Archive for May, 2008

Be a Smarter Marketer - Learn the L-A-W for Trade Shows

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

By Julia O’Connor People attend trade shows because they are in a specific industry and want to learn more. They want to know whats new and how you will help them. So, you print up lots of fancy brochures, develop demonstrations, have unique gifts or hand-outs - and want to get rid of it all before the end of the show, so you dont have to ship it home. If you think your only job as an exhibitor is to GIVE information, you are wrong. You exhibit at trade shows because you are in a specific industry and need to keep up with trends. You need to know whats new and how it will affect you, your suppliers, your partners and your clients. Trade shows are the ideal time for you to GATHER information. The show gives you the opportunity to gather market intelligence that is important to your particular company. Here are three simple steps to being a smarter marketer: LISTEN for 1. New words. New words means there are changes in your industry you dont know about. It may be a technology, a process or a company, but learn all you can while at the show. 2. New concerns. When people visit your booth, listen carefully for their underlying concerns about the economy, competition, mergers, politics, big issues. These may affect your business later, so begin to prepare now. ASK about 1. What you need to know. Before the show, determine critical information you would like to have for your company. Ask other people in your company what they would like to know, not just whats important to your division or department. 2. Trends. You dont know everything. People are flattered when you ask their opinion about changes in their specific part of the industry. WRITE it down 1. Right now. Trade shows are busy, noisy environments. You cant trust your memory, so write the information down on the lead card or other form you will keep. 2. For distribution. After the show, take all the information you have gathered and write a confidential report about what you learned. Distribute it to those people in your organization who need to know and can act on this information. Three simple steps to make you more aware of your industry and to keep your company in the forefront. Julia O’Connor - Speaker, Author, Consultant - writes about practical aspects of trade shows. As president of Trade Show Training, inc,, now celebrating its 10th year, she works with companies in a variety of industries to improve their bottom line and marketing opportunities at trade shows. Julia is an expert in the psychology of the trade show environment and uses this expertise in sales training and management seminars. Information and free Newsletter at http://www.TradeShowTraining.comTrade Show Training, inc.PO Box 17155, Richmond, VA 23226804-355-7800 - fax 804-288-0231julia@TradeShowTraining.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julia_O’Connor http://EzineArticles.com/?Be-a-Smarter-Marketer—Learn-the-L-A-W-for-Trade-Shows&id=64287 high risk unsecured loans paycheck tax calculator personal loan interest rate payday loans

