Cathy's Blog

Deep, Conscious Breathing: The Key to Release Stuck Energy and Create the Life of Your Dreams

2010-04-28T13:07:00.005-04:00

I’ll be honest with you: My discovery of optimum health was, at the beginning, simply connected to physicality and pure vanity. At the age of 22, I read a book on nutrition with the intention to learn how to maintain my weight and age gracefully (funny it was a concern at such an early age!).

For years, I would do what needed to be done in order to loose a few pounds, would fall off the healthy wagon, would get back on track, fall off again. You get the picture! Who hasn’t been there?

At the time, I was totally unaware of what yogis called spiritual anatomy also known as energy body. I was operating on the physical (doing and undoing) and mental (being essentially controlled by my mind) levels. Depending on my mood, I was creating strenuous regimen or chaos, which can only cause confusion, fear, anger, frustration, shame, etc.

Spiritual anatomy: The Chakras and The Nadis

I first became aware of the energy body through my Vipasasna Silent Meditation Retreats and deepened my knowledge with the work I did (and still do) with Donatella, a dear friend who has an incredible gift for recognizing subtle energies.

The ancient yogic texts describe the psychic channels and energetic anatomy (chakras and nadis). Today, yoga practitioners can rediscover the spiritual anatomy through exploration and practice.

Spiritual anatomy consists of seven major chakras in our body and many minor ones. Chakra means wheel. They are energy centers and are considered the focal points for the reception and transmission of energies.

There are three main nadis and seven lesser ones. Nadi means ‘little river’ or ‘current’ and are the channels through which the energies of the subtle body flow. The most important nadi (Sushumna) is so subtle that it is described as being a thousand times thinner than a hair.

Old Entrenched Emotions and Energy

Do you remember thinking, “But how can I eat like that after being so good?”

The thing is: It is NOT about being good or bad.

Our choices are influenced by what is going on in our bodies and the thoughts and emotions we experience.

We are all carrying the past, which includes energy of abuse, powerlessness, fear, trauma and unworthiness, and these energies influence our thoughts, emotions and, ultimately, our actions.

In his book A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle explains, “Any negative emotion that is not fully faced and seen for what it is in the moment it arises does not completely dissolve. It leaves behind a remnant of pain. The remnants of pain form an energy field that lives in the very cells of your body.”

How to Gain Mind Control and Emotional Freedom

By controlling the breath, we learn to control the mind and observe the subtle vibrations. Interestingly, there is a correlation between our state of mind and our breath. When we are calm, our breath is calm, deep and slower but when we are emotional, our breath becomes shallow and our breathing rate increases.

When we consciously take a deep breath through the nose, we are connecting to our true self: The peaceful, loving and joyful version of who we really are.

As we develop awareness and process the energy body, we become lighter and clearer. Our mental and emotional understandings rise to a new level. We are able to see the bigger picture, to see the wisdom behind it all, not just what is in front of us. Our ability to learn from experience expands. We experience personal power.

The Benefits of Deep, Conscious Breathing:

· Calms and strengthens the mind generating clarity;

· Increases awareness of the present moment;

· Purifies the nervous system;

· Opens the chakras and increases consciousness;

· Creates strong lungs;

· Increases our breathing capacity and oxygen intake;

· Rids the body of toxins, mostly carbon dioxide;

· Improves gland function;

· Alleviates chronic pain, tension and other illnesses.

Prananayama Techniques

Prana means energy. Yama means control. Pranayama is the conscious control of the inhalation, retention and exhalation of the breath.

During my Life of A Yogi Teacher Training at the Dharma Mittra Yoga Center, I learned many different Pranayama techniques. One of my favorites is Nadi Sodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing).

Cathy’s Action Health Tips:

1) Mark your calendar: Plan 4 minutes to watch the Nadi Sodhana video and learn how to practice it.

2) Every morning, before getting up, take the time to breathe deeply, to go within your body and feel it. Begin 5-10 rounds of Nadi Sodhana and add more as you feel ready. Remember to keep your breathing slow.

3) Any time you feel anxious or stressed, practice 10 rounds of Nadi Sodhana.

4) Learn more about how your mind prevents you from living the life of your dreams, how to release energy and other fundamental concepts. Order A New Earth by Ecckhart Tolle now.

5) Interested in knowing more about spiritual anatomy? I recommend two awesome books on this subject: 1) The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy By Cyndi Dale; 2) The Book of Chakras: Discover the Hidden Forces Within You By Ambika Wauters.

I Would Love to Hear From You!

Do YOU incorporate deep and conscious breathing into your daily routine? How does it make you feel? How did it change your life? What do you think about the concept of stuck energy, which blocks the flow of life? Any thoughts about living ‘in the now’ through breathing and about how it impacts your life?

I am sincerely interested in knowing what is or isn’t working for you and would love to hear from you. Send me an email to let me know.

To Your Long, Healthy, and Passionate Life !

Cathy

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Fit for Life

2010-03-15T13:07:00.005-04:00

FIT FOR LIFE: This is the book that started me on my journey to enhance health and beauty. Even now, 18 years after reading this book, it still has a special space on my bookshelf. I consider FIT FOR LIFE a classic. It is also a great place to start to learn more about Natural Hygiene (which I studied more thoroughly three years ago at a fasting retreat in Texas. To read more about my fasting experience, click here).

Product Description:

It's the program that shatters all the myths: FIT FOR LIFE, the international bestseller that explains how to change both your figure and your life. Nutrition specialists Harvey and Marilyn Diamond explain how you can eat more kinds of food than you ever ate before counting calories... and still lose weight! The natural body cycle, permanent weight loss plan that proves it's not only what you eat, but also when and how, FIT FOR LIFE is the perfect solution for those who want to look and feel their best. Join the celebrities and the millions of Americans who are FIT FOR LIFE and begin your transformation today with:

The vital principles that brings you permanent weigh loss and high energy;
The FIT FOR LIFE secrets of timing and food combining that work with your natural body cycles;
The FIT FOR LIFE 4-week plan, menus, recipes, shopping tips, exercises, and more!

To Buy "Fit for Life" Right Away Click Here:

Get FREE Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Mark Hyman, MD: How To Rid Your Body Of Mercury And Other Heavy Metals: A 3-Step Plan To Recover Your Health (The Huffington Post)

2010-03-14T22:55:00.006-04:00

Mark Hyman, an internationally recognized authority in the field of functional medicine, reviews mercury's toxic effects and provide you with a clear, three-step plan to help your body detoxify from mercury and other heavy metals and recover your health.

Click here to read the rest:

Mark Hyman, MD: How to Rid Your Body of Mercury and Other Heavy Metals: A 3-Step Plan to Recover Your Health (The Huffington Post)

Get FREE Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Indian-Style Raw Marinated Veggies

2010-02-24T13:18:00.006-05:00

The trick here is to chop your favorite vegetables very finely and to mix them with a mixture of Indian spices and healthy oils for few hours. Here’s an example of veggies that work well together, but remember: Use any vegetables you find in your fridge and experiment. This is all about creativity.

• Broccolini (baby broccoli), finely chopped
• Cauliflower, finely chopped
• Red and yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
• Zucchini, finely chopped
• Scallion, finely sliced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons whole cumin seeds, ground with a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder (I have a Krups Coffee Grinder)
• 2 teaspoons whole black mustard seeds, ground with a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder
• 2 teaspoons turmeric
• 1 teaspoon whole coriander seeds, ground with a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder
• 1 teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt or Celtic sea salt

Chop enough vegetables to get 4-5 cups. Add the oils, fresh ginger, spices and sea salt. Allow the veggies to marinate for few hours. It is also very good the next day because the added time allows for the soaking up of all of the spices’ flavors.

