The Margarine Myth - Is Butter Really Bad For You?

There's a battle going on in Wikipedia (isn't there always?) This one is on the margarine versus butter debate, and the Wikipedia editors have flagged the ever-changing article 'margarine' as possibly biased. It's a vital topic, because the answer hinges on one of the most important health misunderstandings of the last three decades.

A typical Wikipedia battle of opinions. Looking at its history, it seems to be going the usual way of such debates: one side 'corrects' the other's changes, it's recorrected back, and so on until the editors put up a bar and open a debate to settle it. (Maybe I should have a go? Nah, wait till the dust dies down.)

[Do note that with the term 'margarine', I'm including low-fat spreads. The general definition today is that margarine is 70%-80% fat (like butter) and low-fat spreads are less. Otherwise they're similar. It's just that you can eat a little more low-fat spread to get the same damage to your health.]

Before I explain why there's Bad Health in the Margarine-Butter wars, I'll sketch in a bit of the history. Skip this if you're bored by history, but don't blame me if you're missing a point later.

History of Margarine

Beginnings

All the sources say that margarine began as a competition run by Emperor Napoleon III of France in the mid-19th century to find a cheap butter substitute for the French army and the poor. The winner's product, oleomargarine, was an emulsion of beef fat with skim milk, and while it was clearly not butter, it was edible -- and cheap.

For six decades, this and similar spreads became a commercial success all over Europe and North America, though their sales never rivalled butter. In the UK it was first called 'butterine', but after it was found being sold as an adulterant in butter, a public enquiry resulted in the name 'margarine' being required.

Recipes varied, but they were all essentially flavoured water or milk emulsions of a hard fat, intended to resemble butter enough to get a sale. Mostly animal fats were used: soft beef fat usually, blended with anything cheap: mutton fat and whale blubber, for example. High-saturate tropical fats like coconut oil or palm oil were occasionally used, too. Margarine was universally disliked, but universally bought as the poor man's butter.

Hydrogenation

In the 1930s, a radical change came with the development of hydrogenation. This is when fat or oil is heated with hydrogen, to convert lighter oils into saturated fats. The resulting very hard fat could be blended with lighter oils and emulsified with water, skim milk or whey to a butter-like consistency -- and with a much better flavour and more controllable consistency than previously.

It was found, though, that the hydrogenation process could be stopped short, and the resulting partially hydrogenated oil was butter-like with no blending of light oils needed. This saved on costs. This became the method of choice from the 1950s on. Traditional margarine today is a mix of partially hydrogenated oils (corn, cottonseed, peanut, rape and sunflower being cheap, depending on region and season), emulsified with water and with added flavourings. Whey powder and vitamins are usually added to costlier blends.

The situation today

Margarines and spreads now well outsell butter, probably because margarine today is tastier than ever and often half the price of butter, and because of the butter health scare a few decades ago (also known as the margarine myth -- see below). Partial hydrogenation is still the method used to make most margarines, where it's allowed and accepted by the public -- it's the cheapest method.

In the last couple of decades, more expensive, butter-like margarines and lower-fat spreads have got popular, getting their taste from extra whey and artificial flavourings. They have names not unlike 'I Can Believe This Isn't Butter'. All these, together with cheaper spreads, are the margarine of our title.

And, at last, margarines and spreads are being made from unhydrogenated oils, even with traces of fish oil for Omega-3, and heavily advertised as the best thing for health since sliced... er... butter. I'll come to these last.

End of history

(bored ones - you can look back, now).

The Butter-Margarine Wars

On with the main theme of this article.

The three-decade-long fight between the butter and margarine lobbies hasn't died yet. It wouldn't, would it, with so many millions of dollars in profits hinging on the outcome? The argument seems to turn on which will kill you next week and which will help you live to be 120 -- if you believe either of them!

The butter lobby would have you believe that margarine is an adulterated chemical mess that will see you off in a jiffy with a seized-up heart or stroke - but butter is natural, and good for you. And it tastes like, well, butter. Margarine fans want you to know that butter is full of killer saturated fats, whereas margarine is made with poly-unsaturated goodness and precious vitamins to preserve you for decades. And it tastes like butter, anyway.

Who's right?

Well, when it comes to the character assassination part, they both are. As you will have heard, eating saturated fats in quantity is said to be the surest way to get hardened, fatty arteries and pop off with a heart attack or stroke: it gets most of us in the end. If you eat a typical Western diet, this is true, and what the margarine lobby major on in their advertising.

However -- and this is the Margarine Myth -- they also claim that margarine is chock full of polyunsaturated oils like sunflower oil, which are very good for you. Oh-oh! Not true. Made from polyunsaturates, yes. Analysed to contain poly-unsaturates, yes. But healthy -- NO! Not always anyway, and depending where you live, maybe not often...

Killer Fats

You see, it wasn't much known till the 1980s that there were two types of poly-unsaturated fatty acid. One was normal (the cis- type), by far the commonest in nature, the other twisted from normal (trans- type), giving it the characteristics of a saturated fat.

Now, much margarine since the 1930s (and the most common margarine from the 1950s until maybe recently) has been made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Partial hydrogenation's main aim is to convert some of the oils into fats giving the whole mess a 'harder' consistency and making it suitable for margarine. Partial hydrogenation's other effect, though, is to twist cis- into trans-fats. In other words, much of the healthy poly-unsaturated oil in these margarines is converted into trans-fats, sometimes over a quarter of the oil content, as a by-product of making some fats from the oil. But traditional fat analyses still show them as poly-unsaturates, and so trans-fats can sneak into that poly-unsaturates count on the tub.

You may have heard about the nasty trans-fat. You heard right. Like a saturated fat, it gets turned by your body straight into energy, and, as people generally eat more energy than they can use, it goes 'straight to my hips', as I hear a lot of ladies say. It gets stored -- in the cellulite, the love handles, the artery walls. Yeah, just like butter fat.

But there's worse.

Trans-Fats - the Healthy Oil Blockers

Your body needs poly-unsaturated fatty acids for body building, repair and a lot of other jobs, particularly the essential Omega 3 fatty acid ALA and Omega 6 fatty acid LA. It can recognise these, cut them out from the rest using clever enzymes and send them to where they're needed for your health.

Because a trans-fat is still poly-unsaturated, your internal chemical factory almost recognises it as the real thing. It tries to do the cut-out bit and fails - but in trying, it misses a lot of the real cis-fats your body needs, which simply get burnt for energy.

So, trans-fats block your reserving of a lot of the cis-fats you need to stay healthy. You then need to eat more cis-fats than you'd otherwise need, to be fit. Trouble is, the vital ALA cis-fat is pretty scarce in today's refined food, fast food, junk food diet. If you're seriously short of it, your body has to go into emergency measures to keep you alive - and the most common results are atherosclerosis and arthritis.

The Margarine Myth

Let's put all this together. There is a very strong argument (i.e., it's dead certain, unless you make margarine) for claiming that 'traditional' margarine, made from partially hydrogenated oils, is worse for health than butter because of its trans-fat content. That's what explodes the myth of margarine's health benefits.

The scares about butter have a lot of truth in them -- but it's even more true for the trans-fat margarine they said was safer than butter. OK, 30 years ago, no-one knew about the trans-fat dangers. 'Taint their fault. But by 20 years ago, the science was solid -- and oil chemists knew it. So, why didn't they tell us, or change the margarine formulas once they knew its effects? Even if it would cost more. Might be something to do with who they worked for!

Some Hope Dawning

As the information I've laid out briefly in this article became prominent in the last few years, margarine makers have quietly developed and publicly trumpeted new margarines with new health claims (and at a higher price, of course). Some add 'wonder' ingredients to hopefully make an unhealthy product (margarine is, after all, a fat) more healthy. Some of them have quietly replaced the partially-hydrogenated oils with regular oils. If you're in the US, the pack will have to tell you the trans-fat content, so it's easy to tell.

If you're not in the US, you still need to look on your supermarket shelves to see whether the margarine revolution has got to you yet. Does the label mention trans-fats? If not, it's probably got 'em!

But now, two kinds of margarine have arrived which make new claims to be healthy. One of them's a winner, the other a dud.

The Cholesterol-Killer Margarine?

Type one contains additives known to reduce blood cholesterol levels in trials - especially plant sterol or stanol esters. They are 3 to 5 times the price of regular margarines. Sounds great if it works!

Just remember that, to get any useful benefits, you'll need to eat a quarter pound or more of this fat a day. It'll be a fine margarine if there are no trans- fats in it, but there are much healthier and cheaper ways to get the cholesterol-lowering results than eating your sterols as extracts in margarine. And the easiest is to eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, where the additional benefits go far beyond a dose of plant sterol.

