Category: Resource Articles

Ayurveda Body Clock

Ayurveda healers in India developed some 5,000 years ago a model of energy similar to the Chinese that has survived to this day. It is based on the concept of living in harmony with the seasons and cycles in nature in order to alleviate the stresses of life and minimize disease. The Ayurveda system breaks…

Ayurveda Energy: The Life Cycle

Ayurvedic healers view the life cycle in terms of a gradual transition of energy from Kappa to Pita to Vata. Kappa, through the age of 15, concerns growth and building skills; Pita marks the productive years from 15-55; and Vata, marked by wisdom and a gradual drying out of the body, concludes the life span….

Omega-3/-6 Balance in Grass-Fed Animal Products.

Cows that are raised organically, free to roam on rotating pasture lands, and that eat nothing but grass are the gold standard of red meat: Meat from grass-fed beef has about one-half to one-third as much fat, almost twice as much anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats and beta-carotene, three times the vitamin E, four times the vitamin…

Produce Ranked by Pesticide Load: 10 Best; 10 Worst

The 10 BestYou can save money and select commercial produce when buying these. The money saved can then be spent on organic foods from the list of 10 Worst. Greatest Load (Buy Organic) Rating Least Load (Buy Regular) Rating Peaches 100 Onions 1 Apples 96 Avocadoes 1 Peppers 86 Corn, frozen 2 Celery 85 Pineapple…

What’s in Season?

January February March April May June July August September October November December Dormant Dormant Dormant carrots artichokes asparagus blueberries* blackberries apples* apples* beets broccoli onions asparagus beets beets beets corn Brussels sprouts broccoli cabbage potatoes* beans broccoli broccoli corn cucumbers celery* cabbage carrots radishes cabbage cabbage canteloupe grapes* cranberries carrots sweet potatoes spinach* cauliflower cauliflower…

Pro-Inflammatory Omega-6s in Refined Vegetable Oils

Comparison of Omega-6 and Omega-3 Ratios in Cooking and Salad Oils Inflammation is a factor in pain and chronic disease. The omega composition of corn, safflower, and cottonseed is heavily weighted toward pro-inflammatory omega-6 oils. Corn, safflower, and cottonseed oils, as well as refined flour which is also inflammatory, are used extensively in processed foods.If…

The Chinese “Body Clock”

The Body-Energy Clock is built upon the concept of the cyclical ebb and flow of energy throughout the body. During a 24-hour period (see diagram that follows) Qi moves in two-hour intervals through the organ systems. During sleep, Qi draws inward to restore the body. This phase is completed between 1 and 3 a.m., when…

Expansive (Yin) and Contractive (Yang) Foods

Using Expansive and Contractive Foods to ModerateEnergy and Moods Foods and cooking strategies offer vast opportunities to alter our energy, our focus, and our moods. We can take corn, an expansive grain as illustrated below. Corn itself might make us a little on the spacey side. But, if we then grind it, add salt, and…

Chinese 5-Phase Foods and Moods

Click the image above to view the entire chart. Chinese 5-Phase Theory is my favorite food model because of its complexity and its potential for endless discovery and possibility. The 5-Phase model depicts foodeach with their own energy and relationship to specific organ systemswith the organ systems, parts of the body, and emotions and moods….

Acid and Alkaline Foods

Acid/alkaline refers to the type of residue left in the body after a food is metabolized. The key idea is to consume plenty of fruits and vegetables that are loaded with minerals to offset the demineralizing effects of consuming acid-forming foods like sugar, refined carbohydrates and animal proteins. This model helps explain why we like…