Archives for the month of: January, 2009
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Tasty Ayurvedic Recipe to Balance Your Dosha

January 28, 2009 //
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Ayurvedic Recipe from www.Ayurbalance.com

Pan-Fried Paneer and Fresh Avocado with Pineapple-Papaya Salsa
(For Vata and Pitta balancing diets)

You will need:

  • 1 cup 1/2″ paneer cubes
  • 1 cup diced firm avocado (dice just before serving)
  • 1 cup baby spinach leaves, trimmed and washed
  • 10 almonds, soaked, blanched and slivered
  • 2 tablespoons ghee

For the salsa, you will need:

  • 2 tbsp chopped ripe pineapple
  • 2 tbsp chopped ripe papaya
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1/4 tsp minced fresh ginger
  • 1 tsp minced fresh cilantro
  • Rock salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Combine all the salsa ingredients in a bowl, mix well, and set aside to blend.

Heat a non-stick skillet and add the ghee.

When the ghee has melted, lay out the paneer pieces in a single layer on the skillet. After a couple of minutes, turn the pieces over carefully with the tip of a knife to the other side. Continue turning until all sides are done. When done, all the paneer pieces should have a light golden look on all sides.

Scoop the paneer out and set aside; then toast the almonds in the ghee for a couple of minutes. Scoop out from the pan and set aside.

Now add the spinach leaves to the pan and wilt slightly, a couple of minutes. Remove pan from heat.

Line a serving dish with the wilted spinach. Combine the paneer and avocado gently and lay the mixture over the spinach. Sprinkle the almonds on top.

Drizzle the salsa over the dish.

Enjoy warm.

(Serves 2 as a side-dish)

Ghee: The Golden Cooking
Oil of Ayurveda

Ghee is the cooking oil of choice in ayurveda. It is made by cooking butter to remove all the milk-solids and water, so that what’s left is a pure golden oil with a royal flavor and aroma. Once you have cooked with ghee, you’ll never go back to using oil or butter again! Ghee can be used for sautéing, stir-frying, deep-frying, baking, for popcorn, or as a spread. It’s so flavorful that you’ll need much less ghee than butter or other kinds of oil.

Organic Ghee from Purity Farms (available on http://www.ayurbalance.com/shop_organicghee.htm) is made with 100% certified organic butter.

This ghee is

  • free of bovine growth hormones
  • a non-genetically modified food
  • non-hydrogenated
  • free of transfatty acids
  • free of oxidized cholesterol
  • salt-free, casein-free and lactose-free

 

 

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Inspiration of the Week*

January 24, 2009 //
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“Everything you need you already have. You are complete right now, you are a whole, total person, not an apprentice person on the way to someplace else. Your completeness must be understood by you and experienced in your thoughts as your own personal reality.” – Wayne Dyer

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DoshaCare at ISSE Long Beach!

January 23, 2009 //
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Come Visit the DoshaCare team, including founder, Patty Schmucker and members of our esteemed Advisory Board at the International Salon and Spa Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center January 31-February 2. In Booth #2040 We’ll be doing Customized Hand Facials, Ayurvedic Facial Services, Meditation, and Ayurvedic History and Personal Application of the 5,000 year old tradition. Patty and Max Simon (GetSelf Centered.org) will be teaching a class on how to turn beauty treatments into wellness rituals, and Patty will be sharing her branding secrets. All classes will be held next to the Convention Center at the Hyatt. Don’t miss the giveaway of up to $5,000 worth of services and products.

isse20091

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In 2009, I vow to:

January 21, 2009 //
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Do a lot more Volunteer Work. Our new president provided much inspiration in his inauguration speech about gettin up, dusting ourselves off, and taking action to make a better America. While volunteer work has always been something that was ingrained in us as children, as we get further into our adult lives, the process of accruing money and success often eclipses our philanthropic intentions. I vow to revisit my altruistic ideals and get more involved in 2009. Here are some great organizations that provide just that very opportunity.

  • Big Sunday – www.bigsunday.org - This organization boasts the largest annual citywide service event in America with hundreds of events and organizations you can volunteer with depending on your preference. Last year I chose to help clean up a rundown cat shelter in Glendale, and it was a really rewarding experience. I even almost adopted a cat that day. This year’s event will be held May 2nd and 3rd. Start checking the website for listings of different volunteer opportunities all over the county starting in April.
  • LA Works – www.laworks.com – This is another fabulous resource for a slew of LA based organizations, many with revolving volunteer opportunities. I’m interested in pursuing the Aviva Center, which is a center for abused and neglected teens. They only ask for two hours of your time to participate/ supervise in various athletic or artistic activities to brighten the day for these kids. Teens seem to be a segment of the population that is often forgotten and who need to be reached out to the most. I also want to  check out the Food Bank of Southern California and the PetSave Foundation.

