Wisdom of Healing

Many of the women that I speak with about nutrition are concerned about whether their loved ones are getting enough of all the right nutrients to nourish their bodies and minds. The USDA has focused on the minimum nutrients necessary to prevent illness, but we also want to be sure that our loved ones experience optimal health!

There are several improvements in your family’s health that may be occur naturally by simply setting a good example. Reducing sugar intake, eating more vegetables and regular exercise are some of the powerful changes we can make for ourselves that often take hold in those we love without the need for harping.

There are several other little ‘secrets’ that I’ll share with you that can significantly improve your family’s nutritional intake without any whining or complaints. You can choose to let them in on these small changes aimed to improve their health, or you may want to just keep it to yourself for now.

Providing a variety of hot or iced herbal teas is a delicious way to consume lots of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Companies such as Traditional Medicinals, Yogi and Choice Teas provide a wide variety of tasty choices that may support improved health and greater detoxification. Remember to always place a cover over the cup or teapot; because as much as 90% of the nutritional value and health benefits contained in the herbs will rise up with the steam from an uncovered cup.

Herbal teas may provide us with a wide array of benefits. Herbs are very complex and therefore assist the body in a variety of ways. They really never offer only one or two advantages. Rather, an herb can support the liver and heart, and detoxify the blood as it improves bone health. Let’s take marshmallow root for example; an herb that has been used to support the repair of the mucosal tissue that lines the digestive tract for anyone who has any of the chronic digestive complaints (IBS, Crohn’s, heartburn, etc) or food sensitivities (allergies).

For centuries, marshmallow root has also been used to support a sore throat, a chronic lung concern and/or bladder/urinary troubles. Other traditional uses also include helping with sprains, bruises and muscle aches.

So, we may drink an herbal tea, such as the following delicious recipe for my favorite Traditional Medicinals tea called Herba Tussin, formulated by a master herbalist for helping the body with a cough or chest congestion. These herbs have also been used for centuries for digestion, urinary concerns, sore throat, sinus issues and cardiovascular health, as well.

Eucalyptus leaf
Licorice root
Slippery elm bark
Wild cherry bark
Elecampane rhizome
Marshmallow root
Spearmint leaf
West Indian lemongrass leaf
Lemon peel
Stevia leaf
Lemon myrtle leaf

Some of the best herbs for increasing the nutrient value of our daily diet are listed below. You may choose any of the herb tea bag combinations created for the previously mentioned tea companies (or others) and then add any of the following herbs for increased nutritional value. Please remember to be sure to buy organic herbs and teas. The benefits of commercially grown herbs may be less than desired.

Nettles – Considered the most nutrient dense land plant on Earth, nettles is loaded with vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, enzymes and phytonutrients. Some of the common uses include asthma, allergies, sinus infections, rashes, bone health, chest congestion, bug bites and stings. Nettles has a pleasant flavor that compliments most herbal teas.

Alfalfa – Rich in minerals and vitamins, alfalfa has a mild flavor and is a pleasant addition to most teas.

Raspberry leaf – Calming and nourishing, raspberry leaf has been used for centuries to balance the hormones, and calm and relax the individual. Raspberry leaf is commonly used during pregnancy and supports the teenage years of both boys and girls.

Horsetail – The horsetail stalk is very rich in silica. Silica supports good skin, connective tissue, bone and cartilage health.

Mints, including peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, horse mint and pennyroyal, provide vitamins and minerals while supporting digestion and alertness.

My daughters grew up drinking herbal teas daily. Kaia usually preferred to add Nettles to all of her teas, while Mollie always requested that hers be made with the addition Raspberry leaf with her favorite tea bags, Throat Coat.

Because we drank very little fruit juice, and almost no soda, I would often make up herbal teas for the family, one, two or even three quarts at a time, usually at night before I went to bed. In the morning, we would warm some delicious, refreshing mint, lemon, licorice or fruity flavored tea and enjoy them throughout the day. To make tea by the quart, follows these easy instructions:

Boil the water.
Choose a clean one quart mason jar, and rinse with hot water (to prevent cracking when boiling water is poured into the jar).
Place tea bags, tea ball or bulk herb into the jar.
Pour boiling water over herbs to top.
Cover.
Let steep for at least 15-30 minutes, or overnight. (Some herbs, lemon balm for example, become very bitter when steeped for more than 15 minutes.)
Using a sieve, strain the tea into a second quart jar.
Serve warm or iced.
Enjoy!

Note: For a one quart jar, you will want to use:
4 or 5 tea bags if you plan to serve hot tea or
6-8 tea bags for iced tea.
When using bulk herbs, try
4-5 rounded teaspoons for hot tea or
6-8 rounded teaspoons for iced tea.

Here are some other safe, delicious and convenient ways to add easily utilized nutritional foods to the diet.

Sea vegetables are the most nutrient rich plants on Earth. Sea Vegetables include kelp, kombu, nori, dulse and wakame. With a rich, salty flavor, they may be added to everything that we cook; soups, stews, rice, vegetables, etc. If you’re new to eating sea vegetables, you may want to try the shakers from Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, available at most health food stores. They may be sprinkled onto salads, sandwiches and popcorn. Including sea vegetables in your family’s daily diet will help to significantly improve everyone’s nutrient intake.

Nettles, in powdered form, may be sprinkled into everything, too; pasta sauce, soups, salads, stir-fries and lasagna. Start with a scant amount, say ½ tsp in pasta sauce for four, and with time, increase it to 1 or 2 tsp.

Reduce sugar, fruits and fruit juices, as much as you can, from your family’s daily diet. High in sugars, these foods tend to cause us to crave more of the same, and then we eat fewer vegetables and other nutritious foods. Our ancestors tended to eat only seasonal fruits once a week or twice monthly. I’ve known well-meaning parents who had given their children fruits or juices three or four times before noon. This may contribute to difficulty with digestion and immune health. If you currently consume a lot of fruit, try buying only local organic apples for awhile, and eating them only once or twice weekly. Other times when a snack is desired, try vegetables such as carrots, celery, sunchokes or red peppers. You may be surprised as to how satisfying they can be!

Increase your family’s intake of fresh, filtered water. We should consume 1/2 our weight in ounces daily, (excluding teas, juices, etc). So, a 150 pound adult should drink 75 ounces daily, or just over (9) 8 ounce glasses! A good filter, (not those pitchers or other very inexpensive filters) is superior to buying bottled water in plastic jugs, and costs significantly less per gallon, too. Drinking more clean, pure water seems to support a desire for more nutritious foods, and good water has trace amounts of vital nutrients to support our family’s health.

Cellfood, from Lumina Health, is an amazing way to support nutritional intake. Just two-eight drops added to water three times a day can support overall health and detoxification. Cellfood, available at most health food stores, contains 78 minerals and trace minerals, 34 enzymes (mostly metabolic with some digestive), 17 amino acids, electrolytes and nascent (enhanced) oxygen. It gives the water a slightly lemony flavor, and is useful for supporting the body in hundreds of valuable ways.

Good luck to you. There will be other useful tips for increasing our families’ health and well-being soon. Until then, I hope these ideas help your loved ones to feel as healthy and vibrant as we do!

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