Welcome Everyone,
I'm glad to be back and posting on our new topic as promised in my last blog. My main reason for moving in this new direction was based on overwhelming response to my previous blogs, Passionate About Home. If you were following, you read my tips on redecorating the home with less stress and less expense. It seemed that many of you really enjoyed the various tips I mentioned in relieving stress, so here we go.
What can you expect from the new blog topic of Naturally Living or Living Naturally? You can expect to read various ideas relating to aromatherapy, massage, hydrotherapy, nutrition tips and more. Please keep in mind that I'm not a professional nor do I recommend my tips replacing your medical treatment. I am providing information and tips that have worked for me and that just makes sense. Please consult your medical professional if you are thinking of making drastic dietary changes.
So, without further delay, it seems only right to start my 1st topic off with nutrition. Now, please understand, I'm one of the least health conscience (or at least I was) people in the world. So, if I tell you something made a difference in my life, trust me, it really did. But, the one thing that made me move toward nutrition first was my latest trip to the grocery store. I'm telling you, when I walked out of that store and $180 out of pocket, I was simply livid.
I'm sure everyone is feeling like that right about now and can understand my anger. The grocery store actually charged more for fresh, non organic produce than anything. A cucumber cost $1.99 per cucumber, not per pound. Fruit was simply ridiculous and since when did potatoes get to be so high? So, with that said I began thinking, why not grow my own veggies and fruit?
It's healthier, cheaper and lots of fun. But, I'm a city girl and know absolutely nothing about gardening. Plus, I did not want to be outside planting but would prefer to do it indoors. So, how was I going to start? Well, I simply went on a favorite site of mine at http://astore.amazon.com/styliempor-20/search?node=118&keywords=vegetable+seeds&preview=&x=8&y=7 and purchased 20 packs of seeds for a total of $8.
But that still wasn't enough to show me how to grow a garden. So, I needed a guide of some sort. I did a little research and came across a book entitled The Indoor Kitchen Garden: Vegetable Growing in Limited Space by Joy O. I. Spoczynska and found it at http://astore.amazon.com/styliempor-20/search?node=18&keywords=indoor+vegetable+gardening&preview=&x=15&y=7 for $3.00. So, I purchased that. In addition, I needed pots. Now if you are familiar with my previous blogs, you know that I'm a lover of all things beautiful, so my pots had to be pretty but inexpensive. In addition, I felt that the pots could be something small to start my seeds out in and I could upgrade to larger as they grew and still continue to reuse the starter pots. So, my quest for pots took me to http://www.stylistemporium.com/blbablpo.html (be sure to see the pictures below).
These pots were so cute and it came 3 to a set at a price that was excellent and well within my budget. So, I purchased 2 sets at $7.99 per set to start out with. I could always get more as I became familiar with how to garden. And, finally my soil was purchased at http://astore.amazon.com/styliempor-20/detail/B001693Y3Y . It was Hoffman A H #16002 8QT Vermiculite, which specifically stated that it could be used as a starter for seeds.
Now, I'm not sure if there is some weird law about selling soil on-line, but this was actually the most difficult thing to find out of all. However, the soil only cost me approx. $5. And that was it, or less than a trip to the grocery store, I was about to embark upon a journey to not only saving money, but better health and nutrition.
However, I really wanted to make sure that the seeds I purchased served as some type of nutritional value. So, I began researching a little and of course resorted to my favorite book Heal Thyself for Health and Longevity http://astore.amazon.com/styliempor-20/detail/1886433763 . Since the cucumber was the main reason that I began this journey, I saw it only fitting that the cucumber be my first seeds to plants. And, that it also be the first item I educate myself on regarding nutritional value.
Upon reading in my book regarding cucumbers, I found out that it is a great source for green vegetables (cucumbers are actually considered fruits). And, green veggies help restore blood, tissues, cells, nerves and bones. In addition, green veggies are high in calcium, reduces stress, prevents and eliminates disease such as high blood pressure, mental depression, and arthritis. In addition, green veggies serve as great beauty tonics, creating radiant skin, elimination of blemishes, clear eyes and even tone. So, the cucumber was indeed a friend In addition, it broke down and extracted great juice.
In addition, the cucumber has the following nutritious values:
Nutritive Values : Per 100 gm
Vitamin A 180 I.U.
Niacin Trace
Vitamin C 9 mg.
Calcium 32 mg.
Iron 1.8 mg.
Phosphorus 27 mg.
Potassium 80 mg.
Carbohydrates 17 gm.
Calories 70
But these other health benefits alone were enough to sell me:
Cucumber is best natural diuretic known, secreting and promoting the flow of urine.
Helps in kidney and urinary bladder disease
The potassium content of cucumber makes it highly useful for conditions of high and low blood pressure.
Cucumber contains erepsin, the enzyme that helps to digest protein.
The high silicon and sulphur content of the cucumber is said to promote the growth of hair, especially when the juice of the cucumber is added to the juice of carrot, lettuce and spinach.
A mixture of cucumber juice with carrot juice is said to be beneficial for rheumatic conditions resulting from excessive uric acid in the body.
Cucumber juice is also valuable for helping diseases of the teeth, gums, especially in cases of pyorrhea.
The high mineral content of this vegetable also helps to prevent splitting of nails of the fingers and toes.
Cucumber, radish and bitter gourd are beneficial in diabetes.
So, there you have it. I forged ahead and planted my cucumber seeds. Of course this journey is a recent one, so to make this more fun, I'm going to give an update with each log on how my cucumber seeds are doing. And, if anyone has any advice, feel free to jump in and let me know.
In addition, I'm challenging everyone to start their own indoor garden and report on it. Basically, the price of food has gotten outrageous, thus for self preservation and health, we can only make a change if we act on injustices. It is my firm belief (my opinion only), that the reason produce is becoming so high is due to it's increasing popularity and the knowledge that consumers are gaining regarding the benefits of veggies and fruits. Thus, there goes the prices, but the sad part is, these are not even the organic produce that they are skyrocketing on. These are the chemically enhanced products.
So, again, I challenge everyone to grow a garden indoors, save money and your health. Are you naturally living or living naturally? Be sure to go to some of the resources included herein and at the bottom of this blog to assist you in getting started. Don't forget to come back and let us know how you are doing and to get more tips. In addition, you can always join our group at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/stylistemporium/, where you can read this blog, meet and chat with other group members and share ideas.
Until next time, when I update you on my cucumber and move to my next seed planting, thank you for reading and have fun planting. My next log will focus more on the other green veggies I'm planting and their nutritious values. Be sure to view the resources below for assistance.
Heal Thyself for Health and Longevity can be purchased at:
http://astore.amazon.com/styliempor-20/detail/1886433763
Mini indoor flower pots can be purchased at
http://www.stylistemporium.com/plandplst.html
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