How to freeze extra herbs

 September 26th, 2012 

The garden is full of fresh herbs and no one wants to let it all go to waste!  So I have a great tip for you.

Freeze them!!
You can easily chop up your leftover fresh herbs and freeze them!

How you ask?  Easy
Freeze them in water for short term storage or freeze them in oil for storing over a few weeks.

I use an ice cube tray which makes it very easy to place about 1 Tablespoon of fresh herb into each of the 12 sections of the tray.
Once they are frozen solid, pop them out of the tray and place into a sealed and labeled ziploc bag and store in the freezer.

This makes it so convenient to add to a recipe or to add to a drink to add some extra flavor.

Freeze your mint and add it to your tea for ice tea or add it to your water and now you have a a home made flavored water.

Freezing them in a 1 Tablespoon serving makes it easy to add to a recipe since it is already measured out for you.

So stop throwing out fresh herbs that you did not use and freeze them.

Gin-Soaked Raisins May Alleviate Pain

 September 28th, 2012 

A reader just  shared with me  her  Grandmother’s old remedy for  relieving  arthritis pain.  Some old time remedies do really work and others don’t.  The claim is that Gin-soaked raisins may alleviate arthritis  pain, so I decided to do some investigation work to find out why it would work.  Was Grandma just drinking the gin and her excuse was that it helped her arthritis ? Is there any merit behind it?

The remedy is as follows. Place a box full of golden raisins (must be golden) in a glass vessel, like a canning jar. Pour in gin specifically made with Juniper berries, until the raisins are completely covered. Let the raisins sit for a week at room temperature and soak up the gin. After that, eat 10 raisins per day. Theoretically, if you have arthritis pain, this will help.

OK, what a strange remedy. Let’s do a little digging, and see what we can figure. Golden raisins are sultana grapes, to which sulfur dioxide has been added to keep them golden. Sultana grapes are from Turkey, Greece, Iran or South Africa. In the U.S., they are cultivated under the name Thompson seedless grapes. These grapes are rich in the compounds resveratrol, catechins, potassium and vitamin C. Both resveratrol and catechins are antioxidant compounds, which also demonstrate anti-inflammatory activity. Arthritis pain involves inflammation of the joints. So possibly, these compounds are implicated in the efficacy of the gin-soaked raisin arthritis remedy.
Then there is the gin, made specifically from Juniper berries. As it turns out, juniper berries are laden with anti-inflammatory compounds, including catechin, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpineol, beta-pinene, betulin, caryophyllene, delta-3-carene, epicatechin, limonene, menthol and rutin. They are packed with anti-arthritic activity!
On top of that, the sulfur dioxide used to keep golden raisins golden also possesses anti-inflammatory properties.
When you soak the golden raisins in the juniper berry gin, the gin extracts many of the compounds in the raisins, making them more readily absorbed when you consume the raisins.

So maybe it will work.  These raisins are packed with anti inflammatory power. If you don’t mind the taste of the gin then this could be a great way to start or end the day.  The alcohol level that is in the raisin is not enough to make you drunk.

I’d like to hear from anyone that may have tried this remedy. Did it work for you ?

Source

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/04/11/gin-soaked-raisins-alleviate-pain/

Goji Berry

Goji Berry

 October 5th, 2012 

An amazing Superfood

Contains 18 amino acids 21 minerals  beta carotene and vitamin C also 4 grams of fiber

It is like a cross between a cranberry and a cherry.

Chinese medicine uses the Goji berry for fertility, longevity, boost the immune system and increase sexual fluids.

People with lung or eye conditions should eat the berries for the high beta carotene.

A great way to eat them is by adding them to a smoothie, add to hot cereal or make goji milk.

Goji milk

handful of Goji berries in a blender with 8 oz. of distilled water . For an extra kick add some ginger.

1 cup is packed full of energy and 8 grams of protein.

Great for Breakfast

raw oats, almond slices,apple slices, flaked coconut, Goji berries and moisten with pomegranate juice.

Goji berries are not listed in the USDA data base of food so the exact make up of them has not been identified. A lot has been published about the berries curing cancer, lowering insulin levels, shrink tumors and much more.  But the claims are not strong enough to be supported.   The berry is full of nutrients no doubt.

