topView some selected previous EnergyConscious Newsletters. Each has an article or two, website review and recipe. 1 (Recipe: Winter Bean Soup), 2 (recipe: Golden Corn Cereal), 3 (recipe: Pressed Salad and Dressings), 4 (recipe: Amaranth Pudding with dried fruit , 5 (recipe: Adzuki Bean Tea), 6 (recipe: Strawberry and Almond Parfait, 7 (recipe: Real Fruit Sorbet), 8 (recipe: Carrot-miso Condiment), 9 (recipe: Green Sauce), 10 (recipe: Cran-nip Surprise), 11 (recipe: Red lentil burgers), 12 Miso soup with Nori,

EnergyConscious Newsletter www.energyconscious.org

Dedicated to sharing ways to grow aware of our awesome energies ~ by Rebecca Gurland

EnergyConscious Newsletter #1

Welcome to the EnergyConscious newsletter. There are so many ways to enhance our energy levels. Although we can’t plug ourselves into the wall socket and get quickly recharged, a couple of daily additions, maybe a fruit or vegetable, maybe a deep breath and stretch, can make an absolute world of difference to how we feel. Find out more at www.energyconscious.org

Please give some of these ides a try! The email box is always open for your ideas, questions and suggestions. Rebecca Gurland –Energy Medicine Educator

Website Review: The Macrobiotic Guide

Energizing Recipe of the Month: Winter Bean Soup

Article 1: The Gift of the Three S’s by Rebecca Gurland

Article 2: Problems of Multiple Medications by Gary Craig

Contact Rebecca

www.energyconscious.org Click on <classes> on the left

Website Review:

Perhaps we haven’t become aware yet, and are not conscious of the incredible changes in our energy levels that does occur due to what we ingest. This month’s website review is a wonderful, complete resource about the macrobiotic way of life.

The Macrobiotic Guide http://www.macrobiotics.co.uk/

From The Guide’s introduction:

The Macrobiotic Guide serves the macrobiotic community around the world. The earliest recorded usage of the term “macrobiotics” is found in the writings of Hippocrates. Translated literally, macro is the Greek word for “great” and bios is the word for “life.”

Macrobiotics is used as a tool that allows one to learn to live within the natural order of life. Throughout history, philosophers and physicians from many parts of the world have used this term to signify living in harmony with nature, eating a simple, balanced diet, and living to an active old age.

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Energizing Recipe of the Month:

Winter Bean Soup

To fuel ourselves for these winter months here in New England, long cooking with hearty vegetables and beans with warm us from the insides out. Please remember, be sure to add the sprig of parsley or a few slices of scallion when serving the soup, for an important way to balance our food. A whole grain bread would complete this simple meal.

Sort and wash 1 C black turtle beans or other bean

Soak in 3 C water for 6-8 hr or overnight. Drain and add 4C cold water.

Add a 2-3” piece of kombu* and bay leaf [no salt yet].

Cook in heavy pot for 1 ½ hr, or pressure cook 50 min until about 80% done.

While beans are cooking, in a heavy pot sauté 1 small chopped onion in a small amount of olive oil with a pinch of sea salt for 3-4 minutes.

Add chopped carrot and winter squash or potato if desired. Cook till veggies are done.

Add ginger juice* and sea salt or miso* to taste.

For a thicker soup puree 1C of soup and add back to pot. Gently heat. Garnish with chopped parsley or scallion.

*Kombu: a dried thick sea vegetable leaf often added to soups, beans, etc. It’s high in minerals and helps beans be more digestible. Stores, dry, in jar for 2-3 years.

*Ginger juice: Grate a piece of fresh ginger. Squeeze the pulp in your hand.

*Miso: can be thought of as thick, aged, natural soy sauce, many varieties. High in digestive enzymes, added at the end of cooking. Also great in sauces, many uses. Very long lasting, look for un-pasteurized, refrigerated.

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Article 1:

The Gift of the Three S’s

Or Simple Solutions to Becoming Spectacular!

Ah, is it possible that one need only to remember to do three things every day in order to become spectacular? Sounds easy. The 3 S’s are little ideas that can impact our health, well-being and happiness. All we have to do is remember the 3 S’s and we can be on our Way to feeling better and better. (It happens that three different people have told me about these ideas for health and happiness. Thank you Stephanie, Nancy and David). They are the same ideas, with some variations. They are really so simple and so profoundly beneficial.

Here they are:

1. Straight spine. 2) Soften belly. 3) Smile.
   

1.Straighten

How important is our posture? It isn’t often mentioned. Perhaps we had been reprimanded at some point – “Stand up straight” “Don’t slouch”. You may have heard that the spine should be as a stack of quarters. Except for a perhaps exaggerated stiff military pose, most of us see people with a relaxed slump of the back. It is difficult to change because for most of us, our posture is a result of habits developed over a long period of time. For Example: we sit hunched over the computer or desk (even though every new computer comes with a guide to computer and keyboard setup and suggestions for screen height, etc). Then there’s the tension we carry that keeps our shoulders up toward our ears.  Also, for some it seems that the neck and head will jut forward as they age so that it appears that the body has to follow along behind, a posture that can cause poor alignment and pain.

