GARLIC – SO MUCH MORE THAN FLAVORING!

I can’t imagine preparing a meal without garlic!  But garlic is so much more than a flavor enhancement!  Just as some foods can harm our health, others have the ability to heal and garlic is one of those foods.  

Image by Kenny Point VeggieGardeningTips Flickr.com

Garlic’s healthful and healing properties are numerous and go back thousands of years.  It has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-parasitic properties, which make it a powerful remedy for colds and flu.  It also eases ear infections and may relieve asthma symptoms.  It is an effective, broad-spectrum antibiotic, which can heal infections.   In World War II, garlic earned the nickname “Russian Penicillin” because it was used when the Russian soldiers ran out of penicillin for their wounds. 

Research has shown that garlic can boost the immune system and help prevent some of the conditions associated with aging.   It has also been shown to lower cholesterol and thin the blood, which may prevent high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.  And there is increasing evidence that garlic may reduce the risk for and treat certain cancers.

It doesn’t matter how you consume garlic to benefit from its healthful properties – raw, cooked or as a supplement (good for massive doses or if you don’t like the odor).  When my children were sick with a cold or flu, I cut slivers and put them between apple slices for them to eat.   They didn’t like it, but it definitely lessened the severity of their sickness.  Make sure you cut garlic finely to release the protective compound allicin and cook only lightly so that beneficial compounds aren’t destroyed.

Garlic is abundant this time of year – I’ve found some wonderful, pungent new varieties at the Farmer’s market.  September is the time of year to plant garlic for harvesting next summer.  It’s easy to do – simply put several cloves in your garden and wait.  You’ll be nicely surprised!

Add lots of garlic to your diet for a healthier you!

Information compiled from The Doctor’s Book of Food Remedies and The Healing Home by Gina Lazenby.

Anti-infection Garlic Soup

This soup is a great preventative if you feel a cold or flu coming on, but also works if you already have an infection.  It tastes good too!

2 Tbs olive oil

1 head garlic, peeled, separated and chopped

1 box organic chicken broth, or enough to make a quart

1 medium bunch parsley, coarsely chopped

In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat.  Add the garlic and cook, stirring for 1 to 2 minutes, or until softened.  Add the chicken broth and parsley, and bring to a boil.  Lower the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.  Drink a cup of soup every hour.

Recipe from Melissa Wood, ND, a naturopathic doctor in San Antonio, Texas

 

GREENER ALTERNATIVES TO CHLORINE BLEACH

 Chlorine Bleach is one of the most effective clothes whiteners and disinfectants, but it can be toxic. Chlorine (Cl₂) is among the ten highest volume chemicals manufactured in the United States. It is used in cleaning products and as a bleaching agent and was the first poison gas to be used as a weapon during World War I.

Chlorine bleach releases dioxin, furans and other organochlorines into the air. Low level exposures, mostly through inhalation, can cause wheezing, sore throat, shortness of breath and cough. With higher levels of exposure, you can experience chest tightness and bronchial spasms.  Studies have shown a relationship between long-term dioxin exposure and kidney, bladder, pancreatic, and other cancers. If chlorine bleach gets on the skin or in the eyes, chemical burns can result.  As with most toxins, children are more affected than adults.  And, of course it eventually finds its way to the water table.

So, what is a safer and effective alternative to chlorine bleach?  Several items right in your kitchen cupboard, like vinegar, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, borax, washing soda, (not mixed together however!).

Here are two recipes for bleach from Leslie Reichert’s Joy of Green Cleaning.

Laundry Bleach

1⁄4 cup borax 1⁄4 cup vinegar 1⁄4 cup hydrogen peroxide

Heat the vinegar in the microwave for 30 seconds. Dissolve the borax into the vinegar, and then add the peroxide right before adding to the wash. The peroxide will not stay active for very long so you add it to the mixture right before using it.

