8 Advantages of Fish Fatty Acids

Fish fatty acids have many far reaching health benefits and should be included as a part of your balanced diet. These essential fatty acids, primarily omega-3s, must be consumed through diet, as your body does not produce them on its own.
Sources of omega-3s can be ingested either through fatty fish or supplements. Though natural fish consumption is thought to be the best because of the additional nutrients it provides your body, either method of consumption will produce positive results on your long-term health. Fatty fishes include salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines and anchovies, and they should be eaten at least twice a week to bring the following benefits to your body:
Advantage #1: Reduces Cancer Risk
Regular consumption of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the risk of several types of cancer by up to 50%, including breast, ovary, prostate, esophagus, colon and oral cancers.
Advantage #2: Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Research has shown that by eating fatty fishes twice a week, you can reduce your risk of stroke and heart disease. Eating these fish helps to reduce blood clots, improve blood vessel elasticity, lower blood pressure, boost good cholesterol and lower blood fats, all of which contribute to your improved cardiovascular health.
Advantage #3: Decreases Dementia Risk
Studies have proven that elderly people who eat seafood or fish at least once weekly, have a much lower risk of developing both dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Advantage #4: Helps Manage Diabetes
Regular eating of fatty fish has been shown to help manage blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
Advantage #5: Helps Relieve Inflammatory Conditions
Eating fatty fish on a regular basis has been proven to assist in relieving some of the symptoms of inflammatory conditions like autoimmune diseases, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Advantage #6: Improves Brain and Eye Health
A diet rich in omega-3s, the vital nutrient supplied in fatty fish, has been shown to contribute to the health of both brain tissue and the retina.
Advantage #7: Decreases Depression Rates
The omega-3s in fatty fish have been linked to producing lower incidences of depression in those people that regularly consume fish.
Advantage #8: Decreases Asthma Risk
Studies have shown that children who eat fatty fish are much less likely to develop asthma throughout their lives.
With so many health benefits, there is no reason to not increase your consumption of fatty fish. Try different fish and recipes, and experiment with baking, steaming, poaching and grilling the fish to really get started on the road to healthier eating and living.

Ancho Chili and Chocolate Goat Cheesecake Popsicles

Taking a bite out of this creamy goat cheese blend is like feasting on a slice of rich cheesecake—in popsicle form! With a spicy kick of ancho chili powder and a dose of antioxidant-rich cocoa, each low-fat treat amounts to approximately 75 calories. Ingredients:
4 oz. low-fat goat cheese, softened
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. cocoa powder
2 eggs, separated
1 tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. ancho chili powder
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine goat cheese, sugar, and vanilla and mix until smooth. Add egg yolks two at a time. Fold in flour, cocoa powder, and ancho chile. Whip egg whites until soft peaks form. Gently fold into mixture. Spread into buttered and sugared parchment-lined baking pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool. Remove from pan by picking up parchment. Use 1 in. cookie cutter to make individual circles and insert skewers to create a "lollipop.”
Makes about eight servings.
Recipe provided by Chef Chris Santos of Beauty & Essex and The Stanton Social

Boat Battery: Checkup and Storage

Whether or not your boat is stored for the season in a warm garage or out in the cold, your best bet is to remove all batteries and bring them inside.  A fully charged battery with a perfect electrolyte level can probably withstand temperatures down to zero degrees without freezing.  But the colder it gets, the more easily a battery can discharge, and therefore the more easily it can freeze at higher temps.  If even one of the cells freezes, the battery is shot!  Fully charge them about once a month over the winter and they will be ready when you are in the spring.  Try to keep them off of concrete floors is possible and cover the terminals to help prevent discharge.  The last thing you want is a dead battery on the launch ramp on opening day, or a dead trolling motor battery.

Battery Maintenance

Batteries have come a long way since the 60’s.  Back then, most – if not all – wet cell batteries were dry to start with.  In the storeroom of the gas station at which I worked, there was a large box with a plastic bag filled with electrolyte – sulfuric acid.  I found out it was acid the hard way; in filling a battery, I once managed to splash the electrolyte all over my pants.  I didn’t realize the power of the stuff until my work pants got washed.  They looked as if I had been shot by a machine gun – the one leg was nothing but holes!  Now there is an incredible variety of batteries that are available for every imaginable use: marine starting & trolling, auto, agricultural, industrial).  They all have at least one thing in common: they need to be maintained to some degree – even the “maintenance free” types.  They will lose their electrolyte during normal use and need to be checked; all need to be recharged.  Most of us still use the wet cell types for marine applications, although there are essentially three distinct types of lead acid batteries manufactured for marine applications, and any one type can be designed and built for either starting or deep cycle applications. These types are flooded acid, gelled acid, and Advanced AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat).  The gelled acid and AGM types are essentially maintenance free since they are sealed.  But because of this, be very careful when recharging them. They are also more expensive but do have their advantages.  The most important thing for the flooded acid variety is to keep them full.  Top them off with distilled water whenever possible; minerals in tap water can contaminate the electrolyte.  Keep the terminal clamps clean and free of corrosion; coat them with anti-corrosion spray or even petroleum jelly.  Check connections and keep them tight; watch for frayed wires and replace them.  And for a few bucks spent at your local auto parts store, a Battery Hydrometer – used to check the specific gravity (concentration of acid) is a good investment.  It is a great way to determine if one of the cells is bad.  If the difference in specific gravity is 30 points or more… it’s time to replace your battery!

