Hawaii

Healing Properties of Pumpkins for You and Your Dog

Fall has arrived and with it comes one of my favorite holidays, Halloween. Time to harvest the pumpkins and carve them for decoration. Even better, cook with them because of their many healing properties.

The benefits of pumpkin to your health listed below make perfect reasons to carve a pumpkin using these free pumpkin stencils especially if you are a dog lover. You can use the insides of the carved pumpkin or cut a whole pumpkin into chunks to add to recipes for both you and the dog.

Make Spicy Pumpkin Soup for a healthy lunch or dinner or to take to a gathering. You’ll be asked for the recipe for certain.

Pumpkins grow here in Hawaii year round, I’m stoked about that. But know that the canned version provides health benefits and can be found all 12 months of the year as well. Just note that you should use can whole canned pumpkin not pumpkin pie filling as it has sugar and other additives your dog doesn’t need.

Pumpkin for Dogs

Bake these Pumpkin Dog Biscuits for a tail wagging treat that’s actually good for your dog’s health. They make great holiday gifts and are perfect dog training treats high on the healthy scale.

Pumpkin has been used for both weight loss and to help with an upset stomach or diarrhea in dogs. To assist in weight loss cut the appropriate amount of dry dog food by 1/3 and add pumpkin to it.

*make sure it is not pumpkin pie mix as it contains sugar and other ingredients not good for your dog.

The recommended kibble serving size on the bag may be too much for your dog. Check Pet Obesity Prevention for help with recommended serving sizes.

For dog upset stomach or diarrhea substitute pumpkin and feed 1/2 to 1/3 the amount of food you would normally provide and add 2 or 3 tablespoons of pumpkin depending on the size of your dog. Start with 1 tablespoon for small dogs. Canned pumpkin is the easiest to feed when treating for these issues.

Use pumpkin seeds to assist in eliminating parasites. Use a food processor to grind them into small pieces or even a paste and add to meals regularly.

Treatments and Health Benefits of Pumpkin for People

Having a yellowish-orange color, pumpkin is rich in anti-oxidants and beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a vitamin that can be converted by the body into vitamin A. This helps the body in its process of regeneration, slowing down the aging process. Pumpkin pulp contains vitamins, especially pro-vitamin A, vitamins E and C, salts and minerals, carbon hydrates, and proteids. The seeds contain oil, proteids, resines and enzymes with antihelmintic properties. The pumpkin’s core contains lecithin, tyrosine, peporesine, phosphorus and vitamins B and A.

Pumpkin seeds contain the strongest therapeutic effects. These help in eliminating intestinal parasites, cleaning blood vessels, adjusting cholesterol level and stimulating kidney activity.
In treating cancer, leukemia, sclerosis, or various diseases which are hard to cure, pumpkin seeds have an energizing role.
Pumpkin oil extracted from the seeds is recommended for reducing excess cholesterol. Pumpkin offers protection against heart diseases by containing antioxidants.
The vegetable has a laxative action, being useful in case of dyspepsia and constipation. Fried pumpkin is healthy for those who suffer from heart diseases.
Pumpkin juice is indicated for ulcer and high acidity. It has to be drunk three times a day, half an hour before meals. It is also useful in cases of insomnia, having sedative properties.
Pumpkin is also indicated in cases of hormonal disorders or adolescent behavior, menopause disorder, intestinal parasites or sexual hyper-excitability.
In external use, pumpkin is recommended for treating burns, inflammations and abscesses. It softens the skin and diminishes the inflammatory processes of mucous.
A number of hydrating and anti-wrinkle creams contain pumpkin.

*credit Live and Feel for the reprinted medicinal information.

Though many of these symptoms and treatments are human related I believe the benefits to the health of dogs include many of the above properties as well.

Aloha Wags!

Thanks for reading. My hope is to give you inspirational ideas to live a life well played with your dog.

Jt Clough has worked with dogs in many capacities for the past 16 years, she is an author and an athlete.

