Welcome to the October issue of my Blog... www.TheUrbanShaman.blogstop.com

The theme for this month is:
Preparing for the Change of Seasons... It’s dark Out There!

I hope you are enjoying these blogs... It is my pleasure to share this information to you all. This month’s articles are about “Sleep... a Lost Art Form”, and “Antioxidant 411”,
with of course other tidbits for well-being.

Please pass this information to your friends and family... or email me to join the mailing list if you are not in my database @ TheUrbanShaman@aol.com ... My intention is to start a bi-monthly publication to support wellness in our communities... And I Need Your Support :)
.
Also, if you have any suggestions for future blogs... Use the “comments” button on the bottom of this months blog... or email me at: TheUrbanShaman@aol.com

Life is not just a journey... make it an adventure!
ENJOY! & Much love to you all...

Peace N' Blessings,
Gail Oliver






The Lost Art of Sleep

With the change of seasons, comes a change in sleep habits. On the west coast we get an extra hour... oooh! But often times we do not take advantage of it. IF... We stay on our schedule, the summer schedule, theoretically we would get to bed that hour earlier and rise and hour earlier. Unfortunately, most of us see this as an excuse to stay up later and wake up later. In other parts of the country, as Fall and Winter approach, the daylight decreases and the darkness envelopes us naturally. We now find ourselves doing our chores, workouts or errands in the dark of night.

In the past few years, I find I suffer from less drive and motivation during these times of extended darkness. I enjoy the coolness in the air and would rather read a good book, with my fireplace raging and snuggled up with a pot of tea. After all, who wants to get out of bed when it’s dark and cold? And don’t let it rain... It’s the time for nurturing yourself and regrouping from the explosive energies of Spring and Summer.

True in the real world we have to keep on movin and groovin, but this is the “natural time” for rejuvenation and restoration. Animals have the right idea... It’s called hybernation, unfortunately this is unrealistic for humans. So here are some realistic tips to keep you in sync with the seasons... Actually we can use these tips all year round.

Adequate sleep is paramount... A recent study states that most of us are sleep deprived. Most Americans sleep on average 6 or less hours a night... Not good! For the amount of energy it takes to keep up with “The Modern World”, we still need 7-8 hours to maintain a healthy mind, body and spirit. Sleep deprivation is a common condition that afflicts 47 million American adults, or almost a quarter of the adult population. Symptoms can interfere with memory, energy levels, mental abilities, and our emotional mood. A study conducted by the University of Chicago Medical Center in 1999 indicates that the condition drastically affects the body's ability to metabolize glucose, leading to symptoms that mimic early-stage diabetes. Exhaustion, fatigue and lack of physical energy are common sleep deprivation symptoms. Exhaustion and fatigue affect our emotional moods, causing pessimism, sadness, stress and anger. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) has suggested that social problems such as road rage may be caused, in part, by a national epidemic of sleepiness.

The brain relies on sleep to function effectively. Insufficient rest adversely affects the brain’s ability to control speech, access memory, and solve problems. The effect on physical energy is also startling: otherwise healthy people quickly show symptoms of age and early diabetes as glucose metabolism falls by up to forty percent. These physical reactions disappear when the test subject is allowed to rest properly. Driving and other activities can become dangerous without sufficient rest.

We can buy into..."there’s just not enough time in the day” all we want, bottom line is, as we age, that becomes tricky and we sacrifice our health and well-being. Stress accounts for 75% of all diagnosed illnesses. Sleep is the only way our body naturally repairs itself. Our world is spinning out of control and as far as keeping up with technology and the “Joneses”... It’s time to stop! At least for a good nights sleep...

There are many factors in the “why” we don’t get enough sleep... Children, work worries, family dramas, presentations, finances, relationship drama, illness, reversing parent/child roles, excitement, inspirations... and in these days and times, the list of excuses is endless.

Sleep is a basic human need for survival. Over time we have managed to create bad habits that negate our good sleeping habits. Some of our bad habits started in the 20th century, the addition of television being the main culprit. A nesseccary evil of sorts. On the west coast, all the “good” shows come on at 9 or 10 at night. Heaven forbid you want to watch the news at 11pm. We often overlook or ignore the other bad habits that are keeping us awake at night.

