Holistic Tips to Keep Your Family Healthy

It’s that time of year again, the end of summer is approaching and the cold and flu "season" is around the corner.  People are headed back-to-school, holidays are approaching and the commercial industry starts bombarding stores with processed candy and desserts. 

Nutrition is the key to health.  When the season changes and people start consuming large quantities of sugar-laden foods, immune systems weaken and become overworked.

Boosting your immune system is important if you want to stay healthy.  A healthy immune system will lessen your chances of getting sick.  If you do get sick, the duration of illness will not last as long and you will recover quicker. 

Now is the time to plan for the season change. 

Holistic Tips to Keep Your Family Healthy

Lemons, ACV, Elderberry Rose Hip Syrup, Master Tonic, Raw Honey, Lemons, Garlic, High Vitamin Butter Oil Fermented Cod Liver Oil Blend, Kelp Granules, Ginger, Shiitake Mushrooms, Kombu

{Amazon & Mt. Rose Herbs Affiliate links included help support this blog}

Stock Your Kitchen w/ These

• Organic Lemons – Great for colds, sore throats, cleansing.
• Organic Garlic – Naturally antimicrobial, both antiviral and antibacterial, great for upper respiratory issues.
• Raw Honey – Naturally antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal (not for babies).
• Coconut Oil -  Strengthens the immune system, is naturally antimicrobial and has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.
• Organic Ginger – Great for upset tummy, chills, colds and fevers (use w/ caution if pregnant, consult w/ your health care practitioner). 
• Organic Cranberries – Preventative, bacteria cannot thrive w/ cranberry.
• Dried Thyme – Naturally antimicrobial, make as a tea for colds/flu, great for coughs and respiratory issues, helps relieve diarrhea.
• Organic Shiitake Mushrooms – Have immune boosting properties.
• Elderberry & Rose Hip Syrup – Preventative, increase amount w/ illness, known for helping prevent the flu and/or lessen the duration of the illness.
• Fermented Cod Liver Oil & High Vitamin Butter Oil – Natural dose of vitamin D, very important for staying healthy, helps the immune and digestive system.
• Organic Sea Vegetables like Kombu, Kelp, Nori, Wakame – Full of vitamins and minerals, very nourishing, add to soups, beans, grains, vegetables (See Resources).
• Seasonal Organic Vegetables & Fruits for Juicing – Very cleansing, full of nutrients that are readily available for your body.
• Lacto-Fermented and Cultured Foods – Great for your gut, loaded with natural probiotics, helps with digestion, helps boost your immune system. 
• Bone Broth or Homemade Stocks – Loaded with nutrition, very nourishing, helps with healing process, stock up and store in freezer.
• High Quality Probiotics – Important for your gut, keeps your gut healthy. 
• Organic Unfiltered Raw Apple Cider Vinegar – Old school remedy, natural antiseptic and antifungal, very healing. 

Nettle, Thyme, Astragalus Root, Catnip, Elderberries, Rose Hips, Fennel Seeds, Vitamin C Powder,  Raw Honey, Olive Oil, Tinctures, Bioplasma Cell Salts, Neti Pot

Stock Your Holistic & Herbal Wellness Chest w/ These

• Organic Olive Oil (high quality)  - To make rubs/salves/oils.
• Pascalite Clay – Many uses, very healing.
• Neti Pot – A must have for colds/allergies and for keeping your nasal passages clear.
• Dried Organic Herbs & Flowers – Nettle (a MUST have), Rose Hips, Elderberries, Red Raspberry Leaf, Fennel Seed, Chamomile, Catnip, Lemon Balm, Oatstraw, Peppermint, Spearmint, Slippery Elm Powder, Dandelion Leaf, Calendula Flowers, Lavender – Herbs are great for making herbal infusions, loaded with vitamins and minerals that are readily available to your body (I buy bulk dried herbs here).
• Dried Astragalus Root & Tincture – Immune boosting.
• Echinacea Tincture – Immune boosting, helps prevent and treat.  Helps with viruses, is antimicrobial and great for infections.
• Goldenseal Tincture – Very potent, a natural antibiotic.  Use for bacterial infections, persistent infections, take w/ probiotics to help restore good gut flora.
• Calendula Tincture – Very healing, naturally antiseptic.
• Elderberry Tincture or Extract –A preventative or take with illness, helps lessen duration of symptoms, known for helping prevent the flu.
• Cranberry Tincture, Capsules or Concentrate – Take w/ illness, helps lessen duration, bacteria cannot grow/thrive with it.
• Bioplasma Cell Salts by Hylands – 12 essential cell salts that the body needs, many benefits, very healing, increase w/ illness.

