Yule Cut Out Sugar Cookies

This time of year always reminds me of when I was a kid and all of the excitement of the impending holidays. But nothing was more exciting than coming home from school to bake cookies with my Mom. I can’t remember what I liked more, the sugar cookie dough or the finished cookies, probably because it is too difficult to choose!

It is interesting when I look back to my childhood and all of “food” that we ate (I use quotations with the word food because of the dubious nature of it’s food-ness). Twinkies, Ding Dongs, candy bars, sugary cereals, and pasteurized milk products…the list can go on but I think that you get the picture. When I think of all of the dead milk, food dyes, artificial flavorings and high fructose corn syrup that I consumed it is no wonder that I was often sick, had frequent headaches and suffered from serious multi-chemical sensitivity.

Although at the time, no one ever thought to link the “food” that we ate to how we felt and even fewer thought that chemical sensitivity existed. Even the homemade baked goods that my Mom made were laced with ingredients that were harmful at worst and not supportive at best.

Take the decorations that adorn most holiday cut out cookies. Yes, they are beautiful and have gotten more so over the years with more vivid colors in the frostings and all of the sprinkles of varying shapes and colors. But beauty at what cost? I ask this question a lot and you will tire of it, I am sure.

But as a culture, we really have a tendency to make the crappiest choices when it comes to esthetics vs. health.

From what we slather on our bodies to what we put in our mouths…if we are going to heal, this has to shift.

If our priority is Health and feeling great, then we need to take a serious look at the choices we make and realize there is a whole wide world of options out there to choose from and we need to start choosing our health first.

Let’s start with food dyes.

This may seem like a simple task but it you have ever read a food label, you will realize that eliminating food dyes can be daunting. Especially if you are still shopping in the regular supermarket and eating processed foods. They are everywhere. Did you know that even Florida oranges are colored with orange food coloring? Also salmon and meats (especially lunch meats) to offset differences in color from storage etc. Artificial food dyes are everywhere even in many pharmaceuticals. Artificial food dyes have been linked by many to ADD and ADHD and the drug that they typically prescribe for these poor misunderstood kids is Ritalin, I find it sickening and ironic that it [Ritalin] is coated in either D & C yellow #10 or FD &C green #3. (FYI: F stands for food, D stands for drug and C stands for cosmetic). The drug also contains lactose, which is milk sugar that most of us cannot digest and can lead to many emotional/behavioral issues. Insane.

So what is a devoted foodie to do? How can we emulate Martha and not use food dyes?

There is a company called India Tree that uses food/plants to manufacture food colorants that are safer to use. I say safer because some people may still be sensitive to ingredients used. Now, like all things, you need to do your homework. I learned the hard way that just because a company makes one product that is a safe alternative does not mean all of their products are safe. This is true in this case. I will only use their products that use natural food dyes, the rest of the sugars and non-pareils are loaded with garbage that should not be consumed.

Let’s Do Organics makes sprinkles and jimmies that use natural colorants and are gluten free. True the colors are not as vivid and intense as regular (cancer causing) dyes but they are pretty and they do the trick.

My daughter loves them and they don’t hurt her. She is also very sensitive and gets extremely irritable and emotional when she eats foods that her body cannot process. Nothing is more important to me than her health; this is why I do what I do.

So, let’s get back to sugar cookies. Who would know that I could go on for so long before getting to the most important part, the recipe! I love a soft sugar cookie so I have adapted an old family recipe to make the cookie soft. It is actually my cousin Cathy’s recipe (thanks Cath!) and the original recipe called for both butter and shortening. Now, many of you probably know that if you want a soft cookie, you usually use shortening because using all butter will make for a crisp cookie. I love the flavor of butter and I will under no circumstances use Crisco so I use organic extra virgin coconut oil. You can also use organic non-hydrogenated palm oil. Both oils are solid at room temperature which makes them a natural substitution for yucky trans-fat shortening. They are also not the villains that they have been portrayed as. We will save that topic for another time.

