Coffee Pot

 

Coffee pot

I still remember as students how sophisticated and grown up we felt when we sat down and chatted over bottomless coffee for the first time! A Mugg and Bean had just opened in the town where I was studying, and several cups later left you feeling bubbling and on top of the world…

Until you fell off “that world” and crashed! You were left with moodiness, restlessness, irritation, agitation, stomach pain and a migraine. This doesn’t sound like a very good deal to me! It sounds more like a hangover than anything else.

Try doing coffee for years on end, and then giving it up. I have heard numerous testimonies of people, and it sure points to addiction to me. You see, caffeine is a highly addictive substance. Once people are hooked, it is one of the hardest habits to kick. Not to mention the combination of sugar AND caffeine.

Yes, coffee does have its perks (hence the “Perculator”…!) It contains anti-oxidants and it helps with mental alertness. I would personally choose to get my anti-oxidants somewhere else, because the cons far outweigh the pros.

If you cannot function optimally without having coffee every single day, then you need to sit down and think about what is happening inside your body.

When coffee hits your bloodstream, it starts to stimulate your adrenal glands. Your body gets pumped with adrenalin, hence the mental alertness. You feel good, and you are ready to face the world again. Stressor hormones like Cortisol get released. For most men, this is the hormone which contributes to an extended waistline. Men are left with irritation, anxiousness and no patience. In women, it increases symptoms of PMS, and can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety. Most people will grab a coffee again to feel better. This is all a vicious cycle and can eventually lead to adrenal fatigue.

People go to sleep at night. Caffeine withdrawal sets in, which is when your body is in detox mode and repairing starts. You struggle to wake up, because you are in a state of withdrawal and dehydration. What do most people do? Start the coffee pot!

Did you know that when a person drinks a lot of coffee they are sometimes called a “Coffee Pot?!”

Caffeine can inhibit calcium absorption in the body, so you have to be careful. Please don’t tell me that you will add more milk to your coffee to counter the malabsorption. Too much caffeine consumption can lead to water retention and cellulite.

Many women would rather have coffee during the course of their day than having a nutritious snack to get “energy” to keep going. Caffeine does give you a feeling of being full and satisfied, and many diets recommend coffee as part of their menu plan to help boost metabolism. You need to listen to your body and rest when you need to, have a smoothie or a glass of water.

What about people suffering from high blood pressure? Have you checked your caffeine consumption lately? It may be related. Caffeine also increases your heart rate, so take that into consideration.

Society has left most people stuck in a highly stressed, fast paced life, with high demands being placed on them. People have to grab coffee as a stimulant, in order to face the demands and pressure being placed on them. Performance far outweighs anything else these days. If you don’t perform, you might end up losing your job. So coffee has become a fashionable and social thing, especially being able to walk around with a take away coffee! That’s how they do it in the movies and it is enticing!

An average cup of brewed coffee has around 95mg of caffeine. Instant coffee has around 62mg of caffeine per cup where as decaf still contains a small amount of 2-7mg. Black tea, certain fizzy drinks, cocoa and green tea are some items that also contain a high amount of caffeine.

What are your options?

Weaning:

·    Switch to decaf for a month.

·    Then decaf every 2^nd or 3^rd day.

·    Then decaf over a weekend.

Cold turkey:

·    Stop coffee immediately and focus on repairing and normalizing body systems and functions.

·    Switch to rooibos and herbal teas, avoiding black tea as it contains caffeine.

·    Make sure that you are drinking enough water to stay hydrated and to help your body flush out toxins.

·    Have nutritious snacks and smoothies.

·    Switch to chicory “coffee”, barley  extract or carob as a warm drink. (See my previous blog titled “Carob”) Chicory almost tastes like Frisco instant coffee. You should be able to find these items at selected retail stores and health shops.

Carob powder-Dischem and health shops.

Chicory powder-Checkers and Dischem 

Barley extract- Dischem

 

Seriously reconsider before you reach for coffee the next time you have that craving. Take your unused coffee beans, put them in a pretty bowl on your table. Take a whiff every now and then to get a bit of that feel good factor. Are you dependent on caffeine?

