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health – Page 4 – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Tag: health

  • How Does Homesteading Make You Healthier?

    How Does Homesteading Make You Healthier?

    When you have a homestead, no matter the size, you do not have a lot of time to rest if you want it to stay up and running properly. Homesteading can provide you with a sense of accomplishment, but it certainly takes work. However, this work can be very good for your health. This is one of the “hidden” benefits of homesteading that many people do not think about. Let’s look at some of the ways that becoming a homesteader could make you a healthier person.

    Getting Exercise

    You are going to be outside and working quite a bit. Whether you are tending to the livestock, in your garden, making repairs, dealing with snow, fishing, hunting, or hiking, you will be out getting plenty of exercise. This can help you to shed some pounds and keep you in good shape.

    Eating Better

    When you are homesteading, you can eat better, too. You are growing your own food rather than eating unhealthy processed food and fast food. You will be getting more nutrients since you are putting better quality food in your body. Fresh meat, veggies, and fruit are key elements to a healthy life. They are good for the insides, and they can also help you lose weight. In addition, eating healthy tends to be good for your skin, too.

    Improved Psychological Health

    Many find that homesteading can help improve their outlook on life and their psychological health. They feel better when they are doing something to contribute to their survival; other than sitting in a cubicle. They like getting things done on the farm, they like the quiet it can offer and the starry nights.

    As you can see, there are many benefits to living the homestead lifestyle. If you are still on the fence about homesteading, it could be the perfect option for you.

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  • Wheatgrass  

    Wheatgrass  

    This time of year, even those that are living in a warmer zone are experiencing declining harvests in the garden.  Adding a layer of protection can help, but if you haven’t already done this it’s a little too late.  The good news is that even if you haven’t protected your crops from the cold, or even if you haven’t started a garden at all yet, you can still enjoy the health benefits of dark leafy greens this time of year thanks to wheatgrass.  Here are some of the nutritional facts, and basic growing and harvesting instructions for wheatgrass.

     

    • If you purchase wheatgrass seeds from your health food store in bulk the price is not quite as high as if you are purchasing small amounts.
    • Measure out the desired amount and place it in a canning jar, cover it with water and put a breathable lid on. Change the water out every 12 hours for a day or so until you see the sprouts.
    • Once the wheat has spouted, it can be placed in a shallow tray or pie tin with potting soil, keep the soil moist and place it in a location where it can get the most sun possible. You can speed its growth with a CFL, though this should be used a supplement and not it’s primary light.
    • When the blades spilt into two is when they are ready for harvesting.
    • To harvest your wheatgrass simply cut a clump with a pair of scissors and juice it. You should be able to get three harvests from one crop, though the last harvest will probably not taste as good since the sugar levels might be lower.
    • Wheatgrass juice offers the most health benefits and nutrition if it is consumed fresh, this is why it is best to grow it yourself rather than waste money on buying dried products or bottled juices.
    • Wheatgrass juice contains Vitamins A, B (in trace amounts that are formed from organism that live on the plant and not by the plant so the FDA says that there is no vitamin B in wheatgrass juice), C, E, I, and K. It is also a source of chlorophyll, pantothenic acid, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and even contains protein.

     

    While the specific claimed health benefits are mostly unsubstantiated by scientific research there is no shortage of people who personally claim to have benefited from this superfood for a myriad of different diseases and disorders including cancer, obesity, anemia, constipation, and detoxing from heavy metals.  During this season of elevated threats of bacterial and viral infection, stay at your healthiest with fresh greens courtesy of wheatgrass.

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  • How to Freeze Lemons (Video)

    How to Freeze Lemons (Video)

    I saw this on Pinterest recently and I didn’t understand why it was such a big deal. Freeze lemons, OK, so what? Well, it turns out that lemons contain unique compounds called “lemonoids” which do serious battle against cancerous tumor, particularly from breast cancer.

    Lemon peels are packed with vitamins, way more than the actual lemon juice. Aside from being amazing cancer-fighting nutrient sources, they also help to detox the whole body from health issues like worms, parasites, fungi, and bacteria, which can be responsible for a multitude of overlying health issues and are not often addressed by modern medicine. Nature is so amazing!

