Monthly Archives: March 2009

Make Your Own Nut Milk (recipe)

If you avoid dairy or are allergic, you’ve probably tried the alternatives: soy milk (avoid!! highly processed and may cause hormonal imbalance), rice milk, almond milk, even hazelnut or oat milk. I prefer almond milk, but most brands on the market are highly sweetened and fortified with artificial vitamins/minerals. And they just don’t taste very [...]

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Allergy Season

Spring has sprung. Along with lush greenery and flowers abloom, many are sneezing up a storm. It’s allergy season.

Seasonal allergies are characterized by sneezing, runny nose, blocked nasal passages, itchy eyes and throat, and runny eyes. The term “hay fever” is applied to the seasonal allergic response, but this is a misnomer, as the symptoms [...]

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Liver Cleanse, Day 1 (recipe included)

After 7 days of pre-cleansing, it’s time to embark on day 1 of the three week liver cleanse. See my previous post detailing the pre-cleanse.

Cleanses always hold the hope of possibility: it’s a time to clear your mind and body, quite literally. It’s a time to rid yourself of excess baggage, both physically and mentally. [...]

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Meat = Mortality?

Check out this study (click on study), released today.

Those who eat more red meat (including processed meats) may have shortened life expectancies, researchers reported in a massive study of aging Americans. “Greater consumption of red and processed meat was associated with an increased risk of mortality, particularly from cancer or cardiovascular causes,” Rashmi Sinha, Ph.D., [...]

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Farmers’ Market Report

Spring is here. And that means the markets are going to pick up in a big way. Winter citrus disappears gradually, and springtime baby beets and asparagus give way to delicious summer stone fruits and berries. Cherries, peaches, pluots, strawberries, blueberries…. yum.

I shop at the Berkeley Farmers’ Markets and at the San Francisco Ferry Plaza [...]

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Pre-Cleanse, Day 1

As is customary, I shall embark on my annual springtime liver/kidney cleanse. Spring is liver season, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and is the most beneficial time to embark on a cleanse. According to TCM, anger, irritability, and depression are associated with excess liver heat or stagnation. Foggy thinking, headaches, joint pain, bloating, constipation, [...]

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Coffee: Yay or Nay?

I love coffee. Hazelnut, with some cream and a dash of honey. I love the smell. I would drink it every day, if it didn’t contribute to severe anxiety and blood sugar instability for me. Instead, I’ll have a cup a few times a month if the mood strikes. Sometimes I’ll go months without. But [...]

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My Experiement with Processed Food

Today I woke up and went to Safeway with the following goal in mind: eat processed food for a day and assess how I feel, a la Supersize Me. You see, normally I feel pretty darn good during the days. I may have a smoothie with spirulina and rice protein and fruit for breakfast; a [...]

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Minerals: Why You Need Them & Why You’re Probably Deficient

Minerals are necessary for nearly every bodily function, from building bones, teeth, and joints to acting as enzyme co-factors to helping the body maintain proper PH (acid-alkaline balance). Plants obtain minerals from the soil, and most of the minerals in our diets come directly from plants or indirectly from animal sources (animals eat plants). Minerals [...]

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Noodles

My ultimate comfort food. It seems like everyone is sick right now, and last week I made a big Asian hot pot soup with spinach, garlic, and ginger – ideal for boosting immunity. Sometimes you just need a little comfort, and noodles fit the bill for me. Here is a quirky little recipe to try, [...]

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