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October 2, 2014 • mccsokinawa.com
okinawalivingweekly All You Need is Dessert
Quitting is Not About You
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Dessert at Depot Garden
epending on where you are in the world, it can be difficult to find certain cuisines. Each region’s own history will often depict its flavors. However there is one thing that is unanimous across all countries in the world: we all love sweets. The magical, child-like awe of having dessert never goes away when you know you’re entering a place with fine confections. Okinawa’s selection of desserts varies from American, French or Italian inspired dishes. Of course, the classic staples of sata andagi (Okinawan donuts) and chinsko (Okinawan shortbread cookies) are tried-and-true members of the dessert old guard. Even convenience stores have a wide selection of
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desserts and baked goods. However, if you fancy a NY cheesecake, tiramisu or opera cake, you needn’t travel very far either. But Japan’s love affair with French and American sweets isn’t one-sided. Japanese pastries and chefs are the latest craze in France and New York. The only thing that rivals the number of vending machines on Okinawa is the number of dessert shops. With all the bakeries, cake shops and ice cream parlors, you should never suffer through a sugar craving again. So raid your local MCCS clubs on base or scavenge the island for every sweetmeat and explore the world through your sweet tooth.
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moking harms nearly every organ in the body, resulting in over 480,000 fatalities each year— more than the annual total deaths of HIV, illegal drug use, motor vehicle accidents and firearm incidents combined. Smoking magnifies your chance of getting a stroke or heart disease by four and you are 25 times more likely to get lung cancer if you smoke. Smokeless tobacco is no better—chewing tobacco, snuff and other variants of smokeless tobacco can cause mouth, tongue, cheek, gum, esophagus, throat, stomach and pancreatic cancer. In addition to that, you can stain and lose your teeth. If those reasons aren’t enough to make you quit tobacco, consider how your tobacco use affects those around you. Quitting tobacco isn’t just about you—the betterment of your health will benefit the lives of your friends, family and coworkers. In the military, the mission and other lives depend on your well-being. To learn more and to take the first steps towards kicking the habit, contact MCCS Health Promotion at 645-3910 or visit mccsokinawa.com/ wellness and ucanquit2.org.
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