Chewing.. the secret is out!

Chewing comes up in all of my initial conversations with clients. It's on my list of questions.
How is your chewing?
You can learn a lot about how a person lives their life by watching how they eat their food.
We digest food, we digest experience. The two are pretty interrelated.

I found this article in the NY Times today: REALLY? The Claim: To Cut Calories, Eat Slowly

Though I don't generally preface my question about chewing with a claim about cutting calories, it is true and chewing simply needs all the attention it can get! I tell people it is like planting a seed, and that it takes time and care to cultivate - the act and practice of chewing.

Amylase is the first digestive enzyme that works to break down carbohydrates in our mouth. It is generated in our saliva and does not exist elsewhere in our body. If we do not chew our food and rev up our amylase production, we simply put a lot more work on the rest of our digestive organs. It hardly seems fair.
Then there's the idea (thank you great humble teacher Lino Stanich for your wisdom) that our 32 teeth (unless we've lost some) are energetically connected to our 32 vertebrae. When we connect our teeth as we do when we chew, we stimulate our vertebrae that send rebalancing messages to all of our organs. Think of it as a homeopathic dose of chiropractic care offered three times a day - for free!

Chewing makes for easier digestion, and it also makes for deeper breathing. And if amylase is good for you, believe me oxygen, is even more so. When we take time to chew our food, we suddenly have time to smell it, to notice it, to think about it. We have time to consider all that went into the making of it. Maybe even all that went into growing it. Maybe we notice how it feels in our bodies. Maybe we notice that we are full, sooner than we would have guessed. Maybe we discover that the food we are eating, we actually don't like very much. Or maybe we discover just how much we love it.

Slowing down can feel like an overwhelming life task. It helps to start small.

Chewing, is a small step you can start and restart at least three times a day.

Whether you are looking for less calories, or you are looking for a bit more peace of mind and a peaceful digestive process, search no more. It's yours for the taking, at every next meal.

Gluten free oats, I stand corrected

It was hard for me to believe it. It took a dear client insisting for me to go back and check it out. Afterall, I'd been reading about gluten and gluten free grains for over ten years now. There was always controversy around oats. On some people's gluten list there it stood, right along wheat, rye, barley.. but on other lists it was left out. Being a gluten sensitive person myself, I did the time tested elimination diet to test it. I found that if I ate oats every so often I would be symptom free, but a few times in one week, and my elbows would start to itch.
Going back to look this up felt a little like going to confirm that carrots are in fact full of beta-carotene. Do we really need to go back over this one?

Clearly, yes.

So it turns out that oats are so often contaminated with gluten because they are processed on machines that are also used to process glutenous grains like wheat. Some have gotten wise to this and we who care can now buy at our local food store, gluten free oats. It feels a bit like a miracle.

Here's what wikipedia has to say on the topic:

Coeliac disease, or celiac disease, from Greek "koiliakos", meaning "bowel-related", is a disease often associated with ingestion of wheat, or more specifically a group of proteins labelled prolamines, or more commonly, gluten. Oats lack many of the prolamines found in wheat; however, oats do contain avenin.[6] Avenin is a prolamine that is toxic to the intestinal submucosa and can trigger a reaction in some celiacs.[7]

Further information: Avenin-sensitive enteropathy
Although oats do contain avenin, there are several studies suggesting that oats can be a part of a gluten-free diet if it is pure. The first such study was published in 1995.[8] A follow-up study indicated that it is safe to use oats even in a longer period.[9]

Additionally, oats are frequently processed near wheat, barley and other grains, such that they become contaminated with other glutens. Because of this, the FAO's Codex Alimentarius Commission officially lists them as a crop containing gluten. Oats from Ireland and Scotland, where less wheat is grown, are less likely to be contaminated in this way.[citation needed]

Oats are part of a gluten-free diet in, for example, Finland and Sweden. In both of these countries there are "pure oat" products on the market.

To you who insisted, I thank you. To those who have gone without - indulge!
Oats - steel cut and rolled, are high in magnesium, iron, protein and goodness.
Can you think of a more satisfying breakfast on these coldest of winter mornings?

