Supplements

Photo credit: PMS Warrior dot com

I know a lot of trainers who recommend supplements to their clients, personally I am against them. I feel that using herbs to get vitamins and minerals my body may be lacking is a much better choice. Not all supplements are natural, and some contain "Other Ingredients," personally I want to know what I am putting in my body. Also it is easier for our bodies to ingest the beneficial properties from  herbs rather than an over the counter supplement.

By making an infusion or tea with herbs you can get those vitamins our bodies do not naturally produce, but need. You can make them daily using different herbs, or use a different herb every day. Some herbs do have side effects, may effective pharmaceutical drugs, or not be suited for pregnant or nursing mothers.Both The Bulk Herb Store and Mountain Rose Herbs include what each herb they carry is good for along with listing any side effects. 

So, I am sure you wondering what is the difference between an infusion and tea. Both use water, and the leaves of a plant, but an infusion steeps for at least four hours. I prefer the infusion to tea because the longer it sits the more vitamins and minerals are removed. To make an infusion I use a quart mason jar, and fill half way with my herb than add boiling water filling the jar to the first edge. Some like to let their infusions sit all night, which of course removes even more of the beneficial vitamins and minerals from the herb. If you make your infusion during the day shake it every time you walk by which helps to make sure all of the herbs in the jar are being stimulated. Do not allow your infusion to sit in direct sunlight.

Photo credit: Cooking dot com

Once the infusion is ready I use a metal strainer to remove the herbs from the water. You can take a cup or bowl, put the strainer over it and pour all the contents out of the jar. You could also use cheese cloth or a muslin bag/cloth. Use the back of a spoon to get all the water out of the herbs.If you use cloth squeeze the herbs inside to get all the water out. I do not add anything to my infusion, but it would not hurt to do so. I just feel I get the most benefits from the herb by just drinking it alone.

The first infusion I started with was Stinging Nettle, this is the one that was made on Herb Mentor. Stinging Nettle is great for a lot of things, along with containing various vitamins and minerals. However, it should not be used on a daily basis, and should not be used by those taking meds for high blood pressure. Personally I would conduct a search for the vitamins contained in a specific herb, I noticed that neither of the resources I recommended lists them all. Other resources I trust are Living Strong, and Learning Herbs, I have been known to visit Web Md, but I am skeptical about some of their information.

Personally I do not use any of the teas found in local super markets only those from the listed resources. I love that I know where the herbs are coming from, and know they use them their selves, and for their families.If you have a local health store that sells bulk herbs I urge you to support them. I found in a nearby town, by their supply of bulk herbs is limited. The man who owns it is an herbalist, and uses the products in his store, thus I find him a trusted resource. Another store in the same town claimed to be organic, but uses processed items for their deli. I will not be returning to that store.

This blog is strictly for educational purposes only, I am not a professional health care provider. Seek the advice of your health care professional before using new products.

Watch a video of Susan Weed making a Stinging Nettle infusion.

You Tube for Fitness

I had blogged a while back about changing out your work outs because your body gets used to the same ole' same ole'. I have been doing this using You Tube and have found a great resource called "Be Fit." It has a variety of trainers including Jillian Michaels from "The Biggest Loser," and more, but today I am going to focus on what I have been doing with Jillian.

I have to say I really like Jillian's style of working out, for instance while most trainers will have alternate legs during lunges, she works one at a time really working that leg hard. I also love that she incorporates both lower and upper body work outs making for not only a muscle toning work out, but cardio as well. Jillian is not for the faint of heart, she will have you working hard, sweating, and yelling "Your killing me!" Jillian gives modifications for all the videos making it easy for every level to do.

Jillian has a variety of work outs on Be Fit, but the ones I enjoy are the ones which have multiple videos. Using them one after another makes for a very excellent work out. "No More Trouble Zones" is a circuit work out, which is made up of nine videos including warm up, and cool down. This work out is challenging enough for me, but at the same time totally kicks my butt.

