Ginger Power

Sometime last year, this informative piece on Ginger arrived in my cyber mailbox.  My BFF (best friend forever) received it from one of her contacts and passed it on.  (Thank you, Josie!)  In the cyber tradition of sharing, I am posting here to share with you!

AMAZING GINGER

Did you know the benefits of Ginger?
Ginger is one of the world's seven most potent disease-fighting spices.

Ginger has been used for its health benefits for over 5000 years and is a favorite medicinal as well as culinary herb.

The intake of ginger helps stimulate the secretion of mucus, quieting your cough and soothing any scratchiness in your throat.
 
Ginger has been proven (in multiple studies) to treat feelings of nausea, particularly in the form of seasickness, morning sickness, motion sickness and as a side effect of chemotherapy.

In pregnancy never use any herb, including ginger, without first discussing it with your doctor!! As for those suffering from ulcer, or other very serious gastric problems, they should also consult their doctor.

Ginger contains anti viral, anti toxic, and anti fungal properties, and is used for the
prevention of and treatment against the common cold.

Ginger acts as an antihistamine and
aids in the treatment of allergies.

Ginger displays anti inflammatory properties and can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and various other muscular disorders.

The chemical components of the root are instrumental in inhibiting the biosynthesis of prostaglandins which are responsible for causing inflammation.

Thus the root has proven to be a highly effective form of treatment, in some cases, even more so than the NSAID's (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that are traditionally prescribed.

So eating ginger may help to prevent cancer and aging disorders.

Ginger contains special enzymes responsible for catalyzing the proteins in your food,

thus aiding in digestion and the prevention of cramps.

Good for those with constipation!

The ancient Greeks used to eat ginger after a large meal, in order to ease the digestion process.

Ginger has proven to help lower your cholesterol levels and prevent the formation of blood clots.

As a mood enhancer, ginger's cineole content may help contribute to stress relief.

Also used for migraine headache.

Ginger can also be used for reducing toothache and the discomfort which arises due to the infection in the upper respiratory tract due to its antibacterial and antifungal nature.

Chewing on fresh ginger can help freshen the breath.

Being a warming herb, ginger can help knock out a fever. This property also

makes it effective in stimulating circulation of the blood.

It can also help relax muscles around the blood vessels and is said to help prevent blood clots from forming.

The warming effects make it a natural decongestant as well as an antihistamine, making it the perfect remedy for colds.

Recent studies show that ginger might also have a role in lowering LDL cholesterol because

the spice can help reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed.

It has also been shown in animal trials to help slow or even prevent cancerous tumor growth.

To discover the health benefits of ginger for yourself, simply make a

tea by steeping about 5 slices of ginger in hot water. 
  
If you prefer it in your food,

Ginger is excellent in many dishes and
is perfect when combined with garlic.

Ginger doesn't only spice up your food it can also help to put some extra spice in your intimate life too.

It improves blood flow to your sexual organs, and contains Vitamin C, zinc and magnesium.

Hope it will be of benefit to you & others.

Wishing you all a happy healthy life.

"Health is Wealth"

The accidental gardener

There’s no denying it… Spring’s in the air.

Last weekend, I took a peek at my backyard garden and found my lone red chokeberry tree adorned with budding mauve and white flowers alternating with the healthy green leaves gracing the branches.

That tree was a gift from God, but someone at work told me that it might have been a gift from the birds.  You see, I didn’t plant that tree.  One Spring day a few years ago, I just found what looked like the young life of a tree growing in the center of my patio area.  Although my homeowners association does not recommend trees in our backyards because our townhomes don’t really have abundant space for such robust growth, I didn’t have the heart to kill it.  Besides, the tree has brought a charm to that space, now shading my patio and keeping the scorching sun from that area.  When the tree grows bigger, I intend to plant myself underneath its shade, reading books while enjoying Mother Nature in my backyard.

When I was younger, gardening was never my hobby of choice.  I've always enjoyed looking at gardens, admiring the gorgeous blooms and manicured lawns.  I never thought that one day I would find myself bent down on my knees, toiling soil and sowing seeds.  My accidental gardening took place almost 16 years ago after I bought my own space.  The backyard of my home was a picture of colored rocks and nothing else.  The former homeowner was a single man (a painter), who obviously wasn’t into planting greens and flowers.

For someone who never did serious gardening, I was blessed with the passion and purpose to make something pretty of that barren area in my backyard.  Home Depot became a frequent stopover and I would come home bearing pots of rose varieties and landscape items.  Many rose varieties came and went.  Unfortunately, a few died since the time they sat under my patio earth.  Fortunately, more varieties stayed to uplift my garden scenery.  Then came the lavenders, the hostas and other plants whose name I can’t even pronounce.  Once in a while, weeds would mess up the picture.  I once received a letter from my property management company reminding me to get rid of the weed invasion.  Honestly, those undesirable plantings blended so well with the legitimate growth that I didn't even notice.

For a few years since I started growing roses, I would snap a photo of the beauties to show off at work.  Later that Spring routine became too old to continue.  Nevertheless, I religiously followed the coffee-grind-and-banana-peel-mixture used to fertilize the roses just before the fall.  Every year, the blooms came out bigger than ever.  Last year, fewer blooms came out because the year before that, the next door neighbor’s monster dog camped out behind my fence which caused me to forget the annual coffee-grind-and-banana-peel-mixture routine.

