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MOTHER'S DAY INTERVIEW: COCOA & ROSE                                    Source: www.baristasforbaristas.com

19/6/2019

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In celebration of Mother’s Day on the 12th May, we caught up with Marian and Jack Nelson, the mother and son duo behind Cocoa & Rose, a charming and intimate café in the heart of Perth, with both French and Filipino influences. Marian and Jack took over the café in 2014 and have been working together running it ever since. We discussed how the mother/son duo came about, what the best things about working together are and more.
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How did the decision to go into business as a mother/son duo come about?

Marian: I believe it was the occurrence of events in our lives during that time that prompted the decision to go into business as a mother/son duo. I was in the middle of divorce and all I wanted was to pick up the pieces and start something that would keep me occupied and challenged, thus to keep my mind off the difficult situation I was in. My son at that time was in his gap year trying to figure out what he wanted, needing a job to be able to become independent. And then there happened to be a friend’s daughter selling her business (Cocoa & Rose). That’s when a new chapter in our lives begin.


What’s the best part about working together?

Marian: As a mum, there’s always the feeling of pride when I work with my son. We may not always have the same idea on some things, but that gives us a chance to challenge one another. We know we both want the best for Cocoa & Rose. As with making coffee, the best thing about this mother-son barista relationship once we both became more experienced in the field is that we were able to exchange ideas about our individual preferences when making coffee and figure out which ones work more effectively. We discuss a lot about customer’s preferences, speed, importance (or not) of latte art, and most importantly how we can make our coffee taste consistent regardless of who is making the shot.

Jack: Getting to laugh and joke around about stuff. It’s always great when we’re not taking everything too seriously.

What has this partnership taught you about one another/how has it affected your relationship?

Marian: This partnership taught me how important it is to have someone I can trust and to have someone I can get new ideas from. I believe this partnership has made our mother-son relationship stronger because we know how much hard work we put into the business. 

Jack: It’s taught me not to mix work and family – just kidding!

What draws people to your café(s)?

Marian: Good coffee, delicious food and happy team members that always smile.

Jack: Apart from the yummy coffee and food, I’d have to say our staff. We’ve got really great staff here who are always super friendly and great with our customers.

You are both musicians and the café hosts jam sessions for classical and jazz musicians. Can you tell us about the importance of music in your cafes?

Marian: We have a piano in the shop and sometimes we have guests play it. Some guests or passersby would actually come in just to play. It’s great! We love music and guests enjoy the music too. Actually, you will find some reviews in google and Trip Advisor mentioning the piano playing. Music is very important in our cafe, it creates a positive aura and people are happy.

Jack: My mum has always encouraged me to pursue music from a young age and it has always played a major role in my life. I could go on about how it’s relaxing and adds to the atmosphere of the café, but really it’s important to our café because it’s important to both us.

Cocoa & Rose features elements of both Filipino and French culture—how did this combination come about?

Marian: I am originally from the Philippines. I have a favourite Filipino dish (adobo) that my dad always cooked when I was young and I included that in our menu. This adobo dish has been accepted quite well in Perth. As with the French culture, I actually speak the language. I learnt it as part of my music course at uni and I performed a full repertoire of French music in my vocal recital for the Master of Music degree at the University of Western Australia. Jack went to a French nursery school when we were living in Dubai, UAE, and he had French subjects in high school which he was so good at (during that time) and even received a merit certificate for it. So, as you see, the music, Filipino and French culture represent us and this sets Cocoa & Rose apart from other cafés in town.

Any advice for someone taking over or opening a café?

Marian: From a managerial perspective, I would say choose the right team members who will support your company’s vision and who will treat your customers pleasantly all the time.

What surprised you most during barista training?

Jack: What surprised me most is how precise and scientific coffee is. It was pretty crazy to learn about all the different factors that have an affect on how the final product tastes.

What does the future have in store for Cocoa & Rose?

Marian: Cocoa & Rose would like to try a mobile coffee van to serve corporate and community events.

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The benefits of supporting local small businesses

31/1/2019

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By TJ Ryan
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The Economy of Shopping Small Report from American Express has shown that Aussies like to support small businesses, and communities benefit from small businesses thriving. How you can encourage your community to Shop Small.

How everyday consumers feel about local small businesses.
Australian consumers like small businesses, and they love being able to support them. According to the report:
  • 42% of Australians say they would continue to support a small, family-run business, even if prices increased by 10% compared to cheaper competitors. (In contrast, only 26% said they would support an online-only business if it raised its prices.)
  • Two-thirds of consumers (67%) said they would miss their local small business if they were forced to close.
  • 62% said their local shopping village and small businesses add to the good looks and charm of their local area.
  • 54% felt very attached to their local shopping village.
  • Those who support local businesses are 15% more likely to Shop Small instead of shopping online.

How business owners feel about their communities.
Australian small business owners love their communities, and they deliberately build their businesses in a way that can benefit the communities they live and work in.
  • 75% said there was a high level of interaction between their business and the local community.
  • 59% said the pull of “serving the community” was a major reason why they set up their business in the first place.
  • 79% said they defined the success of their business as whether they were having a positive economic and social impact on their community.
  • A smile makes all the difference! 99% of small business owners say they always welcome their customers with a smile – something that many large businesses do not achieve. On top of that, 94% always personally thank their customers, and 92% know the names of their regulars.









But there are certainly some challenges facing small business owners in Australia. The things business owners worry the most about are the increasing costs and overheads of running their small business (82%); the economic climate in Australia (76%); and the future cash flow of their business (74%).

Thankfully, small business owners can combat these money worries by encouraging more of their local community to Shop Small. You can also compare business financial products on the Canstar website, to make sure the costs of doing your business banking are as low as possible.

How communities benefit from small businesses.
  • 92% of businesses said the local community benefits from their business.
  • 73% of small businesses give back to the community through sponsorships for local community programs, and charitable donations to local charities.
  • 44% of small business owners said their business is the heart of their community, and 42% said it is a place locals come to socialise.
  • 52% said their business adds to the cultural diversity of the community.

Encouraging your community to Shop Small in November.
In November 2015, American Express is joining consumers and companies alike to join their Shop Small campaign, and championing the “small heroes” of their community. American Express will give a $10 statement credit to Card Members (cardholders) up to 10 times in November if they register their card and spend $20 or more at participating businesses.

Ways to encourage your community to Shopping Small
  • Register your business as a Shop Small retailer (https://shopsmallaustralia.com/Merchants) or print off the customisable, free promotional materials from American Express on the website.
  • Participate in the promotion as an American Express Card Member with your business credit card: visit shopsmallaustralia.com
  • Put a sign in your shopfront window asking people to Shop Small in November.
  • Post on your Facebook and Twitter about #ShopSmall or what your business will be doing on Small Business Saturday. If you’re stuck for ideas, post this video to your Facebook wall: American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault talking about small businesses creating more jobs.
  • Print a bookmark listing some of the benefits of Shopping Small and thanking customers for choosing your small business, and staple a bookmark to each customer’s receipt.
  • Hold a #ShopSmall in-store selfie competition and get customers to post their selfies onto your business’s Facebook or Instagram page.

​Credit to Source
Photo: Shopping Small Report
Article: 
https://www.canstar.com.au/business-overdrafts/the-shopping-small-report-shows-communities-benefit-from-supporting-local-small-business-retailers-how-to-encourage-your-community-to-shop-small/

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What Should You Eat?

12/1/2019

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​A diet rich in vegetables and fruits can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect upon blood sugar, which can help keep appetite in check. Eating non-starchy vegetables and fruits like apples, pears, and green leafy vegetables may even promote weight loss. Their low glycemic loads prevent blood sugar spikes that can increase hunger.

At least nine different families of fruits and vegetables exist, each with potentially hundreds of different plant compounds that are beneficial to health. Eat a variety of types and colors of produce in order to give your body the mix of nutrients it needs. This not only ensures a greater diversity of beneficial plant chemicals but also creates eye-appealing meals.

