Need A Drink?

Maybe it's just one of those days?!
How about one that will not only give you temporary pleasure only to make you feel "blah" later but also might just...

- make you feel refreshed
- ease your aches and pains
- help digest your dinner
- help balance your blood sugar levels
- relieve nausea

Well, I've got one for you that could do all that and much more because of the incredible medicinal qualities of the ingredients...Oh, and let's not forget to mention that it's also delicious!

Ready for a refreshing summer drink?

More good news: you can make this in minutes and store a pitcherful in the fridge to have within reach on hot summer days when the numbers are around 100˚F (~38˚C) on the thermometer!

You might wanna make a double-batch to have enough around to share with others!

Better-Than-Ginger-Ale

Ingredients:

~ 0.75 L Sparkling spring water (or your favorite water)

1 lemon 

~ 2 in piece (or more, for a strong flavor) fresh ginger root

~ 1 in piece (or more, for a strong flavor) fresh turmeric root

optional: Sweetener of your choice (honey/maple syrup/agave syrup/coconut palm sugar)

To prepare:
1. Juice the lemon, the ginger, and the turmeric and strain the liquid if you wish. It may be a little foamy and if you don't strain it you can just get the foam off the top to end up with a "cleaner" drink.
2. Add your freshly juiced ingredients and the sweetener of your choice to the spring water. Chill if you prefer it cold.

Serve chilled, with or without any ice or at room temperature. It's delicious any way.

Note: being flexible is an important aspect of a healthy, balanced life. Try to experiment with recipes and rely on what you have available. Don't worry about having to substitute some of the ingredients.

For example:
1. Don't have any lemons but you desire the sour taste? Maybe you have raw apple cider vinegar at home!? If so, use a splash of that to make your drink a bit tangy AND you'll have added health benefits from the malic acid and the enzymes in the vinegar, which is also great for helping with balancing your blood sugar levels and it has wonderful cleansing qualities.

2. Don't want to add / or don't have any sweetener? Juice some fruit, a couple of oranges or apples or something else you have around, to add to your drink for a sweeter taste to help offset the bitterness of the turmeric.

Cheers! : )

xo

Dita

Grow Your Own Medicine In The Kitchen!

You know what's hot?! Whatever people are talking about, of course. And guess what, a few people asked me about sprouting and some, specifically about fenugreek sprouts, and the "how to" of sprouting….sooo, that's what today's subject is!

Now, you might ask, what's so hot about sprouts?

Did you know?…
- when you sprout a seed you increase its nutritional value up to 20 times!
- sprouted seeds provide high amounts of very easily digestible proteins
- by sprouting your own seeds, you are able to harvest the freshest foods right in your kitchen, no excuses : ) all year-round!
- almost any seed can be sprouted

What kind of seeds should you sprout?

- alfalfa
- clover
- radish
- fenugreek
- mung beans, etc

The above list has examples of seeds that are very easily sprouted simply using a jar. Some seeds, especially grains and sunflower seeds are better to be sprouted or grown into micro greens using trays of soil, which requires more commitment on your part. For now, let's just stick with introducing how to get started with sprouting in jars right in your kitchen.

What you'll need for sprouting in jars:
- any kind of pint size jars you might have (or mason jars)
- cheese cloth and rubber bands OR screen lids that fit mason jars (available in health food stores)
- space that is relatively dark (not exposed to direct sunlight)
- a dripping rack or tray that can hold your jar(s) at a 45 degree angle for days
- and, of course, the kind of seeds you'd like to sprout, and pure water

Note: I took the photo outside just because it's prettier than a picture of a sprouting jar in the kitchen sink where I keep mine. You do NOT want to grow your sprouts outside. 

What to do:
- soak a couple of tablespoons of seeds overnight in a cup of water
- rinse and drain the seeds and place them in your sprouting jar with the lid on or with a piece of cheese cloth held on tightly by a rubber band
- place the jar in your dripping rack / tray at a 45 degree angle
- rinse your jar's content at least twice a day (morning and evening are easiest for most people)
- repeat this process for 3-7 days, depending on how mature (long) you'd like your sprouts to be
- harvest your sprouts and add them to salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, or just mix a bowl of them with your favorite nut butter and maybe a little water or vinegar for a quick snack

You may also try this recipe for a healthy, energizing snack, with fenugreek sprouts:
http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2012/08/too-simple-to-believecelery-boats.html

…Which brings me to the subject of fenugreek seeds! WHY fenugreek seeds? 
These precious seeds have a myriad of health benefits and they are sometimes referred to as the "herb for every ailment".  No wonder, since fenugreek seeds have cancer-fighting qualities, are used as a digestive aid, sometimes even as a laxative, and they're full of fiber as well as vitamins and minerals and are high in protein too! The unique-shaped seeds with their distinct aroma are an amazing food for supporting breast health and are traditionally used for increasing breast milk production in nursing mothers…and it does not stop there!
Did you know that fenugreek seeds are an incredible blood sugar regulator too? Being such a common disease nowadays, unfortunately, chances are, you know someone with diabetes and you never know who you will help out with this information: You can make a fenugreek seed tea to help lower your blood sugar. Simply crush the seeds and make a concoction by simmering them for a couple of hours. Drain and sip the tea. The leaves can also be used to make tea but I've never tried that so you can share with me what your experience with that is, if you have!

