EAT WELL & STAY WELL

Welcome to our second newsletter!

We hope this newsletter finds you safe and well after the harsh weather conditions of the past several weeks. As per the Indian lunar calendar, today, January 27th, is a holiday to worship the sun, called Ratha Saptami, when the sun turns his chariot towards the northern hemisphere and marks the arrival of early spring. Associated with the sun and new beginnings, this is a special time to do surya namaskars (sun salutations) and seek the sun's positive energy to rejuvenate the mind and body.

As we celebrate the suns transition on Ratha Saptami, it is also an opportunity to highlight the importance of millets as a sustainable and nutritious crop. This year, 2023, has been declared the International Year of Millets by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in recognition of the grain's ability to thrive in arid regions with minimal inputs and its resilience in adapting to changes in climate.

We invite you to learn more about millets and their potential to contribute to a sustainable and nutritious food system by watching the video (link below) produced by the FAO on Millets.

Millet is an important and versatile grain, rich in vitamins and minerals, such as iron, potassium, and magnesium, and are also gluten-free, making them a great option for people with gluten sensitivities. Additionally, millets are high in fiber, which can help support healthy digestion.

Here is our recipe to enjoy this nutritious ancient grain.

• 2 cups of millet, quinoa, or teff
• 3/4 cup of diced carrots
• 3/4 cup of finely chopped broccoli
• 1 diced green apple
• 1 lemon juice
• 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 1.5 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey
• 1 tablespoon of finely chopped cilantro
• 1.5 tsp of Himalayan pink salt
• 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper
• 1 tsp of Shakti’s Curry Seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
• In a large pot, boil 3 1/2 cups of water.
• Wash millet or quinoa with water and add it to the boiling water.
• Cook millet for about 22 minutes, covered, on a low heat, until the water is absorbed and the grain is soft and easily pressed between two fingers.
• In the meantime, dice carrots, chop broccoli, green apple, and cilantro.
• Make a lemon dressing by combining lemon juice and olive oil in a small jar or bowl. Add olive oil, maple syrup, salt, pepper, curry seasoning, and turmeric. The dressing is ready after a thorough mixing.
• Assembly: in a mixing bowl, add carrots and broccoli; add cooked millet; add green apple and cilantro; drizzle lemon dressing; Mix well and enjoy.

Our popular Teff brownies use Teff or finger millet flour. We are adding another ancient grain bar-Chai spiced Amaranth peanut bar. We hope you will enjoy them.

As a follow up to last month’s inspiration to “stay well” with USHA PAAN and your overwhelming feedback, we would like to offer you,

Three important habits to adopt for drinking water: Since water accounts for approximately 65-70% of the body's weight, proper and effective water absorption is essential for good health.

1. Sit down and drink water sip by sip, adding more saliva to it. Follow nature's clue-how animals and pets drink water by lapping it up with their tongues, adding more saliva to it. (It is said that drinking water while standing or running can cause knee pain in the future.)

2. During the meal, drink only a small quantity of water. Small amounts of water can be consumed between two types of food (a salad, a soup, or a sandwich etc). More water can be drank 40 minutes before or after your meal.

3. Drink warm or room-temperature water. Cold water dilutes the digestive fire (Agni), affects the absorption of nutrients, and reduces the body's ability to burn off disease-causing toxins.

As the spring season brings new growth and renewal, it's a perfect time to think about planting new seeds, both literally and metaphorically. We at Shakti Natural Nutrition are excited to hear about the seeds you are planting and to connect with you to share ideas and inspiration.

As we continue to explore the themes of health and wellness, we wanted to share some information on Ayurvedic energies. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of wellness that focuses on promoting balance and harmony in the body, mind, and spirit. It recognizes three fundamental energies, or doshas, that govern our health and wellbeing:

• Kapha: the energy of creation, associated with earth and water, is responsible for growth and structure in the body.
• Pitta: the energy of sustenance, associated with fire and water, is responsible for metabolism and digestion.
• Vata: the energy of destruction, associated with air and space, is responsible for movement and communication in the body.

By understanding and balancing these energies, we can improve our physical, mental and emotional well-being. Here's the link to watch Shakti Natural Nutrition’s co-founder, Rishi’s short video on the three Ayurvedic Energies.

We appreciate your support and look forward to hearing from you.

As always, EAT WELL - STAY WELL.

Thank you and with warm regards,

- Shakti Natural Nutrition

Email: manasi@simpleshakti.com
Website: https://www.simpleshakti.com
Location: 2771 Saturn Street, Brea, CA 92821