Can Ola Oil?

Ever wonder exactly what IS the omnipresent 'canola oil'? I have. When I was studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in 2008 the myriad of teachers had for the most part said it was no good. And us health-nut-wellness-seeking type students had all but demonized this slick processed-food fixture. But certainly we can't run around telling people to eat this and not that without giving reasons.  I mean, we find this stuff in EVERYTHING…in junk food of course (crackers, chips, cookies ect.), but also ‘health foods’ like granola, soymilk and organic salad dressings. So I did you all the favor of sleuthing around and finding out the deets on why this oil should be on your 'no thank-you' list. (You're welcome-Happy Holidays!)

What is it? I have never heard of a Canola plant.

Canola oil is hydrogenated rapeseed oil. The rapeseed plant is a member of the mustard family and rapeseed oil is a potent pesticide. It also contains high levels of euric acid which is toxic to people (and why rapeseed oil as-is could never be used for human consumption. More on this below).

So why is it called Canola oil?

Rapeseed oil is a Canadian export product; it is the CANada Oil-Low Acid, hence, Canola. So

the word itself is an acronym. (I LOVE acronyms! Of course they are much more useful for names of organizations and helpful reminders rather than euphemisms for crappy products, for example CANOLA versus Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil).

So why is it bad for my health?
1. Heart Health: Sally Fallon (of the Weston Price Foundation author of Nourishing Traditions) notes that "heart healthy" canola oil actually creates a deficiency of Vitamin E in the body, which is essential to cardiovascular health. This was also reported in Nutrition Research, 1997, Volume 17. I will explain other heart-health implications below, but the Vit. E issue coupled with the inflammation it can cause makes this stuff is REALLY bad for people with heart troubles.
2. Hidden Trans-Fat: Like all modern vegetable oils, canola oil goes through the process of refining, bleaching and de-gumming--all of which utilize high temperatures or chemicals of questionable safety. And because canola oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which easily become rancid and foul-smelling when heated, it must be deodorized. The deodorization process removes much of the now-rancid omega-3s when turning them into trans fatty acids. (Hydrogenation makes oils more shelf-stable). So then we are not only eating a rancid oil, but trans-fat too! Research at the University of Florida -Gainesville determined that as much as 4.6% of the fatty acids in canola are trans fats formed in the refining process.

3. The Omega-6 Issues: In the process described above, we noted that the naturally-occurring Omega-3 fatty acids go rancid. This in turn makes them Omega-6 fatty acids. There has been a lot in the news on these EFAs. Many products on the grocery store shelf are even advertising that they are high in Omega-3s. (It's the new 'low-carb'). While both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids ARE essential, it is the balance of these two that create health or havoc in the body. When our levels of Omega-6 are too high we experience what is called 'Low-Level Chronic Inflammation'. This can manifest in individuals differently with the most common diseases being arthritis, chronic fatigue and obesity but ranging into heart disease, and even cancer. When the body is in a constant state of having to 'put out the fire' of inflammation, it puts the immune system into over-drive leaving other systems (like healthy-cell building, healthy digestion, energy for positive thinking and so depression/anxiety ect.) to falter. This can be remedied by upping the intake of Omega-3s. However, the high levels of the Omega-6 in the modern diet make it important to also be reducing them.

Hopefully this clears up any confusion regarding canola oil. It is hardly edible. Look for healthier oils like coconut or palm for frying and olive, sesame, or sunflower for sauteing and baking. And when buying any foods that come with an ingredient list, be sure to check for Canola! Unfortunately, most vegetables oil (corn, safflower, soybean ect) all go through this same refining process and are therefore less than desirable for human nutrition and health. Look for oils to be cold-pressed.

And one more thing: about cottonseed oil…were we meant to eat cotton?!?!

Bottom Line: Keep it simple with less processed foods! Choose healthier oils! Love your Self.

OM Tat Sat.

