October 2015 Edition Made to Thrive! (not merely survive) The Lord bless you and keep you.
What's New
Bats pollinate about 450 commercial plants we consume, such as: bananas, mangoes, peaches, figs, avocado and
vanilla! Who knew? Now I have a whole new appreciation for these strange creatures! :)
vanilla! Who knew? Now I have a whole new appreciation for these strange creatures! :)
CRT, Cranial Release Technique
Did you know that 90% of ALL illnesses can be linked to chronic stress*?!
(* World Health Organization)
Consider this with me... If we nip chronic stress in the bud, in this case with CRT, the body that is no longer in a "chronic stress" state, now has the capacity to greatly improve in overall health and wellness. That's huge!
Some of the benefits from regular CRT include, but are not limited to, the following:
-Balanced Body Structure/Muscles
-Improved Athletic Performance
-Relief of Pain in Neck and Back
-Greater Mind Focus and Calmness
-Better Sleep
-More Energy
-Headaches/Migraines disappear
-Depression/Anxiety relief
-Adrenal fatigue/Exhaustion relief
-Enhanced creativity
-Improved outlook on life
-Ability to better handle stress and life
-Lightness, Clarity, less negativity
-Supports Immune system
-Lowers blood sugar/pressure
... and more!
We were Made to Thrive, not merely survive!
This is great news! Here at the CRT Wellness Center of Sarasota, LLC, we specialize in CRT and encourage you to make the CRT Choice for overall health and wellness. Check out the CRT Savings Pass and make CRT a part of your whole family's wellness routine. Truly affordable wellness care at it's core; Your central nervous system.
Don't Let Food Labels Give You Indigestion
It seems I'm forever reminding myself and others to be sure and "read those labels!" Of course the best way to be sure of what you're eating is to eat whole, (organic if possible) foods, and simply leave the packaged foods on the shelf. I know... I know... we're in a hurry and thrive on convenience. As you're cruising the grocery store aisles, you probably flip over a few items to scrutinize their nutrition labels. But do you understand what you're looking at? Many of you know I'm not a huge fan of our government having anything to do with what we do, however, the government is working on updating the label to reflect today's nutritional concerns and include more realistic serving sizes. Until that happens, use the diagram included with this article to help make quick, informed food choices that contribute to a healthy, balanced diet. Also, remember these helpful tips:
- Nutrition information is provided for one serving of a food or beverage. Many products contain more than one serving. If a serving size is one cup, and you eat two cups, then you must double the calories, fat, sugar, and other ingredients to get an accurate estimate of how much you've eaten. If you've eaten a smaller portion than what is on the label, calculate accordingly.
- Pay special attention to the amount of sugars (including carbohydrates) in one serving. This is especially important if you have diabetes (or other health concerns) that require you to monitor sugar intake or the glycemic index of foods.
- Check out the amount of fat, especially saturated fat, in one serving. Unhealthy fats contribute to many chronic health problems. Trans fats are also labeled because they are known to contribute to "bad cholesterol," which contributes to heart disease. Choose foods that are low in these fats. However, some foods, like nuts, have high fat content, but the source of fat is actually good for the body--it's not a saturated or a trans fat.
- Be aware that "0" does not mean zero! It means less than 5% per serving!
- In addition to understanding the nutrition label, take a look at the list of ingredients. If you cannot pronounce the words that are listed on a food label, it's likely coming from chemicals and processed (unnatural) elements that are not healthy for the body. Some of the items (there are thousands of names for hiding these chemicals from us) to avoid include:
- Preservatives including BHA, BHT, brominated products
- GMO - genetically modified organisms, common in corn and soy derivatives
- Dextrose
- Xanthan gum
- Hydrocarbons (pesticides PCB, DDE, DDT)
- Soy and cottonseed oil
- Dyes (e.g., yellow dye no. 5, tartrazine)
- MSG - monosodium glutamate (common in canned foods and Asian cooking)
- Food allergens - if you or family members have a known allergy to peanuts, wheat, soy, or gluten
Worth repeating... If you are in a hurry and can't take the time to read labels, be sure to avoid packaged (bag, box, or bottle) foods. Instead, buy fresh foods and "eat a rainbow everyday" (e.g., fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds). Also, choose water, herbal teas, and for a fun added health benefit, try infusing your water/tea with doTerra Essential Oils! Wonderful! I specify the doTerra brand for internal use, because to my knowledge, this is the only brand with specific oils safe for human consumption. By the way, did you know "doTerra" means, "gift of the earth"? I like that.
