Feeling jolly this holiday season!

Holiday season is upon us. Our calendars are filling up with holiday dinners and parties, where many of us will gorge on a bountiful of food and drinks.

The tips below will keep you feeling jolly through this time of year.

·         Drink too much? Counteract the effects by drinking a large amount of green tea as soon as possible. Researchers have found that antioxidants (called catechins) found in green tea inhibit absorption of alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to less of an inflammatory response and faster elimination.

·         Stuffed from eating too much? Oolong tea helps settle an upset stomach, improves digestion, and prevents acid reflux.

·         Feeling under the weather?

o   Senna tea is a natural laxative, preventing constipation and relieves the discomfort caused by food that builds up in the colon.

o   Apply pressure to the following acupressure point: In the middle of your inner wrist, two-and-one-half finger widths below the wrist crease. As you press down on the point, take a deep breath and release your breath slowly. This point relieves stomachaches, indigestion, nausea, and anxiety.

o   Apply White Flower oil to your belly and rub your stomach clockwise for about 2 minutes. This helps with constipation and stomachaches.

Finally, eat mindfully. Enjoy and savor every single bite; take in the moment; and be thankful for the experience!

Points of Wellness wishes everyone a healthy and happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful for each and every one of you!

Happy Thanksgiving

Sweet Potatoes and yams are a big part of Western holiday traditions.  However, in China, sweet potatoes are a daily part of one’s diet. Sweet potatoes are believed to be warming to the stomach and can aid in relieving indigestion. When buying sweet potatoes, look for ones that are firm and without soft spots, cracks, or bruises.  Cold temperatures will alter their taste so do not refrigerate your sweet potatoes.  When stored in a cool, dark and well-ventilated area, sweet potatoes will stay firm for 7 to 10 days.
 
According to Chinese Medicine, sweet potatoes strengthen the spleen and stomach, nourishes your Qi (also known as the body’s energy system), help to clear heat from your body, detoxifies, and helps alleviate constipation.  In terms of Western nutrition, sweet potatoes contain vitamin B6, which soothes your mind as well as strengthens your immune system. Sweet potatoes and yams also happen to be a rich source of DHEA.  As one ages, the body’s levels of DHEA drops.  Thus, eat sweet potatoes year-round and look forward to celebrating a long life!
 
Check out this great roasted sweet potatoes recipe from Dinner Made Easy:
http://www.makedinnereasy.com/roasted-sweet-potatoes.html
 
 
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! 
 
Remember to practice mindful eating and to enjoy every bite that enters your mouth.

Preparing for the cold

With kids going back to school and with the days getting colder, most of us are struggling to stay healthy and to keep from getting sick.
 
Here are a few remedies to help keep you and your loved ones feeling well throughout the fall and winter months.   Remember use food as medicine whenever possible!
 
Sore throat relief
 
Local unprocessed honey
Lime
Water (you will need enough water to make at least a half a cup after boiling)
 
Bring water to a boil.
In a mug, combine the following: 1 tablespoon of honey, the juice of a whole lime (additionally, for added benefit, add in some of the lime zest), and about a ½ cup of the boiling water.
Stir it all up and enjoy!
 
Ginger Tea (use as a home remedy for indigestion, nausea and general upset stomach)
 
2 cups of water
1-inch piece of fresh ginger root
Optional: Local unprocessed honey and lime slices
 
Slice the ginger into thin slices.
Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan. Once the water is boiling, add the ginger. Cover the water and reduce to a simmer for 15-20 minutes.
After 15-20 minutes, strain the boiling water and ginger mix.  The remaining liquid is the Ginger Tea.
If desired, add honey and lime to taste.
 
Notes:
If you are making Ginger Tea during cold and flu season, adding sweeteners is not recommended.
If you have food poisoning, in addition to drinking the Ginger Tea, also chew on slices of fresh ginger.
 
