December
Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.
-Janis Joplin
Beautiful Body Types
Almost all of us have a distorted image of our body, often due to the importance
our
culture places on outward appearance and the onslaught of media images of
airbrushed
models and celebrities. On a daily basis, we talk to ourselves in ways we would
never
speak to another. Imagine speaking to a child the way you speak to yourself
about your
body. It would devastate and squelch a child. It affects you similarly, causing
stress and
emotional pain in your body, which can make improving your health or losing
weight
even more difficult.
Our culture’s preferred body type
shifts every decade or so, but
whatever it is, it is usually
unattainable without spending
enormous amounts of time, energy
and money. Think of all the intelligence, creativity and time
you spend on improving, altering and judging your
appearance. Who would you be and what could you
accomplish if your valuable resources weren’t used this way?
Constant emphasis on the external makes us discount the
great presence and intelligence that is housed by the body. It
makes us forget the magic of our internal rhythms and fail to
acknowledge the beautiful bodies we have.
The body you have right now is incredible! It never misses a heartbeat, it
maintains homeostasis, and it
miraculously digests whatever you put in it. It is your instrument for
expressing your creativity, intelligence and
love. By focusing on the 1% you don’t like or wish was different, you may be
ignoring the remaining 99% about
your body that is beautiful, unique and delightful.
What would your life be like if you were simply at peace with the body you have?
You may wish to make your body healthier and stronger, but could you do that out
of love and respect for your body, instead of the opposite? Could you begin to
treat yourself with kindness, to limit the negative self-talk, and to reconnect
with
your inner wisdom? Take a minute to imagine what that would feel like. It would
mean celebrating your body, rather than punishing it. It would mean nourishing
your body, rather than depriving it. It would mean a chance to watch your body
flourish just like a child flourishes when treated with care and respect.
Food Focus: Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are on everyone’s mind this season. They seem to go hand-inhand
with the holidays, and fortunately, eating these and other sweet vegetables
needn’t be limited to this time of year. Cravings for sweets can be greatly
reduced
by adding sweet vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, yams, parsnips, beets,
squash, turnips and rutabagas, to your daily diet. Sweet potatoes elevate blood
sugar gently, rather than with the jolt delivered by simple refined
carbohydrates,
so there’s no energy crash after you eat them. Much higher in nutrients than
white
potatoes and especially rich in vitamin A, sweet potatoes offer a creamy
consistency that is satisfying and soothing. They are healing to the stomach,
spleen, pancreas and reproductive organs and help to remove toxins from the
body. They can increase the
quantity of milk in lactating women and can lessen cramps and pre-menstrual
symptoms. If you don’t have any
sweet potatoes in your kitchen, go out and buy some (organic and local if
possible) and make the recipe below.
Recipe of the Month: Sweet Potatoes with Lime and Cilantro
This recipe is an eye-opener for those who find sweet potatoes cloyingly sweet
or who are tired of eating them
smothered in marshmallows and brown sugar. Japanese sweet potatoes, with their
pale flesh and delicate
flavor, are a treat if you can find them.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30-40 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
4 sweet potatoes
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
2-3 limes
butter or olive oil, salt (optional)
Directions:
1. Wash the sweet potatoes and bake them whole, in their skins, at 375 degrees
until tender, about 40
minutes.
2. Wash and chop cilantro leaves.
3. When sweet potatoes are done, slit open the skin and place on serving plate.
Season with salt and dots of
butter or a sprinkle of oil, if you like, then squeeze fresh lime juice all
over, and shower with cilantro leaves.
Forward to a Friend
It’s such a pleasure to help those closest to us become happier and healthier.
Please forward this newsletter to
friends, family members or colleagues who might be interested and inspired by
it.
