Natural or Organic?

The term "Health Foods" include natural and organic grown fruit and vegetables, various pills and herbs. Some of these foods are nutritionally good and some such as herbs and ginseng are unproven. The term "Health Food" is very misleading since it implies that all other foods are unhealthy.
Vegetarianism: There is nothing nutritionally wrong with being a vegetarian, in fact most nutritionist recommend this type of diet because it is high in diet fibre, low in fats, more fruit and vegetables. Many vegetarians eat eggs and drink milk, on the other hand some don't use animal products at all and are as far as known very healthy.
Whole Foods: Whole foods are better than refined foods. This means that wholewheat bread and flour are healthier than white bread and flour. Choosing unrefined rice and maize rather than refined. Brown sugar is very little different from white sugar.
Organic Grown Foods: Most farmers and gardeners fertilize their soil with sulfate of ammonia, potash and phosphate ect. They also add manure and compost as much as they can find. Advocates of organic farming claims that the use of chemicals is artificial and that foods that are grown naturally are more superior. In fact there is no difference between them. Organic farmers avoid the use of chemicals, weed killers and pesticides. A few tasting trials that were carried out, could not distinguish which are organically grown and inorganically fertilized foods. Nutritionally they are the same.
Sea salt: Most salt comes from underground mines and is highly purified. It usually have some magnesium carbonate (a harmless mineral salt) added to make it flow freely. Sea salt contains natural Iodine.

Honey: Honey is simply sugar and water with very small traces of several vitamins and mineral salts. The food value of a teaspoon of honey is the same as a ¾ teaspoon of ordinary table sugar.
Cider Vinegar, Kelp, "Live" Yogurt and Ginseng: Cider vinegar is made of re-fermented cider, meaning, it is made in a similar way as wine vinegar. Nutritionally it provides a few calories and nothing else.
Kelp is a seaweed and a source of iodine which is an essential nutrient with a few mineral salts of lessor importance. It has no special food value.
"Live" Yogurt contains the bacteria which turned the milk into yogurt, whereas ordinary yogurt has usually the bacteria killed by pasteurisation. If it was made of full cream milk instead of skim milk powder, it would have tasted better and of nutritional value, not because of the bacteria that are still alive. The bacteria do not survive inside the human intestines and do not provide any benefits.
Ginseng is the root of a bush that grows in China and Korea. A vast range of magical properties is attributed to it, again no evidence or truth that it works has ever been found.
Balanced Vitamins: Most health shops sell tablets of balanced vitamins that have been extracted from wheat, yeast or liver instead of being synthesised in a factory. They were balanced so far as the wheat plant or the yeast or the animal's liver were concerned BUT they are not balanced for Human needs. Wheat contains very little B2. Vit B1 in yeast extract steadily falls while it sits on the shelf. The B vitamins in the liver extract will depend on how the animal was fed.
Herbs: Herbs have a mystical appeal since they were used as medicines for centuries. Some of them have no effect, some contains poison like Comfrey and Rhubarb and some contain small amounts of drugs like Fennel. Some modern medicines are extracted from herbs, quinine was originally extracted from tree bark. Pleasant drinks can be made from some herbs, leaves and petals but they have no beneficial effects.
Healthy Eating at a Restaurant: Is it Possible?
If you and your family love to eat out, you may think that this lifestyle is not good for a healthy diet. In many cases, you would be correct. You can still enjoy eating out at restaurants and maintain your healthy diet. It's all about making good food choices, which starts with learning about the nutritional value of the food you eat and what your body needs to stay physically healthy, mentally stable, and active.
When you pick up the menu, start by skipping over the alcoholic drinks section. Although you may be tempted to enjoy a beer or mixed beverage with your dinner, these usually have many "bad" calories, which is not good for your body. The exception to this rule is when it comes to wine, especially red wine, which can be fine if you have a single glass.
Skip the appetizer menu, unless it's a salad. The appetizers at restaurants are usually high-fat foods that are not meant to fill you up and can in fact make you crave for more. Examples of these are mozzarella sticks, potato skins, and chicken wings. Simply focus on the main course or if you must indulge, share a single serving with someone at your table.
Choosing the main dish is very important. Look at the ingredients of the dish. Anything with cream sauces or high-fat meats should be avoided and pass the potatoes and onion rings. Instead order side dishes like green salad and vegetables or ask for just the main course when possible.
Remember that portions is everything. Try to order from the lunch menu whenever you can, and ask for a doggie-bag right away. Split your meal in half from the start, so that you are not tempted to eat the entire plate, which is usually enough for two or three portions.
SKIP the desert menu, just like you did with the appetizers. If you have to have desert share or split your portion in half. Many fancy desserts at restaurants have more calories than your entire meal, so keep this in mind before you flag down the waitress to put in an order! Of course, on special occasions, it's alright to cheat a little, but overall healthy eating requires lots of resisting temptations around you.



