Deciding to fast must be a personal decision – but if you are seeking to find out more about what is involved, then the following information is an outline of the experiences of others, designed to help you make that decision with all the facts at hand.

For many of us, our knowledge of fasting is tied to ideas of spiritual or religious practices. In ancient times when people fasted they believed that doing so would improve their clarity of thought, and bring spiritual enlightenment and inspiration. In fact many people who fast relay a feeling of being more removed from the physical and a more spiritually focussed consciousness. It should be reflected however, that having strong values is integral to this – as mental attitude is huge part of ones sense of the world.

There is a belief that fasting may lead to starvation – but this is clearly not how it should work. You should be providing your body with all the necessary nutrition you require via liquids. If you do loose any incidental weight then the feeling is that it was unnecessary weight to begin with, and that your body, being given a break, is merely eliminating the toxins and extra weight that we gain over time. It is not recommended that you conduct practices such as a water-only fast, but if you are fasting and having only fruit and/or vegetable juices your body will be nourished without excessive intake of food and the complications of that.

If you are going to attempt to fast then you should only be doing so if your overall health is good. If you are suffering from a serious disease or an acute or chronic condition – you should not be fasting. It is also worthwhile to conduct a fast under the direction of a practitioner such as a naturopath, particularly as these professionals tend to know more about the process than MDs.

Should you decide to take supplements whilst you are fasting, then you should take only pure supplements. These are digested straight into the body and they do not contain fillers that need to be digested.

During the first few hours of fasting, it is possible to experience a feeling of weakness, but don’t be alarmed. This occurs as your body mobilises toxins and begins to eliminate them from your system Upon entering your blood stream you may find that these cause you to experience cravings and this will be at its most intense as you go through the first several days of fasting. There is also a likelihood that you will experience a feeling of weakness and think that you are starving and must eat, but this isn’t the case.

When we eat, most of us are unaware that we use 90% of our energy simply to process the food we have consumed. In the modern diet this is the case because there are a large number of chemicals and over-processed foods, such as white flour and artificial ingredients. Perhaps you have noticed how you can feel actually less energetic when you have stuffed yourself? People that stick with a truly healthy diet often have far more energy, because they haven’t overloaded their bodies on these foods that contain high levels of toxins. Consider the fact that the human has evolved to eat whole, organic foods over thousands of years.

A good analogy could be to consider a car. You wouldn’t fill the gas tank with dirt, water or cola and expect it to continue running without any problems. The engine would soon be clogged and needing expert attention. Your body is like your car – you require pure forms of fuel to run smoothly and efficiently.

When you are fasting you are giving your body and particularly your digestive tract a chance to take a break and sort out any problems. After about 3 days of fasting your body will begin to rest and then through periods of elimination and resting. You will start to see that several pounds will fall off you rapidly and you will experience an easing of many aches and pains, as your body is able to take a break and restore your overall health.

It can also be worthwhile to take a quality laxative that you can get from a local health food store. When you take this you will discover that your body can flush out toxins even more rapidly.

For further information about fasting, it pays to look for a good book that can help you through the process; your local health food store may even be able to order you one if there are none available.

Deciding to fast must be a personal decision – but if you are seeking to find out more about what is involved, then the following information is an outline of the experiences of others, designed to help you make that decision with all the facts at hand.

For many of us, our knowledge of fasting is tied to ideas of spiritual or religious practices. In ancient times when people fasted they believed that doing so would improve their clarity of thought, and bring spiritual enlightenment and inspiration. In fact many people who fast relay a feeling of being more removed from the physical and a more spiritually focussed consciousness. It should be reflected however, that having strong values is integral to this – as mental attitude is huge part of ones sense of the world.

There is a belief that fasting may lead to starvation – but this is clearly not how it should work. You should be providing your body with all the necessary nutrition you require via liquids. If you do loose any incidental weight then the feeling is that it was unnecessary weight to begin with, and that your body, being given a break, is merely eliminating the toxins and extra weight that we gain over time. It is not recommended that you conduct practices such as a water-only fast, but if you are fasting and having only fruit and/or vegetable juices your body will be nourished without excessive intake of food and the complications of that.

If you are going to attempt to fast then you should only be doing so if your overall health is good. If you are suffering from a serious disease or an acute or chronic condition – you should not be fasting. It is also worthwhile to conduct a fast under the direction of a practitioner such as a naturopath, particularly as these professionals tend to know more about the process than MDs.

Should you decide to take supplements whilst you are fasting, then you should take only pure supplements. These are digested straight into the body and they do not contain fillers that need to be digested.