    Since you probably don’t feel like chewing on some lemon peels, freezing lemons is a great way to ingest the vitamins. As this video shows, you can freeze the lemon to make it easy to grate, then use the grated lemon to add to all kinds of foods and drinks. I can’t wait to try this! Check it out:

     

     

     

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  • How to Cook Bone Broth in Your Slow Cooker

    How to Cook Bone Broth in Your Slow Cooker

    Bone broth is a total foodie fad, and for good reason. The vitamins and minerals from bones are great for you, for many reasons.

    Regularly consuming bone broth can help prevent osteoporosis, keep skin youthful and healthy, strengthen your immune system, help repair muscles and help you grow strong hair and nails.

    For a homesteader, bone broth is very appealing if you are regularly butchering animals, as you can freeze the bones from virtually any animal and use for bone broth later. It’s a great way to use up every part of the animal and harness the healthy nutrients hidden in the bone.

    If you don’t have animals you regularly slaughter, you can get bones from large bone-in roasts, when you roast a whole chicken or turkey, or you may be able to buy or even get free bones from your local butcher. Just ask!

    Here’s how to make it in a slow cooker:

    Ingredients: 

    2 lbs large animal bones

    2 carrots, chopped

    1/2 stalk celery, chopped

    3 tbs vinegar

    Instructions. 

    1. This step is optional, but to get the maximum flavor out of your bones, roast them in the oven on a cookie sheet for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
    2. Place your bones in your slow cooker, and fill with water until almost full. Depending on the size of your slow cooker, this might be about 4-6 quarts.
    3. Measure in the vinegar, and let the bones and vinegar sit in the cold water together for about 20 minutes. This helps extract the minerals from the bone broth.
    4. Add your vegetables and turn on to low.
    5. Let cook for 24 hours.
    6. After 24 hours, you should have a rich, fragrant, dark-colored broth. Strain out the bones and vegetables. You can cover the bones and vegetables with an equal amount of water and do another batch if you wish, but this will be considerably weaker.
    7. Store your broth. It keeps for about a week in the fridge, so it’s best to save whatever you would like to use in the coming week in the fridge, and freeze the rest.

    Enjoy!

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  • How to Get Vitamin D in the Winter

    How to Get Vitamin D in the Winter

    Our main source of essential immune-boosting Vitamin D is from the sun, so naturally, in winter time, it can be hard to get enough. This is a likely cause of increased colds and flus during the winter time. Vitamin D not only keeps you healthy, it is also important for healthy bones, teeth, hair, nails and eyesight, and helps regulate mood and hormones too.

    To make sure you get enough vitamin D during cold and flu season, here are some tips:

    Seek the sun

    The sun is always the best source of vitamin D, so while you might not spend as much time outside because it is colder, you can still harness it’s health benefits. When it is sunny, open your curtains and try to spend time in direct sunlight, as much as you can. If you live in very dark places or get days on end of storm and clouds, you can purchase sun lamps that will help a bit too.

    Cod Liver Oil

    Cod liver oil sounds gross, but it’s a great source of vitamin D. You can take it in a pill form so you don’t have to taste it, or buy as a liquid oil to either take straight or hide in foods. Fermented cod liver oil is even healthier.

    Eat Fish

    Fish is a great source of vitamin D, and something that’s still relatively easy to find in the grocery store for good prices in the winter time. If you get canned fish, save the oil!

    Supplement

    There are vitamin D supplements you can take for a quick and easy source of vitamin D. Just make sure you’re getting something that is from whole foods and not synthetic, so you can get the maximum amount of nutrients.

    Eat Eggs

    Eggs, especially egg yokes, are great sources of vitamin D. Egg whites have lots of protein and so people often assume the yoke is unhealthy due to it’s higher fat content, but it is an amazing source of vitamins and nutrients, and a very healthy way to get vitamin D.

    Drink Fortified Milk

    Fortified milk isn’t the most whole and natural way to get vitamin D, but these days, most milk is fortified with a vitamin D supplement, and milk has some vitamin D naturally occurring in it as well. If you’ve got a picky child who won’t eat the above-mentioned foods or supplements, some fortified milk can’t hurt.

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  • Natural Antibiotics That Are Better Than a Perscription

    Natural Antibiotics That Are Better Than a Perscription

    This time of year there are all kinds of bugs in the air, and you’re bound to get sick sooner or later. A lot of people will rush right to the doctor to get antibiotics if they suspect an infection, and antibiotics certainly are amazing miracles of modern medicine.

