If you have made the decision to lose weight, you probably would like to see results as quickly and effectively as possible. Most experts will agree that the safest way to weight loss is through a combination of a healthy, low-calorie diet combined with a daily program of physical activity. But what if you have already implemented these two elements into your daily lifestyle? Is there another way to increase your edge and set you on a more direct path to achieve your weight loss goals? There has been much written recently about the link between omega-3 fatty acids and weight loss results. The evidence has been compelling, and suggests that omega-3 promotes weight loss, whether in the form of supplements, or increasing the intake of food that contains this essential fatty acid.

What is Omega-3?

Omega-3 is considered an essential fatty acid that the body does not produce, but must receive from an outside source. The best way to get omega-3 fatty acids into your body is through eating a diet that is rich in canola oil, walnuts, and a variety of fish, including salmon, sardines, tuna and herring. The other way to increase your intake of the omega-3 fatty acid is to take fish oil supplements, which can be found in most pharmacies and health food stores.

While it has been known for some time that this essential fatty acid was beneficial in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke, questions began to arise over a connection between omega-3 and weight loss. It made sense that if omega-3 fatty acids lowered cholesterol and helped to control blood sugar levels, that it would be beneficial for dieters as well.

Studies on Omega-3 And Its Effects With Fat Loss

The next step was for researchers to study the link between them in controlled, clinical studies. Most of the results of these studies have shown that people who take fish oil supplements or eat a diet that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids had a significant increase in weight loss amounts than those who did not.

Most of the researchers that have studied this link between omega-3 and weight loss will stress the importance of combining the intake of omega-3 fatty acids with a low-calorie, healthy diet and a regular exercise program. However, if you are having trouble losing weight due to genetic factors, a slow metabolism or other factors, taking an omega-3 supplement can increase the effectiveness of your diet and exercise efforts.

The research has shown that omega-3 assists in weight loss by keeping insulin levels in the body low. This is why this supplement is also very helpful for those who have been diagnosed with diabetes. When insulin levels in the body are high, it inhibits the body from burning fat for fuel, allowing the fat to remain in the storehouses of the body and keeping weight up as well. Lower insulin levels will make the body burn the excess fat within for fuel, speeding the rate of weight loss. If you are about to begin a weight loss program of any kind, taking a fish oil supplement or increasing the amount of omega-3 foods in your diet will give you an advantage in achieving your goals.

How much Omega-3 for Fat Loss?

Many health care professionals will recommend a daily intake of 3000 to 4000 mg. of standardized fish oil. This translates into two or three servings of cold-water fish each week or fish oil capsules that will equal this dosage amount. There are side effects that some folks experience when taking the fish oil supplements, such as flatulence and diarrhea. These issues can be greatly reduced by taking a time-release version of the capsules.

The fish oil supplements can also interact with some types of medications, so it is important to talk to your doctor before beginning any type of supplement regimen. However, if you are looking for a way to see results with your diet and exercise program, omega-3 and weight loss may be a link that you want to consider.

Chung Leong Yu
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/omega3-and-weight-loss-119794.html

If you want to know exactly what your cat is being fed each day, then the best way is to prepare a homemade cat food recipe yourself. However, for your cat to remain healthy, it is important to ensure that your homemade cat food recipe includes sufficient animal protein, calcium, phosphorus, iodine and vitamins. This is usually obtained from red meat, liver, kidney, heart, chicken and sometimes milk.

Generally, raw food contains more nutrients as cooking destroys some vitamins, especially vitamin B. If you are squeamish about feeding raw food to your cat and intend to feed your cat cooked food instead, then you may need to provide pet food supplements in your cat’s diet. Your vet will be able to advise you on appropriate pet food supplements, based on your homemade cat food diet.

Here are some important ingredients which you should incorporate into your homemade cat food diet:

INGREDIENT #1 – Meat and Meat By-Products

Both red and white meat contains protein, B-group vitamins, fat and energy. Highest sources of protein are beef, chicken (meat) and liver, followed by heart, chicken skin, lamb, kidney and chicken necks.

All types of meat are deficient in vitamin A therefore, it is good to feed liver to your cat as it is rich in vitamin A. However, liver should not be more than 10% of your cat food diet as too much vitamin A can lead to skeletal problems and other abnormal bone growth. If you are worried about an overdose of vitamin A, feed cooked liver to your cat instead of raw liver. Or as a rough guide, feed raw liver not more than once a week.

