Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Read: The Asain Diet- M.D. Perspective

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Dear friends,
This is the most interesting post yet! A wonderful (MD) friend of mine has agreed to read the Asian diet and review it. We are inundated with ideas and tips on how to "live better, eat better, and be better"- it is also the new trend to be healthy and eat organically and read books like, The Asian Diet, however we must hear what other health professionals are saying. We must also bridge the gap and stop thinking there are two distinct sides or ways of thinking, life/health is not is not a competition between the East and the West. Lets be critical thinkers and really know how to think and talk about health!

Review: The Asian Diet

Perspectives from a skeptical but open-minded M.D. (with a specialty that is not directly related to this stuff by the way)

Chapter One

Balance as a philosophy of life? I like it. The idea that most Westerners are hopelessly out of balance in terms of their diet, lifestyle, and attitudes? I get that. So, that's a good start. In this chapter Bussell is just laying some ground work and I agree with most of what he's saying. There isn't too much controversy yet. I appreciate his take on the fact that there is no magic bullet; no particular food that most be consumed or ignored in order for us to be healthy but, instead, it is the combination and moderation of foods that can keep us in balance. Also, extreme diets that exclude or promote all carbs or protein, severe calorie restrictions, detox diets, and forgodssake colon cleansing... all of these can be abandoned as legitimate health regimens.

One thing that was barely mentioned but always touches a nerve with me is the idea that traditional medicine has a "conflict of interest" in that the food industry has it's talons in the training of physicians and educators. I don't deny that this is the case but it is implied here that Oriental Medicine lacks this conflict of interest.

On the contrary, the Alternative Medicine movement, at least in it's current form is grossly contaminated with the pursuit of profit. It is in the best interests of alternative medicine providers to stay just far enough outside the mainstream so that: #1 Profits soar as they convince people to pay cash for their services and not have to settle for the ridiculously unfair system of insurance & government reimbursement, and #2 So that they can take money from patients whose ailments are either psychological and/or unfixable but cannot accept that reality.

I think as a society we are uncomfortable with there being no answer, no pill, no quick fix for our troubles. Sometimes, when traditional medicine tries to tell us the truth (that we don't know everything and not every problem has a cure), it is unacceptable to us and we flock to alternative medicine with wallet in hand for the "treatment" that must exist somewhere.

It is the fact that the alternative medicine industry has painted itself as the patient's advocate while they disparage traditional medicine and rake in huge unregulated profits that makes me and others suspicious at the outset. That said, I've had accupuncture, I'm in favor of embracing thousands of years of Chinese knowledge, I'm cool with alternatives...

It will be an interesting book. On to chapter 2.

Go: Herb Garden Workshop

Spice Up Your Life—Grow Your Own Herbs

Spice Up Your Life—Grow Your Own Herbs

Fall Garden Workshops

November 14, 2009
10:00 AM – 12 Noon, at the Farm & Food Lab – Map
Free Parking & Admission

Imagine being able to harvest herbs as you need them right outside your kitchen door. . . or even from your kitchen counter. Learn about growing herbs in containers – even in a pumpkin! – for use in cooking or for enjoyment in your garden. From the mundane to the exotic, University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County are ready to teach you about herbs.


The Orange County Great Park presents a series of gardening education workshops in sustainable home gardening practices.

Learn everything you need to know about growing produce at home at the Orange County Great Park Food and Farm Lab Garden Workshop Series, on Saturdays, beginning September 26. The classes, led by certified University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County, will explore topics and activities like: “Cool Season Vegetables,” “Gardening in Small Spaces,” “The Busy Gardner,” “Spice up Your Life,” “Grow Your own Herbs,” and “Holiday Crafts from the Garden.” The workshop series is free to the public and runs through November 21, 2009.

For more information, please call (949) 724-7420.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Do:Wednesday Night! Learn about Going Green.

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Hello Friends,
(From: Katie R.)
As some of you may know I'm back in school and studying sociology. My thesis topic concerns the environmental movement and how people attach meaning, process that meaning and then are moved or not moved to action. As I have been researching and meeting with my advisor I have been exposed to some really interesting information that I would love to share with all of you and hear what you think. Most recently I happened upon a Bill Moyers Journal segment called "Is God Green?" and I want to show it at my house wednesday night at 8 with a discussion to follow. It is a very well articulated program that seeks to understand the Christian's responsibility to take care of the environment and the movement in some churches that has followed. It also explores the tensions Christians face when balancing political views and Biblical principles.

Here's the link if you want to check it out. http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/green/

Let me know if you want to come wednesday!!

katie

Please RSVP by either emailing KR or commenting!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Do: Should we TALK about this?

GO GREEN.CHRISTIANS.
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Dear Friends,

The program is called Is God Green? and it's about Christian's responsibilities to take care of our planet. Its really interesting to think about the impact Christians could have on policy and the environmental movement, if we all realized that it is our responsibility and moved together. Christians are an incredible political force and an obviously large voting population. We could really change what's happening. This program is really inspiring and very well articulated. Hope your having a great day.

-KR

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/green/

Check this out! If any of you want to get together and talk about this, lets plan it! Maybe Katie can lead the discussion. Please comment!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Go: Composting Class

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Composting
October 25 (sun), 3-5pm

This class is being held at a little eco-shop in Santa Ana called, The Road Less Traveled. I see this a perfect and easy way to learn about Mother Earth and visit a new place! Please come with me, it will be a blast!
Class: Learn the how, what, where and what of vermiculture, composting with earthworms, our hungry and efficient friends! Everything you need know plus product to buy to be successful at home!
$15, $10 w/friend
***Class fee can be applied to product!

The Road Less Traveled, it's worth checking out. www.roadlesstraveledstore.com

The Road Less Traveled Store
2204 N. Main St.
Santa Ana, CA 92706
714.836.8727

Be: Daily Encouragment: Calm

"To be calm is the highest achievement of the self."

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."


Experiment: Take these two small thoughts/verses with you as you walk through your day. Repeat them as your work or drive or just live. Share them with others without using any words- just by being patient and thoughtful. Be aware of what you worry about and how it effects your attitude, combat your worry with deliberate calmness. Make yourself take a moment (even if its 5 seconds) to be calm, to stop and think through your worry. Talk about what could change within yourself and your life before blaming work, friends, money, husbands, wives, lovers, teachers, homework... Worry turns into stress if not dealt with.

Have a wonderful day! I think about all you every time I see the follower list. Thank you!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Get: STEVIA, seed of the week!

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Stevia Seeds (Stevia rebaudiana)
$4.95

Buy at moutainroseherbs.com and grow your own! Better than sugar and fun to grow. Get tons of certified organic seeds from mountain rose herbs and enjoy a medicinal herb garden all year. They can be small, lovely and easy to care for.
Stevia Details:
Tender perennial shrub. Heat-dependent germinator. Sow in summer or in warm greenhouse(make a cold frame.) The plants thrive in rich garden soil, full sun to part shade, high temperature and humidity and plenty of water. The dried leaf is used for sweetening drinks and is 250 times sweeter than sugar. Medicinally, Stevia is a flavoring agent, a wound healer, a treatment for hypoglycemia and a digestive aid.