Hippocrates Health Institute Health Care - Fun Fact Friday

Did you know that turmeric is one of the healthiest ways you can add flavor and color to your food.  With its powerful antioxidants and anti inflammatory effects, it has been shown to protect your brain and joints, help stop indigestion or heartburn and be anti cancerous.  It is being grown right here in our own Hippocrates Health Institute Organic Garden and you can find it on the condiment table at our Hippocrates Health Institute buffet. Check it out!

More about Turmeric:

• Curcumin is the component that gives it a bright hue and yields much of the health benefits.

• It is considered to be "skin food" in India and other cultures.

• You can juice it, put it on your salad or get it in supplement form (otherwise known as Phyto Enhanced) from our Hippocrates Health Institute store.

• Dr. Brian's book "Food is Medicine "Edible Plant Foods from A-Z"  Vol. 2 gives great evidence for its healing properties.

Healthy is so fun !!...

How Is Gardening Therapeutic?

Gardening is now being used in schools, medical treatment centers, homes for troubled persons, and detention centers all over the world as a form of psychological therapy. Gardening has been recognized by behavioral scientists to be so beneficial that it is now being called horticultural therapy. It calms the nerves, soothes anxiety, and relieves fears.


This reaction is no doubt due to several factors:
• Exposure to the outside, nature, fresh air, and sunshine.
• Watching things grow.
• Participating in the propagation of life.
• Gardening is also a great form of exercise.
• You get to enjoy the fruits of your labors.


There are also pheromones in organic soil and compost which are released while you are gardening. These airborne chemicals are capable of impacting your behavior by stimulating serotonin which is the happy hormone. Here at Hippocrates Health Institute we teach regular “hands-on” classes on Organic Gardening.

From the HHI Kitchen: Olive Tapenade

1 Bunch Parsley
3 C. Green Olives
2 C. Black Olives
1/8 Tsp. Red Crushed Pepper Flakes
3 Oz. Lemon Juice
6-8 Cloves of Garlic

1. In a food processor, chop lemon, garlic, and parsley.
2. Add olives and plse.
3. Toss red crushed pepper flakes to taste and serve 

Effective health care tips of Hippocrates Health Institute

Boneset (Eupatorium)
Growing in the Hippocrates Herb Garden

From the HHI Garden: Herbs

Here at Hippocrates Health Institute we are growing dozens of herbs for the culinary use and the medicinal use of our guests. One of the interesting ones is boneset which:

• Boosts the immune system

• Alleviates flu aches

• Reduce fever

• Encourages detoxification by inducing sweating (diaphoretic)

From the HHI Kitchen:

Stock your kitchen: Aqua Botanicals:

Super foods are part of the core healing program at Hippocrates Health Institute, and we love the nutrient-dense, fresh-water, aqua botanicals: AFA (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae), Spirulina and Chlorella. Many foods are casually referred to as “super foods” such as oatmeal and blueberries. Some indeed possess exceptional nutritional benefits; however, to be more precise a super food is a highly nutrient-dense food with multiple health benefits. People tend to think of fresh-water super foods as very similar to each other.

However, there are vast differences between them. We all know that vegetables offer a variety of benefits- carrots being very different than broccoli for example. We all know to eat many kinds of vegetables to reap the nutritional benefits of each. No one would eat only one vegetable, the same holds true for the different fresh-water aqua botanical. Be sure to stock up on our favorite three- Spirulina, Chlorella and AFA.

Health care benefits of garlic

 From the HHI Garden: Garlic

Garlic is Nature’s most powerful antibiotic. God made garlic smart too. When you eat it raw it knows the difference between the beneficial and the bad bacteria inside of you and will only target the bad. But, it keeps getting better. Unlike conventional antibiotic drugs which are useless against viruses, garlic is also antiviral which makes it a powerful ally in the war against colds, flus, SARS, bird flu, and even Ebola.

And if all that weren’t enough here are five more things that raw garlic is good for:
    1. Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol
    2. Thins the blood
    3. Improves the release of Nitrous Oxide response for dilation of blood vessels
    4. Boosts the sex hormones
    5. Improves sperm count to aid couples trying to conceive a child

Effective health care tips of Hippocrates Health Institute

From the HHI Garden: Avocado

Avocados are a wonderful thing to add to your diet. Native to South America, the flesh and the seed are excellent sources of soluble fiber which gets plaque out of your arteries and lowers cholesterol.

