 bensbitterblog.wordpress.com Yes, I'm sure most of us feel a pang of distain, a shot of envy or a touch of grinch-like nastiness at some point over the holidays (which can be overcome through mindfulness btw...) BUT in this post I am referring to the sharp, pungent taste that many of us westerners are missing from our every day diet- especially during this sugar ridden season! What many people don't know is that this particular taste can be the key to avoiding sugar comas, mood swings and general lethargy during the holidays- let me explain why! When you have a sugar craving, it can mean several things- that you're thirsty, you need to sleep or relax OR that you need certain nutrients to give your body energy. Overall, if you give your body healthy nutrients throughout the day you shouldn't be craving sweets. It comes down to biology- taste buds are bundles of nerve endings, and our bitter taste buds connect to the vagus nerve, which stimulates the functioning of the digestive organs. So by eating bitter foods you will improve digestion, therefore providing your body with more of the nutrients it may be missing, therby cutting down on cravings! Symptoms of a digestive system crying out for bitters include bloating, burping, flatulence and constipation. These symptoms in particular indicate low stomach-acid production. As we age, stomach-acid production drops and this inhibits absorption of nutrients such as protein, iron and vitamin B12- leading us to exhibit symptoms include peeling fingernails, dry lips, general fatigue and lethargy as well as an increased susceptibility to parasitic and fungal infections. This is one of the many reasons why it is so important to be MINDFUL of the foods we are giving our bodies! The problem with the holidays, as we health conscious folks already know, is that sweets are inevitably a part of the celebration. When we reach for sweets it starts a rollercoaster ride of quick highs and lows in our mood and energy, causing even more stress and tension in this already tightly wound season. The solution? Make a conscious effort to eat more salad. Yes, leafy greens will provide a body satisfying bitterness that you are really craving and give you vital, powerful nutrients that your body is searching for! Where to start? Try spinach. Kale, broccoli, arugula, beet greens, bok choy, collards, swiss chard, mustard greens and watercress are also amazing options. Try the winter greens salad recipe I've given you below as a test of this theory- the next time you're at home and have a sweet craving, have a serving of this salad instead of a cookie and probably within 15 minutes your craving will probably have subsided. Worth a shot right? In health, Ariel Richards, R.H.N.  I don't have a pic of my salad- but here's a pretty one from chinesegrandma.com of a similar one :) Winter Greens Salad (serves 4-6)
1 large head kale, stalks removed and thinly sliced 1 ⁄2 head Swiss chard, stalks removed (save for soup!) and thinly sliced 1–2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar juice of 1 lemon 1/2 tsp of sea salt 1 apple, cored and thinly sliced 1 cup chopped golden raisins (or pomegranate seeds) 1 ⁄2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped 2 Tbsp fresh thyme Freshly ground pepper, to taste Method: Massage kale and Swiss chard with 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and 1/4 tsp sea salt (to break down the fibers) for at least 2 minutes. Once the salad is wilted, toss in apple and raisins/pomegranate. In a separate bowl, toss the walnuts with thyme, 1/2 Tbsp oil, 1/4 tsp sea salt, and pepper. Toss the walnuts with the salad. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
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 The World Health Organization has found that domestic and sexual violence affects 30 to 60 percent of women in most countries. Some women come out of these attacks stronger, some weaker, some determined to make change, some ashamed and unable to cope.
When I hear about specific cases of these attacks- these horrible acts- especially when they involve young women who had their whole lives ahead of them, I am so deeply saddened for them- and for human kind. Rather than responding with anger to the weakness and foolishness of some people, I choose to respond with respect and affirmations of the fundamental worth and potential of all women everywhere. I would like to share a prayer from Ms. Katherine Tyler Scott in the book Women's Uncommon Prayers: Our Lives Revealed, Nurtured, Celebrated. One I am a woman born of God I am a woman born of love I am caring and competent vulnerable and powerful seeking wholeness physically, emotionally, and spiritually I am a woman reaching out to others making a difference in myself my family community church and the world I am empowering myself to empower others I am struggling to accept my anger and use it to gain strength, confidence, courage, and intimacy with others I am a woman who sees the interconnectedness of all human beings who values the unique gifts of all I am a woman who leads and follows who accepts responsibility for myself and the choices I make Yes, I am a woman who sees each day as a new beginning a chance to grow in self, love, and service I am a woman born of God I am a woman born of love And I can be All that I am  Another great workshop this morning- I'm so grateful! Cleanses are always so difficult to show up for- both mentally and physically- most of us naturally have a lot of resistance to change, because change is scary! So I am truly thankful that I got to see so many brave and lovely faces this morning :) We had a big group-21 participants, all members of the Halifax Yoga community. It's always challenging to present to a wide demographic- mostly because everyone is coming from a unique place and a different level of healthy habits and knowledge. That being said, I think it went really well! (I hope my participants would agree). In my workshops, I try to share as much applicable knowledge as possible so that attendees will always find something that really speaks to them and that they can utilize immediately in their daily lives. I feel like having lots of options is the key to having successful transitions into more healthy habits. No one thing is going to work for everybody but there is something that will work for every one! This weekend everyone is heading out to get their supplies- food, supplements, and other helpful tools (myself included!) I'm going to try to get most of my foods from the farmers market, as local sources are the best sources! I've also mentioned to all the omnivores that some great restaurants to visit while they're going veggie are Fruition at the Seaport Market, Heartwood on Quinpool, The Wooden Monkey downtown and on the darkside and EnVie at the Alderney Landing Market. So many delicious options to try! Fruition and EvVie also have take home options for those that want to eat well but are in a hurry! Finally just a note on mindfulness. I felt somewhat like a broken record, but mindfulness exercises are so vital to the cleansing process- the physical toxins we remove are powerful, but the emotional and energetic toxins are that much more so. Anyone thinking of completing a cleanse should really pick out a journal (one that they like, that they'll use) because as I said today, it is one of the best tools you'll use during a detox. By recording foods, thoughts, feelings and other musings, you'll be better able to pin point your feelings and have more of an introspective journey through your cleanse. Plus it makes a great keepsake to look through to remind you of all the clarity you found while detoxing to help motivate you to do it again! If anyone would like to experiment with a food & mood journal, please let me know- I have a great template you could use! I've also implemented Reiki and EFT tapping into this workshop (as I do with all of them) because I think that by combining the modalities of nutrition and energy therapy make the final result that much better. I look forward to hearing how our cleanse group makes out with these new exercises!! Anyway- excited to move forward with this group, and get started with my cleanse :) Also super excited for my Nutritional Presentation at Kings College on the topic of Veganism and its implications to your Health, Budget, Global Society and Environment this coming Monday evening! In health, Ariel 
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January 2016
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