My Top 10 Favorite Things of the Moment part 1

1. Sauerkraut

Up until about 9 months ago, the only experience I had with sauerkraut was smashed between pastrami, rye and thousand island dressing. But after learning about the health benefits of lacto-fermented foods, I couldn’t help give it a whirl on it’s own.

Traditional cultures thousands of years ago were able to preserve food without the use of freezers or canning by the process of lacto-fermentation — which in regular words just means that the starches found in vegetables are converted into lactic acid by lactic-acid producing bacteria that are naturally found on the surface of plants and vegetables. The lactic acid acts as a natural preserative, which is why you can store sauerkraut (and other fermeneted foods) without the use of chemical preservatives.

The product of fermentation yields to the proliferation of lactobacilli which provides enzymes and beneficial organisms to help aide in digestion. The lactobacilli is considered “good bacteria” for your digestive system, which is oh so important these days as modern day living throws off the symbiotic balance of good vs. bad bacteria that is found in our digestive tract.

Birth control pills, antibiotics, chlorinated water, nutrient deficient foods can all cause an imbalance in the naturally occurring bacteria in our gut, and lead to an overgrowth of bad bacteria, such as candidiasis. The result of a candida overgrowth can cause yeast infections, fatigue, depression, lower abdominal bloating and mental fog.

2. Lavendar Essential Oil/Water

Forget about Chanel No. 5, my favorite scent of the season is lavendar oil. Not only does it smell fabulous, but lavendar essential oil is actually used in ancient Ayurvedic aromtherapy, which is the practice of using certain scents to evoke a healing response. Just a few dabs on the neck, or a spritz after hopping out of the shower, or in your hair, and you’ll smell like a beautiful flower.

Lavendar has a very calming effect on the body which is great relieving anxiety, high blood pressure, stress and insomnia.

How can a smell evoke a physical response you may ask? Well, easy…you see, the smell receptors in our nose, called the olfactory bulbs, are direct extensions of the hypothalamus and limbic part of the brain. These parts of the brain are concerned with memory, autonomic response and behavior. So, if we smell a certain scent our brain can actually be triggered to respond a certain way.

If you are interested in aromotherapy, it is also important to know, that each kind of emotion has it’s own physiology. Every emotion that you have, has a unique autonomic response to it. Meaning, when you are angry your body releases certain hormones and chemicals that are different from when you are happy, or sad, or sexually excited.

Each emotion generates it’s own hormonal response, and thus, each emotion has it’s own distinct odor. And the odors tied to emotions are called pheromones. We typically can not consciensouly detect these odors, however, your olfactory bulbs in your nose respond to them, and sends signals to your hypothalamus to react to that certain pheromone. If you pick up these emotions subconsciensouly then your own emotions are influenced. Ever notice that you can sense the tension in a room?

3. Vibram 5′s

I’ve spent the last year in a pair of Nike Free’s, and though they have been an upgrade (or downgrade depending on how you look at it) from the traditional chunky sneaker, I felt it was time to give the funky 5 finger shoes a whirl.

I first spotted them at the Ryan Lee internet confrerence last May — Blaine Moore from http://news.runtowin.com/ was sitting next to me, and I couldn’t help  but strike up a conversation regarding his odd footwear.

The purpose of their unique design is to protect your feet from the ground while still getting the benefits of barefoot running. I’ve worn them for the last 2 weeks, worked out in them, trained my clients in them, walked the streets in them, and I will admit, I love the attention I’m getting wearing them, ha!

People have been very intrigued, and I get excited to explain to people that walking and working out barefoot helps strengthens the muscles in your feet, and increases the proprioception in your feet.

It helps to ease into wearing barefoot style shoes if you’re used to wearing well-supported sneakers. Give your feet some time to strengthen before going all out. Your feet won’t be used to the lack of support so you may feel sore in your feet and calves.

4. Parks and Recreation

I don’t watch a lot of tv outside of the Discovery Channel, The Travel Channel and FoodNetwork, but I most recently spent an entire Sunday watching the first 2 seasons of Parks and Rec back to back. Amy Poehler is a funny lady. Be warned, you may tear an oblique laughing.

5. Boston in the spring

Red SoxDuck Tours, sailboats on the Charles, beautiful people walking around…

The Public Gardens, Cheers, gelato and espresso in the North End.

Outdoor music, outdoor movies and free concerts at the Esplanade.

Outdoor dining on Newbury St.

The Freedom Trail, raw oysters at the Union Oyster House, Copley Square…