Riding it out...

As I am on the CLEAN diet and am having a hard time and spent the first three days with a monstrous headache I like to give some ideas on how to deal with it.

 Dr Junger is advising "to ride it out".   Easier said than done...

He is right , it will leave by itself. 

I will share some of my natural remedies I have learned through the years of Macrobiotic living.

1. Green leaves:  Salad can be used. They are the best when collected fresh and should be kept in the refrigerator for a moment. The cool leaves are simply placed on the forehead. Lay down and relax in a dark room.

2. Tofu : pul out a cold tofu package from the fridge and mash it up in a bowl with a fork. Place it in a handkerchief and make a roll about 6 cm wide and 20 cm long.Keep it on the forehead and/or at the back of the neck. If it turns warm. Move it to the refrigerator for a moment to cool down. Repeat again until the headache is left. 

3. Fresh grass: if you have a lawn or a cat box with green grass. Make a cut , place it in a handkerchief and keep it on the forehead.

Stay quiet in a fresh, cool room. Often the warmth can make a headache worse. 

Lay down and ride it out.......

Worth a try next time,

Gunn

Midsummer 2011

This is what we do in Sweden at Midsummer eve.... 

Celebrating the summer solstice.

It will all happen tomorrow evening. Dance, food, some drinks and lots of laughter.

It is one of the most important holidays of the year in Sweden. 

In the past it was believed that water from the springs could bring good health ( they where not that dumb ? ) and herbs picked at midsummer was highly potent.

Denmark, Finland and Norway are costumed to bonfires at this day.

Read more at Sweden.se

This is the best time to collect wild flowers in Sweden. The nature is bursting with greens. Everything is decorated with birch leaves. It was believed to bring good luck.

I borrowed this beautiful Midsummer wreath from another blogger lindasalltoinget

Traditionally the first "real" strawberries can be enjoyed at this time.

Love this dress from Prada, for the party.

Everything is just perfect at this time...Love, Flowers and Happiness.

Gunn

Growing Happily

If You have a vegetable garden, the best food for it is the grass clippings from Your own garden. It is full of nitrogen and will make the plants happy.

Using cut grass for garden mulch is a convenient and efficient way to recycle.  

Collect it and make a 5 cm mulch around the plants. It will also prevent the unwelcome weeds to show up and it keeps the moisture in the ground.

Three good ways to use grass clippings:

1 -  as I explained above , just collect it and simply spread it around in the vegetable garden. Wherever there is an empty soil.

2 - mow the lawn often and let them remain on the ground to become good lawn food . 

 It is a source of free, nutrient-rich fertilizer. Grass clippings contain 80 % water and will decompose fast when left on the lawn. You might need to be patient for a couple of days as it might not have a perfect look.

3 - collect them and add them to the compost bin.

More on mulch see - www.nrcs.usda.gov 

I found this fantastic compost bin that would be dog safe , see Joraform from Sweden.

I just love the scent of grass....

Gunn

Red Beets

This is the perfect season for red beets. I love the sweet taste  and do not have any special knowledge on the beet so I decided to study it on the web for more information.

Wikipedia is always very informative. 

Hubpages was good for the nutritional information:

Red Beet is unique for its high levels of anti-carcinogens and its very high carotenoid content. Red beets are high in carbohydrates and low in fat and it is an excellent source of folic acid. It is loaded with antioxidant that helps the body against heart disease, certain cancer especially colon cancer and even birth defects. Betacyanin is the pigment that gives beets their red color; this pigment is absorbed into the blood corpuscles and can increase the oxygen-carrying ability of the blood by up to 400 per cent. Don't throw away the green leafy tops as they can be cooked like spinach and are also rich in beta-carotene, folic acid, chlorophyll, potassium, vitamin C, and iron.

Health Benefits of Red Beets:

• Beet root is a traditional treatment used for leukemia. Beet root contain an amino acid betaine which has an anti cancer properties. Red beet therapy, consisting of consumption of approximately two pounds of raw, mashed beets daily, has been favorably reported for cases of leukemia and tumors (includes cancer). Research also shows that beet juice can help inhibit the development of colon and stomach cancer.
• It is believed that red beets when used eaten regularly may help against certain oxidative stress-related disorders.

