5 Secrets How Vinegar Rx's Fizzle Out the Flu

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

"Nature opened the first drugstore." -- D.C. Jarvis, M.D.

As the author of The Healing Powers of Vinegar: A Complete Guide To Nature's Most Remarkable Remedy, I can't help but notice that apple cider vinegar is getting a lot of attention on the Internet. One foodie blogger noted today the powers of the ancient Rx and fruit. Good catch. Yep, both vinegar and fresh seasonal fruits teamed with vegetables are chock-full of nutrients that enhance your immune system and can help you stave off or fizzle out the flu--old-fashioned seasonal flu or the Swine flu, too. Living in a resort town, with a lot of worldly visitors, going to store(s), the swimming pool(s), theater, and just living life has got Lake Tahoe locals and folks around the globe, like me and you, thinking "What if I get sick?" Here, take a peek at five vinegar home cures (for the "worrried well" or if you're already feeling a bit under the weather) to help you sail through the fall flu season...

1 Bye-Bye Cold. Got a runny nose, sore throat, cough, muscle aches, and pains? Poor baby, you've got a cold. Rose hips, a key staple in the diets of Native American tribes, may help boost immunity and provide relief from cold and cough symptoms. If you pair up this herbal wonder with vinegar, you might be able to say good riddance to your nasty bug. Or, you can turn to vinegar solo.

Vinegar Rx: Mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey. Take 1 tablespoon at least three times daily. Repeat as needed.

2 Clear Up Congestion. When it comes to fighting colds and sinus congestion, apple cider vinegar comes to the rescue, according to folk medicine.
Vinegar Rx: To clear up clogged respiratory congestion, inhale vapor mist from a steaming pot containing water and several spoons of vinegar.
3 Stop A Cough. Hack, hack, hack. Coughs come with everything from the common cold to acute bronchitis, which cause mucus in the throat and lungs. Not only is coughing annoying, but it can hurt your chest after a while, too. Soon you want something to make the symptom go away.

Vinegar Rx: Mix 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and 4 teaspoons of honey. Take 1 tablespoon when your cough starts up. Take another at bedtime.

4 Soothe A Sore Throat. When you feel the sniffles or flu coming on, a sore throat is often a symptom. While healing foods like vitamin C-rich juices can lessen the severity of an illness, vinegar may help relieve that scratchy, painful feeling in your throat that makes it so hard to swallow.

Vinegar Rx: To get rid of a painful sore throat, gargle with a 50-50 solution of warm water and vinegar.

5 Fizzle Out The Flu. Do you have muscle aches and pains, headaches, low back pain, fatigue, and fever? If you are a victim of the flu season--or don't want to be--drink plenty of fluids. Water, herbal teas, and other liquids can flush out any toxins that you might accumulate, notes Ray Sahelian, M.D., of Southern California. For instance, goldenseal makes a great immunity-boosting tea because it contains berberine, an antibiotic substance that is a great flu fighter.

Vinegar Rx: Try 1 teaspoon of the ground root of goldenseal in 1 cup of boiling water. Steep for a few minutes, then strain. Add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with honey or lemon. Repeat three times daily.

• What Vinegar To Try: http://www.bragg.com/ Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar. Organic, raw, unfiltered, with the "mother." Mother or "mother-of-vinegar" is a term used to describe the excess liquid that accumulates on top of cider or other juice, which turns them into the most nutritious vinegar for health. As the fermentation progresses, mother forms a floating clump or filmy substance, like a coffee latte with the foam on top. Mother, the latte-like foam, is a living mixture of "good" bacteria and enzymes.

The Four Thieves Flu-Fighting Rx

As the legend goes, during the Middle Ages, four robbers in a French town preyed upon the homes and belongings left behind by the people who fell victim to the bubonic plague, or “Black Death” of Europe. Eventually, they were caught and brought before judges, who wondered how these four thieves had protected themselves from the deadly plague while looting plague-ridden possessions.

It’s been said that the thieves bargained the famous Four Thieves Vinegar Formula for freedom, explaining that they washed themselves with the infection-fighting liquid every few hours. Upon learning about these immunity-boosting qualities, the formula was also used by priests and doctors who treated the ill.