Yule Cut Out Sugar Cookies

350 Degrees for about 10 minutes. All ingredients listed are organic

½ stick softened butter (use salted or unsalted, your preference)

¼ cup coconut oil

¾ cup evaporated cane juice

2 eggs (preferably from pasture raised hens)

1 t vanilla

2 ½ cups flour (I always use spelt, for this recipe it was white spelt, usually it is half white and half whole spelt)

2-½ t baking powder (aluminum free)

½ t salt (I use Redmond mineral salt)

Mix dry ingredients and set aside. Cream butter and coconut oil with sugar in mixer with paddle attachment. Add eggs and vanilla stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Mix until incorporated. Slowly add dry ingredients and mix until dough comes together. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and cut in half, pat into discs, wrap up and refrigerate until firm at least 4 hours. Take dough from refrigerator and roll out on lightly floured surface to about ¼ inch thickness. You want them to be fairly thick in order to stay soft. Cut into desired shapes and transfer to silpat or parchment lined pan. Take remaining dough scraps and “smear”

them back together to fully incorporate the dough and refrigerate. This method will keep the dough from getting too tough with many re-rollings (like when you are making cookies with a 6 year old!) Bake until edges are just starting to brown, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool completely before icing. If you prefer not to use icing but still want to decorate, you may sprinkle cookies with colored sanding sugars and decorations prior to baking.

Butter Frosting:

6 T Butter

2 T Milk

1 t Vanilla

2 ½ cups powdered sugar

Whip together in a bowl, separate and color with India Tree colorants in desired shades. This is not a flooding type icing but more of a thick butter cream icing. You will need a spatula or butter knife to ice cookies or use pastry bags to pipe icing. We often use colored sugars and the Let’s Do Organics sprinkles to decorate further; I did not buy the India Tree sugars in time to make these cookies but you could color some evaporated cane juice to use instead. I only made green as I am a bit of a minimalist when it comes to cookie decoration unlike my sweet 6-year-old Sofia, see her with her masterpiece(photo above). When she is older, we will play with flooding but honestly, this icing while not fancy just tastes so much better and that is what we like!

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Well, after much hesitation, I finally rented Twilight. I was not planning on seeing the movie, after all, in my forties; I figured I should not be watching movies about teenage vampire love. Then, I remembered 2 things.

1. That I do not believe in “shoulds”

and

2. That I have a thing for tall, pale, gangly English men so I broke down and rented it, well actually, I asked my husband to rent it.

There is so much being written about this movie right now with all the hype surrounding ticket sales and teenybopper screams, everyone seems to be forgetting that this is not an original movie. Or shall I say movie theme. This theme has been getting play in every love story ever written for hundreds of years. Sure, the faces are new and exciting to look at, but it is still the same story.

Let’s recount the themes.

Forbidden love, courtly love, co-dependent love, damsel in distress always needing a rescue from the hero, lover as father figure/protection…

Bella, the heroine, is portrayed as a strong feminine character by the media. Interesting that she is still always in need of a rescue.

This makes me ask the basic question, what in our psyche compels us as women in our world to need rescuing? From whom/ what? Why is it so satisfying on a primordial level to watch this theme being acted out over and over and over again? What, as a culture are we working through? This is what brings me to the computer tonight.

From James Dean to Edward Cullen, the bad boy that we “should” not love but we do.

Symbolically and simply we can look at this in the context of polarity. Good vs. evil or light vs. dark. Religion predictably says that light is good and dark is bad, the light is God and that the dark is the devil.

In the movie, Bella is drawn to Edward who is a dark, mysterious and brooding fella with a piercing stare. He is also drawn to her and while she is not the poster child for light and bubbly, she is a good and gentle soul. Each is drawn to the opposite of themselves, or better yet, the reflection of their shadow selves that they see in the other. Light and dark looking to join with one another for completion.

Many talk of the hero/rescuer in books and movies as being representative of “God” or having god-like qualities. The heroine weakens herself to allow for the rescue and thus reconnects with Spirit. The search for and longing for love is for many, a longing for connection to Spirit. Finding God through relationship is not a new idea but I want to take it a step further and suggest that it is not the masculine God that we are longing for, solely.

In this age, the age of patriarchy, something important has been stolen from us. Hidden away in the deep recesses of our souls, demonized by many religions lies the beauty and force of the Great Mother.

The Goddess.

She is symbolized by the dark, the profound feminine energy of creation. I think that rather than the rescuer/bad boy being the symbolic representation of God and our longing for connection to God, that he is actually the symbolic representation of the Goddess and our deep longing to reconnect with Her, our Divine Mother.

You cannot, after all, be fully connected to only half of a thing, even if that “thing” is God.

If God is the light, where/who is the dark? The devil? The devil as an entity/being was created by religion to scare people into submission and to “demonize” the Goddess. The energy of the devil is just that, energy that lives within all of us. It is interesting to note that the devils actual name is Lucifer, which means light; we can talk about that another time. Let’s get back to the Goddess.

