Here’s What Will Happen To Your Body When You Add Turmeric To Your Morning Lemon Water

Starting your day with lukewarm lemon water is one of the best things you can do for your body. Lemons are loaded with vitamin C, B, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, enzymes, antioxidants, and fibers. Next to adding a host of healthy nutrients, it also kick-starts digestion, boosts the immune system, fights inflammation, and hydrates and energizes the body.

For more info, read: 15 Reasons You Should Be Drinking Lemon Water Every Morning

To make this healthy morning habit even better, I recently started to add turmeric too. In addition to getting the amazing benefits of lukewarm lemon water, turmeric will turn it into a nutrient-dense, cleansing energy bomb to fly through your day.

What turmeric-lemon water can do for you:

• Boost anti-inflammatory properties of lemon water. Curcumin, or turmeric’s active compound, is a potent anti-inflammatory compound which matches the effectiveness of many over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Improve brain power. Lemons are an excellent source of brain-boosting potassium and magnesium, while turmeric has been found to reduce the risk of cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
• Antioxidant activity. Both lemon and turmeric possess strong antioxidant activity to keep your skin in perfect condition and keep tumors at bay.
• Improve digestion. Eating or drinking turmeric on a daily basis stimulates the gallbladder, reduces bloating and gas, and prevents inflammation of the digestive tract, while lemon juice helps to loosen and flush out toxins from the digestive system.
• Heart-friendly. Curcumin reduces LDL (or bad) cholesterol, prevents blood clotting, and removes plaque build-ups in the arteries.
• Weight-loss aid. Lemons stoke the metabolic fire, which helps you to burn more calories from the food you eat.
• Cleansing properties. Lemons and turmeric stimulate your liver to produce more enzymes. It enables the liver to work more efficiently in eliminating toxins and waste materials.

Turmeric-lemon water recipe

• 1 glass lukewarm water (nut milk works too)
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
• Juice of ½ lemon (or 1 lime)
• Pinch of black pepper (to increases turmeric’s bioavailability)
• Honey or maple syrup to taste (optional)
• A pinch of cinnamon (optional: for extra anti-diabetic effect)

Add lemon juice, black pepper, turmeric, honey, and cinnamon to a glass of lukewarm water. Drink first thing in the morning on an empty stomach for the best energizing effect. Stir constantly while drinking to avoid all turmeric to sink to the bottom of the glass.

Sources:

http://www.naturalnewsblogs.com/15-reasons-drinking-lemon-water-every-morning/

http://www.naturalnewsblogs.com/happens-body-eat-1-teaspoon-turmeric-every-day/

We all know that without our favorite herbs and spices, dishes like guacamole, meatballs, and casseroles wouldn’t taste half as good. But did you know that science found that herbs and spices also provide a wide range of health benefits? From treating infections to preventing cancer, there’s so much you can get from ingredients found in your kitchen cupboard. In case you were wondering which spices provide what health benefits, here are 11 examples you can include for a long and healthy life.

1. Parsley

Parsley is one of the most widely used herbs today that is native to the Mediterranean region. The versatile herb is used by diabetics in Turkey to reduce blood sugar levels. To see if this practice has any basis in reality, researchers conducted a study on rats to see how parsley affected their blood sugar and liver functioning. The study in question was published in Phytotherapy Research and found that diabetic rats given parsley showed significant improvement in their blood glucose levels. The study also found improvements in liver health in rats fed parsley suggesting that the traditional use of this herb was legitimate.

2. Turmeric

Turmeric is a golden spice with a long history of medical uses dating as far back as 4000 years ago. The plant has gained a lot of attention in the scientific community because the spice proved to fight a wide range of disease in clinical trials. Some of these health benefits include protection against cancer, cardiovascular disease, some types of arthritis, and diabetes. Turmeric was also found to especially benefit digestive health reducing the severity of symptoms in ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and many other inflammatory conditions. These benefits mostly come from curcumin, the yellow pigment found in turmeric.