Jt has helped dogs and their people from training to healthy living and her latest inspiration is with Wonder Dog Fund, created to help pay veterinary bills for dogs that are in need of health care. When her own dog was riddled with a neck injury that came with a $12,000 fee, she realized how many people are faced with difficult decisions when a sudden injury or illness strikes their dog. A portion of every purchase from WonderDogGear.org goes to Wonder Dog Fund, providing financial relief for dog veterinary fees.

Pumpkin Dog Treat Biscuit Recipe

Pumpkins have amazing healthy qualities to them and are so much more than a holiday decoration carved for what many of us enjoy immensely, Halloween.

Pumpkin can help with your dog’s digestive system from constipation to diarrhea to urinary health and weight loss.

Carve a pumpkin as a greeting from your dog at the door using these free breed pumpkin carving stencils. And use what would have been waste to bake some healthy treats for your dog too.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Dog Treat Biscuits

Put the insides of the pumpkin you carved into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. You can use any part other than the skin as the pumpkin ingredient for these dog treats. If you are using the flesh of the vegetable cut into small chunks before putting in the blender or food processor.

If you don’t have a real pumpkin to use, canned is great, just make sure it is not the pie form which contains sugar and other ingredients not good for your dog.

1 cup pumpkin
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon milk
2/3 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup corn meal
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup water

Mix ingredients. The dough should be thick so add water last and cut back on the amount if your dough is not quite thick enough to roll. Add flour and/or oats to thicken if dough is not stiff enough to roll.

Roll the dough to about 1/4″ thick.

Cut in squares or use a cookie cutter if you want to be super creative.

Place squares on on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 250 degrees for one hour on the middle rack. They can brown easily so check them often to make sure they are not getting to dark and adjust the temperature.

After 1 hour turn the oven off and let the biscuits stand overnight.

Store at room temperature for a couple of weeks or put in the refrigerator for up to a month.

They make awesome gifts for dog lovers over the holidays and perfect dog training treats with low calories yet high on the healthy scale.

Get more pumpkin dog food + treats recipes here.

Aloha Wags!

Thanks for reading. My hope is to give you inspiration and thought provoking ideas to take your very next step in creating your best life for you and your dog! Please Join my Inbox ReVIBE | Dogs + Joy + Vibrance for more on dogs, natural remedies, recipes and things to do. Follow me on Twitter and join my dog discussions on G+

Jt Clough lives in Maui, Hawaii and practices health, happiness, natural remedies and training for dogs and their people. Her uncanny way of communication with both dogs and people is healing and her training is effective physically and emotionally. Her work at ReVIBE | Dogs + Joy + Vibrance is for people looking to live healthier and happier lives through their dogs and her passion for it has helped so many to find and do that thing they’ve been talking about or wishing to happen for so long. She is a dog whisperer for our best friends and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication. Her latest publications are Treading for Dogs DVD, Pumpkin Dog Food + Treats Recipes and 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs.

A Dog’s Approach To Ironman

The 2011 Ironman is now a wrap here in Kona. It was yet another year of triumphs in so many ways. There were roughly 1800 people who came across that finish line this year. Everyone from the pros to those with a triathlon lifestyle to those who are everyday moms and dads to people like Scott Rigsby, double amputee who got to hear those words, “You are an Ironman” lived their own triumphant day.

The Inspiring Accomplishment in Hawaii

Finishing an Ironman in Hawaii no matter who you are or what time you did it in is an accomplishment. For all those that finished or even attempted to finish the Ironman here in Kona this year…

Congratulations.
Great job.
You did well.
You learned something about yourself.
You will have gone on a journey that will live within you forever.
The memories will be of the journey’s accomplishment; not your Timex, or what spot you finished in.

Ironman Inspiration to A Better Place within Yourself

For many watching an Ironman is pure inspiration. It could be running a 5K to doing a shorter distance triathlon, a Half Ironman or even set your sights on completing an Ironman. It could be as simple as exercising every day, walking, yoga, a daily jaunt with the dog. The inspiration is yours to create.

