Keeping Seasonal Allergies At Bay

Posted by Dr. Kristen in Health and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Keeping Seasonal Allergies at Bay

As we enjoy this incredible spring weather in Chicagoland, I am noticing that many of you are affected by seasonal allergies. Read below for a few tips to manage your allergies:

1)  When you’re symptomatic, avoid all sugar, dairy, and carbs (i.e. pasta, bread, etc). These products assist the body in forming mucous, so avoid them at all costs!

2)  Drink plenty of water. To find out how many ounces of water you need to consume each day, see my previous post on the “Hydration Calculation.” Water also helps our body flush away toxins and excess waste, including mucous.

3)  Acupuncture is a great way to decrease your symptoms and actually treat the cause of a problem. This type of Chinese Medicine focuses on the balance between our energy pathways. Sinus congestion or allergy symptoms would indicate a stagnation of the flow of energy in one or more of the major pathways. During the change of a season, it is considered a “weak point” for our body in Traditional Chinese Medicine which means it’s also the best time to get in for a treatment.

4)  Many people report improvement of their symptoms with the use of a Neti Pot. This is a nasal irrigating device that flushes mucus and debris from the nose and is readily available at any health food store.

5)  Herbal Steam Bath for Sinus Congestion -  boil 8 cups distilled (i.e. chemical free) water in a large pot. Then, transfer to a large glass bowl, and add 8 drops of Eucalyptus Oil (readily available at any health food store). Sit in front of the bowl, with a towel over your head and your face a safe distance from the water. The steam will become trapped, and you will be able to breathe in the eucalyptus vapors. Every few minutes, take a break to blow your nose. Stop when the water has cooled, and repeat daily until symptoms resolve.

6)  Place a dot of Eucalyptus Oil just under your nose and breathe deeply. This oil has powerful anti inflammatory and decongesting properties! Repeat several times throughout the day.

7)  Stimulate the Acu-point that controls our entire face and head. It’s called “Large Intestine 4” and it’s located in that lump of skin between our thumb and first finger. Rub this point with moderate pressure for 30 seconds, break for 30 seconds, and repeat several times.

Spring time for me means putting my running shoes back on…. I hope you are all enjoying the fresh air as much as I am. Dr. Kristen

You are what you eat – the Do’s and Don’ts of Eating

Posted by Dr. Kristen in Nutrition and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ever heard the phrase “you are what you eat?” That phrase is literal – our food is our fuel for our body. Food makes this amazing machine run, even down to a cellular level. If you put junk in, your insides will also be junk! Somewhere in time, we became accustomed to using food as entertainment, with feelings, and so forth. This country is in desperate need of a shift of our mind set – back to thinking that we “eat to live,” not “live to eat.”

A few DON’Ts for Eating:

a)     Don’t overeat and don’t go for that second helping. If you are trying to lose weight, try to eat about 50% of what you would typically put on your plate.

b)    Don’t eat foods that are full of sugar and carbs. When consuming food, ask yourself “How does this food benefit me? What nutrients does this have to actually improve the way my body functions?” I can say with certainty that a “coffee and doughnuts” type of breakfast will not make the cut. If you can’t answer this question – it’s time to rethink your approach to food!  

Some DO’s:

a)     Consume a diet that is about 45% cooked vegetables, 30% raw vegetables and fruits, and 25% nuts/grains/proteins/beans/meat.

b)    Do take charge of your health! You are the only one who is responsible for your health, and you are in the driver’s seat! And, it is never too late to start making some changes.

Earth Day: My Adventures with Homemade Cleaning Products

Posted by Dr. Kristen in Products and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

For many years, I have dabbled in making my own household products. There has been one thing I have been avoiding doing though …. Making homemade laundry soap.  Well, I finally took the plunge and I wanted to share some tips, photos, and recipes with you all!

The biggest advantage, I think, to making homemade or more natural household projects is safety. There are way too many chemicals, perfumes, dyes, and unknown ingredients in the products we typically use. Find a label on something in your home right now – there’s probably a few ingredients in there that you can’t even pronounce! I like to know what I

put on my skin, on my countertops, on my clothes, and in the air I breathe. It’s also very cost-effective to make your own products.

Take a look at the two photos below. The one on the left is a piece of fabric sitting in liquid Tide….. all of the phosphates/chemicals have sunk to the bottom, and that will be deposited into our water system. On the right, is a natural company’s alternative to traditional laundry soap… the photo speaks for itself.

(photos courtesy of Kathy Rosner)

Below is my recipe for laundry soap, and I find that it works just as well as “regular” products:

Mix all ingredients into a glass container:

3 cups Borax

2 cups Baking Soda

2 cups Washing Soda

1 bar of grated Fels Naptha Soap

In place of Fabric Softener (which is one of the most notoriously dangerous household products there are), I use ¼ cup of white distilled vinegar. It keeps your clothes soft and doesn’t leave a strange smell (I promise)!

Another simple laundry soap idea? Just use 1/4 cup liquid castile soap for each load.

If you’re not quite ready to take the plunge into homemade products, at least consider using some safer, cost effective alternatives. For more information on alternative products, contact: Kathy Rosner (KrosMail@aol.com).

The “Hydration Calculation”

Posted by Dr. Kristen in Health, Nutrition and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As summer quickly approaches, we are all excited to spend some time outdoors! With the additional heat and activity, I am reminded of how important water is to our bodies. If you divide your weight in half, that is equal to the ounces per day of water that you will need to consume…. And add a little more if you exercise.

All other beverages (i.e. coffee, soda, tea, energy drinks, carbonated waters, etc.) are dehydrating to the body because they contain varying levels of caffeine.  And, no, any beverage that require you to add a packet of flavor or are bright colored already (i.e. Gatorade) does NOT count – its pure sugar and harms the body!

To calculate your level of hydration: subtract the ounces of “other” beverages you drink per day from the amount of water you drink per day. If you find that these numbers don’t add up – cut out your “other” beverages or increase your water intake to allow for the dehydration that’s occurring!

If I was stranded on an island…

Posted by Dr. Kristen in Health, Nutrition, Products and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

If I was stranded on an island, and only allowed ONE supplement to take with me… what would I choose? That’s easy – probiotics. Our body has both good and bad bacteria – which we need for different reasons. However the average American has too much “bad” bacteria. Probiotics are the “good” bacteria! They keep our delicate digestive system in balance… and now that I mentioned it …. The digestive system is one of the most important systems in our body. 80 % of our immune system is housed in the digestive system, and in the research, digestive problems are heavily linked to women with high stress levels. Do YOU know any women, with high stress levels, that could benefit from a strong digestive and immune system?