Pura Vida

Our family has been through quite a bit over the last two years. In fact, tomorrow will be exactly two years since Hurricane Harvey changed our lives. And the last two years have been quite a roller coaster, both personally and professionally.

Lots of simple, quiet downtime is definitely our prescription.

I’m writing this from Costa Rica. Sitting here in this beautiful, lush, green, tropical space my husband and I are nurturing ourselves and de-stressing. Some hiking to beautiful lookouts where we can rest and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Lots of journaling and meditation time. Sitting and watching sunsets. It’s all very good for the body and brain.

One of the things that I notice is how calm and unstressed everyone seems here. Seriously, it’s unbelievable how relaxed and friendly and calm it feels here. The Costa Rican’s, they call themselves Ticos, have this concept called pura vida. It means pure life, or simple life. They use it for everything. Hello, good bye, as a conversational interjection to say everything is okay. They even use it instead of saying cheese when taking a photo. It’s a philosophy of being happy for what you have and not stressing. The Tico version of Hygge - I imagine. I also see connections to the Dutch idea of Niksen. It’s certainly a less-stress mentality.

As I slowly sink into this environment and it’s pura vida vibe I realize that we could all use more of this. We get too riled up about things in our everyday lives. Yes, life isn’t perfect. Yes, things are sometimes stressful and overwhelming. But that’s not all there is. The calmer, more peaceful moments are there, too - ticked away into the corners of our everyday lives. I encourage you to find your own pura vida. To include meditation and mindfulness as one of the
#IngredientsForAHealthyLife. Let’s all seek ways to stress less and slow down.

Be mindful, eat well, be well,

Now here's what you really need to know...

Food News You Can Use

The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed guidelines about children’s nutrition. Part of their recommendations include changing how foods are marketed to children. A new study from the University of Calgary shows that food manufacturers aren’t really paying attention. Unfortunately they continue to attempt to brand children from a young age and market foods that are distinctly unhealthy, yet highly profitable. Teaching children how to break down and understand marketing is an important step towards helping them develop better awareness of these tactics so they can make healthier choices.

Be prepared, the price of imported olive oil may be going up. The US Trade Representative’s Office is seeking a 100% tariff against certain EU products including olive oil. The proposed tariffs are proposed as part of a retaliation against WTO finding out about airplane manufacture subsidies. If the WTO decides to fine against the airplane manufacturers, the USTR plans to trigger the tariffs. Current domestic production of olive oil would not be able to meet demand.

As an aside, if you are looking to stock up on olive oil, remember that many olive oils are adulterated. When selecting an olive oil, look for it to clearly identify where the olives are from and where the oil is processed. If possible, choose glass or metal containers. Look for dark green color, not pale green or yellow. And for best quality, always choose cold-pressed, extra virgin.

I have a jar habit. I wash and reuse jars whenever possible. It’s good for the environment and good for us to not have all those plastic containers. Lots of consumers feel the same way, and manufacturers are paying attention. More products are being made in glass or metal containers. While the containers are heavier, adding to both production and shipping costs, consumer response has generally been positive with high levels of recycling, but also a lot of repurposing. For example, has anyone seen those cute little pits of yogurt in clear glass jars? I occasionally have a treat and buy one. The jars have yet to make it into my recycle bin because they have been turned into tea light candle holders, a paper clip holder in my desk, a seed starter jar, and they make excellent serving cups for homemade pudding. Look at your containers and think about how you can reuse them.

On Mira's Mind...

Where I am, what I’m doing, or what’s on my mind:

• Pampers has developed a wifi enabled diaper. This is a dangerous exposure of EMFs to sensitive tissue. Learn more and sign the petition to get them to withdraw this product from market.
• Farmers often get the short end of the stick while corporations seem to reap most of the benefits of federal subsidies. Sign the petition and Stand With Farm Families.
• As summer winds down, it’s a perfect time to make refrigerator pickles. Here’s a recipe I shared with Wellness Today magazine.
• The very first Lean Clean Box has shipped. If you’re curious about what’s in the box, you can read about it here.
• The Ingredient Guru Book Club for healthy readers is about to start our new book. This one is a must-read, especially for anyone who ever ate Doritos.
• Stay connected all year as we learn more about health, wellness, nutrition, and lifestyle.