Acorn Squash

Acorn Squash with Applesauce

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Yields: 2 servings

Ingredients:
1 acorn squash
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup apple sauce
Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut squash in half and remove seeds with a spoon.
3. Place squash halves skin side down on a baking sheet.
4. Rub olive oil over squash halves.
5. Fill squash halves with applesauce.
6. Sprinkle cinnamon on top of each.
7. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a fork inserts smoothly through squash meat

http://blog.integrativenutrition.com/?page=1

NY Times: roasted root vegetables

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/dr-weils-simple-roasted-root-vegetables/

Brain Food

Image by hyg-27

Eating certain foods is well-documented as being good for your brain. But did you know that you actually burn calories just by thinking? In fact, an active brain can burn an extra 100 calories per hour. No wonder we are so hungry after a long day of work!

“Feeding the brain” is not in the realm of thought, but rather of fact. For this reason, it is important to load our bodies with healthy and nutritious foods. Our brains, like our bodies, need nutrition to stay active and the more vitamins and nutrients that our foods contain, the more likely we are to perform at both our mental, and physical peak.

So what kind of foods are sure to give us that extra brain power (don't we all wish we had just a little bit more)?

Here are the top 7:
Apples: the healthy chemicals in apples actually help protect the brain from neurodegenerative diseases (those that cause the brain to wear down), such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Apples also help protect against damage by bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Berries: contain many anti-oxidative compounds (think of them as anti-rusting agents), that can help prevent various kinds of brain damage from free-radicals, ranging from memory loss to strokes.

Nuts: are extremely high in Vitamin E, which helps to decrease memory loss as we age. They are also full of healthy fats, which help the brain function normally. Walnuts and almonds are two of the very best.

Tumeric (the yellow spice found in Curries): contains a chemical called curcumin, which has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities (inflammation is associated with dementia, strokes, and many other brain-related diseases).

Egg yolks: contain choline which is one of the most important nutrients to the brain – it is shown to help retain knowledge. And don’t fret about cholesterol: as long as you are eating a healthy diet, one egg (and do eat the entire egg, organic please!) a day won’t have any negative effect on your health with regard to cholesterol levels.

Sardines (and other fish rich in Omega-3s, such as salmon): are thought to maintain healthy brain function, as well as help our nerve cells communicate effectively with one another (positively impacting our memory and learning processes).

Oysters: rich in iron and zinc, help to keep your mind sharp and maintain your ability to concentrate
It’s no surprise that the healthier we eat the better we feel [physically].

Consider making a few small changes today - you never know what a little extra brain power might do for you!

`thanks to Jessica Kole

Running in Barefoot shoes

Running without shoes can strengthen your feet, ankles, and lower legs and improve balance. Some say modern running shoes are to blame for injuries. And one man wrote an immensely popular book that concluded as much.

The 10 laws of injury prevention

Vibram started making the five-toed shoes in 2006, but the trend really picked up steam last year, following the publication of Christopher McDougall's book “Born to Run.” The book describes how Mexico’s Tarahumara Indians have become some of the greatest long-distance runners in the world despite running barefoot or in sandals fashioned from tire rubber. McDougall chronicles an ultramarathon race in Mexico’s Copper Canyons attended by a group of Americans including “Barefoot Ted” McDonald, who either ran sans shoes or in FiveFingers, in case of sharp rocks. The author argues that we’d be better off without the souped-up shoes marketed to us by giants like Nike and Adidas, which he says have done nothing to prevent injuries. The book made “The New York Times” bestseller list, and now TMZ is photographing celebrities in their very own lizard shoes.

According to CNN, the FiveFingers have become so popular that the company is having a hard time keeping them in stock—and stopping counterfeiters from selling knock-offs online.

Your ultimate guide to fall running shoes

Some barefoot devotees simply like the sensation of feeling the surface they’re running on while others swear up and down that ditching traditional running shoes has helped them prevent injuries. While there’s no scientific evidence to support the latter claim, we do know that running barefoot or in barefoot-style shoes like the FiveFingers or Nike Free changes one’s running mechanics. When runners aren’t wearing shoes with built-up soles, they tend to land in the middle or toward the front of their feet rather than on their heel and researchers believe that such midfoot or forefoot striking results in less impact on the body. But as Susan Paul, M.S., exercise physiologist and program director for the Orlando Track Shack Foundation says, “To date, there are no studies indicating that running shoes contribute to injury or, conversely, that barefoot running reduces injury or makes you run faster.”

The mechanics of barefoot running

If you’re thinking about shedding your shoes, consider these guidelines:

1. Barefoot training is not for people who are just starting to run or returning from a long layoff—it’s something to slowly incorporate into an existing running regimen.
2. If you have persistent or serious foot problems, consult your podiatrist first.
3. Ease in slowly. Paul advises starting with a few minutes on a flat, relatively forgiving surface once a week. Grassy fields, smooth roads, and soft trails qualify. Running on sand might be tempting, but barefooting newbies should stick to wet sand at first as the unstable soft stuff puts a lot of torque on your joints and is much harder to run on.
4. Listen to your body. “Barefoot Ken Bob” Saxton, founder of runningbarefoot.org and finisher of more than 70 barefoot marathons, says, “Luckily, your feet are sensitive, which is a good thing. Listen to them and they'll keep you from doing something stupid.”

Susan Rinkunas is an associate editor at Runner’s World, a magazine (and website) that informs, advises, and motivates runners of all ages and abilities—and we mean it. Her blog on Yahoo! Shine offers tips on running technique, nutrition and weight loss, shoes and apparel, and balancing fitness and life.

also for more information on barefoot running go to www.birthdayshoes.com

Also for more reasons to consider this style of running

Why Barefoot Runners Have The Edge On Shoe-Wearing Rivals

Hemp & Greens Superfood Cereal

CEREAL

Not just Nuts

What's the best way to get your greens? Now you can alkalinize with the new Hemp & Greens Superfood Cereal! Crunchy sprouted buckwheat teams up with a green protein superfood blend and a hint of sweetness for the perfect start to your day. Chlorella and Spirulina contribute easy-to-absorb protein and loads of phytonutrients to this hemp-based superfood cereal. These greens alone might just make this the most nutrient-dense cereal ever to fill your bowl. But when it comes to greens, two is never enough. Spinach, dandelion, and alfalfa join in the superfood fun, adding a dose of cleansing chlorophyll, vitamins, and minerals to this power-packed mix. Raw honey, golden raisins, and bananas add just enough sweetness to satisfy your hunger in the morning, but it's also delicious as a snack later in the day. With sweetness and green life, you can grab a handful of Superfood Cereal and rest easy: you just got your greens!

This product is certified gluten-free.

Gluten Free Bakery

2901 Central St.
Evanston,IL 60201
Tel: 847-859-2723

gluten free bread, wheat free bread, gluten free restaurant bakery

(Gluten Free Pizza crust)