Eat. Play. Love.

Baby got backed up?

With my upcoming PLAYdetox with Chelsea Calhoun of Groove Dance Fitness, I thought I’d use a few blog posts to highlight the process of detoxification and its importance to vibrant health. If you’re new to detoxing, you may wonder why you should consider it. Well, if you think about it, you cleanse many things including your home, car (unless you’re my husband…sorry, Cutie), garden and even the outside of your body (at least we hope so). Now, how often do you clean out your insides? Food poisoning, the flu and colonoscopies DO NOT count!

First, your organs need a break just like everything else, and the best way to rest your organs is to take pressure off of the digestive system. This can be accomplished by consuming 1)less food and 2)nutrient-dense foods that are easy to digest, nurture the body and support detoxification pathways. When you overuse the body, it starts to break down because it becomes overloaded and gunked up with toxins which create imbalances in the body’s organ systems. So think of detoxification as a way to reboot, renew and rejuvenate. We’ll talk more about supportive nutrient-dense foods in upcoming posts.

Secondly, we most likely need to detox because of either nutritional deficiencies or dietary excesses. We eat too many processed foods, yet we don’t consume enough nutrients. On top of it, the body has to steal nutrients from itself to deal with the “food-like” substances that we consume and other stressors such as pollution, pesticide exposure and a screaming boss or child. Finally, we over-consume food in general, particularly congesting foods such as sugar, refined flours, coffee, rancid fats and alcohol. These excessive foods cause inflammation, pain, sickness and excess acid in the body.

Thirdly, stress, negative thinking, food allergens, toxins, a sedentary lifestyle or too much exercise, dehydration and a poor diet contribute to excess acid in the body, thus disturbing its delicate pH balance. If you’ve been following the holistic health community, you probably have heard about the importance of alkalizing the body. This is because the body likes to keep the blood’s pH between 7.3 and 7.4. In particular, stress, negative thinking and refined foods cause the blood to become too acidic which depletes our cells of oxygen and damages cell membranes and tissues. Remember, we live and die at the cellular level so it’s important to take care of those cells! A sedentary lifestyle and dehydration further exacerbate the problem. This acidity and stagnation of wastes can cause a host of problems including weight gain, joint pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, headaches, migraines, brain fog, gout, acne, frequent colds and other illnesses, food allergies, cardiovascular disease, hormonal imbalances, infertility, yeast overgrowth, constipation and other bowel disorders, low energy, depression, kidney stones and diabetes.

Fourthly, we are inundated with environmental toxins. These chemicals can be found in our food, water supply, body care products, the air we breathe, carpets, furniture fabrics, mattresses, clothing, cars, household and gardening products, medications, plastics, paints, electronic devices and packaging. Here is a comprehensive list of the most common toxins found in our bodies. Not only do these toxins wreak havoc on the digestive system, but they often disrupt the endocrine (hormonal) and nervous systems and may eventually cause cancer. Symptoms of toxic exposure include fatigue, headache, allergies, illness, twitching eyelids, muscle aches, joint pain, vision loss, memory issues, brain fog, hair loss, swollen lymph nodes, sinusitis, loss of libido, impotence, sleep disturbances and skin eruptions. I bet you’re starting to see a pattern!

Fifthly, stress and negative thinking are the BIGGEST toxins out there. Some experts say that negative thoughts and emotions cause two to three more times acid build-up in the body then from the ingestion of acidic foods. Now, that is profound. So if you’re eating poorly and stressed out most of the time (hello, America), you’re setting yourself up for disaster. Regularly cleansing of the mind and the incorporation of affirmations, positive thoughts and/or prayers is imperative to maintaining good health and keeping serious illnesses at bay.

In a nutshell, stress, processed foods and toxic exposure causes our elimination systems to become overwhelmed and backed up. Think of your car filter or HEPA filter in your vacuum or house ventilation system. They get gunked up and don’t work as well after awhile and require cleaning or replacement. Well, it’s difficult to replace your liver, kidneys, skin, blood, bowels, lungs and lymphatic system so you’re only option is to find a lifestyle and cleansing program that supports your body’s natural detoxification processes.

