Curing A Common Chest Cold Quickly and Naturally

Hello friends,

     I'm back again with a post about shaking colds WITHOUT medication! That means no side effects, no shelling out a chunk of change for the "good stuff" because you're THAT sick, no trips to the doctor and no long lines in the pharmacy when you're miserable.  Doesn't that sound great? Yes, it does and it feels great too.  Let me share with you a little story.

The Background Story     

     I have tried to fight colds without medication for some years now for the above reasons.  Again,not wanting to spend money unnecessarily but giving in because I couldn't take it any more, not being insured and able to afford trips to the doctor for antibiotics,  and probably most of all, not wanting to harm my health by consuming a lot of medication.  (My grandmother experienced stomach problems in her last days due to consumption of medication over the years.)  I would drink orange juice, water, eat fruit, and take vitamin C tablets until the cold went away.  If I could make it this way, the cold usually took about a week to pass and it would get worse before it got better, even if I had taken action at the very first signs.  Most often, I was miserably congested and just had to wait for it to clear itself up.  I'm sure many of you can relate.

The Conditions

     But I had a different experience very recently.  First, I should let you know how I got sick.  I did laundry the other day and air dried 2 huge loads in my room.  I sleep on the couch more often than I would like to admit so I decided to sleep in my room that night.  On top of that, I'm trying to keep energy costs down and don't turn on the heat unless it's FREEZING.  Well, it wasn't freezing and I have warm blankets.  The next morning I woke up with a sore throat and feeling the congestion coming on full force.  I really thought I was in for it.

     So regretfully, I climbed out of bed and went about my day.   I washed my hair and blew dry it for about 2 minutes at the roots and pulled the damp hair back in a bun (I was already sick anyway).

Keep in mind these conditions.

The Cure

     In an effort to combat this cold (which I predicted would be unsuccessful), I drank plenty of water and made sure to eat some fruit. I also took 1500 mg of Vitamin C before I went to bed that night.  Again, I didn't see a need for the heater on.  I woke up the next day and felt about the same which kind of surprised me because again, I thought I was a gonner.  So I made sure to drink lots of water and take another 1500 mg of Vitamin C again before I went to bed and this time, I turned on the heater. I woke up the next day and felt better.  I took another 1500 mg of Vita C that day and drank 2 liters of water before 5:30 pm. It is now Sunday, a few days later and I have yet to actually move to the next stage of "sick." And I don't think I'm going to.

     This has been much to my surprise and the only explanation that makes sense to me is the new lifestyle I've committed to.  I must have already boosted my immune system substantially but the exposure to the cold air over night while sleeping was just too much for my body to fight off an infection but I was able to  quickly bounced back after a little TLC.

What to take away from this post

     Fighting sickness is a daily activity, not something we do just when we get sick.  If you take care of yourself well each and every day to the best of your ability, then when those pesky seasonal infections come to knock you down, you will be able to quickly bounce back to your normal self again (or at least functional so you don't fall behind and spend time sick and miserable).

My Home Remedy for Curing A Common Chest Cold:

1. Don't sleep in a cold room (DUH lol)
2. Eat well daily.
3. Drink plenty of water daily.
4. Take Vitamin C tablets (these are great for detoxing the body as well according to Dr. Walter Crinnion, author of Clean, Lean, And Green: Get Rid Of The Toxins That Are Making You Fat. Supplement quality is an issue so please choose carefully as it is not regulated by the FDA.  At this time, I use Nature Made.)
5. Get 6-8 hours of sleep each night

The Health Benefits of Turmeric and Some Tips on Adding It To Your Diet

     Ever since I found out Turmeric aids in keeping the mind sharp, I've been a huge fan and sprinkle it on salads, eggs, and pretty much anything I'm going to season.  Turmeric has a unique flavor to me and does alter the flavor of dishes quite distinctly in my opinion.  However, because of its many wonderful health benefits, I absolutely love adding it to my favorite foods. Now, it's worth mentioning that because of its unique flavor, I don't go crazy with it or dare to get too adventurous (lol).   It works great in combo with sea salt, freshly ground pepper, cumin, ginger, coriander, etc.  I have used it in soup, curry, veggie burgers, and salads for added nutritional boost and flavor (curry especially).  

     I want to share with you reasons why you should add Turmeric to your diet if you haven't already. If you have, then this post will reassure you what a wonderful choice you have made for your well-being.

    An intrinsic component of Turmeric is Curcumin, which has been shown to aid the liver in doing its job for the body, which is filter out the bad stuff in our bodies and send it to the waste department.  Curcumin has also been shown to block free radicals and enzymes that promote cancers of the head and neck. Turmeric as a whole has been shown to be effective in treating other common types of cancer, such as skin and colon.   It has also been shown to slow the spread of breast cancer into the lungs.  In addition to that, when cancer patients consumed Curcumin prior to chemo treatments, it was found that they became more receptive to the treatment.  For the heavy consumers of Turmeric in India, their low rate of Alzheimer's disease is believed to be linked to their diet high in curry.  You should especially add this spice to your diet if you are very active because it has been shown to reduce inflammation, thereby reducing joint pain and arthritis and arthritis like symptoms.

