Simply Living Well: Have a Healthy Holiday!

This edition includes information about staying healthy during the holidays, avoiding gaining the "Seasonal Seven" pounds, fair trade shopping for gifts, a recipe for Mushroom Walnut Pate and an article on why buying organic is a good idea for your health and the health of the planet.

Please send any comments or suggestions to: Katherine@SimplyLivingWell.net
Website http://www.SimplyLivingWell.net 347-661-2143

This month's newsletter includes:

1. Quote of the month
2. Healthy Holiday Greetings
3. Link of the month: Fair Trade Federation
4. December recipe: Mushroom Walnut Pate
5. Holiday Special
6. Upcoming Workshop: Food and Energy
7. Article: Why Eat Organic Foods?
8. 6-Month Counseling Program
9. More about Katherine Jamieson, Holistic Health Counselor

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
--Hamilton Wright Mabi

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HEALTHY HOLIDAY GREETINGS

As much as they are a magical, wonderful time of year, the holidays can also be a bit overwhelming, especially when it comes to eating healthily. Consider that every year between Thanksgiving and the New Year's Holiday, Americans gain the "Seasonal Seven", seven pounds from rich foods and alcohol, which all too often they never lose.

In the midst of the holiday revelry, don't forget to be aware of how much sugar you're eating, especially store-bought holiday cookies that often contain trans-fatty acids as well. Also, if you drink alcohol, remember that each drink has about 150-200 calories in it, so if you have a few drinks it's like eating an entire meal, but you'll probably still be hungry afterward!

You might try making your own cookies or holiday dishes to cut down on sugar and preservatives, and drinking extra water to compensate for the dehydrating affects of alcohol. Sugar suppresses the immune system, so the more you avoid it in your diet, the better chance you have of staying well this winter, through the holidays and beyond.

Nourishment comes in many forms, and making time to see friends and family at this time of year can be the best thing you can do for your health, feeding you at an entirely different level. So reach out to old acquaintances and loved ones, exchange conversation and gifts and you may find that those cookies don't look so tempting after all (except the gingerbread ones, those are always delicious...)

Happy Kwanzaa, Hannukah, Christmas, and peace and blessings on the winter solstice!

Katherine

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LINK OF THE MONTH: Fair Trade Federation
www.fairtradefederation.com

December is the largest consumer month of the year and the stores and malls will be packed in these next 10 days with last minute shoppers. If you haven't already done all your shopping, you might consider some alternatives gifts, especially those produced according to Fair Trade standards.

As stated on their website: "The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is an association of fair trade wholesalers, retailers, and producers whose members are committed to providing fair wages and good employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged artisans and farmers worldwide." The website serves as a clearinghouse of information about ways to buy goods from around the world while supporting the people who make or grow them.

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DECEMBER RECIPE: Mushroom Walnut Pate

One way to avoid gaining weight at the holidays is provide healthier options to choose from if you host your own celebration or bring a dish to someone else's. This recipe is a healthy, delicious vegetarian alternative to traditional pate that can easily be prepared for larger groups.

Check out the link below for more tips on avoiding holiday weight gain:
http://www.1stholistic.com/Reading/health/health-how-to-avoid-holiday-weight-gain.htm

Mushroom Walnut Pate Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Yields: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

* 1 pound fresh mushrooms, minced
* 1 large onion, minced
* 1 cup walnuts, roasted and ground
* 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
* 2 pinches sea salt
* 1/2 cup spring water

Directions:

1. Heat oil and saute onion until it begins to turn brown.
2. Add mushrooms and cook until soft and water is released.
3. Add walnuts and salt - cook 2-3 minutes.
4. Add water only if needed - consistency should be thick and spreadable.
5. Blend some of mixture if you want a creamier texture.
6. Serve with crackers or crudite's- garnish serving plate with whole roasted walnuts

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HOLIDAY SPECIALS

1. NEED THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT?

Offer the gift of health! Do you know someone who has problems with:

* Women's health issues; PMS, fibroids, menopausal issues, cysts
* Heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis
* Eating disorders, weight loss, food allergies
* Addictions with cigarettes, marijuana, sugar, coffee etc.
* Depression, mood swings, anxiety, headaches, insomnia
* Parasitic infections, chronic fatigue, candida
* Unusual, puzzling or hard to diagnose conditions

A holistic health counselor is trained to work with food and health related problems. Many clients seek such professionals after having worked with a wide array of traditional doctors, specialists and alternative methods of healing. Holistic health counselors have successfully treated all of the conditions named above without the use of pharmaceuticals.
Your gift recipient will receive customized treatment (working along with their medical caregivers when appropriate) and recommendations on their specific needs. Their questions and concerns will be answered with care, courtesy and understanding by a professional whose goal is to listen, respond and assist in profound healing of mind, body and spirit.

This $250.00 value is Holiday priced at $195.00. The recipient of this gift receives one full month of health counseling which includes all of the following:

* Diet Analysis
* Two sixty minute one on one consultations
* Hands on cooking class
* Book and audio library
* Neck and shoulder massage
* Email support

Your gift will arrive in a beautifully wrapped box, which contains:
* The Self-Healing Cookbook
* Gift Certificate
* Description of Program
* Personalized Card

Payment can be by check, VISA or MASTER CARD.
Phone and Internet orders accepted: 347-661-2143 Katherine@SimplyLivingWell.net
Gifts delivered and usable anywhere in the World.

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UPCOMING WORKSHOP AT THE UNITED NATIONS

My last Holistic Health workshop, out of a series of 11, will be held at the United Nations this Wednesday afternoon from 1-2. If you haven't been able to attend any of the workshops yet, "Food and Energy" will provide plenty of information for balancing your diet to maintain optimal energy levels throughout the day. Please join us!

Currently these workshops are being offered for United Nations employees only, however if you are interested in scheduling a similar program for your company or organization, please contact me at Katherine@SimplyLivingWell.net.

FOOD AND ENERGY
December 17, 2003 1-2:00 PM, Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium

o Do you experience sudden drops in energy and often go home exhausted at the end of the day? Do you want to start an exercise program but have no energy to get going?

o Different foods and eating patterns drain energy from the body and create cravings for unhealthy foods. In this workshop we will discuss which foods lead to lasting, sustained energy and which are non-nutritional forms of energy that can deplete the body.

o We will also discuss how diet and exercise are related, the best foods to eat when starting and maintaining an exercise program, and how to find the right kind of exercise for your body type.

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ARTICLE-- Why Eat Organic Foods?

When I talk to people about buying organic produce, one complaint I often hear is that it's too expensive. This is true, organically grown food does typically cost more than conventionally grown food. However, it also tastes better, is healthier to eat, supports less destructive methods of farming, and protects you and the producers from harmful pesticides and chemicals. So, in the end, you get what you pay for!

For the New Year, consider incorporating more organic produce into your diet, perhaps starting with a few foods you commonly eat. Also, certain foods, such as strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, green beans, apples and celery, have a higher concentration of pesticides on them, so by switching to organic for these fruits and vegetable you can significantly reduce your exposure.

For more information on the Top 12 foods to buy organic, check out this article, based on information from the Environmental Working Group: http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php.

WHY EAT ORGANIC FOODS?
Developed by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, www.integrativenutrition.com

Originally, all foods were "organic" - grown and prepared without pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, hormones, irradiation to prevent spoilage, microwave cooking, etc. They were also unrefined, whole foods, or with at most minimal refinements. Since World War II and the advent of chemical farming and food processing, the soils and foods of much of the world have been depleted of minerals and other nutrients.

Our food these days, whether of vegetable or animal origin, is not only deficient in nutrients but also full of pollutants and farm chemicals. The modern denaturing of foods through massive refining and chemical treatment deeply affects their life force, making them unable to foster equilibrium and health.

