What's In Season for July?

July brings many seasonal delights and each region of the US has their own delights, but the following are some stables that are sure to be growing this month across the US.

Cherries
Raspberries
Strawberries
Kale
Swiss Chard
Cabbage
Summer Squash
Potatoes
Spinach
Peas
Salad Mixes

Yoga Library

I am in the midst of creating a Yoga Library and having it up, with handouts being added as i create them, in the near future. My first handout is Poses for PMS! The focus will be having handout's showing researchd poses and/or other Yogic tools proven to help with specific issues, everything from colds, PMS, to Scatica. Each handout will focus on approximatly 5 poses or tools that students can us on their own. Watch for this soon @ Ease into Green under the wellness section. :0)

What's in Season for June?

June brings many seasonal delights and each region of the US has their own delights, but the following are some stables that are sure to be growing this month across the US.

Radishes
Mushrooms
Scallions
Herbs
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Broccoli
Asparagus
Mixed Salad Greens
Lettuce
Spinach
Raspberries*

* Mid- to late-June for colder regions

Highlights for June
The Radish is a root vegetable. The taproot (bulb) is the part most eaten and can be red, pink, white or grey in color. The entire plant is edible and the tops can be eaten as a leaf vegetable. They are categorized into four main types (summer, fall, winter, and spring) and vary in size, color, and shape. Some radishes are grown for seed oil production as a fuel source. Mustard and turnip’s are relatives of the radish. A popular radish from South Eastern Asia is the Daikon.

HISTORY
Radish’s are believed to date back to pre-Roman times in Europe and Asia. Today they are grown and consumed across the world.

NUTRITION
A 1/2 cup serving provides a good amount of potassium, vitamin C, folate acid and fiber. They also have smaller amounts of other B vitamins, calcium, iron, phosphorus and zinc as well as the enzyme myrosinase and sulfurous compounds, believed to protect against cancer.

SELECTION & STORAGE
The radish’s skin should be bright in color with firm roots and crisp white flesh inside. Tops should be bright green and fresh. Avoid dry, wilted, spongy, or rough-skinned radishes. Remove and use radish leaves within 2-3 days as they cause moisture and nutrient loss if left on. Refrigerate radishes wrapped in plastic bags for up to 14 days.

PREPARATION
Radish Recipes: The bulb can be eaten raw, steamed or sautéed in oil. The greens can be eaten raw as a salad green, sautéed in oil or used for stir fries.

Pure Foods

My passion for wellness stems from my own spiritual path. Throughout my journey, I have identified cornerstones to health, which I believe to be fundamental. I have started with the 3 most simplistic, yet they are essential roots to the path of wellbeing. Finding happiness, balance, joy, good health and essentially awakening to our fullest potential is a desire for most of us; however, getting there often seems to be complicated. There are many paths to optimum wellbeing, none better than others, as each person has a path that resonates and works for them personally. I found that establishing pure rest, pure foods, and pure movement into my life has enabled me to find balance and has opened an inner state allowing continuous spiritual growth, which has inevitably created a more fulfilling life. By uniting body-mind-spirit-emotions 1 through these first cornerstones, I have been able to go deeper and further on my path. This path makes the body pure and strong, since the body is deeply connected to our mind, spirit and emotions, the body then becomes a vehicle for ending suffering. We awaken to our true self; essentially this is also the path of Yoga, which uses Pranayama & meditation (pure rest), yogic diet (pure foods), and asana (pure movement). These cornerstones are not a means to an end, but only a beautiful beginning, that will open doors of opportunity. To clarify, cornerstones are what hold up a structure. For example, I have referred to these cornerstones as being roots, similar to the roots of a tree. They are what give life and structure to the tree, if they are not nourished, the tree will die, but if nourished the tree will flourish and at the right moment the tree will go beyond these cornerstones, or roots, and will bloom or blossom.

You are what you eat!

One of my greatest passions is food; I admit that I am one of those people who ‘Lives to Eat’, rather than ‘Eats to Live’. It is not only the act of eating that I have grown to be so fond of, it is also the preparation, the knowledge, the display, the sensory output, the benefits, and essentially everything about food. As my knowledge around food and nutrition has evolved, I have found a deep appreciation for what I term ‘pure foods’. I define pure foods as:

Food sources that have a living essence, originating from a living source, plant or animal, and are provided with natural habitat, are replenished with an adequate and appropriate diet that is suited for the plant or animal and is unaltered. Food that is in its natural state (or as close to it as possible) and that is organic are the purest foods you can obtain or purchase. Food that is unadulterated by artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings, and preservatives and has been minimally refined or processed is the best tasting and most nutritious food available.