The Power of the Press Release

Monday, May 26th, 2008

By Paul McCord Open any newspaper and youll find mention of thousands of companies and products. Most typically the same names are mentioned over and overSears, Old Navy, GM, Microsoft, Wal-Mart, and the list goes on. Many, if not most, of these stories relate some event or product these companies want to expose to a broad audienceearnings reports, new product releases, record sales for a particular product line, promotions, and a myriad of other items, all reported as hard news. And within the same newspaper, on the same page, youll find some small companies youve probably never heard of. Of course, there is probably little in common between Wal-Mart and Joes Handy Cleaners, except most all of the stories on the page were planted by the companies themselves. Most mid to large companies have long learned the value of the press release, but the vast majority of small companies are still left in the cold. The image seems to be that companies must have some momentous news to break in order to make the newspaper. By forfeiting the newspaper to the big boys, small companies are missing out on possibly the most dynamic form of promotion and lead generation there isand its free. And, after all, if its in the newspaper, it must be important, right? Press releases can help level the playing field for companies with limited budgets and resources. There are a number of distribution sites on the internet that will release your press release for virtually nothing. A company called PRWEB will send out your press release to tens of thousands of potential prospects and thousands of media sites for as little as $80 (and as little as $10 if youre willing to take fewer perks)–and provide you will a full array of statistics to give you a good feel for the effectiveness of your press release. If you supplement that with a faxed copy to your local media and a follow-up call, you can likely gain significant exposure for less than a nice meal. In addition, if your company operates on a local level only, you can direct your press release to only local distribution. Nevertheless, of course, that still leaves the issue of what can a small company possibly say that is newsworthy. Actually, anything that is newsworthy. Have you taken on a new line of merchandise? Maybe youve just had an expansion? Possibly, youve just developed a new product or added a new service? Your company is about to have an anniversary? Youre sponsoring an event, scholarship or some other community related promotion? All of these are newsworthy. Still cant think of anything you would consider being significant enough to be picked up by the news? Possibly, you can create something. Let me give you a short press release I sent out: Author Deconstructs Referral Selling MethodologyHouston, Texas (PRWEB) November 27, 2006: Leading prospecting and referral selling trainer and authority, Paul McCord, tears apart the traditional referral selling methods taught to salespeople by companies and sales trainers for decades and has reconstructed them into a systematic referral generation program that promises to change the way companies and salespeople relate to customers and clients in his newly released book, Creating a Million Dollar a Year Sales Income: Sales Success through Client Referrals (John Wiley and Sons, 2007). According to Stu Taylor, the award-winning host of the nationally syndicated radio program Equity Strategies, the book is the most significant sales book Ive read in quite sometime. It is simply the best book on client relationship selling Ive ever read. What McCord has done is identify the most powerful way of gaining sales leads, taken it apart and re-built it into a powerfully more effective process, says David Straker, business methodology consultant, in his review of the book at ChangingMinds.org. The joy that earns this book a rare five stars is the practical, thorough and innovative treatment of referrals that can have literally massive benefit to anyone, not just in sales, who wants to connect with valued other people. According to leading sales trainer and New York Times bestselling author Frank Rumbauskas, the book will become the authoritative work on referral selling and developing the client relationship because it is the most original, innovative, researched and detailed treatment of the subject. It really is a must read book for anyone in sales who is serious about their career. It has been obvious for decades that the traditional method of training salespeople to generate referrals, the do a good job and ask for referrals method, is not effective, McCord claims. I decided to find out how the true million