Striving4Zen

Pounding temples and lethargy can bite a hole in your day. Acupuncturist Aimee Raupp cures what ails you -- minus the pill popping and double espressos. Stimulate the body's natural healing abilities by pressing gently on these acupressure points with a fingertip or knuckle for 15 - 20 seconds.

Headaches: Find the groove between your 4th and 5th toes. Press the tendon on the side of your little toe, moving toward the ankle. Do both feet simultaneously.

Low energy: On the front of the leg -- 4 finger widths below the kneecap -- press the tender depression between the shinbone and the leg muscle.

Allergies: Squeeze your thumb and forefinger together. Press the center of the ridge formed on your hand near the crease of your thumb.

Menstrual Cramps: On the inside of the lower leg, press on the back of the shin bone 4 finger widths above the tip of the anklebone.

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Labels: acupressure, DIY, living holistically, natural health, natural therapy

The terms green, earth-friendly, and even nontoxic are everywhere these days — but because laundry and dishwashing soaps aren't regulated the same way foods are, labels don't really tell you what you're getting, says Jennifer Sass, PhD, of the Natural Resources Defense Council. A quick way to determine if your detergent is safe is to read the “what happens if you swallow this” warning. “If it says something like ‘go immediately to the emergency room,’ then you know it's probably not made of garlic,” says Sass. “If you can pronounce or recognize the ingredients listed, that's a good thing.”

A few buzzwords you can trust: chlorine free, phosphate free, and nonpetroleum based.

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Labels: detergent, laundry, living holistically, natural products

West Coast beauty and health foods marketer SuperFoods Rx is banking on the connection between food and beauty by rolling out its whole foods-based line at upscale retailers.

The Del Mar, Calif.-based company, which incorporates books, skin care, nutritional supplements and food products, earlier this month launched its products exclusively at prestige beauty boutique Studio at Fred Segal in Santa Monica.

The initial offering includes the SFRX Complex Age Defying Serum, a skin care product formulated with "super" foods, or nutrient-dense foods, including pomegranate extract; green, white and black tea leaves; organic sweet pepper; organic tomato, and extract from pineapple and papaya.

Accompanying the serum is a line of nutritional supplements, again containing known super foods such as broccoli, blueberries and fish oils. Stern said the hookup with Studio made sense in light of the ongoing research indicating that consuming certain foods enhances overall beauty.

"It is known that super foods are indicated for the health of skin, hair and nails," he said. "There is an established link between certain foods taken internally and the external implications of that. Given that, this is the perfect environment for the line."

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Labels: David Stern, Fred Segal, health trend, skincare, superfoods

Saks Fifth Avenue is giving natural and wellness products an upscale new face. In May, the retailer will officially unveil The Beauty of Living Well, a dedicated sales area, in five of its stores. The initial brands sold will be Blue Lagoon, Skin Nutrition, Canyon Ranch Your Transformation and Vinita.

Saks Fifth Avenue is hoping that living well will also equal selling well.

The retailer is poised to launch The Beauty of Living Well, a dedicated sales area devoted to what Saks terms "natraceutical" products.

"We believe that this is the first time that a luxury retailer has taken such a significant step in promoting wellness and the holistic approach to beauty," said Deborah Walters, senior vice president and general merchandise manager of cosmetics and fragrances for Saks Fifth Avenue. "Our customer already knows the importance of living well, inside and out. We are making it easier for her to shop that way."

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Labels: Canyon Ranch, Saks Fifth Avenue, skincare, trends

The next time you head to Target to shop its latest Go line, don't forget to hit up the bra department. According to Consumer Reports they carry some of the most satisfying breast supports. A poll revealed 22 percent of women are unsatisfied with their bra purchases, so the magazine, justifiably disturbed, took a break from frozen dinners and mini–food processors to test-run three bras of the same style at three different price levels.

The test involved hand-washing each bra three times and having a panel of women with 34B breasts wear and critique each. They included a $127 La Perla Vintage, a $45 Victoria's Secret Ipex demi, and an $11 Gilligan & O'Malley padded demi.

What did they find? The cheapest bra was the best:

Bra-vo! [The Gilligan & O'Malley padded demi] has better cup molding than the Victoria's Secret bra; the underwire is flexible and well padded, so it won't pinch or poke. This bra (sold at Target) also held up better after washing. All three panelists found it comfortable, with a good fit.

