The world is changing rapidly, and the concept of using food as medicine is becoming more widely adopted.
Farmers markets and eating locally grown, organic and nutrient-rich foods is gaining in popularity. It is providing another tool for families to stay healthy using their kitchen at home and cooking with herbs, spices, roots, berries, seeds, healing mushrooms and free-range meats and eggs. Eating nourishing foods is a great way to build a strong digestive and immune systems.
While we have a growing appreciation for nourishing food, I often notice an important ingredient is still missing from our meals: the herbs and spices! Herbs and spices can transform a bland meal into a delicious eating experience.
However, the complexity of flavors in a well-spiced meal does more than enhance our taste buds. Herbs and spices can contribute to our health. They can improve our mood, reduce stress, assist us in digesting and absorbing the nutrients from the rest of our healthy foods, help us to have a glowing skin and boost our metabolism. The list of benefits goes on and on.
It is important to note that our bodies have a uniqueness and own intelligence, which means not all foods, herbs and spices are for everyone. Follow your instinct on what your body needs to stay healthy and happy.
Let’s briefly look at some of the herbs and spices that you might already have in your kitchen.
Garlic
There are few herbs that are as loved or as notorious as garlic. It’s renowned worldwide for its healing abilities yet commonly maligned for its strong smell and flavor. Garlic helps support digestion, the immune system, and the heart.
Black pepper
Black pepper is so common it’s easy to dismiss as a culinary spice used simply for taste. Besides being flavorful, black pepper strongly supports digestion and it’s an antimicrobial, antioxidant and circulatory stimulant, among many other benefits.
Ginger
In India ginger is referred to as the “universal medicine.” It has been used for centuries and is still one of the most popular herbs of our time. Ginger helps support circulation, reduces inflammation, helps with nausea, and improves digestion. Ginger can be added to savory and sweet dishes, all the way to making teas.
Parsley
Oftentimes, it is thought of simply as a garnish to make a dish look more appealing. But few realize the power stored in a handful of leaves. Eaten frequently, it can freshen your breath, improve digestion and assist with urinary tract infections and edema.
Rosemary
Science has taken an interest in rosemary to boost cognition and act as a natural antioxidant. Herbalists have long treasured rosemary for its benefits to the heart, digestion and mood. It’s delicious on meat, vegetables and as a tea.
Workshop
Be curious and explore your kitchen cabinet and happy cooking!
If you are interested in learning more about healthy digestion and the uses and benefits of herbs and spices, please join the Herbalism Workshop at the Cibolo on Saturday, June 4 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Teaching Barn at Herff Farm. Register now at www.cibolo.org.
Can’t make the workshop? Make sure you visit the Farmers Market at Herff Farm to find vendors where you are sure to get a nice batch of locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs. See the Boerne Star web
Cibolo Happenings
May 27
• Family Night Hikes, explore the Cibolo at night, 8-9:30 p.m. Join the Cibolo staff as they walk the trails learning about all the nocturnal animals that call the Cibolo home. This is a hike suitable for children. Attendees should bring comfortable shoes, a flashlight, and a water bottle. Register on www.cibolo.org.
May 28
• Farmers Market at Herff Farm, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Join us at the Farmers Market at Herff Farm and enjoy locally produced products and goods from small businesses and farms in the Texas Hill Country. Herff Farm offers trails and programming for children and adults. More information is available on www.cibolo.org.
• Forest Bathing, adult wellness class at the Nature Center, 10 a.m.-noon. Held on select Mondays and Saturdays, forest bathing, or Shinrin-yuko, and forest therapy, or Shinrin-ryoho, are research-based practices allowing people to slow down from their daily lives and enjoy healing through participation with the natural world.We will meet in the parking lot, complete some forms, and prepare for our walk, which will take approximately two hours and cover one and a half miles. Learn more and register at www.cibolo.org. Also available as a Sunday class from 10 a.m. to noon on May 29.
June 4
• Storytime at the Farm, Miss Constance of the Patrick Heath Library, 10-11 a.m. Miss Constance will host a Peter Rabbit-themed story adventure from the amphitheater at Herff Farm. A backup location will be announced on the day of if it rains. This is a free event.
• Herbalism: Food as Medicine, 10-11:30 a.m. Learn the importance of food choice and how to use herbs and spices you already have in your kitchen pantry. By the end of this class, you will know what healthy food groups should be on your plate and how each of them contributes to your overall health. This class will be held in the Teaching Barn at Herff Farm. Registration is $25 per person. Visit www.cibolo.orgfor more information.
• Ranch Walks, Brown Ranch, 10 a.m.-noon. The Brown Ranch is known as the Jewel of the Texas Hill Country with miles of pristine creeks and streams, headwaters of Cibolo Creek, bigtooth maple forest and many unique features. Guest naturalists will be along to answer questions. Ranch walks are $25 per person with a limit of 20 people per walk. Registration is required, and space is limited. Learn more on www.cibolo.org.
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