It’s All Hallow’s Eve where the veil between this reality and the spirit world becomes thin (or so Celtic legend goes). Once you carve your scary pumpkin into a jack o’ lantern to stave off the evil spirits, save the seeds for a healthy Halloween treat!

Loaded with protein, fiber and essential vitamins (such as high quantities of manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, tryptophan, iron, copper, vitamin K and zinc), pumpkin seeds are as delicious as they are nutritious. (Click here for a nutrient analysis).

Although I usually go with the Cajun spice, this year I thought we might try something a little more smokey rather than spicy! Try out this roasted pumpkin seed recipe and let us know what you think:

Smokey Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients

1-2 cups pumpkin seeds from a fresh Halloween pumpkin
2 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp sea salt

Preparation

1. Rinse seeds and pick out any remaining pumpkin guts.
2. Soak seeds overnight. (If you have time, this makes the seeds crispier when roasted.)
3. Lay seeds out on wax paper to dry.
4. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
5. In a bowl, combine dry seeds and remaining ingredients. Toss until coated.
6. On a baking sheet, spread seeds out in one layer.
7. Bake for about 30 minutes, stirring once, until golden brown.
8. Enjoy!

Do you have any roasted pumpkin seed recipes to share? Leave them in the comments below. Happy Halloween!

Earlier this week we discussed, Should We Get Vaccinated, or What? While we discovered health risks associated with vaccinations, it’s always up to the individual to decide what’s best for them. It comes down to what you trust more: an untested, manufactured chemical cocktail or your immune system.

For those who lead fairly health lifestyles and have faith in the robustness of their immune systems, you’ll most likely opt to stay away from the flu vaccinations. But you may want to boost your natural combative power this flu season to take extra precaution. Here are a few ways to boost your immune system through food and nutritional supplementation:

From Dr. Rona in his Vitality article, Vaccination Controversy:

• Vitamin D (this is a POWERFUL nutrient with microbial properties. Studies suggest it’s as effective as a vaccination!)
• Vitamin A
• Beta carotene (provitamin A)
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin B6
• Zinc

From Dr. Martin in his Healthy Directions article, Get Ready for H1N1 (flip to page 38 in the online mag):

• A broad spectrum probiotic treatment for 30 days
• Maintain an alkaline PH (mainly through a clean diet, stay tuned for an upcoming post, “How to Get More Alkaline”)
• Oil of oregano (several drops a day)
• Vitamin D3 (through sunbathing 1/2 hour, 3 times a week)

And here’s one for Halloween: garlic will not only keep the vampires away, it’ll also keep flu at bay! Please read this informative, lively Vitality article, “Garlic Medicine: Folklore Traditions from the Far East“.

Alright Live Lighter readers, time to cough up your own nutritional secrets for boosting your immune system! Come on… I got one in my head that I didn’t include (on purpose) in this post, so I know there are more! Please share them in the comments below.

There’s a new virus on the block and it’s raising hell. Pharmaceutical companies mass produce vaccinations. Doctors and government agencies recommend them. (Some government bodies insist!) We’re in the middle of a pandemic and it’s flu season!

No wonder people are getting vaccinated.

In this month’s issue of Vitality magazine, Dr. Zoltan Rona, M.D., M.Sc., Complementary Medicine practitioner in Toronto, writes an enlightening article that dispels the media hype about the seriousness of H1N1, provides natural solutions to vaccinations and tells us why he doesn’t recommend them.

If you have time, please read, “Vaccination Controversy“.

Why do some docs say, “Stay away from vaccines”?

Here are some of the highlights from Dr. Rona’s article:

• Limited clinical testing before releasing it to the public in order to get on top of the situation.
• No more effective than a placebo. Some reliable studies have called into question the necessity of vaccinations.
• Toxic ingredients. Many vaccinations carry `fillers’ that have been linked to cancer, autoimmune, brain damage and several neuro-degenerative diseases. Among the chemical cocktail: formaldehyde, thimerosal (a preservative and derivative of mercury), aluminum and mercury.

Who should get vaccinated?

Most doctors seem to agree that certain people are at risk for complications steaming from the flu and H1N1: pregnant women; caregivers and household contacts of children younger than 6 months; children 6 months to 5 years of age; health care providers; people over the age of 65; and people ages 25 to 64 with existing health problems.

Odd contradictions

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) does not recommend that pregnant women, very young children and people with compromised immune systems receive the nasal vaccine (which contains the live virus).

Isn’t it interesting that the people who are most at risk for the flu are recommended to stay away from the vaccinations (at least the live version)? And why should we get vaccinated again?

