Cassandra Green

It's not often that I'm in the dark about food.  I'm health counselor and have loved cooking for a long time.  But recently I was thrown a curve ball by what, for me, was an elusive food...at least for a couple of days.

Even the health food store people seemed a little confused when I asked them about kasha. 

"Oh yeah, we have that...wh-what is it," they guy behind the counter wrinkled his forehead and looked confused.

I didn't feel so bad asking now.

I had gotten the idea from a book on blood type nutrition that suggests that people of my blood type, O, minimize gluten in their diet.   In the back are meal plans and kasha was listed as a breakfast option.  So, off I went in search of this lovely sounding whatever it was...I assumed (correctly) a grain.

After the experience at the checkout counter and still no kasha in hand, I broke down and looked it up online.  It turns out it's more commonly called buckwheat groats.

So, I went back to the store the next day and from the bulk food section triumphantly returned with my kasha.

Now just to figure out how to prepare them.  I assumed it would be like oatmeal and I was kind of right.  Back to the Internet I went for more advice.

To prepare the kasha you first toast 1 cup over high heat for about 4-5 minutes until it's brown.  From there, add 2 cups of water, cover, reduce the heat to low and cook 15 minutes.

It's a soft grain and from the toasting offers a nutty flavor.  I added a bit of soy milk, honey, apple and walnut to mine and called it breakfast.  It was so delicous!

You can also make kasha for savory meals as well.  Instead of water you could cook with broth, add herbs and spices (dare I say sauteed mushrooms) and a sprinkle of cheese.  Heavenly!

I hope this enourages you to explore a variety of foods even if you've never heard of it before.  I know it can seem like there is a fair amount of snobbery that goes on as if you should know every "boutique" food on the planet when you enter a natural market.

I wanted to share my experience so (#1) you could see even I go through the natural market heebie jeebies despite nutrition being my career and (#2) hopefully introduce you to a fun, versatile grain.

Have a beautiful day!

In light and service,

Cassandra

Welcome back to my series on food and the chakras.  If you haven't already, I highly recommend you review the prior posts (Parts 1 , 2 , and 3 ) and go in order from there.

The 4th Chakra, Anahata, is located at the heart center.  It's the energetic home of everything you can imagine in terms of true love, compassion, and kindness.  It's also the critical balance point of the chakra system, the division between the earthly and the etheral chakras.

The heart chakra is directly located over the heart and lungs and its element is air.  This makes it an ideal area of the body on which to focus the breath.  You can practice a beautiful meditation by simply watching the breath move in and out of the heart center.

Many people have experienced trauma or have been hurt over their lifetime(s) and have successfully built a "heart chakra wall", closing off their heart to the world to some extent.  In practicing the healing arts such as Reiki, the most common emotion I feel from people from Anahata is grief. 

Working to open or re-open the heart to experience greater love and compassion is very powerful.  In looking at food to facilitate this process, I have two recommendations:

1. Practice putting love into your food!  Have you ever noticed that something tasted special when you know love went into it?  Based on quantam physics, the things we think dictate our reality so having positive thoughts and vibrations going into food is very important as we take on the qualities of our food cell by cell.  I love to sing or think mantras when cooking.  An excellent mantra is Om Nama Shivaya (I honor the divine, my highest self).   You will truly make the world a better place by doing this!  If you want to take it to the next level, call your local charity (e.g. Ronald McDonald house) and see what food you can bring by to help those in need.

2. Give and receive.  The heart is all about giving but it's also about receiving with grace.  The next time someone is humbling themselves to serve you, ask for what you really want.  I know it's easy to say "Oh, whatever is easiest to make" but truly ask for what you want and receive it as a gift of life and love.  This can extend well beyond food into other areas you may need support with.  What's stopping you from letting others assist you in your life?  It's probably the ego or the "heart chakra wall".

Generally speaking, light and airy foods such as leafy greens are attributed to positively impacting Anahata.  I like herbs and veggies that are both green and purple since both these colors represent this chakra.

