Aarona Pichinson
HELLO
Aarona Pichinson
Born in Los Angeles and relocating at least 10 times while growing up, my perspective was shaped by an array of people, places, and practices. This la More...
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Elixirs
Five Ways to Manage Holiday Sugar Cravings
The holidays tempt us to let down our guard. It's a challenge to say no to homemade goodies. But those darling things can seriously throw you off balance. The sweets hit some harder than others. Be honest with yourself. Can you handle the gingerbread, or is it a trigger food that you should aviod at all costs?
Food is powerful. Know your body and take care of it. For me, it's important to be mindful of my portions and the quality or type of sugar I intake. I try to stay away from the killer combo of refined flour and sugar. I've learned I can get more pleasure without the side effects (bloating, zapped energy, headache, dehydration, weight gain, digestive issues, increased cycles of sugary carb/quick fix cravings, moodiness, dull eyes, and dry skin!) from healthier sugars such as stevia, raw honey, and grade B maple syrup.
Here's some tips that will do anyone some good, regardless of your sweet tooth status....
Elixirs
My New Breville and Your First Green Juice
I finally bought my own juicer. I've been putting it off as I wanted to get the absolute best juicer that costs the most money so that everything in my world would be perfect!
Well...that just meant that I never got the juicer. For years now. And, also, that I kept $10 juices made for me on someone else's juicer. As wonderful as it is to have great juice options around town, there's something deeply nourishing about making your own. Also, it's practical: You save money in the long run; your veggies don't go bad since you can just throw them in the juicer; and, for some reason, it just tastes better. If you've been putting it off like me, just go for it! I got the Breville and am totally happy with it.
Elixirs
Blended Tea Nirvana
Blending teas is the new black. My go-to tea hybrid is a mix of green tea and fresh mint leaves, and/or a peppermint tea bag. This melange produces an invigorating, tummy-soothing lift. The Chinese have been drinking green tea for 4,000 years, and for just as long they have extolled its effectiveness as a remedy for various health problems. (There are claims that green tea will stabilize your cholesterol levels, help with weight loss, and generally remove nasty toxins from your body.) Meanwhile, peppermint soothes the digestive tract, alleviates nausea, and it smells and tastes great. So, that's the strategy, but what are the tactics?
Elixirs
Warm, Simple, Sweet Squash!
Today, it's not about elixirs, it's about squash. Beautiful, colorful squash are everywhere just now, and they pair nicely with just about anything. Like, say, steamed kale and a serving of goat cheese.
Elixirs
Superfood Hot Chocolate Time!
Yes, this one is spectacular in taste and in feel. You may be buzzed after this drink, ready to focus on your next book, or to take over the world. And your taste buds will be cheering for more. You will be warmed from the inside out and maybe feel a little fuzzy, in a good way. It's getting cold outside and it's time to bring warming elixirs into the mix. This is one of my faves!
Elixirs
Get Your Green Fix With Curried Kale Salad
If I go more than one day without a decent load of greens I can feel it. A day is okay. But after that, especially for us city slickers who don't have enough green around us, it's time to load up. My number one way is guzzling a green juice, which you can get anywhere in the city these days or easily make yourself with one of my green juice recipes. Another great way, especially when you're in the mood to chew, is to make a hearty beautiful salad loaded with greens and other colorful veggies.
You can replace the kale in this recipe with your other favorite greens, but kale is super hearty and particularly good for you in the colder seasons. I've given the option for cooked or raw for those of you who prefer one over the other. I love them both!
Elixirs
Chia Seed Vanilla Energy Smoothie
It's getting cold! But that doesn't mean you have to stop your morning smoothie or mid-day health snack rituals. No matter what time of year it is, I must blend. I'm a dedicated elixir/smoothie maker and have actually found great peace throwing my favorite items into a blender and whirling them into a healing potion. Sometimes when it's cold, I'll use warm teas as a base. In addition to wanting something warm, when it gets a little colder, your body may be a little hungrier. Today's Chia Seed Vanilla Energy Smoothie is one of my cold-weather favorites because the protein-packed chia seeds make it totally satiating.
