STRAWBERRY TURMERIC TONIC

"It's Juicing Tuesday"

Strawberry Turmeric Tonic 

It's Juicing/Blending Tuesday!  Oh, yeah right.  It sure has been a while that we had one of these post segments.  Let's get back in the habit.

So, what's in season? Strawberries! 

Organic Strawberries
(the darker the berries the sweeter it is)

If you have noticed in your local stores or your garden, those berries are just popping up in bundles.  The supermarkets are having deals now.  I went to whole foods last week and saw organic strawberries were $3.49!  

"Now in Season"
Grab, grab, grab

How about that!  Normally, they were $5.99.  You got to grab those produce that are in season especially organic.  Keep in mind strawberries are considered one of the dirty dozen produce items.  Why?  Strawberries are usually sprayed heavily with pesticides since they grow low to the ground.  It is very important to go for organic berries.

How about starting to grow your very own strawberry plant?

Strawberry plant kit
(cost $1 at Target Stores)

Unfortunately, I'm still waiting for it to sprout.  I transferred the soil and seeds to one of the garden raised beds.  Maybe that will help.  We shall see.

Now back to our original topic- Strawberry Turmeric Tonic

This tonic water is one of the ways you can incorporate the benefits of strawberries, limes, and turmeric in your diet.  All three have significant benefits to help heal the body from inflammation and to fight diseases.

Strawberries Nutritional Facts:

• High levels of antioxidants - polyphenols
• Fiber
• Heart friendly- increases the HDL (good) cholesterol and lowers blood pressure
• Low calories
• Manganese
• Potassium
• Vitamin C - about 8 strawberries
• Reduces inflammation
• Boost short term memory
• Helps burn stored fat
• Anti-aging properties
• Promote eye health

raw honey, lime, and organic strawberries

• 7 cups of purified water 
• 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder
• 1 lime
• 3 organic strawberries
• 1 tablespoon of raw honey

**Feel free to add more strawberries, lime juice, and more raw honey if you like.

Essential Tools:  Blender, tea pot or pot, pitcher, and mesh strainer

Directions:

1. Boil 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder in purified or distilled water.  For about 15 - 20 minutes.
2. Let the tea cool down and strain it.  
3. Thoroughly wash off your lime and strawberries.
4. Slice off the top part leaves of the strawberries.
5. Squeeze the juice out of the lime.
6. Add the strawberries, lime juice, and raw honey into a blender. 

Ready to blend away!

Once the turmeric tea is cooled, strained, and in a pitcher then add the strawberry puree mixture.

Pour the strawberry mixture into the turmeric tea

Tip:  The strawberry puree mixture can also be use to make a nice strawberry limeade by just using water.

Wholesome good.  Super beneficial!

Strawberries meets Turmeric

Stir away and chill.

Stir or shake away!

                                                                                      Live the Good Life!

BEING FRUGAL - Growing Turmeric

 

"Frugal Living Means Smarter Money Management"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frugal is economical and not wasteful.  If you are a frugal person, then you are wise in spending.  An example, I went to a health food store and saw what they were charging for fresh organic turmeric root- $16.99 a pound! WHAT THE HELL!?!?

 

Fresh organic turmeric root $16.99 lb
"Today's food prices are outrageous"

What do you do when prices are sky high?

A frugal person is a creative person. You will have to stretch the money you have as far as it will go. 

So, turmeric root is a good health investment.  I found two small good looking pieces of roots - cost $2.34.



Turmeric Root
Look for healthy pieces of roots

I have planted the roots in some good potting soil.  Place the root just beneath of the soil enough to leave the nodules at the side of root facing up so it can sprout.  Some people leave the root on the windowsill and wait for it to sprout.



Sprouting Turmeric
several weeks for sprouting to appear
(still thriving since last year Summer 2013)
 

Then I had placed the potted turmeric root in a nice sunny area and fed it eggshells, brewed dried coffee grinds, molasses and seaweed water.



Turmeric
Sprouting at 14.5 inches high

Turmeric leaves are edible.  Asian cultures uses the roots and leaves in their cooking - preferably wrapping fish with the leaves. The leaves are wonderful substitutes than using bread. 


The turmeric leaves opened up this morning
June 4, 2014

Turmeric is an alternative health investment that keeps on giving.  Turmeric takes 8-10 months to mature.  It does not propagate seeds.  Keep the soil moist and mist the leaves at times.  Turmeric thrives in hot climates and goes in dormant during winter.  Fresh turmeric is hard to find in stores. You would have to look for turmeric root either in Asian or Indian ethnic stores.  Turmeric's popularity is now becoming available in most heath foods stores.  Harvest turmeric 8-10 months after planting.

 

 

                                               

 

 

 

 

 





NATURAL PAIN KILLER TEA

 

         Do you like drinking hot tea? Or are you a cold tea person? Either way you have it tea makes you feel good right? Perks you up and makes you feel warm and relaxing.  There are a lot of flavor teas in today’s market.  Everyone has a favorite tea and the way he/she likes it.  Cream, milk, sugar, honey, no sweeteners, lemon, or raw agave nectar.  Now a days teas has become the next coffee.  Tea has natural antioxidants in it and homemade herbal teas are as powerful and potent too.

         Turmeric tea is a special natural pain killer herbal tea I make to manage pain and blood circulation.  Turmeric is widely used in Indian and Asian cuisines.  In Chinese Medicine, turmeric is one of the herbs that invigorate blood in treating Blood Stasis (blood that is not moving properly).   This powerful anti-inflammatory antioxidant yellow spice can slow down the process of Alzheimer’s, protects the stomach from tainted foods, produces anti-cancer activity, has anti HIV properties, and antimicrobial.

         Medical research has been coming out about this powerful spice on the capabilities of fighting cancer cells.  Turmeric has anticancer effects in all stages of the disease’s development. 

         Turmeric has other effects on the following:

ü Cardiovascular (lowering cholesterol levels & inhibition of platelet aggregation)

ü Liver

ü Arthritis

ü Anti-aging

ü Prostate cancer (when combined with cauliflower)

ü Prevented breast cancer in spreading to the lungs in mice

ü Reduces the risk of leukemia

ü Aid in fat metabolism

ü Shown to slow the progression of Multiple Sclerosis in mice

ü Speeds up wound healing

Above all Turmeric is nature’s miracle powerful wonder  spice that should not be ignored and added to your diet every day.

TURMERIC TEA

1 teaspoon of turmeric powder

2 slice of fresh ginger root (quarter sizes) smashed up (2teaspoons)

1 Ceylon Cinnamon stick (optional) 

Boil a pot of water to a rapid boil.  Add in the above ingredients and cover the pot.  Boil for 20-25 minutes.  Let it steep for 5 min.

Drink……  you can add raw honey or raw agave nectar (diabetics use agave- why? Does not spike up sugar levels) or drink it just like that.

But no sugar!