Summer's Bounty to Prevent and Cure Cancer and Diabetes

What a delicious summer this has been.  Organic fruits and vegetables are always welcome and tasty especially after the harsh winter we had this year in the Northeast.

I don't know why, but the organic fresh fruits and vegetables have more flavor this summer than I can ever remember.  What a treat.

Here are 6 ways to enjoy them.

1.  Step up your regular organic tossed salad with any or all of the below.  Switch them around for variety:

Fresh greens and lettuces from the farmers market, food stands and your own garden.

Add heirloom tomatoes, celery, fresh sprouts, scallions, and avocados

Add blueberries, peaches, raspberries, black berries, kiwi, pineapple  in any combination with the greens.

2.  Lightly brush and grill red, orange and purple peppers, asparagus, zucchini and yellow squash or your favorite vegetables with a favorite high heat flavored oil (hemp seed, grapeseed or coconut). And, Lightly brush and grill sliced sweet potatoes, golden beets, peaches and or pineapple (pineapple not likely found at the food stand or market).

3. Use lettuce, collard and chard for burritos. Fill with your favorite vegetables, nuts and seeds mixture or vegetable seeds and meat or fish mixture with seasoning.

4.  My favorite pick me up, and for hydration, is my morning green juice first thing in the morning usually from the base of cucumbers, celery, greens and fruits.  I use the left over pulp to make vegetable quinoa burgers.

5.  A greens and fruit smoothie an hour or so after the green juice is a great way to keep you satiated until lunch, and as an afternoon snack due to all of the fiber.  These are especially delicious with the luscious increase of flavor of the fresh summer fruits and vegetables.

6.  Delectable desserts made with the fresh fruits and herbs.  The imagination is endless here. Tarts, pies, bars, parfaits fruit salad,  ice cream, ices and more.

The markets and farm stands are so welcoming with all of their fresh bounty.  What a delight when your plate and table become the same.

The more rainbows of colors you eat ,that are more readily available during summer give your body a boost, a boost of energy, and a boost of immune support.  Some help to lower blood sugar levels and most are filled with antioxidants to keep oxidative damage and cancer at bay, plus so much more.  I've always been fascinated and loved rainbows.  This is another type of rainbow that fascinates me,  and possibly you too.

The more Organic fresh vegetables and fruits you eat during the summer sets you up for improved health as you obtain all of the vital nutrients your body requires, the vitamins and minerals not found in high quantities in the non-organic varieties while also giving more support to your local organic farmers.
Check the Environmental Working Groups Dirty and Clean list of non-organic fruits and vegetables to help you choose some from the list of clean if your budget requires cutting back on your food costs.

Some of my favorite organic summer fruits and vegetables are
heirloom tomatoes, fresh herbs, kale, rainbow chard, cucumbers, corn, fresh peas, spinach (though spinach is now finished until August) blueberries raspberries, strawberries, dark cherries and peaches and some hydrating watermelon.

I would love to hear about all of your favorites and any short recipe ideas that you have too.  I'm looking forward to reading your shares in the comments below

In health and joy,

Barbara

Barbara S. Greenhouse
I help ill career moms overcome degenerative diseases
specifically diabetes and cancer

Certified Health Coach

Member, International Association for Health Coaches

Member, American Association of Drugless Practitioners

Refresh Your Life Now
Bethel, CT 06801, 203 216 6889

www.BarbaraGreenhouse.com

RefreshYourLifeNow@gmail.com
http://RefreshYourLifeNow.blogspot.com
Like us on Facebook, facebook.com/refreshyourlifenow
Follow us on Twitter, @bgsuperfoods

Barbara Greenhouse shares her passions of Food, "Cooking", Cruelty-Free, Ahimsa, the Nutrition and Health Connection, and the Sharing of supressed Information for a healthy and informed world.  She guides her clients through their journey to live their deepest dreams, simply and holistically, with compassion and by incorporating some delicious live raw whole foods, fruits and vegetables.  She is currently authoring her first book, "Sacred You, The Delicious Journey"®  -  © copyright Refresh Your Life Now - 2013 Connecticut, USA

Why Manage Life? Live It! ®  Refresh to the Good Life! ®

This post may be reprinted on your blog, website or in your e-zine with my blessing as long as you include the following in tact:  

Barbara Greenhouse shares her passions of  Food, "Cooking", Cruelty-Free, Ahimsa, the Nutrition Health Connection and the Sharing of supressed Information for a healthy and informed world.  She teaches, guides and supports her clients along their journey to achieve their goals one step at a time, to live their dreams simply, holistically and with compassion.  

By recommending some delicious live raw whole foods vegetables and fruit, their progress to a healthier and happier life begins with reduced stress, less pain, weight loss, optimal health.  She is currently authoring her first book, "Sacred You, The Delicious Journey"®    © copyright refreshyourlifenow, - 2014 Connecticut, USA

How to Prevent and Heal Diabetes. Todays Food Supply and How Far It's Come to Promote Illness And Death

Food is best when it's delicious AND Nutritious. Any food you eat and its quality starts with the soil it's grown in or the health of the waters it’s taken from.

Meat from cows that graze on grass and clover only, instead of being fed  pellets of corn and soy, are healthier. They have more vitamins, minerals and omegas.   Why? Because the chlorophyll in the greens is abundant with omegas and magnesium, has basically the same cell structure as our hemoglobin, builds blood which carries the oxygen and  helps to eliminate toxins through the skin to name a few. What you eat is what your body gets; either benefits or issues.  Fish and seafood no longer come from the pristine waters of the past but polluted waters.

