Strengthening Shio Kombu

Shio Kombu Condiment

This simple to prepare condiment is absolutely delicious and melts in the mouth. I recently made it for my daughter after she gave birth to twins, and she couldnt get enough of it. Shio kombu is a wonderful example of the savory taste known as umami.

Shio kombu offers a power punch of nutrition and minerals especially amino acids, digestive enzymes, iron, calcium, iodine, and fiber.


This lovely condiment can support

Boosting immunity
Strengthening the digestion and helping the elimination process
The thyroid and metabolism as it contains iodine - please note that only small amounts might be necessary for thyroid issues and for some thyroid diseases, kombu should be avoided altogether
Beautiful skin, hair, and nails
Weight loss
Preventing anemia
Strengthening the arteries
Lowering blood pressure
Improving arthritis

Here is the recipe

Ingredients

3 strips kombu

Spring water

1-2 tablespoons shoyu or tamari

1 tablespoon brown rice vinegar

Few drops sesame oil

1 teaspoon ginger juice – optional

Preparation

Place the kombu into a bowl and cover with water.
Let sit until soft enough to cut.
Remove and cut into small bite size pieces 
Place the kombu back into the water.*

*In Europe the kombu is often tougher and therefore will need to be rinsed a few times and soaked for a longer period. It might also be good to shred the kombu into tiny strips so that it cooks easily.

Add the vinegar and let soak for at least 30 minutes
Place into a pan and bring to a boil over a medium flame.
Make sure there is enough water to cover the kombu

Add the shoyu and sesame oil.
Simmer on a very low flame for at least 30 minutes or until the kombu is very soft.
You might need to add a little more water if the kombu isn't soft enough. It should melt in the mouth.

When the kombu is ready the water should be almost all gone.
Add the ginger juice and mix through.














Serve a number of pieces on top of feshly cooked brown rice or other grains and vegetable dishes.
Store the shio kombu in a glass jar in the fridge. It will last at least 2 weeks although most likely it will be eaten quickly!

Enjoy. Love Chef Mel xx

Overcoming Brain Fog part 2

Lifestyle solutions for Brain Fog 

Meditation   has been scientifically proven to benefit the brain especially  improved  concentration 
and focus. Calming the mind can also help depression, anxiety and increase 
creative expression. 
It doesn't have to  be for a long time either. 
Combining slow breathing and emptying the mind can take a few minutes. 
You can also chose to listen to meditation tapes if you find it hard to stop
those  racing thoughts. 

Hydrate as  our brains are almost 75%  water, it is very important to make sure we have enough fluids.  
Dehydration causes your brain to shut down and not function at full capacity.  As well as enjoying  water  and herbal teas, fruits and vegetables can fulfill your fluid requirements.  
They  also  provide  healthful nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fiber and
 protein. This often makes vegetables and fruits more  effective  in  rehydrating  the system than   water  alone. 
 High water content fruits and  vegetables  include cucumbers, celery, broccoli, radishes, 
lettuce, spinach, cauliflower,watermelon, melon and strawberries. 

Spend time outdoors  provides great nourishment to the brain. Our brains 
need sunshine, exercise,fresh air and natural light.  Vitamin D contributes to our good mood and low levels can create cloudy 
thinking and  a lack of motivation.  
Sun exposure is an easy way to overcome feelings of sadness and regain 
mental clarity. It is very important to unplug and get away from the office, 
computers, and mobiles. Even stepping outside the office for a few minutes and exposing your eyes and skin to the natural light, even if it is winter and overcast, can give your brain a boost. This is a very easy solution if you feel sleepy, but cannot 
take a nap. 
Letting your eyes and face soak up the natural light for a few minutes sends a message to the brain that it needs to wake up and that foggy sensation quickly disappears. 

  

 Exercise – It is important to keep active throughout the day. Exercising in the morning, as the sun is rising, helps to improve mental clarity and focus. 
Walking outdoors gets your blood pumping and is extremely  beneficial  for memory, problem solving, creative thinking, and as a mood booster. 
Make sure to incorporate small amounts of intentional movement during your 
day as this will help  maintain  blood sugar levels  and  improve  the circulation of blood
flow to the extremities, including the brain.. 

  

Deep breathing is a very simple way to get the mind back into focus and to
 feel more alive. 
You can open a window or step outside and then begin to breathe in and out slowly and deeply. In addition to ridding those foggy thoughts, you will feel more calm and less anxious. 
The idea is to breathe slowly in through your nose to the count of four, hold it for the count
of 4, and then slowly breathe out through your mouth to the count of eight. After a minute of breathing in the fresh air, your mind and energy will experience a lovely lift. 

Rosemary  essential oil Is known as “the herb of remembrance”. Rosemary is calming and helps to alleviate mental fatigue and regulate the nervous system.  Especially good for people who are dealing with memory loss and anxiety. Use a few drops of Rosemary essential oil on a cotton ball and inhale deeply to 
clear the mind and make good decisions..