· Produce (Fruits & Vegetables)
· Grains
· Herbs & Spices
· Beans & Legumes
· Meat & poultry
· Seafood & Fish
· Oils, Nuts & Seeds
· Seaweeds
· Eggs
· Dairy (cow, sheep & goat)
· Tea leafs & edible flowers
· Natural sweeteners
· Coffee& cocoa beans
· Fermented foods

My mission is to provide simple solutions to finding greater wellbeing and to do so in a way that provides realistic, simple, and affordable solutions for everybody. I whole heartily believe that eating mostly pure foods is a stepping stone for optimal health. I do not however recommend what eating lifestyle and traditions you should or should not follow. That is personal and it is my belief that any eating lifestyle, whether vegetarian, omnivore, vegan, raw, or other, can be as healthy as the other. The most essential part is that your eating lifestyle resonates with who you are as a person; meeting your own personal physical, emotional, and social needs. That it also includes plenty of pure foods, provides you with balanced nutrition, and deeply satisfies you. I also find that upholding traditions, whatever they are, can be part of a person’s joy and eating satisfaction, bringing fond memories and social happiness. Eating rituals and traditions, such as those around ceremonies, parties, holidays, etc., that may be part of your tradition, culture, family, and community, can be a healthy part of your lifestyle, even if they do not fit entirely into the ideal. As for cooking versus eating raw foods, they both have valid arguments, both positives and negatives, and the most nourishing option is what works for you. The most important factor is eating pure foods you enjoy and using high quality preparation and presentation. Additionally, we often lean towards perfection or avoidance. Mindfulness is an important key to eating healthily and part of being mindful is having the awareness that perfection is not a healthy goal. If you are generally a pretty healthy person, following an 80/20 rule, can be helpful. Try to opt for pure foods choices approximately 80% of the time and know that the other 20% will allow room for social and personal deviations that will only enrich your overall health and happiness.

Tips for selecting and finding Pure Foods
· The purest food will likely come from a locally owned food co-op, farmer's market, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or independently-owned natural food store
· If above options are limited, try Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or other similar grocer carrying more choices of unrefined, unaltered and organic food choices
· Shop the parameter of your local grocer, where most pure foods are located
· Try the gourmet food stores. Gourmet cooks, chefs, foodies and restaurateurs know the secret to good eats: high quality ingredients and pure foods are the best tasting
· Purchase freshly baked breads, bakery items, salads and meal options from your local grocers, bakeries and cafes. Remember to ask questions, read labels as well as seek out, request and check for the following (as applicable and whenever possible) when buying food:

All foods
§ contains pure foods (foods in their whole state or closest to it)
§ limited processing
§ unrefined ingredients
§ organic 2
§ high quality oils
§ no trans fatty acids 3
§ no preservatives
§ no additives
§ high quality sea salts, rather than refined salt
§ non Genetically Engineered (GMO) food 4

Specific Foods:
Grains
whole grains, unrefined grains
everything above
Fats & oils
Unrefined oils
cold expeller pressed oils
Extra virgin
Organic
Animal products
Organic
Grass-fed, free range, pasture raised 5 6 7
no added hormones, antibiotics or altering drugs
no nitrates
no homogenization (unnecessary processing)
Sweeteners
No refined sweetener 8
Organic

· Find restaurants that focus on high quality and wholesome choices. Seek out those offering fresh high quality ingredients, and whenever possible look for and support those offering local fare, organic, grass-fed, free-range, and non GMO choices.
· Seek quality over quantity!

Benefit’s to Pure Foods
Here are just a few inspirational, yet simple benefits’ you will gain from eating more pure foods.
§ Feel livelier and have more stamina from gaining the extra nutrients, vitamins, enzymes, minerals, healthy fats and other health producing natural substances in pure foods
§ Ingest less harming additives, chemicals, drugs and pesticides that affect your emotional, physiological, psychological and physical health
§ Produce and fresh food will be more flavorful needing less additives, salts, and sugars
§ Animal products will naturally be leaner and will contain more vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats
§ Aid the environment saving on production, energy and chemicals that are affecting us globally
§ You will inevitably eat more healthy produce that will enhance your overall wellbeing as well as your heart’s health

Pure Foods Resources
· Go to Shareit Liveit’s community site under eating for health http://www.shareitliveit.org/?page=SubPageEatingForHeal.
· Rebecca Wood, who wrote the Whole Foods Encyclopedia, a great resource, and has a website at http://www.rwood.com/.
· Go to the Organic Consumer’s Association’s Local Buying Guide.
· For a useful list of common western pure foods look at http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php
· Whole Foods publishes a comprehensive list of what is not considered pure and should be avoided in your food on their website at (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/unacceptablefoodingredients.html).

