Mar 24, 2015
Mar 18, 2015
How To Build Dry Creek Beds for Landscape Drainage
How To Build Dry Creek Beds for Landscape Drainage
Do you have a slope on your property down which excess water flows, causing erosion on the slope and/or a landscape drainage problem below? Homeowners often get rid of such puddling by building dry creek beds. Besides the practical aspect of improving landscape drainage, dry creek beds can also be attractive. In fact, some folks with absolutely no landscape drainage problems build dry creek beds just because they like the look of them!
Difficulty: Average
Here's How:
- First plan the course that the dry creek bed will take down the slope. Mark the 2 edges of that course with landscaper's paint. A meandering course looks more natural than a straight course. How high up the slope should you start? In some cases, there's little choice. For instance, if a landscape drainage pipe that's already in place is dumping all that excess water onto your property, your decision is clear-cut: begin the dry creek bed by grading the land right under that pipe....
- But in cases where you have more leeway (especially for dry creek beds that are purely decorative), attempt to disguise the "headwaters" of the dry creek bed by making it bend out from behind a large boulder or some plant material. When the source of a stream is mysterious, viewers have to use their imagination. And what we construct with our hands is rarely as pleasing as what we construct with our minds!
- We've talked about how high up the slope to start. But what about where to finish down below? Some homeowners redirect excess water toward the street. But it's best to contemplate a worst-case scenario when dealing with public property, because that means dealing with the government -- which can be a real stickler when it comes to issues like redirecting excess water. So check with your local public works department first. If their response is positive, get something in writing that says so....
- What if you're not allowed to redirect the water to the street? Unless you already have a landscape drainage system in place (allowing you to route the runoff into that system), you have 2 main options. You could channel the water to a location on your land (but make sure it's your land, not a neighbor's!) where it's less troublesome and where, if the soil is sandy enough, it can percolate harmlessly down into the ground. A second option is to build a pond and funnel the water into it.
- So much for the course of a dry creek bed. What about its depth and width? These dimensions don't have to conform to any rule exactly. Look at dry creek beds in nature: they're obviously not all of the same depth and width. But there's a general rule you can follow: dry creek beds tend to be wider than they are deep, which is good news for you -- less digging! A 2:1 ratio is about right, meaning you could make the dry creek bed 3' wide x 1.5' deep, for example.
- With the planning done, now it's time for the first real work in the project: the digging. It's easy to build dry creek beds for landscape drainage, provided that the soil you'll be excavating isn't strewn with roots and rocks. Those with difficult soil to excavate can take solace in the fact that excavating the dry creek bed will be the toughest part of the project!
- Take the soil that you're excavating and mound it up along the sides of your dry creek bed, as you go. This will reduce the amount of digging that you have to do, since you'll be lowering the base and raising the sides in one motion. Tamp down this excavated soil with a tamping tool.
- After the trench for the dry creek bed has been excavated, lay down landscape fabric along its whole length. You want the fabric to cover the mounds of earth on both sides, as well as the trench. Hold the fabric in place using fabric pins or garden staples. Now for the part of the project that will be visible to viewer's: the rock....
- For projects intended to improve landscape drainage, all rocks need to be mortared into place to form a solid channel that will carry water away (for ornamental dry creek beds, this is optional -- and probably undesirable). Apply mortar only to short sections of the fabric at a time, since mortar dries quickly. Use at least 2" of mortar. Lay the rocks in the mortar, then repeat the process with the next short section. It's easier to work from the top of the slope, down.
- You can use rock of various shapes and sizes, but many homeowners prefer to select more round rocks ("river rocks") than flat ones. Round rocks conjure up an image of the water that has been gushing over them, knocking them about and causing them to become round over time.
- Place small river rocks in the center of the trench; the water will flow over these.
- Place your larger rocks on the sides of the dry creek bed, where they'll help channel the water and where they'll have the most visual impact. Save any boulders for the biggest bends in your stream's course and to disguise the "headwaters" of the dry creek bed (as discussed in Step 2 above).
Tips:
- After you build dry creek beds, you can dress them up a bit. Plants will soften the edges, for instance. If you're more ambitious, you can install a landscape bridge over the dry creek bed and plant tall ornamental grasses to serve as "bookends" at both entrances to the landscape bridge. Adorn the landscape bridge with hanging container gardens to create a knockout focal point for your yard.
