SORREL (Rumex Acetosa, R. Scutatus)

The zippy, lemony taste of sorrel leaves is unique among herbs. Its leaves are long, arrow shaped and are refreshingly acidic and are brilliantly used especially for sauces and salads. Unfortunately, it is not very commonly known and is rarely stocked at shops.

Image Source

It is a hardy perennial. When planting, keep it in mind to establish a permanent patch to offer a year-round supply. It should survive the winter. Even if the leaves may die, the plant will bounce back in spring. In fact, since we planted ours some years ago, we have never needed to re-plant it. Fingers crossed for the coming years too.

To maintain your sorrel patch, simply, harvest regularly as the leaves will regrow. It is better to consume when the leaves are nice and young especially eating raw but can still be used when they grow much larger, particularly chopped and added to some cooked meals such as some soups and stews.

Sorrel is rich in Vitamins A and C, fiber, iron and potassium. There are studies to suggest that it is used in cancer prevention. It is also claimed that sorrel improves digestion problems and is helpful in lowering blood pressure. Sorrel is also helpful in improvement of eyesight and the immune system. The consumption of dried sorrel leaves stimulates urination and therefore can act as a diuretic which is helpful in cleaning out the kidneys.

It is recommended that sorrel is only consumed in smaller amounts as its oxalic acid can be toxic and can also contribute to the growth of kidney stones.

Sorrel in my son's lunchbox

How we consume it:

• Simply as raw salad leaves or snacks. 

• We cook a green lentil soup and add it to the pot at the end, soon after turning off the stove. 

The recipe of the green lentil soup that we use sorrel with is below:

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, chopped finely.
1 clove crushed garlic (optional)
1 table spoonful of tomato paste (optional)
1/2 cup of boiled and drained chickpeas (chickpeas can be prepared in advance as boiled chickpeas can be stored in the freezer)
1/2 cup of boiled wheat (optional)
1-1,5 cup of boiled green lentils
Olive oil
Salt
Chilli flakes (optional)
Some boiling water
A handful of coarsely chopped sorrel leaves

Method:

Fry onion and garlic in some olive oil. Add paste. Once the onions are soft, add the lentils and keep stirring for a few minutes. Then add boiling water (about 3 times the level of lentils in the pot). Add the chickpeas, wheat, salt and chilli flakes and cook on slow heat for approximately 10-15 minutes. Then turn off the stove and quickly add the sorrel leaves. Stir a few times to make sure they soak. Then it is ready to eat.

Guest Post: HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARLIC

When discussing the aromatic personality of garlic, the question remains, would you be willing to smell a little like this potent herb if you knew that it has gobs of health benefits?  Many would answer yes when they consider what this miracle food does.

Photo: Home of Homemade Treasures

For centuries, garlic has been prized around the globe for its distinct culinary taste and the wonderful flavor it adds to many sophisticated dishes.  Additionally, because of its sustainability, garlic has been shipped and traded across long distances.

Now scientists from several countries, including France, Italy and the U.S., are confirming the plethora of health benefits gained from garlic, specifically because this herb helps to facilitate detoxification and acts as a powerful antioxidant, stimulating immune responses and reducing inflammation.

Studies are finding that the components in garlic, called Allyl Sulfides and Bioflavonoids, may be key to lowering incidences of heart disease and cancer in those who consume large amounts of it.

Many of our modern-day cancers are thought to be caused by damage to DNA, often induced by environmental toxins. A study conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found that eating a teaspoon of fresh garlic a day increases the levels of a key enzyme for removing toxins in the blood cells.

Clinical experiments have shown that regular consumption of garlic decreases calcium deposits and the size of arterial plaque in coronary arteries, prevented unhealthy blood clotting and improved the circulation of the subjects who were studied.   

What's the Magic Behind Garlic

Garlic produces a chemical called Allicin, which is what seems to make garlic work. Allicin also makes garlic smell. There is a lot of variation among garlic products sold for medicinal purposes. The amount of Allicin, the active ingredient and the source of garlic’s distinctive odor, depends on the method of preparation.  

Garlic also has germanium in it. Germanium is an anti-cancer agent, and garlic has more of it than any other herb. In lab tests, mice who were fed garlic showed no cancer development, whereas mice that weren't fed garlic showed at least some. In fact, garlic has been shown to retard tumor growth in human subjects in some parts of the world.

