Spring is a natural time of rebirth, renewal, and hope – on the physical and spiritual levels

Humans have felt this in their bones since the dawn of time.

Look at the Jewish holiday of Passover – a celebration of liberation. Consider Easter – the resurrection of Christ. Both religions evolved from the spiritual traditions that preceded them. As they developed, they embraced rituals of celebration that marked the turn of season from hibernating, grey winter to lively, colorful spring.

As we enter spring, let’s each consider a personal approach to renewal.

Our daily practice might include walks in nature, deep breathing, yoga, detox, body scrubbing, bathing in cleansing salts, rest and relaxation.

Please let us know how you choose to rejuvenate in springtime.

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There’s much to learn from observing nature.

In early spring, when green shoots poke up above the ground, animals eat these shoots and shed the fat they’ve accumulated throughout fall and winter from eating nuts and seeds. In so doing, they emerge lighter and more prepared for the warmer months ahead.

 Eating leafy greens facilitates our internal cleansing. These greens include:

• kale
• collards
• spinach
• Swiss chard
• romaine lettuce
• arugula
• dandelion greens
• watercress

Greens are rich in chlorophyll, the pigment that makes leaves green and enables the growing plant to convert the sun’s energy into simple carbohydrates, or plant food, through photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll has numerous health benefits. According to Nutritional Supplements Health Guide, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. Here are some of the known chlorophyll benefits:

• It has been seen to help in the growth and repair of tissues.
• It helps neutralize inhaled pollution.
• It efficiently delivers magnesium.
• It helps the blood carry oxygen to all cells and tissues.
• It assimilate and chelates calcium and other heavy minerals.
• It stimulates red blood cells to improve oxygen supply.
• It helps neutralize free radicals that do damage to healthy cells.
• It reduces bad breath, urine, fecal waste, and body odor.
• It reduces the ability of carcinogens to bind with the DNA.
• It can be used to treat infected wounds naturally.
• With anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic properties, it is helpful in protecting the body against toxins and in reducing drug side effects.
• It cleanses the liver and digestive tract, boosts blood with iron, vitamin C and folic acid,
• It supports the respiratory system and our moods.

Get your daily dose of leafy greens and chlorophyll. View the delish live kale salad recipe.

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Spring is a time of rebirth and rejuvenation. There’s no better way to rejuvenate every cell of your body than with cleansing chlorophyll- and enzyme-rich raw kale salad.

What you need:

• 1 head curly kale, stems removed, leaves shredded into small pieces 
• ½  avocado
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, hemp seed oil, or flax oil
• Juice from ½  lemon or 1 Tablespoon bottled organic lemon or lime juice (not supermarket bottled!)
• Celtic, Himalayan sea salt or Real Salt™, to taste (1/4 – 1/2 t)
• 1/2 cup each chopped celery, cucumber, and red radishes
• 2 Tablespoons minced onion
• 2 cloves minced garlic

What you do: 

1. In mixing bowl, massage the avocado, extra virgin olive oil, salt and lemon juice into the kale leaves.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and toss.

Click here to learn more about the amazing health benefits of chlorophyll.

Filed under: Alkalizing, Leafy greens, Vegan, Vegetarian | No Comments »

This is an unusual smoothie because it does not contain sweet fruit. Instead it contains creamy avocado and live veggies which provide alkalizing, energizing, potent nutrition in one delicious drink. Because this raw vegan smoothie contains no fruit and is sweetened with the herbal sweetener stevia, it is a low-glycemic drink.

I recommend that you enjoy this smoothie as a Real Breakfast of Champions (in whole or in part), snack, pre- or post-workout energizer, or as a quick and simple summer dinner.

CREAMY GREEN SMOOTHIE

Ingredients:

• ½ avocado
• 1 cup of Pacific Low-fat Original Almond Drink, or Almond Breeze Unsweetened Original or Vanilla Drink
• ½ cup crushed ice or small ice cubes
• 1/2 cup chopped greens (parsley, kale, bok choy leaves, chard, romaine, etc)
• 1/4 cup chopped mint leaves, or a few drops of mint extract, or 1/2 tsp. of peppermint tea
• 2 tablespoons chopped cucumber
• 1 tsp. finely sliced ginger (add more to taste) (optional)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice (fresh-squeezed lemon/lime or bottled organic lemon juice)
• 10 drops liquid stevia

Mix all ingredients in a blender or with a handheld blender.
Add filtered water until smoothie reaches desired consistency.
Add more stevia to taste.

