Quick Flu and Cold Remedy

We all like to have a fast cure for the flu and cold.  The flu is no fun, and nowadays I hear of people getting the flu right after having the flu shot to supposedly protect them from the flu!

Our 14-year old neighbor boy recently woke up with a head cold.  The minute we heard about it, my hubby mixed up his magic potion of the juice of a lemon, a teaspoon of Vitamin C crystals, raw honey to make it taste nice, and warm water to fill the cup.  Stir vigorously and drink! 

After we gave it to the neighbor I remember wondering if he would even take it.  You know how teenagers are sometimes. 

The next morning we got a knock at the door.  There was our neighbor boy, asking to learn how to make the magic potion, because he had felt so much better after taking the lemon/honey/Vitamin C mixture.   There’s nothing like suddenly feeling better after getting a head cold or flu.

Our friend, Walter, swears by his practically instant sinus and cold remedy.  This is eating one whole lime.  He eats the whole lime, but I think you can squeeze all the juice into a cup and drink it.  Others have tried it successfully.  Personally I would dilute this with a glass of water and some raw honey (which is also good for the throat).

Another of my favorite remedies for the flu and cold is to get lots of extra sleep.  Plus if you can get fresh carrot, parsley and apple juice your cells will really benefit. 

Have fun beating the flu!

Lyn

PS  ARE YOU SICK AND TIRED? Lack energy, feel fatigued, tired of catching the cold or flu, suffer with arthritis, pain, chronic disease, hormonal imbalance, emotionally drained or feeling depressed? Gaining weight and can’t stop?  POWER START your day with over 30 Superfoods, Veggie & Fruit concentrates and a Complete Protein Shake. Doctor Recommended – 35 Clinical Research Studies. Jump-Start your health today. A strong immune system is never a disadvantage. Email gethealthy@gmail.com, leave me your phone number and message and I’ll call you back.  Let food be your medicine.

Do you have the six hidden hazards in YOUR home?

June 2012 issue of Consumer Reports Canada lists six hidden hazards in your home as:

• household cleaners
• old lead-based paint
• invisible killers: carbon monoxide and radon
• combustion of particles or gases
• interior mold
• air fresheners, candles and incense
  

Here are some of the highlights I got from the article.

Most cleaning products are not safe, including some “green” labels. For your own DIY cleaner, mix 1 tbsp of vinegar or lemon juice with 1 quart of water. Clean toilets with baking soda or vinegar and a brush. Baking soda can help get rid of odors on rugs or carpets. Sprinkle it on, wait 15 minutes and then vacuum.

Lead-based paint is the most significant source of lead poisoning in the US, found in older homes. Have a paint chip analysis done by a professional to be sure. Lead paint is extremely dangerous for children. Have an EPA-certified painter remove it.

Radon and carbon monoxide cannot be seen, smelled or seen, but both are deadly. Radon comes from the earth beneath your home, and is the leading cause of lung cancer. The only way to know you have them is to test for them. Install a carbon monoxide sensor, and make sure it has new batteries. Test for Radon. (Note:  I’m not sure exactly how you test for Radon.  If someone knows, let us know.)

Don’t let anybody smoke in your home. Clean your chimneys each year.

To me, this next one is one of the worst and insidious items on the list.  Mold and bacteria can spread from a home humidifier, bathroom exhaust fans, and even clogged gutters where the water seeps into the house. (Note:  Although Consumer Reports suggest treating small areas with a solution of 1 part bleach with 16 parts water, eye mask and respirator, we suggest that an Ozone generator is very safe, effective, and more efficient for larger areas.)

Air Fresheners are extremely dangerous because they contain phthalates which are linked to cancer and reproductive problems plus tons more. Even though manufacturers are cleaning up their products, we still can’t trust them, so get rid of all air fresheners in your home. Scented candles can trigger asthma attacks and allergies. Get rid of them too and watch your health improve.

Don’t wait, clean up the Six hazards asap!

Lyn

 

Easy Coconut Chocolate Squares

This recipe is easy, healthy, gluten-free, dairy-free, uncooked, and very yummy!  Even the kids can make these squares.  There are lots of options.  Let us know how yours turn out.

Ingredients: 

½ cup maple syrup (or honey, or ¼ of each)

¼ cup coconut butter (room temperature so it is soft)

¼ cup cocoa powder (can use carob powder but cocoa tastes best)

1 tsp cinnamon

½ cup natural peanut butter (or almond butter but peanut butter tastes best)

1 cup quick oats (or 1 cup dried coconut to make it gluten-free – or even add some ground flax seeds)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup sesame seeds (or hemp hearts)

½ cup unsweetened coconut

½ cup walnuts or pecans (or pine nuts)

 

Mix all ingredients together.

Spread the batter into an 8 x 8” pan lined with paper or plastic and place in the refrigerator to harden.