And you can spend the cash you saved on some stylin' new shoes. Everyone wins!

3 bras, 3 prices [Consumer Reports]
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Labels: bras, Consumer Reports, Consumerist, underwear

Heart of palm (or “palmito”) comes from a perennial palm tree native to the humid tropics of America. Palmito is the central part or heart of some wild varieties of palm trees that originated in the South American tropical jungle.

It has a high fiber content and no cholesterol. It also has large amounts of iron and calcium. Heart of palm is soft, ivory-colored, firm in texture and delicate in flavor. It is typically used in salads or “ceviches” or even mixed in or fried for main dishes.

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Labels: eating healthy, hearts of palm, nutrition

* Brain Toniq was created for software engineers -- but it's good for us lay-folk as well. The botanically-based (think Rhodiola root and Siberian Ginseng), non-caffeinated, carbonated beverage is sweetened with organic agave nectar and claims to increase mental focus.

* O.N.E. Natural is launching Coffee Berry Juice (tons of Vitamin C and as much caffeine as a cup of green tea) and Cashew Juice (loaded with protein, potassium and zinc). From the company that makes coconut water!

* Cell-nique – this organic super-green and superfruit drink launched last year and is available in Pomegranate, Citrus Vanilla, Tropical Fruits, Apple, and Kukicha Tea; it has a new 13 oz. glass bottle available in April.

Labels: beverages, Brain Toniq, Cell-nique, health trend, new product, O.N.E. Natural

The issue of “good” and “bad” cholesterol is perhaps one of the most pervasive medical myths out there, created and perpetuated by pharmaceutical advertising. Dr. Ron Rosedale is an expert in the field, and if you didn’t already watch the video in today’s article How You Have Been Fooled by Good and Bad Cholesterol, make sure you take a look at it now.

Very few people are educated correctly on cholesterol -- how it’s really all about your LDL particle sizes, not your overall LDL level.

The only way to truly correct your underlying problem is through diet. By eliminating sugar and most grains, you will effectively reduce your insulin and leptin levels, which are the underlying causes that create LDL particles that are too small to circulate without sticking to the interior walls of your arteries.

There’s not a single pharmaceutical drug that can modulate LDL particle sizes.

To normalize your cholesterol level naturally, these three primary strategies work well 99 percent of the time if properly implemented: daily exercise; eating a low grain, low sugar diet; and, taking a high quality omega-3 supplement.

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Labels: cholesterol, drugs, eating healthy, healthy diet

In Ayurveda, milk, honey, yogurt, ghee and banana are considered to be the five perfect foods, so this bath would be a real treat to nourish, soften, smooth and re-energize your skin.

• 1 banana, mashed
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon yogurt
• 1 teaspoon ghee/clarified butter

Combine all the ingredients before massaging the sweet-scented mix onto your skin. Plunge yourself into a warm bath and feel your skin gradually becoming softer and smoother.

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Labels: ayurveda, DIY, dry skin, living holistically, skincare

Although not a common item in most households in the United States, tempeh, with its distinctively nutty taste and nougat-like texture, is increasing in popularity. Tempeh easily absorbs the flavors of the other foods with which it is cooked making it adaptable to many types of dishes.

A food made from fermented soybeans, tempeh provides not only the protein found in soybeans but their many other health benefits as well. It is a very good source of manganese and a good source of protein, copper, phosphorous, vitamin B2 and magnesium. In addition, tempeh is a good source of monounsaturated fats.

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Labels: healthy diet, healthy food, manganese, nutrition, protein, tempeh

Garden Peas

Garden Peas need to be shelled before eating. Fresh garden peas have rounded pods that are usually slightly curved in shape with a smooth texture and vibrant green color. Inside garden peas are green rounded pea seeds that are sweet and starchy in taste and can be eaten raw or cooked. Garden peas have more nutrients and more calories than snow peas or sugar snap peas. However, they require more work to prepare because they must be shelled before eating. As most people do not want to spend the extra time to shell their peas, the demand for fresh garden peas is very low, and they can be more difficult to find than other varieties of peas. Garden peas are sweet and succulent for three to four days after they are picked but tend to become mealy and starchy very quickly if they are not cooked soon after harvesting.
Ninety-five percent of garden peas are sold either frozen or canned.
Frozen peas are more flavorful, contain less sodium and have more nutritional value than canned peas.

