Kickstart into Fall Cleanse, Acupuncture for Kids and Teens & More!

September 2013

Greetings

Aloha! How are you? I just returned from a restful and rejuvenating trip to the beautiful island of Kauai. I hope you had an amazing summer too.

Now that September is in full swing, we’re all starting to get our groove back. Have you been feeling a little off? Shifting back into gears after the summer can be a challenge. We’re also approaching a change of seasons with the fall equinox on September 22nd, less than a week away.  

Transitions such as a change in seasons are one of the best times to put extra focus on your health. Colds and seasonal allergies are common, but transitions have a way of surfacing any and all chronic health issues as well.

This issue of Malibu Acupuncture & Herbs Online explores ways to help you detox from summer and get you kick started into a healthy fall. Check out Kickstart into Fall Cleanse.  And don’t miss my favorite new superfood bar and recipe for Detox Mulligatawny Soup.

Happy Fall!

With Love,

Malibu Acupuncture & Herbs

News

Acupuncture for Kids & Teens

Many of you have been asking about acupuncture for your kids and teens.Yes, I commonly treat kids and teens, and just as acupuncture works for a variety of adult health issues, so it does for younger patients too. Needles can be replaced with other acupuncture techniques for needle phobic patients, and often are for children under age 10. Common health issues treated include: 

Acne
ADD/ADHD
Allergies
Anxiety/ Depression
Asthma
Back/ Neck Pain
Colds/ Flu/ Low Immune System
Eczema/ Psoriasis
Growing pains
Headaches
Insomnia
Sports injuries
Stomachache & Digestive issues
Stress
Women’s Health- Amenorrhea, Endometriosis, Irregular periods, Painful periods

Special Points

The Kickstart into Fall Cleanse

Have you overindulged this summer?  Have you eaten foods you don’t normally eat or drank a few extra cocktails?  Did you get out of your workout and stress management routines?

Now is the time to press the reset button! With only 31/2 months until the end of the year,  the transition into fall is the ideal opportunity to take a time out, reassess, rebalance and generate more clarity. 

Cleansing is an optimal way to detoxify and clear out any lingering physical, emotional or mental baggage.  By getting rid of the old, we make way for the new. Benefits may include higher energy levels, increased immunity, improved digestion, increased metabolism, decreased levels of inflammation, improved moods and sense of wellbeing, 

I recommend a cleanse lasting 3, 7 or 14 days depending on my patients schedules and level of commitment. The most important thing is that you select a time frame that is doable for you, in which you are able to focus some solid attention on yourself. Be honest with yourself.  If 3 days is all you can afford that’s great!  Better to do a shorter cleanse with more intention than a longer cleanse haphazardly.

Guidelines for the 3 Day Cleanse* (from beginner to advanced) 

Level 1– Eat  a raw, vegan diet. Include nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.

Level 2– Drink or eat only liquids. Include a combination of vegetable juices, vegan soups and smoothies.

Level 3–  Drink only fresh, organic juices. I like Pressed Juicery for their quality, taste and accessibility.  Any juices are fine but should be primarily vegetables with minimal fruits.

1. Begin and end your cleanse wisely.  It’s necessary to prepare the body for the entry and exit of cleansing time.  For 2-3 days before and 3-5 days after, eat a diet free of dairy, animal protein, alcohol, sugar and processed foods.

2.  Move your body for 30-60 min every day.  Mild to moderate exercise is best during a cleanse.  You don’t want to push your body too hard while it is cleansing.  Walking, yoga and deep stretching are particularly good at this time.

3. Get Acupuncture. Acupuncture detoxifies and rebalances your body’s energy pathways. It integrates the body, mind and spirit, while activating the parasympathetic nervous system to relieve stress.  Individual issues such as weight management, digestion, skin conditions, stress, mood swings and immunity can be particularly well addressed during a cleanse.

3.  Sweat in an infrared sauna.  Infrared rays penetrate to release deep-seated toxins and heavy metals from the body.  They also increase circulation, boost metabolism, lower blood pressure, relieve muscle pain and give a healthy glow to the skin.  I’ve heard that quite a few Malibuites have infrared saunas in their backyards.  Lucky you!  For others I recommend The Tao of Healing Arts in Santa Monica.

4.  Sleep more.  The process of detoxification requires extra energy and can make you feel more tired while cleansing.  Good!  This is a sign that your body is doing what it is supposed to. Listen to it and try to rest or sleep as much as you need to. This will improve your results.

