Donna Gallers Health Counseling
Nourishment For Your Whole Life
May Newsletter: You Can Blossom This Spring!
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Greetings!,
Welcome! I'm pleased
to inaugurate my health & healing newsletter this week, in honor of May Day
and all the people who've fought to improve the conditions of their own lives
and the world at large. It's no
coincidence that as the world today faces huge economic challenges and
confusion, many of us are struggling to create a healthy balance in our own
lives, to figure out what to eat that's right for our body, incorporate
healthy activities into our lives, heal from or prevent illness--in short,
how to set up our lives to prosper and thrive in body, mind, and spirit.
My grandparents, labor activists all their lives, treasured
May Day for the joy of believing in the possibility of change and in their own
power to make it happen. I always think
of May Day as a chance to put down my worries and remember that I deserve to
live a big, full, joyful life. We all
do. In my mind we're all shooting for
the same thing: the right to live and
work meaningfully in peace, health, and under conditions that foster our well
being. We can get there, and it can be a
joyful and enriching journey along the way.
Holistic health counseling offers you a chance to take a
look at your food and lifestyle with support and guidance to make changes that
will work for you for the rest of your life.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or to set up your
free initial consultation. In the meantime, enjoy the
blossoming of spring!
Warmly,
Donna
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SPRING CLEANING
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You
can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full
to embrace the present.
-Jan Glidewell
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 or books, knick-knacks, or
accumulated paperwork, 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.
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Food Focus
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 Greens
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.
Leafy
greens are the vegetables most missing from the American diet, and many of us
never learned how to prepare them. Start with the very simple recipe below.
Then each time you go to the market, pick up a new green to try. Soon you'll
find your favorite greens and wonder how you ever lived without them.
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| RECIPE OF THE MONTH
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Shiitake and Kale  Prep
Time: 2 minutes Cooking
Time: 10 minutes Yield: 4
servings
Ingredients:
1/2 pound
shiitake mushrooms
1
tablespoon olive oil
1-2
cloves crushed garlic
1 bunch
kale, chopped
pinch of
salt
Directions:
1. Warm oil in pan on
medium heat with minced garlic until aromas of garlic are released, about 2-3
minutes.
2. Add chopped shiitake
mushrooms, stir-fry for 5 minutes.
3. Add chopped kale,
stir-fry for a couple of minutes.
4. Add a splash of water
and pinch of salt to pan, cover and let steam for 4 minutes.
Alternatives:
-Add a handful of finely chopped fresh ginger or scallion
-Substitute thinly sliced carrot or radish for mushrooms.
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ABOUT ME
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 I am a Holistic Health Counselor, Licensed Massage Therapist, and
Certified Qigong Instructor. I work with clients individually or in
groups to learn how to eat and live well, address health issues
naturally and holistically, and set up their lives for optimum health
and happiness.
Nutrition, diet, exercise, mind-body
awareness, stress management, and detoxification have transformed my
life, helping me to heal from rheumatoid arthritis, chronic pain,
allergies, and digestive problems. I've moved from worrying about my
health all the time and fearing the worst, to knowing that I'm in
charge of my life and have the power to create my own well being. I am
passionate about sharing my knowledge and especially that experience of
transformation and empowerment with you.
Warmly,
Donna Gallers, LMT, HHC
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