A wise foodie, Michael Pollan, once said: “You can eat as much junk food as you like, as long as you make it yourself.” From potato chips to french fries  to ketchup, pizza and hamburgers – these foods get decidedly healthier when using organic, local ingredients, whole foods and wholesome fats. Kale chips are an even healthier way to consume essential fiber and vitamins, and they taste amazing. Seriously, they do. I’ll honestly admit that I am not particularly a fan of Kale – sauteed or steamed – it always comes out chewy and woody when I make it. I know how nutritious it is so I make a point of gulping it down. But to have finally found a way to thoroughly enjoy this healthy veggie, what a treat. You can buy these tasty snacks for a whopping $8 per small bag, or you can buy a bunch of Kale for $2.99 and prepare your own stockpile. See my easy recipe after the jump.

Easy Healthy Kale Chips

• 1 Bunch Kale (any variety will do)
• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• Sea Salt (to taste)
• Nutritional Yeast (to taste and if desired)

Preheat the oven to 300F. Wash and thoroughly dry the kale. Break, cut or trim the leaves into large pieces, discarding the tough stems and center ribs. Toss the kale in olive oil and lay onto a baking sheet (be sure the kale pieces are NOT overlapping). Bake for 20 minutes, or until crisp. Keep an eye on these guys after about 15min to make sure they don’t over-bake. Depending on the size of the pieces, you may want to flip the chips half way through, but this is not necessarily imperative.

Cool the kale on a baking rack and sprinkle with salt and/or nutritional yeast. The nutritional yeast, often known as Brewer’s Yeast, is high in B vitamins, and gives these kale chips a kind of cheesy-texture. Enjoy!

For a Do-It-Yourself video on how to make kale chips with a recipe similar to the one I’ve adapted above, check out this video by Ask Umbra on Grist.org

In light of quite possibly the most common New Years Resolution, I asked my resident nutritionist,  Health Coach Quinn to share her important information with the ESEMA community on our blog. Not only are her recommendations truly healthful, they are sensible and sure to result in resolutions kept this year.

The Only 10 Things You Need To Know About Weight Loss – after the jump

Quinn is a Health Coach, the creator of Kitschy Kitchen web show, Cooking Party host and FITrition Deluxe teacher, and emotional eating expert. She works with women of all ages to help them change their relationship with food…forever. She is a wealth of knowledge! See her advice for ALL year below.  Check her website here.

The Only 10 Things You Need To Know About Weight Loss

1.  DRINK UP.

Drink water, lots of it.  Or herbal teas, those are great too.  Often times we confuse thirst for huger and run right to the fridge.  When you start to feel an inkling for a treat, tap into your body and decipher if you are really hungry or if you’re actually bored, stressed, worried… or just thirsty.  Water not only hydrates the system but it also very cleansing.  It helps to flush toxins and purify the system so make sure you are drinking at least 8 cups a day.  Herbal teas can also help to calm nerves, headaches, cramps, and stomach aches.

• TIP: Keep a water bottle with you at all times, have it on your desk at work and in your purse when you are on the go.  Having water on hand will keep you fuller, focused, cleansed and make your skin positively GLOW.
• TIP: Immediately after waking up in the morning drink 2 cups of water at room tempurature.  It will get your system going better than coffee… and is MUCH better for you.
• TIP: Drink some comforting herbal teas while doing one of those things that usually ignites a snack attack.  Keep some tea bags in your purse. You can always find hot water where you’d otherwise find a snack.

2. STEP AWAY… FROM THE DIET FOOD!

“Foods” like diet sodas, 100-calorie snack packs, anything low fat, no fat, reduced fat… they are all programmed to destroy you.   Only eat real food. Real food grows on a plant (vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds) or comes from an animal.  Real food is nurtured by the sun.  Real food is NOT processed, packaged, pasteurized, chemicalized, homogenized, or well, bastardized in any way. It has nothing is added to it, and nothing is taken away.  If the majority of your diet is real food you will never have a problem with your weight. Or, in other words, if it wasn’t food 100 years ago—it’s not food now—It’s a food-like product designed to hypnotize and addict you.  Real foods have one ingredient.  They are ingredients you learned to identify in kindergarten…and they should be the bulk of your diet.

