Tapping Into Possibilities

ABC it’s as Easy as 123

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A is for Avocado. Avocados are not just for guacamole; they are a super food and delicious. They have the “good” fats, the ones your body needs in order to absorb and use the fat soluable vitamins A, D, E & K. They have protein, fiber, B vitamins, antioxidants and more potassium than a banana. Studies show they are anti-inflammatory and promote heart health. Dr. Susan Blum, MD., author of The Immune System Recovery Plan believes than ¼-½   of an avocado per day will balance your cortisol levels (think stress) and relieve adrenal fatigue.

B is for Basil. Basil is so much more than just a seasoning herb that is native to India and tropical Asia. Basil’s flavonoids protect cell structures. It is a good source of vitamin A and magnesium. It is anti-inflammatory; it’s volatile oils have been shown to inhibit the COX enzyme, the same mechanism as anti-inflammatories NSAIDs such as Aleve and Motrin.

C is for Cantaloupe. All orange flesh melons are excellent sources of vitamins C & A and good sources of potassium, many B vitamins, vitamin K, magnesium and fiber. One study showed lower c-reactive protein (CRP) levels in those who ate more cantaloupe and CRP is the best marker of inflammation levels in your body.

I wish we had an Avocado tree as my daughter does in southern California but no such luck for us east coasters. However, Avocados are readily available wherever you live and the bonus is that the rough skin that gives it the nick name Alligator Pear means you don’t have to buy it organically (it’s not on the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Dirty Dozen List).

You really have no excuse for not growing your own Basil. It will easily grow year round on a window sill.

Its Cantaloupe season in the mid-Atlantic and as I try to eat locally, seasonally and organically as much as possible I’ll eat as many DelMarVa melons as I can this month.

ABC it’s as easy as 123 Smoothie  

¼- ½ Avocado                                                                                                                                 2-5 leaves Basil                                                                                                                                   1 ½ cups cubed frozen Cantaloupe                                                                                                   1-3 Tbs honey                                                                                                                               Juice of 1 lime                                                                                                                                   ¼-½ cup coconut water or water                                                                                                 ½ cup ice cubes

1. Partially thaw Cantaloupe and add to blender

2. Add remaining ingredients to blender, starting with 2 leaves Basil

3. Add more Basil, ice, water depending on your taste and desired consistency

Refreshing, Thirst Quenching, Nutritious & Delicious – this is what DIY Health & Wellness is all about.

 

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for medical counseling. Intentional Health and DIY Health & Wellness does not treat, prevent, cure, or diagnose any disease or ailment.

 

 

 

 

ONE WISH

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As we deconstruct the tree and listen to the holiday songs that we are not totally sick of for one last time, I have played over and over Whitney Houston’s One Wish from her 2003 album One Wish. It still gives me goose bumps – is it her voice, the music, the words, the message?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-tRbKAnguw

It hit me that this message is what is really on the other side of what happens when the “world ends”.

Was the message from the Mayans and all the other “ancients” that at some point, perhaps at a specific point in time, that conflicts must end and that we must  “all  come together  as one”.

What I find interesting, fascinating and downright amazing is that the same date the Mayans identified as the “time of no time” (versus the end of the world that some “religious” groups named this time in order to instill fear, separation, guilt & submission in people) is also the end of the Age of Pisces and the beginning of the Age of Aquarius.

Astronomically, the scientists have known since the 1960’s when they “discovered” the photon band that 2012 is the culmination of a 26,000 year cycle of the sun/earth rotation around our Galactic center. Ancient cultures including the Egyptians, Chinese and Sumerians as well as the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas also knew about this 26,000 year cycle called the Great Year.

“Coincidentally” 2012 coincides with the zodiac calendar where it takes, give or take, 2160 years for the sun/earth to move through the signs of the zodiac.

And for you astrology experts forgive my over-simplification….

Pisces = A Water sign of 2 Fish = Conflict, duality, choice, wars over religion ideology, beliefs

Aquarius = Also a Water sign but where Water is fully given to all = non duality, no conflict, knowledge replaces divisive beliefs, no more war

Which age would you rather live in, which world, which time?

Give me the Age of Aquarius anytime and definitely Let the Sun Shine In

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjxSCAalsBE

 

 

 

 

 

Water: The Foundation of a Healthy Body

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You could spend hours and hours on the internet reading about water and your health. Believe me, I’ve done it and you still won’t find agreement as to how much is too much, how much is too little and do you count fruits and vegetables. Please tell me how you could possibly calculate how much water is in your 9 servings of fruits and vegetables? Please don’t; this is not what’s important.

What you do need to know: Water makes up approximately 70% of the body’s tissues and plays a role in nearly every bodily function from regulating temperature and cushioning joints to bringing oxygen to the cells and removing waste from the body. Dehydration can affect blood pressure, circulation, digestion and kidney function and even slight dehydration on a daily basis can cause fatigue, dry skin, headaches and constipation. Even a slight imbalance in water may cause confused electrical messages to misdirect the muscles of the body.

An average of 2.7 quarts of water is lost every day and must be replaced to maintain homeostasis (the maintenance of normal, internal stability). The water you drink goes into every cell so the quantity and quality of the water you drink is critical to good health.

Water is my medicine of choice. While water is not an absolute cure-all, it must be recognized as the base and primary ingredient to every preventive and healing process within our body.

For me, 64 oz is my daily minimum. When I exercise, it’s more. And if you’re not a big water drinker, take note: your wrinkles look deeper if you’re dehydrated!

Our water quality is the only part of our environment that we can easily obtain total control over. With an abundant intake of clean healthy water we allow our body to perform all the healing processes it is naturally capable of.