Kale is a super-food; even spinach can’t touch it for nutrient content. Kale is a member of the healthy cabbage family alongside brussel sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower. Kale is a vitamin powerhouse because one cup of the raw stuff contains 134% RDA of vital vitamin C to boost the immune system and fight off infections, and 206% of vitamin A that makes skin look great. Kale’s mineral content is impressive too. A cup will provide you with 9% RDA of potassium which lowers the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. It also has 26% magnesium which is shown to protect against heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Full of flavonoids and anti-oxidants that clear up body damaging free-radicals kale should be top of your shopping list. Some of the anti-oxidants may balance glucose levels too – diabetics take note. And last but not by any means least, it’s stacked full of bowel-pleasing fibre. Kale can be steamed, boiled, mashed and baked into meals as well as added to smoothies. It’s a low calorie super-food that will improve health no end.
via Karyn Bender RPh CHHC
Hippocrates, the father of medicine, made the statement that “All disease begins in the gut,” and researchers are finally beginning to understand what he meant. If you put all of the bacteria in your body on a scale, it would weigh almost six pounds. These single cell organisms can be found throughout the body, but they are especially important in the gut. Gut bacteria helps you digest food, create vitamins, communicate with the immune system, and make molecules that affect brain function. When the gut isn’t healthy, the entire system breaks down. Vitamins are produced in lesser quantities, inflammation can occur, and the brain doesn’t function as well as it should. Research on gut health and disease is ongoing, and many studies are starting to suggest that an unhealthy gut might be the cause of mood disorders, brain diseases like Alzheimer’s, cognitive impairment, diabetes, and even cancer. The healthier the gut is, the healthier (and happier) the person.
via Karyn Bender RPh CHHC
When we choose the path of a healer, we create relationships with our patients and clients that are based on compassion and a mutual commitment to the healing process. Sometimes we will resonate with a patient so deeply, that our empathy crosses the line from loving support to ownership of their problems. We can become emotionally invested in their healing to the point that the mutual partnership that we intended to create becomes a one sided attempt on the healers part to “fix” whatever we believe might be broken. Creating healthy boundaries with patients is important for both the patient and the provider. Patients can become less inclined to be active participants in their healing process, and more dependent on the healer when good boundaries aren’t in place. When a patient attempts to give their power to you by saying “Please fix me,” hand it right back to them. While you are an integral part of their healing process, they are ultimately responsible for making the changes necessary to have a healthy and well balanced life.
via Karyn Bender RPh CHHC