The important thing in our lives is to have a something that inspires ourselves and in turn inspires others. That doesn’t mean think about it, wish you could do it, or hope to do it in the future. The time is now.

If you are thinking of committing to one of these things I encourage you to start today.

As inspiration coach of both people and dogs here are a few tips on getting started. Those with dogs will see this viewpoint clearly. And those of you without dogs, start wagging your tail and playing every day as if you had dog recess playtime as one of your required job descriptions!

Training for a 5K, Triathlon or Ironman Like A Dog

First, dogs love to go. Anywhere. Any time. Pick up the leash or a set of keys and the excitement to go comes out in a four legged dance with mad tail wagging on top of all of that.

Do your workout the same. Get a plan. Tons of places to find them, (training plans) but more importantly, decide what you are going to do for a workout in the morning. When you get up, act like the dog, like you can hardly wait to get out the door. It’s soooo exciting.

Get the leash, the keys (shoes, swim suit, bike, or even the dog) and get out the door. As a habit. Wag about it.

It won’t be long and you WILL begin to feel that way. Really.

Forget about a watch and how fast you are going at whatever specific exercise you are doing. At least at first. Just go. And pretend to be the dog while you go. Wag at each and every little thing. Be grateful for the day and the fact that you get to go out and move.

If people like Scott Rigsby can do it. So can you.

Thanks for reading. My hope is to give you inspiration and thought provoking ideas to take your very next step in creating your own paradise from where you are now! Please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on Twitter. Retweets are cool too.

As a 9 time Ironamn finisher, author and creator of 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs and K9 Cross Fitness Classes in Kailua Kona Hawaii I encourage you to make that change you want so badly today!

Aloha Wags!

Too Old For the Gaga Look?

I don’t watch tv much. In fact I didn’t have one for 8 months. It was really awesome. However, my husband loves tv and since I do my thing and spend time writing and reading, the type of activity he doesn’t really participate with me in, he got a tv for himself.

I’m really glad we have a home that has an ohana as it’s called here in Hawaii (a place for friends and family to stay seperate from our general living area). That’s where the tv is conveniently located, in my opinion anyway. I don’t have to hear it or watch unless I choose to do so. Which is very rarely. Tonight was one of those nights. I watched The X Factor (like American Idol) with my husband. The artist aspect was intriguing.

The Gaga Factor

A 21 year old petite girl got on stage, wearing a colorful strappy dress slit up the side. Black bikini peaking out. High boots. Hair bleached. Bright eye make up. Red lips. Artful tattoo crawling down her arm.

When asked what she did with her life besides sing, she said she was an auto mechanic and planned on building race cars.

She preceded to let her voice rip and she rhythmically moved about the stage. She acted like a pro. She was confident. She had her look. She was doing her thing. She engaged the live audience. She engaged me. She was showing who she is. She had her own style.

It was different than Lady Gaga but the idea was there. She had her own thing going about the way she looked, and what she’s choosing to do with her life.

It made me think about my “looks” throughout various life stages. I’ve always had my own sort of “look”. But the thing that struck me tonight was that as age happens is it just expected that we calm down the look? Become more like the norm, whatever that is?

Am I too old for the Gaga look?

Lucky for me at 47 I’ve decided I’m not. But for a few years I was living like I was.

I realize I had become much more conservative. I started fitting in. Looking like everyone else.

For me the move to Hawaii changed my wardrobe drastically. First of all, I got rid of most of it. The things I do wear now, I wear because I want to and it works with the weather. Most days I wear short shorts, short skirts, big hoop earrings. I started wearing eye liner again because I like it. I wear a bikini most days. I have some really cool necklaces that were all tangled up before I moved. I straighten them out, kept the cool ones and now I wear them again. I like whimsical.

This is Your Life. Wear What You Want.

