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Garden, Health, Healthy food, Learning and development, Nature, Wellness

Beets Beats and Boosts

Beets are extremely healthy as they have potent medicinal properties and offer relief in the case of various ailments and diseases.

The health benefits of beets include treatment of anemia, indigestion, constipation, piles, kidney disorders, dandruff, gallbladder disorders, cancer, and heart diseases. They also help prevent macular degeneration, improve blood circulation, aid in skin care, prevent cataracts, and treat respiratory problems. These benefits of beetroots can be attributed to their richness in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

The anthocyanins give them the red color and have strong anti-cancer properties.

Moreover, beets contain betaine, which is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that supports heart health, as well as important vitamins and minerals including vitamins B1, B2, B12 and C, copper, magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, and iodine.

Beets boost blood flow, regulate cholesterol levels, and support the healthy liver function.

Beets fight anemia and detoxify the body. They also decelerate aging and protect the blood vessels. They are high in antioxidants, cellulose, and pectin, a special type of fiber which boosts digestion. These healthy vegetable protect against liver disease fatty liver disease.

Beets also boost the endurance, stamina, and performance during a workout, so they are extremely beneficial for athletes.

Beets can be eaten raw, juiced, cooked, and baked. You should not throw away the leaves, but you can cook them as they are rich in potassium (644 mg. per ½ a cup).

Studies have shown that the consumption of potassium-rich foods and the elimination of sodium can lower the risk of heart diseases and the stroke risk by 21%.

What Are Beets?

Beets or beetroots, as they are often called, belong to the Chenopodiaceae family. Beetroots are one of the varieties of the Beta vulgaris species. Their history stretches back to ancient times, and the earliest signs of their cultivation were approximately 4,000 years ago in the Mediterranean region. From there, they were probably transported to Babylon, and by the 9th century AD, they had made their way into the Chinese culture and cuisine. They have long been associated with sexuality and have been used as an aphrodisiac for thousands of years.

Beetroots are frequently added as an ingredient to salads, soups, and pickles and are also used as a natural coloring agent. Even though beets are available throughout the year, they are still considered seasonal vegetables. Besides their use as an actual food item, beets are valuable as a source of sucrose, which makes them a viable replacement for tropical sugar cane. They are frequently used to make refined sugar.

Nutritional Value Of Beets

Beets have a wide range of health benefits because of their nutritional content, including vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds like carotenoids, lutein/zeaxanthin, glycine, betaine, dietary fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper, and phosphorus, while also being a source of beneficial flavonoids called anthocyanins. They are very low in calories, with no cholesterol, but they do have the highest sugar content of all vegetables.

Health Benefits Of Beets

The roots and leaves of beets have plenty of medicinal uses which include the following:

Improve Heart Health

Beet fiber helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides by increasing the level of good HDL cholesterol. Having a high level of triglycerides increases the risk for heart-related problems, so an increased HDL cholesterol is a good line of defense against that. The presence of the nutrient betaine lowers the levels of homocysteine in the body which can also be harmful to the blood vessels. Thus, consumption of beetroot helps prevent cardiovascular diseases in multiple ways, so conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and stroke are less likely to develop. The fiber in beets also works to strip excess LDL cholesterol from the walls and helps eliminate it from the body quickly.

Reduce Birth Defects

Beets are good for pregnant women since they are a source of B vitamin folate which helps in the development of infant’s spinal column. Deficiency of folate can lead to a variety of conditions called neural tube defects.

Prevent Certain Cancers

Studies have revealed that beets are good at preventing skin, lung, and colon cancer since they contain the pigment betacyanins, which counteracts cancerous cell growth. Nitrates used in meats as preservatives can stimulate the production of nitrosamine compounds in the body which can also result in cancer. Studies have now shown that beet juice inhibits the cell mutations caused by these compounds. Researchers in Hungary have also discovered that beet juice and its powdered form slows down tumor development. Adding a healthy amount of beets to your diet can keep your body cancer-free for a very long time.

Improve Liver Health

Betaines in beet juice stimulate the functions of the liver and keep it healthy.