Elixirs
Lemon Grapefruit Thirst Quencher
I woke up this morning totally parched. And since I just moved into a new place less than a week ago, I've yet to hook up all my gadgets, including my water filter. I'm not big on drinking straight from the tap so instead grabbed 2 grapefruits, one lemon and a big fresh aloe leaf. I'm just finishing my last sip now actually, and I have to say, I'm feeling way more awake and hydrated. This combo of ingredients just happened by chance one day when it was all I had and as I've mentioned in many of these recipes, the more you play the stronger your intuition will become about what is best to combine for your body. All the details on the recipe and the marvelous benefits of grapefruit, lemon, and aloe after the jump.
Elixirs
A love Letter to Dairy from a Sometimes Vegan Girl
I've been in an on-again-off-again relationship with dairy since 1992. The big break up first happened in high school. There was a kindred soul boyfriend in the picture then, and together we worried about the planet and our affect on it. We read Diet for a New America by John Robbins, and from there Vegan Nutrition: Pure and Simple by Michael Klaper, M.D. We were not into factory farming — who is? — and soon we dumped dairy, and delved deeply into nuts and seeds.
It's been an awesome journey. I've grown, morphed, and pulsed through various diets and lifestyles, and I'm still learning everyday. Success, I feel, is when I listen to my body's fluctuations and respond accordingly — putting dogma and philosophy aside and consuming high quality foods that are produced with integrity.
Re-enter milk....
Elixirs
Buzz Your Way to Health & Energy
Has the buzz on bee pollen and raw honey got you wondering if you too should be trying these sweet, energizing goodies? Or maybe adding them to just about everything like I do? The benefits of bee pollen and raw honey date way back. I've even heard from various sources that bee pollen is a 'perfect food' and contains all the nutrients you need to live. This may not work for all of us, yet it's made up of 40% protein and has a high concentration of the B vitamin complex, making it a powerful food. It's also great for the immune system with vitamins C, D, E, beta-carotene, magnesium, selenium, and lecithin all at play.
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yay! awesome!
Posted in response to: Superfood Hot Chocolate Time!
lois: lacinato kale is the dark green with smoother ripples. the other kale is the bigger bunchier type. it's not quite as dark green. both are great and either can be used for this. i'm not into 'low-sodium' salt because that means it went through a process to get there. if you get really top notch high quality salt, you will only need a touch and it will be better for you overall.
Posted in response to: Get Your Green Fix With Curried Kale Salad
ginger tea sounds great! or even a rooibos chai :)
Posted in response to: Chia Seed Vanilla Energy Smoothie
hey there! i have no idea about email response...i don't get them either. i just checked back here on a whim. hmmm...
that's great news! thanks for sharing. i personally don't have much experience with hernias or know of others, so i'm not sure what to recommend. i imagine you've done some research already. i'd be interested to find out what you learn.
warmly,
aarona
Posted in response to: Ground Yourself!
thanks michlny!
what do you mean lois? the heat? from a warm tea? when i do warm smoothies i don't typically add fruit. maybe frozen blueberries or acai. or just don't make the tea too hot. everything, including the chia seeds should stay in tact with warm not hot tea.
i will be posting some warm elixirs soon! i have a wonderful 'hot chocolate' on its way :)
also, try adding hemp seeds to this smoothie if you want to thicken it up. really good!
Posted in response to: Chia Seed Vanilla Energy Smoothie
msh258: sounds YUMMY!
michlny: awesome!! how's it going with hemp seeds and maca? bee pollen is one of my faves! i can eat it by the handfuls. though of course if you are allergic to pollen you want to stay away.
Posted in response to: Buzz Your Way to Health & Energy
mreynolds, GREAT!!! who are you :) ??? what's your actual name?
Posted in response to: Juicy Green Pear Zinger for Yogis (And Wannabe Yogis Too!)
Hey Lois! It's OKAY to use the grounding sheet with your magnetic pad!!! I just asked a very trusted source. :) Yay!
