First steps to increase health and longevity.

The top 20 changes you can make fin your diet which will reap immediate benefits!

It is all about the simple daily things.

Making a change in our diets to improve our overall health and well being is something Americans are becoming increasingly aware of. To even begin on this path seems daunting. Where does one start? Which are the most important to alter? How can I lose weight? Where do I find these "organic" things of which you speak??? By the end of it your stress load is increased, we feel overwhelmed, so we do nothing. 

1) "If it had a mother and father or came from the earth you can eat it." I recently heard this and love it. It is so simple but true. Start out by slowly removing all "processed" foods from your diet. Too hard you say? Well it simply means a meat (protein), a steamed veggie, and a grain and maybe a soup, stew, or salad. Homemade oatmeal bars, fruits, trail mixes and yogurts for desert. Remember If you can't pronounce whats on the label DON'T EAT IT! 

http://www.livestrong.com/article/450187-processed-foods-in-a-diet/?utm_source=popslideshow&utm_medium=a1

http://www.livestrong.com/article/200795-how-to-eliminate-processed-food-from-your-diet/

2) Eat seasonally. It is all our homo sapiens did until post WW2. Now we can get a watermelon from Chlie in January…but should we? It is also cheaper to purchase food in it's season.

http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/seasonalcooking/farmtotable/seasonalingredientmap

3) Five colors/flavors. America seems to love shades of brown and white for its foods. We also tend towards sweet and salty for our flavors. So lets add in those reds, yellows, greens, and black. How about some bitter, astringent, or pungent flavors.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/411534-five-elements-diet/

4) Purified water NOT in plastic bottles. Stay hydrated to increase energy, improve mood, and alertness. Anywhere between 4 and 8 8oz. glasses a day, depending on your personal sweat level, should be good enough.

http://5gyres.org/

5) What ever you eat the most of make it organic. Always buy these items organic.

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-01/health/dirty.dozen.produce.pesticide_1_pesticide-residue-pesticide-tests-fruits-and-vegetables?_s=PM:HEALTH

6) Slow down and eat your food…chew. By sitting down and taking time with your food you aid digestion, reduce the need for antacids, and actually eat less.

http://summertomato.com/how-to-become-a-slow-eater/

7) NO fried foods. Okay I know this is gonna be hard so when you indulge make it fried in oil with no trans-fat.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/understanding-trans-fats

8) NO high fructose corn syrup. Just NO NO NO…google if  you must but there are just too many reasons to list.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/18/FDGS24VKMH1.DTL&ao=all

9) NO artificial sweeteners. Agave nectar, organic honey, and stevia are all good choices. 

http://www.naturalnews.com/artificial_sweeteners.html

10) I am a big fan of vitamin C. Besides which the foods high in vitamin C have many other great nutrients as well. I love strawberries, peppers, papaya, broccoli.

11) Go ahead and have a glass of wine and a pierce of chocolate (high in cocoa)

http://www.dark-chocolate-antioxidant.com/dark-chocolate-antioxidants/benefits-pairing-chocolate-wine

12) Cooking oils. Change to olive, sesame, almond, flax, and fish. I especially recommend sesame.

http://www.realfooduniversity.com/healthy-cooking-oils/

13) Change your salt to sea salt. There are wonderful minerals in sea salt that we just don't get from "processed" salt.

14) Snack; dried apricots, prunes, pine nuts, almonds, brown rice cakes, blueberries, oat bran crackers, cherries, pumpkin seeds, avocado, bananas, yogurt. eliminating processed food from diet

small packages come packed with nutrition!

15) Switch up to green-tea. Try some Gen Mai Cha is very rich in flavor.

http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa011400a.htm

16) Find an organic yogurt you like which contains "live cultures" and make that a morning or night time snack.

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/family-nutrition/yogurt/10-reasons-yogurt-top-health-food

17) Cow milk is for baby cows. Really. If you must though make sure that it has NO Bovine Growth Hormone or antibiotics in it. I love almond, coconut, and rice milks. My kids were raised on goat milk. 

http://www.notmilk.com/

19) If a food cause you to burp, fart, get a headache, increase mucus, create pimples, or constipates you DO NOT EAT IT! Just cause there is a "little purple pill" that lets that obese guy on t.v. enjoy his pizza doesn't mean he should be eating it. Get a clue.

http://www.foodintol.com/

20) Reduce the "white" in your life; sugar, flour, fats, white rice, potatoes…You will see your belly fade away! We as Americans love our flour and eat a lot of it hence increasingly more gluten allergies are being reported. Processed flour foods also tend to be very low in nutrition.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-white-foods

21) NO GMO's. Get the iPhone app. or read this list before you shop. Occupy your wallet and let's end Monsanto's takeover of our kitchens!

