The healthy lemongrass

Wellness is a concept that is gaining popularity lately all over the globe.  We see people around us turning into natural living and getting into the healthy lifestyle by practicing healthy activities such as eating naturally grown products and cooking more naturally, avoiding  toxic materials and ingredients.  There are many healthy alternatives to many food products that we used to enjoy.

  

One of the plants that is also gaining respect and recognition in terms of its healthy qualities and benefits is the lemongrass.  It is a plant that is grown widely in Asia, particularly in South east asia. Thais and Filipinos use it as additional flavoring as well as freshener in their dishes.  The lemongrass is effective in removing fishy and strong taste from fish or chicken especially when the dish is a soup.   It is used as a substitute for ginger because it is not overwhelming and also it is not as expensive as the lemon fruit.  

 

One way of preparing lemongrass and utilizing it in a natural sense is making tea out of it.  First, you need to get some leaves from a lemongrass plant.  Be careful in handling it because the blades can be sharp if not held properly.  Some people pound the leaves to get the sap or extract the juice and then they put the juice and the leaves in a kettle so that the water will be tastier and mintier.  Make sure you adjust the amount of water so that the taste is not overwhelming but not very mild as well.  This part can be tricky as it is difficult to balance but it will still depend on your preference. 

 

Put the tea in a pitcher and let it chill or you can simply put a few ice cubes and you can add honey if you prefer a sweeter taste to it.   Lemongrass aids in  faster digestion and in detoxing.   It also has a calming and relaxing effect to the body.  Whenever I get a massage, I always want to drink lemongrass after.  Somehow, my entire therapeutic experience becomes complete.