With a vast drop in temperature, darker skies and rainy days, winter is the most yin of all the seasons. It is associated with the kidney and bladder organs, the color black, the element water, the emotion fear, and salty and bitter flavors.
Goji berries are one of the most well known Chinese herbs in the US. Used for over 2000 years in China, they were first mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, the oldest known book on Chinese herbs in 200 BC. They are prized for their ability to tonify blood and yin without causing stagnation. Consumed daily in China as a food and herbal medicine, goji berries are revered for their anti-aging properties. They are used in many beauty tonics.
From pumpkins and spooky Halloween decorations to Hanukkah candles, Christmas lights and hot cocoa, the holiday season is a lively time of year. Traditionally this is the time to spend with loved ones, give thanks for all that you have and indulge in comfort food. As a child, my excitement came from watching holiday cartoons and anticipating the arrival of Santa and presents.
Carrots are one of the oldest cultivated vegetables. A staple in most cuisines, the white, yellow and purple varieties were first cultivated in Afghanistan around 3000BC. The modern, sweeter and bright yellow and orange varieties were created in the Netherlands around the 16th century.
Taking my herbs is something I look forward to every day. Not only do they help me to think clearly and feel good, but I’ve learned how to make them taste delicious.
Here I have homemade hot cocoa with collagen for skin and joint health and a homemade immune tonic with astragalus and mushrooms to keep me well throughout the fall and winter season. This warm and cozy drink is very calming and I look forward to drinking it as my day winds down. No, you cannot taste the herbs.
As we move deeper into the autumn season, the foundation of our diet should be foods that are bountiful, local and ripe. Just as we rotate our wardrobe for the seasons, we should be rotating our diet as well. Most of us wouldn’t wear shorts and a tank top in the snowy winter, nor would we wear a heavy coat on a hot summer day. As such, we should reserve cold and raw foods for the warmer months, and eat warmer and cooked foods during the colder months.
Autumn is a time of transition. It’s the time when the yang begins to transform into yin. We’re moving away from the warm, bright, sunny activity-filled months of summer to the cold, dark, quiet and wet months of winter. The leaves begin to change color and fall to the ground as the air becomes cold, crisp and dry.
Do you need more veggies in your life? Here's a simple broccoli salad recipe that calls for blanched broccoli. Lightly cooking the broccoli ahead of time makes it easier to digest and brightens up the color. Blanched broccoli also keeps it's crunch so no need to worry about having a soggy salad
I recently discovered 90 second bread and it has been a game changer for me. Not only is it super fast to make but it happens to be low carb and grain free. It’s even suitable for anyone on a LCHF, keto or paleo diet.
Hey Everyone! I'm trying something new here. I recorded a video of myself cooking and wanted to share it with you. The recipe is a modification of the classic roast with mashed potatoes. For a low carbohydrate version I substituted cauliflower for the potatoes. It was so good that my husband who is a pretty elitist when it comes to mashed potatoes, didn't even notice. Trust me, he would have called me out if he did!
If you’ve been watching the Rio Olympics by now you’ve probably seen red circular marks on several Olympians. American swimmer Michael Phelps won his 19th, 20th, and 21st gold medals proudly displaying the markings all over his body. These marks are from an ancient therapy called Cupping where negative pressure cups are placed on and/or moved around different parts of the body.
