Wheatgrass Smoothie Recipes To Try At Home

So you’ve gotten hold of some wheatgrass, and you’d like to make a smoothie out of it. Bear in mind that wheatgrass is pretty tough, and can’t simply be popped into a blender and made into juice. (If you do that, you’ll probably just have bits of grass floating around in your drink.) To make a wheatgrass smoothie, you’ll first need to fork out some cash and get a dedicated wheatgrass juicer. After that, you can check out the recipes below to make your wheatgrass smoothie.

Banana berry wheatgrass smoothie
1 ripe banana
1 cup frozen organic blueberries
1 cup nonfat plain yogurt
2-4 ounces wheatgrass juice

Vary proportions of ingredients to taste (or use the recipe as-is), then toss them all in a blender for a refreshing drink

Pineapple wheatgrass smoothie
1 cup seedless grapes
1 cup pitted peaches
1 cup cubed pineapples
2-4 ounces wheatgrass juice

You may add some sugar or honey if you find it a bit sour. Toss all the ingredients into a blender, and voila!

Carrot wheatgrass smoothie
2-3 large carrots, or equivalent in smaller carrots
2-4 ounces wheatgrass juice
(optional) ¼ cup water

Use recipe as-is, or add more carrots if you wish. Put everything together in a juicer for a healthy, vitamin-packed drink.

Apple wheatgrass smoothie
1-2 apples, seeds and core removed
2-4 ounces wheatgrass juice
(optional) ¼ cup water

Wheatgrass with freshly made apple juice adds a bit of pizzazz. Put everything together in a juicer for a quick pick-me-up.

Pear wheatgrass smoothie
2 medium pears, core removed
2-4 ounces wheatgrass juice
4 ounces filtered water

Best served chilled. Basically the same as the above apple wheatgrass smoothie recipe, only with pears. Feed ingredients into a juicer for a cool drink.

Here's How You Could Grow Your Very Own Grapes (DIY)

Want to learn how to grow grapes and have a fresh supply of grapes in your backyard? Be it due to their flavor or their health benefits, grapes are one of the most popular fruits in the world. 

Purple grapes specifically are juicy and sweet, making them a hit with kids. Grapes have several different health benefits due to the antioxidants as well as the antiviral and antibacterial properties they contain. They are used as laxatives in order to prevent constipation, to improve digestion. Their regular consumption can even prevent heart disease and cancer. However, in order to obtain all of their benefits, it’s best to consume good quality grapes, preferably organic ones that don’t contain pesticides or other harmful substances. 

In order to make sure you’re eating quality fruit, why not plant your own? It’s not hard to take care of grapes, but it all depends on the temperature of where you live. Fruit is so sensitive to its surroundings that its flavor can change according to where it was planted and how it was taken care of. 

Today we’re going to teach you how to plant your own grapes at home, step by step. 

First of all, it’s important to note that the best time to plant is in the winter. Then, you need to take at least 4 grape seeds (any kind of grape) and put them in a cup of water, leaving them there for about 24 hours. After the time is up, the seeds should be floating in the water. If they aren’t floating, remove the seeds and repeat the prices with new seeds. 

Once that is done, fill a container with fertilized soil. Make 4 little holes in the ground and put one seed in each hole. Finally, cover the holes with soil and wet them with a little water. You should wait about 8 weeks to see any signs of germination. Once you do, move your plants to a larger pot so they can grow easily. As soon as the plant reaches 30 centimeters, remove it from its container and plant it outside. Before doing so clean the area and dig a whole that’s roughly 40 cm by 40 cm. 

Consider these tips: It’s normal for the branches to grow disproportionately. If this happens tie them to some wooden or metal rods so the vine grows straight and doesn’t break. Make sure to get rods that can support the weight of the branches. Make sure that the grapes are in direct sunlight and get fresh water every day.

7 Uses of Vinegar That You Probably Didn't Know

Throughout history white distilled vinegar has been considered a medicine, and was even prescribed by Dr. Hippocrates, the father of medicine. Apart from being good for our health, white distilled vinegar can help us with our household chores. We can use it mixed with other products, diluted in water, or even alone.

