Nutrition Workshop #2: The Liver.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 May 2011 09:39 Written by Flax Tuesday, 24 May 2011 09:39

Liver-Spleen Relationship

• Digestive System

Liver-Kidney Relationship

• Aging and Dryness

Liver-Heart Relationship

• Heart Disease

Liver Qi Stagnation

• Anger, impatience, frustration, resentment, violence, belligerence, rudeness, edginess, arrogance, stubbornness, aggression, impulsiveness, explosive personality.
• Tendons, eyes, circulation, menstruation, hormones, skin disease, allergies, arthritis, migraines, headaches, gall stones, stomach pain.

Healing the Liver

• Eat less.
• Eat less saturated fats, hydrogenated fats, rancid oils, refined oils, rancid nuts and seeds.
• Chemicals and toxins in food and water.
• Alcohol.
• Processed and refined food.

Eat more Healthy Liver Foods

• Pungent and bitter foods:  Watercress, onion family, turmeric, basil, bay leaf, cardamom, marjoram, cumin, fennel, dill, ginger, black pepper, horseradish, rosemary, mint, melissa, angelica.
• Raw and sprouted foods
• Whole grains
• Apple cider vinegar and lemon
• Bitter foods: rye, romaine lettuce, asparagus, quinoa/amaranth, alfalfa, radish, dandelion, chamomile, mung beans and sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, celery, cucumber, rhubarb.
• Mushrooms
• Chlorophyll rich foods, barley and wheat grass, spirulina, wild blue-green algae, seaweeds (especially kelp).  These contain both GLA and Omega 3 and accelerate liver rejuvenation.

Seaweeds

• Contain 10-20 times the minerals of land plants plus an abundance of vitamins and elements.
• Contain all of the minerals found in our blood.
• Grow in a saline solution and are easily absorbed by our bodies.
• Detoxify: Chemicals, heavy metals and radioactive materials.
• Soften masses.
• Transform phlegm.
• Diuretic and help with water metabolism.
• Lymphatic cleansers.
• Alkalize the blood
• Alleviate stagnant liver qi.
• Benefit the thyroid.
• Beneficial to weight loss.
• lowers cholesterol and fat in the blood
• Rejuvenates the lungs and the GI tract.
• Excellent source of iodine, calcium, and iron.

Kelp is the most effective for helping with obesity, low thyroid function, high blood pressure, blood clots, edema, anticoagulant.

Nutrition Workshop #1

Last Updated on Friday, 20 May 2011 08:59 Written by Flax Tuesday, 17 May 2011 04:38

Principles of Nutrition:

Food Pyramid:

• 1% sugar and fats (including fruits)
• 10% max. protein, includes animal protein and legumes
• 40-50% grains
• 50-60% vegetables

Water:

• 2 Liters a day, filtered water. 
• Water should be at least room temperature.

Fats:

• Olive oil (5% acidity or less)
• Flax seed oil
• Sesame oil (small amounts)
• Evening primrose oil
• Borage oil

Dairy:

• Never
• Goat products are preferable
• Not to be replaced with soy

Animal Products:

• Try to slowly eliminate animal products from the diet.  Look for higher quality products or organic produce. 

Salt:

• Atlantic Grey Sea Salt

Seaweed:

• Between 5-15 gr. of seaweed every day using as many varieties as possible.

Vegetables:

• Use organic produce as much as possible.
• Eat a daily mix of orange (carrots, pumpkin, squash),  white (radish, turnip, kohlrabi, parsnip),  and green leafy vegetables (lettuce, seaweed, kale, collard).

Grains:

• Whole grains
• Avoid wheat and focus on other grains such as; rice, spelt, rye, buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa, wild rice, barley…

Fruits:

• Fruits count as a sugar and should be eaten in very small amounts.
• Apples are the healthiest of the fruit, especially green apples.
• Other than apples, pears, peaches, and nectarines are ok.  Avoid the sweeter fruits and melons, such as mango and watermelon.

Exercise:

• The two that I recommend the most are walking and exercises that come from the Eastern practices.

Awareness:

• Become more in tune with your body, your moods/cravings and intuition.
• Keep a food journal of the time of day that you eat and what you eat it.
• Restrict eating to daylight hours, preferably until 6 p.m.