10 Foods that we shouldn't refrigerate

1. Onions
Scallions and chives are safe in the fridge (whew!), but moisture will cause onions to soften and become mouldy. This is why you should store onions in a cool, dry place and AWAY from potatoes. Potatoes give off moisture and gases that cause onions to rot faster.

2. Avocado

Avocados aren’t fans of the cold and won’t ripen n the fridge. If you want your avocado to ripen, keep it out of the refrigerator until it’s ready to eat.

 

3. Potatoes

Potatoes are the favourite starch of many, but the refrigerator’s cool temps can turn the starch in potatoes to sugar and kill the flavour. A good trick is to store your potatoes in a paper bag (it’s more breathable than plastic) in a cool, dark place.

 

4. Tomatoes

Much like potatoes, tomatoes will lose their flavour in the refrigerator. The cold breaks down the cell walls in tomato flesh, making it mushy, and also stops them from ripening. Store tomatoes at room temp on the counter, away from direct sunlight.

 

5. Coffee

Your coffee should taste like coffee, not like whatever is in your refrigerator. Unfortunately, fridge-flavoured coffee is what you may end up with if you store your beans there. To maintain flavour and freshness, store your coffee in a cool, dark place like the pantry.

 

6. Garlic

Refrigeration can actually cause garlic to sprout prematurely and become mouldy. Your garlic can last as long as two months outside of the fridge when kept in a cool, dry place.

 

7. Hot Sauce

Hot sauce is all about the flavour and refrigeration can weaken the flavour of some sauces. If you use vinegar-based hot sauce like Tabasco, it’s better to store it in the cabinet.

 

8. Stone Fruits

Fruits with stones like peaches, cherries and plums ripen better at room temperature, stored with the stem side down. You can refrigerate them after they become soft to the touch.

 

9. Melon

An uncut melon should be stored at room temperature so that it can ripen and sweeten. After you cut into it, leftovers are okay to store in the fridge.

 

10. Honey

Honey is like a natural preservative!  It has a pretty long shelf life and storing it in the refrigerator can cause it to crystallize.

 

 

#blackdoctor.org

Do NOT Wash Chicken Before Cooking!...Health experts' warning over food poisoning

Research conducted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) revealed that many cooks believe that rinsing cleaned the meat.

 

The campylobacter bacteria, pictured, is responsible for 20,000 people being hospitalised a year resulting in 500 deaths

Harmful campylobacter bacteria were often splashed on to kitchen surfaces and cooking equipment in the process of washing chicken. And any bacteria left on the chicken were killed off during the cooking process anyway.

Campylobacter is responsible for most cases of food poisoning in Britain every year, affecting around 280,000 people.

And contaminated chicken is behind an astonishing four out of five cases. Some studies even suggest that the bug can be picked up simply by handling a packet of chicken at the supermarket.

The FSA said the bacteria costs the economy hundreds of millions of pounds in sick leave and NHS treatment.

Research conducted by the FSA found that 44 per cent of cooks always washed their chicken before cooking.

More than a third of people surveyed said they did this to get rid of germs, with another third saying they thought that washing helped remove dirt.

But the agency warned that washing could spread illness among those who came into contact with campylobacter.

The most common symptoms in those who develop illness are abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea and vomiting.

But it can have more severe consequences, particularly for children and adults over 60. They are most at risk of developing food poisoning due to their weaker immune systems.

Symptoms for food poisoning caused by campylobacter bacteria will set in between two and five days after coming into contact with the germs.

In the most extreme cases, dehydration can prove fatal if not treated quickly, and can also lead to the onset of reactive arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome and Guillain-Barré syndrome, a serious illness affecting the nervous system.Despite fears about bacteria on meat, most harmful germs are killed by cooking thoroughly.

Studies have estimated that food poisoning is behind 20,000 hospitalisations and 500 deaths every year in the UK. Research by consumer watchdog Which? previously found that washing raw chicken under a tap could spread bacteria up to 3ft from the sink.

While chicken is behind most cases of campylobacter food poisoning, the bacteria is also found in untreated water, unpasteurised milk, undercooked chicken liver and liver paté.