(Tip: it's worth repeating how to tell whether there are trans fats in a margarine or oil. Just look on the pack. If the margarine is free of this junk, they'll usually be proud to tell you. If they don't -- it's likely in there!)

The Truly Healthy Margarine?

Type two appeared quite recently and is still gaining market share. It's a low-fat spread around the price of butter, and as it gains in popularity, the price should drop. They use refined polyunsaturated oils without hydrogenation and they clearly say how much trans fat is in the tub (there's always a little, even in natural oils). Good. Such margarines definitely give advantages over butter - as long as you don't eat a lot. It is a fat, after all! This is so far the healthy way to go.

What is the best oil and fat balance?

One of the nutritional problems in today's West is the predominance of Omega-6 poly-unsaturates in our food, along with a lot of saturates, of course. It was discovered long ago, but not much publicized, that Omega-6 and Omega-3 must be eaten in a naturally balanced ratio with each other, if our body's extraction and reservation of both is to be successful. So the high level of Omega-6 is a bad, not a good thing, unless we eat at least a third of that amount of Omega-3, too. And we don't. It's processed out of our food in the factory, and in fact, most Westerners are significantly short of it. This has been flagged up in so many trials as a likely major factor in atherosclerosis and arthritis that you can take it as so.

What you need to become healthy then, is to cut right down on Omega 6, then find a good source of Omega 3 with not much else in it. There are two big sources of Omega 3: fish oils and flax seed and its oil. Fish oils have almost none of the vital ALA in them -- fish don't store it. If you're healthy, you can make the fish oil fatty acids from ALA yourself, so you really need a good source of ALA. Flax is the only oil with over 30% ALA; it's usually about 55%. That's why flax was a traditional winter food.

For most people, then, I recommend at least 15ml of flax oil a day, and wild-caught, sub-arctic oily fish twice a week. Your complementary Omega 6 oils should be not over 30ml a day Omega 6 content to keep the balance, and on a typical Western diet that's impossible. So you need some diet modification to stay healthy. But you guessed that, didn't you?

Which Margarine Oils Are Healthiest?

Some recent margarines and spreads trumpet their headline oil on the pack as especially healthy. How true are the claims? Many are based on old, discredited ideas about good nutrition -- even doctors can get behind on what's proven healthy! This is particularly true for sunflower oil, soya oil and olive oil. Remember, too, that this advice goes for the oils as well as spreads made from them.

So here are my suggestions for which margarines are best for you:

• Sunflower Spread. If you eat plenty of fish and flax seed, this is fine. Spreads made mainly or wholly from sunflower oil will be rich in Omega-6, and you'll get a poly-unsaturate balance. If you are deficient in Omega-3 -- like most people -- this is not the one for you. Your Omega-3 take up will be compromised, and you're not getting enough as it is!
• Soya Spreads. Same thing goes as for Sunflower oil. Soya products are popular among the health-aware, especially vegetarians, because soya beans are richer in protein than carbohydrate -- the only bean to be a great protein source. But the oil is similar in nutrition to sunflower oil, and all I've said above applies. The soya magic doesn't work here.
• Olive Oil Spreads. For most Western people, mono-unsaturate spreads are the best to use. Olive oil is a good one, particularly if it's virgin oil. But read the pack! I haven't yet seen a widely-available spread whose headline olive oil is more than a small part of the total. The spread may well be mostly poly-unsaturates -- see above for the problem. There's no point paying a premium price for too little of mono-unsaturates to be useful.
• Spreads made wholly with rapeseed oil -- my recommendation. Rapeseed is one of the cheapest oils, and has characteristics very similar to the famous olive oil. It's just as good for you, but not famous because it wasn't available in ancient times. In Europe, it's the cheapest and may well be the whole of the oil content. The problem is that it often won't be declared -- it will appear as 'vegetable oil'. Look at the analysis table for the fat content to be mostly mono-unsaturates. That's the signal for a major rapeseed oil presence.

In the US and Canada, Canola oil is the equivalent of rapeseed. It's actually a rapeseed variant with very little erucic acid, developed when this fatty acid was thought to be harmful. We know now that rapeseed oil is good, but so is Canola (Canada-Oil -- get it?). Go for it!

Margarines and Healthy Additives

Last point. They are even beginning to add a little Omega-3 fish oil and flax oil to some brands of margarine. Good idea: the more of these we get the better. Just remember, it's mostly NOT these good oils; there isn't enough in there to be really useful, so it's not worth any premium price. Good oils with Omega 3 are better bought direct and used direct.

Summary -- my advice is: Don't use a spread that doesn't state on the tub that it's free or almost free of trans-fats. Don't use much of the new good stuff - it's fat, isn't it? Pick your oil blend in the spread to match your total oil and fat intake. And you can use butter if you like -- but just a very little as a luxury: it's half saturated fat.

David

This is an updated expansion of two of my blog posts in March 2008.

You can find more stuff about health in my Bad Health Blog, at http://www.davidsblog.typepad.com. Do get back to me with your opinion on this article or any other stuff you'd like me to know. I love debate!

Nutrition Advice For Skinny Guys - Do These and Your Muscles Will Grow Like Weeds

Let me tell you this... if you never ate out with a bodybuilder before... it is an eye-opener! I mean they eat and eat... you would be flabbergasted...

And many competitive bodybuilders are very, very precise with their nutrition. They use scales, calculators and even a pen and notebook.

But us skinny guys don't have to do this. Maybe it is just me but I like to keep things simple and uncomplicated when it comes to good nutrition.

On the other hand... the SEE FOOD diet isn't a good fit for me either and I am guessing it isn't for most of us...

And you know what I mean by that... see the food -- eat it! The problem with that method... it isn't the healthiest way to go. I do want to bulk up but not at the expensive of getting fat. And if you ask most adults around you... it is way easier to put fat on then take it off.

So no thanks...

Here is the best nutrition advice skinny guys can get to build muscle mass:

Muscle gaining tip one) Eat every 3 hours. It is virtually impossible for you to eat enough calories to support muscle building on just three meals a day. It has to be at LEAST 6 to 8 times a day from now on.

Eat your first meal within twenty minutes after you wake up. And look at each time you eat as an opportunity to add fuel to the burning fire within your body -- not as a chore! Think each time you eat... your chest is getting bigger, your arms are getting bigger and so on...

And whenever you MISS a meal... Oh! Are you in trouble! Then visualize a swarm of flesh eating bacteria taking bites out of your muscles...

And definitely eat something before you go to bed. Ignore that conventional wisdom that you shouldn't eat before bedtime... it is a myth.

Muscle gaining Tip two) Rotate the variety of foods you eat or you are going to get bored with them and start eating less. So don't be afraid to experiment and buy different foods while grocery shopping every week.

Muscle gaining tip three) Eat enough food! If you want muscles, you have to eat foods that will support and maintain the muscles. There is no other way around it. Working out harder isn't going to build bigger muscles unless you eat enough calories. It is just impossible.

Muscle gaining tip four) Eat between forty to sixty grams of protein each time you eat a meal. Dude... if you don't support your muscles... guess what? Your muscles are going to disappear... and the ol' flesh eating bacteria is back again...

Proteins should make up at least 35% of your total calories. Good protein sources is whole, complete and lean. Ground beef, chicken, turkey are all good choices. Also go for fish -- but make sure it is wild caught and not farm raised. Eggs, dairy and whey protein shakes.

Muscle gaining tip five) Eat between sixty to eighty grams of carbohydrates each time you eat a meal. The lack of carbs in your diet can deplete your energy level. Get your carbs from high fiber, complex and low glycemic foods and definitely avoid the simple carbs such as fast foods, fried foods, processed foods and junk foods. The complex carbs is digested slowly and releases energy over a period of time. Complex carbs rarely get converted to blubber around your midsection.

And you can find these complex carbs in bran, barley, buckwheat, beans, brown rice (NOT WHITE RICE!),oatmeal, whole wheat pasta and whole grains. Complex carbs can also be called good carbohydrates.

Muscle gaining tip six) Eat some fats. Yes, I'm not crazy as a fox. Roughly about 30% of your daily calories should be fats. Try to balance out your fats between saturated, mono-saturated and polyunsaturated fats. Don't make it hard.

Now you have all heard about the horrible western diet which is usually deficient in mono-saturated fats (olive oils) and polyunsaturated fats (fish oils)... your job is to bring up the consumption of these two oils in your nutrition.

However... the ONLY fats you must not touch with a ten foot pole are the trans fats! These fats are the real bad guys... they clog arteries and are the main culprit of many dangerous life threatening conditions. And the typical foods that usually have trans fats are vegetable oils that are turned into margarine or shortening. You would find trans fats in french fries,fried chicken,doughnuts, cookies, pastries and crackers.

