Friday, November 29, 2013

Calories in Flounder

Flounder belongs to the group of 'flatfish'. Some of the species belonging to this group have asymmetrical positioning of eyes on the head. Halibut, soles, turbot, European plaice also belong to the 'flatfish' group. Many species of flounders are expert at camouflage and it is difficult to detect them at the bottom of the sea. Flounders are abundantly present in the Northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Flounder Dishes

Flounder is a lean fish. It is quite low in calories. But it is prepared in a number of ways. The methods of preparation are responsible for the high calorie count of the dish containing flounder meat. The meat of founder fish is boneless and usually sauces, wines, vegetables and even crab meat is added to flounder meat to enhance the flavor and the taste. Flounder meat itself has a mild flavor and white color, when cooked. Various other ingredients like cream, cheese, vegetable oil, olive oil, etc., help enhance the taste and flavor of flounder dishes.

Flounder Calories

Take a look at the calories in flounder fillets.
  • 1 flounder fillet (127g): 149
  • Raw flounder (4 oz): 103
  • 1 fillet (6-1/4" x 3-1/2" x 3/4") of baked or broiled flounder: 173
  • Baked flounder (8 oz): 100
  • 1 serving (6 oz) of Trader Joe's Pacific flounder stuffed with crab meat: 310
  • One piece of flounder stuffed with crab: 332
  • 1 fillet of steamed flounder: 148
  • 1 fillet of fried battered flounder: 318
  • Wild flounder fillet (85g): 100
  • 1 fillet of fried breaded flounder: 341
  • Flounder served in cream sauce with potatoes and carrots: 295
Flounder Fish Nutrition Facts

Flounder fish is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium and protein. About 28g (1 oz) of boneless flounder contains 5.3g protein, 0.4 mcg vitamin B12 and 0.1 mg vitamin B6. It contains 9.3 IU vitamin A and 17 IU vitamin D. It contains 0.1g of saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. It is thus low in fat and so can be included in any type of weight loss diet. It is loaded with omega 3 fatty acids, which play an important role in improving your overall health. It contains about 71.5 mg omega-3 and 2.3 mg omega-6 fatty acids. A good amount of various other vitamins like vitamin E and C, niacin, choline, pantothenic acid, folate can be obtained by consuming flounders.

A flounder is rich in various vitamins. It is also packed with a number of minerals, for example, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, potassium, selenium, etc. All these nutrients strengthen your immune system and protect your body from various diseases. They offer you glowing skin and strong, shining hair. Proteins work as building blocks for the body and strengthen the cellular structure, hair and nails. Calcium promotes strong bones and teeth. Sufficient calcium in diet reduces the chances of osteoporosis. Minerals like zinc, copper, iron, magnesium, selenium help improve blood constitution. Some of the nutrients which work as antioxidants, help strengthen the immune system or rather all bodily systems.

But flounder being a sea fish, it is high in sodium (22.9mg in 1 oz. flounder). Moreover, it comes with considerable amount of cholesterol (13.6 mg in 1 oz flounder). Sodium and cholesterol can spoil the heart health. So moderate consumption of flounder is recommended.

Trout Fishing Lures

Over the last few decades, trout fishing has emerged as one of the most popular sport fishing activities in the United States. The term trouts is used to refer to a wide variety of fish belonging to the Salmonidae family, found in freshwater as well as saltwater, across North America, Europe and Asia. When it comes to trout fishing, lures and baits play a crucial role, and hence have to be chosen carefully.

Trout Fishing

There are several sub-species of trouts, each of which differ from the other in terms of appearance and behavior. You need to be well versed with these aspects of trouts, if you intend to have a successful day at fishing. You are bound to observe quite a few differences in speckled trout fishing tips and rainbow trout fishing tips. Some species, which are generally found in deep water, prefer to stay in shallow water during a particular time of the day. Being aware of such aspects of these species will help you in getting a larger catch in a shorter time. Getting yourself well-acquainted with the behavior of species is by far the most important tip a veteran of the field would give you. Your preparation will also depend on the season in which you go fishing. With so many variations in a single species, it is a little difficult to come up with specific trout fishing tips which will cover all the species. With all these variations in the species, trout fishing techniques and equipment is also bound to be differ to some extent.

Trout Fishing Lures

Though fishing lures come in various shapes, sizes and colors, you have to be careful when choosing one. The foremost thing to keep in mind is that the lures should imitate the prey of the fish in its natural surroundings as much as possible. In such circumstances, having a brief knowledge about the trout fish habitat can be an advantage in itself. Suppose you are going fishing to a nearby lake where the trout mainly feed on silver fish, then you will have to choose some lures which are silver in color, and hence resemble silver fish. Similarly, you can also try to find out what are the other creatures that exist in this lake and buy your lures accordingly. However, that doesn't mean you need to restrict to two or three different lures only. You can choose multiple lures, and even experiment with them to come up with tips on fishing lures of your own.

Generally, the lures used for trout fishing include jigs, spinners, flies, streamers, spoons etc. As an angler you may have to use different lures in different circumstances. For example, spoons come in handy in medium-speed currents, while stick-baits come in handy in slow water. In case of fly fishing, lures like dry flies, which skim the surface of the water, and wet flies, which float under the surface of the water, are the best bet. The lures you choose are also likely to differ according to the species of trout. For instance, in case of the rainbow trout, lures like trout flies, trout spinners and trout jigs are the most ideal, but they may not be ideal for all the other species. Similarly in case of golden trout fishing or speckled trout fishing, lures should be taken into consideration depending on the depth of water, other creatures found in the water body, time of fishing etc.

Lures tend to reduce deep hooking which is allegedly the leading cause of fish deaths in the course of fishing. Due to this, lures are preferred over baits when it comes to trout fishing as a hobby, wherein you just catch the fish, and then release it back in water. More importantly, using these fishing lures also reduces the use of live baits and thus helps in maintaining the balance in marine environment.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Kayak Fishing Tips

Fishing from a kayak can be a wonderful sporty experience, provided that you know the tips and tricks to control the kayak and fishing at the same time. One of the major advantages of this venture is the low cost. Sea kayaks are affordable to set up on one's own in comparison to other types of fishing watercraft. Their lightweight and small size also make them practically accessible for transporting from one place to another.

You can set out for kayak fishing in any type of water body having sufficient space for kayaking. Since the depth of a kayak is not much, they can be sailed through a shallow water body. There is no major limitations to kayaking, until and unless you have selected manageable water. Nevertheless, prior to starting out your day, understand the kayak fishing tricks, so as to make your sport adventure more fun and exciting.

Tips on Kayak Fishing

Kayak fishing is no different than other forms of angling with the help of watercraft. Hence, you can become an expertise in kayak fishing with time. And the best part is kayaks do not produce large waves that disturb the water or scare away the fish. Some of the useful saltwater kayak fishing tips that you can employ are as follows.

Safety is Paramount
Kayak fishing is not so easy, especially if you are fishing in a large water body. It is better to take kayaking lessons from a expert and learn the tips to remain safe. Ensure that you check the weather report and necessary information about the water safety before kayaking. In case of any possible challenges in weather condition, postpone your trip to another day.

Check the Kayak Type
Kayaks are available in two models, namely, the sit-in and sit-on-top models. The former type is an old model, which requires the angler to sit inside the kayak; whereas the latter is a new model, wherein the angler sits on top of the kayak. A sit-in kayak is more stable, hence if you are kayaking for the first time, it is better to opt for this model.

Select a Good Kayak
The first and foremost important consideration for kayak fishing is selecting the right equipment, or more precisely, the kayak. A well-equipped brand new kayak will cost around USD 1000 or slightly higher. Based on your budget, you can opt for a new kayak or a used kayak. In case, you are using a used one, make sure the yak is in a good usable condition.

Analyze the Paddle and Bilge Pump
If you are confused about choosing a kayak paddle, you can always opt for lightweight, but superior brand of paddles. With such an option, you can continue paddling for a prolonged period. One of the most important ocean kayak fishing advice is to carry extra good quality paddles. By doing so, you will remain safe, even if you or any of your friends lost the first paddle by any chance.

Kayak Fishing Gear
Pack the required fishing gear like rods, reels, lines, artificial lures and live baits for fishing on a kayak. If your kayak lacks self-draining scuppers , carry a bilge pump to evacuate water from he kayak (if necessary). Last but not the least, carry extra dry bags. As you are going to be in the middle of water, you can put your accessories in waterproof, dry bags.

For your safety, do not forget to wear personal flotation device (PFD) and efficient signaling devices. After all, safety comes first with any type of sport fishing. If possible, get yourself examined by a qualified doctor prior to the venture, so that you remain comfortable while in water. With these useful tips for fishing on a kayak, I hope you can pursue this sport without any hurdles.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

How to Fillet a Fish

Filleting a fish can be quite messy, if you do not know the basic tricks. In the first try, you may not succeed in separating a thick flesh. But don't worry, you will definitely get the thick meat with a few trials. Learn how to fillet a fish (step by step), including the preparation process and basic cutting instructions. It requires a bit of patience and experience to fillet a fish with less hassle.

