Yield: 1 serving
Equipment: Blender

Forget dairy hot chocolate, here’s a winter treat that’s rich in potassium, flavonoids and flavor!

Ingredients:

1 cup hot water
2 teaspoons organic chocolate powder
1 ripe banana
small pinch grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons honey

Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender and serve immediately.

© 2011 Sheree Clark | Fork in the Road | www.fork-road.com

Sheree Clark is a holistic health and nutrition counselor. Through her private practice called Fork in the Road, Sheree helps empower individuals, families and corporate groups to get the most out of life by improving their health. She offers lectures, classes, hands-on workshops, coaching and consultations in Iowa and nationwide. She is a graduate of Living Light Culinary Institute and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. An inspiring author, presenter, teacher, motivator and raw vegan chef, Sheree has written and presented on topics ranging from raw food 101 to overcoming career burnout.

3 days prior to Purification: 1/2 cup of coffee

2 days prior to Purification: 1 cup of black tea

1 day prior to Purification: ZERO caffeine.

In hindsight, I should have stepped down more gradually and avoided the dreaded caffeine withdrawal headache that hit Thursday night, but overall it was tolerable. I drank lots of water and went to bed early. On Day 1 of the Purification, I drank two cups of green tea but found I haven’t needed it since.

Curious if this program would not only change the way I feel but change a quantifiable value on lab work, I decided to have some comparative blood work drawn before and after my 21 Day Purification. My pre-Purification numbers looked pretty good. No major red flags in the blood sugar or cholesterol arena but I did show two slightly high values in other areas that may suggest I am not drinking enough water. Time to hydrate! I’ll share more specific details when I get the values from my post-Purification blood work.

I’ve continued to listen to my Circle + Bloom guided imagery program to support my new healthy choices and I’ve incorporated a few additional detox/purification elements. One of my favorites is the inclusion of essential oils in my bath gel. I started with a fragrance free base (Young Living has a great Bath & Shower Gel Base) and added a few drops of their Citrus Fresh essential oil blend. It’s a wonderful blend of orange, tangerine, mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, and spearmint. I opted for this blend because citrus is rich in d-limonene (an antioxidant), supports the immune system, and brings about a sense of well-being and joy. If I’m skipping coffee, I at least want a little pick-me-up fragrance in the shower to start my day!

And now it’s time for my reward at the end of a long day – a great big tasty colorful salad!

Until the next update – wishing you health & happiness,

Diane

Begin with a 15-20 minute meditation where you set your intention for the new year and release your attachment to the past.

I found a wonderful mind-body program by Circle + Bloom called Happy Mind + Healthy Body that works wonderful for this purpose. The CD is meant to be listened to for a few minutes every day for 21 days so it fits very nicely into my Purification Program schedule.

On a piece of paper, write down all of the things from 2011 that you would like to release. This can include habits, grudges, or old patterns that no longer serve your highest good. Try to make the list as detailed and complete as possible.

Burn the list. As the list burns, let go of the energies represented by the items on the list. If you don’t have an easy (or safe) way to burn the list, tear the list into small pieces.

Then, make a list of all you would like to embrace for 2012 – habits, patterns, experiences, feelings. Again, be as specific and complete as possible.

Put your list in a special or sacred place. Then take a few moments to notice how you feel once you have completed this ritual. Do you feel lighter, clearer, or more energized?

What if you didn’t do the ritual on New Year’s Day? Don’t worry. Every day is a great day to start anew. Make some time for yourself today!

Wishing you health & happiness in 2012,

Diane

2012 is not business as usual.

First, I should admit I love making resolutions and the start of a new year. I’m an organizer, a planner, and a list maker. But this year feels different. My plans and resolutions are clearer and more enticing. In fact, I’ve thought of little else as the new year approached.

It also occurred to me during my resolution making frenzy that I have learned a lot about natural health (beyond acupuncture and Oriental medicine) and experimented with quite a few healing modalities in the past twenty years and I want to share what I have learned with you.

My first resolution focuses on purifying my body. To accomplish this goal, I have chosen Standard Process’s 21-day Purification Program. And just so you don’t feel hoodwinked later on, I should make it clear – I do carry Standard Process in my practice. However, I am NOT a Standard Process sales representative or distributor.* What I am sharing here is my first hand experience with the program and how I have chosen to navigate the 21 days.

The idea of detox, cleanse, or purification often brings up a lot of questions. “Why would you do that to yourself?” I hear this question a lot. Or “aren’t you already pretty healthy?” Compared to whom? I’m shooting for my own personal best here. And that goal, I certainly have not achieved. More specifically, I would love to have more energy and to have fewer headaches. Both symptoms, I suspect are diet and lifestyle related. Purification is not about deprivation. I’m not counting calories here. I’m reintroducing myself to a variety of whole foods with all of their wonderful colors, textures, and tastes. Purification is about nourishing the body and living a fuller, healthier life.

During the program, I’ll eat whole, organic, unprocessed foods, take whole food supplements, and drink 64 ounces of spring water per day. Things I’ll be avoiding include: alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, nuts, seeds, dairy, grains (except wild/brown rice), and processed or refined foods. Don’t worry, some of these foods will be reintroduced at the conclusion of the 21 days. I won’t be saying goodbye to dairy, nuts & seeds forever.

My purification program officially starts Friday, January 6^th. I’m in full on preparation mode. This week will likely be a flurry of blog posts as I fill you in on what I’ve done so far to get ready (both mentally & physically). I hope you will follow along with me over the next 3+ weeks as I prepare for and move through my very own resolution revolution to be happier and healthier in 2012.

Welcoming your comments, questions and support!

Diane

*While we carry Standard Process products, neither HealthFocus Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine nor any third party associated with, related to, or linked to HealthFocus Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s business or website is in any way affiliated with Standard Process Inc.® Standard Process expressly disclaims any responsibility for, and makes no representations or warranties regarding, any statement, information, materials, or content found on or included in HealthFocus Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s marketing materials/website, or any third party marketing materials/websites related to, associated with or linked to HealthFocus Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s business or website. Standard Process products are dietary supplements and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Heart Burst 2010 from the Essence of Love Series by Jo Jayson (www.jojayson.com)