During the first few hours of fasting, it is possible to experience a feeling of weakness, but don’t be alarmed. This occurs as your body mobilises toxins and begins to eliminate them from your system Upon entering your blood stream you may find that these cause you to experience cravings and this will be at its most intense as you go through the first several days of fasting. There is also a likelihood that you will experience a feeling of weakness and think that you are starving and must eat, but this isn’t the case.

When we eat, most of us are unaware that we use 90% of our energy simply to process the food we have consumed. In the modern diet this is the case because there are a large number of chemicals and over-processed foods, such as white flour and artificial ingredients. Perhaps you have noticed how you can feel actually less energetic when you have stuffed yourself? People that stick with a truly healthy diet often have far more energy, because they haven’t overloaded their bodies on these foods that contain high levels of toxins. Consider the fact that the human has evolved to eat whole, organic foods over thousands of years.

A good analogy could be to consider a car. You wouldn’t fill the gas tank with dirt, water or cola and expect it to continue running without any problems. The engine would soon be clogged and needing expert attention. Your body is like your car – you require pure forms of fuel to run smoothly and efficiently.

When you are fasting you are giving your body and particularly your digestive tract a chance to take a break and sort out any problems. After about 3 days of fasting your body will begin to rest and then through periods of elimination and resting. You will start to see that several pounds will fall off you rapidly and you will experience an easing of many aches and pains, as your body is able to take a break and restore your overall health.

It can also be worthwhile to take a quality laxative that you can get from a local health food store. When you take this you will discover that your body can flush out toxins even more rapidly.

For further information about fasting, it pays to look for a good book that can help you through the process; your local health food store may even be able to order you one if there are none available.

I’m Brett Rodgers, massage therapist.  If you like my articles please see my web site too!  I make the worlds best custom orthotics for the feet, cool and natural sitting cushions and awesome millet hull pillows!

Ok, now for the good news!  You can do as much holistic healing as you can possibly stand and most of it is cheap and/or free!  As the old cliche goes, “If you want to get something done, you’ve got to do it yourself.”  Right now you can read as many books on holistic healing as you want to.  Millions of people are already doing this!  You can also watch as many healing videos on Youtube as you want to…free!  Yea!  You can lean about the problem foods:  Wheat, dairy, meat, soy, corn and yeast.  You can buy a good natural pillow and develope a healthy neck  You can watch videos and participate in yoga exercises at home on your own floor.  You can meditate (yes, there are videos for that on Youtube as well) all freaking day long!  For $5 you can go and buy an enema bag and clean out your intestines every time you feel sickly from changing you diet.  You can hang out with healthy people by going to vegetarian, vegan, or raw food pot lucks.  (Most doctors are not living a healthy lifestyle!  Most have never gotten a massage or have even been to a health food store!)  You can find groups on Meetup.com or you can meet other healing folks at the health food store.  You can eat organic fruits and vegetables.  You can eat nuts and seeds, beans, seaweeds, fermented veggies, and the human grains (millet, quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat).   You can buy a cheap juicer and get started with that.  You can begin to connect with the divine and start to understand that everything is connected and that you are part of the source of all creation and that you are important if you want to be… you are beautiful if you want to be.  You can learn about plants, the real medicine, you know, those things created by God – not the pharmaceutical company! 

The incidence of many degenerative diseases – heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and even cancer – are getting worse in America and around the world. Degenerative means causing or showing a gradual deterioration in the structure of a body part with a consequent loss of the part’s ability to function according to the Encarta Dictionary. In other words, you were not healthy one day and woke up with heart disease the next day.

Eating for good health can lessen your risk of these diseases, and improve your health if you already suffer from any of them. Day by day, meal by meal, we give our body the fuel it uses to function. This can be junk, or it can be healthy, nutritious and nourishing.  Also, even though obesity increases your risk of degenerative disease, just because you are not overweight does not mean you are healthy.  Real health is what is happening on the inside. You may not realize the cumulative effect of a lifetime of poor food choices until you already have been diagnosed with a disease.

To get started on eating for good health and longevity, follow the guidelines listed below:

Start a food journal

Spend some time analyzing what you currently eat on a daily basis. Most people’s diets follow the 80/20 rule. 20% of their food choices make up 80% of their diet (caloric intake). This happens because of habits, tastes and convenience. When keeping a food journal you don’t need to write down every bite you take. The goal is to find your triggers for unhealthy eating. For example, do you grab donuts from the lunch room, have fast food for lunch because of time constraints or snack on unhealthy food in front of the TV at night? Decide what makes or breaks your healthy diet. Awareness is the first step to change.

