Currently enjoying a handful of walnuts 💛 Walnuts are an excellent source of anti-inflammatory omega-3 essential fatty acids, in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Walnuts are also rich in antioxidants, including being a very good source of manganese and copper. They are also a good source of molybdenum and the B vitamin biotin. They are also really good for your brain...ever notice how walnuts kind of look like a brain? 😊
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Our basil plants are producing like crazy! What to do with all that basil?....well, make homemade basil pesto w/ organic pasta + reggiano parm + pine nuts of course!
BASIL is packed with health benefits such as the effect of flavonoids and volatile oils, which provide DNA protection + anti-bacterial properties. Basil is also an anti-inflammatory due to its Eugenol content, which blocks the activity of an enzyme in the body called COX (over-the-counter meds such as NSAIDs also work to block this enzyme) which makes basil a great alternative for conditions such as arthritis, inflammation or aches. Additionally, basil is loaded with Vitamin A & beta-carotene, which are important for blocking free radical damage to cells & keeps free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol - it is when cholesterol becomes oxidized that there is risk of plaque build up on vessel walls - so, basil can be really helpful in keeping a healthy heart and vascular system and preventing such health conditions as heart attack and stroke. Magnesium, Vitamin K, manganese, copper, Vitamin C, calcium, iron, folate and omega-3 fatty acids also contribute to the health benefits of this yummy plant! Enjoy & be well. Namaste. Organic green tea matcha with hemp milk. I'm in love . Green tea matcha is alkalizing, detoxifying, rejuvenating and energizing and is loaded with antioxidants, the amino acid L-theanine & EGCG all making this drink a powerful immune booster and free radical zapper. What's in your cup today?
Be well. Namaste. Buckwheat groats w/ginger, sea salt, ghee, turmeric, parsley and radish. The radish is an unassuming root vegetable which packs more health benefits than you may be aware of. Stimulating the flow of bile, radishes are a useful tool for fat digestion, decongesting the gall bladder, and cleansing of both the liver and the blood - especially in the spring, since they reduce built-up toxins (ama) in the body, as well as excess of the heavy, earthy kapha dosha. Radishes are both pungent and heating and the lightness and dryness of this vegetable supports clearing out accumulations, such as winter-time inactivity, excess weight, congestion, or phlegm. They have also been used to break up gallstones and kidney stones in many cases as well as being useful for decreasing the acidity of the blood and stomach. They are also very high in vitamin C and help with skin health and wound healing. Please note radish may aggravate Pitta Dosha in large amounts. Be well. Namaste. Radish makes a very nice addition to this buckwheat salad.
RECIPE Ingredients: 1 cup buckwheat groats 2 cups water 1 tsp ghee 1 tsp turmeric 1/4-1/2 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp garlic 1 Tbsp curry powder 1/2 tsp of himalayan sea salt 1 Tbsp parsley (dry) or 1/4 cup fresh chopped 3-4 small radishes diced Directions: Bring water to a boil, put in buckwheat & ghee as well as all ingredients except the radishes. Then cover and reduce heat to a simmer for 10-12 minutes or until all water has been absorbed, stirring often. Add in radish last and set in refrigerator for at least 1 hour to chill before serving. Enjoy! "The ultimate fate of your food is to become bliss."
Bliss smoothie: organic mango chunks, banana, blueberries, coconut water, hemp protein, raw cacao powder, dollop of coconut oil, topped with shredded coconut & frozen blueberry. Yumm. Have a beautiful day On cold mornings warm cereal is an absolute delight and is packed with nutrients! All Organic ingredients: rolled oats, oat milk, dried cherries/blueberries, goji berries, cranberries, dates, pepita seeds, shredded coconut, honey, ghee & a dollop of peanut butter. Nom nom nom.
Be well. Namaste. These beauties went into an organic spicy curry soup I made today, along with bean sprouts, mushrooms, snow peas, quinoa, coconut milk and curry spice. Perfect combo with the okra (lady fingers) on a chilly winter day :) nom nom nom. Health benefits of Okra aka Lady Fingers: vitamin A, Thiamin, B6, C, folic acid, riboflavin, calcium, zinc, protein and dietary fiber. Helps maintain health and soothes the gastrointestinal tract, regulates cholesterol and blood sugar, propagates good bacteria aka probiotics, contains amino acids such as tryptophan, cysteine and other sulfur amino acids. Be well. Namaste.
