POTPOURRI - Potpourri is a natural air freshener made from dried flowers, leaves, seeds and cones. Pronounced po-pur-ree, it is used to make rooms and cupboards smell fresh. Anything can be added to potpourri as long as it is dry, to ensure that the contents last longer and do not become moldy. Potpourri can be arranged in bowls or stuffed into small cotton pillows to be hung in cupboards. Cinnamon sticks can be added to give potpourri a spicy scent. Other uses for potpourri include masking the smell of mothballs in cupboards and deterring insects. Sachets can be placed in drawers or in shoes to leave a fresh scent. You can place loose potpourri in ashtrays in cars and in the fillings of soft toys. Scent is also usually added to the dried flowers and can be sprayed on every few days to be absorbed into the flowers. A fixative is necessary to absorb the scent, and the most often used is orrisroot. Other types of fixative include calamus root, dry lavender, tonka bean and sandalwood bark. There are also powdered fixatives, but these are usually used in sachets of potpourri. The powder will not look good on an open decorative arrangement and will not hold the scent as well as the chopped fixatives. Lavender is a popular addition to potpourri. There are many different scents and oils that can be used in a potpourri arrangement. If you have knowledge of aromatherapy, you can select different scents to create a mood or atmosphere in a room.

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Potpourri

What is Potpourri?

Garry Crystal

 Tonka beans, which is sometimes used in potpourri.

Potpourri is a natural air freshener made from dried flowers, leaves, seeds and cones.

Pronounced po-pur-ree, it is used to make rooms and cupboards smell fresh.

Anything can be added to potpourri as long as it is dry, to ensure that the contents last longer and do not become moldy.

Potpourri can be arranged in bowls or stuffed into small cotton pillows to be hung in cupboards.

Other uses for potpourri include masking the smell of mothballs in cupboards and deterring insects.

Cinnamon sticks can be added to give potpourri a spicy scent.

Sachets can be placed in drawers or in shoes to leave a fresh scent.

You can place loose potpourri in ashtrays in cars and in the fillings of soft toys.

Scent is also usually added to the dried flowers and can be sprayed on every few days to be absorbed into the flowers.

A fixative is necessary to absorb the scent, and the most often used is orrisroot.

Other types of fixative include calamus root, dry lavender, tonka bean and sandalwood bark.

There are also powdered fixatives, but these are usually used in sachets of potpourri.

Lavender is a popular addition to potpourri.

The powder will not look good on an open decorative arrangement and will not hold the scent as well as the chopped fixatives.

There are many different scents and oils that can be used in a potpourri arrangement.

If you have knowledge of aromatherapy, you can select different scents to create a mood or atmosphere in a room.

Always be sparing with essential oils, as they can smell quite strongly.

Eucalyptus leaves can be used in potpourri.

Always sprinkle tiny drops of the oil directly onto the chopped fixatives.

With powdered fixative, sprinkle the oil randomly and then mix it in.

The best scents to use are flower scents. These include rose, lavender, violet and carnations. Spices can also be used, including rosemary, cinnamon, sage, thyme and nutmeg.

For citrus scents, try lime, mandarin peel, lemon, dried orange and kumquat.

Mint is often used when making potpourri.

Leaves to use in your arrangement include mint, bayberry, cedar, eucalyptus, balsam and pine needles.

Fillers are used in potpourri to add bulk to the arrangement or when stuffing pillows.

Filler can be anything from small marbles to pine cones. You can also try using extra leaves, seashells or colored wood shavings.

With potpourri flowers, you should go for color rather than scent, as bright colors make the display more eye-catching.

Sunflower petals are good to use for an extra burst of color.

Rose petals are a common ingredient in potpourri.

It is easy to make your own potpourri. Simply collect all the flowers and filler and leave to dry for a few days in a well-ventilated area.

Placing absorbent paper under the mix will help absorb any moisture, but remove the paper after the first day.

The petals will be ready to use when they are crisp and dry. A potpourri arrangement makes an ideal gift and brightens up any room.

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https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-potpourri.htm#

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YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT: Let food be your medicine, too - Every food we eat contains a symphony of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (plant compounds that may reduce the risk of disease) that interact to help fend off disease. One of the first confirmations of food as medicine came in the 1700s with the observation that sailors who ate citrus fruit were able to avoid scurvy. That connection led to the discovery of vitamin C (scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency) some 200 years later, ushering in an era of discovery about connections between nutrients and diseases. In the 4th Century BCE, the Greek physician Hippocrates authored the famous oath, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” We now know that foods like berries, green tea, and mushrooms are more than just a delicious source of energy; the nutrients inside can indeed be powerful medicine to help prevent and even manage disease. Unlike drugs, foods are not isolated substances. Every food we eat contains a symphony of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (plant compounds that may reduce the risk of disease) that interact to help fend off disease. Without sufficient amounts of these nutrients, the body simply cannot operate at full capacity; our function is impaired and chronic disease can result. Sunflower seeds are an example of a food that may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

 

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You are what you eat: Let food be your medicine, too

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Every food we eat contains a symphony of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (plant compounds that may reduce the risk of disease) that interact to help fend off disease. One of the first confirmations of food as medicine came in the 1700s with the observation that sailors who ate citrus fruit were able to avoid scurvy. That connection led to the discovery of vitamin C (scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency) some 200 years later, ushering in an era of discovery about connections between nutrients and diseases.

