People who are trying to lose weight and gain overall wellness need another source of protein to help them achieve their weight loss and wellness goals. A possible answer? Soy.

And while I would absolutely love for soy to be the miracle cure of all menopausal symptoms-at this early stage, I feel that we should await results of the tests that are currently being carried out, before we become too excited.

The research is showing positive results in the relationship between soy food and lung health. In general terms, organic food, including those rich in antioxidants are beneficial for our health.

This type of fat is good for you and has been proven to reduce risks for cancer and heart disease. Other advantages associated with soy foods are their high fiber content. Fiber is one of the best nutrients.

Use soy milk instead of regular milk with your cereal, tea or coffee. Add tofu to your diet. Use soybeans instead of regular beans There are soy ice creams, so that you can substitute these for your regular ones. Studies shows that soy protein reduces plasma concentrations of LDL cholesterol but not affecting HDL cholesterol.

The only difference is that soy cheese is made from soy. It is specifically manufactured for individuals with milk allergies, lactose intolerance, those who are vegans, and those with religious restrictions.

The trypsin inhibitors interfere with the digestion of protein, resulting in stunted growth while the phytoestrogens from soy, touted by the soy producers as beneficial for menopausal women, which they are, but also have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in younger women.

A newborn cannot excrete this extreme manganese load, creating high manganese levels in the blood, liver, kidneys and other soft tissues of the body, including the brain.

The health claim states that 25 grams of soy protein per day may reduce the risk of heart disease. The health claim also states that most soyfoods are low in saturated and trans fat.

Most infants and children in the Asian population will find themselves eating the 80 to 100 mg of soy per day. After a number of years, the isoflavones in their bodies will build and their chances for prostate cancer will be reduced with each bite.

If soy is fermented and non-GM (genetically modified,) soy can be a healthy addition to your diet. Fermented soy products include tempeh, miso, natto and soy sauce or tamari.

It’s important to be up-to-date on the latest research on nutrition, especially the way everything is mass produced these days and made to taste good at the expense of being good for you.

Textured vegetable protein is also soy-based and is frequently found in fast foods. These should be avoided while you try to conceive, along with tofu, which is found in many imitation meat products.

Proteins -These are nutrients are found in certain foods and they are important for growth and repair of tissues in the body that are damaged. They are bodybuilding in nature. These nutrients are found primarily in animal products like meat and in pulses like beans. These foods are to be taken in moderation because they are not easily digested. It’s wise however to avoid some proteins that are notorious for having high cholesterol levels. These include things like red meat and chicken skin. Fish and lean meats are good substitutes for these. Vegetarians have an easier time getting their dose of proteins.

Energy giving foods – These include things like rice, pasta, wheat, potatoes and yams. These foods give the body the energy that it needs in order to work properly. They are also referred to as carbohydrates. The best way to get these foods is by consuming those carbohydrates that have not been refined like whole wheat bread, brown rice and pasta.

Vitamins – These are important because they protect the body from infections. They are derived from fruits and vegetables. For each day you are advised to take about five servings of fruit. If you want to lose some weight, you are advised to eat lots of fruit. This is because they give the body the energy it needs and at the same time giving you a feeling of fullness therefore you will not eat as much. Some people decide to take vitamin supplements but remember these are not as effective as the natural ones. This is because they do not have the natural vitamin. When you cook these foods, their nutritive value is destroyed.

Fiber – Fibers are used to aid digestion and prevent bloating. A good source of fiber is cabbages. Fiber gives a filling effect and one is full even after having a small portion. It is recommended that one consumes foods that are of nutritional value to the body. Fiber is excellent for preventing constipations and may reduce the risks of colon cancer. So every time you sit down to have a meal, it is important to think about the nutritional value of that meal.

It is possible to address both of these concerns at the same time by considering health food vitamins, and in so doing you may be in for some pleasant surprises. Much will depend in your tastes in food, but with experimentation, you should be able to construct a diet, within the guidelines of your nutritionist and doctor, that is also interesting enough to enable you to not only stick to the diet but enjoy it also.

Most Recommended Tips for The Most Nutritious And Tasty Diet Foods http://www.dietbuzzer.com/blog/category/protein-diets

If you are able to end up with a diet that you can really enjoy, then there is a chance that it will become a lifelong habit. It is possible to make permanent changes; I know that from personal experience. Initially, it can be difficult to make drastic changes, but it can be done much easier if you are enjoying the food you are eating. In many cases, drastic changes may not even be needed, but that is something it is best to discuss with your doctor in relation to your own health and weight problem.

