Who would have known Bitter is good for you??

How exciting! I went to town yesterday to buy young fresh coconuts at the Thai store. I have been missing coconut water in my smoothies. They did not have any so instead I walked over to have a look at their herbs section. So much to choose from, and so many I dont know. Anyway, I let instinct rule and picket a few. Wild greens and herbs have so mant more minerals and healing nutrients than commercial greens. This is what I picked:


Chrysanthemum Garland
Celery Cabbage
Young Ocra Leaf
Coriander
Basil Leaf
Bitter Leaf


I have not been eating as many greens during winter and even the green juice that I intend to drink every day, has been skipped lately. Its time to get back to the good daily habits, I need them for strengt! I was surely ment to find these herbs, at least it got me very inspired!
When I went to pay, I asked the lady about the Chrysanthemum and Bitter Leaf. She said " you have picked very healthy herbs, they are bitter in taste but very good for you" Especially "Bitter Leaf" is great. It is common to give it to people that am having trouble sleeping or have a fever. She said it calms down the system. Isn`t that great!?
I found some great info online:


From a Blog called Rasta Seed I found this: In the Western Societies sugar and salt are the two main flavours that we consume and the consequences of this are dire for our health. The Chinese Indians and Africans incorporate bitter and sour tastes into their diet regularly as they have had to rely on natural endogenous plants and herbs for their medicine for thousands of years.


From another page called African Foods I find that Bitter leafs is derived from the leaves of a small ever-green shrub found all over Africa called Vernonia, belonging to the family Asteraceace. The leaves have great nutritional, herbal and medicinal value and is widely used especially in west africa. It is effective in preventing indigestion, scurvy, sciatica, and rheumatism.
They also contain a lot of Zinc which is necessary for beautiful skin!


So now I am going to make a nice salad for myself. I have some pomagranate and avocado I think will fit perfectly.




Here it is, delicous! I added avocado, two tomatoes, onion, olives, chili dulce and pomegranate. Dressing with lime and garlic. Nam Nam!