Apple Cider Vinegar

You may find out more about this product and more of its uses at http://www.bragg.com/.

Our family recently got sun toasted and my mom suggested a bath in apple cider vinegar to take the sting out; sure enough, she was right. I have a book that details all the uses of this amazing product, but I hadn't read it up until the other day. I was flipping through this morning and, wouldn't you know it, there was the tip on how to soothe sunburns with apple cider vinegar. I've always used apple cider vinegar whenever some health issue comes up with our family and it never disappoints me. Here are a few of the ways that it has been helpful to us:

Reducing Fever- I have scanned the internet so many times on the natural ways to reduce fevers and we have been fortunate that some of them really worked. High fevers need to be monitored closely, but for the most part, apple cider vinegar baths can help to bring down fevers. I soak my family in a lukewarm bath with about a cup of vinegar for about 20 minutes. Following the bath, I dip their socks in the tub and have them wear the socks after they get out. It sounded crazy the first time I read it too, but it has helped many times. I also dip a washcloth in cool water and vinegar and rest it on their foreheads. Infants and toddlers are a bit tricky because you have to keep a close monitor on their temperatures at all times, but you should find some relief with these tips.

Getting Rid of UTI's- Pregnant ladies and ladies who are post-partum can really appreciate this because we all understand how miserable these infections can be. I'm not a fan of drinking apple cider vinegar, but I would much rather suffer through that then a UTI anyday. 1 cup of apple cider vinegar followed by plenty of water throughout the day can help save you a trip to the ER. It's a good natural urinary cleanser and I take about 1Tbs just for shoots and giggles once in awhile to keep my body clean. Here is the link to a website that has more tips on relieving a UTI naturally.

Sunburns- (This is what the book recommends) Gently pat the skin with ACV and leave it on to relieve the burn and the stinging. For bad burns, pour 1-2 cups of ACV in a cool bath and soak in it. Follow up with the ACV pat mentioned earlier. Use aloe vera gel and wear overnight. Voila! Instant comfort and aided healing!

These are just a few more of the uses that I found in the book that others may find useful.

Constipation- (This is what the book recommends) Boil 2 cups of water and add 2 Tbs of flaxseed; do this for about 10 minutes. Strain the flaxseed and add more water if necessary as it becomes jelli-like. Drink one cup of this mixture with 1 tsp of vinegar first thing in the morning and repeat until your bowels move regularly again.

Acne- (This is what the book recommends) Take 1 quart of water and add 3 Tbs ACV and boil it. remove from heat and place your face over the pan with a towel draped over the head to trap the steam. Pat ACV on your skin with a cottonball to remove dirt and oil. Do this process twice and then use a cold ACV mixture to close the pores once you are all done.

Dandruff, dry hair, thinning hair- (This is what the book recommends) Pour 2 Tbs ACV in a cup. Moisten cotton with water then soak in the ACV. Part the hair in sections and apply directly to scalp. Leave on for fifteen minutes and don't wash your hair for about 2-3 hours following this treatment. This should be done daily for those with acute problems.

The list goes on, but I highly recommend just buying/renting/borrowing the book 'Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar: Miracle Health System' by Paul Bragg. You may find it here if you would like to learn more about it or to purchase it from the Bragg website.

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The Miracle is You video by Kute Blackson

I was sent this video and it was wonderful. It sheds scientific light on how amazing our bodies are and if there was any better reason to take care of ourselves, it would be to ensure that our beautiful bodies can continue to work as wonderfully as they are now. Enjoy!

Italian Harvest Vegetable Soup

Italian Harvest Vegetable Soup

A rule of thumb whenever you are trying to prepare a healthy meal is to try and add as many colors as possible to whatever dish you are making. The more fruits and vegetables that you add to a meal increase the number of vitamins and antioxidants that your body is able to use. This dish is becoming one of our household's favorite because it tastes good and it is jam-packed with an assortment of vegetables. I got this recipe out of a magazine awhile back and I had added a few different ingredients for a different flavor. This recipe can be adjusted to taste, but provides a good foundation for a healthy soup. I'm still tinkering with the herbs and seasonings to get it to the right flavor for us, but here is what worked last time.