No one seems to know who wrote the formula, which differs from recipe to recipe, but it is basically the same and it works in various ways. It’s recommended to dilute with water to half strength. It can be used to disinfect sick rooms and as a body wash. Taken by the teaspoonful (consult with your doctor for the safe amount), it can also be used as a preventive measure to stave off viral infections, such as the flu and help prevent and cure a sore throat, headache, and other physical flu ailments.

The Formula: Basic ingredients: Combine 3 quarts apple cider vinegar; 3 tablespoons each of rosemary, lavender, sage, mint, rue, and plantain; and 6 cloves of garlic. Let it sit in a covered container for at least 24 hours.
Where Can You Buy Vinegar and Herbs? To avoid a possible price increase, stock up. If you live in the U.S., you can get apple cider vinegar and herbs at your local health food store and grocery store. International countries can obtain products online at: https://www.yourhealthfoodstore.co.uk/content/international-delivery-destinations.php .

Blast Belly Fat with Vinegar & VIP Secrets

Blast Belly Fat

with Apple Cider Vinegar

& VIP Secrets

By Cal Orey

"To make a good salad is to be a brilliant diplomatist--the problem is entirely the same in both cases. To know exactly how much oil one must put with one's vinegar."

-- Oscar Wilde

As a former diet and nutrition columnist for Woman's World magazine (touting the latest zany weight loss fad diet for the week--often the big cover story), I can tell you both millions of women (and men)--and popular celebs--want to lose pounds and body fat super fast--and whittle their waistline. Yep, we all want that flat tummy. And these days, on my Web site www.calorey.com I have a Q&A column "Ask the Vinegar/Oil Lady" which splashes me with questions weekly about drinking apple cider vinegar (ACV) solo or with water to lose weight and get that to-die for flat tummy or six pack abs. So, can taking the ACV cure do it alone?

Nope. While ACV does work wonders and can help you lose weight, I know that on this planet it takes more than one magic bullet to shrink your tummy. Here, take a look at some tips to team with that tablespoon of ACV (I prefer Bragg Organic brand) in water a couple of times a day (lemon and raw honey can improve the tart taste), which can help to suppress your appetite. Psst! It's the acetic acid that may boost your metabolism and help to dissolve unhealthy body fat. (I discuss this topic with a nutritional expert in Chapter 16 "Fat-Burning Vinegar" in The Healing Powers of Vinegar.)

* Graze: Eating smaller, more frequent meals is key to a trimmer tummy. (I even feed my pooches their premium dog food in smaller meals. And they've got lean and lanky, elegant bodies--no belly fat which can lead to heart woes to diabetes 2 for both pets and humans. No kidding.)

* Fill Up On Fiber: High fiber diets can help you. Low-fat, fiber rich foods provide bulk, which is filling and promotes regularity. Both add up to a flatter stomach. This is oh-so true year-round.

* Eat High-Potassium Foods: Potassium-rich foods help decrease unwanted water retention--and flatten your tummy. Apples, bananas, cantaloupe, dried apricots, vegetables, salads (paired with lean protein, olive oil and red wine vinegar, fat-burning herbs), and watermelon are high in bloat-busting potassium. They act as natural diuretics, which may reduce what looks like a kangeroo's pouch-type tummy. (Recently, I bought a $4 seedless watermelon and it is so sweet, juicy, and it's amazing. Forget the kind I grew up with with those pesky black seeds! Check out the link above to learn all about this watermelon treasure.)

* Shake The Salt Habit: Salt can cause water retention, which may cause the stomach to look and feel bloated. Read food labels and if you see a food item is too high is sodium, forego eating it.

* Eat Natural Foods: Foods full of chemicals and high in refined sugars are calorie-dense and can pack on abdominal fat.

* Lose The Soda: Carbonated beverages can add to that bloated feeling. Instead, turn to water--it's a natural diuretic, so it'll help you shed bloat. As a past Diet Coke fan, I have learned to stock the fridge and pantry with Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water. You can do it--and you won't want to go back. And, get a move on--drinking water, too, to stay hydrated. Aerobic activity, like these other fat-blasting secrets of the stars, will help you to melt belly fat. It takes 15 or 20 minutes before you start to burn fat. Try a half-hour of walking or swimming.

OK. Sure, ACV can certainly help you stay on the Whittle That Tummy track, but don't forget these other secrets that really work. At 56, to be 57 in two months, I toy with buying a bikini but not sure if it's politically correct at my age as an aging boomer. (Baby boomers work hard to age gracefully and a gourmet's touch can be a godsend.) As a size 4, I can and do wear a Victoria's Secret tankini (exposes partial belly) and a one piece--yep, my tummy is flat on a good belly day. Do these secrets work? Uh yeah.

