From Mrs. Cog's Corner

Questioning Everything...

Should you store food for the long haul? Which foods should you stock up on? How long can certain foods be stored for? What are the drawbacks of stocking quantities of food for the long term? Can these long term foods offer real nutritional value? Are there foods that are affordable now that may not be in the future?

Resources you may find useful:

• Food Storage and Survival: http://foodstorageandsurvival.com/
• Ready Nutrition:  http://readynutrition.com/
• Survival Acres: http://survivalacres.com/shop/content/6-dehydrated-food-vs-freeze-dried-food
• LDS Long Term Food Tables:  http://www.lds.org/topics/food-storage/longer-term-food-supply?lang=eng
• Off Grid Survival: http://offgridsurvival.com/survivalfood/
• Daily Survival: http://daily-survival.blogspot.com/2011/02/long-term-food-storage-shelf-life.html
• Survival Food You Can Grow: http://www.theprepperjournal.com/2013/09/13/survival-food-10-growing/
• National Geographic on forest gardens: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/doomsday-castle/articles/plant-your-own-secret-survival-garden/
• Container Gardening: http://www.container-gardening-for-food.com/survival-food.html
• What's Cooking America - Food Storage Guidelines: http://whatscookingamerica.net/Information/FreezerChart.htm
• Storage for home grown crops: http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/food-storage-zm0z12aszcom.aspx

What are your recommendations and helpful links?

From Mrs. Cog's Corner

The content on this page is for discussion purposes relating to health and well being only and is not intended to be medical advice. Links and sources provided are for informational purposes and do not represent an endorsement of a person, product or treatment.

Nature holds countless remedies that have been utilized far longer than modern man could distinguish a bacteria from a virus. During the current age of overuse of pharmaceutical antibiotics leading to seemingly resistant strains, perhaps it is a good time to examine the age old natural and alternative methods that have worked for so long. At the very least, having these items on hand, or the ability to grow or procure them, could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency if healthcare or treatment  is unattainable.

More from Mrs. Cog:

• Honey
• Cinnamon
• Colloidal Silver
• Oregano Oil

Although penicillin originally came from natural sources, scientists have found the technology to reproduce its medicinal power to manufacture many other synthetic drugs. However, these antibacterial drugs are often misused and abused, leading to the evolution of superbugs that have developed resistance to their effects. Fortunately, nature is abundant with other natural antibiotics, which people can readily use with greater margins of safety. http://www.med-health.net/Natural-Antibiotics.html

In herbology, antibiotic-like foods are called astringent — meaning natural blood cleansers. The word anti (against) – biotic (life) refers to a list of pharmaceutical antimicrobials designed to kill harmful bacteria in the host body. The problem is these synthetic forms of antibiotics kill off both the good and bad bacteria leaving the body depleted of living microflora that supports immune function. 30 Foods and Herbs With Natural Antibiotic Properties: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/common-foods-herbs-with-antibiotic-properties.html

On December 11th 1945, at the end of his Nobel lecture, Alexander Fleming sounded a warning. Fleming could already see the future of antibiotic misuse. “There is the danger”, he said, “that the ignorant man may easily underdose himself and by exposing his microbes to non-lethal quantities of the drug make them resistant.”  http://frugallysustainable.com/2013/08/food-and-herb-cures-10-natural-antibiotic-alternatives/

We’ve allowed the North American continent and much of the world to become awash in antibiotics. In the short run, this means the emergence of pathogenic, antibiotic-resistant bacteria in agricultural crops and animal and human populations. In the long run, it means the emergence of infectious disease epidemics more deadly than any in human history. http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/herbal-antibiotics-defense-zm0z13djzsor.aspx#axzz2pjpKMjw1

From Mrs. Cog's Corner

The content on this page is for discussion purposes relating to health and well being only and is not intended to be medical advice. Links and sources provided are for informational purposes and do not represent an endorsement of a person, product or treatment.

Often touted as nature's most powerful antibiotic, Oregano oil is not one to overlook. It's referred to as a "hot oil" like cinnamon as undiluted, it causes mild to moderate skin irritation. Like many antibiotic essential oils, oregano has properties of antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, antiviral, immune stimulant, and more. A simple google search of oregano oil uses will show that oregano oil is a whole medicine cabinet in one bottle.

More information:

Oregano, allspice and garlic essential oils (EOs) can be effective, natural barriers against E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria, according to a study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908103626.htm

Further adding to oil of oregano uses, Georgetown University Medical Center scientists have even claimed that oregano oil may be effective enough of a microbial agent to replace many pharmaceuticals that treat the colon, liver, and digestive system. http://www.wakingtimes.com/2012/09/19/oil-of-oregano-uses-fight-super-bacteria-prevent-cancer/

Oil from the common herb oregano may be an effective treatment against dangerous, and sometimes drug-resistant bacteria, a Georgetown researcher has found. Two studies have shown that oregano oil—and, in particular, carvacrol, one of oregano’s chemical components—appear to reduce infection as effectively as traditional antibiotics. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/10/011011065609.htm

Oregano is nature's antibiotic. It may be one reason why people who eat a Mediterranean diet tend to live longer and healthier lives. Besides making pizza, pasta and salad taste great, the oil of the wild oregano plant has been shown to kill unwanted bacteria, fungus, yeast, parasites and viruses. It's a powerful antihistamine. New research is finding that oil of oregano is as effective against colitis as prescription drugs without the harmful side effects. It is also able to regenerate liver cells. http://www.naturalnews.com/024685_oregano_oil_of.html

It is important not to confuse Oil of Oregano with common oregano that is used as a spice for cooking. Common oregano is typically Origanum Marjoram, while Oil of Oregano is derived from Origanum Vulgare. http://www.homeremediesweb.com/oil_of_oregano_health_benefits.php

Oregano Essential Oil is well known in natural health communities for its antibacterial properties, and it is even being studied by the mainstream medical community for its potential benefits. It is considered to be antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiseptic, antiviral and immune stimulating. http://wellnessmama.com/8409/herb-profile-oregano/

If you are at all familiar with natural health and healing, you have probably already heard of oregano oil. Created from the perennial herb oregano and infused with extremely high levels of free-radical-crushing antioxidants, oregano oil has a number of uses that have been shown to be extraordinarily beneficial to the health of you and your family. http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/10-uses-organic-oregano-oil/