No amount of trans fat is good for you. If it is on the food label... just don't eat it Bubba!

Muscle gaining tip seven) Mom is right. Eat your vegetables. Plenty of them! Vegetables are loaded with vitamins and minerals. They are bio acceptable to your body and are consumed readily. Vegetable nutrition is important indeed.

Big tip... cut up all your vegetables at the beginning of the week to make it much easier to prepare each meal. And shoot for at the very minimum... two servings of vegetables each day.

Muscle building tip eight) Your biggest meal of the day should be breakfast. Also before and after you workout. This is when your muscles need calories and proteins the most.

Muscle building tip nine) Plan ahead for your meals. Make a shopping list. Choose the recipes. Chop up foods. If you go to work... bring food. Travel... bring food. If you don't surround yourself with foods... your muscles will never, ever get bigger my friend.

Muscle building tip ten) Try to get as much of your nutrition from whole foods (not packaged). The rest can be from protein shakes and smoothies.

Your body wasn't designed to take up foods in the liquid form but 40% of the time you can do it safely. Drinking a protein shake is pretty convenient and is a good way to get enormous amounts of protein and calories in a short period of time.

But good, solid quality foods should be high on your list.

My suggestion would be to learn how to cook tasty and healthy foods if you are serious about becoming a bodybuilder. Make it fun and interesting. Be willing to experiment with recipes to get new and exciting flavors.

That's it big guy! You got ten muscle building tips to get you started... until next time -- grow strong and stay healthy.

You will discover how a former skinny guy who through trial and error learned how to build muscle mass fast. He trained many younger guys just like himself and he sure will show you how to gain muscle too...

Click here how to => Build Muscles Fast or even learn how to sculpt your body muscles like a fitness model!

Click here to discover the 1 insider secret for men and women to get a flat stomach. Go to => Six Pack Abs and grab the free fat loss report.

The Function of Carbohydrates in Our Life

Carbohydrates are called carbohydrates because the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen they contain are usually in the proportion to form water with the general formula Cn(H2O)n. Plants use sunlight (photosynthesis) to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen.

Carbohydrates are classified into mono, di, tri, poly and heterosaccharides. The smallest carbohydrates are monosaccharides such as glucose whereas polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose and glycogen can be large and even indeterminate in length.

Carbohydrate: Mainly sugars and starches, together constituting one of the three principal types of nutrients used as energy sources (calories) by the body. Carbohydrates can also be defined chemically as neutral compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

Carbohydrates come in simple forms such as sugars and in complex forms such as starches and fiber. The body breaks down most sugars and starches into glucose, a simple sugar that the body can use to feed its cells. Complex carbohydrates are derived from plants. Dietary intake of complex carbohydrates can lower blood cholesterol when they are substituted for saturated fat.

Carbohydrates are classified into mono, di, tri, poly and heterosaccharides. The smallest carbohydrates are monosaccharides such as glucose whereas polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose and glycogen can be large and even indeterminate in length.

Key Functions of Carbohydrates

• When your body needs energy, it looks for carbohydrates first.
• If you are not consuming enough carbohydrates, your body will look for other sources of energy, such as proteins found in muscle tissue. Proteins, however, are not efficient sources of energy for the body.
• Carbohydrates are most abundant dietary source of energy for all organisms.
• They supply energy and serve as storage form of energy.
• Carbohydrates such as glucose, fructose, starch, glycogen, etc. provide energy for functioning of living organisms.
• Carbohydrates also protect your muscles and help regulate the amount of sugar circulating in your blood so that all the cells get the energy they need.
• Carbohydrates participate in cellular functions such as cell growth, adhesion and fertilization.

Food Sources of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates come in two forms: simple and complex. Both are composed of units of sugar. The difference is how many sugar units they contain, and how they link together.

Examples of single sugars from foods include fructose (found in fruits) and galactose (found in milk products). Double sugars include lactose (found in dairy), maltose (found in certain vegetables and in beer), and sucrose (table sugar). Honey is also a double sugar, but unlike table sugar, contains a small amount of vitamins and minerals.

• Complex carbohydrates release energy slowly and often contain fiber. These "healthier" forms of carbohydrates include whole grain bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, cereals and legumes.
• Simple carbohydrates are sugars that give you instant energy and typically have no nutritional value. Simple carbohydrates that contain vitamins and minerals occur naturally in: fruits, milk and milk products, vegetables. Simple carbohydrates are also found in processed and refined sugars* such as: candy, table sugar, syrups (not including natural syrups such as maple), regular carbonated beverages.

*Refined sugars provide calories, but lack vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Such simple sugars are often called "empty calories" and can lead to weight gain. Also, many refined foods, such as white flour, sugar, and polished rice, lack B vitamins and other important nutrients unless they are marked "enriched." It is healthiest to obtain carbohydrates, vitamins, and other nutrients in as natural a form as possible -- for example, from fruit instead of table sugar.

Daily Usage of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates typically consist of 45 - 60% of your total caloric intake.

The levels of carbohydrate allowed can vary according to levels of activity. The range is from 20 up to 70 grams daily.

However, 70 grams daily is very generous and is usually only for those who are engaging in weight training in addition to cardio exercise.

The normal low carbohydrate range for weight loss is 20 to 50 grams daily. You must determine how strict you need to be; the best way is to experiment and discover what amount works well for you as an individual.

There is in fact no minimum daily requirement for carbohydrates, but they do have many beneficial phytochemicals and fiber so eating some is fine (as long as they are unrefined/unprocessed).

Nutritional Safety

If you consume excess carbohydrates and participate in little or no physical activity, these excess carbohydrates will be converted and stored in the body as fat - which may lead to weight gain and other health risks.

My next article entitled "The Function of Protein in our Life" will examine the role of protein in good nutrition.

See you on the Beaches of the World,

Kevin McNabb

Kevin McNabb is the Founder & Chairman of Kevin McNabb International, a company dedicated for producing high quality personal development resources for the direct selling industry (includes MLM, network marketing and Party Plan). For more information please visit: http://KevinMcNabb.com/blog

He is also the author and creator of "The Responsible Direct Seller Series."

Kevin is a freelance writer, blogger and guest blogger and has been a professional network marketer since 1985.

Long Distance Casting - Ten Things I've Learned To Cast Further!

In modern carp fishing the ability to cast further is a definite advantage in the anglers armoury. The fact is, that despite what their estimated casting range is, most anglers will struggle to better 100 yards by any great margin.

Not all waters allow boats or bait boats, so being able to cast is a real plus, and can make the difference between catching and not catching. I remember all too well blanking on a lake in France because the fish were at 150 yards and I couldn't reach them. The Dutch guy in the next peg was casting there easily. Needless to say he bagged up... much to my frustration.

We can't all afford to go out and buy top of the range gear, which is what you 'll need to compete with the top casters.. that and loads of tuition and a modicum of talent. For us mere mortals a few hints and tips can get us up to the 140-150 yards range. I've done it measured, so as an average caster I can tell you it works. These tips were picked up from Mark Hutchinson and Mehdi Daho, but if you really want to get into the big league. I suggest you take lessons with someone like Mark.

Ok so here are 10 tips that will help you cast further with your regular carp gear.

1. Use a Large Spool Big Pit 'Type' Reel: These don't have to cost a fortune, the Shimano AERLEX costs as little as fifty quid. Okuma make excellent value big spool reels too.

The top flight reels like the Ultegra's from Shimano and Tournaments from Daiwa will set you back a few bob, but are excellent tools. The advantage of the wide spool on a big pit is that the diameter doesn't drop as quickly as you cast, thus less friction builds up on the spool lip, increasing your distance.

2. Fill Spool to the Rim: Make sure you fill your spool right up to the rim. Modern fixed spool reels used in carp fishing have pretty good line lay, compared to the awful things like Mitchell 300's and Cardinals. To make the most of the casting capacity of your reel fill it right flush to the lip. Don't overfill as you'll get bird's nests, but go as full as you can. Bear in mind that the line will bed down a bit.

3. Fill Your Spool with 10lb Monofilament Line: It stands to reason the finer the line you use the further you'll cast. You can't go mad in carp fishing as the fish are big and fight hard. In most open water 10lb mono is more than adequate. I use Daiwa Sensor 10lb for my long range stuff, but many of the quality monos on the market will do. Some anglers drop line strength even more...it's a trade off really between abrasion resistance and casting needs. A finer diameter line will naturally need far less chaffing to break it than heavy, thicker nylon. A few drops of Kryston Greased Lightening will also make the nylon flow off the reel better.