Cathy’s Tip: If you know how to cut a fresh Thai coconut, mix the water and the flesh of the coconut to make a nutritious coconut milk and add ½ cup of this delicious mixture to the recipe. You can use the leftover coconut milk for your next smoothie or dressing or simply drink it with a little cinnamon.

Cathy’s Tip: Whenever possible, I recommend to buy whole seeds instead of powdered seeds since the latter loses its flavor more quickly, and the seeds can be easily ground with a coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle. I have both implements, but prefer to use my dedicated coffee grinder. My mortar and pestle are quite small (I should probably buy a larger one) so seeds tend to jump out. If you want to make it easy, I highly recommend buying a Krups Fast Touch Coffee Grinder.

Get FREE Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Katie Couric Asks, "How did We Become So Obsessed with Food?"

2010-02-19T17:26:00.005-05:00

What we eat, why we eat so much of it, and what it means for our health.

Katie Couric talks food with former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler and "Fast Food Nation" author Eric Schlosser.

Click here for the interview.

Get FREE Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Babies Are Born Pre-Polluted. Let's Change That.

2010-02-16T15:10:00.005-05:00

I just watched a video about the pollution we are exposed to and I was shocked.

Did you know the current law regulating toxic chemicals was passed in 1976? And it hasn't changed since, even though 20,000 new chemicals have come onto the market since then.

Go to http://www.ewg.org/kid-safe-chemicals-act-blog/sign-the-petion-to-protect-kids/ to watch the video and sign the petition to protect kids and even newborns.

People are polluted with hundreds of industrial chemicals. Babies are born pre-polluted with 300 industrial chemicals in their bodies when they enter the world.

As time passes, exposure to pollution in people is increasingly associated with a range of serious diseases and conditions from childhood cancer, to autism, ADHD, learning deficits, infertility, and birth defects.

It's time to step up and protect our children. Tell Congress and President Obama that you won't stand for this any longer.

It is true that we are now living in a polluted and ‘chemicalized’ world but YOU can do something about it right now.

Cathy’s Action Health Tips:

1) Take action at http://www.ewg.org/kid-safe-chemicals-act-blog/sign-the-petion-to-protect-kids. Then share it with your friends. It's up to us to protect our children and make change happen.

2) Start a Detox Diet Now. A Detox Diet two to four times a year will make a huge difference not only for your health and for the quality of your life, but also for the future of your children. You can be on a cleansing diet for as brief or as long a time as you want. However, I suggest that you cleanse for a minimum of four weeks, per year. During your cleanse, eliminate sugar, flour, salt, dairy, meat, alcohol and caffeine. Go to http://tinyurl.com/o72a4y for great cleansing recipes. Serious about cleansing your body? Read Natalia Rose’s last book: Detox for Women: An All New Approach for a Sleek Body and Radiant Health in 4 Weeks.

Tons of energy, health and joy for YOU!

Till next time,
Cathy

Get FREE Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

In 2010, I’m Bringing My Yoga Practice and Clean Lifestyle to the Next Level. What About You?

2010-01-05T13:13:00.001-05:00

I’m excited! I am leaving tomorrow for a 10-day yoga, detoxification and juice cleansing at the Sivananda Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas. Yay! I am so happy to start the New Year this way. During my stay, I will also meditate and enjoy the sun and the beach every day. Ahhhhhhh!

In 2010, I am quitting caffeine and alcohol completely. Yes. Completely! I am not a huge coffee and wine drinker. However, in order to get to the next level, with respect to my objective of building a strong, healthy and clean body for pregnancy, I feel this week is imperative. I am ready for all of it. My 10-day yoga and cleansing retreat is a jump-start and will support me in achieving my goal.

I’ll be honest with you. The end of 2009 was challenging emotionally. I had a miscarriage at week 5 last November. At 41, I want to give myself every chance. I don’t want regrets to be part of my life and later think: “Maybe I should have done this or that.”

Enough about me! What's new with YOU? Do you have any goals or desires for 2010 regarding Health & Beauty? What about your life in general?

Wishing you a Happy, Healthy 2010! Many blessings to you, with lots of Fun and Joy.

Till next time,
Cathy

Get FREE Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Delectable and Guilt-Free Desserts

2010-01-05T12:51:00.005-05:00

MANGO-LIME PARFAIT
MAKES 4 SERVINGS

This dessert always impresses clients. So healthy and so good! It comes from Nomi Shannon's book 'The Raw Gourmet.' To learn more about The Raw Gourmet, click here.

Almond-Maple Mixture:
1 cup almonds
3-4 teaspoons maple syrup

Mango-Lime Mixture:
4 cups mango, coarsely chopped (about 5 mangoes)
1 cup lime or lemon juice
1 teaspoon lime or lemon zest
4-8 dates, pitted and chopped

For almond-maple mixture: In a food processor, chop the almonds until they are very fine. Gradually add the maple syrup, using just enough for the almond meal to hold together. Reserve in a bowl.

For mango-lime mixture: In a blender, place the mango pieces, blend until smooth. Before adding the dates, taste the mango mixture; you may not want to add too many if the mangoes are already sweet. Add the juice, zest and dates; process until smooth. Be patient. Mango is a very fibrous fruit and you want to achieve smooth, pudding-like results.

Set out 4 parfaits or wine glasses. Place some of the almond-maple mixture at the bottom of each glass; add a layer of 3 or more tablespoons of the mango-lime mixture; add another layer of the almond-maple mixture. Repeat layers, finishing with the almond-maple mixture.

CHOCOLATE PUDDING
MAKES 4 SERVINGS

This yummy dessert comes from Pure Food and Wine Restaurant in NYC. If you would like to prepare gourmet recipes with clear instructions, their book 'Raw Food/Real World: 100 Recipes to Get the Glow'‘ is a great one to get. To learn more about this book, click here.

2 cups coconut meat
3/4 cup coconut water, at room temperature
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup raw agave nectar
1/2 cup raw cocoa powder
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

In a high-speed blender, puree all the ingredients until completely smooth, stopping to scrape the sides as necessary. Transfer to bowls and chill for a firmer pudding, or eat it straightaway.

Get FREE Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Mercury Found in High-Fructose Corn Syrup

2009-12-08T13:04:00.007-05:00

A 2009 study found that many foods sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup contain mercury. The most shocking news of all is that the FDA and the High-Fructose Corn Industry have known about this potential toxin since at least 2005 and have said nothing.

Another group of researchers tested products directly from the supermarket and one in three products contained mercury. These included products like jelly, ketchup and sodas. So even though we thought our greatest threat to mercury poisoning was through fish, it turns out that many of our everyday grocery store items may contain this harmful substance.

Find out more about the mercury contamination.

Cathy’s Action Health Tips:

1) It does take a large amount of mercury to cause any serious health problems, but as a general guideline try to stay away from the processed foods found in the inner aisles of your grocery store and stick with the less processed, fresher foods like whole grains, fruits and vegetables for better health.

2) Go through your refrigerator and pantry, read labels and toss foods with high-fructose corn syrup. All of these items have alternatives. Click here for a comprehensive list of products with no high-fructose corn syrup.

3) Dining out? The best rule of thumb is to avoid fast food altogether. High-fructose corn syrup is one of the most common ingredients in fast food restaurants.

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

What’s Up with High-Fructose Corn Syrup?

2009-12-08T12:56:00.006-05:00

The Corn Refiners Association claim that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is fine in moderation. They argue that it has no artificial ingredients and has the same calories as sugar and honey.

