Five free and eco-friendly health aids
For those of you living on the Costa Blanca, here are some great, free health ideas. Times are tough – make the most of what’s around you!
1. Eat your weeds: Verdolaga (purslane, in English) is a plant grown widely in the Mediterranean. It has recently been founnd to be the richest plant source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. So go on, get grazing in your gardens and to hell with what the neighbours think!
2. Drink free spring water: Go fill your water jugs are the Chorros in Polop de la Marina. Lovely, natural spring water, free! And you don’t need to throw away any more plastic water bottles.
3. Beat cancer: Vitamin D is proving its anti-carcinogenic properties time and again in recent research. Your lovely melanocytes can produce all the vitamin D you need just by being exposed to sunlight. So take advantage of the Costa Blanca’s wonderful light and get outside. No, not at midday with a large pint in your hand! tsk tsk…
4. Re-mineralise: The sea is full of magnesium and the negative ions at the coast are out of this world. Who needs a salt lamp when you’ve got the Mediterranean at your doorstep? Go to the beach, breath and wade. Leave the salt on for a while afterwards. Magnesium (in seawater) is absorbed transdermally (via the skin) and has proven anti-inflammatory and anti-pain properties. Iodine in the air at the beach is absorbed through the lungs and is super-important for the production of thyroid hormones.
5. Kneip: The Germans call in Kneippen. It’s really just wading in cold water. Stimulates peripheral circulation, helps tighthen slack veins and in so doing reduces edema (puffiness) in the ankles. So you can weat those lovely sandals you bought for 5euros at the market!