Published 08/02/2012
A Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year to you all.
I hope you all have had a great holiday and some well –earned rest.
I went to Norfolk Island with friends for a week over Christmas. I was pleasantly surprised at how well organised the Island is and how as a community they work together. If you build a house you have to allow for a 5000 gallon tank for each member of the family, each family has to have its own vegetable garden as only onions and potatoes are allowed to be brought into the Island, they have massive diesels to supply electricity, but solar power is becoming more and more the normal thing for each family.
There is a deal done with cattle owners that cattle can agist along the roadsides for a small fee paid to the council, and in return the council has all its roadsides kept clear of long grass without paying staff, all cow pads are used by the islanders for their vegetable gardens – a win –win situation. They offer all the comfortable amenities that we as tourists expect, with warmth and caring I have yet to find at other tourist destinations. Norfolk Island is well worth a visit, if for nothing else their beautiful sunsets and stunning coastline.
I was listening to the morning show on television where a “detox “ soup was being heralded as the answer to a Christmas food overload. The presenter made the soup of various vegetables that would combine to release any excess fluid and allow the person to be back to a normal weight within 3 days.
For this exercise I thought I would breakdown the vegetables to find what made them so noteworthy.
LEEKS Contain potassium (healthy heart muscles) Calcium (bone repair, aids digestion) phosphorus (helps stabilize nervous system) Sulphur (aids infection) Silicon (prevention of arthritis.)
ONIONS Iodine (weight control and mental development) promotes better blood circulation and helps prevent nervous and mental fatigue. Onions contain Vitamin E and have natural antiseptic oils that may be beneficial in helping reduce blood clots.
CAPSICUM is one of the best sources of Vitamin C and a little known fact is that it contains vitamin P a deficiency of which can lead to varicose veins, arteriosclerosis and arthritis. We also need Vitamin P to help us absorb the Vitamin C. Vitamin P helps increase the strength of capillaries.
CARROTS Are great for the eyes with an excellent supply of Vitamin A. Regular intake of Carrot juice is often used for teenage acne.
BROCCOLI Is a wonderful source of magnesium and iron. Magnesium foods revitalise the body as they promote enzyme activity and nerve functioning. Iron deficiency can lead to nail problems, anaemia, diarrhoea, ulcers and gastritis.
PUMPKIN pumpkin seeds are a natural source of protein. They supply over 30% protein and all essential amino acids. They supply 10 times more iron than chicken and are a wonderful portable snack between meals, to help balance your blood sugar.
TOMATO Is the best food source of natural chlorine (mineral). This mineral stimulates the liver to filter out waste products. Assists weight reduction by maintaining correct fluid level retention of body cells and helps with reduction of excess blood fats. A great source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A. As you can see we have the ability to protect our own health by being aware of what we eat and where it comes from, in a perfect world it would be a product of our own gardens.
Guard your health it is the most precious possession that you have.
Barbara
Image courtesy of jscreationzs. / FreeDigitalPhotos.net