Sleeping Sanctuaries

We often experience our deepest sleep in dark, comfortable spaces. Our sleep sanctuaries should be clutter free and techno free. I know it’s a stretch for most, but a bedroom should be void of TV’s, telephones and computers. A bedroom should be for sleeping and making love only... No distractions. We allow strangers (TV, internet...) in our most private of places and let’s not mention the electronic energy that is emitted from these devises. OK, the phone for emergencies but come on... Ladies, how many times do you have to turn off the TV to turn your man on to you fully? And for all of us, how many times does your favorite movie come on at the brink of sleep? It then can become an excuse not to go to sleep, when in bed. I know people who sleep with the TV on because it keeps them company. Bad news is, when the TV’s on, your brain is engaged on a subconscious level and you are not getting deep sleep.

How many times has seeing those glaring numbers on your digital alarm clock reminded you how much time you have left before it sounds off? Our alarms usually have the most evasive annoying blurt/buzz and we allow this to wake us up from blissful sleep. Awaking from sleep should be an easy transition, not jarring. For as little as $30 at Target, you can get a more non-evasive alarm that wakes you up with options. Seascapes, a beep, music or chimes. Also, don’t face the clock towards your bed, it’s a harmful reminder of how much sleep you are not getting when you toss and turn.

Lose the TV... Put your computer away... Ideally in another room.
These are tempters and contribute to the self-inflicted reasons for sleep deprivation. As for the phone... Get caller ID and screen your calls at bedtime or turn the ringer off. Unless it’s an emergency (God forbid) what is so important after 9pm?

Make a Regular Sleep Schedule

In Eastern countries, people tend to keep regular schedules for waking and sleeping. If we go to bed and get up in the morning at the same time everyday (even on weekends) we can develop a healthier sleep habit. True, there will be exceptions, but try to keep a solid schedule. You will become accustomed to a regular schedule in a few weeks. By regulating this process you will be prepared for a more restful sleep at bedtime and be able to awaken in the morning at you designated hour, fully rested. In turn this will increase your productivity during the day.

Rituals for Sleep

When you practice calming the mind and body before heading for bed you will sleep more soundly. We often try to get as much activity in before bedtime because of our jobs, children and general business. We should at least try to start phasing out the things that stimulate us at least an hour or so before our bedtime. By turning off the television, we cut out thought provoking stimulus, we cut out this interaction with our visual and auditory senses. Certain music and discussions should also be avoided late at night. Remember the old adage “Never go to bed angry”? Whether or not you are in a relationship, this should be the LAW. Preparing for a good night sleep should become a ritual for you. Decompressing from the world... should become your time to renew.

Here are some tips:

Replace wine or cocktails with herbal tea. While a drink is sometimes what we think we need, alcohol is a stimulant and contains at least 200 calories that turns to sugar per drink. This is quick way to gain unwanted winter pounds. Try Herbal teas that contain no caffeine like: Rooibos Teas (red Leaf) from South Africa, comes in many flavors, and tried and true Chamomile Tea. (Available at most supermarkets and health food stores)

Do not eat after 6:30 at night! Digestion takes time and requires energy, energy that can keep us awake, plus it is a sure fire way to gain weight. Avoid caffeine (coffee, sodas, cocoa, and some teas) in the afternoon. If you feel you need a boost in the afternoon, try energizing breathing techniques or do a short brisk walk when appropriate.

Stop the assault of violence on your senses (news, movies, serials ect). Turn the TV off a least an hour before bedtime and don’t let the news be the last thing you watch at night. Instead, take some quiet time, incorporate calming rituals like reading modivational or spiritual passages, dim the lights and do a restorative yoga practice, journal or try meditation. Journaling is a great tool for growth and is a way of purging the days drama out on paper and out of your mind which enables you to sleep better.

Take a warm bath, lite some candles and chill. When the weather cools, our skin has a tendency to dry out because of the artificial climate in our homes (heat). Try massaging sesame oil into your skin from head to toe before soaking in a warm tub. Your muscles and skin will thank you. Sesame Seed oil is absorbed into the joints and muscles, and helps keep your inners lubricated.

Tossin and Turnin...

