#092 The most underrated natural antibiotic
So good it STILL feels like a secret...
It’s true. Black seed oil is for me, the greatest supplement I’ve ever consumed, gram for gram. Even though we’ve seen it raved about in our niche online circles for years now, it still feels like a big secret for me. Every now and then I’d have slight stomach discomfort from a meal, an itchy mosquito bite, or even some irritation in my gums and it’s amazing how just a tiny bit of black seed oil seems to solve it every time. I always tell people that it’s the most valuable bandaid I have with me. I’ve bought countless bottles at this point. Whether it’s been for myself, friends or family, they’ve always reported back saying how it’s fixed their particular issue — after complaining about the taste of course. You can’t lie, it does taste like motor oil, especially that very first time you have it, but trust me you’ll eventually learn to appreciate it. Or at least tolerate the taste! A few months in and you might not even squirm anymore.
Here at the WARKITCHEN we don’t really advocate for too many supplements. Supplements are meant to supplement. They’re not meant to replace the entirety of your diet. Eating nourishing whole foods should still be the priority, but at the same time, it makes sense for you to identify incredibly efficacious compounds and incorporate them into your diet. The key is to use supplements that actually move the needle. Stay away from generic multivitamins. Find what works for YOUR lifestyle, YOUR diet and weave it in strategically.
We posted this food pyramid a few days ago and one of the questions we got was, “If we’re supposed to avoid seed oils, why do you list black seed oil as a supplement?”
The answer is that black seed oil is an exception to the rule. Black seed oil is cold-pressed, and it’s been consumed for thousands of years. It was prescribed in the Ebers Papyrus in Ancient Egypt. It was a key part of Cleopatra’s beauty regiment as a topical ointment. It’s even famously described in Islam as the “cure of everything but death”.
Just look at how black seed oil made. You’re simply squeezing the seeds of the Nigella Sativa. No chemical solvents. No complicated refinement techniques. Those modern day seed oils (canola oil, rapeseed oil, cottonseed oil, etc) are the ones you want to avoid. But not black seed oil. It’s different. And it’s medicinal properties are actually incredible.
Black seed oil has been found to be exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor properties. Modern science has only confirmed ancient wisdom.
These benefits are largely a result of a number of compounds present in black seed oil and the one you’ve probably heard of is thymoquinone (TQ). The % of TQ is usually on the label of BSO itself, and a higher % means a more potent bottle.
The great thing about black seed oil is how versatile it is. You can take it as an oral supplement, or apply it topically.
Consume orally for:
Stomach indigestion
Gut discomfort
Common cold
Cough, sore throat
Irregular periods / Heavy bleeding
Anorexia
Asthma
Any bodily inflammation
Jaundice
Fighting parasites
Hemorrhoids
If you’re just feeling low
As a general daily prophylaxis (keeps you from falling sick)
I’d start with 1/2 tbsp every night and I typically increase dosage the worse I feel. I never go beyond 2 tbsp per day.
Apply topically for:
Eczema
Skin rashes
Stubborn pimples
Dandruff
Itchy scalp
Old wounds
Gum problems (oil pull)
It’s best to consume black seed oil in its liquid form as that’s where you’ll feel the most benefits but you can use capsules if you’re going to be traveling or somewhere where you can’t get access to a refrigerator. I know everyone’s going to ask for a brand and honestly it depends on what you have accessible to you. The one I use is Amazing Herbs. Find a good brand and stick to it. The oil should be somewhat thick. Price is an indicator for quality. Expect to pay roughly around US$30-50 for 250ml or thereabouts. Anything you find that’s ridiculously cheap should be a red flag. They’re either diluting the oil in some way, or it’s not made properly. And you won’t feel its effects.
NOT MEDICAL ADVICE! With any form of supplementation or dietary changes, make sure to consult your physician.
Print Issue Announcement
It’s finally about to reach your coffee tables. Summer Fall 2024 will be available for purchase shortly, and I can’t wait for you to enjoy some light leisure reading with our magazine in your hand. We’ll be doing two separate launches this time, starting off with the US and then Europe + rest of the world.
US LAUNCH: THURSDAY, AUGUST 29TH 2024, 08:30AM EASTERN TIME
EUROPE LAUNCH: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH 2024, 01:30PM BRITISH SUMMER TIME
We only have a fixed number of magazines printed, so please make your order quick if you’re keen to get a copy for yourself, or if you’re getting one as a gift. The last time we did this you guys sold us out within a week. We truly appreciate your support!
With a WARKITCHEN on your coffee table, summer will never end 🥂
Feel free to fire us an email if you have any questions: rocky@warkitchen.net
Make breakfast great again
Breakfast is the greatest meal of the day, if you do it right. Move away from cereal for breakfast and actually nourish yourself with real food.
What’s your favorite cheese?
So, we made a cheese tier list. And some people aren’t too happy… oops
We only serve white pills
We only serve white pills on your feed. Relentless optimism. When life gives you lemons, you have an Italian summer.
Coffee + Chocolate
Coffee and chocolate go together like bread and butter. They’re cousins. Grate some real cacao over your coffee. Brain food.
❋ DESIGN INSPIRATION: A TOUR OF VILLA KÉRYLOS
The home has been beautifully preserved and there are details around every corner that will make any interiors enthusiast want to rip her head off for joy. The whole property is Greek-style, with enough pattern to keep you entertained for hours and hours. Since I’m from California, it reminded me a bit of Hearst Castle. Not because it has any stylistic similarities, but because it feels like the same kind of house-fantasy-come-to-life. This is a dream home for sure, and you can tell from the attention to detail that the people who built it must have been deeply in love with it.
❋ CÉDRIC GROLET REVEALS HIS FAMOUS PAIN AU CHOCOLAT RECIPE
As a French person, I’ve never heard anyone refer to pain au chocolat as a “chocolate croissant.” Here in France, besides the traditional croissant au beurre, you might come across variations like croissant aux amandes (almond croissant) or croissant aux abricots (also known as Oranais), but never “chocolate croissants.” If you ask for one in a French boulangerie, the baker will likely smile and gently correct you, saying, “pain au chocolat.”
Even though croissants and pains au chocolat are made from the same dough, we see them as totally different pastries. A pain au chocolat is a rectangle filled with two chocolate bars, while croissants are cut into triangles and rolled up into their signature crescent shape.So, without further ado, here’s Cédric Grolet’s pain au chocolat recipe! And if you need a bit more help shaping your pains au chocolat, you can watch the master baker himself in this Vogue France video.
Removing sugar from crappy foods doesn’t turn them into gold. They are still crappy foods. Except now probably the one good thing about them (the substrate for cellular energy generation, aka sugar) has been removed. Sugar-free variants of junk food are not healthy dietary choices, especially since artificial sweeteners don’t come without their risks (although that’s a topic for another article).
❋ ROASTED PINEAPPLE WHIPPED RICOTTA TOAST WITH SEA SALT
Given my insane fruit obsession, pineapple ranks up there. There aren’t many fruits that I won’t eat by the bowl full. I love most fruits when they are roasted or grilled too, and pineapple is no exception. Especially with the freshness of the mint! And the creaminess of the ricotta. And the crunchiness of the toast.
My texture brain goes into overload.
❋ Read our latest WARKITCHEN magazines:
Issue 28 out next Sunday!
❋ Get your copy of Optimal Fuel: Your Nutrition Playbook here. It's a cookbook and nutrition guide — all in one. All proceeds goes towards an outrageous amount of hearty ribeyes and raw honey!
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Thank you for joining us on this beautiful Sunday ladies & gents 🥂
This is awesome! please keep these coming!
Great article.