With the change from summer to fall comes new food availability.  This time, as it is a transition of seasons, is an important time in yogic philosophy- it is a time in which to balance the body and mind with the new coming season.  After hearing about the importance of being mindful of this transition in my yoga class, and briefly meeting the Ayurveda consultant at VTCYT, Carmen Walker, I was interested...

When we eat raw foods we experience the nourishment that comes from life feeding life.  There has recently been a lot of research in the area of raw foods. Raw foods alkalize the body- balancing the body’s pH.  This helps the body to quickly rid of toxins.  Raw foods provide us with energy in its most natural form. This empowers our bodies, making us feel energized and whole. <...

The weather is getting cooler, which means that it is the perfect time for warming drinks.  Try brewing some chai tea.  Chai is an ancient Indian blend of spices.  The yoga nutrition philosophy of Ayruveda, considers the spices of chai to be “sattvic”- meaning calming, vitalizing and mentally clarifying.  The tea has many beneficial properties, as the black tea used in chai is rich in antioxidants. ...

Tea is a warming beverage, perfect for the chilly days of the fall and winter seasons.  Many people enjoy sipping on tea throughout their day- whether it be while reading the morning paper, carrying it around in a thermos, or sitting down with a cup of tea to relax at the end of the day.  Not only is tea soothing to our minds, it also is good for our bodies.   ...

Science Daily published a brief article on a new study that investigates green tea for the treatment of congenital disease, hyperinsulinism/hyperammonemia and two tumors, glioblastomas, a type of brain tumor and tuberous sclerosis complex disorder a genetic disease that causes non-malignant tumors to grow. Compounds present in green tea will continue to be investigated by researchers who are learning how to apply these compounds found in nature to future drug treatments. So,...

Pharma Foodie is an on-going series – a collaboration between Learning Center Chef-Instructor Nina Lesser-Goldsmith and Nutritionist Kim Evans.  In these classes we look at the value and pleasure of using food to treat, prevent, and address chronic disease. What a great concept! We work with our culinary “pharmacy” (food ingredients) to design dishes that will delight our tastes and senses for the sake of creating a foundation of good health....

Paying Attention

Erin Marie Henry – UVM Nutrition Student and Intern to Kimberly Evans, RD

Mindfulness is paying attention to our everyday actions, surroundings and thoughts in a non-judging way.   Food and mindfulness are closely related. When the mind and body are connected, one has the energy to be present in all that there is to experience.  Our bodies have an innate healing ability. When we feed...

Kombucha is an ancient fermented tea that is becoming increasingly popular due to its many health benefits.  The use of Kumbucha dates back to 221 B.C. during the Chinese empire of the Tsin-Dynasty, in which they referred to the drink as “The remedy for immortality”.  It then spread to Japan and throughout Europe, and is now known worldwide.  People everywhere are benefiting from the properties of this ancient health...

According to a report from scienceblog.com, researchers from Ohio State University investigated the effects of adding fish oil a diet in reducing anxiety induced by stress.

When our body experiences stress, there is an increase in cytokine production. Cytokines are proteins that signal to cells in the nervous system. Therefore, when you experience a trigger in your environment, cytokines will be secreted to activate a stress response in your nervous system.<...

We all know that getting a good night’s rest is essential for maintaining balance in our lives and can improve our overall health. However, we may also experience times when we do not get the highest quality sleep that we intended for. Recently I read on Eating Well’s website that dietitians are now looking towards food and how it can improve one’s sleep. The dietitians and physicians consulted...

Having a cup of coffee each morning is one of my favorite rituals. Grinding the beans, the smells, hearing the coffee drip, and the taste – a true awakening of the senses.  This morning while drinking my cup of coffee, I came upon a report in The New York Times of a study recently published that links decreased depression by 20% in women who drink coffee regularly. However, other caffeinated beverages such as soda...

“Starve a fever, feed a cold” are words of wisdom you may follow when feeling under the weather.  There is some research out there that has found there are particular foods that you feed your cold that can be more helpful to you than others. Eating Well magazine has created the following “Immunity-Boosting Foods” guide to make it easy.  Here are their top five:

1. Chicken Soup 2....