Taking Garlic for Health Reasons

Current research has shown that garlic not only has major impact on cancer prevention, but it also reduces the risk of other major maladies. Not surprisingly the presence of all these antioxidants in garlic have a very positive effect on the immune system in general and can therefore protect the body against all types of bacterial and viral attacks. Allicin has been shown to not only lower blood pressure, insulin and triglyceride levels in laboratory animals fed a sugar rich diet, but also to prevent weight gain.   

Garlic is an invaluable medicine for coughs, difficulty of breathing, asthma, hoarseness and other disorders of the lungs because this herb promotes expectoration.  The positive effect of garlic on your circulatory system is extremely well documented and it has been proven to decrease platelet aggregation,plus it stimulates the production of nitric oxide in the lining of blood vessel walls, a substance that helps them to relax. As a result, garlic helps to prevent arteriosclerosis and thereby reduces the risk of heart attack and strokes.  Finally, because garlic is famous for reducing inflammation, the herb is an excellent natural remedy for those suffering from arthritis.

Garlic is one of the most valuable and versatile foods on the planet. Known as one of the oldest medicinal plants, garlic is a widely recognized health enhancing supplement, and if you can stand the odor, is considered one of the best foods around to promote your well-being.

David Novak is a international syndicated newspaper columnist, appearing in newspapers, magazines, radio and TV around the world. His byline has appeared in GQ, National Geographic, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Reader's Digest, USA Today, among others, and he has appeared on The Today Show, the CBS Morning Show and Paul Harvey Radio. David is a specialist at consumer technology, health and fitness, and he also owns a PR firm and a consulting company where he and his staff focus on these industries.  He is a regular contributing editor for Healthline.com.  For more information, visit here.   

PURSLANE

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a very special summer vegetable due to its nutritious values. It is a real survivor as a plant and grows like weed. The succulent (juicy) stem keeps it from drying out. If someone decides purslane is an "invasive weed" and uproots it, it uses the water in the stem to make seeds before it dies, and soon there'll be even more purslane. 

Purslane is very high in Omega 3. In fact, no other green leafy vegetable contains as high Omega 3 fatty acids as purslane does. It is good for lowering blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. It is very low in calories but a rich source of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and copper. It is because of these minerals that purslane is related to bone health, and it may be an excellent food to include in your diet to help maintain strong bones. It also  contains some vitamins (mainly vitamin A, vitamin C, and some vitamin B andcarotenoids).

Purslane can be consumed raw or cooked (Watch this space for some easy and tasty purslane recipes). The stems, leaves, flower buds and even the seeds are all edible. However, consumption of high amounts of stems, just like high amounts of spinach, may cause some health issues such as kidney stones due to the high levels of oxalate in them.

An interesting fact: At night, purslane leaves trap carbon dioxide, which is converted into malic acid (the souring principle of apples), and, in the day, the malic acid is converted into glucose. When harvested in the early morning, the leaves have ten times the malic acid content as when harvested in the late afternoon, and thus have a significantly more tangy taste.

Photo by Tulin Ertuncay

VINEGAR FOR FROST-FREE CAR WINDOWS

Here in Australia, we are far from having frosty nights. In fact, we are currently rather worried about keeping ourselves safe from fire dangers due to the extreme and continuous heat in most parts of the country. However, I know my readers are not only from Australia and also, this is a tip that needs to be noted for the days when it will become handy even if it is not now.

If you would like to prevent your car windows from frosting, coat them with a vinegar solution overnight (3 parts white distilled vinegar to 1 part water).

Have a safe day!

TIP: Removing Stickers

Use white vinegar to take off stickers (from toys, glass, car windows etc). First, wet the corners of the sticker with some vinegar and then using a hard piece of card (bank card, telephone card etc), start taking it off.

You can use more vinegar for the rest of the sticker and use a soft piece of cloth to take off anything that is left on the surface. First make sure the vinegar stays on the surface a bit before you clean it with the cloth.

BANANA PEEL TO WHITEN TEETH

Nature has it all! 

I have recently come across with the picture below and it made me think once again that it could be possible and it could be this easy. Has anyone tried it before or is anyone planning to give it a go? 

POMEGRANATE

Pomegranate is definitely one of my all-time favourites. I normally consume it as a fruit even though I can never say no to some freshly squeezed pomegranate juice either.