This can help people reverse arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries.) Avocados is also an excellent source of protein and one of the highest sources of glutathione. This gives you energy, helps cells to repair themselves and is anti-aging!

Here at Hippocrates Health Institute we have several avocado trees on campus which are harvested in season for the benefit of our guests.

From the HHI Kitchen:

Everyone enjoyed the food at Rawfest so much there have been an overwhelming amount of requests
for our famous “tuna” recipe!


Renate's "Better Than Tuna"
3 C. Hulled Sunflower Seeds (Soaked 4 to 8 hours, rinsed)
½ C. Water
¼ C. Lemon Juice
3 Squirts of Braggs Amino Acid or kelp to taste

1. Process in food processor until thick and creamy.
2. Put Pâté into large bowl.

Add:
1 C. Diced Celery
½ C. Diced White Onions

Neem & Cranberry hibiscus for Best Health Care

From the HHI Garden:

 

Five Uses for Neem:

1. Diabetes.
2. Eye disorders.
3. Parasites.
4. Skin disorders.
5. Periodontal disease and cleaning teeth. Chew fresh neem twigs after a meal instead of using a toothbrush. The twigs can also be used as a toothpick.

Neem is a tree that grows really well here in South Florida. We have plenty available for our Life Transformation Program guests on our 50-acre Hippocrates Health Institute campus. We use the various parts of the tree – the bark, leaves, and seeds for different therapeutic purposes. You can make an infusion (tea), a tincture, a poultice, or you can eat the leaves and chew on the twigs raw. Neem is very bitter but, as they say in Ayurvedic medicine, “the bitter the better!” In fact, over 75% of Ayurvedic remedies contain neem.

Cranberry hibiscus for your health care:

Cranberry hibiscus is both sweet-tart tasting and highly nutritious. Its’ deep red leaves resemble those of a maple tree. Cranberry hibiscus is used in recipes, eaten raw, or steeped in hot water to make a tea. It is high in B vitamins which give you more energy throughout the day and vitamin C which boosts your immune system.

Research indicates that antioxidants found in cranberry hibiscus lowers cholesterol, improves the functioning of your liver, and helps fight cancer. Its’ use has been also associated with reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and healing indigestion.

Originally from Africa, cranberry hibiscus grows well in South Florida and we have plenty growing on campus at Hippocrates Health Institute.

From the HHI Kitchen: Green Soup

 

From the Hippocrates Health Institute Kitchen: How to make Green Soup

Yield: 2 Servings

• 3 C. Green Juice
• ½ C. Chopped Celery
• 1 C. Chopped Cucumber
• ¼ C. Chopped Red Onion
• ½ Avocado
• 2 C. Chopped Fresh Herbs (Parsley, Basil, Dill)
• 1 T. Fresh Lemon Juice
• Kelp Powder, To Taste
• Garlic and Ginger, Optional

Braggs Aminos or Nama Shoyu, Optional

1.  In a blender, combine all ingredients.
2.  Blend well and season to taste.
3.  Serve immediately.

Natural health care for you

From the HHI Garden:

 

Papaya has a soft texture and tastes sweet and fruity like bubble gum. It is traditionally used for:

    • Enzymes

    • Digestive health

    • Heart health

    • Vitamin C

    • Prostate cancer

    • Inflammation

    • Asthma

    • Osteoarthritis

    • Rheumatoid arthritis

    • Macular Degeneration

Unfortunately, since 1998 most of the papaya that is commercially distributed in the United States has been genetically modified (GMO) and comes from Hawaii. GMO papaya is still outlawed in the EU. Here at Hippocrates Health Institute we have several dozen papaya trees grown from non-GMO seeds sourced from outside the United States.

