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The Top 9 Health Benefits of Ginger – Grab Some Today!

September 16, 2014 1

ginger health benefits

by Beth

Ginger is an incredibly versatile food that has been used by many cultures for thousands of years. From Africa to China,from Nepal to the Philippines, it is a root that is used in food and drink, ranging from ginger sodas to curry dishes. There is a reason why this amazing root is so widely used.  In addition to being a delicious ingredient, it also offers many serious healing properties.  Let’s take a look at 10 of my favorites:

1. Ginger contains the minerals zinc, chromium, and magnesium, which have been proven to increase circulation and help regulate body temperature.
2. Ginger aids digestion by increasing the secretion of digestive enzymes, from both the stomach and pancreas.
3. Ginger has been proven to be more effective than dramamine at settling the nausea associated with motion sickness.  To this end, it can also assist pregnant women who suffer from morning sickness.
4. Ginger has been shown to have antibacterial, as well as anti-inflammatory properties, helping to cure sickness and alleviate pain. Just 1/4 inch thick slice of ginger, either cooked in food or prepared in a tea, has been shown to significantly reduce the pain from arthritis.
5. Ginger inhibits the growth of cancer cells, both ovarian and colorectal, as shown by studies executed at the University of Michigan and Minnesota, respectively.
6. In certain parts of the world, women claim that ginger mitigates the pain and discomfort of menstrual cramps.
7. Ginger can help stimulate the appetite.
8. Ginger acts as an anti-flatulent.
9. Ginger can treat constipation.

As you can see, the benefits of consuming ginger are quite numerous.  Before you decide to grab Dramamine, Tylenol, or the antibiotics, try some ginger out first and you may be pleasantly surprised at the result!

Who Knew? A (Very Effective) Natural Food Poisoning Remedy

July 31, 2014 0

honey

It’s summer, and that means more fun, sun, and BBQs! We’ve all encountered that time where you’ve just finished a scrumptious meal, and all of a sudden, you don’t feel very well. Your stomach is rumbling, you’re starting to feel weak, and you know what’s coming next, and it won’t be pretty. We’ve all wished for a natural treatment for nausea and the unmentionable after-effect, but it seems like there’s never anything on hand that ultimately stops what’s happening in its tracks, unless we take a chance on the pink stuff. Who knows what’s even in it! Here’s a great recipe for nausea relief that you’ll almost always have on hand – especially if you love Italian food!

Our bodies are filled with many different strains of bacteria. As we grow, we are exposed to more and more kinds of bacteria, and either our immune system fights them, or we get sick. Getting sick is how we obtain antibodies and can more effectively fight off the bacteria the next time we are exposed to it. The first line of defense against bacteria is our skin. But how do we protect what we consume? That’s where our stomach comes in. Our healthy stomach contains many types of “good” bacteria, like L. Acidophilus, which we can supplement with yogurt and kefir to beef up our stomach’s immunities.

There are times though, when our stomach’s bacteria is outnumbered by the bad bacteria, such as E. Coli, Salmonella, and the most common, Campylobacter. All of these bacteria cause some not-so-nice symptoms, and can be treated with just two food products that you eat on a regular basis to reduce the symptoms, or completely fight the bad bacteria. It is used often in my house, and we often times treat ourselves, and then go on about our day like nothing happened.

So what are these two miracle foods?

Honey

Honey is amazing in all forms. The best kind of honey is raw, which you can pick up just about anywhere these days. It is highly antibacterial, and is the first punch of this knockout formula.

basil

Basil

Basil?! Yes, basil! It is one of the most powerful antibacterial foods out there for food poisoning (alongside garlic) that helps knock out those bad bacteria that make us feel awful. Here’s the recipe:

Honey-Basil Food Poisoning Treatment

All you need to do is juice a bunch of basil, which usually makes a couple tablespoons’ worth. Don’t underestimate the power of this awesome juice – a little goes a very long way! Then just add 1 tablespoon of raw honey, and sip until it’s gone. If you’re still having some bouts of nausea after 15 minutes, or it goes away and then returns, drink another round.

If you don’t have a juicer laying around, you can put torn up basil leaves in 3 tablespoons of yogurt, with a pinch of crushed black pepper, and eat three to four times for the remainder of your day.

Once you feel your stomach is settled enough, sip on some peppermint tea to soothe any stomach cramping you may still be experiencing.

Here’s to hoping you never have to use this secret recipe, but make sure to bookmark it in case you do!

Winter in May? Going Green to Beat the Winter Blues

May 12, 2014 0

Winter in May How to Green Your Winter Blues

NOTE FROM SWEET GREENS: This post, Winter in May? Going Green to Beat the Winter Blues was written by Jenna. Jenna is a freelance writer who focuses on personal finance, eco-lifestyle, and health.

I know that a lot of you around the country are still dealing with winter – snow in May, no fun! Even if you don’t officially suffer from Seasonal Affect Disorder, dealing with the prolonged winter is difficult for anyone. Sure, you appreciate the break in the heat and the cooler wetter days when it first arrives but as it drags on—especially since snow in May isn’t rare anymore—it’s easy to get gloomy. It is important during the last dregs of winter that you take steps to keep your mood and your home as easy to live with as possible.

Believe it or not, one of the best ways to deal with the winter blues is to go green or “green up” your home. Seriously! Think about it for a second: going green helps improve the overall environment in your home, which can improve your mood. It also, often, helps reduce your utility costs (which tend to spike in winter as you run the heater and keep the lights on longer) which reduces stress. So what, specifically, should you do to green up your home for winter?

1. Go Green Literally

Plants are a fantastic addition to any home. They scrub the air, making it healthier to breathe. They also add moisture to the air, which is always helpful during the winter when the air—even when it’s raining—is drier than it is during the summer. Beyond that, there’s the decorative factor—bright green plants add a great decorative touch to a room. Plus, you can always go to a retailer like Willis Orchards to buy palm trees or other organic tropical plants and flowers and pretend you’re at the beach!

2. Daylight LED Bulbs

People who are diagnosed with Seasonal Affect Disorder are usually told to spend some time each day sitting in front of special “sunlight” lamps. These are lamps that are designed to replicate the light and warmth of sunlight and have proven quite effective. They can also be quite expensive. There are, however, cheaper alternatives that you can find with a little investigating. Daylight simulation LED bulbs can be bought piecemeal from most home improvement stores. These are different than sunlight lamps in that they don’t mimic the warmth of sun, just the sun’s light. Look for LED bulbs that are at least 2,000 Kelvins though 5,000 Kelvins is better. Put these bulbs in lamps around your home—it will look like the sun is shining indoors.

Note: LED bulbs are more expensive outright but they save tons of money over time and are better for the environment!

3. Air Flow

During the winter, we tend to bundle up—both our persons and our homes. We latch the windows and close the doors, trying to keep every iota of cold and dry winter air out. It’s understandable that you don’t want to pay to “heat the outdoors.” At the same time, spending copious amounts of time in a stuffy room can do just as much to sour our moods as not getting enough light. Fresh air is important! It’s amazing how we don’t notice the air flow much at all until the air around us just sits still!

There is ducting that you can install in your home to keep air flowing year round, even when the windows are closed. Or, you can simply open your windows a few times a day to let some fresh air inside. There are a couple of ways to do this: you can do this in the late morning or early afternoon when the air outside is warmest. Or, at night when you’re going to bed, you can open the windows in rooms like your kitchen or living room—rooms that won’t need to be reheated right away.

These are just three of the things that you can do to “green up” your home to help combat those winter doldrums. What are some of the things you’ve been doing?

 

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