Triticum aestivum

Triticum aestivum = Wheat grass

Wheat grass has been used to treat several health issues, since the 1930's. It's been used to cure illnesses because of the vast amount of nutrition it has: Protein, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin B-12, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron and Potassium. It also supplies a plenitude of amino acids, minerals, and chlorophyll. 

Benefits of Wheat Grass:

• Increases red blood cell count
• Lowers blood pressure
• Cleanses the blood, organs, and gastrointestinal
• Increases metabolism
• Detoxifier
• Liver and blood protector
• Fights tumors
• Neutralizes toxins
• Fight against carcinogens 
• Strengthens our cells

So grab your juicer and make some Wheat Grass shots, or go to your local health food store and they should be able to provide you with capsules and/or shots of wheat grass juice.

Off! Spray (In continum to 'Pesky Little Mosquito)

So after writing about effective and natural ways to relieve yourself of mosquito irritation, and prevention I realized that I never explained why usuing holistic prevention and relief was best. So here's why:

When talking bug spray, I instantly think of how it made my nose and eyes burn, and that incredibly obnoxious smell of chemicals and fake scent, that was trying to mask the acidic smell. And after looking into bug repellant I am thoroughly disgusted that it's even allowed on the market. Basically, in simple terms, the DEET enter the bloodstream after it's applied to the skin and then pumps through the nervous system. Long term and heavy usage of this product has been proven to kill brain cells. If you're exposed to a heavy dosage, it's been proven to cause memory loss, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, as well as shortness of breath. DEET is considered a poisonous substance in large doses, but the EPA feels that in small amounts, it's alright. In my opinion, none of that is okay, especially when it's put on small children who have less body mass, which allows a normal amount of DEET to effect them more than an adult, who has a larger body mass.

So it's obvious to me that the natural way of repelling insects is obviously more logical. Also, it's been said that the less sugar you consume before you go out into the woods, the less likely you are to be attacked by mosquitoes, considering they like sugary blood.

Natural Plants That Repel Mosquitoes:

• Basil
• Mums
• Marigolds
• Tea Tree Oil
• Cat Nip
• Citronella
• Garlic
• Lemongrass
• Rosemary
• Vitamin b-1

Natural Sprays to Make at Home: 

• Cut the leaves and stems of catnip and rosemary, then place in a container and cover with a cup of boiling water. Steep for an hour, cool and use the herbal tea as a repellent spray.

• Mix ten drops of eucalyptus oil, ten drops of cedarwood oil, five drops of tea tree oil, five drops of geranium oil and 1 ounce of jojoba oil. Apply to your skin (be sure to test a small area, first). Avoid your eyes, and keep out of the reach of children.

• Crush parsley and mix with apple cider vinegar. Rub the mixture on your skin.

• If you’re feeling confident and experimental, try creating your own combinations out of these naturally repelling oils: castor oil, cedar oil, cinnamon oil, citronella oil, clove oil, geranium oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil and rosemary oil.

Happy Repelling! 

Pesky Little Mosquito

I was reading about mosquitoes and the pesky little bumps they leave behind and found some great info on relieving the itch, the swelling, and holistic prevention.


Prevention and Relief:

An easy way to prevent infection is to rub garlic directly onto the bite. First off, this prevents an infection and mosquitoes hate the smell of garlic. So if there seems to be a lot around, eat the raw clove and it should help keep them away.

Honey and baking soda mixed together help the reduce the itchiness if that doesnt work, try lemon! Or you could make a triple threat itch mixture by mixing all three!

If mosquitoes seem to get into your house often, put a satchel of lavender by all of your window sills; apparently they hate the smell of lavender.

To make another natural repellent, take dried lavender, dried peppermint, and catnip, place it in a bundle and tie it together with thin wire, light the bundle, place it in a jar, and allow the light smoke to repell any unwanted buggies from biting you!

Bites All Over:

Now let's say you've have bites all over, you need to break down the toxins in your system and the best way to do that is through drinking hot herbal teas. The best teas to drink, would be those made up of dandelion root, red clover, and burdock.



Well that's it, short and sweet!

Get Me Some Greek!

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt seems to be the craze these days when talking about yogurt. But why? Well my little foodies, I'll tell you why!

First off, Greek yogurt differs from regular yogurt in the way that Greek yogurt is strained, taking out the whey and water, which explains the thick and creamy texture. Also, real Greek yogurt is made with sheep milk, rather than cow milk but considering the rate at which it's produced, most major yogurt companies use cow milk.


Second, Greek yogurt has more protein. For every 6 oz. there is about 14-18 grams of protein as compared to 6 oz. of normal yogurt which has about 10grams. The nice thing about more protein is it makes you feel full, sooner and longer.

Third, Greek yogurt has less sugar than regular yogurt. In both yogurts, the sugar, which is called Lactose, comes from the sugar present in milk. For every 6oz of Greek yogurt there is 7 to 9 grams of sugar where as in normal yogurt there is 12 grams of sugar. Also, yogurt with fruit blends at the bottom tend to contain a lot of sugar, so instead take Greek yogurt and add a teaspoon of honey or puree a handful of strawberries and add it to your yogurt!