Have you hit head to pillow only to have sleep evade you? When you don’t get to sleep within 20 minutes, time to get up out of bed and read in a chair or try a breathing meditation. When I can’t sleep, it is usually because of something on my mind that requires my attention, or I am anticipating future events. When we have unresolved issues, it can come up to bite you in the butt... Usually in the still of the night. By practicing meditation, we can go within, disengage from the world and be still. It is in this stillness that we often are able to resolve our issues. This is why meditation should be incorporated in our calming pre-sleep ritual. Meditation reduces blood pressure and invites deep relaxation. On the flip side, if you stay in bed, tossing and turning, every minute you lie awake, you subconsciously become anxious about your sleep loss. This becomes a spiral of mental activity that leaves us sleepless and places more pressure on us to be asleep. Hence, the sleep we crave now eludes us. Remember... Get out of bed when this happens and read or meditate (no TV!).

Develop a daily exersise routine. Get those endorphins pumping. Working out is good for your health and rids the body of tension and stress. It helps you to get a good nights sleep because the body has been challanged on a physical level. However, vigorous exercise in the evening can backfire on you and is not recommended. Certain exercises can stimulate you right into insomnia. It’s best to try and limit vigorous practices to early in the day, and if you must, do yoga, walk or swim (water is relaxing) in the evening.

Sleeping is the most underrated necessity on the planet. The long term effects of sleep deprivation can cause a multitude of unwanted and embarrassing symptoms. Remember, when we don’t adjust our lifestyles to get better sleep, we risk illness, compromised mental clarity, inappropriate emotional outbusrts, fatigue, exhastion, memory loss and premature aging of our skin and bodies to name a few. It’s funny, we manage to do everything in this world but take care of the most important person you are truly responsible for... YOU!

Sleep is one of the most basic human drives in life besides breathing and eating... Give it and you the respect it deserves.






So maybe i'm a little tardy for the party, but a dear friend shared her experience seeing this great tool for everything you ever wanted in life, but were afraid to ask... It's called "The Secret" a DVD that is the secret to everything... joy, health, money, relationships, love, happiness...

Basically, everything we all want. In this astonishing film are ALL the resources you will need to understand and live "The Secret". For the first time in history, the leading scientists, authors, and philosophers reveal a simple and easy to understand theory to transform the lives of all of us. Theories taught by great masters such as: Plato, Buddha, Newton, Shakespeare, Einstein.........

This tool is invaluable to those who want a better quality of life,. However, as all good things in life, things worth having, they have to be worth working for... Meaning that it requires commitment and dedication on the part of the user. It is not a quick fix for happiness, wealth or love! It just helps to make the journey easier. For some us it is a conformation, for some it is an AH-HA moment.... What-Ever, it deserves mentioning for those seeking any help they can get to make sense of the craziness we are surrounded by.

"The Secret" can be purchased at : www.TheSecret.tv It is in DVD format...
Or if you belong to a progressive spiritual or religious center, perhaps it can be purchased in your centers bookshop. It is universal in content, meaning, it won't step on anyones toes as far as your individual religious or spiritual practice is concerned...





The Kama Sutra Lessons in Love.... Part 4

Self Examination Part 1

Self-examination is vital to the evolutionary path of love. Only in an atmosphere of complete honesty can unconscious psychic impediments to our growth be cleared away. When we turn our consciousness inward to reflect upon the self, a new sensitivity unfolds. Self -examination helps renew and fine-tune the senses. Sexual habits are particularly dulling to the senses, and it is here that self-examination is of great value.

If one partner depends exclusively of the other for support and comfort rather than seeking these within, the result can be burdensome imbalances in the relationship. Real love places no value on projection of selfish fantasies onto the other. This does not allow room for the play of ecstatic, spontaneous love, which is the goal of Tantra. Instead, a relationship becomes limiting; it may even drag both partners into an unresolved conflict.

Failures in both love and marriage often result when one partner does not live up to the expectations of the other. This suggests that there is no real partnership, but rather that one partner is being selfish with the other. In this situation a couple lives together in an inner state of separation and hypocrisy.

In the “Tao of Ching”, a chinese philosophical work of the sixth century B. C. , there is a beautiful clear statement about self-knowledge... “Knowing others leads to Wisdom; knowing the self leads to Enlightenment. Mastering others requires force; mastering the self calls for inner strength.”