From the HHI Kitchen:

Lacinato Kale Ribbons

Yield: 6 Cups

Ingredients:

•     5 C. Chiffonade Lacinato Kale
•     1 C. Greek Sun-Dried Olives, Pitted & Chopped
•     ½ Pepper (Either Red, Yellow, or Orange)
•     ¼ Onion
•     1 C. Whole Leaf Dulse, Snipped Into Pieces
•     ½ C. Hippocrates House Dressing

1. In a Mixing Bowl, add a little dressing at a time and massage into the kale to soften texture. Next, combine all ingredients. Mix well and season to taste.

Hippocrates House Dressing:

Blend at high speed:

•     ¼ cup plus 1 T Lemon Juice
•     1/8 cup Braggs
•     1 T. Water
•     3 Cloves Garlic
•     2 tsp Ground Yellow Mustard Seeds
•     1/8 tsp Cayenne
•     While Blending Slowly Add:
•     ¾ cup of oil blend: olive, flax, hemp

This dressing is thick and creamy and will last in the fridge for 2 weeks.

Fun Fact Friday

Meet Holy Basil.  This herb is native to India where it is considered a sacred plant that is said to clear the aura and open the heart.  Holy Basil, or Tulsi, is best known for its ability to help the body adapt to stress. It grows abundantly right here in our Hippocrates Organic Garden.  What a great way to find some all natural stress relief during one of our breaks. It only takes a couple of leaves to turn it into a comforting tea!

Holy Basil Tea:

•  Simply cover 2 teaspoons of fresh tulsi leaves (5 leaves or so) with 8 oz of hot water.
•  Cover it and let it steep for about 5 minutes.
•  Strain the leaves off and enjoy!

 Healthy is so fun!

How to Start a Garden

From the Hippocrates Health Institute Garden: 

Are you considering starting a new vegetable garden next Spring? Sheet mulching in the Fall is an excellent way to convert a part of your lawn into a nutrient rich garden plot ready to plant seeds and starter plants in the Spring. The secret to successful gardening is in the quality of the soil. Sheet mulching is the application of thick layers of organic matter which, over the winter convert into rich loom as a result of the action of the trillions of microscopic microbes in the soil.

Choose a location in the yard that is relatively level and receives the most amount of sun throughout the day. All other things being equal your new garden plot should be located relatively close to the house, close to the water hose faucet, and close to the shed (where you will be keeping your gardening tools. Here is what you will need to get started:

Ingredients:

1. Compost
2. Mulch (or seed-free straw)
3. Rock dust
4. Cardboard
5. Mixed organic material (grass clippings, leaves, kitchen food scraps, wheatgrass root mats, and/or seaweed.)

Preparation:

1. Spread a 2 inch layer of compost over a 10’ X 10’ area of your existing lawn. Wet it down with the hose.

2. Cover the compost with at least two layers of cardboard. Wet it down again with the hose.

3. Cover the cardboard with another 2 inch layer of compost. Sprinkle a few pounds of rock dust evenly over the compost. Wet it down again with the hose.

4. Cover the compost with at least12 inches of mixed organic material (Grass clippings, leaves, kitchen food scraps, wheatgrass root mats, and/or seaweed.) Wet it down again with the hose.

5. Top it all off with 2 inches of mulch. Wet everything down well with the hose.

Occasionally water your garden-in-the-making to keep it moist. Soil microbes and earthworms will toil through the Fall and Winter to decompose the organic material, cardboard, and mulch leaving behind a nutrient-dense loom ready for planting in the Spring.

Grow Your Own Stevia

Stevia is a very sweet plant that has zero calories and a glycemic index of zero. This makes it an excellent choice for people who would like to transition away from sugar and other high-glycemic sweeteners. However, since the refinement process in stevia extracts strips away antioxidants and some of the plant’s other healthcare properties it is best to grow your own stevia plants at home and use the whole leaf as a sweetener.

Here is how to grow stevia:

1. Start the seeds in a tray indoors early in the Spring about one month before the last frost. Use 100% organic potting mix and plant the seeds to a depth of ½”. Due to the low germination rate of the seeds you should plant three times the usual number of seeds. Make sure you are getting stevia rebaudiana since this is the only sweet variety.

2. Keep the soil moist. It is best to water from underneath by using a plug tray (with holes) inside a web tray inside a standard flat (without holes.) Keep about ½” of water in the bottom of the standard flat tray.