Animals that are subjected to CAFO and pellets for food are fed antibiotics, growth hormones and GMO corn and soy pellets, not what their digestive systems were designed for. They are stressed from overly cramped quarters, cruelly treated , abused,  live in gestation cribs not allowed to move, pigs boiled alive to remove their skin, grown too fast and fattened unnaturally fast to get them to market in unusually cruel circumstances, chicken beaks are cut off without novacaine and their cages are so small they can't move.  This affects the meat.

How does this relate to Diabetes, Cancer and inconvenient ailments? Modifying away from what
is natural for what the animals eat, the vegetables we eat, especially the GMO vegetables, and continuously and heavily sprayed fruits and vegetables enter your body.   These pesticides are not acceptable to the body and are treated like intruders. They cause inflammation. CAFO cows in feed lots stand in large amounts mud and feces up to a foot high. Bacteria heaven! This does not make a healthy environment.  What can enter the animal can then enter you by eating the meat.

Small amounts of aggravators add up over time and cause imbalances in your body. Growth hormones and antibiotics also enter your body through meat. You can see the affects of both in your children and yourself for both. If you were a cell or two in your body you'd feel choked, punched, pulled, stretched, burned, ...unable to function. Grouped together you feel like these descriptors, which doesn’t feel good to you.. You get the idea.  You can see the effects on children. Their bodies are maturing at a much faster rate than 20 - 30 years ago. This messes up the balance of their hormones which can upset their natural individual time and processes when they mature as teens. If your kids are diabetic and have other ailments adding these to the mix exacerbates their issues as the body sees the antibiotics and growth hormones as intruders, which agitates, aggravates and inflames.

Other issues pertain to dairy and farm subsidies.  Dairy is touted for all of the calcium and that you must have 3 good servings of dairy per day.  Well that's advertising.  You don't. Dark leafy greens have more calcium and without the fate, bacteria and pus.  Plus, too much calcium actually creates more fractures. The CDC even has data that with the increase of calcium in middle aged to the elderly as the consumption of calcium has gone up, so have hip fractures. You need the correct balance of calcium and collagen, as collagen keeps joints and bones flexible, keeps them from breaking, not calcium. As you age and eat incorrectly your body loses calcium you do need to replace it with calcium rich foods. Calcium and Vitamin D deficiencies are important factors if you are diabetic. Balance of one element is key to stay healthy as it is for all of the elements and processes in your body.

Did you know there is an allowable limit for pus in milk? And bacteria? Do you really want to ingest these into your body? "Ok, I'll have a cup pus and bacteria please." No amount should enter your body knowingly. It is doubtful these are healthy and can keep your immune system in overdrive keeping the agitation and stress a constant chronic condition, deep within your body. Stress is the number one killer.

Food subsidies create the situation of "oh my" what do we do with all the surplus milk, soy and corn we grow after CAFO cows are fed.  Push them on to an unassuming population through processed foods, and advertise them heavily.  The farm soil, unless organic through healthier practices, blows away over time creating dust bowls and barren land because it becomes nutrient devoid, as mentioned earlier, the ecosystem in the soil is chemically burnt out.

Organic farms and foods need to be subsidized if anything is to be. Organic makes for healthier animals, but what about the farmer, his family an the farm workers who work in heavily and continuously sprayed fields? Organic farms are healthier to live on and work on which equates to less stress and agitation on their bodies which means less inflammation and less lifestyle diseases or pregnancy issues.

I wrote this article to relate how the mass Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations for meat, fruits and vegetables is not healthy and how it impacts your life, especially when you have to deal with a degenerative disease like Diabetes or Cancer.  The more you eat from this less healthy "deadly" food system, the less healthy you become and the more ill you are. It may feed more people but at what cost? Cost to your health, cost to the environment, cost to our waterways from industrial and farm runoffs, cost to the farmers and farm workers.  Every dollar you spend in it, except for organic or farms that practice sustainable practices, affects your health negatively, aggravates your current diseases and aliments requiring you to manage your disease, not live your life. Food subsidies had their place in the Great Depression. They were supposed to end after it. Politics kept them going to this day pushed onto the American people by big agriculture lobbies currently, and by biased and incorrect marketing.

Even though organic is initially more costly because it is not subsidized, there are ways to find
inexpensive organic produce. Let your local representatives and Congress know that if any food is subsidized it should be healthy organic foods.  Processed foods are stripped of most if not all of their nutrients and then maybe 6 or so may be added back into the final product along with HFCS, sugars, chemical and alot of bad fats. They are then labeled fortified. Why remove the nutrients in the first place?

Think clean, eat more green and a rainbow of colors, eat organic or the cleanest foods on the EWG clean and dirty lists at EWG.org.  Think more fresh air, fresh clean water, findaspring.com, say no to pesticides, herbicides or extremely limit their use, artificial food, food dyes, MSG, chemicals, hidden sugars and bad fats, antibiotics (if a must, eat or drink a food that supplies you with healthy bacteria to keep the flora in your stomach in balance) and growth hormones especially kids, to popping a pill for every ailment, and GMO foods.  Rethink highly processed foods, transition to whole foods, fruits, grass fed meats and safe seafood. Think calm and adding movement to your life, connect with nature, take walks, dance, pick up a hoola hoop, shoot hoops, jump rope, work out, move about, mow the lawn with a manual or electric push mower, and whatever you like. Just get off your butt and move.

Oh, and smile. And make sure to have some fun

Health topics come from so many angles. What's important is that you have optimal health, are feeling great, are full of energy and don't manage your life, but live it!.  

Head on over to  www.BarbaraGreenhouse.com/contact to schedule a free health strategy consultation to chat, demystify healthy nutritious eating and discover your journey away from disease to health.

 

I would love to hear your thoughts about how you perceive food as healing. Please connect with us in the comments below.

www.BarbaraGreenhouse.com

refreshyourlifenow@gmail.com

Connect with me on:

Facebook.com/refreshyourlifenow

@bgsuperfoods

Sugar Coated Holiday Blues

What a combination, sugar and the holiday blues.  One is enough to live with.  But really, so many of us have both of them.  There is definitely a connection between them. As far as sugar blues goes, many Americans have them and have been exporting them around the world.