Photo courtesy of Metabolic Effect via Jason Boehm Nutrition on Facebook. Link to post: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151235998421893&set=a.261387376892.141488.79608796892&type=1&theater

My homemade curry 

     Convinced that Turmeric is a super food? Curious how you can add it to your diet?  For those who don't know my style, let me briefly explain. Don't be afraid to experiment. What are your favorite flavors? Could they be combined successfully? Not sure? Do a taste test (in small amounts).  Do a little guess work.  Don't be afraid to fail. Failures lead to success with the right attitude! So back to adding Turmeric to your diet.  If you're a curry fan, curry is one way. I will be posting about a successful attempt at homemade curry from scratch.  In the meantime, check out my post on my first, somewhat unsuccessful attempt but definitely with a huge learning curve (which is why I chose to write about it). Homemade Curry - What Not To Do and pick up some tips for making your own curry at home (no pre-packaged pastes or powders)

     Another way is sprinkling lightly on flavorful salads. I say flavorful because Turmeric can be overpowering so go easy (maybe a 1/2 tsp to start) in a medium sized salad with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for example.  You can also add an Italian seasoning blend (one of my fave things to do with my salads!), almonds and/or flax seeds or sunflower seeds for protein, texture, and flavor. Of course, a few grinds of sea salt and freshly ground pepper will add excellent finishing touches to a raw and healthy meal. I have a picture gallery of salads I have prepared if you're curious. Here is the link: http://thegreenhomecookdiva.blogspot.com/p/photo-gallery.html

     How about a little brain booster before heading to work or school?  Jason Boehm shares my like for Turmeric sprinkled on scrambled eggs. Check out this post on Curcumin that he shared on facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/photo.phpfbid=10151235998421893&set=a.261387376892.141488.79608796892&type=1&theater.

While you're at it, like my pages too! Spreading Love Through Green Home Cooking and Living Leaner and Greener.

     One last tip on adding Turmeric to your diet.  Add to soups and as meat (or meatless) seasoning.  I added Turmeric (along with other spices) to a pot of black beans I cooked for veggie burgers and the beans turned out FANTASTIC! I could have just eaten a bowl of the beans and been so satisfied (ok so I did eat a bowl of beans out of that batch.).  The veggie burgers were tasty too. Posts on that to come.

     Well, I hope I was able to shed some light on the benefits of adding Turmeric to your diet and made it a little less overwhelming and intimidating.  Please feel free to post any questions or comments.

Sources:
http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/the-amazing-health-benefits-of-turmeric
http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/the-amazing-health-benefits-of-turmeric

   

The Health Benefits of Coconut Milk

Hi my health conscious friends!

I just recently purchased a carton of coconut milk from the local health foods store and I'm thinking about making this a permanent milk choice. As many of you may already know, there are a number if alternatives to dairy out there. Rice, soy, and almond to name a few. But what makes coconut milk special relative to those? First of all, those are not viable options as well for many due to allergies.  Second of all, personally, I find it difficult to incorporate coconut into my diet while it's very easy to incorporate soy, rice, and almonds.  So two easy ways for me  to take advantage of the nutrition from coconut is via its milk and oil.  I used this milk in my coffee in the mornings (along with stevia), in my curry, in my buckwheat pancakes, and even in a smoothie.  As you can see, this milk has proved to be very versatile just like any other milk/dairy substitute.  I chose the unsweetened kind and drank it with some Oreos (I know, tsk tsk) and it was just the right balance of sugary sweetness! (Of course, I don't recommend indulgence in sugary sweetness often.)

The Health Benefits of Coconut Milk

Coconut [milk] can aid in weight loss. It is high in saturated fat which consists of short-chained and medium-chained fatty acids that metabolize into energy as opposed to being stored as fat or posing any heart health problems so it is believed that consuming coconut can aid in weight loss.  

Coconut [milk] is high in nutrients such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, selenium, iron, and B vitamins.

Coconut [milk] supports a healthy immune system.  It contains lauric acid which is characteristic of anti-viral, anti-fungal properties. 

Coconut [milk] has the ability to support a healthy cardiovascular system.  Despite past misconceptions about saturated fat, coconut, which is high in saturated fat, has proven to help lower the risk of heart disease in the Asian populations that have consumed coconut in high amounts for many years.  This type of saturated fat is ideal as opposed to the fat found in animals which, when consumed in large enough quantities, can cause serious heart health problems.

Coconut [milk] makes an ideal hair and skin conditioner.  Applying it directly to your hair will supply hair with conditioning that will encourage healthy hair growth. Not only is it good for your hair and health, but this also makes it ideal for the environment and your bank account.  Need to moisturize dry, winter skin? How about a coconut milk bath? Milk baths are great and used in spas.  Using coconut milk instead will help repair wrinkles and sagging and provide some ultra moisturizing (and save you from having to buy different kinds of milks unless you just want to do so). 

I am transitioning to "green" and "holistically healthy"  hair and skin products myself and love the idea of coconut milk as an easy way to care for my external health as well as my internal health. 

