Maui Guac

It's getting to be that time of year...some island summer salsa for you:

4 avocados

Juice of 1/2 to 1 whole lemon

2 cloves minced garlic

1/2 cup whole Greek yogurt

3/4 cup finely chopped pineapple

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp curry

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp chili powder

Mix it up in a bowl and eat it fresh!

XO,

E

Gut Instinct

When observing the health of our bodies, it is important to consider the greater, external factors that play a major contribution.  In school I learned to call these things ‘primary food,’ which include interpersonal relationships, overall satisfaction with career, and spirituality.  It is a common misunderstanding to believe that the food you eat and exercise are primary elements of physical health; did you know that emotional health is perhaps more influential than the actual contents of consumption in your body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients?  The cells in our body respond to our mental process in very direct and powerful ways.

70% of the immune system resides within the digestive tract and stress is an underlying cause of 80%+ of all illness.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there’s no denying that you are what you eat.  Your thoughts, attitudes, and overall happiness are products of the how you choose to nourish your body.  Scientific evidence shows that emotions such as anger and aggression speed up the digestive process, while sadness and fear slow it down.  Negative emotions contribute to malabsorption of nutrients as well.  A lot of times people struggle with weight loss even when they are following strict diet and exercise routines.  This is usually because they are holding on to an experience of the past that is preventing them from moving forward, and out of fear and stress, the body does not respond the way we expect it to.   

There are a handful of areas in the world known as Blue Zones, all tropical, and all home to the world’s longest-living populations (Okinawa, Japan and Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula to name a few).  These areas are generally inhabited by small communities of manual laborers, who spend a lot of time outdoors, on their feet, and in close contact with family and friends.  They eat fresh, local, and seasonal foods, drink mineral rich water (which comes from its close proximity to the ocean), share religious beliefs, and participate in tradition.  It is believed that the health and longevity of these populations are achieved through lifestyle and relationships.  The people for the most part are happy and relaxed, and we should let it be an example to our own health as a population.


XO,
E

Hey Boys (wink)

This article just about covers it...yoga girls rock!

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/08/dating-a-yoga-goddess/

XO,

E

Food Allergies

From Nourishing Traditions:

"A...cause of food allergies is the present-day tendency to eat exclusively foods from just a few types or families.  Of the 4,000 or so edible plant species that have fed human societies at one time or another in the past, only 150 are widely cultivated today and just three of them provide 60 percent of the world's food.  Today our choice of foods is limited to about thirty species, and for many the choice is even more restricted.  It is not unusual for some children to eat nothing but pizza, hot dogs and peanut butter sandwiches, or for those following the macrobiotic diet to consume mostly rice and soybean products with a few vegetables.  Such diets will not only be deficient in many nutrients, but the constant call for enzymes needed to digest those particular foods can lead to exhaustion of that specific digestive mechanism.  The exclusive use of just a few foods can lead to sever food addiction—every bit as harmful and as difficult to break as addictions to drugs or alcohol.  These food addictions, with their concomitant allergic reactions, nurture the biochemical disruptions that lead to more serious degenerative diseases."

Copyright Sally Fallon 2001

A simple solution: remove a substantial amount of common allergens such as foods containing white flour and white sugar, and DIVERSIFY...more green foods, more whole foods!


XO,
E

 

You Say Goodbye/I Say Hello

Say goodbye to:

• Excuses.  The only person you're lying to is yourself.
• Quitting/giving up/settling/incompletion
• Fake food, i.e., anything that lists ingredients you cannot pronounce
• A sedentary lifestyle
• Friends who you have to ask for moral support.  True friends are already giving it.
• Trash talking.  Repeating it, creating it, believing it, listening to it...so tacky
• Spending money you don't have (we're all guilty of this one)
• More of the same—boring!
• The Peter Pan days...I don't know about you, but I'm only getting better with age
• Small talk.  Be real, go for the gold
• Holding grudges
• Smoking, forever.  On top of the infinite health problems, it's the #1 aging culprit.
• People who are afraid of commitment; major red flag for immaturity, and that's lame.

Say hello to:

• Owning your behavior.
• More literature
• More green food
• Knowing what a catch you are.
• Organic animal products (for too many reasons to list in this list)
• Being too good for (fill in the blank)...it's okay to want the absolute best
• Finishing what you started
• Realistic goal-setting
• Apologizing...your pride is not more important than your relationships
• Saying your prayers.  Someone up there is listening.
• A new type of exercise...it's exhilarating! 
• Accepting your faults and imperfections; you'll be so much happier this way.
• Commitment—a plant, a dog, a project, a significant other—because life will be so much richer and more rewarding

Carpe diem!

XO,

E

Got The Blues?

It is important to address that depression is a mental illness that requires proper attention and treatment, and is often a hereditary disease.  At the same time, the root cause of depression is chemical imbalance in the brain, and any internal chemical imbalance is the result of inadequate nutrition, as vitamins and minerals are responsible for proper bodily function and regulation.  Your brain regulates your mood, and the food that you eat causes it to either run smoothly or break down.  While cases of depression vary in degrees of severity, small dietary adjustments can rule out symptoms of depression over time, and may even serve as a cure.

