Healthy Lifestyle Blog

A Prayer for the Water

This is a modification of the prayer Dr. Emoto wrote after the BP oil spill that continues to contaminate the waters in the Gulf of Mexico. To make the prayer more global, in the first sentence I replaced the phrase from “the Gulf of Mexico and its surroundings” with “the Earth’s waters and their surroundings”.

I send the energy of love and gratitude to the waters and all living creatures in the Earth’s waters and their surroundings.

To the whales, dolphins, pelicans, fish, shellfish, plankton, coral, algae…

to ALL living creatures…

I am sorry.

Please forgive me.

Thank you.

I love you.

Whenever you are near a body of water, please consider taking a few minutes to send gratitude and loving healing energy to our planet’s life blood.

Water… Essential for Life

Our bodies are comprised of about 60% water. It is no wonder that we cannot live for more than a few days without it. Yet humans continue to waste and contaminate the very water that we rely on for life.

There are many threats to our water supply, whether accidental, a result of industry or deliberate introduction of contaminants supposedly for the public good. Industrial threats include fracking (wastes millions of gallons per well and contaminates ground water with chemicals), oil spills, nuclear accidents (Fukishima is still leaking billions of gallons of radioactive water into the Pacific), runoff from farms (includes animal waste, pesticides and fertilizers), and dumping toxic waste into waterways.

Our government deliberately adds chemicals to public water supplies at so-called safe levels. One such chemical, fluoride, accumulates in the body, so it is likely that a person who drinks a lot of fluoridated water have much higher levels of this toxic industrial waste in his/her body. Fluoridated water is used in the preparation of many beverages and foods, so even if the municipal water is not fluoridated, it is difficult to avoid this chemical.

So what can we do to maintain health in light of such contamination of our water?

• Drink filtered water. Many contaminants are removed from water with standard filtration. Fluoride is more difficult. One of the few ways to filter it out is with Reverse Osmosis, but that also removes the dissolved minerals that are healthful. Adding a pinch of Himalayan salt replaces some of those minerals.
• Eat organic fruits and vegetables. Much of the water we consume comes from our food. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide water in a delicious package.
• Avoid processed foods. Most processed foods contain contaminants from the water used in processing.
• Have pleasant, loving thoughts. This might sound silly, but Dr. Masaru Emoto demonstrated in his experiments that water samples, when frozen and examined under a microscope while still frozen, appear very different when different music or words are directed at it, or when it comes from different sources. Here are two photos with different phrases:

"Thank You"

"You Disgust Me"

Considering that our bodies are mostly water, wouldn’t you rather nourish yourself with kind loving thoughts and words?

As we enter the 2012 gift-giving season, it is a good time to go inside and recognize the gifts that reside deep in your heart and soul. Rather than succumb to the incessant commercialism, take a few moments to go deep inside and recognize the gifts you have to offer.

One practice that I find very helpful is to start by making a gratitude list. In making your list, consider not only those things that are external, but what are the qualities that reside within YOU that you are grateful for? Is it your compassion, patience, intelligence, beauty, skill, listening ability, consciousness…? What gifts do you have that you can share with others?

All too often we run out to the store to purchase a gift for a special person, when the true gifts we have to offer are within ourselves. Consider alternatives to giving material things that eventually will end up in the waste stream. Your inner gifts are priceless, and can last a lifetime.

Summertime is the best time of the year for enjoying healthy locally grown produce. Here on Long Island there are increasing numbers of farmers markets, where you can find an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as other locally produced goods.

I love the Brattleboro Farmers Market where I can chat with local farmers, purchase freshly harvested veggies and fruits or plants to add to my garden, enjoy a delicious homemade lunch, browse the handcrafted items and maybe even buy a gift or two, enjoy some live music and watch the children in the sandbox. Whenever I am in Vermont, I make a point of spending some time at the Farmers Market. New farmers markets are cropping up all over the country. To find one near you just visit http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/.

Another option for enjoying the local harvest is to become a member of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). CSA members support local farms by prepaying for a share of the harvest, and in return they receive a weekly share of the harvest – vegetables, fruits, herbs, and/or flowers. It’s a great way to try new foods while supporting local farms, your health and the environment.

If you are transitioning to a mostly raw plant-based lifestyle, summer is a great time to do so. Enjoy your bigger meals early in the day, and save dinner for something light. I typically start my day with a bowl of fresh fruit or a delicious smoothie. For lunch I enjoy a huge salad dressed with freshly squeezed lemon. I often add some hemp or sunflower seeds, or some diced avocado, for a healthy fat. If I am hungry for dinner, it is usually something light.