Now detoxification isn’t as scary as you think. Stay tuned and consider cleansing the body, decluttering the mind and lifting your spirits with the PLAYdetox!

Happy Valentine’s Day, Everyone!

In honor of the big day, I thought I’d share a recipe with you that I created last night. It was a soup full of flavor, beta-carotene and other powerful anti-oxidants. I call it, SunCarBochaSnip Soup. You’re thinking, what the hell is that, Kim? Well, it’s a yummy soup I concocted using sunchokes (also known as Jerusalem artichokes), carrots, Kabocha squash and parsnips. Hey, it’s what was in the fridge last night! As I was chopping these beauties, I realized that with all of this fiber, it must be a damn good soup for the heart – and the gut, too. So, I roasted them and turned them into a tasty, warming soup.

Want to know why these winter veggies are heart healthy?

Well, let’s start with our sunchoke friends. Full of inulin and fructooligosaccharides, these sunflower and artichoke relatives serve as a great pre-biotic for the healthy gut flora. Basically, pre-biotics feed the good bacteria, also known as probiotics, in your intestines which allows your digestive system to flow and work properly. Also, studies show that inulin helps your heart by lowering blood glucose, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. It’s also helpful with preventing the growth of certain cancers. One final note on this most romantic day of the year, Dr. K. M. Nadkarni, author of the Indian Materia Medica, says that sunchokes are an aphrodisiac and enhancer of semen production! Who knew?

Carrots of course are full of carotenoids which are amazing antioxidants that prevent cancer. They too can help with lowering blood sugar levels and their coumarin content can help prevent blood clotting. Of course this amazing root vegetable is important to eye health, lung health and the health of the body’s other surface tissues (such as the gut lining). If you believe in food energetics, this makes sense. Carrots are roots that are soothing to the digestive system and soak up nutrients for the carrot plant. The digestive system does the same for us which supports the theory that carrots are good for the gut! Anything that is good for the gut, is good for the heart, too.

Full of fiber and vitamin C, winter squash such as Kabocha are a great way to incorporate sweetness in your diet without the refined sugars. Dr. Thomas Levey, Board Certified Cardiologist and author of Stop America’s #1 Killer says the “the lower your vitamin C blood and tissue levels go, the greater your chances of developing significant heart disease.” Like sweet potatoes and carrots, winter squash are also high in carotenoids which protect your body from a variety of cancers. In addition, winter squash are full of potassium which is an important electrolyte for the heart and circulation in the body.

So what about parsnips? These tasty root vegetables are full of fiber and contain about the same amount of calcium as milk. Calcium, of course, is an important mineral essential for heart beat regulation among other things. They are a good source of potassium, too, which is an important heart nutrient. Parsnips are one of my favorite vegetables to add to soup; however, they do impart a strong flavor so keep that in mind.

So, I think you’re ready for the SunCarBochaSnip Soup recipe. Unfortunately, I don’t measure so you’ll have to improvise a bit. Enjoy!

SunCarBocaSnip Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 Kabocha squash (you could substitute any winter squash)
• 5-6 carrots
• 5-6 sunchokes
• 2 parsnips
• 2 onions
• handful of fresh parsley
• stock (homemade is best, but you can also use water or a pre-packaged variety)
• 1 TBSP-ish curry powder
• 1 TBSP-ish paprika
• 1 TBSP-ish cumin
• ½ TBSP-ish chile pepper
• sea salt and pepper to taste
• dollop of yogurt or sour cream on top (optional)

Directions:

1. Slice squash, carrots, sunchokes and parsnips. Place in a dish with a little bit of water and roast in the oven at 375 deg for about 45 minutes. Add some olive oil towards the end.
2. Dice the onion and add to a pan with oil (coconut or olive if you keep the heat low). Add the dry the seasonings.
3. Add stock or water.
4. Add roasted veggies and simmer. Add fresh parsley. Adjust seasonings.
5. Puree with an immersion blender.

Winter is here and “germs” are everywhere. Guess what? They always have been. Unfortunately, germs are blamed as the cause of sickness when a weak immune system is the real culprit. Why are our immune systems weak? A variety of factors contribute to this weakness including stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, lack of exercise, overuse of alcohol or medications and dehydration.

