Category: Healthy Tips

CILANTRO…NATURE’S SUPERFOOD

CILANTRO…NATURE’S SUPERFOOD

Cilantro aka Chinese Parsley /coriander,has been a staple in cuisines around the world with it’s use dating back centuries. If you enjoy Mexican food, you’ve tasted cilantro in guacamole.

Here are a few of cilantro’s many health benefits:

Recent studies show that cilantro attaches to heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury in the bloodstream acting as a “bio absorbent”. This process, called chelation, helps our bodies eliminate metals from our systems through our excretory systems, to cleanse and purify our tissues, organs and blood. Cilantro leaves contain the bioactive components, flavonoids, saponins and fibers capable of absorbing and chelating heavy metals.

 The leaves of the cilantro plant also have potent anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antifungal, antimicrobial effects as well as the significant chelating properties mentioned above.

Researchers have found that cilantro may provide many other  health benefits in the form of reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and seizure severity, as well as raising energy levels and promoting healthy hair and skin.

 In Traditional Asian Mediciine, cilantro has a predominantly cooling and grounding effect and has been known to contribute to detoxification pathways within the body by stimulating the liver. By stimulating the liver and increasing bile production, cilantro helps contribute to the overall lowering of LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels

With it’s many health benefits, unique taste and versatility, cilantro can be an easy, low cost addition to incorporate into your wellness plan.

A Votre Sante,

Kaaren

PS  Stay tuned for easy, delicious cilantro recipes in the coming weeks.

 

How To Get Back On Track After The Holidays

Here’s A Quick And Easy Way – THE MIRACLE WEIGHT LOSS AND DETOX SOUP.

This soup was created by Dr. Henry Bieler for his clients and given to me by Eileen Poole, his student, at my first visit in 1979. It has been a daily diet mainstay since I saw Eileen nearly 41 years ago.

I have a cup in the morning with my steamed veggies, cooked grain and protein meal, a cup with lunch and a diluted cup by my bedside so I can sip it if I wake up. Eileen always recommended a short “Bieler’s Soup” fast for weight loss, holiday overindulgences, if you “fall off the wagon,” or feel a bit under the weather. This recipe came to be known as “ The Miracle Soup” by my clients because they feel better, look younger, and stay at their ideal weight with just 1-2 cups a day.

A short 1-3 day fast on this soup is a favorite with my clients to jump start weight loss, balance holiday overindulgences, ward off any minor illnesses or clear “a falling off the wagon” episode. Excess weight and your cravings will disappear if you stick with this “Miracle Soup” as part of your daily food plan. Enjoy!

THE MIRACLE WEIGHT LOSS AND DETOX SOUP (a.k.a. Bieler’s Soup)

Ingredients:
• 4-6 Zucchini sliced uniformly (medium size)
• 1 lb Bag Fresh Or Frozen Whole Green Beans
• 1 Handful of Parsley Tops (No Stems)
(Optional) 2 Stalks of Celery sliced with strings removed.
Variation that helps detox heavy metals:
Add 1 large handful of fresh de-stemmed cilantro to the above recipe

VIP If you have any digestive, elimination issues, high blood pressure or kidney problems omit the celery.

Fill a large pot with 1/3 spring water and add all the ingredients. Cover and cook in rapidly boiling water for 15 minutes until the vegetables are fork tender but still bright green. Then place all ingredients in blender and puree in batches until smooth. If too thick, just add water to dilute to taste with each serving.

Season with any of your favorite herbs. i.e. paprika, oregano, garlic, ginger, lemon, lime or basil. Serve hot or cold. I like to make my “mother batch” plain so I can add a different flavor to each cup. Do not add salt. You can add a pat of unsalted butter to each serving for extra body.

For more healthy weight loss recipes like this, please check out my two books “Eat Your Way To Health” and “Ageless Beauty From The Inside Out” available on my website as a PDF or on Amazon Books for paperback and Kindle versions.

A Votre Sante,
Kaaren

More Of Eileen Poole’s Remedies & Recipes – Eileen’s Millet “Mashed Potatoes”

There was a period during my sessions with Eileen that I could not have potatoes of any kind. I shared with Eileen that I missed the flavor and consistency of potatoes, so she came up with this delicious alternative for me.

