Vacation & Preparing for Ramadan

Assalaam Alaikum dear sisters!


I hope you're all doing well and enjoying yourself, insha'Allah!
As you might know, I have vacation now, my husband is abroad visiting friends... When he left, I decided to escape from the city and go stay at my parents house closer to nature. Of course I brought my rabbit too :-) She's having such a wonderful time and loves all the grass she can eat daily! Last year she was on vacation here too and even gained weight from all the grass, although she doesn't sit in a cage and therefore even gets a lot of daily excercise. Hehe.
I just love to be away from the city and stepping out on the grass and the dew with the sun in my face in the morning - it is just amazing, masha'Allah. Insha'Allah my husband and I can live in a house surrounded by nature one day :-)

Ramadan is getting closer (right now 33 days and 15 hours to go ;-) - see the countdown in my sidebar), Alhamdulillah! We are about to enter the month of Sha'ban. The Prophet (saws) used to begin fasting in Sha'ban as a prelude and towards the end of the month he would stop to gather strength for Ramadan. Therefore, planning ahead is a Sunnah. I read a lot about fasting yesterday and read how you can increase the benefits of fasting and avoid any side effects. Today I am starting a detox diet, which I'll follow for ten days. It includes a lot of herbal teas, water (with/without lemon), fruit and vegetables + brown rice etc. I'm excited to see how my body will react to the detoxification! :-) Did any of you ever try a detox diet?


Detox is not abstaining from all food and water during the day, like in Ramadan. But I hope a detox diet will be beneficial as a preparation for Ramadan, insha'Allah. And also a proper fast.
There are many things to be aware of when fasting. This piece of an article is just some of the things that we should be aware of in the holy month of Ramadan:


"The first meal of the day, before dawn, should contain complex carbohydrates in order to fuel the body for the rest of the day and keep one feeling full in order to reduce the onset of hunger pains at a later stage.  The meal at night, after sundown, should preferably be a lighter one in order to avoid indigestion and heartburn...To avoid the possibility of constipation it is important to eat foods that are high in fibre, increase fruit and vegetables in the diet, and to consume an adequate volume of liquids, such as water, soup, weak tea and fruit juices. Take care not to drink too much or digestive juices can become overly diluted and stomach bloating may occur. Sweet foods high in sugar, including most desserts, and adding salt to meals, thus causing additional thirst, should be avoided.  Decreasing consumption of spicy and fried foods is advised to lessen digestive problems." Source: helium.com


Personally I have not been taking these things into conciderations every time I cooked during Ramadan. Insha'Allah you will also benefit from this Ramadan Health Guide (2007) available online! And insha'Allah we'll all have a blessed and beneficial Ramadan!! :-) I can't wait :-) How are you preparing yourself for Ramadan? Both physically and spiritually? Spiritually I will also this month increase the amount of Qur'an that I read and insha'Allah achieve more knowledge about our deen through books and increase my dhikr.


If you don't see me much online this week, it's because I'm at my parents' place and have chosen not to sit too much in front of a computer. Like today I want to go on a bike trip on my own to the water and forests nearby :-) insha'Allah.


Take care all of you <3

Tea Time Benefits - Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is another one of Allah's (swt) miraculous creations. Perhaps many of us don't recognize just how miraculous this plant is, but insha'Allah you will know, after reading this post.

Chamomile tea has been consumed for hundreds of years. It is made by infusing German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), a member of the sunflower family, in hot water.

Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is also beneficial, but most research has been done on German chamomile and it is the most commonly used in teas. 

Camomile tea is caffeine-fre and can be consumed on a daily basis.

Chamomile can be used topically or orally to treat a number of everyday ailments, such as:

- Insomnia and other sleep disorders
- Anxiety and Panic Attacks- Muscle twitches
- Wounds, burns, and scrapes 
- Skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, chickenpox, and diaper rash

Precautions

- Some people have serious allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis) to chamomile. If you are allergic to other plants in the same family such as daisy, ragweed, aster, chrysanthemum, or marigold you should use caution when using chamomile.

- Chamomile should be avoided during pregnancy because it may act as a uterine stimulant and therefore increase the chance of abortion.