What You Need:
- Landscaper's paint
- Landscape fabric
- Fabric pins or garden staples
- River rocks and boulders
- Mortar
- Wheelbarrow for mixing the mortar
- Tamping tool
- Shovel
Suggested Reading
Suggested Reading
How To Build Dry Creek Beds for Landscape Drainage
How To Build Dry Creek Beds for Landscape Drainage
Do you have a slope on your property down which excess water flows, causing erosion on the slope and/or a landscape drainage
problem below? Homeowners often get rid of such puddling by building
dry creek beds. Besides the practical aspect of improving landscape
drainage, dry creek beds can also be attractive. In fact, some folks
with absolutely no landscape drainage problems build dry creek beds just
because they like the look of them!
Difficulty: Average
Here's How:
- First plan the course that the dry creek bed will take down the slope. Mark the 2 edges of that course with landscaper's paint. A meandering course looks more natural than a straight course. How high up the slope should you start? In some cases, there's little choice. For instance, if a landscape drainage pipe that's already in place is dumping all that excess water onto your property, your decision is clear-cut: begin the dry creek bed by grading the land right under that pipe....
- But in cases where you have more leeway (especially for dry creek beds that are purely decorative), attempt to disguise the "headwaters" of the dry creek bed by making it bend out from behind a large boulder or some plant material. When the source of a stream is mysterious, viewers have to use their imagination. And what we construct with our hands is rarely as pleasing as what we construct with our minds!
- We've talked about how high up the slope to start. But what about where to finish down below? Some homeowners redirect excess water toward the street. But it's best to contemplate a worst-case scenario when dealing with public property, because that means dealing with the government -- which can be a real stickler when it comes to issues like redirecting excess water. So check with your local public works department first. If their response is positive, get something in writing that says so....
- What if you're not allowed to redirect the water to the street? Unless you already have a landscape drainage system in place (allowing you to route the runoff into that system), you have 2 main options. You could channel the water to a location on your land (but make sure it's your land, not a neighbor's!) where it's less troublesome and where, if the soil is sandy enough, it can percolate harmlessly down into the ground. A second option is to build a pond and funnel the water into it.
- So much for the course of a dry creek bed. What about its depth and width? These dimensions don't have to conform to any rule exactly. Look at dry creek beds in nature: they're obviously not all of the same depth and width. But there's a general rule you can follow: dry creek beds tend to be wider than they are deep, which is good news for you -- less digging! A 2:1 ratio is about right, meaning you could make the dry creek bed 3' wide x 1.5' deep, for example.
- With the planning done, now it's time for the first real work in the project: the digging. It's easy to build dry creek beds for landscape drainage, provided that the soil you'll be excavating isn't strewn with roots and rocks. Those with difficult soil to excavate can take solace in the fact that excavating the dry creek bed will be the toughest part of the project!
- Take the soil that you're excavating and mound it up along the sides of your dry creek bed, as you go. This will reduce the amount of digging that you have to do, since you'll be lowering the base and raising the sides in one motion. Tamp down this excavated soil with a tamping tool.
- After the trench for the dry creek bed has been excavated, lay down landscape fabric along its whole length. You want the fabric to cover the mounds of earth on both sides, as well as the trench. Hold the fabric in place using fabric pins or garden staples. Now for the part of the project that will be visible to viewer's: the rock....
- For projects intended to improve landscape drainage, all rocks need to be mortared into place to form a solid channel that will carry water away (for ornamental dry creek beds, this is optional -- and probably undesirable). Apply mortar only to short sections of the fabric at a time, since mortar dries quickly. Use at least 2" of mortar. Lay the rocks in the mortar, then repeat the process with the next short section. It's easier to work from the top of the slope, down.
- You can use rock of various shapes and sizes, but many homeowners prefer to select more round rocks ("river rocks") than flat ones. Round rocks conjure up an image of the water that has been gushing over them, knocking them about and causing them to become round over time.
- Place small river rocks in the center of the trench; the water will flow over these.
