I hope you are monthly taking time to develop one new good habit
towards greater health and longevity. " One thing I've discovered is
that making small yet significant adjustments can make all the
difference in our goal to live healthy ", says certified fitness coach
Marty Copeland. She also suggests we write down our goals. It has
actually been scientifically proven that those people who write down
their goals, achieve 90% of their goals, while the 90% of the people
who do not write their goals down, achieve a mere 10% of their goals.
I'm sure we all have many good intentions in our minds, but if they do
not get written down, we forget about them pretty fast... or they just
cause us more stress for we know that we need to change some things but
we never get to it. When we write down our goal, we will actually see
it and reading it over again, we start moving towards achieving the
goal. What is YOUR new health goal for this month? Think about it...
then write it down... read it... and start moving towards it. You know,
it is actually easy to achieve our goals like this. Writing down our
goals also brings clarity to our minds.
I would like to share with you one real worthy health goal.
Fresh salads are some of the healthiest foods this time of a year. In
order to receive the greatest benefits from the antioxidant-loaded
greens and vegetables, we can prepare a super healthy custom-made
dressing right at home. I strongly urge you not to use supermarket
salad dressings as they contain too many synthetic substances that
greatly subtract from the health benefits of a fresh salad. It is so
very easy to prepare a healthy salad dressing at home... thus greatly
boosting the nutritional value of your salad.
The main ingredients you need are freshly squeezed lemon juice or
organic apple cider vinegar and organic extra virgin olive oil. Extra
virgin olive oil is very good for the digestion and is also helpful in
losing weight. Apple cider vinegar helps burn fat and cleanse the
colon.
Pour the ingredients into a glass jar with a screw-on top. Then add
some salt... and then comes my favorite part - just go wild in adding
those fresh or dried herbs of your own choice. Finally, screw the top
on and shake really well. Let the dressing sit for at least 15 minutes,
allowing the flavors and antioxidants intermingle, bringing out the
best of one another. Pour some of it on your salad & mix. Let
it sit for another 10-15 minutes before serving, allowing the
vegetables and greens to devour the dressing.
You can keep the extra dressing in the fridge. Do not use plastic
containers to preserve food. Always use glass or ceramic or wood. Some
recent studies have shown plastic containers to release harmful
chemicals into the food it contains. They are especially dangerous when
used in microwave. Though, even without the use of plastic containers,
microwave ovens do a pretty good job in killing the health value of the
foods.
When you pick the herbs to use in your salad dressing, choose the ones
that contain the health benefits you desire. Many of the herbs aid
digestion and help heal the colon. Here are some suggestions:
ANISE (Pimpinella anisum) - relaxant, stimulant, tonic, carminative,
stomachic. Anise prevents fermentation and production of gas in the
stomach and bowels; helps to overcome nausea and colic.
BASIL (Ocimum basilicum) - stimulant and nervine. I use basil a lot as
it gives a very pleasant taste to almost any food.
CARAWAY (Carum carvi) - prevents fermentation in the stomach, aids
digestion, strengthens and gives tone to the stomach, helps to expel
gas from the bowels.
CATNIP (Nepeta cataria) - useful in pain of any kind, spasm, gas pains,
hyper acidity in the stomach, and for the prevention of griping in the
bowels. Helps relieve headaches.
CAYENNE (Capsicum frutescens) - stimulant and antispasmodic. Cayenne is
good for heart, kidneys, spleen, pancreas. Cayenne will help heal a
sore and ulcerated stomach (while black pepper, mustard, or vinegar
will irritate it).
CORIANDER (Coriandrum sativum) - a good stomach tonic and very
strengthening to the heart; expels wind from the bowels. Good for
flavoring other unpleasant-tasting herbs.
CUMIN (Cuminum cyminum) - contains incredible antioxidant properties,
including seven anti-inflammatory properties and three pain relieving
compounds.
DILL (Anethum graveolens) - helps prevent gas and fermentation in the
intestines; stimulates the appetite; very quieting to the nerves. Dill
has been used traditionally as a remedy for cancer and estrogen
deficiency.
FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare) - good remedy for gas, acid stomach, gout,
cramps, colic, spasms.
FENUGREEK (Trigonella foenum-graecum) - has long been considered the
"cure-all" treatment for ailments in the Middle East. The bittersweet
seeds contain five compounds that appear to help diabetics lower blood
sugar.
MARJORAM (Majorana hortensis) - a good tonic; excellent for sour
stomach, loss of appetite, indigestion, water retention.
MINT (Monarda punctata) - very quieting and soothing; eases pain; good
for water retention, nausea, vomiting, gas and other digestive
problems.
OREGANO (Origanum vulgare) - very strengthening to the stomach;
increases appetite; helps in case of water retention; helpful in
dyspepsia, rheumatism, colic, nausea, neuralgia, nervousness.
PARSLEY (Petroselinum sativum) - very rich in iron and vitamin C, very
good source of calcium, potassium, phosphorus and vitamin A. This herb
is excellent for cancer (in this case is best drunk as tea). Parsley is
an excellent remedy for difficult urination, dropsy, jaundice, stones
or gravel in the urinary tracts, obstructions of the liver and spleen,
syphilis, and gonorrhea. DO NOT USE parsley in case of kidney
infection!
SAGE (Salvia officinalis) - You can never go amiss when you take sage,
a herb that is often called "cure-all". It is good for liver and
kidneys, one of the best remedies for stomach troubles, dyspepsia, gas
in the stomach and bowels. Will expel worms in children and adults.
TURMERIC (Curcuma longa) - possesses tremendous anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant properties. The herb is beneficial as a digestive aid,
liver protector, and heart tonic. It is a pain reliever, relieving pain
without upsetting the stomach.
I hope You will enjoy preparing your very own healthy salad
dressings... knowing that you are taking a significant step towards
greater health and longevity. The information about the herbs and
condiments is from Jethro Kloss' 'Back to Eden, The Classic Guide to
Herbal Medicine, Natural Foods and Home Remedies since 1939' and Jordan
S.Rubin's 'The Maker's Diet'.