• TIP: Shop the perimeter of the supermarket or go to your farmers market for items that are fresh and in season.  When there pick up one new veggie a week to experiment with what you like.
• TIP: if it grows on a plant= eat it.  If it was made in a plant= avoid it.

3.  FORGET WHAT YOU KNOW.

Not all calories are created equal.  The calories in chips and cookies have a very different effect on your body from the calories in, say, kale and carrots.   Foods that are fried, processed or made with white sugar/flour have a detrimental effect on your body in the form of internal inflammation, which leads to weight gain.  OK, you know junk food is bad, but the truth is that “diet” foods wreak havoc on your system too!  When fat is removed, sugar is added, which is actually worse!  And when calories are replaced with artificial sweeteners you are essentially drinking poison that your body has no idea how to metabolize.  These chemicals mess with your brain chemistry making you more hungry. So, forget the low fat, low carb, and food pyramid schemes.  The food industry, in general, is not out to make you healthier, it is out to make money.  When looking at food labels, re-focus your attention onto ingredients rather than fat & calories, and choose natural foods—your body knows exactly what to do with them, and it will thank you.

• TIP: Read the ingredients on the back of your food.  Just because something seems healthy doesn’t mean it is…. Your whole wheat bread just might be hiding high fructose corn syrup.
  TIP:  If you can’t read it, don’t eat it.

4.  BE A DETECTIVE.

Notice your emotional connection with the food choices that you make.  Begin to examine your cravings. Are you craving foods because you saw them?  Or because your body genuinely want them?  What sparks the cravings?  Stress? Boredom? Loneliness? Or maybe it’s a food addiction.  For instance, sugar is like the [insert street drug] of the food world.  Are you eating things just because some celebrity eats it, or some nutritionist on TV says you should? Begin listening to your unique body and feed it what YOU need.  Your body is a sophisticated, high-tech piece of machinery that is rarely wrong.  If you wake up craving bread and cereal—take that as a message that you are carbohydrate person—and eat carbohydrates.  Just eat whole, complex carbs that breakdown slowly inside the body like steel cut oats, brown rice, kasha, quinoa or millet.  Or if you crave ice cream out of the clear blue, take that message that you need to incorporate more good sources dairy into your diet like full-fat yogurt or raw cheese.  Listen carefully, your body will always find a way to tell you want it needs.

• TIP: Keep a food journal.  Keep track of what you are eating, why you made the choices you did, and what else was going on at that time. See if you can identify any patterns in your eating.

5.  GET YOUR Zzzzs.

Lack of sleep decreases the hormone leptin, which tells your brain when you are full.  If you haven’t had enough sleep you’re setting yourself up for weight gain in two ways because A) your brain doesn’t get the message that you’ve eaten, so you’re likely to just keep going, and going and B) you have low energy, which instinctively makes your body crave things like sugar and caffeine in order to rev up … and thus begins a vicious cycle.

• TIP: Pick a bed-time and stick to it with the same tenacity that you stick to events like meetings, movies, or dinner plans.  If people ask why, tell them you are on the sleep diet.  They might all want to try it.

6.  NO MULTI-TASKING DURING MEALS.

This may be one of the hardest habits to break… but  it is the most important thing to conquer.  When you are eating, you are just eating.  That’s it.  No TV, cellphone, computer, magazines…. Just you and chewing.  Eating is how you nourish your body, it should be a special event, not another thing on your “to-do” list.  As another coach/friend of my says “Would you be on your blackberry during sex?  Then why are you on it during meals?”.  The thing is– when you are distracted you are bound to eat way more than necessary.  If you take time to really focus on your meal, and make it an event, then you are going to feel more satiated and less likely snack, binge, or overeat.  Take the time during your meals to slow down and chew.

• TIP: Find a quiet place with NO television, computer, newspaper, magazines or even cell phone.  Give yourself a full 30 minutes to eat your meal.  Take the whole time to chew and think about your food.  Notice the taste, texture and smell.   How do you feel?  When do you know you’re full?  Do this at least once a week.  The practice should start to roll over into other meals as well.
• TIP: Focus on your chewing.  Chew until you can’t chew any more.  Your food should be the consistency of a smoothy before you swollow.  This will help you feel fuller on less food.  It will also greatly increase your digestive function and decrease bloating, gassiness, constipation and other IBS symptoms.