It is fear of the unknown that makes us doubt and question Her existence, but the dark need not be a scary place. In the darkness, we rest, we heal, we create, we gestate. The dark is intuition and the lesson is letting go and trust. The Great Mother calls on us to crawl into her Divine womb and recreate our lives, to nurse at her Divine breast and receive Love and Nurturing. She reminds us that there is no death, just energy and light. Bella, if she were to merge with Edward (Light and Dark, God and Goddess) would “die” and become “immortal “(a vampire). The Great Mother reminds us that it is only our conscious minds that die when Spirit achieves wholeness.

A soul reunited lives forever.

As we move into this new age, with the return to a matriarchal society, I look forward to the return of strong women and men who look to relationship for love, companionship and joy rather than needing a rescue or to feel complete. When we can fully embody all of Spirit, both God and Goddess, we are already complete/whole, there is no battle between good and evil/ light and dark. Rather it is all One and it is all good. Let us all plant this seed of Love in our hearts.

To bring this back around to food, as this is technically a food and healing blog I wish to share a recipe that I am calling Twilight Sangria. Sangria gets its name from sangre or blood, It is made with red wine but the vino and brandy can be omitted entirely, leaving the juice with the fruit as a great party drink for those who are either too young to consume or choose not to. Here’s to a drink that even Edward Cullen would appreciate. Salute!

Twilight Sangria

1 bottle red wine (I suggest Frey as it is organic and sulfite free)

2 cups organic juice (you can use pomegranate, cranberry, orange or apple or a combination of them, if you want it to really look like blood, stick with the pomegranate or cranberry)

1/2 cup brandy (I used chambord, no, it's not organic...)

1/4 to 1/2 cup organic syrup (try raw agave nectar or raw honey and adjust amount to the sweetness that you like, I used 1/4 cup and it was a tad too sweet)

Organic Fruit:

1 apple, cored and thinly sliced

1 orange, in wedges or slices

1 lemon, in slices

1 cup grapes

1/4 cup pomegranate seed

5 limequats (I saw these at the store and they were organic so I could not resist, very tasty!)

First, mix the wine, juice, brandy and syrup together. Next, you will add half of the fruit to the wine mixture. I like the fruit to steep/macerate in the wine/juice/brandy mixture for several hours or overnight. Really pound the fruit to release all of the juices and the oils. Refrigerate. Several hours before serving, strain it and compost the fruit. Then add the second half of the fruit you prepared to the sangria in a lovely pitcher and serve chilled with the fruit in the glass.

Enjoy!

Excellent Newsletter!

Friends,

I received this newsletter and found it so informative and timely that I asked permission to reprint. Dr. Neustaedter always has sound holistic advice; I highly recommend his newsletters. Click the link to subscribe. Enjoy!

Peace and Light,

Maria

Natural

Health Newsletter

Randall Neustaedter OMD

Build Your Family's Immune System in Winter

Here are some guidelines for maintaining a strong immune system during the winter months and flu season for children and for adults. (Excerpt from my book FLU: Alternative Treatments and Prevention, North Atlantic Books)

Children

Good nutrition lays the groundwork for a strong immune system in your child. This includes reliance upon natural foods, and avoidance of chemicals and refined products. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide essential nutrients for the growing child, including antioxidants and vitamin C. Processed foods such as canned vegetables and jars of baby food have fewer vitamins and altered forms of essential nutrients.

Vitamin A is needed for proper mucous membrane function. It is essential for the growth and repair of body tissues, and for efficient digestion of protein. Vitamin A promotes good eyesight, strong bones and teeth, and a vital immune system. White blood cells, T-lymphocytes, and every cell in the important mucosal barriers of the respiratory, digestive, and urinary tracts require vitamin A.

A diet containing significant amounts of fat will help ensure adequate vitamin A intake. Whole-milk products, butter, and free-range eggs will help maintain necessary levels of this important nutrient. Use organic sources. For those who may not be getting enough vitamin A, a supplement may be useful.

The recommended daily amount (RDA) of vitamin A is 3,000 IU per day for adults (reduced from 5,000 IU) and 1,000–2,000 IU for children, depending on their age (1,000 at age 1, 2,000 by age 9). Primitive diets probably maintained ten times that amount. One egg contains 300 IU of vitamin A; one cup of whole milk or whole-milk yogurt contains 225–250 IU, and one tablespoon of butter contains 350 IU. The amount of vitamin A may vary by the season and the feed of the animals. Several studies have also shown that vitamin A supplements during viral illnesses promote rapid recovery and prevent complications. Children can take 1,000 to 5,000 IU of vitamin A derived from fish oil without any problem.