Old Fashioned Laundry Whitener

Winter – This is an old remedy that will remove spots from your clothing when all else fails. Wet the clothing that has the spots with water and place it outside in the snow on a sunny day.

Summer – Wet the clothing with water and 1⁄2 cup lemon juice. Place outside in the sun and the combination of the lemon juice and sunshine will bleach the clothing a bright white.

If you don’t want to make your own bleach, Seventh Generation, Ecover, Bi-o-kleen, and Earth Friendly Oxo brite have great products.  They can be found at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and some conventional supermarkets.

Information compiled from: http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/emergency/chemical_terrorism/chlorine_tech.htm, http://healthychild.org/issues/chemical-pop/chlorine/, http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2007/10/02/consider-these-environmentally-friendly-alternatives-to-bleach/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATURAL TEETH WHITENERS

We all want a beautiful smile with pearly white teeth, but years of drinking tea and coffee, smoking or just plain aging can discolor teeth.  Teeth whitening is popular right now, especially since so many celebrities are doing it, yet whitening teeth is not a new discovery.  It was practiced in Greece and India for thousands of years.  The Greeks actually used urine to whiten their teeth and as a disease cure.  While there are many more modern products today, some are safer than others.

Harsh bleaching agents used to whiten teeth can burn the teeth and wear down tooth enamel, erode gum tissue, or get absorbed into the body through the lining of the mouth.  Hydrogen peroxide is a key ingredient in whitening products, but should not exceed 6%, even when prescribed by dentists. Be sure and check the ingredients of teeth whitening products found on on-line websites – many have been found to burn the lining of the mouth.

One of the most tried and true natural teeth whiteners which has been around for 6 generations is baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, “the only product in use today that was on the original list of products accepted by the American Dental Association”.  Baking soda is safe and non-irritating to all oral tissues; with its gentle polishing action, it removes stains and plaque.  The mild alkalinity of baking soda reacts with and removes substances that stain teeth.  Tests have shown that toothpastes with 60 to 65% baking soda clean as well as conventional abrasives and show much less abrasion.

Another simple and tasty natural whitening solution is the strawberry.   If used daily, strawberries can help rid the teeth of tea, coffee and cigarette stains.  Simply take one medium-sized strawberry, remove the green top and stem, mash it into a pulp and brush and rinse normally.  (Do not store; just mix as needed.)  Eating strawberries when they are in season helps to brighten teeth too.

For healthy white teeth and clean tasting mouth, try the recipe below.  There is a natural alternative to everything.

Soda and Salt Toothpaste

from Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles

1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, finely ground, 1 drop peppermint, spearmint, sweet orange, clove or cinnamon bark essential oil, a few drops tap water

Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly with a toothbrush, your finger or a small spoon until a smooth paste forms.  The paste shouldn’t be too runny; it has to stay on your toothbrush.  Use daily.  Do not store – mix as needed.

Information compiled from  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1304856/Online-alert-toxic-tooth-whitening-kits.html, Baking Soda Bonanza, by Peter A. Ciullo, Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles.

 

For more green tips, please visit greenwithbetsy.com.

 

DO AWAY WITH SMELLY FEET!

Image by ForestMind Flickr.com

One of my readers contacted me for a natural solution to a common but embarrassing problem, smelly feet.  Sweaty feet and foot odor are quite common, especially among dancers, athletes or as the hot weather sets in.  Wearing shoes and socks that don’t breathe or rough, dry skin on your feet can promote foot odor.  Bromhidrosis, foot odor, is due to bacteria that breed and multiply in warm feet, socks, and shoes.  The soles of your feet have thousands of sweat glands that produce perspiration, which can breakdown in contact with certain bacteria, causing an odor.

Bunions, hammertoe, fallen arches, excessive perspiration and odor, or toenail fungus require a visit to the podiatrist.  There are several simple things you can do however, to prevent ordinary foot odor. Clean your feet regularly with a scrubber and soak them in salt to prevent calluses.  Choose open toed shoes or sandals during the summer; otherwise wear leather or canvas shoes, which breathe.  Air them out occasionally in the sun and don’t’ forget you can wash your sneakers!  Avoid shoes lined with solid rubber or synthetic materials. Wear all cotton socks.  Sprinkle your shoes with cornstarch to absorb moisture.