EILEEN’S MILLET “MASHED POTATOES ”

1 cup water
1 garlic clove minced

1 onion minced

2 tbls oil of choice

1 1/2 cups cauliflower pieces

1 cup millet cooked

Freshly ground pepper to taste

In a large saucepan, saute the garlic and onion in the oil over moderate heat for 5 minutes, until softened. Add the cauliflower, and 1 cup of water. Cover and cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes until the cauliflower is fork tender.

In a blender or food processor, add cooked millet to the veggie mix & puree until smooth. Keep warm in a covered saucepan until ready to eat.

A Votre Sante`,

Kaaren

More Of Eileen Poole’s Remedies & Recipes – Eileen’s Quick Summer Salad

One very long, hot summer, I asked Eileen to share a quick lunch or dinner recipe for hot summer’s days.
Eileen also told me that Dr. Bieler favored cucumbers as a wonderful hot weather restorative as well as the “Bieler” staples, zucchini & summer squash.
If you have a sensitive digestive system or simply don’t do well with cucumbers, just omit them and add any lightly cooked summer squash in it’s place.
I hope you will enjoy this easy to prepare recipe as much as I have. It’s been a summer mainstay for many years.

EILEEN’S QUICK SUMMER SALAD RECIPE

1 cup lemon cucumber or English seedless cucumber thinly sliced
12-14 mini tomatoes halved (yellow are best as they are the least acidic)
2 cups cooked rice, kamut, or spelt elbow or rotelle pasta
1 cup chilled cooked zucchini sliced thinly before cooking al dente.
1 cup blanched & chilled brocolli flowerettes
2 cups julienned romaine lettuce
2-4 tbls raw, unsalted Pine Nuts (optional)
8-12 oz of your cooked protein of choice: chicken breast, turkey breast, fish, hard boiled eggs

DRESSING: Olive oil & Balsamic vinegar to taste or olive oil and lemon juice as preferred.
Toss everything well in the dressing except the protein and romaine lettuce. Gentley fold in the protein and romaine last.
Serve immediately. This recipe yields 2 servings.

A Votre Sante,
Kaaren

More Of Eileen Poole’s Remedies & Recipes

EILEEN’S TIPS FOR QUICK COLD & FLU RECOVERY

Over the years when I called Eileen for help with a cold or flu, she recommended either Source Naturals Wellness Formula, Zinc Lozenges, Oscilloccinimum homeopathic, or the Chinese Herbal formulas Gan Mao Ling or Yin Chaio as an extra support in addition to a short specific fast.

For colds or flu when I experienced chills & body aches /higher fever she recommended I take 1-2 capsules of the Wellness Formula twice daily the minute I felt anything setting in, then cutting back to 1 capsule twice daily until I felt better… or Gan Mao Ling if I had it on hand.

For colds with scratchy throat & low/no fever she recommended the Yin Chaio or Zinc Lozenges if I caught it before the cold set in.

For general prevention she suggested a vial of Oscilloccocinum once weekly during the cold & flu season.

Food Remedies:

If I had a flu expressing as a high fever with body aches, she would recommend papaya juice diluted 50/50 with distilled water until the fever broke alternating with homemade beef broth (NO SALT) made with the cooking water of zucchini. I then could add in mashed zucchini or diluted zuchini puree with sauteed extra lean ground beef every few hours alternating with diluted papaya juice at least 1 hour later until I felt better.

With most colds she recommended diluted papaya or apple juice alternating with Bieler’s Soup..sans celery for 2-3 days. Zinc Lozenges at the onset was a mainstay she recommended to me to shorten the duration of the cold.

With any cough or sore throat she always recommended staying away from eggs, the cabbage family veggies and turkey.

A Votre Sante,

Kaaren

More Of Eileen Poole’s Remedies & Recipies

Here are some of the natural remedies Eileen shared with me for insect bites and a non-toxic household ant repellant.

