Balanced

Inflammation. Many medical experts regard it as the underlying cause of all disease. Now I’m not a doctor, so I won’t agree or disagree. I do know, however, that adopting an anti-inflammatory diet may help a variety of disorder including heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, many cancers and Alzheimers. And generally speaking, it’s a healthy diet, so unless you have some special dietary restrictions, it can’t hurt. Most of the foods are anti-oxidant as well. If you’re interested in adopting a anti-inflammatory diet, it’s really quite simple: eat what is widely regarded as healthy, including lots of produce, whole grains and plant-based proteins. Here’s the skinny: Fruits and vegetables : This is where half your plate should come from. Go for that nutritional rainbow – red (tomatoes, red peppers, strawberries, etc.), orange (pumpkin, mango), green (avocado, leafy greens), blue (blueberries, cabbage) and white (cauliflower, mushrooms).  Be sure to...

I was first gifted with the film, I Am, from my friend Molly, who knew I would love it. And love it, I do. In fact it's the kind of film I watch over and over. After Tom Shadyac’s successful career as a Hollywood producer abruptly came to an end following a serious bicycle accident, he set out to find what really makes us happy. In the process, he interviews the great thinkers of our time including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Canadian scientist and environmentalist David Suzuki, and American philosopher and activist Noam Chomsky. The result of these interviews is I Am. In this documentary, Shadyac left  his Hollywood lifestyle behind and let his innate curiosity take over in pursuit of happiness. And what he found surprised him, including that money really doesn’t buy happiness. For me, this film is a story of connectedness and community. Read more about the film and Tom Shadyac’s work here , and then watch the film on Amazon or Netflix.

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” These words from John Muir still ring true today and with our hectic schedules and desk jobs, it has become more difficult to “walk with nature.”  But as the above infographic shows, there are many reasons to make spending time outside part of your everyday routine. And if you need some help getting started, here are my TEN WAYS TO SPEND MORE TIME OUTSIDE MEDITATE! If you feel safe, set up your meditation space outside during warmer weather.  BOOM!  Double the impact! Schedule daily outdoor time Schedule time to be outdoors everyday, no matter the weather.  That’s what umbrellas are for. Be enthusiastic about nature Even in the middle of a busy city you can celebrate nature through the sun and moon, the flowers and trees, the birds singing and the changing of the seasons.  Develop your sense of awe. Make an outdoor happy place If you have access to any private outdoor space, ...

It’s soup season! And this is one of my favorite go-to soups. So, imagine my delight in opening my Ooooby veggie box this week and seeing that it included broccoli, carrots AND potatoes! You won’t believe or even care that it’s vegan, it’s just that good and cheezy! Ingredients 1 tblsp olive or coconut oil 1 small onion, chopped 2 medium carrots, chopped ½ red or orange bell pepper, chopped (or you can used roasted red bell pepper) 1 medium Yukon gold potato, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 5 cups (about 1 pound) broccoli – chop crowns separate from stems 4 cups vegetable broth ½ cup raw cashews ¼ cup nutritional yeast 2 tsp apple cider vinegar Salt & pepper to taste Directions Preheat oven to 400. Toss 1 cup of the broccoli crowns with olive oil and place on parchment lined baking sheet. When oven is preheated, roast this reserved broccoli for 15 to 20 minutes until tender and slightly browned. Heat oil in large pot and add onion. Saute until softened. Add...

I’m currently reading “The Book of Joy.” It’s a wonderful book of interviews with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. These two men are two of the most joyful people on earth, despite (or perhaps because of) immense hardships they have suffered during their lives including over 50 years of exile and severe oppression. The interviews took place during the Dalai Lama’s eightieth birthday celebration, and brought these two friends together to reveal the secrets of joy. Somewhere near the beginning of the book, Archbishop Tutu brought up the concept of Ubuntu (pronounced oo-boon-too) from his home in South Africa. The Archbishop explained it as “A person is a person through other persons.” Roughly translated, it is the concept of community. I wanted to learn more about this Ubuntu concept, so I took to Google. Once I got past the articles for Ubuntu, the open source operating system for computers (who knew?), I found some interesting stuff. Ubuntu is a southern A...

We’ve all heard the reports, too much sitting during the day is bad for you. It’s been called the “new smoking” for it’s detrimental effects on your health. It increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol to name a few. Now they’ve actually figured out how much it too much. I’m a little skeptical about blanket statements like this, knowing we’re all different, but I also err on the side of caution, and it certainly can’t hurt to move more. So what are the experts saying? First of all, understand that the average office worker sits for about 10 hours each day, between work and home. Researchers are now saying that we should begin to stand, move and take breaks for at least two (and four is better) of every eight hours. Don’t just lump that time all together, spread it throughout your day. And as much of that time as possible should be in movement, not just standing still. The stillness is what’s killing us. So, how in the world d...

“Milk, it does a body good.” Those of us “of a certain age” remember well this catch phrase from the 1980s campaiagn of the National Dairy Board. Great marketing, but is it truth in advertising? IS milk, or any dairy, good for you? Let’s look at some facts: Humans are the only species on earth to continue to consume milk after we are weaned (unless, of course, you’re feeding it to your fur-babies). Most people stop producing significant amounts of lactase, which helps break down the sugar found naturally in milk, by they time they are five years old. That’s why over 75% of the world’s population is lactose intolerant. They can’t properly digest dairy products. If you notice a gut ache, bloating or gas after you eat dairy, that probably includes you. Human milk is especially suited for human infant consumption. Compared to cows milk, it is higher in carbohydrates and lower in protein. It doesn't put a strain on developing kidneys, like cows milk does. Cow dairy is design...