmful bacteria when the garlic is eaten raw.

10 health benefits of avocados

1. Lower cholesterol: Avocados contain oleic acid, which has been shown in studies to lower the levels of bad cholesterol in those who eat avocados regularly. Avocado also contains beta-sitosterol, a natural sterol that is supposed to help with cholesterol levels.
2. Blood pressure: Avocados also contain a good amount of potassium, which is important in keeping blood pressure lowered. Also, the potassium helps to counteract sodium, which forces the body to store unnecessary fluid which can build up around the heart.
3. Skin care: The avocado is known for its ability to be absorbed into the skin. Which is a good thing because avocado also has a soothing and softening effect on skin, and some even believe it has regenerative effects. So smear a little avocado on your face. Or look for skin products that contain avocado or avocado oil.
4. Breast cancer: Remember that oleic acid mentioned above? Well, studies have shown oleic acid also helps to prevent breast cancer and possibly can even help patients who already suffer from breast cancer. And what has this oleic acid? Avocados.
5. Cataracts: Avocados also have plenty of carotenoid lutein, which is also found in carrots (carotenoid ... get it?). This carotenoid lutein is great for helping to prevent cataracts, vision degeneration and other problems with eyesight. But always remember to check with your doctor when you have any health problems.
6. Strokes: Folate is a form of vitamin B9, and studies have suggested those who have a regular intake of folate have a much lower risk of stroke. Avocados have folate. So why not try an avocado?
7. Oral cancer: Phytonutrients in avocados have been shown to combat pre-cancerous and cancerous oral cells in humans without damaging normal cells. Nutritionists have also shown that Haas avocados are the type of avocado to contain the most phytonutrients. So stock up!
8. Malnutrition: Avocados are an excellent source of food for those suffering from malnutrition. The reason for this is that avocados contain many, many different vitamins and minerals that are all important for the body.
9. Digestive problems: Fiber is usually the key to better digestion, and avocados have their fair share of fiber. So if you have an upset stomach or troubles with your intestines, you might give avocados a try to see if they can help you.
10. Sunburns: Not only is the avocado good for softening the skin, as mentioned above, but because of its natural oils and ease of absorption into the skin, it also helps to ease the pains suffered from sunburns. Maybe you should take some avocado with you the next time you go to the beach.

50 tips to avoid being mugged

1. Don't go out at night.
2. Especially by yourself.
3. Travel with a group of people.
4. Or at least one really, really big person. Hey, it might help.
5. Don't walk down dark alleys.
6. Or any alleys.
7. Carry a gun.
8. Or two.
9. Or ten.
10. In the open.
11. Carry your gun in your hand when walking down a dark alley.
12. Pepper spray. Yeah, whatever.
13. Talk really loudly to yourself.
14. Preferably about crazy stuff, such as, "Sheep! Sheep! Elect the sheep for cardinal!"
15. If you have to take a bus or subway, sit in a corner hunched up and look really tough. Give your best Clint Eastwood impression.
16. Be a cop.
17. In uniform.
18. Bitch really loudly to yourself about how broke you are or how you just got mugged and all your money is gone.
19. Don't carry obvious electronics that are expensive, such as a laptop or iPad.
20. Better yet, don't carry any electronics.
21. Other than maybe a cell phone. Everybody's already got one, so who'd want to steal yours?
22. Plus you can keep that cell phone handy to call for help.
23. Just make sure it's a cheap cell phone.
24. Like one of those big ones from the '80s. You know, the one's that weigh a ton and the phone is connected to a big, black box by a cord.
25. Better yet, keep anything that looks valuable out of sight.
26. Walk a really big dog.
27. Or a grizzly bear.
28. Or a komodo dragon.
29. If you think you are being followed, go someplace that has lots of light.
30. And lots of people.
31. And cameras, too, wouldn't hurt.
32. If you're out at night, don't leave your car.
33. And keep the doors locked and the windows up.
34. Don't stop at stop lights or stop signs if you're in a shady part of town.
35. Or if you see someone who looks shady hanging out near the lights or signs.
36. Be aware at all times of people who are around your vehicle, especially at stops.
37. Make sure you are in good shape physically.
38. So you'll be able to run.
39. Or fight, if you absolutely have to.
40. Don't be stupid and where sunglasses at night just because you think it's cool. It hinders your eyesight, doofus.
41. If you carry a bag, keep it strapped around your neck and not just hanging from your shoulder.
42. Don't go into unfamiliar areas late at night by yourself.
43. Carry some change for emergency phone calls.
44. If you are out driving late at night and see an accident or crime, do not become involved. Drive to the nearest place of safety and then call the proper authorities.
45. If you are out walking, walk with confidence.
46. And make eye contact with people. It'll show you are serious.
47. If you become involved in a physical confrontation with someone, your main goal should be survival, usually by escape. If you see a chance to get away, then flee the situation.
48. Don't go up to an ATM late at night.
49. Especially by yourself.
50. Carry a glass bottle in your hand while walking. To make it look more natural, have it be a soft drink or something. You don't want to have to use a bottle as a weapon, but a potential mugger might see the bottle as a threat and pass you by.

