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These soft, moist cookies are full of health benefits: from the anti-inflammatory action of the cocoa, to the fiber in the flax, and the healthy fats from the avocado and coconut oils. Enjoy these as a grain free, dairy free, guilt free snack! Preheat the oven to 375F Combine these ingredients in a Cuisinart type mixer until smooth: 1 ripe medium avocado 2 eggs 1/4-1/3 c honey (depending on taste) 1/4 c melted coconut oil 1 t vanilla 1/4 c ground flax (optional) In a medium mixing bowl combine the following: 1/2 c cocoa powder 1/2 c almond flour 1/2 t salt 1/2 t baking soda 1 t cinnamon (optional) Add contents of Cuisinart to the well mixed dry ingredients. Stir in 1/2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/2 c chopped walnuts (optional)  Place parchment paper on 2 cookie sheets. Drop spoonfuls of batter to the desired size (cookies will spread and rise slightly).
Makes 15-20 cookies, depending on size. Bake approximately 20 minutes; until firm and dry on top. Allow to cool before removing from the paper. Can be stored frozen in an airtight container.
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Each week we are sending out healing intentions for those in need of support in overcoming debilitating conditions or life threatening illnesses. Our email list is growing with individuals who are taking time each Sunday morning to send loving kindness. If you or someone you love has a health challenge and is in need of support, please send me an email with their photo, a specific intention for them, and a csv file of names and emails of people to add to our email list of Healing Intenders. How to Send Healing Intention: A few minutes before the official start time of the intention, find a quiet space where you will not be disturbed. Begin to center yourself by taking slow, deep breaths. With each breath in, open and fill your heart with love (Source, white light, The Divine, Universal energy, God’s love, Unity consciousness or whatever term you are comfortable with). With each exhale, allow any worries and tension to leave your body. Allow love and light to fill your heart and expand beyond your chest to fill your entire being. As you are filled with light, bring gratitude into your mind to open your connection to the unconditional love and wisdom of the Universe. Visualize this energy flowing down from the top of your head to your heart. As this flow of energy is generated, say the intention out loud and allow it to move from your mind, down and out your heart, to the heart of the receiver. Maintain this state of loving compassion for the recipient for 10 minutes. Remember that you are acting as a conduit for The Divine energy, simply allowing this beautiful energy to flow through you. If your mind wanders, bring it back to the intention, visualize the intention being met and the receiver healthy and full of love for life.  How it works:
All thoughts, emotions and feelings carry with them an electromagnetic charge (see the works of Candace Pert, Bruce Lipton, Dr. Joe Dispenza). As this energy flows from a group of senders, the waves are entrained and amplified as they reach the receiver just like the swinging of pendulums or beat induction when listening to music. By coordinating the sending of this loving energy at the same time, we amp up the effect so that the cells of the receiver get a blast of high energy healing waves. By opening up to and receiving the elevated energy frequencies of unconditional love and light and allowing these high vibration waves of energy to flow from your heart, both the senders and receiver get an energetic upgrade. The receiver may feel warmth, muscle spasms, tingling, euphoria, relaxation and/or emotion pouring forth as this heightened energy finds its way into the cells, pushing out lower wavelength densities (illness). Finding the right plantains is the key to this bread alternative. Too hard and green will make a tough, dense pita, while too ripe, soft and yellow will make a sweet, fluffy bread. Shoot for the in between stage when the plantain is just getting slightly soft.  6 slightly soft, green plantains 1/2 c olive oil 2 t cream of tartar 1 t baking soda 1/2 t salt (may need to add 1-2 T water if batter is too dry) Preheat oven to 425F. Line 2-3 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Peel and chop plantains into 1 inch pieces. Place into Cuisinart type blender. Add olive oil and blend until smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients. If the batter is too thick to move freely, add 1-2 T warm water. Spread the batter onto the parchment paper in the shape and size that you want your bread. You can use these as pita or pizza crust. The bread will come out in the shape you make it into. Makes 10-12 small pita & 1 pizza crust.  Bake 20 minutes, until dry on top and brown on the bottom. Cook time will vary due to the thickness of the batter. I like to freeze these and toast them for breakfast or use as a pizza crust. Enjoy!  Recipe modified from The Healing Kitchen, by Alaena Haber & Sarah Ballantyne
Nature vs Nurture: Epigenetics and Our Health The field of epigenetics, the study of the causes of changes in gene expression, has revealed the surprising fact that our inherited genetic predispositions towards developing disease are less important than our environmental stressors in the expression of genes involved in illness. With this in mind, it becomes profoundly important that we pay attention to and improve our internal and external environments to the best of our abilities. Our external environment is in need of assistance. Clean food, air and water are obviously necessary for our continued health. Hopefully, our EPA will step up to the plate and protect our future generations from further pollution and drought. In lieu of our government’s help, individuals must step forward and do what they can to avoid using pesticides, herbicides and choosing to support local organic agriculture. By choosing to eat less animal products, drive less, conserve water, and use less electricity, together we can make a difference for the immediate future on our planet.  The good news is that our internal environment, or one’s state of being, is under our control. Our brains, with its neuroplasticity, can be trained to maintain a positive state of elevated thoughts and emotions while letting go of old negative thoughts and habits.
