Macrobiotic Hawaii

Did you fall off the wagon over the holidays?

Leslie Ashburn — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:23:38 +0000

If you did, here are some tips to help you get back on track:

1. Be gentle and compassionate with yourself. Every day we begin anew!
2. Recommit to yourself, your life, and healthy living.
3. Clear out the junk food. If you see it staring at you, it’s very likely you’ll eat it!
4. Stock your kitchen with healthy foods (for the same reason – if you see it, you’ll likely eat it!)
5. Figure out strategies that will help you. Do you need a cooking class, a new cookbook, a plan to pack your lunch the night before you go to work? Figure out what triggers you and develop a strategy to trouble shoot that.
6. Get support, such as setting goals with a friend where you can cook and/or exercise together. Even if you don’t do it together, it’s great to have an accountability buddy to keep you motivated.

You’re worth it!

If you need additional help, I’m happy to coach you and help provide solutions.

Great Grains

Leslie Ashburn — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:02:58 +0000

Grains are the most abundant crop on the Earth and the foundation of human development, according to Oriental philosophy. They are thought to provide:

Strong peaceful energy
Strong intellect
Spirituality
Deep sleep
Sense of calm
Quick reflexes
Long memory
Clear thinking
Flexibility, strength, and endurance
B vitamins
Complex carbs and fiber
High quality protein
Calcium, iron, and other minerals
Satiety

Eating grains prevents:

Heart disease
Cancer
Diabetes
Other chronic illnesses

Grains do not require a lot of energy to grow, and they additionally store easily. For example, they have been found in tombs thousands of years later and still sprout. They have been looked down upon because they have been used to feed animals instead of people.

The energy that grains provide is the opposite of the rush followed by depression from highly refined nutrient deficient grains and sugars.

Brown rice nourishes all organs and functions, especially the brain, spine, lungs, intestines, kidneys, bladder, and reproductive organs. It provides energy, a tranquil mind, and sound judgment. It has traditionally been eaten to provide feelings of unity with others.

Barley nourishes the liver and gall bladder

Millet provides strong and harmonious energy and contributes to practical, creative thinking, inventiveness, and sympathy with others. It nourishes the spleen, pancreas, and stomach and is especially recommended for diabetes, hypoglycemia, lymphoma, and other disorders associated with these organs.

Whole wheat gives strength, courage, and vision, especially when in its whole form. (Flour contributes to individualized and analytical thinking.)

Oats are hearty and warming, but may need to be limited for people with lung and intestinal issues.

Corn is good for the heart and small intestine

Buckwheat is the strongest of the cereal grasses. It provides strong, warming energy and is excellent for hard physical labor or housework. (May be too warming for Hawaii unless eaten in cold weather times, or as cold soba noodles.)

Sources:

Kushi, Michio and Alex Jack. (2003) The Macrobiotic Path to Total Health: A Complete Guide to Preventing and Relieving More Than 200 Chronic Conditions and Disorders Naturally. Ballantine Books, NY

Pitchford, Paul. (2002) Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition. North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA.

Benefits of Whole Plant-based Foods

Leslie Ashburn — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:03:00 +0000

Whole foods such as grains, beans, nuts, seeds, and land and sea vegetables contain:

Thiamin
Riboflavin
B-6
Niacin
Folacin
Vitamin E
(and more)

The vast range of benefits include:

Healthy nervous system and metabolism function, lactation, fertility, red blood cell formation, health of organs, aid in fat synthesis, prevents birth defects, lowers cholesterol, inhibits tumor formation, aids digestion…..

Benefits of Vitamin C

Leslie Ashburn — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 06:57:00 +0000

Vitamin C:

assists in formation of connective tissue (keeps skin firm)
helps heal wounds and broken bones
aids in red blood cell formation
protects against capillary wall ruptures, bruising, and scurvy

Natural sources include:

cauliflower, broccoli, mustard greens, kale, parsley, and other leafy green vegetables, strawberries, oranges, cantaloupe, and other fresh, seasonal, fruits

Benefits of Vitamin E

Leslie Ashburn — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 06:56:00 +0000

On your plate:

almonds, leafy greens of a wide variety (like kale, watercress, choi sum, collards, mustards, spinach, etc.)

Benefits:

Helps protect and repair skin
Reduces redness and irritation

Benefits of Vitamin A

Leslie Ashburn — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 06:50:00 +0000

Vitamin A:

promotes the health of eyes and skin.
increases immunity to infections and reduces free radicals.
protects against tumors, especially lung.
improves skin texture and reduces age spots.

Natural sources include:

carrots, winter squash (kabocha, butternut, etc), rutabaga, other yellow-orange vegetables, broccoli, kale, and other dark green leafy vegetables, and nori.