***Looking for some help with your diet and nutrition in the new year? Hire me!

Big Sky Delight: Solstice, Eclipse, Full Moon Oh My!

There is some stuff going on celestially-no doubt. We have many interesting alignments: Winter Solstice, Full Moon, Lunar Eclipse. It's VERY rare to have three strong aspects in one night. This I know. The implications? That I don't. I am by no means an astronomer nor astrologer but I am fascinated by it all. So I have taken on the task of trying to make some sense of what this could all mean for us as we close out 201o and prepare for a new year. I broke down my research into the three aspects and will do my best to share what I think is happening. All I know is that when I was living at the ashram, Swami Sita would keep us in check with any strange happenings celestially (sometimes through decisions regarding when to hold classes ect. not by telling us anyting), like when NASA was bombing the moon back in October 2009...apparently there was a really strange alignment that signified some violence with moon energy!

So first we look at the solstice. The Winter for the northern hemisphere and Summer for the southern. Since I am in the northern and so are most of you, I will focus on that. It seems that many a profound insight can spring from the dark. We are currently in our darkest time of the year given the amount of sunlight vs. darkness. And when we would normally have a nice bright moon to lighten up THE darkest 24 hours...it is blocked. Think about it. Well back to solstice; we begin to get more light each day leading us to Spring. So symbolically, I see it as a time when we can collect all that we have experienced over the past year and really digest it. Pass off what doesn't need to sit with you any longer and open up to the new, using what you have learned. This is the light.

And this leads us to the Lunar Eclipse. Seen at exactly 3:17AM EST and 12:17AM PST (tonight/tomorrow), this rare alignment with the Solstice has not been seen in centuries!!! A full lunar eclipse only occurs when there is a full moon. The Earth gets between the Sun and Moon and blocks the Sun's light (power, heat) from bouncing off of the Moon (receptivity, cooling). When this happens we can tend to feel closed off and heated up...I think. I mean that it what makes sense to me. Eclipses are also known to be harbingers of change. Feelings or desire of a need for change may feel pressing and urgent at this time. With the solstice/eclipse combo I think it leads to a lot of CHANGE and LETTING GO.

And lastly, we have the aspect of the Full Moon. It is in Gemini/Sagittarius so apparently this means it's time to realize the power of our inner thoughts and desires and to perhaps re-evaluate where we have been and on what path we traverse. REALIGN AS-NEEDED! That being said, there is some advice to heed regarding how best to go about doing so. On the Gemini side of things, we find an emphasis on how we learn. I think this connects to us digesting what we take in (or casting off what we don't want to) which either expands or limits our range of effectiveness concurrently. We need to be sharing and taking in information in a way that doesn't choke the network but invites joy and exciting change. How do we do this? We stay focused and confident. And on the Sagittarius side of things, this will be an important time to check in and see how you stand with you. It's also important to make sure to have enough information so as choices we make right now are not short of the mark. If it feels like you don't know enough to make a decision right now-->wait. Keep hunting and be continually wise, changing when the input changes.

In summary (and if this seems like just a whole bunch of STUFF...trust me it was just has hard to rake through the dozens of sites I read, each having different times, outlooks and information), it seems the main themes and advice for this powerful time of transformation are:

1. Reflect on what you have learned this year, digest what you want, cast off the rest.

2. Stay positive and focused. Be confident in your path or make changes as needed. (Only when you feel you know enough to make the decisions necessargy for change).

3. Transmute any 'closed-off' or 'heated' feelings into powerful new opportunities. Listen to what your heart is saying (not your head). *Note: wearing pearls can help with this.

4. Make sure you are good with YOU.

5. Be sure to share with others what you have learned in a way that invites joy rather than creating blocks. Commune.

It would probably be a very good idea to work on being in control of your thoughts today and tomorrow and keep them focused on what it is you would like to see traspire in your life. No better time to meditate than now.

Om shanti shanti shanti!!! Have an amazing solstice/eclipse/full moon...get outside and see it, feel it and shape your life.

