All American Food by Nancy Addison

       Winter squashes, including pumpkin, butternut, acorn, Hubbard, spaghetti and turban, are popular American plants with a tougher skin than their summer counterparts.

These hard-skinned squashes are picked later in the year when their skins are hard and thick. They are then stored in a cool, dry place for months. They are known as one of the “three sisters” of North America, along with corn and beans, and they are considered to be important, indigenous plants of North America. The Native Americans taught the colonists to plant all three of these plants together. The bean vines grew onto the corn (using the corn stalk as a trellis), the corn stalks shaded the squash plants and the squash kept the grasses and weeds from growing underneath the plants. The pumpkin, especially, was said to have helped the colonists’ survival. Records show that they were eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner for most of the fall and winter months. The history behind the pumpkin, therefore, makes it the perfect food to grace our Thanksgiving tables. Many of us cannot imagine a Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie.

The pumpkins that grace our doors at Halloween have many seeds in them. When cutting the pumpkin, remove the seeds and wash and dry them. Then, drizzle the seeds with oil and toast them for a tasty, nutritious snack or add them to salads.  

        Winter squashes are members of the gourd family and grow in many varieties, colors, sizes, and shapes. They make beautiful table decorations as well as rich, luscious food, when prepared. Rich in vitamin A, potassium, niacin, iron and protein, these squashes are actually fruits. The acorn squash has a rich, yellow meat that is extremely easy to make into many delicious dishes. They can be pureed, cooked and frozen for use throughout the winter. For more information go to: www.organichealthylifestyle.com

         Happy Thanksgiving!

How About Creating a Life of Balance? by Dr Mary Warren, DC

Balance is a simple concept, yet when we apply it to our bodies, our health and our longevity; it can become mysterious or worse, confusing. 

What does balance mean?  Does it include living pain-free?  How about your immunity?  Do allergies and sinus infections/congestion plague you?  Fatigue, mental fogginess, weight gain and insomnia are some of the top complaints I hear about in clinical practice.  I believe the steps to living a life of balance are simpler than you might think!

First, let’s look at the machine.  How is your body?  Are you a little heavy in the mid-section or hips?  Maybe skin problems trouble you.  Does your digestion function well, or do you have constant complaints about heartburn, bloating and/or constipation?  Two simple steps to improve your shape, skin and gut are to minimize or eliminate: wheat, corn, dairy and sugar.  This step alone can cover so much territory, you might find your mental function sharpens up, your pain is reduced, allergies magically disappear and you’re sleeping better.  Oh, you’ve lost 10 pounds?  Good for you! 

Next, get moving!  Walking, jumping on a mini trampoline, dancing, stretching on the floor, maybe a swim at the community or YMCA pool?  Motion is life, and we now know that the key to aging well is plasticity.  Many PBS shows promote the benefits of neurological plasticity these days, and I love that!  Simply stated, plasticity is the capacity for continuous change to the neural pathways and connections of the living brain and nervous system in response to experience or injury/stress.  Movement leads to neuromusculoskeletal plasticity however, far more important than simply neural plasticity, as the neuromusculoskeletal system is the combination of, and functioning of the nervous system and musculoskeletal system.

Each week I see people that require this kind of simple, yet sophisticated training in order to hold their chiropractic adjustments, heal through concussions and other injuries, and achieve their wellness goals.  Our bodies want this support.  Support leads to balance and balance leads to happiness, longevity and abundance in our lives.