Berried Treasure

Leslie Ashburn — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 06:05:00 +0000

I always make a point to purchase Kula strawberries when I’m in the grocery store to support the production of local produce. Here’s a great way to prepare them for dessert:

Balsamic Macerated Strawberries

2 pounds strawberries, sliced thin
1 T brown rice syrup, optional
2 tsp organic balsamic vinegar (best quality you can afford)
8 to 10 basil leaves, chopped

In a large bowl, place sliced strawberries, brown rice syrup, and balsamic vinegar. Let the strawberries marinate for about 30 minutes in their own juices until they begin to wilt but not get too mushy. Place in bowls and serve. Just before serving, chop the basil and scatter over the top of the strawberries.

Variations:

Enjoy with Soya Whip (see previous post) by spooning on top or tossing the berries through.
Serve over your favorite all natural vanilla cake, or even over soy ice cream.
Substitute mint for basil.

Things I Love

Leslie Ashburn — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 05:57:00 +0000

Just wanted to share some of the things that I’ve been recently enjoying:

1. Homemade granola with organic oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, coconut, and maple syrup.
2. Raw kale salad with dino kale, carrots, cucumbers, red pepper, lemon juice, olive oil, organic tamari, and local tomatoes.
3. Alter Eco Dark Chocolate with Quinoa
4. Red wine
5. Summer fruits like blueberries, strawberries, and canteloupe.
6. Long walks and running in nature.
7. Going to the beach.
8. Family time.
9. Pot boiled brown rice instead of pressure cooked, for a change.
10. Connecting with macrobiotic enthusiasts on Kauai.
11. Surinam Cherry and Clove flavored Ono Pops popcicles.
12. Someone recently gifted me two containers of soy whipped cream (see photo above) which is so NOT MACRO yet so delicious all the same. This was so that I could make the most amazing vanilla custard. How do we get this on Oahu?

Macrobiotic Philosophy & Radiation Exposure

Leslie Ashburn — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 22:30:00 +0000

This information is from John Kozinski at the Kushi Institute:

Concerned About Nuclear Radiation Fallout?

Kushi Institute senior teacher and macrobiotic counselor John Kozinski shares timely information on this important issue.

Ideas to Protect Yourself from Harmful Radiation

As the crisis in Japan unfolds, there is uncertainty about possible radiation that may affect Japan and the world.

Potassium iodide pills have been sold out at many of the American distributors. Potassium iodide helps protect a person from the harmful effects of radioactive iodine by blocking it’s uptake into the thyroid. One possible serious effect of exposure to large doses of radioactive iodine is thyroid cancer.

There are some natural foods that will help if you have radiation exposure. Here is a list with some explanations.

Leafy greens: stimulate the colon and help the liver discharge radiation from the body.
Fermented foods: have the same effect as leafy greens. These include miso, natural cucumber pickles, and fermented sauerkraut. The best quality pickles are homemade or found in the refrigerated section of the store. They do not have vinegar as an ingredient.
Avoid or limit sugars. These will ferment in the gut and interfere with elimination
Avoid excessive amounts of whole wheat flour products. The excess fiber will interfere with gut bacteria, hampering elimination.
Avoid hard and dry grains such as granola, and dried cereal. This kind of fiber creates bad bacteria hampering the gut.
Eat moderate amounts of grains and cooked vegetables, small amounts of beans regularly and fish along with some cooked fruit, healthy fats and natural seasonings. If you eat other forms of animal foods, be moderate. Excessive amounts will interfere with digestion
Limit raw foods. Raw fiber is harder to digest and will hamper elimination.
Good quality saturated fats block the toxicity of radioactive ions such as avocado and coconut oil. Increase these in times of a nuclear disaster.
Fatty fish: fat soluble vitamins in fatty fish like wild salmon or sardines aid elimination. Eat more often in a disaster.
Kelp tablets from clean waters or kombu powder made from kombu from clean waters. The natural iodine can replace the potassium iodine pills. Take a pill every 1-2 hours if exposed to radiation. North American Herb and Spice Company has good quality kelp under the name, PureKelp. If using kombu powder take a half teaspoon 3 times a day.
Miso has a substance that will remove radiation from the body. Prepare soups and season with a strong taste of miso if there is nuclear disaster. Drink 3 cups per day.
Umeboshi Plums: Take 1-2 daily. This will stimulate the liver and colon to eliminate radiation.
Supplements for Radiation disasters: organic selenium, 200 micrograms every hour for one week then 600 micrograms daily. Vitamin E: 400 IU every hour for 1-2 days, then 2400 IU daily. Buy Vitamin E as mixed tocopherols and/or tocotrienols.
North American Herb and Spice Company has a product that combines herbs, supplements and potassium iodine. It is called NukeProtect.
Chlorella: 2 – 500 mg. capsules 3 times per day or follow directions on the bottle

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Note from Leslie: The programs and services as well as all information in these web pages are educational in nature, not medical advice, and not intended to take the place of personalized medical counseling, diagnosis and treatment.

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Macrobiotics on Maui and Kauai

Leslie Ashburn — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:59:00 +0000

One of my goals this year has been to reach out and work with people on the neighbor islands.

This is coming to fruition with:

an article in Maui Time
another cooking class set up for early summer on Kauai

Happy spring!