When it is hard, remove from the pan. Cut into squares and store in the freezer.

Our family likes to eat these as a treat directly from the freezer. They taste amazing.

Have fun in the kitchen!

 

 

 

 

Use a Chemical Roach Killer?

I was cleaning out the cupboards of our rental home the other day, and among the toxic household chemicals I threw out was a spray can of Baygon Roach Killer.  See the other items I threw out here.

I looked at it, and knowing what a problem roaches are here in Central America, the fleeting thought came to me that this stuff could really be useful. Being pest-free sounded nice.

BUT ….. this can boasts that it kills instantly (mata al instante), and is more powerful than ever! It is for scorpions and cockroaches. On a closer look, here is what you really need to know.

This is an aerosol insecticide made in Mexico and the ingredient list on the back is so small you can hardly read it without magnification.  The active ingredient is “cipermetrina” or cypermethrin. It warns to cover all food and to keep it away from your eyes and flame. You need good ventilation for the treated area for 30 minutes. Warning: this affects the central nervous system, causes irritation, dermatitis and paralysis.

In reading the MSDS for cypermethrin, it says “Exposure may cause irritation to eyes, mucous membranes, upper respiratory tract and skin;  Exposure may also cause the following: effect fertility and/or unborn and breastfed babies; somnolence; convulsions, seizures or tremor; salivary gland changes; motor activity changes muscle contraction; urine volume increase; immuneresponse decrease; proteinuria; hypoglycemia; blood clotting factor changes.”

If this roach spray can cause this list of conditions, is it really worth using in your house?  Would you want to put your kids or animals, and especially yourself at risk?  Infertility and hormonal disruptors are becoming alarmingly more common, and chemicals like this are contributors to the problem.  You never know the longer term effects of this chemical in the body.

Bugs and ants in the house are a terrible nuisance and it does take persistence to get rid of the problem.  They often have a route that they enter the house – through the wall or a crack somewhere.  I recommend making a custom natural killer for any kind of bug you might be faced with.

The EPA of the United States recommends natural approaches to keeping critters out of your house.  You must clean up spills and crumbs immediately.  Close up all bags of food and don’t leave them open lying around. Eat at the table so you keep food crumbs in one place. Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink, and always cover the trash, being careful to empty if often.  You must be meticulous and consistent in order to starve them away.

Here are some natural recipes that I will be using if I need them here at this house.

Recipe 1  Ingredients:  Baking Soda, icing sugar and water.  Mix equal parts together into a paste, so the roaches can feed on this and also take back to their nest.  This will make them bloat up and die.

Recipe 2 Diatomaceous earth, which you can buy in the hardware store or garden store.  When the roach eats this, it will destroy their shell/skeleton and cause them to shrivel and die.

If we find we need roach killer, I’m planning on following the EPA’s kitchen cleansing protocol first, and then using one of the above recipes if necessary.  Until that time comes, the Baygon roach killer is gone, never to return.  By the way, if you friends find a better solution, please let me know. 

Getting healthy together! 

Lyn

 

 

 

 

 

Beet-Lovers Easy Yummy Salad

Beets are a very healthy superfood for the whole family.  In my kitchen, they are especially useful because they store so well, and don’t go rotten on you before you have had a chance to eat them.  But wait till you hear the best part, just in case you need convincing. 

Beets are a good purifier and cleansing vegetable which helps to detox the liver, gallbladder and kidneys.  Juicing beets helps with lowering blood pressure.  Beets contain Vitamin C, as well as lutein and zeaxanthin which are good for keeping your eyes healthy. Beets help with purifying the blood, and also help with anemia and constipation.  Whenever I juice vegetables, I always add a few beets because of the overall health benefits.  After all, whole foods contain so many nutrients that the the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.  Every organ of the body can benefit from a really nutrient-dense and tasty food like beets. 

1.  Here’s my recipe for my favorite raw beet salad:

Grate 1 large beet (peeled) and grate 2-3 apples.   The beets you must grate, but the apples you could chop very finely.  Sprinkle with the juice of a lemon.  Mix together and serve. Optional: Add 2 tbsp chopped red onion.

2.  Here’s my recipe that is sure to make Beet-Lovers of your whole family!

Preparation:  Boil up a pot of beets, skin them and put them in the refrigerator for eating withing within the next 3 days. 

Ingredients:

4 smaller or 3 larger cooked Beets – chopped in cubes

3 ripe tomatoes – chopped.  I usually use Roma Tomatoes with this recipe.

1 avocado – cubed

1/2 cup parsley leaves – chopped finely

1-2 clove garlic – chopped finely

Mix all 5 ingredients.  Add a dressing made from juice of 1 lime, 2 tbsp honey, ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tbsp plain natural yogurt, s & p to taste.  Note:  You might have to add a little more honey if it is too tart for your family. 

Yours, for nutrient-dense foods.  Lyn