3. Ginger

Ginger has a spicy aroma and a peppery taste. Studies on this herb found that plant compounds in ginger work as powerful anti-inflammatories making ginger a great natural alternative to painkillers. Other than that, adding ginger to your stir fries or drinking it as tea can help with stomach problems. Ginger was found to relieve treat nausea, heartburn, flatulence, diarrhea, and to boost poor appetite.

4. Sage

You’ve probably heard of sage tea being a great remedy for a sore throat. The bitter-tasting herb is a powerful antiseptic explaining this well-known benefit. But studies also show that Sage can help with many other conditions as well. A study published in Advances in Therapy found that sage helps with one of the most common symptoms of menopause – hot flashes. According to this study, sage eliminated hot flashes completely by the end of the 8-week trial.

5. Chili powder

Although chili powder is added in tiny amounts in most dishes, the spice is still able to have a strong effect on your health and metabolism. Chili powder is mostly recognized as a great weight-loss aid. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that chili lowers post-meal blood glucose levels and insulin release. Chili is also believed to function as a powerful appetite suppressant and metabolism enhancer making it a perfect choice for those struggling with excess weight.

6. Garlic

According to an article published in the Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, garlic can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, fight infections, prevent cancer, and lower blood sugar. The bulbous plant known for its strong aroma was traditionally used to fight parasitic infections but today it is a popular candida remedy while some also say that eating it during the cold season prevents colds.

7. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is the wonderfully aromatic spice that is popularly used in dessert making. The spice is rich in volatile oils and antioxidant compounds some of which are believed to protect against diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and cancer. As with most herbs and spices, the health-protecting benefits of cinnamon come mostly from the spice’s antioxidants. What makes cinnamon unique among the spices, however, is that it was found to even fight against neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

8. Black pepper

There was a time when pepper was as expensive as gold. Luckily, those times are over and now everyone gets to enjoy the many health-promoting benefits of pepper. The main active ingredient in black pepper called piperine was found to help scavenge free radicals and thus protect against tumor progression. Other than that, pepper was found to enhance cognitive functioning, absorption of other nutrients, and improve digestion.

9. Celery

The root and leaves of celery can both be eaten, and both help treats various diseases. An article published in Progress in Drug Research claims that celery reduces symptoms of arthritis, stomach ulcers and that it reduces microbe activity. Munching on a celery stalk could give you the same benefits as the stalk also contains the many antioxidants and phytochemicals found in other parts of this plant.

10. Cloves

Cloves are often added to winter desserts and mulled wine. The aromatic spice is also an integral part of Moroccan cuisine. According to an entry in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of cloves is much higher than in most fruits, vegetables, and other spices making this spice one of the most potent natural remedies out there.

11. Cumin

If you suffer from frequent stomach problems, then adding cumin to your meals may help. However, be careful as the volatile oils in cumin seeds tend to exert a strong aroma which can completely take over your dishes. Cumin seeds were found to help with irritable bowel syndrome while cumin powder helps lower blood lipids.

Conclusion

The wide array of herbs and spices we have available today were also found to be beneficial for overall health. Most of them contain a range of plant compounds and antioxidants that scavenge free radicals or reduce inflammation. Some of them were even found to exert strong antimicrobial activity. Adding these spices to your meals or using them in treatment preparations can help you deal with a host of diseases.

Moringa: The power-packed plant

The mighty moringa plant, or as it’s fondly called “miracle tree” is becoming the go-to plant to treat a variety of ailments. Moringa oleifera is originally found in its native country of South Asia, but is becoming abundant throughout the tropics. For centuries its leaves have been used to cure and prevent more than 300 different diseases.

Moringa is sometimes called “drumstick tree,” or “horseradish tree,” and is easily recognized by its sturdy small, round leaves. Each one packed-full of protein, beta carotene, calcium, potassium, vitamin C and so much more. For more than 4,000 years, it has been used to make medicine and as a source of food. In fact, the use of moringa pre-dates the days of Alexander the Great, when he and his troops fought the mighty Ancient Maurian warriors of India. According to Roman historians, these warriors hardly ever got sick and survived on little sleep. After countless battles, Alexander’s armies eventually fell under the siege of the Maurian’s.