The other series I have done by Jillian is called "30 Day Shred," which includes five levels. This appears to be from a DVD not sure it is all there, but I know what is, is great. I have currently done the first two levels, which are 27:56 minutes long, and let me tell you along 27:56 minutes they are. Not sure of what is to come next, but the first two levels are done in circuit style like the one mentioned above. I had no idea there were five until I went to get the link, you will need to search for levels 4, 5 and 6. None of those appeared until I started searching for a good link to put up. The link here is for level one.

So, today I added to my exercise play list another series by Jillian called "Banish Fat Boost Metabolism." In this circuit work out there is a series of nine videos which includes the warm up, and cool down. I watched a little bit of the first video, and was hooked, kick boxing, love it!!! I have noticed that these are shorter videos about 7 minutes, so they will definitely have to be done one right after another, as with "No More Trouble Zones."

To play all the videos in a row on your TV add them all in order.

Curious to know if there are others who use You Tube for fitness, if you do who is your favorite trainer? Which channels do you subscribe to? What is your favorite You Tube work out?

   Here is a clip of circuit two from Banish Fat Boost Metabolism.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds have been around a long time both the Aztecs, and Mayans used them. In the Mayan language chia means strength, I am sure they named it this due to the fact that chia seeds are known to give you energy. Chia seeds are also known as Indian Running Food, and are considered a supper food.

Photo credit: Glamour dot com

The chia seed is loaded with omega 3 fatty acids, and is known to contain more than other sources. This super food also contains zinc, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, all essential amino acids, vitamin Bs, and copper. It is also known as a natural appetite suppressant because the seeds digest at a slow rate. Chia seeds may also contribute to healthy hair, and skin, aiding in lowering blood sugar and cholesterol metabolism function. It is a natural antioxidant, great source of protein, contains no gluten, low in calories,

For those who use chia seeds on a regular basis the following has been reported, more energy, improved mood, clearer thinking, decrease in  aches, and pains, and can aid in regulating bowel movements. Chia seeds also may aid in increasing bone density, the calcium in one tablespoon of chia seeds is equal to two glasses of milk.

Photo credit: It's Your Life, Chia Seed Pudding

This amazing seed is so versatile when it comes to its use, in fact there is so much I can not list it all. However, I am including two links which include recipes for making bread, smoothies, soups, puddings, and so much more. I made a chia seed pudding this weekend which tastes amazing, and is a great way to get children to ingest some of this wonderful super food.

   



        Print Recipe                          Nut Milk

                                                 2 cups of water
                                                 1/4 cup of nuts

                                             Refrigerate over night
Take the milk and put it into a blender, than strain the nuts.

                                                    Chia Seed Pudding

                                               2 1/4 cups of nut milk
                                               1/2 tsp vanilla
                                               3 tbs raw honey
                                               3 tbs maple syrup
                                               1/3 tsp sea salt
                                               2/3 cups chia seeds

Use a whisk to blend the ingredients, continue whisking until the pudding starts to thicken to avoid clumps, refrigerate over night, and enjoy. Because chai seeds do give you energy I do not recommend serving this or any other chia dish later in the day.

Chia Seed Recipes

Bulk Herb Store (non affiliate link) Currently 1/2 lb on sale for $6.13 use coupon code SEPWCS

There are some things you need to know before starting to use chia seeds, they are a natural blood thinner, it is not advised to use these seeds if you are currently taking a blood thinner or scheduled for surgery. Because it can lower blood pressure, and sugar levels if you are taking medications for either of these beware. It has also been reported that some have experienced a bloating feeling, along with gas. May also contribute to prostate cancer, although studies are limited in this area. Chia seeds are not known to effect those who are pregnant, and they can be helpful to supply energy, and slow the absorption of sugars.

This information is for educational purposes only, you should consult with a health care provider before adding chia seeds to your diet.

“This post was shared on Wildcrafting Wednesday”

Panko Bread Crumbs

Photo credit: Vigo Alessi dot com

I'm always looking for new recipes, I get bored making the same things all the time. In some recipes I looked at I was seeing Panko, what the heck is Panko. After Googling it I found out it was a type of bread crumb, how come I never knew this, all the cooking I do from scratch, and never knew about

Panko. So, what is the difference between Panko and regular bread crumbs? Panko is a Japanese style bread crumb used for deep frying foods. While other bread crumbs use all the bread, Panko bread crumbs are made with crustless bread. With Panko you get a light crunchy coating, which stays crunchy longer than traditional bread crumbs, and also does a lot better in the micro wave when reheating.

