Raw Chocolate - This is a chocoate sauce mixture & does not set.

1 tablespoon raw unhulled tahini
1 tablespoon raw agave
1 tablespoon raw coco powder
1 tablespoon filter water

- Can add coconut & dried fruit also.

Mix together & serve. This is honestly some of the best chocolate I've tasted.

Organic Red Wine

Sulfites are additives used in wine to extend its shelf life. Just because red wine is organic it does not mean it is produced without sulfites. Lable needs to read no sulfites added or NSA.


http://enobytes.org/wine_blog/2007/05/06/red-wine-sulfites/

http://www.skrewtips.com/2007/08/10/drink-wine-without-the-after-affects/

http://www.wineintro.com/glossary/s/sulfites.html

http://www.sallys-place.com/beverages/wine/wine_headaches.htm

http://www.fermentarium.com/content/view/118/59/

http://www.winepros.org/wine101/wine-health.htm

Watties Pasta Sauce

Have a small handful of watties tins left in the cupboard that I pulled out today to check out the ingredients. The packaging claims:

No added colours or preservatives, 99% fat free & rich in lycopene

What they forget to tell us:

Ingredients:

Disodium Inosinate 631 - Not recommended for young children. Gout sufferers & Asthmatic people should avoid. Sometimes found in instant noodles, potato chips, savoury rice, tinned vegetables, cured meats, packet soups.

Monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) 621 - Found in cigarettes and animal food. Adverse effects appear in some asthmatic people, not recommended for infants and young children as it could damage the nervous system. Could kill nerve cells, resulting in diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Pregnant women, children, elderly and people with heart disease are at risk from reactions from consuming this.

Disodium guanylate 627 - This is also not recommended for infants and young children. Anyone with gout, hyperactivity or asthmatics should avoid.

Posted by Kim

Preservative 200 or E200 - Sorbic acid
Used as a preservative it inhibits fungal growth but allows for bacterial activity. Used in wine & cheese.
- Side Effects: May cause possible skin irritant, and may cause rashes, asthma and hyperactivity.

Preservative 202 or E202 - Potassium sorbate
Similar to Preservative 200. Found in wine, cheese & lollies.

Preservative 282 or E282 - Calcium propionate
A food additive called calcium propionate use to give food a longer shelf life. Its slows down the growth of mould & other microorganisms. Found in breads, bakery products, dairy products.
- Side Effect: May affect mood, behavior, skin & respiratory systems & effects on digestive systems.

Preservative 220 or E220 - Sulphur dioxide
Food additvive often found in products such as beer, soft drinks, dried fruit, juices, cordials, wine, vinegar, potato products.
- Side Effects: May provoke gastric irritation, nausea, diarrhoea, skin rash, asthma attacks and difficult to metabolise for those with impaired kidney function. It also destroys vitamin B1 (thiamin), and should be avoided by anyone suffering from bronchitis, emphysema or asthma.

bENEFITS fROM..

Red Pepper – Normalizes blood pressure & improves circulation

Radish – Clears sinus & sore throat

Kumera – Reduces ulcers & is a detoxifier

Oranges – Instant source of energy. Works as cleansers & improves the skin

Peas – Rich in protein & helps regulate stomach & liver functions

Garlic – has antibacterial & anti septic properties. Useful for respiratory ailments & lowers cholesterol.

Dates – Useful in anaemia, respiratory & lung disorders.

Walnuts – Improves metabolism. It is a brain food.

Coconut – Regulates the functioning of thyroid gland.

Apricot – Laxative properties & removes toxins from body

Strawberries – Make the blood alkaline – useful for the relief of joint pain. Also is a blood purifier.

Almonds – Good source of protein. Have cancer fighting properties & help underweight people to put on weight.

Papayas – Controls gas formation & acts as a detoxifer.

Sesame Seed – Strengthen the heart & a great source of calcium. Helps to lower cholesterol .

Melon – excellent cleanser & rehydrator

Apple – works as a tonic. Relieves constipation, reduces total cholesterol & removes toxins

Fig – rich source of calcium & has laxative properties

Mango – reduces acidity & helps in gaining weight

Grape – cleanser of the blood & has anti allergic properties

Lemon – works as a bleaching agent & has properties to fight cancer

Pears – helps to increase free flow of urine & good for thyroid glands

Peach – helps to increase free flow of urine also & laxative in nature

Cherries – relief from migraines & headaches

Banana – promotes sleep & acts as a mild laxative. Have antifungal properties lower cholesterol, blood pressure & remove toxins

What is Ayurveda?


Ayurveda means the "science of life". It originated in India more than 5,000 years old and is believed to be the oldest healing science in existence, from which all other systems emerged.

This ancient healing system has three main focuses:
1) Healing illness
2) Prevention of disease and
3) Longevity or age reversal.

Laws of Nature and Spirituality In short, Ayurveda simply explains the laws of nature that cause health or disease. The first cause of illness is said to be the loss of faith in the Divine or experiencing a spiritual lacking. From here illness develops due to internal conditions (e.g., foods and liquids) or external conditions (e.g., seasons, lifestyle). The main factors that cause poor health (also described as imbalance) are
1) poor digestion and
2) Weak immune systems.