Two years ago, I planted a variety of peonies, but the catalog company obviously shipped a bad batch because none of the varieties came out.  It was a bit heartbreaking for me because peonies are feng shui blessed and I had so looked forward to seeing those flowers grace my garden.

Gardening is hard work, but the joy I experience from the fruits of my labor makes up for the many hours of gardening chore.  I recommend this activity to anyone who has time on their hands and who has a need to harvest beauty from the seeds they sow.  The joy of gardening is akin to feeling like the Creator... watching the seeds grow, bear life and become one with the Universe. 

Happy gardening!

The Holy Bible for travelling people

A busy life is no excuse to feel un-spiritual.  But carrying a Holy Bible, no matter how mini the book version, can be challenging for really busy, constantly on-the-go folks. 

Thanks to the Internet, we now have  a handy Holy Bible that can be accessible anytime... anywhere.  All you do is click on the link below.  Beats any Kindle!

What’s lovely is that a list of Emergency Telephone Numbers is included for specific concerns and situations.  Whoever created this should be blessed multiple fold.  Thank you!

The Bible on One page

Thank you, Kenneth (my friend Down Under), for passing this on!

Gone bananas

Bananas were a fixture of my childhood diet.  That's most likely one of the reasons that at 59-going-30, I have maintained relatively good health.

The information below came from an e-mail that was forwarded to me.  It contains vital data on this awesome offering from Mother Nature.  Unfortunately, the message didn't include the name of the person(s) who took the time to put this piece together.  Whoever you are... Thank You!!!

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas.  He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain.  Read on:

 Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!  This is interesting.

After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.  It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:  According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:  Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:  High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:  This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:  200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:  High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:  One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:  Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:  Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites:  Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:  Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work?  Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers:  The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control:  Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):  Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use:  Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:  Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:  According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts:  Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe it’s time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"



Frozen friendships

These animal snapshots were received a very long time ago.  The e-mail that contained the photos arrived from my BFF (best friend forever), forwarded by someone else (you know the drill).  I saved these "friends in poses" shots because looking at the buddy pictures give cause for joy.

May looking at the animal buddies bring a moment of joy.  My regret is that whoever distributed these pictures won't get the credit for the work because the name never came up in transmission.  Thanks, anyway!



Remember…

A  good friend will come bail you out of jail.... but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying “WE screwed up, but we had  fun!”

 I've  learned…

     …..that life is like a roll of  toilet paper.  The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
     …..that we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
     …..that money doesn't buy class….. that it's those small daily happenings that make
          life so spectacular.

     …..that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
     …..that the Lord didn't do it all in one day….. what makes me think I  can?

     …..that to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
     …..that the less time I have to work, the more things I get done.
  

Alphabet version for the Golden People

Something from my cyber mailbox that will make you smile...

New Alphabet
A is for apple, and B is for boat,
That used to be right, but now it won't float.
Age before beauty is what we once said,
But let's be a bit more realistic instead.

Now

 The

  Alphabet

A's for arthritis;
B's the bad back,
C's the chest pains,
Perhaps car-d-iac?

D is for dental decay and decline,
E is for eyesight, can't read that top line!
F is for fissures and fluid retention,
G is for gas which we'd rather not mention.

H  is for High blood pressure-We'd rather it low;
I  is for incisions with scars you can show.
J is for joints, out of socket, won't mend,
K is for knees that crack when they bend.
L 's for libido, what happened to sex?
M is for memory; we forget what comes next.
N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low;
O is for osteo, bones that don't grow!

           

P  is for prescriptions.  We have quite a few,

Just give us a pill and we'll be good as new!

Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?

R is for reflux, one meal turns to two.

S is for sleepless nights, counting our fears,
T is for Tinnitus; bells in our ears!
U is for urinary; troubles with flow;
V for vertigo, that's 'dizzy,' you know.

W for worry, NOW what's going 'round?
X is for X-ray, and what might be found.
Y for another year we are left here behind,
Z is for zest WE still have - in OUR minds.

 

We've survived all the symptoms, our body's deployed, and
We're keeping twenty-six doctors fully employed. 

       
IF YOU ARE OLD, HAVE A GREAT DAY.
IF NOT, YOUR TURN WILL COME!

The perpetual handbook for humans

My cyber mailbox is a container constantly overflowing with all kinds of infomation passed on by friends and family all over the globe.  It is a blessing to be the recipient of such wealth of knowledge which I'm thrilled to pass along...

HANDBOOK 101

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer..
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did last year.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others.  You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past.  Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past.  That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:

40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about.

God's Amazing Pharmacy

Just like many people, I continue to be astounded by the stuff that arrives in my cyber mailbox.  Apparently, many people out there are committed to disseminating information that enlightens the ordinary mind. 

Below was passed on by my brother...

EAT LOTS OF SWEET POTATOES

It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish... All before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These are best and more powerful when eaten raw. We're such slow learners...
  

God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!  God's Pharmacy!  Amazing!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye.  The pupil, iris and radiating lines looks just like the human eye... And YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red.  The heart has four chambers and is red.  All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

 

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart.  Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums.  Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex.  We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuro-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.  

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones.  These foods specifically target bone strength.  Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium.  If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak.  These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body. 

Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods. Modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them.

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow.  Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actully balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells.  Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all the body cells.  They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.  A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

 

Note to the author of this piece:  THANK YOU!