It's Cookie Time!

Oh tasty morsels~nectar for the soul! I am attending a cookie-exchange party tonight and decided to bake up a delicious egg-free cookie that is as easy as it is scrumptious. It's also pretty low in sugar which is a plus! I try to make a lot of my baked-good recipes without eggs. This is for two reasons: first being that if I want to adapt/develop a recipe into a vegan version, it's important to understand how to substitute for eggs correctly. And second, the Yogic Diet, which I specialize in, does not include eggs. So while butter, milk, yogurt and a little cheese are considered OK, eggs do not fit the bill in the diet for the mind. The Yogic Diet is intended to not only keep the body in tip-top health, but also to keep the mind at even-keel. Food that can tend to either lower thought-vibrations (eggs, mushrooms, and rotten or over-ripe foods) or over-excite thoughts (onions, garlic, processed foods, caffeine, under-ripe and stale foods) are avoided so that it becomes easier to meditate. Interesting huh? I will be writing more about the 'energetics of food' as it's an area of great interest for me.

Here is the simple cookie recipe to try. Matched up with a nice cup of cocoa, tea or milk, will surely be a crowd-pleaser. I bet Santa would even really like these ;)

Basic Pecan Shortbread
Prep 45 min Chill 2hrs
Bake 10 min Oven 350

½ cup raw sugar
½ tsp. flaky sea salt
2/3 cup organic pecan pieces
16 Tbsp. organic unsalted butter, slightly soft
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached, unenriched flour (I plan to experiment with spelt, kamut, and GF flours too)
6 oz. white or dark chocolate

1. Pulse sugar and salt in dry bowl of food processor until fine and powdery. Add pecans; pulse until finely ground. Add butter in large chunks and vanilla. Pulse until butter is smooth. Add flour; pulse until forms soft dough. Transfer to bowl and knead briefly to even out mix.
2. Form a rectangle log about 12 inches long of dough. Wrap in wax paper. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350. Cut log into slices ¼ inch thick. Place at least one inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes until edges are golden.
4. Wait until cookies are nice and cool. Melt chocolate and drizzle over cookies.

*You can really top the cookies with whatever you like, or enjoy them plain. In the 3rd picture above, I topped some with a white chocolate frosting and coconut so they look like snow...and I love any excuse to use coconut:)

And an update on the Goat's Milk stuff. I have been having bits and morsels of goat cheese and yogurt and lo and behold, my body seems pretty cool with it. The bottom picture is my current favorite way to enjoy a little raw goat cheese: I toast a piece of Ezekial Cinnamon Raisin bread (this is a sprouted grain bread). Slice up some raw goat cheese (you could also spread some Chevre), top with walnuts and drizzle with honey. Pair with a warm cup of tea and DELISH! Amazing breakfast or snack.

Om shanti & Enjoy!

Teens, Yoga and Desire

I teach an adult yoga class at a health club in a very affluent area. Many moms, dads and busy professionals arrive in their Beamers and Range Rovers with aspirations of getting fit. But when we think about the deeper desire that is being filled when we work our physical bodies, the true desire driving us to the health club, it's one for health/wealth. Swami Vishnudevananda says "Health is wealth". Without our physical health we really cannot enjoy much in this life. So taking care of our bodies is key.

Yesterday, I was elated when my newer class, Teen Yoga, was filled up with 18 students!!! The club has made an effort to offer teen classes so that families can take advantage of the club together. Kids can go to karate class or the babysitting area and teens can take various classes created just for them and on Wednesdays it's Yoga with yours truly. There are usually about 6-10 students, all girls. But yesterday 18 of them arrived all giggly and chatty...and 2 were boys! Word is spreading. That it feels GOOD to take care of ourselves. I know that I am dealing with a generation who is playing lots of video games and does most of their socializing via Facebook. Attention spans are short. But by the end of class they were quiet, focused, and in final relaxation->some asleep! There is no question that our souls are CRYING OUT for a break from the constant onslaught of media and pressures we face in each given day.

