Spotlight on Seasons Studios – The Publishing Arm of Dr. Elson Haas

 

http://seasonsstudios.com/

Bethany Argisle and Elson Haas first met in May 1976 and have been creative colleagues ever since. Over the years they have produced an educational clothing line, best-selling books and now an organization dedicated to teaching children how to keep themselves and their natural environment healthy. With their new line of children’s books and music, Bethany and Elson continue their mission for the betterment of Planet Earth and future generations.

Bethany is an accomplished, if not legendary, Bay Area storyteller, once known as the Princess of Argyle. These days, she continues her mission to educate and enchant children as a book editor and environmental author.

Elson continues to be a pioneering leader in the field of preventive medicine with his practice, Preventive Medical Center of Marin. He is also a best selling author and educator in his nearly forty years as an integrated medical physician.

The time is right. The world is ready. The children, who are our future and most important investment, need our guidance and support.

Seasons Studios is dedicated to educating children about the reverence for life, their own health and the mysteries of nature. All are intimately bound together. By promoting healthy eating, taking care of their bodies and minds, and respect for the environment, we hope to make a small contribution to bettering Earth for years to come.

 

 

Why is a Plant-Based Diet so Important?

Fresh, organically-grown plants form the foundation of a healthy human diet—that’s Dr. Elson’s story and he’s sticking to it!  Basing your diet around plants, vegetables and fruits especially, is the very best way to insure that you have important nutrients, calories, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other compounds essential for a healthy life. 

When making food choices, consider all of the implications and costs for the environment, animals, and economy—and most importantly, your health.  For more information watch my UHC TV video.

  Our ancestors were largely vegetarian—at least if you can believe what the anthropologists say.  My theory is that plants were a lot easier to catch than other animals, so we started eating more of them.  The good news back in those early days was that plants contained (and still do) many of the essential nutrients we need to build and repair cells, create energy, and otherwise take care of our bodies, minds and hearts. This also relates to what is popular now, the Paleolithic Diet, eating the foods that came before the cultivation of grains, about 10,000 years ago.

So, how do we define a “Plant-based” diet?  A diet based largely (or in the case of vegetarians and vegans—exclusively) on plants includes a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, beans/legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.  Since there are many variations on this diet theme–some people add chicken, fish, eggs, dairy, and even red meat to their plant-based diet, but the key is that the vast majority of calories and nutrients are coming from plants, which derive their original energy from the Sun.  My book with Patty James,  More Vegetables, Please! shows people and families especially how to include veggies into all kinds of meals.

 

There are many reasons people choose to focus on a plant-based diet. Some of these include:

·       Non-Violence: We may choose a plant-based diet because or our ethical beliefs for a commitment to nonviolence — both towards the animals killed for food and the human responsible for killing it.

·       Food Production: Many plant-based eaters have strong concerns about animal treatment within industrial food production systems such as factory farming.

·       Environmental: Evidence suggests that raising livestock (particularly factory farming) and industrial fishing have negative ecological impacts. Also many people eating a plant-based diet support organic, bio-dynamic and non-GMO food production.

·       Religious: Some world religions forbid meat consumption and/or limit certain animal products (such as abstaining from pork and shellfish to keep kosher in Judaism), which adherents then develop further into plant-based eating.

·       Health: Evidence suggests that a diet high in plant products can help us get and stay healthier. We know that almost 70% of Americans are suffering from ailments associated with dietary intake — problems that can be improved by adding more plants.

·       Economic: For many folks, animal products (especially non-industrially produced animal products) are too expensive; plant-based protein sources (such as dried beans) are often less costly.

A word of caution: 

Many individuals who choose a plant-based diet only plan their intake based on what they’re eliminating, which is animal products. But when people avoid or minimize animal products, it’s more difficult for them to get adequate amounts of certain dietary ingredients, including dietary protein and/or a host of other vitamins and minerals. So, it’s important to plan and institute a good balanced diet with whatever you choose to include. In 2009, The American Dietetic Association concluded that:

·       Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for all individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence, and for athletes.

·       Plant-based diets tend to be lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, and have higher levels of dietary fiber, magnesium and potassium, vitamins C and E, folate, carotenoids, flavonoids and other phytochemicals.

·       Vegetarians and vegans, including those who are athletes, “meet and exceed requirements” for protein… if their diets are well-planned.

Regardless of how you define yourself and your diet philosophy, including more plants in your diet can make you healthier, provide important nutrients, and possibly help conserve environmental resources.  What a Win-Win!  However, just being “vegetarian” or “vegan” does not necessarily mean that you will eat a better diet.

When following a plant-based diet, focus first on fresh and (where possible) organic/local vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Avoid processed meat, refined carbohydrates, and other highly processed products. Don’t consume junk just because it’s labeled “vegetarian” or “vegan”.  Learn your Labels!  Also be careful to consume enough vitamin B-12, calcium, iodine, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D.

 

Marin Healthy Palooza

Don’t miss this exciting event!

This educational and entertaining community event is a Palooza-themed Health and Wellness Fair and Festival featuring speakers, lectures, workshops, natural products and services. Health and wellness experts will provide fitness demonstrations in a fun festival setting.

Buy Tickets by May 10th and Save! 

Family Activities
For Kids: Elmo Jumpy, Face Painting and Singalong
Health Songs

Fitness: Yoga, Qigong, Zumba classes and Fitness
Demonstrations by YogaWorks, Spiritboxer and
Mill Valley Recreation Fitness Team

Co-Sponsors
Preventive Medical Center of Marin, Mill Valley
Recreation and SE&A

Sponsor:
Amy’s Kitchen

Exhibitors
Lydia’s Lovin’ Foods, Healus, PMCM, Seasons
Studios, Finally Fix Your Health, Neal’s Yard
Organic, RAAW, Tofurky, Southern Marin
Mothers Club, Breathing Retraining Center, Amy’s
Kitchen, Navitas Naturals, Integrative Therapeutics,
Joseph Smith’s Massage Therapy, Nutricology,
Pediatric Alternatives and more..