INGREDIENT #2 – Fish

It is good to have a mix of the 2 main types of fish: white fish and fatty/oily fish (such as tuna). White fish is leaner but is weak in vitamins A, D, E and K.

Fatty and oily fish on the other hand, contain high levels of vitamins A and D but your cat may suffer a case of steatites (a painful inflammation of fat deposits under the skin) if it is fed too much fatty fish.

In the case of fish, it is advisable to cook the fish first. Raw fish contains thiaminase, an enzyme which destroys thiamine, an important vitamin B. Cooking destroys thiaminase and helps to retain more vitamins in the food.

Whole fish (including the bones) is very nutritional cat food as fish bones contain calcium and phosphorus. However, to prevent fish bones from getting caught in your cat’s teeth or throat, it is good to soften the bones first. You can do this by pressure cooking, boiling or stewing.

INGREDIENT #3 – Eggs

Eggs are high in animal protein, iron, vitamins, fats and carbohydrates and are ideal to include in your homemade cat food. However, too much may be harmful as the egg whites contain avidin which destroys a B vitamin that is essential for good hair and skin health and proper muscle function.

As a general guide, feed raw egg not more than once a week. If you feed the egg yolk only, then you may increase this to no more than 3 times a week.

INGREDIENT #4 – Milk, Cheese and Yoghurt

Dairy products are high in protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A and the B vitamins.

Kittens generally like warmed milk and cream. But as they mature, they become lactose-intolerant and may develop diarrhea. You can get low-lactose cat milk which is available in supermarkets. Cream is fattening and too much may result in an obese cat.

Cheese may be a better dairy alternative as it does not contain lactose. However, some cats do not appreciate the taste and will not eat it.

INGREDIENT #5 – Fats and Oils

Fats are essential in your homemade cat food to ensure your cat’s skin doesn’t become itchy, dry and scurfy.

Good sources are safflower or corn oil and fish fats. Safflower is the preferred choice.

INGREDIENT #6 – Vegetables

Vegetables provide vitamin C and some are rich in B vitamins. It also provides fibre which should form about 5% of your homemade cat food diet. Mix vegetables with meat or fish and cook it as a stew. Most cats will eat the vegetables if cooked this way.

INGREDIENT #7 – Grains

Grains provide carbohydrate, proteins, minerals and vitamins. Good sources are:

Wheatgerm – thiamine, vitamin E
Yeast – B vitamins, minerals, recommended for older cats
Rice – most cats will eat this and it is a good base for mixing with meat and fish
Wheat, oats, barley – higher protein content and less fattening than rice

INGREDIENT #8 – Water

Lastly, and probably more important than any of the above, a fresh clean supply of water must always be available. Generally, your cat will need about 40ml of water per kg of body weight. However, environmental temperature, your cat’s consumption of dry food and ailments may require you to adjust accordingly.

Your cat is an individual and will have its own likes and dislikes. Different pedigrees may also have different requirements. It is always advisable to check with your vet and seek professional advice before preparing your homemade cat food.

Rona Limsy
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/8-musthave-ingredients-for-your-homemade-cat-food-recipe-111334.html

You have tried many different diets and they never work, so you quit the diet routine in order to go back to your normal way of life. It seems like you trade the taste of your food in order to loose a few pounds in what seems like forever. Then when you are not able to keep off the weight that you have just lost you become upset with yourself and end up eating all the food that you were trying to avoid in the first place. As hard as it may be to believe some days it is possible to have food with a great taste and still lose weight. But just remember to keep in mind that shedding unwanted pounds involves both eating right and getting the proper exercise.

Get a lean chicken breast and then bake it. Baking the chicken will eliminate more of the fat that is still on the breast of meat and also give you a great result in flavor. With the chicken breast is raw, wash the piece of meat under cold water to get more of the impurities off of the breast before you cook it. Now you can season the chicken breast with a few of your favorite seasonings. For a nice flavor add fresh herbs and spices when ever you can such as dill and lemon zest. The more you stay away from processed foods and spices the more likely you are to lose more weight and get the great taste that you enjoy in your food.

Another great food for losing weight is fish. The fish adds more fresh minerals and are not usually chemically produced cutting out the impurities in the fish. To cook the fish, use a sheet of parchment paper on a nice cookie sheet. Again wash the fish with a fresh layer of water over the fish so the seasonings will stay on the fish while it’s baking. Many people like to flavor the of fish with a dash of lemon and dill while it is in the oven baking but you can season the fish with anything you would like as long as you keep the salt content low. Make it healthy and the weight will come off and you will be happy because you are not feeling deprived eating bland tasting.