7. PENCIL IN SOME PAMPERING.

Your body is designed for survival.  Throughout evolution it was imperative for humans to be able to hold onto body fat, it keeps us warm, insulates our vital organs, and is a source of energy when the going gets tough.  Stress triggers hormones in our brain, which in-turn tells our body to hunker down and protect itself against rough times ahead.  That used to mean draught, famine, or attack.  Now those stressors might be work, traffic, or demanding obligations.  But the brain still activates those same S.O.S hormones, making us (literally) hold onto fat for dear life.  When you find yourself overwhelmed with modern life, find a moment for yourself to get some restorative rest.  Take deeps breaths, a quick walk, stretch, or drink some hot tea to relax.  Stop to think about what needs to get done and just do ONE thing at a time.  Plain and simple–take care of yourself. If you don’t take care of yourself in the little ways, it’s less likely that you will take care of your health and manage weight in the long term. Giving yourself some time to relax will help to melt away the pounds.

• TIP: Schedule one hour per week that is just for YOU, and do something that you love.  Once that feels comfortable, bump it up to 2 hours.

8. EAT. A LOT. Skipping meals (especially breakfast) will flip your body into famine mode so it’s super important to eat, eat, EAT!  Not getting enough calories will actually lower your metabolism. Studies show that people who eat breakfast are more likely to maintain a healthy weight.  Skipping meals causes your blood sugar to spike and crash, messing with your moods and energy levels.  Find time to sit down and eat a balanced breakfast each day.  It sets your metabolic tone for the day and protects against binge eating due to starvation later in the day.  It is vital to properly fuel your body and eat enough beneficial calories in order to have good metabolic function.  It’s just really important to make all of those calories count!  Again–your diet should primarily consist of plant-based foods, which are naturally power-packed with vital nutrients.  When your body is getting what it needs from each meal, it’s practically impossible to eat too much because whole foods just keep you more satiated from meal to meal. Pretty soon, portion control will actually because a concern of the past!

• TIP: To find the best breakfast for you do a Breakfast Experiment.  Eat something different each day for 5 days.  Notice how the different meals make you feel.  Which gives you more energy, focus, and keeps you fullest for the longest?

9.  GET PHYSICAL.

Any type of movement will amp up your metabolism, reduce stress, and aid digestion—the holy trinity of wellness.  Humans evolved with an active lifestyle.  We did NOT spend millions of years before now sitting behind desks.  Honor your roots by breaking a sweat in some small way each and every day. The single easiest way to boost your metabolism and burn some cals, while you’re just bumming around with your gals is to have muscle mass.  It is like having a high interest savings account; it does work for you when you’re not even thinking about it! The mitochondria in your muscle cells turn oxygen and calories into energy.  The more you have, the more you burn at work AND at play!  You don’t need a fancy gym membership to tone up!  You can do some sit-ups when you wake up, chair dips while watching TV, lunges while cooking dinner, or simply take a walk during your lunch break to get some fresh air.  Find something that you like to do, and get in motion.

• TIP: Get on-to, or off-of the subway a couple stops earlier and walk to where you are going.  It will help get your blood pumping in the morning, and on the flip-side will help you relax after a long stressful day.

10. EAT EVERYTHING.  Don’t avoid any major food groups. There are only 3 macronutrients in the world:  Carbohydrates, Protein and Fat.  Everything you could possibly eat is made up of some combination of those 3 things.  Avoiding any one will cause major problems.  Look at the fat-free craze that began in the 80s… Americans are 50% fatter since we stopped eating fat!  And who do you know that stayed on a no-carb diet for an extended period of time?  Diets are a four-letter word.  They never ever work because they are all about deprivation (who wants that?!?).  Hunger is your body telling you that it needs nutrients.  In fact, most people who are overweight claim that they are always hungry—and it’s true!  They could be literally starving because they are not giving their body what it needs.  Instead they are giving it empty calories. Your body needs proper fuel and balance for function at it’s maximum potential. So, eat everything, as long as it’s real food, and you can never fail.

• TIP: Weight loss is not about reducing calories. It is about increasing nutrients.  Add color to your diet especially green and orange, they are the most nutrient dense foods in nature.

It is that time of year again, where we celebrate for all that life has been and look forward to that which we want to improve or create upon. We are truly grateful at ESEMA to be entering our 3rd year in business this Spring – and give thanks to you for helping us grow and flourish. It is our passion to help you on your journey to health an wellness and we sincerely thank each of you for the opportunity to do so.

As a thankful nod to those that have inspired me in many ways throughout this past year, and to spread the love to my loyal readers, this post is dedicated to my favorite pages on the web and local New York listings. Take a look if you have some time to browse, as these folks have got some interesting stuff going on! Find out my go-to spots for recipes, dietary guides, exercise, pampering, information and more.

Wishing you a year full of success, health, happiness and dreams coming true!

See my full list after the jump…

Yum – Favorite Foodies

Smitten Kitchen

-serving up awesome dishes inspired by green market ingredients, this New Yorker will show you how to make it happen in a city-sized apartment kitchen.

Nourished Kitchen

-focused on Real Food, Wholesome Fats and Raw Dairy, Jenny will teach you the ways to keep your body nourished, healthy, and your taste-buds happy. Rich in fat-soluble vitamins, this is a diet I often recommend to my fertility patients and women experiencing menopausal symptoms.

Move It

Expect to Be Fit

-Whether a mommy in training, a mommy to be, post partum or just plain in need of a tune up, Leah is the one to call. She will ship your body into perfect shape by coming to your home or office and teaching you the ways of a holistic tummy tuck.

PURE Yoga – East and West

-By far my favorite yoga studio in the city, with classes ranging from Hot to Jivamukti to Restorative. A culmination of love, peace and great yoga.

Pamper Yourself

Earth and Sky Bodywork

-Massage, Mayan Abdominal and Cranio-Sacral for the whole family. Katinka specializes in women and pediatrics and her hands will not only take you away to a blissful state but address chronic concerns from the root.

Dormer Medical Spa

-Dr. Dormer and her team know skin and what to do to keep it radiant and healthy – utilizing natural and medical means at their Upper East Side location. Need a facial? Book a visit with Ally, she is wonderful.

For the Walls

Borbay

-New York Post headlines covered in paint create truly unique masterpieces for any home or office. An artist that inspires me through and through, I look forward to marrying him next summer as well.

Unique Jewelry

Nydia Charles

-Stunning and unique, her designs are not only beautiful pieces but make an artistic statement.

Reproductive Health

Garden of Fertility and Taking Charge of Your Fertility

-Every woman’s go-to guide for achieving and preventing pregnancy through understanding her cycles.

Ina May Gaskin

-Spending days with this woman in her home in Tennessee changed me. She is a true gift to women everywhere!

Choices In Childbirth

-ESEMA is proud to have donated throughout the year to supporting this organizations efforts of increasing maternity care choices throughout New York City.

The Pregnant New Yorker

-Always a great local resource for women and professionals.

Health = Wealth

Daily Worth

-Get FREE daily emails with tips for managing money, investing, saving and other saavy topics to help you achieve or maintain the financial freedom you’ve always hoped for.

The actual color of the apple does not necessarily impact nutritional content, but like most produce, the peel of the fruit stores the most potent nutritional components. The apple peel is rich in anti-oxidants,  which fight free radicals to slow the aging process, so be sure not to peel the precious skin away and throw it down the disposal. Do make sure your apple is washed well – no matter whether you’ve chosen, local, organic or conventional origin. Vitamin C and Calcium are two important nutrients found in the peel and the flesh of fresh apples.

Cancer Fighting

Apples are also rich in flavonoids, an important bio-chemical compound found in many plants.  The flavonoids in apples, specifically, have been proven in various studies to prevent and fight cancer cells – particularly in relation to liver, colon and lung cancers. The cancer-fighting flavonoids are found in the fiber of the fruit and in the form of Quercetin in the peels (another important reason not to de-skin your apples). Once ingested, the apple fiber actually continues to work in the colon repairing any cellular damage. Quercetin, a natural flavonol, is also known to slow cellular degeneration – thus warding off conditions such as Alzheimer’s.

