Child-Safe Kitchen Remedies For The Cold And Flu

 

Cold and flu season is upon us, and children tend to catch every little sickness that comes their way. While conventional medicine has its place and time, parents can turn to home remedies for kids when their children are feeling under the weather. Please check with your doctor first about these home remedies.

Sore Throats

At times, a sore throat can indicate strep throat. Symptoms of strep include pain while chewing or swallowing and a fever above 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Contact your doctor if you child is showing these signs of strep. But if it’s just a sore throat try these:

• Echinacea. This should be the first choice for parents. Give your child Echinacea as soon as a runny nose or scratchy throat begins. You can use Echinacea tea or a safe dose of liquid Echinacea. Adults can take it in a capsule form.


• Honey and lemon. If your child is under one year old, honey is not safe due to botulism. But for kids in the safe-age range, honey is one of the best remedies for sore throats. Simply mix warm water, raw honey and lemon juice.

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• Peppermint. Kids over the age of six years old can have diluted peppermint essential oil applied to them. Another option safe for most ages is peppermint tea. It will soothe the throat, break up mucus and make your throat feel amazing.


• Salt water gargling. A simple home remedy for sore throats is gargling salt water. Add a teaspoon or two of salt to a glass of warm water. Have your child gargle the salt water twice a day. It is one of the easiest and best-known remedies for a sore throat!

Flu

The flu can present itself with many symptoms. Rest and hydration top the list for cures!

• Elderberry syrup. You can find elderberry syrup in the store or you make it yourself. It is best if you take it daily to prevent the flu. However, for those with the flu, take a dose 3 to 5 times per day. Fortunately, elderberry syrup tastes relatively good!


• Activated charcoal. Keeping activated charcoal around your house is wise. Not only does it help with a stomach bug, but activated charcoal also works for food poisoning. Activated charcoal binds your digestive tract and helps the process. It is best taken as a capsule, but you can mix it in food. Speak to your doctor first!

Chest Colds and Coughs

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  • Eucalyptus. Make sure that your child is within the safe-age range to use eucalyptus, typically six years old due to issues with respiration. However, you can safely add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to your bath water, along with Epsom salt, for children.
  
  
  • Steam. When your child has a chest cold and a cough, you can have your child hold his head over a bowl of hot water. Put a towel around his head. You want him to breathe in the steam for at least 10 minutes. Put a drop or two of eucalyptus oil in the water to add more benefits!
  
  
  • Bay leaves. You might use bay leaves in your soups, but it serves other purposes! Take three to four bay leaves, and add to water and boil. Then, remove the leaves and dip a cloth into the water. Wring it out and place it on your child’s chest, only if the heat is tolerable and won’t hurt your child!
  
  
  • Turmeric milk. If your child is at least one year old, you can try turmeric milk! Turmeric contains antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. It is a wonderful herb for chest congestion. Boil a cup of milk and add a pinch of turmeric. You also can add salt and sugar to help your child drink it.
  
  

This is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or cure any particular health condition. Please consult your child’s doctor first.

What would you add to our list? Share your tips in the section below:

Surprising Kitchen Cures From Cabbage (Yes, Cabbage)

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Its leaves can range from light green to dark purple, and they can be wrinkled or smooth. Naturally low in calories, this cruciferous vegetable packs a lot of health benefits.

However, the cabbage, which is eaten throughout the world in both cooked and raw form, is sometimes misunderstood. Frequently mistaken as a form of lettuce because of its appearance, cabbage actually is a leafy vegetable that is part of the Brassica family that includes its nutritious cousins kale and broccoli.

As with other fruits and vegetables, the darker the color, the more nutritious the cabbage. That means red cabbage — which can range from light red to deep purple — but all cabbage is worth adding to your diet for its health benefits.

Vitamin C

According to the USDA, eating a half cup of cooked cabbage provides 35 percent of your daily vitamin C requirements. That makes cabbage a richer source of this important nutrient than oranges!

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Vitamin C is an antioxidant that has many benefits to the human body, including helping defend against the common cold, healing wounds, preventing ulcers and boosting the immune system. Vitamin C plays a role in skin health and the body’s response to the aging process.

