Valentine's Day Gifts For Couples Who've Been Together So Long That They've Run Out Of Gifts To Get Each Other

The origin of Valentine’s Day is shrouded in mystery but one thing all historians agree on, whichever saint Valentine’s Day was named after, it was named after a good hearted soul who supported freedom of choice!

When you have been married as long as I have, Valentine’s Day can become just another day. Marriage is hard and while mine is full of joy and security, it’s just as much a daily struggle to compromise and to stay present. So I practice the following daily meditation. I tell myself, “Every day you wake up, you have a choice. You get to choose the person you get to be with. I choose Dan.”

We wake up and take life for granted, but if we wake up and make a conscious choice to choose the person we are already with, it puts us in the driver’s seat for a deliberate kind of love. 

Heart Healthy Smoothie Naked Version:

• ½ frozen banana

• 1 cup dark greens 

• 1 cup of dark berries

• Orgain or pea protein

• Water to blend

Heart Healthy Smoothie Nutra Version:

• ½ frozen banana

• 1 tbsp chia 

• 2 tbsp rolled oats

• 1 tbsp cacao powder

• 1 scoop of amazing grass chocolate flavor 

• Chocolate Orgain 

• 2 tbsp of almond butter

• Water to blend

These are not sexy recipes, but they are full of antioxidants, balanced carbohydrates, have 3 servings of fruits and vegetables, and are heart-healthy.

I don’t love nutraceuticals, but when looking for a gift for my husband, who is a bit of a fitness fanatic, has a sweet tooth, and relies on easy, swift, and out-the-door, I think these are the best of the best and make healthy and nutritious gifts for the holiday.

You can find them all on BewellwithAIM.com

JOINT FORMULA:

Amazing Grass Amazing Protein Glow, Chocolate Rose Flavor

Your plant-based solution to collagen. This nutritional powder is crafted with organic plant-based proteins, antioxidant-rich superfoods and alkalizing greens grown on a family farm in Kansas. With 15g protein, plant-derived B Complex and C vitamins plus 100% DV biotin, it’s a deliciously convenient way to support healthy, nourished skin and joint health so you can look and feel amazing every day.

ANTIOXIDANT, VEGGIE, and FRUIT CONCENTRATES:

Amazing Grass Green Super Food Chocolate Powder

This delicious, thoughtfully crafted blend combines alkalizing farm fresh greens and wholesome fruits and veggies with nutrient-rich superfoods plus cacao for a delicious way to support heart health and fight cancer, daily.

Natierra Cacao Powder

Ancient noble Aztecs considered cocoa beans so divine, it could re connect mankind to one consciousness. This brand’s cacao powder is derived from the criollo bean, the rarest and most treasured variety of cacao native to Peru. It is an excellent source of fiber and a decent source of protein. A Superfood with a Soul.

DESSERT:

Himalania Dark Chocolate Covered Goji Berries

By combining the antioxidant powers of both dark chocolate and Goji berries, Himalania makes it possible to indulge your sweet tooth while getting health benefits. Discovered in the Himalayas 5,000 years ago, the Goji berry is considered to be one of the world's most nutritious fruit. For centuries, the Goji berry has been honored among Asian cultures for its strength-building properties associated with longevity.

To love, to choice, to union, and to healthy hearts, joints, hair, skin and nails!

Dr. March

Cancer-Fighting Sweet Potato Soup

Hi All! It is officially fall-time in the midwest which means it’s SOUP SEASON! This past weekend I cooked up a healthful Sweet Potato Soup inspired by one of our favorite books at AIM, The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen by Rebecca Katz.

This cancer-fighting soup consists of a healthful homemade broth blended with baked sweet potatoes to create a creamy, nutrient-dense, and spice-filled soup.

Grocery list: 6 carrots, 2 yellow onions, 1 leek, 1 bunch celery, 4 red potatoes, parsley, black peppercorns, bay leaves, 3 large sweet potatoes, coconut oil, sea salt, spices: ground cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, & nutmeg
*Try to buy all organic vegetables

Step One: The Broth

Start by washing your vegetables in a veggie wash or with vinegar and rinse. Then prepare them: 6 carrots cut into fourths, 2 unpeeled yellow onions cut into chunks, 1 leek cut into thirds, 1 bunch celery cut into thirds, 4 unpeeled red potatoes cut into chunks, 1 bunch parsley, 12 black peppercorns, 2 bay leaves, 8 quarts filtered water, 1 t salt.

Combine in a large pot, cover, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove the lid and simmer for approximately 3 hours. This is a good time to start working on step two, the soup.

After about 3 hours of simmering, the vegetables should be flavorless mush and you will have a flavorful broth. Strain out the vegetables and let cool.

Step Two: The Soup

Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Peel and dice 3 large sweet potatoes and toss with 2 T coconut oil. Stir together ¼ t sea salt, ½ t ground cinnamon, ½ t ground allspice, ¼ t ground cardamom, ⅛ t nutmeg and mix with sweet potatoes. Bake 40 minutes.

Pour ⅓ C of your homemade broth into a blender, add ⅓ of the roasted potatoes and blend until smooth. Transfer to a soup pot over low heat and repeat the process two more times. Stir in any remaining broth and add salt to taste.

Pour into your favorite soup bowl, curl up with a soft blanket, and enjoy!

Store leftovers in the refrigerator 5-7 days or freeze up to 2 months.

Holiday Blog

Ahhh the holidays…

We are inundated at this time with visions of pumpkin pies and apple cider, hayrides and family dinners, forgiveness and community…but for many of us, who may not have much in the way of family and friends, or who have lost loved ones, loneliness is the only visitor over the season.