Nutritional supplements

A few simple, specific supplements will help maintain a strong and vital immune system during the fall and winter months when colds and flus predominate.

The most important supplement for flu prevention is vitamin D3. Babies can take 1,000 IU and children over two years can take 2 ,000 IU of vitamin D3.

Secondly, a probiotic supplement of healthy intestinal bacteria that contains lactobacillus and bifidobacteria species has been shown to prevent viral illnesses In children (Ouwehand 2008).

The immune-enhancing effects of breast milk can be continued in older children by giving them cow's colostrum as a nutritional supplement. The first food a newborn baby receives is colostrum, the clear or yellowish thick fluid secreted from a mother's breasts after childbirth. Colostrum transmits to babies antibodies and other immune-enhancing substances that actively prevent infections and stimulate the immune system.

Colostrum contains immune defense factors. The most prominent of these factors is an immunoglobulin, IgA, which resides on mucous membranes such as the intestinal lining and protects the body from invading micro­organisms. Colostrum, like breast milk, contains white blood cells that ingest bacteria and release IgA. Lactoferrin prevents bacteria from reproducing. Lysozyme destroys microorganisms on contact. Cytokines regulate the intensity and duration of immune responses, boosting T-cell activity and stimulating production of protective immunoglobulins. Specific sugars, including oligo polysaccharides and glycoconjugates, bind to bacteria that typically cause ear infections, lung infections, and diarrhea, and block their attachment to mucous membranes. All of these powerful immune defense factors are available in one simple supplement.

Children can take bovine colostrum as a supplement throughout the entire flu season. You can obtain colostrum in powder, chewable flavored tablets, or capsules. Children under the age of 6 can take at least one-half teaspoon of colostrum powder or two tablets or capsules. Children over 6 should take one teaspoon of powder or three to four tablets or capsules. Other supplements also contain some of these factors derived from whey protein that include immunoglobulins and lactoferrin.

An omega-3 fat supplement in the form of fish oil will establish healthy cell membranes that prevent inflammation and resist toxins and attack by pathogens. A daily dose of 250-500 mg of EPA will be appropriate for most children.

Vitamin E will ensure that fatty acids are maintained at optimum efficiency once they are absorbed into cells. In addition, vitamin E has anti-inflammatory effects and increases resistance to infection. Use only natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol), not the synthetic form (dl-alpha-tocopherol). A mixed tocopherol form of vitamin E is best because children need the gamma as well as the alpha forms. An appropriate dose is 100 IU for children under 2 and 200 IU for children age 2–12.

Zinc stimulates immune function, prevents infections, and acts as a cofactor in many enzyme reactions, including the creation of antioxidants. Normal dosage is 10–20 mg per day. If zinc supplementation is continued over a prolonged period of time, it should be given in conjunction with copper in a ratio of ten to one to prevent copper deficiency.

Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant activity, and antibiotic qualities. A daily supplement of vitamin C during the winter months will round out the immune system prevention program. Use 500 mg for children under 3 years old and 1,000 mg for older children.

Immune supplements for children—daily dosage

1- to 2-year-olds 3- to 12-year-olds

Vitamin D3 1,000 IU 2,000 IU

Fish oil 250 mg EPA 500 mg EPA

Colostrum 1/2 teaspoon powder 1 teaspoon powder

Zinc 10 mg 20 mg

Copper 1 mg 2 mg

Vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol or mixed tocopherols)

100 IU 200 IU

Vitamin C 500 mg 1,000 mg

The easiest way to give supplements to small children is through powdered sources mixed in a blender with fruit, fruit juice, yogurt or milk (rice milk for younger children and children with milk sensitivities), and honey (for children over 12 months old). Capsules can be opened and dumped into the blender. Children can chew oil-based supplements in soft gels or you can stick a pin into them and squirt out the contents onto something they will eat.

Adults

Maintain a healthy immune system. Many forms of supplements will fortify immunity so that an attack by viruses will be less successful. If you tend to get acute illnesses easily, then begin a program of immune strengthening. See a practitioner (the different types of medical practice are described in Part II) and begin taking supplements on your own. An acupuncturist can advise you about an immune-enhancing herbal formula that will build the strength of your system. These formulas are usually built around astragalus, a potent herb for augmenting the body's protective defenses and stabilizing the exterior against invasion by pathogens and physical stresses such as Cold and Wind. Other supplements have similar immune-enhancing properties.