Health Benefits

This little wonder plant is popular around the globe, especially in impoverished areas such as Thailand, Malawi, Senegal, and India where it’s used as a nutritional supplement. One great thing about moringa is that it grows in almost any weather condition, which allows people to cultivate the plant year-around for it’s nutrients.

One-hundred grams of dry moringa leaves can offer:

9 times more protein than yogurt

15 times more potassium than bananas

10 times more vitamin A than carrots

25 times more iron than spinach

17 times more calcium than milk

12 times more vitamin C than oranges

Rich in antioxidants

Moringa leaves are full of antioxidants, including beta-carotene, vitamin C, quercetin and chlorogenic acid. Chlorogenic acid is known to lower blood sugar levels in animals by slowing the cells’ absorption of sugar.

Lower blood sugar

Moringa seems to have an anti-diabetic effect on the body, because of plant compounds called isothiocyanates found in the leaves. A study showed that women who took moringa leaf powder daily over the period of three months reduced their blood sugar levels by 13.5 percent.

Protect against harmful arsenic

Unfortunately, food supply contamination has caused a spike in arsenic toxicity, which can be found in staple foods such as rice. It’s also made it’s way into our water supply. Moringa leaves and its seeds have shown the ability to protect against the possible side effects of arsenic toxicity, a prevalent problem in populated countries.

Used as a purifier of water

Taking moringa regularly can also have a positive effect on the digestive tract. It is extremely high infiber, which aids in the cleaning out of intestines and digestive system. Moringa contains isothiocyanates, which has anti-bacterial properties to help rid your body of H. pylori, a bacteria known to cause ulcers and gastric cancer. Another fun fact is that the seeds are now the chosen method for purifying water even over conventional materials.

Here are some common ways to implement moringa into a well-balanced diet:

Adding fresh leaves in meals

Toss them in a salad or steam like spinach

Blend the powdered form into smoothies

The powder can also be added as a supplement to soups, casseroles, smoothies, and other foods for extra nutrition. Remember that moringa has a distinctive flavor, so it’s best to use it sparingly when first trying it. A little goes a long way! Moringa oil is also utilized for skin care products such as soaps, face oils, or cold-pressed it for cooking.

Make time for thyme: How to grow your own thyme

If you feel like your roast chicken is missing that special something, a pinch of thyme might just do the trick. Now, you could go to your local farmers’ market to purchase a small bundle of thyme… or you could grow it yourself in your very own backyard. Not only is this aromatic, flavorful herb a great addition to any dish, but it’s not that difficult to grow.

Growing your own thyme

According to RodalesOrganicLife.com, there are over 400 varieties of thyme, with those varieties falling under either ornamental thyme or culinary thyme. If you’re growing thyme for kitchen use then the most common and popular types are French or common thyme, lemon thyme, and caraway thyme. Whichever you pick, the best part about these hardy herbs are easy to grow but are slow. Thyme takes anywhere from 14 to 28 days to germinate.

When you purchase an ounce of thyme seeds, you purchase a packet of 170,000 seeds. Those tiny seeds prefer dry soil, lots of sun, and little water and attention. We recommend that you begin seeding indoors in shallow soil, making sure to space them inches apart so they have room to grow. Thyme in small gardens should be placed nine inches apart, while thyme in larger plant beds should be placed 12 to 18 inches apart. Once they’ve taken root you can move them outside for better exposure to the sun.

For best results, harvest your thyme herbs just before they begin to flower. This will allow you to better enjoy their full, potent flavor. To harvest thyme simply clip the stem, one and a half to two inches from the soil, and leave behind the woody growth. After you’ve harvested your thyme place the stems on newspaper sheets or screen and dry them someplace warm and airy. (RELATED: Find more news about growing and using herbs at Herbs.news.)

Thyme can be preserved in a number of ways. You can refrigerate it, freeze it, or preserve it in oil. 

Take note of these extra tips.

• Little to no covering is best for thyme.
• If growing them outdoors isn’t a viable option, then placing them indoors under standard fluorescent lamps will do.
• Mulch is good for controlling weeds.
• Thyme seeds can keep for up to three years, so you don’t need to plant them all at once. You can save the rest for a later date.
• If desired, you can opt to grow your thyme alongside companion plants. Rosemary is a good companion plant if your thyme is being grown inside a container. Tomatoes, eggplants, cabbages, and strawberries are ideal for garden-grown thyme.

Why Thyme?

Now after all this, you might be asking yourself, “Is growing thyme really worth it?”

If your kitchen is your personal domain, then thyme is an invaluable plant. You can use it to give your stews and meats an extra kick. It can be added to butter and even bread. Thyme also pairs quite well with other herbs like oregano and parsley. Really, it’s all up to you on what to do with your homegrown thyme. The best part is that you don’t need to rush to the grocery to buy more once your kitchen runs out of it. You can just step outside into your garden.

If you’re not much of a cook, thyme is still an excellent addition to your home. This simple herb offers a variety of health benefits thanks to its antimicrobial characteristics and antioxidants. Drinking a cup of thyme tea can relieve bad colds or bloating. Adding thyme to your diet allows you enjoy its multitude of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron, and vitamin A.

Sources:

RodalesOrganicLife.com

TheKitchn.com

Burpee.com

OurHerbGarden.com

FieldofFlavor.com

NaturalNewsBlogs.com

Top 10 homemade natural herbicides to tackle the weeds in your garden

 In today’s atmosphere of increasing health and environmental awareness, more and more people are turning their back on chemical herbicides. One of the most popular herbicides used today, Monsanto’s Roundup Ready, has been sprayed in gardens, parks, playgrounds, and farmlands for many years. As the debate surrounding the safety of this highly controversial glyphosate-containing herbicide heats up, people are seeking safer and less toxic ways to rid their garden or driveway of unwanted weeds.

Unlike commercial, cancer-causing weed killers, these DIY herbicides will not contaminate your vegetable garden, soil, or groundwater, and they will not harm the wildlife, beneficial pollinators, people, or the ecosystem of your garden. (RELATED: Stay informed about the harmful effects of pesticides at Pesticides.news.)

10 DIY alternatives to Roundup Ready

While it might take a little longer to kill the weeds, all the options mentioned below are effective, cheap, and safe for your family, pets, and the environment. The best way to get rid of weeds is to pull them out by hand, making sure you also dig up the roots. This, however, is very labor-intensive and might take up too much time. Here are ten quicker ways to effectively get rid of garden weeds.

1. Boiling water

One of the easiest ways to get rid of weeds is pouring boiling water over them. Though effective, this method may take a while and will need to be repeated several times a day for the tougher weeds in your yard.

2. Vinegar

Any vinegar will do the trick. You can use it diluted or undiluted, depending on the weed you are trying to kill. Start with a 50 percent dilution and increase or decrease the concentration according to the result.

3. Salt

While it is not recommended to use salt in your vegetable garden or flower beds, as it makes the soil unsuitable for future plant growth, it can do an excellent job on pavement areas or gravel paths. You can use dry salt or mix it with boiling water to enhance the effect.

4. Bleach

Just as salt, bleach can be used diluted or undiluted in areas that have no plants. For a better effect, Healthy and Natural World recommends applying bleach during the hottest part of the day.

5. Baking soda

Sprinkle a decent amount of baking soda over the weeds growing in driveways and sidewalks. Hose them down and repeat several times throughout the day. This remedy is most effective when applied to young weeds.

6. Rubbing alcohol

Add a few tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and water to a spray bottle and spray onto the leaves. The mixture will suck the moisture out of the leaves, thus killing the weeds.

7. Corn gluten meal

This natural herbicide can be found at most garden centers. While this substance does an excellent job at killing weeds before they grow to their full size, there is one caveat to this method. To achieve good results at least 20 pounds of corn gluten meal needs to be applied per 1,000 square feet.