Pomegranate fruit has many tasty and beneficial seeds and each seed is surrounded by a sac of sweet-tart juice contained by a thin skin. There are layers of seeds which are separated by paper-thin membranes.

After opening the pomegranate by scoring it with a knife and breaking it open, the seed casings (arils) are separated from the peel and internal white pulp membranes.

I love the sweet and/or savory taste as well as the watery texture, and the delicious dark red colour of it. However, I am also aware of its health benefits which makes me even more interested in this particular fruit. Below is some useful information on pomegranate which is used as fruit, juice, in syrups, sauces, in medicine, ink making, dye making, vinegar and so on.

Health benefits of pomegranate:

Especially in India, the rind of the fruit and the bark of the pomegranate tree is used as a traditional remedy against diarrhea, dysentery and intestinal parasites.

The seeds and juice are considered to be a tonic for the heart and throat.

The flower juice, rind and tree bark are believed to be useful for purposes such as stopping nose bleeds and gum bleeds, toning skin, (after blending with mustard oil) firming-up sagging breasts and treating hemorrhoids.

Pomegranate juice (of specific fruit strains) is also used as eyedrops as it is believed to slow the development of cataracts.

Pomegranate has been used as a contraceptive and abortifacient by means of consuming the seeds, or rind, as well as by using the rind as a vaginal suppository.

Pomegranate aril juice provides about 16% of an adult's daily vitamin C requirement per 100 ml serving.

It is a good source of vitamin B₅, potassium and natural phenols, such as ellagitannins and flavonoids.

Pomegranates are listed as high-fiber in some charts of nutritional value

 Its edible seeds supply unsaturated oils.

Pomegranate may be effective in reducing some heart disease risk factors.

Juice consumption may also inhibit viral infections.

Claimed to provide antioxidants.

Pomegranate extracts have antibacterial effects against dental plaque

The peel of pomegranate fruit may be used as tea to treat diarrhea.

LEMON AS A CLEANER

Here are some tested and recommended ideas for you to use lemon as a natural cleaning agent:

• Put 2-3 lemon halves (could be used lemons) into your kettle. Put water in it. Boil the water in the kettle a few times  at night and pour the water out in the morning.
• Clean your stainless steel pots with lemon halves. Just rub the pot with some used or unused lemon and then wipe it with a damp cloth. 
• Vinegar and baking soda/bicarbonate soda mixture makes a great polisher for your stainless steel products such as kettles, teapots, stainless steel pots. You can replace vinegar with lemon if you like. 

RECIPE FOR CONSTIPATION

This recipe best works for infants and babies. If your little angel is suffering from hard stool, don't just sit down and cry with her or give her medicated laxatives. This recipe is a natural remedy for constipation in babies.

Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar
30ml warm water

Method:
Mix the brown sugar and water well and give it to your baby.

Use this mixture only in 24 hours and only 3-4 times.

There are also some other things you can do to help your child regardless of the age of her overcome constipation:

• Massage the belly (you can use olive oil to massage with)
• Prunes are great laxatives. Depending on your child's age and readiness, you can give her the fruit itself or the juice of it.
• High in fiber foods 
• Plenty of liquid (especially water)
• Excercise (especially the types that involve abdominal muscles). 

Note: The recommendations here are not to replace any doctor's advice. Seek professional help when the symptoms resist. 

HOMEMADE HAIR CARE PRODUCTS

The best way to look after our hair is achieved by using natural and organic products. Here are a few of the many natural, affordable and easy homemade hair care options for you.

Almond Oil
Pour some almond oil into your hand and massage your hair with it. Cover it up for half an hour or so before washing it.

Mix 1 table spoon of honey with 1/4 cup of honey and half a cup of natural yoghurt. Use this mixture to massage your hair with. Leave it on for approximately 20minutes and then wash it off.

Honey
A mixture of equal amounts of honey and olive oil makes a great healthy conditioner for hair. After applying it to hair with some gentle massage, cover it up with a towel or a shower cap and wash off after half an hour later.

Egg
Add about two spoonfuls of water into two eggs and mix it well before applying to the hair. Wait for 15 minutes and then wash it off.

Olive Oil
Makes a great hair moisturiser and hair mask. For soft and shiny hair, by massaging, apply a teaspoonful of olive oil to slightly wet hair. Apply it particularly to the ends of your hair by rubbing and cover it up for 30-45 minutes and then rinse.

Avocado
Make a mixture of mashed avocado and honey and rub in on your hair for another wonderful homemade hair mask.