I have selected five of my best diet foods, health foods rich in vitamins and other nutrients, which will provide you with some of the most important nutrients to sustain you during your diet:

Tomatoes

I find tomatoes one of the most versatile and useful foods for cooking, and can be used to add interest to all sorts of meals, such as curries, casseroles and soups. Tomatoes go well with lean meats, or mixed with other vegetables, when used for cooking. They are also delicious raw, if you can find good tomatoes rather than the insipidly flavoured tomatoes you may find in the supermarket.

Tomatoes also happen to be one of the most valuable health foods, rich in lycopene, plus vitamins A and C. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant, which is why much scientific attention has been paid to tomatoes in recent years. Lycopene’s ability to neutralize free radicals that cause cell damage has been the centre of attention, due to the possible potential in cancer prevention.

Most Recommended Tips for The Most Nutritious And Tasty Diet Foods http://www.braceletbreastcancer.com/tag/ribbon/

 Tomatoes also have one other special asset. That is, that the nutrients are not destroyed during cooking, and even processed tomato products such as tomato sauce or ketchup, and canned tomatoes, retain the nutritional benefits. Tomatoes are therefore my health food super hero.

Garlic

When it comes to making boring foods tasty, garlic is way up there amongst the best. Along with tomatoes, garlic is an important part of the Mediterranean Diet. Like tomatoes, it can be used with just about any other cooked food, so whatever your diet regime is, you should find you can utilize garlic widely to satisfy your palate.

Garlic has some important nutrients too, such as calcium, vitamin C and vitamin B6, phosphorus and selenium, plus antibiotic properties.

VJ Health Foods Newcastle provide a wide range of organic and natural products

Take a look at our 10 healthiest foods list and see if you don’t agree that plenteous portions of these fruits and veggies shouldn’t play a starring role at your table. You may be surprised to learn that each of these foods have medicinal properties as well.

1.Berries: Nearly all berries are rejuvenating tonics for your heart and blood. Several studies have shown that a daily serving of berries, rich in potassium, can decrease your risk of stroke by as much as 40%. Generally berries have antiviral properties and are excellent for purifying the blood and work amazing for your complexion.

2.Broccoli must be included on our list of the 10 healthiest foods. Like most dark, green leafy veggies, is packed with nutrients and antioxidants. Naturopathic practitioner in Newcastle recommend generous daily servings of broccoli to patients recuperating from a lengthy illness, as this veggie has been shown to speed their return to good health.

3.Avocado lowers blood cholesterol levels. In a V.A. Study, patients ranging from 27-72 years old were given 1/2-1 ¼ avocados each day. Fully 50% of the patients experienced a decrease in serum cholesterol, ranging from 9-43%! Given that we all need to monitor our cholesterol levels, this tasty fruit deserves a spot on our list of 10 healthiest foods. In cases of psoriasis and deep muscle inflammation it has been found Avocado eases the symptoms and pain.

4.Bamboo shoots: besides being good in a fried rice dish, bamboo shoots are an ancient remedy for peptic or duodenal ulcers.

5.The list wouldn’t be complete without the trusty old banana. High in fiber, bananas are good for your digestive system and makes an ideal mid-morning snack or breakfast dish. One study, of blue-collar women workers, showed that daily consumption of bananas reduced their incidence of illness, while improving morale, attentiveness and energy levels. Yet another retirement home study revealed that all 117 residents no longer endured digestive disorders, consuming only one banana a day!

6.Garlic and onions, both members of the allium family, might well be called ‘miracle’ foods, which should be included in as many dishes as appropriate to your taste. Why? Both contain allicin, the active constituent which produces their medicinal benefits. These veggies prevent blood clots, reduce HBP, reduce the ‘bad’ cholesterol while raising the ‘good’, increase longevity and eliminate worms – in both man and beast! Type 2 diabetics benefit from garlic and onions in reduced blood sugar levels. Garlic is known as a natural antibiotic.

7.Olive oil is well known as a healthful and tasty alternative to many other cooking oils, with heart-healthy and cancer preventative properties. Olive oil also reduces the ‘bad’ cholesterol levels, without adversely affecting the ‘good’ cholesterol. In countries where olive oil is the primary source of dietary fat, the incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, ovary and colon are markedly lower when compared with data from 30 other countries, where olive oil is not generally used.