***A Note on Tinctures: Glycerin based tinctures do not work as well.***

Essential Oils & Natural Cleaning Products - White Vinegar, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Lemons, Baking Soda

Tips for Your Home

• Change your filters every 1-2 months, especially when the season changes.  Replace w/ high quality filters, not the cheap ones that barely catch anything, you want filters that filter mold, viruses, dander, etc.
• Clean ceiling fan blades.
• Use natural/”green” cleaning products, make sure to read ingredient labels.
• Use True HEPA air filtration portable units (not HEPA-Type).
• Vacuum house at least once a week, every other day if possible, with a HEPA vacuum.
• Add indoor house plants to the home to clean the air.
• Use Nebulizer Diffusers w/ essential oils (like Thieves or Medieval essential oil) to clean the air, body will absorb the healing properties of the essential oils too.
• Remove any commercial-grade scented candles or air fresheners from the home.
• Open your windows as much as possible to allow fresh air into the home, outdoor air quality is almost always better than indoor air quality. 

Your Mind, Body & Spirit

• Remember that your body believes what you tell it and it will act accordingly.  Talk to your body (seriously!) and tell it want you want to occur and/or thank it for getting your attention.  Be positive when talking to your body and be grateful for the messages it sends you. 
• Daily Self-talk – Flood your mind w/ positive thoughts, peace, joy, happiness and comfort.
• Do your best to keep balance and harmony w/ all things.
• End the day w/ positive messages to yourself.  If you have children, this is an excellent time to talk to them and give them positive messages to sleep with.  Tell them that tomorrow will be a happy day, tell them how grateful you are, tell them the things you love about them, tell them that they are happy, healthy, strong, loving and whole.  Say the same things to yourself too!
• When you can, get outside and enjoy the fresh air.  If there is sun shining, make sure you enjoy it and soak up the vitamin D.  Be out in nature as much as possible.  Your body will thank you.
• Get some form of exercise, our bodies are not meant to be sedentary. 
• Make sure to get plenty of rest.  If you do get sick, honor your body by resting and sleeping as much as you need to.

Holistic & Natural Remedies

• Raw Organic Garlic + Raw Honey – This excellent remedy comes from my midwives.  As soon as you feel illness coming on, mince 1 clove of raw garlic into 1 tablespoon of raw honey, take orally, swallow and chase w/ drink if necessary.  The garlic is naturally antimicrobial, both antiviral and antibacterial and the raw honey is naturally antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal.  This remedy is safe for pregnant moms.
• Garlic Oil – Use for chest rub, drop in ear for ear infections.
• Pascalite Clay – Helps w/ nausea, helps w/ diarrhea, very healing, many uses.
• Bone Broth – Loaded w/ nutrients, helps you heal faster.  See here for my bone broth recipe.
• Cranberry Compote – Great way to get cranberry into your body.  Bacteria cannot grow when consuming cranberry. 
• Vitamin C Tea – Full of vitamin C as well as other vitamins and minerals which are all readily available for your body.
• Thyme Tea – Naturally antimicrobial, great tea to drink during colds/flu, strengthens immune system, important to take during illness and after to help prevent recurrent illness.
• Herbal Infusions – Make herbal tea infusions with various dried herbs and flowers.  Typical infusions steep for a minimum of 30 minutes to overnight.  Loaded with vitamins and minerals that are readily available for your body, better than a vitamin/mineral supplement.  See here for my Nourishing Herbal Tea Infusion and Nettle Cinnamon Herbal Tea Infusion recipe.
• Hot Garlic-Ginger Lemonade – Beneficial for colds/flu, drink hot and often.
• Master Tonic and Pepper Tonic – Helps prevent illness and lessen the duration of illness.
• Elderberry & Rose Hip Syrup – Take as a preventative daily.  Increase dosage w/ illness.  Known for helping prevent the flu and lessen the symptoms. 
• Echinacea Tincture – Great preventative, boosts your immune system.  Take during illness to treat and lessen the duration of illness.
• Thieves Oil or Medieval Oil – Great preventative and helps lessen the duration of illness.  To make your own Thieves Oil, you need Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary high quality essential oils.  To make your own Medieval Oil, you need Sweet Orange, Lavender, Lemon, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Red and White Thyme, and Rosemary high quality essential oils.  Place in carrier oil (like olive oil or jojoba), rub on bottoms of feet before bed and in the morning after bathing, also dab behind ears.  Use in a Nebulizer Diffuser to help cleanse the home during illness and use as a preventative during the cold and flu season.  
• Raw honey – Naturally antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal.
• Breastmilk – Very healing and full of beneficial properties, place drops in the eye/ear for infections, drops in nose for congestion, gargle for sore throat, good for the ears, nose, eyes, skin, gut, etc.
• Juicing – Brings balance to the body, very cleansing.
• Slippery Elm "Candies" for Coughs –  Great for pesky coughs.  It helps soothe irritations, helps moisten dry throats and calm coughs.  