                                                Italian Harvest Vegetable Soup


• 2 c chopped celery


• 2 large carrots, sliced


• 1 large onion (I used 1/2 of one onion and it worked for us)


• 2 tbs olive oil


• 4 medium cloves minced garlic


• 1/2 red bell pepper sliced thin


• 1/2 green bell pepper sliced thin


• 6 c water


• 1 28 oz can of tomatoes (recipe asks for diced or fire roasted undrained, but I used stewed Italian)


• 1 c corn kernels


• 1 tsp whole fennel seed


• 1 tsp dried oregano


• 1/2 tsp dried thyme


• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary


• 4-5 oz fresh baby spinach leaves (I used frozen and they turned out nicely)


• 1 sm zucchini sliced 1/4-1/2 inch


I added a little bit of chicken bouillon (I don't measure what I add so you'll have to adjust to your flavor). I didn't have vegetable stock handy so chicken bouillon was the alternative. I recommend vegetable broth for flavor and health reasons; it has less sodium than chicken bouillon. I also added in some more herbs and seasonings, but I didn't record them.




1. Chop celery, carrots, and onion into 1/2 inch dice.


2. Heat oil on medium -high in a large, heavy bottom pot. Add celery, carrots, and onion. Sautee until edges are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add garlic and bell peppers. Stir frequently for 1-2 minutes, then add water, tomatoes, corn, fennel, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Add spinach and zucchini, simmer another 5 minutes, salt and pepper to taste, and serve.


This is the recipe from the magazine, but feel free to tinker with it as you wish.  Happy eating!

Oriental Gingered Vegetables

Oriental Gingered Vegetables

        I had made this meal for dinner tonight and it was so amazing that I had to share it. This is a vegetarian meal that I served with a side of wheat couscous with a stirfry of green onions, carrots, broccoli, and ginger. I calculated the cost of all the ingredients and it is less than $10 for this meal with plenty of vegetables left over to make more. Including prep time, this recipe only took me about 30 minutes to make. It's healthy, affordable, quick, easy, and delicious; there is no down side to this recipe. Enjoy!

1c sliced green beans

1c broccoli florets


1c thinly sliced carrots


1c sliced asparagus


1c thinly sliced mushrooms


1/2 c julienned sweet red peppers


1 Tbs peeled minced gingerroot (I used ½ tsp fresh ground ginger)


1 clove garlic, minced


1 Tbs Sesame oil


1 Tbs low-sodium soy sauce (I used Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acids)

*Steam the beans, broccoli, carrots, and asparagus until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.



* In a large, nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat, sauté the mushrooms, peppers, ginger, and garlic in the oil until light brown, about 3 minutes.


* Add the steamed vegetables and soy sauce. Stir fry for 1 to 2 minutes.


* Enjoy!

Note: I used fresh vegetables for this recipe and that greatly effects the flavor. If you are concerned about the affordability of fresh vegetables then please read my blog Tips for Spending Less on Produce.

Natural Ways to Beat the Flu Blues

It's that time again! Tis the season to be stuck in the house with yet another nasty cold. Here are some ways of beating the flu blues and getting back on your feet naturally.


Drink Plenty of Liquids

Your body uses more water when you are sick because it flushes out your lymphatic system that helps your immune system to work; therefore, you need to drink more fluids to help provide your body with the necessary water it requires to get you feeling better. Dehydration could become a problem if you are not getting enough, as well.


Don't Only Rest

Rest is good in a small degree, but spending most of your time sleeping and lounging around the house is actually bad for you. A few minutes outside a day can do wonders if you have a cold, and being active causes your lymphatic system to be more productive in fighting off your illness. Sweating is another way of ridding your body of toxins; therefore, moderate movement can be helpful.


Steam and Eucalyptus

This makes for a wonderful combination! I recommend putting a few drops of eucalyptus oil into a warm bath and soaking in it or putting a small amount in a vaporizer in your room while you sleep. It can also be applied to your chest and under your nose and throat; this is a soothing affect that will also help break up some of the mucus. If you are having a hard time sleeping because your nose is stuffed up, you can apply a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a warm washcloth and let it rest over your nose and mouth while you fall asleep.


Say No to Drugs

Unless you or your child has a fever that is steadily increasing to dangerous levels then I suggest you try the natural approach before medicine becomes necessary. Medicine only serves to treat the symptoms rather than the whole illness, so you're not doing very much by feeding yourself pain reliever and fever reducer. As long as you maintain a healthy immune system, it will work hard to fight off this illness quicker; give your body the chance to fend for itself before deciding to take medicine.


Here are a few suggestions for naturally treating those irritating flu symptoms.