P.S. Forego overindulging in alcohol or you may be frowning as you peek down at an unsightly "beer belly." Not pretty for guys or gals (at any age).

Chocolate Ice Cream, Oil & Vinegar for Summer

Chocolate

Ice Cream, Oil & Vinegar--

Must-Have Home Cures

By Cal Orey

It's hot. We're having a heat wave at Lake Tahoe. And dark chocolate Italian gourmet ice cream is calling my name. But I can't find it... The ceiling fan is on, the windows in every room are open, and swimming today was bliss. Truly the cool water felt heavenly. The warm air is still lingering. I'm feeling summer and wishing it were fall.

Today, at the grocery store (when it's hot or you eat fresh food it's a good place to be) with finesse of a veteran local I dodged the multiple tourists and walked up and down the ice cream aisle in desperate search of the perfect gourmet dark chocolate ice cream. I didn't find it. Tomorrow, I'll have to hit another local store with a larger all-natural, premium health food section. And the ice cream I crave may be there. Or not.

I read that July is National Ice Cream Month. Oh, oh, oh--the Ice Cream Man with music drove down our street earlier today! Memories of childhood hit fast. Remember fudgesicles? Or how about soft chocolate ice cream topped with hard chocolate fudge sauce? Mint chocolate chip ice cream with its bittersweet chocolatey chunks comes to mind, too.

Tomorrow, I will search for the cold ice cream of my dreams. Due to the "severe recession" or some reason that baffles me, our Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors Ice Cream Store is MIA. All gone. No more swirl cookie lines before we get to get our choice of flavor.

I remember one time in Marin...a treat to cherish forever was a genuine gourmet dark Italian ice cream cone I savored and that is what I want. I want the good stuff. That's right. Rich, creamy, dark chocolate ice cream (Italian, French or Belgian) is what I'm talking about and I will hunt it down until I find it.

Meanwhile, if you have the ice cream of your choice, I have some DIY home cures that may make your sizzling summer a bit more comfy. Here, take a look at 5 must-have treatments with olive oil and vinegar.

1. Sunburn: Apply ice cold apple cider vinegar for fast relief.

2. Swimmer's Ear: To protect against ear infections from swimming pools, a popular folk remedy to try is using a mixutre of one part white vinegar to one part rubbing alcohol.

3. Insect and Bee Stings: Make yourself more comfortable in a homemade past from vinegar nd cornstarch. Apply it directly to the bumps and blisters.

4. Diaper Rash: Use 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil with 1 teaspoon of water. Shake these two ingredients until you get a pasty emulsion, a sort of cream ready to be spread on the irritated area.

5. Poison Ivy and Oak: Try mixing equal parts vinegar and rubbing alcohol and apply to rash. Or mix equal parts buttermilk, vinegar, and salt and apply.

So there you go. Olive oil and vinegar--most likely in your kitchen cupboard--and chocolate ice cream--in your freezer or you may have to join me to find the perfect brand. These are three superfoods that will make your life sweeter this summer. I'll keep you posted on my gourmet chocolate ice cream quest. My mantra is haunting me: "Fall, fall, fall." Two more months. I can do this. And the right chocolate ice cream will help take the edge off.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Gorgeous Hair? NOT!

Apple Cider

Vinegar Is Not the Key to Beautiful Tresses
By Cal Orey

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Can you eat your way to beautiful hair? Yes, say experts. But it may be more of a quick fix like turning to apple cider vinegar used internally or externally. Recently, I've read many articles which claim "ACV Can Help Prevent Hair Loss!" Yeah right. And I am Jennifer Aniston. But don't despair. (I'm a baby boomer and I still have healthy, long, curly locks. But it's not because of apple cider vinegar.)

According to research, there's a direct relationhip between what you eat and the health and beauty of your hair. Many of the same nutrients that protect your health also nourish your hair. "Good nutrition is essential for your hair follicles to regenerate to keep your hair in its growth phase," a New York hair expert commonly known as a "trichologist" once told me during my Diet and Nutrition column days for Woman's World magazine.