Yes, it is initially made from corn, but then it’s processed so the cornstarch is broken down into glucose. HFCS is found in most processed foods and contains 50 percent fructose and 50 percent glucose. Many people believe that since it contains fructose, which is naturally found in honey, fruits and vegetables, then it cannot be that bad for you. Think about where HFCS is found: soda, Wonderbread, Cool Whip and other processed junk food. Do you associate health with these products? Several studies have linked the consumption of processed foods to the increasing rates of diabetes and obesity in America.

The Corn Refiners Association has spent $30 million on this ad campaign to boost the reputation of HFCS.

Watch out for public service-type commercials funded by the same companies who profit from the products they are promoting. It’s only natural for consumers to be confused by these statements.

Of course the Corn Refiners Association wants you to believe that high-fructose corn syrup is good for you!

Cathy’s Action Health Tips:

1) Be a media detective and pay attention to who is sponsoring commercials and advertisements.

2) Eliminate high-fructose corn syrup from your diet. Go through your refrigerator and pantry, read labels and toss foods with high-fructose corn syrup. All of these items have alternatives. Click here for a comprehensive list of products with no high-fructose corn syrup.

3) Dining out? The best rule of thumb is to avoid fast food altogether. High-fructose corn syrup is one of the most common ingredients in fast food restaurants.

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Autumnal Recipes

2009-11-26T07:38:00.003-05:00

Don’t forget to respect the principles of food combining (Simply put: starches with starches and proteins with proteins) giving the body a break so that your body’s energy is used for healing instead of for digestion. Stay tuned for more details on the principles and benefits of food combining in a future issue of Cathy’s Health tips’ Newsletter. Get your newsletter at CathysHealthTips.com.

FALL SALAD WITH RADISHES

Makes 12 servings (First Course)

(From Alice Waters, Chez Panisse, Berkeley)

Fresh, local greens are the key to this simple salad!

2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
½ teaspoon finely chopped garlic
2 tablespoons fine-quality aged red-wine vinegar
1 teaspoon fine-quality balsamic vinegar
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb mixed fall baby greens or mesclun
½ lb assorted radishes, thinly sliced

Stir together shallot, garlic, vinegars, and sea salt and let stand 20 minutes. Add ½ teaspoon pepper, then add oil in a slow stream, whisking. Toss greens with radishes and just enough dressing to coat. Serve immediately.

SAUTÉED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND SQUASH WITH SAGE

Makes 8 servings

(Inspired from a recipe in Food & Wine Magazine, October 2007)

The combination of brussels sprouts (savory) and butternut squash (sweet), which generally stand on their own as side dishes, is unusual and super-autumnal.

2 pounds brussels sprouts, trimmed and chopped finely
1 medium butternut squash (1 ½ pounds), peeled and cut into ¾-inch cubes
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon snipped chives
1 tablespoon dried sage
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Blanch the brussels sprouts in the boiling water until tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer the brussels sprouts to the ice water to cool. Drain and pat dry. Melt butter in large, deep skillet over moderate heat. Add the squash and cook, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Add the brussels sprouts, season with salt and pepper and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Scatter sage and chives on top and serve.

Cathy’s Tips: To help with the squash, put it in the oven, whole, at 350°F for about 20-25 minutes. After letting it cool, peel and cut into cubes. So much easier than cutting it first!

Why butter? Because of their sensitivity to heat, the molecular structure of cooked oils is compromised causing free radical production in the body. Real butter is a much better choice. Use organic butter to avoid hormones and antibiotics. Never cook with oils. You can use them uncooked in your salads. Buy the cold-pressed, extra-virgin variety.

IN THE RAW: PUMPKIN PIE IN A BOWL REVISITED

Makes 4 to 5 cups

(From Natalia Rose’s book: Detox for Women: An All New Approach for a Sleek Body and Radiant Health in 4 Weeks)

In her book, Natalia says: “ This is among the recipes that I’m most excited to share with you.” And I am too! It supports weight loss and vitality, so enjoy as much as you want.

32 ounces fresh carrot juice
1 cup raw sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 to 2 packets stevia or drops Nu Naturals liquid stevia
½ avocado, pitted
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy right away or store in an airtight container and enjoy within 36 hours.

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

I Am Investing In Myself. Are You?

2009-11-26T07:12:00.006-05:00

(October 22, 2009) I sometimes feel that my life is a tornado of activity, projects, expansion and growth. It's all good (and fun) as long as I am staying centered and grounded. In order to achieve that state of mind, which is necessary in the realization of the life of my dreams, I schedule time for myself: I meditate on a daily basis; I regularly schedule a massage or a facial; I exercise; I take the time to breathe deeply; I set an intention for my day, etc.

Another critical element to my centeredness is a happy, healthy marriage.

When I was at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I learned that the most important vitamin is vitamin L. L stands for love. ☺ Vitamin Love is the most important, nourishing and healing vitamin. It includes attention, touch, hugs and kisses and also support, respect and partnership. Everything one could expect to receive in a marriage.

Recently, I have been struck by the number of encounters and conversations I have had with people who are unhappy in their marriage. Unhappiness in marriage often starts with resentment, blame and anger and then escalates.

For all of you who are not receiving the vitamin L that you need, I have a couple of suggestions.

Cathy’s Action Health Tips:

1) I recommend reading the book 'Getting The Love You Want' by Dr. Harville Hendrix. I read this book years ago and I was stunned by what I learned in it. In its simplest form, we all unconsciously choose our partners for two basic reasons: (1) they have both the positive and negative qualities of the people who raised us, and (2) they compensate for positive parts of our being that were cut off in childhood. Like I said, I was stunned. It was the beginning of truly taking responsibility for the state of my marriage. Without this book, I would possibly still be in a blaming or resenting mode. I cannot thank Harville Hendrix enough for sharing what he has learned during more than 30 years as a couple therapist. Click here to know more about 'Getting The Love You Want.'

2) If you are a woman, you have the power to transform your relationship. I recommend a weekend workshop called ‘Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women.’ When I participated in that workshop, which can be attended by women only (another way to take time for yourself), I felt like I was learning all the secrets of men. It was awesome information. It taught me how to communicate with men so I could get my needs satisfied. It helped me to understand my husband and appreciate his masculinity. During my workshop, I fell in love all over again for what my husband is and for what he is not. Click here to know more about ‘Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women.’

By the way, I am taking 'Celebrating Men & Sex' this coming weekend. I am continuously investing in myself. Are you?

I wish you lots of Fun and Joy!
Until next time,

Cathy

P.S. Follow me on Twitter!

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Keep Yourself On Track with This Delicious Menu, Perfect for Entertaining

2009-10-21T23:25:00.005-04:00

Having Guests? No Worries! Keep Yourself On Track with This Delicious Menu, Perfect for Entertaining.

Besides satisfying your guests, the goal of this menu is to satiate your hunger and your desire for good food without interfering with your cleansing process. It also respects the principles of food combining (Simply put: starches with starches and proteins with proteins) giving the body a break so that your body’s energy is used for healing instead of for digestion.

Menu: Appetizer: Natalia’s Favorite Salad; Entrée: Maple-Glazed Salmon à La Detox Served With Sautéed Broccoli; Dessert: If you really need your dessert, a little dark chocolate (68 percent cocoa content or higher) or some goat’s milk ice cream by Laloo’s will keep you on track with your cleansing. Their Vanilla Snowflake and Dark Chocolate flavors are great.

