Martha A. Cheves's Blog, page 16

10 Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar - Part 2

#3 - Soothe a Sore Throat (This I've tried and it does work)

For a quick relief of a dry, scratchy throat, get quick relief with this gargle.  Mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup of water and gargle for 15 seconds.  Repeat every hour as needed.  Acetic acid destroys the illness-producing bacteria that causes the discomfort.

#4 - Want to Keep Fido away from your Jack-o'-lantern?  (With Halloween around the corner I'll give this a try.)

If your pooch tries to take a bite out of your jack-o'-lantern protect it by combining 1 cup each of apple cider vinegar, white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spritz on the pumpkin.  The bitter odor and taste will make it undesirable to Fido.

10 Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar - Part 1

I found this in First for Women and wanted to share with everyone.

#1 Tenderize Tough Meat (we can all use this at some time)

Use an apple cider vinegar marinade to break down the meat's tough fibers.  Blend 2 cups of apple cider vinegar, 1/ cup of vegetable oil, 2 Tbsp. of soy sauce, 1 Tbsp. of Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp. of sea salt and 2 Tbsp. of chopped garlic.  Marinate the meat in this blend for 3 hrs before cooking.

#2 Nix the Smell of Burnt Food (there have been times I've really needed this)

Say you burned the microwave popcorn and you can smell the scorched kernels in your whole house.  To eliminate the odor combine 1 cup of water and 1 Tbsp. of apple cider vinegar and boil for several minutes.  Apple cider vinegar neutralizes strong odors, so your home will be back to smelling fresh in no time.

Ways to Boost Your Metabolism - Part 3 (end)

Water, water, water!!

You've heard it before, but drink those 8 8-ounce glasses of water every day. The energy burning process of metabolism needs water to work effectively.

Get enough B vitamins.

Among supplements, if you are suffering from flagging energy, you need to make sure that you are getting enough B vitamins. Vitamin B-12 in particular is one that is essential for energy. To ensure you're getting enough B vitamins, consider taking a B complex, plus a separate sublingual B-12. Another important vitamin for fatigue isVitamin B-1, also known as thiamine.

Try a supplement for fatigue.

Another type of supplement useful for fatigue is in the area of substances that the body naturally produces for energy production. Supplements in this category include:
Co-enzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10, which supplies energy to musclesNADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) which helps cells convert food into energy
Green Tea

Ways to Boost Your Metabolism - Part 2

Minimize snacking.

Contrary to popular opinion, for thyroid patients, it may be better to eat three scheduled meals, and avoid snacks.
Get enough aerobic exercise.

As much as you can is really a help for your metabolism, and if you do it in the morning, you'll raise your metabolism all day.

Build muscle with weight training or resistance exercise.

At least two to three times a week, you should add weight training or progressive resistance exercise that builds muscle.Muscle burns more calories than fat, and the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, even at rest!

Ways to Boost Your Metabolism - Part 1

I found this info helpful, especially since I seem to be in a lull in my dieting.

Make sure you eat breakfast.

If you don't eat breakfast, you slow down your metabolism and send the body into "hoard mode," thinking it's starving because you're going a long period of time frequently 8 to 10 hours or more, without food.

Eat the majority of your food earlier in the day. 

Dinner should be your lightest meal, and some experts recommend you don't anything after 8 p.m., or any later than 3 to 4 hours before bedtime. This helps your body process and burn the food when you're aware and moving around and burning more calories per hour.

Don't starve. 

Dropping your calorie intake below 1,000 calories a day will signal to your body that you are in starvation mode, and will slow down your metabolism.

Inflammation Buster - Basil

One more herb tip from the Good Life pull-out.

One of the oldest cultivated herbs, basil could help fight some very modern problems, including arthritis and heart disease.  That's because one of its compounds blocks inflammation in the very same way that aspirin and ibuprofen do.  Much of the research has been done on 'holy basis' or tulsi, a stronger form of the herb that's common to Asia.  Sweet basis, in most grocery stores, contains compounds, too, especially in young leaves.

Diabetes - basil extract, available in capsule form in the supplement aisle, could help people with diabetes better manage their blood sugar levels.  Promising research suggests that it may help reduce the amount of glucose traveling around in the bloodstream.  Of course, talk to your doctor before taking it.

You can pack plenty of this healthy booster into a meal without overpowering everything, especially if you make pesto.  You can also use fresh leaves liberally in salads and tomato sauces.  Add them to your dish during the last few seconds of cooking; those healthy oils will be lost if overheated.