INTERNAL REMEDY FOR INSECT BITES

Take 3 drops of echinacea tincture mixed with 3 drops of goldenseal tincture in distilled water twice daily for 5-7 days.

TOPICAL REMEDY FOR INSECT BITES

Mix aloe vera gel with equal amounts of lemon juice and apply to the bite to reduce swelling and itching.

Of course with any insect or animal bite, eliminate all sugar and concentrated sweeteners from your diet and increase your low starch veggie intake along with liberal amounts of Bieler’s Soup. Since Eileen told me many times that a small amount (the operative word is SMALL here) of lemon acts as a cleanser to the system, I would always add a squeeze of lemon to my Bieler’s Soup.

I asked Eileen once about her feelings regarding the popular lemon juice/cayenne pepper/maple syrup daily cleanse and her response was that “less is best”, using a remedy as stimulating as this one only when needed AND if the adrenals are relatively strong/thyroid not over stimmed. She went on to say “when needed” would be at the onset of a cold or flu if the weather was cold and only once daily for a day or so.

HOUSEHOLD ANT REPELLANT

Mix together equal amounts of :

Epsom Salts & flour (any kind) with the white of one egg

Stir until well blended and sprinkle at the entrance of any ant trails. This remedy has always worked like a charm for me over the years!

A Votre Sante,

Kaaren

………………..Next month more remedies & recipes from Eileen Poole

Easing Into Fall

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the late Summer or Earth season can be  one of the most challenging transitions in the 5 element system. It’s important to balance the heat and humidity present at the end of Summer so you can prepare to ease into Fall with a strong immune system.

All the summer squashes and zucchini are plentiful right now.  Having ample portions of these healthy helpers either grated raw into mid-day salads or grilled/lightly steamed side dishes will harmonize the “Liver” and “Spleen” organ systems in TCM terms supporting your natural detox and immune system functions.

Moderate amounts of whatever protein works for you also helps to strengthen the “Kidney”/adrenal systems in preparation for Winter. Adding appropriate amounts of seasonal starchy veggies like the hard squashes and corn also balances the system to harmonize the effects of heat and humidity.

Holding your thumb and ring fingers until you feel a strong rhythmic pulse daily will bring you through the “Earth” element season and into the “Metal”/Fall with ease.

A Votre Sante,

Kaaren

Simple Strategies For Summer Colds & Flu

Due to the increased intake of higher sugar fruits,refined carbs, alcohol and summer desserts many people experience lowered immune systems making them more susceptible to colds flu.

Spending a lot of time in air conditioning can also stress the immune system due to the temperature differential from inside to outside.    Make sure you change your AC filters every few months to avoid dust/molds etc. from being re-circulated into the air you breath inside your home or office.  Using a small portable air purifier can be a good idea if your office building does not change filters often.

One of the most effective coping tools for a stressed immune system is of course increasing your low starch veggie intake to balance the higher intake of natural refined sugars/carbs.

If you feel a cold or flu coming on or are in the thro’s of one, the following suggestions can help to either head it off at the pass or decrease your down time.

1) Increase your vitamin C intake.  Emergen C Lite is a tasty way to do this.

2) If your symptoms are  what the traditional Asian healing arts would call “heat type” symptoms ( scratchy throat, irritability, low grade fever or just feeling hot),  then the Chinese herbal formula Yin Chiao or some echinachea will help.

If your symptoms are more “cold type”( body aches, chills, higher fever, can’t get warm), then Goldenseal , ginger tea or  Source Naturals ” Wellness Formula” will help.

3) Zinc lozenges every few hours can also shorten a viral episode significantly.  I like Quantum Labs formulas or Zand lozenges.

4) Taking a warm bath with 1/2 lb. each of sea salt/epsom salts/baking soda can help to lighten the toxin load through the skin and  will alkalinize the PH.

5) A  2-3 day fast on diluted Bieler’s Soup either warm or cold with a generous squeeze of lemon/lime juice alternating with diluted apple juice will speed recovery.

6)  You can take you health into your own hands..literally by lightly holding each of your fingers until a rhythmic pulse is felt.  This is a secret from the ancient traditional Asian healing art of Jin Shin Jyutsu that will turn on your “Inner Healer” balancing more than 14,000 functions in the body with each finger.