So what can you do to support your immune system this winter? I suggest adding alkaline, nutrient-dense foods in your diet such as chlorophyll-rich greens like kale, parsley and cabbage, anti-microbial veggies such as garlic, high-mineral sea veggies and other seasonal goodies. In addition, fats such coconut oil (high in lauric acid), butter from pastured cows (high in vitamin A, E, selenium and conjugated linoleic acid) and cod liver oil (high in vitamins A and D) are great immune system builders. Flax oil, fish oils and wild-caught, cold water fish such as salmon and sardines contain omega-3 essential fatty acids which reduce inflammation in the body. Also, be sure to incorporate lacto-fermented foods and/or a good probiotic which build healthy intestinal flora and support immune system health. Lacto-fermented foods include sauerkraut, kimchee, miso, kefir and yogurt, to name a few.

In addition to fat, make sure you are getting enough good quality protein in your diet. This can be from sprouted or soaked legumes, pastured meats or wild-caught fish. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and support the growth, repair and maintenance of every system in the body. Without it, your body doesn’t have the building blocks it needs to support your immune system. Be sure to balance your animal and vegetarian sources of protein. Everyone is different. Some people need more animal protein sources and less vegetarian protein, while others benefit from more vegetarian protein sources. Start with a 50/50 ratio and experiment! You may find that you need more protein or a particular type of protein during certain seasons or when you engage in more activities.

Remember that poor diets can lead to leaky gut syndrome, compromised digestion, nutritional deficiencies and Candida overgrowth (yeast). The health of the gut is very important to the health of your immune system. If you experience allergies, skin conditions, gas or bloating, for example, you may need to look a closer look at your diet, stress levels and digestive system health. If you’re feeling rundown, it’s really important to cut back on sugar, refined carbs, alcohol and commercial dairy. The sugars in these products feed the opportunistic bacteria and yeast. In addition, water supports the mucosal lining of the gut where the friendly microbes live, so make sure you are hydrating well in the colder months.

Regular, appropriate exercise and sunlight (rich in immune-system boosting vitamin D) have been found to support a healthy immune system. Be careful with working out too much however, because for some it can weaken the immune system further. Some people benefit more from intense workouts, while others benefit more from more calming workout such as walking or yoga (although yoga can be quite intense as well). The important thing is to move your body regularly and listen to it.

In addition to eating well and exercising, getting plenty of sleep and relaxation will protect you from most viruses and other infections. Make sure you have time to decompress everyday. It can be staring into space, closing your eyes to meditate or visualizing something soothing or joyful. In my opinion, this is the most effective way to stay healthy, even if you consume a lot of junk. Guess what? People who eat well but don’t rest get sick. Create a self-nourishment or play menu and pick something from it each and every day. It can be as simple as giving someone a hug, smiling more, going for a long walk or enjoying a cup of tea or glass of wine with a loved one.

So instead of worrying about the flu vaccine and stocking up on hand-sanitizer, put your time and and energy into eating well, relaxing, playing and loving yourself and others a little more. As they say, laughter truly is the best medicine.

If there is one thing all of us could use a little more of, it’s time for play. Sometimes incorporating more fun and play into our lives seems like a daunting (perhaps even stressful) task. Who has the time between work, family, friends and keeping up with housework and cooking meals? Although it might seem like another thing on our “to do” lists, play is very important to our happiness, health and spiritual growth. On a physical level, it calms the nervous system and keeps our cortisol levels in check. When our cortisol levels are elevated, the immune system is suppressed. In addition, there is a correlation between high cortisol levels, increased blood sugar levels and extra abdominal body fat. On a spiritual level, play is a way of connecting to our inner child and our real selves that we often forget as we go about our busy adult lives. Play helps us find our center. It brings a smile to our faces and what’s the point of living if we don’t enjoy it?

