When you eat, it’s good to select foods that will aid in your longevity, protecting you from inflammation & heart disease.  Foods that will give you lasting energy and vibrance.  Most of us eat for the love of simply eating and the fun that can be had, creating your own meals with the amazing flavours and colors available to us.  Unfortunately, these days however, with modern food processing, the foods which are on offer to us can turn us into ticking time bombs.  

The effect poor quality and poorly chosen foods- especially industry foods such as grains can have on our body can be like silent killers. Symptoms are often hidden and can be anywhere from gastro intestinal- without symptoms, to symptomless neurological effects. Inflammation is the cause of most every disease within the body.  We can have inflammation of the body and inflammation of the brain.  Inflammation of the brain is concerning, as it can go unnoticed, that is, we don’t actually feel it because we do not have pain receptors in the brain.  Brain inflammation can affect your motor neural skills.

We want to live as free moving, energized painless and healthy as we can.  And apart from genetics- it is the food you eat which will determine just how free moving, energized and painless that will be.  The foods you eat can actually change your genome- ie, your familial genetic predisposition to disease and ill health.  The diseases your grandmother or Dad had do not have to be yours.  
Choosing the correct foods can change the way your genes express, whether they express into disease or not- switching disease on or not, can depend on your diet.   

If Diabetes, heart disease, thyroid dysfunction, gastro intestinal disorders are in your family, you want to do all you can to prevent those diseases from manifesting in you.  

Raw foods are a wonderful example of amazing enzyme rich foods, abundant in healing properties that taste sensational. Being a “true” raw foodist is a meat free vegan lifestyle, so not just meat free- Vegetarian, it is also free from all animal products- Vegan.    The thing is, you don’t have to be a full raw foodist to gain the benefits.  I’m just suggesting you add more raw foods to your diet to obtain some of the benefits a raw diet is renowned for.  Vegetable spiralizers and dehydrators don’t have to be on your immediate list of “must haves”, perhaps you are not going to even entertain the idea of trying a raw foods diet, there are still plenty of ways to increase your cellular immunity, energy levels and over all good health.    Simply making a decision to add one big whopping salad to your day- every day is going to reap rewards of increased health.   Whether it be breakfast lunch or dinner- make one meal of your day full of raw goodness. 

The concept of health foods being tasteless is out the window now that people are educating themselves- this is not just paid education, so many people are doing their own research- finally, reading, You Tubing and making their own conscious health choices that are not based on the television marketing of industry foods.

Herbs and spices are that magical ingredient that will turn even the most basic of dinners into a winner.

Try to make remember a few of the basics, so that next time someone you love is ill, you do not need a pill to heal them.  You may well just have everything they need to fight cold and flu and many other ailments right there in your Nutritional Medicine Cupboard- your pantry! 

Allspice: Increases circulation, aids indigestion and gas.

Anise: aids cough and other respiratory problems by breaking up mucus; helps increase milk production for nursing mothers

Basil: not only is Basil the name of a mighty cool boss i once had- Basil is also good for indigestion, fevers headaches, colds, flu, nausea, vomiting and cramps

Black pepper: improves digestion by stimulating hydrochloric acid production in the stomach, stimulates the breakdown of fat cells

Cardamom:  good for headaches, indigestion, and gas; warms the body

Cayenne: good for circulation; helps prevent heart attacks, strokes, colds, flu, headaches, indigestion and arthritis

Cinnamon: warms the system; balances blood sugar levels; treats diarrhea, cramps, abdominal pains, coughing, wheezing, and lower back pain

Clove: increases circulation, improves digestion, treats vomiting and nausea, oil of cloves can relieve tooth aches, great for ridding parasites also!

Cumin: prevents and relieves indigestion, gas, nausea, and morning sickness, helps relieve cold symptoms

Dill: useful for abdominal pains and cramps, indigestion, colds flu, and coughs

Fennel: helps treat colic, cramps, and gas, expels mucus

Garlic: supports the immune system, helps eliminate parasites and infections, aids high and low blood pressure, lung ailments and headaches, you are best to crush each cloves for maximum nutritional benefit- not slice, not swallow whole.  Crush.

Ginger: good for circulation and warmth, indigestion, cramps and nausea

Lavender: antidepressant, helps relieve headaches, anxiety, and insomnia

Mint: aids digestion, the aroma eases nausea, headaches, and respiratory disorders

Nutmeg: can help relieve nervous disorders and heart problems

Oregano: contains very strong antibacterial properties and antioxidant activities

Paprika: increases saliva production, which aids digestion, helps regulate blood pressure, improves circulation

Rosemary: helps treat headaches, indigestion, colic, nausea, gas, and fevers

Sage: useful for diarrhea and early stages of cold, flu, and sinus congestion; useful for bladder infections.

Tarragon: relieves stomach cramps and promotes appetite, aids digestion by increasing bile production in the liver

Turmeric: a blood purifier, helps circulation, regulates menstrual cycles, reduces fevers, POWERFUL antioxidant with anti cancer properties

Watercress: blood cleanser, has anticancer properties, aids in eye health, increases digestive juices

Yellow mustard: aids respiratory and kidney problems, helps protect against gastro intestinal cancer

Nutritional medicine- the power for you to heal yourself the way nature intended