Remember, nutrition is key and our body reacts to what we put in it.  Do your best to eliminate or at least limit processed foods and refined sugars.  When you buy food, try to buy organic or food that has been grown using organic practices.  You don’t want your body loaded up with pesticides, herbicides and GMO foods.  Check out local farmers markets and get to know your farmers.  If you need help finding some in your area, to find a local farmer or a CSA box delivery, check here: Eat Wild and Local Harvest.

Nourish the mind, body and soul. 

Be well.

What do you do to help boost your immune system?

Disclaimer: ALL information you read on Recipes to Nourish is purely for informational and educational purposes only.  I love to share and share with love, but I am not a health care practitioner.  This information is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.  If you have questions about food, diet, nutrition, natural remedies or holistic health, please do your own research and consult with your health care practitioner.  


This post is part of Traditional Tuesdays @ Cooking Traditional Foods, WLW Wednesday Link-Up Party @ Women Living Well, Healthy 2day Wednesday @ day2day joys, Works for Me Wednesday @ We are THAT Family, Simple Lives Thursday @ A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa, Whole Health Weekend Link-up @ Nourishing Treasures, Monday Mania @ The Healthy Home Economist, Wildcrafting Wednesday @ Mind Body and Sole, and Weekend Gourmet Blog Carnival @ Hartke Is Online.


Amazon and Mountain Rose Herbs links are affiliate links, prices are the same for you.  Should you decide to purchase through my blog, thank you in advance and much gratitude for supporting Recipes to Nourish.

Watermelon-Cucumber Juice

Watermelons and cucumbers are in season right now and my family is taking advantage and juicing them as much as we can.  Watermelon-Cucumber is probably my favorite juicing combination.  It’s so delicious and refreshing. 

Watermelon is known for being very cleansing for the whole body, especially for the kidneys.  It's a well-known natural remedy to help break up kidney stones + help prevent them from occurring.  Watermelon is full of antioxidants and is high in vitamin A (beta-carotene) and vitamin C.  It is also very hydrating.     

Cucumbers are high in vitamin C and antioxidants.  They are also known for having cleansing properties and dissolving kidney stones.  Cucumbers are very hydrating due to their high water content.  When juiced, they have a very mild, sweet flavor, which goes well with almost any juicing combination. 

Watermelon-Cucumber Juice

Pretty and pink, this juice has the most beautiful color.  It’s refreshing, hydrating and cleansing. 

Equipment: Juicer

·      4 cups organic watermelon, wash outside rind

·      4 organic lemon cucumbers or 1 large cucumber, washed

1.     Prep juicer, watermelon and cucumbers.  Cut watermelon in half, scoop out chunks of watermelon flesh with a spoon (I place the chunks in a 4 cup measuring cup and fill it).  Cut lemon cucumbers in half, then cut into pieces that fit into your juicer.  