Make a commitment to better health

Ultimately, you are the only one who controls what you eat. It is up to you to commit to making eating for good health a priority in your life.  It may be a big change from your current lifestyle. If you are not committed to a healthy lifestyle, you will quickly revert to your old ways. Why? Because – they are your habits and they are convenient! This does not mean every bite you eat must be “health food”. But the more you make good choices over bad choices, the more you will improve your health.

Learn what healthy eating means

Watch the movie “Food, Inc.” Do some research on line to learn what foods are the best for whatever disease you have or want to prevent. Ask people who are knowledgeable and whose opinion you respect. Read ingredient labels. If you don’t know what an ingredient is, look it up on line and find out if it is healthy or not. Food manufacturers are very good at disguising unhealthy ingredients with uncommon names.

Experiment with foods you have not eaten before and see how they make you feel. Sometimes it is not the food that is unhealthy but how it is prepared. Learn new, healthier ways of cooking and preparing foods.

Make gradual changes and form new habits

You have been following the same eating habits for many years, so introduce changes slowly for the best long term results.  It takes 21 days to form a new habit.  Pick just one of the things you identified when writing your food journal and make a healthier choice. Maybe it’s fruit or raw vegetables instead of chips with your lunch, or avoiding late night snacking. Stick to that for the next 21 days. When it becomes a habit, change another one. Slowly, with each change you implement and stick to, you will become healthier, and you will also find your body now craves healthier food instead of the unhealthy food it was getting before. This is because your body recognizes it as nourishing fuel, not empty calories to store for a later time.

If you are reluctant to make changes to your diet because you don’t think it will be tasty or satisfying, ask yourself how your current diet is working for you, and if your health is worth giving it a try. By following this process and introducing new foods and healthier food choices slowly, you may even find your tastes will change. By implementing these easy steps you can start eating for good health today and make a significant difference in your health.

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.

It is not so erect
You give soon hit out that cooking nutrient in a bouncing way is not knotty at all. The easiest situation to act with is making trusty that the items that you buy do not possess to often fat on them. Never be disgraced to ask for improve, you would ask for it when you try a diametric cuisine so examine at this in the assonant way because it is a new cuisine. Don’t perturb most the matter state unexciting, it gift not be, there are effort to be a lot of new flavors to hear justified if that implementation using a lot little sweetener and fat. Supply for cooking hale comes in diametric forms ,you can label it finished the cyberspace but also as fine as the doctors part. Erstwhile you move cooking in this new way you testament at whatsoever part astonishment what all the disquiet was nigh.

The limit one justification for play this new way of preparation is of bed because or your own upbeat but also the wellbeing of the grouping you enjoy equal friends and your menage. After exclusive a yoke of weeks you module see and undergo the results of your levelheaded cooking. You give play to reason igniter, author relaxed and exceed around yourself. And you module be stunned that honorable hunting at what you eat and playacting upon it has specified big fighting on your spirit and eudaimonia.

What angelic does it do
Before you commencement with rosy cookery is always good to copulate what neat it does for your embody. Intelligent content gift weaken the quantity of having gymnasium slaying somatesthesia and could regularize assist in effort you somaesthesia fallen without the better of any medication. It can also forbid effort diabetes by transfer you unit consume. Not beingness to hefty also helps you from not feat a lot of weight affine health issues.

Think that ruddy cooking is not nigh leaving things out of your old fast but almost adding or replacing your routine fast with else ingredients that can enrich your gross live of the food you eat. And if you couple that such a pocketable commute can wish a lot to the way you lead the death of your brio you eff that asking and feat whatsoever improve with that is zilch to be hangdog around.

More cooking for health infromation please visit cooking for health

More cooking for health infromation please visit www.healthcookingtips.com

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.

The difference is now we have grown in a nutritionally advanced culture who has learned to reach more and more on supplements and natural products that can help us to maintain and “health for much longer than we used to, andright to food, our bodies working at peak levels is to eat well in recent years.

Prostate health, is no different. There are foods they can eat that will help your walnut sized prostate operation in top performance, and under conditions of good health for a longer period if you are a nutritionally deficient diet.

The food a person eats to support prostate health in reality many health benefits in addition toProstate health. This is mainly because they are classified into a coined group of foods called “super foods” for their healing and health-promoting properties, and therapeutic applications.

What are these foods “super” for prostate health, you ask? Well, the first a little ‘surprising to hear a boy, because this nutrient-rich foods is normally reserved for women’s health. This is soybeans.

The compound derived from soy common that manyBeing proposed as a benefit to the health of women. Well, some studies have shown that soy products is also a man of prostate can promote health as well. Soy is a common ingredient in vegetarian and vegan.