Tips to Successfully Fillet a Fish

So, you have been planning to make fish fillets, but are not confident with your fish preparation skills? First, you need to learn the techniques for controlling knife, only then you can make proper fish fillets. Tips for filleting a fish differ slightly based on the size and type of fish. Say for example, the head part is separated first prior to cutting a small fish. While in case of a large fish, it's not necessary to remove the fish head. Instructions to fillet a trout are described below.

The first thing that you should know about making fish fillets is choosing fresh fish. Ensure that it has bright eyes and does not stink. If possible, lift the gills to check the color within; a bright pinkish red indicates fresh fish, while bluish coloration is a sign of rotten fish. In case, you caught a trout, it's important to maintain the fish in such a way that it remains fresh until you are ready to clean and fillet it.

The type of knife that you use also matters a lot in filleting a fish perfectly. That is the main reason why, some professionals prefer using custom knives, while others can make fillets with normal kitchen knife. The trick is to use a sharp knife that cuts fish flesh smoothly. Based on your preference, choose a good quality knife that you find comfortable in making sharp cuts. Also, get a clean and large cutting board.

Coming back to learning how to fillet a fish, there are two common methods. The first is to start from the head, and the second is filleting from the tail portion. Here, we shall focus on the first technique. Hoping that you have already cleaned the trout (remove gut), place it over a flat cutting board. Place the fish in a comfortable position for safe cutting, or you can place with head pointing towards you.

Locate the fins just below the head, and make the first straight cut below the pectoral fins, in the soft tissue. Make this cut straight and perpendicular to the backbone. Stop as soon as you can feel the backbone (do not cut through bone). Hold the fish head and belly flap with right hand, and open the cleft slightly. Tightly hold the knife with your left hand and be ready to make horizontal cut.

As you flip the knife to 90 degrees, its blade will remain adjacent to the backbone, but parallel to it. Pointing the cutting edge towards the tail direction, make the horizontal cut. You can use the backbone as a direction guide. Slightly lift up the belly flap with right hand and continue cutting the rib bones, moving the blade towards the tail. Watch the knife as it comes closer to the dorsal fin and anal fin. Finish off the second cut by running the blade just above the anal fin to collect maximum meat.

With this step, you are done with making the first fillet. Moving to the remaining side, flip your fish and hold the fish head with your right hand. Again make a straight cut, just behind the pectoral fins and at right angle to the backbone. Make the horizontal cut as mentioned above along the backbone. Once you get the second fillet, you can start cleaning the two fillets, and removing the ribs to get boneless fillets.

Adopt the above steps for filleting a trout, and have some patience while learning to do it. It will be just a matter of few trials, and you will become a master in filleting a fish. The result will be thick boneless fillets, which you can use in any fish recipes, that you can think of. Whether you grill the fillets, make stew or simply fry them, fish fillets taste delicious.

Building Plywood Boats

Since childhood, water has always fascinated me and boating has been my favorite. Every time I sit in a boat, I wonder "how is this boat made?". There are many styles in which a boat can be made. They can be made of different materials too. In this article, we will narrow down to building plywood boats. Plywood is one of the easily available materials and compared to boats made up of other materials, the procedure for building plywood boats is much simpler. At the same time, it is cost-effective, too, as plywood is not very expensive.

How to Build a Plywood Boat
  1. Before you start with the actual process of building the boats, you will need to assemble the materials required for the same. So let's take a look at some of the crucial materials which you will require are undermentioned.
    • Plywood
    • Planks
    • Lumber
    • Screws
    • Caulk
    • Paint and paint brush
    • Safety glasses and gloves
  2. After gathering all the material, the next step is of chopping the materials to the desired size and shape. Cut the lumber of size 2 by 4. Next comes the stern post of the size 2 by 4. After that cut the planking of 10 inches.
  3. Now, after all the assembling and cutting has been done, we start with the actual procedure of building plywood boats. The first step consists of building the ribs. For building the ribs, you will require lumber. Assemble the lumbers and join them. In order to secure the joints of the rib, make use of plywood. The rib of the boat is known to support the motor system of the boat. Hence, make sure that it is strong enough.
  4. After you are done with the construction of the rib, start building the keel. For this, you will have to attach the stern post to the lumber. The keel acts as the backbone of the boat and gives it the much required stability.
  5. Next comes the keelson. Turn the ribs upside down and fix the stern post and the keelson to it. Starting from the transom, move forward and attach the wooden screws. While doing this, make sure that the spacing between the ribs is equal. To form the bow, the last band of ribs is supposed to be attached to the front end of the boat.
  6. Now, on the inside part of the ribs, attach the keelson with the help of screws. Make sure that the screw passes well through the rib as well as the keelson. The function of the keelson is to provide stability to the ribs and the keel.
  7. On the bottom of the inside part of the keel, attach the stringers. After you are done with it, again attach the stringers with the help of the screws on the external side and by the sides.
  8. Now, we move to the construction of the hull. The hull is made up of plywood. Attach the plywood to the stringers and ribs.
  9. All the seams should be filled with the help of caulk. The seams which are present inside as well as outside should be filled with the caulk properly.
  10. Now, we move on to the final step of this task. This step includes fitting of planking between the ribs, a few inches below the gunwales. This will assist in the formation of the seats. For seat supports, you can attach the gussets to the ribs with the help of screws. Now, attach the seat supports to the seats. To give a nice look to the boat, you can paint it with your favorite colors.
  11. With this, you complete the procedure of making the boat. You can check if the boat floats well. You can also check for leakage, if any. If there is a leakage, do not forget to fix it urgently.
While making the boat, make sure that you wear safety glasses and gloves. Even after seeing and sailing in boats, I had never thought of the procedure of making boats. Even though, the process is a bit tedious, I am sure you will enjoy it and the satisfaction of making the boat yourself will be worth all the effort. So, I think you should try your hands at it and give it a shot. So go ahead, make a boat and enjoy boating!

Guppy Breeding

Mostly living in freshwater, guppy fish, popularly called millionfish, belong to the family of Poeciliidae and grows to a size of about 2 inches in length. Similar to the other members of the Poeciliidae family, the females of these fish give birth to young ones without releasing the eggs in the open. Most people choose these fish for their showy fins and vibrant colors. Guppy fish are tropical fish and are indigenous to Central American countries like Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua, besides East Timor, Brazil, Netherlands, Vietnam and Venezuela, but today they are found in all continents other than Antarctica. Guppy breeding can be an interesting hobby and you can selectively breed them and create a tank full of guppies of different shapes, sizes and colors.

Guppy Breeding Tank

Ideally, you should buy four tanks for guppy breeding - 3 of at least 20 gallons and 1 of 55 gallon. If you want you can buy smaller fish tanks and place some dividers in between. The basic point is you need to have four separate areas - for breeding, growth of females, growth of males and a separate area for the young ones. If you choose to buy all four tanks, the 55 gallon tank should be used to raise the young ones, while one of the other three tanks can be used to exclusively to breed females and the other males. The tank which remains can be used to keep the fish together.

Guppy Breeding Guide

While thinking of breeding guppies, you should have a proper breeding setup, so that they remain healthy and grow fast. It's important to plan how you would breed these fish as without a proper plan, your project may go astray. Try and set some goals when you start, like adding colorful fish later, increasing the size of the tank, etc. your focus should only be on one aspect of breeding, i.e. when your focus is on size, you should see to it that all the fish grow to a certain size. It's only later that you should think of adding different colored fish. If you decide to let the guppies grow to a certain size, then don't suddenly introduce another guppy fish simply because it shows brilliant colors.

While breeding guppies, make sure that you don't crowd the tank, as it can stunts their growth. In a 10 gallon tank, you should not keep about 10 guppies. If you have more than that there are chances that over time, their numbers would increase to such an extent that you will have to either fish some of them or buy another tank to keep them. You should ideally change the water once every day rather than changing it in a week. Avoid rapid changes in water quality, as it may harm these little creatures. The temperature of water should not be more than 65 to 68 F and while breeding it should be increased to about 75 F.

After birth, Guppies can be given microworms and brine shrimp, which have been newly hatched. Instead of giving your pets big serving once or twice a day, it's better if you give them small servings, number of times a day. In the first couple of months, feed them as much as possible, as they would mature very fast and that's the time when they grow rapidly.

Guppy Breeding Supplies

While looking for guppies in stores, you should ensure to have fish of the highest quality. If you purchase the inexpensive ones, there are chances that you won't get fish of the highest order. They may serve well for first time aquarium hobbyist, but they can't supplement for the high-quality ones. While buying, you should ensure that they don't come from different strains, as there are chances that they won't be able to breed well. If you are looking for guppies to breed, you should buy them from a reputed breeder, as it would save you time and effort later on. You can also search for a reputed breeder online and the best thing is they would deliver them at your home. Purchase a couple, young enough to live for sometime, so that you can see them grow and enjoy feeding them.

