Foods for Pitta

Foods to Balance Pitta

This is a continuation of the Ayurveda of eating your way to a balanced state of mind body and spirit.

This entry is about balancing Pittas.

These ambitious organizers’ strengths include high mental reasoning, leadership tendencies and competitiveness. In imbalance, they have the tendency to be intolerable, jealous, perfectionists and power hungry. Imbalance will create problems in the circulatory system, sensitivity, allergies and inflammation (both internal (circulatory system and organs) and external (skin). .

If you are not a Pitta but exhibit any of the above symptoms, you can be suffering from a Pitta imbalance and can also follow the same advice to balance.

Things that can tip the scales to manifest these negative tendencies can be triggered by Pitta Weather – hot, damp – eating Pitta Foods – stimulating (caffeine), acidic(vinegar), fat, sour (citrus), spicy(chili peppers), hot, salty – or hanging out with Imbalanced Pittas – overly ambitious, workaholic, extremely envious, status seeking, compulsive, demanding, angry

The general rule is to eat raw and cold foods. These can be adding salads to your meals or following a raw food diet. Learn to favour flavours that are bitter, sweet and astringent and avoid those that are spicy, salty and sour.

The big no-no's are coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, red meat, vinegar, citrus and hot foods.

And the balancing foods can include algae, white fishes, all raw vegetables, natural sweeteners and dairy. An ideal diet is raw food.

A sample daily menu can be;

Breakfast

Pittas have a healthy appetite but can be irritable if their eating schedule is disrupted or late. A natural route to Pitta imbalance is to ignore hunger to maintain work or any external schedules.

1. Cold whole grains cereal with any seeds with cold milk
2. Cooked whole grains with roasted sesame seeds and fresh or dried fruits
3. Fruit smoothies made without yogurt (acidic)
4. Almond Milk made with soak almonds then blending it with water and any natural sweetener
5. Herbal non-caffeinated tea with any natural sweetener. Make an ice tea from herbal teas instead of black tea.

Lunch

This will be your main meal for the day. Make sure lunch is not later than 2:00pm
1. Raw Fish Sushi with vegetables and brown rice
2. Whole wheat pasta with nuts or legumes and vegetable
3. Salads with nuts or legumes – replacing vinegar with lemon juice or use only oil.
4. Dessert is fresh fruit as per Snack suggestions
5. on really hot days – ice cream

Snack

It is best to eat according to a regular schedule. So extend your habit to organize to your daily meals and snacks

1. Sweet fruits – melons, papaya, mangos, bananas
2. Smoothies made with ice, sweet fruit and milk
3. Smoothies made with ice, sweet fruit and natural sweetners
4. No sour fruits like citrus
5. No yogurt

Dinner

Eat non-oily, fresh and raw. To prevent acidic stomach and poor digestion eat at a regular schedule.

1. Whole grain pasta with cream sauce, young low salt cheese, nuts or legumes and fresh vegetable. Do not eat tomato sauce (acidic)
2. White fish with vegetables and brown rice
3. Salad with raw protein – nuts (sliced almonds), seeds (roasted sesame seed), legumes (hummus, tofu soaked in spices)
4. Veggie burger with steamed vegetables or salad ( depends on season) – No fries

Pitta Hors d’euves ( from the book Party)

The criteria for these dishes are;

• The food ingredients follow the Ayurvedic diet for Pittas
• Use whole organic food ingredients
• Minimal waste – edible containers
• The dishes chosen are from raw food diet which is very suitable for Pittas
• Please modify to suit your tastes


1. Seaweed Beet Salad and lettuce (the container)

a. Seaweed ---- choose your favourite seaweeds

i. Soak them in separate bowls- for fifty rolls the total amount of dry seaweed should be about a cup ( a cup and a half if you want more seaweed to vegetable) of dry volume
ii. Arame is easy with not further preparation needed
iii. Kombu and Wakame and other broad leaf seaweed need to be cut into pieces
iv. Nori is more suitable as a the wrap so don’t soak it.

b. Roast Sesame Seeds ahead

i. Heat a iron frying pan
ii. Add a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of oil
iii. Then add 500mg or raw sesame seeds
iv. Roast seeds with constant stirring for 1 minute
v. Put roasted seeds into a small bowl

c. Grate the following vegetables

i. 1-2 beets
ii. 3 carrots
iii. ½ onion

d. Sauce ----

i. Mix in one at a time the following---
1. ½ avocado,
2. 2 tablespoons tahini,
3. ¼ teaspoon ginger,
4. 1 tablespoon basil,
5. 2 tablespoon Lemon Juice
6. 2 tablespoon Lime Juice

e. Mix the vegetables with the drained Seaweed
f. Prepare Lettuce – wash, dry then cut into uniform pieces for wrapping
g. Put the vegetable seaweed mixture into each piece of lettuce
h. Sprinkle with the roasted sesame
i. Wrap lettuce around the mixture
j. Or leave it open


