Summer Food
Summer is a wonderful time! We often feel more happy, more healthy, and more relaxed. When I think of summer I think of warmth, fun and relaxation, and eating delicious local produce. I always encourage certified organic food when possible but if this isn't always feasible the next best choice is locally grown food. We are blessed in this region to enjoy numerous local Farmer's Markets, including one on Parkdale Avenue, one on the Market, at Landsdown Park, in Navan, Carp, Metcalfe, North Gower and Kemptville. There is also an organic market held on Saturdays behind the Canadian Tire store at Bank and Heron Road. There are a couple of local Organic farms that you may want to check out. Padgeberry Farms, certified organic since 1988, located in Osgoode, Ontario. Their phone number is 613-826-2286. I recently went to Waratah Downs Farm, certified organic since 2000, located in Iroquois, Ontario. Their phone number is 613-652-1552.
The most recent food that is making its debut is Strawberries. I look at strawberries as the opening act to the rest of the entire food growing season. I love them and last year I froze several bags of local strawberries to use in my protein shakes during fall and winter. They can be used in several recipes and below you will find a yummy summer salad recipe. I hope you enjoy it!
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Strawberry Spinach Salad
Serves 6
1 lb. fresh spinach, washed, dried and torn into pieces
1 pint of fresh strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
1/2 cup of slivered toasted almonds
Dressing:
2 tbsp of raw honey
2 tbsp of sesame seeds
1 tbsp of poppy seeds
1.5 tsp of chopped white onion
1/4 tsp of paprika
1/4 tsp of tamari or worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup of organic flax oil
1/4 cup of organic sunflower oil
1/4 cup of raw apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
-- Place spinach in a serving bowl. Place sliced berries over the spinach
-- Combine the dressing ingredients in a blender and process until smooth
-- Pour the dressing over the salad, just before serving.
-- Garnish with slivered almonds and serve
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Summer, Sun, and Sunscreen
It is important to get out in the sun for at least 10 - 15 minutes every day. We not only feel good being in the sun but we are also making Vitamin D, approximately 10,000 - 15,000 IU, just like that! Vitamin D is finally being taken seriously. It is proving to be helpful to the immune system, for cancer prevention, for muscular-skeletal pain, for neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, parkinsons, ALS, etc. If you are unsure of your Vitamin D levels, ask your doctor for a 25-hydroxy D test. Doctors like to see at least 75 nmol/L but there is room for improvement with that number. I recently had mine checked after fairly consistent supplementation of at least 3,000-4,000 IU daily. My number is 121 nmol/L, very good but there is still room to improve. I want to see my levels at 175-200 nmol/L.
Try this: go outside on a sunny part of the day. Stand with your back to the sun. If your shadow is longer than you are in height, this is not the time to expect Vitamin D absorption. Also, as we age, we have more difficulty converting Vitamin D from the sun. Supplementation is always a sure thing! Getting out in the sun is never about getting burned. It is about getting Vitamin D from its most natural source. This means that for the 10 - 15 minutes you are in the sun, you are not using sunscreen on your body.
Allow your body to make the Vitamin D conversion. This also means not showering for a few hours. If you are planning on being outside longer than 10 - 15 minutes, the use of a quality sunscreen is highly recommended. Remember that your skin is the largest organ of your body. It absorbs everything you put on it. Placing toxic substances on your skin creates more work for your liver to attempt to get rid of it. Choose skin healthy sunscreens!
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Stings, Bites, and Burns
For stings (wasp or bee), use Homeopathic APIS 12C or 30C. Take 2-3 pellets until the site of the sting settles down (usually within 2-3 doses). Rescue Remedy cream is also helpful.
For the prevention of mosquitoe bites, you can use Homeopathic LEDUM 12C or 30C or use Citronella Essential Oil.
For accidental sunburn, use Homeopathic CANTHARIS 30C as well as Calendula cream or gel.
I encourage you to be aware of the numerous health benefits of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. This wonderful product can also help stings, bites, and burns. Place undiluted Raw Apple Cider Vinegar onto the sting, bite, or burn to give relief and speed healing.
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Book of the Season
My recommendation for this season is a classic -- "You Can Heal Your Life' by Louise Hay, who at 83 years young, is a role model for many of us. This book is about changing aspects of ourselves, whether it is a bodily symptom or a state of mind. The following are a few points of Louise's philosophy that is shared in her book: "We are each responsible for all of our experiences. Every thought we think is creating our future. It's only a thought, and a thought can be changed. Releasing resentment will dissolve even cancer. We must be willing to begin to learn to love ourselves. When we really love ourselves, everything in our life works'.
This book is about Change and Change is the essence of our Life! Let me know what you think of it.
Until Fall,
Elizabeth
