There is a big gap in the understanding of the digestive process if you’re only looking at the Western medical model of how digestion works. There is a concept called DIGESTIVE FIRE, or as we say in Chinese Medicine “Spleen Qi“. As you will see in this video below, the Spleen’s Qi (or “energy”) is an important factor in many aspects of healthy functioning person.
Understanding the benefits of nurturing your digestive fire can have a profound impact on your health and your family’s health, and it can last for a lifetime! Many of our patients come in wondering why, no matter what they do, they can’t seem to lose weight like they used to. When we start to examine their diet and their current symptoms, we find that the diets that have “worked” in the past to lose weight, may have also contributed to the slow decline of their digestive fire. Most people are doing what they think is the right thing, but it may not be what is right for them and their constitution.
Essential Oils are a wonderful way to support weight loss. Diffusing Grapefruit essential oil helps to boost metabolism and control cravings. You can also put a drop or two in your first glass of water in the morning, or a couple of drops on the bottom of your feet. Cinnamon essential oil triggers glucose tolerance factor to balance blood sugar! Put one drop into a smoothie, coffee or tea and enjoy!
**Be sure that your oils are labeled for internal use if you choose to ingest them.
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Smoothies are a great way to get in a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables, increase your fiber intake, and diversify your diet. It is also a great way to get healthy foods into our kids, as we can easily use berries and other fruits to mask the taste of vegetables that
they might not otherwise eat.
Blending fruits and vegetables is a much better idea than juicing, as the fiber content in the foods will slow the way in which the sugars are absorbed, and therefore prevent huge spikes in blood sugar. There is so much information about diabetes in the news now, pointing to the fact that our diets are way too heavy in high glycemic foods. Adult onset diabetes is now called Type 2, because we are seeing it in children! And now there is a Type 3 diabetes, which is what they are calling conditions whereby high blood sugar levels are affecting cognitive function and leading to dementia and alzheimer’s disease. I don’t know about you, but I would really like to avoid that!
So, sit down and come up with lists of your favorite fruits and vegetables, and a list of favorite milks-almond, coconut, rice, hemp, or oat. Than see if you can find a few different combinations that appeal to you and give them a try. Be sure to try things like chard, beet greens, kale, celery, avocado, and spinach. If possible, minimize the really sweet fruits like bananas and pineapples, or make sure that you rotate them so you are not having them daily. Consider adding chia, flax or hemp seeds which are high in Omega 3 fatty acids and are anti-inflammatory, in addition to adding even more fiber!
Another great way to make this a meal is to add some healthy fat, like full fat coconut milk (canned) or medium chain triglyceride oil (this is derived from coconut and has a more neutral flavor) which boosts your metabolism and doesn’t store as fat, but keeps you satisfied longer. Coconut oil is anti-inflammatory, great for your skin and hair and supports brain function-how can you beat that! Another great addition is almond butter which give the drink a rich smooth taste and added protein. You can consider adding cinnamon, ginger or cloves as well.
So, shake it up, mix it up, blend it up, and enjoy!
Eileen DePaula, Lic.Ac.
Join Geoff, Eileen and Lisa for our 2nd Group Cleanse!
We hope you will join us again for this successful community bonding cleanse!
October 3rd through 12th, 2012
***Early Bird Special***
Sign up Before August 27th and pay $129* for the first person, and $80* for each additional family/household member (*this price includes the herbs, instruction booklet & recipies) .
After 8/27 the cost is $149 for the first and $95 per additional family member.
Here is what people said about the 10 Day Chinese Medicine & Ayurvedic Cleanse
“We are sooooo happy we did it. I feel fantastic and lost 9 pounds. I also no longer drink diet Dr. Pepper which I drank 4-5 a day before this! You guys are the best. Such goodness!” TA
“I’ve done herbal cleanses in the past, but never anything this comprehensive and I must say, I am pleased with the results. I will continue with much of the diet as I am pleased with the weight loss results (six pounds!) and had hoped to kick start weight loss as part of this process. The next time I do this, I hope to be able to incorporate even more of the practices into my daily routine. I’m glad I jumped on board, even if a bit late!” EA
“I can’t believe I did this! I am so proud of myself for being able to stick to the rules and not cheat!! I amazed myself at how disciplined I can be once I set my intention. I’ve lost 8 pounds!!” NK
“I thought it (the cleanse) went surprisingly well. I think the occasional animal protein made all the difference in feeling crazed. Now I can’t seem to gain weight. Yay!” BS
“This was a great experience for my first ever cleanse. I really enjoyed the kitchari and look forward to making it again….it was very satisfying. I love the beet and apple salad and look forward to adding that to my favorite salad options this summer and beyond. I am not one to make salads for myself but this has influenced my eating habits so I am a little more thoughtful of my choices. Thank you again for all the support and the push to partake in this experience.” DM
Pesticides and preservatives have infiltrated their way into almost all the food consumed in America and can store in the body’s fat, including the brain, for years. Industrial wastes have permeated our ground water and can enter our body simply by washing our organic veggies with tap water. Over time these stored chemicals undermine our immunity, render us susceptible to disease, infection and premature aging.