Supporters
Cavallo Point, Book Passage, Murray Circle, EO
Products, Mill Valley Community Center, Whole
Foods, Yolo Yogurt, Good Earth

Mill Valley Recreation Community Center Building
, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Tickets: $20 by May 10th, $25 at Door; Seniors 65 + $15; Children under 12 FREE

(415) 887-9230, info@marinhealthypalooza.com.

For more information visit www.marinhealthypalooza.com

7 Tips to Renew Your Optimal Health

I looked up the word origin of the word “Spring” and found that it basically means “to jump.”  So “Spring” is about sprouting, emerging, youthful-ness and so much more.  Ever since I wrote my first book, Staying Healthy With the Seasons, I have considered Spring the time of new beginnings and re-establishing the foundations of our health.

 

 

Spring is also the time of year when (in the northern hemisphere) the days begin to lengthen and our Mother Earth emerges from her cold winter sleep.  It is a time of birth and re-birth, of sprouting, of thawing snows and new buds on plants and trees.  It is also a time for each of us to renew our commitment to optimal health and nutrition.

 

 

Here are some simple ways for you to “get in sync” with Spring and optimize your health for the coming year.

 

 

1. Hydrate

 

By definition our bodies need water for so many reasons…to transport nutrients, supply our cells with fluids, promote detoxification, provide our kidneys and livers with the capacity to remove waste products. Water also helps our bodies regulate our temperature and protect our joints and organs.

 

 

 

People often ask me how much water they should drink, and the old “six-to-eight-glasses-per day” rule is not always the best.  What I tell people is:  Eat lots of vegetables and fruits and drink fluids when you are thirsty—this is the right amount of water for YOU! Of course, if you exercise and sweat, or during the warmer climates, you may need more liquids.

 

 

2. Focus on Veggies & Fruits

 

In addition to being an excellent source of hydration, fruits and vegetables are a great source of vitamins, essential minerals, fiber and lots of antioxidant nutrients.  Eating a seasonal diet centered around plant-based foods is the most healthful and natural way to nourish and support you body. Think about making veggies and fruits the core of your meal, then adding other elements as you desire.  Let’s face it—veggies and fruits are one of Mother Nature’s purest ways of delivering energy and high-quality nutrition to our bodies. Consider in your local region what Spring veggies and fruits are coming into season, and either plant them for use, or go to local farmers’ markets and natural food stores and bring them home for great meals and recipes.

 

 

3. Pantry Makeover

 

Spring is a great time to go through your kitchen and pantry and “clean house.”  Open your pantry doors, and ask:  What’s the first item of food I see? Well, what you see is what you eat! I recommend that you see Spring as a great time for a “full pantry makeover”—rid your cabinets, shelves of foods you know are not good for you, including those which are highly-processed, contain artificial/chemical additives, those high in sugar, or poor quality oils, or are out-of-date —and you can build on this makeover by being sure you don’t buy them when you next go shopping.  Instead, bring your healthy foods and snacks home and place them at eye-level where you and your family can easily reach them.  You will probably find that in addition to eating more healthfully at home, you will start being an even better shopper for healthy foods when you are at the store.

 

 

4. Free the Fridge and the Freezer

 

What’s the first thing you see when you open your refrigerator?  Is it “good” foods or beverages, or is it junk?  Think about a quick Fridge/Freezer makeover—ditch the bad foods and put the “treats” toward the back.  Bring all of the great healthful foods and beverages toward the front.  You might be surprised at what a difference such a simple process can make, for everyone in the family.

 

 

5. Plan!

 

Many people have difficulty trying to decide what to eat each day. Well, guess what?  One of the easiest ways to deal with this is to sit down and create a weekly meal plan.  List out your menu ideas for each day, then write out a shopping list according to plan–what a concept! (And nowadays, there are great Apps to help with this.) You don’t need new ideas every week, recycle your favorite lunch and dinner ideas from week to week and include just enough variety to make the next week’s meal plan enjoyable but not a hassle for you to prepare. If you have children, get them involved with you in this process.

 

 

6. Healthy Snacks

 

Oh, don’t we all love our favorite snacks?  Well, snacks come in all sorts of types and sizes, some more healthy than others.  I suggest this Spring that you make a list of the healthiest snacks you like, then stock your cabinets with these, leaving the junk snacks on the store shelf. Look through the shelves at your natural foods store and see what is best for you and family.

 

 

7. Small Changes

 

Think about making very small changes in your eating habits—over a year these can have a huge impact upon your health.  Some ideas include:

 

• Reduce sugar and milk/dairy products;

 

• Cut your oils and mayonnaise in half;

 

• Reduce wheat and baked good products;

 

• Have smaller and fewer lattes, etc. 

 

 

The cumulative impact of “modest moderation” can be huge, and you probably won’t even notice it. Yet, it is quite likely that you may notice some health benefits.

 

 

Here’s to a great Spring for all of you as you “Spring into Health.”

 

 

Dr. Elson

 

 

 

 

Tips to Help You Quit Smoking

http://www.uhc.tv/uhc_video/tips-to-help-you-quit-smoking

Answer from: Dr. Elson Haas, M.D., integrative medicine expert

Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do for your health. There are a number of ways to manage your cravings and break the habit for good.