3. Choose a location in the garden that receives full sun. Prepare the soil with 50% organic compost and 50% peat moss.

4. Stevia prefers warm weather. Transplant the seedlings outdoors several weeks after the last frost. This means sometime in May for most parts of the United States.

5. Set the plants two feet apart.

6. Water regularly and do not allow your stevia plants to dry out.

7. The plants will grow 16” to 24” tall depending upon the temperature. Trim the plants when they reach a height of eight inches tall and again at twelve inches to maximize leaf production.

Raised beds are ideal for stevia since they allow excellent drainage. To increase your supply of stevia plants you can use the stem tips to create new starts by rooting them in trays with moist potting mix.

Use the fresh leaves during the growing season to sweeten tea. The sweetness in the leaves is approximately one-fourth as concentrated as the white, powdered stevia sold at the store. Many people seem to like fresh stevia (or the powdered dried leaves) better than the concentrate, but you should try it for yourself.

Grow Your Own Okra

Okra is well known as a blood sugar balancer which makes it a very powerful tool for diabetes. Less well known are okra’s anti-cancer benefits. Studies on okra’s effect on cancer have shown that:

• Okra kills 72% of human breast cancer cells in vitro
• Okra pectin inhibits 75% of highly metastatic melanoma cells in vitro
• Men who eat okra have 40% less prostate cancer

Okra is a hot weather plant and grows well in Southern Florida. Here at the Hippocrates Health Institute we harvest plenty of freshly-picked okra every day this time of year and deliver it straight to the kitchen for the ultimate farm-to-table experience for our guests. Wait until the weather is warm to set out your Okra plants. Plants like it when nights are at least in the 60s and days 85 or warmer. Soak your okra seeds overnight for the best germination. Choose a sunny location and plant the seeds in fertile, well-drained soil about 1/2 to 1 inch deep and 12 to 18 inches apart.

Water right away and continue watering once a day on those days it does not rain. Once every two weeks fertilize with compost tea or side-dress each plant with compost. Warm weather helps podsgrow quickly, so check plants every day once they start producing. A pod can grow from nothing to full size in 2 or 3 days. Pods first appear at the base of the plant up so that by the end of the season you could be on your tiptoes to harvest.

Pods are ideal when 2 to 4 inches long; they get very tough and stringy if allowed to stay on the plant. Always remove any that are too big to eat because they keep the plant from producing. Use pruning shears to cut the pods with a short stub of stem attached. Okra is best eaten raw as many of the health-giving nutrients are heat sensitive.

Benefits of Moringa

The moringa is a fast growing tree well adapted to tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world including here in south Florida. Its leaves taste like peanuts with a slight bitter aftertaste. It thrives in extreme heat, humidity, intense sun exposure, and poor soil. Because it quickly grows a deep tap root seeking water that is sometimes scarce, moringa is capable of enduring long periods of drought. Since the bugs do not bother it moringa requires no pesticides. The seeds are even used to purify water..

Moringa is highly nutritious. Its leaves have:

• Two times the protein of eggs
• Three times the potassium of bananas
• Four times the calcium of milk
• Four times the vitamin A of carrots
• Seven times the vitamin C of oranges


In other words, it is like growing multivitamins in your backyard! Moringa’s characteristics means it grows easily in regions of the world where it is needed the most, earning it the much deserved nickname of “The Miracle Tree.” Here at Wheatgrass Central we have dozens of Moringa trees growing in our Organic Garden. The leaves are dehydrated and delivered to the kitchen and put in shaker bottles to be sprinkled on salads and for use in salad dressings

From the Organic Garden: Just the Basics

Organic gardening consists of growing food without the use of chemically synthesized fertilizer, pesticides, fungicides, and/or herbicides. This results in better tasting, more nutritious, and safer food to eat. Consuming conventionally grown food exposes you to highly dangerous and toxic chemicals which, ultimately weakens your immune system. For example, imagine preparing a nice salad plate for your lunch and then spraying it with a can of Raid prior to sitting down to eat! This sounds extreme yet, that is exactly what you are doing every time you consume conventionally grown food. When purchasing certified organically grown food you also greatly improve your chances of avoiding Genetically Modified food.

