Herbs & their Nutritional Content Part 1

Have you ever wondered what so great about the Herbs you see in the stores? Why should we buy them & put them in our stews, teas, sandwiches, salads, etc. There are so SO many reasons why we should utilize these amazing ‘foods’ more often. Herbs are a prime example of where Food can truly be Medicine & Medicine can be our Food.

The following is a small Alphabetical list of Herbs along with some of the Vitamins & Minerals they contain. Go ahead & add them to your Soups, Stews, Teas, Stir Fry’s, Salads, & more!

Alfalfa is a Wonderful Resilient Herb that can be grown quite easily on a window sill. It contains  Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Protein, Manganese, Selenium & Zinc. It has been used to treat a number of Digestive issues as well as the Digestive tract & Kidneys.

Astragalus Root is harvested for its roots, but adorded for it’s beautful Purple flowers. Known to Increase Energy & Build resistance to Dis~ease by Strengthening the Immune System, it also helps the Adrenal Glands. Astragalus contains Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese & Zinc.

Burdock Root is a Biennial Herb that can be easily found in most Health food stores. It is used as a Blood Purifier & Cleanser, can help with Acne & Eczema, has been used against Cancer, has AntiBacterial & AntiFungal Properties & can stimulate the Digestive & Immune systems. Burdock Root contains Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Manganese, Phosphorous, Selenium, & Zinc.

Cayenne comes from a fruit. It is typically Red but can come in Orange, Purple & Yellow. Paprika is a mild form of Cayenne. Cayenne has been known to Cleanse the entire Digestive & Circulatory systems, it promotes normal blood pressure, helps prevent muscle aches, headaches, ulcers, sore throats, & more. It contains Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Iron, Calcium, Selenium, & Magnesium, Potassium.

Chamomile is a popular Hardy Evergreen, used for herbal tea, it is a beautiful Perennial bud. Traditionally used for cramps, digestion & a sleep aid, Chamomile can also be used as a diuretic, to calm nerves, reduce stress, relieve flatulence & headaches.  Chamomile contains B1, B2, B3, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Selenium, Zinc

Dandelion is found everywhere it seems, but care must be taken when picking them. Pesticides are used on them quite heavily, so you must trust where you find them. Organic is a minimum here! This amazing ‘weed’ will stimulate your liver to eliminate toxins, cleanse the blood, act as a diuretic, lower blood pressure, & can be used for Urinary Tract Infections. Dandelion contains Vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Calcium, Copper, Manganese, Iron, Boron, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, & Zinc

Fennel Seeds are a wonderful addition to any herb & spice cupboard. Organic is always better, keep them in a cool dark space in an airtight container. Fennel Seeds contain Vitamin A, B1, B2,B3, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Selenium, & Zinc.

Flax seeds look like Apple seeds only flatter & must be ground to gain any health benefit. Flax Colours range from Dark Brown, Deep Red, to a Golden Yellow. Flax contain Vitamin E, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium & Manganese, Phosphorus, Iron & Copper.

Goldenseal Root is Native to Siberia it is a Perennial with Pink or Yellowish flowers. Goldenseal has been shown to help regulate Liver Function, to Kill Poisons in the Body, Cleanse Mucous Membranes, aid in Digestion, Fight Infection & Inflammation, Strengthen the Immune System, Colon, Liver, Pancreas, Spleen, Lymphatic & Respiratory system. Goldenseal contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Calcium, Iron & Manganese.

Green Tea, Native to SouthEast Asia, it is an extremely popular drink & with good reason. Green Tea leaves have been used for Cancer treatment, lowering Cholesterol, Blood clotting, to Stimulate the Immune System, regulate Blood Sugar, Combat Fatigue & help with Weight Loss. Green Tea Leaves also contains the elusive Vitamin K!

Hops is an ingredient not often used unless there is Beer involved, but it should be due to its amounts of Vitamin A, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B12, Vitamin C, Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Selenium, & Zinc.

Kelp  Found in the sea, Kelp is an amazing addition to any stew, soup, stirfry, pasta or rice dish. Kelp contains, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Vitamin B12.

LemonGrass is a great addition to soups & can add a nice touch to plain filtered water. LemonGrass contains Vitamin A, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium & Selenium.

Nettle is mostly thought of as a weed, but this prickly plant can do many amazing things for us. Stinging Nettle has been used to treat Urinary Tract Infections & Kidney Stones. It has Anti~Inflammatory properties, is used in Detoxing (flushes out toxins) & can improve short-term memory. It contains Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Calcium, Chromium, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc.

Parsley is best known as that green stuff on the side of your plate when dinning out. It is also known as a breath freshener, & contains Vitamin A, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron & Zinc.

Peppermint is an easy to grow perennial, it makes a nice fresh tea. Peppermint contains Vitamin A, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Selenium.

Raspberry Leaf is a great tea during the last trimester of Pregnancy to strengthen the Uterus, it contains Vitamin A, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium & Selenium.