4. Use a Braided Leader: To get maximum distance with 10lb main line you'll need a shock leader. Here I'd recommend a 50lb braid for a leader material. Braid has no stretch so all your power is put into the blank and not into the stretch of a nylon leader. It will add distance to your casts.

5. Use A Helicopter Rig: The best casting rig is the 'Helicopter' rig. Set up right is is also the only rig that will leave the fish free of the line in the case of a crack off. Now these rigs DO have to be done right. The wrong set up and you have a death rig, as the fish trail line and the lead. There are several companies making either ready to use rigs or selling the various end rig items you need to make a safe set-up. Please pay careful attention to this! The poor set up of the helicopter rigs has seen it banned on my waters, which is stupid, as done correctly it should be the safest rig out there.

It lets the lead fly first and the bait follows, giving you a more aerodynamic set up and therefore more distance. Combine this with a short nylon stiff or combi-hooklink and it will go far...

6. Use a Zip Lead: A lead of the Zip type will cast further than any lead out there. Aerodynamic, these leads really come into their own when used with a bait. In most circumstances you may net see a huge difference between dumpy pear leads and zips, that is until you attach your boilie. The zip gives your rig far more stability and lets you get several yards extra distance on your cast. These leads fly straight and true and will be more accurate too.

7. Use a Small Bait: Inertia is one of the main problems you come across when looking to gain those precious extra yards. It stands to reason a large 22mm boilie not only adds weight to the rig, but also adds wind resistance and makes the set up less stable in the air and less aerodynamic. If you drop your bait size down to 14mm or smaller, it won't prevent a carp from finding and eating your offering, but it will certainly help cancel out some of the negative effects of the large bait.

8. Use a Fingerstall: This is primarily a safety issue. Braided leaders are like cheese wire, and will cut your finger down to the bone easily if you don't wear a fingerstall. These need to be leather Reuben Heatons offers a very good one. To my mind the fear of hurting myself and certainly the pain of slicing my finger would prevent me from really leaning into a cast without one. The use of a fingerstall, the safety issue aside, gives me all the confidence to go for the big one and not worry about injury. As I said above, you need strong fine braided shock leader with no stretch to transfer the energy of the lead compressing the blank on the cast. To use braid you MUST protect your casting finger.

9. Make Sure Your Rod Handle is the Right Length: Now here is a point I bet most people don't think about when they buy a rod to cast long range with. The length of the handle. So you can transfer the maximum of your bodyweight into the cast, you need to be able to tuck the handle under your armpit as you follow through. If the handle is too long, you'll need to push it to one side at the end of the cast. You'll almost certainly be losing yourself a few metres like this. You don't need full custom built rods, but you should get a rod builder or a good tackle shop to tailor your rod for your arm length.

10. Cast Off the Deck: You can gain precious yards by laying your lead on the floor and casting off the deck. You'll transfer all the force of the cast almost immediately as you lift the weight, compressing the blank and unleashing the full power of the rod. A couple of points to bear in mind, you might want to uprate your leader strength to 100lb or so, as the casts of this type are brutal to say the least. You also might want to lay the lead and the rig on an unhooking mat of some such thing to avoid catching the rig on the ground or vegetation as you cast. I'd probably protect the hook point with PVA also to avoid it pricking the material.

This is not an exhaustive list, but just a few tips and guide lines I've picked up to help you put extra yards on a cast. Don't be afraid of breaking a rod, although its always a possibility, modern carbon fibre is a hugely strong material and in normal fishing the risks are not too great. A fishing rod is a tool so use it to its full...

by Gareth Watkins :
For more Carp Fishing News, Posts, Tips and Articles Check out my own Angling Lines Blog at : http://www.anglinglines.com/blog

Good Carbohydrates, Bad Carbohydrates and How You Can Tell the Difference

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created a food pyramid to improve the eating habits and the health of all Americans. The pyramid made carbohydrates the most important food group, suggesting 6 to 11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta. As a result, people have reduced their consumption of meat, cheese, and eggs and started loading up on bread, pasta, and rice. But did it make us healthier? The answer is obvious - it did not.

That is why many nutritional experts say that excessive carbohydrates are not as healthy as the USDA would have us believe, or at least that not all carbohydrates are good for you. It is plain to see. More and more people are getting overweight, including even children. It is estimated that by the year 2030, 9 out of 10 people will be obese. On the other hand, high protein low carbohydrate diets showed that you can improve your waistline and reduce your cardiovascular risks simply by reducing the amount of carbohydrates that you eat.

So are carbohydrates good or bad? Both. Some carbohydrates can make you fat and increase the risk of heart disease. Yet other carbohydrates are healthy, they reduce the risk of heart disease, they are a good source of vitamins and minerals, and they help you lose weight. You see, there are different kinds of carbohydrates out there. That is why it is wrong to lump them all together, like the food pyramid does. Some are definitely good for you and others you should stay away from.

It is easy to tell good carbs from bad. Most simple carbohydrates are bad, and most complex carbs are good. All carbohydrates are made from small building blocks. These are called simple sugars. This is a purely chemical name and has nothing to do with how they taste, although some of them happen to be sweet. Three common simple sugars are glucose, fructose, and galactose.

A single glucose or fructose is called monosaccharide. (Mono means one). A combination of 2 single units is called disaccharide. For example, sucrose is made up of 2 units, glucose and fructose. Sucrose is the white table sugar that you put in your tea or coffee. Glucose plus galactose makes a disaccharide called lactose, the sugar of milk. Glucose is found naturally in some plants and in honey. It is the main carbohydrate in your body. Glucose is used as a source of quick energy. In a way it is like the gasoline on which your body runs. There is always some glucose in the blood, ready to be used by muscles, brain, red cells and other organs. There is also some stored in the liver and the muscles just in case you run out of glucose in the blood. This stored form of glucose is called glycogen. When we talk about blood sugar, we mean blood glucose. You can find fructose in honey and most fruits. It is the substance that gives honey its characteristic taste.

Mono- and disaccharides are examples of simple carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates, such as starch, fiber, or glycogen are made from thousands of basic units linked together. Unlike proteins, where twenty amino acids are combined in thousands of different ways, complex carbohydrates usually contain the same unit repeated hundreds of thousands of times. This unit is usually glucose, the same sugar you have in your blood. For example, starch, fiber, and glycogen are all made from glucose. In fact, most vegetables and fruits are made from glucose. Bread, broccoli, and bananas are all made from millions of glucose units that are put together in a certain way.

Simple carbohydrates and starches can be unhealthy, especially in large amounts, while most complex carbohydrates (except for starch) are good for you. This is because bad carbs quickly raise your blood glucose, while the good carbs do not.

As I mentioned earlier, glucose is important because the cells of your body can use it when they need to produce energy quickly. But if you have too much sugar in the blood, your body will try to get rid of it and bring the level back to normal. It does that by using a hormone called insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and is released directly into your blood. The more sugar you have, the more insulin you need to bring it down. Insulin drives glucose into muscles and other tissues, where it is burned or turned into glycogen. If the muscles cannot take any more glucose, insulin turns what is left into fat or triglycerides.

Most people already have enough fat, so they really don't need any more. This fat makes us look bad and increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and strokes. If your blood test shows a high level of triglycerides it is usually because you eat too many carbs that turn into sugar. High insulin level causes inflammation inside the arteries, which can lead to hardening of the arteries and, eventually, heart disease.

Another way to differentiate good carbs from bad is by using Glycemic Index, which I describe in a separate article How Glycemic Index Can Make You Healthy.

Michael Teplitsky, MD has been practicing alternative and holistic medicine for over 20 years. He has treated thousands of patients using nutrition and nutritional supplements. His book Nutrition and Your Health explains complex and confusing nutritional concepts in an easy to understand layman language. Please visit the http://www.CommonSenseHealthGuide.com to get the book, a free report 7 Health Myths That Can Hurt You, health news, and other valuable information.

Reducing Your Pool's Chlorine Costs

A salt water chlorinator generates chlorine using electrolysis. A mild saline solution is passed over a cell while an electrically charged. This results in a chlorine molecule being separated from the salt (NaCl3) converted into Hypochlorous acid - an effective sanitiser.

Why Salt Water ? The human body is made up of a small percentage of salt (Sodium Chloride). A salt solution in the swimming pool of roughly 2.5ppm (parts per million) to 4ppm is virtually tasteless.

How does a salt chlorinator work? Because the salt chlorinator is constantly producing chlorine it eliminates the need to regularly buy or add it to the pool. This is a big advantage for pool owners. The amount of chlorine produced will depend on the area of the cell and the amount of current applied to it. When functioning correctly it will continuously produce chlorine. The chlorinator should be correctly sized for your pool, their output is usually displayed in grams per hour. An over sized chlorinator will produce too much chlorine and result in over chlorination of the pool, this can lead to eye irritation and bleaching of togs and bathing suits. If the chlorinator is too small, it will not produce enough chlorine to maintain the residue required to effectively control algae and bacteria. Excessive levels of chlorine may also damage other pool equipment.