2. Tofu and Sprouts in Nori

a. Tofu Marinated
i. Drain one pieces of firm organic tofu and put it in a strainer to release excess moisture from the block
ii. Cut into square strips
iii. Mix marinade in a bowl with
1. ¼ cup Olive Oil
2. 2 Tables spoons Lime Juice
3. 2 table spoons Soya Sauce
iv. Put the drained tofu in the marinade and strore for hours or overnight

b. Rinse sprouts
c. Cut the Nori sheets into widths similar the lengths of the Tofu Logs

d. Drain Tofu of Marinade
e. Put the Tofu Logs along one end of the Nori sheets
f. Put sprouts in the same direction
g. Roll the 2 ingredients
h. Put a weight to keep it from unraveling (I used a Kitchen knife across the rolls)
i. Serve right away when finished rolling





Macadamia Lime Mousse ( makes 48 mini cupcake size tarts)

The Shell (the container)

a. Mix the following ingredients into a measuring cup
a. ½ tablespoon Lime Zest
b. 4 tablespoons lime juice
c. 2 tablespoons Vanilla
d. 1 teaspoons Himalayan Salt
e. 3 tablespoons Xylitol
f. 4 tablespoons Agave
b. Turn on food processor and then slowly add
a. 4 cups of macadamia nuts (raw of course)
b. 2 cups of shredded coconut (make sure it is still moist)
c. Then as your mixing cup of ingredients
c. Put cupcake papers into your cup cake tins (use tins for small cupcakes)
d. Put a teaspoon into the paper holders and then put a pieces of the cupcake paper on top
e. Use a shape ( I used the handle end of wide handled ice cream scoop) and press the nut mixture
f. Continue until you have used up dough (2 tins of 24 cupcake )
g. Put the mixture in the freezer

The Filling -

a. Mix 5 Avocado in the food processor or blender
b. Add the following ingredients one at a time
a. ¼ cup lime zest
b. ½ cup Lime Juice
c. ¼ agave
d. 2 teaspoons vanilla
e. 2 tablespoons of Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil
f. ¼ teaspoon Himalayan salt
g. 4 tablespoons Xylitol (add more if you want it sweeter)

c. Chill the mixture in the freezer for ½ Hour

d. After 30 minutes take out both the shells and the filling
e. Put a teaspoon of filling in each shell
f. Put the tarts back into the freezer
g. When you are ready to serve take out the tins of tarts and put a berry of your choice on top of the filling

Kapha Hors d’oeuvres ( from the Book Party)

Kapha Hors d’oeuvres ( from the Book Party)

The criteria for these dishes are;

1. The food ingredients follow the Ayurvedic diet for Kaphas
2. Use whole organic food ingredients
3. Minimal waste – edible containers
4. The dishes chosen are of a vegan diet is very suitable for Kaphas
5. Attempt has been made to be economical with time and number of ingredients by repeating ingredients in two or more receipes
6. The ingredients in the recipes are easily substituted
7. Fee free to modify recipes to suit your taste


Artichoke with Tofu Dip (light high protein sauce)

Artichokes (the container) ---- Clean and cook 4 artichokes
i. Cut the stems
ii. Remove the outer leaves of the i

ii. Put in steamer or simmering water for 10-15 minutes
iv. Remove the artichokes and rinse with cold water
v. Remove outer leaves from the heart
vi. And arrange the leaves on a serving platter
vii. Save the hearts and the inner leaves to snack on later

Roast Sesame Seeds
i. Heat a iron frying pan
ii. Add a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of oil
iii. Then add 500mg or raw sesame seeds
iv. Roast seeds with constant stirring for 1 minute
v. Put roasted seeds into a small bowl

Sauce ----Cook ahead - the Cauliflower as per below
i. Clean and cook half a cauliflower in 1/2 inch of boiling water (with a pinch of Himalayan salt) in a pot. Turn heat to low to simmer the cauliflower
ii. When Cauliflower is tender –
1. Mix 2 tablespoons of tapioca flour in a ½ cup of cold water . When tapioca is completely dissolved in the water; add it to pot and stir into mixture.
iii. Blend the cooked cauliflower mixture
iv. Let the mixture cool to room temperature
v. Divide mixture into 2 bowls. One for this sauce and one for the Tofu and Dark Greens Sauce
vi. Then blend in ½ raw onion
vii. Crush the saffron (a small box), then add it to the mixture
viii. Mix in the following ingredient into blender--- ½ Silken tofu, ½ avocado, 2 tablespoons tahini, ¼ teaspoon ginger, 1 tablespoon basil, ½ tablespoon rosemary, ¼ teaspoon coriander
ix. Put a teaspoon of mixture onto each artichoke leaf
x. Sprinkle with the roasted sesame


