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Why should you grow herbs at home?

Adding fresh grown herbs to your meals can add tons of flavour

they are packed with antioxidants and other good for you nutrients.

And using fresh herbs and spices can be a good substitute for salt when flavouring your food

Most herbs are sun-loving, drought-friendly...so they are easy to grow!

Pick a couple of your favourites and start your own window sill flavour factory today!

Summer Salad

Mango salad

I made this a couple times this week and it was delicous and summery.

I chopped up a bunch of whatever I had in the fridge...

I didnt measure or anything, just what looked good.

I thought I would share with you my salad "recipe" and some health benefits of all the ingredients!

Mango

(one cup contains 25% of your daily intake of vitamin A -thats good for your eyes)

Avocado

(eating avocados for only one week can lower cholesterol on average 17%)

Cucumber

(contains silica which is good for connective tissue, and can improve your complexion)

Red Bell Pepper

(linked to reduced risk of a number of cancers, and contains more vitamin C than oranges)

Red Onion

(contains a surprising amount of polyphenols.. phytonutrients which help protect agains disease)

Cilantro

(a powerful cleansing agent, chemical compounds in cilantro bind to heavy metals in the body and help eliminate them)

Lime Juice

(Anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-biotic and detoxifying properties, and can help get rid of ulcers)

So mix your self up this healthy summer salad and start enjoying the benefits today!! It would also make a great salsa if everything was chopped smaller and you added more juice.

Impress everyone by bringing it to your first BBQ of the summer...

(click on the ingredient to see more health benefits)



Flight the Flu Part 3

How to fight off Colds and Flu

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Drink lots and lots of hot liquids

Whether its tea, hot lemon water or coffee the hot beverage can help boost your immunity.

Hot lemon is especially good because along with the immunity benefits, it can help increase liver function to release more digestive enzymes, it also has vitamin C, antioxidants and calcium

So boil the kettle, slice up a lemon and drink up!

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Fighting the Flu part 2

how to fight off colds and flu

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Eat a clove of raw garlic

Garlic is great for its antimicrobial properties.

So when you feel a scratchy throat coming on - head to the kitchen and chew on a piece of garlic

Maybe it doesn't sound that yummy but it could help prevent your sore throat from getting worse

if you think that sounds too gross - try crushing the clove and swallowing it whole, mixed with apple sauce, or have something to eat right afterwards

Garlic can also relax blood vessels, increase blood flow, and prevent blood clots and oxidative damage.

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Quick Tip

Think onions hurt your eyes?  Eatting them might actually be good for your eyes.

Red Onions contain more quercetin than yellow onions. This anti-oxidant is thought to prevent cataracts.

Health Tip

Steam your broccoli!

Steaming broccoli can increase the concentration of glucosinolates by up to 30% Glucosinolates are a category of phytochemicals (anti-oxidants) found in broccoli and other vegetables such as kale, brussel sprouts, and garlic.

These specific chemicals are knows for lowering risk of cancer by blocking carcinogins and preventing the initiation of tumors in some organs such as liver, mammary glands,  and pancrease.

-boiling your vegetables can cause phytochemicals and nutrients to leach out of vegetables into the water - and then down the drain.  so next time, steam your broccoli!

tip found on MSN BC - 12 quick tips for a longer, healthier life

Check out the 11 others here

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23727899/