Fall Time Chai

Fall is here!

As the weather changes, our bodies change, the intake of our foods change, our moods change – we are forever changing!

Chai, known as tea in India, is a great way to strengthen the immune system and fight against colds, coughs and allergies especially with certain spices.

Here’s a great chai recipe -

- water

- 2 cloves

- 1 cinnamon stick

- a bit of grated ginger

- pinch of nutmeg

- grinded cardamom

- organic sugar

- some milk

It’s best when the milk is cooked along with the spices and tea.  This will allow the milk to be more digestible.

Give it a try!


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Did You Know - About Ginger

Did you know that ginger helps to relive dizziness and nausea?

You can also use ginger in the form of supplements.

Ginger tea is also effective – add half inch piece of ginger root to boiling water and drink.

Chewing on ginger candy or having some ginger ale is also helpful in treating dizziness.

Next time you feel a little dizzy, try ginger!

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Morning Mucous Remedy

There are many causes why one might have mucous built up in the morning – allergies, dust, pollen, inflammation in the nose and airways, smokers, etc.   Getting rid of if the natural way is key -

2 pinches of cardamom seeds

2 pinches of fennel seeds

1/4 inch fresh ginger

Grind both the seeds and mash the ginger – put in a cup and then poor boiling water over ingredients to steep, cool down and drink.

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Turmeric Brew

Stressed after a hard’s day work?  This turmeric brew can help – it’s also great to relieve a sore throat and runny nose.
- 1 cup of almond milk
- 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1 teaspoon of organic sweetener (optional)
- pinch of cayenne (optional)

Put all of the ingredients in a small pot, mix and let it heat.  Stir and enjoy.


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Cold/flu Remedy

Spring is almost here and the change of weather gets most of us sick.

Here's a great way to get rid of any cold or flu like symptoms -

- juice 6 fresh lemons
- 1 bulb garlic
- 2 teaspoon ginger powder
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder
- 3 cups pineapple juice

Blend all the ingredients and store in a glass jar.
Drink 1 cup two times a day till symptoms subside.

Cancer Killing Foods

It's really that simple -
To stay healthy, we need to eat healthy.
To fight an illness, we need to introduce or in some cases reintroduce certain foods that contain properties and nutrients that can actually help fight cancer and prevent it.

The following are the best foods that help with killing cancer -

Broccoli
Tomatoes
Grapefruit
Kale
Eggplant
Garlic
Turmeric
Wheatgrass
Ginger
Berries
Walnuts
Cauliflower

Foods & Spices That Help Fight The Flu & Cold

Greetings fellow readers.

I'm back in Fairfield, Iowa and it's freezing here!
The air is crisp and clear.
The snow is bright and white.
And my feet are frozen!

I just got back from a great walk on the Cedar View Bridge.
On the right is a picture I took.

Thought this would be a perfect opportunity to blog about some foods and spices that can help fight the flu and cold season.

• ginseng
• cinnamon 
• turmeric
• cloves
• garlic
• spinach
• ginger
• onions
• honey
• strawberries 
• oranges
• anise seeds 
• leafy green vegetables 
• sweet potatoes 
• blueberries 

These help boost your immunity, helps with cough, clears the channels, contains lots of vitamins and  has lots of antioxidants. 

Ginger - The Natural Pain Killer

I recently had someone reach out to me asking what he can do naturally to relive some joint and muscular pain.

Here's what I recommended -

Believe it or not - ginger reduces joint pain and inflammation.  The antioxidants in ginger reduces the production of pro-inflammatory compounds in the joints.

It can be used in different ways - 

- add a good amount of ginger in your meals

- chop 2 inches of fresh ginger - add a quart of water and let boil - add a pinch of sugar if needed and drink 2-3 cups daily

- finely grate ginger and mix about a tablespoon into a small cup of sesame oil (since it's Vata season).  Massage in clockwise motion to the affected area.  Best to do before shower and before bedtime - rinse off lightly if massaging before bed 

- take ginger tablets daily 

- make fresh ginger tea - boil a cup of water and grate some fresh ginger in the water as it boils

Vata Pacifying Diet

Is your vata of balance?
Here's what you can do to pacify Vata.