A NAPPY CHANGE TRICK

As a mother of two, I know how challenging it can get to change a baby's nappy. If you are a mother or a father of a young child, there is no doubt you'd (or will in the near future) know what I am talking about. Here is one of the tricks that I use which does not fail me in most cases.

Have a colourful pair of baby or kids socks (or with an attractive pattern like a monkey face) on your baby's hands (no, there is no typo here. I do mean 'hands', not feet). In my case, Miss Junior mastered taking off her socks from her tiny feet in a few seconds a while back and it is not a 'long term' distraction anymore. So, at this stage, I generally cover her hands with a pair of socks and it often amazes her and keeps her busy for a while whilst I change her nappy. You may need to do it a few times until the operation (!) is complete but as long as your bubba is happy and it allows you the time to finish off the change, there is no problem with that!

Small bells

Here is my favourite for you: You can make your own silly pair of socks particularly for nappy change times. You don't need to be a great tailor or a dress maker for this. As long as you know how to sew a button roughly, you are professional enough for this project. Just sew up a few buttons randomly or a face like details, small pieces of ribbons, one or two little bells that you can easily find at craft stores etc onto an old sock and during nappy change, put it on over your baby's hand. This will be a great distraction as well as a stimulant for your baby's development. If you like, you can make a few of different ones and alternate as your baby gets used to one.

Enjoy a day when you can change your baby's nappies easily :-)

Note: Make a silly sock and put it in your nappy change bag that you use out and about. This will make diaper change much less stressful when at the shops, in the car, at cafes/restaurants etc.

TIPS FOR PEOPLE WITH NAUSEA

The reason I thought about writing about nausea tips is that very recently, we have suffered from a virus or a case of food poisoning as a family. We have a strong feeling about where exactly it happened on one of our outings but it is a different topic altogether. Like my children's doctor suggested at the time, it is sometimes not as important to know the reason as to know what to do at times like that.

Some of the tips below are personal suggestions and some others are professional advice from experts.

• Eat easy to digest foods (foods that are easy on the stomach)
• Avoid big meals. Instead, eat in small amounts but eat more often.
• Take your time while consuming foods or drinks.
• After eating, sit up for a while as opposed to lying down.
• Avoid foods or drinks that are too hot or cold.
• Avoid foods that are greasy, fried or spicy.
• Try to avoid preparing or eating foods that has a smell that bothers you.

Some foods and drinks that are easy on the stomach and therefore recommended when nauseous are; 

• clear fluids such as clear broth (chicken, vegetable or beef)
• clear liquids that are not fizzy.
• rice cereal
• oatmeal
• crackers
• boiled potatoes
• yoghurt
• cranberry or grape juice
• tea
• water

Here is one of our recipes  that we use to settle the stomach:

Ingredients: 

white rice
salt
water
lemon juice (optional but highly recommended)
ground mint (optional)

Method: 

Boil rice in plenty of water with some salt in it.  Squeeze some lemon in it and if you like, add some ground mint too.

This meal is filling, provides energy, is easy to eat and digest, helps with re-hydration.

Please feel free to share your personal tips or recipes for people who have nausea below in the comments section. 

CORN

Corn from our garden

Corn in different forms has always been a part of my diet since childhood. Most people would love corn chips and popcorn but as for me, I love corn on the comb the most but I also enjoy it in other varieties too. I find it delicious when it is boiled, popped, barbecued and so forth. However, the reason why I would like my children to include corn in their diet is not limited to its tasty flavour. It is also because of all the goodness that it provides.

Corn is a great source of many nutrients.

• High in fiber.
• Good source of vitamins such as folic acid, niacin and Vitamin C. 
• Corn has Vitamin B (Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Niacin, Riboflavin, Folate). It has traces of Vitamin A and Vitamin E.
• Corn is rich in phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, iron and selenium. It also has small amounts of potassium.

Health Benefits of Corn:

Corn;

• is good for skin care
• boosts nervous system
• is good for digestion
• helps in maintenance of low cholesterol levels.
• has health-supportive antioxidant benefits from all varieties of corn, including white, yellow, blue, purple and red corn.
• provides necessary calories for daily metabolism of the body.

Although corn is now available in markets year-round, it is the locally grown varieties that you can purchase during the summer months that not only tastes the best but are usually the least expensive.


