EATING YOUR SOAP ???

You may think soaps and other cleansers just wash dirt and oil off the surface of the skin, but think of the soap scum you have to scrub from your bath tub every couple of days.  That same film of oil (and other things) is left on your skin after a bath or shower.  Most people would say, "don't be ridiculous, it's just soap!"  The skin is the largest organ on the body.  It absorbs sunlight, water, oil, and other substances.  Why wouldn't it absorb your soap?  The truth is, anything we put on our skin is absorbed through our pores and skin layers all the way into our inner organs.  The substances we put on our body become food to our digestive, reproductive, and other systems, and can help or hurt us as much as the food we eat.  What we feed our skin, we feed our body.  So if you're vegetarian or vegan, you probably wouldn't want to feed your skin BEEF FAT (Sodium Tallowate) or other animal products that are in most commercial soaps.  In addition to cheap fats, is toxic surfectants, and chemical bi-products that should be nowhere near our skin -

x Sulfatesx Parabensx Synthetic dyesx Synthetic fragrances

Using products that contain these poisons over a long period of time can lead to auto-immune diseases, and chronic skin and hair problems.  In the same way, nutrients from herbs, fruits, spices, vegetable oils, and essential oils can improve the inner and outer health of the body.  Wouldn't it be nice to double-up on some of your favorite foods by bathing in them?  What about absorbing wonderful botanicals you probably wouldn't eat, but can enjoy in a fresh way!   Know what is in your skin and hair products.  Feed your skin lovingly.
For Soaps your skin will LOVE, please visit this site and look for SOAP FOUNTAIN

PALACE GARDEN ORGANICS

GMOs AND THE FOOD WAR!

The most serious crisis we have been facing in modern times is regarding our FOOD and our health- the issue of GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS. The Question most of us concerned consumers are asking : To what extent are the ingredients in our food being genetically engineered, and what are the short and long-term effects of eating these genetically-manipulated foods?  It is not enough to simply choose vegetarianism to avoid unhealthy toxins and cancer-causing diets.  What is far more important is knowing WHERE your food originated and HOW it was produced.  We as consumers who directly affect the demand of all the products and produce we consume, have become very lax in taking advantage of this power of choice.  We just take what we get , too lazy to investigate what we put in our bodies or to take the time to understand what the writing on the packaging means.  First, realize that the food you buy in the supermarket is labelled, written  up, and designed to 1. attract you, and 2. inform you.   Most of us stop at the "attract" part  and don't appreciate the time it took for the makers of these products to break down all this information that covers the entire surface of the product.  This is the first step to identifying  what we want and what we eat.   The main reason companies that use GMOs have been getting away with it, is because consumers in America and its "colonies" are generally carefree about the sources of their food.  The only specification we are given so far is whether a product is ORGANIC.  Organic is produced without the use of pesticides, hormones, synthetic fertilizers and other man-made substances.  Also specified on some packages is NON-GMO, which refers to food and animal products that are not produced in labs or GMO facilities.  With these product labels becoming the new rage, many companies are starting to improve the quality of the foods they produce, but some use misleading terms like "WITH NATURAL INGREDIENTS" to trick consumers into believing these products are good for them. (Reminds me of another misleading phrase on personal care products, "for healthy-looking skin".) We have to take charge to understand what some of these ingredients really are, how they are processed, and the scary part, WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE YOUR BODY WHEN YOU CONSUME THESE SUBSTANCES.  Big companies that market GMO products and other businesses that capitalize from the success of these companies will make it seem alright and even beneficial to consume such foods, the effects of which even they don't know. I don't think I can explain any better than these experts on the topic. Please make the time to watch this documentary:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnlTYFKBg18&sns=em

ALKALINE vs. ACIDIC FOODS : YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