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How to Start Eating Healthy

To be able to eat healthy, you need to understand what the body needs to stay healthy and functional. Your body needs food for three main reasons. Firstly as fuel, to keep us warm and supply the energy we need to stay alive and to move about and work. Secondly, food supplies the necessary materials for growth and to repair worn tissues. Thirdly we need vitamins, minerals and other substances that are necessary for the chemical processes that take place inside our bodies.
The energy supplied by food is measured as kilojoules. Two-thirds of this energy is used to maintain our normal body temperature, the normal tone of our muscles and to keep our heart and other vital organs functional and healthy. Even when we stay in bed all day we will still need about two-thirds of our normal food intake to maintain our metabolic systems. Normal activities such as getting dressed, eating, walking, working and playing requires about 3350 kilojoules. A housewife uses about 9200 kilojoules to perform her basic household tasks.
The harder we work and the more we move about the more kilojoules we use up. Whatever kilojoules we use up in our daily activities, is supplied by food, but if we consume more kilojoules / food than the body needs you will gain mass. The aim of Eating Healthy is to get the balance right.
If you are NOT currently eating healthy, it can be difficult to start such a plan. IF you truly want to live the best lifestyle possible, then it is important for you to follow these tips to start eating more healthy. Firstly, rid your home of all foods that do not fall into the healthy categories. Keep junk foods and beverages out of your house, so that you will not be tempted. Keep healthy snacks like carrot sticks, yogurt, fresh fruit, or whole-wheat crackers on hand. In case you cannot bear to toss out the sweets, try keeping something on hand, like chocolate chips. Eating a few of these won't ruin your diet but also will give you that little sugary fix you rave.
Secondly, take a few moments to learn about what foods are the healthiest for you and how they work in the body. Most people understand what fruits, vegetables, and low-fat means and that dairy products are good for you, but few people understand why.

What Does Vitamins and Nutrients Mean?
Vitamins and Nutrients nourishes the body. They consist of micro- and macro-nutrients which is essential for good health and is consumed in small amounts. These are absorbed by the body unchanged and have catalytic functions. Vitamins are classified as fat-soluble (A, D, E and K) or water-soluble (B and C). The former and vit. B12 tend to be stored in the body. Many elements present in food are essential for health such as calcium, phosphorus and potassium. Others termed trace-elements are iron, zinc and iodine.
Carbohydrates, fats and proteins are macro-nutrients and when digested turns into glucose, fatty acids, peptides and amino acids. Macro-nutrients are interchangeable sources of energy. If sufficient non-protein calories are not available, the body cannot produce proteins for tissue maintenance. Tissue replacements and growth does not occur and considerable more dietary proteins is required for positive nitrogen balance. The polyunsaturated fatty acids are termed essential fatty acids (EFA) and must be included in your diet. The EFA and B6 is crucial in the functions of the metabolism.
Fiber mainly a complex mixture of indigestible carbohydrate material is a natural and much neglected component of the normal diet. Fiber components act in various ways for instance, prevention of constipation. Many intestinal diseases ie: colon cancer, Crohn's disease, obesity, varicose veins and hemorrhoids are associated with the lack of fiber in the diet. Fruit and vegetables rich in pectins reduce plasma cholesterol by enhancing hepatic cholesterol, to bile acids and reduces the forming of gallstones. Fiber is the most important part of any diet.


Five Basic Groups of Nutrients
The key is learning about nutrients. When you understand how specific nutrients work in the body, you will be more likely to make healthy choices.