I don’t have that many things any more but they are different and I realized watching the show that ThIs Is My Life, wear what I want.

What’s your Gaga look?

Are you hiding behind what you think everyone else thinks you are supposed to wear?

Are you sporting a certain look because everyone around you decided it was this year’s fashion statement?

Do you think it’s ok to wear short skirts at almost 50?

Can you be a minimalist and have your Gaga look? I say yes, how about you?

This is Your Life

What are you doing with it?

As I got up this morning and started what I plan to make my new habit (actually am signing up for the course in October included in the The Power of Baby Steps article), and thought I’d go ahead and start with what I’m passionate about first thing this morning.

Writing. Then some time in the Ocean. After all, I live in Hawaii and GET TO swim with dolphin regularly.

What am I realizing I don’t need to be doing anymore? Where have I been wasting A LOT of time? (You can find out where you waste your time by participating in the make time mini mission)

Facebook. As I read the 114th post about hating the new format, suddenly I woke up. Who cares really? Is this what my life is about?

This is my life. Is Facebook what I’m going to look back on and reflect about how much fun it was, even possibly wish I had spent more time doing, or would I be better off spending my time doing more of this….

This is your life.

Do what you love.

Do it often.

If you don’t like something; change it.

If you don’t like your job; quit.

If you don’t have enough time stop watching tv.

If you are looking for the love of your life; stop.

They will be waiting for you when you start doing the things you love.

Stop over analyzing. Life is simple.

All emotions are beautiful.

When you eat appreciate every last bite.

Open your mind heart and arms to new things and people.

We are united in our differences.

Ask the next person you see what their passion is.

Share your inspiring dream with them.

Travel often.

Getting lost will help you find yourself.

Some opportunities only come once.

Seize them.

Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them.

So go out out and start creating.

Life is short.

Live your dream.

And share your passion.

This is your life. What are you doing with it?

Aloha and Mahalo Wags Defined

Now that I live in Hawaii and am finding myself fully immersed in the lifestyle and the Aloha of Hawaii, the deeper meaning of many simple things in life are revealing themselves.

I’ve adopted the terms Aloha and Mahalo as a greeting and thank you on most of my articles and blog posts. It feels really good to say it when I sign on or off of something I write. It definitely feels like I’ve made sure to put the intent to live a pure simple life filled mostly with happiness out there.

Aloha and Mahalo Wags

Dogs have been my great teachers of behavior. To live in the moment is a wonderful experience. It does not matter what happened earlier in the day, or what may happen tomorrow. Instead, dogs greet you every single time with a wagging tail and pure gratitude to see you.

Aloha and Mahalo wags are my way of including the joy of my dogs in my thoughts to you so we can all start practicing a journey in creating our own paradise wherever we are.

How To Give Aloha and Mahalo

Aloha and Mahalo are among the most sacred and powerful of all the Hawaiian words. Speaking them is said to have the power to transform and heal your life, as well as protect your life’s journey.

Aloha recognizes a warm and receptive space for greeting and supporting the well-being of another and is like offering a breath of fresh air.

Aloha is used as a farewell or a salutation. It is also commonly used to mean love. It can also be used to express compassion, regret or sympathy.

Mahalo is a Divine breath of gratitude and thanks giving for all that is.

Read more on Aloha and Mahalo at Go Aloha

The Mahalo Wag Project

I found this Thank You Project 2011 by Jacob at Sensophy

I’m going to commit to do this one starting today (always the best time to start) and in the meantime create my own Mahalo Wag Project. If you have ideas on what you would do to create your own feeling of Mahalo Wags every day, send them to me. This is going to be a fun project with Wag all You Want cards given as gifts to all those around you when it’s done! You can tweet it with #MahaloWags too!

*Note it’s now 2012, or maybe you might find this post in 2103… or beyond. You can still do the Mahalo Wag Project. Its good no matter what year it is.

Aloha Wags!

