In Ecuador you can
be healthy because…
There are numerous
natural health food stores located within the
city (mostly in the historic center) of Cuenca and they have products to relieve
many health ailments. You would be amazed when you see some of the natural
medicines and herbs that are available to purchase in these health food
store.
Medicinal
Herbs
There are a lot of medicinal herbs in Cuenca. I’m not talking about vitamin tablets and such
but the plants harvested for medicinal purposes; these whole herbs are made into
tinctures, teas, poultices, lotions, to administer according to the health
affliction. Most people know that pharmaceuticals are made from herbs, but only
a tiny fraction of the herb is used to make a pharmaceutical drug, the rest of a
tablet or pill are chemicals and additives that can be dangerous to your
health.
There are no health
police here telling growers they cannot sell their medicinal plants to the
public. They just grow it and many Ecuadorians buy it and take care of their
health problems without being dependent on doctors and pharmaceutical
medications. There are many homeopathic doctors here in Cuenca as well. In Ecuador you can
be self sufficient in health!
Fresh Culinary
Herbs at the Mercado
You can go to any
one of the three Mercados located within the city of Cuenca and buy fresh herbs
such as rosemary, basil, chamomile, oregano and so much more. It is amazing all
the fresh herbs and medicinal plants that one can buy fresh from the farmer
here! About once a week we get a big bunch of fresh basil and make fresh pesto
(Frank’s favorite dish) with it. We also buy fresh cilantro. We love Ecuador for
the fresh abundance practically right outside your front door.
Grow Your Own
Food
Almost
everywhere in Ecuador, including Cuenca, you can grow year round. Cuenca has two
seasons for growing. In the summer it is rainy season but you can grow hot
weather plants like tomatoes and basil. In the winter it is perfect time of year
to grow cooler weather plants like beets, carrots and greens. In the winter,
Frank has fashioned a greenhouse for the basil and tomatoes. We have in the
garden growing right now, red potatoes, kale, radish, beets, rosemary, basil,
and some tomatoes.
kale-left, beets-right and in the back- red potatoes
basil and tomato plants in the greenhouse below
Of course the food
is such a great price here some of you may wonder if it is worth it to grow your
own food? Well cost is not the only consideration: you can’t beat freshly picked vegetables just
before dinner, it is nice to be able to
walk outside into your organic vegetable garden and pick fresh garden greens and
tomatoes for your dinner salad! Not to mention the convenience factor,
especially when living without a car.
Mineral Springs
(Banos by Cuenca)
They’re called
“mineral” springs for a reason. The water comes fresh out of the Andes Mountains
and is full of rock minerals that are good for your health. They say that
soaking in these hot springs (not too hot) relieves many health ailments. We do
not know if that is true but it certainly can’t hurt you? At Banos here in
Cuenca you can also get a massage and mud wraps, etc.
Walking in
Cuenca
Everyone loses
weight when they come to Cuenca, at least everyone we have talked to. Why? We
believe it is because of the fresh food with no hormones, (hormones make you
fat) and the fact that Cuenca is a place where you want to be outside walking;
everyone walks in Cuenca. There are people walking around no matter where you
are at.
Yes, you take the bus for longer distances but on nice sunny days, you may just decide to walk instead of taking the bus or taxi. Walking a lot, coupled with fresh food, fresh herbs, you can’t beat that. You can be healthy in Cuenca!
Yes, you take the bus for longer distances but on nice sunny days, you may just decide to walk instead of taking the bus or taxi. Walking a lot, coupled with fresh food, fresh herbs, you can’t beat that. You can be healthy in Cuenca!
And for more information about going local and finding some of the best prices in Cuenca see the latest edition of the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide.
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