FSA chief executive Catherine Brown said: ‘Campylobacter is a serious issue. Not only can it cause severe illness and death, but it costs the economy hundreds of millions a year as a result of sickness absence and the burden on the NHS.

‘Although people tend to follow recommended practice when handling poultry, such as washing hands after touching raw chicken and ensuring it is thoroughly cooked, our research found washing raw chicken is also common practice.’

Ann Edwards contracted food poisoning from campylobacter bacteria in 1997 and still suffers significant health problems. The 67-year-old, from Hertfordshire, was admitted to hospital with bladder failure and lost two stone.

She then developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, which left her paralysed from the chest down.

She said: ‘I was in hospital for seven weeks and even now – 17 years later – I have no movement in my toes and rely on a walking stick. Physically, it has been the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I urge anyone who is handling chicken to take care.’


#culled from dailymail.co.uk

Good news! Michael Schumacher is out of coma and has been discharged from hospital

Former F1 champion, Michael Schumacher is no longer in a coma and has been discharged from the hospital in Grenoble, France to continue rehabilitation after a skiing accident last year.

His management confirmed this in a statement today.

Schumacher, 45, suffered severe head trauma following a skiing accident at the French

Alps resort of Meribel on December 29.

Police issue warning as new Facebook craze claims teen victim

One of the people takes part in the new craze

Police warn people about a new Facebook craze that could cost more lives after a teenager drowned riding his bike into the water.

This craze is known as A l’eau ou au resto - into the water or to the restaurant. It involves people daring each other to hurl themselves into the water fully clothed or pay for a meal at a restaurant.
It has already claimed its first victim - a 19-year-old boy who rode his bike off the edge of the quayside in Beganne, France, drowned while being filmed by a friend.
Police said on Facebook: “Don’t be influenced by a stupid phenomenon of the moment.”

Videos of people taking part in the dare have already been posted on YouTube featuring  a young man who swigs from a bottle of beer before riding a bike down a ramp and into the canal.
In another, a woman is seen tottering on the water’s edge in high heels.
As she goes to jump she loses her footing and bangs her legs on the edge of the boards she is trying to dive off.

 

 

 



#sundayworld

Football boss, Van Gaal allowed Dutch players a visit from their wives and girlfriends before they massacred Spain in the field!

Louis van Gaal allowed his Netherlands players to spend time with their wives and girlfriends at their team hotel in Salvador twice before they faced Spain.
What's more the visit from friends and family definitely kept them happy as Holland subjected the World Cup holders to their heaviest thrashing since 1951.
Van Gaal revealed : "My principle is the overall picture. The total person. The player.
"His brain and his psyche plays a part. And the psyche is influenced by his environment.
"So on Thursday and this morning I gave permission for the wives to visit the hotel and so the players could be happy.
"But that doesn’t mean this is the reason for our victory.
"I told the players I would make sure there would be points in time where the wives and families would visit them."
"We have enough players who will make sure that we don’t lose ourselves in euphoria."
"We played in a fantastic way, compact football. We used our centre-forwards perfectly......

 Robben and his wife Bernadien

R.I.P.....Multi Award Winning Nigerian Gospel Singer Kefee Passes On

Multiple award-winning gospel singer, Kefee Don Momoh, has been confirmed dead.
She passed on in the early hours of today, after being in coma for weeks in an undisclosed American hospital.

She  went into a coma after collapsing on a 14-hour flight on her way to Chicago for an event about a two weeks ago. A close family source revealed she was diagnosed of having pre-eclampsia – pregnancy induced high blood pressure.
A close friend of her husband, OAP Teddy Don Momoh confirmed the news on Wazobia Fm this morning, saying: “One of her our very own is dead. May her soul rest in peace.”
Kefee whose music career started at age eight in her church choir, was famous for her gospel songs ‘Branama’ and ‘Kokoroko’. She won several awards including the best collaboration Headies Award in 2010.

Until her death, she resided happily with her husband in the US and managed her restaurant, Branama Kitchen, in Lagos.