7) Take the time to rest in order to allow your “Inner Healer” to do the needed work.  A few days off your normal exercise routine won’t set you back at all.

Stay tuned next month for some ideas for easing into Fall the healthy way.

A Votre Sante..

Kaaren

Simple Ideas To Beat The Heat This Summer

With the dog days of summer upon us, here are a few tips to stay comfortable in the summer heat & humidity.

1) According to Traditional Chinese Medicine nutrition, apple juice cools “summer heat”.  A refreshing glass of 50/50 unsweetened apple juice and sparkling water will go a long way to cooling you down in the summer heat.  For a different twist, float some of your favorite frozen fruits in the spritzer.  My favorites are: frozen whole grapes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries ,sliced peaches, nectarines, kiwi or balls of melons and papaya.

2) Adding sliced cucumbers & steamed corn kernels cut off the cob to your salads is another TCM tip to cool “summer heat”.

3) Leftover chilled pasta or red potatoes can also be added to your salads for a lighter change from the usual lunch sandwich.

4) Make a frozen fruit smoothie for breakfast instead of cereal on those really warm days.  I like to blend a medley of frozen fruits with either plain unsweetened yogurt or unsweetened coconut milk.  If you prefer a more intense sweet taste, use a bit of stevia powder when you blend.

5) Frozen “fruitsicles” are quick and easy to make.  Simply start with the above smoothie recipe & pour into popsicle molds or small paper cups with a stick inserted..then freeze for later.  I make a double recipe in the morning so I can make a batch of “fruitsicles” for later.

6) Have aloe gel or juice on hand in your frig to help sooth sunburns or take the itch out of insect bites.

7) Remember to keep your water intake up, especially when drinking alcohol to prevent dehydration.  Adding a slice of lemon or lime will make it easier to keep your target amount high.

8) Increasing your salad & raw veggies  will help keep you in tune during the heat of summer.

9) On those really warm nights, make yourself an omelette filled with leftover steamed or grilled veggies like asparagus, summer squashes,  zucchini, mushrooms and or green beans with maybe a side of  grilled sourdough bread.

A VOTRE SANTE….

Kaaren

Spring Cleaning Part II

With the Spring equinox just past & warmer weather approaching, it’s a good time to start “spring cleaning” for your body.

This does not have to be in the form of a strict extended water or juice fast, but instead a more gentle, supportive approach to rid your body of winter accumulations.

1) Start by taking a day or 2…or 3 off your usual routine to begin a short Bieler’s Soup fast. Every hour or so, have a cup of Bieler’s Soup either hot or cold. You may add a squeeze of lemon or lime using any of your favorite herbs/spices for flavoring. Just avoid adding salt.

2) Make sure to drink at least 6-8, 8 oz. glasses of pure water (not tap) throughout the day to assist in cleansing.

3) For additional benefits, Art of Health’s “Deep Nourishment” or “Soothing Comfort” teas are not only delicious, but restorative. I like mine with a bit of stevia added either hot or cold.

4) A daily bath with 8 oz. of Epsom salts & a few drops of lavendar or chammomile essential oils will help you to relax, restore balance to the cental nervous system & assist the detox through the skin.

5) Some form of mild excercise such as restorative yoga,lwalking, or swimming is best during the fast so as not to tax your body.

6) Go onto my website & use some of the Natural Self Care Healing tools for a few minutes a day. Jin Shin Jyutsu self care is an amazingly simple, but powerful natural healing tool.

After the fast, go back to a health supportive eating plan as outlined in “Eat Your Way To Health”.

If you find yourself experiencing “build up” symptoms during the short fast such as mild headaches, body aches, low energy, or skin erruptions during the “spring cleaning”, this will usually pass in 2-3 days. Using the Jin Shin Jyutsu & daily baths will help to alleviate cleansing symptoms.

Of course, if these symptoms persist or worsen in the days following the fast, you may need to enlist the help of a holistic health care or medical practitioner to sort things out.

Stay tuned for more tips to create optimal health next month.

Kaaren