To get rid of foot odor, soak your feet in either white vinegar or tea. Brew 2 tea bags in a pint of boiling water for 15 minutes; add tea to 2 quarts of cool water and soak for about 20 minutes. You may need to do this daily for a week.

Below is a recipe for a foot deodorizer with specific herbs and essential oils known for their astringent and deodorizing qualities.

Foot Deodorizer  (Recipe from Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles)

Ingredients:  Foot tub, 6 quarts water, ½ cup sage, peppermint or rosemary leaves, ½ cup baking soda, 5 – 10 drops rosemary, sweet orange, peppermint, tea tree or eucalyptus essential oil

In a large pot, bring the water to a boil, remove from heat and add the herb of choice.  Cover and steep for 30 minutes.  Strain into the foot tub.  Add baking soda and the essential oil and swish with feet to blend.  Soak feet for 15 – 20 minutes.  Towel dry and coat with moisturizer.  (Coconut oil works great!)

There is a natural solution to everything – good luck!

Information compiled from www.herbal-home-remedies.com, howstuffworks.com, alternativehealth.lifetips.com and Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles

RETHINK USING DRYER SHEETS AND FABRIC SOFTENERS

On our neighborhood walk, I smelled an especially pungent fragrance (and it wasn’t roses!) as we went past someone’s house.  My husband said “dryer sheets!” and of course I then recognized the intense smell.  “I need to write a column on this”, I replied!

Fabric softeners and dryer sheets are some of the most toxic household products.  The chemicals in fabric softeners and dryer sheets are so strong that in order to cover up their smell, they require heavy chemical perfumes (also toxic!).  According to sixwise.com, fabric softeners were created for synthetic fabrics, which also have an intense odor when heated, creating a greater need for more fragrance.

Image by trekkyandy Flickr.com

Dryer sheets and fabric softeners contain the following chemicals, known carcinogens, neurotoxins, allergens and respiratory irritants: Benzyl acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethanol, A-Terpineol, Ethyl Acetate, Camphor, Chloroform, Linalool, Pentane. (I have felt tightness in my lungs and lightheadedness from dryer sheets.)  Fabric softeners are designed to stay in your clothes a long time, which means they slowly release chemicals into the air and through the skin.  Dryer sheets are particularly toxic because they are heated and then released through dryer vents into the environment, as I experienced.

Another problem with fabric softeners is that they can possibly build up in your dryer vent, thereby decreasing your dryer’s efficiency and possibly increasing the chance of a dryer fire.  To test it, see if the vent holds water. If it does, clean it with a mild soap and water with a toothbrush.

What can you use instead?  Baking soda added to the wash cycle or white vinegar to the rinse cycle.  Both will soften clothes, and vinegar eliminates static cling.  Or you can find non-toxic dry sheets and fabric softeners at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.  Shaklee also makes super concentrated non-toxic laundry products called Get Clean using only biodegradable cleaning agents.   And, when the weather is nice, dry your clothes outside for a fresh, all natural smell.  You’ll be glad you made the switch!

Information compiled from sixwise.com, lifenatural.com, The Joy of Green Cleaning by Leslie Reichert.

For more green tips, visit greenwithbetsy.com

Below is a great recipe for fabric softener from Leslie Reichert ‘s The Joy of Green Cleaning.

Fabric Softener

3 cups white vinegar 1⁄2 cup water 1⁄2 cup baking soda 8 drops of your favorite essential oil

Mix the water and the vinegar, and then heat in the microwave for 60 seconds. Dissolve the baking soda into the mixture. Add your choice of essential oils. Use in your wash, just like any store bought liquid fabric softener.

