Posts Tagged ‘healthy’

How many days of work have you called in sick? How many days have you just not felt that great? Do you know a coworker who is always sick? Stress taxes the body. Bad food, late nights, no sleep, overexertion, & different time zones regularly or even every day would wear out anyone.

A lot of people have weakened immune systems due to stress, poor diets, travel, overuse of antibiotics, lack of sleep, and overwork. This makes them prone to colds and the flu. Having a lower immunity can also make you prone to being really sick for longer periods, especially when compared to someone who is relatively healthy. That’s why travelers tend to get really sick. It’s rare that they just get a case of the sniffles.

Improving someone’s immune system so they don’t get sick is ideal. Taking care of yourself on a daily basis, along with acupuncture, taking Chinese herbs, massage, Reiki, supplements, and aromatherapy, along with dietary changes, have a great impact on one’s health.

Some of the signs that you’re overstressed

*Poor sleep, Anxiety, Brain fog,  Acne
* PMS, Low libido, Weight gain
* High blood pressure/cholesterol, Excessive evening hunger
* Hair loss, Exhaustion, Impaired immunity
* Slow healing, Salt/sugar cravings, Caffeine addiction

Once a person is sick, the sooner treatment is administered, the quicker the recovery. Similar treatment protocols are administered with someone who is sick or just starting to come down with something. The use of Chinese medicine gets rid of an infection without the side effects of antibiotics. Treating an infection naturally doesn’t suppress the contagion, so that it doesn’t just come right back.

Tips

These simple, easy to follow tips can help you and your loved ones stay healthy & recover quickly from colds and the flu.

1) Take at least 500 mg of vitamin C a day. Great sources include dark leafy greens, broccoli, bell pepper, lemon, and persimmon. C also aids in iron absorption.

2) Supplement with acidopopholus/probiotics to encourage healthy bacteria to grow in your digestive tract. Thus, boosting your immune system and improving your mood.
3) Eat garlic. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and tastes great.

4) Drink two tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar daily to help with allergies, nausea, asthma, fat, migraines, cholesterol, blood pressure, fungus, flu, and acne.

5) Eat turmeric in soups, curries, and smoothies. It’s a natural antibiotic, reduces cough, detoxifies, reduces inflammation, improves skin, and aids in digestion.
6) Take a vitamin B complex for reducing stress and improving energy.
7) Ginger is a natural antiviral, reduces inflammation and pain, kills parasites, eliminates mucus, and aids. Digestion.

8) Eat your antioxidants to prevent illness of any kind.

Prunes      Kale       Raisins     Spinach
Berries     Brussels sprouts    Broccoli
Beets        Plums    Onion       Corn

9) Eat plant based Omega 3s for brain function and regulating hormones. Sources include walnuts, hemp, flax, kale, seaweed, chia seeds, and acai berries.

10) Essential oils for stress- Lavender, Neroli, Chamomile, Cypress, Frankincense, Basil, Jasmine, Valerian, Chamomile, Lemon, Rose

11) Drink water. Drink half your weight in ounces daily. More, if you are flying.

12.) Avoid dairy and sugar. They cause inflammation, fatigue, and weakened immunity.

13) Avoid caffeine because it exaggerates body’s response to stress.

14) Put Epsom salts in your bath for detoxification and muscle tension.

Following these easy to follow tips will lead to a much happier and healthier you. Stay calm, vibrant, and full of energy with out breaking the bank.

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

What’s the first suggestion I give to all my patients? Drink lemon water first thing in the morning. Even better? Sip on lemon water through out the day. For those of you who don’t like to drink water, lemon is the perfect addition to a ‘plain’ glass of water. No need for soda, sugared drinks or overly sweet juices.

The Benefits of Lemon

*Aids in absorption of water and hydrates the lymphatic system.

* Mini detox to support the liver’s ability to flush out toxins.

* Alkalizes the body leading to less inflammation and disease

* Stimulates metabolism, especially helpful for those prone to constipation.

