Soma Ranch Party ~ Saturday, 3/29, 6 - 9pm

You’re invited to an informal “Party” Saturday 6 - 9pm. With an Autumn Teneyl Trunk Show, Appetizers and lots of fun.

You’re welcome to BYO beer/wine/beverage, enjoy the pool, sauna, hot tub, rock on the porch, swing in a hammock, visit with the donkeys/horses, meet our new addition Kitty, watch the sun set, roast s’mores over an open fire and (weather permitting) star gaze in the big open sky.

What to bring:

if you want to take a dip: bring bathing suit and towel
if you want to walk in the fields: bring closed toe shoes
if you want to drink alcohol: bring wine or beer

Autumn Teneyl Trunk Show

Autumn Teneyl returns to Soma Ranch this weekend:

Saturday 6:00 - 8:00pm
Sunday 10:00am - 2:30pm

Eco-Chic Fashion For Globally Conscious Women.

The Look:

Capricious and captivating, Autumn Teneyl is a celebration of eclectic chic: Luscious organics, stretch laces, vibrant colors, soft and flowing, body-conscious details; Glorious pants, tops and dresses with no binding stiffness to disrupt the grace and beauty of females in motion.
It’s not just a look ~ it’s a statement!

The Designer:

Autumn Teneyl is a fashion designer and artist best known for her feminine, free‐flowing designs. In the summer of 2000, Autumn found her
calling as a fashion designer. Her fluid designs were born against the natural backdrop of mountain music festivals, giant Aspen and bustling streams. The mountain chic, homegrown label is owned by the designer, who is committed to an ethical and eco-conscious model in all areas of the business. Autumn is an advocate for the environment and the human condition, and she devotes annual time and revenue to these causes. Autumn utilizes domestically made organic fabrics and re-purposed designer‐end natural & synthetic fabrics to reduce the environmental burden of textile manufacturing. ATD offsets 100% of their operational and travel costs by purchasing renewable energy credits (REC’s) and has donated tens of thousands of dollars yearly to organizations such as the AIDS Foundation, Free A Child, public radio stations (KDNK, KGNU, KSUT, eTown) and environmental groups like Colorado Wild. Every garment is handmade in Colorado, USA.

Designer’s Statement
“When I set out to make a new collection each season, it is with functional, conscious beauty in mind. My goal is to make each piece the first thing I would grab myself for an evening out or a day around town. The foundation of my collections is domestic organic cotton and hemp fabrics. I spend many hours sourcing and developing my color palettes to create distinction and harmony within each collection. The versatility is intended to reach every woman: the tailored, modern lines are very city appropriate, yet the functionality and comfort allow for a very natural fit & freedom of movement. I love the clothing and I hope you will too! Thank you for your patronage.” ~Autumn Teneyl

Kitty, our new horse, adopted from HabitatForHorses

Kitty joins the happy animal family at Soma Ranch
We adopted Kitty from www.habitatforhorses.org. She arrived last weekend and took a couple of days to settle. This video then captured precious moments of fence time with Roger and them getting acquainted. It was a beautiful thing to watch, lovely to see how Kitty and Roger appear to be immediate best friends. They look like they could be brother and sister!

Special Daily 11am Nia Classes at Soma Ranch

Blue Belt

Folks are coming from around the country to attend the Nia Blue Belt. This 2nd level training focuses on Communication, Relationships and Intimacy. Each day we offer a public class at 11am and YOU are invited! These special classes are perfect if you’re new to Nia.

The weather is super for experiencing Soma Ranch in its glory.

Entertain staying on for lunch at noon!

