SALT IS ESSENTIAL FOR HIGHER CREATIVE THINKING

Traditional salt production involves the simple evaporation of sea water. As a result, sea salt contains up to 10% trace minerals. It is an easy way to replace the minerals we use through daily body processes. The minerals in the sea salt are more easily assimilated than mineral supplements. This salt is rich in magnesium and trace minerals.

Salt is a digestant as it activates digestive enzymes and improves flavour of food as well as being antiseptic. Salt is an extremely important element in the diet. The chloride portion of salt provides chloride for hydrochloric acid, meaning that salt is needed for protein digestion. Salt also activates an enzyme needed for the digestion of carbohydrates. In studies where humans consumed a diet completely lacking in salt, they developed extreme fatigue and lassitude within several weeks.

Salt also activates an enzyme needed for the development of glial cells in the brain. These are the cells that make connections, that help us perform the tasks of higher creative thinking. Einstein’s brain (which he donated to science) was characterized by large amounts of glial cells.

Salt is also needed for adrenal function. People with adrenal exhaustion need more salt in their diets.

Salt is the basis of cellular metabolism, without salt, human and animal life is not possible.

Source and use unrefined salts (e.g. Himalayan Salt, Sea Salt) in your cooking and enjoy the health benefits and flavor.

Picture by Amani Lindsell, 2019

A MUST HAVE STAPLE IN YOUR KITCHEN

Pesto is a fabulous way to increase the nutritional value as well as flavor of your dishes.

I love the vibrant green color and that it is also liked by most children. Having a family, means that it is always of advantage to have dishes that everyone likes. Pesto is easy to make and has so many health benefits due to its ingredients.

Basil is the number one herb used for pesto. It is seasonal in summer and autumn in Australia and is not liked by our friends the mosquitoes. Apparently, they do not like the flavor, so basil would also make an effective mosquito repellent.

Basil is a restorative herb, meaning it can restore our balance, particularly stomach and lung related ailments. Basil can even support the treatment of mild depression, menstrual pain and light headaches. Basil is known for its property to calm the nerves. Based on Hindu belief, Holy Basil or Tulsi, is considered sacred. It would probably be very beneficial for our nervous system if we would all start having more Tulsi tea. Additional benefits of basil are that it aids digestion, is beneficial in the treatment of fever, constipation, insomnia, nausea, fatigue, colds and flus. Knowing that it is a potent anti-parasitique and effective against bacterial infections, will make us add it to our kitchen pantry.

To have an alternative to basil in the summer, cilantro and parsley can both be used in the other seasons. Coriander is an amazing detoxifier and heavy metal chelator (binder). Both cilantro and parsley are a great digestive aid. Beatrix Potter must have even known this, as Peter Rabbit after having overeaten in Mr. McGregor’s garden, ate some parsley to aid his digestion.

Nutritional yeast has an impressive vitamin B content and can mimic the flavor of cheese well and can therefore be used as a vegan pesto. As it can challenge a weak or yeast-infected digestive system, for the yeast free version replace with ½ cup of activated cashews (soak in water for 3 hours with a pinch of salt and wash well before use) or use 2 tablespoons of dry toasted pinenuts.

HERB PESTO RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

• 1 bunch of basil leaves or 1 bunch of cilantro and ½ bunch of parsley

• 1/3 cup (55g) of extra virgin olive oil

• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped

• ½ cup (55g) of dry toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds

• ¼ tsp turmeric powder

• ¼ tsp kelp powder, optional

• 2 tbsp of nutritional yeast

• Lemon juice from ½ lemon or lime (goes particularly well with coriander)

• Sea Salt to taste

• Pinch of freshly ground pepper

METHOD

Wash the bunch(es) of herb(s), dry and take the leaves off the stems. Transfer all the leaves into the food processor or high-speed blender. Peel and chop the garlic, followed by toasting the seeds. Add with all the remaining ingredients in your food processor and blend until you have the preferred consistency of your pesto (high speed, Thermomix 10 for 30 seconds), scrape down the pesto with the spatula and repeat the process). Transfer into a glass jar and store in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze in plastic containers.

Recipe Copyright 2019 Doctor Verena. All Rights Reserved

Images: Amani Lindsell, TWP The Womens Pic, Webite, FB, Instagram

Styling: Belinda Elliott

REFERENCES

• Bower, A., Marquez, S., & de Mejia, E.G. (2016). The Health Benefits of Selected Culinary Herbs and Spices Found in the Traditional Mediterranean Diet. Critical Review of Food Science Nutrition. 9;56(16).

• Elmas, L., Secme, M., Mammadov, R., Fahrioglu, U. & Dodurga, Y.(2018)

• The determination of the potential anticancer effects of Coriandrum sativum in PC-3 and LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines. Journal of Cell Biochemistry. doi: 10.1002/jcb.27625.

• Dhyani, N., Parveen, A., Siddiqi, A., Hussain, M.E. & Fahim, M. (2018). Cardioprotective Efficacy of Coriandrum sativum (L.) Seed Extract in Heart Failure Rats Through Modulation of Endothelin Receptors and Antioxidant Potential. Journal of Diet Supplement. 1-14. 1481483. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2018.

