Soup for dinner? Why not?
It's easy, fast and delicious. Oh yes, and very nutritious - vitamins, minerals, enzymes and fiber. This soup is a perfect blend of taste and nutrition. I'm having it for dinner tonight!
Spring Herbs Lentil Soup
7 cups filtered water
6 med. uncooked potatoes, cut into small cubes
1 cup brown lentils, rinsed
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp vegetable soup base
juice of 1/2 fresh lemon
1/2 cup snipped chives
2 cups fresh young dandelion greens
2 stalks young fresh stinging nettle, chopped (handle with tongs before it's cooked, or you may find out why it's called 'stinging' nettle)
sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Cook lentils in water for 15 minutes. Add potatoes and oil. Cook for 10 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of cooking (when potatoes are almost cooked), add lemon juice, chives, dandelion greens and stinging nettle. Ladle into bowls and season with salt and pepper. Great as a meal by itself or add fresh whole grain bread or homemade tea biscuits and cheese slices.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Get growing - herbs are good medicine!
Have you ever wondered why products made with herbs are effective?
I mean, why do herbal supplements, and food and drink with herbal ingredients actually help people heal?
Well, the answer is simple.
For thousands of years, herbs have been used as food and medicine all over the world. This wouldn't still be happening if herbs had no effect. Singly or in combination, herbal healing is a gentle way to heal many complaints of modern life - from stress and digestive upsets to insomnia and women's health issues, among others.
Funnily enough, ask a young person to guess what's in a bag of crumbled dried herbs and they'll snicker as if the answer is obvious - 'Something to smoke, duh!' It's kind of sad that we've become so disconnected from the bounty that nature provides in forests, fields and gardens that we can identify only one herb, and one that's illegal in most countries to boot!
Herbal drinks and foods have healing qualities that modern research has identified from studying the individual components and found them to be good medicine. Lemon balm, calendula, hyssop, ladies' mantle, nettle, peppermint, spearmint, catmint, red raspberry leaves and berries, are just some of the herbs growing in my garden in Southern Canada.
I love using my own organically grown herbs in soups, teas, stir fries, lemonade, salads etc. And they're all so easy to grow! Now's the time to start a few plants, even if you only have a window box for two or three kitchen herbs. I promise you, it's worth it.
Here's a recipe for a spring rejuvenating herbal infusion (tea) that tastes delicious and is full of minerals and vitamins:
Spring Tea
1 tsp each dried peppermint & nettle
3 tsp dried lemonbalm
Measure herbs into a tea pot with a stainless steel or glass strainer. Pour just-boiled water over herbs and let steep 5-10 minutes - longer for more nourishing and healing benefits. Enjoy 3-4 times daily. Note: You could re-use the herbs once for a second pot of tea. If you can get fresh herbs, use three times the amount of dried herbs and shred or crush the leaves to release their healing ingredients.
I mean, why do herbal supplements, and food and drink with herbal ingredients actually help people heal?
Well, the answer is simple.
For thousands of years, herbs have been used as food and medicine all over the world. This wouldn't still be happening if herbs had no effect. Singly or in combination, herbal healing is a gentle way to heal many complaints of modern life - from stress and digestive upsets to insomnia and women's health issues, among others.
Funnily enough, ask a young person to guess what's in a bag of crumbled dried herbs and they'll snicker as if the answer is obvious - 'Something to smoke, duh!' It's kind of sad that we've become so disconnected from the bounty that nature provides in forests, fields and gardens that we can identify only one herb, and one that's illegal in most countries to boot!
Herbal drinks and foods have healing qualities that modern research has identified from studying the individual components and found them to be good medicine. Lemon balm, calendula, hyssop, ladies' mantle, nettle, peppermint, spearmint, catmint, red raspberry leaves and berries, are just some of the herbs growing in my garden in Southern Canada.
I love using my own organically grown herbs in soups, teas, stir fries, lemonade, salads etc. And they're all so easy to grow! Now's the time to start a few plants, even if you only have a window box for two or three kitchen herbs. I promise you, it's worth it.
