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Seasonal Tips

Kale Salad with Orange Dressing

Submitted by on August 26, 2010 - 7:07am.

 Dressing

1 cup orange juice
2 tbsp minced, fresh ginger 
2 tbsp sesame tahini  
2 tbsp miso
2 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tbsp Bragg’s or tamari 
4 dates, pitted, soaked
 
Salad
1 bunch kale, de-stemmed and thinly sliced
1 cup thinly-sliced red cabbage
1 to 2 carrots, grated or julienned
½ cup daikon, julienned  
½ red pepper, thinly sliced
¼ cup cilantro or parsley, chopped
 
 
In large mixing bowl, combine salad ingredients and toss well. Blend dressing ingredients until smooth. Toss dressing with salad, to taste.  Serves 4 to 6.

 

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Lemon Oregano Halibut w/ Asparagus

Submitted by on May 24, 2010 - 11:01pm.
  • 3.5 oz halibut, or any whitefish
  • 6 asparagus spears, tough ends trimmed off
  • 1 TBLS vegetable broth
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • salt and pepper
Preheat the oven to 400F. Tear off a large sheet of non-stick aluminum foil. 
In the center of this sheet, place asparagus spears, broth and sprinkle with salt/pepper. Place whitefish on top of asparagus and top with oregano, salt/pepper and 2–3 thin slices of lemon. Fold up edges and completely seal packet on all sides. Bake 10–20 mins, until fish flakes. Top with a sqeeze of lemon juice.

 

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Thai Green Smoothie Recipe

Submitted by on March 25, 2010 - 10:56am.
This is a super way to start your day with fresh greens, and all the minerals and vitamins they impart. This smoothie does not contain frozen fruit, so is suitable for all but the very coldest days of the year. If prescribed, you may add your HMF powder or EFA/Cod Liver Oil if you like.
 
5 leaves kale (spines removed)
1 cup orange juice
1 Tbs unrefined coconut oil (or ½ can coconut milk)
¼ pineapple, peeled and cubed
Handful of cilantro
Handful of basil
 
Blend the ingredients in a vitamix (best), Cuisinart (good), or blender (acceptable). Enjoy!!
 

**Recipe adapted from Laurie Lane, Healthy Kitchen

 

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Allergies and Asthma: Prevent and Prepare!

Submitted by on February 23, 2010 - 2:58pm.

 Allergies and asthma are on the rise in children; in the U.S., approximately 20% of children suffer from either asthma or allergies.  As the incidence of what we call “hot” diseases, or infections, has decreased, the occurrence of “cold” diseases such as allergies, asthma, and autism have increased.  Asthma is often associated with—and sometimes caused by--allergies, so we’ll address both.

 
Many parents do not know that allergies and asthma are curable.  In fact, when the cause is addressed, a cure is possible for children (and adults.)  When a resolution is not found, however, the problems often continue into adulthood. If someone in your family has allergies, this is the time of year to address them proactively—so we can get ahead of the pollen!
 
Allergic responses of any kind represent the body’s attempt to tell us that something is out of balance; if we heed that reminder and restore biochemical balance, then we have a much greater chance of ensuring lifetime health.  That’s because all the systems of our bodies are interconnected. The immune system, most directly involved with allergies, also affects the hormonal, kidney, digestive, and central nervous systems.   We need all of these systems to work optimally in order to thrive.
 
When we have an allergic reaction of any kind, it means that we are over-reacting to something in the environment (food, pollen, or mold, etc.) that other people can tolerate.    It is interesting that autoimmune disorders such as lupus, many thyroid diseases, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and Celiac disease are also on the rise.  There is some evidence to show that allergies may actually trigger autoimmune processes.  Certainly most of the adult patients in my practice with autoimmune disorders had some eczema (often the first sign of allergic predisposition), allergy (often hayfever), or asthma as a child. 
 
At Insights to Health, it is our experience that reducing  allergies and asthma in children, and treating these conditions holistically when they do occur, greatly reduces the incidence of more serious health problems later in life.  Of course, quality of life is enhanced immeasurably as well when spring is not met with allergy symptoms!  Pharmaceuticals may decrease symptoms, but they do not correct the underlying process that causes the allergic response; they provide palliation, but not a cure (evidenced by the fact that when the medication is stopped, the symptoms return).
 