Lastly, apples contain the wonder-nutrient Pectin, which can reduce the risk of heart disease by preventing plaque from being deposited in artery walls; promote the healthy metabolism of cholesterol; and improve digestion and bowel function. Apples really are an amazing food, complete in their whole form and ready to eat…an apple a day.

Like color, the size of the apple doesn’t not matter either – although I suspect that the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” referred to apples slightly larger than this one Jeremy found.

Super Easy Home Made Apple Sauce

This is a delicious and easy way to make use of extra apples laying around. Enjoy this tasty treat as dessert after meals, as a snack or paired with roasted pork chops.

1. Chop as many apples as you would like to turn into sauce into 1-inch cubes (I usually use about 4-5), leaving the skins on.
2. Place the apple cubes into a sauce pan.
3. Fill the pan with about an inch or two of filtered water, 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice and 1-2 tsp Cinnamon (or to taste).
4. Cover the pot and simmer the apples on low until they are soft and tender. Remove from heat and puree the apples, skins and liquid in a food processor to desired smoothness.
5. Enjoy warm and store the remainder in the fridge up to a week.

Various aspects of life and industry have begun to adopt a Slow Movement policy to yield sustainable quality and equitable results. The principle foundation of “Slow” is to counter the “hurry up!” mentality of modern society and help bring awareness back to the present moment. Fast food, fast life, non-sustainable farming and the eroding of local economies fueled the urge to slow down. This type of awareness cultivates individual, community and global sustainability. It allows us to make conscious decisions about our actions, and reminds us that basic human needs are actually not all that many nor do they require abundant momentum. After the jump, find out the most popular of these movements and how to apply the concept to your health.

Slow Movements

One of the first (and the most popular) slow movements was first developed by Carlo Petrini in 1986, in a response to the globalization of fast food chains (such as the infamous ‘Golden Arches,’ which he and his followers protested in Rome armed with bowls of Penne Pasta). The goal of the movement-now-turned-organization was to preserve local and traditional cuisines and promote the farming of plants and seeds and livestock in agreement with local ecosystems. Since its inception, Slow Food chapters have popped up all over the world – from Slow Food International, Slow Food USA and as local as Slow Food NYC.

Sound familiar? In protest of the big-bad-food-industry providing citizens with less-than adequate nutritional and actual “food” within produce and meat distribution around the country – lobbies have popped up all over the place and movies such as “Super Size Me” and “Food Inc” are making an effort to educate the masses about the corruption behind what they find on their grocery store shelves.

But I digress…

Many other dimensions of “Slow” have developed over the years, including Slow Money, Slow Travel, Slow Parenting and the one I’m more recently introduced to: Slow Fashion – a response to the disposable clothing produced by high-end designers. Slow fashion supports local communities, aims to provide fashionable clothing items that will outlast more than one season, affordable prices and even learning to sew your own. Burdastyle, co-founded by Nora Abousteit, is an online community for experienced and novice people who sew to share patterns, designs and ideas. If you ever had an interest in cultivate this side of your creative self, definitely check it out.

Slow Health

Slowing down, in general, can help in staying healthy. Adopting certain slow practices like eating local, organic, fresh and home-prepared food will yield a healthier body. But I propose an attitude for slow-ness in health and healing above and beyond already established movements. I often have patients walk into my office hoping for immediate relief from their aches and pains, discomforts, weight loss goals or what have you. To yield sustainable results, healing can take time and can’t be rushed. In many cases, it is the constant hurry that has us not feeling our best in the first place. Especially in a place like Manhattan, where the energy frequency is amped up way beyond sustainability, our bodies need the space and time to heal and unwind.

This theory, of course, is not applicable to all areas of health and healing. Acute injury, trauma or emergency situations require immediate attention – stat. Stress, chronic illness and the myriad of unhealthy states we find ourselves in (such as obesity, which can lead to so many other serious illnesses), can be softened with enough time, attention, patience and appropriate treatments. Physiological processes like childbirth is another area that thrives when allowed to move at its own pace, which from a standardized modern medical model means to slow down.

Slow Medicine

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine theory supposes that dis-ease or illness arises over a period of time, and therefore will take time to set right again. While there may be a pill out there to alleviate a symptom quite quickly, for example, it may not solve the problem. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs work to slowly ease your symptoms by rectifying the root problem – essentially a Slow Medicine – yielding lasting results. Slow can equate with powerful, remarkable changes.

