November 6, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 13 Health coach: Get grounded before the holidays As days grow shorter and the holiday season approaches, life can get even more hectic and scattered than normal. This is an important time of year to get grounded before the bustle starts. Health Coach Eva Conover, AADP, owner of Eva’s Fresh, LLC, recommends that individuals create a solid foundation that will allow them to feel safe, protected, and capable of handling whatever life brings. “One way to do that is to incorporate more grounding foods into your diet,” Conover said. “Luckily, that falls right into place with seasonal eating as many of the grounding foods are prevalent this time of year.” What is a grounding food? Root vegetables, such as carrots, beets, turnips, potatoes, radishes, onions, and garlic are grounding foods. They are rooted in the earth and are grounded themselves. “Root vegetables tend to be solid, strong, durable, and long lasting,” Conover explained. “When we think about any veg- etable, the roots are its anchor, its support, and its source of nourishment. Root vegeta- bles lend these properties to us when we eat them. They can help us to feel physically and mentally grounded and rooted, increas- ing our stability, stamina and endurance.” Conover points out that root vegetables are rich sources of nutritious complex car- bohydrates, and provide a steady source of necessary sugars to the body. Unlike refined sweetened foods that upset blood sugar levels, these complex carbs help to keep blood sugar at a more even level. “Roots also absorb, assimilate, and supply the plants with vital nutrients, and when eaten, can likewise increase absorp- tion and assimilation in our digestive tracts,” she continued. “Long roots, like burdock, carrots, parsnips, and daikon radish, are excellent blood purifiers and can help improve circulation in the body and increase mental clarity. Round roots, like turnips, radishes, beets, and rutabagas, are nourishing to the stomach, spleen, pan- creas, and reproductive organs and they can help regulate blood sugar and moods, and alleviate cravings.” Grounding vegetables include beets, carrots, celery root, daikon radish, horse- radish, ginger, leeks, onions, parsnips, potatoes, radishes, rutabaga, shallots, tur- nips, wasabi, yams, and yucca. “Other foods that may make us feel more grounded are proteins,” Conover added. “Amino acids are the building blocks of pro- teins, which in turn are the building blocks of our cells, muscles, bones, and support- ing structures. Of the 20-plus amino acids, eight are considered essential. Animal pro- teins are the best source of these, but they can also be found in vegetables sources such as legumes, nuts, and seeds at a lower quantity.” As winter approaches, Conover urges everyone to remember that several foods can boost the immune system, including garlic, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, leafy greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, citrus fruits, almonds, berries, and tea. “My suggestion: Make a soup, stew, or sauté of a nice mix of immune boosting and grounding foods, and see if you notice a difference. You may just find yourself a bit more relaxed, rooted, and nourished,” Conover concluded. For more information, visit www.evas- fresh.com or call (201) 912-5547.