The smell of Acehnese Coffee seduces World coffee lovers

Acehnese woman who was picking coffee (image:myozzo)

Been to "Veranda of Mecca" (Aceh) was not yet complete if you didn't have time to feel the enormity of the the smell of Aceh coffee, especially for those who have been predicated as addicts. The typical smell of Aceh coffee can brought euphoria to everyone but not because there is a mixture of "other things" as a prototype that is often considered by the most people.

Because of its enjoyment, so it will quickly familiar to everyone's tongue, even though the person initially was not a coffee addict. The smell of Aceh coffee have become increasingly popular not only for the local addicts, but also people from around the world who came to Aceh after the tsunami hit this province at December 26, 2004. The foreigners from the different ethnicity, religion and customs were also mingled with the "natives" sitting in the shop with a cup of coffee in front of them.

The pleasure of the Aceh coffee smell has made ​​the atmosphere in the stalls or the cafes in that area never devoid of visitors. Even, Aceh is a region that has the most coffee shop in the world. People called it with a lot of names, just like, Kopi pancung (half a cup), Kopi tubruk (with pulp), Kopi sareng (filter), but the most popular is Kopi Ulee Kareng. Seeing the growth of coffee shops that continue to increase, the Government of Banda Aceh held coffee festival which aims to introduce the Aceh product to the people of world. And even, this coffee festival will serve as an annual event to attract the flow of tourists to the city of Banda Aceh.

Aceh Coffee Festival logo

The Deputy Mayor of Banda Aceh Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal expressed his pride for the Aceh coffee that have been known to people of the world. Not only that, he said, Aceh coffee has introduced Aceh to the international community, such as India, Japan, Korea, India, Singapore and Malaysia. Coffee festival that will be held regularly and be a routine agenda was also expected to bring together the coffee lovers and coffee business players. Head of Culture and Tourism City of Banda Aceh Fahlevi Reza, said the festival was first held attended by the employers, the local, national and international coffee watchdog.

Unique way of processing Ulee Kareng coffee

Aceh Coffee Festival that is themed "Aceh Coffee for The World" also has contributed to enliven tourism visits 2011 (Visit Banda Aceh Year 2011). Aceh Coffee Festival was held as an appreciation of employers, institutions, and the public who have contributed to promote and maintain the culture of drinking coffee, so it becomes a positive culture. In addition, the festival also aims to introduce the diversity of Aceh coffee products to the public and foster a sense of pride and love for the local products.

Visitors can watch the way of processing and can also enjoy various taste and the smell of Aceh coffee. Data obtained mentions that Aceh coffee largest export to Europe and America reaches approximately 4000 tons, or about 200 containers. "Gayo" Arabica coffee is one of national commodities with total area of ​​approximately 90,000 hectares, which among other spread in the Central Aceh and Bener Meriah district. Coffee plantations in the highlands of "Gayo Land" which the location of the land reaching 1,200 meters above sea level is cultivate traditionally, relying on non-organic fertilizer.

Gayo Land coffee

Even, "Gayo" arabica coffee which has a typical and unique taste dominates various varieties that being developed and the product resulted is one of the largest in the world.

After taking the medicine should not drink coffee? is it myth?

take medication and coffee together, is that good?

Is it true that after taking medication, we should not drink coffee? Why? If yes, approximately how long after taking medication we are allowed to drink coffee?

The caffeine that contained in coffee may reacts with several types of medications. Because caffeine can stimulate the brain and heart, drugs that affect both organs are going to reacts with the caffeine. For example, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine (contained in cold medicine or medicine to treat symptoms of nasal congestion) which has the effect of increased cardiac work. Or asthma medicine theophylline that are similar to the caffeine, antidepressants and antipsychotics, quinolone class of antibiotics, and birth control pills.

If we take one of these drugs followed by sipping coffee, the caffeine levels in the blood become too high. This is clearly not beneficial for the heart. For your information, all medications taken into the stomach to be destroyed, and then into the small intestine and absorbed into the blood vessels. Many medications absorption are impaired when taken with food or beverages. Although efficacy is not lost, the medicine takes longer time to be absorbed.

Take medication preferably with water. Not recommended to take medication with coffee, tea, juice, milk, and soft drinks (carbonated). Spaced 2-3 hours after taking the medicine, a new cup of coffee.

Preferably, take medicine with water. It is not recommended to take medication with coffee, tea, juice, milk, and soft drinks (carbonated). Spaced 2-3 hours after taking medicine, after that you can drink coffee.