Article Definitions
1. Uniting body-mind-spirit-emotions is essentially the meaning of Yoga. Yoga is ‘to Yoke’ or unite the body-mind-spirit.
2. Organic - See full definition and useful information at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_food
3. Trans Fatty Acid (Tran Fat) - See full description at http://www.rwood.com/Articles/Avoid_Genetically_Engineered_Foods.htm
4. Genetically Modified (GMO) – Genetic engineering is the transferring of genes between species and can be taken from any plant, animal, insect, bacterium or virus. The gene is then inserted into a plant grown for food. Many European countries refuse the commerce of genetically modified (GM) food. Today over 60 percent of all processed foods contain manipulated corn, canola or soy. Additionally, there are 43 other approved GM grains, oilseeds, vegetables and fruits in our markets, and many more foods pend approval. Unless that jar of salsa or the deli sandwich clearly states that it is GM free, you may assume that some of its ingredients are altered.
5. Grass-fed - Animals are fed grasses, which is their natural diet. They should not be supplemented with grain, animal by-products, synthetic hormones, or be given antibiotics to promote growth or prevent disease (though they might be given antibiotics to treat disease). Note that 'grass-fed' does not guarantee that the animal was pasture-raised. While most grass-fed animals are pasture-raised, some may still be confined and fed a steady diet of grasses.
6. Pasture raised - The animal was raised outdoors on a pasture and it eats grasses and food found in a pasture, rather than being fattened on grain in a feedlot or barn. Pasturing livestock and poultry is a traditional farming technique that allows animals to be raised in a humane, ecologically sustainable manner. This is basically the same as grass-fed, though the term "pasture raised" indicates more clearly that the animal was raised outdoors on pasture.
7. Free Range - The animal has access to the outdoors each day. However, this doesn't always guarantee the animal actually went outside. As long as a door to the outdoors is left open for some period of time, the animal can be considered Free Range. Although the USDA has defined this term for chicken raised for consumption, no standards have been set for egg-laying chickens or for other animals. If you are looking to buy eggs, poultry or meat that was raised outdoors, look for a label that says 'Pastured' or 'Pasture-raised.'
8. Unrefined Sweeteners: see Wikipedia for comprehensive list of unrefined sweeteners: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unrefined_sweeteners)

Taste of Summer

Read this article, http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/2621, printed by the Yoga Journal on Taste for the summer. Seasonal adventure with pure foods!!!!!!

Green Tip

Green Tip

Buying local organic grass-fed milk that is not homogenized (minimally processed) and is in a glass container (environmentally friendly), is undoubtedly the healthiest and best tasting milk, but it does cost a little more. So to offset the cost and to increase the quality of the milk, buy whole milk and water ti down to save money and make it last longer. The richness will still serve your taste buds and will end up equating or even saving cost!!!!!!!

To find go to your local coop, health food store, farmers market, gourmet store, or the health section of your grocer. If you can't find it, request it!

Pure Food's Recipe

Here is a Pure Food recipe favorite. You will love this scrumptious, yet healthy treat!!!!

Stacy’s Chewy Unrefined Oatmeal Cookies
Use organic products whenever possible:1 1/2 cups old-fashioned regular or thick cut rolled oats

1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg ½ cup unrefined coconut oil 3/4 cup dark muscovado, demerara, or sucuant sugar 2 eggs (free range if possible)
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract 1/4 cup whole or lowfat milk (grass fed if possible)
1 to 1 ½ cup raisins 1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together rolled oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in large bowl. Using an electric mixer, cream the coconut oil with sucuant sugar until smooth, add eggs and vanilla and blend. With the mixer on low speed, add oat mixture and milk, beating until well combined dough forms. Stir in raisins and nuts. (If not using immediately, refrigerate for up to 12 hours.) Drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart. Press tops to slightly flatten. Bake until the edges are brown and the centers are still soft and puffy, about 11 to 14 minutes. Cool and store in a covered container for up to 3 days or freeze.

