Just as Vivaldi wrote different music to convey the different moods of “The Four Seasons” so do our bodies have different natural rhythms in the spring, summer, autumn and winter. Health challenges change too, as nature’s cycles affect our external and internal environments. While air conditioning and central heat insulate us from some seasonal effects, certain primeval instincts prevail.
As the seasons turn, we’d all do well to be responsive to the needs of our bodies. For example, like most people, I’m more likely to prefer a light salad in the summer and enjoy tucking into a hearty bowl of steaming soup or stew in the winter. For the details on how diets should shift with the seasons, I turned to Daily Health News contributing editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND.
SPRING: REBIRTH AND RENEWAL
Year-round our focus should ideally be on foods and supplements that harmonize with the seasons. For example, spring is a period of transition, a time of birth and renewal…
The foods of spring. After months of inactivity and a dearth of sunlight and fresh air, spring cleaning is even more important in the body than in the house. For this, Dr. Rubman recommends fresh, ripe produce to help the liver cleanse itself of toxins that build up over the winter. The more of these fruits and vegetables you consume, the better… and keep in mind that a deeper color is associated with a richer disease-fighting, antioxidant content.
An ideal spring meal. Dr. Rubman suggests emphasizing spring’s special bounty — adding, for example, a cup of alfalfa sprouts, baby spinach, spring lettuce, mustard or dandelion greens or a freshly juiced vegetable mix to your favorite recipe or meal.
Favorite spring supplements. In spring, Dr. Rubman suggests taking supplemental dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) leaf, which gives the liver an even heftier detoxifying boost. He likes to prescribe Eclectic Institute’s freeze-dried dandelion leaf, to be taken with the evening meal for a few weeks or even months. He cautions that all supplements are best taken under the guidance of a licensed and experienced naturopathic physician. If you tend to be allergic to ragweed, chamomile or other such plants, Dr. Rubman advises trying a tiny amount of this supplement first — open the capsule and hold a tiny amount of its contents in your mouth for a few minutes (then spit out) to see if symptoms develop.
SUMMERTIME: “AND THE LIVIN’ IS EASY”
For many, summer months translate into high-energy activities such as kayaking, tennis and hiking…
The foods of summer. Healthful carbohydrates (raw or steamed veggies, oatmeal, whole grain breads, beans, lentils, etc.) provide the higher level of energy required to meet the challenges of the heat, especially when you’re physically active. These are broken down into glucose more slowly than carbs from processed foods (eg, sugary and floury snacks and desserts), providing a gradual and steady source of energy all day long. Also drink plenty of water and maintain your salt intake to avoid dehydration.
An ideal summer meal. Keep your mid-afternoon meal light, Dr. Rubman advises. For example, enjoy a fresh summer salad of leafy greens topped with a tablespoon each of walnuts and crumbled goat cheese, drizzled with olive oil. Snack on celery sticks or baby carrots smeared with almond, cashew or peanut butter (preferably the natural kinds that come in glass jars and are free from hydrogenated fats).
Favorite summer supplements. To amplify the positive effects of your summer diet and maximize energy, Dr. Rubman recommends bioflavonoids, typically obtained by eating a few servings of brightly colored fruits and vegetables… increased vitamin C… a multiple B vitamin twice a day and a sublingual (literally under the tongue) B-12 supplement. Taking B-12 this way avoids exposure to stomach acid, which can degrade the vitamin.
AUTUMN: SHINE ON HARVEST MOON
Every autumn, Dr. Rubman says he enjoys the bounty of the harvest by driving out to the country to pick apples and pumpkins. The aromas of fresh applesauce and pumpkin soup wafting from the kitchen make this seasonal transition pleasingly fragrant as well as healthful…
The foods of autumn. If people decrease their level of activity during the colder months, they may deposit excess calories as fat. He suggests maintaining activity and instead of eating comfort foods with unhealthful fats to gradually add more healthful fats to your daily diet — such as wild salmon or sardines (rich in omega-3 fatty acids), avocados, almond butter, olive or walnut oils, seeds and nuts.
An ideal autumn meal. One of Dr. Rubman’s personal favorites is an avocado filled with salmon or shrimp salad, made with a tablespoon of nonfat yogurt instead of mayo. For snacks, try a quarter- to a half-cup of nuts or seeds.
Favorite autumn supplements. Dried dandelion root, such as freeze-dried extract sold by Eclectic Institute, is important to your liver. Whereas in the spring the compounds in the leaf support bile flow to clean out “winter debris,” when the weather turns cold the root components support the more balanced metabolism of fats. This will help the digestive tract more efficiently process heavier winter meals in the months ahead.
WINTER: A TIME TO HUNKER DOWN
It’s a must to conserve warmth and energy of all kinds in the cold winter months, from the fuel in your house’s furnace to the fuel in your body. To maintain a good energy supply flowing out from the digestive tract to the body, Dr. Rubman recommends that you consume at least two substantial meals a day, plus one light one.
The foods of winter. Bring on the stews and soups. This is the season to increase your protein intake so that reserves that may be challenged by the cold environment and vigorous outdoor activities may be maintained, says Dr. Rubman. He also recommends winter favorites such as baked yams and other earthy root vegetables, whole grains and dried beans (soaked overnight, rinsed and slow cooked)… warming herbs/spices like garlic, ginger and cayenne… and healthy fats (e.g., nuts and seeds).
An ideal winter meal. Who can resist roast chicken spiced with garlic and served with roasted sweet potatoes (hold the marshmallows)? Ginger carrot soup is another favorite winter warmer and restorer.
Favorite winter supplements. To ward off seasonal colds and flu, Dr. Rubman prescribes immune-enhancing herbs such as echinacea and astragalus in combination. Other immune-protective supplements are selenium, zinc and vitamins C and E.
As long as you’re reasonably satisfied with your present diet and how it makes you feel, he suggests making gentle modifications to seasonal variations, rather than completely revising how you plan your meals. Big adjustments or small, it’s still a good idea to be attentive to your body’s evolving needs year-round to help you feel in sync with the world around you.