Here are some better alternatives to conventional gardening:

Instead of This	Use This
Chemically synthesized fertilizer (NPK) Bone Meal Pesticides Herbicides Fungicides Hybrid Seeds	Vegetative Compost, worm castings, and worm tea Ociean Solution and rock dust Beneficial Insects( lady bugs, praying mantis, etc.) Cardboard covered with mulch and vinegar spray Neem oil and milk spray Heirloom Seeds

The following list of foods called the “Dirty Dozen – Plus”, should always be purchased organic. These foods in particular have demonstrated a high pesticide residue when grown conventionally. In some cases, the pesticides penetrate deeply in the produce with no practical way of washing them off.

Apples                          Nectarines (imported) Corn

Strawberries                  Cucumbers

Grapes                         Cherry tomatoes

Celery                          Snap peas (imported)

Peaches                       Potatoes

Spinach                        Hot peppers

Sweet bell peppers        Blueberries (domestic)

What if there was a way to jumpstart your health?

Thousands of people have discovered the many benefits from having colon hydrotherapy. Having a healthy colon is a crucial part of experiencing overall health and vibrancy. Colon hydrotherapy is a method of removing waste from the large intestine, without the use of drugs. By introducing filtered water in the colon, the waste is softened and loosened, resulting in natural evacuation. This allows vital nutrients to be absorbed more easily and leaves you feeling rejuvenated and healthier. 

Grow Your Own Turmeric

Turmeric is my number one anti-inflammatory remedy for the relief of chronic and acute pain. It has been used for over 4,000 years to treat a variety of conditions. Turmeric is probably the most well researched medicinal plant in history for good reason. It has been the subject of over 700 peer-reviewed studies. Studies have shown that this wonder plant outperforms pharmaceutical drugs in its effects against many chronic debilitating diseases, and does so with virtually no adverse side effects. Here are some of the diseases that turmeric has been found to help or alleviate:

• Arthritis
• Alzheimer's disease
• Bacterial Infections
• Cancer
• Digestive problems
• Heart disease
• Viral Infections
• And many more…

Turmeric is a perennial plant that grows in India, Southern Asia, and the tropical regions around the world. It also grows well in here in South Florida at the Hippocrates Health Institute. Each year we grow dozens of turmeric plants in the Hippocrates Organic Garden for use in our kitchen and for the benefit of our guests. It is best eaten raw but, it can also be dried and ground to a powder to be used as a culinary seasoning, as a tea, or put in capsules and taken orally. It has a strong pungent taste and is one of the primary ingredients in curry for Indian flavored cuisine.

If you live in a tropical region like South Florida you can grow turmeric outdoors. In other parts of the world you can grow turmeric indoors as a potted plant. Either way, you should use rich, well-drained soil such as a good organic potting soil. Choose a sunny location or partial shade. Purchase the raw turmeric rhizomes online or from your local grocery store or Asian market. You can break off the branches of the rhizomes to create more plants. Plant the rhizome pieces two inches deep and twelve inches apart. Keep the soil moist but not too wet or the root may rot. Fertilize with compost tea or side dress each plant with compost once every two weeks.

It takes eight to ten months for the plant to reach maturity. During this time the plant will grow leaves 5 - 6 feet high. Eventually, the plant will start to turn yellow and the leaves will start to dry out. That’s when your turmeric is ready to dig up. Cut the dried leaves off from the rhizome and gently brush the dirt off. Do not rinse with water as this may cause the rhizome to rot. It is now ready to use. Save a few pieces of root and start more plants for the next season. You can store any excess in an air-tight container kept in a cool dark place where it will keep for up to 6 months.

Where Do You Get Your Protein?

Where does a cow get her protein? All plants contain protein. In fact, there is more protein per calorie in many plant-based foods than there is in animal flesh. Protein from plants is a high-quality source. It is more easily absorbed by the human body compared to animal-based protein without all of the nasty byproducts such as uric acid. Living foods are an especially good source of protein because it is in a pre-digested form due to all the enzymes activated by the sprouting process.