The holiday season of 2011 is a good time to start a new gift-giving tradition, and it would be so amazing if we extended mindful consuming to all our purchases in the future.

It is time to shed excessive consumerism and vote for a better world with your dollars. What better way to start than to support our local producers of goods and services?

Rather than support foreign sweat shops where cheaply produced products that use precious resources to ship across oceans, only to end up in a landfill, it is time to be more creative with gift choices begin to support more meaningful, sustainable options.

Consider, for example, the wide range of local services that people consume regularly. You might want to consider gift certificates. Here are just some of the many local businesses where you can purchase gift certificates: hair salon or barber, restaurant, theatre, housekeeper, computer repair, gym, gardener, auto mechanic… the list goes on. This isn’t about national chains, let’s support the local home town shops.

If you would like something more personal, consider locally produced crafts, like pottery, jewelry, knitted or woven scarves, wooden boxes, baskets, or the gift of local talent in the form of tickets to a performance of a CD.

Or if you have a particular talent, you might want to go with a gift of your time or something you make. “Love” coupons for your services are welcome, as they can be personalized and redeemed when the recipient wishes. For example, I have given a collection of coupons for raw vegan dishes, and the recipient can make custom requests for his or her favorite dish(es). Other possibilities for love coupons include babysitting, pet sitting, raking leaves, planting a garden, providing a ride to or from the airport – use your creativity here.

Love coupons, gift certificates, or any gift, for that matter, can be wrapped mindfully in a beautiful reusable box, in a dish towel or fabric, or food storage container. Other alternative gift wrapping ideas include:

• Reusable gift bags – I always save gift bags to reuse. If you don’t have any handy, a reusable shopping bag is a great way to wrap a gift and something that helps reduce waste all year long.
• Newspaper or magazines
• Fabric – you can either wrap a gift in fabric or make a reusable gift bag.
• Use ribbon made from natural materials like waxed hemp twine or raffia.
• Natural decorations like pine cones and sprigs of holly.
• Mason jars for food items or anything small. Throw in a 6-inch square of screening material (available from a hardware store) and the jar can be used to make sprouts.

For more gift wrapping ideas visit http://eartheasy.com/gift_wrapping.htm or http://life.gaiam.com/article/top-10-green-gift-wrap-ideas

Do you have any gift suggestions for a more mindful compassionate holiday?

If you have read my Facebook Comments, you already know that I take a strong position on GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) AKA GE (Genetically Engineered) foods.  Often the comment is encourage the reader to take action against the approval of one GMO or another.

My preferred approach, however, is to fight FOR something, rather than AGAINST. Whatever we give our attention to receives our energy, and gives it more power. SO… I propose that from now on, whenever we think of GMO, we say Give Me Organic! This way our energy will be going to support organic foods.

That said, because our government does not require any labeling to identify foods that contain GE ingredients, I suggest that you download a Non-GMO Shopping Guide from http://nongmoshoppingguide.com/download.html. And let your representatives in Washington know that you want them to support Organic Farming. That is our best protection from contamination of our food supply.

Every day we have an opportunity to vote with our dollars. Vote GMO – GIVE ME ORGANIC!

The holiday season is upon us, and all too often we are enticed to overindulge not only in food, but also in consumerism. Last month we were bombarded with Black Friday sales and special offers. And holiday tables are typically crowded with far more food than the guests could possibly consume in one meal. We tend to get caught up in consuming mindlessly, only to regret it when we are far more stuffed than the unwilling centerpiece on the table, or when the credit card bill arrives in January.

To help you maintain your healthy, mindful lifestyle during the holiday season, I have compiled some strategies for you.

When it Comes to Eating Mindfully…

• Eat SLOWLY – it takes the brain 20 minutes to register satiety, so often we are full before we weven realize it.
• CHEW your food! Chewing is the first stage of the digestive process, and a very important one at that. The saliva releases enzymes that initiate the digestion of starches and fats. Chewing also triggers a response in the stomach to produce the necessary acids to digest the food.
• Put your fork (or spoon) down after each mouthful. This will help you remember to chew and eat more slowly.
• If you think you will be tempted to eat foods that don’t support your wellness goals, have a healthy snack or meal BEFORE you leave home.
• Bring your own healthy dish when attending parties.
• Focus on socializing and connecting with friends and family rather than eating
• Decide ahead of time which foods you choose not to eat. For me, it’s easy – being vegan, I don’t eat anything that comes from an animal. This strategy narrows down what you will choose from the buffet table considerably.
• Commit to only one dessert, or if you must, a sliver of two. Choose wisely!