- Place your larger rocks on the sides of the dry creek bed, where they'll help channel the water and where they'll have the most visual impact. Save any boulders for the biggest bends in your stream's course and to disguise the "headwaters" of the dry creek bed (as discussed in Step 2 above).
Tips:
- After you build dry creek beds, you can dress them up a bit. Plants will soften the edges, for instance. If you're more ambitious, you can install a landscape bridge over the dry creek bed and plant tall ornamental grasses to serve as "bookends" at both entrances to the landscape bridge. Adorn the landscape bridge with hanging container gardens to create a knockout focal point for your yard.
What You Need:
- Landscaper's paint
- Landscape fabric
- Fabric pins or garden staples
- River rocks and boulders
- Mortar
- Wheelbarrow for mixing the mortar
- Tamping tool
- Shovel
Suggested Reading
Suggested Reading
Mar 15, 2015
Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate)
Applying Epsom Salt
Below you’ll find basic general methods and rates to apply Epsom salt to plants and soil. NOTE: It is always advisable to have a soil test done before applying any nutrients to soil.Soil Incorporation – Broadcast 1 cup per 100 square feet, mix well into before planting.
At Planting Time – When planting seedlings or new plants, dig a hole and place about 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt in the bottom of hole and cover with a thin layer of dirt, place the plant in the hole and finish planting.
Pre-Planting Soak – Prior to planting, soak root balls in 1/2 cup of Epsom salt diluted in one gallon of water.
Top Dressing – During the growing season, sprinkle about a 1 tablespoon directly around the base of the plant and water it in.
Applying in Liquid Form or Drenching – Drenching plants with Epsom salt improves the overall health of the plant by providing a good dose of magnesium. If your plants are needing a boost, dissolve about one to two tablespoons of Epsom salt in a a gallon of water. Pour at the base of the plant and allow the water-salt solution to soak into the ground. Repeat throughout the season as necessary.
Tomatoes
A healthy growing tomato plant uses up lots of magnesium in the growing / production process. Maintaining the magnesium at the right levels can be accomplished with regular applications of Epsom salt. The results… more blooms, less blossom rot, more fruit, stronger plants, deeper green color, along with taster, sweeter tomatoes.
A healthy growing tomato plant uses up lots of magnesium in the growing / production process. Maintaining the magnesium at the right levels can be accomplished with regular applications of Epsom salt. The results… more blooms, less blossom rot, more fruit, stronger plants, deeper green color, along with taster, sweeter tomatoes.
Sweeter Tomatoes – Plants lacking the proper levels of magnesium may also lack sweetness which makes Epsom salt a good, cheap source of magnesium for plants. It is easily and quickly absorbed into the plant. Use the liquid application below…
Planting Tomato Seedlings – When planting new plant, dig a hole and place about 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt in the bottom of hole and cover with a thin layer of dirt, then plant the tomato seedling in the hole.
Liquid Applications – Every two weeks mix 1 tablespoon in a gallon of water and water the plants with the solution. Mixing with warm water can help dissolve the Epsom salt easier.
By following the above “recipe” many gardeners report excellent results and good sized, tasty fruit. Try It!
Peppers
Growing peppers are much like tomatoes… they are traditionally magnesium deficient. Applying Epson Salt to them is very beneficial, to their growth, aids in germination, produce greater yields, improved beauty and strength of the peppers.Peppers need sufficient magnesium levels for robust growth. While growing, soils are depleted of magnesium, adding Epsom salt help restore these much needed minerals, helping plants take in more nutrients and build stronger cell walls.
Follow Tomato Recommendations – Follow the same application rates and recommendations for tomatoes, when planting and weekly maintenance.
Roses
Rose enthusiast cheer the results Epsom salts deliver to their roses. More vibrant blooms, richer color, darker green foliage and stronger plants. Regular applications increase magnesium levels in leaves which is vital for chlorophyll production process and seed germination. It also helps strengthen cell walls and improves the plants’ inflow of sulfur, nitrogen, and phosphorus.Planting Roses – When planting roses, soak the roots in 1/2 cup of Epsom salt diluted in one gallon of water. When you are ready to plant the bush in the ground or pot, sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt into the hole prior to planting and cover with a thin layer of soil.