What are they? Please continue reading this article by clicking here: Sugar Blues.

To stress free, less sugar and memorable holidays,

In health and joy,
Barbara

Barbara Greenhouse
Refresh Your Life Now
Bethel, CT 06801, 203 216 6889

www.BarbaraGreenhouse.com

RefreshYourLifeNow@gmail.com
http://RefreshYourLifeNow.blogspot.com
Like us on Facebook, facebook.com/refreshyourlifenow
Follow us on Twitter, @bgsuperfoods

Barbara Greenhouse shares her passions of Food, "Cooking", Cruelty-Free, Ahimsa, the Nutrition and Health Connection, and the Sharing of Unbiased Information for a healthy and informed world.  She guides her clients through their journey to live their deepest dreams, simply and holistically, with compassion and by incorporating some delicious live raw whole foods.  She is currently authoring her first book, "Sacred You, The Delicious Journey"®  -  © copyright Refresh Your Life Now - 2012 Connecticut, USA

Why Manage Life? Live It! ®  Refresh to the Good Life! ®

A Convenient Life.

Convenience.  Is it good for you?

This topic came to me in a funny and an unusual way.  I locked my car keys in my car at the library.  I picked up my house keys by mistake.  The police station in my town is conveniently next door to the library so a short walk solved my problem easily.  This is a positive experience related to convenience.

However, with this experience it got me to thinking, to think about the words convenience and convenient.   How often are they a good thing in my life and in yours?

We live a convenient life.  What does this mean?  In a nut shell it boils down to saving you time.  But does it really accomplish much for you? What ends up in this saved time?

There are convenience stores, convenience foods, texting, cell phones, ipads all of which are convenient.  I'm sure you can come up with a much longer list as to what is convenient in your life.

The other side of convenience is loss of quality.  The top two conveniences on my mind with significant loss of quality are relationships, all types: to self, others, the Divine, the planet, our neighbors.  The second is food.

For an enlightening exercise take a piece of paper, yes, please not on the computer, draw a line down the center of the paper.  Next, title the left side CONVENIENCE and on the right side title it LOSS of QUALITY.

Go as deeply as you can with this, take some time.  The purpose is to gain insight on how you are truly not living a life of quality, which is only one part of living YOUR life, the life of your dreams.  Because with out quality, their is lack.  With quality their is life.  If you have an example of where your quality has improved, do write that in.

The last part of this exercise is to write up a sentence or paragraph or two, or if you are more artistic, draw what you wish to do, that will counter each of the of loss of quality that you have listed.

An example:

The convenience:   Purchase and eat convenience store and fast food.

Loss of quality: (use I, not you, of course)

Many:  You have no idea what is in your "food", you have lost the connection to lovingly prepare and connect to delicious food and it's source for your self and/or others, fast food tends to be scoffed down running from here or there, not properly chewing the food, no down time, where is the enjoyment and nurturing, loss of new flavors and foods, added chemicals, taste enhancers etc. that keep you hooked.  The big loss is not sharing the love of creativity and healthy food preparation with children if you have them, which is great bonding time and they feel empowered by helping and learning, doing something fun and with mom or dad.

New quality:  Starting today I will visit the grocery/health food store and explore the whole food section.  I will look for color and items I would like to try.  I may ask someone to tell me about an item I know nothing about.  I may explore organic humanely raised meat as well, if I eat meat today or in the future.

If today I decide to purchase new organic vegetables and fruit I will start with simple new ways to prepare them or just wash and eat them.  I will look for simple recipes online, in a cookbook, ask a friend or my health coach if I have one, for some new recipes using my new found foods. Otherwise I will decide when I would like to do this. 

I will set the time I previously used to drive to the convenience store or fast food restaurant to slow down, take a deep breath and simply cut, chop or slice food and steam, saute or eat raw my new found foods.  The world of delicious fresh juices and smoothies I have heard about will eventually be added to my daily routine.  I can't wait to invite my spouse and children to be my assistant chefs.

Of course you then build on this until you wean yourself off of the junk and less nutritious foods as you will have filled your meals with such nutritious and healthy foods, there won't be much, if any, room for them. It may also mean cutting back some activities to allow for optimal health. 

Why is this so important?  Lack of quality of life, especially related to food, can set the stage for illness and dis-ease such as diabetes, cancer, coronary heart dis-ease, auto immune arthritis and obesity, ADHD, increase stress, create binging and so much more.

The actual qualities behind these are connection/relationship, better quality for this example food, which equates to better quality of life and health, respect for yourself and more...   As you go deeper still, with each deeper connection that comes to light, you will find they lead you to a deeper connection to the Divine.

So tell me, is convenience really good for you?  Or does it steal from you? (for every gain, what are the losses if any?)  Please let me know below.

One more example of loss of quality, not gone into detail here, is the use of electronic and mobile devices for example cell phones, TV, video games.  They kill the connection component of relationship.  This is a whole separate article coming your way in the future.

These topics and more tie in nicely to my upcoming work shop, "Why Manage Life? Live It"!®  Discover how to turn you Health and Lifestyle challenges into a life of Wellness and Happiness, rescheduled for Tuesday evening, October 30th from 7-9 pm.  Healthy and organic nutrient based refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the workshop.

There is limited space, so please rsvp sooner rather than later so you will be able to attend. Pre-registration is required by Friday October 26th.  I am looking forward to seeing you on the 30th.

Please sign up using www.BarbaraGreenhouse.com:

1. Click the Connect tab

2. Click the Free Consultation tab

3. Input your name etc.

4. Input your yes or no rsvp in the comment field.

5. Mail your $20 check to:

Refresh Your Life Now

c/o Barbara Greenhouse

35 Maple Drive

Monroe, CT 06468

In Health and Joy,

Barbara

203-216-6889
www.BarbaraGreenhouse.com
RefreshYourLifeNow@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter, @bgsuperfoods
Facebook.com/RefreshYourLifeNow
http://RefreshYourLifeNow@blogspot.com


This post may be reprinted on your blog, website or in your e-zine with my blessing as long as you include the following in tact:  

Barbara Greenhouse shares her passions of  Food, "Cooking", Cruelty-Free, Ahimsa, the Nutrition Health Connection and the Sharing of Unbiased Information for a healthy and informed world .  She teaches, guides and supports her clients along their journey to achieve their goals one step at a time, to live their dreams simply, holistically and with compassion.  

By recommending some delicious live raw whole foods their progess to a healthier and happier life begins with reduced stress, less pain, weight loss, optimal health.  She is currently authoring her first book, "Sacred You, The Delicious Journey"®    © copyright refreshyourlifenow, - 2012 Connecticut, USA

July's Herb of the Month

It's hard to believe that we are in the second half of 2012. Summer is a wonderful time for you to relax, have more fun, and rejuvenate; to refresh your body and soul.  July's herb of the month aligns perfectly with the summer season.

Derived from the Greek word Mintha.

Mint is another fine example of the thorough knowledge the earliest civilizations had about natural remedies and healing.  We are slowly returning to the natural wisdom nature has provided us for millennia.

This versatile herb was brought over by the colonists on the Mayflower.  It is steeped in history and had and still has a variety of uses. The Egyptians, once again, used this herb over 3,000 years ago.  Other earlier civilizations are documented for their use of mint too.  There are 40 varieties of mint, the most common are spearmint, peppermint and penny royal.

Mint makes you feel good through your sense of smell, it can be both uplifting and calming and healing with it's cooling properties throughout your body and for the stomach.  It aides in digestion, motion sickness, colds, the flu, fevers, is used in chest rubs and cools skin irritations.  It is antispasmodic, diaphoretic and a stimulant.  If you have GERD or take certain medications check with your health practitioner before using or eating peppermint. The jury is still out with regards to it's use with homeopathic medicines due to new studies and inconclusive findings.

Mint on the Rocks

Mint goes wonderfully in recipes with fruits, vegetables and or meat.  Since mint has a cooling effect it's use is very welcome during the hot summer. Some cooling uses of mint are mint iced water, mint sun tea, mint ices or sherbet and in dairy or non dairy ice cream where homemade is supreme sans all the chemicals.  I love chocolate and mint together. My favorite summer cool down treat is anything frozen and partially thawed that is chocolate and mint. Then there is the delicious southern drink the Mint Julep, for those inclined to something fancy.

Mint is also used to flavor yogurt, dressings, soups, for dental health in toothpaste and chewing gum and adds a nice cooling effect in liqueurs.

This is a salad recipe I concocted with ingredients on hand that would be cooling on a hot summer day.  Feel free to use any ingredients you like.  I have a new found favorite salad ingredient that I just love, fresh peaches. 

And remember, use organic fruits and vegetables for great taste, better health, and to support your local small farms and markets.

Ingredients:

Salad greens, baby spinach, rainbow chard, kale any or all of your favorite greens

1 large cucumber

1 large fresh peach

1/2 cup fresh blueberries

2 large pinches of a variety of your favorite sprouts

1 mango cut into pieces optional - not local of course

6 - 8 mint leaves

Dressing:

Your favorite 2 oils, non-hydrogenated

White wine vinegar

1-2 Fresh squeezed sweet valencia or sweet blood orange

1/8 small red onion

1/2 medium sized clove garlic

Mango juice

Peach Juice

Basil

Mint

Red chili pepper seeds, to your hotness level, optional

Method:

Wash the greens and tear into pieces place in a large bowl

Cut cucumber in small chunky pieces place in the bowl

Cut peach into chunky pieces, if juicy cut over a small bowl

to reserve the juice, place fruit in the bowl

Cut mango into pieces reserve the juice, place fruit in the bowl, optional

Wash blueberries place in the bowl

Wash and add sprouts

Chop garlic

Rinse, chop or tear the mint and basil leaves

Drizzle the oils on the salad to your liking, toss

Combine the vinegar, orange juice, reserved juices in a separate bowl, whisk

Chop red onion add to this bowl

Add chopped garlic

Add some of the basil and mint, whisk

Add some stevia or your favorite sweetener if needed, optional, whisk

Add dressing to the salad tossing well to incorporate

The amount of dressing you make is equal to the size,

number of servings, of the salad you make or make plenty and store

in the refrigerator

Add the remaining basil and mint

Dressing works well as a marinade for tempeh, tofu, fish or meat.

Tip: Oils can be seed, nut, or vegetable oils for example hemp, flax, sunflower, pumpkin, grapeseed, sesame, almond, hazelnut, or olive.

What are some of your favorite summer salads?  Let us also know if you like to be creative, reach out to different/unusual  salad ingredients and use what you have on hand in the refrigerator in the comment section below.

Homemade Raw ice cream:

Ingredients:

2 Frozen organic bananas

3 Heaping TB of raw cacao powder, more if you like

2-3 TB  organic peanut butter

20 -24 Drops peppermint spirits extract or a non-alcohol extract

2 oz Coconut water 

Sweetener to your taste, optional - raw coconut sap, raw green stevia, raw honey, 

maple syrup (not raw), xylitol (not raw - from the Birch tree is best, most now from corn)

Tip: double, triple recipe etc. for the number of servings you want.

These amounts make 1 serving.

Method: 

Add coconut water to your blender or food processor

Cut frozen bananas into slices 1 inch thick

Add bananas couple at a time to the blender/processor

Pulse slowly

Add a drop of water to cacao, mix

Add cacao slowly into blender/processor, mix, then add more

Add peanut butter slowly, a little at a time until everything is

incorporated

Scrape down sides and blend again

Add peppermint, blend

Place in glass bowl(s)

Tip: For a creamier ice cream you may add one of the following:

fresh coconut meat of 1 Thai coconut

1 medium unfrozen ripe banana, it should smell sweet

1 -2 TB  Lucama powder (also a thickener)

Irish Moss powder this affects the taste some (also a thickener)

1- 3 TB Arrowroot powder  (also a thickener)

For the last 3 put one in a little at a time and stir or blend. Let ice cream sit 20 minutes or so in the refrigerator to see how well it thickens. Add more if you like it creamier and thicker.  Stir  or whisk to make it creamier. Place in freezer.

For more of an ice do not make it creamier or thicker.

June's Herb of the Month

Cinnamon

Cinnamon Sticks

Did you know that cinnamon is tree bark?  Until recently I didn't know that two kinds of cinnamon existed. Where have I been!  Cinnamon commonly sold in the US is from the Cassia tree.  Our second choice for cinnamon is Ceylon cinnamon hailing from Sri Lanka by way of an evergreen tree of the laurel family.  While it is not as sweet as Cassia cinnamon it does provide a more delicate flavor for your favorite recipes.

Cinnamon is also medicinal and has been used since ancient Egyptian times for a variety of illnesses and dis-eases.  It can help insulin resistance and weight loss.

In one study reported by the Diabetes Care Journal, cinnamon reduced blood sugar levels and increased the natural production of insulin, while it lowered their blood cholesterol also.  Specifically, their blood cholesterol levels were lowered in the range of 10 to 26 percent, affecting overall cholesterol levels and reducing the LDL (known as the bad cholesterol) but not reducing levels of HDL, the good cholesterol. For more information and the data source - Thyroid-info.com.   

What are some of your favorite drink, and food recipes that you make using cinnamon? Head on down to the comments section below and please let us know. 

In Health and Joy,

Barbara

203-216-6889
www.BarbaraGreenhouse.com
RefreshYourLifeNow@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter, @bgsuperfoods
Facebook.com/RefreshYourLifeNow
http://RefreshYourLifeNow@blogspot.com


This post may be reprinted on your blog, website or in your e-zine with my blessing as long as you include the following in tact:  

Barbara Greenhouse shares her passions of Food, "Cooking", Cruelty-Free, the Nutrition Health Connection and the Sharing of Unbiased Information for a healthy and informed world .  She teaches, guides and supports her clients along their journey to achieve their goals one step at a time, to live their dreams simply, holistically and with compassion. By recommending some delicious live raw whole foods their process to a healthier and happier life begins.  She is currently authoring her first book, "Sacred You, The Delicious Journey"®    © copyright refreshyourlifenow, - 2012 Connecticut, USA

Inflammation, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Is there really something good about inflammation?  Yes, surprisingly there is because we only hear the bad press.  Well, we will cover all of it here in this post.

Pure Water, Hydration  Natural Stress Reduction

Inflammation is your body's first line of defense against infections and injuries, wounds, falls, toxic food, pesticides, pollution and the like.  The emergency response team in you body responds immediately.  A little science here, this team receives distress signals of the bio chemical nature from damaged tissues and cells.  For knee scrapes or puncture wounds the injured area is sealed off, incoming bacteria get their death sentence and certificate and the damaged tissues are destroyed.

What we perhaps see as redness, swelling, feel as heat or pain and perceive to be bad,   are actually signs that the body's emergency response team is in action, your inflammatory response. 

Inflammatory response is the start of the healing process.  Like everything else, this response needs to keep a balance between heating up inflammation and cooling it down.  As we know, when there is excessive inflammation, heat, and the ph is too acidic our immune system is compromised and we become ill.  When it is severe and chronic our body is way out of balance.  The body and all of our body's systems immune, circulatory, respiratory to name a few are in distress, break down and serious dis-ease takes hold.  

For example, internally, when veins, arteries, our system organs, tissues and joints are taxed or injured they become inflamed because the automatic response system kicks in to start the healing process. At this stage however serious symptoms arise and the response team can become overwhelmed when the conditions are chronic due what the body perceives as an overload of toxins. What toxins?  Excessive sugar, toxic food (wax, petroleum products unpronounceable chemical foods), pesticides,cosmetics, body care products etc., over a long space of time.  The immune system can not handle the situation well.  The body tries to send us messages but we are too busy to listen until the damage is done and comes forth as a debilitating dis-ease and perhaps unrelenting pain depending on the dis-ease.  

Tips to avoid or clear up inflammation:

1. Drink plenty of fresh spring water, or filter your own.  Checkout findaspring.com.

2. Eat and drink more dark leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables and other alkaline or 

     alkaline forming foods

3. Eat organic for at least the annual dirty dozen fruits and vegetables. Organic tastes better  

    irregardless of what mainstream reports and biased testing show. It tastes good, you will 

    eat more fruits and vegetables which tames inflammation and then eliminates it or

    keeps it in balance. Organic is less costly in the long run with your time and money, it is

     non-GMO, no animal genes in your fruits and vegetables, no built-in pesticides and lastly 

    the soil is nutrient dense with numerous minerals and life teaming organisms with in the   

    soil, verses deficient soil, your typical conventional industrialized farm soil.

4. When you cook meat if you do, choose rare, medium rare. Grilling burnt/crispy is deadly.

5. What ever you wouldn't eat don't serve to your body to cleanse your skin, face or body
     with, nor use as moisturizers, perfumes, makeup or hair products. Anything not easily

     pronounced is a good indication that it is toxic, not health and you don't want it on your 

     skin where it then transits into your body.