Fiber

Cabbage is rich in fiber, which is essential to a healthy digestive system. The roughage in cabbage helps the body retain water, which protects against indigestion, constipation, ulcers and other stomach problems.

Sulphur

The sulphur contained n cabbage aids the body in fighting infection and helps in wound healing. It also reduces the frequency of ulcers. Research studies have indicated that the sulfur-containing compounds (sulforaphane) found in cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage may help guard against certain forms of cancer.

Glutamine

Cabbage contains glutamine, a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that is linked with the reduction of inflammation, joint pain and various skin problems.

Beta-carotene

Cabbage also is rich in beta-carotene, which is important for eye health. Beta-carotene is linked with the prevention of macular degeneration and the delay of the formation of cataracts.

Vitamin K

The Vitamin K contained in cabbage can boost the cognitive function of the brain. Vitamin K also helps protect the body from the neural degeneration, which is a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Calcium

The calcium contained in cabbage is essential to healthy bones and, as a result, can protect against osteoporosis and other forms of bone weakening.

Anthocyanins

The anthocyanins contained in cabbage, particularly in red cabbage, help reduce the inflammation that may contribute to cardiovascular disease.

Potassium

Cabbage also contains potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. As a vasodilator, potassium helps open up blood vessels, reducing the possibility of constricted arteries and veins and helping prevent platelet buildup.

Lactic acid

The fermenting of cabbage releases lactic acid, which can help ease muscle soreness and other general aches and pains in the body.

Iodine

The iodine contained in cabbage aids the healthy function of the endocrine system, which helps remove toxins from the body and boosts neurological function.

How to choose a cabbage

Select a cabbage that feels heavy for its size and see that its leaves are tight and firm. You may store fresh cabbage for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.

For the most nutrition, eat cabbage raw. However, you may also serve it boiled, steamed, roasted, sautéed or even stuffed. Some people are put off by the odor of cabbage as it cooks. However, this unpleasant smell, which is caused by its sulphur content, usually occurs only when the vegetable is overcooked.

How do you eat and prepare cabbage? What is your favorite type? Share your tips in the section below:

Strategies That Burglars Use To Case Rural Houses

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Living out in the country often means much more privacy than in an urban or suburban household.  If your house is out of view of your neighbors, curtains can remain open and you can go about your business without any questions asked. Most of the time, being out of the prying eyes of busybody neighbors is a huge benefit to rural life.

That lack of visibility, combined with an opioid crisis in many of the most rural populations, leads to a lot of opportunistic petty theft and burglary. On the rural email bulletin in my town, there’s a notice at least once a week that a house was burglarized. Thankfully, the attempts aren’t often sophisticated and they’re usually desperate attempts at a quick buck than well-though-out break ins.

It’s always quick theft of small items. Inside the house, the medicine cabinet has been rifled through, and any small electronics that were in sight have been taken. Gas cans and chainsaws are often taken, too.

How does it happen so often? Persistence and a plausible excuse to come to your door.

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Some excuses are more plausible than others. When a middle-aged man comes to your door selling packs of M&Ms, he won’t make it more than a few houses before someone takes his license plate and notifies the police. A search of that man’s home then turns up a pile of stolen items.

Other techniques are more subtle.

Repair Men

It’s not uncommon for repair men to get lost looking for a house, especially on poorly signed rural routes. These days, you can order a magnetic car door sign and put it on any truck or van to pose as a repair man. “Tony’s Appliance Repair” can drive up to your door, knock and if you happen to answer, they just must have the wrong house.

To seem more plausible, all they need is the name of one of your neighbors, which is easy enough to find by looking at a neighbor’s mailbox or peaking at the address label.

If it’s a repair shop you’ve never herd of, make sure you check with your neighbor and see that they actually needed a repair. Better still, without letting them in, mention that your fridge is acting up and ask for a card. If they stutter and don’t have a number or a card to give you, make sure you take down a good description and a license plate number.