Bach to the rescue

It's now next to the yellow clock on the bookshelf, as this little bottle of magic has come in handy four nights this week.
Last night, there was no need, but I'm not ready to take it down just yet.

My baby boy, beside himself with tiredness he just couldn't shake, cries loudly. The first in a string of 9pm melt downs, it had been a while of dancing and singing and dancing and shushing and singing and loving.. and still no rest for him. I remembered the little yellow dropper bottle, and gave him a fast dose of it. I then went back for another dropperful and gave it to myself.

Bach to the rescue. It works every time.

It worked like a charm when my first baby girl had breakdowns. A touch of rescue remedy seemed to rescue all of us at once. It was my magic yellow bottled last try, and I always asked myself afterwards why I hadn't tried that first?

I've even seen it work on a toucan! Dizzy from the an accidental crash into my mother's window, this toucan hit the glass hard and landed on her deck in the jungle in Costa Rica. What an amazing bird. They have this incredibly thin long tongue - it looks like a delicate wooden feather. She was wild eyed and scared - she was flying high and fast when she crashed. Lucky for her, she fell into good hands. My Mama is the gentlest of healers. She held her with one hand and her beak with the other, a dose of rescue remedy and she got straight fast. We all held our breath as she took off with a slight wobble that was replaced quickly with strength and grace into the forest to the branch of a high tree. She was going to be just fine.

So what is this rescue remedy about?

Over 60 years ago, Dr Edward Bach, recognized the need for an emergency treatment to help people cope with such everyday stressful situations and created Rescue Remedy. It is made up of five of the 38 Bach ® Flower Essences:

Rose rock for terror and panic
Impatiens for irritation and impatience
Clematis for inattentiveness
Star of Bethlehem for shock and
Cherry Plum for irrational thoughts.

The flower essences work by treating the negative emotional states of a person. They are helpful in an emergency because the emotions that come up in an emergency are usually on the surface. However, I have seen people take flower essences for long periods of time in order to change deep rooted emotional responses, or to help initiate great life change.

I am constantly amazed at how generous nature is. Everything has a purpose more profound than meets the eye.
May the rains and sun drops bless the flowers!

More info:
rescueremedy.com
http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/faq.htm

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

I love these cold end of year days, the lights strung over the streets in festive bells and stars, candles in neighbors' windows, the smell of fir trees and blue crisp skies. I enjoy the nostalgia for the traditions of my childhood, and for things that maybe never pertained to my family's traditions, but that I would like to pretend were always a part. . .

Chestnuts are a tradition I like to pretend were always a part of December.

My daughter will never remember the first few years of her life. Of course all the goodness is in there imprinted and for that time I am ever grateful. But going on 6 (as she reminds me almost daily), what we do now, she is going to remember. This is the time she gets to take ownership of what her family rituals are, and living far from most of our extended family, I realize it is time for me to take ownership of our traditions, to bring old ones to life and to create new ones with her.

I am up for any activity or notion that connects us to the Earth, to our greater family and ancestors, and most especially if it is connected to a song. When I saw chestnuts being sold at the farmers market, I had to buy a big bag of them and explained to Nina that this was as essential to the season as lighting candles, making holiday gifts and drinking hot cocoa and apple cider. Roasting chestnuts is something we, lucky enough to live in a place where they grow, simply must do to honor the trees and those who harvest.

Chestnut trees have often been called bread trees because their starch content resembles grains more than nuts. They are high in complex carbohydrates and have surprisingly high amounts of vitamin C. They have tons of trace minerals including iron, are warming to the body and are very low in fat. They can be roasted, boiled, mashed like potatoes, made into flour.. what's not to love?

How to roast:

To make peeling them easier (and to avoid explosions), it is most important to cut an x through each chestnut before putting them into the oven. Those close to me know that I only fire up the big oven on very special ocassions (pie and cake and big feast making events). For daily cooking, I usually turn to my trusty toaster oven to get the job done. I preheated my mini oven to 450 before making my x's, and then put them to bake for 20 minutes.

