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.
I know what you are thinking. Gluten free is annoying. You can’t wait for it to go away so you can go out to dinner without the embarrassment of your friend asking the waiter if each item on the menu is gluten free. You preferred when they were a vegetarian. At least then you could eat your naan bread and channa masala in peace without them giving you the stink eye.
Well here we are. We made it to the end of the gluten intolerance series. If you haven’t already read the other articles in the series I suggest you do so.
As stated in my last post there are blood, saliva, and urine tests you can do to determine which foods you need to avoid. I don’t recommend getting tested until you have gone gluten free and/or have done an elimination diet and are still experiencing symptoms.
The digestive process begins at first sight or smell of food. The sight and smell of food actually translates into a neural signal that tells your brain to tell your stomach to start releasing digestive enzymes.