dollars a year sales superstars generate their tremendous volume of referred business and how that differs from what the average salesperson, business owner and professional is doing. The differences in how each group relates to their clients and the way the mega-producers prepare their clients to give a large number of high quality referrals is amazing. Ive simply taken the various techniques and strategies these big producers use and developed them into a systematic program so that any salesperson, professional or business owner can slip them into their own sales process. Companies and salespeople spend billions of dollars every year trying to generate sales leads when their single biggest lead generation resource is free and sitting in their computerstheir current and past client database. The problem is there hasnt been an effective, proven, reliable process for mining that database for new business, McCord adds. This is a highly detailed, personal and relationship driven process that turns those names in the computer into dollars in the sales pipeline at a fraction of the cost of other lead generation methods. The super producers do it and there is no reason everyone cant emulate their success. The book is available in all fine bookstores and on-line at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Powells, Wal-Mart and most other on-line booksellers. Additional information on referral selling can also be found at McCords referral selling website http://www.powerreferralselling.com. This short press release was created when I didnt have anything newsworthy to publish. However, I had book reviews and endorsements of the book and could convert them into a news story. I simply took things people had said about the book and formed them into a short story about the book. And what was the newsworthy message of the press release? The introduction of a new, endorsed process for converting current and past clients into lead generators which replaces an old, ineffective process, and that could save companies millions of dollars while substantially increasing their sales. A weak premise for a press release? Certainly not the strongest Ive ever had. Nevertheless, I found over thirty newspapers that needed fillerliterally fillerand they decided that mine was the best at their disposal. And from my perspective, I couldnt care less their reasoning, all I cared was that they picked up the release and ran it. From this simple 545-word press release, the story was carried in 31 newspapers, mostly small regional and small city newspapers, but 1 major daily, from New York to California–and India and the UK to boot. Moreover, those are only the ones I know about. Numerous on-line news outlets also picked it up. In addition, I booked two radio and one print interview. And the cost? Im cheap; it cost $10 to send this press release. What would the advertising to get the same exposure have cost? I dont know, but I know I couldnt afford it. Using all of the tools at your disposal can help you generate the business youve always wanted. Most of us are caught in the everyday drudgery of running our companies and forget to look at other possibilities to promote our businesses. Take a close look at your company and begin to send out regular press releases. Just keep them newsworthy, short (under 500-600 words if possible), and regular, as it may take a few tries before you get bites from the media. You dont have to have a PR agency or be a wiz at writing press releases, although, if you can afford an agency, they can substantially increase the value of the content and the reach of your press release. I wrote the press release above and probably many of the professionals here are cringing at the very idea of sending that particular release out as written. Nevertheless, it was, from my perspective, effectiveand dirt-cheap. The return on investment can really be out of this world. Paul McCord. McCord, president of McCord and Associates, a sales training and management consulting company in Houston, Texas, is the author of Creating a Million Dollar a Year Sales Income: Sales Success through Client Referrals (John Wiley and Sons, 2007) and upcoming SuperStar Selling: 12 Keys to Becoming a Sales Superstar. Paul can be reached at pmccord@mccordandassociates.com. His sales training website is http://www.powerreferralselling.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_McCord http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Power-of-the-Press-Release&id=529011 dallas business cash advance unsecured personal loans 5000 minimum bad credit ok the amount of taxes with held in your paycheck living in pa hard money rehab lenders tampa florida