* High in vitamin C. There are approximately 28 mg in one lemon, which is close to half of what you need in a day to maintain a strong immune system and youthful skin.

What could be simpler? Squeezing half or a whole lemon in a glass of water or over your fresh salad has so many fitness promoting properties. A lemon a day truly keeps the doctor away.

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

We all have aspirations and goals. Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution list, a spiritual or religious holiday, a milestone birthday, or just plain ready for a change, those hopes are valid and genuine. But manifesting them is a whole other story.

Why? We usually set ourselves up for disappointment by making these dreams unrealistic, get too busy with life to follow through, we don’t believe we can achieve them, or we don’t or can’t make the commitment it can some times take to quit smoking, lose weight, or go back to school in our 40s. This year can be different.

4 Tips a Better You

1- List five goals you hope to achieve. These goals can be health, relationship, finances or anything areas in your life you want to improve. Make sure you are realistic. Lose 50 pounds by February or have a best selling book in two months when you haven’t started writing, might be stretching it a bit.

2- Make a game plan for each goal. This plan should be daily, weekly, and monthly action steps. Stick to them. Cross them off your check list as you achieve them. Crossing items off is incredibly therapeutic!

3- List five to ten potential obstacles to manifesting all that you want. Be totally honest with yourself on this one. Are you ready to overcome these obstacles? Do you need a degree, more time, or a loan? Do you need to build your confidence before you take that first acting class?

4- Recruit a support team. Ask friends and family, make like-minded new friends, or join a support group to help you on the road to success. Everyone who can your cheerleader will aid in you in sustain you and keep you on track.

Let’s make 2014 your healthiest and happiest yet. Email me your success stories. And good luck!

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

Are you one of those people who seems to always be coming down with something? How many special occasions have you missed, because you or a family member is sick? How many days have you called in sick this year? The stress of our every day lives taxes the body. Bad food, late nights, little to no sleep, caffeine and sugar addiction, and high stress levels every day would wear out anyone. Chinese medicine and proper nutrition can help you stay healthy and recover quickly from colds and the flu. Traditionally in China patients only paid their doctor when they were healthy. This motivated doctors to prevent illness instead of frantically trying to put out fires. Can you imagine, if we still did this today?

A lot of people have weakened immune systems due to the fast paced lifestyle most of us lead. This makes them prone to colds and the flu and even more serious illnesses. Having a lower immunity can also make you prone to being really sick for longer periods, especially when compared to someone who is relatively healthy. It’s rare to just get a case of the sniffles.Improving one’s immune system, so you don’t get sick is ideal. This process can start immediately and have a long-term impact on one’s health.

Once a person is sick, the sooner treatment is administered, the quicker the recovery. The use of Chinese medicine and herbal supplements gets rid of an infection without the side effects of antibiotics. Naturally treating an infection doesn’t suppress the contagion, but helps the body heal itself. So the bug doesn’t come right back.

9 easy preventative measures

* Eat lots of garlic

* Take vitamin C daily

* Avoid dairy and sugar

* Minimize inflammatory foods

* Support your adrenal glands

* Minimize stress

* Take a non-dairy probiotic

* Indulge in Epsom salt baths

*  Mushroom or algae source of  D3 daily

These tips result in:

* No more feeling miserable

* Have more energy

* Save money

* No more calling in sick (unless you want to)

* Avoid side effects of antibiotics and other medications

* Enjoy your life

* Make your boss happy

I can’t stress enough how prevention is key. Start today. Pick a quality probiotic and vitamin C. Make dinner using fresh garlic. Throw out all sweets. Staying healthy is really that simple.

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

Have you been experiencing hot flashes or irregular periods? Worried about osteoporosis? Emotions running rampant? You might be at the beginning of menopause or peri-menopuase. Yes, there are many drugs out there that reduce menopause symptoms with some dangerous side effects. Why not eat the right foods to feel cooler and a little less crazy instead? Proper nutrition can reduce symptoms and keep you calm with out any of the worries of medication. In Chinese nutrition, each plant, nut, seed, or fruit has an energetic value to it. They can give you energy or help you to de-stress.