NATALIA’S FAVORITE SALAD

Makes 2 to 4 servings

(From Natalia Rose’s book: Detox for Women: An All New Approach for a Sleek Body and Radiant Health in 4 Weeks)

In her book, Natalia mentions how she loves the way the fresh lemon juice, stevia and grated cheese come together so decadently, while the greens and tomatoes keep the whole dish fresh from the garden. I totally agree. I love this salad very much and often eat it alone as my meal. With you guests, serve the salad as an appetizer (then the salmon and the broccoli as entrée).

½ pounds baby romaine lettuce or baby spinach (or both)
½ cup of the best local tomatoes you can find, chopped
1 small beet, grated
3 ounces Alta Dena raw cheddar-style cheese, grated
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
3 to 4 packets stevia (or 1 teaspoon Nu Naturals liquid stevia)
1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced

Keep it as simple as the above list of ingredients if time is constrained or make it really gourmet for your dinner party by adding the following:

2 tablespoons sweet onions, diced
¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, rosemary or chives (or all three), chopped

Toss all the ingredients together in a large salad bowl and serve.

MAPLE-GLAZED SALMON A LA DETOX

Makes 4 servings

(From Natalia Rose’s book: Detox for Women: An All New Approach for a Sleek Body and Radiant Health in 4 Weeks)

It’s so quick and easy to prepare while quite possibly the juiciest, most full-flavored dish your friends have ever enjoyed!

1 cup Nama Shoyu (healthy soy sauce)
1 garlic clove
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
Splash of toasted sesame oil
1 to 2 packets stevia (natural sweetener)
4 fresh salmon fillets, well rinsed

Mix the nama shoyu, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and stevia in blender. Spread the mixture over the fish and marinate for 1 to 24 hours. Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Discard the marinade and bake the fish for 18 minutes.

SAUTEED BROCCOLI WITH GARLIC AND ORGANIC BUTTER

2 bunches broccoli, cut into small florets.
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons organic butter
Celtic sea salt or Himalayan Salt
Fresh pepper

Melt butter over moderate heat, then cook garlic, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the broccoli florets tossing in butter to coat. Cook for about 8 minutes adding some water if needed. Season with salt and pepper

Why butter? Because of their sensitivity to heat, the molecular structure of cooked oils is compromised causing free radical production in the body. Real butter is a much better choice. Use organic butter to avoid hormones and antibiotics. Never cook with oils. You can use them uncooked in your salads. Buy the cold-pressed, extra-virgin variety.

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Raw For 30 Days Trailer

2009-10-15T16:57:00.006-04:00

The best-kept secret on the planet to achieve health and beauty? To add raw, living, whole and fresh foods to your diet!

Take 9 minutes and watch this clip to see how you can improve your health, heal disease and take years off your lives:

Raw For 30 Days Trailer

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

So Many Celebrations! So Many Good Things!

2009-09-30T17:34:00.004-04:00

(September 24, 2009) Since I last wrote to you, I’ve been meditating and connecting to good energy. I feel light. I feel good. In fact, I feel pretty amazing!

I came back last Monday from a 10-day stay in Montreal where I had so much to celebrate. I had my BFF Sophie’s 40th awesome birthday party, my nephew Michael’s Bar Mitzvah and I celebrated Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) with my husband’s family. In between those events, I met a lot of my friends, shared nice meals and plenty of good wine.

You might wonder how I can keep up with healthy and balanced eating in the midst of so many celebrations. The truth is that I don’t always keep up and I am not always perfect. During times of celebrations or during a vacation, I usually keep the habit of eating a green salad before my meals and I am also usually pretty good about chewing my food properly (they are well-integrated practices by now) but I also eat more desserts and my meals are not always perfectly combined.

However, there is one thing that I make sure to keep up with during festivities: I surround myself with good energy whatever my food choices.

What I’ve learned through my practice is that healthy food with a lot of rigidity and guilt is not better than less-than-perfect food with a lot of fun and joy. I’m not saying that eating processed or sugary food all the time is OK as long as you do it in a state of joy. Eventually, it would have a negative impact on you. I’m just saying that it is OK to break the routine from time to time if it’s done in good spirit.

After a while, it’s time to get back on track.

There are two things that I make sure to get back to as soon as I am back from a vacation or a long weekend of celebrations: 1) My yoga practice; and 2) My green juice. They have this incredible power to put me back on track with happy, healthy living.

Do you have practices that put you back on track when you fall off the wagon? If not, think about something that could connect you right back to your healthy routine.

I wish you lots of Fun and Joy!
Until next time,

Cathy

P.S. Follow me on Twitter!

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

What’s going on with me? Breakdown and all!

2009-09-22T16:36:00.004-04:00

(September 10, 2009) While writing these words, I’ll be honest, I am not feeling my best. In the last week, at different times, I suffered from allergies, headaches and digestive problems.

What’s going on with me?!!

On a physical level, I ate too much cooked and dense foods while vacationing with my husband at the Sivananda Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas during the last week of August. Too much rice! Too many beans and lentils! Then, we returned home and celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary with an amazing meal, great champagne and wine. A true indulgence!

But you know what? I believe that my physical challenges are a reflection of my emotional and mental state of mind. As you might already know, I’ve been longing to start a family, to get pregnant, for a long time. I sometimes overly indulge in the moment so I don’t think about what’s missing in my life.

Since our anniversary, I’m back to my routine. I went back to drinking my daily green juice, eating fruit and salads and well-combined meals.

My diet is much lighter and all the buried emotions (and food accumulation) are coming to the surface resulting in a kind of breakdown this morning. I got up early to go to my yoga class, walked to the studio but I couldn’t get upstairs for the class so I left and came back home. I could feel my heart so full with emotions. My husband hung up the phone right away to see what was wrong. His tenderness and gentleness opened my heart and a flow of tears came out. I cried a lot. It felt good and sad at the same time. Then, I went to get ‘Huevos Rancheros’ at the corner restaurant. I realized then that I wanted to stop feeling for a bit, which is not necessarily the answer.

Have there been times when you have felt low and turned to food, alcohol or other unhealthy behaviors to ease your mind or heart?

My experience reminded me of the importance of being in the moment, to face the truth and let go.

I have a lot of hope with regard to starting a family but I also have worries and fear (what if it doesn't work?). In order to process them, I first need to acknowledge and accept them.

The thing is: If I got pregnant 6 years ago, I wouldn’t have learned and grown the way I did and my marriage wouldn’t be as strong a partnership it is now. There’s a reason for everything. I believe in divine order.

I am pretty sure that you and I have engaged in emotional eating at difficult times in our lives. That is no sin. The important thing is not to indulge after indulging! You know what I mean: After we eat or drink badly, or stop exercising, we feel bad about ourselves, which only encourages us to continue this unhealthy activity. I encourage you (and me!) to forgive ourselves for these slips, and get back on track.

I wish you lots of Fun and Joy!
Until next time,

Cathy

P.S. Follow me on Twitter!

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Corn Recipes

2009-09-10T20:45:00.008-04:00

It’s still corn season! Here are two amazingly delicious and cleansing recipes with fresh, organic and raw corn.

Sweet Corn Chowder
Makes 4 servings

(From Ani Phyo’s book: Ani's raw food kitchen)

This recipe doesn’t respect the principles of food combining because it mixes corn (starch) and nuts (protein). However, it is so good that I still wanted to share it with you. I love to make it for my husband. He always asks for a second and third bowl! A great soup to serve to your guests!

