Settle What is Unsettled

I've been thinking about what is going on in the world around me. The troubling times...The political unrest... The palpable tension that pervades our society... I've been thinking about salmon. I've been thinking about zucchini. I've been thinking about coconut oil. I've even been thinking about chia seeds! Obviously, I don't get out much! As the rain makes a gentle and soothing 'pitter-patter' sound on my roof and I await the coming of dawn, I think about ways I can help to settle what is unsettled. I have been thinking about how to calm an upset stomach... 

Each person deals with an upset stomach in their own way. Some people turn to antacids. Some people turn to whiskey. Some people turn to exercise. Some people try hot lemon water... Some people (DO NOT judge me) turn to ALL four! It's important to understand there are home remedies to soothing an unsettled stomach. When my stomach is particularly unsettled, I make a concoction of club soda, lemon juice and a simple syrup I grate the lemon peel into and then add to the club soda and lemon drink mixture. It seems strange to recommend a bubbly drink for an upset stomach but it settles things right down every time. In fact, I keep club soda in the house at all times just for this one use! Hot lemon water, or even just plain hot water, is also very helpful to settle an upset stomach because the hot water helps fats to 'move along' so to speak. My grandfather used to drink a cup of plain old hot water each night before bed. He made quite a ritual of it in fact. My grandmother would boil the water and pour it in the cup for him. Gramps would carefully pour out a small portion into the saucer to cool just enough for him to sneak a sip. The man ate, like the sheet metal worker he was until he died, so there must be something to the hot water thing...

There are also plenty of meals to make that will aide in digestion. Working backwards from dinner to  breakfast, off the top of my head; how does Salmon cooked in coconut oil, garnished with a sprig of dill, served with crisp-tender zucchini sound? Maybe some chia seeds sprinkled over the top? Yummy right? I think so too! What about making yourself some delectable broth and adding some kimchi to it for a quick lunch? Finally, start your day off with a nice, BIG, cardamom-scented oat bran muffin that uses olive oil or ghee as the fat and buttermilk as the liquid! Together, through food, we can reduce gas emissions, move things along and settle the unsettled!