Here are some tips.

What to eat, when you’re feeling.….

Overwhelmed or afraid

Miso soup, adzuki beans, black beans, buckwheat, soba noodles, roots and greens, squash

Impatient

Barley, wheat, rye, lentils, white beans, spring greens, daikon radish

Worried or self-conscious

Millet, adzuki or garbanzo beans, sweet squash, root veggies

Depressed or sad

Brown rice, tempeh, lentils, roots and greens, miso soup, onion, scallions, ginger

Cooling foods to help with hot flashes and night sweats

Apples, bananas, pear, persimmon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, citrus, lettuce, radish, cucumber, celery, asparagus, Swiss chard, eggplant, spinach, summer squash, bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, zucchini, soy, mung beans/sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, millet, barley, amaranth, seaweed, spirulina, wheat grass, peppermint, lemon, cilantro, marjoram, molasses, oats, wild rice, black beans, parsnips, black sesame seeds, potatoes, kidney beans, blueberries, blackberries, and watermelon.

Sources of fluorine for building bones

Cabbage, avocados, black-eyed peas, seaweed, rice, rye, parsley, lemon grass, licorice, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, carrots, caraway seed, cauliflower, cucumber, dates, endive, turnip and beet greens, dandelion, sunflower seeds, garlic, spinach, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, and almonds.

 
Feeling better about ‘the change’ now that you’ve read this? I hope so! You can take charge of your health and do it naturally. The transition into menopause can go smoothly.

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

You might have heard that your liver is in charge of filtering out toxins. But did you know your liver is also in charge of filtering out anger and resentment? It’s true. In Chinese medicine, each organ has an emotion or emotions that affect it. If you don’t release or process what you’re feeling, it starts to cause internal imbalances. The liver is weakened or compromised by anger, resentment, frustration, and/or stress. Experience any of those lately? In the last week? In the last hour?

If you are stressed out or frustrated about your job, you might be experiencing some physical symptoms related to your mental health.

Symptoms that can manifest from suppressing your anger.

* High blood pressure, PMS, headaches

* Vertigo, hair loss, & blurry vision

* Muscle spasms & ringing in the ears

* Crave sour tasting foods, dizziness, & red eyes

Avoiding anger and stress is pretty much impossible unless you live in a cave. But you can do something about it. How you deal with it is key. One of those ways is through the foods you eat. Chinese nutrition gives very detailed guidelines on what to eat when needing emotional support.

Foods to Eat

* Beets, apple cider vinegar, & dill

* Broccoli, pine nuts, & mustard greens

* Romaine lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, & cauliflower

* Basil, mint, cabbage, peaches, strawberries, & quinoa

So instead of going through PMS hell, try the above foods instead. Find ways to simplify your life. Maybe take up yoga or meditation. A kickboxing class might be just the trick. Most importantly, acknowledge and accept your what you’re feeling. Don’t suppress or ignore it, even if it’s uncomfortable. You’ll not only feel your mood lift, but any physical ailments will start to disappear.

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

The information out there can be so confusing. Have any of these thoughts run through your head?

My doctor says I HAVE to eat meat.
Is it safe for my baby?
All I can think is I need to: get rid of the baby weight pronto, have energy, keep my baby healthy.

Breastfeeding is definitely the best choice for guaranteeing better health for your child. Keep in mind that everything you eat, your baby is eating, too.

What to avoid and why

* Caffeine including chocolate (Sorry!): irritability, poor sleep, and colic.

* Sugar: poor sleep, irritability, decreased immune function, thrush, diaper rash, and eczema.

* Alcohol and recreational drugs: lethargy, poor physical and/or mental development, decreased immunity, thrush, and diaper rash.

* Medications: Talk with your doctor to see if there are safer options while lactating. There may be a safer medical or herbal version. Side effects may vary, depending on the medication.

* Spicy food, cabbage, dairy, raw onion, and broccoli: colic.