A Few Quick Serving Ideas

• Healthy sauté cooked corn with green chilies and onions. Served hot, this makes a wonderful side dish.
• Use polenta (a type of cornmeal) as a pizza crust for a healthy pizza.
• Add corn kernels and diced tomatoes to guacamole to give it extra zing.
• Adding corn to soup enhances the soup's hardiness and its nutritional profile.

Have something healthy today!

MINT

Mint from our garden

There are different types of mint. The most commonly used ones especially in kitchens are spearmint and peppermint.

Mint is rich in Vitamins A and C. It also contains some Vitamin B2. The essential minerals mint contains are manganese, copper, iron, potassium and calcium.

Mint is well known to help with digestion (homemade peppermint tea is strongly recommended. To make this tea, you just need to boil some water and put some fresh mint leaves in it and wait for 5-10 minutes before drinking).

Mint's medicinal properties aren't limited to its aid in digestion. It

• has anti-cancer properties both in preventing and healing and are good antioxidants (antioxidants are good for protecting against cancer). 
• helps opening up respiratory passages and airways, 
• is good for relieving cold and flu symptoms. 
• has proven itself in some muscle relaxation and is calming.
• is used as a mild sedative (no wonder why mint is often used in aromatherapy such as massage oils). 
• is proven to help bad breath problems and 
• crushed mint leaves help whitening teeth (most toothpastes include mint in them). 
• is a very good cleanser for the blood.

Mint is sold both dried and fresh at almost every supermarket these days (if you want to know how to make ground mint at home, click here). Fresh mint can stay for upto a week when put in water and the water is changed regularly. However, I really like it when they are 'really fresh'.

We grow some mint in the garden and I can easily claim that they are one of the easiest herbs to grow in a pot or on a garden bed. If interested, let me know and I can write about how to grow mint in the future. Also, let us know how you consume mint. You can either e-mail me (contactmrslucky.gmail.com), or just click 'comments' below and write there.

A HOMEMADE REMEDY: SALT GARGLE

This is another homemade remedy that we have included in our lives as a family (except for Miss Junior for the moment). When we notice that there is an indication of a cold or flu, especially when there is a sign that a sore throat is on the way or is present, we go to the kitchen, just put some salt in a cup of drinking water, go to the bathroom and gargle. Hard to believe but yes, it is that easy!

We taught Mr. Junior how to gargle when he was about 2 years old and since then, he does it too.

These are the possible reasons why it is good to use salt gargle:

• SALT SUCKS: A salty water solution can draw excess fluid from inflamed tissues in the throat, making them hurt less,
• SALT CLEANSES: gargling also loosens thick mucus, which can remove irritants like allergens, bacteria and fungi from the throat. 
• gargling tends to attenuate bronchial symptoms

What I do and recommend everyone else to do as well is that you gargle with this salt solution when;

• you come back home from a place where you were likely to be contaminated with a bacteria or virus (eg. from a doctor's clinic-waiting areas are likely to contain quite a few types of germs and can pose a risk especially during winter)
• you experience some respiratory infection symptoms such as a cold or a sore/itchy throat
• especially during cold times when there are many people affected by respiratory infections, even if you don't experience it at the time, use this remedy for prevention purposes.

I also strongly recommend that you gargle before you eat so that you clean your mouth before you push things down with food as you eat. 

Below are some suggestions by an article that was published in NYtimes (here) on September the 27th in 2010:

• dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a full glass of warm water and gargle the solution for a few seconds before spitting it out.
• It is also suggested that for a better result, gargling three times a day is recommended.

CHIA

This is another type of seed that we have been consuming since we came across with it a few years ago. We were really impressed when we learned that it contains really high levels of Omega-3.

Health benefits of chia seeds:

• Reduces blood pressure
• Energising
• Helpful in
• Reduces pain and inflammation (helps with arthritis as these seeds help lubricating joints)
• Helps stabilising blood sugar
• Boosts metabolism and promotes lean muscle mass
• Helps cleansing the colon, absorbs toxins
• Contains 20% protein
• Provides high levels of antioxidants
• They absorb large amounts of water and are good at hydrating our bodies
• Has essential fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6. They help to improve brain function including memory and concentration), fiber, iron, calcium, niacin, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus.

According to some sources, chia seeds have three times more iron than spinach and fifteen times more magnesium than broccoli.