Natural solutions to vaccinations

Many consider the flu as an inevitable fact of winter, but this is not necessarily the case. Although our lifestyles may not always allow it, the best way to prevent this viral illness is to keep our health at its optimum. This can be done by getting enough rest, limiting stress and by eating a nutritious diet.

Dr. Zoltan Rona, Vaccination Controversy, Vitality magazine, October 2009.

Dr. Rona also stresses the importance of nutritional supplementation and outlines some hard evidence for its effectiveness in boosting the immune system. Here are the highlights:

• vitamin A
• beta carotene (provitamin A)
• vitamin C
• vitamin D (antibiotic properties may be more effective than vaccinations!)
• vitamin B6
• zinc

Flu extras you might be interested in

Again, the article is well-worth the read but if for those who want just the nuts and bolts, Dr. Rona also shares with us:

1. Vaccine exemption in Canada. If anyone tries a fast one and says you HAVE to get vaccinated, just print, fill out and get this form notarized. It’s your choice and this affidavit will protect you.
2. More flu information: credible resources like the National Vaccine Information Center and vaccination is not immunization.

What do you consider acceptable risks?

What are your thoughts on vaccination for the flu and H1N1?

The trees in Toronto are glowing with autumn colours and there’s a chill in the air. There’s always something to love in every season and if you’re having a hard time finding it, food is always a safe bet! Let’s embrace the fall brisk winds with some warm, seasonal soup.

Although the ingredients in this lovely fall soup require a little muscle to prepare, between the creamy texture, sweet, spicy taste and powerful health benefits, you’ll be thankful for the workout the gourd gave you!

Low in calories and high in essential vitamins A and C, this butternut squash, garlic and curry soup is your ticket to better health and youth:

Sweet & Spicy Butternut Squash Soup

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
2 small yams or sweet potatoes
2 medium carrots
1 small onion
5-6 garlic cloves, peeled and whole
2 fresh apples, seeded and cubed
6 cups veggie or chicken stock
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp curry
1 tsp sea salt
black pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Throw on some tunes and prepare the veggies.
2. In a soup pot, simmer ingredients for approximately 20 minutes or until vegetables are cooked through.
3. Let cool and puree soup in a food blender until smooth.
4. Reheat and serve. (or freeze for later!)

Nutritional Information

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Fasting is hot these days. Everyone’s doing it either to lose weight, get healthier or more connected with their spiritual side. Even the most popular post on this blog is a safe, enlightening 3 day fast! And since so many people are fasting, wouldn’t it be nice to know when fasting is dangerous?

Individuals and health professionals who believe in the benefits of fasting will agree that it’s generally a safe practice for the average, healthy person.

Even then, some doctors warn that for the unprepared or ill-informed, fasting can lead to dehydration, faintness or over-eating on non-fasting days. To be uber prepared on your fast and reduce the severity of your detox symptoms, check out a safe, enlightening 3 day fast and adjust it to suit your sensibilities.

Note: Naturopathic doctors suggest that fasting for more than 3 days should be done under the supervision of a qualified health care professional.

If you’re not too sure whether or not you  should fast, check this list of people and circumstances that make fasting more harmful than helpful:

From The New Detox Diet, by Elson Haas, M.D.

• being underweight
• fatigue
• low immunity
• weak heart
• low blood pressure
• cardiac arrhythmias
• cold weather
• pregnancy
• nursing
• pre- and post-surgery
• cancer
• peptic ulcers
• nutritional deficiencies
• children

From The Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th ed.: Read the rest of this entry

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Ever wonder how some discipline and criticism is helpful while other times it feels like the sting of a thousand wet noodles across your face? Some days we’re just sensitive and take things personally. Other times, however, it’s all in the delivery.

Why? Well, many wise parents and managers already know the secret to constructive discipline and criticism, but for everyone else you might be surprised to know it has everything to do with self-esteem!

The One Minute Manager is a highly effective, easy-to-use management technique that focuses on people. You can find a plaque on the 1-minute manager’s desk as a reminder:

“People Who Feel Good About Themselves Produce Good Results”

So to be a good leader, parent, teacher, manager or all-around great person and communicator, it’s important to phrase your words in such as a way that criticizes the behaviour or results and leaves the person intact.

In other words, you can share your thoughts and feelings about people’s mistakes or performance but make certain to let them know that you still value them as a person.

Why is it important to choose your words carefully?

In a perfect world, no one would have self-esteem problems. Unfortunately, `constructive criticism 101′ was left out of the school curriculum.

Instead, many of our caretakers who were simply trying to help us become better people, defaulted to destructive criticism. They were quick to point out our mistakes but forgot to remind us that we’re still lovable and valuable human beings.