Alternatives

Add 1⁄2 cup of white vinegar, baking soda or borax to the rinse cycle to soften the water and reduce static cling.

THE WONDERS OF COCONUT OIL

 

I have recently discovered the wonders of coconut oil.  For years, we’ve thought that coconut oil is bad for you, but the reality is coconut oil has just the right kinds of fats, the same medium-chain fatty acids found in mother’s milk and essential to optimum health and disease prevention.  Coconut oil is in fact a miracle oil and one of the earliest oils to be used as a food and as a pharmaceutical.  People who live in tropical climates with a coconut-based diet have fewer incidences of heart disease, cancer, digestive complaints and prostate problems.

Coconut oil adds protective and healthful qualities when eaten internally and used topically.  How much do you need?  Two to four tablespoons is recommended daily, obtained from cooking, as a supplement or through the skin. Use coconut oil in all recipes calling for butter, shortening or vegetable oil.   It’s an ideal all-purpose cooking oil and has 100% less cholesterol than butter.   You can also get the benefits from coconut milk which comes in a can and is used in lots of Thai recipes, or from  drinking coconut water, hailed as Nature’s Sports drink.   More potassium than a banana, it helps with rehydration, replenishment and concentration. (I also hear it helps alleviate hangovers.)

 

 

Image from ficusdesk Flickr.com

Coconut oil applied to the skin and hair is absorbed quickly and not only adds luster and shine, but helps with dandruff, blemishes and other skin ailments.  It’s the only moisturizer you need and a must try for winter’s dry, chapped skin!  It is also anti-microbial and a natural germ fighter.

Coconut oil is known to reduce blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.  It stimulates metabolism so that you burn more calories (we all love that) and may promote lower cholesterol.  Coconut oil is a concentrated source of medium-chain fatty acids.  Research has shown that these fatty acids may help prevent and treat a wide variety of diseases too numerous to list here. Recent studies are showing its effectiveness in treating Alzheimer’s disease.

I keep one jar of coconut oil in the kitchen for cooking and one jar in my bathroom for use as a moisturizer.   As with olive oil, make sure you buy extra virgin, expeller pressed. You can purchase coconut oil, coconut milk and coconut water from Whole Foods, Trader Joes or natural food stores.

I highly recommend replacing the fats you eat now with coconut oil.  You’ll be amazed!

 

Information compiled from The Coconut Oil Miracle byBruce Fife, C.N., N.D.  I suggest you buy this easy-to-read and informative book explaining very succinctly the benefits of coconut oil.  It also includes lots of delicious sounding recipes, a few of which I have listed below.

 

Coconut Milk Smoothie

1 ripe banana, 1 cup coconut milk, 1 cup orange juice

Chill all ingredients before using.  Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.  Contains 2 tablespoons coconut oil per serving.

There are lots of variations to this basic smoothie recipe.  Try adding fresh organic berries in place of or along with the orange juice.  For a Pina Colada Smoothie, blend 1 cup coconut milk, 1 cup orange juice, 1/2 cup chopped fresh pineapple. Chill ingredients before using.

Clam Chowder

1 cup water, 1 8 oz. bottle of clam juice, 1/2 cup minced yellow onion, 4 cloves minced garlic, 1 stalk celery chopped, 2 cups diced potatoes, 1 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp white pepper, 1 14 oz can coconut milk, 1 8 oz can minced or chopped clams, 1/4 tsp paprika

In a medium saucepan heat water, clam juice, onion, garlic, celery, potatoes, salt and pepper to boiling.  Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.  Add coconut milk and clams with their liquid.  Cook for about 5 minutes until heated through.  Sprinkle with paprika.  Each serving contains 1 tablespoon coconut oil.  Feel free to add more coconut oil if desired.