How do they work? Through the process of electrolysis, the salt solution water passing over the chlorinators generating cell produces chlorine gas that is instantly transformed into Hypochlorous acid. This is the same compound that is formed when any type of chlorine is added to water. Hypochlorous acid is the active sanitiser that kills algae and other harmful bacteria in the pools water.

Do i need to do anything else ? Yes - your pools normal water balance must be maintained in order for the salt water chlorinator to work correctly, pH is especially important, as with a chlorine pool because the Hypochlorous acid is more effective at a lower pH (7.0 - 7.4). As with a normal chlorination, a salt water pool should be "shock dosed" regularly to prevent the build up of bacteria that can become resistant to low levels of chlorine. This can be achieved with an active chlorine shock dose, or with many non-chlorine (MSPS) treatments.

Are there any hidden costs? The pools water should be tested regularly for salinity, as a low salt content can cause damage to the chlorinator cell. Salt is removed from the pool through backwashing and dilution. The salt water chlorinator requires a small amount of electricity. Modern "self cleaning" salt chlorinators reduce the amount of maintenance required by periodically alternating the direction of charge in the electrode cell, reducing the formation of deposits. Mono-polarity salt water chlorinator will require regular cleaning to remove deposits that form on the electrodes.

What are the Benefits? Aside from not having to manually add chlorine daily to the swimming pool to maintain a healthy swimming environment, there is a cost saving of not having to purchase this chlorine. Many salt pool owners comment that their pools are easier to maintain, do not have chlorine odors, the water tastes and feels better. They also do not have to store or transport harmful or dangerous chlorine based products. They are left with more time to enjoy a healthy and sparkling, well sanitized pool with lower ongoing costs.

Benefits Of Olive Oil - Will It Help Me To Lose My Weight

Olive oil is a basic part of the Mediterranean diet which is very beneficial for tasty and more enjoyable eating. Being the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is - freshly pressed from the fruit, Olive oil is a natural juice preserving the taste, aroma, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit. People who take olive oil diet notice several health benefits from olive oil.

Olive oil is an excellent source of antioxidants, capable of dousing inflammation, defending cells from menacing molecules, and much more. If taken in moderate amounts, olive oil helps in weight loss as it reduces your abdominal fat.

Health Benefits of Olive Oil

1. Olive Oil prevents you from Cancer

The mono unsaturated fat in olive oil has anti-cancer effects. Some people as an evidence to its benefits claim that olive oil helps in the cure of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. Also a mono unsaturated fatty acid present in olive oil called Oleic acid claims to have significant protective effects against cancer. It reduces the effect of an oncogene, a gene that turns a host cell into a cancer cell.

2. Olive Oil lowers your blood pressure

A normal blood pressure should not be below 120/80. And if yours come in this range then do not panic. What is olive oil for? Olive oil has the capability to reduce the need for daily meds. So, always go for extra-virgin olive oil that has the maximum number of antioxidants and heat-sensitive vitamins.

3. Olive Oil reduces Cholesterol level in your arteries

Nothing better can come to your mind other than olive oil, when it comes to your heart. Olive oil stimulates good HDL cholesterol in your heart, lowers bad LDL cholesterol, and also it reduces other harmful blood fats (triglycerides). And the list does not end here only. Olive oil also reduces inflammation, another contributor to cardiovascular disease. The latest research shows that cardiovascular diseases are the top causes of death in the industrialized world.

Heart failures are a rare thing found among those who consume olive oil. Olive oil also prevents the formation of blood clots and platelet aggregation in your body.

4. Olive Oil leads to weight loss

You might also be aware of the fact that all the oils have the same calories but olive oil is the only one that helps in weight loss. But why so? The reason is that olive oil has a fuller flavor, so less is needed for tantalizing taste. Also the recent research shows that overweight people going for a much fatty diet -- including olive oil -- are more likely to lose weight than those who slash fat. Now again why? Because the rich flavor of olive oil makes it easier to stick with the program.

* 6 table spoons of Olive is more than enough for weight loss.

* Olive oil with lemon to remove kidney stones from your body.

5. Olive Oil relives you from headaches

Try adding extra virgin olive oil to your salad dressing or crisp-tender veggies, if you suffer from frequent headaches. This is because it contains oleocanthal, a natural compound that will block pain-producing and inflammatory substances and that also without causing any stomach upset. This painkiller has the capability to lower your risk for heart disease, cancer, arthritis and possibly Alzheimers.

There are many more benefits of olive oil which a very few people on this earth really know. But what are they? Want to know? See below.

Navneet Brar is one of the very few who love to help others in need, just by sharing useful information on anything and everything on internet for FREE. So, go for more information on olive oil through more benefits of olive oil. And to get the latest updates on anything on internet, kindly visit his website http://www.top54u.com.

Simple Tips to Eating Healthy for Life

Eating healthy for life should be the goal of everyone who wants to have a dynamic lifestyle free of medical problems, and filled with energy and vitality. Healthy eating doesn't have to be a chore, nor is it difficult when you follow some commonsense suggestions. Here are some very simple tips that will help you achieve the goal of eating healthy for life.

1. Calories

Figure out how many calories your body needs to function each day, then adjust your diet to that amount. The number of calories a person needs to consume varies wildly, as it depends on their metabolism (metabolic rate) and how physically active they are. If you are someone who is not very active, then your caloric intake should be much lower than someone who works out regularly.

Muscle mass will also play a part in the number of calories you burn each day. Muscle aids in burning fat. Someone who has more muscle mass will require more calories than someone who doesn't. It makes sense that if you want to eat more without gaining weight, start doing some weight training in your local gym. The added muscle you build will aid in burning calories and help you lose body fat.

2. Fats

It is important that you consume some foods containing fat so that your body functions properly. Healthy fats also keep your skin and hair healthy looking. But it is critical that you choose the right kinds of fat and don't overdo it.

Stay away from products which contain either animal or vegetable oils, as these are high in calories. Instead look for those ones which are high in mono unsaturated fatty acids such as olive oil, nuts, fish oil and seed oils. Not only can these fats lower cholesterol levels, they also reduce the risk of heart disease. Eating fish several times a week is a great strategy. In addition, there are many different supplements now available which contain these mono unsaturated fatty acids. I regularly buy an omega 3 fatty acid supplement from my local Safeway.

3. Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy. But the trick at the end of the day is choosing the right carbohydrates to eat. If you do not want to gain weight then restrict your intake of simple carbohydrates such as sugar and processed flour. Instead eat plenty of the more complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, whole grain flour, oats and hearty fruits and vegetables. These foods are loaded with nutrients, are low in calories, and are very filling.

These are some simple tips to help you achieve your goal of eating healthy for life. Follow them closely and you won't have to worry about weight loss diets or health problems in the future!

Fat Types and Their Importance for Good or Bad Health

The different fat types and their health effects:

High consumption of fat or of the combination fat and carbohydrates causes obesity, heart disease and other health problems.

However the different types of fat have very different effects on the health. Here is a survey of the different fat categories and their effects:

Mono-unsaturated fat - This type of fat prevents heart disease and circulatory disease in moderate amounts.

Omega-6-poly-unsaturated fat - This fat type prevents heart disease if you do not consume too much of it. However it causes inflammatory reactions. This type of reactions are benign when they are moderate and when they are provoked to fight disease. But a constant high inflammatory response is dangerous, and can cause rheumatism, heart trouble and cancer. A very high consumption of this type of fat is therefore dangerous.

Omega-3-poly-unsaturated fat - This type of fat prevents heart disease and reduces inflammatory reactions in moderate amounts. Therefore it also reduces the risk of cancer, intestinal inflammations and rheumatism.

Omega-9-poly-unsaturated fat - This type of fat also prevents heart disease and reduces inflammatory reactions in moderate amounts. Therefore it reduces the risk of cancer, intestinal inflammations and rheumatism.

Saturated fat - This type of fat is probably not dangerous in small amounts. In higher amounts, saturated fat gives high cholesterol levels, causes clogging of the blood vessels, cause coronary heart disease and increases the risk of infarction of the heart and other organs.

Cholesterol- Cholesterol is a fat-like compound found in the food, but also synthesized from saturated fat by the body. High intake of saturated fat or of cholesterol itself, therefore elevates the cholesterol level in the body. Cholesterol is a necessary compound, but in higher amounts it causes clogging of the blood vessels, causes coronary heart disease and increases the risk of infarction of the heart and other organs.