8.Parsley may seem a surprising choice in our 10 healthiest foods. Packed with vitamins A and C, parsley gives us more protection against cancer than we realized. Parsley contains more histadine, an important amino acid that inhibits tumor development than almost any other vegetable. Put it in omelets, soups, sandwiches, gravies and salads. It’s also an excellent breath freshener!

9.Peppers, whether sweet or hot, are surely one of the 10 healthiest foods. Habaneros bring relief to arthritis sufferers and dramatically reduce blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. Generally, the best medicinal benefits come from, peppers the hotter the better. Cayenne pepper serves as a cholesterol lowering antidote to a greasy, fried meat entree. When indulging in such a meal, make your beverage an 8-ounce glass of tomato juice, spiked with 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. Consuming hot peppers regularly also prevents blood clots. Funnilly enough cayenne capsules actually (1 capsule, 2-3 times daily) help heal ulcers.

10.Last, but not least on our 10 healthiest foods list, is the kiwifruit. Kiwifruit is a relative newcomer to the American supermarket, but has rapidly gained in popularity. It’s normally available fresh in the produce row and is sometimes found in juices, either as all kiwi or in a mix of strawberries (delicious!). It’s sweet taste finds favor with kids, having a flavor sometimes described as a mix of melon, bananas, strawberries and pineapple. It’s a great choice for dieters about 46 calories per average sized fruit, loaded with vitamins C, E and niacin. It’s highly recommended for people on hypertensive meds, due to its high (average 250mg) potassium content. Anecdotal reports, gathered from medical anthropologists investigations, indicate that kiwifruit, eaten three times daily, dramatically reduces HBP to normal levels within just a couple of months! That’s not all. This cute and tasty fruit also provides relief from heartburn and acid indigestion.

All of these 10 healthiest foods are readily available, easy additions to a variety of menus. Hopefully, you’ll be encouraged to start piling on these veggies, to your natural food diet

For more health food products see

vj health

179 Union Street
The Junction  2291

Health  foods are often more affordable than you think and contain an unbelievably amount of nutrition for your money. For example, a canister of powdered wheatgrass for a smoothie can cost less than $20. However, you are getting nearly all of your daily nutrition requirements in one serving. Algae powder is similar too, and you truly get your money worth when eating this way. 

Spirulina for example, is one of the most potent foods out there for anyone wishing to be healthier. This blue-green algae is packed with b-12, iron, and other crucial vitamins. It can also be added into protein smoothies to create a delicious snack. Spirulina comes in pill form, powders, natural raw forms, and many others. It is sometimes easiest to take it as a pill or powder, since it is virtually flavourless. There is even a protein powder line that uses Spirulina and flavourful combinations. 

Wheatgrass sounds gross, but it is packed with an immense amount of nutrients for the health conscious individual. This green food is necessary for a diet that provides you with all of your nutrient needs. It has minimal impact on the environment, and tastes great in food.

Spinach and leafy greens are no doubt considered green foods. They can be used to make green smoothies and pack tons of vitamins and minerals. Adding spinach or kale to smoothies can be undetectable, while you still get your necessary and vital nutrition from the concoction. Of course, used in salads and meals is also a great way to get your daily dose of green powered foods. If you want to be healthier, lose weight, and purify your body, eating green food products is the way to go. You will minimize your carbon footprint and give your body what it needs to thrive. You will also be absorbing more of those nutrients when you eat green products instead of processed ones. 
Consuming meat in high quantities is harmful for your body and the  environment. Making changes for an environmentally friendly health food diet is a surprisingly excellent way to get on the right track to health. Overall, if you aren’t eating enough green products now, start doing so. You will feel better and more energized each day. You will notice a number of improvements in your health and your appearance, and you won’t regret the dietary changes.

Well, it’s in these reckless binge runs that we can do our bodies harm by carelessly throwing whatever comes to hand first into our carts. We usually grab food items that easy to make and that tastes good. Unfortunately these items tend to be highly processed foods packed with sugar and sodium!

Now, if you’re like most people, you probably think you don’t have the time or money to spend buying healthy foods, or you think if you want to eat healthy you need to go to a special health food store to shop. Well, throw all those excuses out the window. Your local grocery store packs on average about 40,000 items and many of these are healthy alternatives to what’s in your shopping cart.