In a recent study, subjects were tested to see if they had particular genetic markers for athletic ability and satiation after eating. The researchers found that if the subjects were told that they had these particular genetic traits, but did not actually have them, their body’s responded as if they did. This study illustrates the power of our thoughts over our gene expression. With daily mindfulness and meditation practices, our brains are able to wire new neural pathways that lead to improvements in the biochemical environment in which our genes are exposed. Changing the health of our internal environment in this manner is the best method for the prevention and treatment of disease. This synopsis of Kelly Turner’s book, Radical Remission, highlights the importance of balancing our physical and mental health with a daily spiritual practice to overcome illness. Daily meditation and taking time to find our joy and inspiration in life is just as important as nutrition in our ability to heal. Letting go of old, toxic emotions and beliefs are a requirement for healing. The book summarizes the author’s research around the world on the methods used by cancer survivors to heal themselves. The findings revealed 9 common factors that all of the interviewees shared in order to heal their disease. These 9 key factors are not meant to be in any order of importance, as each person’s journey was unique to them. It is my belief that we can all improve our health and well-being by incorporating these 9 actions into our daily lives. These healthy lifestyle changes may also prevent future illness.  1) Radically change your diet
2) Take control of your health
3) Follow your intuition
4) Use herbs and supplements
5) Release suppressed emotions
6) Increase positive emotions (they heal the body)
7) Embrace social support
8) Deepen your spiritual connection (to heal the body)
9) Have strong reasons for living
Do you suffer from fatigue, anxiety, digestive issues, food sensitivities, feel depressed, have brain fog, or feel despondent? Are you dealing with chronic pain, inflammation, or autoimmune disease? If yes, your vagus nerves may be not be functioning optimally. The vagus, or 10th cranial nerves, are the main nerves of the parasympathetic nervous system originating at the brain stem, traveling down the sides of your neck, across the chest, and down through the abdomen and are responsible for calming your organs after the stressed “fight-or-flight” adrenaline response to danger. This nerve sends and receives information between the brain and the organs about what’s going on; especially in the digestive tract, lungs, heart, spleen, liver and kidneys. During times of stress, including times of negative thoughts and emotions, the ‘fight or flight’ response raises the heart rate, diverts blood away from the organs to the muscles, and shuts down digestion and immune functioning. Recovery from stress relies on signaling from the vagus nerve to restore parasympathetic ‘rest and digest’ functions; allowing the heart rate to slow, and digestive and immune functions to return to normal.  People with strong (high) vagal tone are able to recover quickly from stressors, coming back into homeostasis by allowing ‘rest and digest’ and healing to occur.
Those with weak (low) vagal tone, however, persist in the ‘fight or flight’ state, leading to immune dysfunction, inflammation and, eventually, disease. Although vagal tone is genetically predetermined at birth and evident at infancy, the good news is that it is malleable. Studies have shown that meditation practice, mindfulness, and relaxation training can increase vegal tone in adults. With a daily meditation practice, the nerves of the brain develop new pathways that strengthen a healthy parasympathetic dominance by restoring vagus nerve signals, allowing the body to relax, digest and heal. Deep breathing, positive thinking, and entering into a state of loving kindness towards yourself and others, gives the vagus nerve a chance to reset and function optimally; decreasing fear and anxiety, increasing intuition, improving mental clarity, stabilizing mood, and reducing inflammation and chronic pain. So, meditate, breathe deeply and hug someone today! |
Blog IntentionThis blog is intended to pass along information, share tips, and express ideas on topics related to improving spiritual, mental and physical well being. Your comments and suggestions are all welcome! Archives
June 2019
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Harmony Acupuncture, LLC donates 10% of all profits to organizations that support environmental stewardship and animal welfare.
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