Since your hair is 97 percent protein and 3 percent water, the experts agree that a diet rich in protein is must to properly nourish your hair. No protein, no thick and shiny mane. But it's not just protein. Vitamin A, B Complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, Essential Fatty Acids, Protein, Biotin, Silica, Iron, Fat, Calcium, and Zinc--are all top hair boosters. And these nutrients shouldn't be replaced with a pipe dream that a miracle cure like ACV will give you miracle hair.

In other words, eat a balanced diet--such as the Mediterranean diet (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, nuts, legumes, fish, olive oil) and exercise regularly to destress.

Let apple cider vinegar do it's work in other areas: good for heart health, health improvements, weight loss, and home cures. So, I'm dishing out a real recipe for your hair health to help you, like me, lose doggone bad hair days and have a crowning glory like a drop dead gorgeous Afghan Hound. One more thing: Fatty fish (such as salmon) contains both good for your hair protein and essential fatty acids. And yes, extra virgin olive oil used topically on your hair and also in your overall diet can protect your crowning glory. (This yum recipe is for humanoids only.)

HAIR VOLUMIZING SALMON

(Roast Salmon with Balsamic Glaze)

5 pound whole salmon center, bone removed

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tablespon grated lemon rind

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup red wine

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter

lemon slices

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place salmon in baking dish. Chop together lemon rind, garlic, and thyme. Brush oil over salmon and inside cavity. Rub herb mixture over. Prepare up to 24 hours ahead of time. Roast 40 minutes or until white juices appear on top. Meanwhile, combine balsamic vinegar, wine, and sugar in skillet. Bring to boil and reduce until syrupy. Turn heat to low and whisk in butter. Remove skin from salmon. Serve with sauce and lemon slices. Serves 8-10.

P.S. Team this fish plate with a spinach salad and mixed fresh vegetables and nuts to ensure getting more nutrients to feed your hair.

(Source: Recipe from The Vinegar Institute published in The Healing Powers of Vinegar, Revised and Updated by Kensington)

The Healing Powers of Chicken & Rice--86 Olive Oil

The Healing Powers of

Chicken "Soup" --
for My Dog and Me

By Cal Orey

“And Tom brought him chicken soup until he wanted to kill him. The lore has not died out of the world, and you will still find people who believe that soup will cure any hurt or illness and is no bad thing to have for the funeral either.” -- John Steinbeck, East of Eden

Ever notice pet emergencies happen on holiday weekends? Yesterday Simon, my orange and white six-year-old Brittany and I entered Nightmare City on Sunday afternoon into the late evening. Picture this: At 12:30 P.M. I'm walking my two Brittanys Simon and Seth. Simon, like a food-loving canine, sticks his mouth into an "empty" and weathered stray sour cream container lying on the side of the road. I pulled him away (too late) and we continued our dog walk.

Twenty minutes later, back home my feisty pooch entered the Twilight Zone--thanks to the carton which I discovered did have spoiled food in it. He grew restless. He paced. He panted. He put his paws on the front door demanding to go out (again). He was in mega hyperactive mode. Outside he tried desperately to eat grass, dirt, my plants--anything. Back inside, I led my "possessed" pooch to the bathroom--the place where I watched him get sick on the floor. But it wasn't over.

My agitated canine's unusual behavior lingered. Umpteen calls to the Vet E.R. (50 miles away) later: Advice kept me both agitated and calm. I was getting mixed messages: bring him in asap to hook him up to intravenous equipment like E.T. (the poor misunderstood alien wanting to go home) to simply monitor him throughout the night. He was thirsty. He was hungry. He was thirsty. Hour after hour passed. As recommended, I began to give Simon tiny bits of water. Later in the evening, a small portion of white rice was on the menu. And yes, he wolfed it down. He settled down. And finally, he was down for the night. He slept.

This morning I followed my vet's orders. I boiled a premium chicken breast (all white meat and made sure it was cooked and not pink) and white rice cooked and simmered in premium bottled Mountain Spring Water. (I didn't want to take any chances.) And now, Simon lies beneath me--comfortable and sleeping. Earlier, he was barking, chewing his bone, playing with Seth. We're back on track. My pack and me are on the road to recovery--thanks to white rice and chicken. What's more, when my best friends are sick--I feel their pain, truly. I couldn't eat yesterday. This time around apple cider vinegar and olive oil weren't my home cures of choice--for the dog or me. Seth (he's sensitive, too), Simon, and I will eat chicken and rice (I'll toss in some cruciferous veggies for me) as we all enjoy the grr-eat healing powers of bland food and TLC--it's the "chicken soup" for dogs and their devoted humans.

