I just received an e-mail on Swine Flu prevention that I understand has been widely circulated (several of the people I know have indicated they have received it). When I first read it I thought, "another one of those" - but, I decided that all the advise in it is doable, simple, cheap and definitely sensible:
-Wash your hands frequently - most important to prevent an array of diseases and infections- not expensive, nor difficult, and as a matter of fact, very refreshing.
-Hands off the face - oops! When I perspire, all that perspires in me is my nose, so this is proving to be harder than the tip above, but I am trying.
-Gargle twice a day with warm salt water - who doesn't have salt at home? not a budget breaking article and very appreciated by most, and in the United States of America, beloved land, there is running water available everywhere. Believe me, it isn't painful at all. Use a brand mouthwas if salt is not ritzy enough.
-Clean your nostrils with warm salt water at least once a day. A great advise from my late father-in-law; what can be bad about it if in addition to prevent Swine Flu will keep your sinuses clear and your head free of pain? I for one, feel great since I started.
Boil water, put about one ounce in a glass container or a cup, add 1/4 teaspoon salt and let it cool a bit; when warm, put some on the hollow of your hand and inhale - yes, you are allowed to inhale!- you will feel good!
Of course, you might choose the alternative: Blow your nose hard once a day and swabb both nostrils with q-tips dipped in warm salt water.
-Vitamin C galore! Fruits, foods, tablets (better if with Zinc). Love fruits! They not only are fresh but help clean up your system and are full of good, nutritious elements.
-Drink as many warm liquids as possible and if you do not add sugar you might experience some weight loss - especially if before and after your meals you have some hot water with a wedge of lime (great to lose weight and keep your breath fresh).
My mother and sister have done this all their life and do not have to fight their weight the way I do; so, conclusion, all tips not only prevent Swine Flu, they also have other positive effects on you.
I suggest we all follow this advise: Does not hurt, is not amoral, is not expensive and maybe after all, we can defeat this monster.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
White Vinegar
About four weeks ago I fell on my knees and they were badly in pain, my friend Dixie told me that when her boys were little, whenever they got hurt playing she would wet a paper bag with white vinegar, put it pver the affected area and then cover it with a towel (no arnica here, just a plain kitchen have-it-always and let it dry; she said it always worked wonders.
Well, guess what, I did it that very night, just that I did not have a paper bag and used a paper towel instead, and the results were wonderful; No black and blues, no swelling. I was able to attend my Sumba class as scheduled; I stopped pilates and yoga for a bit and then last week I went back to pilates, danced and will rejoin yoga next week. I even danced Rumba tonight!
Not bad considering I have broken the meniscus in both knees and a "bad" doctor took cartilage from one (all that a long time ago, when I used to play some Tennis).
Well, guess what, I did it that very night, just that I did not have a paper bag and used a paper towel instead, and the results were wonderful; No black and blues, no swelling. I was able to attend my Sumba class as scheduled; I stopped pilates and yoga for a bit and then last week I went back to pilates, danced and will rejoin yoga next week. I even danced Rumba tonight!
Not bad considering I have broken the meniscus in both knees and a "bad" doctor took cartilage from one (all that a long time ago, when I used to play some Tennis).
Who Wants Botox if Strawberries Can Do the Job? - Part II
To continue with the interesting facts on these small giants, I would like to share with you some ways to make your strawberries last longer and some very interesting lore.
-Wash strawberries just before you eat them, never before. They are very perishable.
-To prevent strawberries from absorbing too much water, do not remove caps and stems until you have gently washed them under cold running water and patted them dry.
Ways to preserve strawberries:
-Wash, remove stems and caps and cut strawberries in four, place them in glass container and cover them with brown sugar; you might want to add some rum, brandy or port or simply some vanilla. Delicious. Place glass container in refrigerator until you are ready to eat them.
-After washing and removing stems and caps and dry the strawberries, you can put them whole in plastic bags.