And with Co-VID impacting travel plans and gatherings, loneliness may visit many more of us this year. Like an unwanted guest, she comes to stay, unpacking years of hurt, re wounding, re living pain.

I feel like though many of us experience this, it’s almost a taboo thing to admit, as though in naming this pain, we have failed to create and preserve family and friends. I think unconsciously we believe that that failure speaks to something essentially wrong with us as individuals. As if Loneliness isn’t bad enough, we let her invite over her friend, Shame.

I want to offer a way to reframe for myself and for you and give you some tips for coping with holiday hopes:

— Plan. Plan. Plan.

Don’t wait for things to be on top of you and think when Thanksgiving day comes around, you will just deal with it. Come up with a plan. Even if that plan is that to spend the day alone in your pajamas with takeout, a pint of ice cream, and all your favorite movies lined up, plan that.

This helps avoid disappointment.

—Round robin

If you don’t have anywhere go for Thanksgiving, for example, talk to people you know care about you and ask them, “Would you mind if I stop by to say hi, I wanted to bring a pie.” Don’t commit to one dinner, and plan on cooking what you bring. It can be as easy as boxed brownies. Plan on wearing a mask, socially distancing, wearing warm enough clothes that you can chat outside. Pack a thermos for yourself of cider or hot chocolate and plan on carrying plates from each home, back to your house.

—Minimize

We can’t do everything we plan on anyways this season, and this means keeping it simple. Maybe this year you spend Thanksgiving writing letters to all the people most important to you in your life; maybe you listen to a podcast and do a puzzle; maybe you volunteer for the day.

But remember not to over commit or overdo it when you are struggling with grief or loneliness. Put no pressure at all on yourself. Plan, but don’t worry if you decide to do nothing at all.

—New Rituals

When we have a major loss or are struggling with a new family structure, it’s important to create new rituals. Maybe you decide weekends in November are for doing your holiday cards. Maybe you volunteer every Friday through November with a group you care about doing some sort of CoVID safe activity. Maybe you do a vision board for the following year. Maybe you restructure your bedroom, rearrange, paint walls with no VOC paint, pick up a hobby for the year: learning a new language, painting, doing puzzles. Maybe you start running or walking.

What’s important is you find a way to mark the season that is not connected to the person you lost or the way your family looked prior.

—Support Groups

Support Groups are a great way to connect to others who may be where you are or may have been where you are and are further on the path. We hold a Bereavement group for people who have lost a spouse to cancer and Gilda’s Club, One-to-One, and MIOCA all run programs as well.

Bereavement Support
Gilda's Club
MIOCA
Imerman Angels

—Exercise

Data shows us that movement is critical in managing depression and mood changes and may be as effective as medication in many cases. Consider finding a new trail to safely hike on weekly, aim for 30 minutes of intense exercise, daily.

—Sleep

Aim for 8-9 hours of sleep a night. Sleep helps us cope with what’s coming up, helps us to have the energy and mental strength to face tomorrow. Sleep today to lay the foundation for tomorrow. If you are struggling with sleep. Order CBD sleep gummies, Sleep REM or Theanine from BeWellwithAIM.com. Talk to Drs. Roy and March about how to work on sleep.

—Nourishing

Eat what you feel like eating, and pay attention to how you feel inside. Do you feel full? Do you feel grateful? Do you like the taste, texture, flavor, of what you are eating? This is even more challenging when we are struggling with disordered eating or getting treatment. Talk to Dr. March about your plan for eating over the holidays, this is not a good time to start a “diet”, to “restrict” or “fast”. If these are necessary with your treatment, talk with her about ways to do it without feeling deprived. A good nourishing smoothie daily is an excellent way to stay nourished.

Try the following Pumpkin Smoothie. Blend to your taste:

-Spinach
-Coconut or Almond Milk
-Frozen Banana or whole unsalted cashews
-Frozen Mango
-Pumpkin Puree and seeds
-1/4 teaspoon five spice powder

—Spiritual Work

This time of year is an excellent time to enhance your morning and nighttime routine with things that bring you closer to your Creator and living your authentic life. This is entirely personal and can borrow from all faiths if that is what works for you. When I was little I asked my guru why God has so many faces and she said, “God shows up in billions of ways to touch every individual’s heart, individually.” It’s important to anchor yourself at the end of year with knowledge that you are connected to something greater than yourself. And when things are challenging, to know that a Great Spirit, however you know it, walks with you.

Golden Milk Recipe

Happy Saturday everyone!

I recently made Golden Milk for the first time. Golden Milk is a traditional Indian drink that has some health benefits and has been gaining popularity in Western culture.

The magic ingredient in Golden Milk is turmeric, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Turmeric is a root that is sourced out of southeast Asia and has been used historically for anti-aging and cancer care. Turmeric pairs well with ginger, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiemetic properties, meaning these two spices are known to naturally reduce inflammation in the gut, protect cells from damage, and calm upset stomachs.

Here is our recipe:

Boil a cup of non-dairy milk* (I used almond milk, but you can also use coconut, oat, hemp, or cashew) mixed with ½-1 tsp organic turmeric powder, ½ tsp ginger, a pinch of cinnamon, and a pinch of black pepper. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for a couple of minutes. Pour into a mug, add manuka or raw honey and cardamom to taste.

*Note: You can use dairy milk if you prefer, make sure it is organic and hormone-free. It is best to use manuka or raw honey from a glass jar for maximum health benefits.

Enjoy!

Be Well,

Sydney — Admin Lead, Associates of Integrative Medicine