On the Food Front
At this point of the year, we have had the good fortune of sampling the summer season's array of fruits, vegetables, local honey, and meats. There have been opportunities galore to obtain these foods through many farmer's markets in our area. For me, Aumumn brings to mind preserves, pickled vegetables, root vegetables, home-made soup, stews, and baked apple pie. Autumn brings the closure to our growing season in this part of the country. Hopefully, you have taken part in choosing to shop and eat locally!
Here is a simple recipe that I use a couple of times a year for good health. I also suggest this to clients who have digestive concerns, cancer, or a weak immune system. It is a healthy way to use the many fresh beets that are now available.
Beet Kvass
Taken from Nourishing Traditions -- makes 2 quarts
3 small or 2 medium organic beets, peeled and coarsely chopped up
2 tablespoons of whey protein powder
1 teaspoon of 'real' sea salt
filtered water
____________________
This drink is valuable for its medicinal qualities. Beets are just loaded with nutrients. One 4-oz glass morning and night is an excellent blood tonic, promotes regularity, aids digestion, alkalizes the blood, cleanses the liver and is a good treatment for kidney stones and other ailments.
Place beets, whey, and salt in a 2 quart container. Add filtered water to fill the jug. Stir well and cover securely. Keep at room temperature for 2 days before transferring to refrigerator.
When most of the liquid has been drank, you may fill up the container with water and keep at room temperature for another 2 days. The resulting brew will be less strong (slightly) than the first. After the second brew, discard beets and start again, if you wish to continue.
NOTE: Do NOT use grated beets in the preparation of this beet tonic. When grated, beets exude too much juice, resulting in a too rapid fermentation that favors the production of alcohol rather than lactic acid.
**According to the authors of Nourishing Traditions, "lacto-fermented foods are a valuable aid to cancer patients. Of particular value are lacto-fermented beets which have a very favorable effect on disturbed cellular function. Many scientific studies have demonstrated that beets have a regenerating effect on the body".
________________________________________________________________
Essential Fatty Acids
The question of what EFA's are, why we need them and how we can get them -- comes up a lot in my practice. So here is the condensed crash course on this topic. Essential Fatty Acids are absolutely necessary for so many aspects of a healthy body, mind, and spirit. In fact, they are key in cellular membrane integrity, they are anti-inflammatory, they keep the blood from getting too thick, they help to lower cholesterol, they are precursors to prostaglandins (hormone-like substances), are important for neurological health, heart health, eye health, etc. We can not make these in our body, therefore we need to consume foods that have them or take supplements.
The two types of EFA's I will address here are Omega 3 and Omega 6. We typically get a lot of Omega 6 and in fact, we often get too much. Omega 6 is largely found in nuts and seeds and their oils and in vegetable oils. Omega 3 is what we are becoming dangerously deficient in unless we consume deep, cold water fish such as salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel, and consume the healthy little seeds of flax and chia.
Within the Omega 3 fatty acids we have EPA which is excellent for the cardiovascular and circulatory system, hormone balancing, skin issues, and such, and DHA, a very important fat for the brain, helping in memory and neurological health as well as vision.
DHA is also extemely important for expectant mothers, both for their baby and for their own recovery after birth. In fact, breast milk contains DHA which means mothers need to get the proper amount in their daily diet. DHA can also help prevent post-partum depression. This type of EFA is extremely important for the baby's growth, development and healthy cognition.
________________________________________________________________
Spicing Things Up
Spices are so much more than just making our food taste good. Spices are actually healing foods and here are a few of my favourites:~
Ginger
This spice helps in digestion of beans, meat, and legumes. It is also excellent for nausea, morning sickness or vomiting, and is helpful in inflammation, pain, and headaches.
Cayenne
Contains antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is helpful for circulation, revving up metabolism and has been shown to be helpful for migraine headaches. It also reduces platelet stickiness. Externally, it can stop bleeding.
Cinnamon
Helps with balancing blood sugar and digestion, helps with boosting brain activity, and is thought to help prevent heart attacks.
Garlic
Helps to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, increases blood flow to the brain, is helpful for parasite infection, strep throat, colds and influenza.
Tumeric
This herb is often considered to cleanse the body. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is helpful for arthritis, carpal tunnel and pain, in general. It is also beneficial to the liver and gall bladder. In Ayurvedic medicine, it has been known for its use in stomach irritation; however, extensive use of this spice can actually cause stomach irritation.
When using herbs or spices, it is advisable that you check with your health care practitioner before starting a regimen with them. For a good reference book, check out -- Prescription for Herbal Healing by Phyllis A Balch.
________________________________________________________________
Book of the Season
My recommendation for this season is an oldie for sure, but a goodie. It is The Power of Your Sub-Conscious Mind by Dr. Joseph Murphy who died in 1981 at the age of 83. It was first written in 1963, well before many people were giving much consideration to the power of the sub-conscious mind, positive thinking, visualization, affirmation, self-study and so on. I took this book, that once belonged to my brother, to Australia in March and it was so simple to understand and so powerfully put together.
Quoting Dr. Murphy, "within your subconscious mind you will find the solution for every problem, and the cause for every effect. There is a miraculous healing power in your subconscious that can heal the troubled mind and the broken heart. It can open the prison door of the mind and liberate you. It can free you from all kinds of material and physical bondage."
And to this I say, "Hallelujah Dr. Murphy!, you laid the groundwork for us to follow." A modality I use that works with the subconscious is the Lifeline Technique -- a quantum healing technique that interprets and releases trapped emotions from the subconscious mind, thereby allowing healing to naturally occur.
I think you will gain so much from reading this book!
__________________________________________________________________
Just as the leaves will soon start to fall to the ground, some of us may experience a sense of time passing way too quickly. We may wish to hang on to summer and all that it represents but knowing we change like the seasons, we need to let go and embrace all that autumn can share. This season is about reaping the harvest, both in food and in our own lives. Have a healthy autumn!
In Gratitude, Elizabeth