-Better yet, start by following the same procedure and then line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and place them separated until frozen. This is the home equivalent of IQF (individually quick frozen). Place in plastic bags after freezing. Use them in pies, cakes, coulis, etc.
-Puree and freeze in ice cube trays to use in your favorite cocktails. Add sugar and a Popsicle stick and the children will have a healthy snack that is fun - and you don't have to call it fruit...
-Put one strawberry per ice cube and fill up with lemonade... mmmh... refreshing.
Interesting...
-Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, had a birthmark on her neck shaped as a strawberry; her enemies used this to claims she was a witch. By the way, it is said that her ghost can be seen in the Tower of London as an omen of bad things coming.
-Medieval stone masons carved strawberry designs on their works as a symbol of perfection and righteousness.
-The strawberry was the symbol of Venus, Goddess of Love.
-The strawberry was sacred to Frigg (or Fredja), the northern goddess of love.
-Mme. Tallien, of Emperor Napoleon's court, used twenty two pounds of strawberries to bathe... I wonder if she rinsed herself or just patted dry until next month...
-And, if you want the love of your life to love you as much, find a double strawberry, break it in half and share it with that person.
-Wash strawberries just before you eat them, never before. They are very perishable.
-To prevent strawberries from absorbing too much water, do not remove caps and stems until you have gently washed them under cold running water and patted them dry.
Ways to preserve strawberries:
-Wash, remove stems and caps and cut strawberries in four, place them in glass container and cover them with brown sugar; you might want to add some rum, brandy or port or simply some vanilla. Delicious. Place glass container in refrigerator until you are ready to eat them.
-After washing and removing stems and caps and dry the strawberries, you can put them whole in plastic bags.
-Better yet, start by following the same procedure and then line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and place them separated until frozen. This is the home equivalent of IQF (individually quick frozen). Place in plastic bags after freezing. Use them in pies, cakes, coulis, etc.
-Puree and freeze in ice cube trays to use in your favorite cocktails. Add sugar and a Popsicle stick and the children will have a healthy snack that is fun - and you don't have to call it fruit...
-Put one strawberry per ice cube and fill up with lemonade... mmmh... refreshing.
Interesting...
-Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, had a birthmark on her neck shaped as a strawberry; her enemies used this to claims she was a witch. By the way, it is said that her ghost can be seen in the Tower of London as an omen of bad things coming.
-Medieval stone masons carved strawberry designs on their works as a symbol of perfection and righteousness.
-The strawberry was the symbol of Venus, Goddess of Love.
-The strawberry was sacred to Frigg (or Fredja), the northern goddess of love.
-Mme. Tallien, of Emperor Napoleon's court, used twenty two pounds of strawberries to bathe... I wonder if she rinsed herself or just patted dry until next month...
-And, if you want the love of your life to love you as much, find a double strawberry, break it in half and share it with that person.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Who Wants Botox if Strawberries Can Do the Job?
Just a few days after a dear friend shared with us that she had indulged in Botx (shared with her mom to avoid overwhelming guilt), I heard on TV something that immediately made me pay attention: "Strawberries are better than Botox".
Since the best way to know if something works is testing, so I did.
I convinced Dacey and Mike to smear our faces with what I thought was going to look as poultice...wrong.
I crushed two fresh strawberries (next time will use only one) with a fork and added like an eight of a teaspoon of plain yogurt, then we applied it on the face, it looked as a thin film over the skin. We left it on for fifteen minutes and then washed with water from the tap at room temperature and blotted dry. Our skin looked radiant and felt the softest ever to the touch.
Dacey, who is naturally beautiful and has no wrinkles, received more compliments that day than ever. About the wrinkles? I suppose Mike and I will need to do it more than once but the results on the health of our skin were immediate, evident and long lasting.
So, I decided to do some research and believe me, it got very interesting.