Trans-fat - This type of fat is chemically altered by processing to yield specific mechanical properties. Margarine often contains this type of fat. This type of fat is dangerous, and is a probably a causal component for heart disease and cancer. There is however one exception: Some amount of fat containing the trans acid conjugated linoleic acid seem to be benevolent for the skin health and may help reduce weight. Conjugated linoleic acid is found in milk and butter.

Common problems of the average diet:

The average American and European diet generally contains too much fat and carbohydrates combined. The fat consumed is generally a mixture of trans fat, saturated fat and omega-6-poly-unsaturated fat. This fat misconsume causes overweight and is probably a major contributing component for the incidence of heart disease, cancer, intestinal inflammatory diseases, rheumatism and other inflammatory conditions.

Recommended amount of fat in the diet:

A common advice is to let 25-30 % of the energy needed be covered by fat, and the rest by carbohydrates. However, experts do not agree at his point. Some recommend a low carbohydrate diet with more fat, and others recommend a high carbohydrate diet with a low fat amount.

In either case, the combined intake of fat and carbohydrates should not be much higher than your daily energy consumption if you have a normal or wanted weight. If you want to loose weight, this combined amount must be lower. If you want to gain weight, it should be higher.

The right mixture of fat types:

The right mixture of different fat types is as important as the amount of fat in the diet to keep good health. However, you must not take the percent ratios given here too literally, since there is much unagreement about the exact ratios that should be recommended. Furthermore, if you have an active lifestyle that demands much energy, this is best achieved by increasing the amount of carbohydrates and mono-unsaturated fat.

Mono-unsaturated fat - Ideally as much as 35% of the fat consumption should be from this type of fat. You can find this fat in olive oil, raps oil and walnut oil.

Omega-6-poly-unsaturated fat - 30 % of the fat consumption should be from this fat type. You find it in soya oil and corn oil.

Omega-3-poly-unsaturated fat and omega-9-poly-unsaturated fat - 20 % of the fat consumption should be this type. You find it in fish oil and in fat fish. If you suffer from inflammatory conditions like rheumatism and intestinal inflammation, you will probably benefit from increasing the amount of this fat type, and reduce the amount of other fat types.

Saturated fat - Not more than 15 % of the fat consumption should be saturated fat. Saturated fat is found in fat from mammals, coconut fat and in milk.

Cholesterol - The cholesterol level in the body depends upon the combined amount of consumed cholesterol itself and saturated fat. To keep the cholesterol level right, you should not consume too much saturated fat, and not very much of food containing cholesterol, like eggs and spawn.

Trans-fat - This type of fat should ideally not be a part of the diet at all. Margarine, cookies, snacks and often also bread contain this type of fat. It is therefore important to reduce the consume of margarine, cookies, snacks, and to check the composition of the bread you consume.

Conjugated linoleic acid - This is perhaps the only trans fat acid that is benevolent in some amount. It is found in natural milk fat, and you can buy dietary supplements of this substance. A small amount of this substance may help keep your skin healthy and may help you to reduce weight.

Submitted by Knut Holt - k-holt2@online.no

Knut Holt is a web-designer and internet marketer, with a focus on web-sites dealing with health and scientific information.

http://www.panteraconsulting.com/salg2.htm

http://www.abicana.com

This article can freely be copied and reused as long as the the name of the author and the links follow.

Swimming Pool Chemicals

Every swimming pool contains a combination of chemicals - anyone that has ever been in a swimming pool will know this. In fact, anyone who has ever been near a swimming pool will recognise the strange odour that wafts through the air! This smell is caused by swimming pool chemicals that are added to every public and private swimming pool as a matter of course.

Swimming pool chemicals are generally chlorine based and come into a variety of forms. Chlorine has distinct properties that attack germs and bacteria that may build up in a pool. Concentrated chlorine can actually damage human cells, especially mucus membrane like the eyes; however in its dilute form it does not prove to be as harmful. The chlorine is carried around the pool via the water molecules and can protect patrons of the pool for at least a couple of weeks before it needs replenishing.

Chlorine and other swimming pool chemicals are essential elements of any pool. Not only does the chlorine kill harmful germs and bacteria, but it also has properties that neutralize and cleanse other, ahem, less savoury substances. Anyone that has seen a "Don't pee in the pool" sign will know what I am talking about.

Although chlorine is the common swimming pool chemical used, a good percentage of individuals are actually allergic to it. Alternatives has been created, and non-chlorine swimming pool chemicals are now commonly available. They come in several forms. Bromine is commonly used, as is oxy shock. The latter is an oxygen product, potassium mono peroxy sulphate, that is actually odourless and does not tend to provoke allergic reactions, yet does the same job as chlorine.

You can purchase swimming pool chemicals from a variety of places. There are companies that sell them on the World Wide Web and some companies even operate via mail order for this kind of commodity. However, if you do need some advice then you should first go to the site listed below, then, armed with knowledge, to specialist stores that stock swimming pool chemicals. These include, garden centres, sports stores and home design stores.

You should not underestimate the importance of swimming pool chemicals, especially if it is your pool that requires maintenance. The chemicals are inexpensive, but you should always consider the health benefits that you do get as a result of employing them.

This article is an abridged version of the full article on Swimming Pool Safety which is available, as well as articles on Swimming Pool Covers at our site: Swimming Pool Accessories.

Mountain Bike Night Trail Riding and Mono-shock Lighting

Have you ever been stuck on a trail on your mountain bike as the sun goes down and are hurrying back to the truck before it gets too dark? Did you ever think of taking some of these tougher trails at night, when it is cooler out and when the bears and mountain lions are out hunting?

Return to Article

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as you leave the article title, author name, body and resource box intact (means NO changes) with the links made active and you agree to our posted publisher terms of service.

Use the tools below to copy the article in plain text form, or you can copy it as HTML, ready to copy and paste directly into a web page.

Statistically Improbable Keywords In This Article:
use - 2.9%
bike - 2.9%
mountain - 2.9%
system - 2.4%
which - 2.4%

Statistically Improbable Phrases In This Article:
some mountain bike
which use a
use flashlight
system which
bike you strap
strap system or
the monoshock which
all night and
they use a
out your light

Top 10 Gas Scooters

Many manufacturers of gas scooters have come and gone in the past 10 years. It has become a very competitive industry; especially since the influx of cheaper Chinese brand clones entering the U.S. market. That being said, the quality gap between USA made and Chinese made scooters still heavily tilts in favor of the USA branded scooters. It is no surprise that 10 out of the 10 top gas scooters are all USA made scooters.

1. EVO 2X Powerboard

The Evo 2X is a third generation gas scooter from Puzey Design. The Evo brand powerboards are the highest quality products on the market and the fastest scooters ever built. The 2-speed gearbox is a patented, unique drive system that is the heart of the Evo 2X. It is the first two speed scooter in the world.

The range of applications of powerboards and scooters have thus far been limited by low revving, low horsepower engines. Now with the 2-speed gearbox, you can have the power when pulling off, or going uphill, in first gear and have the top speed with 2nd gear. Steep hill climbs for riders over 250lbs are no problem for the Evo 2X.

Another technological advancement found in the Evo 2X is the patented Cam-Link suspension. It is a true suspension system that offers a smooth ride, while offering excellent resistance when landing after jumps. Once you try it you will simply see there is nothing like it. This suspension is the strongest, most robust front suspension in the industry today.

The Evo 2X is one of the most reliable scooters ever produced. The steel and T6 aluminum frame are nearly indestructible. There have been reports of Evo scooters going 1300 miles without even replacing a belt.

Things you'll never have to replace include:

The Frame and Suspension - Even though this scooter is largely designed with light weight aluminum, it is reinforced with steel where necessary. This makes the frame and structure of the scooter nearly indestructible.

The Engine - The Active 50 is not only an impressive power plant, it is also one of the most reliable engines available. A properly maintained engine which is run on 91+ octane fuel with a proper mix (1:40 - 1:50) will last the life of the scooter.

The Deck - The Evo 2X comes with one of the sturdiest decks available for a scooter. Although it is aluminum, it is unbelievably resilient to scratching and will never bend or crack.

2. Go-Ped GTR46i - Trail Ripper Interceptor

The Goped GTR Interceptor is an on-road, street racing version of the Goped GTR46 Trail Ripper. This high-performance Go-Ped now comes with the following modifications:

• New quieter exhaust system
• Smooth ride AT Primo Duro Trap aggressive treaded street tires
• Higher speed, better fuel economy
• Quieter GSR46R 6-76 sprocket drive ratio

These modifications make the Go-Ped GTR46i perfect for those that want to experience the fully suspended plush ride on paved and unpaved surfaces that comes only from the race proven and patented CIDLI suspension system. Dubbed C.I.D.L.I. for Cantilevered Independent Dynamic Linkless Indispension, this unique front and rear swing arm system is indispensable to this practical and fun light weight off-road machine.