Posted in response to: Ground Yourself!
awesome!!!
Posted in response to: Divine Watermelon Limeade
i will find out for you! it might be okay....
Posted in response to: Ground Yourself!
librarianjess: i totally hear you on that! i'm not fond of those types of comments myself, honestly. since i'm fairly plugged in to a cutting edge health community/perspective - i witness some of the more extreme viewpoints. however i've learned to take what i want and leave the rest. i've found that within those perspectives lies some real truth that questions how things are currently - and to me, it's valuable to question and find what works for us individually. some of the most seemingly 'far-out' practices may be golden. and yes, your quote from above is not the language or belief system i like to go by. even though i don't feel that all doctors out there have our highest good in mind. AND i've met some great doctors too!
moutaingirl85: yes, i did go to IIN in 2001!!! i loved the program, it was a MAJOR influence in my life and work. go for it!!!!
Posted in response to: Heal Yourself With Negative Ions
my gut feeling is that you should not be using the two together....though help me understand. what is your 'magentic mattress pad'? what is it used for?
Posted in response to: Ground Yourself!
Kaitlyn, keep us posted for sure!
Sandyliz: I love using the sheet, i feel the difference. Yet I'm pretty sensitive to subtleties. My close friend David Wolfe (http://www.davidwolfe.com/) did a voltage reading on me touching the sheet, and then not touching the sheet. It's just a regular Voltmeter you can get from Radio Shack. The numbers were SIGNIFICANTLY lower when touching the sheet versus not touching the sheet, versus touching my cell phone (way high!), etc. Pretty amazing, and even I needed that proof. Obviously EMF waves are a natural part of our existence so we don't need to overdue the 'freak out' mode. However taking some precaution and decreasing our exposure to unnatural EMFs is worthy in my opinion.
Meditations/movement/grounding energetically are excellent and totally necessary. Yet we also have some pretty fantastic technology at our fingertips in this day and age to explore! Plus getting into nature which I'm gratefully doing this weekend! Blissings!:)
Posted in response to: Ground Yourself!
wait til you dry :) or use the brush in the shower, still great benefits!
Posted in response to: Have You Brushed Your Skin Today?
Sometimes I also do it IN the shower! Wet skin brushing :) Still invitorating and helps to remove dead skin.
Posted in response to: Have You Brushed Your Skin Today?
nice everyone!!! yeah!
Posted in response to: Divine Watermelon Limeade
Yes, the dried dates can be more plump and moist which is always best over the shrivled dried date. Go for organic, they are always better from what I've seen. Also, any nut/dried fruit store usually has amazing Medjool Dates, plus quicker turn over. I found a great place with REALLY good ones in Tribeca right on Chambers....and Reade I think, more or less around there. Def on Chambers. It's a 'Nut' store. Be sure to get their organic ones as they ahve non-organic options as well. Also health food stores seem to sale great ones too.
Posted in response to: Drooling Over Medjools
Hey there! Sorry for the delayed response. Maca is great. I usually do a couple weeks on it, and then break for a week (this is a loose estimate) - with any powerful foods I tend to go full force and then switch it up. I personally like the taste of Maca and especially like to add it to smoothies. It's a grounding food, helps with hormonal balance and even is said to energize. Hope that helps! Let me know how it goes :)
Posted in response to: Are You Feeling Peachy?
yes you can eat the berries! and just throw the whole bean in the cup. you simply cut it open and just throw it all in!
Posted in response to: Mood Enhancing, Brain Focusing, Green Tea Elixir
thanks for fixing the 'bear' to 'pear'!!!
mountaingirl85 - no, i am not 100% anything. plant based food is my base, and I ebb and flow depending on season, location, hormonal shifts, energy needs, etc. i'm finding that this works best for me - to fine tune intution, live in the moment according to the needs of my body, and keep it as fresh/organic/local/whole as possible.
Posted in response to: Fruit Salad with a Superfood Twist
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on 1 year 28 weeks ago by Aarona Pichinson