7 WAYS … TO THE LOST PRACTICE OF RESTING ONE DAY EACH WEEK
July 21, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
Ask any physician and they will tell you that rest is essential for physical health. When the body is deprived of sleep, it is unable to rebuild and recharge itself adequately. Your body requires rest.
Ask any athlete and they will tell you that rest is essential for healthy physical training. Rest is needed for physical muscles to repair themselves and prevent injury. This is true whether you run marathons, pitch baseballs, or climb rocks. Your muscles require rest.
Preparing for a Tranquil Night Sleep
July 21, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
By Sam Sample
Considering the stress and stimulation that we are increasingly being exposed to, it’s no wonder that many of us find it difficult to fall asleep at night, suffer from poor sleep or wake up feeling tired and flat.
Checking emails in bed on the iPhone or Blackberry, eating a large meal at nighttime, going to the gym late at night, worrying about how much work there is to get through, watching television in bed, depending on alcohol or pharmaceuticals to help fall asleep, are all recipes for an inability to fall asleep or disrupted night’s sleep.
Heal Yourself at an Eco Sanctuary
July 7, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
Taking time out for yourself is not only a luxury, it’s a necessity. While our fast-paced lives may make it feel like there’s no time for anything but work, our good health depends on taking a break that focuses on you. Treat yourself to a relaxing week away at some of our favorite eco-retreats…
Beauty Maven Meets Eco Beauty
July 3, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
What Rachel Avalon’s seminar taught me about the beauty industry…
Whether it’s dipping into latest Sephora finds or scanning through celebrity looks, my heart has always fluttered just that much more when it comes to beauty. And with being an eco writer, I figured I pretty much knew all there was to about eco beauty.
All Creatures, Great and Small
July 3, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
Canon recently announced the finalists in its Keepers Competition. We love Little Puppy, Big Kiss in the Once in a Lifetime category. Visit this link and register to vote! By voting and answering one simple question you go into the draw to win a PowerShot SX210 IS, so you can capture Keepers of your own.
Improve Your Energy Levels
June 9, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
Feeling tired? Exhausted? Lacking concentration? Lacking motivation? Whilst energy drinks, coffee, and pharmaceuticals may offer a quick short-term solution and “hit” of energy, they are not doing you, your loved ones or the planet any favors.
Creating Bliss, One Dish at a Time
June 7, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
We discovered vegan chef Christy Morgan on Twitter and instantly fell in love with her philosophy and her food. The Green Dove asked the LA-based veganista, who has whipped up dishes for the likes of Alicia Silverstone, to share her journey, insights and one of her fave recipes…
How did you become the Blissful Chef?
I’ve been studying plant-based nutrition for about eight years and teaching for four. I came up with the name “The Blissful Chef” as a way to brand myself and create an image that people will remember. The name fits me well, because to feel bliss is to experience true happiness and spiritual joy. My life, business, teachings, blog, and whole existence is all about spreading happiness and joy to others through food, and helping them access their bliss.
What inspires you?
In live, I’m inspired by all of my amazing friends that do what they are passionate about everyday and those who have dedicated their lives to saving animals. With cooking, I’m inspired by the changing seasons and the different produce that is available throughout the year. I love gardening, and find growing my own food to be a fascinating process. I’m also inspired by different cultures. Often times I just open the fridge, see what’s in there and whip something up.
Your fave raw vegan treats?
I love raw vegan desserts because they are made with wholesome ingredients and they are so rich that I only need a little to be satisfied. If I eat baked desserts, like Uncle Eddies cookies for instance, I can literally eat the whole bag in one sitting. I love raw chocolate, Earth Cafe pies, and my Heavenly Raw Chocolate Mousse.
If you could recommend one thing about veganism to someone who’s not, what would it be?
Eating a healthy, balanced, plant-based diet I feel is the best thing for our minds, bodies, spirits and for the planet. But if you can’t go whole hog overnight, then start by having two plant-based meals a day (or as much as you can). Slowly start transitioning the “good” things into your diet, like whole grains and dark leafy greens, then start taking away the not-so-good things (meat, dairy, sugar, alcohol, processed foods). I have some great tips on my blog for making the transition that are extremely helpful and realistic.
The 80/20 Rule
This is the only thing that keeps me sane and not OCD about my diet. If you can eat super healthy 80% of the time, you can let yourself be a little naughty 20% of the time. Hold on now, I’m not talking about having hamburger and fries for that 20%, but if you are at a party or want to go out to dinner with your friends you can have something fried or a piece of cake with frosting. I don’t compromise as far as eating only vegan foods, but sometimes I do eat sugar or have more oil than I’d like to when I eat out. I’m human too! I just have a rule that at home I’m making the healthiest food possible, with wholesome organic ingredients, no oil and no sugar. That way I can relax when I go out with friends.
It doesn’t serve you or your health to be fanatical about your diet. But it is the most important tool that you have for creating optimal health free of physical pain and mental suffering. Your food choices will affect everything in your life, so choose them well.