Here's a recipe for a spring rejuvenating herbal infusion (tea) that tastes delicious and is full of minerals and vitamins:
Spring Tea
1 tsp each dried peppermint & nettle
3 tsp dried lemonbalm
Measure herbs into a tea pot with a stainless steel or glass strainer. Pour just-boiled water over herbs and let steep 5-10 minutes - longer for more nourishing and healing benefits. Enjoy 3-4 times daily. Note: You could re-use the herbs once for a second pot of tea. If you can get fresh herbs, use three times the amount of dried herbs and shred or crush the leaves to release their healing ingredients.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
What You Can Do About Toxicity
You may be as surprised as I was at how toxic our world actually is!
I just returned from a conference organized by Isagenix, the world’s largest nutritional cleansing company. One of the issues highlighted at the event was the issue of toxicity. There are so many impurities all around us. But how many times do we actually stop to think about it? And what can you do today to help yourself, your family and your friends?
Did you know that toxicity in our environment also affects our ability to manage our weight and stay healthy? There's a new word for the substances that cause our bodies to get sick and fat from toxins. The word is 'obesogens'.
To find out more, check out the new video I’ve posted on the left side of my blog. The video runs about 15 minutes and gives an eye-opening look at the harmful impurities that surround us every day. You can also learn how you can unlock the benefits of living and following a nutritional cleansing lifestyle with Isagenix.
Note: If you can’t hear the sound, just click on the volume icon on the bottom right corner of the video screen.
When you're ready to learn an easy way to release toxins from your body, I’ll be ready to help you. Just fill out the form under the video so we can connect.
I just returned from a conference organized by Isagenix, the world’s largest nutritional cleansing company. One of the issues highlighted at the event was the issue of toxicity. There are so many impurities all around us. But how many times do we actually stop to think about it? And what can you do today to help yourself, your family and your friends?
Did you know that toxicity in our environment also affects our ability to manage our weight and stay healthy? There's a new word for the substances that cause our bodies to get sick and fat from toxins. The word is 'obesogens'.
To find out more, check out the new video I’ve posted on the left side of my blog. The video runs about 15 minutes and gives an eye-opening look at the harmful impurities that surround us every day. You can also learn how you can unlock the benefits of living and following a nutritional cleansing lifestyle with Isagenix.
Note: If you can’t hear the sound, just click on the volume icon on the bottom right corner of the video screen.
When you're ready to learn an easy way to release toxins from your body, I’ll be ready to help you. Just fill out the form under the video so we can connect.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Herb Profile: Nettle is nourishing
Nettle is not easy to harvest since it causes itching and hives upon contact with the skin, but once cooked or dried it is a valuable, nutritious healer.
Used regularly, Nettle leaf infusion is an expectorant that helps reduce mucous conditions of the lungs such as asthma, hay fever and other allergic disorders. It is useful as a pain reliever and a general body tonic.
Nettle contains vital minerals that are essential in resolving many disorders – it is rich in iron, calcium, potassium, silicon, magnesium, manganese, zinc and chromium and other vitamins and minerals.
Nettle infusion strengthens the adrenal glands, eases anxiety, increases energy, helps prevent night sweats, builds blood, protects bones and heart, and contributes to overall prostate health.
It is used to relieve any type of internal hemorrhage.
Nettle infusion is good for anemia, arthritis, kidney problems and malabsorption syndrome. It improves goiter and inflammatory conditions.
Used regularly, Nettle leaf infusion is an expectorant that helps reduce mucous conditions of the lungs such as asthma, hay fever and other allergic disorders. It is useful as a pain reliever and a general body tonic.
Nettle contains vital minerals that are essential in resolving many disorders – it is rich in iron, calcium, potassium, silicon, magnesium, manganese, zinc and chromium and other vitamins and minerals.
Nettle infusion strengthens the adrenal glands, eases anxiety, increases energy, helps prevent night sweats, builds blood, protects bones and heart, and contributes to overall prostate health.
It is used to relieve any type of internal hemorrhage.
Nettle infusion is good for anemia, arthritis, kidney problems and malabsorption syndrome. It improves goiter and inflammatory conditions.