- People with bleeding disorders or on blood thinners should avoid chamomile, as it contains coumarin and may increase the chance of bleeding.

But if you're not pregnant and don't suffer from allergy and bleeding disorders, you may enjoy the wonderful benefits of chamomile tea listed below:

How to use chamomile

For Stomach Cramps

Chamomile has been found to contain fairly strong antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory constituents. Therefore, it has been found to be effective in treating stomach and intestinal cramps. Simply prepare a cup of Chamomile tea following the directions on the package and drink it twice a day while symptoms are present (one cup first thing in the morning, and one in the evening)

For Insomnia
Chamomile is wonderful and healthy remedy for sleep disorders such as insomnia. Simply make a chamomile tea 30 to 45 minutes before going to bed to treat sleeplessness.

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Chamomile reduces cramping and pain in the bowels and also helps to relieve excessive gas and bloating in the intestines. Therefore, a simple remedy is to drink a cup of chamomile tea to help relieve irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, and gastroenteritis or stomach flu.

For Migraine Headaches
Chamomile is a wonderful cure for migraines. Take a cup of tea when you start noticing the symptoms of a migraine headache. It works best if you take it before the headache actually gets severe.

For Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) & Menstrual Cramps
Drinking chamomile tea has been found to be beneficial in treating PMS and Menstrual Cramps.

Chamomile to Treat Burns & Scrapes
Chamomile oil is very useful in treating bad burns. Simply rub a small amount of oil gently across the burned area once a day. For scrapes and burns you can also brew a strong concoction by adding 3 tea bags to one cup of boiling water. When the water cools, dip a cloth into it and use it as a compress on the wounded area. 

For Hair Brightening
Blond hair rinsed in Chamomile tea gets brightened naturally. If mixed with henna and then applied, natural highlights are formed in dark hair. 

For Dandruff & Irritated Scalp
Chamomile can be used to prevent dandruff and soothe an irritated scalp. Add two tablespoons of a strong herbal decoction to mild baby shampoo. To make a chamomile decoction, simmer one ounce of dried chamomile in two and half cups of distilled water for about 30 minutes. Strain, cool and add to a bottle of shampoo or use as a hair rinse.

Reducing Dark Circles Around Eyes
Chamomile tea has been found to help relieve eye fatigue and dark circles. A simple remedy is to dip 2 chamomile tea bags in warm water. After 5 minutes, remove the tea bags from the water and let them cool to room temperature. Then place them on your eyes at night as a compress.

Other Benefits of Chamomile Tea

- Drinking chamomile tea is advantageous for people with intestinal uneasiness. 

- Drinking chamomile tea activates anti-bacterial activity within the body, which increase the immune system and helps us to fight various diseases. 
- It is also beneficial for children as it helps in easing intestinal pains. It can also help in comforting a teething baby.
- To treat various respiratory ailments including asthma and sinus infections the steam of chamomile tea can be used. Chamomile tea turns out to be a great digestive drink with a hint of peppermint, which can help to soothe various digestion problems.
- The soothing beverage, with a hint of lemongrass, tends to relax the nerves and relieve unnecessary stress. 
- Drinking a cup chamomile tea daily can help in relieving various intestinal problems, including irritable bowel syndrome. 
- It is also rich in amino acids which help in tackling muscle spasms, and it is considered to be beneficial for people suffering from muscle spasms or menstrual cramps.
- Chamomile tea is analgesic that helps in relieving pain by reducing nerve excitability.

Sources:
sweetadditions.net

homeremediesweb.com

Insha'Allah you'll enjoy your tea time even more today.

A Cold & Thanking Sisters

Oh no, Spring came and I caught a cold! Although I even kept wearing my winter jacket :-/ Allahu Alim. Insha'Allah I will be doing well again very soon :-) The Prophet said: Hours of sickness sweep away hours of sins. - (nahjul Fasahah)... 

