aloe vera

            INTRODUCTION
       
             Aloe Vera, known also as  burnt plant, sabila, lily of the desert, aloe, etc, has curative effects that are beginning to be acknowledge by modern medicine. Aloe Vera is a species of succulent plant, it originated in the southern part of the Arabian peninsula, grows in arid areas of India and Africa.

             Aloe Vera can be grown at home in a pot, use a well drained sand potting soil, expose it to plenty of sunlight, in warmer and dry climates can be outdoors, but as the weather gets colder and rainy bring it indoors.

              Benefits

• Aloe Vera is beneficial in the treatment of first and second degree burns. Wash affected area with cold water, apply fresh gel, cover with sterilized gauze and press, in few minutes the gel will be absorbed by the skin, reapply if needed.)
• Aloe Vera is also very effective in the treatment of minor cuts and abrasions. After cleaning the affected area apply topically.
• This plant has anti-fungal properties. Apply topically.
• Aloe Vera is a moisturizer, many facial tissues have Aloe Vera, it reduces  chaffing of the nose. Also is effective on chaffing lips.
• Aloe Vera juice contains Germaine, which enhances the action of oxygen in the body. Supplements of Germaine are used as cancer remedies and for immune restoration.
• Aloe Vera is one of the best kidney tonics, it has a soothing and cleaning effect.
• Aloe Vera is rejuvenating for the liver, spleen, intestines and female reproductive organs. 
• Aloe Vera is linked with improved blood glucose levels in diabetics.

      

soups

pumpkin and ginger magik

• 1/2 cup a mixed of split yellow peas, split green peas and split red lentils
• two cups of pumpkin, diced
• 1/4 cup of ginger, grated
• 1 cup of cabbage, chopped
• 1 leaf of kale, chopped
• about 1/3 cup of seaweed (arame and kelp)
• 6 to 8 cups of water
• parsley to garnish       

• place split peas mix in water, bring to boil, cover, lower the heat and cook for30 minutes'
• in the meantime soak seaweed in water for 15 minutes
• add vegetables including seaweed to the split peas and simmer for 25 minutes or until peas and vegetables are tender
• serve and garnish with chopped parsley.

potassium

        Potassium is a mineral extremely important. It is required for normal neuromuscular function, as well as for essential metabolic activities. Potassium naturally balances the metabolic action of sodium. When the potassium/sodium ratio is balanced then the body fluids and the acid/alkaline balance is stable, then our muscles and nerves function properly.
            When potassium is deficient in relationship to sodium we'll experience weakness, slow reflexes response and the muscles will lose their tone. It is very unusual to find an excess of potassium in relationship to sodium, specially in America where sodium is overused, not only as table salt but as an additive to cereals, canned foods, ( vegetables, prepared foods etc). 

• To balance excess salt you can use potassium reach foods, green leafy vegetables, most fruits but specifically bananas, soy products and legumes.
• Whole foods in general contain more potassium than sodium.
• Only in shellfish we find a higher content of sodium in relationship to potassium.
• Alcohol  depletes your body of potassium. After a hang over eat a banana.
• The kidneys have a very low ability to retain potassium and usually between 10 and 15% of potassium is lost in  urine, even in the face of deficiency. 

   

some recipes

witch's potion

   1 cup of red cabbage, shredded                   
    1/3 cup of ginger,sliced
    3 medium size beets,sliced
    1 sweet potato
    6 baby carrots
    2 plantains, sliced
    4 garlic cloves
    seaweed (kelp and wakame)
    6 to 8 cups of water

• bring water to boil
• add ginger, beets, sweet potato and kelp
• cook for 10 minutes
• add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 25 minutes
• sprinkle with chopped cilantro

 personally I like to add seaweed to my soups, it replaces salt very nicely and as you'll find out in our next post, seaweed is rich in minerals and chlorophyll.

boosting your immune system

                   October is almost over, the days are getting shorter and colder, the trees are showing shades of yellow, orange and red. Soon their limbs will be naked. Winter is approaching fast. The flu season is upon us. This is the time to boost our immune system and prepare to confront the cold and dark months ahead.