The Basics of a Criminal Justice Degree

Sunday, May 18th, 2008

By Jim Greenberg Following the tragic events of 9/11 there is today a much greater awareness throughout society about such issues as homeland security, airport security, public safety and management, international terrorism, criminology and criminal psychology and many other related subjects. Interestingly these are all subjects you can major in or obtain specializations in through degrees in criminal justice/criminology. And more interestingly, such a degree in criminal justice/criminology can get you a job a lot more easily than a degree in a number of other subjects. This is because the US Bureau of Labor Statistics has identified careers in criminal justice as one of the top five careers in the coming years in terms of future job opportunities. You can get degrees in criminal justice/criminology from both traditional schools as well as online schools. If you are a working adult, online courses will suit you a lot more than a traditional program since to complete an online program you do not have to give up your job or relocate or disrupt your life in anyway. More importantly, if you are a working adult already working in the field of criminal justice, an online degree will get you that much coveted promotion or switch to a more well paying job. You can also get a degree much quicker than through the traditional route as most online criminal justice/criminology programs allow you to take credit for your working experience or any on-the-job training that you may have gone through. A degree in criminal justice/criminology will open up many different careers for you at the local, state or federal government level as well as in the private sector. You can also get teaching jobs in various colleges and universities if you have a masters or a PhD degree in criminal justice/criminology. Within the broad field of criminal justice/criminology you can specialize in different fields such as criminal justice administration, criminology, criminal and business law, court procedures, policing, corrections, juvenile justice, domestic violence, court report writing, private security, homeland security, public safety and management, economic crime and fraud management, cyber crime, paralegal studies, forensic science, crime scene investigation etc. Depending on your major or specialization, a criminal justice/criminology degree in any of these areas will make you eligible for jobs in local, state or federal law enforcement, law firms, agencies such as the FBI, banks and insurance companies, corrections facilities, law courts, organizations responsible for public safety and a host of similar organizations. The salaries in these careers are also quite attractive with median salaries for such careers being around $40,000 a year. Jim Greenberg recommends you visit the Online Criminal Justice Degree Guide for more information on criminal justice careers and salaries. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Greenberg http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Basics-of-a-Criminal-Justice-Degree&id=170768 cash advance unsecured high limit credit card bad payday loans for tennessee amount of tax out of paycheck every pay day convert microsoft money loan accouns to quicken

