Friday, May 1, 2015

Spring is upon us!

Spring, a season of growth and rebirth, is upon us. Living things, now more than any other time of the year, require good nutrients to support the growth that comes during this time. According to Chinese medicine, Spring also represents the liver and gallbladder. Hence, the green season vegetables that sprout up during this time are good for nourishing the liver.

This time of year is also when many of us do our “spring cleaning.” Besides our homes, this is an ideal time to also “spring clean” our bodies. The body hibernates during the winter months, and can use a greener diet to wake it up. The kale and lemon smoothie below is an excellent way to “wake up” the body and start your day.

Kale and Lemon Smoothie 

Ingredients

3 kale leaves

1 whole lemon (remove the skin)

1 – 2 slices of ginger

1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

1 cup of water or almond milk

Directions

1.    Place ingredients in a Vitamix or blender.

2.    Blend until smooth.

3.    Store in glass bottles in the refrigerator until you are ready to drink it.

If you prefer warmer drinks in the morning, make the smoothie a bit thicker and ad warm water to it before drinking.

Some green leafy vegetables can be bitter, which is good for nourishing the liver. Use a something sour, such as a lemon, to offset the bitterness and the fast growing energy of this season.

 

Points of Wellness wishes everyone a happy Spring, and leave you with another great recipe below to keep you healthy and nourished through the season.

Warm Kale with Avocado oil

Ingredients

2 cups of curly kale leaves (de-stemmed)
2 garlic cloves sliced

Juice from half a lemon

2 tbsp avocado oil

Almond slices for topping

Directions

1.    Heat up a wok or frying pan with avocado oil.

2.    Once the oil is hot, add the garlic.

3.    Once the garlic is slightly browned, add in the kale.

4.    Lightly sauté the kale.

5.    Add salt and pepper to taste, and then squeeze in the lemon juice.

 

 

 

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Happy Lunar New Year

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” ~ Socrates


In the last few years, I have been on a journey to simplify my life. It’s been a continual work in progress.  With the Lunar New Year approaching, I want to focus this coming year on the concept of less.  


I hear from many of my patients, especially the ones I’m treating for stress or anxiety, that they want to simplify their life. YET, at the same time, they tell me about the new things they are addingto their schedules.  Of course, we all want to take the “chores” out of our lives and only do the fun and leisurely things. While that is a nice thought, it’s not realistic. 


There will always be chorestasks, and responsibilities that are not fun or pleasant, but we have to do them. Most of us, including myself, keep adding more to our hectic schedules to convince ourselves we can have and do it “all. In fact, the only thing we seem to be removing from our schedules is time for rest and sleep.


As a society, we glorify busy.  We have a knack of making even enjoyable events seem stressful because we are so overwhelmed.The following are some goals I’m setting for myself in 2015 to help me enjoy life with “less.  


• I want to take an event off my schedule and NOT replace it with something else.  

• I want to have more moderation in my life, especially in terms of food. I’d like to have a more balanced intake of food, especially sugar.

• I want to stop practicing “retail therapy” when I’m stressed.

What are your “less” goals for the year? I hope this year of less will lead to a lifetime of more happiness.


Points of Wellness would like to wish everyone a Happy Lunar New Year! Let’s welcome in the year of the Green Sheep. The sheep is seen as a symbol of peace, balance, harmony and calmness. Come and visit us if you are looking for balance and calmness in the New Year!