Guest post: Martha Stewart and The Pumpkin Pot Pie Disaster

There has been a lot of talk about Martha Stewart in my household lately because a friend of mine is creating a Martha Stewart blog, so it was only natural my wife would have her own Martha Stewart related story. She wanted me to pass it along, so this is it.

I am the youngest child of six children in my family. My mother was an amazing cook. She was one of those cooks who could really cook anything. She shared her recipes and taught my older sisters and even my brothers to cook. She taught me how to set the table.

I was working full time before I graduated college and, like most ambitious people, I focused on my career and chasing that American Dream. I worked very hard to have a nice home and beautiful things. My home was clean and organized, mostly because I didn't have time to enjoy it. I wasn't exactly domestic in those days.

Then I turned thirty and decided to learn to cook. About time, right? Well, I am an all-or-nothing kind of gal, so I didn't start with a simple dish appropriate to my skill level. No, I went full-on Martha Stewart!

I decided to use a Martha Stewart recipe to make these beautiful chicken pot pies you bake in real pumpkins with a pastry top. Now I had a well-equipped kitchen, top-of-the-line cookware and gadgets. Pristine really, because those gadgets had never been used.

I went and bought the best and freshest ingredients and planned it all out perfectly. Or so I thought. I made no accommodations for the fact I had no skills in the kitchen and no idea what I was in for. I actually invited my family over for dinner!

One of my sisters asked what I wanted her to bring. I told her I was cooking. The phone went silent, but I could still hear her trying to think of a gracious way out of my invite.

I called one of my brothers to invite him and he asked what I wanted him to bring. I told him I was cooking everything. My brother has never been one to spare my feelings, and then he began laughing uncontrollably and said he wouldn't miss my meal for the world. He also muttered something about this being his Christmas card that year.

Well, I did not let any of this dissuade me. I was so determined.

You know how on television you watch chefs chop and dice and make it look easy? It's not. Clearly it was divine intervention that I made it through chopping onions with all my fingers intact, and in under an hour.

I began with homemade chicken stock. By the time I cut the vegetables and herbs and got the chicken and spices together and measured, I was two hours in. Next I made the dough for the crust. Seemed simple enough. It wasn't. I didn't know any of the tricks I know now about chilled butter in small pieces and iced water and even chilling the flour and cutting it all together. I used a room temperature whole stick of butter and a spoon and ... let's just say it didn't go well.

Then came the pumpkins. I bought pie pumpkins and cut them and cleaned them. That took about two more hours. You had to roast them a bit first and then add the chicken pot pie mixture and pie crust for baking. I thought I had it all under control. I didn't! The dough kept sliding off the pumpkins and sinking down inside. I tried to make more dough, but it was awful. I finally ran to the store and bought ready-made pie crust (Martha, forgive me) and began to fashion a topper for the pumpkins. Nothing worked. By this time the pumpkins were starting to pucker and wrinkle. It was hideous.

There is no happy ending to this story. It gets worse.

I actually served what was, at this point, toxic waste to my snickering siblings. Did I mention they were evil? They have never let me live that disaster down, no matter how many of my culinary triumphs they've devoured since.

That fateful night we ordered pizza and I endured the ridicule and the subsequent therapy that would follow.

But my table setting looked beautiful. Martha would have been proud.

5 unusual foods in a can

The foods themselves might not be odd, but just finding out these particular eats can be found available in cans is kind of weird, if not downright disturbing in some cases. I'm sorry, but some foods just shouldn't be served from a can.

Brown Bread in a can

I would give this one a try, but I have to admit to being skeptical. I like good bread, and I just can't fathom that bread from a can is going to taste like much. Perhaps I'm wrong. I've not tried this stuff yet. Maybe I need to make a trip to the grocery store.

Whole Chicken in a can

Is there anything about a whole chicken in a can that sounds appealing? And what gets me, there's more than one company that makes such a product. Imagine how this thing is going to come out of the can. Warm. Stringy. Sticky. Wet. In other words, yucky. You'd have to do a lot of cooking before it would sound appealing to me.

Cheeseburger in a can

Unfortunately (maybe?), this product no longer shows up on the German manufacturer's Web site. Could it be they realized this was not such a great idea? Sure, it doesn't look or sound appealing, but does it really seem any worse than much of the grub served at fast food restaurants nowadays?

All Day Breakfast in a can

This stuff comes from the Brits, but you can sometimes find a version of it in the States. This is another one where you just have to ask yourself, "Who thought this would be a good idea?" Looks to have beans, sausage, hot dogs and possibly some other kind of unidentifiable meats. Sounds like zombie food.

Alligator Cajun Style in a can

Okay, this one is really starting to get out there. I've eaten alligator. It was kind of flaky, like fish, but maybe that was just how it was prepared for me. But that was at a fancy restaurant. Going home and popping open a can of 'gator just doesn't seem to have the same quality to it. Maybe this stuff is a hot item in Cajun country.