Hey, it's Docta Kitchen again...
     I have become a big fan of Jamaican DJ, Barry G's radio talk show, where he discusses health issues.  I was listening to one of his programs recently where a doctor came on to talk about the big 'C' that is taking the world by storm. Yes, I'm talking about CANCER like an international celebrity (which it has quickly become).  A point that the doctor made, is that ACIDIC ENVIRONMENTS IN THE BODY BREED AND FEED CANCER.  Remember in high school we learn about Acidic vs. Alkaline (or Basic).  We used pH strips to test different solutions : pH of 7.0 is neutral, below 7.0 is acidic, above 7.0 is alkaline. Now in the body, it is important to maintain a balance in pH to secure good health.  Any imbalance in pH can and will cause disease in the body.  The longer you allow this to persist, the more serious the illness will become, and the more your LIFE is at risk.
  Many people without the knowledge of the chemical constitution of the foods we put in our bodies, will defend their lifestyles, and further, degrade other people's diets not realizing that what they feel safe eating (too much of) is sometimes the worse thing they can do for their health.  What we consume, or don't consume affects our immunity, and in turn affects our brain power, physical vitality, and LIBIDO. You wouldn't want to negatively affect your LIBIDO, now would you?
     Most of the premature disfunction that we have in this day and age are from highly acidic diets, which also lead to proliferation of CANDIDA -which causes dandruff(and balding), yeast infections, athlete's foot, scaly skin, and many other physical imbalances.  The saying "you are what you eat" is exact! If you eat acidic foods, your blood, which is the essence of life, becomes acidic.  If you eat alkaline...you get the drift.
     So even though that 'mushroom-and-jalapeño pizza' is off-the-chain, ordering it everytime I see a Dominos commercial will ultimately lead to my demise.  Why am I picking on pizza, our favorite American dish?  Check out the charts:

Alkaline Forming Foods VEGETABLES Garlic Asparagus Fermented Veggies Watercress Beets Broccoli Brussel sprouts Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Celery Chard Chlorella Collard Greens Cucumber Eggplant Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Mushrooms Mustard Greens Dulce Dandelions Edible Flowers Onions Parsnips (high glycemic) Peas Peppers Pumpkin Rutabaga Sea Veggies Spirulina Sprouts Squashes Alfalfa Barley Grass Wheat Grass Wild Greens Nightshade Veggies FRUITS Apple Apricot Avocado Banana (high glycemic) Cantaloupe Cherries Currants Dates/Figs Grapes Grapefruit Lime Honeydew Melon Nectarine Orange Lemon Peach Pear Pineapple All Berries Tangerine Tomato Tropical Fruits Watermelon PROTEIN Eggs (poached) Whey Protein Powder Cottage Cheese Chicken Breast Yogurt Almonds Chestnuts Tofu (fermented) Flax Seeds Pumpkin Seeds Tempeh (fermented) Squash Seeds Sunflower Seeds Millet Sprouted Seeds Nuts OTHER Apple Cider Vinegar Bee Pollen Lecithin Granules Probiotic Cultures Green Juices Veggies Juices Fresh Fruit Juice Organic Milk (unpasteurized) Mineral Water Alkaline Antioxidant Water Green Tea Herbal Tea Dandelion Tea Ginseng Tea Banchi Tea Kombucha SWEETENERS Stevia Ki Sweet SPICES/SEASONINGS Cinnamon Curry Ginger Mustard Chili Pepper Sea Salt Miso Tamari All Herbs ORIENTAL VEGETABLES Maitake Daikon Dandelion Root Shitake Kombu Reishi Nori Umeboshi Wakame Sea Veggies