Looking for a Sophisticated S'Mores Surprise?

Looking for an Exotic S'Mores Treat?

Try Green Tea & Dark Chocolate

By Cal Orey

“If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are excited, it will calm you.”
--William Gladstone, British Prime Minister

It's the day after Fourth of July and I'm feeling a bit under the weather... I'm sure it's due to the invasion of the Dark Seekers aka "tourists" and the potential of a double dip recession-depression. But it won't be like a second scoop of ice cream and make me feel happy. I now get it. I think the Depression was called just that because it's depressing to lose your stuff.
But hey, life goes on. Last night I heard the fireworks display at Lake Tahoe as I sat sandwiched in between Simon and Seth, my two Brittanys, and we watched a marathon of Nurse Jackie, a new edgy program. (It's tradition to stay with my dogs on this hectic holiday. I act like the loud bangs are normal and the pooches act like it's normal.) Speaking of double dip and happy times, I did try a cool S'Mores treat. Since it was warm indoors, it seemed silly to go for the Classic recipe by warming up hot chocolate and marshmallows on graham crackers. Instead, I used cold green tea ice cream. Chocolatiers create amazing concoctions with dark chocolate and teas. It's awesome.
Here's the healthy concoction. Try it. It may make you forget that yeah, the world is still in the red.

Green Tea & Dark Chocolate S'Mores

1 or 2 graham crackers, low-fat, whole grain

1/2 cup green tea ice cream

dark chocolate chips, 60%-70% cacoa (Ghirardelli)

Forget microwaving the chocolate chips. The crunch is a good stress-buster. Break the cracker in half. Spoon ice cream on one half. Sprinkle dark chocolate chips over it. Top with the other half of the graham cracker. This is a healthier version of the fun kid's summertime treat. Plus, enjoy a large cup of iced chamomile tea (spiked with apple cider vinegar which can calm your nerves or green tea for a boost of feel-good energy--it contains caffeine). If possible, get all of these foods and teas at your health food store or section at the supermarket.

Meanwhile, I've been getting some reports via personal emails and on my Web site http://www.earthquakeepi-center.com/ -- regarding how some cats and dogs are going bonkers. It's post-Fourth of July pet jitters--and the loud bangs go on. Simon is barking. Countless critters, like my Brittany and me, don't enjoy loud sounds--it's a novelty we'd likely pass on. If they're feeling stressed out, give 'em their fave premium treat. And you? Savor a green tea and S'mores treat with a taste of sophistication.

5 "Hot" Oil & Vinegar Home Cures

5 Hot Summertime

Oil & Vinegar Home Cures

(For Not So Fun Stuff)

By Cal Orey

Looking for a new, improved way to deal with pesky health ailments this season chock-full of life's ups and downs, hot sunshine, and natural disasters? Mighty vinegar and olive oil comes to the rescue--to all of you who love gourmet food. Remember, you gotta take care of yourself first, whipping up fine fare and digging in is second...

1. Anxiety: Make an anti-anxiety cocktail by putting 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into 1 cup of boiling water and simmering it for a few minutes. For an extra relaxing boost, drop a chamomile tea bag into the cup.
2. Chapped Skin: Mix your best olive oil-based hand cream with vinegar. Apply this combination each time after you wash your hands. (Cooking and baking in the kitchen calls for this cure year-round.)
3. Hot Flashes: When Father Time and Mother Nature meet, summer heat, dry or humid, and stress can trigger hot flashes for women, in their 40s, 50s and 60s, dealing with hormonal woes. Try 1 tablespoon in one 8-ounce glass of spring water with ice cubes. If you sip a cold, refreshing apple cider drink, you will keep those hot flashes at bay. (Ice green or chamomile tea with a splash of ACV can do the trick, too.)
4. Vitamin Tester: Not a big vitamin taker here. Eating nutrient-dense foods seems to do the job for me. Drop your vitamin into ½ cup of vinegar. Stir the solution a few times during the course of 20 minutes. If the vitamin separates into tiny pieces, it’s good. If not, look for a different brand.
5. First-Aid Essential: So far, so good regarding summer and Mother Nature. No wildfires, quakes, floods--yet. Pour apple cider vinegar into a large plastic container (or two), and store it with your emergency supplies for your universal emergency protection for health problems (cuts, bruises, sore throat, etc.) after a hurricane, flood, earthquake hits home.
Excerpt from The Healing Powers of Vinegar by Cal Orey

The Secret(s) to Heart-Healthy Apple Crisp: Olive Oil & Vinegar

Heart-Healthy Apple Crisp You'll Love

By Cal Orey

"Adam was but human-this explains it all. He did not want the apple for the apple's sake, he wanted it only because it was forbidden."