If it is good enough for Dalia Lama then it is good enough for me.

Okra good for lowering cholesterol

 September 26th, 2012

A diet high in Eggplant and okra can lower cholesterol. Okra is a good artery scrubber and pulls fat from the arteries. It is also high in fiber. Eat about 6 or more pieces a day. A great way to add it to your diet is by adding it to soups , hot meals or smoothies.

National Alzheimer’s Awareness

Nutrition Warriors Mission

Promoting a culture that supports their own local agriculture, that in return nourishes a healthy community.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” ― Hippocrates

Welcome to Nutrition Warriors

Sometimes nutrition information can leave you confused. Nutrition  Warriors makes nutrition easy for everyone to understand and will help you find everyday foods that will help you feel better. Most social events are centered around food and many of us stress over what should we eat or serve. Cooking should be fun and nutritious. I would [...]

National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

 September 25th, 2012 

Alzheimer’s rob people of their memory. It is a slow and heart wrenching disease to watch happen to someone you love. There is no cure. Over 5 million people in the United States have the disease. And anyone who knows a friend or family member who has suffered from Alzheimer’s will tell you that day-to-day living becomes a real struggle for both patients and caregivers. Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging.
I have had a few close members of my family die from the disease and it scary to know that there is no cure.

1. Great Foods To Eat For  Alzheimer’s Disease

   • 1
     Include dark-colored fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants and vitamins C and E in your diet.  Vitamin E protects the nerve cells . Wheat germ has the highest form of vitamin E  and is the most concentrated.
   • 2
     Eat oily fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna, which are rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin B12. These nutrients are especially helpful in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.
   • 3
       Increase folic acid levels and vitamins B6 and B12 to improve mental function. Folic acid is found in leafy green vegetables, lentils, avocados, bananas, oranges and asparagus. Vitamin B12 is found only in animal products. Some doctors recommend dosages of 400 micrograms per day to fight dementia.
   • 4
     Take ginkgo biloba to promote healthy blood circulation. It can be taken in supplement form or found in green teas.
   • 5
     Add herbs like ginseng to improve brain function and antioxidant-rich herbs like rosemary, oregano, caraway, dill and fennel.
   • 6
     Use antioxidant spices such as curcumin, which is found in turmeric.
   • 7
     Ask your doctor about taking supplements like huperzine and galantamine, which can improve memory by slowing the  breakdown of acetylcholine.

     8

     Cilantro naturally   “chelates” heavy metals.  This means it gets rid of  the mercury and aluminum  ( heavy metals)

     9

     Zinc is very important  for mental capacity.  People that  had 27 mg a day  had great  improvements. Eat  a few oyster a day, each one has 15 mg of zinc

     
     

     
     

   Keep Active to Treat Alzheimer’s

   • 1
     Exercise outdoors by walking, swimming, water aerobics, gardening, yoga or meditation,and Qigong .
   • 2
     Treat Alzheimer’s disease with massage and aromatherapy using lavender and lemon balm to reduce anxiety.
   • 3
     Keep mentally active with jigsaw and crossword puzzles, reading, word games and computer games.
   • 4
     Try acupuncture to unblock energy pathways and relieve stiffness and muscle pain.

Tips & Warnings

• Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
• Treat Alzheimer’s disease naturally with the tropical fruit mangosteen and antioxidant, omega-rich berries like acai and gogi.
• Discuss diet and exercise plans with your doctor.
• Know that vitamins can be toxic in high doses and supplements, such as huperzine and galantamine, can interfere with drug effectiveness.

In Loving Memory of Julie McCann,  my Grandmother.

For more information go to

http://www.alzheimers.gov

http://www.alz.org/

World healthiest Foods

Conquering any disease

Calcification of the arteries

Calcification of the arteries

 September 18th, 2012 

Calcified arteries in the heart are a form of coronary arteriosclerosis. In this condition, the arteries become hard and narrowed. This restricts the flow of blood to the heart, limiting the amount of work it can perform, even to the point at which a person may have trouble walking a few steps without chest pain or shortness of breath. The narrowing of the arteries can be progressive, leading to stronger symptoms. If the artery suddenly becomes occluded, the blood supply to the area of the heart supplied by the artery will be cut off and a heart attack will result. Lifestyle, medical and interventional treatments for coronary artery disease can relieve symptoms and prolong life.
One of the most common medicines prescribed is aspirin. Aspirin interferes with platelets. Platelets help form blood clots, a good thing when a person is bleeding, but when the blood vessels in the heart are constricted and hard, a platelet plug will cause a heart attack.

Hawthorn

Hawthorn is a thorny shrub plant with small red berries. Extracts from the hawthorn plant have been used to treat heart disease for many centuries. Hawthorn benefits the heart and circulatory system as it helps to decrease blood pressure while strengthening heart muscle. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that hawthorn is rich in chemicals known as flavonoids. Flavonoids are antioxidants and may also increase vasodilation to increase blood flow through veins and arteries to decrease blood pressure.

The University of Maryland Medical Center advises taking a total of 160 to 1,800 mg of the herb hawthorn in two to three doses per day. Hawthorn contains antioxidant compounds called quercetin and rutin, which help dissolve fatty and calcium plaques in the arteries. Hawthorn may help to treat high cholesterol and high blood pressure levels, but speak to your doctor first before self-treating your condition.

Garlic

Regular use of aged garlic extracts may help to clean out your arteries and reduce your chances of developing coronary heart disease. The Natural Health and Longevity Resource Center explains that garlic raises good HDL cholesterol while decreasing bad LDL cholesterol in your body to help prevent the buildup of plaque. According to a 2006 study in the “Journal of Nutrition” by Matthew Budoff, the way garlic reduces plaque formation in arteries is not understood. This study suggests that garlic may help to prevent fat in the arteries from hardening and causing blockage.

Consume garlic. Take a daily 900 mg garlic supplement, and add raw and cooked garlic to your daily meals, to naturally reduce calcium buildup in the blood vessels. Garlic is a popularly used herbal remedy to treat and prevent cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, garlic contains active organosulfur compounds, which help to reduce inflammation and the synthesis and buildup of cholesterol that leads to calcium deposits in the arteries.

It contains allicin–a compound with potent antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. Dipak K. Das, Ph.D., professor at the Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Connecticut, states that garlic can greatly improve circulation in the aorta while reducing heart damage caused by oxygen deprivation. It also has mild cholesterol-lowering properties and may help improve circulation by reducing the viscosity of blood platelets.
The dosage of garlic recommended for heart health is between one and three cloves daily. Side effects include indigestion, nausea and increased bleeding risks. Garlic may be taken in supplement form or crushed and added to foods for its medicinal effects.

Bilberry

Bilberry is a berry fruit similar to blueberry that is rich in heart-health chemicals known as anthocyanosides. Anthocyanosides can act as antioxidants to protect arteries and veins from hardening and clogging. A 2006 study published in the “Journal of Applied Physiology” explains that bilberry extracts can not only prevent hardening of arteries, but also helps to relax blood vessels so that more blood can flow through veins and arteries. In addition to helping keep veins and arteries clear, bilberry may also help improve blood flow though capillaries in the eyes. Medical scientists are now researching bilberry extracts to treat eye damage caused by diabetes as well as macular degeneration.

Olive Leaf

We often hear that olive oil is a heart healthy source of fat, however, we rarely hear about the leaves of the olive plant that can also benefit cardiovascular health. Extracts of the olive plant leaf are rich in compounds called oleuropeins which also act as vasodilators to relax blood vessels and increase blood flow through arteries. Olive leaf extract may also lower levels of fats in arteries to prevent artery blockage and increase blood flow. Interestingly, a 2010 clinical study in the journal “Phytomedicine” found that supplementation with olive leaf extract can lower blood pressure in people with mild hypertension. Olive leaf extract was also found to lower the levels of fats circulating in the cardiovascular system of people with early hypertension.

 Nattokinase

Ingest nattokinase supplements.This natural enzyme helps to dissolve fibrin, cholesterol and calcium that has accumulated in the arteries of the legs and other parts of the body. Nattokinase is commonly derived from a traditional Japanese fermented cheese called natto, which is produced by the bacteria Bacillus natto that is added to soybeans, giving it its beneficial properties. Take one to two 138 mg capsules of nattokinase every four hours to help dissolve arterial plaques. Talk to your physician before using nattokinase for any medicinal purpose.