Recently, The Environmental Working Group released the 2011 edition of its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce with updated information on fruits and vegetables and their total pesticide loads. EWG highlights the worst offenders with its “Dirty Dozen” list and the cleanest conventional produce with its “Clean 15” list.
Don’t miss out on your chance to learn which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticides, plus the ones that are generally safe even if not organic.
TWO MAIN LISTS OF FRUITS & VEGGIES:
1. The Dirty Dozen – Twelve fruits and veggies that you should try to avoid or to eat organic.
2. The Clean Fifteen – A list of clean veggies that are mostly safe to eat even if they are not organic.
THE DIRTY DOZEN
The FDA tells us that all non-organic fruits and veggies have safe and harmless levels of pesticides, while The President’s Cancer Panel recommends consumers eat produce without pesticides to reduce the risk of cancer and disease.
The Dirty Dozen list takes washing and peeling into account. Washing is important to remove bacteria but obviously has little effect on removing pesticides since there can still be chemicals internally. If you are going to buy any of the fruits or veggies listed in The Dirty Dozen we highly recommend buying only organic.
Pesticides can be extremely toxic to human health and the environment. U.S. and international government agencies alike have linked pesticides to nervous system toxicity, cancer, hormone system disruption and IQ deficits among children.
Pesticides are toxic. They’re designed to kill bugs, it’s hard to believe that any amount is safe. Their effects can be associated with a host of very serious health problems in people, including neurological deficits, ADHD, endocrine system disruption and cancer. *
THE DIRTY DOZEN LIST:
12 Most Contaminated
As many as 62 pesticides Safer alternatives: watermelon, tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit.
Up to 42 different pesticides. Safer alternatives: watermelon, bananas, tangerines
Peppers have thin skins that don’t offer much of a barrier to pesticides.
Tests have found 49 different pesticides. (Plus They’re often heavily sprayed with insecticides.) Safer alternatives: green peas, broccoli, and cabbage.
Has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the chemicals . Up to 64 pesticides. Safer alternatives: broccoli, radishes, onions
They rank up there with apples and peaches among the dirtiest tree fruit.
33 different pesticides found. Safer alternatives: watermelon, papaya, mango
They’re most likely imported from countries that have less-stringent regulations for pesticide use. 59 pesticides have been detected in residue on strawberries. Safer alternatives: kiwi, pineapples
Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically, only imported grapes make the Dirty Dozen list. 34 different pesticides. Safer alternatives: kiwi, raspberries.
One of the most contaminated green leafy vegetable. As many 48 different pesticides. Best to buy organic.
Another delicate, thin-skinned, leafy green vegetable.
Up to 51 different pesticide residues. Buy organic whenever possible
THE CLEAN FIFTEEN LIST
To ensure that you and your family are safe and healthy, eat organic whenever possible. The Clean Fifteen are fruits and vegetables that are considered safe by the EWG to eat even when not organic. If you simply shift to eating more from the Clean Fifteen list, you will at least have a measurable drop in your pesticide consumption levels.
All the produce on “The Clean 15” bore little to no traces of pesticides, and is safe to consume in non-organic form.
12 Least Contaminated
Why do some types of produce have more pesticides than others, you ask? If you eat something like a pineapple or sweet corn, they have a protection defense because of the outer layer of skin. Not the same for strawberries and berries. In general, thin-skinned fruits and vegetables are more prone to absorbing the pesticides.
The President’s Cancer Panel recommends washing conventionally grown produce to remove any residues. It won’t remove all the pesticides (because some are already absorbed), but you should still wash it to reduce pesticide exposure.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Choosing five servings from (“Clean 15”) of 15 least contaminated fruits and vegetables would result in consuming fewer than two pesticides per day. If you instead pick five servings of fruits and vegetables from the 12 (“dirty dozen”) most-contaminated products, it would result in consuming an approximate average of 14 different pesticides a day at unknown concentrations.
That said, if you can’t always buy organic due to your personal budget, it’s still better to eat fruits and vegetables than not at all. You could pick your favorite and buy that one organic. If you love apples, for example, consider according to USDA, pesticides showed up on 98 percent of the more than 700 apple samples tested. It’s possible that what’s happening to apples is more pesticides and fungicides are being applied after the harvest so the fruit can have a longer shelf life. So, buy organic, local apples.
Source: Dr. John Douillard DC (http://www.lifespa.com/article.aspx?art_id=154)
References
:
1. EWG, Environmental Working Group
2. CNN: “Toxic America” May 31, 2010
3. What’s on my food (whatsonmyfood.org)