How to use:

You can sprinkle chia seeds on your yoghurt, cereal, or salads. It is possible to use them in sandwiches. They can also be added into smoothies or soaked in drinking water. I personally don't enjoy it soaked in water as it becomes jelly like and I don't quite enjoy that particular texture but we are happy to include it in many types of our foods as a family. They don't really have a distinct taste or smell.

Have a healthy day!

HOW TO STOP SWEARING

Many people swear for different reasons at different levels. However, most people would agree that it is a bad language and can be an unwanted habit. The suggestions below are for people who believe they have a bad habit of swearing and would like to do something about it. It is never easy to break a habit but it definitely doesn't mean it is impossible.

Here is a fun strategy for you: Every time you feel like/want to/need to swear, just use a tongue twister instead! I will be sharing with you some tongue twisters on my facebook page (Why Bee) but lets get you started right here, right now with a few examples:

• Toy boat
• Irish wristwatch
• She sells sea shells on the sea shore
• Betty Botter bought a bit of butter
• Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers

If you believe that the above suggestion wouldn't work for you, then try this one: everytime you need to swear, just give yourself a gentle pinch on the arm or pat your lips with your hands once or twice. 

Lets see what else may work for you. Every time you are about to swear, just say 'beep' instead. So, it goes like this; Beep off!, You are a beep!, Beep!

Replace the swearing word with a good word such as 'pretty' or 'marvelous'. I know it will feel funny to use a 'good word' when you are upset and swearing due to your frustration but give it a try and you never know, this may be the one doing wonders for you. 

You can also try not to swear during the day and then indulge in using the words you kept to yourself during the day when you are all alone at night if it will make you feel better. 

Alternatively, if you can't stop it on the spot and a swearing word slips out of your mouth, then punish yourself with the hope that it discourages you the next time. For instance, every time you swear, you have to give a certain amount of money to your partner, put money into your child's money box or better yet, donate! This strategy may work for you when trying to break your habit of swearing. 

Give yourself some reasonable time limit. For example, 30 days for breaking a habit may be effective but you need to use a habit breaking strategy at all times during that time.

Don't forget, it is very expectable that there will be some initial pain and discomfort but it is a normal stage of breaking any bad habit. Just believe in yourself and pay attention to it for a while. Consistency is the key!

GOJI BERRIES (WOLFBERRY)

The first time I ever heard of 'goji berry' (also known as 'wolfberry' but there is an argument about the name of it. Some say that goji berry is the commercial name to wolfberry, while some others argue that they are originally two different foods) was approximately about five years ago. I used to work with some adult students from all over the world (lucky me!) at the time. Many of my students were well educated and some used to work as doctors, teachers, scientists, engineers, opera singers, producers etc in their home country.

One day, as I was having a conversation with some of my Chinese students one of whom was in health science, the topic came to some certain foods and dried goji berry was the heart of the topic. It took my attention quite a bit as all of the people originally from China (or Tibet) that were in that group talked about it quite highly and passionately. The lady whose occupation was doctor also told me so much about its health benefits which made me even more interested. Those days, I didn't even know where I could get them from and but I was told that most health stores and Asian groceries stored them. At the time, through those lovely people, I was able to access to those berries but later on, I had no issues finding them at a local health store. I have actually noticed in more recent years that even some well known franchised supermarkets stock them in their health food section where the packaged nuts and other snack foods are. I must admit I have come across with one or two articles which claimed that today's goji/wolf berries aren't the same as the ones they claim to be this beneficial, but overall, they do sound quite attractive to me and it has taken its place in our diet on and off for almost 5 years now.

Now, lets look into the claimed medicinal properties of wolfberries/goji berries.

Wolfberries are termed a superfruit. They have a high level of vitamin C. Some test results show that goji berries contain antioxidants and therefore they may prevent the growth of cancer cells, reduce blood glucose, and lower cholesterol levels. Goji berries are used mainly to protect the liver, help eyesight (which was emphasised quite a bit by my students at the time as well), improve sexual function and fertility, strengthen the legs, boost immune function, improve circulation and promote longevity.

In regards to the consumption of it, I was informed by my students at the time that I should have approximately half a dozen (about 6-7) dried goji berries a day. They can be added to some foods or some people make tea out of them. However, I was also told that I could just eat them raw too which is what we do. I was also asked not to eat any goji berries when I experience any symptoms of an upcoming cold or flu. They said, during that time, wolfberries should not be consumed.

Enjoy!