--Mark Twain

I love apples. Apple cider vinegar to fuji apples--both have perks--can help you stay on the healthy heart track... Eighty percent of the fiber found in an apple is soluble fiber--pectin, which may be of help in lowering blood cholesterol levles. Also, apples are a good source of potassium, which helps provide protection against strokes. And like most other fruits, they're also lower in sodium (for better blood pressure), calories (for staying slim), and fat (for lower cholesterol).

Yesterday, I bought a bag of fuji apples. (I can't get enough of these. Their sweet and tart, juicy flavor has got me hooked. It's a delicious love affair and good for the heart.) Ever hear the saying, "An apple a day means fewer doctors to pay?"

Apples are good stuff. Okay, so I created the following recipe that excludes flour and butter but includes heart-healthy oatmeal, nuts, olive oil, apple cider vinegar--and apples. I'm going to whip up this puppy later today but I will bet you a bushel of apples it's going to taste as good as the good-for-your-heart homemade granola I made with olive oil.

The Sweetest Apple Crisp

* * *

Ingredients

7 apples, washed, peeled, cored and sliced (If you want more fiber and nutrients, leave the skins on the apples)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (ACV)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 -3/4 cup pecans or walnuts

1/2 cup raisins (optional)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. (If you live in high altitude it may be a bit higher.) In a mixing bowl, combine prepared apples, olive oil, ACV, and vanilla. Layer fuji apples in your fave baking dish (I use my mother's from the fifties). Combine light or dark brown sugar, cinnamon, nuts, and uncooked oats in a bowl. Sprinkle sugar mixture over apples. Bake approximately 45 minutes. It will be done when the topping looks brown and crunchy, apples are tender. (Go ahead and toss in raisins once removed from the oven.) Serve with a single scoop of all-natural real French vanilla ice cream.

For more info about heart-healthy apples, ACV, and olive oil, check out my two books--The Healing Powers of Vinegar and The Healing Powers of Olive Oil published by Kensington. (A discount is provided if you purchase 'em as a pair.)

The Real Deal: A-Day-In-A-Life With Vinegar(s)

A Real Day-In-A-Life With

Vinegar(s):

(Apple Cider, Red Wine, White)
By Cal Orey

8:30 A.M.: Splash apple cider vinegar on my face to enjoy that healthy glow whether the sun is out or not.

9:00 A.M.: Clean the cat litter box with distilled white vinegar to keep both Kerouac, my sensitive black kitty, and me happy.

10:00 A.M.: Enjoy a hot cup of chamomile tea with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

1:00 A.M.: After a swim, I nibble on a salad chock-full of vegetables and white albacore tuna, and splash red wine vinegar on top for extra flavor. Not true. I wolfed it down. Swimming makes your appetite soar.

3:00 P.M.: Wash favorite black turtleneck sweater and use distilled white vinegar in the rinse cycle to preserve bold color.

5:00 P.M.: Make a vegetable stir-fry dish and include rice vinegar to enhance flavor. (Nah, it's not just apple cider vinegar solo that can help you dump unwanted body fat and pounds. It's the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle--eating the right foods, such as fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, fish, nuts, and olive oil), and regular exercise that keeps you lean and healthy.

7:00 P.M.: Blot apple cider vinegar on my fingernails before giving myself a manicure and a pedicure.

9:00 P.M.: Savor a hot cup of green tea with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

10:00 P.M.: Indulge in one (or two) of those Vinegar Man cookies. ( I added nuts and raisins.)

Midnight: Read The Healing Powers of Olive Oil to discover new ways I can use versatile all-natural olive oil and vinegar to make my life easier, happier, and healthier.

On page 145 of The Healing Powers of Vinegar, you can find the recipe The Vinegar Man's Vinegar Cookies.