So you’re convinced you need to play more, but aren’t sure how to make it happen. Well, Chelsea Calhoun of Groove Dance Fitness and I have partnered together to bring you PLAY – Play. Love. Achieve Youthfulness. PLAY is an innovative program designed to help you transition into a healthier lifestyle that is carefree and effortless. Our interactive approach and informal group setting provides an opportunity for maximum support and growth. You’ll find enjoyment in discovering new foods, experiencing alternative forms of traditional physical activity and practicing self-nourishment.

We’ll show you how to PLAY spontaneously, how to schedule in PLAYtime and how to incorporate PLAY into life’s seemingly mundane tasks. If you’re interested in learning a few powerful tools to bring more PLAY and joy into your daily routine, please join us for a FREE orientation on February 6th at 7pm at Signature Blue Events. Chelsea and I will give you a taste of how PLAY can help you create a vibrant, joyful life. This winter’s program at Signature Blue Events will focus on mindful eating, cravings, hydration and how to make movement an integral part of your day.

Looking ahead, we’ll be offering PLAY Detox in March. This program will give you the tools needed to incorporate a gentle, yet effective cleansing program into your spring cleaning routine. By detoxing your body with the help of an experienced Health Coach and Nutritional Consultant and Fitness Professional, you will have more energy, clearer thinking and better digestion. You will spend one week easing into and planning for the detox, two weeks detoxing and one week re-introducing foods and preparing the body for a healthy new routine. For more information, visit PLAY Detox. There is a special discount for participants who sign up for both PLAY and PLAY detox.

In the meantime, stay tuned here for PLAYtips…

Eat & Drink Mindfully.

I’m not saying to skip the cookies and the wine, (and not just because those happen to be my favorite things) but enjoy them mindfully. Believe it or not, our bodies do know when to stop if we are paying attention. Alas, we often get caught up in the excitement of social gatherings and ignore the signals (flares in some cases) our bodies are giving us. Enjoy your food, slowly. Savor each bite and sip. Now, if you overdo it, don’t beat yourself up as this is not helpful and creates even more guilt and anxiety during the Holidays. When we have negative feelings or anxiety around particular foods, it creates a stress response in the body. Cortisol levels raise, blood sugar levels rise and a host of other physiological responses that create weight gain. Enjoy it, call it an experiment and let it go. Stay mindful and just notice how the food or beverage affects you right after you eat or drink it, a few hours after you consume it and even a day or so after the event. How’s your mood? Energy levels? Digestion? Are you having any cravings?Also, if you reduce sugar and highly processed foods where you can and cook whole, nutrient-dense foods at home, you’ll still manage to keep your energy levels up, maintain good digestion and keep your mood stable. Finally, remember to drink your water! Although the weather might be frightful and it feels as though your water needs are less when it’s cold, many of the foods and beverages we consume (i.e. refined carbs, alcohol, animal protein, sugar and caffeine) during the Holidays actually increases our need for hydration.

Deconstruct Your Cravings.

What are you craving? Why do you think you’re craving chocolate? Sometimes cravings are due to either a lack of nutrients or an over-abundance of certain foods. For example, to little or two much protein or fat can cause cravings. In addition, an overabundance of sugar and refined carbs in the diet can create sweet cravings. Cravings can also be due to dehydration, hormones, stress or a desire to embrace the seasons by incorporating particular foods. Perhaps your life is missing some sort of sweetness this time of year or reminds you of a happy time in your life that you are looking to re-create. Cravings aren’t a bad thing. They are your body’s way of telling you something important so embrace them? Understanding them will help you to make lifestyle changes that will result in increased energy and happiness.

Be Grateful.

In order to make room for more blessings, we first need to count the blessings we currently have in our lives. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season and to forget what truly matters. Consider naming then things that you are truly thankful for every morning when you wake up. Your blessings can range from the comfy sheets on your bed to your children and other significant others. It’s important to affirm the gifts the Universe has given us to remind us how lucky we are to be here so we take nothing for granted.

Be Bad.

If you don’t get all your decorations in place, gifts perfectly wrapped or your Holiday cards signed and mailed, let it go. There will be other Holidays. How fortunate are we to have homes to decorate? Gifts to wrap? Friends and family to send cards too? Amen to that! We often have unhealthy expectations of ourselves and other people that result in undue stress. Enjoy this time of year. Only do what you’re moved to do. Don’t feel pressured to keep up with your friends and neighbors and make unrealistic goals for yourself. Let it go and lose the guilt. Your friends and family will still love you. I promise.