Favor the following foods -  

General - sufficient quantity, unctuous food, warm food and drinks.  Sweet, sour and salty tastes.

Grains - wheat products, rice (whole rice is best), cooked oat flakes in small amounts.

Beans/Daal - yellow mung beans (green skin removed)

Vegetables - white pumpkin, zucchini, okra (lady fingers), artichokes, asparagus, tender eggplant, carrot, beet root, sweet potatoes with fat, tomato, cucumber, tender radish, celery, green papaya spinach in small amounts.

Dairy - All dairy products, cheese should be soft and fresh.

Oils - All

Nuts & Seeds - All except peanuts, seeds in small amounts.

Spices & condiments - cumin, ginger, mustard seeds, fenugreek, hinge (asafoetida), cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, anise, fennel, black pepper (small amounts), salt, lemon juice, tamarind.  All others in small amounts.

Fruits - ripe, sweet and juicy fruits.  Dried fruit is better soaked.  Sweet grapes, pomegranate (sweet and sour), mango, papaya, sweet pineapple, banana, avocado, sweet and juicy apples and pears, sweet oranges, melons, plums, cherries, raisins, dates, prunes, figs, kiwi fruit, peach, apricot.

Avoid or reduce the following foods -

General - light and dry foods.  Cold foods and drinks.  Pungent, bitter and astringent tastes.

Grains - barley, corn, millet, rye, buckwheat, raw oats.

Beans - all except yellow mung beans and red lentils

Vegetables - large quantity of green leafy vegetables, orange pumpkin and squash, peas, potato, sprouts, mature eggplants, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, celery.

Fruits - unripe, dry sour fruits.  guava, jambu, cashew, cranberries, persimmon (dried), chicory.

Healing Water for Doshas

Water represents soma, the nourishing, cooling quality that is associated with the lunar energy.  Water helps with digestion, cools and balances the pitta dosha, supports kapha and counteracts the dryness of vata.

The council of Maharishi Ayurveda Physicians explains how the healing effects of water can be enhanced using Ayurvedic methods.

Vata Balancing Water -

• boil 2 quarts of water for 5 minutes
• take it off the heat and add 3 mint leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon of fennel seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon of marshmallow root
• place the water in a thermos
• sip it throughout the day at a warm but not hot temperature

Pitta Balancing Water - 

• boil 2 quarts of water for 2 minutes
• take it off the heat and add 1/4 teaspoon of fennel seed
• 2 rose buds
• 1 clove
• store it hot inside a thermos
• before drinking pour it into a cup and let it cool to room temperature in summer
• in winter, it can be slightly warmer

Kapha Balancing Water - 

• boil 2 quarts of water for 5 minutes
• take it off the heat and add 3 holy basil leaves
• 2 thin slices of fresh ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon of cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon of fennel
• place the water and spices in a thermos
• sip the water at a hot or warm temperature throughout the day 

Remedy 3 - Immunity Spice Mix

What is the main function of the immune system?  The answer is to protect the body from foreign invaders.  To strengthen and keep the immune system in balance is vital to health.  Here's a great way to boost your immunity with spices.

• 3 parts ground cumin
• 3 parts coriander
• 6 parts turmeric 
• 6 parent ground fennel
• 1 part powdered, dry ginger
• 1 part ground black pepper
• 1/4 part ground cinnamon

- Mix the spices together 

- In 1 tablespoon on Ghee (clarified butter), heat 1 teaspoon of this spice mixture until it releases aroma

- Add this to your vegetables, rice, etc. 

Must have spices in your spice rack

Spices and herbs have healing powers.  
Spices and herbs are in direct relation to the entire holistic functioning of the body.
They're therapeutic.
Flavorful.
Convenient.

Be sure to have the following spices in your spice rack. 

• Turmeric
• Coriander
• Fennel
• Cumin
• Cinnamon
• Cardamom
• Nutmeg
• Cloves
• Asafoetida 
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Basil
• Cayenne
• Black pepper
• Saffron
• Ajwain
• Dill
• Mustard seeds
• Sea salt
• Black salt
• Fenugreek