Summer Abundance
Are you swimming in tomatoes? Or something else like pears, spinach, kale, figs, etc. Let’s look at some summer recipes. I have been making many dishes from the garden including: Raw Tomato Basil Ginger Soup, Polenta with Tomato Brinjal Mushroom Sauce, Apple Pear Sauce, Oatmeal with Fresh Fruit, and Aloo Gobi Palak. Don’t forget my Tabouleh Salad with fresh tomatoes and garden fresh parsley from last month’s blog. Click below to get these wonderful recipes and join us on March 13th for Happy Foods 2021 to learn to make great dishes that match your dosha providing balance, taste and Foods 2021 to learn to make great dishes that match your dosha providing balance, taste and nourishment that is missing from our modern diets. Check out the announcement
Happy Foods I and II
Happy Foods I and II –
Bringing true pleasure and balance back into our foods
by Jim Montrose, Ayurvedic Specialist, January 2021
For most of us we no longer just eat to survive, but instead eat for pleasure. Yet today with the changes in our food, preparation and diet we often miss the pleasure we are expecting. An apple I used to eat in the past that was hard, crunchy, aromatic and bounding with flavor as the juice exploded from its flesh; is now mushy, mealy, less flavorful, less sweet, and sometimes less juicy.
As a compensation for this lack of nutrient flavor, wellness and health in our food supply we have now created extravagantly flavored sauces, added sugar, salt, and flavor enhancers to our foods. Fast foods and junk foods with these artificial enhancers and empty calories abound but only give a semblance of pleasure that is short lasting.
And the trouble is…
Those foods aren’t satisfying us at a deep level and often leave us unsatisfied and in the famine state which encourages us to eat more empty calories and junk that doesn’t provide the basic nutrients we need and doesn’t satisfy our taste buds long term. They’re just activating the dopamine reward centers in our brains fooling us into a false satiety.
In the long term, poor eating habits exasperate the situation which most of us feel at a deep level of knowing.
Degrading health, obesity, loss of energy, dopamine crashes, physical limitations, depleted nutrient reserves, constant snacking … don’t make us happy. They may even create a level of depression that we learn to survive with in modern life.
There are solutions that can help us reclaim our pleasure in eating and increase our health and wellness at the same time. Replacing them with whole, natural, and healthy foods that naturally give true satiety is a first step.
We can choose foods that enhance our well-being, elevate our moods, increase our immune system, have broader nutrient values (replacing processed and nutrient –sterile foods) and add foods that replace some of the depleted nutrients that lead to poor health and depression while increasing joy. Coupling this with preparing our foods in ways that conserve the nutrients, concentrate the nutrients, and provide them in tasty, exciting ways that meet our unique body’s constitutional needs we can create Happy foods that do us well, satisfy hunger, and increase pleasure in eating. Read on.
Recipes from the Ranch
Select Recipes from a week at the Ranch, Jim Montrose Ayurvedic Specialist December 2020
When you come to the Ranch for a weeklong retreat we offer healthy detoxifying food that is intended to help you lose some of the acid of the modern lifestyle and nourish. While most people once they get use to the reduced salt and oil find the food satisfying it is a departure from the over-spiced, salted and high fat content of most people’s standard diet and restaurant or prepared foods. For the many who learn to enjoy the lighter more nutritionally satisfying fare of the ranch here are some ideas for healthier foods and a little festival at the end. Most of these recipes will work for 2-4 people depending on their appetites and whatever else is available. At the ranch we always have Hippocrates soup, potatoes or rice and salad. Enjoy these recipes as my gift to you for the holidays. Join us in February and March for Happy Foods and Ayurvedic Balance and Food to learn more great approaches and recipes.
Alignment Recapped
Alignment – Your most important relationship by Jim Montrose, Ayurvedic Specialist, November 2020
In the past we have written many articles on alignment and we still find it is the most important vantage point that anyone can take to heal, to reach their health desires, and live a happier life filled with wonder, joy and bliss. We also find it is one of the most critical components of a retreat that requires constant practice to grasp and start to adopt as a new habit.
Read more about the most valuable thing you can do every day. Remember Zaida is seeing patients from December 7th on and we are having the annual goal setting seminar on January 2nd. Stay tuned for more details on our seminars and Happy Foods in January and February. Happy Holidays and Best Wishes! May you live Aligned – happy, joyful, in wonder and awe of the life you are creating.