Said health club has now even delved into new territory by offering a meditation workshop! I am leading this also and last week 8 people showed up. What drives us to workshops like this is what I consider the other most noble of 'desires': happiness/peace of mind. Swamiji says, "Peace of mind is happiness". We are fooled into thinking that who we know, what we do, and how much we own is what will make us happy. But our inner guidance and truth knows better. This voice leads us to meditation classes, therapists and healers of all types. I LOVE to see the busy people taking the time to work out, sit still, and love themselves. If the workshop does well these 2 weeks (we are offering at holiday time for stress-reduction), it may become a regular class. Fingers crossed. I would love to even see a Teen Meditation class!

This all reminds me of a popular story Swami Vishnu told: that of how to attain world peace. He explained that like a cloth made of cotton, if we were to change it to one of silk, we would need to replace each and every thread, one by one. And likewise, in our world, we will only attain global peace when each and every individual finds peace within.

Om shanti. Om peace.

Ohhh Right...Goat's Milk

I have been going back on forth on my stance of dairy consumption for years. I go through periods of time where I eat it, and other times I don't. I can't really say in which periods I feel 'better'. But every time I am not eating it, there comes some point where I am craving it. SO...there must be something in there my body likes. Period. I have taken the stance that it's not something I need to eliminate so much as to be mindful of in my consumption. How much am I using? Is it an emotional or physiological craving? What is the quality? How were these animals treated at the farm? What it a real farm or a factory farm? Lots to consider!

And on the dairy subject, I had a breakthrough the other day regarding the difference between cow dairy and goat dairy products. I stopped into the amazing local raw foods spot, Oasis, for a Maca-infused (more on Maca Root in an upcoming Superfoods post) warm beverage and ended up having a great discussion with the owner who is also-you guessed-amazing. We were chatting about the dairy issue and how it's such a sticking point in various dietary theories. I was explaining how I have been studying and practicing Ayurveda (promotes milk, yogurt and ghee for certain doshas) but also combining it with some modern studies by Dr. Mercola (he says raw dairy is good) and wanting to infuse the knowledge of the raw foods movement. What she said next blew me away. She mentioned that her body likes goat's milk much better than cow's because they are more her size. A goat is more her size...and my size...and (hopefully) your size too. OHHHHHHHHHH...OK- that makes sense! Cow milk is produced to grow COWS. Goat's milk is produced to grow GOATS. And yes indeed, I am closer in size to a goat than a cow and I intend to keep it that way:)

So in the end, where I am today with my view on dairy, is that I will use (sparingly) mostly goat's milk products that are organic, grass-fed and raw (unpasteurized). How about you? What do you think about our nation's obsession with dairy? What's your relationship with it like?

Bon Appetite!

I Voted Yesterday-You Did Too!

Our personal power to make magnificent change in the world through what we choose to buy has been an interest of mine for some time now. After working in product marketing for a consumer goods company making their products in factories overseas, I have come to see the immense value in products that are made with integrity and with the health of the planet and its people in mind. We were trained to cut costs at every corner-at the expense of many. And while I am well-versed in understanding that companies need to be profitable, the amount of greed I have been exposed to (we all have) in a culture of careless consumption has pushed me to speak out about the issue. We simply cannot keep TAKING. As our nation's horrendous case of affluenza doesn't seem to be tapering off all too quickly...we all need to be talking about taking less.

This is a subject I will write about often as one post could never cover the many facets of how we can make changes in local and global economies as well as our environment, simply by how we choose to spend our money. To get a comprehensive overview of the subject and to learn about the Materials Economy -the process involved in our getting all of the 'stuff' we buy-watch The Story of Stuff. It's awesome: eloquent, short, and full of great information. Then listen to this radio interview I did a few weeks ago, focusing on the importance of where we put our cash during the holiday shopping rush.