Fever

Fever is your body's natural reaction to fighting off illness, and it is a good sign that your system is working properly; granted temperatures above 104 degrees needs to be watched closely to ensure that there is not a more serious illness. Here is a website that tells a little more about fevers if you are still concerned http://www.drrisley.com/html/fever.html. Since high fevers can be painful, I recommend reaching for the vinegar instead of the Tylenol since vinegar can help to actually draw out the infection versus treating the symptoms. Take a warm (not hot) bath with about 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar and soak in it for about 20 minutes then rinse. You may also soak a washcloth and your socks in vinegar water and rest with the washcloth over your forehead while wearing the socks on your feet; sounds odd but it does help.

For Sore Throats

There are a few options that you can try to help to alleviate a sore throat. Honey is very good in coating a sore throat and it tastes wonderful. Take one teaspoon by itself or you can put it into some hot tea for an added soothing trick. Hot liquids are wonderful for soothing a sore throat. You may try tea and honey, hot water and lemon, or mix all three! Green Tea and chamomile are wonderful choices of tea when you are sick because they have a powerful soothing aroma and they taste great. Another trick is to gargle with a little bit of salt water; add just enough that you can taste it but it shouldn't be like gargling the Dead Sea.

Ear Infection

This can become dangerous if an ear infection goes untreated for a long period of time; they are usually a result of an upper respiratory infection and are a common flu symptom. Here is a link to an eHow that explains all the steps to naturally get rid of an ear infection and it starts to work almost immediately http://www.ehow.com/how_5906435_naturally-rid-ear-infection.html.

Chicken Soup for Your Health

Chicken soup is great when you're sick, but try to stay away from those high priced, high sodium, bad for you soups that are in your grocery store. Most soups today have high levels of sodium regardless if they say that they are reduced or not. Also, the ingredients in most soups are so highly processed that they aren't even healthy any longer. Here is a link to a recipe that I came up with for wonderful homemade chicken noodle soup. http://www.ehow.com/how_5940830_make-homemade-chicken-noodle-soup.html

Oranges

It's no secret that vitamin C is good for you, but getting your nutrients from the source is a lot better than those concentrated ones that you get from the store. Juice your own or eat it plain, either way an orange works well with boosting your immune system as well as making a tasty treat.

Prevention

The best form of protection from the flu is prevention through eating right and exercising. While the flu may be inevitable sometimes, your recovery depends on how well you've been taking care of yourself. Drink plenty of fluids regardless of how well you feel and try to stay away from a lot of sugar and salt that breaks down your immune system.

Tips for spending less on produce

The biggest reason that people do not eat healthy is primarily because of the high cost of produce. While it does cost a little more to live healthier, it is still a great investment. I provided a few tips on some ways that you can try to save money by buying more natural foods.

* I will always suggest the local farmer's market as the best bet because you are guaranteed freshness and the prices are significantly more affordable. As an added bonus, you interact with the farmers yourself so you may ask questions regarding how the plants were grown and harvested.
* Grow a small garden yourself; if you stick to simple plants such as tomatoes and green beans then that will save you a little bit of money during the months that they are in season. You may even have enough to share with neighbors and friends. It is not difficult to grow your own garden and you will save a little money in the process.
* Check out your local health food store. While a majority of the items in a health store are highly priced, some may offer sales at certain times in the month. Ask if they have any ads that display items that are on sale or ask if they have any specials or discounts. Especially find out when they get new produce and breads in. Because everything is natural and free from preservatives, a lot of items can't stay on their shelves for long so they lower the prices to get rid of them before they spoil.
* Buying fresh produce from the grocery store is not always as nutritious as people may believe. If fruits and vegetables have to be transported from great distances then the nutritional content of that produce is less than that of freshly picked produce. For this reason, frozen fruits and vegetables are sometimes better choices. Most of the frozen produce was picked and then immediately frozen to maintain freshness. The purity of the produce is maintained greater during the freezing process. It's also easy to prepare and you may use as much as you like and store the rest. It will save you money because you won't have to constantly throw away the produce that goes bad.
* If you are buying from the grocery store, then try to shop between Monday and Wednesday because the grocery stores tend to restock around the middle of the week and prices go up closer to the weekend. Always check your sale ads and it pays to have a membership card for items that go on sale to valued customers. I also checked out a website that compares prices of local store items that go on sale in your area. It's GroceryGuide.com and all you need to do is input your zip code and choose the stores that you would like to browse. I called one of my stores to verify the prices and they were all correct. If you are in doubt, call ahead so you don't waste a trip.

It's easy to be seduced by the inexpensive canned fruits and vegetables; however, they offer no nutritional value because of the sodium and other preservatives. Anything that is heavily processed will only cause more harm then good which is why eating fresh fruits and vegetables will benefit your health greatly. Not to mention, fresh produce tastes a lot better too!