julieheals

WHAT THE FLU?!?!

The past few weeks have not been so fun in my house--a mix of coughs, fevers, boogies, fatigue, and sore throats. Both kids and grown-ups have been knocked out by the season's germs. Hopefully you've avoided the flu monster so far, but in case you should encounter it, arm yourself with these remedies to help you get better quickly.

Gan Mao Ling is a traditional Chinese formula used to treat early stages of colds and flu. When taken at the first sign of symptoms, it can alleviate sore throats, nasal congestion, cough, and headaches. It can also be used for upper respiratory infections and mild brochitis. 

Elderberry syrup has amazing immune support properties. It is antiviral, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, antioxiant, and anti-infammatory.  A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that patients with infulenza recovered 4 days quicker if they took elderberry syrup. In our house we take it daily as preventive and many times per day if sick. It tastes delicious so even the little kids can take it.

Of course, staying hydrated is key. Hot water with lemon and honey and chicken soup are both consumed by the vat in our house. Saline for nasal congestion is extremely helpful for the little ones. And rest rest rest! Sleep is restorative time, so give yourself plenty of it.

APPLE ALMOND TART

 

I'm not much of a baker. I prefer the creativity and lack of precision of cooking. And being gluten-free usually means that desserts are less than delicious. However, today I decided to try something new. It is Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. Apples and honey symbolize the wish for a sweet new year. It is also the beginning of fall, and with that comes the fall harvest. Apples were my inspiration for this seasonal tart.

This recipe is fairly easy to execute, and absolutely delicious to eat. My 3 year old and gluten loving husband can attest to this. I must admit, I cheated with a store bought gluten-free tart shell. But the results are amazing-- not too sweet, a little crunch, and overall it's just delicious. Try it!

 

APPLE TART WITH ALMOND TOPPING (GLUTEN-FREE)

by Martha Rose Shulman, New York Times, November 11, 2013

 

3 large apples, preferably Braeburn or Fuji, peeled, cored, and cut in 1/2 inch dice (500 grams diced cored apples)

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice or lime juice

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1/4 cup turbinado sugar, also known as sugar in the raw (50 grams)

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 cup egg whites (60 grams)

2 tablespoons sugar, preferably organic white or brown sugar (30 grams)

1/2 cup slivered almonds (50 grams)

1 9-inch gluten free dessert pastry (or other pastry of your choice), fully baked

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Toss the apples with the lemon juice in a medium bowl. Line a sheet pan with parchment.

2. Heat a large frying pan over high heat and add the butter. Wait until it stops foaming and is becoming light brown, and add the diced apples, turbinado sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spread the apples in a layer and cook without moving them for a couple of minutes, then turn the heat to medium-high and sauté, moving the apples around in the pan, until golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Scrape out onto the lined sheet pan and allow to cool completely.

3. Spread the cooled apples evenly over the pre-baked tart shell.

4. Make the almond topping. Beat the egg whites lightly in a bowl, just until slightly foamy. Whisk in the sugar and stir in the almonds. Spread evenly over the apples.

5. Place the tart on a sheet pan and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the crust and topping are golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.

 

Related articles

Recipes for Health: Apple Tart With Almond Topping in a Gluten-Free Shell

INTRODUCING.... STELLA JADE!

(Photo by Dominic Episcopo)

This is my newest little peanut Stella Jade. She is already 7 weeks old and I am completely in love. It's funny how you forget how little and precious newborns are; I must say that I am really savoring it.  The infant stage is so fleeting and evolves to toddlerhood way too quickly.While sleep is a precious commodity that is way too scarce, the warm cuddles make up for it. 

Stella was born on July 2 at 5 am. Her delivery went smoothly and she is a very good eater. She loves to party all night long and doesn't let mommy get a whole lot of rest. She is absolutely adored by mom, dad, and her big sis Sofie.

 

 

 

 

Powerhouse Foods

The CDC released a new study listing the top foods in preventing disease, calling them 'Powerhouse" fruits and vegetables.  And kale doesn't even break into the top 10!  Try to include some of these to reduce your risk of chronic disease.  Here are the top 10:

Watercress

Chinese cabbage

Chard

Beet greens

Spinach

Chicory

Leaf lettuce

Parsley

Romaine Lettuce

Collard greens

 

 

ALLER-QI

Itchy eyes, sneezing, sinus congestion--the tell-tale signs of allergies. Luckily Chinese medicine treats seasonal allergies very well by using a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and possibly dietary changes.