Guppy breeding needs a lot of care and attention, but only at an early stage, just after their birth. Once they mature, you don't need to spend a lot of time caring for them, but make sure to feed them well, so that they remain healthy.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Food Calories List

Food calories contribute to the weight and looks of a person. It also gives them a feeling about themselves on their looks. It is very important to know the amount of calorie intake that takes place regularly in the body through the food that we eat. Some foods seeming low in calories can be a complete opposite and provide that extra calorie that your body does not require. The food calories list is very beneficial in this case, as a common person who goes through it can understand their regular calorie intake and the calories required by their body to perform regular functions.

Effect of High Calorie Intake

The calories that the body acquires from the consumption of food has to be kept to a minimum, as going beyond that can cause the body weight to increase to undesirable proportions. Increased weight is a result of overeating coupled with no exercise. Nowadays, the cartons of milk and other food items contain a list that indicates the amount of calories that are present in its constituents, which is a great help for everyone to understand what the intake of calories will be for that particular food item. But there are many other things that we consume, and have no idea about the calories they contain, which is where, this food calories list comes handy. This list can be utilized for monitoring the calories intake by eating a particular portion of food. Simultaneously, you can calculate the total calories that food contains by analyzing the number portions of food that have been consumed. If a person eats more than the calculated portion, it indicates the amount of calorie intake is more than that person requires. Consuming the required calories and having control in portions helps in controlling and maintaining weight and overall health.

Formulation of a Food Calories List

A food calories list is devised by segregating different types of food with different calories. It even indicates the fluctuation in calories that can occur with the cooking procedure. We get the information of the calorie consumption taking place while having a vegetable raw or by cooking it in butter, olive oil or having them steamed. Therefore, you can conceive your own menu while keeping your calorie intake in check.

Meat Calories
Item Quantity Calories
Raw Beef 1 ounce 88
Raw Lean Beef 1 ounce 75
Grilled/Broiled Beef 1 ounce 107
Lamb 1 ounce 80
Lamb Chop 1 chop 128
Deer 1 ounce 42
Pepperoni 1 ounce 148
Grilled/Broiled Steak 1 ounce 51
Raw Bacon 1 ounce 150
Cooked Bacon 1 ounce 135
Ham 1 ounce 45
Pork 1 ounce 76
Pork Chop 1 ounce 75
Pork Sausage 1 patty 92
Pork Roast 1 ounce 55
Chicken Roasted 1 cup 240
Chicken Hotdog 1 full 116
Turkey 1 ounce 45
Turkey Hotdog 1 full 102
Caviar 1 ounce 72
Raw Clams 1 medium 11
Canned Clams 1 cup 237
Cod 1 ounce 25
Crab 1 ounce 30
Lobster 1 ounce 33
Raw Oyster 1 medium 8
Salmon 1 ounce 50
Canned Salmon 1 ounce 40
Raw Scallops 1 ounce 25
Shrimp 1 ounce 30
Prawns 1 ounce 30
Tuna 1 ounce 50
Canned Tuna 1 ounce 35
Vegetable Calories
Item Quantity Calories
Red Pepper 1 medium 39
Green Pepper 1 medium 17
Old Potato 1 medium 88
Baked Potato 1 medium 161
Baked Sweet Potato 1 medium 136
Boiled Potato 1 medium 861
Fresh Potato 1 medium 80
Cucumber 1 medium 19
Raw Asparagus 1 ounce 8
Fresh Green Beans 1 cup 44
Canned Green Beans 1 cup 46
Beetroot 1 cup 60
Broccoli 1 cup 24
Brussels Sprouts 1 ounce 12
Raw Cabbage 1 cup 56
Corn 1 cup 132
Raw Eggplant 1 medium 27
Garlic 1 clove 4
Ginger 1 ounce 20
Saffron 1 teaspoon 2
Salt 1 teaspoon 0
Lettuce 1 head 21
Mushrooms 1 cup 20
White Onion 1 medium 40
Green Onions 1 cup 32
Canned Pumpkin 1 cup 80
Radish 1 cup 18
Raw Spinach 1 leaf 2
Tomato 1 medium 26
Fresh Green Beans 1 cup 44
Green Peas 1 cup 96
Shallots 1 tablespoon 8
Tomatillo 1 medium 11
Fruit Calories
Item Quantity Calories
Apple 1 medium 80
Apricot 1 medium 17
Avocado 1 ounce 50
Banana 1 medium 105
Blackberries 1 cup 74
Blueberries 1 cup 82
Boysenberries 1 cup 82
Fresh Cherries 1 cup 100
Dried Cherries 1 cup 560
Cantaloupe 1 medium 188
Cranberries 1 cup 46
Dates 1 cup 502
Fig 1 medium 37
Dried Figs 5 figs 240
Grapes 1 cup 62
Grapefruit 1 medium 120
Kiwifruit 1 medium 46
Lemon 1 medium 17
Lime 1 medium 20
Mango 1 medium 135
Nectarine 1 medium 67
Orange 1 medium 62
Papaya 1 medium 117
Peach 1 medium 37
Pear 1 medium 100
Canned Pear 1 ounce 75
Pineapple 1 cup 78
Plum 1 ounce 16
Pomegranate 1 ounce 19
Raisins 1 cup 438
Strawberries 1 cup 46
Tangerine 1 medium 37
Watermelon 1 cup 50
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Other Calories
Item Quantity Calories
Bread 1 slice 70
Cornflakes 1 cup 100
Cheddar Cheese 1 ounce 114
Cottage Cheese 1 cup 234
Tofu 1 ounce 22
Chocolate 1 ounce 140
White Chocolate 1 ounce 162
Dark Chocolate 1 ounce 180
Cocoa 1 cup 200
Cornstarch 1 tablespoon 30
Ketchup 1 tablespoon 15
Mayonnaise 1 tablespoon 100
Mustard 1 tablespoon 10
Olive 1 full 12
Oatmeal 1 cup 145
Chocolate Syrup 1 tablespoon 25
Yeast 1 ounce 80
Soy Sauce 1 tablespoon 11
Buttermilk 1 cup 100
Soy Milk 1 cup 80
Yogurt 1 cup 140
Egg 1 full 75
Butter 1 tablespoon 100
Peanut Butter 1 tablespoon 95
Almonds 1 ounce 160
Cashews 1 ounce 160
Peanuts 1 ounce 160
Walnuts 1 ounce 140
Pistachios 1 ounce 165
Barley 1 cup 650
Noodles 1 cup 190
Cream of Tartar 1 teaspoon 2
Popcorn 1 ounce 110
Pasta 1 ounce 100
Rice 1 cup 240
Brown Rice 1 cup 210
Honey 1 tablespoon 60
Maple Syrup 1 tablespoon 50


Beverage Calories
Item Quantity Calories
Milk 1 cup 157
Beer 1 bottle 144
Gin 1 ounce 65
Rum 1 ounce 65
Vodka 1 ounce 65
Whiskey 1 ounce 65
Red Wine 1 ounce 23
White Wine 1 ounce 22
Coffee 1 cup 40
Tea 1 cup 50


Negative Calories Food List
Every food that we consume contains some amount of calories. Calories help in generating energy for our daily work. However, certain foods are denoted as 'negative calorie foods', as they digest by consuming extra calories than they actually contain. The breakdown process associated with these foods create a great difficulty for the body. The body requires harder work for extraction of calories from these negative calorie foods. The effects of calorie intake in case of a negative calories food is lesser than zero as it spends more calories than the food can itself produce. A negative calorie food list, thus, offers a great proposition to people who are looking for rapid decrease in their weight to maintain a slim body and lead a healthy life. A negative calories food list comprises food items that are very less in starch, fat, and calorie content. Weight loss associated with a negative calorie food diet can vary with different people having a different nutrition system. You have to be very careful with the following calories list, because fats, not only contribute to putting on weight, but they are also dangerous for your blood pressure and circulation as well, if they are consumed in high quantities.

Pros of a Food Calorie List
As we have already seen, a food calories list is very useful in maintaining the proper intake of calories on a regular basis. People with high calories are prone to being or becoming overweight. People consuming high calories are prone to many heart diseases and other ailments. They even face trouble in continuing with the regular work process of their life. A food calorie list helps such to live better by suggesting the perfect diet that can help shed those extra pounds. It allows individuals to form a proper diet for maintaining the required health and acquiring the energy that is required to perform regular functions.

It is seen that carbohydrates, proteins, fats, etc., contain calories and their proper intake is necessary for everyone. Referring to this food calorie list is a medium that allows a person to know the diet required for proper functioning of the body, without having to spend on other ways for weight loss.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Calories in Sushi

Most of us think that sushi is a dish of raw fish but sushi does not mean 'eating pieces of raw fish'. Sushi is a dish of rice seasoned with sweet rice-wine vinegar. Sushi mainly is made up of this rice, but, it may contain other ingredients too. The other ingredients are raw fish (sashimi), cooked fish, shellfish, tofu, boiled corn, mayonnaise, etc. Now, you can understand that sushi and sashimi are different.

