Jeanine Toes, AADP

Certified Holistic Health Coach

 

Fall Newletter
 Sept/Oct 2012
  
Back to School and Back on Track!
Fall is a time to get back on track with a healthy lifestyle for you and your family. Visit a farmer's market to pick up some beautiful fall vegetables and fruit. Try to squeeze in some outdoor activity on beautiful September days, as it makes both your body and mind feel good. A little sun also helps your body produce Vitamin D, a nutrient that 70% of Americans are deficient in! Read on for some healthy ideas to start with.
Deconstructing Cravings

The body is an amazing source of intelligence. It is always there for you, pumping blood, never skipping a heartbeat, digesting whatever food you put in it and maintaining homeostasis. Is this reliable, intelligent bio-computer making a mistake by craving ice cream or a hamburger or chocolate? Are cravings due to lack of will-power or discipline? I'd like to suggest that cravings are not a problem. They are critical pieces of information that tell you what your body needs.

 

The important thing is to understand why you crave what you crave. Perhaps your diet is too restrictive or devoid of essential nutrients. Perhaps you are living a lifestyle that is too boring or stressful. Your body tries to correct the imbalance by sending you a message: a craving. A craving for something sweet could mean you need more protein, more exercise, more water or more love in your life. A craving for chocolate could be mean you are magnesium deficient. The key to stopping the craving is to understand and deliver what your body really needs.

 

No book or theory can tell you what to eat. Only awareness of your body and its needs can tell you. Of all the relationships in our lives, the one with our body is the most essential. It takes communication, love and time to cultivate a relationship with your body. As you learn to decipher and respond to your body's cravings, you will create a deep and lasting level of health and balance.

 

The next time you have a craving, treat it as a loving message from your body instead of a weakness. Try these tips to respond to your body:

 

  • Have a glass of water and wait 10 minutes.
  • Eat a healthier version of what you crave. For example, if you crave sweets, try eating more fruit and sweet or root vegetables.
  • What is out of balance in your life? Is there something you need to express, or is something being repressed? What happened in your life just before you had this craving?
  • When you eat the food you are craving, enjoy it, taste it, savor it; notice its effect. Then you will become more aware and free to decide if you really want it next time.
 
 

Check out Farmer's Market

@ Christopher Morley Park

May-Nov, Wednesdays 7am-1pm

Kids and Beverages

 

NYC's Board of Health has banned the sale of sweetened drinks in containers larger than 16 oz.in a move that hopes to fight childhood obesity and improve the overall health of NYC residents. So how much sugar is actually in the drinks that your kids favor? In a 32 oz. of Gatorade, which many student athletes enjoy, there are 56 grams of sugar (equals 13 teaspoons of sugar!). You also get 440 mg of sodium with that. The 8 oz. can of Arizona Iced tea has 24 grams of sugar (about 6 teaspoons). Something to think about! 

peaches 

Recipe of the Month:

 Maple Fruit Compote with Honey-Ginger Toasted Nuts

 

 

Food Focus: Natural Sweeteners

Who among us doesn't love sweets? The sweet flavor releases serotonin in our brains, the chemical responsible for our sense of well-being and contentment. But when it comes to sweeteners, not all are created equal. There are side effects and health risks from refined sweeteners like white table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, and from artificial sweeteners like NutraSweet, saccharin and Splenda. Since refined sweeteners have been stripped of vitamins, minerals and fiber, they can spike blood sugar, which can often lead to cravings and mood and energy fluctuations. Instead, using naturally and minimally processed sweeteners can reduce cravings for sugary things.

 

Here are a few natural sweeteners to substitute in drinks, food and baking. Since they are all approximately 1.5 times sweeter than refined sugar, you can use less. You can find them in most supermarkets or natural food stores. When replacing sugar with liquid sweeteners in a recipe, reduce the amounts of other liquids.

 

Raw Honey

Everyone seems to love honey, one of the oldest natural sweeteners on the market. Honey will have a different flavor depending on the plant source. Some are very dark and intensely flavored. Wherever possible, choose raw honey, as it is unrefined and contains small amounts of enzymes, minerals and vitamins.

 

Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is the concentrated extract of the sap of maple trees. It adds a rich, deep flavor to foods and drinks. Make sure to look for 100% pure maple syrup, not maple-flavored corn syrup. As with all sweeteners, organic varieties are best.

 
Stevia

This leafy herb has been used for centuries by native South Americans. The extract from stevia is 100 to 300 times sweeter than white sugar. It can be used in cooking, baking and beverages, does not affect blood sugar levels, and has zero calories. Stevia is available in a powder or liquid form, but be sure to get the green or brown liquids or powders, because the white and clear versions are highly refined.


Jeanine Toes, CHHC, AADP
516-528-4853
P.S. Check out more info about Health Coaching on my website 

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Serves: 4

 

Ingredients:

2-3 apples

2-3 peaches or pears

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/2 cup raisins

juice of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup walnuts or nuts of your choice

1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced

2 tablespoons honey

 

Directions:

1.   Wash, core and chop fruit into slices or chunks.

2.   Place in a large saucepan with 1/3 cup of water. Add the maple syrup and raisins.  

3.   Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.

4.   Add lemon juice and cinnamon. Cook for another 10 minutes, until soft.

5.   While fruit is cooking, place chopped nuts in a skillet over medium heat and toast, stirring often, for 5 minutes.

6.   Drizzle honey over the nuts and add ginger, but keep stirring since the honey can easily burn.

7.   Top warm fruit with toasted nuts and enjoy!