Self-examination is both a touchstone and a support in life. it strengthens the mental attitude necessary for self-development. It is a very personal practice and should not be made the topic of general conversation., for doing so results in psychic dispersion and a weakened self-confidence. Positive self-examination deepens the capacity for intuitive experiences. It creates a state of enhanced receptivity. By seeing ourselves in a clear light, we can eliminate negativity and doubt, which tend to pollute our relationships. Authenticity within the couple fosters spontaneity, thus liberating the relationship from the conventional and predictable. Invoke an earnest desire to know your true self. put aside self doubt and fears.

Self-examination is a prerequisite of any practice of meditation. It can be performed at any time and is an internal reflective process far removed from the mind’s chatter and random thoughts.....

to be continued.

From: "Sexual Secrets" The Alchemy of Exstacy... By, Douglas and Slinger






ANTIOXIDANTS... Help Yourself to SUPERFOODS!

Cacao Beans - Whole & Nibs

Many people consider eating chocolate a “guilty pleasure.” But the reputation of chocolate as a junk food should more accurately be attributed to the harmful effects of commercial processing and refining techniques, and the other ingredients commonly added, most notably white sugar. All chocolate is made from the cacao (cocoa) bean, and cacao beans in their natural, unprocessed, unadulterated state are rich in nutrients and beneficial to health.

Why Unprocessed Chocolate is Good for You?

Antioxidants: Cacao has more antioxidant flavonoids than any food tested so far, including blueberries, red wine, and black and green teas. In fact, it has up to four times the quantity of antioxidants found in green tea. Health benefits of these antioxidants include:

Promote cardiovascular health - Help dilate bloods vessels, reduce blood clotting, improve circulation, help regulate heartbeat and blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol, and reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks.

Protect from environmental and metabolic toxins - Help repair and resist damage caused by free radicals, and may reduce risk of certain cancers.

Neurotransmitters: By increasing the levels of specific neurotransmitters in our brains, cacao promotes positive outlook, facilitates rejuvenation and simply helps us feel good.

Serotonin - Cacao raises the level of serotonin in the brain; thus acts as an anti-depressant, helps reduce PMS systems, and promotes a sense of well-being.

Endorphins - Cacao stimulates the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasurable sensation similar to the “runner’s high” a jogger feels after running several miles.

Phenylethylamine - Found in chocolate, phenylethylamine is also created within the brain and released when we are in love. Acts as mild mood elevator and anti-depressant, and helps increase focus and alertness.

Anandamide - Anandamide is known as the “bliss chemical” because it is released by the brain when we are feeling great. Cacao contains both N-acylethanolamines, believed to temporarily increase the levels of anandamide in the brain, and enzyme inhibitors that slow its breakdown. Promotes relaxation, and helps us feel good longer.

Essential Minerals: Cacao beans are rich in a number of essential minerals, including magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese.

Magnesium - Cacao seems to be the #1 source of magnesium of any food. Magnesium balances brain chemistry, builds strong bones, and helps regulate heartbeat and blood pressure. Magnesium deficiency, present in 80% of Americans, is linked with PMT, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and joint problems.

Sulfur - Cacao is high in the beauty mineral sulfur. Sulfur builds strong nails and hair, promotes beautiful skin, detoxifies the liver, and supports healthy pancreas functioning.

Essential fats: There is a misperception that chocolate is fattening. In truth, the fats in cocoa butter are healthy fats. Cacao contains oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, also found in olive oil, that may raise good cholesterol. Also, substances found in cacao are known to help reduce appetite.

Laundry List of Benefits:

Decreased blood pressure
Improved circulation
Lower death rate from heart disease
Improved function of endothelial cells that line the blood vessels
Greater protection from free radicals, which trigger cancer, heart disease and stroke
Improved digestion
Aiding in treatment for anemia, kidney stones and poor appetite
Boosts your immune system
Good source of dietary fiber

All chocolate contains caffeine.

Important note- To fully benefit from chocolate’s wide array of nutrients, eat chocolate that is as close to its natural state as possible. Whole cacao beans and nibs are best. You lose many of the health benefits when you eat commercially produced chocolate.

There are many ways to enjoy the great taste of Cocoa. While they are delicious right out of the package, here are some great serving suggestions for Cocoa Nibs or Beans:

Sprinkle over your favorite yogurt, ice cream, smoothie or fruit.
Mixing them into pastries in place of sugar.
Use as a garnish on top of any favorite dish for flavor and color.
Toss them into salads instead of croutons.
Add them to any of your favorite sauces for a kick of flavor.
Enjoy them as delicious homemade Trail Mix. (Mix walnuts, dried fruit and cocoa nibs)
Eat them as a frozen treat and add them to desserts.
Grind them into healthy smoothies.
Grind into a powder and add to tea, coffee.