                                                                            

  • Volunteer Match – www.volunteermatch.org – An organization that matches people up with service opportunities in their area by zipcode or interest. The Voice for the Animals Foundation sparked my interest. They are always in need of volunteers to walk, interact with and socialize the animals that they’ve taken in off the streets and prepare them to be adopted.

My mom always said that when you are going through a rough time ( and let’s face it – our country has seen better days) the best way to get on the road to feeling better and moving forward is to help others. So true, so get out there and make a difference.

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My Yoga Online Trial Offer!

January 19, 2009 //
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Our friends at www.myyogaonline.com are offering all doshacareblog readers this special limited time free trial coupon code so you can try their always growing library of yoga, Pilates, meditation, and wellness videos.  Just visit the following link to try it now for two weeks free…https://myyogaonline.com/joinnow.html&code=FYFT247.

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Superstar Ayurvedic Ingredient: Ashwagandha

January 17, 2009 //
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This morning our founder, Patty Schmucker, was interviewed on Woman’s Day’s Talk Radio.  Stay tuned to DoshacareBlog.com for the posted interview. During the interview, Patty was asked which essential oils and herbs people could use at home for homeopathic benefits. One botanical that she mentioned as being great for all skin types and doshas, was Ashwagandha.

Ashwagandha has been used as an herbal remedy for hundreds of years. It has many applications, and has been used by Native Americans and the people of Africa and India to treat inflammation, fevers, and to protect against infection or illness. It has also been used to boost the immune system, improve memory, and to promote overall wellness.

Ashwagandha or withania somnifera is a shrub that flourishes in India and North America. The roots of the ashwagandha plant have been employed for millennia by Ayurvedic healers. Ashwagandha has many beneficial elements, including flavonoids and members of the withanolide class. Numerous modern studies have found that ashwagandha is very effective in reducing inflammation, treating tumors, decreasing stress, increasing mental activity, invigorating the body, and as an antioxidant.

 

Ashwagandha can be found in all three DoshaCare elixirs, as well as the pitta masque, kapha cleanser and kapha masque.  It’s affects on the skin are that of a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals from the environment, preventing oxidation of the skin which can result in fine lines, wrinkles and dehydration. And for acneic skin conditions, it provides a purifying affect in that ashwagandha has been used for years as an immunity booster against diseases. A powerhouse much like Vitamin C, but a bit more dynamic. 

Source www.2000herbs.com

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In 2009, I vow to:

January 13, 2009 //
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Cut back on Caffeine.

What worries me, personally, is that I feel like I can’t fully start my day or that I’m not as efficient and effective without my morning coffee. So I guess that makes me an addict.  While, I have gotten into tea and hot water with lemon a lot more in the last year, it would behoove me to add some decaffeinated coffee to that repertoire.  Maybe if it tastes like my regular morning coffee, than I can trick my brain into jumping to alertness after a cup or two, as it would if I were to drink my normal coffee.  I already know that there are negative effects of caffeine in my personal use such as: 

It is very dehyrdrating; I always have to play catch up with my water intake to rehydrate after my coffee in the morning.                                                         

It stains my teeth, therefore I have to whiten them to counter that side effect.

I get an energy letdown around 1pm that I’m sure is connected to the coffee I had at 7am, and I get the urge to go to Starbucks and refuel. Not healthy or economic.

These facts from www.myaddiction.com shed a sobering light on my and many other people’s addiction to caffeine. “Caffeine addiction is for real and to make matters more disheartening for the avid coffee drinker or cola fan, caffeine employs the same effects as alcohol, LSD, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, nicotine, opioids, benzodiazepines, and other major drugs. This makes caffeine the widest used psychoactive drug in the world.”

From www.mycaffeineaddiction.com:  

So what are the negative effects of caffeine? Here are just a few of the more common health problems that you may experience.

  1. Too much caffeine can lead to cardiovascular problems.
    When you consume caffeine, your blood pressure and heart rate will rise. Additionally, over time, an overuse of caffeine has been connected in some cases to heart disease.
  2. Caffeine can lead to the increased risk of gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers. Additionally, problems with the esophagus can come about due to extended, regular consumption of caffeine.
  3. Since caffeine stimulates stress hormones, this can lead to increased anxiety, insomnia, and tension. If you are like most people, increasing the amount of stress and anxiety in your life is not a good thing. There is enough of that to go around already!
  4. If you become addicted to caffeine, it will be difficult to cut this out of your diet. When you finally decide to do so, you may experience symptoms associated with withdrawal. This includes irritability, headaches, and more.