Finally, pay attention to what's happening in the news ... in July 2015 the government proposed a new nutrition information panel for food labeling. The public is invited to provide comment.
Food for Thought. . .
"The only way to live a remarkable life is not to get everyone to notice you, but to leave noticeable marks of love everywhere you go"
- Ann Voskamp
Pumpkin
From Shakespeare's reference to "pumpion" in The Merry Wives of Windsor to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, pumpkin is woven into the fabric of history and cuisine. Native Americans roasted long strips of pumpkin over an open flame and ate them. Colonists made pumpkin pie by slicing off the pumpkin top; removing the seeds; filling the rind with milk, spices, and honey; and then baking the pumpkin over hot ashes. And we all know pumpkin transforms into Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween decor. Today, we appreciate pumpkin not just for culinary traditions, but also for its abundance of nutrients and versatility in healthy meal preparation, such as soufflés, soups, bread, jam, butter, and desserts.
A member of the Cucurbitaceae family of vegetables (along with cucumber and squash), pumpkin is cultivated around the world for both its fleshy vibrant orange meat and seeds. It is a naturally low calorie (49 calories per one cup serving), yet filling food that offers the following health benefits:
Health Benefits- Pumpkin contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. It is rich in dietary fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and many antioxidant vitamins, including A, C, and E.
- It is also an excellent source of many natural polyphenolic flavonoid compounds such as beta-carotenes, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Carotenes convert into vitamin A inside the body. Zeaxanthin is a natural antioxidant that may offer protection from age-related macular disease.
- Pumpkin is a good source of the B-complex group of vitamins including niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, and pantothenic acid.
- It is a rich source of copper, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.
- Pumpkin seeds provide dietary fiber and pack a powerful mix of protein, minerals, and vitamins: 100 g (1 cup) of pumpkin seeds provide 559 calories, 30 g of protein, plus folate, iron, niacin, selenium, and zinc.
Spiced Pumpkin Bread
Adapted from Bon Appétit Fast, Easy and Fresh cookbook
Yield: 2 loaves
Preheat oven to 350°F
Butter and flour two 9x5x3 inch loaf pans (I use coconut oil and gluten free flour)
Ingredients:- 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour mix)
- 1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour (or gluten-free flour mix)
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 2 c. raw sugar (or raw honey)
- 1 c. sunflower oil
- 3 large eggs (room temp)
- 15 oz. (1 can) pure pumpkin
- 1 c. chopped walnuts (optional)
Sift first eight ingredients into a large bowl. In second bowl, beat sugar and oil to blend, and then add eggs and pumpkin. Mix well. Stir dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture in two additions, just until blended. Add nuts, if desired.
Divide between loaf pans. Bake approximately 1 hour 10 minutes, or until tester inserted into center comes out clean. Transfer to racks and cool in pans for 10 minutes. Cut around sides of pan with a knife to loosen. Turn loaves onto rack to cool completely.
What's Really in Your Herbal Remedy?
Herbal supplements (botanicals; plant-based medicine) have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Today they are recognized for having drug-like effects such as improving mood. Products that can have medicinal effects also carry risk, especially if taken with other medicines or supplements. However, most over-the-counter herbal supplements are not subjected to the same scientific scrutiny and aren't as strictly regulated as medications. Makers of herbal supplements are not required to submit their products for FDA approval before going to market. Their only requirement is to demonstrate their products meet quality manufacturing standards. Studies have shown this is not enough: Many over-the-counter herbals are contaminated or substituted with alternative plant species and fillers that are not listed on the label. According to the World Health Organization, this adulteration of herbal products is a threat to consumer safety.
Before buying herbal supplements, do your homework and investigate potential benefits and side effects. Follow our tips below to help identify quality herbal supplements. Before taking an herbal supplement, talk your health practitioner--especially if you take other medications, have chronic health problems, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Quality Factors: Look for products that indicate standardized extracts; no fillers, preservatives/additives; naturally harvested; fair-trade/sustainable manufacturing practices.
Quality Control: Quality control (QC) refers to processes for maintaining the purity of a product. Without QC, there is no assurance that the herb contained in the bottle is the same as what is stated on the outside. One of the key solutions to the QC problem that exists in the United States is for manufacturers and suppliers to adhere to standardized manufacturing practices.
Products should indicate they are third-party tested. Look for a USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia) seal of approval. Check products (and product recalls) on these websites: Council for Responsible Nutrition, ConsumerLabs, and the National Institutes of Health Dietary Supplement QA Program. Check the product website for more information.