Classes

TimeDayDateFocusRoutine
11amSundayMarch 16The Joy of Being in RelationshipInfinity
11amMondayMarch 17Pearls and the RealmsAfro Celt
11amTuesdayMarch 18Guiding Systemic MovementSexi
11amWednesdayMarch 19Expressing Feelings and EmotionsRise
11amThursdayMarch 20Music, Movement, MagicTaking Requests

Prices

11amClass$15
NoonLunch$15
Class LunchCombo$20

Ageless Grace Personal Invite from Founder Denise Medved

Denise Medved, Ageless Grace

Hello all of you movers, shakers, rock n’ rollers and bright spirits in Texas and surrounding areas! I think this can answer ALL your questions about Ageless Grace®!

I am soooo excited to come and share the Ageless Grace® program with all of you at Helen Terry’s beautiful Soma Ranch in Montgomery TX, February 27-March 2! What a perfect location to PLAY with the profound tools of this unique program that will bring you up to speed on the hottest topic in the medical world, the fitness world and in media — NEUROPLASTICITY — what is it, how do we get it, how do we keep it???!

Many of you know I have been teaching health and fitness and movement for almost 30 years now — and had my beginnings in the world of well-being when I was in corporate marketing and PR In New York City for over 16 years! I have taught many kinds of fitness programs, have been a Personal Trainer for over 25 years — and was a Nia Trainer for almost 15 years. As a 1st Degree Black Belt Instructor, I still teach Nia several times a week — as well as many Ageless Grace® classes for all ages, from kids to baby boomers to seniors, and those with special and cognitive needs!

Ageless Grace® grew out of 7 years of research through a graduate certificate program in Gerontology in the school of nursing — and in pilot classes I offered in various departments of a Duke-Affiliated hospital group that is ranked as one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation. Ageless Grace® is based on the cutting-edge science of neuroplasticy..and activates all 5 functions of the brain, as well as addresses all 21 primary physical skills necessary for lifelong optimal function.

The program consists of 21 tools, or playful, creative, spontaneous movements (no choreography, rather movements, ideas, concepts and memories that spring from the brain). It is as EASY to teach as it is remarkably unique, since it stimulates kinesthetic learning, analytical thinking, strategic planning, creativity and imagination and memory/recall. New neural pathways are created, others are maintained — and many that have been lost or forgotten are restored.

We now have more than 800+ Certified Ageless Grace® Educators teaching throughout the United States, Canada, the UK, The Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia — and are soon offering the program in Germany , Israel and South America. It’s almost breath-taking to see how the program is being used in retirement communities, schools, corporations, skilled nursing centers, elementary schools, after school programs, hospitals, places of worship, senior centers, and for many special needs groups such as stroke survivors, those with MS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, autism, joint replacements, post-traumatic stress disorder and brain and head injuries.

It is the most fulfilling work I have ever had the pleasure to PLAY with on a daily basis! And it pays very nicely — what a concept! Value for value appreciation!

It’s simple, easy — and FUN! The exercises are never repeated the same way twice — and the practice is supported by 10 minutes a day of brain-body stimulation (neural pathway activation), as well as in group classes. It is practiced in a chair, seated, specifically to work the CORE of the body, which is the best way to address the majority of those 21 physical skills needed for optimal function (I.e. spinal flexibility, balance, muscle mass, abdominal strength, conditioning of the heart, stimulation of the vital organs and systems of the body, joint mobility, the ability to Respond, React and Recover, the creation and sustenance of neuroplasticity, just to name a few). The chair also provides greater stability, safety and range of motion — and then allows ALL abilities and levels of fitness to participate including those in wheelchairs, on walkers or with special needs.

The demand for AG Educators is HIGH…it’s a fabulous and simple way to generate additional income in the fitness and wellness world at the same time you have the opportunity to do something highly beneficial and even life-changing for many people. I am really looking forward to once again sharing this fascinating research and discovery in your area of the country!

To find out more, or to register easily online for the events I will be offering February 27 through March 2, visit www.agelessgrace.com. For information about accommodations at Soma Ranch, visit /ageless-grace, or call 832-567-4550.

I will see all y’all later this month (as they say in North Carolina where I live)! Wishing you joy, grace and lifelong laughter! Xoxox Denise

Fabulous Fast Food: Your Favorite Soup

Happy Day 9 “Favorite Things to help & entertain you”

Joe and I would like to wish you a Healthy Happy New Year!