Everyone has their own way of cooking a turkey for thanksgiving and everyone has different times that they have to get up and start cooking and different seasonings that they use to make the turkey the perfect presentation at the dinner table. With that said, here are a few ways to cook your thanksgiving bird that should fit nicely with your holiday plans. You have more energy to spent time with your family and friends around the holidays.

You can cook your turkey the traditional way by getting up at 4 am and stuff your turkey with the homemade stuffing. Turning the oven on to preheat so that you and your family can eat around 6 pm and you will be busy with all of the other things that you need to get done in the kitchen such as making the pies and the bread. The nice thing is sometimes the family asks to help and then you get to spend quality time with your relatives. In the traditional way the women usually do the cooking while the guys are watching the football game on the tv and doing other things besides helping in the kitchen.

For the guys, what is the best way to cook a turkey? You can either deep-fry it or you can grill it. If you deep-fry your turkey, you will need a big enough pot to hold oil and the turkey such as a turkey fryer or something big like that. You will also need a 20 pound propane cylinder keep a consistent heat under the pot to keep the oil hot. If you grill the turkey for thanksgiving, you will have to get up early to get the bird going so you can eat at a decent hour. Seasoning the turkey on the grill is a difficult thing if you have never done this thing before but you can do it. You want to keep the turkey moist and tender just by adding some bacon and orange slices over the skin and it will give the bird a nice flavoring for everyone to enjoy.

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-brewing-articles/lose-weight-without-losing-taste-714953.html

Do you feel heavy in your head when you walk around? Is your score in IQ tests too low? You may not feel as active or quick as early or you may be forgetting very commonly used words. This need not be the situation that cannot be dealt with. You can eat certain food items which will help boost your brainpower, clear up your brain and make you think at a quick pace.

Hence if you want to increase your intelligence level (and your IQ- your score in IQ tests) to the highest level read the information given below. It will help you clear up your brain and you will have great thinking power and ability to score higher in IQ tests. Your memory also depends on your eating habits.

Fish Oil

“Fish is a food for your brain” is an old belief. But nowadays fish is very polluted with mercuy and dangerous substances, so I will not recommend fish for consumption. Instead, I suggest to eat fish oil. It has fats which contain DocasaHexanenoic Acid and is beneficial for the brain and acts as a protective layer.

A majority of our brain is made up of fat and that fat is either DocasaHexanenoic Acid or Arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is found in unprocessed dairy products like butter and DocasaHexanenoic Acid is found only in fish and not in any other plant or vegetation.

It is very important to use a fish oil which is exceptionally good and has good reputation. I have done research and have clinical with patients, which shows the following trends.

1. Liquid form of fish oil is far better than capsules.

2. Not all brands are good

3. Carlson’s brand is the best and purest of all existing brands today.

It may not be the only brand that is exceptionally good, but till now I have come across many and have found that carlson’s brand is the best as far as fish or cod liver oil is concerned. You can find this brand at Mercola.com or at any health store near your house.

Vegetables

Nothing can ever match the nutritions that pure vegetables can provide us. Alzheimer’s has been known to occur because of deficiency of folic acid (green vegetables are very rich with it). Similarly, there are many other elements, antioxidants and phytochemicals that vegetables provide us with and can help us in keeping our brains sharp.

The easiest way to eat enough of vegetables is to prepare vegetable juice on a regular basis.

But the type of your metabolism is a key factor to decide what all you need to consume. For example, if you are a protein metabolic type, you need not eat vegetables. You can have half of what is usually recommended. That is for a protein type adult, one can eat half a pound of vegetable and this will be sufficient.

If you are a protein type of guy your diet should consist of low potassium vegetables like beans. Lettuces and the usual diet like collard greens have high potassium content and may cause biochemical imbalance. Also, if you have a metabolic type you also don’t need much vegetable juice consumption. A carbohydrate metabolic type wil beneft if he consumes more vegetables like collard greens, kale, Swiss chard etc. These are very much not suggested for the protein types.

I do recommend organic food if you want to get the most nutritious input, but if you cannot afford to buy them, don’t give up eating vegetables altogether. Eating vegetables in any form, organic or not is good and better not have them in your ration at all.

Raw Eggs

The best source for high quality nutrition is raw whole egg. It is also very much affordable by all. It is especially for those who are protein deficient. You may face some difficulty initially to eat them, but you will greatly improve your health, if you eat raw egg. Boiled or cooked eggs will not result in the same, so the lesser you cook the egg the more nutrition you will consume.