Photo credit: It's Your Life

Being a big sea food eater, and a fan of fried foods I had to try these. I had purchased 4 lbs of both cat fish, and salmon from a local store that sells great sea food. Some people do not like fish because they feel it taste too fishy. If you can get fresh fish it does not taste fishy, frankly it is like eating steak, not the texture or taste, but just so good. Anyone who has read my blog knows I do not measure my ingredients, why? Because it always comes out tasting bland, so I use the ingredients I find for a recipe and just add as much as I want.

Photo credit: It's Your Life

So as you can see I am using a baking dish for my bread crumb mixture. The fillets I have will not fit in anything else, so I took my Panko, garlic, parsley, paprika, basil, oregano, thyme, and pepper, and sprinkled each of them over the bottom of the baking dish. I add one egg, and some milk to the bowl, when breading be sure to use one hand for the wet ingredients, and one for the dry, this helps to avoid those clumps you get. Another little trick I taught my self is to take the hand mixer, and mix the eggs and milk together. This will make sure your whites are mixed in well and avoid that egg white mess you get.

I decided to bake the bigger parts of the fillet, and fry the smaller ones I on the stove. Whenever I cook with oil I always add some butter I have found it helps to keep down on the splatter of oil. So, I just added some coconut oil, along with some butter.

Photo credit: It's Your Life

 When fish is done it will just flake off, sometimes you can see start to pull away, and tell it is done. other times you may need to take a fork and test it and the biggest part to see if it flakes.

Photo credit: It's Your Life

I also used coconut oil with butter for the two fillets I put in the oven. I enjoyed these more than the ones done on the stove, and they contained just a hint of the coconut which I also enjoyed. The two pieces done on the stove had no hint of coconut taste to them, but did have great texture.

Photo credit: It's Your Life

You can see how the fish is flaky, also because this is salmon it will have that pink tint to it. I love cooking with my new found friend Panko bread crumbs, it is the best for doing fried foods. Just be sure to use a healthy oil such as coconut, or even peanut.

I made the cat fish the same way, my husband who was born in West Tennessee, and loves cat fish questioned if it was cat fish. He really enjoyed it, as did I, can't wait to make some fried green tomatoes with Panko.

Do you use Panko? Share what you have made with it, if you have a link please include it.

Vitamin E Oil

Photo credit: Buzzle dot com

I want to make another batch of lotion body bars, and have been looking to make some different types. During my research I had read about preservatives in beauty products, and learned that vitamin E oil helps to preserve homemade beauty products. I did not feel it necessary to add it to the first batch because I knew I would be using it on a regular basis, and it would not have time to bad.

While I was out visiting some organic stores in a nearby town I asked about vitamin E oil, and purchased a bottle. My intention was to use it as a preservative, but after reading various articles about it I have learned that it is greatttttt for our skin. See vitamin E is an antioxidant and helps to repair damaged skin caused from the sun, exposure to toxins, aging, and even those stretch marks which can occur from pregnancy, or changes in weight. Vitamin E oil applied to the face can help to reduce, uneven skin tone, wrinkles, and leave our skin soft. It can also help to protect our skin from the every day toxins we come in contact with including the sun. Use it to reduce age/liver spots, psoriasis, erythema and some say to prevent scarring. Vitamin E is also great for the hair, and nails.

Some have said that vitamin E can be used to eliminate old scars, but there are some debates on the topic. It has been noted by some that the scar actually became worse. While vitamin E helps to promote collagen, which is not present in a scar, it by it self will not necessarily aid in healing or preventing the scar. to prevent scarring it is said to use the oil after the healing process has taken place. Others say to avoid this process all together.