Romanian unique curly cake

Unique Romanian curly cake that called Kurtoskalac / Chimney

Once you look at this curly cake, i guaranteed you'll definitely want it, even you need enter a long queue to taste it. This cake is named Chimney Cake, but the curls shape makes it often referred as curly cake. This cake is a Romanian traditional cake.

The shape that a bit like a large spiral that crunchy indeed often makes people curious. Chimney Cake, which also called Kurtoskalac, initially presented for the conducting or as wedding cake. However, now this cake is used as a snack cakes that are usually sold in every bakery. This cake can be enjoyed with tea or coffee. Its texture is slightly crunchy but still soft inside. Sweet flavor made this cake liked by children.

Actually it is not difficult to make curly cake, because the basic ingredients are a bit like regular bread dough which made ​​from a mixture of eggs, water, flour, sugar, butter, salt, and yeast. To make the spiral is a bit "challenging". Dough that has been mixed must be fermented first, then weighed and divided equally. The dough is then thinned using grinding machine until it thin.

Process of the Chimney cake baking

Once diluted, and then the dough strapped in a stick that specialized to make curly shape. However, before it strapped, these tools should be smeared with oil so it is not sticky. After that, the dough sprinkled with sugar and baked until cooked. Once cooked, the cake can be removed from the burner stick. So this cake is shaped like a spiral with a large hole in the middle.

As a complement, curly cake can be served with several toppings such as nuts, cinnamon, coconut, chocolate, sugar, and sugar balls. Every cake usually decorated with two kinds of toppings.

How to make sushi rice without Japanese rice

Sushi rice

The main ingredients for making sushi is sushi rice. However, not all types of rice can be processed into good sushi rice. One of the conditions to make the right sushi rice is the level of stickiness of the rice type.

Usually, sushi rice is made from Japanese rice that texture is similar with glutinous.

To deal with the difficulty of getting Japanese rice, we could try to use the ordinary rice. We do need to pay attention to differences in the texture of both types of rice. The difference lies in its level of tenderness and stickiness. So, to make ordinary rice similar with Japanese rice, choose fluffier and good quality rice. Then, mix a little glutinous to the rice when it cooked. In order to fit the level of its stickiness and make it still fluffier, then the comparison of rice and glutinous that used is 1 kg: 100 gr.

Beside that, the sushi rice that made from Japanese rice has a characteristic of slightly sour taste. To produce a slightly sour rice, then some mixture of salt, vinegar, and sugar, should be mixed into the rice. Comparison of rice, vinegar, salt, and sugar used is 1 kg of rice mixed with 150 cc of vinegar rice, 25 grams of salt, and 50 grams of sugar.

For vinegar, use the original Japanese rice vinegar. Because common vinegar has a very high level of acidity, so the flavor of sushi would be very acidic.

What to eat before and after doing exercise

Exercising woman

Eat before and after exercise is essential to provide "fuel" that needed when exercising, as well as recovering the body after exercise. However, what is the food menu that suitable to be consumed before exercise?

Because exercise is basically requires a lot of energy, foods that contain carbohydrates are necessary. Remember, carbohydrates which are needed is not simplex carbohydrates, that absorbed rapidly and fall rapidly. But, a complex carbohydrates.

Besides rice, other complex carbohydrates can be found on potato (eaten with skin) and corn. The principle of balanced nutrition should still be applied by adding the protein (10-20 percent), fat (20-25 percent), as well as vitamins and minerals (can be obtained from vegetables and fruits).

If you choose "heavy" foods like rice, do not overeat. When the digestive system working too hard or disturbed, then it can causes stomachache, nausea and even vomit. Such foods should be consumed two hours before start exercising. For a loaf of wheat bread or a baked potato can be consumed one hour before exercise.

Types of snacks like energy bars can also be an option. However, you to be concerned about the nutritional composition. Do not choose foods that have high fat because fat is difficult to digest. Carbohydrate absorption process became less effective.

On the sidelines of exercise, you certainly feel thirsty. You need to drink more water. However, just water is not enough because the body is exposed the electrolyte and mineral during exercise so it needs to be satisfied again.

Drink juices that are not too cold and not too sweet. What is needed is an extract of fruit, so do not mixed it with water and do not take the fiber.

After exercise, the energy needs to be recovered with the correct nutrients to maintain muscle tissues, prepare muscles for your next workout, helping to reduce muscle pain, and prevent injury. However, do not immediately eat even though you feel hungry.

Because while exercising, All glucose we have is dropped, we can replace it with a sweet drink. One hour after exercise, drink juice with a combination of three fruits, like orange, watermelon, and cantaloupe. After that, you can eat chicken porridge, that can be easily digested.