Pesticides, which have been shown to cause cancer, as well as liver, kidney and blood disease, must be dealt with by the immune system. As pesticides get lodged and increase in our tissues, the immune system becomes weakened, allowing other carcinogens and pathogens to affect our health.

Top ten reasons to shop and eat organic foods

1. Organic produce is not covered in poisonous chemicals. The average conventionally grown apple has 20-30 artificial poisons on its skin, even after rinsing.

2. Fresh organic produce contains on average 50% more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other micronutrients than intensively farmed produce.

3. Going organic is the only practical way to avoid eating genetically-modified food.

4. If you eat dairy or meat products, eating organic has never been more essential to safeguard your health. Intensively reared dairy cows and farm animals are fed dangerous antibiotics, growth hormones, anti-parasite drugs and many other medicines on a daily basis, whether they have an illness or not. These drugs are passed directly onto the consumers of their dairy or meat, which contribute to meat-related diseases like coronaries and high blood pressure.

5. Common sense says that organic is safe food.

6. Organic produce simply tastes better. Fruit and vegetables are much more full of flavor. Experiment with an organic carrot and a conventionally grown carrot. Which is sweeter?

7. Organic farms support and nurture our habitat. Over the last thirty years, intensive farming has led to dramatic erosion of the soil, leaving it denatured.

8. Organic food is not really more expensive than intensively farmed foods, as we pay for conventional foods through our taxes. We spend billions of dollars every year cleaning up the mess that agrochemicals make to our natural water supply.

9. The few extra cents you pay for organic food may save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in doctors' bills.

10. You're worth it!

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6-MONTH HOLISTIC HEALTH COUNSELING PROGRAM

Nutrition is a fundamental aspect of health. The food we eat becomes part of our blood cells, which then feed our tissues and vital organs. When we eat food that has limited nutritional value, our cells weaken. When we eat quality foods our bodies reflect that nourishment through vitality, balance and joy.

Whole, natural foods--vegetables, whole grains, beans, fruits--are quality foods. By shifting your diet to healthy, balanced, quality foods, you can support your body to heal itself and prevent future disease.

My fully supported 6-month program includes :

** Two individual counseling sessions a month
** Yoga, meditation and breathwork
** Reiki and massage
** Books, tapes, and articles on health and wellness
** Food and supplement samples
** Easy to cook recipes
** Health Food Store Tour
** Group hands-on cooking classes

Working together, we will discuss all the issues that contribute to your relationship with health and nutrition. Often our health concerns arise from a lack of attention to our mental, physical, spiritual and emotional needs. Holistic health care addresses all of these needs equally. As a result of our work together you will feel healthier, more energized, and you will have the skills to maintain this state of wellness for years to come.

Call or e-mail to schedule a one-hour initial consultation about the 6-month Holistic Health Counseling Program.

Consultations are held in Manhattan and Brooklyn and can also be done by phone.

Simply Living Well
80 E. 11th St, #336
Between Broadway and University
347-661-2143
Katherine@SimplyLivingWell.net

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ABOUT KATHERINE JAMIESON, HOLISTIC HEALTH COUNSELOR

Katherine was trained in Holistic Health Counseling through the Professional Training Program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York, and certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. She was certified to teach yoga in 2001 through the New York Open Center Prana Yoga Teacher Training, instructed by Dr. Jeffrey Migdow, MD. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Wesleyan University. Before entering the Holistic Health field, Katherine was a Peace Corps volunteer for two years in Guyana, South America.

Her practice combines cutting-edge, holistic nutritional theory and yoga breathing and postures, to help people address their health concerns and attain optimal health and well being in their lives. She has taught yoga and Holistic Health practices with the New York City Department of Health Wellness at Work program, the Hospital for Joint Diseases, and Beth Abraham Health Services. She maintains a private practice in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as lecturing and presenting at Health fairs and seminars.

This fall she is conducting an 11-week series of lectures on Holistic Health and Lifestyle at the United Nations.

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THANK YOU FOR READING AND BE WELL!