Author: Monica

Monica

Health Benefits of Rosemary

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This very wonderfully smelling herb is from the Mediterranean and is known for its use in flavoring chicken and lamb, as well as bodily fragrances.  Rosemary or Rosmarinus officinalis (its scientific name) is a fantastic source of iron, vitamin B6 and calcium.

It is usually dried (as pictured above) as a whole herb or a dried powdered extract.  I enjoy it as a tea quite often.  In addition to tea, rosemary leaves, fresh or dried, can also be used to make liquid extracts. At large doses though, the extact may yield toxicity, causing gastrointestinal irritation.

Rosemary is a part of the mint family and has similarities to the herb thyme. Among its ancient health benefits, such as contributing to the decrease in muscle pain, a memory booster, immune and circulatory system promoter, and hair growth stimulater, there are some other great reasons to become acquainted with rosemary.

  • Antioxidant benefits
  • Digestion
  • Brain function improvement
  • May promote eye health
  • Properties that may guard against Type 2 Diabetes
  • Antibacterial, antifungi, antimold, and antiviral properties.
  • Antispasmodic
  • Diaphoretic (fever reducer)
  • Stimulates hair growth and may prevent baldness

Daily dosage:

It has been studied in doses of 4 to 6 g/day for the dried leaves (roughly 2.5-3.5 tablespoons of fresh leaves) and 0.1 to 1 ml for the essental oil. In measurements for cooking and tea, the herb is relatively safe, but as always, consult your healthcare provider before adding anything new to your health regimen.  Take caution in pregnancy and lactation with this herb.  It has been reported that it may have emmenagogue and abortifacient effects. The risks may outweigh the benefits when used in pregnancy and lactation.

References:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266370.php

http://www.drugs.com/npp/rosemary.html

http://www.traditionaloven.com/foods/exchange/tbsp/g-gram/rosemary-fresh.html

Monica

Taptutor Tap Session 2

  • In this session, we will do a review of session 1 and add a tap sound to it to increase the skill level.    We will also learn how to do a proper shuffle.
  • Once again, go to the quick warm-up session first then you can do the first session or proceed on to this one.
  • Keep practicing and remember that if you are a beginner or just want to exercise, do this video several times back to back.  If you are a more advanced tapper, don’t worry, the skill level will increase as we go.
  • Please follow me on YouTube and share this video with your family and friends
  • Thanks in advance to subscribing to my blog and my YouTube Channel!

Taptutor Tap Session 2

Monica

Thyme is on Our Side

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In my opinion, thyme is an herb that is underrated.  I began using it shortly after I got married (probably in all the wrong ways), only because my parents bought me a spice rack, and a very nice one I might add!  It sparked my interest in cooking a variety of dishes that I would not have ordinarily attempted at that age.

Thyme is full of thymol and carvacrol, which are organic compounds called phenols (where have we heard that before…see my previous health blogs on tumeric and cinnamon).  These phenols have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.  Due to these properties, thyme is also effective in suppressing fungi and other microorganisms.

There was a study that was done in 2010 that demonstrated that thymol and carvacrol can lessen the drug resistance of the Salmonella and Staph aureus bacterial strains.  This means that if you are given antibiotics that typically kill these bacteria, these substances in thyme will act as helpers.

Thyme has also been shown to have antioxidants which are potent enough to go against bacteria that cause acne.  In patients with acute bronchitis and coughing with lots of phlegm production and coughing fits, a fluid extract in thyme reduced their respiratory symptoms.  It also works for the stomach and relieves gas (I can testify to that, unfortunately).

Thyme is also one of the components in Zaatar seasoning.  If you have never had Zaatar, you are really missing out!  It has been around and has been used for natural healing for thousands of years.  It tastes phenomenal with just olive oil on pita bread!

Zaatar is a mix of spices that is made up of dried thyme, oregano, sumac, toastd sesame seeds, salt and marjoram.  All of these ingredients are champions on their own, but since our focus is on thyme, we won’t go there just yet.  This spice is mainly consumed in eastern countries.