Dark Greens with Tofu in Cauliflower Avocado
i. Drain firm organic tofu and put it in a strainer to release excess moisture from the block
ii. Cook any dark green or mixture of dark greens from Rapini (Italian Broccoli) to Guylan (Chinese Broccoli) to regular broccoli, Kale or collards.
iii. Drain and let cool
iv. Take the bowl of blended Cauliflower ---
1. See cooked Cauliflower from recipe for Artichoke with Tofu Dip
v. In the bowl with cooked blended cauliflower blend in the following---
1. 1 tablespoon roasted sesame oil,
2. pinch of Black Pepper to taste,
3. 2 teaspoons Soya Sauce
vi. Blend in any of the following ingredients you prefer---
1. ½ avocado,
2. ½ Raw Onion,
3. 2-3 Scallions,
4. a Clove or two of Raw Garlic,
5. Tahini, any Spices you favour
vii. Cut the block of tofu into small cubes
viii. Cut the greens to small pieces
ix. Mix the greens with the tofu
x. Mix in the sauce until the tofu and greens are lightly coated.
xi. Put mixture aside for flavours to blend

The Shell

i. Defrost Phyllo Pastry
ii. Put a cut to size piece of Phyllo Pastry to a cupcake tin that is the size you want for the finished hors d’oeuvres
iii. Pop into oven for 5 minutes to brown and crisp up
iv. Let shells cool
v. Remove the shell from the tin
vi. Fill shells with the Tofu Greens mixture



Mini Apple Cranberry Strudel
Prepare filling ahead
i. Put the following items into separate small bowls
1. Cranberries - ¼ cup for 2 apples
2. Maple Sugar if you prefer a sweeter strudel
3. Sunflower Seeds ¼ cup per apple (you can roast them for more flavour- follow instructions for roasting sesame seeds in the recipe for Artichoke and tofu dip above
4. if you have a favourite ingredient you would like in your apple strudel – put that into another bowl
ii. Prepare Apples (granny smith or any tarte apple) for filling
1. Peel ½ an apple for each mini roll
2. Cut apple slices
3. In a bowl mix raw apple slices with 1/8 teaspoon of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger and ½ lemon Juice for each apple
The Shell
i. Defrost Phyllo Pastry
ii. Remove 1 sheet of pastry and put it on a clean surface
iii. Brush Olive Oil onto the pastry evenly
iv. Apply another sheet of pastry onto the oiled sheet
v. Again brush Olive Oil onto the pastry evenly

Start Rolling
i. On the prepare 2 layers of Phyllo Pastry apply the following items:
1. A row of Apples slices mixture across one end of the pastry
2. Sprinkle the cranberries across
3. Then a light sprinkle of the seeds
4. Lastly sprinkle --Maple sugar and or preferred item
ii. Tightly roll the strudel
iii. Put the mini roll onto a oiled cookie sheet
iv. Brush the top of the roll with butter or olive oil
v. Sprinkle seeds or maple sugar if you like
vi. Repeat the process until all your rolls are done

Food for Kaphas

Foods for Balancing Kaphas





Please excuse my Vata habit of wandering off into new projects and neglecting my blog duties. I have been cooking for Kristen’s book party and now I am in Munich researching natural products and ingredient to help me formulate anti-aging solutions to new research I had just learned in Chicago two weeks ago.

I will be sharing those concepts and solutions in future blogs but in this one I would like to continue the food and Ayurveda connection to beauty.

At the book party, many people asked for the recipes of the food served so I will share them using this opportunity to also give information about eating your way to a balanced state of mind body and spirit.

Let’s start with Kaphas.

These loveable savers have a slower metabolism which gives them a sensual, abundant beauty, physical stamina and youthful longevity. Picture the statue mother nurturing her child in Picasso’s “Mother and Child” 1922

But in imbalance, they have the tendency to be overweight and have diabetes, hormonal problems, depression and cancer.

If you are not a Kapha but exhibit any of the above symptoms, you can be suffering from What Ayurveda calls “Kapha vikrati”, a Kapha imbalance and can return to balance by following the same advice.

Things that can tip the scales to manifest these negative tendencies can be triggered by Kapha Weather – cold, damp – eating Kapha Foods – dairy, fat, sweet, cold, salty – or hanging out with Imbalanced Kaphas – depressive, possessive, over weight, dependent, greedy.

The general rule is to eat light and warm, favouring flavours that are bitter, spicy and astringent and eschewing those that are sweet, salty and sour.

The big no-no’s are dairy, red meat, oils, most sweeteners, simple carbohydrates and cold foods.

And the balancing foods can include white fishes, white meat of fowl, all vegetables lightly steamed, honey, legumes and whole grains.

A sample daily menu can be;

Breakfast

Many Kaphas do not at breakfast as they may not feel hunger due to a sluggish metabolism and still be metabolizing yesterday’s dinner. While Ayurveda suggests Kaphas can skip breakfast, I would suggest a light breakfast to sustain the demanding, stressful days of an urban professional.

1. Cooked whole grains with roasted sunflower seeds and fresh or dried cranberries
2. Black coffee or Yerba Mate tea with honey.

