Top Five Regrets

I just received this email, and, against my 'time is money' nature, I actually read it. I am really glad I did.

"Food for thought……..

Top Five Regrets By Bronnie Ware

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.
People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learned never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me
This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends
Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying. Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness."

Green Smoothie - Simple Saviour

I know I have blogged about green smoothies before, but I feel like I have just stumbled onto one of the simplest, tastiest ones ever.

I always reach for my blender when I am feeling under the weather because green smoothies are packed full of revitalising feel-good nutrients. This morning, after a series of sleepless nights, and too many refined and processed take-out overindulgences, I reached for it once again.

Smoothie making usually requires a bit of creative flair, with just the right mix of seemingly random ingredients - anything ranging from an array of nuts, seeds, whole grains, sprouts, vegetables, and fruit, to power packed extras such as cocoa, spirulina, maca powders, or herbal extracts like ashwaganda, ginseng, and ginkgo biloba.

But, when I looked in my larder this morning, I was met with empty shelves and 0 inspiration. (I really should have done some shopping last week!). This resulted in the use of 4 seemingly 'boring' ingredients - all the healthy stuff I could find really. However, the end product certainly is worth blogging about.

4 Simple Ingredients
a handful of spinach from my garden (store bought is great too!)
1 over ripe pear
1 over ripe banana
2 generous tsps peanut butter
(and approx. 100ml tap water)

I call this one Simple Saviour.

In under 10 minutes you can make your own Simple Saviour. The perfect shade of green, not too rich, but with a really refreshing just-sweet-enough taste to cure that 'morning after' feeling. All you need to do, is keep your kitchen stocked with these 4 healthy ingredients, and get yourself a blender!

A note on peanut butter:
I always have peanut butter in my cupboard.
- I only buy peanut butter made from pure lightly roasted peanuts. Lightly roasting peanuts is actually a good idea, because they are legumes, not nuts, and this makes them more digestible.
- Most commercially mass produced peanut butters have added sugar, vegetable fats ('yummy-trans fats!'), and other stabilizers etc. Natural peanut butter can be purchased from whole/health food manufacturers, or health shops.

A note on spinach:
Spinach has long been a staple part of my diet.
- It is much greener than other leafys like lettuce and cabbage, which is indicates that it contains antioxidant flavanoids and magnesium rich chlorophyl. It is also a good source of Vitamin A, C, B6 and folic acid, potassium, calcium, and iron - A cocktail of nutrients that are linked to healthier skin, eyesight, and energy levels, with anti-cancer properties!
- It tastes great in everything: raw in salads, as well as cooked. I like to add it raw into smoothies because the blender breaks down some of the fibre, thereby liberating nutrients for better absorption by the body.

Corn Silk for Bladder Infections

When ever I hear the Mealie Lady call out “Mealiemieleeeeeee” on the streets of suburban Johannesburg, I run outside to purchase some mealies from her. I have noticed her swollen ankles as she pushes her trolley packed full of fresh mealies around our middle class neighbourhood, trying to make an honest living.



So while this article is a shout out to all our locals to support this women by lightening her load, it is also to educate you about the therapeutic wonders of this fine 'local' crop.

Our Mealie Heritage:

The mealie, also known as corn and maize, depending on where you are from, originates from Mexico where the Mayans and Aztecs began cultivating it. From there it spread throughout the globe, and a long line of cross breeding resulted in many different versions of the original crop. Here, South Africans found it to be an economical crop to farm and it fast became a national staple food.

Preparation:

The mealies I buy from our local Mealie Lady are a large white starchy variety, unlike the bright yellow sweetcorn that is available in most supermarkets.

When I first tried it I wasn't quite sure how to prepare it, as it is not sweet like sweetcorn which is ideal straight off the cob. After a few bights off the cob, a familiar taste sensation reminded me of the samp and beans (http://www.ivu.org/recipes/african/gnush.html) that my mom used to make when I was younger. I also discovered that it works very well in potjies (stews), or dusted with herb salt if eaten straight off the cob.

Traditional Medicinal Uses:

This local variety has the most beautiful soft golden threads surrounding its cobs. This typically comes from female flowers (the stigmas) and is known as corn silk. Corn silk is not only a fun, tactile delight, but it may be of interest to those who have ever suffered the discomfort of a bladder infection.