 

Lizelle

 

Recipe:

“Coffee” milkshake

Frozen, chopped bananas (1 and a half/person)

Plant based milk for consistency

Vanilla

Chicory powder (1tsp/person)

Ice (optional)

-Blend until creamy and frothy.

-Replace chicory with carob powder for a chocolate milkshake.

 

*To freeze bananas, peel and chop the bananas into chunks. Place into a sealed Tupperware and into the freezer. It should be frozen in about 5 hrs.

Carob

 

         Carob

I was recently blessed with a bag full of carob pods! I believe that not many people will be excited about such a gift!  I was overjoyed because I have never eaten a carob pod straight from the tree before. One of my favourite treats is a delicious malted carob steamer. A creamy, rich, earthy beverage, with a hint of cinnamon and sweetener. We usually get this from Seattle Coffee shop. The mixture that they use is ordered from MaryAnn Shearer’s, The Natural Way. It consists of carob powder, a little fructose, barley malt powder and vanilla powder. We usually order ours with unsweetened almond or soya milk.

We have been using carob powder for years now. I love hot chocolate! But with all the caffeine, sugar and dairy involved, I made the choice to switch to carob powder. It might be a strange taste at first, but the key is not to see it as a chocolate alternative, but a delicious, healthy ingredient that is good enough to stand on its own.

Our kids grew up with carob as their “chocolate” drink, without the nasties that caffeine can bring. A little bit of carob powder, hot water, plant-based milk and honey. Cocoa powder can lead to sore tummies, caffeine highs and then irritation, emotion outbursts and irregular sleeping patterns.

 

What is Carob exactly?

Carob powder is made from the bean pods of the carob tree. The long, brown pods are dried and then ground into a fine powder. It has an almost chocolate taste and can be used as a substitute for cocoa powder.

What makes me really excited about carob is that it is an excellent source of minerals. It is loaded with fibre and pectin, with helps to eliminate toxins. This is a superfood which helps to improve digestion, lowers cholesterol, and can be used to treat diarrhea. It also helps to lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar. Carob has an astringent, binding effect on the mucous membranes of your digestive tract.

Carob powder can be used as a hot drink, to make “chocolate” malted ice cream, in smoothies, in cooked oats, pancake batter etc.

If you really want to use your imagination, how about using the pods as vegetarian biltong!? If you do manage to get hold of the pods, just remember to remove the pips as you chew on it! A good friend shared a fond childhood memory of them walking and chewing carob pods on their farm.

You can also buy carob chunks which usually look like chocolate blocks, but that are roughly broken into pieces. It is usually a mixture of carob powder, plant fat and a sweetener. The chunks can be eaten as a chocolate or used where you would use chocolate.

Look out for Health Connection or Nature’s Choice Carob Powder which should both be stocked at Dischem and most Health Shops.

Believe it or not, our dogs love to chew on carob pods! We call it their daily sweet treat or dessert. Chocolate is highly toxic to dogs, but carob pods are a nutritious, fibre rich, non-toxic treat for them. Now who says that a dog can’t have “chocolate”!?

Lizelle

Recipes:

Carob ice cream

Frozen, chopped bananas

Little plant milk or coconut cream for blending

A few tsp carob powder, depending on how strong you want it.

-Place everything in a food processor.

-Pulse a few seconds at a time, and disperse bananas in between processing.

-Process for longer periods the finer it gets.

-Process until smooth and creamy.

-Serve straight away.

Caramel sauce

1 Can coconut cream

Three quarter block of pressed dates

Pinch of cinnamon

-Chop the dates, add the cream, dates and cinnamon to a small pot.

-Gently simmer until the dates are soft.

-Gently mash with a potato masher.

-You can put up the heat a bit and let it boil for about a minute, watching it carefully. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

*You can serve it as a warm caramel sauce over flapjacks or pancakes.

* Use cold as a spread over tortilla triangles or in porridge.

*Replace the cinnamon with some carob powder for a chocolate caramel sauce.