A gentle reminder to ourselves is needed here. A visual image can trigger us to improve how we stand and carry ourselves. With our understandings of the unseen energetic world, we can use the idea of a string from the top of our head extending up to the heavens, connecting, aligning and supporting. Perhaps the image of a golden cord will come to mind and we will feel the pull to stand tall!

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2. Soften belly. Here we have the “S” for soften, or to unclench the belly so the area can expand and contract as we breathe. This is where many of us of keep much tension, physical and emotional. This tension keeps the muscles in this area rigid (or taut or tight), which can lead to weakness or injury, instead of flexible and strong. When we inhale there needs to be expansion, on the exhale, contraction; for proper tone we need both to flex and release. Proper abdominal movement when breathing keeps the “digestive fire” burning.

Our breathing is impacted by the control of the abdominal muscles. We may think of taking a deep breath and how we are expanding the lungs. Yet, moving the upper chest is just part of a complete breath. The diaphragm is at the bottom of the sternum or breastbone. When placing a hand just under the diaphragm, on the abdomen, we should be able to feel the belly expand with our breath. It has been said that most people are shallow breathers and we need what is called diaphragmatic breathing or abdominal breathing. This complete breath brings oxygen to the cells on inhalation and on exhalation expels the carbon dioxide and stuck energies can even move out of the body

Marji Hajic, the
Ergonomics Editor at www.BellaOnline.com has an idea to practice that helps one to breathe well and improves posture at the same time:

“I always like to start any effort to realign my body’s posture with breathing. A deep inhale, followed by a long, slow hissing exhale can begin to relieve the chronic muscular holding in the shoulders and neck that most of us have. This hissing should seem as though you are letting the air out of a tire. It should not be forced.”

3.Smile. This is a profound gift that we can give to one another. It costs us nothing, yet brings real joy. When we smile, we can engage that enjoyable feeling for ourselves - as well as those we direct that smile to. One of the descriptions of the 3 S’s suggests smiling with the eyes and one says to bring the energy up from the belly, through the heart to the eyes, if you can imagine that. If we guess how that would be, perhaps the eyes would have a softer, gentler look, as we view the world with a kind energy. Frowning tenses so many muscles in the face, giving many more wrinkles than one may get with “laugh lines”. Yet, realistically, we don’t always feel like smiling. If that’s the case for you right now, you can actually try just pretending that things are okay. Give a little smile and notice how you feel. Take a deep breath and exhale completely. Stand a bit straighter and taller.

Practicing the 3 S’s is simple, although remembering to practice may be an effort at first. How about a 3x5 card with three S’s drawn on it and tacked up where you see it- or in a pocket. Maybe it would work to have three little stones or shells placed on a shelf or table with the intention to remind ourselves: Three S’ ~ Straighten, Soften, Smile!

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Article 2: The Menacing Mathematics of Multiple Meds

By Gary Craig

There's something scary about drugs that concerns a growing number of physicians and should wobble the knees of every patient on the planet.  It's obvious to any mathematician but somehow has escaped the general scrutiny of the health industry.

It has to do with combining meds.

Ever since I can remember I have been fed the perception that drugs are governmentally evaluated and thus are safe if taken under the guidance of competent physicians. However, even if we accept the presumed safety for the ingestion of one drug, we must ask ourselves how might that safety change if we take multiple drugs?

For safety assurances, proper testing should be done for every drug combination we are advised to take.  If we take Prozac and Tylenol, for example, we should be presented with all the possible benefits and consequences before allowing these two foreign substances to mix with the chemicals our bodies already create.  Same thing goes for combining Paxil with Viagra or Interferon with Lipitor.

The list of possible problems here is monstrously long because there are a b'zillion drugs and mega b'zillions of combinations.  Nonetheless, I've never seen or heard of any studies that test any of these combinations ... have you?

Thus, if you take two drugs, the odds of their combination having been adequately tested for safety are skimpy at best.  But if you take 3 or more drugs the danger possibilities multiply even faster.

Here's how the mathematics work: If you take 3 drugs then adequate safety testing of the various combinations require 7 separate tests.  If you take 4 drugs the combinations require 25 separate tests.  If you take 5 drugs it amounts to 121

tests.  If you take 10 drugs the number of required safety tests total 362,881.

The conclusion here should be obvious.  Namely, there is questionable safety testing if you take 2 drugs and nominal, if any, safety testing if you take 3.  Beyond that you are clearly into the land of, "I have no idea what these combinations of drugs will do." 

To me, this tosses our dedicated docs into a tenuous position.  They have patients with problems who aren't willing to exercise, eat right, do EFT for emotional issues ( http://www.emofree.com/a/?1406 )  or much of anything else to help their own health.  Instead, the patients hope the physicians will produce a magic pill (or pills) to make their problems go away.

I have met many patients who are on several drugs and take some drugs to counteract the effects of other drugs.  As a non-physician I look at this with a shudder.  These folks are being fed chemical cocktails with little or no safety testing behind the combinations. Maybe I need some help with my perceptions here but, to me, they are playing drug roulette.

