We are living in a world filled with choices. What to do, where to eat, what to wear, which team we support, which color suits us best, which avocado is the ripest...And each morning when we open our eyes, we are blessed as we rise to yet another day filled with choices awaiting. A fresh day is always a good thing. Give thanks!
Choices surround us be it at work, school, coffee, outfits, music, dinning, color... generally with everything and in anything
YOU have a choice.
So then, how are you living? Do you consider yourself
healthy? Are you
happy or simply content with your
life?
Our diet and lifestyle affects how we live our daily lives and it all reflects on your body as well as your skin. It is important to get into a routine of exercising daily for at least 30-45minutes. But that does not mean you can indulge in poor eating habits. Exercising gets the blood flowing and the muscles active, remember the most important exercise is to
breathe. Exercising does not have to be vigorous or looked at as a chore, unless you are a professional rugby player! Your body will thank you in the long run for taking care of it. People tend to think that exercising is only for certain people or a certain pedigree of person. Exercising is compulsory to humanity and mankind, it also promotes a healthy heart as well as brain.
Food + Exercise = Balance. This is common sense as well as food for thought.
Being practical in how you live your life is key. Stop blaming the food, start taking control of your life and diet you are in charge of your body, it is your temple, honor it, respect it, nurture it and most importantly
listen and answer it wisely. Walking for instance is a great exercise and clearly well needed to travel from point A to point B. How about walking to the grocery store instead of driving?
Walking
is a refreshing alternative to complicated aerobic routines and
overpriced gym memberships.This activity will melt away the pounds, tone
your flabby bits and leave you on an emotional high. Because walking is
a weight-bearing exercise, it can also help prevent the bone disease
osteoporosis...Life is good!
There are also tote bags that are comfortable and strong enough that are great to carry your groceries in, some are even fashionable! Investing in tote bags is a smart and
eco-friendly choice. Include children in a brisk walk to the grocery store, introducing exercise at an early age encourages children to be more active. Walking is actually fun and can lead to an adventure such as a berry picking escapade and a delicious organic reward of a blackberry pie, smoothie or jam with your find afterwards.
Human beings have become so conflicted and have earned more trust in computers and machinery as opposed to humanity, humans are under the impression that the planet needs saving when in reality it is mankind that needs to be saved.
Love is the key ingredient to any successful recipe including life. When you include love in anything you do it will be more beautiful. Love is ultimately a choice and so is happiness these two go hand in hand and balance out one another include love into your life it is a choice that is completely rewarding, it feels good, it is uplifting and it is attainable. Did you know also know that
kissing releases endorphins? Endorphins make you happy!
ECO- FRIENDLY, FUN AND HEALTHY CHOICES...
- When
cooking, instead of adding salt to the boiling water try to flavor the
water with chopped parsley instead. The phytonutrients released into the
boiling water also get absorbed into your food. Definitely a better
choice over salt! Parsley provides nature’s best carotenoids and is a
nutrition powerhouse.
- Making Healthy snacking choices is vital for
your well being. Did you know that hummus is very rich in protein and it
can help fight hunger cravings and balance blood sugar levels? This
could in turn help curb excessive snacking.
- Cotton remnants make great homemade wash cloths, baby wipes, dish cloths, napkins...Don't be wasteful. Everything means something.
- Fact not fiction about Parsley and coriander herb/spice which is a
healthy, natural and holistic alternative to mouth wash. Parsley and
Coriander are rich in the green pigment known as chlorophyll which
because of it's alkaline properties cleanses the body in a generic
sense. Chlorophyll attacks the bacteria of the mouth thus rendering
them ineffective it also possesses detoxifying abilities.
- Make your own greens at home. It is cost
effective and better for you. Invest in some glass bottles, jars and
conatiners instead of plastic which is dangerous. Always re-cycle and
exercise green and eco friendly ways to live your life. Do your part and
be a caring citizen of this planet. Think clean and green.
(i) Eat Fresh, healthy and Organic Food.