Japanese food is well-known for 'rice and fish pickled together'. Sushi is a Japanese delicacy which has now gained popularity all over the world. Inarizushi, Chirashizushi, Nigirizushi, Makizushi are some of the popular types of sushi. Kansai style (from Osaka) and the Edo style (Tokyo) are famous all over the world. The status of sushi as a street food changed to a delicacy sold from an elegant shop, after the great Kanto earthquake of 1923, as the stalls were destroyed by the earthquake. Originally, it used to take around three months to one year for the fish to get fermented. Then people started using vinegar for fermentation along with rice and fish. This shortened the period of fermentation and also enhanced the taste.

Sushi calories and nutrition facts, described below, are for your guidance only as they can vary depending on the ingredients and the portion size. Sushi, that contains mayonnaise and cream cheese, and also the tempura sushi, are generally high in calories. They are not recommended in weight loss diets.

Number of Calories in Sushi (Nigiri)

Type of Sushi Calories per Item
Amaebi (Sweet shrimp) 35.5 kcal
Anago (Conger eel) 62.0 kcal
Awabi (Abalone) 36.0 kcal
Buri (Yellowtail) 60.5 kcal
Hamachi (Young yellowtail) 58.9 kcal
Hirame (Flounder) 38.5 kcal
Hamaguri (Clam boiled) 40.0 kcal
Hotategai (Giant scallop) 44.8 kcal
Ika (Cuttlefish, Squid) 38.8 kcal
Iwashi (Sardine) 63.0 kcal
Kani (Crab) 45.0 kcal
Kazunoko (Herring roe) 42.0 kcal
Kisu (Whiting) 40.3 kcal
Kurumaebi Mushi (Prawn steamed) 44.7 kcal
Kurumaebi Odori (Prawn raw) 41.0 kcal
Maguro Akami (Tuna non fatty) 45.0 kcal
Maguro Ootoro (Tuna fatty) 70.4 kcal
Saba (Mackere) 59.4 kcal
Sake (Salmon) 60.0 kcal
Suzuki (Sea bass) 39.0 kcal
Tai (Red snapper) 43.5 kcal
Tako (Octopus) 37.5 kcal
Tamago (Omelet) 59.8 kcal

Sushi Roll

Sushi Types Calories per Item
Kappa Maki (Cucumber roll) 34.5 kcal
Kanpyo Maki (Dried gourd roll) 55 kcal
Tekka Maki (Tuna Roll) 49.0 kcal

Western Style Sushi

Type of Sushi Calories per Item
Boston Roll (Poached shrimp, avocado, cucumber) 30 kcal
California Roll (crab, avocado, cucumber) 26 kcal
Dragon Roll (eel, avocado, cucumber) 73 kcal
Philadelphia Roll (Philadelphia cream cheese, salmon, cucumber) 72 kcal
Rainbow roll (halibut, red snapper, tuna, avocado) 46 kcal
Salmon Avocado Roll (salmon, avocado) 39 kcal
Spicy Scallop Roll (scallop, cucumber, scallions) 50 kcal
Spicy Shrimp Roll (shrimp poached, cucumber, scallions) 49 kcal
Spicy Tuna Roll (spicy tuna, cucumber) 51 kcal
Spicy Yellowtail Roll (soft shell crab tempura) 59 kcal
Tempura Roll (shrimp tempura) 60 kcal
Tijuana Roll (yellowtail, jalapeno pepper) 31 kcal
Tuna Avocado Roll (tuna, avocado) 40 kcal

Calories in Sushi Condiments

Type of Condiment Calories in 100 grams
Gari (pickled ginger) 50 kcal
Soy Sauce 70 kcal
Rice Vinegar 45 kcal
Wasabi Paste 265 kcal

There are numerous versions of sushi and it is difficult to describe the exact sushi calories. The Japanese follow certain etiquette while eating Sushi. Sushi is a traditional dish designed to satisfy food lovers. You may taste the different sushi types and then find out the best ones.

Desiccated Coconut Calories

The two basic items necessary to sustain life are sunshine and coconut milk.
Dustin Hoffman

Known in many Pacific, tropical and coastal countries as the Tree of Life, Tree of Abundance, Jewel of the Tropics and the Tree of Heaven the coconut tree is a complete storehouse of necessities that bestows upon mankind all that it needs to survive - delicious fruit to appease hunger, wholesome coconut water to quench thirst, tough wood to build boats and huts, and extremely strong and durable fiber and leaves that can be fashioned into ropes, mats, rudimentary clothing and bedding material. Perhaps this is the very reason why, in Sanskrit, the coconut tree is hailed as Kalpa Vriksha or Kalpa Taru, which roughly translates as the tree that fulfills all desires or wishes (Kalpa: wish; Vriksha/ Taru: tree)!

Desiccated coconut is nothing but the white, succulent meat of the coconut seed which has been scraped from the insides of the tough coconut seed shell. It is usually shredded or flaked and then dried to remove moisture. This dried and shredded coconut meat is often ground to for a fine powder before being used as a culinary ingredient. Now, let's take a look at desiccated coconut calories and nutrition to better appreciate this wholesome and delicious cooking ingredient that gives all those tropical dishes that creamy texture and imparts a subtle, nutty flavor to all those seafood curries and gravies.

Desiccated Coconut Nutrition

Talking about calories and nutrition, desiccated coconut is a rich source of protein, carbohydrates and fat with trace amounts of calcium, iron and Vitamin C. A 30 g (which is a little more than an ounce) serving of desiccated coconut which is neither sweetened, creamed nor toasted contains approximately 190 calories, out of which an estimated 150 calories come from its fat content (including saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats) alone! That being said, let's now take a bird's-eye view of the nutritional value of plain, desiccated coconut meat.

Nutrient Content Per Serving
Carbohydrates 8 g
Calcium 1.3 g
Dietary Fiber 5.6 g
Fats 19 g
Iron 6.5 g
Proteins 11 g
Vitamin C 1.3 g

How do You Make Desiccated Coconut Yourself?

Wondering how to make fresh, desiccated coconut at home to add a tropical flavor to your chicken or seafood recipes? Well, help's here! Read on to know what all you need to make fresh, desiccated coconut from scratch!

Ingredients
  • Fresh, whole coconut - 1, medium-sized
Instruments You'll Need
  • Sharp edged spoon or knife - 1
  • Fine grater - 1
  • Microwave safe bowl - 1
  • Baking Sheet
  • Microwave
Method of Preparation
  • Prepare the coconut by breaking the shell into two and pouring the water out in another clean utensil (preferably plastic, ceramic or stainless steel but not aluminum, copper or any other metal).
  • Scrape the succulent, white meat out using the sharp-edged spoon or knife. This will be easier if you break the two coconut halves further into four or six pieces and scrape out the meat from these smaller pieces, one at a time.
  • Shred the coconut meat that you scraped out using the grater to convert the coconut meat chunks into smaller, more uniform flakes.
  • Place the shredded coconut meat loosely upon the baking sheet and place it inside the oven which has been pre heated to 250 F.
  • Do not clump or pack coconut flakes too closely as this will prevent proper drying out or uniform desiccation.
  • Let the flakes cook inside the oven for about 7-10 minutes, making sure to check out the texture regularly to avoid over or under drying.
  • Take the coconut flakes out of the oven once the flakes lose their creamy texture and become somewhat brittle
Store the desiccated coconut in an airtight jar, so that no moisture gets in. Air and moisture can cause molds to grow on the desiccated coconut, causing it to smell bad and get a patchy, greenish-yellow look. You can grind the desiccated coconut flakes in your blender to turn it into coconut powder. However, I would suggest you grind dried coconut flakes as and when needed rather than grinding the entire lot at once and storing it, as this will cause the powder to become somewhat greasy on long-term storage. That was all about desiccated coconut calories and nutrition along with the recipe for making it yourself, in keeping with Buzzle's custom of throwing in a little something extra! Hope you enjoyed the experience!

Kentucky Tourism

Known for its thoroughbred horses, distilleries and strains of bluegrass music, Kentucky is also known world over for its vast expanse of greenery and streams. The exquisite places and serene neighborhoods make this state one of the most visited places in the southern part of United States. Kentucky includes some of the longest cave systems in the world and is the most productive state in terms of coal mining. The beautiful lakes and rivers and the festive atmosphere and historic sites contribute in a big way towards the tourism industry of Kentucky.

Kentucky State Parks
The state parks in Kentucky are a major attraction for tourists. Miles of green pastures encompassed with a vast array of caves and shorelines bordering the majestic mountains are a visual treat. Kentucky state parks offer a wide variety of amenities. The plush log cabins are a nostalgic way to get up close with nature. You can also enjoy paddle boat and canoe rides in the sparkling rivers and lakes, and partake in various fly fishing and bass fishing activities. You can succumb to your appetite by visiting a host of themed restaurants at the resort parks, and savor the local delicacies such as crab, salmon and a variety of Kentucky brown breads. A great way to explore the lush green surroundings is taking a ride on horseback. You can also go for a swim in the beautiful lakes or beaches or use the indoor swimming pools for a host of activities.

Kentucky Lake
The beautiful Kentucky Lake offers a large variety of activities for tourists. This man-made marvel spread over two thousand three hundred and eighty miles of shoreline, offers a view of breathtaking scenery. A great way to get away from the daily hustle-bustle of our lives, this lake is a perfect way to enjoy the peace and tranquility of nature. The resorts at Kentucky Lake offer a complete range of recreational activities such as jet skiing, fishing, boating, golf and tennis. You can snuggle up in your tent and camp in the various campsites this lake offers. If you're an avid traveler, the lake provides campgrounds for motor homes.

Kentucky Horse Park
Situated in Lexington, Kentucky, the Kentucky Horse Park is a horse farm that is very popular with the tourists. Twice daily, this park exhibits a variety of rare horses from all over the world in the Parade of Breeds. Authentic costumes adorn the horses that are ridden in the parade. Some of the greatest race horses in the world have found refuge in this park after retirement. Apart from thoroughbreds, standardbred horses also form a formidable part of the Kentucky Horse Park. This educational theme park is very popular with horse lovers around the globe.

The Kentucky Center
A major attraction with tourists, the Kentucky Center for the performing arts in Louisville consists of three performing areas, the largest being Robert S. Whitney Hall which accommodates a seating capacity of two thousand four hundred and six. Celebrities and artists who have used the stages in the center include Jim Carey, Gregory Peck, Philip Glass and James Taylor. The center organizes various programs such as drama, creative writing, dance, visual arts and music all yearlong for children and adults. The massive stage and performance areas draw crowds to witness events that take place all yearlong.

Apart from the above mentioned places, Kentucky offers a wide variety of entertainment for its tourists that flock all year round. The pristine waters and lush surroundings along with a multitude of eateries entice the weary traveler to keep coming back for more.

Salmon Fishing Tips

Salmon fishing is an exciting and rewarding task, provided that you understand the proper way to go about salmon fishing. Whether for recreational fishing or eating purpose, salmon fishing tips will be of great help for getting them in your hook. The two most important factor for catching salmon are the time spent for fishing and the fishing techniques. Spending time in the water without proper knowledge is not enough for catching these fish. Let's take a brief look at how to go about salmon fishing for you to have successful fishing trips.

Tips for Salmon Fishing

If you are fishing salmon for eating purpose, check out fishing places where you can take the caught salmon. Otherwise, if you catch salmon in the restricted areas, then you have to release the fish back into the water. Tips for fishing salmon vary depending upon where you are fishing, either saltwater or freshwater. Following are some of the effective salmon fishing tips and tricks for either of the two fishing areas.

Fishing Gear: Depending upon your fishing group and number of salmon that you want to catch, you can prepare salmon fishing gear such as poles, lines and fishing lures. For catching many salmon fish, you can consider using a planer board on a boat, so that you can set many fishing lines at a time. Don't forget to sharpen the hook, so that it protrudes deep into the thick jaws of salmon.

Fishing Time: Plan your fishing time in the morning or evening, as salmon prefers low light conditions. Though daytime salmon fishing is also possible, the chances of hooking them are less. The best salmon fishing time is cloudy days, when many salmon fish swim together. In case of harsh sunny days, they stay deep in the bottom of the water, which in turn becomes difficult to hook them.

Locating the Fish: Tracking salmon position is one of key tips to successful fishing. Salmon thrives in cool habitats where there is clear and oxygenated water. It also like the areas where there is vegetation. At any point of time, throw the line in the area where you spot salmon, rather than taking chances in other places.

Fishing Technique: Another important salmon fishing tip is applying the right technique. While putting the fishing line in the water, make sure to set it in downstream water. If bait fishing is allowed in the area where you are fishing, then it is the best technique to catch salmon. In order to imitate a live herring, ensure that the fishing line is deep inside the water. Fly fishing is another option for catching salmon, particularly if you are not in a group.

Follow the above tips for fishing salmon. Once you feel the salmon's pull, you can draw the fishing line immediately to catch salmon. If you locate a hole with many salmon fish, you can enjoy catching them the whole day. You can also take the advice from a fisherman. After a salmon is hooked, kill it with one blow and store it. You can preserve salmon in the refrigerator for about two days. Once you have finished salmon fishing, cook them in your traditional styles and enjoy different mouth-watering salmon recipes like smoked salmon recipes or canned salmon recipes.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Lionfish Habitat

The beautiful, graceful swimmer the lionfish is also called the Turkey fish, Dragon fish or even Scorpionfish. These are very attractive looking sea creatures, but are aggressive predators. They have stinging spines and their fins are poisonous. They are known to corner their prey and stun them with their spines. Then the prey is swallowed whole by the lionfish.

Lionfish Facts

The lionfish is a slow swimmer that can carry out quick movements. These movements are helpful in catching prey. The lionfish takes a fanned out pose, when it sees a predator approaching. So anything that dares to come close, they will inject the venom from their long spines. The lionfish has really long, separated fins that has a stripped pattern on a white background. They have dorsal fin spines and enlarged pectoral fins with a zebra like stripe pattern in every species. There are different species that include dwarf lionfish, black lionfish and red lionfish. The lionfish usually swims in pairs.

Lionfish Habitat

Their habitat consists of the warm problematic waters. They are usually found in the Indo-Pacific region and different species around the world. The habitat consists of rocky regions under the water with a lot of plants and fishes. Thus, they are often found near the coral reefs. They like to hide in holes, under the rocks and caverns. Let us see the lionfish habitat according to the species.

Red Lionfish
The red lionfish has red and maroon stripes over their white body. They grow about 17 inches in size as adults. The red lion fish habitat consists of the coral reef regions of the Indian and Pacific ocean. They are also found on the off east coast of Florida, United States.

Black Lionfish
The black lionfish is black and white striped with solid black spikes and fins. They are generally found in the warm tropical waters.

Freshwater Lionfish
The freshwater lionfish has natural beauty that makes it one of the most popular aquarium fish. They are actually toadfish that are completely harmless and non-poisonous. They have spines that may cause only a slight pain due to their sharpness. These freshwater lionfish habitat consists of waters around Australia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea.

Dwarf Lionfish
The dwarf lionfish looks like the red and black lionfish, but is a smaller version of the two. The dwarf fish is just about 15 centimeters in length and can have different colors like red or brown. The spikes of the dwarf lionfish is same as the width of the body. They have spotted bands on their back fins. The lionfish habitat includes the Indo - Pacific waters, the Australian coastal reefs and the estuaries of south-western Australia and the north, south to southern New South Wales.

Lionfish Care

Many people love to have lionfish in their aquarium or fish tanks. The lionfish are thought to be one of the difficult fish to be cared for. These fish are venomous and can cause many health hazards. But, once you understand how to take lionfish care, you will find them to be easy pets to keep. The lionfish are a hardy lot that are disease resistant and adaptable to various water conditions. They can grow big in size, so you need to use a large aquarium to give them enough room to swim. You can have more than one lionfish in a tank, but make sure each one gets enough individual space. The lionfish are slow and lazy and just lie about during day time.

You can keep the lionfish in a reef aquarium and make sure you have carried out thorough research regarding compatible species. Lionfish is active during feed time and just hang around the bottom during the day. You therefore need to choose a soft substrate so that the lionfish does not injure itself. The lionfish diet consists of small crustaceans and small pieces of beef heat. You can even feed them shrimp and worms during dawn and dusk hours.

This was something about lionfish habitat and care. Lionfish habitat consists of the reefs and rocky crevices of the Indo-Pacific regions. They are known to swim their way around the world. Lionfish is interesting aquarium fish and should be brought home only after thorough research. I hope this article in lionfish habitat has helped you get some information regarding these beautiful aquatic creatures.

Catfish Recipes and Other Fish Recipes

When I picked up the skillet one fine day, people around me thought it was something fishy. But little did they know that there was no ulterior motive behind my action. Tired of all the boring fish dishes available in the city restaurants, I decided it was time to test my own skills. With the combined efforts of friends and neighbors, I have finally managed to procure some interesting fish recipes. And of course, it was only post this success story; I have decided to let the world have a peek at some of the lip smacking fish recipes I have stumbled upon!

Fish Recipes
Catfish Supreme
Ingredients
Catfish fillets-cut in strips (1 pounds)
Mayonnaise (4 tablespoons)
Butter ( cup)
Fresh mushrooms-sliced (1 cup)
Cajun-style blackened seasoning (2 teaspoons)
Fresh parsley- chopped ( cup)
Green onions- sliced (1 cup)
Small, peeled shrimp (1 pound)
Condensed cream of shrimp soup

Directions
First, you need to mix the catfish strips with blackened fish seasoning. Then, spread the mayonnaise over the catfish. Place it in a shallow dish. Now, cover it and refrigerate for 1 hour. Take a large skillet and heat 4 tablespoons butter in it. Wait till it sizzles. Now, heat the fish strips till they turn golden.