Top Dressing – Once per month during the growing season, sprinkle about a 1 tablespoon per foot of plant height Epsom salt directly around to the base of the plant and water it in.
Use In The Garden & Landscape
Epsom Salt is highly recommended by expert growers to be used on your vegetables but also in the landscape. It is fairly safe, inexpensive and the benefits of adding it to soil to improve plants is well worth the cost. It has been used in gardens for hundreds of years as a “natural fertilizer”. When sprayed or diluted and used as a drench liquid it is much more quickly “available” for use by plants.Better Flowering, More & Stronger Blooms – Although there is no “firm” scientific study to back the claim… many seasoned gardeners swear that the addition of Epsom salt to their flower garden greatly improves the colors and textures of the flowers they grow. Plants are stronger and produce more blooms. Incorporate Epsom slat into the soil at time of planting and also use as a liquid when watering every 2 to 3 weeks on a regular basis.
Azaleas & Rhododendron – Helps produce more flowers and help plants from turning “yellow” from sulfate deficiency. Apply 1 tablespoon per 9 square feet over the root zone every 2-4 weeks.
Fruit Trees – Producing fruit is a long process for a tree. Magnesium levels often drop during this “long season” where applications of Epson salt can be of great benefit. Stronger plant growth, improved photosynthesis, fruit can taste better, look more attractive, be more nutritious and more weather and disease resistant. Apply 2 tablespoons per 9 square feet over the root zone 3 times per year.
Lawn & Grass – Epsom salt can help in the germination process and aid in health growth of a seed in its early stages. The minerals within the Epsom salt can help grass with a healthier and greener look, and assist grass roots to grow stronger to withstand effects from the environment. For every 1250 square feet of grass apply 3 pounds with a spreader, or dilute in water and apply with a sprayer.
Counter Transplant Shock – When moving plants from one location to another or planting in the ground from pots, roots can be damaged and transplant shock can occur. Epsom salts will help with chlorophyll production and improve nutrient uptake of fertilization, giving plants a big helping hand to make the plants adaption to it’s new environment much easier. After planting water plants in with a solution of 1 gallon of water mixed with 1 tablespoon Epsom salt.
Prevent Leaf Curling – When plants are lacking in magnesium, they may show symptoms of deficiency with leaf curling. Add Epson salt to the soil by sprinkling and watering in or dissolve 1 tablespoon per gallon of water and thoroughly drench the soil.
Yellow Leaves – Yellow and dull looking leaves often means the plant is lacking the necessary nutrients magnesium or sulfur. Apply Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), adding it to fertilizer placed in the soil once per month. For more direct approach, 1 tablespoon can be mixed with a gallon of water and sprayed directly onto the leaves. Be patient as different plants respond faster than others to applications.
Tree Stump Removal – Epsom salt is known for its absorption properties. It can suck water out of wood, making it easier to remove a tree stump. To remove a tree stump using Epsom salts, drill multiple holes in the top of the stump. These holes must be approximately three to four inches apart. When there is no more room to drill, pour salt into the holes and then add water. Pour Epsom salt onto any exposed roots to dry them out. You may not be successful the first time and may have to repeat the process every three weeks until the stump dies and can be removed.
Plants and Epsom Salt
Palm Trees “Frizzle Top” – landscape palm trees that have a magnesium deficiency get what growers call – frizzle top. It is where the top of the leaves look like they have had a bad hair day and the top is usually yellow or light green. Apply Epsom salts around the base and drench/spray the leaves and crown with a liquid mixture of 1 tablespoon to 1 gallon of water.
Cycads – Epson Salts are an ideal supplement for use on cycads with yellowing looking leaves. A soil application and drench should be used since cycads are slow growing. Mix 1 teaspoon with 1 gallon of water and apply when watering the plant.
Ferns – Epsom salts work wonders on ferns as a liquid fertilizer helping the leaves have a rich, deep dark green color. Elephant ear plants are another plant which benefits from the extra magnesium. Apply as a drench mixing 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to 1 gallon of water.
Yellowing Bougainvillea and Gardenia Leaves & Chlorsis – Bougainvillea and Gardenias are a beautiful and fairly low maintenance plants. But heavy flowering, or the soil pH being off can drain magnesium levels down and yellow foliage can appear… Epsom Salt to the rescue. Sprinkle about 1/2 cup at the base of the plant (in the ground) and use a spray mixing 1 tablespoon per gallon of water.