Acid Forming Foods FATS & OILS Avocado Oil Canola Oil Corn Oil Hemp Seed Oil Flax Oil Lard Olive Oil Safflower Oil Sesame Oil Sunflower Oil FRUITS Cranberries GRAINS Rice Cakes Wheat Cakes Amaranth Barley Buckwheat Corn Oats (rolled) Quinoa Rice (all) Rye Spelt Kamut Wheat Hemp Seed Flour DAIRY Cheese, Cow Cheese, Goat Cheese, Processed Cheese, Sheep Milk Butter NUTS & BUTTERS Cashews Brazil Nuts Peanuts Peanut Butter Pecans Tahini Walnuts ANIMAL PROTEIN Beef Carp Clams Fish Lamb Lobster Mussels Oyster Pork Rabbit Salmon Shrimp Scallops Tuna Turkey Venison PASTA (WHITE) Noodles Macaroni Spaghetti OTHER Distilled Vinegar Wheat Germ Potatoes DRUGS & CHEMICALS Aspartame Chemicals Drugs, Medicinal Drugs, Psychedelic Pesticides Herbicides ALCOHOL Beer Spirits Hard Liquor Wine BEANS & LEGUMES Black Beans Chick Peas Green Peas Kidney Beans Lentils Lima Beans Pinto Beans Red Beans Soy Beans Soy Milk White Beans Rice Milk Almond Milk

More Ranked Foods: Alkaline (pH)  to  Acidic (pH)

Alkaline:  Meditation, Prayer, Peace, Kindness & Love	Acid:  Overwork, Anger, Fear, Jealousy & Stress
Extremely Alkaline Forming Foods - pH 8.5 to 9.0	Extremely Acid Forming Foods - pH 5.0 to 5.5
9.0  Lemons 1, Watermelon 2   8.5  Agar Agar 3, Cantaloupe, Cayenne (Capsicum) 4,         Dried dates & figs, Kelp, Karengo, Kudzu root, Limes,         Mango, Melons, Papaya, Parsley 5, Seedless grapes         (sweet), Watercress, Seaweeds         Asparagus 6, Endive, Kiwifruit, Fruit juices 7, Grapes         (sweet), Passion fruit, Pears (sweet), Pineapple,         Raisins, Umeboshi plum, Vegetable juices 8	5.0  Artificial sweeteners   5.5  Beef, Carbonated soft drinks & fizzy drinks 38,         Cigarettes (tailor made), Drugs, Flour (white, wheat)         39, Goat, Lamb, Pastries & cakes from white flour,         Pork, Sugar (white) 40         Beer 34, Brown sugar 35, Chicken, Deer, Chocolate,         Coffee 36, Custard with white sugar, Jams, Jellies,         Liquor 37, Pasta (white), Rabbit, Semolina, Table         salt refined and iodized, Tea black, Turkey, Wheat         bread, White rice, White vinegar (processed).
Moderate Alkaline - pH 7.5 to 8.0	Moderate Acid - pH 6.0 to 6.5
8.0  Apples (sweet), Apricots, Alfalfa sprouts 9,         Arrowroot, Flour 10, Avocados, Bananas (ripe),         Berries, Carrots, Celery, Currants, Dates & figs         (fresh), Garlic 11, Gooseberry, Grapes (less sweet),         Grapefruit, Guavas, Herbs (leafy green), Lettuce         (leafy green), Nectarine, Peaches (sweet), Pears         (less sweet), Peas (fresh sweet), Persimmon,         Pumpkin (sweet), Sea salt (vegetable) 12, Spinach   7.5  Apples (sour), Bamboo shoots, Beans (fresh green),         Beets, Bell Pepper, Broccoli, Cabbage;Cauli, Carob         13, Daikon, Ginger (fresh), Grapes (sour), Kale,         Kohlrabi, Lettuce (pale green), Oranges, Parsnip,         Peaches (less sweet), Peas (less sweet), Potatoes         & skin, Pumpkin (less sweet), Raspberry, Sapote,         Strawberry, Squash 14, Sweet corn (fresh), Tamari         15, Turnip, Vinegar (apple cider) 16	6.0  Cigarette tobacco (roll your own), Cream of Wheat         (unrefined), Fish, Fruit juices with sugar, Maple         syrup (processed), Molasses (sulphured), Pickles         (commercial), Breads (refined) of corn, oats, rice &         rye, Cereals (refined) eg weetbix, corn flakes,         Shellfish, Wheat germ, Whole Wheat foods 32,         Wine 33, Yogurt (sweetened)   6.5  Bananas (green), Buckwheat, Cheeses (sharp),         Corn & rice breads, Egg whole (cooked hard),         Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Oats, Pasta (whole grain),         Pastry (wholegrain & honey), Peanuts, Potatoes         (with no skins), Popcorn (with salt & butter), Rice         (basmati), Rice (brown), Soy sauce (commercial),         Tapioca, Wheat bread (sprouted organic)
Slightly Alkaline to Neutral pH 7.0	Slightly Acid to Neutral pH 7.0
7.0  Almonds 17, Artichokes (Jerusalem), Barley-Malt         (sweetener-Bronner), Brown Rice Syrup, Brussel         Sprouts, Cherries, Coconut (fresh), Cucumbers, Egg         plant, Honey (raw), Leeks, Miso, Mushrooms, Okra,         Olives ripe 18, Onions, Pickles 19, (home made),         Radish, Sea salt 20, Spices 21, Taro, Tomatoes         (sweet), Vinegar (sweet brown rice), Water Chestnut         Amaranth, Artichoke (globe), Chestnuts (dry         roasted), Egg yolks (soft cooked), Essene bread 22,         Goat's milk and whey (raw) 23, Horseradish,         Mayonnaise (home made), Millet, Olive oil, Quinoa,         Rhubarb, Sesame seeds (whole) 24, Soy beans         (dry), Soy cheese, Soy milk, Sprouted grains 25,         Tempeh, Tofu, Tomatoes (less sweet), Yeast         (nutritional flakes)	7.0  Barley malt syrup, Barley, Bran, Cashews, Cereals         (unrefined with honey-fruit-maple syrup), Cornmeal,         Cranberries 30, Fructose, Honey (pasteurized),         Lentils, Macadamias, Maple syrup (unprocessed),         Milk (homogenized) and most processed dairy         products, Molasses (unsulphered organic) 31,         Nutmeg, Mustard, Pistachios, Popcorn & butter         (plain), Rice or wheat crackers (unrefined), Rye         (grain), Rye bread (organic sprouted), Seeds         (pumpkin & sunflower), Walnuts         Blueberries, Brazil nuts, Butter (salted), Cheeses         (mild & crumbly) 28, Crackers (unrefined rye),         Dried beans (mung, adzuki, pinto, kidney,         garbanzo) 29, Dry coconut, Egg whites, Goats         milk (homogenized), Olives (pickled), Pecans,         Plums 30, Prunes 30, Spelt

