HOLIDAY ISSUE 2013, Volume 1
Dear Friends,
The Holidays are here and in the darkest days of the year our eyes are naturally drawn to flickering candles and sparkling holiday lights. As beautiful and comforting as those lights are I think that the flame we carry inside our hearts shines brighter. It is the one we can share with family, friends and people throughout the world.
In this holiday newsletter are a few tips that I hope you will find useful so that your holidays can be a time of joy, kindness and love.
Common sense advice is to get plenty of rest and wash your hands. In my last newsletter I mentioned the Chinese herbal remedies, Gan Mao Ling and Cold Nip. If you are traveling these remedies can easily be packed into a carry-on along with Emergencee, Sambucus Lozenges, a non-refrigerated probiotic and Curing Pills for stomach upset.
If you are flying or if you have special dietary needs I recommend traveling with food. This is true even if you are taking a relatively short flight. There is always the potential for flight delays and the airline food available for purchase is not the best. In addition to a meal, bring extra food such as trail mix and some fresh foods like carrots, celery, apples and oranges. Colleen turned me on to a healthy cookie recipe. It is more like an energy bar that is also great for travel (recipe at the end of newsletter).
TSA considers nut butter a potentially dangerous liquid or gel. On one of my journeys I was stopped with half a jar of peanut butter. The nice TSA lady told me that if I spread it on the celery in my food bag it would magically become safe food. I coated every bit of celery with the peanut butter and they waved me through.
If you are staying in a hotel, let them know in advance that you would like to have a refrigerator in your room so that you can store your food.
iPads or other similar devices are great for traveling. Endless books, music, shows and blogs can be downloaded ahead of time so that even if things don’t go as planned, there is still something entertaining or inspiring to be enjoyed.
Sitting on long airline flights is hard on circulation and in some cases can even cause blood clots in your legs. Compression socks have been shown to help this problem. These days compression workout clothes are the latest thing in athletics. Compression exercise pants along with the socks will give even greater support. These can be purchased at Target for between $20-30.
In addition it is very important to drink lots of water and move around as much as possible for blood circulation. Some transcontinental flights even have a channel with in-seat exercises.
If you have food sensitivities the holidays can be very challenging. If you are gluten intolerant I suggest you carry GlutenFlam with you. (This is an enzyme that helps break down the proteins in gluten). If you are allergic to gluten, this is a serious condition and gluten should not be ingested.
If you are eating at someone else’s home, you know best whether you should let your host know ahead of the meal or if it’s simpler just to pick and choose from the food that is being served.
A little alcohol helps loosen tongues, but in excess alcohol is a depressant and can cause insomnia. It suppresses impulse control and holidays tend to bring up childhood patterns, so enjoy in moderation.
Nothing is better for digestion than taking a moment before eating to slow down and really appreciate the food being served. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is low-hype and fundamentally about coming together with loved ones and feeling gratitude. Gratitude is a good starting point for a wonderful life and I think that is where health begins. Enjoy.
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Chocolate Chip Cookies (I consider them energy cookies) From Wheat Belly Cookbook by William Davis
4 cups almond meal/flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon sea salt
4 eggs
½ cup butter or coconut oil, melted
¼ cup sour cream or coconut milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon liquid stevia
10 ounces bittersweet or dark chocolate chips
“Bake for 25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Remove to a rack to cool completely.
(I leave out the stevia and chop up some nuts and raisins instead. I use coconut oil, which is a great source of energy. They end up tasting savory with hits of sweetness.)
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together the almond meal/flour, baking soda, and salt.
In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, butter or coconut oil, sour cream or coconut milk, vanilla, and stevia. Stir into the flour mixture just until combined. Stir in the chips.
Drop by heaping tablespoons onto the baking sheet. Using a spoon or glass, press each cookie to ½” thickness.”
Excerpt From: Davis, William. “Wheat Belly Cookbook.” Rodale Inc., 2013. iBooks.
These may seem high in fat, so I will get into a discussion of why some fats are actually healthy foods and excess carbohydrates are hard on your body in an upcoming newsletter.
For more information please call our office at 303 442-0306
The information in this newsletter is not intended to replace the relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge from research and experience of B. Mahler, LAc.
Barbara A. Mahler, LAc has practiced
Traditional Oriental Medicine
and Nutrition since 1987.
For more information please contact Barbara.