A specific Chinese herbal formula has been developed for prevention of H1N1 virus infection, Swine Season Immune Plus (drjakefratkin.com). This formula is derived from a classical formula (Yu Ping Feng or Jade Screen) with the addition of antiviral herbs.

Several species of mushrooms have significant immune-stimulating effects. Each contains high percentages of polysaccharides, long-chain sugar molecules that regulate immunity. They activate white blood cells and stimulate antibody production. These mushrooms include reishi (ganoderma), maitake (grifola), shiitake (lentinus), polyporus, and tremella. Many preparations of mushroom combinations in tablet, powder, or liquid extract form are available at major health food stores and online.

Bovine colostrum has the ability to provide antibodies directly and stimulate immune function with its potent combination of lactoferrin that prevents bacteria from reproducing, lysozyme that destroys pathogenic organisms, and cytokines that stimulate immunoglobulin production. Colostrum is a superfood that should keep your immune system in peak condition. Take one teaspoon or two capsules twice a day through the winter months.

Vitamin D is essential for immune system function, and most people are deficient in adequate vitamin D levels during the winter months. Adults can have their vitamin D level checked with a blood test, but taking a vitamin D3 supplement (4,000-5,000 IU per day) is prudent for everyone. Vitamin C at 2–4 grams per day prevents inflammation and maintains the body's vigilance against infection. Vitamin A is essential to immune function and mucous membrane integrity. Take a supplement of 10,000– 25,000 IU of vitamin A derived from fish oil. Zinc has potent immune protective effects. Take 25 mg zinc per day, but if you continue zinc for an extended period of time you will also need to take copper to prevent a deficiency (ten-to-one ratio of zinc to copper). Get a supplement that contains both.

Immune supplements for adults

Vitamin D3 – 4,000-5,000 IU

Astragalus and Mushroom (reishi, maitake, shiitake) formulas

Colostrum—4 capsules

Vitamin C—2–4 grams

Vitamin A—10,000–25,000 IU with 400 IU vitamin D

Zinc—25 mg with 2 mg copper

Influenzinum is a specific homeopathic preventive for the flu. You can begin taking Influenzinum (9C, 12C, or 30C) if you are exposed to the flu. Take one dose each week for four weeks at that time, or you can take it once a week for four doses during the flu season.

The flu, like other respiratory viruses, spreads from human to human by means of tiny drops of flu-laden fluids. You can minimize your exposure by not shaking hands. Frequent hand washing will also prevent you from inadvertently introducing viruses into your nose and eyes. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes during flu season to reduce your exposure. Of course, as common courtesy, everyone should cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze to prevent transmission of viruses.

Get plenty of sleep, and eat well. Focus on warm foods during the winter. Soups and stews are excellent sources of concentrated nutrients. Exercise regularly, despite the cold weather. Resist the temptation to go home and lie down after work. Exercise instead. Schedule times for exercise and follow through with your plan. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables for their vitamin and antioxidant content. Stay warm and avoid getting chilled.

Randall Neustaedter OMD
Classical Medicine Center
1779 Woodside Rd, 201C
Redwood City, CA 94061
+1 650 299-9170

If you have questions or feedback contact me at: cureguide@gmail.com
To view all previous newsletter articles go to: www.Cure-Guide.com/Newsletter


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The Value of Nothing

I just saw a youtube video for Raj Patel’s new book “The Value of Nothing” to be released January 5th. He brings up a great point about our nature as human beings, that we are not just greedy consumers but actually do better when we are generous and giving. This really resonates deeply with the changes coming in the world in this new age. Let’s all get this book and have an old fashioned book club! We can discuss all of the ways that we can shift from consumerism to generosity, what a great way to start the new year. ">Check out the video and get on board!  I have placed this book in my Amazon General Store 

The Value of Nothing: How to Reshape Market Society and Redefine Democracy  for your convenience but by all means, buy it where you feel comfortable!

Peace and Light,

Maria

Swine Flu? Whatever. Part 1

Everyday, people wander into our little health food store and ask us what we are doing for the swine flu. Our first response is always, well, we are not listening to the media. Talk about creating mass fear and instilling a sense of hopelessness in the general population. Nothing like a lot of stress to weaken your immune system enough to get a lot of people really sick.