The published official government protein requirements are greatly exaggerated because most of the protein is not absorbed when taken in animal form. Anyone who consumes the amount of protein recommended by the US Department of Agriculture or the World Health Organization in animal form will ultimately end up with kidney problems, bladder problems, and cardiovascular disease. When you acquire your protein from plant based foods you do not need that much. In this case, you only need between 0.09 and 0.15 grams of protein per pound of body weight. This equates to about 15 grams of protein per day for the average person or 25 grams of protein per day for a very active person. The best sources of protein include:

• Sunflower Sprouts-23.5 grams/cup
• Pea Shoot Sprouts-21.2 grams/cup
• Adzuki sprouts-15.0 grams/cup
• Garbanzo beans (and hummus)-14.5 grams/cup
• Blue-green algae, chlorella, spirulina-14.1 grams/ounce
• Chia seed-12.0 grams/cup
• Hemp seed-10.0 grams/cup
• Flax seed-8.0 grams/cup
• Tahini-8.0 grams/3 tablespoons
• Almond butter-8.0 grams/2 tablespoons
• Peas-8.0 grams/cup
• Lentil sprouts-6.9 grams/cup
• Sesame seeds-6.5 grams/ounce
• Pistachios-5.8 grams/1 oz.
• Broccoli-5.0 grams/cup
• Spinach-5.0 grams/cup
• Kale-5.0 grams/cup
• Walnuts-5.0 grams/1/4 cup (2 oz.)
• Almonds-4.0 grams/2 tablespoons
• Avocado-4.0 grams/each
• Broccoli-4.0 grams/cup
• Collards-4.0 grams/cup
• Swiss chard-3.5 grams/cup
• Kale-2.5 grams/cup

Grow Your Own Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass juice is nature’s finest medicine. It is our signature elixir here at Hippocrates Health Institute. It is the icon in our logo. It is a powerful concentrated liquid nutrient. Two ounces of wheatgrass juice has the nutritional equivalent of five pounds of the best raw organic vegetables! It is also a powerful detoxifier pulling poisons, stored toxins, and heavy metals out of the body.

It is best to grow wheatgrass indoors. The ideal temperature range is between 65-75 degrees F and humidity less than 50%. You want plenty of indirect sunlight and plenty of artificial light (full-spectrum is best) but, no direct sunlight. Keep the lights on for about twelve hours a day and turn them off at night.

Origin:

• Mesopotamia Health Benefits:

• Blood builder • Anti-cancer

• Detoxifier

• Boosts the immune system

Growth Process:

1. Soak 1 cup seeds for 8 hours.

2. Drain. Rinse and drain again.

3. Rinse twice a day for one day. Double rinse each time.

4. Plant in ½ “ compacted potting mix in a 10” X 10” tray with drainage holes.

5. Water and keep the tray supported so it can drain well.

6. Water twice a day for 7 days.

7. Keep covered with an empty tray for the first 3 days.

8. Keep in a brightly lit area.

9. Harvest at the beginning of the jointing stage. Yields up 9 ounces of juice. It is best to juice it fresh.

Maturity Time:

• Seven days

Grow Your Own Broccoli

Broccoli is very high in the master antioxidant glutathione and other important nutrients. Like all amino acids glutathione is very heat sensitive and on average is seventy-five percent destroyed by the cooking process. Therefore, broccoli is best eaten raw food.

Broccoli is a cool weather plant and does best in zones 3-7. Plant in the early spring, late summer or, in warmer climates, over the winter. Here is how to grow broccoli right in your own yard:

• Start your spring crop indoors 7 to 9 weeks before the last expected frost. Fill 4” round Fertil pots with 100% organic potting mix and place in a drain pan. Plant two seeds per pot. Water and keep the soil moist but not wet. Seeds should germinate in 4 to 5 days. After the seeds germinate, place pots in a sunny area or under lights.
   
• Once the seedlings are about 6 inches tall, with 2 to 4 true leaves it is time to harden the plants. Harden by putting the young plants outdoors in a protected area (out of direct sun and wind) for one hour the first day adding two hours to the time spent outside each subsequent day for a week. Keep well watered.
   
