Mid-summer salad

Late last summer I was looking through some of my cooking magazines wanting to make a summer salad or at least get an idea for making one. I found one that looked appealing but upon reading the ingredients didn't like all that was in it. So I took most of the sauce and two of the ingredients and went to work. Now this salad might seem weird but it is so wonderful and very healthy.

1 cucumber
2 med to large tomatoes
1 to 2 peaches or 3/4 to 1 caned peaches
2 1/2 Tble. Extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 Tble. Ginger paste
3 Tble. Lemon Juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Chop fruit and Veggies however you like and combine in a bowl. Then in a small bowl combine olive oil, ginger paste, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Mix sauce together and poor over fruit and veggies and toss together.

I would call this a summer salad but you can really make it year round to go with almost anything. You could also take this sauce and put it over any leaf salad as well.
Note: The picture is not exact but you get a rough idea.

Dedication

I want to dedicate this blog to a few people.

First to my mother the "Granola girl" as she calls herself. Through my life she has inspired me to first look at what I could do naturally before going onto, as we call these days Western Med.

Secondly to the love of my life who inspired me to write a blog about something I was passionate about.

And thirdly to my son Tristan who I love so dearly and who just by existing inspires me everyday.

Immune Deficiency

This time of year, as you know people around you are sick or getting sick and no one likes to be sick around the holidays. So here are a few tips on how to boost your chances of staying well, and for getting better if you do get sick.

First off (and this might be a well duh but) Wash your hands often it doesn't even need to be an antibacterial soap just wash your hands with warm soapy water, and Drink plenty of fluids. OK now that I have mentioned the obvious lets move on.

Most people know about Echinacea but this immune boosting herb shouldn't be taken everyday. After 10 days your body basically stops knowing what to do with it, its a 10 day on 10 day off regimen. So I recommend Astragalus. It can be taken everyday to help deep Immune support and you can find it almost as easily as Echinacea. It can also be found in a alcohol free tincture for kids or adults.

Exercise, get some circulation going in your body. Doing this allows for stress reduction, and stronger, healthier body.

We all know stress is one way to make sure you get sick, so take a load off and reduce your stress meditate, try yoga, at night instead of having an alcoholic beverage try a relaxing tea with Valerian or linden flower in it, or any nice herbal tea you like that doesn't contain caffeine

Take alternating hot and cold shower in the morning this will really get your circulation going and not to mention wake you up.

A really good thing you can do for yourself not just in the cold and flu season is to eat healthy lots of fruit and veggies. Watch how much sugar you eat, to much sugar lowers your bodies ability to fight off bacteria, viruses, fungi and other harmful organisms.

Now should you get sick Here are a few things you can do.

Take a nice warm bath with no more than 5 drops of Lavender Essential oil (if this is for a child only 2 drops, for an infant only 1) The heat will relax your body and make you sweat, sweating is good it allows the toxins to clear your body. If you have access to a steam room this is ideal, but be sure to drink plenty of water to replace the fluids your sweating out.

Do a steam inhalation of peppermint Essential oil only 1 to 2 drops is needed as this is a strong oil. Start with one and then use another if necessary. If you don't like Peppermint you can use Rosemary or Eucalyptus but don't use these oils at night as they are stimulants. For a steam inhalation at night or anytime use Lavender Essential oil again only 1 to 2 drops.

Homeopathic Remedies have helped me when nothing else could. You can find these in natural food stores and I would suggest you look at the symptoms that go with each remedy and pick the one that works for what you have. I use one for allergy's when the regular over the counter ones made me so dehydrated despite drinking allot of water.



Something I tried last time I got sick, along with the homeopathic remedies, to shorten the duration of my cold was "Umcka" made by nature way. Umcka is a African herb that helps shorten the duration of your cold and helps with the symptoms as well. I was over my cold in about 3 days.



Needless to say there are allot of things you can do to stay healthy and to assist in getting well once you have gotten sick. But before I end this post I wanted to include a few last minute herbal supplements to help give that little extra push



Siberian ginseng

garlic (pill or cook)

Cayenne pepper capsules (major Vit C.) but take with food because you will, as I can only describe have a volcano in your throat.

golden seal

Emergent-c or any other electrolyte/ Vit C drink mixture.

Daily Multi Vit.