When food is not properly digested it sits in the body. Nutrients are not absorbed and the food decays and forms toxins. These toxins cause most diseases in the body. Therefore, it is important to have good digestion.The immune system can become depleted by poor nutrition, overwork, drugs and other excesses. The finest essence of nutrition develops a life sap that protects the immune system; much like the sap of a tree heals the bruises in its bark.

In addition to promoting physical health, it is the life sap that becomes transformed through meditation to produce mental peace and spiritual development. With all the immune disorders that are prevalent these days, it is even more important that persons develop their immune sap.

What Makes Ayurveda So Unique?This spiritual science offers numerous unique benefits:
1. It looks at people as individuals, not as a generic group.
2. It heals from the root-cause of an illness, not merely treating the symptoms.
3. Only natural therapies are offered.
4. No side effects develop from the therapies.5. Therapies are inexpensive and effective.

How Does Ayurveda Work? tridosha Theory:The basic view of Ayurveda is that all of life (people, food, animals, nature, the universe, and diseases) are combinations of three energy-elements: air (called Vayu or Vata), fire (called Pitta), and water (called Kapha). When these elements are balanced, one is healthy. Illness is defined as an imbalance of these elements; all disorders excesses of one or more element.

People and the Elements: A person's constitution (dosha) is predominantly one or more of these elements. Each element relates to certain body types, foods and health concerns. By nature, whatever a person's constitution is, they have a tendency for it to become excessed. For example an air constitution person (Vayu dosha) is thin and bony. Physical symptoms of excess air include dry skin, cracking bones, gas and constipation. Mental symptoms of excess air include fear, worry, anxiety and nervousness.

When an air constitution (Vayu dosha) person is balanced they are creative, adaptable and have no physical health concerns. Ayurveda notes that certain foods increase air and other foods reduce air. In general, eating cooked or steamed foods, and eating every 3 or 4 hours reduces excess air. Foods like carrots, rice and mung beans reduce excess air. Broccoli, baked beans and barley increase air (e.g., they cause gas). Excessive or non-moderate lifestyle also increases the air element.

Fire constitution people (Pitta dosha) tend towards excess heat. When healthy they are strong, make good leaders and are warm and goal oriented. When the Pitta dosha is imbalanced, mentally they become hot tempered, impatient, irritable. Physically they develop heat-related disorders such as acne, rashes, diarrhea, ulcers, toxic blood, liver, kidney, gall bladder, heart and spleen disorders.Water constitutions (Kapha doshas) tend towards excess water.

When healthy they are strong, muscular, calm and loyal. When water becomes excessed, they develop lethargy, and a hoarding or greedy nature. Physically they develop congestion, overweight, edema, heart and kidney problems, etc.

Review: Health means balance. Each constitution has a natural tendency to become imbalanced or excessed. By eating foods and living a lifestyle that reduces the excesses, one remains balanced. Balancing produces healing, prevention, and reverses the aging process.Many people have two or even all three elements in their constitution. In these cases, both elements tend toward excess. Thus foods and lifestyles that reduce both elements need to be followed.

What Diagnostic Measures Does Ayurveda Use?Perhaps the most well-known diagnostic tool these days is pulse analysis. The position and quality of the pulse felt under different fingers tells the Ayurvedic doctor the dosha (Vayu, Pitta, Kapha) that is imbalanced. Further the health of 12 organs are also learned by pulse diagnosis. Vaidyas who have trained in India more than 20 years ago also learned how to read subtler pulses as well.

Other forms of diagnosis include client health history forms, observation of the client's body, movements, voice, and other non-verbal behavior. Diagnosis is also conducted through touch, questioning, and inference/intuition.

What Therapies Does Ayurveda Offer?Using a holistic approach, Ayurveda offers therapies for each of the five senses because different people learn better through different senses. Therapies include,Taste: Herbs and nutrition.Touch: Massage (abhyanga), Yoga, and exercise.Smell: Aromatherapy.Sight: Color therapy.Hearing: Music therapy, mantra meditation, chanting. Spiritual: therapies include meditation, living ethically, and working in a career that one loves or is purposeful.

Environmental factors are also considered from this holistic outlook. These therapies include house, apartment and office structure and astrological effects. These are sciences unto themselves. Vedic architecture (Vastu Shastra) and Chinese Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway) deal with the laws of nature that integrate the earth, the person and the planets and stars. The exterior and interior design of buildings can also enhance balance or cause imbalance. Vedic astrology (Jyotish) is the science of understanding the laws of nature of the planets and stars, and how they influence us.

What Does Holistic Mean? Holistic has two meanings.

1) It looks at the whole of one's life. Health and disease are byproducts of all aspects of one's life: nutrition, career, mental frame, family and social activities and spiritual life. If one area is weakened, all areas begin to suffer. If a person is unhappy at work, it will affect all other areas of life.

2) Holistic means holy. Ayurveda reminds us that to have and maintain true health; persons need to take some quiet time for spiritual development. The goal of life is Self-Realization. This is a state of unshakable Divine mental peace.
This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, prescribe or heal any health condition. It is not intended to substitute for care from healthcare professionals.

http://www.ayurvedahc.com/articlelive/articles/1/1/What-is-Ayurveda-I/Page1.html