See you soon!!
I have something exciting to announce this week so stay tuned! : )

Are You Throwing Medicine In The Trash?

Citrus is in season!..at least it is in California. If you are lucky to live in an area where you can get organic lemons from a trusted source, you are probably as happy as I am :)
But do you toss the seeds and the peel? You may be squeezing lemon juice on salads or add some to your drinks but does the peel end up in the trash? I used to throw away the non-juicy parts…not for quite a while though!..
I've always loved lemon zest. My mom used to add some to some sweet dishes and desserts so it's nothing new to me. In certain parts of Africa and other parts of the world it's also commonly used as a condiment, usually in a fermented form. The zest is used every now and then by people in western cultures but, in general, the peel is not nearly as utilized as it could be. I, personally, used to throw them away because I just never trust the ones from the store. Lately, however, I have been getting a lot of Meyer lemons from a friend and I couldn't be more grateful! I've always left the seeds in for juicing and dressings (blended ones) and now the peels are saved too! More often than not, the peel gets used in something soon after I used the juice of the lemon, and if not, I save it for later so I will have some handy when I have no lemon to peel. Why bother?

The Hidden Treasures of Lemon (and other citrus*) Peels
Being rich in vitamin C and calcium is a good start, but did you know that lemon peels have a myriad of other health benefits? By adding lemon zest to your dishes or consuming whole lemons instead of just their juice, you'll get to take advantage of their

- cancer fighting properties
- ability to dissolve bad estrogen (a lot of which we have accumulated over time in our bodies)
- anti-fungal qualities
- mood enhancing / uplifting, anti-depressant properties
- high fiber content (to support digestion and regular elimination)
- maintaining of youthful skin / anti-wrinkle qualities (hence the frequent usage in cosmetics)
- boosting of the metabolism (which supports weight loss)
- strengthening the bones (due to their high mineral and vitamin C content)
- blood pressure regulator quality (potassium content)
- cleansing effect (lemon juice and the peel are both known to assist in the cleansing of the liver)
- ability to reduce oxidative stress (elimination of free radicals, and thereby, prevention of diseases)
- amazing flavor (lemon peel is an amazing flavor balancer if not used in large quantities)

*Be aware, that lemon and lime peels are edible raw, but others, like the peel of orange, grapefruit, etc, have to be fermented / candied / cooked or prepared some other way before consumption.

Quite a list, right? If these benefits appeal to you,  I recommend that you…

Get organic lemons from a trusted source.
Wash them and either juice them whole, or peel them first (you will save some of the pith that is so rich in bioflavonoids) or carefully cut the zest part of the peel off with a sharp knife. This way, if you're not using the whole lemon then you can save the peel or zest for later to be used in other dishes.

What do I do? At first, I thought I would save the zest only. But why break them down more than necessary? Before I ever grated any I realized the ideal way would be to just save the entire peel and if I don't use them soon freeze them that way. So I cut 1-2 inch pieces and put them into jars (any container will do) and I always have some within reach.

How to eat them?
Besides the obvious (eating some peel whenever using lemons) you can:

- add a piece of peel to a smoothie (avoid using too large of a piece because it can throw off the flavor, for example, make your smoothie more bitter than you'd like)
- add zest to salads by sprinkling some on top or mixing some into your salad dressing
- add zest to desserts by mixing some into your cookie dough or adding some to a batter or cake mix, or sprinkle some on top of any sweet dish

What Else To Use Citrus Peel For?
Since I love the aroma, I also put a lot of peels on top of the heat vents, in the colder months when the heater is going, and keep replacing them. They provide a small amount of humidity as well as a wonderful smell that fills up the space. Obviously, they're a much better "air-freshener" than the chemical-based, artificial diffusers you can plug into an outlet.
They're also a great disinfectant so you can use them to clean your cutting board or sink by just rubbing them on the surface to be cleaned.

Warning: Watch out for rabbits (or other pets??) because my little guys "steal" them and run off with them! They love peels, however fresh or dried out they are, they grab them off the vents and run, like dogs with a bone. So funny! :) So if you notice that yours are missing you might know where to look for them, or who is to blame….haha. Also, make sure to use entire halves (like after squeezing a lemon) or longer / larger pieces to avoid having them fall through the slots and end up in your heat pipes!