Herb Profile: Sage is fortifying
Sage leaf tea is helpful for menopausal disturbances, specifically for reducing or eliminating hot flashes, painful menstruation, anxiety and mood swings.
Mothers who want to wean their babies can drink sage tea to reduce their production of breast milk.
Sage tea is a well-known cold and flu fighter. Drink 3-4 cups for several days.
Gargle cooled tea to treat inflammations such as laryngitis and tonsillitis or use as a mouthwash or swab for infected gums and mouth sores (cankers).
Taken on an empty stomach, sage tea has been proven to lower blood sugar in diabetics.
The fragrance of sage essential oil can relieve mental grief and physical stress.
Sage is delicious in soups, stews and pasta sauces.
Mothers who want to wean their babies can drink sage tea to reduce their production of breast milk.
Sage tea is a well-known cold and flu fighter. Drink 3-4 cups for several days.
Gargle cooled tea to treat inflammations such as laryngitis and tonsillitis or use as a mouthwash or swab for infected gums and mouth sores (cankers).
Taken on an empty stomach, sage tea has been proven to lower blood sugar in diabetics.
The fragrance of sage essential oil can relieve mental grief and physical stress.
Sage is delicious in soups, stews and pasta sauces.
Herb Profile: Calendula is healing
Calendula, also known as ‘Pot Marigold’, is a healing herb made from the plant’s sunny orange or yellow flower petals.
Calendula infusion (tea) is useful in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders and problems such as ulcers, indigestion, stomach cramps, diarrhea, gall-bladder problems and worms.
As a blood cleanser, Calendula is a great helper in infectious hepatitis and other liver disorders, and blood in the urine.
Calendula ointment, made from oil-infused calendula petals, is excellent for healing varicose veins, phlebitis and edema, and for healing the skin including wounds, scalds and scrapes, eczema, foot fungus, and brown skin patches. Calendula is known to decrease scarring. Do not use on a wound such as an abscess that needs to drain, because it could heal over too quickly. Cooled infusion helps heal herpes.
As a poultice, Calendula is helpful in healing bruises, sprains or strains.
Calendula tea helps delayed menstruation and painful periods.
Calendula oil or ointment is ideal for babies’ skin problems such as diaper rash and cradle cap. It helps heal sore nipples in nursing mothers.
Well-strained infusion can be used to flush the eyes and treat conjunctivitis.
In the recent past, Calendula has been used to treat various cancers. Herbalist Susan Weed highly recommends infused Calendula oil for breast massage to prevent breast cancer. She found it to be excellent for treating breast ulcers. The Abbe Kneipp, among other well-known European doctors, believed Calendula to be a natural remedy for malignant growth. Dr. Bohn recommended daily drinking of Calendula tea for a prolonged period to treat inoperable cancer. Maria Treban found freshly pressed juice of Calendula to be effective at treating skin cancer and rough cancer-like brown patches. The boiled and cooled infusion heals glandular swellings.
Calendula infusion (tea) is useful in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders and problems such as ulcers, indigestion, stomach cramps, diarrhea, gall-bladder problems and worms.
As a blood cleanser, Calendula is a great helper in infectious hepatitis and other liver disorders, and blood in the urine.
Calendula ointment, made from oil-infused calendula petals, is excellent for healing varicose veins, phlebitis and edema, and for healing the skin including wounds, scalds and scrapes, eczema, foot fungus, and brown skin patches. Calendula is known to decrease scarring. Do not use on a wound such as an abscess that needs to drain, because it could heal over too quickly. Cooled infusion helps heal herpes.
As a poultice, Calendula is helpful in healing bruises, sprains or strains.
Calendula tea helps delayed menstruation and painful periods.
Calendula oil or ointment is ideal for babies’ skin problems such as diaper rash and cradle cap. It helps heal sore nipples in nursing mothers.
Well-strained infusion can be used to flush the eyes and treat conjunctivitis.
