August 10th, 2007 by admin
Cooking vegetables with the right herbs will make an unforgettable difference. Learning how to use herbs will have your family and dinner guests impressed. Here is how to change an ordinary tasting vegetable dish into an extraordinary one with the added flavors of herbs and spices.
All of the common and favorite herbs can be used with vegetables. Herbs such as oregano, basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, chervil, Tarragon, coriander, cumin, dill, ginger, garlic, lemongrass and curry. Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves can also be added to really spice up some vegetables. Adding chopped nuts and mushrooms to vegetable dishes is another great way to bring more flavor and nutrition into the meal. Herb flavored vinegars, marinades, and oils are readily available in supermarkets or they can be made at home. These flavored additives can be used on salads and when grilling vegetables, meat and fish.
Salt, pepper, onions, garlic and fruit juices have been favorite flavor enhancers over the ages. With the popularity of gourmet cooking a wider variety of herbs and spices are becoming widely used. Here are some combinations of vegetables and herbs and spices that work well together:
Vegetables & Herbs
Sweet Potatoes - nutmeg or cinnamon
Potatoes -garlic and basil, mint and sage
Squash (orange) -thyme, basil and rosemary
Squash (yellow) -basil, parsley and oregano
Cabbage -cilantro and cumin
Carrots -cumin, sage, ginger
Corn -marjoram or sage, dill seed & thyme, basil and rosemary
Broccoli -basil and oregano (with tomatoes)
Peas -thyme
Beans -oregano and basil, onion and garlic (add chopped nuts)
Egg Plant -Basil and parsley
Leeks -Garlic and ginger
Asparagus -Tarragon, basil (add tomatoes and cheese)
Brussel Sprouts -Parsley and Garlic (add walnuts, orange zest with sweet peppers)
Beets -ginger and cinnamon (add lemon juice to retain color)
Spinach -Basil and garlic, Dill and lemon
Vegetables with herbs make a wonderful side dish at any meal. Whether you are using fresh, frozen or canned vegetables their flavor will always be enhanced with the addition of herbs. Fresh herbs can always be substituted with dried ones. Just be careful not to use too much of the dried herbs because they are more condensed than in the fresh form and can easily overpower the flavor of vegetables.
Mixing various vegetables together provides an interesting medley of colors and food flavors. Some recipes also add chopped nuts, peppers and tomatoes along with herbs. By adding other foods you will not only add more flavors, but will make your vegetable dishes more interesting and nutritious too. A healthy diet is one that has the most variety of fresh and nutritious foods. So don’t be shy, experiment with a wide variety of herbs and foods. Add flavored oils and fruit juices and you’ll be surprised how much more you’ll not only enjoy eating vegetables, but also cooking and serving them. Making gourmet tasting meals can be just that easy. Your family and guests will be wonderfully delighted every time they sit down at your dining table. Using herbs and spices will turn your meals into an extraordinary health food experience that is as rich in vitamins and nutrients as it is in color and flavor.
Deborah is a partner in Ipcor Publishing and Personal Logs.com. Find more information about herbs and spices on her webpage Herbs and Spices. Download a Free copy of the e-book ‘101 Everyday Tips To Lose 10 Lbs′ from her Get In Shape website.
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Have you ever felt so low that it seemed like you would never feel good again? Have you ever felt extremely worried about something and you couldn’t shake it? These are signs of Depression and Anxiety. You are not crazy or loony or whatever you want to call it. You are certainly not alone in suffering with Depression and/or Anxiety. Be assured that there is hope and treatments that will help you to feel better.
Depression is…
Depression is an illness having to do with the chemicals in the brain that affect mood.
Depression is a pervasive sadness and hopelessness.
Depression is treatable.
Depression is not an excuse to get out of doing things.
Depression is manageable with the right treatments.
Treatments
Advances are continually being made in the treatments available for Depression. There is one experimental procedure that some hospitals are using already called TMS- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. This is done by passing a magnetized coil over the scalp that gets regular pulses of electricity through it. The current penetrates the bones of the skull and stimulates the nerve cells in the brain. It has enormous potential to become a very exact treatment of brain issues including Depression.
Anti-depressants are drugs that have been known to affect your mood in a positive manner. There are a few groups or classes of antidepressants and each one works in a different manner in treating Depression. There are some very serious side effects of these drugs including suicidal thinking.
Natural treatments such as herbs have far fewer side effects if any and they are safe. Yes, they are effective treatments as well. Herb usage has been around for centuries having been used by ancient tribesmen and Shaman in tribal rituals and healing practices. Herbs that are known to affect mood are blended with other nutritive substances into a formula that is effective and safe. Chamomile, Green Tea, and Gingko Biloba are a few of the herbs used in these supplements.