Lunch

This will be your main meal for the day

1. White fish with vegetables and brown rice
2. Chicken breast with vegetables and sweet potato
3. Whole wheat pasta with legumes and vegetable
4. Dessert is fresh fruit as per Snack suggestions

Snack

It is best to just stick to the three meals

1. Fresh tart apples like granny smith
2. Fresh berries
3. Absolutely no pastries
4. No sweet fruits like melons, papaya, mangos

Dinner

Try not to eat late or you will not want to eat breakfast which will throw off your digestion schedule. Eat light. To prevent prolonged digest I recommend vegetarian meals.

1. Vegetables with whole grain pasta without cheese or cream sauce
2. White fish with vegetables and brown rice
3. Legume and vegetable stews
4. Veggie burger with steamed vegetables or salad ( depends on season) – No fries

Kapha Hors d’oeuvres ( from the Book Party)

The criteria for these dishes are;
1. The food ingredients follow the Ayurvedic diet for Kaphas
2. Use whole organic food ingredients
3. Minimal waste – edible containers
4. The dishes chosen are of a vegan diet is very suitable for Kaphas
5. Attempt has been made to be economical with time and number of ingredients by repeating ingredients in two or more receipes
6. The ingredients in the recipes are easily substituted
7. Do ingredients to modify recipes suit your taste


Artichoke (the container) with Tofu Dip (light high protein sauce)

Artichokes ---- Clean and cook 4 artichokes
i. Cut the stems
ii. Remove the outer leaves of the artichoke bud as they are fibrous and have no meat
iii. Put in steamer or simmering water for 10-15 minutes
iv. Remove the artichokes and rinse with cold water
v. Remove outer leaves from the heart
vi. And arrange the leaves on a serving platter
vii. Save the hearts and the inner leaves to snack on later

Roast Sesame Seeds
i. Heat a iron frying pan
ii. Add a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of oil
iii. Then add 500mg or raw sesame seeds
iv. Roast seeds with constant stirring for 1 minute
v. Put roasted seeds into a small bowl

Sauce ----Cook ahead - the Cauliflower as per below
i. Clean and cook half a cauliflower in 1/2 inch of boiling water (with a pinch of Himalayan salt) in a pot. Turn heat to low to simmer the cauliflower
ii. When Cauliflower is tender –
ii. Mix 2 tablespoons of tapioca flour in a ½ cup of cold water . When tapioca is completely dissolved in the water; add it to pot and stir into mixture.
iii. Blend the cooked cauliflower mixture
iv. Let the mixture cool to room temperature
v. Divide mixture into 2 bowls. One for this sauce and save other one for the Tofu+Dark Greens Sauce
vi. In one bowl of belnded cauliflower--- blend in ½ raw onion
vii. Crush saffron (amount = a small box), then add it to the mixture

viii. Mix in the following ingredient into blender--- ½ Silken tofu, ½ avocado, 2 tablespoons tahini, ¼ teaspoon ginger, 1 tablespoon basil, ½ tablespoon rosemary, ¼ teaspoon coriander
ix. Put a teaspoon of mixture onto each artichoke leaf
x. Sprinkle with the roasted sesame


Dark Greens with Tofu
i. Drain firm organic tofu and put it in a strainer to release excess moisture from the block

ii. Cook any dark green or mixture of dark greens from Rapini (Italian Broccoli) to Guylan (Chinese Broccoli) to regular broccoli, Kale or collards.
iii. Drain and let cool

iv. Take the bowl of blended Cauliflower ---
1. Refer to ---- cooked Cauliflower from recipe for Artichoke with Tofu Dip
v. In the bowl with cooked blended cauliflower blend in the following---
1. 1 tablespoon roasted sesame oil,
2. pinch of Black Pepper to taste,
3. 2 teaspoons Soya Sauce
vi. Blend in any of the following ingredients you prefer---
1. ½ avocado,
2. ½ Raw Onion,
3. 2-3 Scallions,
4. a Clove or two of Raw Garlic,
5. Tahini, any Spices you favour
vii. Cut the block of tofu into small cubes
viii. Cut the greens to small pieces
ix. Mix the greens with the tofu
x. Mix in the sauce until the tofu and greens are lightly coated.
xi. Put mixture aside for flavours to blend

The Shell

i. Defrost Phyllo Pastry
ii. Put a cut to size piece of Phyllo Pastry to a cupcake tin that is the size you want for the finished hors d’oeuvres
iii. Pop into oven for 5 minutes to brown and crisp up
iv. Let shells cool
v. Remove the shell from the tin
vi. Fill shells with the Tofu Greens mixture



Mini Apple Cranberry Strudel

Prepare filling ahead
i. Put the following items into separate small bowls
1. Cranberries - ¼ cup for 2 apples
2. Maple Sugar if you prefer a sweeter strudel
3. Sunflower Seeds ¼ cup per apple (you can roast them for more flavour- follow instructions for roasting sesame seeds in the recipe for Artichoke and tofu dip above
4. if you have a favourite ingredient you would like in your apple strudel – put that into another bowl

ii. Prepare Apples (granny smith or any tarte apple) for filling
1. Peel ½ an apple for each mini roll
2. Cut apple slices
3. In a bowl mix raw apple slices with 1/8 teaspoon of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger and ½ lemon Juice for each apple

