wellness

The walnut tree is found from the Balkans to China. It is a slow-growing tree, and its fruit has been eaten by Europeans for more than 8,000 years. The ancient Greeks began cultivating the trees and the practice spread throughout Europe. The walnut tree came to North America with the English settlers in the early 19th century –  and thus the walnut got its name the English walnut. Today the largest groves of walnut trees are found in Kyrgyzstan at high elevations.

I grew up absolutely loving the super sugary, tomato-based condiment that is ketchup. Now, I’m still infatuated with it. However, I don’t buy overly sweetened ketchup anymore; I only eat ketchup that I’ve made myself. Making ketchup from scratch is cheap, ridiculously easy, healthier, and oh so delicious. I’m even comfortable with claiming that homemade ketchup is just as good as the bottled stuff, if not better (assuming that’s a possibility).

When I stopped drinking coffee, I found myself missing a hot beverage in the morning. Craving the robust flavor, I would try drinking only a few sips, having not had any coffee in a week. This was a bad idea. The uneasy, edgy feeling would hit me harder than having 3 cups in a day when I was an avid coffee drinker. Soon, I realized coffee and I no longer agreed.

“Put on a hat–you’ll catch a cold!” and “Turkey makes you sleepy” are just some of the old wives’ tales you’ve likely heard growing up. Or, perhaps you had a mother or father who was particularly insistent upon herbal remedies like consuming raw garlic for colds and flus. While some old wives’ tales are just that–tales–we’ve gathered the ones that seem to have actual merit and thus a place in your kitchen, too.

Deep in the heart of Southern Chile in South America lives a group of indigenous people called the Mapuche. According to legend, the Mapuche warriors were able to resist the Spanish by consuming a fermented beverage that gave them strength and stamina. That fermented beverage came from the maqui berry.

When you are living off of the grid and you only use a root cellar to store your food it can become difficult trying to keep fresh meat around the kitchen. My journey off the grid taught me a lot and meat-free meat was one of the things I chose to learn about. There are many reasons people choose to eat a diet that contains little-to-no meat: health, ethics for animals, and environmental issues.

Do you struggle with occasional heartburn?

If so, you are not alone. Many Americans suffer from heartburn or acid reflux symptoms. The conventional treatment is to prescribe an antacid – which at first glance sounds logical, doesn’t it? (I mean if you are feeling too much acid, then you need something to decrease it, right?)

Getting the usual bargain buys at the grocery store gets sort of old, after a while, don’t you think? Luckily, a little imagination and creativity goes a long way! It’s much easier than you’d think to transform those tired kitchen staples into seemingly new, refreshing, and impressive dishes that one might even dare to describe as somewhat fancy. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy a luxurious meal without the luxurious price tag?

Hear the word arsenic, and immediately poison comes to mind. From cancer to heart disease, arsenic has been linked to a multitude of health problems. High levels can be fatal, but the reality is this silver-gray or white element that naturally occurs in nature can be found in our food. Plants we consume may take up small amounts from soil and water. While trace amounts can be found in grains, fruits, and vegetables, rice is particularly susceptible. Yes, the rice you're eating does contain arsenic. So is there a way to enjoy rice and not consume the unhealthy chemical?

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is actually a really versatile healing plant, and it looks really interesting, too - often times one bunch of this herb can contain different types of leaves!  This tree smells so amazing -- every part of it has a strong, sweet aroma that’s almost relaxing.