For the chowder base:
3 ears sweet corn
¾ cup walnut
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups water

For the chowder topping:
1 cup kernels, set aside from above
1 avocado, diced
1/3 bunch cilantro leaves
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Set aside 1 cup of corn kernels to use as chowder topping. Blend remaining corn, walnuts, oil, garlic, salt, and water until smooth. To serve, pour chowder base into four bowls. Top each bowl with some topping.

Note: You can cut the amount of oil in two and replace it by water.

Corn Salad
Makes 3 to 4 servings

(From Matt Amsden’s book: RAWvolution)

For the salad:
3 cups fresh corn kernels, cut from the cob (approximately 4 ears)
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped scallions
1 bunch fresh cilantro, stems removed

For the dressing:
½ cup Thai coconut water
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons agave nectar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
1 tablespoon curry powder
¼ cup pine nuts (I personally skip the nuts in order to respect the principles of food combining)

In a large mixing bowl, combine all the salad ingredients and toss to mix thoroughly. In a high-speed blender, combine all of the dressing ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour over the salad, toss well to mix the dressing with the corn, and serve.

About corn: After corn season, you can buy frozen corn. Fresh or frozen, I make sure to buy organic corn because I don’t want to eat GMO (genetically modified organisms) corn. We still don’t know the long -term effects of GMO corn on human but we are now aware of the detrimental impact it has on rats. Scary!

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Always Hungry? Your Body Might Be Hungry for Sunlight!

2009-09-02T11:42:00.004-04:00

Hungry? Again?! Know that food is not the only element to plays a role in your nutrition. Sunlight, fresh air and pure water are also prime elements for optimum energy, vitality and beauty. They play a vital role in nourishing your body.

Today, I will focus on the critical importance of sunshine and natural lights.

Sunbathing As A Health Ritual Throughout History

Ancient civilizations knew the power of the sun in strengthening the muscles and the nerves of the body. Their cities were equipped with sun gardens for the purpose of sunbathing. The Romans instructed their gladiators to get regular sunbaths as part of their training. Other civilizations brought their sick to the sunny side of the mountain to get better sun exposure.

Before the triumph of Christianity, sun worshiping came very close to becoming the universal religion. At that time, Christians viewed sunbathing as a pagan ritual and condemned it, practically ending the healthy practice of sunbathing. During that same period, only Jewish and Arabians physicians would recommend sunbath to their sick patients.

Today, sun exposure is still recommended by health practitioners trained in Natural Hygiene for both the sick and the healthy.

Natural Light As A Nutrient For Your Body

The sun has a positive impact on the whole nutritive process and is vital for many biological functions.

Specifically, it supports the absorption of phosphorus and calcium, important minerals for the health of your bones.

It also activates the production of Vitamin D, which will boost your immune system, fight colds and the flu, and could prevent your risk of cancer, diabetes, depression and osteoporosis. Recent study on vitamin D suggested a role in brain detoxification, removing mercury safely from your body.

A sufficient amount of sun exposure increases the quality of your blood and improves your circulation. As a result, the blood’s power to repair and build tissues is intensified. The energy of sunlight, entering through your eyes, directly arouses them as well as the blood and indirectly all other body functions. The blood, which gets the oxygen and nutrients to your body’s organs, is impacted by the amount of sun exposure that you get. Sufficient sun exposure supports efficient digestion and assimilation. My question to you is: Are you hungry for food or for sunlight?

Finally, sunlight improves glandular activities, which aides in case of ovulatary irregularity, pubertal difficulty, acne and impotency.

Cathy’s Action Health Tips:

1) Plan 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure (without sunscreen) on a regular basis (every day is ideal). If possible, at least 40 percent of your skin should be exposed. Your eyes, being the major entry points, shouldn’t be covered with sunglasses during that time.

2) Excessive sunshine is not the goal. Getting sunburned and over-heating your body will result in stress to your entire system causing toxicity. If you are in the sun for a long time, use large hats, beach umbrellas, non-toxic sunscreens and seek the shade. It is important to understand that you benefit from sunlight not the sun heat.

3) Choose sun-rich foods. Every time that you choose fresh fruits and vegetables, foods that are full of light and come directly from the sun, you take one more step toward light, beauty, energy and vitality.

4) Click here for some tasty sun-rich recipes.

I Would Love to Hear From You!

How do YOU incorporate sunbathing into your life? Is it working for you? I am sincerely interested in knowing what is or isn’t working for you and would love to hear from you. Send me an email to let me know.

To Your Long, Healthy, and Passionate Life !

Cathy

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Feeling Sluggish? Learn How Fruit Can Boost Your Energy!

2009-06-23T15:07:00.009-04:00

They say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Hopefully, you are adding more than an apple a day to your diet.

Ask yourself: “Am I eating enough fruit?”

Probably not! Today, fruit often plays a minor role in our diet.

It hasn’t always been the case. Dr. Alan Walker of John Hopkins University examined the fossil remains of early humans and concluded that humans were exclusively fruit eaters. Fruit has always been an important food through history. Pythagoras, ancient sage known as the father of mathematics, ate fruit almost exclusively. Historians report that ancient Greeks, admired for theirs statuesque bodies, were heavy eaters of olives, figs, dates, grapes, apples, and oranges.

We Are Built to Eat Fruits

Physiologically, we are built to be fruitarians. Our saliva is alkaline. In contrast, meat-eating animals have extremely acid saliva, which is required to digest the protein in meat. We don’t produce enough hydrochloric acid to digest meat properly; this contributes to so many people suffering from indigestion, gas, bloating, waste accumulations in their body and ultimately diseases of all kind. We also secrete very little of the enzyme amylase, which digests starch, and our ability to digest fats is also limited, contributing to the problem. We have little of
the enzymes required in the digestion of milk and we do not have the necessary enzymes to break down the gluten in wheat. But we can easily and properly digest monosaccharides, the simple sugars found in fruits.

Even psychologically, fruits seem to be a natural choice. Think about it for a moment. Take the time to connect to your whole body. What appeals to you most? Is it a bloody piece of meat or a juicy and sweet piece of fruit?

Fruit As “Cleansing Foods”

Your body and its different systems get clogged up from years of eating the wrong food, the wrong combination of foods or simply too much food (to know more about the subject, click here). Fruit, being the easiest of all foods to digest of all food, offers much needed cleansing. By eating more fruit and giving your digestive system a break, your body has more energy for cleansing
accumulated waste and even healing organs that may not be functioning optimally.

More Reasons to Eat More Fruits

Fruits have so much to offer. They contain vitamins, important minerals and trace minerals, enzymes, phytonutrients, healthy and easily digested sugars, fiber and in some of them, high-quality protein. Perfect for good health!

Another reason to eat more fruits is that it is the best, most natural and easiest way (besides fasting) to maintain optimal weight.

Eating fruit will not only support you in preventing disease and obesity, but it will also slow down the aging process and increase your energy level.

Cathy’s Action Health Tips:

1) Don’t treat fruit as a dessert, a decorative accessory, a snack between meals or an addition to your cakes and pies. Fruit doesn’t mix well with other types of foods. Their digestion will be slowed down and result in bloating, gas and even painful indigestion. Eat fruits separate from other foods and eat them as a fruit meal so that they digest easily. The best way to eat fruits is in the morning on an empty stomach. For example, you can eat half a pineapple or 2 mangos to start your day. It’s an excellent way to break your fast (i.e. breakfast). When you’re hungry again, eat any other fruit that appeals to you. Listen to your body.

2) Eat fruit up to lunch without mixing it with any other type of food. The summer season is the perfect time to experiment with that.