Here are a few things we recommend you do to decrease the chance of allergies and asthma for your children:
 
  1. Use a high quality probiotic (healthy bacteria).  Five billion cells daily for children without allergies is sufficient.  Please buy a product that has been independently tested and verified to contain what the label states.  Additionally, research shows that mothers who take probiotics while pregnant reduce the chance of allergies in their offspring.
  2. Avoid food sensitivities: these can easily be detected in an infant when foods are being introduced appropriately, and tested for in older children through a test that just requires a quick prick to the finger.  Irritability, sleeping problems, and/or blood sugar problems are clues that a food sensitivity may be present.
  3. Get your children outside and let them play in the dirt.  Hypoallergenic environments are linked to the rise in allergies. 
  4. Let your children get fevers when they are sick.  Increased temperature serves the purpose of allowing the body to burn up the pathogen and eliminate it.  Safely allowing and encouraging fevers, with your doctor’s guidance, is a way you can “tune up” the immune system and train it to keep doing its job throughout your child’s life.
  5. Decrease stress by getting adequate sleep and encouraging downtime, family dinners, plenty of fun and laughter, and exposure to nature.
 
If your child does have allergies or asthma, there are many natural treatments that can decrease the severity of symptoms while the underlying cause is addressed.  Nutrition, enhancing gastrointestinal health and sleep quality, allergy-specific probiotics, and various botanical therapies, as well as addressing any other health issues specific to your child, all contribute to not only a cure to allergies but to a lifetime of health and vitality.   

 

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Seasonal Tip: Throat Compress

Submitted by on January 25, 2010 - 5:28pm.

This is a great wintertime treatment for sore throat and upper respiratory infections. A heating compress is a form of hydrotherapy involving a moist compress to the affected area. The compress is applied cold, but then heats up by the body's reaction to the treatment. The reaction is mediated through the nervous system which in turn directly effects associated blood, lymph, sebaceous glands, sweat glands as well as surrounding tissue and muscle. In treating the skin, we directly influence many activities associated with healing.

 
Indications:
Sore throat and associated hoarseness, any inflammation or infection in the neck or throat, neck pain, or tense muscles.
 
Materials Needed:
  1. Cotton cloth long and wide enough to wrap around the neck. Alternatively, cloth may be long enough to include ears when wrapping the throat.
  2. Wool flannel to cover the cotton cloth (a wool scarf works well). 
  3. Supply of hot and cold water, safety pin and a face cloth.
 
Procedure:
Warm area first with warm face cloth for 2-3 minutes or take a hot shower. Soak the cotton in cold water and wring out well prior to application. Wrap around the neck only or include ears if desired. Wrap wool over the cotton and secure with the safety pin. Leave on at least 30 minutes but overnight is more effective. Follow treatment with a quick cold sponge to the area.
 
Precautions:
Chilling should not be experienced during the treatment. Keep warm either in bed or wrapped in a wool blanket. Change compress at least every 8 hours and allow the skin to dry for at least 1 hour between treatments. Do not tie compress too tightly. 
 

Please consult us if your condition does not improve. 

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Seasonal Tip: Bieler Broth

Submitted by on January 25, 2010 - 5:24pm.
Bieler Broth:
We recommend this as a nutritious broth to sip during an illness. It allows you to get vital nutrients without taxing your digestive system during recovery.
  •  
  • ·      2 medium zucchini
  • ·      1 cup green beans
  • ·      2 stalks celery                       
  • ·      chopped parsley
  • ·      clove of garlic
  •  
            Chop 2 medium zucchini, 1 cup of green beans, 2 stalks of celery into a steamer and steam until very soft (about 15 minutes). Place veggies, steaming water, and a handful of chopped parsley in a blender and blend until smooth (about 1-2 minutes). If you like garlic, a clove may be added as you blend for additional flavor.
  
Makes 2-3 bowl that can be sipped hot throughout the day. 

 

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Seasonal Tips: Sleeping More to Prevent Flu

Submitted by on November 11, 2009 - 8:43pm.
Many people experience mood changes, infections, and weight gain during the winter. At least some of these changes can be helped in part with proper amounts of restful sleep.  We need an average of one hour more in winter than summer due to changes in hormonal and circadian rhythms.

And as your mother used to remind you, going to bed at the same time each night can help create more restful sleep.  If your sleep is not restful or you do not feel refreshed in the morning, you are missing an important component of feeling your best and you may want to make an appointment with one of the physicians at Insights to Health.

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