Vegetable Beef Stew

1/4 cup coconut oil, 1 lb beef cut into bite size pieces, 1/2 chopped onion, 2 chopped carrots, 3 cups water, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, 2 medium chopped potatoes or cauliflower, 1 cup green beans, 1 tablespoon diced cilantro, salt and pepper

Heat coconut oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add beef and lightly brown.  Add onion and carrots and cook until tender, stirring frequently.  Add water, tomato sauce, potatoes (or cauliflower), and green beans; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Add cilantro and salt and pepper to taste and cook 1 additional minute.  Each serving contains 1 tablespoon coconut oil.

Coconut Cookies

3 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups grated or shredded coconut, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 1/4 cups coconut oil, 3 eggs, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix together flour, coconut, baking powder, and salt and set aside.  Blend coconut oil, eggs, sugar, and almond extract.  Mix wet and dry ingredients together.  Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.  Flatten balls to about 1/2 inch thickness.  Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until pale tan. Transfer to wire racks to cool.  Each cookie contains 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil.

Fish or Chicken with Red Curry Paste and Coconut Milk

Rub red curry paste on fish or chicken; pour ½ to 1 can of coconut milk on fish or chicken to cover.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until done.

Caribbean Coconut Fish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a small sauce pan heat up onions, garlic and butter. Saute for two minutes, pour in tomato sauce and cook for two minutes.

Pour in can of coconut milk, cilantro, lemon grass, salt and pepper.  Turn off heat and let sit.

In baking dish place the fish and pour coconut sauce over top.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes.

Remove foil and bake uncovered 10 more minutes or until fish is fork tender.

Coconut Eggplant

▪                1 – 2 eggplants

▪                3 Tbsp Nutiva Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

▪                2 Tbsp Nutiva Shelled Hempseed

Directions: Chop up fresh eggplant into cubes a bit wider than a french fry– and 2-3 inches long. Place in steamer for 10 minutes until the eggplant is slightly soft, but not over done. Just before the steaming is done, heat up a saucepan to medium heat with several Tbsp of Coconut Oil. Place the steamed eggplant into the hot pan for 3-4 minutes, and add more coconut oil as the eggplant soaks up the oil. Drop in tamari or soy sauce for an extra flavor edge. Turn the pieces over with a spatula so the eggplant cooks evenly

Baked Butternut Casserole | Coconut Oil Recipe

Here’s a great recipe from Nutiva Recipe Club member Marlene Dickerson, from New York.  It’s a delicious vegetarian entrée.  Feeds 6.

Ingredients: 1 large butternut squash
1 or 2 medium to large onions, chopped
1 1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
4 tbs. coconut oil.

Split your squash and place cut-side down on a greased cookie sheet, using 2 of your tablespoons of oil.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.

While squash is baking, sauté the onions and mushrooms in one tablespoon of coconut oil until fork-tender.

Remove from oven, scoop out squash and season to taste.

Place in a greased 9×13 in. baking dish, using the rest of your coconut oil to coat pan.  Spread squash in pan but making two ditches, one on each side.  Place your cooked onion and mushroom mixture into the ditches of the squash. Cover with foil and place in oven for about 15 or 20 minutes, or just long enough to heat the squash.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with mozzarella just over the ditches. Place back in oven just long enough to melt the cheese.

MORE FUN RECIPES WITH COCONUT OIL – BODY CARE RECIPES

If you have tried coconut oil,  most likely you have fallen in love with coconut oil as I have.  As Stephanie Tourles notes in her book Organic Body Care Recipes, coconut oil in Sanskrit means “the tree that provides all the necessities of life”; in Malay it’s called “the tree of a thousand uses”; and in the Philippines, it’s called “the tree of life”.

Have fun trying these easy coconut oil recipes (including personal care products).  I think you’ll discover it’s your “tree of life” too!

Make sure you buy unrefined, virgin oils (Virgin Coconut Oil VCO) made from fresh coconuts, best for making food and personal care products.

Simple Homemade Deodorant

(From therawdivas.com)

Mix in about 1/3 cup each of cornstarch, baking soda, and coconut oil. Drop in two drops essential oil. Let it sit outside in the sun, or melt it on the stove by placing the container in a little hot water. 