Prevent Respiratory Problems

Beetroot is a source of vitamin C that helps prevent asthma symptoms. The natural beta-carotene in beetroot also helps to prevent lung cancer. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that boosts the immune system in a number of ways. Besides acting as an antioxidant itself and defending against the effects of free radicals in the body, it also stimulates the activity of white blood cells, which are the body’s main line of defense against foreign bodies, as well as viral, bacterial, fungal, and protozoan toxins that can result in a multitude of infections and illnesses.

Prevent Cataracts

The presence of beta-carotene, which is a form of vitamin A, helps prevent age-related blindness called cataracts as well as a reduction in macular degeneration that commonly occurs as we get older. Vitamin A is considered a powerful antioxidant substance that is involved in many essential activities of the body.

Capillary Fragility

The flavonoids and vitamin C in beets help support the structure ofcapillaries.

Act as Aphrodisiac

Beets have been considered an aphrodisiac or sexual booster for millennia. Part of this stems from the fact that beets contain significant levels of the mineral boron, which has been shown to boost the production of sexual hormones. This can lead to a boost in your libido, increased fertility, sperm mobility improvement, and a reduction in frigidity in the bedroom. Your sexual life can get a legitimate and time-tested push in the right direction by adding beets to your diet.

Boost Energy

Beets contain a significant amount of carbohydrates that provide energy for prolonged sports activities. Carbohydrates are the natural building blocks of energy metabolism, and beets provide them without any of the negative side effects of many other carbohydrate-heavy foods. When the body has a sufficient amount of carbohydrates, it is able to fuel all of the necessary functions as well, including the important metabolic reactions that keep the organs functioning efficiently.

In a related function, researchers have noticed that oxygen uptake is greatly increased by people who drinkbeet juice due to the high nitrate content. The results show that oxygen uptake increases by up to 16%, which is an unheard of boost and is actually more than a normal person can improve by, even when training extensively. This increases stamina for exercising and participating in sports, making beet juice an interesting sports drink that most people would never consider.

Reduce Macular Degeneration

The beta-carotene present in beetroot aids in reducing or slowing macular degeneration in the eyes. Macular degeneration is often associated with an increase in free radicals, which drastically affect the premature aging process of many people. Beta-carotene is a powerful form of vitamin A, which has antioxidant capabilities and defends the eyes against the damaging effects of free radicals.

Prevent Strokes

A deficiency of potassium in the body increases the risk of stroke. Therefore, potassium-rich beetroot is recommended to improve heart health for that reason as well. Potassium is a vasodilator, meaning that it relaxes the blood vessels and reduces blood pressure throughout the body. When blood pressure is reduced and the vessels and arteries are no longer contracted, blood clots are far less likely to form or get stuck, and the plaque that may have built up along the walls of your blood vessels will not accumulate to form additional clots. Clots are what eventually lead to heart attack and stroke, so beets and their potassium content are quite a health booster!

What is more impressive is that studies have shown the effect to be ongoing. Blood pressure will continue to drop over the course of 24 hours, as though beets are naturally delaying their effects so the body can adjust, rather than plummeting the blood pressure at a dangerous speed.

More Benefits?

In ancient times, beets were used to cure fever and constipation. In the Middle Age, beetroots were also used as a remedy for digestive disorders. Finally, beet leaves are good for speeding up the healing process of wounds.

Word of Caution: Beets contain oxalates, which when consumed in excess can cause bodily fluids to crystallize. People with kidney or gallbladder problems should avoid beetroots because they could exacerbate kidney and bladder stones.

Love, Health And Wisdom

Brian

26. marts 2018 af wisemovement

Garden

Greenhouse Project 1

I have always wanted a greenhouse, where you can grow all kinds of vegestables, herbs and fruits.

This Greenhouse is the one I am working and sweating for:

Well you have to start somewhere and so I did:

Many trees have to be cut and a lot of diging ahead.

Making almost everything from the trees to fire woods.

Beginning to dig up the roots.

