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The Road to Starting your Own Microbrewery

February 17, 2019

With more brewers than ever around the UK creating their own unique tipples – it’s fair to say that the UK microbrewery market is thriving.  In fact, the craft beer movement is now said to total approximately 6.5% of all UK beer sales.

As the drinks market is in a position like never before, microbrewers across the country are creating their own beer flavours for customers to try. Whether tart ‘sours’, ‘coffee porters’ or anything in between is your tipple of choice, the craft beer movement has experienced great growth in terms of sales recently – it is now estimated to make up 6.5% of all beer sales in the UK.

Research has suggested that there are around 2,000 microbreweries operating nationwide. But when it comes to creating quality over quantity, there’s no mistaking that running a microbrewery can be an incredibly energy-intensive process.

As the number of microbreweries continues to increase, plenty of entrepreneurs are looking to get involved, but it can be difficult to know where to start. 

Here, Flogas – who are a UK provider of LPG gas bottles – offer some ideas on starting out, including the issue of powering your own microbrewery.

What equipment will you need?  

Microbreweries must be making a profit to survive in 2019, otherwise they won’t be open long. One way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to choose an energy strategy that will reduce your usage and keep costs down. Microbreweries can be notoriously difficult to get off the ground financially, so by doing this, you can help boost your company’s profit margins.  

It’s important to have an understanding of what type of equipment you will need. One of the main components in the brewing process is the mash system, which is commonly made up of the following:

  • Mash tank – Steeps barley into hot water and converts grain starches into fermentable sugars
  • Lauter tun – Separates the wort (or liquid) from the solids of the mash (much like a sieve)
  • Steam generator – Heats the kettle, which is then brought to a controlled temperature before the hops are added
  • Malt mill – Crushes the grain in preparation for brewing
  • Wort Pump – Re-circulates the mash for a higher efficiency, enhancing the clarity and quality of the brew
  • Plate Heat Exchanger/Wort Chiller – Quickly cools the hot wort ready for fermentation

This should only be followed for the mashing stage. Further to this, you’ll need a fermentation system (where yeast is added and sugar turns into alcohol), a cooling system (to prevent bacteria growth and where beer can be stored ready for sale), a filtering system (to get rid of sediment for a higher-quality product) and, of course, not forgetting the sterilisation equipment (to ensure that bacteria doesn’t spoil your next batch of beer). 

Ingredients – what you need to know…

Have you considered which ingredients you’ll be using? This can dramatically impact the flavour and consistency of your beer. With so many variations available, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating something truly unique. But not matter how distinctive the taste, you’ll find all craft beer is made up the following key components:  

Barley – This will influence the alcohol percentage. It can dramatically affect the body, taste and aroma of your finished product.

Yeast – Yeast has been used in beer brewing for centuries. Essentially a fungus, yeast eats the sugars created in the malting process. By allowing it to ferment and feed off the sugars, alcohol is created as a byproduct.

Water – Did you know that water is around 90% of any beer? The pH and mineral content of your chosen water, as well as if it’s hard or soft, can also affect the end result.

Hops – Flavour is down to the hops. There are around 170 variations, meaning there’s plenty of choice when it comes to playing with flavour.

Don’t forget the power!

It can be difficult setting up your own microbrewery here in the UK, as competition is rife. Along with all the complications of the brewing process, don’t be held back by extortionate energy prices, or an unreliable supply.

LPG is a cleaner, cheaper and a more efficient fuel that can help with savings on energy costs. With the lowest CO2 emissions of any fossil fuel, it’ll also mean a lower carbon footprint for your microbrewery.

Health

9 Essential Supplements Everyone Over 50 should Take

February 11, 2019

Everyone ages differently, but our lifestyle choices can make a huge difference in how well we do. And as we age, our bodies begin to lose the ability to produce some important minerals, nutrients, and essential chemicals our bodies desperately need. Thankfully, supplementation and a healthy and active lifestyle can help mitigate some of those changes and slow down the effects of aging. Here are some of the supplements everyone over the age of 50 should consider adding to their diet.

Vitamin D and Calcium

Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins at any age, but it is especially important for people over the age of 50. We already know what an important role calcium plays in bone health, but vitamin D actually improves the function of calcium and helps the body absorb it properly. In addition to that, vitamin D plays a central role in maintaining immune function, preventing heart disease, diabetes, and various types of cancer.

That’s why it would be wise to look for a supplement that combines both vitamin D and calcium if you want to get their full benefit. Bone Builder Prime, for example, contains calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus. It also contains MCHC, which is a crystalline compound that is highly absorbable and has been shown to have higher bone building and preserving effects than other forms of calcium. If you want to learn more about this supplement, you can find Bone Builder primer here.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is also very important and helps in maintaining our DNA structure. It’s also essential in the production of red blood cells and promotes nerve health. While you can get B12 from various sources such as fish, red meat, chicken, and milk products, our bodies slowly start to lose their ability to absorb B12 from food sources as we age. If you want to know if you’re getting enough B12, make sure that you consult your doctor. They might suggest that you take fortified foods or go for a supplement.

Fish Oil

Fish oil high in omega 3s can play an essential role in reducing inflammation, which is one of the main causes of many ailments as we age. Omega 3s can help reduce joint pain and swelling. Omega 3s can also help maintain cognitive functions. In addition to that, Omega 3s have been shown to reduce the total amount of triglycerides in the blood, which reduces the risks of clogged arteries.

Probiotics

Probiotics have been rising in popularity lately, for a variety of reasons. Probiotics are essential for proper bowel function. They have also been shown to help with excretory function issues like Crohn’s disease. There are products available that are fortified with probiotics such as yogurt, but if you are lactose intolerant, then you might consider taking a probiotic supplement. Probiotic supplements are also much stronger and have a higher concentration of the “good” bacteria found in yogurt so they are often more effective than trying to eat large quantities of yogurt or other probiotic rich foods.

Chromium

Our metabolism has a tendency to slow down with age and adding a chromium supplement to your diet might help. One of the benefits of chromium is that it can regulate blood sugar, which can help with the absorption of various nutrients found in our food. Chromium has also been shown to help maintain muscle mass and can also help with fat loss as well.

Glucosamine

The risk of getting arthritis becomes higher by the time we reach 50, and glucosamine can play an important role in preventing it from forming. Our bodies use glucosamine to produce various chemicals that are responsible for maintaining ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and important fluids that surround our joints. Supplementing with glucosamine can not only relieve pain caused by arthritis but could even reverse the damage that has already been done.

Boron

Very few people know about boron, but it can have many benefits, especially for older adults. Boron has been shown to boost immune function and bone health. Boron has also been shown to help prevent dementia and could help prevent Alzheimer’s as well.

Psyllium Fiber

Dietary fiber becomes increasingly important with age and is essential for maintaining proper bowel function. But adding psyllium fiber to your diet could have many other benefits as well. It has been shown to reduce blood sugar and reduce the chance of developing coronary artery disease. Other research has shown that psyllium fiber could help reduce the amount of cholesterol in the body by latching on to bile acid and fat and flushing them out through our digestive tract.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone produced by our pineal gland and it plays an essential role in maintaining our sleep cycles. Levels of the hormones decrease with age, which could affect your ability to get quality sleep. That’s why it would be wise to supplement your diet with melatonin if you suddenly start developing a sleeping disorder. A lack of sleep has been linked to higher rates of heart disease and diabetes, making melatonin that much more important for older adults.

Conclusion

While you can never completely reverse the effects of time, there are some things you can do to minimize them and continue living a healthy and active life. Make sure that you consider adding these supplements to your diet and consult your doctor for recommendations as well.

Food, Health

4 Essential Tips for Success When Following the Keto Diet

January 30, 2019

Contrary to what many may think, the keto diet has been around for a while now. People have been preaching the keto gospel since the 1920s, and it’s just now hitting the mainstream. The many health benefits of the keto diet have been studied for years, and more studies now show how much of an effect going keto can have on the body. If you were thinking of starting a keto diet or have already started, but want to make sure you get the results you want, here are a few important tips for success.