Ultimately our hearts have NO LIMIT...that's right NO LIMIT for compassion.  That means you can care deeply about a million people (or beings) or causes and treat them all with loving kindness.  You will never run out of compassion!

I will end with words from the Dalai Lama because this is such an excellent summary for our goals concerning this chakra and will branch nicely into our next chakra, the throat.  "Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible."

Until next time, eat your vegetables :)  In the next post, we'll explore the throat chakra and how to speak your truth when it may hurt someone--yikes!

In light and service,

Cassandra

Welcome back to my serieis on food and the chakras.  If you haven't already, I highly recommend you review my first two posts, Part 1 and Part 2 , and go in order from there.

As we discuss the 3rd chakra, Manipura, you can think of it as a burning ring of fire at your belly.  That's right, your third chakra is all about heat and purification.  It's also the center of strength, determination and willpower.  This chakra gives you the ability to get things done and 'take care of business'!

As you may guess, with all this fire in the stomach area, this chakra has a great deal to do with digestion.  When this chakra is in balance your digestive fire is strong.  Have you ever met someone that could eat just about anything?  I almost guarantee you this same person has a lot of willpower to manifest things in their life (whether they are exercising it or not).

When out of balance, this chakra can lead to stomach problems and, in extreme cases, severe digestive disorders.  Those seeking extreme control and power may suffer from heart burn, cramping and constant pain (and gas) as Hitler did.  In contrast, if the third chakra is weak, digestion may be stifled. 

So what can you do to balance your third chakra?

First is coming to an awareness of where you stand with it. 

Overactive

How determined are you?  Are you someone that makes things happen?  If so, you may be pretty balanced or a little over-active.  If you feel like Manipura may be overactive, you may want to avoid spicy and acidic foods.  It is beneficial to consider eating raw foods and adding digestive enzymes to your routine.

For example, I have a pretty strong third chakra and when I was proving myself in the corporate world I ran into extreme digestive issues with acid reflux and heartburn.  Until I addressed the situation, I could not have anything acidic (which at the time was a bummer because I was on a Margarita kick). 

Beyond food, you must deal with what is driving your overactivity.  If you feel like you're out to prove something and constantly in an adrenaline state, you need to slow it down. Stress is one of the leading causes of disease and it's my belief overactive third chakras can easily guide us down this path. 

If your third chakra is overactive you're going to need to take the time to smell the roses.  While you may enjoy vigorous activities, try restorative or yin yoga.  Cultivate quiet reflection and meditation into your life.  Also, identify areas you're holding onto.  Relenquish some control in your life--I promise you can do it!

Underactive

If you feel like you lack confidence, focus or never get anything done, you may be experiencing an underactive Manipura.  From the digestive perspective, you're going to have to build your fire.  Chew your food well and avoid drinking during meals so that the stomach acid can do its job without being quenched.  Foods slow cooked or fermented will help your body because in a way they are pre-digested.  You will also benefit from digestive enzymes (over or underactive both benefit) to assist in breaking down the food to a molecular level.

There are a variety of activities you can work with to enhance the subtle side of this chakra.  My thought for boosting this chakra is just get out there and DO something.  Quit worrying about it, thinking about it, and analyzing it.-- just do it.  Additionally, more vigorous exercises, such as heated yoga can often boost drive and self-confidence.  If there are certain insecurities that are holding you back, it's really important to work on those in whatever way seems most benefiical to you.

BONUS

Before I leave you on this topic, I have a fun video bonus, "Yoga for Willpower" , that I'd love to share with you.  It's a bonus video from my Nutrition for Yoga Students Program.   All you have to do is request it here and I'll email you the link.

I hope you have a great week and I'll be back next time with my favorite chakra, the heart!

Welcome back to my series on chakras and food.  If you haven't already, I highly recommend you start with my first post, Part 1-Root Food , and go in order.

Whether the title of this post makes you think of 1) cooking up hot soup or 2) sex, either way, you are right on.