So get ready as we show you 10 ways to easily shop for healthy foods without breaking your budget or wasting time looking for a health food store.

Shop with a List! Don’t just wander aimlessly through the store. Know what you need and keep it neatly organized on a list you can easily read while shopping. Spending just a little time each day putting together this list will save you time later when you are actually in the grocery store. It also helps if you know your grocery store and categorize your items by the department they can be found in.This way you can avoid backtracking through the store when you realize your forgot something back in the dairy aisle. Keeping a list also prevents you from succumbing to the junk food aisle, saving you from unhealthy foods that are full of empty calories and sugar.
Don’t Shop on an Empty Stomach! You know this is a bad idea. Once you hit the aisles and your stomach starts growling, you’re liable to pick up anything that moves! By making sure you shop for food on a full stomach, you’ll eliminate buying foods that are bad for you as well as food you just don’t need. This saves your body and your wallet. If you can’t shop after a meal, make sure you at least drink a glass of water before you go in to help alleviate some of your hunger.
Buy Fresh Food! It really can’t get any simpler than this when it comes to eating healthy. By adding fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables to your list, you can easily add the needed vitamins and minerals you need to maintain a healthy diet. Take a look at what you’re currently buying. If more than 50 percent of your groceries are coming from a box or a can, you need to reevaluate your choices and head toward the fresh food.
Shop the Perimeter of the Store. When you’re searching for the freshest foods, it helps to stay out of the central aisles unless absolutely necessary. In your local grocery store, the perimeter of the store is where they keep all the fresh food items including produce, dairy, and seafood.
Don’t Walk By the Organics. When it comes to fresh food, quality counts, and your organics section should be one of your first stops in the grocery store. It may be a little more expensive than the regular section, but the added benefit of not having chemicals and pesticides is well worth the price. If you shop these sections right, you can target the items that are on sale and even get your organic food for less then your non-organics.
Stay Away from Foods and Drinks with Corn Syrup. There is no nutritional value to corn syrup. It’s just an empty sweetener that is almost as bad as refined sugar. Don’t be fooled! Make sure you read the labels carefully and if corn syrup is one of the first four ingredients, put it down and walk away. You’ll be surprised at how many foods are packed with corn syrup including fruit juices, spaghetti sauces, and even some bread.
Fresh Is the Best but Frozen Is Good Too. It’s not always feasible to have fresh foods all the time. So when fresh foods aren’t available, head toward the frozen aisle for a backup. Frozen vegetables and fruits are most often flash-frozen, which locks in nutrients. It’s always a good idea to keep a couple bags of frozen fruits or vegetables in your freezer. You can toss them in the microwave for a quick side dish, make fruit smoothies, or toss into plain yogurt for a fresh fruit taste.
Keep Canned Tomato Products in Your Pantry. Fresh tomatoes are great but here’s one exception where fresher actually isn’t better. Studies have shown that tomato sauces, crushed tomatoes, and stewed tomatoes actually have an increased amount of the antioxidant lycopene. That’s because they are concentrated. Keeping these kitchen jewels handy can help you out the next time you are wondering what’s for dinner. Just throw some chicken and sauce in a crock pot or add crushed tomatoes to a soup, and you’ve got a healthy meal in no time!
Avoid Processed Foods. Remember all those boxes and bags you were throwing in your cart earlier? Most likely it was all processed foods like chips, cookies, and frozen pizza. Save your money and your body. Skip the junk food and stock up on your fruits, vegetables, and meats instead. You’ll avoid the sugar rush and feel better in the long run.
Try Whole Grains. The availability of whole grains has increased and it’s not uncommon to find whole grain products next to their processed counterpart. Whole grain pastas, brown rice, and whole wheat flour are great alternatives that not only are healthy but they taste great too. One warning when it comes to whole wheat products. Because more and more people are reaching for whole grains these days, packaging has gotten a little tricky. For instance, wheat bread is a good alternative to white bread, but look closely next time you pick up a loaf of wheat bread. If the first ingredient is refined wheat flour, then put it back. It’s made from the same stuff as white bread and quite possible is dyed brown to make it look healthier. As a general rule, whole wheat breads tend to be heavier and denser than white bread.

You don’t have to be a health nut to shop for healthy foods. With just a little discipline and by practicing the steps above, you’ll see how easy it is to shop for healthy foods in the comfort of your own local grocery store.

