Rosemary for remembrance~

wellnessinspired

"There's rosemary; that's for remembrance

Pray, love, remember."

~Shakespeare, Hamlet

Rosemary has been a symbol of remembrance since ancient times. It's been used as a symbol at weddings, funerals, and other ceremonial gatherings. It's been a symbol of love and promise, not to forget memories of those deceased and the influence they've had on our lives. For me rosemary is my husband's thanksgiving turkeys, health, gardens and yes, remembrance. I especially remember my sister in law and friend today, who died one year ago. I 'm taken back to the  Christmas I gave her a cookbook, called "Stop and Smell the Rosemary." I wrapped the book and attached a sprig of rosemary to the bow. It looked so pretty and smelled wonderful. I can still envision her holding the sprig to her nose and saying how good it smelled. So, today I will have some rosemary, enjoy it's aroma~ in remembrance of her kindness and loving influence she had on our lives.~

wellnessinspired

Some health facts about rosemary

Rosemary has neuroprotective qualities

Carnosic acid in rosemary is being studied for extraction to be utilized to treat diseases such as Parkinson's, ALS, and Alzheimer's  (medscape)

The diffusion of rosemary in the work place has helped improve the quality of memory function  in office workers  (NIH)

The essential oil of rosemary is antiseptic, enhances mental clarity and supports nerves and endocrine balance.

Remember to take time to stop and smell the rosemary~~

I think she would have liked this...a little twist on her mozzarella, basil, tomato salad
Just made this today, so we'll have for dinner   

❤

Simply Words~~~

                "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but

                            their echoes are truly endless"

                                   Mother Teresa

wellnessinspired

I thought I would post some inspirational things during lent, seems like the perfect time to
do so. I happen to love quotes and just recently read this one by Mother Teresa. I agree a
kind word or complement can lift someone's spirit and it goes beyond that affecting  us
physically too. We feel happier, and happier is healthier, right? Children are most
vulnerable to words, and studies have shown how traumatic harsh words (especially from
peers in middle school) can affect a child. It appears that during this time it's a sensitive
period when brain connections are developing and becoming insulated with myelin. This
results in lasting physical effects on the brain structure. Wow! an example of the mind
body connection.
                                                 

                                                                       

 

Simple words like "How you doing" or "thank you" can mean the world
to someone. I remember reading a book by Ellen Burstyn and in it she
spoke of the time she did an experiment, where she dressed and lived
as a homeless person on the streets of NYC. She wanted to know what
it felt like. How courageous! She said people came up to her and tossed
her some coins, sometimes food, but not one person looked her in the
eye, smiled, or said a word to her. She then felt how the soul can be
silenced through no words of hope or caring or anything at all. Being
forgotten is a much greater hunger than nothing to eat. Kind words are
food for the soul and one kind word can sustain you for long time. It can
give you optimism and hope you didn't feel before, hence you pass it on
to another and so it goes on and on like ripples in the water.




Some of my favorite words by Audrey Hepburn~The tender loving care of human beings will never become obsolete"


Words are part of that tender loving care. Kind words can be music to the heart and food for the soul~




www.psychologytoday.com

Chocolate Love

"Happiness. Simple as a glass of chocolate or tortuous as the heart. Bitter. Sweet. Alive"

Joanne Harris, Chocolat

Remember that movie? Seems like aeon's ago that I saw that movie. The story of a young mother who comes to a repressed French village with her little girl and opens a small chocolate boutique. Her chocolate quickly begins to change the townspeople for the better. Chocolate ignited love, friendship and hope for them. I loved that movie!

It seems we've had a love affair with chocolate forever. It may just be that we are intuitively drawn to it because it's so healthy for us. 

❤

 It's unclear when exactly chocolate was born, but surely it was cherished from the start. At one time in history cacao beans were considered valuable enough to use as currency! The Mayans and Aztecs believed the cacao bean had magical, even divine properties. Chocolate also became a fashionable drink throughout Europe in the 17th century, and it was believed to have nutritious, medicinal and even aphrodisiac properties. So, I say no guilt needed here when we eat this prized food. Of course now after getting a bad rap for so long, research shows so many good benefits we get from eating chocolate. Dark chocolate contains healthful flavanoids similar to those found in tea, wine, fruits and vegetables. Wow, yes vegetables! Comparing chocolate to vegetables is nothing short of awesome.  Chocolate's positive influence on our health also includes its antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. This includes reducing blood pressure, improving insulin sensitivity, increasing  blood flow to the arteries and reducing risk of blood clots. Needless to say moderation is key, as it does still contain sugar and saturated fat. While dark chocolate has gotten most of the attention, new research shows that all varieties of chocolate made with cocoa powder (not white) are also heart healthy. You will however, get most benefit from dark chocolate with at least 60% or higher cacao.

Looks like the best of both worlds to me!

www.ladybelgiumchocolate

It goes without mentioning that we all have stress in our lives. Well, chocolate may be able to help with that too. Have you ever heard anyone say,  if they have some chocolate it helps them calm down? Here's some happy facts...oh surely  that luscious sweet taste gives you an immediate emotional boost but...chocolate contains lots of magnesium and magnesium is the most powerful relaxation mineral. So, you're not imagining  things! Also dark chocolate has been found to reduce stress hormone levels in the body. The science is there, so let's face it we were born to eat chocolate! It's even listed on the University of Michigan's integrative medicine's food pyramid for a wholesome healthy diet.  All you need is an ounce and a half a day to get all the health benefits of chocolate. If you eat good quality chocolate a little is all you need. (especially if you know you'll be eating it everyday). So, go ahead eat your chocolate slowly... and mindfully for full enjoyment :) and you'll be happier, healthier and more relaxed too!
                
                 Points of consideration

chocolate contains caffeine so those sensitive should be mindful of this

 chocolate contains oxalates so if you're prone to kidney stones be cautious

chocolate contains a natural chemical tyramine thought to trigger migraine headaches

It is important to note that diabetics be aware of the sugar content and choose darker varieties with less sugar if allowed on their diet

• www.webmd.com
• www.med.umich.edu
• www.smithsonianmag.com

• 
  

                                   chocolate avocado pudding

• 1 ripe avocado 

3 tbsp. cacao powder

1/4 c. milk (of your choice)

                                                    3 tbsp. sweetener such as maple syrup, honey or agave

1 tsp. vanilla extract

small pinch of Cayenne

• Mix all ingredients together in food processor or mixer until smooth,if needed  add more sweetener or milk for desired consistency and sweetness. Add some chocolate or peanut butter bits or top with your favorite berries, slivered almonds and or whipped cream.  
• (revision of a recipe given to me by my friend Kathy G.)

Avocados are another amazing heart healthy food full of monounsaturated fats. According to the American Heart Association these are the good fats that can help lower cholesterol. 

 Kids love chocolate too! Here's a photo of my son when he was around 8 years old. He was definitely enjoying some chocolate!

Hope this brightens your day a little and have a happy valentines day from our hearts to yours!

wellnessinspired

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"Heart and Soul"

Since February is heart health month, I wanted my first post to reflect this. I want to honor heart health month with a few reflections.....
We all have an injured heart in one way or another. For some of us we have experienced the "heartache" from the loss of a loved one, a "broken heart" from a failed romance, or even the physical pain from a "heart attack." You may hear someone say they are"heartsick" over something that went wrong. Our emotions are deeply connected to our heart, and the cells in our heart are responding to what we say and what we feel. Our heart is a magical resilient organ with amazing healing capacity. It does the most physical work of any other organ in our body during our lifetime! Through a life changing cardiac event, I have come to deeply appreciate my heart and all it does for me. Treat your heart well and it will respond lovingly. Thank your heart everyday, it's listening!