Snow Peas or Chinese Pea Pods

Sometimes called Chinese pea pods, this variety is usually used in stir-fries. Snow peas are flat with edible pods through which you can usually see the shadows of the flat Pea seeds inside; they are never shelled. Overall, they are not as nutritious as garden peas, but they do have a higher concentration of vitamin C and fewer calories. Fresh and frozen Snow Peas are available.

Sugar Snap Peas

A cross between the garden and snow pea, they have plump edible pods with a crisp, snappy texture; they are not shelled. Both snow peas and snap peas feature a slightly sweeter and cooler taste than the garden pea. Like snow peas, snap peas have fewer nutrients and calories than garden peas. Fresh and frozen sugar snap peas are available.

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Labels: fruits and veggies, healthy diet, nutrition, peas, vegetable

Looking for a food pairing that does more than just intensifies taste and nutrition? Researchers out of the U.K. are suggesting that combining two food components called sulforaphane and selenium — two naturally occurring cancer fighting components found in foods — make them up to 13 times more powerful in attacking cancer together than if they are alone.

OK, so what foods contain these components? Well, foods high in sulforaphane are broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, watercress, and salad rocket (aka arugula). Foods high in selenium include nuts, poultry, fish, eggs, sunflower seeds, and mushrooms. So while we wait for the scientists to learn more, why not sprinkle some mushrooms and/or sunflower seeds onto your arugula? Not only will it be tasty, but the benefits may be hefty in terms of cancer prevention.

Thank you!

Labels: cancer, food as medicine, healthy diet, nutrition, selenium, sulforaphane

Labels: cholesterol, eggs, nutrition, protein, Vitamins

This herb has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine as an immunity-booster.

It contains complex sugar molecules called polysaccharides, which some studies show stimulate virus-fighting cells in the immune system. Re-searchers at the University of Texas and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have turned up convincing evidence that astragalus boosts immune responses in lab animals, and in human cells in lab dishes.

“The findings on immune enhancement are very strong,” Blumenthal says. “And though we don’t have good evidence for its effects on colds and flu, there’s good reason to think it could help.”

Worth a try for: Boosting immunity.
How to do it: Astragalus is available in a variety of herbal cold formulations and in stand-alone supplement capsules. Concentrations vary, so follow package directions for use.

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Labels: astragalus, herbs, Holistic Health, immunity, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Beans have the highest antioxidant content, period.

One cup of beans provides a whopping 13 g of fiber-- half of what we need daily--with no saturated fat. Beans are loaded with protein (about 15 g per cup) and dozens of key nutrients, including a few most women fall short on--calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Studies also tie beans to a reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and breast and colon cancers. And surprisingly, red, pinto, and kidney beans are the highest antioxidant food, beating out both blueberries and cranberries.

Health benefits : Bean by bean

Black
Rich in anthocyanins, the same heart disease– and cancer-fighting antioxidants that are found in grapes and cranberries.

Garbanzo (chickpeas)
A recent study found that a chickpea-fortified diet slashed “bad” LDL cholesterol levels by almost 5%.

Kidney
The thiamin (vitamin B1) in this bean protects memory and brain function; a deficiency has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Navy
Potassium regulates blood pressure and normal heart contractions.

Pinto
Fiber helps stabilize blood sugar, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes.

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Labels: beans, eating healthy, health food, healthy diet, nutrition

How Long To Cook Them?

1 cup of: Water: Time:

amaranth 2 1/2 cups 20 minutes
brown rice 2 cups 50 minutes
barley 2-3 cups 60-90 minutes
buckwheat 2 cups 20 minutes
millet 2-3 cups 30 minutes
quinoa 2 cups 20 minutes
rolled oats 3 cups 30 minutes
wild rice 2 cups 60 minutes

1 – Be sure to rinse your grains before cooking.

2 – (Optional) Many people recommend soaking grains in a bowl of water before cooking (anywhere from 1/2 hour to overnight) – it makes their nutrients more bio-available, and removes their layer of phytic acid, which can interfere with absorption of some minerals. If you do decide to soak, be sure to drain the grains and discard the soaking water before cooking.

3 – You can add a pinch of sea salt when cooking, or even better – throw in a piece of kombu (or your sea veggie of choice) – it helps to make the grains more digestible and flavorful, and adds important minerals.

4 – Never stir or disturb your grains while cooking – they’ll cook more evenly and have a better texture if you just let them be.