No single food is essential to our diet. What is important is to eat a variety of foods, there are five basic groups:
Proteins for building up the body. Throughout life there is a continuous breakdown and loss of body tissues. If a person does not get enough protein to make up for this loss, some of the less vital protein tissues in the body, such as muscles are broken down to maintain vital organs like the heart and kidneys. Illnesses cause a considerable loss of protein like infections, burns, broken bones and the stress after surgery.
Carbohydrates provide energy. Carbohydrates is a collective term for sugars, starches and cellulose. Most sugars are eaten in the form of sweets, jams, biscuits, cakes and drinks. A small amount is from fruit. Starches are found in potatoes, rice, pastas, wheat and maize. When we eat starches it gets broken down to glucose which is absorbed into the blood stream as a form of sugar. Cellulose is not a source of energy but it is needed in the diet, because of it's major source of fibre or roughage. It stays undigested in the intestines to promote regular bowel movements.
Fats provide energy and flavour. Fat is contained in milk products like cheese, cream, butter and meat (visible around tjops or hidden in the fibres), fatty fish like pilchards, kabeljou and eggs. Fats have several roles in the diet directly because of its nutritional value and indirectly in improving foods and making them easier to chew and swallow. Vitamins like A,D,E and K are found in these fatty foods and following a low fat diet you need to supplement these shortfalls. Fats are very important because of the energy it provides, it is twice as much as carbohydrates or protein. Fatty foods remain longer in the stomach than low-fat foods, so they provide a greater feeling of fullness.





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Why Turmeric Should Be in Your Kitchen and Your Diet

Turmeric is a wonder herb, and definitely belongs in your kitchen. Known as Curcuma Longa, this herb of the ginger family is used for many different things, from flavoring up your favorite dish to its traditional use in India as a natural antiseptic for burns and cuts. Thousands of years ago it was used as a dye, and now it's becoming known as a wonder supplement proving beneficial to health conditions, from some forms of cancer to Alzheimer's.

Turmeric has long been known as a healing herb

India has long known the magical power of turmeric. It's used to flavor Indian cuisine, and has been added to mustards to punch up the flavor. More importantly though, turmeric has been used medicinally in Indian and Chinese culture to treat the whole body. Turmeric, which contains an active healing ingredient called curcumin, is a potent and natural anti-inflammatory herb that works just as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs... without the side effects. The list of maladies turmeric can naturally treat is wondrous, indeed.

Just what benefits does turmeric offer?

Indian tradition has long known about turmeric's anti-inflammatory benefit, and Chinese physicians have used this wonder herb for liver cleansing and gallbladder ailments. And now in our modern age, turmeric is being studied and used for a vast array of human conditions and illnesses.

Turmeric is thought to reduce inflammation through its stimulation of our adrenal glands, which increases production of an anti-inflammatory hormone. So, turmeric is used to ease arthritic conditions by easing inflammation and joint pain.

Turmeric is used in treating burns, and is a natural disinfectant. Plus, this wonder herb is rich in anti-oxidents and helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, by improving blood circulation. Turmeric seems to naturally prevent the body from forming blood clots, and has a natural effect against the forming of antiplatelets.

And there are laboratory studies happening now that would indicate the curcumin in turmeric fights some types of cancer cells. More study is needed on turmeric and it's cancer-fighting abilities, but it has been shown to kill human leukemia cells. Saying turmeric is a wonder herb is an understatement, don't you think?

Downsides of turmeric

Turmeric is considered a safe herb, but there are certain individuals who should be cautious about ingesting it. It is recommended that people with congestive heart problems, liver disorders, and gallstones avoid using turmeric in their diets. Also, pregnant women or people with blood clotting issues should consult their doctors before using it.

Where can you buy turmeric?

There are many supplement companies that offer turmeric in pill form, and these are readily available online. However, our family takes the more traditional approach, and we buy it from our neighborhood grocer. Just find your grocer's spice section and buy a reputable line of turmeric, like Spice Islands for instance. Rice is a staple in our home, and we always blend in a generous portion of turmeric powder along with a favorite vegetable like chopped zucchini, broccoli florets or a crooked neck yellow squash. Turmeric is not only good for you, but it adds a zesty, very flavorful taste to rice and other foods we enjoy.