Thanks for reading. My hope is to give you inspiration and thought provoking ideas to take your very next step in creating your happy healthy life of paradise from where you are now… your dog too! Please subscribe to Maui Dog Remedies and follow me on twitter, Facebook and Google+

If you are on Maui Hawaii and want to me to be your you and your dog’s trainer or want help with home made cooking for dogs and natural remedies for dogs find me at Maui Dog Remedies Dogs or K9 Coach.

Eat Local Food Challenge

It’s probably been your goal at some time this past year, last month or even last week:

I’m going to eat healthier, I’m going to eat more vegetables, drink less coffee, quit picking up food filled with sugar (even though it’s packaged to look healthy) at the Starbucks counter, drink less alcohol, and maybe even exercise more.

So you head off to the grocery store, straight to the fruit and vegetables section, throw a few things that you know you should be eating in the cart, then head to the rest of the store to get your real food. Something that you can eat real quick like and fill you up while not being too bad for you.

It’s Processed

The truth of the matter is much of the “health food” we buy in even some of the natural food stores is really not doing anything about our weight, the way we feel or the underlying issue, our long term health. Most of the things we buy are processed.

It’s easy and it’s a habit. And we can kid ourselves that it’s really super healthy. Granted it’s much healthier than driving through the Big M and getting a quarter pounder and fries, but that is where the danger lies in our education. We think we are making healthy choices and we are not.

Consciousness | Keep it Local (in this case)

We eat the way we do out of habit. To form a new one, like eating healthier for instance, takes a commitment to change. To do something different. To learn something new and stop kidding ourselves. To quit saying we’ll start tomorrow when it’s today that counts.

Set a Radical Goal Today

Setting a goal or giving yourself a purpose and starting today to do something new is the best way without risking your friends or family rolling their eyes when you mention you want to lose weight, get in shape, or find the love of your life. So many times if we could hear ourselves we’d roll our eyes too since we keep talking about it. Months and years roll by and we are still talking about it.

Signing up for a 5K is pretty easy because there are tons available. But how about food events? These are few and far between unless you are talking one that is usually serving a lot of food that in fact does satisfy our processed food addictions but does nothing for our education or bodies in actually making healthy eating choices.

21 Day Eat Local Food Challenge

I first saw the “Eat Local Food” challenge earlier this month through Andrea Dean’s Blog and was enticed to create my own sense of purpose in the project. Check it out to see her great videos and information on how to eat local and what it does for the community.

Though I truthfully believe it takes 6 weeks to really establish a habit so that it begins to be automatic, many studies claim that it takes 21 days. 21 days is much easier to think about doing and no one can get to 6 weeks if you don’t make it through 21 days.

Our household here on the Big Island Hawaii has committed to eating only local for 21 days. We are in day 3 and already feeling better about what we are eating, how we are spending our money and realizing just how much we kid ourselves about the foods we have been choosing and how good they are for us.

Please join us in our 21 days of eating local by creating your own food purpose:

Buy locally grown food from Farmers Markets and local whole or natural food stores. (do a google search for local markets in your area)
Try to do it for 21 days.
It means you’ll probably have to pack food with you instead of stopping at Starbucks, eating at most restaurants, going through any drive threw food take out joints, or spending any money on happy hours.

If you make a mistake or just plain buy something that doesn’t qualify consciously don’t stop your 21 day challenge. Get right back on horse and keep heading towards the 21 days.

We live in Hawaii and access to fruit and vegetables grown locally, fresh local fish and local grass fed beef are all options. We’ve decided not to eat meat or beef after watching Forks over Knives so our challenge is going to be more like most anyone in the country.

Imagine what it would be like to eat real whole food and what that might feel like. Imagine the feeling of actually doing it and not saying it by jabbering about going on a diet to any one who you start feeling self conscious around. Imagine not being really pissed that summer is over, you are bigger than last year and the holidays are already on their way.

What you do today counts.

Thanks for reading. If this made you think about the food you eat and why please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on twitter, Facebook and Google+

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