8. Newspaper

While it might not add to the looks of your garden, using several layers of newspaper is an excellent way to get rid of low growing weeds. Due to the lack of sunlight old weeds will die and the growth of new plants is prevented. To improve garden aesthetics, cover the newspapers with a layer of mulch.

9. Ground cover plants

Ground cover plants are an excellent way to keep garden weeds at bay. They compete with the weeds for space, nutrients, and sunlight.

10. Eat them

Also, before you start your extermination round, do some research, many weeds — such as stinging nettles or dandelions — pose strong medicinal properties and are edible. So you might want to change your mind about getting rid of these pesky garden weeds.

Sources:

HealthyAndNaturalWorld.com

TreeHugger.com

One cup wonder: How to reuse old coffee grounds

Your cup of joe can do more than perk you up in the morning. From exfoliating your face to removing dirt from tiles, used coffee grounds are useful in more ways than one.

For your skin and body:

• Easy Exfoliant – Combine used coffee grounds with equal parts all-natural oil (we recommend using either olive oil or coconut oil) to create an affordable exfoliant.
• Under-Eye Puffiness Remover – If you’ve got a bad case of under-eye puffiness then coffee grounds can take care of that. Mix the grounds with water and then smear the paste under your eyes. Leave on for 15 minutes and then rinse.
• Cellulite Combatant – More than just removing puffiness, coffee grounds can also be used on cellulite. Rub a mixture of warm water or coconut oil and grounds onto the affected areas and then rinse. Do this everyday for two to four weeks.
• Hair Care – Massage a handful of used coffee grounds into your hair to remove product build-up. The grounds will remove residue without harming your hair.

For your home:

• Bye Bye Dirt – Coffee grounds mixed with soapy water is an inexpensive way to clear away dirt from tiles, pans, grills and kitchen counters.
• Furniture Fixer – Scratches on your furniture? Make a blend of grounds with ¼-cup vinegar and ¼-cup warm water and then set aside for an hour. Use a rag or cotton bud to rub the paste onto the scratched surface.
• Banish Bad Smell – Place a container of used grounds in the back of your refrigerator to get rid of those awful odors. You can also rub grounds on your hands after chopping onions to neutralize the smell.
• Add Some Flavor – Give your brownies that extra punch by replacing milk with used coffee grounds. They also give meat an added dash of flavor when used as tenderizer or seasoning.
• Pet Protector – If your dog or cat has fleas, then a coffee ground rub after rinsing off their shampoo will take care of the pests in their fur.

For your garden:

• Compost and Fertilizer – Used coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, making them ideal for composting and fertilizing. Add one-part old brewed grounds—they need time to break down, so fresh grounds won’t do—to a compost pile of one-part grass clippings and one-part leaves. You can also combine the grounds to the soil of acid-loving plants like tomatoes and roses.
• Pest Prevention – Used coffee grounds are a great alternative to keep your garden safe. Sprinkle grounds around your plants to protect them from slugs, ants, and snails.
• Color Changer – You can alter the color of your hydrangeas with coffee grounds. Adding grounds into the plant soil lowers the pH level and produces hydrangeas with a brighter blue hue.
• Carrot Power – Before sowing carrot seeds, mix them with old, used coffee grounds. Not only will your carrots come out bigger and better, but they’ll be easier to sow.

For your hobbies:

• Simple Sepia – If you like to paint, then mixing coffee grounds with water makes it easier to create sepia-toned paintings.
• New Old Wood – Place one steel wool pad and one tablespoon of coffee grounds in a jar and then fill it up with white vinegar. Set the jar aside for a day and then remove the steel wool while wearing gloves. Rub the wool over wood, wait for it to dry and then repeat to give your wood a silvery glaze.