Check out The Blissful Chef blog for more ramblings from Christy Morgan, natural food chef and educator, who continues to study plant-based nutrition with the best in the field, has cooked for Alicia Silverstone, and continues to be sought out for her accessible approach to nutrition and holistic living.
Follow Christy on Twitter @TheBlissfulChef.
Avocado, Strawberry, & Grape Tomato Salad
Strawberries are the most popular berry in the world. They go great in salads and as a compliment to a savory dressing like Balsamic Vinaigrette like in this recipe.
1 head butter lettuce, leaves torn or chiffonade
2 avocados
1 medium carrot, thin julienne
10 grape tomatoes, quartered
6 strawberries, ends cut off and sliced
1 cup yellow pepper, thinly sliced
Pinch of pepper and sea salt
Balsamic Vinaigrette
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2-3 teaspoons maple syrup
¼-½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 clove fresh garlic, sliced (optional)
Preparation
Blend dressing ingredients in a blender or whisk by hand. Toss salad ingredients together with vinaigrette right before serving.
5 Health-Boosting Herbs & Spices
June 7, 2010 by The Dove · 2 Comments
We received an email yesterday from Dr Steven Joyal’s publicist, who, besides promoting his new book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Diabetes
TGD: How did you come to be an advocate of adding spices to the diet in order to achieve good health?
SJ: The scientific data in support of spices like curcumin, ginger, rosemary, cumin, and cinnamon is strong.
TGD: How are spices best consumed for maximum impact?
SJ: Fresh or dried, spices have a wealth of health benefits. Scientific research suggests that spices/herbs like marjoram, thyme, and rosemary may help reduce the formation of cancer-causing substances called heterocyclic amines in grilled or broiled foods.
TGD: Have we come full circle, understanding perhaps what our ancestors did, that spices have profound health-boosting properties?
SJ: Before the pharmaceutical companies found disease profitable, ancient traditions like Ayurvedic medicine understood the value of herbs and spices in helping to maintain optimal health.
TGD: How can spices help someone with diabetes?
SJ: Cinnamon and cumin are two spices with interesting anti-diabetic properties. Scientific data suggests that these two spices can help support healthy blood sugar levels and reduce the oxidant damage from diabetes. Efficacious doses are about two teaspoons daily.
TGD: What are your must-have spices for your rack and why?
SJ: Ginger (anti-inflammatory), cumin (support healthy blood sugar levels, anti-oxidant), cinnamon (anti-oxidant, supports healthy blood sugar levels), tumeric (curcumin) {anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant), rosemary (anti-oxidant, anti-cancer) are all great spices and herbs for supporting optimal health.
TGD: Turmeric is often a spice touted for its amazing healing properties. What is it about turmeric that has such a big impact on the body?
SJ: Turmeric’s “secret” is curcumin, and this interesting ingredient has anti-cancer properties, antioxidant properties, and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, several experimental studies, as well as human clinical studies, show benefit for curcumin in Alzheimer’s disease, a devastating neurological illness!
The Three R’s of Dehypnotizing: Relax, Release, Reprogram
May 19, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
From my upcoming book, You’re Already Hypnotized: A Guide to Waking Up. Within the book is a step-by-step de-hypnotizing program. In this particular section, I teach readers how to quickly enter a daily five minute self-hypnotic state in order to de-program outdated false beliefs, to neutralize past traumatic events in the mind, and to reprogram new healthier ideas. Five minutes a day can change your life. Enjoy!
10 Tips for a Stress-free Wedding
May 17, 2010 by The Dove · Leave a Comment
Stress ruins relationships, and it’s certainly no secret that a wedding can be stressful – more so for women, than for men. Keep it in perspective; it is only ONE day of you life, regardless of how special it is.
So many women put extraordinary effort into trying to make the wedding the perfect day. Why? Because most women have this fairytale picture, that they have held in their minds (for years), on how they want this day to be. This is perfectly fine, as most women want to be a princess for a day – and this is exactly how they look.
Before I was an author, I was a wedding singer for five years, and sang at loads of weddings. I never saw any Bridezillas, and everyones’ wedding seemed so perfect.
But so many women put so much pressure on themselves, for months and months, to have the perfect wedding. Some women have even died, trying to achieve this (one woman over-tanned herself). And life, like a wedding day, and just like a marriage, is NOT perfect in every moment.
So how can brides to be put less emphasis on controlling every second of ‘The Wedding Day’, and a little more emphasis on being rested, and prepared, for the first day of their marriage.
I am a romantic, yet I only had a very affordable wedding, small reception (in the local footy hall), and my night could not have been more perfect. Sure, I had my hic-hups, like the makeup artist accidentally giving me a blood nose – not what you want on your wedding day.
So, now looking back on the past 19 years of wedded bliss, if I had to give advice on how to enjoy YOUR almost perfect Wedding day to the fullest, this what I recommend:
