S'not true, is it?

My allergies are severe several times a year here in sub-tropical central Florida, enough to put me into bed at least once or twice.  It was brought to my attention by a trustworthy source that over-the-counter medications geared for allergies will cause issues when used continually by chronic allergy sufferers.  Medications will cause a rebound effect when used for more than three days at a time.  So my favorite box of meds are benched as I attempt to deal with this the natural way.  I've heard how well neti pots work, but quite frankly I was certain drowning myself with water while currently drowning in, well, snot, would be a double whammy.

A whattie what what???  Neti pots, though the term sounds odd, are not all that weird because of how they work.  They are designed, basically, to wash out your nose with a saline solution and helps to loosen and get rid of congestion and icky stuff.  Many people use neti pots to treat nasal allergies, sinus problems and colds.  It has been claimed that regular use is more effective for nasal allergy and sinus symptoms than over-the-counter medications.  It's not magic, and is not an instant fix, but I swear the relief is so tangible it's worth the initial weirdness.  

So I bought this nifty ceramic pot, filtered and boiled my tap water and waited for it to cool.  I put the ascribed 1/4 teaspoon of fine non-iodized salt with 8 ounces of the warm water, tilted my head over the sink, put the spout into my upper nostril and let it flow.  Holy snot pot, Batman!  After three uses, I have regained my ability to breathe fully and my ears are no longer "plugged."  If it wasn't so gross, I'd show pictures of the results.  Suffice it to say that I am amazed.

My sister is currently being treated for a sinus infection and is on a second round of antibiotics.  A study by Mayo Clinic indicated that medications and antibiotics are not effective for sinus problems because they target bacteria, not fungi (or mold for that matter), which they found is the cause of most sinus infections.  Enter grapefruit seed extract and a new home for another neti pot. 

Since grapefruit seed extract is a natural antibiotic and anti-fungal, it seems like it would be a great option to help alleviate some of her discomfort.  The grapefruit seed extract will be added into the saline solution and used with the neti pot for approximately a week to 10 days.   I am curious to see what the results will bring since I already know the benefits of relief.  Despite having current sinusitis issues, I don't think I've had clearer breathing in ages.

Elderberry Syrup

 

Highly recommended and much anticipated, I located Nature's Way Sambucus at the local GNC since I felt too lousy to drive further to the local health food store.  I  have previously about the benefits of elderberries, but failed to source my elderberry tea from anywhere locally.  Since Western medicine has not come up with a cure to the common cold or flu, and I despise taking chemicals advertised to mask my symptoms, I spent the $15 happily in hopes of feeling better.  I had already responded well to my Brew Better green tea concoction, so I had high hopes for this little immune booster.

Sambucus is an extract of black elderberry, and is thought to boost the body's immune response.  I was raised in the Dimetapp era, so I naturally suspect anything that is remotely medicinal and purple.  Whatever patented formulation this is, I will take it in gallon form please.  I'd pour it on pancakes if I could.  Natural. No side effects.  Sweet enough to kill the worst sugar cravings ever.  Since I wanted to knock this cold out, I opted for the four times a day dose (besides, it's THAT good).  I'm still not 100% but after six doses, I'm no longer aching and my throat is no longer sore. The only thing I dislike is not being able to get a larger bottle to continue the daily dosage.

Cleaning Fit

Somehow being sick always sends me on a cleaning binge.  Never mind that my huge, bare Christmas tree still lurks - because that means I have to clean the entire closet to reach the boxes for it. All linens have been laundered after a trip to smack the switch on the pump, gotta love homeownership.  The kitchen shines and the bathrooms are defunked.  Normally cleaning chemicals send me into a wheezing fit, but I've pared it down to naturals.  These are some of my favorite tricks.

• Chill out.  For grimy non-stick cookware: freeze for approximately 30 minutes.  The burnt grime should come off easily.
• Take it with a grain of salt.  For boiled over foods in the oven, pour salt on it to soak it up.  When the oven cools, wipe it up with a damp sponge. For an all purpose oven cleaner, make a paste of baking soda and water, leave for a few hours to dry and wipe clean for a chemical free oven.
• Stove top miracle.  Mix a small amount of borax and dish soap and scrub onto cooled stove.  For problem areas, soak a cleaning towel in hot water and place on the area and allow to soak.  Wipe clean.
• Citrus shine.  Grapefruit or lemon comes in handy for cleaning along with some salt.  I've used with success on granite counters, stainless steel sinks, and on the bathroom sinks.  The only catch is rinsing thoroughly.  For those with garbage disposals, grinding the seeds from these two fruits along with some ice cubes will freshen up any lingering odors.
• Grind to a halt: toss a handful of rice grains in your coffee grinder and send them for a spin.  The particles absorb stale odor and cleans residual oil and grounds.  Discard the rice and wipe clean.
• Bleachy keen.  To remove acidic food stains from plastic storage containers, rub lemon juice on the spots and set them out to catch some sunshine.  Wash as usual.
• Vanilla Bean Clean.  Soak a cotton ball in vanilla extract and place exposed on a dish in the refrigerator to absorb odors.  Leave until it is dry.
• Shower fresh.  To scour mineral deposits from showerheads, pour vinegar into a plastic grocery bat and knot the handles over the neck of the showerhead, securing with rubber bands.  Soak overnight and rinse in the morning.
• Tea time rust remover.  Soaking rusty tools in some black tea will help scour superficial rusting.  Brew a few pots, allow to cool and dump into a bucket with your neglected tools for a few hours.  Wear gloves (or be forever orange) and wipe each tool with a cloth.
• Natural windex.  Mix 2 ounces water and 10 drops of lavender or lemongrass oil to wipe grime off of windows.  These oils are also said to repel flies.
• Pet hair picker-upper.  Chasing tumbleweeds just got a smidgen easier: put on a wet rubber dishwashing glove and wipe your hand over surfaces.  Pet hair will stick right to it.
• Natural laundry stain treatments:  Always treat stains from the back rather than the front to avoid rubbing the stain in more.  Ink or paint - soak in rubbing alcohol for 30 minutes or spray with hairspray before washing.  Tomato based stains: white vinegar directly on stain and wash immediately.  Coffee and tea: treat with boiling water onto the stain.  If it is already set, scrub with a paste of borax and water and wash immediately.  Grass: scrub with dish soap or treat with 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water mix.  Mud: let dry and brush off what you can.  Treat with borax/water paste and wash immediately.  Dingy whites & pit stains: soak in 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water mix for at least 30 minutes and wash with an added 1 cup of peroxide per load.  Red wine: 50/50 peroxide and water mix immediately preceding wash. 
• Line it up!  Spring is here in the south, set a clothes line and enjoy fresh air dried linens while saving a few bucks on electricity.
• Take a shot.  Spritz musty smelling linens and clothing with a small amount of vodka (spot-test first).  Straight voddie kills bacteria but doesn't leave a scent.  Hang clothes to dry in a well ventilated area.

Brew Better

After making a few phone calls, my elderberry tea is not looking to appear magically into my teacup.  So I am applying what I've learned with what I have on hand since the OTC medications make me feel like ick. 

Ingredients:
1 quart hot water
2 bags of organic jasmine green tea
6 slices fresh ginger
3 slices fresh turmeric
1 lemon wedge - juiced
1 tablespoon local honey
1 teaspoon (or so) organic cayenne pepper

Add all ingredients and allow to steep.  When tea is finished, chew on ginger wedges and turmeric slices for additional relief - these are better than cough drops.

Why did I choose these particular ingredients?  Jasmine green tea has aromatherapy benefits due to the jasmine - not that I can smell well at the moment - and it also has a calming and soothing effect despite the caffeine.  If I am battling a bacterial infection, it contains antibacterial properties as well. 

Ginger clears the microcirculatory channels of the body - including sinuses -  and acts as anti-inflammatory which will help the body aches.  It also acts as a natural throat and nose decongestant.  Ginger is one of my favorite every day additions to green tea for a little extra zing to the taste.

Fresh turmeric also contains anti-inflammatory agents, but is also a natural pain killer.  Lemon gives a nice scent, a dose of vitamin C and also acts as a detox agent. I love the taste of fresh turmeric and since it is extremely odoriferous, I can actually smell some of what I am drinking despite the congestion. 

Cayenne has warming properties to combat the cold chills.  I've used it regularly for nearly two years as an addition to food and in my lemonade for a detox agent.  Cayenne also has anti-irritant properties that eases sore throats and spasmodic coughs - both of which came full swing today.  It is also thought to relieve allergies - any relief from orange blossom pollens would be a bonus for me.

Local honey.  Organic raw honey is an energy booster, helps muscle fatigue and soothes sore throats. It has long been recognized that local honey relieves symptoms of pollen related allergies since bees collect pollens from the very plants that cause my sniffles and sneezing.

Brew better health naturally - two cups of this and I'm feeling an improvement.  Happy Monday!

Apples to Apples

An apple a day...puts the doctor out of business.  Delicious, versatile and full of fabulous nutrition, this crisp, white-fleshed fruit provides a ton of health benefits.

•  Apples are high in fiber and low in calorie, two properties that allow you to feel satisfied and full longer than foods lower in fiber.  Since fiber expands in the stomach, there is less room for other foods.  Apples contain approximately five grams of fiber -bran cereal, the good old source of fiber contains about seven grams per serving.  This same soluble fiber may help reduce cholesterol and prevent colon cancer.

• High water content.  Brace yourself.  Water intake reduces water retention.  High water foods help keep you hydrated.    Also, when the body doesn't get enough water the signals are often mistaken for hunger...so less calories are consumed when properly hydrated.

• Low sodium food.  Lowering sodium intake also helps to release any water that is being retained.  Less sodium equals less bloating and water weight.
   
•  Low glycemic index.  The glycemic index ranks carbohydrates, giving higher values to foods that increase blood sugar the fastest: apples rank 35 on a scale of zero to 100.  When blood sugar goes up, the body produces insulin and increases hunger.  Sugar calls to sugar.
•  Several studies indicate that ingredients in apples may be a key in preventing lung, breast, colon and liver cancers.
• Apples are notable for their impressive list of phtyto-nutrients, and anti-oxidants. Studies suggest that its components are essential for normal growth, development and overall well-being.  Apples contain boron, necessary to strengthen bones, and flavanoids found only in apples may also protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis.
• Good quantities of vitamin C, a powerful natural antioxidant. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.
   
• Source of B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, thiamin, and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6). Together these vitamins help as co-factors for enzymes in metabolism as well as in various synthetic functions inside the body.
   
• Apple also contains a small amount of minerals like potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure; thus, counters the bad influences of sodium.

How to prepare: eat apples raw, as they are along with the peel in order to maximize health-benefits.  Since sliced apples turn brown with exposure to air, rinse slices in cold water and add a few drops of fresh lemon juice and toss in with salads.  Organic apple juice is a healthy alternative drink.  Although some health benefits are lost with cooking, apples are also good baked.

Apple Salsa - Combine all ingredients & mix well.

• 2 cups diced apples
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper 
• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced

Love Never Dies

Faced with losing a family member today, I set aside my scheduled blog as I consider love and loss.  I believe we never feel more alone than when a loved-one is facing a life-changing illness or has died.  Because our grief is individual, one as unique as each life we lead, there is never a time line for wading through the stages of grieving.  There is no a way to wrap emotions into a neat package and move on with life, just as there are no words to express sympathy as my heart recognizes heartache. 

Life after loss feels like a blur, but somehow it defies physics as it grinds to a halt at the same time.  The dog still must be fed and walked, the garbage taken out and the bills arrive to be paid, people return to work and life, in it's new abnormal way, goes on. We complete things on autopilot, and maybe eventually we occasionally forget, momentarily, that life is now completely changed.