The Shell

i. Defrost Phyllo Pastry
ii. Remove 1 sheet of pastry and put it on a clean surface
iii. Brush Olive Oil onto the pastry evenly
iv. Apply another sheet of pastry onto the oiled sheet
v. Again brush Olive Oil onto the pastry evenly

Start Rolling
i. On the prepare 2 layers of Phyllo Pastry apply the following items:
1. A row of Apples slices mixture across one end of the pastry
2. Sprinkle the cranberries across
3. Then a light sprinkle of the seeds
4. Lastly sprinkle --Maple sugar and or preferred item
ii. Tightly roll the strudel
iii. Put the mini roll onto a oiled cookie sheet
iv. Brush the top of the roll with butter or olive oil
v. Sprinkle seeds or maple sugar if you like
vi. Repeat the process until all your rolls are done

Enjoying the Weather

Enjoying the Weather

Sorry for keeping you suspense. I am blaming it all on Ayurveda.

While it is spring, many of the days were “relatively” cold and dry which stirred up my Vata.

Pure + simple is celebrating Kristen’s book on Ayurvedic beauty, BEAUTY 2.0, on June 11th. Find the book at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Beauty-2-0-Holistic-Natural-Modern/dp/0981262406/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244553268&sr=1-1

So even though I have too much to do, I decide to make the food for the party. I have many logical reasons like I want to give our guests a more intimate experience and I want to give the Ayurvedic theme o the party authenticity. But honest one is not that logical. For Vatas, it’s always about the “new” with little consideration to existing responsibilities.

Did I tell you my second Dosha is Pitta? So what started as an impulsive, challenge seeking Vata idea has now become a Pitta drive for purpose, planning and perfection. The food must be true to the three Doshas, made from natural or organic ingredients and be “environmental”, be served in their own edible containers. After pouring through Ayurvedic and organic food cookbooks I decided to formulate my own recipes. After few days of testing on staff and family I am finally prepared to serve the nine dishes and is now able to continue my blog and catch up with my “real “work.

But my experience has also helped me be more engaged in advising about food to balance your Doshas . And you all can come and taste the food at the party on June 11th from 4:00pm to 7pm at Pure + simple 725 King West. As I mentioned last blog, Dr Sharma will be there to do Ayurvedic Diagnosis so you can find out your true Dosha. For more information, go to http://pureandsimple.ca/.

Back to Balancing Your Energies to the Weather

Before you can balance with the weather you need to know your Doshas.

Then you need to understand the Doshas of the things you can control like foods, types of exercise, activities and skincare.

Today I will begin with understanding the Doshas of the weather with brief advise for each of us to optimize our day with.

The Energies of your Environment

Vata Weather is dry and cold. If it is windy, it will be more intensely Vata. The characteristics are relative. You can have cold days in summer. They are just not as intensely Vata as in the cold days in fall or winter.

Balancing Vata Weather

This the worst weather for Vatas. If you want this day not to be a blur of flakiness and disorganization you will need to ground and warm up. If it is winter, eat lots of root vegetables and yes you can eat your favourite red meat. Sausages are forbidden but today you can indulge without punishment. Hearty stews and warm teas with cinnamon and ginger are in order. Smother your skin in rich moisturizers. Massage a rich oil into your scalp and then soak in a hot dead sea salt bath.

If it is summer, eat warm soups and cooked vegetables with a nourishing meat. Keep skin moist with a hydrating serum and a moderately rich cream. Massage oil on your tummy to prevent constipation. Do grounding activities like gardening, Chi Kung and standing Yoga exercises.

This is ideal weather for Pittas who are usually too hot. You will be in a sweet mood and will feel more energized so don’t over do it. You can eat foods that you normally shouldn’t, -- like ones that are spicy, salty and sour. So eat your favourite yogurt and curries today. If it is winter you will need to protect skin from the dramatic changes of temperatures between indoor and outdoor. But on cool summer day just make sure your skin is hydrated and protected from the sun. Indulge in competitive exercise and activities today.

The dry and the windiness are good for Kapha. It stimulates otherwise slow energy. But Kaphas need to balance the coldness. Warm spicy foods are welcomed. Warming body oil will help to warm skin and keep circulation optimal. Aerobic exercise in the morning will help keep Kapha from feeling fatigued.

Balancing Pitta Weather

Pitta Weather is hot. If it is humid, it is even more Pitta. Again it is relative. A sudden warm spell in the winter can trigger a Pitta imbalance but not as much as a hot day in July.

Vatas are loving this. If it is summer, Vatas can indulge in eating ice cream and other forbidden cold foods. If it is winter, go ahead have a little of the drier foods like popcorn. Normal personal care can be lightened up to gain more comfort.