• Choose a place in the yard that receives full sun. If you live in a warmer climate partial shade can help prevent the plants from bolting (going to seed.) Prepare a bed of rich, well-drained soil, with plenty of compost.

• Set the young plants 1 to 2 inches deeper in the garden than they grew in the pots or flats. Space them 2 feet apart in rows 3 feet apart. Firm the soil and water well.

• Water regularly. At least once every three days if it is not raining.

• Two weeks after planting fertilize with compost tea or side dress with compost. Repeat once a month.

• Spray once a week alternating between insecticidal soap and home-made plant pepper spray.

• It is time to harvest before the florets start to open and turn yellow. Cut just below the point where the stems begin to separate. Once you’ve harvested the main head, tender side shoots will form in the leaf axils all along the lower stalk. Keep cutting, and broccoli will keep producing until the weather turns too hot or too cold.

Fresh-picked garden broccoli tastes much better and is more nutritious than store bought varieties. Enjoy!

Grow Your Own Asparagus

Asparagus has the highest glutathione levels of any food. Glutathione is the master phytochemical and is unmatched in its ability to remove poisons from the body. Asparagus is one of the best cancer fighting foods. It is also rich in B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.

Asparagus is a cool weather perennial crop that thrives in any area having winter ground freezes. If properly planted and cared for it will keep coming back and producing for 20 years or more! Here is how to grow asparagus:

• Choose an area of your yard that is well drained and receives full sun. Prepare a planting bed 5 feet wide by 10 feet deep by removing all grass and roots and then turning in at least 50% well aged compost 12 inches deep into the existing soil. The richer the better.
• Purchase twenty 1-year old ‘Jersey Knight’ or Jersey Giant’ crowns. This should produce enough be adequate for a family of three.
• Soak the crowns in compost tea for 20 minutes prior to planting.
• Make 4 rows 12 inches apart. Plant the crowns 6 inches deep with 24 inch spacing.
• Cover the crowns with 3 inches of soil. After two weeks cover again with another 3 inches of soil. After another two weeks add more soil until the soil is slightly mounded above ground level to allow for settling.
• Cover with mulch so your tender young spears do not have to compete so much with weeds.

• Water regularly. At least once every three days if it is not raining.
• Fertilize three times a year with compost tea or side dress with compost.
• Spray once a week during the growing season with insecticidal soap or pepper spray.
• During the winter months cover with 6 inches of straw or light mulch to provide protection from the cold.
• Don’t harvest any spears in the first two years so that all their energy can be used for establishing deep roots.
• In the third year, harvest one-fourth your crop every week over a four week period. Use a sharp knife to cut the spears at the ground level.
• In the fourth year harvest one-eighth of your crop over an eight week period.

Fresh-picked spears are far more tasty and tender than store-bought ones. Enjoy!

Let's Grow the Red, White and Blue !...

In celebration of Independence Day we thought we would bring a little Red, White, and Blue into your kitchen. The three vegetables that we chose to demonstrate our patriotism are Red Bell Peppers, Cauliflower, and Red Cabbage (which is really purple/bluish in color.)

Red Bell Peppers:

When to Plant:
Start from seeds indoors eight weeks before the last frost. Transfer seedlings outdoors into the ground 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost. 
 
What They Are Good For:
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin)
Antioxidant Phytonutrient (luteolin)

Cauliflower:

When to Plant:
Start from seeds indoors six weeks before the last frost. Transfer seedlings outdoors into the ground 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost.
 
What They Are Good For:
Vitamin C
Vitamin K
Manganese
Folate
Antioxidant Phytonutrients (Beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, caffeic acid, cinnamic acid, ferulic acid, quercetin, rutin, and kaempferol)

Red Cabbage:

When to Plant:
Start from seeds indoors eight weeks before the last frost (for early types.) Transfer seedlings outdoors into the ground four weeks before the last frost (for early types.) 