In addition to re-balancing the body from the root cause, Chinese medical theory assumes its position on health before symptoms or discomfort have actually surfaced. Preventative medicine is the most sustainable way to keep yourself healthy, and the  majority of preventative techniques are within your own power. Diet, Lifestyle, Exercise, Sleep and Stress Management are key factors in staying healthy and preventing disease.

]]> http://www.esemahealingarts.com/feed/ 0 http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/07/vitamin-d/ http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/07/vitamin-d/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:41:09 +0000 Erin http://www.erinhessel.com/?p=1202

It is by far the most-talked about vitamin this year – with growing research proving that a Vitamin D deficiency can cause not only calcium deficiency (which can lead to osteoporosis), but other serious illnesses and hormone imbalances. So why all the fuss now? A study done in 2007 found a whopping 50% of women of childbearing age significantly deficient in Vitamin D and other research demonstrates a connection between cancer-survivors and adequate Vitamin D. Many of my patients have begun taking a separate Vitamin D supplement, as directed by their doctor, and those that aren’t are asking questions about what this mysterious vitamin is, how much we need, and how to know if we are getting enough.

De-Mystifying Your D

Vitamin D is a unique nutrient, which is actually considered a hormone rather than a vitamin, and therefore plays many important roles in the body. The most famous is its function to facilitate proper calcium absorption, thus promoting healthy bone mineralization and preventing osteoporosis. However, recent studies have shown that sufficient Vitamin D also plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy immune system, nervous system and endocrine system, while also preventing serious illnesses like cancer, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. A deficiency may also be contributing to a couples inability to get pregnant, or other disruptions of hormone balance.

How Much Is Enough?

The only way to know if your body is struggling without enough Vitamin D, is to get your levels checked at your doctor’s office. Through a simple blood test, they can see the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD – aka “Vitamin D”) in your blood, which should be no less than 15 ng/mL (and ideally at 40 ng/mL). Based on your individual assessment, your health care provider can help you find the best plan to increase your Vitamin D levels to prevent illness and keep your body functioning at its best.

How to with Supplement Additional Vitamin D

The best way to get Vitamin D is through exposure to sunlight (see below), but there are some ways to incorporate the nutrient into your diet. However, the few foods that actually contain Vitamin D, do so in minimal amounts, making it especially difficult to maintain healthy levels without supplementation. Here is a list of foods with Vitamin D that you can play with:

• Salmon (especially wild-caught)
• Mackerel (especially wild-caught)
• Tuna Canned in Water
• Sardines Canned in Oil
• Milk (fortified with vitamin D)
• Egg Yolks
• Beef or Calf Liver
• Some Fortified Cereals

The appropriate dosage of a Vitamin D supplement is a controversial one. Research and medical doctors are safely using anywhere from 1,000 IU (international units) to 10,000 IU in adults. Dr. Andrew Weil and the Vitamin D Council are two reputable sources that agree on a 2,000 IU dose  (above and beyond a normal multi-vitamin, which commonly have between 200-600 IU) as safe for most adults between the ages of 15-70, and to increase that number if the individual has little to no sun exposure. The quality and the type of supplement you are taking also make a difference (ie: Vitamin D3 is most similar to that which we get from the sun, as opposed to D2), so it is important to discuss with your doctor and get a good recommendation.

The good news is you can’t over-produce Vitamin D from sun exposure or diet,  but careless supplementation can lead to toxicity in some cases. Vitamin D toxicity can present as fatigue, constipation, dizziness or heart palpitations. Medical professionals agree that while it is important not to have “too much of a good thing,” supplementing with Vitamin D is difficult to reach toxic levels. The amount of Vitamin D your body naturally produces after an hour of sun-exposure can reach levels of 15,000-25,000 IU, so there is little to be concerned about when supplementing with 1,000-2,000 IU per day. The best way to avoid toxicity is to get your nutrient levels checked to see if there is a need first.

Let The Sun-Shine On

It is true, that the sun is the most natural and potent way to get your fix of Vitamin D – at a much higher level than we can consume nutritionally. Best of all, you absolutely cannot overdose on Vitamin D this way. Your body knows exactly how and what from the ultraviolet rays to absorb through the skin to produce your nutritional quota. Of course, we all know the damage too much sun-exposure can cause separate and aside, so it is important to take certain precautions.