• Mahmood, S., Hussain, S. & Malik, F. (2014). Critique of medicinal conspicuousness of Parsley (Petroselinum crispum): A culinary herb of Mediterranean region. Pak J Pharm Sci. 27(1):193-202.

• Jayachandran, M., Chen, J., Chung, S.S.M. & Xu, B. (2018). A critical review on the impacts of β-glucans on gut microbiota and human health. J Nutr Biochem. 61:101-110. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2018.06.010.

YOUR HOME-MADE PROBIOTIC & MINERAL SUPPLEMENT

Wouldn’t it be amazing to create your own wholefood mineral supplement and natural probiotic?

Here it is!

Your daily gut healing salad dressing is a must have in your Wholefood Kitchen Pantry as it is not only nutrient-dense but also aids digestion, re-mineralises your body and provides you with natural probiotics. You can make it in bulk on the weekend so that you can use it quickly during the week.

The natural probiotic in the salad dressing comes from miso paste that you can purchase in health food stores, supermarkets and food co-ops. It is made from soybeans, grain rice or barley, salt and koji inoculant which is a mold starter culture. I recommend purchasing organic, GMO free, domestic, naturally fermented, unpasteurised types, available in Health food stores, supermarkets and Food-Coops. I personally prefer shiro miso as it is lighter in color and sweeter in flavor. I really like the creamy consistency that the salad dressing receives through adding the miso. As it is high in salt use it in moderation.

Miso’s medicinal properties include:

• Anti-carcinogen

• Effective in reducing effects of radiation, smoking, air pollution, and other environmental toxins

• The darker the colour of the miso paste, the more potent the medicinal properties

• While all-natural fermented foods are invaluable digestive aids, miso is one of the remarkable ones because soy beans are a nutritive food already and further enhanced through fermentation.

• Concentrated protein source, containing a rich amino-acid profile of the eight-essential amino-acids

• Low in fat

Kelp is another nutrient-dense ingredient with a myriad of health properties. As with most seaweeds it is one of the most amazing cleansers and my favorite natural food supplement which is the reason for adding it to the salad dressing. Medicinally kelp is used for blood pressure regulation, weight loss, digestive aid, colon cleanser, and may alleviate kidney reproductive, circulation and nerve problems. One serving provides the recommended daily allowance of iodine. As many of us use rock salt, which is low in iodine it is even more important to ensure that we receive our recommended daily dose of iodine by adding seaweed sources. Kelp is high in all the major minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron as well as a rich source of trace minerals such as copper, zinc and chromium and contains various vitamins such as A, B6, B12, C, D and K.

Apple Cider has been used for many years as a folk remedy which goes back to its ability to normalize the body’s alkaline/acid balance which is due to its high mineral content, particularly high potassium level. Once consumed it immediately increases circulation, therefore moves stasis, be it emotional or physical. Internally, it cleanses the digestive tract. Its acidity reportedly aids in the removal of calcium deposits from joints and blood vessels without affecting normal calcium levels in the bones and teeth. When purchasing apple cider vinegar, look for organic, unfiltered, unpasteurised products.

RECIPE

Preparation time 5 minutes

Amount: 2/3 cups (150ml)

INGREDIENTS

• ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar

• ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder

• ½ cup of olive oil

• ½ teaspoons of ground coriander powder

• 1 teaspoon of kelp powder or dulse seaweed flakes

• 1 heaped teaspoon of unpasteurised organic miso paste

METHOD

Combine all the ingredients in a glass jar. Screw the lid well and shake it. Get a nice arm workout going with it. The miso paste can have the tendency to stick to the wall. Just use a spoon and mix it into the dressing. Shake well one more time by cling the jar.

The dressing can be stored in an airtight glass jar in the fridge for a week or two.

Recipe Copyright 2019 Doctor Verena. All Rights Reserved

Images: Amani Lindsell, TWP The Womens Pic Website, Facebook, Instagram

Styling: Belinda Elliott

REFERENCES

• Kok, C.R. & Hutkins, R. (2018). Yogurt and other fermented foods as sources of health-promoting bacteria. Nutr Rev. 76(Supplement_1):4-15. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuy056.

• Glob Chang Biol. 2018 Oct 8. doi: 10.1111/gcb.14467. [Epub ahead of print]

• Rajapakse, N. & Kim, S.K. (2011). Nutritional and digestive health benefits of seaweed. Adv Food Nutr Res. 64:17-28. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-387669-0.00002-8.

• Brown, E.S., Allsopp, P.J., Magee, P.J., Gill, C.I., Nitecki, S., Strain, C.R., McSorley, E.M. (2014). Seaweed and human health. Nutr Rev. 72(3):205-16.

• Goal, J., Anthonydhason, V., Muthu, M., Gansukh, E., Jung, S., Chul, S., Iyyakkannu, S. (2017). Authenticating apple cider vinegar's home remedy claims: antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral properties and cytotoxicity aspect. Nat Prod Res. 11:1-5. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2017.1413567.