Common Cold Remedies

Caught that cold everyone has? Here are some tips to get rid of that pesky visitor.

Rest – The number one must to get rid of your cold. If you can’t find the time to rest than that little bugger won't go away. Being well rested helps your body direct it’s energy toward the immune battle against your cold. Help out your immune system by taking the time to lay down. That means if you are a busy mother and time is almost extinct in your life try to lay down when the little one if down for a nap. The pile of laundry and sink full of dishes can wait. They may be waiting for a while but they can wait. You need your rest!

Vitamin C – Pick-up some Emergen-C, convenient little packets of 1,000mg of Vitamin C and a bunch of other vitamins and minerals. Easy to use: dissolve in a glass of water and drink up! Comes in a variety of flavours. I personally like Lemon-Lime, but they are all tasty. You can buy them about everywhere these days; health food stores, pharmacies, grocery stores. Vitamin C boosts your immune system, reduces the intensity and duration of cold systems.

Water – When you are sick the membranes of the respiratory tract become super dry. A dry throat invites unwanted organisms to settle and reproduce. Drinking water will keep your throat moist, prevent you from becoming dehydrated and help break up congestion. Recommended: 8-10 eight-ounce glasses of water daily for the average adult.

Oil of Oregano – This stuff tastes vile but it works! Oil of Oregano is an excellent early defense mechanism when you feel a cold or sore throat coming on. If you are already sick, it will help clear up sinus congestion and will boost your depressed immune system.

Garlic – Garlic appears to shorten a cold’s duration and severity due to its immune boosting capabilities and antiviral, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. You can take the odorless tablet form or you can eat it in its raw form. If you are choosing the latter make sure to chop or mash the garlic to release it’s active component, allicin, which only forms when in contact with the air.

Salt water gargle – Again like the Oil of Oregano, gross but effective. The salt draws out the mucosa in the throat and the gargle eases the irritation in the throat. Try half a teaspoon of sea slat dissolves in 8-ounces of warm water 3-4 times daily.

Remember, the key to avoid getting sick is to build a strong Immune System. Read my: Top 5 Immune Boosters 

Cool Stuff:  For a FREE sample of Emergen-C visit: Canadian residents and US residents 

The information presented here is not intended to replace professional medical care when needed. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for disease diagnosis, therapy choice, medicine selection and dosage.

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GIVE the GIFT of Wellness this Holiday season! My Wholesome Home Gift Certificates are now available. 

Choose from a variety of services or simply a numeric value. 

To ensure delivery before Christmas please order by December 15th. 

For more information: e-mail: melissa.macchione@bell.net  call: (416)272-6006

Beautiful Beets: Benefits and Recipes

I'm really feeling the abundance of root veggies in the markets this time of year. I especially have been drawn to beets. Perhaps it's a subtle signal from my body that my liver needs some extra care as I have been under some stress the past couple of months. It is no secret that beets are your liver's best friend. They improve your liver by thinning bile and allowing it to flow through the liver and into the small intestine more freely. Bile breaks down fat and stimulates peristalsis (digestive tract muscle contractions that move food along) it also reduces the risk of forming gallstones. Beets also protect against cancer, Alzheimer's and osteoporosis and neural tube defects in babies. They are filled with a respectable amount of goodness.

Nutrition Value of Beets: Per 100 gm

Vitamin A : 20 IU

Thiamine : .02 mg

Riboflavin : .05 mg

Niacin : .4 mg

Vitamin C : 10 mg

Calcium : 27 mg

Iron : 1.0 mg

Phosphorus : 43 mg

Fat : .1 gm

Carbohydrates : 9.6 gm

Protein : 1.6 gm

Calories : 42

Juicing  

My all time favourite way to eat beets is actually by drinking them because of the instant energy boost I get. A study led by the University of Exeter, published in 2009 in the "Journal of Applied Physiology," reported that beet juice may have the most benefits when it comes to improving athletic stamina. Not only has beet juice been found to help boost athletic performance, but the vegetable has also been linked to helping those with lung and heart problems and aiding in general overall health. 

Nitrates

The Exeter-led study pointed to the benefits of nitrates, concluding that they boost a cyclists's endurance by 16 percent. Nitrates are helpful to athletes because they quickly bring oxygen to muscles, essentially making the hard efforts easier. Consider a glass of beet juice as part of your pre-workout meal.

More Benefits of Beet Juice 
Helps stimulate the function of liver cells and protect the liver and bile ducts.

Effective in the treatment of acidosis as it is an alkaline vegetable.

Can help relieve constipation

Beet juice and carrot juice when combined is excellent in the healing gout, kidney and gall bladder problem.

Recipe: Liver Detox Juice

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2 Beets (with tops-optional), scrubbed and cut into pieces

2 Carrots

2 Apples

3 stalks celery

1 wedge of lemon

1-2 inches of fresh ginger root

Milk Thistle (optional)

Considerations
Everybody is different. Some people find Beet juice (especially when the tops are juiced) to be very powerful with sometimes uncomfortable detoxifying effects (dizziness, mood swings, fatigue). This is common as toxins are being eliminated from your body. Slowly increase the amount of beets from ½-1 medium size beet to 1-2 whole when making your juice. Be sure to drink plenty of water as well to help the toxins leave your body.

When eating red beets you may notice a red color to your urine or stools. Don’t be alarmed it’s just the red colour, betacyanin, from the beets.

Tip:
Save the green leafy tops as they can be cooked like swiss chard, rapini (see picture below), spinach or similar dark leafy greens. Beet tops are rich in beta-carotene, folic acid, chlorophyll, potassium, vitamin C, and iron.

Recipe: Sautéed Greens

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1 bunch dark leafy greens washed (choose 1 or more of the following: rapini, beet tops, swiss chard, dandelion, spinach, black kale)

2-3 large garlic cloves sliced or whole

1 tsp dried red chili pepper

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1) Steam greens until tender in vegetable steamer

2) Heat oil in medium sauté pan

3) Add garlic and sauté until tender

4) Add greens and toss

5) Add chili, salt and freshly ground pepper; toss.

6) Sauté until greens are nicely coated with the oil and spices.

7) Serve with fresh artisan bread. Yum-oh!

The information presented here is not intended to replace professional medical care when needed. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for disease diagnosis, therapy choice, medicine selection and dosage.