Top Ten Coffee Alternatives:

  1. Teeccino is the number one coffee alternative sold in the United States. This “herbal coffee” is meant to act as a replacement for anybody who is addicted to caffeine. With a great taste and none of the harmful side effects, Teeccino has quickly been taken to by tens of thousands of Americans. If you are looking for a coffee alternative, there is no better option.
  2. While green tea contains some caffeine, it is nowhere near as much as coffee. This drink is full of antioxidants, and is much healthier than coffee. For many, this is a natural change that makes it easy to stop drinking so much coffee.
  3. Much like green tea, black tea is also an effective coffee alternative. Many people love this option because of its strong flavor, as well as its great taste when mixed with milk. Additionally, black tea has half as much caffeine content as coffee.
  4. Licorice tea contains no caffeine, and offers a sweet flavor that is sure to wake you up.
  5. Yerba mate may not be a commonly known coffee alternative, but it offers many benefits. Not only is it caffeine free, but Yerba mate still offers a stimulating effect on the body.
  6. Rooibos tea is very similar to black tea. The main difference is that this option is caffeine free. Just like black yea, this drink is full of antioxidants and other health benefits.
  7. Chocolate powder may not be the best coffee alternative, but it is an option. While this powder does contain some caffeine, it is not nearly as much as a cup of coffee.
  8. Siberian Ginseng tea contains no caffeine, and is known to have positive effects on the human body.
  9. Chai consists of red, black, and green tea. While the black and green portions contain caffeine, the red does not. When compared to coffee, Chai has much less caffeine content.
  10. Carob powder is similar to cocoa, but does not contain caffeine. Additionally, carob powder is known to have a positive effect on the digestive system.
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Inspiration of the Day*

January 13, 2009 //
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This one comes from the book Breathing Space: Twelve Lessons for the Modern Woman by Katrina Repka and Alan Finger, as seen in Body and Soul Magazine, February 2009.

“To live each day as if it were your last, you would be trying to remedy all the mistakes you had made, all the regrets, all the things unsaid. If you live each day as if it were your first, you are freed from all obligations, all guilt, all regret.”

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Powerhouse Ayurvedic Ingredient: Amla

January 8, 2009 //
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Amla or Amalaki has been renowned for thousands of years in Ayurveda for its slew of powerful healing properties. One of Ayurveda’s royal  rasayanas (powerful tonics), the amalaki fruit and it’s byproducts are packed with antioxidants.

Here is a list of some of Amla’s internal health benefits:

  • Excellent source of Vitamin C
  • Enhances food absorption
  • Balances stomach acids
  • Fortifies the liver
  • Nourishes the brain and mental functioning
  • Supports the heart
  • Strengthens the lungs
  • Regulates elimination
  • Enhances fertility
  • Helps the urinary system
  • Good for the skin
  • Promotes healthier hair
  • Acts as a body coolant
  • Flushes out toxins
  • Increases vitality
  • Strengthens the eyes
  • Improves muscle tone
  • Acts as an antioxidant
  • Enhances immunity

You can find Amalaki in many nutritional supplements and tonics, as well DoshaCare products. Found in high concentrations in the Vata Elixir, Pitta Elixir and Kapha Cleansing Gel, Amla is used to exfoliate and brighten the skin. Known as the richest natural source of Vitamin C, Amla’s anti-aging powers both topically and internally are widely known. Ripe with minerals and amino acids, this ingredient also serves as an antibacterial astringent keeping skin clear and radiant. For more information on DoshaCare Products and Ayurveda visit www.doshacare.com.

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In 2009 I vow to:

January 7, 2009 //
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Finally start yoga. Okay, I admit it, for many years I said that I should start taking yoga. I think that finally, my maturity has caught up with me, and I’m actually centered and calm enough to invest an hour to slowing down, stretching out and focusing my energy. I’ve alwasy been more the cardio kickboxing, running 3 miles type. If it didn’t hurt and if people didn’t cringe at the thought of it, I didn’t think it was a grueling enough workout. Now that I’m headed towards 30, the idea of stretching all of my muscles and building strength without moving 80 miles a minute resonates with me much more. Not to mention the fact that yoga supposedly creates a leaner body line.

I thought I’d start out at home, so I don’t embarras myself in front of anyone until I get the hang of it. I found this hatha yoga video by www.myyogaonline.com on YouTube that looks just challenging enough and also has a sensual element to it.  Fun, right?

I’ll keep you all posted on my progress. In no time I’ll be a much calmer, much more limber person. Namaste.

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