Sunday 21 August 2016

ORGME: Mangosteen, the booster range

Mangosteen is one of our great local fruits, also known as the Queen of Fruits.  Its scientific name is Garcinia mangostanaWith the exception of the stem and seed, the whole fruit provides us with many wondrous health benefits naturally.  Personally, it is a fruit that tops my list.  Unfortunately, it is seasonal.  So when it is the season, I tend to stock up on the fruit and process it so I can have a longer supply.  Living in the land where this fruit can be grown naturally and organically, it is an opportunity that I like to maximise.

It is important to select good quality fruits that is at its prime when all the beneficial nutrients are at the maximum.  Mangosteen is low in calories and is a good source of vitamin C  and dietary fiber as well as providing a good amount of Vitamin B and minerals such as Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorous and Zinc.  It also contains Carotene-a, Carotene-ß and Cryptoxanthin-ß (Source: USDA National Nutrient Database).

It also contains Xanthone, a class of naturally occurring polyphenol compound.  The fruit contains two types of zanthones - alpha mangosteen and gamma mangosteen - which have been shown to have several benefits including anti-inflammatory.  These antioxidants have healing properties which heals cells damaged by free radicals, slow down raging and prevent degenerative diseases and physical and mental deterioration - what we Malays say as "awet muda".  The xanthones also helps to burn fat to prevent weight gain.

The high content in Vitamin C makes it a good natural source of this vitamin which provides for improved immune system and defence against free radicals.  An important nutrient in cell development is Folate, which is found in mangosteen.

Amongst the properties of the fruit are:

  1. anti-inflammatory
  2. anti-fungal
  3. antioxidants
  4. antibacterial

Mangosteen are being used in various cancer studies with the key element of Xanthones (source: National Centre of Biotechnological Information- NCBI).  Among the studies being conducted is the use of mangosteen as a "chemopreventive" in the treatment of cancer, arresting tumor growth as well as a preventive and curative treatment for cancer.

In summary, the mangosteen provides healthy benefits:

  1. Strengthens the immune system
  2. Fights free radicals
  3. Good for the brain helping to fight against mental deterioration and degenerative diseases
  4. Helps to fight against cancer
  5. Helps the fight against cardio-vascular diseases
  6. Reduces cholesterol
  7. Helps in weight control
With all these benefits, that is why I have chosen it to be one of range of our healthy but delicious drinks, without preservative, additives or colouring, with the following selection:

  1. Mangosteen Tea (unsweetened)
  2. Mangosteen Tea (sweetened with pure cane sugar)
  3. Mangosteen Nectar (which has a higher dietary fiber content with the inclusion of the fruit flesh)
  4. Mangosteen Concentrate which can be diluted to make other drinks either hot or cold.
These drinks are designed for normal consumption, as part of the daily food intake, an alternative to the normal drinks like juices and carbonated drinks.  Personally, I drink it almost everyday and make it a part of my normal diet.  Like anybody else, I will be more inclined to drink it if it tastes good so taste is also an important criteria.  No-one wants to feel like they are drinking medicine or else it will not be easy to incorporate into our daily beverage intake.  For my son, I like to add 1 teaspoon of the concentrate in his drinks to make it "drinkable" for him.

For more information, you can whatsApp or message to 0172821219.
EAT TO LOVE LIFE

Tuesday 16 August 2016

ORGME: SHL Enzyme Fertilisers with Pest Control

Having an organic farm, it is important for me that the fertilisers and pest control I use are organic and free from toxic chemicals.    Moreover, I have a 3-year old who loves to help out especially when it comes to spraying.  So over the years, I have been experimenting and came up with two liquid fertilisers that is non-toxic but yet fertilises the plants whilst controlling pests.  All the ingredients used to create the concentrates are organic and natural based, available at the farm.  This helps me ensure that no toxic chemicals are introduced.  There is no need to use gloves and masks when handling the solution.

The Enzyme Fertiliser with Pest Control Concentrate is formulated for flowering and fruiting plants.  It contains the various minerals like magnesium, calcium as well as the other essential nutrients for encouraging flowering and fruiting.  It also helps to control pests like leaf miners and white flies.  It is easily applied by diluting 1-2 capfuls with 1 liter of water, preferably unchlorinated water.  Just spray it over the plant including the undersides of the leaves to fertilise whilst controlling pest.  It can also be watered over the plant.

If a plant is infested, spray daily for about 3 days and thereafter, it can be applied 1-2 times a week.  At the farm, I use it on all my fruiting plants including tomatoes, chillies and soursop.

This concentrate can also be used for cleaning such as counter tops, tiles and ceramic floors.  It leaves a pleasant citrus with herbal aroma on the areas cleaned.  To use, just dilute 1-2 capfuls in 1 later of water and use it to spray to counter tops or place in a pail to use for mopping the floor.  No need to rinse with water and is non-toxic.  It is sold in 500ml bottles and priced at RM 10.

The Green Enzyme Fertiliser with Pest Control Concentrate is formulated to encourage and care for foliage.  It contains various nutrients to encourage foliage growth.  It also helps control pests including leaf miners.  It is easily applied by diluting 1-2 capfuls with 1 liter of water, preferably unchlorinated water.  Just spray it over the plant to fertilise whilst controlling pest.  It can also be watered over the plant.

