As we head towards winter, the days continue to get shorter and colder, beckoning us to slow down and stay home more often. While we may feel inclined to stay home and settle in, we also have many celebrations this month. To balance the hustle and bustle of the holidays, be sure to eat healthily when you’re not celebrating, and get some rest. To help you maintain balance during the festive season, here are some self-care tips for December. December Self-Care Tips Food In gene

The leaves are turning color, and the Balloon Fiesta is starting this weekend here in the Albuquerque area. It’s a beautiful sight – lots of colorful balloons with colorful changing leaves. So, now that we’re fully into Fall (or Vata season), it’s important to stay warm and build immune health. The holidays are right around the corner, so be sure to get some rest to calm the nervous system. Follow some of these selfcare guidelines for October. Selfcare Guidelines for October

In late September, summer comes to an end and autumn begins. The mornings and evenings are becoming cooler, the leaves are starting to turn color, and soon the smell of apples and pumpkins will fill the air. Autumn is Vata season in Ayurveda, and has the qualities of dry, cold, windy, and rough. We need to balance these qualities with moist, warm, stable, and smooth. So, follow some of these selfcare tips for September. September Selfcare Tips Diet Minimize or avoid raw foods

Although we’re still in summer, which is Pitta season in Ayurveda, we can feel that summer is winding down, preparing us for the transition to Autumn. Fall begins Vata season, which is characterized by the qualities of cold, dry, light, and mobile. Many of us notice these qualities in our bodies in the Fall, which can manifest as dry, rough skin; dry mucus and nasal passages; chapped lips, increased urination at night; depleted electrolytes in the body; earaches; insomnia; co

Looking for an easy summertime appetizer or snack? Try this classic Italian appetizer made with fresh juicy melon (cantaloupe) and thinly sliced prosciutto with mint leaves.   Melon with Prosciutto and Mint History of Melon with Prosciutto This classic Italian appetizer is called “prosciutto e melone” and is a combination of salty cured ham with sweet, juicy melon. In ancient Rome, people combined cured meat with fruit for health reasons. A renowned Roman doctor, named Galen,

The summer months fall under Pitta dosha in Ayurveda, and July is the peak of this Pitta season. Pitta is comprised of the elements of fire and water, but mostly fire. It rules all transformation in the body, such as digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients.  People who have a predominance of Pitta dosha tend to have a medium build, good muscle tone, healthy digestion, and piercing eyes. They’re also passionate, very motivated, enthusiastic and brilliant, as well

This simple and quick Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with a Lemon Dijon Dressing is high in fiber and tastes great too. Serve it on top of salad greens, as a side dish, or as a light lunch with pita bread, pita chips, or crackers. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Lemon Dijon Dressing Recipe Ingredients for Lemon Dijon Dressing: 2.5 tablespoons olive oil (can use Garlic Oil ) 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon Dijon Mustard 1/4 teaspoon honey Salt and pepper to tast

Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure, another heart disease, pre-diabetes, or diabetes? If so, your doctor may have told you to cut down or eliminate salt from your diet. Salt adds flavor to foods, but so do other spices and herbs. Try any of these 12 herbs and spices instead of salt when you cook. In addition to making your food taste great, these herbs have health benefits. 12 Herbs and Spices for Cooking Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Basil is an anti-inflammatory,

The days are longer and warmer, children are out of school, and we turn our attention to summer activities, such as vacationing, pool parties, picknicks, and barbecues. To stay cool and healthy this June, follow some of these selfcare tips. Selfcare Tips for June Diet With the summer heat, you’ll want to focus on smaller, lighter meals, because they’re easier on your digestion, especially during the heat of the day. Choose from any of these seasonal foods.  Fruits that are in

A recent study published in the Nutrients  journal examined the impact of the Mediterranean diet on autoimmune disorders, particularly rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid conditions, such as Hashimoto’s disease. Autoimmune diseases have become more prevalent and are often underdiagnosed. It's even common for some people to have more than one autoimmune disease. The Mediterranean Diet and Autoimmune Diseases The Mediterranean diet is high in plant-based foods , such as grains, f