                    Winter can be fun and enjoyable indoors and outdoors. We have to prepare our body and mind. We'll begin with some important tips and follow up with a basic description of our immune system and how does it work.

•     This is a time to become more introspective, to rest and meditate. At the same time it is important to continue being physically active. Exercise is as important as good eating habits.      

•     Warm and hearty soups, whole grains and roasted nuts, winter green vegetables fortify the kidneys. 

•      Salty and bitter foods cool the exterior of your body, a cool surface will help you to endure the cold and bring body heat deeper.

•       Pungent flavors among other things provide protection against mucus conditions as the common cold.

•       Bitter flavors also are helpful for inflammations and infections.

           We'll give some examples of foods according to their flavors.

•        Pungent flavors: cayenne, scallion, garlic and chamomile, excellent to stimulate sweating during the common cold. Ginger and cinnamon are hot pungent flavors  excellent for overcoming coldness, these herbs are warming for a long spa of time, on the other hand cayenne and other peppers are very warm but after half an hour or so their effect is reversed and become cooling.
•       When you come home feeling cold after being out in the rain or snow a cup of ginger tea with honey will warm you up. Also very effective for chills.
•        Pungent foods: cabbage,turnip, radish, consumption of these foods raw will maximize their benefits but they are still excellent slightly cooked. 
•        Hot peppers and  chillies protect the lungs, better if raw. Smokers should take advantage of their benefits. 

•       Salty foods:  Salt, miso, seaweed, soy sauce, millet.
•       Salt is a controversial substance, nowadays presented in very refined, denatured  manner like sugar, pastas and pastries. we'll present a detailed analysis of salt in the next chapter.    

•       Bitter foods: lettuce, watercress,asparagus, celery, oats, quinoa, amaranth 

•       Bitter herbs: burdock root, horsetail and chaparral.  

                                                                                                                                                                                      

on the road to a healthy you.....

     Each individual will follow its own pathway depending on its lifestyle, attitude and personality. Every action has a reaction, when you are on a dietary transition your body will experience biochemical changes at the cellular level, as you introduce new foods and discard others your body will eliminate toxins and sometimes you might experience some tension. Don't worry there are just temporary healing reactions.

• Fat and muscle are shed at an equal rate during weight loss, thus the importance of exercise so you shed the fat and retain and develop the muscle.
• Meats and fats slow the digestive process.
• A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes has an overall cleansing effect.
• Reduce meat consumption. 
• Salt should be reduce or discard completely, seaweed is an excellent alternative to add to soups and other dishes.
• Avoid calcium inhibitors such as coffee, soft drinks, refined sugar, alcohol, cigarettes and other intoxicants.
•  

some thoughts......

     People tend to believe that "home remedies"are the poor man's response to alleviate minor ailments, but if you live in the western world and you can afford a doctor you don't need to waste your precious time with herbs and concoctions that sound more like witchery than medicine. A M.D. will give you the right prescription and you'll get the rapid and perfect cure that you deserve with  just a magic pill.

       Natural healing using whole foods and herbs is not just a new age fad but the study of ancient East Asian practices thousands of years old. There are no "magic potions", just an understanding of how our body works and how different foods work together or block each other to help us achieve balance. Yin and yang are the principles that guide our philosophy, their duality yang active and yin passive creates the whole and that principle repeats over and over in nature.

•      This blog will help you understand how to improve your health and stay young and active into your eighties. Just remember that nothing happens overnight, change takes time and effort.   
•      I'll begin describing the essentials of nutrition and how to make a smooth transition to a healthier diet, it is a slow process that involves certain biochemical  reactions taking place within each cell, old toxins will be released as part of the cleansing process.
•      I suggest always to act with caution, when introducing or replacing certain foods. Use small quantities and watch how your body responds to the new food.
•      Please don't hesitate to ask questions, I'll try to answer them.
•      Remember that exercise is a key factor, diet and exercise are the foundation of a happy life. 
•      Soon our new friends in Montreal will be able to participate in our seminars "IHealthy", for information contact us at  thegoodwitchforeveryoung@gmail.com