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Live to eat deliciously and eat to live healthfully!
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Spring is in the air!
| Spring 2010
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Dear Julia,
My
favorite time of year, the magnificent warmer half, is finally upon us
and I could not be more excited. Spring is the time nature renews and
replenishes itself after a long, cold winter and it is also the optimal
time for us to do the same. Whether you decide to clean your closets,
do a detoxifying cleanse, get back into outdoor activities or shift
your diet to incorporate more fresh veggies and fruits, you can do your
part in a manageable way. Below are some ideas to help you along.
My
summer Yoga retreat to the beautiful Island of Crete in southern Greece
is getting closer, it is less than two months away. In anticipation of
the trip, May's monthly workshop will be on the benefits of the
Mediterranean Diet. Join me for one or both of these exciting events
and learn what the ancient Greeks knew about health and longevity long
before modern science had its opportunity to concur. Unfortunately, at
this time only the trip includes free private beach access on
picturesque seashores.
Spring is in the air, get outside and enjoy it!
Yours in health,
Julia K. Haramis
NYC Nutritionista
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Why Weight? Diets Don't Work
You can't
turn on the TV, drive down the road or go to a party without being confronted
with America's hottest obsession: weight. Diets are a billion-dollar industry;
companies spend millions and millions luring you to try the latest diet (low
carb, high protein, low fat, no fat, you name it) with promises that this will
(finally!) be the solution - your shortcut to a thinner body. Advertising efforts
also deeply affect our children, who develop distorted body images and are
often on diets as early as nine or ten years of age.
Our culture
touts diet pills, celebrity workouts, convenience foods and trendy diets to
help us achieve our desired weight, but these quick-fix solutions have
backfired. America's populace has reached its highest weight in history. About
half of Americans are overweight and one-third are obese. Diets steer us away from
our common sense and dip deeply into our pocketbooks while eliciting few, if
any, lasting results.
Diets don't
work because each person is unique, with different needs based on gender, age,
ancestry and lifestyle; how could one diet be right for everyone? Diets don't
work because they are extreme solutions. As in physics, if a pendulum swings to
one extreme, it has to swing equally to the other. A diet might work for a
short amount of time, but research shows that almost all diets result in a
10-pound gain once off the diet. Diets don't work because they are too
restrictive. People who fail on diet plans are not flawed or weak. Diets by
nature require discipline and restriction at levels that are unsustainable by a
healthy human body.
Most people
are disconnected from why they gain weight and see diet as the only culprit.
For example, ignoring or discounting emotions is often the first thing to cause
weight imbalances. In our fast-paced world, we have lost sight of many aspects
of life that truly nourish and balance our bodies, such as slowing down, eating
a home-cooked meal and spending quality time with loving people. Eating
consciously and making simple lifestyle changes will create positive results
and release you from the endless cycle of dieting.
Given half
a chance, your body will balance out by itself,
but this is only possible by getting out of the diet mentality and listening to what you truly need. Imagine taking all of
the outward energy you expend on diets, fads and gimmicks and turning it
inward, so that you can listen to your heart and inner wisdom. There is no such
thing as a quick fix - you already have everything you need within you. With
careful thought and loving reflection, you can feed yourself in a nourishing
way. Working with your body rather than against it will bring you increased
energy, stabilized weight and sustainable health.
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Food Focus: Sprouts
In the spring season, seeds flaunt their
vitality and energy by sprouting. Sprouts of all varieties contain the building
blocks of life in the form of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids and simple sugars.
In their early growth state, sprouts are very easy to digest, allowing our
bodies to access many wonderful nutrients. Recent research by the American
Cancer Society has backed what holistic nutrition has known for years: that
sprouts contain anti-cancer properties, high levels of active antioxidants,
concentrated amounts of phytochemicals and significant amounts of vitamins A, C
and D.
In their raw for m, sprouts have a cooling effect
on the body, and therefore are best consumed in warm weather or by robust, warm
body types. Those who tend to feel cool can try steaming spouts or adding them
to warm dishes such as stir-fries and soups, to reduce the cooling effect.
There is a wide variety of edible and delicious sprouts, each with a different
texture and flavor: alfalfa, mung bean, lentil, radish, clover, sunflower,
broccoli, garbanzo and adzuki.
