People like "stuff." We tend to hold onto it year after year. We save and stock up on things that we don't know what to do with anymore. Maybe we keep things because they hold precious memories of days gone by, or they remind us of our parents, grandparents, past loves or childhood. To part with these precious possessions seems out of the question. There is a saying that goes, "You have to get rid of the old to make way for the new."  If you are feeling stuck or stagnant in your life, try spring-cleaning. Throw out some of that stuff, say goodbye to your past and welcome the new energy of your happy, healthy future.

For good mental and physical health, we actually have two "houses" that need to be spring-cleaned: our physical homes and our physical bodies. Just as we accumulate "stuff" in the form of outgrown clothes, magazines, rusty bicycles, tools and random keepsakes, so do our bodies accumulate old food residues and toxins that need to be cleaned out.

To spring clean your body, give it a break from rich and complicated foods by either cleansing or fasting for a short period of time. Cleansing means paring down your food to just simple fruits and vegetables, lots of water and perhaps whole grains. Fasting means limiting most foods and drinking lots of water, fresh vegetable and fruit juices, teas and soups. Without much energy going toward digestion, more energy is available to the rest of your body and mind. Cleansing and fasting can sharpen your concentration, help you gain insight and promote spiritual awareness. It can also bring improved immune function and better digestion.

While you're cleaning out your body and home, don't forget to spring-clean your heart. Throw away negative thoughts and habits you've been harboring that no longer serve you. A clean, open heart will allow you to receive all the good that awaits you each and every day. If your heart and mind are cluttered, there is no room for life's gifts and surprises to enter.

Leafy greens are some of the easiest and most beneficial vegetables to incorporate into your daily routine. Densely packed with energy and nutrients, they grow upward to the sky, absorbing the sun's light while producing oxygen. Members of this royal green family include kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, mustard greens, arugula, dandelion greens, broccoli rabe, watercress, beet greens, bok choy, napa cabbage, green cabbage, spinach and broccoli.

How do greens benefit our bodies? They are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous and zinc, and are a powerhouse for vitamins A, C, E and K. They are crammed full of fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micronutrients and phytochemicals. Their color is associated with spring, which is a time to renew and refresh vital energy. In traditional Asian medicine, the color green is related to the liver, emotional stability and creativity. Greens aid in purifying the blood, strengthening the immune system, improving liver, gall bladder and kidney function, fighting depression, clearing congestion, improving circulation and keeping your skin clear and blemish free.

After more than 16 years in the financial services industry in Change Management, I decided to follow my passion to help others more directly. A vegetarian since the age of 14 (and a Southern vegetarian at that!), I've been an advocate of conscious living for some time. Delving more deeply into nutrition seemed natural and an ideal way to help others, especially given the current health crisis that is creating so much inconvenience and pain. As the late astronomer and educator Carl Sagan said, "we are made of star stuff." Literally, we are organic beings made from the same elements that make up the universe and to regenerate we need organic materials. We need to eat foods our bodies recognize. We are doing ourselves a great disservice by consuming all of the artificial, synthetic junk-food made available to us by desensitized, profit-hungry corporations. There is a time and place for packaged food and pharmaceutical drugs, but they should be last resorts - not how we live on a daily basis. Our bodies can heal themselves when given adequate amounts of organic vitamins and minerals. These essential elements are best assimilated through whole foods rather than synthetic versions. I look forward to sharing ways to live healthier lives through these newsletters and my counseling services.    

I received my certification to practice Health Counseling at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition- the only nutrition school integrating all dietary theories with an emphasis on the whole person, designed to help individuals determine what works best for them. I completed the Food As Medicine course through The Center For Mind/Body Medicine, and am enrolled in the Natural Kitchen Cooking School to become a Natural Foods Chef (May 2010). I am also a certified personal trainer and incorporate exercise into my counseling services. Come join our running group in Myers Park every Mon/Wed/Fri morning at 6:30 a.m.  Beginners are welcome! Contact me for details.

I offer a complimentary one-hour health consultation. If you or someone you know needs support, I'd love to hear from you to see how I can help. Just complete the confidential Health History form located in the bottom right-hand corner of my website and we'll meet to discuss your specific health goals.

Sincerely,