Neutral pH 7.0  Ñ  Healthy Body Saliva pH Range is between 6.4 to 6.8 (on your pH test strips)

Butter (fresh unsalted), Cream (fresh and raw), Margarine 26, Milk (raw cow's) 27, Oils (except olive),   Whey (cow's), Yogurt (plain)

NOTE:  Match with the numbers above.   1. Excellent for EMERGENCY SUPPORT for colds, coughs, sore throats, heartburn, and gastro upsets.   2. Good for a yearly fast.  For several days eat whole melon, chew pips well and eat also.  Super alkalizing food.   3. Substitute for gelatin, more nourishing.   4. Stimulating, non-irritating body healer.  Good for endocrine system.   5. Purifies kidneys.   6. Powerful acid reducer detoxing to produce acid urine temporarily, causing alkalinity for the long term.   7. Natural sugars give alkalinity.  Added sugar causes juice to become acid forming.   8. Depends on vege's content and sweetness.   9. Enzyme rich, superior digestibility. 10. High calcium content.  Cornflour substitute. 11. Elevates acid food 5.0 in alkaline direction. 12. Vegetable content raises alkalinity. 13. Substitute for coca; mineral rich. 14. Winter squash rates 7.5.  Butternut and sweeter squash rates 8.0. 15. Genuine fermented for 11Ú2 years otherwise 6.0. 16. Raw unpasteurized is a digestive aid to increase HCL in the stomach. 1 tablespoon, + honey & water before meals. 17. Soak 12 hours, peel skin to eat. 18. Sundried, tree ripened, otherwise 6.0. 19. Using sea salt and apple cider vinegar. 20. Contains sea minerals.  Dried at low temperatures. 21. Range from 7.0 to 8.0. 22. Sprouted grains are more alkaline.  Grains chewed well become more alkaline. 23. High sodium to aid digestion. 24. High levels of utilizable calcium.  Grind before eating. 25. Alkalinity and digestibility higher. 26. Heating causes fats to harden and become indigestible. 27. High mucus production. 28. Mucus forming and hard to digest. 29. When sprouted dry beans rate 7.0. 30. Contain acid-forming benzoic and quinic acids. 31. Full of iron. 32. Unrefined wheat is more alkaline. 33. High quality red wine, no more than 4 oz. daily to build blood. 34. Good quality, well brewed - up to 5.5.  Fast brewed beers drop to 5.0. 35. Most are white sugars with golden syrup added. 36. Organic, fresh ground-up to 5.5. 37. Cheaper brands drop to 5.0, as does over-indulgence. 38. Leaches minerals. 39. Bleached - has no goodness. 40. Poison!  Avoid it. 41. Potential cancer agent.  Over-indulgence may cause partial blindness. CHART ORIGINATING FROM ESSENCE-OF-LIFE.COM

