Reasons to grow your own Fruit and Vegetables

  

Having your own vegetable patch or fruit garden was once commonplace, over the years, however, growing your own food fell out of favor as the food industry became more commercial and supermarkets began to dominate the end of the food supply chain. I can still remember the trip down south when I was a kid, to my mother's home state of Texas, and meeting my relative there for the first time and the smells and taste of the fresh food there. 

To this day I can still remember how wonderful the fresh food tasted to my young developing taste buds and how cool it was to be able to take fresh fruits and nuts right off the tree and enjoy them. It was a big deal for a city kid like me. I returned from that trip to my bowls of cereal and TV-dinners and plenty of other processed foods; for a good part of my existence, processed foods were a staple in my life. 

In recent years, however, more and more people have started to explore growing their own produce again and I'm happy to say that I am amongst those dedicating a good part of my countertop acreage to grow their own food and I came up with what I think are 5 good reasons why you might consider starting your own kitchen garden. 

My fruit trees are of the potted variety (dwarf fruit trees to be exact) And while it would be nice to do, I am not suggesting you replace all of the food you eat with your own homegrown choices. At this point in my indoor farming experimentation, I only hope to grow a few of the fruits and herbs I usually pay for, and of the 5 good reasons for growing your own fruit and veggies reason number one is!

Freshness is the first reason to start growing your own fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables taste better and are healthier if eaten as soon as possible after picking. Most fruit you buy from supermarkets and the like is picked well before it is properly ripe, to extend shelf life, and that usually has an impact on flavor. Growing your own lets you taste the freshest possible produce as it's meant to taste, reason number two!

 

The second reason for growing your own fruits and veggies is quality.  Commercially grown crops are often selected for their high yields, uniform appearance, and long shelf life rather than for quality and taste and I wouldn't be surprised if there was even a process to try and chemically replace some of the natural flavors of fruits and vegetables lost in the above process based on some of the chemical additives I have read on processed food labeling. When you grow your own, you can concentrate on the quality rather than economics, which is what I hope to do, my third reason is the price!

 

A lot of supermarket fresh produce is hugely overpriced, in my opinion, despite the advertising claims. Growing your own from seed is about as inexpensive as you can get, and even growing from small plants you buy is likely to provide you better food at a lower cost, especially when it comes to herbs. With many plants, you can use the seed from one growing season to provide plants for the next creating your own planting base circle of life and a self-sustaining cycle that will cost you only time and effort to keep going, reason number four is provenance.

 

More and more people have concerns about how our food is processed, and with chemical pesticides and genetically modified organisms or (GMOs) in the food we eat I can honestly say that I share this particular worry but with your own vegetable patch, you know exactly where your food is from and how it was grown. My fifth and final reason is variety.

 

There are literally thousands of different varieties of fruit and vegetables, but supermarkets tend to concentrate on only the most profitable and easy to sell. This means that our choice is often limited to a few select varieties of avocados or apple, for example, rather than the hundreds of traditional kinds that exist. Growing your own lets you pick the varieties you like the most, and experiment to find new ones you will rarely see on sale in your local supermarket.

 

When it comes to fruit and vegetable variety I have been experimenting with plant grafting techniques in an attempt to see if I can grow a special variety of cherry or lemon from my full-grown cherry tree and my draft lemon tree. So far not much luck but none of my plant patients have died. If someday you should hear of and apple-cherry-plumb fruit, it just might come from me, Dr. Hankenstein.

 

On a more serious note, I should point out that there can be a downside to growing your own fruits and veggies. I don't find the work to be hard but it is rather continuous, meaning it will take some time and effort especially if you're a beginner and decide to pick up some seed and give the above a try.

In these increasingly busy times, we might not think we have the time to spare, but starting small with a few herb plants on a windowsill, or perhaps the odd tomato plant, could give you a taste of growing your own food that just might be enough to hook you into growing your own peppers, onions, or grapes for life!

Strawberry, more than just a fruit

What’s the first thought that pops into your mind, when you think of strawberry – a mouth-watering dessert of strawberries covered with fresh whip cream? The perfect dessert to end an interesting evening meal. Strawberries can serve more than just to satisfy a sweet tooth with something other than processed sugars for dessert because the strawberry is packed with lots of health benefits that make this juicy berry a nutritious fruit for mind and body.