3) Think variety: melon, pineapple, mango, banana, kiwi, fig, date, grape, pear, apple, orange, grapefruit, plum, prune, peach, nectarine, cherry, strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, etc. Remember that tomato, cucumber, bell pepper and avocado are also fruits. Add them to your morning breakfast. Experiment with fruit you’ve never tried before. I ate my first mamey here
in Belize!

4) Eat melons alone. They digest very fast causing fermentation, bloating and gas when mixed with other fruits. Wait ½ hour before to introduce another type of foods.

5) What about a one-day watermelon cleanse? This will contribute to the dissolving of sticky mucus and waste. Your body will thank you for it. You can even plan one-day watermelon cleanse once a week for the whole summer season.

6) A fruit smoothie as breakfast is another great way to add fruit to your diet. Mix a half-cup of water with one cup of blueberries and one fresh or frozen ripe banana, in your blender. You can add a few pitted medjool dates if you prefer it sweeter. Experiment with different fruits and have fun.

7) Fruits should not be eaten cold. Room temperature is ideal.

I Would Love to Hear From You!

How do YOU incorporate fruits in your diet? Is it working for you? I am sincerely interested in knowing what is or isn’t working for you and would love to hear from you. Send me an email to let me know.

To Your Long, Healthy, and Passionate Life !

Cathy

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Cleansing, Resting and Studying in Belize

2009-06-23T14:36:00.012-04:00

I am in the Belizean jungle in Central America for the month of June cleansing my body with tropical fruits such as watermelon, mango, pineapple, banana and some other fruits that I didn’t even know existed, like mamey and sapodilla among others.

My first week here, I mainly rested, got to know my environment, and simply took it easy. It’s been wonderful! My first night, I slept 13 hours and I took two naps the following day. My body
obviously needed that rest.

I am also here to study under the care of Dr. Robert Sniadach about the philosophy, principles and practices of Natural Hygiene, the health system based on specific living practices, fruit cleansing being one of them.

My experience here inspired me to write about the benefits and importance of fruit in everyone’s diet. I invite you to read “Feeling Sluggish? Learn How Fruits Can Boost Your Energy!” and to follow the Action Health Tips described in the article. Enjoy the results brought on by those simple tweaks in your diet!

I wish you lots of Fun and Joy!
Until next time,

Cathy

P.S. Follow me on Twitter!

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Spiritual Practices and “Ah Hah!” Moment

2009-06-11T11:08:00.002-04:00

As a nutrition and holistic health expert, my first recommendation is that you incorporate a spiritual practice into your life in order to fulfill you, quiet your mind, relax your body and bring you a sense of peace.

Without peace, it is difficult to sustain change in our lives. Without a spiritual practice, we often go back to our old ways of being.

Recently, I’ve incorporated two new spiritual practices that can lift my spirit in an instant.

The first one comes as a powerful and spiritual message delivered each day directly in my in-box from the great spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson. With that daily dose of, what Marianne calls, “MiracleThought,” I learn principles and ideas that make a difference in the quality of my life. You can click here if you would like to know more about Marianne Williamson and her daily podcasts.

The second practice amazes me all the time by its synchronicity. When I need some support, I randomly pick any page from a small book called “The Ascension Companion” by Karen Bishop. Each of the 33 topics contains an explanation of why I am having that particular experience. I am always guided to a message that seems to be just for me at that moment in time. Recently, I had, what Oprah calls, an “Ah Hah!” moment when reading a randomly selected subject: Service. In her books, Karen Bishop talks about the emergence of a new consciousness on Earth since the year 2000. Here’s the passage that had such a great impact on me that morning:

…After we reached critical mass on planet Earth in August of 2005, moved into the higher realms as a group in January of 2006, and completed our integration process in May of 2006, we were now ready to create a New and higher vibrating planet Earth. It was around this time that many losses were experienced in regard to our loved ones… They were taking with them all the lower vibrating aspects of our past. But having these experiences of loss, really made us step back and examine our lives. The loved ones knew exactly what they were doing at soul levels, as they knew that their departures would catapult us into a whole New space…a space of compassion and service and a space of being finally ready to create what we really wanted and knew we had to have…a higher vibrating reality. So you see, there is always a perfect plan being played out…

While reading this passage, I connected to the loss of my two aunts: Rollande in April 2006 and Monique a few weeks later. They were too young, 70 and 55 respectively. I also recalled an important experience that happened later that year. I was at the Optimum Health Institute in San Diego where I had the chance to meet people who were reversing all kinds of illnesses within a few weeks or few months of participating in a program consisting of green juices, salads, raw dishes, meditation, breathing and other mind-body exercises. I remembered thinking: “If my aunts knew of that information, they might still be alive.” At that moment, I decided that I would make it my mission to make others aware of these amazing possibilities.

My “Ah Hah!” moment: It’s not about my never-ending to-do list. It’s not about writing blog posts or newsletters. Simply said, it’s not about doing. It’s about connecting to my aunts and the powerful energy of compassion and service. It’s about sharing what I’ve learned about healing, within that frame of mind.

I wish you lots of Fun and Joy!
Until next time,

Cathy

P.S. Follow me on Twitter!

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at:CathysHealthTips.com.

How Healthy Are You?

2009-06-09T19:11:00.007-04:00

I am always surprised to hear people talking about how healthy someone was just before they dealt with a major health crisis. Even when mourning what appeared to be a sudden death due to a disease, I sometimes hear people expressing their surprise and wonder at how a person could be so healthy and yet die so soon.

That type of thinking possibly comes from denial, often from false belief or from ignorance. Have you noticed that we are often more in touch with the conditions of our cars than with the conditions of our own bodies?

In order to get a better understanding about health and healing, let’s ask ourselves how and why we get sick in the first place.

Our body works perfectly when in a state of balance. What we eat, how we digest, assimilate nutrients and eliminate all play critical roles in keeping the natural balance of all body systems.

But what happens when we don’t make the right choices of food or when we eat too much? What happens when our digestion becomes sluggish? The result: A clogged-up up system.

Tissues throughout our body, including tissues of the internal organs, are like sponges soaked in its own putrid waste. Sorry to be so direct but the average person, considered “healthy,” carries several pounds of old, hardened feces!

That waste, which includes undigested and un-eliminated foods, mucus, toxins and drugs, throughout the entire body is the source of every disease. Disease is simply a failed attempt of the body to completely eliminate food waste, mucus, toxins and drugs.

What happens after years of these elements accumulating? All kinds of diseases caused by an unbelievable amount of waste and auto-toxemia (your body producing toxins from the waste). All that waste slows down the circulation, causing friction and congestion in your body. At that point, inflammation and pain are likely. If nothing is done to cleanse the body of its toxic load, serious diseases will eventually develop.

The great unknown is how much do YOU have accumulated in your body? How healthy are YOU?

The Experimental Diagnosis

Through, what Professor Arnold Ehret called ‘The Experimental Diagnosis,’ you will be able to have a look inside your own body and have a better idea of how much waste accumulation is affecting you. Moreover, you will understand, at a visceral level, how your discomforts or diseases are simply an accumulation of waste in a specific part of your body.

Cathy’s Action Health Tips:

1) Schedule a 24-to-48-hour water fast. During that time, plan to rest. You might be able to maintain some activity during the first day of your fast but during the second day, just stay home and rest. Remember: A fast is a complete physiological rest. It’s not a time to be running around.

2) Afraid of starving to death during your short fast? :) I understand: It is in our culture to think that we need food all the time in order to survive but the truth is that most people are overfed, not undernourished. In order to be reassured about your experimental fast, I recommend that you educate yourself about it first. There are many books on the subject. I like "Fasting Can Save Your Life” and The Science and Fine Art of Fasting.” You can also read about my fasting experience by clicking here.

