Aloe Plant Could Be Good for Your Health

Aloe Grows Year Round in Okinawa

 

 

It doesn't take much of a green thumb to succeed in keeping this vegetation alive.

The photo was taken out behind my office and, we also grow the stuff at home.

It's great for treating cuts, bug bites or rashes and, I use it all the time.

Just hack off one of those stalks and, take as much gel from it as you need.

Then, wrap up the leftovers and keep them in the fridge for future use.

Some Folks Around Here Eat Aloe

It would probably be a good idea to wait and watch somebody else, eat it first.

Depending on the variety of plant, it may have you running to the toilet.

There are probably 500 different types of Aloe plant.

And, not all of them are safe to eat.

Occasionally, somebody comes around, offering aloe sashimi, to me when I'm at the bar.

Not feeling like taking any laxatives, I decline and keep drinking beer.

They have an Aloe and White Grape juice in the Coke machines and, I've tried some.

It's sort of sweet and pulpy but, safe to drink. 

For those who have access to Walmart, they have some Aloe products, you can buy.

How Stuff Works

 

 

In all my research, this must be the most comprehensive article on Aloe, I've ever seen.

40 Amazing Uses for Aloe Vera !

For some strange reason, number 29, got written twice.

The editor should have caught that but, it gave me two good chuckles. 

So, I won't complain.

It was something about minor female problems.

That got me thinking. Maybe, I should rub some of the stuff on my wife.

And, she'd quit spending my money. Hah !

The New Healing Herbs ISBN 0-553-58514-2 is my favorite reference for these plants.

Photos of Shiso: Green and Purple Growing Side by Side

Beefsteak Plant

 

 

In Japan, the green plant is known as Aojiso (青紫蘇).

The one that looks purple is called Akajiso (赤紫蘇) or, red shiso.

The wind and rain held off just long enough to get these photos.

These two plants are growing right behind my office.

 Perilla frutescens is the scientific name.

The most common place I see these leaves is at sushi bars.

It's a mildly, tangy sort of herb that goes well with fish or salads.

 Red Shiso, which, I call purple is good, too.

This is one of the secret ingredients, I put in salsa.

The rest of the stuff will remain a secret.

Not until today, did I ever think of cooking the stuff.

That's because, they are both delicious, raw.

There Are Many Uses for this Herb

 

At About Japanese Food it's even be called Japanese Basil

Just Hungry says the flowers get salted and pickled and you should grow your own.

The stuff is expensive but, seeds are cheap. 

Serious Eats tell me, sometimes shiso is served as tempura.

The Global Healing Center says it may prevent dental problems.

Somebody called Wabi Sabi made this video about Purple Shiso Juice:

Last but not least the Wiki folks helped with some translation.

It got me thinking.

It might be a good idea to grow your own and make that purple juice.

It's probably cheaper and, better for you, than drinking wine !

 

Drink of the Week: Suntory CC Lemon

Here's a Little Secret

 

 

In an attempt to get back into mountain climbing shape, here's what I did.

See that can up there ?  Well, I replaced my beer drinking with that stuff.

They say there is 50 lemons worth of vitamin C, in each can.

Over the past two weeks, I consumed lots of them.

Oh, I did a little climbing, too.

That's a big can of juice.  There's 500 milliliters, in each can.

And, you can buy 4 or 5 cans for the cost of one beer !

Don't worry, I won't let the Orion Beer Company go broke.

As soon as I get my mountain climbing out of the way, I'll switch back to beer.

Because, I'm kind of shy, I can't chase young women, until after I have a few.

Over at Suntory's site, I couldn't find much, in English about this product for you.

It beats me, how they get so many lemons in one can.

 It's almost guaranteed, I won't catch a cold when I go up the mountain. 

There's way over 500 lemons worth of vitamin C, pumping through my veins.

If that stuff doesn't work, maybe, I'll try what Bill Murray does.

He says, "For relaxing times, make it Suntory."

But, I think he's talking about whiskey !