Here are some great ways to serve up sprouts:
· Add to salads
· Combine with other
vegetables in wraps, roll-ups or stir-fries
· Use as garnish on top of
soups, stews, omelets or scrambled eggs
· Add to rice or
whole-grain dishes
· Use in sandwiches
instead of lettuce
Spring
has arrived! Visit your local farmer's market or health food store and
find your local sprout variety to eat and feel enlivened!
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Recipe of the Month
Spring Sprouting Steamer
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 green zucchini
1 yellow zucchini (aka summer squash)
1 package mixed crunchy sprouts (lentil, adzuki, mung,
garbanzo)
3 tablespoons of freshly chopped tarragon
1 tablespoon of olive oil or for a different flavor try ghee, a form of clarified butter traditionally used in India
4 lemon wedges
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Slice zucchini and summer squash
into discs about 1/4 inch thick. Steam with sprouts for about 5 minutes or until
they reach desired tenderness.
2. Toss with tarragon, oil or ghee, salt
and pepper in a bowl.
3. Serve with lemon wedge.
Note: Experiment with fresh herbs
like parsley, dill, cilantro or mint to recreate this dish with different flavoring.
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Top 5 Spring Finds to Look For at the Farmer's Market
1. Ramps - these wild onions, that resemble scallions, have a flavor and
scent that is the genius combination of garlic and onion. They are
sometimes referred to as wild leeks or ramsons. Try adding them to soups, eggs, vegetable dishes, potatoes or salads. They can be enjoyed in
both raw and cooked preparations, but keep in mind a little goes a long
way. The season for ramps is quite short and they hard to to come by
once it has passed, so enjoy them while they last and be sure to save
some of these gems in the freezer to enjoy for months to come!2. Escarole
- is a variety of endive with leaves that are broader, paler and less
bitter than most other types of endive (the heart even less biter than
the outer leaves). High in fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin K and other
essential nutrients, you can enjoy these leafy greens sauteed, in soups
or in a fresh salad. A classic preparation combines escarole, garlic
and white beans for a warm and hearty dish or soup. This is just one of
many leafy greens that start to abound once spring has arrived, be sure
to experiment and give them all a try.3. Rhubarb - which looks like large, thick, red celery, is a unique vegetable in appearance and taste, 
that is often prepared more like a fruit. Stew rhubarb with water,
spices and a dash of lemon, lime or vinegar (I am partial to balsamic)
over a low flame until it achieves desired softness to create a rich
sauce. The sauce is delicious over a yogurt, steel cut oats or whole
grains. Rhubarb can also be used to make chutney, relish, jam or baked
into whole grain muffins. Classic combination are rhubarb and ginger or
rhubarb and strawberries.4. Asparagus - is a nutrient powerhouse containing calcium, magnesium , zinc, fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K, just to name a
few. Asparagus can be grilled, steamed, baked, sauteed, pickled or
simmered on the stove top and then pureed into a velvety soup. Be sure
to chop off the bottom inch or so of the stalk before
cooking as it is tough to chew. White asparagus, a delicacy that is
normally more expensive than the green variety, is cultivated by
denying the plants light while they are being grown. Even more rare is
the purple variety. The natural growing season is fairly short,
although widely available off-season, the asparagus will have either
have traveled a great distance and/or lack the same level of flavor and
nutrients as the in season treats. 5. Artichokes
- are most commonly found in shades of medium green, or if you are
lucky you may get your hands on some of the less common purple
varieties. These spring goodies are best prepared steamed, boiled or
accented with spices and other veggies and baked in the oven. Be sure
to trim the stem and clip the tips of outer leaves before cooking as
they remain tough even once cooked. When eating, don't be shy, pick off
with each leave with your fingers (not the ideal first date food for
most) and scrap out the delicious meat between you teeth, once you make
it to the center you can indulge on the soft heart whole. |
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GREECE RETREAT
Sun, Sand, Yoga, Repeat
June 18-24, 2010
Join the Brooklyn Yogini on the picturesque Island of Crete this summer!
Trip
includes: Seven Days and Six Nights of 5-Star Luxury Accommodations,
Twice Daily Yoga, Nutrition Talks, Deliciously Healthy Mediterranean
Cuisine, Private Beach Access, Spa Discounts and much, much more!
Space is limited, for more details visit Retreats.
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Yoga with the Brooklyn Yogini |
-Have you been feeling stressed out lately?-Are you wondering how to work with injuries?
-Do you feel like you are out of balance?
-Are you always wishing you were stronger and more flexible?
Yoga could be the answer! It is a perfect compliment to a nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Increase your flexibility and strength, have fun, start a new practice or refine a current practice with the Brooklyn Yogini.
| Check out the current teaching schedule.