Joe & Helen Terry Have you made some choices to eat better? want to save time? be healthy? get organized?

Here’s a simple suggestion to take care of all of the above: Make a big batch of HOME MADE SOUP and freeze portion sizes appropriate to your needs.

  1. We use left over Feta Cheese containers from Sams Club
  2. Ice cube trays are a super for defrosting exactly how much you want.
  3. When a neighbor/friend is unwell reach into the freezer, defrost a soup and deliver within minutes. Warm their body and heart with this act of kindness.

A soup we call “Your Favorite Soup” is the Lima Bean Soup out of the Body Ecology Diet book. I’m not a big fan of Lima Beans, avoided the recipe in the book for years, then Georgia Lister [1] made it for me “in error” and it’s been my favorite ever since. Here’s the recipe:

Lima Bean Cilantro Soup (Page 271 of Body Ecology Diet Book)

1-2 Tbsp. coconut oil
Two 10oz packages frozen lima beans
2 large onions, minced
6-8 cloves garlic, minced
4 carrots, peeled and cut in half
8 cups water
2 tsp. sea salt
pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
1 bunch cilantro, coarsely chopped (freshly clipped off your tower garden LOL)

1. Saute onions and garlic in oil
2. Add water, carrots lima beans and salt
3. Simmer until vegetables are tender
4. Remove carrots, coll, and slice into thin rounds.
5. Puree 3/4 of soup and return to pot with carrots
6. Add red pepper flakes and add salt as desired
7. Add cilantro and simmer for 2 minutes.

(Parsley, Spinach, Watercress or kale are fun alternatives to cilantro)

1 When Joe’s mom was at MD Anderson being treated for Pancreatic Cancer I had a training where I needed to lead the entire training and provide all meals! One of my gifts is knowing when to ask for help. One of my blessings is friends who respond when I share my need. I asked five NiaMoves teachers to each prepare a large soup, I left recipes by the stereo. Georgia chose to do the Lima Been Soup, even though I had identified the OTHER soup on that page to be my request. I’m glad she did as I wonder if I would have ever tried this recipe other wise. And it is now my favorite and the most requested at Soma Ranch.

Broga Recommendation from a Guy's Perspective

Broga is coming to Soma Ranch Friday Jan 24th - Sunday Jan 26th.

From reading the Broga website to hearing from a personal friend I trust impeccably, I am super excited to be hosting AND EXPERIENCING Broga at Soma Ranch.

Here’s a review from a guy perspective…
“First Yelp review for me, but Broga is the first thing I have felt that really earned my review. I have been going to various yoga classes for several years now, originally in Boulder CO, where I used to live, and I finally feel that I have found a class (Broga) and a teacher (Rob) that embody what I want to get out of yoga, without the pan flute music and deep spiritual nonsense that I left Boulder to get away from.

Rob teaches a great class. I show up on Saturday mornings after a long work week and sometimes a long night out, and by the end of class the stress that built up all week is gone, and my mind has spent 75 minutes focused solely on the practice. I walk away feeling refreshed and ready to tackle another week. Rob has a way of pushing his students beyond what they think they are capable of, without making anyone feel bad for not being able to stay in a tough pose for several minutes.

Broga really gives me what I (a guy) want out of a yoga class without the silliness that many other classes I have been to focus on. The class focuses on increasing strength (think pushups, squats, mountain climbers) mixed with flexibility (think stretching) and traditional yoga poses. You sweat, you grunt, you collapse a few times, and Rob never makes anyone feel like they did not have a hugely successful practice. He only pushes you to what you are capable of, but at the same time makes you want to do more. On top of that, Rob plays music, good music, the kind of music I listen to on road trips, and on my iPod, music that is inspiring, energetic, fun, and what I want to hear when I am working out. Honestly, I am not much into meditation, but something about this class does put my mind in a very good place, the rest of my saturdays are a lot more pleasant when I go to Broga in the morning.