Lost Pets

Every animal owner knows it’s heartbreaking to lose a pet, and we tend to have a lot of sympathy for others whose beloved dog has gone wandering. In reality, if someone is at your door looking for their lost dog, it should be one of your neighbors, not someone you’ve never met.

Take their name and number and let them know you’ll call if you see their pet. Quietly note their plate number for yourself. The next day, you can give them a call and see if they’ve found their pet. If they were really looking for their dog, you can offer sympathy and condolences, but if they were casing your house, you’ll likely get a fake number and checking up is a good idea.

Accusations of Stolen Items

This method is a bit more aggressive than the other two. With lost pets and repair men, they’re hoping you’re not home when they come to your door. Our neighborhood recently had a group of people going door to door looking for empty houses, but also targeting elderly citizens home alone.

The first person would knock, and if someone that looked “vulnerable” answered they’d say that their computer or phone was stolen and that they’d tracked it to this address. The burglar would be aggressive and confrontational, demanding to come in and look for the stolen item.

If you let them in, or they pushed their way in, they’d lead you on a wild goose chase through your house, digging through your things and keeping you flustered with accusations. All the while, another person or two entered the house and quietly took any visible valuables while you were arguing with the first person.

This happened to a number of elderly people in our community, most of whom did not know they’d been robbed until they heard a story about the burglars being caught in the local newspaper. They finally hit the wrong house, where the elderly woman was not home alone, and her son came to her aid and confronted them.

Counter Measures

By far, the best counter measure is to know your neighbors and your neighborhood. Strong communities help stop crime together. In addition to a strong community, a few well-placed trail cameras are a good second line of defense.

Place at least two cameras on your property. One that’s obvious — that lets the person know you’ve got their picture if they come to your door. That’s a great deterrent, but an obvious trail cam can be disabled given enough time. A second camera, hidden from view in a tree or up under the eves, is a good double insurance policy.

What other ways do thieves case rural homes? Share your thoughts in the section below:

Kitchen Secrets That Extend The Life Of Fresh Tomatoes

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You may have heard that it’s not a good idea to store tomatoes in the fridge. And, in fact, the optimal storage temperature for tomatoes is 55-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Colder temps damage both the aroma molecules and the texture of tomatoes, which affects their palatability.

However, room temperature in many of our homes is higher than 55-70 degrees, particularly in the warm summer months when we’re picking garden-fresh tomatoes. Unless you’re fortunate enough to have a wine cooler or wine fridge (which, optimally, should be set to 55 degrees Fahrenheit), you need to pick between the lesser of the two evils: the too-cold fridge or the too-warm countertop.

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The best thing to do is strike a balance. Start by checking for ripeness. When lightly squeezed, a perfectly ripe tomato should give very lightly to the touch. If it doesn’t give at all, it’s not ripe yet; if it’s quite soft, it’s overripe.

Underripe and ripe tomatoes are best kept on the countertop as long as possible. As well, it’s best to store them stem- or scar-side down. There are several websites that discuss the stem-side down storage method, and some sites have done their own experiments to prove that it increases shelf life. It does work, but everyone seems unsure of the science behind it. It’s speculated that there are one of two things going on.

First, while the skin of a tomato is effective at keeping out bacteria, cracks in the scar can let bacteria in. When a tomato is stored upside down, the liquid inside the fruit moves to the top of the tomato, which provides a sort of seal to the cracks in the scar and a barrier to bacteria. The other possibility is that storing a tomato upside down somehow affects the way ethylene gas is transmitted. Fruits naturally create ethylene, which aids in the ripening process. When the production or transmission of ethylene is slowed, the ripening process slows as well.

Tomatoes stored at room temperature should be checked regularly, particularly if your home is on the warm side. The warmer it is, the more quickly tomatoes will ripen and subsequently mold or rot. Any tomatoes that are past optimal ripeness should be tossed in the fridge. Some spots in the fridge are slightly warmer than others, such as on the top shelf and near the door, and those are the ideal spots for tomatoes. But, in the end, while they may lose some palatability in the fridge, they will definitely lose palatability if they start to go bad on the countertop. Bottom line: Refrigerate when necessary.

