DIY Natural Homemade Ginger Ale

 

A naturally occurring fermented, fizzy beverage, ginger ale contains numerous health-promoting enzymes and probiotics.

A fantastic spice with incredible therapeutic qualities, ginger is used extensively to cure a wide range of illnesses. Ginger ale is another way that you can reap the advantages of ginger. Let’s have a look at some of those benefits below.

• Ginger soothes your digestive system and clears the disturbances like stomach ache, upset stomach, nausea, acid reflux, bloating and gas.
• Calm down your cold, cough and other respiratory problems.
• Heals muscle aches and body pains.
• Reduces your fever and strengthen your immunity.
• Enhance proper blood circulatory system.
• Works for lowering your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and also reduces the risk of getting cancer.
• Relieves you from stress and anxiety.

 

Now let’s have a look on few methods of preparing ginger ale (also called ginger beer) naturally at your home with detailed step by step process.

 

Method – 1: (Ginger Ale using Ginger Bug)

Ginger bug is a culture of beneficial bacteria that prepared by adding ginger root and sugar in water on the daily basis for a week, which is similar to a kombucha scoby for making kombucha. It is a natural base for making many homemade sodas and tonics. Let’s see how to prepare ginger ale using a ginger bug.

• Pour 3 cups of water, 2-inch minced fresh ginger root, 1/2 cup of organic sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt in a saucepan.
• Place it on the heat and bring it to a boil for few minutes.
• Simmer it for another 5 – 7 minutes until sugar dissolves completely and the mix smells like ginger.
• Turn off the heat and add 5 cups of water to cool the mix.
• Then add 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice and 1/2 cup of ginger bug to it.
• Transfer all this mix into 2-quart glass mason jar and stir well.
• Place its air tight lid and keep it aside for 2 – 3 days till carbonated but make sure to mix it well for once daily.
• The final mix should bubble and should hiss like a soda when opened. It should smell like ginger and slightly of fermentation/yeast.
• Strain the ginger ale and store it in a refrigerator.
• Enjoy this frizzy ginger ale drink.

Note: Or use whey instead of ginger bug for quick fermentation.

 

Method – 2: (Ginger Ale using Chilled Seltzer or Club Soda)

• Pour 1 ½ cups of peeled and chopped ginger in a small saucepan.
• Then add 2 cups of water in it and cook at a low heat by covering partially for 45 minutes.
• Now remove it from heat and let it steep for another 20 minutes.
• Strain the mix and pour this liquid into a saucepan.
• Pour 3/4 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt to the mix and boil it over a medium heat.
• Stir it till the sugar has dissolved and turn off the heat.
• Let it cool for few minutes and then mix 3 tablespoons of fresh lime juice and 1 quart of chilled seltzer or club soda.
• Stir well and drink ginger ale and refrigerate the remaining ale.

 

Method – 3: (Ginger Ale using Active Yeast)

• Pour 1 ½ ounces of finely grated fresh ginger, 6 ounces of sugar and 1/2 cup of water in a saucepan.
• Place it over medium-high heat and stir well till the sugar dissolves completely.
• Then remove the heat and cover it.
• Let it steep for an hour and strain the mix finely and refrigerate it.
• Now pour this syrup in a 2-liter plastic bottle and add 1/8 teaspoon of yeast, 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and 7 cups of water in it.
• Place its cap and shake it gently to mix all these ingredients.
• Leave the bottle at room temperature for 48 hours and check it once for carbonation.
• Finally, store the ginger ale in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks by opening the bottle for once a day.

 

Note: Or mix 1 ½ tablespoons of fresh grated ginger, juice of 1 lemon, 1 cup of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of active dry yeast in a 2 little soda bottle. Stir well all these ingredients by adding the rest of the bottle with water. Leave it at room temperature till the bottle is hard to squeeze for 2 – 3 days to make ginger ale.

These are some of the ways of preparing ginger ale in your home. Try them and share your experience with us.

 

4 Reasons why women should eat more broccoli

 

Despite having a negative image among kids, broccoli is a nutrient-dense food that can have a significant positive impact on health. Despite the fact that everyone can benefit from eating more of this vegetable, men don't appear to reap the same advantages as women. Learn why these benefits are exclusive to women and why they should consume more broccoli below.

 

4 reasons why women should eat more broccoli

There are several benefits to eating more broccoli. Its content in sulforaphane has anti-inflammatory properties that prevent diabetes; it is also a great veggie to help you fart more and eliminate bloating, and it’s generally nutritious and provides good support for your body.

Nevertheless, women should eat more broccoli because they are the ones that can benefit the most from their intake.

The importance of folate

Folate is a type of vitamin B that cannot be stored in the body and needs to be ingested every day. This vitamin plays an important role in the production of red blood cells and an insufficient intake can result in anemia.

Pregnant women are particularly in need of increasing their intake of folate as its deficiency could result in birth defects. The recommended daily intake if of 400 mcg for adults older than 19 years old, 600 mcg for pregnant women and 500 mcg for breastfeeding women.

Half a cup of broccoli, approximately 125ml, represent 89 mcg. Women should eat more broccoli to help reach their ideal level of daily intake.

 

It may reduce the risk of breast cancer

An early study regarding the increased prospect of breast cancer in menopause reported that a frequent consumption of cruciferous, such as broccoli and cauliflower, as well as yellow/orange veggies could potentially reduce this risk. This is one of the main reasons why women should eat more broccoli and are advised to do so.

A different research has expanded this effect to all kinds of breast cancer and not only the ones originating in menopause. According to this study, broccoli contains sulforaphane that works to prevent and thus reduce the risk of developing breast tumors. For the analysis, the researchers used the equivalent of one bowl of broccoli sprouts.

 

It may help with atherosclerosis in older women

Australian researchers analyzed the effects of an increase in vegetable intake in women over 70 years old with atherosclerosis. These vegetables included cruciferous, allium, yellow/orange/red, leafy greens and legumes.

At the end of the research, the carotid artery walls were thinner for the subjects that made this increment. Moreover, an additional increase of 10g serving of cruciferous vegetables was linked to a 0.005mm reduction in carotid artery wall thickness.

Nevertheless, this study should be taken with a pinch of salt as it doesn’t discriminate the exact effect that each vegetable had. Although broccoli was one of the cruciferous used, there is no indication that it alone had any direct effect over the arteries.

 

It could help with depression

There are several pieces of research already linking folate with depression symptoms. This connection seems particularly noteworthy for women, who experience an improvement in their symptoms with much lower doses than those required for men.

However, researchers admit that more thorough studies are still needed, especially to assess if this improvement only happens when there is a folate deficiency or if healthy subjects could also benefit from it.

 

How to eat broccoli: raw or cooked?

Raw broccoli might not be for everyone, but if you want to enjoy this veggie’s nutrients fully, that’s the way to go.

According to a research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, when comparing raw and cooked broccoli, the first presented a much faster absorption rate (1.6 hours vs 6 hours), higher bioavailability (37% vs 3.4%), and a high peak plasma amounts of sulforaphane, the component that can help prevent breast cancer.

 

5 different ways to eat broccoli

There are several ways to eat broccoli, increase its intake and enjoy its nutrients and benefits. Some ways of cooking it are more nutritious than others, it is true. But the most important thing is that you eat more of it. Besides, variety will allow you to prepare different recipes and avoid getting tired of broccoli.

Sauce it up

Boil and blend the broccoli with a bit of parmesan to create a healthy and delicious sauce to add to your pasta. Besides being much lower in calories than other sauces, it is an original way to include this veggie in a pasta dish instead of using only the florets.

Check out this recipe of spaghetti with broccoli sauce from Weight Watchers to try it out.

 

Roasted side dish

Ditch the old and bland boiled broccoli and surprise everyone with a crunchy side-dish. You can roast it with lemon or garlic for extra flavor and sprinkle it up with a bit of parmesan, because broccoli goes great with cheese.

Try out this recipe of roasted broccoli with lemon and parmesan to discover this way of preparing this veggie.

 

Add it to quiches

Quiches are great for many reasons. First, it’s hard to ever go wrong by just throwing the ingredients in there. Even the most unusual combinations seem to shine in it.

And second, they are great to prepare in advance to take to work with you or to simply get your dinner ready ahead of time so you can enjoy sitting a bit longer in the sofa after a stressful day.