3. Go-Ped Riot

The Go-Ped Riot was introduced along side the Go-Ped GTR46 as a pitbike like "scooter". Like the GTR46, the Go-Ped Riot features front and rear CIDLI suspension.

Using the patented Trail Ripper adjustable suspension system in the front and rear, it offers riders great off-roading capabilities with 6" of travel on each end. Powered by the powerful Go-Ped GP460RS engine geared at 6:98, the rugged and highly reliable Go-Ped Riot gives excellent bottom end and a stock top speed of 30mph. The centrifugal clutch provides for a very user friendly yet thrill-packed ride.

4. Martin Monster Beast

The Martin Monster Beast is the most powerful MMI production scooter available. It comes stock with a 52cc Mitsubishi engine which has almost twice the torque as the RC230 powered scooters. Each Beast is hand built by a single technician.

The frame uses the same dual suspension system Martin Monsters has become famous for. The frame is show chromed and hand polished. The drive chain is a robust 35 pitch heavy duty chain with a centrifugal clutch for easy stop-and-go use. The Beast is very powerful but also very quiet with tremendous reserves of power and torque. The Martin Monster Beast comes with an anti-vibration system for a very smooth vibration free ride. Many aftermarket performance parts are available to further customize your Beast.

5. Go-Ped GTR Roadster

The Goped GTR Roadster is an economy version of the Goped GTR46i. With the exception of the smaller Chung Yang GPL290 engine and welded T-bar handlebars, the GTR Roadster is the exact same scooter.

This cool scooter features the race proven, patented, adjustable and bullet proof GTR full 6" CIDLI suspension frame. To that we've installed the incredibly light, yet powerful and quieter GPL290 engine with TT tires and sprocket drive ratios of the GSR Cruiser.

6. Martin Monster Super Shocker

The Martin Monster Super Shocker is a dual purpose machine equally at home, off road, or on. It comes with 10" pneumatic knobby tires, to handle any terrain. The Super Shocker comes with a heavy duty automatic clutch which allows hands free stop-and-go operation.

This is the first and the best production scooter to use full suspension. The front suspension is telescoping motorcycle style and the rear is mono shock absorbing with up to 4" of travel. A drilled front disk brake gives sure fast stopping. Power from the Martin Monster Super Shocker is by the Komatsu Zenoah RC230 engine with 2.5HP.

7. EVO 2 Powerboard

The Evo 2 is a third generation gas scooter from Puzey Design. The Evo brand powerboards are the highest quality products on the market and the fastest scooters ever built. The 2-speed gearbox is a patented, unique drive system that is the heart of the Evo 2X. It is the first two speed scooter in the world.

The Evo 2 is a high-performance, two speed scooter released as a more economical version of the Evo 2X. Unlike its big-brother, the Evo 2 does not have front suspension or a scrub board to protect the under-deck area. Rather than the impressive Active 50, the Evo 2 sports the milder Active 40 engine.

Since the Evo 2 does have the two speed transmission of the Evo 2X, it still does perform impressively despite the lack of performance in the Active 40 engine. If the Evo 2 is being used purely for transportation, the Active 40 will provide enough power along with the two speed transmission, but if any real speed is desired, an engine upgrade should be the first step.

That being said, the Evo 2 is one of the most reliable scooters ever produced

8. Go-Ped Super GSR46R

The Go-Ped GSR46R is one of the most powerful street scooters released by Go-Ped. It is intended to be a street-only scooter since it lacks any form of frame-based suspension. When it was released, the GSR46R, Go-Ped marketed it as the fastest production scooter in the world. Although the claim is debatable, it could very well have been true due to the high speeds attainable with the large R460 engine.

Developed on the legendary GSR40Tsi - Interceptor Go-Ped - the Super GSR46R is powered by the same motor as on the fearless Trail Ripper GTR46. Equipped with a patent pending centrifugal clutch chain drive mechanism geared at 6/76, the GP460RS engine delivers 4.2HP and 2.31 ft-lbs torque with a 17,500 redline, providing for excellent performance at low and high speeds. Tunable, it can even reach 5.5+ HP and 2.6+ ft-lbs of torque with the addition of an aftermarket expansion chamber.

The front and rear Mad Dog disc brakes provide excellent braking performance perfectly matched for the power output of the Go-Ped Super GSR46R.

All of Patmont Motor Werks finest racing components come standard: Heavy duty 4130 chromoly steel frame and double sided fork, pneumatic TT tires mounted with magnesium rims and 20" Motorcycle style "Tim Patmont bend" racing handlebars fitted with a slide tube clamp, billet stem pro clamp, Go-Ped race pad and Pro control levers.

9. Martin Monster Moto

The Martin Monster Moto is a full suspension, chain driven scooter which inherited much of its design from its older brother, the Martin Monster Beast. The Moto's advanced design features include such technical innovations as an anti-vibration system, which provides for a smooth vibration free ride. Other features include dual disk brakes, heavy duty chain drive, automatic clutch and front & rear suspension.

10. Go-Ped GSR Cruiser

The GSR Cruiser is the perfect machine for the customer wanting a quiet, reliable and economical motorized scooter with good performance, but also for beginners wanting an affordable, safe and easy to learn first scooter. PMW believes it is the perfect machine for a very large segment of motorized scooter enthusiasts.

The Go-Ped GSR Cruiser is also the perfect machine for motor heads and the after market community, as chassis upgrades and screaming engine mods are widely available. The GSR Cruiser's power plant, the new GPL290, is based on the high performance GP290RS engine, designed to be a very reliable, quiet and economical cruiser. Top speeds for the GSR Cruiser are in the mid 20mph range, and its horse power is similar to the earlier GSR40.

Stopping power comes from the front Mad Dog brake caliper and double ground and hardened stainless steel Wave disc rotor. The rear brake mount is ready for the rear brake upgrade should the customer so choose to modify for more speed which needs more stopping power.

If you are interested in purchasing a gas scooter or want to learn more about gas scooters please visit our site at http://www.2kscooters.com

Honda Unicorn 150cc Bike Review

The Honda Unicorn 150cc, the very first pure Honda-badged motorcycle from Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has been doing duty with us for the better part of over five months now and judging from the performance dished out to date, it seems a competent motorcycle more than the outright champion everyone, we included were hoping it to be. There is no denying that on the hype of expectations, the Honda Unicorn hasn't delivered in the measure many wanted it to. The Honda name tag though helps sell the Unicorn in good numbers and while at launch the Unicorn did not come with an electric self starter, the company has made amends and launched a bike so equipped last month.

Honda Unicorn's Styling

The looks might be average but the turnout is good though yet again not in keeping with the exacting Honda standards. HMSI did recall our bike to fix a few detail niggles which were part of the initial batch and we have had no complaints so far. However look at the black screen and the way it integrates with the flaring and there are huge gaps. Whether this is by design or default is hard to make out but its there.

Honda Unicorn's Performance

The clutch actuation is a joy for many riders but there is that typically Honda notchiness (from its big bikes of course) in the first two gears which makes shifts a tad hard, notably when starting from cold. The engine needs a good wringing to get it to really motor but then the emphasis has been always on good mid-range lugging with two astride and this tuned and geared for fuel efficiency means that rapid fire getaways are disappointing. There is a positive aspect to this though, with a sweet low rev cruise band which helps take everyone from point A to point B without fuss and in sheer splendour.

And speaking of splendour, the Honda Unicorn 150's monoshock is the one redeeming aspect which the enthusiast riders in our team crave for. Shame that there is not more performance on tap from the bike to make us exploit the virtues of this directly mounted central shocker. Clearly this Honda is one for the masses and in that scenario it has been playing its part with us to the hilt. Didn't we tell you that the future of the executive segment has all to do with the 150cc class?

Great Motorcycles - The BMW K1

In 1989, BMW released a motorcycle that shocked the motorcycle world. That bike was the BMW K1 and it was surprising for two reasons, its performance and the fact that it was built by BMW. At the time BMW had been known for making solid, reliable bikes but they were uninspired and dull. The K1 broke that mold and led to the present day BMW line up that includes many performance oriented machines such as the K1200S and K1200R.

At the time the K1 was built, a voluntary limit of 100 bhp restricted the power output of German motorcycles. In order to obtain the maximum amount of performance from the K1 BMW engineers decided to wrap the motorcycle in an all encompassing aerodynamic fairing. This decision also made a statement that in the future BMW would make bikes that were not only reliable but were exciting both to look at and to ride.

