Coconut Oil Touted as Alzheimers Remedy

Check out the video below on coconut oil and enjoy this amazing and tasty oil!!!
Coconut Oil Touted as Alzheimers Remedy

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Ryan Foran of Livng the Run radio (ESPN 1280) interviewed me about Ayurveda on Wednesday night, and above is the YouTube link. I didn't expect to see a camera in the room, so it was a little disconcerting, however I think it turned out pretty good. Of course, listening back, I always think of points that I wish I made, but all in all, I think it's a pretty good overview of Ayurveda!

New Year's Tips the Ayurvedic Way

New Year, New You the Ayurvedic Way
Ayurveda, the ancient system of health and wellness from India, recognizes that balance in all areas of our lives is essential for well-being and longevity. For those looking to realize their New Year’s resolutions for a healthier body, mind and spirit,

For Weight Control and Detoxification: Wholesome Foods and Established Eating Routines•

Enjoy your largest meal of the day at lunch – Our digestive fire mirrors the sun; it is highest at noon, meaning we burn more calories during our mid-day meal than any other time. According to Ayurveda, eat enough breakfast to get you to lunch; make lunch your largest meal of the day whenever possible; and eat enough dinner to get you through until the next morning’s breakfast. To maintain or lose weight, finish dinner by 7 p.m., allowing three hours between dinner and bedtime.
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Pay attention when eating – Stay focused on your meal, eating slowly and with attention. Not only will you appreciate your food more, but you will feel satisfied quicker. Avoid eating in front of the computer or TV, or during a stressful conversation.
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Eat wholesome foods – Avoid packaged, processed and frozen foods, opting for fresh produce, dairy and light meats, which are loaded with easy to absorb nutrients, packing a powerful energy punch. Try shopping at your local farmer’s market, or shop the “outside” aisles of your grocery store for the freshest options.
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Drink water, and lots of it! – Drinking half your bodyweight in ounces of pure water daily (i.e. a 150 lb. person should drink 75 ounces) will not only remove toxins, but help you to feel full. Many times you may think you are hungry, when you are actually thirsty, so drink up! Avoid ice, sodas, sugary drinks and coffee.
Helpful RUVED Herbal Formula: Good health begins and ends with digestion, and Triphala is one of the best-known and most revered Ayurvedic formulas for supporting it. The herbal combination in Triphala has been considered the secret to longevity and robust health in Ayurveda for centuries.*
For a Trim, Strong Body: Appropriate Exercise
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Exercise between 6-10 a.m. or around 5-6 p.m. – Ayurveda recognizes daily cycles, and within these cycles, times that are best for various activities, including exercise. Your body will make the most of exercise if performed between these hours.
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Exercise frequently, and in nature– Find a type of exercise that you are passionate about and participate four to six times a week. Setting reachable goals with activities that you enjoy paves the way for success. Ayurveda says we soak up the most “prana” or life force, when exercising in nature, so if the weather is agreeable get outside for a hike or bike ride.
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Practice Yoga –Yoga -particularly a slow and focused practice - creates a state of peace and relaxation for mind, body and spirit, while keeping the body strong and flexible.
Helpful RUVED Herbal Formulas: For muscle and joint support, try CoCurQ or Paingon for a healthy inflammatory response *.

For Stress Reduction: Just Breathe, Meditate and Massage•

Meditate daily – Meditating as little as five minutes every morning can help you center, allowing you to respond (rather than react) to the day’s challenges. Busy mind? Most of us experience this – just a few seconds of a quieted mind can positively influence your entire day! There are many books, websites and meditation organizations to help you find a path that works best for you, regardless of religion.
• Practice breathing techniques - The ancient sages from India recognized the breath as important for balancing and de-stressing one’s body, mind and spirit. One simple technique is simply to take a minute, three times a day, to breathe through your nose into your belly to the count of ten, and then slowly exhale through your nose to the same count. (For more breathing techniques, click here.)
• Give yourself a daily massage - A massage a day can keep the doctor away, and according to a recent Dr. Oz Show, “abhyanga,” or a simple self-massage, is an excellent daily ritual to boost immunity. Abhyanga can make a remarkable difference in de-stressing, nourishing and detoxing the body, as the skin is our largest organ and deeply absorbs what we apply to it.
Helpful RUVED Herbal Formulas: For self-massage, try RUVED Ayurvedic massage oils with medicinal herbs that balance one’s unique constitution, or “dosha.” *
For stress relief, ashwagandha is one of the most highly regarded herbs in Ayurveda, supporting a stable mind function and a restful state. Memoren™, also contains well known Ayurvedic herbs addressing the nervous system, stress-relief and memory support. *

For Sleep: Early to Bed, Early to Rise•

Go to bed at 10 p.m. and wake at 6 a.m.– Follow the rhythms of nature: hit the sack by 10 p.m., and wake up at approximately 6 a.m. Sleeping during these hours facilitates the best rest and healing functions of the body. The later you go to bed, the more difficult it will be to fall asleep, as you miss the body’s prime time for shifting into sleep.
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Make sure your bedroom is free from distractions such as television and excessive light in order to support solid sleep. Invest in an eye mask if outside lights shine into your room.