Evgheny Stivenson
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/high-iq-change-your-eating-habits-and-super-boost-your-intelligence-quotient-336202.html

What are the 3 Japanese Skin Care Secrets that you need to know?  They are the japanese diet, fish oil, sea kelp and special skin care ingredients. Let’s look at some of these possibilities that are skin care secrets to many people.

Japanese Skin Care Secret Revealed

Two things you want to take note of.  What they use on their skin and what they eat.  Let’s look at the diet first to see if that has anything to do with looking younger longer.  Is that the Japanese skincare secret?

Japanese Skin Care Diet

The Japanese diet consists of many essential oils and fatty acids.  These two things are a necessity for the skin to stay young looking and healthy.  The Japanese diet naturally has essential oils and fatty acids due to the fact that Japan is an island.  Because of this fish and sea vegetation is quite common.

Secret #1 Fish Oil – Omega-3 (Hoki Fish)

That Omega 3 fatty acids is beneficial to our health is now common knowledge.  It is also very common that most of us don’t consume it as we should.  But the Japanese always have.  Eating fish two or more times each week is what they do and so should everyone.

So Japanese skin care and the youthful appearance is most likely connected to the diet, especially the Omega 3 factor.  But not all of us live on an island and do not have ready access to fish as some do. If that is the case, we should take a good fish oil supplement daily. But not just any fish oil.  It should be natural and processed quite carefully.  I’ll tell you more about where I found a good source of fish oil.

Secret #2 Wakame Sea Weed

A little known secret fact is that Omega 3 can also be found in plants.  Especially can it be found in leafy green veggies.  The secret is that the Japanese eat Wakame seaweed and kelp, two good sources from the plant world.  Combine the fish oil and the sea weed and the result is a beautiful skin.

Secret #3 Natural Skin Care Cream Ingredients

Japanese skin care marvels can be yours several ways.  1. Your diet  2. Supplements 3. Selected skin care products.  I mentioned diet and supplements but the right skin care product can boost your appearance if it has high doses of omega-3 and antioxidants.

I found one company that uses a sea weed called Wakame.  It is found in the Sea of Japan and no where else.  This probably is the real secret for the anti aging skin care the Japanese people have.  What this sea weed does is increase the amount of hyaluronic acid in your skin to a point that is above that of your age group.  You should find that amazing because it is!

The Japanese Skin Care Secret is Yours

In a nutshell, if you want to take advantage of the skin care plan be sure to use a product that contains Phytessence Wakame.   Use in your daily meals Omega3 plants and take a quality fish oil supplement.  Ironically, I found a company that makes a top notch skin care line of natural ingredients and also manufactures Hoki fish oil.  So there you have the secret to Japanese skin care. -Margaret Bell

Margaret Bell
http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/3-japanese-skin-care-secrets-that-you-need-to-know-728745.html

The baby boomers are reaching the stage where they are more susceptible to heart disease and stroke. This is causing alarm among the general population. Many people are looking for ways to improve their health without changing their lifestyle.

The answers to our health problems are often found in food. Such is the case with women an strokes. The Harvard Medical School doctors have released research which reveals that women who eat more fish have a reduced risk of suffering from a stroke.

The Harvard researchers examined the health records of 80 000 women from 1980-1994, using the popular Nurses’ Health Study. This study collects information on lifestyle, diet, and medical history from a large segment of the female nurse population in the USA and uses it to track trends.

The Harvard report suggests that the stroke-protective ingredient is Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid. This means that the best choices are dark fleshed fish such as mackerel, salmon or sardines. These contain the highest levels of Omega-3 acids.

To receive maximum benefits a woman must eat fish one to three times a month. This will reduce a woman’s risk seven percent more than those who eat fish occasionally.

Women who eat fish once a week have a 22 per cent lower risk, and eating fish more than once a week reduces the risk 27 percent. Women who eat fish more than five times a week win, with a total stroke reduction of 52 per cent. These figures are based on a report by to Dr. Hiroyasu Iso, the lead Harvard investigator.

Like everything, eating fish must be balanced with other health factors. Changing a red meat diet to a fish diet will lower the iron levels in the body. This can lead to other complications.

This report does not take into account extenuating factors like age, smoking, and body weight.

This has prompted the American Heart Association to recommend at least 2 servings of fish a week as part of a heart healthy diet. However, they also issue a warning that too much Omega-3 can have a detrimental effect.

At this time, adults are warned to avoid capsules that bypass foods ability to combine different ingredients, possibly diminishing any harmful effects. All adults should consult their physician before using any type of supplement or drug.

There is a lot of research on Omega-3 fatty acid and its effect on cholesterol. Several studies claim that a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids may lower triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol (the Good cholesterol). Other studies indicate that these fatty acids help lower high blood pressure.

The key is to balance fish with green vegetables.

Supplementing the body with fish oil may cause problems. For example, cod liver oil is high in vitamin D. This is good to a point. However, if you try to eat enough cod liver oil to imitate a high fish diet, your vitamin D level will throw off the calcium level your bones need to stay healthy and strong.

This is why physicians warn adults to use supplements wisely, and understand what they are taking.

All of this is good news for people who are aging, but still have a long way to go before retirement.

Ethan Miller
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/reduce-stroke-in-women-102604.html

The importance of a healthy diet in preventing breast cancer has been often stressed by doctors and health journals alike. But what exactly is a healthy diet that is conducive to breast cancer prevention? This article tries to explain – in layperson’s terms – what kind of diet is beneficial in preventing breast cancer.

Foods that Help Preventing Breast Cancer

(i) Vitamins of the B-Complex

Independent researches have shown that Boston and Shanghai have shown that a diet that is rich in vitamins of the B-complex is very ideal in keeping breast cancer at bay. The most powerful of the B-complex vitamins for the prevention of breast cancer are the vitamins B6 and B12 or folic acid. Folic acid has been linked with breast cancer prevention in women who are regular consumers of alcohol. Higher levels of vitamin B12 are more effective in preventing breast cancers in women who have not yet had their menopause.

(ii) Carrots

Carrots contain beta-carotene which is a precursor for the formation of vitamin A, chemically known as retinol. A research in New York has proved that women who include carrots on a regular basis in their diet have low chances of getting breast cancers. It has been found that a regular intake of carrots in the form of salads reduces the risk of breast cancers by half in women who have crossed their menopausal age.

(iii) Fish and fish oils

Fish could be the most important foods in the prevention of breast cancer. It has been found that fish oils are very beneficial in keeping breast cancer away in women who have crossed their menopause. Fish oils are effective even with risk factors such as age during the first full term pregnancy, age at first menses, age at menopause, other breast disorders, etc. Moreover, a diet that contains of a combination of fish and carrots is found to be much more highly effective than fish alone. Fish contain the omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids which are good combatants of breast cancer, as they reduce the levels of the harmful omega-6 fatty acids, which in fact promote the growth of the cancerous tissues. Thus people subsisting on a fish diet are also consuming a low fat diet. Fish is known to reduce the cases of obesity. This has been seen in people living near coastal areas whose diet consists predominantly of fish. Obesity is one of the major risk factors of breast cancer.

(iv) Vegetables

Several vegetables are identified to be anti-cancer agents. Vegetables such as parsley, cilantro, cabbage, soy, celery and parsnip have anti-cancer properties. Garlic is known to be effective in breast cancer prevention as well. Tomatoes and onions may have mild cancer preventing properties.

(v) Fruits

Many fruits have anti-cancer properties. Some of these are papayas, oranges, mangoes, apricots, blueberries, persimmons, grapes, lemons, peaches, strawberries, tangerines, etc.

(vi) Flax

Flaxseeds are slowly becoming very popular in cancer prevention. They have two important ingredients that are known to fight cancer. One is the omega-3 fatty acids and the second is lignan. Flaxseeds in ground form are better than the flax oil, because they contain the necessary fibers which help in easy digestion.

Foods that can Promote Breast Cancer

There are several foods that have been identified to be responsible in promoting breast cancer. The following is a list of some of these foods:-

(i) Fatty Acids

There are some fatty acids that promote the growth of breast cancer, while some others retard it. Generally, the omega-6-polyunsaturated fatty acids are proven to increase cancer risks. Such fats are present in coconut oil and butter. At the same time, oils such as castor oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil or corn oil contain the omega-3 acids which in fact retard the formation of tumors. Hence, the diet must contain more of the omega-3 acids and less of the omega-6 acids in order to prevent breast cancer.

(ii) Red Meats

Red meats are known to cause almost all types of cancers if taken in excess. Hence, in the diet the amounts of red meats must be reduced and white meats must be increased. Red meats are mutton, beef and pork; while white meats are chicken and poultry.

