Just saying

Nothing to do with health or smoothies. Just one of my favourite songs of all time

https://youtu.be/5ixRWvrkUHo

Staying out for the Summer

So, Its the British summer time

The Big yellow Disk in the sky is our God. We must worship it.

It is time to sacrifice......The wild plants in your garden, or on the trail where you go walking.

Back in the days when we ran around in tribes and ACTUALLY worshiping the sun, we were, by nature, hunter-gatherers.

At this point I can hear all the meat eaters screaming at their screens.

CALM DOWN.... I know......

We were born with canine teeth. I know....we evolved as meat eaters. Whether this is true or not is not my point.

My point is that we EVOLVED into omnivores, Those pointy teeth are now short and useless as canines, but I am not here to debate any Darwinian arguments with you. My point is that we now can eat many, many things to stay alive.

I'm not talking about manufactured food either. I am telling you in this blog that you don't need to go to the supermarket to get a good ready-meal, infact there is strong evidence that tells us  that this is the WORST type of meal that you could eat.

Your garden is a smorgasbord of ready meals...... Read On

We all know which vegetables and fruits are safe to eat, but what about other wild edibles? There are Hundreds to choose from, but here are a few  British and North American goodies that are safe to eat if you find yourself stuck in the wild: Just remember to wash them before you eat them

1. Blackberries – Rubus fruticosus

Many wild berries are not safe to eat, it’s best to stay away from them. But wild blackberries are 100% safe to eat and easy to recognize. They have red branches that have long thorns similar to a rose, the green leaves are wide and jagged. They are best to find in the spring when their white flowers bloom, they are clustered all around the bush and their flowers have 5 points. The berries ripen around August to September.

2. Dandelions – Taraxacum officinale

The easiest to recognize if the dandelion, in the spring they show their bright yellow buds. You can eat the entire thing raw or cook them to take away the bitterness, usually in the spring they are less bitter. They are packed with Vitamin A and Vitamin C, and beta carotene.

3.Elderberries – Sambucus

An elderberry shrub can grow easily grow about 10 feet and yield tons of food, their leaf structure is usually 7 main leaves on a long stretched out stem, the leaves are long and round and the leaves themselves have jagged edges. These are easiest to identify in the spring as they blossom white clustered flowers that resembles an umbrella. Mark the spot and harvest the berries when they’re ripe around September.

Elderberries are known for their flu and cold healing properties, you can make jelly from them and are very sweet and delicious. Yet, be aware that elderberries can be toxic if not properly prepared.

4. Pine – Pinus

There are over a hundred different species of pine. Not only can the food be used as a supply of nourishment but, also can be used for medicinal purposes. Simmer a bowl of water and add some pine needles to make tea. Native americans used to ground up pine to cure skurvy, its rich in vitamin C. I've found that if you try to eat raw pine cones, they can be a little dry and chewy.....Don't do it....

5. Chicory – Cichorium intybus

You can find these in Europe, North America and Australia. It can be found on roadsides and on waste ground. The entire plant can be eaten along with it bright blue flowers, which can also be white or pink. Chicory is well known for its toxicity to internal parasites.

6. Garlic Mustard – Alliaria petiolate

Edible parts: Flowers, leaves, roots and seeds. Leaves can be eaten in any season, when the weather gets hot, the leaves will have a taste bitter. Flowers can be chopped and tossed into salads. The roots can be collected in early spring and again in late fall, when no flower stalks are present. Garlic mustard roots taste very spicy somewhat like horseradish…. yummy! In the fall the seed can be collected and eaten.

7. Wild Garlic – Allium vineale

Wild Garlic (Allium vineale, crow garlic or garlic grass) is an herbal treat often found lurking in fields, pastures, forests and disturbed soil. It resembles cultivated garlic or spring onions, but the shoots are often very thin. Use it in sandwiches, salads, pesto or chopped on main courses like scallions. There's tons of this stuff growing near me in Warwickshire, usually in wooded areas.