Today we are going to teach you some of the best uses for white distilled vinegar. Let's get started!

It can help reduce the stench of trash. No matter how hard we try to avoid it, the trash cans in our house sometimes take on a strong odor that's not very easy to wash out. White distilled vinegar can help fix this problem. Line the bottom of your trashcan with paper towels, and place a stale piece of loaf bread on the paper towels. Soak the bread in white distilled vinegar and close the trashcan. Leave it that way all night long and throw away the bread the next day.

It serves as a clothes softener. A white distilled vinegar and baking soda mixture is great at removing bad odors and lightening clothes. All you have to do is mix half a cup of baking soda and one cup of white distilled vinegar in the washing machine whenever it's completely full, and let it run its normal wash cycle. It helps clean stained walls If your white walls are stained, try using white distilled vinegar to clean them. Mix water and vinegar in a tub and dip a microfiber cleaning cloth in the mixture. Gently wash the walls with this cloth, wait for five minutes, and do it again. Once this is through, dry the wall with another cloth. This procedure will not only remove stains, but it will also protect your walls from mold.

It keeps your pets off your sofa. If you don't like it when your dog or cat gets on your couch, white distilled vinegar can help you. Since animals don't enjoy the smell of vinegar, they will stay away from any area you apply it to. Furthermore, the vinegar will help keep your sofa clean, and protect it from mites and mold.

It helps protect your flowers. If your flowers are wilting and lifeless, the bacteria that builds up in the water are probably to blame. In order to fix this problem, add 1 tablespoon of white distilled vinegar to the water you use to water your plants, and your flowers will live longer.

It gets stains out of pots and pans. Whether it be due to a lack of experience in the kitchen or distraction, it’s normal that we burn stuff in our pots. The stains that result from this can be hard to remove, but white distilled vinegar can help. Cover all the burnt areas with vinegar and put the pot on to boil for five minutes. Then, let it cool and scrub the residue gently with a smooth sponge.

It can help clean your glasses. People who wear glasses know that there is nothing worse then when your glasses are covered in dust and fingerprints. This affects your vision and can even give you a headache. You can easily fix this problem with white distilled vinegar by moistening the cloth you use to clean your glasses with.

Why You Should Walk Barefoot More Often

Do you always wear shoes? Although shoes protect your feet from the cold, or harmful objects, there’s a reason why wearing shoes isn't always beneficial: when we wear shoes we don't receive energy from the earth.

For anyone who doesn't know, we need to absorb the electrons from the earth in order to balance out each part of our body with the earth’s electrical current. Old studies have recorded the importance of this method called "earthing". This practice has several benefits, such as the reduction of inflammation and chronic pain, sleep improvement, better energy levels, and even less stress.

Here are a few more benefits:

Better circulation. Walking barefoot increases the blood flow to your legs, which helps you feel less pain, have less varicose veins, and have warmer feet in the winter.

Lower blood pressure. Walking barefoot can help us increase our blood flow, lower our blood pressure, and lessen cortisol action, which in turn decreases stress and inflammation all over the body.

Better balance. When you can feel the ground, you can better stimulate the balancing system of your brain. This is especially important for elderly people.

Less foot problems. Wearing the wrong type of shoes is normally the main cause of several foot problems such as calluses, bunions, athlete’s foot, and ingrown toenails. When we walk barefoot we steer farther away from these kinds of problems. Even arthritis begins to slowly improve as our feet get stronger, more flexible, and receive better blood flow.

Better posture. When we wear shoes, we are forced to move our hips back and forth, straining our back, shoulders, and neck in order to keep from falling. When we walk barefoot, the opposite happens: when we feel the ground, the nerve ends in our feet send us messages of balance. This can improve posture and balance as well as reduce stress and bodily tension.

Healthier kids. The American Pediatric Association recommends that kids walk barefoot as long as possible, because shoes weaken and deform feet. According to Dr. Merzenich, one of the best neuroplastic physicians in the country, the stimulation we get from walking barefoot improves memory, attention, concentration, and intelligence.

More strength. Walking barefoot helps us to stimulate new muscles that are used both for balance and support.