Vegetables, fruits, and disease

Cardiovascular disease
There is compelling evidence that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.
  • A meta-analysis of cohort studies following 469,551 participants found that a higher intake of fruits and vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, with an average reduction in risk of 4% for each additional serving per day of fruit and vegetables. 
  • The largest and longest study to date, done as part of the Harvard-based Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, included almost 110,000 men and women whose health and dietary habits were followed for 14 years.
  • The higher the average daily intake of fruits and vegetables, the lower the chances of developing cardiovascular disease. Compared with those in the lowest category of fruit and vegetable intake (less than 1.5 servings a day), those who averaged 8 or more servings a day were 30% less likely to have had a heart attack or stroke. 
  • Although all fruits and vegetables likely contributed to this benefit, green leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and mustard greens, were most strongly associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, and kale; and citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit (and their juices) also made important contributions. 
  • When researchers combined findings from the Harvard studies with several other long-term studies in the U.S. and Europe, and looked at coronary heart disease and stroke separately, they found a similar protective effect: Individuals who ate more than 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day had roughly a 20% lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, compared with individuals who ate less than 3 servings per day.
Blood pressure
  • The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) study examined the effect on blood pressure of a diet that was rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products and that restricted the amount of saturated and total fat. The researchers found that people with high blood pressure who followed this diet reduced their systolic blood pressure (the upper number of a blood pressure reading) by about 11 mm Hg and their diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) by almost 6 mm Hg—as much as medications can achieve.
  • A randomized trial known as the Optimal Macronutrient Intake Trial for Heart Health (OmniHeart) showed that this fruit and vegetable-rich diet lowered blood pressure even more when some of the carbohydrate was replaced with healthy unsaturated fat or protein. 
  • In 2014 a meta-analysis of clinical trials and observational studies found that consumption of a vegetarian diet was associated with lower blood pressure. 

Cancer
Numerous early studies revealed what appeared to be a strong link between eating fruits and vegetables and protection against cancer. Unlike case-control studies, cohort studies, which follow large groups of initially healthy individuals for years, generally provide more reliable information than case-control studies because they don’t rely on information from the past. And, in general, data from cohort studies have not consistently shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables prevents cancer.
  • For example, over a 14-year period in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, men and women with the highest intake of fruits and vegetables (8+ servings a day) were just as likely to have developed cancer as those who ate the fewest daily servings (under 1.5). 
  • A meta-analysis of cohort studies found that a higher fruit and vegetable intake did not decrease the risk of deaths from cancer. 
A more likely possibility is that some types of fruits and vegetables may protect against certain cancers.
  • A study by Farvid and colleagues followed a Nurses’ Health Study II cohort of 90,476 premenopausal women for 22 years and found that those who ate the most fruit during adolescence (about 3 servings a day) compared with those who ate the lowest intakes (0.5 servings a day) had a 25% lower risk of developing breast cancer. There was a significant reduction in breast cancer in women who had eaten higher intakes of apples, bananas, grapes, and corn during adolescence, and oranges and kale during early adulthood. No protection was found from drinking fruit juices at younger ages. 
  • Farvid and colleagues followed 90, 534 premenopausal women from the Nurses’ Health Study II over 20 years and found that higher fiber intakes during adolescence and early adulthood were associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer later in life. When comparing the highest and lowest fiber intakes from fruits and vegetables, women with the highest fruit fiber intake had a 12% reduced risk of breast cancer; those with the highest vegetable fiber intake had an 11% reduced risk. 
  • After following 182,145 women in the Nurses’ Health Study I and II for 30 years, Farvid’s team also found that women who ate more than 5.5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day (especially cruciferous and yellow/orange vegetables) had an 11% lower risk of breast cancer than those who ate 2.5 or fewer servings. Vegetable intake was strongly associated with a 15% lower risk of estrogen-receptor-negative tumors for every two additional servings of vegetables eaten daily. A higher intake of fruits and vegetables was associated with a lower risk of other aggressive tumors including HER2-enriched and basal-like tumors. 
  • A report by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research suggests that non-starchy vegetables—such as lettuce and other leafy greens, broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, as well as garlic, onions, and the like—and fruits “probably” protect against several types of cancers, including those of the mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, and stomach. Fruit probably also protects against lung cancer. 
Specific components of fruits and vegetables may also be protective against cancer. For example:
  • A line of research stemming from a finding from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study suggests that tomatoes may help protect men against prostate cancer, especially aggressive forms of it. [12] One of the pigments that give tomatoes their red hue—lycopene—could be involved in this protective effect. Although several studies other than the Health Professionals Study have also demonstrated a link between tomatoes or lycopene and prostate cancer, others have not or have found only a weak connection. 
  • Taken as a whole, however, these studies suggest that increased consumption of tomato-based products (especially cooked tomato products) and other lycopene-containing foods may reduce the occurrence of prostate cancer. [12] Lycopene is one of several carotenoids (compounds that the body can turn into vitamin A) found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables, and research suggests that foods containing carotenoids may protect against lung, mouth, and throat cancer. [12] But more research is needed to understand the exact relationship between fruits and vegetables, carotenoids, and cancer.