Stir it up, and if your coconut oil was solid at your room temperature, let it harden up and just scoop a little out to use it. If your coconut oil was liquid at your room temperature, you can put it in the refrigerator and try to scoop a little out each day. Or you can get a Dixie cup; fill it with the mixed up liquid deodorant and let it harden in the refrigerator. Tear the paper down and apply just like your stick deodorant. You will probably have to store it in the refrigerator during the summer. If it melts and separates, stir it up and refrigerate again.

Basic Cold Cream

(From Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles)

Use for make-up remover or an ultra thick moisturizer.  Perfect for dry winter skin!

1-tablespoon jojoba base oil

7 tablespoons pure vegetable oil (I use coconut oil)

10 drops lavender or Roman chamomile essential oil

In a small saucepan over low heat or in a double boiler, warm the jojoba and coconut oils until the two have completely melted.  Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.  Add the essential oil, then begin stirring slowly with a small spoon or whisk until the mixture begins to thicken and become opaque.  (Mine doesn’t become opaque but works just fine anyway.)  Pour into storage jars and cap. Apply with a soft cloth or your fingers, and apply approximately ½ to 1 teaspoon to cover entire face, throat and décolleté.

Depending on the temperature of your workspace, the product may take a couple of hours to completely set up and attain its thick, creamy consistency.  If you wish, you can place the container(s) in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.  No refrigeration of the finished product is required, but please use within 6 to 12 months.

Crazy for Coconut Balm

(From Organic body Care by Stephanie Tourles)

Recommended for all skin types except for oily and combination; use daily if desired.

7 tablespoons coconut base oil

1-tablespoon cocoa butter

40 drops vanilla or sweet orange essential oil (optional)

In a small pan over low heat or in a double boiler, warm coconut oil and cocoa butter until the butter is just melted.  Remove from heat and let cool 15 minutes.  Add the essential oil and stir to blend.  Pour into storage container(s) and cap.  Allow the mixture to set for 2 hours.  Apply immediately after a bath or shower while your skin is still damp and massage into your skin.  Start with 1 teaspoon at a time since it is highly concentrated.

No need to refrigerate but use within one year.

Basic Moisturizer

You can directly apply coconut oil all over your body.  It only takes a small amount to moisturize and absorbs easily and quickly.  It smells heavenly and is the best moisturizer around!

Supreme Hair Conditioner

Try it on your hair for a supreme conditioner. Put a teaspoon in your hair, rub it in completely and let it sit for 30 minutes.  Follow with your usual wash and conditioner routine.  You’ll be amazed at how soft your hair will be.

RECIPES FOR A SAFER SILVER POLISH

Nothing enhances your holiday table more than silver, china, candles and a beautiful centerpiece of fresh greens and holly. But unless you use your silver often, it is probably tarnished and needs polishing, and if you are like me, you probably don’t have the time to polish silver with all the other holiday hoopla. I don’t like using commercial silver polish anyway, which often contains thiourea, a known animal and probable human carcinogen.  The thought of eating on silverware polished with toxic chemicals is enough to make me not use it at all.

Image by augenbuch Flickr.com

Here are a couple of simple, quick and non-toxic silver polish recipes.

• Fill a sink or a large pan with water.
• Add two tablespoons of cream of tartar and a few strips of aluminum foil.
• Let the silver soak for an hour or so until it is tarnish free.  In the case of badly tarnished silver, you may notice an odor like rotting eggs. (It’s not harmful, but it’s a good idea to open a window.)
• Rinse with water and pat dry with a soft cloth.

I just tried this and my grandmother’s silver looks like new with very little effort!

Another tried and true recipe is:

• Add 3 to 5 drops of peppermint or spearmint essential oil to toothpaste.
• Rub this mixture with your fingertips onto the silver.  As the tarnish is removed, the toothpaste mixture will turn grayish.
• Rinse the silver well and pat dry.

