You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2644 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 415 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Wine Picks For Romantic Dates At Home Ensure The Pets You Love With A Pet Food Containing L-carnitine— An Ingredient That Loves Them, Too by Johnny Lopez, Ph.D. (NAPSA)—When it comes to pet food, most people give little thought to the ingredients in the bag. Fortunately, in some pet foods, there’s a multitasking molecule—L-carnitine—that can do your animal a world of good. Here’s how: Burn, Baby, Burn L-carnitine helps transport fatty acids inside to the cell’s furnace (that is, the mitochondria), where they can be converted into energy for the body to use for breathing, eating, resting, metabolism, activity and so on. It helps pets stay lean and live longer, while also helping with extra energy. Surprise! Fat is good for the heart An estimated 80 percent of the energy to run that vital organ comes from fat. Together, fat and L-carnitine can generate the fuel the heart needs to keep up with the daily beat. The largest concentration of L-carnitine resides in the heart and skeletal muscles. In order to maintain a healthy heart in all stages of a growing animal’s life, make sure the pet food that supports heart health includes Lcarnitine. Muscles need more than spinach Skeletal muscles require constant energy—and there, L-carnitine plays an important role. It also helps optimize blood flow, which is controlled in and out of the muscles via clamps in the capillary beds. It’s important that these clamps remain open so muscles get the nutrients and oxygen they need. L-carnitine helps keep these clamps open, helping mus- A multitasking molecule called L-carnitine is added to some pet foods to help your furry friend have more energy, a better immune system and a longer life. cles with their maintenance, function and recovery. For senior pets, it can help maintain muscle mass. Antioxidants: To serve and protect The body continually produces free radicals, which can wreak havoc on it. When free radicals come into contact with cell membranes, they can cause cell death, loss of tissue integrity and a weaker immune system. One way to keep free radicals in check is with antioxidants, which the body produces to fight them. L-carnitine was recently shown to help the body crank out more of its own antioxidant defense by turning on its antioxidant genes. It helps the body produce its own defense to control free radical damage. L-carnitine also offers overall support of immune health. Giving Them L-carnitine It’s estimated the body can pro- duce only about a third of the Lcarnitine it needs—the rest must come from food and dietary supplements. That’s where a company called Lonza comes in. It’s recognized as the global L-carnitine expert and leader in the manufacturing of Carniking TM—a special grade of L-carnitine developed for pets. Savvy pet parents look for Carniking TM L-carnitine in pet foods used in weight management, in active formulas, and in foods designed to help support muscle development and function in animals of all ages. Learn More You can get further information about L-carnitine and animal health from your veterinarian and online at www.carniking.com. • Dr. Lopez received a master’s in animal science and a doctorate in monogastric nutrition from the University of Missouri. by Richard Vayda (NAPSA)—Busy couples don’t have to let hectic schedules and budget concerns interfere with a great date night. Dinner at home can transform into a romantic evening by elevating a delicious meal with the right wine pairings. To help you bring a slice of romance to your next dinner Richard Vayda date, consider these simple dishes and wine pairings: Appetizers Traditional Melon and Prosciutto—ripe pieces of melon wrapped in thinly sliced prosciutto go well with a fresh and fruity Prosecco—a perfect start to a meal. A frizzante brut style has elements of white peach that highlight the melon fruit, and hints of sweetness countering the prosciutto’s salt. Traditional Caesar Salad— with garlic croutons can be paired with a Beaujolais. Salads are typically difficult to pair with wines because of the acidic dressings, and Caesar salads additionally need a wine that goes with multiple, complex flavors while still matching the freshness of the greens. Beaujolais, with its bright acidity, light tannins and young fruit tinge, does a nice job. If white wine is preferred, try a crisp, full Sauvignon Blanc. Entres Restaurant-quality fresh-fromthe-freezer pizza makes a romantic date night a snap. Italy’s top-selling frozen pizza, Ristorante by Dr. Oetker is available in the U.S., and includes delicious varieties, such as: Pizza Mozzarella—combines mozzarella cheese with tomatoes, Pizza and wine set the stage for a romantic night at home. Edam cheese and a delightful mixture of herbs. The cherry-plum flavor of a Chianti Classico has food-friendly acidity and tannins, which love cheese, tomato and herb pizzas. For an extra treat, try a Chianti Classico Riserva or a sparkling red Lambrusco, for vibrant, young berry fruit along with the fizz. Pizza Spinaci—layered with savory leaf spinach, Edam and mozzarella cheese, with a hearty garlic sauce, this goes well with a Ctes du Rhone Rouge. It has a good balance of red plum fruits, tannin and spice but doesn’t overwhelm. Dessert Mixed Berries—with vanilla whipped cream go splendidly with Moscato d’Asti. This light sparkling wine packs a lot of fresh apricot flavor, excellent both to end a meal and to marry with a fruit dessert. Look for current vintages for the freshest fruit flavors. For more sparkle, try a traditional Asti (formerly Asti Spumante). Learn More You can find more advice, recipes and information about quality pizza at www.oetker.us. • Mr. Vayda is Director of Wine & Beverage Studies at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, and a restaurant consultant. Note to Editors: Dr. Oetker Ristorante pizza is currently available on the East Coast. For a full store list, go to www.oetker.us/en/faq/wheretobuy.