#dailypost.ng 

R. Kelly's daughter comes out as transgender boy

R. Kelly's 14-year-old daughter—born as Jaya— has revealed that he is female-to-male transgender and living as a boy. He said that he is not close to his father and they have not spoken about his announcement

He has also changed his name to 'Jay'.

Jay made the announcement on his social media pages over the weekend.

Responding to questions on his Ask.fm profile, Jay explained that although he was born biologically female, he has identified as a male since he was '6 or 7' and that his mother has known for a year.

His mom Andrea Kelly, the singer's ex-wife and star of reality series 'Hollywood Exes', has been supportive of his transition.








'My mom was like, "Baby, you know I love you if you were bi, gay, lesbian, you name it and I would still love you so much",' he wrote.

'She was very proud of me, I was like, "Thank you mom for accepting the fact that I'm a transgender".'

'And same with my sister, she told me that she was proud of me, and respects me by calling me handsome and calling me her little brother now, and I love her for that, so you know it was great for me.'

He added that he is eager to undergo the gender realignment operations but that he knows he'll have to wait for several years.



His mom, Andrea Kelly, who stars on 'Hollywood Exes', has been supportive of his announcement



Jay, right, said that his older sister Joann, left, has also told him that she is proud of him

'I believe I am a boy and want surgery, and the medication to help me (be) who I was supposed to be,' he wrote.

From a very young age he knew he did not want to be a girl, wear dresses, grow his hair long or have breasts or female sexual organs, he explained on Ask.fm.

Aged 11, 'I would look up like boy changes to girl, and girl changes to boy, and im like wow, theres people who feel EXACTLY the way i feel and then i knew like thats what transgender is,' he wrote.


He added that he was about six when he knew he was attracted to girls - but he has no plans to date any just yet, adding: 'I've got a lot on my plate right now.'





His father, R. Kelly has not yet publicly commented on the teen's announcement, but Jay revealed on Ask.fm that he and his sister are not close to the singer, even though their older brother is.

He added: 'I absolutely love my mother... and yea my dad has not reached out.'

R. Kelly divorced Jay's mother, who had been his former backup dancer, in 2009 after almost 13 years of marriage.



#dailymail.co.uk

Kelly Rowland confirms she's pregnant!

Newly wed Kelly Rowland has officially confirmed that she is pregnant. The singer made the announcement via Instagram  with a clever post that was an instant hit with fans. She shared a photograph of teeny baby Jordans next to adult Jordans accompanied by the caption: "I'll be stuntin like my daddy."

She married her manager and boyfriend Tim Witherspoon last month in Costa Rica before an intimate group of friends and family.


Join us as we congratulate the happy couple and check out the adorable photo share below.

#essence.com

Lil' Kim gives birth to baby girl, Royal Reign!

"Magic Stick" rapper, Lil' Kim, 39, gave birth to a baby girl - Royal Reign at 9:58 a.m. Monday, June 9, 2014, at Hackensack University Medical Centre in New Jersey

Weighing in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces, and measuring 19.5 inches long, Royal Reign is Lil' Kim's first child.

The baby's father is reportedly New York-based rapper Mr Papers, though she has yet to confirm it publicly.

Congratulations!

#cbsnews.com

Musical theatre boy band 'Collabro' wins Britain's Got Talent 2014!

Collabro performed the song 'Stars' in the final.

Musical theatre boy band Collabro has won the Britain's Got Talent 2014! It was an explosive finale packed with 11 unique talents.
Singer/rapper duo, Bars and Melody took the third place while Opera singer, Lucy Kay took the second place.

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH THEIR FINAL PERFORMANCE!

Pure GOLD flowing out of water taps in Montana, U.S.!

Montana residents discovered that gold is pouring right out of their water taps, and they're worried that's not all their drinking water contains.

 

Mark Brown, a resident of Whitehall, Montana says his wife Sharon noticed what looked like flakes of gold among the suds after washing up.

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Mark Brown has been finding gold flakes in his tap water and wants to know what else could be in there that he can't see

Mark Brown's wife Sharon noticed the gold as she let water out of the kitchen sink

'She pulled the plug to let the water out and it was glistening, gleaming little flecks,' Brown told NBC.

