Edamame Rice Bowls

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup brown rice
• 1 8-oz. bag frozen shelled edamame
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 2 oz. crumbed feta
• 2 large bay leaves
• 10 pitted kalamata olives, halved
• 3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
• 1 Tbs. olive oil
• 1 Tbs. lime juice
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. Bring 1 1/4 cups water to a boil, stir in rice, and season with salt. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 45 minutes, or until rice is tender.

2. Bring 2 cups salted water to a boil, add edamame, and cook 2 minutes, or until tender; drain and set aside.

3. Toss together rice, edamame, cranberries, feta, olives, cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, and red pepper flakes in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

Nutritional Information: Per SERVING (Serves 2): Calories: 540, Protein: 20g, Total fat: 24.5g, Saturated fat: 6g, Carbs: 63g, Cholesterol: 25mg, Sodium: 778mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugars: 14g

Adapted from Vegetarian Times

Balancing the Wood Element

While we ring in spring here in New England we also welcome change: Change from cold to warmer weather, allergies beginning, flowers blossoming, emotions reawakened. Spring can be thought of as a rebirth of spirit, mind, and body. All of this takes place under the “Wood” element and “Liver” Meridian. Five element theory (a form of acupuncture) relates each season with certain specific qualities (see table below).

During this time of year, you want to pay special attention to the health of your eyes, tendons, and ligaments. Boost your intake of vitamin A and lycopene-containing vegetables and fruit. Make certain to stretch after an exercise program and warm up properly before you begin. During spring you are more susceptible to external pathogenic invasions from wind (yes, you can catch a cold from the wind). Dress in layers and be cautious of wind blowing directly on your neck (as this may cause a stiff neck & a cold).

You may also notice that you experience different emotions: anger, irritation, frustration, belligerence, impatience, rudeness, arrogance, stubbornness, and aggression. As my mom used to say, ‘think before you speak.” Great way to prevent unnecessary disagreements! Regular acupuncture treatments can alleviate this disharmony.

Acupuncture functions to rebalance the body’s energy systems (meridians). When a system is out of balance, the characteristics of each system are skewed. For example: if someone is under too much stress, their liver meridian (Wood) becomes imbalanced. This can manifest as being easily irritated or angered, problems with eyes, migraine headaches, sour taste in mouth, overly tight tendons or ligaments, and rancid smell to the body/breath.

With the change of each season, acupuncture is recommended to make the transition between the two seasons easier, more fluid, and less of a shock to the body. Welcome in spring with balance and harmony in your liver meridian.

Total Body * Total Mind - Presented By: