Check out my updated website! Additional details and information on services provided. www.Food4Thoughtdm.com
Upcoming Classes/Events
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September 26th at 7:00 pm One Little Thing How to make big leaps in your health with tiny steps RSVP required to Melanie Schmidt Sheraton West Des Moines 1800 50th Street West Des Moines, Iowa
October 5th at 6:00 -
9:00 pm Global To Local: Why Birth Matters Healing Passages Birth & Wellness Center Fundraiser Silent Auction, Music, Wine, Hors d' eourves Tickets:http://www.midwestix.com/organizations/willowsong Jasper Winery 2400 George Flagg Pkwy Des Moines, Iowa
October 6th 11:00 - 12:30pm Global To Local: Why Birth Matters Free to Public Lecture by Suzanne Arms - Shaping our Future: Creating and strengthening true community and preventing the most common social problems that plague society today: learning
disabilities, illness, obesity, addiction, depression, and violence Panel with birth and mother/child care experts Storytime for children, Book drive (birth/parenting) ttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=16739531#!/events/411592785561419/ Franklin Ave Library 5000 Franklin Avenue Des Moines, Iowa
Join me for an upcoming Mindful Living Group Class. Access the link and click on "join us" to receive automatic emails when new meetings are scheduled: http://www.meetup.com/The-Des-Moines-Mindful-Living-Meetup-Group/ |
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, aspartame,saccharin and Splenda. Since refined sweeteners have been stripped of vitamins, minerals and fiber, they can spike blood sugar, which can often lead to food cravings and mood and energy fluctuations. Artificial sweeteners can cause many health related ailments. 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.
Agave Nectar Agave is made through the extraction and purification of the juice of the agave cactus. It does not stimulate insulin secretion as other sugars do, so it does not create a "sugar rush." It has a delightfully light and mild flavor.
Maple Syrup (Grade B) 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.
Adapted from "The Cane Mutiny," New Age Magazine, March/April 1999.
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Deconstructing Food 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. The key to stopping the sugar 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.
Recipes
Baked Pecan Yams 4 medium sweet potatoes/yams 2 T melted butter 1/4 cup orange juice 1 cup chopped pecans 1/4 cup Grade B Maple Syrup 1/2 tsp cinnamon Pinch of Sea Salt Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake yams, peal and mash with butter and juice. Spread in casserole dish. Toss pecans with maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt. Spread over yams (may want to make a double batch). Bake 20-30 minutes
until pecans are toasted and yams are hot.
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Melanie is now offering individualized health coaching session. Melanie received her training from The Institute of Integrative Nutrition |
The Food You Eat Nourishes The Thoughts You Think...And Thoughts Nourish Your Life. Classes, products, and information to empower and educate.
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The Tower Garden
The Tower Garden is an aeroponic vertical growing system. Grow herbs, fruits, vegetables and flowers in a small area with water, mineral tonic and air! www.ms.towergarden.com
Juice Plus+
Juice Plus is 25 fruits, vegetables, berries, and grains (gluten free) placed in a capsule or chewie. All are vine ripened, juiced and then dried at low temperature to ensure bioavailabilty.
Clinical Research: Phytonutrients are absorved in body Reduces oxidative stress Reduces systemic inflammation Supports healthy immune system Protects DNA structural
integrity Positive impact on cardiovascular health Improves Periodontal Health Ovarian Cancer Study Improves Skin Health
Research Details
Research Studies Underway
Childrens Health Study: Children ages 4-18 and full time college students can receive Juice Plus+ free for up to 3 years with an adult order!
Possible changes you may experience after
taking Juice Plus+: Stronger immune system Fewer colds and infections Reduced headaches/migraines More regular/better digestion Reduced arthritis pain Improved autoimmune disesae Energy level increased/sustained Improved stamina/endurance Better athletic performance Build lean muscle mass/lose fat Loss of inches from waist & hips Look better/feel better More alert Clearer eyes Sleep better Reduced allergy & sinus problems Thicker hair Stronger or faster growing nails Smoother/clearer skin Lower cholesterol/lower blood pressure Diabetes improvement Menstrual cramps & achying less Healthier gums Faster recovery from injury/surgery Feel calmer/handle stress better Easier to quit smoking
Improved blood sugar balance |
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