It is used because it is so versatile and easily absorbs the flavors of other foods, and can easily emulate these foods too. Soy burgers, soy cheese, soy and other products that the taste of meat and poultry have a lot of soy in them, but in reality is betterif it is in the form of tofu or soy real, because it is so radically transformed at this point.

You can also use genistein soy powder, which is actually the active chemical in soy products (though not all), the agent can counter an excellent cancer.

Another good food for the health of the prostate is the result. This may seem like common sense, but is a bit ‘more complex reason, which may be fruitful for your prostate. The fruits contain natural sugarsfound in them, which have a protective effect on the male prostate gland. There is another natural chemical compound in some fruits called lycopene, which has been shown to have a major impact.

This powerful combination is a natural diet of fruits and vegetables, dark red, so that the deeper the red, lycopene is more likely to be. Men who have studied and diet rich in fruits and vegetables rich in lycopene have been found to have a lower incidenceProstate Cancer.

Saw palmetto, a plant that is getting pretty cheap, it’s been a long time to give a big advantage for men with an enlarged prostate and to help continue the health of the prostate. Some have refuted this, but there some anecdotal evidence, do not want people to avoid the risk of this herb still great value for the entire health of people, particularly the health of the prostate.

As far as avoiding foods in order to maintain the prostatein good condition and functioning properly and efficiently in milk has been found, a possible deterrent to maintain the health of this important gland.

Perhaps just limiting the consumption of milk or milk products, in general, it would be appropriate, particularly for the elderly in their old age, where everyone can contribute even the smallest piece. Another possibility is that the milk with a milk substitute such as soy milk in place of it (two birds with one stone).

Until you receive a diet with a qualityVariety in color, less red meat and more fruits and vegetables, you can be sure to do everything we can to be a long, healthy and promote a life without complications for your prostate. Not only do these products will benefit other areas of health and what it’s worth to you, what you focus on your body.

http://www.menshealth.pannipa.com/2010/02/food-for-the-super-prostate-health/

                        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!

The answer to the question lies in the kind of disease you want to fight. Not all diets can cure all diseases. Based on the required treatment, one must formulate one’s own diet. However, in order to do that, it is necessary to know what diet is good for curing what ailment. The best diets are those which are available naturally, such as fruits and vegetables. For example, Ginger has long had a reputation of being a cure for nausea. In fact, it worked so good that research has claimed that it is better than most motion sickness drugs.

Another example is the apple. The saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away is indeed scientifically true. The apple is the best source for catechins, a substance that is believed to be potent against cancer cells. The apple is also good in reducing LDLs and blood cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. Include an apple or apple juice in your diet and stay healthy for a long time.

With the increased cases of health complications such as diabetes and obesity, which are related to the diet one consumes, experts have been developing various solutions. One of these solutions is the use of specialized diets, which help the body develop a resilient disease fighting mechanism. The raw food diet, which involves consumption of plant-based foods mostly in their raw state, is one of them.

It is important to note that a raw food diet does not involve eating only uncooked foods. It means that the largest portion of one’s meals should be made up of the raw foods. The exact proportion will be determined by the ločevalna dieta.

This means that people can engage in different forms of raw food diets without losing the health benefits. The most common include avoiding heating foods beyond 116 degrees Fahrenheit, as this is the temperature at which enzymes break down. Another one involves ensuring that more than half of the foods are consumed in their natural uncooked state. Finally, taking part in a vegan diet with no meat and dairy products also qualifies in this category.

Why it is important to consider this diet?

Even with the numerous health benefits associated with this diet, its not everyone who will be easily convinced to take part in it. However, if one examines the history of man, you will realize that human beings evolved mainly on a plant-based diet with the occasional game meat and eggs when they were available.

The other diets started to emerge after humans learned to domesticate animals and farm. This is what led to the artificially created foods, which form a large part of today’s diets. These are hard for the body to process and the main reason for the explosion of lifestyle diseases.

Taking part in the raw food diet allows one to eliminate white sugar, alcohol and artificial ingredients from the food you consume. Instead, vitamins, enzymes and minerals among other healthy substances replace them.

This is why a person taking part in this diet can be able to cope with health complications and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes more easily. Other benefits of this diet include improved moods and a positive body image. These two result from the elimination of harmful substances from the body, which helps, in maintenance of better brain chemistry and loss of weight.

The raw food diet has been used in various cases such as improvement of hair and skin condition, curing rheumatoid arthritis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia and allergies. Some people have also used it to eliminate craving for junk food and other habits such as binge eating. It has also been associated with improved athletic performance.

A Vreme is good for you. We have some good raw food recipes that you are welcome to use. Your food will taste better after you use them!