MANUKA HONEY

Manuka honey is a 'must' for us at home. Even though it originates from New Zealand, the first time we learned about it was when Mr. Hubby and I were on a holiday in a beautiful tropical city of Australia, Cairns, about 5-6 years ago. Since then, we cannot do without it especially during cooler days when we are more prone to colds and bacterial infections.  We simply have a large teaspoonful generally in the morning when we feel that we are coming down with a cold etc (Note: when I say we, I exclude Miss Junior in this paragraph as she is too young to have honey yet. Please refer to my post titled WARNING: NO HONEY FOR BABIES -published on 11/11/2011- before deciding on whether to use honey for your children or not).  Below is some factual information I've found after researching for detailed information on active manuka honey.

Manuka honey is a form of monofloral honey that’s created by honey bees as they gather nectar from the flowers of the manuka bush (Leptospermum Scoparium).

It is possibly the oldest known medicine. Aristotle (384-322 BC) said, "It’s good as a salve for sore eyes and wounds" and Dioscorides (50 AD) referred to it as "Good for all rotten and hollow ulcers".

In New Zealand, Professor Peter Molan of the University of Waikato believes manuka honey is as close as you'll get to a medical magic bullet. According to a source, he says: "When it comes to serious infections, Manuka honey is particularly valuable because it has a much better anti-bacterial activity than other honey. When I cut my finger with a chainsaw quite deeply, quite a wide cut, I just put honey straight on it, wrapped it up and kept on working for the rest of the day — there's not a mark on it".

 According to professor Peter C Molan (MBE) BSc (Hons) Wales. PhD Liv. from New Zealand's University of Waikato, "It works on bacteria, fungi, protozoa. We haven't found anything it doesn't work on among infectious organisms."

Active Manuka honey is claimed to have 100 times more medicinal properties than the ordinary table honey. They have ratings and 10+ and higher are better than the ones with lower activity ratings such as 5+. 

Manuka honey is a healthy healing option and is often used for;

• Skin ulcers, wounds, boils
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Stomach aches, ulcers and related conditions
• Ulcerative colitis
• Heartburn
• Sore throats, strep throat & colds
• Gum disease
• Acid reflux disease
• Esophagitis
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Gastritis
• Cold & flu symptoms & more

HOMEMADE TOOTHPASTE

I haven't tried this myself yet but am looking forward to getting the chance to do it soon as we are still not quite sure whether Mr. Junior's commercially claimed 'safe for kids' toothpaste is actually as safe as they claim it is. You may also prefer it for other reasons such as its much lower cost when compared with the packaged toothpastes. Here is a few homemade toothpaste recipes for you or your children (only if your child knows how to spit out and does not swallow it):

Ingredients:

• glycerin (vegetable base would be good)
• sodium bicarbonate (baking soda/bicarb/bicarbonate) (which has antibacterial properties and helps whitening teeth)
• hydrogen peroxide (has foaming action and helps to break down 
• some natural flavouring oil (for freshness: peppermint or fennel oil preferred;  tea tree oil can be chosen for its antibacterial properties and doesn't taste bad; or a few drops of cinnamon oil for its delicious smell may be your choice)

Just mix them up (6 parts of baking soda, 1 part of vegetable based glycerin, 1 part hydrogen peroxide solution, flavour to taste) until smooth.

Caution: Both sodium bicarbonate and hydrogen peroxide can be toxic in large amounts. Also, if using for your children, encourage kids to spit out rather than swallowing the paste while brushing their teeth as ingestion of the paste may be harmful. 

Another homemade toothpaste recipe:

• sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
• a few drops of olive oil
• glycerin
• a few drops of natural flavouring oil (peppermint oil etc)

One last recipe for you:

• 1 tsp baking soda
• a little bit of salt (less than the baking soda, approximately 1/2tsp)
• some water
• 1 drop natural flavouring/oil (spearmint, sweet orange, clove etc) (this is optional)

Combine the bicarbonate with the salt and add some water until the dry ingredients' consistency becomes similar to a toothpaste. Then use it like a toothpaste.

Caution: Even though using bicarbonate is a good way for skipping the chemicals in regular commercial toothpastes, it can damage your tooth enamel if used often due to its natural abrasive qualities. You should only use it for your teeth once or twice a week. In addition, do NOT use baking soda if you wear braces or a permanent retainer for it dissolves orthodontic glue.