3) During the fast, look at your tongue, which is the mirror of your entire system, couple times a day. Is it heavily coated? After scraping your tongue once or twice a day, how fast does your tongue get coated again? A coated tongue is the affirmation of a clogged-up system loaded with toxins and sticky mucus. The dissolution of sticky mucus will support the evacuation of the old, hardened feces.

4) During the fast, are you feeling pain anywhere in your body? This pain indicates a weak point where waste has been accumulating and congestion is occurring. Your doctor might not be able to diagnose anything for now but this experimental diagnosis tells you clearly what’s happening inside your body. Note that the weaker you feel during your fast, the greater your system is congested. Internal cleansing is necessary. You will learn more about fasting as a way to maintain health and vitality in future issues of Cathy’s Health Tips’ newsletter. Go to CathysHealthTips.com for your FREE subscription.

4) After your fast, continue to dissolve sticky mucus and waste with lots of fruits and leafy greens. These foods will support the elimination of accumulated waste. For a start, try the recipes of the springtime menu by clicking here.

5) If you have any questions, please send them to me at Cathy@CathysHealthTips.com. I’ll answer them in a future issue of Cathy’s Health Tips’ Newsletter.

To Your Long, Healthy, and Passionate Life !

Cathy

Get FREE Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at CathysHealthTips.com.

Sea Vegetables Recipes

2009-06-08T19:42:00.003-04:00

Miso Soup with Wakame and Scallion Greens
MAKES 6 SERVINGS

Nourishing, Detoxifying in Under 20 Minutes!

½ cup dried wakame
¼ cup white miso
6 cups low sodium vegetable broth (I like Pacific Natural Foods)
1 cup scallion greens, thinly sliced

Cover wakame with warm water to cover by 1 inch and let stand 15 minutes, or until reconstituted. Drain in a sieve. Mix miso and 1/2 cup vegetable broth in a bowl until smooth; put aside. Heat remaining vegetable broth in a saucepan over moderately high heat until hot, then gently stir in reconstituted wakame. Simmer 1 minute and remove from heat. Immediately stir in miso mixture and scallion and serve. Do not boil this soup after miso is added. This soup will keep for several days in refrigerator.

About Miso: Always buy unpasteurized miso for its live food quality. It contains lactobacillus, which supports digestion and assimilation. Prolonged cooking kills this healthy bacteria. The best miso is found in the refrigerated section of the health food store.

Sweet Potato and Hijiki Salad
MAKE 4 SERVINGS

1 small sweet potato, grated in a food processor
1 cup organic corn kernels, thawed if frozen
¼ cup hijiki, soaked in water for 10 minutes
1 red bell pepper, thinly diced
½ yellow bell pepper, thinly diced
4 scallions, thinly sliced, both green and white parts

Lemon Tahini Dressing:
¾ cup water
½ cup raw tahini
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 lemon, peeled
1 teaspoon Nama Shoyu
½ jalapeño chile (or just a pinch of cayenne)
2-3 small garlic clove, peeled

To prepare the hijiki, soak for 10 minutes (will expand about 4 times its size) in cold water, rinse and drain. In a large bowl, combine all the salad ingredients. For the dressing, place all the dressing ingredients in a high-speed blender (I use a Vita-Mix). Blend until smooth. Add some dressing to the salad and mix well.

Note: The leftover dressing will keep several days in the refrigerator. The salad also stays fresh for few days in the fridge.

About food processor: Of course, you can grate the sweet potato manually but it will be a lot more work. I just love my food processor. It saves me a lot of time. It is an important piece of equipment for your kitchen. Click here to read about our recommended brand of food processor.

About corn: At this time of the year, I buy frozen corn. Fresh or frozen, I make sure to buy organic corn because I don’t want to eat GMO (genetically modified organisms) corn. We still don’t know the long -term effects of GMO corn on human but we are now aware of the detrimental impact it has on rats. Scary!

Nori Rolls with Shitake Mushroom and Avocado
MAKE 4 SERVINGS

½ cup shitake mushrooms, finely sliced
Nama Shoyu
4 nori sheets
1 cucumber, finely sliced
1 avocado, sliced
1 tomato, diced
Handful of sunflower sprouts (greens)

Cashew-Ginger Pâté:
2 cups cashews
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, chopped
1 scallions, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
¼ cup water

In a small bowl, marinate the shitake mushroom in a little Nama Shoyu. Meanwhile, put all the ingredients (except water) of the cashew-ginger pâté in the food processor and process until smooth, adding water slowly. To prepare the rolls, spread some pâté and the vegetables on ¼ of the nori sheets and roll them up. Lightly wet the edge of the nori sheets in order to close the rolls. Serve whole or cut into pieces. Serve immediately.

Note: Too much veggies or pâté? No worries. Keep separately in the refrigerator and serve with your salad the next day.

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at:CathysHealthTips.com.

Choose a Safe and Effective Sunscreen Without Toxicity

2009-05-13T22:00:00.006-04:00

Is your sunscreen safe and effective? An investigation of nearly 1,000 brand-name sunscreen products finds that 4 out of 5 contain chemicals that may pose health hazards or don't adequately protect skin from the sun's damaging rays.

Some of the worst offenders are leading brands like Coppertone, Banana Boat, and Neutrogena.

More than a million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year, but FDA still hasn't finalized sunscreen standards first announced 30 years ago. Meanwhile, companies are free to claim but not provide broad-spectrum protection. Until FDA requires that all sunscreens be safe and effective, Environmental Working Group's comprehensive sunscreen guide—including a list of 163 products that offer very good sun protection—fills in the gaps.

EWG's rating system includes critical information on UVA protection, how stable the product is in the sun, and potential health hazards of ingredients.

How does your sunscreen rank? Look up here for your sunscreen and if it doesn’t make the list, here are our top picks:

1. Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock

Top Rated Sunscreen by Environmental Workers Group (ewg.org)
Broad Spectrum UVA & UVB Cosmetic UV Protection
All Natural, Chemical-Free, & Non-Toxic
Invisible Under Makeup
Uncoated Nano Zinc Oxide

2. Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Sunscreen

Stick; Sunscreen or Kids
Target Area: Face, Nose
SPF 30
Contains UVA-UVB Broad Spectrum Protection
Waterproof, Sweatproof, Biodegradable
Citrus Scent

3. California Baby Sunblock Stick

Non-chemical, fragrance-free sun-block stick
SPF 30
Glides on smoothly for easy application
Use for a boost of extra protection
Scatters and reflects dangerous UV rays, offering UVA-UVB broad spectrum protection

4. Badger Sunscreen

SPF 30
Water resistant for up to 40 minutes
Moisturizing and protecting
Natural, physical barrier sunscreens

5. Sanre Organic Skinfood Supple Sunshine

Hydrating
SPF 30
Protects your skin from sun exposure and pollution, while gently restoring moisture and elasticity
Daily moisturizer used under or without makeup
Organic ingredients

Get Free Tips, Articles, Recipes and Resources to Improve Your Health, Raise Your Energy and Be More Beautiful (Both Inside and Out) at: CathysHealthTips.com.

Springtime Cleansing Menu

2009-05-13T18:05:00.014-04:00

Drop That Winter Weight and Be Ready for Summer!

New and Tasty Recipes

Easy to Make

Support Your Body in Releasing Accumulated Food Waste, Mucus, Toxins, and of course, Weight

My Favorite Juices

Green Lemonade

Drink this juice every day and you’ll never have to worry about the health of your bones.

