Tag Archives: vitamin a

Herbs & their Nutritional Content Part 1

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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, B3, Vitamin 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.

The best BEST BESTEST Miso Dressing Ever!!!

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I don’t think the title really captures how I feel about this dressing.

I’ve made 3 batches in the last week & a half….

THREE!!!

I’ve had to. It just goes so fast….

I put it on everything…..

Salad….

Raw Veggies……

Crackers…..

Bread……

Tried it with Quinoa Burgers…….

Even on its Own…..

Yummmm……

I can’t get enough of it….

Let me tell you a bit about this Miso Dressing before I get to the recipe…..

Miso, Oh Miso, How I love you! Miso is Pure 100000% Goodness for you. I will say right now, Miso is one a few items that I recommend having in your house at all times. ALL TIMES!!  It’s a fabulous Fermented food that’s packed full of living enzymes. Miso comes in many different Tastes & Colours, the lighter it is the sweeter it will be. It can be made with anything from ChickPeas, Adzuki Beans, Brown Rice & more! Using Miso can help reduce Chronic Pain for many people, can act as a Natural Antacid, can lower Blood Pressure, Boost your Immune System, Limit Cancer Cell Growth & so much more.  It’s said to even protect against Atomic Radiation & Heavy Metal Poisoning.

When using Miso for the First time, I’d recommend starting with a lighter colour until you are accustom to the unique taste (it won’t take long). Also a very very important thing to remember when using & especially cooking with Miso is to never boil or heat it to a high temp. That will kill all of the beneficial enzymes, & therefore render it useless to your body.

Tahini is another super amazing food that is made from Seasame Seeds. It is really rich in lots of Vitamins & Minerals:
Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B15, Fatty Acids, Biotin, Choline, Magnesium, Lecithin, Potassium, Iron, Phosphorus, Vitamin A & E (WoW eh!!)

It’s also a better source of Protein then Milk, Soya, & many Nuts! It may seem really oily, but it’s all ‘good fat’ so don’t worry too much.

After all that Hype, I really hope you LOVE it too…

Here we go!

Easiest way to make anything is to first get your ingredients…. So go get these items ready:

3 TBsp Lemon Juice (fresh squeezed of course)

5 TBsp Tahini (Raw is better)

5 TBsp Miso (any kind, I’ve used light, dark & medium, it’s ALL GOOD!!!)

1/3 Cup High Quality Oil (I use Udo’s 3-6-9)

1/2 Cup Filtered Water

3+ Garlic Cloves (depending on your personal Garlic Preferences)

& BLEND!

Put in a Jar

*thin this dressing out with a bit more water if using as a salad dressing*

Make Sure it’s all in there, & enjoy!!!

Have you ever tried Miso?
Do you love it?

What’s your Fav. way to use it?