I don't know if lawyers have picked up on the simple, but compelling, math here. But I do know that I wouldn't want to be a doctor in court facing these clear facts.

In the 15+ years I have been involved in the health field, I have had the good fortune to count many physicians as my personal friends.  With few exceptions, they agree that it is our lifestyles, diets and emotional stresses that cause most of our health problems ... and ... the vast majority of these problems would vanish if people would live common sense lives.  Yet patients repeatedly abuse their bodies and ask for more and more "miracle drugs" as the convenient solution.  I don't envy the docs at all as I often hear them complain that this is a highway to NobodyWinsVille.

Maybe what we really need are good salespeople to persuade folks to take care of themselves.  I suspect that, if truly persuasive, they would do more good than the ocean of drugs at our disposal.

Love, Gary

Also find out more about EFT from Rebecca at www.energyconscious.org

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Contact Rebecca: Email: Rebecca@Pillowcrafters.com 860-974-166

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Newsletter #2

Welcome to the EnergyConscious newsletter. There are so many ways to enhance our energy levels. Although we can’t plug ourselves into the wall socket and get quickly recharged, a couple of daily additions, maybe a fruit or vegetable, maybe a deep breath and stretch, can make an absolute world of difference to how we feel. Find out more at www.energyconscious.org

Please give some of these ides a try! The email box is always open for your ideas, questions and suggestions.   Rebecca Gurland –Energy Medicine Educator

Website Review:    Messages from Water - Masaru Emoto

Energizing Recipe of the Month: Golden Corn Cereal with variations

Article      Be Informed about Codex! Make a difference! Good news!

Be Empowered

Website Review:             Messages from Water - Masaru Emoto

Have you been inspired and amazed by the work of Dr Masaru Emoto yet? This Japanese researcher has the most wonderful books of writing and photographs of frozen water droplets from many sources. Water from clear lakes and water exposed to the vibration of words of gratitude form beautiful crystal shapes. Water from polluted streams and water exposed to heavy metal music formed fragmented or malformed crystals at best. The message of the water crystals even demonstrates how the way the vibration of a word written on a piece of paper and taped to the glass, affects the crystal that will form!

This is so interesting to see, although the incredible part is the seeing the beautiful crystals that form after the polluted lake was prayer over. Dr Emoto’s work is helping a multitude of people to actually see the reality of the powerful vibrations of our words.

See photos from his book here:

Dr Emoto's site

Life-enthusiast site   

Water has a very important message for us. Water is telling us to take a much deeper look at our selves. When we do look at our selves through the mirror of water, the message becomes amazingly, crystal, clear. We know that human life is directly connected to the quality of our water, both within and all around us.

The photographs and information in this article reflect the work of Masaru Emoto, a creative and visionary Japanese researcher Mr. Emoto has published an important book, "The Message from Water" from the findings of his worldwide research If you have any doubt that your thoughts affect everything in, and around you, the information and photographs that are presented here, taken from the book of his published results, will change your mind and alter your beliefs, profoundly.

Energizing Recipe of the Month:

Golden Corn Breakfast

Try a Sweet or a Savory Way to Energize Your Day

by Rebecca Gurland

Would you like a quick, easy, tasty, satisfying and good-for-you recipe? All right! Here are a few ideas to spark your creativity. Perhaps you don’t think of creating your breakfast as a way to get more energy for your day. Yet, the time from our last dinner or snack to the next morning is a fast: eight hours or longer. This fast is an important benefit for our digestive organs (as they can rest) as well as our other organ systems, which can replenish during sleep. Studies have shown that too long a fast (like waiting till noon to eat), will cause the body to go into “starvation mode”. Then we may eat too fast and perhaps over-eat. Meanwhile, although, there is actually not a condition of famine, the body will automatically store that food away for “safe keeping” against the perceived emergency condition. So that food is not readily available to us for energy. Instead it is in the process of being stored as more fat, - decreasing metabolism, and causing more sluggishness and more hunger. “Whew”, you might say, “and just because I skipped breakfast!” Yes, and there’s more: there’s blood sugar imbalance, and therefore mood imbalance. Not a pretty picture.

 Or…

 Perhaps you have an oatmeal morning routine. That’s a fine breakfast, often served sweetened with raisins and or sugars. Want a little something different for a change? Trying to work another serving of fruit and vegetables into your day? Want to have that day be full of vibrant energy? Try making your breakfast savory instead of sweet. Even just for one day, or two or three. : ). Recall how you felt after a sweet breakfast. Then see how you feel after a savory one. Your experience is the best way to learn how you are affected by these foods. Below are recipe suggestions for your Sweet and your Savory options.

My favorite, right now is golden yellow corn cereal [served like oatmeal] in one of my favorite blue flowered bowls. The toppings can be exciting; they are best cooked fresh. Spring and summer bring new fresh combos!

Golden Corn Cereal: Basic Recipe. Makes 1-2 servings

Place: ½ C - corn grits in a sauce pan with 2 C water and soak 8 hours or overnight. Just a few minutes prep in the evening ensures quicker cooking time.

Add 1 pinch -Sea salt

Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes, until the grits become tender.

For 4 servings, use 3/4 C grits to 3 C water.