• Vitamin D absorbs best without sun screen, so don’t be afraid to sit out unprotected for 10 minutes each day before applying spf 15 or 30 lotion (note: always apply spf to your face, and be mindful if this recommendation is not a healthy choice for you, and use other ways to get Vitamin D)
• Adequate Vitamin D absorption may take longer in people with darker skin tones (up to an hour, say several sources), so these individuals may want to consider supplementing with another form of Vitamin D to prevent prolonged unprotected sun exposure.
• If you have fair skin, or a history of skin cancer, avoid unprotected sun exposure and get any Vitamin D needed from a supplement or dietary nutrition (plus some Vitamin D will absorb through sunscreens, just at a slower rate).
• Vitamin synthesizes slower through the skin as we age, so it is important to continually keep up on checking your nutritional levels. And don’t forget about seasonal changes! Research has shown that people living below the latitude of Los Angeles year-round are least likely to have a Vitamin D deficiency. So if you are a local New Yorker (like me), or other Northern Hemisphere resident, be mindful as that summer sun starts to set and your clothing becomes all that much thicker. You may need to adjust your Vitamin D intake in the winter.

Sun Safety

In the hot summer sun this year, it is important to protect your skin from the harmful sun rays if you are spending any length of time outside. Sunscreen is the best way to do this. It is recommended to either saturate your skin with an spf spray or use 2-3 Tbsp of lotion at a time, and to reapply every 2 hours or after swimming. Consumer reports listed the following as the best  and most effective sunscreens on the market right now:

• Up & Up Sport Continuous (Target),
• Walgreens Sport Continuous
• Banana Boat Sport Performance Continuous
• Aveeno Continuous Protection.

I offered complimentary Tongue & Pulse Readings with auricular acu-pressure for stress relief, along with herbal trailmix. Thanks to my handsome associate, Jason, we had a well-organized line formed throughout the night so that everyone could experience the benefits of Chinese medicine.

In the end, nearly 30 people came through our booth. I was delighted to see such an outright interest in our services and have the opportunity to connect with people about this healing modality. If you missed the event and would like more information about Chinese Medicine, please email me.

The lovely ladies hosting this event and enjoying the festivities: PURE’s General Manager, Laina Seplow and Regional Membership Manager, Elena Pezzo.

The central room in PURE’s lobby. As you can see, it is a beautiful space with a great turnout of yogi’s.

Plenty of room for learning about new modalities while sipping fresh squeezed juice from Monavie, enjoying Organic-Vegan Cookies and receiving a decadent chair massage from Equinox’s Spa.

Unfortunately, I was not able to get around and meet all the other practitioners formally, but Nicole Maggio of Biosyntonie and I had a chance to connect before the nights end. Biosyntonie, I learned, was founded by a French scientist and provides a non-invasive, powerful way to ignite the bodies own healing capabilities.

Here, a participant enjoys a relaxing Biosyntonie treatment. To learn more about this revolutionary healing method and set up a personal session with Nicole, please email her.

More Event Festivities.

Justin Schantz and friends made a special appearance for the event.

The beautiful PURE Waiting area.  Thanks again to everyone who made this night possible, and such a success!

In good health,

Erin

]]> http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/02/pure-wellness-event-a-great-success/feed/ 2 http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/02/happy-chinese-new-year/ http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/02/happy-chinese-new-year/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:56:36 +0000 Erin http://www.erinhessel.com/?p=492 Kung Hei Fat Choy!

The Western calendar date of February 14th 2010 marked the Chinese New Year 4708: The year of the Metal Tiger.  The Tiger represents the third year in the 12 year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac – preceded by the Ox and followed by the Rabbit – and has many auspicious things in store for people born under all signs of the Chinese zodiac. This year is also represented by the Metal element, which can be ascribed to gold or money, a sign that the year may be important in generating wealth and fortune.

In the spirit of Valentine’s day (a simultaneous celebration), Jason and I spent the day together enjoying different aspects of the city and our day began at the famous Canal Street - the heart of New York’s own Chinatown. There is no doubt of the importance of this holiday as the streets were packed with people. Vendors selling fresh oranges, New Years dragons and noisemakers; bakeries stocked with traditional Mooncake pastries; and music off in the distance ensured that festivities and performances were all around.