If you are paying close attention, you will notice that the same foods, when processed, change in pH.  For example, AVOCADO is alkaline, while AVOCADO OIL is acidic.  Remember that BALANCE means - the right amount of each thing. Therefore, you cannot totally eliminate acidic foods for the rest of your life!  You must find a healthy middle.

The pH scale is from   0 - 14

0 1 2  3  4  5  6  7 healthy  8 9 10 11 12 13 14

  To MAINTAIN healthy pH : 60% alkaline, 40% acidic. To RESTORE healthy pH : 80% alkaline, 20% acidic. Also note that the 'energy' or 'vibration' of different foods is the same as the energy/vibration they produce : ACIDIC vibrations include: Overwork, Anger, Fear, Jealousy, Stress.   ALKALINE vibrations include: Meditation, Prayer, Peace, Kindness, and Love.  Remember that cancer is also caused by toxic emotions, pollutants, and environmental stress.  We can counteract these 'killers' by incorporating more alkaline-forming foods into our diets, giving our bodies more of that positive energy to counteract or balance the negative, unhealthy vibrations.

Take Good Care!

Love,

Docta Kitchen

DOCTA KITCHEN'S JAMAICAN SPICE TEA RECIPE

When I think of tea, I remember my Granny, pouring the tea back and forth between two cups to cool it.  The smell of the fresh, sweet mint she picked outside slowly filling up the kitchen...It reminds me of first-day-of-school, stirring the big crystals of brown sugar in the cup, that quickly melt into the piping hot beverage. I can totally relate to old British actors drinking tea all day... inhale ~hhm..mmmm!
Here is a recent combination I can't get enough of:

DOCTA KITCHEN'S JAMAICAN SPICE TEA RECIPE

In a medium-size cooking pot,
Fill 3/4 with water and add:
~3 large Cinnamon leaves
~A few blades of Fevergrass/Lemongrass
~1 cup (stuffed, not chopped) of Cullen Mint, or any Garden Mint, fresh or air-dried (use your own judgement, the more the better)

Bring to a boil, turn off flame and let steep, and cool a bit

Pour through a strainer.  Sweeten with stevia, honey, maple syrup, agave, cane syrup or brown sugar.  Also delicious unsweetened!
Do have a good morning! (in my terrible British accent)
Love
Docta Kitchen

BABY-FRIENDLY, NATURAL COLD/FLU REMEDIES

For all the caring people who want to help the little ones through cold/flu seasons (since there seems to be more than one cold/flu season), or relieve common cold symptoms, here are a few remedies that I (or Mom) have been using and discovering through years of avoiding the dreaded doctor's office.  Not to be selfish to the BIG babies, I will have another article with a few remedies for the grown-ups and the brave kids that some of us are raising.

