ARE YOU READY? THE MIRACLES ARE COMING!

Are you ready for the miraculous? What is a miracle? What do you think miracles look like? Sometimes it seems like a miracle just to be alive and breathing. Sometimes miracles seem a lot bigger, like finally getting something you really want or having something that you have dreamt about for years arrive in your life.
Truly the miraculous occurs all around us if we just stop long enough to breathe and observe. Have you ever tracked the progress of a growing flower? The next time you walk through the woods, notice how the trees grow to reach the sunlight. I am amazed at how these miracles just happen. Flowers and trees do not work hard and strain to grow, they just do it. We should take a lesson from nature and allow ourselves to grow in beauty according to the laws of nature. Now THAT would be a miracle!

Healing Sanctuary and Retreat Center

Promotional video to raise money for the Shamalada Healing Sanctuary in Bucks County, PA.


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FIND YOUR JOY

It is a little bit ironic that I am writing about joy. In the past I have had a tendency to approach life with a bit of seriousness. But lately, I am realizing how good it feels just to be light and have some fun. Really and truly, fun is more of an attitude than anything. Some people think you have to do something or go somewhere to have fun. But what I am discovering is that fun is in your heart. It is how you choose to view your life and the predicaments in which you may find yourself.

Of course, joy is not only just about the attitude you choose, it is also about the environments in which you choose to place yourself. While you may be tempted to blame your poor attitude on your circumstances, you always have choices. Recently I have been inspired by a friend. She is going through a lot of changes in her life. Some of her experiences are not pleasant. In fact, most people I know who are going through what she is now going through make themselves pretty miserable by casting blame or feeling guilt. She, however, is choosing to look at the bright side of her situation and find the positive aspects of these life changes. So, if you feel like you are stuck in certain life circumstances, take some responsibility and choose your response wisely.

ENJOY EXTREME HEALTH

Sometimes forget the importance of self-care. We can enhance our well-being by taking ownership of our health by eating well and by taking care of our immune systems. The following tips are some of my favorite ways to enjoy extreme health:

1. Breathe: When you wake up in the morning, sit on the edge of your bed and take in nine deep breaths. Before you go to a holiday party, take a few moments to breathe.
2. Chew your food: You will be less likely to over-eat at a party or family get-together if you chew each bite with awareness of what is in your mouth. If decide to try more than one dessert on the buffet table, really chew it and experience all the flavors.
3. Stop eating when you are satisfied: The “finish everything on your plate” rule does not apply to holiday eating! Eating food with a higher nutrient content will fill you up quicker and provide sustained satiation. Nutrient dense foods include vegetables, whole grains, beans and some fruits. Eating food with empty calories will leave you wanting more and set you up for cravings and imbalanced blood sugar. Such foods include white pasta and breads, sugary foods, and sodas and juice. If you choose to eat empty calorie foods, eat them slowly and with awareness.
4. Eat more whole foods: Processed foods destroy your immune system and cause your digestive system to work extra hard. Whole foods, such as mentioned above enhance your immune system. If you start to feel sick, especially stay away from sugar and drink extra water. A common mistake is to drink orange juice for Vitamin C. Orange juice contains too much sugar and does not aid in boosting your immune system. If you want Vitamin C, eat the whole orange or some carrots or blueberries. Green tea is also a great source of Vitamin C.
5. Play outside: Your immune system loves the fresh air of being outside! Treadmills at the gym are great, but can never take the place of being in the sunshine and breathing in clean air. Your body needs the Vitamin D from the sun. Products enriched with Vitamin D do not contain the same version; your body can only assimilate the form of Vitamin D that comes from the sun, so get outside even if it is only for fifteen minutes!

This information provided is for education purposes only. It is not meant to treat or diagnose.

HEART HEALTHY FOODS

There is a host of mis-information available about what is truly healthy for your heart. General rules of thumb to navigate the quagmire are to think about what your ancestors ate and follow suit. Eat organic to avoid the extra burden on your immune system that pesticides provide.

Beans: Beans are good for your circulation and are high in potassium which neutralizes sodium. (Sodium raises blood pressure.) Beans are low in sodium.

Butter: Selenium, Vitamins A & E are anti-oxidants found in butter which clean the blood to combat too many free radicals from processed oils. *Consume only if organic from free-ranging animals.

Fruit and Berries: Their phytochemicals strengthen blood vessels and they contain heart-strengthening anti-oxidants.

Vegetables: The darker the color, the higher the anti-oxidant content.

Whole Grains: Whole grains provide EFA’s (Essential Fatty Acids).