2.    Juice the cucumbers then watermelon. 

My favorite helper, she juiced everything

Pretty and Pink

3.    Serve immediately, drink as is or pour over a small amount of ice. 

My Little Love with her Watermelon-Cucumber Juice

Yield: Makes about 4 cups of juice.

Note: Don’t forget to rinse the juicer parts after juicing.  You don’t want to have dried pulp remnants that your can’t clean off later. 

Tip: I love to fill 2 ice cube trays with the juice and freeze it (I use this + this is great too ... my absolute favorite ice cubes ever).  When I make smoothies, I pop a few cubes in.  The juice cubes are even great in a glass of water, adds a really nice flavor.  1 regular ice cube = 2 tablespoons.

Amazon links are affiliate links, prices are the same for you.  Should you decide to purchase through my blog, thank you in advance and much gratitude for supporting Recipes to Nourish.

Disclaimer: ALL information you read on Recipes to Nourish is purely for informational and educational purposes only.  I love to share and share with love, but I am not a health care practitioner.  This information is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.  If you have questions about food, diet, nutrition, natural remedies or holistic health, please do your own research and consult with your health care practitioner.  

OTHER WAYS TO ENJOY WATERMELON

Creamy Watermelon Ice Cream

Watermelon Granita

Watermelon Lemonade - Blended

Watermelon-Carrot Juice

Summer Sangria w/ Watermelon Juice

This post is part of Wellness Weekend @ Diet, Dessert and Dogs, Whole Health Weekend Link-Up @ Nourishing Treasures, Recipe Sharing Monday @ Jam Hands, Homestead Barn Hop @ The Prairie Homestead, Mangia Mondays @ Delightfully Dowling, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday @ Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, and Seasonal Sunday @ Real Sustenance. 

Homemade Gravenstein Applesauce

Last weekend my parents brought us a huge box of organic Gravenstein apples from their farm (Sophie’s Five Acres).  The beautiful aroma from the apples is filling my kitchen.  It smells amazing!  

Homemade Gravenstein Applesauce

Gravenstein apples do not have a long shelf life, so it’s best to use them as soon as you can.  They make wonderful applesauce and breakdown very easily when cooking. Enjoy this applesauce as a snack, side dish or a simple dessert.

Equipment: Juicer (optional), Large Stainless Steel or Enamel Saucepan w/ lid

• 12 organic Gravenstein apples, peeled, cored, cut into ½ inch chunks
• ½ cup fresh organic apple juice
• 1 tablespoon pasture butter (See Resources)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder (optional)
• 1 tablespoon raw/unheated honey or real organic maple syrup (optional)

1.     Prep apples.  Cut in half, core, and cut into ½ inch chunks.  I cut the apple half in thirds, then turn and cut in thirds again (see picture).  There’s no science here, prep the apples however you’d like.

2.    In a large saucepan, add pasture butter and melt over low heat.

3.    Add apple juice, apple chunks and cinnamon to the saucepan.

Fresh Gravenstein Apple Juice

 

4.    Cover and simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5.     Remove lid, let simmer for about 25 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. 

6.    Add honey or maple syrup to applesauce (if desired).  Stir until dissolved, about 1 minute.  

7.     Remove from heat. 

8.    At this point, the apples have mostly broken down with a few remaining chunks. If you’d like the texture to be more smooth, mash it with a potato masher, use an immersion blender, food processor or blender to make the applesauce completely smooth.

9.    Serve hot or chilled.

Yield: Makes about 3 cups cooked.

Note: If you have a juicer, juice about 4 apples to make ½ cup apple juice, otherwise, choose a fresh organic apple juice to use. 

Storage: This will keep for a few days in the refrigerator.  If not using right away, store in the freezer in freezer-safe containers.  I place some in BPA-free ice cube trays and pop some out when I need them.  One cube equals 2 tablespoons.  

This post is part of Ultimate Recipe Swap @ Life As Mom and Gluten-Free Wednesdays @ The Gluten-Free Homemaker.