Pest Control – Epsom Salt can be used in many instances to provide a natural, pesticide free cure for crawling slimy slugs. Sprinkle where slugs glide along and say good-bye. Epsom salt is also kid friendly, being non-toxic!
Weed killer – Use Epsom Salt as a weed killer by mixing 2 cups with with 1 gallon of vinegar. Add a liquid dish soap into the mixture and put into a spray bottle. Then just spray the weeds while avoiding your flowers and other plants. This should kill the weeds in an efficient way without damaging your plants that you want to protect.
Removing A Splinter – Working in the garden you can pick up a splinter when grabbing a tool handle or tree branches. They can be irritating, painful and very hard to remove. Try this… soak the affected area in 2 tbsp of epsom salt in a cup of water, this will increase the osmotic pressure of the skin and help draw the splinter out on its own accord.
Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate)
Mar 10, 2015
5 Healthy Foods You Should Eat Every Day
The new trend among the weight conscious? Eating more. Don't focus on consuming less of the "bad" foods — aim to incorporate more of the good foods into your diet. Not only will you feel less deprived but you'll also end up being too full to crave the junk. Try these five nutritional superstars for a result that's even greater than the sum of its wholesome parts.
1. Spinach
It can reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis, lower your cholesterol, and raise your I.Q. Spinach is an excellent bone-builder, containing vitamin K, calcium, and magnesium. It's also high in flavonoids, plant molecules that act as antioxidants, which have been shown to prevent breast, stomach, skin, and ovarian cancer. Spinach is a great source of vitamin A and vitamin C, which not only keep you from getting sick in the winter, but also de-clog your arteries and reduce heart disease.
Spinach contains antioxidants that neutralize free radicals in the brain, thereby preventing the effects of aging on mental activity. Scientific studies have demonstrated that both animals and people who eat a few servings of spinach per day improve their learning capacities and motor skills.
Serving ideas: Sauté spinach with olive oil, pine nuts, and raisins — the olive oil will help you to better absorb its nutrients. Don't love the flavor so much? Try these spinach brownies from Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious cookbook — you won't taste a thing.
2. Eggs
In the Snackwell-crazed '90s, dieters feared eggs because of their fat and cholesterol content and suffered through millions of tasteless egg-white omelets. But research has shown little, if any, connection between dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol, and the humble egg is finally being recognized for the remarkably complete set of nutrients it provides. It makes sense: Something that contains the ingredients for an entire life can give you the fuel you need to get through the morning.
Eggs are a great source of protein, containing all eight amino acids (if you eat the whole thing). As any healthy dieter knows, protein is essential for staying full and having energy.
Serving ideas: For breakfast on the go, roll up a veggie omelet in a whole-wheat wrap. Or, update the classic egg salad by chopping yours up with Italian tuna, black olives, and some olive oil and vinegar.
3. Blueberries
A Tufts University study found blueberries were the number one source of antioxidants among 60 fruits and vegetables analyzed. Blueberries contain antioxidants that can (get ready): prevent ulcers, cataracts, and glaucoma; decrease risks of heart disease and various types of cancer; and lower cholesterol. They can also reduce aging of the brain, keeping your memory sharp and diminishing the effects of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Serving ideas: Throw some frozen ones in the blender with honey or agave syrup for a granita-like treat. Or, serve in a salad with spinach, sliced almonds, and balsamic vinaigrette for a light and gourmet lunch.
4. Apples
Eating an apple a day can keep all kinds of doctors away, from physicians to dentists. Apples contain both insoluble and soluble fiber, which not only make them filling, but also work double time to reduce cholesterol. Some doctors even recommend drinking apple juice after eating a fatty meal to reduce the food's negative effects on your body.
Apples have been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease. And if that's not enough to make you bite into a Fuji or McIntosh, consider this: Chewing apples stimulates saliva, which scrubs stains off your teeth and freshens breath instantly.
Serving ideas: Spread peanut butter on sliced apples for a yummy taste of childhood. Or, dice them up in your oatmeal before cooking and sprinkle with cinnamon for an apple pie-flavored breakfast.