Nuts & Seeds: Nuts and seeds are a good source of EFA’s.

Wild-caught Fish: Salmon and others provide EFA’s. Red Sock-eye salmon from Alaska is the least contaminated fish.

Eggs: Purchase eggs from free-ranging chickens to ensure EFA content.

*Avoid: Excessive animal protein and dairy especially if not from organic sources, trans fats and unstable polyunsaturated oils (oils extracted from vegetable sources).

HEART HEALTHY LIFESTYLE TIPS

Drink water: The typical recommendation is to drink half your body weight in ounces. Water flushes out harmful toxins and fat from your cells.

Move: Exercise outside.

Deal with your Emotions: The heart is a powerful center for your emotions- acknowledge them and get support to work through them.

Private Counseling- Is it For You?

ARE YOU EATING YOUR FOOD OR IS YOUR FOOD EATING YOU?

I am in the business of guiding people to achieve higher levels of health by eating better foods and dealing with areas of their lifestyle that are out of balance. After achieving healing from a personal battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I know that it is possible to become healthier regardless of any diagnosis you may have.

My refreshing approach is different from a standard nutritionist because I am interested in eating quality foods and addressing anything in your life that holds you back from less than optimal health. Rather than counting calories, grams, and pounds, I teach my clients the value of whole foods and finding the right foods that work best in their bodies. My clients learn to add foods into their diet rather than take things away. This eliminates cravings and feelings of deprivation.

I use the concept of Primary foods (relationships, physical activity, career, and spirituality) to make the statement that sometimes the “stuff” going on in our lives is just as important, if not more important than the actual food (secondary food) that we eat. A healthy person looks at both and makes manageable changes in both areas to achieve higher levels of health.

My clients come from all backgrounds and walks of life. Some just want to learn how to eat healthier, and some have serious health issues that they want resolved. The one thing they all have in common is a desire to change their way of eating and living. {See MY PROGRAM page of my website for testimonials.}

Working with me does not promise a quick fix; rather our work together unfolds a manageable way to achieve the changes you want to make in your life and with your food. I provide unconditional support free of judgment.

Are you uncomfortable in your own skin? Are you tired and stressed? Do you wish you knew how to take better care of yourself? Are you ready to make some changes towards better health and a more fulfilled life?

COOLING FOODS

Are you dealing with the heat? Are you looking for ways to stay cool? You have lots of options. Find a cold waterfall and stand under it. Go swimming. Move to a colder climate. Stand in front of a fan. Eat cooling foods.

Have you noticed that perhaps your body naturally desires more vegetables, fruit, and salads when the temperatures go up? That is because these foods have a cooling effect in your body. You have heard the expression, "cool as a cucumber" because cucumbers are a great cooling food.

How do you figure out which other foods have a cooling effect in your body? The following are a few rules of thumb:

• RAW fruits and vegetables are cooling.
• Hot spices in significant amounts are eventually cooling because they cause perspiration, which is cooling when it evaporates.
• Sugar and salt are both cooling and warming. If eaten with cooling foods, they will intensify the effect.

Food that is cold in temperature does not necessarily mean it has a cooling effect in your body, although this may sometimes be the case.
The following is an abbreviated list of cooling foods: Watermelon, Citrus fruits, Summer squashes, Mung beans, Leafy vegetables, Sea vegetables, Brown rice, Sprouts, Sashimi, Lobster, Curry, Dill, Tamari, Parsley, and Hot peppers.
Steaming, Stir-frying, and Pickling are cooking techniques to use if you want a cooling effect.

*This is general information. It is not meant to treat any specific conditions. Each person will have their own Bio-Individual response. Listen to what your body says as you experiment with food.

Some of this information came from "Food and Healing" by Annemarie Colbin

ARE YOU ADDICTED TO SUGAR?

Sugar is one of the most addictive substances known to man. Even people that do not have obvious addictions such as cigarettes or alcohol often struggle with sugar.
What is it about sugar that lures us in? What is it about something sweet melting in our mouths that gives us such tremendous, yet only temporary pleasure?
Sugar nourishes on a deeper level than we might want to admit. Sugar gives us something when we are depressed, happy, or angry. It buffers any emotion when we are too afraid to dig deeper within ourselves.

Are you ready to release your struggle with sugar once and for all? What will it take for you to find what you need out of your life instead of relying on a sweet substance for temporary satisfaction?

You and I both know that sugar can never give you the fulfillment you are truly seeking. Are you ready to discover what will deeply nourish your life?