(iii) Smoking and Alcoholism

Smoking is the single largest risk for breast cancers today. Women who begin to smoke early in their lives and continue on a regular basis stand at a much higher risk. Similarly, alcohols are also to be avoided. Yet, recent researches have shown that alcohol taken in conjunction with a folic acid diet may actually help in the prevention of breast cancer.

Sticking to a good dietary regime could be very well the best way to prevent breast cancer. But the importance of physical activity should not be ignored. A woman can go a long way in preventing breast cancer if she takes a healthy diet and couples it with a physically active lifestyle.

Read more about the Cancer Preventing Breast Diet and other breast care issues at http://www.mysecrethealth.com

Dr.Anna Hardy
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/what-are-cancer-preventing-breast-diet-101134.html

Spotted Seatrout

In 2007, Spotted seatrout was the most popular catch among marine recreational anglers . The species is caught in the Gulf of Mexico and the south Atlantic regions, which have the highest combined concentration of saltwater anglers in the nation.

6.8 million fish were caught in 2006. One encouraging statistic is that 75 percent of spotted seatrout caught by recreational anglers are released to grow. In Florida speckled trout are often the most sought after gamefish.

Redfish

Redfish are common in the southern USA. Redfish inhabit shallow bays and esturaries, targeting crustaceans and baitfish. They are highly prized as a recreational fish. Some redfish anglers compete in national tournaments that are similar to freshwater bass fishing events. These beautiful fish are also known as red drum.

Red Snapper

Red snapper is one of the most sought after and highly prized Gulf Coast fish. Red snapper is low in saturated fat and sodium and is a very good source of protein. In 2006, Over 4.5 million pounds of red snapper, valued at over $13 million, were caught commercially in the USA.

Spot

Spot are named and identified by the distinctive dark spot above the pectoral fin It is also known as lafayette, goody, or Norfolk spot. Spot are common from Cape Cod to Florida and through the Gulf of Mexico. The species is considered both a valuable commercial and recreational species throughout its range.

Spot rarely exceed 10 inches in length. The fish are highly sought after as a food fish by both commercial and recreational fishermen. These panfish are abundant in near-shore oceanic areas, coastal bays, and estuaries.

Pinfish

Pinfish, also known as sailor’s choice, or pin perch is one of the most common inshore fish. It ranges from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico. Pinfish known to coastal anglers as a “bait stealer,” but are sought after as a bait for other larger fish. Pinfish are abundant from Virginia south. They occur over a wide variety of bottom types but prefer vegetated bottoms. Pinfish can tolerate wide variations in temperature and salinity conditions. Pinfish reach lengths of about 15 inches, although most pinfish are 4-8 inches in length and are usually considered as baitfish.

Pigfish

Pigfish are colorful members of the grunt family. They are marked with a bluish upper and a silver lower body. Each scale has a blue center and bronze edge, which forms a series of yellow-brown stripes on the sides and sometimes exhibits orange bands on the snout and head. The full range of pigfish extends from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico, although they are rare north of Virginia. Pigfish are caught by recreational anglers and considered to be a good quality food fish.

Pigfish have limited commercial importance, and most commercial landings come as pigfish are mixed with other grunt species. Pigfish are also used as live bait especially in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Pigfish reach lengths of about 18 inches, with a maximum weight of about 2 pounds. Pigfish are short lived and rarely exceed 3 years of age.

Florida Pompano

Florida Pompano range from Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico as well as in parts of South America. Florida Pompano are schooling fish that are often found in the surf. They average 1-2 lbs, are are highly regarded as a food fish. Florida pompano are said to bring the highest price per pound of any fish in the United States.

Blueline Tilefish

Blueline or gray tilefish (Caulolatilus microps) are another species of tilefish. They also burrow and sometimes live in communities along the bottom. Adults weigh an average of 10-25 pounds. Blueline Tilefish have firm, white meat with a mild flavor.

Amberjacks

Amberjacks are large saltwater fish that love structure such as reefs, shipwrecks and rocky outcrops. These hard fighting fish are caught live lining baits around oil rigs, wrecks, reefs and other hotspots.

Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfin tuna are a favorite among anglers in many parts of the USA and worldwide. These fish are found where ever there is warm water and pods of baitfish. Yellowfin travel in groups and their aggressive feeding habits sometimes get them in trouble as anglers.

Mahi Mahi

Mahi Mahi, also known as dorado or dolphin fish are fast growing, pelagic fish. They are among the most beautiful of all fish. Younger fish school in large numbers, orienting to sargasso weed or floating debri. Larger fish are loners or travel in small groups, but still orient to floating structure. The males develop a blunt forehead and grow larger than the females, sometimes reaching lengths of 5 feet and weighing 30-50 lbs.