When deciding what foods to eat, you need to think in moderation. Smaller portions are always the right way to go, regardless of what you’re eating. For instance, if you would love to have a piece of apple pie, try taking a few bites instead of a large piece with ice cream. It has been shown that people who cut back on their portion sizes actually lose an abundance of weight. No matter what size you are, it is healthier to reduce the amount of junk food you eat.

Are you looking for additional ways to eat right? While vegetables and fruit are just common sense, it is crucial that you try these foods for snacks. Instead of grabbing a handful of candy or a piece of cake for a mid-afternoon snack, try a handful of carrots or a yogurt mixed with cereal. These delicious treats are wonderful when you are starving, but don’t want to ruin your waistline.

Regardless of your diet routine, trainers and dieticians around the world will tell you to eat more than three meals a day. Forget starving yourself if you want to lose weight! In order to burn the right fat and speed up your metabolism, you must eat smaller meals around the clock. This means that breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, a mid-afternoon snack and dinner is essential to look great. It not only will curb your appetite and keep you hungry, but it also will help the pounds slip right off.

Besides eating right, there are also nutritional supplements that can work wonders. Noni Juice, for instance, is a fruit juice that began in the Pacific Islands. With all natural herbs and vitamins, this product is great for anyone who wants to boost their metabolism. It also keeps your immune system healthy, as well as increases overall energy. The majority of consumers love to drink this product after they have exercised. As a result, they feel more refreshed and can continue their day without feeling drained. These tasty nutrients may taste like you are devouring a calorie filled treat, but it actually is extremely beneficial for your health.

We all see the perfect bodies on the magazines — frail-like and flawless. Unfortunately, we start to take on these perceptions of beauty, once these images are constantly on our minds. Realistically, no one is perfect. We all are beautiful, regardless of curves or bones. However, being healthy is the most important aspect. Without health, we are nothing. Forget about the physical aspects and worry about the foods you are consuming, and the nutrients that are inside them. With a new outlook, you may think differently.

One great practical food is the humble tomato.  It may not look much like an orange, but the tomato is actually a citrus fruit as well.  As such, tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants.  In addition, tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, which has shown promise in preventing certain kinds of cancer.

In addition, tomatoes are easy to use, versatile, and inexpensive.  In addition to fresh, in season tomatoes, which are delicious as well as nutritious, tomatoes are available in canned and frozen varieties as well.  Tomatoes can be used in so many different ways, and in so many different recipes, that it is always a good idea to have a supply of them on hand in the pantry or the fridge.

Pastas, especially the whole wheat varieties of pastas, are another great example of functional foods.  Pastas can also be used in a variety of ways, from simple preparations with simple tomato based sauces, to elaborate creations using shrimp, tuna and other seafood.

Of course, pasta dishes can be healthy or unhealthy, depending on how they are topped.  Toppings such as Alfredo sauce or rich cream sauces, should be avoided when trying to follow a healthy diet.  As with all foods, such heavy sauces are fine in moderation, but they should not form the bulk of your diet.

Luckily, there are lower fat alternatives to many high fat pasta sauces, and these low fat alternatives should be used whenever possible.  Substituting lower fat alternatives for fatty, unhealthy foods is an important skill when it comes to creating a healthy diet.

Whole grain breads, flours and grains are also good examples of healthy, practical foods.  Stocking up on these staples when they are on sale will help ensure that you have everything you need to create the most healthy recipes possible for yourself and your family.

Whole grain products should be substituted for more highly refined breads and cereals whenever possible, since whole grain breads, cereals and grains retain more of their important nutrients than do more highly refined foods.

Starting a healthy eating program using practical foods is easy.  Start by taking a personal inventory of your current diet, including where it is good and where it can use some improvement.  Learn to assess the personal health risks created by your current diet (your family physician can be of particular help here).  A physician or dietitian can be a big help in putting together a list of healthy, easy to use, practical foods you can use to change your diet for the better.

It is also a good idea to use your interest in healthy eating to create and use exciting new recipes.  There are a great many healthy eating recipes available, both on the internet and in cookbooks.  Seek out some of these recipes and try using your favorite healthy staples to create some wonderful dishes.