Diabetes
Some research looks specifically at whether individual fruits are associated with risk of type 2 diabetes. While there isn’t an abundance of research into this area yet, preliminary results are compelling.
  • A study of over 66,000 women in the Nurses’ Health Study, 85,104 women from the Nurses’ Health Study II, and 36,173 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study—who were free of major chronic diseases—found that greater consumption of whole fruits—especially blueberries, grapes, and apples—was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Another important finding was that greater consumption of fruit juice was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. 
  • Additionally a study of over 70,000 female nurses aged 38-63 years, who were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, showed that consumption of green leafy vegetables and fruit was associated with a lower risk of diabetes. While not conclusive, research also indicated that consumption of fruit juices may be associated with an increased risk among women. 
  • A study of over 2,300 Finnish men showed that vegetables and fruits, especially berries, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. 

Weight
Data from the Nurses’ Health Studies and the Health Professional’s Follow-up Study show that women and men who increased their intakes of fruits and vegetables over a 24-year period were more likely to have lost weight than those who ate the same amount or those who decreased their intake. Berries, apples, pears, soy, and cauliflower were associated with weight loss while starchier vegetables like potatoes, corn, and peas were linked with weight gain. [1] However, keep in mind that adding more produce into the diet won’t necessarily help with weight loss unless it replaces another food, such as refined carbohydrates of white bread and crackers.

Gastrointestinal health
Fruits and vegetables contain indigestible fiber, which absorbs water and expands as it passes through the digestive system. This can calm symptoms of an irritable bowel and, by triggering regular bowel movements, can relieve or prevent constipation. [18] The bulking and softening action of insoluble fiber also decreases pressure inside the intestinal tract and may help prevent diverticulosis. 

Vision
Eating fruits and vegetables can also keep your eyes healthy, and may help prevent two common aging-related eye diseases—cataracts and macular degeneration—which afflict millions of Americans over age 65. [20-23] Lutein and zeaxanthin, in particular, seem protective against cataracts. 

Credit to Sources
Photo: Photo by Dose Juice on Unsplash
Article: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vegetables-and-fruits/
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The latest scoop on the health benefits of coffee