Eat this succulent fruit in its raw form or serve it as jams, syrups, salads, smoothies, wine, juices, and more. Strawberries are loaded with vitamin C, potassium, sodium and iron as well as being low in calories. Not just delicious, a strawberry, due to its mildly astringent properties, is also good for the skin. Strawberry flesh and juice are recommended mainly for oily skin to improve texture, encourage a healthy and more radiant complexion and minimize greasiness. The ellagic acids in strawberries appear to inhibit the growth of tumors (cancer cells). Strawberries are also a good source of salicylic acid that removes dead cells and cleans out pores.

Below are some skin-care-recipes that involve strawberries other fruits, oils, and juices that you can try but let me say first that I am not a doctor or skincare professional and that you the reader of this post should exercise precautions while following any skin-care-recipe instructions from this post. Avoid using any of these ingredients if you are allergic to them. If you have any doubts about what you may be allergic to please consult a medical professional before you used these skin-care suggestions. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer, be safe.

Strawberry possess properties that help with soothing sunburned skin, discolored teeth, and skin blemishes. For example, an alternative to placing cucumber on the eyes, place a sliced strawberry to reduce the puffiness. Strawberries are known to fight heart disease and provide a number of vitamins and minerals that support overall health. By adding strawberries to your diet, it helps to build a healthy immune system. In addition to various nutrients and minerals, strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin K and manganese, as well as folic acid, riboflavin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, copper, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Packed with health benefits, strawberries, when added to beauty recipes for skin, help promote healthy skin. Try these homemade recipes made with this strawberry as the main ingredient.

Kiwi Cucumber Strawberry Facial Cleanser - Blend 5 to 6 strawberries, 1 kiwi, peeled and 1/2 cucumber to a smooth paste, not a runny mixture. If the mixture is slightly runny, add a bit of oatmeal until the potion is of proper consistency. Apply to your face and neck area with gentle massage to exfoliate the skin. Let the paste settle on your skin for 10 minutes and then rinse well with warm water. Your skin will look and feel fresh and clean.

For a Strawberry Facemask - Combine 2 or 3 ripe strawberries with 2 tbsp of finely grounded oats and 1 drop of lemon essential oil to form a paste. Spread the paste on to the face and neck area with fingertips. Relax for 20 minutes. Rinse off with cool water followed by a toner and moisturizer. The pieces of strawberry seeds aid in the skin treatment process.

Make an antioxidant mask with Strawberry and Papaya starring - ½ papaya, 4 strawberries, 1 tbsp rolled oats, 1 tsp honey, and 1 tsp fresh lemon juice. Grind the oats, blend papayas and strawberries till smooth with a few drops of warm honey until it flows freely. Combine and mix well all the ingredients. Apply the mixture to face and let it remain for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water followed with moisturizer.

For beautiful and radiant skin – mash 1 or 2 strawberries mixing it with water to form a smooth paste. Apply the paste on your face, neck overnight. Rinse it in the morning.

Face Lifting Face Pack - 3 to 4 strawberries, 5-6 grapes, 1/2 pear, 1/2 apple and 1 ounce of orange juice. Before putting this paste on first apply a coat of honey before covering with this fruit mixture. Leave it for 30 minutes and then rinse it with lukewarm water. For the final rinse use vinegar to give your face, a perfect lift.

Another Strawberry Mask – 4 to 5 strawberries, 1 tbsp. milk and 1 tbsp. cornstarch. Mix all the three ingredients to make a paste apply on your face for 20 minutes. Rinse it first with warm water, then cold water. You can improve on this pack by using a mild astringent and then use a light moisturizer. You can use this pack for a week.

As I pointed out caution should be used when trying out or perhaps even eating any of the above fruits mentioned in these skincare recipes. Especially if this is your first time eating any of the above-mentioned fruit. My main purpose for writing this post was to point out what a fantastic nutritional and medicinal fruit the strawberry is.

The Basics of the pH Diet

pH miracle diet basics

The pH Miracle diet is the newest phenomenon on my dieting information radar screen. Health experts have noticed that popular diets seem to travel in waves. Unlike the low-fat diet craze from the 90s the last six to seven years have focused more on low-carbohydrate diets like Atkins, the South Beach Diet, Protein Power, and Sugarbusters. As people become frustrated with each type of diet, they look for something new to try. The pH Miracle diet is the focus of a lot of new diet information interest.

The pH miracle diet is so appealing to people because it is a complete 180-degree turn from the high-protein, low carbohydrate diets of the past few years. The pH Miracle diet, also known as the alkaline diet or the Young Diet, after its creator, Robert Young, represents a totally different approach to nutrition. Many holistic doctors and nutritionists see it as a more balanced approach to nutrition that takes the body’s true needs into account.