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Adaptogens - Great Herbs For Better Wellness

One of the more interesting topics in the area of natural health is the subject of adaptogens. What are adaptogens? What benefits might adaptogens provide? What are some of the more common adaptogens?

The term adaptogen has been around since the late 1940's and is generally credited to Russian Dr. Nicholai Lazarev Selye. Lazarev was one of the first people to do research traditional herbs that had been used in ancient medical traditions. He generally defined adaptogens as a natural herb that allows the body to counter adverse physical, chemical or biological stressors by raising non-specific resistance towards the stressors, thus allowing the body to "adapt" to the stressful situation.

One of Lazarev's protégés from his early studies on adaptogens, Dr. Israel Brekhman, created what is the generally accepted definition of Adaptogen in the late 1960's. Brekhman defined adaptogens as:

Non-toxic to the recipient

Producing a non-specific response in the body which increases the power of resistance against multiple stressors including physical, chemical or biological agents.

Having a normalizing influence on physiology, irrespective of the direction of change from physiological norms caused by the stressor.

Make sense? In more general terms, Brekhman is saying that adaptogens are, in normal doses, non-toxic, able to produce a general defense against stress and that they help the body return to a more normal state.

These herbs are unique from other substances in their ability to balance endocrine hormones and the immune system. They are the only natural substances able to help the body maintain optimal homeostasis.

Adaptogens have been used for centuries in Chinese and Russian cultures. Chinese warriors would consume adaptogens before going off to battle to provide them with energy and mental clarity. Hunters in Siberia would take them before their long and arduous hunting trips.

More recently, adaptogens were used extensively as part of the training regime of the former Soviet Union's athletes. By studying the effects of training on the athlete's body and providing them with adaptogens to supplement their normal diet the athletes performed better and their bodies recovered more rapidly. Take a look at the medal counts from the Olympics during the 1970's and 1980's. The results speak for themselves!!! Today many top athletes continue to use adaptogens to help them obtain peak performance.

From my perspective, the thing I like most about adaptogens is that they help create optimal physiological functioning. Thus, we can create wellness versus treating disease. That to me is a better way to live.

So what are some of the more common adaptogens and what benefits might they provide to you? Read on.

Eleutherococcus Senticosus (aka Siberian Ginseng)

Eleutherococcus senticosus is a small, woody shrub that is native to East Asia, China, Japan and Russia. Scientific studies have shown this to be the strongest and most potent of the adaptogens.

This plant helps your body adapt to stress, enhances mental acuity and physical endurance, and improves the muscles' use of oxygen. It has also been shown to enhance and support immune system response. Some other suggested uses are anti-inflammatory, radiological protection and normalization of body function.

Schizandra Chinensis (aka Chinese Magnolia Vine)

Schizandra Chinensis is a hardy deciduous climber that is generally grown in gardens. The Chinese call schizandra, wu wei zi, which means "five flavor fruits", because the berries contain all of the 5 traditional Chinese flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, pungent (spicy) and salty.

The seed of this herb promotes antioxidant activities against free radicals. Some of its other traditional uses are to resist infection, increase skin health and combat insomnia.

Recent research indicates that schizandra is hepato (of or relating to the liver) protective and may help people with chronic viral hepatitis.

Aralia Mandchurica (aka Manchurian Thorn Tree)

Aralia Mandchurica is a short handsome tree that is found in the Far East.

Aralia is well known in Russia and used to increase stamina and cognitive abilities. It also helps stimulate the central nervous system, which helps improve immune system function. The extract of aralia was officially approved for therapeutic use is the USSR in 1957.

Viburnum Sargenti (aka Sargent Virburnum)

Viburnum Sargenti is a large shrub that grows 12-15 feet tall and bears white flowers in the spring that turn to bright red, berry-like fruit in late summer.

Recent studies show that Viburnum fruit possess high antioxidant, antiradical and antitoxic action. It also has an anti-aging effect and enhances immunity.

Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (aka Licorice Root)

Glycyrrhiza Uralensis is one of the oldest-known medical plants which blooms from June through August in a wide area that covers Western Russia, Central Asia and the Mediterranean.

In traditional Chinese Medicine it has been a staple botanical for the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. In present day, it is used to increase circulation, enhance skin tone, and protect against stress. It is also known for its soothing properties, which help digestive, urinary and intestinal systems.

Rhaponticum Carthamoides (aka Maral Root)

Rhaponticum Carthamoides is a herbaceous plant that occupies sub-alpine zones (4500-6000 ft above sea level). It is widely cultivated throughout Russia and eastern Europe.

This herb promotes improved muscular performance and the ability to convert fat proteins into muscle mass faster than working out alone. Rhaponticum, is high in 20-E, one of the most common molting hormones in insects and crabs. 20-E is a bioactive adaptogen in humans. Its adaptogenic properties have been traditionally used for fatigue, impotence and recovery from long illness.

Crataegus Oxyacantha (aka Hawthorn Berry)

Crataegus Oxyacantha is a member of the rose family. The shrub produces brilliantly colored red berries and primarily originates in Mediterranean areas, although bushes are found in other areas of the world.

The berry is high in antioxidants and has been employed as an herbal remedy since ancient times. In Europe it is widely used as a preventative "heart tonic". Its antioxidants help protect arteries from plaque buildup and help dilate the blood vessels, which results in more effective use of oxygen and nutrients as wells has regulate blood pressure. It aids in reducing water retention by expelling excess salt from the body.

Rhodiola Rosea. (aka Golden Root)

Rhodiola Rosea grows in the cold regions of the world such as the Arctic, the mountains of Central Asia, The Rocky Mountains and mountainous parts of Europe.

The flower of this plant has been used for centuries in traditional therapies. Such as in Russia, where it has been used to cope with the cold Siberian climate and stressful life. Rhodolia Rosea is very effective for improving mood and alleviating depression. Research shows that it improves both physical and mental performance, reduces fatigue, and prevents high altitude sickness. In one study, the Rhodolia Rosea group decreased proofreading errors by 88% while the control group increased proofreading errors by 84%!

Sorbus Aucuparia (aka Mountain Ash)

Sorbus Aucuparia is a small to medium sized deciduous tree that is native to most of Europe except for the far south. This tree produces a small fruits which ripen to a bright red color in the fall.

The berries of this tree have been found to have anti-scorbutic properties, which work to prevent Vitamin C deficiencies.

Inonotus Obliquus (aka Chaga Mushroom)

Inonotus Obliquus is a parasitic mushroom which grows on birch trees. It causes the trees death in 5-7 years and is known as "birch cancer" in Russia.

Since the 16th century, Chaga Mushroom has been used in the botanical medicine of the Eastern European countries as a remedy for cancer, gastritis, ulcers and TB of the bones. Scientific studies in Finland and Russia found this mushroom provided an epochal effect in breast cancer, liver cancer, uterine cancer and gastric cancer, as well as in hypertension and diabetes. Herbalist David Winston maintains that this is the strongest anti-cancer medicinal mushroom.

So as you can see, even though adaptogens have only been studied for the last 60 years or so, they have been used for centuries in various cultures to promote health and wellness. There are many supplements out there that use a number of these adaptogens. 

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Superfoods - Quinoa and Amaranth

Quinoa and Amaranth are great additions to your whole foods diet. These grains are traditional foods of Mexico, Bolivia and Peru. Both were sacred grains to the Native people. Amaranth was the sacred food of the Aztecs, and quinoa was the sacred food of the Incas. When Latin America was conquered by the Spaniards, these grains were outlawed! Fortunately they have been rediscovered and are now grown in Latin America and the U.S.


Amaranth is a gluten free grain that is not a true cereal grain. It's actually a seed from a leafy annual plant related to spinach. The greens of the amaranth plant can be eaten, and the seeds are used like a grain. the grain like seed is great for folks who are allergic to grains. Amaranth is very nutritious and the United Nations Food and Agriculture organization has noted that wherever amaranth is eaten, there is no malnutrition. Amaranth can survive in poor soil and in drought conditions.