Sources:

DailyMail.co.uk

TheKitchn.com

NaturalNewsBlogs.com

NaturalLivingIdeas.com

Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds

The pumpkin seed are known as pepita in Spanish. They are edible and are known from ages due to its nutritive property. The prime months of the pumpkin in the United States are October, November and December. The same fruit is popular in winter during Halloween as they are easily available for carving into monsters. There are two types of pumpkin  seed usually either encased in a yellow white husk  or without shells. These are known from old times to be rich in nutrients such as manganese, tryptophan, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, protein, zinc and iron.

Don’t throw the seeds away, utilize it as they are beneficial and can help you body in many ways. Some of the benefits that the pumpkin seed may provide are:

Rich in minerals

Pumpkin seed are amazing source of mineral. Minerals are important for health. Plants have direct link with soil minerals so they produce best source of it. Pumpkin seeds are known to provide with the entire major minerals especially zinc. Zinc is found in these seed per are known to present in much more quantity in the endosperm envelope so it is advised to take it with the shells as separating shell from the inner part without wasting the endosperm is tough. Therefore try taking pumpkin seed with the shell.

Antioxidant benefits
Only few fruits are rich in antioxidants. These seeds have unique antioxidant properties as it consists of variety of antioxidants such as:

1. Vitamin E
   These seed are rich in vitamin E. It do not only contain vitamin E, contains variety of it in different forms such as gamma-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol, alpha-tocomonoenol, alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocomonoenol. Alpha-tocomonoenol and gamma- tocomonoenol have been found recently and are a hot topic in scientific research as some scientist believe they are unique in benefits from other forms.
2. Phenolic Antioxidants
   Along with vitamin E it also contains variety of phenolic oxidants. Phenols are one of the very important nutrients and lie in the list of beneficial elements. The antioxidants that are phenolic in nature and are found to be in pumpkin seeds include hydroxybenzoic, ferulic, sinapic, protocatechuic, vanillic, caffeic, coumaric and syringic acid. Lignans are also found to be present in these seeds in variety which are of biological importance. Pinoresinol, lariciresinol and medioresinol is found to be present in pumpkin seeds.

Inhibits Cancer
Cancer is a disease whose causative reasons are unknown in a sense that there can be hundreds of reasons that can add to it. One of them is known to be oxidative stress. A huge role in the development of few cancers can be of oxidative stress. Due to some of the antioxidant properties present in the pumpkin it can help in lowering the risk of this deadly disease. Researchers have shown that lignan which are present in the seeds do play some part in the inhibition of breast and prostate cancer.  Not much work have been done yet but scientist believe that it do have anti-cancer properties. They are working on it to provide with research evidence.

Diabetes
Some research work on laboratory animals have shown that pumpkins seed extracts can improve the regulation of the insulin.  We all know that it is rich in anti-oxidants that can help control oxidative stress.  This will eventually lead to better metabolism saving kidney from damage due to the diabetes. The high level of digestible proteins are present that controls the blood sugar.

Antimicrobial Property
The phytonutrients present in the seed makes the body strong as it helps to fight against bacteria and virus more strongly. The lignans are known to be associated with this property. They are known to play a role in the activity of messaging molecule that is said to be interferon Gamma. These are associated with the antimicrobial function.

Treatment of Benign Prostatic hyperplasia
It is the enlargement of the prostate gland of people of the age 50 or above usually. The pumpkin seeds extract are known to treat Benign prostatic Hyperplasia from ancient time. Research says that phytosterol such as beta-sitosterol, sitostanol, and avenasterol play a vital role to treat this disease. Omega three is present in these seeds which is of huge importance.

Heart Healing Properties
They are rich in the mineral magnesium which is very important for heart and is known as heart healing mineral or natural relaxant.

Loses weight
Good amount of soluble proteins present will help control blood sugar which then will help in controlled weight.

Good Sleep
They are rich in sleep-enhancing amino acid tryptophan which converts to serotonin in the body and helping in peaceful sleep. Good sleep will eventually lead better health.

Pumpkin seeds can be taken by drying them or making extracts. Extracting oil is good as it is easy to store.  Try taking it with shell as it provide better and more nutrients.