Basically, the human body has a pH that is slightly alkaline. The theory is that since the human body runs at this pH, our diet should be comprised of mostly alkaline foods. The standard American diet has many foods that are considered acidic, such as animal protein, sugar, caffeine, and packaged foods. All of these foods disrupt the pH balance of the body and can potentially cause a whole host of problems. The proponents of the pH Miracle diet say that all of these acidic foods actually disrupt the body’s use of alkaline minerals. These minerals include sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which make people prone to chronic diseases.

This is the real crux of the importance of the pH diet. The nutrition and health community has come to realize that what a person puts into their body has a profound effect on their overall health. Although the mainstream medical community has emphasized a balanced diet including fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products, the pH diet takes this a step further. It points out that acidic foods actually rob your body of essential minerals. Those who follow the pH miracle diet are those who want to give their body a more non-acidic more alkaline balance.

Many of the foods that we eat commonly are considered no-nos on the pH miracle diet. One of the most surprising omissions was the absence of wheat products. The FDA recommends whole-wheat products for better health. Yet according to the pH diet, grains like wheat, millet, oats, and rice are acidic and harmful. The alkaline grains of buckwheat, quinoa, and spelt are favored for their alkalizing benefits.

Generally, all meats and dairy are omitted on the pH Miracle diet. If you’re worried about protein, goat milk is slightly alkaline. There is also protein provided from vegetarian options like beans, tofu, and certain nuts and seeds. Most vegetables have alkalizing effects, except for mushrooms. Fruits are limited to coconut, grapefruit, lemon, and lime.

Those that have tried the pH miracle diet say that they feel massive effects on their health within the first few weeks. Lowering the intake of processed foods and eating more vegetables is good health advice for everyone, whether or not they follow the specifications of this particular diet. In fact, this has been one of the major criticisms of the pH miracle diet. Opponents say that if people are already eating fresh foods and drinking plenty of water, then the diet will have no effect. However, they do not take into account the acid/alkaline balance theory.

Another important thing to consider is that there has been no scientific testing of the theories behind the pH miracle diet which I interpret as the opportunity to do a little alkaline diet testing myself. Also, many conventional medical doctors see no benefit to the program. However, the principles behind the diet are based on holistic medicine and Chinese medicine, which have been around for centuries. The ph Miracle diet principles are currently being studied at John Hopkins University and by Dr. Neil Solomon of the United Nations. Soon the critics may have to re-evaluate their stance on the diet’s scientific basis.

Taking Care of you Skin

Caring for your Skin

Lunchtime and Fast Food

Lunch is the forgotten stepchild of the meal day unless you work everyday or work off-hours, (Swing Shift or Night Shift) and usually we spend a fair amount of energy planning dinner, and we (sometimes begrudgingly) spend some energy making sure we eat breakfast. Have you ever looked up at the clock at noon, realized we are hungry and then scarfed down whatever was available and easy?

Too often, lunch, means fast food, vending machine food or – for some people – nothing at all. And this is truly unfortunate. Nutrition experts tell us again and again that eating three meals and two snacks a day is the surest path to good nutrition and a balanced diet. Even the fast-food places are catching on to people being more health-conscious and are introducing more healthy choices, like a veggie burger that tasted like meat. A hamburger and fries don’t get you very far on the path to good nutrition, however.

So, how do you change this? Lunch is a tough one for people who work outside the home. Sure, you can pack leftovers from dinner, but what if there aren’t any or you didn’t like dinner in the first place? Making a sandwich and adding some fruit sounds easy, but that’s just one more thing to do in the morning and if you’re in a rush, it’s one of the first chores you’ll discard.

Here are some tips to bring lunch back into focus on busy weekdays:

Do plan for leftovers, if possible. I mean if you like what you’re making for dinner and think you wouldn’t mind having it for lunch tomorrow, set aside some for lunch add a piece of fruit and yogurt and there’s lunch tomorrow.

If you must have fast food try to stay away from fries, and see if soup or a salad is on the menu. Yes, I said salads. Sure, you’ll get some nutritional content from the lettuce and all the other goodies on the salad, but the dressing might have as much as 30 grams of fat in it, most of it saturated fat. Stick with light dressings or even keep a bottle of dressing in the fridge at work.