So how much should you use?

If you want to steam, here is a great recipe courtesy of Herbal Academy of New England’s website:

Basic Steam Inhalation

Ingredients

4 cups of water
Herbs of choice: thyme, rosemary, sage, etc.
Large towel

Directions
  • In a large heat proof glass or ceramic bowl, add a generous handful of your herb/s of choice.
  • Pour the boiling water over the herbs, place face above bowl, and quickly throw towel over head. Use caution: start high above bowl to avoid burning face. 
  • Inhale the steam for approximately 10 minutes or more.

Drinking it as a tea (recipe courtesy of the Vintage Amanda website; modified by Taptutor)

1) Put the herb in your brewing container – about 1 tsp dried herbs per cup of water.  For fresh herbs, use more.

2) Pour over water that’s just off the boil.

3) Very important – COVER.  You need to cover your brewing container while the herbs are infusing.  This traps all of the volatile oils in the tea, rather than evaporating in the air.

4) Infuse around 5 minutes. (This depends on the herb … if you want medicinal benefits, you may need to steep it longer so look it up in a herb book.)

5) Strain and serve.

So, hope you will give “thyme” a try next “time” you feel a cold coming on or have the above symptoms.  I have tried the tea plenty this Winter with lemon and honey and it works very well for me at relieving these symptoms.

 

And oh, before I forget….my disclaimer!

Please check with your healthcare provider before starting, adding on or changing any of your medical therapy.  This is not meant to be a cure but to help you in being informed about healthy alternatives.

References for further reading:

http://vigilantcitizen.com/vigilantreport/three-foods-ancient-times-miraculous-benefits/

http://herbalacademyofne.com/2014/01/8-herbal-home-remedies-for-colds-and-flu/

http://www.vintageamanda.com/2010/02/how-to-make-an-herbal-infusion/

 

 

 

Monica

Health Benefits of Cinnamon…the Spicy Spice!

Before we get started, always remember that when I post info, it is not meant to treat, diagnose or cure an illness.  This information should also not take the place of what your healthcare provider has instructed you to do.  Please always speak to your healthcare provider before beginning anything new, natural/prescription or otherwise.

Okay, so what is cinnamon and where does it come from?  It is a spice that comes from the inner bark of a variety of trees from the genus Cinnamomum.  Is is very versatile in that it can be used in savoury or sweet dishes.  Some of the health benefits of cinnamon claim to be even supported by scientific research and this spice has been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years.

The flavor of this spice comes from the essential oil that only makes up 0.5-1% of its composition.  This oil is prepared by pounding and mashing the bark in sea water then distilling the mixture immediately.  Both cinnamon’s taste and scent come from cinnamic aldehyde or cinnamaldehyde, which is about 90% of the essestial oil that comes from the bark.  The cinnamaldehyde is responsible for most of cinnamon’s powerful effects on health and metabolism.

So how do we get the powder form of cinnamon?  Since the spice comes from the bark of trees, once the inner bark is taken out and dried, it curls to form a stick.  The stick can then be pulverized into the powder form.  The picture below is of cinnamon from my kitchen.  I have been using the more common, Cassia variety.  Read more about it below.

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There are two main types of cinnamon:

  1. Ceylon Cinnamon or “true” cinnamon
  2. Cassia Cinnamon, the more common variety today that we think of as cinnamon

Claims to Fame as far as health benefits:

  • Full of antioxidants which protect from free radical damage because it is loaded with a substance called polyphenols (remember this from Tumeric)?.
  • Anti-inflammatory action that may also be due to its antioxidant effects and this may help to decrease the risk of disease.
  • Cinnamon may decrease heart disease.  It may help to reduce total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and Triglycerides, while keeping HDL (good) cholesterol stable, with even as little as 120 mg per day.
  • This awesome spice can also improve sensitivity to the insulin hormone, which is one of the key hormones responsible for the regulation of our metabolism and use of energy.  Cinnamon can reduce insulin resistance, thus helping the insulin to do its job!  Blood sugar levels can decrease due to this action.
  • Cinnamon also can decrease the level of blood sugar, thus having a powerful anti-diabetic effect.  It can decrease how much glucose that enters into the bloodstream after eating by interfering with a number of enzymes that help us to digest food.  This slows down the break down of carbohydrates.  There is also a substance in cinnamon that can act on cells by acting like insulin.  If taken at doses as little as 1/2 teaspoon per day, you may be able to see these benefits.
  • It may show promise in neurodegenerative diseases such as aAlzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.
  • May show some promise in protecting against cancer, but many more studies need to be done.
  • Cinnamaldehyde, the main active component of cinnamon may also help to fight bacterial and fungal infections.   Also can decrease bad breath and prevent tooth decay due to its antimicrobial effects.  Who can use better smelling breath right!

How do I get this spice?

It is better to use Ceylon “True” Cinnamon, but most supermarket cinnamon, which is cheaper, only have the Cassia variety.  Ceylon can be found in some health food stores or on Amazon.

Precautions

Best to stick to small doses of the Cassia variety if this is used to avoid unwanted adverse effects.  In patients with liver problems, due to the bleeding risk from the component coumarin (a blood thinner) that may be present in some Cassia varieties, the risk of toxicity and bleeding may be higher.

Also, patients with diabetes should be careful because of the blood glucose lowering action.  Speak with your healthcare provider first so that you can monitor your blood sugars more closely and if needed, your healthcare provider can adjust any other anti-diabetic medications that you may be using at the same time.

References:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon

http://authoritynutrition.com/10-proven-benefits-of-cinnamon/

Video Monica

Taptutor Tap and Work-out Session 1

Please check out my first tap session video and get a short work-out!

  • This particular session is a good review for beginners and young tappers
  • Also good for those that may have missed their opportunity to dance in their youth…..well here is your second chance
  • If you need to learn the terminology in tap, its a good review
  • Or if you just want to have a fun and unique work-out

Whatever the reason, I hope you find it enjoyable and will take this journey with me, the Taptutor.

More videos to come and the skill level will increase as we go.  Please follow my blog and subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

Enjoy the tap session!

Monica

More Info about Tumeric

Tumeric is such an amazing herb that I had to write more about it and the practical ways in which I use it on a daily basis in my home.

I have found truth to the claims that it is an immune system booster, great for alleviating pain, good for healthier looking skin, great for joint flexibility and so much more.  It has been used for thousands of years and has been used in Ayurvedic medical practice in India.  A few other things I did not know about it is that it supports healthy eyesight and that it supports healthy respiratory function.

How much tumeric should you take?

As always, you should ask your doctor, however, many doctors are not into non-pharmaceutical healing.  I can only report to you what has been done by various individuals and ask that you be responsible and talk it through with your healthcare provider before trying anything.  There are so many drug-drug and drug-herb interactions that it may also be helpful to download an app to your phone.  Its great for preliminary information on interactions and is called “Natural Medicines Database”.

I have found various sources that say that to gain benefit from tumeric, you should use about 1 teaspoon a day of the ground dried root powder.  20160122_115521 (2)

I buy tumeric from the grocery store in the spice section.  Make sure to read the label so that you are getting 100% (or as close as possible).  I suspect that a small amount is curcumin, about 2%, but just remember that all brands are not created equal.  My label looks like this:

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If you do your own research, you will find dosages vary a lot, mainly because some studies have used them for prevention of unwanted symptoms or disease and some studies used it in curative doses.

So how do I use it?

I like to take the juice of half of a lemon and a teaspoon of tumeric powder and put it in about 1/2 cup of room temperature water.  Take it to the head then rinse it down with a half cup more of room temperature water.  I use a good brand of bottled water with a pH a bit above 8.  I do this about every other day.  The lemon is good for liver detox and is high in vitamin C and other minerals.  Both components are good for clearer skin.  You will get the benefits of both.  I do this first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and boy does it wake me up!  You will find that others use ginger root with these two which you are welcome to do.   I like to be able to keep it easy without having to chop or juice.  I find that the easier it is, the more successful I am with sticking to it.