Some people enjoy them as a snack right out of the bag

GOJI BERRIES

The Perfect Snack Food—Rich in Nutrients and Delicious

The goji berry, a sweet red fruit native to Asia, serves as both a botanical medicine and a food, and has a very pleasant taste, somewhere between a cherry and a cranberry. It has been used as a medicinal food for thousands of years, and has been studied extensively in modern times to substantiate its health benefits. With over 15% protein, 21 essential minerals, and 18 amino acids, as well as lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP), goji berry is a nutrient-dense superfood in a class all its own.

Goji Research began with some simple vitamin, mineral and nutrient analysis, expecting to find results similar to other fruits. The Goji Berry Fruit revealed itself to be quite possibly the most unique nutritionally dense food on earth!

Here are just a few of the many benefits you get from eating goji berries:

Strengthens the immune system
Provides antioxidant and anti-aging effects
Protects the liver
Builds strong blood and promotes cardiovascular health
Supports eye health and improves vision
Abundant anti-cancer agents
Improved sexual function
Helps relieve symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as Epstein Barr.

The most exciting news about Goji berries is their abundant anti-cancer and anti-aging benefits. Antioxidants fight damage to cells from harmful, reactive molecules called “free radicals”. Free radical damage to the collagen matrix of cells and tissue can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, heart disease, and cancer. Goji berries contain numerous health-promoting compounds known to provide a tremendous amount of health benefits. They are some of the most powerful (and delicious) disease fighting foods available. They protect against a host of health concerns including aging, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and other degenerative diseases, including those that effect the nervous system.

Among Goji berry’s beneficial compounds is a category called phytochemicals. Flavonoids belong to this category of nutrients that are extremely high in antioxidants including quercetin, anthocyanadins and antocyanins. Bioflavonoids are essential to the absorption and utilization of other nutrients, especially vitamin C.

Goji berries contains 124 ppm of organic Germanium. Germanium has been demonstrated to have anti-cancer activity. Germanium possesses the power to take over the hydrogen ion from cancer cells. Losing hydrogen ions can cause depression and even death to cancer cells.

How to use Goji berries:

How do you use Goji berries? It is easy to enjoy this berry, just eat them from the bag, add them to hot and cold cereal, porridge, grains, casseroles, stews, baked goods and trail type mixes for snacking throughout the day for added stamina and delight. About 1-2 handfuls a day is an average amount to use that will support immune strength and vitality.

POMEGRANATE VS. ACAI

Pomegranate, the anti-oxidant rich fruit (juice), became wildly popular in 2005 both for it's health benefits (potent with antioxidants, which help the body guard against free radicals - molecules that can cause premature aging, heart disease, Alzheimer's and cancer) and because bars across America started creating yummy specialty drinks with the sweet juice (pomegranate margaritas, monitors and martinis). Acai (ah-sigh-ee) is an all-natural energy fruit from Amazon palm berries. Wild harvested in the rainforests of Brazil, acai tastes like a blend of berries and chocolate. Acai is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential omegas (the good-for-you fatty acids). The pulp also contains a concentration of antioxidants, to help combat premature aging. Acai has an almost-perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals vital to proper muscle contraction and regeneration.

What is açai?

Açai is a small, round, black-purple berry with amazing nutritional properties. Its appearance is similar to that of a grape, but it has a smaller amount of pulp and a single large seed. Scientific experts have referred to the açai berry as the most nutritious and powerful food in the world.

• Greater energy/stamina
• Improved mental focus
• Prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's
• Better sleep
• Improved digestion.
• Improved sexual function
• Immune system support
• High levels of antioxidants
• Anti-aging support
• Promotes better circulation
• Prevents arteriosclerosis
• Provides anti-allergenic support
• Helps prevent blot clots
• High levels of dietary fiber
• High levels of essential amino acids and trace minerals
• High levels of plant sterols, which have been shown to help control cholesterol
• Essential fatty acids ratio that resembles olive oil, which has been shown to
help combat heart disease
• Protein profile similar to eggs
• Very low sugar content

Acai Berry Proven To Destroy Cultured Human Cancer Cells
Filed under Research, Health, Sciences, Agriculture on Thursday, January 12, 2006.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - A Brazilian berry popular in health food contains antioxidants that destroyed cultured human cancer cells in a recent University of Florida study, one of the first to investigate the fruit's purported benefits.

