The Top Detox Foods That Support Healthy Skin

The body is continuously working to stay in an alkaline state and the body’s acid-alkaline balance adjusts throughout the day depending on the types of foods you consume. In today’s fast paced society, we consume high amounts of refined foods that contain sugar, cow’s milk products, excess salt, alcohol, wheat as well as meats that contain high amounts of saturated fat. Over time these foods can cause increased inflammation in the body and can wreak havoc on the skin causing acne, psoriasis and eczema. Adding in detoxifying foods will not only keep your body in an alkaline state, but depending on which detox foods you include in your diet, will help to eliminate toxins that have accumulated over time.

Adding the following foods to your diet, will allow your body to detox naturally:

• Apple contains pectin which helps to excrete heavy metals and is cleansing for the liver and the kidneys.
• Artichoke increases bile production and purifies and protects the liver and has a diuretic effect on the kidneys.
• Asparagus is a great diuretic that helps to support and maintain restorative properties that promote good bacteria in the intestines.
• Cruciferous Vegetables (Broccoli, Sprouts, Cabbage and Cauliflower) increase levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that supports the liver in releasing toxins.
• Fennel has strong diuretic properties that help eliminate fats from the body.
• Garlic known as nature’s pharmacy has powerful antioxidants properties that convert to sulphur based compounds which bind to mercury as well as food additives. It also activates liver enzymes that help to filter out refined foods.
• Ginger for some, is known as a panacea that relieves bloating and nausea, but also helps to stimulate digestive enzymes which supports healthy digestion.
• Lemon stimulates the release of enzymes and helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that’s easily excreted from the body. Read more »

Ayurveda: Using Timeless Wisdom to Restore Balance To Your Life (Part II) – Vata Dosha

- By Patrizia

Brrrr….the weather here on the East Coast has suddenly turned cold, dry, and very, very windy.
With an early winter at the doorstep, there’s no better time than now to introduce the first Ayurvedic Metabolic type (or constitutional type), also known as Vata Dosha.

If you had the chance to read my first newsletter a couple of weeks ago and to take the Ayurevedic test (shown through the web link), you may now have an idea of your own dosha/s or ayurvedic type. Many of you will probably find that you are bi-doshic, meaning you have two of the constitutional types close to each other (i.e. Vata/Pitta, Kapha/Vata etc).

By the way, if this is all new to you, that’s ok. The information is just meant to be an introduction to what Ayurveda can do to help you in your life; maybe it will inspire you to know more by reading appropriate books on the subject. If you have not taken the test yet, go back to the last newsletter that talks about Ayurveda and, please, take the time to do the test. It’ll make things much easier if you’re going to read this and my next newsletter on this subject.

Now, VATA (which is often translated as: “that which moves“) is usually the first dosha studied in Ayurveda. The Vata dosha is a combination of Space and Air Elements, and therefore, expresses all the qualities of these. You don’t need to have a PhD in anything to close your eyes and imagine the qualities of Space and Air… but I’ll mention a few of the qualities or sensations you may expect to imagine: light, delicate, dry, fast moving, variable, irregular, sensitive, unstable, free… We’ll now expand more on these concepts and apply them to the body, the mind, the seasons, and the age in which we live.

Fall and Early Winter are considered part of the Vata season in which Space and Air are predominantly active. If you live in a four-season geographical climate, this will be even more obvious to you. The weather turns chilly, wind starts blowing in all directions, and the skies are grey. This can be a tough time for Vata predominant individuals, because they tend to go out of balance with the increase of these elements. If there is a little “rule” in Ayurveda, it is that of “The opposite cures”. But let’s explore further.

As we think of Nature’s seasonal changes, we must not forget our seasons of life. Vata covers the last period of our lives, which is on average from 60 years old and onward. If we want to use Ayurveda to optimize our diet, we must first consider looking into our lives with honesty and recognize our strengths and weaknesses, wherever they show up…whether they are reflected more in our physical health, emotional health, etc. Vata-dominant people have an antelope-like body. They tend to be very irregular in their habits (sleeping, eating, exercising, etc.), and they go out of balance very quickly. Since Vatas tend towards sensitivity, they need to be more respectful of their lifestyle and pay more attention to routines. In fact, if there is one phrase that goes well with Vata individuals, it is: FIND THE RYTHM.

