In Riomaggiore, a coastal town of Cinque Terre in Italy, the grocery stores are small, with limited options. The ingredients that do feel unlimited are the fresh vegetables and fruits, and you are able to choose from a wide array of grapes, local figs, red tomatoes, and greens. You’ll see most of these growing on the steep hills as you climb up for views.
Pasta and pizza, being highly starchy options, shouldn’t be eaten for every meal, so if your stomach is feeling a bit too full from all of the wheat products, try an Italian salad. I’ve made many salads while staying here, with a simple dressing of olive oil, oregano, balsamic vinegar, and sea salt.
Here’s how each of the ingredients will benefit you:
Lettuce ~ This green is high in fiber and liquid for a healthy digestive tract. As a traveler, it’s important to keep your digestion moving. The bitterness in greens perks up the digestive system and stimulates the bowels.
Bell pepper ~ Bell peppers also have lots of fiber and hydrating liquid. They are rich in Vitamin C for healthy skin tissue, and also help to reduce swelling (just in case you’ve been sitting too long). I eat bell peppers like apples, and they are very convenient to travel with. People with aching joints should be wary about bell peppers and other foods in the nightshade family (tomato, potato, eggplant), since these foods can aggravate their condition.
Tomatoes ~ Tomatoes help the body to detoxify, which is particularly helpful if you’ve been overindulging on sugary or fried food.
Olive oil and olives ~ Natural olive products are said to help protect us from heart disease, and also keep our digestive tract happy.
Sea salt ~ Sea salt is a very grounding seasoning, and helps people “come back to earth,” if they have been overly excited or stimulated. The minerals in sea salt also go directly to our cells to help the immune system. This increases resistance against infections and bacteria, and a little bit of sea salt in the diet helps our body heal quickly from accidents, surgeries, and burns.
Basil ~ Basil can stop the growth of bacteria! This means that if you are ever in a situation where you would love to wash your hands, don’t have a sink, but do have basil, it can be rubbed on your skin. Eating basil helps relieve constipation, as well as sinus discomforts.
© 2012 Ava Waits
Ava Waits is an inspirational speaker, business mentor, and forthcoming author.She believes that making money should feel like bliss, and through her work, she provides innovative business, money, and marketing guidance to entrepreneurial women worldwide.
Ava first used entrepreneurship to pull herself out of poverty, going from food stamps and the food bank line, to signing on over $17,000 worth of business in one month. She is passionately committed to helping other women release financial constriction, feel content with money, and live richer lives through entrepreneurship. Ava’s clients often receive surprise income, travel the world with their businesses, and start signing on new clients at their highest prices yet.
As a speaker, Ava has been interviewed on television, and has been invited around the country to inspire audiences at business events, women’s organizations, and financial companies. To connect with Ava, and to view article and video archives, please visit www.AvaWaits.com.