Variations:

1. Golden Corn Cereal, Sweet

For a sweet variation, you may substitute apple juice for some or all of the liquid..

2. Golden Corn Cereal, Savory

a)     Sautéed chopped scallions [or onion] with maybe some chopped mushrooms combined with a dash of olive oil and shoyu [natural soy sauce].

b)     Yellow squash and parsley, cooked as above or lightly steamed

c)      A few spears of asparagus will look beautiful

These can be perhaps surprisingly delicious and importantly, satisfying and energizing! Vegetables = Vitamins = Vitality!

3. Golden Corn Cereal Sweet: Creamy and nourishing, this can be a simple breakfast with a few blueberries or other favorite fruits.

4. Golden Corn Cereal Brazilian: When cooking add unsweetened coconut and chopped nuts (1 –2 Tablespoons each per serving, [pre-toasting optional]) with ½ t. grated orange peel and 2T orange juice

5. Golden Corn Indian Pudding: Add 2-3 T barley malt sweetener, or rice malt syrup or maple syrup, a dash of cinnamon and 1-2 tablespoons raisins if desired.

6. Golden Corn Cereal Leftovers: The leftover cereal can be poured into a container to cool and it refrigerates well for 2-3 days. The cooled grain can then be cut into squares or slices and are delicious as a plain snack, sautйed with onions and garlic as a side dish and looks beautiful on top of a bean chili. This is very much like polenta.

7. Gluten-free golden piecrust: Make a batch of golden corn cereal and when still warm, pour into an ungreased glass pie pan. Spread evenly along bottom and then with back of spoon, push corn up the sides. When cool, this is ready for your filling!

A note about corn and organic and GMO. Please find organic corn products. GMO [genetically modified organism] means that someone has been “messing with Mother Nature”! Organic means that care has been taken to keep possibly harmful chemicals out of our bodies.

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Article 1:

There has been that latest plan from the FDA to regulate your freedom and choice regarding alternative health care, nutritional supplements and herbs.  It  could very well have become an unfortunate crisis for all of us public and professional if we didn’t take a minute and respond.  

News and information about this follows from Dr Laibow, Donna Eden, David Feinistein and others.

The good news from Dr Laibow:

Your activism just saved supplements from being turned into "untested drugs"! Big

Pharma will be back, but today, we can do a victory dance!

Thank you 435,005 times. That's the number of people who used our site to submit

their comments to the FDA on their dangerous CAM Guidance through our site. 182,484

succeeded but, since our site was interfered with several times, 252,521 people did

not. We were working feverishly to submit those comments manually.

Dr. Rima

Rima E. Laibow, MD

Medical Director

Natural Solutions Foundation

www.HealthFreedomUSA.org

This was the news 2 and 3 weeks ago:

Dear Friends

Please take a few minutes to educate yourself about the latest plan from the FDA to regulate your freedom and choice regarding alternative health care, nutritional supplements and herbs.  This could very well become an unfortunate crisis for all of us public and professional if we don’t take a minute and respond.  Let your voice be heard.  You can do something to stop it. Doing nothing is what the drug companies and the AMA want! TAKE ACTION NOW!

1. Click on the links below to get all of the facts.

   2.  Send an email to the FDA  (at the end of this link)
         <http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/healthfreedomusa/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=7185>  
   
  3.  Forward this email to everyone you know, everyone you love, everyone you care about, everyone who has ever used or benefited from alternative healthcare services. (ie. Acupuncture, massage, Energy Medicine, chiropractic, herbs, nutritional supplements)

   4.  You must take action before April 30th before it’s too late.

   5.  This is not a hoax.  This can really happen.  Europe has already fallen under CODEX guidelines.   
        Someone recently shared the scenario that in Europe they were only allowed 12 vitamin C per month.  
        This type of control has gone too far.  

Thank you for making a difference.

Dr. Melanie
 
April 28, 2007
Dear Health Freedom Advocate,
Please go to www.HealthFreedomUSA.org and click on "Blog" tab or go directly to http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/index.php?page_id=219.  These links take you to an important Guest Blog by Ralph Fucetola, JD, on the real nature of the complex multiple assaults we are experiencing in the Health Freedom battle we are in right now.

Read it and forward it widely to your contacts.
Thanks for your activism,

Rima E. Laibow, MD
Medical Director
Natural Solutions Foundation
www.HealthFreedomUSA
We've heard of this threat and now it's happening:

Alert: FDA Attempting to Regulate Supplements, Herbs and Juices as "Drugs"

• Health freedom action alert: FDA attempting to regulate supplements,  herbs and juices as "drugs"
• By Mike Adams
• NewsTarget/Truth Publishing,  April 11, 2007
• Straight to the Source <http://www.newstarget.com/z021789.html>
•  

When it comes to health freedom, this is the FDA's end game. A new FDA "guidance" document, published on the FDA's website, reveals plans to reclassify virtually all vitamins, supplements, herbs and even vegetable juices as FDA-regulated drugs. Massage oils and massage rocks will be classified as "medical devices" and require FDA approval. The document is called Docket No. 2006D-0480. Draft Guidance for Industry on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Products and Their Regulation by the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA is accepting public comments on the docket until April 30th. They tried to sneak this under the radar, but word got out and now the natural health community is up in arms over this rule. If you wish to protect your access to nutritional supplements, herbs, essential oils, homeopathic medicine or any other "complementary" or "alternative" modality, it is crucial that you take action to post your comments with the FDA right now and write your representatives in Washington to put a stop to this outrageous effort to destroy natural medicine. (And be sure to really write them. Just sending an email has virtually no impact compared to writing a physical letter in your own words.)