* High allergen foods (gluten, nuts, dairy, soy) as your baby may develop an allergy from early exposure.

What to Eat

• Eat whole unprocessed foods including fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds, and whole grains daily.

• Because of brain development, eating a balance of essential fatty acids is key. Limit meat and dairy products and include hemp seeds, kale, flax seeds, avocado, and seaweed into your diet.

• Keep taking your whole foods source pre-natal for added nutrients. If you haven’t already, add a probiotic for your immune system and digestion.

Now that you’ve made the best possible choice for you child, your breast milk will help your baby to thrive. Every child is different. How your diet affects her may change or be different from child to child. Watch how she responds from meal to meal and you’ll know what’s best.

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

I’m writing this article based on a FRED talk I’m giving tonight. I realized 6 minutes isn’t enough to share all of these great tips, so here they are on my site. Have you made any resolutions? Is the thought of committing to them stressing you out? Then this list is perfect for you. Now and throughout the year.

First, I’d like to point out that stress makes you sick. It keeps you awake at night. Makes you crave the bad stuff even more. It even makes you gain weight. I’m not saying don’t put pressure on yourself to do better and more. But setting yourself up for failure and then beating yourself up isn’t going to make you healthier. And definitely not happier.

* Make realistic goals for the year. Make goals that you know you can keep. You know what you’re capable of. If going cold turkey on alcohol, sugar, or coffee or maybe all of the above terrifies you, then don’t do it. Pick one thing you want to give up. Commit to it daily. Set the intention to keep this commitment every morning. For all of you twelve steppers reading this- one day at a time does help. Thinking- “I can never have another pint of ice cream ever again in my entire life” will make the most sane of us go crazy.

* Want it. You’ve got to really, really want it. What ever your goal or commitment is- every cell in your body should crave it. Whether it’s adding a daily yoga practice or giving up meat. People come to me all the time to get over an addiction. Unfortunately, most of them aren’t really ready. They usually do it out of pressure from loved ones. If that’s the case, you might not even last a day. A great example- someone came in to quit smoking a few weeks ago. They called me the day after their first treatment to tell me acupuncture wouldn’t work for them. They had a cigarette on the way home from my office. They hadn’t even gone 2 hours. They still had cigarettes in the car. So of course acupuncture didn’t help. It reduces cravings, detoxes your body quickly, and helps you deal with any emotional stuff that comes up. But you have to be ready to let go. So, if you really want to give something up, don’t have any of it in your home. Throw it away. Give it to a neighbor. Make that commitment.

* Stop buying stuff. Yes, I said it. Stop shopping. Buy only what you need. If you see something you like, wait a week. Stop buying stuff. Yes, I said it. I know that’s considered blasphemy in our culture. But it can be done. Stop shopping. Obviously, uy what you truly need. If you see something you like, wait a week. If you can’t stop thinking about it, then indulge. Give away whatever is in your home that doesn’t inspire you. Go through your closets and cabinets. If you don’t love it or haven’t worn it, it’s time to say goodbye. Many charities will even come pick up for you.

* Eat more plant based, locally grown whole foods. I don’t consider this a diet. It’s a lifestyle. Going to your local farmers market or even having organic produce delivered to your doorstep by a CSA- Community Supported Agriculture. You can find recipes for anything online. Start today. Why not? Your body, the planet, and our fellow earthlings will all thank you.

*Give yourself a treat. I’m not talking about cupcakes or a third cocktail. I’m talking a massage or a day off in the middle of the week. Visit your best friend. Go to your favorite restaurant or yoga class regularly. You deserve it.

* Volunteer. A lot of my readers already do this. There’s nothing more fulfilling than helping others. Whatever your cause. Getting out of your head and giving back will definitely bring more joy in to your life. It helps gain perspective on our own lives. An added benefit is that we end up learning so much. So whatever your passionate about- protecting children, the environment, animals, find a group. Maybe use your expertise to help your favorite cause.