Chemical tests proved that the flecks were, in fact, pure gold.

'I can't explain it... It's bizarre,' he said.

 

The Browns' neighbour Paul Harper says he's also been getting gold in his drinking water.

The neighbours are worried about their water supply and how it's filtered.

Some of the gold dust collected by neighbours in Whitehall, Montana, where a gold mine was opened in the 1980s

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Chemical testing has shown that the flakes are indeed gold. Tap water has been sent to labs for testing

'If we're getting heavy metals that you can see with the naked eye,' Brown said, 'what else might be in there?'

The Golden Sunlight gold mine opened about five miles northeast of Whitehall in 1982.

 

How Wrong Diagnosis Of Cancer Led To Dora Akunyili’s Death

By TheCable Nigeria via Sahara reporters

When Mrs Dora Nkem Akunyili was the Zonal Secretary (South-east) of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund in 1998, Nigerian doctors gave her what many of her family members considered to be a health scare. They said she had a growth and needed surgery.

Akunyili, then 44, decided to travel to the United States, first to get a second opinion and then undergo the prescribed surgery. The bill for the medical trip was $17,000, including $12,000 for the surgery.

During pre-surgery check-up in the US, the doctors told her the Nigerian doctors had made a wrong diagnosis and that she did not need any surgery. It was said to be a minor issue that medication would solve.

She thanked the doctors and, to their surprise, said she was going to return the money meant for the surgery to PTF. That was strange. Nigerian government officials had devised a way of making sure such monies were not returned to the treasury.

The hospital informed the PTF, under the leadership of Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, about one honest Nigerian they had found. Buhari, himself a straightforward person, was very impressed. He wrote a letter to Akunyili commending her honesty.

NAFDAC

Then came 2001. President Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to appoint a director-general for the National Agency for Drug and Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and asked for the recommendation of an honest Nigerian pharmacist. Akunyili’s name promptly came up. Someone who had heard about her PTF record recommended her.

There was a little problem, a Nigerian problem. Objections were raised that the minister of health, Prof. ABC Nwosu, was an Igbo from Anambra State and NAFDAC, being a powerful agency under the ministry, should not be headed by another Igbo from Anambra.

It was also argued that the market for fake and substandard products were controlled by the Igbo, with Onitsha – also in Anambra State – a major centre for the illicit business. She was going to protect “her people”, the antagonists said.

Obasanjo, stubborn to the cause,  ignored the observations and appointed her. She went on to do a credible job and ended up as one of the most outstanding public officers in Nigeria’s history, celebrated locally and globally. She had lost a sister to fake drugs, and that was perhaps the impetus she needed to go on the offensive.

Misdiagnosis

Meanwhile, Akunyili always went abroad for check-ups and she was always given an all-clear. She continued to look robust and energetic, and took up another government job as minister of information and communications. But on July 13, 2013, something strange happened to her. She was preparing to travel to the United States to receive an award. The following day was her birthday. Her 59th, precisely. Then she fell ill. She was physically weak and having pains. She decided to go ahead with her trip and attend to her health in the United States.

It was while she was there that new checks were carried out. Alas, she had cancer. The original diagnosis in 1998 was right. But the diagnosis at the point of surgery was wrong.

She became seriously ill and there were fears she could lose her life. She was in the hospital for months and only returned to Nigeria this year when the doctors said she was improving.

Her last public appearance was at the National Conference in Abuja, where she was a delegate. Pictures of a frail-looking Akumyili soon went viral on the internet.

TheCable could not ascertain the type of cancer, but there are several reports pinpointing cervical – and some claim it was ovarian. Globally, cervical cancer is the second most common and the fifth deadliest cancer in women, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Akunyili died on June 7, 2014 in India after surviving many death rumours.

