Affordable Health & Homemade Medicine for Yourself and Your Family

Our family is no stranger to health problems or recovering from injury.  My husband has been in three major car accidents in his lifetime, one in FL that I was lucky didn't claim his life or pose serious life changes.  He also has lost his medical three times as a pilot during our marriage, living with an autoimmune disease.  I also have low thyroid problems.  As you get older, you realize a lot of autoimmune or health conditions are the norm for most people.  Even our daughter struggles with high cholesterol, which is believed to be genetic, and I have had to modify our eating; which has been wonderful. I decided the Lord is in control of our health, and I won't be afraid of illness, but I will honor Him in taking care of our bodies in a better, more targeted way. While we get special treats, etc. we try to mostly eat healthy---so the special treats like desserts, chips, soda, etc. is justified.

Here is how I have learned to affordably give my family top nutrition in our meals, adding in superfoods and vitamins the easy way... 

1. Add fruit and vegetable powders to water, juice, coffee, tea,  yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce, or pudding with a spoonful of goodness-thats it! .  Sweeten with honey if needed.  This is a no frill and easy way to add in superfood powder for your family's diet. Your body digests this easier than a pill.  Everyone needs an extra boost of nutrition.  I have found that Amazon Prime is a lifesaver, but there are other online stores such as Azure Standard etc. that sell bulk, affordable foods and supplements, which are delivered to your door.

-pomegranate powder

-beet powder 

-carrot powder 

-collagen powder (specifically collagen coffee creamers on Amazon)

-lemon powder or juice to water

Even coco powder is rich in antioxidants... (these are 20 dollars or less on average and can be added into your grocery budget and collected as needed)

--Amazon Prime Example: (Prime is essential, whether I like it or not- for our family's bulk grocery items, movies to rent or buy at times for family movie night or in-home date night, clothes, etc.) Truly it is a blessing and I highly recommend the Prime membership yearly to save money on so many things, actually anything you need...

I just found Anthony's sells pomegranate powder also. I love their baking flours as well.

2. Dried Fruits are More Nutritious! 

I obtained glass jars with lids, you can get these at the thrift store!, or on Amazon, grocery store, etc.  

that I make sure to keep full every week now with dried fruit items to add to our yogurt, oatmeal, cottage cheese, etc., or to have as a small snack on the side with some chocolate chips with a cup of coffee. 

This jar sits right next to our coffee maker. 

It usually holds items like dried raisins, dates, cranberries, cherries, or banana chips.  I do a mix. 

I also keep my baking flour, oats, rice, and even beans in bulk containers on my counter ( as much as possible) to help with easy baking and cooking options. 

3. Nut Butters or Nut-Free Butters

Our school is peanut free, and I have found a delicious nut-free spread, called 5 seed butter.  I make everyone have this from time to time, but our children get this on their sandwiches each day with jelly or honey. ..

And if you can eat peanut butter- at home we do all the time- it's great for your heart.

3.  Crockpot Cooking

I simmer bone broth with a leftover rotisserie chicken carcass overnight on high while we sleep.  The pot is also filled with water, salt, and any herbs you would like. 

For dinners, I usually start slow cooking meat and hearty vegetables a few time a week in our slow cooker

For around 20 dollars I bought a small, elite- gourmet rice cooker, on Amazon.  This steams quinoa as well.

Its super easy!  You just add in your grain, avocado oil, and water, and press the button.  It works like a charm!

Hearty vegetables are not always the best looking, but I add them in our foods now.  Potatoes, onions, radishes, chopped fresh spinach, frozen veggies, etc.  I basically use what is cheap and available. Discounted meat is also great for the same day or the next for the crockpot.  At times, I also make dried beans overnight in the crockpot with avacado oil, onion and water, to simmer on high while we sleep.  In the morning, I turn the pot on low, remove the onion, and smash or blend the beans with a hand blender. This will cook on low until lunch, and is the refried consistency.  My kids love this with tortillas.

I truly believe a crockpot and rice cooker will save so much money for anyone! 

4.  Oils 

I only cook with avocado or coconut oil.  

I do not cook with olive oil- as this turns into a trans fat at high heat.  I basically only use our money on these two oils above for all of our cooking needs.  We also do use real butter. 

5. Herbs and More Herbs- Fresh, Dried, Tinctures

Medicine at Home - Homemade Antibiotics and Antivirals

Mountain Rose Herbs. Com 

I actually used to make our own antibiotics and medicine with herbs in tincture bottles when we were first married- all the time!!!.  A sweet mom taught me this.  

When sick-  add a few drops of this to your water or juice and take for 5-7 days like a normal round of antibiotics. 

Two great dried herbs are grapeseed and lemon balm.  You can actually mix both together for an antibiotic and antiviral.  

Put both dried herbs in a single mason jar and fill with vodka. Screw the lid on tight and let sit in a pantry.  Our family does not drink hard liquor- as we have a conviction against this, but it's essential to use vodka in herbal tinctures to kill all bacteria and pull out the medicinal properties.

After this sits for a few weeks in the jar, pour and label the liquid only into small tincture bottles. This is potent, herbal medication.  It's important to know 2-5 tiny drops from the dropper maximum is only needed in a cup of liquid once or twice per day while ill.  And when I mean ill, I mean strep, bronchitis, the flu, etc.

-In fact, if there was a war, disaster, etc. that made getting antibiotics hard to obtain, this would be your best bet.  :) Survival prep I know- but its good to understand what would help you!

Also, we use dried and fresh herbs in cooking, I specifically love cilantro on top of our dishes at home.

Blessing to you and yours!