Healing Lesson 4

Anti-Aging Food

  In order to make my top anti-aging list, a food has to meet certain criteria. 

• It must be loaded with phytonutrients

• It must have disease fighting properties

• It must be readily available year round.

Which foods came out on top? Avocados, Blueberries, Broccoli, and Walnuts Why? Each of these foods has special attributes that enhance health and fight disease. They are readily available throughout the year, either frozen or fresh and are easy to prepare and consume. Check out why by clicking on the name of the food and following the links.

Creating a Zone of Tranquility

Most of us spend a fair bit of time in the kitchen.  Some of us enjoy that time, while others think of it as only slightly better than visiting the dentist.  To create a healing kitchen however, it is important to understand that attitude and emotion contribute to wellness.  An attitude of thankfulness and gratitude while preparing meals is what we should strive for.  But let me be the first to say that isn’t always easy to be positive at every meal.  

 If you’ve had an argument with your partner, are frustrated with your kids or you are dealing with poor health, it can be pretty hard to just shake off those negative feelings and prepare a healthy love-infused meal.  Creating a “Zone of Tranquility” can help. 

Think of a place or person or event that makes you feel really, really good.  Do you have a picture of it or them?  What about a piece of art that you can get lost in?  Is there a Bible verse, teaching, or saying that motivates and encourages you?  Find a spot in your kitchen that you can keep uncluttered and create your zone by placing the picture, verse, or art piece in it.   When you're feeling negative emotions while preparing meals take a moment to visit your zone.  Let the feelings you get from your place, person, event or other item suffuse you.  Open yourself up to the positive feelings and connect with your body without putting any stress or expectations on yourself.  Once you feel those positive emotions you can step back and objectively determine whether the negative emotions are relevant or if  they serve a purpose?  Will they change your partner's attitude?  Will they teach your children anything useful?  Will they improve your friendship?  Will they interfere with healing? 

Most of the time negative emotions only hurt the one feeling them.  Don't give them the power to bring you down.  Work at letting them go and get in the Zone!

I have a beautiful but small print I bought at a craft fair.  It is in bright reds and blues and is an abstract of the ocean.  Hidden in the swirls of waves are animals: a crab, starfish, moon snail and others I haven’t found yet.  When I am feeling stressed or overwhelmed I look at that picture and imagine myself at the beach with my kids.  It calms me and helps me refocus on my family's needs rather than my own.  Your “Zone of Tranquility” can be whatever helps you refocus, whatever helps you realign your thoughts and feelings to be positive and health promoting.   

"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well."  Mahatma Gandhi

Sustainability Within This Generation

    The news on our environment can be downright depressing.  Reports on global warming, extinction and disasters are overwhelming.  I'd like to focus on the positive.  Positive changes we can all make to ensure sustainability within this generation.  I added two new raised bed boxes to my garden and plan to grow pac choi and Chinese broccoli, both overwinter well in the Pacific Northwest.  I also planted six new blueberry plants and two marionberries.  Why?

1) I enjoy gardening,

2) these foods are loaded with nutrients that my kids graze on all summer long,

3) they preserve well and

4)growing my own produce means I don't need to buy as many products shipped here from other areas.  The amount of energy used to transport produce is phenomenal.

     The David Suzuki Foundation has instituted a new program that we are embracing.  The Nature Challenge provides 10 easy, practical ways you can be pro-active and positively impact the environment.  One of the challenges is to buy more locally grown and/or organic produce.  For all you cooks who have a healing kitchen this will be easy! Not only are locally grown products a good choice for the environment, but also a good choice for your health.  Usually picked fresh, locally grown products are more nutritious.  You win...twice over!!!!

     Dr. Suzuki challenges us to try three of the ten Nature Challenge ways to help conserve nature and improve our quality of life.  Which ones will you choose? Nature Challenge ways to help conserve nature and improve our quality of life.  Which ones will you choose?