NYPD Finds Body Of Missing High School Student Omotayo Adeoye in Hudson River

     

 

     

Omotayo Adeoye, 17, had committed suicide on May 29th by jumping off into the Hudson River near the George Washington Bridge. She had been caught cheating on a difficult German Language exam by her teacher, Eva Malikova, at the high school of Math, Science and Engineering in Manhattan. Adeoye immediately left the school building, leaving behind a suicide note.
The short note, later found by school officials and police read, “I just want to go away forever on the bottom of the river.”
The suicide occurred that same Thursday Afternoon at about 3:30pm New York time.  Eyewitnesses told police that Adeoye was seen jumping into the Hudson River and she was swept away by the currents shortly afterwards as fishermen on the bank of the river watched helplessly.
For nearly a week police listed Adeoye as “missing,” and proceeded that way after hearing numerous tips from witnesses who said that they had spotted the teenager swimming, and even laying on the New York banks of the river days later. Those sightings later proved to be unfounded.
Omotayo Adeoye’s body was found on the morning of June the 3rd, at 9:30am, floating not very far from where she jumped in New York’s Washington Heights district. The police department’s Harbor Unit at 170th Street and Riverside Drive fished her out of the water. Police say the teenager was “unresponsive,” but they moved her southward to Harlem’s 125th Street Pier, where the Emergency Medical Service officials declared Adeoye dead at the scene.
New York’s Medical Examiner is still investigating the cause of death, including time and place. They continue to hold her body that reportedly will be delivered to her distraught family members.

May her soul rest in peace!

 

 

 

NYPD officers at the Pier on 125th Street-Photo credit

 

 

 Ms. Omotayo Adeoye's facebook page photo

 

NYPD officers accompany Omotayo's body

 

 

 

 

#saharareporters

Another celebrity breakup!...Melanie Griffith To Divorce Hubby, Antonio Banderas After 18 Years of Marriage!

 

According to TMZ reports, Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, who have been married for 18 years, are separating.

 

Melanie is the one who filed the papers, citing 'irreconcilable differences'. She is also seeking spousal support and joint legal and sole physical custody of their 18 year old daughter, Stella.

This is Melanie’s fourth divorce and Antonio’s second.

Jennifer Lopez and boyfriend, Casper Smart allegedly end their relationship after 2 years

According to Us Weekly, several sources claim that Jennifer Lopez and her boyfriend, Casper Smart have broken up 'amicably' after dating for over two years.

Their alleged split originated a few months ago and that the distance between them wasn’t working for their relationship. The two recently graced the red carpet together at the Billboard Music Awards!

Breakfast Tips for Faster Weight Loss

Pick a Cereal With Large Flakes

Size matters—even when it comes to wheat flakes. In a new study from Penn State, researchers crushed up cereal to create four different sizes of flakes. Because the cereal that was crushed into smaller pieces was denser when participants poured it into a bowl, people underestimated the number of calories in those bowls. The lesson here: If you choose bigger flakes, you'll consume fewer calories without even noticing the difference.

Eat Oat Bran

We're the first to admit that oat bran isn't exactly the sexiest breakfast food. But it is one of the smartest: A recent study found that one of its key nutrients—fibre—keeps you fuller, longer, meaning you won't get hit by random cravings throughout the day.

Have a Big(ger) Breakfast

Yep, a larger morning meal might mean more calories, but it also might mean more efficient weight loss. In a recent study, one group of people ate 700 calories at breakfast, 500 calories at lunch, and 200 calories at dinner, while another group ate 200 calories at breakfast, 500 calories at lunch, and 700 calories at dinner. Twelve weeks later, those who’d been eating a 700-calorie breakfast had lost two and a half times more weight than the other group, likely because your metabolism is at its most efficient in the a.m.

Stock Up on Protein Early

Another way to rein in your appetite and fend off cravings? A protein-packed first meal, which one study has shown to produce a potent satiety signaler called peptide YY. In the study, participants who consumed a protein-rich breakfast reported feeling less hungry and ate fewer indulgent snacks after dinner.

Eat Oatmeal

A bowl of cereal with large flakes: great. A bowl of oatmeal: possibly even better. See, according to a recent study, people who ate a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast described themselves as less hungry and more satisfied than people who ate the same amount of calories in cereal.

Add Some Eggs to Your Breakfast

Research has shown that eating two eggs in the morning can lead to more effective weight loss. The thinking is that the high amount of protein—about 5.5 grams in one medium egg—keeps you full. Bonus: They also contain a nutrient called choline, which improves nervous system function and cardiovascular health.