Published today in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the study showed extracts from acai (ah-SAH'-ee) berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested, said Stephen Talcott, an assistant professor with UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. As Seen On Good Morning America -- Jan. 2, 2006

POMEGRANATE

Pomegranate juice contains more antioxidants than even red wine, green tea, blueberry juice, cranberry juice or orange juice. It has been shown to be highly effective in clearing plaque from inner arterial walls. Used medicinally for millennia, Pomegranate juice is now being shown by science to be useful for:

• Preventing heart attacks, strokes
• Preventing and treating cancer
• Combating diabetes
• Blood pressure disorders
• Preventing blood clotting
• Intestinal problems of all types
• Eliminating parasites
• Fighting bacterial and fungal infections
• Cholesterol problems


What is ORAC?

ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), developed by the USDA, has become the "Gold" standard as a method of measuring antioxidant capacity in dietary supplements. Single servings of fresh fruits and vegetables supply an average of 600-800 ORAC units. Scientists believe that increasing intake of foods that provide 2000-5000 units per day may be needed to increase serum and tissue antioxidant activity sufficiently to improve health outcomes.


ORAC RATINGS (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity)
In the studies, eating plenty of high-ORAC foods:

* Raised the antioxidant power of human blood 10 to 25 percent
* Prevented some loss of long-term memory and learning ability in middle-aged rats
* Maintained the ability of brain cells in middle-aged rats to respond to a
chemical stimulus-a function that normally decreases with age.
* Protected rats' tiny blood vessels--capillaries--against oxygen damage.

The higher the ORAC score, the higher the level of antioxidants present in the food. According to the US Department of Agriculture / Journal of the American Chemical Society, dark chocolate reigns at the top of the ORAC list with the most antioxidants by far. Below is a comparison breakdown of ORAC levels of various antioxidant rich foods (per 100 grams).

The ORAC Score of Various Foods

GOJI BERRIES 25,300
COCAO 13,120
Tart Cherry Juice
Concentrate 12,800
Dried Tart Cherries 6,800
Milk chocolate 6,740
Prunes 5,770
Pomegranates 3,037*
Raisins 2,830
Blueberries 2,400
Blackberries 2,036
Kale 1,770
Strawberries 1,540
Tahitian NONI™ 1,506
Spinach 1,260
Raspberries 1,220
Açai 1,026*
Brussel sprouts 980
Plums 949
Alfalfa sprouts 930
Broccoli 890

* Pomegranate and Açai juice is higher, but I could not find their ratings before publishing date.
Resources: USDA website..., http://www.livesuperfoods.com

All of the afore mentioned foods can be purchased at “Whole Foods”
Açai can be found in the frozen fruit section in convenient packets for making smoothies.
Cocao Nibs in the baking section,
Goji Berries, in the dried fruit section,
Pomegranate juice in the refrigerated juice section of most supermarkets...

or online, "Google" : “Raw Cocao” “Goji Berries” “Açai” for bulk purchases.
Most sites are competetive in their pricing.

OOPS! There's more!!!!!!

Let's not forget the foods that are in season for your better health.

If you missed the first list and explanation on "Seasonal Eating", refer to the previous blog by going to:
www.TheUrbanShaman.blogspot.com, or the link at the bottom of this email (highlighted) and archive September's blog...

Fall is a Time of Abundance

In early fall there may still be some end-of-season fruits and vegetables of summer like corn and tomatoes, melons and summer squashes in the market with the harbinger of winter foods. What might be in season in September, October and November where you live?

Look for:

* Apples
* Broccoli
* Brussels sprouts
* Chinese cabbage
* Cauliflower
* Cranberries
* Cucumbers
* Dates
* Fennel
* Grapes
* Greens like kale and collards
* Iceberg lettuce
* Leaf lettuce
* Mushrooms
* Nuts
* Okra
* Onions
* Pears
* Sweet peppers
* Persimmons
* Pomegranates
* Spinach
* Winter squash
* Sweet potatoes