Sugar and Spice and all things nice

I like to keep a small herb garden as it can save money and there is nothing like the smell of fresh herbs to brighten your day whilst you are hanging out the washing!  I also like to grow my own chillies and peppers as they not only look pretty as plants but also have a powerful punch when added to a homemade chilli con carne.

My herb garden always contains pots of mint, lavender, rosemary, thyme, parsley and basil.  I usually buy the plants from the local supermarket or garden centre transfer them to pots or boarders and water well.
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Fresh herbs are not only great for cooking but they have loads of other health benefits. If I am having trouble sleeping I will put some fresh Lavender under my pillow or a few flowers in some water, leave it for a couple of hours and drink the water before going to bed – it is a great replacement for that  glass of wine you sometimes need to relax you before you go off to sleep at night.

Mint is a great appetizer or palate cleanser, and it promotes digestion. It also soothes stomachs in cases of indigestion or inflammation. When you feel sick to your stomach, drinking a cup of fresh mint tea can give you relief. It also helps with fatigue and depression
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Both Rosemary and Thyme are great for helping to boost memory, improve mood, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, protect the immune system and stimulate circulation.  They help detoxify the body and protect it from bacterial infections, preventing premature aging, and healing skin conditions.

Basil leaves contain health benefiting essential oils such as eugenol, citronellol, linalool, citral, limonene, and terpineol. These compounds are known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Parsley has potent antioxidant capabilities. Its naturally occurring eugenol content may also help reduce blood glucose levels. It is incredibly rich in vitamin K as well as A, C, and several B vitamins.

​Something else I am very fond of taking on a regular basis to improve my immune system and boost my general health is a blend of Turmeric, Honey and Ginger.  I started taking this on a daily basis last Christmas and haven’t been ill since. Even when my whole family have come down with terrible colds and flu it hasn’t touched me.

Turmeric has incredibly health benefits due to Curcumin which is the active ingredient of turmeric.  It is an anti-inflammatory molecule with anti-cancer properties.  Other benefits include:

• Helping to dramatically increase the antioxidant capacity of the body
• Improve brain function and helps with depression
• Lower the risk of heart disease

Honey contains flavonoids, antioxidants which help reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease. It also helps reduce ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders.  All honey is said to be antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide.  It also reduces cough and throat irritation.  As a child my mother insisted I have a spoonful of honey every day.

Ginger contains Gingerol, a substance with powerful medicinal properties including helping to treat nausea and muscle pain, it has anti-inflammatory properties which can also help with arthritis.  It can help reduce blood sugar level and also help reduce the risk of heart disease.  Gingerol, is also said to help lower the risk of infections.
For my little health elixir I mix the following together and take a spoonful each morning.

• 100 grams of fresh turmeric grated
• 50 grams of fresh ginger grated
• 100 grams of honey
• 1 tsp of black pepper (to help the absorption of the turmeric)

I blend all the ingredients together using a hand blender in a small plastic or glass bowl.  Then store in the fridge in a sterile glass jar.
If the solution is too runny add some powdered turmeric to thicken it up a bit, if it is not runny enough add some more honey.
Please be warned turmeric stains anything you touch including your hands so I usually wear some plastic gloves whilst preparing this.
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You can buy fresh turmeric from Sainsbury’s but not online or from Waitrose both online and in store. ​