Take advantage of all these features from a quiche and add your daily intake of broccoli to it! It will be delicious anyway, and your body will thank you for it. Try it out by preparing this recipe of spinach and broccoli quiche.

 

Raw broccoli salad

Since raw broccoli is the most nutritious way to eat it, you must take advantage of that. But there is no need to go around munching on the bitter florets. You can make delicious salads with it and use a nice dressing to improve its flavor and increase your appetite too.

If you don’t know where to begin, check out this, rightly named, “Brilliant broccoli salad“.

 

Give it an Asian touch

If you really want to try out new flavors and new ways of eating your broccoli, you can explore other cuisines in search of new tastes. Since women should eat more broccoli and they are usually the primary cooks at home, this could mean a new nutritious adventure for all the family.

You can try and prepare curry with broccoli, for instance, or give it a go at this very easy and yet delicious recipe of Chinese beef and broccoli:

 

Bubble tea: what is it and how to make it

Bubble tea originated in Taiwan during the 80s, but the wide variety of flavors of these beverages combined with their unique looks are set to conquer fans all over the world. Some varieties are healthier than others and some blends are so unexpected they will make you raise an eyebrow. But bubble tea is not supposed to be just a tea, it is an experience for the palate.

 

Bubble tea originated in Taiwan in the 80s, although no one knows exactly where or who invented it. It is also known as boba tea, pearl milk tea, or bubble milk tea. It is traditionally served cold and in a transparent cup to show the little pearls or bubbles floating at the bottom that give the name to these teas.

 

These beverages must be drunk through a large straw that allows the suction of the pearls too, so you can enjoy the mix of flavors.

 

Ingredients

The traditional varieties have a base of ice tea, either green, black or oolong to which milk can be added in powder or liquid. As this beverage evolved, new flavors started being added too, and today you can also find fruit blends added to the milky tea based as well as several sweet toppings that might include pudding or jellies, for instance.

 

The branching out in flavors started from the typical iced tea or iced tea and milk combination started early in Taiwan and Hong Kong. With the boom of bubble ice tea shops and street stands, the vendors started to innovate and trying different mixes as a way of standing out from the competition.

Nowadays, bubble teas are available in countless flavor combinations all over the world.

 

What are the bubbles in bubble tea

Despite its name, bubble tea has no gas. The name comes from the large pearls of tapioca floating in the bottom of these teas and the air bubbles created by these when the tea is shaken to combine the ingredients.

 

These pearls are little balls of starch extracted from cassava root. They are frequently used to prepare puddings and other desserts, although the black variety is exclusively used to prepare boba tea for their sweetness and chewy texture.

 

Although in the West the terms boba and tapioca pearls are used as synonyms, in Asia boba refers only to large tapioca pearls measuring about 1/4-inch in diameter.

 

Recipe and how to make it

As mentioned before, there are countless ways to prepare bubble tea and so the recipes can vary too depending on the ingredients you want to add to your drink.

If you are just curious to try a more simple and traditional variety, you can do it at home by following this recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of water
• 1 cup of brewed black tea
• 1/3 cup of pearl tapioca
• 2 tbsp of milk
• 5 tsp sugar
• 1/2 cup of ice

 

Directions

1. Take the water to boil in a pan and add 1 teaspoon and sugar. Stir until dissolved and reduce the heat.

2. Add in the pearls and cook for 20 minutes. Drain the pearls and let them cool down at room temperature or refrigerate them for at least 15 minutes or until they are set and crunchy.

3. Combine the remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker, minus the ice, and shake to mix them well. Add in the ice and shake again.

4. Place the tapioca at the bottom of a tall glass and pour the tea over them.

5. Drink the bubble tea through a wide straw so you can enjoy the texture of the tapioca at the same time as the beverage.

 

Flavors

The basic teas used to prepare bubble tea are green tea, black tea and oolong. Milk can be added or not depending solely on personal taste. If so, you can choose between regular milk, powdery milk, condensed milk, coconut milk, and other vegetable or lactose-free milk types too.

Using this mix for a base, you can also have countless fruity teas. In some cases, these varieties have become so popular that tea even ceased to be a requirement.