Diverse Tea Tree oil

 

Diverse Tea Tree oil

 

I’ve recently had a few body aches and pains and swollen glands. After a few days of making sure I’m eating “clean”, drinking enough water and resting, there was still no change. We stay as far away as possible from using any medication. I’ll usually grab some Frankincense essential oil, but these symptoms did not seem to lift. After becoming quiet and seeking God for wisdom, I felt lead to using tea tree oil on my armpits!

 

It sounded quite strange at first, because I’ve been chemical deodorant free for a few years now, and we only use natural deodorant. I’ve done armpit detoxing and changed my diet. Excessive sweating and bad body odor are things of the past. I decided to follow through with what I heard, and trusted God in the process.

I replaced my natural deodorant with a drop of tea tree oil under each armpit in the morning and repeated it in the afternoon. Within two days my aches and pains started diminishing. I did two more days of underarm treatment. I then felt that I needed to place one drop behind each knee instead of my armpits, and a drop on the sides of my neck for a day. Within one week, all the aches, pains and fatigue were gone.

You see, essential oils are volatile oils, which means that it travels through the air, pores of the skin and mucus membranes, and can reach glands, nodes, muscles and blood.

There are more than twenty lymph nodes in the armpit which help fight infection. Nodes are small lumps of tissue that are part of the body’s lymphatic system. Lymph is responsible for draining fluid from tissues, transporting it to lymph nodes, which then destroy bacteria and other harmful substances. Clean lymph then flows through the main vein.

Tea tree oil is an all-round, versatile, affordable essential oil. This oil comes from an Australian plant and is drying, healing, cleansing, anti-bacterial, anti-septic, anti-viral and anti-microbial. It can be used as anti-bacterial medication without some of the nasty side effects of conventional medication.

 

Other tea tree oil uses and benefits:

·      Acne treatments and spots

·      Insect bites

·      Nail fungal treatment

·      Fights sinus infection – can inhale straight from the bottle!

·      Strep throat – apply to the sides of the throat or gargle and spit with a tea tree oil solution

·      Pneumonia – steam inhalation

·      Hand sanitizer

·      Scalp treatment

·      Add to home made cleaning products- helps to kill mould

·      Mosquito repellent

·      Skin infections

·      Add to a diffuser

·      Add a few drops to the lower abdomen when you have a urinary infection and add 3 drops to your bath water

·      Add a few drops to your washing machine when washing towels, dogs bedding, even underwear and socks

·      Mix tea tree oil with coconut oil for extreme vaginal infections

 

Tea tree oil can be applied directly to the skin. If you have more sensitive skin, mix with a little coconut oil or olive oil before application.

Not to be taken orally, except if it is in toothpaste or when gargling where you will be spitting it out. (I have personally not tried this)

Make your own all-purpose cleaner:

·      15 – 20 drops tea tree oil

·      ¾ cup water

·      ¼ cup apple cider vinegar or white vinegar (use less if it smells too strong of vinegar)

-       Shake well, spray onto surfaces, wipe with a dry cloth.

After reading all of this and listening to my testimony, doesn’t it make you wonder if it would not help in the prevention and treatment of viruses that are going around through gland application and inhalation?

Lizelle

Recipe:

Roasted chickpea, green pepper and cherry tomatoes

2 cans chickpeas

2 green peppers diced

2 punnets cherry tomatoes

Thai 7 spice mix (or any other spicy mix)

Olive oil

Sugar free sweet chilli sauce (Simple Truth brand)

Gluten free pizza bases or tortillas

 

-       Place everything into an oven pan, except the bases or tortillas.

-       Grill until tomatoes are shriveled and peppers are grilled.

-       Serve with pizza base or tortilla squares (lightly fry tortillas in a pan until golden, slice into triangles).

 

 

Boosting Beetroot

 

     Boosting Beetroot

Did you know that raw beetroot does not stain your fingers? It washes right off! Comparing it with peeling and chopping cooked beetroot, where you will be left with pink fingertips for a while! I always wonder what made people think of digging out beetroot in the first place and then deciding to cook it and see how it turns out when cooked!?