California Business Loans

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ross_Bainbridge]Ross Bainbridge Starting a business in California is not an easy task. There are lots of things that have to be considered to ensure that everything will be in its right place. One of these is adequate capital. A lot of California businesses fail because of lack of funds. So, if you are thinking of starting your own business in California, you have to raise capital. And one of the most effective ways to do this is through California business loans. California business loans are most common types of loans that business-minded people in California take out to fulfill their needs. As the name suggests, a business loan is taken out for the purpose of business, which is either for expansion, diversification or modernization. But usually, this is used to start and run a business. The loan amount is used mainly to purchase or lease the business building and some equipment. And later, it is used to purchase raw materials, pay wages and overhead expenditures. California business loans can be obtained from banks, private lenders and building societies. They can be classified as secured loans or unsecured loans. If you want to apply for a secured loan, you have to offer property as security. In case you are not able to repay the loan according to your agreed terms and conditions, the lender can sell the property. On the other hand, if you want a small amount of money to start your business, then you might go for an unsecured loan. But unlike the secured loan, you will have to pay a higher interest rate, since you will not have to offer a property in order to obtain the loan. It is easy to get California business loans if you just know where and how to begin your search. There are two options — the secured or unsecured loans. Whatever you choose, just make sure that it will best meet your business needs. [http://www.e-CaliforniaLoans.com]California Loans provides detailed information on California Loans, California Home Loans, California Home Equity Loans, California Mortgage Loans and more. California Loans is affiliated with [http://www.e-CaliforniaMortgageLoans.com]California Jumbo Mortgage Loans. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_Bainbridge http://EzineArticles.com/?California-Business-Loans&id=304239 easy loans with no credit check payday lottery win combinations payday freecell pogo auto cheats working at paycheck

Does God Want What You Want?

Friday, May 9th, 2008

By Nevada York Remember asking your parents for something that you really wanted but for whatever reason they told you to wait? No doubt you wanted the object of your desire right then and there. Waiting seemed like such a difficult task, but you did it and for your patience your parents gave you what you requested. At this moment, what is it that you currently desire? Im not talking about material things, Im talking about non-tangible things such as a obtaining a marriage partner, wanting someone to change, someone to stop a nasty habit, or wanting someone to receive salvation, etc. The attitude one has can certainly affect the outcome of the petitioned of prayer. In maintaining patience and a spirit of expectation the Lord rewards His children. However, if during the waiting period, one becomes impatient and exasperated, starts to complain - it may force one to take foolish action rather than waiting on God. As adults we have been conditioned to work step-by-step earnestly towards our goals in order to achieve them. People are use to working hard for something on their own, then seeing the end results of their sweat and hard labor, yet that same formula doesnt apply in ones walk with the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP) reads, Lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. By not relying on your own insight or understanding, you put a stop to the hasty, random impulses to take action yourself verses waiting on the Lord to work. Many exhaust themselves by allowing their flesh to get in the way, by trying to make it happen instead of trusting in the Lord, thus getting frustrated and impatient when they dont get the results they want. Some may even start to doubt or lose faith in the Lord. The definition of the word Wait means: To remain or rest in expectation. Learn to rest in expectation of the Lord to answer your deepest prayers. Admittedly, it can be a bit maddening to say the least, especially when wanting something so bad then suppressing the urge to make it happen by any means necessary. Most of the time we allow the works of the flesh to control our actions, which leads us down the path of empty frustration when we dont receive the solution we want. We constantly focus all of our energy on a particular desire we wish to manifest and have no idea that we are going about it the wrong way. Are you at the end of your rope? Have you done all that could do trying to attain your desire? If you answer yes, then Great! You are that much closer to stopping your actions (works of the flesh) thus allowing God to take over completely, which is what you should have been doing all along. Psalm 37:4 (AMP) reads, Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will grant you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. In delighting ourselves in the Lord, we allow ourselves to be content/satisfied in whatever state we are with God, not worrying about anything else because we are content to know that we are in Gods Hand. Gods ways are perfect. When you find yourself thinking of something that you want or have desired for a long time - Challenge yourself, say aloud: God is in control and wait patiently in expectation. According to televangelist, Joyce Meyer, one must understand several steps when waiting on God to move in your life: 1) Live Trusting God. Period. Do not try to make things happen by yourself on “your own time” have faith and believe in God to make things happen in His own time. 2) Adopt a “hands off policy.” Don’t do anything until God shows you what to do. 3) When praying for what you desire, you need to understand that if God wants you to have it. He will give it to you in His own time in His own way. 4) Tell God, “If you don’t want me to have it, then I don’t want it.” Ask Him to keep you in His will. Remember to keep your eyes always on God, not on the object of your desire. In following these steps, you shall see marvelous things begin to happen in your life when waiting on the Lord. Recommended listening by Joyce Meyer Ministries Gods Timing and His Ways Nevada York, Author of Caught Up and Mahogany’s Revelation, released her latest book in July of 2004 to rave reviews from readers. Nevada’s published novels are an accomplishment that has been well worth the wait. Not willing to be deterred, her determination has bought about the publication of two memorable novels. http://nevadayork.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nevada_York http://EzineArticles.com/?Does-God-Want-What-You-Want?&id=84302 pay day loan offices easy bad credit auto loan bad credit car loan grants pass personal loan for bad credit