Honestly, if your body is strong and you have a good immune system, the swine flu is nothing more than a hoax.

So, how do we make sure that our bodies are strong enough?

Start by decreasing your toxic load.

The best place to begin with that task is with what you voluntarily put into and onto your body. Your liver can only do so much, you’ve got to give it a break, help it out. It works so hard for you filtering all of the chemicals that we come into contact with. We have little personal control over what we come into contact with in the environment but we have 100% control over what we eat, what we slather on our skin and how we medicate ourselves (both therapeutically and recreationally).

Let’s start with food.

Start eating as much food that is organic or biodynamic or locally grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers as you can find. Start with all animal products and for produce, the dirty dozen. I actually like to call it the dirty bakers dozen because so many lists do not include potatoes.

Dirty Baker’s Dozen
Peaches
Apples
Bell pepper
Celery
Nectarine
Strawberries
Cherries
Kale
Lettuce
Grapes
Carrots
Pears
Potatoes

“Clean” 15: This list includes many items that I feel are questionable. They are included, I feel because they have a rind or skin on them that is not eaten. The theory is that the pesticide spray stays on the rind and that the rind gets discarded, so that means the fruit or vegetable is safe to eat. They are not taking into consideration that the rinds breathe and are porous so some pesticide can and does seep into the fruit but what I feel is the bigger danger is actually two fold.

1. The pesticides are sprayed everywhere. They get in the soil, mix with the groundwater and are then taken up into the plant and voila end up in the fruit that you eat

and

2. What about the chemical fertilizers that they use on 100% of conventionally farmed crops? All of that ends up in the fruit as well not to mention the damage it does to the groundwater supply and nearby lakes, rivers and streams and the critters that are trying to live there. This is certainly a case where the “KISS” acronym (keep it simple, stupid) really speaks volumes. They think that we are stupid, well; we are not, sorry Monsanto.

“Clean” 15
Onion (grown in the ground…)
Avocado
Sweet corn (100% genetically engineered)
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus (have you ever grown asparagus? Can you say asparagus beetle?)
Sweet peas
Kiwi
Cabbage (again, cabbage worms and you eat the whole thing)
Eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccoli (cabbage worms and you eat the whole thing)
Tomato (come on, really?)
Sweet potato (grown in the ground…)

Listen, all of your produce does not have to be 100% certified organic to be safe to eat. Go to your local farmers market and talk with the growers, ask about their practices and you will know if they are growing food that won’t cause a second head to erupt from your neck. Buy from them and buy a lot. Learn to can/preserve the harvest for the winter months.

Eat as local as you can.

Start replacing processed foods with whole foods; eliminate high fructose corn syrup (no matter what the media says, yes it is made from corn, blah blah blah, that does not mean that it is good for you, the majority if not all of it is genetically engineered and it will make your pancreas cry, so cut it out). Limit the refined sugars in your diet. Try sweetening with honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, stevia, dates and date sugar… there are so many possibilities out there that we will explore together here. I love to bake and make goodies; I will show you how to do it without killing yourself. At all costs, avoid any and all artificial sweeteners even the ones that they claim are made from sugar, they are not, it is a lie, it really is.

Finally, make love to yourself by learning how to cook and then do it, often, every day.

Check out these 2 great resources for finding local and safe food!

Organic Consumers Association
Local Harvest

Stay tuned for how not to anger your guts!


Peace and Light,

This Organic Life

Healthy food is the ultimate healing tool. The old and tired adage “you are what you eat” is so true but annoyingly overused. Food is comfort, it is love, it is nourishment, it sustains us and has the ability to heal us on such a deep level, if we allow it to.

Now, when I use the word “food” it is not at all what the typical Western diet has evolved or should I say devolved into. We have processed, hybridized, genetically engineered and generally mutilated the life-force out of our food leaving it empty and devoid of vitality. And we wonder why so many of us are sickly.

I know what you are thinking, healthy food, blah blah blah, tasteless, earthy crunchy blah blah blah… I hear you. Food should taste good, not like tofu. Ok, tofu lovers, I know, you can make it taste like anything right? I will eat tofu twice a year, that’s it, no more. Soy isn’t the health food it’s promoted as anyway so no great loss. We’ll talk about that some other time.

Back to food tasting good, check that, great, amazing, life changing… all it requires is an open mind and a complete shift in what you think you know about health, healing and life in general. Now, would you like the blue pill or the red pill?