Wahoo

Wahoo live in the open ocean and are common along much of the USA and Caribbean. The beautiful fish are caught in a variety of ways including trolling, jigging, fly fishing, kite fishing, live baiting and others. Their razor sharp teeth and incredible speed make wahoo a very difficult fish to land.

J.C. Banks
http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/gulf-coast-saltwater-fishing-727311.html

Integrated Fish Farming

Indian agriculture is known for its multifunctionalities of providing employment, livelihood, food, nutritional and ecological securities .Today the Indian economy is based on mainly in the field of agriculture and software development in the area of Information Technology. For achieving rapid progress in rural area, our strategy must focus on; conserving natural resources, enhancing efficient of resource use, increasing productivity and profitability and improving quality and competitiveness through reduced unit cost of production.

                                                                                        Integrated plant nutrients and protection systems of crop, livestock and aquaculture production are being updated for various agro-ecologies. Water is emerging as national challenge and its most efficient management as well as recycling has been given high priority in the plan of formulation. Recycling of crop residue as well as agricultural by products inclusion of nitrogen fixing legumes in rotation, bio fertilizers, vermicultres,Agro forestry, nutrient solubbizing micro-organisms, efficient nutrient up taking plant varieties etc. are being strategies in the research mandate. Improved efficiency farm machinery energy, agro- input and resource conservation technologies of minimum tillage are being researched to minimize the cost of production.

                                                                  In certain areas, paddy fields remain flooded with water for a period of 3-8 months in a year, during which some growth of fish is easily possible. Hence, fish is cultivated in paddy field to give sustainable additional supply to the farmer. This practice is common in Italy, Japan, Malaysia, several African countries and to some extent in India various techniques are employed for fish culture in paddy fields depending upon the climate local conditions, species of fish available and the variety of paddy cultivated. The cultivation of paddy is the primary purpose of farmer; hence fish culture is to be adapted to the schedule of paddy cultivation. Species that are suitable for culture in paddy fields must be able to thrive in shallow water. They should be able to tolerate relatively higher temperature and turbidity. Certain carps, murrels and tilapia are suitable for culture in paddy fields. Fish culture is beneficial to the paddy also to some extent. Fish perform tillage; destroy weed and insect that cause damage to the paddy plants, thus increasing paddy production. 

                                                             In India, experiments conducted on fish culture in paddy fields in W.Bengal have shown that the survival rate of Labeo, Catla and Mrigal ranges from 34-40%, and the species show more rapid growth in paddy fields than in ponds. Fields that are left flooded for a long or short period after harvesting can be easily utilize for fish culture.

.                        The wetland area which is generally waste land can be used as integrated fish farming with Makhana culture .This type of mixed culture will offer greater efficiency in resource utilization, will reduce risk by diversifying crop and will provide additional food and income. This system will be of special significance as it will improve the socio-economic status of weaker rural fisher community.                                                                  

     Fish culture in  Makhana  ponds can  be  grouped as:-

   a) secondary crop of  fish  after  a  Makhana  corp.                                   

   b) along  with  the  Makhana during  the  period  of  cultivation; and      

   c) continuous  fish  culture, transferring  the fish  to  specially  prepared  ponds  or  channels  during  the  harvesting  period  of Makhana.`

                                   The various stages of Makhana cultivation in ponds and tanks considerably alter as well as disrupt the ecological conditions of the water body. The planktonic productivity of such ponds remains very meager due to shaded surface imparted by Makhana leaves which mostly cover the entire surface of the pond. So that the air-breathing fishes, by virtue of the presence of accessory respiratory organs can thrive well in such adverse, low- oxygen environmental conditions. It is a common view that the air- breathing fishes in such ecologically disrupted ecosystem are probably made for each other by nature itself. These fishes are well known for their high protein, high iron, high calcium and low fat content and easy digestibility and such, suitable for all people.

                  There are various species of air- breathing fishes most ideally suited for stocking in Makhana ponds. These are generally carnivorous in nature and in culture operation they adopt themselves excellently to supplementary feeding with dried trash fish, oil cake and rice bran. Among these fishes Magur (Clarias batrachus) and Singhi  (Heteropneustes  fossilis) are known to be feeding gastropods, insects, micro crustaceans, and other larvae. Koi (Anabas testudineus) is generally a micro plankton feeder in younger stages and takes to insectivorous habit in later stages.