The K1 was powered by a 987cc, liquid cooled, double overhead cam, 16 valve inline four cylinder engine that produced 100 bhp at 8000 rpm. It used a five speed transmission and a shaft final drive. The engine sat in a tubular steel space frame. The suspension included a telescopic front and a mono shock rear. Twin disc brakes on the front and a single disc on the rear provided stopping power. The bike was a bit on the heavy side tipping the scales at 570 lbs. While being the sportiest and most powerful bike ever built by BMW, it was still not as powerful or fast as its contemporaries. It didn't possess gobs of torque at low speeds and the engine wasn't a fire breather but it did pull linearly up to its 8500 rpm redline. The bike excelled as a sports tourer and was at its best when traveling long distances at high speeds.

Like its motor, the big BMW's handling was not razor sharp but was adequate enough to get the job done. The K1 was heavy and required a moderate amount of force on the handlebars to turn, which proved to be advantageous for its role as a high speed touring motorcycle. The K1 could go all day on straight or long sweeping curves but when the road got twisty the K1 had to slow its pace to negotiate the turns.

The fairing of the K1 made long distance rides very comfortable. It did an excellent job of diverting the wind. The bike had great fuel economy and a long range. All in all the K1 was a great high speed touring motorcycle but it did have one drawback. It was sorely lacking in luggage space. The BMW K1 was not a pure sports bike but it was a success as a sports touring motorcycle. It was the first motorcycle to break the traditional BMW mold and led to the innovating and exciting bikes the company now makes.

At Edge On Motorcycling we want every ride to be your best ride. Come see us to get tips and strategies that will make you a more confident, skilled and capable rider. In addition you'll be eligible to enter our free monthly gear giveaway!

Get Off the Road and Get Dirty

A very exciting way to enjoy motorcycles is dirt bike riding.

Riders who enjoy off road riding use a specialised form of motorcycle called a dirt bike. These dirt bikes are ideal in the way they allow you to enjoy off road travel.

Since dirt biking involves mainly travel off the seal, these bikes are designed with some special components and features. They have a considerable amount of ground clearance and this means that the distance between the bottom of the frame and the trail is much greater than on a road machine.

The frames on dirt bikes are narrower, lighter and stronger than other bikes. This makes them travel over rough roads and tracks with ease. The tires are specially designed, they grip very well off road, but treat them with care on smooth road surfaces especially in the wet. In fact if you ride a dirt bike on the road for long periods a spare set of road tires is a very good idea.

Dirt bikes take a lot of rough handling so the suspension needs to be very robust to take it. The suspension is not only strong but has a long travel to help it absorb impacts from the track surface plus any jumps the rider makes on the machine. Most machines have a large mono shock at the back to provide strength where needed. Look at some of the freestyle performers and watch the punishment that their bikes take, their machines are a lot more sophisticated than the average dirt bike but the same principals apply.

Whether you choose a two stroke or four stroke motor is a matter of personal choice. Like most things in life they both have advantages and disadvantages. Two stroke motors are lighter and often have more power higher in the rev range. Four stroke motors on the other hand are heavier, read more robust. They also have more low down power or torque which is an advantage in really rough conditions. Which one to buy?, well some people say that a two stroke is better for new riders and then they can graduate to a four stroke later as their experience increases.

Dirt bike riding is extreme fun and it is as safe or dangerous as you like to make it. There are training schools dotted around the country, that would be more than pleased to train you in good off road techniques. If you think you are really going to spend some time on more challenging terrain they are worth spending your hard earned cash on. Some offer a short courses (3 or 4 hours) which will get you started and heading in the right direction, which I would recommend to most new riders.

Lastly we come to clothing. I strongly suggest, as a minimum get yourself a well ventilated off road helmet which will allow you to wear goggles if things turn dusty or very wet. Good gloves are also very important and will protect your hands when you take that inevitable fall. If your planning to go over rough terrain at high speed, knee, elbow and shoulder pads are highly recommended. It all may seem a bit overkill but you will be glad you did when you hit the ground.

Burton Golf Bags Offer Excellent Protection For Your Clubs

"100 Years of Excellence makes Burton Golf bags a Great Choice"

Are you in the market for a new golf bag? If you are you should take a look at Burton Golf Bag. Whether you carry, pull or ride they have several excellent choices for each category. Burton Golf bags have some innovative features that make them stand out from the crowd.

My Burton Golf bag is the Cart Blanche I've been using it for the past 2 seasons now. This will be the third season for it. I've played a lot of golf the last 2 seasons and it has held up very well. I prefer to ride so it is a cart bag. It features full length dividers. No more clubs getting stuck in the bag. It has lots of pockets to store all my stuff. There are 2 large pockets on either side where I keep extra towels, my rain gear, extra gloves and such. Last year I even put my shoes in it when I went to Florida on vacation. I give it 9 out of 10.

Burton Golf Bags have several innovative features that are unique and really worth a good look. They are the first manufacture to come up with an anti-theft device for the individual clubs and your bag.

• This is a welcome innovation that is well over due. Anyone that has been the victim of stolen equipment can attest to this. The Burton Golf bag Club-Lok system is simple to operate. It's a lever based locking system that requires just seconds to lock up all 14 of your clubs. Well that's great for the clubs but what about the container itself? Well they have thought of that as well. They have incorporated a retractable steel cable that allows you to lock it up to the drop stand, your golf cart and even in the trunk of your car. It has a combination lock which anchors the whole system. Best of all there is no sacrifice in style for security.
• Burtons Monoshock System - When I used to carry my clubs a few years back, I found that when I set it down the legs never seemed to deploy consistently, I would have to give them a little push to get them to extend evenly. It seemed like the legs were always bouncing around and getting in the way. When I picked my clubs up I always had to give the stand a kick to get it to retract. The Monoshock system on Burton golf bags has addressed all of these problems and then some.
• Burton Custom Golf Bags - If you wish Burton can build you the one of your dreams (suddenly Rodney Dangerfield's in the movie Caddy Shack comes to mind). You can choose from many different styles, fabrics and colors for whatever meets your needs.

Choosing Your Next Mountain Bike

Have you been considering buying a Mountain Bike to cruise around town and get back into shape on? If so, great idea indeed; in fact a mountain bike is perfect because you will not hurt your knees jogging while you dump those extra pounds. Once you are back into shape then running with less weight is less strenuous on your knees.

But one would have to ask which Mountain Bike should you buy? Well let me go thru my thought process and perhaps this will help you decide. My thoughts are I need a Mono-shock, lightweight bike. Not for racing so it does not have to be ultra-light. Also I need a quick release front hub so I can transport it easily to get to some local trails in the country I have not ridden on yet. Other than that, it could even be used. So My criteria would be;

1.) New or Used in Good Shape

2.) Gift Card for a bike at a major retailer or shipped to me

3.) Yellow or Blue (you should have a favorite color in mind)

4.) Mono-shock and front shocks

5.) Quick release front wheel, actually front and back is preferred

Now then I recommend you get out a yellow note pad and put down your criteria. Then shop the ads and go to a couple of bicycle shops and ask questions and compare prices and features. Perhaps test-ride the ones you are interested in. If you find the prices too high; then check on eBay for a used bike. It is important to get a sturdy bike that is safe and fun to ride to insure you will be diligent and ride off those extra pounds to become a thinner you. Consider all this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Mountain Bike Night Trail Riding and Mono-shock Lighting

Have you ever been stuck on a trail on your mountain bike as the sun goes down and are hurrying back to the truck before it gets too dark? Did you ever think of taking some of these tougher trails at night, when it is cooler out and when the bears and mountain lions are out hunting? Sure you have, me too. But unlike you, I have done this and let me tell you it is a complete rush indeed. Let me explain how you can join the real men who are not afraid of ferocious animals or the dark.

You need a lighting system you can mount to your bike that does not use batteries so you can go all night and a system, which works of the actual bumps on the trail using electromagnetic induction technology to charge a capacitor instead of the lights working off a battery. Currently there are some nifty micro-flashlights being used which you can buy which use a similar technique and are available thanks to the Everlight Flashlight technology research lab. These smaller flashlights work by shaking them for about thirty seconds and shine for about 6 minutes and they shine quite bright since they use a very bright LED light. Here is a link to this home use flashlight:

http://demo.physics.uiuc.edu/LectDemo/scripts/demo_descript.idc?DemoID=1138

http://www.modernoutpost.com/gear/details/ee_shakelight.html

Now on a mono-shock mountain bike you strap this onto the frame near the mono-shock which takes all the bumps, this laterally shacks the components of your flashlight and as long as you do not stop peddling and wimp out your light shines bright and you can enjoy one heck of a night mountain bike experience. Eventually some Mountain Bike Company will integrate the system into their bicycle frames until then you can use a strap system or duct tape. Do it, think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.