WHAT TO GIVE BABY FOR A COLD?

Some of the remedies we use for our own illnesses as grown-ups may be too strong, spicy, or bitter to get babies to take.  But there are a few beneficial all-natural solutions that are mild enough for babies.  For nursing mothers, consider yourselves lucky, because anything you take, the baby gets too, so you can take that 'hard' stuff and make it easy for the little one.  I find that it is easier to get liquid into children's mouth by using a dropper (like tincture bottle caps) than a spoon; more control, less mess, straight down=no spit up.

The most easy-to-take remedies I have found are:

IRISH MOSS

Breaks up mucus, clears out the lungs of phlegm buildup, and sends it all out. Rich in vitamins A, B, C,  D, E, calcium, potassium, iodine(natural), and sulfur.

~Boil the seaweed in water until it turns into a thick syrup that cools into a gel.  Keep in the refrigerator and add to tea, juice, porridge, soup, or fruit shakes, or sweeten and flavor before refrigerating and serve as a gelatin snack.

EXTRA VIRGIN COCONUT OIL

 High in lauric acid which kills bacteria, and medium-chain fatty acids which are quickly absorbed into the body  to boost the immune system. An excellent anti-viral.

~Cook with this oil and/ or administer 1-2 teaspoons up to 3x a day

(I find that when I have that 'funny feeling' in my throat and take some extra virgin coconut oil, it doesn't go any further)

Regular consumption of coconut oil helps to keep viruses at bay.

~Also massaging coconut oil onto the chest, neck, bottom of feet, back or all over baby's body absorbs into the system and works just as well. (it's good to add a drop of eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, or chamomile essential oil to make a rub)

LIME LEAF, CINNAMON LEAF, LEAF-OF-LIFE, FEVERGRASS/LEMONGRASS, CULLEN MINT, CHAMOMILE TEAS

Warm beverages, especially lightly-sweetened tea will help soothe and calm a sick, fussy baby. (You can also mix in some coconut oil here).  Most herb teas are also antiviral and support the immune system in fighting off infections  For babies under 1 year, DO NOT use honey to sweeten.  For a natural sweetener you may use MAPLE SYRUP (rich in B vitamins), AGAVE, CANE SYRUP, or if you must use sugar, use brown sugar. (sugar weakens the immune system) You can also add lime juice and refrigerate.

~Add leaves and stems, bring water to a boil then turn off fire and let steep.

MORINGA LEAF POWDER or TEA

Boosts immune system, and provides nourishment to the body which can feel weak and depleted when fighting the cold/flu.  Rich in vitamins A, C, Calcium, Potassium, and Protein

~Add powder to juice, or soup.  

~Add leaves to water, bring to a boil then turn off fire and let steep. 

BLACK SEED OIL

Rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFA's.  It is anti-viral and excellent in treating respiratory infections.

~Massage onto chest, neck, back, top of head, and bottom of feet.  Absorbs quickly into the respiratory tract.

CANNABIS TINCTURE and TEA(Warning: this may be illegal based on where you live.  Check your country or state laws, or make at your own risk) :)

This old-fashion Jamaican remedy I learned from my grandmother and my Dad 

Excellent for respiratory infections.

~Steep some cannabis flowers (buds) and stems in a bottle of white rum.  Leave to soak into a tincture. At the onset of any flu-like symptoms, splash and rub chest, back, neck, top of head, bottom of feet with this solution.  Keep bottle tightly closed.  Becomes more potent with time. Will last until it's used up.

~To make tea, boil cannabis stems in water.

If you can get your little one to drink plenty of WATER this is a big plus, as water helps flush the system of the toxins released during recovery.   Avoid all WHITE PRODUCTS: sugar, bread, milk, (even soy as it creates mucus buildup) which challenge the immune system and slows recovery. Choose instead, fresh COCONUT MILK, which is better over all.  COCONUT WATER is full of electrolytes and great for replenishing the body when there is a loss of appetite.  SUNSHINE is also great for healing, full of good ol' Vitamin D.  It's usually easier to just stay in bed, but going outdoors will improve the mood as well as help speed up healing.  Make fun fruit salads, fruit smoothies, vegetable soups, teas, and gelatin instead of heavy carb-sy meals like we're used to.  