Remember Self-Nourishment.

We often have a tendency to get caught up in doing things for others during the Holidays. Just remember that you’re only as good to others as you are to yourself. If you don’t recharge, how effective will you really be? Incorporate down time. It will go a long way to keeping you chipper and energized during the Holidays. Your family and friends will thank you. Plus, this is a great time of year to re-connect with ourselves and reflect on what our souls are calling us to do and who to be.

Are you dreaming of a Green Christmas? Consider eco-friendly and socially responsible gifts, and present them in reusable gift bags or some type of recycled gift wrap (i.e. fabric, recycled paper). A donation to your friend’s favorite charity is also a nice option. You also may consider drawing names and organizing a secret gift exchange with your family or group of friends so that you’re not buying presents for everyone. This saves time, money, resources and sanity. As far as Holiday cards go, why not send recycled cards or even e-cards which save on stamps and paper?

If you’re throwing a Holiday party, consider entertaining with real plates, silverware and napkins. If you ‘re having a larger party, use eco-friendly disposables. Finally, decorate with natural materials such as winter greens, berries, pine cones and forced bulbs. It’s always nice to cut a tree from a local tree farm, but be sure to check with your municipality to see where it can be recycled into mulch or habitat for local fauna. If you are on the fence between purchasing an artificial tree or harvesting one from a tree farm, check out this video from the Nature Conservancy which talks about the top reasons to buy a real tree. It’s great for your family, the environment and the local agricultural economy.  If you need to purchase new indoor/outdoor lights, consider LED’s which are 90 percent more efficient than traditional lights.

Please comment with your Green Holiday Tips here!

Get Out & Get Moving.

It’s really important for both our physical and mental health to step out into the sunshine and fresh air this time of year. If you’re limited by daylight hours and can’t take a walk at lunch, bundle up and venture out with a loved one on a starry night. Regardless of whether or not you can get out, it’s important to continue to exercise this time of year in particular because it helps with blood sugar regulation which tends to be an issue for many of us when we’re surrounded by sugar-laden treats. It’s also helpful to soak up vitamin D when you can which is essential for a healthy immune system

Slow Down.

Although, you want to keep moving, you also don’t want to swing in the complete opposite direction and overdo it. Make sure that you take time for yourself. In addition to incorporating some daily self-nourishment techniques, be careful of how many obligations you take on this Holiday season. We have a tendency to try and make every event in addition to hosting our own events, no matter how unrealistic or unpleasant this may be. Make a conservative plan of how many events you can attend and/or host this month and stick to it! If you feel like being alone, honor that. It’s important to take time to connect with ourselves and refill that well. Although it seems counter-intuitive, we are more productive and grounded when we take some extra time each day to relax and recharge. Remember that old saying. Don’t worry. Be happy.

Embrace Sweet Vegetables & Sweet Spices.

Incorporating sweet winter vegetables such as parsnips, carrots, rutabagas, sweet potatoes and winter squash into your diet is a healthy way to satisfy sweet cravings or prevent them in general. They beauty of these hearty sweet vegetables is that they can be used in savory dishes as well as desserts. Aduki beans and short brown rice and also be used to create healthy sweet treats. You can also experiment with spices such as allspice, cloves, coriander, cardamom, nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon which impart a sweet flavor to any dish. Cinnamon, cloves and bay leaves have been found to triple insulin’s ability to metabolize sugar and remove it from the blood so use them liberally this Holiday season!

Experiment with Natural Sweeteners.

Why use sweet vegetables and natural sweeteners in our Holiday cooking and baking? Refined sugars interfere with the absorption and transport of many important nutrients. Sugar and refined carbohydrates increase the excretion of B vitamins, vitamin C and most minerals including calcium, magnesium and chromium. In addition, minerals such as chromium, manganese and zinc are in short supply in the average diet (partly due to diet and partly due to the lack of minerals in our soils) and are needed to control blood sugar levels. Experimenting with natural sweeteners that still contain fiber, vitamins and minerals can keep your body from depleting vital nutrients and becoming acidic.

Consider trying one or more of the following, this Holiday season:

raw honey
date sugar
blackstrap molasses
raw unrefined cane sugar (Rapadura)
coconut crystals
palm sugar
stevia
brown rice syrup

It’s that time of year again when we begin to think about cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potato souffle, baked corn, collard greens, sauerkraut, oyster dressing and TURKEY. Unfortunately, so many folks get caught up on which color meat to eat from the turkey that they forget to consider the quality of the bird! One of the most important aspects of the Thanksgiving turkey is the TASTE. There are a variety of heritage breeds out there that are known for their deliciousness! There are a variety of factors that influence the flavor of the turkey including the age of the animal, how it was raised and what it was fed. When turkeys are foraging for insects and grubs in the grass, they tend to have a deeper, richer flavor.

If you were planning to order a Butterball from the grocery store, think again. This year, consider a pasture-raised turkey from your local farmer. It’s widely known that turkeys are a good source of protein, selenium, vitamins B3 and B6, phosphorus and zinc. If you’re new to pastured-raised turkeys, you may not be aware that studies have shown they are able to produce conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) from the grass they eat. This fat is known to aid in weight loss, balance blood sugar levels, fight cancer due to its antioxidant properties and enhances the immune system. In addition, pasture-raised turkeys are higher in Omega-3s, vitamin A, vitamin E and folic acid than their Butterball counterparts. This makes pasture raised turkey an excellent choice for your Thanksgiving meal!

In addition, there are benefits to pastured turkeys because of what’s NOT in them. Most commercial turkeys contain antibiotics, hormones, arsenic (small amounts can be found in the pesticides that wind up in many of the commercial feeds) and chlorine (birds are soaked in high levels of chlorine to kill pathogens). These practices, combined with the health benefits of pastured turkeys, make the quest for them worth it.

So perhaps you’re sold on a pastured turkey for Thanksgiving but aren’t sure how to procure one. Fortunately, there are a variety of healthy, local sources out there waiting for your order! For the past two years, I have purchased my pastured turkeys from Lynne Ferguson of Ferguson Family Farms. She’s dedicated to providing a quality product from an animal that is happy and healthy. Lynne knows that you are what you eat! If you’re not in the Baltmore/DC area, check out your local farmers market or search for poultry farmers in your area on-line through Eat Wild.

Ferguson Family Farm's turkeys at the Greenbelt Farmers Market. Photo by Karl Gary.

Because the texture and flavor of a pastured turkey is different than your standard supermarket bird, I’m sharing a few tips from Bechard Family Farms on how to cook a pastured turkey. The key to a moist turkey is perfecting the brine and not overcooking it. My family generally incorporates water, brown sugar and kosher sea salt in the brine, but I recently found this delicious recipe from The Pioneer Woman that I had to share! My husband, Joe has had a great deal of luck the last couple of years using the rotisserie attachment on the grill. After basting it with olive oil, butter, sea salt and pepper, he and my mom throw the bird on the rotisserie for 3 to 4 hours or until the internal temperature reached about 160 degrees.

Turkey Brine from The Pioneer Woman

While perusing Rita Calvert’s, The Grassfed Gourmet Fires It Up!, I discovered The Whole Holiday Bird on the Grill: Brined Heritage Turkey with Chunky Cherry Glaze. Yum! This recipe appears on Homestead Gardens blog so that you can enjoy it now if you don’t have the book (which I highly recommend).

Also, just because the turkey meat is gone, it doesn’t mean that the joy of the Thanksgiving meal is over. If you usually toss the carcass, think again. A mineral rich bone stock with your leftover organs and turkey carcass is just what the doctor ordered. The stock makes a nutrient-dense base for your favorite soup, grain and bean recipes. I use this recipe each fall to make my stock for the winter. It’s nutritious and adds a rich flavor to my favorite recipes.

If you explore centering your Thanksgiving meal around a feathered friend from the pasture, I do hope that you’ll post a comment about your experience here. Happy Turkey Day!