April 08 Newsletter

April - A springtime cleanse

You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present.
Jan Gliddwell

Hi,

This is my first newsletter and there is no better time than spring, as Passover is getting closer: a time of purification, cleansing and regeneration. People who know me know that for many months I have been on the Tel Aviv - New York track. Once a month I pack my bag + a picnic (of course I do not eat the airplane food!) and get on the flight to New York, as if I'm getting on a bus headed to the next city. All this effort in order to study holistic nutrition at IIN - The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, in the most materialistic city on earth - NYC.

Insane, I know, but the most accurate thing for me right now. And from this experience I realize taht there aren't many things as exciting as taking a leap, allowing life to catch us,
showing us the way.

For me, 2008 is a year of deep changes, a year of releasing many things that don't fit my life anymore. At Passover we always do a thorough house cleaning but what about our inner home? Which inner things are we dragging around for years when it is time we shed them and truly free ourselves. People like "stuff". We tend to hold onto things year after year. We save and stock up on things that we don't know what to do with anymore. Maybe we keep things because they hold precious memories of days gone by, or they remind us of our parents, grandparents, past loves or childhood. To part with these precious possessions seems out of the question. There is a saying that goes, "You have to get rid of the old to make way for the new". If you are feeling stuck or stagnant in your life, try spring-cleaning. Throw out some of that stuff, say goodbye to your past and welcome the new energy of your happy, healthy future.

For good mental and physical health, we actually have two "houses" that need to be spring-cleaned: our physical homes and our physical bodies. Just as we accumulate "stuff" in the form of outgrown clothes, magazines, rusty bicycles, tools and random keepsakes, so do our bodies accumulate old food residues and toxins that need to be cleaned out.

To spring clean your body, give it a break from rich and complicated foods by either cleansing or fasting for a short period of time. Cleansing means paring down your food to just simple fruits and vegetables, lots of water and perhaps whole grains. Fasting means limiting most foods and drinking lots of water, fresh vegetable and fruit juices, teas and soups. Without much energy going toward digestion, more energy is available for the rest of your body and mind. Cleansing and fasting can sharpen your concentration, help you gain insight and promote spiritual awareness. It can also bring improved immune function and better digestion.

While you're cleaning out your body and home, don't forget to spring-clean your heart. Throw away negative thoughts and habits you've been harboring that no longer serve you. A clean, open heart will allow you to receive all the good that awaits you each and every day. If your heart and mind are cluttered, there is no room for life's gifts and surprises to enter.

Food Focus: Greens

Leafy greens are some of the easiest and most beneficial vegetables to incorporate into your daily routine. Densely packed with energy and nutrients, they grow upward to the sky, absorbing the sun's light while producing oxygen. Members of this royal green family include kale, collard greens, swiss chard, mustard greens, arugula, dandelion greens, broccoli rabe, watercress, beet greens, bok choy, napa cabbage, green cabbage, spinach, broccoli and more.

How do greens benefit our bodies? They are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous and zinc, and are a powerhouse for vitamins A, C, E and K. They are crammed full of fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micronutrients and phytochemicals. Their color is associated with spring, which is a time of renewal and refreshing, vital energy. In traditional Asian medicine, the color green is related to the liver, emotional stability and creativity. In the Yoga philosophy green is connected to the heart chakra. Greens aid in purifying the blood, strengthening the immune system, improving liver, gall bladder and kidney function, fighting depression, clearing congestion, improving circulation and keeping your skin clear and blemish free.

Leafy greens are the vegetables most missing from the western diet, and many of us never learned how to prepare them. Start with the very simple recipe below. Then each time you go to the market, pick up a new green to try. Soon you'll find your favorite greens and wonder how you ever lived without them.

One more tip: greens are full of pesticides and chemicals, therefore if you can, it is preferable to choose the organic option.

Recipe of the Month: Shiitake and Kale

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:
1/2 pound fresh shiitake mushrooms (if using dried shiitakes, rinse well, soak in boiling water about 20 minutes until they plump up, squeeze dry and cut to big pieces. Will be chewier. Save the soaking water to add to gravy or soup or enjoy it as a nourishing drink).
1 tablespoon olive oil
1-2 crushed garlic cloves
1 bunch kale, chopped
pinch of organic sea salt

Directions:
- Warm oil in pan on medium heat with minced garlic until aromas of garlic are released,
about 2-3 minutes.
- Add chopped shiitake mushrooms, stir-fry for 5 minutes.
- Add chopped kale, stir-fry for a couple of minutes.
- Add a splash of water and pinch of salt to pan, cover, turn of heat and let steam briefly.
- Enjoy!

Forward to a Friend
It's such a pleasure to help those closest to us become happier and healthier. Please forward this newsletter to friends, family members or colleagues, to whoever might be interested and inspired by it.

Wishing you a happy and healthy Passover and spring,
full of greens and green energy.

Talya Lewin
Holistic health counselor

Please check my website www.talyalewin.com
I would be happy to scedule a free consultation