Do you have any advice for extending the life of tomatoes? Share your tips in the section below:

5 All-Natural Weed Killers, Straight From Your Kitchen (No. 2 Will Kill ANYTHING)

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Weeds — they creep up in your garden, sneak through the cracks in the sidewalk, and make it a point to grow everywhere that’s inconvenient to reach.

The easy-out, of course, is to reach for a bottle of store-bought herbicide. Readily available and modestly priced, it’s no wonder that many home gardeners choose it.

Unfortunately, many of these herbicides can be detrimental not only to weeds, but to humans as well. Studies suggest that the chemicals in these products can have a wide range of impacts. Some are relatively minor, such as the potential to cause skin irritations or allergic reactions, while others are more serious, such as nervous system problems and even cancer. In all cases, children and pets are especially vulnerable. Many of these products also have a long-term negative impact on the environment.

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Homemade weed killers offer the best possible alternative to manufactured herbicides. Inexpensive and made from common household materials, these natural weed killers can help keep unwanted plants at bay without unnecessary exposure to harmful chemicals.

Let’s look at several:

1. Boiling water

One of the simplest solution to weeds involves nothing more than water. To use this technique, boil water in a kettle, then, before it has a chance to cool, pour the water on the crown and roots of the offending plant. The hot temperature will scald virtually any plant it comes in contact with, generally dealing a mortal blow. Although plants with long taproots may require more than one treatment, this is an easy and completely natural way to combat pesky plants.

2. Salt

There’s a reason armies used to salt the fields of their enemies — salt has a powerful ability to render soil barren. Because it affects the ability of roots to take up water from the soil, salt effectively dries out existing plants and makes it difficult for new ones to take hold. While not an ideal solution for gardens and lawns since it can cause permanent damage to the soil, salt can be useful for treating pathways, sidewalks and other areas that are meant to be plant-free. For easy application, dissolve one part salt in eight parts water and apply to the desired locations.

3. Vinegar and lemon juice

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Plants are picky when it comes to soil pH, and lowering the pH immediately around a weed will almost always cause it to wither. For this reason, it’s not unusual to find acidic ingredients in many commercial herbicides. Before resorting to an unknown chemical concoction, though, it’s worth trying a version made from common pantry items.

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Vinegar and lemon juice both contain strong acids and can be combined for a pH-targeting weed treatment. Simply combine four ounces of lemon juice with one quart of vinegar and apply directly on the offending plants. This solution will kill most plants, but without causing residual damage to the surrounding soil.

4. Pickle juice

Finish off a jar of pickles recently? Don’t throw away the bottle without putting the leftover liquid to good use first! Pickle brine is full of vinegar and salt, making it a natural combination of these two weed-tackling substances. Apply directly to problem plants and pat yourself on the back for finding such a creative way to handle uninvited garden guests.

5. Soap

One of the most popular homemade herbicides involves combining two of the treatments mentioned above (vinegar and salt) with a third household product — dish soap. While not necessarily damaging to weeds in and of itself, soap contains surfactants which help the other ingredients “stick” to the plant, enhancing the weed-killing properties of the solution. To create this triple-whammy weed control, combine one gallon of vinegar (to lower the pH) with one cup of salt (to dry out the roots) and one tablespoon of dish soap (to help it adhere to the plants).

Controlling weeds doesn’t necessarily need to involve harsh chemicals and impossible-to-pronounce ingredients. Take advantage of these homemade alternatives to safely keep unwanted plants in check.

What all-natural methods would you add to this list? Share your ideas in the section below:

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8 Health Benefits Of Spinach You Likely Didn’t Know

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If you could eat something that could boost your eye health, strengthen your bones, increase your body’s healing processes and aid your digestion, would you eat it? What about if that same food was easy to grow or inexpensive to purchase — and easy to add to soups, salads and main dishes?

That food is spinach, a known superfood long before the term “superfood” was ever coined. In fact, the leafy green vegetable has been used for centuries to promote health and well-being.