When it Comes to Gifts…

• The gift of your time is very meaningful. You can create “love”coupons to be redeemed during the year for anything. Some ideas include preparing favorite foods, babysitting or pet sitting, raking leaves, planting a garden, providing a ride to or from the airport – use your creativity here. The coupons can be wrapped mindfully in a recycled jewelry box or use any of the ideas in the alternative gift wrapping section below. Printable coupons can be found on the BuyNothingChristmas website.
  
• Make a donation in honor of the gift recipient. You may sponsor an animal (Farm Sanctuary or a local animal shelter), sponsor a child (numerous organizations online), plant a tree (the Arbor Day Foundation or the Jewish National Fund) , support a local cause that helps community and the environment (one of my favorites is Seeds of Solidarity), support microloans (Kiva offers gift certificates) – these are only a few suggestions.
• Gift certificates for services or entertainment – these may be of a more personal nature, for example – spa services (massage, sauna, foot bath, manicure/pedicure…), classes or workshops (yoga, cooking, dance, whatever the recipient may enjoy), dinner at a favorite restaurant; or more practical – housekeeping, yard work, car maintenance.
• Shop with a conscience. Give gifts that are made people-friendly and earth-friendly ways. For example, fair trade items like coffee, tea and/or chocolate, gifts from Ten Thousand Villages, providing fair income for handicrafts made by Third World artisans, reusable items or those made from recycled materials.

When it Comes to Gift Wrapping…

• Use reusable gift bags – I always save gift bags to reuse. If you don’t have any handy, a reusable shopping bag is a great way to wrap a gift and something that helps reduce waste all year long.
• Use newspaper or magazines
• Use fabric – you can either wrap a gift in fabric or make a reusable gift bag.
• Use ribbon made from natural materials like waxed hemp twine or raffia.
• Make your own natural decorations like pine cones and sprigs of holly.
• Pack food or small items in mason jars. These can be reused for storage. Throw in a 6-inch square of screening material (available from a hardware store) and the jar can be reused to grow sprouts.
• Additional resources: http://eartheasy.com/gift_wrapping.htm and http://life.gaiam.com/article/top-10-green-gift-wrap-ideas

What do you do to support mindfulness and health during the holiday season? Please share your strategies in the comments below.

Yesterday I spent the day visiting the Seeds of Solidarity Farm in Orange, MA. What an inspirational experience!

The founders, Deb Habib and Ricky Baruc have created a model for sustainable living in community. Several months ago, I took a class they were teaching at the Omega Institute – it was called “Grow Food Everywhere,” which I wrote about in a previous post entitled, Happy INTERdependence Day!

Since my last post about my Vermont garden, I have cleared the garden and have been enjoying its bounty and the lessons learned from my weeds and neglect. As I had mentioned in the previous post, the most important lesson I learned was making an attitude adjustment. Rather than approaching the weeds with resistance, I made peace with them as I made room for better things.

Weeding the garden was a very meditative process. I took off my shoes and connected totally with the earth as I gradually cleared the area. For several days I went out early in the morning or late in the afternoon when it wasn’t too hot and enjoyed being present with my weeds. When there was only one small section left, I found that I didn’t want to finish it. It was like reading a great book that you can’t put it down, but not wanting to get to the end. So I left some weeds for the next day.

Some Diamonds (AKA Kale) in the Rough

I also learned that if we are open to accepting our weeds unconditionally, we might uncover some hidden purpose. Aside from the weeds providing shelter for insects, birds and a neighborhood cat, their shadows provided the necessary shade to allow my unattended Swiss chard to survive the dry summer heat. It was not until I removed the weeds surrounding the chard that I realized this. Within hours, the Swiss chard was totally wilted and so very sad looking. I immediately watered it hoping it would survive, but even the next day it still looked kind of droopy. Lesson learned – even the weeds in our life serve a purpose.

Saving the Swiss Chard

So I went off to the Co-op to get some boxes and apply what I learned about no-till gardening in a course I attended earlier this summer at the Omega Institute in NY. In this wonderful weekend course, called Grow Food Everywhere, instructors Deb Habib and Ricky Baruc of Seeds of Solidarity – http://www.seedsofsolidarity.org/index.html guided us through a process that involves covering an area with cardboard, adding several inches of compost, planting the plants, and ending with a layer of straw or hay mulch. The beauty of this method is that the cardboard, hay and compost will enrich the soil, and help break down the weeds and grass that were growing underneath.

