Heard on the news recently about the top 3 Google searches for 2016, where everyone’s focus seems to be on improved health? Can you guess? Here they are:
- How to get rid of stress
- How to make kale chips
- How much water do you need to drink to lose weight
Let’s help ourselves and the world by addressing those hot-topic issues.
How to get rid of stress?
A stress-free life will never be experienced this side of heaven. We are, however, so much more in control of our response to stress. Sometimes we can control how much stress is on our plate – sometimes not.
Mindset is the key!
Have you ever allowed a ‘grumbly’ mood take over? From then on, every little thing that does not suit you gets amplified? Things snowball to the negative? On the flip side, have you ever been so happy and positive that nothing could turn you away from your happy frame of mind?
I noticed this past December that, no matter where I went, there was a holiday song in my heart, if not my ear, and I was extra courteous to all drivers and pedestrians. I was excited, happy, and wanted to embrace the world. Instead of grumbling at slow lines in the market, I said a prayer for the harried cashier, and counted my blessings to be in the midst of such abundance…and I looked for ways to share mine.
When the storms do blow, and the waters rise in spite of our best efforts, well, that’s stress! The ‘fight or flight’ hormones flood our beings. We are challenged to first regroup ourselves before flying off the handle with our response.
How do you start the calming regrouping process? I have even said “STOP!” out loud to myself, something short of a Jimmy Cagney slap on the face, to wake myself up. This is a reminder that spiraling out of control is a choice; and I do not want to do that. Definitely a time for cleansing breaths followed by a few affirmations. If possible, stepping back and away from 
the “stresser” is helpful. Asking for help, or sharing your burden with another, can be key in getting a handle on things and gaining perspective.
As far as how much stress is on our plates, we all should pause and take into account:
- How much of that stress is self-created?
- Can we eliminate any of the stress by paring down on the number of obligations we put ourselves under?
- Have we asked for help?
How to make kale chips!
A reprise on a favorite recipe already shared:
Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Savory and Cheesy Kale Chips
Soak ¾ cup (preferably raw, unprocessed) cashews in water for at 
least one hour.
Assemble the following ingredients and put into a food processor:
1 large clove of garlic, peeled, and sliced
2 Tbs. coconut aminos (a gluten-free version of soy sauce or you can use wheat-free tamari)
2 Tbs. avocado oil or coconut oil
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
1 lemon, juiced
1/8 tsp. smoked paprika
1/8 tsp. salt
Process soaked, drained cashews and the ingredients listed in a food processor until a smooth paste is formed.
Evenly distribute paste over one bunch of cleaned and prepped kale leaves, and massage leaves with paste to work in the goodness and to break down the kale a bit.
Evenly space prepared-chips onto parchment-covered baking sheets and bake in 180 degree oven for 1 hour; turn leaves over; continue baking about 45-60 more minutes, until all leaves are crispy. Store in a zip lock bag. Enjoy!
How much water do you need to drink to lose weight?
The very question concerns me. There is no formula for “water in…fat out.”
The bigger over-riding question is how much water do we need to drink to be healthy? …to have a properly running digestive system? ….to avoid headaches?
Granted, drinking a glassful of water 30 minutes before each meal has been shown to “fill” a person up enough to actually cause eating less during the meal
. Whether to base a ‘weight loss diet’ around that is questionable, if the quality of the food is not considered. My book, Toolkit for Wellness, and these posts are all aimed at food choices that do not cause inflammation and create a healthy balance of non-starchy vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats.
Proper hydration is obtained when the urine is a pale yellow/amber. You will notice that first thing in the morning, your urine is a darker yellow because you were not drinking any fluids during the night. As you begin to hydrate yourself, your urine’s color lightens up. If your urine starts looking as clear as water, you may be a bit too hydrated. It is possible to drink too much 
water which causes loss of valuable electrolytes/minerals. Consistent over-hydration could land you in the hospital!
So there you have it: stress, kale chips, and water.
Done. Done. And done!
FYI: When you throw your back out on New Year’s Eve like I did, twisting as you get out of your easy chair, the absolute BEST therapy is walking! Just keep doing it. So much for my accelerated exercise routine for January 1st! But, hey, I can walk and do kitchen counter push-ups!
Now, if I could just sit in a chair comfortably again… off to the chiropractor!
Happy New Year!
Deidre