Recently my friend and I were exchanging recipes about food and life. It was refreshing as I consider him to be an excellent cook as well as person. We share a common love and respect for food, people, life and culture. Collectively we decided to call this blog entry Kitchen Pharmacy because we both agree that food is our medicine and it does sustain us. Many people blame food for their health issues when really, the root of the problem begins with an individual and most times is self inflicted by poor choices and lack of exercise. Every plant and animal on this planet was created with intent. How we live and how we treat our selves both inside and out will reflect and will determine your health and lifestyle, so it is important to listen to your body, honor it and treat it well. You have to live with what you did all your life, that is why you ought to be careful about what you do. The older we get the more we need to pay closer attention to our diet and exercise. Like my Father says,"Accept your age and chose to age gracefully." That is very true, there is nothing more sad and depressing than a person who denies his or her age. Old is gold!
As my friend and I continued on our long hike we joke, talked, laughed and enjoyed the beautiful views. We later sat down under a tree and enjoyed some fresh fruit that we had packed and continued exchanging recipes and ideas about food and nutrition. There was like always surplus information and so we came to the conclusion that the Kitchen is our Pharmacy with endless prescriptions. At the bottom we compiled a few creations and some of the beneficial values. 
Fresh tuna steaks cubed and marinated in seasoned spicy lemon juice...
FACT: Beets are a super food that contain a super anti-oxidant that fights cancer and reduces inflammation. Besides that Beets are also good for...Improving blood flow, which increases endurance during a workout. Purifying the blood and also cleansing the liver. Beets have been proven to lower blood pressure and reverse hypertension, they could also help to deliver oxygen to the parts of your body that need it, even the brain. Beets carry an aphrodisiac effect as they contain high amounts of
boron, related to the production of sex hormones, they are also high in
fiber,vitamin C, folic acid and contain sodium, magnesium,
calcium, iron and phosphorous. Folic acid aids in physical healing and is truly really excellent for pregnant women. Beets are great for mental health, as they contain betain which aids in depression, they are the sweetest vegetable, high in good carbohydrates as well
as low in calories and will most certainly give you the right kind of
energy. Beet it up!
Studies show that cultures that eat the most spicy food have much lower
incidence of heart attack and stroke. Potential reasons being that chili peppers
can reduce the damaging effects of LDL (bad cholesterol) and capsaicin may fight inflammation, which has been flagged as a risk factor for heart issues. Research also shows that hot chili peppers actually protect the stomach lining and
may prevent the gastric damage associated with anti-inflammatory
painkillers.
Our bodies are naturally designed to filter
through toxins and self-heal, but we have seriously compromised that
ability by polluting the air we breathe, eating non-organic
pesticide-laden foods and bathing as well as drinking tainted and unfiltered water.
Take for example rosemary. This herb has been hailed since ancient times
for its medicinal properties. Rosemary was traditionally used to help
alleviate muscle pain, improve memory, boost the immune and circulatory
system as well as promote hair growth. It is also a good source of iron, calcium and vitamin B6. In Europe rosemary is often used to help treat indigestion.
Cabbage also is is a powerful vegetable highly nutritious and also very common and affordable. It is also rich with vitamin K and anthocyanins that help with mental function and concentration. A recent
Study on women showed a reduction in breast cancer when cruciferous
vegetables such as cabbage were introduced or added to their diet. 
Everything that God put on this planet he put so we could enjoy. It says so even in the Bible...
There are actually better and healthier breakfast options such as Oatmeal, fresh squeezed orange juice, fruit, bread, eggs...Listen to your body it is talking to you.
Cleansing your body by drinking and or eating pure as well as exercising is a remedy that most of us can benefit from. Many herbs, fruits and vegetables can also help us cleanse our systems of excess salts and metals that we are ingesting into our bodies everyday.
CANTALOUPE: Intake of cantaloupe has recently been found
to lower risk of metabolic syndrome. It also contains more beta-carotene
than alpha-carotene. Researchers have
shown that intake of cantaloupe phytonutrients can improve insulin and
blood sugar metabolism. In a study that included more than 50,000 women
whose ages ranged from 45 to 67, it was found that those who consumed
high amounts of vitamin A on a daily basis reduced their risk of
developing cataracts by as much as 40%. Aside from being a significant
source of vitamin A, cantaloupe is also a great source of vitamin C,
which strengthens your immune system by stimulating the white blood
cells which are responsible for killing viruses, bacteria and other
foreign elements that seek to enter your body.