Get Ready to Eat Lots of Fat

It may be hard for many people to wrap their heads around the idea that eating lots of fats will make them less fat, but that’s the truth with the keto diet. For some reason, people often correlate ingesting fat with body fat, and it’s one of these misconceptions that prevent people from losing or managing their weight.

The importance here is to stick to healthy fats like those found in fatty fish. You also need to have a good mix of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat in your diet. Those you need to stay away from are fats that cause inflammation like those coming from grain oils. Yes, grain oils can actually be bad for you, so try to stay away from canola, corn and even grapeseed oil at all costs if you can.

Watch Your Electrolytes

If you want to counter the effects of the keto flu, you have to make sure that you stay hydrated at all times and watch your electrolyte levels as well. Electrolytes like potassium, magnesium and sodium are all important for you to maintain your energy and help you function on all cylinders while on the keto diet. The ketosis process strips the body of many of these electrolytes, which is why so many people report flu like symptoms while going from a carb-based diet to a keto diet.

Thankfully, there are tons of supplements out there that will allow you to add electrolytes into your diet without ramping up your carb intake. KetoLogic, for instance, offer a great sample pack with various flavors from their BHB line. Not only are these convenient and will allow you to replenish your essential electrolytes fast, but they also taste great, which isn’t always the case with those types of supplements.

Check Your Protein Intake

One misconception about the keto diet is that it’s a free for all for protein. But eating too much protein could actually cancel the effects of ketosis. Your body is unable to store excess protein, and when your protein intake is higher than what your body actually needs, your liver will process that excess protein and transform it into glucose. A lot of this sugar will be stored as fat.

So, if you’re going keto, you’ll have to make sure that you don’t go over your daily protein needs. Foods to watch include fish, eggs, poultry, red meat, legumes and nuts. For men, the daily requirement is about 90g. For women, the daily requirement is about 50g. This is about three palm sized portions of protein per day.

You also have to take your personal level of physical activity into consideration. If you’re particularly active and are engaged in some form of strength training, your daily protein needs will be higher. The only true way to know how much protein you should be taking in is to regularly check on your ketone levels, which brings us to our next point.

Monitor Your Ketone Levels

All bodies are different and everybody has different lifestyle habits. Some may be more resistant to insulin then others. Some manage their stress better, have better sleep, or are more active than others.  You can’t just rely on your food consumption to tell if you’re doing this right. The only way that you can tell if you’re doing it correctly is by checking your ketone levels.

There are plenty of devices out there that allow you to check your ketone levels easily. They work like your average electronic blood glucose meter and you’ll be able to check your blood’s ketone concentration with just a prick on your finger. Nutritional ketosis is around 0.5mM to 3.5mM per every deciliter of blood, and people usually get there within a 2-week range.

You should check your ketone levels once a week, alternating between night time and the morning, to make sure that you are constantly in ketosis mode. After the 4 to 6-week adaptation period, you can increase your intake of protein and carbs slightly and check the next day if you’re still in the ketosis range. If you are, then it means that your body has the insulin sensitivity needed to handle that increase while still allowing you to get the benefits of ketosis. But it’ll be impossible for you to know unless you test regularly.

If you manage to follow these tips, you should be able to reap all the benefits of the keto diet. Make sure that you stay on your path and stick to your plan no matter what if you want to maintain your results.

Health

6 Myths About Depression

January 28, 2019

Depression – and mental health illnesses in general – have a lot of stigma surrounding them still. As the years go on, mental health is slowly being talked about more and more. However, there is still a long way to go because there are many widespread and “accepted” myths that surround depression.

Depression means you’re suicidal

There is a very common misconception that having depression automatically means that the person suffering must be suicidal. However, you should understand that some depressed people can experience suicidal thoughts, but not all do. It is very much possible that a person can be depressed without being actively suicidal. This also doesn’t mean their depression is any less authentic than a depressed and suicidal person’s case.

Antidepressants are a cure for depression

As much as we wish that there was a definitive cure for depression, that sad reality is that there is none. Antidepressants are not a cure. Antidepressants are one of the many treatment tools used to fight depression. Also, different antidepressants work for different people.