Source(s): ??Andrew L. Rubman, ND, director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut. http://www.naturopath.org.

Your sisters in India who can read for themselves understand what you are going through. We have experienced the back and forwards violence between our men and the Pakistani men. Reasons, men always have reasons for their violence. Michelle you come closer to the real reasons than any excuses men put forward for their violence.

Most women in India won’t admit it but we too are very oppressed by our men. They use religion here too to force women to behave as they wish. Any religion sponsored government will be against women. It is the man’s way of saying their rules for women can’t be challenged because it is god’s law.

Not any real God, but the god they force us to believe in and obey. My cousin had acid thrown in her face because she refused the attentions of a man. He has yet to be punished by the government because he called her a prostitute.

Dafne, your idea about women uniting to fight the tyranny of men is way over due. You should also visit Zen Lill’s blog. I think you will find many readers who would be amendable to your suggestions their also. Visit India-topsites.com there are many blogs that women are using to organize there.

Many people here in Chennai are on Israel’s side because of what the Muslims have done in Mumbai. I want to say to my Muslim sisters that I hold no animosity towards them. I do understand Israel’s desire to stop the rocket attacks by depraved men, but I wish no harm to my sisters in the Gaza Strip.

Deepti

I don’t hate the Palestinians. I can understand a people wanting to be able to determine their own destiny. But if the men continue to pursue actions that alienate their neighbors, how can they expect Israel to trust them. They talk about Israel giving them total control of their ports. Look what they have done with the little autonomy they have been given.

Rather that trying to make the Gaza Strip a better place for their citizens they have used their new autonomy to stockpile weapons in civilian neighborhoods and launched rockets into Israel. Hoping to provoke Israel so as to get sympathy from the world.

What do the hypocritical men of Europe do. They scream at Israel to not defend its citizens. Yet if they get bombed they launch all out attacks against whomever they believe did it. Those same people marching in the streets yelling for Israel to leave the Gaza Strip would be urging their governments to bomb those arabs into obliteration if they were suspected of bombing one of their cities.

Men, hypocrisy. They need to stand firm against these men who have no compassion for their own females. The mothers of their children, Their own mothers. How does the world expect them to have any compassion for their innocents.

I weep for my sisters under islamic rule. But I must stand firm by my country’s desire to rid its citizens of the terror of constant rocket attacks by these self centered men who act more like illiterate boys who left school to play with guns.

Marsha

I have to say commander, I had a feeling you’d say that about trying the thrill with women, but alas, I may be the last woman standing that feels this way…but my turn on is the smell of testosterone (man) and so while it might feel good with a female, the ‘turn on’ factor is man anatomy/smell for me, it’s just the way it is and sex is not an arena where the word ‘good’ covers it for me ; ) – as I blogged last week, it’s all about ‘intense satisfaction’ for the involved parties (in and out of the sack, oh nice pun there, done on the fly also).

It is about the love, livin’ it and givin’ it, sistah – very catchy phrase, although, I do like Einstein’s less catchy quote: “A person starts to live when he can live outside himself.”

You’ve covered anything I’d say to the women of this world, I can only add that I am humbled, totally humbled by reading their stories. And I, too, think everyday about the entries here written by a woman of another culture. I watched the news all morning yesterday about Israel/Gaza and my thoughts are with the innocents involved.

The men can just go off and shoot it out amongst themselves, the fact that they threaten their women to state obvious lies to the media is sickening and I wonder if you, Misch, should/could/will rethink Maddie’s proposal to some degree. She’s got a point, the evolved ‘men’ are under ten years old now, with a few exceptions (Anonz, Doug, probably several others, but unfortunately not all that many really)

Love the word ‘plumage’ and yes, men do this, strut like a male peacock trying to vie for the attention of a ‘desirable’ female, and for what…to control her before some other man with better plumage (who she might dump you for) comes along?

Men, why aren’t women revered for giving you and your children birth, the gift of life?? Go have your own babies and take care of them if you think it’s such a cakewalk. Then come crawling with an apology and a new attitude when you finally get it. I’ll be waiting…

Ciao for now, Zen Lill

PS Cirque de soleil – Beatles ‘LOVE’ show was very cool.