 

I always think of beetroot being “red” so it is good for blood, which is also red. Your blood needs iron. Whenever you are feeling tired, lethargic, dizzy and a bit run down, go for beetroot. Without iron, our red blood cells cannot transport oxygen around the body. Beets should especially be included during menstruation.

 

Beets are also packed with nitrates, which the body convert to nitric oxygen. This compound dilates the blood vessels, which improves blood flow and lowers overall blood pressure. Nitrates are exceptional elements for sports performance and recovery.

Raw beetroot contains more vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants than cooked beet. Like all vegetables, the longer the cooking process, the lower the nutritional content, except with tomatoes. Nutrients leach out into the cooking water.

Where to use beetroot:

·    You can add beets to your raw vegetable juices through your juice extractor.

·    We enjoy making a raw beetroot salad/salsa to add to salads, in gluten free wraps, on cooked potatoes. Peel and grate a few raw beetroots, peel and grate an apple, add some pink salt, apple cider vinegar and black pepper. Toss and let stand at least half an hour before serving.

·    Roasted beetroot caramelizes the beet sugars giving you a wonderful, sweet beet to work with. Cook whole beets in an oven tray covered with foil until tender. Cool and peel the beetroot. Cut into chunks, drizzle with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and pink salt. Roast open until slightly shriveled. You can add some goats cheese or feta, rocket or freshly ground black pepper to glam it up for guests.

·    Grate raw beetroot into coleslaw.

·    How about adding a cooked beetroot when making hummus next time?

 

Other beetroot benefits:

-High in anti-oxidants

-Boosts brain health

-Boosts heart health

-Aids digestion (High in fibre)

-Anti inflammatory

-Boosts detoxification process

 

*Remember that store-bought, bottled beetroot is full of added sugar, so try to stay away from it as far as possible.

If you are not up to the whole schlepp of cooking, peeling and chopping beetroot, and you just don’t have time for beetroot, then look out for the following products;

·    Redibeets powder by AIM (0nline orders)

·    Superscoop mix by Lisa Raleigh containing many superfood ingredients including beetroot, wheatgrass, alfalfa and mushrooms.

·    Nature’s Nutrition super greens and reds with 32 organic superfoods and dairy free probiotics. (faithful-to-nature.co.za online)

·    Health Connection Berry Beetroot Superfood mix including chia seeds.

You can find most of these at Dischem Pharmacy or on the online shops mentioned above.

If all else fails, then sit with your feet up and snack on a packet of crunchy beetroot crisps! So no excuses!

Lizelle

 

 

 

Fountain of Youth

 

HEALTH AMPLIFIED

Fountain of youth

With the heat wave that has spread across South Africa this past week or two, fires raging and almost drought like conditions, everyone is in desperate need of water. Water is a basic, essential need, and without it people can die.

Our family drinks a lot of water! We don’t keep juice in the house, except when we have visitors. So it is mostly water, smoothies and rooibos tea during the day. We love flavouring our water with bursts of flavour of cucumber, mint leaves, ginger, cut up fruit or lemon. Then we add some chia seeds for texture, nutrition and fun! The little seeds swell after about 10 minutes in water and are packed with protein and fibre, and our kids love the fun element in it! Make sure to give it a good shake or stir before you have a sip. We sometimes call it vegetarian caviar!

Store bought flavoured water is actually cooldrink. It is filled with sweeteners and flavouring, it just lacks the colourant. Most store bought flavoured water contains high amounts of sugar, non-nutritive sweeteners, fructose, flavouring, vitamin C balls, chia seeds, basil seeds or carbonated water.

Try to stay away from sugar water and non-nutritive sweeteners, it will only cause havoc with your hormones and can cause chemical imbalances. Even if it does contain healthy “happy” seeds and vitamin C balls. Rather grab plain or sparkling water and a fruit if you want hydration and vitamins.