8. Great willow herb(in the UK) Fireweed (U.S) – Chamerion angustifolium

This pretty little plant is found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. You can identify fireweed by its purple flower and the unique structure of the leaves’ veins; the veins are circular rather than terminating on the edges of the leaves. Several Native American tribes included fireweed in their diet. It’s best eaten young when the leaves are tender. Mature fireweed plants have tough and bitter tasting leaves. You can eat the stalk of the plant as well. The flowers and seeds have a peppery taste. Fireweed is a great source of vitamins A and C.

9. Field Pennycress – Thlaspi arvense

Field Pennycress is a weed found in most parts of the world. Its growing season is early spring to late winter. You can eat the seeds and leaves of field pennycress raw or boiled. The only caveat with field pennycress is not to eat it if it’s growing in contaminated soil. Pennycress is a hyper-accumulator of minerals, meaning it sucks up any and all minerals around it. General rule is don’t eat pennycress if it’s growing by the side of the road or on a brownfield site

10 wood sorrel

You’ll find wood sorrel in all parts of the world; species diversity is particularly rich in South America. Humans have used wood sorrel for food and medicine for millennia. The Kiowa Indians chewed on wood sorrel to alleviate thirst, and the Cherokee ate the plant to cure mouth sores These people were the first hippies.... The ultimate Hunter-gatherers. This is difficult to find in the UK, but if you are luck enough to find it, the leaves are a great source of vitamin C. The roots of the wood sorrel can be boiled. They’re starchy and taste a bit like a potato.

YOU CAN ADD MOST OF THESE TO SMOOTHIES (I wouldn't recommend raw pine)

TTFN

We don't know how to guest blog

PLEASE READ THIS BLOG AND FOLLOW MY FRIEND JOHN.

THIS MAN KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT

over to you JOHN HODGES

http://viddapublishing.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/use-force-start-sprouting-microgreens_22.html


TTFN

We don't know how to guest blog

PLEASE READ THIS BLOG AND FOLLOW MY FRIEND JOHN.

THIS MAN KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT

over to you JOHN HODGES

http://viddapublishing.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/use-force-start-sprouting-microgreens_22.html


TTFN

Brown Bananas.......Theyve gone off, Havent they?

Before you throw out a banana because it has turned brown and seems past its      eating prime, consider the potential nutritional benefits it provides. A brown banana has a higher level of antioxidants than yellow or green, unripe bananas. It's also easier to digest for people with digestive ailments, including irritable bowel and functional abdominal bloating.

Nutrient Density

A brown, yellow or green banana are all a good source of potassium, vitamin B-6 and fibre. As a banana reaches the brown stage, its concentration of antioxidants increases. Antioxidants are important in helping protect your body against disease-causing inflammation. As bananas turn brown, some of the micro nutrients present do diminish. Store ripe bananas in the refrigerator to reduce this loss.

High Sugar

In brown bananas, the resistant starch has almost completely transformed into simple sugars. When you eat a brown banana, you're blood sugar spikes more quickly than it would when you eat a green one. Type-2 diabetics are thus recommended to avoid brown-spotted or fully brown bananas, which are mostly sugar. Less ripe bananas are healthier for people who are trying to cut back on sugar.

Easier Digestion

Because a brown banana is mostly simple sugar, it's easy to digest. People with irritable bowel and other digestive ailments may find brown bananas are more agreeable to their systems. Watch for brown bananas that are too far past their prime. If it smells, is squishy or shows signs of leaking or mould, it's not fit to eat.

Cancer Impact

A Japanese study published in a 2009 issue of "Food Science and Technology Research" determined that the brown spots on bananas produce a substance called Tumour Necrosis Factor, which breaks down abnormal cells -- including those that cause cancer. Brown bananas can't cure cancer, but consuming them might boost your immune function.