Emotions are messy, and unpredictable: with grief washing over in a complete motion - an undercurrent that pulls and tumbles us about and leaves us breathless.  Loving fully is a wealth beyond compare, and while any loss often feels paralytic I am reminded that the greatest gift is to love - and to be loved in return.  It is the mark of this unconditional love that we leave behind that makes the world a brighter place, the memories we hold dear bring comfort and light.  Cherish every moment and always live out loud.

Sweet on Taters

Readily available, easy to grow, inexpensive and deliciously versatile, sweet potatoes have many additional reasons to incorporate them into the kitchen more often.

High in vitamins:

• Vitamin B6 helps to reduce the chemical homocysteine - which has been linked wtih degenerative diseases, including the prevention of heart attacks.  
• Vitamin C, of course is an immune booster, but this crucial vitamin also plays an important role in bone and tooth formation, digestion, blood cell formation, helps accelerate wound healing, produces collagen -hello youthful skin - AND is essential to helping our bodies cope with stress.  
• Primarily made in the body as a result of getting enough sunlight, Vitamin D is important to the immune system. But it also plays an important role in energy levels, moods, and helps to build healthy bones, heart, nerves, skin, and teeth,.  Vitamin D also supports the thyroid gland.

High in minerals:

• Iron equals energy, but also produces red and white blood cells, aids in stress resistance, helps with proper immune function and metabolizes protein.
• Magnesium zen-master.  Sweet potatoes are a good source of magnesium, which is the relaxation and anti-stress mineral.  Magnesium is needed for healthy arteries, for healthy bone, blood, heart, muscle and nerve function.  It has been estimated that nearly 80 percent of the population in North America may be deficient in magnesium.

Just plain awesome:

•  Sweet potatoes contain almost twice as much fiber as other types of potatoes. The high fiber content gives them a "slow burning" quality. This basically means their caloric energy is used more slowly and efficiently than a low-fiber carbohydrate.
  
• Naturally sweet.  Because natural sugars are released slowly into the bloodstream, they are a balanced source of energy and will not cause the spike, crash and resulting onset of fatigue.
• Sweet potatoes are a good source of potassium, which helps regulate heartbeat and nerve signals.  Like other electrolytes, potassium performs several essential functions, including relaxing muscle contractions, reducing swelling, and protecting the kidneys.
• The orange color is indicative of beta carotene, basically the inactive form of vitamin A, known to strengthen eyesight and boost immunity.  Antioxidants are well known to help ward off cancer and protect against the effects of aging.
• Roasted, steamed, baked, grilled or puréed: the recipe potential for sweet potatoes is endless.  They are great in salads, grilled with onions and peppers, added into soups or smoothies.  My personal favorite is using these as a french fry substitute by baking them in the oven.
  
  
  

  Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries
  Prep time: 10 minutes
  Cook time: 30 minutes
  The baking times are approximate; it depends on how thick you cut the wedges or rounds of sweet potatoes. Try to cut them evenly so they all cook at about the same rate. For best browning results bake only one sheet at a time.

  Ingredients

  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes, about 3 large ones
  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil (May need more if you don't have a non-stick baking sheet)
  • 1-2 Tbsp spice or spice combination of your choice: chipotle powder, smoked paprika, Chinese five-spice, pumpkin pie spice, garam masala, Cajun seasoning, etc.
  • salt - optional

  Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F, and preheat cookie sheet for extra crispiness. 
  2. Cut off the ends of the potatoes. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and then, if they are very long, in half crosswise. Cut each piece into wedges.
  3. Put the sweet potatoes into a large bowl and add the oil. Mix well to combine. Sprinkle with salt, sugar and spices of your choice. Use your hands to mix well, so all pieces are coated with oil and spices.
  4. Spread the sweet potatoes out in a single layer on a baking sheet; the oil they are coated with should keep them from sticking to the pan.
  5. Bake for a total of 25 to 30 minutes. After the first 15 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven and turn over all of the sweet potato pieces. Return to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until they are well browned. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.