Helpful RUVED Herbal Formulas: Again, try ashwagandha to help calm a busy mind.
Following these daily routines will bring you back to a harmonious and energetic state in no time, allowing you to put your best foot forward in 2012.

Here's an easy recipe for making your own ghee. Save a few bucks by doing it yourself. It's really good to add more ghee to your diet during the fall...

Oven-made Ghee
Makes about 2 cups
It is critical to use organic, unsalted butter to make ghee!
1 pound organic, unsalted butter
Preheat the oven to 215 degrees F. Put the butter in a 1½ to 2 quart casserole or oven-proof pot. Place the butter in the oven without a lid and allow it to clarify, undisturbed, for 2 hours. As it boils and foams the water content vaporizes and if you open the oven you'll hear tiny, sharp crackling noises.
The ghee is ready when it:
• Changes from a cloudy yellow to clear golden color
• Develops a popcorn-like aroma
• Stops foaming and making crackling noises
• Milk solids form on the bottom of the pot
Pour the ghee through a fine sieve or through several layers of cheesecloth into a clean, dry glass storage jar, so that you straining out the milk solids, which you will then discard. When the ghee is completely cool, cover tightly and store in a dry place away from direct sun light. It doesn't require refrigeration. Always use a clean spoon to dip into it.

Easy cleanse for September

I've decided that I've procrastinated long enough on my cleanse, so am officially jumping into the detox routine today! I'm doing an easier cleanse than I usually do (I tend to go to extremes) with a lot more "allowed" foods. Items that are a no-no include alcohol, black tea and coffee, red meat, wheat, dairy, potatoes, bread, pasta, etc. (Oh, and sugar...) In other words, I'll be eating lots of veggies. It's actually not that different than I normally eat, so it won't be too hard. I get tempted by the sugary treats and bread, so it will be good to eliminate those. If anyone is interested in trying this cleanse, let me know and I will share the details with you! Happy Labor Day :)

Kitcheree recipe

I thought I had posted this recipe a long time ago, but it looks like I haven't! The Ayurvedic dish "Kitcheree" consists of mung beans and rice primarily, with spices that assist with digestion and overall cleansing. Now that I am on a simple cleanse for the month, I will be making lots of this, and thought I'd share it as well. Enjoy! (post any questions that you may have)

KICHADI RECIPE

Great for balancing all three doshas!

• 1/3 C white basmati rice
• ½ C split mung beans (available at the Natural Foods Coop in San Luis Obispo)
• 5 C water, or use a veggie stock
• 1 tsp to 2 T fresh grated ginger root, less with high Pitta
• ¼ tsp. cumin seeds or ½ tsp. ground cumin
• ¼ tsp. mustard seeds (can omit if high pitta)
• ½-1 tsp coriander seeds or 1 tsp ground coriander
• ¼ tsp. fennel seeds
• 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
• 1 clove garlic (omit if Pitta)

Heat up spices on the bottom of the pot, stirring constantly for about 1 or 2 minutes, until aromatic. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil for about 5 minutes, and then reduce heat to medium-low. As rice and beans are cooking, chop and add vegetables such as:
Carrots
Zucchini
Broccoli

After bringing water to a boil, simmer for approximately 30 minutes – until most of the liquid is absorbed, but the consistency is smooth, not mushy and sticky.

When done, take the pot off the heat and add ghee or salt/braggs liquid amino acids to taste!

It is better for your digestion to use split mung beans (and even better if you soak them overnight. However, you can use whole mung beans; however you will need to adjust the cooking time to about 45 minutes

Esalen Kale Salad

As promised on Facebook, here's my absolute favorite recipe for kale, from one of my favorite spots in the world, Esalen in Big Sur. And, because it is summer, eating it raw is fine for all doshas, especially pitta! Kale is highly nutritious and really good for cleansing the digestive system. Really, I can't get enough of this salad - enjoy :)


1/3 cup Bragg Liquid Aminos or tamari soy sauce (I like tamari better)
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup flax seed or extra virgin olive oil ( I use olive oil)
1/2 medium- sized red onion
1/4 cup sunflower seeds (you can cheat and get these already roasted, unsalted)
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds (I didn't have sesame seeds the other day, so just used more pumpkin seeds)
1 lb. fresh kale (or about 2 big bunches)
1/2 cup sunflower sprouts
1 avocado, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (optional)
1 cup thinly sliced shiitake or crimini mushrooms (optional - I typically don't add these))

Combine the Bragg or soy sauce and lemon juice in a blender or whisk in a bowl. Slowly dribble in the oil as the blender turns or as you whisk vigorously. Slice the onion into thin half-moons and marinate in the dressing as you prepare the rest of the salad.

Toast the seeds in a heavy bottomed pan over medium heat until seeds are just golden and fragrant (cast iron skillet is the best). Toast each seed type separately as their size requires varying roasting times. Cool to room temperature.

De-stem the kale. Stack the kale leaves and slice or tear into 1/4 inch ribbons. This is the most important step so make sure that you take your time. The success of this recipe lies in cutting the kale into small ribbons and in completely massaging the kale with the dressing.

Toss the seeds, sprouts, and kale together in the marinated onions and as much dressing as necessary to lightly but completely dress the kale. Massage the dressing into the kale with your hands. Add the avocado and mushrooms if using and toss again with your hands.

Serves 4-6!