The heat can stir up rosacea, rashes, irritability and fatigue for fiery Pittas. Eat raw cold foods to cool off from the inside out. Cool down quickly with a slice of sweet melon or a salad with lots of cucumber. Summer is a great time for Pittas to follow a raw food diet. It not a “caveman” diet if you have a great raw food recipe book like, RAW FOOD, by Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis. The recipes will satisfy the most sophisticated and delicate palate. For more information on the book go to http://www.amazon.com/Raw-Food-Real-World-Recipes/dp/0060793554/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198200321&sr=1-1

While winter weather is cold, the warmer wet spell can unbalance Pittas unwittingly, so take note of this occurrence and cool down the diet. Keep skin hydrated and in summer keep skin cool with hydrating spritzes like Organic Chamomile Hydrosol, to view product information go to http://www.pureandsimple.ca/2005/files/products/skincare.html#waters No matter what you choose, make sure the floral water is pure and natural as not to irritate sensitive Pitta skin. Pitta skin that is too hot can become red, inflamed and / or blemish so skin smooth with hydration and protection from heat and sun.


Kaphas will love this unless there is too much humidity. To balance the high moisture content in the air, eat dry foods and lessen liquid intake. Skincare can be a non issue except in high humidity where Kapha then may need to keep drier with a powder for face and body like Jurlique Silk Finishing Powder in Lavender or rose. To view product information go to http://www.pureandsimple.ca/2005/files/products/jurlique.html#masks

Balancing Kapha Weather

Kapha Weather is cold and damp. Again as in Vata and Pitta the intensity matters. Cold damp days in March are more unbalancing than one in August.

Vata love the damp but will need to balance the cold with warm foods and oily moisturizers. Vigorous exercise can keep Vatas warm.

Pittas love the cold so they can eat foods that they normally would avoid like spicy or hot foods. If it is winter Pittas need to protect skin from the cold to prevent redness and excess dehydration.

Kapha’s will want to stay in their warm dry beds during this weather. Keep warm and invigorated by eating foods that are warm and dry like popcorn, or spicy like a curry. Massage face and body with a warming oil like mustard to keep warm. For oils that are great for Kapha go to http://www.pureandsimple.ca/2005/files/products/ayurvedic.html Vigorous exercise like spinning can prevent that dull sluggish feeling. You feel like you may be sick or coming down with an illness but actually your circulatory system is just too slow and you are not getting enough oxygen to you brain. So don’t pamper yourself with rest—get up and go for a run.


Sounds complicated or far fetched? Test it out. What have you got to lose but the predicament of being at the whim of your constantly changing environment?

Under the Weather and Feeling Good

Under the Weather and Feeling Good

Don’t complain about bad weather. Get even. Or balanced

Use it to connect to balance your health and to look better.

Are you still with me?

What I am about to say may sound complicated but other than do what you always have been doing like eating and taking care of yourself, you need only to add noting the weather.

I have introduced the Doshas in my previous blog entries. In Ayurveda, there are three Doshas; Vata, Pitta, Kapha. They are derived from the five elements; Air, Space (Vata), Fire (Pitta), Water, Earth (Kapha). Each person and everything that exists around us are made from these elements and have a combination of the three Doshas.

If you are Vata: it means that you have a higher ratio of air/space. If you are Vata Pitta, it just means that you are equally high in air/space and fire/water. And the rarer combination is Tridosha meaning you have equal quantities of each of the energies.

You can discover your Doshas by allowing an Ayurvedic Doctor take your pulse. A great opportunity to do this is approaching as Dr Sharma will be doing complimentary Ayurvedic Diagnosis at Pure + simple’s 725 King Street West Location on Thursday, June 11th from 4:00-7:00pm.

To see a summary of the Dosha characteristics go to my April 1, 2009 blog entry or go to http://www.pureandsimple.ca/2005/files/products/ayurvedic.html .

You can also take a Dosha test that can be found in Kristen Ma’s book, BEAUTY 2.0. It is available on line and at any Pure + simple location. Or you can do a self test which you can get at any Pure + simple location. For a convenient location, go to (http://www.pureandsimple.ca )

Then you need to be aware of the weather conditions in the morning. Be familiar with the weather characteristics wind (air) , humidity (water) , temperature hot (fire), wet cold (earth), dry cold (air) Cold damp weather is Kapha, Hot weather is Pitta. And Cold dry weather is Vata. Of course it is important to note the intensity of the characteristics so you can respond with the appropriate intensity. So if it’s windy that would make it very Vata.

You then need to learn how to balance the weather conditions with your own energies with diet and personal grooming to maintain good health and beautiful youthful skin.

I will discuss diet and personal grooming and exercise in balancing you Doshas to the weather in my next entry.
.

Get Connected

Get Connected

Feeling connected is good. It is believed that feeling connected has many psychological and emotional benefits like lessening stress – if you want more details go to - http://www.susankramer.com/Connection.html http://www.youmeworks.com/ca.html.

It is also believed that feeling connected can increase cognitive abilities and so we can perform better at work and at school - http://www.healthyalberta.com/HealthyPlaces/660.htm.