A handful of essential minerals and nutrients are necessary for mood regulation: folate, iron, selenium, and omega-3s.  Folate, a member of the vitamin B family, is abundant in lentils, orange juice, spinach, asparagus, avocados, and fresh fruits and vegetables in general.  Studies show that victims of depression often have low levels of folate, and it is recommended to consume 400 micrograms (mcg) per day. 

Iron, commonly deficient in women, is another necessary component of a healthy mood.  Vitamin C helps significantly with the absorption of iron in the body, and leafy greens, red meat, and legumes are all foods rich in iron content. 

Selenium is a vital mineral that has been somewhat overlooked until more recently.  In adequate amounts, it makes you feel more alert, less anxious, and more cheerful and confident overall.  It also doubles as an antioxidant, protecting against cancer, cataracts, heart problems, and arthritis.  The most powerful source of selenium is beef; also found in seafood, poultry, mushrooms, sea vegetables, and whole wheat.  However, beware of over-consuming selenium, as too much can have toxic effects.  No more than 400 to 450 mcg per day is recommended, and avoid taking supplements for selenium. 

Lastly, but certainly not least, be sure to get a fair share of omega-3s in your diet.  This fatty acid is absolutely crucial for proper brain function, as stated by Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D., “Your brain is composed primarily of fat, including the neurons, the cells that transmit electrical messages; if you don’t eat enough of the right types of fats, you are depriving your brain of a critical nutrient and risk falling prey to depression and other mental disorders.”  Most Americans consume too much omega-6 fatty acids and not enough omega-3s; a precise balance of the two is necessary.  Fish, flaxseed, walnuts, and leafy greens are all great sources of omega-3s.

Just as much as vital nutrients are needed for healthy mood regulation, lifestyle plays a critical role as well.  Do not discount the importance of exercise; it triggers the release of mood-boosting hormones, as well as reduces anxiety, anger, and other negative emotions.  Exercise also drastically improves the quality of your sleep, as insomnia is both a symptom and cause of depression.  Studies show that exercising regularly may be as effective as antidepressants in some cases.

In the bigger picture, shouldn’t happiness be the goal?  There are so many things that contribute to or take away from your personal wellbeing; think about your life on a day to day basis.  There are certain consistencies that keep you grounded and stable—physical activity, meditation/alone time, time spent with loved ones, rest, nourishing food, creative and artistic hobbies, working to serve your higher purpose, doing nice things for others.  Conversely, there are parts of everyone’s life that remove us from a state of presence and contentment—partying, drugs, materialism, excess, drama.  Although sometimes these things may provide us with a temporary (albeit false) sense of happiness, such inconsistencies are unsustainable ways of being and ultimately remove us from reality.  Baron Baptiste says, “For many of us our lives are so filled with intensity that we often miss out on the quiet that affords us a kind of full presence.  Much of our lives may have been lived on a roller coaster of drama and crisis.  It may have felt awful, but it was certainly never dull.  As we get healthier, life can begin to feel a bit normal without all the drama to liven things up…we soon see that the simple days, in fact, add up to a very rich life.”  Stay grounded, stay happy.

Share the love :)

XO,

E

Sexy Spoonfuls

Pardon my lack of posts recently, but WOW, a lot has happened in the last week.  I’ve experienced—on separate accounts—tragedy, heartache, and entered into the upper half of my twenties, so there has been a lot of emotional voltage to say the least.  I also completed a fruit fast, which inevitably affected my sensibilities.  In this past week I’ve cycled through endless thought processes regarding death, love, uncertainty, the grace of God, heartbreak, resilience, and the value of life; I’ve only just now been able to catch my breath, and I must say, the cosmos must be up to something.  At the end of the day, it’s all a matter of perspective, and I am infinitely grateful for my life on this earth.  Thank you all for the incredible moral support!

On a lighter note, in respect to Valentine’s Day (which for me is really just the day after my birthday involving more chocolate, flowers and wine), I find it only appropriate to talk about aphrodisiacs…and who doesn’t love that?!  The following foods increase serotonin production, boost libido, stimulate blood flow in both male and female genitalia to enhance orgasms, release dopamine in the pleasure centers of the brain, and overall, set the mood for sexy time.  Some of the following might seem slightly strange in the name of amoré, but never underestimate the power of vital nutrients in working a little magic in the bod.  Eat up for added passion, romance, and sensuality…yum!

Oysters-high zinc content, increase sperm production

Cacao (aka chocolate)-contains anandamide, the psychoactive feel-good chemical, and PEA, the “love” chemical

Asparagus-vitamin and mineral content boosts histamine production necessary to reach orgasm

Avocados-named after an Aztec term meaning “testicle tree”…the history speaks for itself

Bananas-rich in chelating minerals and the bromeliad enzyme, which amps up libido

Basil-its strong aroma is said to rouse sensuality…no wonder Italians are so romantic!

Figs-a known arousing stimulant

Garlic-powerful source of allicin, which stimulates male libido


Happy V-Day!


XO,
E