Amaranth has a high protein content, about 18 %, and contains the amino acid lysine, which is usually low in whole grains. It's also high in calcium; 1/2 cup serving of amaranth has as much calcium as an 8 ounce glass of milk! Amaranth is a good source of fiber, vitamin E, and minerals. It contains more calcium, magnesium and silicon than milk.


But, truth be told, this grain is an acquired taste. The texture is gooey, like porridge, and it can be a bit bitter. You can cook it with onions, which adds sweetness, or you can add a few tablespoons of amaranth to another grain and cook them together. The amaranth will blend in fairly well. I like the combinations of amaranth with millet, rice, quinoa or sweet corn. Combining amaranth with another grain creates a high protein profile, as high as meat.


According to author Marjorie Hurt Jones, in her book "The Allergy Self Help book," Amaranth flour is nice for baking. She recommends combining 25% amaranth flour with brown rice flour or oat flour for wheat free baking.


The other superfood grain, Quinoa, pronounced keen-wa, is nutritionally similar to amaranth, but it has a light fluffy texture and, well, it tastes better! Quinoa is gluten free and easy to digest. It is popular with whole foods cooks.


Quinoa is not a true grain but is treated like a grain in our meals. It has the highest protein content of any grain-like food, and is a good source of calcium, iron, phosphorus, B vitamins and Vitamin E. And it cooks quickly, in about 20 minutes. To cook quinoa, add 1 cup grain and 2 cups pure water to a pot, bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover and steam for 20 minutes. One cup dry grain will create 3 cups of cooked grain! You can also sometimes find quinoa pasta at the natural foods section of the grocery store.


Quinoa can be a substitute for rice, couscous, bulghur or other fluffy grains. It makes a nice grain salad. For a tabbouleh salad, cook the quinoa, then put in a salad bowl. Add in diced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, black olives, a handful of mint, sliced red bell pepper, and good quality extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice. I like to add garlic as well. Toss the grain and vegies and add sea salt if desired.


I love both these grains for their nutrition boost and taste. Add herbs, vegetables and a sauce and you have a nice vegetarian dish.






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WHOLEMEAL PASTA

People who are on diets typically avoid pasta, but really it is the sauce that cause various problems. If you want you can eat pasta, but made from wholemeal flour – there is also pasta without wheat ingredients. These noodles have more nutrients than white flour pasta.

Nutritional components: vitamin B5 and B6, folic acid, calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, fiber.

Due to the fiber content, body slows down the absorption of sugars, in addition it is more satiating than light pasta-because you eat less of it.

Quick recipe for a healthy pasta with herbs:

Pasta with herb pesto

– Wholemeal pasta

– 1 Tablespoon of olive oil

– 1 peace garlic, chopped

– 2 Handfuls of chopped leaves of basil and parsley

– Pepper, salt, a touch of lemon

– You can add balsamic vinegar

– Marjoram, thyme

Remember that pasta should be cooked al dente. This is very important. Add ingredients to a bowl and mix thoroughly (preferably mix, to get the sauce).

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Energize and Enjoy With Nettle

Winter is my season. I love the snow and the cold; I crave the deep and nourishing dark; I delight when the sun makes rainbows in the snow. The holidays grant us all permission to glitter and shine, to be golden and glowing, to twinkle like a star and smile at strangers; and that is nourishing to my soul.
But winter isn't for everyone. For some, winter is a time of sadness and exhaustion. The reduced hours of daylight can bring the doldrums. Too much permission to drink alcohol and eat refined sugars can leave one feeling less than lively, even leaden.
There are numerous remedies for those who wish spring were around the corner, but the two I like best are St. Joan's wort and stinging nettle.
St. Joan's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is also known as St. John's wort. But since it is a plant associated with fire, I figure St. Joan is the better name. No matter what you call it, this yellow-flowered plant is a real sun-lover. It soaks up as much sun as it can all summer, even stretching itself horizontal to catch those rays. And it stores that laughing sunshine in its leaves and flowers, which I harvest in the heat of July and tincture. You don't have to make your own, of course, you can buy it. Just be sure to get a tincture made with fresh plants, not dried ones.
I imbibe St. Joan's wort's sunny disposition by taking a dropperful in a little water or tea as often as every hour, or as needed, to chase the blues. Though the popular press seems confused by the studies, scientific medicine is convinced: St. Joan's wort is as effective in altering mood, even for those severely depressed, as the most commonly-used drugs. And even high doses of the tincture are without side-effects.