Aaahhh – it’s May! There’s a lot of “green” in nature, and flowers are blooming. The days are getting longer and warmer, so we turn our attention to being outdoors more. To stay healthy, follow some of these health tips for May, including diet, herbs, and lifestyle. Health Tips for May Diet With the cold weather behind us, you may notice that you’re craving lighter foods like fruit and vegetables. Well, this is your body’s way of telling you to lighten up your diet. It’s time

April is within Kapha season, according to Ayurveda, and is characterized by increasing warmth and moisture. This moisture can lead to a buildup of Kapha dosha in our bodies, causing heaviness, lethargy, and congestion. If this sounds like you, then try some of these self-care tips for April. Self-care Tips for April Diet We need a diet that is light, warm, and dry to drain dampness and to support the liver. Light, warm, dry foods include greens like dandelions, beet greens,

Seasonal eating for spring simply involves eating produce that is currently in season, because this produce is at its peak in taste and nutrition. Also, by eating produce that is in season, you support local agriculture and minimize your carbon footprint, since the food isn't transported from distant locations. Seasonal Eating for Spring Spring produce is often referred to as "cool-season" crops because they begin to germinate in cooler soil and can endure low temperatures we

It's January and we’re in the “dead of winter” now, which has the energetics of cold, heavy, and slow, and can cause stagnation in the body. To counteract these energetics we want warm, light and mobile, so try a few of these selfcare tips for January. January Selfcare Tips Food Cut down on, or avoid, heavy or gooey foods such as dairy and wheat. We need warming foods now to combat the cold, so avoid raw foods. Instead, eat cooked foods, and try broth, soups, and stews.

Welcome to November!  The cold, dry, windy air is with us and is characteristic of Vata dosha in Ayurveda. To counteract these qualities, we want the opposite characteristics of warm, moist, and grounded. To do so, follow some of these selfcare tips for November.   November Selfcare Tips Diet Include hearty whole grains, as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables. Favor sweet and earthy root vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squashes and potatoes. Be sure to eat

Aah – September! After a long, sizzling summer, we start to get a break from the heat, especially in the mornings and evenings. Autumn is coming, and we’re in a two-week transitional period called Ritu Sandhi in Ayurveda or Seasonal Junction.   The last week of one season and the first week of the next season make up this two-week Ritu Sandhi period. It’s a sensitive time when we need to let go of the previous season’s diet and lifestyle practices and welcome the next season’

The Mediterranean diet has been extensively researched and has some amazing benefits. Studies indicate that individuals in the Mediterranean region enjoy better health and a reduced risk of chronic diseases compared to those in other regions, largely due to their diet and lifestyle. Let's take a look at the Mediterranean diet, the benefits of this diet based on research, and how to follow it. The Amazing Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet What is the Mediterranean Diet? The

Power Bowls and Buddha Bowls are comforting one-bowl meals; and they're basically the same, except that Buddha Bowls are usually vegetarian and contain a plant-based protein such as tofu, tempeh or legumes. There are no hard and fast rules for making a Power Bowl, but the basic formula is to start with a base ingredient such as a whole grain or a starchy vegetable. You add a protein source and then sliced and diced vegetables (raw, grilled, sautéed and/or roasted).  Add herb

Do you have a lot of zucchini from your garden this year? If so, try this light Gluten Free Zucchini Bread. It's also dairy-free. Gluten Free Zucchini Bread Recipe Ingredients 1 3/4 cup of Bob's Red Mill Gluten-free 1 to 1 Baking Flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon cloves 1/2 cup Walnut Oil (or a good quality vegetable oil) 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Although summer is coming to an end next month, there’s still a lot of food and herbs growing in our gardens. I use this Summer Vegetable...