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If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this newsletter, please feel free to send me an email. |
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Getting my weight under control has come from a process of treating myself as well as I treat others in every way.-Oprah Winfrey |
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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 9 or 10 years of age.
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, metabolic rates and lifestyle; how could one diet be right for everyone? Diets don't work because they are extreme solutions. As 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 once off the diet. 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, and see diet as the only culprit. For example, ignoring or discounting emotions is often the first thing to cause weight imbalances. It is surprising how deeply food and mood are inter-related. Are we hungry for love and affection or are we hungry for food? 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 the endless cycle of dieting.
Balance and a sustainable weight are your birthright. Given half a chance, your body will balance out 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; you already have everything you need within you. Learning to listen to your body is essential because the longer you ignore it, the more extreme the backlash will be. On a spiritual level, your body is the home of your consciousness, so it's good practice to respect this home, maintaining it in a clean and healthy condition.
If you would like to learn more about how to achieve balance through understanding your bio-individuality and my integrative approach to nutrition and health, please contact me for a FREE one-hour consultation session.
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Food Focus: Sprouts
In 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, to reduce the 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.
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
Yield: 3-4 servings
Ingredients:
2 zucchini
2 summer squash
1 package mixed crunchy sprouts (lentil, adzuki, mung, garbanzo)
3 tablespoons of freshly chopped tarragon
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 lemon wedges
salt to taste
Directions:
Slice zucchini and summer squash into discs, about 1/2 inch thick. Steam with sprouts for about 3 minutes or until desired tenderness. Toss with tarragon, olive oil and salt in bowl. Serve with lemon wedges.
Note: Try fresh herbs like parsley, dill, cilantro, or mint for a totally different taste. |
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About the Author
Carol Chuang is a Certified Health Counselor from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Columbia University. She is board certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.
Apart from having her private practice counseling individual clients, she is also the nutrition and wellness consultant for San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Council and the APA Family Support Services in San Francisco. She conducts regular workshops for their clients on various topics of nutrition and wellness. |
Schedule For a Free Consultation
I believe that the way to a happy, healthy and fulfilling life is to have loving relationships, a satisfying career, regular physical activity, and a spiritual foundation. Coupled with a diet that is wholesome and natural, our mind, body, and soul would thrive and flourish. If you would like to live an energized and passionate life, I invite you to a free one-hour consultation to discuss your health history, concerns, and goals, as well as what you have always dreamed for in your life. |
Carol Chuang Certified Health Counselor
415-652-9942 |
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