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Go Loco for Local!
I am excited to report that our first annual Eagle Village Barn Spring Festival was a roaring success! Vital Touch therapists were hard at work all day last Saturday easing the pain and tension out of festival goers' muscles with free chair massages.
Also joining us were locally owned restaurants, local wineries, local artists and antique vendors, a local DJ, and of course, locally owned Pearl's Market featuring local meats and produce.
So what's the big deal about going local? Is it worth going loco for area businesses, or just crazy hype? The way I see it, there are four HUGE reasons to support community business owners and farmers.
1. Money, Money, Money What goes around comes around. When you spend your money at locally owned businesses, they can pay their rent and keep local folks employed, and they can keep spending money on their homes and cars and other local businesses. Real estate prices stay stable and the community thrives.
2. Going Local is Going Green When you buy products and foods produced locally, you reduce carbon emissions! Did you know that the average American dinner travels 3000 miles from the moment it is planted to the time it gets to your plate? Talk about loco!
3. Going Local is Healthier Imagine what kind of vegetable can survive all that loading, unloading, and travel. Foods that are grown thousands of miles away are bred to be long on shelf life and resilience, short on flavor and nutrition. The closer a food is grown to your table, the fresher it is and the more nutrients and delicious taste it has! Hmmm... your kids may actually like broccoli! There's nothing like local food for best flavor.
4. Feel the Love How cool is it to hand your hard-earned money over directly into the hand that plowed, planted, raised, or created what you are buying? In our "small" world of remote communications, community connections can be difficult to nurture, powerful to behold.
It's easy to find local businesses in our community. Ask employees of your favorite stores and restaurants who the owners are. Look for local markets like Pearl's and the Wednesday Anselma Mill Farmer's Markets. Join a CSA. Make a point to support our local businesses and enjoy embracing all that our community has to offer!
All the best in life and health,
Jen
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Why Weight? Diets Don't Work
You can't turn on the TV, drive down the road or go to a
party without being confronted with America's hottest obsession:
weight. Diets are a billion-dollar industry; companies spend millions and
millions luring you to try the latest diet (low carb, high protein, low fat, no
fat, you name it) with promises that this will (finally!) be the solution-your
shortcut to a thinner body. Advertising efforts also deeply affect our
children, who develop distorted body images and are often on diets as early as
age 9 or 10.
Our culture touts diet pills, celebrity workouts,
convenience foods, and trendy diets to help us achieve our desired weight, but
these quick fix solutions have backfired. America's populace has reached its
highest weight in history. About half of Americans are overweight; one third
are obese. Diets steer us away from our common sense and dip deeply into our
pocketbooks, while eliciting few, if any, lasting results.
Diets
don't work because each person is unique, with different needs based on
gender, age, ancestry and lifestyle; how could one diet be right for
everyone?
Diets
don't work because they are extreme solutions. Like in physics, if a
pendulum swings to one extreme, it has to swing equally to the other. A
diet might work for a short amount of time, but research shows that almost
all diets result in a 10 pound gain after all the pendulum swinging is
done.
Diets
don't work because they are too restrictive. People who fail on diet plans
are not flawed and weak. Diets by nature require discipline and
restriction at levels that are unsustainable by a healthy human body.
Most people are disconnected from why they gain weight,
seeing diet as the only culprit. For example, ignoring or discounting emotions
is often the first thing to cause weight imbalances. In our fast paced world,
we have lost sight of many aspects of life that truly nourish and balance our
bodies, such as slowing down, eating a home-cooked meal, and spending quality
time with loving people. Eating consciously and making simple lifestyle changes
will create positive results and release you from endless cycle of dieting.
Balance and a
sustainable weight are your birthright. Given half a chance, your body will
balance itself by itself, but this is only
possible by getting out of the diet mentality and
listening to what you truly need. Imagine taking all of the outward energy you
expend on diets, fads and gimmicks and turning it inward, so that you
can listen to your heart and inner wisdom. There is no such thing as a quick
fix-but you already have everything you need within you. With careful thought
and loving reflection you can feed yourself wisely and purposefully and feel
completely nourished. Working with your body rather than against it will bring
about increased energy, stabilized weight, and sustainable, lasting health.
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Food Focus: Sprouts
 I n the
spring season, seeds flaunt their vitality and energy by sprouting. Sprouts of
all varieties contain the building blocks of life in the form of vitamins,
enzymes, amino acids and simple sugars. In their early growth state, sprouts
are very easy to digest, allowing our bodies to access many wonderful
nutrients. Recent research by the American Cancer Society has backed what
holistic nutrition has known for years-that sprouts contain anti-cancer
properties, high levels of active antioxidants, concentrated amounts of phytochemicals
and significant amounts of vitamins A, C and D.
In their
raw form, sprouts have a cooling effect on the body, and therefore are best
consumed in warm weather or by robust, warm body types. Those who tend to feel
cool can try steaming spouts or adding them to warm dishes such as stir fries
and soups. This reduces their cooling effect. There is a wide variety of edible
and delicious sprouts, each with a different texture and flavor: alfalfa, mung
bean, lentil, radish, clover, sunflower, broccoli, garbanzo and adzuki. The health benefits of eating sprouts are enormous! However, there are concerns around eating sprouts due to reports of Salmonella and E. Coli bacteria causing infections. To put these fears into perspective, note that the worst outbreak ever attributed to eating spouts accounted for less than 1/3 of 1% of the FDA's total annual cases. Still, it is worth being careful in buying, washing, and eating sprouts. Here are some tips to stay safe with sprouts:
- Grow Your Own. It's easy to grow sprouts with only a mason jar, water, and seeds. Find a variety of seeds at your local whole foods store. You can even purchase a set of plastic screened jar lids that make rinsing easier. Just be sure to rinse thoroughly every day.