Corn silk naturally contains anti-inflammatory, healing and soothing compounds that are found to relax the muscular lining of the urinary-genitalal system and relieve the discomfort and irritation associated with UTIs (urinary tract infections), cystitis, urethritis, and prostatitis. Corn silk is also an antiseptic, which may help treat infection in these areas.

It is found to be diuretic (increases urination) that helps flush irritants, deposits and toxins from the kidneys and bladder, and contains high levels of potassium, which may help counter the loss of potassium that is usually associated with many other diuretics. Generous levels of potassium along side this diuretic affect, is why corn silk is often brewed for fluid retention, PMS (premenstrual syndrome), gout and arthritis.

Corn silk has been used to help relieve carpel tunnel syndrome, lower blood pressure, and support digestion by increasing bile production. It has also been used topically to aid the healing of wounds and ulcers on the skin. It contains high levels of vitamin K, which may support clotting factors in the blood.

Corn silk is sold in health shops in dried form, but can also be used fresh.

How it is used: One cup of corn silk tea is taken three times a day during times of need. For topical use, a poultice can be made.

Warning: Check with your health care provider before using herbal remedies on yourself. There may be contraindications depending on your individual needs.

Bibliography:

http://www.appliedhealth.com/nutri/page8287.php

www.phytochemicals.info/plants/cornsilk.php

Prescription for Herbal Healing, By Phyllis A. Balch - Avery(2002)

Live the life you want

This is the Holstee Manifesto. They are a design company, which isn't my area of expertise at all, but I love their manifesto, and thought I had to share it with more people.

Holstee designs are also stunning -To find out more about these guys, check out this site.

Almond Nut Milk

Extravagantly rich, deliciously creamy almond nut milk is the ideal dairy substitute. It is a large part of raw food diets, and is a healthy addition to vegan and vegetarian diets. Almonds are rich in protein (with 26% carbohydrates), fibre, and mono unsaturated fats. This is a cocktail of unrefined macro nutrients that satisfy ones health and taste buds.

What you will need:

A blender, almonds, water, natural vanilla essence/extract, salt, dates/honey/agave/xylitol.

When purchasing your almonds to make your nut milk, take note of their shape. Almonds come in two different varieties – the short fat bitter kind, and the larger slender sweet kind. Experiment with these and find the variety you prefer.

The quantities of almonds and water you use, depends entirely on how rich you like your milk. Start with 2 cups almonds to 4 cups water, and adjust your recipe from there.

How to make Almond Nut Milk: 8 Easy steps:

1. Soak almonds for 6-8 hours i.e. overnight

2. Discard the water and rinse

3. Add nuts, water to cover, a few drops of natural vanilla, a pinch of salt, and a light sprinkle of xylitol (or try raw honey or a few dates if rather desired).

4. Blend

5. Pour contents through a muslin cloth (I used a pair of stockings layered twice I.e. leg in leg)

6. Squeeze the liquid out into a container

7. Save the nut fibre for something else, like a stuffing, a tart crust, or a nut bake.

8. Serve in a glass on its own, or in cereal etc. Can be refridgerated for up to 3 days.
   

Health benefits of Almonds:

Almond nut milk is thought to be good for weight watchers because it fills for longer. This may be due to the Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acids it contains, which help stabilise blood sugar levels, and are also shown to lower LDL ('bad' cholesterol), and raise HDL ('good' cholesterol).

Almonds contain significant doses of the alkalising electrolytes Magnesium, Calcium and Potassium – involved in bone and heart health, and nerve and muscle function. Not to mention that Calcium is involved in blood clotting, and Potassium rich foods are a vital addition to the typical western diet which is high in sodium.

Other nutrients found in almonds include the antioxidant Vitamin E, which helps combat the damaging effects of ageing and environmental toxins, and Folic Acid, a B vitamin involved in DNA and energy metabolism, and essential in the diets of pregnant moms.

Raw Food Workshop

Introduction to Raw
with Serna Kramer, by Monica Codevilla and Ryre Cornish

To Raw or not to Raw??
There has been numerous speculation about Raw food diets. It seems to be a growing trend amongst many individuals seeking a better quality of life. Why would someone want to eat only raw food when there is so much taste variety to choose from? And most importantly what does raw food entail? To be honest when we first heard of eating Raw we visualised nothing but fruit and salads without all the juicy bits, but we were pleasantly surprised after experiencing the Raw food workshop with Serna. We now realise there is so much more to Raw food that meets the eye and understand why individuals choose this way of life due to the endless health benefits.