Symbolism of The Tiger

The tiger is one of the most dynamic signs of the Chinese zodiac, known for their dependability, unpredictability, fearlessness, and immense capaicty for love and tenderness. While Tiger’s in general keep to themselves, they are also known to quickly make bold changes and take big risks that one might not have seen coming.  The stripes of a tiger symbolize the balanced forces of yin and yang, an important notable fact. Although the year of the Tiger holds a year of great importance to all signs, it is said that those born under the year of the Tiger (and compatible signs) will enjoy particular good fortune this year: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 and 2010.

The Year of the Tiger

Traditionally, the year of the tiger is associated with massive changes and social upheaval. Therefore, it is likely that the year of the Tiger will be volatile both on the world scene and on a personal level. But, this is not meant to be alarming. With extreme change comes an enormous opportunity for growth and transformation. The results may yield a circumstance that was once thought unimaginable or even impossible. Those born under the year of the Tiger, Dragon and Horse will find the erratic circumstances ahead particularly inspiring and successful. For the rest of us, it is time to exercise our “flexibility muscles”, to stay nimble and open through the strong wind of change. In Chinese Medicine, we can look to the properties of bamboo for help: during strong winds or torrential storms, bamboo bends through it all – rarely breaking and never standing solidly erect against the natural forces. Yet, within its pliable nature, it continues to grow forward – reaching to the sky and fulfilling its destiny. Bamboo dances in the face of change, and so can we.

May the year of the Tiger, and 2010, bring you health, happiness, luck, and the resources needed to make all your dreams come true.

A Winter Wonderland From My Home in Minnesota

Dad & Me Toasting the Season with a Holiday Sambuca

The Newlyweds! My Sister Kelsey & her Husband Jason

Mom & Me: Ready for our Traditional Potato Soup Christmas Eve Dinner

Grandpa Jo & Grandma Cheryl Celebrating with Chocolate

Our NYC Apartment Tree 2009

Cookies: A Christmas Favorite

Jason & I Warming Up Inside on a Snowy Day

A gift from our good friend Justin

Wishing you joy, health and happiness this season and always.

In good health,

Erin

The majority of healthy infants and children require nothing more than a loving mother and family to attend to their needs. However, even the most cared for children can develop uncomfortable symptoms. Some conditions may be helped by environmental or dietary advice, also an important part of childhood development. Acupuncture, massage and pediatric herbal formulas can help alleviate a variety of common complaints – offering less suffering for the child and peace of mind for the parent. Best of all, these therapies are completely natural, safe and have no side effects.

Pediatric Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

Pediatric acupuncture may or may not involve the use of needles. Massage and pressure techniques are effectively used in place of needles depending on the nature of the condition and the child. Moreover, these techniques are easily learned by parents and family members so that ongoing therapy can often be done at home. When prescribed by a licensed practitioner, herbal medicine can offer an extraordinary amount of relief and benefit for both acute symptoms and chronic conditions. Pediatric formulas are easy to take, involve minimal preparation, and can often be flavored or ‘hidden’ in foods to produce a more palatable taste. Herbs and acupuncture are the perfect way to safely, and naturally, maintain and strengthen your child’s developing body, mind & spirit.

Through Infancy, the Toddler Years and Adolescence, Chinese Medicine can offer helpful relief adjunct to western medical treatment or alternative to it.  Some of the conditions successfully addressed with acupuncture and herbs include:

• Colic
• Cradle Cap
• Skin Irritations/Rashes
• Cough
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Chronic Ear Ache
• Developmental Delays
• Digestive Upset: Chronic Diarrhea, Constipation, Acid Reflux
• Chronic Colds or Runny Nose
• Poor Appetite
• Eczema
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Low Immune Function
• ADD/ADHD
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Acne
• Poor Concentration
• Teenage Menstruation Concerns

For the complete article this blog post was excerpted from: click here.

This blog is a proud participant in the Prevention Not Prescriptions Blog @ The Kathleen Show. For more information on Erin’s pediatric acupuncture and herbal services, or to receive a copy of the full article by email, please contact her.