Health

7 Health Benefits of Sleep

“Sleep is the best meditation” Dalai Lama

1- HEART HEALTH: 7-9 hours of sleep nightly is known to reduce risk of heart disease and stroke. Lack of sleep worsens blood pressure and cholesterol, so nourish your heart and take some good long naps these days. Read more

Getting Back On the Bike & 5 Ways to Overcome Fear Post Injury!

Recently, a close friend of mine took me to a spinning class. As I hopped on the bike and adjusted it, visions of a time twelve years before, came flooding through my muscle memory. I was sixteen and spinning had become an intense passion for me. I jumped on my bike and while riding my foot slipped out of the pedal and my spinning hobby took a pause. I had quite a gash in my leg and hundreds of stitches later I went home and began the healing process. Shortly after my spinning injury I decided to return and get back on the bike just to prove to myself that I wasn’t scared. Read more

By: Shelley Shafran

This week in Israel is one of rains of blessing. The temperature has dropped and the Mashiv HaRu’ach has the winds howling and the rain falling. And how to remember these droves of rain, sleet and hail are a blessing when you emerge from the wind-swept day, shivering to your core? Crockpot cider, of course!
Read more

Again we have the privilege of having Shelley’s Contribution on our blog!!!

This blog post was meant for last Teusday, my sincerest apologies for the delay:

In memory of my grandmother, Lil Shafran, Leah bat Yosef, z”l.

I am the bearer of an invaluable treasure trove of memories of the most elegant and regal women I ever had the merit of knowing. My maternal grandmother was everything to me. She carried herself with poise and grace, her stylish appearance an external mirror of her inner refinement. And while my grandmother always made certain we were well fed and satiated she did not fit the mold of the typical “Jewish Bubbie” piling plates high with artery clogging delicacies while gently urging her grandchildren to “eat more”. She was a woman of moderation. She paced herself. The gentle urgings were to take just what you need and when you’re full to stop.
Read more

This post is dedicated with gratitude to my best friend, Sharona Nissimi Makabi who has shown me and continues to show me the meaning of true friendship. May her father, David Ben Sarah have an enormous refuah shleima.

Harnessing the Power of Female Friendships

Health Benefits and the Power of Friendship among Women:

• CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS & CALMER LIVING
A study out of UCLA suggests that women respond very differently than men when under stress. The female body in its infinite wisdom increases it’s oxytocin response when under stress and this helps to buffer the fight or flight response naturally drawing her to tend to children and gather with other women. When a woman engages in this tending or befriending more oxytocin is released and this counters stress and produces an overall CALMING response. This is very different to men who produce testosterone under stress, which appears to decrease their levels of oxytocin and they often benefit a great deal from hibernating and working through stress on their own.

• POWER OF FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS & IMPACT ON HEALTH

The famed Nurses’ Health Study from Harvard Medical School found that women with more closer friendships were less likely to lead a more joyful life and less prone to developing diseases or physical impairments as they aged. The results were so striking that researchers concluded that not having close friends was as detrimental to one’s health as smoking or carrying extra weight.

• SISTERHOOD OF NOURISHMENT & SISTERHOOD OF LONGEVITY

The “tend and befriend” notion that was developed by Drs. Klein and Taylor from UCLA helps explain why women are repeatedly outliving men. Researchers have demonstrated time and again that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lower blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol. Essentially, our friends are contributing to our longevity…possibly adding years to our lives. In addition to this when researchers studied how well women functioned after the death of their spouse they found that even in the face of grief, women who had a close friend and confidante were more likely to survive the experience without any new physical impairments or permanent loss of vitality.

As women, we bond over many things, love, friendship, life, exercise, cooking and food of course! As we settle into the loveliness of December, putting on those long johns, lighting candles and maybe going to sleep earlier than we normally would…lets take a look at how we can warm up from the inside out with a delicious new soup!

Jill’s Heavenly Thai Soup

This recipe was created by my genius, amazing friend, Jill Zucker. It is a soup that will warm you from the inside out and make you smile from the first bite!

2 Cans Coconut Milk
4 Cups Chicken Broth
Fresh Shitake & Oyster Mushrooms
Baby Corn
Fresh Ginger, ½ inch thickness sliced
Lemongrass 2-3 inches or more
Dlat (Israeli Pumpkin), 1 cup cubed
Shredded cooked chicken breast (can be taken from soup when cooking chicken broth)
Curry Seasoning or Curry Paste
Fresh scallions & Cilantro to garnish

Simmer chicken broth with sliced mushrooms, ginger, and lemongrass for 20-30 minutes. Add coconut milk and the rest of ingredients. Before serving pull lemongrass and ginger out and garnish with cilantro and scallions.

HAPPY WARM WEDNESDAY!!!

“Out of Clutter Find Simplicity” – Albert Einstein

Today on Acupuncture By Sarah, I invite all of us to come and explore some ways to help us dig deep into our comfort zone.

4 Great Health Benefits of Staying ORGANIZED ☺
Read more