With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, we all think about wearing green and people with red hair. My son has red hair and so does my sister and brother. So, focusing on hair, I get asked quite often about hair and how can they have thick, luxurious hair. Sometimes we may find too much hair left in our hairbrush or that our hairline is looking a bit farther back than it seemed a few weeks ago. Our hair can definitely be influenced by what we are consuming. In many cases hair loss is the result of a deficiency of Vitamin B and other nutrients. Lack of the right kind of essential fatty acids can also be part of the equation. A lack of Vitamin B6, folic acid, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, and multiple nutrients in the vitamin B complex that the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy can result in hair thinning or hair loss. The combination of nutrients is what is important, including eating the right kind of proteins in the right amounts. Foods rich in B vitamins are brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, and lecithin. Beans and seafood are also high in protein and B vitamins.
There are many non B vitamins that contribute to healthy hair. Zinc works in cell reproduction and hormone balance, affecting hair growth and taking care of the hair follicles. If the body is low on zinc, the hair follicles can become weak. Foods heavy in zinc are seafood and nuts. Vitamin E is another important element of healthy hair, having been shown to improve scalp circulation because of its anti-cellular aging and increased blood oxygenation properties. Avocados, kiwi fruit, nuts, seeds, and olive oil are good sources of vitamin E. Next, Vitamin A’s protection of hair follicles has been documented, and can be found in carrots, spinach, and unrefined cold pressed seed oils, such as flax, walnut, pumpkin

Although it is best to get nutrients in a whole food form, all of these vitamins and minerals can be found in supplement form. When buying supplements look for organic whole food vitamins. Your body can read whole foods much better than it can an isolated vitamin.
Essential fatty acids are another vital way of promoting healthy skin and hair. Fish and fish oil supplements are also high in omega 3′s. Some other essential fatty acid sources are walnuts, avocados, almonds, pecans, pumpkins, hazelnuts, pine nuts, sesame, olives, and their respective oils.

A good coffee bean grinder is a great way to add some of these nuts and seeds easily to foods. These grinders are about $20 and are well worth the investment. Mine is about 20 years old and I use it constantly. Just grind the fresh nuts or seeds in the grinder and sprinkle them on dishes like you would a seasoning. My favorite is to add the freshly ground flax seeds to salads, smoothies, casseroles and soups. Don’t heat them though; add them to the food after it is cool.
by Nancy Addison CHHC, AADP
for more information go to www.organichealthylifestyle.com
copyright@nancyaddison2012

Clean Food
By Nancy Addison CHC, AADP

I was reading the other day about “clean eating.” My client had asked me, if I knew what it was and I really didn’t. I supposed it is certainly better than eating dirty food! So, I looked it up on line. Apparently it is a term used for non-processed or “fast” food. I guess it is making a come back because a lady, wrote a book for “idiots.” And their guide to eating “clean.” It is a term that has caught the buzz. Now there are magazines and websites about eating clean The Clean food movement looks like a good movement. It is a movement that was started over the moral values of the times in the sixty’s, when I grew up. Much of what I talk about in my book and really why I became an organic proponent and vegetarian in the first place is because of the amazing amounts of chemicals and preservatives that are added to food at restaurants and packaging plants; as well as the inhumane treatment of these precious, living creatures. The “clean eaters’ support eating whole, real food. Makes sense to me! As people have gotten sicker and sicker from eating processed foods filled with additives, preservatives, flavor enhancers, as well as antibiotics and hormones; as a last resort they have turned to focusing on what they put in their mouth. I know changing what we eat can be really difficult, but when we stick with it for at least two weeks to ninety days, we can regenerate our tastes buds and really made a shift to the new lifestyle, even in our way of thinking. From what I can find on-line, the “Clean Food” movement says they have 7 principles. So, let’s look at those.
Number 1. Eat whole, natural foods and seek to eliminate or minimize processed foods. Well, that is admirable. But watch out for the word “natural.” It can be totally chemically derived and be legally called natural by FDA standards.
Number 2, They say to choose unrefined instead of refined foods. That sounds good.
Number 3. Include some protein, carbohydrates and fat at every meal. That sounds good as well.
Number 4: Watch out for fat, salt and sugar. That is good concept. But really, what you should look for is what kind of fat, salt and sugar it is. So many of these are really not good, but the healthy alternative can be extremely beneficial. I wrote really long chapters on the types of fats, sugars, and salts there are to choose from. I think quality is paramount.
Number 5 They say to eat six small meals throughout the day. I personally disagree with this. This can create weight problems and digestive problems in my opinion.
Number 6 They say not to drink your calories. The basic thought is good, but some of the suggestions for drinks are not a healthy choice in my own personal opinion. I think they can cause allergies and weight gain.
I am not into counting calories. I don’t do it. I think it is really an outdated mode of eating, because it doesn’t take into account the quality of the food as compared the quality of the other food. Calories for white refined flour are the same as calories for whole- grained, organic flour. I don’t believe it is as relevant and people think. I think it also makes eating so much more complicated. I don’t think eating healthy food should be complicated.
Number 7 is to get moving. Well, how can anyone argue with that? Good suggestion.