When I am doing a bit better again, I will post about My Favorite Things, which Sara tagged me to do :-) Thank you sweet sister for thinking about me!! <3

I will also do what needs to be done, when you receive the award below :-) THANK YOU so much dear Blue Pearl for giving me that award!! Alhamdulillah, I am very honored that you see my posts as an inspiration to you <3

Tea Time Benefits - Green- & Rooibos Tea

I love tea! And I know many other sisters out there also love tea :-) I know because we've had great tea parties together (here and here)! :-D

Today I want to write about two types of tea, which I enjoy very much - and I want to share the benefits of them with you:

Green Tea

Green Tea plant

Ancient Chinese people knew the benefits of green tea for health. They have always used it for medical purposes. However, in Ancient China, it was used especially against the headaches and depression! Here you can read some of the many other benefits there are from drinking green tea:

1. It is used to treat multiple sclerosis
2. It is used for treatment and prevention of cancer
3. It is used to stop Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases
4. It is used to raise the metabolism and increase fat oxidation
5. It reduces the risk of heart diseases and heart attacks by reducing the risk of trombosis
6. It reduces the risk of esophageal cancer
7. Drinking green tea inhibits the growth of certain cancer cells, reduces the level of cholesterol in blood, improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol
8. It is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases
9. It is used to treat impaired immune function
10. Some researches show that, drinking green tea regularly may help prevent tooth decay by killing the bacteria which causes the dental plaque
11. Prevents and helps treat diabetes
12. Rehydrates
13. Soothes stress and produces brain power.

Green tea should also prolong life! One of the largest population studies ever conducted: 40,530 Japanese adults were interviewed over the course of 11 years.

Researchers found those who drink 5 or more cups of green tea a day are 16% less likely to die than those who drink less than one cup a day.

Heavy green tea drinkers are also 26% less likely to die from heart disease.

Sources: HealthMad and Amazing Green Tea

It is recommended to drink about 3-6 cups of green tea a day.

Rooibos Tea

Rooibos Tea plant

Also known as Red Tea or Redbush, is not an actual tea derived from the Camilla Sinensis plant. Rather Rooibos comes from a herb, which is indigenous to the Cederburg area of South Africa.

Scientists from Japan, who did studies in the 1960's, discovered Rooibos contains powerful antioxidants that are thought to retard aging and have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Here you can read some of the many other benefits there are from drinking Rooibos tea:

1. Contains similar amounts of polyphenols and has been shown to be anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activity
2. Naturally caffeine-free so is ideal for people who want to cut back on caffeine or want to drink it before going to bed. Actually it’s recommended you drink it before going to bed as it can help with insomnia. It’s also very low in tannins
3. Contains calcium, manganese and fluoride to help build strong teeth and bones
4. Can be given to infants suffering from colic, sleeping problems or stomach cramps Simply add some milk to the tea
5. Contains alpha hydroxy acid and zinc which is great for the skin. You can even apply it directly to the skin to help with acne, eczema and sunburn etc.
6. People with kidney stones can drink it because there’s no oxalic acid
7. Full of vitamins and minerals such as zinc, copper, calcium, manganese, magnesium, potassium

Sources: Learn about tea and Natural Health Remedies 

So enjoy your tea now! :-) I'm going to have some Rooibos right away (don't drink green tea before you want to go to sleep...'cause green tea makes you really fresh!) - and tomorrow's going to be a green tea day!

Take care dear sisters!

Fruit

Dear sisters. I would like to share this little information about fruit with you, especially these days, where we are fasting, insha'Allah, and perhaps thinking about what to have after the break of the fast or before Fajr. Fruit is a great health-source, as we all know, but do we know exactly in which way these delicious colourful things benefit us? If not, then read on, insha'Allah. A sister I know shared this with me (and I don't know where she got it from) and I'm sure nobody would mind, if you share it with others too :) d

KIWI

Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE

An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack and stroke.

STRAWBERRY

Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits and protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE

Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent and dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON

Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene — the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C and Potassium.

GUAVA and PAPAYA

Top awards for vitamin C. They're the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, which is good for your eyes. 


Food for thought: If you want to read more about food and fruit and how the shape of a food has to do with which bodypart it is good for, take a look at Rene's Bare Essentials post Allahs pharmacy! Bismillah.