For some ideas on how to use practical foods morning, noon and night, try some of these great ideas:

Breakfast:

Include some healthy staples, and some healthy fruits in your breakfast.  For instance, pair healthy oatmeal with blueberries, or whole wheat or wheat bran cereal with strawberries or bananas.
Try mixing a healthy cereal like All Bran into your nonfat or low fat yogurt.  It will perk up your plain yogurt and give it a great crunch.
Fresh fruit is also a great addition to yogurt.  Try buying plain, nonfat yogurt and mixing in your own raspberries, blueberries and strawberries.  You will save money and enjoy a healthy breakfast.
Instead of high fat butter, spread your toast with apple butter or soy nut butter instead.  Always try to use whole grain varieties of bread like wheat or rye.
Drink a glass of 100% fruit juice with breakfast every day.  Orange juice, grape juice, apple juice and grapefruit juice are all great choices.
Blend 1% milk or soy milk with fresh pineapple for a healhy, delicious breakfast smoothie. These smoothies are great for people on the go.

Lunch and dinner ideas
Make a great tuna salad with grated carrots, green peppers, red peppers, garlic and onion.
Make a dish of fresh whole grain pasta and top it will homemade tomato sauce and fresh home grown herbs.
Use healthy foods like onions and leeks, along with tomatoes, as a great side dish.
Grill healthy fish and serve with a healthy side salad.
Try some low fat soups like spinach and broccoli soup.
Make a great vegetable stir fry with olive oil.

Healthy snacks
Of course no plan for healthy eating is complete without some great healthy snacks.  Below are some of our favorite healthy snacks for those on the go.
A piece of fresh fruit, like an apple, orange or banana, always makes a great snack.  Keep a bowl of fruit on your kitchen counter for easy access.
Try mixing nuts and dried fruit for a great homemade trail mix.  Hikers and non hikers alike will enjoy this healthy snack.
Treat yourself to a great glass of orange, tomato or cranberry juice before you leave the house in the morning.
Keep a supply of broccoli florets, baby carrots and other bite size vegetables, and some healthy dip, on hand.
Make your own fruit salad with oranges, bananas, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and other favorites.

                        By Ellasara Kling

Winter and Your HealthFoods To Eat and Things to Do

For the past few years this article has talked about Five Element Theory as it relates to each season; supportive foods for the season we were in, how to choose them, how to prepare dishes that are seasonally healthful, visually appealing and tasty; various interrelationships as represented in the above chart, some ideas about emotional and mental attitudes that manifest seasonally, and so on.  In this last article for the year, I would like to highlight the Winter season we are in, but also discuss the circle of seasons as an interconnected whole.

 In viewing the above chart, it is clear that everything is interconnected with everything else at all times. For example, a healthy summer/heart season is dependent upon not only its child the late summer/spleen and its mother the spring/liver, but also upon its relationship with the winter/Kidney (whose energy balances Summer/heart) and Fall/Lung (whose energy Summer/heart balances). At all times all the parts are in communication with each other doing their best to create harmony within us and, by extension, to create harmony within the Universe. This is accurate regardless of the point of view one takes — be it physical, mental, emotional, spiritual; all the parts are always doing their best to create harmony.

 Taking this point of view and applying it to our health, we have a picture of ongoing wholeness that is only thwarted by lack of communication and undue stress on any or all of the parts.  And here we are entering the social season of stress/fun and for many of us entering into situations that also have “interesting” communication scenarios. While, according to Five Element Theory and the common sense of Nature, we should be resting more, going inward, eating very sensibly, not overindulging, dressing warmly, being ever more gentle with ourselves, this is the season during which most of us are constantly on the go, often eating haphazardly, overindulging in food and drink, and essentially cramming lots of living into a small space of time that only spans a few weeks.  And with this, we kick off the Winter Season and thereby prevent it from fully expressing its purpose of deep restoration, weaken its ability to support Liver/Gall Bladder, cause it to draw more energy from the Lung/Large Intestine, and so on. (An unsurprising example of a common effect of weakening this ability is that people in our society are prone to respiratory illnesses in late winter.)  Flowing with Winter, whose element is water, requires trust and relinquishing the existential fear that is the keynote for the season. 

 Almost everyone has had the experience of having cared for at least one plant and, therefore, you know that either too much water or too little water is detrimental to its life and that the amount of water required is individual to each plant and its environment. So it is with us as well. The Winter/Water season flows to the Spring/Wood season and without the proper balance the Liver/Gall Bladder has to fight to survive and becomes damaged so that its ability to nurture the Heart/Fire and to balance the Spleen/Stomach/Earth is hampered. What this balance looks like and how it is achieved is individual to each of us taking into account our life factors. 

