3 Ways to Practice the Slow Food Movement

By Dr. Weil:
The Slow Food Movement - which started in Italy in the 1980s - encourages people to slow the pace of life in order to truly savor not only foods and beverages, but the pleasure of eating and the companionship of friends and family sitting around the table. Traditional foods that are fresh, made from local ingredients and served during leisurely meals are the focus of this movement. From a health perspective, this philosophy is a much-needed departure from "fast food," which is designed to be eaten on the run. If you want to get involved in the Slow Food Movement, try the following:

1. Shop for fresh, organically grown local produce and baked goods at farmers' markets.
2. Patronize restaurants that specialize in local or regional foods.
3. Keep family traditions alive. Think about the foods your grandparents prepared for holidays or family gatherings, and try to replicate what you can.

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Is Honey Healthy? by dr weil

If you are trying to reduce your intake of refined sugar, honey is one alternative - but not necessarily a healthier one. However, honey does have some health benefits over sugar, as it:
• Is sweeter than refined sugar, so you can use less.
• Has a higher proportion of fructose, which doesn't stress the pancreas as much as sucrose.
• Has a slightly lower glycemic load than table sugar.
• Contains trace enzymes; minerals, including calcium, magnesium and potassium; amino acids; and vitamins, including a wide range of B vitamins such as riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, thiamin and pyridoxine.
Raw honey may even help promote wound healing - research indicates it can be an excellent first aid measure for burns, even very severe ones. (Don't treat a serious wound with the honey you get at the supermarket or health food store - you need a medicinal honey and someone with expertise to treat you.)
But honey also has its drawbacks. Its sticky consistency contributes to cavity formation, and can be worse for the teeth than refined sugar. Honey also should never be given to infants under one year of age, as it may contain bacterial spores that can cause infant botulism, a rare but serious disease that affects the nervous system.

While honey may not be much healthier than sugar, if you like it I recommend buying raw honey, which is tastier and has a better texture than heated and processed commercial honey.

Tip from Dr. Weil - Going Green

Pull the plug.

Even if they are not in use, common household appliances and electronics such as microwaves, computers, DVD players and televisions use power when simply plugged in. This not only increases your electric bill but increases overall energy consumption - a television that is plugged in but not turned on can consume as much as 20 watts per hour. Help curb your energy consumption: unplug items you rarely use, once portable devices are charged up unplug the charger from the outlet, and use electronics only as needed.

A simple step to a healthier planet!

Sage advice from Dr. Weil:

For most of the United States, and especially in the desert states, there is only so much water to go around. You can help lower your water bills and conserve water for future use with this one, simple step: Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth. This can save hundreds of gallons per month, with no sacrifice required. A simple step to a healthier planet!