Vatas tend to have poor digestion and generally suffer from constipation. Due to their easily provoked-by-stress natures, they tend to lose weight very quickly (and it can be challenging for them to gain it back). They are the ones who tend to yo-yo more than others. If you find yourself daydreaming, trying to connect to a million friends at a time, involving yourself in a thousand different activities without bringing one to its conclusion, or if you are constantly attracted by a spiritually oriented diet that does not respect your body’s needs…well then, welcome!! You are probably 99% a Vata type.

A lot of modern diseases tend to be related to the Vata dosha (and, remember its elements??), especially when it comes to getting older. Therefore, there is a thinning of the bones, loss of hearing , tremors, loss of muscle tone, digestive upsets, more sensitivities to loud noises, and more serious conditions like Alzheimers, Parkisons, etc. The first rule for Vata is, again, FIND THE RYTHM and strengthen the digestive fire (called “Agni” in sanskrit).

You must start listening to your needs more; find the time to reconnect with your own Self and respect the rhythm of nature, of the day… By the way, the Vata times of the day (in which Vata dosha is more sensitive) are: 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Start with regular mealtimes. For most Vatas, three main meals are recommended with a couple of snacks in the middle. Good, fresh, warm foods help Vata individuals ground themselves and stimulates the digestive fire.

If you are following a completely raw food diet and you want to find more balance (since cold, raw foods tend to throw off Vata individuals very quickly), you must at least warm up your meals to 118 F (really, if you want to be that strict), never eat foods out of the fridge (way too cold for Vata’s delicate digestion), and use good condiments with a heavier quality to them – Vata types do need more fatty foods than the other body types (because these foods have the grounding qualities that most raw foods miss).

One teacher expressed this in a clear, simple way: warm, moist, and heavier foods with sweet, sour, or salty tastes will nourish tissues, emotions, and overall bodyweight. Foods that are extremely bitter, astringent, or pungent in nature should be avoided. Use spices to give a warm quality to your meals: garlic, cumin, fennel, ajwan seeds, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves etc. will support a stable digestion. If you find yourself nervous, anxious and maybe craving coffee or tobacco, see if you can pacify those urges with some of these aromathic oils (or a combination of them): neroli, lemon, jasmine, sandalwood and vanilla. Make sure to give yourself a massage every day with a warming oil like sesame or avocado, jojoba, etc. (you can/should actually gently warm the oil). Touch is very, very important for Vata types and lubricates the skin as well as stiff joints. In addition to the oils, you may also prefer warming, calming colors: gold, orange, indigo, blue…

Exercise gently, maybe choosing a slow vinyasa (flow) yoga, tai-chi, swimming, or frequent walks in nature… Pay attention to your breath. Balanced breathing leads to a steadier mind and a more balanced life.

Daily and seasonal routines are a must in Ayurveda. Learning to pay attention to the subtle changes before your health is compromised is a way to pay respect to yourself and to Mother Nature. No matter where you live on the Planet, no matter what people think you should look like, start living in a way that actually nourishes your health and joy…your body and mind will inevitably follow to create the balance you’ve always strived for and which is your birthright.

To a Joyful Health,

Patrizia

P.S. To find out more about the specific foods appropriate for the Vata constitution (and/or any other Ayurvedic type) you can Google or explore books like: Ayurveda- A Life of Balance by Maya Tiwari or Ayurveda: The science of Self Healing by Dr. Vasant Lad. These are just two examples.

Busting the Christmas Cravings!

Looking at the greens in your fridge and not sure you’re up for a full-throttle garden glory, but not wanting to resort to cooked food either?  Kate has your solution!

- by Kate N.

You know those days when you wake up craving something sweet and decadent? Well, that happened to me this morning. Work has been so insanely busy over the last two days, I’d gotten home too late to get to the shops to stock up on yummy fruits and veggies. I wandered into the kitchen this morning to be greeted by a mountain of chocolate cookies and cakes my sister had brought over the night before. All that remained in ‘my’ corner of the kitchen was one solitary avocado…Was I tempted by the cooked food? No! Thanks to the lessons I’ve learned on my BES journey, I rolled up my sleeves and got creative.

Here’s what I made:

Chocolate Heaven Smoothie

1 avocado
handful of mint leaves
some frozen cherries
nut mylk  (small amount for a thick ‘dessert’ type smoothie, more for a liquid one)
raw cacao powder (about 2 heaped tsp or to taste)
1-2 Tbsp Agave or 1 tsp raw honey

Blend and enjoy!