It would be impossible to list all the flavors available, but the following ones are especially popular:

• Bubble coffee (made with blended ice and no tea)
• Bubble tea with pudding topping
• Bubble tea with fruit (fresh, jelly or fruit jam)
• Hong Kong milk tea (served hot)
• Milk smoothies (without tea)
• Bubble tea smoothies (without milk)
• “Snow bubble” (without tea or milk, only flavors, ice, a non-dairy creamer and tapioca pearls)

 

Is it healthy?

Since eating too much sugar is bad, it is safe to say that boba teas are not healthy.

Many brands claim they are because it is tea after all, and it contains important antioxidants and vitamins, especially when prepared with fruits too. Despite the truthfulness of these claims are true, the problem is in the added sugars of these beverages.

Normally, the bobas are prepared with sugar and more sugar is also added to the tea in high quantities. If you take the example of the aforementioned recipe, one glass of tea alone has 5 tablespoons of added sugar.

On top of this, syrups, flavors and sweet desserts like puddings are also commonly added too, which also increase this intake of sugar and sugar derivatives.

The basic boba tea only with tea and milk, albeit not perfect either because of the pearls, is still the healthiest option, particularly if you ask for fresh milk instead of the powdery one.

 

Calories

As you might have guessed by now, the amount of calories in a bubble tea can vary greatly depending on the ingredients you add.

The most basic variety (iced tea and tapioca pearls) starts already at an average of 136 calories due to the pearls. If you add in condensed milk, one of the most popular choices, the number can go up to 230 calories in one single beverage.

Any other flavors or syrups you add to your tea will just make this number rise.

 

Milk tea: why add milk to the tea and recipes

 

Milk tea is quite simply a tea with added milk. It is usually prepared with black tea and traditionally cow’s milk, although almond, coconut and soy milk are becoming popular options too. This beverage is highly appreciated in many cultures for the way it naturally cancels part of the bitterness of the tea while adding a sweet but not overwhelming note.

 

Milk tea recipe

Some specific types of milk tea, such as the Hong Kong variety, bubble tea, tea latte or masala chai, have set recipes. However, when it comes to regular milk tea, the kind very popular in the United Kingdom or Canada, there is no such thing as a recipe because there is no recommended amount of milk per cup.

Tea preparation: put a bag of black tea in a cup and pour hot water over it. Let it steep for 3 to 5 minutes, according to the desired intensity. Remove the tea bag.

Add the milk: once the tea is prepared, add a dash of milk to it, stir and drink.

How much you add is solely a personal choice. Too little and you will still feel the bitterness of the tea, too much and it will mask the tea completely. Aim for an even tan shade.

 

Bubble milk tea recipe

Bubble tea can be prepared with or without milk, but the first option is the most popular one. In this case, you need to follow a recipe to balance the flavors just right to complement that of tapioca pearls.

Ingredients (yields 2 cups)

• 4 cups of freshly brewed black tea;
• 1 cup of tapioca pearls;
• 1/2 cup of whole milk;
• 1 tbsp of sugar;
• Ice cubes.

 

Directions

Soak the pearls according to the package instructions.

Add the sugar to the hot tea and stir until combined. Let it cool down a bit and then refrigerate until completely chilled.

Once the pearls are softened, drain them and place them at the bottom of the cups. In a cocktail shaker, combine the tea, the milk and the ice cubes and shake to mix them. Pour the mixture over the tapioca pearls and serve.

 

Why and how you should drink milk tea?

Adding a dash of milk to the tea binds the bitter compounds and makes the beverage more appealing to taste. This milky combination only works as a flavor enhancer and it’s solely a matter of personal preference.

In fact, if you’re drinking tea for its health benefits you shouldn’t be adding milk at all to your cup. According to a 2007 study, while binding with the bitter compounds, the milk may counteract some of the positive effects of the tea. Further research is still required, but until then you may want to balance your intake of milk tea with simple tea too.

 

Milk and tea: two ingredients, many flavors

The reason why this beverage is prepared according to anyone’s taste it due to the subtle changes the milk can produce depending on how much is added and the way it binds with the tea.

If you want to confirm this versatility, check out the simple recipe below and you’ll find the flavor of this drink can be very different from that you are used to.

4 Coconut milk recipes to prepare this beverage at home

 

Found yourself without any coconut milk while in cooking a delicious dish? Or maybe you read the back labels on the cans and were astonished by the amount of unpronounceable added ingredients. Regardless of the reason, you can easily solve these issues by following these coconut milk recipes and prepare your own natural and additive-free stock.

