LUNAR NOTES
May/June 2003 - Volume 1/ Issue 9
LUNAR NOTES is a bi-monthly Newsletter from Thirteen Moons
Dear Reader, 

I have finally succumbed to the fact that doing a monthly newsletter is more work than I can manage, especially at this time of year. So for the time being, I will be issuing Lunar Notes every second month.

We've had some great events here this month - the Drum Making Workshop with Bonnie and last weekend's Journey Workshop with Wendy both got rave reviews from the participants.  It's a pleasure to work with these two great women and to have such special women choose to spend their time here. 

There are still many good things planned for this summer.  You may have already heard that Susun Weed is coming to Thirteen Moons in August.  Many of us have been influenced by her books and some have already had the experience of seeing her in person. The size of this workshop is being limited to 25 so don't wait too long to confirm your attendance.

My garden beckons...

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This month's newsletter features the following topics: 
  • Nutrition Tip of the Month - Kefir 
  • Recipe of the Month - Kefir Spinach Dip 
  • Ask a Nutritionist - What does a coated tongue mean? 
  • Upcoming Events 


Nutrition Tip of the Month - Kefir

Kefir is a cultured dairy product, similar to yogurt, with amazing health attributes. It has similar properties to yogurt but also contains several major strains of friendly bacteria not often found in yogurt. Kefir's active yeast and bacteria provide more nutritive value than yogurt by helping digest the foods that you eat. The beneficial yeast helps control destructive pathogenic yeasts in the body by cleaning and strengthening the intestines. As a result, the body becomes more efficient in resisting such pathogens as E. coli and intestinal parasites.

More



Recipe of the Month - Kefir Spinach Dip

This dip is easy to make and is delicious.  Spread it liberally on your favorite whole grain bread or use it as a dip for raw or lightly steamed veggies.

1 lb. Organic Spinach leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp. cold pressed olive oil
2 tbsp. flax oil
11/2 cups organic kefir
pinch nutmeg
sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Blanch the spinach in boiling water for two minutes.  Saute garlic, onions, and well drained spinach in the olive oil for three minutes on low heat.  Put sauteed mixture and the rest of the ingredients into a blender and mix on pulse setting for a chunky dip.



Ask a Nutritionist -

Q - Do you know of any connection between a coated tongue and problems with the digestive system or nutrient deficiencies? Wealco via e-mail

A - Ayurveda and Chinese medicine both recognize that the condition of the tongue reflects our health status.  A coated tongue indicates the toxins in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. 

Toxins can accumulate in the toxin through poor diet, especially inadequate fibre and fresh water intake. Antibiotic use also plays a role because it destroys the good and bad bacteria.  Sulphur based additives to processed foods can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the GI tract.  So avoiding these and increasing your intake of fermented foods, ie. kefir will help. 

If you are experiencing digestive problems, it would be advisable to consult a health professional.



You are invited to submit your nutrition questions to the Ask a Nutritionist column and any other suggestions for topics that you would like to see covered in future newsletters.


Upcoming Events

May 24 - Salads with Substance - Class Connections - 743-2228

May 31 - Healthy Summer Desserts - Class Connections - 743-2228

June 3 - Salads with Substance - Loblaws Lindsay 

June 20-22 - Summer Solstice Celebrations

July 18-20 - 2nd Annual Mothers/Daughters in the Wild Weekend More Info

August 9 - Women, Weeds and Wisdom featuring renowned author and speaker Susun Weed 
tell me more

September 6-12 - Arizona Retreat - Experience Lake Powell and Sedona with the women of Thirteen Moons.  Contact me for details.

You are invited to submit your nutrition questions to the Ask a Nutritionist column and any other suggestions for topics that you would like to see covered in future newsletters. 



If you are interested in a personalized consultation, see the information at this link  Nutritional consultation
It is not necessary to meet for this session as we can do it by phone and/or e-mail, if that is more practical for you. Customized group workshops on a variety of wellness topics can also be arranged.
Enjoy in good health!

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Louise Racine, Registered Nutritional Practitioner 
Thirteen Moons Retreat, RR 1 Norwood, Ontario
705-652-9329
E-mail: louise@thirteenmoons.ca
http://www.thirteenmoons.ca/

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Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for a physician's consultation.