What I Use

The brand I purchased is called "So Delicious" Unsweetened Coconut Milk, certified organic and non-GMO.  Good stuff!  I have purchased canned coconut milk in the past to use strictly for cooking and it never occurred to me at that time that I could use coconut milk in so many other ways.  I'm not a fan of the canned stuff anymore. I'm not a fan of canned anything anymore if I can help it.  I'm really loving this organic brand and even if I don't stay loyal to it, I think I will stay loyal to organic coconut milk in general.  

Please share your thoughts, stories, and experiences regarding coconut milk. I'd love to read them as I'm sure the readers would as well.  

Word to the wise: Consume in moderation as it does contain additives.  And make sure to detox regularly by drinking ample amounts of water and green tea, etc. 

Healthy is Happy and Happy is Healthy! xoxo!

Further Readings:

http://www.drgranny.com/2011/05/05/benefits-of-coconut-milk/

http://www.shape.com/latest-news-trends/crazy-coconuts-5-healthy-ways-enjoy-coconut

The Health Benefits of Buckwheat Flour

Hi to you lovely people concerned for your health!

I want to share with you the health benefits of buckwheat flour, my favorite go-to flour. As a matter of fact, it's the only flour I use at this time. (I do want to try brown rice bran, millet, and other flours but right now, I can only justify the purchase of this one wonder flour.)

Why We Should Drop White Flour Altogether:

What turned me on to this flour was its ability to metabolize in our bodies in a much better way than white flour.  White flour is immediately converted to glucose and stored in our fat cells if not used up as energy right away (you might as well be eating sugar by the spoonfuls). What does this mean? It means we gain weight, we get bloated, and have more belly fat, the worst place to hold our fat.  Further, enriched white flour is toxic to humans.  Enriching white flour means stripping wheat flour of its nutrients and fiber, bleaching it, and then adding back toxic compounds that are marketed to be good for our health.  The "nutrients" that are added back (hence making it enriched) are derived from substances that are not bio-available to the human body and therefore increase our toxic burden.

How I Discovered Buckwheat Flour:

Going whole wheat is recommended among experts for this reason but I find that even whole wheat affects me adversely.  Consuming it seems to leave me bloated and feeling uncomfortable (And of course, even wheat if absolutely off limits to those suffering from Celiac disease).  I came across buckwheat flour haphazardly in my quest for knowledge of health and nutrition and decided to give it a whirl one day when looking for a flour for pizza crust.  I ended up using whole wheat for the pizza crust anyway because I just happen to still have some on hand but made buckwheat pancakes for the first time the next day and that's when I became hooked on this flour! I just recently made some pumpkin cookies with it and fresh pumpkin and they turned out very yummy. (Check out this recipe along with others on the parent blog, The Green Home Cook Diva at www.thegreenhomecookdiva.blogspot.com.)

I use this brand and I love it. This is a bulk packaging offer which is a great deal (1 pack is nearly $5). Store in the freezer and it will keep for several months. (ps if you click this link and place an order, I make a small commission which would finance more recipes and video demonstrations on YouTube!)

The Health Benefits of Buckwheat Flour:

• protein rich (excellent for vegetarian diets)
• high in fiber (unlike white flour which is very low in fiber and this further contributes to toxicity in the human body - regular bowel movements are essential in detoxing our bodies)
• contains several nutrients, some of which promote cardiovascular health (folate, magnesium, potassium to name a few) which work to lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation
• contains b vitamins which help fight depression and give you energy
• has been shown to help lower blood sugar which is essential in fighting diabetes (while white flour sends a sugar spike through your blood - a cause of obesity and diabetes)

Further Readings:

• http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/enriched-white-flour/
• http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/nutrition/white-flour-toxins
• http://www.livestrong.com/article/267286-nutritional-foods-made-from-buckwheat-flour/?utm_source=undefined_R1&LS-2659
• http://www.livestrong.com/article/295830-buckwheat-flour-nutritional-information/?utm_source=undefined_R1&LS-2659

Why We Should Eat Sesame Oil - 8 Health Benefits Of This Ancient Oil

8 Health Benefits of Sesame Oil:

1. Regulates blood pressure (I've been consuming this oil since I was a youngster and my blood pressure checks are always in a very normal range).

• lowers sodium levels thereby acting as a natural diuretic and this helps to regulate blood pressure

2.  Lowers blood sugar 

• high blood sugar leads to diabetes

3.  Promotes healthy skin

• supports vitamin E and other skin benefiting antioxidants' functions in the body

Additional Benefits:

  4.  Anti-bacterial/anti-inflammatory

• heals infections when applied topically
• reduces joint pain when applied topically

  5.  Slows cancer growth

• shown to slow the growth of skin cancer, melanoma when applied topically to cancerous area.

  6.  Protects against radiation induced DNA damage

  7.  Inhibits many forms of cancer, including leukemia, pancreatic, lung, and colon

  8.  Protects the liver from oxidative (free radicals) damage 

(Click here for an easy, tasty recipe that calls for healthy dose of sesame oil).