The Olympics 2012

...are over. Did you watch?

here the official medal count:

 

Italy: 28 medals (8 gold, 9 silver, 11 bronze)

Germany: 44 medals (11, 19, 14)

Canada: 18 medals (1, 5, 12)

but what about some stars and stories?

 

• After the German Betty Heidler threw her hammer 72,39 meters were shown but not put into the computer. While her competitors were running the lap of honor, Betty discussed openly with the judges. Finally the width of her hammer-throw was measured by hand: 77,13 meters and bronze!
• Germany's men won Olympic-hockey-gold! The 4th time already! Try and work on the ice-hockey qualitites gentlemen, it's time to challenge Canada.
• Germany's men won gold in the beach volleyball discipline as the first European team ever. Against Brazil the superheroes of beach volleyball.
• The North Italian walker and Olympic gold winner in Bejing Alex Schwazer was banned from the Olympic games in London for being suspected of Epo-Doping. He was tested in June during training camp and admitted to the news that he made a mistake and wanted to be stronger this time (after he won gold at the last games) and that it was wrong. He also said, he got the doping in Turkey. And unfortunatelly in Italy you are prosecuted by the government authorities for doping. Not good.
• Tiffany Foster and her mount Victor were disqualified from competing because the horse had a little cut on the front leg and was sensitive to touch. FEI hypersensitivity protocol states that in that case, regardless of the cause, the horse has to be disqualified. Even if Victor was most probably fit and ready to go, the rule serves to protect horses in general from tormenting procedures used to make horses perform better. Good rule and bad luck for Victor and Tiffany Foster I would say.
• Canadian women are 2012 soccer bronze medallists! Italy? Germany? Soccer nations where are you? Oh ya right, Germany was busy with the men's hockey medal. Hello weird world!

the health benefits of pasta

Of course there will be a post about pasta. Come on, we're living in Italy and everybody knows about the nutritional benefits of this typical Italian dish.

Many diets discourage you from eating too much of it. But don't forget:

Pasta is rich in carbohydrates, gives the body energy and is therefore the perfect fuel for your workouts.

Pasta is a great source of Vitamin A, which is important for your vision, immune function, skin and cellular health and bone metabolism.

Table taken from here

 

100g of food - Vitamin A in pasta
Pasta, fresh-refrigerated, spinach, as purchased - Vitamin A	25 mcg
Pasta, homemade, made with egg, cooked - Vitamin A	17 mcg
Pasta, fresh-refrigerated, plain, as purchased - Vitamin A	14 mcg
Pasta with meatballs in tomato sauce, canned entree - Vitamin A	14 mcg
Pasta with Sliced Franks in Tomato Sauce, canned entree - Vitamin A	10 mcg
Pasta, fresh-refrigerated, spinach, cooked - Vitamin A	10 mcg
Pasta, corn, dry - Vitamin A	9 mcg
Pasta, fresh-refrigerated, plain, cooked - Vitamin A	6 mcg
Pasta, corn, cooked - Vitamin A	3 mcg
Pasta, homemade, made without egg, cooked - Vitamin A	0 mcg

Pasta provides you with folic acid, commonly known as Vitamin B9. Your body needs it for healthy red blood cells which circulate the oxygen in your body. Not too insignificant, right? Especially during pregnancy folic acid is essential for the fast and healthy growth of your baby as it's a crucial cell division factor. Wikipedia states that:

"Folic acid may also

reduce chromosomal defects in sperm."

So if you're in the "planning phase" of a little one go ahead and serve the father-to-be a delicious pasta-meal. He's going to love it, love you and make love with healthy sperm...

Pasta is a great potassium supplier. Your cardiovascular system and muscles will thank you for it.

Last but not least, pasta is low in fat. Of course it still has its fair amount of calories but if you're mainly watching your fat-intake, pasta is the way to go.

For more "Evidence of Pasta's Health Benefits" you might enjoy reading this, it's a report about how scientists connect pasta with the reduction of the glycemic indes of your meal, how it can be beneficial if you have diabetes and that it might reduce your risk of getting Alzheimer's disease.

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summer in Northern Italy

... is fresh fruit and vegetables. Tomatoes in all shapes and shades of red, herbs, juicy peaches, sweet and dark cherries - the assortment is vast and everything tastes like sunshine and summer rain

market in Bozen

... is taking it easy around lunchtime, it's simply too hot to move much!!

...is enjoying long summer nights outside, sitting on the piazze with some vino

...the smell of drying hay in the sunshine and the sound of ringing bells around the cows' necks on the mountain pastures

...long dinners with family and friends outside

... gelato

...empty, idyllic paradise beaches as much as party beach spots with malls and bars

Sardegna beaches

Rimini

...summer festivals, outdoor concerts, mountain parties and traditional festivities

...sticky and sweltering heat in the cities during daytime, leading to sticky and sweating people

...Italian summer fashion

...Italian eyewear

not too serious

Canadian hockey fans at the winter olympics in Vancouver:

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and Canadian fans during the summer olympics in London:

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;)))

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sporty weekends?

 

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