Take the fish and transfer it to a 9x13 inch-baking dish. You need to heat the 4 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet. Add the mushrooms to this and stir it till it turns golden brown. Then add the shrimp, onions and parsley. You will now, need to reduce the heat. Cook the shrimp till they are tender. Once they are cooked, stir in the cream of shrimp. Now, ladle this soup mixture over the dish. The next step would be to bake it at 375 degrees F for at least 30 minutes. Your delicious catfish supreme is ready to be served.

Fried Catfish
Ingredients
Yellow cornmeal (3/4cup)
Salt (2 teaspoons)
Cayenne pepper (1 teaspoon)
Vegetable oil
Garlic powder ( teaspoon)
Flour ( cup)
Whole catfish (Or 4 catfish fillets)

Directions
First you need to combine the cornmeal, salt, flour, cayenne pepper and garlic powder, all together. Next, cover the catfish with this mixture. Brush off all the excess. Take at least a 12-inch skillet and fill it with vegetable oil till its half full. Next, you will have to heat the whole combo to 350 degrees. Now, add the catfish into it, all in a single layer. Fry the whole mixture till it turns golden brown. Wait for approximately 5-6 minutes. Once done, drain in on paper towels.

Fish in Red Sauce
Ingredients
Olive oil ( cup)
Parsley-minced (1/4 cup)
Pimento-chopped (8 ounces)
Salt and pepper
Tomatoes-chopped (3)
Tomato puree-canned (1-28 ounce)
Carrot-sliced (2)
Celery-sliced (2 strips)
Garlic-minced (2 cloves)
Fresh lemon juice (3 tablespoons)
Fillets cod (6-3 ounce)
White sugar (1 teaspoon)
Water

Directions:
Take a large saucepan and combine the tomato sauce, parsley, pimento, tomatoes salt and pepper. Boil the entire mixture. Now, add some carrots, garlic and celery. Cook the ingredients till the carrots are firm. Add some water along with the lemon juice. Add the fish into the pan without stirring it. Now, add some sugar. Once the fish is cooked, let it cool down and serve cold.

Glazed Salmon
Ingredients
Butter (1 stick)
Brown sugar (1/3 cup)
Teriyaki sauce (2 Tablespoons)
Salmon fillets (3)
Garlic-minced (1 clove )

Directions
First, melt some butter in a saucepan. Now, add some teriyaki sauce, garlic and brown sugar. These ingredients should now be cooked on medium heat. Wait till the liquid thickens. Add the salmon fillets and heat on the grill. Ensure the skin side is down. Now in a medium saucepan melt the butter. Add, brown sugar and garlic and cook on medium heat until liquid becomes thickened into a glaze. Now smear the glaze as the salmon cooks. The glaze can also be used as a dip for the salmon later on. Your dish is now ready to be devoured.

Safe Fish to Eat

With the onslaught of the Minamata disease in Japan in the year 1956, the ill effects of industrialization surfaced once again to haunt the world. The high levels of methylmercury released as industrial wastewater by the chemical factory of the Chisso Corporation, found its way into fish and shellfish of the Minamata bay and the Shiranui Sea. These fish were eaten by the local population around the place and what for so long was relished by locals as nourishing food soon became the source of mercury poisoning that led to the neurological syndrome called the Minamata disease.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in air, water and land. Human beings are exposed to this element through food, especially through fish that ingest this in the form of methylmercury. While some have this toxic compound in higher levels, others have lower amounts of it. This led to the curiosity to know which fish are good to eat?

Fish and Mercury

Sea food has been an excellent source of nutrition for human beings. Fish and shellfish contain high amount of proteins and other important nutrients. They are low in saturated fats and are good source of omega 3 essential fatty acids that are very beneficial for our health. However, this same nutritious food can also be the carrier of the most toxic form of mercury, that is methylmercury. This organic form of mercury occurs in sea fish from mercury in ocean sediments. This mercury is converted into methylmercury by micro-organisms in the water (freshwater or marine), which then gets absorbed into the tissue of fish through their digestive tract as they eat and gills as they swim. Once this compound becomes a part of the tissue, cooking or any processing technique can't remove the compound from the meat.

Edible Fish

The amount of mercury in fish depends upon their size, habitat, diet, location and age of a fish. Hence, while some would have more of this toxic substance in them, there are those that have lesser amount of the compound. Here is a list of fish that can be eaten:
  • Black drum
  • Bluegill Sunfish (Freshwater fish)
  • Canned light tuna
  • Cod
  • Crab
  • Croaker
  • Farm-raised catfish (Freshwater fish)
  • Farm-raised crayfish (Freshwater fish)
  • Farm-raised trout (Freshwater fish)
  • Flounder
  • Haddock
  • Halibut
  • Herring
  • Jacksmelt
  • Lobster
  • Mahi-mahi
  • Ocean perch
  • Pollock
  • Pompano
  • Red drum
  • Salmon (canned, fresh or frozen)
  • Scallops
  • Sheepshead
  • Shrimp
  • Skate
  • Southern kingfish (sea mullet)
  • Spot
  • Speckled trout
  • Tilapia (Freshwater fish)
  • Tripletail
  • Trout (Freshwater fish)
  • Whitefish
  • White grunt
This list is for fish that are commercially available. For those that you catch on your own, it is best to refer to the advisory of your state.

Fish to Avoid

These fish have been found to contain very high amounts of mercury in them and hence, are suggested that they should not be consumed.
  • Almaco jack
  • Banded rudderfish
  • Blackfish (bowfin, Freshwater fish)
  • Cat fish - caught wild (Freshwater fish)
  • Canned white tuna (albacore tuna)
  • Cobia
  • Crevalle jack
  • Greater amberjack
  • Jack fish (chain pickerel, Freshwater fish)
  • Largemouth bass (statewide, Freshwater fish)
  • South Atlantic grouper (gag, scamp, red and snowy)
  • King Mackerel
  • Ladyfish
  • Little tunny
  • Marlin
  • Orange roughy
  • Shark
  • Spanish mackerel
  • Swordfish
  • Tilefish
  • Tuna (fresh or frozen, different species from the canned light tuna)
  • Warmouth (Freshwater fish)
In both, the list of edible fish and the ones that should be avoided due to high mercury content, the fish other than those mentioned to be freshwater, are saltwater fish.

Fish to Eat during Pregnancy

Young children and especially, unborn babies are at the highest risk of getting poisoned by ingesting high levels of mercury. Studies have shown that babies in the womb of mothers who consume fish high in mercury content, are at a greater risk of developing neurological problems and suffering from slow development during the early years. Some fishes that are safe to eat during pregnancy include shrimp, light canned tuna, anchovies, oysters, salmons and sardines. Along with the fish, it is the amount that also needs to be taken into account. It is due to the impact of mercury that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised their advisories on mercury in fish in March 2004. Their advisories are:
  • Pregnant women, nursing mothers, women who are planning to conceive and young children should avoid fish and shellfish that have high levels of mercury in them.
  • Individuals of the above mentioned group can eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury like shrimp, crab, cod, clams, scallops, canned light tuna, canned salmon, pollock, and catfish, among others.
  • Albacore "White" tuna contains higher amount of mercury than other types of tuna. You can eat 6 oz or less of albacore tuna per week (about 1 serving).
Other than these advisories, expecting or nursing mothers are suggested not to eat the same fish or shellfish more than once in the same week. These women should mix up the types of fish and shellfish that they eat.

The information about safe fish to eat provided in this article is based on general findings and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice. It is also advised to consult the local advisories for best knowledge of amount of mercury in fish.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Sockeye Salmon - Red Salmon

The Sockeye salmon is found in the Pacific Ocean and is also known scientifically as the Oncorhynchus nerka and commonly known as the red salmon, blueback, "silver trout" and kokanee. The name kokanee is derived for this species when it occurs in the landlocked bodies of water.

Description
The sockeye salmon is a shade greenish-blue with fine black speckling on the back with an elongated torpedo shaped body. With a bluntly pointed snout, the red salmon actually changes coloration when it is in its course of migration. This happens when it goes from the saltwater to the freshwater in the preparation of spawning. Spawning males often have green heads, which are pale in appearance and dark jaws with pale undersides. The bodies are bright red in color. This is the case when it passes through freshwater. The spawning females look almost the same except for the fact that they have subdued coloration. The length can be as long as 84 centimeters (33 inches). These also have long gill rakers, which are located just behind the head.

Lifecycle
The Sockeye salmon spends at least 1 -2 years in the freshwater. These are found spawning on the shores of the same lake where they spend their earlier years. The early years may see the red salmon spending at least a few months to a couple of years in the lake. Once the journey begins downstream, it progresses steadily toward the Ocean. It spends from 1 to 2 years offshore and then returns to spend at least 1 to 8 months in the lake, prior to spawning.

Characteristics
  • In the females, the colors are not as bright as the males but there is a hint of red above lateral line.
  • In the males, sides and back are bright red to dirty red-gray in color and the head is bright to olive green. The tail is often green in color or black.
  • There are no distinct spots on the tail fin.
  • The male salmon have a large dorsal hump.
  • The spawn timing: Early August - late December
Habitat and Ecology
During their lifecycle, Sockeye salmon mainly rely on stream, lake and estuarine habitat and even the offshore waters. They feed on small planktonic organisms and also a variety of insects. These fish are known to lay their eggs in fine gravel. They also need a good flow of cool waters for their existence.

