Community News
4 Toxic Foods to Eliminate

Processed Meats: Can have up to 400 percent more sodium and 50 percent more preservatives than unprocessed meats. The worst part: Some contain nitrites and nitrates, chemical additives that have been linked to various cancers, but are still used to enhance color and promote taste. 2. Margarine: Is marketed as a cholesterol-free, healthy alternative to butter, but it’s the ultimate source of trans fats, which actually elevate cholesterol and damage blood vessel walls. Stick to real foods and eat real butter instead. 3. Artificial Sweeteners: Anything with the word “artificial” in it is chalked FULL of chemicals. These fake sweeteners cause symptoms that range from migraines to weight gain and even more serious conditions like cardiovascular disease. Unless you are diabetic, please stop using these sugar substitites immediately! 4. Microwave Popcorn: Bags, in particular, are often lined with a chemical called perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), which has been shown to affect fertility, cancer risk, and kidney functioning.
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Clean Eating – Banana Lemon Pie

This is one of my favourite desserts. It’s also very quick (10 minutes!) and easy to prepare.

Quantity:

9” x 9” plate = 9 slices (3″ x 3″).

Ingredients:

3 cups pecans or walnuts (not soaked);
1 1/2 cups raisins;
zest from 1 lemon + 2 tablespoons lemon juice;
4 medium bananas;
poppy seeds, blueberries, raspberries, slices of colourful fruit, or sprigs of mint (optional).

Directions:

Process nuts in food processor until small bits. Add raisins to nuts in food processor and process until the mixture starts to clump together. Gently distribute mixture on a 9”x9” plate, then press firmly to form crust. Grate lemon zest on top of crust. Juice lemon into a bowl. Slice bananas 1/4″ – 1/2″ thick and put into lemon juice; stir gently to coat bananas with juice. Spread banana slices/lemon juice on crust. Optional: Decorate with poppy seeds, blueberries, raspberries, slices of colourful fruit, or sprigs of mint.

Uncooking with RawRose – rawrose.com. Your guide to Raw Foods, book available at Rawthentic Eatery.

Sign of Intelligence?

Take a moment and look down at your bare feet. Which is your longest toe? If you discover it is the 2nd toe, intelligence is not necessarily indicated, but a predisposition to certain foot ailments is. Up to 30% of the population has inherited this structure, labelled “Morton’s Foot”, and is actually the result of a shortened 1st metatarsal (the bone behind the big toe) and not a long 2nd toe. This foot structure makes one more prone to stress fractures, metatarsalgia (pain or discomfort of the ball of the foot), thick callusing on the front of your foot, over-pronation and bunions. All of these symptoms can be reduced or prevented with proper support from a custom foot orthotic, designed specifically for this foot structure. Discuss the treatment options with an orthotics specialist today and reduce your chances of future foot discomfort.

That’s Life!

Virginia Satir, one of the great pioneers of family therapy, has been quoted as saying, “Life is not what it’s supposed to be. It’s what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.” Acceptance of a situation does not mean that we have to agree with it; nor does it mean that we must sit idle and do nothing. What acceptance does accomplish is to give us the gift of noticing all of the components of this exact moment. By doing so, we can decipher between the things that we cannot change and thus be free to make adjustments to the current situation. In this way, we embody a more preferred posture for the next ensuing moment in time. Life is what it is!

4 Causes of Headaches

Almost everybody experiences headache pain at some point. For some people, headaches are a regular occurrence and for others headaches are rare. 1. Stress can cause tight muscles which lead to tension headaches. Learn to manage your stress with exercise, meditation and massage. 2. Trigger Points are hard knots found in the muscles that can refer pain into the head and mimic headaches. Massage therapy can help dramatically reduce trigger points. 3. Dehydration- At the first sign of a headache drink a glass of water and continue taking small sips throughout the day 4. Improper pillows- try changing your pillow and see if this helps reduce your headaches.

The Grain for Brawn & Brain

The ease of wheat flour production took it out of the lime light, but it’s making a comeback in a big way. Spelt, unchanged and unmodified for thousands of years is showing up all over the place – why? Because it’s an absolute powerhouse in the nutrition category – High protein (21 % of your RDD), all nine essential amino acids, high in fiber (30%) and, low in gluten. In addition to, due to its water solubility, it rates very high on the bioavailability scale. What does that mean for you? Your body is actually able to absorb a vast percentage of those nutrients, leading to significant health benefits with less of the unsavory irritants of other grains. Another fantastic feature? You can substitute it 1:1 for wheat flour in recipes! Give Spelt a try, it tastes great, and your body will thank you.

Essential Oils – A Natural Choice!

We know quality counts, and we’ve all experienced having what seemed like a good deal at the outset, turn into not such a good deal. Quality and purity are especially important when it comes to products that we use aromatically, on our person, or as dietary supplements. Sadly, essential oil quality and purity are not as carefully regulated as we might think. According to some experts, the majority of essential oils on the retail market are adulterated in some fashion. What qualifies an essential oil as being “pure therapeutic grade” is a recognized standard of independent third party testing that incorporates methods such as Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. Pure essential oils from particular plant species, grown in the optimum conditions, and provided through ethical processes are well worth the price. As with all purchase decisions, it pays to get educated first!

Clean Eating – Turkey and Sweet Potato Curry

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp finely chopped ginger;
2 Tbsp finely chopped garlic;
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes;
2 Tbsp curry powder;
2 tsp garam masala;
1 cup plain greek yogurt;
1 lb cooked turkey breast, chopped;
1 Tbsp cooking oil;
1 yellow onion, chopped;
2 tomatoes, chopped;
1 lb sweet potatoes, chopped;
1 cup chickpeas;
1 Tbsp brown sugar.

Directions: Put ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, curry powder, garam masala and yogurt into medium bowl and stir to combine. Set aside. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent. Reduce heat; slowly add curry sauce being careful not to boil. Stir in turkey, tomato, sweet potato, chickpeas and sugar; cook until heated through. Serve with basmati rice or toasted pita bread. Delish!

Book Club – Always Hungry?

Conquer Cravings, Retrain Your Fat Cells, And Lose Weight Permanently by Dr. David Ludwig. Renowned endocrinologist, Dr. David Ludwig, explains why traditional diets don’t work and presents a new plan to help you lose weight without hunger. “Always Hungry?” turns dieting on its head with a three-phase program that ignores calories and targets fat cells directly. The recipes and meal plan include delicious high-fat foods (like nuts and nut butter, full-fat dairy, avocados, and dark chocolate), healthy proteins, and natural carbohydrates. The result? Fat cells release their excess calories, and you lose weight and inches without battling cravings and constant hunger. This is dieting without deprivation. This helpful book reveals a liberating new way to tame hunger and lose weight for good. Available at your local bookstore.

Exercise for Mental Health

After a long day of work, or chasing children, or just trying to fit life into your schedule, the last thing you might think about is being active. However, staying active is part of a healthy lifestyle, and it has the added benefit of helping us feel happy. When we are active, our brain releases a chemical called serotonin. This chemical helps us feel happier. Feeling down? Start with a low-intensity activity such as walking. Bring the dog or your family along to share the experience. Other great activities include biking, doing yard work, swimming, and throwing a ball around. Still having a hard time fitting in being active? Try to add a little bit of activity to your work routine, especially if you have an office job. Stand at your desk instead of sitting. Take time during the day to stretch. Remember, small changes over time can make a big difference!