Garlic (Allium sativum)

I don't know about your town or city but know that our small town has been combating some pretty nasty colds and flu.  This is just a reminder that an ounce of prevention IS worth a pound of cure.  The ounce of prevention that I would like to talk about is GARLIC.

Not only is it incredibly yummy but it is also an anti-bacterial, anti-biotic, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and overall immune booster.  The reason for this plants super powers lies in the fact that fresh garlic has many active compounds including, alliin, allicin, and unique sulphur compounds.  As a matter of fact some of the first anitibiotics were sulphur based.  Garlic also contains significant amounts of the trace minerals selenium, as well as vitamin C.

You may have noticed that I put the word fresh in bold as this is obviously ideal.  Second choices would include garlic in its dried/powdered form or a commercially prepared form.  When you have to use a second choice be a little more liberal, use a little more often, and be a little more patient if waiting for results.

There are many ways to get garlic into a body.  If all of my family is sick I find it easy to crush a whole bunch of cloves (at least two per person for the day) and put them in a little custard/ramekin dish then pour honey over the whole thing.  That way it is simple to dole out as the day progresses.  An adult can easily consume up to eight cloves of garlic in a day.  Here is a common sense reminder about children.  They are proportionally smaller than we are so they can use proportionally less with the same results.

It is best given with after there is food in the stomach or mixed with food.  Here are a few simple suggestions.  Mix with applesauce. (It's actually pretty tasty.)  Make garlic toast, easy on the butter.  Try mixing the garlic with vegenaise, little tomato, and some lettuce for a garlic sandwich.  One of our family favorites is garlic popcorn.  Puree the garlic and mix with a small amount of butter or cold pressed oil.  Pour over the popcorn and mix thoroughly.  Cooking detracts from the effiency of garlic.   Crush/dice/slice it and put it into a dish after you have turned off the stove or in the last three minutes of cooking.  That way you will get the most benefit but without as much heat.

Garlic is a simple and effective way to stay well!  Enjoy the season by staying healthy.

Water 101

Water. Such a simple thing, yet how many of us drink our minimum 8, 8oz glasses a day?

There has been much said about water, and most of us know we need to drink it, yet many also feel that we have consumed our "daily allotment" in our juice, tea, coffee, or soda. After all, water is the first ingredient. Please know also, that that juice, tea, coffee or soda are processed as food in the system, the body does not recognize them as water. Allow me to explain, simply.

Overall the human body is 70-75% water. Some body parts are higher (blood at over 90%, or the brain at around 85%) some are lower (bones about 25-30%). This fact alone should help us realize that around 70% of what we put into our bodies should be water. How about this: All of the electrical and chemical actions of the brain and central nervous system are dependent on the conductivity of electrical currents between the brain and the sensory organs. In other words, the bodies internal communication system works off water. These important water needs are best met when water is provided in small frequent amounts, like a gentle rain on your garden. Too much all at once, and the goodness is lost in "run off", to little, and all is left parched.

It has been estimated that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated, and of this percentage in about 37% the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger. In many cases a glass of water will shut down hunger or "munchy" cravings. As a matter of fact, when you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. So what is wrong with being dehydrated? Dehydration leads to:

*Reduced metabolism *Daytime fatigue *Increased joint and muscle pain

*Trouble focusing on print *Heartburn *Digestive and Bowel problems

*Fuzzy short-term memory

Any of this sound familiar? It's amazing that these annoying issues/problems can be solved with getting enough water into your parched cells. How much is enough. The "standard" 8/8oz glasses (that's 64 oz or 1/2 gallon) should be considered your MINIMUM DAILY REQUIREMENT of water. Here is a more personal and accurate rule of thumb:

You need to consume 1/2 - 1 oz of water per pound of body weight. For example a person weighing 150 pounds should drink 75 - 150 ounces of water a day. (Remember there are 128 ounces in a gallon of water) This amount varies according to what the person is doing. Obviously if one is working outside in the sun, more water would be necessary. However, working in front of a computer is almost as dehydrating. The environment is another consideration. Here in the arid western USA, it is important to drink more as the air literally sucks the moisture out of you.

A brief word about the KIND of water: Water of choice: Distilled. Second option: Reverse osmosis. These two forms are clean enough for the body to absorb directly, saving the digestive process that would be required for almost any other type of water. Most municipal water sources are heavily polluted with "purification" chemicals.

For more information:
"The Choice is Clear" by Dr. Allen E Banik
"Your Body's Many Cries for Water" by Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, MD

So with all this, I'm ready for a big glass of water how about you?