This morning I was reading an article by Dr. Mercola. In the article he is warning us of the dangers of Genetically Modified foods (GMOs) to our health. GMOs are being linked to issues with fertility and overall disease in the body. And we know it can't be doing any favors for our soil. Think about it...sterile, genetically altered soil...GMO plants...make GMO people! Who can't reproduce. Not a good thing. Dr. Mercola goes on to say that we do vote with our pocketbooks when we refuse to buy these foods. We send the strong message that it's not acceptable to alter the way nature has created and provided food for our species for millenia in such complicated and dangerous ways. At the grocery store check-out we need to vote for real food that can be grown sustainably. Here is the list of eight foods Dr. Mercola describes as the crops most genetically modified:

Soy
Corn
Cottonseed (used in vegetable cooking oils)
Canola (canola oil)
Sugar from sugar beets
Hawaiian papaya
Some varieties of zucchini
Crookneck squash

I knew I hated Canola Oil! The easiest way to avoid GMO foods is to do some research and planning before you shop. Here is a link to the Dr. Mercola interview and other related articles.

Educate yourself and know that every single day you are voting. These are the votes that impact us all more than any election for political office ever could. Period.

Om tat sat.

Animal Totems are Way Cool

The idea of animal totems came into my life years ago when a friend was reading the book, "Animal Speak". Being one of those people who loves anything that acts as a guide or helps us with signs (ie religious texts, meditation, pendulums, astrology, Angel Cards, Cards of Destiny and on...) I loved the idea of having nature and her uninhibited creatures acting as guides. The native Americans, both of the north and south, have used animal totems throughout their cultural history. Today it is common to hear people refer to a shaman or a trip to South America when they speak of totems.

I like to think we can use this ancient wisdom in our everyday lives to help us along our path. I recall at one point I kept having crows swoop down in front of me. I finally looked it up to find it was an omen of change. I noticed they would visit me when I was with my boyfriend with the most persistent bird following me along a hiking trail and swooping so close to me I fell into a lake! This was on a mountainous island that I would soon call home for three months-so boy did change come! I moved , we broke up, and I set down a completely new path in my life.

Lately I have been being visited by the mighty and glorious Red-tail Hawk. While I know that hawks are making a return from their dwindling population, here is when I think it's worth looking an animal up: when it is persistent. When it calls out to you grabbing your attention and/or when you see one day after day. The hawk totem is about fulfilling your soul's purpose. It becomes a permanent totem as it arrives as you are on the path your soul was meant for and since you are now like the hawk, seeing the big picture, it's time to bring the message to others. Since I have been studying nutrition and yoga for some time now, it seems to be time to share what I have learned with as many people as I can. It feels like a big job but with hawk telling me that the time has come...here I go! I am hoping to take this as a push to be doing more writing , teaching more yoga, doing more meditation, and taking my health coaching business to the next level. I will keep you posted.

What is nature trying to tell you? There are 3 times that it seems appropriate to check out your totem:

1.) When there is an animal that you have always loved your whole life. Like the horse people, or people who just love lizards. These are more permanent totems that have something to do with your soul's constitution and outlook in this life.

2.) When you dream of an animal. This is a strong message of your super-conscious Self coming through in nature-form. Remember that animals are pure. They don't have egos, they don't judge. So therefore a message coming from them is also completely unattached to any ulterior motives. It is universal truth.

3.) When an animal in the wild persistently or unexpectedly approaches you. Whether it's a wild animal that approaches you when it would normally run away (like a fox, moose or beaver) or just keeps creeping by (like a bug, worm, or bird) they are trying to get your attention. They might call out to you, swoop in front of you, appear on your shirt...just keep an eye out and be open and aware!

It's fun to listen to nature speak. I have found the best resource to be the website Lin's Domain. (Warning: there is music on the landing pages!) But if you just google "animal totem + your animal" this is the website that will usually come up as the 1st or 2nd option, bringing you directly to that animal's page.

ENJOY!