6.  Manage your stress. As the # 1 killer in the us today because it's damage hidden for so 

     long. It causes inflammation which in turn creates an acidic ph and when chronic, causes

     debilitating dis-eases, most often deadly dis-ease, for example Cancer, Diabetes, CHD,
     Lung dis-eases, Autoimmune dis-eases Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Alzheimer's, 

     Adrenal Failure and more.

7.  Cut back on the whites - sugar, flour, salt, unless you have low blood pressure; the brain

     requires salt for development. Use Celtic or Pink Himalayan salt, not iodized salt.

8.  Cut back on caffine, alcohol, prescription meds, antibiotics. Use pro and prebiotics.

     While cacao and dark chocolate is good for you for much of the chocolate on the market

      has quite a bit of caffine.  For some health conditions caffine needs to be avoided entirely.

Do you suffer from a debilitating dis-ease?  How's your stress life?  Please share with us in the comments below. 

And as always, if you would like full support in your life to be healthier and happier take that first step for yourself, sign up for a free 50 minute health consultation on my website by clicking here.

  

In Love and Light,

Barbara

203-216-6889
www.BarbaraGreenhouse.com
RefreshYourLifeNow@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter, @bgsuperfoods
Facebook.com/RefreshYourLifeNow
http://RefreshYourLifeNow@blogspot.com


This post may be reprinted on your blog, website or in your e-zine with my blessing as long as you include the following in tact:  

Barbara Greenhouse shares her passions of Food, "Cooking", Cruelty-Free, the Nutrition Health Connection and the Sharing of Unbiased Information for a healthy and informed world .  She teaches, guides and supports her clients through their journey to achieve their goals and live their dreams simply, holistically and with compassion and by incorporating some delicious live raw whole foods.  She is currently authoring her first book, "Sacred You, The Delicious Journey"®    © copyright refreshyourlifenow, - 2012 Connecticut, USA

Unnecessary Dis-eases

There is holistic solution.

Grab a special cup of tea, this is a long one!

You've read about it in the news. The occurrence of diabetes, cancer, obesity and heart disease are on the rise. Even in children.  Why?

Our bodies are telling us messages, loud and clear.  But we are not listening. They are out of balance big time caused by nutrient deficient food, stress, overwhelm, poor food choices, grab and go food, we're not home cooking, not enough sleep and too many meds for this or that. Toxins are found everywhere in our food and our living and working environments along with toxins in the soil, the air we breathe, the water we bath in, drink and swim in for recreation.  

Since 1980 diabetes has increased steadily. Statistics from 1994 on show not only the increase in this disease as diabetes 1 but also Diabetes 2 especially from 2008 on getting drastically worse each year thereafter.  The graphs indicate increase in diabetes overall not by 1 or 2. Another interesting point is that severe or longer term diabetes causes cardiovascular dis-ease which has higher morbidity rates for male diabetics.  Dis-eases never before seen in children are now showing up at alarmingly high rates. Conventional solutions? Band Aids, pop a pill for everything, not getting to the root cause.   If you listen to your body you know more than a person who speaks to you for just 5 minutes, maybe 10 and writes you a prescription and is out the door to the next patient.

 

 The body is the greatest communicator and healer but we just don't listen.  We need to. For example, when tired do you slow down and rest? Or do you forge ahead because of x, y or z?  Do you finally get the message because you can't lift up your head or arms and you stay home put for the day, yet feel slightly better the next day and go back to work, school appointments etc.?  You need multiple days of rest to heal without interruption to the healing process to get fully back on your feet and stay on them.  

Depending on what actually got you to stay home and slow down, was the bodies last attempt to communicate to you that you are out of balance.  This could have been contagious and what your run down body (immune system) couldn't fight off. When you go back to normal life after just one day because you "feel" better you've actually shutdown your healing process and possibly spread an illness to others.  If their bodies are not in optimal health, their immune system is compromised, they will be down with an illness too. The more our bodies go through this scenario, the more you are inviting dis-ease into your life. We also need to listen because of reasons like these:  Fainting while driving can be hazardous to your health and can be fatal. My aunt a diabetic, would faint while driving. She was lucky, she didn't kill herself or anyone else. Passing out on a hard floor especially if you live alone is dangerous.   My uncle fell and did hit his head and died. They found a cancerous tumor in his head.  

You have a to-do-list a mile long with nothing marked in for your me time to do what you enjoy, self care and what will SLOW you down.  I'll admit life presents responsibilities to care for others' illnesses to me, causing me to fall short on my quiet time, self care and  fun time.  In the morning before I rise I relax, think and breathe each day, a constant me time.  The rest I do my best to include.  Stress, especially chronic stress, taxes the adrenals, the heart, the immune system, your hormonal system (which is part of a communications network within your digestive system), to name a few.  Everything is interconnected. When in balance you're a Rolls-Royce, when out of balance you're a clunker.