Healthier feet. Our body follows an interesting principle: if you use something you must maintain it, if you don't use it, it "freaks out". When you walk barefoot your feet wake up and begin to strengthen themselves.

Reduced inflammation. Have you ever shocked yourself by touching something during the winter? This happens due to the difference in magnetic charge between your body and the object. This is the way your body gets rid of the unwanted charge. Studies have shown that free radicals act on our inflammation by transporting a positive charge. Although these particles of positive charge play an important role in our immune system, if we don't have a way to get rid of them they build up in our bodies, causing excessive inflammation and even cell and tissue damage. The earth, on the other hand, naturally possesses a negative charge. Direct contact with the earth also allows us to get rid of the positive charge found in the free radicals, which can bring us several different health benefits.

5 Fantastic Reasons To Drink More Coffee

The debate has raged for quite some time: Is coffee good for your health or not?

While too much of any one thing can always be detrimental to us mentally and physically, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a fresh cup of coffee in the morning. During the winter, it warms and comforts us. With the increasing popularity of iced coffee, it can now be enjoyed in the flaming heat of summer too. Even though most people look for that extra boost from the caffeine coffee contains, there are many more benefits that you should know about.

Take a look at a few reasons why starting your day with coffee could be better for you than you think.

It’s good for your brain. Studies are now showing that drinking at least three cups of coffee per day may reduce your chances of developing age-related cognitive illnesses later in life. Therefore, drinking an extra cup of coffee could ward off Alzheimer’s and dementia as you grow older. The caffeine present in coffee also promotes the production of certain neurotransmitters in the brain by hindering the production of what is called a nucleoside. Avoiding heavy amounts of sweeteners point to greater effectiveness of coffee’s brain boosting powers.

More coffee, less diabetes. Research has shown at least a 10% decrease in the possibility of type 2 diabetes in coffee drinkers. According to one study, people who increased their coffee intake and maintained it for an extended period of time saw their risk of this debilitating illness drop substantially. Those who didn’t drink coffee or drank little coffee were still as likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

More coffee, less skin cancer. Not only does a slightly increased daily coffee intake have a direct effect on the risk of diabetes, but it also reduces the risk of skin cancer in some adults by one-fifth. This was found to be true in older adults who have more than 3 cups of coffee per day. This is all thanks to the high amounts of antioxidants found in coffee beans. Coffee tastes good and fights free radicals. What more could you want?

More coffee, More energy. Before breakfast isn’t the only time to have a cup of coffee. Adding it to your pre-workout routine will help give you more energy but will also boost your metabolism. That means added gains in the gym through the energy to finish that tough workout, as well as an assist in burning more calories and fat.

More coffee, more smiles. When you drink coffee, it makes it more difficult to sit around the house and mope. Increased coffee consumption has been linked to a decrease in the risk of suicide for adults. It often gives us that desire to get moving and interact with others that could fight off depression and a general case of the “blahs.”

DIY: Recipe For Salt Substitue

Salt is one of the most used seasonings in the whole world, but it can be used outside of the kitchen as well. In fact, salt plays an important role in our bodies since it contains sodium and chloride, which are responsible for regulating our nerve function, blood pressure, muscular contractions and keeping our fluids balanced.

On the other hand, salt has gained a bad reputation due to a few health risks that are associated with it. It's consumption has been linked to conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and even cancer.

These risks are mainly related to people who are sensitive to salt and its excessive consumption.

So, if you enjoy salting your food, or if you’re more sensitive to the effects it can have on your body, we have a special recipe for you. This recipe is for homemade salt that’s mixed with herbs which give it several health benefits. The best part is that it tastes just like salt, but with less sodium.

Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

• 20 grams of dried rosemary
• 20 grams of dried basil
• 20 grams of dried oregano
• 10 grams of sea salt

The amounts are very important. If possible, use a scale to weigh out each ingredient. If you don’t have a food scale at home, measure the ingredients out with a tablespoon. One tablespoon full of each herb, and half a tablespoon of sea salt.

Instructions 

1. Blend all the ingredients.
2. Store the homemade salt in a closed glass jar.
3. Use it as a substitute for table salt in all of your recipes.
4. Use the same amount as you normally would.