Nursing mothers: In addition to these remedies, should eat a clove of GARLIC a day (for only a few days), MORINGA seeds 3 nuts a day, ECHINACEA 3 x a day, and plenty of water.

Mother Earth provides many remedies for colds, flu, and other respiratory infections.  Take advantage of them, and save yourself the hassle and those terrible fluorescent hospital lights.

Love

Docta Kitchen

DOCTA KITCHEN'S AVOCADO SALSA (Vegan)

If you are allergic to Avocados...too bad. I'm Joking! You can leave it out and up the tomatoes.
This recipe is perfect for parties, lunch boxes, or regular snacking!

You will need:
A nice-size bowl
a knife
a grater
a spoon to mix it all up!

~1/2 large Avocado/Jamaican 'pear' (4 oz.), or 1 regular size dark-skinned avocado
~2 tomatoes (4oz.) 4 tomatoes if not using avocado
~1/4 large plantain (2 oz.)
~1 teaspoon finely chopped Eskallion or onion or 1 peg garlic
~1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
~1 okra (optional) I like the consistency it adds
~1 teaspoon Olive Oil or Virgin Coconut Oil
~Sprinkle thyme leaves, basil leaves, rosemary(fresh or dried herbs) for added flavor
~ A dash of Bragg's Liquid Aminos or soy sauce or kelp/dulse or sea salt to taste (not iodized salt, that stuff is bad for you)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, trying to retain the firmness of the ingredients.
Eat with any chips, crackers, bread, rice or in Nori rolls
Then,
Feel good about what you just put in your body!

*if you add okra, be sure to consume immediately. Not as attractive when refrigerated. :)
*1/2 means 'one half', 1/4 'one quarter' etc.
Love,
Docta Kitchen

Papaya (Paw Paw) for Dengue Fever

Good Day Earthlings!
If you're like me, you shudder at the term 'outbreak', because of the fear that at any moment you or the people you care about can 'break out' with some dreaded virus.  So I will try to avoid using the term.  There has been a recent rise in the reported cases of DENGUE FEVER in tropical areas, such as my native Jamaica. Symptons include severe flu-like illness with excruciating headaches, joint, and muscle pain. 
"Dengue is caused by a virus, and the virus is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It lives in urban areas, likes to breed in flowerpots and similar containers, and bites during the day, when people are out and about. There's no vaccine to prevent dengue. The best way to avoid it is to avoid getting bitten by a mosquito." says Nancy Shute in an article about Dengue Fever.  The question is, how do you "avoid" getting bitten by a mosquito?....
A friend of mine has a young son who recently contracted the virus in an urban area (Portmore, St. Catherine), which led to my mother and I researching the illness to find many sources to confirm this remedy.  It has also been researched in Malaysia for decades where it has been a proven remedy. Wait for it...... Papaya.
I learned that (believe it or not) eating alot of papaya, what we call 'pawpaw' in Jamaica, is an excellent preventative for those who can't "avoid" being bitten by infectious mosquitos.  Further, papaya leaves made into a juice is a curative for those who have already contracted the virus, and is a stronger medicine than the fruit.  Now, it doesn't taste delicious, it's rather bitter, but I think it's worth a couple minutes of palate-discomfort.  Speaking of palate, this reminds me that papaya leaf juice has also been proven by medical professionals in Asia, to increase the body's production of platelets (thembrocytes).  Once the virus is contracted, the body stops producing platelets during the period of infection.  If the platelet count gets too low, this can be fatal. Not good.
So if you live in a third-world country where medical attention, supplies, and equipment are not that great unless you really can afford it (and papaya trees are at your reach), you may want to do all you can (or be armed with the right information) to prevent or quickly treat the virus.
Always do your own research as well.
Love,
Docta Kitchen