The benefits are endless from having regular bowel movements, a healthy, and stable weight, to boundless energy Not only that, but raw foodists are also known for their clear skin and sparkly eyes. Serna is an inspiration as she was able to shed excess kilos once she started listening to what her body really needed, and bid cravings farewell now that her body gets what it REALLY craves- loads and loads of bio-available nutrients from eating Raw!

After reading a book or two on the topic, and having met one or two raw foodies and hearing their success stories, we decided to find out more. We found what we were looking for at Leafy Greens, where Serna Kramer taught us more about the wonders of Raw Food.

At her workshop, Introduction to Raw, Serna shares the many healing benefits that raw food can bring to the body and mind. She also demonstrates the immense variety that comes from a little imagination. On the day, Serna demonstrated how to make a vegetable based smoothie that even your children would beg for, butternut soup with a delightful zestiness hard to describe in mere words, and many refreshingly tasty vegetable juices. It was truly refreshing to know that so much taste and goodness could come from such basic raw ingredients. The options are also endless and left up to the imagination of you, as you experiment with your own taste preferences and textures. Not only was the food varied but so were the individuals attending the raw food workshop. Individuals attended from all walks of life and health challenges such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), being overweight, bored of food, diabetes, and anorexia. We were all there sharing a common goal.. to learn about going RAW.

The day was filled with tactile delights as we watched Serna milk almond nuts to form an almond milk from a soggy nut bag … so much for those lattes keeping you going - the nut milks are definitely a new found treat and its surprisingly therapeutic ‘milking’ the bag! Besides its wonderful flavour we also explored the varied uses of coconut oil by decadently lathering it into our skin. And it was not just milk we were drinking that morning; Vegetable juices provide readily available nutrients, and one can reap the benefits of 2 – 3 serving of vegetables into a single glass! The seemingly unlikely combination of green beans, spinach, fennel, and apple juice was given to the group, and this turned out to be a real favourite for the day.

Dehydrated savoury crackers that someone mentioned tasted like sausage, and lentil burgers acclaimed as the best burgers a particular carnivore had ever tasted...makes one realize that our South African meat eating mentality can be swayed by an open mind and a little gastro-ecentricity. And with more colour, texture, and flavour than most restaurants can fathom to dish up.

When someone asked whether raw can cure bad body odour, Serna and her assistant, Katrina, confidently recommend including fennel into the diet. Serna shared her knowledge of various literature, links, and useful products that are central to raw food living, as we lovingly munched away on dehydrated goodies.

We were shown how one can use a dehydrator to make brownies, fruit snacks, and burger patties, and we learned how to sprout a variety of different legumes and seeds, which play a vital role in the raw food diet. There is also an emphasis on balancing the subtle flavours of fresh foods – sweet, salty, bitter, and sour. When one gets this right, raw food becomes a real pleasure, and the taste sensations are limitless. This follows many philosophies of the eastern diet when it comes to ‘whole’ cooking and flavour savouring.

As if we hadn’t snacked and sipped enough, The workshop ended with an oh so scrumptious lunch, made by Ingrid Litman, from Raw Alchemy. Our plates were filled with eclectic flavours, bursting with freshness and imagination. Everything from savoury crackers, dips, and salads, to strawberry and chocolate mouse dessert, too delicious for words.

We are definitely going to take our friends and family to leafy greens restaurant so that they too can savour the taste of raw. And we encourage you to try it out too.


To discover more about the wonders of raw food 'cooking', contact Serna Kramer (Raw Works) 082 579 0440 or serna@telkomsa.net.

Other useful raw food loving links include:
Leafy Greens shop - 0828827300 / antonia@lgcafe.org
Raw Alchemy - 0794 199790 / www.rawalchemy.org
Soaring free Superfoods – www.superfoods.co.za
Jozi-Uncooked - 084-200-3400 / www.joziuncooked.wordpress.com.

About the authors:
* Ryre Cornish – BSc (hons) Psychology & Biochemistry, is a health consultant and Pilates therapist, and is currently studying her BSc in Nutritional Therapy.

* Monica Codevila - Dip. Reflexology & Meridian Therapy, is a health consultant and reflexologist, and is currently studying her BSc in Nutritional Therapy.