Nearly one in five Americans now lives in an area where the pollution level is unhealthy. It’s a problem that’s getting worse: In last year’s annual air quality report card from the American Lung Association, the number of counties receiving a failing grade nearly doubled from the year before. Add to this the fact that more than 20 million Americans have asthma and 50 million suffer from allergies and it’s clear, we need to clean up the air. One way to do this in your home environment is to purchase air purifiers, devices that remove contaminants from air. Yet it’s important to realize that not all air purifiers work equally well. In fact, the California Air Resources Board recommends not using ozone-generating air purifiers because research demonstrates they actually can cause health problems and worsen conditions like asthma.
Thomas Brunoski, MD, a practitioner of nutritional and preventive medicine in Westport, Connecticut, helps his patients create clean air environments, so I asked him for information about air purifiers. All in all, he said, air purifiers are a good idea as they filter minute particles from the air to reduce irritation in sensitive individuals. However, it’s important to keep some key points in mind when buying one.
CLEAR THE AIR
Quality air purifiers can filter or absorb the tiniest pollutants — including chemicals, dust, bacteria, mold spores, smoke, dust mites, pollen, odors and pet dander. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, small-sized particles have the greatest potential to cause health problems. The EPA is concerned about particles that are 10 micron (micrometers) or smaller, because these are most likely to get lodged in the lungs. An air purifier can effectively clear them from the air you breathe, but to do so effectively you need one that goes beyond the standard specifications. Dr. Brunoski advises purchasing an air purifier that covers more square footage — one step above — than the volume of the space in which you intend to use it. Overall, it isn’t much more expensive to upgrade one level and buying smaller units is a false economy since they offer less protection, he says. To be efficient, an air purifier should deliver about six air changes hourly, with a high Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) per pollutant based on room size, Dr. Brunoski said. If you have central air, a house-wide filtration system such as Fantech can service the entire house. Otherwise, you’ll need a separate unit for each room.
Here’s what to look for in an individual unit…
• High Efficiency Particulate Air or HEPA filters. In Dr. Brunoski’s opinion, air purifiers with HEPA filters are the best choice. Effective and relatively inexpensive, HEPA filters were first developed to remove radioactive particles from the air in nuclear facilities. The government has established a HEPA definition: In order for a filter to be designated as HEPA, the manufacturer must demonstrate that it absorbs and removes at least 99.97% of 0.3 micrometer airborne particle pollutants. You can get a good HEPA room unit for about $200 or less. Replace HEPA filters once a year, even if the recommendation is for every two to three years. Caution: Avoid products that are advertised as “HEPA-like” or “HEPA-type” or “99% HEPA.” These may not meet strict HEPA requirements.
• Pre-Filters. Pre-filters are built into most HEPA units, and are good for removing larger particles, saving wear and tear on the HEPA elements. They are inexpensive, as low as $10 apiece. Most pre-filters contain activated carbon, which absorbs gases, chemicals and strong odors that would not be picked up by HEPA filters, with which they are typically used. Replace pre-filters every two to three months.
A note about air purifiers and noise: Unfortunately many good air purifiers are noisy because a strong fan is needed to effectively filter air. One way around the noise in the bedroom is to leave the unit on high to filter during the day and turn it to low at night. Ionic filters are a totally silent alternative — but questions have been raised about their potential ability to generate ozone and they have also been shown to be much less effective, says Dr. Brunoski.
FURTHER ALLERGY-PROOF YOUR HOME
Even the best air purifier won’t compensate for poor hygiene and housekeeping when it comes to allergens in the environment. In terms of air quality, it’s most important to be vigilant about keeping the bedroom clean, since this is where you spend a third of your life. The bedroom is usually the first room in which most people place air purifiers.
Pollutants in our environment are being blamed for an increase in all sorts of auto-immune-based diseases and allergies as well as cardiovascular disease. Even in homes where no one has diagnosed allergies, it’s a good idea to make the environment as pollutant- and allergy-free as possible. How to do it?
• Ban smoking.
• Avoid air fresheners, potpourri and pesticides.
• Don’t use cleaning materials made from harsh chemicals. Gentler natural cleaning products are better. These are increasingly available in retail stores and on-line — one of my favorite brands is Melaleuca.
• Avoid clutter and don’t decorate with dust-collecting knickknacks.
• Remove wall-to-wall carpeting in the bedroom.
• Use shades, vertical blinds or washable curtains that can be easily cleaned. Steer clear of hard-to-clean horizontal blinds.
• Vacuum frequently, especially in the bedroom. Wear a dust mask when emptying vacuum bags.
• Wash sheets, pillowcases and blankets weekly in hot water.
• Cover mattresses, box springs, duvets and pillows with allergy-proof covers to keep dust mites — a very common allergen — at bay.
• Replace pillows every year or two or use synthetic pillows.
• Don’t store anything under your bed.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom.

Source(s): ?
Thomas Brunoski, MD, a general practitioner who also specializes in nutrition, Westport, Connecticut.