Aspirin is quite good at controlling blood clots by keeping platelets from clumping for their entire life span, about 10 days. The salicylates in foods are not as powerful and their effects are more temporary. But it’s easy to take in a small, steady supply of salicylates through the foods you eat.

Foods with natural salicylates:

• Apricots
• Canteloupes
• Dates
• Grapes
• Oranges
• Pineapple
• Raisins
• Raspberries

• Turmeric

  Used for centuries in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, turmeric is an herb credited with a multitude of healing properties. Its main active compound, curcumin, has anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning effects that may be useful in conditions such as atherosclerosis and heart disease. A study by Tatsuya Morimoto and colleagues in the March 3, 2008, issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation states that curcumin prevents heart failure caused by hypertension in rats and may have similar cardio-protective effects in humans.
  Turmeric can thin the blood and should be used cautiously by people taking blood thinners. The typical daily dose is between 400 and 600 milligrams dried powder.

  Willow Bark

  Willow bark is a close chemical relative of aspirin. Like aspirin, willow bark contains salicin, a compound with blood-thinning and pain-relieving properties. After ingestion, the salicin in willow bark is converted to salicylic acid, which thins the blood and prevents clotting that can lead to heart attack or ischemic stroke.
  The typical dose of willow bark for heart health is between 1 and 3 grams daily, or approximately 60 to 120 milligrams salicin. To prevent Reye’s syndrome–a potentially fatal condition–do not give willow bark to children with a fever or other signs of viral infection.

 

Source

Livestrong

Conquering Any Disease

Basil

Easy to grow and great for your health to eat everyday. Great for digestion and relieves stomach problems. The stem carries most of the nutrients.

Basil as an "anti-inflammatory" food that can provide important healing benefits along with symptomatic relief for individuals with inflammatory health problems like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel conditions.

Add a good helping of basil. Basil is a very good source of vitamin A (through its concentration of carotenoids such as beta-carotene). Called "pro-vitamin A," since it can be converted into vitamin A, beta-carotene is a more powerful anti-oxidant than vitamin A and not only protectsepithelial cells (the cells that form the lining of numerous body structures including the blood vessels) from free radical damage, but also helps prevent free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol in the blood stream. Only after it has been oxidized does cholesterol build up in blood vessel walls, initiating the development of atherosclerosis, whose end result can be a heart attack or stroke.

Basil is also a good source of  magnesium, which promotes cardiovascular health by prompting muscles and blood vessels to relax, thus improving blood flow and lessening the risk of irregular heart rhythms or a spasming of the heart muscle or a blood vessel.

Basil has been shown to provide protection against unwanted bacterial growth. Consuming fresh basil leaves may boost immune system function. The chemical compounds in basil may improve production of infection-fighting antibodies by up to 20 percent, according to Castleman. Basil may also help destroy viral cells that cause flu and the common cold.

Basil may help prevent acne outbreaks and speed the healing of acne lesions. The oil in fresh basil leaves may help clear bacteria from the skin that contribute to clogged pores, according to Michael Castleman, author of "The New Healing Herbs." However, consuming fresh basil may not help clear or prevent acne -- it must be applied to affected areas of the skin to help destroy bacteria

The aroma of basil may help relieve sadness, fatigue and lack of mental clarity.

A great way to use basil is in pesto.

A great recipe from Body Chef Chris

Thai Basil Chicken with Brown Rice

1lb ground chicken
2 cups basil
5 cloves garlic
1/2 cup soy sauce
3 tb chili paste
1 small onion
red chili flakes
1 cup brown rice

In stir fry pan add garlic onions with light olive oil add chicken lightly brown then add sauce with chili paste and chili flakes, lastly add fresh basil and serve over brown rice

serves 4
365 calories
40 grams protein
5 grams of fat
40 grams carbs

I like to also use ground meat instead of the chicken and it comes out great. This is a quick and easy dish.

Source

World's Healthiest Foods

Body Chef Chris

Live Strong