Bacteria Fighter - Thyme

I didn't know this until I read it in a booklet that came with a copy of Good Life

Thyme is known as an antiseptic:  It contains thymol, also an ingredient in some mouthwashes.  One of Dr. Oz's favorite uses for this herb is this cough-suppressant recipe:  Place 4 Tbsp. of fresh or dried thyme in a saucepan; cover with 1 cup of boiling water; steep for 15 minutes; strain and add the juice of one lemon and 1/4 cup of raw honey.  Adults can take 1-2 Tbsp. every 3-4 hours.  This keeps in the fridge for up to a week.

Tame acne - Thyme can also fight the bacteria that causes acne.  Research found that a concentrated form of thyme zapped those bacteria better than benzoyl peroxide, the active ingredient in many acne products.  Some skin care products even contain one of the compounds in thyme.

Protect against cancer - the most exciting revelation about thyme has to do with its potential role in deterring cancer.  In preliminary research, one of the compounds it contains, called rosmarinic acid, has been found to help prevent tumor growth.

Cook smart - Fresh thyme adds dimension to soup, sauces, and salad dressings; toss it in at the end of cooking to best retain its flavor and healthy compounds.  Or steep the leaves in boiling water to make a refreshing tea.

The Tummy Soother - Peppermint

A little peppermint can help you digest food without drama.  It helps relax the muscles of your stomach.  A stronger form, peppermint oil capsules (choose enteric-coated ones), may even relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.  But be careful if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Mint relaxes the valve at the bottom of the esophagus, so acid could come back up and make problems worse.

Ease cold and flue symptoms.  Peppermint contains menthol, one of the very same ingredients in chest rubs.  Inhaling mint's vapors can help loosen your congestion and calm your cough by thinning mucus, which is why peppermint tea can feel extra soothing when you have a cold.

Boost alertness.  A whiff of peppermint can make you feel more alert and less fatigued, which is especially useful when you're driving.  Dr. Oz tip:  Slip some peppermint gum in your bag before you head out.

Cook smart.  Mint pairs nicely with citrus fruit, yogurt, and lamb.  It's also great with roasted zucchini, or in chilled cucumber soup.  If you don't like this herb in your main course, brew tea by simply pouring hot water directly over several sprigs of mint.

Another tip from the insert in Dr. Oz's The Good Life.

The Brain Booster - Rosemary

Another helpful note from an insert found in Dr. Oz's 'The Good Life.'

Science has shown that the mere smell of the oil from rosemary may help improve your memory.  Try it for yourself.  Mix a drop of rosemary essential oil with the same amount of an oil such as coconut or olive.  Dab it on your wrist and sniff.  Did it work?

Make grilled foods healthier with rosemary.  Cooking meat at high temperatures creates cancer-causing compounds known as HCAs (heterocyclic animes).  But research has found that prepping meat in a marinade filled with rosemary can significantly reduce the formation of those nasty compounds.

Fight indigestion with rosemary-leaf capsules.  This is used in Europe to ease dyspepsia.  They're even approved for use there at doses of up to 4 to 6 grams by Germany's Commission E, a government agency that evaluates the medical evidence surrounding herbs.  And you should be able to find them in the US in the supplement aisle.

Cook smart with rosemary.  Savory dishes work well with this fragrant herb.  Think fresh tomato sauce, frittatas, and egg or tuna salad.  Another approach - puree fresh leaves with olive oil for a dipping sauce.

I think I'll pot plant some rosemary on my patio.  I've planted Rosemary in the yard and it's easy to grow.  Guess it's time to pull out a pot and grown some on my patio.

Disease Fighters - Chives

Garlic and onions usually get all the credit in the family of plants believed to help prevent cancer but the chive is also packed with the compounds that may be effective.  Research suggests that one in particular called querctin could help inhibit certain tumor cells.  Men who ate the most from this plant family had lower rates of prostate cancer.

A compound in chives called allicin has been shown to lower the amount of bad cholesterol you produce, and to help keep your blood pressure low.  That could add up to lower risks of these prevalent heart and brain problems.

Chives also contain choline, a B vitamin that has been linked to better sleep, learning and memory and may ease depression.

Colonists brought chives to America for medicinal purposes.  Since then, chefs and home cooks have found plenty of other uses for them.  Kids who won't touch garlic or onions often will take to chives.  Use them to liven up your dips, salads, and omelets.

This information is from Dr. Oz's magazine The Good Life and I felt it a must to share.