Desert Health News - November-December 2024

. Toasting the season with a warm, aromatic mug of wassail is a tradition as old as time. The boozy beverage dates back to the Middle Ages and comes from the Old English saying wes hál meaning “be in good health.” However, most wassail recipes are far from healthy, with brandy or sherry and brown sugar mulled together with beneficial cloves, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, apple juice or cider, oranges and more. A healthier option to mix with all those seasonal spices and fruit is red wine, transforming this holiday drink into a Blue Zone approved offering. One of the longevity lifestyle habits identified in the Blue Zones Power 9 just happens to be “Wine at 5.” It is interesting to note that a simmering vat of wassail historically included a piece of toast floating amongst the liquor, herbs, apples and citrus, which is said to be where the tradition of “toasting” good cheer originated. Find a healthier wassail recipe and many others at www.bluezones.com/recipes. What are the holidays without a sweet scrumptious pie? For a healthier option to traditional favorites, try this grain-free, no-sugar-added, very berry pie from Barbara Rogers’s It’s a No Grainer (have you bought the cookbook yet?). We recommend topping with SO Delicious dairy-free, no-sugar-added vanilla bean ice cream. Double YUM! Crust Ingredients: • 1 cup almond butter • 1 egg • 6-8 dates, pitted • Pinch of sea salt • Cooking spray or coconut oil Filling Ingredients: • 1 cup each fresh or frozen blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries • 1 tablespoon arrowroot flour • 2 packets of Stevia • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Directions: • Preheat oven at 350 degrees • Grease a pie pan with coconut oil or cooking spray • Place crust ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend (this may take awhile since its so thick; just be patient. It is worth the wait!) • After blending, pour into pie pan and flatten and push all sides up to ¼-1/2 inch • For the filling, spoon all ingredients in a bowl. Make sure the berries are cut to about the same size and mix well. • Fill the pie pan with the very berry mix and spread out evenly • Place in oven for approximately 45 minutes • Halfway through baking, cover with aluminum foil so the crust doesn’t overbrown • Take the pie out and let it cool, then place in the refrigerator for two hours before slicing www.DesertHealthNews.com November/December 2024 Fresh Cuisine The Valley ' s Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 22 ww w.sprouts. com Palm Springs Grand Opening Weekend! Friday, Nov. 8 – Sunday, Nov. 10 5200 E. Ramon Road at Gene Autry Trail proudly congratulates Sprouts on their third Valley location Enjoy music, free samples, exclusive offers andmore! Doors open 7ameach day. On Friday and Saturday, the first 100 in-store shoppers receive a FREE reusable bag filled with samples (while supplies last; in-store only). Pop-up party each day! (see sprouts.com for full schedule) SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET www.freshjuicebar.com Over a million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year1 and many more are unaware of their hemoglobin A1c numbers. “We are very excited to share the evidence-based proof of how people can get off their meds by adjusting their lifestyle and learning how to live a longer and healthier life,” says Stone. “We will be conducting several more informative talks on this subject to bring awareness to ways individuals can take their health into their own hands for themselves and for our community.” In January, The Vitality Zone ™ will offer and conduct a program with 30 qualified candidates to assist them in modifying their lifestyle and nutrition in a medically supervised program. Led by Scherger and Stone, this six-month program will consist of the scientifically-proven elements needed to reverse prediabetes as well as type 2 diabetes and to eliminate or reduce medication. Stone will participate as a health coach to assist with lifestyle and nutrition support, common questions, directionand inspiration. Thegoal of theprogramis todemonstrate theeffectiveness of lifestyle medicine in reversing chronic disease. Those interested in participating may request information outlining the program in its entirety at the November 14 presentation. “Our mission is to empower and educate people to improve their health and well- being through knowledge,” adds Stone. “We want people to become their own health advocate, working with their primary care physician to make their own choices for their own body.” To sign up for classes or for more information, visit www.VitalityZones.com or email michele@vitalityzones.com. Reference: 1) https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/statistics Vitality Zone Unites Community in the Name of Health Continued from page 8 Supporters Yvonne Kohsel and Dr. Joseph Scherger with Founder Michele Stone Healthier Holiday Pie A Twist on “Toasting” the Holiday