• The fiber in red beets help reduced serum cholesterol by 30 to 40%.
• Beets can help in normalizing blood pressure.
• Beets helps to keep the elasticity of arteries, when consumed regularly it can help prevent varicose veins.
• The iron content of red beets, though not high but is of the finest quality that makes it a powerful cleanser and builder of blood. This is the reason why beets is very effective in treating many ailments caused by toxic environment and surrounding.
• Beet root is recommended for pregnant women because it contain folic acid that can help lower the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects in newborn infants.
• Beet juice helps stimulate the function of liver cells and protect the liver and bile ducts.
• Beet juice is highly alkaline which makes it effective in the treatment of acidosis.
• Drinking beets regularly can help relieve constipation.
• Beet juice and carrot juice when combined is excellent in the healing gout, kidney and gall bladder problem.
• Red beets can also help in the following problems; Headaches, toothaches, dysentery, lumbago, skin problems, menstrual problems, etc.
• Important things to know when taking Red Beets:
  • Beetroot juice is very powerful, don't take too much of it if your body is not yet accustomed to it, it is advised to slowly increased the amount from ½ medium size beet root to 1 whole a week.
  • Beet juice is so powerful that it you may feel dizzy during cleansing, this discomfort is normal as toxins are being eliminated. It is advised to drink plenty of water to help in the elimination of toxin. 

 I found another post from Dr Kim that I like:


I'm constantly on the lookout for recipes that call for raw red beets, as these root vegetables contain a variety of nutrients that can help prevent heart disease and certain types of cancer, especially colon cancer. Red beets are also rich in B vitamins, including folate, which makes them useful for preventing birth defects.

This past weekend, I was pleasantly surprised to find a raw red beet salad recipe in a book called Jamie's Dinners: The Essential Family Cookbook, written by celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver. Jamie's recipe calls for horseradish, something that I am not a fan of, so I tweaked it a bit and came up with a mix of ingredients that worked for me.

Please note: The cancer-fighting pigment that gives beets their rich red color is called betacyanin. If you eat red beets on a regular basis and notice a red tinge to your urine or stools, there is no need to worry, as this simply indicates that your body is receiving plenty of a good thing.

Enjoy the many health benefits of the following raw red beet salad recipe:

Ingredients:

Small bunch of red beets, washed and peeled
Large handful of chopped flat-leaf parsley
Extra-virgin olive oil
Fresh lemon or lime juice
Sea salt and pepper

Directions:

Use a vegetable peeler or a mandolin vegetable slicer to transform the bulky beets into really thin slices.

Add parsley. Then add extra-virgin olive oil, lemon or lime juice, and sea salt and pepper to taste. Give this salad a good toss, and enjoy it as a nutritious side dish to a hearty bowl of soup.

Note: I also tried making this salad with a bed of crisp romaine lettuce and avocado slices. The greens and avocado added substantial volume, and actually combined really well with the beets. If you're a bit apprehensive about eating a salad that is mostly raw red beets, I encourage you to add some romaine lettuce and/or avocado to the mix.

Please note: As long as you don't use salt, this recipe is suitable for the Full Body Cleanse program.

This is my recipe , a simple one... 

I clean the fresh beets with the best vegetable brush from Iris Hantverk ( you can buy them on Un Momento Nordico E-shop ).

Place them in a pan , sprinkle some sea salt and add about 1 cm of water so they do not burn. I bake them until soft for about 45 minutes, depending on size.

They are great to eat simple with Olive oil. 

The most tender leaves are tossed into the salad and the larger goes into the Smoothie.

PS. I started the Dr Junger CLEAN cleansing again. And will do it by the book for 3 weeks.

 Love, Gunn

Vivre COTE SUD at Aix-en-Provence

The fair was actually happening last weekend and I had promised an update during the week. But unfortunately I had a dip of tiredness after driving to many miles , poor food and to many things to catch up with at home in my office. Well, here it is. The Vivre fair is showing once a year and is very well organized and pleasant. Many home, garden, lifestyle suppliers are showing their merchandise. See vivrecotesud. It is a perfect place to shop for your home. I wish I had taken more photos and better ones.