Ayurveda is a healing system with roots in ancient India. Perhaps the oldest healing system on the planet. The knowledge in Ayurveda is related to nature, purpose of life, including both physical and metaphysical aspects, health and disease, happiness and sorrow, pain and pleasure. The definition of Ayurveda is the "Science of Life", which defines life as the conjunction of body, mind and spirit found in Cosmic Consciousness. According to Ayurveda, each individual life is a microcosm of the Cosmos. Ayurveda is a medical science and the purpose of this science is to heal and to maintain the quality and longevity of life. A life of Ayurveda manifests as an art of daily living and offers a profound understanding of each individual as a unique consciousness. Ayurveda states that we, as well as plants and animals are made of these five building blocks of life:
Ether (Akash) is expansion in all directions with no resistance. Ether is related to the sense of sound. Whenever there is sound, ether is present. Element of space related to mouth, nose, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, abdomen, thorax, capillaries and tissues. Air (Vayu) creates unidirectional movement. Air is an important aspect of everything in life as it deals with all the movements or rhythms of life. Air is associated with the sense of touch. You feel touch through constant movement. Element of movement related to nervous and circulatory systems. Fire (Tejas) creates transformation, warmth, reality and a sense of clarity. This is the required element of the sense of sight. Element of metabolism related to digestive and enzyme systems as well as the mind. Water (Jala) is about receiving. Substances are easily accepted by the body through the medium of water. Water shows its presence as liquidity, a solvent making up 70% of the body. Water is associated with the sense of taste. The tongue is the only sense organ that is wet. Element of fluids related to secretions, mucous membranes and plasma. Earth (Prithvi) is about solidity, structure, and security. It creates a specific appearance, shape and size. The earth element is responsible for expressing the sense of smell. Earth always gives off a smell, i.e. rain on dry earth. Element of solid substances related to the bodily structure. Western Nutrition focuses mainly on macronutrients that provide calories or energy to the body. It is believed that the macronutrients are needed for growth, metabolism, and for other body functions. Macro means large and so macronutrients are nutrients that are needed in large amounts. The three macronutrients include: carbohydrates, proteins and fats. According to Western Dietary guidelines, 45% to 65% of a person's calories should come from carbohydrates, 10% to 35% should come from protein, and 20% to 35% should come from fat. Western nutrition also is based on the idea that everyone should eat the same way.
Ayurveda nutrition is quite different fron Western nutrition. Ayurveda recognizes that everyone is different and unique. Just as humans have a unique gentetic makeup, Ayurveda recognizes that everyone is born with a unique individual birth constitution known as a Vata, Pitta, and Kapha dosha. When examining the doshas, it's important to make a distinction between a balanced versus an imbalanced state. Ayurveda classifies food according to the six tastes, not by carbohydrates, proteins or fats. Ayurveda also considers the potency of the six tastes, which is named virya and the post-digestive effect, which is named vipak. According to Ayurveda nutrition the six tastes each have a warming or cooling effect on the body. The virya refers to the immediate heating or cooling effect that a particular food has on our physiology. Foods that are predominantly cooling include: sweet, bitter and astringent and pungent, salty and sour foods contain heating qualities or viryas. Ayurveda also recognizes that tastes transform during the course of digestion and the effects of the final tastes are consistent with the six tastes. Food effects our mental and emotional state by using sweet tastes to calm the Vata mind and cool the Pitta mind. Sour tastes can sharpen the mind. Salty tastes can calm an anxious mind and easily excite a Pitta mind. When used in excess by Kapha types, it promotes greed. A bitter taste can be cooling and clearing of the mind. Pungent taste enlivens the Kapha mind and causes all doshas to become more extroverted. Astingent taste tames the over-confidence of Pitta types and over-complacenty of Kapha types. According to Ayurveda health begins with proper digestion. The primary function of the digestive system is to bring essential nutrients into the body's internal environment. In the Western culture the importance of proper digestion is widely neglected. Symtoms such as indigestion, heartburn, bloating, and constipation are treated as normal occurances. According to Ayurvedic beliefs, digestion refers to the individual's overall agni. After assessing a person's current doshic state, agni is the most important factor in determining dietary needs. It is a fact that everyone digests food differently. Ayurveda identifies improving agni by using spices. Ayurveda teaches that proper digestion eventually leads to the production of ojas, which directly influences physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual life. Western culture states how food is required for life, energy and feeding the body, but it neglects to describe how food becomes your body. Written by Gretchen Pound http://www.sandiegocollegeofayurveda.com/ |
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