Other than that, Greek yogurt is full of probiotics and antibiotic that help digestion.


Brands:

• Fage Total
• The Greek Gods (personal favorite)
• Oikos
• Brown Cow 
• Dannon
• Cabot
• Chobani

Ways to use Greek yogurt:

• Mix a tbl spoon of honey into your Greek yogurt and add some fresh fruit
• Instead of mayo on your burger, make a Greek yogurt sauce with some pesto mixed in
• Use Greek yogurt for sour cream, instead of sour cream (it's healthier and there is less fat)
• Use it in your smoothies
• Make a tasty dressing out it (listed below)

Ingredients

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon light soy sauce

1 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 1/2 tablespoon honey

3 tablespoons nonfat Greek yogurt (may substitute regular nonfat yogurt but finished product will be   a little different)

1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil.

• You can make frozen yogurt (  http://www.goodfoodstories.com/2009/11/05/ask-casey-pinkberry-at-home/ ) 

• Make a creamy pasta sauce with sauteed veggies 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Ginger, baby!

GINGER. 

I like me some ginger, not only because it's delicious and an amazing additive to so many dishes, but the healing properties are amazing too! So here goes a look into our deformed little root-y friend called, Ginger.

gin·ger [jin-jer]  

noun 1.a reedlike plant, Zingiber officinale, native to the East Indies but now cultivated in most tropical countries, having a pungent, spicy rhizome used in cookery and medicine.

Ways to Incorporate Ginger:

1) Cut thin slices of ginger, put it in cold water or boiling water, to flavor the water.
2) You can grate ginger and add it several different dishes, especially Asian dishes.
3) If you have a juicer, throw some ginger slices in, with cilantro, a lime, and carrots to create a really refreshing drink full of vitamins and flavor.
4) Add thin slices of ginger to your tea

Benefits of Ginger:

1) Cataracts
2) Amenorrhea
3) Heart disease
4) Migraines
5) Stroke
6) Angina
7) Athlete's foot
8) Colds
9) Bursitis
10) Chronic fatigue
11) Tendinitis
12) Flu
13) Coughs
14) Depression
15) Dizziness
16) Fever
17) Erectile difficulties
18) Infertility
19) Kidney stones
20) Raynaud's disease
21) Sciatica
22) Viral infections

Home Remedies Using Ginger:

1) Muscle Strains - Apply warm ginger paste with turmeric to the affected area twice a day.
2) Sore Throat - Boil some water and add a dash of cinnamon, a little piece of ginger, 1 tsp honey and drink.
3) For a persistent cough - Take a half teaspoonful of ginger powder, a pinch of clove with a pinch of cinnamon powder and honey in a cup of boiled water and drink it as tea.
4) Asthma - A teaspoon of fresh ginger juice mixed with a cup of fenugreek decoction and honey to taste acts as a excellent expectorant in the treatment of asthma.
5) Headaches - Dilute a paste of ginger powder, about 1/2 a teaspoon, with water and apply to you forehead.
6) Colds - Boil a teaspoonful of ginger powder in one quart of water and inhale the steam - helps alleviate colds.
7) Ginger Compress - This method stimulates blood and body fluid circulation, helps loosen and dissolve toxic matter eg. cysts, tumors. Place about a handful of coarsely grated ginger in a cloth and squeeze out the ginger juice into a pot containing 4 liters of hot water (do not boil the water). Dip a towel into the ginger water and wring it out. Apply very hot to the affected area.
8) Diabetes - Some doctors recommend some drinking ginger in water first thing in the morning to help regulate your glucose level.
9) Ginger Tea - Make with fresh ginger root. Grate a small piece of ginger, about the size of a nickel, into a mug. Add the juice of a half a lemon. Fill the mug with boiling water. Stir in a teaspoon of organic honey.
10) For relief of nausea - Ginger is generally taken in doses of 200 mg every 4 hours.

And there you go, Ginger for days!

Cheers and healthy eating!

Cinnalicious Applesauce

Courtney Knight, this one's for you and all of your apples! This is a recipe I found a year ago, and have been using it ever since. It's super easy and really really good! I have 2 recipes, the first is for crock pot users and the second is for those who don't have a crock pot. This is an easy and natural way to make tasty applesauce without added high fructose corn syrup, pesticides (if you have organic apples), and hopefully your candies are naturally dyed and flavored. Good Luck!

Recipe 1- Crock Pot Lover's

Ingredients
    10 to 12 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
    3/4 cup hot cinnamon candies
    1/2 cup apple juice or water
Directions

1. Combine apples, candies, and apple juice in Crock-Pot® slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on Low for 7 to 8 hours or on High for 4 hours or until desired consistency.
3. Serve warm or chilled

Serves:10-12
Size: 3-6 quarts

NOTE:  For the most organic recipe, pick your apples or purchase organic apples at your local grocery store, purchase organic cinnamon candies (can be found at Pilgrim's) to avoid high-fructose corn syrup, and use organic apple juice which can usually be found at any local grocery store.