 

Coconut milk recipes: 4 ways to prepare it

Preparing your own coconut milk recipes is easier than you might think, and much healthier too. Remember all those ingredients on the can labels? Well, when you’re making your own you only need two: coconut and water.

 

Coconut milk with shredded coconut

Source: Premium Spices Storbay

Ingredients

• 1 package of shredded coconut, unsweetened;
• 4 cups of hot water (almost boiling).

 

Directions

Put the coconut in a blender, pour the water on top and let the mixture sit for a few minutes. This will give the coconut time to begin releasing its flavor. Blend the ingredients for 1 or 2 minutes until the mixture begins to look milky.

Using a nut milk bag or a thin towel, strain it into a mason jar or into an air-tight container. Squeeze the bag to release as much milk as possible.

You can drink the milk right away or store it in the refrigerator.

 

Coconut milk with coconut chips

Source: Scratch Mommy

Ingredients

• 1 cup of dried coconut chips (preferably organic);
• 2 cups of warm water (almost boiling).

 

Directions

Put the chips in a high-speed blender and pour the water on top. Blend for 2 minutes or until getting a thick and creamy mixture.

Strain the milk using a strainer or a nut milk bag into a bowl. Ball up the strainer and squeeze hard. Transfer the milk to an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge.

 

Coconut milk using fresh coconut

Unsplash

Ingredients

• 1 mature coconut (brown);
• 1 1/2 cups of water.

 

Directions

Punch holes in the “eyes” on the coconut using a corkscrew or a screwdriver. Drain the water out and discard it. Place the coconut over the counter, cover it with a cloth and crack it with the help of a hammer. The cloth will prevent any flying parts.

Open the coconut, place each half on top of a kitchen towel and hit around with the hammer to dislodge the flesh inside. You can then either try to remove it with your hands or use a knife to release the flesh from the shell. A good scooping spoon can also help.

Put the coconut flesh in a high-speed blender and pour 1 cup water on top. Blend it on the highest speed possible for 5 to 10 minutes. It is normal that it gets a pulpy texture.

Transfer the mixture into fine mesh sieve lined with a cheesecloth to pour the milk into a bowl. Pour the remaining 1/2 cup of water into the blender, give it a spin to get any leftovers and add it to the strainer too.

Ball up the strainer and squeeze it as hard as you can. Transfer the milk to an airtight glass jar or container. Keep it in the fridge for 5 days maximum.

 

Coconut milk flavored

Source: Plated

Ingredients

• 2 cups of shredded coconut, unsweetened;
• 4 cups of water;
• 1 date;
• 1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract;
• A pinch of salt.

 

Directions

Combine 3 cups of water and all the remaining ingredients in a high-speed blender. Blend for 2 minutes or until you believe it is well combined. Scoop a bit of the mixture to test the flavor and add more dates, vanilla or salt if needed. If it is too solid, dry and thick, add the remaining cup of water.

Strain the milk into a bowl using a nut milk bag. Ball it up and squeeze as hard as you can to release as much milk as possible. Transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. It will be good up to 5 days.

Shake it before drinking it, as the ingredients might separate due to the lack of added preservatives.

 

Substitutes for coconut milk

Even if you know how to prepare different coconut milk recipes, there might be occasions when you don’t want to use it.

Almond milk is one of the best coconut milk substitutes in general. It contains fewer calories and fats, but it has a sweet and nutty taste that makes it pleasant to drink and gives the recipes an interesting flavor.

Soy and nut types of milk are also generally considered good replacements. However, if you’re using them to cook you may want to mix half-and-half of sour cream or Greek yogurt to thicken their consistency.

Eliminate Uric Acid Crystals in Joints Using Natural Ways

Purines naturally occur in the body, but an excess amount of purines leads to the formation of uric acid crystals, which give rise to gout .Gout, which is most prevalent among older adults, occurs when an excessive amount of uric in blood is stored in the joints. The symptoms are often painful, such as swelling, redness, and tightness or extreme pressure in specific areas like the big to eor hands. But it may also cause pressure to other parts like the knees, elbows, shoulders, and ankles. However, there are natural ways that will help eliminate uric acid crystals formed and accumulated in the joints.