Top Your Toast with Peanut Butter

One of the easiest-to-make breakfasts—peanut butter on toast—is also one of the healthiest. In one study, participants who ate peanuts and peanut butter in the a.m. had higher levels of peptide YY, a.k.a. the "I feel full now" hormone; their blood sugar levels also spiked less after eating a carb-heavy lunch. Just be smart about your intake since each two-tablespoon serving contains about 190 calories.

 

#www.womenshealthmag.com

 

31-year-old toyboy takes 91-year-old girlfriend home to meet his mother

Kyle, an extreme toy boy from Augusta, Georgia, dates numerous pensioners at the same time and even takes them home to meet his 50-year-old mother! For the last five years he has been in a 'casual' relationship with 91-year-old Marjorie McCool.




Kyle Jones, 31, says he has never dated a woman his own age, shares a tender kiss with Marjorie McCool, 91 at a local park





Kyle, who says that he always been attracted to older women, has even taken girlfriend Marjorie McCool, 91 (L) home to meet his mother Ceceila Jones (R)

And despite the 60-year age gap, the pair have an active sex life and can't keep their hands off each other.

Kyle said: 'Everyone's brain is wired differently, some guys prefer blondes, some brunettes, some like other guys - I like old ladies.'

The call centre worker was just 18 when he first acted on his attraction for older women and began a sexual relationship with a 50-year-old.

Now Kyle uses dating websites to find women as well as chatting them up in his daily life.

He said: 'Most of the time, the average age I go for is between 60 and 80.

'Whenever I'm trying to speak to an older woman, the first reaction I get is 'you're way too young'.

'I find persistence is good so I tell them it'll be fun.'

Although officially single, Kyle regularly sees up to five women at a time and takes them on dates - and even home to meet his mother.







    
As well as Marjorie, 91, (left) Kyle is currently dating, Anna Reimol, 67, (right) and another three older women





Despite a 60 year age gap, the couple say they have an excellent and active sex life

In 2009 he met great-grandmother Marge - short for Marjorie - in the bookstore where she was working and asked for her number.

Marge, who had been single for 37 years since splitting with the father of her six children, agreed to go on a date.

She said: 'In the beginning I got jealous of his other women but he keeps coming back to me and tells me I'm the best.

'The physical side of our relationship is wonderful. I amaze myself, he amazes me. There's nothing better.



Kyle mother Ceceila, (R) says she has realised that her sons preference for older women like Marjorie (L) is more than a phase

'I wear sexy outfits to bed. I try to keep my bra on though because I don't have much left.

'My family consists mostly of boys, and they don't really care - what I do is my business.

'Their ages are 71, 63, 61, 52 and 50.

'When people see us out together they probably think that he's my son, or maybe even a grandson. I have grandsons older.'

And while many of the women he dates can't believe such a young man would find them attractive, Kyle is adamant he does.

He said: 'Often, the things women are so self-conscious about is what I'm into. I like the neck lines and wrinkles.

'Women worry about their boobs sagging but I think the natural hang looks great. I'm really not a fan of plastic surgery.

'I don't like to say gray, I'm a fan of platinum hair. I prefer it natural.'

However, due to his girlfriends' advancing years, most of his relationships face a limited future.

He said: 'Perhaps I would like to meet the right person and settle down, but I know they would die before me.'

Kyle's preference for the elderly has drawn criticism from those who see him as opportunistic.

He said: 'The most common criticism I hear is 'you're after money' or 'you're after inheritance'.

'Or people think these women must be buying me things.

'But it's not true at all - I do this because I like it and they like it too. I've dated women from various ends of the financial spectrum, but it's never about what they have.'

Kyle's mother, Ceceila Jones Clark, 50, initially thought it was a phase her son was going through.

She said: 'I think a lot of children have crushes on their teachers, so it didn't strike me as strange.

'I really wasn't sure if that was something that he was going to stay with or if it was just a cougar phase some young men go through.

'However, later when I saw the kind of women he was spending time with I knew it wasn't a phase.'
What would you do if your son brings home a 91 year granny for a girlfriend?




#dailymail.co.uk