Fine Antique Grandfather Clocks

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008

By Daniel Clements Man who knows the value of time ROY Clements antique clock business began as a hobby more than 30 years ago but now draws customers from all over the world, including members of the Royal Family. As a partner in his company Coppelia Antiques, he employs 11 people at the Cheshire workshop and the company’s prestigious shop in London’s Mayfair. Roy, 65, was a senior engineer jetting all around the world with Pilkingtons until he took a six month holiday after building the Viking cycle factory for the British Government in Northern Ireland. “I used to restore my own clocks and those of other dealers, as a hobby, and my wife Valerie said why not do clocks full-time?” Roy explains. “After giving up a high profile job, company car and pension we have not looked back.” His firm, Coppelia Antiques has been based in Plumley near Knutsford since 1974. In 1995 they approached the Queen’s jewellers, Aspreys (now Asprey-Garrards), offering to take over their antique clock business, RA Lee. In its place Roy set up a new London company, Pendulum of Mayfair, and bought the former Fred Perry tennis shop in Maddox Street, off New Bond Street. Two of Roys three sons, Duncan and Daniel, are involved in the business, which came from a family fascination with clocks. My father was a very practical man, from an early age he let me look inside the clock mechanisms to see what made them tick, says Roy. I had a five year apprenticeship with the UK Atomic Energy Authority using all different machine tools, lathes and other mechanical devices, so I am part of the engineering world. Roy, a chartered engineer, has a boyish enthusiasm for the timepieces lovingly restored at the Plumley workshop, and is eager to explain the history and influence of British clock making. In the 18th century the best craftsmen were usually found in port cities such as Liverpool, Edinburgh, Bristol and Hull where mahogany could be found on the quaysides, carried as ballast in ships bringing cotton in exchange for slaves. Each city had a distinctive style of clock but all this variety came to an end in the first decade of the 19th century, with the introduction of mass produced clock faces and movements(mechanisms) in Birmingham. I stop at 1810, says Roy, consultant clocks editor of Millers Antiques Price Guide. He has amassed one of the finest collections of 18th century clocks in the world. But never again will it be possible to collect the clocks I’ve got, he says, mourning the loss of craft skills and the values which created objects still in use more than 300 years later. They are special, my clocks, not like things with a battery that you buy today and then throw away when the battery runs out. At the Cheshire workshop, where clocks stand eight deep waiting for restoration, staff serve a minimum apprenticeship of five years or more, preparing them to work on some of the finest antiques in the world. We completely dismember the movement, which can contain 20 pivots, and refit the wheels. For the cases, we only restore with wood of the same period, so we may buy an antique table for 1,500 and hand-saw it into veneers to replace the wood on a damaged clocks case - we are very much into recycling! Coppelia Antiques only work on clocks in sleepy original condition, with a minimum of parts changed. All their clocks have their correct movements and original bases, unlike many for sale in auction houses, known as marriages, in which the movements do not belong to the case. We do not buy these type of clocks, says Roy. We never apologise for spending three or four weeks in restoring or bringing back to life an old tired clock, so long as it has not been butchered in the past. After we have finished the restoration and we are happy, all our staff admire the piece and it gives us all a lot of satisfaction. We have transformed something thats not been touched for over a hundred years sometimes, into something that you want to hold and cuddle. Roys personal clock collection includes one once owned by Rudyard Kipling, bought for 13 guineas in 1934, a brass lantern clock from the 1600s, made by one of the first clockmakers in Lancashire, and one of the first Cumberland clocks, made by Aaron Cheeseborough. Many clocks come with their own stories, such as the one bought from an old lady who remembered how, as a young girl, she had to curtsey every time it chimed. Roy also collects music boxes and other automata, such as a 19th century French music box featuring a monkey that smokes cigarettes, blows smoke rings and wafts the smoke away with its paw. The monkey was featured in an episode of the Sherlock Holmes TV series and smoked so many cigarettes that one of its tubes was blocked with tar and had to be replaced - proof that smoking is bad for monkeys. Some customers, aware that time is money, buy antique clocks as tax-efficient investments, as they are exempt from capital gains and inheritance tax. One 90-year-old lady approached Roy to invest more than 3 million in clocks recently. Another tax rule exempts the clocks from VAT if they are exported, which explains the sad statistic that 87pc of sales go to the US, says Roy. As he talks about his love for clocks, an orchestra of chimes, bongs, rings and tings builds to a crescendo as the hour approaches. Roy has a simple explanation for the fascination of clocks, particularly grandfather clocks. Each tick is at a frequency of one per second, which is very similar to the first sound we hear, our mothers heartbeat in the womb. It’s very soothing if you are in a room alone with a grandfather clock. http://www.pendulumofmayfair.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Clements http://EzineArticles.com/?Fine-Antique-Grandfather-Clocks&id=528796 secured personal loan magnum payday loans quick guaranteed personal loans feds loaning money