Persians cultivated spinach thousands of years ago. Historians believe the plant made its way east to China about 1,500 years ago and then to Europe a few centuries years later where it quickly became a staple as a side dish vegetable and as an ingredient in numerous dishes.

The comic book character Popeye’s secret weapon, spinach is an excellent source of many minerals and vitamins. Let’s look at some of the many “kitchen cures” it offers.

1. Eyes

You know about how eating carrots can benefit your eyes, but you may not know that consuming spinach is just as helpful, if not more so.

The carotenoids and antioxidants found in spinach can protect your eyes from age-related macular degeneration, as well as from cataracts and glaucoma.

2. Heart

Atherosclerosis is a life-threatening condition caused by hardening of the arteries. Lutein, which is a pigment in spinach, reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and, as a result, can help decrease the chance of heart attack and stroke. Lutein works to reduce fat deposits in the body’s blood vessels.

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The mineral folate, which is plentiful in spinach, also helps to reduce high blood pressure and the inflammation of blood vessels.

3. Bones

One cup of boiled spinach produces 41 calories and offers twice the recommended daily serving of Vitamin K.

This high concentration of vitamin K can help you maintain bone density and prevent bone fractures. Other minerals found in spinach, including manganese, magnesium, copper, zinc and phosphorus, also help build strong bones, teeth and nails.

4. Healing

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One serving of spinach contains 56 percent of the recommended daily amount of Vitamin A. Vitamin A helps boost the body’s natural healing process, including cellular and collagen development.

5. Digestion

Eating spinach helps protect the mucus lining of the stomach, which helps prevent ulcers, and this protection helps flush toxins from the colon.

6. Pregnancy

Spinach is a great food for expectant mothers to eat. The folate found in spinach helps the fetus develop properly. Studies show that birth defects, such as cleft palate or spina bifida, may be due to a folate deficiency. The high amount of Vitamin A contained in spinach also helps aid the unborn baby’s lung development.

7. The Brain

The potassium, folate and other antioxidants found in spinach also may provide neurological benefits. For example, the journal Neurology reports that folate consumption may be linked with Alzheimer’s disease prevention. Potassium helps increase blood flow to the brain, which may improve cognition and concentration.

8. Muscles

According to the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, an antioxidant found in spinach, called C0-Q10, helps strengthen muscles, especially heart muscles. C0-Q10 may help treat cardiovascular diseases and coronary heart disease.

One potential drawback of consuming a lot of spinach is its oxalic acid content. Oxalic acid blocks the body’s absorption of calcium and iron, and some people who eat large quantities of raw spinach may experience symptoms of gout, arthritis and rheumatism. High levels of oxalic acid also can lead to kidney stones and gallstones in some individuals.

One way around the potential problem with oxalic acid is to pair spinach with a food that is high in Vitamin C, such as oranges.

In addition, boiling spinach greatly reduces its amount of oxalic acid, and unlike other vegetables, spinach retains its nutritional after it is cooked.

If you are looking to add spinach to your shopping list, here is one other important thing to keep in mind. Go organic, since pesticides on the leaves are difficult to wash off. Or, grow your own spinach.

Finally, here are some ways to add this powerful superfood into your family’s meals:

• Add spinach to your favorite soup or stew.


• Toss a handful of spinach into a fruit smoothie before blending.


• Chop and stir spinach into your pasta sauce.


• Top lasagna or your macaroni and cheese with finely chopped spinach.


• Place a leaf or two of spinach on your sandwich instead of lettuce.


• Make a quesadilla with spinach and cheese.


• Use spinach as a pizza topping.


• Add it to your omelet or scrambled eggs.

Do you have any spinach-growing tips? What is your favorite superfood? Share your thoughts in the section below:

Sources:

Cicero, Karen. Giant book of kitchen counter cures. Jerry Baker publisher, 2001. Print.

https://www.udc.edu/docs/causes/online/Spinach%2014.pdf

https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/seasonal-produce-guide/spinach

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=43

The $100 Simple Outdoor Canning Kitchen

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Canning is a fun and rewarding summertime activity that helps preserve your garden’s bounty, saves money and increases your self-reliance.

