Ayurveda Diet

Ayurveda, which translates as “the science of life”, is an ancient healing system from India that emphasizes eating in accordance with your individual body type and the seasons. There are three mind/body types (or doshas) called Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Each mind/body type has certain qualities and it is recommended that each eat certain foods and restrict others to come into balance and health. The Ayurvedic system is more complex than just knowing which mind/body type you are and so consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner can be helpful in understanding this system. Continue reading “Ayurveda Diet”

Five Element Theory Diet

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes we are surrounded by five energy fields. These five environmental elements – fire, earth, metal, water and wood – each correspond with certain body organs, such as the heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, liver, intestines, stomach, urinary bladder and gall bladder. The five different elements are associated with different times of the year also: fire with summer, Earth with late summer, metal with autumn, water with winter and wood with spring. Continue reading “Five Element Theory Diet”

High-Carbohydrate Diets

Modern high-carbohydrate diets are a lot like the traditional diet of our ancestors which relied on whole grains, beans and vegetables. The breakdown is typically 80% carbohydrates, 10-15% protein and 5-10% fat. Foods encouraged include whole, unprocessed grains including brown rice, millet, barley and oats; a variety of vegetables and fruits, and beans, such as black, chickpea, lentils, lima and pinto. Generally these diets tell you to avoid meats, oils, high-fat dairy products, sugar, alcohol and caffeine. Continue reading “High-Carbohydrate Diets”

Common Herbal Supplements – Uses and Tips

For nearly 3000 years oriental cultures have harnessed the natural power of the earth to live healthier, happier, and more youthful lives. Today, there is a reemergence in the use of herbal supplements among American consumers. Many people are looking for new ways to improve their health, and they are often turning to natural remedies rather than pharmaceutical drugs. Continue reading “Common Herbal Supplements – Uses and Tips”

What is Hypnosis?

Webster defines hypnosis as a trance-like state that resembles sleep but is induced by a person whose suggestions are readily accepted by the subject. That sounds simple enough but how the human mind works is very puzzling. Hypnosis has been a legitimate source of scientific investigation for over a hundred years, generally in the fields of psychology and medicine. Science has yet to fully explain how hypnosis actually happens, so for now hypnosis will remain something of a mystery. Continue reading “What is Hypnosis?”

Why Take A Multi Vitamin?

Nowadays, it is very rare to find someone who isn’t taking a daily multi vitamin. The obvious benefit of taking a multi vitamin is to prevent deficiency. There is strong evidence to suggest that many consumers don’t eat a well balanced diet consisting of nutritious foods. As a result a majority of people, are lacking in a number of key vitamins. The human body needs vitamins to function properly. Each of the 13 essential vitamins (A, C, D, E, K, B12, and the 7 B-complex vitamins) provides the regulation of a crucial body function. When there is a deficiency, we are in danger of becoming seriously ill or even dying. Simply taking a daily multi vitamin you can reverse illness caused by dietary deficiencies. Continue reading “Why Take A Multi Vitamin?”

Why The Body Needs Minerals

The obvious benefit of taking a multi vitamin is to prevent deficiency. The same thing can be said for minerals. Just like vitamins, minerals help your body grow, develop, and stay healthy. The body uses minerals to perform many different functions – from building strong bones to transmitting nerve impulses. Some minerals are even used to make hormones or maintain a normal heartbeat. Minerals are sometimes chemical constituents of vitamins but can also found in enzymes, hormones, bones and muscles. There are about sixty different minerals that make up about four percent of the body. Continue reading “Why The Body Needs Minerals”

The 90-10 Philosophy

In his book Integrative Nutrition, Joshua Rosenthal expresses his philosophy about the diet he created for himself – the 90-10 Diet. Rosenthal is an expert on nutrition and says that when people try to eat totally clean and pure diets, they can only do it for a limited period of time. No matter how much willpower we have, at some point cravings for the foods we’re avoiding become overwhelming and we cheat. Then we feel guilty, and feelings of guilt and fear about food are not healthy. Trying to stick to a diet 100% of the time is also stressful. Continue reading “The 90-10 Philosophy”

Fruit Salad with Poppyseed Dressing

This is the best fruits salads ever! It has the best poppyseed dressing I had ever tasted… so fresh tasting, not too tart and not too sweet. Use fruits that are the freshest and ripest in this delicious salad. You can also pick and choose your favorite fruits instead of the ones listed below. It’s amazing how a tiny amount of dry mustard adds a little kick to the dressing that complements the sweet fruit. Enjoy! Continue reading “Fruit Salad with Poppyseed Dressing”

Beef and Mushroom Pie

This recipe is delicious and reminds me of my trip to St. Petersburg, Russia. Of course this recipe is a much healthier version of an old time favorite. During the days of the Soviet rule, russian families would bake these wonderful pies. They were inexpensive and very filling. Basically, they are just large bread loaves filled with various meats, veggies, seasoning, and fruits. Beef and mushrooms, chicken and rice, and fruit seem to be the favorites. Now days you can find them at local eateries through out St. Petersburg. Add a salad to this hardy pie and dinner is served. Enjoy! Continue reading “Beef and Mushroom Pie”

Raw Food Diet

During the 60’s and 70’s there were many people who changed their way of life to a more natural way of doing, including their eating habits. That was never entirely lost by some, but went out of vogue for the most part when ‘convenience foods’ made their way onto the scene. Everyone’s lives became busier, a lot of mom’s went to work just like the dad’s and people didn’t have much time to plan and prepare traditional meals for the family anymore. Over time, snacks became processed and packaged rather than a simple apple or carrot sticks. Nowadays, people have begun to notice that we’re not as healthy as we once were. Many people are over-weight or obese, and disease is the norm. Slowly, we’ve come to realize that what we eat most certainly has an effect on all of that and one of the ways we’re making our way back to health is the raw food diet. Continue reading “Raw Food Diet”

The Master Cleanse Diet

The Master Cleanse, also known as the Lemon Cleanse and the Maple Syrup Diet, was created by Stanley Burroughs in 1941 and later popularized by Peter Glickman in his book (2005) Lose Weight, Have More Energy and Be Happier in 10 Days. The Master Cleanse is a detoxification program that aids in the removal of harmful toxins in the body and helps remove the cravings we experience from drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and eating junk food. People have also used the cleanse to lose weight, although that is not the aim of the cleanse. Continue reading “The Master Cleanse Diet”