Once they emerge from the eggs, they move either upstream or downstream into an estuary. The young one spends at least 1 month in the shore side zone and then move out in the lake waters. From here they migrate into the sea.

It is when they spend their time in the lake; they are more vulnerable to the bad quality of water that occurs due to human interference. Humans are particularly responsible for the pollution of the water and the inadequate water flows in rivers and streams caused by water diversions for irrigation etc.

Fisheries:
The Sockeye salmon is a very important economical resource to fishermen. This is also the third most abundant salmon species but now is listed under the US endangered species with the National Marine Fisheries Service. These are also a valuable recreational resource. The landlocked kokanee is considered to be an important freshwater sport fish all through the west coast. Perhaps the maximum participation occurs during the return to the Russian River, which is on the Kenai Peninsula. Some of the other popular areas include the Kasilof River and the various river systems within the Bristol Bay.

The Bristol Bay witnesses the largest harvest of the Sockeye salmon. This area of
Southwestern Alaska is home to more than 30 millions of these species. There is a restriction of the commercial vehicles being allowed by the commercial Pacific salmon fisheries in Alaska. They are often harvested with the use of gillnets or with the help of purse seines.

Today they are also the most preferred species for canning. This is because of its rich orange-reddish color of the flesh. More than half of the Red Salmon is sold frozen rather than canned. They are primarily marketed in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Different Types of Fish

Fish belongs to vertebrate group of organisms living in water bodies, either fresh or marine water. As of date, more than 25,000 fish species are identified and scientists are of the opinion that there are 15,000 more species, which are yet to be identified. The characteristic features of fish are breathing through gills, and presence of paired and unpaired fins that help them in efficient swimming. Besides fins, the body of fish is covered with some sort of protective scales.

Most of the fish species are cold-blooded (or ectothermic) and depend on their surrounding environment to maintain their body temperature. Irrespective of the water chemistry, nearly all water bodies are inhabited by fish. For example, you can find various types of fish in the ocean at such a depth where there is very less or no light penetration. Likewise, several fish species are found dwelling in the streams of high mountains. As far as importance of fish is concerned, they are eaten as food and also, reared as pets in fish tanks.

Fish is an important source of food for humans. Enriched with healthy proteins, they are a delicacy for people who eat animal based foods (non-vegetarians). And for aquarists, fish are wonderful pets kept in decorative aquariums. Indeed, rearing them is a relaxing hobby, which you get to enjoy watching colorful fish swimming, playing, and feeding. Since the demand of fish is very high, fish farming and fishing are sources of income for several people. Mentioned below are lists of edible fish and aquarium fish types.

Types of Fish to Eat

Both freshwater and marine fish are consumed as human food since time immemorial. In the market, they are sold fresh, dried, canned, or pickled. Research studies have shown that fish-derived proteins and nutrients are healthier than those of poultry and meat. What's more, many saltwater fish species contain a high percentage of omega-3 essential fatty acids, which help in treating cardiovascular diseases. Commonly eaten fish are listed below.
  • Anchovy
  • Abalone
  • African butter fish
  • Bass
  • Barramundi
  • Basa
  • Black drum
  • Bluegill sunfish
  • Bream
  • Brill
  • Carp
  • Catfish
  • Clam
  • Coley
  • Cod fish
  • Crab
  • Croaker
  • Crayfish
  • Crawfish
  • Cuttlefish
  • Dab fish
  • Dogfish
  • Eel
  • Flounder
  • Grouper
  • Gurnard
  • Haddock
  • Hake
  • Halibut
  • Herring
  • Hoki
  • Huss
  • Jacksmelt
  • Ling
  • Lobster
  • Mackerel
  • Mahi mahi
  • Milkfish
  • Monkfish
  • Mullet
  • Opakapaka
  • Orange roughy
  • Oyster
  • Perch
  • Pike
  • Pollock
  • Pompano
  • Redfish
  • Salmon
  • Sardines
  • Scallop
  • Sheepshead
  • Shrimp
  • Skate
  • Sole
  • Swordfish
  • Tilapia
  • Tripletail
  • Trout
  • Tuna
  • Turbot
  • Wahoo
  • Weakfish
  • Whitefish
  • White grunt
Fish products, either canned or pickled, may contain traces of mercury and harmful chemicals. Hence, while purchasing them for consumption purpose, make sure you select those of quality brands. Last but not the least, some edible fish types (e.g. shellfish, sushi) increase the risk of food poisoning, if proper cooking is not done. Thus, correct preparation and cooking of fish is a must to avoid the risk of food poisoning.

Types of Fish for Pets

Depending on whether you want to keep freshwater fish or marine fish, you are required to construct an appropriate aquarium. Marine fish are more varied in color, shape, and size than the freshwater types. But, they need special care and maintenance. Hence, a freshwater aquarium is an ideal choice for a novice aquarist. In the United States, the most commonly kept aquarium fish comprises tropical fish. The list of popular aquarium fish types includes the following.
  • Anemone fish
  • Angelfish
  • African butterfly fish
  • Arowana
  • Banded coral shrimp
  • Barb
  • Betta fish
  • Biota
  • Bala shark
  • Bat fish
  • Black knife fish
  • Black-tailed dascyllus
  • Blennies
  • Butterfly loach
  • Bumblebee goby
  • Catfish
  • Cypriniformes
  • Cherubfish
  • Clownfish
  • Comet
  • Copperband butterfly
  • Cory
  • Cichlid
  • Crab
  • Damsel
  • Danio
  • Discus
  • Elephant nose
  • Fantail fish
  • Goldfish
  • Gourami
  • Guppies
  • Knife fish
  • Labyrinth fish
  • Lionfish
  • Loach
  • Molly
  • Mono
  • Needle nose
  • Oscar fish
  • Pacu
  • Platy
  • Scat
  • Seahorse
  • Shark
  • Shubunkin
  • Silver dollar
  • Spotted puffer fish
  • Squirrel fish
  • Swordtail
  • Tetra fish
  • Tiger Barb
  • Upside down cat
  • Yellowhead jawfish
  • Yellow tang
  • Yellowtail wrasse
In the present scenario, there are different types of fish that are listed in the endangered and near extinction categories. No doubt, some species are already extinct knowingly or unknowingly. But, it is never too late to conserve the extant fish. It is high time that we should stop overfishing, polluting water bodies, and destroying habitat to save this aquatic vertebrate animal. These simple conservatory approaches will surely help preserve fish and other inhabitants of the aquatic ecosystem.

Salmon Life Cycle

Salmon comprises a group of fish species, all of which belong to the family Salmonidae, thus sharing family with trout fish. The main difference between salmon and trout is that the former migrates to another habitat for spawning, while the latter inhabits the same habitat throughout its life cycle. As compared to a typical freshwater or marine fish, a salmon's life cycle is very interesting, which we will discuss in this article.

Salmon Life Cycle Stages

A salmon is anadromous, meaning that this species they spend their entire life in the ocean but migrate to rivers and streams to spawn. In simple terms, they are born and die in freshwater rivers, but remain in the sea till the onset of adult stage. The life cycle of salmon is explained below:

Egg
During fall season, salmon eggs are laid in gravel beds, at the bottom of streams and lakes. Deposited several feet below the water surface, they are protected from exposure to indirect sunlight. The eggs are spherical in shape, slightly translucent with pinkish or reddish coloration. While in the egg stage, the developing organs can be seen easily through the translucent covering. Egg hatching usually takes place within 2 - 3 months after laying.

Newly Hatched Alevin
The water flow and temperature are very crucial for hatching salmon eggs to alevins (1 inch length). They are characterized by presence of abnormally large-sized eyes, attached to a bright orange-colored sac, which is nothing but the nutritive yolk. For nearly 3 - 4 months, the newly hatched alevins reside in the gravel nest, feeding on the yolk that hangs below their body.

Young Salmon Fry
The next stage in the life cycle of salmon is fry. Once the nutritive yolk is absorbed totally, the young salmon fry comes out of the gravel nest. It swims and feeds on small planktons and aquatic plants. Many times, the salmon fry becomes an easy prey to larger fish, insects and birds. In the entire salmon life cycle, the mortality rate is highest, when they are in the egg to fry stage.

Parr Stage
When a salmon fry matures to parr stage, it measures about 6 inch. During this time, vertical markings develop in the body and flanks of salmon. Salmon species like king salmon immediately migrate to the ocean during or after fry stage. While in case of others, the parr may feed and grow in the freshwater streams for approximately 1 - 3 years before starting its journey towards the ocean.

Smolt Stage
In the smolt stage, the developing salmon reaches the estuary, the connecting point where a river meets an ocean. It turns silvery white in color, while losing its vertical stripes. In general, it swims in groups along with others and frequently visits the oceans for feeding purposes. With time, its body gets adjusted to saltwater of the ocean.