Bon appetit!

Filed under: !Recipes, Alkalizing, Breakfast of champions, Foods for energy, Green smoothie | 1 Comment »

Have you ever brushed your body? While hair brushing is a common practice, body brushing is not as well known or practiced. Yet, it has been around since the days of ancient Rome.

Particularly if you’re trying to lose the pounds you gained during holiday season or you’re pursuing a serious detox program, body brushing can support your objectives. It exfoliates dead skin in addition to stimulating blood and lymph circulation. Cleansing your lymphatic system is like taking out the trash from your body.

Brushing is easy. You’ll need a natural bristle brush. Different types are usually available in the Body Care Department of a health food store. The best example will have a brush head that detaches from a long handle that’s handy for brushing your back.

With brush only in hand, start by brushing from your fingertips to your shoulders. Next brush from your toes to your groin. You can finish up on your buttocks and belly. Brushing may feel harsh at first, but your body will acclimate after you’ve brushed for several days.

For maximum benefit, brush once or twice each day. The best place to do so is in the bathtub where you can catch the dead skin and rinse it down the drain.

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Why do people make unhealthy food and drink choices?
By Susan Milner*

I believe there are three main reasons why people make food and drink choices that are unhealthy for them:

1. Lack of education,
2. Lack of self control, and
3. Lack of long term goals.

Lack of education
People tend to repeat bad habits; they eat too much junk food and fast food. They see bad habits modeled within their family and repeat those same habits. Also people on a limited income may think they cannot afford good food but with the proper education, they probably could. In the long term making bad food choices creates serious health problems.

Lack of self-control
Lack of self-control affects most of us. We learn to self-medicate through the use of excessive food and drink, rather than feeling the feelings. When we are feeling anxious, fearful, bored, frustrated, depressed, angry, or even happy we eat. Consider that the average American puts on more than ten pounds during the holiday season. Most people do not know how to cope with their feelings in general; they stuff and numb rather and process their feelings in a more productive way like journaling, exercising, praying, or speaking with a friend.

Lack of long-term goals
The third reason involves delaying immediate gratification for the sake of achieving beneficial long-term results – as in better health, greater energy, and a more attractive physical appearance. The solution involves viewing the goal as a top priority, instead of seeking the short term fix.

Why do you think people make unhealthy food and drink choices? Please leave your comment below.

*Susan Milner is a retired Registered Nurse living in Charlotte, NC, and is the mother of two children, James and Alexandra. She is planning to work in a Mexican orphanage in late January.

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While the weather outside remains chilly, it’s still the perfect time for a warming root vegetable – bean soup. There’s no better nutrition than a homemade bean soup, that is, with a little healthy convenience from canned organic beans. Just before serving, you can throw in cooked rice, quinoa, barley, or pasta for a simple, delicious, and totally balanced meal. Or you can serve this bean soup with millet polenta.

What you need:
1 32-oz container of Imagine Organic No-Chicken Broth
1 15-oz can organic cannellini beans, drained
16 oz. water
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1 onion chopped
3 large garlic cloves, minced
2 parsnips, sliced
2 carrots, sliced
1 small fennel bulb – center core removed and the rest sliced
1 tsp. savory
1 tsp. thyme
½ tsp. marjoram or oregano or basil
1 can of organic garbanzo beans, drained
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, parsley, or dill
Salt to taste
A squirt of vegetable glycerine to taste

What you do:
1. Blend approx. 16 oz. broth with can of cannellini beans. Put aside.
2. Heat canola oil in a 6-8 qt. non-stick pot.
3. Saute onions and garlic.
4. Add vegetables and herbs. Stir for 3 minutes.
5. Add bean-broth mixture, the remainder of the broth, the water, and the can of garbanzo beans. When pot comes to a boil, lower heat and let cook gently for approx. 15 minutes.
6. Add salt and vegetable glycerine to taste.
7. Add chopped cilantro, parsley, or dill to each bowl over soup when serving.

Bon appetit!

Filed under: Legumes, Soup/stew, Vegan | No Comments »