The integrity of the system depends on each part and its relationship with all of the other elements within the system. The many correlations (only 13 of which are depicted in the above chart) for each season affects those of the other seasons as they continue to also flow into and out of each other in cycles of nurturance, restraint, balance.  Some other correlations for Winter are:  the movement of energy this season is downward, energy wants to “store” at this time, its bodily expression is head hair, beans are the “grains” of the season, grapes are its fruit.

 Seasonal Self-Massage

 Teeth tapping  tap your teeth together lightly 50 or more times every day.

Head/neck/ear massage:  Starting at the center front of your head, place your “pinky fingers” next to each other along the hairline and let your other fingers fall naturally along the hairline and the thumb slightly behind the temples. With a firm but still gentle pressure, “rake” your fingers over your head and ending at the occipital ridge. Do this 9 times. Then with your open palms, and alternating hands, lay your hand across the back of your neck and so that the heel of your palm is on the large neck muscle and your fingers are resting lightly on the other side of your neck.  Again, with a firm but gentle stroke, drag you hand across your neck.  Keep your head held up as you do this 8 times with each hand. Finally, with your thumbs and forefingers on either side of your ears, rub the ear starting in the front and continuing down to the lobe — 3 times. Ending by giving the lobe a little light tug.

 Support the Bladder Meridian by keeping your neck, back of legs covered and warm.  Notice a chill in the back of the legs?  Rub in some warming massage oil/muscle liniment so that the heat can enter deeply into the channel.

 Health Topic:  Peri/Menopause

 Kidney Qi is very important during the menopausal life opportunity.  Since the Kidney/Urinary Bladder are the organs for Winter, take this time to enhance your Kidney Qi through your energy practice, meditation and by eating foods that strengthen Kidney Qi such as shellfish, soy (organic non GMO only), beans, black sesame seeds, walnuts, etc. and eating salty, bitter and very spicy foods in moderation.

Seasonal Foods:

Black Beans, Black Mushrooms, Blackberry, Black sesame seeds and oil,  Black soybeans, Blueberry, Bone marrow, Cabbages, Cardamon, Celery, Chard, Cinnamon, Cranberry, Ginger, Job’s tears, Kale, Kidney beans, Kohlrabi, Longan, Lotus seed, Miso, Mulberry, Mutton, Ocean Perch, Parsley, Pine nuts, Raspberry, Rutabaga, Seaweed, Shrimp/Prawns, Soy Sauce, String beans, Turnips, Walnuts, Wood ear mushrooms.

 This is a time of year for hearty, warm soups, root vegetables, avoid raw foods and cold drinks, also avoid very spicy foods that create sweating (which leads to open pores and cooling).

  Recipes:

Warm Miso Soup

 This is not a recipe as much as a recommendation.  Buy the miso (organic, non GMO) that you prefer, mix in hot water as directed; add scallion whites, mushrooms, seaweed, etc. for your own taste.  An easy, fast, “instant” warming soup.

 Winter Energy Cereal

 Ingredients

1/2 cup of rice

6 cups of water

½ cup toasted black sesame seeds

½ cup TB toasted crushed walnuts

3 TB honey

½ tsp salt

 Directions

Cover the rice in 2 cups of water and soak for 2 hours.

Toast the walnuts and crush.  A simple crushing method is to place the walnuts in a plastic bag and roll with a rolling pin.

Toast the black sesame seeds.

Drain the excess water off the rice.

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and mix.

Add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the rice is thoroughly cooked and all the water has been absorbed.  Stir the cereal frequently as it is cooking.  The texture of the cereal at this stage is like a thick porridge or cornmeal mush.  The rice is creamy and the sesame seeds are still slightly crunchy.

 To make into a breakfast cereal:  add ½ cup boiling water to ½ cup of cereal – optional: a touch of cinnamon  Yield: 4 cups

Serving size ½ cup

 Kale & white beans

Ingredients:

 1 large bunch of kale

3 TB of olive oil

3 large cloves of garlic

Salt & pepper

1 cup white wine

1lb of cooked white beans. . your choice: cannelini, navy, chickpeas.

 Directions:

Cut the bottom stem off the kale and cut the leaves horizontally into 3″ pieces – -wash in cold water to remove any “sand” that may be stuck to the leaves.  Drain, but let water adhere to leaves.

In a wok or heavy skillet heat 3 TB of oil and add minced garlic and salt and pepper. . . heat for about 1 minute and add the kale. . .