Well, in conclusion, if you are a clean eater, I would say you are much better off than you might have been previously, assuming you were eating a lot of fast and processed foods and leading a sedentary lifestyle.

I hope this helped you!
If you want to learn more about healing the body and the healing diet, sign up for my seminar March 10th from 1PM to 5 PM! It is an afternoon that you can spend with me. I only have small intimate groups; so you can ask questions and get all the answers you need. You will learn to handle stress, how to eat for candida yeast problems, cancer, diabetes and heart disease problems. What a gift you can give yourself and your loved ones. It is almost full, so, sign up today! It will be the best investment in your health that you can make.
Aren’t you worth it?
Go to www.organichealthylifestyle.com for more information.

As Valentines Day draws near, I am reminded of a story I read in 1995 of two twin baby girls. When they were born, Oct. 17, 1995, they were premature by 12 weeks and put in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Medical Center in Central Massachusetts in Worcester. As a standard practice of the hospital, the babies were placed into separate incubators in order to reduce the risk of infection. One baby, Kyrie, was much larger than her sister Brielle, who only weighed two pounds at her birth. The larger baby, Kyrie, slept well and was healthily gaining weight, but her smaller sister, Brielle, was having trouble breathing and had low levels of oxygen in her blood, as well as low weight gain and problems with her heart rate. Everyone was deeply concerned, especially a particular nurse named Gayle Kasparian, who was trying everything that she could think of to help Brielle. Then, on Nov. 12th, Brielle had an emergency health situation. She started gasping for air and started turning a gray-blue color; then she got hiccups and her heart rate went way up. Everyone was so afraid Brielle would not survive.

In desperation, nurse Kasparian remembered a common procedure a fellow colleague had mentioned to her once, that was common practice in most of Europe, but not done here in that country. It was the practice of placing newborn baby multiple births in beds together. They called it double bedding. Even though she could not ask permission from her manager, because she was away and not able to reached, she asked the parents permission to put the girls together in one bed to see if it would help. They agreed. So, nurse Gayle, broke the rules and place the larger baby sister with her smaller, now in extreme danger of dying.

The moment they were together, Brielle immediately snuggled up to her sister and within minutes, Brielle’s readings for her blood and oxygen were better than they had been since her birth. Kyrie gently put her arm around Brielle. It was such a beautiful hug. In the article I read, they called it a rescuing hug. It was a very powerful hug. Being together had quite literally saved Brielle’s life. It wasn’t much later that the parents were able to take the girls home, because they both were thriving. Nurse Gayle did not get in trouble. In fact, the practice of double bedding multiple births is now a standard practice at the hospital. Sometimes, breaking the rules can lead to changes in old antiquated practices. It takes courage and a strong heart to do what you believe in.

So, as we lead our busy lives, remember that our connectiveness and our ability to love are so precious, that we can literally save another’s life by just being there for them. So, share those

wonderful hugs with your loved ones. Take the time to truly listen, be present and reach out with the most precious gift you can give. That is the precious gift of you. You may never know how much of an impact that hug smile might have on another’s life, but it is something you can give everyday without spending a penny.