If a plant is infested, spray daily for about 3 days and thereafter, it can be applied 1-2 times a week.  At the farm, I use it on all vegetables and herbs such as pak choy, kailan, kale, spinach and various basil plant.  It is sold in 500ml bottles and priced at RM 10.

Currently, these products are available directly from us.

Thursday 4 August 2016

SHL: Tasty healthy drinks

I prefer to have drinks that provide me health benefits but it must taste good and not make me feel that I am drinking medicine.  It needs to be enjoyable and I like to have a selection of hot or cold drinks, all as natural as possible.  I prefer to avoid refined or white sugar.

After working on my recipes and combinations, I have now come up with the SHL line of drinks and concentrates, with some being served hot, some cold and some either way.  Some of the drinks and concentrates can be combined to produce a different drink.  All the drinks and concentrate contains no preservatives, colouring, artificial flavouring, food additives or stabilisers hence it needs to be stored refrigerated and the recommended shelf-life of 3 months.

The purpose of this article is to share briefly the information on the drinks.

The Bentong Ginger and Turmeric Range
The Bentong Ginger and Turmeric Concentrate (RM 20.00) is made from organically grown Bentong ginger and turmeric to produce a concentrate that can be diluted with water or added to other beverages and served either hot or cold.  A serving size is around 40-50ml a day although some have consumed larger servings.  It depends on
the person.  In some people, when they consume higher servings, they find that they get a stomachache or diarrhoea so it is best to start slow and observe how you body reacts to it.   It makes a drink that is rich with antiseptic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.  It can also be used to flavour dishes such as soups, as a marinate for chicken, beef or seafood and for flavouring when cooking rice.

The Bentong Ginger and Turmeric Drink (RM 3.00) produced by SHL is sweetened with either pure cane sugar or pure palm sugar.  It too can be consumed either hot or cold.

Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, some of my customers take it for their joint pains as well as for gout.  This is my go-to drink when I have had a workout or lots of physical activity.  It also has the properties for helping in digestion and bloating.  Often, the fastest effect is to "pass gas" as well as better bowel movement.

The Soursop Leaves Range
The source leaves are organically grown and processed to produce a tea concentrate.  The Soursop Leaves Concentrate (RM 20.00) can be diluted with water or added as a flavouring to other drinks like tea or fruit juices.   It is best to avoid white sugar and when sweetened, it is often done with honey or pure cane sugar or organic sugars.   Based on various research, no known adverse reactions have been found.

The SHL Soursop Tea drink (RM 3.00) is sweetened with pure cane sugar.
Soursop leave tea is often used as a complementary or alternative therapy for cancer.  The soursop leave is rich in iron, calcium, potassium and vitamins A, B and C.  Thus it has been taken for overall health, improving skin conditions, anaemia amongst others.

The leaves also contain nutrients that help to strengthen the immune system hence the tea is often drank as a preventive measure.  With its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it can be used for skin treatments as well as for cough and colds.

In some traditional therapies, it is used to treat diseases related to the gall bladder and liver.

The Cat's Whiskers (Misai Kuching) Range
The Misai Kuching Concentrate (RM 18.00) is made from organically grown leaves and flowers.  No woody parts of the plant are used.  The concentrate is diluted with water and generally drank unsweetened, similar to Chinese tea and with floral undertones.  It can be consumed hot or cold.

This tea is often taken as an alternative treatment or complementary therapy for diabetes and high blood pressure.  In traditional Chinese Medicine, it is used to cleanse the kidney and the gall bladder as well as treating kidney stones.  It has antibacterial , antioxidant as well as anti0fungal properties.  In traditional medicine and alternative therapies, it is used to flush out metabolic wastes as well as a diuretic flush in helping cleanse the urinary tract and kidneys.  Amongst its other uses in traditional or alternative therapy is for reducing high blood pressure, for reducing cholesterol, improving blood circulation and cleansing of toxins from the body.

This is my favourite drink when I eat durians or rich, sweet desserts.  It helps to re-balance my blood sugars and seem to reduce the "heaty-ness" or the durians.

The Mangosteen Range
This Mangosteen Tea Concentrate (RM 20.00) is made from the various part of the fruit, excluding the seeds.  It can be diluted with water or added to other drinks like tea and fruit juices.  It is best to avoid white sugar and when sweetened, it is often done with honey or pure cane sugar or organic sugars.   It can be served hot or cold.

The SHL Mangosteen Tea (RM 3.00) drink is lightly sweetened with pure cane sugar.  It is also available unsweetened.

It is rich in vitamin C as well as has a good amount of vitamin B-complex along with various other minerals.   It is also rich with Xanthines, which has antioxidant properties which heals damage by free radicals, slow down raging and ward off degenerative diseases and physical and mental deterioration.

Apart from being an antioxidant, it also has anti-inflammatory properties and in alternative therapies is used to treat people with sciatic pain.

The Mangosteen Nectar  (RM 5.00) is a seasonally produced drink that comprises of the fruit without the seeds.  It is lightly sweetened with pure cane sugar and contains fruit pulp.  It is most often consumed cold.
The mangosteen nectar has similar benefits to the mangosteen tea with the added benefits of fiber from the fruit pulp thus making it a delicious fiber source that will help in the digestive process and bowel movements.

I like to enjoy it as a breakfast drink, providing me with vitamins and minerals as well as fiber.