The metabolic paths of the ingredients should be tested at the molecular level and the ingredients’ interactions studied in order to ensure their quality, safety, potency and efficacy. They should be made to pharmaceutical grade standards as well.
When considering herbal supplements you should consult with your doctor because the herbs can affect the effectiveness of any prescriptions you may be taking for other conditions. Herbal supplements can be very effective.
Conclusion
Herbs can be very beneficial in treating Depression and Anxiety. Herbs, anxiety, depression are an unlikely but beneficial trio. Herbs have fewer side effects if they have any at all. They are less costly than typical prescriptive medications. They might be worth considering if you want to avoid side effects and spend less on getting yourself better.
We have found a pure natural depression supplement that can also help with anxiety and overall general well being.
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John Gibb is the manager and owner of various health websites. His latest addition is Natural Depression Alleviation
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All of us from time to time suffer a minor cut or abrasion. Children will certainly have the occasional accident that results in a skinned knee or elbow or a cut on their hands or feet. Most of these conditions are not serious - unless the wound is extensive or deep. If it does cover a large surface or is a deep cut then you will need to seek medical assistance. However the minor cuts and abrasions can be managed well with the use of herbal remedies.
A couple of drops of Rescue Remedy under the tongue will work well for any minor shock that is associated with the accident.
Clean the area with a herbal antiseptic to prevent infection and aid in healing. You can use 4-5 drops of tincture of any of the following herbs in a little warm water or a decoction or an infusion of the herb.
- golden seal
- calendula
- St John’s wort
- myrrh
- witch hazel
If it feels very painful bathe it regularly with diluted St John′s wort tincture or an infusion of peppermint or lavender. You can use a few drops of the following essential oils in water - they are antiseptic, pain relieving and healing:
- lavender
- eucalyptus
- geranium
- peppermint
- tea tree
The following, used as ointments, are suitable for minor cuts and abrasions:
- St John’s wort
- calendula
- comfrey
Do not use on open, unclean wounds or very deep wounds as fast healing can mean that dirt and bacteria are trapped inside.If the cut is quite deep apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding. If the sides are apart, bring them together firmly with the thumb and finger. Bind the wound together with a surgical tape and then apply a dressing and bandage. Seek medical attention quickly as a closing of the wound by other means may be necessary and the sooner this is done the better the cosmetic effect. If the cut or abrasion is minor it is best to leave it uncovered.
You can use any of the following either as teas to soak a dressing to apply to a wound or to put into creams or poultices:
- comfrey
- cabbage
- plantain leaves
- slippery elm
- rosemary
- elderflowers
It is a good idea to have some of these herbs available in a herbal home medicine kit. If you are going to stock a home medicine kit, become familiar with the herbs that you place in it and use them with discretion.The following list of herbs includes representatives of all the main actions and some specific ones as well. These can be used to deal with many minor situations including cuts and abrasions. The herbs may be stored as dried herbs or as tinctures.
Herbs for Your Home Medicine kit can include the following, although there are many others that can be included or substituted for the ones suggested here:
- boneset
- black willow
- burdock root
- cayenne pepper
- celery seed
- chamomile
- cleavers
- coltsfoot
- comfrey
- dandelion
- echinacea
- elder
- eucalyptus
- false unicorn root
- golden rod
- goldenseal
- geranium
- lavender
- marshmallow
- meadowsweet
- nettles
- peppermint
- plantain leaves
- rosemary
- senna
- skullcap
- slippery elm
- tea tree
- thyme
- valerian
- yarrow
- yellow dock
In addition to the herbs it would also be helpful to have the following in the form of ointments:
- arnica
- chickweed
- comfrey
- calendula
Distilled witch hazel should also be included.Herbs have many healing and medicinal properties. Explore the many uses of the herbs, how to prepare and use them. They can easily be used for the treatment of many minor conditions such as minor skin cuts and abrasions. They can also be used for more serious problems and illnesses but before undertaking this you need to develop your understanding about the nature of herbs, their uses and their safety issues. The best approach to illnesses is to use herbs as a part of a wholistic treatment program.
Dr Jenny Tylee is an experienced health professional who is passionate about health and wellbeing. She believes that health is not just absence of disease and seeks to actively promote vitality and wellness through empowering others. She encourages people to improve their health by quit smoking (Growerz.com can assist with this), cleansing their body, taking essential vitamin and mineral supplements and many other methods, including herbal remedies. Join her free newsletter for more quality health information.
References
Hoffmann, D. 2000, The New Holistic Herbal. Element Pub.
McIntyre, A. 1995, The Complete Women’s Herbal. Henry Holt Reference Book.
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