Checkers has a flavoured water which is just water and flavouring. It takes a bit to get used to if you are a regular flavoured water drinker. There is also a sparkling flavoured water available containing fructose and flavouring. Fructose does cause a little less havoc, so keep this in mind when looking for water next time.

I’m very excited to try Kangen water! This is a water machine that you can install in your kitchen, and is manufactured by Enagic. This machine has the ability to change the pH level of your water, depending on what you want to do with the water. Our bodies function better if it is more on the alkaline side, that is also why a diet rich in raw fruit and vegetables contribute to a healthier pH level in our bodies.

The “strong water” setting’s pH is alkaline at a pH of about 11 on the pH scale. This pH is recommended when washing your fruit and vegetables. Normal tap water does not remove any wax or oil substances on your produce. Chemicals, pesticides and dirt is in this waxy layer. The “strong water” setting emulsifies the wax when washing and ultimately helps to keep your produce fresher for longer. You will also not have all those terrible chemicals entering your body.

There is a water setting that can act as a surface household cleaner, without bringing harmful chemicals into your house. The pH level can kill germs, emulsify oils and dirt, and make your house sparkly clean without using other products.

The drinking water setting has an optimal pH that will hydrate your cells in your body for optimal cell metabolism, energy and better performance.

Then there is my favourite, “Beauty water”… With the optimal pH for your skin, you can place it in a spritzer bottle to hydrate and freshen your skin wherever you are going. This is also seen as an anti-ageing water because it also helps to plump up your skin cells. Use this settings water when you want to wash your face. I wouldn’t suggest bathing in it, because it will take a while to fill up your bath using that little machine!

Vichy Skin Care uses thermal water in their skin care products. There are also other skin care products available on the market that use thermal water as an ingredient. The water has a unique composition acting as a purifier, anti-oxidant and calming agent. Vichy is well known for their face spritzer.

I have personally not made use of Kangen water, because the machine can cost you R70 000. BUT, I think if you had to add up cleaning products, health bills and skin care products, it can quickly add up to R70 000. I would love to hear anyone’s comment on this machine. Please have a look at the links below to find out exactly what this machine can do for you!

https://youtu.be/10s-0gkSoEA 

https://youtu.be/zfzD-eEz8Fo

Lizelle

 

Recipes:

Healthy “Halva”

This is a Turkish sweet treat made with sesame seeds and sugar. I used to always have “Halva” on my Christmas present list as a child! This is my healthier version. Our kids don’t like it very much, but it is for me!

1 Cup desiccated coconut

1 Cup sesame seeds (ground in seed/coffee grinder)

1 tsp vanilla

3 Tbsp melted coconut oil

2 Tbsp raw honey

-Place everything in the food processor and process until it starts to stick together.

-Press into a small flat dish or oven pan lined with baking paper. Press down and inwards to compact it.

-Freeze until just set (about 15 min).

-Cut into small blocks, place in airtight container and keep in the fridge or freezer.

 

Peanut honey snack

Raw peanuts (Find it in the isle where the dried beans, lentil and soup mixes are.)

2 Tbsp honey

Cinnamon

Pinch of pink salt

-Oven 170 degrees Celsius.

-Place raw peanuts in an oven pan to cover the bottom.

-Roast peanuts in the oven, giving it a good shake every 5 minutes to prevent burning etc.

-Roast about 20 minutes.

-Remove from the oven, drizzle honey over the peanuts, sprinkle cinnamon and a pinch of salt over it, mix well.

-Place it back in the oven and roast until golden and sticky.

-Remove from the oven, and let cool.

-Use a spatula to loosen nuts from the bottom from sticking. (The honey hardens as it cools.)

-Store in an airtight container when completely cooled.

* Optional: Replace cinnamon with masala powder or any spice of choice.

 

Buckwheat

 

             Health Amplified

Buckwheat

We love using buckwheat in pancakes, flapjacks, and porridge! It is a healthy cereal grain, and is part of the ancient grain family. With its nutty, earthy flavour, it is similar to brown rice or wheat kernels. Fortunately, it is not a wheat, and it is totally gluten free.