That is really some hard work……

Preparing for the spring…

More firewood.

Enough work for the following days….

That is good exercise too.

Love, gardening and fresh air

Brian

19. februar 2018 af wisemovement

Garden, Healthy food, Learning and development, Nature

Grow Your Own Supply Of Ginger

Ginger is the perfect herb to grow indoors. It’s very low-maintenance, loves partial sunlight, and you can use parts of it at a time, leaving the rest in the soil to continue growing.

ABOUT GINGER

Ginger takes 10 months to mature and it doesn’t tolerate frost. If you live in a place where it gets chilly in the winter, you’d be better off growing ginger in a pot indoors and bringing it outside in the summertime.

Ginger is one of those miraculous plants that grows well in partial to full shade, which makes it ideal for growing in your home, where most people don’t have full sun pouring on their windows all day long.

Little bits of the ginger root can be removed while it continues to grow. A little bit of ginger goes a long way, so these pieces can be used for cooking, brewing tea or for herbal remedies.

HOW TO PLANT GINGER

The best ginger to plant is purchased from a garden center or seed catalog. You’ll have much better luck if you get seed ginger that was meant to be planted. However, ginger can be hard to find from garden suppliers, especially locally.

Ginger purchased from the produce department of your local grocery store can be used to grow a plant, but with spotty results. Grocery store ginger is often sprayed with a growth inhibitor to keep it from sprouting before it’s purchased. That inhibitor also keeps it from sprouting when you stick it in a pot of soil.

Grocery store ginger also could be coated in pesticides and fungicides. The truth is, you have no idea what’s on it. I’ve heard of grocery store ginger growing just fine, and I’ve heard of it sitting in a pot forever and never budging. If you do purchase your ginger from the grocery store, be sure to soak it in water overnight to remove as much growth inhibitor as you can.

TIPS FOR GROWING GINGER INSIDE

The root that you choose to plant should be plump with tight skin, not shriveled and old. It should have several eye buds on it (bumps that look like potato eyes) and if they’re already a little green, all the better.

If your root has several eye buds, it can be cut and each bud can be placed in a separate pot to produce several plants.

PICK THE RIGHT POT

Unlike most other houseplants, ginger loves shallow, wide pots. The roots grow horizontally so be sure the pot you choose will accommodate its growth.

STEP BY STEP

1. To start with, soak the ginger root overnight in warm water to get it ready for planting.

2. Fill your pot with very rich but well draining potting soil.

3. Stick the ginger root with the eye bud pointing up in the soil and cover it with 1-2 inches of soil. Water it well.

4. Place the ginger in a spot that stays reasonably warm and doesn’t get too much bright sunlight.

5. Keep the soil moist, using a spray bottle to mist it, or water it lightly.

6. Ginger is a slow grower, after a few weeks you should see some shoots popping up out of the soil. Continue to water the plant regularly by misting it with a spray bottle and keep it warm

HARVESTING GINGER:

Small pieces of ginger can be harvested 3-4 months after growth begins. Pull aside some of the soil at the edges of the pot to find some rhizomes beneath the surface. Cut the needed amount off a finger at the edge of the pot and then return the soil.

Ginger can be harvested in this way endlessly, and as long as it is well cared for, it will continue to produce roots. If you need a larger harvest, you can uproot the entire plant and re-plant a few rhizomes to start the process over again.

Good Luck and remember, don´t eat to much ginger!

Love, health and wisdom

Brian

18. februar 2018 af wisemovement

Garden, Psychology, Wellness

Villa, Volvo og Vovse i august

Godmorgen kære trofaste ven i villaen. Denne søndag skulle blive en travl praktisk dag som villa-, volvo- og vovseejer. Den første jeg siger godmorgen til er hende her:

Er taknemmelig over en dag fyldt med livsbekræftende og hyggelige håndværksmæssige aktiviteter. Elsker at gå om til “Østhaven” se solen stå op og skinne på æble-, pære- og blommetræet.

