Eat Herbs and Change Your Life

More Easy DIY projects to save money in your home and Improve Your Health Index

The most commonly used condiment is the mineral salt. We use it to flavour and to preserve our food. Did you know that the over use of salt, even Kosher or sea salt can produce high blood pressure in some individuals.

Salt is also used to retain water to stop weakness from heat and dehydration. We were given salt pills in factories to keep us dehydrated in the summer hot months of July and August. This practice no longer exists. Eating salty foods such as bacon and potato chips will help a hangover from excessive drinking, because it helps dehydration caused by the alcohol. Today people are finding more ways to flavour their food rather than the use of salt.

Thyme has a distinct sweet aromatic flavor from Southern Europe. It has been used for centuries to flavor cheese.

Thyme can be used to make tea to help aid in bronchitis and coughs. It can be used as a herb best suited in stuffing's for poultry,pork and fish. Your clam chowders, soups will be enhanced with this sweet aromatic spice. Thyme can be purchased dried or fresh in sprigs.

Oregano is used a lot in Italian/American cuisine. The oil of oregano can be purchased in vials at heath food stores.

It is said that three drops in a boiling bowl of water and leaning over the bowl shrouding your head with a towel to inhale the fumes, will help ease sinus problems. Suzzycue has tried this and it does appear to work. A drop under the tongue when first symptoms of colds or flu appear eases symptoms and even takes symptoms away. You must be careful doing this because the oil has a serious spicy flavor and can cause you to choke very easily if not chased down with a glass of water.

Oregano is best used on lamb and mutton before roasting or BBQ. Suzzycue uses oregano to marinate poultry and steaks also. It is great sprinkled over pizza,and one of the main ingredients in a Greek salad.

Basil Is also a herb used in Italian cuisine because it pairs wonderfully with tomatoes. Basil has a sweet taste and just eating the leaves can aid in digestion and help stomach disorders.

Basil can be used in pasta and it is the main ingredient in pesto. You can buy this dried and sprinkle on salads, stews, soups,roasted meats instead of using salt.

Chives are the smallest onion that you can purchase. Chives are very easy to grow in your own garden and will get a purple bloom on the top of them. They will repel insects in your garden so plant them around your tomatoes to protect them.

The stalks of chives is what Suzzycue uses in stews, diced for salads and on top of soups. They taste and even smell like onions. Every dish or omelet ,you use onions in, even frying them, you can use chives. The flavor is awesome.

Rosemary comes from the Mediterranean. It can be used as an ornamental plant in your garden. It is woody and can grow into bushes. Rosemary is said to improve your memory.

Suzzycue loves Rosemary. She puts a sprig on top of her roasting vegetables especially potato wedges ( sprinkle with olive oil and throw on the rosemary and bake until golden brown). This is great in soups, baked on fish, put into the cavity of poultry, even roasting meats. Rosemary is very aromatic and works well to infuse olive oil.

Dried Red Pepper Flakes are hot and can be used to add heat to chicken wings, fish,beef, hamburgers, even topped on pizza or salads. I have also red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper (both have intense heat) to marinate and tenderize steak. The heat from red pepper flakes is said to get rid of the bad bacteria in our stomachs that cause ulcers.

The flavors and aromas of using Rosemary and the rest of these other herbs will definitely deter your salt use. ENJOY!