Be creative with variations:
· Use brown rice flour instead of whole wheat pastry for wheat free
· Use dried dates, cranberries, blueberries or cherries in place of raisins
· Use butter instead of coconut oil
· Use maple Syrup or turbinado sugar instead of sucuant
· Use ¼ cup peanut butter or almond butter in place of walnuts
· Use pecans, almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds or other in place of walnuts
· Use soy or rice milk instead of milk
· Use all spice in place of nutmeg
· Add dried raw coconut (1/3 cup)

Cornerstones to Optimal Wellbeing: True Rest

There are several fundamental cornerstones to wellbeing. Our spiritual goal, as Eckhart Tolle tells us in A New Earth, is to awaken or to become conscious and as the Yogi’s believe is to become enlightened. These abstract concepts of awakening and enlightenment are strangely foreign and believed to be unobtainable to many of us, but broken down in recognizable western concepts the path is not only obtainable but necessary for our overall health and wellbeing. Essentially these concepts are showing us how to become more balanced, to not let our thoughts, our emotions and our egos get in the way of being happy and centered in everyday life, including difficult times, as well as how to feel alive from the inside out. There are cornerstones or pillars that will enable us to better reach these states within ourselves. These pillars are:

True Rest
Pure Foods
Movement

All of these are important pieces to the puzzle and can be broken down into further concepts around health, spirituality and science. I have learned personally as well as seen with those around me that rest is absolutely essential to health, regardless of what else you may be doing. Rest is our internal stress management tool and it is accessible to everyone, although we may need help in finding it, as I have. The beautiful and promising part of rest, as I have defined, is that once you start to tap into your internal rest mechanism, you start to instinctively access it in your daily life, as needed, even just for fleeting moments which in turn revitalize you in your busy life bringing more balance and joy. Without rest, even if you are eating pure foods, exercising, volunteering or helping others, and even meditating, you may still feel unhappy, unhealthy and un- whatever. I want to clarify what I mean by rest:

Rest is having enough time in the following states to truly revitalize your body, mind and spirit in order to manage and handle life optimally. Your own individual needs for how much and what kind of rest you need will vary from day to day and person to person. When in balance you feel healthy, alive, and vital, and will recognize when to give yourself rest to revitalize; thus, not going into chronic states of stress and fatigue. True restful states include:

Inner calm (awakened state), where thoughts & emotions are not taking over
Complete muscle relaxation
Sound uninterrupted sleep

I also want to clarify what true rest is not. For example, there have been many times in my life that I have been lying there in bed or sitting comfortably in a chair, perceiving to be resting, but my muscles were tense and my mind was incessantly thinking, and possibly stirring up emotions too, therefore I was not truly resting. Additionally, when we watch TV, play video games, and even listen to lively music, we may believe we are relaxing, and in a sense we are, but this is NOT a state of true rest. These circumstances create thoughts, emotions and reactions on their own. It is important to understand that just because are bodies are not moving, does not mean we are in a state of true rest.

All of these cornerstones are imperative for optimal health, and whatever order you address these cornerstones, whether one at a time or all at once, you will be moving in a positive direction.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu

Resources for finding True Rest. Here are some effective, yet easy and affordable resources.

§ Learn to take 1 – 3 deep breathes throughout the day, whenever you think about it.
§ Read A New Earth by Eckahrt Tolle
§ Go to Share it Live it and use their free guided relaxation techniques http://www.shareitliveit.org/?page=IndexRelaxation
§ Follow the free streaming New Earth Classes on Oprah.com or follow her upcoming Soul Series for streaming interviews with top spiritual teachers @ www.oprah.com.
§ Take a free Yoga class online @ www.yogatoday.com.
§ Watch Yoga Journal TV at http://www.yogajournal.com/video/.
§ Find other books and resources in spiritual and mindfulness topics @ www.soundstrue.com.
§ Try Wild Divine’s biofeedback and mindfulness software training products. Learn more @ www.wilddivine.com or see products on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s.html?ie=UTF8&node=3760931&brand=Wild%20Divine%20Project.

If interested, please follow future articles pertaining to these cornerstones, including pure foods and movement.

Namaste, Stacy Ruse

What's in Season Now? May 2008

Seasonal foods, especially if they are also regional, are more nutritious and more sustainable for the environment. You may be wondering what foods are in season near you. Here is a guide of seasonal foods by each region for the month of May.