Hints:  Don’t use rubber gloves while cleaning your silver – rubber can actually corrode the finish.  Don’t allow food to stand on your silver.  Always store rolled up in a flannel cloth.

Information compiled from The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier.

Juicing Recipes for Good Health

Recipes compiled from The Complete Book of Juicing by Michael T. Murray, N.D.

Basic Carrot-Apple

This is a simple, basic supernutrient juice which also serves as a base for other vegetables.  Try adding fresh slices of ginger and beets for additional nutrition and flavor.

4 carrots, 2 apples, cut into wedges – Alternate the carrots and apple wedges so that the juice mixes well.

Bone Builder’s Cocktail

This drink is extremely nutrient rich and provides all the necessary ingredients for building bones  - calcium, boron, magnesium, other minerals and Vitamin K1.

3 kale leaves, 2 collard green leaves, a handful of parsley, 3 carrots, 1 apple cut into wedges, 1/2 green bell pepper

Bunch the greens up to push them through the juicer; use the carrots and apple to help push the greens through.

Cherry Pop

Cherries have been shown to be helpful in cases of arthritis and gout.  This drink can also serve as a substitute for soft drinks for children.

2 cups pitted cherries, 1 apple, cut into wedges, 4 ounces of sparkling mineral water

Juice the cherries and the apple.  Pour into a glass with some ice, and top off with the mineral water.

Cholesterol-Lowering Tonic

This juice, along with a diet rich in grains, fruits and vegetables, can lower cholesterol.  The juice contains a mixture of cholesterol-lowering foods which when combined, are more effective than if consumed separately.

1/4 inch slice of ginger, 1 clove garlic, a handful of parsley (to absorb some of the garlic odor), 4 carrots, 1 apple, cut into wedges, splash of tobasco (optional)

Juice the ginger and garlic first by placing them in the center of the parsley (to reduce the garlic odor) and feed into the juicer. Follow with the carrots and apple.

Kill the Cold

I swear by this warming drink when I feel a cold coming on.  It’s also good to drink when you want to warm up.

1 inch slice of ginger, 1/4 lemon with skin, 1 cup hot water

Juice the ginger and lemon and add to the cup of hot water.  Add nutmeg or cardamom for extra flavor.

Kid’s Favorite

Kids love this drink.  It’s also low in calories and great for dieting.  It really gives the immune system a boost too!

1/2 cantaloupe with skin,sliced, 1 cup strawberries

Alternate cantaloupe slices with the strawberries.

Immune Power Fruit

This rich drink with nutrients vital to the immune system contains flavonoids, which have shown antiviral and antioxidant effects.  Good to drink with infections.

1 orange, peeled, 1/2 pineapple with skin, sliced, 1/2 cup strawberries, 1 banana, peeled

Juice the orange, pineapple and strawberries; place in a blender with the banana and liquify.

Immune Power Vegetable

Another great immune fortifier, especially useful during an infection.

2 cloves garlic, 1/4 inch slice of ginger, a handful of parsley, 4 carrots, 1 apple, cut into wedges, 1 cup Jerusalem artichokes (optional)

Place the garlic and ginger in the center of the parsley; push through the juicer with a carrot.  Alternate the remaining ingredients.

The Energizer

A nutrient-packed, healthy alternative to coffee for energy and alertness.

Handful of parsley, 6 carrots

Bunch the parsley and push through the juicer with a carrot.  Add the rest of the carrots.

Color Me Pink

A great way to start the day, especially if when dieting.  The natural fruit sugars keep your appetite in check.

1 cup raspberries, 1/2 pink grapefruit, peeled (keep as much of the white pithy part as possible)

Juice the raspberries first, then the grapefruit.

Green Drink

This is one of the healthiest juice drinks available!

Handful of parsley or wheatgrass, 2 Granny Smith apples, cut into wedges, 2 kale leaves, a handful of spinach

Juice the parsley or wheatgrass first, then one of the apples, the kale, spinach and the second apple.