Nutrition - Veggies: The Miracle Food

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

By Tracie Johanson Continuing our series on healthy eating, this seems to be the perfect time to talk about fruits and vegetables and how critical they are to our health. + WHERE WE ARE TODAY: The sad truth is that we (Americans) are just not eating enough vegetables! The proliferation of pre-packaged foods and heat-and-eat meals has just made it more convenient for us to add pounds, while robbing us of the health benefits of natural vegetables. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average adult American eats 4.4 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, which is an increase from 3.9 servings a day when the 5 A Day program began in 1991. Children eat 3.4 servings a day, which is an increase from 3.1 servings a day in 1991. + WHERE WE NEED TO BE, AND THE BENEFITS OF GETTING THERE: The goal is for each of us to eat AT LEAST five servings of fruits and veggies every single day. Research has shown that eating 5 A Day reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses. Cancer, heart disease and stroke are the three leading causes of death in this country. All three are diet-related due to diets high in fat and too low in fruits and vegetables. People who eat 5 A Day have half the risk of developing cancer as those who eat only 1-2 servings a day. In fact, more than one-third of the 500,000 cancer deaths each year could be prevented by eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Veggies are an excellent source of vitamins and fiber. Eating fruits and vegetables does more than reduce the risk of cancer: Research continues to find strong links between increased fruit and vegetable consumption and the decreased risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Convincing evidence proves that fruit and vegetable consumption plays a positive role in the reduced incidence of cataracts, diverticulosis, high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchitis, and osteoporosis. Eating 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily will reduce health risks substantially. + HOW TO EAT MORE FRUITS & VEGGIES: Americans are 4 times more likely to pick a processed snack, than a fruit or vegetable. In addition, Americans are 10 times as likely to select a carbonated soft drink than 100 percent juice. So how do we get more fruits and veggies into our diets? One answer is to select fruits and vegetables for a snack full of vitamins, nutrients, and good taste. Lose those empty calories! Strategies to reach the goal of 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day also include having fruits and vegetables at every meal. Another way to make sure we get all the healthy fruits and veggies we need is to find new recipes that we might enjoy. A great website for finding healthy produce recipes is www.aboutproduce.com, where you’ll find literally hundreds of delicious recipes! Some helpful tips to get the health benefits of veggies: 1) Eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day. 2) Eat at least one high-fiber selection a day. 3) Eat cruciferous (cabbage family) vegetables several times a week. 4) Enjoy the most colorful fruits and vegetables often. 5) Eat at least one dark green vegetable daily. + COOKING & EATING TIPS: “As soon as a fruit or vegetable is harvested or sliced, a process called oxidation begins,” says Holly Brewer, R.D., a dietitian at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas. “To fight the damage, the plant’s cells use up their antioxidant stores, leaving less for you to eventually consume.” The fix is to eat fresh produce within a day of purchase, or buy frozen instead. According to a University of Illinois study, fresh green beans retain only 36% of their vitamin C after six days, while frozen green beans keep 77%. Steam your veggies (or eat them raw) instead of boiling them. When boiled, or microwaved in water, veggies release their nutrients into the cooking water. Steaming them will prevent much of this nutrient loss. Another alternative is to make soups, stews and other dishes in which the cooking liquid is consumed. Always choose fresh, whole fruits and veggies over canned or frozen - EXCEPT do not “stock up” on fresh fruits and vegetables because they lose their nutrients so quickly. When it’s not possible or convenient to ‘eat fresh’, go with frozen instead of canned veggies. Always choose whole fruits & veggies over processed or juiced. For example, a whole apple is much healthier than a glass of apple juice. Too many juices add sugar, and almost all juices eliminate the fiber. + FRUITS & VEGGIES ON A BUDGET: Sad but true, it is often less expensive to eat junk food than it is to eat healthy. Follow these tips to save money on produce: 1) Buy fresh fruit in season, when prices can drop DRASTICALLY. For example, as the holidays draw near we’ll see the price of oranges drop sharply (assuming the hurricanes in Florida didn’t destroy the crop). In previous years, we’ve been able to buy an entire CASE of fresh oranges for about $10. 2) Stock up on frozen veggies when they’re on sale. Thanksgiving is approaching, and many grocery stores will be selling frozen veggies as ‘loss leaders’, which means they sell them below cost just to get us in the door (hoping we’ll also buy more profitable items). It’s not uncommon to see 16 oz. bags of frozen veggies for 33 cents or even less during the week before Thanksgiving! Stock up and save! 3) Buy what’s on sale. Every single supermarket in the country has some kind of produce on sale each week, so take advantage of the lower price! Take kiwi for example. While the regular price is often 2 for $1, a typical sale will bring the price down to 4 for $1. 4) Buy in bulk. Even though we don’t want to ’stock up’ on fresh veggies, how about buying more and splitting it with a friend or family member? For example, a 10 lb. bag of onions is much less expensive per pound than buying single onions. 5) Grow your own fruits and veggies! Gardening is fun, profitable, healthy and also great exercise! Remember that produce begins to lose nutrients the minute it is cut from the plant, so gardening gives us the healthiest foods available - the picked-to-table time is MUCH MUCH lower than what we’ll find at the store! 6) Shop the local growers or processors. We’ve all seen those road-side stands where the local farmers sell their goods out of the back of their truck…..why not take advantage of that? Often, it’s a fresher, healthier product for a much lower price than what we’d normally pay in the grocery store. + THE FINAL ‘BITE’: Hopefully we’ve all learned something about fruits and vegetables, and how eating more of them can benefit our health. This is one of those rare times when it’s okay to eat more! So get going to the garden or the produce section of the supermarket….we’ll see you there! Source: Fitness Magazine, November 2004 issueSource: www.aboutproduce.com * Copyright 2005 Pick Up The Pace. Permission is not required for the distribution of Pick Up The Pace articles as long as they are used in their entirety, are properly credited to Pick Up The Pace, and are accompanied by our website link: www.letspickupthepace.com. * The information in this article and on this site is for general reference purposes only and not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information in this article or on www.letspickupthepace.com should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit http://www.letspickupthepace.com for more information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracie_Johanson http://EzineArticles.com/?Nutrition—Veggies:-The-Miracle-Food&id=86263 loans not reported to credit report bad credit creditcards get funding to start my business bad credit ripped off by credit repair company