Pærer bliver der ikke mange af i år. Da blomstringen var på sit højeste satte nattefrosten ind i starten af maj. Tre pærer bliver dog til noget. De skal deles og nydes ekstra meget.

Blommetræet giver derimod rigtig mange gode søde Reine Claude blommer. Sådan kan det værre så forskelligt fra træ til træ og fra år til år.

Æbletræet har meget sjældent svigtet. Den giver hvertår hundredevis af lækre sprøde saftige Discoveryæbler. Mange flere end vi kan spise. Derfor skærer jeg i skiver til mange fryseposer, så de senere på året kan hentes ud af fryseren til diverse madretter. I år skulle vi prøve en god gammeldags saftpresser efter at vi i årevis har prøvet diverse dårlige elektriske saftpressere. Hvis de ikke er gået i stykker, så har de givet stød, fordi der var overgang i dem efter alt den saft. Derfor “back to basics” and “keep it simple”. Men men men selv med min daglige styrketræning, så kræver sådan en presser herunder superheltekræfter. Det blev ingen succes. Men flot er den.

Som selvlært vinbonde må jeg nok med beklagelse erkende at vinhøsten bliver yderst sparsommelig i år pga. manglende solskinstimer. Har ellers været flittig med at beskære, så planten ikke har skullet bruge unødig energi på andet end druerne. Men du kan se, at de bestemt ikke er særlig langt her i slutningen af august.

God kartoffel-, Rucola-, persille-, porre-, forårsløg-, jordbær-, spinat-, salvie-, mynte- og timianhøst i år, men tomaterne herunder mangler helt sikkert også sol.

Men grøngule økotomater kan da også spises.

Rosenbusken og kaprifolien var efterhånden gået godt og grundigt i taget og tagrenden. Der måtte desværre en redningsaktion igang, hvis det ikke skulle gå helt galt. Dette betød desværre at især rosenbusken måtte beskæres ret så kraftigt. Herunder kan du se, hvor smuk den var tidligere på sommeren.

Beskæringer giver haveaffald, og haveaffald giver hver sommer mindst 5 ture med naboens trailer til genbrugspladsen.

I dag var en af dem. Naboen var klar ved 14-tiden efter at være kommet sig efter nattens druktur. Det blev en Win-Win….

Rønnen og mirabellen skulle beskæren, så indgangsalléen er ind- og udkørselsfarbar. Valnøddetræet kunne lige så godt blive ret så kraftigt beskåret, da den overhovedet ikke giver nødder i år.

Det samme med kirsebærtræet (moral). Meget skuffende antal kirsebær, og dem der var blev ædt af meget morgenfriske solsorte. Selv der havde jeg ingen chance. Jeg er endda ultra AAA morgenmenneske.

Det var tid til tømmerarbejde. En fodliste skulle laves til den nye terrassedør. Gamle gulvbrædder skulle hentes fra loftet.

Måles og saves, måles og saves…..slibes……

Ja ja jeg ved godt der er en kant. Jeg finder på en løsning…..

Så er det murerarbejde. Godt ens far er murer og tidligere stedfar tømrer.

Fundamentet ved hovedindgangen er efterhånden blevet ret medtaget, som du kan se. Derfor skulle der gang i støbearbejdet. Det blev en længere proces, da der skulle støbes i flere etaper. 3 mm max af gangen.

Det færdige resultat efter flere timers støberi og tørring. Nu skal folket bare lade være med at betræde de næste to døgn.

Jeg vil slutte denne havedag af med at dele den eneste Paul mccartney rose, jeg får i år, med dig. Ville ønske du kunne dufte denne eventyrlighed, når den springer ud.

Love and wisdom

Brian

20. august 2017 af wisemovement

Garden, Mindset

Værdsættelse 10-9-16

Elsker at gå ud i haven om morgenen og spise mine blåbær, solbær, pærer og æbler. Derefter tager jeg en af mine egne porrer, rosmarin, salvie, timian og tomater med ind og laver skøn omelet til min rugbrødsmad. Dette spiser jeg på terrassen med min egen kolde hyldebærsaft til duften af lavendel og summen af honningbierne i mine blomstrende broccoli og rucula.