If you’re out and about running errands and get hungry, stop at 7-11, and grab a bottle of milk, some trail mix or a granola bar and a piece of fruit. It might not be gourmet, but it should boost your energy level until later and then dinner.

Keep lunch items at work. There are many things you can keep in your desk that are shelf-stable and still healthy. A packet of tuna and crackers were my favorite. Stay away from fruit juices loaded with sugar and prefer fresh fruit. Nuts, trail mix, and granola bars are all good lunchtime choices. Stay away from sodium-laden canned soups and noodle bowls. Not only can they provide you with more than the maximum sodium you need for one day, but they also won’t provide the complex carb and protein boost you need to get you through the afternoon and keep you from stalking the vending machine later for an unhealthy snack.

Grapes and Mental Health

We've all heard that drinking wine is good for us, but what about those who are on medication or just don't indulge in alcohol? Well, according to the experts, non-fermented (Concord) grapes may be just as healthy for you, especially when it comes to our aging brains. In fact, new studies suggest that drinking a healthy amount of unadulterated (Concord) grape juice can help us stay healthy by keeping our bodies laden with important antioxidants, our minds limber, and our memories on track.

Recent research shows that grape juice given to lab rats (who were approaching the end of their life span) enhanced their cognitive and motor abilities and skills. The researchers placed laboratory animals under a significant series of tests focusing on their short-term memory and their neuro-motor skills. What they found, was that the majority of the tests conducted revealed ample improvement or a trend toward substantial improvement in these essential areas that also significantly affect humans as they age.

These experiments, addressing our continually and increasingly aging population (people these days can look forward to enjoying a healthy life, up into their 80s and beyond, with a new standard reaching the 100-year mark), seek to determine better ways for individuals to grow "old" gracefully and maintain their mental and physical abilities and skills.

Experts went on to add that although these tests and findings are currently in the preliminary stages, they assert that much (previous) research has identified (red, concord) grapes as containing essential antioxidants that are beneficial for our health for a vast variety of reasons, including lowering cholesterol and warding off serious ailments such as certain types of cancers. Now, drinking Concord grape juice is gaining notoriety for it (seeming) potential to help retard the mental and physical deterioration process that generally has been associated with aging.

Healthy Breakfast

Whatever your true feeling about breakfast? I believe this meal has earned the title of the most important meal of the day. Most of the information I have been able to internalize and commit to memory referrers to a "normal day." Meaning a day that ends in the evening and begins again in the morning. I say this because when I used to work the night shift hardly anything I have learned about the importance of breakfast would have applied to me then. So if off-shift work is your plight this information may or may not feel like it's useful.

After a good night's sleep of 8 to 10 hours, blood sugar levels are usually low by morning. Even while we sleep our body is busy working burning calories to keep us warm, while we sleep. After fasting for 8 to 10 hopefully restful hours of sleep. The Arabic word for the first meal of the day translates to Break Fast. In my opinion after fasting all night it's time to recharge in the morning and take in the nutritional fuel necessary to power our mind and body through the day.

Breakfast allows us to kick-start our day making this meal beneficial to both young and old. People who eat a healthy breakfast daily are more likely to

- Consume more vitamins, minerals and less of fat and cholesterol.
- Increased strength and endurance.
- Better concentration and productivity all day long.
- Control weight and
- Low cholesterol equals a lower risk of heart disease

Children who eat breakfast are likely to have better concentration, problem-solving skills, and better eye-hand coordination and are less likely to miss days of school.

If you think to skip this meal will help you lose weight, think again. Skipping this first meal of the day can send your body into starvation mode and make you crave for snacks especially sweets. Impulsive snacking on unhealthy foods can lead to weight gain. Try to choose healthy foods from at least two food groups each morning

- Fruits & Vegetables
- Grains
- Dairy
- Proteins

A glass of pure fruit juice, bananas, yogurt, low-calorie muesli with semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, fresh fruit salad with few spoonfuls of low-fat yogurt, fresh and raw veggies mixed with flavored yogurt, a slice of toast or plain bread with eggs, boiled or poached are some good options for breakfast. Kids can enjoy a Smoothie with their favorite fruits; add a dash of yogurt or honey to make it more delicious.

The first thing I do in the morning is to rehydrate with a cup of tea or a glass of water and then try to eat as healthy as possible. If you look forward to eating different kinds of healthy foods for breakfast, you are less like to skip this meal. If time is your hurdle, think about packing your breakfast or eating on the 'run', its better than skipping breakfast altogether.