 

Causes of Gout

Gout is commonly caused by severe chronic problems: •High blood pressure

• Obesity
• Anemia
• Psoriasis
• Alcohol consumption
• Leukemia
• Family history

 

Reducing Uric Acid

When the body is forced to process excessive protein from some food like red meat, gout occurs. While some of them are released through urine and sweat, others are usually left in the body. When the left over exceeds the normal levels, that’s the time when it is being stored and concentrated in specific areas.

Since gout is mostly caused by your diet, a healthy diet plan plays an important role in prevention of the development of uric acid crystals. Choose foods that have high water content and low purines content. One good example is the cucumber. For every 100 gram of cucumber, there are only about 7 milligrams of purines. This helps not only in preventing gout but also in lowering the level of uric acid.

Drinking plenty of water is also very important. Acid from keeping our bodies hydrated, it can also aid in getting rid of uric acid crystals formed in the joints. Aside from drinking a lot of water all throughout the day, consuming foods that are also rich in water will help prevent gout. Some of these foods include zucchini, squash, and a good selection of fruits.

 

Natural Recipe to Treat Gout

To naturally eliminate uric acid concentrated in the joints, we are sharing this famous juice recipe that’s also easy to make.The ingredients are as follow:

• 1 medium cucumber
• 2 stalks of celery
• 1 slice of lemon
• 1 teaspoon of grated ginger root

 

Directions:

After washing all the ingredients thoroughly, slice the cucumber and celery. Mix all the ingredients together using a blender or better yet a food processor until the mixture becomes smooth. Drink this once to thrice a day, preferably on an empty stomach.

Nonetheless, it’s important that you are watching your diet and getting plenty of exercise.

 

Home Remedies to Decrease Uric Acid

If the levels of your uric acid in the joints and blood start to alarm you, here are some recipes that you can do in your homes to help reduce uric acid:

 

Juices

1.Combine 4 carrots, 1 mango, 1 slice of pineapple, 30 grams of strawberries, and a lemon in a juicer. Drink this first thing in the morning. If your condition worsens, you can also have another glass at night.

2.Get 30 grams of cranberries and boil it into a liter of water.After 5 minutes, strain the liquid, and it’s ready to drink for a maximum of 3 a day.

3.Boil1/2 onion in 1 liter of water for 3 minutes. Leave it for 5 minutes before straining . If you find the taste overpowering, you can add a little honey. You can have this drink for 3 times daily.

4.Toss 3 parsley sprigs, 50 grams of cabbage, and 1/2 onion into a pint of boiling water. Wait until 15 minutes before removing from heat. Strain the liquid and leave it for a while until it cools. Squeeze one lemon juice and then it’s ready to drink. It’s advisable that you take it just before you have your lunch meal.

5.Throw in an ear of corn cob in one pint of boiling water.After about 10 minutes, remove the heat, strain the liquid, and drink. You can have it up to 3 times daily.

6.Boil half a liter of water and put 2 tbsp.of dried elderflowers. Cover, strain, and let it cool. Drink this daily depending on the seriousness of your condition. You can put a bit of honey to add a little sweetness. Ointment

7.Squeeze one ripe tomato and drink the juice thrice a day. You can also incorporate more tomatoes in your daily meals.

8.Mix 3 tbsp.of rosemary oil and 3 tbsp.of soybean oil. Use the mixture to massage and rub the area that is painful.

This Lavender Lemonade Recipe Helps Relieve Headaches, Migraines and Anxiety

Pure lavender oil is an incredible essential oil to use for your own health and wellness. It’s among the gentlest of essential oils, but also one of the most powerful, making it a favorite of households for the healing properties and uses of lavender essential oil.

Lavender oil has a chemically complex structure with over 150 active constituents, which explains its effectiveness at helping with a lot of health ailments. Lavender oil possesses amazing anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, analgesic, detoxifier, hypotensive, and sedative properties.

Florida researchers have found that lavender oil benefits include reducing anxiety and lowering pulse rates in nursing students taking stressful tests. And in hospital settings, lavender aromatherapy has been demonstrated to decrease pre-surgery distress and to be more relaxing than massage or merely resting.

