Healthy food in your own home composted gardens
Cebu is experiencing generally sunny days lately. The sun is most welcome after the almost daily rains in the previous weeks caused by the habagat and/or typhoons that badly hit many parts of Luzon.
Although not as humid or as hot as previous weeks, everyone is hoping the weather will be kinder, the heat milder and the rains gone for a while.
The variable weather in the past weeks, however, caused cough and colds for many. With the escalating prices of food and other items, more than ever, many are eager to heed the advice ‘bawal magkasakit!’
Otherwise, wherever/however will the struggling poor Filipino get extra money to pay for medicines? Most likely, whatever meager resources millions of poor Filipinos may have, they will rather spend on food, right?
What to do then to stay healthy and well?
Perhaps the following suggestions may be worth reiterating now.
First, this may be the best time to encourage everyone to have their composted gardens (from kitchen wastes please!), not only to produce much-needed healthy vegetables and fruits, for food but for daily healthy maintenance as well.
For those without enough land or area for gardening, try planting in pots/sacks/recycled plastic containers, others which you can hang inside or outside of your homes!
An important advice --in your composted gardens, make sure you have kangkong!
Many Filipinos may not be aware of this yet but did you know that the healthiest food in the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is watercress or what is known by all Filipinos as kangkong!
Consider these data:
Kangkong is rich in Vitamin C (known for its immune function, collagen production, iron absorption, protein metabolism and antioxidant defense) and in Vitamin K (known for its contribution to blood clotting and bone health)!
Together with phytochemicals, kangkong/watercress is beneficial for the following:
a.) Cancer: “the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating 85 grams of raw watercress daily for 8 weeks caused less damage to DNA and increased antioxidant status in the body, both of which may reduce the likelihood of developing cancer;”
b.) Diabetes: “a study noted that the authors found that including 100 grams of watercress in the meal reduces blood sugar after eating;”
c.) Cardiovascular disease: “watercress may have cardioprotective properties like lowering LDL(bad)cholesterol and triglycerides and studies concluded that a high intake of green leafy vegetables reduces cardiovascular disease incidences;” and,
d.) Eye health: “a cup of chopped watercress contains 649 milligrams of beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body, thus helping boost eye health.”
Another suggestion: in your composted garden, to manage your colds and cough, you may wish to consider raising:
a.) At least one atis tree, the delicious atis fruit rich in calcium, phosphorus beta carortene, ascorbic acid and fiber. Try to use the leaves as effective inhaler to open up any clogged nose speedily and effectively. Pick some leaves, crumple these, wrap in handkerchief, place in your chest or in your pillow and observe how you are able to resume normal breathing soonest;
b.) Calamansi/lime/lemon as good source of vitamin c, effective vs. colds and cough. You may also wish to try using/squeezing the peel of these fruits unclog your stuffed nose; and,
c.) Oregano or kalabo: grows very easily and fast, it is full of “essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, K and is rich in iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium. In addition, oregano is rich in antioxidants, which can help neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation.”
You may wish to try oregano tea or squeezing juice from oregano leaves to manage your cough.
You want to be healthy right?
Try to plant your own healthy vegetables/herbs/trees in your home composted gardens, aside from those suggested here.
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