Do be careful, as capsules and tablets may increase skin sensitivity and interfere with the effectiveness of drugs you may be taking. For safety's sake, I use only Hypericum tincture, no other form.
Since St. Joan's wort is a powerful antiviral as well, it does double duty. Taking several dropperfuls a day can drastically reduce the number and severity of colds and flu episodes. And that makes everyone happy, as well as healthy.

  Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a common weed throughout much of the world. The dried herb makes a nourishing herbal infusion that packs more energy per cup than any stimulant, and without the downside of caffeine or stimulating herbs like cayenne and ginger. Tired teenagers, sleep-deprived new moms, stressed executives, wakeful menopausal gals, and wise women of all ages depend on stinging nettle to restore mood, replenish energy, and guarantee sound sleep.
Nettle is amazingly rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, especially the critical trace minerals: anti-cancer selenium, immune-enhancing sulphur, memory-enhancing zinc, diabetes-chasing chromium, and bone-building boron. A quart of nettle infusion contains more than 1000 milligrams of calcium, 15000 IU of vitamin A, 760 milligrams of vitamin K, 10% protein, and lavish amounts of most B vitamins.
There is no denser nutrition found in any plant, not even bluegreen algae; and nettle is much more reasonably priced than any supplement, especially if you buy more than an ounce or two at a time.
But we must consume lots of nettle to get this power-packed nutrition. I infuse a full ounce dried nettle in a quart of water to make a brew that nourishes my ability to think and supports my desire to work. Infusing nettle maximizes its energy-enhancing effects too. Teas, tinctures and capsules of nettle contain too little herb to make a difference in vim and vigor. To experience the miracle of nettle, you'll need to take the time to make a real infusion.
A student writes: "After drinking a quart of nettle infusion daily for only four days, I now have more energy then my toddler! Now, when he goes to sleep, I get some time to myself, instead of falling asleep with him. I can't thank you enough for the gift of nettle."
Nettle builds energy from the inside out by nourishing the adrenals, which I think of as "energy central." Nettle smoothly and persistently carries optimum nourishment to every cell in the body, and brings a smile to your face. Because the minerals in nettle infusion are polarized to the blood, they are literally magnetized into the blood stream without needing to be digested. Drinking a glass of cold nettle infusion pumps so much nourishment into the blood you'll feel invigorated in just a few days.
Regular use of stinging nettle (I drink 2-3 quarts a week) not only increases energy, it brings a shine and swing to the hair, strengthens fingernails, clears and firms skin, restores elasticity to blood vessels, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, counters incontinence, improves digestion, reduces cancer risk, and strengthens the lungs.
Another student writes: "My doctor is astonished. He insisted that I had to take drugs to deal with my severe osteoporosis. Instead, I drank two quarts of nettle infusion a week for several years. According to my latest bone scan, I now - at the age of 67 - have the bone mass of a woman half my age. Ha, ha, ha! With nettle, I get the last laugh on modern medicine."

To make a nettle infusion: Measure out one ounce of the dried herb. Boil a quart of water. Put the dried herb into a quart jar and fill to the top with the boiling water. Stir with a wooden spoon and add water until the jar is full to the top. Lid tightly and set aside to brew for at least four hours, or overnight, whichever is easier for you.
To use: Strain and squeeze the liquid out of the herb. Be sure to refrigerate your infusion, as it will go bad at room temperature once it is done brewing. (If that happens, I use it as plant food. And you should see how my roses adore it!)
Nettle infusion is delicious over ice. Its rich green taste is not at its best when served hot. Adding honey can make it taste quite strange. Some folks like to add a little apple juice to sweeten it. Or stir in some miso, for a salty drink. However you consume it, do drink it up within a few days, as nettle infusion doesn't last.
Green blessings surround us, even in the middle of winter.
Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material on this website/email is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.

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Healthy Pizza Recipe - How to make a Low Carb, High Protein Pizza