I think that Broga achieves what many yoga classes fail to do, and that is make yoga accessible to men. I think guys are scared to go to yoga classes because guys don’t like sucking at things. When you start yoga, you inevitably suck at it, and sucking at something in a room full of women is not something guys enjoy. Broga alleviates this problem, partly because you aren’t in a room full of yoga-ettes, but also because the class focuses on the parts of yoga that guys are good at without forcing you to wrap yourself into a pretzel. Do I wish there were more women in the class, as a single guy, yes, but there are a few loyal women who show up and what do I care, I am there to work out.

I hate to let the secret out, because then the classes will be crowded, but then, maybe, Rob will have teach more classes in Somerville and I can get my fix during the week as well.”
-Daniel R.

Creating a Sacred Livelihood

This morning (9:15am) I’ll be sharing a very special class at NiaMoves where each song relates to an aspect of creating a sacred livelihood. The Nia concept “CaSL” has spurred me to create and live a life that brings me peace, joy and abundant satisfaction. I’m loving developing this special class, guiding folks through music, movement and affirmations with the intent to inspire us each to walk through life as sacred athletes, find our purpose, explore possibilities, making choices from love to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others.

Here’s each tracks focus on the play list:

  1. Purpose
  2. Actions
  3. Gateway
  4. Greatness
  5. Create
  6. Sacred
  7. Unique
  8. LifeForce
  9. Philosophy
  10. Compass
  11. Inspiration

Above all,
honor all the unique individuality of all people.
View every human life
as something sacred
to be crafted
with great care.
Know that life and business are one,
for the process of being sacred
brings rewards beyond financial measure
and gifts that make living in your body
a joyful experience each day.
Know the truest, most evocative expression of your greatness,
manifested as gestures through your
physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual self,
will result in you Creating a Sacred Livelihood.

May your journey be filled with
Great Joy and Pleasure. May
you step into your greatness
and become a Sacred Athlete,
dedicated to fully living in your
body and guided by the
sensation of love.

Purpose
You are creative and sacred, designed to manifest greatness in the world. Do what fulfills you in deep and meaningful ways.

Actions
“Doing” is of utmost importance, as doing is how you discover the right path… your purpose”

Gateway
If you continue to have peak experiences, no matter how many times you walk through the door, come again.

Greatness
The truest, most evocative expression of your greatness will result in you Creating a Sacred Livelihood

Create
Make every action in life personal, a creative and sacred act.

Sacred
Seek your destiny, walk your talk and discover what is meaningful and sacred to you

Unique
You and your Body are a gift. Recognize the sensation of deep longing within you, calling for you to do

LifeForce
Consciously take care of your own body and your own life & you will become a leader to others.

Philosophy
Commit to consciously transforming your body and your life with love.

Compass
Learn the Art of Self Love, Self Healing, Self Responsibility, taking a stand for your own Pleasure in Life

Inspiration
Make what you do motivating and inspiring for yourself. – and become an inspiration to others…

I LOVE our 4 person Far Infrared Sauna...

I LOVE how our 4 person Far Infrared Sauna at Soma Ranch makes me feel.

10 minutes in the sauna:

  • calms me,
  • provides mental clarity,
  • relaxes muscles,
  • helps me detox,
  • improves my skin,

I hear it even improves cardiovascular conditioning and contributes to weight loss!

Morning, after workouts and before bed each have their own benefits:

First thing: I love the meditation benefits of spending 10 minutes of quiet time in the sauna

After workout: I’m amazed at how wonderfully more flexible I feel by finishing my workout with 10 minutes in the sauna. Our sauna has a timer so I set it to come on and be ready for when I get home from Nia. Then relax and BREATHE in the sauna for 10 minutes before heading for the shower.

Before Bed: I love how relaxed, warm and cozy I feel enjoying a sauna before heading for bed.