MIDWESTERN STATES
Arugula
Asparagus
Beet Greens
Bok Choy
Bunching Greens
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Chard
Chives
Cilantro
Collard Greens
Cress
Dandelion Greens
Dill
Flowers (late May)
Garlic Greens
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Mustard
Oregano
Oriental Greens
Parsley
Parsnips
Peas
Radishes
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Sage
Scallions
Sorrel
Spinach
Sprouts
Strawberries
Turnips


EASTERN STATES
Apples
Artichokes
Arugula
Asparagus
Broccoli
Chives
Collards
Cranberries
Ginger
Gourds
Herbs
Kale
Lavender
Leeks
Lemon Verbena
Lettuce
Onions
Radishes
Rhubarb
Spinach
Mushrooms
Parsley
Peas
Strawberries
Salad Greens
Scallions
Shallots
Tomatoes

SOUTHEAST STATES
Asparagus
Blueberries (late may)
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cantaloupe
Carrots
Cauliflower
Collards
Cucumbers
Gourds
Greens
Herbs
Honey
Indian Corn
Kale
Leafy greens
Lettuce
Melons
Mixed Greens
Mushrooms
Mustard
Onions
Peaches
Peanuts
Rhubarb
Scallions
Snow Peas
Spinach
Strawberries
Summer Squash (late May)
Summer squash
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potato

SOUTHERN STATES

Asparagus
Bananas
Bell Pepper
Blackberries
Blueberries
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cantaloupe
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chinese Cabbage
Collards
Cucumber
Eggplant
Endive
Escarole
Grapefruit
Greens
Guava
Honeydew Melon
Kumquat
Lettuce
Limes
Melons
Mushrooms
Nectarines
Okra
Onions
Oranges
Papaya
Peaches
Peas
Pecans
Peppers
Pole Beans
Potatoes
Radishes
Scallions
Snap Beans
Squash
Strawberries
Sweet Corn
Tomatoes
Watermelon
Snap Beans
Sweet Potatoes
Vidalia Onions
Yellow Squash
Zucchini

CENTRAL STATES
Apples
Apricots
Arugula
Asparagus
Beets
Blackberries
Blueberries
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cantaloupes
Cauliflower
Carrots
Cucumber
Garlic
Grapefruit
Green Beans
Greens
Herbs
Honeydew Melon
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Nectarines
Onions
Oranges
Peaches
Pears
Peppers
Peas
Pinto Beans
Plums
Popcorn
Potatoes
Radishes
Rhubarb
Salad Greens
Spinach
Strawberries
Swiss Chard
Summer squash
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips
Watermelon



WESTERN STATES
Almonds
Apples
Apricots
Apriums
Artichokes
Arugula
Asian Greens
Asian Pears
Asparagus
Avocado
Basil
Beans
Beets
Bell Pepper
Blackberries
Black-eyed Peas
Blueberries
Bok Choy
Boysenberries
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cactus Pads
Cardoons
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cherimoyas
Collards
Corn
Cucumber
Dandelion/Chicory Greens
Dates
Eggplant
Endive
Fava Beans
Fennel
Figs
Garlic
Grapefruit
Green Garlic
Green Beans
Green Onion
Green Peas
Herbs
Horseradish
Kale
Kohlrabi
Kumquats
Leeks
Lemons
Lettuces
Loquats
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Navel Orange
Nectarines
Nettles
Okra
Olives
Onions
Passion Fruit
Peaches
Peas
Peppers
Pistachios
Plums
Pluots
Potatoes
Purslane
Radicchio
Radish
Rapini
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Scallions
Shallots
Spinach
Strawberries
Summer squash
Tomatoes
Turnips
Valencia Oranges
Walnuts

NORTHWESTERN STATES
Apples
Almonds
Apricots
Apriums
Artichokes
Arugula
Asian Greens
Asparagus
Avocado
Bamboo Shoots
Basil
Beans
Beets
Bell Pepper
Blackberries
Blueberries
Bok Choy
Boysenberries
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Cactus Pads
Cactus Pears
Cardoons
Carrots
Celery
Chard
Cherimoyas
Cherries
Cucumbers
Dandelion/Chicory Greens
Dates
Eggplant
Endive
Fava Beans
Fennel
Garlic
Green Garlic
Green Onions
Herbs
Horseradish
Kale
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lemons
Lettuces
Loquats
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Nectarines
Nettles
Olives
Onions
Oranges
Peaches
Peas
Peppers
Pistachios
Plums
Pluots
Potatoes
Purslane
Radicchio
Radish
Rapini
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Scallions
Shallots
Spinach
Strawberries
Summer squash
Tomatoes
Walnuts



Find Out More
Local Harvest; find a CSA near you: www.localharvest.org/csa
Sustainable Table’s Eat Seasonally: http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/eatseasonal/
Go to the Eat Well Guide to find sustainable and seasonal foods near you: http://www.eatwellguide.org/search/advanced
This is the most comprehensive through the Natural Resources Defense Council: http://www.nrdc.org/health/foodmiles/

Written by Stacy Ruse
Find more by Stacy at www.EaseintoGreen.com, www.ShareitLiveit.org, and on her personal Blog http://inspiredwellbeing.blogspot.com.