Adult Salmon
The body marking of an adult salmon is very distinctive, which differs significantly from one type to another. Based on the species of salmon, the adult may spend anywhere around 3 - 7 years in the ocean, after which it migrates upstream to its birthplace for spawning. The adult salmon stop eating and develop different body colors; males retain bright colors, while females turn darker. The adult female then lays eggs in the spawning site, which again mark the beginning of salmon life cycle.

The average salmon lifespan is seven years. All types of salmon species inhabiting the pacific ocean die immediately after spawning, a behavior referred to as semelparity. Some species, though have the ability to spawn repeated times. Overall, the mortality rate after spawning is very high (40 percent), mainly because the adult spawners cannot spend longer time in freshwater. Thus in a nutshell, a salmon egg hatches in a river, migrates to sea and returns back in the river for spawning.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Low Carb Foods to Eat

Inculcating a low carb diet has more to adding to the health of a person. Weight loss, better blood-glucose control, better insulin sensitivity, improved triglycerides, increased levels of good cholesterol and decreased blood pressure are some of the many health benefits of such a diet. Apart from all such benefits, increased energy, improved mental status and mood, and better dental hygiene can also be seen in people who go for low carb foods. For this diet, the typical consumption of carbohydrate should be between 20 to 50 grams daily.

List of Foods Low in Carbohydrates

Vegetables

Low Carb Vegetables (100g) Carb Content (g)
Asparagus, boiled 0.7
Bamboo shoots, canned 0.7
Beansprouts mung, raw 4
Beetroot, raw 4.6
Green broccoli, boiled 1.3
Purple broccoli 1.3
Green broccoli, raw 1.8
Purple broccoli, raw 2.6
Brussels Sprouts, boiled 3.1
Cabbage spring, boiled 0.6
Chinese cabbage, raw 1.4
Red cabbage, raw 3.7
Cabbage Savoy, raw 3.9
White cabbage, raw 5
Green capsicum pepper, raw 2.6
Red capsicum pepper, raw 6.4
Boiled carrots 4.9
Boiled carrots, young 6
Steamed cassava 37
Boiled cauliflower 2.3
Celeriac, raw 2.3
Celery, raw 0.9
Boiled corn 2.7
Courgette (Zucchini) 1.8
Curly Kale, raw 1.4
Cucumber, raw 1.5
Chicory, raw 1
Eggplant (aubergine) 2.2
Endive (Escarole) 2.8
Fennel, raw 1.8
Leeks, raw 2.9
Lettuce leaf, raw 1.2
Marrow, boiled 1.6
Mushrooms, raw 0.4
Potatoes, boiled 18
Okra, raw 3
Onions, raw 3
Pumpkin, raw 2.2
Red radish, raw 2
Raw spinach 1.6
Squash, baked 7.4
Tomatoes, canned 3
Tomatoes cherry 3
Water chestnuts, canned 7
Watercress, raw 0.4

Fruits

Low Carb Fruits Carb Content(g)
Apple 10.5
Apricot 6.7
Avocado 2
Banana 26
Blackberries (one) 0.2
Blackcurrant (one) 0.25
Cherry (one) 0.6
Clementine 7.5
Currants 1.4
Damson 7.2
Dates 3.3
Gooseberries 0.65
Grapes (one) 0.6
Lemon 3.4
Lychees 0.7
Mango 0.7
Nectarines 9
Passion Fruit 3
Prunes 2.2
Raisins 1.4
Raspberries (one) 0.2
Rhubarb 0.8
Strawberries (one) 0.6
Sultanas 1.4
Tangerine 6

Seeds and Nuts

Low Carb Seeds and Nuts Carb Content(g)
Almonds (24 nuts) 2.3
Brazil Nuts (6 - 8 nuts) 1.4
Dry roasted cashew (1 oz) 8.5
Dried coconut (1 cup) 40.3
Raw coconut (1 piece) 2.9
Hazel nuts (1 oz) 2
Macadamia (10 - 12 nuts) 1.3
Dry peanuts (1 oz) 3.6
Pecan (1 oz) 1.2
Pine (1 oz) 3.4
Dry Pistachio nuts (1 oz) 4.7
Walnuts (1 oz) 2
Water chestnuts (1 cup) 13.7
Alfalfa seeds (1 cup) 0.5
Pumpkin seeds (1 oz) 2.7
Sesame seeds (1 tbsp) 0.2
Sunflower seeds ( cup) 4.9

Generally meat and fish products contain a negligible amount of carbohydrates. However, organ meats, shellfish and prepared luncheon meats or bacon should be eaten with a few restrictions. Some of them have been listed below:
  • Sea Bass
  • Striped Bass
  • Bluefish
  • Carp
  • Catfish, fried
  • Caviar Red/Black
  • Cod - Atlantic
  • Eel
  • Flounder
  • Grouper
  • Haddock
  • Halibut
  • Herring - Atlantic
  • Herring - Kippered
  • Herring - Pickled
  • Mackerel - Atlantic
  • Mackerel - King
  • Mahimahi
  • Monkfish
  • Mullet
  • Ocean Perch
  • Pike
  • Pollack
  • Pompano
  • Rabbit
  • Pheasant Duck
  • Goose
  • Deer
  • Beef
  • Pork lamb bacon
  • Veal
  • Ham Venison
  • Liver, heart, pancreas and bone marrow of goat
Some of the foods mentioned in these tables also come in the list of high carbohydrate foods. However, their consumption is allowed, depending on the quantity. Keeping a varied selection of these foods and including them in different recipes also helps in making the low carb diet plan more effective. Adhering to such a diet might become a daunting affair at times. So, to keep the spirit on, all you have to do is keep a variation in the diet. Most low carb dieters make the mistake of sticking on to the same old recipes and eventually ending up getting bored and giving up the diet maintenance. So do not stick to the same class of foods and try to include each of them in your daily diet. Eat different and stay healthy!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Gourami Fish Life Span

Gourami fish are tropical freshwater fish, who are seen in aquariums of a number of hobbyists. Unlike popular belief, Gourami is actually a family of fish, which is often known as labyrinth family. They have a lung like labyrinth organ, which is used for gulping air and taking in atmospheric oxygen, from where they derive their name. Fish of this family have long elongated structure in front of the pelvic fins. It is the bright colors and liveliness of the fish, which attracts hobbyists to this fish. Gourami commonly seen in different aquariums adding multi-chromatic flair to the aquariums, are pearl Gourami, kissing Gourami, honey or golden Gourami, moonlight Gourami, dwarf Gourami, etc. They are known to have strong personalities, due to which most they become a 'pet' albeit of the presence of the number of other fish in the aquarium. To increase life span of Gourami fish, it is important that proper care be taken of this strong personality fish.

How Long Does a Gourami Fish Live
It is not uncommon to see fish owners asking, "for how many years does a Gourami fish live". The life span depends on the species it belongs to. Having said that we will now turn to find out the lifespan of Gourami fish.

Name of the Fish Origin Lifespan
Moonlight Gourami Thailand, Cambodia 4 years
Honey or Gold Gourami Bangladesh 4 years
Kissing Gourami Java, Thailand 5 years
Pearl Gourami Sumatra, Malaysia, Borneo 8 years
Powder Gourami Ganges, Yamuna, Brahmaputra Rivers 4 years
Blue Gourami Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam 4 years
Dwarf Gourami India, Bangladesh, China 4 years

Gourami Fish Care
To extend the life span of a Gourami fish, it is important, right care be taken of these fish. They are semi-aggressive in nature, but can be kept in community tank. It is advisable that they be kept alongside non aggressive tank mates. It is observed that the male of the species are often very territorial, therefore it is best not to keep more than one male Gourami in the tank. If they are kept in a large tank, then more than one male can be kept. Along with right tank mates, right temperature should also be maintained in the tank. The optimum water temperature for Gourami is 74 to 79 Fahrenheit. The pH balance of the water should be maintained at 7. The pH should not increase above 8 and decrease below 6 for better longevity of the fish.

As far as food for Gourami goes, they are known to be carnivores and enjoy almost all kinds of foods. In other words, they are not fussy eaters. They can be given dry, frozen or fresh food. Vegetables like cooked peas, spinach, lettuce can also be fed to the fish. Likewise fresh foods like glass worms, brine shrimp, etc. can also be given. Care should be taken to ensure that they get all the nutrients from their food, so that they do not suffer from any kind of deficiency.

During the breeding season, the water level in the tank will have to be reduced. These fish are egg layers and are known to build bubble nests for laying eggs and raising the young ones. Along with the water levels, lighting in the tank will have to be subdued during the spawning season. The temperature will have to be increased gradually just before spawning, till it is around 84 to 84 Fahrenheit. Care will have to be taken not to disturb the bubble nest with the speed of water.

Before you get Gourami fish home, make sure you have the tank ready to welcome the new member of your 'fish' family. Talking to the breeder about the care to be taken of the fish will give a lot of valuable insight. Follow the tips given by the breeder to increase the Gourami fish life span.