Photo credit: Looking Young Forever dot com

Our bodies can not produce vitamin E on its own, so we need to utilize other sources such as foods, or the oil it self. While you can put the oil directly on your skin, it is not recommended as a common practice, but including it in our homemade beauty products is an excellent idea. When choosing vitamin E oil be sure to look for products which are 100% and not synthetic. Many of the beauty products which contain vitamin E are synthetic. If you are using manufactured products while in the process of change be sure to check the label for D-alpha tocopherol, if you see DL-alpha tocopherol stay away from it, this is the synthetic version.

Always be sure to test new products on a small area of your body to be sure you will not have an allergic reaction. You can find vitamin E oil at Mountain Rose Herbs (affiliate link on side) by doing a quick search. As I mentioned above I purchased mine from a local store, the one I have is by the company Now, we use other products of theirs as well, so I trust them.

When purchasing be sure that the oil is in a dark glass jar, this helps the longevity of oils, store in a cool dark place. When using as a preservative it will give your product a shelf life of anywhere between 3 to 6 months.

This information is strictly for educational purposes only, if you have a serious skin condition it is suggested you speak with your health care professional.

Vitamin E Oil

Benefits of Vitamin E Oil


“This post was shared on Wildcrafting Wednesday”

Hurricane Isaac

It has been a most eventful week to say the least, but also amazing. See Tuesday August 28 was my birthday, while I do not celebrate at all Hurricane Isaac thought I needed to by preparing for his arrival. Wait a minute I thought I was suppose to be the guest of honor!

We boarded up the hurricane shutters, but did not need them.

 We found out Sunday, and were busy Monday making sure anything that might act as a projectile was tended to. My husband also went into town to make sure we had enough gas and water. Funny here in Louisiana the two most important commodities appear to be gas and beer. Tuesday we spent the day checking our food, and preparing some meals, we knew we were bound to lose power. We had plenty of propane in the grill for cooking, and while everyone else on the road had generators we had an inverter which ran off the van's battery to keep the freezer and fridge going. All was done now it was just time to sit and wait for our visitor to arrive, believe me we were in no hurry.

They sky grew dark, and than the wind hit, no rain, just wind. I thought for sure we were going to lose power, we all took our showers early to make sure we had hot water, and lights. We slept our last night in a cool and comfortable environment, at about 7:30 am it was gone. The only good think about Isaac was he brought some relief from the heat and humidity.

The water has never come this close before.

For two and a half days we had no power, internet, or even our cell phones. We busied our selves playing gin rummy, and the boys, and I read. I was thankful for the awesome present my daughter sent me "The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy," for I had something I could hold in my hands, and read. By Friday the sun was beating down on us, and we sought refuge with some red neck air conditioning, a cold wet cloth on the back of our necks.

We knew that by this time Isaac had cleared out, leaving behind a mess of branches, twigs, downed trees, and for some plenty of water. I feel blessed that the Lord lead us to a place where we do not experience the flooding that other areas of Louisiana do. However, Lake Pontchartrain also decided that this was a good time to stop by for a visit. While our yard always becomes a miniature lake, in the back by the stream, this time it was more, and the fish would jump out once in a while to greet us.

Our neighbors house up the road.

We also knew that the power company was able to get out, and start restoring power, as we went into town trucks were every where working hard, and we were grateful. Picking up our pizzas we headed home, praying we would return to see a truck working in our rural area, praise God there it was. We waved and hooted at the workers which were a true blessing to see. Back at the house no power, than at about 5:00 pm, there it came, we jumped and hooted for joy giving thanks to God for a quick restoration of cool air spilling from the vents, and fans twirling to circulate that cool refreshing air.

Later that night I sat reflecting on the places I have lived and the different conditions I had faced. I would have to say that my mom was right about Chicago, no hurricanes, no tornadoes, no earthquakes, just snow storm as kids we were thankful for. It meant no school, and tons of snow for us to indulge in. West Tennessee we faced tornadoes, which God made sure never hit us, even though they touched down all around us. Now Isaac was held at bay by God Almighty only allowing some slight discomfort, wind, and rain.

I pray for those who have water in their homes, and no power still. We were truly blessed, some were still without power while we had ours. Please pray for those who are worse off than us.