Alright, hopefully, just in time before you start preparing a lot of New Year's party drinks and end up with tons of peels that you would toss…now you know what to do with them! : )

Have a Wonderful New Year, Everyone!  ♥

Quick Home Remedies to Your Rescue

The weather has taken a turn and the temperature's been dropping, on the Northern hemisphere, at least. The changing of seasons always challenges the body more and even if you're not affected by it we all see more people fight a cold, catch the flu, or just develop a small cough or sneeze. In fact, so many people are sick where I work that the medical team started giving out face masks (yes, I'm serious!!!) so that people who come in with a cough can contain their germs.

Chances are, you can find all the medicine you need right in your kitchen. What do you reach for when you're "under the weather" or "got the chills", or have a sore throat or, not to mention, the "flu hit you like a truck"? Running to the doctor and/or the pharmacy for drugs is the common thing to do but is that the solution??? That depends on what we try to accomplish. Your produce basket, pantry, cabinets, etc. are guaranteed to have one or many of these ancient remedies that will help you prevent getting sick. And if it is too late for avoiding getting a cold because you have a runny nose, achy body, and maybe even a sore throat already, then these will come to your rescue and help relieve your symptoms.*

Ready for the list of the "True & Tried"?...

Garlic
The healing properties of allicin and diallyl sulphides and the warm energy that is present in these little cloves are to be treasured. Eating lots of garlic helps prevent colds but if it already hit you and it's too late for prevention, try crushing and eating a whole clove or two mixed into something, adding it to salad dressing, for example. It's hard on an empty stomach but if you're ready for it you may "down" an entire crushed clove by itself. I've done it and it works wonders very fast. As an alternative, you can add some to your regular veggie juice ingredients. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and cheap medicine to keep around the house.

Garlic Expectorant - For a Stuffy Nose and Congested Chest
You'll need:
3-4 cloves of garlic
little bit of crushed chili pepper / pinch of cayenne
1/4 cup honey
optional: 1 tsp of lemon juice

Use a garlic press or crush and chop the garlic very finely, chop the pepper very finely, and mix all of the ingredients into a thick paste.
Take a spoonful at a time, as often as desired throughout the day. Hold it at the back of your tongue to coat your throat, for a few seconds if your comfortable enough.

Ginger 
This medicinal root is full of warming energy, can increase circulation, promote healthy sweating, helps detoxify the body and has anti-imflammatory properties. A true treasure to keep at home at all times.
Add a piece to your juice ingredients or if you're ready for it, juice ginger by itself and take a ginger shot whenever you start feeling the onset of a cold. You may also grade it and squeeze the juice out of your gratings using a cheesecloth. It's especially helpful to take a hot shower or bath, drink a cup of hot water with ginger juice in it, and wrap up in blankets in bed. If done quickly enough you can heal yourself overnight. The cold will run its course so fast.

Lemon
A citrus of wonderful aroma, this sour fruit has healing powers that will come to your rescue. Its high levels of vitamin C will help boost your immune system and its antiviral and antibacterial qualities will help you in the healing process.

Drink freshly squeezed lemon juice (note: if your throat is very torn up already, this will not be pleasant) or add some to tea or your salt water gargle.

Honey
Before I get to its benefits...
*NOTE: Before you purchase any kind of honey make sure of its source. You need to know the true story behind the product. Ask the farmer questions, ask the salesperson at the grocery store, etc. There's a huge difference between abusing bees and stealing all of the fruit of their hard work, transporting them to pollinate other crop over the winter vs. providing them with a home permanently, caring for them, and taking only a portion of their honey. Should you even consume honey? It's a tough call and only you can decide for yourself. You can use just a little bit if you choose to and always do your research of the source. That's my two cents...  
While not vegan, many raw food enthusiasts, including me, use honey occasionally as a sweetener, applied to the skin, etc.
Besides its inviting flavor and natural sweetness, this amazing food is rich in enzymes and has antibacterial and healing properties, which are difficult to compete with. It shouldn't be a surprise that it's made it to the "home remedies list"!

The "Warm-You-Up" Tea
~1 in (2-3 cm) piece of ginger
juice of 1 lemon
honey
1 large cup of hot water
optional: pinch of cayenne

Grate the ginger and squeeze out the juice. Mix all the ingredients for a warming cup of tea.