Creamy Watermelon Ice Cream

Watermelons are in season right now and have been a staple at our home lately.  We’ve been using them for their whole body cleansing properties.  Watermelon Lemonade has been a daily must, we’ve also been juicing watermelons and eating them as is.  To stick with our seasonal watermelon theme, we decided to make Watermelon Ice Cream and the result was amazing!  It has the most beautiful pale pink color and is so refreshing, creamy and sweet.

Enjoy!

Little Love kissing her first harvested watermelon.

Creamy Watermelon Ice Cream

Refreshing, cooling and simply delicious. 

Equipment: Juicer, Blender, Ice Cream Maker

• ½ cup freshly juiced organic watermelon
• 1 teaspoon gluten free organic vanilla extract 
• 1 cup raw whole milk* (See Resources)
• 1 cup raw cream (optional, if you don’t have cream, just sub w/ raw milk)
• ¼ cup raw honey (I use local raw clover creamed honey)

1.     Wash watermelon.  Cut in half.  With a spoon, scoop out chunks of watermelon and juice them in a juicer until you have ½ cup of juice.

2.    Add watermelon juice, vanilla, milk, cream, and honey to blender.

3.    Blend on a lower setting just until smooth and combined, about 5 seconds.  Be careful not to blend too long, you don’t want a lot of air in the mixture.   If any foam forms on the top, remove this with a spoon.

4.    Pour mixture into ice cream maker.

5.     Turn machine on and mix according to your ice cream maker’s instructions.

6.    Ice cream will start to have a “soft serve” texture when it is done.  This is my family’s favorite way to eat it.  If you prefer it to be a little firmer or need to serve it later, place in the freezer to harden. 

Yield: Makes about 2 ½-3 cups mixture, about 1 quart of ice cream. 

Dairy-Free Option: Substitute full-fat coconut milk for the dairy.  I use this brand ... it's organic, non-GMO + it's BPA free. 

*For California residents, check out my favorite raw milk from Claravale Farm.  They sell to stores and co-ops all over CA.

OTHER WAYS TO ENJOY WATERMELON

Watermelon Cucumber Juice

Watermelon Granita

Watermelon Lemonade - Blended

Watermelon-Carrot Juice

Summer Sangria w/ Watermelon Juice

Amazon links are affiliate links, prices are the same for you.  Should you decide to purchase through my blog, thank you in advance and much gratitude for supporting Recipes to Nourish.

This post is part of Tuesdays at the Table @ All the Small Stuff, Tasty Tuesday Party @ Nap Time Creations, Traditional Tuesdays @ Real Food Whole Health Blog Carnival Hop,  Made From Scratch Tuesday @ From Mess Hall to Bistro, Recipe Sharing Monday @ Jam Hands, Good And Tasty Tuesday @ Stay At Home Babe, Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop @ Home Sweet Farm, What's Cooking Wednesday @ The King's Court IV, Real Food Wednesday @ Kelly the Kitchen Kop, Gluten-Free Wednesdays @ The Gluten-Free Homemaker, Healthy 2day Wednesdays @ day2day joys, Foodie Wednesday @ Daily Organized Chaos, Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Turning the Table Thursday @ Around My Family Table, Simple Lives Thursday @ A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa, Ultimate Recipe Swap @ Life As Mom, Cooking Thursday @ Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, Pennywise Platter Thursday @ The Nourishing Gourmet, Fresh Food Friday! @ La Bella Vita, Fresh Bites Friday @ Real Food Whole Health, Fight Back Friday @ Food Renegade, Freaky Friday @ Real Food Freaks, Friday Food @ Mom Trends, Living Well Blog Hop @ Jo's Health Corner, Allergy Friendly Friday @ Cybele Pascal Allergen-Free Cuisine, Whole Health Weekend Link-Up @ Nourishing Treasures, Sweets This Week Link Party @ Sugar Bananas, Whatcha Got Weekend! @ Lollu Jane Boutique, Fat Camp Friday @ Mangoes and Chutney, Homestead Barn Hop @ The Prairie Homestead, and Seasonal Sunday @ Real Sustenance.