Check out Dr. Mercola below.. he talks about Saunas, their benefits and shares why it is physiologically beneficial to sauna before sleep.

Feel free to contact us if you’d like more information or deciding which size!
i.e. we’ve done the leg work/extensive research: Yes -

  1. Sauna is an excellent investment in your health for you to enjoy,
  2. Poplar Wood and Infrared is the way to go
  3. High Tech Health is an excellent company to buy your sauna from.

we love them :-) and the sauna!

enjoy this video from Dr. Mercola and let me know what you think

Interested in purchasing a Sauna?
I recommend High Tech Health:

www.hightechhealth.com
email emilyl@hightechhealth.com for more information

High Tech Health provide 1,2,3 and 4 seater Saunas.

The Sauna is very economical, it costs less than 20c to run for an hour!
The Sauna comes in a kit (6 panels: walls, floor, ceiling and heating panels)
Joe and I had the sauna fully assembled within 20 minutes.
The pieces just click together (i.e.you can easily take it with you if you move!)

One of the features I personally like the most is there’s an iPod connection.
We get to enjoy music and I sometimes work on my Nia routines!
yes! I set up my lap top on a chair outside the glass door and a listen/view from the pleasure of my sauna!

If you’d like read more click HERE for a fabulous Newsletter that shares much more about the benefits of owning a sauna.

ACV Alternative to Wine

I LOVE to drink a big glass of red wine in the evening.
My body and my mind prefer me to be alcohol free.
We came up with a compromise that I enjoy drinking and my body mind AND emotions thrive on:

  • Mineral Water (I like sparkling: Pellegrino or a can of La Croix)
  • 1 - 4 caps apple cider vinegar
  • 5 - 20 drops of stevia
  • splash of pure cranberry juice concentrate (optional)
  1. Select a lovely glass
  2. Pour in each of the ingredients
  3. Run a warm bubble bath (optional!)
  4. and enjoy

Looks like a Merlot
Tastes curious
Alkalizes my body, keeps my mind sharp and balances my emotions.
(a great potion to help PMS)

Going to a party and want to be healthy happily alcohol free?
Here’s my trick…

  1. Take an empty bottle of wine (or IKEA have fabulous glass bottles with flip tops)
  2. Make a big batch of the above recipe and
  3. Enjoy (funny thing at the part is folks often get super curious at party and end up loving samples of your drink)

Special End of Year Gift

Welcome Home to Soma Ranch

Thank you Soma Ranch Friends for a fabulous 4th year. We invite you to book early for 2014, relax AND enjoy credits during your stay! In turn we’ll have fun planning accordingly for your visit at Soma Ranch.

Book Accommodation for a 2014 Soma Ranch event/training by Dec 30 & receive:

$100 gift credit with Week Booking (staring at $400)
$50 gift credit with Weekend Booking (starting at $200)
$50 gift credit with Blue Electric Storm Retreat Booking
$50 gift credit with Soma Summit Retreat Booking

Use credit for clothing, books, cards, skin care, snacks, kombucha, foot detox, reflexology and massage at Soma Ranch during your stay.

If you have already booked a stay at Soma Ranch for 2014 you automatically have already received the gift!

CocoBiotic

The key to enhanced and vibrant health is restoring and maintaining your inner ecosystem. And key to creating that healthy inner ecosystem is promoting your intestinal microflora, the organisms that help your body defend against disease-causing bacteria, viruses, yeast and other dangerous invaders.

By far, one of the most beneficial “edible tools” to promote this intestinal microflora are:

Cultured vegetables
Young coconut kefir (CocoBiotic)

Joe and I used to make young coconut kefir, buying the coconuts at Fiesta, drilling holes, using several electric tools to cut and open the coconuts to get the milk. Only to find discrepancy between the quality of each batch resulting in lots of wasted matter, time and money.

CocoBitoci is a premier beverage in the Body Ecology probiotic line, it combines the best of both worlds. A naturally-fermented drink made from wild-crafted, young green coconuts… plus a savvy blend of synergistic probiotics.