Full article here:  http://www.organicconsumers.org:80/articles/article_4803.cfm

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www.energyconscious .org energyconscious.org

Dedicated to sharing ways to grow aware of our awesome energies ~ by Rebecca Gurland

EnergyConscious Newsletter #3

Welcome to the EnergyConscious newsletter. There are so many ways to enhance our energy levels. Although we can’t plug ourselves into the wall socket and get quickly recharged, a couple of daily additions, maybe a fruit or vegetable, maybe a deep breath and stretch, can make an absolute world of difference to how we feel. Find out more at http://www.energyconscious.org

Please give some of these ides a try! The email box is always open for your ideas, questions and suggestions.   Rebecca Gurland –Energy Medicine Educator

Website Review:Messages from Water - Masaru Emoto

Energizing Recipes of the Month: Pressed Salad and dressings

Article      Proper breathing is the very essence of life!

Contact Rebecca

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Website review

This website: http://www.selfgrowth.com has a multitude of articles and inspires us in many ways. It is so encouraging to see how many people are deciding to work on their self growth and improvement.

Last newsletter we shared Dr Emoto’s website http://www.masaru-emoto.net and his work of showing  the effects of words, images and thoughts on drops of frozen water. I have had the opportunity to meet this remarkable man at the Kushi macrobiotic summer conference. He told us that he is now making a children’s version of his book free to the world’s children!  When you go to www.internationalwaterforlifefoundation.org/ you can download the book and print it. (I then brought this to the local Staples office store and inexpensively got it bound.)

Energizing Recipes

Pressed Salads and Their Dressing and Dips

This is the season! Fresh vegetables are so plentiful and at their peak of flavor. Crunchy lettuce, especially the green of Romaine, hold up well in either a pressed salad* or raw. Cut cabbage (green or red) thinly and you can transform it into homemade coleslaw in a few hours.

My favorite dressings for salad are also wonderful on hot vegetables or grain as well. Made thicker with less water, they work as dips or spreads. These additions to our meals are important to add variety and spark to the meal, and a great way to add more vitamins.

Green Dreams – A food processor is helpful for this one. Pulse the machine to chop 3 scallions (cut off roots) with ½ of a good sized bunch of parsley (cut off long stems). When minced fine, add liquids: 1-2 T brown rice vinegar, 1-2 T umeboshi vinegar, 2-3 T water. Adjust water amount for the consistency that you want. Taste and then adjust seasoning liquids, if needed.

Carrot Ginger Wonder – this can be done without getting out any electric gizmos. A good grater can make that large carrot into a ½ cup of carrot pulp. Place in a bowl. Using the same grater, and about an inch piece of ginger root, then you can make a small ball of ginger pulp that can be squeezed in your hand to add the sweet ginger juice into the bowl with the carrot.  Add a couple of drops of shoyu (natural soy sauce). A splash of brown rice vinegar may be added. Sometimes a little sweetener may be desired- brown rice syrup works well. Experiment and enjoy!

Tofu Sauce- I have seen this recipe called Tofu Mayo, Mock Cheese Sauce or White Mustard Sauce. Pick the one that sounds appetizing to you! Take a ½ block of tofu (I’ve successfully used firm or soft) and place in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. This makes the tofu more digestible, gets rid of the raw taste, and balances energy. Cool. Place in a blender to get a real creamy consistence. Add 1 T prepared mustard, 1 T ume* vinegar, 2T brown rice vinegar, a splash of shoyu and water to blend. Add water slowly. This can be a thin sauce or thick like mayonnaise.

“You do what to a salad?” A pressed salad is an easy way to make these raw foods more digestible and the nutrients readily available. Just tear or cut the lettuce into bite sized pieces. You may add slices of radish for a bit of a spicy bite. Carrot shredded on the cheese grater is a quick and colorful addition. Thinly sliced cabbage becomes more familiar coleslaw (or sauerkraut with longer pressing) in the press. Thin slices of bok choy are a crunchy addition to lettuce salads.

A small amount of sea salt (or salted umeboshi vinegar*) is rubbed into the vegetables. Cabbage needs to be actually kneaded a bit. The salt taste should be slight, yet noticeable. This helps digestion and balance and is mineral rich.

The traditional way using the very convenient bowl-in-your- cupboard makes your salad press. Place the cut vegetable in the bowl and find a plate that can be pressed down, leaving a slight space around the edge. The next item needed is a large jar filled with water or beans as the weight. Traditionally a rock was used.

Light vegetables can be ready in 15-45 minutes. Cabbage takes longer. Look for a bit of liquid to rise to the top of the vegetables.