One single cup of cut off strawberries is loaded with goodness and only has between 45 to 50 calories; look below:
1 gram of protein
11.65 grams carbohydrates
3.81 dietary fiber
23.24 mg. calcium
0.63 mg. iron
16.60 mg. magnesium
31.54 mg. phosphorus
44.882 mg. potassium
1.16 mg selenium
94.12 mg vitamin C
29.38 mcg folate
44.82 IU vitamin A
Highly esteemed since the ancient Romans due to their medicinal properties, strawberries are the owners of very complex genetics, eight sets of seven chromosomes. It is said that one ounce of strawberries has more vitamin C than an ounce of any citrus fruit.
Wearing its seeds on the outside, this delicious and fleshy fruit has the shape of a heart and comes to us through the rose family. Although the peak of its season runs from Arpil to July, strawberries are available all year thanks to modern logiestics.
Strawberries protect your heart, fight cancer and are great anti-inflammatories (without steroids); while drugs used for these purposes can cause serious side effects, strawberries cause none.
Strawberries, their leaves and their roots are used to promote health and have been know to treat ailments such as melancholy, apathy, fainting and kidney stones. Their potent antioxidants are also known to:
Next post will be on how to preserve strawberries and also what lore has to say about them. Talk to you soon.
Since the best way to know if something works is testing, so I did.
I convinced Dacey and Mike to smear our faces with what I thought was going to look as poultice...wrong.
I crushed two fresh strawberries (next time will use only one) with a fork and added like an eight of a teaspoon of plain yogurt, then we applied it on the face, it looked as a thin film over the skin. We left it on for fifteen minutes and then washed with water from the tap at room temperature and blotted dry. Our skin looked radiant and felt the softest ever to the touch.
Dacey, who is naturally beautiful and has no wrinkles, received more compliments that day than ever. About the wrinkles? I suppose Mike and I will need to do it more than once but the results on the health of our skin were immediate, evident and long lasting.
So, I decided to do some research and believe me, it got very interesting.
One single cup of cut off strawberries is loaded with goodness and only has between 45 to 50 calories; look below:
1 gram of protein
11.65 grams carbohydrates
3.81 dietary fiber
23.24 mg. calcium
0.63 mg. iron
16.60 mg. magnesium
31.54 mg. phosphorus
44.882 mg. potassium
1.16 mg selenium
94.12 mg vitamin C
29.38 mcg folate
44.82 IU vitamin A
Highly esteemed since the ancient Romans due to their medicinal properties, strawberries are the owners of very complex genetics, eight sets of seven chromosomes. It is said that one ounce of strawberries has more vitamin C than an ounce of any citrus fruit.
Wearing its seeds on the outside, this delicious and fleshy fruit has the shape of a heart and comes to us through the rose family. Although the peak of its season runs from Arpil to July, strawberries are available all year thanks to modern logiestics.
Strawberries protect your heart, fight cancer and are great anti-inflammatories (without steroids); while drugs used for these purposes can cause serious side effects, strawberries cause none.
Strawberries, their leaves and their roots are used to promote health and have been know to treat ailments such as melancholy, apathy, fainting and kidney stones. Their potent antioxidants are also known to:
- Help protect cell structures in the body
- Prevent oxygen damage in all organ's systems
- Lower the risks of gastrointesninal and other types of cancers
- Protect against herpes simplex
- Protect against skin disorders, including acne
- Fight tretro-viruses, such as: HIV and T-cell leukemi virus, HTLV
- Protect against macular degeneration
- Protect against rheumatoid arthritis
- Repair cells from damage caused by againg process
- Prevent or slow down cognitive decline
- Sharpen powers of perception
- Control heart palpitations
- Purify the blood stream
- Cure nervous disorders
- Lower your fever
- Fight throat infections
- Prevent and fight halitosis
- Prevent gout
- Fight blood, liver and spleen diseases
Next post will be on how to preserve strawberries and also what lore has to say about them. Talk to you soon.
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