*Consume less caffeine and sugar. They might make you feel great in the moment. But believe me there are consequences. No way around it. The crash can make you cranky, tired, and want more of it. So why not just stay away? I have to say that all that I’ve written, the one on coffee upset the most people. It wasn’t the ones on giving up plastic, meat, or sugar. It was coffee. Luckily, I’ve never had it. But I can relate when it comes to sugar. Especially after all the desserts I had in the last week.

*Nature. Most of us are so busy; we don’t take the time to get outside. Which is really sad for any of my followers living in southern California. We can comfortably be outside 300 days out of the year. Go on a hike. Get to the beach. Or just go to your local park in put your bare feet in the grass.

* Forgive yourself and others. Do a meditation apologizing to yourself and the person. I like this guided meditation to help. Visualize the person you feel has hurt you. Forgive them. Then apologize to them for any harm you may have caused them. Then forgive yourself. Pick one person or event a night. See how the weight has been lifted.

What I want you to end with this thought- what are you wiling to change in 2013?

Live natural. Live Well.

Heather

Want to stay healthy this holiday season? No colds or flus. No gaining ten pounds that never seem to come off. Sound impossible? Not at all. Let’s do it differently this year. If you’ve been following my posts for a while, you know I’m all about prevention. Once you’ve gained the weight or gotten sick, it’s much harder to recover than not going through it at all.

Here are a few helpful tips to be in top shape the whole year.

1) Take at least 500 mg of vitamin C a day.

2) Eat garlic- It’s a natural antibiotic and tastes delicious.

3) Sweat- It’s a great way to get toxins out.

4) Dab your wrists or neck with lavender oil, because it has antibiotic properties.

5) Eat before going to parties. Fill up on healthier options before being tempted to eat only sugar, white bread, and animal products.

6) Contribute some healthy options of your own to holiday meals.

7) Take a B complex for hangover prevention.

8) Let yourself totally enjoy when you are indulging. Feeling guilty releases stress hormones leading to weight gain. So, if you’re going to have one too many cocktails or that second piece of pie, just accept it and enjoy every bite. Not that I’m condoning doing this, but we all know it’s going to happen.

9) Drink a glass of water after each alcoholic beverage.

10) Get moving. It’ll help keep the weight off, reduce stress, and boost your immunity. Walk. If you live where it’s too cold and wet to get outside or even to the gym. Run up and down your stairs a few times. Do some jumping jacks. Buy a mini trampoline and jump for 20 minutes.

See how simple and fun prevention can be? Start a new holiday tradition this year. The tradition of health.

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

How many days have you called in sick this year? How many special occasions have you missed, because you or a family member is sick? Again? The stress of our every day lives taxes the body. Bad food, late nights, little to no sleep, caffeine and sugar addiction, and high stress levels every day would wear out anyone. Chinese medicine and proper nutrition can help you stay healthy & recover quickly from colds and the flu.

A lot of people have weakened immune systems due to the fast paced lifestyle most of us lead. This makes them prone to colds and the flu. Having a lower immunity can also make you prone to being really sick for longer periods, especially when compared to someone who is relatively healthy. It’s rare to just get a case of the sniffles.

Improving one’s immune system, so you don’t get sick is ideal. This process can start immediately and have a long-term impact on one’s health. These modalities are also highly effective for those with HIV/AIDS.

Once a person is sick, the sooner treatment is administered, the quicker the recovery. Similar treatment protocols are administered with someone who is sick or just starting to come down with something. The types of herbs and points used do change, but daily acupuncture treatments and herbs are essential. The use of Chinese medicine gets rid of an infection without the side effects of antibiotics. Naturally treating an infection doesn’t suppress the contagion, but helps the body heal itself. So the bug doesn’t come right back.

A few, easy preventative measures: Eat lots of garlic, take vitamin C daily, and avoid dairy and sugar (sorry!). These simple steps may help you:

* avoid feeling miserable

* have more energy

* save money

*no more calling in sick (unless you want to)

* avoid side effects of antibiotics

* thoroughly enjoy your holidays

Live natural. Live well.

Heather