Did you say pumpkin pie?!?!
Health Tips – A lot of people ask me about weight management, especially around the holidays. This is a big topic with several layers (like a cake or an onion – good food images, right?!). In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), each person must be assessed to see what is going on with their metabolism, heath history, strength of digestive fire, and other lifestyle factors. In other words, how well is your digestion system working, and how does your lifestyle fit with your goals?
Other questions I may seek to understand – Is there too much fire or heat in your system, cold or damp, that obstruct the production and/or flow of your emotions, qi and blood supply? How well do the other organs and their corresponding meridian systems support each other? There can be excess or deficiency patterns that can be supported and nourished with acupuncture and herbs. Some ancient acupuncture techniques we may apply to stimulate your metabolism and curb the appetite are: ear acupuncture or seeds, electro-stim acupuncture, herbs and dietary suggestions, as well as one of my personal favorites for just about anything stressing me out, Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT.
Remember, in Oriental Medicine we use a holistic approach to health and healing. We look at, and consider all aspects of your being – Body, Mind and Spirit. Emotionally we can have a lot of issues wrapped up and simmering around food and feeling nourished. When we are stressed and we seek to comfort ourselves, we may stuff ourselves in an attempt to calm distress or ease tensions. We have to be careful about about this, because it can cause lots of issues mentally and physically.
My Top Suggestions:
- Portion control. Use smaller plates, so your mind is tricked into thinking it is getting a big portion because of the size of the plate.
- Avoid processed foods. That means white flour. Try a gluten-free diet to feel less bloated. Modern day wheat is often genetically modified from its ancient form. This causes people to have inflammation, such as, IBS, Crones, and joint issues due to diagnosed food allergies. Read labels, cut back on sugars, and use only good omega oils.
- LOTS of fiber! Whole grains, Greek Tabbouleh anyone? I often add psyllium husk (products like Metamucil), probiotics and also magnesium powder (great for sleep/relaxation) to help clean out our bowels. Your digestive track will the empty and ready for a brand new day!
- Clean and Green – I am fond of Aloe Vera juice or gel, and liquid chlorophyll to clean and build blood, and loosen the bowels. It is my belief that we would have no wars if everyone had clean digestive tracks and ate enough fiber! We re-absorb toxins when we are constipated, so it is important to have at least one good BM per day. What goes into your body, must exit within 24 hours. Smile, your skin will shine when you are clean from within. We can lose too many nutrients too quickly, so be careful of overdoing cleansing too. There is a balance. The change of season is a good time to do a 3-10 day cleanse. When we are clean and green, we can absorb the needed nutrients. Fresh juices and green smoothies are a simple, tasty way to get them. Here’s a few recipes. You can prep and wash the fruits and veggies ahead of time, if you are too busy. Add seeds like flax, hemp, chia, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin seeds to you diet.Lots of great oils and nutrients!
- Seasonally appropriate foods – It’s Fall so Gourds are Great – Bake or steam them and blend with coconut oil or ghee. Here’s a few butternut squash recipes. Hot cereal called “Congee” can be made in a small crock pot overnight. Try adding cinnamon, raisins, goji berries, and nuts to it. It is great for digestive strength, and leftovers can be fried up with eggs as grits topped with maple syrup or local honey (this can help with allergies).
Sleep – We have longer nights now, so catch up on your sleep! We have acupuncture points that can help, along with herbs and breathing tips. Sleep is when your body does most of it’s healing, so give it time to rest.
Walk – Daily cardiovascular exercise is important for your health. There are now apps for diet and weight management. Here are a list of the 22 Best Weight loss Apps 2014. What apps do you use?
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Events – Community Drum Circle – This Saturday Nov 8th, Pot Luck 6 PM, Drumming starts at 7 PM here in Georgetown at the San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Located on the corner of Hutto St and Hwy 29, across from Southwestern University. This now a FREE event. You may join for the pot luck or just for the drumming.
**********************************************************************************************************************************
Attitude of Gratitude – Thank you all for you patronage, and may you have a blessed Thanksgiving Holiday! Breathe with a smile and pace yourself. When you slow down, you can control and better balance yourself, and your life. Breathe deeply, and did I say slow down? Acupuncture can help with this. Even though we love our families, it can be a stressful time, so be sure to relax and take care of yourself. We are here for you after Thanksgiving!
Pumpkin’s Cozy Pet Corner – Indoor cats have a harder time keeping in shape, so make sure your kitty is getting enough exercise. Try using toys, like a laser pointer, catnip, paper bags or a feather on a stick. You can also keep your cat’s food on a chair so they will have to jump up to eat it. This compares the weight gain of a cat to a human (very eye opening). A water fountain is fun for pets, and keeps the water fresher than a regular bowl.
~~~~Pumpkin’s advice for November is to get your pet sitter lined up before the holidays. Our very own office manager, Remy Watson, is a well recommended and experienced pet sitter/animal whisperer. Contact Remy at 512-966-7704 or n_fishtoday@yahoo.com. Feel free to call, text or email.~~~~
Your pet can be famous! Take pictures of your critters, and Pumpkin will vote on who will be next month’s star!
Medical disclaimer – It is important to talk to your doctor before making any changes to your exercise plan and diet. Please let us know if you have changes in medications or new medical diagnoses. The more information we have about your medical history allows us to better serve you.
We will be closed Thanksgiving week, so remember to book online. Thank you all.
Protect your immune system, keep up acupuncture and keep a cozy blanket, sweater or scarf handy to avoid “wind-invasion” chills!