Voila! Perfectly aromatic and absolutely delicious.

The feeling of complete success came of course this morning, when Nina looked at me expectantly and asked, are we roasting chestnuts today after school?

I flash forward ten years and imagine her looking at the calendar as December approaches with delight and expectancy of all the wonderful things we wait all year to do.. of course we'll roast chestnuts today. This is what we do, what we have always done this time of year, in homage of the bread tree.

100 Gratitudes

Inspired by my dear Luisa - thank you for insisting every Thanksgiving on time taken for such a list. Here are my 100 gratitudes for this past year, in no particular order.

1. MarceLo - thank you for your gentle presence, you inspire order and sweetness and love from all of us.

2. Nina - for your wide eyes and heart, your curiousity, respectfulness, and sense of jsutice. You inspire the best in me.

3. JoseLo, my favorite man in all the land, thank you for being such a great partner, and father.

4. My family, spread all over the globe.

5. My friends near and far who live and love in the most authentic ways.

6. For the lucky person who will end up with Mar y Selva - a paradise getaway.

7. For sleepovers and morning coffee.

8. For skype. I am amazed at technology.

9. My block. I love that I can't go a block without seeing people who smile, who also appreciate where we live as a place where good things happen and good people gather.

10. Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian church and espeically the Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble - they are performing Dec. 13th at 4pm and I can't wait.

11. Yoga - and all the talented teachers I have had over the years.

12. My clients, past and present. I am better for you.

13. My mother and mother in law who spent so much time this Fall in support of our new family of four.

14. Miriam Schwartzchild - a wonderful woman and midwife. May your days be blessed.

15. For kindergarten! Kori is the best.

16. Picnics and walks through Fort Greene park.

17. For creating space.

18. For how life can change and does, in an instant.

19. For Cristina and James! May your love be eternal.

20. For the birthday song from PJ, Carol, Johnny, Katie, and Stephanie.

21. For bringing my little brother home so I can squeeze him.

22. For my brother Xavier, who taught me to let things go. For drinking water and for doing the best you can.

23. Knitting with my girl.

24. Lighting a candle at mealtime.

25. My neti pot.

26. For all at Butter Beans!

27. Meghan and Jason - such good solid people and wonderful neighbors. I love all my neighbors!

28. The Park Slope Food Co-op - for looking out for all of us.

29. Sunflower seeds spouts at the Green market

30. So grateful for all the farmers that love our land and grow our food with love and consciousness of the effects our actions today, will have on our future.

31. Barack Obama - for showing up and doing the very best you can, for inspiring the best in people.

32. The staten Island ferry that brings J back to us at night.

33. The gargoyle and wind dial and moon I see out my bedroon window.

34. For visions, and vision boards.

35. Oma - you are an excellent person and beautiful knitter.

36. Maryellen, for your precision in timing and fabric.

37. For loved ones finding love.

38. Ivanda and Angela and Manu. You remind me of the many colors within a rainbow.

39. Languages - being bilingual and learning more.

40. Acupuncture and homeopathy haleluyah.

41. Rebekah and the making of her home.

42. Luisa Rishi Ezekiel and Uma - for your friendship and your love.

43. Christina, for always giving it to me straight.

44. For Ralph and his historical corner store.

45. For the many who came before, who set the stage, who taught us how.

46. For the peace that lives in our hearts, for her expression around the world.

47. Establishing roots, a home from which to grow.

48. Wilder Ray and your beautiful family. You showed me how my heart can grow.

49. Hope - your beautiful smile.

50. A healthy pregnancy and birth.

51. For breastfeeding and forhaving been breastfed.

52. Boots and skirts.

53. The borrowed drill.

54. Being able to fix things with my hands.

55. Zide and her yearly calendars, that I finally use.

56. Beans and grains.

57. Dinosaur kale and kobucha squash.

58. Masaru Emoto, my hero.

59. la gaita, el piano, the music in my home.

