Bring Out the Preserves!

Tis the season for all those lovely summer fruits and vegetables that were canned and preserved to make their way on to your table. If you happened to have a overabundance of strawberries and then just happened to make some strawberry jam, then you'll be a happy camper this winter. And it will help you if you have dry mouth, a sore throat, or hoarseness. Strawberries can also help with painful or difficult urination. And another wonderful use for a strawberry (though this has to be done in the summer months when they are fresh) is to cut it in half and rub along your teeth and gums, allow this to sit for 45 minutes and then rinse with warm water. This method was developed according to Paul Pitchford, author of Healing with Whole Foods, as strawberries help to remove tartar and strengthen your teeth. These beautiful red berries are the first to appear in the spring and can be used to cleanse your system. If you are like me and have experienced allergic reactions to strawberries it is likely because they were not vine ripened, but rather plucked too soon and then ripened in some warehouse. While we were in the UK in July we were lucky enough to be given a beautiful jar of strawberry jam made by our friends who have an allotment (part of a growing movement in the UK to provide city folk with the ability to grow their own food) in Bristol where they grew a lovely variety of fruit and vegetables. There are even more medicinal values to strawberries, and you can find more about them here.