AMAZING BUT TRUE THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH BANANA PEELS (AND BANANAS):

NOW BEHAVE YOURSELVES, YOU LOT

• Thanks to its oil, rubbing the inside of a banana peel on a mosquito bite (or other bug bite) or on poison ivy will help keep it from itching and getting inflamed.
• If you rub the inside of a banana peel on a scrape or burn, it will help the pain go away, keep the swelling down, and keep the wound from getting infected.
• If you rub the inside of a small piece of banana peel on a wart every night (or tape a piece of peel over the wart), the potassium in the peel can make the wart disappear in one to two weeks.
• If you tape a banana peel over a splinter, the enzymes help the splinter work its way out of your skin (and also heal the wound).
• To whiten teeth naturally, rub the inside of a banana peel on your teeth for about two minutes every night. If you gargle with salt water, this will heighten the effect. Expect results in about two weeks. It works because of the effect of the potassium, magnesium, and manganese in the banana peel.
• Bananas make great conditioner that helps restore dry, damaged hair. Mash a banana and add a tablespoon of heavy cream and a tablespoon of honey to the mixture. Then apply it to dry hair, cover your hair with a shower cap, and then wrap your head in a warm towel. Leave it on for up to an hour and then rinse thoroughly with warm water before shampooing.
• Rubbing a banana peel on your forehead can help cure a headache.
• Bananas and banana peels make great fertiliser (you can compost them, bury them whole, or cut them in small pieces and mix them with garden soil) because of their phosphorous and potassium content. Roses especially like them.
• Rubbing the inside of a banana peel on houseplant leaves makes the leaves shiny.
• You can use the inside of a banana peel to clean and polish leather shoes.
• Banana peels also make a good silver polish—just rub silver with the inside of a peel and then buff with a cloth.

Banana peel is not just a timeless comedy prop, it’s an overlooked nutritional goldmine.

That’s right – you can actually eat all your banana, from the flesh inside to the very last piece of skin – which is not only less wasteful, but good for you too.

The thought of chomping down on the tough, yellow skin may be off-putting, but it’s worth it: the skin is full of even more of the good stuff that banana flesh contains, like potassium, magnesium and fibre.

Plus it’s jam-packed with tryptophan, which is key in creating serotonin – the chemical that can help alleviate depression and assist with healthy

The banana skins also contain dietary fibre which can reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.

The skins of most fruits and vegetables contain the richest sources of vitamins and minerals as they are affected by the light during growth, acting to absorb the light and protect the fruit.

Banana skins are rich in colour and contain carotenoids, in particular the xanthophyll lutein, which is an antioxidant known to protect against oxidative stress in the eyes.

 

"Corporations?" They said. "Its just a smoothie"

I was asked the other day,

"Why do I bother to make my own smoothies every day, when you can just buy the ready made ones?"

Its a fair question......

It does, however, stir up newly developed social bile in the pits of my guts.

I am going through something of a rediscovery of the angry young man that I used to be, only now that angry young man, doesn't have tight abs and NEVER gets laid.

So just an angry, grumpy young(ish) man, then. I have found myself being distrustful of corporations.

Take, for example a very successful huge company, let's say that they produce cellular phones, computer tablets, mp3 players and computers..... I'm sure You Know who I mean.... This company started its existence as a quirky producer of home computers and they had a nobility in their ethos. They would never turn into a corporate behemoth. They would "keep it REAL" unlike their main competitor from further up the coast.

Cut to 30 or so years later, and their design department came up with a revolution in design and that little company became the type of global juggernaut that they had always despised.

A similar thing has happened to certain smoothie companies, who, when they started trading were hailed as the saviour of all mums who wanted their kids to have a drink that was better for their health than the sugary sodas that come in a can.

Unfortunately, this company may have turned out to be something of a false prophet, although they might redeem themselves a little by producing superfood smoothies.

My distrust comes from experience when it comes to corporations. You can NEVER trust their blurb when they come up with a "ground-breaking" product.

The only way to be sure that I am putting honest things into my body, is to make the smoothies fresh.

EVERY DAY

MMM...fresh fruit

TTFN

IX

My inspiration

If you want to know the reason why I  started the exsistence of the smoothie monster and the science behind it......please check out my friend John at vidda publishing's  blog and buy his books.

They're great

http://viddapublishing.blogspot.co.uk

Are smoothies BAD for you?

HELLO!

Before I start my post proper, Id like to tell you that I've had a very interesting weekend as one of my Facebook posts has gone viral (8000+ likes and counting). I think this link will take you to it
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206867469303254&set=a.2443051593649.141455.1172617938&type=3&theater

I have had many people say that they like it (over 8000 to date), but I have also witness the ugly side of social media with various keyboard warriors threatening my life and also saying that they are going to destroy my online reputation.... (I didn't know I had one)

Its been a while, hasn't it! I'm sorry that I have been a little neglectful of my blog recently. This has been due to the fact that I have recently started a new job, and, frankly, I've been a bit knackered (tired).

Before I started my new job, I was away in Spain for a week, and I am happy to report that The smoothie message is starting to filter through to them there. I was able to buy wheat grass, stevia, good fresh broccoli, spinach, bananas and berries. Luckily, the apartment that I was staying in had a rudimentary blender.

one of the smoothie shops on my holiday

There was also a few places that sold smoothies, although they were probably not the most healthy ones that I have ever had.

Me enjoying a smooooooothie in the sunshine

This has inspired me to report on some items that I have seen that ask whether smoothies are actually bad for you!

Here is a link to such a report http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2414871/Smoothies-BAD-Fruit-juices-packed-sugar-better-having-vegetable-drinks-say-scientists.html

I was worried when I saw the headline, possibly due to my innate distrust of the British press and their inability to be fair or balanced. (but that's a separate issue).

So, ARE they bad for you?

The answer is yes AND no. It depends what you put in them.

We all know that spinach is good for you, however if you cook that spinach in milk and then cover it with cheese, there is going to be a few more calories than if it were just poached in water. Its all a matter of using your ingredients properly.

The trick is, don't buy pre-made smoothies and that will mean that you can control the contents of your drink.

The most important part of the smoothie is the base

Unhealthy Smoothie Bases

We’ll start with the liquid base of your smoothie, and what you want avoid like the plague.

Sugar laden fruit juices: Most fruit juices sold in our super-markets are nothing more than flavoured sugar water. Stay away from anything that is from concentrate.

Regular milk: Store bought milk (whether skimmed, semi-skimmed or whole) comes from cows that are often mistreated, given hormones and antibiotics, and over milked. Chalk and pus have also been detected in milk. Not to mention that the poor cows are chemically forced to keep producing milk long after their calves have been taken away from them. I would suggest that you use organic almond milk or coconut milk

Tap water: Recent studies have revealed a plethora of undesired substances in regular old tap water. This includes, but is not limited to, trace amounts of pharmaceutical drugs, lead and arsenic, perchlorate (a toxic chemical found in rocket fuel), sucralose, and many other man-made chemicals. Use coconut water or a vegetable with a high water content like cucumber

Most bottled water: Most mainstream bottled water is nothing more than glorified tap water. Pepsi even admitted that Aquafina comes from tap water. I suggest that you use coconut water.

It's all a matter of using you own judgement. If something is considered to be unhealthy on its own, it doesn't follow that it will be any less unhealthy once it is in a smoothie.

Unhealthy Smoothie Ingredients

Now onto the list of smoothie ingredients that I wouldn’t add into my blender if you paid me. An exhaustive list isn’t practical, but I’ll hit on the more obvious offenders.

• Ice cream and sherbet
• Chocolate syrups and powders – think Nestle
• Sugar as a sweetener
• Agave nectar
• Most store bought honey
• Non-organic peanut butters (Sun-Pat)
• Cheap protein powders
• Chocolate pudding mix
• Cool Whip or whip cream
• Cream soda

At the end of the day, just use a little common sense in determining what not to add to your smoothie.

Healthy smoothie of the day


GREEN TEA FRUITY MONSTER

Ingredients

• 2 cups frozen unsweetened mixed fruit, preferably peaches and pineapple
• 1 cup cold unsweetened green tea
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Preparation

1. Combine fruit, tea, honey and lemon juice in a blender. Blend until smooth and frothy. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Per serving: 106 calories; 0 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 27 g carbohydrates; 9 g added sugars; 23 g total sugars; 1 g protein; 2 g fibre; 2 mg sodium; 258 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (79% daily value).
Carbohydrate Servings: 2
Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1/2 other carbohydrate

HAVE A GREAT DAY

I haven't posted for a while because I've started a new job

One is on the way

If you are new to my blog, Please read my previously posted ravings