Two Scoops of Ice Cream or Rice?

Visited a girlfriend of mine who just gave birth to a scrumptious lil’ girl…big shout-out to Ava…welcome baby! When I tickled her chin, her dimples would pop-out…too adorable! As for mom, doing phenomenal, couldn’t ask for a better delivery.

Although, baby and mom are doing well, it’s important for mom and anyone recovering from any post-operative condition, to nourish their energy (Qi) and blood. Surgery is literally a lot of work for the person lying on the operating table; it’s stressful on the body, and blood loss may occur as well as energy loss. A great way to enable the healing process to be smoother and quicker is to eat foods warm or neutral in chemistry. These foods strengthen the body’s constitution as well as allow the body to do what it does best, heal itself.

White rice is neutral in chemistry and when well-cooked or made into a soup has the amazing quality of strengthening one’s energy, nourishing the digestive system, and warming the body. Oatmeal makes for a perfect first-meal when coming out of surgery; it strengthens the immune system, prevents infections, and is also warming to the body.

For those who enjoy eating raw fruits and vegetables, unfortunately, for the meantime make sure all foods are cooked; steam, boil, stir-fry, stew, bake. Raw foods consume a lot of the body’s energy and warmth, and take longer to digest. Avoid cold beverages, especially putting ice cubes in your drink; this generates a cold internal body temperature which slows down a healing process.

There’s all whole range of foods that fall in the categories of cold, warm, and neutral. Please, shoot me an email anytime for all questions; even the slightest ponder… halla back! I want the community of planet earth, who undergo surgery, to have a shorter recovery time so that they may return to life’s most precious activity, play!

Gold, Silver, Bronze, Needle

As I’m watching the Olympics of these determined athletes, I can’t help but think, they all need some serious acupuncture. Too much of me? Am I turning into the mad-scientist-acupuncturist? All these wipe outs, back-bends, and muscling tears, not to mention the tears-of-defeat of most of the competitors. I can just imagine the micro-tears throughout their musculoskeletal system; their Achilles tendons are screaming, help me! help me! help me!

I’m sure they have acupuncturists at hand, yet how many of these athletes actually utilize acupuncture consistently to heal their muscle injuries, replenish their depleted energy, and mentally focus for tomorrow’s competition? Do they really know how well they can heal and improve muscle tone with acupuncture? I just want to pack-up my needles and passport, head off to Vancouver, and camp out at the lodge of Team USA. I want to treat every athlete to nourish their muscles, increase their agility, and revitalize their energy...and maybe get a lovely pix with each athlete; Evan Lysacek, LOVE YOU!

So to my fellow Americans in Vancouver reaching for the gold, go out there and be a monster-to-be-reckoned-with, keep in mind to rest and replenish at the end of the day and treat your aches-n-pains with some yummy acupuncture!

Energize Me!

The start of a new week has arrived. Conserve your energy to last all day, all week, and those last few minutes of that work hour. Keep the shoulders and jaw relaxed. Are your shoulders raised up toward your ears? Is there room to shift the shoulders down? Are your teeth clenched and tongue stiff? Lower the shoulders, relax the jaw, and soften the tongue. Keep mindful of these three tips and your physical and mental energy will last longer than realized. Cheers!

Ode to Oats

Never thought I’d be writing a topic on food, although it is my first love; thinking about it all the time, always making way to eat, defending it when under fire. Putting it in writing was never foreseen, yet here I am eager to share my ‘breakfast of champions’.

About three days out of the work week, I whip-up a hearty bowl of oatmeal and fruit. I know, can sound bland, boring, and a short lived project, I know. My initial reason for eating this was not for its gourmet quality but for its holistic nutritional value. Six months later, I’m still finding it as tasty and satisfying as ever!

My reason for eating oats was for its warming quality. It doesn’t pull from my own body’s energy to have to warm it up, and I am sustained with enough energy for half the day or until lunch time. It’s healing properties range from boosting Qi, and strengthening the digestive system, to reducing cholesterol, and building up the immune system.

I keep things interesting by adding different kinds of fruits each time and even sometimes make it a savory dish by adding veggies. Below is my easy-breezy recipe. Enjoy, and make it as interesting for yourself as I do! Oh, and icing on the cake?...it keeps me regular!

Easy-breezy Oatmeal

3 cups water

¼ cup rolled oats

Fruits

Add water and oats to a medium sized pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to very low and simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Add or reduce the amount of water depending on how thin or thick you like your oatmeal. I like to simmer it a little while longer to obtain a thicker consistency. After 15-20 minutes has passed or the consistency desired has been reached, throw in some sliced fruit and cook for another 5-10 minutes. This allows the fruit to warm up and sweeten the oats. Bon A Petite!