Chinese New Year of the Yang Black Water Dragon

We welcome the Chinese New Year of the Dragon on January 23 at 6:40 p.m. There is no animal more revered in Chinese lore than the mighty dragon. The Dragon is the ruler of air, water, and earth. There is no place that he cannot go! It is interesting to note that the Chinese depiction of the dragon the creature has no wings. It propels with the core of its’ being. It is typically tough, strong-minded , and brings good luck! Because it is a Water Dragon year, and water chills out Dragons firey nature, this will be a mellower brother than the Fire Dragon, Metal Dragon, Earth Dragon. The ups and downs will still be there, as with all Dragon years, just less dramatic. This Dragon year still brings opposing elements much like the past two years have. The Heavenly stem element is water but the Earthly branch, the main element, is earth. Earth is said to “destroy” water so they in conflict much like the metal/wood clash we had last year. Since this is a Yang year expect things to happen at an breakneck pace!  It will be a year of “fast and furious”. This Dragon is also not as head strong as his brothers and not as greedy for power. The Water Dragon can be a very tactical negotiator which will help with the uprising of the earth element which could represent religious upheavels, as well as pressure from religious right. There can also be a bit to much optimism and even seeing the world through rose colored glasses. Because of the conflicting elements this year growth will yet again be suppressed. Economic growth (using gold as a standard) will be very slow for the first six months and then increase over the last six months. Generally it is not a great year to invest especially in airplanes, trains, and automobiles!We can expect increasing news in the religious sector. It may be that religion plays it’s biggest role yet in America’s choice for a president. Religious conflict in general with get worse.
For last year with metal on wood we predicted that a water/air disaster would occur...Fukishima? This year again brings possible issues with a water disaster. As I look at the chart I can see a greater likelihood of a dam bursting, specifically any dams that are built with the “earth” method.  My favorite Feng Shui astrologer, Raymond Lo, is charting earthquake, volcano combinations for October, August, and December. These predictions are based in it being a Yang water year with earth. This is why I am also looking at dams and mountain mud slides (the Water Dragon is also considered “a water storer” ).

Each New Year brings with it new "stars" which are either auspicious or carry the energy of affliction. We can activate the luck of the aupicious stars and de-energize the negative stars with simple decorating tips.

Star# 1 or the "Lucky Star" comes into the south sector of your home. This has to do with both career and money. Place plants there which have many small leaves, these representing money while adding earth element to keep thing calm. It is also a good area to place a horse statue or painting (especially running horses). The Chinese Dragon with a Pearl or the "Divine Three Guardians" are also a good choice for this  area. If you have any symbols for "preventing the evil eye" from your family heritage placing them here is ideal!

In the East we will receive the "Romance Star". It has to do with your love life and creative life as well. This is a good area for your work desk if you can swing it. If you are looking for a promotion place a picture or statue of a monkey, elephant, or horse. For "couple luck" place a pair of rose quartz manderian ducks or plain rose quartz here. You can use clear quartz crystal for success in academics in the east this year as well. Do not place water features here as that could lead to sexual scandales.

In the west the "Wealth Star", one of the most aupicious stars of the year, will be present. You can activate this fortune with amethyst geodes, clear quartz clusters, citrine clusters. This is the best area for your wealth Buddha. I clear crystal ball here will bring children luck in school. Remove plants from this area. A water feature would be good though.

The center of the home greets good fortune this year with the #6 Star. Again an amethyst and amethyst geode will help attract the positive here. Do not have water features here or bright lights. Remove plants from this sector. You could also find a copy of the "Heart Sutra" on-line, print it out, place it in this area. This particular star makes this year a good time to develop ones self spiritually.

There are the negative stars to deal with as well. The #2 Sickness Star enters the North. Adding earth elements here will help. I will be placing the "Blue Medicine Buddha" statue in this area as well as a crystal globe with gold flakes in it to deflect this star.

The "Violent Star" falls into the Northwest sector this year. It is not recommended to redecorate or disrupt the energy of this area right now. Keep this area calm. The Chinese use the blue rhino or blue elephant to deflect this litigious star. You can use blue crystals or blue water in a crystal bowel as well. 

The "Dispute Star" is in the Southwest sector of your home. The Chinese use the color red to ward off this star. They might carry a red dragon or a "magic fire-wheel" to offset disaster! If you purchase a bejeweled dragon place it here!

In the Southeast comes the "Flying Star #5" which can mean bad luck. There should be no water features in this area and energy should be kept down. Move any entertainment system out of this area. This is a good place for a five element Pagoda, Pi Yao statue, or a six rod wind chime.

Good luck and a Great New Year to All!