But it also involves work at a hot stove during the hottest part of the year, when fruit and produce are at their peak. Back in the day, when cooking was done on wood cook stoves, many households had a second detached “summer kitchen,” where summer meals were prepared without adding extra heat into the house.

Outdoor summer kitchens are mostly a thing of the past, but serious home preservers and canners can set up an outdoor “canning kitchen” to make their jams, jellies and preserves.

Basic Setup

While you can use an old-fashioned wood cook stove to equip your canning kitchen, most people opt for the convenience of large portable propane burners. A simple high output propane burner (55,000 BTU or more) is available for under $40, and can connect to a standard exchangeable propane tank.  These large burners can bring a five-gallon pot of water to a rolling boil in just a few minutes, which beats waiting as much as an hour for your indoor kitchen stove to do the same job.

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A second, small scale camp stove to cook up your preserves is a necessary expense, as a high output burner would quickly burn preserves and wreak havoc on your small saucepans. These are similarly inexpensive and sell for as little as $20.

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Assuming you already have canning jars and pots, the only other thing you’ll need is a propane tank for about $40. All total, for about $100 you have the basics of an outdoor canning kitchen that can be set up temporarily outdoors on a small table or even the ground in a pinch. With even a few batches of jam or pickles in a summer, you’ll be thankful for the investment, both for the cooler house and the reduction in humidity and mold potential, as all that water bath steam is released into your kitchen.

Canning on Wood Heat

If you’d like to further reduce your ongoing costs, or simply avoid the use of fossil fuels, it’s easy enough to can outdoors on wood heat, or with a hybrid method. For the least expensive option, try creating a small wood stove by making a U-shaped fire pit out of cinder blocks and topping it with a BBQ grate. With this setup, you’ll need to be careful not to damage your canning pot with the open flame. For a less primitive option, try a wood cook stove, which you can get, second-hand, for as little as a few hundred dollars.

If you’re truly looking for the best long-term outdoor canning kitchen solution, try a dual-fuel wood and gas stove. With a dual-fuel stove, you’ll be able to use wood as your primary heat source to bring canning water to a boil, but still use a more gentle heat from a small gas burner to gently cook down jams and jellies before they go into the water bath.

Temporary or Permanent Canning Kitchen

It’s easy enough to set up a temporary canning kitchen for the afternoon by simply hauling your propane burners out to a safe spot, but if you’re canning more frequently, it might make sense to set up a semi-permanent or permanent canning kitchen.

A semi-permanent option with a tarp or tent canopy roof means that you can leave your materials outdoors and can several times a week without exhaustive setup time. A simple sink built into a 2×4 framed countertop can be plumbed in with a garden hose. With this option, you’re still at the mercy of the weather to some degree, as tarps don’t fare particularly well in high winds and storms — and flies, honeybees or mosquitoes are sure to be a problem.

If you can afford it, the best option is a permanent screened-in outdoor structure that has a solid roof and fully screened walls to protect you from the elements and unwanted pests. Keep in mind: If you set everything up correctly, you could do just about all of your summer cooking in your outdoor canning kitchen to help keep your house cooler.

For a truly year-round option, try integrating your canning kitchen into a sugar shack. A sugar shack is already set up to vent heat and steam, and most are designed with a bit of counter space for making value-added maple products like maple cream and candy. If you’re considering building a sugar shack or summer canning kitchen, why not design them together into one structure to save both space and money?

Do you have an outdoor kitchen? Share your ideas for one in the section below:

You Know The London Real Estate Market Is Out Of Control When...

For just $1000 per month, you too can live in Chiswick High Street, London - in a studio flat with a shower in the kitchen...

As The Standard reports, the flat has been “refurbished to a high standard” according to an advert on Gumtree, and has a price tag of £850 per month (around $1050 per month).

 The ad describes it as having its “own shower” and an “open plan kitchen" – however it fails to mention that the shower is situated right next to the kitchen work surfaces.

Pictures of the flat, located in Chiswick High Road, reveal the unusual quirk – showing the kitchen sink with a shower on one side and a stove on the other.