Here's some biology in simple terms.  The built-in survival responses created for man's survival 1000s of years ago aren't working well with our much different lifestyles of today because of what we no longer do that actually kept earlier man much healthier than man today. A few examples, we eat after we are full.  This disrupts the hunger communications that tell us we are satiated, over time we can become obese; we no longer rake leaves we use machines to blow them, we no loner use a scythe to cut grass nor even a hand push blade mower. Most use sit down tractor mowers now.  We are no longer getting the movement we need on a regular basis.  This not only keeps our muscles toned, and our breathing deeper, but also our metabolism is being regulated differently due to modern day lifestyle changes and chronic stress.  Earlier man had stress but not chronic stress.  He hunted large game, had to be strong, run, sprint, squat, forage/gather fruits and vegetables and and be active and alert to survive. Modern day man is not anywhere near as active (has less movement).  Even in just the last 20 - 30 years most kids today have less movement.  They don't use jungle gyms, climb rocks, run or play hard any more.  Aside from team sports programs and karate, kids are using computers, playing computer games (adults too) and you see the rise in obesity and diabetes.  Less movement + more food consumption = unhealthy situations, dis-ease.  Dis-ease = Less calorie burn + More fat storage +Acidic ph. The classic definition of disease is when your ph is .1 higher or .1 lower than the normal ph.  "A healthy blood pH without cancer has acid + alkaline balance almost equal. Actually a healthy body is slightly alkaline measuring approximately 7.4". source-altered-states.net /barry/update178/index.htm  Therefore maintaining and losing weight is more difficult for many of all ages. And this is a big and, our metabolism is slower so we are not burning enough calories from the increase in the intake of modern day nutrient deficient calories, we are storing fat created by all the low carbs, sugar and hidden sugar products that is so prevalent in the American diet today.   The increase in chronic stress which genetically wants to store more fat for survival, isn't alleviated due to less movement.  Another fact is that we are born with just so much insulin in the pancreas. This never became depleted before death.  It is now. It literally gets used up.  The over consumption of foods especially the sugar laden foods and high glycemic foods cause the pancreas to release insulin almost constantly.  It is now found that the insulin stores meant to last for a life time are now running out at younger and younger ages.  Hence the need to take insulin.

Another good reason we have more dis-ease is because food is fuel for our bodies and is being used for entertainment mostly these days. What's the latest food fad or trend?  Diet? Today the thoughts of what I crave or what I would just like to eat versus what does my body require to function perfectly, as it was created to receive, is more important. We have this mentality of food as gratification and not what we need it for. I'm not saying we can't enjoy it, that's not the purpose and we need to strike a healthy balance.  Food is necessary as fuel for the energy that the body requires on the cellular level where the cells get the nutrients, minerals, water, and oxygen that they need for their food and fuel to function optimally for us every second of every day.  Our heart doesn't miss a beat, we breathe 15-20 breaths per minute as adults no matter what we feed them at, first.  The brain has specific requirements to function optimally, the heart does, the nervous system does, our skin does and so on.

Our body's requirement is high test fuel and sadly most people are providing the lowest grade of regular fuel.  So, most bodies today are breaking down, inflamed, dis-eased, and acidic broken down examples:  diabetes, cancer, coronary heart dis-ease, severe arthritis, autism, altzheimers. We are totally out of balance on so many levels. An acidic body is the ground floor of dis-ease. And no one is listening to the messages from their body: shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, brain fog, low energy, dis-ease, swollen legs, ankles, pain and excessive weight gain.

What does it mean to be in balance? You have energy because your cells receive all that nutrient dense foods supply to them, some of which is supplied rather quickly, therefore they require less use of energy so there is more left over for you overall.   You feel good, you loose some weight, you look forward to each day, you have strong relationships, love your job/career (or move to get to that) and have some higher power, what ever that is for you, to pray/talk to/walk with in nature/meditate with, which is very comforting for you. A true sense of support and unconditional love. What I and many call LifeForce energy.  A good coach can give you good support and accountability to live your dreams and meet goals along with your higher power.  You were not created to be a clunker.

Simple lifestyle changes taken a step at a time over time and the desire to be healthy and happier will transform you to a place that you probably dream about, a place you can definitely obtain and maintain.

My free 50 minute health consultation is an easy way to communicate your struggles, pain, stress and dis-ease and the good, present for you today.  You also clarify what goals you want to reach regarding your health and for what is called primary foods, the essential yet non food sustenance's of life.  Who are you communicating all of this too?  Why to yourself.  As we discuss your most important findings deeper communications will come forth.

Sign up for my newsletter, Refresh to the Good Life News ® where you will find articles, tips, recipes and more. Click the link at the top right on this page to sign up.  In the form's comment field schedule your free consultation. Provide two choices please.  My consultations are scheduled the hours of 5 - 9 pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Saturday mornings 10 - 12 N. I will confirm your free consultation time by email.

Start your journey, you really deserve it.  Awaken, Align Transform, Refresh. 

Refresh Your Life Now.  Refresh to the Good Life!® 

In Love and Light,

Barbara

203-216-6889
www.BarbaraGreenhouse.com
RefreshYourLifeNow@gmail.com
www.Facebook.com/RefreshYourLifeNow
www.RefreshYourLifeNow@blogspot.com


This post may be reprinted on your blog, website or in your e-zine with my blessing as long as you include the following:  Barbara Greenhouse shares her passions of Food, "Cooking", Cruelty-Free, Healing Naturally and the Sharing of Unbiased Information for a healthy and informed world .  She teaches and supports her clients through their journey to live their dreams easily and holistically, with compassion and by incorporating some delicious live raw whole foods.  She is currently authoring her first book, "Sacred You, The Delicious Journey"®    © copyright refreshyourlifenow, - 2012 Connecticut, USA

May's Herb of the Month

 

Garlic Odiferous and Delicious

Garlic is definitely a friend to our bodies yet gets a bum rap due to it's reputation for bad breath and body odor.  Roasted garlic is sweeter and the breath isn't as much of an issue. Now let's see why this member of the Lilley family which was treasured during Egyptian times is good for us.

1.  We live in a world of parasites. They make their way into our digestive tract by the food we eat, from pets and unsanitary conditions.  These little guys and gals just hate garlic. Garlic, over here!

2.  Simplified, our  blood delivers nutrients, proteins, electrolytes and hormones throughout the body.  It also feeds the neurons in the brain the oxygen and the nutrients they need to stay healthy, requiring a constant blood flow to the brain.

The body makes its own supply of hydrogen sulfide, which acts as an antioxidant and transmits cellular signals that relax blood vessels and increase the blood flow. Garlic also increases hydrogen sulfide in the body.  You can read the rest of this article here. Again, this ensures  an even free flow of blood throughout the body, except to the lungs where the blood takes and delivers oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.  Very important tasks. 