Best of all, you can enjoy this fresh and delicious beverage anytime, anywhere… and without any work! Coco-Biotic is also great for travel. Its ready to go when you are.

Light and refreshing, this sensational probiotic beverage has been getting rave advance reviews from attendees at trade shows.

Benefits include:

  • Improved Digestion
  • Reduced Sugar Cravings
  • Greatly Increased Energy
  • Improved Liver Cleansing

Vitality Greens

Vitality Green is a green powder I enjoy every Day.
Unlike most other green drinks I find it smooth and quite palatable to drink.
FYI when drinking a green drink add with water rather than juice.
Juice is acidic and counteracts the alkalizing benefits of the green drink.
Many green drinks have spiralina added, body ecology adds FERMENTED spiralina which is far more gentle on the gut.

When I travel I take an empty Kombucha bottle with 2 tablespoons of Vitality Green.
On the plane I ask the attendant to fill with water.
This helps me avoid the airline food AND enjoy my green drink.

Vitality Green is $44.95.
One container lasts 30 days (when you have 2 scoops a day).
Available at Soma Ranch and Niamoves.
Also can be bought on line at www.BodyEcology.com

What makes Vitality SuperGreen different from all the other green drinks on the market today? Why is ours so special? With a unique focus on nourishing the inner ecosystem, this very alkalizing formula, especially created by Donna Gates, will soothe and help rebuild the lining of your intestines.

Simple Remedy

Broccoli water has become my standard for many wellness situations:

  • when I need to reset after eating/drinking more food/sugar than usual
  • when I am running a fever
  • when I have an upset stomach
  • when I have tooth ache
  • when I have an infection
  • when I want to loose some weight

How to make Broccoli Water:

  1. Boil a big clump of broccoli water for 15+ minutes
  2. Add pinch of sea sale
  3. Optional: add coconut oil
  4. Optional: add a splash of apple cider vinegar
  5. Drain broccoli and enjoy the broth

I often make a big batch, keep it warm on the stove and draw a mug about once an hour.

Incredible Bath Helps Heal Emotional Body

Years ago, I was going through a particularly tough time, with high stress, deep grief and chronic back pain. My healer recommended I take a bath with a cup of apple cider vinegar and 8 - 15 drops of Wintergreen aromatherapy. She shared this was great for helping relieve tension and allows tension in the emotional body to be released. I dipped my toe in the water and immediately felt a response. This remedy has become a staple in my “medicine bag”.

  1. Run a hot bath
  2. Pour in a cup of apple cider vinegar
  3. Add 8 - 15 drops of Wintergreen Aromatherapy
  4. Soak in bath for as long as possible (you may experience a burn sensation in lower spine)
  5. When you get out, wrap in a towel, without drying off, and lay down (maybe take a nap)

Skin Brushing

Skin Brushing amazing, simple, quick, easy, affective and CHEAP way of detoxing which appears to be under utilized by most.

Our skin is the largest organ of the body.

Simply brushing before you get in the shower can have a phenomenal affect on your skin, wellness and energy levels.

For about $20 it’s a very reasonable investment in your health.

How to brush:

  • be gentle a little goes a long way
  • brush from your feet up towards heart
  • use round circular brushing, and gentle stroking action
  • take a shower afterwards and apply lotion/oil afterwards

Here’s a good video to give you more of an idea of what, how and why to brush.

http://greensmoothiegirl.com/articles/healthy-habits/skin-brushing/

Fabulous Fast Food: Home Made Soup

Home made soups are a fabulous fast food! Here’s how:

At Soma Ranch we use recipes from the Body Ecology Diet book.

  • Each recipe works well,
  • Super easy to make and
  • Take little time and make BIG nourishing taste

Now here’s the best news… as well as tasting great you save time…

  • Make a big batch then freeze in small containers:
  • use jam jars, reuse feta cheese containers and more.
  • keep a permanent marker and painters tape on hand to easily write contents/date before freezing.