By Carrie Dennett, M.P.H., R.D.N.

Environmental Nutrition Newsletter

Chicago Health 

 

In the 4th Century BCE, the Greek physician Hippocrates authored the famous oath, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

We now know that foods like berries, green tea, and mushrooms are more than just a delicious source of energy; the nutrients inside can indeed be powerful medicine to help prevent and even manage disease.

Synergy in foods

Unlike drugs, foods are not isolated substances.

Every food we eat contains a symphony of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (plant compounds that may reduce the risk of disease) that interact to help fend off disease.

“Without sufficient amounts of these nutrients, the body simply cannot operate at full capacity; our function is impaired and chronic disease can result,” says Mary Purdy, M.S., R.D.N., a private practice dietitian and adjunct clinical faculty member at Bastyr University in Seattle, WA.

Kathie Madonna Swift, M.S., R.D.N., L.D.N., education director of the Food As Medicine training program at the Saybrook University Center for Mind-Body Medicine, Oakland, Calif., and author of “The Swift Diet,” says that sunflower seeds are an example of a food that may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

“They contain the family of vitamin E compounds that are important for brain health. Popping a vitamin E pill does not afford the same protection–the whole food does it best,” she notes.

The power of dietary patterns

Numerous studies have identified dietary patterns that consistently decrease our risk for chronic disease.

For example, diets high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other plant foods – such as the Mediterranean diet – are associated with a reduced risk of inflammation, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

When the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee looked at dietary patterns that prevent disease, the evidence consistently showed that diets rich in vegetables and fruits, such as Mediterranean and vegetarian diet patterns, are linked to lower rates of chronic disease.

Foods with medicinal benefits

While many plant foods have been linked with health, here are some of the most promising disease-busting foods you should include in your diet:

1. Berries. Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are a rich source of numerous phytochemicals that research suggests have a variety of positive effects on human health, including reducing chronic inflammation and cancer risk.

2. Broccoli. Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables contain a number of phytonutrients that have been shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, which has benefits for cardiovascular health, healthy blood sugar and cancer prevention.

3. Cinnamon. Swift cites cinnamon for its blood sugar-balancing attributes, even with just 1/2 teaspoon a day.

4. Cranberries. Research suggests that cranberries may prevent urinary tract infections, possibly because they prevent bacteria from adhering to cells inside the bladder. Opt for pure cranberry juice, rather than juices adulterated with other juices and sweeteners.

5. Fish. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish have anti-inflammatory properties. The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two 3.5-ounce servings of fatty fish each week, such as salmon or black cod, to help prevent cardiovascular disease.

6. Fermented foods. Swift and Purdy are both fans of fermented and cultured foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh, and miso) to support digestive function and a healthy immune system.

7. Garlic. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, there’s probable evidence that garlic and other members of the allium family (onions, leeks, shallots, scallions) reduce the risk of developing common cancers.

8. Ginger and turmeric. Swift likes these spice relatives for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. Ginger also can help ease nausea and vomiting.

9. Green tea. The phytochemical EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) in green tea has been shown to have some anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects, and may have heart health benefits. Swift points out that its antioxidant quality also may help protect the skin from sun damage.

10. Shiitake mushrooms. In human studies, shiitakes have demonstrated anti-cancer, immune boosting, and cholesterol-lowering properties.

11. Nuts. “Numerous studies have shown nuts to be helpful for cardiovascular function and healthy blood sugar and weight levels,” Purdy says. “Plus, they are super transportable and can be thrown into just about everything, from yogurt, smoothies, and cereals to salads, soups, and stir fries.”

Nutrients combat disease

One of the first confirmations of food as medicine came in the 1700s with the observation that sailors who ate citrus fruit were able to avoid scurvy.

That connection led to the discovery of vitamin C (scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency) some 200 years later, ushering in an era of discovery about connections between nutrients and diseases.

Gene-diet interactions

The mapping of the human genome has opened the door to personalized nutrition, which someday may move us from “you are what you eat” to “how to eat for who you are.”

The emerging field of nutrigenomics looks at the connection between our genes, the nutrients in the foods we eat, and our health.

“Food contains a unique portfolio of bioactive ingredients that inform our genes to express health,” says Swift.

In other words, if compounds in broccoli can stop a cancer-promoting gene from expressing itself, eating lots of broccoli may be truly “medicinal” for people with that gene.

Through local stories and informative features, Chicago Health provides the latest public health and medical news so readers can make informed decisions about the health issues that matter to them.

Chicago Health is published by Northwest Publishing, LLC, a Chicago based media company. Its first issue was published in the fall of 2010 and is now published semi-annually in March and September.

The company was founded in 1998 by Louis A. (Skip) Weiss, a lifelong Chicago resident. In 1953 Mr. Weiss’ family opened Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital, a community institution that continues to serve residents living on Chicago’s Northside. With Chicago Health, Mr. Weiss continues his family’s legacy of providing healthcare services in the Chicago metropolitan area.

https://chicagohealthonline.com/you-are-what-you-eat-let-food-be-your-medicine-too/

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