The 2nd chakra, Svadisthana, is all about creation, creativity, fluidity and movement.  This center of creation is physically focused on the sex organs and kidneys.  Svadisthana influences many things including sex, guilt (imagaine that) and creation.  It also regulates our life's flow, especially money.  Some people even say if you drink more water, it could help bring more money through your bank account.

To know where you stand with Svadisthana, ask yourself about your sexuality.  Is it healthy and balanced?  What about your creativity?  Are you giving yourself time to explore creative outlets?  And that doesn't mean you have to be an artist.  You can rearrange the living room furniture, make a music mix or cook...and that's where I come in today with food.

For this chakra, I'm going to recommend soups, aphrodisiacs, and sensual foods (think juicy things like chocolate covered strawberries, people!

SOUPS

Soups and stews nourish more than just the body. Cooking these wonderful one-pot meals can assist you in stimulating your creative side. Trying new recipes, improvising (which is important with soups) and creating our own special soups make this an art form all its own.  See all my recipes for ideas.

APHRODISIAC

My favorite aphrodisiac to recommend is dark chocolate (70% or more).   Dark chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that bring on feelings of pleasure which is deeply connected to Svadisthana. It also contains the chemical serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant.  Meanwhile, flavanoids in dark chocolate act as antioxidants protecting the body from oxidative stress.

JUICY STUFF

Juicy fruits like peaches, pomegranates, and berries are so healthy and are really great to cool summer heat.  In context of the 2nd chakra however, they can actually "heat things up".   Eating berries can help increase blood flow as well as zinc levels that regulate testosterone which aids in healthy sexual function.  Pomegranates and peaches both aid in urinary tract or kidney health and peaches are also rich in zinc.

WATER

Drinking adequate amounts (at least 64 oz.) of water can help you in many ways.  It's easy to go around dehydrated and not realize it and this is a key area I always recommend in my health counseling practice.  Beyond this physical improvement, however, drinking water can get lots of "stuck" energy moving.  Notice the flow of energy,  passions, money and more in your life.  When you start drinking more water, you'll be surprised what startsmoving!

RITUALS FOR THE 2ND CHAKRA

There are many rituals and activities besides foods that can help you balance your Svadisthana.

• This week, take a nice long bath being very intentional about washing away anything that is "stuck" or holding you back.  

• Dance...go dancing with your friends or just dance around the house.  Move your body, shake your hips, have fun!

• Create!  Find your creative side through cooking or whatever your passion might be.  Start from a place of ahimsa or non-judgement.  Just have fun!

NEXT WEEK

Next week, I'll focus on the 3rd chakra, the center of willpower.  Plus, I'll offer a limited bonus video, "Yoga for Willpower"

Until then...in light and service,

Cassandra Green

I love this recipe from Shoshoni Yoga Ashram's cookbook, The Kitchen Goddess.  Not only is it low-glycemic but rich in healthy spices.  I made extra of it and froze it in a glass container and reheated it a couple weeks later.  It tasted even better!

Ingredients:

• 1 t. light sesame oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 T. fresh ginger, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 t. red chili flakes
• 1/2 c. red bell peppers, sliced
• 1/2 c. carrots, peeled and sliced long and thin
• 1/2 c. baby corn
• 7 c. water or vegetable sotck
• 2 T. soy sauce
• 1/2 c. firm silken tofu, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (or substitute 3/4 lb. chicken)
• 2 c. coconut milk
• 1 T. lemon juice
• 1 t. salt
• 1/4 c. fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions:

1.  In a large saucepan, heat the seasme oil over medium heat.  Satue' the onion for 5 minutes, until translucent.  Add ginger, garlic, and red chili flakes and satue' for two more minutes.

2. Stir in the bell peppers, carrots and baby corn.  Add the water and soy sauce, and gently stir in the silken tofu cubes (or chicken).  Cover and bring the soup to a boil.  Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

3. Stir in the coconut milk, lemon juice, and salt.  Heat through and serve hot with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.

Enjoy!

-Cassandra