| |
|
Focus on Health
by Vinca von Muhlenberg, CHHC, AADP
This Month: Fruit
 A
healthy lifestyle is the key to longevity, optimum weight, abundance of energy
and balance. By using fruit to satisfy our taste for sweetness we can eave
behind the use of chemical, processed and refined sweeteners, while enjoying
all the positive effects of incorporating fruit into our diet. Fruits are
easy to digest, are cleansing and cooling and are great for those who are
over-stressed and over-heated from excessive mental strain or hot climates.
Fruits are filled with fiber and liver stimulants, which act as a natural,
gentle laxative. Whenever possible, buy fresh, locally grown fruit as opposed
to imported fruits shipped form far off places. This can keep you eating 'in
season', which helps us to feel more in harmony with our environment and climate.
Eating raw fruit in summer months increases its cooling effect, while baking
in the winter months neutralizes its cooling effect. Fruit in the form of
juice is a great choice for cleansing the body, but be aware that juice rapidly
raises blood sugar levels, sending you down an energy crash soon after. Frozen,
whole, pureed or juiced fruit can make great summertime cool down treats,
such as frozen grapes, banana-coconut smoothie popsicles or lime juice ice-cubes
for ice tea!
Whether you are having fresh fruit for a light early morning breakfast, a
midday snack or evening treat, enjoy nature's sweetness and when ever possible
buy organic! Here are a few summer fruits and some of their health benefits:
Apricots: Great for lung conditions and asthma and are used to help treat
anemia due to their high copper and cobalt content.
Bananas: Help lubricate the intestines, help treat ulcers, aid in detoxifying
the body, help sugar cravings and are rich in otassium which helps hypertension.
Cherries: Slightly warming in nature, they increase overall body energy, remedy
arthritis and rheumatism, and are rich in iron, which improves the blood.
Grapefruits: Treat poor digestion, increase appetite during pregnancy and
alleviate ntestinal gas, and reduce mucus conditions of the lungs.
Papayas: Tone the stomach, act as digestive aid, moisten the lungs and alleviate
coughing and contains carpaine, an anti-tumor compound.
Raspberries: Benefit the liver and kidneys, cleanse blood of toxins, regulate
menstrual cycles, treat anemia and can promote labor at childbirth.
Recipe: Fruit Nut
Smoothie
Prep time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
1 banana
1 cup nut or rice milk
1 cup berries
1 cup diced melon
1/2 cup almonds
2-4 ice cubes
Directions:
1. Mix in blender for 1-2 minutes and serve.
Optional: You can add other ingredients for added nutrition such as a spoon
full of bee pollen, coconut oil, flax seed oil, spirulina powder or a scoop
of protein powder.
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
 Vinca
von Muhlenberg CHHC, AADP is a third generation, German-born
health practitioner and Board Certified Holistic Health Counselor. She enriched
her knowledge at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York and
at The Juilliard School, where she learned Piano & Alexander Relaxation
Technique. She studied meditation and Ayurvedic nutrition in Pune - India
and undertook further nutrition studies at the Ann Wigmore Natural Health
Institute. Vinca has also trained as Doula and childbirth educator. In Germany,
she was educated in Music & Holistic Healing Therapies at the F. M.
- Bartholdy college in Leipzig and H. Eisler college in Berlin.
Vinca has a private practice in Los Angeles and shares her knowledge of
and enthusiasm for the healing arts, through regularly scheduled programs
& workshops on healthful eating, cooking & living. She is involved
with the WE SPARK cancer
support center in Sherman Oaks, with the Los
Angeles Alliance for Childhood, the
Hospice community and the RC Counseling project.
Vinca is accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners
and by the American Holistic Health Association. She is founder of THE ORGANIX,
a childhood nutrition education series and co-founder of Health Thyme Cooking
retreats and events. To find out more about Vinca’s work or sign up
for her free newsletter, visit www.vincawellness.com.
|