Swiss Chard Before and After Mulching

So I carefully arranged cardboard around the wilted chard, hosed it down thoroughly, and then layered on some mulch that I had instead of the straw. I didn’t need to add the compost because I had done that last year and the soil in the garden was still quite rich.

My chard is happy now.  My garden is happy now. And I am happy now with my garden of weedin’.

Marilyn Chiarello, founder of A Taste of Light, is a certified raw veganchef,educator and health coach. She offers a variety of services including health coaching, classes, dinner parties, consultations and presentations. For more information, visit aTasteofLight.com or contact her directly – Marilyn@aTasteofLight.com or 516-671-7037.

If you would like to receive more recipes and a monthly newsletter including articles about health and the environment, event updates and more, please submit your email address by clicking on the link in the sign-up box at the top of the right sidebar. For notification of blog updates only, you may subscribe directly or via RSS. You may unsubscribe at any time.

It’s becoming fashionable to be green. More and more of us are becoming more aware of  ways to have less impact on the environment. We’re driving hybrid cars, using compact fluorescent bulbs, and recycling our garbage.

We don’t often think of the way we eat as a way of being “green,” yet our food choices can have a greater impact on the environment than any of the other actions we take. One way to green your diet is to eat greens!

Dark leafy green vegetables are among the healthiest foods on the planet, and some believe they should be designated as a separate food group because of their high concentration of nutrients. Sometimes called “nature’s scrub brush,” greens are an abundant source of insoluble fiber that acts like a sponge, gathering toxins from the colon and transporting them out of the body. Greens also alkalize the body, which helps prevent and reverse inflammation and disease.

Greens – Beyond Salad

For most of us, the only greens we eat on a regular basis are found in a tossed salad. Typically, these salads contain some kind of lettuce, baby greens and/or spinach. But there are many ways to enjoy your greens beyond salad.

One of the simplest ways of eating substantial amounts of greens is in a blended form. The benefit of blending greens is that they can be consumed raw, thus retaining all the nutrients and enzymes, and they are more digestible because the cellulose is broken down in the blending process.

My favorite way to get daily servings of greens is in a green smoothie. This is a delicious, nutritious way to start the day. Green smoothies typically consist of fruit, greens and a liquid. You may add other ingredients, but these are the basics.

When you are new to green smoothies, I suggest using small amounts of mildly flavored greens like romaine lettuce, spinach, kale, baby bok choy, mesclun mix, Swiss chard or collard greens. Try not to be put off by the color, especially if you add a red fruit, which will cause your green smoothie to turn brown! (Think about what happens when you mix red and green paint.) If you can’t get beyond the color, pour the smoothie into an opaque cup with a lid, and sip it with a straw. Actually this is a good way to introduce resistant children to this healthy alternative to sugar laden breakfast cereal.

Green Smoothie Smile
(to go with the green shirt and balloon!)

Here is one of an infinite number of ways to prepare a green smoothie.

Chef Marilyn’s Green Orange Julius

1 banana
1 orange – cut off peel, leaving some of the white pith
1/4 lemon, peel and seeds removed
1 – 2 medjool dates, pitted (optional)
1/2 – 1 cup water, depending on how thick you want your smoothie
small piece of ginger, peeled (optional)
large handful of coarsely chopped greens – if using kale or collards, strip the leaf off the stem

1. Place the ingredients in a blender.
   
2. Blend at the highest speed until smooth. You may add ice for extra thickness and to chill the smoothie.
3. Be sure to “chew” your smoothie – digestion begins in the mouth. Savor the flavor in your mouth for about 10 seconds before swallowing and allow the enzymes in your saliva to begin the digestive process.
   

This is just a basic recipe. You may vary the fruits based on what’s in season or personal preference. You may also add a tablespoon of ground flax seeds for a dose of omega 3s.

So green up your life with some greens!

MarilynChiarello, founder of A Taste of Light, is a certified raw vegan chef, educator and health coach. She offers a variety of services including health coaching, classes, dinner parties, consultations and presentations. For more information, visit aTasteofLight.com or contact her directly – Marilyn@aTasteofLight.com or 516-671-7037.

If you would like to receive more recipes and a monthly newsletter including articles about health and the environment, event updates and more, please submit your email address by clicking on the link in the sign-up box at the top of the right sidebar. For notification of blog updates only, you may subscribe directly or via RSS. You may unsubscribe at any time.