Scallions for the Common Cold (especially good for a fever)
 
In Chinese medicine, the white part of a scallion (also known as a green onion) is the best part to use medicinally.  Scallion is effective in stimulating sweat, aiding urination, calming the nerves and expelling mucus. In other words, a scallion is good for helping to cure a cold.
10 white stalks of scallion
5 slices of ginger
3 cups of water
Salt and pepper for seasoning
 
Combine the 3 cups of water, 10 white stalks of scallion, and 5 slices of ginger in a pot.
Simmer the water until it reduces to 1 cup of liquid.
You can discard the ginger pieces or eat them if you choose.  
Drinking the broth is the most important part.
Add salt and pepper to the soup to taste.
Pour the soup into a bowl and enjoy!
Additionally, you should cover the patient with a heavy blanket to induce sweating after drinking this soup.   Once the patient has sweated out the toxins, have him/her change into some warm clothing.
 
Remember, during the colder months, you should keep yourself covered up, especially around the neck and chest areas.  And, drink plenty of fluids.
 
Chicken Rice Soup
 
The following is a recipe for aiding to relieve a headache, a runny nose with clear discharge, neck and shoulder aches, an aversion to being cold, and a white-coated tongue.
 
8 cups filtered or spring water
1 whole organic, antibiotic free chicken (washed) or chicken parts
1 inch piece of ginger
1 bunch of green onion
1 cup of cooked jasmine rice
4-5 leaves of napa cabbage
5-7 dried shiitake mushrooms (wash and soak in warm water for about 20 minutes)
Salt and Pepper for seasoning
 
 
In a stock pot, combine the water, the washed organic chicken or 1 pound of organic chicken parts with bones, the ginger, and the soaked shiitake mushrooms. Cover the water. And, boil for one hour.
While the broth is cooking, cut the napa cabbage into bite size pieces.
Dice the scallions (green onions).
 
After an hour, uncover the soup and remove the chicken or chicken parts.  Set the chicken aside to cool.
Remove the ginger from the soup (you can throw the ginger away).
Salt and pepper the soup to taste.
Add the rice to the soup and allow the soup to simmer as you prepare the next part.
 
Cut the chicken into bite size pieces.
 
Add the chicken and the napa cabbage to the soup.
Bring the soup to a boil.
Once the soup is at a boil, turn the heat off and add the scallions to the soup.
 
Ladle the soup into a bowl.  If desired, add some black pepper to taste.  Enjoy!
 

Food Therapy

Continuing with our theme of food as therapy, I would like to focus today on anti-inflammatory foods and herbs. Inflammation is part of your body’s natural immune response to infections and trauma, which is good.

Unfortunately, the overactive immune responses and too much inflammation can result in common conditions like allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disease, and asthma—which is very bad. By working some basic foods and herbs into your diet, all of which can be found at almost any local market, you can control inflammation in your body and help reduce the chance of illness.

Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory, available as powdered extracts in capsules, or alcohol-based extracts. You can make a refreshing ginger tea by grating one-half teaspoon of fresh ginger root (available at most grocery stores) with eight ounces of boiling water. Just cover and steep for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain and add honey to taste. For upset stomachs, simply slice a piece of ginger and chew on it.



Tumeric is another natural anti-inflammatory. It is commonly found in premixed curry powder, and contains a powerful, non-toxic compound called curcumin. Studies have found that turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effects are on par with such potent drugs as hydrocortisone and Motrin—but without any of their side effects. For the best results, seek an extract of whole turmeric (available in health food stores).







Fresh pineapple has Bromelain, an enzyme that reduces inflammation. Be sure the pineapple is fresh, not canned or frozen. Grilled fresh pineapple can actually be a very tasty dessert!












Papaya contains papain, a protein-digesting enzyme. Together with other nutrients such as vitamins C and E, papain helps to reduce inflammation, and improves digestion and healing from burns. From my experience, I recommend papaya to my patients with constipation problems. It is a soluble fiber source thus, gentler on your stomach than insoluble fibers.





Fish—in particular, cold-water fish such as salmon and mackerel—contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep your joints healthy as well as reducing general pain and swelling. If you don't care for fish, consider supplementing your diet with fish oil capsules. Flax seeds and walnuts are good non-animal sources of omega-3 fatty acids.





Green tea contains flavonoids, and is a potent, natural anti-inflammatory. Results in numerous studies have shown that to reduce the risk of heart disease. In my experience, green tea is best consumed with your meals or immediately after food consumption. I think that 2-3 cups would be the best.





Please remember that just as any part of your daily diet, everything must be consumed in moderation. Even good food and herbals like the ones discussed above will have the opposite effect if you overdo it.

Stay balanced!