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“The Power of Ancient Greek Foods” Workshop

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Learn how to choose foods, combine & cook them, to use their power for your own health.

Listen to Ancient Recipes with their History and Nutrition Secrets.

This workshop will concentrate on Ancient Greek Foods, popular in modern day life, such as figs, pomegranates, greens, herbs, millet, barley, fish, dairy etc.

‘ it is necessary to know the property, not only of foods themselves, whether corn, drink or meat, but also of the country from which they come’

Foods in their natural form have different properties to foods modified by the ‘human art’ 

These two quotes taken from the Hippocratic books were written 2,500 years ago.

We will examine them under the lens of modern science and medicine.

We will continue to explore the power of foods in future workshops.

To find out more come to our 3rd “Ancient Wisdom & Harmonious Diet” workshop with Dr Eleni.

Saturday  7 March 2015 12-2:00 pm

8-9 Hop Gardens (off St Martin’s Lane), London WC2N 4EH 

Cost: £20 (includes Greek mountain tea & date truffles)

More information & to book a place: ihealthbeing@gmail.com - 07958 495537 

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Walking v Running – which is the healthiest?

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While I was away, I read some interesting articles about the relative benefits of walking and running. This was of interest to me, as I had taken the advice of Eleni Tsiompanou, the integrative doctor at Penny Brohn, to stop running some time ago.Overall, it seems the benefits of a 5-minute run, match those of a 15-minute walk. Broadly speaking, it seems the benefits associated with a 25-minute run are equivalent to walking for 1 hour 45 minutes. Obviously if you are  young  healthy and reasonably fit, running is more time-efficient. Or is it? With running there is time spent getting changed twice and showering afterwards. (Assuming that you have a healthy attitude to personal hygiene) Plus, there is the  time stretching (before and/or after running) and maybe even cooling down. So a 15-minute run could, in reality, easily take an hour out of one’s day. This is  significantly more time than that devoted to say, a 45-minute walk (which, generally, will require no changing, stretching or showering) and you spend all the time outside!Runners may also be prone to injury. I know from first hand experience about this. When I used to run a lot, I had a succession of running related injuries (shin splints, right calf,  lower back, to name a few), which was one of the reasons which eventually led me to think about giving up running.Prior to my liver resection in February 2011, I had a personal trainer who was helping me get fit again, after a year of very gentle exercise. My aim was to run a 10km race and raise money for cancer charities. I was feeling great and beginning to enjoy the running. Then I was diagnosed with a metastasise in my liver. It required surgery. I had to stop the running while I recovered from my surgery.That March as part of my post op recovery, I went to Penny Brohn for a few days. During which I saw Eleni  Tsiompanou ( an Intergrative Health Doctor) and we discussed the subject of exercise and how much was advisable. I told her what my plans were and that I hoped to get back to running again soon. I was not expecting what she said. I remember her words “Running – no way – this is far too much for you. Walking – most definitely and as much as you like. But running no”.  I was confused!

The reason, she explained to me, was that my immune system was having a difficult time dealing with fighting off the cancer cells floating around my body. Running can suppress the immune system. So if my immune system is suppressed after I run then the cancer cells can prosper. Which is not a good idea.This made sense! Cardio/aerobic (distance) running is known to (stress) suppress the immune system, You only have to think of distance runners such as Mo Farah, Paula Radcliffe who have been prone to infection illnesses . 

Walking can be sustained all year and can be carried on as you get older. Walking is much easier and in my experience it is more conducive to ‘social networking’. Another advantage of walking is that it can easily be incorporated into one’s daily routine. My friends are of the age when going for a walk is not too off putting. I can’t think too many of my friends who would get excited by asking them to go for a 5km run. But a walk with Colin and me seems to be OK.

Source: http://addictedtogreentea.blogspot.co.uk

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Diet and Hippocratic Philosophy

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If you are interested in using diet and Ancient Greek wisdom to live a more healthy life,  join the Health Being Institute education program on: “Diet and Hippocratic Wisdom”.

The program will be launched next Monday in the birth country of Hippocrates, Greece. A number of workshops will be given from September onwards in Central London.

What you will learn:

* How ancient Hippocratic philosophy still teaches us methods to be healthy

* How to use the wisdom of Ancient Greek philosophers to uncover you long-term beliefs and unconscious attitudes towards your body, health and well-being

* What are the lessons that Hippocratic philosophy can teach us today

* What modern science has proven to be true of the Hippocratic medicine and how to use it to move towards a healthier you

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“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”

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 BY 

Exposed by my children for what I really look like

Flipping through the pictures on my phone, I see it.

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My first reaction is shock. Who took this hideous picture of me?

Self-loathing and disgust swell up and threaten to bring me to tears.

Just as I am about to hit delete, my boy walks in the room.

“Do you know anything about this picture?” I ask him.

I turn the screen so he can see it. He smiles huge.

“I took that of you in Tahoe,” he says. “You looked so beautiful laying there. I couldn’t help it mom.”

“You need to ask me before using my phone to take pictures,” I say.

“I know,” he says. “But mom, seriously, look how pretty you look?”

I look at the picture again and try to see what he sees.

My daughter walks over and takes a look.