*Umeboshi (ume for short) is a small Japanese fruit that is pickled with red shiso leaves. The red liquid that is a byproduct of making this medicinal Ume plum, and has a wonderful flavor. This is an inexpensive and delicious way to add the salt seasoning to our dishes.

Article:

Breath  from:www.energybalancing.com

Proper breathing is the very essence of life. It is how our vibration works and why it happens. Breathing is the most important life function we perform. It regulates the heartbeat. Proper deep breathing is a natural way to increase the energy level and the enjoyment of life. It is the method we use to take in oxygen, which enables us to perform the activities of life and as a way of eliminating 70 percent of all the wastes generated by the body.

The practice of deep breathing exercises accelerates the intake of oxygen. Oxygen is the most important chemical in the body. It is a powerful stimulant. The body requires about 88 pounds of oxygen daily. Its main function is purification. Hemoglobin, the red element in the blood, is an iron molecule that is magnetic. It reacts to vibration to produce the oxygen carrying component of the blood. Iron is a positive ion and oxygen is a negative ion. Negative ions are attracted to hemoglobin. These are the most abundant substances in the body. Deep breathing recharges the hemoglobin.

We take approximately 21,600 breaths of air each day. The slower and deeper the breathing, the longer the life span. Rhythmic deep breathing is Nature's tranquilizer and can be used to reduce stress and release pain.

Learn to breathe energy as well as air. The result will be increased electromagnetic flow into your body, which will bring up suppressed feelings. When you learn to open your breath and relax in the presence of your feelings, you align yourself with your natural healing flow of aliveness. Your awareness will be heightened, old behavior patterns will disappear and physical dis-ease will be replaced with health and youth. The reults are permanent.

Conscious connected breathing is communication with the source of life and a deep peace within ourselves. With proper breathing the physical body feels lighter, freer and we are clearer in our thinking. We will experience a more joyous outlook, emotionally we will be calmer and more serene in dealing with the situations that arise in our daily lives. During tense or anxious times, pause for a moment and become aware of your breathing. Breath slowly and deeply. With each breath comes an increase in peace. The key is to become mindful of the breathing process. The easiest way to focus in the present is to spend time consciously breathing deep into your lungs. Continue this practice until you do not have to think about the process, then it will become automatic. Conscious connected breathing allows us to live in the now.

www.energyconscious .org

Dedicated to sharing ways to grow aware of our awesome energies

~ by Rebecca Gurland

EnergyConscious Newsletter -# 4Jan 2008

Welcome to the EnergyConscious newsletter. There are so many ways to enhance our energy levels. Although we can’t plug ourselves into the wall socket and get quickly recharged, a couple of daily additions, maybe a fruit or vegetable, maybe a deep breath and stretch, can make an absolute world of difference to how we feel. Find out more at http://www.energyconscious.org

Please give some of these ides a try! The email box is always open for your ideas, questions and suggestions.   Rebecca Gurland –Energy Medicine Educator

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Classes: They are "weather permitting"

Be Empowered - Join the Healing Circle. Ten minutes on Mon evening to put our intentions together

Energizing Recipe of the Month: Amaranth Pudding with dried fruit

Article      Jump For Joy by Lino Stanchich

Upcoming dates: Classes and Workshops with Rebecca

You're Invited:  The Third Wed- The Five Doors For Supreme Health Ongoing-monthly 6:30 – 8pm Coventry, CT Healing Hands Wellness Center, Main St- next to the Bidwell  (parking across the street) $20. suggested.

Tune into yourself and balance with ideas from Chi gong, Do-In and energy medicine. Tap away inner negativity and rediscover ways to reclaim intention and more with EFT and other release techniques.
Learn, Discuss, Practice & Enjoy –        Simple tools and techniques are in our hands!

Be Empowered Join the Healing Circle

The world is certainly full of disturbing situations we'd love to see healed. I believe by putting together our individual outcries for peace and justice can have power. Some of us here have started with Mondays at 7pm as a time to focus some thoughts and intentions of help and healing. It doesn't take too many minutes to do this.

Perhaps you don't plan to be part of this group, perhaps don't have Mondays at 7 free, or don't like group activities or any other reason- Yet... If you find yourself noticing that it's 7 pm on Monday and then that world need peace and healing- perhaps you are being drawn to focus with this healing circle. For now we will work with focusing on the same agenda, written below. Eventually we may have a group conference call so we can have some audio vibrations together! Speaking out loud, even if alone, seems to increase vibration.

Much gratitude for the time you give here to this healing circle as we raise our consciousness about our planet and fellow beings. As other prayer groups are also, we are working to send the highest vibrations to disturbing situations we'd love to see healed. Of course, at any time of the week we can send out thought to this idea. The planet will be appreciative, and we may feel benefit also!

I would be happy to send you a healing circle email with the Mon. intentions, usually on Sunday evening.  You may also call or email (info below) with any suggestions to include in the week’s intention list. Here are the basic intentions we have started with.

Healing Circle for Mon - 7 pm: Please include your own words. (Words spoken out loud seem to carry powerful vibrations.)  Breath with intention - intend-"I am a powerful force" 

I give thanks to the universe, to our guides, lords and angels and great teachers and masters [whatever names or words you use]. Thank you for helping me today. Thank you for keeping me and my surroundings filled with abundant, light, love and protection, now and for all time, in all dimensions and in all frequencies.

