"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself.  Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people." Franklin D. Roosevelt Admittedly, in the past I was one to consume meat however as I began to see the environmental, ethical and spiritual reasons for converting to a vegetarian diet, I began to eliminate meat entirely from measl.  From the website: http://www.downtoearth.org, here is a list of the Top 10 Reasons Why It's Green to Go Veggie. Visit the website ...

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. Ralph Waldo Emerson In a healthy digestive system, the small bowel is filled with fine hair like projections called villi that are the sites where fats, carbohydrates, proteins and micronutrients are absorbed.  Keeping the digestive tract functioning optimally is an important goal in Ayurveda for maintaining vitality and many aspects of our daily habits create the foundation for this. Adding Turmeric to your favorite dishes is a great practice as research is showing that Turmeric (Haridra) has many health benefits including improving digestion, ...

"Simple food is very simple. The simpler you eat, the healthier you become. It is very difficult to eat simple food. Therefore, in therapy, there is always a mono diet. Have just one thing to eat.” Yogi Bhajan July 12, 1983 This past winter, I had the wonderful blessing to spend time at the 3HO Winter Solstice Celebration in the company of many elevated souls. We did yoga, meditated and prayed together in the early morning hours ...

Haridra, Sanskrit for turmeric (Curcuma longa) is an essential ingredient for many of the curries found in Indian cuisine.  When I first began exploring the spices that are the basis for these spice blends, I assumed they might function similarly to basil where an extra “bit” might not change a dish too much.  I learned quickly that these spices have far more potent flavors and with turmeric, less can be more. Yogi Bhajan Tip: Turmeric. One thing is very friendly to the internal organs of every woman, and that is turmeric. Incorporate ...

And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see - or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read. Alice Walker Chia seeds have become more popular over the last several years and as far as "healthy food" goes - this is a tasty desert and very easy to make. A rich source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids, ...

Non-Dairy Calcium Sources in the Diet Our bodies are in a continuous state of renewal and decay.  Maintaining an optimal intake of essential minerals is imperative to helping the body stay vital. Having recently watched the documentary, Forks over Knives, I was reminded of the common belief that consuming dairy products is the only way to maintain adequate calcium levels and therefore preserve bone health. Fortunately, there are a multitude of good sources in the plant kingdom where calcium is found. Figs, kale, mustard greens and sesame seeds are staples found in the “Mediterranean diet” which is from a region on earth ...

"You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you." Hereclitus In Phoenix, it is hot.  Ok enough said.  The upside to this is that in most of the country, the summer growing season is fully upon us.  Walking through markets in the summer months gives a sense of the deep rhythms that the earth goes through. From the timid sprouts in spring to the bounty climbing off the vines now, the harvests arriving  are full of nutrients as plants have been translating ...

"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe."  ~Carl Sagan Growing up, sugar cereals were absent from our pantry.  In hindsight, the grief I gave my parents over this was not founded in realty but in the subtle marketing behind these brands.  How was it that I could remember the slogan and saying of every major sweet treat and chip however was oblivious to the names of herbs, vegetables and grains that would be sustaining to my development.  Recently, melons came into season in Phoenix and I wondered what fun treat ...

"Oh soul you worry too much. You have seen your own strength.  You have seen your own beauty.  You have seen your golden wings. Of anything less,  why do you worry?  You are in truth the soul, of the soul, of the soul.” RUMI Peaches (Prunus persica) are known to have high levels of Vitamin C and carotenoids. In China, the peach (Chinese: 桃; pinyin: táo) was said to be consumed by the immortals due to its mystic virtue of conferring longevity on all who ate them. The ...