½ head of celery
1 whole cucumber
1 handful of spinach
1 green apple
1 lemon, peeled

Process all the ingredients through the juicer. It will make about 3/4 liter of juice that you can enjoy throughout the day.

Anti-Cellulite Juice

Cleanse on this juice for one to three days and see results immediately.

2 red grapefruits, peeled
2 oranges, peeled
1 lemon, peeled
½ pineapple, peeled

Process all the ingredients through the juicer.

Mixed Vegetable Juice

4 carrots
3 celery stalks
2 kale leaves
2 tomatoes
1 cucumber, unpeeled if organic
1 small beet
1/2 cup loose parsley, stems included
1 clove garlic

Process all the ingredients through the juicer. Feel free to improvise your own ingredients.

Healthy Heart Drink

1 organic pear
2 organic green apples
1 organic lemon, peeled
1/2- to 1-inch piece fresh ginger root (according to your taste)

Process all the ingredients through the juicer.

My Favorite Smoothies

Strawberry Smoothie
MAKES 3 SERVINGS

2 ½ cups strawberries
2 cups water
5 Medjool dates, pitted (more for more sweetness)
Handful of cashews or pine nuts
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
5 ice cubes

Place all the ingredients in high-speed blender. Blend until smooth and serve. You can keep the leftovers in the fridge for three days.

Fruit and Kale Smoothie
MAKES 4 SERVINGS

Dark leafy greens like kale may not be the first ingredients you think to put in your smoothies but it’s definitely one of the best things you can do for your health and beauty. Among many benefits, greens are packed with calcium in a form that is easier for the body to absorb than the calcium in milk.

1 orange, peeled
1½ cups green or red grapes
1 banana, fresh or frozen
1 cup kale
1 pear
1 teaspoon bee pollen (optional)
1 teaspoon Maca powder (optional)
14 ice cubes (about 1 cup)

Place all the ingredients in high-speed blender. Blend until smooth and serve. You can keep the leftovers in the fridge for three days.

Mango Smoothie

Mango is known as folk remedy that helps relieve depression. It does not juice well, but they blend well in smoothies.

1 ripe mango, peeled
1 orange, peeled
1 ripe banana
6 ice cubes

Blend until smooth.

Wholesome Soups

I love raw soups! They are energy boosters, nutrient-dense and so, so tasty and easy to make. Even people who think they don’t like raw food will love these raw soup recipes.

Gazpacho Soup
MAKES 8 SERVINGS

7 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped
2 red bell peppers, roughly chopped
1 English cucumber, roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
2 cups of water
2/3 cup olive oil (first cold pressed and organic)
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon Celtic sea salt
Fresh pepper to taste

Working in 2 batches, combine ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend but not too much to keep it chunky. Cover and chill 2 hours for flavors to develop. Eat as much as you like!

Healing Soup
MAKES 3 to 4 SERVINGS

2 cucumbers, peeled
1 avocado
1 carrot, chopped
1 jalapeño pepper
½ yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic
Juice of ½ lemon
Fresh cilantro and parsley to your taste
1 to 2 cups of water

Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.

Siamese Dream Thai Curry Soup
MAKES 2 to 3 SERVINGS

3 cups Thai coconut water
3 cloves garlic, peeled
One 2-inch piece ginger, peeled
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup Nama Shoyu
1 tablespoon curry powder

In a high-speed blender, combine all of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour into a serving bowl. Using the ladle, remove and discard any foam that rises to the top.

The soup is amazing on its own, but adding any or all of the following garnishes takes it to the next level.

GARNISHES:
Chopped avocado, minced chives, sliced cherry tomatoes, chopped red bell pepper, chopped, basil leaves, chopped mint leaves, chopped cilantro, sliced shitake mushrooms (marinated for approximately 1 minute in Nama Shoyu)

(From Matt Amsden’s book: RAWvolution)

Sumptuous Salads & Salad Dressings

Tomato and Cashew Dressing

1 tomato
1 handful of raw cashew
2 dates, pitted
1 garlic clove, peeled
Pinch of sea salt

Blend all the ingredients at high speed until smooth. This dressing can also be used as a dip.

Multicolore Salad
MAKES 6 to 8 SERVINGS

2 packages of lettuce (mix organic herb salad, baby spinach, baby, arugula, etc.)
¼ head green cabbage, shredded
¼ head red cabbage, shredded
3 medium carrots, grated
2 small beets, grated
1 cucumbers, diced
1 yellow or green zucchini, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 orange bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
½ cup sliced radishes

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Stored airtight in the fridge, this salad will stay fresh for 6 days.

Choose your favorite dressing or the Tomato and Cashew Dressing above.

Feel free to improvise your own ingredients. Add tofu cubes, avocado, pieces of fish, pine nuts, almonds, olives, sprouts, etc.

Explore and have fun!

Alkalizing Cucumber Salad
MAKES 3 to 4 SERVINGS

5 cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
1 red onion, diced
½ bunch fresh parsley, chopped
½ bunch fresh mint, finely chopped

DRESSING:
½ cup raw apple cider vinegar
½ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup olive oil (extra virgin, first cold pressed, and organic)
¼ cup flax seed oil
1 tablespoon Celtic sea salt
5 cloves garlic, peeled

In a mixing bowl, combine all of the salad ingredients and mix well.

In a high-speed blender, combine the dressing ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour the dressing over the salad, mix well, and serve. You can also chill the salad for several hours or overnight.

Toss again before serving.

Kale and Avocado Salad
MAKES 4 SERVINGS

1 head kale, any variety, stems removed and shredded
2 avocados, chopped
1 large tomato, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
½ yellow bell pepper, diced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne (to your taste)
Pinch Himalayan salt

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together, using your hand to “massage’ the kale and creaming the avocado. Serve immediately.

Sprouts Salad
MAKES 4 SERVINGS

2 cups fresh sprouts (sunflowers, peas, and/or alfalfa)
1 cup carrots, grated
1 cup asparagus, sliced
½ cup walnuts, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin, first cold pressed, and organic)
1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar or the juice of 1 lemon
Celtic sea salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients, allow sitting for 15 minutes and then serve.

Broccoli Salad
MAKES 2 to 4 SERVINGS

1 head broccoli, cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup diced celery
1 large red onion, diced
4 chopped scallions

DRESSING:
1 ¾ cups water
2 celery stalks
1/3 cup olive oil (extra virgin, first cold pressed, and organic)
3 cloves garlic, peeled
¼ cup parsley
Pinch of Celtic sea salt
Pinch of cayenne

In a mixing bowl, combine all of the salad ingredients and mix well. In a high-speed blender, combine the dressing ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour the dressing over the salad, mix well, and chill 1 hour before serving.

Easy-to-Make Entrees

Walnut Tacos with Tomato Avocado Salsa
MAKES 8 SERVINGS

8 leaves of collard green
3 cups raw walnut
1 tablespoon cumin
2 teaspoons coriander
2 tablespoons Nama Shoyu

TOMATO AVOCADO SALSA:
2 avocados, chopped
1 pint grape tomatoes, cut into 4 pieces
1 whole bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
½ cup yellow onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon juice
1 teaspoon of Himalayan salt
Pinch of cayenne (to your taste)

In a food processor, combine the walnuts, cumin, coriander and Nama Shoyu. In a medium bowl, mix all the salsa ingredients well. Spread some of the walnut mixture and salsa in the center of the collard green leaves. Roll and enjoy!

Suggestion: The leftovers can be served on a bed of mixed greens the next day.

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