Sports drinks can also be an alternative. But, again, consider the nutritional composition. Choose a drink that contains carbohydrates, electrolytes, sodium, potassium, and chlorine. Instead, energy drinks should not be an option because it was added with the stimulant in the form of caffeine and taurine.

If you have recently do weight training or resistance training, then the muscle tissue damage should be recovered by consuming protein. However, still be careful and do not overdo it. Generally, foods contain natural protein, so you do not need to overeating protein or a protein bar.

Fiber needs in children

Fruits contain good nutrients and fiber

Fiber needs of children by the calculations is the child's age + 5 grams. So, if your child's age is 5 years old, then the need for fiber is 10 grams.

Source of dietary fiber are vegetables, fruits, cereals, brown rice, whole wheat bread, legumes. To meet the needs of fiber, it can be obtained from the daily food intake that is nutritionally balanced.

Eat variety of foods that body needs. In preparing daily menu make sure the nutrition is complete, consisting of:

Sources of carbohydrates: rice, potatoes, bread, cereals.

Sources of protein: animal and vegetable side dishes (fish, chicken, meat, eggs, tofu, tempeh).

Sources of vitamins and minerals and fiber: fruits and vegetables.

Milk: Rich in protein, minerals, especially calcium: 1-2 cups per day

So that the fiber are met, choose foods with enough fiber.

The fiber content in various foods
• 1 medium size apple : 3 grams
• 1 medium size banana : 3 grams
• 1 medium size orange : 3 grams

Regarding the use of fiber supplements, actually it is not necessary if the child has fulfilled the needs of fiber in daily food. Eating fruits and vegetables, besides fiber-rich content of vitamins, It also rich in minerals and antioxidants that are good for growth and health of children.

Many fiber supplements are offered in the market, packed practically and attractively. For its security needs carefully before buying if indeed you really need it.

Healthy lifestyle to gain body weight

(illustration / public domain image)

If you want to gain weight, you still have to run a healthy lifestyle such as:

1. Eating with the amount of calories that are adjusted to the desired body weight.
2. Do exercise regularly so that weight gain occurs mainly in muscle mass, not fat mass.
3. Get enough rest.
4. Do not forget to do a healthy lifestyle by avoiding stress, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, and others.  

Is it safe to consume dates and honey for people with diabetes?

date trees and its fruits (illustration / public domain image)

Meal planning for diabetics (persons with diabetes) is an absolute must do. In planning meals, there are 3 patterns, which include:

Number of calories
Adjusted to body weight, height, age, physical condition, so it is very individual.

Type or composition of food
Choose foods with low glycemic index (called the glycemic index low if under 55) and the lower the glycemic load (glycemic load low if above 10).

Meal schedule
Eating with the schedule is divided into five to six times of the day, which includes three main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and two or three times for snack.

What about honey and dates? Honey is a type of foods that contain carbohydrates at 12 grams in a tablespoon, and provides 50 kcal. In addition, honey also has a glycemic index of about 87 (including types of foods with high glycemic index). Therefore honey still may be consumed, but only for seasonings, such as an extra or a mixture of seasonings for cooking.

Likewise dates, which is a fruit with an energy content of 50 kcal and 12 grams of total carbohydrate content of each three dates. There are several types of dates on the market, such as fresh fruit (which is not in the form of sweets) has a glycemic index of about 46 (come under low glycemic index), while dried dates have a glycemic index of 100.

So people with diabetes can still eat dates, as long as the as it's three fresh fruits a day, and it is not preserved or dried dates in the form of sweets.

benefits of seaweed and how to process it

Seaweed (illustration / public domain image)

As we all know, seaweed is rich in nutrients, it contains iodine, iron, calcium, mannitol, carotene and other nutrients that the body needs. Seaweed called Laminaria contains the active ingredient which can lower cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. Laminaria also has anti-clotting effects, can prevent intravascular thrombosis. Kelp is also rich in cellulose, cellulose can reduce cholesterol, to prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis.

Remember to soak it six hours before eating

Arsenic is a substance which if consumed in excessive amounts can cause chronic poisoned. Arsenic found in seaweed caused by water pollution. Therefore, before consuming seaweed, to keep it safe, should be washed clean. But do not soak it too long because the nutrients contained can be dissolved into the water.

Patients with hyperthyroidism and gastrointestinal diseases, especially gastric and duodenal ulcers should not consuming seaweed, pregnant and lactating women should not eat too much seaweed because seaweed contains iodine that will enter through the blood circulation into the body of fetus, and it can causes thyroid dysfunction in the fetus / child.