5. Take detoxifying herbs.  Herbs help to eliminate waste from the body, thereby increasing the effects of the cleanse. Talk to your acupuncturist about what herbs would be best for you.

Good Luck!

* For guidelines for a 7 or 14 day cleanse, call or stop the office.

Ask Lauren

Do you have any ideas for a healthy, quick breakfast?

Breakfast can be a tough meal. Cereal, toast, waffles, oatmeal, fruit, yogurt and granola– most traditional breakfast options are carbohydrate and sugar laden, setting your body up for potential blood sugar crashes later on in the day. Irregular blood sugar levels can lead to poor food choices, decreased metabolism, mood swings and energy fluctuations.

Here’s the rap on breakfast. It’s best to eat breakfast within 1 hour of waking. Your meal should contain high protein energy-lasting foods and low carbohydrate, low sugar foods. Since it’s the only meal of the day that’s consumed on an empty stomach, breakfast is also an ideal time to load up on plenty of nutrients.

A green power smoothie for breakfast is the way to go.  It’s easy to make, can travel with you if you’re in a hurry and contains all the nutrition to best get you started on your day. Smoothies are renowned for containing tons of fruit which increase carbohydrate and sugar levels.  This smoothie contains only berries, which are a low sugar fruit, and contain one of the highest antioxidant (disease and aging preventing) benefits of any food. Make sure to buy your berries organic! Studies have proven that the antioxidant levels in organic berries are significantly higher than their non-organic counterparts.  

Base: Coconut water, almond/hemp milk or water
Vegan Protein Powder
Vitamineral Greens or other greens powder
Sprouted flax seeds and chia seeds ( I recommend Friendly Fats by Healthforce)*
Fresh greens i.e. spinach, kale, chard
Organic raspberries, blackberries and/or blueberries – fresh or frozen
Xylitol or Stevia

* Why Healthforce? Healthforce products are wildcrafted and organic. They are 100% pesticide, herbicide and insectside free, which most organic products are not. 

Recommendations

Elemental Superfood Bar

Have you seen these popping up in the health food store?  Maybe in the refrigerated section? Try them. They are organic, raw, gluten-free, dairy-free, superfood-rich and taste fantastic. I’m totally hooked.

Ingredients include buckwheat, almonds, flaxseeds, vanilla bean, sunflower and pumpkin seeds to name a few. They are high in protein, fiber, omega 3s and 6s.

You really can’t go wrong with any of the 4 flavors.  I love the Currant, Cacao & Hempseed and the Mulberry, Cacao & Spirulina.  Snack to go?  No problem. Yum!

Recipe of the Month

Detox Soup: Mulligatawny
By Karina Allrich aka Gluten Free Goddess. Original recipe found here.

This is one of my favorite go-to detox recipes. It strays from your typical Mulligatawny soup that has meat and often dairy. This recipe uses coconut milk instead of dairy, and chickpeas for protein. It’s packed full of nutritious veggies and detoxifying spices. And the sweet-tart flavor from the Granny Smith apples gives it that something extra.   

Don’t be discouraged by the long list of ingredients, it’s a breeze to make and so delish!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon avocado oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 inch fresh ginger, grated
2 teaspoons mild GF organic curry powder
1 teaspoon organic turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste
1 medium sweet or red onion, peeled, diced
4 medium carrots, peeled and diced
1 cup cauliflower florets, chopped
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
2 heaping cups thinly shredded cabbage
1 quart filtered water
2 cups organic fresh veggie juice blend
1 14-oz can organic chick peas, drained
Pinch of sea salt, to taste
1 14-oz can coconut milk, stirred
Juice from 1 medium lime, or to taste
1-2 teaspoons organic agave nectar or xylitol

For garnish (optional):
Thin apple slices or shredded apple
Chopped fresh cilantro

Heat the avocado oil over medium high heat in a medium size soup pot.  Add the garlic, ginger, curry, turmeric and cayenne and briefly strip to season the oil.  Add the onion, carrots, cauliflower, apples, sweet Porto and cabbage and saute until softened, about 7 to minutes.  

Stir in the filtered water and chick peas; season with sea salt, if desired.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat, cover and simmer the soup. stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 20-30 minutes.

Add the coconut milk, lime juice and agave nectar.  Stir well.  Taste for seasoning adjustments.  Heat through gently; don’t boil.

Enjoy!