Feeling connected also allows us to be more mentally and emotionally balanced helping us avoid depression. http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20050203/feeling-connected-helps-women-avoid-depression

I have found that feeling connected can also help you look and feel better physically.

Let’s start with what everyone means when they talk about “being connected”.

It is that feeling of belonging. On a very personal level it can include finding a kindred spirit in that one true love and being part of a tight knit loving family. Go to http://psychcentral.com/connectedquiz.htm to see if that special person is really your soul mate.

Our circle can grow beyond friends and family to include political and special interest groups. As our feeling of belonging grows, we find that we can empathize with the needs of and support the causes of those who are not part of our “tribe” or live in distant countries. We can also become committed to global concerns like the environment.

While strong ties to a group can give us the benefits mentioned, our sense of connectedness can rely too much on external forces (other members of the group).

As I pursued self awareness and healing, I have “accidentally” stumble over a feeling of connecting to the universe while practicing Chi Kung.

This feeling of connection to the source can give a strong sense of self, a rock solid foundation - one that is not at the whims of the acceptance or actions of others.

But this profound connection to the universe with its feeling of stability can be attained through many ways.

Those wiser than I, become aware of their mortality and begin to get beyond earthly preoccupations to learn to connect to the universe.

Many of us connect by choosing a conventional religion. All of the major religions have a belief of connecting to that bigger entity as shown in the Hinduism and Buddhism concept’s of Atman, (not Richard Simmons clothng line) each person’s soul, being connected to Brahman, the over soul. You can learn more about this at http://www.hinduwebsite.com/atman.asp

For many, that connection can also be realized through art and music. Most of us have had deep connection to a story, movie or song, even if only for a moment.

We can also find that connection through nature by gardening to walking in the woods.

Due to my personal circumstances (I have ADD), connecting was more of a challenge. But fortunately for me, I discovered Chi Kung and Yoga. Both of these physical practices were designed as a part of spiritual practice and enlightenment. Like most Westerners, I began both these practice without a thought to spiritual enlightenment. I began learning Chi Kung in the hopes of reducing a cyst in my left kidney without surgery or medication. My Chi Kung master constantly reminded us to let go and to let the “chi” flow into our bodies. But with my level of consciousness, it merely meant attaining more energy and getting healthier.

Then one day as I did my daily Chi Kung exercises, I suddenly felt the surge of energy flow through my body. I felt exhilarated and calm at the same time. I experienced the connection between my soul to that of the over soul.

If you would like more information on Chi Kung you can email my Chi Kung Master Jean Li at quimac@rogers.com or you can visit our Grandmaster Wong’s site at http://www.shaolin.org/ . If you prefer, visit an alternative site belonging to a well known Toronto Chi Kung Master, Teresa Yeung at http://www.masterteresa.com/master_teresa.html

From that moment on my Yoga postures were improved as I was more aware of my physical body and energy flow. Less anxiety, fear and more love and empathy for others were permanent benefits of that critical realization. Since I tend to be Vata in outlook, I enjoy a Yoga that has a spiritual element rather than one with a more athletic focus. I hate routine so I need a Yoga studio that allows for my nomadic nature.

My favourite Yoga studio is the Yoga Centre Toronto at Yonge north of Eglinton. Visit their site at http://www.yogacentretoronto.ca/home.html . Each Iyengar Yoga class is done according to the our individual physical abilities with the teachers compassionately pushing us to perform to our best. It is also one of the few nonprofit Yoga studios in the city.

The second most important practice with which I have achieved connectedness is Ayurveda. Ayurveda, like Yoga grew out of Hinduism and Buddhism. Ayurveda, a healing modality from ancient India, is the study of living a healthy balanced life. I daily balance my energies with that of my environment with my skincare and diet. It also can influence my decisions for physical activity. I find that the environment influences my state of mind so with diet and skincare I can neutralize any negative effects like irritability, depression or disorientated.

As I learn to better balance my energies, the more connected I become to my environment and those in it. I also found that I felt and I looked better.

I will show you how to balance your energies (your Doshas) with that of the environment in the next blog entry.

Assembling Your Healing Entourage

Your Own Entourage

Entourages are not just for celebrities. People, like us have them too. Our “entourages” tell a lot about us. A person concerned with external beauty and the physical body will assemble an entourage that may include a hairstylist, a manicurist, a dentist, a medical doctor and a dermatologist. This is very common when we are teenagers, as we are less aware of our internal life.

As life changes to focus on our careers and performance, our entourage may include a Massage Therapist, Medical Specialists, Psychiatrist and perhaps a Naturopath or a Traditional Chinese Doctor.

As we mature those of us who take time to reflect become more aware of our spiritual dimension and its profound effect on our mental and physical health. Your entourage reflects your complexity and sagacity to include an Ayurvedic Doctor, Reflexologist, Colon Therapist, Psychotherapist, Reiki Master, Cranial Sacral Therapist and any of the alternative professionals of choice in Vitality Magazine. (link to Vitality Magazine at http://www.vitalitymagazine.com/ )

“Entourages” can evolve organically as your personal needs and beliefs systems change.

