Archive for the ‘Glass’ Category
The Health Benefits of Red Wine
There is nothing quite as lovely as enjoying a fantastic glass of red wine with a well prepared meal. In fact, the right wine selection can make an ordinary meal fabulous. Many people think of a nice glass of red wine as a luxury, an indulgence, or a guilty pleasure. However, there is evidence that drinking red wine may actually be good for your health.
Red wine has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers, decrease the risk of heart disease, and slow down the development of certain neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Before getting too excited about the health benefits of wine, one must keep in mind that quantity does matter. For men, the optimal amount of wine intake is no more than two five ounce glasses per day. And for women, the optimal amount is no more than one glass of wine per day.
So, how does wine accomplish all of these wonderful things? The main benefits to your heart and blood vessels of drinking wine is the effect it has on the consistency of your blood and on your cholesterol levels. Research has shown that sensible amounts of alcohol can thin your blood and raise your HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol).
Wine contains phytochemicals, which are naturally occurring plant compounds. These phytochemicals, knows as flavanoids and resveratrol, perform antioxidant like actions and stop certain molecules called free radicals from causing harm to the cells in your body. According to scientific research, the phytochemical resveratrol has been linked to the prevention of blood clotting and plaque formation in the arteries. Resveratrol is said to have properties that change lipid profiles and plasma consistency. Studies also suggest that resveratrol may produce powerful anti-clotting mechanisms, which may improve the health of your heart and blood vessels. Your risk for coronary heart disease is also said to decrease from this property of resveratrol. The last exciting finding regarding the phytochemical resveratrol is it’s cancer fighting property. Studies have shown that resveratrol may cause a reduction in the growth of malignant tumors, thus causing a decline in the development of certain types of cancer.
While much of the research mentioned above is based on studies that examined red wine, white wine, beer, and hard liquor, red wine provides the largest amount of resveratrol per serving. This is related to the red wine making process. When producing red wine the skin is left on the grape for a much longer time than it is in the production of white wine. When producing white wine, the skin of the grape is removed before the fermentation process begins. The longer the skin is kept on the grape, the higher the concentration of resveratrol in the wine will be.
So, the next time you are enjoying a fine meal out at a fancy restaurant, or even simply dining on a delightful home cooked dinner, go ahead and treat yourself to a glass of red wine as well. It may just be the healthiest thing you do all day!
Gift Ideas for the Man Who Has Everything
If the men in your life are anything like the men in my life, every year around their birthdays and the holidays you spend countless hours racking your brain for gift ideas for those hard to buy for men. In order to save a few headaches over the next year, I’ve compiled a list of go-to gift ideas for the man who has everything.
Most men like to see their name on things, so a great gift idea is one that can be customized. The best thing about personalized gifts is that it shows that you were thinking specifically of them when you purchased the gift (and you can completely rule out your gift being re-gifted next year). There are many different options for personalized gifts. T-shirts, duffel bags, and sporting goods all have great options for adding that personal touch. Personally, my go-to custom gift is personalized glass. For the wine drinker, I go with etched wine glasses. For the beer drinker, I opt for a custom set of beer mugs that say “Tom’s Bar” (hopefully it goes without saying that you should replace Tom with the name of your particular guy). Beer and wine not their style? With personalized glass you can opt for shot glasses, cocktail glasses, margarita glasses, serving pitchers—the sky is the limit, really. Just pick the appropriate glassware for their specific taste and think of something witty or fun for them to toast with at their next cocktail party.
Another excellent gift idea for men is calendars. Nice calendars are so varied and widely available these days, it is really very easy to come up with a calendar idea that will put a smile on your guy’s face. If the hard to buy for man on your list is into motorcycles or cars, there is a calendar that will celebrate that hobby every month. There are also coupon calendars at many restaurants, and the last time I checked, most men enjoy eating almost as much as they enjoy saving money. If you are buying for a real down to businessman, then go for a nice organizer or day planner. Calendars are somewhat seasonal though, so you may want to save this one for the holidays or for those with birthdays from October through January.
Last, but not least, the ultimate go-to for pretty much any man is electronics. Electronics are toys for grown up boys. You can find electronic gadgets for pretty much any budget and for any taste. Handheld poker games or a video game for their favorite gaming console will be a sure hit. DVDs or CDs are also very good gift ideas. If you do not know the exact item on your man’s wish list, I recommend a gift card for their local electronic store. If what they want is not in your specific budget, it is guaranteed that they will be able to pick something up with a gift card that will tickle their fancy, or they can put the money on a gift card toward a bigger purchase that they are saving up for. Any man appreciates an extra $25 toward that 42-inch flat screen television they have been saving up for.
While there are many other great gift ideas for men, hopefully these few tips will help inspire ideas for a few of the men on your shopping list.