I am mentally sending hugs to you all!
Much love and have a joyful and loving month of February. Love, Nancy

Recently, I have had a friend that has been ill a fairly long time. Her stomach hurt, she felt a lot like she had the flu. She wasn’t getting well. Finally, after many tests, she found out that she had parasites. We may not realize it, but we do get parasites in our systems from various foods, water, traveling, etc. She is taking her medicine, that her doctor prescribed, and is now feeling a lot better. If you are wondering about natural ways to help the body keep parasites to a minimum; one food that I frequently add to my diet is pumpkin seeds. The interesting thing about pumpkin seeds is that they are terrific in helping the body get rid of parasites. I use them on a regular basis when feeding the wild animals I rehabilitate. (I am a licensed, certified, wildlife rehabilitator.) I give the animals freshly ground (meaning that I grind them the moment I am using them) pumpkin seeds in their food, and it is amazing to me how many tape worms and other types of parasites come out in their bowel movements. Because of this, I use pumpkin seeds frequently, in a freshly ground form, in my own foods. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of protein and fiber, as well as minerals, including zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, cop- per, and manganese.
by Nancy Addison

Today, I am getting ready for my first 2013 Healing Diet Seminar.
I am focusing on getting a fresh clean start for the New Year.
Boost the immune system!
Lose Weight!
Gain more energy!
Eating to reverse aging!
Cleaning out all of the old stuff that has not been working and refreshing the spirit, mind and body.
Get on the new healthy path.
I have a great group coming and I am looking forward to a fabulous day of transformation.
It is going to be a big weekend.

I also, have a book signing on Sunday at a wonderful Mediterranean Cafe. We are going to have cooking lessons, lunch and cutting edge health information.

A wonderful way to start off the New Year and keep those resolutions!

New Years Day is here and many of us will be having the meal consisting of black-eyed peas. The black-eyed peas are known to represent “good luck”. This tradition began in the southern states after the Civil War. The northern troops, especially who were serving under General Sherman, would destroy all foods, crops, and livestock that they couldn’t carry with them. The crops of “‘ field peas” and corn were considered by them to be only good for animal food, were left undestroyed. There were many people in the south that survived the war because of this misunderstanding. Thus giving them a

” good luck” reputation. The peas are meant to represent coins. Mustard greens or collards are usually served with the peas to represent paper money. In the south, corn bread and rice are usually accompaniments for this meal. This tradition has spread throughout the country.

The common commercial pea we see today is the California black-eyed pea. It is pale with a prominent black spot. This highly nutrition legume was promoted by George Washington Carver. It was valuable as a crop, because it adds nitrogen to the soil. It is such a highly nutricous legume. It is high in calcium, folate and vitamin A, as well as a great source of fiber. The blossoms produce large amounts of nectar; so they are grown in many places where honey is produced. The large amount of pollinators that consume this nectar makes the use of pesticides much more strictly regulated. I always suggest buying organically grown foods, when possible.

Cooking legumes is really very easy. Many people don’t like to eat legumes, because they think it is hard to digest and produces gas. There are a few tricks to cooking that help with the digestibility of the legumes. Soaking in purified water and draining before cooking helps break down the enzymes. I also, add some seaweed to my mixture as I cook them. I add a piece of Kombu seaweed. It helps to further break down the enzymes so the legumes are more easily digestible. You can add a 3 or 4 inch piece of seaweed to the soaking water and then also keep it in the cooking water. Seaweed adds many nutrients to the food. You can discard it after cooking. Always sort, wash and drain your beans before soaking. Beans double in volume when cooked, so cook one cup if you need two cups.

Recipe of the Month

Basic Black Eyed Peas

1. Soak black-eyed peas overnight (or for at least 4-6 hours) in purified water with a small 3-inch piece of Kombu seaweed. Have at least two inches of water covering the legumes.

2. Drain off the water.

3. Put the black-eyed peas and Kombu in a large pot of fresh purified water. Make sure you put in enough water to cover them well. The legumes will absorb large amounts of the water.

4. Bring the pot to a boil and drain again.

5. Put more water in the pot and cover the beans completely once more. Bring to a boil, skim any foam off, cover and lower heat to a simmer.

6. Simmer until tender.
Enjoy a nutritious healthy New Years Day meal with the traditional black-eyed peas. Happy New Year!
by Nancy Addison copyright@nancyaddison2013

Meditation

By Nancy Addison CHC, AADP

I have been a regular guest speaker at Parker University. I teach nutrition and “The Healing Diet” for Dr. Michael Hall’s class. Part of my talk concerned stress. I taught them a 3-minute meditation to help them cut down on stress and actually regenerate their own stem cells. They loved it! I teach this to my clients, at my seminars and at my speaking engagements.
Here is a nice quote on meditation that I thought was good. Hope you like it!