As young children, we took everything personally because we didn’t know better. In effect, being repeatedly told we were wrong conditioned us to believe we’re worthless and unworthy individuals.

How to Give Healthy Discipline

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Participating in Blog Action Day ‘09 was a real eye-opener and blessing. We learned the earth is sick and that there’s a bright side to climate change. By making healthier and conscious decisions, we’ll start healing the planet and ourselves. And now we have a goal: 350.

This is the acceptable carbon levels in our atmosphere and since we’re already at 390 parts per million, the Earth is heading towards degenerative disease!

So on International Day of Climate Change (October 24, 2009), people all over the world  are throwing 350 events “to show we are united and tell our leaders we need action this year.”

Please check out this moving 2:18 minute video by 350.0rg:

Has anyone started a 350 event yet or signed up for one? Please share with us your plans for October 24th!

Climate change is a serious topic and according to the experts, we’re running out of time to do something about it. But as we discussed last week in “#1 Way to be Healthy Now,” focusing on doom and gloom gets us painfully nowhere. So for Blog Action Day 2009, this post considers the silver lining of climate change.

First, let’s review a few definitions (from David Suzuki’s Climate Offset Guide):

Climate Change: A change of climate attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. See also global warming.

Global Warming: The gradual increase, observed or projected, in global surface temperature as one of the consequences of an accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. See also climate change.

The bad news: by making life easier and more convenient for some of us, the human species (unknowingly) has used it’s ingenuity to slowly destroy the planet and its inhabitants. Check out this eye-opener by the Center for American Progress, “The Top 100 Effects of Global Warming“.

The good news: the human species also has the ability to…

1. Forgive ourselves and our society for our mistakes, ignorance and failure to act before now.
2. Create inventive ways and means to heal the world.
3. Band together as an entire species to alter our current course!

The Bright Side of Climate Change

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If everything in the Universe is made of energy, like quantum physicists say it is, and it can never be destroyed or created but can be transformed, then it IS possible that thoughts can become reality. A real-life instance is the placebo effect, which proves the powerful link between belief and physical health.

PSYCH-K is a personal development method of reaching the subconscious and changing your life from the inside-out. You are completely aware the entire time and a belief change can happen within minutes. The effects sometime take time to show up, as Aileen shares with us in her amazing story:

“Email to Doug Parks [PSYCH-K facilitator], Spirit 2000 Oct. 7, 2009

Hi Doug,

These days I am totally infused with profound gratitude, especially for you, Bruce [Dr. Lipton, cellular biologist] and Rob [Mr. Williams, Founder of PYSCH-K] and the work that you all do! I feel I must let you know of a personal experience emanating from last year’s November Psych-K workshop in San Mateo.

Coming to the workshop, my recovery from a stem-cell transplant had stalled and my oncologist had concluded I had “xyz” condition resulting from my stem cells being damaged during transplant. I was told this (anemia) would be a life-long condition which would be moderated with periodic blood transfusions.

Figuring Bruce knew a heck of a lot more about stem cells than my esteemed oncologist, I posed the question to him. His response: “If your stem cells had been damaged during transplant you wouldn’t be standing here today. There’s nothing wrong with your stem cells… It’s their environment.” I was infused with hope!…But still a bit skeptical.

During the ensuing two days, Rob taught us Psych-K. When we learned the Resolution Balance [one of several PSYCH-K techniques], I balanced [reprogrammed the subconscious] for “Every part of me is perfectly healthy and functioning in total harmony” with the overall goal of “robust health.” One of the visual indicators was “100% perfect health via any medical test possible.”

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It’s Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada and for all those who have extended family, you might be looking at several large meals and a bloated belly. Try replacing a meal or two with this green blended detox recipe to help ease your digestive system and clean you from the inside-out.

Completely balanced with healthy protein (Brazil nuts), fat (avocado) and carbs (greens, fruit and other veggies), this blended meal is as nutritious as it is tasty.

It ain’t much to look at but after a weekend of hard-core celebratory socializing and eating, you’ll certainly feel much lighter – I promise!

Gingerly-Cleanse-Yer-Insides Detox Meal

Ingredients

1/4 cup Brazil nuts
1/2 large Granny Smith apple
1 cup Spinach, rinsed
1 cup Swiss Chard, rinsed
2 stalks Celery, chopped
1 Tbsp Avocado, fresh
1/4 cup Juice, berry or apple
1 inch Fresh Ginger, peeled
1/2 cup Filtered Water (or til desired consistency)

Directions

1. Grind nuts in blender.
2. Add remaining ingredients.
3. Blend.
4. Enjoy!