Toss the kale in the oil so that it coats lightly and the garlic/salt & pepper mix into it.

Tossing every so often sauté the kale till it get a nice dark color and begins to wilt just slightly. . . .add the wine and cover for about 1 minute.

Remove the cover and toss, add the beans and heat through.

Serve.

 Mrs. Wang’s Yunan Style Pumpkin.

2 large carrots cut in half lengthwise

2 large white Russet potatoes cut in half lengthwise

1 small pumpkin, kobachu, hubbard, acorn, or other gourd-like squash cut lengthwise in 3″ wide pieces.

½  red bell pepper, ½ tsp. garlic, 2 TB ginger, whites of 6 green onions – all minced

dried small, red, hot peppers, 5-6 not too many, only to warm the food not to make it hot (use less if you are sensitive)

1 TB salt or to taste

½ cup Walnut oil

½ -1  cup water

 Cut the vegetables into chunky, triangular wedge shapes leaving the skin on the potatoes and the squash. Heat a large, heavy skillet or wok, add some oil and the carrots, potatoes and squash and cook until the vegetables sweat. At this point, add the other ingredients and stir-fry for a few minutes. Add some water and cover. When the water is absorbed the vegetables should be cooked, but not mushy.  If the vegetables are not yet cooked, add a v. little more water and cover again.  When they are fully cooked, remove the lid and stir fry for a couple more minutes.

Teas:

 Drinking roasted teas (usually called red or black teas) are more warming than green teas which have a cooling aspect.  Interesting teas to try might include a good Pu ehr tea as it has many excellent health benefits especially when the leaves are from older trees. Most people are familiar with roasted Oolong tea.

Ginger Tea is an excellent way to dispel cold and it is easy to make from fresh roots.  Peel about 1-2 inches of the root and chop it into about 3-4 cups of cold water in a pan.  Bring to a boil and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.  You also can add red dates and honey while the ginger is cooking.   Wolfberries (Goji berries) and red dates with ginger is an excellent healthful tea. 

If I have been in an overheated, dry room, which can be quite common in Winter, I will add longan to my tea to lightly moisturize the lungs.

Remember to always keep a smile in your heart!

Health foods however is a term used by health proponents in the 1920′s to foods that have special benefits to specific health issues. Health foods for example are those foods that are low in sugar and fat since these are the primary causes of obesity when left unchecked.
What are these?

Organic Foods
These are foods farmed as organic in nature. Organic foods for most of human history had been the staple in farming. These are foods farmed without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides. For livestock, organic classification mean that the animals were not injected with antibiotics, are not genetically modified nor growth hormones used in raising them. Today, there are two basic kinds of farming of organic food. One is the private garden which will also sell their produce labeled as organic, the other are organic food industries regulated heavily by most governments.

Natural Foods
Natural foods are health foods that are similar in ideal to organic foods although these foods are processed without the use of refined sugar, food coloring, refined flour, and flavorings.

High Fiber Foods
High fiber foods are health foods that have high fiber density. Examples of high fiber foods are berries, cabbages, and fruits and vegetables that have high fiber concentration. The thing that is so important with foods that are high in fiber is that it improves the absorption of nutrients in the body as it cleanses the digestive system. A clean colon and healthy colon for example prohibits 64 different kinds of diseases that would otherwise afflict the body when the gunk and the junk in the system are not flushed out.

Omega 3 rich foods

Unlike foods that are low fat and low sugar, foods rich in Omega 3 are good sources of essential fatty acids whose benefits are too numerous to name. Some of the benefits of foods rich in omega 3 are that it has excellent anti aging qualities, is a good cancer retardant, good for heart problems, skin, hair, metabolism, rheumatism, good for the memory and brain health, etc. What is good about these foods is that it is everywhere and is not expensive. Examples of foods are, Avocado, berries, soya beans and soybean oil, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, olive oil, Brazil nuts, tofu etc.

Vegetables like, broccoli, squash, kidney beans, green beans, lettuce, cauliflowers are very rich in Omega 3. Likewise fish especially the cold water/fatty variety are excellent sources of Omega 3. Some of the fish are the trout, swordfish, milkfish, salmon, mackerel, herring, and Albacore tuna. 

Health foods are everywhere. Those mention here are just a few of the examples but mostly the healthiest and among the best. Dieting through health foods is as easy as picking the next choice.