2020 Questions 2020
2020 Questions, answered with Jim Montrose, Ayurvedic Specialist. October 2020
Our patients and retreat guests ask about: dealing with airline foods, vaccines, 5G, staying in power, deviating from the diet, cooking slow without water nor oil and salt, and detaching from the fear and anxiety and avoiding “what is” are all answered.
Join us next month for our favorite topic alignment in the mean time read some of our old blogs and practice detaching from fear and anxiety as answered in this months blog. Learn more about slow waterless cooking and Real foods to prepare for the coming holidays and next year. Happy Foods, Saturday seminar coming again in December.
Be the Peace you want!
I want to be and have more Peace in my own life, are you interested? During our time of world reset and transformation of the old structures and establishments that no longer work this is a great time to consider how you can be the Peace you want in your life. Gandhi said and walked the path: “Be the change you want to see.” So join me in exploring what this means so we can be the change we want.
21 Day Bonus 2
21 DAY CLEAN, PURGE, BALANCE
21 day clean, purge, balance
18 April 2020 Day 22 (Bonus 2) –Questionaire
Welcome to Day 22 (Bonus 2) – Are you owning and implementing the steps for longevity and well-being? Take the questionnaire.
Let us look at where we stand to the health and diet parameters we discussed last time with a short questionnaire I have developed.
To take this short questionaire and discover how you fare in the 13 areas of longevity, self-care, and resilience click on the link below. Enjoy and have a great day.
21 Day Bonus 1
21 DAY CLEAN, PURGE, BALANCE
21 day clean, purge, balance
17 April 2020 Day 22 (Bonus 1) – Wellness, longevity and remission.
Welcome to Day 22 (Bonus 1) – Are you owning and implementing the steps for longevity and well-being?
As a bonus we will look at longevity and healing. In researching the studies on centenarian cultures around the world and longevity research I have isolated several key factors that we have introduced you to over the last 21 days. The reason I have chosen the long term centenarian studies and longevity research is that they have studied groups that have demonstrated the results of diet on health, productivity, and wellness for over 100 years of application. Long term results are absent with the latest fad diets like paleo, keto, and others that are based on a theory that is unique and different but may or may not be valid for long term results. I have also included Kelly Turners results in studying individuals who have successfully turned around chronic diseases.
“Genetic or dietary interventions can not only delay diseases but actually eliminate a major portion of chronic diseases in mice, monkeys, and even humans to extend longevity.” Dr. Valter Longo, noted longevity researcher. Longo indicates that the mostly plant based diet he recommends does not only lead to optimal weight and health but also provides strong protection against the major ailments of old age, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The basics of longevity and healing from various researchers is:
The nine common steps that people who had radical remissions of chronic illness did are (note only two of them are physical changes, the rest are mental, emotional and spiritual):
1. Radically changing their diet. *
2. Taking control of (for) your health.
3. Following your intuition
4. Using Herbs and Supplements. *
5. Releasing suppressed emotions.
6. Increasing positive emotions.
7. Embracing social support.
8. Deepening your spiritual connection.
9. Having a strong reason for living.
Nine lessons on the lifestyle of people living in blue zones:
• Moderate, regular physical activity.
• Life purpose.
• Stress reduction.
• Moderate caloric intake.
• Plant-based diet.
• Moderate alcohol intake, especially wine (low alcohol content).
• Engagement in spirituality or religion.
• Engagement in family life.
The summary of the Longo “Longevity Diet” is as follows:
• Eat mostly plant-based foods, with occasional low-mercury fish or other seafood (2-3 times a week) and lots of nuts and olive oil
• Generally eat modest amounts of protein, whether it’s plant-based or animal-based
• Very limited or no dairy; goat’s milk and cheese are okay
• Minimize saturated fats and sugar
• Eat foods from your ancestral homelands as long as they are otherwise healthy
• Eat 2-3 meals a day, ideally two solid meals and one snack, in a 10-12 hour window, and don’t eat 3-4 hours before bedtime
• Take multivitamins every three days
• A few times a year, if you are under age 65-70 and otherwise healthy, do a five-day water fast or a “fasting-mimicking diet,” which includes food but mimics the benefits of actual fasting.
A few additions:
• Belief is important more than 1/3 of all medical cures are due to placebo effect.
• Perception is a key for epigenetic actions that re-write genes and give you healing ability.
• Self-care and stress reduction through meditation are very important and go beyond to spirituality.
• Supplements should be used to supplement imbalance, but not continued beyond their use, herbs and medicines were not meant for continuous usage.
Next time we will look at where we stand in relationship to this with a short questionnaire I have developed.