                   Makhana cum fish culture has certain advantage and disadvantage. The main advantages are :-                           

 1) the most economical utilization of pond or wetland area, since the same pond would be

   used for the production of both Makhana and fish.        

 2) Utilization of limited extra labour to take care of fish, since both Makhana and fish may be taken care at the same time.                     

 3) The quantity of supplemental of fish feeds, if it all given, will be comparatively less   

  compared to feed  given to the fish in general  pond culture and the unused feed in Makhana   pond increases the  fertility  of  the  pond  by  acting  as  organic manure.

  4) Fish eat harmful organisms, such as insect larvae and some other water insects, fresh water   mollusks. The Makhana yield would increase due to reduced insect pest pressure and  increased organic fertilization.  

5)  The movement of fish would result in better aeration of the water and greater tillering of

    the Makhana crop.

            The disadvantages of the Makhana cum fish culture are: -    

 1) If the fish are introduced to early, they may damage the young Makhana plants.

2) The huge sprawling leaves of Makhana plant keep the water surface shaded from May to August. During this period sun-light will not penetrate inside the water surface due to

      which the grazing chain gets disrupted. As a result of this the dissolved oxygen content of

       water gets depleted which makes the environment unfavorable. 

                                    Another example of mixed farming is prawn culture in combination with fish, like major carps. There is no competition for food or space, as carps are non predatory. The faecal matter of fish might serve as an additional source of food for prawns, which are detritus feeder or scavengers. For extensive pond culture, fertilization of the pond and artificial feeding play a significant role. Rice bran, broken rice, ground nut oil cake, fish meal, worms and meat are used as artificial food.                                                                                                                                                                 

                Thus by applying modern method for integrated fish farming on large scale by the people living in the wetland region will definitely play an important role in the rural economy.

Bibha Kumari
http://www.articlesbase.com/science-articles/integrated-fish-farming-710306.html

Needless to mention, this is a very complex and sensitive subject. However, anyone over 50 years old can remember a childhood where the environment was quite different.

The world’s population insane dependence on fossil fuels (while there are acceptable and non-polluting alternatives) is basically killing our clean and environment, and us with it.

What is Oil Pollution?

Oil pollution is simply the spilling of crude or refined petroleum product into the environment. There are some staggering statistics that follow.

These are statistics from the 1995 Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition, and have not been updated. It is estimated that the overall totals have increased two or three fold.

• Accidental spills from ships : 140 Million tons
• Routine maintenance of ships and equipment: 511 Millions tons
• Air pollution in the rains (entering the seas): 348 Million tons
• Land disposal of fuels entering the seas: 1,374 Million tons
• Natural seepage (from sea sources) 234 Million tons

The above does NOT include China or India statistics. A total of 2,607 Millions of tons of petroleum had ended up in the environment (estimated in 1995). Now 11 years later, the total is estimated to have trippled, and we are witnessing a gradual increase in Earth temperature due to global warming, other alarming changes in the weather, pollution traces found in both the environment and animals (and plants) in the wild.

Despite the MARPOL rules (marine pollution act by the United Nations), and other legislation, oil pollution continues. A recent survey by marine toxicologists have confirmed alarming amounts of damage to the livers in a wide spectrum of marine fish and mammals. Almost all fish sampled had high levels of heavy metals in the tissue (crude oil contains a great deal of heavy metal, vanadium among them, which is toxic to most animals).

The bottom feeders and marine crustaceans (also living on the bottom of the sea) had an equally high level of absorbed heavy metals and other pollutants (PCB and Dioxin for example).

The natural microbes and small aquatic life that can biodegrade the oil (into water and carbon dioxide) are overwhelmed and cannot cope. There is a lack of available nutrients in areas that surround oil spills, and pollution sites.

One sees large groups of whales or dolphins beaching themselves, and puzzled scientists to explain why. It doesn’t take much to figure it out. Whole species of plants and animals are disappearing on a regular basis.

Oil pollution can not be solved by legislation, or by being more careful. So much oil pollution enters the atmosphere, and then the environment, the only measure that we can take is to immediately reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. Places like California in the United States has already taken the first steps, but has not gone so far as outlawing the fossil fuel.

Knowing that there are fuel cells which can burn clean hydrogen, there are electric engines and solar cells to run the ubiquitous automobile. There is wind and wave power to create clean and non-polluting sources of electricity. Sadly the interests of big business are coming before the safety of the human race.

Sacha Tarkovsky
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/oil-pollution-and-what-it-is-doing-to-our-world-56289.html