About Fennel....
What's a Carmatinative anyway????
There has been a lot of discussion lately on the face book page that I'm admin on about GERD and Colic in babies... we've had a rash of births lately. LOL
It seems that everyone is jumping on the "GERD" bandwagon. Well, let us not forget that before the term GERD was employed it was simply known as colic and just plain 'ole gas.
So, what can we do to help our wee bairns? Let's take a look at one simple remedy... Fennel... and see what other benefits are in store for us as well.
Mrs. Grieve's Herbal states:
Fennel tea, also employed as a carminative, is made by pouring boiling water on a teaspoonful of bruised fennel seeds." *"On account of its carminative properties, fennel is chiefly used medicinally with purgativesto allay their side effects, and for this purpose forms one of the ingredients of the well-known compound liquorice powder. Fennel water has properties similar to those of aniseand dill water: mixed with sodium bicarbonate and syrup, these waters constitute the domestic 'gripe water', used to correct the flatulence of infants. Volatile oil of fennel has these properties in concentration.
Carminative
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"A carminative, also known as carminativum (plural carminativa), is a herb or preparation that either prevents formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or facilitates the expulsion of said gas, thereby combating flatulence. Carminatives have been shown to decrease lower esophageal pressure, which on the other hand increases the risk of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or 'heartburn'."
Well, Fennel is one of them... "Cool!", says the mom of a colicy/gassy baby! "I can do Fennel! But what else is it good for?"
Hmm... let's take a look.
- fennel seeds are also eaten raw, sometimes with some sweetener, as it is said to improve eyesight. Ancient Romans regarded fennel as the herb of sight. Root extracts were often used in tonics to clear cloudy eyes. Extracts of fennel seed have been shown in animal studies to have a potential use in the treatment of glaucoma.
- can be made into a syrup to treat babies with colic
- fennel seeds or tea can relax the intestines and reduce bloating caused by digestive disorders in adults
- fennel can be used as a diuretic
- some say it improves the milk supply of a breastfeeding mother
- fennel syrup for chronic coughs
- disliked by fleas, powdered fennel is one of the ingredients in a natural flea powder you can make and use on your pet and in/around your home.
Combine one part of as many of the following powdered herbs as possible:
Eucalyptus
Rosemary
Fennel
Yellow Dock
Wormwood
Rue
Put mixture in shaker-top jar
Go outside (so the vacating fleas don’t wind up on your floor) and apply the flea powder to your dog’s fur by brushing backwards and sprinkling it into the base of the hair (especially focus on the neck, back, belly and rear-end).
Use this natural flea control recipe as frequently as necessary, up to many times per week for more serious infestations.Note: Some herbal flea powders contain natural pyrethrins. While this is not a good flea killer, it does a great job warding them off.
For more information please visit Mrs Grieve's most informative article on fennel.
Going Bananas for Bananas!!!
I live with monkeys... five little monkeys! So, I buy a case of bananas at a time! I'm lucky, we have a mushroom farm. What does that have to do with it? Well, I have a nice wide and long hallway that is kept very cool year round... not too cold to freeze, yet not so warm as to ripen bananas overly fast.
What do we use that many banana's for? Well... one of our children is differently abled and he eats a banana with eggs every morning for breakfast, another is two and he loves his nanars eating one pretty much every morning and then at least one more during the day. The older two monkeys eat them whenever they want a quick snack instead of grabbing a candy bar (we don't have that stuff in the house!). Then there is Bob and I. I don't eat them by themselves, but I do put them in my coconut puddings, and smoothies. Bob will grab them for snacks when he needs a boost of energy - he could eat one or two every day. However, the main thing we use bananas for are in smoothies... pretty much every day we create smoothies. In each blender container I put in 2 bananas... today we drank THREE blender containers of smoothies! Can someone please direct me to the JUMBO blender section!? I mean seriously... creating three masterpieces that taste exactly alike so no one can complain that his or hers is better or a slightly different color... well, luckily it's not the children that do that... it's me.LOL And, it would be a whole lot faster and simpler if I could make just one Big smoothie. Then I could enjoy mine at the same time everyone else is. Wouldn't that be nice.
So, now with all of us eating so many we have to ask, "what are some of the benefits we can get from bananas?"
The following was a little thing sent to me a while back on bananas.
A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about
bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of
bananas on the brain. Read on:
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! It makes them ripen thus spoil faster.
This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose
combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial
boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a
strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit
with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also
help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions,
making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people
suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana.
This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the
body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood
and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates
blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin
in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium
yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the
US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to
make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood
pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England )
were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast,
break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown
that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more
alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help
restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without
resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a
banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and,
with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while
the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you
suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood
sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the
affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it
amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria
found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and
chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most
obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded
that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood
sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to
keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal
disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw
fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also
neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of
the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit
that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant
mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure
their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because
they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up
smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium
found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine
withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat,
sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we
are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium
levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana
snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine,
eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by
strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill
off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the
yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or
surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it
to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three
times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the
other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of
the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known
phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'
PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will
add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the
banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing
fruit !
Something I just learned yesterday was that a green banana has 30 carbs while an over-ripe banana has 60!
Several weeks ago... before I started buying cases we had some over ripe bananas in the house and I needed to do something with them fast. I was in the mood for something sweet, but not overly so. I hit the internet and found a recipe for a gluten free muffin using flours I had on hand... I tweaked it a bit and this is what I have settled on.
Using the Sweet Sorghum Flour for these muffins was a big plus. Gluten Free recipes of the past not calling for the Sweet Sorghum Flour seemed gritty and wanted to fall apart easily. They also called for a lot of eggs which are a premium commodity in a house with seven people - one of which eats four eggs and a banana nearly every morning for breakfast.
This recipe had my non-gf husband stating from the recliner, "This isn't gluten free?! It can't be gluten free!"
LOL So, we now have a muffin that we can all eat and LOVE! Better yet, it uses ingredients that I keep on hand and they are a snap to make up.
Try them today!
I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
~Wendy
Gluten Free Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
Whisk Dry Ingredients together in a large bowl:
- 2/3 cup each of: Sweet Sorghum, Tapioca, and White Rice Flours
- 1/2 cup of lightly packed Brown Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Guar Gum
- 1/4 tsp Redmonds Real Salt
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees and set up muffin pan with liners. This recipe makes 18-21 muffins.
In a food processor place the wet ingredients:
- 2 or 3 ripe/overripe Bananas (depending on their size and if I have 3 or want a more intense banana flavor)
- 2 Tbl of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (I used Nutiva)
- 1/2 cup of Real Butter
- 2 eggs [or 1 egg and 1 Tbl flax meal soaked for 5 minutes in 3 Tbl of warm water or 2 Tbl of flax meal soaked in 6 Tbl of warm water for 5 minutes. In baked goods I find that it is easy to substitute an egg for 1 Tbl of flax meals soaked in warm water.]
- 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract
- 3/4 cup of Raw Milk (ok... you can use any milk - rice, hemp, etc ~ even water here ~ we use raw milk :D)
Then whisk as you add it to the dry ingredients in the large bowl until smooth.
Fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way full to get the size pictured below.
Bake for 15 - 20 minutes. Testing at 15 mins to see if ready. When your cake tester comes out clean they are done. The ones pictured have deep golden tops... yours may be lighter in color when ready.
Muffins fresh from the oven!
One of our taste testers hard at work
Yep, it passed... "yum, yum, yum ~ mom"
This was his third muffin... nap time : )
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Thyroid
Here is a wonderful article written by a friend of mine about what substances cause thyroid issues and how to heal. You will enjoy this must read article. Life on the Franco Farm: My abused, poisoned thyroid.
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