Take Away (Bonus 1): Consider the daily actions of centenarians who enjoy well-being, joy and happiness.
Enjoy your Cleaning, Purging, Balancing and Rest,
Dr. Zaida Rivene, D.C.
www.drzaidarivine.co.za
083 290 1283
and Jim Montrose, Ayurvedic counselor
www.drzaidarivene.co.za/jimmontrose
071 959 0786
P.S. Check out the website (www.drzaidarivene. co.za) for other articles and resources on practices, words, inspired living, health, chakra meditation, Ayurveda and other topics.
Receive our monthly newsletter; sign up on the website now!
Copyright April 2020
21 Day Balance 7
21 day clean, purge, balance
16 April 2020 Day 21 (Balance 7) – A Balanced Day
Welcome to Day 21 (Balance 7) – Bringing balance forward in your life each day.
We have explored a number of topics and practices in the last 21 days. A virus asks us to do four things when it visits us, that we have been negligent of, they are: to clean, to purge, to balance, and to rest. It is a good thing that it reminds us. It reminds us, to mind our wellness on a daily basis – to take care of our foundation of well-being on a continuous basis. Today as you prepare to move forward with your journey of life, consider how and where you can consciously support these four pillars of wellness in your life.
We have offered a daily eating and care plan that we go over with all our patients; this is a good beginning. With a morning ritual of detoxification, alignment, meditation, breath work, light breakfast, big lunch, light dinner, exercise, and evening routine to slow down prepare for sleep, meditation, breathing, alignment. To this core we can add elements of our 21 day routine to expand and own what we have experienced and wish to continue. Review the list of our 21 day takeaways and consider adding them to your daily, weekly, annual routines.
Clean 1) – Start the day with lemon and warm water and eat light high water content foods until noon.
2) – Joy start your body and lymphatic’s with a self message each morning.
3): Luxuriously sleep (in bed by 10am and wake at sunrise) to maximize health and vigor.
4): Hypercharge health with tongue, nostril and ear cleaning – clear brain and senses.
5): Energize and inspire yourself for longevity with movement and breathe each day.
6): Begin with gratitude and ask for what you truly desire to benefit yourself and others.
7): Be more in your life (80%) & only from alignment add the action (20%) & see what you can create.
Purge 1): Clear the clutter for more effectiveness, let go of the resistance.
2): Fasting allow the body to naturally detoxify and then rebuild to increase longevity.
3): Release unwanted habits; embrace your real self in your heart center for contentment & fulfillment.
4): Impeccable words of truth set a force of love to please and increase the flow of what we focus on.
5): Become aware of your natural tendencies and start to replace them with love based responses, using tapping and NET to program the subconscious mind.
6): Go inside to find the real expert who resides within where the Supreme Self resides.
7): Reclaim your passion and energy by releasing incompletes and resistance.
Balance 1): In the stillness inside me is a calming peace that is always accessible.
2): Eat real living food (as nature gives) in all colors, and the six tastes for abundant balanced life force.
3): Adopting the characteristic of child-like play as an adult keeps your mind and body flexible, young and spontaneous. It renews mind/body and reverses the aging process.
4): Change your perceptions; change your life for renewal and regeneration.
5): Live life fully, unfolding your great purpose for being with confidence and happiness.
6): Take the journey of consciousness, dive deep into the stillness of not doing -relax in your true being.
7): Your daily actions become your habits which become your beliefs, choose what supports well-being.
Rest: What do you do to ensure your rest? Daily, weekly, yearly – time off, sleep, vacation, re-creation.
Stay in balance remembering: In positive emotion I allow my complete alignment and communication with Source Energy I reclaim the balance in my physical and mental body, living in the fullness of my well-being. I maintain my balance and well-being easily with consistent good feeling thoughts. I am aware of my emotional state and whenever I dip towards fear based emotions there is nothing more important than restoring my high flying positive emotional state as quickly as I can.
Take Away (Balance 7): Your daily actions become your habits which become your beliefs, choose what supports well-being.
Practice this for 21 days to see the effects first hand. Continue the practices from previous days for the entire program to fully experience the benefits.
Enjoy your Balance and rest,
Dr. Zaida Rivene, D.C.
www.drzaidarivine.co.za
083 290 1283
and Jim Montrose, Ayurvedic counselor
www.drzaidarivene.co.za/jimmontrose
071 959 0786
P.S. Check out the website (www.drzaidarivene. co.za) for other articles and resources on practices, words, inspired living, health, chakra meditation, Ayurveda and other topics.