Lavender essential oil has medicinal properties as well. It has been shown to reduce depression, improve insomnia and ease labor pains. And anecdotal evidence suggests that lavender oil benefits those with headaches, hangovers, sinus congestion and pain relief.

Much prior research on lavender has focused on the administration of lavender via an olfactory route. The anxiolytic activity of lavender olfaction has been demonstrated in several small and medium-sized clinical trials.

The efficacy of aromatherapy of lavender is thought to be due to the psychological effects of the fragrance combined with physiological effects of volatile oils in the limbic system.These calming effects of lavender oil and single constituents may be the origin of the traditional use of lavender. Lavender oil olfaction has been shown to decrease anxiety, as measured by the Hamilton rating scale,51 and can increase mood scores. 

 

The following are selected examples of clinical trials on lavender aromatherapy:

– Dunn and colleagues demonstrated anxiolytic activity of lavender oil aromatherapy in patients in intensive care units. Subjects received at least 1 session of aromatherapy with 1% lavender essential oil. Significant anxiolytic effects were noted in the 1st treatment, though 2nd and 3rd treatments did not appear to be as effective.

– Alaoui-Ismaili and colleagues found that the aroma of lavender is considered by subjects to be very pleasant and is correlated with changes in the autonomic nervous system.

– Tysoe and colleagues conducted a study of lavender oil in burner use on staff mood and stress in a hospital setting. A significant number of respondents (85%) believed that lavender aroma improved the work environment following the use of the lavender oil burners.

– Diego and colleagues demonstrated that people receiving lavender oil (10%) olfaction for 3 minutes felt significantly more relaxed and had decreased anxiety scores, improved mood and increased scores of alpha power on EEG (an indicator of alertness), and increased speed of mathematical calculations.

– Lewith and colleagues investigated the effects of lavender aromatherapy on depressed mood and anxiety in female patients being treated with chronic hemodialysis. The effects of aromatherapy were measured using the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) and the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HAMA). Lavender aroma significantly decreased the mean scores of HAMA, suggesting an effective, noninvasive means for the treatment of anxiety in hemodialysis patients.

– Lavender aromatherapy, with or without massage, may also reduce the perception of pain and the need for conventional analgesics in adults and children, though more rigorously controlled trials are needed. DIY Lavender Lemonade with Lavender Essential Oil

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw honey
• 12 cups pure water
• 1 drop lavender essential oil
• 6 lemons, peeled and juiced
• Lavender sprigs for garnish

 

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and chill. Add more water or raw honey if needed.

• Other ways you can use Lavender Oil for Anxiety and Headaches
• Mix 5 to 6 drops of Lavender essential oil to your bath water if you have dry skin.
• Diffuse 10 to 12 drops of Lavender into the air during your workday for natural stress relief.
• Add 2 drops of Lavender per ounce of your favorite lightly scented, unrefined organic oil (like almond oil or olive oil) for a body oil with all the benefits of lavender for improving your skin, relaxing your mind, warding off insects or helping you sleep.

Warm Up and Slim Down With Soup

This is the season to get all warm up because of the cold weather. But did you know that, warming up with soup, will also help you down?

Let’s find out how…

 

Explanation

A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, looked at the dietary habits of over 10,000 adults and found out that those who consumed soup, had a smaller waistline, lower body weight and a higher intake of protein, vegetables, fiber, vitamins and minerals.

 

To give more credit to that is another study that showed that, routinely eating soup, or chicken soup, before a meal can help reduce hunger and increase the feeling of fullness. The researchers attributed this to the fact that, watery, veggie-based soups distend the stomach, causing the food to stay in the stomach longer. This process increases that feeling of fullness.

 

Conclusion

If you choose to buy the chicken soup available in the market today, watch out for the sodium content. The sodium ranged from 650-940 milligrams per cup. Health authorities recommend to keep you sodium consumption to less than 2,300 mg daily, which is the amount in a teaspoon of salt. To reduce the sodium content per 1 cup, you can add vegetables to the soup. This will lessen the sodium in each cup, while adding more vegebtales in the process.

 

The best alternative is to make homemade soup to better control the amount of sodium.
Always remember to keep your total daily sodium intake under the recommended limit.

 

So let’s warm up and slim down in this cold weather!