Red Clover is seen as a weed or Bunny food to most, but is known to contain Vitamin A, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Calcium, Chromium, Magnesium, Manganese.

Rose Hips are a wonderful addition to many teas, as they are rich in Anti~oxidants. They are used as blood & Kidney tonics, can help with Colic & Urinary Tract Infections. They contain Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Calcium, Iron, Manganese, Selenium, Zinc

Yarrow  has anti~inflammatory oils & is known to help with purifying the Blood, regulating Liver & Thyroid, balancing Hormones. It can aid in the treatment of Ulcers, Hemorrhoids & can stimulate the liver for Detox. Yarrow contains Vitamins B1, Vitamin C, Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese & Selenium

Yellow Dock , found 1st in Europe & now everywhere, it is a Blood Purifier & a wonderful Lymphatic Cleanser. It is known to improve the Colon & Liver Functions, help with Psoriasis, Eczema, Hives, Herpes & Rashes. It can help eliminate Intestinal Parasites, reduce Inflammation in Nasal passages & Respiratory Tract. Yellow Dock contains Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese & Selenium.

Wild Yam a Hardy plant with long knotty root stocks found all around North America. It contains a hormone precursors to Female Progesterone. It can Relax muscles & Cramps, treats Chronic Gas & Colic and may be good for IBS & Kidney Stones. Wild Yam contains Chromiun & Zinc.

Building The Ultimate Salad

How to Build a Super~Salad

Good morning Healthy Peeps!!! How has your week been going? Are you feeling happy that the weekend is finally here? Thanks again for being patient with me while I was getting the site up & running with all this amazing info! Here, to end off the week is a step~by~step action plan for building the Ultimate Salad!!! Enjoy!!!

When building anything, you need to start with a strong foundation. When building your salad the foundation is your ‘Greens’. Include a generous amount of Greens as the base of your salad, it’s where your body is receiving the biggest bang for your buck plus they are extremely alkalyzing. Greens are also some of the most nutrient~rich foods on the Planet, & you want your share!

(Red Leaf & Wild  Mix Greens with Cranberries, Garlic, Walnuts)

 Good choices for Nutrient~Rich Greens are:

~Red/Green Leaf Lettuce

~Romaine

~Spinach

~Chard

~Kale

~Cabbage

~Arugula

~Beet Greens

~Sorrel

~Endive

~Dandelion / Mustard Greens

~Collard Greens

 Fill your Salad now with an Assortment of Vegetables. You’ve heard the saying ‘Eat a Rainbow‘ so try & use as many different colours as possible as that will give you a broader spectrum of Body Happy Nutrients.

Colourful Veggies Choices are:

~Red / Purple:

~Tomatoes

~Onions

~Beets

~Peppers (Chili & Bell)

Yellow / Orange:

~Bell Peppers

~Carrots

~Golden Beets

~Sweet Potato

~Squashes

Green:

~Celery

~Cucumber

~Zucchini

~Peas / Edamame

~Broccoli

White:

~Burdock

~Onion

~Garlic

~Cauliflower

 Next throw in some Herbs & Sprouts, these are packed full of Detoxifying & Nutritious MicroNutrients. A little will go a long way here, add for taste or add for what it will do for your body, either way just add some:

 Herbs:

~Parsley

~Cilantro

~Basil

~Dill

~Mint

~Rosemary

~Dandelion

Sprouts:

~Alfalfa Sprouts

~Broccoli Sprouts

~Bean Sprouts

~Clover Sprouts

Topping your salad off with an assortment of Seeds & Nuts & Dried Fruits should assure you of a wonderful array of Nutrients that your body craves & will thank you for with an abundance of Energy & Balance:

Seeds & Nuts & Dried Fruits:

~Sunflower

~Pumpkin

~Almonds

~Pecans

~Walnuts

~Peanuts

~Hazelnuts

~Dried Currants

~Dried Cranberries

~Dried Apples

~Raisins

You now want to add some Healthy Fats as these will help your body absorb essential Vitamins like A, D, E & K.

Healthy Fat Choices:

~Avocado

~Olives

~Hemp Seeds

~Flax Seeds (Ground)

~Coconut Oil, Olive Oil or a good mixture of 3-6-9 Oil is included in your dressing, don’t add more here.

Dressings are the last item on a Salad. Your choices can be simple to complicated. After all that work you put into your Salad let’s keep it simple, we don’t want to cover up or over power the Natural Flavours of all your hard work!

(Currants & Romaine Lettuce, Shredded Carrots, Kelp Noodles & Miso Dressing)

Miso Dressing:

Recipe Here

Lazy Balsamic Dressing;

1.5 Tbsp Mustard

1 Tbsp Maple Syrup

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

½ tsp Salt & Pepper

Or just try a combo of:

Olive Oil, Lemon Juice & Pepper

What do you think of Salads? How many do you eat in a day/week? What are your go~to recipes? Please share!