In the recent past, Calendula has been used to treat various cancers. Herbalist Susan Weed highly recommends infused Calendula oil for breast massage to prevent breast cancer. She found it to be excellent for treating breast ulcers. The Abbe Kneipp, among other well-known European doctors, believed Calendula to be a natural remedy for malignant growth. Dr. Bohn recommended daily drinking of Calendula tea for a prolonged period to treat inoperable cancer. Maria Treban found freshly pressed juice of Calendula to be effective at treating skin cancer and rough cancer-like brown patches. The boiled and cooled infusion heals glandular swellings.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Herb Profile: Oatstraw is regulating
Oatstraw tea and oats are two of the best remedies for nourishing, strengthening and regulating the entire nervous system, especially when you’re under stress or exhausted, feeling sad or grieving. It’s great for insomnia too!
Oatstraw and oats are high in nerve-cell nutrients such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, B-vitamins, vitamins E, G, and K. Oats is a good source of potassium, carotenes expressed as vitamin A and vitamin C.
Oats is one of the most protein-rich grains available. It’s high in fiber, and low in fat and calories – less than 100 per cup of cooked grain.
Oatstraw’s mild taste and gentle healing properties can help children and adults of all ages with bed-wetting and skin disorders. Regular use of oatstraw can strengthen your adrenal glands, thus helping you heal allergies and menopausal problems such as night sweats.
Herbalist and author Susun Weed writes that consistent use of oats and oatstraw (Avena) in the diet 'usually brings about noticeable improvement in coordination, bone density, length of attention span, balance, memory, sensitivity to pleasant stimuli, clarity of thinking, ability to perceive connections and remedy misconnections, ease of achieving meditative and conscious dream states and overall calmness and centredness.’
Weed writes that Avena “helps clear your blood vessels of fatty deposits and eases the beat of your heart. Avena’s ability to clear cholesterol from blood vessels is much celebrated…In addition to lowering cholesterol levels, a cup or more of oatstraw infusion (tea) daily (or several oatcakes for breakfast) will support and rebuild the heart muscles and circulatory vessels and ease those with heart spasms and palpitations. Avena helps tighten and re-elasticize your veins, eliminating varicosities and hemorrhoids, when used as a bath and a food…Avena’s ability to help you improve your sexual appetite and performance has been touted, praised and sung about for centuries. Avena’s effect is not specifically aphrodisiacal. Instead, oats and oatstraw nourish the nerves, so you receive more pleasure from touching…”
Oatstraw is available at natural food stores that sell bulk herbs.
To use: Pour just-boiled water over one tsp. herb per cup of tea. Strain and enjoy!
Oatstraw and oats are high in nerve-cell nutrients such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, B-vitamins, vitamins E, G, and K. Oats is a good source of potassium, carotenes expressed as vitamin A and vitamin C.
Oats is one of the most protein-rich grains available. It’s high in fiber, and low in fat and calories – less than 100 per cup of cooked grain.
Oatstraw’s mild taste and gentle healing properties can help children and adults of all ages with bed-wetting and skin disorders. Regular use of oatstraw can strengthen your adrenal glands, thus helping you heal allergies and menopausal problems such as night sweats.
Herbalist and author Susun Weed writes that consistent use of oats and oatstraw (Avena) in the diet 'usually brings about noticeable improvement in coordination, bone density, length of attention span, balance, memory, sensitivity to pleasant stimuli, clarity of thinking, ability to perceive connections and remedy misconnections, ease of achieving meditative and conscious dream states and overall calmness and centredness.’
Weed writes that Avena “helps clear your blood vessels of fatty deposits and eases the beat of your heart. Avena’s ability to clear cholesterol from blood vessels is much celebrated…In addition to lowering cholesterol levels, a cup or more of oatstraw infusion (tea) daily (or several oatcakes for breakfast) will support and rebuild the heart muscles and circulatory vessels and ease those with heart spasms and palpitations. Avena helps tighten and re-elasticize your veins, eliminating varicosities and hemorrhoids, when used as a bath and a food…Avena’s ability to help you improve your sexual appetite and performance has been touted, praised and sung about for centuries. Avena’s effect is not specifically aphrodisiacal. Instead, oats and oatstraw nourish the nerves, so you receive more pleasure from touching…”
Oatstraw is available at natural food stores that sell bulk herbs.
To use: Pour just-boiled water over one tsp. herb per cup of tea. Strain and enjoy!
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