6 minute read
The Mentalist / Discovering Ayurveda / Healthy Seasonal Foods
The Mentalist
Brotherhood of Man
by Jason D Varga
In today’s world of the internet and social media platforms, there seems to be greater connectivity. It is certainly a wonderful thing to be able to make connections and converse with people from all around the globe. However, this is only a surface connectivity, superficial compared with real, in-person engagements on a social level.
We are predominantly social animals; we thrive and grow on a psychological level when we meet regularly with others.
Through these connections we often create a real rapport with people with whom we may have shared experiences and likeminded goals. Meeting up with others in a small or large group setting, offers the chance to meet new people from diverse backgrounds and expand our own knowledge of the world and our fellow man! This connectivity has proven to show that young men, who play for local sporting clubs or who are involved with organisations such as scouts, become more socially aware and adept via the social aspect of their respective clubs.
What about the working men? The stay at home fathers? The retired?
By the way, I am not discounting the need for us all to be involved with social activities and groups. My wife is a member and current president of a local CWA and has recently taken up a Martial Arts class, both of which support her need for social interaction. However, as this column is predominantly aimed at ‘men’s mental health’, we’ll just stick to the boy’s clubs.
There is nothing wrong with meeting a few of the lads down at the local for a catch up and a drink, It’s not exactly my preference, as I had never seen it as productive, which is probably why, in my younger years, I became involved in the Rockabilly scene - cars and dancing. Now, in my more mature years, I see the value in such social interactions, a chance for men to get together and talk to each other.
I am grateful for the connections I made through the dance community and other clubs where I have been involved. I have made some lifelong friends, some of whom I may not converse with on a regular basis these days, but I know they would be there for me in a pinch. Can we say that about our social media friends? We probably can for a select few, most likely the select few with whom we have had actual in-person, social interactions.
To read the whole article go to www.supernalmagazineaustralia.com.au/past-iissues/
Discovering Ayurveda
Kicharee a one pot dish to cleanse and restore…
By Liesl Horne
Long hailed for its cleansing and nourishing qualities, Kicharee, pronounced ‘kichuh-ree’ originates from the Sanskrit word ‘khichcha’ meaning ‘mixed or mixture.’
This restorative one pot dish, consisting of mung beans and rice dates back thousands of years to the Asian subcontinent. Traditionally used throughout India for those convalescing and for anyone wanting to cleanse and strengthen their digestive system, it continues to be revered for the health benefits it has to offer.
Kicharee can be creatively adapted to suit individual tastes by using a wide range of ingredients, however, if your purpose is to cleanse and restore, you are best to eat it as plain and soup like as possible. You can begin to introduce additional ingredients for texture and flavour as your digestive capacity strengthens.
One of the outstanding nutritional benefits of Kicharee is its complete protein content which helps to regulate blood sugar levels. As a result, your sustained energy allows you to maintain your daily routine whilst also resting and replenishing your digestive system. This simple meal of mung beans and basmati rice is deeply nourishing and satisfying.
Mung beans are often referred to as ‘Golden Gram,’ ‘Black Gram’ and ‘Green Gram.’ It is the only bean that is classed as ‘Vata friendly’ because it is the least likely to cause digestive gas. Split mung beans are a lighter and easier version to digest than the whole bean and take less time to cook. The green outer husk is removed, and then they are split to reveal the yellow colour inside.
It’s a good idea to soak them first, especially if they are whole, making them softer and more easily absorbed. As well as providing an excellent source of protein, they are also full of dietary fibre which helps to facilitate the detoxing process by removing toxins from the bowel.
This is further supported with their astringent and drying qualities having a cleansing effect on the tissues. The magnesium and iron content of mung beans helps to alleviate fatigue and anaemia, whilst supporting nerve transmission, heart health and blood circulation.
Every region in India has its own unique version of Kicharee. It is also recognised as Khichdi, Kichadi and Kitchari. There are endless variations of this everyday staple with cultural influences relating to different countries, tastes and local ingredients. The British, for example adapted it in the 19th century by adding boiled fish, cayenne pepper and eggs which they called ‘Kedgeree.’
To read the whole article go to www.supernalmagazineaustralia.com.au/past-iissues/
Healthy Seasonal Foods
Healthy eating is a choice not a chore!
By Jane Offer
Healthy eating is not a diet, implying we are being deprived, it is a simple idea that can be implemented into any family by eating fresh, unprocessed foods where possible, avoiding fast foods, drinking water or juiced fruit and vegetables instead of soft drink soda and cutting down on sugary snacks.
After all, we put the correct fuel in our vehicles to obtain optimum performance so why wouldn’t we do that for our body?
Here are some suggestions.
Fennel
Liquorice flavoured fennel is one of those vegetables that you either love or hate! It is a ‘pretty’ vegetable with its pure looking white
flesh, feathery green leaves and flowers that produce its valuable seeds.
All parts of fennel are edible, including the flowers and are packed with essential vitamins and nutrients that provide high levels of dietary nitrates and is a natural source of estrogen.
Historically, practitioners used fennel in natural remedies and Pliny (AD 23- 79), the Roman author of The Naturalis Historie, recorded his observations that snakes, after shedding their skins, ate and rubbed against fennel because it was able to improve their eyesight. There is a connection, as fennel contains Vitamin A, vital for eye health and, when the seeds are steeped in hot water for 20 minutes or so, the liquid can be used to soothe eye irritation.
Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare, belongs to the Umbelliferae family and is a crunchy relation of parsley, carrots, dill and coriander. It is multipurposed and can be used as a wonderful addition to fresh salads, smoothies, soups, stir-fry, potatoes and other vegetable dishes.
Scientifically, it has been shown that, aside from being highly nutritious, both fresh fennel and fennel seeds are low in calories and provide important nutrients, such as Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium and manganese. All of which are important to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, immune stimulation, enzyme activation, metabolism, cellular protection, bone development, blood sugar regulation and wound healing.
“Fennel is one of those vegetables that you either love or hate!”
