Macrobiotic Women's Health and the Thyroid

The macrobiotic way of healing thyroid problems and strengthening the thyroid was the subject at Studio Mugen’s Macrobiotic Healing for Women class on Sunday at Seed Kitchen in Venice, CA.

During the class Sanae Suzuki said the thyroid’s shape looks like a butterfly.  Just as butterflies move easily the thyroid needs to be relaxed and to move easily.  However, the modern diet of meat and other foods can cause the thyroid to malfunction.  Doctors can give a pill but it doesn’t address the source of the problem.

Sanae demonstrated how to make a medicinal remedy drink out of carrot, burdock, daikon and lotus root.  The drink should be taken every day for two weeks and then every other day for two weeks.  The remedy drink will help the thyroid detox and to work properly.

About 59 million people have thyroid problems in the United States.  A malfunctioning thyroid can cause such problems as depression, low body temperatures, low blood pressure, memory loss, swelling, tingly hands/feet, constantly tired, high cholesterol, menstrual problems, and muscle and joint pain.

In addition to the medicinal remedy drink, other actions a person can take to restore the thyroid is to stop eating baked goods with flour, eat more vegetables, eat pickled foods, sea vegetables and to not use canola cooking oil, no peanuts are oil food, nothing from the cauliflower family, no tropical fruits, no coffee, no millet or nightshade vegetables.

Sanae also talked about the new moon on December 2 and writing goals for one’s life.  The new moon creates energy to help people attain goals.

The next Macrobiotic Healing for Women class will be on December 15 at Seed Kitchen.  

Healthy Vegan Macrobiotic Cooking and Events

Women's Macrobiotic Healing Class in May

Fall has entered boldly and so it is important to make sure we are adapting ourselves to the unique energies of the season. Maintaining our health means it's important to be aware of how seasonal changes can affect us.

Here's an update on classes and other activities for Studio Mugen.



Making Handmade Traditional Condiments
Saturday, Oct. 19, 11:00 a.m.
Studio Mugen
2610 23rd St., Santa Monica, CA 90405
Description:
This is a special workshop to learn how to make traditional style handmade pickles, gomashio (sesame salt), shio kombu and tekka miso.  You also will learn the health value of these condiments.
Fee: $60 (Pay pal $63) ingredients are included.

Macrobiotic Healing for Women (Japanese language class)
Sunday, Oct. 20, 10:00 a.m.
Seed Kitchen
1604 Pacific Ave., Venice, CA 90291
This is a special workshop regarding healing and  women's health according to Five Elements theory in Japanese.
Fee: $38.00

Meditation
Saturday, Oct. 26, 3 p.m.
Studio Mugen
2610 23rd St., Santa Monica, CA 90405
No Fee
Every Saturday afternoon I offer one hour to sit and meditate with anybody who is willing to practice. I practice Vipassana meditation.
We welcome anybody including people who have never practiced meditation or people who have practiced any style of meditation.
I will be preparing an organic Kukicha (twig tea) or Barley tea or Sanae's original organic non-caffeine tea.
 Suggested Donation of $5 cash for using the Studio Mugen space.
 Studio Mugen is an Eco-friendly environment with a wood floor and you must take off shoes inside.  Please bring room shoes or thick socks.
Please RSVP in case we have to cancel due to not enough people signing up. I look forward to sitting with you and practice being at peace within ourselves.

 Macrobiotic Healing for Women
Sunday, Oct. 27, 10:00 a.m.
Seed Kitchen
1604 Pacific Ave., Venice, CA 90291
Seed Kitchen 1640 Pacific Ave. Venice, CA 90291 (310)396-1604
Fee: $35 cash (or $38 for Paypal) with Lunch (soup, desserts and drinks are not included).
Subject: Thyroid gland
In this class you will learn how to make Remedy drink for a healthy thyroid, learn how to cook Vegan Macrobiotic plant-base food, and we'll discuss new moon or full moon wishes for each month's energy and to get your wishes to come true. Must have 5 registered guests to offer class.

By the way, many men attend the class not only to support their partner, but they get to learn about vegan macrobiotic health too!

Healthy Taste of L.A.
Sunday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
South Bay Seventh Day Adventist Church
401 S. Prospect Ave, Redondo Beach, 90277
Fee: see event website: http://www.healthytasteofla.com/
A day-long event with various health-oriented presenters discussing a variety of subjects.  Chef Eric Lechasseur will give a talk/cooking presentation.  Other speakers include: Dr. Neal Bernard, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine; Dr. Alan Goldhamer, TrueNorth Health Center,  and John Pierre, celebrity fitness guru and author of Pillars of Health; and Chef AJ, author of Unprocessed. The web site will give a full listing of participants and activities.

You can also get additional information and sign up through the meetup site http://www.meetup.com/Vegan-Macrobiotic-Community-Meetup-Group/

In addition, with the change of seasons if you want macrobiotic health counseling or personal cooking instruction, please let me know.

September Macrobiotic Support Meeting & Barefoot Beach Walk

 The Macrobiotic Support Group met Wednesday evening, September 18.

However, for the first time, before the meeting started several people went for a barefoot walk on the beach just as the sun was setting.  The air was temperate, the water warm, the surfers searched for waves and the birds ran to an fro as the surf ebbed and flowed. 

Then, we settled in at Seed Kitchen, enjoyed macrobiotic and vegan food.


The discussion centered on fear and different people shared examples of how an incident or incidents in life created an ongoing fear or hesitancy in dealing with life and life issues.

Discussion explored how a variety of incidents in life affected the soul and then sort of remained as an experience that colored subsequent decisions and behaviors.

Various people shared on how their growth through study and exploration of spiritual and life understanding brought about tools that helped to restore healthier life responses.

Overall, it was determined that macrobiotics is not only about eating healthy and being physically fit, but also having a healthy soul and spirit which can express its joy and vitality every day.



Macrobiotic support group attendees.



You can't miss this update!

Hi everyone,

First of all, the whole world needs to know that "Seed", the new restaurant opened by Eric and Sanae in Venice, California, has a gathering every Tuesday night at 7:00. The community fee is $5, and it is open to the public. However, the maximum amount of people at the gathering is 10, so come early. This is the place to be if you want first-hand feedback from Sanae (macrobiotic counselor), and to discuss different topics relating to vegetarianism, veganism, and macrobiotics. Please visit Seed's official website at www.seedkitchen.com for more information, as well as the address and phone number.

If you check out page 17 of the December 2008/January 2009 Volume 7/No. 10 issue of LA Yoga magazine, you'll discover a short article/blurb written on Seed! The article is called "seed Sprouts in Venice". Read the article and you'll find a new opportunity to "sprout a healthy life" by eating at Seed. This restaurant is perfect for any "newbies" that are interested in tasting macrobiotic/vegan/vegetarian food. While the atmosphere may be considered "casual", the menu is casual and complex, featuring simple and complex dishes, so your palette will not get bored! Also, as the article explains, Seed is environmentally conscious, and in today's world, caring about the environment is more crucial than ever before. Make your contribution to a healthier body and cleaner environment by dining at Seed.

This Sunday, November 30, is Community Cleanup in Venice with Sanae. We will be picking up trash to restore the beautiful appearance of Venice Beach. Bring your own rake, shovel, pan, and trash bags. We will meet at Seed at 10:00 am. Please visit the website for details: www.seedkitchen.com

I just took the dogs for a two hour walk. It was too long and I got lost coming back! The dogs did of course love the walk more than anything, and they weren't even tired when we got back! I stopped to get them some water at a local British pub on Lincoln Boulevard, and they were fully reenergized after that!

Till next time,
Joel