60. The guitar I can still learn to play.

61. Joan, her yummy food and generous spirit.

62. The ladies who brought me food every day for two weeks after Cello's birth, thank you for the experience of community.

63. Holly - for always being on the same page.

64. Wooden floors that shine.

65. Quinoa fish soup.

66. My bicycle and my Dad's new one.

67. The men who drive the big yellow school bus that takes Nina in the am and brings her home in the afternoon.

68. Ecuador in my heart.

69. For responsibility.

70. For netflix instant watch and my new laptop that organizes my pictures.

71. Christmas nostalgia in the streets.

72. THE magic swing

73. Tea in small porcelain cups with small friends.

74. Sweet potato pie and rainbow candles.

75. El gato encerrado.

76. The birds that circle on our walk to the bus in the am.

77. The history I feel in the streets in Fort Greene, history that demands the best of us today.

78. Wikipedia and google.com

79. The bowl of walnuts and nutcracker on our kitchen table.

80. Our kitchen table, wooden, loved and big enough for all of us.

81. Sharing keys with Heather and Tomer.

82. Shoshana - responsible for all the scooting mama's around.

83. Mail carriers all over the world. I love your job.

84. for my Olga Fisch rug.

85. Drawing with pencils and pen.

86. My toaster oven and Vita mix.

87. Standing on my own two feet, in an ever more sincere way.

88. For evolution.

89. for M's new stroller.

90. Lantern walks.

91. Gingerbread houses.

92. Simplicity.

93. Henna tattoos.

94. Uraba - faithful beautiful palm.

95. Dave Dyson

96. The forests and people who protect them.

97. Moments with my Love.

98. wool and thread and the time of carols.

99. I am grateful that it only gets better.

100. I am grateful for life is beautiful.

Dr. Rauni Kilde on Swine Flu Conspirancy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=185HKE2c5Gg

My family’s plan to stay healthy through the flu season:

My family’s plan to stay healthy through the flu season:

Eat foods that strengthen our lungs and large intestines.

Your body’s first line of defense are your lungs, and your colon. Most pathogens make their way into the body through the respiratory system, and through food. It is essential to eliminate daily.

What to keep on your shopping list throughout the cold season:

Garlic (a natural antibiotic), ginger (great antiseptic, good for nausea and for clearing mucus in the lungs), peppermint (wonderful digestive aid), apples and pears (strengthening for both the lungs and large intestine, and are wonderfully warming when cooked, cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables – strengthening for the immune system, whole grains especially brown rice (great for brushing out the intestine walls), probiotics to maintain healthy intestinal flora and fauna, digestive enzymes if needed, vitamin D and good essential fatty acids (flax oil or cod liver oil or an EFA blend. I particularly like Udo’s blend udoerasmus.com, but there are plenty of good ones out there).

Things to have in your medicine chest: garlic mullein drops for your ears - great for warding off infection; Nettie pots are excellent for keeping your nasal passages clear, or clearing them out when stuffed up; Natural hand sanitizers are great to have on hand. At our house, everyone washes their hands when coming from the outside.

A few easy remedies that make a world of difference:

At the first sign of a cough slice an inch of fresh ginger into thin slices and put in a pot full of water. Bring to a boil and let boil for 5-7 minutes while you inhale steam with a towel over your head (be careful not to burn yourself!). Then serve with lemon juice and local raw honey.

Another great lung tonic is the above ginger tea mixed with hot pear juice.

Kuzu is great for upset stomachs. Known as a starchy thickening agent that grows wild in the south east of this country, this can be used to make pudding that is soothing and therapeutic.

Chopped garlic with honey and lemon is a powerful antibiotic to take first thing in the morning preventatively or at the first sign of weakness.

What we don’t do:

Eat tropical fruits. They are designed by nature to cool our bodies down. This includes orange juice. To be well, your body needs to be warm.

Eat too many baked goods, bread, and dairy. In excess these can weaken the lungs.

Eat refined sugar or flour. They make for a sluggish digestive system and weaken our immune systems.