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Tokyo Kapibarasan Character Cafe

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A few years back, when Mike and I first visited Japan, I feel in love with a furry little hamster character. We were shopping on Character Street, a little underground corridor in Tokyo Station that has tons of character shops: Rilakkuma, Hello Kitty, Miffy, Gudetama, and on and on. There was one store that was practically empty. That was the Kapibarasan store! The little brown and white blobs looked like hamsters to me, but they’re actually capybaras, the world’s largest rodent. I guess that kinda makes them a giant hamster. In real life they’re aren’t that cute, but the kawaii Japanese version has me all heart eyes, all the time. Anyway, ever since I fell in love with Kapibarasan, I’ve been wanting to visit a Kapibara cafe. In Japan they often have popup cafes featuring characters as foodstuffs, but it’s always a question of when and where. This trip, I had pretty much given up my dream of eating Kapibara shaped food. I basically forgot about hitting up any character cafes. But,

Easy Oven-Baked Sesame Chicken Thighs

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Because I’m all about those thighs, ’bout those thighs, ’bout those thighs. I absolutely love chicken thighs. Well, to be honest, I love chicken in general, but if I had to choose a favorite part, it’d be thighs, hands down. Thighs are perfect for those nights when you just want to get a quick meal on the table without the fuss of worrying about whether or not your chicken breast is going to get overcooked and dry. The other day, while wandering the aisles at the grocery store, I asked Mike, “why do people love chicken breasts so much – it’s SO expensive?!” For some weird reason I thought that people liked it as a sort of status symbol sort of thing: like check it out, I’m eating chicken breast because I can afford it. But no, Mike cleared it up for me: chicken breast is expensive because people like it. True story: when I was a kid my mom tried to convince me that chicken breast was the best part of a chicken to eat. To think, for years I believed her! Now, she doesn’t even

Healthy Diet Essentials

Healthy Diet Essentials According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a healthy diet as one that Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.  But just what minerals and nutrients are vital to our health and well-being?  Consider these nutrient-dense foods when you’re looking to improve your vitamin and mineral intake. Vitamin A is needed for good eyesight and optimal functioning of the immune system.  Cod liver oil, dairy products, sweet potatoes and dark green leafy vegetables are all great natural food sources of vitamin A. Vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, is imperative to the body’s ability to process carbohydrates.  Whole grain breads, cereals and pastas have high amounts of thiamin. Riboflavin, or B2, can be found in fortified cereals, almonds, asparagus, eg

Hay Diet Treats Chemical Condition of the Body

Dr. William Howard Hay introduced food combining in 1911. After 16 yrs medical practice his own health began to deteriorate, and he developed high blood pressure, Brights disease (now more commonly known as acute or chronic nephritis, a kidney disease) and a dilated heart. There being no treatment available for dilated heart at the time, Dr. Hay was inspired to treat his own symptoms. His basic premise is that there is one underlying cause for health problems and that is the wrong chemical condition in the body. He did this by eating 'fundamentally' as he called it; taking foods in a natural form and not mixing proteins and starches at the same meal. The wrong chemical condition is acidity which is caused by the manufacture and accumulation of acid from the products of digestion and metabolism in amounts greater than the body can eliminate.  Along with dietary changes, Dr. Hay also advised fresh air, exercise and general lifestyle changes. The basic rules of this diet are:

Raw Foods Diet is Beneficial to Your Health

The benefits advocated from eating such a diet seem endless: lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels, eliminating cravings, preventing overeating, purging the body of accumulated toxins, balancing hormones, maintaining blood glucose levels and reversing degenerative diseases. Followers of a raw diet cite numerous health benefits, including increased energy levels, improved appearance of skin, improved digestion, weight loss and reduced risk of heart disease, just to name a few. Proponents believe that enzymes are the life force of a food and that every food contains its own perfect mix. These enzymes help us digest foods completely, without relying on our body to produce its own cocktail of digestive enzymes. There can be some side effects when you are first starting a raw foods diet. Some detoxification effects may be experienced as your body attempts to shed some toxicity. This may include occasional headaches, nausea sensations and mild depression. If these symptoms persis

Superfoods for a Superior Thyroid

An estimated 27 million Americans have thyroid disease, and more than half are undiagnosed. Frequently misunderstood, and too often overlooked and misdiagnosed, thyroid disease affects almost every aspect of health.   Taking care of it with good nutrition is a smart step in the right direction. Here are some superfoods that research has shown can nurture a healthy thyroid, as well as some ones to avoid. Coconut and coconut butter, or more commonly known as coconut oil, has been used as a food and medicine since the dawn of history. Unlike saturated animal fats found in meats and dairy products, coconut butter is a raw saturated fat containing fatty acids which the body can metabolize efficiently and convert to energy quickly. Research also shows it helps to regulate thyroid function. Kelp is a stellar, nutrient-dense sea vegetable. It is also known as Laminaria and contains a natural substance that enhances flavor and tenderizes. Kelp works as a blood purifier, and promotes ad

Superfoods that Get you Moving

It's no wonder so many Americans suffer with constipation (4 million of us, to be exact). Our diet of meat and processed food contains little fiber. Most of us are lucky if we’re getting in half of the 30 grams of fiber that we should each day. Without that bulk in our diet, it can make bowel movements practically immovable.   The human digestive tract was designed for unprocessed plant foods that are loaded with dietary fiber: beans, leafy greens, fresh and dried fruits, vegetables and whole grains. High levels of dietary fiber increase both the frequency and quantity of bowel movements, decreasing the transit time of stools, as well as the absorption of toxins from the stool. Drink at least eight to twelve 8-oz. glasses of clean water per day. Hard, dry stools are a classic sign of dehydration. A good rule of thumb is to drink a glass of water when you wake up and then every hour after that. Try adding some wheat or barley grass to your daily routine.  Mix two to three tea