- Buy Safe Brands. If you can't grow your own, look for organic sprouts or brands like Bassilica, who follow strict safety standards and have never sold contaminated sprouts.
- Buy Fresh Sprouts. Look for tight buds at the tops of the stems, not huge leaves. Also, check the bottom of the packages. The roots should be white or off white, not tan.
- Rinse Well Before Eating. Rinse thoroughly with water.
- Cook Before Eating. Raw is best, but cooking sprouts will kill pathogens
- Consume a Diet Rich in Probiotics. Did you know that E. Coli is always present in our gastrointestinal tract? Healthy individuals with strong immune systems are unaffected by a certain amount of pathogens. Eating probiotics like those found in yogurt, sauerkraut, kafir, and other fermented foods keeps your intestinal flora healthy.
Here are
some great ways to serve up sprouts: add to salads; combine with other
vegetables in wraps, roll-ups or stir-fries; use as garnish on top of soups,
stews, omelets or scrambled eggs; add to rice or whole grain dishes; use in sandwiches
instead of lettuce.
Spring
has arrived! Eat sprouts and feel alive!
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| Recipe of the Month:
Spring Sprouting Steamer
PREP TIME: 3 minutes
COOK TIME: 5 minutes
SERVES: 4
Ingredients:
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1 zucchini
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1 summer squash
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1 package mixed
crunchy sprouts (lentil, adzuki, mung, garbanzo)
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3 tablespoons of
freshly chopped tarragon
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1 tablespoon of ghee
(clarified butter) or butter
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4 lemon wedges
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salt to taste
Directions:
1.Slice
zucchini and summer squash in circles about 1/4 inch thick and steam with
sprouts for about 5 minutes or until desired tenderness.
2.
Toss with tarragon, ghee and salt in
bowl.
3.
Serve with lemon wedge.
Try fresh herbs like parsley, dill, cilantro, or mint for a
totally different taste.
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HEALTHY HOMECOOKED MEALS 2
Quick and Easy!
Are you busy? Do you wish you had more time to cook healthy, homecooked meals for your family? Are you unhappy with how much you rely on convenience foods and takeout? Do you find putting meals on the table stressful and rushed? Then this cooking class is for you! In this class you will learn not only how to make one delicious family-friendly dinner, but how to turn it into easy, healthy, and very yummy meals for days! Plus, this class will be "peppered" with expert tips on healthy eating and fun, stress-free cooking. Take just two hours out of your busy schedule to attend this class, and I guarantee you will save many more hours in the kitchen, as well as dollars on convenience foods.
NEW DELICIOUS SUMMER RECIPES!(even if you've come to the fall or winter class, this one will be completely new!) COMING THIS SUMMER!West Chester Wellness Center, Paoli Pike Call (484)437-0752
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HOST YOUR OWN COOKING PARTY
For Kids and Adults!
Cooking Classes are FUN!
Our cooking classes are all about teaching quick and easy ways to prepare yummy and healthy meals with whole ingredients. Do you have friends, neighbors, or family who are interested in discovering delicious new recipes and cooking techniques that nourish better health? Do you have kids that love playing in the kitchen, and you want to nurture healthy habits? Have your own cooking party with 5-10 people!
FOR ADULTS:
- Home Cooked Meals Quick and Easy
- Cookie Bake with Whole Grains and NO Refined Sugars
- Sweet Treats w/o the Sugar
- Whole Grains
- Eating to Boost Athletic Performance
- Breaking the Breakfast Rut
FOR KIDS:
- Superpackers -Fun and Yummy Lunches
- Sweet Treats w/o the Sugar
- Breakfast of Champions - Tasty Morning Meals
$300 for a 2 1/2 hour adult class; max. 10 people
$200 for a 2 hour kids class; max. 10 children
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE; EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS
CALL TO TALK ABOUT HOSTING YOUR PARTY! | |
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Rediscover Your Best Self
At Vital Touch Wellness we are committed to your life-long health and vitality. Our mission is to help our clients live their lives to the fullest, offering holistic health counseling, therapeutic massage, cooking classes, and nutrition workshops.
We have highly experienced and intuitive massage therapists on staff whose goal is to free your body from pain and tension and clear your mind of stress... so you feel uplifted and better able to take on your life with joy... long after you walk out our door!
As a holistic health counselor, I offer an individualized program to guide my clients through the confusing flood of information and research about nutrition. I help you discover which foods and lifestyle choices work best for you and your body to help you reach and maintain your goals. My mission is to inspire and empower you to nourish yourself from the inside out by integrating the best of traditional, eastern and western approaches to health! Come in for a free initial consultation with the coupon below, or forward this newsletter to a friend who could use some support improving their health. See my website for more details.
All the best,
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Jennifer McLamb, CMT, CHHC
Founder and Director,
Vital Touch Wellness |
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