Ginger Ale

Another great substitute for soft drinks but also good for intestinal upset.

1/4 inch slice of ginger, 1 lemon wedge, 1 green apple, cut into wedges, 4 ounces of sparkling mineral water

Juice the ginger first, followed by the lemon wedge and then the apple. Stir in the mineral water.

Cranberry Crush

Cranberries are fantastic for bladder and urinary track infections.  The apples and oranges add natural sweetener to the tart cranberry flavor.

1 cup cranberries, 2 apples, cut into wedges, 1 orange, peeled

Juice the cranberries first, then alternate the apples and oranges.

Waldorf Salad

A relaxing and refreshing drink which is often recommended for headaches.

1 celery rib, 2 green apples, cut into wedges

Juice the celery, followed by the apples.

Super V-7

A fresh, alive, nutrient-rich alternative to V-8 juice, which doesn’t taste like a can!  It’s low in calories too.

Handful of parsley, 2 carrots, a handful of spinach, 2 tomatoes, quartered, 2 celery ribs, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 green bell pepper

Bunch up the parsley and push through the juicer with a carrot.  Do the same with the spinach and then alternate feeding the remaining ingredients into the juicer.

When possible, use local or organic fruits and vegetables.

Recipes for Natural and Organic Hair Rinses

Recipes compiled from http://www.longlocks.com/hair-care-recipes-cookbook)

Chamomile Brightener for Blonde Hair

Ingredients

6 organic chamomile tea bags;  1/2 cup plain yogurt;  oil of lavender

Directions

Bring one cup of water to boil land steep tea bags for 15 minutes.  Discard teabags.  Combine yogurt and 7 drops of lavender oil with chamomile tea, mix thoroughly.  Apply mixture to dry hair, working through to ends.  Cover head in plastic wrap and condition for 30 minutes.  Shampoo hair.

Natural Brunette Hair Dye

Ingredients

Triple strength black coffee

Directions

Shampoo hair.  Place a large bowl in sink and rinse hair with cooled coffee.  Repeat several times, reusing the coffee.  Leave final rinse in hair for at least 15 minutes.  Rinse with clear water.

Red Hair Color Enhancer

Ingredients

1/2 cup beet juice;  1/2 cup carrot juice

Directions

Mix ingredients together, pour over clean, damp hair.  Wrap head in plastic and apply hot towel, medium dryer heat, or sit in the sun for one hour.  Shampoo.

Natural Color Restorer for Gray Hair

Ingredients

1/2 cup organic dried sage;  1/4 cup organic dried rosemary

Directions

Simmer rosemary and sage in 2 cups of water for 30 minutes, then steep for several hours.  Apply to gray hair and allow to dry, then shampoo.  Repeat weekly until desired shade is reach, then once a month for maintenance.

Recipes for Safe Laundry Detergents

Recipes compiled from Natural Home Magazine, July/August 2010 issue.

Simple Washing Powder

16 cups baking soda

12 cups borax

8 cups grated castille or glycerin soap flakes (Dr. Bronner’s)

3 tablespoons lavender, lemon or grapefruit essential oil

Combine baking soda, borax and soap flakes.  Add essential oil and mix with a wire whisk.  Use 1/8 cup per load. Yield:  This recipe makes enough powder to last a family of four one year.

Bleach/Brightener Substitute

1 cup hydrogen peroxide

1/4 cup lemon or grapefruit juice

12 cups water

Store in a labeled plastic jug.  Add 2 cups per load along with detergent.

Pre-Wash Stain Spray

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup baking soda

3 cups water

Stir together and fill a labeled spray bottle.  Spray on soiled spots just before washing.  Always test a hidden spot first.

For extra clean clothes, add 1/2 cup of borax after your detergent, for an all natural laundry booster.

Add baking soda to wash water at the same time as detergent to soften and freshen clothes and linens.