Du kan se tomatplanterne på hver side af døren. Kaffen er på stubbebordet. Sensommeren længe leve. Jeg er taknemmelig.

Lavendel, vanille og bladene fra et valnøddetræ er nogle af de bedste dufte i verden.

Måske jeg dyrker vanilje en skønne dag i mit uopførte orangeri. Det er vigtigt, at have nogle projekter i fremtiden, samtidig med, at man nyder alt det man har i forvejen.

Jeg kigger over på mine mamelukærmer og broccoliene, der er gået i stok. Det er faktisk første gang, jeg ser blomsterne på broccoli. De er faktisk ret smukke, og bierne elsker dem.

Dagen står på masser af havearbejde. Måske vil drengene hjælpe til, men det er bestemt ikke sikkert. Den første arbejdsopgave er at nedtage sidste omgang hyldebær. Der skal laves saft. Jeg har lovet nabodrengen, Mathias, et dejligt glas hyldebærsaft. Det skal han få i dag af disse.

Jeg har efterhånden skåret så mange af mine æbler i skiver og frosset dem ned til senere brug på året. Vi kan simpelthen ikke nå at spise dem alle, og vi giver endda rigtig mange væk. Næste år investerer jeg i en gammeldags saftpresser, jeg orker ikke rengøringen af de moderne elektriske, desuden får man også stød af dem.

Så kom der også lige et egern forbi. Tror den går efter valnødderne. Næste gang skal du se mine fantastiske pærer. Ville ønske du kunne smage dem. Nyd livet og alt det fantastiske der er omkring dig. Værdsæt hvert eneste øjeblik. Det kommer aldrig tilbage igen.

NUETS KRAFT.

Brian

10. september 2016 af wisemovement

Garden

Buddleja davidii

Håber du har en skøn sommer.

Jeg er kommet hjem til min kære have igen efter tre uger i Slovenien, Kroatien, Bosnien og Italien. Jeg var godt klar over, at der ventede mig et ret stort stykke arbejde mht. græsslåning, lugning, vanding m.m. Selvom “ukrudt” er irriterende, så er det alligevel imponerende så livsdygtige mange planter er. Det er en stor kamp om at komme frem i lyset og få formeret sig. Men det kender, vi jo også godt til.

En af de planter jeg har glædet mig til at komme hjem til er Buddleja davidii, sommerfuglebusken. Den er fantastisk smuk, dufter godt og så er der jo naturligvis en grund til at den hedder sommerfuglebusk. Der er nemlig heldigvis også i år rigtig mange sommerfugle på busken hele tiden, bare ikke lige om natten. I år er det især Aglais io, dagpåfugleøjet, der flakse omkring på træet.

Det var havenørderiet for i dag. Ha det skønt.

Love, garden and wisdom

Brian

29. juli 2016 af wisemovement

Garden

My gardens tale in july

If you haven´t tried gardening – just start doing it. It is just fantastic to grow your own healthy food.

New small red tomatoes are ready for eating each day. My chillies are starting to mature.

In august my discovery apples are ready. This year I have many pears. They are ready mid- september.

My elderberry are ready to be juicy in september. This year is a good year for Reine Claude plums. The plum tree has been sick for some years, but this year i have cut lots of branches from the tree. This has been good for the tree.

This year there will be many walnuts for christmas. They have a great taste. The american blueberries are not blue yet, but the swedish blueberries, that are blue inside, I have already eaten.

The rhubarb is getting bigger and bigger. I had one 5 years ago which died, because I took to many stalks from it. This time I am aware to let it grow big this season and wait to harvest next season. The peas below in the left are just fantastic right now.

The leeks are growing but you can already use them at this size. The cabbage below in the right are almost ready.

The broccoli and the cauliflower are almost growing out of the box. I am really looking forward to eat these two vegetables.

Spinach and rucula.

You must have different kinds of herbs to your cooking. They give so good flavour to your food. Here below in the left it´s thyme and sage. In the right, it´s rosemary and lemon balm.