Battery Sulfation

Have you ever had a battery that seems to work well but “dies” much more quickly than expected?  The problem may be a battery that is heavily sulfated – often the result of only light use (being discharged by only 15% or so).  The sulfuric acid has become concentrated on the battery’s bottom and sulfate crystals have begun to form.  And even though a multi-meter will indicate that all is well in terms of voltage, the capacity of the battery has become severely reduced.  Sure, the battery will work just fine, but it will die much sooner than normal.  There are certain chargers that have a setting that will temporarily boost the charging voltage for a brief period of time, causing a mixing of the electrolyte, and dissolving the crystals.  The process is called equalization and can be done – depending on the manufacturer – about once a year.  But beware: this should only be done on wet cell batteries; this same process can ruin other types.  And you will need to make sure that you disconnect the batteries from the electrical system to prevent the higher voltage from damaging other equipment.

Battery Chargers

Having said those things, it should be somewhat obvious that it is extremely important to use a proper charger to do the job of recharging your batteries!  Most chargers that are designed to charge you car batteries are not designed to charge your boat batteries: they just don’t always completely shut down.  And how often do you think that you can remember to unplug that cheap charger when things “look about right?”  From what I have read, a 3-stage charger – one that will totally shut off when the battery has reached full charge – is your best buy. 
Without all the chemistry and physics involved, batteries will do best on a regulated diet of amperes and volts served up in the right amount… and in stages.  There are three stages: 1) bulk, 2) absorption and 3) float.  The bulk stage is where a battery is brought up to about 75-80% of capacity.  Absorption is where the voltage is constant but the amperage is tapered while the battery is “topped off.”  And finally, the float stage is where the voltage is just enough to keep the battery from losing any charge.  I’m sure that you are aware of this, but a battery can lose – depending on how and where it is stored – up to 30% of its charge per month – just sitting around the house or garage!  And there are all kinds of things that affect battery charge and loss thereof (like temperature, humidity, state of discharge, age of battery, etc); most of us never consider any of them.  Does size really matter?  Well… in a matter of speaking – yes!  Try to get a charger that is rated at about 15% of the battery’s amp-hour rating (a battery with a 200 amp-hour rating would suggest the need for a 30 amp charger).  I recommend the Dual Pro Professional Series 2-Bank Charger, 15-amp/Bank PS2 (see/click on photo above).

Things that will destroy a battery

There are essentially two things that will quickly and easily destroy your battery: 1) undercharging it or 2) overcharging it. The majority of deep cycle and starting batteries are lead-plate batteries filled with sulfuric acid. Undercharging them will ultimately cause lead sulfate to accumulate on the plates – this will eventually destroy the battery because the normal chemical reaction will be unable to continue. Overcharging the battery will accelerate the natural corrosion of the plates due to excess electrons being literally boiled out of the electrolyte. Ultimately, the fluid boils away and the plates are exposed to the air, which ruins them.

Boat Batteries : What You Need to Know

Usually, by the end of October, many of the lakes have “turned over” for the winter. Morning steam rising from the water indicates that the heat energy stored in the lake from the long hours of summer daylight is beginning to return once again to the atmosphere as the water begins its annual slumber and ultimate renewal. There is perhaps still a little time left for one final outing, but most – if not all – of you have taken your boats out of the water and gotten them cleaned out, “winterized” and ready for next spring’s trek back to your favorite fishing spots. You take very good care of your boats, motors, poles, reels and other gear inside the boat. But have you really taken the time to look after one of the most important pieces of equipment that you have on board – your batteries?

Most of us take our boat batteries for granted, in much the same manner as we do our car batteries. I used to do that. In fact, I had a car that sat in the warmth of the garage all winter. I thought that an occasional blast from a charger would be enough to do the trick. Boy was I wrong. And the result was a new battery about every other year – until, after a lecture from my mechanic, I got a little bit smarter about batteries. Not unlike young children, they require maintenance. Getting the right battery for the intended task is only part of the story – keeping that battery healthy with the proper charging and maintenance will ultimately ensure that you will have the necessary power when you call for it!