Recipe 2- Stove top Lover's

Ingredients

• 8 medium tart apples, peeled and quartered
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup red cinnamon candies

Directions

1. Place apples and water in a 5-qt. saucepan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until tender. Mash the apples. Add sugar and candies. Cook, uncovered, until sugar and candies are dissolved. Remove from the heat; cool. Refrigerate until serving.

Makes: 12 servings

*Once again, use organic ingredients to prevent the intake of any harmful pesticides or engineered sugars.

This is a really easy and tasty way to make applesauce, now you try it and let me know how it tastes!

Happy apple sauce making!

Hello, Flax!

I was eating some oatmeal, thinking of a dozen ways I could add healthy ingredients while keeping it yummy, and it reminded me of flax oil. My mom used flax oil in several different things when I was younger, and a few years ago she stopped. So I went to pilgrims and bought a bottle. I purchased it before I had a chance to read up on the benefits, but once I researched it I was really shocked at how incredible Flax Seed oil is for our bodies. And surprisingly Flax oil has a very neutral taste that is easily disguised by most foods!

Daily flax recipes:

1)Take some Greek yogurt, add some sliced strawberries (or any fruit) and add 1 tbl spoon of flax oil, and mix it in.

2)Add the flax oil to your oatmeal

3)Make salad dressing out of flax and olive oil (for every cup of olive oil,use 1 tbl spoon of flax oil)

4)Make a smoothy with any combination of fruit, milk, ice, and 2 tbl spoons of flax oil

There are so many ways to add flax oil to your daily meals! And if you cant handle a tbl spoon, take less, and if you can handle the nutty taste, add a bit more than a tablespoon or 2.

and

Pros of flax oil:

1)Alpha-linolenic acid in flaxseed oil helps to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
2)Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, flaxseed oil helps to reduce inflammation associated with lupus and gout. Lignans present in flaxseed oil act as antioxidants.
3)Flaxseed oil, one of the richest sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids, lowers the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and minimizes the risk of heart attack.
4)It is used to treat various hormone-related problems and inflammatory disorders.
5)Omega-3 fatty acids present in flaxseed oil strengthens the immune system.
6)These essential fatty acids also help to minimize the risk of breast cancer. 7)Researches have found that a high content of omega-3 fatty acids in breast tissues can reduce the incidence of breast cancer.
8)These essential fatty acids can also reduce the risk of colon cancer, skin cancer and endometrial cancer.
9)Flaxseed oil can be used to treat various women's health problems such as premenstrual syndrome, menstrual cramps, pre-menopausal symptoms, endometriosis and female infertility. It can also improve uterine function and health.
10)Flaxseed oil helps to regulate the menstrual cycle, balance the progesterone levels and reduce menopause problems such as sleep difficulties, headache, anxiety, mood swings, breast cysts, etc.
11)Flaxseed oil consists of lignans, which are naturally occurring plant estrogens. They can effectively balance the hormonal levels as well as promote natural ovulation. Lignans in flaxseed oil are also helpful for prevention of estrogen-related cancers and prevention of metastasis of tumors.
12)The essential fatty acids present in flaxseed oil can prevent the production of prostaglandins, which when released in excess amounts can cause heavy bleeding during menstruation.
13)Phytoestrogens present in flaxseed oil stabilize the estrogen-progesterone ratio and help to relieve hot flashes in perimenopause and menopause.
14)Flaxseed oil is an excellent dietary supplement for women who suffer from osteoporosis. Omega-3 essential fatty acids present in flaxseed oil can improve the absorption of calcium in the body and thus, lower the risk of calcium deficiency in women.
15)Women who regularly take flaxseed oil tend to have healthy, glowing skin and hair. The essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil can contribute to healthy hair growth.
16)Flaxseed oil also plays a significant role in fat burning and thus, helps to maintain a healthy body weight.
17)Besides this, flaxseed oil reduces the risk of blood clot formation, immune and inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, and certain types of cancer.
18)Magnesium present in flaxseed oil helps to reduce the symptoms of asthma.
19)Flaxseed oil can relieve constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, gallstones and diverticular disorders.
20)It can also accelerate the healing of bruises and sprains.
21)The essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil can relieve a number of skin diseases such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea and sunburn.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/flaxseed-oil-benefits-for-women.html

Places and Prices:



Pilgrim's Market has Flax Oil, an 8.5 fl oz for $9.99 (Flora)
Trader Joes has Flax Oil, a 16 fl oz bottle for $7.99 (Trader Darwin's)

The better deal is obvious, however one is in Cda and the other is a 40 min drive away! Your choice! I hope you get some and work it into your diet!


If you have any questions, email me!
(hanna_kender@live.com)

Cheers and healthy eating!