This "room" was made up with a different theme every day by stylists, using the objects from the fair. This day they showed "Brocante" an eclectic style of vintage and new.

The team of the fair was Moroccan this year and the stylist had made up these floating rooms with different personalities. 

To my joy they also served Moroccan mint tea.

My favorite stand was Longmetrage with a selection of vintage linens for the table or the bed, over-dyed into marvelous hues.  Here is Sophie in a 19 century linen nightshirt, dyed in a lime shade. I think it is the perfect summer-dress and so chic-issimo...

She was standing in a bright sunshine and the shades did not come out as they should, so please see the homepage. Or visit their Blog at longmetrage.wordpress.com 

They just started it and I am positive it will become one of my favorite for information on what is going on, in Paris.

Here is a company La Case a Vanille, from Madagascar, specialized in organic Vanilla. 

I stocked up for the next year of baking. 

It was also a contest of best painted plate. I did not follow up , who won. They where great looking and my favorite was a dark navy plate with a design of a sardine. 

Sneakers from Bensimon Collection. A perfect sneaker in tons of colours, seams to be a must these days. 

Marianne Lindh had a fantastic success and a line of costumers every day, wanting her traditional same bracelets, she is actually stitching herself. She was up at 6 am repairing 

( as we shared the room , I know ) bracelets for costumers so they could pick them up the next day. I call that a perfect service. Chapeau Marianne !

Marianne has used the tradition as a base and then her creativity to develop new styles for a contemporary client. Her 2 wraps and 3 wraps are stunning.

This was the trendy style at Vivre Cote Sud, I could see many ladies in a large linen t-shirt, often off the shoulder with a Panama hat. This is lovely Madame Baraa, who is Tunisian and is making gorgeous stoles in linen. A supplier had Ecuador panama hats for sale.

Hope to return next year,

Gunn

Bread - Not My Piece Of Cake !

But Jean Paul Gaultier made something useful from it. 

It should be the dress to wear at the next ball.

Click on the photo to have a better look at it.

Gunn

Oooh Purée !

I messed up.........

the wonderful diet did not work for me being in Aix-en-Provence. I had a choice between starving on water or stuff myself with bread. Being in a fair and not having access to a kitchen there was no other way than to take a brake from the CLEAN cleansing program. Just after one week of a diet without bread, pasta, coffee, cheese I started to feel a wonderful new energy. I also lost one size in my pants. 

Actually I am now counting the days that I can get back on it again with no interference in June.

Aix-en-Provence is a very beautiful city. The weather is amazing. 

I might sneak away and do some sight seeing tomorrow.

nara helt naturligt sales in the Coté Sud fair is going well. 

The yearly fair in the Parc Jourdan is very pleasant with interior decoration, textiles, food and many nice useful ideas. 

See the blog on Wednesday for a report of the fair 

Gunn  

Spirulina

SPIRULINA, a natural supplement to consider for a whole body nourishment. 

Thanks to good friends, who are the biggest source of inspiration, I returned to this algae.

It is a natural food that has nourished people in many countries around the world for centuries.

Spirulina health benefits have been demonstrated over a long history and this green  super food is considered one of the world's healthiest foods due to it's powerful combination of nutrients. But only discovered more or less 30 years by us....It will help balance your body to a more healthful alkalinity, will say eliminate the acidity in the blood. Especially if You include coffee, black tea, alcohol, sugar and meet in your diet.

It is promoting healthy joints.  Spirulina will give us  proteins, amino acids, iron, magnesium, B-12, 

 is also very good to give to our pets , to keep them strong and to help them stay with us for a long time. 

I take it in the morning in a glass of fresh juice or in a smoothie.

You can find it in forms of flakes, powder or tablets.

I will try it for the rest of my life......

Gunn

Chewing 100 Times

It is a bit complicated to socialize and chew every bite of food 100 times. 

