5 NATURAL TREASURES YOU'RE PROBABLY THROWING IN THE TRASH

Part of living a responsible lifestyle is to become more aware of the amount of wastage our daily routines produce. Nature works so hard and for so long to produce resources that we discard without any thought to their value. A more careful look at our habits and consumption patterns will reveal that we buy much more than we actually need and that we've become very negligent with our gratitude towards everything that Allah has gifted us with. Without turning too dramatic, here are a few easy and surprising items you should think twice before dumping in the garbage pile.

1.EGGSHELLS

are rich in Calcium Carbonate and can be used as a natural Calcium supplement.See how to make your own here . Egghsells are also a valuable addition to your urban compost pile, it helps many plants blossom and bear fruit due to its valuable nutrient content.

2.CORNSILK

Why buy overpriced and overpackaged tea when you can get a 2 in 1 deal every time you buy corn on the cob. Cornsilk has diuretic, anti inflammatory and calming properties. Consuming cornsilk tea (infusion) helps maintain vascular and urino-genital health, reduces prostate and U.T. inflammations, controls blood sugar levels and blood pressure.It is also an effective aid for feminine health issues, used for irregular periods, to reduce PMS symptoms (drink daily before and after menstrual period for abt 1 week to reduce bloating) and promotes breast milk production in new mothers. Another mention worthy benefit of cornsilk tea is its role in cancer prevention due to its antioxidant and other phytochemical content.

WARNING Avoid during pregnancy(it stimulates the uterus and may lead to miscarriage) and if you have a known allergy/ sensitivity to tanins. Discontinue use in case you're experiencing rashes or irritation. Please consult your doctor before consuming cornsilk if you're a diabetic on medication, as cornsilk will have the same effect as the meds and may complicate your condition.

3.CHERRY STALKS

Another surprising tea option, cherry stalks contain vit A, B1 and C. Consuming cherry stalk decoction can help relieve kidney pain and colics, eliminate kidney sand and reduce swelling and bloating caused by water retention.

To make a decoction, boil 40-50 stalk in 500 l water for abt 10 min, turn off the flame, leave it to rest for 20-25 min and then consume throughot the day.

4.APRICOT KERNELS

You might have heard conflicting facts about the consumption of apricot kernels, here are some points on why it's actually good for your health to consume them. We always gather our apricot kernels, let them dry for abt 1 month before cracking and consuming them like almonds(moderation is advised) . I also use it as an addition to some of my jams, it's really worth trying.

5.CITRUS PEEL

is still rich in vitamins and contains all those deliciously fragrant and beneficial essential oils. You can use your citrus peels in so many ways, here are a few tips on how I use it:

* as a natural flavouring-during citrus season, I always grate the rind of the citrus before cutting it and I preserve this rind by layering it with sugar and keeping it refrigerated in a jar; this way I'm set with natural flavouring source for my baking for the whole year

*as tea-you can dry the peels and use them in your tea and even consume them fresh or along with your tea

*I infuse citrus peels in vinegar for use in natural cleaning sprays with an extra citrusy kick.

*my grandma was used to tell us to squeeze the peel while keeping it close to our face, we would feel the natural oils spray on our skin and rub it in to reduce blemishes and keep a healthy, balanced complexion. Dried orange peel is also commonly used in face masks for exactly this reason.

It's always best to get your citrus fruits from a responsible farmer, preferably local one, where they don't spray or wax coat their fruits.

How do you use your citrus peels?