 

Buckwheat is a highly nutritious grain and is high in protein and fiber. The high protein content keeps you feeling fuller for longer, and the fiber is excellent for your gut. If anyone has a constipation issue, then this is a grain to consider adding to your pantry. The high quantity of anti-oxidants also makes it a superfood.

 

Benefits:

·    Improves heart health by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.

·    High in anti-oxidants.

·    High digestible protein.

·    High in fibre.

·    Can help prevent diabetes.

·    Non-allergenic.

·    Supplies important vitamins and minerals.

Buckwheat seeds are also called groats or kasha in some areas, and this seed has been eaten in abundance in Asian countries, with buckwheat soba noodles being at the top of the list. Now buckwheat soba noodles are not readily available in S.A. If you do find it, you will find it at a price.

 

Be sure to incorporate the grain in soups, stews, and stir fries. Our family enjoys it when I cook half oats and half buckwheat kernels as a breakfast porridge. Serve with cinnamon, plant-based milk and dates or a little raw honey. You can purchase the flour to use in baked goods, even substituting some of the flour  when baking bread.

 

I prefer to buy the buckwheat groats, and then grinding it into a flour as I need it. One of our daughter’s favourite meals is buckwheat pancakes or flapjacks topped with home made apple sauce. We gently simmer peeled, chopped apples in a little water until soft. Add some cinnamon and mash it up. ( See recipe below for flapjacks and pancake recipe.)

 

A Sunday night winner is buckwheat pancakes served with a little raw honey, cinnamon and a squeeze of lemon juice. It fills you up much more than processed white cake flour pancakes due to the high protein and fiber content. You can really pull it up a notch by having it with healthy home-made Nutella…

 

A showstopper sure to impress guests, is serving buckwheat flapjacks with cherry sauce or compote. We are going into cherry season soon, be sure to look out for it, or have a look in the frozen berry section. I made a healthier version by simmering cherries in a little water until soft. Remove from heat, add in some chia seeds to thicken it up. Mash it a little and let stand for half an hour for chia seeds to swell. You can add a little honey if the cherries are too tart for your taste. Serve over flapjacks with a dollop of coconut cream or milk. You can use any berry in the same way, and this can then be substituted for jam.

 

How about making your own berry non-dairy ice cream and serving your flapjacks with a scoop of ice cream?

 

You can be as basic or as creative as you would like to be. Have the basics in place and let everyone in the family invent a topping that is healthy and delicious. In this way, you can even have dessert for breakfast or as a main course!

 

Lizelle

Recipes:

Buckwheat flapjacks and pancake batter

1 Cup buckwheat groats (soak in 2 cups water for half an hour)

Blend in soaking water.

Add 1 cup raw oats, blend again.

Add a pinch of salt.

Add 1 tsp vanilla.

Add one flax “egg”/chia “egg”/chicken egg

Add quarter cup tapioca flour.

*Optional: Add 2 chopped dates or a 2 tsp raw honey.

Blend together, add more water for flapjack consistency.

(I grind 1 cup buckwheat in a grinder to make flour. No need to soak the buckwheat  groats then, OR buy buckwheat flour)

*To make flax or chia “egg”, use 1 Tbsp flaxseeds or chia seeds, mix with 2 or 3 Tbsp water and let stand for 10 min.

*You can add 1 grated apple and a tsp cinnamon to your batter.

Fry ladles full in a little coconut oil.

Turn when bubbles form. Fry till slightly golden in colour.

FOR PANCAKES, DILUTE FLAPJACK MIXTURE WITH MORE WATER OR PLANT-BASED MILK TO GET A MORE RUNNY CONSISTENCY.

Cherry non-dairy ice cream

2 Thirds frozen bananas

1 Third fresh or frozen cherries or berries

Little coconut cream or plant-based milk (about 100ml or less depending on the amount of bananas.)

-Peel and chop bananas into 2cm chunks, freeze in sealed container.

-Place everything in a blender or food processor.

-Blend or process until smooth and creamy. (It may take a while. Stop and mix in between)

-Serve immediately for optimal flavour and consistency.