While garlic enhances many recipes with it's flavor we also know it is very beneficial for heart and cancer health for these reasons.  

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Well just maybe having garlic each day will keep the cardiologist and oncologist away. We can wish right! Wishes and thoughts do come true.

A few of the ways that I love to use garlic in recipes ( there are many)  are in my chunky guacamole/salsa, my green salads, raw crackers and in my salad smoothie.  

What are some of your favorite recipes that you make using  garlic? Head on down to the comments section below and please let us know.  Would love to have you also share with us on  Facebook.com/refreshyourlifenow.

Barbara

203-216-6889
RefreshYourLifeNow@gmail.com
www.RefreshYourLifeNow@blogspot.com

Follow us on Twitter using @bgsuperfoods 

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/refreshyourlifenow

 
This post may be reprinted on your blog, website or in your e-zine with my blessing as long as you include the following:  Barbara Greenhouse shares her passions of Food, "Cooking", Cruelty-Free, and the Sharing of Unbiased Information for a healthy and informed world.  She teaches and supports  her clients through their journey to live their dreams easily and holistically, with compassion and by incorporating some delicious live raw whole foods.  She is currently authoring her first book, "Sacred You, The Delicious Journey"®    © copyright refreshyourlifenow, - 2012 Connecticut, USA

Wearing the Healthy Nutrtion Hat

My dad came home after "residing" in the hospital and rehab for the last 3 plus months swapping between the two three times.  Was he happy to hear he was finally going home!

I can't imagine the long lonely days and nights.  At times he was happy, he has a sense of humor when he remembers and a flirt.  I would visit and he wished I could've stayed longer sometimes.

I wore the meal planner hat to help him regain his strength and to encourage him to eat more again once he was back on solid food.  Makes me thankful to be able to eat and to eat what I want to eat even more.

Now home I was able to speak with the head of the dining room where he lives to plan healthy meals with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables (salads), dark green vegetables and sweet potatos. We are better able to keep him off of the white foods, bread, pasta and sugar now.  The director was very agreeable to it all.  He knew what quinoa is and says they do serve it at times, as some of the residents like it. Many however are not familiar with it and therefore won't eat it.  He'll make sure my dad has some and buckwheat and tabouleh too when they are on the menu.

The point of my dad's tale?   It was not always easy to provide healthy meals for my dad in these two institutions. Trays came up wrong or the doctor made changes I did not agree with (Ensure instead of real protein, Colace instead of prunes.) I won the battle for each. The Colace didn't work, boy did the prunes!  As someones healthcare advocate this is an area to really focus on because if you do not stand up for your loved ones nutritional needs while receiving institutional care, they only go so far, and at times as in my dads case, they give the standard food tray filled with all my dad is not supposed to eat due to his unique health issues.  

On a wonderful note the hospital dining services had a survey which I filled out very honestly and in a long detailed manner. Suggestions flowed and I added them.  The second hospitalization the menu had changes WHOLE MULTI GRAIN bread was added, more salad choices and more drink choices. More heart healthy choices. My dad needed these.

It pays to speak up and to also fill out surveys and be heard.  They took mine to "heart" and I was pleasantly surprised.  Every baby step leads to change. The ripple has started at the hospital and the rehab facility.

It's amazing as life normalizes in someone elses' life how your own becomes more normal too.  While I did make some green juices and smoothies, I did not every day. My body was ready for good food.  So I whipped up a naturally sweet sundried tomato red pepper sauce.  Taking my vegetable peeler in hand I made large ribbons of zucchini fettucini noodles, cut up a whole creamy avocado and generously spooned on the sauce.  My taste buds rejoiced.  

Simple and Quick Organic/Raw Red Sundried Tomato and Red Pepper Sauce

Ingredients:

1/4 C + 1TB warm water

6-8 sundried tomatoes (unsalted variety)

1/2 1 large red pepper

1/4 C pine nuts

1 large clove garlic (smaller's ok)

1/4 C olive oil (may drizzle in) 

 2 large zucchini

Method:

Pour the water into the blender and add the sundried tomatos.

Let them soak in the warm water for 10  minutes

Create the zucchini fettucini noodles over a big bowl

Add a 1/4  tsp salt (or less) to the noodles

After the noodles sweat, drain out the water

Wash, cut and de-seed the red pepper

Peel the garlic

Peel and cut up a ripe avocado

Pulse and then blend the tomatos and water

Add some of the olive oil, blend by drizzling it in

Add the red pepper, blend

Add the garlic, blend

Add more olive oil, blend

Add pinenuts, blend

Add in more olive oil if desired

Optional a pinch of salt after you taste it

This sauce makes a delicious spread. I used it on a hummus and sprout sandwich and a sprouted tofu vegetable burger with spinach and sprouts on top. Both on Ezekiel Sesame Bread.   

Let me know how the recipe turns out for you and other ways you use it in the comments below. 

Barbara

203-216-6889
RefreshYourLifeNow@gmail.com
www.RefreshYourLifeNow@blogspot.com
www.BarbaraGreenhouse.com

Follow us on Twitter, @bgsuperfoods 

Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/RefreshYourLifeNow

 
This post may be reprinted on your blog, website or in your e-zine with my blessing as long as you include the following:  Barbara Greenhouse shares her passions of Food, "Cooking", Cruelty-Free, and the Sharing of Unbiased Information for a healthy and informed world.  She teaches and supports  her clients through their journey to live their dreams easily and holistically, with compassion and by incorporating some delicious live raw whole foods.  She is currently authoring her first book, "Sacred You, The Delicious Journey"®    © copyright refreshyourlifenow, - 2012 Connecticut, USA