    But they can also be harmful to your immune system and will wreak havoc on your gut bacteria, which are necessary for a healthy body. Rather than resort to antibiotics right away, why not try some natural antibiotics first? These are some great options for natural remedies of all kind, and you’ll recognize most of them from other posts on natural remedies and healing.

    They are better than prescriptions for infections because they’re cheaper, they’re natural, whole, you can find them at your local grocery store, and they do not have the harmful side effects of anitbiotics. Stock up on some of these this winter to stay healthy and get over sickness fast!

    1. Apple cider vinegar

    Apple cider vinegar is good for almost everything. Most people don’t like the taste, and it is quite intense for sure. But this fermented superfood is amazing for killing bacteria and balancing the immune system. You can put in water, juice, or tea, or simply incorporate with your food over salad or in sauces, as you would vinegar.

    2. Raw Honey

    Raw honey is a powerful antibiotic, with natural properties that fight bacteria and illness. It also has beneficial prebiotics that regular gut flora, so even if you are taking prescription antibiotics, you could take raw honey in addition to support your digestive system.

    3. Coconut Oil 

    Coconut oil has been very popular in recent years, for good reason! It contains powerful acids that can kill bacteria and regulate the immune system and gut flora (noticing a pattern here? Gut flora health matters!). The healthy fat found in coconut oil is also great for you, and together with the natural antibiotic properties of coconut oil can help fight infection, both inside the body and externally!

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  • Easy Flourless Fudge Brownies

    Easy Flourless Fudge Brownies

    I’ve been on a grain-free kick lately. I’m not really “paleo”, but I do love trying out new paleo recipes as I enjoy experimenting with dairy- and grain-free recipes in the kitchen. I’m a big believer in butter and eggs, so I’d never give them up completely, but I think my favorite thing about learning paleo recipes is learning how to use non-dairy ingredients. It’s just a great cooking skill to have, plus, if I’m ever out of them and don’t feel like running to the store, which happens a lot in the winter time, let me tell you!

    This is a cool recipe that not only is free of wheat and gluten, but also has paleo options. If you have any gluten-free relatives coming over for the holidays, it would be a great option for a sweet and healthy(ish) treat!

    Ingredients: 

    • 10 ounces dark chocolate, chopped (Paleo alternative: unsweetened dark chocolate)
    • 4 tbs butter, chopped (Paleo alternative: virgin coconut oil)
    • 3/4 cup sugar (Paleo alternative: coconut sugar)
    • 3 eggs
    • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 1/4 tsp salt

    Directions: 

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
    2. Line a 8″ baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil so that it hangs over the edge
    3. In a double-boiler, or heat-safe bowl resting in a saucepan with simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter or coconut oil together until blended and smooth.
    4. Add the sugar, and blend well, then remove from heat and set aside
    5. In a separate bowl, blend the vanilla extract with the eggs and beat with a hand mixer for about a minute, until frothy.
    6. Add the cocoa powder and salt to the eggs, and beat until blended well.
    7. Combine the melted chocolate and sugar with the eggs and cocoa powder mixture, and blend until smooth and glossy.
    8. Pour the mixture into your prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, keeping a close eye on it
    9. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before cutting and serving.

    That’s it! Enjoy!

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  • Oil Pulling and Tongue Scraping (Infographic)

    Oil Pulling and Tongue Scraping (Infographic)

    Dental pain or troubling issues can sometimes be worse than anything else. And getting to the dentist, especially if you live out in the country, can be a pain, and expensive. Taking good care of your teeth and dental health is of the utmost importance, but you don’t need fancy electric toothbrushes and flouride mouthwash to do so.

    Oil pulling is an increasingly popular dental hygiene habit that may be good for you to consider, especially if you are having any dental issues like bleeding gums, cavities, or bad breath. And it can help with much more, too! It sounds pretty funny at first, but once you get going you might very well find yourself hooked!

    Tongue scraping is another great holistic dental practice that can greatly reduce any dental issues.

    I thought this was a great infographic that breaks down how to oil pulling and tongue scraping. You can check out the original article at Yoganonymous.com.

     

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