Receive our monthly newsletter; sign up on the website now!
Copyright April 2020
Happy Foods Winter 2021 – Bring satisfying pleasure and joy back to your food, while balancing your constitution, making it fun, and systematic for quicker results.
by Jim Montrose, Ayurvedic Specialist, June 2021
Happy Foods 2021 Winter – Foods that reduce anxiety, increase happiness, and fulfillment. You’ve found what your body constitution is, now what. Choose foods and recipes that meet your body’s constitution for natural Balance and Vitality
“I would like to thank you for Saturday, for the first time I feel like eating according to my Dosha is achievable and easy to understand. I loved the way you explained how we have to perceive a meal and then go about flavoring and preparing it – meal time is fun that way.” – E. Apr, 2020
In a revamped version of last year’s successful Happy Foods we are introducing expanded practical steps to learn how to make and create dishes that meet your Eating Plan in a fun and quick way. Open the way to easily and quickly make the foods that balance your dosha with fun and satisfy your taste for joy and pleasure. With expanded sections on the Chinese medicine approach that supports and augments the Ayurvedic taste and health practices including why the Chinese don’t count calories. The latest tips and discoveries from scientific research demystified and put into a holistic framework to reduce the confusion and produce the food to support the detoxification and re-generation of your body in support of your core treatments in the office.
The new Happy Foods 2021 gives the first timer a great overview of the basics as well as advanced topics not previously covered in last year’s Happy Foods, making recipes from scratch, improving taste and correcting, and more assistance in learning to effectively implement these approaches quickly, easily, and with fun in your own kitchen. Come for a wonderful deepening of your Real Food – Happy Food skills and understanding.
For the experienced and new Happy Food participant it provides a great review and expansion with new concepts, increased attention to how to set up your kitchen and learn the skills to do it more automatically (making it a habit). The advanced balancing techniques will help everyone. In addition, both groups will benefit with a special session to specifically answer your most perplexing, puzzling, confusing question about preparing food to meet your specific food plan. Bring your pressing and urgent questions in any and all areas of concern about your eating plan and cooking.
HAPPY FOODS 2021 MORE JOY, FUN, RESILIENCY, AND IMMUNITY
Many common foods enhance our joy, our resiliency in times of challenge and our immunity. We couple these foods with a system for proper cooking techniques, real foods, and matching the foods we eat with our body’s constitutional requirements we not only satisfy our hungers but truly provide the nutrients and life force that keeps us active, healthy and alive. And a big plus with the Happy food program of real foods is that the whole food offers the individual vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in a balanced whole food way. Remember that eating the actual fruit or veggie is better than popping single-vitamin and multi-vitamin extract supplements since all the components in the food interact in unique ways that insure uptake and digestibility in the body.
Choosing foods and recipes with a system to make it easier to meet your body’s constitution for natural Balance and Vitality.
“Let food be your medicine, let medicine be your food.”
Some of the topics covered include:
Join us at 9AM on Saturday morning to review your dosha, enjoy a happy snack, learn what Happy cooking is all about, get recipes and lecture notes to nurture you own experiments and recipe development, help prepare a Happy lunch for your dosha. We will finish around 2PM. The cost for food, notes and 5 hours of instruction is R400, register and help us by registering early and pay only R350 before July 1st; couples attend for R550 beforeJuly 1st or R600 after (1 set of notes). Call Lana now to register 083 290 1283.
Stop the dissatisfaction and hunger that modern foods and cooking produce. Learn preparation, nutrient preservation and concentration techniques and cooking procedures that provide the basic nutrients we need, in balance with our constitutions, increase pleasure, elevate mood and immune response, and satisfy our taste buds longer term. Join us July 3rd 9am-2pm. Sign-up with Lana today, 083 290 1283, to insure your place.
Happy Foods 2021 – bringing true pleasure and balance back into our foods.
In Loving Service,
Jim Montrose, Ayurvedic Counselor
www.drzaidarivene.co.za/jimmontrose
071 959 0786
P.S. Join us for Happy Foods 2021 July 3rd, pay before July 1 and get R50 off and make food that is satisfying. Sign up for our newsletter and view our blogs at the website www.drzaidarivene.co.za.
P. P.S. Check out the website for other articles and resources on cooking, words, inspired living, health, chakra meditation, Ayurveda and other topics. Some of the programs we have planned include:
Balance your Body Type offering in the Fall, email for information.
Awareness and Awakening Meditation, new online class offering in April/May, watch for the announcement and a free trial experience, email for information.
Copyright June 2021
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