Another recipe:  http://www.thesweeterthejuice.com/make-ginger-lemon-turmeric-wellness-shot/

More later on my recipe for an almost curry-like sauce that I love to make with pasta and my family loves it as well.

References:

http://www.turmericforhealth.com/general-info/ideal-turmeric-dosage-how-much-turmeric-can-you-take-in-a-day

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/turmeric

 

 

Monica

Short Warm-up Video

Before we get tappin’, here is a quick warm-up video that will help you to get your body ready.  Keep in mind that the more intense your dance session, of course the more you will need to prepare yourself through your warm-up.  At this time, since we are in the beginning stage of the tap lessons, this short warm-up is sufficient.  There will be more intensive warm-ups coming your way soon!

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Who can take advantage of my work-outs:

 

 

  • Do you want to get more limber and be more flexible?
  • Are you a dance student who wants to fine-tune your skills or just pick up an extra practice?
  • Dance instructors can refer students to me, the “taptutor”, and let me do the work in between dance lessons for you.
  • Maybe you have always wanted to learn a form of dance and you missed out in the past….here is your second chance!
  • It is common knowledge that movement burns calories.  Tap and jazz are fun ways to get some exercise.
  • Best of all, you can learn at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home.

So ready….Get set….Let’s Go!  Do this first warm-up and I will see you in the next session where we will “tap it out” or “jazz it up”!

Warm-up video

 

Monica

Health Benefits of Tumeric

 

What is Tumeric                                   20160120_115848

Tumeric is a plant that is the main spice in curry.  Most people know it for its bitter taste and its bright orange color.  It has a sharp taste and smells like pepper.  In addition to its use to flavor and color curry, its root is also used in the making of medications. 

In addition to its antiinfective properties (antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal) tumeric is also loaded with protein and dietary fiber.  It is packed with a host of vitamins and nutrients such as niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc.  If that’s not enough, check out these additional uses.

Top 10 Claims to Fame 

Prevents cancer

Helps to relieve inflammation such as in arthritis and has anti-oxidant properties to destroy free radicals.

Prevents liver disease

Controls diabetes

Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease

Reduces cholesterol level

My favorite- boosts the immune system

Can improve digestion

Heals wounds

Can help to maintain ideal body weight

Bonus:  I have found it helpful with lemon juice to controlling acne!

How does it work

Some components in tumeric may help to decrease swelling (inflammation).  Tumeric also has anti-oxidant properties which decrease free radicals that can damage the cells in our body.

Sources such as Web MD report that for most problems, tumeric has been used in doses of 500 mg twice a day and up to 500 mg four times a day.  As with everything, it is not without side effects, however, I would rather use something natural that has been around for ages instead of popping a pill.  Feel free to comment on your experience with this natural root.

References and further reading:

Top 10 Health Benefits of Tumeric

Web MD Review of Tumeric

Disclaimer:  As always, please remember to consult your doctor before using any medication, herbal or natural product/supplements.  If you are pregnant or nursing, please especially be cautious of using any medication, herbal or natural product/supplements without consulting your doctor.  This information is only to be used as a supplement to instructions given by your medical professional and you should always inform them of the usage of other medications, herbs or natural products/supplements.
Image Monica

Getting Started

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If you have always wanted to learn how to tap, whether on the beginner or advance-intermediate level, well here is your chance to take a journey with me, the Taptutor!  This is a fun way for me to keep in shape and combine my love of dance and health!

After each session, I will share some of my many health tips and healthy recipes.  Even though I am a pharmacist, I lean more toward a natural approach to maintaining health for me and my family.

In order to participate, you will need the following:

  1. Tap shoes or hard-sole shoes.  Make sure they are comfortable.
  2. A place in your home that has a flat surface and uncarpeted.
  3. Motivation to learn at least once a week with me as well as practice in between sessions.

That’s it!  So with that, I look forward soon to showing you how to tap in 2 life in a fun and creative way.