For more ideas on cooking with whole grains, check out Rebecca Wood’s fabulous cookbook, The Splendid Grain. You’ll find loads of inspiration for dressing up your favorite grain varieties!

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Labels: cookbook, healthy cooking, how-to, Whole grains

Historically, ginger has a long tradition of being very effective in alleviating symptoms of gastrointestinal distress.

In herbal medicine, ginger is regarded as an excellent carminative (a substance which promotes the elimination of intestinal gas) and intestinal spasmolytic (a substance which relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract).

Modern scientific research has revealed that ginger possesses numerous therapeutic properties including antioxidant effects, an ability to inhibit the formation of inflammatory compounds, and direct anti-inflammatory effects.

Ginger is a good source of potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese and vitamin B6.

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Labels: ginger, Health, healthy diet, nutrition

In just one decade, from 1997 to 2006, sales of organic food have grown by nearly 80 percent to $17.7 billion.

The boost has been driven by an ever-growing chunk of the population that considers organic food healthier, safer and better for the environment.

"People placing a premium on maintaining a nutritious lifestyle seems to be the main reason why we have not seen a decrease," said BJ's Wholesale Club spokeswoman Stephanie LaCroix.

"In the long term, I'm saving money because I'll stay healthy," said shopper Kate Stone. "That would be one of the last things I'd cut back on."

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Labels: healthy diet, healthy living, organic, supermarket, Whole Foods

The largest USDA study of food antioxidants reveals common beans are among the best sources. Researchers with the USDA analyzed antioxidant levels in over 100 different foods. Base upon the results, the USDA has provided a list of the top 20 ranking of foods by antioxidant capacity.

USDA Ranking of Foods by Antioxidant Capacity

1 Small Red Bean (dried) Half cup: 13727
2 Wild blueberry 1 cup: 13427
3 Red kidney bean (dried) Half cup: 13259
4 Pinto bean Half cup: 11864
5 Blueberry (cultivated) 1 cup: 9019
6 Cranberry 1 cup (whole): 8983
7 Artichoke (cooked) 1 cup (hearts): 7904
8 Blackberry 1 cup: 7701
9 Prune Half cup: 7291
10 Raspberry 1 cup: 6058
11 Strawberry 1 cup: 5938
12 Red Delicious apple One: 5900
13 Granny Smith apple One: 5381
14 Pecan 1 ounce: 5095
15 Sweet cherry 1 cup: 4873
16 Black plum One: 4844
17 Russet potato (cooked) One: 4649
18 Black bean (dried) Half cup: 4181
19 Plum One: 4118
20 Gala apple One: 3903

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Labels: Anti-oxidant, fruits and veggies, healthy diet, healthy eating, sea beans

Fruits of Glow's Treatments

A London spa is taking a fresh approach to treatments.

Earlier this month, aestheticians at Glow Urban Spa, which is located in the chic Knightsbridge neighborhood, started whipping up skin care products based on raw fruits and vegetables for use during face and body treatments.

Acai berries and acerola cherries, for example, are crushed before being massaged into skin during the 60-minute City Buster facial. The treatment is priced at 85 pounds, or $170 at current exchange.

Other treatments on the food-based menu include Raw Glow Body, featuring a mélange of honey, pomegranate and sesame seeds.

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Labels: citrus fruits, Glow Urban Spa, skincare, superfoods, trends

Kate Moss, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Cate Blanchett all bow to the powers of holistic health care guru, Dr. Nish Joshi, who’s all about the principle of “giving yourself the best of everything.”

We couldn’t agree more!

The guru’s new body and skincare line consists of 8 products, all of which aim to nurture skin while encouraging complete physical health and mental restoration. To reap the ultimate benefits, the line should be used while subscribing to Joshi’s holistic lifestyle–read all about it in his books, including Joshi’s Holistic Detox, and Joshi’s Holistic Life Plan.


THE DETAILS: Exclusively at SpaceNK.com $32-48.

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Labels: celebrities, Dr. Joshi, Holistic Health, living holistically, skincare

April 1, 2008 -- Hold the hot dog - eating one sausage or three strips of bacon a day can raise your risk of bowel cancer, according to a British health expert.

Just 1.8 ounces of processed meat daily hikes the risk of getting bowel cancer by about 20 percent, according to Professor Martin Wiseman, medical and scientific adviser for the World Cancer Research Fund.

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Labels: bacon, cancer, processed foods, study, toxic