Enjoy!

Spring has sprouted

 

           Health Amplified

Spring has sprouted

One of my early childhood memories is of a glass jar with seeds in it standing on the kitchen counter. It had a thin blue, breathable dishwashing cloth over the opening, sealed with an elastic band. I remember watching and waiting for the little shoots to appear. We ate the sprouts on sandwiches with Marmite, or in salads.

Spring has sprung, or shall I say sprouted! Little buds and blossoms everywhere, fresh birdsong in the morning. It’s time to plant and grow. Why not start growing your own sprouts straight out of your kitchen? Alfalfa seeds, lentils, mung beans, chickpeas, fenugreek. Alfalfa seeds are the quickest and easiest to grow. Make sure that your lentils are whole and not the split ones.

 

Why eat sprouts?

Sprouts are the first that appear on germinated seeds of beans, grains etc. Fresh raw sprouts are a rich source of vitamins B, C, iron, fiber, folic acid and phytonutrients, magnesium etc. Sprouting helps specific enzymes become activated during certain stages of germination. The nutrition from the sprout is more readily available for the body to absorb it.

 

Sprouts are easy to grow, very affordable and highly nutritious. If you don’t feel up to the challenge, then buy some sprouts at the supermarket. Add to sandwiches and salads. These are a bit of a challenge with kids! Maybe they can help grow them and mom and dad can eat them?!

 

I’ve recently started using mung beans that we found in a local health shop. It sprouts so easily and the unsprouted bean can be made into a wonderful soup when cooked with onions, carrots, turmeric and cumin. These little green beans can pack a punch. They are one of the healthiest sources of plant protein, if you have a look at the amino acids or building blocks in nature.

 

Benefits of mung beans:

·    Anti-oxidant

·    Anti-microbial

·    Anti-tumor effect

·    Lowers cholesterol

·    Lowers high blood pressure

·    Fights obesity, keeps you fuller for longer

·    High protein content

·    Decreases PMS symptoms

·    Easier to digest than many other beans

 

How to sprout:

-Place 3 Tbsp seeds, lentils or mung beans into a clean glass jar. Cover seeds with water.

-Cover jar with a muslin cloth or new blue dishwashing cloth. (It also comes in a roll.)

-Cover with an elastic band.

-Soak in water overnight.

-In the morning, discard water through the cloth with the cloth still on.

-Open up the jar, fill with water, close cloth again and drain water.

-Repeat process at night.

-Continue rinsing and draining morning and night for 3 days. Shoots will start to appear.

-Let the shoots grow a bit.

-Scatter into a plate and leave open for about an hour.

-Seal in a Tupperware, keep in the fridge.

-Eat within 4 days.

WARNING! MAKE SURE THAT YOU REMOVE ANY SEEDS, GRAINS OR LEGUMES THAT DID NOT SPROUT. YOUR TEETH WILL THANK YOU LATER…

Sticking to the topic of tiny bits. A good friend of mine recently introduced me to toothpaste in pellet form. This is a very interesting concept! You put the small tablet in your mouth, bite down until it disintegrates. Wet your toothbrush and start brushing. Rinse as usual and you’re done! No mess, no fuss.

You can find it online at  https://shopearthly.co.za/, a proudly South African brand. These toothpaste bits are bought in a biodegradable refill bag and you can store it in a small metal tin (also available from them.) Just refill as needed. It comes in mint flavour, as well as teeth whitening activated charcoal. Some of the ingredients include activated charcoal, spearmint, sodium bicarbonate and xylitol.

This company is all about natural ingredients, no nasty chemicals and preservatives and is environmentally friendly. No more toothpaste holder wastage. They also sell bamboo toothbrushes and nifty bamboo toothbrush holders. Have a look at some of their other products that include soap-, shampoo- and conditioning bars. It contains some luxurious ingredients like olive oil, coconut oil, dried rose petals and essential oils.

I think these can make wonderful, unique gifts for someone, even if it is toothpaste and a toothbrush holder!

Happy sprouting!

Lizelle