5. Winter Squash
One cup of winter squash provides 170 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin A, a nutrient necessary for night vision that's hard to find in other foods. Squash's bright orange color comes from a high dose of carotenoids, antioxidants that prevent eye degeneration due to aging and filter out carcinogenic light rays. Makes you think of jack-o'-lanterns in a new "light," doesn't it?
Roast the seeds alongside the flesh and you'll reap a host of other benefits. Winter squash seeds contain a significant amount of L-tryptophan, which can help to prevent depression. They're also a rich source of magnesium, a mineral Americans don't consume nearly enough that's vital to almost every bodily function. Eating your daily dose of magnesium will lower your risks for heart disease, abdominal obesity, and diabetes.
Serving ideas: Mix canned or pureed squash with cinnamon and the sweetener of your choice for a decadent and surprisingly low-cal treat reminiscent of Thanksgiving candied yams. One-half cup of pureed pumpkin has 40 calories, in contrast with yam's 180 (and that's if you don't add butter or marshmallows). Or, roll the seeds in cinnamon and sugar, crunchy sea salt, or curry powder, then roast them in the oven. And don't limit yourself to pumpkin — delicata and kabocha squash seeds are equally nutritious, with their own unique, nutty flavors.
5 Healthy Foods You Should Eat Every Day
The new trend among the weight conscious? Eating more. Don't focus on consuming less of the "bad" foods — aim to incorporate more of the good foods into your diet. Not only will you feel less deprived but you'll also end up being too full to crave the junk. Try these five nutritional superstars for a result that's even greater than the sum of its wholesome parts.
1. Spinach
It can reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis, lower your cholesterol, and raise your I.Q. Spinach is an excellent bone-builder, containing vitamin K, calcium, and magnesium. It's also high in flavonoids, plant molecules that act as antioxidants, which have been shown to prevent breast, stomach, skin, and ovarian cancer. Spinach is a great source of vitamin A and vitamin C, which not only keep you from getting sick in the winter, but also de-clog your arteries and reduce heart disease.
Spinach contains antioxidants that neutralize free radicals in the brain, thereby preventing the effects of aging on mental activity. Scientific studies have demonstrated that both animals and people who eat a few servings of spinach per day improve their learning capacities and motor skills.
Serving ideas: Sauté spinach with olive oil, pine nuts, and raisins — the olive oil will help you to better absorb its nutrients. Don't love the flavor so much? Try these spinach brownies from Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious cookbook — you won't taste a thing.
2. Eggs
In the Snackwell-crazed '90s, dieters feared eggs because of their fat and cholesterol content and suffered through millions of tasteless egg-white omelets. But research has shown little, if any, connection between dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol, and the humble egg is finally being recognized for the remarkably complete set of nutrients it provides. It makes sense: Something that contains the ingredients for an entire life can give you the fuel you need to get through the morning.
Eggs are a great source of protein, containing all eight amino acids (if you eat the whole thing). As any healthy dieter knows, protein is essential for staying full and having energy.
Serving ideas: For breakfast on the go, roll up a veggie omelet in a whole-wheat wrap. Or, update the classic egg salad by chopping yours up with Italian tuna, black olives, and some olive oil and vinegar.
3. Blueberries
A Tufts University study found blueberries were the number one source of antioxidants among 60 fruits and vegetables analyzed. Blueberries contain antioxidants that can (get ready): prevent ulcers, cataracts, and glaucoma; decrease risks of heart disease and various types of cancer; and lower cholesterol. They can also reduce aging of the brain, keeping your memory sharp and diminishing the effects of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Serving ideas: Throw some frozen ones in the blender with honey or agave syrup for a granita-like treat. Or, serve in a salad with spinach, sliced almonds, and balsamic vinaigrette for a light and gourmet lunch.
4. Apples
Eating an apple a day can keep all kinds of doctors away, from physicians to dentists. Apples contain both insoluble and soluble fiber, which not only make them filling, but also work double time to reduce cholesterol. Some doctors even recommend drinking apple juice after eating a fatty meal to reduce the food's negative effects on your body.
