Donna Gallers Health Counseling
Nourishment For Your Whole Life
August Newsletter: Bon Appetit!
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Greetings!,
It's August already, the season I think of as "deep summer". The days are long and hot, the people we need to reach are on vacation, we're on vacation, or wishing we were, and everything seems ripe or about to ripen. Yet at the same time, we know that in a few weeks we'll go "back to school" literally or figuratively, get back to business, cool off with the weather and start to bustle again.
This is a great time to slow down and savor your life, to enjoy whatever's "ripe" for you right now, and to appreciate abundance wherever you may find it. It's also a good time to start imagining the next steps in your big life--even while resting and relaxing!
Sometimes in playful ideas we find our deepest truths. And, to use a food metaphor, in the rich harvest of summer lies the seeds for the next growing season.
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. Have a wonderful end of summer!
Warmly,
Donna
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What Makes You Tremble With Joy?
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It's a shame to be caught up in something that does not
absolutely make you tremble with joy.
-Julia Child
There's a lot of talk about town these days about Julia
Child, the ebullient TV chef who brought French cuisine to the American masses
and encouraged her viewers to have fun, make a few mistakes, and just cook up a
storm. The new film "Julia and Julie"
captures the energy and unflagging enthusiasm that Julia Child had for food and
cooking, her marriage, her friends and family, and everything she did. (I recommend it.)
 About 8 years ago I read the above quote in a magazine
interview with Child--then in her late eighties--and was inspired to rip it out
of the magazine and to carry it around with me ever since. Her words resonated with me deeply and I think of
them often.
"Caught up" seems to be the operative phrase here. We all do plenty of things in our everyday
lives that don't make us tremble with joy.
Not every task or activity is a sheer delight. But what about the things we are truly caught
up in, the things that occupy the bulk of our time and energy--or feel like they
do? Work and career, relationships and
social life, physical activity, things we do for fun, and so on. This is what I
think Julia is talking about.
Do the vital areas of your life feel fulfilling and
creative, truly engaged and alive? Are
there significant places where you feel dull and uninspired, or downright
unhappy? Enjoyment of life is a key to
good health. You can eat the most
pristine diet, exercise dutifully, and "do everything right"--yet if you are
miserable, your health may suffer. On
the other hand, doing things you love can bring healing to your life.
What really makes you tremble with joy? Take some time in these balmy, slower-paced
days of late summer to ask yourself this question and answer it honestly. If there are things you want to change, be
patient and compassionate with yourself as you explore ways to bring more joy
into your life. And if you don't know
exactly what you want to do or how, start small. Notice what makes you smile or laugh, what
makes your body feel good, what makes you relax and breathe more fully. And start to head in that direction. You never know what can happen by just doing
what you love. And you deserve to do it.
As Julia always said, "Bon appetit!"
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| Food Focus
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Water
 Most of
us are aware of the importance of drinking enough water. Getting our daily dose
of water helps our organs perform their functions, keeps our skin clear and
hydrated, and allows physical action in our bodies to flow smoothly. Even with
this knowledge, it can still be challenging to drink all the water our bodies
deserve daily. In the summer, when we tend to play hard, sweat and spend
prolonged time in the sun, drinking plenty of water is critical. Those who are
not drinking enough may experience poor digestion, sluggish thinking, skin
breakouts, headaches, bad breath and general fatigue.
To start
your day right, set a large glass of water by your bed each night and drink it
when you wake up. Drinking water first thing in the morning pulls out toxins
from the previous day and freshens your system for the day ahead. Keep a bottle
of water accessible throughout the day, whether you are on the go or at a desk.
Having a bottle of water close by will remind you to take a sip when thirsty.
The first sip will usually let you know how much more water you need. A sip or
two may be enough, or you may need a big glass. If you drink most of your daily
water before early evening, you most likely will not be thirsty before bed.
This is good, because drinking before bed and then waking to use the bathroom disturbs your peaceful night's sleep.
If the taste of plain water is unappealing,
experiment to see how you can make it tasty and drinkable. Try adding a few
mint leaves, a wedge of lemon, a sprig of parsley, slices of cucumber, a twist
of lime or a squeeze of orange to make water more tempting, or to jazz up your
routine. Also, drinking tea or juice and eating raw fruits and vegetables
contribute to the hydration process.
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| RECIPE OF THE MONTH
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Lemon Delight
Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 servings
My husband Anthony likes to make this refreshing, frothy version of lemonade all year long.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lemons
1 1/4 cups water
1 cup ice cubes
1-2 tbsp agave or maple syrup
Directions:
Remove seeds from lemons, then squeeze lemon juice
into blender. Scoop out pulp and add to blender.
Add ice and water, plus agave or maple syrup to taste.
Blend on high setting until ice is fully crushed.
Optional: Add a small amount of chopped fresh ginger before blending, or garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. For an extra fruity kick, try adding some fresh strawberries or blueberries.
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ABOUT ME
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 I am a Certified Holistic Health Counselor, Licensed Massage Therapist, and
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, CHHC
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