You can also redesign your team with a set of goals in mind . Spell out your goals. Take inventory of the current situation of which can include your available time, your health concerns. Then devise a plan on how you can achieve it. Assemble your team of advisors paid and unpaid. Monitor your progress.

A large “entourage” does not indicate declining health or old age. More often these are times of transition or of acute illness. Size can change as needs and life situations change. It may grow to temporarily include a psychotherapist if you feel the need to better understand a complex relationship experience or so call irrational behavior. Connect with a colon therapist (my favourite includes Deborah at Oasis Health) and an herbalist (drop into Thuna’s on the Danforth (416-461-8191), Roger + Evelyn are a very knowledgeable team) when embarking on a detox program.

The nature of the entourage changes as your life changes. As I matured I have become more complex and healing is on more dimensions. I like my boomer friends have found healing from many diverse natural healing modalities. They have helped us be rid of common and chronic ailments like allergies, poor digestion, and low energy along with more acute and life changing ones like cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

What make a healer more effective for us more multidimensional beings? We of the Boomer Generation have experienced more changes in ways of life than past generations. Our numbers have made holistic health, environmental concerns and organics popular. Therefore as we age we need healers that are not just good at healing but ones that are as creative problem solvers as we are.

My focus on external beauty has changed from physical perfection to having it help me communicate with my internal body and mind. Dry skin cautions me on dehydration and my kidneys as well as too much stress or worry. Water retention warns of fatigue or of a slower metabolism or circulation and perhaps a tendency to be resistant or possessive. Undue redness in my skin warns of over consumption of salt or protein and a need to find out why I am irritable or too competitive.

So I visit my Acupuncturist, Dr Shan Wu, (http://www.asian-acupuncture.com/)weekly to balance my body’s main energy flow which energizes me. I bring up any concerns so she may take care of them with my visit. She starts to prepare my stressed out body for acupuncture with a rigorous (her tiny size does not prepare you for the intensity) shiatsu treatment. My acupuncture changes each week according to my current state, my complaints and my time of the month. After acupuncture, I get cupping as I have a sluggish lymphatic system. I walk out refreshed and ready to take on the next week with a positive energy. My visit is $95.00.

My poor digestion has been part of my life and causing other health concerns since teenage. My daughter Kristen insisted I see her Ayurvedic Doctor, Dr Sharma,
( http://ayurvedatoronto.ca/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 ) to correct it. Each visit includes his focus on my mind body spirit as he balances my busy mind with scents of saffron, jasmine and juniper. I usually see him in the morning so the smell of camphor wakes up my senses and clears my lungs. He feels my pulse to detect any imbalances in my energies and customizes my body treatment. Then he sends me home with herbs to take until my next visit. Each visit is a well deserved regular rate of $80.00. A comfort for us who are apprehensive of the unexpected charges of some Naturopathic visits.

A real treasure is Yim To ( 41 Grange Ave 416-971-5850) , a kung fu master who applies his knowledge of healing sore and damaged muscles and ligaments to relieve chronic pain. He doesn’t speak English but if you can point out your pain he will get to the root of it and in days repair what you were told only surgery could. For $20.00 you can experience for yourself how simple and humble healing can be. My partner had severe back pain. He tried expensive back treatments where they stretch your spine, acupuncture, physiotherapy and cortisone treatments with no luck. His medical doctor advised back surgery as the only solution. So as a last ditch effort he agreed to go see Yim. Skeptical but not wanting to leave any stone unturned before accepting surgery he visited Yim at his humble home in Toronto’s Chinatown. After a couple of visits, he experience pain relief not achieved with any of his earlier therapies. With back pain decreasing, he had Yim add patches to his shoulders and elbows increasing his visit to $40.00. After a couple of weeks of daily visits, he now only visits Yim periodically for a muscle tune-up.

My new best friend is Reflexolgist, Jean Louie (jean.reflexology@gmail.com 905-773-6748). She totally accommodates my needs as she volunteers to come to my home late in the evening after I have taken a relaxing hot sea salt bath. For one hour twice a week she balances my health by stimulating the pressure points in my neglected feet. I am especially a good candidate for reflexology as my leg circulation is sluggish and I have a tendency for swollen feet and ankles. Now my sleep is more restful and the next day is fabulous as my organs are in top shape.

If your entourage is minimal and you have some minor discomforts like some digestive concerns or if your energy is waning, head over your local Supplement Plus (3 locations in Toronto). Staff armed with certification in homeopathy or naturopathy so are equipped to help in a pinch. For digestive irregularity Supplement Plus have a wide range of natural solutions from Genestra’s Acidophilus to “Metagenix Ultra Inflam” to chewable digestive aids like, DGL Licorice. Energy boosts can come in homeopathic drops or vitamin ampoules.

So start managing your entourage towards a healthier you -----and enjoy life!

Please feel free to contact me at jean@pureandsimple.ca if you want to learn more about the above.