What They Are Good For:
Vitamin C
Vitamin K
Vitamin B6
Maganese
Antioxidant Phytonutrients (polyphenols)

Colon Cleansing

There’s no debate at all in medical literature: You need a clean and healthy colon to assimilate nutrients and dispose of waste. Yet millions of people have colons that are congested, twisted out of shape, and impacted with toxic waste. This can cause a multitude of bowel disorders and chronic diseases. This isn’t surprising-even though a person may have a bowel movement daily, there may still be several days’ or even a week’s worth of waste inside the colon. A badly impacted colon can be carrying an excess of ten pounds of fecal matter at one time. This provides a breeding ground for unfriendly bacteria that can cause problems such as headaches, flatulence, indigestion, colitis, and bowel cancer. When these wastes accumulate, the colon becomes weak and sluggish, causing constipation. The accumulations tend to harden in the pockets of the colon walls. This hardened material obstructs the peristalsis (the natural muscular contractions of the bowel) and more and more buildup occurs. This, in turn, interferes with final absorption and digestion; instead of absorbing nutrients, the undigested food putrefies, creating toxic conditions.

Quick Tips for a Healthy Colon - To achieve a healthy colon, start with these three simple steps:

1. Respond to nature’s call to eliminate. Try to establish a routine bowel movement first thing in the morning. All night, bowl functions have been active on the bacterial level and inactive on the metabolism level-they need relief in the morning. Repeat once more if possible.

2. Place a footstool or box under both feet when seated on the toilet. By raising the feet off the ground, you put yourself in a squatting position that is more natural and encourages easy elimination.
(The design of the modern toilet has contributed to countless cases of constipation.)

3. Exercise. Exercise prevents the abdominal muscles from sagging and becoming weak. It brings oxygen-rich blood to the intestines, which gives the cells health and vitality. Exercise also stimulates peristalsis (but do not exercise immediately after eating because the process of digestion requires a great deal of energy).

How to Grow Red Cabbage

1. Start early type red cabbage seeds indoors eight weeks prior to the last frost. Using potting mix in peat pots, bury seeds to a depth of < inch. Sow three seeds per pot.
2. Initially, water thoroughly. Once the seeds have sprouted, keep the seedlings lightly moist but not wet.
3. Using grow lamps, provide at least 14 hours of light per day.

Once your plants have three leaves your cauliflower will be ready to plant outside. This should be about 4 weeks before the last frost for early types.
4. Choose a sunny location. The soil should be rich, moist, and well drained.
5. Transplant on a cloudy day or in the evening to reduce the risk of initial sun scorch.
6. Provide 6 to 12 spacing between plants and 12 to 24 spacing between rows.
7. Spread a thick layer of straw mulch around the plants. Keep the soil evenly moist. Water deeply during dry spells to encourage deep root development.
8. Fertilize with compost tea once every two weeks. Side-dress seedlings with rich compost 3 weeks after planting.
9. Harvest the mature heads when they are firm. Use a knife to cut the main stem.

Hands of Light - Lecture & Workshop

Oasis Therapy Center at Hippocrates Health Institute welcomes Laurie Keene, Dean of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing for a lecture and workshop on this Saturday, June 7th and Sunday, June 8th here at HHI..

Imagine embracing your life as an opportunity to learn and grow into a loving relationship with yourself, the other, and to understand the spiritual purpose of your life.

The study of Brennan Healing Science teaches you the tools for self-awareness and through practice, the ability to open, learn from and accept all of your life’s experiences.

One of the fundamental principles that we teach is that everything in the Universe is Energy and Consciousness. Given that premise, it is possible to create and channel energy frequencies that are beneficial to you and to others you may work with as well. The exploration of consciousness inherent in all energy opens the door to understanding life that transcends your normal day-to-day existence.

This awareness is a gift. It has the potential to shift your entire experience of “reality” from a fixed, closed view into an open, fluid experience of yourself as a being of light having a human experience. The path of Brennan Healing Science teaches you how to return to a deep understanding of the truth of who you are.

In the workshop we will explore the concept of Energy and Consciousness through the study of the 4 Dimensions of Humankind. The 4 Dimensions is a basic model for healing and awakening as developed by Dr. Barbara Brennan. Knowledge of these dimensions will help you to explore the places where you have said “no” to life and where you have said “yes.”

The workshop is designed to introduce you to these fundamental tools of Brennan Healing Science so that you can begin to apply them to your unique path of healing and personal transformation.