“That could be a postcard mom,” she says smiling. “You’re so beautiful. I love it.”

I take a deep breath.

This is exactly what I needed.

My default mode is to see and focus on the flaws and imperfections. I’m starting to see a bit more.

I still see my dimply, fat thighs.

I also see a mom collapsed on the shore that just explored the lake for hours with her children.

I still see chubby arms.

I also see the arms of a mom that just helped her kids across the rocks and hot sand so their feet wouldn’t hurt.

I still see a fat woman wearing a black dress bathing suit to try to hide her weight issue.

I also see an adventurous mom that loves her children something fierce.

Like many women, I have struggled with my weight most of my life. It’s not something that will ever go away for me. I don’t have a naturally slim body. Never have.

Right now I’m the heaviest I’ve been in 10 years. Yet…

I have not let my weight stop me this time. I am wearing tank tops, sundresses and bathing suits in public. I’m running around playing with my kids this summer and I sometimes even feel attractive.

Yes. You heard me.

“I feel pretty. Oh so pretty. I feel pretty, and witty and bright.”

Well…not exactly. But something like that.

Is it because I’m getting older? Is it that I have more to worry about than just how I look? Or maybe it’s because my kids look at me with such adoring eyes.

Really, it doesn’t matter.

I don’t hate my body anymore.

That’s huge for me to admit and hard to even wrap my mind around.

I’m not giving up on exercising and getting healthy. Those are things I will continue to strive for because I want to be around awhile.

Right now though, I just want to love my body where it is. I want it to be OK to see myself the way my kids do.

Thank you kids.

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* Here is another “secret” picture the kids took of me on our day trip to the beach.

Source: Bridgette Tales

Natural sources of Vitamin B12 for vegetarians

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Dried Purple Laver

The main sources of vitamin B12 are animal foods.

People who are vegetarians are at risk of becoming vitamin B12 deficient, especially if they have other factors that can cause

  • increased demand such as during pregnancy or
  • impaired absorption of the vitamin, such as after stomach or gut surgery, from long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, due to malabsorption or small bowel bacterial overgrowth, as a result of alcoholism or malnutrition due to various causes

A new study from Japan looked in detail at the various sources of vitamin B12 for vegetarians. The researchers found that the highest concentration is found in:

dried purple laver, an edible seaweed called Nori in Japan, Zicai in China and Gim in Korea

Read more in their article published in the peer review journal Nutrients.

The full article can be accessed for free here:

http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/5/1861

Nori is easy to use. Sprinkle it over salad or make sushi are two ways to eat it raw. It’s better not to toast it as it reduces the concentration of vitamin B12.

Remember: Eat Real Food. It is always better than taking supplements.

 

Nature – the Primary Medicine for Health & Way of Being

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‘Come forth into the light of things, Let Nature Be Your Teacher’. William Worsdworth’s call to be immersed in Nature comes with a promise of a deeper understanding of life and of ourselves. In this Health-Being meeting we will explore what we can learn from Nature for our Health and our Being, but also how in the modern world, our relationship with her has created problems and challenges that we cannot afford to ignore.

Some say: ‘what use is Nature in the 21st century’? We simply reply that: the air that we breathe, the water that we drink and the soil in which we grow our food determine our existence. Nature can provide us with many products to sustain and support our physical, emotional and spiritual balance. What did Hippocrates mean when he wrote: ‘a physician is first and foremost Nature’s helper’? What natural resources can we use safely to help ourselves in times of good or ill health? And what can we give back to our Mother Nature, so that she doesn’t get emptied from the energies that we so much depend on? How can we make sure that we use and not abuse our natural environment given the inextricable connection it has with human health?

If we look and listen carefully to Nature’s geometry and language, we will understand everything better. This isn’t just a ‘trend’. Our future and the future of our children depends on it.

“Health and Nature”

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You are invited to the June Health Being Event.

Number of places are limited so please let us know if you are coming by sending an e-mail to:

healthbeinginstitute@gmail.com

When? Saturday 7th of June, 11:30-13.00

Where? Society of Friends Meeting House, 8 Hop Gardens, WC2N 4EA, London

Join like-minded people and come to a discussion on the theme of:

‘Health and Nature’

‘Come forth into the light of things, Let Nature Be Your Teacher’. William Worsdworth’s call to be immersed in Nature comes with a promise of a deeper understanding of life and of ourselves. In this Health-Being event we will explore what we can learn from Nature for our Health and our Being, but also how in the modern world, our relationship with her  has created problems and challenges that we cannot afford to ignore.

Some say: ‘what use is Nature in the 21st century’? We simply reply that: the air that we breathe, the water that we drink and the soil in which we grow our food determine our existence. Nature can provide us with many products to sustain and support our physical, emotional and spiritual balance. What did Hippocrates mean when he wrote: ‘a physician is first and foremost Nature’s helper’? What natural resources can we use safely to help ourselves in times of good or ill health? And what can we give back to our Mother Nature, so that she doesn’t get emptied from the energies that we so much depend on? How can we make sure that we use and not abuse our natural environment given the inextricable connection it has with human health?

If we look and listen carefully to Nature’s geometry and language, we will understand everything better. This isn’t just a ‘trend’. Our future and the future of our children depends on it.

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