We ask for and see ourselves connected to the purest, highest vibration. Breathe in the pure light from the heavens above. Breathe in the pure light from the earth beneath our feet.

For the oceans of the earth -healing. Healing for the waters in all the rivers feeding our oceans. Healing for the bays and inlets, fiords and estuaries. Healing and protection is needed for fishes and mollusks and corals and all life in these waters.

Healing to the soils of the earth. Healing for the soils that nurture our crops of foodstuffs, may they be protected from stripping and pollution.

Healing for the children of the earth in every country. For children who know physical and mental anguish send the purest light of love.

Healing and understanding for the peoples of the world in every land- to know how connected we are to each other and to the planet. May this recognition dawn in all leaders and teachers and in our neighbors as well.

May resources for the planet be found or rediscovered, may humanity find safe and natural methods of living our lives in harmony and abundance with the earth. May we tune into all the wonderful resources within ourselves, as well.

And now-

Let us, just for now, imagine. Imagine a world where everyone knows their divinity - Feels at home in nature - Cares for the earth and all water and cares for all children.

Imagine and breathe ~ Gratitude and joy  Be Empowered Join the Healing Circle

 Energizing Recipe of the Month: Amaranth Pudding with dried fruit

This small, highly nutritious grain cooks in about 25 minutes. Place grain with water in saucepan, 1 part grain to 2 1/2 parts water. Add a pinch of sea salt and a handful of dried fruits like raisins, strawberries, cut apricots pieces, dates, etc.. Bring to boil, then reduce flame to simmer, cover and stir ocasionally. Eat like breakfast oatmeal, or a snack.

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Jump For Joy by Lino Stanchich I am including the complete article by my macrobiotic counselor. Rebounding is my favorite and surprisingly, very much enjoyed exercise!

Hello Everyone!
I hope your New Year is dynamic and positive. Here is an article I wrote about cleansing the lymph system with diet and exercise. I am most enthusiastic about the benefits my students and I have experienced from Rebounding, a powerfully effective and joint-protective exercise that can cleanse the lymph system (the garbage collector and waste manager of the body). Rebounding has been proven to help heal cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol, allergies, obesity, poor balance, and back problems. I have been Rebounding daily for over 20 years and love it! Rebounding, along with a balanced whole foods macrobiotic diet, can help us all “bounce” back to greater health and stronger immunity this year. Contact me if you have any comments and questions.(828) 299-8657. All the best~
Lino Stanchich

JUMP FOR JOY!
Cleansing the Lymph System: Rebound Back to Greater Health and Fitness! by Lino Stanchich, L.N., L.M.B.T. c.    2001, 2008

Our lymph system has a vitally important function for our total health. It is the “garbage and waste collector” of our body. The lymph system affects our physical, mental, and emotional well-being and powerfully contributes to the development and healing of all diseases. Imagine that your garbage collector went on strike and you had no way to get rid of the waste created in home. At first, you would probably store the waste somewhere. But how long would that work? After a few days, the waste would begin to putrefy and the smell would force you to take action. Maybe it is time to take action and cleanse your lymph system so that your whole body is healthier! In 2007, almost twenty thousand Americans died from lymph cancer or Lymphoma: Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s, however, we must realize that the lymph is a key factor in the development of all diseases. Cleansing the lymph system can be a matter of life or death.

The lymph system is a network of capillaries, vessels and nodes spread throughout the body. A proper analogy would be that the lymph is a vast river that flows, via a valve system that flows one way throughout our body. It is responsible for collecting the waste generated by cellular metabolism. It is the silent warrior that fights bacterial cells or viruses that have entered the body's tissues. The lymph system
continually pumps wastes through lymph nodes where the lymph fluid is cleansed. In the lymph nodes, lymphocytes, white blood cells that are vital in the defense against invasion by microorganisms, fight off viruses and bacteria.

We have as much lymph fluid as we have blood. However the blood has the heart to circulate blood around the body, while the lymph must clean itself by pressure exerted through proper breathing, movement, massage, exercising. My favorite is hugging, or as my wife, Jane, calls it, “Hug Therapy.” It works! When a person does not exercise, breathe deeply of fresh air or receive adequate hugs or massage, the lymph system very easily builds up an accumulation of waste. It is somewhat like a stagnant river. Get your lymph “river” flowing with clear, sparkling health!

It is vital to keep our lymph/river clean and unpolluted. When the lymph system is overloaded or not functioning correctly, it is as if the garbage collector of your body has gone on strike. You will receive a variety of warning signals that you have too much waste stored in the body. Among these symptoms are: Pain, disease, headache, constipation, strong body odor, foot odor, inflamed tonsils, fever, swollen glands, congested respiratory system, low energy, depression, crying, and foggy thinking. Sluggish, stagnant, and stinky are words that would also describe a polluted river.