“Profound meditation in solitude and silence frequently exalts the mind above its natural tone, fires the imagination, produces the most refined and sublime conceptions. The soul then tastes the purest and most refined delight, and almost loses the idea of existence in the intellectual pleasure it receives. The mind on every motion darts through space into eternity; and raised, in its free enjoyment of its powers by its own enthusiasm, strengthens itself in the habitude of contemplating the noblest subjects, and of adopting the most heroic pursuits.”
Johann Georg von Zimmermann

Hope you have a stress free and relaxed day!
For more information go to: www.organichealthylifestyle.com

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
On Thanksgiving, many of us overindulge and eat just a little too much or eat foods that may not agree with us. One thing I like to have if I am feeling a little full or have any kind of indigestion is to drink some fresh ginger root tea.
Here is the recipe from my book:
Raw recipe
Ginger Tea
One of my favorite teas that is great for the immune system, digestive
system, and circulatory system is ginger tea. This can be especially good
for anyone having digestive issues. You can buy ginger root at the grocery
store, usually by the root vegetables or mushrooms. The skin should
be smooth and tight, not wrinkly. The root should be firm. You can buy
pieces of the root in all different sizes. Keep it in a cool, dry, dark place.
Ingredients:
1-inch-piece fresh ginger root
2 c. or more of hot water
stevia or raw honey to sweeten (optional)
Directions:
1. Grate or thinly slice ginger root.
2. Pour warm or hot water over it and steep about 5 minutes.
3. Strain.
4. Add a few drops stevia or honey, if using.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

What do Vegetarians eat for Thanksgiving, is a question I get asked when the fall season arrives. My answer is, we eat all the side dishes that are usually served with the dinner. They are the inviting comfort foods that have a delectable charm to them. I put a few of these favorite holiday recipes in my book, How To Be A Healthy Vegetarian. I love Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite holidays. I have a large family and dearly love getting to see them and catch up on what everyone is doing. With everyone coming over, the house will smell fabulous with the aroma of freshly, baked breads and casserole dishes. Since we all want to nibble a little while we are waiting for everyone to arrive, I will have some nut pate stuffed celery sticks as appetizers and some warm spiced, apple cider. When it is finally time for our meal and the blessing, we will be filling our plates with a variety of delicious foods. People traditionally like to have a chewy, meaty type of main dish for Thanksgiving that would be in place of the traditional turkey. So, I make a Seitan Stroganoff, which is an old recipe of my mother’s that I have remade to be vegetarian. It is very hearty with a kind of gravy type of flavor and sauce. I would have a big, mixed green salad and the side dishes would be my squash casserole, Tom Spicer’s brown rice and chestnuts, stuffed tomatoes, green peas and Sweet potatoes with cranberries and apples. Then of course we have to have the traditional cornbread dressing. I make mine with my homemade cornbread recipe that is combined with vegetable broth, celery, sautéed onions and some herbs to create a wonderful cornbread stuffing. Traditionally, for the last 27 years, my mother would divide her dressing when she was making it and make one with chicken broth for everyone else and then one with a vegetarian broth for my family and me. I always appreciated that from my mother. She is so thoughtful about trying to make sure everyone is able to enjoy a festive Thanksgiving Dinner together. Then for the bread, I make my Great Aunt Katherine’s homemade yeast rolls, which are always a favorite and are the traditional bread at our holiday family feasts. Then for the grand finale, there would be pumpkin and pecan pies for dessert. I am so thankful for my family and our meals together. This Thanksgiving I will be eating these comforting foods that are my special veggie Thanksgiving feast. I hope this gives you some idea of what to serve the vegetarians that grace your table. Bless you and your family and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Recipes from “How To Be A Healthy Vegetarian” are on pages:
Nut Pate Page 178
Seitan Stroganoff Page 195
Squash Cassarole page 205
Tom Spicer’s Brown Rice with Chestnuts page 218
Stuffed Tomatoes Page 214
Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries and Apples Page 216
Aunt Katherine’s Yeast Rolls page 251
Southern Cornbread page 256

Our body needs foods that are in season. It is also fresher and less expensive to eat foods that are in season.
So, next time you are at the grocery store, look for local, seasonal foods! There are farmers markets in most cities on weekends. Support your local organic farmer!