17/12/2018

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by Robert H Shmerling, MD (Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing 09/2017)
What a difference a few years can make. Not long ago, I was learning about the dangers of coffee — how it could raise your blood pressure, make your heart race, impair sleep, and maybe even cause cancer.
Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) is taking coffee off the possible carcinogen list. And there’s increasing evidence that coffee might actually be good for you. So good that doctors might begin recommending it.
What’s changed? It’s all about the evidence.
Possible health benefits of coffeeOver the last several decades, coffee has been among the most heavily studied dietary components. And the news is mostly good. Moderate coffee consumption (three to four cups per day) has been linked with longer lifespan. In fact, a November 2015 study in Circulation found that coffee consumption was associated with an 8% to 15% reduction in the risk of death (with larger reductions among those with higher coffee consumption). Other studies have found that coffee drinkers may have a reduced risk of
  • cardiovascular disease (including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke)
  • type 2 diabetes
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • uterine and liver cancer
  • cirrhosis
  • gout.
The reason that coffee drinking might be beneficial is unknown. One factor, of course, could be the caffeine, but that can be hard to sort out from the research because many studies do not distinguish whether the coffee is caffeinated or decaffeinated.
Possible health risks of coffeeA number of studies have linked coffee consumption to health problems, including:
  • Bladder and pancreatic cancer. Studies performed more than 30 years ago suggested a potential link between coffee consumption and cancers of the bladder, pancreas, and possibly others. Since then, better research has largely refuted these concerns. In fact, some of the older studies raising red flags about a cancer link have since been used as examples of “fishing expeditions” and weak research methodology.
  • Esophageal cancer. In its recently released report, the WHO has raised concerns that drinking coffee (or other beverages) at temperatures higher than 149° F may increase the risk of esophageal cancer. However, this is not unique to coffee. And drinking coffee at such high temperatures is unusual among most coffee drinkers in the US.
  • Cardiovascular disease. Studies linking coffee consumption to cardiovascular disease have mostly observed it with higher consumption (well above four cups per day), and some of these studies did not account for smoking, which often accompanies coffee consumption and is, of course, an important cardiovascular disease risk factor on its own. Other concerns include modest and temporary elevations in blood pressure, and fast or abnormal heart rhythms.
  • Bothersome, but mostly minor, side effects. The caffeine in coffee can impair sleep, cause a “speedy” or jittery feeling, and even cause anxiety. Heartburn, frequent urination (because caffeine is a diuretic), and palpitations are problematic for some coffee drinkers.
A new move by the WHO… and othersIn a June 2016 report, the WHO officially lifted coffee from the list of potentially carcinogenic foods. It went on to designate coffee as potentially protective against cancer of the uterus and liver.
And the WHO is not the only organization to include coffee in its list of foods that are probably harmless and possibly healthy. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee(commissioned by the secretaries of the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture) thoroughly reviewed the evidence and declared that “moderate coffee consumption (three to five cups per day) can be incorporated into a healthy dietary pattern…” And the World Cancer Research Fund International concluded that coffee consumption was linked with a lower risk of several types of cancer.
Should you drink coffee?Considering all of this good news about coffee consumption, you might feel tempted to increase your intake or to start drinking it if you don’t already.
Here’s my take:
  • If you don’t like coffee, there is no current recommendation to drink it anyway. However, if we can figure out why coffee might have health benefits, it’s possible that a medication can be developed that provides those benefits without the side effects (or taste) of coffee or caffeine. Or, faced with a choice of a new medication or coffee, one might choose the latter.
  • If you are already a coffee drinker, it should be reassuring that after decades of research, no strong link can be found between coffee intake and cancer and, to the contrary, a number of health benefits seem to accompany coffee consumption. But, I’m not sure the evidence is powerful enough to recommend an increase in your daily habit. One reason is that we don’t know for sure that coffee consumption actually caused the health benefits observed in these studies. Some other, unmeasured factor could be responsible. Another reason is that the overall effect was small. And, it’s worth noting that some people are quite sensitive to the side effects of coffee.
  • Moderate your coffee intake. Although we don’t have proof that drinking six or more cups of coffee is dangerous, the risk of side effects is lower with moderation.
  • Don’t drink beverages at very high temperatures (i.e., over 149° F). In addition to the potential risk of esophageal cancer, there is a risk of burning yourself.
In conclusion…It’s unusual that a food on the “cancer risk list” comes off of it — and it’s even more unusual that such foods then become considered a healthy choice. But, as the millions of people drinking coffee every day will tell you, when it comes to coffee, there’s nothing like it.
Credit to Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-latest-scoop-on-the-health-benefits-of-coffee-2017092512429

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