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 Are you a Nutritionista?
A Nutritionista is...
A person devoted to eating fresh and delicious whole foods, living a healthy
lifestyle, being considerate to our environment, staying active in fun
ways and constantly striving to be happy while living life to its
fullest!
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Upcoming Wellness Workshops
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Its' All Greek to Me - Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
| Why should the traditional diet of Greece interest you?
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Greece is home to one of only five Blue Zone in the world. Blue Zones
are regions where people commonly live active lives past 100 years of
age!
- The Mediterranean Diet is widely accepted amongst doctors and
nutritionists across the globe as a healthy and sustainable way to eat.
- Greeks simply do not believe in sacrificing flavor.
- Heart healthy complex carbohydrates, fat and proteins are just some of the keys to this lifestyle.
Join
the NYC Nutritionista and get the inside scoop on what the Greeks have
known for thousands of years about nutrition. You will learn how you
can adapt the diet and lifestyle principals of the Mediterranean to
increase your longevity!
Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Location: Brooklyn Heights, NYC
Cost: $10 (free for current clients plus one guest)
Space is limited! Contact us for more details or to sign up.
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June Workshop
Summer Soiree
| Detailed
information will be coming soon on June's event. This workshop (ok, its
more of a party!) will only be open to current and past clients. It is
a great way to meet other healthfully minded individuals and enjoy some
delicious food! You will leave with a bunch of great recipes and maybe
even win a prize....
Space is limited! Contact us for more details or to sign up.
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| Spring Detox
Were you interested in attending one of April's Detox Workshops but not able to make it?
Are you ready to clear out the clutter in the mind and the toxins in the body?
Do you want more learn more about the Isagenix cleansing systems and products?
Did you miss out on the workshops because you don't live in NYC?
Due to popular demand we will be offering a teleseminar version of the Spring Detox Workshop and Isagenix information session!
You can access the workshop from anywhere by phone.
If you want more details on when and how, contact us at (718) 797-0889.
Align
yourself
with the seasons through cleansing practices. Spring is the perfect
time for detoxification of the body, clearing of the mind
clutter and reorganization of your home.
In
this
interactive class you will learn about the virtues of
cleansing and the most effective ways to do it. We will learn
specifically about the Isagenix cleansing system and products from our
expert guest speaker, Dorene Hyman.
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Quote of the Month:
"Η βιβλιοθήκη είναι το φαρμακείο του μυαλού."
"The library is the pharmacy of the mind."
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- Ancient Greek Proverb
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NYC Nutritionista Info Online:
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Forward to a Friend
It's
such a pleasure to help those closest to us become happier and
healthier. Please forward this newsletter to friends, family members or
colleagues who might be interested and inspired by it.
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Could one conversation change your life?
When was the last time you talked with someone about your health and received the personal attention you deserve?
It's
rare for anyone to get an hour to work on their nutrition and goals
with a trained professional. As a Holistic Health Counselor, I am here
to create a supportive environment while we explore what really works
for you.
Find out by scheduling a free consultation with me. In person, web chat and phone programs are available. Contact me by email or call me at (718) 797-0889.
We will discuss your unique situation in depth and determine how I can help you reach your personal goals.
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About the NYC Nutritionista
Julia
is a lifelong New Yorker who truly understands the daily stresses of
the hectic and high-paced urban lifestyle. She transformed her mind and
body through changes in diet and a dedicated Yoga practice, shedding
over 40 pounds in the process!  Julia is a certified Vinyasa Yoga Instructor as well
as a Certified Holistic Health Counselor. She received her nutrition
training at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN). She is
certified by IIN, Purchase College of SUNY and by the the American
Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). A firm believer that no one
way of eating works for everyone, she works closely with her clients to
find the unique path that leads them to them to their optimal selves -
both physically and mentally.To learn more, click here....Julia K. Haramis, HHCNYC NutritionistaBrooklyn, NY 11201(718) 797-0889 |
| Save Now!
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Give yourself or a friend the gift of optimal health and wellness this month.
Sign
up for a Health Counseling Program this month and feel renewed,
restored and rejuvenated before the heat of summer arrives. Refer a
friend or family member who signs up as well for a program and you both
receive a complimentary health living gift bag! Existing clients who
refer a new client will also receive a gift bag.
Contact us now for more details.
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Offer Expires: May 31, 2010 Offer Code: Newsletter S10
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