The main cause of a malfunctioning lymph system is an UNHEALTHY DIET. When we eat mucus-producing and acid-forming foods, and do not burn the waste through exercise, the alveoli in the lungs may clog, our blood fails to get cleansed and oxygenated, and thus the lymph system becomes congested. Certain foods clog the system more than others, of course. Remember when you were in kindergarten and you made glue with flour and water? Foods made of refined white flour and sugar produce a type of “pasty” mucus substance that simply clogs (pastes up) the lymph system. In addition, poor quality salt and fats, and dairy hinder the function of the lymph system. Read all labels well.

So what is the solution? In my forty years of health counseling and creating personalized nutrition and lifestyle programs, I have found that most of the people who come to me have a clogged lymph system to some degree. I recommend supporting the function of the lymph system through specialized diet and exercise, especially rebounding or bouncing on a mini-trampoline! Rebounding is the most effective way to propel and cleanse the lymph system as it is proven to prevent, heal, and relieve:
1.    Cancer
2.    Heart Disease (Lowers blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides)
3.    Degenerative Diseases
4.    Allergies/colds
5.    Osteoporosis
6.    Poor circulation and digestion
7.    Fat, overweight, and cellulite
8.    Flabby/weak muscles
9.    Back and neck pain
10.    Poor balance and coordination
11.    Glandular and Hormonal Imbalance
12.    Poor breathing capacity
13.    Vision Problems
14.    Poor Hearing

The very best exercise of them all, to cleanse the lymph system and build immunity, is rebounding (bouncing/jogging) on a mini-trampoline. It is fun! Remember bouncing on your bed as a child? Now, no matter your age, you can bounce your way to better health. The mini-trampoline or rebounder is one of the most effective units of health equipment ever invented! Rebounding activates your over 60 trillion body cells. As your body rises up, you are held in opposition to the Earth’s gravity. The upward and downward bounce generates a force that moves and massages the cellular fluids, to create a movement and flow of the lymph. Most Olympic athletes and astronauts use a trampoline regularly with extremely beneficial results. The immunity in increased with rebounding. It is also efficient! FIVE minutes on the rebounder is equivalent to at least ONE MILE of regular jogging-running! All without the risk of joint and bone impact injury, shin splints, and pain that often occurs while exercising and jogging on hard surfaces.

How to Start Rebounding
People of all ages may use the mini-trampoline or rebounder. It can be extremely beneficial when used properly. Wear loose, cotton clothing.  It is best to rebound bare-footed, with the next best wearing flexible walking/jogging shoes. One may simply sit and gently bounce on the rebounder and derive great benefits. You may also stand or sit on the rebounder while another person bounces with you. If necessary, for better balance, buy a rebounder with an attached rail or, place the rebounder next to a wall and as you rebound, put one or both hands on the wall. Always keep one foot on the rebounder as you bounce. I like to take mine out on my deck in all seasons. Take yours out on your porch or patio for fresh air or place it next to an open window. As with all exercises, consult your health practitioner first.

Warm Up Slowly and Bounce with Your Breath!
When exercising on the rebounder, one experiences the most benefit by conscious breathing while bouncing. Remember to make sure that one of the feet is always on the rebounder. It is important not to jump straight up and down. Always warm up first. Warm up by standing with both feet on the trampoline, raising the heels while inhaling and slightly bending the knee. Then, let your weight come down on the heels as you exhale. Repeat twenty to thirty times. Then begin to jog, breathing in for at least three steps and breathing out for the same amount of steps. As you rebound, you may increase the number of jogs for each inhale and exhale. It is best to inhale and exhale through the nose. However, if your sinuses are clogged, you will, of course, need to breathe through your mouth. Breathe!

How Long Should I Rebound?
I like to play lively music and bounce to its beat. Try it! Rock, Soul, and World Beat music are terrific for rebounding. Even certain Mozart selections contain great dance/bounce beats. Set a timer or place a clock within view. In the beginning, start rebounding two or three minutes and gradually go up to five minutes then 15 minutes. Rebound before meals or wait at least one hour after meals. Bouncing on the mini-trampoline is extremely beneficial to the immune system if done before sitting in a sauna or a warm bath.

Eat a Cleansing Diet Also

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EnergyConscious Newsletter - March 2008  

Welcome to the EnergyConscious newsletter. There are so many ways to enhance our energy levels. Although we can’t plug ourselves into the wall socket and get quickly recharged, a couple of daily stretches, maybe a fruit or vegetable, maybe a deep breath and walk, can make an absolute world of difference to how we feel. Find out more at http://www.energyconscious.org

Please give some of these ideas a try! The email box is always open for your ideas, questions and suggestions.   Rebecca Gurland –Energy Medicine Educator

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Classes: the 3rd Wed of the month is March 19th- we meet in Coventry

Be Empowered Join the Healing Circle. Ten minutes on Mon evening to put our intentions together

Energizing Recipe of the Month: Azuki Bean Tea

Article and website review     Amberwaves  -devoted to preserving natural and organic rice, wheat, and other essential foods

Upcoming dates: Classes and Workshops with Rebecca

You're Invited:  The Third Wed- The Five Doors For Supreme Health Ongoing-monthly 6:30 – 8pm Coventry, CT Healing Hands Wellness Center, Main St- next to the Bidwell  (parking across the street) $20. suggested.