Dog Smarts for Swine Flu & the Worried Well

Dog Smarts for

Swine Flu & the Worried Well
by Cal Orey, M.A. Health Author

As we are learning more and more about the Swine Flu (the popular term), there is both good news and bad news. First, the glitch is, while this virus may not be as deadly as the 1918 Spanish flu--it doesn't discriminate. Translation: People with healthy immune systems are not immune.

On the upside, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you get and stay healthier and you end up contracting the virus from getting infected by another person, your body will be in better shape to fight the symptoms of the flu and get well faster.

For now, there are two prescribed anti-viral drugs. One vaccine is in the works for what is now technically called "influenza A(H1N1) virus" and "H1N1 flu" (but "Swine Flu" is still used in the mainstream media)--which continues to spread around the globe. More good news: this flu doesn't seem to have the same deadly nature as other pandemic viruses have had in the past--so far.

So, today's must-have list of tricks is shorter. Here, is what you can do as we the people are in a wait-and-see mode.

Five Dog Tricks

1. Wash your paws frequently. Viruses can be transmitted by shaking someone's hand and then touching your face, nose or mouth. This is probably the most important strategy. Refer to my previous blog for the Four Thieves Formula--apple cider vinegar and herbs.

2. Eat good chow. A nutrient-dense diet (including disease-fighting antioxidant rich vegetables) will help keep your immune system strong.

3. Get a move on. Keeping physical daily will keep you happy and relaxed--two keys to staying balanced.

4. Chill out. By keeping your stress levels down, you can keep your immune system up and healthy. And yes, if you do contract the flu your body will be stronger to fight it.

5. Be social smart. Use your common sense. I don't take my healthy dogs to the dog park chock-full of pooches I do not know. It's a precautionary exercise to avoid dealing with potential contagious canine respiratory diseases. Social distancing for humans is in motion and may be a smart trick for the worried well.

The bottom line: Rent the sci-fi film I Am Legend. It's a heartfelt cautionary tale especially for dog lovers. Dr. Neville's (Will Smith) loyal German Shepherd Sam--and lifeline to life--was not immune to the killer virus but he was 1% of the population with an immunity to it, the worst-case deadly virus scenario that hits home.

In one unforgettable scene, the four-legger gets a bath by her isolated owner (think Cast Away and Tom Hanks) for viral protection (I'm assuming). [Click on the link to watch.]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh6OQcLA2ic&feature=related

Vinegar Rx to Prevent Swine Flu?

Apple Cider Vinegar Rx

Protect Yourself from Getting

Swine Flu

Can apple cider vinegar really help us--the "worried well"--to stay healthy and get peace of mind during the ongoing outbreak of Swine Flu? It's possible, according to history. In my book, The Healing Powers of Vinegar, I document the amazing therapeutic formula used by four savvy robbers who escaped the bubonic plague...

During the Middle Ages, vinegar made its mark, too. Four robbers in the French town of Marseilles preyed upon the homes and belongings left behind by the people who fell victim to the bubonic plague, or "Black Death" of Europe. Eventually they were caught and brought before French judges, who wondered how these four thieves had protected themselves from the deadly plague while looting plague-ridden possessions.

The legend is that the four thieves bargained and exchanged the famous Four Thieves Vinegar for freedom, explaining that they washed themselves with the infection-fighting liquid every few hours. Upon learning about these immunity-boosting qualities, the formula was used by priests and doctors who treated the ill.

No one seems to know who wrote the formula, which differs from recipe to recipe, but it is basically the same and it works in various ways. It can be used to disinfect sick rooms. If diluted with water, if can be used as a body wash. Taken by the teaspoonful (consult with your doctor for the safe amount), it can be used as a preventive measure to stave off viral infections, such as the flu.

Therapeutic Formula of the Four Thieves

Basic ingredients: Combine 3 quarts apple cider vinegar; 3 tablespoons each of rosemary, lavender, sage, mint, rue, and plantain; and 6 cloves of garlic. Let it sit in a covered container for at least 24 hours.

For more information on antibiotic and immune-boosting benefits of vinegar, turn to The Healing Powers of Vinegar, Revised and Updated.

One more thing: Will I put together my own natural Four Thieves "vaccine"? Most likely. As the adage by Benjamin Franklin goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

http://herbs.suite101.com/article.cfm/make_your_own_herbal_disinfectant (The Healing Powers of Vinegar's Four Thieves legend is noted. Article written a year ago. Talk about keen insight!)