Apples have been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease. And if that's not enough to make you bite into a Fuji or McIntosh, consider this: Chewing apples stimulates saliva, which scrubs stains off your teeth and freshens breath instantly.
Serving ideas: Spread peanut butter on sliced apples for a yummy taste of childhood. Or, dice them up in your oatmeal before cooking and sprinkle with cinnamon for an apple pie-flavored breakfast.
5. Winter Squash
One cup of winter squash provides 170 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin A, a nutrient necessary for night vision that's hard to find in other foods. Squash's bright orange color comes from a high dose of carotenoids, antioxidants that prevent eye degeneration due to aging and filter out carcinogenic light rays. Makes you think of jack-o'-lanterns in a new "light," doesn't it?
Roast the seeds alongside the flesh and you'll reap a host of other benefits. Winter squash seeds contain a significant amount of L-tryptophan, which can help to prevent depression. They're also a rich source of magnesium, a mineral Americans don't consume nearly enough that's vital to almost every bodily function. Eating your daily dose of magnesium will lower your risks for heart disease, abdominal obesity, and diabetes.
Serving ideas: Mix canned or pureed squash with cinnamon and the sweetener of your choice for a decadent and surprisingly low-cal treat reminiscent of Thanksgiving candied yams. One-half cup of pureed pumpkin has 40 calories, in contrast with yam's 180 (and that's if you don't add butter or marshmallows). Or, roll the seeds in cinnamon and sugar, crunchy sea salt, or curry powder, then roast them in the oven. And don't limit yourself to pumpkin — delicata and kabocha squash seeds are equally nutritious, with their own unique, nutty flavors.
Magic drink for health and beauty
The grapefruit is known as an antioxidant and its strong antibacterial properties. It is rich in vitamin C, contains vitamins A, B, D, E, and calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper and iron.
The magic drink of health and beauty
Ingredients:
A big ripe grapefruit
A tablespoon of honey
Cut grapefruit in half, it is preferable that it is cold (out of the refrigerator), and remove the flesh with a spoon. Put the flesh of grapefruit and honey in a blender and blend until the mixture becomes smooth.
This magical drink contains useful as elements:
Pectin, which contributes to the effective elimination of excess cholesterol (if you eat grapefruit every day, it reduces bad cholesterol by 15.5 percent and triglycerides by 27 per cent), it also reduces the level of insulin in the blood and stabilises metabolism.
Lycopene, which helps to fight against toxins and harmful substances in the body.
A few sips of this drink, after lunch (wait 20 minutes after eating), is capable of burning nearly half of calories acquired during the meal.
The magic drink has effects healers on hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
In addition, the grapefruit contains a number of ingredients that help us to combat the cold and there is evidence that it prevents certain types of cancer and heart disease.
Learn more about http://www.sante-nutrition.org/buvez-ceci-apres-chaque-repas-allez-perdre-du-poids-tres-rapidement/#EsCGQaaRzwQttghp.99
Magic drink for health and beauty
The grapefruit is known as an antioxidant and its strong antibacterial properties. It is rich in vitamin C, contains vitamins A, B, D, E, and calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper and iron.
The magic drink of health and beauty
Ingredients:
A big ripe grapefruit
A tablespoon of honey
Cut grapefruit in half, it is preferable that it is cold (out of the refrigerator), and remove the flesh with a spoon. Put the flesh of grapefruit and honey in a blender and blend until the mixture becomes smooth.
This magical drink contains useful as elements:
Pectin, which contributes to the effective elimination of excess cholesterol (if you eat grapefruit every day, it reduces bad cholesterol by 15.5 percent and triglycerides by 27 per cent), it also reduces the level of insulin in the blood and stabilises metabolism.
Lycopene, which helps to fight against toxins and harmful substances in the body.
A few sips of this drink, after lunch (wait 20 minutes after eating), is capable of burning nearly half of calories acquired during the meal.
The magic drink has effects healers on hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
In addition, the grapefruit contains a number of ingredients that help us to combat the cold and there is evidence that it prevents certain types of cancer and heart disease.
Learn more about http://www.sante-nutrition.org/buvez-ceci-apres-chaque-repas-allez-perdre-du-poids-tres-rapidement/#EsCGQaaRzwQttghp.99
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