Activated Charcoal Powder
This is a substance that is so versatile that an entire book could be filled with its uses and what it can do for your health as well as the fun stuff you can do with it in DIY projects, cleaning, etc.
While some people use it as a daily detox, simply taken mixed in water or as "Black Lemonade" - pictured below - you can take it if you have an upset stomach, digestive issues, diarrhea or even sore throat. One way of using it to relieve a sore throat is by mixing some of the powder with honey and putting the mixture under the tongue to let it slowly release (and be swallowed). This helps remove all the "stuff", germs, etc. that are clinging to the throat and the digestive lining and causing the discomfort. Make sure to use only FOOD GRADE activated charcoal with NO ADDITIVES!
Schizandu Organics has the purest version at a very reasonable price and it also comes with an eBook  guide with recipes and explanations of many uses.

You can get it on there website:
https://schizandu.myshopify.com/products/specially-milled-food-grade-activated-charcoal-powder?variant=30030006980

And on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Activated-Charcoal-Detoxification-Whitening-Digestive/dp/B01BOFPW34/ref=sr_1_13_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481501382&sr=8-13&keywords=activated+charcoal

Make the Black Lemonade by mixing:
glass of pure water
juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp - 1TBSP activated charcoal powder
1 tsp - 1 TBSP maple syrup (or other favorite sweetener)

Drink it to relieve digestive discomfort, hangovers, for daily detox, or during a cleanse, etc.

Oregano oil
Due to its very intense aroma and strong flavor, a drop goes a long way! A natural antibiotic with antibacterial and antiviral qualities, it's the perfect ingredient to add to your salad dressing or even add a drop to your tea. As I mentioned, it's very strong, and might even be too hard on your stomach when consumed so experiment with it mixed with other food or putting some in a capsule, if you wish, and avoid taking it on an empty stomach!!!

MY favorite is Oreganol....the wild stuff, that's also non-GMO! It can be pricy but it's worth it and  you can get it here:
https://www.shop.northamericanherbandspice.com/product/oreganol-p73-1-fl-oz/

And on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/North-American-Herb-Spice-0-45-Ounce/dp/B00012NJ4G/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1481502302&sr=1-7&keywords=oregano%2Boil&th=1


Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Gargle with diluted ACV or make a tea by mixing a cup of hot water with a spoonful of vinegar and a spoonful of honey to soothe a sore throat.

I use Bragg's...my favorite. They are RAW, unfiltered and with the mother!!....which is what you want to get so that you have as much of the probiotics as possible!

You can get it on their website here:
http://bragg.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=9&zenid=ck21g6b5rkkh72o3hm0a7dbp81

And on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Bragg-Organic-Apple-Cider-Vinegar/dp/B001ID6MIC/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481501852&sr=8-3-fkmr1&keywords=barges%2Bapple%2Bcider&th=1


Carrot-Apple "Throat-Soother"
1 medium carrot
1 medium apple
juice of 1 lemon
generous amount of honey

Grate the carrot and the apple and, in a bowl, mix them with the lemon juice and the honey. This is a very delicious recipe for a snack too and is full of throat-soothing qualities. I highly recommend giving it to kids who will take this much easier than anything else due to the sweet, "yummy" factor! My grandma and mom both made this for me when I was a little kid and I loved it. The good news is, you don't even have to wait to get sick, you can just try it for dessert one day when there's no chocolate cake around ; )

Cayenne Pepper
I love spicy foods. One of my favorites to heat up a meal is cayenne. I add some to my dressing, to soups, etc. Yes, it's hot and that heat provides a lot of warming energy by speeding up your circulation. It's also a decongestant, an expectorant, and a food very high in immune-system-boosting vitamin C.
The capsaicin in hot peppers also acts as a pain reliever and it helps increase  your metabolic rate (great for weight loss support). As cayenne is a also a vasodilator, it increases blood flow (lower blood pressure) and stimulates absorption (deliver nutrients to your cells).
You can always keep some of the ground version at home for times when the peppers are not in season.

Sea Salt
Much better for your health than ordinary table salt, sea salt is wonderful to gargle with for soothing a sore throat.
Gargle with warm water with a little bit of sea salt dissolved in it. You'll be immediately relieved of the pain at the back of your throat. Repeat as necessary.

Medicinal Mushrooms
Especially for prevention, mushrooms of all sorts made into tea, extracts, tinctures, etc. are great to take periodically for boosting your immune system. To be accurate, they're immune system modulators, and since they are tonic herbs you can take them on a regular basis. Try the Reishi tea described here, for example. As always, start with small amounts with new-to-you herbs and medicinal mushrooms.

...And don't stop at your pantry / fridge. Taking hot baths or showers or sitting in a sauna can make a whole world of difference. You'll warm up, the steam will help you decongest, and if you bundle up and wrap up in a blanket immediately you might just sweat out all of your discomfort in one session. Worth a try, doesn't it?

Stay healthy!

*Keep in mind that these remedies, while they're beneficial to your body and overall health, are just for helping with your symptoms. All disease, whether it's a mild cold or a degenerative disease you're suffering from, is a sign of obstruction in the body that needs to be addressed for true healing.