There is a type of Qi called Wei Qi. It travels on the outside of the body, and works sort of like an immune system, in that it protects the body from pathogens. If the Wei Qi is abundant and strong, the body will be protected and symptoms will not appear. If the Wei Qi is weak, allergens and irritants can invade the body, causing symptoms to arise.

Acupuncture and herbal medicine can build up the Wei Qi so the body is less reactive to the environment, which causes allergy symptoms to decrease. As treatments continue, the Wei Qi becomes abundant and allergies disappear.

SPRING CLEANING (NESTING)

 

So what's a 7-month pregnant lady to do to celebrate spring? Nest! I've been doing some MAJOR nesting lately-- donating bags and bags of old stuff to charity, buying furniture, moving furniture, painting the front door, cleaning, and getting some new plants in the containers.  While my husband is exhausted with all of the chores he is given, my daughter thinks it's so much fun (especially the gardening part, see above). This is all in effort to get the house ready for the new peanut coming, and to make sure all of us have our Qi clear and receptive to the blooms of spring.

Feng Shui principles of spring cleaning can really change your energy. Spring is naturally a time for renewal and rebirth, and clutter can really stand in the way of that happening. The front door is a very important aspect in Feng Shui--it can either welcome or push away new energy.  This is why ours in newly painted. Keep the doorway free of clutter, have plenty of plants around, and hopefully have a helping husband who can (happily?) do all the chores you give him. 

A few more feng shui ideas:

• Clean out under the beds. Clutter under the bed is like sleeping on old memories.  This causes sleep not to be restful. 
• Wash your windows. This can show you a new clear perspective.
• Clean the kitchen. Really scrub it. Clean out the cabinets and the fridge, declutter the drawers, and clean the oven. In Feng Shui principles the kitchen relates to a person health. All the more reason to have things clean, open and beautiful.
• Spring is the Liver time of the year. The liver loves all things green. So eat your greens!

ODE TO AN HERB: HE SHOU WU (FO TI)

(image of prepared He Shou Wu, from ganeshaherbs.com)

He Shou Wu (aslo called Fo Ti) has been getting a lot of press lately as a longevity tonic. It is most widely talked about as being able to maintain one's youthful appearance, specifically in preventing graying of the hair. But us herbalists know it does so much more than that! 

He Shou Wu is the prepared root of Polygonum Multiflorum. The root is sliced, prepared in a black bean 'soup', and then dried. It then has the amazing longevity properties that current media is all abuzz over.

The health properties of this herb are many. It is a powerful kidney and liver tonic. It diminishes knee and back pain.  It improves the endocine system and the cardiovascular system, and can enhance immune function. It also is quite famous for it's ability to increase sex drive. In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine, He Shou Wu is said to increase essence and blood, which means that it is an excellent fertility tonic for both men and women.  

What's not to love about an herb that can keep you looking good and feeling sexy? 

BEWARE OF FRANKENFOODS!

While the FDA has banned GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms) from our food, they still exist! They lurk in processed foods, lots of snack foods, 'convenience' foods (although I have to ask, what is more convenient than a banana, really?). In fact, anywhere you see the word "Hydrogenated" you can bet it has GMO's in it. 

GMO's wreak havoc on the body. Since they are not real food, they increase inflammation, raise cholesterol, slow metabolism, and promote overall toxicity and dis-ease. In fact, if you put butter and margarine side by side, a fly won't even touch the margarine--it's not even recognized as food!  So do yourself a favor, and only eat REAL FOOD!

HAPPY YEAR OF THE WOODEN HORSE!

Today is the Chinese New Year, the year of the Wooden Horse. The Chinese new year is a time to clean house, both physically and metaphorically. Sweep the floors, get the dust out, clear space for new things. But this is also a time for reflection--to think about what has been working during the past year, and also what has not. Make the necessary changes to have a propserous new year.

The year of the Horse can be an exciting one. Horses are free-spirited and love to run wild. This year can be exciting, filled with travel and adventure. But the trick with a Horse year is to act promptly and not procrastinate. If you are unsure about something it is probably best not to do it. Horses gallop full speed, so make sure you're going in the right direction.

Best wishes for a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

(Chinese symbol for gratitude)

 

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was 'thank you' -- that would suffice."

--Eckhart Tolle