Taking a soup out the night before to easily defrost and reheat.
Soups are excellent as sauces - e.g. mix with quinoa pasta for a yummy twist on mac and cheese.

When a friend isn’t feeling well home made soup is an amazing thoughtful gift.

  • Reach for a jar,
  • wrap it with a bow,
  • write a little message and
  • drop off by their door.

POOF! a thoughtful gift that may be remembered for a lifetime that took minutes to prepare.

My favorite is “Lima Bean Soup”. Joe serves it as “This is your new favorite soup” when guests ask what the soup of the day is, guests then share how great the mystery soup tastes then exclaim surprise when they learn it’s lima bean.

Summary - don’t be put off if you think you don’t like lima beans, this soup is tasty, nourishing and super yummy.

Another Favorite is Claire’s Creamy Cauliflower Soup Recipe:

Ingredients (Makes 6 to 8 servings)

1 large head cauliflower, washed and cut into chunks
2 medium to large carrots, grated
1 large onion, chopped
1 large clove pressed garlic
1 teaspoon (or to taste) curry powder
Celtic Sea Salt to taste
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
Approximately 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley

  1. Place cauliflower in large pan, cover with filtered, salted water, and cook until tender. Do not drain water.
  2. Place cauliflower and water in blender. Puree, adding the curry powder and more sea salt. (This will need to be done in two stages, as it is too much for one blender to accommodate).
  3. Set aside cauliflower puree.
  4. In a deep pan, saute onion in the coconut oil and ghee until it’s translucent. Add garlic, and saute gently for a few moments, being careful not to brown it. Take off the heat, and set aside
  5. Cook the grated carrots in just enough water to cover until tender, being careful not to let them get mushy. Do not drain.
  6. Add pureed cauliflower to onion and garlic mixture.
  7. Using a slotted spoon, lift carrots from water and add to the soup along with most of the parsley, stirring gently. Add some of the carrot water, if desired, to thin the soup, or leave it thick and creamy.
  8. Garnish each serving with a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

To read more about the diet, food combining and how to make beans work in your diet check out
Principles of Food Combining

Fermented (Cultured) Veggies

Cultured Veggies are a main contribution to the Body Ecology Diet. A way of eating that promotes balance between raw, cooked and fermented vegetables and optimizes the healthy flora of the gut to allow us to think, feel and look better!

I’ve been following the Body Ecology Diet for over 10 years. One of the principles is 80/20. I now say I am 80% on the diet and 20% not. This allows me to maintain a high level of energy while being able to eat with family and friends without feeling like I’m a freak!

My husband Joe has perfected the art of cultured veggies.

In summary:

  1. chop up a head of cabbage and any other veggies you’d like to add
  2. take a small amount of the cut veggies and blend with water and cultured starter in the blender
  3. mix this brine with the chopped veggies
  4. put mix into jam jars, fill to the top and seal firmly
  5. leave out on the counter for 1 - 2 weeks
  6. refrigerate and enjoy

Joe makes batches for friends and sells jars for $20.

The main mix we use and call “Joe’s finest” includes:

  • cabbage
  • ginger
  • lemon
  • carrot
  • kale

from this batch we add:

  1. Jalapeños for a spicy mix
  2. Apples and pears for a sweet mix
  3. Beets for a vibrant purple mix

Cultured Veggies can last a long time. (Joe made a batch when in the UK. Mum and Dad would bring me a jar each time I came over for a training, I enjoyed the veggies for 3+ years!)

Cultured Veggies are chocka full of vitamins and healthy bacteria.
(I can’t remember the last time I had a cold!)

A tablespoon (like a relish) with each meal can help keep you healthy
(Captain Cook was renowned for keeping scurvy at bay by feeding all the sailors cultured veggies on their voyages)

here’s more information from the Body Ecology Web site:

Cultured Veggie Recipe