The only solution is to choose between a nice time with friends and a healthy digestion.

Chewing well allows molecules of nutrients from the chewed food to be quickly released and assimilated. We need the saliva to digest the food as quickly as possible. 

So we can eat again.....

Saliva is also helping the oral hygiene and is protecting the teeth. 

Even the most pureed food as soups and smoothies needs to be chewed down.

Hm... I think a prefer chatting away....

Gunn

Sugar

I will not tell You how bad sugar is for your health. I love sugar in the form of cookies and french desserts. If you like to read about sugar, I found an informative site www.eliminatesugarcravings.com

In our home it is kind of tabu to use white sugar and we never buy it. So....I pick them up at the bar in Milano ! There is always a small practical sugar pad next to any drink in restaurants and bars. They are going into the pocket for better use. 

A face scrub.

A spoon of white sugar and a few drops of water in the hand is the perfect scrub for a sleepy face in the morning.  A fresh tonic (perhaps homemade). Finish off with the favorite creme for the day.

 Try it !

Gunn

Salmon For Lunch

My lunch today was just perfect and it really doesn't feel that I am on a strict diet. Dr. Junger is very generous with food at mid day. A piece of grilled salmon with Pesto sauce.

With some less interesting, side dish. Again quinoa and vegetables. I added some very delicious Tuscan olive oil after the photo. It should do wonders .... My only problem today is that I am awfully sleepy and am looking forward to bedtime. I am sure that's part of the plan.

Half of this will be my dinner tonight. 

A vegetable  smoothie, made from broccoli, zucchini, celery and home made Coconut milk. There is some very good recipes in the CLEAN book.

How to make homemade Coconut Milk:

1 cup of dried coconut  ( preferable organic)

4 cups of boiled water  (pure and healthy)

Let soak for 15 minutes and strain.

Excellent !

Gunn

Skin Brushing And More

During a period of cleansing it is extra important to help the circulation and the body to loose some toxic energy. 

SKIN BRUSHING is a simple technique that stimulates blood and lymph flow and encourages new cell growth. Use a soft natural brush with quality bristles. Start at your feet and sweep up the legs in long, light brisk movements. All movements should be towards the heart. It only takes a few minutes.  Advisable in the morning,  before the shower. The skin is the largest most important eliminative organ in the body and is responsible for one quarter of the body's detoxification each day.

Also see www.brittbeautifulskin.com or see www.unmomentonordico.com for brushes.

SAUNA  is also a good way to relax and clean the system.

During a 15 minute session, your heart rate increases by 50-75%. The same metabolic result as physical exercise. 

Blood vessels become more flexible and enhances a healthy glowing skin.

Sweating helps the detoxifying capacity of the skin by opening the pores and flushing impurities from the body.

BRISK WALKING helps lowering cholesterol level, stimulates blood circulation and reduces high blood pressure. Better outdoors  than indoors, in fresh air. It is also strengthening the body and gives flexibility.

READING and COCOONING is also advisable during this period. It is nice to be still and let the mind rest.

Just some ideas...

Gunn

Last Day Of Countdown

I am so ready !

The book CLEAN by Dr Alejandro Unger has been read twice.

These YES food groups are advisable during the cleansing period.

Note ! that it is mentioned "unripe fruit" and "ripe fruit". Actually most of the fruit we eat is unriped far away from it's tree.

My cold pantry is well stocked with organic fruit and vegetables. 

Gunn

What is Quinoa ?

 

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is an acient seed from the Inca. It is very high in protein and is the most complete grain of all. It is ideal for a vegetarian diet. It is also completely gluten free. Easy to digest and very tasty in light meals, in soups, in salads. I never had it , but I can imagine being great in muffins. Cooking it is just like rice 1 cup to 2 cups of water.

 Read more on www.organicroad.com.au

The gold of Incas, was stable food and gave great strength to their warriors. 

It is a good source of magnesium, iron, copper. And can help persons with migraine headaches, diabetes. If you want to think ahead and prevent heart failure, this is a good grain to add to the diet. 

A very informative sight on a better health with Quinoa is www.whfoods.com

Gunn