Therapists can’t help truly depressed people

This myth is sort of along the same phrase as the one above. It’s a sweeping generalization that is incorrect. It probably developed and stayed around because of a lasting mistrust of “shrinks” back when psychology was a more underdeveloped field. The truth is that therapists can be more effective in treating someone’s depression than medicine alone. In fact, therapy is the most effective treatment for depression! While it is important to realize that a lot of depressed people don’t have reliable access to therapists (mostly due to costs associated with therapy), it is also important to note that there are many avenues where people can get affordable help from a licensed therapist. One of the leaders in making mental health help more affordable and accessible is BetterHelp.

Depression is the same as a “bad day”

Here’s the thing: we all have our bad days. We all don’t have depression. Depression is not just a bad day. Depression is considered a psychological, social, and biological (read: physical!) disorder. People with depression struggle for weeks, months, and years. Dealing with the occasional bad day is not even on the same playing field as dealing with depression.

Talking about depression makes it worse

Having an open dialogue about depression and mental health issues does the opposite of “making it worse.” Talking about depression alleviates the stigma surrounding the disorder. It makes the people suffering from depression feel more open and willing to share their experiences to those who will listen – this in itself can prove quite cathartic. The more the world talks about depression, the more people can learn about the disorder.

Children can’t be depressed

There isn’t a minimum age to be diagnosed with depression. However, even though most of the classic symptoms don’t surface until around age 12, that just shows that children can be diagnosed with depression. In fact, more kids than ever before are being diagnosed with depression; this can prove a good thing because they can start treatments much earlier and recover sooner.

There are many myths and stigma that surround depression. This is not an inclusive list, but it should be enough to show that depression is a very real, legitimate, and serious disorder that disrupts millions of lives. Busting a lot of these myths should lead to an even more open dialogue about depression and mental health in general.

Health

4 Ways To Get Help For Depression

January 28, 2019

Depression is a mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. In just America alone, depression affects hundreds of thousands of people. Unfortunately, many people with depression do not know how to get help for their depression. Here are some starting points for getting help for your depression.

Ask for support from friends and family

Asking for help from friends and family can be hardest thing anyone with depression can do. There is still a lot of stigma surrounding depression and mental health issues in general, so “coming out” to your family about your mental health can be terrifying. But just because it’s daunting doesn’t mean you should avoid doing it by default! A lot of people find that when they ask for help from their families and friends, they often get much more acceptance and support than they originally thought. This is important because when you suffer from depression you want to have as solid a support system as possible.

Seek advice from those who have overcome their depression

This is usually a form of peer support. It can work very well, especially when you know that the person you’re seeking advice from has struggled the same as you have. They know where you’re coming from and how to help you take those first important steps towards managing your depression. Keep in mind that these people are like you – they are still a work in progress. Don’t compare yourself to them because they seem to have things under control now; it likely took a lot of mental and even physical work to get there. Everyone’s journey is different, and once you accept that, these people can prove an invaluable source of information for you (again, without comparing yourself to them).

Seek advice from a mental health professional

This is the most solid advice you will find anywhere. A mental health professional can be very instrumental in helping you manage and treat your depression. Mental health professionals are trained, often studying mental health for years. While not all mental health professionals are considered “therapists,” they can all be a significant resource for you. Nowadays, mental health professionals are more available that they have been in the past – you can even talk to a counselor or mental health professional online! This is beneficial for people who don’t have reliable access to mental health care. There are plenty of professionals who can help you out at https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/.

Sign up for therapy sessions

Seeing a licensed therapist can be scary. Reasonably so, because it is both a monetary investment (in yourself and your wellbeing) and a time commitment. Seeing a therapist is a big leap to take when seeking help for your depression. Just like seeking out a mental health professional, talking to a therapist can turn your current life around for the better.

There’s no doubt that depression can be debilitating. It can make you feel as though all your suffering is simply in your head. It can also make it near impossible to reach out for help. However, keep in mind that there are plenty of avenues, including the ones discussed here, for you to get the help that you want and need!