-
Veggie
Greetings!
Spring is finally here and it's time to enjoy the vibrant food that's in season. It's also time for "me." After a winter of running workshops, writing articles, lectures and demonstrating culinary delights, I often forget about "me." So... bringing the focus back to my health and nutrition, I've checked off a full week on my calendar for a cleansing (detox) spa week. At this time of year I always look forward to checking out my local supermarkets or farmer's market to see all the colorful food displays. I'm looking forward to consuming the tantalizing taste of fresh fruit and vegetables in season. This really gets my creative juices flowing, so, I may just create a colorful refreshing salad and a thirst quenching fruit drink to consume during my detoxing to feed my body cravings.
|
|
| LET'S GO GREEN! |
- ....." Ah, the miracle cleaners!
- If you look at the coupon sections of your Sunday paper, cleaners are big business. There are always plenty of coupons for cleaners, all claiming to miraculously clean everything. We often see roducts advertised now that brag about how they have the scent of a rose and the "added power of baking soda" (or other basic cleaners, like bleach). Why not just use the baking soda? Why buy something expensive, over hyped and prepackaged when the baking soda is sitting in your kitchen cabinet? Take a look at your favorite cleaners - what's in them that makes them really work well? I had to hit myself over the head for this one! My favorite cleaner is Clorox Cleanup with Bleach. Why am I not just trying the bleach by itself? Why do I still feel like I need the miracle cleaner? Sometimes it is hard to change when we are conditioned by commercials. They tell us we need these miracle cleaners that are strong enough to kill microbes on Mars but still have a "lemony fresh scent." I think the key to any change is to make the transition gradually. In this case, you do that by replacing your store bought cleaners as they run out and ignoring those commercials!
The whole topic of natural cleaners, homemade cleaners and natural homemaking has been the topic of many books. I cannot claim to be an expert, as I too am slowly replacing my commercial cleaners (bought with double coupons and free after rebate!) with homemade cleaners. What I found while researching this article is that there is a ton of information out there!
Here are some homemade solutions and uses for things you may already have in your home.
- I have tried some of them. Not all of them will work "miraculously", but they will probably get the job done. Please let me know how the homemade cleaners you try work out for you!
And be sure to send in your favorite homemade formulas that I may have left out.
- Send ideas to lockstl@msn.com
|
| Food Focus: Fruit |
- A healthy lifestyle is the key to longevity, optimum weight, abundant energy and balance.
By using fruit to satisfy our taste for sweetness, we can leave behind the use of chemical, processed and refined sweeteners. Fruits are easy to digest, are cleansing and cooling and
are great for those who are overstressed and overheated from excessive mental strain or hot climates. Fruits are filled with fiber and liver stimulants, which act as natural, gentle laxatives. Whenever possible, buy fresh, locally grown fruit as opposed to imported fruits shipped from far-off places. This keeps you eating in season, and more in harmony with your environment and climate. Eating raw fruit in summer months is highly cooling, while baking it in the winter months neutralizes the cooling effect. Fruit in the form of juice is a great choice for cleansing the body, but be aware that juice rapidly raises blood sugar levels, leading to an energy crash soon after. Frozen, whole, pureed or juiced fruit can make great summertime cool-down treats. Try frozen grapes, banana-coconut smoothie popsicles or lime juice ice-cubes in iced tea!
Whether you are having fresh fruit for a light early morning breakfast, a midday snack or evening treat, enjoy nature's sweetness and whenever possible buy organic. Here are a
few summer fruits and their health benefits:
- Apricots: Great for lung conditions and asthma; used to help treat anemia due to their high copper and cobalt content.
-
- Bananas: Help to lubricate the intestines, treat ulcers, detoxify the body, and manage
sugar cravings; are rich in potassium (which helps hypertension).
Cherries: Slightly warming in nature; increase overall body energy, remedy arthritis and rheumatism, and are rich in iron, which improves the blood.
Grapefruits: Treat poor digestion, increase appetite during pregnancy, alleviate intestinal gas and reduce mucus conditions of the lungs.
Papayas: Tone the stomach, act as digestive aid, moisten the lungs and alleviate coughing; contain carpaine, an anti-tumor compound.
Raspberries: Benefit the liver and kidneys, cleanse blood of toxins, regulate menstrual cycles, treat anemia and can promote labor at childbirth.
Linda Taylor, BA., CHHC
Taylor's Wholesome Foods Workshop L.L.C. |
|
|