The avocado provides a good dose of lutein, which helps to maintain healthy eyesight. It’s also rich in potassium, vitamins B, E, and K and a good source of monounsaturated fat (giving the smoothie a wonderful creamy texture).

Cherries are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, and folate; one study (by the University of Michigan), suggests that they are good for fat loss, particularly belly-fat.

The mint aids digestion, while the cacao offers an abundance of health-giving nutrients – antioxidants, flavonoids, catechins and above all, the wonderful mood-enhancing theobromine, making you feel all loved up and happy!

P.S. – If the sight of shortbread and cookies is still making you vibrate, then you may need some heavy duty craving cullers.  Right now, you can take advantage of The Raw Divas Cravings and Emotional Eating Program for a third of the regular price!

Mirror Mirror On The Wall Who Is The Fairest Of Them All?

Almost all of us have a distorted image of our body, often due to the importance our culture places on outward appearance and the onslaught of media images of airbrushed models and celebrities. On a daily basis, we talk to ourselves in ways we would never speak to another. Imagine speaking to a child the way you speak to yourself about your body. It would devastate and squelch a child. It affects you similarly, causing stress and emotional pain in your body, which can make improving your health or losing weight even more difficult.

Think of all the intelligence, creativity and time you spend on improving, altering and judging your appearance. Who would you be and what could you accomplish if your valuable resources weren’t used this way? Constant emphasis on the external makes us discount the great presence and intelligence that is housed by the body. It makes us forget the magic of our internal rhythms and fail to acknowledge the beautiful bodies we have.

The body you have right now is incredible! It never misses a heartbeat, it maintains homeostasis and it miraculously digests whatever you put in it. It is your instrument for expressing your creativity, intelligence and love. By focusing on the 1% you don’t like or wish were different, you may be ignoring the remaining 99% about your body that is beautiful, unique and delightful.

What would your life be like if you were simply at peace with the body you have? You may wish to make your body healthier and stronger, but could you do that out of love and respect for your body instead of the opposite? Could you begin to treat yourself with kindness, to limit the negative self-talk and to reconnect with your inner wisdom?

Take a minute to imagine what that would feel like. It would mean celebrating your body rather than punishing it. It would mean nourishing your body rather than depriving it. It would mean a chance to watch your body flourish when treated with care and respect.

Tracy Neely, a board-certified holistic health counselor and licensed esthetician is founder and owner of Nourish & Flourish Healthy Living, a holistic nutrition and wellness consulting practice located in Orlando Florida. Tracy has a passion for nutrition and skin care and wants to support women who want to get in the best shape of their lives and feel beautiful at any age. Tracy is a mother of a wonderful little boy and a wife to an amazing man and enjoys doing yoga, juicing and creating green smoothie recipes, reading books and going for walks with her family.

Moments in Thyme . . . Going Green?

By Joyce Wiatroski

Have you stopped to think of the significant impact we raw foodies make on the protection of the environment?

Buying organic means we’re voting with our dollars to eliminate pesticides and chemical fertilizers, not only from our bodies, but from seeping into the earth and on into our ground water.

Everywhere we look these days someone or something is hyping green.

That green refers to the environment. The green of green smoothies, green juices and green salads certainly affects the environment, too, in a very positive way.

Think about it!

The bunches of dark leafy greens we buy don’t come packaged in cardboard, Styrofoam or fancy plastic packaging. With very little exception, we use (eat) all we buy. A head of romaine or a bunch of kale, for instance, has no bones, fat or gristle to toss out. We don’t have to unwrap cellophane outer covering, pull it out of cardboard boxes or remove tin lids to get to it.

The remains from the items we must peel and pit are perfect candidates for the compost pile, eliminating smelly garbage pails and keeping down the total amount of weekly trash, helping to reduce the burden on landfills.

When you stop to think about it, eating green does much more than keep us slim and improve our health. Each meal replaced with living foods, preferably organic, makes a bold statement that will have a long lasting, far-reaching ripple effect.

Let’s all move into 2010 making consistent green decisions as we continue to manifest —

Like fine wine, women grow better with time.

Joyce Wiatroski is the wit and wisdom found on the foodiefumblings blog.